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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 16 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Starsailor
From: Mark Wirtz
2. Re: Jerry Keller
From: Artie Wayne
3. Re: Dickie Goodman
From: Roger Smith
4. Re: Starsailor
From: Mark Wirtz
5. Re: The Younghearts
From: David Gordon
6. Pussycats / Puss n' Boots - Same Group?
From: Rich
7. Re: Shadow Morton
From: David Gordon
8. Re: Dickie Goodman
From: Phil Milstein
9. Re: Shadow Morton
From: Mike Rashkow
10. The Breakaways CD
From: Supreme Dream
11. Re: Jerry Keller / The Duprees
From: Mikey
12. Re: The Breakaways CD
From: Mick Patrick
13. Re: RIP Warren Zevon
From: Ken Silverwood
14. Oh, Canada!
From: Keith
15. Crystals "Uptown" in stereo
From: cmoeh
16. Re: Starsailor
From: Mike Rashkow
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 09:04:34 -0400
From: Mark Wirtz
Subject: Re: Starsailor
Country Paul:
> My reaction when I heard the song a while ago was not as
> positive as yours or the article's. I think re-listening
> may be in order.
Phil Chapman:
> Hi Paul - I was quoting the introductory paragraph to the
> interview. Like you, I was not as impressed as I hoped to
> be. It's a good song, good vocal, and is all over MTV, so
> it should be a hit. Most of ye olde Spector trademarks are
> there - big drums, layered percussion, intricate mid-range
> - but all kept carefully under restraint, giving me the
> feeling that it's not really *his* mix. It's well recorded
> and I suspect balanced astutely for commercial purposes.
> Personally, I would have preferred the full-on assault, but
> I wonder whether or not that would have actually reduced its
> chance of success.
Oh, how well and delicately put --- good old Phil Chapman,
always the diplomat... Bless ya, Phil :)
My opinion, as a lifelong Spector student and fan(atic),
even having produced and released tributes to the man, AS
WELL AS being a fan of Starsailor's music, I find this release
to be a disgrace. It may well become a "hit," and elements of
the record (notably the brilliantly performed and recorded
vocals) make it deservedly so among Starsailor fans. Alas,
to me, this hybrid is nevertheless a tragic humiliation of
Spector (or "echo-boy" as Starsailor so condescendingly call
him) - and at the worst possible time. No doubt (and according
to the article), it was the "Silence Is Easy" song in demo form
that initially attracted Mr. Spector. Hardly surprising - it is
exactly the kind of simple, hypnotic, melodic tune and message
that Spector was such a master of transcending into a riveting
spectacle. And I bet, any of us that KNOW Spector's style, can
virtually hear it, truly and fully realised HIS way. And with
visionaries like Spector, there is only that one way. All else
is "a little bit pregnant."
Having heard the entire album, as well as having been very
familiar with Starsailor's first CD, it appears that the
pairing of Spector and Starsailor was an inevitable collision
waiting to happen, making for a symbiotic, not synergistic
partnership - with Starsailor the vegetarian, and carnivorous
Spector trying to open a steak house together...
In my fantasy, Spector would have passed on producing Starsailor,
then ultimately grabbed that song (as anybody could once published),
and autonomously recorded and released it with a brand new artist
(ideally a soulful girl singer) under his control. Man, I would rob
my piggy bank to buy and own and possess THAT record!!!
In conclusion, the most tragic aspect of this whole thing is that
it DOES give the impression to the unsuspecting public that Spector
HAS lost his touch and is all washed up (making many in the industry
speculate privately that, therefore, this is Spector's last record
ever). To wit, and I challenge you: Pick any music fan who has never
heard of Spector, sit them down and play them "Silence Is Easy" as an introduction to the man's genius. You know what reaction you'll get
by the end of the record? A vacant, "So?" And you'll have to quickly
grab a copy of "River Deep," or "Loving Feeling," to put things right.
Even though the "Silence Is Easy" tune and Starsailor's vocal
performance has gotten under my skin, I cannot listen to the
darn thing anymore.. It turns my stomach and makes me want to weep...
Sadly,
Mark Wirtz
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 06:52:03 -0700 (PDT)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: Jerry Keller
Mick.......How ya' doin'? I'm glad to hear that Jerry Keller
is alive and well and living in Nashville. He's a good guy and
one of my favorite songwriting collaborators. We became friends
after he did the demo for "Midnight Mary" [Raleigh/Wayne] about
a year before I produced it on Joey Powers.
Rick Nelson recorded one of our songs, "In our own Funny Way",
and from time to time I sang background on sessions with him,
including one record as the Duprees, "You belong to me", with
Ronnie Dante rounding out the group.
Things sort of came full circle when I went to Warner Bros Music
and bought the copyright to "Here Comes Summer".....Jerry Keller's
biggest hit.
Regards,
Artie
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 09:52:37 -0400
From: Roger Smith
Subject: Re: Dickie Goodman
Previously:
> About Dickie Goodman: One of my collecting specialties is the
> genre of record Goodman invented, called "break-ins" or "Flying
> Saucers" (after the 1956 single that started it all, Buchanan &
> Goodman's "The Flying Saucer, Parts 1 & 2). If any radio station
> would let me, I could probably do a whole series about them.
Just in case you missed it, Albert Brooks does a funny parody
of break-in songs in "Party from Outer Space" on his "A Star is
Bought" album.
> And about Warren Zevon: I find it a little sad that, even on the
> Internet, there hasn't been much discussion of "Like the Seasons",
> the early WZ composition that became the B-side of both "Happy
> Together" and "Can I Get to Know You Better". Howard (Eddie)
> Kaylan seldom sounded better than he did on "Like the Seasons".
I guess the songwriter of the b-side gets royalties for every
copy sold just like the songwriter on the a-side. That probably
explains why so many singles had "throwaway" b-sides written by
the a-side's producer or artist. So it's pretty amazing that the
b-side for "Happy Together" wasn't a song written by Howard like
most of the other Turtle singles. The Turtles really supported
new, mostly unknown at the time, songwriters like Warren Zevon
and Harry Nilsson.
-- Roger
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 13:56:18 -0000
From: Mark Wirtz
Subject: Re: Starsailor
Has anybody noticed the melodic similarity between "Silence Is Easy,"
and Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance"? Moreover, in ambience concept -
does SIE remind you of Bonnie Tyler's "It's A Heartache" (except,
SIE never leaves the runway)?
Just a thought.
Mark W.
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 14:19:51 -0000
From: David Gordon
Subject: Re: The Younghearts
James Botticelli wrote:
> Sure...luckily I have my rare 45's soul boxes out as I'm
> trying to compile Something For Simon (hey, sounds like a
> Mancini tune!). The Younghearts tune is called "Hey Love"
> b/w "I've Got Dancing Fever" actually recorded in 1980. I
> usually label the ballad as the A side, but that's just me.
> It's on Soultown Records produced by Bobby Sanders and Larry
> Love, Executive procuded by a fella named God. The tune was
> written by Ronald Preyer and Larry Love and its numbered
> S-3000-A (the ballad side) which could mean it was Soultown's
> first release I guess.
Thanks James - wonder if "God" is the same as the one who worked
with George Kerr - he gets co-production credits on lots of late
70's / early 80's discs ;-)
RE Soultown - looks as if Bobby Sanders resurrected the label
in the eighties - there was an earlier run of releases on Soultown
in the mid-late sixties including a real curio I've just remembered.
A version of the Younghearts "I've Got Love For My Baby" by
Burt Ward - I haven't seen it or heard it - I suppose this is
the guy who played "Robin" in the Batman TV series.
Ron Preyer had at least one solo release - "Baltimore" which made
the Billboard soul charts in the eighties - does anyone know if
this is the Randy Newman song ?
Davie
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:17:30 -0000
From: Rich
Subject: Pussycats / Puss n' Boots - Same Group?
Going through some of my seldom played CDs and came across
a CD "Mynd Excursions" which highlights hard to find songs
from the Kama Sutra label. Why I don't play it that much is
a question I have no answer for. There is a song on it "I
Want Your Love" by a group shown as Puss n' Boots. Notes-writer
states group probably was someone's studio invention and never
released as far as he could tell. I then found reference on
the internet for a song with the same name by a Group called
the Pussycats. That song was released on Columbia 43272 and
the web site had a picture of the 45. Label stated it was a
Kama Sutra Production. It also had a brief description of start
of the song and what it sounded like. Gotta to be the same song,
but question, are they the same groups?
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 14:31:26 -0000
From: David Gordon
Subject: Re: Shadow Morton
Hi Mick, here's a few more Shadow Morton productions for you:
The Blue Project (Verve Forecast 5055, 08 /670
Lost In The Shuffle / Gentle Dreams
Prod. Shadow Morton
The Vagrants (Atco 6552,1968)
And When It's Over
Prod. Shadow Morton
Bob Vegas (Roulette 4561,1964)
Don't Make Me Laugh
Prod. Shadow Morton & George Goldner
New York Rock and Roll Ensemble (Atco 6584, 06 /68)
Pick Up In The Morning / The Thing To Do
Prod. John Linde & Shadow Morton
The Merchants of Dream (A&M 989, 11/68)
Sing Me Life / Dorothy, The Fairy Queen
(I've this one listed as being produced / arranged by Jimmy Testa
for Shadow Morton Productions.)
Davie
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 10:57:38 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Dickie Goodman
Andrew Jones wrote:
> About Dickie Goodman: One of my collecting specialties is the
> genre of record Goodman invented, called "break-ins" or "Flying
> Saucers" (after the 1956 single that started it all, Buchanan &
> Goodman's "The Flying Saucer, Parts 1 & 2). If any radio station
> would let me, I could probably do a whole series about them.
Those interested in Dickie Goodman will not want to miss the
recent bio of him wriiten (and self-published) by his son Jon.
It is a harrowing and hair-raising account of a most troubled
soul. Part of the fun is that Jon considers Dickie an under-
heralded pop genius, virtually claiming that if it weren't for
him modern sampling (as well as several other innovations) would
never have been discovered! I believe it is called "The King Of
Novelty", and can be ordered from http://www.xlibris.com
--Phil M.
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2003 18:50:26 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Shadow Morton
Mick Patrick writes:
> While you were working with Johnny Cymbal did you ever
> come across Shadow Morton? I believe he was involved at
> Bang Records assisting Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry
> run their Tallyrand publishing company.
Shadow drank a lot of Scotch at my apartment on 71st Street
...direct from the bottle that he would carry with him.
Very intense guy, spoke in riddles. Used to make me
uncomfortable. Thought he was a pretty scary dude.
I don't remember the exact situation, but he once threatened
to have a Mafia guy that he was tied into "take care of me".
I'm not going to put that name here, but those that were in
the biz back at that time, might recognize the initials L.M.
I was concerned enough to go and talk directly to the guy
(E.G. knew him too) and asked him straight out. He told me
that Shadow was "full of s--t" , not to worry. And I didn't.
Anecdotally, as a favor to him, EG and I went down to Brooklyn
and worked with his son's band a few times. Not much and it
never went anywhere, but there was another band rehearsing next
door one night that turned out pretty good, James Taylor I
think his name was.
Anyway, that's what I was told - could have been Springsteen
for all I know.
I don't know anything about Shadow helping Jeff and or Ellie
run Talleyrand. I doubt it. Actually Talleyrand was Neil
Diamond's publishing company - Jeff and Ellie had no part in it.
I don't think Jeff and George were close at all. I doubt that
they were involved at all. To the best of my knowledge, Shadow
was "between hits" at this period. The Shangs were over and
Shadow was working out of LM's office in the Brill building and
in a studio out on Long Island. Then he made the Vanilla Fudge.
I'll tell you this--when I first started working with Ellie,
she and Jeff had just signed with Unart Music. First they both
had offices in the Brill Building and then they got big offices
in the UA building next door to each other. I don't ever
remember Shadow being around.
The regular crew evenings at my apartment was Mikie, Ellie,
Johnny Cymbal, me. one or two others. Shadow came a couple of
times. He was drunk everytime I saw him and always hitting on
E.G. They knew each other from way back in Long Island and I'm
not sure what the deal was, but it wasn't anything she seemed
interested in at the time. I know this - he had no compunction
about calling her at 2 o'clock in the morning and telling her
he wanted to come over.
Possibly that was what caused the disagreement between us.
I may have asked him to quit doing it.
Is that sufficient dishing the dirt?
Di da
Rashkovsky
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 01:35:13 -0000
From: Supreme Dream
Subject: The Breakaways CD
To any and all girl group fans out there, I just found out that
a CD has been released of the Breakaways. They were a UK girl
group from the 60's. They had a great sound. "That How It Goes"
is a true girl group sound that blows the roof off! They also
backed up many an artist. Dusty Springfield used them a lot on
her recordings. I believe they were an off shoot of the Vernon
Girls. Amazon.com carried their CD which will be released mid-
September in the US. If anyone out there knows their history,
would love hearing about it.
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 14:05:52 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Jerry Keller / The Duprees
Artie Wayne:
Are you saying that The Duprees didn't sing on "You Belong To
Me" or that you simply put some additional backrounds on the
record. Please clear this up, if you can.
thanks!!
Mikey
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 19:44:37 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: The Breakaways CD
Supreme Dream:
> To any and all girl group fans out there, I just found out that
> a CD has been released of the Breakaways. They were a UK girl
> group from the 60's. They had a great sound. "That How It Goes"
> is a true girl group sound that blows the roof off! They also
> backed up many an artist. Dusty Springfield used them a lot on
> her recordings. I believe they were an off shoot of the Vernon
> Girls. Amazon.com carried their CD which will be released mid-
> September in the US. If anyone out there knows their history,
> would love hearing about it.
Happy to help. The best way to find out more about the Breakaways
is to buy the CD and read the booklet. You'll find all you need to
know right there. The CD is now in stock at Bim-Bam, my favourite
mail order dealer. They have a website at: http://www.bim-bam.com
If you like, you could always read a review of the CD first, here:
http://www.shindig-magazine.com/reviews-aug2003-1.html
The Breakaways have been discussed at length here at S'pop. Have
you tried searching the Discussion Forum Archive? No? It's the best
place to look for girl group info. Here y'are, just click below:
http://sitelevel.whatuseek.com/query.go?crid=3139029a15576827&query=breakaways
And you've investigated the S'pop website, I presume? S'easy too.
Go to the members page at: http://www.spectropop.com/go2/members.html
See that nice picture of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson? Click
above it to reveal a sidebar menu listing ALL of the S'pop group
features. Scroll down to Girl Group Listings and click again. Then
scroll down the abecedarian list of girl groups to the Breakaways
and click again. Voila!
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 20:23:33 +0100
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: RIP Warren Zevon
I believe at one time Warren Zevon was musical arranger/ band leader/
pianist for the Everly Brothers touring group. He not only composed
the previously mentioned tunes, but also came up with some excellent
material going from the mid 1970's right up to a couple of weeks ago.
Unfortunatley this music doesn't belong on this site, but when you
reach Z in you local record store he'll be there right by Z Z Top &
the Zombies.
Ken On The West Coast.
(who's hair is just ..........perfect!)
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 15:22:21 -0400
From: Keith
Subject: Oh, Canada!
Hey All,
Over the last year or so, I've really been getting into some Canadian
soft rock groups, and I'm over the moon at the moment with an LP on
Canadian Talent Library by a band called The Metro-Gnomes (with Chad
Allen from the Guess Who!). It's basically two girls and a guy (Chad)
doing some really brilliant soft rock originals interspersed with
"Trains and Boats and Planes" and similar timely fare. There are two
tracks in particular that amaze me, "Love Needs A Solid Foundation"
and "Im Sorry," just killer late 60's orchestrated pop. The guy who
did the arrangements is described on the liner notes as "the Canadian
Henry Mancini!"
Anybody else have any good Canadian soft rock recommendations?
Cheers,
Keith
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 20:05:56 -0000
From: cmoeh
Subject: Crystals "Uptown" in stereo
A few years ago I heard what sure sounded like a true stereo version
of the Crystals' "Uptown". I've been looking for the original source
of this recording with no success. Does anyone out there have a clue?
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 17:28:20 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Starsailor
Mark Wirtz writes:
> Even though the "Silence Is Easy" tune and Starsailor's vocal
> performance has gotten under my skin, I cannot listen to the
> darn thing anymore.. It turns my stomach and makes me want to weep...
Hey Mark,
I enjoyed reading your well structured critique of the StarSailor CD
but why not tell us how you really feel?
Di da,
Rashkovsky
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