“Slimy Sue” by the Sounds, Ltd. featuring Phil Jackson is the kind of odd, non-commercial record of the ’60s garage era that I love.
These lyrics are bizarre, with plenty of humor in the masochism of the second and third verses.
I got me a woman, buddy, she’s got purple hair
Ain’t no other woman, buddy, that can compare, that can compare
To my girl, true blue, back alley Sue
Slimy Sue, yeah, well alright nowWhen I want some lovin,’ buddy, Sue knows what to do
She can kiss so gently, buddy, turns me black and blue
My girl, true blue, back alley Sue
Slimy Sue, yeah, well alright nowHit it [guitar break]
When I get in trouble, buddy, with someone tough like you
Me, I never worry, buddy, I call on Sue, I call on Sue
My girl, black belt, weight lifting, Sue
Slimy Sue, yeah, well alright now
Philip W. Jackson wrote this song as well as the flip, “Fly Away”, for Cookie Crumb Music, BMI.
The Sounds, Ltd. recorded at Midwestern Recording Studios at 3140 The Paseo, Kansas City, Missouri. The studio’s own Peak label released the single on P-108 in October 1966. I’d like to know more about the band, who maintain a rough but great sound throughout “Slimy Sue”.
The band was from St. Joseph, Missouri, about 45 miles north of Kansas City. “Fly Away” was the ostensible A-side at the time, a kind of folky almost hippie-sounding song featuring lead vocalist Kathy Helmick.
Midwestern Recorders operated a studio since at least 1952 if not earlier, originally releasing records on the Central label. I assume other garage bands must have used Midwestern but haven’t found evidence of that yet.
I know Phil & in fact I videoed his & his ex’s set today at St. Joe’s yearly ‘Woodstock’ type three day festival called Joestock.
I won’t have his contact info until tomorrow, but I’ll tell him about your site.
Sounds, Ltd. morphed into White Eyes and relocated to Columbia, Mo. I was impressed by Sounds, even ended up buying Butch Dillon’s used drum kit. But White Eyes was really amazing with 3or 4 parts harmony. During the morph they picked up Kent Linneway from St. Joe’s The Upstairs–great lead. The other names escape me, but if Phil was the bassist, I have a few good stories of him.
I was drummer for The Loners and we recorded twice at Midwestern, but did not press a single. On the first occasion we made 7 acetates; the second time, merely a tape, to which we played and sang soundlessly on St. Joseph’s version of American Bandstand on KFEQ: Let’s Dance!