Spectropop - Digest Number 1951

• From: Spectropop Group
• Date: Tue, 31 May 2005

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               SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 17 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Re: "Easy Evil"
           From: Dan Hughes 
      2. Re: Slip On Through
           From: Clark Besch 
      3. Re: Flo Ballard
           From: Ray 
      4. Re: Keith's "I Can't Go Wrong"
           From: S J Dibai 
      5. Re: Jerry Ross
           From: Les Fradkin 
      6. Re: Oscar Brown, Jr.
           From: James Botticelli 
      7. Re: Keith's "I Can't Go Wrong"
           From: Joe Nelson 
      8. Re: Kaddish for Mr. Kicks
           From: Gary Myers 
      9. Re: Flo Ballard
           From: Will Stos 
     10. Re: Cameo Parkway box (Eddie Holman, Dee Dee Sharp)
           From: S J Dibai 
     11. Re: Easy Evil
           From: Joop Jansen 
     12. Re: Monkees photos
           From: Phil Hall 
     13. Re: Adam Wade, Sam Fletcher
           From: Simon White 
     14. Re: the art of the demo
           From: Joe Nelson 
     15. Skeeter Davis estate to hold public auction
           From: Skip Woolwine 
     16. It's So Fine: Pye Girls Are Go!
           From: Mick Patrick 
     17. Re: Monkees photos
           From: Phil X Milstein 


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Message: 1
   Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 12:10:22 -0500
   From: Dan Hughes 
Subject: Re: "Easy Evil"

Gary Myers wrote:
> And I know Larry Carlton also did it -- with a vocal, too.

Larry Carlton's was my favorite version! I seem to remember it being 
on Blue Thumb.

---Dan





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Message: 2         
   Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 14:53:02 -0000
   From: Clark Besch 
Subject: Re: Slip On Through

Richard Hattersley wrote:
> I know a few Spectropoppers have already bought my album 
> "Tuesday Music". Just thought I'd mail and let you know, 
> It now has UK distribution and will get a "proper" release 
> on 11.7.05 and be available from any good record store.
> It's all '60s influenced Power pop with splashes of The Byrds, 
> Phil Spector and Brian Wilson. There's even a cover of the 
> Beach Boys' "Slip On Through". It should be available to 
> pre-order in about 1 month.

Speaking of "Slip On Through", in 1970 I received both this 45 and 
the followup, "It's About Time", when they came out and loved both of 
them. I was very disappointed that they went basically unnoticed by 
the public. Of course, if it were not that the group had SO many 
great songs and instead had only these two releases, they'd be getting 
more commentary, I'm sure.

Bobbidazzler had a nice 45 version of "Slip On Through" on A&M in 
1975, retitled as "Can't You See? (Slip on Through)". Dennis Wilson's 
best written song?  

Clark




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Message: 3         
   Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 18:32:47 +0100
   From: Ray 
Subject: Re: Flo Ballard

Phil X. Milstein asked:
> A friend told me recently about a Florence Ballard album, on 
> ABC, and that it's available on CD. I'd never heard about it 
> before. Is it something that had gone unreleased until recently? 
> Recommended?

From: http://www.sixtiesmotown.co.uk/florenceballard.html
 
Florence Ballard - The Supreme Florence Ballard
Label: Spectrum Cat No: 544 5172 Format: CD 

Spectrum is delighted to present The Supreme Florence Ballard - the 
first ever collection of recordings by one of the founder members of 
the Motown's incredibly successful girl group, recordings that have 
been unearthed from the Motown/ABC vaults and issued here for the 
very first time. 

The story of Florence Ballard is a tragic one of rags to riches and 
back to rags again, highlighted in part on Channel 4's Top Ten Soul 
programme screened last year. An impressive vocal talent, Florence 
persuaded friend Mary Wilson to form the Primettes in the late 
1950's, with Mary's friend Diana Ross and Betty McGlown. Spotted by 
Berry Gordy, they were signed to Motown in 1961, originally with 
Florence as the lead singer and as a three-piece under the new name 
The Supremes. 

Gordy however later favoured Diana's singing approach, claiming it to 
have more cross-over potential; Florence was gradually edged out of 
the frame and unceremoniously sacked at the peak of the band's 
popularity. Many believe that her solo career with ABC was somehow 
thwarted by previous label boss, her fortunes took a turn for the 
worse and she eventually died after a cardiac arrest at the very 
early age of 31. 

The Supreme Florence Ballard is a unique collection of her solo ABC
recordings, much sought after by Motown and soul collectors for many 
years, plus 4 Motown tracks of Florence singing with The Supremes. 

Tracklisting: 
1. Like you babe 
2. Yesterday 
3. Until tomorrow 
4. It's not unusual 
5. Impossible dream 
6. It doesn't matter how I say it 
7. Let's stay in love 
8. Walk on by 
9. Going out of my head 
10. Sweetness 
11. Everything wonderful 
12. Love ain't love 
13. Forever faithful 
14. My heart 
15. Buttered popcorn 
16. Ain't that good news 
17. Hey baby 
18. Heavenly father 

ray




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Message: 4         
   Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 21:12:20 -0000
   From: S J Dibai 
Subject: Re: Keith's "I Can't Go Wrong"

First off: yo, Artie! Great song you and Jerry Ross wrote. Did one of 
you write the lyrics and the other the music, or was it an all-around 
collaboration?

Clark Besch wrote:
> In an A/B comparison between the "98.6" CD and the "Yo Philly" 
> CD, they sound to me to be the same except that the "Yo Philly"
> CD had a better stereo mix. In it you can clearly hear Keith 
> starting to break into laughter near the end on his harmony 
> vocal track, which is abruptly cut off. In the "98.6" CD version, 
> it is not as obvious. The Tokens are listed as backing vocalists, 
> so instead it could be one of them starting to laugh.

Great stuff! Thank you for your help. Now I know why it sounds like 
one of the backup singers is coughing on the word "can't," and why 
the backup vocals are suddenly cut off that that point!

The "Yo! Philadelphia" CD sounds like one I'd better grab while I 
have the chance. I've seen it in stock lately at a store in -- where 
else? -- Philadelphia, so thanks for the timely recommendation.

S.J. Dibai






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Message: 5         
   Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 10:55:55 -0600
   From: Les Fradkin 
Subject: Re: Jerry Ross

Artie Wayne wrote:
> S.J. How ya'doin'? I'm glad you like "I Can't Go Wrong",
> which I co-wrote with Jerry Ross, Keith's producer. I'm
> glad it's getting some attention.

Dave Heasman asked:
> Would that be the Jerry Ross who did the great 1959 rockabilly
> song "Everybody's Tryin' (To Steal My Baby)"?

It would be the Jerry Ross of "Venus" and Jay & The Techniques ("Apple 
Peaches Pumpkin Pie") fame.

Les




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Message: 6         
   Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 15:03:55 -0400
   From: James Botticelli 
Subject: Re: Oscar Brown, Jr.

Phil X. Milstein wrote:
> I was saddened to read this morning of the death over the weekend of
>  Oscar Brown, Jr. ...

Back as a boy I longed to be
The kind of fella women loved to see
And have all of them consider me
A ladies' man

Developed into a fuller flower
This throbbing thrust of manly power
Consumed my every waking hour
A ladies' man

A woman feels a man may guess
That she conceals beneath her dress
A trap with which she can possess
A ladies' man

Ahh but the hottest fever cools
Those who won't face that fact are fools
Because like all men time overrules
A ladies' man

Don't get me wrong now, I'm not dead
My shoulders hold a damn good head
So joy has not completely fled
A ladies' man

They used to play that one on WBCN Boston in '72 - '73. RIP Oscar Brown.




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Message: 7         
   Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 20:19:13 -0400
   From: Joe Nelson 
Subject: Re: Keith's "I Can't Go Wrong"

Clark Besch wrote:

> For those unfamiliar with the "Yo Philadelphia" CD, it brings 
> to mind Bob Feldman's "Son of SOB" LP. "Yo" is all Jerry Ross 
> productions from Philly, has some previously unreleased 
> tracks, and includes both sides of the first Cyrkle 45, when 
> they were called The Rhondells.

Hmmm.... and later, Ross traveled south to Virginia to see what was
happening with a hot new group called Bill Deal & The Rhondells
(which he ended up signing to his label). I wonder if the coincidence
is what caught his interest.

Joe Nelson






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Message: 8         
   Date: Mon, 30 May 2005 12:29:55 -0700
   From: Gary Myers 
Subject: Re: Kaddish for Mr. Kicks

Mike Rashkow wrote:
> Oscar Brown, Jr., a songwriter, singer and performer who, 
> in the 1960s was a shooting star of some consequence, died 
> Sunday at 78.

I'm surprised that the obit that I saw did not mention "The Snake", 
which must be one of his better known songs.

gem




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Message: 9         
   Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 03:08:49 -0000
   From: Will Stos 
Subject: Re: Flo Ballard

Phil X. Milstein wrote:
> A friend told me recently about a Florence Ballard album, on 
> ABC, and that it's available on CD. I'd never heard about it 
> before. Is it something that had gone unreleased until recently? 
> Recommended?

Spectrum released all the tracks meant for an album but never 
released, plus some Supremes cuts with Flo on lead. I have it and 
like it, but you shouldn't go in with expectations that it would be 
Supremes-like quality, or classic Northern Soul. Her two singles are 
the best tracks in my opinion, but she handles others quite well. It 
sounds to me as though her heart wasn't really in it. Still, worth 
a listen. 

If you like Motown, I highly recommend the Barbara Randolph set on 
Spectrum. All the songs could have been charters.

Will : )







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Message: 10        
   Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 21:19:56 -0000
   From: S J Dibai 
Subject: Re: Cameo Parkway box (Eddie Holman, Dee Dee Sharp)

Tony Waitekus wrote:
> I love the C/P box...but, last night listening, I found some errors.

I've been wondering about a track on there myself: Eddie Holman's 
"This Can't Be True." I have this track in stereo on the Liberty Bell 
bootleg "All The Hits By All The Stars, Volume Three" and in mono on 
the Goldmine/Soul Supply comp "Eddie's My Name" (which appears to be 
legit). The mix on the C-P box sounds like it has some different guitar 
parts and there's an organ after the modulation which is absent from the 
other CDs. Does the C-P box contain the original single version or 
an alternate of some kind?
 
> Second, Gravy by Dee Dee Sharp doesn't sound right to me. I  
> believe it's a totally different take. I don't have the original 
> single, but was able to compare it to the Rock-O-Rama album. 

It hit me as odd right off the bat. She hits a lot of notes differently 
than I'm used to hearing, and one of the backup singers really mangles 
a few notes near the end of the track. Like you, however, I don't 
have the original single to compare it with.

S.J. Dibai







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Message: 11        
   Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:33:42 -0000
   From: Joop Jansen 
Subject: Re: Easy Evil

Alan O'Day wrote:
> At Artie Wayne's suggestion, I have uploaded my original 
> 1970 demo of "Easy Evil" to musica.  

Hello, Alan. Fantastic gesture you put on the demo of "Easy Evil". As I 
am a collector of original versions of famous songs, I can bring on some 
other cover versions: 

Marlena Shaw (1973)
Wayne Jackson (1973)
Nancy Wilson (1973)
Friends of Distinction (1973)
Lulu (1973)
New Birth (1973)
Sylvia (1974)
Nancy Sinatra (1998)

Dusty Springfield recorded a version on 11 August, 1972. Sarah Vaughan 
recorded one around 1972/1973.

Alan, besides your demo recording who was the first one to record "Easy
Evil"? Was it Dusty or Sarah? Or maybe someone else?

Joop greets.





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Message: 12        
   Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:03:48 -0000
   From: Phil Hall 
Subject: Re: Monkees photos

Phil X. Milstein wrote:
> http://www.psycho-jelly.com/monkees -- excellent Monkees 
> fansite, especially strong on photos. Don't miss the Henry 
> Diltz section!

There is no website at www.psycho-jelly.com/monkees. There's not even
a website at www.psycho-jelly.com. It's a dead link.

Phil H.






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Message: 13        
   Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:55:37 +0000
   From: Simon White 
Subject: Re: Adam Wade, Sam Fletcher

Country Paul wrote:
> Thanks to Mike Edwards, I've had a chance to hear and enjoy 
> Adam Wade's "Rain From The Skies" and Sam Fletcher's "I'd 
> Think It Over Twice." Defined as "popcorn" by Mike, they sound 
> to me like Dionne Warwick early-60s tracks, sung by males ...

Sam's track got a share of plays on the Northern scene, due to the punch 
of the backing track I suppose. Adam's track is considered by some to 
be too subtle for a Northern dancefloor. Poisonally I luve 'em both.

I have a Sam Fletcher 45 here of the much covered "More Today Than
Yesterday", in which he displays a slighty eccentric vocal -- it may well 
be a contender for musica, I think.

It gives me a modicum  of amusement that what we have here is an ex-pat 
Limey sending a Yank digital reproductions of lost music recorded by 
fellow Yanks filtered through a bunch of eccentric Belgians and ever 
more eccentric Britons before reappearing here for the world to hear. 
The wonders of the modern world, eh?!

Simon White





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Message: 14        
   Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 15:09:24 -0400
   From: Joe Nelson 
Subject: Re: the art of the demo

Artie Wayne wrote:
> As long as I've been in he music business, the demo
> has been the most important tool for a songwriter and
> a publisher to get a cover record...but when I was
> General Manager of Warner Bros. music in the early
> '70s the art of demo making reached new heights.

> Alan O'Day was the first songwriter I worked with who
> had a demo studio in his house, where he would play
> every instrument, sing every vocal pecrart and put it
> all together as an engineer. He consistantly made demos 
> that sounded like records ... which made our song 
> plugger's job a lot easier!

To which I'd like to ask Alan:

Pacific Records (the Atlantic subsidiary on which "Undercover Angel"
was released) was formed as a writer's label: by which I mean where 
it seemed appropriate that the writer-artist (not the same as singer-
songwriter) approach was geared to a particular writer.

I've always felt that the approach Artie describes to demoing is at
least partially rooted in the idea of a writer saying "if this was my
record, I'd want it to sound something along these lines". Was the
quality and approach of your demos a factor in you ending up on
Pacific?

Joe Nelson






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Message: 15        
   Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2005 11:39:22 -0500
   From: Skip Woolwine 
Subject: Skeeter Davis estate to hold public auction

>From today's Nashville City Paper:

Skeeter Davis Estate to Hold Public Sale

Staff report
June 1, 2005
  
An estate sale for the late country music singer Skeeter Davis will 
be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 8 - 12 at 309 Seward Road in Brentwood.

Customers may purchase country music memorabilia, instruments 
including an autoharp, acoustic guitar and Roland keyboard, stage 
costumes, a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, a 1990 Nissan 240 SX, Davis' 
extensive doll collection and angel figurines.

Davis, who died in September of 2004 after battling cancer, was best 
known for her work with Betty Jack in the musical duo The Davis Sisters. 
Their hit "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" hit #1 on the country 
charts for eight consecutive weeks. After Betty Jack was killed in a car 
accident, Davis relocated to Nashville to begin her solo career with RCA 
and Chet Atkins as producer.

In 1958, Davis' "Lost To A Geisha Girl" became a country music hit, and 
the following year she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Other 
hits included "The End Of The World" which rose to #2 on the country 
and pop charts. 

For more information, call Berenice Denton Estate Sales and Appraisals 
at 292-5765 or visit www.berenicedenton.com for directions and an 
extensive listing of Davis' estate sale items. 





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Message: 16        
   Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2005 20:58:54 +0100
   From: Mick Patrick 
Subject: It's So Fine: Pye Girls Are Go!

Any 1960s Brit Girl fans out there?

Those of you who remember the 10-volume "Here Come The Girls" series 
might be interested in a new project on which my pals Sheila, Samski, 
Malcolm, Neil and I have just finished work -- "It's So Fine: Pye 
Girls Are Go!", a 50-track double CD due for release on Sanctuary in 
a couple of weeks. An e-card has been designed to promote it. It's 
kinda cute, with sound samples. Take a look, why not: 
http://www.sanctuaryrecords.co.uk/itssofine/

Any questions?

Hey la,

Mick Patrick





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Message: 17        
   Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 17:55:52 -0800
   From: Phil X Milstein 
Subject: Re: Monkees photos

Phil Hall wrote:
> There is no website at www.psycho-jelly.com/monkees. There's not even
> a website at www.psycho-jelly.com. It's a dead link.

Sorry about that, chief: try http://www.psycho-jello.com/monkees instead.

--Phil M.




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