The
Ribbons 1963 Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya Marsh 45 202
Listen to "Vessie Simmons - The Simco/D-Town Records Years" on Spreaker
The
Ribbons aka The Sequins (6) aka The Sandpapers (Los Angeles)
Personnel: Evelyn Doty Arthetta Gibson Lovie? Vessie Simmons
Discography: The Ribbons 1962 - Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya / My ...
This
review is from: My Baby Said - Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya (Vinyl)
The only thing that is known for certain about the 1960s Girl Group known as The
Ribbons (Arthetta Givan, Lovie Kinchion, Evelyn Doty and Vessie
Simmons) is that they had one nationally charting single in February
1963 and that was the # 81 Billboard Pop Hot 100 Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya,
written by James Marcus Smith (better known as P.J. Proby), and which
was produced by Marshall Lieb and distributed on the tiny Los
Angeles-based Marsh M-202 b/w My Baby Said.
Devoted
collectors of everything and anything by the Girl Groups will tell
you, it's impossible to find in a quality CD. In fact, I was surprised
that the great Ace of London series Early Girls didn't have it, as
those volumes are replete with such groups who are not only even more
obscure than The Ribbons, but who never did boast a
nationally-charted single.
They
do have a version of the song in Volume 3 of that series, but it's
the one has done that year by Suzie Clark on Rendezvous 196, which did
not chart. In the liner notes, Mick Patrick indicates his preference
for the latter by saying "while not necessarily proving that the
original is always best, the fight was won by The Ribbons."
That,
of course, boils down to nothing more than a matter of opinion, and
in choosing to ignore The Ribbons' version they figuratively thumb
their noses at that element of the market seeking hits.
And,
apart from three releases a bit later at the equally obscure Renfro
Records billed as The Sequins, that seems to be the only time they
appeared on record as The Ribbons.
So,
the mere fact they were able to break into the Hot 100 at all and for
a label that likely had zero funding for promotion, tells you this is
one Girl Group whose lone claim to national fame should at least be
included in one quality CD compilation with appropriately cleaned up
sound.
It's
certainly good enough to have become a higher-charting entry on both
the Hot 100 and R &B charts had it been in the hands of at least
one of the better independents.
As
The Sequins it appears they released That Boy b/w He's A Flirt
(Renfro 113), He's A Flirt (re-issue) b/w A Case Of Love (Renfro 126)
and He's A Flirt (re-issue) b/w You're All I Need (Renfro 218). They
may also have performed - if not recorded - as The Sandpapers.
The
Ikettes – Was Vessie Simmons A Member Or Not?
Does
anyone know if Vessie Simmons was ever an Ikette? Vessie was from LA
and made some good solo records in the early to mid-'70s, prior to
that she had been in a number of groups.
While
in Los Angeles in late 1994, Kenny Smith, then CEO/president of
D-Town Records was in negotiations with Merrell Fankhauser to
manufacturer and distribute his new Impacts release “Surfin’ 101”
and to film Merrell’s Channel America Television show.
On
the show was Vessie Simmons, Marvin and Johnny, Jewel Atkins, Frankie
Ervin (of the Shields) and Mars Bonfire (of Steppenwolf). Then after the party included the company of Simmons and Smith talking about helping
her with distribution for her Simco Records label.
Along
this line of promotion and distribution, Smith agreed to handle the
Simco label and other past, present, and future products. Smith
explained to Simmons that he was working on a plan to use “Digital
Distribution”, as it was a young idea and very new to the music
industry.
Simmons
career is varied as any artist in the business. Simmons did say to
Smith, that she was a member of the Ikettes for a very short time, as
she received her teaching degree and began her full-time career in
the Los Angeles School District for many years.
As
a member of the Ikettes, it was between 1963-64 for one season. The
issue came about the use of drugs, as Simmons was not into “getting
up” before the show that was full-powered behind Tina Turner. The
dancing moves were very difficult and she was not that physical on
moving that way on stage. So her career as an Ikette came to a
sudden end.
As
with most artists of that time, it was not uncommon to “cover”
for other artists in different groups on tour. Simmons, Darlene
Love, Clydie King, Carlena Williams, and many many others “covered”
for sick members who failed to get to the job, and a quick telephone
call would make the act very whole, where they could collect their
night money and get on to the next show. In those days, it was all
about the “body count”, you had to have “X” bodies on the
stage according to the contract to get paid.
A
Short discography of the Ribbons with Vessie Simmons
The
Ribbons -- Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya / My Baby Said (Marsh 202; 1962)
---
" --- -- After Last Night /* This Is Our* (Marsh 203; 1963)
---
" --- -- They Played A Sad Song / Melodie D'amour (Parkway 912;
1964)
Evelyn
Doty & The Ribbons*-- Teach Me How To*Dance / I'd Like To Be
(Gramo 107; 1964)****
The
Sequins* -- I'll Be Satisfied / Who Says You Can't Jerk (A & M
761; 1965)
The
Sandpapers -- Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya / My Baby Said (Charger 114; 1965 -
JUST A RE-RELEASE)
..............
she was also probably in another group ...........
The
Buttons & Beaus - "Never Leave Your Sugar/Twistin' Blues"*
(Zen 104)*
"Ain't
Gonna Kiss Ya" was a big hit in LA & made the US charts, the
song being composed by P.J. Proby.*
The claim of the “Fake” Shirelles and Federal Government prosecution
Anyway,
she was solo (& recording again) by 1970 and later she ran a
'fake' set of Shirelles (though she always claimed that she had been
in the group in earlier days). She was prosecuted by the Federal
Government for her 'Shirelles' activities in 1975 and so stopped
running her version of the group from then.
Simmons
was a “spare” singer for most of the groups in Los Angeles at
that time in history, including a short career with Gladys Horton and
the Marvelettes. As it was stated above, to fill a contract, it was
all about “bodies” on the stage and Simmons was in demand to
help a performing group fill the bill of the group when a member was
unable to perform.
When
one of the original members of one of the Shirelles splinter groups
quit, Simmons was a member of the group with that one original
member. As time passed, and the dates for performances and payments
made in advance to the promoter, Simmons found herself in the middle
of a court lawsuit, that really had nothing to do with her, but
mostly with the promoter who kept booking the group.
It’s
the same old song, with the Temptations; David Ruffin’s
Temptations; Eddie Kendrick’s Temptations; Richard Street’s
Temptations, etc., and the beat goes on.
Simmons’s story in the lawsuit was so important, it was only printed on page
12 of the Redland Daily Facts on June 26, 1975.
As
to the Federal Government’s case, it was very weak, but due to the expense of the case, Simmons ended up working for free and had to
reimbursed all of the money she made to the “real” Shirelles.
Upon that decision, Simmons who had earned her teaching degree began
full time in the Los Angeles City Schools District, thereby
“disappearing” into her career.
However,
Simmons did not just disappear, she continued recording and releasing
records on her Simco Records label for many years after that, with
distribution deals in Japan, United Kingdom, and Canada.
Simmons
also worked with Bobby Sanders as a background singer in “sweetening”
many sessions, including Charles Wright, Barry White, Aretha
Franklin, Peter Frampton, and many other groups of that time.
