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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 22 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Jake Holmes; To That AG; The Ronstadt Law; WABC News; instrumentals
From: Country Paul
2. Re: It's What's Happening Murray the K
From: Joe Somsky
3. On the topic of Lulu...
From: Scott
4. Re: Senator Bobby et al
From: Phil Milstein
5. Re: The Hardly Worth It Players
From: Herb
6. Bob & Earl; Mick's Spectre; Playboy; Peter Lacey; S&G
From: Country Paul
7. Definitive Rock Chorale / Other Voices
From: Mark
8. Hardy Boys
From: Mark
9. Kurt Russell
From: Mark
10. Bubblegum
From: Mark
11. Korean releases
From: Mark
12. The Sundowners
From: Mark
13. The Coronados
From: Mark
14. Da Doo Ron Ron the one & only 60s girl group club hosts Radio 1 party Sat 1st November
From: Chris King
15. Re: More on UK covers
From: Billy G. Spradlin
16. Starsailor v. Dandy Warhols
From: Keith Moore
17. Re: Alder Ray - 'Cause I Love Him
From: Billy G. Spradlin
18. Re: Inner Dialogue
From: Patrick Rands
19. Re: US singers in foreign languages
From: Hugo M.
20. Castaways single
From: Bill George
21. Ellie's Birthday
From: Joe Somsky
22. Rose Garden CD
From: Mark
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 19:27:54 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Jake Holmes; To That AG; The Ronstadt Law; WABC News; instrumentals
Phil C:
> I know nothing of Jake Holmes, other than an album
> I found lying around in the early 70s. I fell in love with
> the title track "So Close, So Very Far To Go", and never
> really played the rest of the LP. Was this a hit?
I don't remember it, but remember hearing it. Jake Holmes' own comment on
it:
"I did. It was a Top Ten record in a lot of cities. We had a problem with
distribution in some cities. It could have been Top Five. At that time,
there were five other strong power ballads on the charts. I think there was
a Michael Jackson song. It was fighting a pretty hard battle. But the
problem with that song was . . . it would get to a radio station and do well
after two weeks. Some of the stations would pull it after a week. It was a
song that took awhile to get people's attention. Even that song, which I
thought was pretty straight-forward, took a while for people to get. And the
stations would pull it after a week just as it began to sell, but they
wouldn't put it back in rotation.
"I had this kid in New York, a place that never breaks records, and he
adored it. He just went around and pushed it and pushed it. It was a Top Ten
record in New York. It was a Top Ten record in probably ten cities. I got a
lot of play out of it. It was a so-called hit. I got a lot of stuff out of
it. I was able to do television. It was considered a hit by the industry."
The above comes from an excellent on-line article and interview with Jake
Holmes from 2001 at Perfect Sound Forever Magazine - home page
http://www.furious.com/perfect/index.html , article
http://www.furious.com/perfect/jakeholmes.html (with great stories about the
Tower albums, his Bob Gaudio collaborations, his work for Sinatra, and
more). Apparently Holmes wrote "Dazed and Confused" and Led Zep never gave
him any credit - or royalties, although the Yardbirds did on their cover of
it. I've got to look and see if I still have any of his albums around. He
was quite the protean musical adventurer. (And Phil M, I don't have the
magazine you mentioned, but thanks for the referral.)
That Alan Gordon:
> We also wrote the late Zal Yanovsky single "As Long As You're Here".
Good one!
Regarding "Dew Drop Inn," Alan, is that the same song that Jean Mays did on
Diamond? And if you know that record (or anyone here does), who the heck
forgot to book a bass player?!?
> My wife wants to know why I can't keep away from all you S'poppers.
> BECAUSE I'M LOVIN THIS, THAT'S WHY!
...and we're tickled that you are. (I'm very lucky - my wife understands.)
Chris A:
> It's a bit reminiscent of what I always thought of as "The Ronstadt
> Law": One can listen to L.R. and enjoy her versions of songs, and
> there's good reason to enjoy them, but ... as soon as you hear the
> originals you can never listen to the Ronstadt again.
Agreed to a point, although I saw her on the tour that supported "How Do I
Make You" in which she did - live - a lot of the covers you refer to. They
rocked! Smoked! Contained all the energy that was lacking on the records!
Wondering what I'd been missing, I went back to the albums and listened
again. For the re-recordings, the "law" holds. But I wish I could have
bottled that night....
Like Art Longmire, my favorite Ronstadt period was the Stone Poneys albums.
For example, "December Dream" is damn near perfect. (I also got to meet her
then - gorgeous, sweet, smart. The perfect combination.) But there are
certainly later moments - check out Little Feat's "Voices In The Wind" from
their first comeback period; Craig Fuller and Ronstadt do a duet that sends
shivers down my spine every time I hear it.
Simon White:
> I always thought that [Lulu's] "To Sir With Love" and "I'll Come
> Running Over" were the only half decent records she ever made.
I second that, with my preference being "Running."
Jim Allio:
> I always dug Bobby Vee, too.
Me, too. I discovered his early rockabilly and rock stuff on a reissue CD
(Era, i think0 and he definitely has it. Also, I may be one of the few
partial to the Robert Thomas Velline "progressive" album from '72.
Me. re: WABC:
> "News live at :55" was the handle; ABC for a time ran different
> newscasts oriented to different demographics in their delivery
> and content; "Contemporary" ran at :55, the mainstream on the hour.
Phil M:
> After posting my comment on WABC, I read up on the rationale for
> their policy of news at 5 before the hour. The idea was not to
> capture newshounds looking to get their fix ASAP, but rather the
> opposite, to capture musichounds searching the dial for THEIR fix
> once the other stations all went to news at straight-up time.
You are indeed correct. That was the logic to placing the "contemporary"
newscast at :55.
Me again:
> James Booker's amazing "Gonzo" (Peacock, 1961?)...Moe Koffman Quartet's
> "Swingin' Shepherd Blues" ...Andre Previn/David Rose's "Like Young"....
Phil M:
> Are all of those versions straight instros, or instro-con-vocals?
All straight instrumentals. The original "Like Young" is a "stringier" jazz
feeling a la Henry Mancini's groundbreaking work on Peter Gunn and Mr.
Lucky, and Previn's piano work is, as one would expect, delicious. (P. S.
Rashkovsky, you're 100% right re: Ramsey Lewis' "In Crowd," which itself
spawned a whole flock of sonic imitators, one of the better ones being "Hole
In The Wall" by The Packers on Pure Soul. Another one for ya, Phil!)
Martin Roberts:
> the Jerome Brothers....[S]ome of their earlier doo-wop type material can
> send me into raptures of delight!
I'm trying to remember which artists they were involved with, but I'm
blanking out. Any hints, please?
Phil M:
> The upcoming Disney movie "Brother Bear" includes a character that is a
> grizzly cub named Koda.
You mean someone at Disney is actually LISTENING?!?
Catching up again and 6 days behind,
Country Paul
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 16:20:52 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joe Somsky
Subject: Re: It's What's Happening Murray the K
Charles Sheen wrote:
> Hey everyone I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get a
> copy of the "It's what's happening" show, and or the other show
> Murray the K did for tv, on his web site if you click on one of
> the little pictures they have 5 second clips of the artist, and
> I gotta say IT IS HAPPENING. The best one(s) are the Drifters,
> Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and Otis Redding (I mean all he's
> doing is snapping his fingers but it's cool).
HI
The Museum of Radio and Television in Midtown Manhattan has a copy to
view only. I guess the same Museum in Los Angeles has a copy also,
haven't seen it anywhere else. Hope this helps.
Joe
Ellie Greenwich Fan Club
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:09:05 -0500
From: Scott
Subject: On the topic of Lulu...
While we're chatting up Lulu, does anyone know where I might her version
of the song "Maybe My Baby Will"? I believe Bernadette Peters recorded
it around 1981. And the song's writer Toni Wine released it in 1975. So
I would guess it was recorded in that time frame.
Thanks!
Scott
in Houston
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 00:43:17 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Senator Bobby et al
Alan Gordon (and others) wrote:
> Does anyone have an mp3 they could play to musica? I remember
> this version... funny stuff.
I intend to do just that, as soon as I get a chance. While I'm at it I
may also go after one or two of the other tracks on the LP.
Hang in there,
--Phil M.
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 04:48:31 -0000
From: Herb
Subject: Re: The Hardly Worth It Players
Justin McDevitt wrote:
> 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?
For your information:
The two tracks, Wild Thing by Senator Bobby and Mellow Yellow by
Senators Bobby & McKinley are on a CD called "All The Hits By All The
Stars" Vol. 3 -- Liberty Bell PCB 7017.
Those 2 songs come with:
Birdland -- Chubby Checker
So Much In Love -- The Tymes
Not Me -- The Orlons
Twist It Up -- Chubby Checker
Wonderful! Wonderful! -- The Tymes
Crossfire -- The Orlons
Wild! -- Dee Dee Sharp
Loddy Lo -- Chubby Checker
Forget Him -- Bobby Rydell
Hooka Tooka -- Chubby Checker
Somewhere -- The Tymes
Hey, Bobba Needle -- Chubby Checker
Long Tall Sally -- The Kinks
The 81 -- Candy & the Kisses
Cast Your Fate To The Wind -- Sounds Orchestral
Tossing And Turning -- The Ivy League
This Can't Be True -- Eddie Holman
96 Tears (LP version)--? & the Mysterians
I (Who Have Nothing) -- Terry Knight & the Pack
Wild Thing -- Senator Bobby
Mellow Yellow -- Senators Bobby & McKinley
Let The Good Times Roll & Feel So Good -- Bunny Sigler
Beg, Borrow And Steal -- The Ohio Express
Heavy Music -- Bob Seger & the Last Heard
Lovey Dovey/You're So Fine -- Bunny Sigler
Herb (Toronto, Canada)
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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 00:59:46 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Bob & Earl; Mick's Spectre; Playboy; Peter Lacey; S&G
Simon White re: Bob (s) And Earl:
> For the full story, have a look at -
> http://www.ritchie-hardin.com/soul/bobearl0.html
> It's well worth the trip !
Great story, and interesting site. Thank you for the link. I'm sure woven
through this would be the story of Jesse Belvin, who also used many names to
record a la Bobby Byrd.
Ian Slater:
> I think it's hard or impossible to over-rate the contribution Mick [Patrick]
> has made to our hobby in creating so many great re-issues....the quality
> shows in the results. What really amazes me is that all this is his hobby
> too and he manages to do it all alongside his day-job and the rigours of
> commuting into London.
I second that. As I seem to be constantly catching up, I don't remember if I
thanked Mick in public for including some quotes from my Carol Connors
interview and giving me the happy surprise of a mention in the
acknowledgements. And if I did say thanks already, Mick, it never hurts to
say it twice! (And the album is a treat, too.)
Rashkovsky:
> Wasn't that used as the original theme song for the first Playboy's
> Penthouse TV Show. Or am I the only one old enough to remember that show?
I remember the show (I was 13 when it first aired). The original theme was
an original theme - "Playboy's Theme" by Cy Coleman, issued on an early 45
on Playboy before the label became a full-scale business. The two sounded a
bit alike, though. The following is from
http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/themePages/playboysPenthouse.html :
Playboy's Penthouse T.V. Party (variety, hosted by Hugh Hefner)
(Syndicated, 1959 - 1960)
aka: "Playboy's Penthouse";
This was the first of two series attempted by the Editor
of Playboy magazine ("Penthouse" magazine hadn't arrived.)
Various young women ("Bunnies") provided cocktails to the
guests in the background of the living room set, as a low-key
series of guest discussions and musical performances took
place -- a kind of "Tonight" show in pajamas, it never
took off. (Perhaps Hef just wasn't a Johnny Carson.)
In 1969, Hefner tried again with a similar variety
show in a party setting, called "Playboy After Dark"...
Moonie Wayne, re: "Earcandy for Country Paul":
> The only link I can find for Peter Lacey is his record company site
> which has two mp3's you scroll down to. I did hear more of Lacey's
> music when David Ponak's "Liquid Room" was featured in these hallowed
> pages: http://www.dumbangel.freeserve.co.uk/peterhome.htm
I also found another sample at Not Lame's site:
http://www.notlame.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=CDLACE2&variation=&aitem=1&mitem=3
You can also order it cheap ($11) at CDValue.com. Will report after listening.
Me:
> "Simon belted out "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Bill George:
> ??? That has to be a mistake. Why wouldn't Art be singing that?
I just quoted from the news release, proving again that one shouldn't
believe everything one reads in the papers. (But then again, Garfunkel isn't
a belter, either....)
So many excellent posts, so little time....
Country Paul
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 05:27:54 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Definitive Rock Chorale / Other Voices
I have the 4 singles by DRC and the 2 by Other Voices and they are all
excellent. Just scanning some old posts on these 2 groups and I guess
one of the song writers is a member. I would like to know if either
group had any unreleased recordings or was what came out on 45 all
there was?
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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 05:28:37 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Hardy Boys
I really liked the first album but thought the second one was not
nearly as strong.
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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 05:32:01 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Kurt Russell
Don't know how many people know this but he recorded an album
and some singles on Capitol and this is some great bubblegum. Not
sure who I would compare his stuff to but definitely better than
Bobby Sherman. More like Austin Roberts stuff under different names
like Horizon, etc. Hard to find but well worth seeking out by gum
fans.
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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 05:40:02 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Bubblegum
Mark Frumento wrote:
> My wife makes it easy for me... she calls everything I listen
> to bubblegum. So there!
Glad to hear I'm not the only one. All of my girlfriends have always
called everything I listen to bubblegum as well.
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 05:45:02 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Korean releases
What is the deal with these things? I see a Twinn Connexion release
(but without the 4 unreleased songs) and now I see a posting for The
Match LP. Are these legit CDs off of mastertapes or are they just
cleaned up vinyl bootlegs (which I could do myself and save $20).
Anyone know? And where would Korea get 30+ year old American
mastertapes from anyways? I don't imagine that Decca Korea or RCA
Korea were big 60s labels.
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 05:47:15 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: The Sundowners
Does anyone know if the this excellent group which recorded one album
on Decca, had any other recordings? There are several other groups by
that name on various labels and I'm wondering if any of them are these
guys.
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Message: 13
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 05:49:17 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: The Coronados
Does anyone know anything about this group? They apparently were a
Spanish group of 2 guys and a girl, had an LP and singles on Jubilee,
a single on Parliament, a single on RCA and who knows what else.
There are more Coronados recordings going back to the early 60s on
various labels and I'm wondering if they are all this same group.
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Message: 14
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:49:16 +0100
From: Chris King
Subject: Da Doo Ron Ron the one & only 60s girl group club hosts Radio 1 party Sat 1st November
Dear fellow UK-based Spectropoppers -
Just a brief mail to let you that Da Doo Ron Ron - the one & only 60s girl
group club - have been chosen to host the Radio 1 Live In Brighton party on
Saturday 1st November. It's happening @ our regular venue, the sumptious
Sussex Arts Club, 07 , Ship Street, here in glorious Brighton, BN1.
Tel:-01273-778020. Doors swing open @ 11pm & shut at 2am. Admission is £4 if
names are E-mailed in advance via dadooronron.club@ntlworld.com
or a fiver on the door on the night.
DJs Chris 'Da Doo' King & Si Bridger will be spinning their familiar mix of
60s girly sounds a-go-go from the likes of The Ronettes, Dusty, Supremes,
Marvelettes, Lesley Gore, Barbara Lewis, Chris Clark, Shangri-La's, Petula,
Lulu, Helen Shapiro, Vandellas, Brenda Holloway, Shirley Bassey & so on.
You'll NEVER hear a MALE lead vocal @ DDRR!
For more info check the DDRR web-site:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dadooronron/
Oodles of thanks for your indulgence,
Chris Da Doo
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Message: 15
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:17:05 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: More on UK covers
Mike Edwards:
> 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.
In the liner notes for the Hollywood 2-CD set Dave Clark explained
that the great tremelo effect on the harmonica solo was caused by a
piece of "cello tape" on the capstan shaft (the round piece of metal
near the heads of a reel-to-reel tape deck that moves the tape along)
that was used to speed up the pitch of the track.
The DC5 also went back to the oldies stack for "You Got What It
Takes" in 1967, which was their last big USA hit. Strange that the
DC5 had a little revival in the UK in 1968-70.
One UK cover that beats a USA original hands down is the Merseys'
cover of the McCoys "Sorrow". The McCoys do a good job but the
Merseys speed up the tempo and add some awesome orchestration. I
first heard it on a Sire records "History of the British Invasion" LP
that I picked up at Woolsworth (for proably $3.99!)
And the Action's cover of the Temptations' "Since I Lost My Baby" is
excellent though I think it would have sounded better with the lush
orchestration of the Motown original.
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Message: 16
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 12:53:19 -0000
From: Keith Moore
Subject: Starsailor v. Dandy Warhols
I think most of the comments about Starsailor are too kind to them.
They're a complete bunch of dullards and I'm amazed Phil Spector
ever thought they were worth working with. Terrible band, singer and
songs.
...But if any spectropop fans fancy something a bit contemporary to
listen I'd like to point them in the direction of the Dandy Warhols.
A few months ago they released "We used to be friends", perhaps the
best update of the Archies sound since the heyday of Voice of the
Beehive, packed full of "sugars" and "honeys" and incredibly catchy.
Their album "Welcome to the Monkey House" draws on a variety of
other influences, including glam rock and synth pop, and features
another Archies-ish tune "The dandy warhols love almost everyone".
Dump your Starsailor discs!! Buy the Dandy Warhols!!
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Message: 17
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:23:26 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: Alder Ray - 'Cause I Love Him
For Martin:
Sounds like one of the channels shorted out on the cable you used to
transfer your minidisc audio to your computer (or it became loose in
the back). On "Cause I love Him" the backing track is mixed on the
left, my guess is your left channel got disconnected. Most of that LP
is in mono so you couldn't tell until you got to Alder's track.
Also be sure to use your soundcard/computer LINE input and not the
MIC input for transferring audio to your PC.
Hope this helps
Billy
http://listen.to/jangleradio
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Message: 18
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 16:24:09 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Re: Inner Dialogue
Paul Richards wrote:
> Just got this LP through the post today. Wonderful weirdness, a bit
> like a further out Free Design.
The first Inner Dialogue album is indeed an amazing Free Design
styled record and was reissued on vinyl only (I'm pretty sure) with
input from members of the band (in the form of some new liner notes).
The story involving Gene DiNovi and Tony Velona is an interesting
one. I'm not sure if this reissue is still available.
They had a second lp entitled Friend which wasn't nearly as good, but
still worth hearing if you are a fan. In particular, I dug their
version of The Beatles' Cry Baby Cry. It would be wonderful to get a
cd reissue including both lps on one cd.
:Patrick
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Message: 19
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 14:52:51 -0000
From: Hugo M.
Subject: Re: US singers in foreign languages
Shucks, Phil, that WOULD be a fun thing to upload, you're right... but
I don't have the technology. I can't even dub cassettes right now.
Maybe next time I call in a favor and ask somebody to copy some things
for me I'll try to figure a way to do it...
Nobody's mentioned the albums in Italian that Fabian and Paul Anka
recorded. Too early for 'our purposes'?
HUP-di-nanana!
Hugo M.
pmadreenter@yahoo.com
http://free.hostdepartment.com/P/PME
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Message: 20
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 16:42:21 -0000
From: Bill George
Subject: Castaways single
Does anyone have a copy of The Castaways single Wild Boy / Tarzan? The
A-side was written by Phil Everly, and both sides were produced by
Jackie DeShannon and Shari Sheeley. I'd love to get a copy (or at least
hear it!) Thanks.
- Bill
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Message: 21
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 17:04:16 -0000
From: Joe Somsky
Subject: Ellie's Birthday
Hi Fans
Thank You ALL for attending the Lou Christie Show at the Bottom Line in
Manhattan on Tuesday night. Among the audience celebs were the Shepherd
Sisters! Billy J. Kramer, Jay Seigel, Fan Club Members and many record
collectors. The Ellie Greenwich Fan Club will be celebrating our 20th
anniversary in January! What a treat knowing all of YOU for so many
years! A very happy birthday today to our wonderful legendary lady!
Joe Somsky
Ellie Greenwich Fan Club
Wow! Collectors were thrilled meeting the Shepherd Sisters!
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Message: 22
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 17:18:16 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Rose Garden CD
CCM strikes again. Rose Garden had 1 10-track LP and 2 non-LP sides so
of course CCM puts out the album and leaves off the 2 sides of the single.
That is so weak. I take back my prior comment that they are like
Collectibles with a better catalogue. They're worse than Collectibles
because Collectibles would have added the 2 songs. And now the market is
ruined for anyone else to put the LP out with their complete output. CCM
should do us a favor and NOT release these things if they can't do them
right.
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