The Sa-Shays, "Boo Hoo Hoo" c/w "You Got Love," Alfi 1 (rel. 11/1961); Zen Z-101 (rel. 11/1961)
Here's an underground classic of LA girl-group grit. We've heard this group before under different names. They were a shadow version of The Blossoms--the celebrated group led by the great Darlene Love. These women, lead by Oma Heard, also did backup singing and made singles under seven different group names.
That's a lot of identities to keep up with, and it's no surprise that the group's recordings fell victim to bad actors. In 1961, the group made two singles each as The Sweethearts and The Sa-Shays. Today's record was first issued on the Alfi label, which sports an unusual, designed look for its age.
Though a bit chaotic, props must be given for an attempt at something different. The record picked up enough interest that another SoCal imprint, Zen, did a second release.
Zen was one of dozens of small imprints that all give the same address: 6201 Santa Monica Blvd. This was the premises of Alco Research and Engineering, which pressed vinyl records among other chemical-y things. It's been proffered by other collectors/researchers that this blanket address might have been a convenient umbrella for music hustlers without an office. That address looked better than some house on a dismal side street in North Hollywood.
The group got its start at Fremont High School in Los Angeles. Oma Heard and Carlotta "Cookie" Robinson shared lead vocal duties, with Julia and Maxine Waters on harmony vox. Robinson was also in an earlier LA group, The Chiffons. Not the "He's So Fine" Chiffons; they didn't happen until 1963. A link of all these groups was producer Bobby Sanders (stage name for Jerome Lenoir).
At the time they made today's record, the quarter were still considered amateurs. They would soon go professional, but in 1961 they had their collective hearts set on hitting the big time as a girl group. With the lowrider classic "Boo Hoo Hoo," they had a noble shot at the top.
That's a lot of identities to keep up with, and it's no surprise that the group's recordings fell victim to bad actors. In 1961, the group made two singles each as The Sweethearts and The Sa-Shays. Today's record was first issued on the Alfi label, which sports an unusual, designed look for its age.
Zen was one of dozens of small imprints that all give the same address: 6201 Santa Monica Blvd. This was the premises of Alco Research and Engineering, which pressed vinyl records among other chemical-y things. It's been proffered by other collectors/researchers that this blanket address might have been a convenient umbrella for music hustlers without an office. That address looked better than some house on a dismal side street in North Hollywood.
The group got its start at Fremont High School in Los Angeles. Oma Heard and Carlotta "Cookie" Robinson shared lead vocal duties, with Julia and Maxine Waters on harmony vox. Robinson was also in an earlier LA group, The Chiffons. Not the "He's So Fine" Chiffons; they didn't happen until 1963. A link of all these groups was producer Bobby Sanders (stage name for Jerome Lenoir).
At the time they made today's record, the quarter were still considered amateurs. They would soon go professional, but in 1961 they had their collective hearts set on hitting the big time as a girl group. With the lowrider classic "Boo Hoo Hoo," they had a noble shot at the top.
Penned by Gaynell Hodges, "Boo Hoo Hoo" sounds like a John Waters movie in song form. The syncopated, harmonized sob that makes up its musical hook suggests a theatrical scene: stylized buildings, with the girls' silhouettes seem through windows as they sob in unison.
The song is an affecting first-person account of teen misery without a happy ending. It's not gloom and doom; it's just part of growing up. The earthy and tight sound of these women is impressive; it's easy to take such expertise for granted, but they have rehearsed this song and are in impressive sync. A simple, gritty musical background is all needed to put "Boo Hoo Hoo" over. I'm sure this song sounded great blasting over a car radio as a bunch of teenagers cruised Santa Monica Blvd., unaware as they passed the place where this record was manufactured. That's entertainment!
The song is an affecting first-person account of teen misery without a happy ending. It's not gloom and doom; it's just part of growing up. The earthy and tight sound of these women is impressive; it's easy to take such expertise for granted, but they have rehearsed this song and are in impressive sync. A simple, gritty musical background is all needed to put "Boo Hoo Hoo" over. I'm sure this song sounded great blasting over a car radio as a bunch of teenagers cruised Santa Monica Blvd., unaware as they passed the place where this record was manufactured. That's entertainment!
Cash Box sometimes re-reviewed singles when they got a second issue on another label. Not so here, but they're gung-ho on the top-side. This single had the misfortune to come out during the Christmas season of '61, when attention was elsewhere.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/uqbk14jq4vdsr853c8fgn/2209a.mp3?rlkey=22f09vxcwcbxtkkz5lahtc39y&st=zfnaopc0&dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/uqbk14jq4vdsr853c8fgn/2209a.mp3?rlkey=22f09vxcwcbxtkkz5lahtc39y&st=zfnaopc0&dl=0
Value for money is "You Got Love," a funky, rockin' song penned by Chick Carlton, who's made at least two Jukebox appearances. Here the girls really step out and deliver powerful, soulful performances. All four members shine on this mid-tempo mover that is a pleasant relief from the bottled-up teen angst of the A-side. The recording quality shines on this side; its crispness and impact are impressive. B as in Beautiful!
In the various incarnations, this group made a dozen singles in a few years. Oma Heard recorded for Motown, as the label established a West Coast operation to entice local Black talent to their world. She did time as an Ikette for Ike & Tina Turner and then turned to session work, where she did quite well, though the listening public never knew her name. You've heard her voice on recordings by Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross...et al. Ms. Heard is high on the list of stellar talents who made a career being invisible; prized within the music community but seldom known to those who bought and heard the recordings she made. There's a pun there somewhere, but I shan't pursue it.
Tomorrow: Eddie Quinteros continues the lowrider vibe with a rare 1960 single loaded with studio ambience and young emotions.
WOW! What great songs! Love that creative catch in the chorus' voices with their boo hoo hoos. "You Got Love" is a such a great girl group rocker with Oma doing a bit of Lil' Richard there at the end.
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