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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Cloudy Summer Afternoon
From: Jens Koch
2. Re: Gene Pitney
From: John Berg
3. Les Philippes
From: Mark Wirtz
4. Re: So Goes Love
From: Charles Ulrich
5. Re: Herb Abramson
From: Leslie Fradkin
6. Re: Wizzard
From: Charles Ulrich
7. Rosetta Hightower & the Orlons
From: Will Stos
8. Rudy Clark? / R. Clark? / "Love Of The Common People"?
From: Sean
9. Rosetta Hightower & the Orlons
From: Sean
10. Re: So Goes Love
From: Chuck Limmer
11. Re: So Goes Love
From: J. Stewart
12. Jo Armstead
From: jerophonic
13. Re: So Goes Love
From: Brent
14. Re: Superbabs & Charlie Calello
From: Richard Havers
15. Alan Freed
From: Al Kooper
16. Re: Gene Pitney
From: David Coyle
17. Re: Wizzard
From: Chuck Limmer
18. Spyderbaby
From: Richard Havers
19. The Fifth Estate LP
From: David Coyle
20. Re: Herb - Dore Alpert
From: Wes Smith
21. Whoda thunk? (you can't make this stuff up...)
From: Joe Nelson
22. Re: Herb - Dore Alpert
From: Phil X Milstein
23. Re: Gene Pitney
From: Mikey
24. Murray the K and the Beatles
From: David Coyle
25. Re: Gene Pitney
From: Al Kooper
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:41:17 +0200
From: Jens Koch
Subject: Re: Cloudy Summer Afternoon
Jim Shannon:
> 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?
It's also listed on an Anthology at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002R3G/102-5276378-8724932v=glance
The price is pretty interesting : $98.98 !
Jens
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 12:50:59 EDT
From: John Berg
Subject: Re: Gene Pitney
Dear Mike,
Thanks for your comments on the subject of a possible new Pitney album.
When I used the word "contemporary", I did not have in mind the use
of synth drums and MIDI "strings", "horns" and so forth. Nor did I
mean "Gene goes hip hop". To me the ideal model of fresh new recordings
by classic artists were the studio and live albums cut by Roy Orbison
in the '80s which resulted in his renaissance. Certainly those albums
did not pander to "the latest fashions", but simply let Roy's huge
talent emerge all over again to a new generation (as well as those of
us who followed him from the start, yes with Sun Records and subsequent
labels.) I frankly found Roy's last recordings far superior to some
of the "middle of the road" stuff he cut in the late '60s, when he was
submerged under various producers' ideas of what was "commercial" at
the time.
Gene Pitney has a worldwide audience who expect a certain sound and
style of him. Great melodies, a lot of drama, telling a story (hmmm,
sounds rather like Roy Orbison's "formula"!) The question is, can
Pitney satisfy them while not being stuck in the "oldies" rut? Surely
there remains life in his writing and singing that just begs for a
round of new recordings and some coherant marketing?
John Berg
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 10:41:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Wirtz
Subject: Les Philippes
I wrote:
> Since, after a lengthy sabbatical, I symbolically stepped onto a plane
> last July to "return" to the music "biz" by producing Spain's "Les
> Philippes" debut album,...
Paul Woods:
> Nice! Thanks, Mark. My first impression on listening to "Swimming" was
> how like the Incredible String Band c.1968 the beginning sounded!
Thanks for listening. As it were, an astounding number of young,
happening Barcelona Rock bands have passionately infused themselves with
music from the 60's ("new" music to them) and their writing brims with
Beatles, Dylan, ELO, etc. influences. While trying to present the band
with a relatively contemporary attitude, I felt it only appropriate to
honestly protect and celebrate their retro-roots, rather than masking,
or disguising them.
> Unintentional, probably, but a hard sound to recreate.
Hardly intentional if anything, I intentionally stayed away from as many
pastiches or cliches possible. But, a Zebra is a Zebra, even if you paint
over their stripes. So, I merely gave the stripes a bit of varnish. One
thing, though - while many of the classic UK 60's sounds were very
processed and mutli-layered, I produced the Les Philippes CD virtually
live in the studio, with only a marginal degree of overdubs or effects,
in order to arrive at a portrait photo rather than a painting.
> Who are these guys? "Les Philippes" sounds more French than Spanish.
No kidding! Alas, it does happen to be an authentic Spanish name (in
that region). Knowing that the world (who in many parts of it - notably
the US - is pouring French wines down the toilet and rather travel to
the North Pole than to Paris for a vacation in protest)would assume that
the band is French, I begged them to change that name to something a bit
more "universal." They refused (bless 'em, they're stubborn but wonderful
guys), just like they refused to change the deceiving album title from
"Philharmonic Philanthropy" to the far more fitting title "Lens." Bottom
line, though, they are a great band - and fantastic live! - and their
unspoilt joy and passion for the music DOES remind me of the spirit that
the bands in 60's London had. What a pleasure it was to be working with
musicians, rather than juvenile stock brokers with guitars in their hands.
So, what the hell - viva la psychedelia!
Best,
mark w :)
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 10:54:58 -0700
From: Charles Ulrich
Subject: Re: So Goes Love
AZ wrote:
> The song is "So Goes Love". The version I just listened to is by
> Shirley Abicair on "Here Comes The Girls", which I believe someone
> here had something to do with. But I once knew another version. It's
> killing me. Can anyone tell me what version I'm thinking of or who
> else did it? I want to say The Turtles, but that's a desperation shot.
But an accurate one, nonetheless.
The Turtles' 1966 recording of "So Goes Love" went unreleased at
first, but it eventually surfaced on their Golden Hits LP (1967).
It's now available on the two-CD Solid Zinc (2002). The song was
written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King.
--Charles
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 11:15:33 -0600
From: Leslie Fradkin
Subject: Re: Herb Abramson
Herb Abramson. Wow! A name from my past as well! I recorded dozens of
singles and album stuff at Herb's studio. The Godz, The Left Banke,
California and Thornton Fradkin & Unger all had stuff recorded there. I
used Jonathan Thayer as the engineer as well as Herb. Also worked with
Tommy Tucker, Otis Blackwell and Louisiana Red there as well as a
session bassist.. I remember that the lobby always had all sorts of
"characters" running about. I also recall that the Burger Joint next
door had terrific greasy spoon burgers.
Regards,
Les Fradkin
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 11:33:30 -0700
From: Charles Ulrich
Subject: Re: Wizzard
Ken Silverwood:
> Plus Wizzard did a full album of songs sounding as though they
> were made by singers of "yesteryear", like Neil, Del & Dion.
Roy Wood's Wizzard, Introducing Eddy And The Falcons (UA LA219-G, 1974).
--Charles
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:34:15 -0000
From: Will Stos
Subject: Rosetta Hightower & the Orlons
Joe Nelson wrote:
> P.S. I found out about two weeks that Rosetta (Hightower) the lead
> singer on most of The Orlons songs is alive and doing well in London
> England. Hope this helps.
Is Rosetta still performing? I bought an album that had an updated
version of "Spinning Top" on it credited to the Orlons. It sounds
remarkably close to the original, but the sound quality is much
better. I presume these are "the original performers as advertised."
If so, wow, she actually (truthfully) sounds better than ever. Or, is
this an old vocal track with new instrumentation? Anyone know - it's
a four-CD set called something like 80 Soul Stompers our something. A
lot of very good re-recordings. They stayed faithful.
Will : )
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:52:21 -0000
From: Sean
Subject: Rudy Clark? / R. Clark? / "Love Of The Common People"?
Does anyone know a website or have detailed information on Rudy
Clark? I know he wrote "It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song)"
and he even wrote "Got My Mind Set On You" by George Harrison. But
I often come across obscure UK groups with a song credited to R.
Clark. For example: Pennsylvania Sixpence - "Love Of The Common
People/Midweek Excursion" on PYE 7N 17326 (1967). The B-Side is by
R. Clark (Sparta Music). Is this the same person? Who was he? A
Black American or?? Did he release any of his own material?
Also who did "Love Of The Common People" originally? This version
is on the, unusual for the Chess Label, US only 1967 LP, called
'Petal Pushers' of all UK groups.
Thanks for any help,
Sean
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 19:02:07 -0000
From: Sean
Subject: Rosetta Hightower & the Orlons
Around 1968 Rosetta Hightower recorded for the UK Label Toast. And
Ian Green (Revelation) left his then wife for her. So she's probably
been living in England since then.
Sean
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/modandfreakbeat/
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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 12:18:14 -0700
From: Chuck Limmer
Subject: Re: So Goes Love
Alan Zweig wrote:
> The song is "So Goes Love"... Can anyone tell me what version I'm
> thinking of or who else did it? I want to say The Turtles...
Good guess. The Turtles' version of "So Goes Love" first appeared on
THE TURTLES GOLDEN HITS (White Whale WWS-7115, 1967), and can currently
be found on Rhino's exemplary two-disc comp from a couple of years ago,
SOLID ZINC. According to that set's liner notes, "The Turtles recorded
Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "So Goes Love" in April 1966. Although
it fell in line with their current style, "So Goes Love" sat on the
shelf until October 1967's Greatest Hits."
Chuck Limmer
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 00:20:55 +0100
From: J. Stewart
Subject: Re: So Goes Love
The Monkees recorded "So Goes Love", apparently before The Turtles,
but it wasn't finished and released at the time. It can be found on
"Missing Links".
J.S.
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Message: 12
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:07:38 -0000
From: jerophonic
Subject: Jo Armstead
Anyone familiar with a record by Jo Armstead called "I Feel an Urge
Comin' On"? Is it currently available in any format? And are Jo
and Joshie Armstead the same person? Thanks.
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Message: 13
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 23:44:26 -0000
From: Brent
Subject: Re: So Goes Love
Dan Hughes wrote:
> Yep, the Turtles did a version of "So Goes Love". It's on the
> Sundazed IT AIN'T ME BABE CD as a bonus track (it wasn't on the
> original LP. Liner notes on the CD say:
>
> So Goes Love was a Goffin-King song of haunting resignation that
> was also recorded with the original band (Portz on bass, Don Murray
> on drums before he was replaced by John Barbata, and Jim Tucker on
> rhythm guitar). It was an appropriate vehicle for Howard's softer
> voice, but was never really finished (orchestrated) by producer
> Bones Howe.
Also, in the early 80's Rhino had it as a bonus track on the re-ish
of the Happy Together vinyl LP (probably fits better on the 1st album).
The Monkees' Missing Links LP/CD has a version (from their 1st LP
sessions) on it. Not my favorite Monkees song, but the CD does contain
a killer Bacharachalike song by Nez (My Share Of The Sidewalk) which
sports more time signature changes than The Rite Of Spring.
Best,
Brent
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Message: 14
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 20:52:55 +0100
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Superbabs & Charlie Calello
(That) Alan Gordon wrote:
> If you ever get the chance listen to the arrangement he did on "I
> Ain't Gonna Cry Tonight", it's on her WET album. Charlie did an
> arrangement that's staggering. It's more like Freddy Mercury than
> Streisand. I LOVE Charlie Calello.
Alan, I agree with you on CC's arrangement of 'Cry Tonight'. Your
comparison with Freddie Mercury is perfect. I dare say Freddie would be
flattered. He loved Barbra Streisand's music.
Charlie's arrangements on Frank Sinatra's 'Watertown' album is another
outstanding piece of work. 'For A While', 'Michael & Peter' and
'Elizabeth' all stand out amongst Frank's later work, although they're
a lot different to 'Cry tonight'.
Richard
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Message: 15
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 16:00:07 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Alan Freed
> but his breakthroughs in presenting music on radio still enriched
> rock 'n' roll and pop and rock, and make him second only to Alan Freed
I got paid for the Alan Freed shows.....
AK
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Message: 16
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 13:11:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Coyle
Subject: Re: Gene Pitney
Boy, I love Gene Pitney's music. Love to listen to it,
love to sing along to it...although I can't really do
so in public for fear of going all "Johnny Ray" on
such tearjerkers as "I Must Be Seeing Things" and "I'm
Gonna Be Strong."
I did, however, bring the house down at a party once,
doing a karaoke version of "Town Without Pity." This
followed my breakneck version of "Lonely Teardrops" by
Jackie Wilson that totally wrecked my voice for the
night.
I would love to see Gene make a big comeback, although
for Orbison and Shannon, it brought recognition that
almost came too late...
David
P.S. I've never noticed this in photographs, but in
old video clips from the '60s, Gene strikingly
resembles Bishop Fulton J. Sheen of "Life Is Worth
Living" fame, apart from the church finery...
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Message: 17
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 12:36:38 -0700
From: Chuck Limmer
Subject: Re: Wizzard
Ken Silverwood wrote:
> Wizzard did a full album of songs sounding as though they were made
> by singers of "yesteryear", like Neil, Del & Dion. I had the album
> but I think it went in a "cull". Damn. Got the singles though!
That'd be the amazing INTRODUCING EDDY AND THE FALCONS (United Artists
UA-LA219-G, 1974), on which Roy Wood demonstrated his affection for,
and mastery of, the styles of a handful of classic '50s and '60s artists.
On "Everyday I Wonder," he showed what the Beach Boys might've sounded
like covering a Del Shannon track. Other treasures were his tribute to
both Neil Sedaka *and* Paul Anka, "Come Back Karen," and the transcendent
"This Is The Story Of My Love (Baby)," about which Joel Vance of _Stereo
Review_ wrote: "Imagine that Phil Spector had done the basic instrumental
tracks for a Ronettes date... but the Ronettes forgot to show up and
Spector abandoned the tapes. Then along came the Four Seasons... the
Seasons added a vocal in the Ronettes style, with an assist by the
Shirelles... I must warn you that repeated listenings to it are positively
addicting." Still true, even thirty (!) years later.
And, yeah, I still have *my* copy. ;-)
Chuck Limmer
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Message: 18
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 21:08:29 +0100
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Spyderbaby
An advance copy of the Spyderbaby CD just appeared on my door mat, and
I have to say it's a great piece of work. Anyone on S'pop with a love
for harmony, great tunes and damn fine lyrics should definitely try to
get hold of a copy. I'm not sure what the release details are (no doubt
Mark will let us know soonest). It's a great 'radio record' that is
worthy of a place in anyone's collection.
Rob Stride and Mickey Groome have written or co-written most of the
album and the songs are superb. There performance's are outstanding too.
'Glassblowing' co-written with (That) Alan Gordon is just so bloody
infectious that I'm finding it hard to get it out of my mind. It, and
the whole of the album, is set to become my soundtrack to the summer. If
the new Brian Wilson has as many good songs then the summer will be
complete.
Song writing is back!
Richard
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Message: 19
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 13:45:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Coyle
Subject: The Fifth Estate LP
Yesterday, I scored a very good copy of the Fifth
Estate's 1967 LP with their hit "Ding Dong! The Witch
Is Dead." I was happy to find this as there are a
number of tracks that weren't included on the Fifth
Estate CD a few years back, including covers of "I'm A
Believer" and "In The Midnight Hour," songs that
appeared in demo form on the CD, and a Wayne Wadhams
original "Kisses For Breakfast."
I think the Fifth Estate has been discussed on here
before.
David
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Message: 20
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 21:04:21 -0000
From: Wes Smith
Subject: Re: Herb - Dore Alpert
Steve Fuji:
> Does anyone know who the vocalist was on the flip side of "Dina"
> which was called "You're Doing What You Did With Me With Him?" It
> doesn't sound at all like Alpert, but sounds like an imitation of
> Bobby Vee. I have had this single since 1965 and have not been able
> to find out much about it.
That would be Lew Bedell's cousin, HERB NEWMAN, Era Records, followed
by a split, at which time Herb kept Era and Lew started Dore, I believe.
Also, didn't Herb Alpert have a son by the name of Dore??? I'm sure that
I've heard that before. In fact, unless I'm getting senile in my old age,
I thought that I had seen a photo of him many years ago.
Wes Smith
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Message: 21
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 17:38:22 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Whoda thunk? (you can't make this stuff up...)
Fred Clemens:
> Secondly, here are a couple of links that should answer your
> questions about Herb Alpert and Dore Records:
> http://www.bsnpubs.com/dore.html
>From the site in reference:
"Dore Records started with a #1 hit in August, 1958, with "To Know
Him Is to Love Him" by a trio called the Teddy Bears. The song was
written and produced by Phil Spector, the leader of the group, which
also contained Annette Kleinbard, and Marshall Lieb. After the one
hit, the Teddy Bears left Dore for the greener pastures of the larger
Imperial label in 1959. Spector at Imperial was given the latitude to
record an album for his group, which was one of the first stereo
albums released. Unfortunately, all stereo did for the Teddy Bears was
to reveal in painful detail the lack of singing talent in the group,
which after the album was history. Phil Spector, of course, went on to
become one of the great producers in rock and roll history, but became
a noted stereo-hater."
Nice to have that cleared up.
Joe Nelson
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Message: 22
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 17:51:32 +0000
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Herb - Dore Alpert
Steve Fuji wrote:
> Dore records was a sub-label of Era records which was run by Lew
> Biddell and his cousin whose name escapes me at the moment.
Herb Newman.
> entirely possible that Alpert had encounters with them at some time,
> since the L.A. indy-label world was a small one at that time. I
> always wondered where the "Dore Alpert" name came from.
An obvious nod to Rod -- McKuen, that is, who was coming off his hit as
"Bob McFadden and Dor" at the time.
Never let it be said I don't try to be helpful!
--Phil M.
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Message: 23
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:08:16 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Gene Pitney
Very interesting reading about Gene Pitney. Its especially interesting to
me because around two years ago, I contacted Gene about his very subject.
What had happened was that I was watching a bootleg video of an episode of
"Shindig" from 1965. On this episode, Shindig regular Jerry Naylor debuted
a new song called "The City Lights". I was immediately taken with the song,
and realized that it sounded exactly like a song Gene Pitney would have had
a smash with back in the 60s.
Remembering the success Roy Orbison had on his 80s comeback, returning to
his classic sound, I decided to contact Gene, who I had met previously. I
did get ahold of Gene, explained that this obscure song, if produced a
certain way in Genes original style, could be a return to what Gene did
best, and that might make the pop charts.
Gene, as everyone knows, is such a nice guy, he listened to what I had to
say, then asked me for a tape, which I did send, then emailed me a few days
later. His response was to tune of "Well, if I recorded that, folks would
think it was an old Pitney song". He was very nice about it, but I always
wanted to reply "An old Pitney song is better than the new Pitney songs!!!
I also thought that with the right production, no one would think it was an
old song.
Oh well.
I've actually been thinking of contacting Gene again and revisiting this.
Can anyone here on SP email me Gene's email address??
Many thanks for letting me share this story!!!!
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Message: 24
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 13:26:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Coyle
Subject: Murray the K and the Beatles
Actually, I thought Lennon DID call him "wacker,"
which is a slang word applied to people from Liverpool
at that time. I don't think Lennon would have used the
word "wanker" in a phone-in radio song plug, if that
term was even one he would have known.
What I did notice about that new DVD is that there is
a clip in the extras showing the Beatles entourage and
Murray leaving the Peppermint Lounge. Murray the K is
pretty much left alone as the rest of the group leaves,
and he really looks like a lonely man in real life, who
really just wanted to be recognized by these new
American superstars. He really put on a face for the
cameras and for the microphone.
Then again, maybe he might have BEEN a lonely man
thanks to a reputation for actions like you described,
Al. Who knows?
David
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Message: 25
Date: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:29:30 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Gene Pitney
InArtie Wayne:
> I can't tell you how excited I was when he recorded, "Peanuts,
> Popcorn and Crackerjacks", which I wrote with Ben Raleigh. Al...
> ....by any chance did you play on that track?
Perhaps because I wrote & played on Gene's Don't Take Candy From A
Stranger. I did not play on Peanuts, Popcorn & Crackerjacks.....
Al "Kandy" Kooper
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