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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 21 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Reparata & The Delrons tracklist
From: Robert Pingel
2. Re: Bob Crewe at Private Stock
From: Phil X Milstein
3. Re: Bob Crewe at Private Stock
From: Frank J.
4. Re: Models cover
From: Frank J
5. Re: Bob Crewe at Private Stock
From: Nick Archer
6. Tony Hatch on "Don't Sleep In The Subway"
From: Mick Patrick
7. Re: Love fires Arthur Lee
From: Florence Gray
8. Re: Eighteen year olds
From: Joe Nelson
9. Re: Eighteen year olds
From: Will Stos
10. Re: Go And Take Your Dumb Idea To Columbia, Says Archie
From: Phil X Milstein
11. Re: Link Wray
From: Justin McDevitt
12. Hogsnort Rupert’s Original Flagon Band
From: Margaret G. Still
13. Re: Love fires Arthur Lee
From: Kurt Benbenek
14. Girl Group CDs; Maureen Gray
From: Mike Edwards
15. The Inner-Circle: just Barri - or Sloan & Barri?
From: Margaret G. Still
16. Re: Knows Dripping
From: T D Bell
17. Shirelles Stereo Surprise
From: Peter Andreasen
18. Re: Bob Crewe @ Private Stock
From: Frank M
19. Re: The Complete Cathy Carroll
From: The Cat
20. The Beach Boys (Mike and Bruce's band)
From: Richard Havers
21. Song help
From: Justin McDevitt
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 11:53:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: Robert Pingel
Subject: Re: Reparata & The Delrons tracklist
I wrote:
> Thanks for listing the tracks. The inclusion of "Shoes" by Reparata
> is a slight head-scratcher. The lead vocal is clearly a guy. Is
> there a story here?
Ray:
> The first time I heard 'Shoes' I also thought to myself "Why is her
> voice so deep?" Then I recognized it as her "phone voice".
Okay Ray, I'll take your word for it. You might appreciate the
following story.
I went to high school at an all boys boarding school in Kansas. One
of the popular songs of the day caused quite a stir when we heard
that the artist would be appearing on "Where the Action Is" which
aired after school. Practically the entire student body congregated
in the TV room to check out what this unknown female singer looked
like. The anticipation, to say the least, was very high. After Dick
Clark made the introduction, a loud collective sigh rang out when we
discovered that Chris Montez was a guy.
Rob Pingel
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 15:48:38 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Bob Crewe at Private Stock
Artie Wayne wrote:
> James...How ya' doin'? I guess that's where Bob Crewe went after he
> left Motown. He had a long sucessful relationship with Larry Uttal
> at Amy/Bell records with Dynovoice, and when Larry Uttal formed
> Private Stock...the combination was a natural!
Around the time Blondie was on it, Private Stock was promoted as being
owned (or at least co-owned) by Frankie Valli. Was that P.R. hype, or
did he have a significant piece of the company (perhaps in lieu of
royalties following his big hits)?
--Phil M.
--
new at Probe:
"Ernie T., phone home"
i.e., huge batch of more weirdities
http://www.philxmilstein.com/probe
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 22:51:22 +0200
From: Frank J.
Subject: Re: Bob Crewe at Private Stock
James Botticelli:
> Swearin' To God remains an all time fave for me. Especially the
> female backing vocals. Did Crewe pen that one?
Yes, together with Denny Randell. The beautiful arrangement is by
Charles Calello.
Also high in my Valli rank: "Watch Where You Walk" by Crewe/Gaudio
and released as a single on Private Stock. Did I mention already
that Calello did a marvelous job on this too?
Frank J.
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 22:53:50 +0200
From: Frank J
Subject: Re: Models cover
Me:
> Btw, are there any photos of "The Models", eg promo shots out there
> in Spectroland?
Country Paul:
> There was a picture sleeve for the 45.
Please upload to the S'pop Photos section!
Frank J.
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 15:21:16 -0500
From: Nick Archer
Subject: Re: Bob Crewe at Private Stock
In one of my former lives as a disco DJ, I played a Bob Crewe disco
album that I think was on Private Stock. The song was "Street Talk",
and I think artist was listed as the Bob Crewe Connection. Does
anyone else remember this?
Nick Archer
Franklin, TN
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Message: 6
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 10:55:12 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Tony Hatch on "Don't Sleep In The Subway"
C Ponti:
> ... I think Tony Hatch is amazing. "Don't Sleep In The Subway"
> was so innovative, yet retaining that bit of British music hall
> kitsch that was in "Downtown" as well.
You wander around on your own little cloud ... aware of a rumour
that "Don't Sleep In The Subway" was originally entitled "Don't
Shit In The Custard". Impossible, I thought. Eventually, I plucked
up the courage to ask Tony Hatch if the story was true. Here's what
he told me:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jackie and I were doing cabaret in Manchester and I had to make a
day trip to Paris to take Pet a new song for a single. Working at
the piano in the club on the day before I flew to Paris, I came up
with two ideas but, although promising, they weren't complete in
themselves. They were both quite different in key and style - one a
folky kind of thing and one sorta Beach Boys inspired. With time
running out I tried putting the folky thing first as the verse and
linked it to the Beach Boys thing with a very classical sequence we
called the Tchaikovsky bit. The patch worked and, without a proper
title, I sang "Don't Shit In The Custard" on the hook. Then I
remembered a Broadway musical called "Subways Are For Sleeping",
and wondered if the thought could be reversed. We ended up with a
very adult song about two people falling out then making up.
At this point I have to give huge credit to Ray Prickett, my
regular balance engineer for all Petula Clark sessions. Ray had
been at IBC Studios where most of Pye's records were made. He
joined Pye when we opened the new Pye studios in Bryanston Street.
He was brilliant, especially at microphone placement, and, coupled
with the way I wrote for strings (learned from Peter Knight), Ray
could make 8 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos sound four times as
large. The success of "Downtown" with it's big orchestra sound set
the pattern for future Petula Clark records. The orchestras on some
occasions got even bigger with the addition of woodwind and horns
and, on "Don't Sleep In The Subway", organ plus two vocal backing
groups, The Breakaways (3 girls) and The Sands Of Time (4 Boys).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mr Ponti again:
> I wanted to contact Tony. I discovered a real estate company in
> NY is using the phrase "the lights are much brighter there -
> downtown" and would bet they haven't licensed it. I called his
> publisher, who is not the greatest watchdog - he never called
> back! I am a fellow songwriter trying to help one of my heroes.
I'll forward your message to Tony. Who knows, he might put you on
a percentage!
Goodbye means nothing when it's all for show...
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 18:08:17 -0400
From: Florence Gray
Subject: Re: Love fires Arthur Lee
Love fires Arthur Lee? Aw, crap!! Kind of reminiscent of when the
Beach Boys fired Brian Wilson (who I am going to see perform SMILE
this very evening!!!!!!). Love IS Arthur Lee. Always was, always
will be. Sorry, but the rest of the guys are just talented window
dressing.
Does this mean that, like the Beach Boys, the newly-christened Love
Band will degenerate into a more esoteric but similar 'oldies' act,
playing state fairs and amusement parks? Oh, the humanity.
Does anyone know any details about Arthur's condition and whether
there might be a chance that he will be up to performing again at a
later time?
F
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
--Samuel Langhorne Clemens
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 18:31:01 -0400
From: Joe Nelson
Subject: Re: Eighteen year olds
Kingsley Abbott:
> Maybe us S'Pop's members owe it to the kids of today to expose them
> to some of the great music that we love....
I do. They call me a boring old fart and tell me to get out of the
'60's.
Joe Nelson
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 22:53:04 -0000
From: Will Stos
Subject: Re: Eighteen year olds
Simon White wrote:
> You couldn't play the original 1973 version of 'Keep On Truckin"
> to a club full of eighteen year olds
Maybe not if they weren't expecting it, but there are a lot of us
youngins' who love this music. I'm 24 and I've loved oldies since I
was 12. Sheila Burgel is around my age. And there are others on this
list I'm sure. Although my friends aren't obsessive collectors like me,
I make mix tapes of my favourite songs for them and they quite like
them. When I had a radio show on a university station several years
ago I got calls from university students who liked certain songs -
(the Cookies' "I Never Dreamed" was a bit fav). And although the
Northern Soul scene isn't as big in Canada as it is in the U.K., the
mod scene here loves rare Motown! That being said, as much as
originals are liked, remixes that used more modern technology and
beats are easier to slip into clubs. And older hits that are sampled
are quite popular. Don't write off a whole generation here. We have
quite ecclectic tastes (I'm personally a big fan of jazz from the
40s and 50s, some disco and eighties pop, the girl groups and 60s
soul, and modern indie rock and pop).
Kingsley Abbott:
> Maybe us S'Pop's members owe it to the kids of today to expose them
> to some of the great music that we love....
I agree, and I do my part. I think the Internet has/will really
change listening habits. I know some on this group work for record
labels and are decidedly anti-illegal downloading, but it certainly
has exposed a lot of people in my age range to music we wouldn't
have heard on Top 40 radio. Even college stations, as fun as they
can be, are no match. There are some gems out there, but it's easier
to download a hundred songs and take a quick listen to see what you
like than to listen for hours hoping to have a revelation.
As much as I agree that we Spectropoppers should spread the word,
I'm sure you'd be surprised what you'd find in the average 18-25
year old's record/MP3 collection.
Will : )
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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 16:53:44 -0800
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Go And Take Your Dumb Idea To Columbia, Says Archie
I wrote:
> Anyone know anything about a Link Wray & The Ray Men CD on
> Rollercoaster (who they?) titled "They're Outta Here, Says Archie"?
> The cover (!) notes say it's from tapes of an unreleased LP for
> Cadence.
Joe Nelson wrote:
> Cadence owner Archie Bleyer sometimes named albums after comments he
> made about the artists: an Everly Brothers LP showing Phil and Don
> on motorcycles was titled "'They're Off And Rolling,' says Archie".
> My favorite in this genre was Andy Williams' "'He's All Male And
> Catnip to Quail,' says Archie". You don't want to see the cover.
Interesting -- I hadn't known about that. In light of that info, and
given the cover blurb, which states:
"They loved them in Washington, but Link & The Ray Men weren't long on
Cadence. Faster than you can say Rumble, everyone was talking about
the new threat to the morals of American youth. Archie too. That's
why they went off the label and ths album remained unreleased. Until
now ..."
... it seems to me the title is meant as an ironic reference, rather
than an example of one Bleyer actually intended.
Speaking of Archie Bleyer and his ability to pick hits, I saw an
interview with Andy Williams on Fox News Network (or was it CNN?) the
other night, ostensibly promoting an upcoming variety show (or
perhaps a full series; it was unclear) of Branson-area performers,
for PBS of all places. However, most of his segment was devoted to
him telling the story of his version of "Moon River."
According to Williams, he had a lunch with composers Henry Mancini and
Johnny Mercer the day after they'd cut Audrey Hepburn's soundtrack
version of the song. Figuring Hepburn's, while suitable to the movie,
was not likely to become a hit on its own, they played the song for
Williams, and urged him to record his own version. Duly impressed,
Williams took a demo to Archie Bleyer, president of Cadence, the label
Williams was under contract to at the time. But Bleyer just couldn't
hear it, and refused to authorize a recording by Andy Williams of
"Moon River."
Williams jumped to Columbia soon after that (although he didn't say in
the interview if the "Moon River" incident prompted that move). Not
long after THAT, he received a call from the music director of the
upcoming Academy Awards show, asking him to sing "Moon River" during
its nomination segment. Sensing almost a destiny brewing between him
and the song, he of course agreed, and then immediately suggested to
the Columbia executives that they get him in the studio to cut it, in
order to have it on the streets in time to tie in with the Oscars
broadcast. Well, it ain't for nothing that Columbia would soon become
the #1 label in the world, whereas Cadence, on the other hand, was
not long for the world. Columbia of course jumped on the idea, had
the record ready on time, and, according to Williams, sold half a
million copies in the first week following the Oscars presentation.
Every once in a while in the music world, something is so obvious that
it just has to happen.
Dig,
--Phil M.
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 07:38:17 -0500
From: Justin McDevitt
Subject: Re: Link Wray
Hello S'poppers, I have fond memories in the formative years of my
love of rock 'n roll of watching the Milt Grant show on Wttg-channel
5 in Washington D.C. Milt was involved in the local teen scene and a
real promoter. Link And the Wraymen were regular guests on the show
and Milt made alot of effort to put these guys on the map. At age 8,
I remember thinking: "wow, this Link Wray guy has a really cool
sound".
Justin McDevitt
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 02:20:44 -0000
From: Margaret G. Still
Subject: Hogsnort Rupert’s Original Flagon Band
I have a Warner Brothers promo 45 (WB 7455) by this group:
"Pretty Girl" (written by Dave Luther) backed with "Tender Look"
(written by J. Beveridge - P. Oakman) - "A Peter Dawkinds Production".
A little research suggested they may be Australian or New Zealanders.
Any info on this group?
Best,
Margaret G. Still
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 01:13:21 -0000
From: Kurt Benbenek
Subject: Re: Love fires Arthur Lee
I'm grateful that I got to see Arthur and (his now former band) LOVE
last year at LA's Knitting Factory. It was easily one of the best
small venue shows I've ever attended. Arthur and LOVE performed the
entire "Forever Changes" album in it's entirety, with a string
section and horns. This was in a room that holds maybe 300 people.
Arthur was in good spirits and it's hard to believe that he's been
barred from his own group. Hopefully they'll work things out and
perform together again in the future.
Kurt Benbenek
Long Beach, CA
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 01:34:20 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Girl Group CDs; Maureen Gray
Steve writes:
Well, in fact, he wrote a lot of good stuff about upcoming CD
releases and I agree with him about the UK Spectrum label; they issue
quality CDs for around £5 ($9.10) and very often less:
> I have just read that there may be ANOTHER girl group box set in
> preparation or on the way. This one is a 4-CD set from Universal
> Music, perhaps taking in labels like Dot, ABC, Kapp, MGM, Decca,
> Smash, Cub, Mercury, etc. If such a thing exists it may turn up
> later this year (perhaps if the Rhino set does really well).
Somehow I think this set could eclipse Rhino's, as the above labels
are woefully underrepresented in the re-issue market, unlike, say,
Red Bird, Colpix and Dimension. If we're dipping into the Mercury
vaults, I'd like to see some of Maureen Gray's recordings included.
And talking of Ms. Gray, Country Paul noted that:
> John Madara who has his own website http://www.thatphillysound.com
> with information on alot of the Philly acts from the 60's with a lot
> of pictures too.
Here's what Spectropop Hall Of Famer, John Madara, says about Maureen:
> Maureen Gray walked into my record shop in Philly and told me she
> could sing. Well, she was right! Boy could she sing! She was only
> 12 years old but already she had developed an amazing set of chops.
> Dave White and I wrote and produced 15 songs with her, with 2 of
> our songs reaching the charts, "Today's The Day" and "Dancing The
> >Strand." Maureen went on to work with such greats as Arranger Paul
> Buckmaster, and sang with Billy Preston, George Harrison, Eric
> Clapton, David Bowie, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, just to name a few.
I was very pleased to read this. Maureen Gray didn't have the big
hits as did her contemporaries, Dee Dee Sharp and Claudine Clark but
there is such a wonderful earnestness to her recordings.
And Philips is pretty close to Mercury, so let's have Hedy Sontag's
"He Never Came Back" on this set. It was written by one of our
members, so it carries the full Spectropop seal of approval.
Thanks to Paul for recommending the John Madara site. If you want to
know what Johnny Caswell looked like, here's your opportunity
At the shore, Mike Edwards
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 02:57:26 -0000
From: Margaret G. Still
Subject: The Inner-Circle: just Barri - or Sloan & Barri?
Two really well done P.F. Sloan fan websites say that Dunhill 4128 by
The Inner Circle (The Sloan-Barri song GOES TO SHOW (Just How Wrong
You Can Be) backed with Leonard Cohen's SO LONG MARIANNE) did not
include any P.F. Sloane performances. Sure sounds like Sloan on "Goes
To Show".
If anyone else here knows this record, I'd love to hear whether you
also hear Sloan.
Best,
Margaret G. Still
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Message: 16
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 22:03:44 -0400
From: T D Bell
Subject: Re: Knows Dripping
Is the Fender "dripping" sound on Rome and Paris' version of "Because
of You"?
-TD
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Message: 17
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 09:22:29 -0000
From: Peter Andreasen
Subject: Shirelles Stereo Surprise
Mick Patrick wrote:
> ... Valli ... her answer song to the Shirelles' "Soldier Boy" (on
> which she actually sings OVER their original record!!) is featured
> on the group's new 60-track (count 'em!) "Will You Love Me
> Tomorrow" 2-CD set. Read more about the set in S'pop message #30041
> and at this link: http://tinyurl.com/88gyh
McGee:
> I thought I'd share the Amazon.com review of that set: "This
> digitally remastered 60-track two-CD set is the ultimate tribute to
> The Shirelles. It includes all their many U.S./worldwide hits, the
> best B-sides, rarities, a smattering of LP tracks and several
> selections new to CD as well as the previously-unreleased recording
> of 'That Boy Is Messing Up My Mind.' ... this highly desirable
> package features detailed sleeve-notes, rare photos and
> memorabilia."
I picked up the new Shirelles anthology from Castle, cause I love the
Greenwich/Barry song "that boy is messing up my mind" what a great
track! To my surprise I found that some of the songs sounds different
than what I am used to: "maybe tonight" had a funny cloudy sound to
it. I compared it to my old Rhino CD and found the track clear and
light in mono. It´s not that I perfer mono to stereo, I just think
that some tracks are made for mono and some for stereo. Anyway I also
compared "will you love me tomorrow" and found that they are both in
stereo but with swiched channels - one having the strings and backup-
vocals in the left speaker and the other in the right one. What was
the original stereo version like?
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 11:25:34 +0100
From: Frank M
Subject: Re: Bob Crewe @ Private Stock
Artie Wayne wrote:
> I have a correction to my Motown remix story. The song that Bob
> Crewe played me was "My Eyes Adored You" ...
Artie, my group was on Private Stock at the time, and we heard that
they worked that record forever (6+ months), trying to get the
stations to play it. Maybe it ties into your story about Crewe and
Gordy. Private Stock got a #5 hit for Frankie in the UK in Feb 1975.
FrankM
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Message: 19
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 09:38:18 -0000
From: The Cat
Subject: Re: The Complete Cathy Carroll
Mark M:
> I know of a bootleg cd which has several Cathy tracks on it
> although these may be the ones you already have. This cd is 'The
> Caroll Girls Family' and consists of female atrists who have the
> surname of Caroll so there's no relation thing going on here. 34
> tracks on the Marginal label and probably deleted. 7 by Cathy and
> all on the cd you metioned previously. She's great though isn't
> she!
There's a link to this CD here: http://www.totorecords.com/carroll.htm
The Cat
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Message: 20
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 11:36:21 +0100
From: Richard Havers
Subject: The Beach Boys (Mike and Bruce's band)
Florence Gray wrote:
> Does this mean that, like the Beach Boys, the newly-christened Love
> Band will degenerate into a more esoteric but similar 'oldies' act,
> playing state fairs and amusement parks? Oh, the humanity.
If you had seen the Beach Boys (Mike and Bruce's band) in London
last year you might be less harsh in your remarks. They were
outstanding, with wonderful harmonies, and had far from degenerated.
Indeed even die hard Beach Boy fans not known for their love of Mike
Love were even highly complimentary. Their set list as well as
containing the usual suspects, ran to 54 songs most nights - shows
lasted 2 hours and 30 - 40 minutes (without a break!). Highlights,
for me at least, were:- Bluebirds over the Mountain, Kiss me baby The
Warmth of the Sun, Please Let me wonder, Darlin', You Still believe
in Me, Don't worry Baby, Their Hearts Were full Of Spring, Til I Die,
Disney Girls, Come Go With Me, God Only Knows, Sail On Sailor, All
Summer Long, and even Little St Nick.
The quality of the playing was excellent and the additional vocals
of Randell Kirsch, Scott Totten, Chris Farmer and John Cowsill were
all of the highest quality.
Brian Wilson was a genius, and it is a miracle that he is out there
performing so well with a band of excellent musicians. Let's not
forget that the Mike and Bruce Beach Boys give many thousands of
people a great deal of enjoyment at a hundred plus shows a year. For
me it's no different to seeing McCartney doing Beatles tunes at Live
8 - for which he drew little or no criticism.
Richard
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Message: 21
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 07:33:39 -0500
From: Justin McDevitt
Subject: Song help
Hello S'pop, Somewhere around 1965-66, I heard a song on Weam or
Wpgc, the two major Am rock stations in Washington D.C., (Weam never
made it to FM). The lyrics that I recall are: "Some of the other guys
seem to be hypnotised when you're walking beside me. This may sound
stupid, but I think Cupid has shot an arrow at me".
Any help would be appreciated.
Justin McDevitt
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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