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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Help with a Chicago-area song
From: Gary Myers
2. R.I.P. Solomon King
From: Eddy
3. Carol Connors
From: Country Paul
4. Miracles' miraculous material
From: Phil X Milstein
5. Re: Toni Fisher
From: Barry Margolis
6. Sandy
From: Steve Harvey
7. Roy Orbison bios/"Penny Arcade"
From: S.J. Dibai
8. Re: Billy Stewart
From: Dave Monroe
9. Re: Help with a Chicago-area song
From: James Holvay
10. Austin Roberts yahoogroup
From: Steve Fuji
11. Hey Harmonica Man
From: Jeff Lemlich
12. Re: Beatles on Vee Jay
From: Claire Francis
13. Walker Brothers
From: Mark
14. RIP Johnny Carson; "Summer Holiday"; Achy Macarena
From: Country Paul
15. Nashville S'poppers
From: Ed Salamon
16. RE: Crimson and clover, over and over
From: Michael Thom
17. Re: Harry Pitch and The Beatles
From: Larry Watts Jr
18. Re: Solomon King, R.I.P.
From: Scott Swanson
19. Mr & Mrs Goffin/Joe Brown/Rolling Stones
From: Ken Silverwood
20. Cartoonists; One hit wonders; Chuck Berry
From: Country Paul
21. Mamie Van Doren!
From: Holly Cara Price
22. She Wears My Ring
From: Country Paul
23. Little Eva
From: Larry Watts Jr
24. The Chiffons
From: S G L
25. Re: The Montanas
From: Steve Fuji
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 22:38:33 -0800
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Help with a Chicago-area song
Nick Archer:
> ... his all time favorite song which was, in his words,
> "called "Sandy" and it was by this group before they became
> the American Breed".
Don't know the song, but Gary & the Nite Lites was a forerunner
of American Breed. (I assume it's none of the ones by Larry Hall,
Ronnie & the Daytonas or Dion).
gem
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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 11:08:04 +0100
From: Eddy
Subject: R.I.P. Solomon King
In spite of what I wrote in my previous post on King, can
anybody actually confirm that King was ever a member of
the Jordanaires, let alone backing up Elvis? I seem to be
drawing a blank when it comes to any decent bit of info on
the man, except for the mention of his solo chart entries
and whatever the news agencies have to say today re: his death...
Eddy
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 12:43:27 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Carol Connors
Just got a note - and a very dark photo - from Carol Connors,
our strongly-Republican favorite Teddy Bear:
"Me and the Presidential Seal before I sang our National Anthem
at the California [Inaugural] Ball and before President Bush
arrived."
As I said, the picture of her is very dark, but the seal is very
bright....If you're interested, I'll be glad to forward it off-list.
More trying to catch up soon.
Country Paul
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:06:54 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Miracles' miraculous material
Can anyone recommend a good, comprehensive Miracles compilation?
In-print preferred, but not necessarily necessary.
Thanks,
--Phil M.
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:13:49 -0600
From: Barry Margolis
Subject: Re: Toni Fisher
Peter Lerner wrote:
> West Of The Wall (same melody as Toot Toot)/What Did I Do 1962
Lyn:
> Australians loved 'West Of The Wall'.... What intrigues me
> is 'Toot Toot' which on the face of it sounds miles away
> from the Berlin Wall.
The melody of "Toot Toot Amore" is exactly the same....and the
arrangement is nearly identical.
Barry
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 10:32:07 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Sandy
Nick Archer wrote:
> I was speaking with a friend who grew up in Chicago,
> and he mentioned his all time favorite song which
> was, in his words, called "Sandy", and it was by
> this group before they became the American Breed".
Isn't that the tune that was done by the Sunrays and
the Swinging Blue Jeans?
Steve Harvey
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 22:04:20 -0000
From: S.J. Dibai
Subject: Roy Orbison bios/"Penny Arcade"
Hi, everyone. I was thinking about our recent discussions of Roy
Orbison last night and did some looking around. First of all, Gary
Myers, the bio you disliked was indeed Alan Clayson's "Only The
Lonely"--I found your amazon.com review of it. Many of the customer
reviews, yours included, said that book had numerous factual errors.
Maybe I didn't catch them because the writing was so hard to follow,
or because I was just a kid who didn't know any better at the time,
I don't know.
Yet, if I remember correctly, Ellis Amburn's "Dark Star"--the good
bio--did contain at least one glaring mistake. Please correct me if
I'm wrong, but I remember Amburn claiming that "Penny Arcade" was a
#1 hit in Australia in 1965, even acknowledging that that was four
years before Roy had it out in the US. But I've never seen anything
else that confirms that, nor have I found any recordings of "Penny
Arcade" that sound like they could have come from 1965. I don't know
how the guy could have made such an elementary goof, unless there
really WAS a 1965 recording of "Penny Arcade" that hit it big down
under. Maybe some of our Australian S'Poppers can shed some light on
this.
Well, as Phil Milstein said, "Dark Star" may not be perfect, but
until a better bio comes along....
S.J. Dibai
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 14:21:15 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Billy Stewart
Dave O'Gara:
> anybody like Billy Stewart's version of Secret Love?
I'm glad you mentioned this. I have it on a Northern Soul CD
comp or two, but it probably wouldn't have caught my eye when
I came across a 45 of it the other day had I not been reminded
of it. Crazy! Not exactly my thing (though not disagreeable,
either), but we do a weekly soul spin, and there are regulars
who'll get a kick out of it. Perfect for my Valentine's Day
night, at which I meet a doo-wop spinnin' friend somewhere ca.
Motown (I'm usually on an edgier mod R&B/soul tip, sidling up
to the late 60s funk that many of my friends/guests tend to
collect). Also picked up a (the?) Ronnie Milsap soul 45, among
some other oft-shortlisted items. Thanks!
Dave Monroe
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:01:27 -0800
From: James Holvay
Subject: Re: Help with a Chicago-area song
Nick Archer:
> I was speaking with a friend who grew up in Chicago, and he
> mentioned his all time favorite song which was, in his words,
> "called "Sandy", and it was by this group before they became
> the American Breed".
Nick: The group's precious name was Gary & The Nitelights.
James
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:39:44 -0000
From: Steve Fuji
Subject: Austin Roberts yahoogroup
I would like to invite Spectropop members to join a group
I recently created for Austin Roberts. Austin has been
participating in the group and it has been very active.
Come see for yourself.
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/austinroberts/
Thanks,
Steve Fuji
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Message: 11
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 23:33:07 -0500
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Hey Harmonica Man
Dave Heasman:
> Very much doubt it. Proper funky harmonicas could be heard on
> "Hey Baby", Roy Orbison's "Candy Man" & Ann Margret's "I Just
> Don't Understand". That sound was in the air.
And of course, "Candy Man" and "I Just Don't Understand" feature
the same harmonica player (Charlie McCoy).
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 09:56:33 EST
From: Claire Francis
Subject: Re: Beatles on Vee Jay
Hi Barry,
Do you have any memory of Transglobal Music and Roland Rennie.
I worked with them when they placed the Beatles on Vee Jay, it
was a lot of paperwork!!
Transglobal Music was the New York office for EMI. Roland Rennie
sent their records to several record companies before Vee Jay,
and then Capitol picked them up. Please let me know what you
remember, if anything. Most probably, it was just a lot of
paperwork, but, who knows...
Love & Light,
Claire Francis
http://www.clairefrancis.com
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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 15:43:50 -0000
From: Mark
Subject: Walker Brothers
Hello all, I would like to appeal to your good nature.
In 1969, The Walker Brothers played a concert in the Korakuen
Stadium, Tokyo. The show was broadcast later that evening on
Japanese T.V., so must have been filmed in some format or other.
I am trying to find anybody that has knowledge of anybody that
has Japanese contacts or info on how I might be able to obtain
a copy of this concert on film, video or DVD etc...
I will be very grateful for any help on this matter.
Also I have lots of rare Scott Walker material if anyone is
interested (contact me offlist)
Kind regards,
Mark.
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 20:48:53 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: RIP Johnny Carson; "Summer Holiday"; Achy Macarena
RIP Johnny Carson, age 79, of emphysema. Credit to the man for
(1) immense talent (2) being a cultural institution unmatched
and probably unmatchable and (3) going out on top and staying
out so that the legend lived on undimmed.
Martin Roberts:
> In tribute to Jimmy Griffin the Record of the Week on the Home
> page is "Summer Holiday". Not a hit and perhaps it was a good
> thing, he might have found himself being labelled 'Whistling'
> Jimmy Griffin: http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm
About as sweet as it gets without causing tooth decay! The Four
Preps lite? Perhaps, the One Prep?!? How 'bout white Bread???
OK, enough bad jokes....
Dave M:
> I (quite fortunately, I think) spent years without hearing, only
> hearing about, say, "The Macarena" or "Achy Breaky Heart" ....
"Achy" was fun the first couple of times; it's amazing what over-
exposure can do to even a good song (not to say that "Achy" was,
but it was a fun record IMO). If you can find an original version
of the Macarena, before it got remixed, you'll find a folkier-feeling
song, complete with a bridge and some structure and without the
whomping dance-beat, that actually is worth a listen.
Now back to our regular era....
Country Paul
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Message: 15
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 16:30:53 -0000
From: Ed Salamon
Subject: Nashville S'poppers
Nashville S'poppers met to honor MGM/RCA producer Danny Davis.
Danny told us the stories behind songs he produced for Connie
Francis, The Quotations ("Imagination"); Nina Simone, Waylon
Jennings, Floyd Cramer, etc., as well as own Cabot single,
"The Object of My Affection", which was on the KFWB and WINS
charts at this time in 1958. Newcomer Tony Moon squeezed in some
of his Dante and the Evergreens stories. Photo is posted at S'pop.
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/lst
Ed Salamon
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Message: 16
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 18:56:04 -0600
From: Michael Thom
Subject: RE: Crimson and clover, over and over
I can finally answer Charles Hill's message of December 26,
in which he wrote:
>There is a sixth version of "Crimson", which appeared on the first
>Dick Bartley "On the Radio" compilation for Varese Vintage, which
>seems to be an actual stereo mix of Version 1 with the proper IP2.
Indeed, it *is* the stereo single version with the proper IP2
and not the reconstruction of IP2 that Rhino had done before.
I had the Bartley CD but hadn't realized that version had the
correct IP2. The question then became: How could that be, since
I know the multi-track master was spliced to create the long
version? Bartley did not recall how they did the stereo single
with the correct IP2, but I have since figured out how it must
have happened.
There is an Italian version of "Crimson" that was done in
stereo, and sure enough, it was done before the long version
was constructed, so the Italian stereo mix is the single version
with the correct IP2. What Bartley must have done is cut in the
correct IP2 to the US stereo long version, then cut back to the
ending from the US long version. And it works.
Interestingly, the Italian version has different stereo imagery
in places compared with the US long version. There is no IP2 in
the US long version, so there's no stereo imagery to match there,
but the two bars that begin with the cymbal crash and lead into
the fade section are mixed differently in the two versions. The
snare drum taps are mixed into the left channel with other
instruments on the US long version, but are isolated in the right
channel on the Italian single. So, Bartley cut back into the US
long version at the cymbal crash.
The Italian version appeared on a various artists CD called
"Rock Around the World" which features a number of US hits
recorded in foreign languages. The Italian "Crimson and Clover"
has two glitches during the two-bar section beginning with the
cymbal crash. With some very careful editing, I was able to
repair those.
A couple of other TJ notes:
Clark Besch noted that TJ's production and mix of "Ginger Bread
Man" on the flip of "Do Something to Me," differs from the stereo
version on the "Mony Mony" LP. TJ's mix has more punch, and the
vocal is echoed at the end of "yes, I can" near the end of the
song, while there's no echo on the stereo mix. The fade is also
about 11 seconds longer than the stereo version. The single version
of "Run, Run, Baby, Run" on the flip of "Mirage" has additional
backing vocals not present on the stereo mix, just as the single
version of "Mirage" does. Neither of these unique B-side mixes
has ever appeared on an LP or CD, nor has the original version of
"Draggin' the Line" (sans horns) that is on the flip of "Church
Street Soul Revival."
With respect to TJ's productions for other artists, I'd appreciate
hearing from anyone who has a stock copy of the Fat Daddy single
(Mercury 73304) or a stock or promo copy of Joey Greco's single
issued at the same time (Mercury 73305).
Michael Thom
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Message: 17
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 03:15:53 -0000
From: Larry Watts Jr
Subject: Re: Harry Pitch and The Beatles
Dave Heasman wrote:
> Very much doubt it. Proper funky harmonicas could be heard on
> "Hey Baby", Roy Orbison's "Candy Man" & Ann Margret's "I Just
> Don't Understand". That sound was in the air.
> The Beatles didn't issue an LP with Ifield, EMI did.
On the comp "Pre Fab!! The Rock & Roll and R'n' B That Inspired
Lennon & McCartney" Ann-Margret's "I Just Don't Understand" is
included and it's noted that the boys performed it on "Pop Goes
The Beatles".
Small world...
pres
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Message: 18
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 17:26:47 -0800
From: Scott Swanson
Subject: Re: Solomon King, R.I.P.
Eddy writes:
> Born Allen Levy, Solomon King died of cancer in Oklahoma at
> the age of 73. He was the first white singer to tour with
> Billie Holiday and was a member of the Jordanaires and as
> such backed Elvis Presley. But he may be best known for
> the records he made under his own name, which included the
> hit She Wears My Ring, a top 5 hit in 1967.
I thought he was English? Wasn't "She Wears My Ring" a U.K.
production?
Curious,
Scott
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Message: 19
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 10:07:24 -0000
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Mr & Mrs Goffin/Joe Brown/Rolling Stones
Whilst doing a mass migration of LPs from daughter's bedroom to
converted loft, I spent some time perusing through my trove and
lighted upon the album " Don't Play That Song" by Ben E King,
London Atlantic HA-K 8012 . Reading through the credits I noticed
the title" Show Me The Way" crediting a certain Gerald Goffin &
Carole Goffin is this the only time Carole was given her married
name?
Back in the swirly mists of time I half recall a package tour of
halls/cinemas with Joe & his Bruvvers headlining, I attended the
show at the Opera House in my town of Blackpool early 1964, the
rest of the package (I think) included Rolling Stones, Manfred
Mann & The Crystals(Manfreds on backing). I recall Joe always
played "All Things Bright & Beautiful" as an acoustic piece in
those days.
The Rolling Stones next appeared here at the Empire Ballroom
in late 1964, they had a hit or two under their belts by then,
anyway a riot started and the Rolling Stones were banned from
ever appearing in Blackpool again, the ban is still in place.
Last year Bill Wyman & his Rhythm Kings actually made an
appearance in that original hall,nobody mentioned the ban.
Right back to the loft.
Ken On The West Coast (in the loft)
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Message: 20
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 12:54:30 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Cartoonists; One hit wonders; Chuck Berry
Phil Milstein wrote:
> Color me sincerely impressed. The closest thing to a celebrity
> among my parents' friends when I was a kid was someone who knew
> the guy who drew Mutt & Jeff.
Dave Berg, who did "Berg's Eye View" for Mad Magazine, lived in
our aparetment development when I was a kid, and used me as an
occasional model for his strip.
Austin Roberts wrote:
> I love one hit wonders as well. I've always felt there was magic
> in these records. The artist or group put everything they had
> into one killer record. My favorite one hitter is the Elegants
> LITTLE STAR.
...or everything they were able to break through withg, as the
Elegants had releases for several years after, the closest to a
hit being "Goodnight," which actually sold a bunch of copies in
Providence, RI where it was used as the closing theme for DJ Joe
Thomas.
The one-hit artists I wonder about are the ones who got only
one release, and it hit. The Ducanes' "I'm So Happy" on Goldic,
produced by Phil Spector, comes to mind. Anyone with others -
one hit, nothing else out there?
Karen Andrews wrote:
> Chuck Berry Plays Sold Out Show in Prague.....
> http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/ap/20050119/110615034000.html
Worth checking out: www.chuckberry.com, which reveals that Berry
is doing voice-overs for an airline.
Country Paul
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Message: 21
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 15:42:30 -0500
From: Holly Cara Price
Subject: Mamie Van Doren!
Does anyone out yonder have any recordings by Mamie Van Doren?
Please email me off-list if so!
Thanks-
Holly
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Message: 22
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 13:03:47 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: She Wears My Ring
Eddy:
> Born Allen Levy, Solomon King died of cancer in Oklahoma at the
> age of 73. He was the first white singer to tour with Billie
> Holiday and was a member of the Jordanaires and as such backed
> Elvis Presley. But he may be best known for the records he made
> under his own name, which included the hit She Wears My Ring, a
> top 5 hit in 1967.
I thought Roy Orbison and a country singer named Jimmy Bell
(on Hickory) had the hits with this song. Am I wrong?
Country Paul
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Message: 23
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 03:28:09 -0000
From: Larry Watts Jr
Subject: Little Eva
A few months back, while waiting for five hours to meet Eddie
Izzard at an in-store at Tower Records, I did some clearance-
bin diving and found a CD by the little one called "Back To
Basics". I grabbed it because I'd never heard of it and it
was only a few bucks. As I'd bought a pile of CDs, it got
filed away and I kinda forgot about it.
Last week I was bin diving again at the local Media Play and
I found another copy. I bought it for the hell of it.
It was apparently recorded around '88 and it sounds it. Her
voice was as good as ever and the ballads are good in that
"the heroine overcomes her inhibition/obstacle scene" background
music so prevalent in the late eighties. Still, lesser diva
wannabes had bigger hits with lesser tunes at the time. The
upbeat stuff is as over produced and metallic as it gets and a
bit painful at times.
Does anyone know anything about this album?
Hula hoppin' with Sister Idalia,
pres
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Message: 24
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 03:37:40 -0800 (PST)
From: S G L
Subject: The Chiffons
Hey all....
Im working on a Chiffons site, Im also doing a Dixie cups one.
I am looking for anything to help get it pretty complete, so
if you have anything you can scan and email, I will work it
into the site. I'm hoping to contact one or two original group
members to get some input, or involvement. Failing that it will
be much like http://www.theshangri-las.com
Any help appreciated off-list. Thanks.
SGL
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Message: 25
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 00:49:26 -0000
From: Steve Fuji
Subject: Re: The Montanas
Bill Mulvy:
> "You've Got To Be Loved" is on the Rock N Roll Roots Vol 6 CD
> recently released by WDRV radio in Chicago. The sound is fantastic,
> (better than the Dick Bartley version) and is in stereo, unlike
> The Montanas' hit compilation, where it appears in mono.
It's strange that the Greatest Hits compilation is in mono and
the copy on the Dick Bartley compilation is in Stereo since
they are both Varese Saraband releases.
I bought "You've Got To Be Loved" and "Run To Me" on 45s as a
12 year old with my hard earned allowance money and they have
always been among my favorites. Glad to see so many other people
also liked them. I wasn't familiar with their other releases
until I got the CD. They really should have gotten a lot more
hits here-the reasons why they didn't are detailed in the liner
notes of the CD.
Steve Fuji
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