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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 11 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Herb Alpert
From: Al Kooper
2. Re: Superbabs
From: Al Kooper
3. Celebration to Musica / Alan Gordon / Fem Complex / Wizzard, etc
From: Clark Besch
4. Cloudy Summer Afternoon
From: Jim Shannon
5. DC5's Mike Smith info
From: Clark Besch
6. Re: Guess Who
From: superoldies
7. Re: Brian Wilson covers
From: Phil X Milstein
8. Re: Andrew Loog Oldham and Pete Meaden
From: Joe Foster
9. Re: Gene Pitney
From: Jim Shannon
10. Re: Aquatones
From: Mikey
11. Re: Aquatones
From: Judye
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 09:00:43 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Herb Alpert
Previously:
> Herb recorded under the "Dore" moniker a couple (?) of singles for
> RCA, around 1962, and just before those a single for the Carnival
> label. He also, around 1959, recorded a vocal for the Prep label,
> using "Herb Alpert". I have the Carnival and one RCA single.
Was Alpert at the helm of the pre A&M westcoast Dore Records label?
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 08:40:29 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Superbabs
Previously:
> Now responding to Martin's questions. Charlie Callelo arranged my
> version of "My Heart Belongs To Me" on my Extragordonary lp. So when
> Barbra (Streisand) did the song we felt Charlie would be the right
> call, and he did a brilliant job.
Years later in 1987, Charlie & I were working on a TV pilot that Don
Johnson was producing. We had a meeting with him at our studio in North
Hollywood and he showed up with his squeeze at the time, Babs. When she
saw Charlie, she lit up like an Xmas Tree (uhhh- Chanukah lamp) and they
ran off to the lounge to chat it up. Johnson & I had the meeting
meanwhile. She still adored our Charlie years after the "That Alan"
experience. My estimation of her went up that night.
Al "Sooper" Kooper
P.S. Alan Gordon - I'll be in LA in January and we must get together for
your computer lesson. So much for ex-Magicians......
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 16:12:44 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Celebration to Musica / Alan Gordon / Fem Complex / Wizzard, etc
The talk of the Feminine Complex got me thinking about some of the
obscure female group sounds of 68/9. Posted to Musica was one that
would just fit with the limited space, "Have You Tried Love" by
Celebration. It was released on United Artists 50467 and for
December, 1968, seemed to incorporate much of the pop sounds of the
day. I hear the Happenings, Cowsills, Love Generation and the theme
to Tv shows of the era, as well as other pop influences of the day.
It was written and produced by Tony Michaels and Vinny Gormann for
Mirage City Productions. I assume Tony and Vinny were group members
of an obviously male/female configuration. I actually like the B
side better, "Never Mind the Rain", if anyone would want to hear it
too. Alan Gordon may well know about this group, as one of their
followups would be his "Celebrity Ball" (aka "Celebrate") on UA 50626
released in February, 1970. The timing was not good, as Three Dog
Night's retitled version was released on 45 and buried "Celebration's
Celebrity". Three Dog's version was itself a case of bad timing
too. Being the third single from a 6 month old album that had
already spawned two top 10 45's ("Easy to be Hard"/"Eli's Coming") ,
had seen the group release a "live" album since then, it would seem
it amazing that all the airplay for "Celebrate" was able to get it up
to #15 on the Hot 100 eventually. Certainly the most played of the
three hits, one wonders if it'd been released first if it had been
the group's first #1 record. Even in 20/20 hindsight, Alan had a
real feather in his cap there.
Speaking of That Alan, am wondering if Lou Rawls' "Show Business" is
by chance a song you wrote? I have the song on Cd, but no writers
credits. I know you wrote a song by that title and I doubt it would
be Lou's song, but it was released in your hottest charting period,
mid-1967. Any help here?
Back to the female music topic. Apparently, my Mindy and the Complex
45 from October, 1969 is indeed the same group as the Feminine
Complex. The 45 is on Athena 5011. A Cd biography mentions them
recording for Athena! How odd that neither 45 side is on the Cd,
despite it having the released Lp and 11 demos. I will post both
sides to Musica when space permits, if there is interest.
A few other great 45s I remember from that period of obscure girl
groups were "My Idea" by Creme Caramel on Janus (also 10/69!), "For
Pete's Sake" by Sweetwater (7/69), and "Masquerade" by Sergio Mendes
& Brasil '66 (3/70). A few years later, "Shyin' Away" by Spring (73)
had that style, with obvious Brian Wilson sound.
One more thing. I was watching a couple of Roy Wood's Wizzard videos
last week and it was amazing how much "See My Baby Jive" and "Dear
Elaine" lent itself to the early Phil Spector girl group sound! Ok,
enough already......Clark
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 17:28:57 -0000
From: Jim Shannon
Subject: Cloudy Summer Afternoon
Anyone recall a Barry McGuire release called "Cloudy Summer
Afternoon"? The song was released during the summer of '66
but charted poorly, only reaching the top 30 or so. Seem to
remember nice lyrics and melody to it. Is it available on CD?
Thanks for any help,
Jim Shannon
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 16:16:43 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: DC5's Mike Smith info
Here is some heartening news on DC5 lead singer Mike Smith's latest
condition after his terrible fall at home in Europe. Here is a
doctor's memo from April:
Mike is now swallowing ice cream and yoghurts without any difficulty
and today he is having another swallow test to see if he can commence
swallowing solids. It is anticipated that he will do so very soon.The
dreaded "Hospital Bug" has now been eliminated and because he is now
breathing so well without the use of the tracheotomy, it's removal is
being considered in the near future.Because his breathing
difficulties have improved so much, in about two weeks time, it is
hoped to move him from the Progressive Care Unit into a
rehabilitation unit where he will then be able to have more specific
therapy designed to improve movement. Without the tracheotomy and by
being moved to this unit, he will also be far less exposed to picking
up chest infections.Movement in his right arm, hand and fingers is
minimal but improving and I shall be very surprised if he is not able
to play the keyboard again with this hand. Movement in the left arm
is good and much more controlled but that of the fingers is limited
because of fixed flexion, and is probably going to be the hardest
problem to reverse. There is also improvement in neck movement and
head control.He is spending time each afternoon in his wheelchair and
when he is in the rehabilitation unit he will eventually be taught
how to manipulate a wheelchair modified to be used with his
limitations.All in all terrific news and again he is so pleased to be
alive. An independent life is now definite.
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 10:07:03 -0000
From: superoldies
Subject: Re: Guess Who
Previously:
> ...one of my lost unreleased tracks by the Guess Who, "Use your
> Imagination" which I wrote and Co-produced [uncredited]. I did it
> when I was a staff writer Scepter records.
"Use Your Imagination" did make the Sundazed label Guess Who CD from
a few years back...kickin' track!
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 12:28:16 +0000
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Brian Wilson covers
Artie Wayne wrote:
> to Phil Milstein.......My favorite Brian Wilson cut by a female is "God
> only Knows" by Olivia Newton-John, which I gave her on my first day
> running Irving/Almo music.
Hi Artie, it's great to have you back in the fold! Thanks for the tip on
ONJ doing GOK. I'd like to try and scare me up a copy -- was it a 45? LP cut?
--Phil M.
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 20:52:40 +0100
From: Joe Foster
Subject: Re: Andrew Loog Oldham and Pete Meaden
Previously:
> Oldham had two other role models: Pete Meaden, the Who's first manager
> and one of the original mods, and the teenage svsngali and producer
> Phil Spector.
> That Pete Meaden was a role model for Oldham rings vaugely familiar,
> and certainly makes sense,
> That's odd, because Meaden & the Detours/High Numbers would only just
> have hit the scene by mid '64, by which time the Stones had two UK top
> 10 records. And no small notoriety..
Peter and the Loog were from the same neighbourhood, around Hampstead
way...and ran many a semi-innocent rascally teenage hustle together, in one
of which they managed to involve the pre-fame Peter and Gordon...they even
started a PR consultancy together..all this pre-band management...see ALO's
excellent book Stoned for all the hilarious and almost sordid details, much
better than I could tell them....it's a small world you see!
all the best
Joe
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 19:14:08 -0000
From: Jim Shannon
Subject: Re: Gene Pitney
John Berg wrote:
> I flew through Heathrow yesterday (enroute to my Seattle home from a
> visit to Egypt) and noted in the latest issue of "Q" magazine that
> Pitney will be doing some UK dates later this year. My question is,
> why has nobody produced a recent "contemporary" album with him along
> the lines of those done with Roy Orbison and Del Shannon in the '80s?
> Surely there are enough songwriters and musicians out there who
> hugely admire Pitney's singing (and writing) and have industry "pull"
> to make such a project feasible. Or is Pitney himself simply not
> interested in such a venture? Anybody know the answers (or have I
> missed a recent Pitney album of recent recordings?)
Good question and one that should be answerd by Gene himself as I am
trying to make contact with him. He resides in Somers, Connecticut, not
too far from his hometown of Rockville, CT. I have e-mailed him to see
if there would any interest in being interviewed for Spectropop.
Jim Shannon
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 16:12:13 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Aquatones
The Aquatones' "You" Lp was released on Relic Records back in the 80s.
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 21:22:13 -0000
From: Judye
Subject: Re: Aquatones
Hi Guys,
New member here - I just read the post on my Favorite Group, The
Aquatones, and I have to tell you, they are TO DIE FOR!! I have
their latest CD - "40 Years Too Late" - NOT a bad song on the CD -
honestly, every song on there - ALL 23 of them - will totally 'BLOW
YOU AWAY'!!! I'm very PROUD to call myself their Number One Fan, oh,
and I'm most definitely that!
Great website Guys! I'm glad to be a part of it!
Judye
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