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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: John Summers
From: Chris Ullman
2. Re: "Witchy Tai To"
From: Mac Joseph
3. Peter James: is he P.J. Proby?
From: Ashman
4. Session Musicians
From: Austin Roberts
5. Re: "Witchy Tai To"
From: Mac Joseph
6. Obscure Oldies
From: Dan Hughes
7. Re: Jerry Cole vocals? / Them
From: John Berg
8. Re: Hairspray - the stage production
From: Pres
9. Re: Carole king's "I Can't Make It Alone"
From: Pres
10. "Truth" cover of Walk Away Renee?
From: John Berg
11. Love Hurts.....twice
From: Robert
12. Funny thing on gig
From: Gary Myers
13. Summer & Mercer
From: Phil X Milstein
14. The Truth about The Truth?
From: Bob Rashkow
15. Re: The Former Mono Man Speaks
From: Joe Nelson
16. NY Drummers soapbox
From: Al Kooper
17. Re: Beach Boys' "She Knows Me Too Well"?
From: Bob Hanes
18. Barbara Jean English / Sweet Inspirations
From: Al Kooper
19. Re: "Witchy Tai To" / John Townley
From: (That) Alan Gordon
20. Syreeta Wright, R.I.P.
From: Mick Patrick
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 07:36:39 -0000
From: Chris Ullman
Subject: Re: John Summers
Kingsley Abbott wrote:
> As the compiler/notewriter of Ripples, I'm the guilty party here -
> as soon as I heard the John Summers tracks, I knew they fitted
> perfectly with the sound and feel of the comps, so we went ahead
> and put them on without worrying too much about info about the man.
So as you mention in the sleevenotes, you mention "several singles",
have you managed to track down any of the others? Or do you have any
discography information about them? I know people who work/worked for
PRS and have access to the sound archive, if I can get some detailed
information such as record name, label number, it might be possible
to locate some.
Regards,
Chris
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 04:29:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mac Joseph
Subject: Re: "Witchy Tai To"
Brewer and Shipley also did a credible version of this song.
Mac Joseph
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 11:56:54 -0000
From: Ashman
Subject: Peter James: is he P.J. Proby?
Peter James: is he P.J. Proby?
I need clarification that PETER JAMES IS INDEED P.J PROBY. If anyone
can tell me so or tell me who Peter James is, that would be fantastic.
I have several 45's by Peter James. He did some 2 Great Beat Ballads on
Reprise... In fact, he did a great version of the song that's been
mentioned in recent posts "You Won't Forget Me". He sure sounds Like
PJ to me.
Thanks,
Ash.
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 11:44:00 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Session Musicians
When mentioning Hal Blaine and Larry Knecthtel, hows about Joe Osborn?
They are the 3 best musicians at their instruments in all of Rockdom,
with Roger Hawkins running a close second to Hal. Having worked with
them all many times, I'm completely in awe of their immense talent.
Austin Roberts
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 04:53:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mac Joseph
Subject: Re: "Witchy Tai To"
(That) Alan Gordon wrote:
> Hello Country Paul, NOW you did it!!!! Don't you know when you mention
> "Witchy Tai To" it's like saying Niagra falls in an Abbott and Costello
> skit. For some strange reason "Witchy Tai To" strikes a deep nerve with
> many Spectropoppers. Yes, John Townley produced that song at his studio,
> and now let the "Witchy Tai To" threads begin!!!
Alan, at the risk of sounding ignorant, would you please tell me a little
more about John Townley. I have heard that name before, but I don't know
what else he produced or who he worked with back then. Thanks much in
advance!
Mac Joseph
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 07:04:28 -0500
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Obscure Oldies
Mining the music industry's vaults. Reissues on CD -- from superstars'
vinyl to obscure tracks by obscure artists -- have become a cash cow
By Randy Lewis / Los Angeles Times:
http://www.detnews.com/2004/events/0406/01/entertainment-170674.htm
---Dan
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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 12:32:42 EDT
From: John Berg
Subject: Re: Jerry Cole vocals? / Them
I wouldn't have known it was Jerry Cole singing on the "Them" album
if the back sleeve did not say it was so -- who knew that Cole even
sang? His name was associated mainly with session guitar work and
a few instrumental guitar LPs in the surf and hot rod vein.
Perhaps some reissue label will get around to a proper reissue of the
two "Them" albums that came out on Happy Tiger, with liner notes that
get into the story of each album. Producer Ray Ruff and bass player
Alan Henderson are the constants here (having already done the two LPs
released in 1968 on Tower -- more recently reissued with full liners
and lots of bonus tracks on Rev-Ola). The second/final "Them" album
on Happy Tiger featured Henderson playing bass in a "heavy trio"
format, alongside two former members of the Kitchen Cinq (and the
"Y'alls" before that) who had also done an LP as "Armageddon" with Ruff
connections. Rev-Ola is hoping to release a Kitchen Cinq CD soon, so
maybe more of the story will emerge in that context.
John Berg
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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 14:03:47 -0400
From: Pres
Subject: Re: Hairspray - the stage production
Herb wrote:
> Then, I began spotting some I thought or knew did not belong, such
> as a Liberty "reissue" lable and Blue Sky. There could been others
> but my focus went back to the production.
This happens to me all of the time. Movies, T.V., whatever. It makes
me crazy! By the way, if you scan the record store scene in the movie
of Hairspray again you'll see that some of the labels are wrong. I
don't remember all of them but I distinctly remember there being a
Capitol label that was more akin to 1969/70.
pres
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 14:17:31 -0400
From: Pres
Subject: Re: Carole king's "I Can't Make It Alone"
Bill George wrote:
> My favorite version of {"I Can't Make It Alone"} is by Maria McKee
> in 1993. Faster than Dusty's version which really brings out the
> hook in the song.
I love this version too. It's so different from PJ's or Dusty's
which are the versions I know well. It's a dead heat between Maria's
and Proby's for favorite.
pres
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 13:06:19 EDT
From: John Berg
Subject: "Truth" cover of Walk Away Renee?
Yes, the UK group that covered Walk Away Renee was a totally different
"Truth". A name like that begs for multiple use -- e.g. lots of gospel
groups use it or variations.
The "Truth" with ex-Them members was based in Chicago from 1969-1971,
built around Irish musicians (guitarist Jim Armstrong and keyboard/sax/
flute/vibes man Ray Elliot) who had played on the "Them Again" album
and subsequent 1966 West Coast-USA tour, plus singer Kenny McDowell
(ex-Mad Lads from Belfast. In 1969 a Chicago promoter who had booked
Them for some dates in 1968 tracked down Armstrong and McDowell in
Belfast and brought them over to Chicago, hooking them up with a local
rhythm section (Curtis Bachman, the original bass player of The
Buckinghams and Reno Smith, the drummer from Baby Huey & The Baby-
sitters.) After the proverbial "woodshedding" period to come up with
original material, they began playing Chicago clubs like The Cellar,
then larger concerts and festivals throughout the midwest. They cut a
bunch of demos and music for the soundtrack to a movie produced by a
friend of their manager, then were signed by Epic Records who wanted
them to cut an LP in London. In 1971 the band flew to Belfast for what
was supposed to be a brief holiday prior to commencement of the London
sessions, but then heads rolled at CBS/Epic causing a long delay in the
mooted sessions. By the time CBS called the band to reconvene for
recording, 06 months had passed and UK emigrations had sent Bachman and
Smith packing -- and that was the end of this Truth. Fortunately
Bachman held onto all the tape reels from their Chicago sessions and in
1995 my friend Neal Skok and I were able to release this material on CD.
The music is "progressive psychedelic pop jazz R&B country" -- well, it
has elements of all those styles, coming together in a very impressive
blend that satisfies fans of Traffic, Jethro Tull and similar bands of
the era.
John Berg
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 18:42:56 -0000
From: Robert
Subject: Love Hurts.....twice
"Love Hurts": is there much difference in the Everlys' 1964 or
65 remake from their original version? Would love to hear it!
Is it available on CD? If not, perhaps someone could make it
available for us all to hear at musica?
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 05 Jul 2004 20:43:12 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Funny thing on gig
I did something really stupid on my Sunday gig (at a large retirement
community 75 miles from my house) - I forgot the case with my drum-
sticks (and a few other things). I figured, in all those residents,
there must be someone who had played some drums and had sticks, so I
made an announcement. A few minutes later a guy came up and said he
had sticks at home, close by, so he went and got them. When I gave
them back at the end of the gig he told me that he's had them since
1947! I beat them up more in 3 hours than he had in 57 years, and he
wouldn't let me pay him for them! Anyway, I was very lucky and it
was a fun gig.
gem
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Message: 13
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 15:14:11 +0000
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Summer & Mercer
Most people associate summer with The Beach Boys, or Sly & The Family
Stone, or perhaps The Temptations. Call me a weirdo, but, ever since
hearing his mesmerizing co-composition (with Harold Arlen) "Summer
Wind," for me summer means Johnny Mercer.
In celebration of the summer winds, I offer at musica Mercer as
vocalist, swinging "A Big Summer Ball." A co-composition with John
(then "Johnny," actually) Williams, the song is from the 1966 flick
"Not With My Wife, You Don't," about which Maltin says, "Pointless and
aimless, but attractive to the eye." And ear.
Dig,
--Phil M.
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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 16:53:04 EDT
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: The Truth about The Truth?
John Berg:
> The Truth with ex-Them members was a Chicago group from 1969-71.
> They cut a number of demos...later were signed to Epic Records.
Could this possibly be the marvelous band on Cadet (I think not)
with I Can/A Day Like Today? Were there more than one "Truths" in
the Windy City?
Bobster
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Message: 15
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 17:21:18 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Re: The Former Mono Man Speaks
I said:
> (trying to picture Regent without 3T in 1963...)
Al Kooper:
> 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 facilities were there. Since these were *just* demos, it may well
be that financial constraints limited what machines were used on
sessions. To this day, you'll see eight, sixteen and twenty-four track
machines availible in a given studio, with rental rates adjusted for
equipment used. Likewise, if there were two 24's the price went up as
soon as you went to SMPTE them together.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you were at Musicor when Gene
Pitney's "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away" was released. ISTR that one was
a released demo, with Gene handling all instruments and vox completely
solo. Wonder how that one came together...
Joe Nelson
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Message: 16
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 17:37:24 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: NY Drummers soapbox
Previously:
> ...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.
Let me step right up and say BERNARD PRETTY PURDIE, wayyyyyyy b4 Bill
Lavorgna and also Al Rogers, Bobby Gregg (Like A Rolling Stone).
Okay I'm done.
Old Al Kooper
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Message: 17
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 14:41:32 -0700
From: Bob Hanes
Subject: Re: Beach Boys' "She Knows Me Too Well"?
Where was my head at??!!
Phil M:
> Who is the lead singer on "She Knows Me Too Well"? I have trouble
> discerning Brian's voice from Carl's.
I said:
> ....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.
Mike said:
> 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.
This is where my brain escaped my cranium. Sorry! Was I thinking we
were talking about The Little Girl I Once Knew?
Mike:
> I don't know about "retrogression", good word btw, but Today is
> certainly more "lush" and Summer Days more "primal specterian" in
> production style. SD actually drove some of my friends away from the
> BBs 'in the day", where they had been huge fans of Today. One pal of
> mine only recently discovered Pet Sounds because he had been so put
> off by SD and Party that he skipped Pet Sounds in spite of liking the
> singles from it.
Mike you are so right! i have no idea what I was thinking. Maybe it's
my old inability to put event on a "time-line" re-surfacing from my
collegiate mid-term, finals days in History classes? I don't know why I
said that.
Mike, thanks for setting things straight as regards the major error on
my part! OOPS!
The Right Reverend Bob, dumb angel chapel,
Church of the Harmonic Overdub
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Message: 18
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 17:30:12 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Barbara Jean English / Sweet Inspirations
Tony Leong asked:
> did the wonderful Barbara Jean English (who worked for Aaron
> Schroeder) sing any of your demos???
Why yes she did. I had a crush on her.
> did the Sweet Inspirations sing background on Lorraine Ellison's
> "Doin' Me Dirty" from the Landlord soundtrack??
Nope. Carl Hall, Tasha Thomas & Valerie Simpson, I believe.
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Message: 19
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 12:31:11 -0700
From: (That) Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: "Witchy Tai To" / John Townley
Mac Joseph wanted to know more about John Townley. I first met John
when he joined the Magicians. After the group disbanded John opened
Apostolic Studios. He worked with many famous acts at the studio.
You might want to check Houseplant Picture Studio, Kurt Benbenek has
a nice history of John's "Family Of Apostolic" lp. and you can hear
it there also. John is a noted astrologer, and has written many books,
and articles on the subject. He also has put ot several sea shanties
albums. If you do a search on the web I know you will find many other
facts about John. He is one remarkable man.
Best, That Alan
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 07 Jul 2004 08:54:25 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Syreeta Wright, R.I.P.
I just received the following sad news from my pal David Nathan:
> It is with much sadness that we learned today of the passing
> of SYREETA WRIGHT in Los Angeles, due to complications from
> cancer. An outstanding, multi-talented singer and songwriter
> - who remained close friends with former husband Stevie Wonder
> - she contributed some fine work during her years with Motown,
> from the late '60s through to the early '80s. I had the
> opportunity to interview her on a number of occasions in the
> late '70s and early '80s and our last chat was in February 2001
> in connection with the release of the UK Essential Collection.
> She was always warm, articulate and the experience of speaking
> with her was fulfilling and enjoyable. She will truly be
> missed by those soul music lovers worldwide who appreciated her
> distinctive sound and superb artistry.
>
> You can read Robert Fontanella's appreciation feature on
> SYREETA at: http://www.soulmusic.com/EYS-Syreeta.htm where you
> will also find a link to our last interview together.
>
> We send prayers, blessings and love to her family and friends.
>
> Soulfully yours,
>
> David
Now to play her magnificent Gordy opus "I Can't Give Back The
Love I Feel For You" before I head off to work.
Mick Patrick
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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