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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 9 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Who Killed Your Song?
From: Rob Pingel
2. Sinatra
From: (That) Alan Gordon
3. Re: Linda & Johnny, sittin' in a tree ...
From: Phil X Milstein
4. Bert Sommer
From: Bob Brown
5. Cincy acts
From: Dan Hughes
6. Dani Sheridan question; "Look At Me" - who's first?; "We Wrote 'Em"; Sandy Salisbury
From: Country Paul
7. now at musica: Winfield Scott and "Tweedle Dee"
From: Phil X Milstein
8. "We Wrote 'Em"; RIP Terry Knight; Velvelettes;Toni Wine demo; Ron Dante; Brian Wilson
From: Country Paul
9. Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
From: Martin Roberts
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 20:11:44 -0000
From: Rob Pingel
Subject: Who Killed Your Song?
It must be terribly frustrating to write a song, go through the agony
of trying to get someone to record it, and then...when somebody does,
they butcher it. Would any of the songwriters out there care to make
specific comments about the most disappointing covers of their
tunes. Or, on a more positive note, give examples of covers that
exceeded all expectations.
Rob Pingel
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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 16:02:28 -0700
From: (That) Alan Gordon
Subject: Sinatra
I was browsing through Barnes and Noble bookstore today and prominently
displayed up front was a new table book called "Sinatra". I looked
through it and was really impressed by the fantastic photos and stories
on each page. This is a Must have for any Sinatra fan. The best part of
this magnificent achievement is that it is the creation of one of
Spectropop`s very own, Richard Havers. Richard, I`m so very proud of you
and this remarkable book. I urge all our S`pop family to check it
out. Richard, you have made this holiday's gift giving very easy, and the
first copy is for me.
Best, That Alan
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 19:58:06 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Linda & Johnny, sittin' in a tree ...
Robert Pingel wrote:
> I didn't see this performance, but I do recall seeing an early
> Ronstadt performance during the late 60's on the Tonight Show
> which was a near disaster. Not sure if the back-up was the
> Stone Poneys or if they had parted ways by then. Anyway, the
> band gave a semi-country intro to the song "Different Drum"
> (unlike the recorded arrangement). Thereafter Ms. Ronstadt
> began singing in one key, and the band began playing in another.
> Very awkward, but Ms. Ronstadt did manage to slide into the band's
> key without too much embarrassment.
She also appeared several times on Johnny Cash's late '60s TV variety
show. (Cash must've had a bit of a crush on both Ronstadt and Joni
Mitchell, as he had them onto his show several times each, and could
often be seen making googoo eyes at them during the chat portions.) On
one of these Cash asked her to introduce her band, most if not all of
whom would, as we now know, go on to form The Eagles.
--Phil M.
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 20:16:17 -0600
From: Bob Brown
Subject: Bert Sommer
I am a long-time fan of the late singer-songwriter Bert Sommer, who
played at Woodstock, was in the Broadway cast of HAIR, collaborated
with Michael Brown inside and outside of the Left Banke, and left us
with some great albums, none of which, sadly, have ever made it to
CD. I wondered if Ron Dante might have any memories of producing
Bert's last album, BERT SOMMER on Capitol Records in 1977. The album
is very different from Bert's earlier albums, being more "pop"
oriented while his earlier albums, produced by Artie Kornfeld were
more "folk" oriented. I have to admit that because of this, it took
me some time to "warm up" to the last album, but listening to it
now, I find a lot to appreciate, and find it even sadder that Bert's
career and life were so short, and that he has been all but
forgotten today. For any Bert Sommer fans out there, I would highly
recommend http://www.bertsommer.com a tribute website by Bert's
friend, Victor Kahn.
Bob Brown
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 20:33:56 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Cincy acts
Gerry House:
> I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Now live in Nashville...
gem:
> Do you,by any chance, recall a singer named Stuart Self...
And me:
Do either of you guys, or anyone else with a Cincinnati (or Ohio)
background, know of a blind folksinger named Dave Gordon, who sounded a
lot like Steve Goodman?
Thanks,
---Dan
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 00:47:43 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Dani Sheridan question; "Look At Me" - who's first?; "We Wrote 'Em"; Sandy Salisbury
The great tach-up begins....
Declan Meehan cites Dani Sheridan: Guess I'm Dumb (Planet), co-
written by Russ Titelman. Is this the same song Glen Campbell did
and Brian Wilson produced? Is it a good version?
M. G. Still:
> "Look At Me Girl" is great with or without the overdubs....Oddly
> enough, when I found the Bobby Vee 45, I only knew the song as
> done by the Texas garage band The Playboys of Edinburgh, so the
> original Vee version was a recent treat for me....
Wasn't the Playboys of Edinburgh the original, and Vee's the cover?
I thought I read that here a while back.
Phil X Milstein Re: We Wrote 'Em And We Sing 'Em
> Since Blackwell was the most successful of the songwriters
> represented, it seems to me that he conceived of the project
> as a way to help pull some of his colleagues and friends up a
> bit closer to his perch on the industry tree, a refreshingly
> altruistic touch if true. This type of songwriters' showcase has
> been done many times for exploitative purposes, where the writers
> were no-hopers led to believe their songs would get some industry
> attention, but I don't know of any other times it was done with
> actual professional writers, at least not at that early stage
> (1961). Too bad, as it is both fun and revelatory to hear a
> writer's own interpretation of his or her work, even as it might
> differ from better-known versions.
Agreed. Interesting to note that despite the size of the writers'
original hits, the only one to have an "afterlife" from this album,
if I'm not mistaken, is Lincoln Chase's "Hot Biscuits and Sweet
Marie," and even then only in a cover by NRBQ, a cool track but not
the highest profile recording.
Joey Stec, Subject: Sandy Salisbury radio appearance
> Sandy Salisbury (of the Millennium , Tommy Roe, Curt Boettcher,
> Gary Usher days) will be appearing on KLUX radio from Santa Monica,
> CA Saturday, December 4, at 9pm....Sandy and Joey Stec will be
> discussing it all, as they have not seen each other for over
> 25 years and Sandy has never appeared talking on music radio.
> The stream is called "She Comes In Colors."
This looks to be very cool, Joey. I'l try to find the station on the
net. Thanks for the heads-up!
More to come,
Country Paul
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 01:03:27 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: now at musica: Winfield Scott and "Tweedle Dee"
Now playing at musica, courtesy Michael Greenberg, is the fifth
installment in the "We Wrote 'Em And We Sing 'Em" series, Winfield Scott
performing "Tweedle Dee." For more information on this album, see the We
Wrote 'Em folder in the Photos section, which includes cover art, liner
notes, etc. For you CD burnaholics out there -- and you know who you are
-- at the conclusion of the series I will repost the track sequence.
Yeah,
--Phil M.
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 01:50:48 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: "We Wrote 'Em"; RIP Terry Knight; Velvelettes;Toni Wine demo; Ron Dante; Brian Wilson
Michael Greenberg, I never made it to the WFMU Record Fair this year
- real life intervened. Sad they're only doing it once a year now
instead of twice. Hope it went well. Please keep posting the "We Wrote
'Em" tracks when you can; Winfield Scott's "Tweedle Dee" (now at
musica) is another fun experience. Good stereo separation, too,
expecially considering the era.
Eddy:
> Terry Knight & The Pack frontman, Richard Terrance Knight,
> who also managed Grand Funk Railroad, was stabbed to death
> at his Temple, Texas, home.
Heck of a way to go. RIP, Terry.
Frank Murphy, about The Velvelettes' Motown Anthology album, is "You'll
Never Cherish A Love So True" on there? What a greatsong - especially
the drummer's roll-around with the rimshot at the end. If it is there,
is the version at least close to the original recording?
Mick Patrick:
> I've just posted to musica Tony Wine's "A Toy Is Only Made
> For Play". It's from an unissued Screen Gems acetate
> recorded at Dick Charles Studios c.1964. The song was
> written by Russ Titelman and Howard Puris, aka Tony Powers.
> It sounds to me like a demo made for Dusty Springfield, and
> quite likely was.
Demo? I've heard plenty of "less-cooked" actual releases. This is very
cool! Thanks, Mick; I think this could've been a hit if it had come out
at the time.
Previously:
> A new feature article -- Ron Dante Remembers The '60s . . .
> And He Was There! -- has just been installed on the S'pop
> website. The piece was written by our very own Laura Pinto,
> who else?
Informative, fun, and well-written. What more could one ask? And Ron's
"vault" is definitely worth checking out - "Aunt Matilda" has a bit more
backbeat and richer production than one might expect from the bubblegum
era. (But leaving the listening hanging on a V7 chord at the end is
cruel! Legend has it that Mozart's father used to wake him in the
morning by playing an unresolved V7 chord on the piano several times;
young Wolfgang would have to get up and resolve it! The musicians aboard
here will understand that....)
Kurt Benbenek:
> ...[H]aving the realization several times during the show
> "Hey, this is THE Brian Wilson...singing Brian Wilson songs!"
The SMILE tour was the first of the four recent ones I saw where I had
the feeling that Brian was truly and deeply part of it all, rather than
giving the impression that he was watching himself from off to the side
and being a great Brian Wilson fan. The Carnegie Hall show was truly a
great experience, as the LA show seems to have been. My only regret was
that he didn't get Van Dyke Parks up on stage to sit in on at least one
or two numbers. But it's a small regret - and it was a great show.
Country Paul
(now only 12 days behind)
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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 19:29:43 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
I'd guess most of this audience became hip to a different beat
but give your mum and dad a bell and see if they remember being
groovy to the 'Mariachi Brass featuring Chet Baker' with their
rendition of "La Bamba". This weeks ROTW on the home page:
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm
On The Radio continues its exclusive interview with Jack Nitzsche
conducted by Karel Beer. Part eight begins Jack's introduction to
movie work at http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/radio.htm
Martin
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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