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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 20 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Soft Rock
From: Alan Zweig
2. Re: Sax for Dusty
From: Paul Urbahns
3. Re: Steve & Nik Venet
From: James Botticelli
4. Canadian Sweethearts errata; Robert Palmer, RIP; more
From: Country Paul
5. Re: Lou Toby
From: Simon White
6. Re: Wings
From: Simon White
7. Re: soft rock
From: James Botticelli
8. Re: Recent CDs: Skeeter Davis / Phil's Spectre
From: Alfie Noakes
9. Re: Bacharach's 'Fool Killer'
From: Ken Silverwood
10. Bang Records - Bassett Hand
From: Ken Silverwood
11. Re: Chiffons
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
12. The mono "White Album"
From: Andrew
13. Ed Townsend compilation?
From: Andrew
14. Chris Farlowe
From: Ken Mortimer
15. Re: Bacharach & David's 'Fool Killer'
From: Mick Patrick
16. Re: soft rock
From: Ken Bell
17. Re: Sax for Dusty
From: Bill Reed
18. Re: Steve & Nik Venet
From: Artie Wayne
19. Re: Lou Toby
From: Stephane Rebeschini
20. Re: Chiffons on BT Puppy
From: Phil Milstein
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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 22:19:08 -0400
From: Alan Zweig
Subject: Re: Soft Rock
Orion:
> "Soft Pop", "Sunshine Pop", "Pop Psyche" in my opinion those all
> mean the samething.
Here are my two cents on this burning question.
If everyone got together and decided to call this stuff "soft rock", I
would go along with it. But I do think this is the least appropriate
of the various terms used. I don't think the word "soft" should be
used with "rock". If it's soft, it isn't rock. Or if you think of the
original implication of rock n roll then you probably know that if it's
soft, you can't rock n roll. I don't mind the term "soft pop" though it
always makes me wonder what "hard pop" would be. As far as I'm
concerned, what we call "soft pop" is not really softer than what we
simply call "pop".
"Harmony pop" is probably the most descriptive since (almost) all the
stuff I put into this category features a lot of harmony singing (even
though some of it is closer to unison singing). If this became the
official term, I'd accept it but I don't really like it.
"Pop psyche", I think, implies a lot of different things that aren't
all that similar. And that could be because the term "psychedelic" has
become almost meaningless in the last few years. But when I see the
term, I do make assumptions. I figure it probably won't rock, it might
have a bit of a folkie feel, the lyrics will be a bit trippy and there
will be harmonies. I think my favorite term is "sunshine pop", not
because the lyrical content is so sunshiney, though it usually is, but
because I always assume it was an oblique reference to the Beach Boys
who were probably one of the bigger - if not the biggest - influence on
all of this stuff.
Once upon a time, on another list (I think), I suggested that, in the
spirit of "doo wop", we call the stuff "ba ba da". I think that would
solve all the problems.
AZ
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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 22:46:38 EDT
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Re: Sax for Dusty
Dave asked:
> Someone on the jazz list has asked who played the sax solo on Dusty
> Springfield's version of "The Look Of Love" that I think was
> featured in the "Casino Royale" fillum. "This is a job for
> Spectropop" I thought. Can anyone help?
The movie version was conducted and arranged by Burt Bacharah I believe
and probably done in Hollywood. However Dusty did do a single version
for her record company Philips which is a different recording all
together.
Paul Urbahns
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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 27 Sep 2003 22:11:06 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Steve & Nik Venet
Country Paul wrote:
> I get confused between Steve Venet and Nik Venet.
It's really Stevie Niks...Shhhhh..
Speaking of which, anyone ever heard the great punk single by The
Rotters called "Sit On My Face Stevie Nicks"? Opens with the
"Rhiannon" guitar lick then busts loose. One of punk's greatest hits
IMHO.
JB
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 01:51:01 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Canadian Sweethearts errata; Robert Palmer, RIP; more
First, an error: in a my previous note, I mentioned The Canadian
Sweethearts' "Hootenanny Express" as a patriotic Canadian song; the
correct song fitting the description would be "Rocky Mountain Special."
Both, however, are of a similar time frame and have a similar feeling,
both share a train theme, and IMO both are worth hearing.
Kim Cooper, thanks for the Linda Perhacs update. Please let me know
when the interview is published.
Finally, I note with great sadness the passing of Robert Palmer.
Although his music wasn't in our purview (although the "girl groups"
with the little back dresses might qualify) he was a great talent and a
gentleman. I had the pleasure of knowing him for a while in the early
70's, when "Sneaking Sally" and "Every Kinda People" were big. His music
was frequently on our turntables at WHCN, and he was a friend of the
station's as well; he'd occasionally come by when passing through, even
if not playing in Hartford, to say hello, chat on the air and maybe spin
a few records from our library. It's sad that he departed so young; his
taste was broad-based and diverse, and his passing is popular music's
loss.
Country Paul
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 08:06:41 +0100
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Lou Toby
Bill Reed:
> I have a 45 of Who's Afraid? (Webster - North) by jazz singer
> Frank D'Rone on Columbia. The flip is a Teddy Randazzo/R. Allison
> tune, Too Good To Be Forgotten. Both sides arr. by a name totally
> new to me. . .Lou Toby.
Lou Toby produced Barbara Jean English's "So Many Ways To Die" album
in 1972 and I'm sure an awful lot more. Anyone?
Simon
--
Rilleh!
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 08:44:53 +0100
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Wings
> This maybe up a Spectropoppers street - does anyone have a copy
> of the Paul Williams/Michel Colombier album 'Wings"?
Thanks for the replies - can someone tell me what the track "For Those
Who Cannot Hear" is like?
Simon
--
Rilleh!
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 04:09:16 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: soft rock
Re: Alan Zweig on Soft Rock
At least thank him for breaking it all down so finitely. Someone had to
do it and it was AZ. So can't we just call it all Sunshine? With the
exception of 'Mr Dieingly Sad'? I often feel like AZ. But don't always
break it down as well. Usually.
Thanks for the space...JB
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 12:36:07 -0000
From: Alfie Noakes
Subject: Re: Recent CDs: Skeeter Davis / Phil's Spectre
Is "What am I Gonna Do With You" the same as the Lesley Gore track of
the same name? If so, it's one of my all-time favourite recordings,
and the Lesley Gore version could have sat happily on the forthcoming
"Phil's Spectre" compilation on Ace.
I'm sure that this track has been discussed in the archives, but I
reckon it's one that any Spectropop member would adore. The song was
written by Titelman/Goffin, produced by Quincy Jones, and has an
unmistakable arrangement by none other than Jack Nitzche. It would
have been perfectly suited to Ronnie Spector, and I'd love to hear
what she would do with it.
On the subject of "Phil's Spectre", has anyone got any suggestions of
other tracks that might have made it onto this album? I was really
hoping it would include Bonnie & The Treasures' "Home of the Brave",
but that doesn't look like it's ever going to get a CD reissue.
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 14:26:51 +0100
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: Bacharach's 'Fool Killer'
I once read a review of this song which likened it to an episode of X
Files & no I don't understand the meaning, if there is one.
Ken On The West Coast.
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Message: 10
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 14:29:30 +0100
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Bang Records - Bassett Hand
Does anyone know what the term BASSETT HAND means on Bang Records labels?
Ken On The West Coast
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Message: 11
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 09:54:47 EDT
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
Subject: Re: Chiffons
Wow... I see the Chiffons BT Puppy LP closed at almost $125 on ebay!!
Thanks for the alert... I read your post too late, but I always
wondered what the cover looked like-- now I know!
==Jimmy==
PS I've got those songs on tape; some are pretty good, mostly the
sounds of 1963-1964. And I've been listening to their Ace collection
in the car (33 songs on a CD, notes by Mick Patrick and Malcolm
Baumgart) and the sound on it is GREAT !
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Message: 12
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 10:08:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: Andrew
Subject: The mono "White Album"
All this talk about an alternate version of the White Album led me to
dig up my copy of "Rarities," released by Capitol in the US circa 1981.
According to its liner notes, the "mono" version of the White Album
(this was back when albums were released in both mono and stereo)
contains several different mixes than the "standard" stereo version. Two
of these alternate mono mixes appear on "Rarities": "Helter Skelter"
and "Don't Pass Me By."
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Message: 13
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 10:18:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: Andrew
Subject: Ed Townsend compilation?
Does anyone out there know if there is, currently available or in the
works, an Ed Townsend compilation that covers more than one label? I'd
love to see EMI do one - even a low-budget one - of his Capitol and
Liberty singles.
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 15:38:55 +0100
From: Ken Mortimer
Subject: Chris Farlowe
Did anyone happen to catch Chris Farlowe on TOTP2 this week
performing 'Out of Time'. It was really nice to see the Chanter
Sisters on the set with him and boy, were they on good form!!!!
Does anyone know whether they tour with Chris as part of his
live band?
Ken
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Message: 15
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 16:04:57 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Bacharach & David's 'Fool Killer'
D. Bassett asked:
> I'm hoping someone on this board can help me understand the
> Bacharach/David composition 'The Fool Killer'. I've just
> acquired the 'Rare Bacharach' compilation and Gene Pitney's
> version is there. This seems a particularly 'dark' song for
> the likes of Hal David. Comments?
A good place to look for answers to questions such as this is
right under your nose, the Spectropop website. A rudimentary
search throws up: http://www.spectropop.com/BacharachDavid.html
Here's an small extract:
'THE FOOL KILLER' GENE PITNEY: Musicor LP 3043, 1965. Written
by Burt Bacharach & Hal David. Arranged by Burt Bacharach.
Produced by Aaron Schroeder & Wally Gold. Another movie theme,
which, for one reason or another, was never used for its
intended purpose, 'The Fool Killer' was issued on Pitney's
'Big Sixteen, Volume 2' LP and is the singer's personal
favourite of his Bacharach & David recordings. It's not too
difficult to understand why.
The following is from the booklet which accompanies Rhino's "The
Look Of Love" 3CD set:
...It was written for a movie about a 12-year-old boy who
escapes from a foster home in the late 1800s; on the run, the
boy hears the story of a mythical Fool Killer, an 8-foot-tall
axe murderer.
Sour music publishing shenanigans prevented the song being used
in the film.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 16
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 10:08:20 -0500
From: Ken Bell
Subject: Re: soft rock
James Botticelli wrote:
> Re: Alan Zweig on Soft Rock
> At least thank him for breaking it all down so finitely. Someone
> had to do it and it was AZ. So can't we just call it all Sunshine?
> With the exception of 'Mr Dieingly Sad'? I often feel like AZ. But
> don't always break it down as well. Usually.
I, personally, like the term "sunshine pop" as the correct
nomenclature.
Orion
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Message: 17
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 16:15:09 -0000
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Re: Sax for Dusty
Dave:
> "The Look Of Love" that I think was featured in the "Casino
> Royale" fillum. "This is a job for Spectropop" I thought. Can
> anyone help?
Paul Urbahns:
> The movie version was conducted and arranged by Burt Bacharach,
> I believe and probably done in Hollywood.
As an unreconstructed Dusty devotee---I wrote a highly positive
newspaper review of an L.A. performance by her one time and she
rang me up to thank me!!!!!---I find that sax query most
interesting and relevant. I just always took it for granted, but
say to most music and/or movie buffs, "the sax solo in 'Casino
Royale'" and they'll most likely know what you're talking about.
Thus I went into high research mode. I have four books about
Springfield, not to mention reams of clippings, but not even "The
Complete Dusty Springfield," with its track by track commentary
on her entire recorded oeuvre contains the info for which we're
looking. And I Googled myself silly on the net with every
permutation of search words imaginable. But all for naught.
If the info in "Complete DS" is correct, however, it does
disabuse one of the notions that the track was effected in
Hollywood. Apparently it was recorded at Philips Studio, Stanhope
Place, London on 1/29/67, and yes, it was conducted by Bacharach.
All of which caused me to revise my initial sense that the sax was
that of the great Plas Johnson. Even though he is in the upper
echelon of Hollywood studio musicians, it is still unlikely that he
would have been flown to London for just those handful of bars. But
who knows? Or maybe dubbed over later?
At any rate, if it is not P.J. himself, inarguably it is School of
Plas Johnson.
I'm like a dog with a bone when it comes to this kind of stuff. I'm
not finished yet. Maybe the liner notes for the Rhino Bacharach set???
Bill Reed
http://www.cllrdr.com
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Message: 18
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 10:01:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: Steve & Nik Venet
Country Paul:
> (Question: I get confused between Steve Venet and Nik Venet.
> Who's who, please? And are they related?)
Country Paul...........How ya' Doin'? Steve and Nik venet were
brothers. Steve co-wrote and produced "Just like Romeo and
Juliet". Nik discovered and produced the Beach Boys and Linda
Ronstadt and was instrumental in breaking California music.
The first time I met Nik was on my first trip to California in
the late sixties.......we sat in his Capitol office all afternoon
with his "Flower Power Pals"......talked music and had a righteous
good time. As it began to get dark, he announced he was going on
vacation ........ and gave me the keys to his house and his car!
Surprised, I said, "....But I can't drive." "Okay.......you'll
learn!!!", Nik yelled as he was leaving.
regards, Artie Wayne
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Message: 19
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 22:15:19 +0200
From: Stephane Rebeschini
Subject: Re: Lou Toby
Simon White a écrit :
> Lou Toby produced Barbara Jean English's "So Many Ways To
> Die" album in 1972 and I'm sure an awful lot more. Anyone?
Apparently a rather eclectic arranger, a quick Google search
indicates he worked with the "Red Parrot Orchestra"(jazz big
band) "Ray, Goodman & Brown" (?) but also with Jethro Tull in
the early 70s.
He also released a LP "Meet Lou Toby" on Sano 1003 - year and
style unknown - and a funk 45 "Heavy Steppin'" circa 1972.
I also have a decent instrumental single he produced, credited
to "2+2": Caesar's Palace/Music To Think By on RCA Victor 47-9169,
circa 1968.
Stephane
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Message: 20
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 17:47:41 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Chiffons on BT Puppy
Jimmy Crescitelli wrote:
> Wow... I see the Chiffons BT Puppy LP closed at almost $125
> on ebay!! Thanks for the alert... I read your post too late,
> but I always wondered what the cover looked like - now I know!
Was that really an Australian-only release, as the auction page
says it was? If so, does anyone know the story behind that?
--Phil M.
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