Spectropop - Digest Number 1231

• From: Spectropop Group
• Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004

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               SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 8 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Re: masochist lyrics AND Vance-Pockriss query
           From: Rodney Rawlings 
      2. Re: The Buchanan Brothers
           From: Mark 
      3. answer records
           From: Ed B 
      4. How about brilliant tracks with ONE inept ingredient!
           From: Peter Kearns 
      5. Re: Medicine Man and the Real Napoleon XIV
           From: Mark 
      6. Re: Rapper DJs' use of vinyl records
           From: James Botticelli 
      7. Re: Grapefruit
           From: Mark Wirtz 
      8. Re: Most Inept Hit
           From: Phil Hall 


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Message: 1
   Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 01:22:29 -0000
   From: Rodney Rawlings 
Subject: Re: masochist lyrics AND Vance-Pockriss query

I like it when old threads come up myself. I revive old threads 
whenever I can if they are interesting.

I have a songbook I bought recently in which ITSY BITSY TEENIE 
WEENIE YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI lists Vance and Pockriss as the 
writers. The next song in the book is JOHNNY ANGEL, with words 
by Lyn Duddy and music by Lee Pockriss.

Rodney



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Message: 2
   Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 01:21:15 GMT
   From: Mark 
Subject: Re: The Buchanan Brothers

Hi Clark!

Who put out the Cashman and West CD? Sounds like something 
from Varese Vintage to me!

I agree, "American City Suite" and "King of Rock and Roll" 
are great tunes (I remember "King of R&R" from when I was a 
kid!). "American City Suite" is a great predecessor to songs 
like "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" and "New York State 
of Mind", but lacking the pretentiousness of Billy Joel.

I too thought the line in the song was 'come a-close'. Another 
way I heard it (feasible since it's called "MEDICINE Man"): 
'comatose' (pronounced comma-tose).

Austin--whatever happened to Gene Pistilli? I know he broke it 
off with Cashman and West to form the Manhattan Transfer, but
I don't think I've heard anything about him since.

Best,

Mark



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Message: 3
   Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 01:26:03 -0000
   From: Ed B 
Subject: answer records

another addition to  the answer records thread

Memphis Calling  New York City  by Carole Coby   Epic  9711

which is as title states an answer to Memphis (probably the 
Johnny Rivers wersion), b-side  I Wanna Be a  Big Girl



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Message: 4
   Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 01:33:33 -0000
   From: Peter Kearns 
Subject: How about brilliant tracks with ONE inept ingredient!

Paul Bryant wrote:

> Okay - what's your choice of the most badly performed
> song ever to become a hit? 

My example is a slightly different concept; the otherwise great 
recording that has an ingredient so off-putting you'd wonder why 
the producer let it through.

So I'll mention George's 'My Sweet Lord'. Nice playing yes, 
nice arrangement; the 'He's So Fine' debacle notwithstanding, 
and not to mention the borrowing of the Krishna prayer.

BUT! Why on earth did Phil let 'those' backing vocals pass the 
test? They're so out of tune it's not funny. I've always been 
amazed by this. How could that happen?

And another example from 1965; The Beatles 'You're Gonna Lose 
That Girl'. Again, the backing vocals are woefully out of tune. 
Couldn't they hear it?? It's beyond me.

Peter.



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Message: 5
   Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 01:32:12 GMT
   From: Mark 
Subject: Re: Medicine Man and the Real Napoleon XIV

Hi John!

Years after Samuels's fleeting success with the music biz, 
he founded the Tinder Box chain of tobacco shops, which were 
staples in suburban malls a while back. I don't know if they're 
still in existence, though.

BTW, thanks for the info on the Walter Scott book. Now to track 
down a copy...

Best,

Mark



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Message: 6
   Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2004 20:42:28 -0500
   From: James Botticelli 
Subject: Re: Rapper DJs' use of vinyl records

Rodney Rawlings:

> I'm a bit puzzled by what exactly rapper DJs are doing with vinyl
> records and turntables when they accompany a performer. Are they
> merely using the needle and grooves to make a scratching sound?

One rekkid is used for beats...they usually spin the drumbreak. 
These days a rekkid will often include just the percussive element 
of the song anyway, but back in the almighty day it was more 
creative and all brand new. Then often there will be two more 
turntables and a creative DJ will either use two copies of the 
same jam, looping a lick, or two additional rekkids to 'sample in' 
a sound such as a horn blast, a yelp, an acapella segment, what
have you, while the rapper performs the rap. Of course these days 
it's all done in the studio for the rekkid. You can do it at home 
with the right application (Reason, Pro Tools, Acid, etc)

> If so, why? Why not a synthetic sound with the equipment they
> already have? Doesn't this ruin both the record and the needle?

Nope...a good Stanton Cartridge is a wonderful thing. And it has 
been synthesized. The above programs have the sound or you can 
sample the sound into them (at least with Pro Tools)

> Do they care what record they use? Do they sometimes let the 
> record play a bit?

Yes they care...that's the art of it

> Who started this?

Some say Grandmaster Flash, some say the Sugarhill Gang. It came 
out of NYC in the late 7T's.

For a nice primer, there's a live mix of Salsoul Rekkids 7T's and 
early 8T's jams done by Grandmaster Flash. Its a goodie, filled 
with scratchin' and loopin'. Use some today!



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Message: 7
   Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2004 21:03:20 -0500
   From: Mark Wirtz 
Subject: Re: Grapefruit

Scott:

>Didn't Mark Wirtz produce Grapefruit at some point??

I did indeed produce two tracks with Grapefruit in 1967 
at Abbey Road #3 for Paul McCartney (I only remember one
of the titles - "One More Try"),  with Geoff Emerick at 
the board. Both tracks came out very well (very Beatlesque) 
and were intended for "single" release. Then, Terry Melcher 
came over to the UK and vetoed the release in favor of his 
own productions with Grapefruit. To my knowledge, the two 
tracks were never released.

Mark Wirtz



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Message: 8
   Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 02:04:42 -0000
   From: Phil Hall 
Subject: Re: Most Inept Hit

My vote is for "Wild Weekend" by The Rebels, although 
"Angel Baby" by Rosie & The Originals is certainly a 
good candidate.



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