FRAGMENTS | Houston, TX Sunshine Pop Delights
The Fun And Games | Elephant Candy | (UNI) | The album ”Elephant Candy” by The Fun and Games is one of those discs that I’ve had in my collection for many years and enjoying regular spins on my Stanton ST-150 turntable. But somehow, until today, I’ve never spent an afternoon with it and remastered my vinyl to the digital format.
The Fun And Games were from Houston, TX and basically grew out of the ashes of a ravin’ garage band called The Six Pents / The Sixpentz.
Some members dropped out and were replaced and a name change to The Fun And Games Commission followed, then shortened to The Fun And Games.
By mid 1968, The Fun And Games were operating and releasing records on the UNI label with this album as their pinnacle. It’s such a memorable collection of songs, a mix of The Beach Boys, The Association and perhaps Sagittarius.
Each song has it’s merits, loads of first rate harmonies and production values, no fuzz only wonderful vocalised pop.
Rev-Ola re-issued the album on CD some years back which I didn’t think I needed because I had most of their records but now I regret that decision. The CD is scarce and rarely shows up and is already much rarer than the original vinyl records!
Check out ”Sadie” the opener on Side One. This cut is album only and was never released on any single. The lyrics about marrying a girl called ”Sadie” are corny but the music and harmonies are most definitely my scene.
Fragments | The Fun And Games Jukebox (6 songs)
Tracks remembered by Rock Romano and DJ Greer
It Must Have Been The Wind: DJ: There was a line there that Sam was just beside himself over. “I had to wait ’til morning came, so I could do it right.” And Sam thought that was a terrible line and sang it like it was a terrible line.
But then when Zekley recut it, he had Sam sort of cry out that part, and made it really emotional. Short and staccato like. And it turned out awesome.
One: (unreleased in the ’60s) Sam Irwin: II sang the lead on “One.” We went out to California to cut that and UNI Records put us up in these apartments. Rock and I drove out there and the rest of the guys flew.
We brought our equipment out there in the truck. Rock and I were roaming together and I remember there was a lemon tree outside. And I just looked out of my window and said “Shazam!” And we just had a ball.
We recorded with Hal Blaine, Joe Osborn, Larry Knetchel, Mike Deasy . . . I was told that Gary Zekley and Russ Regan had a fight about which song should be the A-side, the (Zekley penned) “We” or “One.”
In the meantime Three Dog Night got their version out. And it was all over for us after that. It’s a shame, although I wouldn’t be married to the girl I’m married to and have all my kids. So it all works out for the best I guess . . .
Someone must have lied
Someone Must Have Lied: DJ: That was one that I wrote all by myself. And it was the last song I wrote for the group. I was not at all like Rock. He was really prolific – great with words and music.
With me, it was just like pulling teeth to get a song out. “Someone Must Have Lied” was something that I worked on for a long time and on which I changed a whole bunch of parts.
It was about a guy who’s talking to a girlfriend of his, and the girl got mixed up with drugs. It’s kind of an anti-drug song.
He’s saying “You’re gonna go and have all this fun and it’s gonna be great, but someone must’ve lied because it’s not gonna last.”
Carson is playing drums on this and “Today – Tomorrow” Rock had the trumpets on “Today – Tomorrow” and figured out how to make use of them on “Someone Must Have Lied”.
All the above songs are available on the Now Sounds CD release, “The Sixpentz – Summer Girl: The complete recordings.
line-up:
Rock Romano (guitar / vocals)
Paul Guillet (guitar / vocals)
Mike Sumler (guitar / vocals)
Joe Dugan (piano / keyboards)
Carson Graham (drums)
Sam Irwin (lead vocals)
Joe Romano (bass)
Discography as The Fun And Games:
”Elephant Candy” / ”The Way She Smiles” (UNI) 09/68
”Grooviest Girl In The World” / ”It Must Have Been The Wind” (UNI) 11/68
”We Gotta Say Goodbye” / ”We” (UNI) 03/69
“Elephant Candy” LP (UNI 73042) 12/68
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