VA – Don’t Let Him Hurt You! Girl Group Sounds USA 1962-1968 – Ace UK LP

From Ace Records’ early days, there’s always been a place in our hearts for music’s feminine side. A year having flown by since the release of our last compilation spotlighting the US girl group sound of the 60s – think castanets, anguished teen sirens, Svengali-esque producers and mini-sonatas about dreaming, dancing and moody boyfriends (sometimes deceased) – means the time has come for a new vinyl-only volume.

As 1968 drew to a close, the golden age of girl groups had seemingly been and gone: the Shangri-Las, Ronettes and Chiffons, for example, hadn’t had a hit record of note since 1966. Then along came ‘Condition Red’, a cleverly produced psychodrama performed by the Goodees, who grace the front cover and open the top side of this new comp in dramatic style. Over on the generally more soulful second side, Les Chansonettes are first up with ‘Don’t Let Him Hurt You’, a big production stomper written with Martha & the Vandellas in mind.

Elsewhere, Beverly Williams performs the very Lesley Gore-like ‘One Way Street’; ‘Go Away’ by the Murmaids (of ’66) is a lavishly produced number with a chamber pop vibe; ‘What Did You Do Last Night’ by the Drake Sisters was recorded in Phase-O-Phonic Sound; the lyrics of Denita James’ ‘Wild Side’ call to mind genre classics such as ‘He’s A Rebel’, ‘Out In The Streets’ and ‘Chico’s Girl’; and the Sweathearts close the show with a gorgeous harmony-filled update of the mid-50s oldie ‘Eddie My Love’. As usual in this series, the inner sleeve features a picture-packed 4,000-word track commentary by long-serving compiler Mick Patrick.

Mick Patrick

tracklist:

A01 The Goodees – Condition Red
A02 The Murmaids – Go Away
A03 The Charmaines – Where Is The Boy Tonight
A04 Beverly Williams – One Way Street
A05 The Drake Sisters – What Did You Do Last Night
A06 The Half-Sisters – Forget Where I Live
A07 Miss Cathy Brasher – He Told Me He Loved Me
B01 Les Chansonettes – Don’t Let Him Hurt You
B02 Tutti Hill – He’s A Lover
B03 Joan Moody – Anything Worth Having (Is Well Worth Waitin’ For)
B04 2 Of Clubs – I’ll Come Running Over
B05 The D.C. Blossoms – Hey Boy
B06 Denita James – Wild Side
B07 The Sweethearts – Eddie My Love