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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 23 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Tighter, Tighter
From: Davie Gordon
2. Re: Tighter, Tighter
From: Dave Monroe
3. 2-1/2 questions about Glen Campbell
From: Phil X Milstein
4. Re: Goodbye WSAI
From: Nick Archer
5. Re: Saint Etienne
From: Dave Monroe
6. Re: Walk Tall with The 2 Of Clubs
From: John Fox
7. Re: SGC Records
From: Gary Myers
8. Re: P.K. Limited
From: Gary Myers
9. "Dolly and the Partons"; SGC; KDAV
From: Country Paul
10. Re: Tighter, Tighter
From: Andrew C Jones
11. Re: SGC Records
From: Clark Besch
12. Re: Tighter, Tighter cover
From: Phil X Milstein
13. SGC discography
From: Phil X Milstein
14. The Flirtations
From: James Moniz
15. Alan Boyd
From: Kingsley Abbott
16. Re: 2-1/2 questions about Glen Campbell
From: Jens Koch
17. Re: Tighter, Tighter cover
From: Bill Mulvy
18. Joey Heatherton's new CD
From: David A Young
19. Alive 'n Lickin' 'n radio
From: Clark Besch
20. Turtles sue Applebee's over "Happy Together"
From: Bryan
21. Another Tommy James tie In - The Clique
From: Bill Mulvy
22. Re: SGC Records
From: Bill Mulvy
23. XM Satellite Radio
From: Bill Mulvy
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:56:01 -0000
From: Davie Gordon
Subject: Re: Tighter, Tighter
Phil X. Milstein asked:
> I've been hearing a recent cover version of "Tighter, Tighter" around
> lately. This has got me wondering about the original, specifically
> whether Alive & Kicking was a real group discovered by Tommy
> James, or a studio ensemble he put together for the primary
> purpose of recording that song. Did they make any other decent
> records?
They were definitely a real group. According to Wayne Jancik's "Billboard
Book Of One-Hit Wonders" they played at clubs in NYC clubs like the Bitter
End and the Electric Circus before hooking up with Tommy James.
>From Jancik: Why didn't the group record any more Tommy James songs?
"We were really cocky; we thought "Tighter, Tighter" was too bubblegum.
We were real long haired and doing all original material, and we wanted to
go into more heavy rock. Tommy felt we ought to come out with another
"Tighter." We didn't want to do it, so Tommy didn't want to record us
anymore."
I can't remeber the follow-up singles, but I did have the album years ago.
The most memorable tracks are "Tighter" and one of their own songs,
"Kentucky Fire," but apart from those two it's pretty undistinguished. If
you find it cheap it's worth picking up, but I wouldn't go out of my way
to get another copy.
Davie
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 14:36:21 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Tighter, Tighter
Phil X. Milstein asked:
> I've been hearing a recent cover version of "Tighter, Tighter" around
> lately. This has got me wondering about the original, specifically
> whether Alive & Kicking was a real group discovered by Tommy
> James, or a studio ensemble he put together for the primary
> purpose of recording that song. Did they make any other decent
> records?
Having been reminded of "Tighter, Tighter" at a recent guess-the-unmarked-
records-on-the-jukebox-for-free-drinks night a a bar up the street, we ran
out and got copies (I found a nice one, albeit a Roulette reissue, for fifty
cents at a used bookstore, even) and have been spinning them at any
given chance. Talk about synchronicity (or, at any rate, serendipity) ...
Anyway, my understanding is, is that James had written, recorded and
produced the track himself, but had acquaintances, a Brooklyn band,
which did indeed preexist the track and was indeed called Alive & (later
"'n'") Kicking, do the vocals. The other side of the 45, "Sunday Morning,"
while pleasant enough, isn't all too memorable. Anything else I don't
know, but there are samples for the tracks at:
http://www.oldies.com/product/view.cfm/id_63012.html#description
But I'm also under the impression that James had little to nothing to do
with the rest of the band's LP, much less with subsequent releases. A few
years later James himself apparently rerecorded the song, though I haven't
heard that version. Is that the cover you've been hearing? Also found on
by one Bob Koenig, but ... well, let me know, thanks ...
Dave M.
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 19:01:07 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: 2-1/2 questions about Glen Campbell
* Did Glen Campbell play guitar on his big Capitol records? LP cuts, as
well?
* Did he continue to do session work once he hit the top as a solo star?
--Phil M.
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:03:12 -0600
From: Nick Archer
Subject: Re: Goodbye WSAI
> John Fox wrote:
> ... Unfortunately, it was just announced that as of January 1 WSAI will
> become a liberal talk-radio station. And while that in and of itself, is a
> major feat in conservative Cincinnati, it is a shame to lose real oldies
> WSAI.
I'm so bummed at this one. I listen to WSAI here in Nashville most
nights, and besides the great music, one thing comes through clearly.
This is a CINCINNATI station -- music, jocks, news, image and everything.
You could not put this station anywhere else and have it work. It's unique
and cloned to the market, and that's the way great radio should be.
Satellite radio isn't going to fill this void, in fact the same people who
screwed up the FM dial in the '70s and '80s are running XM and Sirius
now.
I feel sorry for the younger radio listeners who will never have the chance
to bond with a local radio station, to feel it's THEIR station, to be afraid to
turn it off because they might miss something great. It's history now, and
I don't see it coming back.
Enough at the pulpit for now,
Nick Archer
Franklin, TN
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 19:18:08 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Saint Etienne
Vlaovic B wrote:
> ... It's almost a game to spot the quote/reference
> to other (usually obscure songs) in the music.
I missed almost all of these. Thanks! But I've long been attempting to
master seamlessly mixing Saint Etienne's "Nothing Can Stop Us" with
its primary source, Dusty Springfield's cover of Baby Washington's "I
Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face." Thanks again!
Dave M.
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:15:45 EST
From: John Fox
Subject: Re: Walk Tall with The 2 Of Clubs
Clark Besch writes:
> I think it is a record (one of many, I'm afraid) who fell
> victim to hitting top 10's at various months causing a low
> chart placing in Billboard not reflecting its popularity
> correctly over six months.
Excellent point, and just the tip of the iceberg regarding the issues
associated with the weekly record charts, which had nothing to do with
total sales of a record, only with what other records it sold more (or less)
than in a particular week. For those of you into math and statistics, it's a
ranking scale, not a rating scale, with the flaw being the difference in the
distance between #1 and #2 compared to the distance between #2 and
#3 or between #39 and #40, etc. In the case of "Walk Tall", this song did
well enough in its hometown of Cincinnati to be rated #14 for the entire
year of 1966, whereas it didn't chart nationally until March of 1967.
John Fox
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:25:20 -0800
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: SGC Records
Larry Lapka asked:
> Can anybody fill me in on SGC records?
Stak-O-Wax lists only 9 singles on SGC, one of which is Sedaka's
"Rainy Jane", later re-done by Dave Jones.
gem
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:27:53 -0800
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: P.K. Limited
Michael Tom wrote:
> ... P.K. Limited. They put out five fine 45s on Colgems ... "Peyton-
Kaniger" songwriting credit ...
And someone (David Gordon?) recently mentioned (off-list, to me, I think)
that Kaniger is Mary Kaniger, later of Big Daddy.
gem
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 00:54:29 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: "Dolly and the Partons"; SGC; KDAV
previously:
> Dolly Parton - "Don't Drop Out" (great example to show that
> other non-pop artists tried out the style)
Thanks to Phil Milstein and Mike Edwards, I've now heard this track, and
it's a treat. Dolly and producer Ray Stevens channel The Shangri-Las and
Shadow Morton! Gentlemen, you've made my day.
Re: the Motown Volume 1 package -- *six* discs?!? Holy mackeral!! Bring
it on!
Larry Lapka wrote:
> I know SGC was distributed by Atco, but someone on my
> Colgems site has led me to believe that SGC stands for
> "Screen Gems Columbia" which, if true, begs the question:
> Why did this label exist if Colgems was still around?
You got the initials right. As for why a second label, probably a business
decision, which could be for any number of reasons, from an image
change (Nazz was a "real" existing group), broadening the distribution
base, internal politics, or someone just felt like it. Anyone with real ideas --
or more entertaining guesses?
John Fox wrote:
> ... in conservative Cincinnati, it is a shame to lose real
> oldies WSAI.
Nothing compares with real live open-air radio, but KDAV in Lubbock, TX,
continues to offer high quality oldies radio streaming online (an on the air
if you live there!). They're a real down-home operation, but apparently
they've got legs and are surviving. Unfortunately, their audio stream is
now by subscription only. Details at http://www.kdav.com . 9:00am to
noon local time continues to be hosted by Virgil Johnson, lead singer of
The Velvets!
Mick, thank you for playing the Jaynettes' "Snowman" to musica. I owe
someone in the group a tape copy, and as things were going, I wasn't
going to get to it before leaving for Christmas holiday.
Happy holidays to all -- and if I get a chance to write again, I'll wish you
the same again! (Why not -- 'tis the season ...)
Country Paul
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 11:09:48 -0500
From: Andrew C Jones
Subject: Re: Tighter, Tighter
Phil X. Milstein asked:
> I've been hearing a recent cover version of "Tighter, Tighter" around
> lately. This has got me wondering about the original, specifically
> whether Alive & Kicking was a real group discovered by Tommy
> James, or a studio ensemble he put together for the primary
> purpose of recording that song. Did they make any other decent
> records?
I'm told that Alive & Kicking was a real group (at least a real duo -- I only
ever saw the two lead singers on TV), who normally did much "heavier"
music than "Tighter, Tighter," and refused to do any more tracks like "TT"
afterward, which is probably why they only had the one big hit. I've also
heard they were still performing into the 1990s.
ACJ
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 14:14:19 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: SGC Records
Davie Gordon wrote:
> If I can find it I have a scan of the Billboard story announcing the
> launch of the SGC label with the ususl historic contract signing photo
> -- Erteugun was there for Atlantic, Kirshner for SGC. Can't remember
> if Jerry Wexler was there -- if he was I'm sure it was just for
> appearance's sake as I doubt he cared either way about distributing
> Nazz.
Jerry may well have wanted to be there. Given the press barrage for Nazz,
from videos to promo appearances to trade ads to being plastered all over
teen mags, I think all involved thought Nazz were going to be huge. I have
to admit that I have NO idea why "Open My Eyes" wasn't a huge hit. It is
the PERFECT polished hard rocker of the day and why the quiet, stranger,
beautiful side, "Hello, It's Me" was a hit all over, yet never at the right time
to push high on Billboard, is beyond me. Three great albums proves to me
that those of power thought Nazz would eventually break through and become
rock giants, but I don't think that the followups, "Not Wrong Long" and
"Some People," were the best choices for A-sides. Eventually, like one of
their fun songs, "Loosen Up", things just fell apart. Love him or hate him,
Todd R. has brought us some of the most wonderful music I've ever heard.
Clark
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 13:45:10 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Tighter, Tighter cover
Dave Monroe asked:
> But I'm also under the impression that James had little to nothing to
> do with the rest of the band's LP, much less with subsequent releases.
> A few years later James himself apparently rerecorded the song,
> though I haven't heard that version. Is that the cover you've been
> hearing?
No, it's by some newfangled pop act or other. The last time I heard it was
while trying on trousers at the Gap a couple of days ago, if that gives you
any clue. For all I know it could be by Destiny's Children, the one and only
Britney Shears, Moby the Grape, BMX, Jessica Sampson, Enimam ... I
really don't know one from the other.
--Phil M.
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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 13:32:28 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: SGC discography
001 is listed as from 1968, all the others from '69.
--Phil M.
-----
001: Nazz -- Hello It's Me / Open My Eyes
002: Will-O-Bees -- Listen To The Music / Make Your Own Kind Of Music
003: Coven -- I Shall Be Released / I've Come Too Far
004: Will-O-Bees -- I Can't Quit Lovin' You Baby / The Ugliest Girl In Town
005: Neil Sedaka -- Star Crossed Lovers / We Had A Good Thing Going
006: Nazz -- Not Wrong Long / Under The Ice
007: Will-O-Bees -- It's Getting Better / November Monday
008: Neil Sedaka -- Jeannine / Rainy Jane
009: Nazz -- Magic Me / Some People
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Message: 14
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 20:07:00 -0500
From: James Moniz
Subject: The Flirtations
Does anyone have any of the following songs by the Flirtations:
"Why Didn't I Think of That"
"Oh Mia Bamba"
"Dirty Work"
"Take Me In Your Arms and Leave Me"
"No Such Thing As A Miracle"
If you do I would really appreciate it if you could post them in
musica or contact me off-list. And does anyone have any background
information on "Why Didn't I Think of That"? Did it chart anywhere
and what year???
Really appreciate it,
thanks
James
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Message: 15
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 15:59:07 -0000
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: Alan Boyd
Susan wrote:
> I would add that Alan Boyd has thrown his hat into the ring as well.
> The Beach Boys' archivist and documentary maker has finally put
> together a collection of his own songs...and the CD is worth far more
> than the $10 price. There is much that harkens to the sound of the
> Beach Boys and Brian, but there is also an individuality that
> commands attention unto itself: http://www.boydproductiongroup.com
Country Paul replied:
> Just ordered it on your suggestion, Susan (and Dinsdale's enthusiastic
> seconding of your motion); I'm gambling $11 (including postage) that
> you're right! :-)
Well, I'm thirding it!! Paul, you won't be disappointed - It's a great
disc from a very talented man, who incidently currently has the enviable
(or unenviable depending on how you view the task!) of properly
cataloguing the entire Beach Boys/solo tape library - every track of
every song or part song on every source. At long last the Hawthorne
Hotshots have realised the worth of doing this, and the need to prepare
for the times.not too far off, when such deep catalogue will be sold per
track from the internet. Don't expect any more CD comps like 'Hawthorne',
but rather look more to the electronic future. In the meantime, get
Alan's album, especially at that price!
Kingsley
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Message: 16
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 22:38:56 +0100
From: Jens Koch
Subject: Re: 2-1/2 questions about Glen Campbell
Phil X Milstein:
> Did Glen Campbell play guitar on his big Capitol records? LP cuts,
> as well?
Yes. He kept playing guitar on most of his records right up until
today, although he frequently used other guitar players such as Dean
Parks, Fred Tackett, Ben Benay, Carl jackson, Craig Fell, and others.
> Did he continue to do session work once he hit the top as a solo
> star?
He was still doing session work for Merle Haggard, among others, in
early 1968, so that would be a yes, but he stopped it soon after.
Jens
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Message: 17
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 19:05:53 -0600
From: Bill Mulvy
Subject: Re: Tighter, Tighter cover
Phil,
Tommy James also recorded "Tighter Tighter" himself.
Bill Mulvy
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Message: 18
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 05:18:05 -0000
From: David A Young
Subject: Joey Heatherton's new CD
Hey, is Amber still a member of this group? It's been far too long
since we've heard from her, and if she were still here, surely
she'd've let us know of the CD release a week or two ago by her good
friend Joey. Or perhaps she's just been busy decorating her cell for
the holidays. In any case, I suppose it falls to me to share a
couple of details about this gem.
New on the Hip-O Select label (an Internet-only concern mentioned
here recently in conjunction with the upcoming Motown singles boxes)
is a package beginning with the ten tracks from Ms. Heatherton's
1972 LP for MGM, followed by the pièces de resistance, the eight
sides of her four very rare and very expensive (when you can find
them) '60s singles for Coral and Decca, highly sought after by both
girl-group and Northern Soul aficianados. These are followed in turn
by three previously unreleased cuts, the first two of which are
clearly contemporary with the single tracks and very nearly of the
same stunning quality.
I have no commercial interest in promoting this release, but I know
that there are plenty of people here that're gonna love the disc,
pressed in a limited edition of 5,000 and featuring a cover that is
sure to prove popular at Amber's last known address. My sole gripe
with the package is the near-complete dearth of information in the
booklet. Details:
http://www.hip-oselect.com/catalogue_joey.asp
David A. Young
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Message: 19
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 06:13:46 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Alive 'n Lickin' 'n radio
Nick Archer wrote:
> I feel sorry for the younger radio listeners who will never have
> the chance to bond with a local radio station, to feel it's THEIR
> station, to be afraid to turn it off because they might miss
> something great. It's history now, and I don't see it coming back.
Nick, I'll take that a step further by saying it's a shame they
didn't have an AM station to call their own. Altho I liked the local
Dodge City, Kansas station (especially the great obscurities they
played), my station was WLS and so if you were into DXing, you could
have YOUR station be anywhere!!
Dave Monroe wrote of Alive n Kickin:
> Anyway, my understanding is, is that James had written, recorded and
> produced the track himself, but had acquaintances, a Brooklyn band,
> which did indeed preexist the track and was indeed called Alive &
> (later "'n'") Kicking, do the vocals. The other side of the 45,
> "Sunday Morning," while pleasant enough, isn't all too memorable.
> Anything else I don't know,
The followup to "Tighter, Tighter" was "Just Let it Come" and was
more of a rocker, but still had a T James sound and was produced by
James and made the top 60 nationally. I like it a lot. The next was
the non-Lp cover of David Gates' "London Bridge" produced by Peter
Siegel. I love Bread's version, but Alive 'n Kickin's version got
what it deserved, sales-wise.
It's kinda ironic that James was trying to preach a "sound the same"
followup to Alive n Kickin', since he got tired of Gentry and Cordell
telling him how to produce HIS records 2 years earlier and started
producing his own, starting with "Do Something to Me" and the
great "B" side, "Ginger Bread Man". Actually, James only produced
the 45 sides, while the Lp tracks (same takes, only mixed different
for 45 by James) of same name were produced by Gentry/Cordell. You
can tell James' version of "Ginger Bread Man" by the extended echo in
the vocal break, which is not in the Lp mix. Next was "Crimson &
Clover", so I guess he was right and Alive n Kickin' was wrong?
Clark
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Message: 20
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 01:25:38 -0000
From: Bryan
Subject: Turtles sue Applebee's over "Happy Together"
What does That Alan Gordon have to say about this??
>From CNN.com: Turtles sue Applebee's over 'Happy'
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- It turns out
restaurateur Applebee's International Inc. and the
1960s pop group the Turtles aren't so happy together
after all.
Two of the group's members, Mark Volman and Howard
Kaylan, have sued the chain and its advertising
agency, FCB Worldwide Inc., over an ad which
*modified lyrics* to their 1967 hit "Happy Together."
More here: http://tinyurl.com/65tdc
Bryan
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Message: 21
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 19:14:31 -0600
From: Bill Mulvy
Subject: Another Tommy James tie In - The Clique
The Clique album also had some Tommy James songs including "Sugar On
Sunday" and "Sparkle and Shine". Their big hit song was "I'll Hold
Out My Hand". They also did the original? version of "Superman", to
be made famous, years later, by REM.
Bill Mulvy
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Message: 22
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 19:03:40 -0600
From: Bill Mulvy
Subject: Re: SGC Records
Clark Besch:
> ... I have NO idea why "Open My Eyes" wasn't a huge hit.
"Open My Eyes" was a great record but probably a little too psychedelic-
sounding for it's time.
Bill Mulvy
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Message: 23
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 18:59:27 -0600
From: Bill Mulvy
Subject: XM Satellite Radio
I live in Chicago, and the oldies station here is WJMK. They play
the same old tired 2 to 3 songs of major groups of the 60's and 70's.
It's as if groups like the Stones, Beatles Hollies etc. only had
released a few hit songs in their time. They only play obvious one
hit wonders as well. They certainly don't serve the public's interest
with tight play lists like that!
I much prefer XM satellite for the variety ,sound quality, and much
wider play lists that are offered. I also avoid the commercials,
PSAs, traffic and weather you hear on present day AM and FM stations.
Bill Mulvy
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