Nuggets: Maid of Sugar – Maid of Spice by Mouse and the Traps

Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years 1965 to 1968 and was a major influence on punk rock. Rhino Records reissued an expanded version of the set in 1998, with 118 tracks in total. I’m profiling and rating each of these 118 tracks, working backwards.

Track 78/118
From: Tyler, Texas
Aphoristic Rating: 9/10

MAID OF SUGAR–MAID OF SPICE – Mouse & The Traps [2:35]
(Ronnie Weiss/Knox Henderson)
Personnel/RONNIE “MOUSE” WEISS: vocals, guitar * HARRY “BUGS” HENDERSON: lead guitar * RANDY FOUTS: organ * DAVE STANLEY: bass * DON “LEVI” GARRETT: drums
Produced by ROBIN HOOD BRIANS
Recorded in Tyler, TX
Fraternity single #F-966 (4/66)

Mouse & The Traps must hold the rock record for the longest time between a debut single and a debut album. ‘Maid of Sugar – Maid of Spice’ was released in 1966, while their debut album, Walking in Dylan’s Shoes, was released in late December 2020. The Dylan link makes sense – before he recruited The Traps, Ronnie “Mouse” Weiss released the song ‘A Public Execution’, which sounds very similar to Highway 61 era Dylan. ‘A Public Execution’ is also featured on Nuggets.

There’s still some Dylan influence on ‘Maid of Sugar, Maid of Spice’, but it’s more of an acid-rock song. Despite Mouse’s capable lead vocals, the focal point is guitarist Bugs Henderson, who plays some great lead lines and impressive solos.

The band released a handful of singles through the 1960s. The members mostly continued in music – largely in country and rockabilly bands. The original band reunited in 1986 during the Texas Sesquicentennial celebration – they performed at Flag Pole Hill in Dallas in front of an estimated audience of 7000.

7 Comments

Badfinger (Max)

March 13, 2022 / 6:23 pm Reply

I listened to quite a bit of the Walking in Dylan’s Shoes album. I like what I heard…Stuck Inside Mobile…, Positively 4th Street, From a Buick 6…cool takes!

I like Maid of Sugar-Maid of Spice…the vocals are really strong…love the guys voice. I also found a single by them called Cryin’ Inside that is cool.
I talk with a blogger who was in a band in Texas in the 60s…opened up for big bands…I want to see if he played with these guys.
Thanks for the introduction, Graham.
- Aphoristical
  
  March 14, 2022 / 7:50 pm Reply
  
  I didn’t check the Dylan album out, but it’s one of my favourite Nuggets so far. It’d be cool to see if the other blogger opened for them.
  - Badfinger (Max)
    
    March 15, 2022 / 1:54 am Reply
    
    I was thinking about the Cryin’ Inside song while I was listening to it.
EclecticMusicLover

March 13, 2022 / 6:27 pm Reply

The song has a terrific and rousing garage rock groove.
- Aphoristical
  
  March 14, 2022 / 7:46 pm Reply
  
  Yup, it’s one of my favourites so far from the box. Strong singer, strong song, great guitarist.
Jim S.

March 15, 2022 / 7:45 am Reply

Yeah a lot of these tunes still hold up. The guitar in these songs is often a dead giveaway to the era as much as anything else.
- Aphoristical
  
  March 15, 2022 / 7:53 pm Reply
  
  I love that guitar sound.