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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: Johnny Crawford
From: Pres
2. Re: Phil Kahl
From: Andrew Charles
3. Re: Sweet Henry song
From: Phil X Milstein
4. Re: Distant Cousins
From: Al Quaglieri
5. Re: All's Quiet on West 23rd
From: Phil Hall
6. Northern Soul Cover Up
From: Frank Murphy
7. Re: Bend Me, Shape Me..
From: Howard Earnshaw
8. Re: Python Lee Jackson
From: Phil X Milstein
9. Re: Eight Feet - Bobby's Come Back
From: Ian Slater
10. Re: Kevin McQuinn / Diamond Records
From: Mike Miller
11. Attention Claire Francis & Al Kooper: Dave Rich now playing @ Musica
From: Mick Patrick
12. Brian Wilson In UK Top 40!
From: Various
13. Richard Perry query
From: Artie Wayne
14. The death Of Vinyl/Attic Records
From: Mark Hill
15. Re: Distant Cousins; #1 then nothing; Megatrons
From: Country Paul
16. The Distant Cousins Meet Frankenstein
From: Frank Young
17. Re: The Distant Cousins; Richard & The Young Lions
From: Clark Besch
18. Re: Kolsky brothers
From: Tom
19. Re: Denny Zager; 1-HWs
From: Orion
20. Re: Alley Oop; short takes
From: Country Paul
21. Re: Python Lee Stewart
From: Eddy Smit
22. Re: Elegants
From: Al Kooper
23. Re: Dave Rich now playing at musica
From: Claire Francis
24. Re: Bend Me, Shape Me..
From: Ed Salamon
25. Re: Sweet Henry song
From: Austin Roberts
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 08:44:34 -0400
From: Pres
Subject: Re: Johnny Crawford
Jim Fisher wrote:
> I recently was given a copy of ("Cindy's Birthday") ...great teen-
> tune ... My question: who had the hit version (if there was one) in
> the US with this song?
The hit version in the US (Del-Fi 4178) was by Johnny Crawford from
TV's "The Rifleman" and former Mousketeer. The third of his eight
charted records between '61 & '64, it was his career peak at #8 in
the summer of '62.
I just recently became familiar with this song from ACE's "The Golden
Age of Rock 'N' Roll" series and, although I'm not normally a fan of
"pin up pop", I love this song.
I have to say, when I first heard it I didn't know who was singing
and I actually thought, "Is this a lesbian love song?"
No disrespect to Mr. Crawford's teenage vocal chords intended.
I'd love to hear the "Alvin Stardust" version.
pres
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 09:29:40 -0400
From: Andrew Charles
Subject: Re: Phil Kahl
For Davie Gordon: One of Dickie Goodman's 1970s singles was co-produced
by "Phil Kahl / Big Seven Music." If Big Seven Music was connected with
Roulette (as I think it was), this could be the same guy.
ACJ
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 12:57:39 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Sweet Henry song
Phil Milstein wrote:
> Here are the titles of a few Sweet Henry releases, all of them on
> Paramount: ... Recognize any of 'em?
Austin Roberts asked:
> None of these fit. Do you know what years these were out?
> For some reason I thought the label for our tune was Columbia.
They are listed as being from '70 and '71. I believe the first two were
from '70, and latter one from '71.
--Phil M.
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 13:16:18 -0400
From: Al Quaglieri
Subject: Re: Distant Cousins
I've posted a nice clean copy of The Distant Cousins' "She Ain't Lovin'
You" at: http://www.alcue.com/distant.mp3
I'll put up some of their other singles in the next day or so.
Wish there was a more generous file allowance. They don't even offer
the option to buy more space...ridiculous!
Al Q.
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 18:09:51 -0000
From: Phil Hall
Subject: Re: All's Quiet on West 23rd
Tina Vozick wrote:
> I can pick out names on the signs of this likely 23rd street
> somewhere. That is totally New York City's West 23rd Street. The
> YMCA is the McBurney "Y" on the north side of W. 23rd and Broadway
> Bank was on the south side. I spent many an hour in the Automat on
> the south side of the street. Also on the south side, of course, is
> the famous Chelsea Hotel.
Tina, Alas, the McBurney YMCA closed last year, the Automat is gone
and the Broadway Bank is now the East of Eight Emigrant Savings Bank.
The Chelsea is still there, though.
Phil H.
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 18:31:21 -0000
From: Frank Murphy
Subject: Northern Soul Cover Up
There was an acetate played last night at a local soul club . The
title can only be "Every man must have a woman" and according to
Spectropop's research tools a song of that name was written by Teddy
Randazzo. Did he do his own demos? It sounded very much like one of
his productions. Any info anyone?
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 15:00:52 EDT
From: Howard Earnshaw
Subject: Re: Bend Me, Shape Me..
Davie Gordon wrote, Re: Bend Me, Shape Me:
> Isn't the original version the one by The Models (MGM 13775)
I've another version of this by Henry Shed on UK Stateside. I like
it too. :-)
Howard
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 15:07:15 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Python Lee Jackson
Rod Stewart, quoted by Eddy Smit:
> This was only meant to be a demo, which I did for a friend in exchange
> for a new set of carpets for my automobile (he was a car salesman trying
> to enter the field of rock & roll managment - a lethal combination). He
> said, "I only want a guide vocal to show my new signing how it should be
> sung". I, of course, obliged like a friend. Subsequently, three years
> later, it was released and became a major hit in Europe. I was conned.
> Never mind, life goes on.
Thanks for providing this quote, Eddy. It's hard to picture such an
intense performance as being only a guide vocal!
Yeah,
--Phil M.
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 18:14:35 +0100
From: Ian Slater
Subject: Re: Eight Feet - Bobby's Come Back
Al Kooper on Eight Feet:
> The flip was written by the girls, I think. Too lazy to dig it out.
> I had great fun attempting to emulate Spector's sound on that record.
Thanks for the gen on that record, Al. I wonder if the reference to
Debbie fits in with anyone else's knowledge of a talented young New
Jersey singer of that name. It would be great to find other tracks by
her. According to the label, the flip (and I'm assuming you meant the
flip of "Bobby..." not of the demo!) was written by R. Adams and L.
Kusik. The publisher was "We Three Music Inc, BMI". If that brings
back any more memories, it would be interesting to know. A great
emulation of the Spector sound with a Dylanesque song: what a
marvellous legacy of the 60s!
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Message: 10
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 13:57:56 EDT
From: Mike Miller
Subject: Re: Kevin McQuinn / Diamond Records
Davie, Regards the Kevin Mcquinn recording, "Ev'ry Step Of The Way",
Charlie Calello stated in a 2002-2003 interview that this was the
first song that he worked on with Bob Crewe. I believe it was October
1961, as the record charted someplace in the eastern US in November
1961. The 4 Seasons also can be heard quite prominently on this side,
but not as easily as on the flip, "Keep Me On Your Mind".
The 2 later releases on this label were:
-Adventure / Same Time, Same Place
-Philly-Del-Fi-Yea (Gaudio) / Turn Back (Crewe-Gaudio)
It seems to make sense that Mcquinn was one and the same as Eddie
Quinn from the Mello Kings, as their career sort of ended in early
to late 1961, and he had taken a hand in many of their songwriting
credits. Does anyone from this group know anyone from the original
Mello Kings who could substantiate whether McQuinn and Quinn are
one in the same ????
Mike Miller,
doowopdaddy
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Message: 11
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 23:46:00 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Attention Claire Francis & Al Kooper: Dave Rich now playing @ Musica
Martin Roberts on Claire Francis productions:
> ... "But I Don't Care", "I've Got My Own Thing Going" ... and
> Dave Rich's "Last Two People On Earth" ...
Al Kooper:
> Curious if this is the same Last Two People that I co-wrote for
> Gene Pitney. Never heard Dave Rich's version.
It most certainly is. I don't have a copy of the record. Doh!
Fortunately, Martin does, and he's very obligingly made it
available for musica. I've just uploaded it for him. Find it here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
details are: Dave Rich "The Last Two People On Earth" (UK Polydor
BM 56113, 1966) Written by Al Kooper/Bob Brass/Irwin Levine.
Music Director Nicky Welsh. Produced by Claire Francis.
Claire hasn't heard this for over 30 years. Hopefully, memories of
her time spent in London's Tin Pan Alley will come flooding back.
With any luck, she'll be able to tell us which musicians played on
this track, all 150 of 'em! Is that the Breakaways on backing
vocals? My favourites! Dave Rich sounds like a terrified teenager.
I like that.
Coming soon: the B-side, and more.
Thanks, Martin.
Hey la,
Mick
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Message: 12
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 19:19:30 +0000
From: Various
Subject: Brian Wilson In UK Top 40!
Some thoughts on Brian Wilson making this week's charts in Britain:
-------
Richard Hattersley:
Wow, I never thought I'd see this. Brian Wilson in the UK Top 40 with
the single "Wonderful," from the Smile album entered at no. 29.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/top40/
How about that!
http://www.wiz.to/richardsnow
-------
Dave Feldman:
Who would have thought this could ever happen? Right now, the #1 CD
at Amazon US and UK is Brian Wilson's Smile.
http://www.imponderables.com
-------
Jens Koch:
I know the charts of today don't get mentioned much on Spectropop, but
number 29 in this week's official English chart is Brian Wilson's new single
"Wonderful" -- and that's a VINYL single!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/top40/
It's also number 4 on the indie charts.
Why that's ... "Wonderful"!
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Message: 13
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 15:15:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Richard Perry query
How y'all doin? Has anybody heard what my old friend Richard Perry
is up to these days?
Regards,
Artie Wayne
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 18:44:04 -0400
From: Mark Hill
Subject: The death Of Vinyl/Attic Records
Record collectors, I dare you to look at this photo from the post-Ivan flooding
in Pittsburgh last week. The Attic is the premier vintage vinyl store in Pittsburgh,
the home of the $1,500 45:
The Death Of Vinyl/Attic Records: http://tinyurl.com/5mepa
For background on the flood and its damage: http://tinyurl.com/4fj8u
Mark Hill
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Message: 15
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 19:53:32 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Re: Distant Cousins; #1 then nothing; Megatrons
Dave O'Gara, (1) my favorite Distant Cousins track was the beautiful "No
More You" on DynoVoice. Agreed: good to see them discussed here. (2) re:
Silhouettes "Get A Job" hitting #1 and the group never seeing any chart
action again -- I didn't even know they had any follow-up records (although
after a huge hit, they certainly would). At least they deserved their hit; I
confess I never liked Zager & Evans' "2525", which Joe Nelson notes also
hit #1.
Rich wrote:
> Bend Me, Shape M...by The Models (MGM 13775) [is] posted
> at TweedlleDums Drive-In:
> http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/TweedleeDumsDrive-In/
Thank you!
Lyn Nuttall wrote:
> I've been looking into the Megatrons' 1959 instrumental "Velvet
> Waters" which had a life of its own in Australia as a vocal hit....
> (I'm summarising what I've put up on my "Velvet Waters" page at
> http://poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=412 )
Wow! Great page, Lyn. I had no idea (1) that this sweet little instrumental
had such a history, (2) that Heywood Henry was black, and (3) that the song
hit overseas as a vocal. I wonder how its little label (which changed its name
from Acousticon to Audicon mid-run) got it to be such a big hit. FYI, also
on the label were The Passions ("Just To Be With You," etc.).
To be continued ...
Country Paul
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Message: 16
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 16:58:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: Frank Young
Subject: The Distant Cousins Meet Frankenstein
Has anyone mentioned the extremely unlikely film appearance made (in
song only) by The Distant Cousins? It's in what, for my money, is the
singlemost absurd and delightful Z-grade monster movie of the 1960s.
1965's black and white Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster features
the very Beatley and catchy "To Have And To Hold" twice, including a long
end-credits sequence. Also featured in this jaw-dropping film is The Poets'
cult classic "That's The Way It's Got To Be," played over a montage of fab
NASA stock-footage. Bob Crewe is credited as the producer of the Scottish
Poets' song, which was actually helmed by Andrew Loog Oldham, as we
all know ...
This movie is a life-changing experience. The filmmakers had the impressive
gall to repeat an entire sequence, verbatim, some three or four minutes after
it was first shown -- dialogue and all! I've never seen this done in any other
movie.
The film was released on video in the early 1980s. I have a dub of it, obtained
from a video store in Georgia. If it's ever released on DVD, I'll happily buy a
copy. Keep your eyes peeled for this abnormal drive-in gem at your local
decrepit mom 'n' pop video store!
Frank
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Message: 17
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 01:48:06 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: The Distant Cousins; Richard & The Young Lions
Al Quaglieri wrote:
> I've posted a nice clean copy of The Distant Cousins' "She Ain't Lovin'
> You" at: http://www.alcue.com/distant.mp3
I had asked Bob Irwin to get this incredible 45 on his next "Rock Artifacts"
CD, but the series was dropped after volume 4. Its follow-up, "Stop Runnin'
Round Baby," was another great 45, less garagy and more poppy, but a great
song nonetheless.
Dave the Rave wrote:
> Just a side note on the Distant Cousins, their song "She Ain't Lovin
> You" was one that I suggested to the late Richard Tepp of Richard &
> the Young Lions(RYL) for their new upcoming CD that is being helped
> by the likes of Little Steven's Underground Garage.
Since "She Ain't Lovin' You" and "Open Up Your Door" were out at the same
time, there were many ads with info on both groups in the trades at the time.
I agree that "She Ain't Lovin' You" woulda been a cool song for the reunited
R&YL guys. Maybe my good friend, drummer Twig of The Young Lions,
doesn't know kettle drums?
By the way, their story is out on DVD! Great hour plus many extras and great
stories! Available from their waycool site: http://richardandtheyounglions.com/
Clark
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Message: 18
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 20:06:48 -0000
From: Tom
Subject: Re: Kolsky brothers
Davie Gordon wrote:
> Something about Diamond I've never been sure of - is Phil Kahl the
> same person as Phil Kolsky who was an early business partner of
> Roulette's Maurice Levy - I think he was in charge of publishing for
> Roulette and related labels.
Yes, Phil Kahl Is Phil Kolsky. His brother, Joe Kolsky, was president of
Diamond Records. Phil was A&R head and produced a lot of Ronnie
Dove's records with Ray Vernon (Vernon Wray, brother of Link Wray).
Phil and Joe have both passed away -- I don't have death dates for either
of them, except I was told Phil passed away sometime in late 2000 in Florida.
Tom
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Message: 19
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 21:36:07 -0500
From: Orion
Subject: Re: Denny Zager; 1-HWs
Gary Myers wrote:
> I told him I did occasional stories for record collector's publications
> and wondered if he would do an interview sometime. He said they had
> just had some recent interest in re-doing the song from someone in NY,
> and he'd like to wait until that happened. I wrote to him once after that,
> but never heard anything further.
I live in Omaha, NE which is only 40 miles away. I have tried to contact
him a few times but he is not much for talking about the past. The few
words I did get out of him were, "The days you speak of came and went
fast, they aren't here anymore". With that he politely said goodbye.
Many people want their privacy, and I believe they deserve it.
Shawn Nagy wrote:
> Depends how technical you want to get, Zager & Evans had three chart
> entries, Singing Nun had two according to Cashbox. Always worth
> considering both sets of charts. NOW, if a group didn't have more
> than one entry on both Billboard & Chashbox I'd consider them a
> bonafide "one hit wonder".
I think many consider a "one-hit wonder" if they only charted one record
in the Top 40 or so. I know I have purchased a few "One-Hit Wonder" CDs,
and when looking them up in Billboard and Cashbox found much what you
described. They only had one in the Top Ten and maybe another in the 90s
or the like.
Orion
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Message: 20
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 23:15:31 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Re: Alley Oop; short takes
Joe Nelson wrote, re: one-#1-hit-wonders:
> The other artists were the Singing Nun as noted, plus the
> Hollywood Argyles and Zager and Evans. (If you want to go
> past the Seventies, you could include M.)
The Hollywood Argyles hit #1 with "Alley Oop"? That version essentially
bypassed New York completely, as the Dante & The Evergreens version on
Madison was the big hit here. Interesting as they were both from the same
town in California, according to Don "Dante" Drowty, who I had the pleasure
of singing with (as an "honorary Evergreen") when he visited UGHA at the
end of 2001.
Gary Myers wrote:
> "Purple Haze" was the chart follow-up AM&J on Laurie 3478.
> I think the original flip of AM&J was "Daddy Rollin'" (3464).
You're probably right, and I'm probably wrong. I need to do more rustling
through the record collection before quoting statistics -- maybe the brain is
ossifying with age!
Al K., great story about Eight Feet. Wish you remembered more about the
flipside, "What Am I Without You" -- it's absolutely gorgeous!
More soon,
Country Paul
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Message: 21
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:22:40 +0200
From: Eddy Smit
Subject: Re: Python Lee Stewart
Although some of the songs throughout his career may not have been
quite up to snuff, I think Stewart has always proven he's an excellent
singer, regardless the material. He's just one of those people where the
sound comes naturally. And especially because of the inferior material he
did later on, one tends to lose sight of the fact that especially throughout
the '60s Stewart made some magnificent records. In particular "Little
Misunderstood" is one I'd like to single out here.
Eddy
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Message: 22
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 04:57:40 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Elegants
Austin Roberts wrote:
> Greatest Dion soundalike, in my opinion, was the one-hit wonder, number
> one record Little Star by The Elegants, circa 1958. What a great record!
That would be Vito Picone, who I shared many stages with in my Royal
Teen days.
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Message: 23
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 09:05:46 EDT
From: Claire Francis
Subject: Re: Dave Rich now playing at musica
Thank you all so much for being part of my very grateful heart.
Al, thank you for writing such a beautiful and special song. Your song had
quite a lot of meaning for me. I always felt, and still do, like I wanted to save
the world. Your song says it all for me.
Mick and Martin, you are my angels. Tonight I heard my record and realized
how blessed I am to know you all. Can you imagine what it must feel like to
be me right this moment? Man, all I can say is -- this is love! You guys have
really done something very special for my family and I. May the great spirit
that created all life bless you all.
Music is such a wonderful thing. The past is starting to come alive again, and I
can see the studio session images right before my eyes. And yes, Dave Rich
was a terrified teenager. I think he was about 22 years old when I met him. If
my memory serves me correctly, I think I recorded his voice track in Paris.
He lived on a houseboat on the River Seine.
Nicky Walsh was a big bearded teddy bear of a man and a very kind person.
Both he and Johnny Hawkins were my favorite people to work with, because
even though I was a young girl and a female and from Brooklyn, New York, they
took me seriously ... except when I would say the words "walk, talk was, water
and coffee". They listened to my ideas about "big walls of sound" and really
made them happen. Because we had so many musicians on this record we had
to use the EMI Studio A.
The Breakaways -- I haven't heard that name in so many years. I think they were
on this session. I would love to see a picutre of them. I might remember even
more. But I really think that it was them!
I will write more as I remember. Meanwhile, thanks so much for all your help.
Love and light,
Claire Francis
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Message: 24
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 15:18:11 -0000
From: Ed Salamon
Subject: Re: Bend Me, Shape Me..
Howard Earnshaw wrote:
> Isn't the original version the one by The Models (MGM 13775)?
You are correct, sir! Co-writer (and my Nashville neighbor) Larry Weiss
advises:
"Yes, The Models did do the first version of 'Bend Me Shape Me.' The
late Tom Wilson produced them, on MGM, and they actually were beautiful
models for real!"
Ed Salamon
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Message: 25
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 12:21:47 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: Sweet Henry song
Phil M. wrote:
> They are listed as being from '70 and '71. I believe the first two were
> from '70, and latter one from '71.
This would have come out in 1973 or 1974, at the earliest.
AR
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