Although it was released as a single in November 1968, The Goodees’ “Condition Red” could – apart from a specific quirk – have been issued four years earlier, in the wake of The Shangri-Las’ “Leader of the Pack” hitting the US charts. Despite going on sale in the hippie, back-to-the-roots, heavier-than-heavy, burgeoning-bubblegum era, “Condition Red” is so in sync with “Leader of the Pack,” it can pass for a follow-up.
However, the lyrics – that specific quirk – of “Condition Red,” while in line with the Shangri-Las’ tale of the demise of a ruff-’n’-tuff rebel boy after a vehicular mishap, are of their period. “Mommy and daddy don’t approve of you and me getting too tight, ‘Why doesn't he get a haircut?’ ‘Why doesn't he shave?’ ‘You know he used to be such a nice looking fellow before he grew that awful beard.’”
And then, the clincher: "Hey there's a car, Watch out for the car, Oh no, Don't leave me, Condition red, I'll never see you again.”
This amazing example of aural art kicks off Don’t Let Him Hurt You! - Girl Group Sounds USA 1962-1968, a 14-track album of top-notch female-fronted recordings from the titular period.
While “Condition Red” was and is an absolute winner, it went no higher in the US than 46 in Billboard’s Hot 100. It was an out-of-time record. A UK release of the single went nowhere. The full story of The Goodees – the album’s cover stars – is told in the track-by-track annotation on the inner sleeve of the collection. Other artistes included are less well documented. Of The Drake Sisters, who are pictured on the sleeve, the commentary notes “information is very scant.” Their individual names are unknown, as is whether they were actually sisters. In a similar fashion, the identity of Tutti Hill, whose classy popcorn swinger “He’s a Lover” appears, remains a mystery: “there’s every possibility that Tutti Hill, Sylvia Sears and Sylvia Hill are (or were) one and the same person” is what’s said here, drawing connections between the credits on other records. Even after all these years of digging, mysteries remain.
No matter. With such marvellous material, it’s what’s in the groove that counts. From The Murmaids’ folk-rock leaning, Nino Tempo and April Stevens-esque “Go Away” to Beverly Williams’ twinkly “One Way Street,” with its offbeat “Louie Louie” reference. Or from Miss Cathy Brasher’s cheeky “The he Kissed me” crib “He Told me Loved me” to Les Chansonettes’ sort-of Martha & the Vandellas-ish “Don't Let Him Hurt You,” everything here is a gas.
Eagle-eyed enthusiasts for this sort of thing will recognise tracks which have previously appeared on different, CD-only compilations: “Condition Red” opened 1997’s stellar Where The Girls Are… set. Two tracks here – Beverly Williams’ “One Way Street” and 2 Of Clubs’ “I'll Come Running Over” (recorded subsequent to Lulu’s version) – were not issued when they were recorded, and belatedly reached listener’s ears after they were found in tape vaults and issued on CD (in 2004 and 2016 respectively). This is their first-ever vinyl-isation.
Don’t Let Him Hurt You! - Girl Group Sounds USA 1962-1968 doesn’t go for a particular sound or style. It is not dedicated to, say, Motown sound-alikes, Northern stompers or Phil Spector facsimiles. About the impact and quality of each of the selections, it is a one-stop showcase for the fabulous.
- Next week: Head’s Blackpool Cool. Scottish jazz rarity from 1977 resurfaces
- More reissue reviews on theartsdesk
- Kieron Tyler’s website
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