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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 19 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Jerry Cole vocals; close to "Close To Cathy" chords
From: Gary Myers
2. Re: Beach Boys' "She Knows Me Too Well"
From: Mike McKay
3. Re: Beach Boys' "She Knows Me Too Well"
From: Tony Leong
4. Re: This Diamond Demo
From: Tony Leong
5. Re: This Diamond demo
From: Bob Radil
6. Music at musica; RIP Jimmie Arnold
From: Country Paul
7. Bobby Vee to musica
From: Bob Celli
8. Re: Carole King's "I Can't Make It Alone" / Righteous Brothers
From: Kingsley Abbott
9. Re: Brian on TV?
From: Jens
10. NY Times magazine interview with Brian
From: Steve Grant
11. "Witchy Tai To"
From: "Frank Murphy"
12. Re: Continental Drifters
From: Jeff Lemlich
13. Re: Jerry Cole vocals?
From: Gary Myers
14. The Former Mono Man Speaks
From: Al Kooper
15. Re: Beach Boys' "She Knows Me Too Well"
From: Mike McKay
16. Buzz Cason book
From: Larry Shell
17. Re: Jerry Cole vocals?
From: Dave Heasman
18. NY Session Drummers
From: Brent Cash
19. reissue series of the '70s
From: Phil X Milstein
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 2004 17:23:25 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Jerry Cole vocals; close to "Close To Cathy" chords
Martin Roberts wrote:
> Go on then Gary, get hunting down those vocals!
I can list his later release, if that's of interest. One of them made
the A/C chart (or was it still E-Z Listening then?).
I wrote:
> I'm probably one of the few people who actually used to do "Close
> To Cathy" on gigs. :-)
Country Paul replied:
> Which makes you one class act.
Well, thanks. Unfortunately, none of us knew the right chords to it
back then. I was on drums and had only begun to learn a few chords,
and the other guys weren't really that far ahead of me, but we tried.
It's been fun to go back to some old songs in later years and figure
them out the right way.
(And I'll use my website signature this time, for anyone who might
want to check out info on my chord book - and see how much I've
learned since 1962 ).
Gary Myers / MusicGem
http://home.earthlink.net/~gem777/
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 04 Jul 2004 22:07:32 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Beach Boys' "She Knows Me Too Well"
Phil M. asked:
> Who is the lead singer on "She Knows Me Too Well"? I have trouble
> discerning Brian's voice from Carl's.
I believe it's Brian. There does not appear to be a change in lead
vocalists from the verse to the chorus (though, of course, this does
happen in some Beach Boys songs), and Carl would not have been able
to pull off the high falsetto that Brian does there.
I have listened to a lot of music in my time, but "She Knows Me Too
Well" is among a handful of songs that has brought genuine tears to
my eyes. When the BB two-fers were first released several years ago,
I put on "Today!" after not having listened to it for a while. The
sheer beauty of Brian's voice on the soaring melody of the chorus,
coupled with the backing vocals, just completely did me in.
Mike
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 04:47:07 -0000
From: Tony Leong
Subject: Re: Beach Boys' "She Knows Me Too Well"
Phil M. asked:
> Who is the lead singer on "She Knows Me Too Well"? I have trouble
> discerning Brian's voice from Carl's.
Brian sang the lead on "She Knows Me Too Well". THAT and "Let Him
Run Wild" would have made great Beach Boys singles in 1965 (in my
opinion) -- really deep, melodic, memorable songs!
Tony
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 04:50:08 -0000
From: Tony Leong
Subject: Re: This Diamond Demo
Al Kooper wrote:
> Now on musica is the original demo of "This Diamond Ring". The
> original concept was an attempt to get The Drifters to record
> the song. All our r&b or soul demos were sung by Jimmy Radcliffe,
> another writer signed to A. Schroeder Music, where we all wrote
> daily in cubicles.
Al--did the wonderful Barbara Jean English (who worked for Aaron
Schroeder) sing any of your demos??? And also, long ago I asked,
but never got an answer--did the Sweet Inspirations sing background
on Lorraine Ellison's "Doin Me Dirty" from the LANDLORD soundtrack??
Tony Leong
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 04:46:37 -0000
From: Bob Radil
Subject: Re: This Diamond demo
Al Kooper wrote:
> Now on musica is the original demo of "This Diamond Ring". The
> original concept was an attempt to get The Drifters to record
> the song. All our r&b or soul demos were sung by Jimmy Radcliffe,
> another writer signed to A. Schroeder Music, where we all wrote
> daily in cubicles.
Thanks for the background on "This Diamond Ring". It was one of my
favorites back then. What are your thoughts on the demo getting
played next Thursday on "The '60s Show," along with your info? Also,
wasn't Buddy Salzman the drummer on "Dawn" by The 4 Seasons?
Bob Radil
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 00:57:26 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Music at musica; RIP Jimmie Arnold
Martin Roberts posted Eddie Hodges' "Too Soon To Know", produced by
Terry Melcher at http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm.
I think Jack Nitzsche's arrangement is definitely a prisoner of its
time, but I do like the song, which has some nice turns of musical
phrase, nd (then-)young Mr. Hodges acquits himself very well.
Re: Sandpipers at musica: very interesting - I was expecting the A&M
soft-rock group, and instead got this soulful sound. I still think
it wouldn't have been a hit in its time, but it's interesting
listening now. Thanks, Mick Patrick.
That's a demo? Jimmy Radcliffe's "This Diamond Ring" sounds like a
hit soul version of the song. Al K., you New York guys must have
hemorrhaged money (or time) in the demo studios; nice work! Thanks
for letting us hear it.
Thanks too for the help in listening to The Sandpipers and Jimmy
Radcliffe, Mick Patrick. However, musica seems to be balking at
letting me here Carole King's "I Can't Make It Alone." Frustration
reigns!
And so does sadness over the passing of Jimmie Arnold of the Four
Lads. Thanks for the notice, Gary Myers, and for the lead to their
website: http://www.the4lads.com/
Ron:
> I've taken a lesson from Country Paul and fallen 3 weeks behind
> on my reading.
Ooops - not the example I want to be setting! (Nor are the typos
which have been creeping into my posts. Better proofreading is
forthcoming. I promise.)
Country Paul
(grading himself B+ for content, A for spelling)
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Message: 7
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 14:33:14 -0000
From: Bob Celli
Subject: Bobby Vee to musica
I recently acquired the soundtrack lp for the documentary film, "The
Idol" (The Story of Bobby Vee). It is one of only two known copies in
existence. The music was arranged by Ernie Freeman but not produced by
Snuff Garrett. The first track ever to be released from this album was
the Goffin/King penned, "The Idol". It came out on EMI's Essential &
Collectable" set a few years ago. This song was hastily written by the
team as a replacement for the original title track, "Teenage Idol"
which had been pulled by the writer. To him, the project was taking
longer than he wanted to wait to get his song recorded. He ended up
giving it to Rick Nelson. The second interesting track recorded for
the project was the Sheely/DeShannon penned "You Won't Forget Me" This
version is very unlike the Snuff Garrett produced song that appeared
on the "1000 Eyes" lp. There are no overdubbed vocals and no Johnny
Mann Singers on this. The tempo is not as hectic, and overall the
entire recording is not nearly as "rigid" as the more familiar lp
track. Check it out and see what you think. I know it's been said that
this may have been one of the most difficult Sheeley/DeShannon tracks
to capture. Vee comes close on this try.
Bob Celli
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 20:13:38 +0100
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: Re: Carole King's "I Can't Make It Alone" / Righteous Brothers
Peter Richmond:
> ...the Righteous Brothers have never had a version of "I Can't Make
> It Alone" released, Bill Medley's first solo single on MGM after the
> breakup of the Righteous Brothers was a version of the song, this has
> been included on several compilations including the definitive Rhino
> Righteous Brothers "Anthology".
>
> Bobby Hatfield recorded an unissued version of the song in March 1968
> for Verve and there is evidence (Gold Star/Philles Records invoices)
> to suggest that the Righteous Brothers were planning to record (or did
> record) the song while at Philles but it is unclear exactly what stage
> the sessions got to. This will be included on my website sometime in
> the near future.
According to the Gold Star invoices (#1766 & 1768), I Can't Make It
Alone was worked on the 23rd Jan 1965 between 3pm and 10pm and on 25th
Jan 1965 between the same times. Each session is marked 'Basic track'.
No listening acetate costs are added, suggesting that it was
unfinished after these two dates at least. I hope to add copies of
these into my upcoming Spector 'Reader' (early 2005 with a following
wind) if we can get them to reproduce well enough. Big thanks to Mick
P for letting me have copies them!
Kingsley
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 07:28:08 -0000
From: Jens
Subject: Re: Brian on TV?
Phil X Milstein wrote:
> Anyone know what become of Brian Wilson's scheduled appearance on
> Larry King Live June 30? I tuned in, only to be met with an entire
> hour of kibbitzing over the Scott Peterson case. For better or worse,
> Brian was not among the talking heads depositing his two cents on
> that topic.
Two new dates have been given, August 20 and August 2. The second
was the most recently mentioned, so we can hope ...
Jens
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 11:56:50 -0400
From: Steve Grant
Subject: NY Times magazine interview with Brian
NY Times magazine interview with Brian:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/04/magazine/04QUESTIONS.html
Steve
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 18:30:14 +0000
From: "Frank Murphy"
Subject: "Witchy Tai To"
Could anyone confirm that Legs Larry Smith of The Bonzo Dog Doodah band
recorded a version of "Witchy Tai To"? Or am I havering?
FrankM
reflections on northern soul Saturday's two thirty pm:
http://www.radiomagnetic.com or listen to an archive show:
http://www.radiomagnetic.com/archive/rnb.php
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 18:37:15 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Continental Drifters
Bill George:
> As far as I know, the Continental Drifters are still together.
> They are just on a sabbatical while Vicki Peterson tours with the
> Bangles (which may be over by now).
I had the pleasure of catching Susan Cowsill & Vicki Peterson's side
group, The Psycho Sisters, back in the mid-90s at SXSW in Austin.
The highlight for me was their version of "It Hurts To Be In Love".
Talk about dreamy harmonies...
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 10:17:05 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Jerry Cole vocals?
John Berg:
> Jerry Cole is also the vocalist on the first of two albums by "Them"
> on the Happy Tiger label, circa 1969. He is credited also with guitar.
Wow, that's a surprise. I guess the biggest surprise is that Jerry never
mentioned that. He was also on RCA with The Id, but I don't know that he
did any vocals on that.
Jerry lives in Downey, which is where I live, and I ran into him at the
post office last year. He'd been doing a lot of gigging with Donnie
Brooks in recent years. However, Donnie had a serious accident several
months ago and I don't know if he's gotten back into heavy action yet.
gem
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Message: 14
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 13:13:55 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: The Former Mono Man Speaks
Joe said:
> (trying to picture Regent without 3T in 1963...)
All I recall is that every demo we made was on a mono machine, bounced
to a second mono machine live for overdubs. So we'd get the drums bass
& piano, then bounce it to the second machine while we played guitars
live mixing as we recorded (to mono again).
The first time I personally dealt with multitrack machines was when The
Blues Project made their first recordings on four track in 1965. Before
that I was a mono man. I played on sessions that were multitrack, but
it wasn't polite to nose around that stuff, so I minded me own business.
Ten years later, I was producing my first 24 trk album, the Tubes debut
on A&M. Twenty years later I was recording 48 track on the Crime Story
TV series. Forty years later I'm down in my basement studio taking
clicks & pops off of acetates from nearly 50 years ago!!! What a life!
Old Al Kooper
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Message: 15
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 13:22:34 EDT
From: Mike McKay
Subject: Re: Beach Boys' "She Knows Me Too Well"
Phil M:
> Who is the lead singer on "She Knows Me Too Well"? I have trouble
> discerning Brian's voice from Carl's.
The Right Reverend Bob wrote:
> ....only Brian and maybe Carl would've been agreeable, to singing the
> words of that song, at that time in the history of the world, and in
> the maturation of the individual Beach Boys. Carl had just done another
> very male ego exposing song on the Summer Days (& Nights) album. Girl
> Don't Tell Me. I think it was probably Brian's turn. Mike always was
> all about machismo, these "new" songs musta freaked him out.
Though Mike did sing the "late, late last night" passage in "Kiss Me,
Baby." So he was at least making halting attempts to get in touch with
his sensitive side!
Secondly, "Summer Days (and Summer Nights)" was released AFTER "Beach
Boys Today!" was it not? Is it just a part of the Beach Boys' story that
everyone knows but me that the tracks on it were recorded prior to those
on "Beach Boys Today!" I would have no trouble believing this, certainly,
as "Days" is definitely a retrogression from its predecessor -- which
happens to be my favorite Beach Boys album of all.
Mike
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Message: 16
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 16:33:04 -0400
From: Larry Shell
Subject: Buzz Cason book
I figured one of my fellow listers might want this. I thought it sounded
interesting when it was discussed about a month ago so I went and picked
up the Buzz Cason book, LIVING THE ROCK 'N ROLL DREAM: THE ADVENTURES OF
BUZZ CASON online and its a pretty good read. I somehow ended up with
two copies, so if anyone is interested in buying one from me for $10 + 3
postage, let me know privately via email at lawrenceshell @ comcast.net
and its yours. First request gets it. Paypal preferred. If no response
today, am eBaying it tomorrow night.
Now let's return to discussing the Al Kooper demos! I want to see these
on CD especially the R&B sides, This Diamond Ring was great!!!
Larry Shell
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Message: 17
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 22:50:28 +0100
From: Dave Heasman
Subject: Re: Jerry Cole vocals?
John Berg:
> Jerry Cole is also the vocalist on the first of two albums by "Them"
> on the Happy Tiger label, circa 1969. He is credited also with guitar.
> (By the time of that LP, origianl Them bass player Alan Henderson was
> the sole member left and held the rights to the name. Three other
> members went to form "Truth",
I think "The Truth" covered "Walk Away Renee" in England? Yes, released
March 1967. But I think that must have been a different group.
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Message: 18
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 23:44:18 -0000
From: Brent Cash
Subject: NY Session Drummers
Bob Radil wrote:
> wasn't Buddy Salzman the drummer on "Dawn" by the 4 Seasons?
Hi Bob and all S'pop,
I've always heard Buddy did the 4 Seasons'stuff, notably "Walk Like
A Man" which, if you're a jazz buff, contains opening drum breaks
exactly like Max Roach would've played in his many drum breaks from
around 1945 to at least the sixties. (So, did Max invent Rock'n Roll
drum fills as well as Bebop drumming?) Salzman also helped made the
magic happen on Margo Guryan's justly canonized "Take A Picture" LP.
For me there's nothing better than a West Coast record with all the
Blaines, Knechtels (get well!), Russells, etc., but I feel that the
3 letter name Hal is pretty much a household word at S'pop and music
aficionados (deservedly so!), and I think Gary Chester (Archies &
1000s more), Herb Lovelle (Split Level, Arbors & 1000s more), Bill
Lavorgna (Free Design & 1000s more), etc. should be household names
along with Mr.Salzman, too.
Okay, vacancy on the soap box, thanks for indulging me.
Best to all here,
Brent Cash(don't get me started on Roger Hawkins and Gene Chrisman!)
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Message: 19
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 20:27:36 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: reissue series of the '70s
I've been spending a fair amount of time lately listening to and
transferring from several entries in Sire's "Vintage Years" series, a
set of 2-LP single-artist anthologies released in the mid-1970s. Artists
covered in the series included Duane Eddy, The Troggs, The Pretty
Things, Del Shannon, and a few others I'm not now remembering. Track
selections were excellent, often including a few rarities; liner notes
were thorough (all releases in the series were in gatefold sleeves, with
the inner spread devoted to info and photos), there were useful (if not
exhaustive) discographies; and the audio quality was usually quite good
for the times. I believe the series was under the direction of Greg
Shaw, and whatever else he did or will go on to do in his career, his
work on V.Y. will stand as his crowning achievement.
United Artists had a similar series at the time, called "Legendary
Masters," with artists taken from the Liberty and Imperial family of
labels. The only one I have is Eddie Cochran, but I assume they also did
L.M. releases on Bobby Vee, The Chipmunks, Ricky Nelson, Fats Domino,
Jackie DeShannon, etc. (I've never discerned a pattern to the artists
selected for inclusion in Sire's series.) These too were all doubles,
with qualities to match Sire's V.Y. set.
Around this same period Sire also released its legendary Nuggets
compilation, as well as three 2-LP volumes of "The History Of British
Rock" (along with one "Roots Of British Rock"), while U.A. gave the 2-LP
treatment both to the Mersey (two different sets) and surf genres. I
believe this wave (no pun intended) of activity constituted the first
attempt to seriously chronicle back-catalogue in pop music history, at
least in the U.S. Previous back-catalogue releases had been down-
and-dirty affairs, and were inattentive to detail, but the parallel
bursts of activity I refer to here set the standard that the digital
era has since formalized. I only wish I'd gotten ALL of them while I had
the chance.
Dig,
--Phil M.
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