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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 18 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Candy & the Kisses "The 81" / Some charts can be a bit deceiving
From: Tony Leong
2. Re: workin' it with the Fourmost Authority
From: James Botticelli
3. Re: Candy & the Kisses "The 81" / The Action
From: MopTopMike
4. Re: Candy & the Kisses "The 81"
From: James Botticelli
5. an early Christmas / Michael Jackson / Tony Orlando
From: Artie Wayne
6. Missing Top 40 radio?
From: Artie Wayne
7. Re: workin' it with the Fourmost Authority
From: Stephane Rebeschini
8. Re: workin' it with the Fourmost Authority / "Happy"
From: Orion
9. "Don't Worry Baby" (is there a finer song?)
From: James Botticelli
10. Re: Candy & the Kisses "The 81"
From: Kingsley Abbott
11. Re: Missing Top 40 radio?
From: Andrew Hickey
12. Re: Missing Top 40 radio?
From: Phil X Milstein
13. A couple of Cameo-Parkway questions
From: David Coyle
14. Re: an early Christmas / Michael Jackson / Tony Orlando
From: Laura Pinto
15. Re: A couple of Cameo-Parkway questions
From: Will Stos
16. Re: "Don't Worry Baby" (is there a finer song?)
From: Regina Litman
17. Re: an early Christmas
From: James Botticelli
18. Speakin' spanning
From: Phil X Milstein
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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 06:49:02 -0000
From: Tony Leong
Subject: Re: Candy & the Kisses "The 81" / Some charts can be a bit deceiving
Hasse: Some charts can be a bit deceiving. It's funny that you
mentioned that Marvelettes tune, because a great source of mine
(my Mom and Aunt Annie in many cases) fondly recall (or bought
45's) of many low-charting songs that we today would think nobody
gave a hoot about in the '60's. For instance, my family, and
other people I know that grew up in NYC in the '60's recall
"Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead" or "He's A Good Guy" as WELL as
they recall "Playboy" or"Dont Mess With Bill". I guess those
songs received regional airplay (or on R & B stations), and they
were included in the live acts (for those lucky enough to see
Murray the K Shows and such)!! Same with the Vandellas' "Love
Makes Me Do Foolish Things" by the Vandellas--people recall THAT
more than the original A-side "You've Been In Love Too Long".
And to keep this in a more Spectropop mode: The same can be
said about "Born To Be Together" by the Ronettes. THAT song was
an NYC hit, not a national smash. Come to think of it, "Stay
Awhile" by Dusty Springfield reached #38, but nobody seems to be
able to sing "All I See Is You" which hit #20. Weird-huh??
Tony Leong
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:57:21 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: workin' it with the Fourmost Authority
Phil X Milstein wrote:
> I think anyone would be hard-pressed to nominate a cooler record
> than "Dance, Dance," by the Fourmost Authority.
The record which I fortunately have a copy of lists them as
Fourmost. The song was a minor hit in Boston. Great rekkid.
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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:23:36 -0000
From: MopTopMike
Subject: Re: Candy & the Kisses "The 81" / The Action
Dave Monroe wrote:
> But hope you're familiar with The Action's cover of "IMLR."
> They also recorded excellent covers of "I'll Keep On Holding On"
> (The Marvelettes), "Since I Lost My Baby" (The Temptations), "I
> Love You (Yeah!)" (The Impressions), "Baby You've Got It"
> (Maurice and The Radiants), "Hey Sah-Lo-Ney" (Mickey Lee Lane),
> "Land of 100 Dances" (Cannibal and The Headhunters), "The Cissy"
> and "Harlem Shuffle" (Bob and Earl), and that's just what was
> either officially released or what comes to mind.
Gotta strongly disagree here, I think the Action are WAAAYYY over-
rated. They do limp covers of great soul songs, one of the UK
mod combos who seem to be praised quite often via restrospective
history. I have their comps and I never play them anymore. "Since
I Lost My Baby" would be the best, ahem, "remake" of the lot listed,
but even then, you can't compete with the Tempts original. And the
remake of "I'll Keep Holding On" is like fingernails scraping a
chalk blackboard! But there is an Action tune I really dig, by far
and above the best song they recorded: "Wasn't It You"..now that's
soulful!
MopTopMike
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 23:01:15 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Candy & the Kisses "The 81"
Tony Leong wrote:
> Someone recently showed me how the 81 was done!! Bear with me,
> I can DO it, but describing it is a bit hard!! Just bend both
> arms up at the elbow and in an upward swim-like motion, cross
> both hands in front of each other twice then hold up both
> index fingers.
I done the 81. It was basically--at least where I did it--an
exaggerated walk where one bent one's knees slightly and sort of
kept the knees close to each other and then spread the feet out
further than the knees keeping them pigeontoed. And one strutted
in that position swinging one's arms like walking only that too
was exaggerated. While one did those things one bent forward
then backward slowly like once every 8 beats or so. Almost like
power-walking. Does that ring anyone's bell?
JB/Still does the Pop~Eye
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Message: 5
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 07:51:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: an early Christmas / Michael Jackson / Tony Orlando
I'm proud to announce that "Little Christmas Tree" by Michael
Jackson, which I co-wrote 30 years ago with George Clinton on
the legendary "Motown Christmas album, is now available in
several different compilations.
In Europe it's on two Universal packages, "Various Artists -
Number one Christmas" and a special 9 song Christmas cd that
includes songs by Elton John and ABBA.
The song has also been added to the newly re-mastered "Jackson
5 Christmas album".
Last year I co-wrote a song with Toni Wine, "I Lose it When I
Hear "White Christmas", that has just been released by Tony
Orlando and Dawn on their first new album in 20 years.
Although I can't put Tony Orlando's version up on Musica, I'm
trying to get permission to put Toni Wine's incredible demo
online.
regards, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com
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Message: 6
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 07:03:33 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Missing Top 40 radio?
I grew up in a Bronx ghetto in New York City and although it
was a mostly Black musical envoironment I developed a diverse
taste in popular music through Top 40 radio.
For a long time I've missed the Top 40 radio format of the 60's,
where I could listen to Brook Benton and Marty Robbins back to
back...where I could sing along with the Drifters, followed by
the Beach Boys, without missing a beat.
I went into the music buisness, 45 years ago thrilled with the
possibility of writing songs for my favorite artists in many
musical styles. I was fortunate to have cuts by Aretha
Franklin, Leroy VanDyke, the Kingsmen, Tom Jones, the 5th
Dimension and Michael Jackson to name a few.
If I were starting out today I would be hard pressed to find
one source where I could find all the kinds of music that I
like and would like to be part of.
Ironically, I stopped missing the radio Top 40 format after
watching part of a TV show last week...the American Music
Awards!
I realized that the most successful recordings in each genre,
Pop, Rock, Rap and Country couldn't be played back to back
today and expect to hold an audience. Like our society, each
group plays to their own audience, without much thought given
to "outsiders".
I guess I'll have to keep watching each of the top 20
countdowns on MTV, VH1, BET, and CMT to keep up on what's
happening.
Regards, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com
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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 11:10:51 +0100
From: Stephane Rebeschini
Subject: Re: workin' it with the Fourmost Authority
Phil X Milstein wrote:
> I think anyone would be hard-pressed to nominate a cooler record
> than "Dance, Dance," by the Fourmost Authority.
It's indeed a nice single. The exact name is FOURMOST AUTHORITY,
the reference GNP Crescendo 386. The B side, "Left Hand Lawyer",
is good too. Both songs were written by Karp, Whelchel, Holloway
(Neil Music Inc-Parro Music, BMI) Production by the mysterious
"2-D Production".
Stephane
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 09:43:27 -0600
From: Orion
Subject: Re: workin' it with the Fourmost Authority / "Happy"
Regina Litman wrote:
> What happened with "Dance, Dance" on Washington area radio in
> the summer of 1967 also happened with a song called "Happy".
> Two different versions were played at different times and on
> different radio stations. The Blades of Grass' version was
> played on WPGC early in the summer, while the Sunshine Company's
> version was played on WEAM later in the season.
I part time DJ'd in Kansas City, MO back when Happy was released.
We specialed each version on our "Make or Break It" call in. It
was where people could call in and vote on if they liked the song
or not. If they voted it down (Happy by Blades of Grass) it
"normally" did not get additional playtime but The Sunshine
Company got a thumbs up probably because they were already known.
I indicated "normally" because sometimes songs got on the
playlist even though their popularity was not real good. The
station general manager and head DJ had "deals" with some labels.
It was and maybe still is pretty common. The other radio station
in town did play the "Blades of Grass" version however.
Orion
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 10:40:46 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: "Don't Worry Baby" (is there a finer song?)
Regina Litman wrote:
> In April 1964, one non-British act my friend and I probably
> would have liked a lot was the Beach Boys. They have a
> similarly-titled song called "In My Room" that I consider to
> be one of my all-time LEAST favorite songs by the group.
But the ballads were the essence of the BB's. In no particular
order, these are my Top Three:
I Guess I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (says it ALL)
Don't Worry Baby (is there a finer song?)
Summer Means New Love (my daughter's piano teacher, a hardcore
jazzbo, marvels at Wilson's chordal sensibilities on this one).
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 18:01:59 -0000
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: Re: Candy & the Kisses "The 81"
Julio wrote:
> The 81 (which I´m convinced would had been Pythagoras' favorite
> dance).
Certainly, along with any English Square dance...Have I got the
right angle on this?
Kingsley (who never graduated beyond the Surfer Stomp)
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 22:01:03 +0000
From: Andrew Hickey
Subject: Re: Missing Top 40 radio?
Previously:
> If I were starting out today I would be hard pressed to find
> one source where I could find all the kinds of music that I
> like and would like to be part of.
Actually, I think that will be easier in the future, with sites
like http://pandora.com . I've been using that site a lot - it's
a streaming 'radio' service that lets you tell it what music you
like and then programs other music it thinks you'll like. It
lets you rate that music and you can very quickly get a very
eclectic selection of stuff you'll like. So far today I've heard
(amongst others) Marc Almond, The Kinks, Jonathan Richman, Scott
Joplin, Jandek, Van Dyke Parks, Moxy Fruvous, Elmore James, Tito
Puente and The Rutles. I know my teenage brother (who loves
Eminem and 50 Cent but also Simon & Garfunkel and Stevie Wonder)
is using it to discover new music too. Services like this, which
will only improve over the years, will let those who are only
interested in one niche hear that and maybe broaden it slightly,
while letting those of us who want to hear Louis Armstrong next
to the White Stripes next to Curt Boettcher discover new and
interesting stuff...
--
DUMB ANGEL HAS UPDATED 7/11/05! - Little Brian In Smileland
http://dumbangel.keenspace.com
A webcomic about Smile
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:23:39 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Missing Top 40 radio?
Artie Wayne wrote:
> If I were starting out today I would be hard pressed to find
> one source where I could find all the kinds of music that I
> like and would like to be part of.
It's true that, due largely to technological developments,
audiences in ALL media have become more and more splintered over
the years. I contend that trend has been driven by the
advertising industry, as the more narrowly advertisers can focus
on their target audiences, the less money they waste due to
overshooting. Eventually they will figure out how to tailor
every single entity they sponsor to a single, individual
audience member.
For my needs, though, while I too feel the loss that Artie
eulogizes, that negative is outweighed by the plus of having my
tastes -- which, admittedly, tend toward the obscure -- not
merely more narrowly catered to, but, in many cases, catered to
AT ALL.
If we stick around long enough, however, I think the trend
toward narrowcasting will turn back on itself to an extent,
with individual venues -- on, for instance, the Internet,
satellite radio or etc. -- specializing in "broad"casting
formats based on the old models.
> Ironically, I stopped missing the radio Top 40 format after
> watching part of a TV show last week...the American Music
> Awards!
I'm not sure if what you mean by this, Artie, is that the AMAs
seem to serve a notably wider audience span than other programs
of today. If so, I'd attribute that to its being a Dick Clark
production (hellfire, the AMA is actually a Dick Clark
INVENTION), as Dick is someone who recognizes as well as any TV
producer since Ed Sullivan the potential for casting broadly.
What I'd like to know, though, is: whither the variety show?
Are they simply too expensive to produce, and too subject to
the retreat of the "broad"casting model? I still think there is
room for at least ONE old-school variety show on today's
American tube. I believe the last one tried was hosted by Dolly
Parton, which crashed and burned so quickly it convinced
producers that the format itself was no longer viable. I wish
someone would try again, though, but who would be the most
ideal host for it?
Orion wrote:
> I indicated "normally" because sometimes songs got on the
> playlist even though their popularity was not real good. The
> station general manager and head DJ had "deals" with some
> labels. It was and maybe still is pretty common.
Did listeners complain when songs they voted "thumbs down" on
made it to the playlist anyway?
--Phil M.
--Phil M.
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:22:36 -0800 (PST)
From: David Coyle
Subject: A couple of Cameo-Parkway questions
What kind of liner notes are included with the individual best-of
collections? All of them look pretty generic -- I almost expect
them to have one little foldout insert with three paragraphs of
the most basic info. Even my CamPark "30 Original Recordings"
disc of ? and the Mysterians has that much.
Another question -- are there any plans to reissue any of the
less prolific artists in the Cameo-Parkway stable, besides what
was included on the boxed set? One-hit wonders, artists who maybe
recorded one or two singles before fading into obscurity? What
about Bob Seger's early recordings with the Last Heard and the
Bob Seger System? Is that up to Seger? How about the first Ohio
Express LP? Any plans for that?
Just curious...
David
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:45:02 -0000
From: Laura Pinto
Subject: Re: an early Christmas / Michael Jackson / Tony Orlando
Artie ... how ya doing? Congratulations on the lasting success
of "Little Christmas Tree." It's great to see the wonderful old
tunes finding new life in the 2000's.
I'm busily wiping my keyboard off, having had a bit of a drooling
incident when I saw that there's a chance of us being able to
listen to Toni Wine's demo of "I Lose It When I Hear White
Christmas!" Artie, if you can arrange this - God and Santa Claus
willing - what a holiday gift this would be.
Thanks,
Laura
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Message: 15
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 01:26:45 -0000
From: Will Stos
Subject: Re: A couple of Cameo-Parkway questions
David Coyle wrote:
> What kind of liner notes are included with the individual best-of
> collections? All of them look pretty generic -- I almost expect
> them to have one little foldout insert with three paragraphs of
> the most basic info.
They're passable and the Orlons and Dee Dee Sharpe liner notes (the
two CDs I have) include interviews with the artists. But there are
no additional photos or extensive stories. I was slightly
disappointed with them.
Will : )
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Message: 16
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 03:16:43 -0000
From: Regina Litman
Subject: Re: "Don't Worry Baby" (is there a finer song?)
James Botticelli wrote:
> But the ballads were the essence of the [Beach Boys]. In no
> particular order, these are my Top Three:
> I Guess I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (says it ALL)
> Don't Worry Baby (is there a finer song?)
> Summer Means New Love (my daughter's piano teacher, a hardcore
> jazzbo, marvels at Wilson's chordal sensibilities on this one).
I like some of the Beach Boys' ballads including "Don't Worry
Baby" and "God Only Knows" (until this month, the only song
connecting Neil Diamond and Brian Wilson - Neil did it on one of
his more forgettable 1970s albums, while Brian sings backup on a
song on the digi-pak edition of Neil's new album). But there are
a few I don't like, including "Surfer Girl" and the
aforementioned "In My Room".
I don't think I've ever heard "Summer Means New Love". The title
"I Guess I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" sounds a bit
familiar. If it's on the big box set that came out in the early
or middle 1990s, I've heard it, but I can't recall it right now.
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Message: 17
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 22:33:55 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: an early Christmas
Laura Pinto wrote:
> Artie ... how ya doin'? Congratulations on the lasting success
> of "Little Christmas Tree." It's great to see the wonderful old
> tunes finding new life in the 2000's.
Here in Boston Oldies 103 (CBS last I knew) is playing nothing
but Christmas classics from now until the magic day. Its like a
breath of fresh air believe it or not.
JB
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 20:11:14 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Speakin' spanning
Is the Clique that covered "Splash I" for Scepter in 1967 the same
Clique that covered "Sugar On Sunday" for White Whale a couple of
years later? If so, were they the only group to cover a span as
wide as that between Tommy James & The Shondells and 13th Floor
Elevators?
--Phil M.
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