Jackie and Gayle, "Turn Around", Kraft Summer Music Hall, (Live Audio Version) 1966

Описание: Jackie and Gayle were a mid-Sixties “girl group” duo with roots in folk music. While they never scored a hit single, they were high profile on the pop music scene for a few years. In fact, they were the first artists to take the stage on the debut telecast of ABC’s Shindig in September 1964. In recent years, they have been rediscovered on YouTube and uploads of their recordings and film clips have attracted thousands of hits.

Jackie Miller (Davidson) and Gayle Caldwell first gained fame as part of the New Christy Minstrels during that group's peak years. As the only two women in a group of nine or ten members, the ladies stood out, and their popularity was second only to front man Barry McGuire. When they left the Minstrels in February 1964, they were high profile in the Southern California music community and encouraged to launch a career as a duo. Thus, the career of “Jackie and Gayle” was born.

At the outset, they remained true to their folk roots and performed in local clubs in the Los Angeles area; however, they were soon signed by the William Morris Agency and Capitol Records, who guided them in a different direction. The “folk era” was fading fast amidst whirlwind change triggered by the British Invasion and the burgeoning Motown sound; so, the duo was pushed towards a “girl group” sound, a debatable move because their distinctive vocal blend was most effectively presented in “unplugged” acoustic settings. Jackie and Gayle’s voices melded together beautifully, with Gayle’s sultry contralto accented seamlessly by Jackie’s warm alto; when they sang in harmony, it was a sound unto itself.

However, Jackie and Gayle were aware of the changing music scene and tended to go along with the suggestions of their managers and producers, which often had them performing formulaic pop material that had little do to with the unique qualities of their sound. On Shindig, they just did their best with what they were given – ultimately serving as a female act who could cover the pop hits of the day. However, on a handful of television shows, they worked with producers who recognized their unique sound and chose material that featured them well. In most cases, the songs were closer to their folk music roots.

Their best showcase was the 1966 summer series – Kraft Summer Music Hall with John Davidson. During the show’s run, Jackie and Gayle were given material that captured their sound perfectly, e.g., Malvina Reynolds’ “Turn Around,” the folk lullaby “All the Pretty Little Horses” and the Brazilian classic “Manha de Carnaval.” Unfortunately, it came along too late in their career to do much good. The duo broke up their act before the year was out.

Fortunately, we have uncovered a few tracks from the Kraft Summer Music Hall. The masters of the original show are long gone, so these are rare indeed – a welcome chronicle that stands as wonderful evidence of the unique sound of Jackie and Gayle.
-Tom Pickles