________________________________________________________________________
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
________________________________________________________________________
There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: the price of love
From: Dave Heasman
2. Re: Bobby Vinton vs. Buddy Greco
From: Gary Myers
3. Howie Farber & Steve Shlaks
From: Martin Roberts
4. Re: Accuracy of Top 40 Playlists
From: Phil Hall
5. Re: Accuracy of Top 40 Playlists
From: Bob Rashkow
6. "Magic Moments - The Best Of The 50s Pop"
From: Paul Evans
7. Tex + Chex + FGG + Kenny Dino + Shlaks + Farber + Musica
From: Martin Roberts
8. Re: Zappa's old country
From: paferra
9. Re: Del-Satins
From: Paul Evans
10. Re: Maggie Thrett
From: Al Kooper
11. Re: Long Islanders
From: Trevor Ley
12. Re: Embassy label
From: Howard
13. Re: Long Islanders
From: Mike McKay
14. Re: Tandyn Almer
From: Billy G Texas
15. Re: Accuracy of Top 40 Playlists
From: Billy G. Texas
16. Re: Long Islanders
From: Jeff Lemlich
17. Re: Your Kind Of Loving
From: Jeff Lemlich
18. Re: Tommy Boyce
From: Gary Myers
19. Re: Hall of Fame Musicians
From: Gary Myers
20. Knickerbockers
From: Peter Grad
21. "Roses Are Red (My Love)"
From: Paul Evans
22. Alessi Bros - Country Gentlemen
From: MopTopMike
23. December's Children
From: Victrola
24. Re: Accuracy of Top 40 Playlists
From: Jim Shannon
25. Steve Venet
From: bonicaj
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 18:17:12 +0100
From: Dave Heasman
Subject: Re: the price of love
Kingsley Abbot:
> In 1962 I'd say that singles were 6s 3d -- they went to 6s 8d (3
> for a pound) circa late '63 ish.
First record I bought new was "Dance With Me" by the Drifters. Dec
1959. 6s 8d. All Decca-distributed singles were 6s 8d. All others
6s 4d. That's EMI, Philips, Pye & Oriole ("Do You Love Me" in 1962
was 6s 4d). Equally Decca-distributed albums - "Have Twangy Guitar
- Will Travel" , "The Chirping Crickets" £1 15 9 1/2d. EMI albums -
"For Twisters Only" - £1 14s 1 1/2d.
This was a static price for many years as we had "Retail Price
Maintenance". And a luxury-rate "Purchase Tax". The deal was the
wholesale price was half the retail price, the taxman got a quarter
of the retail price and the retailer got a quarter. It must have
been difficult calculating quarters of halfpence. All pre-decimal,
of course.
(It should be noted that the hourly wage for a semi-skilled workman
in 1959 was about 4s. i.e. you'd have to work for over a day to buy
an album).
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 10:47:22 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Bobby Vinton vs. Buddy Greco
> As for Buddy Greco's version of "Mr Lonely" having the same backing
> track - no way.
Right, probably same charts, but not the same track. Vinton's
is much slower, has a retard on the end, etc.
gem
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 07:05:07 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Howie Farber & Steve Shlaks
Al Kooper ticked me off:
> No c in Shlaks.
I checked some of my labels and even with my reading glasses on the
'c' is there. I wonder if it was done to make him sound Italian? :-)
Al also supplied the info on what Howie Farber & Steve Shlaks did next:
> Great guys. Howie went into the porn biz and made zillions...
How marvellously apt as all the records I can recall by them are full
frontal and in your face.
> Shlaks moved to Spain and became a new age idol probably under
> another name.
Now that IS weird!
> The very first piece of music heard in show #1, accompanying a mass
> murder in a beauty parlor in the early 60's? Your Ma Said You Cried
> In Your Sleep Last Night by Kenny Dino. And MAN!!!!! did that work
> gggg-reat !!!!!
I bet it did!
Martin
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 18:55:57 -0000
From: Phil Hall
Subject: Re: Accuracy of Top 40 Playlists
> I'm sure these playlists could have been manipulated by zealous
> music directors with one eye on Cashbox and the other on
> Arbitron.
My best friend's in high school's dad was a regular performer on
the Grand Ole Opry in the early 60's, and he told me that positions
on the record charts could be and often were bought. He mentioned
2 specific country artists whose record companies had bought their
records up the pop charts and made them crossover artists.
Phil H.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 14:47:55 EDT
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: Re: Accuracy of Top 40 Playlists
Only thing that intrigued me about the WLS Hit Parade "40" was
that it did contain ten additional records. Otherwise, I found
Super CFL's SOUND SURVEY with not only the bold Top 10 and 11-20
in the top half and the 21-30 in smaller caps on the bottom half,
but THREE "Survey Bound" new potential hits below those--much
more exciting! It was printed on approximately 5" by 7" paper so
it was much easier to share with someone else too. Big 10 WCFL
also regularly had an hourly "Capsule Countdown" in which tiny
snatches of each of that week's Top 10 were aired going up to No.
1, which they would then play in its entirety. Around 1968-1970
I don't recall 89 WLS doing that at all. Clark, am I wrong, or
did I suspect that WLS was giving more nods to MOR stuff such as
Sinatra, Andy Williams, etc. and CFL was more liberal about
including rock records?
Bobster
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 19:40:39 -0000
From: Paul Evans
Subject: "Magic Moments - The Best Of The 50s Pop"
Here's a message that I recently posted on my Web site:
==============================================================
Paul and his vocal group, Group 5ive, backed up the original stars
on PBS's "MAGIC MOMENTS - THE BEST OF THE 50s POP",
Here are a few of his favorite memories of the performance.
-------------------
"Singing behind Patti Page, Pat Boone, Don Cherry, the Four Lads,
the Four Aces, Mel Carter, and Lynn Evans of the Chordettes, were
magic moments for me. Imagine singing the songs that I grew up on -
with the artists!"
"Unfortunately, one of the Crew Cuts, Rudi Maugeri, is in a hospital.
The group asked if I would sing his part on their 1955, #3 recording
of 'Earth Angel'.
I was a Crew Cut for a day!"
"I chatted with Pat Boone and reminded him that I had written
'Johnny Will' which he took to Billboard's #35 slot in 1962.
We sang it together during rehearsal. (It wasn't part of the show)."
-------------------
The show was a fund raiser for PBS's New Jersey station, NJN. It
will be televised on that station in June and is scheduled to go
national in August.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 07:59:40 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Tex + Chex + FGG + Kenny Dino + Shlaks + Farber + Musica
Who's a greedy boy then?
As promised, Tex And The Chex are playing on musica with their
version of the Angels' B-Side "(Love Me) Now". Feldman, Goldstein
& Gottherer again take care of production.
I've also taken advantage of the room to add a jukebox favourite,
Kenny Dino "You Had Your Chance". A Schlacks and Farber Production.
If Elvis Presley hadn't (been) discovered (by) Col. Parker & the
movies and Phil Spector hadn't evolved beyond the Crystals, would
this have been the future of Rock n Roll? Or am I just loopy?
Martin
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 19:05:29 -0000
From: paferra
Subject: Re: Zappa's old country
Phil M. wrote:
> ... he (like another son of Greece, Frank Zappa) ...
Andrew Hickey:
> Actually, Zappa's family was Sicilian.
A minor point, but Frank Zappa was partly Greek through his father:
http://www.gotzappa.com/frank_zappa_biography-1.html
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 19:37:02 -0000
From: Paul Evans
Subject: Re: Del-Satins
Fred,
I caught your message about how good I would sound on the Del Satins
song, "Feeling No Pain". Thanks for the compliment.
Speaking of singing with groups, I recently sang with the Crew Cuts.
Check out my site or a message that I'll be posting on Spectropop
shortly for information on how that came about. :-)
Thanks again for posting that flattering message,
Paul
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 15:25:45 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Maggie Thrett
Mike:
> I didn't realize Maggie (Thrett) had any kind of a musical career.
> What's the scoop, Al?
Originally Diane Pine from Floral Park, Queens. I was attracted to
her and she mentioned she was pursuing a singing career. We cut some
demos, but nuthin happened musically. Bob Crewe signed her and put a
few singles out. I dont think there was an LP. I didnt know she made
films. Sounds like a watcher that 3 In The Attic. I shall attempt to
procure it.
Al Kooper
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 19:47:21 -0000
From: Trevor Ley
Subject: Re: Long Islanders
Steven Prazak wrote:
> ...lest we neglect the oft-neglected Barnaby Bye; two sweet 'n'
> syrupy pop elpees for Atlantic including both Alessi Brothers
> and Illusion drummer Mike Ricciardella.
Just thought I'd add a nod to the other BB member...Peppy Castro.
Came to the group after he was with Blues Magoos "We Ain't Seen
Nothin' Yet". He was the "veteran". I interviewed them at WILI in
CT, about 1974. Good stuff.
TREVOR LEY
Pittsburgh
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 15:56:40 EDT
From: Howard
Subject: Re: Embassy label
I've been up into the soul loft to see what Embassy records I own. As
I said in my last note there are
WB 653 The Starlings with Where did our love go c/w The Typhoons, I'm
into something good. another Starlings release
WB 612 was a Ronettes cover, Baby I love you c/w Marillyn Lee, As Usual
WB 664 The Typhoons, Um,um, um, um, um, um c/w He's In Town
WB 419 Rikki Henderson, Save the last dance for me c/w It's now or never
WB 636 Marilyn Lee, My Guy c/w Dave Charles, Hello Dolly!
WB 676 Joan Baxter, You've lost that loving feelin' c/w The Music Men,
Csst your fate to the wind
WB 499 Paul Rich, Twisting the night away c/w The hole in the ground
WB 632 The Jaybirds, Baby let me take you home c/w Bud Ashton & His
Group, Rise and fall of flingel Bunt
WB 540 Les Carle, Up on the roof c/w Marilyn Lee, Keep your hands off
my baby
WB 304 Barry Kendall, It's all in the game c/w More than ever
WB 390 Bobby Stevens, Wild one c/w Fall in love with you
all the best.. Howard
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 16:00:51 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Long Islanders
Steven Prazak wrote:
> ...lest we neglect the oft-neglected Barnaby Bye; two sweet 'n'
> syrupy pop elpees for Atlantic including both Alessi Brothers
> and Illusion drummer Mike Ricciardella.
Their "Blonde" is about as delightful a harmony pop confection as
ever existed. I even manage to surpress my considerable distaste
for burbling synthesizers to enjoy its many charms.
Mike
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 21:04:17 -0000
From: Billy G Texas
Subject: Re: Tandyn Almer
Since the 70's I have heard Tandyn Almer's song "Along Came Mary"
was about pot smoking. After reading that he invented bongs there's
no doubt.
I thought this quote from "A Child's Garden of Grass" was amusing:
"It's interesting to note that anyone who is good in one area is
usually good in other areas. Tandyn is not only a successful
composer, poet and inventor, but he's brilliant with a sewing
machine, lives with a beautiful movie star, and can tap dance like
a son of a bitch."
Who's the Movie Star?
Billy
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 21:28:39 -0000
From: Billy G. Texas
Subject: Re: Accuracy of Top 40 Playlists
I chatted e-mail last year with a former tadio DJ who worked for
several Top 40's in the southwest in the 60's and 70's.
He mentioned that most of the regional non-Billboard hits he played
were also DJ favorites. If a band was playing a local gig/dance and
advertising on the station (or if the Station/DJ was promoting a
concert or dance) the band's 45 would also get a nice push up the
station charts.
I have a scan of a 1968 Survey from KEEL radio in Shreveport. The
number one record that week is "Backwards and Forwards" by Decembers
Children. Anyone know the label of this 45 and if its any good? KEEL
was interesting during this period for playing a lot of regional
hits. On the back of the survey is a ad for "Stan's Record Service"
(home of Paula-Jewell-Ronn records) and Abnak records.
Billy
http://listen.to/jangleradio
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 22:13:23 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Long Islanders
Steven Prazak:
> ...lest we neglect the oft-neglected Barnaby Bye; two sweet 'n'
> syrupy pop elpees for Atlantic including both Alessi Brothers
> and Illusion drummer Mike Ricciardella.
And the Alessi boys' 60s band, The Pendulum, which mixed great pop
melodies with the big Long Island sound.
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 22:20:48 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Your Kind Of Loving
S.J. Dibai:
> I was watching an "Ed Sullivan" clip that I taped just to get
> Rick Nelson doing his groovy 1966 (?) record "Your Kind Of
> Loving."
Steve Harvey:
> The Knickerbockers did a version, too.
And so did the Sixth Edition from Texas (on Jox 054).
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 20:47:41 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Tommy Boyce
Austin Roberts:
> Tommy Boyce is greatly missed by those who knew him ...
He sat in with us once in '67 (we were backing Ray Peterson at the
time) and I took a songwriting seminar from him in '76. He seemed
like such a positive guy, I was quite shocked at his final choice.
gem
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 20:48:50 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Hall of Fame Musicians
> Speaking of musicians that belong in the Hall Of Fame, how about
> Joe Osborn ...
And, to me it makes no sense that the Ventures are not in the HOF.
gem
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 04:08:25 -0000
From: Peter Grad
Subject: Knickerbockers
Conversation has focused on Long Island groups... but I see someone
mentioned the Knickerbockers ("Lies," "One Track Mind"). Few may know
that this English-sounding group was headed by two brothers from the
Bronx (names escape me at moment) but they grew up in the same
building I did in the 50's and 60's: 660 Arnow Ave., Parkside
Projects in the northeast Bronx.
Peter
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 13:57:51 -0000
From: Paul Evans
Subject: "Roses Are Red (My Love)"
Clark Besch:
> Along the Vinton topic, was listening to Kim Mitchell's "Patio
> Lantern" from the 80's the other day and realized he says
> something about his first date and listening to "Roses are Red".
> I wonder what Paul Evans thought about that song? Dum-de-da...
Clark -
How sad to find that "Roses Are Red (My Love)" isn't one of your
favorite Vinton recordings. :-)
My demo of "Roses......" was originally brought to Bob Morgan at
Epic records in an attempt to get him to record it with - me.
However, Bob was recording Guy Mitchell at the time and showed it to
Guy's manager who, according to what I've been told, turned it down
because he couldn't have the publishing rights to the song. (Whoops)
That was fortunate for my co-writer, Al Byron, and myself because no
one could have sold the multi-millions that Vinton sold. Also,
Vinton is REALLY responsible for the record's success because Epic
originally went with the other side of the 45 single. However,
Vinton hired a model to take a rose and a copy of "Roses....." to
every station in his home town of Pittsburgh and that's how the
record's success began.
By the way, the original demo of "Roses...." can be found on a
couple of my CDs. You might find it interesting to compare the demo
with the Vinton recording.
Paul
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 13:13:20 -0000
From: MopTopMike
Subject: Alessi Bros - Country Gentlemen
Jeff Lemlich:
> And the Alessi boys' 60s band, The Pendulum, which mixed great pop
> melodies with the big Long Island sound.
Billy Alessi and his brother started out in rock & roll as the
Country Gentlemen, with a 45 on the Brent label, "Saturday Night", in
1966...they resided in West Hempstead at the time. This track, along
with many others, will be part of the soon-to-be-released Sundazed
'garage' set, with tracks sourced from master tapes - originally
issued by major labels.
MopTopMike
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 11:12:49 -0400
From: Victrola
Subject: December's Children
Billy G. Spradlin:
> I have a scan of a 1968 Survey from KEEL radio in Shreveport. The
> number one record that week is "Backwards and Forwards" by
> Decembers Children. Anyone know the label of this 45 and if its
> any good? KEEL was interesting during this period for playing a
> lot of regional hits. On the back of the survey is a ad for
> "Stan's Record Service" (home of Paula-Jewell-Ronn records) and
> Abnak records.
December's Children "Backwards & Forwards" was released on World
Pacific 77887 and was a Billboard Bubbler for 4 weeks, peaking at
#123. It has a mix of Memphis Soul, Grass Roots horns and maybe even
a little Sly thrown in. Their followup to this was "Lovin' Things"
(the Grass Roots hit).
I can see it as a local turntable favorite, even a regional one, but
not a national hit. Back in the day, DJs had a lot more lattitude in
playing these kinds of songs; it's what made listening to the radio
back then so enjoyable but we've been down that road before.
Thank God collectors collect, and I still have my turntable.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 14:43:38 -0000
From: Jim Shannon
Subject: Re: Accuracy of Top 40 Playlists
Billy G. Texas wrote:
> I chatted e-mail last year with a former tadio DJ who worked for
> several Top 40's in the southwest in the 60's and 70's. He
> mentioned that most of the regional non-Billboard hits he played
> were also DJ favorites. If a band was playing a local gig/dance
> and advertising on the station (or if the Station/DJ was promoting
> a concert or dance) the band's 45 would also get a nice push up
> the station charts.
>
> I have a scan of a 1968 Survey from KEEL radio in Shreveport. The
> number one record that week is "Backwards and Forwards" by
> Decembers Children...
Billy:
The accuracy of these music surveys has to be questioned. In an
earlier dispatch someone mentioned Promo men going into key
record stores and purchasing 45's to boost sales and airplay on
a particular song. Promo men also had relationships with dee
jays and I'm sure favors were done in return for airplay. And,
typically, music surveys would have two or three "hit bounds" or
"picks of the week". Was it the station's picks or a record label
with influence to get their song listed? It wasn't unusual to see
a record label sponsoring a music survey and some even paid
for the printing.
Jim Shannon
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 16:21:43 -0000
From: bonicaj
Subject: Steve Venet
Can anyone tell me whatever happened to Steve Venet? I know that
his brother Nik passed away. Thanks.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
End
