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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 9 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Danny Williams, R.I.P.
From: Mike Edwards
2. Kelly Green
From: Ayrton Mugnaini
3. Re: Christmas fakes? / Danny Williams
From: Julio Niño
4. Re: Diane Ray, Rae, Renay (whew!)
From: Ronnie Allen
5. Tony Meehan and Danny Williams, R.I.P.
From: Mick Patrick
6. Re: Ciao Baby - help!
From: Robert Pingel
7. Cosmic and Larriot Records of Canada
From: Paul Urbahns
8. Isleys in London
From: Felonious
9. Deano "I'm In Love With A Gonk"
From: John Frederick Brown
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 20:29:41 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Danny Williams, R.I.P.
Alan Karr writes:
> The terrific ballad singer Danny Williams, best known for
> the UK hit of "Moon River" and a US hit, "White On White",
> has died.
Thanks for this information, Alan and the link to the obituary
in the London Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1918198,00.html
Danny Williams had an interesting career during the Spectropop
years. As Alan mentions he had a big UK hit with "Moon River"
which he took to # 1 right around Christmas 1961. He, like many
other pre-Beatles artists, saw his chart fortunes decline as
"beat" took over. His last 60s' UK chart entry was in February
1963 when "My Own True Love" reached # 45 – at the time that
the Beatles second 45, "Please Please Me" was at #1. It was
almost as if Danny was bowing out as the Beatles were coming in.
But as pop pickers know, Danny's story didn't end there. It
appears that American producers and arrangers were interested
in working with his terrific voice. Nelson Riddle hooked up
with Danny to release the "Swinging For You" LP in 1962. Alma
Cogan wrote the sleeve notes. In March 1964, Danny turned up on
the US charts with the Lor Crane-Bernice Ross song, "White On
White" with an arrangement by Don Costa. It hit # 9 and had pop
stylings that Bobby Vinton would have been envious of. I don't
know the story but I cannot imagine that this was planned as a
British Invasion release; it would have been too early in the
game and the song didn't fit into the genre. "White On White"
was issued in the UK on the HMV label but without chart success.
I have played another one of Danny's US 45s to musica as a
tribute to him. "The Stranger" is a top-notch beat ballad
written by Brill Building great, Helen Miller with Roger Atkins.
>From 1965, it was produced by Jack Gold but didn't get a UK
release. Enjoy and R.I.P., Danny. It's tough to lose people
this time of year.
Mike Edwards
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 17:12:43 -0300 (ART)
From: Ayrton Mugnaini
Subject: Kelly Green
Hello everybody!
Alan V. Karr wrote
> ...looking over my copy of Paul Pelletier's 1986 guide to
> Columbia/Decca/HMV singles...
BTW, I'm after two recodings on Columbia by Aussie singer Kelly
Green, released on a single c., 1965, Do You/Tell Me That You
Love Me Too (don't remember which sides were A or B). Does anyone
have this?
Cheerio,
Ayrton
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 21:27:05 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: Re: Christmas fakes? / Danny Williams
Hola Everybody.
Kingley Abott:
> ... As a bit of festive fun here is a list of Christmas songs.
> I have made up three of them (only three I promise) - can you
> spot the fakes? ...
I´m always in the mood for playing, and this is a fun game. I
laughed my heart out reading the list. I´m not sure which the
fake stowaways can be (there are too many that I´m not familiar
with), but I´ll try my luck.
Let´s see:
- "I´m Coming Down Your Chimney"
- "Jingle My Christmas Bells Baby"
- "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town A Treacher".
Chao.
Julio Niño.
PS: many thanks to Mike Edwards for playing the gorgeous "The
Stranger" by Danny Williams. I loved it.
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 16:17:13 EST
From: Ronnie Allen
Subject: Re: Diane Ray, Rae, Renay (whew!)
Lyn wrote:
> Speaking of confusion, Ronnie, I'm honoured to be referred to
> as a 'lady' (you could've used any number of other less
> flattering synonyms!) but in fact I'm a bloke: kind of like
> Australia's answer to the Boy Named Sue.
It's not the first time I've made such a mistake! LOL :)
And, to tell you the truth, the reason that I use the name
"RonnieOldiesGuy" is to let people know that I am Ronnie -- as
in Ronald and not as in Veronica!
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 22:19:55 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Tony Meehan and Danny Williams, R.I.P.
Clunkie:
> It might also be the appropriate time to mention the recent
> death of TONY MEEHAN, ex-SHADOWS, who wrote and produced
> many of LOUISE CORDET's records, following an accident at
> home a couple of weeks ago.
Sad news, that. As the drummer of the Drfters/Shadows, Tony
Meehan played on many of Cliff Richard's early hits,
influencing a whole generation of Brits. Soon the Shadows
landed their own deal and delivered a string of unforgettable
instrumentals - "Apache", "Man Of Mystery", "FBI" and
"Frightened City", to name just four. In 1961, at the peak of
the group's fame, he quit and joined the A&R dept of Decca
Records. His first hit production was "I'm Just A Baby" for
Louise Cordet. In 1963 Tony returned to performing as a duo
with Jet Harris, another ex-Shadow. Together they charted with
the memorable "Diamonds", "Scarlett O’Hara" and "Applejack",
all of which he produced. For a while Jet Harris & Tony Meehan
looked set to rival the Shadows in the instrumental stakes, but
the duo broke up after Harris's infamous car crash. Before long
Tony had resumed his career as a producer. No doubt a proper
obituary will be made available at the S'pop Remembers section,
but in the meantime I have posted to musica one of his
productions, a very chic piece of British ye-ye. Details are:
Louise Cordet "Which Way The Wind Blows" (UK Decca F.11673,
1963); written by Stellman/Meehan; produced by Tony Meehan:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
Alan Karr writes:
> The terrific ballad singer Danny Williams, best known for
> the UK hit of "Moon River" and a US hit, "White On White",
> has died:
> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1918198,00.html
Mike Edwards:
> ...I have played another one of Danny's US 45s to musica
> as a tribute to him. "The Stranger" is a top-notch beat
> ballad written by Brill Building great, Helen Miller with
> Roger Atkins. From 1965, it was produced by Jack Gold but
> didn't get a UK release. Enjoy and R.I.P., Danny. It's tough
> to lose people this time of year.
Wow, what a great track. The lyrics and arrangement are
beautiful. Previously, I'd always thought fondly of Danny
Williams as "the South African Johnny Mathis". From now on I
shall remember him as "the black Gene Pitney". The Times
obituary is a good read, everyone.
R.I.P.
Mick Patrick
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 11:52:07 -0800 (PST)
From: Robert Pingel
Subject: Re: Ciao Baby - help!
Randy wrote:
> Sometime in the late 60's as a kid I owned a 45 called Ciao
> Baby that I'm pretty sure was on RCA Victor as a white label
> promo. It's the artist name I've forgotten - I'm convinced
> it was a former teen idol like Frankie Avalon or Paul Anka,
> but I can't find a reference to it...
Are you absolutely sure of the title? There's a song by Sergio
Franchi titled Ciao, Ciao on the RCA label, circa 1965.
Rob Pingel
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 22:11:03 -0500
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Cosmic and Larriot Records of Canada
I am researching an American label that had some material issued
in Canada on the Cosmic and Larriot labels. I know that these
labels also issued material originally released in the United
States on the PIckwick 33 budget priced label. The record jackets
even have the standard Pickwick 33 reissue box with the wording
gently modified to say Larriott 33 instead of Pickwick.
There is no addresses on the jackets but I am guessing it is an
ARC product. Does anyone on the list know if I am correct? Is
there a discography available anywhere for the 500 series of
Cosmic / Larriot albums. You can email me directly to avoid
responses on the list.
Thanks!
Paul Urbahns
Radcliff, KY
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 15:45:43 -0800
From: Felonious
Subject: Isleys in London
Artie Wayne:
> The next time I saw them was in London 1964, when we all were
> staying at the infamous Madison Hotel, right off of Hyde Park.
The Isley Brothers appeared on Ready Steady Go singing Stagger
Lee and also on Thank Your Lucky stars that trip.
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/gallery/2005/03/17/isleys.jpg
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 01:12:41 -0000
From: John Frederick Brown
Subject: Deano "I'm In Love With A Gonk"
Mark Maldwyn wrote:
> Is this the same Deano who won Opportunity Knocks, came from
> Tiger Bay and was the petite artist who recorded "I'm in Love
> with a Gonk"?
Yes, thanks for identifing another two songs. I knew there was
a "Gonk" in there somewhere but wasn't sure if it was a "A" side
or "B". Gemma says her Mom is sending me something for Christmas,
who knows I may have the answer to my question? Any Deano mp3
files? Found this if your interested:
http://www.spatty.demon.co.uk/nostalgia/deano/
Thanks
jfb
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