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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: That Thing You Do!--The group???
From: Lloyd Davis
2. Re: Oldies Radio
From: Various
3. Re: Big John
From: Rodney Rawlings
4. Re: Steve Greenberg
From: Phil X Milstein
5. Re: Chiffons and Kristy McNichol
From: Bob Rashkow
6. In My Imagination demo
From: Jeff Lemlich
7. Re: More Sandi Sheldon
From: Jeff Lemlich
8. Re: Chiffons and Kristy McNichol
From: John Black
9. Jerry Ross & April Young
From: Mick Patrick
10. Re: That Thing You Do!--The group?
From: ACJ
11. Alternative, Answer, and Parody Songs
From: Larry Bromley
12. Re: Big Bruce/Steve Greenberg
From: Frank M
13. Re: April Young
From: Julio Niño
14. Re: April Young
From: Andres
15. Re: That Thing You Do!--The group?
From: Andres
16. Re: Oldies Radio
From: Will Stos
17. Re: April Young
From: Mick Patrick
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:15:32 -0400
From: Lloyd Davis
Subject: Re: That Thing You Do!--The group???
Clark Besch wrote:
> On stage, the announcer claimed they had written some of the movie
> soundtrack songs. I know some of the writers had a band after the
> movie, but not by that name.
Can't tell you anything about that band, but the title song, and a few
others from the film, were written by Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of
Wayne. Their other claim to fame/infamy is the 2004 hit "Stacy's Mom
(Has Got It Goin' On)," which hit #21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
They're scheduled to appear on Conan O'Brien's show this Friday.
Perhaps the band you saw were embittered because they hadn't read the
fine print in their PlayTone contracts...
On a more Spectropoppish note, according to their website, Fountains
of Wayne made an appearance on American Dreams as The Hollies,
performing "Bus Stop."
- Lloyd Davis in Toronto
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 20:48:24 +0100
From: Various
Subject: Re: Oldies Radio
Several messages on the same subject:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Will Stos wrote:
> As sad as I am to hear another oldies station is off the air, I
> think the Jack concept (we have a Bob station in Ottawa) is an
> exciting idea. Give us variety!
While variety is nice it doesn't make it any better for listening if
you're getting a "variety" of today's "artists". No matter what the
genre is I find the majority of music "composed" today to be crap.
Tuneless bilge pushed with alot of promotion and payola.
Starting with the 70s popular music took a nosedive and it only got
worse with each new decade. I grew up with 60s music, but came to
appreciate 50s and even 40s stuff as the radio and record industry
pushed watered down pap for the masses. Quality edges out variety.
Even AC/DC seemed like a rather tired replay of what I'd heard in the
60s. But what do I know, I don't know Jack.
This is why I burn CDRs for the gym and car,
Steve Harvey
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Will, I agree. How people can bemoan the loss of a station that plays
only a few hits, when some of these groups had a lot more, as well as
album tracks, is beyond me. I am speaking about WJMK in Chicago. They
dug their own grave with me years ago. How about a deep tracks 60s
oldies station, now that's a novel concept!
Bill Mulvy
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New York is probably *the* major radio market in the US. And when a
station is as much the sound of that city and its people as it is the
music it plays, then to wrest it from the people is just wrong,
regardless of how large or small its playlist is. Brucie and other
legendary jocks from NY stations aren't just guys who play records,
they are almost like flags or identities of the area (which may
explain why Wolfman Jack, a huge star in his own right, couldn't cut
it on WNBC), they are a part of the people - it transcends the music
and the business of radio, which is something corporate people have
no understanding of. The fact that they were so surprised by the
backlash is proof of that (what did they expect?!?!) - New Yorkers
are a fiercely loyal people when it comes to something like this that
is "theirs", and while the younger demo may well embrace Jack in the
short haul, the longer term damage Infinity has done may well be
immeasurable. It is a bad move. And may I remind everyone, that while
the corporations may own the licenses and the stations, WE own the
airwaves! Most of us seem to have forgotten this, and that radio
stations are REQUIRED to perform in the service of the area in which
they're licensed - no local traffic, weather, etc. on JACK doesn't
sound at all like W-whatever-FM is fulfilling the REQUIREMENTS of its
license! Moreover, Brucie et.al. weren't just human iPods, they were
personalities we could really connect with. We're all Brucie's
"cousin"s, we were all "Luv" to Ron Lundy on WABC - what are we to
the anonymous JACK? People to be sneered down to via wiseass copy and
programming. Who cares what songs are played, WCBS listeners felt
like part of a huge extended NYC family. Other than a wider playlist,
JACK offers, well, JACK.
Chris Mezzolesta/Power Salad
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Not that I'd ever listen to this Jack crap format, why the heck would
anybody of that targeted demographic group bother listening to the
radio in the first place? You can get pretty much anything played on
that format, throw it on your i-pod, and get the same result WITHOUT
commercial interruption or some lame DJ. Radio on the AM and FM bands
is a dying breed. Satellite radio is where it's at!
MopTopMike
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 21:34:43 -0000
From: Rodney Rawlings
Subject: Re: Big John
Of course, one mustn't forget the parody "Small Sad Sam."
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:34:57 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Steve Greenberg
Bob Rashkow wrote:
> Patti Page's version of "Big John" calls to mind Steve Greenberg's
> "Big Bruce" (1969?), which is completely politically incorrect, but
> amusing all the same. Big Bad Brucey-Woosey is a hairdresser who
> wears bell bottoms and a polka-dot tie, etc. He's a gay stereotype
> although Greenberg never once mentions any of the labels. ...
I don't know for certain, but I assume this is the same Steve
Greenberg as the creator of Lipps Inc.'s giant 1980 (+/-) hit
"Funkytown." Greenberg currently runs Designstein, a successful Web
design and hosting firm based in Minneapolis (which hosted my site
for a number of years).
Dig,
--Phil M.
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 23:51:47 EDT
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: Re: Chiffons and Kristy McNichol
IIRC it was Jane O's version I heard a few times. Extremely slow,
with a very telling lack of "doo lang power" :--((
Bobster
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:48:24 -0400
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: In My Imagination demo
Julio Niño:
> Thank you very much to Jeff for the lovely new demo he´s just
> posted in musica. I love it.
Thanks Julio. Now the question is, WHO IS SINGING THIS? This is
an Aaron Schroeder Music demo from 1966. The sheet music shows
Rosemarie McCoy as the writer.
Also new to Musica: The Chosen Few's version of Sawyer/Burton's
"Why Can't I Love Her".
Jeff Lemlich
(sorry I missed being a part of Spectropop digests 1966 and 1967)
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:54:17 -0400
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: More Sandi Sheldon
John H:
> I see an auction currently on eBay for a Sandi Sheldon single on
> the Okeh label: "One Minute Too Late/ Touch My Heart." I didn't see
> this title listed in her discography on the main Spectropop site.
> Can anyone shed some light on it?
This looks like the record Ian Levine cut with her, in 2003 or so,
around the time she came to London to play at The Rocket. It was part
of a handful of releases/giveaways on the resurrected Okeh imprint.
Simon White, who d.j.'d the night Kendra appeared, could tell us
more, I'm sure. Just don't tell me to FOAD, Simon.
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 14:31:06 EDT
From: John Black
Subject: Re: Chiffons and Kristy McNichol
This is unrelated, I guess, but one of my favorite "He's So Fine"
covers was the slightly countrified version by Jody Miller.
John Black
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 20:20:35 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Jerry Ross & April Young
Artie Wayne:
> You asked how prolific a writer Jerry Ross was? I'd have to say he
> was one of the most prolific I'd ever worked with. I became
> friendly with him when I went to Philly every couple of weeks to
> pitch my songs and see my girlfriend. We became good friends when
> he and his wife April Young moved to New York and he became an A+R
> man for Mercury records in 1967.
Jerry Ross deserves a medal for the series of magnificent records he
made at Mercury with Dee Dee Warwick and Jerry Butler. While she
could hardly compete with sensational vocalists such as those two
greats, April Young made some nice records too, all with hubby Jerry
at the helm. The most successful of these singles can be found on
CDCHD 823, along with some nice pictures.
(From the booklet:) When you're a singer whose husband is a
celebrated songwriter, producer and all-round record biz mogul, it's
difficult to make a bad record. Such is the case with Philadelphia
songbird Janice Friedman, otherwise known as April Young, glamorous
wife of Jerry Ross... 'Gonna Make Him My Baby' was the third in a
series of four terrific singles April released on Columbia in 1964/5.
The song came from the pens of Pete Anders and Vinnie Poncia, of
those landlocked surfers the Tradewinds.(Continue reading here:
http://tinyurl.com/9y2og )
It would be nice if more of the lovely April's sides were out on CD.
As they're not, I'll post one to musica when room becomes available.
Special track preferences, anyone?
April died young, unfortunately.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 22:39:19 -0400
From: ACJ
Subject: Re: That Thing You Do!--The group?
For Clark Besch: I remember frequently hearing mention of a band
called The Candy Butchers playing on the TTYD! soundtrack. Maybe this
group is The Candy Butchers.
ACJ
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:40:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: Larry Bromley
Subject: Alternative, Answer, and Parody Songs
About Big Bad Bruce, it might not have made Billboard, but it did hit
Dr. Demento's Funny Five from time to time. I also had the pleasure
of hearing it in a lounge in the 70s.
On a related note: Along with oldies radio fading away, the same
forces causing this problem have pushed the purveyor of parodies and
other odd tunes off of many stations, including all of Florida. Man,
I miss my chance to "Stay Demented!" each week.
If I recall correctly, Jody Miller made a living in the 60s and 70s
on "Answer" songs. I recently picked up an old CD collection that was
released in Canada through Marlboro Cigarettes. (This was a flea
market purchase. I don't smoke.) Jody's "Queen of the House", a
parody of "King of the Road", was included. I also remember answers
to two Kenny Rogers songs: "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love to Town)" and
"(You Picked A Fine time To Leave Me)".
Age is a number that tells
how long you have lived in this world,
not how to live in it.
Larry Bromley
good day!
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Message: 12
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 23:18:12 +0100
From: Frank M
Subject: Re: Big Bruce/Steve Greenberg
S.J. Dibai:
> I've always wondered who Steve Greenberg was and what ever happened
> to him.
President of Atlantic Records then president of Columbia Records.
FrankM
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Message: 13
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:55:15 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: Re: April Young
Hola everybody,
Mick Patrick:
> It would be nice if more of the lovely April's sides were out on
> CD. As they're not, I'll post one to musica when room becomes
> available. Special track preferences, anyone?...
I'm rather ignorant about April's discography, in fact I can remember
just two songs by her, "To Be Loved By You" and "Gonna Make Him My
Baby". Can we ask for the menu before we order, Mick? Or am I asking
too much (as I often do).
Chao.
Julio Niño.
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 14:03:48 +0400
From: Andres
Subject: Re: April Young
Mick:
> It would be nice if more of the lovely April's sides were out on
> CD. As they're not, I'll post one to musica when room becomes
> available. Special track preferences, anyone?...
Julio:
> I'm rather ignorant about April's discography, in fact I can
> remember just two songs by her, "To Be Loved By You" and "Gonna
> Make Him My Baby". Can we ask for the menu before we order, Mick?
> Or am I asking too much (as I often do).
I especially like the beginning of "Gonna Make Him My Baby" with
girls on the background singing "Duran-Day-Run".... Smashing hit!!!
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 14:07:32 +0400
From: Andres
Subject: Re: That Thing You Do!--The group?
ACJ:
> I remember frequently hearing mention of a band called The Candy
> Butchers playing on the TTYD! soundtrack. Maybe this group is The
> Candy Butchers.
Wasn't it the Wonders themselves playing in the movie? I have a DVD
with this film and in the Special Features Section they tell us a
story how the band members cuoldn't play at first but within some
period of time learned to play and then performed the songs
themselves?
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Message: 16
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 20:28:50 -0000
From: Will Stos
Subject: Re: Oldies Radio
Wow, quite a bit of debate here. I'll try to be brief with my responses:
Steve Harvey wrote:
> Starting with the 70s popular music took a nosedive and it only got
> worse with each new decade. I grew up with 60s music, but came to
> appreciate 50s and even 40s stuff as the radio and record industry
> pushed watered down pap for the masses. Quality edges out variety.
I used to say the same thing too. I'm 24, and I endlessly criticized
my friends' choice in music (and I still try to avoid some of it).
But I've learned to appreciate a lot of what's been released. I don't
like all of it, but it's a different generation and they express
themselves in a different way. And although a lot of it is retread,
you could say the same about some stuff from the 50s and 60s in terms
of early jazz/gospel/folk, etc. There's always been fluff, it's just
a matter of weeding it out. And, I'm sure some fans of Gershwin
couldn't ever imagine music historians and collectors raving over
records by Lesley Gore or Connie Francis 40 years on - but here we
are.
Bill Mulvy wrote:
> Will, I agree. How people can bemoan the loss of a station that
> plays only a few hits, when some of these groups had a lot more, as
> well as album tracks, is beyond me.
We've argued on this group before that oldies stations could attract
some new fans if they dug deeper or even had alternative oldies
stations that went beyond the hits. I think it would be great if some
stations would pretend its a certain year from the past every month
and play only those songs (hits and misses).
Chris Mezzolesta/Power Salad wrote:
> Brucie and other legendary jocks from NY stations aren't just guys
> who play records, they are almost like flags or identities of the
> area, they are a part of the people - it transcends the music and
> the business of radio, which is something corporate people have no
> understanding of.
I'd imagine these people are the exception and not the rule. In
smaller markets we have faceless people hired to prvivde inane
chatter. While losing Brucie may be tough for NYC, I'm quite happy to
be rid of these other announcers. I'm not saying the announcer for
JACK/BOB is much better, but at least he doesn't yammer on and on.
It's too bad Brucie and others couldn't find another place on
conventional radio, but loyal fans will follow him to satellite.
Meanwhile, casual listeners who are more interested in music will
have a deeper playlist. Hopefully other station managers will opt for
a compromise (keep the legends, but don't force them to play the same
song every day).
MopTopMike wrote:
> why the heck would anybody of that targeted demographic group
> bother listening to the radio in the first place? You can get
> pretty much anything played on that format, throw it on your i-pod,
> and get the same result WITHOUT commercial interruption or some
> lame DJ.
Yeah, but how are you going to hear anything new? You might miss out
on a new artist or hit, or find you like a particular song when you
normally don't like the genre. Part of it's a social thing. Knowing
the melody of a new hit when you're in a club so you can dance to it,
talking to friends about a new song you like, etc. And no offense to
iPod fans or proponents of mix tapes and CD burns, but you always
know what's coming. Even if it's in random order, you've heard the
song before. I do agree that satellite radio will have an impact as
people try to escape commercials (see TiVO for television), but good
DJs and announcers like Brucie will find a niche in the new market. I
do wonder how advertisers will try to get a piece of the action.
Songs already mention brands, and I'm sure pop artists will be
pressured to include more, have their albums sponsored by a company,
etc.
In closing, give me Spectropop's live365 station any day over
Jack/Bob, but also give it a chance. Who knows what changes for the
better this hit format will prompt.
Will : )
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 08:26:01 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: April Young
Me:
> It would be nice if more of the lovely April's sides were out on
> CD. As they're not, I'll post one to musica when room becomes
> available. Special track preferences, anyone?...
Julio:
> I'm rather ignorant about April's discography, in fact I can
> remember just two songs by her, "To Be Loved By You" and "Gonna
> Make Him My Baby". Can we ask for the menu before we order, Mick?
> Or am I asking too much (as I often do).
Never! Please select from the following:
APRIL YOUNG DISCOGRAPHY (all Columbia)
This Time Tomorrow/Will You Be My Steady Boyfriend (4-43046, 1964)
To Be Loved By You/Kiss Your Baby Goodbye (4-43122, 1964)
Gonna Make Him My Baby/Life (4-43285, 1965)
Run To My Lovin' Arms/You're The One (4-43392, 1965)
Did I overlook anything? It's too hot to think.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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