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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. 1965 hits
From: Gary Myers
2. Re: a visit to the Hall of Fame
From: Phil X Milstein
3. Front Porch to musica; Teddy Bears; obscure Pitney; thanks
From: Country Paul
4. Re: a visit to the Hall of Fame
From: Mike McKay
5. Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
From: Gary Myers
6. Payola
From: Frank M
7. Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
From: Austin Powell
8. Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
From: Lyn Nuttall
9. Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
From: Gary Myers
10. Re: Marty Cooper / Joey Cooper
From: Frank Jastfelder
11. Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
From: Bob Celli
12. Re: Hall Of Shame
From: Al Kooper
13. Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
From: Al Kooper
14. Celebration / Lou Rawls
From: Clark Besch
15. R&R Pirates
From: James Cassidy
16. Blonde on Blonde In Gnashville
From: Al Kooper
17. Re: The Flirtations
From: Clark Besch
18. Re: more on Pitney
From: Jens Koch
19. Re: Gloria Lynne
From: Clark Besch
20. Re: Celebration to Musica Again!
From: Clark Besch
21. Mindy & The Complex to musica
From: Clark Besch
22. Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
From: Mike Edwards
23. Gene Pitney Box??
From: Mikey
24. NY Club Gig
From: Mikey
25. Re: Buzz & Bucky
From: Phil X Milstein
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 21:14:40 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: 1965 hits
I thought this was interesting, from a guy named Marc Weilage, posted
in a 60's newsgroup:
> Nearly 1000 singles made the BILLBOARD charts in 1965, more than any
> year in history. Of those songs, a whopping 322 made the Top 40 --
> also setting a record for the sheer number of major hits for a
> single year.
gem
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 00:03:35 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: a visit to the Hall of Fame
John Fox wrote:
> There are really three issues: (1) the deservedness of induction; (2)
> the transitive property (like with the Baseball Hall of Fame--if Phil
> Rizutto gets in, shouldn't Pee Wee Reese? ...
Only if his label has a big promo push behind him.
--Phil M.
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 01:33:10 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Front Porch to musica; Teddy Bears; obscure Pitney; thanks
In support of the forthcoming Front Porch feature on Spectropop, I've played
"Song To Saint Agnes" to musica. The B-side of "Shake Rattle & Roll," this
haunting and unique 1970 record combines impressionistic sacred imagery with
what could best be described as progressive doo-wop. Writer-lead singer
Charles Purpura went on to write the screenplay for the 1978 movie "Heaven
Help Us." Listen and enjoy:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
Joe Nelson, quoting from Dore catalogue at bsnpubs.com:
> Unfortunately, all stereo did for the Teddy Bears was
> to reveal in painful detail the lack of singing talent in the group ...
Phil M. replies:
> I never knew The Teddy Bears were thought to be such lousy singers.
> Am I the only one who didn't know they were "bad"?
I've got a split here; the middle-road stuff on the Imperial album is
largely disappointing, not as much because of the singing but because of the
mismatch of material to the group. On their original material, those
beautiful classical-romantic Spector ballads, they shine. The antithesis of
the "wall" of sound, this was the "spiderweb" of sound - using very few
parts to create a fully-realized arrangement, delicately interwoven (and
occasionally overdubbed) to create voice-leading that was sophisticated
beyong the group's young years. And I think all of them sang very well in
general. Check out the songs after "To Know Him..." like "Wonderful Loveable
You" and the romantic-era-influenced "Oh Why," "You Said Goodbye" and "He
Doesn't Need Me Anymore." *Those* are what should have been on the Imperial
album!
Al Kooper:
> Favorite obscure Pitney trax? Mine is One Day. Also love Donna Means
> Heartbreak & Marianne.
Put in my vote for "Teardrop By Teardrop" and "Take It Like A Man." (You
already noted "Donna.")
Thanks...
Harvey Kubernik's tribute to Barney Kessel
http://www.spectropop.com/remembers/BKobit.htm is truly impressive. Thanks,
Harvey and the S'pop team. I knew Kessel was pretty amazing; I just didn't
know exactly *how* amazing!
Finally, Gary Myers, thank you for the Statues info. (Spectropop sure is
amazing!)
Country Paul
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 01:37:57 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: a visit to the Hall of Fame
Hal Muskat wrote:
> Does the fact the museum is in Cleveland have anything to do with
> anything?
I doubt it. In fact, I'm sure it galls the powers that be at the RRHOF
that the physical building is located there -- when they would far prefer
it to be in NYC (where the induction ceremonies have been held every year
but one, IIRC) or L.A.
There are those who know the full story far better than I, so corrections
to this are welcome. But on the surface at least, it appeared that
Cleveland (both its officials and its citizens) mounted a campaign to
bring the Hall to their city that simply overwhelmed every other city's
efforts -- and just couldn't be ignored.
Mike
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 22:58:29 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
Lyn:
> Pitney began including "Who Needs It?" on his Australian tours,
> once he figured out that the Aussies yelling out "Who Needs It?"
> at his concerts weren't hecklers but fans requesting this song ...
When we backed him in Milwaukee in '63, someone requested
"Louisiana Mama". IIRC, he laughed about it, but finally did a little
of it. I guess it is one of his earliest obscurities.
gem
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 08:31:25 +0100
From: Frank M
Subject: Payola
Previously:
> Payola, as I understand it to where it makes some sense, is when
> records were played for pay (or other reimbursement) and went
> undeclared as income by the DJ and/or station. It was when the
> government didn't get their cut that got them into trouble.
...and when other media were under attack Rock'n'Roll was a handier
distraction. Payola ie entertianing customers, assiting those who
helped you etc.in pop music paled into insignificance compared to
what defence, aero construction etc industries were greasing palms
with. In the fifties it got caught up in an argument that Tin pan
alley writers of proper music were being done out of commissions by
people whom they felt had to pay to get that rock'n'roll nonsense
on the radio.
It has always existed in the entertainment business from the days
of vaudevile and continues in some shape or form thru to today. I
believe it is called independent promotion.
Just the facts with a dash of comment ma'am.
Frankm
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 08:38:15 +0100
From: Austin Powell
Subject: Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
Howard suggested:
> I'd like to nominate "She's A Heartbreaker", a great Inez & Charlie
> Foxx composition.
Simon:
> I'll second itm Howard -- didn't Richard "Popcorn" Wylie produce
Again, from Roger Dopson's notes on Sanctuary's Gene Pitney "Ultimate
Collection", it quotes GP only as saying Teacho Wiltshire was the
arranger on the session and that he heard Charlie Foxx and Jerry
Williams playing it as he walked out of Musicor's offices one night
and liked it so much he felt he had to have a crack at it... He goes
on to say how Musicor were a bit "afraid" of the record and test
marketed it in the mid-west with a label that just credited "P.G."...
It got good airplay, so they re-presented it with GP's name of the
label which, he says, then lost them a lot of the early support in
those markets...
As for a favourite track, obscure or otherwise, and bearing in mind I
love 'em all, I've always had a soft spot for "If I Didn't Have A Dime
(To Play the Jukebox)".
Austin
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 18:00:58 +1000
From: Lyn Nuttall
Subject: Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
Stewart wrote, in connection with Howard's suggestion of "She's A
Heartbreaker":
> A fabulous track, but it was actually one of Gene's hits.
This may illustrate my earlier point about Pitney's repertoire varying
from market to market.
This song did indeed chart Top 20 in the States (a hit), but doesn't
seem to have made such an impression in Britain (an obscurity?). Here
in Australia, it was something of a hit in three of the major cities,
but not in Sydney, where it may well be an obscurity. I assume you'd
find this sort of thing if you compared, say, different cities in the
US.
Another song that was quite popular in its own right down here was
"Hawaii", another case of radio flipping over a record ("It Hurts To
Be In Love") and making a hit of the B-side as well.
Lyn
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 22:55:42 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
Previously:
> I'd like to nominate "She's A Heartbreaker"...
Stewart Mason:
> It was also his last chart record.
Last top 40, yes, but he did have two minor chart records after that,
both previously mentioned - "Billy ..." and "She Lets Her Hair ...".
I have a later obscurity - his medley of "It's Over" and "It's Over"
(Roy Orbison - Jimmie Rogers), which I think was produced by Jerry
Fuller.
gem
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:08:39 +0200
From: Frank Jastfelder
Subject: Re: Marty Cooper / Joey Cooper
Is Marty Cooper related to Joey Cooper? I got a 45 on RCA (47-8569) by
Joey Cooper that has both sides written by him and Lee Hazlewood
together. Not your typical Lee songs though. They are way too
uplifting. Appreciate any help on this.
Frank J.
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 11:47:50 -0000
From: Bob Celli
Subject: Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
I would vote for "House Without Windows" as my favorite. Both versions
I've heard, the one by Gene and also the one by Roy Orbison, are great
examples of sixties pop!
Bob Celli
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 05:22:49 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Hall Of Shame
John Fox wrote:
> So I went to the information desk and asked the man there if the Hall
> had any video footage of Jackie Wilson. The guy's reply was, "Is she
> an inductee?"
That really sums it up better than anything I could say.
That said:
The RRHOF is run by fat record company presidents. They and their pals
vote every year on who gets inducted. It seems to be based on people who
earned a sufficient amount of money for them.
They do NOT honor people outside their clique who served behind the
scenes, i.e. Allen Toussaint, Marshall Sehorn, James Burton, Scotty
Moore, Vinnie Bell, Chris Stone, Gary Kellegren, Chris Stainton and
people like that. I attended the induction ceremony (as a guest of
Stephen King) the year (1993, I think) that Cream reformed to play a
one-off at the show. I really wanted to see that, but not enough to
fork over the $1000 a plate ticket price, so I was excited to be
King's guest. I had dropped out of the biz in 1989. I was snubbed
that night by EVERYONE there except the musicians that were performing,
because I no longer was of any use to any of them. That reinforced my
decision to drop out as having been anatomically correct. While Frankie
Lymon & The Teenagers were being inducted, Ertegun, Ostin and others
retired to the lobby for cigars. When Del Shannon was inducted, Max
Crook, who co-wrote Runaway and played his great solos for Shannon on a
hand-built keyboard, was not given guest privileges and had to buy two
tickets to attend. He should have been let in gratis just for his last
name! It was then I decided that it was good that I wouldn't qualify for
this Hall of Shame, and if by some miracle I was ever inducted, I would
decline or give a speech that would prevent them from handing me their
ridiculous "award."
When I was putting together my last box set, Rare & Well Done, in 2001,
Jaan Uhelszki, a great rockwriter who did the liner notes, went out and
got quotes from my peers such as Bill Payne, Billy Gibbons, John Hiatt,
Steve Winwood, Taj Mahal, Gene Pitney and Andy Partridge, and printed
them in the accompanying booklet. That truly sufficed as a lifetime
achievement award for me -- people that I actually admired said really
nice things about me, unsolicited. Cleveland or not -- it don't get
better than that for this guy in this lifetime!
Old Al Kooper
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 05:30:14 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
Michel's choice:
> "Billy, You're My Friend", in 1968, was a grandiose song. What a
> thrill to communicate with you, Al!
aw shucks...
ain't no big thang :-p
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 14:22:07 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Celebration / Lou Rawls
(That) Alan, Great story with Lou R. That Blockbuster wasn't on "Dead
End Street", was it? If only he was a "Natural Man" like you were
trying to be?? Ok, ok..... Anyway, sorry, but I DON"T have the
Celebration's "Celebrity Ball" 45. Our friend, Karl Baker, turned me
on to that title from your repitiore. Karl are you listening? We
wanna hear this version! Clark
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 09:22:15 -0400
From: James Cassidy
Subject: R&R Pirates
Alan Gordon wrote:
> I would however pay to visit a rock n roll pirates pavillion, where
> all the infamous crooks would be displayed in wax!
Interesting idea, Mr. G. The trick would be finding a building big
enough to house them all.
Jim Cassidy,
Curator of the Morris Levy Wing
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 04:36:59 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Blonde on Blonde In Gnashville
Here's an unusual gig coming up on July 22nd in Gnashville, TN. A
buncha my pals put an all star band together, and every month they
play a one-nighter and perform a classic album in sequence. So
it'll be Blonde on Blonde this night with visiting yours truly
playing all the keyboard parts I played on the original album.
There are cameos by famous residents on vocals and Bill Lloyd &
Gary Tallent lead the band. It's at 12th & Porter and there is but
one show that night. Come be stuck inside of Gnashville with the
Memphis Blues Again! A Southern Spectropopper delight if ever there
was one. Love to see all you Gnashvillians after the show as well.
Old Al Kooper
& a rented B3
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 14:12:10 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: The Flirtations
James:
> I love the Flirtations, they are my fave group. I have almost every
> one of their songs. I would love hear 'Dirty Work' and the b-side
> 'No Such Thing As A Miracle', plus 'Take Me In Your Arms'. Can
> anyone assist?
James, Not sure if yours is the first post of this thread, but I have
been confused by 2 Flirtations videos I have. They seem to have no
vinyl counterpart! Why would a group make videos for songs that
aren't even on Lps?? You mention one above, "Take me in Your Arms
and Love me" and the other is titled "Hold on to me Babe" according
to my listings (maybe I decided that was the title??). I think one
of their Deram B sides I have was also non-Lp, but can't recall the
title. The Flirtations had a great song, agreed! Clark
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:24:04 +0200
From: Jens Koch
Subject: Re: more on Pitney
Who were Pitney's producers -- apart from Spector, Pitney and Wylie?
I know that's a big question that could end with multiple answers, but
who were the main ones?
Austin Powell wrote:
> There was an excellent 50-track double CD of Gene issued in the UK
> by Sanctuary in 2000.
What was the title of that collection, and is it still available?
Jens
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 14:26:50 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Gloria Lynne
gem:
> ... For information on Gloria Lynne, call Long at (404) 664-1925
> or the R&B Foundation at 1-800-258-3799.
Gary, a great post. It is a shame how many artists (probably all?)
have lost so much money out of their pockets in the attempt to get a
foot in the music business. Then, with success, had to realize
someone else got all the money from their early mistakes! Thanks,
Clark
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 14:03:01 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Celebration to Musica Again!
Paul Richards wrote:
> Thanks Clark for the 'Celebration' track, totally love it! Best
> 'new' 60's track I've heard this year since The Morning Glories
> 'Love - in' on the amazing Warners softpop comp. I'd love to hear
> the B-side.
Paul, Glad you liked the A side. I like the B side even more, now
playin to Musica. I really like the way they represent the rain
drops in the sound and the stop and start vocals. One of a handful
of "rain" 45s I played occasionally on my radio show on appropriate
occasions. Am so far behind since the holiday, I am probably behind
EVEN YOU, Paul!
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Message: 21
Date: Thu, 03 Jun 2004 06:05:26 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Mindy & The Complex to musica
Hi, as requested, I posted Mindy & The Complex' "Part the Curtains of
my Hair" to Musica. It is Athena 5011, which i received in 9/69. A
subsiderary of Stereo Dimension Records, like the evolution label
records I've spoken of recently. Again, not a stereo 45!! WHY??
Anyway, the song was written by Jon Reid, produced by Rick Powell.
Not a bad song. If anyone wants to hear the B side, a great Chip
Taylor song, I'll do it when I take something down. Enjoy, Clark
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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 14:45:28 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Re: Favorite obscure Pitney track??
All credit to Gene Pitney for being one of those artists whose back
catalog is a joy to troll through; the gems just keep popping out.
Here are a few that I don't think have been mentioned in our recent
comments on Gene's lesser known tracks:
"The Boss' Daughter" – great blue-collar storyline in the style of
the Reflections' "Poor Man's Son" and Dickey Lee's "The Day The
Sawmill Closed Down". Good song too.
"Keep Tellin' Yourself" – from Tony Powers and Ellie Greenwich and
also recorded (but not bettered) by Marv Johnson
"I'm Gonna Find Myself A Girl" – Nice brooding piano into on a song
that builds. Written (I believe) by the UK writing team who comprised
the vocal group the Avons in the early 60s.
"Dream For Sale" – From as early as 1961 and I always thought this
was ahead of its time. Great organ break on a song co-written by Phil
Spector and later recorded (but again, not bettered) by Joey Paige.
"Little Betty Fallin' Star" – one of a few Bacharach-David tracks
recorded by Gene. Also recorded by the Cascades (sorry Gene, theirs
was better) and George Hamilton IV.
"Aladdin's Lamp" – one of Gene's own compositions with Gene calling
out to a genie who responds in a bass voice. I wonder who sang that
part.
"If I Didn't Have A Dime" – a b-side, but not too obscure as it did
chart in the US. From Bert Berns and Phil Medley, this was such a
fine recording from 1962. A b-side? That speaks volumes for the
quality of the work that Gene was putting out in the 60s.
"Tomorrow Is A Comin'" – A Gene composition for Clyde McPhatter in
1961. It's not "Lover Please" but still a strong 45 from Clyde's
pop/r&b days at Mercury Records.
Some more: "Teardrop By Teardrop", "Tower Tall" and "Tell The Moon To
Go To Sleep"
Trivia note – The above mentioned Avons recorded a Gene tune, "Rubber
Ball" in competition with Bobby Vee's version for the UK market in
1961.
Mike Edwards
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Message: 23
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:19:35 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Gene Pitney Box??
You know, speaking of Gene Pitney, when Bear Family does 5 Cd
Box Sets of Jerry Lee Lewis and Lesley Gore, good as they
are, why haven't we seen a 5 or 6 Cd set on Gene Pitney?? God
knows Gene has recorded enough GOOD tracks to fill up such a
set, and what a great way to finally collect all the "lost"
Pitney classics in one place.
What do you folks think?
Mikey
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Message: 24
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:47:56 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: NY Club Gig
For all NYC Spectropoppers:
My band, Mr Action and The Boss Guitars, will be playing two power
packed sets of 60s Instrumentals this Friday, June 4th, at 8:30 pm
sharp at Ottos Shrunken Head Lounge in the East Village.
OTTOS Shrunken Head is located at:
538 E 14th St
New York, NY 10009-3347
Cross Street: Between Avenue A and Avenue B
Phone: (212) 228-2240
Now, as I said, we will be doing two sets of INSTRUMENTALS, just
like The Ventures.
Set One will be our "British Invasion" set , where will be doing
songs like "Mrs Brown", "The Game Of Love", and "I Want To Hold Your
Hand".
Set Two is of course the Surf set, with "Pipeline", "Walk Dont Run",
"Wipeout, etc.
We wear matching Red Jackets, white shirts and crossties. It's a trip
back to the 60s!!!
Come on down, but PLEASE, if you come, make sure you are there by
8:30 for the first set. We need people there for the first set to
impress the club owner.
Hope to see you there!!!
Mikey
aka Mr Action
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Message: 25
Date: Wed, 02 Jun 2004 10:31:04 +0000
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Buzz & Bucky
Martin Roberts wrote:
> This extract is from Stephen's Book "Sound Waves And Traction - Surf
> And Hot Rod Groups of The '60s", Volume 2, chapter 8, Gary Paxton-Buzz
> Cason-The Eligibles, this ties in neatly with chapter 12, Ronny Dayton-
> Bucky Wilkin. It is now possible to buy Stephen's books by PayPal. I'd
> suggest no home should be without them!
Did Cason & Wilkin do all their session work from Nashville, or were
they relocated in L.A. at the time? Stranger things have happened, but
much as I try I just can't quite conjure an image of Nashville as a surf
and hot rod hotbed.
--Phil M.
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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