Jump to content

The Kitchen Cinq

From Alfawiki
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article The Kitchen Cinq, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 202510 sources
The Kitchen Cinq
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1960s
Headquarters
Amarillo, Texas
,
United States
ProductsGarage rock music, singles, album

The Kitchen Cinq was a 1960s American garage rock group originating from Amarillo, Texas, featuring guitarist and songwriter Jim Parker. The band initially formed as the Illusions before adopting the name the Y'alls. After relocating to Los Angeles, they signed with Lee Hazlewood's LHI label and became known as the Kitchen Cinq. Between 1966 and 1968, they released five singles along with the album Everything but the Kitchen Cinq (1967). In December 1967, they briefly issued a single under the name a Handful before reverting to Kitchen Cinq for their final 1968 release.

History

The origins of Kitchen Cinq trace back to the Illusions in Amarillo, Texas.[1][2][3] Around 1961-62, guitarist Mark Gordon Creamer invited Jim Parker to join the lineup, which also included bassist Dale Gardner.[2] Parker had connections with Jimmie Gilmer of the Fireballs.[2] Their musical style drew inspiration from British Invasion groups such as the Dave Clark Five.[1] The Illusions achieved regional recognition with the Dot Records release of "Brenda (Don’t Put Me Down)" and its B-side "Secrets of Love," recorded at Tommy Allsup's studio in Odessa, Texas.[2] Locally, they competed with bands like The Cinders.[2]

After changing their name to the Y’alls, they released a fuzz-heavy single "Please Come Back" backed with Lennon & McCartney's "Run for Your Life" on the Ruff label in May 1966.[1][3][4] Later that year, the group moved to Los Angeles and adopted the moniker Kitchen Cinq.[2] Managed by Tom Thacker and Red Steagall, they secured a contract with Hazlewood's LHI label.[2][5] Their first LHI single, "Determination" b/w "You'll Be Sorry Someday," was released in November 1966,[2] followed by "(Ellen Francis) Ride in the Wind" b/w "If You Think..." in February 1967, and then "Still in Love With You Baby" b/w "(Ellen Francis) Ride in the Wind" in April.[2] The band regularly performed at Santa Monica’s Cheetah ballroom and shared stages with groups such as the Young Rascals and Eddie Floyd.[2] They found regional success and toured beyond California, reaching audiences in Florida, New York, and Connecticut.[2] In an effort to enhance their national presence, they briefly adopted an alternate name for a single release.

In 1967, Kitchen Cinq recorded the album Everything But the Kitchen Cinq at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles alongside contemporaries like Buffalo Springfield. The project was produced by Suzi Jane Hokom, partner of Lee Hazlewood,[1][2][6][4] and featured contributions from Wrecking Crew session musicians including Glen Campbell, Larry Knechtel, Carol Kaye, and Hal Blaine.[2] The record showcased their vocal harmonies through covers such as Neil Diamond’s "Solitary Man" and Buffy Sainte-Marie’s "Cod'ine".[1][6][3] The back cover of the LP included photographs with TV personalities Bill Cosby and Dick Van Dyke.[2][3] Their final single on LHI was "When the Rainbow Disappears" b/w "The Street Song," released in July 1967.[4] Later that year, using the pseudonym A Handful, they released "Does Anybody Know" backed with "Dying Daffodil Incident".[7] Subsequently, they signed with Decca Records and issued their last single "Good Lovin' (So Hard to Find)" b/w "For Never When We Meet" in February 1968.[2]

After Kitchen Cinq disbanded, some members went on to form Armageddon, a progressive rock group that released a self-titled album on Amos Records.[2] Jim Parker joined a post-Van Morrison incarnation of Them and later performed with rock band Baby, which opened for notable acts including REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith, and Black Oak Arkansas.[2] Relocating to Nashville during the mid-1970s, Parker collaborated on songwriting with future country artist John Anderson and transitioned into country music.[2][5] In the early 1980s, he recorded and toured with country ensemble Dave & Sugar and established himself as a Nashville songwriter. Additionally, since 1979 he has been a licensed real estate agent.[2]

The musical output of Kitchen Cinq has been revitalized through reissues of Everything but the Kitchen Cinq along with the compilation When the Rainbow Disappears: An Anthology 1965-68, curated by Alec Palao who conducted research involving direct communication with former band members.[4][8][9][10]

Membership

  • Jim Parker – guitar and lead vocals
  • Mark Creamer – guitar and lead vocals
  • Dale Gardner – bass guitar and vocals
  • Dallas Smith – guitar
  • Johnny Stark – drums

Under the Illusions

  • "Brenda (Don’t Put Me Down)" with "Secrets of Love" on the B-side (Dot)

Under the Y'alls

  • "Please Come Back" backed with "Run for Your Life" (Ruff 1016, May 1966)

Under the Kitchen Cinq

  • "Determination" coupled with "You'll Be Sorry Someday" (LHI 17000, November 1966)
  • "(Ellen Francis) Ride in the Wind" paired with "If You Think..." (LHI 17005, February 1967)
  • "Still in Love With You Baby" backed by "(Ellen Francis) Ride in the Wind" (LHI 17010, April 1967)
  • "When the Rainbow Disappears" with "The Street Song" on the flip side (LHI 17015, July 1967)
  • "Good Lovin' (So Hard to Find)" accompanied by "For Never When We Meet" (Decca 32262, February 1968)

Under the Handful

  • "Does Anybody Know?" backed with "Dying Daffodil Incident" (LHI 1201, December 1967)

Albums

  • Everything but the Kitchen Cinq (LHI, 1967)
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Thomas (AllMusic)
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Armonaitis (Parker/Cinq)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Koch (Rockasteria)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Helsing (It's Psych.)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Marston (Cinq)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Reiff (Pitchfork)
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 45cat (handful)
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Neff (Cinq)
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Attic (Cinq)
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Reid (Cinq)
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=The_Kitchen_Cinq&oldid=78887"