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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Gold Star and other L.A. studios
From: Bill Reed
2. Re: Happy Together
From: That Alan Gordon
3. Re: Bobby Vee / Double Good Feeling
From: That Alan Gordon
4. Re: Gold Star Recording Studios location
From: Mick Patrick
5. Re: Randy's Miraculous Marie
From: (not That) Alan Gordon
6. the Debutantes
From: Bill
7. Re: Orbisonesque
From: Phil Milstein
8. Re: Double Good Feeling
From: Mikey
9. Jerry Mathers Record
From: James Botticelli
10. Re: More Cookies
From: James Botticelli
11. Re: Lindsey Buckingham
From: Geoff Kaiser
12. Re: The Cat in the Window
From: Dave Feldman
13. Re: Lindsay Buckingham
From: Eddy
14. Re: Peter Lacey
From: Stratton Bearhart
15. Two Alan Gordons: Happy Together
From: Mark Frumento
16. Re: Professor Longhair
From: Mike Rashkow
17. Re: Randy Newman
From: Mike Rashkow
18. Re: The Settlers and Tony Hatch
From: Mick Patrick
19. Re: That Alan Gordon / Small Talk
From: Bill Reed
20. Re: Radio Recorders
From: Bill Reed
21. Re: Happy Together
From: Mark Wirtz
22. Re: That Alan Gordon / Happy Together
From: Martin Jensen
23. Pruning electrically
From: Steve Harvey
24. Re: THAT Alan Gordon / Small Talk
From: Jim Allio
25. Re: Accomodation
From: Richard Havers
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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 00:56:51 -0000
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Re: Gold Star and other L.A. studios
> Q..Where was Gold Star located?
> A. In the heart of Hollywood near the intersection of Vine
> Street and Santa Monica Boulevard.
Gold Star was located at the Southeast corner of Santa Monica
Boulevard and Vine (if you wanna get reallll technical, at just the
point where Vine turns into Rossmore). It was still there when I
noved to L.A. in the 70s. There is a strip mall there now, which
includes a Radio Shack franchise.
There are several other great old studios still remaining. The C.P.
MacGregor studios at 729 S. Western Avenue is now Stevie Wonder's
private studio. Most of the jazz label Dial was cut there, along with
early Nat King Cole. There are probably more; I have a friend whose
hobby is the history of such places. I will try to pick his brain and
post the results here.
When I produced my first jazz album last year for singer Pinky
Winters, we did it at Radio Recorders, now known as Studio 56. I
couldn't resist, especially because of the killer 8 foot Yamaha
piano. Arguably the most distinguished studio of all time. I could
barely concentrate on my work what with touching everything. Palpable
history!
Most of Presley's non-soundtrack West Coast recordings were done
there. Most all of Capitol before they built the Tower, and
continuing on to some extent after that. And everyone from Stravinsky
to most of the Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks. Most of the Verve label, in
fact. Name a famous Coast recording of any idiom, going back to the
early forties or maybe earlier, and there's a better than 50-50
chance it was cut there. It also functioned as a radio studio for the
networks. Allegedly Elvis wrote his name in cement out front. The
current owner showed me. I feel, most emphatically, that it should be
protected as a national historic landmark.
Kind of fon-kay and rundown now, but it was still enough for Phil
Spector when he tried to record an album with Celine Dion a few years
back. Pretty chaotic late night scene, I am led to believe. First,
the a.c. went on the fritz. An augury. Then the music copyist messed
up pretty badly. The final results were deemed unreleasable. Just as
well. Celine Dion? Ummmm. . .I don't THINK so. But I digress as is my
wont. . ..
Bill Reed
http://www.cllrdr.com
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 17:58:32 -0700 (MST)
From: That Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: Happy Together
Tom, thank you so much for saying those nice things. You are absolutely
correct, Happy Together is a song about someone who is very much in
love, but can only Imagine. The tag at the fade undescores that sentiment
with the words, "so how is the weather". Can anyone blame me for being so
fond of S`pop, All you wonderful people that remember these songs, after
all, they were written in hopes of standing the test of time. I keep
waiting for that one cat in Japan to tell me how much he likes "Hey put
the clock back on the wall" but that`s what`s so great about S`pop.
Thanks again Tom.
Best
That Alan Gordon
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 18:19:55 -0700 (MST)
From: That Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: Bobby Vee / Double Good Feeling
Bob, I`am a big fan of Bobby Vee. Sorry to say I never heard his version
of "Double Good Feeling" and only a few years ago somebody gave me a copy
of his version of a song we wrote called "Tiffany Rings". I am hoping
one day someone will do "Double good feeling", if only to get a doublemint
gum commercial!!!
Warmest Wishes
That Alan Gordon
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Message: 4
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 02:36:25 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Gold Star Recording Studios location
Keith Nivan wrote:
> One thing I've always wondered is where *specifically* (Gold Star)
> studio was located. Does anybody know?
I have just posted a picture of a Gold Star pen to the photos section:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/photos/
The pen was given to me by Charlotte O'Hara's friend Peter Canvel. I
kinda treasure it. On it is printed the following vital information:
Gold Star Recording Studios, Inc.
6252 Santa Monica Blvd.
Hollywood, California 90038
HO 9-1173 HO 7-5131
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 18:40:25 -0700
From: (not That) Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: Randy's Miraculous Marie
From: Country Paul
Subject: Randy Newman:
> For example, in all the times I've heard "Marie" on record, there
> hasn't been one where my eyes have been dry at the end.
I guess the thing that absolutely amazes me here, is Randy's ability
to write a staggeringly "connecting" love song, sung in the character
of a simple, pathetic, wife-beating, red-neck, that makes almost
anyone who listens to it, tear up with either plumbless sadness or
resolute sympathy.... and probably a few other nouns.
In the context of that amazing album, Marie is sung, arguably, by a
real self-centered ass. But when it's heard out of context, it's sung
by an everyman of sorts. Not by your everyday "everyman" that
frequents the Arts, TV, Movies and Literature as the commonplace but
natural "hero of a thousand faces..." but by the "everyman" most men
would never want to admit they've actually been (hopefully, sans the
wife-beating part).
I get choke-swollen just writing about it.
You looked like a princess the night we met
With your hair piled up high
I will never forget
I'm drunk right now baby
But I've got to be
Or I never could tell you
What you meant to me
I loved you the first time I saw you
And I always will love you Marie
I loved you the first time I saw you
And I always will love you Marie
You're the song that the trees sing when the wind blows
You're a flower you're a river you're a rainbow
Sometimes I'm crazy
But I guess you know
And I'm weak and I'm lazy
And I've hurt you so
And I don't listen to a word you say
When you're in trouble I just turn away
I loved you the first time I saw you
And I always will love you Marie
I loved you the first time I saw you
And I always will love you Marie
dow I godda blow by dose...
~owbabe
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 19:20:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bill
Subject: the Debutantes
Hello
Does anyone have any info on a girl group called "The Debutantes" who
recorded on the Lucky Eleven label (1967) out of the Flint Mi. area.
They were a four member group. I believe they also recorded on the
Gail & Rice label and the Standout label. Would like to know if they
were from the Flint area of Mi. or not and if those other two labels
were from that area as well? Anything on this subject would be helpful
Thank You
=====
The Vinyl Spinner 3345
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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 00:49:28 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Orbisonesque
Rob wrote:
> Incidently Phil is there any movement on the Roy Orbison soundalikes
> project?
Funny you should ask -- I'm running off yet another demo version right
now. This one is to make the final inclusion list; after that comes
sequencing. It's been a fun project -- even the rejects are quite good.
Thanks for the instro tips,
--Phil
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 01:18:10 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Double Good Feeling
Bob:
> (That Alan Gordon) wrote the song "Double Good Feeling" that appeared on
> Bobby Vee's late sixties lp, "Come Back When You Grow Up".
Gary Lewis recorded this also.
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 01:45:04 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Jerry Mathers Record
My sweetie gave me a 45 of Jerry Mathers' 1963 Atlantic single "Don
Cha Cry" b/w "Wind Up Toy" for my birthday Friday. I'd been looking
for it for nearly 40 years! She, needless to say, has scored major
points for digging it up. Was there an album with that rekkid? Anyone?
James Botticelli
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 01:47:13 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: More Cookies
Mike Edwards recommended the Cookies':
> "Softly In The Night"
Best thing the Cookies did IMHO...I need that rekkid again, somebody
stole my last copy..
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 01:26:29 -0500
From: Geoff Kaiser
Subject: Re: Lindsey Buckingham
Bill George:
> I've been searching for a song for a long time. It's by Lindsay
> Buckingham and I think its called "Holiday Road." It was used in the
> National Lampoon Vacation movies. Was there a soundtrack?
Hi Bill...
don't know if anyone has answered you yet... but Holiday Road did come
out on a promo CD; if you haven't already been able to get it from
someone, let me know (off list).
regards,
Geoff
P.S. I don't know if it ever was on 45, but I think it was released on
LP for the Vacation soundtrack... but I can't confirm...
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 03:16:17 -0400
From: Dave Feldman
Subject: Re: The Cat in the Window
That Alan Gordon wrote about one of my favorite songs:
> Thank You for the kind words. The song was inspired by the visits I
> had with my ageing grandmother. As I would leave her home she would
> be standing at her window and waving to me. Pet Clark did that song
> and "Fancy Dancin Man". Garry and I met with her at her home in
> Hollywood. She was working at the time on the film Goodbye Mr. Chips.
> The people responsible for the project were Koppelman and Rubin. They
> were a crucial part of our success in those days.
Thanks for sharing all of this, Alan.
> Did You notice how short the record is - under 2 minutes. She is a
> lovely lady, a great singerand to top it off she did the song on the
> Ed Sullivan show!!!
Notice?! I was a disc jockey all four years in college and played "Cat
in the Window" often -- no bathroom breaks were taken during CITW! I've
often wondered if the rather abrupt ending of the song, with the
heartbreaking "Don't even try to," made it difficult for DJ's to segue
into their next cut. I also think the lack of a chorus is highly
effective -- the whole song (and the wonderful production) makes us feel
uneasy, not unlike the homebound cat.
Thanks again -- it's such a pleasure to have you here.
This Dave Feldman
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 09:20:29 +0200
From: Eddy
Subject: Re: Lindsay Buckingham
Bill George:
> I've been searching for a song for a long time. It's by Lindsay
> Buckingham and I think its called "Holiday Road." It was used in the
> National Lampoon Vacation movies. Was there a soundtrack?
As you correctly stated, Holiday Road is featured in the National
Lampoon's Vacation movie. As such it is also the first track on the
soundtrack album. Although I can't seem to find any evidence of a cd
release, the song has been released here and there as the A-side of a
Lindsey Buckingham solo 45.
Eddy
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 07:36:08 -0000
From: Stratton Bearhart
Subject: Re: Peter Lacey
Chris Allen wrote:
> There's an article up at the new October Ear Candy magazine
> in praise of the singer/songwriter Peter Lacey....
I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Lacey for EC back in 2000 at
the time of his debut album release "Beam!". Here's the URL:-
http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com/lacey2.htm
As Chris Allen says there are many artists following the path to
Wilsonia, and in my humble view many of them end up sounding more
like Brian and The Beach Boys than B&TBB. For my money in different
ways Lacey and The Llamas push the envolope into the millenium with
aplomb.
Stratton.
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 13:12:51 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Two Alan Gordons: Happy Together
That Alan Gordon:
> I keep waiting for that one cat in Japan to tell me how much he
> likes "Hey put the clock back on the wall" but that`s what`s so
> great about S`pop.
Ok... I love that song and I'm not even in Japan... New Jersey will
have to do. :>))
Actually one of the songs I've found still enticing after all these
years is "Tiffany Rings". It's so short and perfectly timed that it's
length makes it a mini-masterpiece. Did anyone else cover that song?
By the way I think it's great how the two Alan Gordons made room for
each other. I don't know if I'll be so accomodating when the more
famous Mark Frumento show's up.
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Message: 16
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 09:53:42 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Professor Longhair
T D Bell writes:
> When Professor Longhair (Roy Byrd) died, Doctor John was quoted in
> the obituary as saying, "Everybody learned from 'Fess--Fats Domino,
> Allan Tousaint, Huey Smith--all of 'em learned from 'Fess."
There is a film documentary named Piano Players Rarely Ever Play
Together. Much on Fess in there--all positive as well. Toussaint
basically worshipped him. By the way, check your old titles for the
composer Naomi Neville. That's Allen using his mother's maiden name--
a Neville naturally.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 17
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 09:56:55 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Randy Newman
R.N., I dare not speak the name, should not be dissected--he should
be deified.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 15:00:14 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: The Settlers and Tony Hatch
Norman on the Settlers:
> A real treat on the LP is the song "A Woman Called Freedom"
> written by Tony Hatch and Phil Coulter (you can imagine the
> result of such a collaboration).
Not quite correct. The Settlers' "A Woman Called Freedom", an
anti war song, was written by Tony Hatch and Brenda Coulter,
not Phil Coulter. The song is included on the recent double CD
"Call Me: The Songs Of Tony Hatch". Mike Edwards reviewed this
release for the S'pop Recommends section back in June. Read it
here: http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index.htm#TonyHatch
A quote from Kieron Tyler's excellent sleevenotes:
"The song was written with a Brenda Coulter", recalls Tony.
"It was the winning lyric in a women's magazine competition
and the agreement was that I should set it to music and
record it with one of the Pye acts".
I asked Tony Hatch about the Settlers a few months ago. He
replied:
"The Settlers were brought to me by Harry Hammond who also
brought me the Overlanders. Harry had been a photographer
for or, in a freelance capacity, supplied photographs to
The New Musical Express then switched to management. Two
boys and a girl (Cindy), they were an excellent folk group
but perhaps a bit too close to Peter, Paul and Mary. We
made some good records but none took off. I wrote at least
one of them - "Major To Minor". Following their time at
Pye they had a small hit with York Records - "Lightning
Tree" in 1971. They backed Cliff Richard when he went on
his religious tour, working with him all over Europe. I
wouldn't have remembered that if I'd not seen them
included in the Cliff Richard TV profile the other night".
(Tony Hatch)
With 60 tracks for under a tenner, the "Call Me" set is a
must-have for Hatch fans.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 19
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 15:02:27 -0000
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Re: That Alan Gordon / Small Talk
Tom Taber wrote:
> I'd also like to welcome Alan, and say that one of my favorites is
> "Small Talk" as performed by Harpers Bizarre, which I found on a 45
> with the tell-tale cut-out hole in it - not sure if it was the A or
> B side. "Sunday best and dressed to kill the afternoon..."
That version AND the A&M single by Claudine Longet & Andy Williams
were both arranged by Nick DeCaro. Similar "take" on this number as
the Harps, but not the same backing tracks.
I agree, BTW: a soft-rock classic that slipped through the cracks
somehow.
Bill Reed
http://www.cllrdr.com
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Message: 20
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 15:30:44 -0000
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Re: Radio Recorders
Radio Recorders, now known as Studio 56. . . There's a nice thumbnail
history of the place at: http://www.56ent.com/history.html
Bill Reed
http://www.cllrdr.com
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Message: 21
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 10:20:37 -0400
From: Mark Wirtz
Subject: Re: Happy Together
That Alan Gordon writes:
> ...All you wonderful people that remember these songs, after all,
> they were written in hopes of standing the test of time. ...
Hello Alan,
More than remembering the record and song as one of the most perfect
pop creations ever, I am currently in production of a re-make of it
as one of the "Star Tracks" of UK's spectacular Harmony Rock band
Spyderbaby's debut CD. While contributing certain "now" elements and
energies to the recording's concept in order to give it a contemporary
identification, we are remaining utterly and respectfully faithful to
the spirit and essence of your timeless original.
With much admiration (also on behalf of Rob and Micky of Spyderbaby),
Mark Wirtz
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Message: 22
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 15:31:39 -0000
From: Martin Jensen
Subject: Re: That Alan Gordon / Happy Together
Hi Alan,
I just want to let you know that 'Happy Together' is one of my all-
time favourite tunes. An incredibly catchy song - I can definately
NEVER grow tired of it. Or Howard Kaylans maginificent vocal for that
matter...
With regards
Martin, Denmark
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Message: 23
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 08:55:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Pruning electrically
Welcome Preston,
How did you like the piece on the Prunes that Mojo recently did? And
what's the story on the live tape from Sweden? Who recorded it?
Steve Harvey
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Message: 24
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 11:59:28 EDT
From: Jim Allio
Subject: Re: THAT Alan Gordon / Small Talk
One of my favorite Gordon-Bonner songs - and there are many, they were
so well-crafted and idioscyncratic, not to mention fun to sing - is
"Small Talk," a real gem by Gary Lewis, Claudine Longet or, my favorite,
Lesley Gore. What a great song and record that was.
Jim Allio
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Message: 25
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 17:08:35 +0100
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Accomodation
Mark Frumento wrote:
> By the way I think it's great how the two Alan Gordons made room for
> each other. I don't know if I'll be so accomodating when the more
> famous Mark Frumento show's up.
The more famous....impossible!
Richard
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