THE SPARKLES- Hipsville 29 B.C. (I Need Help) (Hickory 1474)
The history, or histories, of this sorta-Levelland combo are all over the place. The first release by the Stan Smith fronted Sparkles came out of the Clovis, New Mexico garage studio of Caron Records and was a very minor hit, though they had recorded with Petty a few years prior. The next few years the combo worked though a couple of different line-ups, including one with two drummers, and were eventually joined by the famed Gary P. Nunn and drumming vocalist Lucky Floyd. The UT frats loved 'em, as did West Texas teens in the know. During their tenure with Nashville based Hickory Records and producer Larry Parks, who was a drummer for local boy Roy Orbison, the Sparkles released five 45s with this being their last. And what a last...
"Hipsville 29 B.C. (I Need Help)". Just looking at the title is ALMOST enough. But that opening drum break... my gawd. The vocals... my gawd. The yelps! The guitar! That bass! My gawd! My gawd! My gawd!! Easily one of the heaviest records with West Texas roots.
Songman Don Turnbow was a member of the Ivy Jives, penned "Bread & Butter", and inked a tune or two for other West Texas combos including the Soul-Lutions on Dust Bowl Records out of Lubbock.
And it was issued in France with a famous picture sleeve.
5 comments:
Man, killer!! I will be lookin' out for this one.
Yep... killer record to be sure. Flip is a nice moody number. Seems to turn up in the midwest way more than it does down here in Texas. My copy was grabbed off ebay years back for $10. No idea how I got so lucky.
The blind can't lead the blind
And baby I'm blind as you
I can't help myself
How can I help you?
The title "Hipsville 29 B.C." is pretty annoying. It has nothing to do with the lyrics, just an attempt to be "hip" a la Bob Dylan with his nonsensical song titles.
I guess the real title "I Need Help" was considered too generic.
I get the whole it's not in the song thing, which has always bothered me as well. Maybe it's just that the hippest place around can't even help the hippest peeps around.
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