Lori Burton

The Nu Luvs

Another Bernadette worth mentioning is Bernadette Castro, the artist responsible for my all-time favorite girl group record, "A Girl In Love Forgives." This is one of the few obscure girl group records that can compete with the Shangri Las' and Ronettes' unparalleled track records. Just how this song never charted is forever a mystery. Bernadette is the daughter of the original Castro convertible bed maker, a company still in business today. She released an additional single on Colpix called "Sports Car Sally," popular among many girl group collectors for its hot-rod theme.

When the Shangri Las first appeared on the scene with the Shadow Morton-produced "Leader of the Pack," you better believe that girl groups around the country were gettin' busy trying to copy that tough girl sound. These girls in the garage were springing up all over the place.

The Girls hailed from California, although their sound was totally East coast. Sisters Margaret, Rosemary, Diane, and Sylvia Sandoval released two singles on Capitol Records in 1965 and 1966. Their version of the Mann/Weil composition "Chico's Girl" is probably the greatest garage track the girl groups have to offer. "And I should know, 'cos I'm Chico's girl!" Susan Barrett also recorded the same song on Philips. While the Girls' version follows a darker, more broody direction, Susan Barrett was all revved up and ready to rock on her earlier adaptation!

The Whyte Boots' "Nightmare" is undeniably the most daring girl group garage disc ever recorded. It sounds more Shangri Las than the Shangs themselves. Though there are photos of the so-called Whyte Boots, the group is actually singer/songwriter Lori Burton. She and her partner Pam Sawyer wrote a number of classic girl group songs during the sixties, yet those who document the era rarely mention them. Their catalogue includes Lulu/Cindy Malone's "Try To Understand" and the Rascals' "Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore." "Nightmare" appears on Lori Burton's album Breakout as well as on the Whyte Boots' single for Philips in 1967. Maybe recruiting three tough looking girls to pose as a make believe group was good for publicity.

The Pussycats were another obvious Shangri Las imitation. They shared arranger Artie Butler and covered "Dressed in Black." The Pussycats also released the seductive "I Want Your Love" on Columbia Records in 1965.

While Artie Butler attempted to revive "Dressed in Black" with the Pussycats, Shadow Morton took the Nu Luvs under his wing and also gave them the same song to record. At least Shadow was somewhat able to fool the public when it was decided to change the name from "Dressed in Black" to "So Soft, So Warm." Although I almost always prefer the Shangri Las originals, the haunting vocal treatment takes "So Soft, So Warm" in a far more intriguing direction.

In 1966, Howard Kaylan of the Turtles discovered a female garage band called the Chymes. Of all the obscure garage girl acts that appear on the often patchy "Girls In The Garage" compilations, the Chymes' "Quite A Reputation" is a perfect slice of girl pop done in under two minutes.

The Goodees were one girl group that really came out of nowhere, long after the height of the girl group era. However, "Condition Red," a first class take on the Shangri Las, made it through to the Top 50. Fire engines, church organs and a life support system make up the sound effects on this bizarre death disc. Even stranger was that the Goodees were able to release an LP in the late sixties.

Other fine girls in the garage include the Models, Gayle Haness, Mandy & the Girlfriends, Karen Verros, the Reginas, the Mama Cats, Lyn & the Invaders, the Ladybugs and the What Four.