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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 26 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. The Swanks
From: Ray
2. Re: Tommy McClain
From: John Marriott
3. Re: The Knickerbockers
From: Austin Roberts
4. Re: Arrangers
From: Mike Rashkow
5. Re: Louise Cordet: It's So Hard To Be Good
From: Scott Swanson
6. RIP Scott Muni
From: Country Paul
7. Re: Johnny Crawford´s voice
From: Austin Roberts
8. Re: Arrangers
From: Austin Roberts
9. Re: The Concords
From: Davie Gordon
10. Re: The Mello-Kings
From: Davie Gordon
11. Kevin McQuinn track to musica
From: Tom
12. ravin' about (Genya) Ravan
From: Tony Leong
13. Re: "You Got Style"
From: Orion
14. Re: Privacy
From: Austin Roberts
15. Me About You
From: Patrick Rands
16. Coke is it!
From: Joe Nelson
17. Re: The Swanks
From: Gary Myers
18. Re: Artie Wayne song
From: Clark Besch
19. "Hits"
From: Clark Besch
20. Oliver
From: Robert
21. Claude Francois
From: Frank
22. Zager and Evans
From: Paul Urbahn
23. French EP's
From: Frank Murphy
24. Re: Johnny Crawford & ?
From: Howard Earnshaw
25. Re: Weighing in on Smile
From: Mark Frumento
26. The Five Americans
From: Lyn Nuttall
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 20:43:07 +0100
From: Ray
Subject: The Swanks
I recently heard a record called Ghost Train, by The Swanks. I suppose
you would call it '60s instumental Surf Rock. I have checked usual sites
but can't find any trace of this group. Has anybody got any information,
and is this track available on CD?
Thanks,
Rob
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:15:52 +0100
From: John Marriott
Subject: Re: Tommy McClain
He's still around. Saw him turn in a great show in the swamp pop section of
this year's Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans in April. Tremendous soulful
singer, with great stage presence. He wore a bright red knee-length zoot
suit and cowboy hat!
John Marriott
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 16:45:29 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: The Knickerbockers
Gary Myers wrote:
> 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.
Perhaps between '65 and '69 he gained some class, as they say. When I met
him, Buddy, John and Beau Charles and I all lived in the same apartment
building on Arch Drive in North Hollywood. In fact I recommended the drummer
that started working with them in '69. Buddy and Beau and I hung out a lot
... especially at the pool, where the ladies usually were.
Sorry you didn't get to know the real Buddy. Al K. may have more insight from
their Royal Teen days.
Austin Roberts
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 17:33:35 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Arrangers
Robert Pingel wrote:
> 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.
Good list, but add:
Sammy Lowe, Hutch Davie, Don Costa, Ron Frangipane, Bert DeCoteaux;
and, although he wasn't thought of as a commercial arranger, he was then --
and IMHO possibly the best of the bunch –
Dave Grusin.
Di la,
Rashkovsky
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 14:11:30 -0700
From: Scott Swanson
Subject: Re: Louise Cordet: It's So Hard To Be Good
Phil Milstein wrote:
> Taken from the 1966 hodgepodge montage "Disk-O-Tek
> Holiday," aka "Just For Fun".
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the film's original U.K. title was "Just
For You," and that "Just For Fun" was actually a completely different film,
from 1963, but which also contained a Louise Cordet track, "Which Way
The Wind Blows"!)
"Just For Fun" = 1963, with Joe Meek/Tony Meehan-related acts
"Just For You" = 1964, with Shel Talmy-related acts (later released in the
U.S. as "Disk-O-Tek Holiday")
Both original soundtrack albums were released on Decca, though.
Regards,
Scott
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 19:18:58 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: RIP Scott Muni
As someone who started listening to this man on the radio on WMCA in the
late '50s, this is sad news indeed.
Country Paul
------
'The Professor' of Rock Scott Muni Dies
by The Associated Press
September 29, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- Disc jockey Scott Muni, the gravelly-voiced radio host
whose encyclopedic knowledge of rock 'n' roll made him ``The Professor''
to three generations of New York listeners, has died at 74.
Muni, who spent nearly 50 years on air in the nation's No. 1 radio
market, died Tuesday. he had suffered a stroke earlier this year. But
the cause of his death was not immediately known, said Josefa Paganuzzi,
spokeswoman for Clear Channel New York.
Muni's last gig was an hour-long afternoon show on New York classic rock
station Q104.3, where he landed in 1998. He also hosted many nationally
syndicated programs during his career, including ``Scott Muni's World of
Rock'' and the Beatles-oriented ``Ticket to Ride.''
He was included in an exhibit on radio personalities at the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
Muni's voice was instantly recognizable, a low rumble announcing the
latest tunes from the Beatles to Bruce Springsteen to Pearl Jam.
As the program director at WNEW-FM, he was one of the leading acolytes
of the freeform radio movement and became a major influence on the next
wave of DJs.
Known to his listeners as ``The Professor'' or ``Scottso,'' Muni was
renowned for his interviews with artists such as Paul McCartney, Mick
Jagger, Pete Townsend and Springsteen.
In one of his more memorable encounters, Muni was speaking with Led
Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page when the musician suddenly collapsed to
the floor in mid-sentence, wiped out by days of partying. The
unflappable Muni simply put on a record, woke Page up, and conducted the
rest of the interview with the guitarist lying on the studio floor.
Muni was a die-hard fan of Bob Dylan and the Beatles; after the 1980
murder of John Lennon, the DJ began opening his shows with a Beatles
song.
``I did it all,'' Muni once said when asked about the one thing he
wanted to do before dying. ``Some I did more than once.''
Muni was born in Wichita, Kan., and raised in New Orleans. His
broadcasting career started in the Marines. He could be heard on Radio
Guam reading ``Dear John'' letters sent to his fellow servicemen.
Back in the United States, he replaced Alan Freed in Akron, Ohio, before
arriving in New York City in the late '50s as one of WMCA-AM's ``Good
Guys,'' serving up Top 40 fare. He switched to rival WABC-AM in 1960,
and was there during the height of Beatlemania.
But it was when he switched over to the new world of FM that Muni found
his perfect place on the radio dial. He arrived at WNEW in 1967, helping
create one of the nation's first and longest-lasting alternative
stations.
In addition to his radio work, Muni asked, ``How do you spell relief?''
in a Rolaids commercial. He also did promotional announcements for ABC's
``Monday Night Football.''
There was no immediate word on a memorial service, but Clear
Channel-owned Q104.3 planned a weekend-long tribute to Muni featuring
the music of the Beatles. He is survived by his second wife and five
children.
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 17:18:27 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: Johnny Crawford´s voice
Clark Besch wrote:
> 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.
I made two mistakes like this, only at the proper speed. When I first heard
You Were On My Mind, I thought it was a guy singing until I saw them on TV,
and the singer was DEFINITELY a girl (oh yes).
Also, Lost in Love by Air Supply -- I was sure that Russell H. was a girl until I
saw them on TV (though not at the same time; talk about a confusing day that
would've been).
Anyway, this might be a fun theme to follow for a little while if there are any
takers.
Austin "always confused" Roberts
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 17:27:54 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: Arrangers
Robert Pingel wrote:
> 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.
I agree with most of your list. The one exception, or eleventh of the top 10
(huh?), would be Carole King, if only for her unbelievable string parts in Will
You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
One man's opinion,
Austin R.
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 22:45:10 -0000
From: Davie Gordon
Subject: Re: The Concords
Bill George asked:
> 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.
Yep -- same group, and definitely white. They had records on RCA ('61),
Gramercy ('61/'62), Rust ('62) and Herald ('62) before breaking up. Mike Lewis
reformed the group in '64 and they did "Should I Cry" for Epic, then the final
single on Boom.
They had a few different lead singers, which probably accounts for the change
in sound. According to Jay Warner's "Billboard Book of American Singing
Groups," the lead on "Should I Cry" was Teddy Graybill, who wasn't in the
earlier version of the group.
Here's a website with the story of The Concords, complete with photos of
the group: http://www.destinationdoowop.com/concords.htm
While scrolling through this site I was amazed to find an article on Tico & The
Triumphs which reveals that Marty Cooper was in the group. Florence DeVore
also gets a namecheck!
Davie
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 23:25:19 -0000
From: Davie Gordon
Subject: Re: The Mello-Kings
Austin Powell wrote:
> 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.
Here's some stuff on the Mello-Kings and Eddie Robbins, from the
same site I mentioned in connection with The Concords:
http://www.destinationdoowop.com/mellokings.htm
Davie
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 03:21:07 -0000
From: Tom
Subject: Kevin McQuinn track to musica
Due to the recent topics on Diamond Records, Kevin McQuinn backed up by
the Four Seasons, etc., I've played McQuinn's "Ev'ry Step Of The Way" to musica
for everyone to hear. The song, I believe, is on a foreign bootleg CD taken from
vinyl, but I've found no copies of this CD ever, so my MP3 might even sound
better than that CD.
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 03:47:30 -0000
From: Tony Leong
Subject: ravin' about (Genya) Ravan
Hey guys, I'm still buzzed from the great show I saw the other night by
Genya Ravan and her band in New York City. That woman really knows
how to rock! Ironically, one of the best numbers she did was a pumped up
version of Marvin Gaye's "Stubborn Kind Of Fella" (with no change of gender).
During the Ten Wheel Drive number "Eye Of The Needle", the original
trumpet player from the band (sorry, can't remember his name) came up
and blew the roof off the place.
But the special part of the evening was when Genya invited onto the
stage Ginger Pannebianco and Margo Lewis of The Gingerbreads, to do
"Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" (which was their biggest UK hit, although
they all DESPISE it!). Unfortunately, nobody thought to call Carol McDonald
for the shindig. Anyway, Genya and her band really put on a great evening,
and I think they will start to do so on a regular basis on Tuesdays in New York
at the Cutting Room.
Prior to the show, Genya signed copies of her new autobiography, which is a
great read by a woman who was so ahead of her time in every way in the music
business. And for the curiousity of the UK Goldie & The Gingerbreads fans,
Margo Lewis, the keyboardist, runs her own talent company in New York –
she's quite the businesswoman! She still does the keyboards for Bo Diddley
when he plays live. Ginger works for a home furnishings company as a visual
merchandiser, but she still would love to play drums for an MTV-like young
chick singer!
Such a great evening with such interesting musicians! If Genya and her band
come to your town, GO SEE THEM! And her book is a must-read for her fans!
Tony Leong
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 19:16:11 -0500
From: Orion
Subject: Re: "You Got Style"
Guy Lawrence wrote:
> I recently got hold of Jon & Robin's nattily attired "Elastic Event"
> album (Abnak 1967). The album contains a Jeff Barry/Andy Kim
> song, "You Got Style", that sounds just like their work on Kim's
> solo record.
"You Got Style" was a farily big hit on WHB in Kansas City, MO. Although
it only got to #110 on Billboard, it registered #85 on Cashbox, and was one
of my favorite toons of that summer. I guess until I looked it up, I always
thought it was probably a mid-sized hit nationwide. I assume most people
never got to hear the song. It is really catchy.
Orion
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 17:01:30 EDT
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: Privacy
Orion:
> Many people want their privacy, and I believe they deserve it.
Gary Myers:
> 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.
It's probably true that some folks like their privacy. As for me, I've
always felt very lucky to have been able to stay in this business 37
years and still be able to support myself. Along with that, I truly
appreciate the interest shown by many of my Spectropop friends in my
career, as I'm sure that most, if not all of us that have been
fortunate enough to have had hits and misses (which you guys seem to
know of as well as the hits). I am tickled that someone (usually more
than one) out there always seems to come up with the answer to ANY
question that pops up on this site. I've had new friends on the site
send me records I made so long ago I can't even find them at the
`extreme' oldies stores. I love what I do and still get paid to do,
which amazes me and more than that, the people that like what I've
done.
Thanks again, Austin Roberts
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 20:13:15 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Me About You
I'm looking to complete my collection of recorded versions of Me About
You and I was wondering if anyone could help with the last couple of
versions I'm needing before I try to order copies online?
The versions I'm still needing are by Eric and Errol (from a Buddah
45) and Billie Davis (the Billie Davis version has been released on
the Best of Billie Davis cd but I haven't had any luck finding a copy
online from a reputable seller because the disc is out of print). If
anyone has either of these versions of Me About You, please send me a
message. And If anyone is interested in hearing any of the other
versions, let me know, I have a bunch of them. Off list reples only,
please.
:Patrick
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 12:27:17 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Coke is it!
Visit the URL below to read "Pop Tunes: Memorable Coke moments in
the city" by David Hinckley from the New York Daily News. Apparently
the author didn't realize that Billy Davis died recently.
Nevertheless, open a Coke and enjoy! - Joe Nelson
http://www.nydailynews.com/city_life/story/236370p-202953c.html
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2004 15:34:18 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: The Swanks
Rob:
> ... Ghost Train by The Swanks ... Has anybody got any information ...
FWIW: Charm 6081, 1965 (per Osborne price guide).
gem
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Message: 18
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 04:56:04 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Artie Wayne song
Guy Lawrence wrote:
> 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 ...
Guy, Jon & Robin's "You Got Style" is great and it was a big hit in
the midwest and Texas area. I think I have it at #1 on KLIF Dallas.
Abnak 45s sold quite well in Texas and Oklahoma generally as well as
in other midwestern states. "Drums" was also huge in these areas.
Hmm, brings up the "one hit wonder" theory again. Anyway, Sundazed
not only has their hands on the Abnak stuff, they OWN it! I did a
lot of work for the recent Abnak 5 Americans and Bobby Patterson
reissues on Sundazed. Bobby is well known throughout the Texas area
still today and has his own radio show ta boot. At the same time, I
did a lot of stuff for a Jon and Robin project, but for some reason,
it has yet to see the light of day. I do think Sundazed will indeed
release the Jon & Robin stuff one day, maybe when (if?) Bob Irwin
gets time off from his other major projects. Besides these tracks, I
am always hoping and asking that they get individual various artists
tracks on a Cd eventually. Mainly, I wanna hear the U.S. Males'
(previously, the Coastliners on Backbeat!) "Open Up Your Heart"
(Artie Wayne song also) b/w "Come out of the Rain" and one of my all
time fave Abnak tracks, the In Crowd's "Hangin' From Your Lovin'
Tree" which was big in the midwest, also. Cross your fingers, cause
my fingers have been crossed for two years and I cannot type this
message anymore!! Clark
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Message: 19
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 04:32:58 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: "Hits"
Gary Myers:
> ... some will tell you about their "hit" record (that no one ever
> heard of) ...
Gary, again I feel the word "hit" is very subjective. Some might
consider not making the national top 40 or Top 10 "not a hit". Some
might consider making the top 10 in one market a hit. Some might
consider not making the local chart, but getting heavy airplay
locally "a hit". Austin Roberts, Al Kooper, Artie Wayne, Alan Gordon
and many others here have what could be considered both hits and
misses, but I look at it differently. If I put a record out that I
recorded and 500 (maybe even 100!) people bought it, I'd be very
proud that 500 people liked my record and to me, it was a hit!! Clark
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Message: 20
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 05:21:57 -0000
From: Robert
Subject: Oliver
Was anyone here involved in the Oliver compilation CD a few years ago
that was never released? Just wondered if anyone knows why it never
came out. He's cetainly as deserving (if not more) as Gilbert O
Sullivan or Keith to have at least one good CD comp. His 1st album,
especially, is very solid.
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Message: 21
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 08:33:34 +0200
From: Frank
Subject: Claude Francois
My God! I never thought I would see the day Claude François is mentioned
or even worse played her at Spectropop. Of all the French singers who
made their success out of covering US and British hits he was probably
the most popular over here in France but certainly very far from being
the best. I can't think of a single one of his covers which was not an
almost outrageous poor parody of the original hit. His only and main
talent was in being extremely fast in finding the biggest foreign hits
and covering them. If you really have to listen to French "cover-singers"
try Richard Anthony, at least he knew how to sing.
Frank
P.S. Just for the record Claude François practically never wrote any of
his lyrics.
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Message: 22
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 10:29:26 EDT
From: Paul Urbahn
Subject: Zager and Evans
Previously:
> ... and Zager and Evans released the unpromotable "Mr Turnkey" as
> their sole followup to "In The Year 2525"
There is a local story that I have not been able to confirm that one
of the members of Zager and Evans was Minister of music at one of the
local churches here in the Ft Knox area. It probably would have been
right after they broke up, in the very early 70s if it happened. The
story has been repeated around town, but there doesn't appear to be
any remaining members of that church alive today. Anyone know of the
follow up activities? Was either interested in church work?
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Message: 23
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 07:55:54 +0000
From: Frank Murphy
Subject: French EP's
Previously:
> ... 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
I thought all single releases in France were EP's. In the early sixties
French record companies only released Extended Play singles with four
tracks and pic covers. I gather two sided singles were unknown. Could
any French or other knowledgeable person confirm there was some sort of
law regarding this. Amercian and UK artists had to release EP's rather
than singles in France and if the company only had the two tracks another
two from another artist were added. Instant collector's item. The French
EP's were the first big import success I noted, as British fans could get
reasonably priced records with unusual combinations of tracks and an
attractive cover.
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: 24
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 02:27:34 -0400
From: Howard Earnshaw
Subject: Re: Johnny Crawford & ?
Herbert Maton wrote:
> The one song that I really love is "Your Nose Is Gonna Grow" due to
> its novelty nature.
Didn't Maureen Evans cover this too, I'm sure I've seen a song with
title by her on Oriole (UK), or was it our old friend Christine Quaite??
Howard (having a senior moment - e.g. memory lapse!)
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Message: 25
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 11:03:52 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: Weighing in on Smile
Bill Reed wrote:
> 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.
I'm not exactly sure I undertand your point.
The implication, if I read it correctly is that Brian's work stands
alone, without the Beach Boys. Maybe true and maybe not. As far back
as Pet Sounds his significant writing and arranging gifts were
recognized by many people. That's nothing new. What more is there?
Do you feel he fits in a category beyond that? His main accomplishments
were as the composer for the Beach Boys. Not sure that is disputed. But
that's no different than Lennon and McCartney being recognized
outside of the Beatles. He was a great writer: fact. But it doesn't
change the fact that there was also band behind him. Why do the two
have to be so separate? I ask that question in all sincerity because
it doesn't make sense to me. I understand why David Leaf and others
want to keep the Brian Wilson flame alive. Their livelihoods depend on
it. But for those of us that have known for a long time that Brian
Wilson was a great songwriter, his tours, Smile and certainly his solo
albums do nothing to enhance that fact. Some of these things are
pleasant reminders of his talent, some represent the harsh reality that
he doesn't have that talent any more and some show that the Beach Boys
were a significant ingredient in his success.
As for Smile itself, I'm still struggling with it. Several friends
convinced me to enjoy it for what it is. Determining what it is is the
problem. Right now my best assessment (likely to change) is that its a
very good reconstruction of what Smile could have been, done by the
best musician/Beach Boys fan around today. That Brian is on it doesn't
seem to matter and in fact, at times, brings it down to something that
is not art at all (especially bad are the vocals on Wind Chimes and
Surfs Up). I'm sure of one thing. It is not THE Smile and nothing will
ever be Smile. That Smile remains a myth is what is so beautiful about
Smile and one of the many reasons Brian's legacy (and that of the Beach
Boys) has endured. End of rant.
Mark F.
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Message: 26
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 06:04:18 -0000
From: Lyn Nuttall
Subject: The Five Americans
Guy Lawrence :
> Jon & Robin's nattily attired "Elastic Event" album (Abnak 1967)....
> 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.
Coincidentally, I read your post soon after visiting the Five Americans'
website (I'd been looking into Aussie band The Strangers' cover of
"Western Union"). I reckon it's one of the best artists' sites I've
seen: clean, uncluttered and nice to navigate. Not only that, they have
free downloads of three of their hits as mp3s. It's at
http://www.fiveamericans.com
Lyn
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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