The Sidekicks -'Fifi the Flea' 1966

Track listing:

A1 Suspicions

A2 Up On The Roof

A3 You're A Girl

A4 More (Theme From “Mondo Cane”)

A5 Not Now Written

A6 Ask Your Friend

B1 Fifi The Flea

B2 Sight And Sound

B3 Out Of The Dark

B4 He’s My Friend

B5 The Best Things

B6 Ollie Wong (The Same)

HERE

The Sidekicks were an American band from New Jersey who started out as a British Invasion copy band called the Redcoats. The Redcoats released a Herman's Hermits-inspired 45 on Laurie Records, "The Dum Dum Song." Their material can be heard on a 2001 Dionysus Records compilation called "Meet The Redcoats...Finally.”

When the Redcoats signed with RCA, they were made to change their name, which they weren't too happy about. Still, they managed to score two minor U.S. hits under their new moniker, the Sidekicks.

The biggest one was the dramatic, complex "Suspicions," which got to #55 in June, 1966) and was penned by the group's drummer John Spirt and guitarist, Mike Burke. It's catchy as all-get-out but perhaps a bit too sophisticated for its time. Spirit, by the way, had been the group the Ran-Dells and co-composed their hit "Martian Hop" (#16, 1963). 

The other Sidekicks hit was "Fifi the Flea," a cover of a Hollies album track the band composed under the name "L. Ransford." This single fared poorly, only getting to #115 on the Bubbling Under chart in October of 1966.

Both of those cuts were featured on the group's only album, "Featuring 'Fifi the Flea,'" which has never come out on CD. This is a clean rip of the stereo vinyl. 

The album is a good-to-average mid-'60s pop release. Arranger Jimmy Wisner had session musicians play instead of the group, so it's got a somewhat stiff, professional feel. But there are four originals by Spirit and Burke, plus some really good other material like Wisner's "Sight and Sound." Then there's the closing novelty number, "Ollie Wong," which is either really funny or very offensive, depending on how politically correct you are.

After the LP came out, the group released two non-LP a-sides, "Miss Charlotte" from Jan. 1967 and "You Gave Me Someone to Love" from April of that year (the flips side of these were both on the LP). "Miss Charlotte" is a fantastic pop-rocker with amusing lyrics and a fantastic lead guitar line. It was featured on the downloadable compilation "60s Psych Pop Treasures - Vol. 9."

The group broke up when they learned they'd signed a bad contract with a mysterious wealthy Philadephia woman who'd backed them financially for their initial demos. That contract also caused several group members not to be able to sign with Elektra Records when they started a new band called Words of Wisdom.

For a detailed account of the Sidekicks' history, check out the essay at the '60s Garage Bands Web site written by the band's lead singer and guitarist Zack Bocelle: http://www.60sgaragebands.com/redcoatssidekicks.html

The group:

John Spirt: drums

Mike Burke: guitar

Zack Bocelle: guitar, vocals

Randy Bocelle: bass, vocals