________________________________________________________________________
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
________________________________________________________________________
There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Melba Moore
From: George Sshowerer
2. Re: Lewis & Clarke
From: Mikey
3. Re: Goffin-King's "adult" period
From: George Schowerer
4. Re: Mark Lindsay Levi's ad
From: Paul Richards
5. Danke Schoen
From: Gary Myers
6. Re: Fever authorship
From: George Schowerer
7. Re: Goffin-King's "adult" period
From: Phil X Milstein
8. Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
From: Larry Shell
9. They put up a parking lot
From: Al Kooper
10. Re: Mark Five / Peppermint Trolley Co.
From: Richard Campbell
11. Re: Phil Kaye
From: Richard Campbell
12. Re: Mark Five / Peppermint Trolley Co.
From: Orion
13. Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
From: 'MopTop' Mike Markesich
14. Dance with Claire Francis
From: Mick Patrick
15. Re: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
From: Barry
16. Darin & Newton
From: Frank
17. Re: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
From: Phil X Milstein
18. Andrew Loog Oldham
From: Quirk
19. Re: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
From: Mark Wirtz
20. Darin / Newton / Ben Benay
From: Artie Wayne
21. Re: Mark Lindsay Levi's ad
From: James Botticelli
22. Re: Darin / Newton
From: James Botticelli
23. Re: They put up a parking lot
From: George Schowerer
24. Re: Dave Godin, R.I.P.
From: Mick Patrick
25. Re: Dance with Claire Francis
From: S.J. Dibai
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 23:06:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Sshowerer
Subject: Melba Moore
Gentlemen: Just a note regarding Melba Moore.... She and Valerie
Simpson (Ashford & Simpson) sang background vocals for the James &
Bobby Purify sessions at Mirasound.
Regards, George S.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 19:37:58 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Lewis & Clarke
Clark Besch:
> It took 200 years of exploration, but the Lewis and Clarke
> Expedition has finally discovered Musica! Now playing is their
> October, 1969 release, "Why Need they Pretend?". That makes the
> song 35 years old this month! ...
Just thought I'd chime in here. While looking for something else, I
found, in my collection, a PROMO 45 of Lewis and Clarke of "Daddy's
Plastic Child" (that was the plug side) b/w Gypsy Song Man. On YELLOW
Colgems label, which I had never seen before!!! How do you like them
apples?? :)
Mikey
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 21:01:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Schowerer
Subject: Re: Goffin-King's "adult" period
I had the good fortune, after I started in this recording
business, to do the demos for Goffin-King at Allegro Studios
in NYC. They did the demos for Nevins-Kershner Music upstairs
at 1650 Broadway. Al Nevins was one of the Original Three Suns
of early record fame in the '40s and '50s.
King was very talented...Goffin was a pain in the ass, always
annoying her with his attitude. I really felt for her, because
she was the hard worker in the pair whenever I saw them. This
was early in my career, before I tended to keep safety copies
of stuff I did.
I've often wondered how really great it would have been to have
a copy of those demos in this day and age, where we could put
strings and other additions of instruments into that mix and
really have some memories to share with the world.
Carole King did all the instruments on the demos via two mono
Ampex 350s, overdubbing the hell out of the tunes...really
talented and a nice person. The time period was 1959/60 and I
had been recording for about 3 years at that point. Neil Sedaka
was another writer in the Nevins-Kershner stable at the time.
Regards, George S.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 18:07:35 -0000
From: Paul Richards
Subject: Re: Mark Lindsay Levi's ad
Mark Lindsay Levi's ad: Really love this track, great song. I assume
he wrote it himself, fantastic stuff. His version of 'First Hymn from
Grand Terrace' is also a great favourite of mine.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 12:03:58 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Danke Schoen
Mikey:
> ... Darin HIMSELF was going to cover "Danke Schoen" ...
Interesting, though technical, thing about that song. The first note
is the #5 on a strong beat, and the last note is the 6th. Then, when
the next verse moves up 1/2 step, that 6th is the same note as the
#5 of the next key. (Love stuff like that!)
gem
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 11:53:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Schowerer
Subject: Re: Fever authorship
Phil M:
> Now playing at musica, courtesy of Michael Greenberg, is Eddie
> Cooley's version of his own co-composition (with Otis "John
> Davenport" Blackwell), "Fever," from the abovementioned "We Wrote
> 'Em And We Sing 'Em" LP. It'd be interesting to compare this to
> Blackwell's own version...
Otis Blackwell did most of his demos at Allegro. The All Shoock Up
demo was straight foward, nothing unusual. If memory serves me, it
was done for Hal Fine's music Co. (Roosevelt Music). I have no idea
where the demo tapes (always stored at Allegro for making dubs/
acetates) are currently located, if not lost.
Regards, George S.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 16:33:55 +0000
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Goffin-King's "adult" period
Frank Jastfelder wrote:
> I might play Eydie Gormé's version of "Goin' Back" to musica
> over the weekend. It's so adult. I love it.
I beseech thee: do play!
--Phil M.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 16:18:48 -0400
From: Larry Shell
Subject: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
Damn! Make that Double Damn! I just found out that Greg Shaw passed away
and I didn't even know that he'd been sick. Any collector or fan of 60s
rock n' roll worth their salt knows of Shaw's BOMP! Magazine and the
Bomp! Records label. The former stopped publishing years ago but I was a
big fan of his mag at the time and I can say, without hesitation, that
Shaw's mag was a real inspiration to me and my own half-baked rock
writings as well as turning myself onto many great performers like the
Flamin' Groovies among others.
Bomp's PEBBLES albums came soon after the first NUGGETS Box Set and the
60s revival that followed it.
Bomp's output included Stiv Bators, Iggy & The Stooges, and so much more
with new albums by new artists like The Konks and The Coffin Lids being
released in 2004.
There's a long informative interview with Greg conducted by Ken
Shimamoto for the zine, Black to Comm, posted here:
http://www.bomp.com/BOMPPress3.html
To put it simply, Greg was one cool guy who truly loved the music. He
will be missed by all who knew him or knew of him.
Rest in Peace, Greg.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 16:08:38 EDT
From: Al Kooper
Subject: They put up a parking lot
Mark Wirtz:
> I think what George means is that the board and the machines were
> in the unused room, and the reverb chamber was the parking lot.
> I think.
I think what George meant is that the board and the machines were
in one room, the unused room was the reverb room and what remains
of it ALL today is the parking lot. I think.
Al Kooper
P.S. George, did we ever work together ??????
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 22:08:26 -0000
From: Richard Campbell
Subject: Re: Mark Five / Peppermint Trolley Co.
mrshawnn wrote:
> The Faragher Brothers recorded as the "Mark Five" before forming
> the Peppermint Trolley Co. I just got their "I'm Through With You"
> single on Impression. They supposedly had 3 more 45s. Anyone have
> info about them? They did not release as Mark "IV."
Was The Peppermint Trolley's Brady Bunch Theme ever put on vinyl?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 22:09:20 -0000
From: Richard Campbell
Subject: Re: Phil Kaye
Me:
> Does anyone know how to reach 60s session guys Phil Kaye or Ben
> Benay?
Austin Roberts:
> Is that the same Phil Kaye that was head engineer at ABC/Dunhill
> and early mentor to Roger Nichols, who was second engineer? If so,
> I worked with them both several times. Great engineers and fun
> people.
The very same. I've learned since posting my initial query that Ben
Benay is thought to no longer be with us.
Still looking for Phil Kaye.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 23:17:26 -0500
From: Orion
Subject: Re: Mark Five / Peppermint Trolley Co.
mrshawnn wrote:
> The Faragher Brothers recorded as the "Mark Five" before forming the
> Peppermint Trolley Co. I just got their "I'm Through With You" single
> on Impression. They supposedly had 3 more 45s. Anyone have info about
> them? They did not release as Mark "IV."
I am assuming that you already know that the Faragher Brothers put out
an LP after Peppermint Trolley Co with the name "Bones". I have it and
it is really a pretty good LP.
Orion
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 15:22:54 -0000
From: 'MopTop' Mike Markesich
Subject: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
I'm sure some, if not all of you have heard about the untimely passing
of Greg Shaw. At 55, he was much too young, and had so much more he
wanted to accomplish.
I first learned of Greg's record collecting fanaticism via the Sire
label reissues of 60's UK groups, a K-Tel styled LP, with his detailed
liner notes. This would have been around 1976, when I began collecting
old 45s at a very young age of 13. Hungry for knowledge, I began
seeking out credible critics in order to learn, and be enlightened...
Shaw became my favorite.
With his eubillant take on the future of pop music captured within the
pages of his 'Who Put The Bomp' fanzine, I could not help but get
excited about the past, and the present.
While Greg's hope for a nation-wide rebirth of teenage pop music did not
truly grab hold across the musical mainstream, several pockets of
believers have carried the torch since those impassioned days of
optimism. Which is the reason we are lucky to have countless reissues,
bootlegs and compilations of the most obscure rock & roll music from the
1960's still available in 2004.
I did get the chance to meet Greg in person back in August, 1986. While
visiting Los Angeles, in hopes of cornering the Real Don Steele after
his shift at KRLA, my pals and I headed over to Greg's hole-in-the wall
club on Hollywood Blvd, dubbed 'The Cavern Club. Cavern it was not; just
a small room located up a side flight of stairs above a local merchant
operation. Quite seedy, no Sky Saxon pun intended. The room had a low
ceiling, fans circulating stale and hot LA air, metal folding chairs set
up for people to watch two young bands shoe-horned in the corner of the
room. The bands were not special, and as we milled about for an hour,
Greg Shaw arrived. He spotted us, me and my '65 Michael Clarke bowl cut
being unfamiliar in the LA scene. We spoke for what seemed like an hour,
with Greg's enthusiasm just as apparent in real life as well as on paper.
As we departed, Greg presented us with the first batch of freshly minted
black "Cavern Club" T-shirts, which I later learned were the 1st and only
batch manufactured. I wore mine proudly til it disintegrated.
The Cavern Club closed a short time later, but Greg and I corresponded
from that point onward. When he started his feature as one of the
founders of Discoveries Magazine in 1988, I fired off my subscription.
The mag could be crap, but if Greg was involved AND writing for it, well,
I was sold. I eventually took over writing his weekly feature when he
became too busy to continue.
I won't bother recounting everything Greg has done. All that needs to be
said, and remembered, is that we have lost a HUGE influence in the way we
all perceive, appreciate, and hopefully understand pop music. Whether it
be unbridled garage bands, energetic mindless bubblegum, finger-snappin
girl group sounds, or raucous punk rock, Greg almost single-handedly
blazed the trail which now allows us to discover and enjoy whatever
faction of rock & roll we dig. He made the past the present. And we are
all the better for it.
To say he'll be missed is the understatement of the year.
'MopTop' Mike Markesich
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 18:43:09 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Dance with Claire Francis
Now playing @ musica, another small gem from the Claire Francis
canon, kindly supplied by Martin:
Dave Rich "I Just Wanna Dance"
UK Polydor BM 56113, 1966
Writers: Dave Rich and Claire Francis
Music Director: Nicky Welsh
Producer: Claire Francis
Listen here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
I'm not sure which I prefer, this or the other side, Dave's version
of "The Last Two People On Earth". How 'bout you, Claire?
I'm just back from a trip to NY, where I was lucky enough to hook
up with a number of cool people, our own Claire Brightwater Francis
among them. We met up in a cafe on Bleecker Street, one of the very
places she used to hang out with her guitar as a teenager.
I know that it'd make Claire's day to hear some tracks from the LP
she produced for Sonny Childe back in '66. Anyone out there have a
copy of that baby?
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 12:57:27 -0500
From: Barry
Subject: Re: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
'Moptop' Mike Markesich:
> I'm sure some, if not all of you have heard about the untimely passing
> of Greg Shaw. At 55, he was much too young, and had so much more he
> wanted to accomplish.
Is there an obit that you can pass along to us? A link? How did you
discover his passing?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 08:01:25 +0200
From: Frank
Subject: Darin & Newton
Mike Rashkow:
> According to a Wayne Newton interview I saw on TV, Bobby Darin
> produced all his early records including "Danke Schoen". I never
> knew it, but listening to "Danke Schoen" is sure is obvious.
And if you listen closely to some of Wayne Newton's tracks you can
even hear Bobby Darin in the background.
Frank
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 14:26:21 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
'Moptop' Mike Markesich:
> I'm sure some, if not all of you have heard about the untimely passing
> of Greg Shaw. At 55, he was much too young, and had so much more
> he wanted to accomplish.
I'm deeply saddened to learn of Greg's death. Greg was, if I'm not
mistaken, a lifelong diabetic, who underwent a dual kidney-pancreas
transplant in 1999.
For all intent and purpose his Mojo Navigator News was the first rock
fanzine. Reprints (in Adobe Acrobat/PDF format) are available at
http://www.rockmine.music.co.uk/Archive/Library/Mojo.html
Greg's autobiographical page at the Bomp site is at
http://www.bomp.com/Facts.html
Meanwhile, further news and tributes can probably be tracked best at
http://www.rockcriticsdaily.blogspot.com/
and an official announcement from Bomp is at
http://tinyurl.com/3s4pm .
To quote from the Bomp press release, "However you choose to honor
Greg's memory, do it with anything but a moment of silence."
--Phil M.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 18:06:23 -0000
From: Quirk
Subject: Andrew Loog Oldham
I have been a long-time fan of the Phil Spector sound, especially as
it relates to what Brian Wilson did with it. I have recently
discovered Andrew Loog Oldham (a little late to the game am I).
Billy Nicholls, PP Arnold, Twice As Much, and Chris Farlowe are my
favorites, as well as his work with Del Shannon. Can anyone here
help me find the following: 1. A "catalog" or "discography" of
everything Oldham has done (I am not really that interested in his
work with the Stones); 2. Any other artists from the 60's that have a
similar sound - particularly artists I might not be familiar with.
Thanks in advance for your help.
quirk
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 11:49:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Wirtz
Subject: Re: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
I am deeply, deeply saddened by the news of Greg
Shaw's passing.
Greg Shaw and I had a very special relationship, for
many years, personally and professionally. He stood by
me during my darkest days, offering me encouragement,
support and wisdom.
The music business has lost a Maverick; a rare
champion of artists and songwriters; a defender and
protector of the underdog; one who listened from the
heart and shot from the hip; defining, not following,
trends on a grass-root level.
My condolences and prayers go out to his family and
close friends.
Good-bye Greg.
You'll always be remembered as one of our shining
heroes!
With deep respect and affection,
Mark
http://www.markwirtz.com
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 11:26:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Darin / Newton / Ben Benay
How ya' doin'? Yeah....My freind and mentor Bobby Darin was a man of
many talents. He obviously had a talent for picking great songs. I was
fortunate to have written the b-side to "Danke Shoen", "Better Now
Than Later" with Ben Raleigh.
In response to the question about Ben Benay, who played guitar on most
of the Jan and Dean records, Steve Barri sessions and Michael O'Martian
records. My good friend and Collaborator passed away about 15 years ago.
regards, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com/
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 14:20:19 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Mark Lindsay Levi's ad
Paul Richards wrote:
> Mark Lindsay Levi's ad: Really love this track, great song. I assume
> he wrote it himself, fantastic stuff. His version of 'First Hymn from
> Grand Terrace' is also a great favourite of mine.
Add to that Bacharach's "Something Big"...Is there a Mark Lindsay CD
out there?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 14:22:25 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Darin / Newton
Mikey:
> ... Darin HIMSELF was going to cover "Danke Schoen" ...
Newton's autobio tells all in the Darin realm. A good read. So is
Sedaka's for that matter.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 14:21:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Schowerer
Subject: Re: They put up a parking lot
Al Kooper:
> P.S. George, did we ever work together ??????
Al, I was at Regent, Allegro, Columbia (which is most likely),
and Mirasound. At Columbia, I found myself in the studios,
more for maintenance, since the night service person could
only substitute machines, and on more than one occasion worked
on the 8 track during a session when they pulled me from
remixing in a panic.
Also, I don't recall who came in during Zal Yanovsky's "Back
to Argentina" album sessions at Mira. Many folks stopped by.
I don't think the album ever got out, but it was a contractual
obligation for him. I have a 15ips safety of that bizarre album.
I also did a lot of photography of artists at Columbia during
Roy Halley's tenure (65-68).
Best, George S.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 21:25:21 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Dave Godin, R.I.P.
Davie Gordon:
> News has just come through that Dave Godin died yesterday. A
> sad loss of someone whose influence on the UK soul scene is
> incalculable.
I was away on holiday when I heard that Dave had died. I had
suspected that his health was worse than he let on to the world
at large, but the news was a shock, nonetheless. The fact that
today Black American music of the 1960s and 1970s is more
appreciated in Britain than in the USA is a sign of his great
influence and taste. Dave was an original. Among his many
qualities was a wicked sense of humour - not widely reported.
A quote from his obituary in the Guardian:
> ...Ruth Brown's "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean", heard on
> a juke box in an ice-cream parlour in the straitlaced world of
> 1950s Britain, was his own introduction to the emotional
> directness of black music...
I can't rustle up a juke box, but I do have a copy of said Ruth
Brown 45, and some ice-cream in the freezer, both of which I'm
about to consume in Dave's memory.
In the meantime, the unitiated can find some examples of his
work at the following URLs:
http://www.stone9973.freeserve.co.uk/soul/godinbs78.html
http://www.stone9973.freeserve.co.uk/soul/godinbs171.html
http://www.stone9973.freeserve.co.uk/soul/godinbs172.html
R.I.P.
Mick Patrick
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2004 21:56:56 -0000
From: S.J. Dibai
Subject: Re: Dance with Claire Francis
Mick Patrick:
> I'm not sure which I prefer, this or the other side, Dave's
> version of "The Last Two People On Earth".
Well, Mick, I have a clear preference. (And just who asked me,
anyway?) I pick "The Last Two People On Earth." "I Just Wanna
Dance" is actually a very cool song, but it's eerie listening
to Dave Rich singing it. It sounds like it was written for a
female singer; Rich even sounds rather effeminate at times.
He's stetching his range a bit on this one, and he stumbles over
a few notes as if he's not comfortable singing it. Nevertheless,
his falsetto bit at the end is great, and overall it's a
respectable B-side. Notice how the opening sounds a lot like "The
Last Two People On Earth"--when I first played this one, I had to
stop and think, "Wait a minute! What happened?"
Thanks to Mick & Martin for all this Claire Francis-related music.
I am finding it all quite fascinating. And thank you, Claire, for
sharing your stories and warmth with us Spectropoppers.
S.J. Dibai
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
End
