The Mavricks, "Sugar Babe" c/w "Angel With A Heartache," Capitol 4507 (rel. 3/1961)
Gary S Paxton would have likely described himself as a kook. He partnered with certified loon Kim Fowley on a series of independent record productions, labels and groups on the fringes of the LA music scene. Via his group The Hollywood Argyles, he had a major hit with a novelty song by future country cleffer Dallas Frazier. "Alley Oop," based on V. T. Hamlin's whimsical, sometimes-science fiction-flavored newspaper comic strip, took American by storm in 1960. Before that hit, Paxton was one half of white teen harmony group Skip & Flip, who had major hits with "It Was I" and "Cherry Pie," two Brent Records 45s you will encounter in any group of over 100 singles anywhere.
Paxton went from itinerant fruit-picker to TV pop star and relocated to LA in 1960, where he began to make a name for himself in the music biz. A coterie which included Fowley and Frazier blazed a curious trail with single after single credited to one-shot groups by the bushel. Among them was the Mavricks, mis-spelled on purpose to attract attention. (Mavrick was the name of Paxton's music publishing company.) Who was in this group might be detailed in the copious booklet of the Ace Records CD compilation seen in today's marquee. I cannot lay hands on my copy; it's in a box in my storage unit. I know where it is, but because the laws of time and space exist, it's there and I'm here.
The A-side group sounds more r&b, with a possible Black lead singer. Here, Paxton revives "Sugar Babe," a hot blues bopper penned by Dallas F. and first recorded by primo r&b duo Gene and Eunice for Case Records in 1960. Their rollicking, joyous version can be heard on our recent full-length podcast "Girls Town."*
A New Orleans-flavored lazy beat informs this swinging version, with captivating piano as the lead instrument, some tasty percussion and vocal harmony in support of the lead vocal. I cannot determine the ethnicity of the main singer. It could be Paxton or one of his buddies doing their best impersonation of an r&b performer. As one of Dallas Frazier's most likable songs, it's delivered with joy by whoever-these-folks-are, and deserved better than it got. None of the music papers bothered to review it--odd, because they gave Capitol Records abundant coverage at this time. Aside from an ad placed by the label and seen below, this single isn't mentioned in the music trade press.
Paxton went from itinerant fruit-picker to TV pop star and relocated to LA in 1960, where he began to make a name for himself in the music biz. A coterie which included Fowley and Frazier blazed a curious trail with single after single credited to one-shot groups by the bushel. Among them was the Mavricks, mis-spelled on purpose to attract attention. (Mavrick was the name of Paxton's music publishing company.) Who was in this group might be detailed in the copious booklet of the Ace Records CD compilation seen in today's marquee. I cannot lay hands on my copy; it's in a box in my storage unit. I know where it is, but because the laws of time and space exist, it's there and I'm here.
The A-side group sounds more r&b, with a possible Black lead singer. Here, Paxton revives "Sugar Babe," a hot blues bopper penned by Dallas F. and first recorded by primo r&b duo Gene and Eunice for Case Records in 1960. Their rollicking, joyous version can be heard on our recent full-length podcast "Girls Town."*
A New Orleans-flavored lazy beat informs this swinging version, with captivating piano as the lead instrument, some tasty percussion and vocal harmony in support of the lead vocal. I cannot determine the ethnicity of the main singer. It could be Paxton or one of his buddies doing their best impersonation of an r&b performer. As one of Dallas Frazier's most likable songs, it's delivered with joy by whoever-these-folks-are, and deserved better than it got. None of the music papers bothered to review it--odd, because they gave Capitol Records abundant coverage at this time. Aside from an ad placed by the label and seen below, this single isn't mentioned in the music trade press.
Capitol Records wrote their own mini-review of this single in the hopes of getting some attention directed its way. It did no good.
"Angel with a Heartache," a Gary Paxton original, has a much different vibe. Its hypnotic tempo and dense vocal harmonies sound like The Everly Brothers, if they had a few more siblings; it also resembles ace vocal harmony group The Innocents.
It's a haunting country-pop item that's sincere and affecting and lasts just long enough to make its case, present it and return to its seat.
It's a haunting country-pop item that's sincere and affecting and lasts just long enough to make its case, present it and return to its seat.
The group had a second 45 issued on Capitol. A revival of Fats Domino's "Goin' to the River" fared no better than today's release, and Capitol stabled The Mavricks; Paxton and his pals moved on to other projects.
Paxton's life story would make a wild movie. Check out his Wikipedia page for a decent biography loaded with colorful incidents. The liner notes of the Ace CD, which I recommend, also details his eccentric, sincere attempt to find a place for himself in the world.
Paxton's life story would make a wild movie. Check out his Wikipedia page for a decent biography loaded with colorful incidents. The liner notes of the Ace CD, which I recommend, also details his eccentric, sincere attempt to find a place for himself in the world.
*: that episode can be heard and enjoyed here:
Tomorrow: Don and Dewey deliver debut versions of two future rock 'n' roll standards! They never sounded better than on this Specialty Records original of 1959.
Two fun songs! "Sugar Babe" definitely has that New Orleans feel. "Angel With A Heartache" certainly does sound like the Everly Bros. I never made a connection from The Everlys to The Hollies but with this song I hear Hollies-adjacent harmonies threaded through it.
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