MUST SEE! The Sparkletones "BLACK SLACKS"! Added: Special photos from Joe Bennett

**Steve Hoffman** · 01-26-2007, 11:15 AM

Thanks to Indy Mike for pointing this out!

Joe Bennett And The Sparkletones: "Black Slacks" from "The Nat "King" Cole TV show", 1957.

Dig the guitar solo by Joe (16 years old at the time) and twin Fender two-tone sunburst maple neck Strats, just like Buddy Holly! If this doesn't give you Rockabilly Dudes a woodie, you're dead! This is the real deal. Turn your sound way up. Check it out on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiFjm_C-4ug

I speak to Joe every now and again (after compiling and releasing their only album back in the 1980's..) Great band; my favorite from that era.

whaaat · 01-26-2007, 11:21 AM

Thanks, Steve. Put a big smile on my face.

indy mike · 01-26-2007, 11:27 AM

Here's the boys on the Sullivan show (check out their sparkle-covered jackets): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMXoUsc9HA8

Eli · 01-26-2007, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Hoffman

I speak to Joe every now and again (after compiling and releasing their only album back in the 1980's..) Great band; my favorite from that era.

These very talented young guys wrote their own material, too.

John Carsell · 01-26-2007, 11:42 AM

Neat performance.

I like it!

kensc1nj · 01-26-2007, 11:42 AM

Semi related note: in 1993 during a reunion stand in NYC, Simon and Garfunkel did 'Black Slacks';

indy mike · 01-26-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kensc1nj

Semi related note: in 1993 during a reunion stand in NYC, Simon and Garfunkel did 'Black Slacks';

Yikes!

Larry Mc · 01-26-2007, 11:47 AM

WOW! that was a treat. Ahhhh, those were the days.

**Mark** · 01-26-2007, 11:48 AM

Who knew that Beaver Cleaver could pick such a mean guitar! Thanks for posting this one.

kensc1nj · 01-26-2007, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indy mike

Yikes!

It was during a portion of the show paying tribute to the bands who influenced them, like the Everlys, etc.

indy mike · 01-26-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

Who knew that Beaver Cleaver could pick such a mean guitar! Thanks for posting this one.

Howard "Sparky" Childress is the rhythm man who could have been the Beav's lookalike. Joe Bennett could have been played by Barry Williams/Greg Brady.

Here's some information about the band: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/JoeBennett.html

**Steve Hoffman** · 01-26-2007, 12:09 PM

Joe's guitar playing is so incredible (for that era). The tone he gets on that axe is just right, gotta be a Fender Tweed Deluxe amp or a Vibrolux with 6V6 output tubes and a 10" Jensen speaker, nothing bigger; it has that SOUND!. I know; I have a '59 Vibrolux with that same sound! Same as used on LAYLA years later. Recognize the tone?

Joe and George Tomsco of the Fireballs are my Fender Strat Gee-tar Heroes (along with Buddy Holly and Jimi).

indy mike · 01-26-2007, 12:12 PM

From http://www.rockabillyhall.com

January, 2006

Sparkletones' Equipment

"What kind of guitars did you all use?" "Amps?" "How did you get that sound?" plus many other questions about style, equipment , age, etc. Tell you what....I really feel embarassed at times because I don't know the answers! I know that seems crazy but it's true!

For what it's worth, here goes on equipment.

In '55/56 my Dad said if I would finish the Gibson course on guitar, he would buy any guitar and amp that I wanted. Well, I did and he did and what a great day it was for both of us. It was time to go shopping!

I drooled over Arthur Smith's Stratocaster every day after school when his show was on WBT TV in Charlotte. On Sundays after church, we drove by Smith Music to let me look in the show window at Arthur's Strat's twin brother. It was a 55 or 56 Strat because in '57 we were on the road. I filed the 3rd string groove a little too deep at the nut so out came the handy-dandy silver chewing gum paper ... just a very little ... to stick underneath the string and raise it beyound the buzz. Can you tell me why "Silver" paper? Did I think it had electronic qualities or what? Who knows? Anyway, I grooved the neck on that puppy but kept on playing it.

The amp was a Fender deluxe ... NO reverb! That is how we got that sound! The reverb on the recordings came from Bell Sound Studio in NYC. The speakers were Jensens and we were very happy to have them ... Sparkie's mom and dad followed suit and we had twin-packs.

Jimmy played a set of blue-sparkle Slingerlands with hand matched hi-hats and hand-picked Ziljians with cases ... bought at the factory. After we stopped playing, Jim sold his beloved Slingerlands only to repurchase them a few years ago ... he won't tell what it cost to get them back! They were the originals ... Sullivan, Bandstand, Nat King Cole, etc!

Wayne played a fat-cat Kay bass red-brown trimmed in white. That bass is still around but we don't know where.

There you have the equipment list of The Sparkletones in the early years. The name was thought up by my mom who is now 93 and in a nursing home after a stroke. She said, "Why don't I make you a vest with a sequined treble clef over the heart and a few notes and you call yourselves The Sparkletones?" So, all the other moms did the same and there you have it ... voila!

Some of our music was written on the front porch of our house ... Black Slacks for one. We practiced there and music was written there along a few at Wayne's.

Sparkies "Cotton Pickin' Rocker" and " Late Again" were written in Clifton at his house. We practiced at the other guys houses also where cookies and coolaid were the going refreshment at the time.

Sometimes I would experiment with Gibson strings and flat wound strings ... even Black Diamond strings. They were cheap and not too bad on the tone.

I hope this has answered questions you may have ... if not ... fire me an e-mail at joebennettguitar@yahoo.com and I'll be glad to give you any info I may have.

Thank ya'll for reading this little monthly blurb. Have a great month!

Joe

Chris R · 01-26-2007, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kensc1nj

Semi related note: in 1993 during a reunion stand in NYC, Simon and Garfunkel did 'Black Slacks';

Quote:

Originally Posted by indy mike

Yikes!

There is a medley including "Black Slacks" on the Old Friends box set.
________________________

Great performance. Thanks.

A scan of the original Sparton Canada 78 rpm.

**Steve Hoffman** · 01-26-2007, 12:54 PM

Do you have a scan of the other side? "Boppin' Rock Boogie". A fantastic "B Side"!

**Gary** · 01-26-2007, 01:37 PM

Metoo · 01-26-2007, 02:12 PM

I like the mics around their necks.

Chip Stylus · 01-26-2007, 03:14 PM

Wasn't it uncommon to have such a young instrumentalist in a band? Little Anthony, Stevie Wonder, Brenda Lee and other acts featured a really young vocalist, but with the exception of Wonder none of them seem to have instrumentalist chops too.

rhkwon · 01-26-2007, 04:14 PM

Very nice!

gd0 · 01-26-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloth Ears

Wasn't it uncommon to have such a young instrumentalist in a band? Little Anthony, Stevie Wonder, Brenda Lee and other acts featured a really young vocalist, but with the exception of Wonder none of them seem to have instrumentalist chops too.

Check out The Collins Kids:

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/CollinsKids1.html

http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/artists/c/coll8200.htm

01-26-2007, 11:15 AM	#1
Steve Hoffman Your host Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 39,271	MUST SEE! The Sparkletones "BLACK SLACKS"! Added: Special photos from Joe Bennett Thanks to Indy Mike for pointing this out! *Joe Bennett And The Sparkletones: "Black Slacks"* from "The Nat "King" Cole TV show", 1957.** Dig the guitar solo by Joe (16 years old at the time) and twin Fender two-tone sunburst maple neck Strats, just like Buddy Holly! If this doesn't give you Rockabilly Dudes a woodie, you're dead! This is the real deal. Turn your sound way up. Check it out on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiFjm_C-4ug I speak to Joe every now and again (after compiling and releasing their only album back in the 1980's..) Great band; my favorite from that era.

01-26-2007, 11:21 AM	#2
whaaat Forum Addict Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 1,199	Thanks, Steve. Put a big smile on my face. __________________ Geoff

01-26-2007, 11:27 AM	#3
indy mike Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,579	Here's the boys on the Sullivan show (check out their sparkle-covered jackets): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMXoUsc9HA8 __________________ Reality distorts my sense of television.

01-26-2007, 11:42 AM	#5
John Carsell Forum Legend Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Northwest Illinois Posts: 11,253	Neat performance. I like it! __________________ One of the infamous Chicago four (R.I.P. Koz)

01-26-2007, 11:47 AM	#8
Larry Mc Forum Dude Join Date: May 2005 Location: Monterey County, California Posts: 6,212	WOW! that was a treat. Ahhhh, those were the days. __________________ Be careful with a fool Someday he may get smart

01-26-2007, 11:42 AM	#6
kensc1nj Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Warwick NY Posts: 208	Semi related note: in 1993 during a reunion stand in NYC, Simon and Garfunkel did 'Black Slacks';

01-26-2007, 11:48 AM	#9
Mark I Am Gort, Hear Me Roar Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Connecticut-The College Basketball Capital of the World Posts: 7,498	Who knew that Beaver Cleaver could pick such a mean guitar! Thanks for posting this one. __________________ Mark "Some people are New York or London or-God help them-Los Angeles. I am Hartford. -- Katharine Hepburn.

01-26-2007, 12:09 PM	#12
Steve Hoffman Your host Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 39,271	Joe's guitar playing is so incredible (for that era). The tone he gets on that axe is just right, gotta be a Fender Tweed Deluxe amp or a Vibrolux with 6V6 output tubes and a 10" Jensen speaker, nothing bigger; it has that SOUND!. I know; I have a '59 Vibrolux with that same sound! Same as used on LAYLA years later. Recognize the tone? Joe and George Tomsco of the Fireballs are my Fender Strat Gee-tar Heroes (along with Buddy Holly and Jimi).

01-26-2007, 12:12 PM	#13
indy mike Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,579	From http://www.rockabillyhall.com January, 2006 Sparkletones' Equipment "What kind of guitars did you all use?" "Amps?" "How did you get that sound?" plus many other questions about style, equipment , age, etc. Tell you what....I really feel embarassed at times because I don't know the answers! I know that seems crazy but it's true! For what it's worth, here goes on equipment. In '55/56 my Dad said if I would finish the Gibson course on guitar, he would buy any guitar and amp that I wanted. Well, I did and he did and what a great day it was for both of us. It was time to go shopping! I drooled over Arthur Smith's Stratocaster every day after school when his show was on WBT TV in Charlotte. On Sundays after church, we drove by Smith Music to let me look in the show window at Arthur's Strat's twin brother. It was a 55 or 56 Strat because in '57 we were on the road. I filed the 3rd string groove a little too deep at the nut so out came the handy-dandy silver chewing gum paper ... just a very little ... to stick underneath the string and raise it beyound the buzz. Can you tell me why "Silver" paper? Did I think it had electronic qualities or what? Who knows? Anyway, I grooved the neck on that puppy but kept on playing it. The amp was a Fender deluxe ... NO reverb! That is how we got that sound! The reverb on the recordings came from Bell Sound Studio in NYC. The speakers were Jensens and we were very happy to have them ... Sparkie's mom and dad followed suit and we had twin-packs. Jimmy played a set of blue-sparkle Slingerlands with hand matched hi-hats and hand-picked Ziljians with cases ... bought at the factory. After we stopped playing, Jim sold his beloved Slingerlands only to repurchase them a few years ago ... he won't tell what it cost to get them back! They were the originals ... Sullivan, Bandstand, Nat King Cole, etc! Wayne played a fat-cat Kay bass red-brown trimmed in white. That bass is still around but we don't know where. There you have the equipment list of The Sparkletones in the early years. The name was thought up by my mom who is now 93 and in a nursing home after a stroke. She said, "Why don't I make you a vest with a sequined treble clef over the heart and a few notes and you call yourselves The Sparkletones?" So, all the other moms did the same and there you have it ... voila! Some of our music was written on the front porch of our house ... Black Slacks for one. We practiced there and music was written there along a few at Wayne's. Sparkies "Cotton Pickin' Rocker" and " Late Again" were written in Clifton at his house. We practiced at the other guys houses also where cookies and coolaid were the going refreshment at the time. Sometimes I would experiment with Gibson strings and flat wound strings ... even Black Diamond strings. They were cheap and not too bad on the tone. I hope this has answered questions you may have ... if not ... fire me an e-mail at joebennettguitar@yahoo.com and I'll be glad to give you any info I may have. Thank ya'll for reading this little monthly blurb. Have a great month! Joe __________________ Reality distorts my sense of television.

01-26-2007, 12:54 PM	#15
Steve Hoffman Your host Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 39,271	Do you have a scan of the other side? "Boppin' Rock Boogie". A fantastic "B Side"!

01-26-2007, 01:37 PM	#16
Gary Nauga Gort! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 19,369	Wow! __________________ Support the Swan Foundation's Dental Health research program. "In order for a forest to be green, every tree must be green" George Harrison

01-26-2007, 02:12 PM	#17
Metoo Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Spain (EU) Posts: 13,062	I like the mics around their necks. __________________ The best time is timeless... you'll see. -Ambrosia, from their song "Time Waits for No One"

01-26-2007, 03:14 PM	#18
Chip Stylus aka THOM the semi-vinylist Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: FEED YOUR HEAD MUSIC, Atlanta GA Posts: 8,550	Wasn't it uncommon to have such a young instrumentalist in a band? Little Anthony, Stevie Wonder, Brenda Lee and other acts featured a really young vocalist, but with the exception of Wonder none of them seem to have instrumentalist chops too.

01-26-2007, 04:14 PM	#19
rhkwon Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, TX USA Posts: 4,284	Very nice! __________________ "Now, from Hawthorne, California, to entertain you tonight, with a gala concert and a recording session, the fabulous Beach Boys!" - Fred Vail

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