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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: The Knickerbocker Bros
From: Bill Craig
2. Byrds of a Feather
From: Steve Harvey
3. Re: When You Walk In The Room
From: Richard Hattersley
4. Re: The Kit Kats
From: Steve Harvey
5. Tom Jones interview
From: Phil Milstein
6. Re: popping the classics
From: Phil Milstein
7. Re: The Motels' "He Hit Me"
From: Steve Grant
8. Righteous Brothers sing Bonner & Gordon
From: Phil Milstein
9. Instrumental B sides
From: Doc Rock
10. Re; Massiel
From: Paul Woods
11. Re: The Knickerbocker Bros
From: Martin Jensen
12. More on Robin Clark
From: Wes Smith
13. Gene Pitney's "Tremblin'"
From: Stuffed Animal
14. Re: Buddy & Dusty
From: Bill Reed
15. Re: Red Bird Sound series
From: Ken Silverwood
16. Phil's Spectre Au Go Go
From: Don Charles
17. Re: Less than definitive CDs
From: Claark Besch
18. Re: Gary Usher and Dick Campbell
From: Patrick Rands
19. Re: 60s radio commercials
From: Clark Besch
20. Rickie Page / Sandy Posey / Toni Wine
From: Patrick Rands
21. Re: James Holvay / Mike & Michael
From: Clark Besch
22. Re: Righteous Bros
From: Richard Hattersley
23. Re: The Knickerbocker Bros
From: John Berg
24. Re: Phil's Spectre / Kit Kats
From: S.J. Dibai
25. Re: "When You Walk In The Room"
From: Ken Silverwood
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 00:49:40 -0000
From: Bill Craig
Subject: Re: The Knickerbocker Bros
Steve Harvey wrote:
> Having heard "Lies" on Nuggets in the early 70s I was knocked
> out when I first heard "Wishful Thinking". Sounded like
> somebody had put somebody else's track on the Knickerbockers'
> LP. I'm surprised that Bobby and Bill didn't cover it themselves.
Here's a question: When Jimmy Walker took the Bill Medley role
briefly in The Righteous Bros, did he play any drums on their album?
He was a member of the somewhat limited membership club of singing
drummers. Maybe there's a thread there....
Interesting too that Saxman Buddy Randall had the Beatley voice in
The Knicks
R.I.P. Bobby Hatfield
Bill Craig
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 17:26:39 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Byrds of a Feather
Cheryl Jennings wrote:
> Just thought I'd add that when the Byrds were first a band in 1965
> a high point of their early shows was a super version of "When You
> Walk In The Room".
I heard that story about the Byrds too, along with "Things We Said
Today". Two live gems we'll never hear unless Peter FOnda has them
on tape.
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 01:23:53 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: When You Walk In The Room
WYWITR has been covered lots hasn't it? Searchers, Del Shannon,
Billy J Kramer, Paul Carrack......etc
Funny that artists are attracted to a song that when you listen
doesn't actually have a great deal of melody but there is certainly
something about it. Fantastic gutar figure for starts. I have opened
every show I have done in the last 10 years with it! I must have sang
it 1000 times and i never tire of it.
Richard
http://www.wiz.to/richardsnow
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 17:30:57 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: The Kit Kats
Maybe Cousin Paul could play the CD I made of my Kit Kats radio show,
from the mid-90s, to musica. On it I played the Tik Taks version
(hold it up to the mirror) of "Let Get Lost" which is an instrumental.
The New Hope lp contained a snippet of "Oh My Angel", the Bertha
Tillman tune, which I would not hear completely until the late 80s
when they reunited at Jerry Blavat's club. It's now in complete form
on their double CD.
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 20:48:18 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Tom Jones interview
Caught an excellent hour-long interview with Tom Jones on Larry King
Live the other night. Those who've ever had the displeasure of watching
Larry's infuriating "technique" will realize just how rare such an
occasion is, but Tom took Larry's puddle-deep and research-free
questions and turned them into an expansive and fascinating
autobiographical session.
Despite doing relatively few interviews in his career, Tom was relaxed,
charming, and seemed to remember everything he ever knew, including the
name of the shoe store Curly Putnam was still working at at the time he
wrote Green Green Grass Of Home.
One of his stories concerned his first encounter with What's New
Pussycat, which Burt B. demo'd for him in Burt's London hotel room
(where he was working on the score for the movie). Although Tom didn't
have much industry leverage yet, he was still so turned off by Burt's
sketchy vocalizing of the tune that he turned it down flat. At this
point the song was still in baion mode, for which Tom felt his singing
style inappropriate. Burt, though perhaps unable to render it as such
himself, heard it in his head as a big, brassy type of thing, and asked
Tom to withhold his final word until hearing the tracks, which they were
cutting the next day. Showing up toward the end of the tracking session,
Tom finally started to hear the song the way Burt did. He put down his
vocals, and the rest is history. Add it to the list of big hits that the
singer initially didn't want to do.
Another story that caught my attention -- and I have no idea how
well-known or obscure this fact is -- is that Tom recorded It's Not
Unusual, written by his manager Gordon Mills, purely as a demo, for
Sandie Shaw. But Tom and Gordon liked the way that version came out so
much that they decided to release it, and ... well I already used the
"rest is history" cliche, but it is.
--Phil M.
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 20:51:13 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: popping the classics
Phil Chapman wrote:
> Can any of you compilation buffs tell me if there's one comprising
> pop hits lifted from classical themes?
I've never heard of one, but it sounds like a great idea. Whoever
intends to take on such a project would do well to consider Van Dyke
Parks's "Number 9," his delightful interpretation of Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony.
--Phil M.
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 20:51:54 -0500
From: Steve Grant
Subject: Re: The Motels' "He Hit Me"
I wrote:
> As I imagine most list members know, (Martha Davis and)
> the Motels also did a lovely version of "He Hit Me."
Jimmy Botticelli:
> I remember them doing "The Big Hurt" but on which LP was
> 'He Hit Me'?
All Four One, Expanded Edition CD
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 21:44:16 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Righteous Brothers sing Bonner & Gordon
Now playing at musica, the 2nd installment of a short list of Bonner &
Gordon rarities. This time around, in memory of Bobby Hatfield, The
Righteous Brothers' versions of Whatever Happened To Happy and Don't
Give Up On Me. As before, all comments and questions should be directed
here, to Alan Gordon's attention.
Enjoy,
--Phil M.
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 21:14:22 -0500
From: Doc Rock
Subject: Instrumental B sides
It's not a B side, but I have a 45 by Mike and Lulu that is the
instrumental version of "Baby Sittin' Boogie" sans vocal. Came out
a year before Buzz's version.
Doc
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 10:39:38 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
From: Paul Woods
Subject: Re; Massiel
Julio said:
> Much more unusual is the opposite case. A cover of a Spanish song
> done by Lesley Gore. This is the case of "He Gives Me Love (la la
> la)", A-side of a 1968 single of Lesley, which is a version of
> Massiel's "La la la", winner of The Eurovision Song Contest of 1968.
I was studying in Granada in 1968, staying with a Spanish family. I
came home after midnight on the night of the contest to find everyone
in the house, from Grandmother to two year-old still up and partying,
all rejoicing at Massiel having beaten Cliff Richard into second
place. All I was able to say in retaliation was, "Ah, but remember
the Armada!"
Within a day or so of the contest, people were parodying the Massiel
song. The first verse starts, I think:
"Yo canto a mi madre, que me dió mi ser"
...and people changed the second line to:
"Yo canto a mi padre, que tuvo algo que hacer..."
which means something like:
"I sing to my mother who gave me my existence"
"I sing to my father, who had something to do with it..."
Well, the Spanish teenagers in the household thought it was funny...
;-)=
wudzi
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 14:07:33 -0000
From: Martin Jensen
Subject: Re: The Knickerbocker Bros
Jeff Lemlich wrote:
> "Wishful Thinking" went on to become the Knickerbockers' unlikely
> Northern soul spin. It made its first appearance on the "Lies"
> LP, which has one side in a Beatles mode, and the other firmly in
> the Righteous Bros. camp. I like both sides.
Steve Harvey:
> It just shows you how diverse the Knickerbockers could be. Having
> heard Lies on Nuggets in the early 70s I was knocked out when I
> first heard Wishful Thinking. Sounded like somebody had put somebody
> else's track on the Knickerbockers' lp. I'm surprised that Bobby and
> Bill didn't cover it themselves.
Is this track available on CD? I would love to hear it...
With regards
Martin, Denmark
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 08:34:35 -0000
From: Wes Smith
Subject: More on Robin Clark
First, a sincere "THANK YOU" to Clark Besch for the very informative
info on Robin Clark, that he was so kind to share with us! I am
personally so indebted, craving any new info on her that I could find.
Actually,THERE WERE FOUR 45 releases........and all four of them were
pretty darn good! (especially when you consider that she was only 11
years old when she signed to Capitol Records)
Also,according to an article in a 1961 "ROCK AND ROLL SONGS" magazine,
"She was born on the Universiy of Alabama campus, while her parents
were students there,attended school in Donelson, Tn. (outside of
Nashville) under her real name of Ilo Hershiser."
"Like Pat Boone and Brenda Lee,she was a veteran of the Policemen's
Annual Benefit in Nashville, where she was a notorious show-stealer,
gaining many famous supporters,including Eddy Arnold,who considered
her his protege."
"The doll-like vocalist was the subject of a full color cover and
story in the Nashville Tennessean magazine"
Guess that's all I could add.
Sincerely,
Wes Smith
ROBIN'S CAPITOL RELEASES:
Capitol 4503(1/'61)
"DADDY,DADDY(GOTTA GET A PHONE IN MY ROOM")
"LOVE HAS COME MY WAY"
Capitol 4579(6/'61)
"FOR YOUR SAKE"
"BILLY"
Capitol 4636)(10/'61)
"IT'S LOVE"
"THE BUTTERFLY TREE"
Capitol 4763)(7/'62)
"I GOTTA BE SURE"
"TELLIN' MYSELF"
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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 14:44:30 +0000
From: Stuffed Animal
Subject: Gene Pitney's "Tremblin'"
I always thought I heard Ron Dante singing background on that track.
Can anyone verify? What say you, Pineapple Princess (Laura Pinto)?
Don "Stuffed Animal" Charles
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Message: 14
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 16:10:36 -0000
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Re: Buddy & Dusty
> Anyone heard the recording of Buddy berating band members on the
> tour bus? Abusiveness personified. He threw one guy right off the
> bus, fired him in the middle of nowhere.
>
> There is a great story about Dusty Springfield. . .Dusty punched
> him in the chops
The recording you refer to has long circulated, much like the Julie
London "Man I Love" and Brian/Murray Wilson sessions. Though on the
former it sounds as though Julie is more peeved with her inability to
nail the song than she is with her players.
YES, to put it mildly, Buddy was the original tightly-wrapped piece
of work. His famous last words on his deathbed---when the doctor
asked him if he was allergic to anything---were:
"Country and western music."
Just wayyyyy too hip for the house.
BTW, Buddy Rich was not the only musical colleague with whom Dusty
became physically combatitive. I seem to recall a reel or two of one
inch tape hurled in the direction of the producer of one of her UA
albums. On the other hand, I once accorded a live concert of hers a
highly (make that HIGHLY) favorable review, and she prrrrrractically
stalked me across two continents to proffer her appreciation. A
great, great artist in addition to being quite the slugger!
Bill Reed
http://www.cllrdr.com
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Message: 15
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 19:18:53 -0000
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: Red Bird Sound series
I asked:
> Whilst pouring through the booklet in the 'Red Bird Sound, Vol
> 4: Dressed In Black' CD, I came across two mentions of a Vol
> 5 being compiled & a mention of it including Roddie Joy's
> "Come Back Baby". Anyone know what happened? Did I miss it?
Mick Patrick replied:
> Hi Ken, don't worry, you didn't miss 'Red Bird Sound, Vol 5'.
> It was never released. However, you can find Roddie Joy's fab
> Barbara Lewis-alike 'Come Back Baby' on two other fine CDs...
Thanks Mick for the onfo, it's now going to make me drool over
what could have been on it!
Ken On The West Coast.
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Message: 16
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 18:46:15 -0000
From: Don Charles
Subject: Phil's Spectre Au Go Go
Another wonderful album with Spectorish production is Dobie Gray's
1965 FOR IN-CROWDERS THAT GO GO. Fred Darian (who's he?) produced.
I recall in particular two excellent tracks: The Mexican-
flavored "Blue Ribbons" by Jackie DeShannon, and "Walk With Love," a
vaguely homoerotic number. Spectropoppers will certainly be familiar
with the singles from this album, "The In Crowd" and "See You At The
Go-Go" . . . both records are definitely Wall of Sound cops, besides
being irresistibly danceable. Good luck locating a stereo copy of
this album!
Don "Stuffed Animal" Charles
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Message: 17
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 02:40:52 -0000
From: Claark Besch
Subject: Re: Less than definitive CDs
> I'm sure there are people on this list who can chime in with
> examples.
......and then there's the Cds with a promising title that live up to
their price only. Collectibles has just released "The VERY best of
the Cryan Shames"! You can view tracks at CDUniverse.com. I
thought, hmm, maybe this would be pretty cool! Well, let's see. The
cover is a color version of the original "Sugar & Spice" Lp cover.
Um, not so great. OK, so all the hits are there? (I know, some of
you may say: WHAT HITS?). Well, um, exactly ONE Hot 100 song, "Sugar
& Spice". That must qualify as the "Very Best" right? I guess so!
Only 2 other singles A sides! Actually, the songs on the Cd are OK,
it's just bizarre choice in my opinion. No "It Could Be We're In
Love" or "I Wanna Meet You"?? Now, the clincher: PRICE: $6.15. For
10 cuts, I guess sometimes you get what you pay for. That's about
what it should be, so not a rip off except for the title. Released
Oct 21, 2003, I hope it is not the final Shames CD to hang their hats
on. Anyway, the crazy world of Cd reissues continues!
Take care, Clark
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Message: 18
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 16:21:30 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Re: Gary Usher and Dick Campbell
Hi Gary,
I was wondering if you could help me find some sound file samples of
either the Dick Campbell Blue Winds Only Know or Gary Usher Beyond
The Shadow Of Doubt cds. Also, I'm having a hard time finding either
of these two cds for sale anywhere. I love the Sagittarius The Blue
Marble disc, and I was curious if these two albums are similar?
Please let me know if you can help me - thank you!
:Patrick
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Message: 19
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 14:07:46 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: 60s radio commercials
Previously:
> It would be great to have a couple of these posted to musica,
> though I realize that everyone has their personal favorites.
> The "7-Up, the UnCola" spot by the Cyrkle is one that gets my
> vote.
Hi, I have posted my old recording of the 7Up jingle from my original
reel to reel recording of it March 68 on WCFL's Ron Britain show in
Chicago that I sent to Bob Irwin. I suggest you get the 45 from
Sundazed if you really like it. Won't keep it up long, as the
quality is not great and there are many things to get on Musica, I'm
sure.
Take care, Clark
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Message: 20
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 18:02:09 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Rickie Page / Sandy Posey / Toni Wine
Mick Patrick wrote:
> Actually, you probably are. That "crooner" Ricki was one of
> the busiest West Coast studio singers of the early and mid-'60s
> and recorded under a variety of assumed and group names. She's
> been the subject of numerous messages to the S'pop list, not
> *all* of which were from me.
Is this the same "Rickey Page" who recorded two Sandy Posey covers on
Hit Records? Single Girl (released as "Sherry Young") and I Take It
Back (released as "Kathy Shannon"). Both excellent versions.
Also, I recently got a copy of Sandy Posey's version of Your
Conception of Love (written by Doc Pomus and Toni Wine) which is a
perfect mix of that Dylan cynicism and Monkees styled pop that was so
appealing in the late 1960s. Anyone have any more information on this
lost little classic tune? Did anyone else try there hand at it or did
Toni do a demo which is floating around?
:Patrick
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Message: 21
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 18:24:50 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: James Holvay / Mike & Michael
Mick Patrick wrote:
> I'm sure I speak for many members when I wish a very warm S'pop
> welcome to James Holvay, songwriter, producer and member of the
> Mob.
>
> Thanks for yet another great Kane & Abel story, James. Can I
> ask you to share some memories of another favourite record of
> mine: "My Neighborhood" by Mike & Michael, released on
> Constellation 156, in 1965.
>
> It's another excellent Righteous Brothers-style disc co-
> written and co-produced by yourself. Tell me, which came first,
> Kane & Abel or Mike & Michael? And who were Mike & Michael? I
> believe this record exists on another label too. Correct?
>
> For those who haven't heard this tasty piece of Windy City
> blue-eyed soul, it is currently playing at musica:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
Mick, since James has not answered your question, I will relate
what he told me. Mike & Michael were later in Neighborhood of
"Big Yellow Taxi" fame here. Odd that that word would be in the
45 you played. I can't remember which was which, but one of these
guys was Michael Tomasetti whose "She's the One" was released on
Constellation as a solo 45.
Take care, Clark
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Message: 22
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 01:14:48 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: Righteous Bros
Previously:
> As for "Unchained Melody", again there has been much confusion on
> the group recently, just to clarify the matter - "Unchained Melody",
> produced by Bill Medley, was originally intended as a Bobby Hatfield
> solo for the "Just Once In My Life" album.
Is that true, Medley produced Unchained? It's always credited as a
Spector production but I have to say I have always thought it doesn't
sound like one.
By the way, something that always shocks me about that record, great
as it is, is that wrong bass note during the last 1/2 of the song. A
real clanger!.
Richard
http://www.wiz.to/richardsnow
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Admin Note:
Please note that it has now been well and truly established that the
Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" WAS produced by Bill Medley,
NOT Phil Spector, whatever the label states. Indeed, this matter
has already been the subject of much discussion here at S'pop, as a
search of the Forum Archives will reveal. So please, let's consider
this thread closed. Thank you.
The S'pop Team
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Message: 23
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 15:24:19 EST
From: John Berg
Subject: Re: The Knickerbocker Bros
Dear David,
Many thanks for this review -- I shall pass it on to Joe Foster
at Rev-Ola and Jon "Mojo" Mills of Shindig magazine in the UK,
who put me in touch with Joe. They contacted me several months
ago, asking that I review Jon's liner notes and send them any
additional information, comments, memorabilia, etc. I frankly
was disappointed with their first CD release of the "Now And
Them" album, as it did not contain the earlier versions of
"Dirty Old Man" and "Square Room" -- which rightfully belonged
on that CD. Turns out that they were running up against a
deadline -- presumably self-imposed -- and were not able to
access those tracks in time. Hence they opted to add them to
the CD of the second album. They also added the final Tower
label 45 by "Them", which includes only Alan Henderson from
the "real" Them. Personally I don't think this 45 belongs on the
CD (It should go with the Happy Tiger material), but here it is.
I should also mention that Jon Mills makes several subjective
statements about these two Them albums that I take issue with,
but at least he took into account my corrections about factual
matters, dates, etc. Perhaps you also have checked out the
recent Rev-Ola CD of the "Belfast Gypsies" album -- Jon Mills
sought my corrective comments on his draft liners for that one
too, and pretty much ignored what I said to him -- but at least
I got a free copy plus my name alongside Kim Fowley in the
"special thanks" section. (Never thought I would be mentioned
in the same breath as him!)
So, David, how are you? What are you up to concerning all things
Van? I have not yet picked up his new CD -- waiting for it to go
on a sale price here in Seattle. Should I assume it works the same
vein as Van's albums of the past decade, or is he up to anything new?
I find that each of his last several CDs has a few really excellent
tracks, alongside a lot of stuff that retreads old themes and melodies.
The thing that most tires me is his rants against critics and even
fans -- I hope he has moved on from beating that tired horse on this
new CD? I would love to just bask in his singing and music.
John Berg
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Message: 24
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 21:05:18 -0000
From: S.J. Dibai
Subject: Re: Phil's Spectre / Kit Kats
Fred, Thanks for the kind words about the Kit Kats.
> For those not familiar with the group, they were also
> known later as the New Hope. Their local Hit was "Won't
> Find Better Than Me", a song originally recorded by the
> Kit Kats (different version).
In fact, the "New Hope" version of that was the only record
they had on the Hot 100, specifically at #57 in early 1970.
Personally, I prefer the "Kit Kats" version, though I think
the "New Hope" version is somewhat more creative.
> As the New Hope, they also remade "Let's Get Lost On A
> Country Road".
If you listen closely to that, you'll notice it's actually
just the Kit Kats recording with horn overdubs. Kind of hard
to understand why they did that--actually, it's kind of hard
to understand why most of the stuff on the New Hope LP ("To
Understand Is To Love") had previously been relesed, sometimes
in the same versions, under the Kit Kats name. Maybe they thought
they could give their earlier material a wider airing now that
they had a national hit.
S.J. Dibai
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Message: 25
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 19:30:59 -0000
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: "When You Walk In The Room"
Richard Williams:
> He and the E Streeters did great covers in those days (I
> remember a similarly moving "Pretty Flamingo" from the
> Hammersmith shows). They did them with real affection and
> with a poignancy that reflected Springsteen's awareness of
> a disappearing past.
He's still doing "Pretty Flamingo" along with "Quarter To Three",
"Diddy Wah Diddy", "Raise Your Hand" and of course the obligatory
resurrected "Twist & Shout" as of this October. He's a "keeper of
the flame".
Ken On The West Coast.
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