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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Happy Christmas was a race horse
From: Norman
2. Re: bi question
From: Hugo M.
3. Bi and stalker songs
From: Bob Rashkow
4. Re: Send In The Clowns
From: Rodney Rawlings
5. Medicine Man
From: Bob Rashkow
6. Various Responses
From: Mark
7. More catchin' up
From: Bob Rashkow
8. Answer Songs
From: Phil Hall
9. Stereo 45s; influences; Michael Brown
From: Country Paul
10. Re: Styrene vs.plastic 45's (Styrene IS a plastic)
From: Fred Clemens
11. Re: The Rag Dolls
From: Phil Hall
12. Re: Brian and Bach pt.2
From: Steveo
13. Re. William Shatner
From: platch1
14. Ventures, Tornadoes, Tijuana Brass
From: Mike Edwards
15. Re: "Send In The Clowns" as Worst Song?
From: Gary Spector
16. Jerry Lordan
From: Mike Edwards
17. Get Bach Tojo
From: Steve Harvey
18. Melodies Rule
From: Steve Harvey
19. Re: The Mob/"Where You Lead"
From: Don
20. Fraternal Order of The All; auteurs, artists and
producers; Beatles influences; underage lust; more
From: Country Paul
21. Re: The death of the LP
From: Gary Spector
22. Searchers' song title
From: John Love
23. Re. Janie Marden
From: Ian Chapman
24. Re: "Send In The Clowns" & "MacArthur Park"
From: Ivo van Dijck
25. Avanti / Wong Kar Wei
From: Richard Williams
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 07:46:54 +1030
From: Norman
Subject: Happy Christmas was a race horse
Clark Besch wrote:
One of my fave early 45 purchases as a kid was the
Peter, Paul & Mary 45 "Stewball". Loved it! Not until a
year ago at Christmas did I realize that the intro of "Happy
Christmas (War Is Over)" is a dead on copy of "Stewball"!!
"The Ballad of John and Yoko" borrows too much from "Little
Sister", especially the opening, and "I Saw There Standing
There" breaks into Bonaparte's Retreat.
Another Beatle song borrows a small bit from "Take Good
Care Of My Baby" but I can't remember which one.
Regards
Norman
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 20:57:23 -0000
From: Hugo M.
Subject: Re: bi question
JD:
I don't think "Lola" fits as a bi song,
It's not QUITE what you're looking for, but one that popped
into my head just now (except that I can't remember the exact
title) is a 45 by Joe Tex called something like "Honey, Don't
You Freak (I'm Gonna Go Dance With That Sissy)". Somebody else
will probably be able to chip in with the correct information...
Wish I could find me a copy...
Best wishes for 2004, peace in the MidEast --
Hugo M.
http://free.hostdpeartment.com/P/PME
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:14:11 EST
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: Bi and stalker songs
Just spun the wonderful UK Spark Records comp "The Electric
Lemonade Acid Test" for the first time. Lots of Bee Gees
influence in the Fruit Machine's "Willow Tree", lots of
Hollies influence in "Goodbye Love".
Bisexuality song: Possibility is Jefferson Airplane's "Triad",
which I think somebody mentioned earlier in the archive.
Stalker song: Randy Newman's "own" "Suzanne" from 12 Songs....
with a bit of sadomasochistic imagination, "Night Time"
(Strangeloves) and "Foxey Lady" (Jimi Hendrix) can be perceived
as stalker songs. Suspect, though, these became more universally
accepted in the eighties, as already exemplified by Blondie and
records such as Animotion's "Obsession." "The Hunter" as done
by Blue Cheer and others, there's another one!
Bobster
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 21:54:35 -0000
From: Rodney Rawlings
Subject: Re: Send In The Clowns
"Send in the Clowns" was of course by Stephen Sondheim, who
in my view is not a good melodist. And although his lyrics
generally are well fashioned, the fact that his entire worldview
is alien to mine makes his lack of melody all the more distasteful.
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:23:53 EST
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: Medicine Man
So that's Austin Roberts singing the lead on "Medicine Man
(Parts I and II)? How I LOVE that record. I picked up a
near-mint copy of it in 1993 on the Event label at House of
Records in Santa Monica, CA. Was I excited. Junior high
comes back to haunt me again. That should have been a No. 1!
Austin--is the lyric "Come across"? (I always used to think
you were singing "Tomahawk.....cha sha cha sha....Tomahawk...
etc.!!!)
Bobster
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 22:31:16 GMT
From: Mark
Subject: Various Responses
Hey Guys!
Apologies for the length of this post...
Rex Strother--you mentioned the line in "She Believes in Me"
as a bad line ('I try to get undressed without the light')...
I can't help but think how much better the song would be had
they inserted a Spike Jones-type sound effect afterward. (And
to Tom Tabor...that line was featured in "Energy Crisis '79",
not "Energy Crisis '74" by Dickie Goodman...those are both great
songs).
Paul Bryant--While "Dream Girl" is a crap song, I get a kick
out of his little diatribe before singing it, where he mentions
that he wished that Johnny Tillotson, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Cash
or 'the guy that sang "Invisible Tears" would have recorded it. I
also liked Wild Man doing the female backing part in that falsetto.
S.J. Debai mentioned "She's a Heartbreaker" by Gene Pitney.
There's an interesting story that Jerry 'Swamp Dogg' Williams Jr.
likes to tell about that song.
He was working in some capacity at Musicor Records and somehow
got assigned to work with Gene. Noting that he hadn't had a hit
in three years, Swamp decided that something drastic had to be
done and he and Charlie Foxx wrote the soul-sounding "Heartbreaker"
with Pitney in mind.
Despite the fact that it gave Pitney his first hit in quite
some time, Swamp was fired from his job at the label for taking
Pitney too far out of his element. I think Swamp did the right
thing, personally.
Re "Hurting Each Other": in addition to the versions by Jimmy
Clanton and Ruby and the Romantics, the song was also cut by
the Guess Who (the "Shakin' All Over" lineup of the group--
surprisingly good version) and also by Ruth Lewis on RCA (flip
of her Northern soul single "That Special Way"). Are there any
other versions?
Country Paul--my Jukebox from Hell would have to include such
crap as the overwrought "Hotel California" by the Eagles (makes
my ears bleed!), "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace and
"Billy Don't Be a Hero" by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods.
There are plenty more...
S.J. again--The reason why you didn't see Levi Stubbs is that
he's had serious health problems. I haven't been following the
threads about him on the Soulful Detroit Forum, but it's my
understanding that he suffered a stroke.
Re the Grassroots and Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds: It's
interesting to learn that the 'Roots turned down a chance to
record "Don't Pull Your Love". If you see them in concert,
they now perform the song.
Jakeeo: I'm assuming you're familiar with the Del-Fi CD that
features some of Felice Taylor's songs. Unfortunately, the
liner notes don't help much. My suspicion is that she lives
in the UK, but it's just suspicion--I'll have to ask the gang
on the Soulful Detroit Forum about that.
Clark: I'm casting a vote to have both the Arkade and Austin's
version of "One Word" posted to Musica, if there's room.
Glenn: Gene Redding had one single that I know of on Bell,
about six years prior to "This Heart". The songs were "I Need
Your Lovin'" and "You Gotta Have Soul", Bell 819 if I remember
correctly. This record is known on the Northern soul scene.
Rodney Rawlings: William Shatner has been obsessed with rock
music and musicians for some time now. I hate to say it, but
he does seem to take his 'music' quite seriously!
And finally, another bad/oddball rhyme, this one from a country
hit from my childhood, "Satisfaction" by Jack Greene:
"Your love just may as well be on a star/Because my dirty back
is almost that far"
That line plus the fact that he was looking for satisfaction
behind his neighbor's door puzzled me for years, until I was
old enough to know what he meant by 'satisfaction'!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Best,
Mark
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 17:38:59 EST
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: More catchin' up
I too was pretty sure "Avanti!" means forward, as "avanze"
means advance. I believe that's what the title of the 1972
unsuccessful movie (Billy Wilder) of the same name means.
Re "MacArthur Park"--count me on the pro side. It's a
beautiful record and a relic of its time. Hard to imagine
Jim Webb ever doing wrong. Even Donna Summer couldn't
completely destroy this great, happily dramatic and pretentious
musical poem. But my favorite Webb tune? Got to be "Montage
from How Sweet It Is", especially Picardy's version from the
flick. Listen to Shatner's version of Mr. Tambourine Man and
it's difficult to believe he's being serious. Doesn't he kind
of stammer and then yell hysterically at the end?
BTW I left out the artist on "Goodbye Love" from the Spark
Records UK comp, it's Simon DeLacy (UK Roulettes' Peter Thorp
along with Sue & Sunny providing those groovy Hollies-style
harmonies; Tony Newman on guitar; etc.)
Bobster
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 23:54:34 -0000
From: Phil Hall
Subject: Answer Songs
One of my favorite musical subjects is answer songs. I have
quite a few in my collection, and I'm always looking to add
more. A few examples are:
Dion - Runaround Sue
Ginger & The Snaps - I'm No Runaround
Danny Jordan - Runaround Sue's Getting Married
Claude King - Wolverton Mountain
Jo Ann Campbell - I'm The Girl From Wolverton Mountain
Billy Ward & His Dominoes - Sixty Minute Man.mp3
The Persuasions - Can't Do Sixty No More.mp3
The Four Seasons - Sherry
Tracey Dey - Jerry, I'm Your Sherry
etc, etc. A-Side Records did a decent CD of them in the 90's.
How many others are there?
Thanks,
Phil Hall
Clay, NY
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 19:05:20 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Stereo 45s; influences; Michael Brown
RIP Dick St. John. "The Mountain's High" was a mountain of
a record in my life.
Previously:
I'm still on my fun facts about forty-fives kick.
What was the first single released in stereo?
Set the way-back machine for this one: Little Anthony & The
Imperials, End E-1047, "A Prayer And A Jukebox"/"River Path",
probably 1958, maybe 1959. I have it in my hand, and I'm not
sure it's the first - The Flamingoes might have had one around
the same time (unsure, but I'm pretty sure there was more than
one End stereo 45.) There's also the 1959 stereo 45 of "Come
Softly To Me" by the Fleetwoods I've previously cited, and Paul
Anka's 1959.
Re: "Influences," Paul Bryant wrote:
The worst example of influence is simple plagiarism - for
instance, Terry Stafford's big hit "Suspicion" or Marmalade's
No 1 "Ob-la-di".
I agree re: Marmalade - and many other groups who did one-off
Beatle album-track covers hoping for the hit single of the song
- but I thought the Terry Stafford version cut Elvis completely
- not only better vocals and production in my opinion, but the
use of the trumpet was also brilliant. (But then again I'm one
of those folks who thought that Elvis essentially died when he
went into the army....)
And I can't turn on the radio without hearing James Brown's
influence all over the charts.
Me too, and I don't mean it as a good thing. For all his great
grooves and cooking beats, I think ol' JB dumbed down songs to
one-chord wonders full of boring repetition. Especially sad from
someone who did doo-wop classics like "Try Me" and the gorgeous
"Lost Someone". But I do agree with your accolades for Brian
Wilson and all that he and the real Beach Boys represent.
By the way, yesterday (1/3/04) was Van Dyke Parks' birthday.
Talk about a major influence who "nobody" 9at least in the
mainstream) knows....
Phil Milstein:
According to legend, Brown wrote "Renee" and "Ballerina"
on the same day (as well as a third masterpiece --
"Desiree," was it? "She May Call ..."?). If this is even
close to the truth, it almost defies belief.
All wonderful - and yes, "Desiree" is another transcendent
high point. All in one day? Wow!
More soon,
Country Paul
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 00:15:46 -0000
From: Fred Clemens
Subject: Re: Styrene vs.plastic 45's (Styrene IS a plastic)
Steveo
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Sebastian Fonzeus:
I've posted a list of Terms and Definitions relating to records.
I think it was posted on the SoulTalk mailing list about a year ago.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/articles
Having been in the Plastic Injection Molding Industry for the
past 30 years, I believe I can speak from a working hands-on
experience on this.
Styrene is never taken to "liquid form", as the link states.
Doing so would render it useless. Styrene is a plastic, which
is why the thread title is misleading. When properly heated,
it's pliability is similar to that of PVC, only at a higher
temperature. PVC's general workable temperature range is from
300-400 degrees F. Most grades of Styrene are workable at 350-500
degrees F. Styrene is generally half the cost of PVC. Reusing
it will cause a gradual breakdown in it's properties, just as
with PVC. Since Styrene is heated at a much higher temperature
over room temperature than PVC, it would tend to shrink more
when exposed to the room temperature. This would tend to make
the record grooves tighter, given the same stampers are used in
the molding process as the PVC. Though it may save the stampers
in the long term, it still does not overcome the sooner wear found
on the styrene pressings. That, and the fact that styrene is not
as forgiving to friction as PVC.
The reason for the switch to styrene was simply the price of
the material, as I see it. But at what cost? The records wear
out much quicker so you'd have to buy more. What better way to
push a record to #1!
Fred Clemens
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 00:17:36 -0000
From: Phil Hall
Subject: Re: The Rag Dolls
George:
Hi, can anyone tell me where I can get The Rag Dolls on CD?
Got a couple of songs sent to me but I'd love to hear
everything they've done
George,
I don't think there ever was an LP or CD of The Rag Dolls
material; at least not a legal one. Jean Thomas was the
lead singer, with various other artists doing the background
singing for the studio sessions. They used different artists
for the touring group. Jean Thomas eventually left the group
to continue her work as a session vocalist rather than tour,
which paid better and was probably less stressful.
There's a short but good article about The Rag Dolls with
photos at http://www.btinternet.com/~seasonally/News39Pt2.pdf
Phil Hall
Clay, NY
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Message: 12
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 16:30:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Steveo
Subject: Re: Brian and Bach pt.2
Dave Mirich writes:
Without Bach, would there have been classical music as we
know it?
Watson Macblue:
Bach is just about the worst possible choice for this sort
of analogy - or maybe he isn't. Without Bach, classical
music would look *exactly the same* - only without Bach.
Watson, having said all of that stuff you said on the
analysis of Bach's place in music...
Now I will say that IMHO Bach was the greatest composer
that ever lived.
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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 01:46:17 -0000
From: platch1
Subject: Re. William Shatner
My father, Don Ralke, was the arranger/conductor of
"The Transformed Man". The album was recorded in all
seriousness. The musical arrangements are lush and could
stand alone. As my dad always did with his clients, he was
steering Shatner, who really wanted to sing, in a direction
that was better suited for his voice. Frank Davenport's
original lyrics on "Elegy for the Brave", "Spleen" and
"Transformed Man" are also very beautiful, in spite of
the theatrical treatment given them by Shatner. I hope
this clears this up for everyone. My dad also produced
Dick & Dee Dee. Thanks so much for the kind words that
are being posted since Dick St. John's passing. His wife
Sandy has asked that I forward them to her.
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Message: 14
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 01:52:19 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Ventures, Tornadoes, Tijuana Brass
Paul Urbahns writes re: the Ventures 1962 LP, "Telstar And The
Lonely Bull"
Mike Edwards missed the point (as this) a great instrumental album
for folks wanting the songs on an LP instead of stacking 45s. The
Ventures' Telstar album clearly outsold the Tornados' original and
The Tijuana Brass had not even issued an album at that point.
According to Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Albums" book, The Tijuana
Brass' "Lonely Bull" LP entered the album charts on Dec 29, 1962 and
eventually reached #10 during a 157-week chart run. "The Ventures
Play Telstar, The Lonely Bull" charted on Jan 5, 1963, peaked at #8
and stayed around for 40 weeks. Without a US presence but right on
the heels of a #1 US 45, the Tornados' "The Original Telstar" LP
also charted on Jan 5, 1963. It reached #45 and had a chart run of
only 17 weeks.
The Ventures clearly outsold the Tornados but they didn't have the
better album. The Ventures' LP contained 12 cover versions and no
originals, whereas the Tornados' album featured 10 original tunes,
written by members of the group, their producer Joe Meek and noted
UK tunesmith, Geoff Goddard.
Of particular interest is rhythm guitarist George Bellamy's "Ridin'
The Wind". It got a UK release on an EP at the time but London
Records put it out as a 45 (London 9581) in the US where it got to
#63. (Apparently they withdrew their support for "Globetrotter",
the official US and UK follow-up to "Telstar", probably realizing
the melody was too close to "Venus In Blue Jeans".)
The US 45 had wind sound effects added at the beginning and end of
the tune, which together with Roger La Verne's driving keyboard
playing made for a very atmospheric 45. The wind effects are neither
on the US album cut nor on any subsequent version I have heard from
the UK. When space becomes available, I'll play the US 45 version
of "Ridin' The Wind" to musica as we haven't had a 45 instrumental
there in a long time.
Mike
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Message: 15
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 18:22:16 -0700
From: Gary Spector
Subject: Re: "Send In The Clowns" as Worst Song?
Chris wrote:
I've always liked "Send In The Clowns" a lot -- although I can
understand how it has the capacity to make people cringe.
Hello.
I can remember for about one week my father would walk around the
house in the early 80s with a small tape player playing that song
over and over and over. At times he would stop the player and rewind
just to hear a few seconds repeatedly. I actually found that I can
recognize the song on the radio by its 1st note. Surprised me the day
I realized that.
Simply put, the song makes me cringe. But the one song I can not stay
in the same room while it plays is "Cats and the Cradle" for very
personal reasons.
Specter
Not just another P.S. Fan...
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Message: 16
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 02:41:06 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Jerry Lordan
Steve Harvey writes re: "Apache" by the Shadows (UK) and Jorgen
Ingmann (US):
It was written by Jerry Lordan. He supposedly played it for the
Shadows on a ukelele on a bus. Bert Weedon actually did the first
version. Lordan actually wrote a number of hits for the Shadows
and their offshoot, Jet Harris/Tony Meehan. He had a great knack
for a melody, but a lousy lyricist.
I know a couple of songs by Jerry that exemplifies the point
Steve is making.
UK balladeer Mike Preston became one of only a handful of UK artists
to reach the US Hot-100 in the pre-Beatles' era, when "A House, A Car
And A Wedding Ring" crept in at #99 in December 1958. (It was not a
UK hit). It was a Jerry Lordan song and the lyric runs: "Got a house
and a car and a wedding ring but I don't know what I'll do without a
wife..". It just sounds so strange. But not apparently to Leonard
Chess as one of his subsidiaries, Checker, put out a version by
Dale "Susie-Q" Hawkins with "My Babe" as the b-side (Checker 906,
1958).
Jerry Lordan had some releases on the UK Parlophone label, one of
which was "I'll Stay Single", a small UK hit in 1960. The US was
paying attention as this was covered by Larry "Sandy" Hall on Strand.
(Sample lyrics: "I'll stay single, not one thing'll ...make me change
my mind" – looks as if he resolved the problem in the previous song).
But as Steve implies, the tunes Jerry wrote for the Shadows are what
he will be best remembered for and deservedly so as they were so much
a part of the golden age of rock instrumentals.
Mike
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Message: 17
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 19:57:17 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Get Bach Tojo
Watson Macblue wrote:
He also fathered something like 25 children, by the
way.
That was because his organ had no stops!
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Message: 18
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 20:03:14 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Melodies Rule
Austin Roberts wrote:
I guess my point is, the stronger the melody, in most, if not
all, forms of music (not just pop), the better the chance
that the song will be remembered.
Lyrics are icing on the cake (the melody). How many people have
bought a song because it had great lyrics, but a lousy tune. You're
more likely to hear somebody humming a melody than quoting a lyric.
Don't get me wrong, great lyrics can lift a great melody to even
greater height, but can the reverse be said to be true?
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Message: 19
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 04:18:57 -0000
From: Don
Subject: Re: The Mob/"Where You Lead"
James Holvay wrote:
Austin: That's pretty funny. Here I thought we (The Mob) had an
exclusive on "Where You Lead". I wonder how many other groups cut
that song, other than Streisand? We also cut "I Feel The Earth
Move" at the same session but Carole K. beat us to the punch on
that one. Oh well ...
I didn't see this message before I posted my question about "I Feel
The Earth Move". But in answer to your question, "Where You Lead"
was done by Streisand, Annette Bentley, Kate Taylor, and Liz Damon's
Orient Express. It appears on 2 Tapestry tribute albums, by Faith
Hill, and Spring. At least 2 instrumental versions by Bob Belden and
Barbara Higbie. And I read somewhere that there was a version by
Janice Hoyt on Marks & Spencer label. It is also duetted by Carole
King and daughter Louise Goffin for the theme to the US TV show, "The
Gilmore Girls". In fact Carole herself has made a cameo on the
show. I have never seen the Mob's version on CD. Maybe someone
could play it or Arkade's version to musica?
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Message: 20
Date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 23:29:43 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Fraternal Order of The All; auteurs, artists and
producers; Beatles influences; underage lust; more
Peter Kearns, regarding Brian Wilson's influence:
Of course I'm sure I haven't heard them all and would
welcome any other suggestions.
Andrew Gold a/k/a The Fraternal Order Of The All has the gorgeous
"Love Tonight," one of the best songs "left off" Pet Sounds (and
the acapella "Tuba Rye and Will's Son"), as well as spot-on
imitations/tributes to the Byrds ("Space and Time" - McGuinn should
be envious) and the Beatles ("Tomorrow Drop Dead") among others.
There's also a 10cc "tribute," "King of Showbiz," but he cheats a
bit by having a guest shot by Graham Gouldman (almost everything
else is done by him alone). The CD, "Greetings From Planet Love"
(J-Bird), previously discussed in the archives, is available via
http://www.andrewgold.com An almost total lack of distribution is
the only reason I can think of why this CD didn't get at least some
kind of attention.
"pnreum":
Brian was the first self-producing artist or auteur in rock.
Not to take anything away from our beloved Mr. Wilson, but a quick
fact check suggests that Phil Spector preceded Brian at the same
Gold Star by several years; like Brian, in the Beach Boys, his
identity was at the time subsumed by his group, The Teddy Bears.
And while the Beach Boys were still launching on X and Candix,
Spector had already landed a producing gig at Atlantic (at age 21)
on the strength of that early success.
Dee:
We all know that there were great records in the 60s
that barely scraped the charts by artists like the
Velvet Underground and Love.
I could suggest that VU's gorgeous "Sunday Morning" has a
wall-of-sound influence in the deliciously murky background
hovering over the group like an amorphous silver cloud.
Peter Kearns again, re: Beatles influences:
But that aside, the Klaatu debut had sterling examples of
a longing for the 60s while still sounding state of the art
and up to date in every way when it was released in 1976.
I submit that Badfinger, on the Beatles' own Apple label, had
it way earlier. And although just one song - not an album -
Barclay James Harvest's early-70's "Titles" nailed the style
as well. And, to Mark Frumento, Badfinger *did* sell a bunch
of records. I'm not familiar with the Rockin' Horse LP you cite,
but I remember Sleepy Hollow and Stackridge as being like third-
and second-rate Beatles derivatives, respectively. However, it's
been since their release that I've heard them; time could make
my opinions kinder. Is there space on musica to which you could
post a favorite Stackridge track?
Estufarian mentions Big Daddy and their "jukebox" on their site
http://www.bigdaddyfan.com/Jukebox.html - Highly recommended;
"Mr. Kite" from Sgt. Pepper is rendered in Palisades Park style.
Interestingly, there's a Gregorian chant version of REM's "Losing
My Religion" which I think is the same (or a close copy) as the
one credited to The Benzedrine Monks of Santa Domonica on a Rhino
EP from the early 90's. Even better is the same acapella vocal
track (the "Monks") with a slow dance track behind it. Rare, but
worth finding for the sonically adventurous (I got mine in Spain
on a UK pressing).
Mark "mfuncle":
The only thing I can play is the stereo. Okay, I will give the
thanks to the producer. I firmly believe that the producer,
writer and arranger are the most important people in the
recording anyway, at least with the type of music I like.
To me, the artist is the least important part of the mix.
Ouch! Mark, I'm sure you're really a nice guy, but as a
producer-composer-artist-radio DJ, I hope I'm not the first
person in the five days since your comment was posted to take
issue with your last line. Sure, the singer is in many cases
like Spector's, just another studio musician, but the quality
of those records is largely determined by how well those
musicians, vocal and instrumental, render the artist's vision -
in this case, the artist being the producer, i.e. Spector, or
any of the other producer/auteurs you cite. Somehow, I can't
see Spector having had the same level of success with your
typical hotel-lounge musicians, for example, no matter how
decent they might have been. My point: all elements in the
equation matter. It's why some name-on-the-line artists flounder
until they find the right producer or after they lose the right
one, etc., even - perhaps especially - in "the type of music
[you] like." Just my opinion. Glad you're on board to express
yours.
Phil Milstein:
Donny Osmond's "Sweet And Innocent," for example, doesn't
really belong on a "jailbait" list
Glenn:
A matter of happenstance, Phil, in that the artist who
recorded it was 13 years old at the time (which also brings
up the disturbing, yet silly, question: just how young WAS
this girl that was after him?)
Back in the doowop days, 14-year-old Frankie Lymon wrote and
sang: "Come on, baby, let's go downtown, / Rock, talk, kid
around." You knew what he meant. And if you didn't, 12-year-old
Butchie Saunders of the Elchords spelled it out in "Peppermint
Stick." Propriety forbids me from quoting the lyrics here, but
you get the feeling he sang from experience. (Good thing our
parents weren't listening to the lyrics - I think!)
Short takes:
Paul Bryant:
So the question is... why was there this rash of silly brackets
in song titles in the 60s? Who started it (anyway)?
Elvis, perhaps: "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame," 1960.
Mike Edwards, thanks for the White Whale CD recommendation.
That's a "definite probable" here - the BT Puppy one also
has possibilities.
Still catching up - and I'm not even to this year yet!
Country Paul
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Message: 21
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 00:48:19 -0700
From: Gary Spector
Subject: Re: The death of the LP
Vlaovic B wrote:
I recall Motown embarking on a programme circa 1985 of withdrawing all
their recent vinyl reissues of classic Motown LPs and replacing them
with Twofer CDs. I remember being slightly p*ssed at the thought of
them deleting the vinyl before I'd purchased much of it. And I also
remember mentioning to a friend who worked in a traditional music store
that I wasn't into CDs because it was all just current stuff and
there'd never be historical stuff released...geez was I wrong.
I too remember when CDs hit the scene and I was very iffy about them as
well. Then the DVDs came out and I came up with an idea after watching a
lot of commercials that promoted music tapes and CDs. What I hated about
the commercials was that they showed the videos of the performers but you
only got the music.
I actually left a message on my father's answering machine giving my idea
of selling his music not on CDs but on DVDs with the videos of the
performers so that the listener would not only have the music but
the stage
show or video to keep as a part of history. This idea was given
to my father
shortly after DVDs started to catch on in the early 90s (I think) but he
has never tried it and neither has anyone else.
I thought it would have been great if he had released a Christmas DVD
with videos.
Specter
Not just another P.S. fan...
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Message: 22
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 02:21:14 -0600
From: John Love
Subject: Searchers' song title
Does anyone know why The Searchers' 1965 hit "Goodbye My Love"
was bizarrely retitled "Goodbye My Lover Goodbye" for the American
market? Are there any other examples of song titles being changed
for no apparent reason?
John
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Message: 23
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 21:18:39 -0000
From: Ian Chapman
Subject: Re. Janie Marden
Don wrote:
I don't know if it was here that I learned about a version
of Goffin and King's "Make The Night A Little Longer" by Janie
Marden but I see the 45 is for sale on eBay:....
I would ask if it was worth the money, but at an opening
bid of $73, I don't think I'm going near it. Does anyone else
have this? Is it any good? It must be pretty rare, as I have
had eBay searching for this for several months and this is the
first time it has come up.
Don,
Janie was primarily a MOR singer who guested on TV variety
shows of the early/mid-60s in the UK. Her recording of "Make The
Night A Little Longer" draws mixed reactions. For some reason -
maybe as an attempt to sound more "pop" - she affected a vocal
which wasn't her usual style and which grabs some listeners as
slightly eccentric. But the orchestration is full and the
production great. My copy is one of those Pye demos devoid
of all producer/arranger info, so I'm unable to credit the
individuals responsible. I love it; but is it worth $73?
Not unless it's gold-plated........
I might also mention that Janie cut another 45 worthy of
attention, on U.K. Decca (this time in her "normal" voice)
- a cover of "You Really Didn't Mean It". Not quite up to the
standard of the superb original by Jill Harris on U.S. Capitol,
but very pleasant nonetheless.
Ian
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Message: 24
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 11:51:38 +0100
From: Ivo van Dijck
Subject: Re: "Send In The Clowns" & "MacArthur Park"
Hi all.
"Send In The Clowns" and "MacArthur Park" are both favourite songs of
mine. As a true Sinatra fan I love his rendition of "Send In The
Clowns,"
as I do the Judy Collins version. I don't think the lyrics are corny or
out of date. Maybe it is just the fact that being a romantic is somewhat
not fashionable these days. I am truly not ashamed to say I like this
song very much, as I do "MacArthur Park." I regard the latter song as
an epic song of the 60s, with that truly great Richard Harris to sing (or
rather act) it! So, there you are! Who's next!
Not in my list of worst songs, but in my list of best songs.
Thank you.
Ivo van Dijck
Netherlands
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Message: 25
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2004 13:18:32 +0000
From: Richard Williams
Subject: Avanti / Wong Kar Wei
1. The Studebaker Avanti, a beautiful GT car, was designed by
the late Raymond Loewy, also responsible for the Coca Cola
bottle and the Lucky Strike pack (and a ton of other stuff).
Ian Fleming owned one.
2. Anyone who liked the use of "Happy Together" in Wong Kar Wei's
film of the same name should try to see Chungking Express, one of
his earlier films, in which one of the characters is obsessed with
"California Dreaming". Wong is a great directer whose work invariably
features good music, used as an integral part of the film.
Richard Williams
End
