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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 18 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: The Bantams
From: Gary Myers
2. Valley of Dionne / the name's Bacharach ... Burt Bacharach
From: Phil X. Milstein
3. Latest fanzine available!
From: Howard
4. Re: Artists who do covers in concert instead of their own songs
From: Al Kooper
5. The Tran-Sisters
From: Al Kooper
6. The Chartbusters
From: Mike McKay
7. Re: The Chartbusters
From: Gary Myers
8. Re: The Portraits
From: Martin Roberts
9. Re: Beatle Mania LP
From: Mike McKay
10. Dusty movie?
From: Mary
11. The Caper Brothers @ Musica
From: Joe Nelson
12. Re: Bob Feldman on the line.....Strangeloves and Boomerang story
From: Ronnie Allen
13. The Shantelles? "So Fine"?
From: Lyn
14. Edison Lighthouse & Wrecking Crew
From: Eddy
15. RIP Timi Yuro, Niki Sullivan
From: Country Paul
16. Re: commercially speaking / Happy Together
From: Laura Pinto
17. The Paul Simon Songbook CD
From: Al Kooper
18. The Santells (Shantelles) @ Musica
From: Mick Patrick
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:05:50 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: The Bantams
previously:
> How long did Gary & the Hornets or the Bantams last?
The Bantams! Now there's another group on my "seeking" list, because
they originated in Milwaukee. I have discog info, a photocopy of the LP
jacket, and I have first names, but no last names. They appeared in a
movie and I have that info, but still no further clues.
gem
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 01:25:28 -0400
From: Phil X. Milstein
Subject: Valley of Dionne / the name's Bacharach ... Burt Bacharach
I noticed recently that Rhino Handmade has released Dionne's "Valley Of
The Dolls" and "Windows Of The World" LPs, packaged on one CD, with an
unreleased cut added for good measure. See
http://www.rhinohandmade.com/browse/ProductLink.lasso?Number=7859
for more details, sound clips and ordering information.
In "Star Babies," a compendium of interviews with the children of
Hollywood celebrities I'm presently (re)reading, Andre Previn's daughter
Alicia tells the tale of how Dionne was chosen to tackle VoD's haunting
title theme ... maybe:
There were a couple of memorable times with my father during those
growing-up years. He and Dory did the music together for "Valley Of The
Dolls." I remember him playing Mickey Mouse on the piano for me, and
my sister and I suggested that Dionne Warwick sing the title song for the
picture. I don't know if he took our suggestion, but she certainly did
sing the title song. That made me feel good.
I guess I'm in a bit of a re-reading mood lately, as I've also dipped
back into Al Kooper's fascinating "Backstage Passes And Backstabbing
Bastards." In the early going I found a passage I thought the
Spectropopulation could really rally behind:
[referring to a college music-theory class assignment in which he was to
fill in a music-minus-one part of a four-part Bach chorale:]
Then I sat down at the classroom piano and played my version of Bach for
the professor.
"That's not the way Bach would have written it," my teacher criticized.
"Sir, I am no expert in reincarnation," I said, "but, taking an educated
guess, I would say that if you picked your head up from those papers and
actually looked at me while I'm speaking to you, you would immediately
notice I am NOT Bach -- just a student trying to enrich his knowledge in
an effort to bolster his own CREATIVITY."
The teacher looked up at me for the first time in the conversation. "MR.
Kooper," he said, "you must first learn the rules before you can break them."
This astonished me.
"Well, sir," I replied, "now that I have divined your teaching
philosophy, I think it's safe to say that you will never see this face
in your classroom again." And he never did. I didn't need Bach -- I
needed Bacharach.
--Phil M.
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 14:27:01 EDT
From: Howard
Subject: Latest fanzine available!
Hope it's ok to plug my latest issue..
Just to let anyone know who may be interested, Soul Up North #43
is now available. This issue includes a great article from
'Spectropopper' Jeff Lemlich on the Sandpipers along with Howard
Priestly's lowdown on GC Cameron -- plus there are loads and loads
of vinyl reviews ranging from 60's -- Northern soul, Chicago Soul,
R&B etc....
If anyone is intersted in getting hold of a copy please contact me
off list - price is two english pounds plus postage (which depends
on where in the world you are!)
all the best.. Howard
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 08:02:00 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Artists who do covers in concert instead of their own songs
> Why do performers do this?
Usually to entertain themselves. That's why I do it, but I play a
buncha "hits" more than covers. Can you imagine how many times
I've played "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" or "I Cant
Keep From Cryin?" Ask Eddie R how many times he's played C&C.
AL "One Less Bell To Answer" Kooper
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 07:56:45 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: The Tran-Sisters
Mick Patrick:
> Request for Al Kooper: Is it possible for you ask Jerry Ragovoy
> if he remembers anything at all about the Tran-Sisters, a rather
> fine black girl group from 1963. Jerry wrote, arranged and
> produced few songs for them, one of which is currently playing at
> musica: The Tran-Sisters "You Could've Knocked Me Over" (Imperial
> 5952, 1963) Co-written, arranged and produced by Jerry Ragovoy
> (aka Norman Meade).
reply from Ragovoy:
Unbelievable! I totally forgot about it. Can't even remember the
song. TheTran-Sisters were a group of 3 young girls who had a good
sense of harmony, a good blend, and sound. They were from NJ. Also,
Norman Meade was when I was an Anglo-Saxon. I have a box of many
very old 45s. I hope I still have it. What is Musica?
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 01:35:12 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: The Chartbusters
Clark wrote:
> A great example of how strange these songs got in imitating the
> Beatles was the kinda hillbilly "She's the One" by the Chartbusters.
> It went into the top 40, and I really like it, but it's funny to think
> people thought this to be the Beatles.
Your hillbilly characterization is ironic in that The Charbusters arose
out of Big Al Downing's backup band, and Big Al later went on to become
the second black country singer of note after Charley Pride. And The
Charbusters' Vernon Sandusky went on to play guitar with fellow
Washington D.C.-er Roy Clark for many years. "She's the One" definitely
owes a lot to "I Saw Her Standing There," but this is the only really
valid Beatle comparison.
Mike
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:49:15 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: The Chartbusters
> The Chartbusters were Bobby Poe and the Poekats ...
Was Bobby Poe based in Chicago? Do you know if he wrote a song recorded
by the Bossmen for Lenny LaCour?
gem
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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:12:41 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Re: The Portraits
Gary Myers kindly supplied the gem, sorry gen, on The Portraits
recording as Paul & the Pack for the Dr. Goldfoot & the Girl Bombs
soundtrack LP. Good story, I can't recall much written information
about Clancy B. Grass III, Harley Hatcher and others who operated
in Mike Curb's musical (business) orbit. Keep 'em coming.
Gary also supplied the details of the fresh-faced kids pictured
on the sleeve:
> L to R: Phil Anthony (still plays part time and tunes pianos here in
> SoCal), me, Paul Stefan (moved to Yuma area circa early 90's, haven't
> had any contact since then), John Rondell (back in Wisc since about
> '69, teaches gtr), Pat Short (dec about 1999 - back in Milwaukee).
He also commented on The Candles:
> More trivia: IIRC, that's Harley Hatcher in the Candles photo. Of
> probable greater interest - I'm pretty sure the girl in the photo is
> Barbara Pittman. This is something I learned in the 80's from a story
> on her in Goldmine or Discoveries.
I've posted both pictures to the photo section. Can anyone can
confirm Barbara Pittman's identity. Not much clue from the Candles'
song, the female voice just appearing on the chorus. A quick web
check reveals that the Sun recording starlet has a confirmed release
on Tower's "Wild Angels" ST LP. The Visitors featuring Barbara, Theme
>From The Wild Angels.
Anyone able to play the other Portraits release on Uptown, "A Million
To One" to musica?
Martin
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 01:43:20 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Beatle Mania LP
Phil M.:
> I was always under the impression that such knockoffs were intended
> more to fool the moms -- out to please their kids, save a buck or
> two, and too harried to notice that The Merseyside Lads were not the
> Merseyside lads -- than it was the kiddles themselves, who tended to
> know which end was up in such matters.
Oh yeah, that's exactly what I meant by "how many people". I wouldn't
think too many kids were, but as you and others have noted, probably
more than a few of their mums, dads, uncles and aunts were taken in.
Mike
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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 16:56:45 -0000
From: Mary
Subject: Dusty movie?
Does anyone know what's happening with Dusty's movie "You Don't Have
To Say You Love Me"?
Thanks
Mary
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 16:32:10 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: The Caper Brothers @ Musica
Was looking for my copy of Bobby "Sofine" Butler's "Cheaper Crude Or
No More Food" the other day and found an interesting looking record
which I've posted to musica - the Caper Brothers' "There Goes My Heart
Again". Not sure about the track, not even sure of A/B side status.
Any info would be welcome.
TIA,
Joe Nelson
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2004 16:37:03 EDT
From: Ronnie Allen
Subject: Re: Bob Feldman on the line.....Strangeloves and Boomerang story
Tom,
I'd like to know which of the three members of FGG (Bob Feldman, Jerry
Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer) came up with the idea for the "Australian"
group the Strangeloves.
Also.....I heard there was an interesting story about the Strangeloves
that involved the wayward throwing of a boomerange and that Feldman might
have been the wayward thrower; I'd love to hear the scoop on that!
Ronnie Allen
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Message: 13
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 07:36:40 -0000
From: Lyn
Subject: The Shantelles? "So Fine"?
Around '66 or '67 on an Australian TV pop show I heard an excellent
version of 'So Fine', the Fiestas song from '59. I probably only
heard it that once, and I've never been able to identify it. I thought
the guy said Shondells (doesn't seem to be) or Chantels (unlikely) or
some name like that. Or could it be the Shantelles?
Radio London Fab Forty site mentions 'So Fine' by 'The Santelles' (a
'DJ Climber'), but that draws a blank. It might be a misspelling of
The Shantelles, a Vancouver band I found a web page for.
Sound familiar to anyone?
References:
Shantelles: http://pnwbands.com/shantelles.html
Radio London Fab Forty 31 July '66
http://radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/july66/july665/fab310766.html
Cheers,
Lyn
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Message: 14
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 08:16:49 +0200
From: Eddy
Subject: Edison Lighthouse & Wrecking Crew
It is my pleasure to announce that Les Fradkin will be releasing a
NEW CD by Edison Lighthouse called "Perfect World". It will feature
both new material and re-do's of "Beach Baby", "Love Grows (where
my Rosemary goes)", "My Baby Loves Lovin'", "Funny How Love Can Be",
and "Smile A Little Smile For Me."
The new single (recorded in 1996 in California) will be "God Bless
California" which, although an old melody, has been re-done with
new sunny California words and incredible Beach Boys harmonies. It
sounds like "Help Me Rhonda " meets "California Girls." It features
the LAST ever session of Phil Spector's "Wrecking Crew":
The musicians on the session were:
Drums: Hal Blaine
Bass: Carol Kaye
Piano & Organ: Don Randi
Rickenbacker 12-String: Les Fradkin
Rhythm Guitars: Mitch Holder, Eddie Bertrand & Les Fradkin
Mellotron & Synths: Les Fradkin
Engineered by Larry Levine and Les Fradkin
Produced by Les Fradkin
Lead Vocals by Les Fradkin
This looks like it's gonna be a smash !!
Eddy
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Message: 15
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 09:21:37 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: RIP Timi Yuro, Niki Sullivan
Timi Yuro's obituary finally made it to the New York Times today - as
did the obit of Niki Sullivan, one of Buddy Holly's original Crickets,
who played on 27 of Holly's 32 original recordings (says The Times).
He was 66.
Country Paul
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Message: 16
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 10:45:14 -0000
From: Laura Pinto
Subject: Re: commercially speaking / Happy Together
(That) Alan Gordon wrote:
> Two weeks ago I got a call from Mark Volman. He was upset about the
> Applebees spot, that he was getting very negative feedback from the
> Turtles fans. He said they were going to sue the restaurant, and that
> I was going to get a call from David Segal from the Washington Post.
> The Post called me an hour later. He asked me how I felt about the
> lyric change, I told him that the song was written about a girl, and
> her name wasn't "Steak And Shrimp". Yes I was annoyed at the change
> in the lyric, but the thrust of my response, which I reiterated twice
> was "with all the craziness that's going on in the world today, this
> doesn't amount to a hill of beans" {thank you Mr. Bogart, from
> Casablanca}. The reporter left that out of the article.
Hi, [That] Alan,
Don't you just love it when reporters print things out of context?
(Poor Ron -- he probably didn't know what he started when he agreed
to record the Applebees commercial!)
I said this on a prior post but it bears repeating ... "Happy
Together" has always been one of my very favorite songs of all time.
It not only has a great sentiment, but it's so singalongable! (Hey,
I think I just coined a new word!) I think I read somewhere online a
couple of years ago that Ron always loved "Happy Together" and hoped
to record it one day -- and I believe he HAS recorded it for his new
CD, without the steak and shrimp. I'll keep everyone posted on that.
Thanks for a great tune, Alan!
That Laura
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Message: 17
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 10:03:10 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: The Paul Simon Songbook CD
David Coyle:
> Subject: Re: The Paul Simon Songbook
> What I meant by saying that I'd never heard anything about the
> reissue of "The Paul Simon Songbook," is that I was unaware that
> it was to be reissued when it was. I went trolling for new
> releases that Tuesday and there it was... Did Paul Simon just
> decide out of the blue to let this album be reissued?
>From Tom Cording, (a great guy) in charge of SONY Legacy Press:
It was kind of a last minute thing in terms of release. But, it's
something that Legacy was working on for a while. Paul Simon agreed
to release it. I think the attached says everything. -TC
THE PAUL SIMON SONGBOOK RESTORES
LONG OUT-OF-PRINT U.K. ALBUM
1965 SOLO ACOUSTIC LP FEATURED 9 SONGS TO APPEAR LATER ON SIMON &
GARFUNKEL'S SOUNDS OF SILENCE AND PARSLEY, SAGE, ROSEMARY AND THYME
ALBUMS
Expanded edition includes two previously unreleased alternate versions,
plus original liner notes and original song annotations
Latest entry in Simon & Garfunkel archival series arrives in stores
March 23rd on Columbia/Legacy
A young Paul Simon left the United States in 1964, discouraged by a
cool reception to the first Simon & Garfunkel studio album, Wednesday
Morning, 03 AM. Simon moved to London where he found himself immersed in
the underground folk scene, performing regularly and writing material
inspired by the events and relationships he was newly enjoying. Writing
new songs and woodshedding as a guitarist on a BBC Radio series, Simon was
urged by CBS Records in England to record an LP for his British following.
SONGBOOK was originally produced by Reginald Warburton and Stanley West at
Levy Studios on Bond Street during three sets of sessions in June and July
1965. The album offers a vivid snapshot of the artist at that very
specific point in time: personally, socially, musically.
One of the tracks from SONGBOOK was a stripped-down acoustic version
of "The Sound Of Silence" that had previously featured co-vocals by Art
Garfunkel when it had appeared on Wednesday Morning, 03 A.M. While Simon
was recording SONGBOOK in London this track was also being revisited in the
U.S. by Simon & Garfunkel producer Tom Wilson. He felt "The Sound Of
Silence" was the most promising track on Wednesday Morning and he re-worked
it in the studio -- adding electric guitars, bass and drums -- to give it a
perfectly-timed folk-rock flavor. When released as a single, this new
version of "The Sound Of Silence" became a huge hit and ignited Simon &
Garfunkel's career bringing Paul back to the States with new material.
Here are Simon's songs in their raw, embryonic form before they would be
re-recorded and transformed into what would become Simon & Garfunkel's
classic repertoire.
The rare 12-song 1965 THE PAUL SIMON SONGBOOK contained Simon's early
versions of six songs that would subsequently be recorded in new versions
for Simon & Garfunkel's second LP, 1966's Sounds Of Silence ( "The Sound Of
Silence," "I Am A Rock," "Leaves That Are Green," "April Come She Will,"
"A Most Peculiar Man," and "Kathy's Song"), as well as three songs that
would be recorded later that year for the third album, Parsley, Sage,
Rosemary and Thyme ("A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was MacNamara'd
Into Submission))," "Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall," "Patterns," and
"The Side Of A Hill," which became the counter melody of "Scarborough Fair
Canticle"). The reissue of SONGBOOK also features alternate recordings of
"I Am A Rock" and "A Church Is Burning", both from the album sessions.
The new expanded edition of SONGBOOK was produced for reissue by Bob
Irwin at Sony Music Studios in New York. Its release follows the in-store
arrival of Columbia/Legacy's The Essential Simon & Garfunkel on October 14,
2003 ? four days before they opened their historic "Old Friends" reunion
tour. The 33-song double-CD package included live and studio versions of
every song to make the Billboard Hot 100 from 1965 to 1975, along with 10
album tracks and 8 additional live performances.
THE PAUL SIMON SONGBOOK (CK 90281, originally issued in 1965 as CBS
UK 62579) Selections: 1. I Am A Rock (4) ? 2. Leaves That Are Green (11)
? 3. A Church Is Burning (3) ? 4. April Come She Will (2) ? 5. The Sound Of
Silence (1) ? 6. A Most Peculiar Man (4) ? 7. He Was My Brother (2) ? 8.
Kathy's Song (1) ? 9. The Side Of A Hill (4) ? 10. A Simple Desultory
Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission) (1) ? 11.
Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall (8) ? 12. Patterns (3) ? Previously
unreleased bonus tracks: 13. I Am A Rock (alternate version) (6) ? 14.A
Church Is Burning (alternate version) (4). Original sessions produced in
London, June 17 & 23, and July 5, 1965.
Note: (#) indicates number of take.
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Message: 18
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 2004 14:57:48 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: The Santells (Shantelles) @ Musica
Lyn:
> Around '66 or '67 on an Australian TV pop show I heard an
> excellent version of 'So Fine', the Fiestas song from '59. I
> probably only heard it that once, and I've never been able to
> identify it. I thought the guy said Shondells (doesn't seem
> to be) or Chantels (unlikely) or some name like that. Or
> could it be the Shantelles?
Lyn, if it was the Fiestas' song performed in the style of the
Newbeats' "Bread And Butter", I think you'll find it was the
Santells, a girl group from Los Angeles. It's now playing @
musica: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
The Santells "So Fine" (Courier 115, 1964). Written by Jim
Gribble (it says here). Produced by Robert Brown. The record
gained a UK release (Sue WI 4020), hence its showing on Radio
London's Fab 40. Excellent record.
Does anyone have the Santells' previous Courier 45? If so, I'd
love to hear it.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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