________________________________________________________________________
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
________________________________________________________________________
There are 19 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop Update
From: Martin Roberts
2. Foreign language songs by English language artistes
From: Paul Woods
3. Re: Better Covers
From: Andrew Hickey
4. Charlotte O'Hara
From: S'pop Team
5. Re: Sen Robert Kennedy and "Wild Thing"
From: Max Weiner
6. Re: Foreign language songs by English language artistes
From: Roger Smith
7. More on UK covers
From: Michael Edwards
8. Re: Foreign language songs by English language artistes
From: Phil Milstein
9. more "exotical" versions: This is My Prayer
From: Patrick Rands
10. Mac Davis -- Re: A life in rock and roll
From: Phil Milstein
11. Re: "You're No Good"
From: Tony Leong
12. The Hardly Worth It Players, Brenda Lee song
From: Justin McDevitt
13. Re. Sen Robert Kennedy and "Wild Thing"
From: Mac Joseph
14. Phil Spector's Alleycats
From: Mac Joseph
15. Alder Ray - 'Cause I Love Him
From: Martin Jensen
16. Hello
From: S.J. Dibai
17. Kennedy - Little Miss Dynamite and friends
From: Alan Gordon
18. Re: This is My Prayer
From: Steve Crump
19. Re: This is My Prayer
From: Dan Hughes
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 21:24:56 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop Update
Don't miss Billy Daniels with a Nitzsche produced and arranged
version of his standard, "That Old Black Magic", playing on the
home page: http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm
Nice to see that Spectropoppers are not swayed from their choice
by the supposed monetary value of a record, although I must say
that Bobby Day's is superb and will be given another chance.
Next week, the heavier sound of The Gas Company "Get Out Of My
Life", or The Palace Guard "All Night Long".
On The Radio http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/radio.htm
is playing jingle #2 "Blockbuster" mix.
The new record linked to Al Hazan And Jack Nitzsche's Record Of
The Week, http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/ahjnrotw.htm
is an instrumental favourite you should all know. From Jack's
"The Lonely Surfer" album, "Beyond The Surf". Al has written
some more details on the recording of his composition by Jack
Nitzsche.
Not many months go by without records being added to Jack's
discography, http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/discography.htm
and I'm pleased to say this month is no exception.
Martin
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 09:20:29 +0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
From: Paul Woods
Subject: Foreign language songs by English language artistes
David said:
> ... Kiki Dee doing her best with the Italian language.
> My mama would have found her accent amusing.
I was studying in Granada, Spain, way back in 1968, and to my
delight found in a record shop there an Italian language single by
Sonny and Cher (which I assume consisted of two Italian original
songs) "Camino d'ogni speranza" (I think) and "L'umanità". Quite
catchy little numbers, and there was a nice picture sleeve too.
When I got back home to Harlesden, I went round to my local sweet
shop (which bizarrely also sold records - it was there, incidentally,
that I purchased "A Christmas Gift for You" on the day of its English
release!) and played my new acquisition to the shop owner, who was an
Italian lady. She virtually rolled about on the floor laughing, on
hearing the Bonos' pronunciation!
So I bought some Sherbet Lemons, and went home...
wudzi
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 10:00:09 +0100
From: Andrew Hickey
Subject: Re: Better Covers
> As far as the Swinging Blue Jeans' version of "You're
> No Good," I agree it's a great version, but is it
> really definitive? Or do you mean definitive UK
> version? I always thought the Linda Ronstadt version
> was definitive, at least it's the one everyone knows.
In the UK the Swinging Blue Jeans version is the one everyone
knows - I only heard the Ronstadt version for the first time
last month on a trip to the US. I actually know someone in the
US who'd never heard of any version except Van Halen's...
Personally I prefer the Swinging Blue Jeans' version to the
others, but that may just be because it's the version I grew
up knowing.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 11:18:43 +0100
From: S'pop Team
Subject: Charlotte O'Hara
New At S'pop
Home Of The Brave
The Story Of Charlotte O'Hara and Bonnie & The Treasures
Part 5: Charlotte, Nita & I
by Becky Hobbs, as told to Phil Milstein
Becky Hobbs is a talented Nashville-based songwriter/pianist/
singer, best known for her 1988 hit "Are There Any More (Like
You At Home)". Already a fan, I recently learned that in
between her Oklahoma youth and her Nashville stardom Becky
had spent several years in Los Angeles, where she had become
friends with song-poem singers Charlotte O'Hara (Bonnie of
Bonnie & the Treasures) and Nita Garfield. Via her website, I
checked in with Becky to inquire about this phase of her life.
A gracious lady who remembers those years, and those friends,
with abiding fondness – and not a little sadness at their
passing – Becky contributed not only thoughtful recollections
but a batch of very personal photographs, as well.
(Phil Milstein)
For the full story, and pictures:
http://www.spectropop.com/HOTB/HOTBpart5.htm
Enjoy!
The S'pop Team
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 05:28:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Max Weiner
Subject: Re: Sen Robert Kennedy and "Wild Thing"
Me:
> In 1967 somebody did a parody of Sen. Bobby Kennedy singing
> "Wild Thing". Through my research, I found out later that
> the singer was a guy by the name of "Bobby Pickett". So here
> is my question: Is this the same Bobby "Boris" Pickett, from
> "Monster Mash" fame, or someone else. Or was my research wrong.
Rat Pfink wrote:
> Your research may be wrong. According to Joel Whitburn's
> Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, "Senator Bobby" was
> someone named Bill Minkin of The Hardly-Worthit Players.
OK, Thank you sir;
That didn't sound right to me either, but I wanted to make sure.
Much obliged.
Mac Joseph
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 10:54:04 -0400
From: Roger Smith
Subject: Re: Foreign language songs by English language artistes
David said:
> ... Kiki Dee doing her best with the Italian language.
> My mama would have found her accent amusing.
Harry Nilsson recorded a number of songs in Italian even though
I don't think he knew the language. The most familiar of these
is "Per Chi" which is "Without You" in Italian. Nilsson also
recorded a traditional Italian song, "Leggenda" as the b-side of
a single because of some legal requirement in Italy.
What's surprising is that these weren't the first tracks Nilsson
recorded in Italian. Going through RCA's vaults a couple of years
ago, Curtis Armstrong discovered that Nilsson recorded "Without Her"
and several other songs in Italian in the late 1960s. The tracks
haven't been released yet.
At first we thought that he may have recorded them as demos for
Italian singers, but we noticed that the songs were not all written
by Nilsson and were not all published by the same company. So it
remains a mystery why he recorded them.
-- Roger
http://www.harrynilsson.com/
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 16:26:43 -0000
From: Michael Edwards
Subject: More on UK covers
Thank you, David, for the critique of my list of the best UK
cover versions of US songs during the British Invasion era.
Bobby Day's "Over And Over" is indeed a gem and far better
than the a-side, "Rockin' Robin". The DC5 version has an aura
attached to it. It was released way after the practice of UK
bands covering US material had gotten old and the DC5 themselves
were coming off the boil in both the US and UK. The band went
back to their Tottenham Royal roots one more time to come up with
a stomping version of a little know US song. It bombed in the UK
but went to # 1 in the US and became the last hit of the British
Invasion. The group followed it with a Greatest Hits album; a 10
tracker that runs for about 20 minutes. But what a 20 minutes!
Uptempo or beat ballads, the DC5 just charge through them all.
Does that make their version of "Over And Over" better than Bobby
Day's? Who knows? I recall a version by Paul Revere And The Raiders
on Dick Clark's "Where The Action Is". With Mark Lindsay singing
lead and using Dave Clark's arrangement, their version's impressive
too. And while we're here, let's wish former DC5 lead singer Mike
Smith a speedy recovery from his recent accident.
> As far as the Swinging Blue Jeans' version of "You're No Good," I
> agree it's a great version, but is it really definitive? Or do you
> mean definitive UK version?
No I rate it the best version against all comers, David. Maybe it's
the Liverpudlian harmonizing or the stripped down simplicity of it
all (see also the Searchers on "Love Potion # 9") that creates the
right level of earnestness. And while we're over here: RIP Mr. Tony
"Big Jake" Jackson, the Searchers' lead singer on "Love Potion # 9".
What a blast it must have been to see you and the group belting out
the tunes at Liverpool's Iron Door Club all those years ago.
Ah, you mention Ramsey Lewis, David. Let's not forget that one
called "Wade In The Water".
Mike
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 10:24:49 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Foreign language songs by English language artistes
Paul Woods wrote:
> I was studying in Granada, Spain, way back in 1968, and to my
> delight found in a record shop there an Italian language single by
> Sonny and Cher (which I assume consisted of two Italian original
> songs) "Camino d'ogni speranza" (I think) and "L'umanità". Quite
> catchy little numbers, and there was a nice picture sleeve too.
Were these re-recordings of songs they originally did in English, vs.
songs written originally in Italian?
--Phil M.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 16:37:41 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: more "exotical" versions: This is My Prayer
Italian singer Gigliola Cinquetti sings 7 of her songs in the
delightful film Dio, Come Ti Amo (My God, How I Love You) from
1966.
http://www.bigcobra.net/earlyyears.htm
http://www.narinternational.com/inglese/biogr/cinqu.htm
My question is, does anyone have or know the English version of
This is My Prayer or know anything about it? Was it a hit in the
UK/US at all and who had the hit version?
"This is My Prayer" sold all over the world. That song gained
the first positions in the hit parades in France, Swiss, Belgium,
Danemark, Spain, and Mexico, the second position in Argentina and
Hong Kong and the third in Germany and England. This is My Prayer
has been indeed translated in several languages and mainly recorded
by Gigliola in all of them, with the exception of some, more
"exotical" versions."
>From what I understand, there are English versions of This Is
My Prayer, performed by Vera Lynn or Linda Scott. These versions
don't seem easily available. Any help would be appreciated.
:Patrick
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 12:35:27 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Mac Davis -- Re: A life in rock and roll
Hugo M. wrote:
> Oops, Clark caught me in a dumb mistake, wrong song title.
> Mac Davis wrote that Everyday People said? Reminds me of a
> 45 he put out @ '65, jumping on the protest-song bandwagon;
> a two-sided Sonny Bono imitation called "Bad Scene/I Protest".
> Extremely funny, though I'm not sure if the humor was intentional...
Woah! That record sounds promising. Are you able to play it to musica?
--Phil M.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 16:29:34 -0000
From: Tony Leong
Subject: Re: "You're No Good"
Bill George wrote:
> At least one exception: (Linda Ronstadt's version of)
> "You're No Good" is better than the original to my ears.
James Botticelli added:
> Once you hear Dee Dee Warwick do it you'll swear off Linda.
Peter Lerner wrote:
> But I say Barbara West's version (Ronn Records) is the very best.
The Swinging Blue Jeans did a fairly interesting version too--
it was patterned after Betty Everett's tame version!!!!
Tony Leong
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 12:20:17 -0500
From: Justin McDevitt
Subject: The Hardly Worth It Players, Brenda Lee song
Hello Spectropop,
It is finally good to know who recorded this great send-up of
Wild Thing, of which I have a fairly decent copy on a cassette tape.
The Hardly Worth It players also did a great spoof on Donovan's
Mellow Yellow. I wonder if on or both of these tracks are included
on one of the Dr Dimento compilations?
Finally, I need some help with a Brenda Lee track which I first
heard in the summer of 1962. As I recall, the opening lines were
"Oh, Oh, falling all over again".
Looking forward to a response.
Justin McDevitt
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 11:57:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mac Joseph
Subject: Re. Sen Robert Kennedy and "Wild Thing"
Phil Milstein wrote:
> Minkin's cohorts in The Hardly-Worthit Players were Steve Baron
> and Dennis Wholey. (The group name was a pun on "The Huntley-
> Brinkley Report," NBC-TV's nightly news program at the time.)
> Interestingly, Wholey's partner in putting the "whole" affair
> together was Chip Taylor, who we all know as the author of "Wild
> Thing," the group's big hit.......Other pieces on their "Boston
> Soul" LP include:
> King Of The Road with Mr. President (parody
> of Lyndon Johnson)
> The Motown Sound
> Daydream with William Rebuttley, Jr. (parody of conservative
> commentator William Buckley)
> Mellow Yellow with Senators McKinley and Bobby
> 96 Tears with Senator Bobby and the Questions
> White Christmas with Bobby the Poet
Thanks Phil for the info; I never knew there was a whole album,
not to mention Chip Taylor's involvement..
Thanks much!
Mac Joseph
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 12:09:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mac Joseph
Subject: Phil Spector's Alleycats
OK, gang;
Now that you helped me solve the mystery of RFK and "Wild Thing",
I have one more. Was Billy Storm (of the Valiants, I believe)
the lead vocal on "Puddin n' Tain"? Also, if anyone knows, was
that the "wrecking crew" in back - I am sure that is Steve Douglas
doing the sax solo.
Thanks again in advance guys, and if I might add, I am so happy to
be a part of Spectropop!
Mac Joseph
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:05:37 -0000
From: Martin Jensen
Subject: Alder Ray - 'Cause I Love Him
Hi
The other day, I took some songs from my 'Dream Babies' LP and
transferred them to my PC harddrive, so I could have easy access to
them when working. (I transferred the songs via my portable
minidisc recorder - not the best solution, but it usally works fine).
To my surprise, the otherwise superb Alder Ray track lacked the
instrumental backing once I got to play it from my computer, which
was very strange, since the other transferred tracks work fine. Can
anyone explain why this happened? On my PC 'Cause I Love Him' is all
vocals, no backing. Of course, even without backing it sounds great,
but still... If anyone here has the song lying around on a mp3/wav
file, and would be kind enough to email it to me, I would be very
grateful.
With regards
Martin, Denmark
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:17:39 -0000
From: S.J. Dibai
Subject: Hello
Hi, everyone, I've just joined your group. I think I first
found out about it when I was doing a Yahoo! search for Nita
Rossi--is that hard core enough for you?
I'm a child of the eighties who somehow managed to get into
sixties pop and rock, and as some of my friends can tell you,
I do love discovering a record or an artist that nobody's ever
heard of.
I can see from the messages that I know a lot but still have a
lot to learn, so I will chime in whenever I can.
Thanks,
S.J. Dibai
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 13:38:49 -0700
From: Alan Gordon
Subject: Kennedy - Little Miss Dynamite and friends
Gary wrote re. Sen Robert Kennedy and "Wild Thing":
> It was a comedy group called The Hardly Worth-It Players.
Does anyone have an mp3 they could play to musica? I remember
this version... funny stuff.
James Botticelli, re. Ms. Lee:
> To say nothing of seeing her...
If you can, you really have to dig up a copy of the 1988(?)
"The Legendary Ladies of Rock and Roll" and listen to Brenda
just scream like a toonful, tearful banshee. Man, she can
still rock and sentimentalize as good as anyone.
The show is hosted by Grace Slick and Belinda Carlisle, who do
a little performing later on, but leave most of the musical
emoting to the "Legendary Ladies": Lesley Gore, Brenda Lee,
Freda Payne, Shirley Alston Reeves, Martha Reeves, Ronnie Spector
and Mary Wells. Great stuff, and really nice to see what seems
like genuine respect and warmth for everyone, from all the galz
involved.
My faves are Brenda and Lesley who really tear (in every sense of
the word(s) that I can think of) the place up. They really put
the "grr" back in "Grrl." I love watching Lesley do this thing
where it sorta seems like her tongue is just ever-so-slightly
in-the-way of her pronouncing certain words... and for some weird
(probably just-pubescent) reason, it really makes me all crazy...
sigh.
Also: Freda must be doing a little hot-tubbin' in formaldehyde.
That's all I can venture, considering how amazingly sexy this gal
still looked in '88.
the sense-of-humour-ectomy patient formerly known as,
~albabe
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:46:18 -0000
From: Steve Crump
Subject: Re: This is My Prayer
Patrick Rands wrote:
> My question is, does anyone have or know the English version of
> "This is My Prayer" or know anything about it? Was it a hit in
> the UK/US at all and who had the hit version?
> From what I understand, there are English versions, performed by
> Vera Lynn or Linda Scott. These versions don't seem easily
> available. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Patrick
There may also be another recording by Leslie Uggams on US Columbia.
Here in Australia, it was recorded in English by Judy Stone, then
she recorded it again a few years later, this time in Italian.
In searching for music - I use GEMM.com for everyone or Netsounds.com
for UK dealers specifically.
Failing that - I just search on Google mixing the song title, artist
and record label. Vera Lynn's version is on HMV.
Hope this helps
Steve
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 12:56:41 -0500
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: This is My Prayer
Patrick, there were 2 versions of "This Is My Prayer" that
charted in the USA:
Theola Kilgore (Serock 2006) took it to #60 in 1963, and
The Ray Charles Singers (Command 4059) took it to #72 in 1965.
(By the way, the Ray Charles here was a white bandleader, not
the famous Ray Charles).
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
End
