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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 21 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Claire Francis
From: Eddy
2. Re: "You're So Good To Me" Covers
From: S.J. Dibai
3. Oldies Topping The UK Charts
From: S.J. Dibai
4. Re: The Hollies' "Stop! Stop! Stop!" album
From: S.J. Dibai
5. Re: Digest Number 1904
From: Frank Murphy
6. Eddie Detroit
From: John Briggs
7. Jack Nitzsche
From: S'pop Projects
8. Re: East/West Pipeline
From: Matthew David
9. Re: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
From: Clark Besch
10. Re: Claire Francis & UK Bonds
From: Anthony Parsons
11. "Evergreen" by John Perry
From: ACJ
12. Re: The Hollies' "Stop! Stop! Stop!" album
From: Bill Mulvy
13. Re: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
From: Norm D Plume
14. Re: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
From: Dave Monroe
15. Re: East/West Pipeline
From: Mikey
16. Re: Honey Ltd & Jack Nitzsche
From: Frank Jastfelder
17. Court Rejects Hallyday Request for Tapes
From: Phil X Milstein
18. New Donna Marie CD - Morning Prayer
From: Laura Pinto
19. Johnnie Johnson, RIP
From: James Cassidy
20. Solomon King / Levi Jackson / Allen Levy
From: Mick Patrick
21. "Hearing Is Believing"; Beatniks and Concierges
From: Julio Niño
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:08:02 +0200
From: Eddy
Subject: Claire Francis
At this time of both mental and physical recovery for Claire, it is
my great pleasure to announce the discovery of another original
Claire Francis Production :
UK Bonds - The world is watchin' us c/w I said goodbye to the blues -
Polydor BM 56061
Except for the fact that the group originates from Birmingham, I have
no further info on them. In the meantime, you can check out the songs
at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Rockofages/files/ Labels can
be viewed at http://users.skynet.be/rockofages/Clairefrancis/
Eddy
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 20:14:40 -0000
From: S.J. Dibai
Subject: Re: "You're So Good To Me" Covers
Paul Richards:
> I've got a rather nice version of 'You're So Good To Me' by the
> fantastic UK harmony group 'Design' that was released as a single
> in '76. I'll post it to musica if you like.
That would be great, if that's eligible for musica, and when some
space opens up there.
Thanks,
S.J.
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 20:20:52 -0000
From: S.J. Dibai
Subject: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
Mick Patrick:
> Not that I particularly like the record, but I think it's worth
> noting that the Number One record in the UK at the moment is Tony
> Christie's 34-year-old version of "Is This The Way To Amarillo?"
This notice has piqued my curiosity. Why is that these days, so many
oldies are topping the UK charts? I have been reading about Elvis
singles being reissued in limited quantities over there and going to
#1 like crazy. Now this. Can anyone offer some insight?
S.J. Dibai
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 20:36:19 -0000
From: S.J. Dibai
Subject: Re: The Hollies' "Stop! Stop! Stop!" album
Brent Cash:
> I think this LP is borderline perfection. Every cut is strong,
> unique and varied. Any of them could've been an A side on a single.
> There is some brilliant listening on the Butterfly (UK)/Dear Eloise
> (US) albums as well as the UK "In The Hollies Style" and the
> patchwork Imperial LP's, but as a whole, this album is the one that
> completely delivers the goods (from an A-1 "singles" band) on a
> full length platter.
To me, this album marked the moment that they fully came into their
own as songwriters and became focused on making albums that were
intended as artistic statements in and of themselves. "Stop! Stop!
Stop!" ("For Certain Because") is a thoroughly strong album which
includes one of my all-time favorite Hollies tunes, "Tell Me To My
Face." It should have been a single; its commerciality was proven
when Keith's bizzaro cover became a hit. "Pay You Back With Interest"
was, however, a wise choice for a single that was apparently not
supposed to be a single in the first place.
I must say, though, that I like the US version of "Evolution" even
better than "Stop! Stop! Stop." It showed the group getting even more
experimental without going overboard (as I feel they did on the
"Butterfly" album) and I think the US version improved on the UK
version by cutting out the fat and adding "Carrie Anne."
S.J. Dibai
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 23:45:16 +0100
From: Frank Murphy
Subject: Re: Digest Number 1904
Laura Pinto:
> Have you ever heard ("Is This The Way To Amarillo?") song by Neil
> (Sedaka) himself? I admit I'm biased; I like Neil's version much
> better than Tony's.
Yeah but can you do The Slosh to it?
FrankM
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 22:50:20 -0000
From: John Briggs
Subject: Eddie Detroit
Kurt Benbenek wrote:
> Many moons ago, while browsing through albums at a used record
> store, I met a guy who called himself "Eddie Detroit" - he claimed
> to have played drums for the Mamas and Papas at the Monterey Pop
> Festival - I'd always meant to check out his claim, and now seems
> to be the perfect time. "Eddie Detroit" was his nickname and he
> also told me he was involved in a few garage bands in Michigan. He
> seemed completely legit. Does anyone know about this guy or was he
> just pulling my leg?
Eddie Detroit? I think it might be Eddie Hoh. Could be he played
Monterey with the Mamas and the Papas. I think Eddie was from
Detroit. Played on a LOT of LA sessions back then. Notably Monkees/
Nesmith. An early drummer with the Flying Burrito Brothers too. I've
heard he left the employ of the Burrito Brothers as he "partied" too
hard.... Who better to pass judgment that Gram Parsons.... who
ought to know something about partying to excess...
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 00:57:06 +0100
From: S'pop Projects
Subject: Jack Nitzsche
New @ S'pop Recommends
"The Jack Nitzsche Story: Hearing Is Believing, 1962-1979"
by David A. Young
An excerpt:
For me, the centerpiece of the album is Lou Christie's even-more-
theatrical-than-usual "Wild Life's in Season". Recorded a few months
after "River Deep - Mountain High", it sports several parallels with
that classic (which wasn't available for this compilation). Christie
sings his furry ass off like never before or since, lending gale
force to an already strong song, which, like "River Deep", comprises
several themes. The frenetic and relentless sonic effect of two such
over-the-top talents as Christie and Nitzsche combining forces is
almost more than one can bear. One has to marvel that all that drama
ever got squeezed onto one little seven-inch piece of plastic.
For the full review, click here:
http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index2005.htm#JackNitzsche
Enjoy,
The S'pop Team
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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 23:44:58 -0000
From: Matthew David
Subject: Re: East/West Pipeline
Max Weiner writes:
> For anybody out there that might remember this, from the soundtrack
> of the movie "Angels Die Hard", there was a song in there called
> "Kern County LIne", by the East/West Pipeline. I have not seen that
> soundtrack in years, can anyone tell me if the E/W/P ever made an
> album or is that song available anywhere else besides the
> soundtrack? The soundtrack doesn't appear to be available anywhere.
The ANGELS DIE HARD soundtrack on UNI contains the only commercially
released East-West Pipeline recordings. They also did the soundtrack
for another biker flick (BURY ME AN ANGEL) but no album was released.
The band was originally from Denver, then moved to California in
1969. Changed their name from Magic Myce/Majic when they moved out
west, later changing it again in the early 70's to Bedlam.
Their guitarist Bill Cone was previously in The Moonrakers, who have
been discussed here recently. Later on, he acted in the horror movie
classic PHANTASM.
Matthew David
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 04:37:06 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
S.J. Dibai wrote:
> Why is that these days, so many oldies are topping the UK charts? I
> have been reading about Elvis singles being reissued in limited
> quantities over there and going to #1 like crazy. Now this. Can
> anyone offer some insight?
It happens some here in the US, but is pretty common for some time
the the UK. If the US music scene on radio wasn't so BAD, it might
happen here too?? Yeah, Elvis went to #1 on some anniversary early
this year in UK, but songs re-charted even in the 60's. "Yesterday"
was never released as a 45 in the UK in 65, but went to #1 in the mid
70's!!
Clark
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 23:39:27 -0500
From: Anthony Parsons
Subject: Re: Claire Francis & UK Bonds
Eddy:
> ... it is my great pleasure to announce the discovery of another
> original Claire Francis Production: UK Bonds - The world is
> watchin' us c/w I said goodbye to the blues - Polydor BM 56061
> Except for the fact that the group originates from Birmingham, I
> have no further info on them.
Is this the same "World Is Watchin' Us" that Patty Duke recorded on
her 2nd LP? If so, I'd be highly interested in hearing it. Actually,
I'd probably be interested in hearing it even if it isn't. Love and
light to Claire for a speedy recovery!
Sincerely,
Antone
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 01:28:14 -0400
From: ACJ
Subject: "Evergreen" by John Perry
Does anyone out there know who wrote and published the song
"Evergreen" recorded by John Perry? If so, please send me this
info off-list. Thanks.
ACJ
"Optimism works. It is more useful than pessimism." - E.Y. Harburg
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Message: 12
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 19:41:35 -0500
From: Bill Mulvy
Subject: Re: The Hollies' "Stop! Stop! Stop!" album
"Tell Me To My Face" is a great song that never appears on any Hollies
greatest hits CDs even though it was on a major greatest hits LP in
the sixties. What's up with that?
FYI "The Hollies 30th Anniversary Greatest Hits" album features
remixed versions of the songs which improves their impact. "Bus Stop"
is stunning with the vocals on both channels while retaining the
stereo separation on the instruments. "I Can't Let Go" is great as
well. The b-sides are also in stereo for the first time on this
collection.
This is similar to what was done on the new "Yellow Submarine"
soundtrack album where the song "Hey Bulldog" was dramatically
improved.
Purists won't like it, but I for one, never listen to the "original
versions" of those songs anymore.
Bill Mulvy
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 00:49:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: Norm D Plume
Subject: Re: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
S.J. Dibai wrote:
> ... Why is that these days, so many oldies are topping the UK
> charts? I have been reading about Elvis singles being reissued in
> limited quantities over there and going to #1 like crazy. Now this.
> Can anyone offer some insight?
I'm sure there'll be more technical replies than mine from those UK
Poppers who have current music biz links, which I'd be interested to
read, too. It doesn't take too many sales for a record to make the
charts, and even to make the hallowed No. 1 slot. Tony Christie might
be a bit different. This is a new version, featuring a very popular
(and extremely funny) ccomedian, Peter Kay, and is also a charity
raiser for Comic Relief. It got extensive TV play and was a centre-
piece of the tv telethon. Some 15 years ago, for example, a similar
record was Cliff Richard's re-recording of "Living Doll" with artists
of a very popular TV cmedy of the time; also for the same cause.
Elvis I'm less clear about. I know it started off as a 50th-
anniversary of Elvis' first hit, and it's followed from there. It
looks like the old cash cow's milk is really flowing..... new
formats, short-release collectibles, etc. The King Lives!! (well,
he's kept alive....)
A lot of old records are used as tv adverts, as we well know. These
get re-released (often the originals) and make it to the top.
Sometime in the 1980's, we had the top three slots of "Stand By Me"
(Ben E. King, ad tie-in); When A Man Loves A Woman" (Percy Sledge, ad
tie-in); Aretha Franklin (new recording, duo with George Michael).
Whichever way you look at it, stuff like that is just 60's heaven,
or crass commercialism dreamed up by ad industry post-modernists.
A lot of increasingly oscure music tracks are used as advert music.
I recently spotted Prof. Longhair's "Big Chief" and once heard a
Charlie Mingus groover. Buggered if I can remember what they were
advertising, though.
Norm D.
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 08:32:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
S.J. Dibai wrote:
> Why is that these days, so many oldies are topping the UK charts? I
> have been reading about Elvis singles being reissued in limited
> quantities over there and going to #1 like crazy. Now this. Can
> anyone offer some insight?
I recall that The Clash had their first and only number one a decade
or so after the fact when "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" was
featured in a UK Levi's commericial. In the past year or so--and I
don't know if it topped the charts or not, I'm hardly a chart watcher
(indeed, I'm a big fan of NO hit wonders), but I do belive it
charted, and well--I was spinning "The Who Who Song" by Jackie Wilson
when a British friend asked what it was, as it had been in a KFC ad
there. I have a feeling there's alot of that going on there.
I do also recall Booker T and The MG's' "Green Onions" reentering the
charts ca. 1980 as a result of the then-current mod revival. I
imagine also that television/movie soundtrack placement might well be
a factor. But there does indeed seem to be a pronounced usceptibility
there to "the return of the repressed" (with apologies to Sigmund
Freud).
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 07:57:33 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: East/West Pipeline
Let me add to Max's reply. The Ventures actually did a version of
"Kern County Line" on a 45.
Mikey
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 14:59:02 +0200
From: Frank Jastfelder
Subject: Re: Honey Ltd & Jack Nitzsche
Mick Patrick:
> Wouldn't it be cool to see the (Honey Ltd)'s hideously rare LHI
> album out on CD? Does anyone out there actually own a copy of the
> LP? If so, shout up, 'cos we'd all like to know more about it. In
> the meantime, I've posted one of their tracks to musica. Details
> are: Honey Ltd with intro by Lee Hazlewood "Louie, Louie" (LHI
> 1216, 1968); Written by Richard Berry; Arranged and Conducted by
> Jack Nitzsche; Produced by Lee Hazlewood, In Association with Donnie
> Owens. Enjoy: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
Lee is sooo cool. Thank you for this lascivious version. This sure
would be a contender for the second volume of "Hearing Is Believing".
BTW Mick I bought the CD a few days ago and noticed your involvement.
Just by browsing through the booklet my appetite was already wetted.
Hope I find the time during the next days to read and listen.
Frank Jastfelder
P.S.: The picture of his phonebook is worth the price alone.
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Message: 17
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 17:32:58 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Court Rejects Hallyday Request for Tapes
Spotted an interesting item about Johnny Hallyday on the AP newswire
today. (I'd post it as a link, but the site I got it from requires
registration, and anyway their URLs change after a few days.) The
last paragraph seems especially galling (if you'll pardon the
unintentional pun), and I'd be curious to hear the details, if anyone
knows them.
--Phil M.
-----
Court Rejects Hallyday Request for Tapes
by The Associated Press
April 12, 2005
Paris -- An appeals court rejected an effort by French rock star
Johnny Hallyday to recover the master tapes of his recordings from
Universal Music Group. The ruling by the Paris court Tuesday marked a
victory for the record label, which had argued in court that a
restitution to Hallyday would set a "dangerous" precedent in the
music industry. France has closely followed the legal battle by
Hallyday, 61, who broke off his contract with the label in January
2004. He is an icon in France, recognized for his piercing blue eyes
and guttural singing voice. Neither Hallyday nor his lawyers appeared
in court for Tuesday's decision, and it wasn't immediately clear
whether the singer planned to appeal. The ruling overturned an August
decision by a Paris labor tribunal ordering Universal to hand back
all master tapes that Hallyday recorded during his four-decade career.
Hallyday, born Jean-Philippe Smet, still has to produce one final
album for Universal by the end of the year, when the contract with
the label will end, according to Tuesday's ruling. He will also be
required to help market the album. Universal, a unit of French media
and telecommunications company Vivendi Universal SA, can also
continue to sell Hallyday's albums made since 1961, the court said.
Under the ruling, Hallyday will be able to record and market new
versions of his songs -- including past hits -- with another label
after the contract is up. However, a new label would be required to
pay a fee to Universal, which owns the rights to Hallyday's songs.
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 18:04:57 -0000
From: Laura Pinto
Subject: New Donna Marie CD - Morning Prayer
Hi folks,
The lovely and talented Donna Marie, formerly of the Archies (and a
Spectropop member), has just released a new CD of Christian music.
This collection, "Morning Prayer," is available through the Morning
Prayer Music website. To read the inspirations behind the songs,
listen to audio samples, and purchase the CD, just visit
http://www.morningprayermusic.com/ .
For more info on Donna Marie's career during the 60's and early 70's,
up to and including her tenure with The Archies, you can check out
her official fan site at http://snipurl.com/donnamarie .
Thanks,
Laura
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 15:50:34 -0400
From: James Cassidy
Subject: Johnnie Johnson, RIP
I'm sad to report that one of the true giants of early rock 'n' roll,
pianist Johnnie Johnson, has died at age 80. His role in creating
Chuck Berry's hits may be disputed, but there is no doubt about his
ability to rock the 88's. While his greatest work falls outside the
realm of Spectropop, he was certainly hugely influential to many of
the artists of that era, although he never received as much
recognition as he deserved.
The CNN obit:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/13/obit.johnson.ap/index.html
Jim Cassidy
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:42:43 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Solomon King / Levi Jackson / Allen Levy
Larry wrote:
> I've been trying to find out what the original label was for close
> to a year.
Ken Silverwood;
> First released in 1970 on Columbia DB 8676 as "Say A Prayer" /
> "Beautiful Day" by Solomon King, then in 1971 as "Beautiful Day" /
> "Don't You Be A Sinner" on Columbia DB 8807 by Levi Jackson. I
> would think that Levi Jackson, rather than King Solomon, is his
> real name. I've also read that he spent time living in Prestwich Nr
> Manchester UK.
While searching the net for a Jack Keller obituary, I discovered that
Solomon King (aka Levi Jackson aka Allen Levy), the subject of a
recent S'pop discussion thread, died in January. Find an obit here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/obituary/0,,1446047,00.html
R.I.P.
Mick Patrick
PS Can anyone recommend a good on-line Jack Keller obit? If so,
please contact me off list. Thanks.
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Message: 21
Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:51:08 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: "Hearing Is Believing"; Beatniks and Concierges
Hola Everybody.
I've been listening these last days to the monumental "Hearing Is
Believing: The Jack Nitzsche Story". It's impressive. It's obvious
that the CD has been conceived and constructed as a historic journey
through Jack's work, the way many box sets are made. The selection of
the tracks and the liner notes are extraordinarily well structured
and the compilers (Mick Patrick and Tony Rounce) have developed a
great labor of synthesis, and have managed to reflect in a single CD
the main aspects of Jack's career.
The sound is excellent, and the photos and notes are superlative. I
would have loved that the record had included more tracks from my
favorite period (the early to mid sixties) but of course that would
have required much more space. I will wait for the next volumes.
Among the tracks I wasn't familiar with, my favorites are Frankie
Laine's "Don't Make My Baby Blue" and Bobby Darin's "Not For Me", I
think that in tunes the synergy between music, backing voices and the
singers works especially well.
Judy Henske's version of "Road To Nowhere" has left me totally
horrified and perplexed. But when I read in the booklet Judy's
humorous comments about her work with Jack, I immediately reconciled
with the "Queen of Beatniks". This word (beatnik) always makes me
smile. First because it reminds me of a great fun scene in
"Hairspray" and mainly because it always brings to my mind a mid
sixties song by Spanish actress Conchita Velasco, titled precisely
"Beatnik" and composed by the ubiquitous Guijarro and Algueró. In
that song Conchita, which sound like a provincial snob, just arrived
from the country to the big city, sings that she can't love her
suitor, because he's not beatnik enough. If I can find the record
among my highly entropized belongings maybe I will play it in musica
for your amusement (lately I often can't find any records that I'm
conviced I have, maybe I'm paranoid but I'm beginning to suspect that
my concierge steals them, not because she like them but to make me
suffer).
Chao.
Julio Niño.
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