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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 11 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Christmas Countdown Day 3
From: Artie Wayne
2. Re: Herb Bernstein 60's Discogarphy
From: Brent Cash
3. Randy Poe > Nino Tempo
From: Anna S
4. Wrecking Crewe
From: Phil X Milstein
5. Re: Jerry Lordan
From: Alan V Karr
6. flash TV alert
From: Phil X Milstein
7. Alan O'Day > Sue Thompson
From: RonnieOldiesGuy@aol.com
8. They say there's Always Magic in the Air
From: Laura Pinto
9. Re: new Artie Wayne song
From: Bill George
10. Christmas songs
From: Frank Murphy
11. Christmas Countdown Day 2
From: Artie Wayne
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 19:53:57 -0000
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Christmas Countdown Day 3
How ya' doin'? This morning I walked about a half a
mile across the desert, to the 711, to pick up a
newspaper. I had to smile to myself, 'cause 10 years
ago, after my spinal operation, doctors said that I
may never walk again! I came back home to find a
message in my guest book about an incident I'd almost
forgotten.
It was from my old friend, Howard Wolen, who was the
engineer for another old friend, George Tobin's
biggest hits ["Sad Eyes", " I Think We're Alone Now",
"Bein' with You" and "Cruisin'"]. He reminded me of a
time in 1966, when I was recording his group, the
Coconut Groove, and I went to see them in Wilkes
Barre, Penn., opening for the Lovin' Spoonful. I
showed up in one of the poorest towns in America, in a
shiny mohair suit with my beautiful wife Sheilah,
dressed for a party. My silent partner, Irving Green,
who owned Mercury and Smash records, and the father of
one of my other partners, Kelli Ross, knew I once had
taken the unsigned Lovin' Spoonful to Columbia
records, with then partner Dave Kapralik, complete
with what became eventually became their first 3 top
10 records. Dave and I were shocked, when Columbia
record execs turned them down cold, because they
already had two "longhaired" groups, Paul Revere and
the Raiders and the Byrds!!
Howard mentions that Mr. Green sent me down with a
million dollar check to try and lure the Spoonful over
to Mercury Records. What Howard didn't know was the
check was unsigned and would only be honored if the
group actually signed with the label!!
And speaking of the Byrds, when I checked my e-mail I
found messages from my old friends, Roger McGuinn, who
once backed me up with Paul Simon at the Bitter End,
and the inventor of the wireless microphone, and
wireless guitar, former publicist, Kenny Schaffer.
You must excuse me, but my two "assistants", Whoppy
and Streaker, are crying for their breakfast. If you
haven't done so already, please drop by my website and
sign my new guestbook http://artiewayne.com I'm sure
you'll see a lot of old friends!
Merry Christmas, thanks and regards, Artie Wayne
P.S. I've asked Mick Patrick to put up a new demo that
Art Munson produced of "From the Inside", one of my
most recorded songs. I wrote it more than 30 years ago,
when my Grandmother passed away. she always said to me
when I was downhearted, ready to give up, "Go on Boy,
You can do it, it's only life there's nothin' to it...
Just the seein' through it "From the Inside". The
vocalist is Jannel Sadler. It's playing at musica now.
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 18:17:15 -0000
From: Brent Cash
Subject: Re: Herb Bernstein 60's Discogarphy
Hi all,
Some additions for Davie L. Gordon's massive list:
The Stampeders MGM K-13970
"Be A Woman" (Richard Dodson)
Arr. by Herb Bernstein & Richard Dodson
"I Don't Believe" (Ronnie King)
Arr. by Herb Bernstein & Ronnie King
Both sides prod. by Bob Morgan & Mel Shaw
San Francisco Earthquake Smash S-2203
"Hold The Night"/Sophia"
Both sides arr. and cond. by Herb Bernstein
Prod. by Steve & Bill Jerome
San Francisco Earthquake Smash S-2203
"The Day Lorraine Came Down"
Arr. & cond. by Herb Bernstein
"Everybody Laughed"
Arr. & cond. by Steve Jerome
Both sides prod. by Steve & Bill Jerome
Gloria Loring "Today" LP MGM E/SE 4499
Herb arranged:
"Hard Loving Loser"
"One Way Ticket"
"Today"
"Until It's Time For You To Go"
and "The Song Is Love"
Also, Ken Charmer, if you haven't yet gotten the credits
for the Distant Cousins 45: "Mr. Sebastian/Empty House",
Herb wasn't involved on it according to the label. Both
sides prod. by Al Kasha for Bob Crewe productions and
only Mr. Sebastian has an arranger credit: Bob Halley.
OK, hope this helps and for Christmas next year, how
about discographies for Artie Butler and Jimmy Wisner as
well?
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays all of you,
Brent Cash
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 19:44:33 -0000
From: Anna S
Subject: Randy Poe > Nino Tempo
Hello, Randy!
How exciting that you work for the legendary Leiber and Stoller!!
Thanks for the update on Nino Tempo. Since you are a friend of
his, please let him know that he still has many fans who
appreciate his years of work in the music business--his solo
instrumentals, his work in the "Wrecking Crew", his work in
playing on various artists' records over the years, the arranging
and producing, his solo vocals, and last, but not least, his
years of duo recordings with his sister, April. There are also a
number of Japanese, German, and even Russian websites on the
Internet that mention Nino and April's music. I'm sure that many
others besides me are still spinning the old platters and playing
the various tapes or CDs, etc. "Tea For Two"--who can resist a
cha-cha/calypso version of the old standard?-- and "Love Story"
are currently on my car's tape deck.
Anna S.
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 10:00:23 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Wrecking Crewe
Phil Chapman wrote:
> PHILLES 134 - Ike & Tina Turner
> Two To Tango (Manning - Hoffman)/
> A Man Is A Man Is A Man (Pete Antell)
> Prod: Bob Crewe
> Arr & Cond: Herb Bernstein
Faskinatin'. How did a Bob Crewe production wind up on Philles?
Curiously,
--Phil M.
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 20:37:29 -0000
From: Alan V Karr
Subject: Re: Jerry Lordan
Wes Smith wrote:
> Jerry Lordan surely did write some fine instrumentals for
> the Shadows, and also had a fine vocal on Capitol, "WHO
> COULD BE BLUER". Wonder how many forum members have heard
> this vocal?
Wes,
Who Could Be Bluer?, a top 20 British hit, actually found a
legitimate re-release buried on the EMI/Trio/Music For Pleasure
3 CD Set, "Hits From The 60s" CD Track 7 , Cat #724385982729.
Also has a lot of the usual EMI suspects, but some British hits
not often anthologized, i. e. Solomon King's "She Wears My
Ring", etc.
Let me recap a bit with some repeating of others comments.
Jerry Lordan passed away 10 years ago after his incandescent
songwriting-cum-performing career fizzled out amidst personal
and physical problems, mirroring the issues of the somewhat
equally troubled ex-Shadows bassist Jet Harris.
Signing with Parlophone-EMI (NB: Another talented pre-Beatles
Parlophone artist) as a performer who could also write a
catchy tune, Lordan had a few chart hits, most notably "I'll
Stay Single" (his later hit song for Louise Cordet, "I'm Just
a Baby" follows a similiar melodic path) and "Who Could Be
Bluer?" In parallel, Lordan started offering songs to
associated/EMI artists - Apache 1st went to Bert Weedon,
whose tame version went unissued leaving the way for the
classic Shadows track (virtually copied for the US hit by the
Danish guitarist Jorgen Ingmann with "Mr. Custer"-ish arrow
SFX added)
Although the Shadows recorded many other Lordan tracks, the
beautiful "Wonderful Land" is the absolute pinnacle - months
at #1 in England. All the while Lordan spun sonic gold for
others, whether it charted or not-Shane Fenton's I'm A Moody
Guy (on which he also played a striking electric ukelele),
Walk Away and John Barry's clavioline-infused Starfire (pre-
Telstar) to name a few. Lordan also found time to issue
several more singles and a rare LP "All My Own Work" (Hint: a
Lordan compilation would be very welcome at my house) Even a
lowly B-Side found favor in an unlikely place-"Do I Worry"
was ably covered by Brenda Lee.
By late 1961 Tony Meehan left the Shadows and EMI to take on
a production slot at Decca. I'm somewhat unclear of his exact
role in that some accounts posit him as an independent
producer a la Meek, or directly employed by British Decca.
Also, Meehan seemed to have had a hand in Decca's rejection
of the Beatles-at least one written account has him
halfheartedly making an offer to record the Beatles
independently after the rejection, at terms/costs that were
unpalatable to Brian Epstein.
Meehan's once & future bandmate Jet Harris, left the Shadows
himself soon after (apparently amidst some personal wrangling
with a very prominent ex-associate) and went solo, also at
Decca. It was a matter of time before the rhythm section
teamed up again, 1st with Meehan behind the traps on Harris'
discs and then formally on tour and co-credited. Harris' Man
>From Nowhere, featured in the JUST FOR FUN film is a real UK
instro treasure, expanding upon the Shadows oeuvre, with
noirish atmosphere.
Paul Pelletier's excellent Decca Singles Catalogue lists many
of these as Decca recordings made at Decca (some of the Jet
Harris solo records are listed as 'external' matrix (CPDR) -
not having the discs I dont know the credit although I know
Charles Blackwell produced at least one if not all)
Lordan & the ex-Shadows teamed up again and re-hit the heights
with Diamonds (of whom every UK Sessioner/Guitarist of note
claims to have played on) and Scarlett O'Hara. By now its late
summer 1963 and although the Beat Boom is well underway but
the future looked bright for all concerned-yet some days after
Harris & Meehan's last top 5 hit, Applejack was issued
(written by another successful tunesmith- Les VanDyke aka
Johnny Worth) Harris was involved in a horrible auto collision
with a bus while riding with his girlfriend, singer Billie
Davis in a chauffered limo (in some murky Garp-like
circumstance- something like 2 actors found themselves in
years ago-I cant verify anything here though) Coupled with his
already exhausting workload this effectively ended Harris'
career, and that of the Harris-Meehan duo. Meehan tried to
carry on solo but reverted to production duties.
Lordan soldiered on as well, (P. (Petrina) Lordan was his then-
wife credited with A Place In The Sun) but somewhat similiarly
to Michael Holliday and Lionel Bart-contrary to a very clean,
poppy image-Lordan suffered a series of emotional and physical
breakdowns after 1970 (drink, divorce combined with financial
trouble which forced him to unfortunately sell off his rights
to his hit compositions prior to the Shadows reissue era).
After a decade in the wilderness, he recovered and remarrried
but died aged 61 from liver/renal failure in 1995. Coming full
circle, after fighting off his own demons through the 60s 70s
and 80s, Harris reconnected personally with Lordan at the end.
RECORD COLLECTOR #196 tells the tale far better than I - two
compelling intertwined stories of rags to riches to rags, a
hidden episode in pop music history largely unknown to music
fans Stateside.
Regards,
Alan V. Karr
PS Why are you still reading this? Run out and get all the
Lordan/Shads/Harris-Meehan tracks you can lay your mitts on!
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 20:38:33 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: flash TV alert
Spectropop stars on U.S. TV tonight:
Darlene Love, on Letterman, for her annual how-can-we-avoid-
Jay-Thomas-this-time "XMas Baby Please Come Home" performance
Brian Wilson, on Jimmy Kimmell Live
View, tape, discuss, dig,
--Phil M.
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:33:47 EST
From: RonnieOldiesGuy@aol.com
Subject: Alan O'Day > Sue Thompson
Alan O'Day:
> I have really enjoyed the new friendships, some by e-mail and
> others in person, that have come out of my membership in this
> uplifitng group. I especially want to thank my pal Artie Wayne
> for threatening... er... strongly encouraging me to join &
> participate (hee hee). Wishing each of you a wonderful Holiday
> Season, and a HARMONIOUS 2006!
Great seeing you here!
Alan, I will always be grateful to you for recording a special
greeting for Sue Thompson when I did a one-hour live-by-phone
interview show with her two and a half years ago that originated
at a Fairless Hills, PA radio station and was also carried live
on the World Wide Web.
Sue is a wonderful lady and she was so very touched by your
kindness. I shall always treasure that interview and am forever
grateful for your participation in my show.
Speaking of Sue, I know that you and her shared many magical
moments together over the years. Rather than me mentioning any
details and thus stealing your thunder, perhaps you'd like to
share some thoughts about Sue and some of those moments.
I will tell people that Sue currently makes her home in Nevada
and (if I recall) lives about 40 miles from Las Vegas. I could
mention the town but I would probably embarrass myself by
spelling it wrong!
Alan, all my best wishes to you and your family for the happiest
of holidays!
Ronnie Allen
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 03:23:40 -0000
From: Laura Pinto
Subject: They say there's Always Magic in the Air
Hi, fellow Spectropoppers,
I have added a page on my site, Oldies Connection, to showcase
Ken Emerson's wonderful book, 'Always Magic In The Air: The
Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era.' The page
features an introduction from me followed by copy from Ken
Emerson, plus links to various online reviews, Ken's on-air
interview with WFMU from December 4th, and a dedicated
QuickTopic message board. To access the page, click here:
http://lpintop.tripod.com/oldiesconnection/id68.html
For those of you who didn't catch the earlier threads here on
the Spectropop Group, 'Always Magic...' covers the lives and
careers of seven powerhouse songwriting teams from New York
City: Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman; Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller; Burt
Bacharach/Hal David; Neil Sedaka/Howard Greenfield; Barry
Mann/Cynthia Weil; Gerry Goffin/Carole King; and Jeff Barry/
Ellie Greenwich.
This book is a valuable resource for those of us who are fans
of the Brill Building sound. I'm learning a lot from it, and
I've come across the names of several Spectropop members in it
as well. Hopefully my web page will do its part in helping to
promote the book - and readers can learn who put the bomp in
the bomp-a-bomp-a-bomp.
Laura
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 02:59:17 EST
From: Bill George
Subject: Re: new Artie Wayne song
Hi Artie,
I LOVE your new song. In fact, if I get the chance, I'll perform
and record it. So how's that! :)
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. This won't be my best
Christmas, but I'm hoping for a good new year!
Bill
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 07:33:00 -0800
From: Frank Murphy
Subject: Christmas songs
I'm playing Christmas songs on www.radiomagnetic.com NOW
between 14:30 and 16:30 GMT. There are some Fakes on the
following playlist:
http://www.radiomagnetic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t='59
FrankM
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 24 Dec 2005 10:05:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Christmas Countdown Day 2
Frank Murphy wrote:
> I'm playing Christmas songs on www.radiomagnetic.com
> NOW between 14:30 and 16:30 GMT. There are some Fakes
> on the following playlist:
> http://www.radiomagnetic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t='59
Hey Frank... that's great!!...But are they playing any
of MY Christmas songs? Are they playing, "Little
Christmas Tree" by Michael Jackson, that I wrote with
George Clinton, Jr. 33 years ago, which is available
on the Legendary Motown Christmas album, the newly
remastered Jackson 5 Christmas album, and the UNIVERSAL
CHRISTMAS compilation, that features Christmas cuts by
ABBA and Elton John?
Frank...Are they playing the new song I wrote with Toni
Wine, "I Lose It When I Hear "White Christmas", which
is on the Tony Orlando and Dawn "Reunion" CD? Well, I
want to send you a FREE mp3 of it, whether they are or
not!!
"I Lose it When I Hear White Christmas", is one of the
top three recordings I've ever had, out of 250 cover
records in my 45 year career!!
As soon as I reply to your post, I'm sending you an mp3
of it. All I ask is that if you like it then SHARE it
with your friends, and tell them if they like it, then
Share it with their friends, and so on, and so on. I
haven't discussed this with my co-writer, the artist,
the CD releasing company or Spectropop.
If they want to sue me...OK, SUE ME!! I refuse to let
a recording as great as this, go unnoticed. So last
night I sent an mp3 to EVERYONE in my address book and
asked them, if they like to send it to EVERYONE in
their address book, and so on, and so on!!
ENJOY...TO THE WORLD!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Regards, Artie Wayne
P.S. If you haven't signed my guestbook yet, remember
it's closed to new entries on Dec.31st. but remain on
display forever. just click onto http://artiewayne.com
and leave your mark for posterity.
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