Shirley Hughey recorded this hypnotic slice of psychedelia at Harry Deal’s Galaxie III Studios in Taylorsville in 1969. As it turns out, she recorded her vocal having never met the band cut the backing track! The flip is “When I Reach For You”.

“Pink and Green” was written by Bob Pruitt, produced by Dave Smith, and released on the Bandit label of Asheville, which is known more for soul releases by Willie Hobbs and Pic and Bill, but also has the Electric Love’s “She Wants to Be Free” / “Dreaming of Her”.

I didn’t know much else about this record until Vance Pollack contacted me in 2013.

Vance Pollack interviewed Shirley Hughey on Asheville Free Media on June 6, 2013. Vance wrote to me: “The song was written and recorded by Hendersonville, NC band Orange Purple Marmalade. Shirley’s vocal track was added later and she never met or performed with the band.”

“Orange Purple Marmalade’s guitarist songwriter “Hobby” Pruitt, who died in 2002, is the only writing credit appearing on the label.

“Shirley went on to a significant singing career fronting club bands in NJ, PA and NY throughout the 1970s before returning to North Carolina.

“About the time the song was recorded, Hobby shipped out to Viet Nam and the rest of the band relocated to Connecticut and played clubs along the coast with female drummer Theresa Crouch and guitarist Terry Justus. Theresa and Terry were married in 1970, returned to western NC and continued with Orange Purple Marmalade until about 1975 when the band was renamed Justice. Theresa gained quite a reputation as one of the region’s hardest rocking female drummers, known during the time by the grand title “Theresa, Queen of Drums!” Terry died in 2010. Theresa has fond memories of the musical career she shared with her husband of 40 years.”

Thank you to Vance for shedding light on this odd and fascinating single.