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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 15 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Concrete & Clay
From: Ed Rambeau
2. Re: Eddie Rambeau
From: Robert R. Radil
3. Re: Mary In The Morning
From: That Alan Gordon
4. Re: Mary In The Morning
From: John Sellards
5. A new fan
From: Rob
6. Re: 4 Seasons in Mono
From: Robert R. Radil
7. Since Gary Went In The Navy
From: Doc Rock
8. Welcome Paul Levinson
From: Mike Rashkow
9. Welcome Eddie Rambeau
From: Clark Besch
10. Worst hit performance; Frank Guida and US Bonds; Sally; other notes
From: Country Paul
11. Re: Chiffons to Musica!
From: Tony Leong
12. Re: Stereo 45s / Brian Wilson
From: Robert R. Radil
13. Rare vinyl for grabs
From: Gary Apollo
14. True Confession
From: Rosemarie
15. Re: Spector story
From: Gary Spector
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 22:00:32 EST
From: Ed Rambeau
Subject: Concrete & Clay
Previously:
> I've never heard Eddie Rambeau's version of "Concrete And Clay".
> I'm sure it's good, but I'm hard pressed to want to like anything
> other than Unit 4+2's version...it's just a magic 1965 moment.
It's interesting that depending on where you lived in the country as
to whether or not you grew up with my version or the Unit 4 + 2's
version of "Concrete and Clay". Some cities played only my version,
others played theirs. As far as original songs go...it's always the
version you grew up with that becomes your favorite. Anyone who grew
up listening to mine doesn't take a liking to the Unit 4 + 2's
version and vice versa. It's just the nature of the beast.
Ed Rambeau
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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 03:03:44 -0000
From: Robert R. Radil
Subject: Re: Eddie Rambeau
Eddie Rambeau wrote:
> And to anyone out there who has an original 45 RPM copy of
> "Concrete and Clay" I'd only like to say one thing........
> .....You're Old!
My 45 may not be an original but I do remember WPOP, Hartford
playing "My Name Is Mud"! How old does that make me?
Bob Radil
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 21:00:15 -0700 (MST)
From: That Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: Mary In The Morning
Mike, thanks for the background story on "Mary in the morning".
It's a beautiful song. Songs have a way of coming back, and
don't be too surprised if one day soon it becomes a hit all
over again. [fingers crossed]
Best, That Alan
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Message: 4
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 04:12:59 -0000
From: John Sellards
Subject: Re: Mary In The Morning
Mike Rashkow:
> Thanks for the compliment. Forget not knowing I wrote it--most
> people don't even know the song unless they're over 50.
Well, I'm 32, my wife's 35, and she happened to be looking over my
shoulder when I was reading the post about Elvis' recording, and she
said, "That's amazing! Sue (her office mate) and I we talking about
that song yesterday when it came on Netscape radio. She wanted to
know who sung it besides Elvis because she didn't remember him
singing it, and I said I'd ask you." I could only offer Glen Campbell
off the top of my head, since I would suspect that'd be the one she
had heard.
John Sellards
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Message: 5
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 04:29:40 -0000
From: Rob
Subject: A new fan
Greetings. I have been lurking here for many months, and am so very
impressed with the knowledge and friendliness of the people that
contribute their time and share their memories. I forwarded some of
the digests to a deejay friend a couple of weeks ago, and he is in
awe. He contacted a few people off list, and feels like a kid in a
candy store. He was so inspired, he featured Austin Roberts music and
trivia on a guest stint on a live365 show I produce. The show on
http://www.live365.com/stations/300751 runs now through next
Wednesday evening. We have the great spectropoppers to thank for
giving us ideas and helping to keep our show interesting.
Rob
http://www.goldandgreatrevival.com
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Message: 6
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 04:32:45 -0000
From: Robert R. Radil
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons in Mono
Billy G. Spradlin wrote:
> 14. Girl Come Running (stereo remix, might be different from the
> Ace Records reissued "Edizione D'oro" on CD back in the mid 90's
> and mono version, need to compare)
On the mono mix on my original single Frankie's voice goes out of
sync with the others on the fade. The vocals stay in sync on the
stereo mix. Also, on the stereo mix, there are added vocals on the
intro.
Bob Radil
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 23:38:43 -0500
From: Doc Rock
Subject: Since Gary Went In The Navy
Austin Roberts:
> Hey, does anybody know of a record called "Since Gary Went In The
> Navy" (about Gary Troxel of the Fleetwoods)? I think Billy Meshel
> wrote it, but I can't remember who sung it. I think it was Diane
> something.
When I interviewed Gretchen and Gary for Liberty Records, they each
assured me that there was no connection between Marcy Jo's record and
Gary's Navy stint.
For what it is worth.
doc
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 00:02:29 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Welcome Paul Levinson
Paul Levinson writes:
> guess I should introduce myself, having just signed up as a member
> of Spectropop myself.
Since I recruited Paul--first to Pineywood Productions and now to
Spectropop, thirty-three years or so later, I'd like to be the first
to welcome him to the greatest little music place anywhere in cyber
space.
As those of you who read his post no doubt noted, he is quite an
accomplished literary and academic figure.
Di la,
Rashkovksy
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 06:07:20 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Welcome Eddie Rambeau
Hi Eddie, We were recently discussing hits by 2 artists at same
time. I discussed Bobby Vee/Kenny O'Dell's "Beautiful People" and
how it would have been a bigger hit if only one version would have
been released. Usually if a station only played one of the 2
versions, it was top 10 or close, yet both versions topped out just
inside the top 40 nationally--a crime!
The same could be spoken of "Concrete & Clay". Both yours and Unit
4+2 first charted Billboard on 5/1/65. Unit 4 reached 28 while you
reached 35. In Cashbox, Unit charted a week earlier, but Cashbox
placed both versions together on their Top 100 Chart together after
that first week. Thus, a big difference in peak positions for
Billboard and Cashbox, with combined sales pushing "Concrete & Clay"
to #12 peak!
WLS Chicago charted yours first and combined both to #13 peak. CHUM
in Canada combined both to a #6 peak! However, here in Lincoln, Ne.,
KLMS charted only Unit 4's version and reached #13. Funny, but your
followup, "My Name is Mud" (what else would follow "C&C"??) charted
on KLMS, but not your hit! "Mud" also charted on CHUM. As an
artist, you would go into the "one hit wonder" catagory (along with
Unit 4, altho they had other hits in UK), but in Cashbox, it should
be noted that your 1966 releases, "I'm the Sky" and "Clock" made the
Top 100 a year after "Concrete & Clay"!
There's some proof, I guess, that if only your version had caught on
here in the U.S., it'd get play on the oldies stations much more as a
likely top 10 national hit. Certainly, Unit 4's version was #1 in
homebase England before release here, I wonder who's was released
first here?? Anybody's guess?? For my money, I actually like Unit
4's version better, but I am more Brit Invasion influences than
some. Your version is good too!
I have video of you performing "Concrete & Clay" on Cleveland's
syndicated "Upbeat" show, with a little conversation with host Don
Webster, I believe. You seemed to have a good personality for TV.
Anyway, welcome!!
Clark Besch
PS. No doubt you've heard "Concrete & Clay" recently on a TV
commercial. What do you think of that?
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 02:02:41 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Worst hit performance; Frank Guida and US Bonds; Sally; other notes
Eddy:
> Does anybody have the scoop on what happened to the Iveys
> LP ? Cancelled in the UK, no US issue or anywhere else
> for that matter, except an extremely limited amount of
> copies of Germany and Italy.
Has it ever found its way to CD?
Paul Bryant:
> Okay - what's your choice of the most badly performed
> song ever to become a hit? No contest surely, it's got
> to be Louie Louie by the Kingsmen - the drummer loses
> the beat at one point.
Close, Paul, but I'd have to go with "Angel Baby" by Rosie & The Originals.
The guitarist probably starts with a wrong key, and corrects himself to the
right one (down half a step). This could have been intentional, but what
follows certainly isn't: the first arpeggio has a clinker, Rosie misses her
entry, the sax solo is asthmatic at best (with another ghastly clinker), the
drummer and the band fall apart during it (and elsewhere) - and the record
is still magic. (To hear how bad the band is, play the flip side sometime,
the magnificently wretched "Give Me Love." John Lennon was listening to this
when Rolling Stone came to do its first interview with him.) I know Rosie
lays out the whole story on her website, www.rosieandtheoriginals.com, and
doesn't get into how bad the band was (who can blame her?), but the B-side
proves the A side was three of the luckiest minutes ever to make it to
vinyl. (Fascinating sidebar: the follow-up, Rosie solo on "Lonely Blue
Nights" [Brunswick] with a professional studio band, tries to replicate the
clinker and sounds totally out of context doing so. Too bad - otherwise a
decent record, IMO.)
Stephane Rebeschini, re: Tuesday Weld 45
> You can hear both sides here, on a Tuesday Weld site:
> http://www.kokonino.com/weldrecords.html
> After listening, you'll surely understand why she recorded only
> this single (the vocals on "Are You The Boy" are on a class of
> their own, nice arrangements though...)
...and if it wasn't for that professional backing track, the A-side could be
a contender in the worst-performance category! Ow!!! The B side is quite
pretty; the vocal here is only....how shall we say, "questionable."
Albabe:
> And as for Tuesday Weld: In my personal opinion, you don't
> get any prettier, so who cares if she can sing (kidding).
> http://www.fabianforte.com/images/tuesdayweld.jpg
Great photo, Al - hard to tell who's better looking, Fabe or Tuesday!
By the way, I like Kathy Young, but especially like The Innocents. Super
voices and blend, if a bit flat sometimes.
I won't even try to name a "worst guitar solo" - there are so many. But the
"bad drumming award" goes to the Rockin' Ramrods' "Wild Weekend" (local
label in Buffalo, NY, 1960; Swan 1962); Mike McKay explained why in an
earlier post.
By the way, a runner-up in the worst-recorded-hit category might be
"Peppermint Stick" by the Elchords (Good, 1958). Good singin', dirty lyrics
(when you can understand them), adequate band, but it sounds like it was
recorded on a cheap home tape recorder using the as-supplied condensor mike.
Yow! And it was a serious r&b hit.
Speaking of "worst recorded," I dug out LeGrand LPS-1001 (1961, reissued c.
1964), "Frank Guida Presents U. S. Bonds Greatest Hits." (My copy is a
Canadian pressing). Frank's liner notes go song-by-song and are a wonder to
behold. Three examples (grammar and wording his):
"'New Orleans' established many firsts in the rock world. The first to
feature the double bass drum beat; first to feature over modulated sound,
now known as 'hot recording,' and the first of the new rock to use the chord
progressions featuring 20 notes with rhythm suspension."
"Building on the innovations of 'New Orleans,' 'Quarter to Three' went
beyond the chord progressions, double bass drum beat and over modulated
sound to feature live sound with crowd noises and action. The chord
progressions and production techniques make it as fresh today as it was when
originally recorded."
"'Twist Twist Senora'...a Calypso-Rock success that clearly demonstrated
that folk singers need not restrict material to traditionally simple
arrangements. Bob Dylan's lop-sided improvement of his original 'Blowin' In
The Wind' is a fine example."
Thanks for sharing, Frank.
Artie Butler (and Dan Hughes), thank you for the story of "Sally Go 'Round
The Roses." It is still one of the freshest, most visionary arrangements
which created a record that still haunts and amazes. Dan, did Artie also do
the track for the Hearts' "Dear Abby," or did someone copy his technique?
And please bring Artie aboard the Good Ship Spectropop if he'll come!
Clark:
> ...posted..."Early October" by Tim Gilbert to Musica.
To me, the side on the Tim Gilbert record is the wonderfully opaque "If We
Stick Together." Want to post that for the folks, too? I've got the 45, but
have no way to get the music from the vinyl to musica.
Mike McKay:
> The Chiffons sublime "What Am I Gonna Do with You (Hey Baby)"...
> is the single most beautiful girl group record ever recorded by
> anyone...anywhere.
Agreed - if you allow it a tie with several Paris Sisters' Gregmark 45's.
TD, thanks for the info on "Pete Kelly's Blues." Haven't seen it, but will
look for a copy to view. You reminded me of the beautiful "He Needs Me" - I
used to play that on jazz shows when I did college radio; haven't heard it
since. And I can imagine that "Sing A Rainbow" would have a haunting scene
to go with it. Sadly, my 45 is so scratchy it sounds like firecrackers going
off during it.
And now, I'm going off. Bye.
Country Paul
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 07:26:33 -0000
From: Tony Leong
Subject: Re: Chiffons to Musica!
Clark Besch wrote:
> Hi, I think this will be a real treat for all Chiffons Spectropoppers
> out there. After seeing the posts on this site and conversing with
> Art Longmire off line about the greatness of the Chiffons' "Nobody
> Knows What's Going On", I went digging in my tapes. I've noticed the
> group didn't seem to appear on many TV shows for some reason. I'm
> guessing there may be some footage of a Murray the K show with them
> somewhere, but anything else? They appeared on American Bandstand in
> 63, but have never seen even snippets on Bandstand anniversary shows
> of them. How bout Lloyd Thaxton?? Lloyd?? However, I was sitting
> in my living room watching them on Shindig on July 21, 1965 and
> recorded their performance on reel too reel. Altho I'm prone to
> believe video footage of this show must be destroyed (as I've not
> seen any from this show that I can remember), at least this audio is
> in fine shape. It really showcases the groups great live vocals!!
> Sung over (likely) a music track with an opening vocal to get the
> group in synch for the music, you can hear a vocal double just
> briefly at the start. After that, it's "one fine" performance!
> Marred by a terrible edit, which I don't think was me back then.
> Most likely, the show was running a few seconds long and they edited
> the tape. I'm guessing this as you can hear Sir Douglas start "She's
> About a Mover" very abruptly as the Chiffons music track exits
> leaving the group singing a slight acapella. Anyway, hope you enjoy
> this as much as I did getting it put on Spectropop.
Clark: Hi, I have a copy of that Chiffons 1965 Shindig appearance and
it indeed was a treat. However, only Sylvia was singing the lead
live, the back-up and backing track was the record. Only Sylvia and
Barbara are "the Chiffons". Judy was expecting a child and Pat did
not want to fly, so that's why they didn't go to LA for the Shindig
show. Their places were taken by Sylvia's sister, Joyce, and another
friend from the Bronx, Margie.
The Chiffons were also listed as having appeared on a local NYC
show "The Clay Cole Show" in 1965. A friend of mine recalls them
doing "The Real Thing". I believe the girls also did some TV in
England and Europe during their 1966 tour there.
Tony
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 05:23:41 -0000
From: Robert R. Radil
Subject: Re: Stereo 45s / Brian Wilson
Joe Nelson wrote:
> I did some research into this a few years ago: it appears "A Beautiful
> Morning" was the first Top 40 45 whose standard stock issue was stereo
> (actually compatable stereo, wherein the right channel is thrown 90
> degrees out of phase in order to phase down the "center channel" when
> the record is played on monaral equipment). "Rice Is Nice" was released
> first but didn't chart in the Billbopard Top 40.
My original 1968 single is the standard normal stereo.
BTW - It was the first stereo single I ever got. Although my vinyl copy
is stereo, I seem to recall back then seeing in the store some plastic
copies that were mono. The label still said stereo.
Bob Radil
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 08:39:29 -0000
From: Gary Apollo
Subject: Rare vinyl for grabs
Been a member for a while, love reading the posts.
I've decided to start selling off my vinyl collection. 35 years of
collecting, and I'm opening the vaults.
Go to http://apollojams.com
Link clearly visible at the top of the home page.
Right now, you'll see Small Faces, Kinks, Hepstars, Bobby Fuller 4,
Freddy Cannon, Creation, Bob Kuban, rare/early 60's garage comps, 07 " singles, etc.
It's a start...and I'll be adding lots more 60's rock in the coming
weeks, in categories genre-specific to the SpectroPop list.
Looking forward to hearing from you guys (i know a lot of you
already), and happy hunting!
gary apollo!
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 00:49:23 -0800 (PST)
From: Rosemarie
Subject: True Confession
I have a confession to make - although I have been a member for so
long I and I get daily digests of the posts...I have up to now -
just glanced throught them - as I am sure most people do .. the
reason I joined this group in the first place was a selfish one /
we sort of - I wanted to let everyone know just how good Eddie
Rambeau was..also for the past year or so - I have not even
listened to music by anyone else - but now I am starting to enjoy
music again... It made me laugh that for a change there were a few
things that I knew about ...Scooby Do...I never liked the program
much - but I remember it well - and I have corresponded a bit with
Austin Roberts - off the list and he is a really nice person.
Also Mary in the Morning ... I heard that as a small child and have
always loved it and err I am only 41 born in the summer of 1962...
when Ed was singing 'Summertime Guy' err I think - never been too
good with dates etc - but I am sure he will put me right - he usualy
keeps me in order.
Sorry for not taking the time - to pay attention before ... promise
to behave in future.
Rosemarie
Proud to be an Eddie Rambeau Fan!
http://www.edrambeau.com
Gold Radio - for the love of life and music!
http://www.goldoldies.com
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 02:02:58 -0700
From: Gary Spector
Subject: Re: Spector story
Ed Rambeau:
> Well, Dan, thank you first of all for your kind welcome. The only
> story I know about Producers is Phil Spector. He was on an airplane
> and it was taxiing down the runway when all of a sudden he jumped
> out of his seat and demanded that the plane be turned around so he
> could get off. He made such a stink that they finally did as he
> asked and when he got off...the entire group of passengers did as
> well. Perhaps they thought he was psychic or something. This story
> may not seem as funny now as it did at the time.
I would love to hear some of the other things my Father has done in
public :-D .
Other than his music, I know so little about him.
Specter
Not just another P.S. fan...
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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