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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 13 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Baby Washington > Pat Thomas > Sheila North > Playmates
From: Mick Patrick
2. The Escorts > Neil Diamond
From: Mike Edwards
3. Bill Medley's latest gig
From: Anthony Reichardt
4. Baby Washington > "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face"
From: Dave Monroe
5. Hullabaloo
From: Bill Mulvy
6. Re: James Ray & George Harrison
From: John Fox
7. Re: Stranded In The Jungle
From: Phil X Milstein
8. Re: Wilson Pickett
From: Einar Einarsson Kvaran
9. Re: Playmates: "Piece of the Sky"
From: Robert Pingel
10. Re: Playmates: "Piece of the Sky"
From: Ashley Wells
11. Re: I Can't Wait To See My Baby's Face
From: Jeff Lemlich
12. Re: L.A. record stores
From: Anthony Reichardt
13. Robert Margouleff
From: Mike Rashkow
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 19:14:13 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Baby Washington > Pat Thomas > Sheila North > Playmates
Mike Edwards:
> (Aretha Franklin) does a fine version of "I Can't Wait
> Until I See My Baby's Face", which was an oft-recorded
> but never charted track, with great versions from Baby
> Washington, Spyder Turner, Dusty Springfield, Dee Dee
> Warwick and Pat Thomas.
Now we're talking! Although not a huge hit, Baby Washington's
version did reach #93 in March 1964. I'd imagine it was a
much bigger hit in the New York area. Fantastic record!
> ... the other side of (Pat Thomas's) 1964 version on Verve
> was another great title, "The Long Long Night". As I've
> only heard this in mp3 format, can anyone confirm that the
> writer was Jerry Ragovoy/Norman Meade. It sounds well up
> to his high standard ... with some Bacharach thrown in.
I agree, I think this is the better side. Yes indeed, the
song was written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bob Elgin. Anyone
interested in the full credits can view a label scan at the
S'pop Photos section: http://tinyurl.com/czcr6
Ashley Wells:
> Sheila North's "I Won't Play Second Fiddle" on Catch is a
> great one, and very obscure. It's known to be classed as
> a Northern Soul rarity, and It's more of an uptempo teen/
> girl group classic. I can play it to musica if many of
> you don't know it.
Yes please, Ash - it sounds right up my alley, and I suspect
Mike Edwards' too.
Rob Indart:
> Does anybody know who wrote The Playmates' single "Piece
> Of The Sky," on Colpix? It sounds like if it was a Leiber
> and Stoller production, but I'm not sure. I think it's
> probably the best Playmates record issued, it has that
> Brill Building feel to it.
Sounds good - I'd love to hear this one too. Is it the same
song as recorded by Verdelle Smith? If so, that's one great
song, and it was written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:06:06 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: The Escorts > Neil Diamond
Robert writes:
> Does anybody know where I can find The Escorts' "You Can't
> Even Be My Friend" on CD? The only information I have on this
> recording is that Jack Nitzsche arranged and conducted the
> session. I'm not sure whether this is the same Escorts group
> on Coral that had Richard Perry and Genya Ravan as members.
Great track, Robert. I heard it for the first time a couple of
weeks ago and would like to thank a fellow member for introducing
me to it. It's also a Belgian popcorn favorite. I doubt it's on
CD. As for them being the same group that recorded "Somewhere"
and others on Coral (around 1962/3), this entry in Soulful Kinda
Music may explain:
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/escorts.htm
The group members' names listed there are different from the
ones you mention. Also, the "You Can't Even Be My Friend"
Escorts sound a little more contemporary (for 1963, that is)
than the Coral group – no doubt the result of Jack Nitzsche's
involvement.
Another group of Escorts, these apparently from Liverpool, cut
a great 45 for UK Fontana in 1964, "The One To Cry", which even
nudged it's way into the UK Top-50.
I believe the writing credits went to Weiss-Schlaks, the same
team that brought us Alice Wonderland's 1963 girl-group goodie,
"He's Mine". Does anyone know of a US version of the Escorts'
"The One To Cry"? Alan Clayson in "The Beat Merchants" seems to
think that the Solitaires recorded it but I've never seen this
corroborated and I somehow doubt it.
But talking of the Solitaires, they recorded a Neil Diamond
song for MGM in 1964, "Fool That I Am". This and other early
60s' Neil Diamond compositions are nicely detailed at:
http://iaisnd.com/biography.cfm?id=`
Neil wrote Billy Fury's "Where Do You Run?"? I didn't know that.
Depending on your taste, the list shows a number of Neil Diamond
pre-"Solitary Man" titles that are as good as anything he ever
recorded subsequently.
Mike
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:16:49 -0000
From: Anthony Reichardt
Subject: Bill Medley's latest gig
In July 2005, Orange County California's newest venue, THE
OC PAVILLION Performing Arts Theatre opened with Righteous
Brother, BILL MEDLEY assuming the role of 'Chairman Of The
Board'. At 801 North Main Street in Santa Ana California,
it is ten blocks north of the location where he an Bobby
Hatfield began their careers at John's Black Derby.
Check out the website: http://www.ocpavillion.com/
Anthony Reichardt
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:31:23 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Baby Washington > "I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face"
Mike Edwards wrote:
> (Aretha Franklin) does a fine version of "I Can't Wait
> Until I See My Baby's Face", which was an oft-recorded
> but never charted track, with great versions from Baby
> Washington, Spyder Turner, Dusty Springfield, Dee Dee
> Warwick and Pat Thomas.
Finally scored a 45 of the Baby (Jeanette) Washington
version, thanks, didn't know of the DDW, PT or ST (a
current favorite of mine, by the way, especially his
"You're Good Enough for Me") versions, so I'll get on
those (I almost had a heart attack when I dug out a
cache of copies at a shop recently, then another one
when I noticed they were dogged well beyond playability,
but at least I found a decent copy going for half of the
asking price for the last one to cross my path, so ...).
Anyone care to comment on the relative virtues of the
various versions? Meanwhile, let me take the opportunity
again to note Saint Etienne's use of that flute opening
to the Dusty Springfield version on their sublime "Noting
Can Stop Us Now" (which was in turn covered by Kylie
Minogue [?!]).
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:39:24 -0600
From: Bill Mulvy
Subject: Hullabaloo
Phil X Milstein:
> I bring up Hullabaloo's many shortcomings to indicate just
> how exciting (despite their reliance on lip-syncing)
> Shindig and Shivaree could be. Things really moved on the
> latter two shows, and clips from them are almost always a
> solid treat to watch.
FYI the Joanie Sommers clip of "Don't Pity Me" on one of the
Hullabaloo DVDs is a live rendition that differs considerably
from the studio version. It is a dynamite rendition and she
has quite a pair of eyes.
Bill Mulvy
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 21:50:53 EST
From: John Fox
Subject: Re: James Ray & George Harrison
For those interested in how George Harrison came to know James
Ray's "I've Got My Mind Set On You", please check out the
book "Before He Was Fab". It's entirely about Harrison's 1963
vacation to visit his sister in Illinois, and includes the
story of how he bought a James Ray album. How he decided to
record it about 25 years after it was originally released I
don't know, but here's the link to the book (quite fascinating
in its descriptions of George sitting in with local bands who
were blown away by his playing and singing):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1889899054/102-4196778-8506567?n=283155
John Fox
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Message: 7
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 13:16:48 -0500
From: Phil X Milstein
Subject: Re: Stranded In The Jungle
Rob wrote:
> It's the same Vibrations that had hits in the '60s, but with
> minor lineup changes. See http://tinyurl.com/ajkxq .
The article mentions another contemporary cover of "Stranded In
The Jungle," by The Gadabouts on Mercury. Has anyone heard it?
Was it a pop (i.e., white/wash) version?
--Phil M.
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:35:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Einar Einarsson Kvaran
Subject: Re: Wilson Pickett
Although I never saw Wilson Pickett he did present me with an
enigma that took over 30 years to resolve. While in high school
I picked up his "Exciting Wilson Pickett" album, but, as was
the custom at the time, no musician credits were included, so I
couldn't learn who was backing him. Many years later I obtained
the CD version of that record and there learned that the tracks
were almost split down the middle between the Al Jackson and the
Roger Hawkins [I catalogue songs by who the drummer was] cuts.
Life is supposed to be fun, and there is no hurry.
Einar
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:29:02 -0800 (PST)
From: Robert Pingel
Subject: Re: Playmates: "Piece of the Sky"
Rob Indart wrote:
> Does anybody know who wrote The Playmates' single "Piece
> Of The Sky," on Colpix?
It was written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss. I believe
the best version of this song was recorded by Verdelle Smith.
It was the flip side to her charter, "Tar & Cement."
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 08:32:13 +1100
From: Ashley Wells
Subject: Re: Playmates: "Piece of the Sky"
Rob Indart:
> Does anybody know who wrote The Playmates' single "Piece Of
> The Sky," on Colpix? It sounds like if it was a Leiber and
> Stoller production, but I'm not sure. I think it's probably
> the best Playmates record issued, it has that Brill Building
> feel to it.
Hi Rob,
"A Piece Of The Sky" Was written by the legendary Paul Vance
& Lee Pockriss. Arranged By the great Alan Lorber. Produced by
Paul Vance. I have this record on white label Colpix 760.
I also agree it's a fantastic song!!! But I also love their
releases on ABC Paramount. I can mention more details if
people don't know their ABC Paramount Sides.
Cheers,
Ash
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 08:23:45 -0500
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: I Can't Wait To See My Baby's Face
Mike Edwards was talking about Aretha Franklin:
> She does a fine version of "I Can't Wait Until I See My
> Baby's Face", which was an oft-recorded but never charted
> track, with great versions from Baby Washington, Spyder Turner,
> Dusty Springfield, Dee Dee Warwick and Pat Thomas.
And props as well to the version by Sonji Clay, the former
Mrs. Cassius Clay... though I'm still convinced "Deeper In
My Heart" (on American Music Makers) was her finest moment.
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:41:30 -0800 (PST)
From: Anthony Reichardt
Subject: Re: L.A. record stores
Tracy Pernell wrote:
> I'm making my first trip to Los Angeles in March,
> and I'm asking all those residents and/or those
> familiar with the Greater Los Angeles area to let
> me know what used CD/record stores exist there.
Tracy,
If you also enjoy stepping back into time, then you
surely will want to visit:
MR. C'S RARE RECORDS
148 North Glassell
Orange, California 92866
(714) 532-3835
(Closed on Sunday and Monday)
The first thing that you will see as you approach Mr. C's,
is an original four foot advertising statue of RCA Victor's
'NIPPER' which is wheeled out in front of the store every
morning when it opens. Displayed in the front windows are
old 45 record players, those vinyl and plastic 45 record
totes and other collectable musical themed goodies which
give you an idea of what lies within this long and narrow
turn of the century building. The shop is stuffed with 1000's
and 1000's of vintage 45's and LP's. Every inch of wall space
is covered with collectable albums all the way to the ceiling.
One whole side of the store is set up like a wall of library
books. Only instead of boooks, from floor to ceiling are 45's.
When I sift through this store, I have to do it over a few days
as there is SO much to look at. Don't be surprised when you visit
this shop that you end up doing the same.
The surrounding area is an experience in itself as well. Many
movies have been filmed in the Orange's old downtown, one of the
most recent being, Tom Hanks' THAT THING YOU DO. In fact, the
building which was an appliance store where one of the characters
in the movie worked is directly across the street from Mr. C's.
The area is like a tire spoke; a central circular plaza with four
streets that come out from it. All of the very old buildings are
filled with antique stores where other collectable records are
scattered about as well. You'll find an old drug store with a
lunch counter/soda fountain that has red vinyl booths inside and
tables outside. Outdoor cafe's and restaurants all around. This
unique little area is always swarming with people, especially so
on Saturday. It's also minutes from Disneyland and Knott's Berry
Farm too.
Anthony Reichardt
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Message: 13
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 13:49:00 -0000
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Robert Margouleff
Eddy:
> I uploaded a 1987 studio re-recording of Pickett's
> "Midnight Hour" to Musica..... It was produced by
> Robert Margouleff and arranged by Robert Martin.
Robert Margouleff was an interesting guy. A very smart
dude. I worked with him at Broadway Recording circa 1972.
He had one of the first big time Moog set-ups, and could
program it to really sound decent. He did some stuff for
Stevie Wonder.
Rashkovsky
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