Another San Antonio story, The Argyles were a group which formed in 1965, which rose to fame from one hit and went on to relocate to California and become The Children. All five members hailing from different sections of the Alamo city: Alamo Heights, Keystone, Macarthur, Jefferson and Cole graduates, jumped into music at a young age. The Members were: Steve Perron on guitar and VOX, Luis Cabaza on the keys, Ben Trieber on bass, Steve Anderson on drums, Chris Holzhaus on guitar, VOX.
The Argyles regularly played The Teen Canteen and Ft. Sam Houston, as it turns out the group formed The Minds Eye Club as well. From what I can tell The Minds Eye was a real hip joint with smoke machines and strobe lights creating one of the first hippie hangouts in San Antonio. The dive next to The Minds Eye was a 50s hang out called The Big Orange known for it’s territorial hoods coined “The Big Orange Hoodlums.” Well it seems that at this time, “The Hoods,” were the only source for dope, seeing that in those days 20 years was given out for possession of a joint. As it turns out the Big Orange Hoodlums shot The Argyles bassist, Benny Tieber, in the leg over a deal gone wrong.
Some time in 1966 The Argyles meet up with the Cajun producer Huey Meaux. Meaux recorded the Argyles only single, Farmer John/White Lightnin’ on the Pic-One label. Both sides were recorded at Meaux’s recording facility, Pasadena Sounds in Pasadena, TX, which at the time of this recording would have only been up and running for a little less than a year. Farmer John was a cover written by Dewey Terry and Don Harris who were a part of a group called the Squires in the mid and late 50s. There song became a hit by the California based group The Premiers in 1964 after being covered by The Searchers a year prior with no success.
Both the Searcher’s and Premier’s versions follow the original lyrics “Farmer John, I’m in love with your daughter.” The Argyles veered from the original giving the song a real Texas Raunchy feel with “Farmer John, I’m in love with your Mother.” I’m not sure who had the idea to change the lyrics of the chorus whether it was Meaux or The Argyles, however I love it and feel it is the best of the three versions. The Argyles also switched up the Premiers version by excluding the guitar break and shoving in a real nice slice of organ. The Premiers started a trend with their cut of Farmer John by creating a live feel on the recording. The track was supposedly recorded live in the Rhythm Room in Fullerton, California, however they laid down the track in a studio in Hollywood. The Argyles also went after a live feel for their version of Farmer John with laughter and party noises in the background through out the track. Ben Treiber died in 1969 only three years before Steve Perron, two young for both of these talented men. The group went on to form The Children and move to California. I received most of this information from a great website dedicated to San Antonio, www.saboomie.com. I was lucky enough to make a trade with my friend Kevin for this copy of Farmer John, hope you enjoy.
LISTEN: The Argyles – Farmer John