The James Brothers [Chicago], "Just Want To Be Your Lover" c/w "With Your Love," B.E.A.T 1009 (rel. ?/1959)
This mega-obscurity (and rarity) comes from the musical melting pot of Chicago, Illinois. It also has a faint Sun Records connection via one of the three songwriters of both sides. Wayne Cogswell, who used the pen-name Powers on his music (and his lone solo single for Sun's sister label, Phillips International) was an associate of Sun rockabilly Ray Harris, whose two singles for the Memphis imprint are prized possessions of anyone who, uh, possesses them.
Cogswell continued in the teen-rock underground during the dark ages of real rock 'n' roll (1960-64), most often on little-known regional labels like B.E.A.T., whose handful of releases did little to get public attention. The harmonizing brothers James (first initials J and B) had unexpected competition of another James Brothers, whose corny, forced rocker "Crazy Love" was out on Dot Records a year earlier.
It's not known when or where this single was recorded, but Chicago is a reasonable guess; there were many facilities to make a disc in the Windy City. This odd bird is another example of the impact The Everly Brothers had on pop and rock music in the late 1950s. The A-side is a most peculiar lo-fi mash-up of several early Everlys hits. "Just Want to Be Your Lover (Don't Want to Be Your Brother)" featuring ailing-mallard sax and the brothers' chugging acoustic guitars amidst a rugged rhythm section. A reverbed lead guitar drowns out the brothers' harmonies with their fluid noodling.
These fellows (the James) are excellent vocalists. Their voices match word for word, phrase for phrase on this world-weary story-song of a guy who'd tired of his role as a sympathetic tag-along to a gal he's got a decided thing for. The odd arrangement and subterranean studio sound pushes this into the twilight zone and achieves The David Lynch Effect™ without obvious intent. But stick around for the B-side: it's something special.
Cogswell continued in the teen-rock underground during the dark ages of real rock 'n' roll (1960-64), most often on little-known regional labels like B.E.A.T., whose handful of releases did little to get public attention. The harmonizing brothers James (first initials J and B) had unexpected competition of another James Brothers, whose corny, forced rocker "Crazy Love" was out on Dot Records a year earlier.
It's not known when or where this single was recorded, but Chicago is a reasonable guess; there were many facilities to make a disc in the Windy City. This odd bird is another example of the impact The Everly Brothers had on pop and rock music in the late 1950s. The A-side is a most peculiar lo-fi mash-up of several early Everlys hits. "Just Want to Be Your Lover (Don't Want to Be Your Brother)" featuring ailing-mallard sax and the brothers' chugging acoustic guitars amidst a rugged rhythm section. A reverbed lead guitar drowns out the brothers' harmonies with their fluid noodling.
These fellows (the James) are excellent vocalists. Their voices match word for word, phrase for phrase on this world-weary story-song of a guy who'd tired of his role as a sympathetic tag-along to a gal he's got a decided thing for. The odd arrangement and subterranean studio sound pushes this into the twilight zone and achieves The David Lynch Effect™ without obvious intent. But stick around for the B-side: it's something special.
"With Your Love" dispenses with the rackety rhythm section. This teen hymn to everlasting love is a thing of rare beauty. Here, it's just the brothers' voices and their acoustic rhythm guitars. I am grateful to whomever made the call to have the other musicians pack up and split.
I'd hold this up to any of The Everly Brothers' best songs of the period. It's an inspired and beautiful ballad made better by its spare approach. Despite the crappy styrene presentation, with its hard ceiling of the lows and highs in audio output, it conveys the heart and soul of this teen chamber music well. Sweet and sincere, this recording can bring a tear to my eye when I'm in a certain mood. What a pity these kids didn't make more records.
I'd hold this up to any of The Everly Brothers' best songs of the period. It's an inspired and beautiful ballad made better by its spare approach. Despite the crappy styrene presentation, with its hard ceiling of the lows and highs in audio output, it conveys the heart and soul of this teen chamber music well. Sweet and sincere, this recording can bring a tear to my eye when I'm in a certain mood. What a pity these kids didn't make more records.
And that's all we have.
Tomorrow: Native American country-rocker Marvin Rainwater returns with a reprise of my favorite of his many fine M-G-M singles. A 1959 twin-spin winner.
I think "Just Want To Be Your Lover" suffered to a comic effect from the 'ailing mallard sax' and ends up sounding like a humorous novelty song. Could have been a more solid Everly Bros-adjacent release. "With Your Love" suffers dearly from the classic 'Hey, let's record this one in a tiled bathroom" sound. Again, mixed better, this could have been an Everly Bros., er, James Bros. hit the teens would've spent coin on.
ReplyDeleteI stand by my comments on "With Your Love" and am moved by its sincere beauty. That said, as always, I appreciate and welcome your thoughts and am always glad to hear them.
DeleteNever heard these before--thanks, Frank! Really strong singing with some very nice crossing harmonies and progressions on both tracks. The riffing lead guitar on the first track is pretty unusual and sometimes gets a little in the way but is very fresh. Love the simplicity and feeling on the second track as well.
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