The Sparkletones "BLACK SLACKS"! Special photos. Joe Bennett, rest in peace*

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Steve Hoffman, Jan 26, 2007.

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  1. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Me too! If I could play like that (with so much feeling but not technically "perfect") I'd be very happy.
     
  2. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

  3. indy mike

    indy mike Forum Pest

    How about that!
     
  4. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

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  5. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    The time might be right for a reunion huh?:)
     
  6. indy mike

    indy mike Forum Pest

    I believe that they have gotten together to play - seems like I've seen a group shot of them from the 90's. I think a new album would be in order - Acoustic Sounds seems like a natural fit.
     
  7. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    I'd love to mix it on this:
     

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  8. Casino

    Casino Senior Member

    Location:
    BossTown
    Man, a great group. Still have the ABC 45 rpm issue of Black Slacks / Boppin' Rock Boogie in the ol' collection. I remember measuring my own black slacks way back when and they were "peg 13."
     
  9. indy mike

    indy mike Forum Pest

    Joe explains the lyrics to Black Slacks (from the Rockabilly Hall of Fame site http://www.rockabillyhall.com/JBRabRoots.html ):

    "Translating "Black Slacks"

    Over the years, many have recorded our old song "Black Slacks" and some amusing things have arisen from the lyrics. I belileve it is because we didn't enunciate too well or the southern accents weren't comprehendable in the English language.

    For example: A lady came to the stage entrance to the Royal Nevada Hotel where we played in Vegas( Now the parking lot for The Stardust) and complained about the suggestive lyrics to our song ... "Young man, I didn't like the words 'Black Slacks with the crotch hanging down to the knees"! We explained the that the words are "Black Slacks with a CAT CHAIN DOWN TO MY KNEES". She was satisfied with that.

    Another problem incurred in the translation is: "Black Slacks, I wear a rainbow tie..." .... well, once on a trip to Hartford, CT we bought some red ties and derbies which were what we called a Golfers Cap back then ... now they are called "Pieback" hats I believe. At any rate, the ties were Bow Ties because of the lyrics of the song. "Black Slacks, I wear a red BOWTIE" ... not Rainbow tie. but just judging by the sound, that was an easy mistake to make.

    Here is a real goodie. "Black Slacks, 'A' 14, Black Slacks, Really are keen ...", etc. Well, some of our terminology here is entirely different than that in other places. Some folks don't know how we used to carve up our slacks and sometimes, shirts. The first thing we would do after purchasing a pair of slacks was to have them narrowed at the cuff. A 15 inch cuff was kind of standard but if you were REAL cool, maybe a 14 inch cuff! Some cats even had a zipper sewn into the lower leg so they could put the pants on!

    We called the process of narrowing the lower leg cuff "Pegging" .... so ...."Black Slacks, pegged 14, etc.

    Please don't think we get upset about wrong lyrics some of you have recorded. It is a total HONOR to have our songs recorded by you, but I thought you might get a kick outta some of the translations!

    It is all a fun thing and here's hoping you continue to enjoy your music! When you see fotos of Rockabilly Cats and those big smiles on their faces as they stand with their arms about each other and then see the "Others" with sour, mean looks on their faces, you can tell the difference that the music makes. My friend Paul Riddle of the Marshall Tucker band says, "What's everybody so MAD about?."

    The City of Spartanburg is having a little party on the square in a couple of weeks and the old man is gonna get to play. Bobby Gaines (Lead guitarist for David Ball) and I are going to team up for a couple of numbers ... "Sugarfoot Rag" (a tribute to Hank Garland) and of course, Black Slacks. Ya'll come on down on Nov. 12 ... high noon!

    Keep smiling and don't drop that pick in front of about 5000 like I did once!"

    Happy Thanksgiving,
    Joe
     
  10. Casino

    Casino Senior Member

    Location:
    BossTown
    Yeah, we had the 13-inch peg and so took no chances with the "coolness factor" (and had the narrow silver belt - with the buckle worn on the side, of course).

    Shirts, slacks, whatever, anything baggy was "square."
     
  11. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    I pulled out my Joe Bennett And The Sparkletones comp LP I made back in 1983 and gave it a spin for the first time since that year. Great songs on there. A bunch I found "in the can" so to speak but never issued until the LP. Each and every song has a great tuneful gee-tar solo by Joe.

    Hope you all can find a copy of this LP. It's pretty cool!
     
  12. indy mike

    indy mike Forum Pest

    The Sparkletones did a great job with their recordings, and they fact that they were all very young makes it all the more impressive.
     
  13. The LP arrived today. Jacket still has the original shrink wrap and price sticker.
    3 1-84
    MUSICDEN
    $4.99

    The LP is lots of fun. :thumbsup:
    It's a great song.

    The Sparkletones - The Boppin' Rock Boogie (excerpt)
     
  14. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    That's PAUL ANKA doing the falsetto. Thanks for putting that up..
     
  15. ReneeDinSC

    ReneeDinSC New Member

    Hello, Joe Bennett of the Sparkletones is not doing well. He suffers from Parkinson's Disease and Parkinson's Related Dimentia. Our small non-profit group, Carma, Inc, in Spartanburg, SC is organizing a benefit for Joe. We want to honor his life and career as well. We're reaching out to anyone and everyone who may be able to help with funding, donations, auctionable items, pictures, recordings and connections to many people including Mickey Hart, Paul Simon, Disney (Black Slacks was in The Rescuers Downunder), Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley Family, Little Jimmy Dickens, Wanda Jackson, Jack White or anyone else who could help, perform, or pitch in however possible. Can you help us? -Renee Denton 864-426-4950
     
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  16. action pact

    action pact Music Omnivore

    Terrible news. Is there a website dedicated to this fundraiser?
     
  17. Propinquity

    Propinquity Forum Resident

    Location:
    Gravel Switch, KY
    Joe Bennett still loves to hear from fans. He recently signed a CD for me. If you're a fan, take a moment and tell him what his music means to you. You can write a hard letter or email him through his website and he'll get the message either way.

    [email protected]

    Joe Bennett
    PO Box 373
    Glendale SC 29346
     
  18. Dinsdale

    Dinsdale Dixie Fried

    Location:
    South Carolina
  19. indy mike

    indy mike Forum Pest

    That's sad to hear - Joe took time to correspond with folks who got in touch with him as he really appreciated hearing from people who enjoyed The Sparkletones' music. Here's some clips of the band in action, no lip-synch here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uxyadKQKQM
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2015
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  20. Dinsdale

    Dinsdale Dixie Fried

    Location:
    South Carolina
  21. slovell

    slovell Retired Mudshark

    Location:
    Chesnee, SC, USA
    Wayne Arthur, before he retired, was my supervisor for five years where I work. Cool dude.
     
    Steve Hoffman likes this.
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