Spectropop - Digest Number 1791

• From: Spectropop Group
• Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2005

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               SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 24 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Re: Ramrods Rockin'?
           From: Austin Roberts 
      2. Re: Joe Brown, double mono promos
           From: Brent Cash 
      3. Re: Joe Brown
           From: Steve Harvey 
      4. Way Down Yonder at the Battle of New Orleans
           From: Steve Harvey 
      5. BBC and Ads / Joe Brown
           From: Frank Murphy 
      6. Vincent Bell
           From: Andrew C Jones 
      7. "In My Daddy's Arms"
           From: Julio Niño 
      8. Re: Joe Brown
           From: Dave Heasman 
      9. The dawn of Dawn
           From: Keith Moore 
     10. Re: France Gall
           From: Phil X Milstein 
     11. Re: The (current) Crystals
           From: Laura Pinto 
     12. "Now That You´re My Baby"
           From: Julio Niño 
     13. Toni Wine & the Chiffons
           From: Mick Patrick 
     14. Sportgems? Colcraft? Looking for lawyers?
           From: Joe Nelson 
     15. Re: Fascinating archive at Black Cat Rockabilly
           From: Steve Harvey 
     16. Re: Jack Good
           From: Dave Heasman 
     17. An ex-Monkee takes the mike
           From: Karen Andrew 
     18. Re: Joe Brown
           From: Chris de Bruin 
     19. Ronnie Dante @ musica
           From: Laura Pinto 
     20. Re: Rockin' Ramrods / Rockin' Rebels
           From: Davie Gordon 
     21. Spector Bs; Joe Brown; Brian on TV
           From: Country Paul 
     22. Re: Arkade: "Where You Lead" and other leads
           From: Joe Nelson 
     23. Re: Don Costa
           From: Richard Havers 
     24. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" documentary
           From: Phil Chapman 


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Message: 1
   Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2005 20:58:54 -0500
   From: Austin Roberts 
Subject: Re: Ramrods Rockin'?


Going on stage with a New York band was a lot of fun for a 15-year-old 
(I figured out when it was). I guess I enjoyed the attention; now the 
anonimity of being a writer suits me fine (`68 to `77 on the road). 
You miss a lot with a family, but the pay was good and I quit 
performing when my son was born in 1977. Still do a few shows, but 
mostly here in Nashville.

AR





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Message: 2         
   Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2005 23:22:10 -0000
   From: Brent Cash 
Subject: Re: Joe Brown, double mono promos


Country Paul wondered about the place of Joe Brown in the British music 
pantheon . . . I'm an unlearned yank, but Joe must've "loomed large" as 
it was his rock 'n roll version of "The Sheik Of Araby" that George 
Harrison did at The Beatles' Decca auditions.He reportedly was also 
featured on the UK TV shows Six-Five Special and Oh Boy! I believe 
Joe's daughter is Sam Brown who made a good album called "Stop" around 
1987 or '88.

Phil Milstein wrote:
> I found a record this weekend that was a "double mono," i.e. the same 
> track on both sides, the same length, etc., and both sides in mono.
> I've seen plenty of S/M and double stereos, but can't recall any 
> other double monos. Was that configuration more common than I realize?

I have one of those creatures, too..."Childhood Friends" by The Yellow 
Payges UNI 55072, same song both sides, same length, both sides mono.

Best wishes,
Brent Cash





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Message: 3         
   Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2005 18:55:20 -0800 (PST)
   From: Steve Harvey 
Subject: Re: Joe Brown


How timely. I just got done reading the biography of
Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, mainly their 1960 tour
of the UK. The one Eddie died on. One of the guys in
the book is Joe Brown. He is also on this UK special I
have on Eddie, talking about the guitar tricks and
such that Eddie used.

Joe is also on the Tribute to George special doing
"Here Comes the Sun". Nice job. Kind of full circle
considering George use to cover Joe Brown and the
Bruvvers' tunes in the prefame Beatle days. I think he
and Joe were both ukelele fans too.





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Message: 4         
   Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2005 19:06:54 -0800 (PST)
   From: Steve Harvey 
Subject: Way Down Yonder at the Battle of New Orleans


Norm D. wrote:
> Lonnie Donegan had the hit, cover version in the UK

One of the most unlikely covers since Bobby Day, a 
black man, sang "Three Young Rebs From Georgia". 
"Battle of New Orleans" is a great tune, but some of
the facts are wrong (Jackson never marched down the
mighty Mississip). I use the tune in class as an
example of a historical song that has taken on aspects
of tall tales.





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Message: 5         
   Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 22:24:56 +0000
   From: Frank Murphy 
Subject: BBC and Ads / Joe Brown


Mitchell:
> Is the law that forced these changes still in effect in the 
> UK? Just wondering. Thanks from a long time lurker,

There was no law. It's just that the BBC had a particular 
interpretation on what Public Service Broadcasting was and in 
their view that was no advertising. It would have been in the 
legendary producer's guidelines. I'm taking a guess here but 
in the early days of the BBC there were concerns about Band 
leaders taking payments from pluggers to play certain songs on 
the concert shows. That concern may have extended to comedians 
mentioning certain products in their jokes in hope of a reward 
from the maufacturer. I note David Letterman has a laugh with 
this occasionally on The late Show, I think Schlitz Quatro was
the last personal recommendation.

In other BBC TV shows such as soap operas dummy company names 
had to be thought up and boxes and tins labeled with non-existent 
labels. So no Kellogs Corn Flakes on the breakfast table, Twenty 
Snout cigarettes. This also applied in the early days of commercial 
TV as the paying advertisers did not want any free plugs for their 
rivals.  Newton and Ridley beer only sold in the Rovers Return in 
Coronation street for instance. Mind you, I prefer that to the 
constant product placement that ruins some films.

BTW, Joe Brown learned the secret of the sound American rock and 
roll guitarists when Eddie Cochrane explained they could bend notes 
because they used Banjo strings. Joe was then in great demand as a 
session player. Lightweight strings arrived in the UK in the sixties.

Frank Murphy
reflections on northern soul Saturday's two thirty pm 
http://www.radiomagnetic.com 
or listen to an archive show
http://www.radiomagnetic.com/archive/index.php?genre=&show=65





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Message: 6         
   Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 17:32:37 -0500
   From: Andrew C Jones 
Subject: Vincent Bell


Dan Hughes wrote:
> The Vincent Bell in the Ramrods was actually Vincent Bell Lee
> (real name Gambella) and he died several years ago, so he wasn't 
> the famed Vinnie Bell .

Actually, I have Vincent Bell's hit single "Airport Love Theme," and 
the B-side "Marilyn's Theme" is co-written by Vincent Gambella. This 
could indicate that Bell and Gambella are indeed the same person.

ACJ






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Message: 7         
   Date: Thu, 06 Jan 2005 22:50:11 -0000
   From: Julio Niño 
Subject: "In My Daddy's Arms"


Hola Everybody.
I'm on holidays, idle, and a little ill. This afternoon I was peeping 
in Cha Cha Charming webpage - http://www.chachacharming.com - and I 
was surprised (and attracted) by the title of a song that was mentioned 
in the playlist section of that magazine: "In My Daddy's Arms" by Kerri 
Downs. I've being searching for info in the internet but all I find is 
about a porno star of the same name. Could anybody please inform me 
about Kerri and that particular song. Thanks in advance. Time to take 
my aspirin (I love them).

Chao.
Julio Niño.





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Message: 8         
   Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 23:56:52 -0000
   From: Dave Heasman 
Subject: Re: Joe Brown


Austin Powell:
> ...Joe Brown was an "early rock 'n' roller", recording first for 
> UK Decca as Joe Brown And the Bruvvers

Brown was/is a very good guitarist, and made his recording debut as 
lead guitar on Billy Fury's "The Sound Of Fury" album in early 1960. 
This album was a highly creditable stab at rockabilly, with good 
original songs.





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Message: 9         
   Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 13:21:23 -0000
   From: Keith Moore 
Subject: The dawn of Dawn



Last week I picked up an excellent cd from my local record shop for 
just £1 - a 1996 re-issue of Dawn's first album, "Candida". I 
listened with some trepidation as childhood memories (nightmares?) 
of "Tie A Yellow Ribon.." whirled around my head. I needn't have 
worried as "Candida" was released in 1970 (before "Yellow Ribon" 
came along) and features a set of very well produced and catchy pop 
songs - written by the likes of Toni Wine, Goffin & King and James 
Taylor. I was also impressed by Tony Orlando's voice - he's a much 
better singer than I'd remembered. The album comes across as a sort 
of grown-up Archies sound.

My question is this: according to the bubblegum bible "Bubblegum is 
the Naked Truth" the female vocalists on the first Dawn single 
"Candida" were Toni Wine and Ellie Greenwich. Is this true? I can't 
quite tell. And if it is true, do they feature on any of the other 
tracks?

Oh, and if any London-based Spectropoppers fancy getting hold of 
the cd, there's stacks of them in the bargain basement of CD World, 
258-260 Lavender Hill, SW11.

Cheers!

Keith








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Message: 10        
   Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 13:28:19 -0800
   From: Phil X Milstein 
Subject: Re: France Gall


Frank wrote:
> This is one of the few tracks she recorded for EMI before moving to 
> Warners. It has not been re-released since. I have it and can try to 
> play it to musica, but, judging by my previous tentative musica 
> posting, cannot guarantee the result.

Frank, I feel safe in speaking for the entire Spectropop membership in
asking you, for the next time you speak to Miss Gall, to extend our deep
affection and admiration for her work and for her directly. If you add
that this message is from a collection of nearly 1500 hardcore '60s pop
fanatics, it might carry that much more weight!

--Phil M.






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Message: 11        
   Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 18:27:38 -0000
   From: Laura Pinto 
Subject: Re: The (current) Crystals


Andrew C Jones wrote:
> The day after Christmas, at a local thrift store, I bought -- for 
> $2.99 -- a new British-made CD called "Da Do Ron Ron," by The 
> Crystals (Westminster WES4063, copyright 2002). Now, I knew in 
> advance that this probably wouldn't be the real thing, as the 
> ladies on the cover looked to be in their late twenties. Also, 
> many of the tracks weren't ever recorded by the real Crystals -- 
> two were even "club mixes"! Still, I decided to check the CD out 
> -- hey, it was only $2.99. Though backed up by a four- or five-
> piece band, with keyboads subbing for the horns and strings, the 
> girls themselves weren't bad at all. Which leads to my question: 
> does anyone know anything about this Crystals group? Are they 
> still performing? (The CD looks like one that would be sold at 
> performances or on a group's website.) 

Hi, Here's the link to the current Crystals' official website.  The 
track listing of their only-available-online CD, "All Class," which 
can be purhased through the Rock and Roll Road Show via a link on the 
Crystals' homepage, sounds a lot like what you described in your post.

http://www.thecrystals.net/

The track listing appears on the left side of the page.

Hope this helps a little!

Laura





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Message: 12        
   Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 21:52:40 -0000
   From: Julio Niño 
Subject: "Now That You´re My Baby"


Hola Everybody.
I want to thank Jeff for playing the exciting demo of " Now That 
You Are My Baby". I love Dusty´s version but I prefer the more 
teen-sounding and hormonal demo.  Although I´m not very good 
identifying voices, I would also say that the singer sounds like 
Toni Wine.
Chao.
Julio Niño.








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Message: 13        
   Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 22:18:48 -0000
   From: Mick Patrick 
Subject: Toni Wine & the Chiffons


Jeff Lemlich wrote: 
> I have an original publisher's demo of "Now That You're My 
> Baby", one of the Dusty B-sides mentioned in a recent post. 
> Since Toni Wine was a co-writer, I have to suspect she's one 
> of the singers on the demo. Expect this to turn up on musica 
> in the near future.

What a treat! Thanks a lot for that, Jeff. I agree, the 
vocalist sure sounds like Toni Wine. I've heard a few of Toni's 
Screen Gems demos, and this coulld be the best of them all. Her 
husband, Allan Rinde, is a Spectropop member, although quiet of 
late. I'll contact him and ask him to make sure Toni hears the 
track.

What's interesting is the fact that the Chiffons' version of 
"Now That Your My Baby" (on their legendary "My Secret Love" 
LP on BT Puppy) uses the very same backing track as your demo. 
To prove it, I've posted the Chiffons' version to musica. 
Enjoy.

Hey, and that wasn't be the only time the Chiffons recorded a 
Screen Gems-published song and used the backing track from 
another version. I'm thinking of their version of "One Fine Day"
(same backing track as Little Eva's demo) and "It Hurts To Be 
Sixteen" (same backing track as the version by Andrea Carroll).

Hey la,

Mick Patrick





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Message: 14        
   Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 11:38:50 -0500
   From: Joe Nelson 
Subject: Sportgems? Colcraft? Looking for lawyers?


The recent discussion of things Colpix, Colgems and Screen Gems came
to mind when I was visiting relatives around the holidays and I
noticed this on an air hockey table. The company's name is Sportcraft.
The logo looks awfully familiar... but which came first?

http://tinyurl.com/create.php

Joe Nelson





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Message: 15        
   Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2005 17:27:47 -0800 (PST)
   From: Steve Harvey 
Subject: Re: Fascinating archive at Black Cat Rockabilly


Country Paul:
> I am probably late in discovering this (or perhaps rediscovering 
> it), but there's an amazing library of short bios collectred by 
> Black Cat Rockabilly at 
> http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/references.htm

Yeah, I found that about two years ago while looking for lyrics 
(part of their archives). Put in some time correcting Americaneze 
that didn't translate to the Dutch tongue. Polished up a few songs 
like "Jive After Five" by Carl Perkins and some others. They 
appreciate the help if anyone wants to do the same.

Steve Harvey





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Message: 16        
   Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 00:00:01 -0000
   From: Dave Heasman 
Subject: Re: Jack Good


Richard Williams:
> What a wonderful character he [Jack Good] was and is -- 
> his columns in Disc in the early 60s were full of enthusiasm
> for the kind of music we celebrate on this web site.

I recall one column where he raved about 2 records he'd heard 
in the US and said they'd never even get released  here. He was 
wrong, they were US Bonds' "New Orleans" and Maurice Williams' 
"Stay", but I think his enthusiasm got the Top Rank label here 
to pick them up after, I assume, the London label passed.

Dave Heasman





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Message: 17        
   Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 17:36:42 -0800 (PST)
   From: Karen Andrew 
Subject: An ex-Monkee takes the mike


By Robin Finn The New York Times

NEW YORK — The official inauguration of Micky Dolenz in his new day job 
as the morning-drive radio host at WCBS-FM (101.1), where golden oldies 
are sacrosanct and the acquisition of a genuine Monkee to spin them is 
heralded as a seriously appropriate coup, does not happen until Monday.

Read more at this link: 
http://www.eworcester.com/entertainment/dolenz.html

or the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, MA.

discovered by Karen, the Monkees fan since junior high.





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Message: 18        
   Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 03:44:30 +0000 (GMT)
   From: Chris de Bruin 
Subject: Re: Joe Brown


More on Joe Brown: he played guitar with Eddie Cochran on his UK tour. 
He also played on one of Enland's greatest rock 'n'! Roll album The 
Sound of Fury by Billy Fury. He was also a good friend of George 
Harrison and played at his Tribute show. 







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Message: 19        
   Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 13:55:21 -0000
   From: Laura Pinto 
Subject: Ronnie Dante @ musica


Michael Thorn wrote:
> Now playing at Musica:
> Ronnie Dante - Follow a Dream (flip of "He's Raining in My Sunshine")
> Enjoy!

Thanks for playing "Follow a Dream" - it sounds much better than my 
scratchy 45! Boy, our Ron can sure wail in a lot of different styles, 
can't he? The man is a vocal chameleon!

Laura








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Message: 20        
   Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 17:23:51 -0000
   From: Davie Gordon 
Subject: Re: Rockin' Ramrods / Rockin' Rebels


Country Paul:
> But was the Boston-based (Rockin' Ramrods) the same group who had the 
> hit "Wild Weekend"?

Paul, it was the Rockin' Rebels who did "Wild Weekend" not the Rockin' 
Ramrods. 

If you feel like driving yourself nuts try investigating who the Rockin' 
Rebels were (in all their incarnations) - it makes Parliament/Funkadelic 
seem relatively simple. Try searching the archives for "Rockin' Rebels" 
- I think I posted some stuff a couple of years back. 

Gotta go - I'm trying to make sense of Amy-Mala-Bell's reissue labels.

Davie





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Message: 21        
   Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 19:38:53 -0500
   From: Country Paul 
Subject: Spector Bs; Joe Brown; Brian on TV


Re: Phil Spector B-sides, there was a time when they were worth 
listening to. Most of the Teddy Bears' tracks, particularly the 
Imperial 45s (although I like "Don't You Worry My Little Pet" a 
lot more now that I've heard it mixed intelligibly); and the flip 
of "There's No Other", the beautiful "What A Nice Way To Turn 17", 
is to my ears on a par with the A-side. And remember, the gloriously-
distended "My Heart Beat A Little Bit Faster" started life as the 
B-side of "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry."

Norm D. Plume, you certainly do you have a cool handle! I appreciate 
you, Austin Powell and Lyn Nuttall taking the time to fill me in on 
Joe Brown. I only know the name "Picture of You", but if it's on a 
par with the very fine "Teardrops In The Rain", it must be good, too. 
Does he ever tour the US? I remember seeing him on (I think it was) 
a Dick Clark Saturday evening show once, strumming away in double-time 
on "Teardrops". I've also visited his website and do indeed see he 
"has an afterlife". Need to hear a few more samples before plunking 
down for an import CD, though.

(If Frank from Jamie is still on board, do you guys have a Joe Brown 
CD domestically?)

Saw Brian Wilson sing "Good Vibrations" with the touring band on the 
Jay Leno show last night. Disappointing - no conversation, a rush-
through to get off the air on time, and a couple of conspicuously 
cracked notes on the nead. On the up side, the band rose to the 
occasion (one number, no warm-up - quite challenging, especially 
considering the original was spliced together); all the singers cover 
for Brian beautifully, but they let him soar when he wants to; and 
Brian looked as though he might have hit a chord on the keyboard at 
least twice.

Country Paul





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Message: 22        
   Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2005 12:51:15 -0500
   From: Joe Nelson 
Subject: Re: Arkade: "Where You Lead" and other leads


Austin Roberts:
> The only three Arkade singles that I sang lead on were "Sing Out The 
> Love," (my favorite), "The Morning Of Our Lives" (which had a long 
> lifespan because of the Bridal Fair tie-in -- it went Top 15 on the 
> Adult Contemporary charts), and "Where You Lead." 

Did "Woman In My Life" pre-exist your membership in the group, or was
it just a matter of the vocals falling where they felt best among the
three members. I thought you'd said something about leaving beforte
"Fools Way Of Loving", but I'm not sure.

Joe Nelson





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Message: 23        
   Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 17:50:14 +0000
   From: Richard Havers 
Subject: Re: Don Costa


Country Paul wrote:
> My favorite Costa track is "The Theme From 'The Misfits,'" featuring
> one wailin' sax player who got off one of the great sax riffs of all 
> time toward the end of the record. Anyone know who that might have 
> been?

Around the time of recording 'The Misfits', Costa was working in the 
studio with Frank Sinatra.  Amongst the saxophonists that were on the 
tracks that appeared on Frank's album 'Strings and Things' was Bud 
Shank. A possibility?

Richard





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Message: 24        
   Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 16:13:17 -0000
   From: Phil Chapman 
Subject: "Wouldn't It Be Nice" documentary


UK viewers may be interested:
Sunday, January 9th,  BBC1 10.15pm - 11.25pm 
"The Beach Boys: Wouldn't It Be Nice"

Documentary celebrating the band who defined the idea of 
California and whose inspiring harmonies became the sound 
of summer. In original interviews, surviving band members 
Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston 
along with family, friends and collaborators talk frankly 
about what has made the Beach Boys America's biggest band 
of all time, but also one that has attracted more than its 
fair share of controversy and tragedy. [Contains previously 
unseen archive footage and strong language.]





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