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______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________
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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 18 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Kingsley Abbott Pet Sounds book
From: richard hattersley
2. HONEY Redux
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
3. Lee Hazlewood Documentary
From: finalrinse
4. Stones; "Recommends"; death songs; more
From: Paul Payton
5. "Grace of My Heart" on UK TV!
From: Ian Slater
6. Re: Jonathan King
From: Ian Slater
7. RE: HONEY Redux
From: Keith Beach
8. Re: Jonathan King
From: Mark Frumento
9. RE: HONEY Redux
From: simon white
10. Lee Hazlewood Documentary
From: Dan Hughes
11. Lee Hazlewood Influence
From: Patrick Rands
12. death songs; womb; more poppy family
From: Patrick Rands
13. Re: Polyphonic Spree
From: beatle bob
14. Mark Eric's Where Do The Girls of Summer Go? stuck in my head...
From: Harold Oxborough
15. Heartbreak Hotel authorship
From: Phil Milstein
16. Re: Jonathan King
From: Norman
17. Mark Eric's Where Do The Girls of Summer Go? stuck in my head...
From: Harold Oxborough
18. Hazlewood doc.
From: Phil Milstein
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 23:32:15 +0000
From: richard hattersley
Subject: Kingsley Abbott Pet Sounds book
I have just finished Kingsley's Pet Sounds book.
I found it very interesting. I guess it's the first book about
Pet Sounds isn't it?
That's surprising.
anyway, good job Kingsley
Richard Hattersley
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.hatts/
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 21:29:51 EDT
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
Subject: HONEY Redux
LOL you guys!! A "Honey" support group! I recall Jack's reference
to the Smothers Brothers take-off... I think the country sighed a
collective sigh of relief when somebody finally skewered that song...
it sorta freaked me out to think that I could come home from school
and find that the angels might have come for whoever had been in the
house that afternoon - namely Mom. OY!!!!!
(I wonder if they were the same angels who had come for Mary's Mom
in "I Can Never Go Home Anymore?")
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 02:54:56 -0000
From: finalrinse
Subject: Lee Hazlewood Documentary
I'm making a documentary with and about Lee Hazlewood.
I'd like to get suggestions of artists past and present to interview
regarding the great man...
Who are the current folk out there who you think (or know) have
been influenced by Lee?
Which old timers would you most like to hear from in this film?
Ideas and information I use will receive a big thank you in the
credits.
Thanx for you ideas and interest!
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 00:24:17 -0400
From: Paul Payton
Subject: Stones; "Recommends"; death songs; more
Beatle Bob: I click where it says to launch
http://www.thepolyphonicspree.com, but all I get is a repeat
of the "start" page. Any help, please? (Your description sounds
pretty cool....)
Nice to see the Jonathan King discussion; I know very little about
him except that the corporate statement of purpose he filed when
launching UK Records was brillianbt: "The purpose of this company
is to have fun and make money." Works for me!
Simon White notes:
> [T]he likes of The Stones probably turned more people ON to
> black R'n'B than off it.
I think you're right, Simon, and in the US as well; as I remember,
even Little Richard, in noting Pat Boone's whitebread covers of
Tutti Frutti, etc., is said to have pointed out that Boone exposed
people to music they probably would not have heard otherwise, serving
as a "point of entry" for their discovery. And say what we will about
the age and physical condition of the Stones - and some other survivors
who are still out there working - the fact that they're still at it and
trying to put new material in front of people counts with me. Not being
a Brit, however, I know nothing of the implications of knighthood, nor
the other politics cited by Norman. As I view it from this shore,
however, knighthood hasn't seemed to hurt Sir Paul.
Team, thanks for http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/recommends.html.
Will appropriate contemporary artists be welcome as well? Not just
copyists of the sounds, but artists with roots in Spectropop music but
whose music has added other dimensions?
Re: duplicated group names - you probably already know that in addition
to "our" Crystals, there was a male doo-wop group in the 50's of the
same name, as well as an instrumental group on Indigo in the early 60's.
"Our" Crystals definitely win, although the instrumental Crystals'
"Dreams and Wishes" is kinda pretty.
Re: "Honey," "Shannon," "Patches" (C. Carter and D. Lee), "Last Kiss,"
"Tell Laura I Love Her," "Teen Angel," etc. - the tragedy songs are
just amazing. I think they are guilty pleasures - or guilty tragedies
- what makes one person cry in sadness makes another scream in agony.
(Sorry, but "Honey" goes into the "agony" column; "Tell Laura I Love
Her" still nails me, though). But if you want a death song that'll
truly transcend, find Lincoln Fig & the Dates' "Way Up," an uptempo
doo-wop record from the late 50's whose opening lyrics are: "My baby l
ives / way up in the sky She kicked the bucket / she died."
And it doesn't sound like ol' Linc is kidding, either!
I've got www.radio192.nl on right now, by the way - thanks for the turn
on. Is there an English translation page? It's very strange to hear Top
40 formatics in Dutch, not to mention Yes segued into Bobby Rydell!
And welcome to the new correspondants!
Country Paul
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 09:38:44 -0700
From: Ian Slater
Subject: "Grace of My Heart" on UK TV!
The 1996 film based on the Brill Building in the early - mid 60s
is scheduled to be shown on ITV from 11.45pm to 1.55am on Monday
next (17 June).
This has been discussed several times on Spectropop before. I think
it is a wonderful film, full of great original music with a strong
1960s flavour.
The soundtrack CD (MCAD 11554) is a knockout, although it doesn't
entirely replicate what's in the film, my favourites being the 3
girl group songs performed by For Real (but mimed by actresses on
the film) and the Williams Brothers' beautiful country ballad "Love
Doesn't Ever Fail Us", but there are no duds at all.
Leading characters are VERY loosely based on Carole King, Phil Spector,
Brian Wilson etc. but the film is clearly meant to be an enjoyable
portrait of the era, not autobiographical.
I recommend all UK Spectropoppers, who haven't already seen it, to
watch or video it.
But check first that it is on at that time in your region, and that
the schedules don't get changed at the last minute!
Ian Slater
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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 10:11:59 -0700
From: Ian Slater
Subject: Re: Jonathan King
Will wrote:
"Thanks for the info Ian. Still being quite green behind the ears
compared to most of this group when it comes to 60s/70s music, I
had never really heard of Jonathan King before this week, when I
found and enjoyed two of his female vocal productions, the Piglets'
"Johnny Reggae", and now the Angelettes' "Don't Let Him Touch You".
The only thing I seem to remember being said about him was that you
pretty much either loved his work or hated it. For better or for
worse, I love what I heard so far. Any recoMmendations of other
choice cuts? Being a girl-group-a-holic, female vocal cuts would be
my first choice : )"
Sorry Will but I'm no authority on Jonathan King. I recall him as a
flamboyant character who deliberately cultivated a love-hate image,
hence the sarky tone of my previous e-mail. He was a major UK
producer in the mid/late 60s and 70s with his own big hit "Everyone's
Gone to the Moon", and a TV celebrity - I especially enjoyed his 1980s
TV series "Entertainment USA" in which he visited various US cities
and gave us an a portrait of city life and the local music scene.
My quote, refering to a group being the product his own over-fertile
imagination, was his reference to the Piglets.
His web-site is at http://www.kingofhits.com/ and a Search engine like
Google will produce many relevant hits as well as, sadly, many that
relate to his recent conviction for child abuse. His web-site refers
to an 8CD box set of his work. I don't recall much in the classic
girl-group vein from him - I too would be interested to hear of any
I may have missed. Can anyone out there help us?
Ian Slater
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 11:04:26 +0100
From: Keith Beach
Subject: RE: HONEY Redux
Jimmy:
> (I wonder if they were the same angels who had come for Mary's
> Mom in "I Can Never Go Home Anymore?")
Something I never really understood on this track...did she really
run away, causing her Mom to become "...so lonely in the end,
the angels picked her for their friend"? If so, what was the bit
about "..I forgot that boy right away, instead I remember being
tucked in bed..", I assumed she'd thought twice about running away?
Bewildered
Keith Beach
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 07:15:30 -0400
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: Jonathan King
> Nice to see the Jonathan King discussion;
I've never heard of any girl group productions by Jonathan King....
I know him as a solo performer and Genesis' producer. Besides
the oft covered "Everyone's Gone to the Moon" my favorite JK song
is "Flirt". He's songs always reminded me of Freddie and the Dreamers
with a bit of intellect.
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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 12:36:25 +0100
From: simon white
Subject: RE: HONEY Redux
Keith Beach wrote:
> If so, what was the bit
> about "..I forgot that boy right away, instead I remember being
> tucked in bed..", I assumed she'd thought twice about running away?
Maybe she ran away and got tucked up in someone else's bed ?
Twice.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 07:24:16 -0500
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Lee Hazlewood Documentary
Lee produced an album in 1968 (?) or so called DREAMS AND IMAGES,
by Arthur Lee Harper (Just "Arthur" on the album). Soft, wispy
songs with flutes and strings, much like Donovan was doing then.
It was on the LHI label and sold about five copies.
Harper was probably still in high school then; I know he was at
a junior college (in San Jose I think) a couple of years later.
(I corresponded with him briefly - he had written a letter to
HIT PARADER magazine, asking for opinions on his album, and I
took him up on his request).
Harper is still an ASCAP member, and I'm sure he has some wonderful
stories about those days. I'd love to hear his take on working with
Lee Hazlewood.
Dan
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 09:41:02 -0400
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Lee Hazlewood Influence
There's a Lee Hazlewood tribute cd with modern artists
including Saint Etienne. I don't have it, and only came across
it mentioned online, but I'm sure there is a way to get a hold
of it and get an idea of who is influenced. Also, Holly
Golightly did an incredible rendition of Sand. The single came
in an envelope which made it looked like she mailed it directly
to you - brillianT!! I myself tried my hand at recording a
cover of The Girls of Paris, destroying it completely. It sort
of ended up being punk polka lounge......The tape has since
been shuffled into oblivion for that day it suddenly appears
again and I can add the necessary female backing vocals :)
:Patrick
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 09:48:15 -0400
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: death songs; womb; more poppy family
Speaking of Death Songs, has anybody ever heard the obscure
album by the 60s band Womb?? They have this one 15 minute track
called the Happy Egotist, which is a blow by blow account of a
gruesome car wreck, complete with female singer moaning about
her own death.....pretty sick stuff!
Anybody else ever become obsessed with the Poppy Family??? I've
really been getting into their Sound and Theory, and would love
to learn more about them, and their way of life. It's almost
like the missing link between the downer Monkees and 80s band
Opal or Mazzy Star.... and that is simplfying it! I like how
everything in life is symbolic: City=Death, Destruction;
Country=Growth, Freedom; Shadows are what you make of
them....etc.....Anything to add perspective to this interesting
group, who combine many threads we've been discussing
recently....death, electric sitars, etc........? Also if there
are any hidden B-sides i should hunt down please do tell, I
seem to remember Bubblegum is the Naked Truth mentioning a
few......
:Patrick
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Message: 13
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 18:06:43 +0000
From: beatle bob
Subject: Re: Polyphonic Spree
Country Paul,
Best way to pull up the Polyphonic Spree website is to just type in their
name on the search mode and it will bring you to a descrition of their
official site and just press and go from there. I too had problems getting
their site up by searching their www.thepolyphonicspree.com mode; which when
you pressed the click to start it remained on the same page.
Good Luck,
Beatle Bob
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 11:33:35 -0700
From: Harold Coxborough
Subject: Mark Eric's Where Do The Girls of Summer Go? stuck in my head...
Hi Everyone!
This is my first time posting to the group and I just want to thank all of
you for the wealth of information that is contributed. Your posts are truly
very knowledgable and have really taken me back to my yesterdays. This
particular song zooms me back instantly even though I had never heard it
before. Anyone else have this happen to them?
So much so that I have a small problem now which is starting to grow because
of my own impatience. I was able to hear the first part of Mark Eric's
"Where Do The Girls of Summer Go?" awhile back and it's driving me crazy
trying to find it so I can hear the rest of it. I just gotta know where they
go! Does anyone here have this?
I know his real name was Mark Eric Malmborg and he worked as an actor in
Hollywood. I have also heard he has started to perform again in the Los
Angeles area. Does anyone have any information on his album "A Midsummer's
Day Dream"? I would really love to get a CDR of the record if someone is
interested in striking up an offer but just hearing the whole song will be
cool.
Thanks,
Harold Oxborough
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 15:23:11 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Heartbreak Hotel authorship
Apologies for being a bit off-topic here, but not so much so that one of
you (at least) might not be able to help:
I believe it's been fairly well-established that Elvis Presley's writing
credit on "Heartbreak Hotel" was part of a pay-for-play deal, a
not-uncommon event in the record industry. But I still wonder about the
contributions of the remaining two names in that credit, Mae Boren (sp?)
Axton and Tommy Durden. Axton has always been spoken of vernacularly as
"the writer of 'Heartbreak Hotel'", while Durden, as far as I know, has
scarcely been spoken of at all. This leaves me curious as to who
actually did what on that song. I imagine it's already been researched,
and so my question is whether any of you know the results of that
research, or where else I might look to find them.
Phil Milstein
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 06:22:29 +0930
From: Norman
Subject: Re: Jonathan King
Johnny Reggae by the Piglets.
Depending on which issue one has on their shelf. (My issues are
Australian). The original pressing on Bell black label (BLL-9746)
has the credits Produced and directed by Jonathan King. On the
latter Bell silver label (2008 007) they expand "Conceived,
Created, Produced & Directed by Jonathan King".
Apparently, Wendy Richard(s) only got paid a fee for her contribution
to the recording. She can be heard, of course, on Mike Sarne's
"Come Outside". She later became known from her roles in 'Are You
Being Served' and 'Eastenders' on British TV.
There must be a compilation of Jonathan King's output available
because I have heard quite a few played on our local community station.
On the flip side of his version of "Una Paloma Blanca" Mr King explains
his UK Records label with such mentions as Genesis, Bay City Rollers,
10cc. I believe he also got the rights to 'The Rocky Horror Show'
before it became the success it did.
Norman
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 21:10:05 -0000
From: Harold Oxborough
Subject: Mark Eric's Where Do The Girls of Summer Go? stuck in my head...
Hi Everyone!
This is my first time posting to the group and I just want to thank
all of you for the wealth of information that is contributed. Your
posts are truly very knowledgable and have really taken me back to
my yesterdays. This particular song zooms me back instantly even
though I had never heard it before. Anyone else have this happen
to them?
So much so that I have a small problem now which is starting to grow
because of my own impatience. I was able to hear the first part of
Mark Eric's "Where Do The Girls of Summer Go?" awhile back and it's
driving me crazy trying to find it so I can hear the rest of it.
I just gotta know where they go! Does anyone here have this?
I know his real name was Mark Eric Malmborg and he worked as an actor
in Hollywood. I have also heard he has started to perform again in the
Los Angeles area. Does anyone have any information on his album "A
Midsummer's Day Dream"? I would really love to get a CDR of the record
if someone is interested in striking up an offer but just hearing the
whole song will be cool.
Thanks,
Harold Oxborough
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 16:49:49 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Hazlewood doc.
to finalrinse:
I'd love to find out more about LHI-1, Ann-Margret's monumental
double-A-side 45 "You Turned My Head Around"/"It's A Nice World
To Visit (But Not To Live In)", produced and I believe written
by LH.Surprisingly little-known, the record is one of his finest
achievements, and a welcome contrast to their duets album The
Cowboy And The Lady, on which her style was so ill-suited to the
material. If you could get Lee, AM or any of the musicians who
played on it to discuss that session, it'd be most welcome.
Phil Milstein
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
End
