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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Underdog record found w. Jay & Americans tracks
From: Dr. Mark
2. Re: Country Paul
From: Bob Radil
3. Re: Beatle myth, pt.2
From: Mike McKay
4. I Can't Quit Her
From: John Sellards
5. Re: Reparata & The Detergents
From: Bob Celli
6. Beach Party Movie music website
From: Mikey Mars
7. Re: Mary Hopkin
From: Art Longmire
8. Re: Rydell / vocal instrumental / Life Is But Nothing
From: Ken Silverwood
9. Question for Austin Roberts re: Emitt Rhodes
From: Clark Besch
10. last-minute TV listing
From: fxxm
11. Telstar Vocal
From: Paul Urbahns
12. Damn it's good to have Al Kooper on this newslist!
From: Bob Hanes
13. Re: Roy Hamilton
From: Peter Richmond
14. do the mash
From: Wendy Flynn
15. Re: anoraks
From: Paul Bryant
16. Worst singing
From: Watson Macblue
17. Spoonful Magic - Live At The Night Owl Cafe
From: Steve Harvey
18. Barry Mann - Young Electric Psychedelic Hippie...
From: Kurt
19. Re: fourth note of the arpeggio
From: Steve Harvey
20. Re: Fake Skipping Records
From: steveo
21. Boone & Sebastian & Dylan
From: Steve Harvey
22. Arpeggios ??
From: Chris
23. Re: Pop Masterpieces
From: Trevor Ley
24. Re: varispeed listening
From: Clark Besch
25. Shirelles v Florence Greenberg
From: John Clemente
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 23:02:58 -0500
From: Dr. Mark
Subject: Underdog record found w. Jay & Americans tracks
previously:
> Underdog Record Found w. Jay & The Americans tracks on it
continuing:
> 1. UNDERDOG'S THEME SONG 1:07
> (Biggers - Covington - Stover - Harris)
Anyone recognize the writers here or know of the actual singers/musicians
from the sessions? Any connections between them and pop music or
publishing or Columbia or UA? TV Tunes booklet says: W. Biggers, Harwichport
Music Co.
It would probably make our heads spin to discover all the one-off or even
actual label releases of material such as this that existed but was
barely marketed to the general public. Maybe this was a mail-in cereal
premium. I've been crazy about cartoons and record collecting since I
was little and I've never seen or heard of this release. Even as a
collectible -- like on eBay.
The "Underdog" theme was featured on the 2nd TV Tunes compilation (1986),
and was one that jumped out at me as sounding like it was *not* (as many
of these were) re-recorded or recorded from a copy of an episode. On
"Underdog" it sounded like they were using a master tape. The vocals and
instruments are really crisp and there's even some tape flutter.
I wish TV Tunes had put in their liner notes if the copy of the various
themes they were using was an actual record. I suppose these TV theme
compilations were licensing nightmares.
Fred, I would really like to see a picture/scan of that Underdog cover
and label. Any chance you could post one to the group files? Or email
directly to me?
"Dr. Mark" Hill * The Doctor Of Pop Culture
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 04:15:26 -0000
From: Bob Radil
Subject: Re: Country Paul
me:
> Do you remember WKOB in New Britain?
Country Paul:
> The call letters, but nothing more about it without a memory
> jog, I'm afraid.
WKOB was a small unlicenced (pirate) AM station on the air non-
continuously from late 1972 to early 1976.
CP:
> I'm familiar with Rockin' Richard's doo-wop and r&b show on the
> same station Tuesday nights 8-11; when is Jim's slot?
Same slot, but on Thursday nights.
CP:
> It has been interesting to see your posts re: Hartford radio of the
> 60s.
I have most of the WPOP surveys from 1965 to 1975 and from 1967 to
1979 for WDRC (and WKOB).
Bob Radil
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 23:37:06 EST
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Beatle myth, pt.2
Steveo wrote:
> "Twist and Shout" was a great record by the Isleys, but
> John took it to new heights (this is my opinion.)
> He also personalized "Baby It's You," like nobody's
> business. But...he also did this with the Tin Pan Alley
> song from the 20s....."Ain't She Sweet."
> Smashing vocal by Johnny boy!
You've hit the nail on the head, Steveo!
I once compiled my personal view of Beatles covers, sorting
them into three categories (strictly by my own preference):
1) Better than the original
2) Not better than the original but meritorious in its own right
3) Not as good as the original
Though it ruffled a lot of purists' feathers, I recall that I
put the following in category #1:
Twist and Shout
Please Mr. Postman
Rock and Roll Music
Mr. Moonlight
... and these in category #2:
Soldier of Love
Anna (Go with Him)
Baby It's You
You Really Got a Hold on Me
Money (That's What I Want)
Slow Down
Words of Love
Note the common thread running through virtually every selection:
a Lennon lead vocal. "Mr. Moonlight" is widely regarded as one of
the worst Beatles tracks, but even it is saved, in my view, by
John's impassioned vocal. I don't believe I put any other Beatles
covers not sung by John in category #1.
As a rule, I resist ranking things, be it songs, albums, artists,
whatever. But I've long made the statement that while everyone is
always on about John Lennon's songwriting, his personal life, etc.,
it's only rarely noted what an incredible vocalist he was. Equally
effective at conveying emotion on an all-out rocker or a tender
ballad -- he sounds like no one, and no one sounds like him.
And he is, quite simply, my favorite rock 'n' roll *singer* of all
time. More ruffled feathers, no doubt. Believe me, there are loads
of other singers I dearly love as well. But I can only say that when
John sings, he touches my emotions in a way that is unique to him.
Mike
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 11:12:18 -0000
From: John Sellards
Subject: I Can't Quit Her
With all the attention "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" is
getting here, I thought I should mention that my exposure to Child
Is The Father To Man came from a friend in radio whom I distinctly
recall saying, "Make sure you listen to 'I Can't Quit Her '... Gawd!
what a song!" I loved the whole album, and still do ... but I still
tend to think my friend was right and that's the standout cut.
John Sellards
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 12:48:46 -0000
From: Bob Celli
Subject: Re: Reparata & The Detergents
I asked Bobby Vee about the Dick Clark Tour and the incident
with Reparata and the Delrons and he responded:
"BC, I do remember! Lots of backstage chatter about her lack
of a group. The band also kicked in some background vocals,
and in the end it didn't really matter to anyone but Reparata
... no one else really knew the difference. She was a sweet gal
... good singer."
BC
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 18:23:58 -0000
From: Mikey Mars
Subject: Beach Party Movie music website
Well, a belated hello to all.
I started a website back in late 2002 that focuses specifically on
the music of the AIP Beach Party movies, as well as that from what I
label "Beach Party clones" (ergo, the scores of pop movies made in
the early to mid 1960s that featured musical interludes mixed in with
pretty girls and silly plots). In the process of researching the
site, I continually found discussion on Spectropop to be incredibly
useful, and meant to get engaged here earlier. Well, better late
than never, and I welcome any and all comments or input relative to
the content of my site, which is at
http://www.beachpartymoviemusic.com
By the way, quirky Yahoo is causing problems with the records in my
registration; my correct email is mikeymars[at]aol.com (not "mikeybmars"
as listed).
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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 22:07:56 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: Re: Mary Hopkin
Phil Milstein wrote:
> I always found Those Were The Days awfully annoying
> -- was never a big one for the faux vaudeville/music
> hall/stein-lifters fad -- but she sounded terrific on
> Goodbye, and with that winsome face it's a wonder
> she wasn't a bigger star.
Paul Bryant wrote:
> "Postcard" is a great Paul McCartney side project, on
> which he used Mary as the singer. I think she was
> allowed to pick one song (the Welsh one), and she
> liked the Donovan songs (he was Paul's pal at the
> time) but the rest she hated with a passion.
I'm a bit of a fan of Mary Hopkin, but just like Phil I always
found "Those Were the Days" to be HUGELY annoying. I used to hear
it non-stop in junior high school back in '68 when it was at the
top of the charts, and it always had the "fingernails on the
chalkboard" effect on me. But I really like "Goodbye" and another
lesser-known tune of hers called "Temma Harbour" that I first heard
back in the spring of 1970.
I have the Postcard LP and one song I'm interested in on that
album is the Donovan song "Lord of the Reedy River". Does anybody
know if Donovan ever recorded a studio version of this, and if so
which of his albums (or CDs) is it on? I have a Donovan bootleg LP
of a live late 60s performance that includes a great version of
"Reedy River", so I wondered if it had ever been released on a
studio LP.
Art Longmire
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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 21:45:31 -0000
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: Rydell / vocal instrumental / Life Is But Nothing
from Mike McKay:
> A propos of this last point, I've yet to see a more
> convincing argument for the days of the "Bobbys" truly
> being over than Rydell's slaughtering of "World Without Love"
> on the Ed Sullivan show (caught it when VH-1 used to rerun
> these -- I don't know if it's out on one of the videos or not).
> There he was in full geek mode, snapping his fingers like some
> sort of bad Vegas lounge singer -- totally clueless as to how
> to put the song across. One of the cheesiest rock 'n' roll moments
> I've ever seen!
I actually saw this and could not believe what I was seeing/hearing.
While were on Bobby R someone posted a track of his written by Ray
Davies to musica a year or two ago -- please get in touch with me if
you still have it. Thanks
Percy Faith's "Theme From A Summer Place" spawned two notable
vocal versions, by Dick Roman (Harmon), and Joanie Sommers (WB).
Joanie also released a vocal version of Tobin Matthews' "Ruby Duby Du"
(WB 5183) backed by the Sir Chauncey Combo (Ernie Freeman). Sir
Chauncey's instrumental of "Beautiful Obsession" had a vocal version
by Johnny Walsh, also on WB, backed by Sir Chauncey.
Wasn't there a vocal version of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five"?
But I don't think anyone would have tried putting words to
"Unsquare Dance"
from Phil M.:
> This is an amazing number, which Del nails beautifully (and,
> in light of later events, most tragically). I wonder, though,
> if the "Rose" isn't Fred Rose and the song of older, C&W origin.
Skinner & Rose were the two members of Twice As Much, who recorded
for Oldham's Immediate label releasing a cover of Jagger/Richards
"Sitting On A Fence" before coming up with " Step Out Of Line"/
"Simplified" -- a great double side.
Ken On The West Coast.
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 03:55:28 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Question for Austin Roberts re: Emitt Rhodes
Austin, When reading the Emitt Rhodes story, I thought about you.
Since you were on Dunhill in 1971 as was Emitt, did you also feel
pressure from Dunhill to release records. The Arkade had only
singles and yet Emitt was expected to have 2 Lps a year! What was
your contract like? By the way, I have read this same stuff on Emitt
since the 80's Bangles interview stuff. I just want to slap Emitt
and tell him to get ahold of himself, but it's easy when you are a
fan and you want the same thing Dinhull wanted: 2 Lps a year!!
Thanks, Clark
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 21:53:52 -0500
From: fxxm
Subject: last-minute TV listing
Ron Isley & Burt Bacharach on Conan O'Brien Show tonight.
--Phil M.
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 21:04:52 EST
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Telstar Vocal
John Fox wrote:
> Not sure if anyone's mentioned the vocal version of "Telstar"
> by Bobby Rydell.
Magic Star is the lyric I remember hearing on the radio when the
song was out. I remember it being a male vocal but I know Margie
Singleton recorded a female version. The only lyric I remember is
something like, "Oh star above please tell me of my love" or
something like that. I was 13 at the time.
Paul Urbahns
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 23:27:11 -0800 (PST)
From: Bob Hanes
Subject: Damn it's good to have Al Kooper on this newslist!
I absolutely loved your songwriter-producer-arranger essay!
It could not be said more clearly and succinctly ever!
It's just too bad that the jury who awarded Mike Love 1/3
songwriters' credit for Wouldn't It Be Nice (when his admitted
entire contribution to the lyrics was the line "Sleep tight
through the night babe" in the tag of the song under the
beautiful circular chorus) amazed me. I am only slightly more
willing to accept the hooks, "Round, round get around, I get
around" and "She's real fine, my 409" as worth 1/3 writers' credit.
If only your essay could have been the instructions to the jury!
The Right Reverend Bob, dumb angel chapel,
Church of the Harmonic Overdub
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Message: 13
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 20:52:05 -0000
From: Peter Richmond
Subject: Re: Roy Hamilton
Howard wrote;
> I can't let this pass without adding my all-time favourite
> artist, who has definitely influenced so many performers
> down the years, I'm talking about the late great ROY HAMILTON.
> ... Dark End Of The Street, Earthquake, Baby You Shook Me Up,
> Cracking Up Over You, and so many more!
Couldn't agree more, Howard. Roy Hamilton was a truly magnificent
singer and his version of "Dark End Of The Street" is one the most
spine-tingling tracks I have ever heard, the power of his voice
is awesome. He was a really big guy, having been a professional
heavyweight boxer.
He was idolised by Elvis Presle,y who copied much of his vocal
style. He was held in such high esteem that Presley gave Roy
Hamilton the Mann/Weil song "Angelica" that he was about to
record with Chips Moman.
Roy Hamilton recorded "Angelica", written by Mann/Weil, in
January 1969, with Elvis present at Chips Moman's American
Sound Studio in Memphis, and what is really interesting is
that the other song recorded at the session, also written by
Mann/Weil, "Hang Ups" (originally recorded by Bobby Hatfield
the previous year) features at the end of the track a guitar
riff by Reggie Young that would, later that evening, be played
by the same musician as the intro on to Elvis Presley's
"Suspicious Minds".
Roy Hamilton was a massive influence of the Righteous Brothers.
They recorded many of his big hits, "You'll Never Walk Alone",
"Unchained Melody", "Ebb Tide" plus "You Can Have Her," written
by Hamilton's manager Bill Cook.
My understanding is that, sadly, "Dark End Of The Street" was
from the last recording session before he died aged only 40,
on 20 July 1969, but ironically at the same session he
recorded a cover of Bill Medley's "100 Years" that Medley
had recorded for soundtrack of the film "The Riot".
Personally I much prefer his '60s musi,c and he cut some other
great tracks including "Don't Let Go", "Midnight Town, Daybreak
City", "Let Go", "A Thousand Tears Ago", and "Cracking Up Over
You", to name a few.
Peter Richmond.
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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 11:01:46 +0000
From: Wendy Flynn
Subject: do the mash
Dear S'boppers
Can anyone tell me how to do 'the slop', and if there ever was
a real dance to go with 'The Monster Mash'?
Thanks!
Wendy
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Message: 15
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 05:41:56 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Bryant
Subject: Re: anoraks
Dr Mark wrote:
> Not only ain't it being dumbed down, it's members are
> getting smartened up! I had to get out the Websters to
> look up ANORAK. I thought it must be a misspelled word.
> But no... anorak (ano rak) n. a heavy jacket with a hood,
> worn in the cold north So I assume you meant the chord
> references were a bit "heavy" or over the top for the
> average poster?
This is not the way the term anorak is being used around here.
The garment you describe was much beloved in Britain by a
curious breed of harmless lunatics called TRAINSPOTTERS.
These youths would go out in all weather to SPOT TRAINS.
Which means, they would write down the trains' numbers
in their trainspotter books.
By extension, music geeks who like to record matrix numbers
and know the different versions of "Do It Again" by the Beach
Boys and also who played bass and who was married to the
person who would have played bass on "Do It Again" except they
missed that session due to being double-booked on a different
session in an adjacent studio, and who collect 78rpm records
and have the right equipment to play them and own Godrich &
Dixon's Complete Guide to Matrix Numbers 1922-1937 -- those
people are called anoraks, rather unkindly.
And people who know what the fourth note of an arpeggio should
be, or how many diminished sevenths appear in the works of
Lennon/McCartney, they too could be called anoraks.
People who dislike this kind of mania for detail, who positively
recoil in horror from it and just like to play the records
REALLY LOUD, they are suffering from anoraknophobia.
I hope this clears things up.
pb
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Message: 16
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 12:29:17 -0800 (PST)
From: Watson Macblue
Subject: Worst singing
At the risk of clasting an icon (so to speak), has anyone listened
to the Crystals' assault on Parade of the Wooden Soldiers recently?
I mean, give me a break. If this was the take Phil approved, what
must the others have been like?
Watson
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Message: 17
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 18:18:52 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Spoonful Magic - Live At The Night Owl Cafe
Here's the link to the site for the unreleased Spoonful
live CD. Maybe "John" Boone will tell us more about it.
http://www.tctv.ne.jp/members/m-site/spoonful/magic.html
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Message: 18
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 06:20:02 -0000
From: Kurt
Subject: Barry Mann - Young Electric Psychedelic Hippie...
Does anyone in the gallery have any juicy tidbits concerning Barry
Mann's "Young Electric Psychedelic Hippie Flippy Folk and Funky
Turned on Groovy Twelve String Band." Looks like it was released
in 1968. For a song that lasts 3:24, there's a lot going on.
Thanks
Kurt
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Message: 19
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 18:03:48 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: fourth note of the arpeggio
Mark wrote:
> And as for the chord structures, being a totally
> non-instrument playing person, have tried to decipher
> references like this for years- in as much as how they
> make our favorite songs sound like they do. I for one,
> would *welcome* an attempt from a musician to explain
> one of these references - in layman's terms.
When you strum a chord on guitar with a pick you are
playing all six notes at the same time (in reality you
are actually hitting the 6th string first then go onto
the 5th string etc.) An arpeggio is deliberately
slowing down that process so each notes rings a little
more independently. i.e. Hilton Valentine's picking on
"House of the Rising Sun". The fourth note would be
the fourth note played from that chord (on guitar it
would be whatever note the guitarist was playing on
the G string).
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Message: 20
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 08:40:52 -0800 (PST)
From: steveo
Subject: Re: 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.
Mark, Never thot about that..but when I played those intros back in my
head...you're right!
Steveo
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Message: 21
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 19:05:28 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Boone & Sebastian & Dylan
Eddy:
> Tambourine man is on Bringing it all back home... Do
> you happen to know the other two songs Sebastian is on?
Right Eddy, "Eagle-eye" Kooper caught that one, of course.
The other two tunes were On the Road Again and Maggie's
Farm. Turns out that Steve Boone also played on those
session so we'll have to find out what tunes he did.
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Message: 22
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 19:03:33 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
From: Chris
Subject: Arpeggios ??
Dr. Mark;
> I for one, would *welcome* an attempt from a musician to explain
> one of these references - in layman's terms.
An Attempt At An Explanation:
"An arpeggio is a chord where the notes are sounded in sequence,
rather than all at once. Think: guitar-strumming."
Example Of An Arpeggio With An Altered (I.E. "Unexpected") Note:
The guitar chord on the lead-in to "Oh! Darling " on "Abbey Road."
In this case it's the third note, the 5th of the chord, which is
higher than one might expect (i.e. "Augmented") -- in other words,
it's the altered one.
Does this help you?
"Songbirds are not dumb;
"They don't have to buy a crumb of bread,
"A spool of thread,
"Just sing instead ..." (Lorenz Hart),
Chris
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Message: 23
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 01:44:39 -0000
From: Trevor Ley
Subject: Re: Pop Masterpieces
Richard Havers:
> My stab at the Top 10.
>
> Being English, and to give myself more scope I have
> cheated and split the list between UK and US albums. Is
> that allowed? Neither list is in any kind of order
>
> US
> Pet Sounds The Beach Boys
> 1st album Crosby Stills & Nash
> Younger than Yesterday The Byrds
> Forever Changes Love
> Magic Garden 5th Dimension
> Bookends Simon & Garfunkel
> Sailor Steve Miller Band
> Music of My Mind Stevie Wonder
> I've Never Loved A Man Aretha Franklin
> Hissing of Summer Lawns Joni Mitchell
Richard (and hello to s.poppers)
A friend put me on to this group and this is my first foray. Just
wanted to say a big "yay" for including "Magic Garden" on this list.
Jimmy Webb put all that talent to work so well and the LP just flows
like a film...changing scenes rather than dead stops between songs.
It was previous to me and I'll always be grateful to a friend who
found me one for my birthday in 1999.
To contribute a Top 10 list, I'd have to think about for a while and
will.
Trevor Ley
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Message: 24
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 04:02:00 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: varispeed listening
I must admit that the one that got me was playing by accident in the
late 70's the Atlanta Rhythm Section's "Imaginary Lover" on Lp at 45
speed. It's shocking to hear this other wise "unreleased" version of
the song by Stevie Nicks!!! Clark
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Message: 25
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 23:15:26 -0500
From: John Clemente
Subject: Shirelles v Florence Greenberg
Hello All,
Phil Milstein wrote:
> (Florence Greenberg) Deceived (the Shirelles) in what way?>
Money!!!!!!!! Shirley (Owens) Alston-Reeves told me personally
that the two factions never managed to patch things after that.
JC
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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