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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 18 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Mercury Hits on CD Vol. 2
From: Nick Archer
2. Terry Black / ARC label
From: Mark
3. Re: Rusty York
From: Bill George
4. Re: Tunesmith - Jimmy Webb CD
From: astro4004
5. "Silent Knight"
From: Andrew Jones
6. Dusty's Christmas Records
From: Mike Edwards
7. Bionic Gold
From: Steve Harvey
8. Mercury Hits on CD Vol. 2
From: Robert Beason
9. Re: Tommy Vann
From: Phil Milstein
10. Big Town Boy -- Shirley Matthews
From: Herb
11. Sonny Curtis
From: Steve Harvey
12. Re: Was Tommy James a "Big Time Operator"?
From: Eddy
13. Re: Canadian Re-issues
From: Mark
14. Re: Was Tommy James a "Big Time Operator"?
From: Eddy
15. Ray Davies' reflection
From: Paul Bryant
16. New @ S'pop
From: S'pop Team
17. Re: Dusty & Lesley Christmas songs?
From: Ron Sauer
18. Re: Tommy Vann
From: Fred
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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 00:50:29 -0000
From: Nick Archer
Subject: Mercury Hits on CD Vol. 2
Mark asked:
> Hello again! I have both Volume 1 and Volume 3 of the "45s on CD"
> series that Mercury put out some time ago. Can anyone tell me what
> is on Volume 2 (which I assume covers 1960 to 1966) and if it is
> still available? Again, thanks in advance!
Here's the list for Vol. 2. I don't know how available this series is
now, I bought these a long time ago.
1. Baby (You Got What It Takes) - Brook Benton & Dinah Washington
2. Good Timin' - Jimmy Jones
3. I Saw Linda Yesterday - Dickey Lee
4. My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels
5. Little Honda - The Hondells
6. Game Of Love - Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders
7. Wooly Bully - Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs
8. Ride Away - Roy Orbison
9. Keep on Dancing - Gentrys
10. Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie
11. A Groovy Kind Of Love - Mindbenders
12. The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) - Walker Brothers
13. Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) - Swingin' Medallions
14. Don't Bring Me Down - Animals
15. Wild Thing - Troggs
16. Sunny - Bobby Heb
Check out Nashville's classic radio station SM95 on the web at:
www.live365.com/stations/nikarcher
Nick Archer
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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 02:31:23 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Terry Black / ARC label
Tony Bayliss:
> The Terry Black material was owned by Arc Sound, out of Toronto.
> When they went bankrupt, the Arc catalogue was purchased, I believe,
> by Amhurst Records of Buffalo NY. Now this was many years ago, but
> they may still own it as Black wasn't an artist for which there was
> a wide demand, even though he was pretty good. The Ugly Ducklings
> recordings and the Yorkville label were also part of the deal.
All ARC label recordings are now owned by Unidisc in Montreal. good
luck!! - for an independent label, they charge a lot for licensing.
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 22:36:22 EST
From: Bill George
Subject: Re: Rusty York
> Justin McDevitt asked about a great tune, and Ken Silverwood
> identified it as Sugaree by Rusty York...
Would this be the same Rusty York that backed Jackie (De) Shannon in
the Cajuns on the tune "Just Another Lie"? The flip side was an
instrumental called Cajun Blues.
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Message: 4
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 04:01:10 -0000
From: astro4004
Subject: Re: Tunesmith - Jimmy Webb CD
That cd looks great, I will definitely investigate. One track I wish
they had included: Cass Elliot, "Saturday Suit."
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 23:02:55 -0500 (EST)
From: Andrew Jones
Subject: "Silent Knight"
I have an album called "Beserkley's Back!", an anthology of tracks by
the company's top artists (Greg Kihn, Jonathan Richman, Earthquake,
etc.) According to the label, the last track on Side One is "Silent
Knight," with all the arranging / producing credits previously
mentioned; yet there's no silent track ending that side - after the last
"real" song, there's just the runoff groove and the inner groove.
Sonically, of course, it makes little difference, but just the same....
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Message: 6
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 04:29:13 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Dusty's Christmas Records
J.D. Doyle asks:
> Can anyone please tell me if Dusty Springfield and Lesley
> Gore recorded any Christmas songs, and if so, where I might
> find them. I'm putting together a radio show, my annual Queer
> Christmas Special...
Dusty made some Christmas records while she was a member of the
Springfields. The group's second UK hit was "Bambino"/"Star Of Hope",
which reached # 16 around Christmas of 1961. The following December
saw them back on the charts with "Island Of Dreams" but they also
released a Christmas EP in conjunction with Women's' Own magazine; it
was not available in stores. The tracks were: "The 12 Days Of
Christmas", "Mary's Boy Child", "Away In A Manger" and "Merry
Christmas". It was a big time for the Springfields as earlier in the
year they reached # 20 in the US with "Silver Threads And Golden
Needles" – an almost impossible feat for a UK band in those days.
I believe Dusty meets the criteria you are looking for in compiling
your Christmas song collection but I'm not sure about the two fellas
that sang along with her. "Bambino" was included on a Springfields'
CD released in the US by Taragon, although I believe is now out of
print. It's worth looking for, though.
Mike
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 21:27:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Bionic Gold
Ian Chapman:
> Bit late with this thread, but does anyone remember the "Bionic
> Gold" album from '77? This was a Spector tribute comp on the
> Big Sound label. I was disappointed when I first got it, since
> none of the tracks even attempt to go for the Spector sound - all
> are done in various contemporary rock styles. However, there's
> a tongue in cheek element to the whole thing and it's kinda fun.
> But to get to the main point, the album opens with Robert Orsi
> (of the Scratch Band) doing "He Hit Me", and also includes Philip
> Rambow tackling "All Grown Up" (yep, he has his high heels on and
> he's a-ready to go......) Closing the album is an out-and-out
> 70s punk version of "To Know Him Is To Love Him" by Mick Farren.
I was just listening to my CD of "Bionic Gold" from '77? Got tired
of waiting for it to come out on Cd so I burned my own copy. Always
loved Philip Rambow tackling "All Grown Up". What made it work was
that he sang it in a rather masculine voice which made lines like
"got my highheels on" and "no more ponytail (listening Mr. Lindsay?),
I wear my hair up high" even funnier than intended. The version of
"Two of Us" is right up there with the Beatles.
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 21:28:40 -0800 (PST)
From: Robert Beason
Subject: Mercury Hits on CD Vol. 2
Mark:
> I have both Volume 1 and Volume 3 of the "45s on CD" series that
> Mercury put out some time ago. Can anyone tell me >what is on
> Volume 2 (which I assume covers 1960 to 1966) and if >it is still
> available?
Track listing for "45's on CD, Volume II ('60-'66):
1. Brook Benton & Dinah Washington, "Baby You Got What It Takes"
2. Jimmy Jones, "Good Timin'"
3. Dickey Lee, "I Saw Linda Yesterday"
4. The Angels, "My Boyfriend's Back"
5. The Hondells, "Little Honda"
6. Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, "Game Of Love"
7. Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs, "Woolly Bully"
8. Roy Orbison, "Ride Away"
9. The Gentrys, "Keep On Dancing"
10. Lou Christie, "Lightning Strikes"
11. The Mindbenders, "A Groovy Kind Of Love"
12. The Walker Brothers, "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
13. Swingin' Medallions, "Double Shot Of My Baby's Love"
14. The Animals, "Don't Bring Me Down"
15. The Troggs, "Wild Thing"
16. Bobby Hebb, "Sunny"
Seems to be out of print, but a couple of people have listed copies
for sale with Amazon.
Bob Beason
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 23:03:42 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Tommy Vann
Fred wrote:
> A number of posts have appeared on this subject. My number one
> contender has been "Too Young" by Tommy Vann and the Echoes from
> 1966. I've played a RealMedia file of it to musica.
Nice track. The very next e-mail I received after listening to this
track was a spam signed "Tommie Vann" ("Cyber-doctors are waiting for
you"). Didn't someone once say there are no coincidences? Anyhoo, I
wouldn't mind hearing Pretty Flamingo, Fred.
--Phil M.
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 06:17:46 -0000
From: Herb
Subject: Big Town Boy -- Shirley Matthews
Hi,
Everyweek, I post the top ten's on a local message board (Billboard,
CHUM & CKEY from 40 years ago.
On CHUM's listing of Dec. 2, 1963, Shirley Matthews makes her debut
with Big Town Boy issued on the Canadian Tamarac label here and
Atlantic in the States.
About a decade ago, a record company (???) came out with a series of
CDs called "Made In Canada". I wasn't into CDs then but now that I
am I've been seeking Vol. 1 which has the early Canadian acts
(Shirley Matthews, Jackie Shane, Pat Hervey, and others). Does anyone
know where to obtain this CD?
As a side note, another group made their appearance of the CHUM chart
on Dec. 2, 1963 -- THE BEATLES. Although they were a rave in England
and other countries as far back as spring of 1963. Other groups
became popular as a result (Gerry & the Pacemakers, The Searchers,
etc.). Back then, I shrugged my shoulders thinking "who are they?"
Who would have thought the occurances to come? Not me. I have to
admit that I wasn't drawn into the British Invasion nor did I like
them -- Dusty Springfield - The Dave Clark 5 -- I did like. Unbenownst
to me back then, I was more into Pop Rhythm & Blues -- the Tamla
Motown roster plus The Crystals, The Ronettes, The Orlons, etc.
I also want to say that I am enjoying this group -- a lot of
interesting tidbits of information.
Herb,
Toronto, Canada
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Message: 11
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2003 22:23:56 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Sonny Curtis
Sonny wrote "Walk Right Back" which Don and Phil did. He also wrote
"I Fought the Law" while in studyhall as a 16 year old. The Buddyless
Crickets did it, but most of us remember Mr. Fuller's version even
more so.
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 08:21:53 +0100
From: Eddy
Subject: Re: Was Tommy James a "Big Time Operator"?
Mark:
> I was listening to an import Charlie Rich CD containing all the
> material he did (both issued and unissued) for the Hi label, and
> I was stunned to discover that he did a version of "Big Time
> Operator" in the late '60s that went unissued until 1994. Prior to
> this, I was only familiar with the version I remembered as a kid
> by the underrated Canadian singer Keith Hampshire (circa '72-'73).
> I asked on another list and found out that Zoot Money's Big Roll
> Band recorded the song before Rich (it's featured on a recent CD of
> Money material on Repertoire) and that Tommy James may have done a
> version as well. Can anyone confirm whether Tommy did this song or
> not? Once again, thanks in advance for any help! :)
Tommy James did it in 1967 as the opening track of his It's only Love
album.
Eddy
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 08:14:08 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Canadian Re-issues
Me;
> How about The Big Town Boys? Staccatos? Original Caste, 3s a
> Crowd, Octavian, Craig Ruhnke, Susan Jacks solo...
Superoldies:
> Products are generally released as there is demand. Record execs
> don't read these boards and I personally believe (as much as I LOVE
> Susan Jacks, etc.) that sales on these acts would be very limited.
> After licensing, packaging, etc., you're really lucky if you break
> even. That's all I'm hoping with the JB & The Playboys package
> too...who hates losing money?
Its true that no one wants to lose money but its a worldwide market
these days and all alot of these things need are good promotion. Are
the groups that Revola is putting out like the Deep Six, Third Rail,
October Country, etc. any more commercial or well-known? At least
these groups were popular in Canada or Japan. Where was Thomas and
Richard Frost popular? With the right push and good word of mouth
these things could sell decently. I was in a store in Sydney where
they sold a bunch of Montanas CDs just by playing them in the store.
The market is there, people just need to be exposed to the music.
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 12:58:01 +0100
From: Eddy
Subject: Re: Was Tommy James a "Big Time Operator"?
> Tommy James did it in 1967 as the opening track of his It's only Love
> album.
Oops, sorry, *not* the opening track, but on that album nonetheless
(track 5).
Eddy
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 05:16:32 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Bryant
Subject: Ray Davies' reflection
> In "Lola" by the Kinks, it's Lola who is a man. The clues are there,
> like "in a dark brown voice," "she walked like a woman and talked
> like a man" and "when she picked me up she almost broke my spine."
> The most interesting thing about the lyrics is that it turns out
> that not only does the singer realize Lola is actually a man, he
> doesn't care!
Is there something about Ray Davies I didn't realise? In "Mirror of
Love", an obscure 1972-ish Kinks single, he sings "you're the best man
I ever had".
pb
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Message: 16
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 13:42:15 -0000
From: S'pop Team
Subject: New @ S'pop
Dear Members,
Several feature articles have been published on the S'pop website
in recent weeks. Catch them while they're still new:
"Jackie... Plus" (Rhino Handmade CD) by Peter Lerner:
http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index2003.htm#JackieDeShannon
"Hatchback: The Tony Hatch Story" by Mick Patrick:
http://www.spectropop.com/TonyHatch/index.htm
"Charlotte, Nita & I" by Becky Hobbs, as told to Phil Milstein:
http://www.spectropop.com/HOTB/HOTBpart5.htm
"The Beverley Jones Story" by Mick Patrick:
http://www.spectropop.com/BeverleyJones/index.htm
"Al Hazan & Jack Nitzsche" by Al Hazan and Martin Roberts:
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/ahjnrotw.htm
"Phil's Spectre: A Wall Of Soundalikes" (Ace CD) by David A. Young:
http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index2003.htm#PhilsSpectre
Coming soon:
Sam & Ed Chalpin
Ron Dante
Nora Guthrie
Please Phil Spector: His Subjects Pay Homage
Peter Antell, John Linde & the Percells
The Daughters Of Eve
and more...
Watch this space.
The S'pop Team
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Message: 17
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 15:32:44 -0000
From: Ron Sauer
Subject: Re: Dusty & Lesley Christmas songs?
JD Doyle wrote:
> Can anyone please tell me if Dusty Springfield and Lesley Gore
> recorded any Christmas songs, and if so, where I might find them.
> I'm putting together a radio show, my annual Queer Christmas Special
> ...actually, two one-hour shows...and it would be nice to include
> them.
There is a CD called "Christmas in London" on the Laserlight label
that contains a duet with Dusty and Rod McKuen of "Baby, It's Cold
Outside". The liner notes say it is from a TV special called
"Christmas in New England".
Ron
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 15:43:12 -0000
From: Fred
Subject: Re: Tommy Vann
Phil Milstein wrote:
> Nice track. The very next e-mail I received after listening to this
> track was a spam signed "Tommie Vann" ("Cyber-doctors are waiting
> for you"). Didn't someone once say there are no coincidences? Anyhoo,
> I wouldn't mind hearing Pretty Flamingo, Fred.
You can check out Musica now, Phil, for "Pretty Flamingo" by Tommy
Vann and the Echoes, also from 1966.
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