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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: Spine Shiverers / Big Finishes
From: Paul Bryant
2. Stroboscoping
From: Dan Hughes
3. Unchained Melody
From: Paul Bryant
4. Re: Album stories
From: Sean Anglum
5. Sammy Davis Jnr
From: Simon White
6. Re: "Do It Now" LP
From: Charles G. Hill
7. Gary Busey
From: KAØMR
8. Re: Ed Rambeau
From: Country Paul
9. Help movie
From: steveo
10. Re: vocals versions of instrumentals
From: steveo
11. Re: Spine Shiverers / Big Finishes
From: John Sellards
12. Re: Lead Vocal on This Diamond Ring
From: Mikey
13. Re: Variable Speed Oscilator/Hastening the track...
From: Robert R. Radil
14. Re: Fuzzy Bunnies...heard of them?
From: Mike Rashkow
15. Re: The Zombies Live On
From: Dan Hughes
16. Re: Steve Tudanger & the 4 Evers
From: Mike Rashkow
17. Re: stroboscoping
From: Mike Rashkow
18. Ron Hicklin
From: Bob Celli
19. Re: vocals versions of instrumentals
From: Rat Pfink
20. Re: stroboscoping
From: Rat Pfink
21. Re: "My Own Two Feet"
From: Ed Rambeau
22. Four Evers CD
From: Mark
23. Re: stroboscoping
From: Dieter
24. Emitt Rhodes article
From: Stratton Bearhart
25. Vance & Pockriss
From: Austin Powell
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 15:25:31 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Bryant
Subject: Re: Spine Shiverers / Big Finishes
> Back to center on this thread: how about the great
> vocal 'bong' at the end of Thomas Wayne's "Tragedy" ?
I'm a fan of Big Finishes, so with a nod to the already
acknowledged "Since I Don't Have You" (Skyliners) how
about "Smoke gets in your....EYESSSSSS" by the Platters,
Dusty howling "believe me!!" (oh I did, I did) at the end
of "You don't hafta say you love me", and the very
Righteous Bros' "Ebb TIIIIIIDDDDDDDEEEEE" - which is very
wonderful. Oh, and pretty much anything at all by Roy
Orbison, but let's go for "It's Over". Ba-ba-ba-ba-boom!
pb
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 17:28:41 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Stroboscoping
Kim, it's called a stroboscope because it is a strobe light. That is, it
blinks rapidly--so rapidly it looks like a steady light to you. In the
USA the blink rate is 60 times per second. If the lines on your pattern
are turning so that every time the strobe blinks a new line is right
where the previous one was 1/60th of a second ago, the line appears to be
standing still. If the line is moving forward, your turntable is turning
too fast and if it's moving backwards your turntable is too slow.
There are two sets of lines because one is for 45 rpm records and the
other for albums (33 1/3 rpm). If you can't get the lines to match at
all, you may have a turntable that is set for a 50 flashes-per-second
(European) rate rather than 60 flashes-per-second (American).
And like was said, the Art Laboe Audio Fidelity oldies albums have the
strobe lines printed on the label.
---Dan
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 15:38:59 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Bryant
Subject: Unchained Melody
Dear Poppers
Strange Spector-related fact. There was a book
published last year called "Top 100 Singles - the
definitive chart of the UK's best-selling songs Ever".
So - which Phil Spector-related song figured not once
but twice in the Top 40? Unchained Melody. But not by
the Righteous Brothers! First at No 9 in a version by
Robson & Jerome in 1995 (two actor-singers who had a
hit TV series). This was a double A side with The
White Cliffs of Dover, another Righteous hit. Total
sales of this version, 01 .8 million. Then down at No
38, a version by a brand new pop idol Gareth Gates in
2002 - sales, 01 .3 million.
Note - The RB's version was a No 14 hit here in 65,
then a rereleased big old No 1 hit in 1990. And
originally in 1955 it was a No 2 hit for some guy
called Al Hibbler (!) and yet another No 1 hit for a
British crooner called Jimmy Young. Ooof! That's FOUR
times this song has been No 1 in the UK - we love it!
pb
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 16:40:28 -0700
From: Sean Anglum
Subject: Re: Album stories
I remember being impressed by the photographs and album design of
the first Doors album. Snatched it up right away and was the
musical soothsayer in my circle of friends within a few months.
Same thing happened with the first Moby Grape album. Little did I
know that what was inside of that cool looking cover would blow my
mind. STILL in my top 10 alums of all time! Same went for the Gene
Clark with the Gosdin Bros. LP. I loved how it looked so I bought
it, but my friends thought it sounded like garbage. I've been
vindicated there, too. A true classic.
I also remember going downtown with my Mom in 1967 to pickup the
new Beatles album, not knowing that beginning with Sgt. Pepper,
Capitol was increasing their retail price for Stereo by one buck.
Being used to paying a certain amount for albums at my favorite
record shop, I brought along just enough dough to purchase the new
STEREO Beatles LP. WRONG! I was a buck short, so I had to walk out
with a MONO copy. I was initially quite bummed. But boy, am I ever
glad I was a buck short! I've kept that puppy in good shape and it
is now worth a pretty sum. And, of course, the listening experience
of the mono Pepper is unbelievable!!
I miss those vinyl days.
-Sean
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 23:47:13 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Sammy Davis Jnr
Howard wrote:
> Sammy Davies Jr. did a vocal to Hawaii 5-0 which was an album track,
> but I'm damned if I can remember the title of either now.
> Spectropoppers - help :-) This track gained a certain amount of
> 'fame' due to spins at the Wigan Casino.
Howard, it was "You Can Count On Me", which of course you knew, and I
can't remember the album title either, but it was on 20th Century. It
came up on Spectropop before I think.
Sammy has two later (minor) Northern plays with "The Shelter Of Your
Arms", also done magnificently by the great Bobby Sheen, and "Not For
Me", the Bobby Darin song.
--
Simon
I must get a little hand for this watch.
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 18:01:33 -0600
From: Charles G. Hill
Subject: Re: "Do It Now" LP
Mark Hill (no relationship) remembers:
> Wasn't DO IT NOW the only (or one of the few) compilations like this,
> to ever include a BEATLES track? I think it's "Nowhere Man."
It does indeed.
I've written a little piece about this very LP, at:
http://www.dustbury.com/music/doitnow.html.
cgh
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 18:14:06 -0600
From: KAØMR
Subject: Gary Busey
> Any sign of Denny Cordell at that time and place?
Never saw him (Denny) but I did forget to mention that on Gailard
Sartain's Saturday Late-Night Mazzeppa show was Gary Busey as a
regular and played a part known as "Teddy-Jack Eddy" He was the
white teashirted with the cigarette pack rolled up in the shoulder
sleeves al la "Grease" but saw him him get out of a car once and
strolled over to strike up good converstation and he politley
invited me to and I quote "F*** off twit, I'm busy". But I still
liked him.
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 19:22:15 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Re: Ed Rambeau
Ed Rambeau:
> my recording of "Summertime Guy".
Great record, Eddie; in a righteous world, it would have been the smash it
deserved to be. I can't believe I never heard it when new, but at least now
I know why!
Ed again:
> As far as "Concrete and Clay" being used in a national TV
> commercial....it came as quite a surprise. But boy did I
> get the calls from friends the minute it hit the air waves.
Hope you're getting good royalties!
Country Paul
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 17:00:24 -0800 (PST)
From: steveo
Subject: Help movie
I sure would like someone to take the Beatles film
"Help" and edit it down to an hour...taking out a
lot of the lousy or boring parts. It would be a
worthwhile thing to see. A lot of purists will be
grimmacing....sorry.
Steveo
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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 17:02:20 -0800 (PST)
From: steveo
Subject: Re: vocals versions of instrumentals
Howard wrote:
> Sammy Davies Jr. did a vocal to Hawaii 5-0 which was
> an album track, but I'm damned if I can remember the
> title of either now. Spectropoppers - help :-) This
> track gained a certain amount of 'fame' due to spins
> at the Wigan Casino.
There may be a reason why Sammy recorded that. His
former conductor and friend Morty Stevens wrote that,
before George Rhodes, his newer conductor, took over.
Steveo
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 01:10:16 -0000
From: John Sellards
Subject: Re: Spine Shiverers / Big Finishes
> Back to center on this thread: how about the great vocal 'bong' at
> the end of Thomas Wayne's "Tragedy" ?
...or the great last chord of "Been So Long" by the Pastels. Maybe
this is a new thread - great endings????
John Sellards
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Message: 12
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:17:45 -0500
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Lead Vocal on This Diamond Ring
Me:
> Gary sang most of the vocals, altho if you listen VERY
> closely to some of the stereo mixes, youll hear Ron Hinclins
> voice coming thru as the "guide" track for Gary.
Al Kooper:
> BTW thats Ron Hicklin - a famous LA vocal contractor who helped
> me tremendously when I lived in LA He got all the backup singers
> for all my LA solo albums and The Tubes first album that I
> produced. I'm VERY impressed that you know that it's him singing
> lead on This Diamond Ring as well as others
Thanks Al.
I do pride myself on that kind of stuff. Actually, my band played
a fair on the same bill as Gary in 1990 and I went over to talk to
him. He is SUCH a great guy. Spent an hour telling me about cool
stuff from his Liberty days. Did you know that on some records (45s)
Gary has laid down 6 vocal tracks!!! There are also several
unrealeased cuts that they did in the early days lurking about the
Libery Vaults. Man i wish Bear Family would do a 5 Cd box set on
Gary Lewis!! I mean they did Lesley Gore, why not Gary? He had 14
chart records!!!!
mikey
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 01:19:15 -0000
From: Robert R. Radil
Subject: Re: Variable Speed Oscilator/Hastening the track...
C Ponti wrote:
> On almost every session I remember from the 60s, there was a time
> when the VSO would be brought out. After the tracks were mixed, we
> would experiment to see if the cut was improved by being sped up a
> hair. The effect was to compress and integrate the track. Also the
> voices had more energy, (of course they were higher), and the
> instruments had a more saturated sound.
There are many many examples of songs where the speeds on the single
and LP versions don't match.
A few off the top of my head:
"Baker Street" 3:45 promo edit - Gerry Rafferty, runs much faster.
"Baby Come Back" - Player, LP version runs slow to my ears.
"When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman" 12" single - Dr. Hook,
runs much faster.
Bob Radil
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Message: 14
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:59:06 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Fuzzy Bunnies...heard of them?
superoldies:
> They had a low charter in 1968 on Decca with "The Sun Ain't Gonna
> Shine Anymore". Typical '68 psych-rock. Haven't been able to find
> anything on the web about them...anyone know?
I know a little bit. What do you want to know? You might search the
S'Pop archives first--they have been discussed a bit in the past.
I'll tell you one thing, they sure were very well produced.
Di la,
Rashkovsky
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Message: 15
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 19:55:28 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: The Zombies Live On
Jake, you mentioned a lot of songs the Zombies are performing nowadays.
What about my two favorites--Leave Me Be and Caroline Goodbye?
Thanks,
---Dan
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Message: 16
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 21:07:02 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Steve Tudanger & the 4 Evers
doowopdaddy writes:
> Sorry to hear about Steve.
Steve Tudanger is a great guy and a great underappreciated talent.
If he could only see how many people remember him and love his
music--that would be a very special thing at this time in his life.
C'mon guys--how about those letters to him.
In case you missed it the first time around, I'm trying to put
together a group of "fan" notes to him.
Send to: bookedybookedy@aol.com. I'll take care of getting them to
him. His health is fragile.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 17
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 21:12:35 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: stroboscoping
> Mention of turntable stroboscopes spurs me to ask--how the heck
> do these things work, anyway? My 2nd or 3rd hand turntable has
> a red light near the stylus that creates two bands of vertical
> lines that spin in opposite directions, and no matter what I do
> with the pitch switch, they never quite sync up. Is it the top
> or the bottom band that is supposed to be adjusted until it's
> still? Surely a Spectropopper has the answer!
There should be four rings--two for 50Hz and 2 for 60Hz AC. One of
each is for 33RPM and the other for 45RPM. That's what I think anyway.
Rashkovsky (at the limit of his tech knowledge)
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 02:40:21 -0000
From: Bob Celli
Subject: Ron Hicklin
Mikey wrote:
> Gary sang most of the vocals, altho if you listen VERY
> closely to some of the stereo mixes, youll hear Ron Hinclins
> voice coming thru as the "guide" track for Gary.
Al Kooper:
> BTW thats Ron Hicklin - a famous LA vocal contractor who helped me
> tremendously when I lived in LA He got all the backup singers for
> all my LA solo albums and The Tubes first album that I produced.
> I'm VERY impressed that you know that it's him singing lead on This
> Diamond Ring as well as others.
Al,
It's a pretty well known fact that Hicklin sang lead on Gary's
sessions. Snuffy's been telling that story for years. He actually
wanted Bobby Vee to sing along with Ron on a song called "Butterfly"
in the mid sixties and Bobby flat out refused. Ron, Al Capps, and Stan
Farber backed Bobby on the "I Remember Buddy Holly" lp, and the ill
fated 'Sings The New Sound From England". They also did backgrounds on
"Where Is She", a Vee single which has become a doo wop collectable
even to the point that it was bootlegged and label credits read The
Eligibles (with Bobby Vee)!
Bob
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Message: 19
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 21:20:21 -0500
From: Rat Pfink
Subject: Re: vocals versions of instrumentals
Howard wrote:
> Sammy Davies Jr. did a vocal to Hawaii 5-0 which was an album
> track, but I'm damned if I can remember the title of either now.
> Spectropoppers - help :-)
I don't know which album it was on but the title was "You Can Count
On Me" and it was the b-side of the 45 "Snap Your Fingers" (20th
Century 6162-101, 1976).
RP
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Message: 20
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 21:29:22 -0500
From: Rat Pfink
Subject: Re: stroboscoping
Kim Cooper wrote:
> Mention of turntable stroboscopes spurs me to ask--how the heck do
> these things work, anyway? My 2nd or 3rd hand turntable has a red
> light near the stylus that creates two bands of vertical lines that
> spin in opposite directions, and no matter what I do with the pitch
> switch, they never quite sync up. Is it the top or the bottom band
> that is supposed to be adjusted until it's still? Surely a
> Spectropopper has the answer!
They're not supposed to sync up with each other, one row is for 45
and the other is for 33 1/3. When the appropriate band appears to be
standing still and not moving then speed is adjusted correctly.
RP
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Message: 21
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 22:09:31 EST
From: Ed Rambeau
Subject: Re: "My Own Two Feet"
Ian Chapman:
> Ed, were you ever aware of (Kenny Lynch's version of "My Own Two
> Feet")? If not, it's currently playing at musica for everybody to
> check out.
Yes, I was aware of this version. I never really heard the Hal Miller
version and the Kenny Lynch version side by side to evaluate which I
like better. How does one get to MUSICA?
Ed Rambeau
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Message: 22
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 08:43:38 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Four Evers CD
Mike Edwards:
> I'm not sure whether or not it turned up in stores but a phenomenal
> 4 Evers' CD appeared on the Magic Carpet label in the mid-90s. The
> cover says Steve Tudanger and the 4-Evers produced it. The CD
> features a 12 page booklet and 33 tracks.
While the 4 Evers music was great this CD is horrible sounding. I have
over 2,000 CDs in my collection and this is by far the worst sounding
thing I have. Most of the songs are taken off of horrible condition,
scratchy records with no attempt whatsoever made to de-noise them or
clean them up. While this group is not popular enought to ever get a
legitimate release there are many other bootleggers out there who have
some sort of professional pride in what they release. This CD is a
complete hack job. Good music, abominable sound quality. There are
many things that can be done to make lousy vinyl sound better even if
its just a DAT transfer through a sound enhancer. Absolutely nothing
was done with these recordings other than a straight copy onto a CD.
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Message: 23
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 05:45:19 EST
From: Dieter
Subject: Re: stroboscoping
Most of the turntables had 4 different patterns. For 50/60Hz
(Europe/US) and for 33/45rpm's. The lamp brings the light in
the appropriate freqency automatically.
Dieter
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Message: 24
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 11:42:20 -0000
From: Stratton Bearhart
Subject: Emitt Rhodes article
I was saddened to read the article on Emitt Rhodes. It's a shock to
see what time and the vagaries of the music business can do to a guy.
I'm a great fan of his garage sound, if only someone could help Emitt
reconstruct the little studio to get back on track as has his famous
neigbor in Hawthorne....
As Emitt said, songs are wishes, and my wish is for his good health
and return to music.
Stratton.
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Message: 25
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 11:41:24 -0000
From: Austin Powell
Subject: Vance & Pockriss
Alan Warner's dip into this Vance-Pockriss file revealed Lee Pockriss
collaborated with Hal David.....Question: In 1960, a David/Pockriss
song, "Lovelight" was used on the B side of an (UK) MGM release (when
EMI handled the label in Britain) "Lop-Sided, Over-Loaded (And It
Wiggled When We Rode It)" (Brian Hyland also recorded this) by an act
called Hank & Dave.....Does anyone know who Hank & Dave were? Was
this Lee Pockriss and a.n.other ? The writers credited with the "A"
side were Kusick-Anton, but the UK label gave no production credit...
Any ideas anyone ? Alan ?? Don't let me down, I've had this record
for 43 years and have never found a clue about Hank & David...
Austin Powell.
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