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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 14 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. The Goodies . . . speak!!!
From: Mick Patrick
2. Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
From: Robert Kacerow
3. Mike Clifford update
From: Dave
4. David Seville - Starlight Starbright 1957
From: Lyn Nuttall
5. Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
From: Joe Foster
6. Ronettes and Crystals on Elton John´s Christmas CD
From: Peter Andreasen
7. Re: David Seville - Starlight Starbright 1957
From: Graeme Freeland
8. Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
From: Deena J Canale
9. Re: Mike Clifford update
From: Ed Salamon
10. Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
From: Dave Monroe
11. Re: The Goodies . . . speak!!!
From: Will Stos
12. Re: David Seville - Starlight Starbright 1957 / John Marascalco
From: Gary Myers
13. Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP / Lotti Golden
From: Dave Monroe
14. Re: Mike Clifford update
From: Gary Myers
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 19:06:50 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: The Goodies . . . speak!!!
Previously:
> Coming soon to http://www.spectropop.com are articles on the
> Orchids, Bobby Sheen, Lori Burton, the HBR label, Marva
> Holiday, Sherlie Matthews, Reparata & the Delrons, Brooks
> Arthur, the Goodies, the Goodees and more.
Talking of the Goodies. How great it was to see them sing "The
Dum Dum Ditty" and "Sophisticated Boom Boom" at Rhino's Girl
Group gig the other week. Considering both of these songs were
subsequently also waxed by the Shangri-Las, it was cool to
witness Mary Weiss enjoying the Goodies' performance so much.
Alas, I failed to make eye contact with Mary Weiss, but did
get a chance to chat with Mary Ann Gesmundo Regal, Maureen
Elyse Reilling and her sister Diane, otherwise known as the
Goodies. The conversation went kinda like this:
MP: Is it true you recorded the original demo of "Leader Of
The Pack", before the Shangri-Las were given the song?
Mary Ann: Absolutely. We did the original demo of "Give Him
A Great Big Kiss" too.
MP: Oh! What colour are his eyes? Er, I mean, where was this,
which studio?
Mary Ann: In Long Island at Ultra-Sonic.
MP: Are you still in touch with Shadow Morton?
Mary Ann: I've not seen George for years, but Maureen keeps
in touch with him.
MP: Is she really going out with him? Ha!
Maureen: I talked to him on the phone just the other day.
He's in California right now, but he'll be back here in New
York next week.
MP: Apparently, the Goodies also went by the name the
Bunnies. Is that true?
Mary Ann: Oh yes.
MP: Which name came first?
Diane: The Bunnies came first. Then the record company found
out there was another group called the Bunnies - the name
was already registered. So we had to change ours. They chose
Goodies, not us.
MP: Did you actually release any records as the Bunnies?
Mary Ann: No.
MP: How about other names - did you record under any other
names?
Diane: No. Just as the Goodies.
MP: Do any of you ladies have email? Maybe we can do a
proper interview when I get back home to London?
Maureen: Mary has email.
Mary Ann: Sure, I'll answer your questions. Give me a pen.
So, if anyone has any questions for the Goodies, send 'em
in and I'll pass them on to the ladies.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 09:58:14 -0500
From: Robert Kacerow
Subject: Re: Mary Weiss Sings.......But WHAT????
Mick Patrick:
> 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 Mick just to clarify, that was Billy Miller of Norton Records,
Linna is Miriam's last name.
Regards,
Bob K
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 18:53:37 -0000
From: Dave
Subject: Mike Clifford update
To the Spectropop family:
A bit of a story... for the past few years here in Los Angeles, I've
gotten to know a pleasant and funny guy I only knew as Mike. Not too
long ago, it came out, only through the prodding of a mutual friend,
that Mike had been on the Joe Franklin show. I didn't believe it, so
I asked what his talent was. Self-effacing to a fault, Mike said he
used to be a singer back in the day, while the mutual friend
expressed shock that I hadn't know Mike had also been on Ed
Sullivan, among quite a few other shows.
I still didn't believe it, to tell the truth. So I googled Mike
Clifford, and came across the one and only Spectropop, with postings
by Country Paul, et al. about 'Close to Cathy" and the other songs.
While I'm no pop music expert, even I know all about the Brill
building, Leiber and Stoller, etc., and so I was not only impressed
with Mike's former life, but his extreme humility about the whole
thing.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I printed out the various
comments and brought them to him. I do not exaggerate when I say
they brought tears to his eyes. "They still remember me?" he said,
with a mixture of shock and pride. I don't think he realized the
power of the internet, and groups like Spectropop.
Anyway, Mike wanted everyone to know he's alive and well, happily
living in Hollywood with his cat Miss Luna. It's certainly fair to
say you guys made his day, if not more.
Best,
Dave
p.s. I could pass along whatever anyone wants to -- email me
directly at deadorinjail@yahoo.com
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 12:22:59 -0000
From: Lyn Nuttall
Subject: David Seville - Starlight Starbright 1957
Brill Building this ain't, but I'm hoping someone here will have
this in their collection. I'm trying to find the songwriter credit
on this record.
The title is one of those maddening ones that has been recycled by
various songwriters.
John Marascalco's song called Starlight Starbright was a hit in
Australia for Lonnie Lee in 1960. (John produced what was probably
the original by Portuguese Joe & the Tennessee Rockabillys on Surf
in '57).
It's not the Linda Scott song that also charted down here, the flip
of Don't Bet Money Honey.
Oh, David Seville was The Witch Doctor/Chipmunks guy, but you knew
that.
More at my page http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=24
Thanks,
Lyn
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:16:19 +0000
From: Joe Foster
Subject: Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
Previously:
> I can't find an mention of (Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP)
> 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.
That's not the RevOla site...which is http://www.revola.co.uk
and Spectropoppers get to hear the news first!
later
Joe
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 22:15:31 -0000
From: Peter Andreasen
Subject: Ronettes and Crystals on Elton John´s Christmas CD
One track by each artist - "Frosty" and Rudolf" are included on
the upcomming Elton John/Starbucks Christmas CD....two dollars
pr. sold CD goes to Elton John's AIDS foundation.:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/weblogs/music/archives/002397.html
I wonder if it´s mono or stereo?
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Message: 7
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 22:52:31 -0000
From: Graeme Freeland
Subject: Re: David Seville - Starlight Starbright 1957
Lyn Nuttall wrote:
> I'm trying to find the songwriter credit on this record. The
> title is one of those maddening ones that has been recycled by
> various songwriters. John Marascalco's song called Starlight
> Starbright was a hit in Australia for Lonnie Lee in 1960. (John
> produced what was probably the original by Portuguese Joe & the
> Tennessee Rockabillys on Surf in '57). It's not the Linda Scott
> song that also charted down here, the flip of Don't Bet Money
> Honey.
Lyn, on Seville's record the writer is shown as "Ross Bagdasarian"
(Seville's real name.)
Graeme Freeland
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 18:24:04 -0500
From: Deena J Canale
Subject: Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
Previously:
> (Dana Gillespie) 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.
Hmmm...wonder why her appearance as a busty folksongstress in
"Secrets of a Windmill Girl" is left out of this bio! Essential
mid-'60s viewing, I tell ya.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0196079/usercomments
Signed D.C.
http://www.myspace.com/roots66
http://streetsyoucrossed.blogspot.com
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 22:37:29 -0000
From: Ed Salamon
Subject: Re: Mike Clifford update
Dave wrote:
> Anyway, Mike Clifford wanted everyone to know he's alive and
> well, happily living in Hollywood with his cat Miss Luna. It's
> certainly fair to say you guys made his day, if not more.
I met Mike on June 13, 1993 when he was kind enough to attend the
First Day of Issue ceremonies on the Santa Monica pier to mark the
issue of the ROCK & ROLL / RHYTHM & BLUES US stamps. Nice to hear
he is well. Let us know if he is still singing.
Ed Salamon
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 16:24:40 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP
Deena J Canale wrote:
> Hmmm...wonder why (Dana Gillespie's) appearance as a busty
> folksongstress in "Secrets of a Windmill Girl" is left out
> of this bio! Essential mid-'60s viewing, I tell ya.
> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0196079/usercomments
Whereas I recall her best from The Lost Continent and, later,
The People that Time Forgot:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076535/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063240/
A Gillespied still from the former:
http://www.webhorror.com/screamqueens/misc/dana_gillespie_lost_continent_1_sm.jpg
And a few from the latter:
http://www.franksreelreviews.com/movie%20images/pttf03.jpg
http://www.film-o-holic.com/pictures/stills/op/peoplethattimeforgot_gillespie.jpg
http://www.giantsandgirls.com/images/modern/peoptimeforg1.jpg
http://www.giantsandgirls.com/images/modern/peoptimeforg3.jpg
http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/beefcake/dougmcclure/dougmcclure16thumb.jpg
That last one reminds me a joke about a Doug McClure film fest
on an episode of the one-season early Jason Bateman sitcom It's
Your Move. If there were dinsoaurs to be found in the Antarctic
or at the center of the Earth, Doug McClure was your man.
But I digress ...
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 00:29:49 -0000
From: Will Stos
Subject: Re: The Goodies . . . speak!!!
Mick Patrick wrote:
> So, if anyone has any questions for the Goodies, send 'em
> in and I'll pass them on to the ladies.
I'd like to know if they knew their versions of "Leader" and
"Kiss" would be re-done by the Shangs and whether there was
any bitterness when they became big hits for the other group.
Also, are there any unreleased tracks by the Goodies still in
the vaults? Finally, were they treated fairly by the company
in terms of royalties? Oh, and one more - I swear that I've
heard two or three versions of the Dum Dum Ditty credited to
the Goodies which are likely different mixes. Could you ask
if they did many takes and over-dubs?
Thanks Mick. I hope you let them know how much we adore them.
It's not just any group that can tackle a Shadow Morton
record with such great results!
Will : )
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:41:24 -0800
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: David Seville - Starlight Starbright 1957 / John Marascalco
Lyn:
> John Marascalco's song called Starlight Starbright was a hit
> in Australia for Lonnie Lee in 1960. (John produced what was
> probably the original by Portuguese Joe & the Tennessee
> Rockabillys on Surf in '57).
Very interesting to see that mentioned. I did a story on the Surf
label for Record Exchanger Magazine long ago. Marascalco was a
guest one day when I was taking a songwriting class from Tommy
Boyce circa '75.
gem
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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 16:07:52 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Dana Gillespie's "Foolish Seasons" LP / Lotti Golden
Joe Foster wrote:
> That's not the RevOla site...which is http://www.revola.co.uk
> and Spectropoppers get to hear the news first!
Keep up the good work. Now I want to know, when's somebody
going to put Lotti Golden's Motor-Cycle LP (OG on Atco, I have
it, but vinyl's not so portable as CDs, so ...) out on CD and
make my life complete.
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Message: 14
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:46:56 -0800
From: Gary Myers
Subject: Re: Mike Clifford update
Dave:
> Mike (Clifford) wanted everyone to know he's alive and well,
> happily living in Hollywood with his cat Miss Luna
Our band, the Portraits, backed Mike for a song or two on a show
at I.Magnin in Bev. Hills in '67. It seems to me that he sang
"More" on that show. (Don't ask me why I remember things like
that). Also on the show were Boyce & Hart (but no performing),
Don & the Goodtimes, and Ian Whitcomb.
I actually learned "Close To Cathy" back in '63. A couple yrs ago,
just for the heck of it, I re-learned it - this time with the
right chords - and I hope to surprise some people and do it on a
gig one of these days.
gem
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