Miss Cathy Brasher - SH . . . LISTEN (Gold Star Studio) (1965)

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NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED - (Chattahoochee 690) Out of Los Angeles, this wonderful girl pop release recorded in September 1965 is one of four known singles issued by Miss Brasher in her short recording career. She had previously issued a disc on the Era label and one other on the microscopic, Lap label that was pressed in both black and clear yellow vinyl. She had one other release on the Chattahoochee label after this and is also rumored to have been one of the vocalists on the last two Chattahoochee singles released by The Murmaids which none of the original group members were even featured on.
Born Catherine Louise Brasher in 1950, in Norwalk, California, just how Miss Cathy Brasher came to enter the L.A. music biz is a mystery, and seems as soon as she appeared she disappeared.
The label on Chattahoochee #690 credits Stan Silver for Artists & Repertoire. Silver who would eventually marry Country & Western singer, Donna Fargo in 1968, also oversaw Miss Fargo on a single issued in June of 1965 on Dot which was also recorded at Gold Star studio. Credited on the label as Yvonne Vaughn (her birth name), 'When You Gonna Tell Her About Me' is a big, echo-filled dance floor number that has become quite the collectors item among Northern Soul aficionados.
Fifteen year old, Miss Brasher's lead vocals on 'Sh . . . Listen' are some of the best L.A. Girl Pop sounds one can hear. A fantastic, percussive arrangement by 'Wrecking Crew' bassist, Ray Pohlman utilizes the iconic Gold Star echo chamber to great effect and features L.A. studio fixtures, The Blossoms on hand as background vocalists.
The flip entitled, 'He Told Me He Loved Me' credits Cathy Brasher as the composer and although a great Girl Pop production, it is for the most part, a complete rip off of the Crystals', 'Then He Kissed Me'.
The backing track to 'Sh...Listen' is it's the third outing of at least six known versions and has the largest sonic wallop of all of the others. In August 1964, Larry Farrell issued the tune on L.A.P. Inc. Records with a different title and lyrics; 'Lonely Little Girl'. In May 1965, 'Yvonne Vaughn (Donna Fargo) released her watered down version of 'Lonely Little Girl' on Dot Records without the strings and background vocals. Three months later, Cathy Brashers take on the song emerged in September 1965. In April 1967 another version of 'Lonely Little Girl' appeared as the flip side to 'Till Them My Love' by Lowell Farmer on the Trident label. Also on the Trident label, Jim Page threw his version in the ring as 'Lonely Little Boy'. Lastly, an obscure version by Cindy Remmes was issued on the L.A.P. label. With at least six different versions, the Cathy Brasher version on Chattahooche appears to be the one easiest to locate..
Cathy Brasher Carter passed away on On December 26, 2013 at the age of 63.