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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 12 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Tommy James
From: Phil X Milstein
2. Re: Lance Rentzel
From: Phil X Milstein
3. Midnight Mary / Joey / The Clique / Kenny Young
From: Artie Wayne
4. Re: What's your fave Xmas tune?
From: Mike Rashkow
5. Re: What's your fave Xmas tune?
From: James Moniz
6. Re: Darlene reminder
From: Phil X Milstein
7. Re: The Braillettes
From: Kurt Benbenek
8. Re: Season's Greetings
From: Mike Griffiths
9. Re: The Turtles' "Happy Together"
From: That Alan Gordon
10. Delaney & Bonnie
From: Steve Propes
11. Re: Dee Dee Warwick / The 2 Of Clubs
From: Mick Patrick
12. Re: What's your fave Xmas tune?
From: John H
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 12:52:49 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Tommy James
Michael Thom wrote:
> ... As TJ confirmed when I interviewed him for the liner notes
> for the "Crimson and Clover"/ "Cellophane Symphony" reissue
> two-fer CD ...
Thanks for all the fascinating Tommy James and related information,
Michael. I'm not familiar with the collection you worked on -- is it a
straight reissue of those two LPs? Who put it out, and do you know if
it's still in print?
> Sudano and Wilson also co-wrote TJ and the Shondells' "Ball
> Of Fire."
"Ball Of Fire" is one of my favorite Tommy James recordings. The writing
credit is interesting, as it is, given your explanation, the only
example I know of where two separate groups in essence swapped hit
songs. Sure enough Brian Wilson wrote some of Jan & Dean's hit material,
but the Tommy James/Alive & Kicking situation would be the equivalent of
Jan & Dean also having written for The Beach Boys; and, beyond that,
that song having been a chart hit.
Just heard a short excerpt from "Crystal Blue Persuasion," done in a
soft-pop style with a female vocalist, used behind a new commercial. For
a perfume, I believe, but don't hold me to that. The briefness of the
snatch (if you'll pardon the expression) caused me to wonder if
songwriting royalties in such cases are pro rated depending on how large
a percentage of the song is used. Any of our professional songwriters or
music industry insiders know the answer to that?
A new day is risin', most definitely,
--Phil M.
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 15:56:36 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Lance Rentzel
Max Weiner wrote:
> If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Joey Heatherton also married to Lance
> Rentzel of the Dallas Cowboys.
Now there's a name you used to hear all the time, but not in the least
anymore -- talk about yer precipitous falls from the top!
Not that this was exactly what his fame was based on, but in 1968, the
year before he married J.H., Rentzel cut a 45 for Columbia, titled
"Lookin' Like Somethin' That Ain't" / "Beyond Love." Does anyone know
of it, recommend it, be able to play it to musica?
Curiously,
--Phil M.
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 09:33:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Midnight Mary / Joey / The Clique / Kenny Young
How ya'll doin'? Well it's time for a little "Christmas Wrap-up"...
I'd like to thank Clark Blesch for posting Joey ["Meet Me at Midnight
Mary" [Raleigh/Wayne] Powers photos and, Tom Adams, for posting "Meet
me at Midnight Joey" [Raleigh/Wayne] by Lorna Dune to musica. I'll
keep you all informed about a pending U.K. release.
I see the Clique popping up again. I fondly remember the songs I wrote
with Gary Zekley and Mitch Bottler on my first trip to California. I
loved the stuff they had written for the Grass Roots, "Wait a Million
Years", "Sooner or later" and knew we could write hits together.
Richard Baskin, got us together on a Monday and we all wrote "Ain't no
Such Thing as Love"...on Tuesday, Gary, Mitch and I wrote "Hallelujah"
...both of which Gary recorded and released on the White Whale Clique
album.
Next I want to apologize to my old friend Kenny Young ["Under the
Boardwalk"], now living in the U.K., who contacted me after 30 years!.
He read my post where I said that he and I used to drive around New
York City in his brothers 3-Wheeled car...trying to pick up girls. He
accused me of having an "Overactive Imagination" his brother never had
a 3-Wheeled car! Upon thinking about it I realize it was somebody
else! If it was Kenny, I'm sure he would've written a song with Artie
Resnick called, "You Can't Pick Up Girls in a 3-Wheeled Car".
Finally, I want to thank you for all of your support on my new ROCK
STARZ venture: http://artiewayne.com/art.html and wish you all the
happiest of of holidays...and may God bless Joe Nelson.
regards, Artie Wayne
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 16:37:57 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: What's your fave Xmas tune?
No one ever said it better than Charles Brown - Merry Christmas Baby.
How simple that is -- and that is my wish for all S'Poppers, cause --
"you sure been good to me".
Rashkovsky
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 16:12:55 -0500
From: James Moniz
Subject: Re: What's your fave Xmas tune?
My favortie Xmas song is "Xmas Time is Here Again" by the Flirtations!
Woohoo! Second favorite are all of the Spector girl-group Christmas
songs!
--James
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 19:45:37 -0000
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Darlene reminder
I wrote:
> Just a reminder to all U.S. (and Canadian?) members of Darlene
> Love's annual "Christmas Baby Please Come Home" appearance on
> the Letterman show tonight.
Sorry for the false -- or, more accurately, belated -- message.
I sent this out midday Thursday, but it didn't get through until
Friday. For those that missed it, the appearance was another
good one by the forever young Miss Love. Surprises were a gift-
wrapped bari solo, and an uncredited (save for an early-in-the-
show mention by Paul Schaeffer) Ellie Greenwich among the chorus
of back-up singers.
Till next time,
--Phil M.
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 18:27:57 -0000
From: Kurt Benbenek
Subject: Re: The Braillettes
Will Stos wrote:
> I'm not sure if this is even real or not, but on a list of worst
> record covers ever, a girl group (whose members are apparently blind)
> showed up. Anyone ever heard their record?
>
> http://porktornado.diaryland.com/covers2.html
The album by The Braillettes is very definitely a real record. I used
to have a copy many years ago, but somehow gave it away during one of
my "great vinyl purges" of the early 1990s. Giving away the album was
one of the greatest mistakes of my life and I kick myself daily for
doing it. I'm hoping to come across another copy one day, as it does
have one of the greatest covers of all time (even more impressive at
full 12 X 12 scale!) It's very nice to see a scan of the cover online.
The inspirational Christian music on the album is gentle and guitar-
based and not anywhere as strange as the album cover...in fact, the
music isn't strange at all.
Happy Holidays from
sunny Southern California!
Kurt Benbenek
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 25 Dec 2004 02:21:07 -0000
From: Mike Griffiths
Subject: Re: Season's Greetings
Austin Powell wrote:
> thanks for a fascinating year and all the stuff I've learnt and
> all the new friends I feel I've made.
I don't think I can say it better and yes that is exactly how I feel.
All the best,
Mike Griffiths
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 12:13:52 -0700
From: That Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: The Turtles' "Happy Together"
Mikey, I have never heard the Ventures' version of "Happy Together".
I would like to hear that version as well as your group's version.
Clark B, I have nothing to do with the recent quiet behavior of (the
other) Alan Gordon. He was the first A.G. to be on S`pop that is why
I`m stuck with That Alan. I know we`ll hear from him soon.
Glen, I think the publishers of the song will allow ANYONE to do it
as long as they pay. I thought this would be a good time to tell how
one important part of the song came about. I was the drummer in the
Magicians. We were playing a gig at a club in Boston called the
Unicorn. On each break we would all step outside have a 'SMOKE' and
return for the next set. Albeit a bit disoriented. As the drummer I
was ready and anxious to begin, on the other hand Jake our lead
guitarist would always tell me to wait till he retuned his guitar. If
you sing the first note to each word of I Can`t See Me over and over
again, that's the same notes of the tuning on the guitar, I think it
was in the key of G, that is where the inspiration began. After
staying up all night I left to visit my father who lived about 38
miles out of Boston. It was too early to visit so I drove to Ayer Ma.
stopped in to the Park Street Diner, had a cup of coffee at the
counter and suddenly i began to sing to myself over and over so I
would not forget. "I can`t see me lovin nobody but you. When I joined
up with the band I asked Jake if he would like to write the song with
me, he said no so I wrote it with Garry. Jake and I did write a song
together "I`ll tell the world about you" that Joe Walsh covered as
well as the Magicians. So how is the weather?
Best, That Alan
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 25 Dec 2004 04:34:52 -0000
From: Steve Propes
Subject: Delaney & Bonnie
I found this group by searching for, of all people, Delaney & Bonnie
via the 45 by the Bad Habits on Paula. I had also read that D&B were
at least the core of that act, but I doubt it, as Danny Flores (Chuck
Rio) told me that when they arrived in So. Cal. in c.1957, they
immediately hooked up with the Challenge label pop-western duet,
Jackie & Johnny, and essentially stayed on the west coast since then.
Of course, it could have been an L.A. session sold to Jewel/Paula, as
that's what Austin McCoy in So. L.A. was doing at the time....recording
mainly instrumental sessions and selling them to southern labels for
vocals to be added to them.
Anyhow, I've enjoyed what I read so far on this list...super
knowledgable folks. Now, what info. does anyone have on the Nortones?
...and, Merry Christmas!
Steve Propes
Long Beach, CA
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Message: 11
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 15:28:29 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Dee Dee Warwick / The 2 Of Clubs
Philip Hopson;
> ... Further early evidence of Dee Dee (Warwick)'s early potential
> can be gleaned from gospel song performances by the Drinkard
> Singers ...
Me:
> ... (Dee Dee) was never a member of the Drinkard Singers, and
> sang on none of their records. The same goes for her big sister
> Dionne ... Dee Dee and Dionne had a gospel group of their own, the
> Gospelaires, a kind of junior version of the Drinkard Singers.
> The Drinkards made lots of records. The Gospelaires made none ...
Philip:
> Taking up your point on the Gospelaires: I have a, (misplaced,
> at present), 1965 VOCALION catalogue listing mainly blues, r'n'b
> and gospel recordings and, sure enough, there were one or two
> releases by the Gospelaires ...
More than one group used the name Gospelaires, at least one of
which released some 45s. But Dee Dee's group made no records, trust
me. However, nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong.
In the meantime, I've posted a rare early solo track to musica.
Details are: Dee Dee Warwick "I Can't Go Back" (Hurd 79, 1966);
written by Nick Rudd; arranged and produced by Nick Rudd and Bob
Gallo. No backing vocals, I notice. Shame.
James Moniz:
> "Walk Tall" by 2 of Clubs made #75 Cash Box and #92 Pop? Wow! It
> really didn't deserve that...and in 1967??? I'M SO AGGRIVATED! I
> could think of 1,000 girl-group songs that I would rather have
> had charted (soul girl-groups)! ... And to think that they had a
> bubbling under chart hit with "Heart" too! URGGH!
Obviously, you're in a minority of one. As I said, I'd love to read
your list of 1,000 non-charting soul girl group records, as I'm sure
would all other girl group aficionados. Still waiting patiently.
For those who missed it, the 2 Of Clubs Story can be found here:
http://www.spectropop.com/2ofClubs/index.htm
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 12
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 22:33:57 -0000
From: John H
Subject: Re: What's your fave Xmas tune?
There are quite a few I've been playing for weeks. "What Do the
Lonely Do at Christmas?" by the Emotions is a favorite, followed
closely by "Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas)" by The Free
Design, "Christmas is Just Another Lonely Day" by Brenda Lee,
and "The Bell That Couldn't Jingle" by Burt Bacharach.
-John H.
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