LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Brian Wilson admired him. Phil Spector was scared of him. In the roll-call of 1960s Hollywood record men, quixotic producer Gary S Paxton was one of the most remarkable. Hollywood Maverick documents the oddball genius of Paxton's glory years, as he confounded a sceptical record industry by scoring major hits in the most unusual manner. It's the yin to the yang of Ace's recent anthology of Paxton's one-time partner, Kim Fowley. Paxton is best known for directing the novelty smashes 'Alley-Oop' and 'Monster Mash', but he was already a veteran of the charts as a part of the duo Skip & Flip. The multi-talented singer-songwriter-producer set up shop in Hollywood in 1960, and over the next five or so years generated a remarkable catalogue that straddled not just novelty but R&B, doowop, surf, hot rod, girl groups, jazz, garage rock, country and gospel - all bearing his idiosyncratic touch. A large quota of the tracks on Hollywood Maverick appear on CD for the first time, having previously only been available on tiny labels that the workaholic Paxton seemed to form every other week. Many, such the vocal group gems 'The Clock' and 'Never Again', are heavy duty rarities, while others are unknown classics waiting to be discovered. Rock'n'roll, R&B, instrumentals, crazy dance tunes and the plain bizarre are all factors in the equation. We also hear the earliest recordings of Gary Paxton himself from the rockabilly Pledges via Skip & Flip and the Hollywood Argyles to some of the rare singles he cut under his own name for Liberty and other labels including the rockin' 'What Kind Of Girl You've Been'. This dynamic anthology not only traces Paxton's career but also includes early and/or rare recordings by David Gates, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Richard and Dorothy Berry and a host of other luminaries. We also hear the very first recording of the future hippie anthem 'Jesus Is Just Alright' by the Art Reynolds Singers. The packed booklet features a definitive history of the era with lengthy quotes not just from the man himself but a wide range of his associates in those years. Loaded with photos and memorabilia that really give a feel for the pioneering spirit of Hollywood in the early 1960s, Hollywood Maverick is a document of a never-to-be repeated time in music history, and pays tribute to one of rock'n roll's most colourful characters.
Track listing: 1. Betty Jean - THE PLEDGES (aka SKIP & FLIP) 2. What Kind Of Girl You've Been - GARY PAXTON 3. It Was I - SKIP & FLIP 4. Fancy Nancy - SKIP & FLIP 5. Bury The Hatchet - CHUCK & THE CHUCKLES 6. Need Your Love - DOUG & FREDDY 7. Alley-Oop - THE HOLLYWOOD ARGYLES 8. Don't Leave Me Baby - JOE LOVER & THE GAYLADS 9. Hot Toddy - THE ROD MARSHALL COMBO 10. Tick Tock - THE INNOCENTS 11. Midnite Ride - PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS 12. The Clock - THE HI-TENSIONS 13. The Turtle & The Hare - PF FLYERS 14. Sugar Babe - THE MAVERICKS 15. Never Again - THE PARADONS 16. You Know You Lied - DOROTHY BERRY & THE SWANS 17. The International Twist - THE CORDIALS 18. Darling, I Swear That It's True - RITCHIE MARSH 19. Monster Mash - BOBBY "BORIS" PICKETT & THE CRYPT-KICKERS 20. Razor Blades - SONNY DAY 21. Honest John - JOHNNY MacRAE 22. Tryin' To Be Someone - DAVID & LEE 23. Your Money Makes You Pretty - GARY PAXTON 24. I've Got Love - DON WYATT 25. Spookie Movies - GARY PAXTON 26. Elephant Game Part 1 - RENFRO & JACKSON 27. We're Gonna Dance - WEE WILLIE 28. Shake A Shake - RON HOLDEN 29. Agent 007 Dance - BUDDY WAYNE 30. I Can Read Between The Lines - MICKEY ROONEY JR 31. Nowhere To Go - THE FOUR FRESHMEN 32. Jesus Is Just Alright - THE ART REYNOLDS SINGERS