________________________________________________________________________ SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop! ________________________________________________________________________ There are 25 messages in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1. Shirley Ellis From: The Cat 2. Re: Tangerines and Oranges are playin' in the band From: Phil X Milstein 3. Ronettes and other musica; more "Boom"; Rivieras; Crests; RIP Keller & Murray From: Country Paul 4. Great lost Al Kooper song on 45 From: Dave 5. Re: Shirley Ellis From: Mick Patrick 6. Re: The Plebs' "Bad Blood" From: Frank Murphy 7. Jack Keller, Tom Austin and me From: Claire Francis 8. Re: 'Searching' For Answers From: Roy Clough 9. Larry Brown From: Gary Myers 10. Karen Lake; Jasper Wrath From: Country Paul 11. Re: The Plebs' "Bad Blood" From: Dave 12. Pussy Cat From: Bob Rashkow 13. Bad splices: The Supremes From: Tony Leong 14. Re: Bad Splices - Lesley Gore From: Anthony Parsons 15. The Searchers' "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" From: Roy Clough 16. Re: Tom Austin(s) From: Dave 17. Re: The Plebs' "Bad Blood" From: Frank Uhle 18. Re: Shirley Ellis From: James Botticelli 19. Re: Searching for answers From: Sean Anglum 20. Re: Tom Austin From: Gary Myers 21. Re: Great lost Al Kooper song on 45 - Bruce Scott From: Janet Bonica 22. Re: "Please Don't Ever Leave Me" From: Clark Besch 23. The Plebs From: Austin Powell 24. The Plebs From: Austin Powell 25. Re:SpectroPopcorn Double Feature From: Artie Wayne ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ Message: 1 Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 19:58:32 -0000 From: The Cat Subject: Shirley Ellis My first post and it's a begging one!! I'm trying to get a hold of "Ever See A Diver Kiss His Wife While The Bubbles Bounce About Above The Water" by Shirley Ellis. All her CDs are discontinued on Amazon. Thanks in advance. The Cat Darth Vader of the Slide Fader Radio West Fife -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2 Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 16:46:31 -0500 From: Phil X Milstein Subject: Re: Tangerines and Oranges are playin' in the band Country Paul wrote: > Phil, in the interest of historical accuracy, I believe Ray's label > was Tangerine. Sorry, wrong citrus! I seem to have mixed up Ray Charles's label with David "The Pope Smokes Dope" Peel's. --Phil M. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3 Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 15:50:49 -0400 From: Country Paul Subject: Ronettes and other musica; more "Boom"; Rivieras; Crests; RIP Keller & Murray David A Young re: Ronettes "You Bet I Would" alternate take in musica: > the version co-penned by Carole King) that appeared as the B-side > to their spring 1962 single "Silhouettes" on May 114 and hasn't > seen re-release since. Ronnie really got the Buddy Holly "hiccup" down on this; I don't know if it's endearing or annoying. Also in musica, compliments to the Curt Boettcher version of "That's The Way It's Gonna Be" - different from, but just about as good as, the Lee Mallory version. RIP, Lee. I couldn't get Dobie Gray's "Rose Garden" to play - what's a .wpk format? Nick Archer: > Wasn't "Chick-A-Boom" by Daddy Dewdrop on Sunflower? I don't have > the album anymore... #105, in fact. >From Both Sides Now: > "Daddy Dewdrop" was actually Dick Monda, a songwriter originally > from Cleveland, along with some studio musicians calling themselves > the "Torrance Cookers." The musicians were Bill Perry, Tom Hensley, > Steve Rillera, and Larry Brown. The single and subsequent album > were recorded in Torrance, California. Surprisingly, the song > "Chick-A-Boom," a wry sexual fantasy put to music, jumped into the > national top-10, the biggest hit the label ever had. The Daddy > Dewdrop album, which followed the successful single, was a light- > hearted, if not lightweight, effort that sealed the fate of Daddy > Dewdrop as a one-hit wonder, never to be heard from again. The > followup single, "The March of the White Corpuscles"/"Fox Huntin'" > [Sunflower 111], sank without a trace. For trivialists, later in the article Dick Monda notes: "The interesting thing about 'Chick-A-Boom' is that I originally did it for the TV cartoon show Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies." Phil X. Milstein: > My vote for worst splice, apart from the aforementioned, occurs in > The Supremes' "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone." Bill Mulvy: > How about the loud distorted sound of the word plot on "I've Got > You Babe" by Sonny and Cher? Talking about "stuff" that found its way into release, the classic Rivieras' "Count Every Star" (Coed), on the last verse, features a "Count" sung by the lead singer that distorts at the microphone. The rest of the performance was so good, however, they issued it, and it of course became a hit - and the first 45 I ever bought. And while we're at Coed Records, George Schowerer wrote: > 16 Candles/Crests was done as a demo session at Regent studios/ > New York....16 Candles was take #13. On the twelve takes prior > to the 13th, the eight background singers were not balanced > correctly. Were the actual Crests part of the eight singers, or was is just Johnny Maestro and a studio chorus? RIP Jack Keller and Juggy Murray. I of course knew many of Jack Keller's songs even if I was unaware he was the author; but I met Juggy Murray once briefly when I was first at WBRU at Brown, running through 1650 Broadway begging for records. He was kind enough to send me back to our ambitious closed-circuit AM station (at the time) with a bagful of 45s and 33s as well as getting us and keeping us on his mailing list. We were early on a lot of fine stuff on Sue, including Baby Washington's "That's How Heartaches Are Made," The Soul Sisters' "I Can't Stand It" (he gave us the LP - I'd love to have it now!), Jackie Shane's "In My Tenement," and many more. Country Paul -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4 Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:29:06 -0000 From: Dave Subject: Great lost Al Kooper song on 45 I know this board is frequented by Al Kooper so perhaps he would be so kind as to give some interesting, and perhaps otherwise unknown details about a great song that he co-wrote with Irwin Levine and Bob Brass. A radio listener of mine called my show recently and requested this song that he could never find on 45, but heard the artist sing on Hullabaloo back in 1965, or early 1966. The listener also recalled seeing a large ad in a trade magazine promoting this 45. I actually had the 45, and when I played it...I was also blown away by how great this record was.....I did not remember how good this song was! A definite shoulda been a hit! Tell me something, anything, about the song and/or the artist..please. "You Can't Lose Something You Never Had" by Bruce Scott, produced by Lew Futterman, arr & cond. by Nicky Welsh. MGM K13455 Dave the Rave www.davetherave.com -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5 Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 22:48:41 +0100 From: Mick Patrick Subject: Re: Shirley Ellis The Cat: > I'm trying to get a hold of "Ever See A Diver Kiss His Wife While > The Bubbles Bounce About Above The Water" by Shirley Ellis. All > her CDs are discontinued on Amazon. Yes, Shirley Ellis' "Complete Congress Recordings" CD was deleted last year. However ... Three, six, nine The goose drank wine Amazon.com still have copies on-line At: http://tinyurl.com/6oeel Or you could try Bim Bam. Just enter her name in the "search" box found here: http://www.bim-bam.com/vocal.html Find a review of the CD here: http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index2003.htm#ShirleyEllis Read her story at S'pop here: http://www.spectropop.com/ShirleyEllis/index.htm And this is a must too: http://www.geocities.com/marcapreguntas/shirley1.htm Hey la, Mick Mick Bo Bick Banana Fanna Fo ... oh, never mind -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6 Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 22:08:21 +0000 From: Frank Murphy Subject: Re: The Plebs' "Bad Blood" Mick Patrick wrote: > I'm busy researching the songs of Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, like > you do. I have a question: is "Bad Blood" (the Coasters song) by > the Plebs (UK Decca F 12006, 1964) available on CD? If so, maybe > someone could furnish me with the details please. If not, It'd be > great if I could get to hear the track somehow. And who produced > the record, pray tell? Check the 45 label here: http://www.popsych.co.uk/images%203/plebs.jpg.htm Here's a bio: http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,1037494,00.html#bio Mark Wildey also produced the Attack, The Kingsmen and "Wings of a man" by Danny McCulloch. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7 Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 18:40:13 EDT From: Claire Francis Subject: Jack Keller, Tom Austin and me Me: > Jack (Keller) and I lost touch for a while. We met again in the > early 70's when I moved to California and was producing records > there. I played one of my artists for Jack and he was crazy over > him. His name was Tom Austin... Gary Myers asked: > I wonder if this is the Tom Austin who became president of Sherman > Clay piano stores in the 80's. I know he recorded before that, and > he was based in CA. Claire responds: Yes, it is the same Tom Austin, and I just got off the phone from talking to him for the first time in 33 years!!!! We were both so flipped out... thanks for helping us both connect...we were looking for each other...and he is very close friends with another cat who was also looking for me...so look and see what happened....I think our dear friend Jack Keller had so much to do with all of this. Love & Light, Claire Francis http://www.clairefrancis.com -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8 Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 22:41:35 -0000 From: Roy Clough Subject: Re: 'Searching' For Answers The Fall did a version Of Popcorn Double Feature, but I never knew anyone else had till I read Artie's response. Any chance of hearing the Tim Wilde version? -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9 Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 15:47:27 -0700 From: Gary Myers Subject: Larry Brown Country Paul: > "Daddy Dewdrop" was actually Dick Monda, a songwriter originally > from Cleveland, along with some studio musicians calling themselves > the "Torrance Cookers." The musicians were Bill Perry, Tom Hensley, > Steve Rillera, and Larry Brown. Is Larry Brown the drummer? If so, he engineered a couple of our Mike Curb sessions, and also added piano on one of our unreleased cuts. gem -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10 Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 19:54:44 -0400 From: Country Paul Subject: Karen Lake; Jasper Wrath Julio Nino: > "When I´m Not Teenage Anymore" by Karen Lake, ABC Paramount 10087, > 1960,( B-side "Kiss Me Quick And Go"), was composed by Barry Mann > and Joe Shapiro. ...which explains how the background would have come about, as "Darling Can't You Tell" was a hit in New York and a doowop classic. God bless New Yorkers of a certain era. Gracias, Julio! Scott: > The other Sunflower artifact I have is an interesting psych LP > entitled Jasper Wrath ... < They wre a major club attraction in the northeast, including Connecticut, but the record got limited airplay on the major progressive rock stations. The 1990 album, co-produced by Joey Levine, is credited to MGM Records (rather than Sunflower) on several websites (Sunflower was distributed by MGM). A limited-edition CD with later demos, etc., came out in 1997, and Sundazed has a vinyl reissue of the original LP as well. Member Jeff Cannata's band bio is here: http://www.arcangel-cannata.com/PAGES/bio.html . Country Paul -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11 Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:17:38 -0000 From: Dave Subject: Re: The Plebs' "Bad Blood" Mick Patrick wrote: > I'm busy researching the songs of Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, like > you do. I have a question: is "Bad Blood" (the Coasters song) by > the Plebs (UK Decca F 12006, 1964) available on CD? If so, maybe > someone could furnish me with the details please. If not, It'd be > great if I could get to hear the track somehow. And who produced > the record, pray tell? "Bad Blood" b/w "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" by The Plebs was released in the US on MGM K13320 in 1965 and the 45 lists the producer for both sides as Mark Wildey. I hope that helps. Dave the Rave www.davetherave.com -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12 Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 21:17:58 EDT From: Bob Rashkow Subject: Pussy Cat Dave Monroe asked about Madara & White's "Have Courage, Be Careful" as recorded by ye-ye girl Pussy Cat. I believe it was also recorded by The Spokesmen. Bobster -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13 Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 04:11:45 -0000 From: Tony Leong Subject: Bad splices: The Supremes While on the topic: I always noticed a bad cut-off during "You Cant Hurry Love". In the middle of the great song when Diane (um, MISS Ross) sings "...cause my heart, heart to break/ Though I can't bear. To live my life alone..." There is a very audible punch in WHILE Diane is singing the word "break" into the next line!!!! So it winds up that she is singing "..breaaa-THOUGH I CANT BEAR.....(while Mary and Flo woo-ooo- ooo)! Love the song anyhow!!!!!! Tony Leong -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14 Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 15:54:01 -0500 From: Anthony Parsons Subject: Re: Bad Splices - Lesley Gore John H: > Have a listen to Lesley Gore's "What's a Girl Supposed to Do?" About > forty seconds into the song, she sings "so I kissed hiiiiim," and > there's a noticeable change in sound quality in the "hiiiiim." Not > sure if it's a splice, but it's somethin'. This is an example of the double track vocal technique in plain sight. What happened there is that one of the vocals (the louder one) is suddenly cut off, probably due to her voice going out of tune, while the second vocal continues to hold the note. Listen to "You Didn't Look Round" on that same LP and you'll find evidence of Lesley not singing the exact same notes on her 2nd vocal pass. I find it amazing that she was able to sing so many of her songs with double-tracked vocals so well. Antone -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15 Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005 22:44:41 -0000 From: Roy Clough Subject: The Searchers' "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" Mark on the Searchers: > In the liner notes, they mention that "Have You Ever Loved > Somebody" was written by the Hollies, and indeed, the writer credit > is Ransford, who wrote a number of great Hollies songs. So, did > the Hollies ever cut this one in their own right? "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" was also done by a Brit duo Paul and Barry Ryan and incidentally was produced by The Searchers ex drummer Chris Curtis, who passed away recently. There's also a good version by The Everly Bothers on the album "Two Yanks In England" produced by .............The Hollies. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16 Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 01:03:49 -0000 From: Dave Subject: Re: Tom Austin(s) Claire Francis: > Jack (Keller) and I lost touch for a while. We met again in the > early 70's when I moved to California and was producing records > there. I played one of my artists for Jack and he was crazy over > him. His name was Tom Austin... Gary Myers: > I wonder if this is the Tom Austin who became president of Sherman > Clay piano stores in the 80's. I know he recorded before that, and > he was based in CA. One Tom Austin that it definitely is not...Tom Austin the original drummer of the Royal Teens, and the same Tom Austin of that cool end of summer 1963 Old Town release "Summer's Over" by Tom Austin & the Healeys. I would like to note that Tom Austin is still playing some gigs with the current edition of the Royal Teens. They recorded a song about 3 years ago called "Cool" which listeners rave about whenever I play this tune. It's worth checking out...a real baby boomer anthem! Dave the Rave www.davetherave.com -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17 Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 23:50:06 -0400 From: Frank Uhle Subject: Re: The Plebs' "Bad Blood" Mick Patrick wrote: > I'm busy researching the songs of Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, like > you do. I have a question: is "Bad Blood" (the Coasters song) by > the Plebs (UK Decca F 12006, 1964) available on CD? If so, maybe > someone could furnish me with the details please. If not, It'd be > great if I could get to hear the track somehow. And who produced > the record, pray tell? I have this 45 in its US incarnation on MGM. I could play it to Musica, if you would like ... The producer was Mark Wildey... (is this some sort of pseudonym for our own Mark Wirtz?) It's a decent beat group version of the song, featuring "sha la la" backing vocals and a few organ flourishes. I prefer the flipside, "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" (Trad. - arr. by Dennis, as the credit reads), a more rocking uptempo number. Frank Uhle -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18 Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:30:57 +0000 From: James Botticelli Subject: Re: Shirley Ellis Mick Patrick: > Yes, Shirley Ellis' "Complete Congress Recordings" CD was deleted > last year. However ... > Three, six, nine > The goose drank wine > Amazon.com still have copies on-line > At: http://tinyurl.com/6oeel > Or you could try Bim Bam. Just enter her name in the "search" box > found here: http://www.bim-bam.com/vocal.html > Find a review of the CD here: > http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index2003.htm#ShirleyEllis > Read her story at S'pop here: > http://www.spectropop.com/ShirleyEllis/index.htm > And this is a must too: > http://www.geocities.com/marcapreguntas/shirley1.htm A further addendum...The electronica entourage known as Skeewiff (Jalapeno Rekkids) updated "The Nitty Gritty" a couple of years back. Its on one of their CD's and Ursula1000 mixes it in on his latest DJ mix called "Ursadelica." Nice danceable version paying sufficient homage to the original (although I'm sure there are doubters as to the veracity of that one~) JB -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19 Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 11:17:35 -0600 From: Sean Anglum Subject: Re: Searching for answers Previously: > (The Searchers) cover "I Don't Believe", the song previously done > by the Guilloteens. For anyone from Denver, front range of Colorado or the Rocky Mountain region, you remember "I Don't Believe" as a giant hit for Denver's fabulous Moonrakers. The 'Rakers recorded on Tower, by way of involvement in a live talent show headlined by national act Johnny Rivers in late 1965 in Denver. The show featured many top Denver acts along with the Moonrakers, including the Back Porch Majority and the Soul Survivors (pre-The Poor). Reps from Capitol, RCA, Tower, Columbia and Philles were on hand. From that appearance came the Moonrakers Tower deal. Their Tower singles, four of 'em, were produced by Roger Christian and Richard Russell. "I Don't Believe" was the B-side, with the war horse "Baby Please Don't Go" getting A- side action outside of Denver. "I Don't Believe" was a huge smash #1 in Colorado. Great story on the Moonrakers' webpag: www.moonrakers.us of how they befriended Beach Boy Carl Wilson, who lent the use of his 12-string Rickenbacker for the recording of "I Don't Believe." In Colorado Springs, where I grew up, that great single was #1 and they were our "Colorado Beatles." They had the sound AND the look for stardom, too bad it didn't really pan out for them. After two sizzling years they splintered off with some members eventually ending up in "Green-Eyed Lady" famed Sugarloaf. There were a few last gasp Moonrakers' singles and an LP, all on Shamley, but the magic was gone. They live in our memories as one of the greatest Colorado rock bands. We all wait for that much talked about reunion show to take place! -Sean Anglum -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20 Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 09:39:20 -0700 From: Gary Myers Subject: Re: Tom Austin Claire Francis responds: > Yes, it is the same Tom Austin, and I just got off the phone from > talking to him for the first time in 33 years! That's great! I never knew Tom well, but I worked for Sherman Clay from '82-'85, and he took over around the end of that time. I met him and spoke with him a few times before I left, but I wouldn't expect him to remember me. gem -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21 Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 17:39:54 -0000 From: Janet Bonica Subject: Re: Great lost Al Kooper song on 45 - Bruce Scott Dave the Rave wrote: > I know this board is frequented by Al Kooper so perhaps he would be > so kind as to give some interesting, and perhaps otherwise unknown > details about a great song that he co-wrote with Irwin Levine and > Bob Brass. A radio listener of mine called my show recently and > requested this song that he could never find on 45, but heard the > artist sing on Hullabaloo back in 1965, or early 1966. The listener > also recalled seeing a large ad in a trade magazine promoting this > 45. I actually had the 45, and when I played it...I was also blown > away by how great this record was.....I did not remember how good > this song was! A definite shoulda been a hit! Tell me something, > anything, about the song and/or the artist..please. "You Can't Lose > Something You Never Had" by Bruce Scott, produced by Lew Futterman, > arr & cond. by Nicky Welsh. MGM K13455. I know that this was directed to Al Kooper but I just wanted to say that I remember Bruce Scott. A friend of mine was a big fan of his when we were growing up. He was the first husband of actress Sandy Duncan. I believe I still have a picture of him. Janet Bonica -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22 Date: Mon, 04 Apr 2005 17:38:23 -0000 From: Clark Besch Subject: Re: "Please Don't Ever Leave Me" Stewart Epstein wrote: > I used to love a group called "The Cyrkle."...they had a sweet > little song called "Please Don't Ever Leave Me" which I thought was > very under-rated...does anyone know how "high" it ever got in the > "Top 100" of its time?...that song is ripe for a re-making, in my > view. I agree with all counts of your statements. Love the song. Peaked in Cashbox Top 100 at #50 in early 67, number 59 peak on Billboard's hot 100. Surprising, since the song got tons of airplay and charted in locals highly in many areas. Outside of "Red Rubber ball", this would be my fave by them. It was extremely easy to get the Neon Lp for a buck in the 70's cut out bins--usually mono, as the mono Lps were phasing out in mid 67 and thus, many mono Lps from the period seem to have gone unsold and showed up in droves in the cut out bins 5 years later. Sundazed has since re-released "Neon" and the song lives agin in pristine sound. Clark -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23 Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 19:54:10 +0100 From: Austin Powell Subject: The Plebs Mick Patrick asked who produced The Plebs "Bad Blood"... Mick, it was Mark Wilde. At the time he was also a booker in Don Arden's agency. The record was released 16th October 1964 and the band consisted of 2 ex-Nashville Teens members Terry Brown and Mick Dunsford, plus Derek Sirman, Danny McCullutt and Chris Dennis. My info doesn't give the writers of "Bad Blood", but given that the B- side was a "traditional blues number arranged for the group by Chris Dennis", it's very likely the A side is The Coasters' song. Hope this bit of info helps.... Austin P. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24 Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 20:11:42 +0100 From: Austin Powell Subject: The Plebs Oooops....missed the "y" off Mark Wildey's name in my earlier posting. He was quoted at the time as saying: "I suppose (the reason I got into producing) is that I sit behind my desk working hard as an agent and all the time I see these a 'n' r men making a fortune, buying big houses and brand new cars. So I thought to myself, why don't I have a bash ?" Austin P and a spellcheck. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25 Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 12:25:37 -0700 (PDT) From: Artie Wayne Subject: Re:SpectroPopcorn Double Feature Roy...How ya' doin'? Sorry I don't have a copy of "Popcorn Double Feature" which I produced on Tim Wilde...but our pal Clark Blesch might be able to locate one. Last year he sent me an article on Tim and I in some teen magazine...so he knows about the record. regards, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com/ -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
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