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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 14 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Anka alert
From: Frank J
2. Re: "El Cid"
From: Julio Niño
3. Re: Marva Josie
From: Claire Francis
4. Re: Jeff Barry interview
From: Laura Pinto
5. Re: Rock & Roll Heaven Lyrics
From: John Fox
6. Re: Billy Storm
From: Charles Sheen
7. Re: Main Line Records
From: Margaret G. Still
8. Re: Phil´s Spectre II: Another Wall Of Soundalikes
From: Tony Leong
9. RIP Si Waronker; radio; ongoing labels; and more
From: Country Paul
10. Another group of Dantes
From: David Coyle
11. The Dantes
From: MopTopMike
12. Were pre- Marmalade band Dean Ford & The Gaylords a Mod band?
From: Sean
13. Re: A Whiter Shade Of Pale
From: Rodney Rawlings
14. Songs that are difficult to I.D. by their title
From: Will Stos
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 20:52:29 +0200
From: Frank J
Subject: Re: Anka alert
schrieb Kurt Benbenek:
> I picked up Paul Anka's new "Rock Swings" CD a few days ago.
> It's actually very good and quite listenable.
Totally agree with you Kurt. I don't own the CD but had the
chance to listen to a few songs in full length and must say
they're wonderful. In fact, for me they are amidst the best
stuff Anka put out in his entire career. If I remember it
correctly the arrangements are done by Pat Williams. I guess
this should leave no doubt.
But here comes the odd part. The album is produced by a German
guy called Alex Christensen. He's, of all things, a techno star
over here, who had a huge hit as U 96 with a techno-version of
"Das Boot" ("The Boat") title music. And Anka is signed worldwide
by the German label Maxi Media. I guess the connection still
derives from his success in the late 50s and early 60s over here.
His "Zwei Mädchen aus Germany" sung in German went up to number 4
in 1964.
Btw, Anka's new album went Top Ten in Germany in March. For a
country with possibly the poorest taste in music in the whole
western world this is aa real achievement. Hey, maybe things
evolved over here in the last 40 years.
I just read that he's touring Germany in November. His Hamburg
concert will be hold in an ugly sports arena (how intimate!)
Tickets are from 80 - 130 dollars! I guess I prefer the CD with
a good Bordeaux at home.
Liebe Gruesse aus Germany
Frank
P.S.: Kurt, Steve & Eydies "Black Hole Sun" is a killer!
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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 21:04:39 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: Re: "El Cid"
Hola eveybody,
Simon White wrote about Billy Storm's "El Cid":
> The iinference from the label is that the song appears in
> the movie of the same name ("An Allied Artists Release"),
> but does anyone know if it's Billy on the soundtrack?...
Hola Simon, I don't remember any proper song on the soundtrack
of "El Cid", although I saw the film several years ago and I'm
not completely sure. The soundtrack is orchestral music and was
composed by the great Miklos Rozsa. The Love Theme is splendid,
and there's a march theme that is based on a Spanish rhythm
called pasodoble. I think the Jamaican group The Skatalites did
a song based on the music of "El Cid", I must have it somewhere
(if my concierge hasn't already stolen it). It seems that Miklos
Rozsa came to Spain to find musical documentation for the music,
and contacted historian Menéndez Pidal who suggested he listen to
"Las Cántigas de Santa Maria", a collection of medieval religious
songs. He extracted some fragments from those pieces and used them
as a start off point for his score.
Chao.
Julio Niño.
PS: I loved the very atmospheric and very popcorn style
"Educated Fool" by Billy Storm, the current record of the week
in Jack Nitzsche´s web page.
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 17:23:08 EDT
From: Claire Francis
Subject: Re: Marva Josie
Hi there Groovy S'pop People,
I just got this forward about Marva's record......
> In the meantime here's a tip Marva Josie's "Later For
> You Baby"/"You Lied" might be about to go big.
I speak to Marva often...I am going to call her and tell her
about "Later For You Baby and "You Lied". I am sure she will
be very happy to hear that. When I told her about "Dont...."
selling for $208... on E-Bay, she was really shocked. Now, she
will be equally as flipped when I tell her about the above. It
is always great talking with Marva because we always wind up
singing the most incredible songs over the phone in fantastic
harmonies. The two of us used to sing in the car while we drove
around promoting "ILove New York". We sounded incredibly great
then and even better now. I'm trying to convince her to me up
to New York to cut a demo together. Can you imagine what a sound
that would be!!
Just recently, Tom Austin, an artist I used to produce flew to
New York to play me his recent songs and demos and consult with
me about his music. As some of you know, he is the President of
Sherman Clay Piano Company and is very busy. One of the things
we discussed was my helping to find Tom a rep for his music.
He has a great catalog. I am putting this out there just in case
anyone knows of a good rep that has lots of good contacts and can
play his songs for the right people ...his music is great...the
genre is in several areas...Americana; Rock; Country; If anyone
is interested or knows of anyone, please contact me offlist. I
would like to help him, he has a great voice and is a really
fine writer...
I miss the S'pop Nation!!! I recovered from my surgery very well
...now my family is packing, moving, unpacking all in the next
three weeks, and then I go back for the second part of my surgery
on July 11th....So thanks for the forwards, and the emails, and
keep me in your prayers...
Love and Light
ClaireFrancis
http://www.clairefrancis.com
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 21:11:48 -0000
From: Laura Pinto
Subject: Re: Jeff Barry interview
Deena J Canale wrote:
> Jeff Barry interview, from the L.A. Weekly:
> http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/29/features-sullivan2.php
Hi,
I'm so glad you posted this - it's one of the best writeups
on Jeff that I've ever seen, and as his webmistress I've done
some writeups on him myself! I've added this link to the front
page of his site.
Thanks,
Laura
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 18:18:23 EDT
From: John Fox
Subject: Re: Rock & Roll Heaven Lyrics
Alan O'Day writes:
> REMEMBER BAD BAD LEROY BROWN, JIMMY TOUCHED US WITH THAT SONG
Alan,
This issue has always been in my sick mind, so now I can ask
the source!
Since the first verse included a "Jimi" (Hendrix) and a "Jim"
(Morrison), and since no one called Jim Croce "Jimmy", did you
ever consider anyone else for that verse (or perhaps referring
to him as "Croce" which at least fit the meter)?
John Fox
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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 22:09:07 -0000
From: Charles Sheen
Subject: Re: Billy Storm
Simon White wrote:
> .... I also wonder if any members of The O'Jays might have
> seen the movie, because there are hints of "Lonely Drifter",
> the song they recorded with H.B. Barnum, in there too.
I have that 45, and I also hear "Lonely Drifter". Since we're on
the subject of the O'Jays, does anyone have the "Coming Through"
album on Imperial? There is one cut that sounds just like "On
Broadway", but the song is called "I'm Gonna Make It". Either way,
I like most of the songs on the LP.
As a side note, Billy Storm was my aunt's first husband, and
my father, Bobby, often subbed for him while he was with the
Valiants/Alley Cats on a few recordings. I know for sure he's
on "Puddin' 'n' Tain".
We have a few pieces of sheet music from the early 70s by Billy
and Rip Spencer, a song called "One Night Stand". My father said
both he and Billy recorded it. Has anyone heard of it?
Charles Sheen
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 01:26:20 -0000
From: Margaret G. Still
Subject: Re: Main Line Records
Phil Hall wrote:
> I could be wrong (and it wouldn't be the first time), but
> I thought that Main Line Records was based in Philly.
That makes sense - I believe there is a section of Philadelphia
called the "Main Line".
Thanks to all for the info on the Dantes' version of "Connection"
on the Mail Line label.
Now, I wonder if "Connection" was ever covered by a girl group.
It seems so right for a girl cover.
Best,
Margaret G. Still
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 02:34:55 -0000
From: Tony Leong
Subject: Re: Phil´s Spectre II: Another Wall Of Soundalikes
Julio Niño wrote:
> I want to thank Mick for advancing us the track list of the
> upcoming "Phil's Spectre 2" CD. It sounds fabulous. I can't
> wait to listen to The Fantastic Vantastics' "Gee What A Boy"
> in good sound, maybe then I'll managed to discriminate between
> Van's and Kendra's voice.
Julio, agreed - I'd love to hear a clear version of "Gee What A Boy"
(well actually, I'd love to hear a clear "Stickin With My Baby" also!!).
But anyhow, I always assumed Van and Kendra were singing all the lead
lines in unison. It's quite an interesting blend. Oh well, guess we
have to wait for the liner notes of the CD to find out for sure!!!
Oh Happy Day (Tra-La La la la)!!!
Tony Leong
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 00:45:47 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: RIP Si Waronker; radio; ongoing labels; and more
Today (Friday)'s New York Times reports the death of Liberty Records
founder Si Waronker. He was 90. What a cool label it was! RIP.
Among many things setting me back on the Spectropop correspondence:
a reunion of one of my former radio stations, WPLR in New Haven (CT).
Started in 1971, it became a very hip, yet very "street," album rock
station, flourishing with a freeform album rock format through the
mid-80s. Interesting to note how many of the staff there, like myself,
started in top 40/pop/rock & roll radio and made a "conscious
decision" to "go progressive." My mind is still flying from the
experience - and everything else in my life is really far behind!
So once again, it's time to play catch-up.
Simon White re: Mike Edwards turning me on to some "popcorn" tracks:
> 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?!
What amazes me is how much of what is discussed here as "northern soul" and "popcorn," as well as a few other discoveries, are records
I found - or at least saw - in the "reject piles" of top 40 stations
in the 1960s. Some I rescued, some I simply observed, but I confess
that I probably put a few there myself.
Skip Woolwine:
> From today's Nashville City Paper:
> Skeeter Davis Estate to Hold Public Sale
Very sad. Didn't she have any family who was interested in her stuff?
Mick Patrick re: It's So Fine: Pye Girls Are Go!
Any 1960s Brit Girl fans out there?
> ...[M]y pals Sheila, Samski, Malcolm, Neil and I have just
> finished work [on] "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?
Yes, in fact. The samples are all unfamiliar to a Yank like me.
Particularly, who and what is sample #4, please?
Me earlier:
> Does anyone know of any other labels from the '50s-early '70s
> era that have either the original owner or have stayed in the
> family?
S. J. Dibai:
> I was surprised recently when I found that Bob Marcucci is still
> operating a company under the "Chancellor" name. It seems like he
> resurrected it recently, but I may be wrong about that. The website
> is: http://www.chancellorentertainment.com You gotta love how, when
> you go to the "Chancellor Records" page, Jodie Sands' "With All My
> Heart" starts blasting out of your speakers!
Avalon's "Why" and "De De Dinah" and Fabian's "I'm A Man" were
rotating when I clicked on Records. Jodie came on later. So does
Avalon's "Gingerbread," still a cool little record with a great
backing track; this version includes the studio count-off before
the song starts. I always loved this corny but delightful record!
It looks like he's also into talent management (film & theatre)
as well. A note buried in the "news" section notes Marcucci is
now 75; another notes the website's launch in November, 2004.
> Also, what's the story on Del-Fi Records? The company still has
> a website ( http://www.del-fi.com ), and Bob Keane is still
> touted as the owner and label head, but I can't seem to tell
> whether any of that is current. The homepage has a copyright
> date of 2001, and at the age of 83, it's understandable if Keane
> has retired!
Actually, he appears to have launched a new label, Keane, looking
a lot like the original Keen logo. Their debut album left me kinda
cold, judging from the samples. You can also buy his bio at the site.
As - or perhaps more? - interesting is a collection of Delphonic
Sounds Today, reinterpretations of some of the label's material by
contemporary artists, including The Wondermints. Visit http://www.del-fi.com/albumcovers/ac2114.html to hear some short
samples.
Mike Edwards on CamPark:
> The track details can be found at an excellent oldies CD shop
> here on Long Island, Doo Wop Shoo Bop Records and CDs:
> http://www.doowopshoobop.com/varlabel.html
After you check out the Camparks, scroll up and down for more great
detail on some cook-lookin' CDs. As the Rutles said, "All you need
is cash!"
Finally, special thanks to the S'pop Team and especially to Denny Reed
himself for the article. All I did was channel Denny and do a bit of
editing, but I'm pleased to be a conduit for more interesting history in the Spectropop archive.
More soon,
Country Paul
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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 13:40:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Coyle
Subject: Another group of Dantes
The Dantes that became the Baskerville Hounds are not the same
as the Dantes from Columbus of "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love"
fame. The early lineup of the BH's was called the Dantes because
of their leader Dante Rossi, but I'm sure the name change came
after the Columbus Dantes became popular statewide. Otherwise,
quite a coincidence.
I think the Dantes are long overdue for a CD compilation.
The Fifth Order, possibly the number one or number two Columbus
group, depending on who you talk to, were put out on CD last
year with their three 45s augmented by a number of choice
unreleased tracks.
In addition, the original lineup reunited for a concert in
Mansfield, Ohio a couple years ago.
David
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 13:47:12 +0100
From: MopTopMike
Subject: The Dantes
Al Quaglieri wrote:
> From the book "Rock 'n' Roll And The Cleveland Connection"
> by Deanna R. Adams:
> The Baskerville Hounds (1964-73, 1980-82; re-formed 1999)
> In 1964, singer/guitarist and ex-Grasshopper Dante Rossi formed
> this five-piece band, originally calling it The Dantes. Members
> consisted of Bill Emery (bass/vocals), Doug McCutcheon (keyboards,
> vocals), Larry Meece (lead guitar/vocals), and John Kirkpatrick (drums).
> When WHK deejay Ron Brittain took over as their manager, he decided
> to call the West Side group Tulu Babies......
This blurb proves you can't believe or take as fact something just
because it is published or printed in a book.
The Baskerville Hounds were in fact the Tulu Babies, a name bestowed
by then Cleveland area DJ Ron Britain. "It's a TULU, Baby", he'd say
on air. The fact that they were called the Dantes prior might be
true, but there is no connection to the Worthington based (Columbus
northern suburb) OH crew. These kids who recorded for Jamie, Cameo
and Mainline were:
Barry Hayden (vocals)
Dave Workman (ld grt)
Lynn Wehr (gtr)
Cater Holiday (bass)
Joey Hinton (drums)
They were together for 4 years, opened for the Byrds in Cincy and
many other big name artists as well.
MopTopMike
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 04:54:02 -0000
From: Sean
Subject: Were pre- Marmalade band Dean Ford & The Gaylords a Mod band?
I have my own Mod (chat) group with over 400 members, but most of
them are 2nd generation Mods, so I thought I'd ask this question here:
[Were pre-Marmalade band Dean Ford & The Gaylords a Mod band?]
Their last song "He's A Good Face But He's Down And Out" is said to
be in Tapestry Of Delights "a popular mod song which did attract
more airplay than the previous three efforts" also "He's A Good
Face, which was something of a minor mod classic, later resurfaced
on Sixties Backbeat (LP).
Now, the sound of this song to me just sounds like pop music, not
too dissimlar to some Marmalade tracks.
I've heard two other songs by the group which didn't sound Mod
either, and I kind of doubt the mention of the word "Face" has
anything to do with the Mod slang, rather it seems to me to be
revisionist history??
I've also seen pictures of the group, and again, not too Mod looking.
So, your opinions please?
Thanks,
Sean
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 14:45:58 +0100
From: Rodney Rawlings
Subject: Re: A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Unsteady Freddie:
> It's the MUSIC. His claim is that his goth organ instrumentation
> is an integral part of the song that he 'wrote' (he should also
> thank Bach for his contribution!)
It is simply a fact that Matthew Fisher wrote the celebrated
counterpoint to WSOP. (Not to say that the main tune is not
good also.)
The only relation Bach had to Fisher's tune is that the long note
at its start was suggested by the long note at the beginning of his
Air On A G String. The melodies are very different.
Rodney Rawlings
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Message: 14
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 00:20:08 -0000
From: Will Stos
Subject: Songs that are difficult to I.D. by their title
Hello group,
I've often wondered if songs that have titles that are not
mentioned in the lyrics of a song, or are not easily identifiable,
are at a disadvantage for sales? Most of the time, titles reflect
a prominent chorus, but some songs just don't lend themselves to it
(for example, "A Lover's Concerto" by the Toys, in which lead singer
Barbara Harris also calls "How Gentle Is The Rain..." to reflect the
first line in the song.)
When I hear a song like this and radio doesn't provide the artist
or song title, I tear my hair out to try to learn what it is. If
an artist isn't well known and just trying to break onto the charts,
do you think it's more difficult to get noticed with one of these
types of songs? A question for any former DJs or radio programmers
on the list - do you think people who hear one of these songs and
want to request it don't bother because they can only give a vague
description? Can anyone offer up examples of these songs that might
have charted if they had a more recognizable title?
I thought about this after listening to Marva Josie's "Don't".
It does have that word in the lyrics, but it's not very prominent.
Will : )
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