Stax

This Stax Records girl group on its Hip label in the late 1960s consisted of Sandra Jackson, Judy William, and Kay Evans. The three were childhood friends in Memphis and began singing together while at Messick High School. They were Stax’s Southern-drenched answer to groups like The Shangri-Las and the Ronettes. I like many other artists on the label, they got their coveted audition at Stax after winning a local talent show.

Their first single, “For A Little While,” was written and produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter and was one of the last recordings to feature the original Bar-Kays before all of them except two died in a plane crash with Otis Redding on December 10, 1967. It was followed by their only charting hit, “Condition Red,” also written by the Hayes/Porter team. It is now a cult classic among girl group afficianados due in large part to the “raunchy Southern girl” feel many believe it has as opposed to their Northern counterparts who were more wholesome.

The trio of white girls at the mostly-black but integrated Stax Records released one album, Candy Coated Goodees, but never achieved great commercial success. Although they enjoyed working with the likes of Don Davis, Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn, and other legendary Stax producers and engineers at Stax Records, Muscle Shoals, and American Studios, it seemed that the girl group era had ended before this eyebrow-raising group could have a hey day of their own. Jackson and Williams remained at Stax until its bankruptcy in 1976, however, with Jackson (now Sandra Hall) working for Deanie Parker in the publicity department and Williams (now Judy Love) working for Stax founder Jim Stewart.

In 2010, the U.K.-based Ace Records discovered some never-releases or mixed masters of the The Goodees in Muscle Shoals, purchased them, and released a special CDcollection of every known recording the group made. In addition to the complete Candy Coated Goodees album are four sides drawn from non-LP singles and seven previously unissued titles. “Show Me How,” “Last Of The Good Guys,” “Have You Ever Hurt The One You Love,” and the alternate version of “Didn’t Know Love Was So Good” all emanate from their early Memphis sessions with Hayes and Porter. The set comes with a booklet featuring notes based on an exclusive interview with Sandra, illustrated with a host of rare memorabilia and gorgeous photographs from her collection. All three singers still live in or just outside Memphis.