________________________________________________________________________
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
________________________________________________________________________
There are 21 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. New @ S'pop: Terry Melcher
From: S'pop HQ
2. Re: Bob Crewe productions
From: Al Kooper
3. The sex appeal of paleness; Chris Clark´s compilation; Lou Christie picture, etc.
From: Julio Niño
4. Re: Goffin & King's "Easy To Love"
From: Don H
5. Re: The Parkas
From: James Botticelli
6. CD Reissues
From: George Schowerer
7. Mystery Girl Group Tracks
From: Stefano
8. Wadsworth Mansion
From: Bob Rashkow
9. The 4 Seasons' "Dawn", etc
From: George Schowerer
10. "Everlasting" Dinner
From: Austin Roberts
11. 6Ts 45s
From: James Botticelli
12. Re: Lou Christie photo
From: Anthony Arena
13. Re: The 4 Seasons on CD
From: George Schowerer
14. Steve Tudanger
From: Mike Rashkow
15. Re: Sparring with the Hits (Kenny Hamber)
From: Hans Huss
16. Tery Black
From: Jim Fisher
17. Re: Bob Crewe productions
From: George Schowerer
18. Sparing The Hits
From: Paul Urbahns
19. Re: Oldies Station Versions
From: Austin Roberts
20. Re: Lou Christie photo
From: Laura Pinto
21. Re: 60sgarageband.com April updates
From: Phil X Milstein
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 23:58:28 +0100
From: S'pop HQ
Subject: New @ S'pop: Terry Melcher
After many months of hard toil, Martin Roberts has completed
work on a brand new addition to his Jack Nitzsche @ Spectropop
pages, "The Producers: Terry Melcher", the first in a series
of feature articles which focus on the session directors with
whom Nitzsche most frequently worked. Access here:
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/producers.htm
"The Producers: Terry Melcher" is itself divided into
eight separate parts:
Part 1 - Introduction:
http://www.spectropop.com/TerryMelcher/index.htm
Part 2 - Al Hazan:
http://www.spectropop.com/TerryMelcher/TerryMelcher2.htm
Part 3 - The Rip Chords and Eddie Hodges:
http://www.spectropop.com/TerryMelcher/TerryMelcher3.htm
Part 4 - Frankie Laine:
http://www.spectropop.com/TerryMelcher/TerryMelcher4.htm
Part 5 - Doris Day and Gentle Soul:
http://www.spectropop.com/TerryMelcher/TerryMelcher5.htm
Part 6 - Carol Kaye:
http://www.spectropop.com/TerryMelcher/TerryMelcher6.htm
Part 7 - Harvey Kubernik:
http://www.spectropop.com/TerryMelcher/TerryMelcher7.htm
Part 8 - Melcher/Nitzsche Discography:
http://www.spectropop.com/TerryMelcher/TerryMelcher8.htm
Enjoy,
The S'pop Team
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 18:18:05 -0500
From: Al Kooper
Subject: Re: Bob Crewe productions
Geprge Schowerer wrote:
> Gentlemen: I am the engineer on much of the Seasons and Valli's
> sessions. When Rhino put out the "Silver anniv." multiple disc set,
> I called Rhino to complain about the distortion present on many of
> the tracks. I have no idea what tape they used, but I can guarantee
> you that they didn't leave Mirasound studios sounding like that.
I have read replies from George before in S'pop, but could not recall
meeting or working with him. I have been close to Charlie Calello
since 1966, when he arranged a song I wrote called "Stormy" for the
wonderful 4 Evers. Charlie and I became a team on my first solo
album "I Stand Alone" in 1968, and pretty much worked together until
1995 including stints with Michael Mann, John Waters, and Ray
Charles. George's name, to the best of my knowledge, had never come
up. So when I saw the latter post, I forwarded it to Charlie and
asked about the validity of his claims. Here is Charlie Calello's
reply re: engineers on Four Season and Frankie Valli records.
Charlie, as most of you recall, was the lone arranger on 90% of those
sessions:
"When we worked at Stea-Phillips (all the early hits) it was Gordon
Clark, when we went to Atlantic and recorded "Dawn" it was Tom Dowd,
we then moved to Olmstead on 40th St. and it was Bill McMeekin. "Rag
Doll" was recorded at the demo studio Allegro. "Can't Take My Eyes
Off You" was recorded at MiraSound and I don't remember who the
engineer was."
I hope this sets the record straight, and I'm sure George did not
intentionally mean to take credit away from the above hard workers.
Al Kooper
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 16:33:09 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: The sex appeal of paleness; Chris Clark´s compilation; Lou Christie picture, etc.
Hola Everybody.
I´m back in Madrid, after spending some days in Barcelona. My
boyfriend got intoxicated after eating some dubious shellfish, he
looked spectacularly ill, deadly pale and with enormous black rings
under his eyes. I found it very sexy. I´d always heard that shellfish
could be an aphrodisiac, but I´ve never imagined it that way.
This fact brought to my mind some songs that celebrate the sex appeal
of paleness, like Mina´s "Tintarella Di Luna" (dyed by the moon), or
my favorite, "Rubia" (blonde), by Spanish yeyé singer Lita Torrelló
(there´s another version of the song by preteen Alicia Granados), in
which she sings that she want to be blonde and pale, and so she only
goes to the beach by night and she only drinks milk. Of course,
coming from a racial Spanish girl, that wish has some hilarious
connotations, just imagine let´s say Diana Ross (or perhaps Michael
Jackson) singing it, and you´ll get the idea. I could play it in
musica, if a certain magician feels like shaking again his magic
stick.
In Barcelona, I took a quick walk on the oldies record shops west of
Las Ramblas, but I didn´t find much. When I don´t find anything that
convinces me I always feel empty and desperate. Finally I found the
recent compilation of Chris Clark´s songs, I bought it and that
calmed me down. The first CD of the collection contains released
masters, and the second previously unreleased tracks. In my opinion
some of the unreleased songs are superior than the released ones. My
favorites are the tracks recorded from 1965 until 1967, like
"Something´s Wrong", "Ask Any Girl", "I Just Can Forget Him", and
others.
Changing the subject. when I returned back home, I found some new
things in Spectroland. A new look in the homepage of Yahoo Groups;
new songs in musica: my favorite is "Don´t Mention My Name" by The
Shepherd Sisters; and the very surprising ,"carefully posed", as Mick
says, photo of Lou Christie. He looks like a tempting (a little
hypertricotic to my taste) faun. Is it an authentic picture or a
mischievous Photoshop work?
I´m gonna clean my flat, like a furious chacha (chacha in Spanish
means maid, so Sheila´s magazine has a curious additional meaning in
Spanish).
Chao.
Julio Niño.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 02:03:43 -0000
From: Don H
Subject: Re: Goffin & King's "Easy To Love"
Robert Pingel wrote:
> "Easy to Love" is one of those great, somewhat obscure, Goffin-King
> songs. The Chiffons did a terrific job with it. There's also an
> excellent version by Skeeter Davis that could have been a
> contender. Would love to know if there were any other covers.
Those are the only two I know of.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 18:53:12 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: The Parkas
I mentioned:
> The Parkas - Back At The Lodge - MGM label's obvious attempt to be
> the "Winter" Beach Boys)
Chris:
> This I'd like to hear (musica?) - how close do they get to the Beach
> Boys sound? Writer/producer/B side?
I don't know how to post to Musica. If someone wants to let me know
privately I'll give it a shot. They don't come close at all to the
Beach Boys sound. More like their spirit...
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 19:48:18 -0800 (PST)
From: George Schowerer
Subject: CD Reissues
Billy: One of the major problems with re-issues is that no thought is
given toward having the people originally involved with the release
... and not asked to be part of the re-recording. The result so often
is that they add equalization and stuff not of the original. The
worse case example of this is the first cd release of the group
"Bread". The cd doesn't even sound close to the lp ... it's as if it
was a completely separate session ... horrible. They didn't even take
the time to listen to the lp ... and therefore had no clue as to what
made the record a hit in the first place.
As for the Crewe stuff ... we would complete the mix at Allegro or
Mirasound, and Bob would take the dam tape to Bell Sound where they
would add everything you could think of ... sometimes echo, sometimes
eq.
I must get out some safeties of the original mixes from Bob's
sessions, which included Mitch Ryder, Frankie Valli and the Seasons,
and Freddie Cannon. I can assure you that they are pristine, as I had
related to the Ace re-issue of Frankie (with the green cover) ... it
does accurately reflect what we arrived at in the studio ... and
without the Rhino "touch" that turned it into trashy, distorted mixes.
In many cases, these older sessions were trashed by the updating, and
there is NO excuse for those examples. Even the first Simon and
Garfunkel cd's suffered those problems. I compared the cd to my 15ips
safety and got sick ... then called Roy Halle, their original
engineer to alert him to the terrible transfers ... bottom line is
that S & G took Roy back into the studio to properly transfer their
material to cd ... but there have been even further transfers done
since then that are less than great. It's a sad commentary for the
money hungry record associations who think your pockets should be
picked ... continuously.
Regards, George Schowerer
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 22:54:30 -0800
From: Stefano
Subject: Mystery Girl Group Tracks
Hi All, I'm new to this group, and have enjoyed looking through the
archived posts. I have a couple audio cassettes that were given to me
by a friend about 16-17 years ago, of various girl group flip sides
and rare tracks. I have long since lost the listing of tracks, and
have been trying to figure out who sings them, by researching song
titles, artists, etc online. Does anyone know which artists sing
these two? I don't know the correct titles, but they are:
"Oh what a night, it was love at first sight"
(really nice, upbeat ballad with sha-la-la's in the background)
"I Wonder Why He's Watching Me"
I'd appreciate any help.
Thanks-
Stefano
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 21:55:58 EST
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: Wadsworth Mansion
Country Paul on Wadsworth Mansion:
> ... to see this scruffy bunch of Rhode Island hippies ... handle
> the vocals of "Michigan Harry Slaughter" live ...
I'm sitting on their 1971 LP. What am I waiting for other than that
I have about 30 CD comps and about 7 other LPs yet to spin? Until I
read Fuzz, Acid and Flowers from cover to cover, I had forgotten
about their delightful "slightly vaudevill-y" follow-up to "Sweet
Mary". I can't wait to play MHS because I haven't heard that song
since it was released! I remember thinking "This one isn't gonna
make it, this one isn't gonna make it..." And, unfortunately, I was
right!
Bobster
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:02:17 -0800 (PST)
From: George Schowerer
Subject: The 4 Seasons' "Dawn", etc
Bob Radil
> I've noticed that CD distortion also. It seems to be mostly on the
> early Phillips stuff, "Ronnie" in particular. The VeeJay stuff
> sounds quite good. I would have thought that it would be the other
> way around. I'll have to pull out my Private Stock Greatest Hits
> LP and give it a close listen when I get a chance. Who owns the
> original masters? I was under the impression that they are owned by
> Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio. Would it be their responsibility to
> keep those tapes properly stored? Also, do you know if "Ronnie" and
> the single version of "Dawn" were ever mixed for stereo? Thanks
> for coming on board. I'm sure to have more questions. The 4 Seasons
> were among my favorites back in the day.
"Dawn" was done at Stea=Phillips studios by either Gordon Clark or
Lenny Stea (I think, during the time I was in the Army). Crewe always
took my mixes to be cut to disc at Bell Sound. He usually didn't take
the original, 8 or 16 track reels...I dunno. Mirasound went belly up
and I never found out who got the tapes after that. Allegro got
bought out by Laurie Records. I also have no idea where those tapes
went. At Allegro, there were tons of demos I did with Carole King/
Goffin and Neil Sedaka (I would love to have a copy of some of those
but never had the urge..to have them today and add stuff they never
would have.... Also the Tokens, Chiffons, Mickey & Sylia (and later
Kitty was his partner) Freddie Cannon, and The Rays all had their
masters filed with us. Have no idea where they are...I know the
studios after a while, ran out of storage space and asked the clients
to please pickup whatever they had filed with us.
Regards, George Schowerer
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 15:29:36 -0500
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: "Everlasting" Dinner
Bob Rashkow:
> I just want to thank everybody who responded to my query! I had no
> idea there were so many cover versions of "Everlasting Love." There
> seems to be a "Jones" for that tune, considering that Glenn, Howard
> (his "variation") and even Bridget got into the act :--))
Thanks folks, I'm having dinner with Buzz Cason in a few days, and
now that I know how many covers (many were hits) of Everlasting Love
he's had, He's Paying!
Austin Roberts
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:47:39 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: 6Ts 45s
I wrote:
> They are out there in droves...recently I found...(6Ts 45s)
Bobster:
> Jimmy, you are truly blessed. You now have four of the greatest
> recordings ever produced: The Guise, The Love-Ins ("Red Light-
> Green Light"), The Steeple People (both records) and The E-Types
> ("She Moves Me"). I only possess the E-Types 45, which I purchased
> in 1978 at Flat, Black and Circular in East Lansing, Michigan of
> all places (the group was out of Northern California). I'm as green
> as The Green Beats!
Boston is a pretty good place for vinyl. Most of the used record
stores are run by middle aged white guys who grew up in the 60's.
I feel fortunate too when I see the prices on the internet for this
stuff.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 11:46:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Anthony Arena
Subject: Re: Lou Christie photo
Mick Patrick wrote:
> And talking of members on display (:-0), the more investigative
> among you might have already gawped at the latest addition to the
> photos section, a carefully posed shot of Sheila's current
> heartthrob, the incredibly talented, impressively flexible and
> furry bottomed Mr Lou Christie. It's worth a glance:
> http://tinyurl.com/3p38x
Rob wrote:
> I'd venture a good guess that this shot was taken as promotion for
> the "Paint America Love" LP (1971), since those very words are
> painted on his body. And, yes, QUITE an amazing pic, by the way.
Yes, Rob's correct. The photo's astonishing. It's the kind of promo-
shot a top male music star only would've used back in the 1970s when
male nudity was the new cool and hip thing. Lou wasn't the only big
star to drop trou for promo photos in those days. We know all about
the John Lennon, David Cassidy, Fabian, and Iggy Pop full-nudity from
the 1970s. But I never knew about Lou Christie until now. It would
be interesting to learn who else tried it as a promotional idea.
Anybody have a list?
Nowadays most male vocalists are too modest for their own good.
Clearly, Lou Christie had nothing to be modest about back then. His
physique was extrordinary and impressive.
And you know what else? Lou Christie ala' au-naturale, was indeed
all-natural! - There were no steriods back in those days either, ya
know. Helloooo, calling Mark McGuire?!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 20:09:06 -0800 (PST)
From: George Schowerer
Subject: Re: The 4 Seasons on CD
Anthony: At present, I only have the Ace "Solo" double album with
Frankie. I'm delighted to find out from you that there are a group of
them ... I'll have to keep my eyes open for the others. My comment
about the Ace album was that the transfers were clean, clear, and
undistorted. However, not that many songs from that album are
duplicated with the 25th Anniversary Rhino release ... but I will see
if I can directly compare any particular numbers for you. If I'm
successful in getting some of the others from Ace, I'll gladly do
comparisons for you.
Regards, George Schowerer
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 19:22:58 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Steve Tudanger
Al Kooper mentioned Steve Tudanger's group the $ Evers:
> ... a song I wrote called "Stormy" for the wonderful 4 Evers.
Coincidentally, I had a nice long telephone conversation with Steve
Tudanger today--he is in good spirits and he says his health is no
worse :--))--and that reports of his demise are premature.
He has a very positive attitude for a guy who has had a lot of bad
luck.
His eyesite isn't good enough to do computer, but in the past I have
sent him blown up copies of things about him on S'pop, which he can
read. He asked me to tell the group that he is "glad that he is
fondly remembered"--actually he said he was glad he was remembered at
all.
Many very talented people do not get the accolades or rewards they
might deserve, Steve, IMHO is one of those people. His song, "Let me
Be Forever", which an old friend and I produced with The Definitive
Rock Chorale, was later cut by Steve Feldman and Tudie told me it
went to #1 in various South American markets.
I called him because I happened across a 1977 solo release by him on
GEMM. It was out on Big Tree and was produced by Ellie Greenwich. The
title escapes me for the moment--something about Rhythm, but I bought
it just to check it out. Steve said it was a pretty nice record.
If it is obscure enough and if I am allowed, I will try to post it to
musica.
Di la,
Rashkovsky
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:28:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Hans Huss
Subject: Re: Sparring with the Hits (Kenny Hamber)
Country Paul:
> Is this the same label that had Kenny Hamber (with David
> Robertson's combo) doing "Tears In My Eyes"? [...] Delightfully
> atrocious! (And oddly enough, Kenny Hamber actually recorded again
> on a real label, Kapp.)
A different SPAR label entirely, tiny but real, owned by Baltimore
radio jock Bill “Sparky” Mullen (WSID). The primitive-sounding ‘Tears
In My Eyes’ (Spar 101) was subsequently re-recorded in New York (with
King Curtis amongst the backing musicians) and released on Spar’s
sister label Zenette in the following year (1961).
Kenny Hamber, who is active to this day, I think, never recorded for
Kapp, but had great releases on De Jac and Arctic in the 1960s, on
ABC (as a member of the Hitchhikers) in 1973, and more recently on
his own MCK label, the albums “This Is R&B” (1996) and “In A Romantic
Mood” (2001). His ‘Anything You Want’ (Arctic 131), composed by Kenny
Gamble, is simply one of the finest singles in soul music -- think
‘Open The Door To Your Heart’, Philly-style -- and deservedly much
sought after on the Northern Soul scene. The complete Kenny Hamber
story may be found at Blues Art Story Journal’s website:
http://www.bluesartstudio.at/NeueSeiten/07KHLB.html
Hasse Huss
P.S. If anyone has a copy of Kenny Hamber’s ‘Camel Walk’ (Mean 200)
to trade or sell, please contact me off-list.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:32:12 -0800
From: Jim Fisher
Subject: Tery Black
Terry also did a track "Moondust" on the Bill Murray flik "Meatballs"
soundtrack, it's not too bad at all, romantic melodic ballad that
seemed a bit out of place in that wacky kind of movie. Worth checking
out for some Mood Music..(I think the movie was shot in Canada too.)
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:08:41 -0800 (PST)
From: George Schowerer
Subject: Re: Bob Crewe productions
Steve Crump wrote:
> George, were you involved with Bob and the song "An Angel Is Love"
> from "Barbarella"? It's a great song and one of my favourites.
Unfortunately, I was not involved with his Barbarella recording.
Regards, George
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 22:50:10 +0000
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Sparing The Hits
Country Paul asks:
> Is this the same label that had Kenny Hamber (with David
> Robertson's combo) doing "Tears In My Eyes" / "Do The Hullyu Gully"?
The Hit Paul answers:
No, Like there was more than one Hit label, there was also another
Spar label.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 20:40:02 -0500
From: Austin Roberts
Subject: Re: Oldies Station Versions
Speaking of 'odd' splices on past records, I've always been curious
about the strange `splice' in Tommy James' Crimson And Clover where
it goes from one sound to an entirely different one by, what seemed
to be a `strange splice'. Oh well; just one ear's opinion.
Austin Roberts
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 23:51:20 -0000
From: Laura Pinto
Subject: Re: Lou Christie photo
Rob wrote:
> I'd venture a good guess that [the Lou Christie photo] was taken as
> promotion for the "Paint America Love" LP (1971), since those very
> words are painted on his body. And, yes, QUITE an amazing pic, by
> the way.
Hi Rob and all,
It appears that way, according to the eBay description! Check it out:
http://snipurl.com/dpe2
Laura
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 18:33:27 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: 60sgarageband.com April updates
Mike Dugo wrote:
> Here's a quick note to inform everybody that the April updates to
> http://www.60sgaragebands.com have now been posted. This month we
> feature interviews with Jerry Chandler of Four More ("Problem
> Child"), Robert Allen of The Sundown Collection (Happening '68
> competitors), and Ron Bowell of Friar Tuck & The Monks, who
> recorded a unique cover of The Beatles' "Help" in 1969.
Any chance that's the same Friar Tuck as per the Mercury LP "Friar
Tuck & His Psychedelic Guitar"? I imagine not, as the latter (from
c.1967) was the brainchild of Curt Boettcher and (primarily)
guitarist Mike Deasy, but now you've got me curious if the
unfortunately-named Mr. Bowell wasn't also involved.
--Phil M.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
End
