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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Lou Christie's backup singers
From: Phil Hall
2. Re: Teddy & the Pandas
From: Ed B
3. Re: Through Spray Colored Glasses
From: Phil X Milstein
4. Re: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
From: Dave Heasman
5. This Week's finds
From: James Botticelli
6. Re: early Ides
From: Clark Besch
7. Bobby Sherman
From: Larry Lapka
8. Bad apples; "Today I'm In Love"; sweet Judee, Joel (Scott?) Hill and Water, Water everywhere
From: Country Paul
9. Re: Young Rascals
From: Mikey
10. Re: Collector's Choice Music
From: David Gofstein
11. Re: Rita Pavone
From: Mike Anderson
12. Re: Ides Of March
From: Gary Myers
13. Re: Ides Of March
From: Gary Myers
14. Re: Frankie Avalon
From: John Black
15. Re: Lesley Gore
From: Jim Allio
16. Re: Frankie Avalon
From: Gary Myers
17. Re: The Rascals
From: Bill Mulvy
18. Re: "The Boxer"
From: Phil X Milstein
19. Re: "Border Song" and early Elton
From: Phil X Milstein
20. Re: Border flop?
From: Joe Nelson
21. What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)
From: Kingsley Abbott
22. Re: Bobby Sherman
From: AJ
23. Re: What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)
From: Phil Chapman
24. Re: The Rascals
From: Bryan
25. Re: "The Boxer"
From: Artie Wayne
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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 12:58:57 -0000
From: Phil Hall
Subject: Lou Christie's backup singers
Yesterday for the second night in a row, I heard Lou Christie's
"Two Faces Have I" while driving home. I wonder who did the
wonderful background vocals? I would have thought The Blossoms,
except that they were based on the West coast while Lou was from
the East coast. I know The Angels backed Lou on "Lightnin' Strikes".
Could it have been them?
Phil H.
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 21:24:04 -0000
From: Ed B
Subject: Re: Teddy & the Pandas
James Botticelli:
> Mike didn't mention Minuteman records, on which all of my Teddy &
> The Pandas singles are recorded. Minuteman in this case being not
> the anti-immigration group trawling for Mexicans on the Arizona
> border, but the originals who fought the Brits on Lexington Green
> (my hometown).
I do believe Jimmy has his local Boston groups mixed up. The
"Improper Bostonians" recorded on Minuteman and had 3 or 4 releases
during 66'-67'. Incidentally, I still have copy of Once Upon A Time
on Coristine which was purchased in the Record Dept. of Jordan Marsh
in downtown Boston. Looking for info on a semi- hit in Boston summer
66' Surfin-East Coast by The Dolphins on Yorkshire Records 125
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 16:41:53 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Through Spray Colored Glasses
Sebastian Fonzeus wrote:
> Four King Cousins which you mentioned -- lovely stuff! :) By the way,
> have you heard "Through Spray Colored Glasses" by Desi, Dino & Billy?
> It was their only 45 on Uni and it reminds me a whole lot of "I Fell".
If any of us has got it and is able, surely the DDB song you mention
merits musica play!
--Phil M.
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Message: 4
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 01:09:59 +0100
From: Dave Heasman
Subject: Re: Oldies Topping The UK Charts
Norm:
> A lot of increasingly obscure 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.
I understand that one of Charlie Gillett's day jobs is (or at least
was) the sourcing of obscure but great old records for ads.
Dave -- ad-free at home.
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 23:38:42 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: This Week's finds
The never ending quest for the ultimate in musical ambition,
the 45, continues.
The sides listed first constitute only the tastes of the 45
Rekkid-Detective, not the facts ma'am
Red Bird - Barry Mann - Amy/Talk To Me Baby
Ballad about a young guy after an older gal M-
Musicland USA - Bob Kuban - The Teaser
Followup to "The Cheater" M
Signet - Toni Fisher - The Big Hurt
First phase shifting rekkid. A gem. M-
Philips - The Secrets - The Boy Next Door
VG pop about the guy next door being a possiblilty EX
Marsh - The Ribbons - Ain't Gonna Kiss Ya
Learned about this rekkid from The Searchers. Thrilled to
find the original EX-
Teenage - Isley Brothers - Angels Cried
Had a less than desirable copy of this doo-wopper from '58.
Now I got the real deal. M-
United Artists - Mike Clifford - Danny's Dream/One Boy Too Late
I like 'my' A-Side for the lyric about a guy who's best friend's
girlfren' is flirting with him
Kapp - Burt Bacharach - Saturday Sunshine
One of his poppier ones...Sung by a kid's chorus. As good as
Petula's version
Kapp - Lenny Welch - Two Different Worlds
Pure Spectropop..Did this guy ever do wrong?
Dimension - The Cookies - Softly In The Night
B Side of "Don't Say Nothin' Bad" but a top shelf King/Goffin tune
Liberty - Jan & Dean - It's As Easy As 1-2-3
The later the better for Jan & Dean...A soft rock beauty...
Ronny & The Daytonas ballad-like
Hit-Records - Jimmy & Joe - Surf City
/Easier Said Than Done by Clara Wilson!
With the original sleeve "Hit Records 39Cents!
Commentary?
JB
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Message: 6
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 05:02:12 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: early Ides
Mike Dugo wrote:
> Minor correction, Mike -- the Ides' first hit was titled "You
> Wouldn't Listen." They did have other single releases, most
> notably "Roller Coaster." You can buy a CD from Sundazed
> http://www.sundazed.com - covering their "garage band" period
> with almost all their pre-"Vehicle" songs.
Despite being known as a Chicago area group in this period, their
music was no stranger to the Big Apple. WMCA charted "You Wouldn't
Listen" in their rather large playlist (WABC did not). However,
WMCA must have influenced WABC some, as "Roller Coaster" spent 3
weeks in the Big Bonus category on the WABC survey which only listed
14 songs plus 10 or so "bonus" songs. So, what was the west coast's
excuse??
In reality, the west coast is where most Chicago groups suffered.
Unless it was a national top 20 hit, the west coast killed national
success for many Chicago band singles. Some of this may have been
the WABC/WLS pipeline with ABC. On the west coast, KABC was not a
rockerso anything that could have been sent down from the east had
no outlet from the "Big" top 40 stations of Chicago & New York.
Also, many Chicago groups never got out to the west coast to perform
regularly, so they hurt themselves in that way.
Clark
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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 16:29:16 -0000
From: Larry Lapka
Subject: Bobby Sherman
Dear All:
I was wondering if someone could direct me to any CD of Bobby
Sherman's pre-Metromedia output. I have a couple of tracks here
and there from the mid 1960s, and I am intrigued by his assured
vocals--especially for a guy that wouldn't have a real hit record
until 1969.
One of my favorite records of my youth was his "Hey Little Girl"
on Decca from 1965, which someone recently sent to me as an MP3.
It sounds as good today as it did 40 years ago, and for a guy who
really wouldn't have a "hit" for four more years, his abilities
are there, right out in the open. This should have been a hit,
wasn't, but remains a vivid song from my childhood.
Any information on a CD of his pre-Metromedia material would be
appreciated, on or off the group.
Larry Lapka
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 13:45:05 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Bad apples; "Today I'm In Love"; sweet Judee, Joel (Scott?) Hill and Water, Water everywhere
Steve Propes:
> The other night, on Larry King Live, commentator and attorney
> Nancy Grace (of the Society of the Perpetual Snarl) made the
> observation about one of Michael Jackson's song titles: "One
> Bad Apple." Was that her subtle way of drawing the Osmonds
> into this fiasco?
Maybe it's a cautionary tale: be careful who you imitate, it
may come back to bite you! :-)
Sebastian Fonzeus:
> I'm also a sucker for "I Fell" by The Four King Cousins which
> you mentioned -- lovely stuff! :)
Are you - or is anyone - familiar with the King Family's "Today
I'm In Love" (Warner Brothers, probably mid-60s)? I vaguely
recall it as being a nice bouncy uptempo girl-group feeling,
far removed from the goody-two-shoes weepy ballads I remember
them for otherwise (which are probably not the sum of their
ouevre, but it's been my impression of them save for this track).
I had written:
> There is a new Judee Sill album out in Europe...
Bryand replied;
> Actually, it's been issued on the Runt-distributed Water label.
> You can see all of the label's releases at:
> http://www.buyrunt.com/water.html
I stand corrected. I've checked out the Water site - amazing
catalog of reissues. Thanks, Bryan - I see another purchase in
my future....
While checking out Water, among other nifty-looking stuff was
an album by Chris Etheridge, John Barbata and Joel Scott Hill,
"L. A. Getaway," which I remember seeing but not hearing when
new. Is this Joel Scott Hill the same as Joel Hill who did "I
Ran," the Dion sound-alike on Monogram?
I'm also impressed/amazed/"freaked-out, man," that Water reissued
The Zodiac on Elektra, the 60s would-be psychedelic trip through
same with members of the Wrecking Crew on board. Pass the dutchie....
Country Paul
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 18:22:44 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Young Rascals
Bob sez:
> From what I understand, The Young Rascals were originally
> "The Rascals" but Atlantic wanted a younger image for them.
> They went back to simply "The Rascals" starting with "A
> Beautiful Morning". At that point they also no longer did
> separate 45/LP mixes. Corrections, anyone?
Sorry Bob, that's incorrect. Actually, what happened was this.
The band was called The Rascals, and right when they were
signed by Atlantic and it was announced in Billboard, musican
and bandleader Johnny Puleo of "Johnny Puleo and The Harmonicat
Rascals", a popular group with the older set, sued for use of
the name "Rascals" Atlantics solution was to change the name
to The Young Rascals. Thats how it happened, as told by Gene
Cornish on NPR.
Mikey
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 15:53:40 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Gofstein
Subject: Re: Collector's Choice Music
Rob wrote:
> Why do Collector's Choice Music feel the need to ruin every
> single CD cover by stamping their name on them? This totally
> ruins the cover art. Are they that desperate for publicity?
Hi All:
Everytime I order (online, not over the phone) I get free shipping
for orders over $50.00. And unfortunately my orders are usually $40
and change, which prompts me to buy one more!
And I personally do not mind the logo. For me it's the music more
than the packaging. Plus they put out the coolest stuff! Last time
I ordered The Persuasions, The Youngbloods, Jamie Brockett and
Giles, Giles & Fripp. Nice diversity, eh?
Later,
Dave Gofstein
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 19:29:55 EDT
From: Mike Anderson
Subject: Re: Rita Pavone
Julio:
> Talking about Rita Pavone, I love the wonderful tracks she
> recorded in English, in 1964 ( NYC) and 1965 ( Nashville),
> one of my favorites is the beautiful "Little by Little". I
> wonder if some of them had some repercussion in USA.
"Remember Me" reached #26 on Billboard in 1964.
Mike Anderson
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 16:47:31 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Ides Of March
Orion wrote:
> I remember while serving in Germany in 1970 the rumor going
> around that the lead singer of BS&T was actually singing behind
> the scenes for The Ides of March.
Jim Peterik alluded to that in the song "Common Bond", which is
about the band.
gem
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 16:50:11 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Ides Of March
Michael Thom wrote:
> ... Peterik also wrote and produced sides for other
> Chicago-area artists ...
I may be way off base, but it seems to me that he also produced
a single (maybe of the Beatles' "Things We Said Today"?) by Sam
Cooke's daughter.
I believe one of his later songs was also cut by 38 Special.
gem
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 01:52:14 EDT
From: John Black
Subject: Re: Frankie Avalon
I'd have to say that my favorite Frankie Avalon track is
"Just Ask Your Heart," which seems to me to be much more
uptempo than most of his other recordings.
I'm a new member here, but a longtime collector of
girl group music.
John Black
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Message: 15
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 00:09:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jim Allio
Subject: Re: Lesley Gore
John wrote:
> Hi,
> Is a Lesley Gore discography available? USA preferred, ta.
Right here!
http://patswayne.com/lesley/lesdisc.htm
Jim Allio
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Message: 16
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 16:54:47 -0700
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Frankie Avalon
Laura Pinto wrote:
> His best tracks, in my opinion, are "Venus" and his 'Grease'
> showstopper, "Beauty School Dropout."
I think Avalon was a very weak singer in his earliest days, but did
sound decent on "Venus". However, the best I rememember hearing him
sound on record was on "You Are Mine" and "Welcome Home". He improved
over time.
gem
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Message: 17
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 11:41:26 -0500
From: Bill Mulvy
Subject: Re: The Rascals
Bob:
> From what I understand, The Young Rascals were originally
> "The Rascals" but Atlantic wanted a younger image for them.
> They went back to simply "The Rascals" starting with "A
> Beautiful Morning". At that point they also no longer did
> separate 45/LP mixes. Corrections, anyone?
Bob,
I think they dropped the Young part after they were no longer
that young anymore.
Is the song "See" by the Rascals one of their most overlooked
songs? Beware of the version that appears on the 2CD box set
by Rhino which cuts the "See" ending considerably and has
mostly mono versions on it.
Does anyone have the 6CD boxed set and are all possible stereo
versions on it?
Bill Mulvy
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Message: 18
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 13:45:40 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: "The Boxer"
Joe Nelson wrote:
> A few years back, Paul Simon did a concert in Central Park where,
> from what I understand, the crowd went nuts every time he sang
> anything to do with New York City. I have this image in my mind
> of the audience applauding wildly at Simon's homage to the city's
> darker side (the "come-on from the whores" line in particular),
> seemingly oblivious to the fact that the song was hardly a tribute.
Of all the times I've been in NYC, I have never seen a single
whore on any part of (the very long) 2nd Avenue. Are there other
references in "The Boxer" that identify the story's locale as NYC?
If not then perhaps he was singing of another city, one whose
2nd Ave. really was a hot bed of the low life.
Just a thought,
--Phil M.
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Message: 19
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 13:50:49 -0400
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: "Border Song" and early Elton
Country Paul wrote:
> I don't remember it as a flop; although it didn't blister its way
> up the charts, it served (at least in Providence, RI) to pave the
> way for Elton John not to be a stranger when "Your Song" hit.
> Interesting that, in the US, it was a one-off release on Congress
> (division of Kapp).
If I recall correctly, Aretha's version of "Border Song" was
at least a mid-sized hit. Did it come out before the release
of "Your Song"? If so I suppose the attention it got would've
further helped "grease the wheels" for the attention given to
"Your Song" and the USA debut album.
When I first heard "Your Song", as a musically-ignorant 13-y.o.,
I thought it was the "If I Was A Carpenter" song I'd been hearing
about, but not yet heard. I still wonder to what extent its
composition may've been influenced by Tim Hardin.
It's a little bit funny,
--Phil M.
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Message: 20
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 14:15:15 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Re: Border flop?
Country Paul re: Elton John's "Border Song":
> I don't remember it as a flop; although it didn't blister its way
> up the charts, it served (at least in Providence, RI) to pave the
> way for Elton John not to be a stranger when "Your Song" hit.
> Interesting that, in the US, it was a one-off release on Congress
> (division of Kapp).
One off? I have to look into this further, but I thought Elton's
earliest singles were on Congress originally. I definitely remember
seeing an MCA pressing of "Lady Samantha" that had a blurb on the
label indicating Congress as the original label.
(Follow-up before sending: LS was Congress 6017 here. BS was Congress
6022, reissued as Uni 55246, possibly following legal action from MCA
as to who had stateside rights to EJ? (Elton's first UK singles
(including LS) were on Philips although Dick James (the DJ in DJM) was
masterminding his career at that time and the switch to DJM occurred
long before BS was released in the UK.)
Joe Nelson
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Message: 21
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 20:58:52 +0100
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)
Over the years I've come to realise that Russ Titleman (The
co-author along with Gerry Goffin of this wonderful song) is
just about my favourite girl group era writer - not many to
his name, but all really great songs. There is another version
as well as Lesley's and The Chiffons, that is by a group called
the Inspirations on Black Pearl Records if memory serves. It's
a tad faster but really good too.
The definitive (probably, unless someone knows better) US discography/sessionography for Lesley Gore, up to July 1969 at
least, can be found in the booklet for the Bear Family 5CD set
of her work. According to this WAIGDWY(HB) was recorded on
March 27, 1965 at RCA's studio with Jack N producing, and then
again at an undisclosed location with Quincy Jones producing on
July 23 1965. Both these versions are on Disc 3 of this set.
The great booklet was written by Dawn Eden, so if she sees this
maybe she can tell us more?
Kingsley Abbott
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Message: 22
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 15:36:53 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
From: AJ
Subject: Re: Bobby Sherman
Larry Lapka:
> I was wondering if someone could direct me to any CD of Bobby
> Sherman's pre-Metromedia output.
I don't have any pre-Metromedia stuff but I am looking for:
Jennifer; Together Again; and Waiting At The Bus Stop. If
anyone would have these can you PLEASE let me know.
Thank You
AJ
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Message: 23
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 21:22:00 +0100
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: Re: What Am I Gonna Do With You (Hey Baby)
Kingsley:
> Over the years I've come to realise that Russ Titleman (The
> co-author along with Gerry Goffin of this wonderful song) is
> just about my favourite girl group era writer - not many to
> his name, but all really great songs. There is another version
> as well as Lesley's and The Chiffons, that is by a group called
> the Inspirations on Black Pearl Records if memory serves. It's
> a tad faster but really good too.
Lesley's is the first version I heard, but I came to like the
Chiffons' best. It's difficult to make a bad version of this
finely crafted song, but in 1966 (and I hate to lower the tone)
the Singing Bodies had a good try:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
PC
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Message: 24
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 12:42:15 -0700
From: Bryan
Subject: Re: The Rascals
Bill Mulvy asked:
> Does anyone have the 6CD boxed set and are all possible
> stereo versions on it?
In a word, "yes."
Bryan
(ex-Rhino Handmade, Mach I)
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Message: 25
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 13:41:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: "The Boxer"
Phil Milstein said:
> Of all the times I've been in NYC, I have never seen a single
> whore on any part of (the very long) 2nd Avenue.
Phil...How ya'doin'? Paul Simon's lyric to "The Boxer" talks about
the whores on 7th Ave., not 2nd Ave. I remember when Jerry Landis
(as I knew him then) wrote it. We used to have lunch near one of
their favorite corners.
The next time there's a question on a lyric, check out the Top 40
lyric database at http://www.top40db.net/ . My friend Alan O'Day
("Undercover Angel", "Angie Baby") turned me on to it. It's a must
for every Spectropopper!
Regards,
Artie Wayne
http://artiewayne.com/
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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