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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Pop Music On TV This Week
From: Mark Hill
2. Re: Vocal treatments of Instrumentals
From: Ken Silverwood
3. Re: Vocal treatments of instrumentals
From: steveo
4. Re: Los Bravos sing Ed Rambeau
From: Ed Rambeau
5. Re: worst singing
From: superoldies
6. Gary Stites?
From: superoldies
7. Re: Los Bravos sing Ed Rambeau
From: Ed Rambeau
8. Re: Songs that quote others
From: Steve Harvey
9. Aaron Schroeder
From: Al Kooper
10. Bass players
From: Dan Hughes
11. Colours / Bad Day At Black Rock, Baby
From: Mark Hill
12. Elvis & Abba
From: Mark Hill
13. Fake Skipping Records
From: Mark Hill
14. The Beatle Myth
From: John Clemente
15. Re: Mary Hopkin
From: ACJ
16. Stickers
From: ACJ
17. Re: lo fi
From: Phil Milstein
18. Re: Vocal treatments of Instrumentals
From: James Botticelli
19. Re: Beatles Bands
From: James Botticelli
20. Re: Songs that "quote" others
From: James Botticelli
21. Re: Jimmie Cross
From: Phil Milstein
22. A rather special Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
From: Martin Roberts
23. Re: Portrait of Ed Rambeau
From: Ed Rambeau
24. Re: How Neato
From: Mike Rashkow
25. Varispeed/Lloyd Thaxton
From: Alan V. Karr
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 14:38:57 -0500
From: Mark Hill
Subject: Pop Music On TV This Week
On TRIO Monday at 8am and 1pm is LAUGH-IN with guests SONNY AND CHER.
This is the uncut 1 hour episode. This is followed on Tuesday 8am and1pm
with guests SONNY (alone) and Barbara Feldon.
*_*_*
I thought this also might be of interest to the group. It's not just
HEAVY METAL- there are POP connections, too:
Coming up tonight (Sunday) on the TRIO network is the premiere of new
series, PARKING LOT. 9pm and 12am Sunday with new episodes every
weeknight
at 9pm and 12pm. Check your local listings.
These are documentaries, in which we visit the music fans in parking lots
at rock concerts. Like: a Cher concert, Motorhead concert, Yanni, Phish,
Christina Aguilara, Fleetwood Mac, Dixie Chicks and The White Stripes. It
could be a hoot.
This is by the director of the famous 1980's documentary film HEAVY METAL
PARKING LOT. Which *NOTE* is being shown following at 9:30pm and 12:30am.
(And 6 more showings on Sunday 02/01) This is a great short film. Looking
at fans in the parking lot at a Judas Priest concert. Funny and
insightful. Kind of like SPINAL TAP- only this is real!
The first follow up to HM PARKING LOT was NEIL DIAMOND PARKING LOT. In
which they interviewed Diamond fans 10 years later, in the same stadium
parking lot as the JUDAS PRIEST concert. Which has recently been torn
down. Whether this will be on Trio remains to be seen.
Find out more about HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT and the TRIO showings here:
http://www.heavymetalparkinglot.net/
http://www.triotv.com/parking_lot/
http://www.planetkrulik.com/hmpl.htm
This one is good, well-illustrated:
http://www.leisuresuit.net/Webzine/articles/heavymetal_parkinglot.shtml
"Dr. Mark" Hill * The Doctor Of Pop Culture
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 01:22:07 -0000
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: Vocal treatments of Instrumentals
Frank wrote:
> Actor James Darren released vocal versions of two
> Duane Eddy instrumentals - "Because They're Young" and
> "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" ,both on Colpix singles, etc...
Frank:
> "Because They're Young", written by Don Costa, Aaron
> Schroeder and Ernest Gold, had a middle section that
> was really pretty. I discovered this by looking at a
> lead sheet of the song. This middle part is not heard
> on the Duane Eddy version. Also the lead sheet had
> words, and now I know who recorded it. I assume that
> Aaron wrote the words, since the other 2 men are more
> or less strictly musicians.
Yeh I think it goes,
" See the happy couples
walking hand in hand,
Now at last theyre all alone,
They touch, they kiss and with each kiss,
they remind us of the joy's we've known."
I only know this as I have it on a Pye Golden Guinea LP "Honey Hit
Parade" presented by Kent Walton.
Why guinea? cos it cost 21 shillings
Why Honey? I think it was a hair spray.
Who Kent Walton? Erstwhile wrestling commentator.
Dimble-limble ay, dimble-limble i, dimble-limble oo, dindy-i-o
Ken On The West Coast.
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 18:09:14 -0800 (PST)
From: steveo
Subject: Re: Vocal treatments of instrumentals
Mikey wrote:
> I also might add that The Lettermen had a nice hit
> in 1965 with their EXCELLENT version of "Theme From
> A Summer Place" done in their stunning three part
> vocal style. The record sounds great even today.
Mikey, The Lettermen's record "summer Place" is a
genius sound and production! Scored by Jimmie Haskell.
Steveo
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 21:17:31 EST
From: Ed Rambeau
Subject: Re: Los Bravos sing Ed Rambeau
> I was both a lyrics and melody man. Often times I even wrote
> both. There is a Los Bravos song I wrote complete lyrics to
> while in Cannes at the music festival in 19 blah, blah, blah.
> I can't even remember the name of it.
Eddy:
> Ed, Would that be Make it Last on the Bring a Little Lovin' album?
Eddy,
That's it, Eddy. Thanks. See that....2 Ed's are better than one. I
couldn't remember that title to save my life. Do you have that track?
I lost it in my recent computer crash. Would love to get it back.
Ed Rambeau
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 02:23:45 -0000
From: superoldies
Subject: Re: worst singing
I personally never cared for Claudine Longet, and this could start
another topic...most out of tune record. I recently heard the Four
Sonics charter "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me"....whoa!
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 02:25:49 -0000
From: superoldies
Subject: Gary Stites?
Since I started my station in November, I've had 3 listeners write
in & ask about Gary Stites' whereabouts. Can't find anything on the
web about him except he went into horse racing. Anyone have anything
to add?
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 21:53:47 EST
From: Ed Rambeau
Subject: Re: Los Bravos sing Ed Rambeau
Mike Edwards:
> Hi Ed, The Los Bravos song you wrote was "Make It Last" (Parrott
> 3020, 1968), which was released as the b-side of their last US hit,
> "Bring A Little Lovin'".
Ed Responds:
Thanks, Mike...but someone else beat you to the punch and informed me.
But I want to thank you for that nice fan club plug and for all the
work you and the others you mentioned did on the site. I know I've
thanked you in person, but would like to take this opportunity to
thank you publically. It was a great pleasure meeting you at the Old
Time Radio convention and once again...thanks so much for the ride home.
Bud Rehak sends his best to you as well. I gave him the info you
requested and unfortunately he's doing a great deal of traveling from
NY to his hometown of Hazleton, PA as a result of an elderly uncle who
he is caring for. I'm sure he'll get to it as soon as he can.
Ed Rambeau
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 19:28:30 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: Songs that quote others
Paul Bryant wrote:
> Any other people who quote themselves on their own records?
Come to think of it there were three self-quotes on
the Beach Boys MIU album. One was a lift from "Hawaii"
for "Kona Coast". I'll have to listen to it again to
get the other two.
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 22:31:13 EST
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Aaron Schroeder
> "Because They're Young", written by Don Costa, Aaron
> Schroeder and Ernest Gold, had a middle section that
> was really pretty. I discovered this by looking at a
> lead sheet of the song. This middle part is not heard
> on the Duane Eddy version. Also the lead sheet had
> words, and now I know who recorded it. I assume that
> Aaron wrote the words, since the other 2 men are more
> or less strictly musicians.
Aaron was a lyricist exclusively. I worked for him for many years. He
is now deep in Alzheimers, but his wife Abby takes excellent care of
him. I was amazed to see them both show up at one of my live shows
recently. I was quite flattered. They were early supporters and not
only of me: Randy Newman, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Radcliffe, Joey Brooks,
Barbara Jean English, Barry White & Gene Pitney all benefitted from
Schroeder's mentoring.
Al Kooper
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Message: 10
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 21:37:51 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Bass players
Paul Bryant sez:
> Some time ago Bill Wyman was trying to get some kind of songwriter
> credit for various early Jagger/Richards songs because he said his
> bass playing helped make the records hits...
Which recalls a riddle told to me by (Yardbirds drummer) Jim McCarty:
What's the difference between a drummer and a bass player?
Answer: The bass player thinks he's a musician.
---Dan
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Message: 11
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 22:22:11 -0500
From: Mark Hill
Subject: Colours / Bad Day At Black Rock, Baby
> Colours.... The first LP is great Beatles-styled psych-pop //
> still not widely recognized so you can still pick it up cheaply.
Got my vinyl copy the first season I started hitting yard sales for
records, c.1980. I'm sure I only paid a quarter for it. I have seen
it as a CD-R bootleg, but not a real reissue. Will have to follow
that tip to the COLLECTORS CHOICE catalog.
And the killer lead off... "Bad Day At Black Rock, Baby." One that
has an eerie sound. Falling not to far from the, CRABBY APPLETON-
"Go Back" tree. Once heard, not soon forgotten.
>From the LP cover notes... "Where they move through six sharps from 6/8
to 4/8 to 3/8 then 5/4 and even 5/8, changing rhythms with the quick
ease of even the most wigged-out classic composer."
Exploring the LP a bit... It's got one of those great inner sleeves with
other (Dot/Paramount) albums pictured... that captures a sense of the
time (c.68)... MISSION IMPOSSIBLE sdtk, GREG MORRIS (of Mission
Impossible)- For You, There's a Whole LALO SCHIFFRIN Goin' On (<- Whatta title!), ODD COUPLE- Sdtk, KEN CURTIS (Festus from "Gunsmoke")- Calls Out,
Two Sides Of LEONARD NIMOY, THE SPLIT LEVEL- s/t (Never heard of 'em)...
alongside these from another time and place... THE MILLS BROTHERS, COUNT
BASIE, BILLY VAUGHN, BONNIE GUITAR, "Era: The 30's/Recreated by FRANKIE
CARLE", LIBERACE- The Love Album (!) I love these type of inner sleeves.
Gone are the days. Have spent as much time looking at these inner sleeves
while listening to an album as the actual cover.
PS- Listers...? "Bad Day At Black Rock"
"Songs w. Same Title As A Movies/But Not Otherwise Related."
"Dr. Mark" Hill * The Doctor Of Pop Culture
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Message: 12
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 22:32:45 -0500
From: Mark Hill
Subject: Elvis & Abba
> Elvis Costello, we might as well mention the sour allusion to
> "Dancing Queen" in Costello's "When I Was Cruel No. 2."
Don't know that one, but I heard Elvis himself (on TV) speak of the
piano break in "Oliver's Army", being inspired by "Dancing Queen."
"Dr. Mark" Hill * The Doctor Of Pop Culture
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Message: 13
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 21:13:39 -0500
From: Mark Hill
Subject: Fake Skipping Records
> WHILE THE RECORD GOES AROUND//gimmick of reproducing a faulty record
Kind of like: CURTIS LEE- "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (07/61) and THE
BEATLES- "Tell Me Why" (c.64) sound like syncopated, stuck/skipping
records at the beginning of each. // Oh, no! One more list to start.
More, please...
"Dr. Mark" Hill * The Doctor Of Pop Culture
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 22:44:38 -0500
From: John Clemente
Subject: The Beatle Myth
Hello All,
The heat is on concerning this British Invasion thing!
I must agree with Doc Rock about the Beatle myth. Growing up in the
Bronx during the early and mid-sixties, the British Invasion simply
meant a new sound entering the American music spectrum. There are
several points that are often hammered by artists and fans alike and
I think are not entirely true.
First, since I am a part of the Northern New Jersey group harmony
scene, I often hear from a lot of people who are "died in the wool"
50s group harmony fans that The Beatles killed vocal groups, therefore
they hated the British Invasion. Many New York vocal groups singing
what I guess in retrospect would be considered an older style in 1963
were more popular on their own turf than they were nationally, so maybe
it seemed to THEM that The Beatles killed their careers, especially
some of the male white groups. There was sentiment as early as 1961
that older group harmony was disappearing, hence the whole NY revival-
reissue thing going on in the early 60s and the rise of The Time
Capsule Show on Fordham's WFUV in NY in March of '63, almost a year
before the British Invasion. What we now call doo-wopp was a dying
style nationally by 1963. Actually, it was never a nationally dominant
style either. What I would consider youth-oriented music didn't start
dominating the nationals until 1961. If vocal groups wanted to stay
current, they were morphing into sounding like Detroit's Temps, Volumes,
and Reflections; NYCs Four Seasons, Manhattans and Randy & The Rainbows.
"Denise" is an especially good example because 50s fans refers to it as
a late doo-wopp. It isn't. Listen to the chord structure. It sounds
like a Buddy Holly song, the same person who influenced (gasp!) The
Beatles.
With all due respect to them, I have heard members of groups like the
Shirelles and Cleftones, who made their marks in the 1950s and early 60s,
site Beatlemania as their downfall. Have you ever heard The Cleftones'
1964 single on Ware Records, "He's Forgotten You"? WE should forget it.
What were their producers thinking? Product like THAT is what killed The
Cleftones. The Shirelles last BIG, BIG hit was "Foolish Little Girl"
which was popular in the spring of '63, nine months prior to Beatlemania.
If anything killed The Shirelles career as hitmakers, it was their
discovery that they were being deceived by Florence Greenberg. There was
no way Greenberg was going to promote them after that. They had also had
their run, 60-63. The Supremes, another group cited for the demise of The
Shirelles' career only had 64-67 before every other single started to slip
from the Top 40, the same time lapse. Also, the late Alan Betrock hit the
nail on the head when he said it was easier and potentially more lucrative
to push solo artists like Dionne Warwick.
Just check the WABC and WMCA charts on the Web, which will give all the
NYC playlists. (You don't even have to leave the house!) The Cash Box
charts are also interesting during the time period between mid-63 and
mid-64, as they seemed more "hip" than Billboard. The NYC charts amaze
me because it explains how beat up copies of records which we now regard
as rare keep popping up at yard sales in NY/NJ. The girl-group thing was
REALLY big in NYC in 1963 and 1964. Records also hung on longer then, so
you would hear a record from '62 on the radio often in '64.
And what about soul-oriented music, in my opinion, starting in '59 with
songs like Barrett Strong's "Money" and The Falcons' "You're So Fine". Or
the sounds of New Orleans? Chris Kenner, Barbara George, Lee Dorsey, The
Dixie Cups, all between 1961 and 65. What about the Beach Boys? Their
sound kicked in in 1961 and (actually) never left! Soul and Rock
instrumentals like Duane Eddy and The Ventures, edging people on to learn
to play guitars, three to four years before The Beatles.
I could go on and on, but....you get the picture. Okay, start throwing the
stones!
Regards,
John Clemente
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Message: 15
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 22:56:01 -0500 (EST)
From: ACJ
Subject: Re: Mary Hopkin
It's great to see some nice things being said about Mary Hopkin for a
change. I had her "Post Card" album when I was a kid, and I loved it,
but could only play it when certain family members were out of the room
- those members who sneered at her as "Mary Poppins."
ACJ
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Message: 16
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 23:03:13 -0500 (EST)
From: ACJ
Subject: Stickers
Phil Milstein: No, I never used to save those stickers "back in the
day"; but I do now, especially when I find an old LP that's still in
its plastic wrap.
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Message: 17
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 23:18:51 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: lo fi
Joe Nelson wrote:
> That whole record fits the bill in my book. Something about
> poor sound quality has always made records stand out for me.
I think poor sound quality draws the listener in closer to the music
(not necessarily literally), and forces him or her to listen more
intently. The first time I heard Daniel Johnston, for instance, I
practically had to crawl inside the damn speakers, but it was worth
getting my clothes dirty for.
--Phil M.
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Message: 18
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 00:10:58 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Vocal treatments of Instrumentals
Mikey wrote:
> I also might add that The Lettermen had a nice hit in 1965 with their
> EXCELLENT version of "Theme From A Summer Place" done in their stunning
> three part vocal style.
Has anyone heard Bette Midler and Barry Manilow harmonizing on 'Slow Boat
To China'? Barry sings Everly stylee below the melody line. A surefire
spectropop pleaser.
jb/past manilow hater
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Message: 19
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 00:04:07 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Beatles Bands
Al Kooper wrote:
> In case any of you missed it, theres an album called Faith Hope &
> Love by Kings X on Atlantic, About 9 years old I think. This is the
> best pseudo Beatle album I ever heard because it supposes what The
> Beatles might've sounded like in the 90's. I'll send ya your money
> back if ya dont like it!
Does it top Utopia's 'Deface The Music'?
JB
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Message: 20
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 00:08:26 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Songs that "quote" others
Doug Richard wrote:
> Of course "You Got A Lot Of Nerve To Say You Are My Friend" was the
> first verse of his previous hit "Positively 4th Street"
I distinctly dismember our own Phil Milstein playing this on the radio.
And thinking that THIS was truly Dylan's best ever rekkid..
jb
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Message: 21
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 02:03:58 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Jimmie Cross
Now playing at musica, "The Ballad Of James Bong," by Jimmie Cross, the
follow-up to his "I Want My Baby Back" hit. This one is Tollie 9044,
writing credit is to Botkin-Garfield-Cross-Price-Cole, with the first
two names listed as producers. It plays sort of as a cut-in without any
actual cut-ins. I'd kind of turned my nose up at it here a few weeks
back, but it's really not half-bad, and has some amusing satirical
references.
--Phil M.
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Message: 22
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 17:53:31 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: A rather special Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
Oh you lucky people...
The first part of a full an extremely rare interview with
Jack Nitzsche is ready to hear on
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/radio.htm
and it makes for fabulous listening. In this first part, Jack
discusses his early beginnings in Michigan, working at Specialty
Records, copying for H.B. Barnum, his respect for Leiber &
Stoller and admiration for arranger Stan Applebaum. You'll kick
yourself if you miss it!
Another treat in store is at
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/ahjnrotw.htm
in the form of an unreleased backing track recorded at Gold Star
by some of the cream of the West Coast session musicians with
backing vocals by, Gracia Nitzsche, Clydie King, Jackie Ward and
Suzy Tallman on an Al Hazan written and produced track with
arrangement by Jack Nitzsche. Oh yes and a riotous piece of piano
playing by the guy that DIDN'T write "This Diamond Ring"!
Carol Kaye, a good friend to Spectropop and Jack Nitzsche's site,
reviews the track and the times in which it was recorded.
In all this excitement I nearly forgot The Record of the Week on
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm
This week it's Bobby Jason with "Venus" on Chancellor.
Next week, the choice is between two records that were on my wants
list for a long, long time: Dorothy Berry, "The Girl Who Stopped
The Duke Of Earl" and Bobby Crawford, "Mrs Smith Please Wake Up Joan".
Enjoy!
Martin
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Message: 23
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 21:21:59 EST
From: Ed Rambeau
Subject: Re: Portrait of Ed Rambeau
Julio writes:
> Ed, I've been looking at the photos of your web page, and you
> look amazingly great, younger than me (and you are the same
> age than my father). You must have a magic portrait in your attic.
Yeah, but you should see the portrait in the attic.
Thanks, tho.
Ed Rambeau
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Message: 24
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 21:53:31 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: How Neato
I wrote:
> They played and recorded together over the years in a
> number of bands including the group Old And The Way
Should have read: "Old And In The Way"
Sorry.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 25
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 03:46:15 -0000
From: Alan V. Karr
Subject: Varispeed/Lloyd Thaxton
...of course DC5 Over & Over was sped up- check out
the harmonica solo. Done accidently on purpose. Joe Meek
was a firm believer that no record could not benefit from
the extra zest given by speeding up the performance a tad.
Lloyd Thaxton-at the age of 5 I was a regular viewer on
Saturday afternoon/evenings I seem to recall it being on
WPIX TV Ch. 11 in NY. Used to love a bit of schtick I
remember where a record was stopped and all the dancers
had to freeze - true?
Lloyd's pic at the center of the cover of the Beau Brummels'
San Fran sessions CD box set (apparently interviewing the
drummer) brought back the memories.
Regards,
Alan V. Karr
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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