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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 20 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Glen Campbell / Ides Of March / Dr. Pepper
From: Clark Besch
2. Re: overplayed Seger
From: Clark Besch
3. Three/Four Coins/Aces
From: Gary Myers
4. Romantics - What I Like About You
From: jk1358
5. Re: McCartney article
From: Mark Wirtz
6. Re: Ray Charles
From: Dan Hughes
7. Re: Buddy Buie
From: superoldies
8. Early Simon & Garfunkel / Tom & Jerry
From: Stefan
9. Re: Blue Suede Shoes
From: John Fox
10. Re: Ray Charles, It's cryin' time again.
From: Rodney Rawlings
11. Eden Kane / Woolworth's
From: Frank M
12. Re: Topsy
From: Brent
13. Bubblegum CD series
From: S'pop Team
14. Coins/Aces; Romantics; Cozy; Campbell
From: Country Paul
15. Re: Peterik
From: Gary Myers
16. Re: Buddy Kaye
From: Mike McKay
17. Re: Boys Cry
From: Mike McKay
18. Re: Buie Buie
From: Al Kooper
19. Re: Glen's world fell down
From: Mike McKay
20. Re: Blue Suede Shoes
From: Phil X Milstein
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 15:46:48 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Glen Campbell / Ides Of March / Dr. Pepper
previously:
> ... a November drunken-driving hit-and-run collision. "Believe you
> me, I think that's the last you've seen of Glen Campbell putting alcohol
> in his veins," Campbell told the judge at his sentencing. "They say
> there's a first time for everything; that's what this is like,"
> Campbell said during the hearing. "I wish it would have happened
> a long time ago so I wouldn't have to go through this now."
I know he's been into drugs and alcohol off and on since the '70s, so
his comments have to be a little shaky here. Maybe he's never been
arrested till now, but. ...
I wish him luck this time. He has been a singer I will always appreciate
greatly. Several of the hits sit in my faves along with fave obscure titles
like, "I'm Gonna Love You", "Last Time I Saw Her" and "It's A Sin
When You Love Somebody".
> Ides of March..."Nobody Loves Me" is a simply wonderful song that
> might have been a non-charter because of it's rather downer message,
> but what great music and harmonizing. What a far cry from "Vehicle,"
> too, which may be why I like it.
It's strange, but much like Chicago's New Colony 6, the Ides had
completely different phases of their "era". In both cases, I like
all their songs, garage, ballads, horn rock. It's all goooood!
> ... [A] silly Dr. Pepper jingle that is obviously a tribute to Mick
> Patrick's "Hey la"! Yes, it gets a little monotonous after awhile,
> but nice little guitar outro that we likely never heard on the radio
> in 1970.
> It's kinda cool in a Hey-Judish sort of way. So where did they air a
> 3:37-long jingle anyway?
Exactly! The 12" had differing 1:00 and 0:30 versions, with commentary.
Maybe they stuck this on as filler so that 30 some years later people
from all over the world could contemplate the meaning of it all. Ah,
Dr. Pepper, so misunderstood. ...
Clark
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 15:53:31 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: overplayed Seger
previously:
> The Romantics' "What I Like About You". What IS it about this song?
> It was a mid-sized hit when new, but it just won't die. This group
> never had another hit, did they? But this is already a pop-rock
> "standard"....
Talk about "not dying" -- how 'bout "Like A Rock" by Seger! AARGH! Or his
"Old Time Rock n Roll"? The only '80s song played on oldies radio for
decades! WHY? Makes me wanna "take those old Seger records off the
shelf" and toss all the '75 and later ones out! I do savor the earlier ones.
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 10:25:04 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Three/Four Coins/Aces
previously:
> it's hard to believe this is the same group that did "Three Coins
> In The Fountain"
Phil Chapman:
> Wasn't "Three Coins....." by the Four Aces?
Or was that "Four Coins" by the Three Aces? (Couldn't resist ).
Anyway, yes it was; and it also charted for Sinatra and for Julius La
Rosa (and when's the last time you heard that name?)
gem
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 14:34:56 EDT
From: jk1358
Subject: Romantics - What I Like About You
There is a great cover of this which (as I'm English) introduced me to the
Romantics along with Bucks Fizz's version of Talkin' In My Sleep. It's by
Michael Morales, and worth checkin' out.
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 10:40:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Wirtz
Subject: Re: McCartney article
I believe that McCartney's assertions and the article commenting on
them merely demonstrate that artists are mere "vessels"/conductors
for the very separate energy of their often nature-/intelligence-/viscera-
contradicting talent. That is why some even despicable human beings
were somehow able to produce beautiful art.
Specifically related to the question whether or not the revelation of the
"story behind" an icon song's origin destroys its mystique, as well as
our own personal association/interpretation of its essence, I believe
that nothing has harmed the integrity of our subjective perception and
imagined, even illusioned, experience more than music videos. Instead
of seeing flashbacks and hearing soundtracks to key moments in our
unique life/love experience when listening to certain "records" from
yesteryear, we recall the images of the music video -- which, only too
often, are even unrelated to the true core of the music they supposedly
"illustrate," let alone enhance or represent the echoes of our own
emotions and images.
In the big picture, art being inventions, all inventions are accidents. As
such, originality is nothing but successfully failed emulation. Coca Cola
started off as a car engine detergent. ... Need I say more?
Best,
Mark Wirtz
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 13:55:24 -0500
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: Ray Charles
Rashkovsky sez:
> A 2-CD set on Ebony [by Ray Charles]. The "Down Beat Swing Time"
> recordings 1949 to 1952--very interesting to hear him
> then--searching for a style, sounding like Nat King Cole.
I heard an NPR interview Saturday -- hear it here:
http://freshair.npr.org/day_fa.jhtml?display=day&todayDate=06/11/2004
-- where Ray was asked about his beginnings. He said he started as a Nat
Cole clone, on purpose, because it got him nightclub jobs, and he did
Nat's songs. But he said he woke up one morning and suddenly realized
that nobody knew his name. "Hey Kid," they'd say, with no idea who he was.
And that is why he went his own way, to get away from that "Hey Kid."
---Dan
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 18:41:11 -0000
From: superoldies
Subject: Re: Buddy Buie
previously:
> Buddy said, "I wrote Cherry Hill Park for this SOB".
The often boisterous Buddy did not write the song. Robert Nix & Bill Gilmore
of The Candymen wrote it. Both worked with The Classics IV, for whom
Buddy wrote many songs, but I have never seen his name credited with
Cherry Hill Park. In fact, Tommy Roe and Billy Joe Royal stated in the great
"Rock & Roll Graffiti" show that they recall seeing the two sitting in the
Lowery Music hallway: each one would say a line, and the other would try
to rhyme something with it. Soon enough, the song was written.
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 21:05:40 +0200
From: Stefan
Subject: Early Simon & Garfunkel / Tom & Jerry
Is anybody here deeply involved in discographies about S&G early years
and can shed some light on Tom Lacey and Jerry Dacey that appeared as
writers (and artists ???) on the following two early releases:
September 1962 / Tom & Jerry / US 45 ABC-Paramount 10363 / Surrender,
Please Surrender (S. Prosen - T. Layton - J. Dacey) Village Music Co
BMI / Fightin' Mad (S. Prosen - T. Layton - J. Dacey) Village Music Co
BMI. Note: Probably not cut by Jerry Landis and Art Graph, but by Tom
Layton and Jerry Darcey for Sid Prosen
1963 / Tom & Jerry / US 45 Ember 1094 / UK 45 Pye International (May
1963) / I'm Lonesome (S. Prosen-T. Layton-J. Darcey) Village Mus Co
BMI / Looking At You (L. Austin) Village Mus Co BMI / both: Sid Prosen
Productions. Probably not cut by Jerry Landis and Art Graph, but by Tom
Layton and Jerry Darcey for Sid Prosen
Look for "Fightin Mad" in BMI's database and you'll see the listing for Tom
Layton & Jerry Darcey. But when you go on BMI to "I'm Lonesome" from
Ember 1094, the orig. 45 rpm lists: S. Prosen-T. Layton-J. Darcey, but
BMI has: CEDZICH CHRISTOPHER - CHIRIACKA LEONARD - PROSEN
SIDNEY. So any hint here? Leonard == Layton and Christopher == Darcey?
Further confusion on "Surrender, Please Surrender" (from the ABC 45 rpm)
in ASCAP's (ACE) database.
Any help sorting this out is appreciated.
Stefan
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 16:36:28 EDT
From: John Fox
Subject: Re: Blue Suede Shoes
Phil M. wrote:
> According to Carl Perkins himself, it was none other than Johnny Cash
> who gave him the idea to write a song with the title "Blue Suede Shoes."
Carl was often quoted giving the story that the song came from a gig
where he saw a couple dancing, and the man was warning his beautiful
girl not to touch his suedes. Perkins couldn't believe the guy's attitude,
the scene stayed with him, and he got up in the middle of the night and
wrote the song on a paper bag. I just saw a film clip at the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame where he tells this exact story. So, unless the guy dancing
was Johnny Cash ...
John Fox
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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:42:54 -0000
From: Rodney Rawlings
Subject: Re: Ray Charles, It's cryin' time again.
Clark Besch wrote:
> I cried today. I did not cry when I first heard that Ray Charles
> had died. I was more totally surprised. I did not know he was ill.
> I knew he was old, but to me, he has always been old. I just didn't
> expect him to die. Seems like I see him all the time on TV it always
> makes me stop flipping and watch, no matter what type of enviroment
> it might be. Skating, Bacharach duet, country TV visit (last month),
> whatever. I just seem to catch him every couple months doing
> something unique--for the past DECADES!
That is a beautiful tribute. Thank you for providing it.
Rodney Rawlings
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 21:12:28 +0100
From: Frank M
Subject: Eden Kane / Woolworth's
Clark Besch:
> Anyway, did a search for Cd availability and it seems there is a new
> Kane greatest hits Cd coming out thru Woolworth's of the UK! Maybe
> you English folk can explain that one, but it will have "Boys Cry"
> and the others. Says available July 4.
Whilst Woolworth's used to have their own record label, Embassy, which
released cover versions of hit songs in the UK and are one of the UK's
leading record outlets (if your single is not stocked by Woolworth's, it
won't make the Top 40). The Eden Kane record is being released by Prestige
-Elite records. It's also on sale at HMV and other dealers. If you check
their website at http://www.prestige-elite.com/ you will note that the
label is also releasing CD's by Edgar Winter, Wayne Wonder, George
Clinton and Winston Churchill.
Frankm
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:48:09 -0000
From: Brent
Subject: Re: Topsy
Phil X. Milstein wrote:
> Any of y'all familiar with Cozy Cole's 1958 hit instrumental
> ("hitstrumental") "Topsy, Pts. 1 & 2"? Listening to it today for the
> first time in a long time, it occurred to me that the spoken intro Cole
> uses on both sides -- a simple announcement of the side's title ...
When I was a young(er) tyke, my aunt, who had tons of 45s, played "Topsy"
for me. With the guy's deep voice, I thought it was on the wrong speed!
I don't know if that's Larry talking or not, but I do know that Ringo Starr,
when asked (in a 1981 interview) if he had any drum idols, said "No, the
only drum record I ever bought was Cozy Cole's "Topsy". He went on
to say he also liked Gene Krupa but never bought any of his records, and
that Cozy was a "tom-tom person" and that he (Ringo) was always into the
heavy tom-tom stuff. ("A Day In The Life" and "Something" certainly bears
that statement out).
I gotta give props to my Aunt Sue for owning lots of red (with some yellow)
Atlantic 45s, by The Clovers, Lavern Baker, Clyde McPhatter, etc., as a
Caucasian lady in the 1950s South! I don't think there were any Georgia Gibbs
or The Crew-Cuts in the lot. Hopefully Ray C. , Conway T. and Elvis P. are
serenading her!
Best wishes,
Brent
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 22:14:44 +0100
From: S'pop Team
Subject: Bubblegum CD series
With this compendium of remaining posts, the Admin Team is declaring
the "Bubblegum CD Series" thread closed. Discuss individual tracks, by
all means, but these pesky bootlegs have had more than their fair share
of S'pop space.
-------------------------------------------------------
John Berg wrote:
> A friend here in the Northwest area recently received over 20 CDs
> of a series of compilations that are loosely titled "Bubblegum MFs"
I think this has come up before. These have to be boots. I know
Layng Martine, Jr.'s "Crazy Daisy" wason one of them and after being
contacted by Layng's son, they said they would sell what they had and
leave it off from then on. Also, there are Professor Morrison's Lollipop
songs which I don't think they could have properly licensed.
Clark Besch
--------------------------------------------------------
Previously:
> The series was actually up to 40 volumes ... Here's a tracklist for
> the entire series, as well as the companion series "BubblePop MFs":
> http://www.soybomb.com/ratpfink/tracklists/bubblegum-mf.htm
WOW!!!! That's one spectacular track listing.....and I had no idea
these existed. If anyone has copies they would trade I'd be eager to
work out a deal....email me off-list and let me know....I've been
living for that kind of music most of my life!!!!
Al Wagenaar
--------------------------------------------------------
I've got one volume of "Bubblegum MF". It features a lot of very nice
tunes, but overall this series for my liking tends a little bit too much
towards cheesy (early) 70s sounds. But nevertheless, some real
corkers can be found there. I got mine at ebay from someone who's
selling these for the compiler who is from Japan. Like the "Fading
Yellow" series (which I appreciate a lot more - rather no fillers!
high quality stuff all through) off course these aren't legal reissues.
Therefore the compiler doesn't want to step into spotlight.
Unfortunately the Swedish guy, which compiled Fading Yellow has been
sued recently and was forced to stop producing any more CDs in this
series and refused to sell his stock. I cannot understand the reasons
of someone suing him for he apparently didn't make it for the money but
just out of his love for fantastic music!
Christian Steiner - pop-addict from Germany
---------------------------------------------------------
I have a few of these and generally speaking there's 10-15 great songs
per disc. Never did pick all of them up. A shame this was the only way to
be exposed to what is some really awesome music. Maybe someone
with the entire series should start another yahoo group to post the tunes
which still haven't been issued on cd!
Patrick Rands
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 22:15:19 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Coins/Aces; Romantics; Cozy; Campbell
Phil Chapman wrote:
> Wasn't "Three Coins....." by the Four Aces?
Ooops - you're right! The Four Coins hit with "Shangri-La," "Memories Of
You," and "The Curly-Headed Kid In The Third Row," NYC DJ Peter Tripp's
theme song! (As I commented about the "white guy" groups, they all sorta
sounded the same!) Thanks for catching me on this one, Phil; it still doesn't
lessen the impact of their stylistic departure on "Boys Cry." By the way, I've
been under the impression that the Four Coins' version was the original. Am
I mistaken (again)?
Another mea culpa -- I had wondered if the Romantics had another hit after
"What I Like About You." Sebastian reminded us of "Talking In Your Sleep";
obviously I've heard the song, but didn't realize it was them as I was away from
pop music and on freeform progressive radio at that time.
Phil Milstein wrote:
> ... I wouldn't be surprised to learn that both [spoken intros] (all three, really,
> counting both sides of "Topsy") intros were uttered by Larry Levine.
I believe Cozy Cole introduced both sides of "Topsy" all by his lonesome. At
the time it was a hit "topsy" became sort of a "buzzword" in regular conversation,
enjoying a wave of popularity similar to "Whassup" and other catchphrases. And,
don't forget, Cole had a similar, two-sided follow-up called -- what else -- "Turvy"!
Same kind of intro. (I couldn't make this stuff up!) FYI, Cole was the drummer for
Cab Calloway's Orchestra, and had a wide, deep and varied career both before and
after "Topsy." He died in 1981. More at: http://www.cabcalloway.cc/Cozycole.htm
Al Wagenaar wrote re Glen Campbell:
> ... I can't belive how underated he is in this day and age.
I'm particularly warm toward some of his pop-country material just before
"Gentle On My Mind." He has a great urgently-rockin' version of the Porter
Wagoner standard "A Satisfied Mind," and a superb anti-Vietnam War song
written by Roger Miller, "Private John Q." Both well worth finding, IMO. Campbell
has had more different incarnations than almost any artist I know of (check his
doo-wop creds on The Lost Tapes CD that I reviewed for Spectropop earlier
this year).
"Outtahere, Part One"....
Cozy Paul
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 21:00:45 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Peterik
Clark Besch wrote:
> Jim now has 3 bands, I believe, going at the same time. Some new
> band, plus Survivor and the Ides.
Is Frankie Sullivan gone from Survivor?
gem
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2004 23:59:39 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Buddy Kaye
Frank wrote:
> Buddy Kaye and Tommy Scott wrote it, I think for Eden Kane. Anyway his
> version charted feb 1964. It was also covered in French (Garcons Pleurent)
> by Richard Anthony. Here's an obit for Buddy Kaye:
> http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/britmusical/buddyk.htm
Thanks for the link, Frank. It's all starting to tie together. Inow recall reading
some time ago that Kaye, who wrote the cloying "A, You're Adorable" and
many other Tin Pan Alley songs, also co-wrote what is my absolute all-time
favorite Dusty Springfield song, "Little By Little." I was blown away by that, and
now am reblown to know that he co-wrote "Boys Cry." He certainly had quite
a career.
Mike
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Message: 17
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:23:36 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Boys Cry
Phil M. wrote, re Four Coins' version of "Boys Cry":
> Say no more -- on Paul's behalf, I've gone ahead and posted it.
Thanks, Phil. It certainly is, er, "different." Assuming this is the original and
that Eden Kane fashioned his version from it, it's a real tribute to whoever
the arranger/producer was on Kane's session. While it's usually assumed that
the "original," American version of a song covered by a Brit will be superior,
that's not always the case. For example, Barbara Lewis's "Someday We're
Gonna Love Again" and The Orlons' "Don't Throw Your Love Away" are
both enjoyable, but The Searchers' treatment of both is incredibly creative,
and superior, in my view.
Mike
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Message: 18
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:01:52 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Buie Buie
previously:
> Buie co-wrote several hits for the Classics IV (whom he produced) and
> Atlanta Rhythm Section (of which he was a member) ...
Sorry, but that is incorrect. Buie was never a member of ARS, although
he co-wrote for and produced them.
Southern Al Kooper
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Message: 19
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:37:30 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Glen's world fell down
Al Wagenaar wrote:
> Glen Campbell......can't belive how underated he is in this day and
> age.........recently a Campbell box set came out....and I found it to
> be incredible that they missed his vocal on "My World Fell Down"...
> which he has commented on as being his best vocal ever........
I know Dawn Eden says it's Glen, but I'd like to see once and for all a quote
where Glen says it's him singing the lead on "My World Fell Down." I've
listened time and again, straining to recognize anything in the voice that
sings the verses of that song that sounds remotely as if it could be
Campbell ... and I just can't hear it.
I could maybe believe that's him singing on the chorus, but on the verse? Al,
do you (or does anyone else) have a cite in which Campbell directly discusses
this and states that it's him singing the verses of "My World Fell Down"? If
I see one, I guess I'll finally give in and believe it. But only reluctantly ...
Mike
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Message: 20
Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 02:51:13 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Blue Suede Shoes
John Fox wrote:
> Carl was often quoted giving the story that the song came from a gig
> where he saw a couple dancing, and the man was warning his beautiful
> girl not to touch his suedes. Perkins couldn't believe the guy's attitude,
> the scene stayed with him, and he got up in the middle of the night and
> wrote the song on a paper bag. I just saw a film clip at the Rock & Roll
> Hall of Fame where he tells this exact story. So, unless the guy dancing
> was Johnny Cash ...
Not quite, but the story still stands. Cash came up with the title idea,
which he donated to Perkins. Carl then went off and, inspired by the
event you cite, wrote the song. The bag part is true, too -- in fact, he
had to dump a few potatoes out of it before he could use it to write on!
I'll be happy to post the full text of the passage in question, if there's any
call for it.
--Phil M.
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