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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 20 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: President Kooper
From: Robert Pingel
2. Re: Kenny Young, The (other) Dickens
From: Jeff Lemlich
3. Peter Noone for Thanksgiving
From: Karen Andrew
4. Re: Little Pattie
From: Steve
5. Welsh artists; harmonicats
From: Clark Besch
6. Re: Little Pattie
From: Lyn Nuttall
7. Re: Tracey & Kirsty
From: Phil Chapman
8. Re: Bob Yorey
From: Al Quaglieri
9. Re: more Bob Yorey labels
From: Jeff Lemlich
10. update from Austin Roberts
From: Mark Wirtz
11. Re: Donnie Elbert
From: Dave Monroe
12. "Shangri-La's"; C. C. Adcock
From: Country Paul
13. Shirelles - Lower The Flame
From: Alan Holt
14. Re: Shirelles - Lower The Flame
From: R Pfink
15. Re: more on Little Pattie
From: Phil X Milstein
16. Re: the "other" Dickens
From: Brent Cash
17. Re: Donnie Elbert
From: Hans Huss
18. Imagine - Brian Wilson: The Making Of Smile
From: Martin Roberts
19. Re: Welsh artists; harmonicats
From: Clark Besch
20. Re: Donnie Elbert
From: Ed Salamon
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 16:53:56 -0800 (PST)
From: Robert Pingel
Subject: Re: President Kooper
Al Kooper wrote:
> I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know by Donny Hathaway was
> magnificent, but they changed a key line in the song. "I could be
> President of General Motors" was relegated to "I could be king of
> everything" by producer Jerry Wexler, and I never have forgiven
> him for that.
I recall someone else changing that line as well. In 1981 you appeared on
a telethon at about 3:00 a.m., and changed the line to "I could be president
of the March of Dimes, baby". Wonderful ad lib. I was watching with my
future wife, who had never heard of you prior to that. She became an instant
fan. About a week later she found out you were playing at some bar on
Sunset (across from the Whiskey, I think). We got there early and ended up
sitting right next to the piano. You were terrific -- great show, with numerous
guest musicians sitting in. Very memorable night.
Do you have any shows planned for LA in the near future?
Rob Pingel
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 20:42:33 -0500
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Kenny Young, The (other) Dickens
Good job with the Kenny Young interview, Brent ... and thank you for
the credit for the Limestone Lounge. Very interesting story! Somewhere
around here I have a couple of original '60s demos by Kenny. One is
for "Slauson Street", which is likely the original version of the song
he released as "Freddy Street" (on the B-side of "Mrs. Green's Ugly
Daughter"). Another is called "Come On To My Party", which as I recall,
has the original sheet music in with the demo. Now the task is finding
these puppies!
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
P.S. It's so cool to see The Sandpipers and The Dickens side-by-side on
the Spectropop Express front page. There was a DIFFERENT Dickens
group that was based in Pensacola, Florida, and a member of that group,
coincidentally, used to be married to one of the Sandpipers. If anyone's
interested in hearing Florida's answer to the Left Banke, check out this
small write-up on the Limestone Lounge:
http://tinyurl.com/459jh
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 19:43:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Karen Andrew
Subject: Peter Noone for Thanksgiving
Larry Lapka wrote:
> Peter Noone: One word: terrific! This guy is real good -- no
> one should knock him at this point. This guy knows his place
> in rock history and just goes with it. He's as exuberant as my
> nine year old is.
Larry is right about Peter! Returning home from the Thanksgiving weekend,
driving through southeastern Indiana, I listened to a 3-hour-long British
Invasion show on the radio. I think the station was out of Columbus, Ind.
Well, this program was great! I have to rave about it. Peter Noone was the
host, and he was perfectly cast.
When I got home I looked up info on the show on the Internet, only to
find that it was probably from 2003. So, I hope all of you have been able to
hear it. From the Westwood One network: "Hosted by Herman’s Hermits
lead singer Peter Noone, ... the special will focus on the British Invasion
period in American music, featuring The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The
Yardbirds, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Lulu and more. The special will
also feature the segment entitled Swinging London, spotlighting influential
areas in Britain with special contributions by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr,
Roger Daltrey, Bill Wyman, Rod Stewart and Eric Burdon, among others. ...
The Who, The Small Faces, Herman’s Hermits, The Dave Clark Five, Manfred
Mann, The Yardbirds, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones and others." Peter
explained where "Mersybeat" came from, for example.
Karen "Still Learning"
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 04:30:04 -0000
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Little Pattie
Paul wrote:
> In 2001 EMI Australia released a compilation CD entitled 20 Stompie
> Wompie Hits. I haven't seen the LP Mick refers to but the CD is a
> good coverage of her EMI period. My favourite song is "Pushing A
> Good Thing Too Far". The CD has 20 songs and it was budget priced.
The LP and the CD are both the same. Some tracks on the LP were dubbed
from vinyl. I'm not sure if this was corrected for the CD release or not.
By the way, "Dance Puppet Dance" was written by Les Van Dyke. Does
anyone know who did the original version?
In 1969 Pattie also recorded "Gravitation", written by Alma Cook, which
was released on the Aussie Columbia label. Again, I am completely unaware
of the original recording. Can anyone help?
Cheers,
Steve
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 05:51:38 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Welsh artists; harmonicats
Hi, have an odd request here. My nephew will be visiting Wales for school
next semester, and wants a harmonica to take along and learn to play in
his spare time. I would like to give him a CD of songs by Welsh artists, but
only can think of Tom Jones and Van Morrison. Are those correct? Can
anyone add any more?
Also, I'd like to make up a CD of harmonica songs for him. He may not
have heard the songs I'll use, but if anyone can supply a list at all, I'd be
appreciative! Which Dylan, Neil Young, Donovan, Yardbirds, Van Morrison,
Ray Charles, Hollies, Spoonful are best that feature harmonica?
So far, I can think of:
Billy Joel: Piano Man
John Barry: Midnight Cowboy
Crosby/Nash (?): Southbound Train
Beatles: I Should Have Known Better; Love Me Do; Little Child
Millie Small: My Boy Lollipop
Marmalade: Rainbow
Nino & April: Deep Purple
Stevie Wonder: Fingertips; For Once In My Life
Nitty Gritty DB: Mr. Bojangles
Jan & Dean: I Found A Girl
Offlist, of course, please.
Thanks,
Clark
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 08:41:21 -0000
From: Lyn Nuttall
Subject: Re: Little Pattie
Paul Lewis wrote:
> My favourite song is "Pushing A Good Thing Too Far".
You took the words out of my mouth: "Pushing A Good Thing Too Far"
is a gem. Its songwriting pedigree, of Crewe-Linzer-Randell, is first-class,
and it originates from a fine recording by another Lewis: Barbara. I have a
bit of a song history about it, at http://tinyurl.com/58xgp , but anything you
can add/correct is welcome. According to my searches, the CD is available
online, through http://sanity.com.au or http://www.topshop.com.au
Lyn
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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 12:36:37 -0000
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: Re: Tracey & Kirsty
Simon pleaded:
> Surely SOMEONE on the list can help?
Simon, you've been Spectrosearching. ... Yes, I recorded and mixed
most of Tracey Ullman's tracks. I did a lot of '60s covers at that time
and I was determined to capture the same excitement and 'magic'
that the originals had, despite my apparent disregard for technical
quality being frowned upon.
DD's "Move Over Darling" was already one of my all-time favourites
and on the TU session (at Olympic Studio 2) I drove the drummer crazy,
(I think it was Terry Williams, pre Dire Straits) by pedantically revising
the kick part from memory. Keyboards were generally played by Wix
(Paul Wickens), who got a buzz cloning the Nitzsche strings. I seem
to remember that "Breakaway" (recorded at Sarm East) was Wix's
first session.
A couple of years ago somebody here compared the versions of
"They Don't Know". Here's my response:
Tracey's version is a semitone up on Kirsty's, and, although Kirsty
re-sang the backing vocals (the harmonies on the last verse are
different), neither of them could get the "Baby" to sound as good
as Kirsty's original, so it was pitched up and 'flown in'."
> Also, is it just me, or are Kirsty's backing vocals actually
> mixed louder than Tracey's lead vocal? Any insight would be
> appreciated.
Another of my habits from the early days was to mix for radio, usually
monitoring through one small loudspeaker. Consequently, anything
placed to the sides came out a little louder when listening in stereo,
and I kind of like that. Also, "They Don't Know" is three-part harmony,
if you include Tracey's melody as the middle part, and I guess I must
have balanced them equally.
And it all seems like only yesterday:-)
PC
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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 11:41:07 -0500
From: Al Quaglieri
Subject: Re: Bob Yorey
Al Kooper wrote:
> My favorite obscure Laddins track was "There Once Was A Time",
> also on one of Bob's instant labels although I don't recall which one
> (just that it was light blue with black letters).
The Laddins - There Once Was A Time / Oh How I Hate To Go Home
(Theatre 111, the label's only release)
Al Q.
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 17:57:51 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: more Bob Yorey labels
Hans Huss wrote:
> I'm thrilled about the way the story unfolds. Bardell, Butane, Angie,
> and now, thanks to Al Kooper, Theatre!
And there are at least two more labels to add to the list: BYP (for "Bob
Yorey Productions") and Yorey, the latter featuring The Marvells and The
American Beetles.
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 17:18:11 -0000
From: Mark Wirtz
Subject: update from Austin Roberts
Austin asked me to please let y'all know that his computer is messing up
and he's been unable to receive or respond to e-mails (Claire's computer
sneezed and Austin's caught the bug, I think). So, you'll need to either
wait a few more days to communicate with him, or do it the old fashioned
way -- shout very loudly!
Best,
Mark w.
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 14:28:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Donnie Elbert
Hans Huss wrote:
> Good to see Donnie Elbert mentioned on the list, he is truly
> one of the unsung heroes!
Ditto! Except that all I knew of him previously was his Northern Soul-ish
cover of "Where Did Our Love Go?" (on All-Platinum), which I only just
now learned was released in 1971. I'd been finding no end of cheap
copies and giving them away to friends ...
Dave
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Message: 12
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 17:43:05 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: "Shangri-La's"; C. C. Adcock
I hope to be playing catch-up again later today -- miss y'all!
I found a "Shangri-La's" page at a booking company that claims to have
"original artists" -- http://www.2bproductions.net/artists/shangrilas.html.
Obviously, we know better, but does anyone have any idea how these folks
get to use the group name, and how they are connected to it?
Martin Roberts, got the C.C. Adcock CD today; thanks for turning us on
to it. The Jack Nitzsche-produced track is certainly one of the two or three
best. This dude rocks! Not really '60s -- okay, not at all -- but there are
roots back to New Orleans music (the album was mostly produced there),
Bunker Hill's "Hide And Seek" and Leon Russell's Dylan cover "Hollis
Brown" (stylistically), and Denny Cordell's son, who is involved.
Thanks to everyone for keeping me up to date on the John Townley
adventures. I promise to join you back in our regularly-scheduled era
very soon!
Country Paul
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 01 Dec 2004 11:42:36 +1300
From: Alan Holt
Subject: Shirelles - Lower The Flame
Hi folks!
I am just new on the list. I came across the website when I Googled for
information on the Shirelles' record "Lower The Flame." I have been
looking for this song for a while. It's not available on any CDs, and the
only album I know of for certain that it's on is their debut album, which is
an expensive one and and was never released in New Zealand, where
I live. Does anyone know of any other way I could finally hear this track?
Thanks!
Alan
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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 19:40:42 -0500
From: R Pfink
Subject: Re: Shirelles - Lower The Flame
Alan Holt asked:
> I am just new on the list. I came across the website when I
> Googled for information on the Shirelles' record "Lower The
> Flame"... Does anyone know of any other way I could finally
> hear this track?
It's on a two-fer on Westside, "Tonight's The Night/The Shirelles Sing
To Trumpets & Strings"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005KBJ7/
RP
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Message: 15
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 2004 20:48:46 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: more on Little Pattie
Lyn Nuttall wrote:
> You took the words out of my mouth: "Pushing A Good Thing Too Far"
> is a gem. Its songwriting pedigree, of Crewe-Linzer-Randell, is first-class,
> and it originates from a fine recording by another Lewis: Barbara. I have
> a bit of a song history about it, at http://tinyurl.com/58xgp
Lyn offers an interesting factoid there about Little Pattie:
"Real name Patricia Amphlett ... cousin of Divinyls singer Christina Amphlett."
Oops, I left out a word. According to Lyn, despite the fact that the heart of
her recording career came 20 years earlier, Little Pattie is the YOUNGER
of the two!
Truth is stranger, etc.,
--Phil M.
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 01 Dec 2004 02:24:40 -0000
From: Brent Cash
Subject: Re: the "other" Dickens
Jeff Lemlich wrote:
> Somewhere around here I have a couple of original
> '60s demos by Kenny. One is for "Slauson Street",
> which is likely the original version of the song he
> released as "Freddy Street" (on the B-side of "Mrs.
> Green's Ugly Daughter").
Thanks for the link to the *other* Dickens group. I checked out
the soundbite of that single and it is indeed more than a homage
to The Left Banke. Like "She May Call You Up..." mixed with "Lazy
Day." Other than the singer having a lower range than Steve Martin,
it's pretty "dead on" for the harmony intervals they (L.B.) used, as
well as the harpsichord. Very possibly it's the same song. Not only
did some Resnick/Young tunes get retitled later (f.e., "Every Window
In The City" = "I Found A Daisy In The City"), but some solo Kenny
Young songs had a change as well (f.e., "Su-Su" = "Toom Toom (Is
A Little Boy)".
"Best Wishes"/"Blessed Fishes",
Brent Cash
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 03:41:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Hans Huss
Subject: Re: Donnie Elbert
Dave Monroe wrote:
> ... All I knew of him previously was his Northern Soul-ish
cover of "Where Did Our Love Go?".
There is a world of wonderful Donnie Elbert recordings to discover. A
small list of must-haves would include:
* What Can I Do - Deluxe 6125 (1957)
* Have I Sinned - Deluxe 6148 (1957)
* Run Little Girl - Gateway 731 (1964)
* A Little Piece Of Leather - Gateway 757 (1965) (a mod classic, released
by Guy Stevens on Sue in the UK)
* Without You - New Wave 001 (UK) (1968) (re-released on Deram in 1969)
* I Can't Get Over Losing You - Rare Bullet 101 (1970)
* Where Did Our Love Go - All Platinum 2330 (1971)
* This Feeling Of Losing You - All Platinum 2338 (1973) (A very haunting
track, not on the 'Where Did Our Love Go' album)
* You're Gonna Cry When I'm Gone - Bradleys 7501 (UK) (1975)
Donnie Elbert also wrote Darrell Banks's 'Open The Door To Your Heart',
one of the finest (Northern) soul sides ever. Interestingly, his 'You're
Gonna Cry When I'm Gone' -- another fabulous but forgotten record, and
well worth walking the extra mile for -- is the original blueprint for Shirley
& Company's 'Shame, Shame, Shame', a worldwide disco smash in
1975. Donnie Elbert claimed he wrote everything but the words, using
the chord sequence from George McCrae's 'Rock Your Baby', it's his
piano playing on Shirley's hit version.
Apart from his unique and beautiful voice, one of the attractions of his later
releases, particularly those cut in England, is the fact that he played every
instrument. Their simple, demo-like quality -- and the occasionally low
budget-sounding keyboard strings -- may not be everybody's cup of tea,
but it's a very addictive brand once you've acquired the taste.
There are biographies on Donnie Elbert in Soul Survivor # 7 and Soulful
Kinda Music # 13. Also, a surprisingly large number of the 45s mentioned
above (along with many others) are currently available on eBay.
HH
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 01 Dec 2004 16:35:39 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Imagine - Brian Wilson: The Making Of Smile
Just a reminder to UK S'poppers BBC1, 10.35 this evening, "Imagine -
Brian Wilson: The Making Of Smile".
Be there or be square,
Martin
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 01 Dec 2004 19:05:30 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Welsh artists; harmonicats
Thanks so much to all who responded to my request. The
Welsh site at http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Stage/8089/
was of great help! The Amen Corner -- cool! Anyway, thanks
so much for the help. Now about more harmonica songs ...
Clark
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 01 Dec 2004 20:28:15 -0000
From: Ed Salamon
Subject: Re: Donnie Elbert
Dave Monroe wrote:
> ... All I knew of him previously was his Northern Soul-ish
> cover of "Where Did Our Love Go"
Donnie's Deluxe sides, including "Have I Sinned" and "What Can I Do",
were huge for slow dances at Pittsburgh record hops. They're very unlike
his later uptempos (which we also played, especially the Gateway sides
recorded in the 'burgh), and I'm finding that a lot of Northern Soulers
don't appreciate older R&B, but the Beach Music cats might dig them.
Available on a CD from Collectables.
Ed Salamon
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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