Clique

In the closing months of 1969, the Clique scored a moderate success via their rendition of "Sugar on Sunday," drawn from Tommy James' Crimson and Clover LP. Their only other chart entry proved even less prominent: "I'll Hold Out My Hand," which appeared on their one and only album. The group specialized in vocal harmonies and meticulously crafted, horn-accented pop-rock numbers that placed them within the orbit of what would later be termed L.A. sunshine pop, although their style leaned more toward bubblegum than many contemporaries. Far from operating as an autonomous band, they primarily served as an outlet for producer and songwriter Gary Zekley, who penned the bulk of their songs alongside Mitchell Bottler and relied on studio players for the majority of recordings. Whereas fellow Californian figures such as Gary Usher and Curt Boettcher drew from the gentlest side of The Beach Boys, Zekley and the Clique ventured even further in that direction, occasionally echoing the Monkees or bubblegum outfits like the Cuff Links, while their more energetic passages recalled Tommy James, the very artist who helmed a pair of their tracks. Ultimately, however, the Clique's legacy rests not on "Sugar on Sunday" but rather on the flip side of that single, "Superman." Distinct from their usual output through its understated paisley-era atmosphere and vigorous guitar work, the number received a 1986 cover by R.E.M. for Life's Rich Pageant, a rendition that has since eclipsed the source version in recognition. Varese Sarabande later brought the album back into print on compact disc, adding several extra cuts.