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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 20 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Valerie Avon/PEANUT- yeeyyy!
From: Mark Wirtz
2. Re: Swan records and "Rising Sons"
From: Joseph Panzarella
3. Re: Golden Wonder Boy s - It's only R&R (Roger&Roger), but I like it …
From: Gerrit Lansink
4. Hello
From: Irving Martin
5. Group Therapy
From: Dan Hughes
6. Re: Swan records and "Rising Sons"
From: Mike Demers
7. Re: I Can Hear Music
From: Phil Chapman
8. Is She Or Isn't She?
From: Martin Roberts
9. RE: Valerie Avon/PEANUT- yeeyyy!
From: Phil Chapman
10. Re: Avon ladies, more labels
From: Billy G Spradlin
11. Re: Swan records and "Rising Sons"
From: Mike Rashkow
12. Rising Sons..The Best of British?
From: Martin Roberts
13. BING BONG!
From: mick patrick
14. The Richest Man Alive
From: Jeff Lemlich
15. Chantelles
From: Judy Low
16. RONNIE and MICK and MAC and KATIE
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
17. Excerpts from a Teenage Collection
From: Mark Frumento
18. Book: Kev Roberts - The Northern Soul Top 500
From: Mike Edwards
19. Help!-Need assistance with Japanese translation of CD booklets!
From: laughingmood
20. Millennium CD set on Sundazed
From: DJ Steve
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 01 May 2002 20:14:33 EDT
From: Mark Wirtz
Subject: Re: Valerie Avon/PEANUT- yeeyyy!
mick patrick writes:
> Well, Mark, I reckon the mystery PEANUT 45 was probably never
> released. However, our friend Martin... you know, the one who
> hates the Four Cal-Quettes but has all of their records anyway
> :-) ...has suggested to me that the disc you're thinking of
> could well be VALERIE AVON's single "To Be Let" b/w "He Knows
> I Love Him Too Much", issued on Columbia DB 8201 in 1967.
> Ring a bell?
THAT'S THE ONE!!!! YEYYYYY!!! FINALLY!! THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED!
(Thought it was Peanut - duh - but now I remember clearly - it
was via Peanut, Valerie being her manager at the time, that
Valerie and I talked about making a record together, which we did
- that one :):):) Are there any copies around of that?? I think
Feldman & Co. was the publisher of the song, right?
> Anyway, I have a bit of a penchant for backing singers, so tell
> us who the stellar crew were on that session. Oh, do!
***Liza Duncan, Doris Troy, Kiki Dee, Barry St. John, Judith Powell,
Peanut, Margo, Maggie and Gloria, John Carter, Ken Lewis,
Peter Lee Stirling,
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 01 May 2002 22:22:12 -0400
From: Joseph Panzarella
Subject: Re: Swan records and "Rising Sons"
I have the Swan single "I Got Rid of The Rats In My Room"/"The
Underwater Surfers" Swan #4157, my copy is a promo...white label
with black print, I've added pictures of the A & B sides on the
members photo page...early or late promo??
Joe Panzarella
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 10:22:29 -0000
From: Gerrit Lansink
Subject: Re: Golden Wonder Boy s - It's only R&R (Roger&Roger), but I like it …
Ian Chapman:
> Thanks Martin. Yes we did identify the singer - cast your
> mind back, I know it's a long time ago...:-) You're right
> about it being the writers - it's a Cook/Greenaway tune
Talking about Roger & Roger (Cooke & Greenaway), they had a
string of hits in the Netherlands as song suppliers for The Cats.
What A Crazy Life, Sure He's A Cat, What's This World Coming To
and Turn Around And Start Again all were Cooke/Greenaway penned
and all reached the Dutch top 30 around 1966, 1967.
Does any Spectropopper know other versions of these songs, apart
from The Merseys' rendition of Sure He's A Cat?
How about some trivia? The Cats were from Volendam, a place with
some 12,000 inhabitants. Same place gave us George Baker Selection
of Little Green Bag fame. Small world. One of the members of
The Cats was a certain Arnold Mühren. No, soccer/football fans,
not THE Arnold Mühren, but a cousin of the man that played for
Ipswich Town and Manchester United, the man of THE assist for -
Even smaller world...
Gerrit Lansink
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 12:46:15 +0100
From: Irving Martin
Subject: Hello
[from the Spectropop Bulletin Board]
http://www.escribe.com/music/spectropop/bb/index.html
Hello Martin Roberts
You seem to know more about me than I know (or remember) myself.
I knew Mark Wirtz slightly and he always struck me as a great
producer and writer. Actually far better than me during that
period. I achieved success in other musical areas and am now
running a TV production company and mainly producing and directing
Direct Response TV spots and infomercials. Would love to hear from
you with any forgotten moments you may have on file!
Regards,
ILM
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 06:18:50 -0500
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Group Therapy
Bob mentions,
> the bands called Group Therapy (Magic in the Air/Bad News,
> latter of which Jeff Glenn knows is a wonderful tune!!) ....
I have two albums by Group Therapy: People Get Ready For Group
Therapy, RCA LSP-3976 (1968), and 37 Minutes of Group Therapy,
Phillips PHS-600-303 (1969). Same group I assume?
Don't think I'd call attention to the fact that the album had
only 37 minutes' worth of content--that was pretty slim for 1969.
---Dan
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 01 May 2002 22:27:09 -0700
From: Mike Demers
Subject: Re: Swan records and "Rising Sons"
Dan Hughes:
> I have heard that Reynolds could be quite "difficult" and his
> temper was legendary. He probably holds the all-time record
> for being fired. And in radio, that's quite an accomplishment
That reminds me....does anyone else here have any Kim Fowley stories?
Mike Demers
http://www.victoriahauntedhouse.com
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 14:06:57 -0000
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: Re: I Can Hear Music
> Phil Chapman:
>> Thanks, I have a fetish for covers, soundalikes and non-English
>> language versions. Now where can it [Parade - I Can Hear Music]
>> be found?
james botticelli:
> http://www.othermusic.com
Thanks for the link, Jimmy B - I did find a Parade album in the
'lounge' area, but no details, just a price. Is it the same crew?
Good to see Tiga & Zyntherius doing OK with one of my old hits!
Phil
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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 21:14:42 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Is She Or Isn't She?
Interesting reading Mick's last letter (but aren't they all!)
regarding Ronnie Spector vocal tracks. Now I'm no voice expert
(this has been proved to me on many occasions!!) but while
reading the digest, Little Linda "Don't Take Your Love From Me"
/"Hey Little Lover"(Coral 62279)was playing on my dansette.
Hang on, I thought, could it be?? I suppose not, maybe the lead
from The Heartbreakers but, while waiting for Ronnie's version of
"Home Of the Brave" to turn up, this is an interesting soundalike.
Now, as everyone knows, my taste in music veers towards softer,
'prettier' vocal stylings e.g. The Four Cal-Quettes. This is a
tad too RnB, but Mick might enjoy it!
Martin
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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 22:36:36 +0100
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: RE: Valerie Avon/PEANUT- yeeyyy!
Mark Wirtz:
> Are there any copies around of that?? I think
> Feldman & Co. was the publisher of the song, right?
"To Be Let" (Avon) - Leeds Music
"He Knows I Love Him Too Much" (Goffin-King) - Screen Gems-Columbia
both sides arr & cond by, producer: MW
Well, I, or Boris, could do you a CD burn. I recommended "He Knows..."
to Spectropeeps last year as an example of your work, and an
original treatment of the Goffin-King song. It's a quirky combo
of quasi-funk drums & bass, dbl-tempo arpeggiated acoustic guitars,
lazy mariachi trumpets, Baja Band marimba and a Paris Sisters vocal.
And - it's a 'b' side!
Phil
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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 07:53:51 -0000
From: Billy G Spradlin
Subject: Re: Avon ladies, more labels
Country Paul wrote:
> Kingsley Abbott wrote:
> Diamond indeed had some neat stuff. I love Kevin McQuinn's
> "Every Step of the Way," #101, the first release on the label,
> produced by Bob Crewe (I think) and arranged by Charlie Calello.
> I'm also looking for the Bobettes' "Love is Blind," somewhat
> later. (On any CDs anyone knows about?)
I have a record on Diamond by a group called the Bleus - "Good
Mornin' Love" - a catchy number, sounds like its from the late 60's,
almost bubblegummy.
> Billy Spradlin, sorry but I kinda like some of the Billy &
> Lillie material on Swan, particularly "Lucky Ladybug" and
> "La-Dee-Dah."
I heard these songs for the first time as 4 Seasons LP tracks on
thier early Vee-Jay albums. "Lucky Ladybug" was even a later b-side.
I think Bob Crewe was co-writer/producer for Billy & Lillie so thats
why they covered them.
> Bob Rashkow's comment on Paula Records brings to mind the
> Uniques 45, "All These Things," c. 1966, a zen-simple 6/8 ballad
> sung by lead and later country star Joe Stampley.
That 45 is a huge 60's oldies favorite here in Texas, I think it was
the #1 song on KLIF Dallas in 1967-8. The Uniques, John Fred & The
Playboy Band, and also Mouse & The Traps and The Five Americans (plus
in the 70's ZZ Top) all recorded just down the road from me (27 miles
west of Kilgore TX) at Robin Hood Studios in Tyler. The studio is
still in operation today. When I first heard about it, it struck me
strange that a record as big-sounding as "Judy In Disguise" (a
childhood favorite) could have been recorded in someones converted
garage studio here in East Texas!
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 08:07:59 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Swan records and "Rising Sons"
Tom Taber writes:
> By the way, I had the opportunity probably 15 years
> ago to ask Mr. Joey Reynolds in person if he new how
> the two 'Joey & Danny' records sold in relation to one
> another - he looked at me like I was the biggest loser
> he had ever met, and went back to a previous
> conversation he was having.
Yes indeed-y. I had the opportunity to work with JR years ago.
Great talent, real bright, very funny
- and a bigger j*** never lived.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 23:33:51 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Rising Sons..The Best of British?
Interesting reading from Country Paul and Tom Taber about the
"is there or isn't there a Swan 'Rising Sons' 45."
I can't offer any info on this - BUT there was an Amy release by
the Rising Sons, "Talk To Me Baby"/"Try To Be A Man" from '65.
Released in Britain on Stateside ("An Amy Mala Recording") with
a different A side, Goffin and King's "You're My Girl".
This must be one of the 'sweetest' Four Seasons soundalikes.
Gorgeous! Produced by another (flavour of the past few months!)
'adopted' Englishman, Shel Talmy. My guess would be that it was
recorded in the UK as well. Shel did this quite a lot. A record
worth tracking down. Anyone able to play the Amy side
"Talk To Me Baby" to musica?
Martin
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Message: 13
Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 07:22:38 +0100 (BST)
From: mick patrick
Subject: BING BONG!
AVON LADIES CALLING!
Hi,
> Country Paul wrote:
> ...to add to Mick's note, I have a mid-60s 45 by THE AVONS
> on Groove (RCA subsid) called "Whatever Happened To Our Love?".
> Not too bad, either.
Agreed, Paul, but you should hear the fantastic version by the
one and only MAXINE BROWN, one of a handful of very girl group-
style recordings made by the "Oh No, Not My Baby" gal. The Avons'
other Groove single, by the way, coupled a great version of the
Marigolds' "Rolling Stone" and "Words Written On Water". The
latter song was covered for the UK market by identical blonde
Bond bombshells, the Baker Twins.
And Mark Wirtz might care to know that "I Can Hear Music" was
not the only "Spector" song he recorded. Although Uncle Phillip
did not actually help Carole King & Gerry Goffin author "He
Knows I Love Him Too Much" (as re-created so wonderfully by
our Mark with Brit Girl VALERIE AVON), he did produce the
original version/s by the Paris Sisters and former Chantels'
lead Arlene Smith.
Before I go could I possibly interest anyone in some of this
wonderful new shimmerin' cleavage enhancer? It's on special
offer this month. No? Oh, well, suit yourselves...
MICK PATRICK
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 04 May 2002 00:30:23 -0400
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: The Richest Man Alive
Phil Chapman: [re: Ray Singer]
> Mel Carter recorded a song called "Richest Man Alive",
> is this the same tune?
Ray Singer's "I'm The Richest Man Alive" is the same song as
Mel Carter's, but they're quite different. Ray's track is truly
excellent, but his voice is... umm... annoying, in a Carmine
Ragusa kind of way. Just my opinion. The production on Mel's
isn't nearly as dynamic, but his vocal, to me, is among the most
soulful he's ever cut. I'll post his version to musica once some
space clears up.
Jeff Lemlich
The Florida Music forum:
http://pub64.ezboard.com/blimestonelounge
P.S. RIP Dick Campbell. From "People Planners" to "Beyond a
Shadow of Doubt", a very talented man.
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 04 May 2002 07:17:49 +0100
From: Judy Low
Subject: Chantelles
[from the Spectropop Bulletin Board]
http://www.escribe.com/music/spectropop/bb/index.html
Just read your page about The Chantelles (UK). Just recently
went on the net. I was the group musician Jay Adams and did the
arranging as well as being top and bottom voice. Astonished that
the records are still popular although not the ones I would have
chosen. A bit late perhaps but currently doing a music degree!
Judy Low
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Message: 16
Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 23:34:59 EDT
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
Subject: RONNIE and MICK and MAC and KATIE
Lord... I've actually got copies of those pix of you and Ronnie
and... Carol, I think? You all sent them years ago.
And can't believe Mac & Katie Kissoon were mentioned... I HAD
to have "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" when it came out and drove
my family crazy playing the 45 endlessly... VERY infectious!!
Jimmy Crescitelli
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 01 May 2002 22:00:15 -0400
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Excerpts from a Teenage Collection
I've was lucky enough to be the recipient of some very cool
records from Mark Wirtz. I am in the process of getting the
records recorded to CD before much of the collection is sold
(for more on that please write to me off line).
Obviously, given Mark's varied career as a producer the
collection contains some great productions and some absolute
classics. I would imagine that many of the records are quite
rare?
I'll play some of the obscurities to musica as space allows,
including a couple of unreleased gems from "Tempo", Mark's
completed Teenage Opera. I'm betting many of you will really
dig these tracks.....several genres of interest to
Spectropoppers are represented.
I've played Ray Singer's "I'm The Richest Man Alive" to musica.
This is a 1965 45 on Ember (complete with a PS!) and one of
Mark's earliest productions. It's also one of his most stunning
in my opinion. Who cares if Ray wasn't the greatest singer?
The drums and bass on this song unlike other records I've ever
heard from 1965!
Please feel free to write me off-line for more information on
these records. I really want to share this material because I
think it should be heard by more than just me.
Mark Frumento
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Message: 18
Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 15:51:35 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Book: Kev Roberts - The Northern Soul Top 500
One book I've been thumbing through recently is Kev Roberts'
"Northern Soul Top 500". Although it doesn't address the music
favoured by Spectropop, I would recommend it to 45rpm lovers
as Kev features photos of each of the 500 US (mostly) labels
of the records he includes in his listing.
The first 100 records are featured one to a page. It reminded
me of the page we used to get on the back cover of Philately
magazine. You can also find such names as Bob Crewe, Van McCoy,
The Shirelles and the Canterbury label making the occasional
appearance.
Each record is reviewed both from its perspective as a piece
of recorded music and its impact on the Northern Soul scene.
There's an amazing amount of detail on many little-known artists,
record labels and producers.
Kev, who was a DJ at the famed Wigan Casino, uses his insight to
offer some thoughtful comments on the Northern scene in general.
When reviewing Frankie Valli's "You're Ready Now", he says that
"in terms of real commercial Northern, this is possibly the
forerunner of a generation, and although scorned by purists,
if it were not for such sides the scene might never have
flourished". Similarly with the Spinners' "I'll Always Love You",
Kev notes that the production is "similar to the Isleys'
"This Old Heart Of Mine", which does not figure in our chart,
but symbolizes precisely the sound that Northern Soul is based on".
The appendix features many top 10 lists including the top 10
Northern Soul records for each year from 1967 through 2000.
This told me a lot about the evolution of the scene as the
early years featured known songs, many of which charted in the
US (e.g. Wade In The Water, You've Been Cheatin' etc). The charts
for the later years seem to be made up of obscure and even
unissued tracks.
There's not a duff page in the book. I recommend it unreservedly
and it's available from http://www.amazon.co.uk for 15.96UKP
(it lists at 19.99UKP) – I don't think it's published in the US.
Many of the songs listed are available on CD on the UK reissue
labels, Kent ( http://www.acerecords.co.uk ) and Goldmine
( http://www.goldsoul.co.uk )
Mike Edwards
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Message: 19
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 22:43:45 -0000
From: laughingmood
Subject: Help!-Need assistance with Japanese translation of CD booklets!
I need to get in touch with anyone who might have some info on
getting translations for some of my Japanese soft pop related CDs.
For instance, the Sandy Salisbury album Falling To Pieces has a
beautiful booklet in English but as far as I can tell, all the
specific track information is in the Japanese insert! I've had
this problem for years. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Sat, 04 May 2002 04:54:29 -0400
From: DJ Steve
Subject: Millennium CD set on Sundazed
Anyone know if this is worth getting. Also looking for any
Sundazed label recommendations on CD. Thanks
http://www.sundazed.com/store/
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
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