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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 9 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Roy Orbison, R.I.P.
From: Rob Pingel
2. Re: English electronics
From: Phil X Milstein
3. Corrections and various topics
From: Clark Besch
4. The Chiffons' "Now That You're My Baby"
From: Donny H
5. The Montanas' "Uncle John's Band"
From: JK
6. Re: Musitron and other thoughts
From: Michael Thom
7. Vinnie Jay Martin now playing in Musica
From: Tom D
8. Re: "Je T'aime" etc.
From: Dave Monroe
9. Talent needed for a live event
From: Country Paul
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 19:15:09 -0000
From: Rob Pingel
Subject: Roy Orbison, R.I.P.
Sometime in the late 70's I was surprised to see that Roy Orbison was
booked to play the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. At that time he
had been off the charts for at least 10 years. His ultimate comeback
was still years away, and the appearance didn't cause any heat except
for the die-hards. I purchased a ticket, but had very low
expectations.
The S.M. Civic is a small venue (3,000 seats), and I figured this
would be a concert on the cheap; Roy and a small pick-up band. Even
so, I wasn't going to miss Roy Orbison under any circumstances.
"An Evening With Roy Orbison" was a revelation. No expense spared.
I immediately noticed that the stage set-up included a string section
as well as a glut of other instruments; a full-blown production.
The first act was a comedian named Jerry Clowers who literally killed
an urban audience with his country humor. The second act was an
excellent bluegrass band (forgot their name)that were more than worth
the price of admission.
Then Roy. Oh my God. String section, background singers, full band,
and a great percussion player who looked like he was having the time
of his life. To everyone's amazement, Orbison had not lost one iota
of power or majesty in his voice. He stood in the middle of the
stage, and blew everyone away with one devastating mini-opera after
another. Each sounded exactly like the recorded versions, only
BIGGER.
Midway through the concert came an intro guitar strum followed by the
familiar "Your baby doesn't love you...anymore." Of course, I knew
the song "It's Over", but this live version was the first time I
fully grasped its full power and glory. As Roy wove his way through
this pop masterpiece, I distinctly remember feeling like I understood
what it must be like to be in heaven. For those precious moments,
life simply could not be any better.
"Setting suns before they fall,
They call to you that's all, that's all."
I forgot to mention that the house was only 2/3 full. Can't imagine
that Roy or anyone else made a dime on this wonderful, memorable
evening.
Last night I was watching television, and noticed the new campaign
for Blockbuster's "no more late fees." Some clever advertising
agency picked "It's Over" to bring home the corporate message. An
ersatz Orbison soundalike can be heard butchering the crescendo.
Nearly broke my heart.
Rob Pingel
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 20:15:15 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: English electronics
John Stewart wrote:
> The book has numerous tales from sessions of the period and the
> struggles of later-famous teenage guitarists to sound like Chuck
> Berry or Scotty Moore often with only a cheap Spanish guitar, a
> WWII RAF pilots microphone and a radiogram.
And yet the English came up with the Marshall amp. Was that just a
matter of the corner on post-War austerity having finally been turned?
--Phil M.
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 15:59:57 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Corrections and various topics
I've got all kinds of thoughts reading the latest batch of SPop
posts. I'll try to mention those I found most important. First and
foremost, Michael Thom corrected me that Max crook DID NOT
write "Bumble Boogie" as I had mentioned. I was given the info on
Max Crook by another person who had told me about Max and didn't
check his info. Crook claims on his website that he came up with the
arrangement in 1959 and was surprised by the B Bumble hit with a
similar arrangement. Sorry I didn't check my facts.
James Botticelli wrote:
> Wow...This IS news. A few collectors around here have the Atco single
> from 1975 called "If It Wasn't For The Money" by Nanette Workman.
> This is the first thing I've ever heard about her. So she's Canadian,
> eh? Tres interessant.
Around July, 1976, my brother brought me back a single from Canada
after visiting there. He said it was the hottest record at the time
there. It was "The Queen" by Nanette Workman (Big Tree 16065).
Considering it is disco, I was not overly thrilled, but it was ok, I
guess. Still got it.
Tom Diehl wrote:
> Amazing! I never thought something like that Royal Guardsmen tune
> could exist. Tom "Ronnie Dove for President" Diehl
That bloody "Buck toothed beaver" has risen again! Funny, but while
doing radio chart research this week, I noticed CJCA in Edmonton,
Alberta Canada charted "Squeaky" at #26 up from 36 on December 18,
1966. On January 22, 1967 it was #1, but as "Snoopy vs the Red
Baron"! Both were on Quality. My guess is that word got out about
the Snoopy version and it quickly was re-thought to issue the proper
version. That's probably why it's hard to find. Which would you
choose? A "funny lookin' dog" or a "buck toothed beaver"?? Maybe
there was opposition to using "Baron von Richtoven" in the song and
not Snoopy?? About your Ronnie Dove commentary, we need "a little
bit of heaven" in this world. I'm for it! Is my mind deceiving me,
or do I remember recently seeing a Ronnie Dove 45 in the top 5 R&B
hits in a Cash Box or Record World list??
Julio NIño wrote:
> In the mid seventies Serge directed a film titled also "Je T´Aime
> ... Moi Non Plus", starring Jane Birkin
Besides the sounds that, later, Donna Summer took to new heights, I
always thought it was a cool second coming of "A Whiter Shade of
Pale"! Not sure why, but that thought reminds me about Lieutenant
Pigeon's UK #1 hit, "Mouldy Old Dough" being just like Bill
Black's "White Silver Sands". When Pigeon's hit was out, I could
never place what song it reminded me, oddly enough.
S.J. Dibai:
> Just noticed that Roy Orbison's MGM albums have been reissued on CD
> by Edsel or some related label.
I may have mentioned before that the MGM soundtrack of "Fastest
Guitar Alive" has been on Cd for decades. Why? Never understood why
they put that out before Roy's MGM Lps, yet I had to buy it. It has
one of my fave Roy songs that says so much. Not sure I ever heard
him sing it in the film tho. "There Won't be Many Coming Home" is
just an amazing piece that unfortunately is still a real theme for
today. GREAT song sang in a very heart felt way .
One more thing to comment on. In our recent David Jones Colpix
ramblings, another Canadian chart find popped up last night. On a
6/5/67 CKXL Calgary station's chart, #5 was "Theme for a New Love" by
David Jones and even more surprising, his "My Dad" was an extra.
Even more surprising was the CKXL 7/3/67 chart which listed "My Dad"
by David at #1!! #15 was "....New Love". Never seen "My Dad" on a
45, maybe Canada only?? Anyone know?
Thanks for the time, Clark
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 16:23:39 -0000
From: Donny H
Subject: The Chiffons' "Now That You're My Baby"
I just received my "Where The Girls Are, Vol 6" yesterday and it's
a great CD. I was wondering why the Chiffons' "Every Boy And Every
Girl" is in mono; the 1970 LP is stereo. Also, the recent posting to
musica from the same LP of "Now That You're My Baby" is in mono,
although for some reason I think that one sounds better in mono.
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:29:38 EST
From: JK
Subject: The Montanas' "Uncle John's Band"
Hi ...I'm hoping someone out there can help me obtain a copy of the
above single and B side released on MAM records, in any format. I was
the Montanas' road manager and am trying to put the releases onto CD
which were never available and this is the one that I am missing.
Appreciate any help.
.....JK
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 17:58:42 -0600
From: Michael Thom
Subject: Re: Musitron and other thoughts
Clark Besch wrote:
> Speaking of "Runaway", I was just informed that the inventor of the
> Musitron, Max Crook, was from my hometown of Lincoln, NE. I was
> wondering if Austin or any of the other "ringers" on our board might
> have met him, or have any stories about Max and that amazing sound
> he invented. I never knew what it was, but I knew it was unique. A
> buddy calls it the first "electronic music"!
Predating Max Crook's musitron were the earlier "popular" electronic
compositions and recordings of Tom Dissevelt and Kid Baltan (a
pseudonym for Dick Raaijmakers), who recorded for Philips beginning in
1957. Some of their recordings were collected on various compilation
LPs on Philips and related labels, all now quite rare, including "Song
of the Second Moon," issued on Mercury's Limelight subsidiary.
Disselevelt's "Whirlwind," retitled for the US compilations as "Sonik
Re-entry," was recorded in 1959 and was used bu Tulsa's KVRO-TV as the
theme song for its weekly "Fantastic Theater" show in the 1960s.
Disselvelt also recorded the 1963 Philips LP, "Fantasy in Orbit." Last
fall, a boxed set of their recordings was issued by Balta Music
( http://www.baltamusic.com ), compiled by Kees Tazelaar, also a
composer of electronic music, with Raaijmakers. It is quite an amazing
compilation, consisting of 4 CDs, 7 booklets, charts, etc. Kees had
access to the master tapes and both composers' private tape collections.
Those familiar with "Song of the Second Moon" will notice a difference
in sound on some tracks, though, because in the US, Philips added reverb
and other effects. It's an essential collection for fans of early
electronic music. Max Crook's musitron may well be the first electronic
instrument used in a rock song, though!
> He also wrote "Bumble Boogie" and is listed as a co-writer on
> "Runaway".
Actually, "Bumble Boogie" was written by Jack Fina in 1933, while he was
a member of the Freddy Martin Orchestra. He copyrighted the song
(actually his arrangement of "Flight of the Bumblebee") in 1946. I have
Fina's original version of the song issued on a Mercury single in 1957
with a hot pink label, no less! If I recall correctly, Kim Fowley was
shown as the composer on first pressings of the single by B. Bumble and
the Stingers, but later pressings were corrected to show Fina as the
composer.
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 03:57:46 -0000
From: Tom D
Subject: Vinnie Jay Martin now playing in Musica
Another cut from my "Diamond Mine".....
I know little to nothing about Vinnie Jay Martin. What I do know is,
when I got this single in the mail and played it, i knew that the
Spectropop crowd would love it. The song is Whenever You Need Me
(Diamond D-235-A). My copy is a canadian pressing after they had
switched from Apex to Diamond in Canada for distribution...im
curious if it might have charted there....it may have even bubbled
under on the american charts. It's from late 1967/early 1968. It was
arranged by Chuck Sagle, who also produced it with Stan Shulman for
Viking Production Co. I've heard the name Chuck Sagle before....but
no other name is familiar to me...anyone got any info on these
people? It appears as this was his only release....shame...i really
like it...i hope the rest of you do, too.
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 15:10:46 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: "Je T'aime" etc.
Artie Wayne wrote:
> It always disturbed me that so few original French
> records ever became hits in the U.S... "Je T'aime"
> by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin...
"Je t'aime ... moi non plus" has got to be one of the
most readily available 60s french tracks out there, on
any given format, but let me know if you still don't
have it one way or another. The original Brigitte
Bardot duet has already been mentioned, but there's a
nice trip-hop cover by Barry Adamson (ex-Magazine, Bad
Seeds), as well as an English-language version by Mick
Harvey (ex-Bad Seeds as well; there are two MH
Gainsbourg-translation albums, the first is great, teh
second, well ...) ...
But I've been surprised in the past couple of years to
find white label RCA demo copies of Sylvie Vartan's "I
Made My Choice" (sorry, can't recall the title of the
French version). And tehre's her English-language
Gift Wrapped from Paris LP, which features material
that I know of no French analogue for.
There have also been a couple of English-language
Francoise Hardy LPs, there, mostly featuring
translations of her Francophone hits which--and I know
there are differeing opinions on this here--lose some
of their charm in translation, but her "Catch a
Falling Star" (I have a 45 on Pye), of which I know of
no French version, is fantastic. Any other attempts
to break ye-ye, French pop, whatever, in the UK/US?
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2005 23:14:09 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Talent needed for a live event
This crossed my desk today:
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TALENT NEEDED FOR LIVE EVENT
MLC is doing a preliminary search for talent for a LIVE event in
April. We're looking for:
a CHUCK BERRY impersonator, live singing or lip-sync.
a LITTLE EVA impersonator, live singing or lip-sync.
an ELTON JOHN impersonator, live singing and piano or lip-sync.
Please email mike@mikelemoncasting.com if you fill the bill!
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I don't know if any of us do any of this, or know someone who does
(I don't). Mike Lemon Casting is arguably the leading casting
company in Philadelphia, PA. I know nothing further about the event
(i.e., where it is, who it's for, what it pays, etc.), but if you
*really* can do this kind of work at a convincing level, contact
Mike Lemon directly via e-mail and mention that Paul Payton
suggested you do so.
Anything further about this should probably be off-list, although
you now know everything I know. Good luck!
Country Paul
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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