line up 1 (1967-69)

- Kay Evans - vocals 

- Sandra Jackson - vocals 

- Judy Williams - vocals 

- none known

Genre: pop

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Candy Coated Goodees

Company: HIP

Catalog: S 7002

Year: 1968

Country/State: Memphis, Tennessee

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1643

Price: $40.00

Cost: $66.00

This one's always intrigued me.  Recorded in 1968-69, stylistically it's about four to six years behind popular tastes (think along the lines of The Chiffons, The Ronnettes, The Shangri-Las, etc.).  Throw in the fact this girl group trio came from Memphis and you have a true musical oddity in your hands.

Kay Evans, Sandra Jackson and Judy Williams became friends while attending Memphis' Messick High School.  Interested in music, they started singing at school assemblies and local events.  Their big break came in 1967 when they entered a local talent contest and won.  The winning prize included an audition with Stax Records. Impressed by the trio, Stax signed them to it's newly formed HIP subsidiary; in the process making them the first female group signed by the Stax organization (and one of the few white acts on the company's recording roster).

Teamed with producers/songwriters David Porter and Isaac Hayes, the group made its debut with 1967's 'For a Little While' b/w 'Would You, Could You' (Hip catalog number H-109).  While the single did little outside of Memphis, Hip agreed to release a follow-up record.  Released as the follow-on, 'Condition Red' b/w 'Didn't Know Love was So Good' (Hip catalog number HIA 8005) provided the group with an unexpected hit.  A classic slice of teen death drama, the song's DOA message and sound effects were simply hysterical.  

With the single peaking at # 46 on the national charts, Hip wasted no time jumping at the resulting marketing opportunity,.  Rushed into the studio to record a supporting album, 1969's "Sugar Coated Goodees" found the trio teamed with producer Don Davis.  Musically the set offered up an odd mix of pop moves, pseudo-soul ('Girl Crazy') and remakes of girl group classics ('My Boyfriend's Back' and 'He's a Rebel').  Since none of the three girls was a particularly strong singer, all eleven tracks were sung in group unison, giving much of the set a somewhat bland feel.   While the heavy orchestration occasionally threatened to push the LP into MOR territory, there were quite a few winners.  'A Little Bit of You' was a great slice of pop; they turn in one surprisingly raunchy cover of The Swingin' Medallions' Double Shot' and 'Jilted' was noteworthy for its risqué he-left-me-pregnant lyric.  A strange album, but well worth having in your collection.  

"Candy Coated Goodees" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Condition Red   (Don Davis - Fred Briggs) - 2:52

Sure it was a couple of years too late to benefit from the public's girl group infatuation, but it was still a classic tragedy tune.  The skid and accident sound effects were worth the price of admission.  The end-of-song church organ was the icing on the cake.   As mentioned, the song had previously been released as a single.    rating: **** stars

2.) Sad Song for Harry   (Fred Briggs) - 2:51

'A Sad Song for Harry' was mildly entertaining for its mash-up of '60s girl group and Motown moves.

3.) A Little Bit of You   (Don Davis - Fred Briggs) - 3:20

Probably the album's prettiest ballad and a tune that found the trio showing they could do more than early-'60s girl group sounds.  rating: **** stars

4.) Double Shot   (J. Pose) - 2:57

Musically their cover of this classic garage tune wasn't a particularly original effort, the ladies largely sticking with the song's original arrangement. Add to that, the group vocals sounded rather pedstrian - kind of like something Banarama might have churned out in the '80s.  Funny, but it wasn't until I heard their cover of The Swingin' Medallions tune that I realized how risque the lyrics were for that timeframe. ...  "He loved me so long, he loved me so hard , I finally passed out in his front yard..."  rating: *** stars

5.) Worst That Could Happen   (Jimmy Webb) - 3:23

I'm old enough to associate this one with Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge, but I have to admit their cover wasn't half bad.  Again, it didn't stray far from the original arrangement, but was nice.  A bit slow and shrill in the mid-section, but still nice.  rating: *** stars

5.) Girl Crazy   (Don Davis - Leon Ware) - 3:00

The sweet and breezy 'Girl Crazy' was another whack at girl group-meets=Motown mash-up.  If anything, it was even better than the earlier 'Sad Song for Harry'.   Easy, one of the album's highlghts.  rating: **** stars

(side 2)

1.) Jilted   (Don Davis - Fred Briggs ) - 4:26

Opening up with martial drumming; Coral sitar, and a tale of personal disgrace ...  how could you not love this one?   Another album highlight !!!  Given this one had then-risque lyrics ("Ain't it a shame, such a shame; A lowdown shame' Gonna have a child; But my child won't have a name!"), it was interesting to see that HIP tapped it as a single:

- 1969's 'Jilted' b/w 'Love Is Here' (HIP catalog number HIA 8010)

2.) Didn't Know Love was So Good   (Isaac Hayes - J. Shamwell) - 3:27

I've got to admit that for the most part The Goodees were about as sexy as hearing your sister brush her teeth.  Their cover of Isaac Hayes' 'Didn't Know Love was So Good ' was the exception to the rule.  Their delivery on this one was actually quite sultry.    Fan please.   rating: **** stars

3.) My Boyfriend's Back   (Bob Feldman - Gerry Goldstein - Richard Gottehrer) - 2:32

Given their rote cover of The Angels hit, I guess someone forgot to tell the girls it was 1968 and not 1964. ...   rating: ** stars

4.) Promises   (Dale Warren) - 2:34

Always loved the cool guitar chord on this one ...'Promises' was a dreamy mid-tempo ballad that served another one that found the ladies breaking away from their patented mid-'60s sound with impressive results.  rating: *** stars

5.) He's a Rebel   (Gene Pitney) - 2:28

The album closed out with another girl group cover, though their breezy version of 'He's a Rebel' didn't come close to The Crystals' (The Blossoms) classic original.   rating: ** stars

The group did a number of television appearances, but Hip lacked the resources or commitment to push them nationally.  Hip released one last single:

- 1969's 'Goodees' b/w 'He's a Rebel' (catalog number HIA 8016), and called it quits.  

All three of the ladies remained with Stax Records, though in non-performing capacities.