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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. "Liberty Valence," B&W, etc.
From: Chris Schneider
2. Re: Colours
From: Billy G. Spradlin
3. Re: Monkees / 6Ts TV songs
From: Clark Besch
4. Navy Blue by Miar Davies
From: Ed Rambeau
5. Help with signature?
From: Dan Hughes
6. Wyman the Songwriter
From: Steve Harvey
7. Luvs; A&M; Playmates; Ed "Dorian Gray" Rambeau; Frankies; quotes; notes
From: Country Paul
8. Pearly Spencer
From: Frank Murphy
9. "There's a Max Steiner place ..."
From: Chris Schneider
10. Re: "Shadows & Reflections"
From: Clark Besch
11. Re: D.W. Washburn
From: Clark Besch
12. Re: Dance steps / Jersey bounce
From: Phil Milstein
13. Re: Just like the real thing
From: Stewart Mason
14. The Metropolitan Soul Show on Soul 24-7.com
From: Simon White
15. Re: House In The Country
From: Trevor Ley
16. R.I.P Ed Sciaky
From: Steve Harvey
17. Re: Buddy Holly after 45 years
From: Jeffrey Mlinscek
18. Re: Kent Walton
From: Michael Fishberg
19. Re: Cigarette Jingles
From: John Fox
20. Re: Elvis Sun Session tapes
From: Mike McKay
21. Re: Fake crackles/Erik Lindgren/Roky Erikson
From: Mike McKay
22. RE: Pearly Spencer
From: Mike Stachurski
23. Ron Dante - Mailing List / "Angels Among Us"
From: Laura Pinto
24. Wyman's bass playing
From: J Stewart
25. A rummage through the vaults of Cameo/Parkway Records
From: lightning_15228
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 02:16:52 -0800 (PST)
From: Chris Schneider
Subject: "Liberty Valence," B&W, etc.
Mike:
> It's amazing that ["The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence"] was shot
> in black and white as late as 1962.
Yes, but it's an essentially bleak story, what with corrupt politics
and cacti on coffins and Vera Miles yearning elsewhere and suchlike.
That's not the stuff of Technicolor. And, besides, wasn't Ford a
director who found his style in the era of b&w? "My Darling Clementine"
wasn't lessened by being shot b&w. Why should we say that of "Liberty
Valence" (a superb film, by the way).
As for the producers "not hav(ing) enough money to pay Burt Bacharach"
... I think it's a matter, here, of differentiating between songs that
were written *for* a picture versus songs which were written *to promote*
a picture. Or, perhaps, those which ended up in the latter category --
like the hilarious Livingston & Evans song "Vertigo," which was *not*
featured in Hitchcock's film.
"This Vertigo Is Simply Driving Me Insane, My love ...",
Chris
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 08:09:17 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: Colours
Previously:
> Try here: http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/colours.html
> Artist: COLOURS Title: Colours Label: WORLD PSYCHEDELIA
> Format: CD Price: $17.00 Catalog #: WPC6 8466
Thanks for the info, but this looks like the boot I bought from Not
Lame about two years ago. It was a very poor LP transfer. The vinyl
they used was even worse shape than my original album. Luckily I was
able to send it back for a refund.
Jeffery Glenn (who does the Lost Jukebox series) made a fine CD
transfer a couple years ago, even including the mono promo LP and a
few rare singles as bonus cuts.
Billy
http://listen.to/jangleradio
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 06:41:54 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Monkees / 6Ts TV songs
Bobster wrote:
> I agree that "D.W. Washburn" wasn't exactly a high point in The
> Monkees' career, much preferring Davy's crisp little tune, "It's
> Nice To Be With You" that also charted as the B-side. But what
> does 'the Canadian "She Hangs Out"' mean? Did this killer "Pisces,
> Aquarius ..." kickoff chart in Canada? Or am I, like, WAY off?
>
> The American Breed vocalized a tune called "Music to Think By" on
> their "Pumpkin, Powder, Scarlet & Green" LP. Seems to me this was
> a 6Ts commercial too -- for "Wink" soda? For Kodak or Polaroid maybe?
> Hope everybody enjoyed "The Ballad of James Bong." What a relic!!
Bobster, when radio got "A Little Bit Me', the Monkees had fired
Kirshner, wanting their own song, "Girl I Knew Somewhere" as their
new single instead. Kirshner already had released "Bit Me" with a
cool alternate version of "She Hangs Out" on the flip in Canada
only. The Monkees got their song on the US B side. So, stations
played the Canadian B side like crazy for awhile. I loved that more
rocking version of the later released "Headquarters" song. It was
only available on the Canadian 45 (that I know of) until Rhino put it
on their "Missing Links" series in the 80s. If you've not heard the
original version, I recommend it highly. Making things even cooler was
the fact that in April and May '67, stations were playing "Little Bit
Me", "Girl I Knew", "She Hangs Out" AND the TV version of "Valleri"--
a year ahead of the rerecorded 45 version!! How cool was that? I
have one station's chart with all 4 listed in their top 30! In the
summer, some stations were playing the TV version of "Words" too,
which also did not see ANY release prior to "Missing Links"! I have
a tape of Barney Pip playing that version on WCFL Chicago as it was
#1. If memory serves, even the Rhino release was slightly different
than the WCFL version! Reminds me so much of the Beatles tapes that
floated to radio ahead of time, y'know?
"Music to Think By" was for the National Federation of Coffee (don't
ask me...). As for James Bong, I'll stick with "Want my Baby Back"!
Clark
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 01:06:21 -0000
From: Ed Rambeau
Subject: Navy Blue by Miar Davies
The version of "Navy Blue" I was looking for was recorded by
British artist Miar Davies. I thought it was Susan Maughan,
but Bud Rehak informed me it was Miar Davies.
Anyone have it?
Ed Rambeau
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 20:51:04 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Help with signature?
I'm an autograph collector/dealer, and an acquaintance has
acquired (Wow! Two words starting with ACQUI that close together!)
a dollar bill signed by (possibly) a musician. So guessing
because it looks like it starts with a G clef. Does anyone
recognize this:
http://home.mchsi.com/~diltravis/music_signature.jpg
Thanks!
---Dan
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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 20:05:47 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Wyman the Songwriter
While on a Stones kick I've been reading a lot of
biographies on them. "Jumpin' Jack Flash" was born
with a riff that Wyman was playing on piano when Mick
and Keef came into the room. It wasn't a case of Bill
adding a bassline to their music, but them adding
lyrics and a chord progression to his riff. And yet he
got no credit. If he had not started with that riff
there would have been no song.
I agree that most of the time just having someone
play on your record does not entitle them to a
writer's credit, but coming up with an essential riff
should.
James Brown gave credit to a woman for coming up
with the phrase "It's A Man's World, But It Wouldn't Be
Nothing Without A Woman Or A Girl". No melody and
hardly any lyrics, but it was a starting point.
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 01:21:41 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Luvs; A&M; Playmates; Ed "Dorian Gray" Rambeau; Frankies; quotes; notes
Fred Clemens, thanks for the note on Van Trevor and the Luvs.
I wonder, if it isn't available in print somewhere, if you could
talk the Team into playing the untalked-over version to musica?
I think it would be a treat for the assembled multitudes! (By the
way, I didn't get to http://www.bobshannon.com at Christmas, but
I do have the Singing Dogs 1955 single somewhere around. What
a howl! Pun intended.)
Mark Hill, re: A&M Vinyl
> In my record collecting experience, an A&M record is always gonna
> be an excellent pressing. A&M are consistently some of the best
> recorded and manufactured records I own.
I'll vote for best-recorded, and their later pressings were excellent;
but some of the early ones were indeed on styrene, even DJ copies. Two
copies of "Dina" (A&M 714) that I mentioned recently were DJ styrene,
and at least one has bad cue burn.
Tony Baylis, responding to Alan Warner:
> "While the Record Goes Around" is not a novelty song, but maybe
> you are thinking instead of a Vance/Pockriss song also by The
> Playmates 'What Is Love'. US #15 1959 .. 'Sways with a wiggle
> with a wiggle when she walks.....' On the subject of WTRGA,
> this was a B side in the US, with the A, "The Day I Died",
> charting at #81 1958.
I wouldn't call "What Is Love" a novelty song, either. The Playmates
were a pretty remarkable group - old-style Italian close harmony, but
with good songs cleverly written, excellent Hugo & Luigi production,
and a string of serious hits.
By the way, I have a cover of "The Day I Died" by Scott Garrett
(lighter texture and somewhat faster tempo) on OKeh, contemporaneous
to the Playmates. Anyone have any details on him or this track? I know
he also had a small hit called "A House of Love."
Ed Rambeau:
> All the photos on the PHOTO page at http://www.edrambeau.com
> were taken within the last 5 years (when I got my first digital
> camera). The most recent shot of me (taken Christmas 2003) is
> the uppermost left photo with the pink draped background.
> I just turned 60, but I've always looked younger than my age.
No kidding! When I met you I could have sworn you were easily 20 years
younger - except that I can count - darn it! (I'd say that I should
look so good at your age - but actually, I should have looked so good
10 years ago!)
Phil Chapman, re: the Smile tour http://tinyurl.com/2o4ce - That is
one of the most heartbreaking yet hopeful articles on Brian Wilson
I've ever read - especially if it's true. Seriously, I hope the tour
is everything he wants and needs it to be, and I hope he decides to
bring it back to the US as well. Thanks for posting the link.
Doc Rock:
> [H]ow many "Frankies" were there? I know of just the one.
At least five: Avalon, Valli, Ford ["Sea Cruise"], Vaughn in the UK,
> and earlier, Laine {"High Noon"]. Only one Fabian, though! :-)
Steve Harvey:
> I always liked tunes that hint at another song with a bit of
> a riff or lyrics.
Add these:
- My favorite Van Morrison lyric: "In the land of a thousand dances / I
danced with you."
- The Four Preps, "Big Dance": "Buddy Holly and the Crickets will be
bringing Peggy Sue / And there'll be Frankie Avalon with De-De Dinah
too...."
Grace notes:
Everytime someone mentions Bobby Vee, I think of another great song by
him - two this time: "Fly Away," (one of Al K.'s best if not biggest)
and his Beatles "tribute," "I'll Make You Mine." (Just had to give
props where due.)
Finally, thanks for the compliments and comments: Bob Rashkow, Richard
Hattersley, Chuck Limmer and everyone I haven't mentioned, including
Mike Rashkow, Frank Kisko and Phil Milstein off-list. (Name-checking is
easier and "tighter" than reprinting what you've already read....)
Country Paul
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 08:54:15 +0000
From: Frank Murphy
Subject: Pearly Spencer
Paul Bryant wrote:
> I remember 1967 being largely made up of David McWilliams'
> "Days of Pearly Spencer" and it still wasn't a hit.
The owner of Major Minor records (Phil Solomons?) also owned
Radio Caroline which played "Pearly Spencer" just about evry hour
on the hour. There was never any need to buy it, you could catch
it anytime on pirate radio. It used to be one of the easiest 60s
singles to find on the second hand market along with the album.
It's still a very popular request on oldies shows and Marc Almond
finally took it into the charts.
Frank M
Reflections on northern soul - Saturdays at 14:30 or listen now
http://www.radiomagnetic.com/archive/rnb.php
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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 20:17:10 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
From: Chris Schneider
Subject: "There's a Max Steiner place ..."
Steve Harvey:
> Laura Nyro's "Flim Flam Man" didn't appear in the movie of
> the same name either.
And Joni Mitchell's song "The Arrangement" (on "Ladies of the
Canyon") didn't appear in the Elia Kazan film of that title.
Nor did Bobby Vee's "Night Has A Thousand Eyes" appear in the
1948 adaptation, starring Edward G. Robinson and Gail Russell,
of Cornell Woolrich's remarkable "Thousand Eyes" novel.
(Side Note: There was, however, another song written to promote
that 1948 film. Its authors were Buddy Bernier and Jerry Brainin.
Billy Eckstine recorded it.)
HOWEVER ...
Max Steiner was a film composer with a knack for catchy themes
which stood out like pop tunes and, on more than one occasion,
were transformed into actual pop tunes -- studios being eager,
as always, to publicize their films and/or make money off
recordings.
The song itself was not sung in the late-'50s Delmer Daves film.
Nevertheless, that same tune, given much the same arrangement,
did appear as part of composer Steiner's score.
I remember that just as clearly as I remember Richard Egan (as
Sandra Dee's father) throwing the unnecessary girdle out of his
boat's porthole. A nice little image for overcoming taboos, that,
for which we can surely thank writer-director Daves.
Chris
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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 05:54:29 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: "Shadows & Reflections"
John Berg wrote:
> Clark, while you were rooting about amongst your 45s, did you
> happen to stumble across copies of Shadows & Reflections by
> either Eddie Hodges or The Lownly Crowde? I have the former
> on the Fading Yellow Vol 3 CD comp., but have yet to hear the
> latter version.
John, I'll try to check that out. Is that the same song that
Byzantine Empire did on Mala in '69 for Dunwich prod? That's a
great record. Anyway, I'll check it out soon. Neither song rings
a bell by those artists in my collection, but I'll see.
Clark
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Message: 11
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 06:28:25 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: D.W. Washburn
Larry Lapka wrote:
> I must humbly disagree with you about the Monkees'
> D.W. Washburn. I really think that rather than sending
> the death march just yet, they were trying to expand
> themselves with this track, which was a Leiber and
> Stoller tune previously done by the Coasters, I
> believe. They took a calculated risk, and it kind of
> worked. I mean, they weren't going to do Boyce and
> Hart forever (although that probably wouldn't have
> been the worst thing).
> If they had the TV series to help promote this, I
> think it would have been another smash. I am wondering
> if, in actuality, they did any real promotion of this
> song, such as performing it on any variety shows or
> anything. I kind of doubt it, which probably doomed
> it. Nonetheless, it scraped the Top 20, so it really
> wasn't that terrible.
Larry, I respect your opinion, but I am sticking with mine.
Mainly, because I loved their music then (age 12 in 68), but "DW"
was so old fashioned that I immediately turned to the also
disappointing mediocre B side, "It's So Nice to be With You".
Actually, many radio stations did the same. Its top 20 charting
showed that the Monkees could release anything after "Valleri" and
go top 20. If memory serves me, the Coasters' version was just
slightly before. That's where that song shoulda stayed.
Actually, they DID go back to Boyce & Hart in '69 for their early
recording of "Tear Drop City", which to me, was a great choice.
Time had passed them by and it failed sales-wise. As for promotion,
the TV show might have helped. I don't remember the Monkees on ANY
other TV show playing their songs in the 60s, so doubt that woulda
helped.
> With all the wonderful album tracks on their LPs that
> were as hook-laden as their hits, I have often
> wondered why RCA and Colgems only put out what
> amounted to a couple of 45s. They Monkees could have
> easily had 20 or more hit singles if they would have
> been released--so why weren't they?
My idea for why there were few singles is as follows. Number one,
there weren't that few of Monkees singles, really. Their 45s were
usually spaced to come on as one dropped off. "Last Train" was still
on the Hot 100 when "I'm A Believer" came on and lasted an amazing 6
weeks at number one, elongating its' chart life. The week after it
finally exited, "A Little Bit Me" jumped on. There indeed was a 2
month gap between the end of "Bit Me" and "Pleasant Valley", but in
that time, the 'no 45s released from' "Headquarters" LP went to #1
before the 'no 45s released from' "Sgt. Peppers" knocked it to #2.
OK, then a 2 month no 45 charting period before "Daydream Believer".
Then, one month between "Believer" and "Valleri", another month
between it and "DW", 02 months to "Porpoise". After that, they were
more sporadic, but my idea is that the 45 longevity was generally a
month longer than others in that era often. The Beatles had less 45s
in the same 66-69 period than the Monkees did! Granted, radio played
Monkees and Beatles LP songs so much that it seemed like there were
more. "She" shoulda been the single instead of "I'm A Believer" in
my opinion. Radio got it and "Mary, Mary" earlier than the other LP
cuts and it seemed the perfect 2nd single to me. The one Kirshner
chose wasn't bad tho, was it?
Clark
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 20:04:14 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Dance steps / Jersey bounce
TD Bell wrote:
> Doing "the slop" meant dancing "free form". Unlike "the stroll" that
> had specific steps (one-two, one-two and back-step), as the name
> implies "the slop" was some of this and some of that. When you danced
> "the slop", you weren't following a lead from your dancing partner,
> you just went wherever the music was sending you.
Fair enough. But what, then, was The Slime?
TD again:
> Quite frankly, the Beatles version
> of "Twist and Shout" isn't anything that a competent wedding
> band from Ofay, New Jersey wasn't already doing.
Say, buddy -- you don't mock my hometown and I won't mock yours!
--Phil M.
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Message: 13
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 17:45:08 -0800 (PST)
From: Stewart Mason
Subject: Re: Just like the real thing
Watson MacBlue asks:
> Anyone know any other pastiches that have been
> mistaken for the real thing? There must have
> been a few 50s tributes that have passed for
> originals.
The famous story along these lines is that Neil Innes
appeared on Saturday Night Live during one of Eric
Idle's first host slots, in 1975, dressed as the
white-suit-era John Lennon and singing "Cheese and
Onions" (which of course later appeared in the Rutles
film): this performance quickly showed up on several
bootleg LPs as a lost Lennon outtake!
S
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 00:21:21 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: The Metropolitan Soul Show on Soul 24-7.com
Reminder !
THE METROPOLITAN SOUL SHOW
This week featuring - Calvin Grayson, Sammy Davis Jnr, The Orlons,
Marv Johnson, The Funk Bros, The Willows, Ruby and The Romantics,
Johnny Thunder and many many more!
This Sunday, 1st February 2004 on Soul 24-7
http://www.soul24-7.com/index.htm at 2-4pm G.M.T..
2 HOURS OF NORTHERN and SOUL STUFF.
with - The Utterly Marvellous Simon White.
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Message: 15
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 22:14:21 -0000
From: Trevor Ley
Subject: Re: House In The Country
Al Kooper:
> the movie folded after the writer and director had a
> fistfight on the set
Mike Rashkow wrote:
> I'l bet $50 on the director.
Sorry I couldn't get here to clue you in earlier, but our
friend, Mr. Kooper was featured on NPR's "Fresh Air" today.
..a rerun of a previous interview w/ Terry Gross. Bits from
Dylan, a Dylan soundalike band, "More Than YEK", etc. Check
your stations. Some affiliates may be rebroadcasting at a
later time or repeating over the weekend.
BTW, a public Happy Birthday to Alfonts.
Trevor Ley
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Message: 16
Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2004 16:36:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: R.I.P Ed Sciaky
Just heard that Ed Sciaky, Philly dj, died today of a heart
attack. He is probably best known for promoting then unknowns
like Yes, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Steve Forbert.
I met him in the 70s and was friends with him for a number
of years. Got some great 45 from the station library in
trades with Ed. When we first met he traded or sold me copies
of the Carpenters' Offering and Nico's Marble Index (now there's
a combination). Over the years we drifted apart. Occasionally
I'd say hi when I saw him out and about, but he seemed to grown
bitter as radio indsutry bounced him from place to place.
The last time I saw Ed was at the Keswick Theater performance
of the Zombies he had some sort of bandage on his foot. I
pointed to it and said, "Your foot?", but he was in a lousy
mood and replied, "Yeah, I know".
The other thing that stands out about that night was Rod Argent
talking about how "God Gave Rock and Roll To You" was a hit in
only Philly (which up until that point I thought it had been a
nationwide hit). He gave credit to Ed for breaking the song in
Philly.
At the last Bruce Philly at the Linc he looked at the screen and
said, "Hi, Ed Sciaky". Now it's time to say good-bye.
Steve Harvey
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Message: 17
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 07:40:43 -0500
From: Jeffrey Mlinscek
Subject: Re: Buddy Holly after 45 years
David Coyle wrote:
> While Brylcreem Bobbies made pop music respectable for
> adults by taking it back to the days of the big band
> crooners, groups like the Beatles and the Hollies and
> the Searchers remained in the Buddy Holly "cult" and
> gave rock and roll the kickstart it needed. Buddy
> Holly remained an influence even on the pop crooners
> and both schools of pop were able to learn from
> Buddy's example.
And let's not forget the Bobby Fuller Four as part of that
so-called Buddy Holly cult.
Jeff M
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Message: 18
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 05:00:03 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Fishberg
Subject: Re: Kent Walton
There were a couple of "Cool For Cats" UK Parlophone
(I think, or maybe Columbia) EP's , Vols 1 & 2 in which
Kent introduced "cool" new talent.
Michael Fishberg
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Message: 19
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 08:58:32 EST
From: John Fox
Subject: Re: Cigarette Jingles
previously:
> Anybody remember "A silly millimeter longer" for a cigarette
> called "101"? Apparently, that extra millimeter wasn't enough
> to sell the cigarette, but the jingle was very catchy.
It should be catchy--it's to the tune of "La Bamba"!
John Fox
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Message: 20
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 09:23:17 EST
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Elvis Sun Session tapes
Mike McKay wrote:
> Witness the Official First Cut of the Original Sun Sessions
> Master Recording Tape of Elvis Presley
Country Paul:
> Today's (1/28/04) New York Times had an article about it in the
> entertainment section. Lots of people aren't happy. Personally,
> the stunt sounds like a high-priced form of prostitution.
Yes, an article made our local paper as well, though there
were only mild hints in it of people being upset about this.
The perpetrators of this stunt made quite a point of saying
that these original tapes were "unplayable" and would probably
fall apart if you tried to string them up on a tape deck. Maybe,
maybe not...but there are plenty of artifacts on display at the
Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame (guitars, articles of clothing, etc.)
that are well beyond any useful life. Nevertheless, they remain
intact, as opposed to being hacked to pieces for profit.
Mike
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Message: 21
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 09:46:19 EST
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Fake crackles/Erik Lindgren/Roky Erikson
Phil Milstein teases:
> I also know a reissues compiler who has, on
> rare occasion yet more than once, included
> his own '60s-styled recordings amidst authentic
> '60s originals, with a crackle 'n' pop track
> added to accentuate the effect. Some customers
> have been fooled; others decidedly have not.
Stuart Mason:
> I'm going to take a wild stab and guess that it's Erik
> Lindgren of the fine Arf! Arf! label who does this.
> Partially because it just seems like something Erik
> would do to amuse himself and partially because some
> of the entries on albums like A HEAVY DOSE OF LITE
> PSYCH sound just a little *too* perfect.
Ah, Erik Lindgren...what a guy!
Back in the mid-70s, when he was known strictly in the Boston area,
I struck up a correspondence with him (no doubt because we both ran
ads in Alan Betrock's "The Rock Marketplace"). He used to write these
long, raving letters brimming over with his enthusiasm for both The
Left Banke and 60s punk -- in particular The Thirteenth Floor Elevators,
about whom he was quite manic.
The highlight came when he told me that he actually managed to place
a phone call to Roky Erikson's mother -- the transcript of which he thoughtfully included in one of his letters. I remember that he asked her "What's that funny sound running all through their records?" It's
common knowledge today that it was Tommy Hall's electric jug, but this
wasn't well-known beyond the band's Texas fans at the time. He seemed practically beside himself that he had spoken with her!
Flash forward to late 2003...a friend I've known since junior high but
who no longer lives here in town sends me an Email: "Do you know who
Roky Erikson is?" I know my friend does not, so I can't imagine why
he's asking. Turns out his daughter (who's in her early 20s) has been
emailing Roky's son, who does a radio show in Austin that has a website
-- and with the impetuousness (and questionable judgment) of youth
decides to go to Texas to visit him in person. They go out to dinner,
and Roky comes along! (Roky actually lives in Pittsburgh now with his
brother, but happened to be in Texas visiting his son.) She describes
Roky as "definitely not 100% with it, but he was really cool"!
Mike
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Message: 22
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 13:28:25 +1300
From: Mike Stachurski
Subject: RE: Pearly Spencer
Hi all,
Hate to be a fly in your ointment - but that song was a hit
in New Zealand - in 1967.
It was done by a local band called the Avengers - got to
Number 4 in our national charts at the end of that year.
I told the bloke who maintains a website on 1960s 45s
(and who has singled out that record, and David McWilliams,
in particular) about this, and given him the particulars
(with references) - but he won't change the story... :(
Mr. Almond was the SECOND to have a hit with that song: the
opinions of (xenophobic ;) Poms aside... lol
Mike Stachurski,
Librarian-in-training
DUNEDIN, NZ
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 00:38:07 -0000
From: Laura Pinto
Subject: Ron Dante - Mailing List / "Angels Among Us"
Hi Spectropoppers,
Ron Dante has an official mailing list right here on Yahoo Groups.
Joining it is a great way to keep up with the latest news, i.e.,
Ron's tour itinerary, merchandise, and changes/additions to his
website. To subscribe, go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RonDanteMailingList and click on
Join! (Note -- this is a newsletter, so folks without Yahoo ID's
can sign up as well.)
Ron has recorded the lovely song "Angels Among Us," which will
be included on his forthcoming CD. To hear an audio clip, visit
http://www.rondante.com and click on the link on his homepage.
Thanks and keep on rockin' with rockin' Ron!
Laura
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 00:45:04 -0000
From: J Stewart
Subject: Wyman's bass playing
previously:
> I noticed Wyman's bass playing was a lot louder and
> seemed busier than on the studio recordings. He seems
> to be buried more in the mix when it comes to the
> studio recordings (...) than when he was playing live."
I read somewhere that British producers and recording
engineers in the 60s tended to mix the bass at a relatively
low level in order to prevent the needle bouncing out
of the record groove. I don't know how true that is and,
if so, whether they were correct in their belief.
J Stewart
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 00:44:16 -0000
From: lightning_15228
Subject: A rummage through the vaults of Cameo/Parkway Records
My faves from the C/P vaults:
Beg, Borrow And Steal -- Ohio Express (C)
Heavy Music -- Bob Seger & The Last Heard (C)
Bristol Twistin' Annie -- The Dovells (P)
Heart Darling Angel -- The Orlons (C)
Loddy Lo/Hooka Tooka -- Chubby Checker (P)
Wild One -- Bobby Rydell (C)
Let Me Love You -- New Colony Six (Sentar)
I've Got Bonnie -- Bobby Rydell (C)
Cast Your Fate To The Wind -- Sounds Orchestral (P)
Do Something To Me -- ? & The Mysterians (C)
And let's not forget all those colorful and artistic
Cameo/Parkway sub labels:
Lucky Eleven, Wyncote, Fairmount, Winchester, Sentar,
Vando, Windy C, and Cheltenham. If I've forgotten any,
please speak up
One question remains: When is Mr. Klein going to release
the long, long, long, long overdue C/P CD box set?
What is he waiting for?!?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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