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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: Metropolitan Soul playlist (Jan. 18 '04)
From: Howard
2. Re: I'm the Sky
From: Ed Rambeau
3. Re: Norma Tenega
From: Ed Rambeau
4. Re: Al Kooper & The Royal Teens
From: Al Kooper
5. Re: Heaven Bound with Tony Scotti
From: James Holvay
6. Re: Variations on the Beach Boys and others
From: Wayne Short
7. Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
From: Billy G Spradlin
8. Re: Ben Findon / Bubblegum
From: Austin Powell
9. Re: 40 years of Navy Blue
From: Michael Fishberg
10. Re: "At Last"
From: Peter Kearns
11. Re: sediS-B sdrawkcaB fo noitalipmoC :eR
From: Glenn
12. Re: Record collection sold
From: Paul Bryant
13. Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
From: Frank
14. Smile in London / Welcome Al Kooper
From: Martin Jensen
15. Austin, thanks for asking
From: Artie Wayne
16. Gary Lewis et al
From: John Love
17. Re: Vee record collectors
From: Bob
18. Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
From: Tom Taber
19. Newbie here @ Spectropop
From: Don Miller
20. Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
From: Joe Nelson
21. Mark Radice
From: Guy Lawrence
22. Kooper Kredits
From: Guy Lawrence
23. Elliot Randall
From: Richard Havers
24. Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
From: John Sellards
25. Re: Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind
From: Richard Havers
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 02:29:04 -0500
From: Howard
Subject: Re: Metropolitan Soul playlist (Jan. 18 '04)
Hi Simon..
thought I'd say hello.. looks like there was some great stuff played on the show :-)
all the best.. Howard
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 02:04:30 EST
From: Ed Rambeau
Subject: Re: I'm the Sky
Previously:
> Can I assume that this is the same "I'm the Sky" as the one written
> and recorded by Norma Tanega, since Herb Bernstein produced her
> album on DynoVoice?
You're absolutely right. Norma Tanega wrote "I'm the Sky" not Laura Nyro as
I stated previously. For some reason I got the 2 mixed up. It's probably
because I saw the name Herb Bernstein who I strongly associated with Laura. I
kind of help Herb discover Laura Nyro (or it is Nero)? Can't remember the
spelling, however, Herb came to me one day and said "I'd like you to hear a girl
I'm considering recording. Tell me what you think."....Well, I walked into the
room and there sat Laura at the piano. We were introduced and then she began
to play the piano with great gusto...and then came that voice. She destroyed
me with her rendition of "Wedding Bell Blues". I told Herb that if he didn't
sign her up he'd make the biggest mistake of his life. He signed her and did
her first album....which was incredible. Many hits came from that first
album...some by Streisand. But thanks for reminding me that it was Norma Tanega
that wrote "I'm the Sky".
Ed Rambeau
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 02:05:29 EST
From: Ed Rambeau
Subject: Re: Norma Tenega
Previously:
> Eddie, I'd like to add my welcome to all the others you've received;
> it's very nice to have you here. (Sorry to say that Unit 4 + 2 got
> the nod for "Concrete and Clay" on radio stations in my neck of the
> woods!) I'm wondering if you ever crossed paths with Norma Tanega?
> I've always really enjoyed that album of hers.
I haven't seen or heard from Norma Tenega since I recorded "I'm The Sky". I
really don't even remember her at the recording session.
Ed Rambeau
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 02:00:56 EST
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Al Kooper & The Royal Teens
Previously:
> This group name doesn't appear on your website, Al, so could you please
> confirm or deny that you were in the Royal Teens ("Short Shorts," "Big Name
> Button")? People may joke about the songs -- true period pieces, to be sure
> but the tracks to both had the best down-and-dirty beats! If you were
> involved with them, do you know who did the sax parts? (And if Al can't
> answer that question, can anyone, please?)
I did my time in The Royal Teens. Starting in 1958 at the ripe old age of
fourteen. Bob Gaudio and Leo Rogers gave me my pro start!!! The sax player of
note was titled Larry Qualiano - he played the parts on the records. A 16-17
year old Jersey lad. Hope this helps
Al Kooper
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 23:27:44 -0800
From: James Holvay
Subject: Re: Heaven Bound with Tony Scotti
markt439 wrote:
> I haven't seen any mention here about this great group.
> Definitely one for Partridge Family fans to look for.
> Kind of like what they would have sounded like if Susan
> Dey could sing and she sang lead. Don't know anything
> about this Tony Scotti guy but I know Michael Lloyd,
> who was a sunshine pop genius, produced them.
I can shed some light on Tony Scotti. He's the younger brother
of Ben Scotti. I believe Ben originally played football for
the Philadelphia Eagles. After his career was over he became
a promotion guy and hooked up with Johnny River's Soul City
Records. He was instrumental in breaking the 5th. Dimension
records. He later moved on to VP of Promotions at MGM, when
Mike Curb was the President. Tony Scotti also played for the
Eagles but left and pursued acting. His big role was as a singer
in the movie Valley Of The Dolls. After that his brother Ben
brought him into MGM as a producer. (who said nepotism doesn't
exist in the entertainment business).
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 06:04:00 -0000
From: Wayne Short
Subject: Re: Variations on the Beach Boys and others
Dindale Hogg wrote:
> I'm not really into guys who create variations on a Beach Boys
> theme
Mark Frumento wrote:
> In my mind (and in my collection) I divide Beach Boys followers
> into three categories:
> 1) Pastiche (one-off sound-a-likes)
> 2) Impersonators (career sound-a-likes)
> 3) Strongly Influenced By
Thanks Mark,
Alrighty! Everyone on the variations trip copies/imitates the sound
to varying degrees..
Looking through my collection, I can stratify artists into those who
take is comparable to photo-realism, Adrian Baker and Gidea Park are
top of the tree. Close in are Chris White and Chris Rainbow (among
other styles he adopts). Then there are the impressionists, The High
Llamas, Louis Phillipe, Peter Lacey. Next there are an ever growing
lists of of bands who could be said to be influenced, ie, that the BB
sound is a snap shot, a trace element, that also has touches of The
Byrds, The Beatles, The Velvets and so on.
I'm not adverse to the variations as long as their done with
sincerity and quality. And the fun element is cool too, Andrew Gold's
Fraternal Order is a beautiful tongue in cheek pastiche.
My all time favorite has to be a non-Beach Boys one, The Rutles has
it all, including the impersonation.
best
Wayne Short
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 05:58:00 -0000
From: Billy G Spradlin
Subject: Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
Mike McKay wrote:
> To me, this sounds like messing with a very significant piece of
> rock 'n' roll history for the sake of making a few bucks. What
> say you?
Why couldnt they use the master tape for "Do The Clam" instead?? :)
Billy
60's Jangle Radio!
http://listen.to/jangleradio
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 08:43:54 -0000
From: Austin Powell
Subject: Re: Ben Findon / Bubblegum
Mark Frumento wrote:
> Does anyone have information on song writer Ben Findon?
Mark...I can't fill in any personal details but Ben Findon started
producing records in the late sixties...He had "Easy Squeezy" by
the Love Children (featuring "Little Joe") issued on Deram in 1969.
The song was written by Ben and his partner Pete Shelley.....They
were helped in their early days of being writer/producers by the
publishing team at Radio Luxembourg...If you gave the radio station
the publishing on the "B" side, the station "miraculously" played
the record more often!!
Much later Ben ran his own Spirit label, which had its only success
with two records by British comedian/TV entertainer Russ Abbott...
Dan Hughes:
> Anybody know the origin of the term Bubblegum music?
Dan...In the notes for Volume One of Varese Sarabande's "Bubblegum
Classics" series (1995), the term "Bubblegum" is credited to Kasenatz-
Katz....The story went: Buddah's boss Neil Bogart asked K-K how
they'd describe their music..."We would call it bubblegum....it's
a happytime, children's type of thing" they said...Bogart replied
"That's great - Bubblegum, we'll use it"..
Austin
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 01:12:53 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Fishberg
Subject: Re: 40 years of Navy Blue
Ed Rambeau wrote:
> ......Anyway, Navy Blue ended up getting the biggest phone response
> since Elvis Presley's Blue Suede Shoes. The DJ wrote about this in
> the Gavin Report, and the rest is history. But I'm so glad you
> enjoyed it all these years, Clark. Needless to say, so did I ...
> but for other reasons. LOL.
Diane's Fox album of NAVY BLUE in stereo (TFS 3133) is considered
one of the hardest and most sought-after pop albums of this period
to acquire. Typically making $200-300, it's also got great artwork.
If anybody wants to see the amazing Japanese 7-inch picture sleeve
artwork, email me at michael@north.org for a scan.
Best,
Michael Fishberg
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 10:59:59 -0000
From: Peter Kearns
Subject: Re: "At Last"
Rashkovsky wrote:
> Jamesetta Hawkins could sing the telephone directory and it would
> sound fine.
My word yes. And her latest stuff is amazing too. The production is
great. What a band.
Peter.
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 10:02:02 -0000
From: Glenn
Subject: Re: sediS-B sdrawkcaB fo noitalipmoC :eR
Robert R. Radil wrote:
> This is going a little off your topic but "Mirage" by Tommy James
> & The Shondells is based on "I Think We're Alone Now" played
> backwards.
Myth. Total myth.
It's weird how these things get started. Tommy James once laughed in
an interview about the fact that the chord sequence of the chorus
of "Mirage" was created, by writer Ritchie Cordell, by taking the
chord sequence of the chorus of "I Think We're Alone Now" and playing
it backwards - in other words, reversing the order of the chords.
James thought this was funny because it showed how formulaic the
creation of a hit could be. In a later interview he shortened the
comment by simply saying that "'Mirage' is 'I Think We're Alone Now'
backwards."
His comment was thereafter misinterpreted in liner notes and articles
as them having created the song based on playing the RECORD
backwards, but no one from the James camp ever actually stated this.
If they do go along with that story now, which I've never heard that
they do, it could only be in the spirit of fun that so many rock
stars enjoy when making up absurd stories about their past - and
being sure to tell a different, more absurd version in every
interview.
P.S. Adding to the confusion, one of the special effects on "Mirage"
was created by manually rolling a reel tape of a percussion part
backwards and forwards over the heads of the tape deck.
Glenn
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 03:52:38 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Bryant
Subject: Re: Record collection sold
Doc Rock wrote:
> Bobby Vee and I have discussed how 99% of his fans
> in the old days were female. Now 99% are male!
> As for me I just sold my 40-year record collection,
> all 10,000 records, to a female collector!
How come you did that, Doc Rock? Don't you like those
old sounds anymore?
pb
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 11:48:48 +0200
From: Frank
Subject: Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
Mike McKay wrote:
> "Two-Inch Segments from the Original 1954-1955 Studio Recording tape,
> beginning with "That's All Right," the Song that Propelled Elvis's
> Career, to be Cut, Certified, Numbered and Mounted on Commemorative
> Plaques and Sold to the Public."
>
> To me, this sounds like messing with a very significant piece of rock
> 'n' roll history for the sake of making a few bucks. What say you?
Don't worry, it's only a dub.
Frank
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 12:37:50 -0000
From: Martin Jensen
Subject: Smile in London / Welcome Al Kooper
Hi
Thanks to those who supplied me with info on record shops in London
– living in a country where finding a rarity amounts to discovering
a Beach Boys twofer in the local shops, I truly look forward to that
trip! ;-D
I would also like to give a belated welcome to Al Kooper(!)
Al, I discovered your '69 single "You Never Know Who Your Friends Are"
last year through the "Rare + Well Done" collection, and that song
definitely represented one of that year's great discoveries. I don't
know how you feel about this song, but I really like it & the
production.
I was also wondering... have you heard the late Donny Hathaway's
take on "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know"? It's on
his "Extension of a Man" album….. A great rendition, IMHO...
With regards
Martin, Denmark
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 06:27:40 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Austin, thanks for asking
Austin.........How ya' doin'? You asked what I've been up to...
Well, I'm starting to get around again after a seven year
recovery from a spinal operation [doctors are amazed that I'm
even able to walk].......and today marks the third month I stopped
taking painkillers cold turkey. My mind is clear.....my body
cleansed.......and my spirit is stronger than ever before.
15 months ago, my friend Allan Rinde gave me his old computer [when
he built himself a new one], showed me how to use it and brought me
to Spectropop. I realized there are people out there who appreciate
things much of the world has forgotten......and with the encouragement
I've received on line from Spectropoppers, and people I've connected
with from my past, I feel back to my old self again!! I've been
writing up my adventures in the music buisness as an artist [12 labels,
no hits]....songwriter, ["Meet Me At Midnight Mary" (Raleigh/Wayne)]
and about 200 covers........producer [Joey Powers, The Kingsmen, the
Shirelles].......and publishing [from being general manager at Warner
Bros. Music, running Irving/Almo music, to running my own firms.]
When I met Alan Gordon on line and suggested that Faith Hill and Tim
McGraw or Fountains of Wayne should remake his classic "Happy Together"
[Bonner/Gordon], he and half a dozen Spectropoppers loved the idea!!
Last week when I suggested that Alan Jackson or Trace Adkins should
redo Mike Rashkow's "Mary in the Morning"....Mike loved it .....which
made me start thinking.
Two years ago, when I helped my friend Alan O'Day get his "Undercover
Angel" into the "Charlie's Angels" movie, I was shocked to see how
many of the people I started with in the business were running film
and TV music departments....so I've decided to act as an independent
consultant to songwriters as well as publishers while I'm reviving
my own catalog. Fortunately, my recording contacts now include old
friends who run or own the companies.
Austin......if you check out my website http://artiewayne.com/
I'm sure you'll find some stories and pictures of some people you know.
regards,
Artie Wayne
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 05:09:17 -0600
From: John Love
Subject: Gary Lewis et al
There are lots of instances of one hit wonders making it on only one
side of the Atlantic, but talk of "This Diamond Ring" makes me wonder
again how an artist producing hits Stateside as consistently as Gary
Lewis could fail to make an impact on this side of the pond - one minor
chart appearance with "My Heart's Symphony."
And it works the other way round for our own dear Sir Cliff - 03 ,000
chart appearances in the UK, a mere handful over there! Anyone got a
theory here?
John
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 14:33:42 -0000
From: Bob
Subject: Re: Vee record collectors
Doc Rock wrote:
> Bobby Vee and I have discussed how 99% of his fans in
> the old days were female. Now 99% are male!
Doc,
Over on the Bobby Vee Collectors Club Yahoo group I have roughly
88% men and the balance women as members. I think nowadays, most men
that are Bobby Vee fans are into collecting his records. I bought my
first Vee 45 without having a clue what he looked like. I just knew I
really liked what I was hearing and that sound has brought me enormous
amounts of listening pleasure for over 40 years!
Bob
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 06:59:35 -0800 (PST)
From: Tom Taber
Subject: Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
Mike McKay wrote:
> To me, this sounds like messing with a very significant piece
> of rock 'n' roll history for the sake of making a few bucks.
> What say you?
As I also have an interest in the world of Sports collectibles, I
know that some huge companies are now buying baseball jerseys of
Babe Ruth (note for our British friends - he, years ago, excelled
at rounders) and perhaps others in order to cut them into itty-bitty
pieces and insert them randomly in packs of baseball cards. It makes
lots of folks (me included) sick to think about it. I would suggest
to the more famous among us that they begin to save their toenail
clippings, and perhaps Kleenex from their more memorable sinus
infections. Or, how would a square inch of celebrity skin look on a
plaque?!
Tom Taber
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 11:35:59 -0800
From: Don Miller
Subject: Newbie here @ Spectropop
Hi everyone,
I'm new here at Spectropop.
I'm mostly into 60s and 70s Brazilian music. I love bossa nova,
MPB, samba and tropicalia. I enjoy Italian soundtracks and sound
library music as well. I really also love the soft sounds of
Roger Nichols, Claudine Longet, Nick DeCaro and others.
My other 60s/70s obsession is Jamaican mento, ska, rocksteady,
reggae and dub.
I live outside the Philadelphia area. I would like to meet others
around the area for some record shopping trips or even to set up
some DJ nights. I currently DJ in the area, mostly reggae events
though. I would like to find some other like-minded individuals to
perhaps put together a night of bossa/soft rock/chillout/etc.
I'm usually on Soulseek, sharing quite a lot of MP3s from my
collection.
I'm looking forward to reading and contributing to the Spectropop
mailing list.
Don Miller.
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 12:54:00 -0500
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
Mike McKay wrote:
> "The official first cut of the original 1954-55 Sun Sessions
> master recording tape made by Elvis Presley and his band. Master
> Tape Collection, which unearthed and preserved this initial original
> source recording of Elvis and his band, will officially cut,
> certify, number and mount each 2-inch segment of this Sun Sessions
> Master Tape....
> (remainder of quote snipped because it was too painful to read)
>
> To me, this sounds like messing with a very significant piece of rock
> 'n' roll history for the sake of making a few bucks. What say you?
Whether or not Elvis is really dead will be debated forever. I never
had cause to question the Colonel's death until now.
Joe Nelson
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Message: 21
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 19:59:36 -0000
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Mark Radice
Mike wrote re. Mark Radice:
> Hey Mark, we corresponded privately last summer...recall my
> webpage with all of your pre teen 45s and pic sleeves?
Can we have a link to this page Mark?
Guy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TweedleeDumsDrive-In/
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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 19:53:18 -0000
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Kooper Kredits
Al Kooper wrote:
> We also had a coupla Banana Splits songs as Schroeder's office
> provided the music for that show...
Namely the cute "Let Me Remember You Smilin'" (Brass/Kooper/I. Levine)
from one of their Kellogs EPs and the groovy "You're The Lovin' End"
(Kooper/I. Levine) from their Decca LP. Wonderful stuff though for
some reason no one's ever seen fit to bring out a Splits reissue. And
that's called sad....
Al again:
> Schroeder started Musicor Records with one of my songs "Sick Manny's
> Gym," a take-off on the Vic Tanny muscle centers on the eastcoast.
Wow! Has anybody got a copy of this that they can share with the class?
I've never heard it but I think I love it already! Another (Kooper/Levine)
favourite of mine is the Byrdsy "There Is No Greater Sin" a '65 single
by the Boys Next Door.
I strongly suggest everyone pays a visit to www.alkooper.com - the
photos paint Al as some kind of Rock'n'Roll Zelig! Really good to have
you aboard Al!
Guy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TweedleeDumsDrive-In/
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Message: 23
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 20:13:57 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Elliot Randall
Al Kooper wrote:
> I dont think it hurts that my webmaster is Elliott Randall,
> he of the Reelin In The Years Steely Dan daze. We are constantly
> tinkering with it.
Hi Al
I remember seeing Elliot play with his band (Randall's Island) in, it
was probably 1970, at the Albert Hall in London when he supported John
Mayall's band....the one without a drummer. I really enjoyed Elliot's
playing and a couple of years later I read a review or interview about
an album by some group named Steely Dan. It mentioned that Elliott
Randall was playing on it (amongst many other names). As a result I
went to my local record shop and asked if they had this album, which I
duly took into the listening room and played. Well it was a revelation
and I bought it....and every other Dan album since.
So it's all Elliot's fault!
Best
Richard
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Message: 24
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 20:14:53 -0000
From: John Sellards
Subject: Re: Elvis Sun Records master tapes
Mike McKay:
> To me, this sounds like messing with a very significant piece of
> rock 'n' roll history for the sake of making a few bucks. What
> say you?
Billy G Spradlin :
> Why couldnt they use the master tape for "Do The Clam" instead?? :)
Does this mean that the actual tape for this session has turned up
(the Sun session, not "Do The Clam")? Every reissue I've heard - and
I don't have "Sunrise" or anything more recent, which may be better -
it sounds fuzzy and as if reverb had been added. When did they find
this tape?
John Sellards
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Message: 25
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 20:28:39 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind
Scott Swanson wrote:
> "Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind" was one of about 30 songs Mick
> Jagger & Keith Richards wrote during their "let's learn how to be
> songwriters" period (late 1963 through fall 1964).
>
> Jagger and Richards recorded a demo version of the song c. July 1964
> with the Andrew Oldham Orchestra backing them. (This is the version
> which can be found on the Stones' "Metamorphosis" LP). Supposedly,
> the same backing track was later used for Vashti's version, which was
> released in May 1965.
>
> Dick & Deedee's version was recorded c. December 1964, and Dick St.
> John has claimed that the Stones actually played on it. But I've
> never A/B'd all three songs to compare them.
Scott, not to be too picky......but in the interests of historical
accuracy: On Thursday 13th February 1964 the Stones did a 'demo'
session for two of Mick and Keith's songs at Regent Sound Studio,
London, with engineer Bill Farley (who died within the last month or
so). They cut "Try A Little Harder" & "Some Things Just Stick In Your
Mind." Andrew paid each of them £3 each for the session. Afterwards,
Stu drove them to a gig at the Granada Theatre, Kingston-Upon-Thames
for a date on their tour with John Leyton.
Like you I have never heard the Dick & Deedee version, but Bill Wyman
claims that he never played on another session for the song, and only
barely remembers meeting D&D at a gig in the US in November 1964. It is
entirely possible that it was the same backing track.
Richard
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