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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 6 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Annette
From: Joseph Panzarella
2. Re: APRIL STEVENS "TEACH ME TIGER"
From: Mick Patrick
3. Gary Usher/Beverly Williams
From: Ron Weekes
4. Cathy Lynn, Kathy Lynn and Marsha Brody
From: Ian Slater
5. Re: Gary Usher / Beverly Williams
From: Ron Weekes
6. Suits You Sir
From: Martin Roberts
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 14:43:17 -0400
From: Joseph Panzarella
Subject: Re: Annette
For all you Annette fans I've uploaded a new file, it's a radio promo for
the flick "Beach Party" from American International Films...it's from a 10
cut (10 inch 33) radio promo disc.
Joe
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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 21:02:53 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: APRIL STEVENS "TEACH ME TIGER"
Hi,
To my knowledge, there are three different versions of "Teach Me Tiger" by
April Stevens. The first, released on Imperial 5626, was a #86 hit on
Billboard in 1959. It's very readily available on the CD "Early Girls, Volume
2". This compilation also contains such fab tracks as "Forgive Me" by early
Bacharach muse Babs Tino and Terry & the Tunisians "The Street". Click here
for further information:
http://216.15.202.119/MoreInfo/CDCHD657.html
or here for a full tracklist:
http://216.15.202.119/cgi-bin/SearchCatNo.asp?lngID=165696
Early in 1965 April recut the song for Atco who issued it on a single,
catalogue number 6346. This is the version with the tagged on car crash and
spoken introduction. The mix contained on Nino & April's "Hey Baby" LP, Atco
33-180, is minus that camp intro. Is a person allowed to say camp on
Spectropop? As the back of the package clearly states, it's the Atco single
version that is contained on the CD "Where The Girls Are, Volume 4".
Y'all obviously lurve April & Nino. Fancy a few paragraphs from the booklet,
purely out of the kindness of my heart? OK then.
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She was sultry, gorgeous and something of a comeback kid. Carol LoTempio and
her brother Antonio were just youngsters when the family upped sticks from
Niagara Falls and headed west to Hollywood. In true Lana Turner fashion, the
luscious teen was noticed while shopping. "You look like a singer, are you?",
was the line that reeled Carol into a studio for her first recording date in
1950. So suggestive was the result that she changed her name to April Stevens
for fear of 'No, No, No, Not That' being banned. Her sole release on Laurel
was followed by a gaggle of less controversial sides cut for Society. These
brought April to the attention of RCA who propelled the ambitious singer into
the Top 10 with her label debut 'I'm In Love Again', a feat she repeated
with her next outing. Post-RCA, April pacted to King but left showbusiness
shortly after that for romantic reasons.
She started from scratch in 1959 when her romance turned to dust and joined
Imperial for whom she made some chart noise with 'Teach Me Tiger', a sexy
piece of fluff from the pen of brother Antonio - now well-known musician Nino
Tempo. The pair thought it would be fun to record together and following a
false start at United Artists were signed to Atco by long-time admirer Ahmet
Ertegun. Their first effort sold a bundle in California but 'Sweet And Lovely'
couldn't break out of the West Coast and reached only #77 nationally in the
summer of 1962. It would be a frustrating year before the unique sounding
twosome's off-the-cuff 'Deep Purple' soared to chart-topping supremacy. Had it
bombed, Ertegun had pledged to release the pair so they could sign with Phil
Spector. Who knows what Philles treasures might have resulted. If the sole
April/Spector union - 'Why Can't A Boy And Girl Just Stay In Love', which
escaped from Phil's vault a decade later - is anything to go by, we wuz
robbed! Pausing only to accept a Grammy for best single, the Tempo/Stevens
pairing saw their follow-up stall just outside the Top 10 at the end of 1963
by which time the Kennedy assassination had sobered the national mood and
left the back door unguarded. We all know what effect the invasion of the
long-haired hordes had on local talent. April & Nino landed three further
oldies, revamped in their idiosyncratic fashion, on the charts in 1964 and
then sat through a hitless year despite producing some inventive material
including our brace of April solos. 'Teach Me Tiger 1965' - minus the camp
Chad & Jeremy-type intro - was featured on their third album, while 'Lovin'
Valentine' is a scarce non-LP track highlighted by April's overlapping
double-tracked vocals.
The next port of call for the underrated siblings was White Whale with whom
they returned to the charts with the sort of records they would have cut for
Uncle Phil. April & Nino recorded all through the 1970s and into the next
decade, both as a duo and separately, only varying their style to acknowledge
the disco jackboot. In the 1990s they both released comeback albums, as well
as recording fresh material together to complement a CD "Best Of". At last
count this incorrigibly showbiz brother and sister were living close to each
other in Arizona.
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Right, that's that matter done and, indeed, dusted. But I still won't be
able to rest until someone tells me the difference, or otherwise, between the
Carrolls, the Carolls and the Carolines. Ian?
MICK PATRICK
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 14:48:33 -0600
From: Ron Weekes
Subject: Gary Usher/Beverly Williams
Phil asked:
> Ron, last year I got to hear an obscure Gary Usher
> production called "He's Hurtin' Me" by Beverly Williams.
> It's a superb job and deserves to be right up there with
> all the girl classics. Do you have any info?
Phil,
That track does ring a bell. I'm at home right now enjoying
the 4th. I'll look into all my notes at my office to see
what I've got.
Ron
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 22:03:43 +0100
From: Ian Slater
Subject: Cathy Lynn, Kathy Lynn and Marsha Brody
Previously:
> Cathy Lynn - didn't she have a recording stint too? Assuming its the same
> Kathy Lynn, spelled Kathy Lynn (& The Playboys), I have in my magic rock
> box 'o' 6T's pop rock 45's a 7 incher on Swan called "Rock City"...standard,
> Link Wray derivative 1-4-5 guitah instro-rocker.
I wonder if anyone has more info on the possibility that the Cathy Lynn who
produced Marsha Brody's records (Messages from Country Paul, Simon White,
Bob Rashkow and James Botticelli in Spectropop Digest no. 518) is the same
as the Kathy Lynn who led the Playboys and recorded with Link Wray on Swan
in 1965?
I gave all the info. I have on Kathy Lynn in my message in Digest 484, but
have found nothing definite since. Swan was a Philadelphia label, if that
helps.
Following up Bob's question about the Heart and Soul label, I believe they
had at least three other releases: by the Preparations (#201), by Lou
Moondog Lawton (#202) and "Dollars and Cents" by Lou Moondog Lawton and
CATHY LYNN (#204)!
Perhaps we have an under-rated and multitalented artiste in C/Kathy Lynn?
Perhaps Marsha Brody was a pseudonym?
Anyone able to cast any more light on this (these) intriguing
personality(s)?
Ian Slater
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 15:15:42 -0600
From: Ron Weekes
Subject: Re: Gary Usher / Beverly Williams
I checked the discography on my web site for this 45. Although it's listed,
Stephen McParland's Gary Usher discography is much more complete.
Here goes:
Heart b/w He's Hurtin Me was released on February 28, 1966 on Decca 31912.
Heart (Le Coeur Qui Bat) (L-13873) written by Charles Aber-Petula Clark with
English lyrics by Tony Hatch.
He's Hurtin' Me (L-13874) written by Chuck Girard-Greg Van Krugel.
Arranged by Stu Phillips.
Produced by Gary Usher.
I'm sure the appropirate volume of McParland's Gary Usher biography has more
information on the session itself. I've got those books in my office and will
try to remember to look into it after our holiday weekend.
Ron Weekes
www.garyusher.com
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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 23:16:10 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Suits You Sir
Anyone got anything to say about the Rhino Handmade releases?
Afraid in the UK we have to smuggle our copies in!
I did manage to get hold of Jack Nitzsche's Three Piece Suite:
The Reprise Years 1971-1974 and a damm interesting collection
it is. Wizard sleeve notes, great look and sound quality.
What do other 'poppers think?
Martin
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