There is very little out there on this band.
The best bio is (in total): “A soft rock act which placed one single in the US Top 20 in 1971, ‘Rings’, Cymarron comprised Rick Yancey (1948), Sherrill Parks (b. 1948, Jackson, Tennessee, USA; guitar/saxophone) and Richard Mainegra (b. 1948, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA). The trio was formed after Yancey was hired as a studio musician and songwriter by Chips Moman for the latter’s American Recording Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Yancey met Parks, they decided to work together, and Parks brought in Mainegra. They named the group Cymarron after a television western called Cimarron Strip. ‘Rings’, released on Entrance Records, was not written by the group but by outside writers, Eddie Reeves and Alex Harvey, and it became Cymarron’s only success, despite a handful of subsequent singles and an album”. https://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Cymarron.html
Yancey, Parks and Mainegra may have been the “band” (and no slouches themselves) but in the studio they were assisted by the ace session men, known as The Memphis Boys, working at American Sound studios in Memphis under owner and producer Chips Moman.
“The Memphis Boys, American Sound Studio's House band was composed of drummer Gene Chrisman, bassists Tommy Cogbill and Mike Leech, guitarist Reggie Young, pianist Bobby Wood, and organist Bobby Emmons. They brought versatility to the studio, including Joe Tex's "I Gotcha"; Merrilee Rush's "Angel of the Morning"; Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"; The Box Tops' "Cry Like a Baby"; Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto"; and Danny O'Keefe's "Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues". It was Tommy Cogbill's bass ride out in Dusty Springfield's hit "Son of a Preacher Man." They were also the band in flutist Herbie Mann's 1969 Jazz Rock classic Memphis Underground . In 2007, they were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sound_Studio#The_Memphis_Boys
The playing, as you would expect, is wonderful. I mean, guitarist, Reggie Young played on Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds”, “Kentucky Rain”, “In the Ghetto”, “Don't Cry Daddy”, and “I've Got a Thing about You Baby”, and “Stranger In My Own Hometown” as well as for many other artists.
Chips Moman, I suspect, is the driving force behind this band. And despite references to the band as “soft rock”, Moman is too Southern and rustic to easily let them fall into that genre. There are country and gospel influences here and the lush dramatic faux orchestral in the background.
Likewise, most of the covers, seems to have come from songs recorded previously at American Sound Studios under Chips Moman. I assume Moman liked the songs and thought they had enough potential to give them another try. Moman seems to have done this a bit with acts he produced or worked with (Neil Diamond, Elvis, BJ Thomas, Dusty Springfield, The Box Tops etc) either writing or resurrecting each other’s songs.
It ticks all the right boxes of the emerging, soon to be a dominant sound, slick musicianship, country vibes, harmonies, gentle non-confrontational lyrics and a general relaxed feel.
This is soft rock as if played by the Eagles or perhaps the Grass Roots, or perhaps John Stewart or better still, Crosby Stills Nash and Young.
Written by band members unless otherwise noted.
Tracks (best in italics)
Side One
- Rings – (A. Harvey, E. Reeves) – written by songwriters Alex Harvey ("Reuben James" recorded by Kenny Rogers, and "Delta Dawn," recorded by Tanya Tucker) and Eddie Reeves (“If You Wouldn’t Be My Lady” recorded by Charlie Rich and “All I Ever Need Is You” recorded by Kenny Rogers & Dottie West). The song has a convoluted history but was first recorded by Running Bear & Goldstein (which was Mike Settle and the two writers). Within a year it was recorded by Cymarron, Tompall & the Glaser Brothers (#7 C&W US) and Lonnie Mack. Other versions have been done by Lobo (#43, 1974), Charlene (1976), Twiggy (1977), Dr Hook (1982), Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon (2005) and Instrumental by Bill Black's Combo (1971). This is a very catchy song (and a little different to the rest of the album)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_(song) https://www.songfacts.com/facts/cymarron/rings
- In Your Mind – (B. McKnight) – Billy Wade McKnight had been in garage band Billy McKnight & the Plus 4 based in Tyler, Texas in the 60s. This is a country rock ballad.
- Across The Kansas Sky – (S. Parks) – not to bad but not distinctive
- A Good Place To Begin – (B. Carter, R. Mainegra) – very good. A bit like Jim Croce if he went country rock.
- How Can You Mend A Broken Heart – (B. Gibb, R. Gibb) – First release by Bee Gees (1971) #1 US. If you wanted to hear the Bee Gees in a country rock setting, then, here it is. Quite good reallt. The Bee Gees vocal harmonies (around this time) are suited to country. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Can_You_Mend_a_Broken_Heart
Side Two
- Valerie – (R. Mainegra) – a stunning original and a good mix of soft rock and country rock.
- Hello Love – (R. Williams, R. Young) – written by guitarist Reggie Young with Red Williams. First recording and first release by Brenda Lee on her "Memphis Portrait” album from 1970 which was recorded and produced by Chips Moman at American Recording Studios (with Reggie Young on guitar). Not too bad.
- Tennessee Waltz – (P.W. King, R. Stewart) – The magnificent song originally by Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys (#3 (later C&W charts, 1948)) and then bu Cowboy Copas (#6 (later C&W charts, 1948)) but forever associated with trad pop songstress Patti page (#1 Pop, #2 C&W 1950). It has been recorded hundreds of times since … Ivo Robi? (1957), Eddy Arnold (1954), Connie Francis (1959), Sam Cooke (1964), Tennessee Ernie Ford (1960). Otis Redding(1966), Petula Clark (1951), The Louvin brothers (1958), Pat Boone (1962), Lloyd price (1963), Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas (1965), Manfred Mann (1966), Leonard Cohen (2004), Guy Mitchell (1990), Sandy Bull (1972), Elvis Presley (1966 home recording) and many others. A great song. This isnt as mournful as some but it does capture the right mood.
- Break My Mind – (J.D. Loudermilk) – First release by George Hamilton IV (1967) and covered many times since including by the Box Tops (1967) who recorded it at Chip Moman's American Recording Studios (produced by Dan Penn). Quite good wih a very late 60s lyric.
- Table For Two For One – (S. Tyrell, W. Carson) – First release by B.J. Thomas on his "Most of All" (1970) album recorded at American Sound Studio and produced by Chips Moman. Co-author Carson (who co-wrote "Always on My Mind" for Elvis) and Steve Tyrell are songwriters and singers. Carson recorded the song for his album "Life Lines" (1972) (where the song is, curiously, credited to Carson and his normal co-author, John Christopher). Pleasant.
- True Confession – (S. Parks) – this is 60s rock given country overtones. Interesting, and catchy.
And …
Patchy but quite good as country rock goes soft. There are some gems here … I'm keeping it.
Chart Action
US
Singles
1971 Rings #17
1971 Valerie #96
Album
1971 #187
England
nothing
Elsewhere
Australia
Singles
1971 Rings #46
Canada
Singles
1971 Rings #41
Sounds
Rings
mp3 attached
In Your Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94b2d6bDgik
Across The Kansas Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKeHUx0JsnE
Valerie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMHoqMWZJ2M
True Confession
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxHmcEfjSyg
Others
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZYMCuYocc
Review
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Bio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymarron
https://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Cymarron.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sound_Studio#The_Memphis_Boys
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chips_Moman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Young
Website
—
Trivia
- Personnel: Bass – Mike Leech, Drums – Gene Chrisman, Guitar [Lead] – Reggie Young, Guitar [Rhythm] – Johnny Christopher, Guitar, Vocals – Richard Mainegra, Rick Yancey, Harmonica, Vocals – Sherrill Parks, Organ – Bobby Emmons, Percussion – Hayward Bishop, Piano – Bobby Wood, Producer – Chips Moman.
- According to the liner notes the band name came from the television western show "Cimarron Strip" from the late 1960s (which starred Stuart Whitman).
- “In 1991, Yancey and Mainegra joined Jimmy Griffin (formerley of Bread) in forming the country music band The Remingtons. Yancey and Griffin also performed together as GYC until Griffin's death in 2005”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymarron
- Richard Mainegra went on to write many songs including "Separate Ways" for Elvis Red West (who he rote a few things with). Rick Yancey wrote less but he did work with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and others. Sherrill Parks was the quietest though he later worked with Willie Nelson and provided (and sang) a song, "Memphis Thelma", to the "Ode To Billy Joe" soundtrack (1976)
RIP
Dr John 1941 – 2019
and a belated
Reggie Young 1936 – 2019
Peter Tork 1942 – 2019
