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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re:The 'Oooo
From: Al Kooper
2. Ain't it cool
From: Al Kooper
3. Re: Bill Sim-zick
From: Al Kooper
4. Re: Robert John
From: Al Kooper
5. Re: D. Hess
From: Al Kooper
6. Alfax 1966-67
From: Al Kooper
7. Re: Beach Music
From: A.J.
8. Re: Sonny Curtis - Love Is All Around on LP?
From: Mark Hill
9. Re: Beatles recordings abroad
From: Leslie Fradkin
10. Re: Robert John
From: Orion
11. Re: Beatles recordings abroad
From: Eddy
12. Rick James R.I.P.
From: Artie Wayne
13. Re: Grover Henson Feels Forgotten
From: Frank Jastfelder
14. Re: NY studio muscicans: Don(ald) Thomas
From: Jeff Lemlich
15. Hubert "Huby" James Heard, R.I.P.
From: Karen Andrew
16. Re: Don(ald) Thomas
From: Leslie Fradkin
17. Re: Beach Music
From: Austin Roberts
18. Re: Robert John/Bobby Pedrick, Jr.
From: stereoldies
19. Re: Beach Music
From: Austin Roberts
20. Soulful Northern Beach Music
From: Austin Roberts
21. Re: Beatles recordings abroad
From: Billy G. Spradlin
22. Re: Bert Berns' British productions
From: Niels
23. Diamond masters
From: Mikey
24. Re: Sonny Curtis - Love Is All Around on LP?
From: Joe Nelson
25. Re: Don(ald) Thomas
From: Mike Rashkow
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 18:53:26 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re:The 'Oooo
Previously:
> ... Often cited as proof the group could never see anything through
Now that is very untrue with Tommy being the best example. At the time
of Tommy's creation, there probably were a handful of musos that could
have written a "rock opera". No one but Townshend had the focus and
vision to see it all the way through, however. Believe me, it takes
some doing. Ask Brian about "Smile". Ask Paul about Magical Mystery Flop.
Al Kooper
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 19:00:52 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Ain't it cool
Austin Roberts:
> What's great about Spectropop is the vast amout of knowledge that its
> members possess. They know more, in some ways, than those of us that
> made and still try to make music that people will like and feel close
> to.
Here, Hear !!!!!
I'd drink to that (if I could)
Old Al Kooper (46th year in the biz)
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 19:04:59 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Bill Sim-zick
Previously:
> Al, you're so strict. Let's all call him Bill.
I always referred to him as Bill Skinflick.
Strict, but humorous nonetheless.
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 19:09:17 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Robert John
Previously:
> For some reason or other it was widely rumoured that Robert John was
> a Mancunian and lived in the north of England.
Robert John, actually Bobby Pederick, is as American as doo-wop from
whence he came.
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 19:02:51 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: D. Hess
Previously:
> Is D. Hess the same guy that wrote one of Elvis' hits? If so, I met
> him in NYC in the late '60s. He was a real different kind of guy.
I suspect that D.Hess was actually David Hill, who co-wrote extensively
in NYC in the 60's.
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 19:24:33 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Alfax 1966-67
Previously:
> Received a 7 1/2 ips reel-to-reel tape of the Elektra "What's Shakin'"
> album in reasonably good shape from eBay today and was really blown
> away by Al's solo version of "(I)Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes" an
> entirely different take on the tune from the Blues Project.
>
> Al - what do you recall from this track, please? Where when and who?
That was cut when I just got that tune together prior to the BP learning
it. However, my new pals, Roy Blumenfeld (drums) & Andy Kulberg (bass),
joined me on that version. I played piano & guitar. My favorite memory
of that track was a review of What's Shaking by Nat Hentoff, jazz critic.
He reviewed it when it first came out. He said something very close to
this:
"As the liner notes say, Al Kooper mqy be a New York legend, but judging
by this track, not for his singing or piano-playing."
> Also, Al, I recently saw the Blues Project outtake from D. A.
> Pennebaker's "Monterey Pop" and it looked like an amalgam of the Project
> and Paul Butterfield's band was on stage - loved the spot when your
> glasses flew off your face while you were working over the B-3. Recall
> anything about that performance?
Yes. First off, the clip you refer to was NOT The Blues Project. I had
left the band two months prior to Monterey and was assistant stage manager
at the pop fest. I was allowed to do a mini-set as a courtesy (2 songs) so
I asked friends Harvey Brooks (E. Flag) Elvin Bishop & Billy Davenport
(Butters band) to jam with me. There were obviously no rehearsals. The
Blues Project appeared at the fest with my replacement John McDuffy.
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 22:05:43 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
From: A.J.
Subject: Re: Beach Music
Austin; we play a lot of beach music at our Cruise-In's in Cincinnati,
Ohio. If you could drop-load you songs we would be glad to play them.
AJ
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 22:52:02 -0400
From: Mark Hill
Subject: Re: Sonny Curtis - Love Is All Around on LP?
Joe Nelson asks:
> If any TV theme of the 70's deserved to be a hit, it was Sonny's
> recording of the MTM theme ("Love Is All Around"). I'm not sure this
> was ever even remixed for official release. Anybody know otherwise
> (God willing)?
Mark Hill responds:
I don't know about "remixed", but it was re-recorded on a Sonny Curtis
LP from the 70s. I picked it up as a cut-out. Definitely not the same
arrangement used as the theme. I did not capture the vitality of the
original TV version at all. I was disappointed and sold the album. I'm
pretty sure the original is on one of the TV TUNES cds.
"Dr. Mark" Hill * The Doctor Of Pop Culture
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2004 21:41:14 -0600
From: Leslie Fradkin
Subject: Re: Beatles recordings abroad
Previously:
> I pulled out my Lewisohn to make sure this time. The session took
> place on January 29, 1964 at the EMI Studios in Paris, where the
> following was recorded: * Sie Liebt Dich -- 14 takes, German vocals
> + new rhythm track...
> That being the date, how on earth did "Sie Liebt Dich" end up as a
> 45 release on Swan?
Swan held general rights to all versions and derivatives of "She Loves
You."
Les
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 00:13:15 -0500
From: Orion
Subject: Re: Robert John
I really like Robert John and all of his music. "If You Don't Want My
Love" is one of my favorites. It used to drive my room mate nutso
though, he hated his voice on that songs and all others.
Orion
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 10:24:05 +0200
From: Eddy
Subject: Re: Beatles recordings abroad
Lloyd Davis:
> It came out in July '64 on the "Something New" LP.
No it didn't. Only Komm gib mir deine Hand is on that album.
Except for its appearance on the Swan 45, Sie liebt dich
remained unreleased in both UK and USA until the Rarities LP's.
Eddy
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 01:46:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Rick James R.I.P.
When I was running Irving/Almo music in the early 70s, a young Black
man walked into my office, dressed from head to toe in a Psychedelic
leather outfit and dreadlocks. I didn't know him, but he had been so
engaging on the phone that I agreed to listen to his music. He flashed
a confident smile as he handed me a demo of a new song he had just
recorded.
I put the needle on the steel acetate...and when the intro started I
leaped out of my seat onto the dance floor I had built in my office.
I've never been one to conceal my enthusiasm in front of a writer or
singer...and I was so excited by what I'd heard I could have danced on
the ceiling!!
I thought the demo he made of "I Love my Mama" was good enough to be a
master ...and so did Kip Cohen, head of A+R at A+M, when I brought it
in to him. They signed him to a record deal while I signed him to an
exclusive songwriters contract for 5 years.
It was always a pleasure to hang out with him or see him working around
the A+M studios. He was still developing the fusion of Rock and Funk,
he became famous for a few years down the line, and I looked forward to
everything he wanted to play me. He was hardworking and dedicated...and
would do anything that would make him a Rock star.
Unfortunately, it didn't happen for him at A+M. It took a few more
years of development and the Power of Motown to put him up where he
belonged. Through the years when I'd run into him, he'd tell whoever he
was with that I was the guy who discovered him and gave him a chance.
I'm proud to have played a small part in his career...but I'm even
prouder to have been his friend.
Respectively, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 11:15:35 +0200
From: Frank Jastfelder
Subject: Re: Grover Henson Feels Forgotten
Paul Urbahns:
> My favorite Bill Cosby song, besides "Little Ole Man", is Grover
> Henson Feels Forgotten. It was on UNI and I don't think he ever
> did an album for them. Needless to say since it came out during
> the Vietnam War it got a lot of airplay besides he was doing the
> Bill Cosby Radio Program (a 5 minute comedy featurette series)
> sponsored by Coke. I have a few of those on tape. They featured
> the Rock and Roll Coke Commericals by current groups. I was a DJ
> in those days and there was quite a bit of Bill Cosby on radio.
Cosby did at least seven LPs for UNI records. My favorite is "BC
talks to kids about drugs". With songs like Captain Junkie. A really
funny record. BTW does anybody know who and how the label started?
They really had some interesting acts on it.
Frank J.
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 13:47:20 -0400
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: NY studio muscicans: Don(ald) Thomas
Mike Rashkow:
> Don (Thomas), as I remember him was a very nice guy. Talented and
> laid back. He is from Sarasota, FL and is the brother of Jean Thomas
> (Fox) of "the girls" and much more. He produced some early stuff with
> Bill Szymczyk, before Bill went west.
Does anyone know if this is the same Don Thomas that recorded "He Knew
(That He Was Dying)"/"Ain't It A Shame" on Probe 466? The producer was
Eddie Deane and the arranger was Pete Dino.
Only about 2 dozen more digests to go!
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 10:28:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Karen Andrew
Subject: Hubert "Huby" James Heard, R.I.P.
Keyboardist Huby Heard died July 29 in Cincinnati. He grew up as a
musician in church and was discovered at age 22 during a church
service by Billy Preston. Huby left Cincinnati for L.A. where he
lived for 30 years. He played keyboard for Billy Preston and the God
Squad. He played in the GAP Band and on albums for Bill Wyman. (Via
the Internet, I saw Al Kooper's name on a Bill Wyman album, "Stone
Album", on which Huby was also listed.) Also, with other artists such
as Teddy Pendergrast, Stephanie Mills, Ray Charles and the Brothers
Johnson. Huby returned to Cincinnati in Nov. 2001 and became a member
and the minister of music of the New St. Paul Baptist Church in 2002.
Services were held on Friday. This is all the info. I have now.
Karen
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Message: 16
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 12:52:39 -0600
From: Leslie Fradkin
Subject: Re: Don(ald) Thomas
>> Mike Rashkow:
>> Don (Thomas), as I remember him was a very nice guy. Talented and
>> laid back. He is from Sarasota, FL and is the brother of Jean Thomas
>> (Fox) of "the girls" and much more. He produced some early stuff with
>> Bill Szymczyk, before Bill went west.
> Jeff Lemlich:
> Does anyone know if this is the same Don Thomas that recorded "He Knew
> (That He Was Dying)"/"Ain't It A Shame" on Probe 466? The producer was
> Eddie Deane and the arranger was Pete Dino.
Very likely since it was Eddie Deane who hired Don for my studio stuff.
Les
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Message: 17
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 15:19:36 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: Beach Music
> Bobster:
> Those 3 tunes by Epic Splendor, The Tams, and Chairmen of
> the Board are classic examples. And I also love "She Shot
> A Hole In My Soul" by Clifford Curry so I'm happy to hear
> that Austin R is in contact with him too!!!
Clifford is a terrific guy, as anyone who has met him knows.
Clifford, Johnny Cobb, Steve Jarrell and my own self have a
Beach single out there that's getting good reaction, charting
etc. It's called "Beach Music Cafe." Hope you hear it and
like it.
Best,
Austin R.
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 19:28:30 -0000
From: stereoldies
Subject: Re: Robert John/Bobby Pedrick, Jr.
Speaking of Bobby Pedrick, Jr. and doo-wop, I have added an
mp3 to musica by Bobby and the Consoles, with their song "My
Jelly Bean" (co-written by Pedrick), which was another release
on Diamond Records, from 1963. I wish someone out there knew
who has posession of the Diamond masters; they need to get put
out on CD, and since 7 of the 8 albums on the label were by
Ronnie Dove, there isn't much besides him that exists anywhere
in stereo, but from the beginning they were recording in stereo
(Johnny Thunder's LP "Loop De Loop" [Diamond 5001] was in true
stereo throughout, I believe).
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Message: 19
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 15:38:53 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: Beach Music
> Phil M:
> My geography could be slightly off. I know it was in 1988, when I
> spent a week along the northern South Caroline shore in hope of
> locating the Beach Music scene, only to find out (the hard way) that
> few people there had ever heard of it. Beach Music, it turned out,
> is a highly insular scene, and never spread its geographical wings
> the way Northern Soul, to some extent, has. Other than that, though,
> the two have played out in very similar ways.
Beach Music still thrives along Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina, where for many it is a way of life. I guess the hottest
place is North Myrtle Beach in SC. Beach Music stations are what broke
"May I" by Bill Deal and the Rhondells in the late '60s, to the point
that Jerry Ross signed them to his Heritage label, where they had a
few more hits.
Austin R.
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Message: 20
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 15:43:20 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Soulful Northern Beach Music
It seems that many Northern Soul records fit nicely in Beach
Music charts and always have.
Austin R.
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Message: 21
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 20:28:26 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: Beatles recordings abroad
Steve Harvey:
> I used to have the one sided promo single with "Sie Liebt
> Dich" on one side and a blank other side. I guess because
> he had rights to "She Loves You" that gave him clearance
> to release it auf Deutsch.
I have seen the stock copy of "Sie Liebt Dich" - it used "I'll
Get You" as the flip. I believe it made the 90's on Billboard's
"Hot 100," which is not bad for a foreign-language recording.
You have to give credit to Swan and Vee-Jay/Tollie credit for
cashing in when Beatlemaina exploded.
Billy
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Message: 22
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 22:38:04 +0200
From: Niels
Subject: Re: Bert Berns' British productions
I made a mistake in an earlier post: P. J. Proby and The
Movement were not produced by Berns. Mick and Scott are right.
I don't know how I got that mixed up; I apologize.
And I've asked Lyle from The Chieftains' comprehensive Web site
about the Derek & Elaine question, and he tells me that, as far
as he knows, the name of Derek Bell's sister was Deirdre.
Mick, do you happen to have the dates for Berns' earlier visits
to England as well?
Niels
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Message: 23
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 18:56:13 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Diamond masters
Shawn:
> ... I wish someone out there knew who has posession of the Diamond
> masters; they need to get put out on CD, and since 7 of the 8 albums
> on the label were by Ronnie Dove, there isn't much besides him that
> exists anywhere in stereo, but from the beginning they were recording
> in stereo (Johnny Thunder's LP "Loop De Loop" [Diamond 5001] was in
> true stereo throughout, I believe).
>From what I'm told, a lot of the Diamond Records Masters were lost in
a fire around 1973. Can't corfirm that, but most of the Ronnie Dove
stuff out there is from records, so that kind of bears it out.
Mikey
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Message: 24
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 19:18:25 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Re: Sonny Curtis - Love Is All Around on LP?
Joe Nelson asks:
> If any TV theme of the 70's deserved to be a hit, it was Sonny's
> recording of the MTM theme ("Love Is All Around"). I'm not sure this
> was ever even remixed for official release. Anybody know otherwise
> (God willing)?
Mark Hill responds:
> I don't know about "remixed", but it was re-recorded on a Sonny
> Curtis LP from the 70s. I picked it up as a cut-out. Definitely not
> the same arrangement used as the theme. I did not capture the
> vitality of the original TV version at all. I was disappointed and
> sold the album. I'm pretty sure the original is on one of the TV
> TUNES cds.
That's why I suggested the single would have been remixed. The
original mix apparently was done with the TV theme in mind and
wouldn't necessarily have been stereo, record quality, etc. Not to
mention including at least the two known verses - but you're right,
the released version sounds nothing like the TV version: thus the
intent of this subthread.
Joe
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Message: 25
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2004 20:19:44 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Don(ald) Thomas
Les writes:
> The producer was Eddie Deane and the arranger was Pete Dino.
Pete Dino (DiBeradino) was a very talented arranger and a very nice
guy. I worked with him on a few things and and we wrote one song
together; "You Can't Take The Boy Out Of The Country" which was
"attempted" by Louis Prima. Nice credit, bad record.
Anyway, when Ellie Greenwich and I did the last Definitive Rock
Chorale record, we used Tony Pass as lead singer on one side--that,
a Steve Tudanger song, "Let Me Be Forever". Pete did the strings and
horns arrangements; the rhythm track was the demo.
Pete was close with Mikie Harris, that's how I met him. Jus4duhrekkid,
he did two charts on Ellie G's "Let It Be Written, Let It Be Sung" LP.
I believe I have set a new standard for indiscrimate and
inconsequential name dropping in one post.
Di la,
Rashkovsky
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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