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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 14 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Phil-er-ups
From: Phil Milstein
2. Re: "Phil's Spectre: A Wall Of Soundalikes" CD
From: Martin Roberts
3. Re: Ginny Tiu & The Few
From: Ian Chapman
4. Re: Rockabilly Women
From: Phil Milstein
5. Re: "Phil's Spectre: A Wall Of Soundalikes" CD
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
6. Re: Sugar Shoppe
From: James Botticelli
7. Girlfriends became The Willows
From: Mark
8. Re: Phil-er-ups
From: Mike Rashkow
9. Re: Oh Canada
From: Tony
10. Re: Oh, Canada!
From: Ken Bell
11. Re: Sugar Shoppe
From: Ken Bell
12. Spector on A&E Biography
From: Scott Swanson
13. Re: Twilettes; Smokey; Spector; Dickie Goodman; more
From: Country Paul
14. Holy Cash-In, Batman!!
From: Phil Milstein
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 16:45:45 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Phil-er-ups
Artie Wayne wrote:
> Phil M.........That's funny....I used to mix up Artie Resnick
> and Artie Ripp with myself!!
I hear ya; I've long had the same problem with Messrs. Chapman,
Spector, and MYself ...
--Ph. Milstein
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 23:00:57 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Re: "Phil's Spectre: A Wall Of Soundalikes" CD
A superb list of tracks on the forthcoming "PHIL'S SPECTRE:
A WALL OF SOUNDALIKES", all strong favourites and especially
pleased to note for myself (and Martin of Denmark) that four
Nitzsche tracks are included. Maybe most are well known to
the serious Spector collector but speaking for myself a few
of the tracks I've had to make do with on CDR & tape.
In regards to Alder Ray's "A Little Love (Will Go A Long Way)",
I placed a tentative bid on eBay for this 45 but at an eventual
selling price of $113's I'd long dropped out of the running!
The only track that did raise an eyebrow was Lorraine & the
Delights but on replaying, yes it does fit.
In the hope of beguiling the avid Spectorphile with something
they may not know, I've played Those Two "I'm Gonna Walk With
You" (Laurie) to musica. I've had the track a while but only
after repeated playing of "The Laurie Story, Vol.2" have I been
giving serious attention to the more obscure Laurie/Rust 45s in
my boxes. If castanets, dramatic pauses and other Spector
trademarks are 'your bag' you may enjoy this one.
Martin
PS A look at the available tracks to play on musica, Lena Zavaroni
and the Twilettes being just two wonderful examples should prove a
veritable feast for those who don't know them.
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 22:58:20 -0000
From: Ian Chapman
Subject: Re: Ginny Tiu & The Few
Patrick Rands wrote:
> Ginny Tiu - I've Got to Make Up With You (Amaret 104)
> It's a super fine piece of girl pop with Ginny
> playing piano along with her vocal. The backing group is
> billed as The Few ......Also one of the sides was written
> by Lesley Gore's brother Michael (so I'd say it's a must
> own for a Gorehead). Surprisingly, Lesley did not record
> a version and it's not even listed in the list of lost
> unreleased songs.
That's a coincidence, Patrick. I just got that 45 ("Let
Me Get Through To You Baby" - Amaret 100) a few days ago
and was going to post about this Michael Gore/Carole Bayer
collaboration and ask if anyone knew whether Lesley had
recorded a version. You just answered the question!
I share your surprise that she didn't - it's almost a clone
of "Off & Running" and would have suited her to a "T" - but
y'know, having played it to death over the past week, I
think Ginny's version would be hard to beat.
Ian
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 18:44:23 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Rockabilly Women
Mike Nathan wrote:
> I saw information about a PBS documentary called "Welcome to
> the Club" which traced the history of women in rockabilly.
> This movie featured some great video clips and present day
> interviews. Does anyone know how to get a copy of this video?
An excellent documentary, by my friend Beth Harrington.
Using contemporary interviews and some vintage (and some recent)
performance footage, it tells the stories of Brenda Lee, Janis
Martin, Lorrie Collins, Wanda Jackson and one or two others. My
only reservation is that in focusing on those big names, it seems
to imply that they were about the ONLY female rockabillies, which,
as most of us know, is very far from the tooth. That one quibbly
aside, it is a delightful movie, which, for what it's worth, was
even nominated for a Grammy last year. I eagerly look forward to
Beth's next project, which I have heard may be a doc. on the
Carter Family and its legacy.
I don't know about its current availability, but I'm sure you'll
find what you need to know at http://www.pbs.org/welcometotheclub
and if not you will at least find there a link to Beth's own site.
Enjoy,
--Phil M.
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:22:57 EDT
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
Subject: Re: "Phil's Spectre: A Wall Of Soundalikes" CD
Yow!
So Alder Ray's "A Little Lovin' Goes A Long Long Way"
is included..... any of you guys and girls who don't have
it on CD, you just gotta get it.. it's the BEST car CD song
going. I have it on one of the "Touch the Wall of Sound" CD
compilations - Japanese imports that make my car ROCK and
tilt. (I haven't been in the house in months.)
--Jimmy--
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 19:59:59 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Sugar Shoppe
Orion wrote:
> do you think it could be considered Bubblegum?
Too early...didn't bubblegum make its premier in late '68? Sugar
Shoppe was '67.
> The times I have seen it on eBay it normally will say Bubblegum
> and/or Sunshine Pop.
I think just the word Sugar in the title leads to some situational
ethics in the e-bay marketing scheme.
> I have often wondered if putting the moniker of Bubblegum on an
> LP you are selling helps or hurts.
What would you do? Offer more for Bubblegum than Sunshine Pop? I
can't see that, but that's just me.
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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 00:56:31 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Girlfriends became The Willows
Hey everyone - I have been lurking for over a year but I can add my
2 cents about Canadian girl groups. Somewhere in my house, I have a
cover of a TV guide circa 1964 featuring a young Alex Trebek (of
Jeopardy fame) with 3 young beautiful women known as "The
Girlfriends" promoting a Toronto-based dance show. The Girlfriends
never had anything released under that name and had worked regularly
as backup singers at the Bluenote (the same Toronto club where
Shirley Matthews was discovered by Bob Crewe).
There are some other great Canadian girl group sounds: Honey
Wells "garage-y" version of He's a Rebel, Lori & Diane-Be (tough girl
group sound out of Ottawa), Dianne James, Linda Layne, Patty Surbey,
The Charmaines, The Tiaras and all the great ye-ye girls of Quebec.
I did not appreciate these records when I was younger - I wanted US
records with the US labels as the sound quality on some Canadian
titles left much to be desired. Alot of these records are very tough
to find here in Canada as the pressings would have been rather
limited as none were hits here or anywhere.
Can anyone tell me if Shawne Jackson ever had anything released
before 1970??
Best,
mark - toronto
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 21:47:12 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Phil-er-ups
Phil Milstein writes:
> I hear ya; I've long had the same problem with Messrs. Chapman,
> Spector, and MYself
How about Donahue and a cheesteak sandwich?
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 01:53:37 -0000
From: Tony
Subject: Re: Oh Canada
B.Vlaovic says:
> The Lords of London (#1 in mid-67 with the light-psych-pop track
> 'Cornflakes and Ice Cream') or possibly the Bells! Known mostly
> for the euro-styled 'Stay Awhile' they hit a peak early on in
> 1968 with 'Moody Manitoba Morning'. Not much of a hit, but an
> absolute ringer for Saint Etienne circa 1998 (Good Humour). Also
> Rain feat. Charity Brown (who had a semi-successful Canadian solo
> career in the mid 70s) were in a light pop vein. She might not
> have been brilliant in Rain"
'Cornflakes and Ice Cream' is an excellent recording, and a big pity
it didn't do well in the US. Moody Manitoba Morning is well worth
searching out, a very pleasant, dreamy song that must have caused
thousands to move to Manitoba!
I do have to disagree about Charity Brown amd Rain ... their top 20
Canadian hit 'Out Of My Mind' has to be one of the best recordings
to come out of Canada. From it's unforgettable intro, to Charity's
performance that is equitable to that of Darlene Love. A killer song
that should have gone higher in the charts!
Tony
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 22:08:16 -0500
From: Ken Bell
Subject: Re: Oh, Canada!
> Anybody else have any good Canadian soft rock recommendations?
How about Steppenwolf? They were a nice quiet, soft sound ;) Sorry,
only other band I know from Canada.
Orion
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 22:17:56 -0500
From: Ken Bell
Subject: Re: Sugar Shoppe
I am amazed by all the information on Sugar Shoppe. Thanks to all
of you for sharing it. This has been a favorite LP of mine for years.
Orion
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Message: 12
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 00:41:55 -0400
From: Scott Swanson
Subject: Spector on A&E Biography
Sorry if this was already mentioned, but Phil Spector is the A&E
Biography on Tuesday, Sept. 16. That's tonight!
Scott S
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Message: 13
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 01:16:20 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Re: Twilettes; Smokey; Spector; Dickie Goodman; more
Before going any farther, thanks to David Young for his on- and
off-list notes re: the Twilettes and more. To Frank, re: where did
I get it, a friend sent it to me, with just artist and title,
correctly assuming it slotted well into my taste. So it's a learning
experience for me, too!
Artie Wayne:
> The Feathers, by the way, was Joey and Artie's Studio band who
> played on all of their Buddah hits.
...as opposed to The Feathers on Imperial, from New Orleans in the
early 50's; they had several r&b hits, especially in the south. And
Artie, thanks for the wonderful Bobby Darin recollections. Might you
have any idea who the male vocal group was behind "Lost Love" on Atco
in '58?
With all the Smokey & His Sister discussion, I dug around the 45's
(I don't have the album, sorry) and found two Columbia 45's, both arr.
Joey Scott, prod. David Rubinson, all comp. Smokey except "Silent
Seas" comp. Smokey & L. Stallman:
4-43995: Creators of Rain / In A Dream of Silent Seas
(Label cites 1966, my notes say issued 1967; I have the pic sleeve,
by the way)
4-44207: Would You Come Home / A Lot of Lovin'
I think "Silent Seas" is the best of them - moody and pretty; glad it
was played to musica. "A Lot of Lovin'" is sort of Mamas & Papas/
Spanky and Our Gang "ba-ba-boppa-ba" pop, competent but eminently
forgettable to these ears; and both A sides are oh-so-self-
consciously arty - sort of a junior Donovan, but with no expression
and no range (Sister seemns to serve as his high-end). Fun,
nonetheless.
Re: Canadian soft rock, the Sugar Shoppe had a hit 45 called
"Canada" which sounded a lot like the Mamas and Papas, eh? (Very
good record, actually!) As a Yank, I'm sure I'm very late to this
party. Also, one of the most beautiful British Invasion-style songs
to come out of Canada was 1964's "So Many Other Boys" by the
Esquires (Capitol of Canada). Impossible to find, well worth seeking.
Phil Chapman, re: Starsailor:
> I was not as impressed as I hoped to be....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....Personally, I would have
> preferred the full-on assault, but I wonder whether or not that
> would have actually reduced its chance of success.
Mark Wirtz:
> with visionaries like Spector, there is only that one way. All else
> is "a little bit pregnant."
Mark, a great quote from your excellent critique. It would indeed be
interesting to see if the "real" Spector sound could again dominate
the market - or at least rise in it. With Starsailor's track record,
buzz and exposure, this would have been a good one to find out with.
Maybe I was less impressed because of my expectations....
Phil Milstein:
> 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!
Another part of the fun is reading Jon's turgid blurb at
http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=1152 . Also,
without having read the book, let me add two notes: The Del Vikings'
("Come Go With Me," "Whispering Bells") first recordings appeared on
Luniverse, Buchanan & Goodman's label. Also, there was a B side (of I
forget which single) called "Murder Mystery" - all sound effects
telling the story except for one or two terse lines, cliches which
were almost SFX unto themselves. Very clever. (As I have it on a 78,
I haven't heard it in a long time!)
Simon White:
> there was a male Willows - weren't they on MGM as well?
Adding to Ian Chapman's post, there was a male r&b Willows on Melba,
whose hit, "Church Bells May Ring," was later covered by the Diamonds,
siphoning some sales. (Would that make them "weeping Willows"?) I
believe they had additional recordings, but I don't know for whom. I
also think they were around on the UGHA reunion circuit lately with
many of their original members.
Kim Cooper:
> all-American country hate-monger Johnny Sea....
Yeah, "Day for Decision" was a disgrace, but he did some decent
Johnny Cash-sounding singles, some of which were country hits,
although all the titles escape me for the moment.
Kim again:
> Stay tuned for Scram #19, starring Linda Perhacs!
I'd heard she'd dropped out of sight. Did you find her?!?!?
Country Paul
(obviously not the only one who thinks James Ray is underrated)
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Message: 14
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 20:44:18 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Holy Cash-In, Batman!!
Now playing at musica, "I've Got Love For My Baby," by Burt "Boy
Wonder" Ward. A bit more info, highlighted by a label scan, at
http://members.cox.net/budugly/bat-music/ward_45.html
Enjoy,
--Phil M.
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