- Breton Wood (aka Alfred Smith) - vocals
 

- Little Freddie and the Rockets 

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Title:  Oogum Boogum

Company: Double Shot

Catalog: DSS 5002

Year: 1967

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring wear; name in pen on back cover

Available: 1

Price: $40.00

When he first hit the charts with the singles "Oogum Boogum" and "Gimme Little Sign" many critics compared Brenton Wood to the late Sam Cooke. On the cover of his debut album, Wood himself acknowledged Cooke as an inspiration, saying "One of my dreams is to try to be as good as Sam Cooke or Jesse Belvin - both were my idols." Judging by his catalog, Wood's certainly had the voice and the talent.

Born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, as a child Alfred Smith's family relocated to San Pedro, California. Inspired by Belvin and Cooke, Smith formed a series of local bands, culminating in the release of a 1958 single as Little Freddie and the Rockets (see separate entry). Attending Compton College, Smith continued his musical sideline, playing in a number of bands, including The Quotations. He also found the time to formally change his name to Brenton Wood (reportedly named after the Louisiana county he was born in). 

Initially signed to Wand Records, Wood's debuted with a little heard 1963 single "Mr. Schemer" b/w "Hide-A-Way" (Wand catalog number 145). While the single vanished without a trace, he was quickly picked up by Brent, which over the next two years released a series of three equally overlooked singles. Signed by Double Shot in 1966, he was teamed with producers Joe Hooven and Hal Winn, resulting in the released of 1967's "The Oogum Boogum Song" b/w "I Like the Way You Love Me" (Double Shot catalog number 111). A charming piece of soul fluff, the single became a fluke hit, leading Double Shot to rush Wood back into the studio to record album's worth of material in support of the single. Released as "Oogum Boogum," the album contained a surprisingly impressive collection of Memphis-styled soul. Propelled by the title track and the followup hit "Gimme Little Sign", the album effectively highlighted Woods' attractive voice and knack for laidback, but commercial covers. The album also includes a strange cover of the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction" (apparently chosen since the band was also signed to Double Shot). Buoyed by his unexpected success, Wood suddenly found himself a major star, complete with television appearances, including Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and sold out concert dates.

"Oogum Boogum" track listing:
1.) I Think You've Got Your Fools Mixed Up
2.) A Little Bit of Love
3.) Best Thing I Ever Had
4.) Runnin' Wild
5.) Take a Chance
6.) The Oogum Boogum Song
7.) Gimme Little Sign
8.) Psychotic Reaction
9.) I'm the One Who Knows
10.) Come Here Girl
11.) Birdman
12.) I Like the Way You Love Me

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Baby You Got It

Company: Double Shot

Catalog: DSS 5003

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring wear

Available: 1

Price: $40.00

Released later in the year, "Baby You Got It" did little to tamper with the basic formula. Continuing his collaboration with producers Hoveen and Winn, exemplified by material such as "Give It Up", "Ooh-La-Da-De" and "Little Happy-Go-Lucky Girl" the set offered up another attractive collection of Stax/Volt influenced pop-soul. Released as a single the title track b/w "" and "Gimme Little Sign" provided Wood with another pair of top-40 pop hits. Elsewhere, featuring an autoharp solo (not your everyday soul instrumentation), "Catch You On The Rebound" and the surprisingly bluesy "Trouble" stood as our personal favorites. Unfortunately, Double Shot's miniscule marketing muscle did little to support sales, the set vanishing without a trace.

"Baby You Got It" track listing:
1.) Baby You Got It - 2:00
2.) Me And You - 2:40
3.) Ooh-La-Da-De - 2:00
4.) Darlin' - 2:32
5.) Give It Up - 2:10
6.) Catch You On The Rebound - 2:12
7.) Gimme Little Sign - 2:19
8.) Trouble - 2:28
9.) Little Happy-Go-Lucky Girl - 2:38
10.) Need You Girl - 2:30
11.) Two Time Loser - 2:00
12.) Goodnight Baby - 2:17


Following Double Shot's 1970 collapse, Wood returned to the Southern California club circuit and resumed his corporate wanderings. Over the next seven years he recorded a series of sporadic singles for Prophesy, Midget and Warner Brothers.

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Come Softly

Company: Cream

Catalog: CR

Year: 1977

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring wear

Available: 1

Price: $15.00