Syndicate of Sound

The Syndicate of Sound was an American garage rock band formed in San Jose, California that was first active between 1964 and 1970. Through their national hit "Little Girl", the band developed a raw sound, and became forerunners in the psychedelic rock genre. The group managed to produce two other charting singles and, after their initial breakup in 1970, have since reformed with a new lineup.[1]

Syndicate of Sound
Syndicate of Sound, circa 1965
Background information
OriginSan Jose, California United States
GenresGarage rock, psychedelic rock
Years active1965-1970, 1990-present
LabelsHush, Bell Records, Buddah Records, Sundazed Music
Websitewww.syndicateofsoundband.com
MembersBob Gonzalez
John Duckworth
Jim Sawyers
Past membersDon Baskin
Larry Ray
John Sharkey
Carl Scott
Ned Torney

History

The line-up formed in 1964, when Don Baskin (October 9, 1946–October 22, 2019; vocalist, guitar) and Bob Gonzalez (bass guitar), both originally from the outfit Lenny Lee and the Nightmen, united with a local group called the Pharaohs. The resulting band, the Syndicate of Sound, which, along with Baskin and Gonzalez, included John Sharkey (keyboards), Larry Ray (lead guitar), and John Duckworth (drums). Several other stand-ins performed with the band, most notably Dr. Kelly E. Hejtmancik Sr.(bass guitar) of Galveston TX during the band's Galveston filming of "Little Girl". In the beginning stages of the band's existence, the group was influenced by R&B music, specifically the early musical styles of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. After the group won a Bay Area "Battle of the Bands" against 100 other competing bands, the Syndicate of Sound earned a recording contract with Del-Fi Records. The band released a single, "Prepare For Love", which received local airplay, but ultimately failed to make an impact.[2][3] Though the record was unsuccessful, it established the band's sound, combining striking vocal harmonies and innovative psychedelic instrumentals.[1]

Baskin, Gonzalez and Sharkey continued to write new material and came up with "Little Girl" and "You" which the band recorded for Hush Records in San Francisco, on January 9, 1966. "Little Girl" became a regional hit after San Jose radio station KLIV latched onto it. From there it attracted the attention of Bill Gavin's tip sheet and then executives at Bell Records in New York. Bell released it nationally and offered the group a contract for an album. Replacing Larry Ray with lead guitarist Jim Sawyers, they wrote and recorded the LP in three weeks. They then began a national tour appearing with other hit acts such as: Paul Revere & the Raiders, the Young Rascals, and the Yardbirds. "Little Girl" peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 9–16 July 1966 and #5 on Cashbox. The follow-up "Rumors" also hit the Hot 100 and peaked at #55 on 1 October 1966.[4]

In an attempt to sustain their success, the band released two more singles, "Keep It Up" and "Mary", but none of them charted. By this time John Duckworth had been drafted into the U.S. Army for the Vietnam war and was replaced by Carl Scott on drums, and John Sharkey had left the group soon after "Mary" was released. Another single, "Brown Paper Bag" reached #73 on the Hot 100, on 25 April 1970.[4] Afterward Baskin and Gonzalez made a failed attempt to record another album for Capitol Records in 1970. They disbanded shortly after.[5]

In 1990, Baskin, Gonzalez and Duckworth reformed the band, adding Jim Sawyers on guitar, which performed occasionally. They recorded another non-charting single in 1995, a cover of a Kinks composition "Who Will be the Next in Line?". In 2005, Larry Ray rejoined the band.[6]

In 2006, the Syndicate of Sound was in the first class of inductees into the San Jose Rocks Hall of Fame.[7]

Don Baskin died on October 22, 2019, aged 73.[8]

Little Girl

"Little Girl" was later recorded by other artists, including Dwight Yoakam and English punk group The Banned, an offshoot of prog-rock band Gryphon, which reached the UK charts in 1977. The American punk group the Dead Boys included a live version on their 1977 debut album Young, Loud and Snotty. "Hey Little Girl", renamed "Hey Little Boy", was also covered by Australian band Divinyls in 1988 on their Temperamental album. R.E.M. played the song as part of its early live sets. The San Francisco Bay Area band CHOC'D also covers the song in their live sets, featuring "Sexy Rexy" on vocals.

The song "Little Girl" was also recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio since the day it was opened, where it is on permanent rotation in the One-hit Wonder section.

Discography

Singles
Year Title US
Hot 100		 US
Cash Box		 Label
1966"Little Girl"
"You"		85Hush G-228, Bell 640
1966"Rumors"
"The Upper Hand"		55--Bell 646
1967"Keep It Up"
"Good Time Music"		----Bell 655
1967"That Kind Of Man"
"Mary"		----Bell 666
1970"Brown Paper Bag"
"Reverb Beat"		73--Buddah Records BDA 156
1970"Mexico"
"First To Love You"		----Buddah Records BDA 183
1995"Who'll Be The Next In Line?"
"The Spider & The Fly"		----Sundazed Music S 116

Album
Year Title US
Billboard 200		 Label
1966Little Girl--Bell LP6001


Various artist compilation appearances (selective)
Release Catalogue Year Track Notes #
Gary Stevens Presents 22 More Good Guy Goldies
Volume II		 Lost Nite Records LP-123 1966 "Little Girl" LP
San Jose Todaze Yesterday South Bay Records 4081 1996 "Shakin' All Over", "My Lonely Sad Eyes", "I Ain't Got You" CD
The Hush Records Story Big Beat Records CDWIKD 154 1997 "Little Girl", "Get Outta My Life", "Looking For The Good Times (The Robot)"
"That Kind Of Man", "Rumors", "Say I Love You"
"Mary (Marrie)", "Games", "Saturday Night"		 CD[9]
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References
  1. Little Girl -The History of the Syndicate of Sound 1995 CD liner notes.
  2. "Something Else! Interview: Bob Gonzalez and Don Baskin of the Syndicate of Sound". Somethingelsereviews.com. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  3. "Syndicate of Sound". Syndicateofsoundband.com. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  4. "The Syndicate of Sound - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.com.
  5. Skelly, Richard. "The Syndicate of Sound". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. "Syndicate Of Sound". Syndicateofsound.com.
  7. "San Jose Rocks". Sanjoserocks.org.
  8. "Don Baskin of Syndicate of Sound—Singer of 1966 Hit “Little Girl”—Dies", BestClassicBands.com, October 24, 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019
  9. Discogs - Syndicate of Sound, Discography, Compilations
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