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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 22 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. The Knickerbockers
From: Gary Myers
2. Re: Kevin McQuinn / The Mello-Kings
From: Austin
3. Paul Evans - "Happy Birthday, America"
From: Joe Nelson
4. Re: Tommy McLain
From: Norm D. Plume
5. The Blue Beats
From: Gary Myers
6. Re: Claire Francis . . . and the Breakaways
From: Joe Nelson
7. Privacy
From: Gary Myers
8. Re: Alley Oop
From: Gary Myers
9. Weighing in on Smile
From: Bill Reed
10. Re: Tommy McLain
From: Art Longmire
11. Re: Denny Zager; 1-HWs
From: Gary Myers
12. Re: Tommy McLain
From: M. G. Still
13. Re: Bend Me, Shape Me (or Serre-Moi Griffe-Moi)
From: Tom K. White
14. Artie Wayne song
From: Guy Lawrence
15. Re: The Concords
From: Bill George
16. Re: Johnny Crawford´s voice
From: Clark Besch
17. Re: Johnny Crawford
From: Herbert Maton
18. Re: Bend Me, Shape Me
From: Clark Besch
19. Austin Roberts
From: Joe Nelson
20. Arrangers
From: Robert Pingel
21. The Swanks
From: Rob
22. Louise Cordet
From: Julio Niño
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 21:46:34 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: The Knickerbockers
Austin Roberts:
> I think I mentioned Buddy Crandall (Randall) from Knickerbocker Rd.,
> NJ. ... we had Buddy over for dinner a few times. Lovable guy and a
> real talent.
You certainly know better than I, but my only encounter with him was
not real lovable. We played the Knickerbockers' off night (at the Red
Velvet) for a few weeks in fall '65 and the first time we went in,
their drummer's (Jimmy Walker, IIRC) drums were still set up. The
drummer wasn't there and Buddy was, but he wouldn't move anything. We
had to move them, and we thought it was strange that he wouldn't
rather move them himself.
gem
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 18:01:56 +0100
From: Austin
Subject: Re: Kevin McQuinn / The Mello-Kings
Dave Miller:
> There may be another name that he recorded under too, but I have
> yet to check this out. The name is Eddie Robbins ???
Eddie Robbins joined The Mello-Kings in the early sixties. He'd
recorded solo before that (on Dot I think). He was from the Bronx
and ran his own Mello-Kings for a while on the oldies circuit.
Austin P.
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 16:35:07 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Paul Evans - "Happy Birthday, America"
Was doing some research on something totally unrelated and stumbled
across the knowledge that this song, an old WHN memory, turns out to
be by fellow S'popper Paul Evans. One of I don't know how many records
that came out during Bicentenialmania, and a particularly cool one
(although to this day there are lyrics I don't understand). Any
thoughts, Paul? Anyone got a copy they can post?
Joe Nelson
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 16:19:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Norm D. Plume
Subject: Re: Tommy McLain
Dave O'Gara wrote:
> The mention of Tommy's name prompts me to ask S'pop folks what they
> know about him. Was he country, pop, or a little of both?
Gary Myers:
> I recall an LP by him, circa 1978, that I think was produced by
> Huey Meaux. I think McClain was from Georgia or Louisiana.
There's a good 20 track compilation of Tommy McLain's Jin recordings:
"Sweet Dreams" Ace Records CDCD285 (that's the UK Ace label) which
came out in 1990. I've not checked the catalogue, but it's probably
long deleted. The sleeve notes say that Tommy came from Jonesville,
Louisiana, and most of his career was based around the state. The CD
is a best-of compilation from the few albums he put out, and is country/
R&B/cajun pop, mainly covers It has a good version of "Try To Find
Another Man" which I reckon knocks The (early) Righteous Brothers'
original into second place.
There are also a couple of good photos of Tommy McLain in a book called
"Memories: A Pictorial History of South Loiuisiana Music, 1920's-1980's
- Volume One: South Louisiana and East Texas Musicians", compiled by
Johnnie Allan. The title's a bit of a mouthful, and it may sound like
an academic text, but this is a book of wonderful, old archive photos,
mainly from personal collections. Well worth checking out - sadly out
of print I imagine - I'd love to know what volume two contains. The
compiler, Johnnie Allan, is the same one who did that incredible version
of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land"; the driving accordeon still gives me
the shivers whenever I hear it.
Norm D.
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 10:40:16 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: The Blue Beats
Craig:
> ... I found a post of "Extra Girl" by the Blue Beats, and a mention
> of Spectropop in that post, which caused me to search for Spectropop,
> and that brings me here. (The Blue Beats were the first rock band I
> saw live).
Welcome aboard, Craig. Interesting to see your Blue Beats mention, as
there is a Wisconsin conection to that band, so they will be mentioned
in my 2nd Wisconsin book. (I'm the resident Wisc. expert here. ).
Gary Myers / MusicGem
http://home.earthlink.net/~gem777/
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 18:11:25 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Re: Claire Francis . . . and the Breakaways
The bosses:
> As a treat for Claire, and because the Spectropop Team love
> them, a photograph of the Breakways has been newly installed
> at the members page. If you haven't spotted it, click here:
> http://www.spectropop.com/go2/members.html
I'm intrigued by the record company logo. MCA Records, but using
a Decca (US) arrow/New World Of Sound logo. Obviously this isn't
stateside, but where was it. I wasn't even aware the Music
Corporation of America even was entertaining the idea of an MCA
label before the early 70's.
Joe Nelson
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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 12:18:58 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Privacy
Orion:
> Many people want their privacy, and I believe they deserve it.
Yes. It's been very interesting to see the many different types of
responses I've received in my research. Some don't want to talk
about the past at all, some seem bitter that they never made it big,
some will tell you about their "hit" record (that no one ever heard
of), and some will tell you all the excuses for not making it big.
Fortunately, there are many (like those of us in here) who really
enjoy it all and have fun with it, regardless of what did or didn't
happen.
Have you always been around the Omaha area? I'm still searching for
several Midwest 60's bands (who had Wisconsin connections) if you
think you might recognize any of them.
Gary Myers / MusicGem
http://home.earthlink.net/~gem777/
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 23:29:37 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Alley Oop
Country Paul:
> 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.
Hey, that's great! I did a story on him for Discoveries in the early 90's.
gem
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 00:35:24 -0000
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Weighing in on Smile
This morning I posted the following on a Beach Boys/Brian Wilson list
serve. Might be of interest to readers of Spectropop as well:
I spent a lot of time in the late 60s and early 70s as a journalist
for Rolling Stone, Fusion and other publications writing about and
interviewing the Beach Boys. Even traveled around the Eastern
Seaboard with them for a while. With the exception of Paul Williams
and a couple of others, though, by then the group had fairly much
been passed by by most of my journalistic colleagues. Hair not long
enough, stage outfits not distressed enough, etc.
On one occasion, in 1970, I even got the chance to do a phoner with
Brian for the long-erstwhile mag, ROCK. One of the questions I posed
was:
ME: Are you tired of being asked about "Surf's Up?"
BRIAN: No.
ME: Do you think it might make it onto a future album?
BRIAN: No.
ME: Why?
BRIAN: We lost it.
ME: No dubs or anything?
BRIAN: Nope, it's gone.
In retrospect, I've never been happier to have had my leg pulled (lied
to?) about ANYTHING.
I used up a lot of column inches circa 1965-75 predicting that
someday Brian Wilson would break away from the Beach Boys and become
established as one of the major (extra-categoric) composers of the
century. Had to happen. I surely did endure derision for that "call."
Dame history, of course, has long since absolved me.
***
Today was the big day. . Smile minus three. . .Smile minus
two. . .Smile minus one. . .blast off! I got up early, ready to hit
rubber to the road for a nearby Circuit City where "Smile" was
advertised ata MERE 11.99. How can they sell it for that price? The
answer is simple. volume Volume VOLUME!
Before heading out for the 10 am opening of the electronics emporium,
I thought I would give the download service Real Rhapsody a "hit" to
see if by any chance "Smile" was already there. Much to my surprise
and delight it WAS! I couldn't resist. My trip to CC was delayed by
46 minutes while I listened to "Smile" emanating from the wilds of
cyber space.
My first reaction was that digital technology has really worked
wonders i.e., if you listen very carefully to "Mrs. O'Leary" in the
the midst of all the seemingly aleatory madness you can just make out
the bare bones of Gov. Jimmie Davis' "You Are My Sunshine," also
heard elsewhere more prominently in another section of "Smile."
Something I had never noticed before---along with a number of other
similar, subtle aural fillips in "Smile" 2004---in the original
recording.
My reaction to what Wilson and Company have achieved is finally equal
in enthusiasm to the most positive advance "Smile" reviews I've
encountered thus far. Since all the superlatives, and hyperbolic
overkill have already been used up by others, let's just say I'm
supremely happy with the results and let it go at that.
Extra-musically, with the release of "Smile," Brian has reestablished
the passed-by idea that vernacular, non-European concert hall music
should strive for a level of achievment beyond novelty and fashion.
His one-time musical folly is now being written about by most in the
press as if if it actually had something to do with that now-quaint
notion of capitol A capitol R capitol T. Which it most assuredly does.
What a day!
Bill Reed
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 00:37:14 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: Re: Tommy McLain
I always liked Tommy McLain's song "I Need You So" which I think came
out circa 1966. There was also an excellent cover of the song done by
a soul group called the Cruisers in 1967.
Art Longmire
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:21:58 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Denny Zager; 1-HWs
Clark Besch:
> If ya wanna talk to Denny Zager, he has a website:
> http://www.zagerguitar.com/dz.htm
Thanks for the link. Nice to see that he has made good use of his
musical experience.
Re: One-Hit Wonders - that's one more hit than I've had!
gem
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 01:14:36 -0000
From: M. G. Still
Subject: Re: Tommy McLain
gem:
> I recall an LP by him, circa 1978, that I think was produced by
> Huey Meaux. I think McClain was from Georgia or Louisiana.
That LP is "Back Bayou Adventure" on Starflite Records (a Huey Meaux
label) from 1979, and the first release on that label. It was
recorded at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston and produced by Huey Meaux.
5 of the songs are credited to Tommy McLain.
I don't much like this album, though Tommy McLain's version of Don
Gibson's "Sweet Dreams" is also a big favorite of mine, for its
spare, dreamy, cheesy sound, and its vocals, which are vaguely ethnic
and vaguely mentally unhealthy, making this an entirely different
song from the classic Don Gibson rendition.
The liner notes on the album say that Tommy McLain was a singer,
composer, guitarist, bassist, and pianist, and played lounges and
jukes in Louisiana before "Sweet Dreams" hit. After that, despite
nationwide tours and an American Bandstand appearance, he never
followed up his hit, had professional and personal problems, and went
back to playing Louisiana tonks, fronting his Mule Train band.
This is good-time gumbo honky tonk swamp-pop music, and I'm just not
a big fan of this. It doesn't sound anything like the Meaux production
in "Sweet Dreams." But I've not been able to dump the LP because I
love the old "Sweet Dreams" so much.
M. G. Still
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 08:49:54 -0000
From: Tom K. White
Subject: Re: Bend Me, Shape Me (or Serre-Moi Griffe-Moi)
Dave Monroe wrote:
> In the menatime, howzabout Claude Francois's various recordings of
> the song? I have at least a French and an Italian version by him ...
Wow, finally someone mentions Claude Francois round here! I have to
say I love the guy. Maybe his voice was a bit of an acquired taste,
but he definitely knew how to choose material, wrote all his own
lyrics, and was a very charismatic man too. His French version of
Bend Me Shape Me ("Serre-moi, griffe-moi", or "squeeze me, scratch
me" perversely) was only an EP track in France but i'm enclined to
believe that the Italian version ("Prendi, Prendi" or "take it, take
it" - ooh matron!) was a minor success, although sadly I can't check
that since the Italian equivalent of BMI shut down the supoerb Hit
Parade Italia site (boo!) Once I've checked they're not available on
CD, I'll post a couple of rare 60s singles in English by Claude to
musica at some point? I'm sure you guys would love them...
Tom K
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 14:55:27 +0100
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Artie Wayne song
Hi all,
I recently got hold of Jon & Robin's nattily attired "Elastic Event"
album (Abnak 1967) and on it found a track written by our own Artie
Wayne that I don't think has been mentioned here as yet. "Just
Imagine" (A.Wayne/Bob Halley) is pretty funky stuff too - any memories
of this one Artie?
While I'm deep in the small print the album also contains a Jeff Barry/
Andy Kim song, "You Got Style", that sounds just like their work on
Kim's solo records and a whole bunch of Wayne Thompson tracks. The
album was produced by Mike Rabon of labelmates the Five Americans (who
also contributes one song) and the Americans and fellow Abnak-ers the
In Crowd provide backing. Sundazed have recently had their hands on the
Abnak, masters have they not? Anyone know if they plan further releases?
I can play the Artie Wayne song to Musica if anyone's interested.
Guy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TweedleeDumsDrive-In/
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Message: 15
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 23:48:28 EDT
From: Bill George
Subject: Re: The Concords
Someone mentioned:
> The Concords - another group of white doowoppers...
Is this the same Concords that sang "Should I Cry" (wr. Jackie
DeShannon)? Those Concords sure don't sound white to me. Great
doo-wop record by the way, with a very different arrangement
from Jackie's own.
Bill
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 04:47:34 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Johnny Crawford´s voice
previously:
> The same thing happened to me, when I first heard Johnny singing
> "Rumours" I thought it was a girl who was singing...
Chris:
> I had the same thing happen in reverse -- dug up a few thrift store
> singles, put one on the turntable, and started listening to a lovely,
> moody Caibbean ballad that I thought was being sung by a young Johnny
> Nash wannabe. Got more than halfway through the thing before I
> realized that I'd left the turntable at 33-1/3. So I switched it to
> 45 and enjoyed the rest of Linda Scott's "Bermuda". (I swear it --
> try it yourself!)
Count me in on the wrong speed mistake discoveries!! In 77 or so, I
played "Imaginary Lover" by Atlanta Rhythm Section on the Lp at 45 by
mistake and, lo and behold, there was Stevie Nicks' voice!!! Move
over, "Revolution #9"!! I even played it on my show speeding it up
to Stevie's voice manually on the air. Of course, as a joke, I
followed that by slowing down "Alvin's Harmonica" and it suddenly
turned into Barry Manilow's "I Write the Songs"! Sorry, Barry
--Clark
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 03:20:49 -0400 (EDT)
From: Herbert Maton
Subject: Re: Johnny Crawford
The one song that I really love is "Your Nose Is Gonna Grow" due to
its novelty nature. I've come across "Cindy's Birthday" on compilation
CDs but not the above.
Herb
Toronto, Canada
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 05:06:48 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Bend Me, Shape Me
Ed Salamon quoted songwriter Larry Weiss:
> "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!"
Dave Monroe:
> I met someone a while back, a friend of a friend, who claimed that
> he, and not Gary Loizzo, sang "Bend Me Shape Me" on The American
> Breed's recording thereof. I can't find any online corroboration,
> and I'd rather not let his name out into the wild in case he wasn't
> quite on the up-and-up. But I've no particular reason to disbelieve
> him, either. Resepctable guy, had some convincing details (though
> the conversation was in a context not conducive to long-term memory,
> if you know what I mean ...). Can anyone comment authoritatively on
> this?
Dave, I wrote the liner notes for the American Breed's Varese Cd hits
package in 93 and I interviewed Gary extensively. The thought that
he is not lead vocalist is not even a possiblity in my mind. His
voice is so unique that I don't see how anyone could claim to have
sang it but Gary. I'm guessing that James Holvay can back me up
here, but I gotta believe there is no way he is not the lead singer
on the record. Too many records before and after and live appearance
tapes with that distinctive vocal. Clark
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 12:11:34 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Austin Roberts
Hi guys,
Just got a message from Austin that a pair of his close friends have
lost their only child. Understandably this will keep him out of the
loop here for a while: you know where to express support and sympathy,
prayers from those of faith obviously won't be refused.
TIA - Joe Nelson
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 18:06:34 -0000
From: Robert Pingel
Subject: Arrangers
As a meaningless mental exercise I decided to make a top 10 list of
the best musical arrangers from the 60's. It turned out to be a lot
more agonizing than I suspected. Here's my picks in no particular
order: Burt Bacharach, Jack Nitzsche, Garry Sherman, Charlie
Calello, Alan Lorber, Stan Applebaum, Jimmy "Wiz" Wisner, Robert
Mersey, Herb Bernstein, and Jimmy Haskell.
Apologies to H.B. Barnum, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Teacho
Wiltshire, George Martin, Don Costa, Perry Botkin, Jr., Sid Bass, Ray
Ellis, Marion Evans, Ernie Freeman, Horace Ott, Bill Justis, Gene
Page, Bert Keyes, Klaus Ogermann, Teddy Randazzo, Artie Butler, and
every other great arranger whose name did not come readily to mind.
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Message: 21
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 17:34:13 -0000
From: Rob
Subject: The Swanks
Hi All,
I recently heard a record called Ghost Train by The Swanks. I suppose
you would call it 60's instumental Surf Rock. I have checked usual
sights but can't find any trace of this group. Has anybody got any
information and is this track available on cd, especially in the U.K.
Thanks,
Rob
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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 16:05:13 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: Louise Cordet
Hola Everybody.
Phil Milstein wrote:
> Now playing at musica is Installment Numero Dos in an occasional
> series of songs dubbed from video that were never apparently
> released otherwise. This time around we find Her Royal Sassiness
> Louise Cordet bemoaning how difficult it is for such a bad girl
> as she to calm down, smooth out her ruffled petticoat and be GOOD,
> dammit. Taken from the 1966 hodgepodge montage "Disk-O-Tek Holiday,"
> aka "Just For Fun".
Hummm¡ Louise Cordet. Although I only know four songs by her (to be
precise: "I´m Just A Baby"; "Loving Baby" - perhaps my favorite; her
version of "Two Lovers" and "Que m´a t´il fait"), she is one of my
preferred British singers. I love her phrasing and she always sounds
tempting and naughty. The title of the song posted in musica is great,
it reminds me of a comment by the actress Carmen Maura in Almodovar´s
"Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios" ("Women On The Verge Of A
Nervous Breakdown") : "...Estoy harta de ser buena..." (I´m tired of
being good).
Chao.
Julio Niño.
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