________________________________________________________________________
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
________________________________________________________________________
There are 13 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
From: Joe Foster
2. Re: Sue Lynne "Don't Pity Me"
From: Mick Patrick
3. Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
From: John Black
4. Re: Sue Lynne "You"
From: Mark Maldwyn
5. "Don't Pity Me" vs."Don't Pity Me"
From: Julio Niño
6. Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
From: Mick Patrick
7. Bob Crewe website
From: Ken Charmer
8. Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
From: Dave Monroe
9. Re: Bob Crewe website
From: Jim Allio
10. Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
From: John Black
11. Neil Diamond and Brian Wilson....
From: Bill Mulvy
12. Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
From: Will Stos
13. Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
From: John DeAngelis
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 17:17:11 +0000
From: Joe Foster
Subject: Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
Matt DeBellis:
> I was recently introduced to Dana via 'The Girl's Scene' V/A CD,
> and I'm completely in love with her track "You Just Gotta Know
> My Mind". I saw that she had a 1967 record out on Decca with
> said track, but I can't seem to track it down. Has anyone heard
> the album and is it worth spending some cash on? (assuming the LP
> pops up on ebay often - I haven't seen any CD re-issues of it on
> the internet).
**How about this Matt:
Dana Gillespie was a music lover from an early age: "I discovered
the blues when I went to the American Folk Blues Festival in 1962
and also to see the Yardbirds at the Marquee Club. I was in my
early teens and hadn't heard anything like it before ".
In 1964 she recorded her first single for Pye, with Donovan on
guitar...and became a regular on the folk circuit along with
friends Donovan and David Bowie. She recalls: "I was doing folk
because I couldn't afford a band and I hadn't found my musical
niche". In those early years Dana got to know many of the top
bands and people in the music business....appearing on Ready
Steady Go and other cool TV shows of the era along with the
legends of the British pop explosion.
In 1967, she made this album, Foolish Seasons, a Psychpop/
Swinging London/Folkrock masterpiece. Featuring the rare Donovan
song, "You Just Gotta Know My Mind," which should have been a
smash mod hit, (and also includes the guitar of JIMMY PAGE!!!),
and two fantastic Billy Nicholls covers from his much celebrated
and legendary Psych/Softpop gem, 'Would You Believe.'
Arranged by the great Mike Vickers and produced by Wayne
Bickerton (World of Oz, Jackie Lomax, Pete Best Four, The
Rubettes), this is one of THE great missing links of 1960s pop
....Dana was to make one more album for Decca, morphing
seamlessly into a more blues based style, before becoming a star
of London's West End theatre: the first run of Jesus Christ
Superstar (playing Mary Magdalene), The Who's "Tommy" (playing
the Acid Queen) and the rock Othello, "Catch My Soul". She also
appeared with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Kenneth Willams in
the film "The Hound Of The Baskervilles" and starred in Ken
Russell's "Mahler". A number of roles in latter-day Hammer
films and more experimental arthouse movies are also fondly
remembered.
As a singer she moved to RCA Records and made WEREN'T BORN A
MAN and AIN'T GONNA PLAY NO SECIND FIDDLE, under the aegis of
David Bowie, whose management, Mainman, also took care of her
career. A period in the US was spectacularly ended when Bob
Dylan invited her to appear on his 1997 UK tour.....
Dana continues recording recording successfully today,
specialising in her first love, emotionally expressive blues
music....this sumptious reissue of her classic first album is
LONG overdue!!
** First time on CD ever in the world. Never before released
in the UK on any format, not even vinyl!!
**Wonderfully remastered and beutifully packaged in true RevOla
style....
** Package include rare and never-before-seen vintage pictures
of the lovely Dana by one of England's finest rock photographers,
Gered Mankowitz.
"*Includes songs by Donovan, Billy Nicholls and Dana herself....
played by the cream of London players, arrnaged by Mike Vickers
(ex-Manfred Mann) and produced by Wayne Bickerton (World of Oz,
Jackie Lomax, Pete Best Four, The Rubettes)!
**A top dollar sought after album, a must for all fans of Dana
Gillespie...psychpop, folkrock, baroque pop....it's just a great
album by a great lady, what can i say?
1. You Just Gotta Know My Mind
2. Tears In My Eyes
3. Life Is Short
4. Souvenirs Of Stefan
5. Can't You See I'm Dreaming
6. No! No! No!
7. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
8. London Social Degree
9. Dead
10. Foolish Seasons
11. Where Will You Be
12. Hard Lovin' Loser
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 11:53:02 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Sue Lynne "Don't Pity Me"
Mark Maldwyn on the recordings of Sue Lynne:
> 'You', 'All alone' and 'You lose again' all sound interesting
> Sue Lynne tracks with the Chris Andrews/Ken Woodman connections.
Michael Robson:
> To be honest, they are all pretty average (particularly "You",
> which has an awful Greek/"Never on Sunday" vibe) - Chris
> Andrews has penned better Sandie Shaw B-sides than most of the
> stuff Sue Lynne recorded. the exception is the incredibly
> catchy "Don't Pity Me" which got a lot of northern soul plays
> back in the days when "pop" sides were generally more accepted.
Julio Niño:
> Is this song the same "Don't Pity Me" that was recorded by
> Joanie Sommers? If so, I would love to listen to Sue´s version.
> I like very much that song.
Bill Mulvy:
> An excellent version of "Don't Pity Me" was done by Joanie
> Sommers.
Hmmm, Joanie Sommers did indeed record a song entitled "Don't
Pity Me", and very excellent it is too, but it sure AIN'T the
same one as that cut by Sue Lynne. Joanie's song was written
by Stuart and Oliver. Chris Andrews wrote and produced the Sue
Lynne number. Curiously, both records have a northern soul
following.
Agreed, after "Reach For The Moon", I think "Don't Pity Me" is
Sue Lynn's best record. I've just posted it to musica. Kenny
Woodman was the arranger. Click here and enjoy:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica
Btw, Sue's "You" has a certain proto-Abba quality that I suspect
some S'poppers will enjoy. I could post the track to musica if
there's any interest.
Must dash, I just spotted Trevor Peacock in East Enders on telly!
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 13:24:40 EST
From: John Black
Subject: Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
Tony Leong:
> As I was chatting with Mary Weiss Stokes, she mentioned that she
> was interested in getting back into singing again. Of course me
> being...ME, I was so mesmerized by her presence that I didnt
> think of asking "Well, WHAT do you want to sing now Mrs. Stokes??",
> and I went onto another topic altogether. Did anybody else (Brian,
> Clemente, Tony A, David Z., Dennis G.) find out what she wanted to
> sing now?? Does she want to perform as "The Shangri-Las" (and
> there's a couple of guys ((no joke)) that admitted to wanting to
> be Maryann and Margie), but yeah, Mary would be a hot item on the
> '60's circuit. She still has the same hairstlye!!! AND she was
> dressed in black!! OR, does she want to do something more
> contemporary? Well, the Shangri-Las records did feature some
> talking but I can't fathom Mrs. Stokes doing a rap-record!!
> Perhaps she wants to do an appearance like Ronnie did with the
> Ravonettes (Mary Stokes with the Shins??), or a Blondie-type band.
> You know, Fred Schnieder of the B-52's was there too and managed
> to say "hi" to Mary, and now that I think of it, Mary would fit
> in great on a B-52's thing. And Fred is just a big girl-group
> nut like me!!!!
Funny, I heard a rumor, not so long ago, that Liz (Betty) might be
interested in doing "something musical," possibly connected with
her daughter. That's all I heard, hardly definitive.
I don't think that the sisters Weiss can appear as The Shangri-Las
again, due to legal reasons. However, they could certainly sing
under their own names, or a new name perhaps. I'd love to see them
get a gig at The Bottom Line or somewhere like that, but I'm only
speculating.
John Black
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 18:49:31 -0000
From: Mark Maldwyn
Subject: Re: Sue Lynne "You"
Mick Patrick:
> Agreed, after "Reach For The Moon", I think "Don't Pity Me" is
> Sue Lynne's best record. I've just posted it to musica. Kenny
> Woodman was the arranger. Click here and enjoy:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica
> Btw, Sue's "You" has a certain proto-Abba quality that I suspect
> some S'poppers will enjoy. I could post the track to musica if
> there's any interest.
Great to hear "Don't Pity Me" in this context, as for Sue Lynne's
"You" - I'd go for it.
Mark Maldwyn
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 15:16:10 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: "Don't Pity Me" vs."Don't Pity Me"
Hola everybody.
Thank you very much to Clunkie and Mick for making available Sue
Lynne´s "Don´t Pity Me" in musica. It´s not the same song as
recorded by Joanie Sommers. As Clunkie wrote Sue´s "Don´t Pity Me"
is as catchy as an epoxy glue (maybe too catchy for my taste), but
in my opinion it lacks the elegance of Joanie´s track. And now that
we are talking about the two "Don´t Pity Me", could anybody please
tell me the details: composer, arranger, producer, record label and
date of the Joanie Sommers´song?
Thanks.
Chao.
Julio Niño
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 18:59:32 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
Tony Leong:
> As I was chatting with Mary Weiss Stokes, she mentioned that she
> was interested in getting back into singing again. Of course me
> being...ME, I was so mesmerized by her presence that I didnt
> think of asking "Well, WHAT do you want to sing now Mrs. Stokes??",
> and I went onto another topic altogether. Did anybody else (Brian,
> Clemente, Tony A, David Z., Dennis G.) find out what she wanted to
> sing now?? Does she want to perform as "The Shangri-Las" (and
> there's a couple of guys ((no joke)) that admitted to wanting to
> be Maryann and Margie), but yeah, Mary would be a hot item on the
> '60's circuit. She still has the same hairstlye!!! AND she was
> dressed in black!! OR, does she want to do something more
> contemporary? Well, the Shangri-Las records did feature some
> talking but I can't fathom Mrs. Stokes doing a rap-record!!
> Perhaps she wants to do an appearance like Ronnie did with the
> Ravonettes (Mary Stokes with the Shins??), or a Blondie-type band.
> You know, Fred Schnieder of the B-52's was there too and managed
> to say "hi" to Mary, and now that I think of it, Mary would fit
> in great on a B-52's thing. And Fred is just a big girl-group
> nut like me!!!!
Just as I drew breath, about to ask Mary if that was Jimmy's ring
she was wearing, some guy elbowed in front of me and declared that
he and his wife had a record label and was interested in recording
her. The guy was Billy Linna from Norton Records. He and Myriam
should get Mary back in the studio with Shadow Morton, if you ask
me.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 20:51:25 +0100
From: Ken Charmer
Subject: Bob Crewe website
Just found this website about Bob Crewe which appears to be
almost official: http://www.crewestudio.com/index.html
Lets hope this develops.
Ken Charmer
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 11:30:24 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
Joe Foster wrote:
> Dana continues recording recording successfully today, specialising
> in her first love, emotionally expressive blues music....this
> sumptious reissue of her classic first album is LONG overdue!!
I can't find an mention of it on the Rev-Ola site, or, indeed,
anywhere, not quickly, at any rate. First Evie Sands, now Dana
Gillespie. Not to mention Nancy Priddy:
http://www.cherryred.co.uk/revola/artists/nancypriddy.htm
Just scored her "You've Come ths Way Before" 45. They're doing the
Lord's work at Rev-Ola, they are.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 12:51:13 -0800 (PST)
From: Jim Allio
Subject: Re: Bob Crewe website
Ken Charmer wrote:
> Just found this website about Bob Crewe which appears to be
> almost official: http://www.crewestudio.com/index.html
> Lets hope this develops.
This is awesome. Wouldn't we love to get ahold of a copy of that
Bob Crewe's Reflections, a very private collection? Ooooooweeee!!!
Jim Allio
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 18:45:52 -0500
From: John Black
Subject: Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
Mick Patrick:
> Just as I drew breath, about to ask Mary (Weiss) if that was
> Jimmy's ring she was wearing, some guy elbowed in front of me
> and declared that he and his wife had a record label and was
> interested in recording her. The guy was Billy Linna from
> Norton Records. He and Myriam should get Mary back in the
> studio with Shadow Morton, if you ask me.
Gosh, I hope that that happens. Norton is a fine label, and I
loved their recent CD retrospective of early sixties recordings
by Arch Hall, Jr. and the Archers.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 22:15:52 -0600
From: Bill Mulvy
Subject: Neil Diamond and Brian Wilson....
...will perform together on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on
Monday night, November 14th.
Bill Mulvy
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 00:43:09 -0000
From: Will Stos
Subject: Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
Mick Patrick:
> Just as I drew breath, about to ask Mary (Weiss) if that was
> Jimmy's ring she was wearing, some guy elbowed in front of me
> and declared that he and his wife had a record label and was
> interested in recording her. The guy was Billy Linna from
> Norton Records. He and Myriam should get Mary back in the
> studio with Shadow Morton, if you ask me.
I'm not familar with it, but I hope if they do coax her back into
the studio that it isn't a low-budget project. I'm sure Mary has
enough contemporary admirers that would be willing to give her
top-notch material. Perhaps someone like Jack of the White Stripes
would produce a comeback along the lines of Loretta Lynn's Van
Lear Rose. Perhaps she might lend a guest vocal to a current
group's single to introduce herself to younger fans. Whatever
happens, I just hope the recordings aren't lost like the late-70s
session with the Shangs.
Will : )
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 03:05:18 -0000
From: John DeAngelis
Subject: Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
John Black wrote:
> I'd love to see them (the Shangri Las) get a gig at The Bottom
> Line or somewhere like that, but I'm only speculating.
I'm with you about wanting to see Mary or the Shangri Las, but
where've ya been, my friend? The Bottom Line closed over a year
ago!
John DeAngelis
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP features: http://www.spectropop.com
End
