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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 21 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. James Holvay & the power of music
From: Artie Wayne
2. Re: L.A. DJs (Steven Clean)
From: Kurt B.
3. Alan Gordon's Beatles
From: Phil Milstein
4. Pricewise "The Best Of The Girl Groups" LP
From: Mick Patrick
5. Dora Hall
From: Simon White
6. Vince Hill shocker
From: Simon White
7. Bobby Darin sings Gordon & Bonner
From: Ken Silverwood
8. Jackie DeShannon
From: Bill George
9. Lesley Gore's Coming Out Party
From: Stuffed Animal
10. Re: EMI / Capitol labels
From: Al Quaglieri
11. Re: Does Anybody Really Know What "Time line" It Is?
From: Marty
12. Phil's Spectre - a thank you
From: Alfie Noakes
13. Re: Faux Shangs / Teardrops
From: John Fox
14. Jackie DeShannon "Jackie.....Plus" CD
From: S'pop Team
15. Re: Faux Shangs / Patti Lace & the Petticoats
From: Phil Milstein
16. Re: Lesley Gore's Coming Out Party
From: Art Longmire
17. Re: Does Anybody Really Know What "Time line" It Is?
From: Dan Hughes
18. Re: Artie Wayne & the power of music
From: That Alan Gordon
19. Re: Lesley Gore's Coming Out Party
From: Steve Harvey
20. Re: Phil's Spectre CD / Kane & Abel
From: James Holvay
21. "Phil's Spectre" CD
From: S'pop Team
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 13:24:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: James Holvay & the power of music
Mick.........How ya' doin'? Thanks for bringing Jimmy Holvay to
Spectropop........ His story was great...and I'm looking forward to
hearing more. I'm forwarding an e-mail I sent to Jimmy after Clark
Besch hooked us up on line. The reason why I'd like you to make it
public now is prompted by the condition of Mike Smith, who really
could use some encouragement, as well as members of our group who
are faced with physical problems....................
----------------------------------------------
It's been quite a year.....I moved away from L.A. where my apt. was
leaking asbestos with a toxic mold chaser!! I moved to the desert
with my cats to an assisted living facility, where I was rescued
after being drugged, in an effort to take over my assets!!
In the past 6 years, with the Grace of God, I learned to walk again
after a spinal operation........although I still have only use of
one finger on my right hand [which I use to type e-mails] and the
knuckle of my left hand [which I use to make capital letters]. When
I went on Spectropop it made a big difference in my life. It's nice
to be remembered.........but after being drugged [a combo of
hallucigens and methaphetamine] I lost the memories of the last
40 years!!!
Slowly........as I discovered my past ....triggered by Spectropopper
questions I started to regain my memory!!
It's almost a week since I stopped taking Vicodin. Originally I was
prescribed 7500 mgs a day......6 years ago....and have taken less and
less every few months....til I went cold turkey last week.
Two weeks ago, my mother passed away, and I was forced to check a bag
containing memories of a lifetime [and unknowingly my pain medicine]
on the way back to L.A.!!! I guess all the residue Vic that accumulated
in my body was burned up during that excruciating flight.........cause
I haven't had any withdrawl symptoms. Oh yeah I forgot to say that they
lost my luggage......that led me to threaten them with putting the
story on CNN if my bag wasn't hand delivered by noon. I guess when
you're in the music buisness......you never forget how to bullshit!!!
What does all this have to do with you Jimmy? It has to do with the
power of music. You had a big hand in creating two of my favorite
recordings, "Hey, Baby" and "Kind of a Drag", and as I lay in bed last
night.......I was playing the guitar chords to those songs in my head
.....something I haven't done since I stopped being able to play
guitar. Then I looked down and saw the fingers of my left hand moving
.........trying to make chords on the neck of an invisible guitar. I
thanked God and now I thank you........I know that one day I'll play
again!!!
Okay........enough frivolity, your voice at Spectropop has already
made a difference....is'nt it time to make it official!!
regards, Artie
P.S. My website is http://geocities.com/artie_wayne/index.html
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 17:52:25 -0800
From: Kurt B.
Subject: Re: L.A. DJs (Steven Clean)
Again, while we're on the subject, does anyone know what became of
an FM radio DJ in Los Angeles named Steven Clean?
He was on several LA rock stations during the mid-to-late 70s
(KMET, KLOS, and I think KROQ at one point)
His delivery was extremely laid-back...almost catatonic actually.
I'm real interested where and how he ended up.
Kurt B.
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 21:32:52 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Alan Gordon's Beatles
Now playing at musica is the recently-discussed track 'Beatles' by
Alan Gordon. Since he lacks access to musica, he's asked me to post it
for him. All words of praise, of course, as well as questions should go
to Alan, however. We're hoping he'll allow us to post more great songs
from his personal archives in the near future.
-Phil M.
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 08:16:10 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Pricewise "The Best Of The Girl Groups" LP
I'm on another information quest. Sorry. Does anyone possess a
copy of the LP "The Best Of The Girl Groups / The Girl Groups
Are The Best", issued on the Pricewise (Scepter) label in 1965?
If so, please be so kind as to tell me the songwriter and
publisher credits for the two Goldie & the Gingerbreads tracks.
Thanking you.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 09:12:06 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Dora Hall
Due to a complete oversight on my part, I missed the opportunity of
mentioning the birthday of the great Dora "Pretty Boy" Hall on 31st
October, last Friday. Dora would have been 103 this year.
http://www.dorahall.tvheaven.com/
So Happy Birthday then, Dora.
Soul Radio 24 Hours A Day
http://www.soul24-7.com
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 11:45:51 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Vince Hill shocker
I asked:
> British uber-crooner Vince Hill did a song called "Push Push"
> written by Bert Russell (Berns) and Phil Medley. Whose is the
> original version - assuming this isn't it?
Mick replied:
> Hi Simon, how was Rio? The original version of "Push Push" was
> by Austin Taylor on US Laurie 3067, a small hit late in 1960.
> Is either version out on CD? Just wondered. Good singer, Vince.
Rio (Copacana to be exact) was a hoot and a screech. It comes highly
recommended.
Through a fellow Spectropopper (thanks Mike) - who shall remain
nameless - and the magic of wireless, I now possess something called
an "mp3" of Austin's fine version. Vince's is five years later but
is almost note for note the same but without a little Latinesque kick.
I notice it had a U.S. release too. I wonder what prompted this
recording?
The Jerrio track of the same name is not the same song, being a
totally mindless Detroit styled instrumental of exactly the type I
like. Anyone want to talk Jerrio or Jerry-O?
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 21:34:12 -0000
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Bobby Darin sings Gordon & Bonner
Many thanks to That Alan Gordon & others on their postings, I have
re-visited my Bobby Darin LPs "If I Were A Carpenter" & "Inside Out",
the second of which features Mr Gordon's "Me About You", "Whatever
Happened To Happy" & "Lady Fingers", along with Bobby's version of
"I Think It's Gonna Rain Today". I also happen to have an Edsel
release titled "Mood Swings" which incorporates a mix of songs from
the above albums plus nuggets like "We Didn't Ask To Be Brought Here"
(his first single back at Atlantic), the RnB of Van McCoy's "My Baby
Needs Me" and the b-side of "Talk To The Animals", Bonner/Gordon's
"She Knows". Marvellous, marvellous recordings, everyone.
Ken On The West Coast
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 02 Nov 2003 20:21:26 EST
From: Bill George
Subject: Jackie DeShannon
Previously:
> If I had to guess, then that's simply because the label made the
> mistake of getting the artist involved. That is one gigantic mistake.
> Never, ever get them involved. They will always have some song that
> was a hit or that people liked that they hated and that they don't
> want on the package.
That's why the recent Jackie DeShannon CD on Rhino Handmade went from
a two-disc Complete Atlantic Sessions to the single disc Jackie...Plus.
She didn't want her second Atlantic album released, which also meant
there was less room for more unreleased tracks. Good for her, bad for
us.
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 15:27:27 +0000
From: Stuffed Animal
Subject: Lesley Gore's Coming Out Party
Anyone at Spectropop who's familiar with PBS's monthly gay and lesbian
newsmagazine "In The Life" will know of Lesley Gore's involvement with
the show. In the past, she's made cameo appearances and narrated
reports, and her music ("You Don't Own Me" in particular) has been
featured prominently on the program. Well, Lesley is the on-camera host
of the latest edition, and she leaves absolutely no doubt that she
identifies as a member of the les/bi/gay community.
So Lesley Gore, the Teen Queen of '60s Girlpop grew up to be a gay
woman. What effect will this revelation have on her longtime fans? Will
they turn against her? Will her classic albums and singles become more
or less collectible now? Thoughts, anyone?
Don "Stuffed Animal" Charles
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 11:57:55 -0500
From: Al Quaglieri
Subject: Re: EMI / Capitol labels
Frank asked:
> Can anybody help me out with a list of the labels controlled by
> CAPITOL?
ORIGINALLY OWNED: Capitol, Angel, Melodiya/Angel, Seraphim, Tower,
Cap-Latino.
DISTRIBUTED: Apple, Crazy Horse, Fame, Harvest (UK), Invictus, KEF, 01 -2-3, Chips, Trump, Blue Thumb, Sidewalk, Shelter, Island, Zapple.
NOW OWNED/CONTROLLED: Imperial, Liberty, Minit, Aladdin, United Artists,
Laurie, Sunset, Blue Note, Solid State, Soul City, Talespinners, World
Pacific, World Pacific Jazz, Unart.
I'm sure there are others...
Al Q.
NY
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 17:26:08 -0000
From: Marty
Subject: Re: Does Anybody Really Know What "Time line" It Is?
> .......by Copper 'N Brass, on the Amazon label......
Greeting Orion & All,
Veered into the Louisville Ky area again so here's some info on this
one: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" was was written by
Chicago Transit Authority's keyboardist, Robert Lamm. It first was
heard on their self-titled debut album which charted on Billboard
5/17/69. Chicago's 45 release of DARKWTII came quite a bit later and
1st charted on 11/07/70, reaching a high of #7 while on the charts
for 13 weeks.
In Dec of 1969/Jan 1970, The Louisville group, Copper N' Brass
recorded DARKWTII at Sun Studios in Memphis. It was produced by Knox
Phillips (Son of Sam) for Shelby Singleton Prods. It was B/W the
group written "Believe It Or Not" and released in February 1970 on
Amazon #7; about nine months before the Chicago 45rpm release!
The "Copper 'N Brass" version made it to #2 here in Louisville and
#103 on Billboard for one week: 3/14/70.
A little more... "Copper N' Brass" formed as "The Premiers" in 1962
and released records on three local labels: Farrall, Control, & Top
Dog #2320 in 1968 (The Ali Shuffle). Member Kenny Bechtloff left in
1964 to join a later Northern soul favorite, "Cosmo and the Counts".
Jimmy McConville, who would later receive some fame for his
instrumental "Scorpion", was lead guitarist 1962-66.They spent a lot
of time as club band at Whispering Hills C.C., about a mile from my
home.
In 1969 they changed their name to "Copper'N Brass". Some personnel
changes were made at that time. One of Louisville's fine musical
gentleman, Gary Falk, joined with them on sax. You can find him now
at "Falk Audio" ( http://www.falkaudio.com ). His wife taught my
daughter music in elementary school... Please excuse me, I'm getting
carried away!...
Regards, Marty
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 21:21:58 -0000
From: Alfie Noakes
Subject: Phil's Spectre - a thank you
My apologies if I'm a little late in the day, but I finally managed to
get a copy of Ace's "Phil's Spectre" compilation a couple of days ago
and felt compelled to write a few words. After the disappointment of
the Starsailor tracks, this album more than fills the gap for new
Spector recordings: shameless, yet brilliant rip-offs of the entire
spectrum of The Wall of Sound.
I'd heard a few of the songs before. Jackie DeShannon's original of
"When You Walk in the Room" is some mutant hybrid of Spector and The
Byrds, that tellingly predates the jingle-jangle by at least a year -
and if anyone here would like to suggest that The Searchers' cover
improved on it, I'll gladly eat my jewel case.
I'd only ever heard "Hang on" by the opportunistically named The Wall
of Sound on mp3, but cranked up on the stereo, it sounds phenomenal -
layers of noise and passion that could have sat quite happily on the
box set.
I could go on, track by track, as there is a plethora of epic tunes
here, but one song stands out a mile - "I Can't Make it Alone" by P J
Proby. I've known and loved the Dusty Springfield version for years,
but nothing could have preparded me for this. Unmitigated, cacophonous
Spector, as good as anything by the man himself; even if this was the
only worthwhile track on the entire compilation, I'd have happily
parted with my cash.
Other than the Back to Mono box, this is the album that every
Spectropopper should own. I can't remember any time that one
compilation has given me so much pleasure, and I suspect that there's
more than a few tracks that I'll be listening to decades from now. Big
pats on the back to everyone from Spectropop who contributed to this,
on whatever level.
Now, I know there are always going to be minor gripes about what was
excluded on a release like this, so I'll resist, but does anyone out
there know why Bonnie & The Treasures' "Home of the Brave" and "Baby
That's Me" by The Cake haven't yet had a CD reissue? I'm sure they
would have been included if it were available. Also, are The Mob (as
in Kane & Abel) the same group who recorded "I Dig Everything About
You"? That track went some way to winning me the affections of my
girlfriend.
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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 10:02:07 EST
From: John Fox
Subject: Re: Faux Shangs / Teardrops
John Frank wrote:
> The Shangri-las, too, spawned copycat records that tried to capture
> the melodrama and sometimes the attitude of the Shangs. I'm listing
> some I've identified, and would welcome more! I'd like to track them
> down and make a compilation. I'm particularly interested in original
> songs ('60s vintage only, please), but am also accumulating a
> listing of covers, parodies and answer songs.
Check out The Teardrops' "I Will Love You Dear Forever", a song
reminiscent of "Long Live Our Love". The Teardrops have their own
section on Spectropop: http://www.spectropop.com/go2/girlgroups.html
John Fox
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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2003 01:52:01 -0000
From: S'pop Team
Subject: Jackie DeShannon "Jackie.....Plus" CD
New At S'pop Recommends
Jackie DeShannon "Jackie.....Plus" CD (Rhino Handmade)
...This collection shows Jackie DeShannon as a supremely
soulful vocalist, a songwriter par excellence, and an artist
who can select other great songs and make them entirely her
own. There's not a bad track on here... (Peter Lerner)
Read Peter's full review of this important new release here:
http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index2003.htm#JackieDeShannon
Enjoy!
The S'pop Team
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Message: 15
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 19:32:20 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Faux Shangs / Patti Lace & the Petticoats
John Frank wrote:
> In my not-so-humble opinion, of all the inhabitants of Girl
> Group Planet, The Shangri-las reign. Spector and Motown both
> spawned a lot of "copycat" singles -- releases that took the
> sound as a jumping-off point and tried to make a reasonable
> facsimile, resulting in a lot of great music (and a lot of
> crap). The Shangri-las, too, spawned copycat records that
> tried to capture the melodrama and sometimes the attitude of
> the Shangs. I'm listing some I've identified, and would
> welcome more! I'd like to track them down and make a
> compilation. I'm particularly interested in original songs
> ('60s vintage only, please), but am also accumulating a
> listing of covers, parodies and answer songs.
Another good one along these lines is "Sneaky Sue," a 1963 entry by
Patti Lace & The Petticoats. Now playing, of course, at musica.
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Message: 16
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2003 00:48:39 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: Re: Lesley Gore's Coming Out Party
Stuffed Animal:
> So Lesley Gore, the Teen Queen of '60s Girlpop grew up to be a gay
> woman. What effect will this revelation have on her longtime fans?
> Will they turn against her? Will her classic albums and singles
> become more or less collectible now? Thoughts, anyone?
I don't think it will have any effect one way or the other...I
remember being a bit surprised when I found out that Dusty
Springfield was gay, and that one of her long-time girlfriends was
Norma Tanega of "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" fame. Since that's one of
my favorite tunes, I was finally able to get some biographical info
on Norma when it was published in a Dusty bio. Until then I'd never
come across any information on Norma Tanega. Also really like her
song "A Street That Rhymes With 6:00 A.M."
Art
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Message: 17
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 19:09:55 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: Does Anybody Really Know What "Time line" It Is?
I was always under the impression that the Chicago song "25 or 6 to
4" was an answer to the question "Does Anybody Really Know What Time
It Is". Though they charted backwards (the answer came before the
question), I assumed they were written the other way around.
Anybody know?
---Dan
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Message: 18
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 18:34:27 -0700 (MST)
From: That Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: Artie Wayne & the power of music
Artie, your message on the power of music was more than moving. To me
being a part of S`pop is like hanging out with my buddies at the
candy store. Now, instead of the old Wurlitzer juke box where we
played our favorite records, fell in love and just were happy to be
young, we`re hangin out with our computer. But the music is still the
thing that brings us all together. Artie, miracles are a fact of faith!
The music is in you, it`s part of all of us. Each day is a gift, that`s
why they call it the present.
Love, that alan
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Message: 19
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 19:04:19 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: Lesley Gore's Coming Out Party
Stuffed Animal:
> So Lesley Gore, the Teen Queen of '60s Girlpop grew up to be a gay
> woman. What effect will this revelation have on her longtime fans?
> Will they turn against her? Will her classic albums and singles
> become more or less collectible now? Thoughts, anyone?
I doubt that it will have much effect outside of a few males that were
wishfully hoping for a chance to take her to the prom.
When I saw the movie "Grace of my Heart" there is a bit about a
popular girl singer who is accompanied to a recording gig by her
girlfriend. For some reason it reminded me of Lesley. Turns out that
Lesley wrote the tune the girl sings in the film.
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Message: 20
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 22:06:47 -0800
From: James Holvay
Subject: Re: Phil's Spectre CD / Kane & Abel
Alfie: As I was reading your critique of the "Phil's Spectre" CD,
I was getting more and more nervous the further I got. Thinking by
the time you got down to my song and homage to P.S.("He Will Break
Your Heart" by Kane & Abel), you'd rip me a new one. You didn't, so
thank you.
Just a long note, as you know Phil S. had the "A" list session
players at his disposal. (i.e. 2 pianos, 04 guitars, 02 basses,
complete horn section, string section, percussion, chorus, genius
arranger and the top studio and engineer in LA) As the story goes,
he was a perfectionist and would run around the studio, moving mics
and recording take after take and driving the musicians to the
breaking point. I recruited 4 string players from a highschool music
department, a not too solid rhythm section (average age - 18 yrs. old)
and 3 border-line female vocalists. One of which was the girlfriend of
the engineer, who happened to stop by the studio that night. Gary
Beisbier wrote the arrangement and played piano and baritone sax, I
played the guitar parts. Before we started the session, I played the
45 of the Righteous Brothers' "For Once In My Life" to the engineer
and said, "this is the sound we're trying to get." He listened to it
intently, 04 or 5 times and said, "I got it. I know what they're
doing. Let's go, the clock is running." We got the song done in
about 3 or 4 takes. We barely had enough money to pay for the
musicians ($20 each, the string players wanted more $25 each ...
figures) and we only had 3 hours studio time booked. Anyway, after we
got the first track laid down and listened to the playback in the
studio, it didn't sound that great. Our mini-me "wrecking crew"
started to pack up when suddenly the engineer came over the squak
box and said, "Nobody move. Everyone sit back down. We're gonna roll
tape and you're going to play the exact parts you just played, along
with the take you just did. Are you ready?" At the time, living in
Chicago, I didn't know that Spector used the same recording technique,
along with ten gazillion musicians. Luckily for Gary and I, our
engineer had figured it out. I think we may have even overdubbed the
whole band a third time. Anyway, when we heard the final, final
playback we were beside ourselves. A bunch of highschool kids, with 3
hours of studio time in a B rated studio and a few hundred bucks, had
duped the "Spector sound". It wasn't perfect but it came damn close.
We were very proud that night.
Thanks again.
Jim
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Message: 21
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2003 01:53:31 -0000
From: S'pop Team
Subject: "Phil's Spectre" CD
New At S'pop Recommends: "Phil's Spectre" CD (Ace)
. . . Clydie King's 'Missin' My Baby', Hale and the Hushabyes'
'Yes Sir, That's My Baby', Nino Tempo's 'Boys Town' and Carol
Connors' 'My Baby Looks, But He Don't Touch'? All in pristine
sound on one friendly-priced disc? Pinch me . . .
(David A. Young)
To read David's full review, visit the S'pop Recommends section:
http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index2003.htm#PhilsSpectre
Enjoy!
The S'pop Team
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End
