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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 21 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
From: Martin Roberts
2. Re: The Everlys (& Garfunkel & Simon)
From: Michael Coxe
3. Re: The Everlys (& Garfunkel & Simon)
From: Michael C
4. Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love"
From: Mario
5. Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love"
From: Richard Hattersley
6. Everly Brothers on Warner Brothers
From: Paul Tumey
7. posted Goffin-King penned Everlys outtake to musica
From: Frank Young
8. Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love" and a zither
From: Mick Patrick
9. American Film Institute top 100 movie songs
From: Clark Besch
10. Re: Oldies Radio thread declared closed
From: Various
11. Dawn Eden on "My World Fell Down"
From: Steve Harvey
12. Re: Faux Lead Singers
From: John Fox
13. Donny Gerrard & Skylark
From: Patrick Beckers
14. Re: basslessness
From: Various
15. Moulty heroic
From: Al Kooper
16. Re: Faux Lead Singers
From: Mike McKay
17. Re: go (Albert) West
From: Don
18. Kind words
From: John Braheny
19. Welcome Dennis Diken
From: Javed Jafri
20. Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love"
From: Phil X Milstein
21. Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love"
From: Gary
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 19:47:31 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
A two part Eddie Hodges ROTW kicks off (naturally) with Part 2,
"The Old Rag Man": http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm
Part 1, next week, is an earlier Columbia release.
I'm beavering away on the archive of the ROTW pages and they are
looking very good. It's a pity that I didn't keep the earlier reviews,
it might mean you'll have to listen to Judy Henske's "Road To Nowhere",
Karen Verros' "Little Boy" and many others all over again. Shame!
Martin
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 23:56:01 -0700
From: Michael Coxe
Subject: Re: The Everlys (& Garfunkel & Simon)
Art's cd with collaborators Maia Sharp and Buddy Mondlock
remains the best record I've heard in the past 3 years.
- michael, 1st saw the Everly Bros at the age of 6 in 1958
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 18:22:46 -0000
From: Michael C
Subject: Re: The Everlys (& Garfunkel & Simon)
> I agree, only 4 songs by Don and Phil?! What were they thinking?
Yes, the Everlys only do 4 songs during their mini-set in the current
S & G tour. However, the context in which those songs are done is very
respectful.
Having seen S & G during their last swing through town (LA) I can
attest that Phil and Don are introduced with the complete respect they
deserve. Their set rocked Staples Center, and the huge crowd sang
along with every word.
If I'm not mistaken, the brothers also do a 5th song "Wake Up, Little
Susie" with Paul and Art joining in harmony. Really, there's nothing
more beautiful than these four harmonizing...even in an arena setting.
By the way, the Everly Brothers still do full shows on their own.
I saw them in Orange County a couple of years ago when Albert Lee was
in the group. Excellent.
Michael C.
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 08:00:05 -0000
From: Mario
Subject: Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love"
The demo of "So Goes Love" is very tasty. It reminds me of the day I
borrowed my older sister's "Turtles Greatest Hits" on White Whale. I
thought that song and "Grim Reaper of Love" were the coolest moody
numbers yet to reach my young ears. According to a Monkees web site
"So Goes Love" was produced by none other than Mike Nesmith during
the '66 sessions that yielded "Sometime In the Morning". It sounds
possible, anyone know more?
mo
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 10:06:25 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love"
Phil M:
> I too had never heard "So Goes Love" before, and was thrilled to
> finally discover it! What a gorgeous number, with a one-listen-
> memorable refrain and, in this version, Carole's ever-soulful
> vocals. Eager to hear The Monkees' version, I've ordered the
> Missing Links volume it's on and, while I was at it, ordered the
> other two as well. I realize I should've had these all along, but
> a little instigation can go a long way.
I agree, what a fantastic demo.
You are gonna love the Monkees' version, it's got a great track on
it. I think it's a Nesmith Produced song as well, I may be wrong.
Davy on vocals.
Richard
www.wiz.to/richardsnow
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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 06:23:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: Paul Tumey
Subject: Everly Brothers on Warner Brothers
In response to a couple of recent posts:
Yep, the Everlys' 1960s sides for Warner Brothers are one of the great
unheard pieces of pop/rock history. Everybody knows the 1960-62 hits,
and those are great, but the truly adventurous stuff starts after that
...there are some stunning B-sides, flop singles and album-only tracks
that reveal their development as songwriters and performers.
Simultaneously, as the Beatles were emerging with their extremely
Everlys-flavored songs and material, Don and Phil were writing songs
of an emotional complexity Lennon and McCartney could not replicate.
I think of songs like "The Drop Out," "The Facts Of Life," "I'll Never
Get Over You" and "It Only Costs A Dime," just to name four stellar
Everly compositions from 1964/5.
Warner Brothers in the UK started a reissue program of the Warners
LPs, but only got as far as the first four. Their first two WB LPs,
"It's Everly Time" and "A Date With..." are perfect records in the
early Everlys style. The later material has only haphazardly been
represented on CD.
I recall that Rhino made an annoucement in 2000 that they were
reissuing the entire WB Everly catalog. Since they have access to the
Warners material, this would be a natural. It would probably all sell
well enough to merit the effort. They seem to have dropped the ball
on ever doing this.
I've transferred all my Warners era Everlys material to CD. Hmmm...
maybe I'll put an obscure Everlys song up on musica!
Best, Frank
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 17:54:10 -0000
From: Frank Young
Subject: posted Goffin-King penned Everlys outtake to musica
Hi all...
Combining two faves, the Everlys and a seldom-heard Goffin/King song,
I've posted the unissued 1962 track "I Can't Say Goodbye To You" on
musica. I have tons more out of print Everlys tracks, if you'd like
to hear more...
Frank
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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 08:46:03 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love" and a zither
Phil M:
> I too had never heard "So Goes Love" before, and was thrilled
> to finally discover it! What a gorgeous number, with a one-
> listen-memorable refrain and, in this version, Carole's ever-
> soulful vocals...
We've been here before, I know, but Shirley Abicair's delicious
rendering of "So Goes Love" is contained on the CD "Goin' Back:
The Songs Of Goffin & King" (Sequel NEMCD 376). Also featured are
such G/K nuggets as "Sometime In The Morning" by Barley-Bree, "So
This Is How It Feels" by the Countrymen and "What You Got" by the
Eccentrics. Obscure, or what? Find the complete list of 30 tracks
here: http://tinyurl.com/2eoye
Has anyone commented yet that "So Goes Love" was obviously
written for a male performer, hence Carole King's *deep* vocals
on her demo version. For those who have yet to hear it, the track
is presently still playing @ musica.
I'm not one to suffer nostalgia, but the folksy Shirley Abicair
and her ever-present zither were a fixture of my childhood TV
viewing. I've never held that against her, though.
Oh well, back to my Amy Winehouse CD.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 17:26:13 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: American Film Institute top 100 movie songs
I did not see the Tv show last night showing the top 100 songs from
American made movies, but the list is here:
http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/songs.aspx
If it hadn't been for the word "American", I would have been upset
about the exclusion of "A Hard Day's Night". I think I counted 3
songs from "West Side Story" which is deserved. Actually, I did not
find much fault with the songs chosen. I have to take exception
to "I'm Easy". That is one of the worst songs and some of the worst
singing I've ever heard! Makes me cringe when I hear it. Not
sure "Born to be Wild" should be rock n roll's movie peak (#29) and,
oh yes, we MUST include "Old Time Rock n Roll"....NOT!!!!!! What
about "Where the Boys Are" or "That Thing You Do!" or personal
fave "Way Way Out!"?? I'm sure there are plenty more I'd want on
there. No Annette movie songs? Racquel Welch "Dancing in the
Streets"--oh yeah, 100 greatest SONGS! "Meet me at the Love in"??
Dick Dale from "Pulp Fiction"? The Rutles? "Girls on the Beach"?
Name em off, folks......Clark
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 19:35:09 +0100
From: Various
Subject: Re: Oldies Radio thread declared closed
Dear Members,
With this compendium of posts, S'pop is declaring CLOSED the
Oldies Radio thread. Please, NO more messages on this subject.
Thank you.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Harvey wrote:
> Alan, you're right. They won't be playing oldies rap 20 years from
> now. It's been 20 years since "White Lines" came out, and how
> often do you hear that?
I'm sorry, but that's simply not true. One of the growing radio
formats currently is a format called "Jammin' Oldies," which is hip-
hop and R&B oldies from the '70s and '80s. And yes, these stations
play "White Lines," among other early hip-hop masterpieces.
Similarly, another hot new format in radio right now is "classic
alternative" (WFNX here in Boston was a pioneer in this format),
which mixes current alt and indie bands with the likes of The Smiths,
The Ramones, and even The Velvet Underground.
The simple truth is that as we move further away from the '50s and
'60s, music from that era is going to get less and less prominent on
the airwaves. After all, were there a lot of radio stations in the
'60s devoted to playing only music from the '20s?
Stewart Mason
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I agree with the comments made about typical oldies radio stations. I
hope they continue with what they are doing, because they are doing a
GREAT service to Internet oldies radio listeners: driving them to it.
As the producer and host of Treasure Island Oldies, on the Internet
since 1997, I pride myself on the fact the the musical universe is
immense to play from 1955 through the mid to late '70s. I am flattered
that Robert Fontenot of oldies.about.com has described Treasure Island
Oldies as "Quite possibly the Internet's finest oldies netcast show".
I honour the intelligence of the listeners and always enjoy surprising
them with another "Lost Treasure". The response via email and the
companion chat room are indicative of their appreciation.
I firmly believe you CAN keep oldies music sounding fresh and alive,
as are the memories that get brought back to life when someone hasn't
heard a song in 30 or 40 years.
Best regards.
Michael Godin
Treasure Island Oldies
The Home of Lost Treasures
www.TreasureIslandOldies.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Harvey:
> It's been 20 years since "White Lines" came out and how often do you
> hear that?
True -- possibly one of the best rap/hip-hop records, and not a wasted
note, in my opinion. To me, it is the exception that proves the rule.
Jimmy Botticelli:
> Most people at an event I DJ indicate no physical or emotional
> familiarity with what is played.
Too true; most people need to have "something on" -- familiar is good
because it's comfortable. In this group, we're audio adventurers; the
other 99% of listeners aren't, except in occasional rare bursts -- like
1964 or the dawn of rock & roll into mass consciousness -- and even
then they'll wait for the tastemakers to clue them into what's cool.
(Of course, the tastemakers are watching the cutting-edge types [read:
"us music geeks"] for clues -- but they'd never hang with us because
we're too geeky!) I also second the rest of your comments, JB, as much
as it hurts to. I also second much of what Mike McKay said, although
his "obscure" hour looked pretty mainstream to me!
Country Paul
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Here's a current story that pulls together a couple of threads. A
nationally well-known UK radio DJ, Tony Blackburn, was temporarily
"suspended" by his station chiefs (Classic Gold) for playing two
songs by Cliff Richard, in defiance of their instruction. Cliff
Richard, they said, didn't match their "brand values", and was not
on their playlist anymore. The "suspension" was quickly lifted in
view of the bad publicity for the station but not before the story
made front page news and was even on BBC's main radio news. Personally,
I care little for the DJ in question, and even less for his choice of
music HOWEVER, what I found most interesting was that a radio DJ on an
"oldies" prog. was still able to choose his own records....and might
even be putting the CDs on himself, for all I know. Think there's any
DJs anywhere who still play 45s?
Norm D. Plume
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 21:03:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Dawn Eden on "My World Fell Down"
A message from Dawn Eden:
Could you please tell them Bruce's memory is off about Curt? Everyone
else involved, including Usher and Boettcher, said Boettcher didn't
join the Sagittarius project until after "My World Fell Down."
MacParland's extensive interviews confirm this, as does my interview
with Boettcher. I believe MacParland had access to session records as
well.
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 14:19:15 EDT
From: John Fox
Subject: Re: Faux Lead Singers
Mike McKay writes:
> ...bands with a member who played percussion only (or less) and yet
> was not the primary lead singer: The worst offender: Davy Jones of
> the Monkees (okay, he sang some leads, but my favorite always was
> when he pantomimed trying to play bass!)
And a real obscurity: "Where The Action Is" regulars, The Hard Times
(with Lee Kiefer, whom I'm sure was hired strictly for his rugged good
looks, since guitarist Rudy Romero did all the lead singing). Lee was
not talentless, however--he does show up later in life, as a record
producer/engineer, and there are photos in Al Kooper's book to prove it.
John Fox
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 19:56:32 +0200
From: Patrick Beckers
Subject: Donny Gerrard & Skylark
> Skylark (their guitarist sang the lead on "Wildflower" -- meanwhile
> the girl and the black guy sang backups but didn't play anything)
The "black guy" is Donny Gerrard and he was the (male) lead singer of
Skylark and also sang lead on Wildflower. It wasn't the guitarist who
sang lead.
Patrick Beckers
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 20:37:38 +0100
From: Various
Subject: Re: basslessness
There follows a selection of recent posts on the seemingly
popular subject of basslessness:
----------------------------------------------------------
I was in a band in the late 90s which featured no bass and it can
really create a unique sound, say on a various artists tape of bands
all with bass guitars you end up sounding quite unique. It's also
quite a challenge writing material for such a setup, especially if
you have a song with a guitar solo. It ends up being about simplicity.
Another interesting way to use bass, was how the Tokens would use two
basses, one playing the upper register and one playing the lower.
Very unique sound on their recordings because of this - did anyone
else try this technique in the 60s? I know New Order had a similar
sound (but using only one bass guitar), and they also used bass
keyboards to create the unique New Order sound.
Bass vs bassless = a fascinating subject!
Patrick Rands
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Mike McKay writes:
> ...there are two full-band recordings that come to mind that are
> bassless. One was a big Top 40 hit:
> Daydream -- The Lovin' Spoonful
> Sister Ray -- The Velvet Underground
> Others?
Two vocal groups with multiple bassless hits come to mind:
"Bristol Stomp" by The Dovells (and the crank-em-out hit factory at
Cameo/Parkway liked it so much, they left the bass out of the follow-
up, "Bristol Twistin' Annie")--amazing in that bass is so prominent
(and so good) on many of that label's other hits, including The
Dovells' "You Can't Sit Down", The Orlons' "Crossfire", etc.
Same principle for "A Thousand Stars" by Kathy Young with The
Innocents, followed by "Happy Birthday Blues" (and I just bought the
Ace Records "Early Girls" series which has their version of "The
Great Pretender" on it--yep, no bass!).
John Fox
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Joe Nelson:
> Rascals' trademark Hammond, Manzarek's Farfisa, etc. All the more
> reason we miss those days and showed up here (sigh) ...
Speaking as a former farfisa player (early Blues Project), Ray Manzarek
played a Vox Continental at first with a bass module on top.
previously:
> Most bass lines can be capably done by a good organist.
It has been my experience that most Jewish organ players don't bother
to learn or play bass pedals.
Zion Al Kooper
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The thing about keyboard bass, whether on the footpedals or left
hand, is that they cannot get that "Jaco style" fretless bass sound,
which became so prevalent in fusion circles and spilled over into
some rock and lots of funk. Given that I hate this bass style, along
with its sundry disco permutations, I am all the more for keyboard
bass. But having said that, I love Jim Fielder's work using a
"Fender bass" on early Blood Sweat And Tears, and all those Motown
bass lines from the various "Funk Brothers" bassists, including
Jamerson. I also like the simple "click bass" sound featured in lots
of '60s rock bands, e.g. early Them on their rendition of It's All
Over Now Baby Blue". Alan Henderson played with a pick, not his
thumbs, and generally stuck to laying down a bottom for the rest of
the band to build upon. A keyboard player could have played the same
notes, but it would not have had the unique sound of the pick on the
strings. So I guess I am saying that IMHO there is room for all
sounds -- well, maybe except for those irritating "Jaco" style
fretless bass pops and slides. But others will have their own pet
peeves and preferences....
John Berg
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 22:53:17 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Moulty heroic
Mick Patrick:
> Anyway, I've a pile of Mike Clifford, Myrna March and Azie
> Mortimer 45s waiting to be digitized, a pan of chicken thighs
> sizzling away and tennis to watch on TV. And I'm out of Zantac.
You are so close to Cathy I can't believe it!
Mike McKay wrote:
> The Cryan' Shames (J.C. Hooke -- who would have had a hard time
> playing much else as he really did have a hook!)
Phil M:
> That never stopped Moulty!
I produced a band in the early 70's named Mose Jones. Their bassist,
Randy Lewis, (also a GREAT singer) was short one right hand and
created a device he strapped on his stump that enabled him to play
quite well. Little known (we didn't publicize it) but moulty heroic.
Al Kooper
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 23:38:15 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Faux Lead Singers
I wrote:
> Others in this same category -- i.e., bands with a member who played
> percussion only (or less) and yet was not the primary lead singer:
> [list snipped]
Charles replied:
> In the Monkees, Davy Jones sang lead considerably less often than
> Micky Dolenz.
Yow! Talk about missing the obvious! Right you are. I saw The Monkees
on one of their reunion tours c. 1986 (they were quite good, by the
way). On one number, Davy came out with an acoustic guitar strapped
on, which he did proceed to actually play on the song. But first came
some dialog; I don't remember it exactly, but Mickey expressed
surprise and said something like "Davy, I didn't know you had a
guitar!" To which Davy replied, "Oh this isn't mine, it's Peter's."
Mickey: "Peter's?" Davy: "Yeah...everybody knows The Monkees don't
play their own instruments!"
Mike (not Wool Hat)
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Message: 17
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 16:29:06 -0000
From: Don
Subject: Re: go (Albert) West
Previously:
> I just posted a country version of that song to musica, by Albert
> West. I don't know much about him but he also did "Halfway To
> Paradise".
Eddy:
> Would that be Albert West, ex-lead singer for Dutch band The
> Shuffles? After he went solo in 1973 he basically made a career
> out of covering '60s songs like Tell Laura I Love Her, Put Your
> Head On My Shoulder, Ginny Come Lately, and many more.
This sounds like it may be the same guy. Thanks for the info Eddy.
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Message: 18
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 01:46:46 -0700
From: John Braheny
Subject: Kind words
Artie Wayne:
> When I moved to L.A. in 1969 to run Viva musics prof. dept., staff
> writer and soon to be good friend, Alan O'Day ["Undercover Angel",
> "Angie Baby"] took me to a little meeting of the L.A. Songwriters
> showcase run by Len Chandler and John Brahaney. There were about
> 10 people there, but it was a loving, supportive envoiroment.......
Artie, Thanks for the kind words. It was always a pleasure working
with you. You were always willing to give very constructive and
articulate feedback to writers and always came from a very giving
place. We appreciated you for that and all the things you did for
writers on your own. You were definitely one of the good guys in the
industry. I'm sure you still are. Let's talk.
John Braheny
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 21:39:45 -0700
From: Javed Jafri
Subject: Welcome Dennis Diken
Nice to have you on board Dennis, any chance you can play your
band's Beach Boys cover "Girl Don't Tell Me" to musica?
The band for those who wondered is the Smithereens.
Javed
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Message: 20
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 14:37:06 +0000
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love"
Mario wrote:
> The demo of "So Goes Love" is very tasty. It reminds me of the day I
> borrowed my older sister's "Turtles Greatest Hits" on White Whale. I
> thought that song and "Grim Reaper of Love" were the coolest moody
> numbers yet to reach my young ears.
Does the Turtles' version of So Goes Love appear on any CDs?
--Phil M.
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Message: 21
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 18:53:19 -0000
From: Gary
Subject: Re: Carole King & Gerry Goffin's "So Goes Love"
Phil M:
> Does the Turtles' version of So Goes Love appear on any CDs?
I have it on the 5 CD set put out by Laserlight, Phil. Not a bad
version, I might add!
Gary
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