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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 19 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Kenni Woods and the Darlettes
From: Vlaovic B.
2. The Robbs
From: Christoffer
3. Barbara Keith and Ivy updates; American Dreams
From: Country Paul
4. Darin's drummer
From: Marc
5. Final Knack 45
From: Jeffrey Glenn
6. Re: The Strangeloves
From: Michael Coxe
7. Producers in sixties pop/rock
From: Claus
8. Re: Darin's drummer
From: Mikey
9. Re: The Robbs
From: Bryan
10. Re: Kenni Woods and the Darlettes
From: Mick Patrick
11. Re: Producers in sixties pop/rock
From: Ron Weekes
12. Chiffons
From: Stefan Wriedt
13. Re: The Robbs
From: Rat Pfink
14. Peppermint Rainbow
From: Paul Urbahns
15. Re: Peppermint Rainbow
From: Rat Pfink
16. Re: Peppermint Rainbow
From: danhughes@juno.com
17. Re: Peppermint Rainbow
From: Peg
18. Re: American Dreams
From: John Solocinski
19. Re: Darin, Joni Lyman, Teenagers, Reed-related, more
From: Country Paul
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 09:57:13 -0400
From: Vlaovic B.
Subject: Re: Kenni Woods and the Darlettes
Read the 'new to Spectropop' bio on Kenni Woods. I recall a discussion
a while back as to whether it was same gal fronting the Darlettes for
the 1965, Van McCoy produced single 'Lost/Sweet Kind of Loneliness'.
Sure sounds like same voice.
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 11:38:59 -0000
From: Christoffer
Subject: The Robbs
Hi
Just found The Robbs great album. Who were those guys?
Christoffer, sweden
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 13:48:36 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Barbara Keith and Ivy updates; American Dreams
So far behind, and not trying to keep up - will next week - but
two interesting things crossed my e-desk...
First, this from Barbara Keith (ex-Kangaroo, solo) now with her
family band, the Stone Coyotes:
"The new Stone Coyotes album "Ride Away From the World" is ready
to go as of OCTOBER 4! Kickoff celebrations in Houston, TX, then
lots more shows...."
More info at http://www.stonecoyotes.com for those who were
following this thread earlier.
Second, Ivy's new CD, "Guestroom," is available at
http://www.mintyfresh.com
Not exactly "authentic" girl group, but there's a very pleasant
version of "Be My Baby" (yes, that one) which is worth a listen.
The album streams in Real Audio if you want to check it out.
Finally, ABC-TV series "American Dreams" received limited praise
from a review in the New York Times (it's the Dick Clark
"re-creation" of his version of the 1960's). Did anyone see it? Is
it worthwhile?
Country Paul
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 14:06:12 -0400
From: Marc
Subject: Darin's drummer
I suppose it could be Bellson, but he didn't do near as many
Atlantic sessions (or others) as Francis. Just a guess.
Marc
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 07:11:33 -0700
From: Jeffrey Glenn
Subject: Final Knack 45
I've played both sides of the fourth and final Knack 45 (the U.S.
sixtiesgroup - not the U.K. one) to musica:
Freedom Now (Michael Chain-Larry Gould)/Lady In The Window (Michael
Chain) - The Knack, Capitol 2075: 1968, Produced by John Palladino)
Enjoy!
Jeff
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 10:55:34 -0700
From: Michael Coxe
Subject: Re: The Strangeloves
I first wrote:
> Speaking of Feldman, Gottehrer & Goldstein, AKA Strangeloves
> (not a NY accounting firm), Bomp meister Greg Shaw has been
> sitting on a swell lengthy writeup on these three for years,
> unable to get Goldmine, Discoveries, etc to free up well worth
> it cash for the story.
Mikey replied:
> Well, one of those mags (can't remember which one right now)
> already DID a 4 page story on the The Strangeloves.
> Thats probably why they won't pony up with any cash for
> another one.
Glad to see a Strangeloves story finally published. Shaw's was
written quite some time ago (6+ years past). My guess he'd
given up publication attempts, though I sent him a query.
- michael
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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 19:39:15 -0000
From: Claus
Subject: Producers in sixties pop/rock
Hi..
I'm new to this excellent group, always nice to meet people with
similar interests. Years ago I started to write an album discography
dealing with American pop/rock 1958-1972 (although I'm from Denmark
and only 31). Now I'm in the middle of loading it all up here on www.
My interest is especially the following producers, C. Boetcher, G.
Usher, T. Melcher, Larry Goldberg, Michael Lloyd et al. I'm looking
for volunteers in this subject.
Kind regards,
Claus at
http://home19.inet.tele.dk/peakimp/00.html
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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 15:38:07 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Darin's drummer
Marc:
> I suppose it could be Bellson, but he didn't do near as many
> Atlantic sessions (or others) as Francis. Just a guess.
>>>>nAHHH...IT AINT bELSON.
Your friend,
Mikey
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 12:57:45 -0700
From: Bryan
Subject: Re: The Robbs
Christoffer:
> Just found The Robbs great album. Who were those guys?
Christoffer, check out the bio I wrote for All Music Guide:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=B5jnsa9rgb23a~C
And here's my review of their album:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Ai2he4j870wat
Bryan
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 21:21:56 +0100
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Kenni Woods and the Darlettes
Original message from Vlaovic B:
> Read the 'new to Spectropop' bio on Kenni Woods. I recall a
> discussion a while back as to whether it was same gal fronting the
> Darlettes for the 1965, Van McCoy produced single 'Lost/Sweet Kind
> of Loneliness'. Sure sounds like same voice.
Hi,
You're not wrong, Vlaovic, the lead singer of the Mira label's
Darlettes sure sounds a lot like Kenni Woods (aka Sandi Sheldon, aka
Kendra Spotswood). However, the Darlettes' mystery was resolved a
few months back. In short, the (Mira) Darlettes became the Sweet
Things on Date. For the story in more detail, see below.
MICK PATRICK
Will Stos:
> I downloaded a song called "Lost" by the Darlettes the other day
> and I can't seem to get it out of my head. It's not terribly hook-
> heavy or happy, but a little brooding. I checked John Clemente's
> Darlettes discography in his book Girl Groups: Fabulous Female
> That Rocked The World, but I didn't see it listed. So, question to
> girl groupies on the list. Is this song by Diane Christian and the
> Darlettes? Any idea if/when it was released? How about the
> writers? It has a bit of Bacharach/David feel to it, and a vocal
> bass line similar to some Marvelettes recordings. Any help would
> be luverly!
Phil Chapman:
> I thought this voice sounded familiar so I searched around the net
> and found the following:
> "..Though Peaches and Herb was billed as a duo, their member rotation
> is more similar to a group's. Herb has remained the only constant
> with, at last count, four "Peaches" stepping up to the microphone.
> The original Peaches, Francine Hurd Barker, a Washington, D.C.,
> native, earned the childhood nickname "Peaches" because of her
> genteel manner. She sang in neighborhood groups and in her teens she
> became the lead singer for a group named The Keynotes. Starting her
> own group, The Darlettes, they auditioned for and were signed to D.C.-
> area label Date Records, where their name was changed to The Sweet
> Things..." http://discomuseum.com/PeachesHerb.html
Mick Patrick:
> Well spotted that man. And I thought I was the one who was supposed to
> be the voice expert :-)
> Enthused by the knowledge that THE DARLETTES became THE SWEET THINGS,
> I searched around my bin, I mean brain, and came up with the following
> line-up for the group:
> FRANCINE "PEACHES" BARKER (nee HURD), DYANNE STEWART & NANCY J. JOHNSON.
> Unfortunately for Dyanne & Nancy, the Sweet Things' recording career was
> curtailed after just two 45s when Francine quit to form PEACHES & HERB
> with Herb Frame.
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 14:10:54 -0600
From: Ron Weekes
Subject: Re: Producers in sixties pop/rock
Hi Claus,
You need to check out http://www.garyusher.com
Ron Weekes
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Message: 12
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 23:53:43 +0200
From: Stefan Wriedt
Subject: Chiffons
To add an interesting and great tune to the subject of missing B.T.
Puppy re-releases and missing Chiffons re-releases, I've uploaded in
high stereo quality an mp3 of "I Don't Deserve A Boy Like You" to
musica (3 MB). It's also a nice Keller-Kolber composition. Let me know
if you want to hear more from that B.T. Puppy 1010 "My Secret Love"
album.
Stefan
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Message: 13
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 18:23:01 -0400
From: Rat Pfink
Subject: Re: The Robbs
Christoffer wrote:
> Just found The Robbs great album. Who were those guys?
Bryan wrote:
>Christoffer, check out the bio I wrote for All Music Guide:
>http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=B5jnsa9rgb23a~C
>And here's my review of their album:
>http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Ai2he4j870wat
OK Bryan, maybe you can answer this one: was the last name
"Robb" a stage name or is it their real name? The reason
I ask is that on the Cherokee LP on ABC the three Robb
brothers are listed as David Donaldson, George Donaldson,
Robert Donaldson, which I assumed were their real names.
Or did they start using the name Donaldson to shed their
Robbs image?
Anyway, anybody that's a fan of the Robbs' LP will probably
also dig the singles they recorded for ABC/Dunhill, very
Grass Roots-esque stuff. I'll post 'em to musica as soon as
I get a chance.
Also, I read somewhere (Fuzz, Acid & Flowers, maybe?) that
they also recorded a single or two for Atlantic, although I
haven't been able to track down any info on those. Anybody
happen to have 'em?
RP
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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 19:18:02 EDT
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Peppermint Rainbow
I recieved a card from Bonnie of the Peppermint Rainbow thanking
me for a CD of her songs I sent. I had listed the male members of
the group as Iban browne, Bill Albaugh, and RG Nave (formerly of
the Lemon Pipers) based on the picture on the back of the LP, Will
You Be Staying After Sunday. However she said the guys were: Skip
Heralene (maybe mispelled I have trouble reading hand writing),
Doug Lewis and Tony Carey. Any Rainbow fans out there that might
know something about these new mystery men? A guy by the name of
Tony Carey was in a mid 70s heavy rock group called Rainbow but it
probably isn't the same. Or could it be?
Paul Urbahns
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Message: 15
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 19:43:48 -0400
From: Rat Pfink
Subject: Re: Peppermint Rainbow
Previously:
> A guy by the name of Tony Carey was in a mid 70s
> heavy rock group called Rainbow but it probably
> isn't the same. Or could it be?
I think the Tony Carey in The Peppermint Rainbow played
drums, so I'm pretty sure it's not the same guy that
played keyboards for Richie Blackmore's Rainbow (but
I could be wrong.)
*That* Tony Carey also had a hit in '84 with "A Fine,
Fine Day"...
RP
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Message: 16
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 2002 19:02:28 -0500
From: danhughes@juno.com
Subject: Re: Peppermint Rainbow
Paul, here's a good photo of the modern Tony Carey (and a bio, etc):
http://www.angelfire.com/80s/tonycarey/fanpage.html
Born in 1953; doubt it's the same guy.
---Dan
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2002 03:52:52 -0000
From: Peg
Subject: Re: Peppermint Rainbow
Hi Paul!
I am a big Tony Carey fan, and I feel confident in saying that the
Tony Carey you are thinking of was not a member of the Peppermint
Rainbow. Born in 1953, Tony Carey would have only been 16 years old
at the time of the albums release in 1969. If this is the album cover
you are referring to, nobody here looks 16, lol.
http://www.gocontinental.com/photos2/peppermintr3a.jpg
However, Tony Carey was a member of "Rainbow" the hard rock/heavy
metal group (with Ronnie James Dio, Ritchie Blackmore, Cozy Powell)
in the early seventies, which might have caused some confusion.
You can learn more about this Tony Carey at my Tony Carey Yahoo Group
which is listed in my profile.
Hope that helps a little,
Peg
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2002 01:25:50 -0400
From: John Solocinski
Subject: Re: American Dreams
Country Paul writes...
> Finally, ABC-TV series "American Dreams" received limited praise
> from a review in the New York Times (it's the Dick Clark
> "re-creation" of his version of the 1960's). Did anyone see it? Is
> it worthwhile?
I missed it, but a good friend saw it and loved it. They are replaying
the first episode this coming Sunday night at 7:00 pm, and the
new, second episode at it's regular time of 8:00 pm. So we get a
second chance to decide for ourselves. (on NBC, btw)
http://www.nbc.com/American_Dreams/episode_guide/index.html
(Although, my friend was quick to point out that they had a "blooper"
right out of the box. Near the beginning of the show, the announcer
states "the year is 1963..." or some such, with Stevie Wonder's
"Uptight" playing in the background. (from 1966) I'm sure
your average Joe or Jill wouldn't pick up on that though. Hmm, Dick
Clark is an executive producer of the show, you'd think he'd catch it!!)
John
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 02 Oct 2002 01:50:53 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Re: Darin, Joni Lyman, Teenagers, Reed-related, more
Catching up from last month till now:
Bill George cited "...a recent Jackie DeShannon interview for the
Orange County Weekly: http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/02/46/music-washburn.php
Thanks, Bill - excellent. I also appreciate knowing about the Richie
Unterberger book, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" If you haven't discovered his
website, http://www.richieunterberger.com it's a true treasure trove.
Special thanks to Mick Patrick for the Time/Brent/Shad links. I think I've
got some international CD ordering to do....
Re; all-girl bands of the '60's, Al Kooper produced Eight Feet; I have a 45
on Columbia, 04 -43505, by them. The A-side, "Bobby's Come A Long Long Way,"
was a sorta stock girl-group-meets-protest track if I remember (unspecial
then, more interesting now as an artifact); the song that really grabbed me
then and still does is the flip, a beautiful folky waltz called "What Am I
Without You?" Worth finding. IMHO.
Re: Rashkowsky and others on Bobby Darin's arrangements: Mack The Knife has
"Orchestra conducted by Richard Wess." I don't know anything about him, but
I believe he arranged many of the sessions he led. Later Atco singles by
Darin also show Jimmy (a/k/a Jimmie) Haskell leading the band. By the way,
Richard Wess also arranged and led a real swingin' 45 by one Artie Lewis
(Atco 45-6169, 1960): "Abracadabra"/"Hey Little School Girl." The A-side
really swings; Lewis sings his young throat off, but he's up in the Wayne
Newton register - until I connected the artist with the song some years
later, I thought it was by a female!
Sad to hear about Marshall Lieb's passing. Nice write-up, Mick. Thank you.
By the way, Mick, I have a Joni Lyman 45 on Reprise 0378 (1965): "I Just
Don't Know What To Do With Myself" (a beautiful version of the
Bacharach-David classic)/"Happy Being Blue" (wr. Marty Cooper of
Vejtables/Mojo Men fame). Haven't heard either recently, and can't play 'em
now because my wife is asleep in the next room! I'd never heard of Joni
Lyman other than this, but your easy mention of her indicates there's more
to know. Could you share the info, please?
Speaking of "Lyman" but totally unrelated, I had the pleasure of seeing the
Teenagers last Friday night - as in Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers,
founders of the "little boy lead" doo-wop sound and a cornerstone of rock &
roll. Of course, Frankie's been gone for many years, and these guys are far
from teenagers. Nonetheless, two of the originals have kept the group going;
Frankie's younger brother Lewis (former lead of the Teenchords) is with
them; the lead is Tim Wilson of Tiny Tim & the Hits, who did the New York
doo-wop classic "Wedding Bells Are Ringing" (Roulette); and the bass is the
amazing Bobby Jay, originally of The Laddins ("Yes, Oh Baby, Yes") and
arguably the best DJ on WCBS-FM. These guys can all still sing! See 'em if
you're able. Oowee-bop-a-cow!
Stefan Wriedt: I personally found Neil Sedaka very talented but aurally
annoying after "The Diary," but his pre-hit history was very interesting -
singing with the Tokens on a New York classic doowop, "Doom Lang," on Morty
Craft's Melba label, and an odd pop 45 on Legion, "Fly Don't Fly On Me." All
this while studying classical piano at Juilliard. Anyone have any info on
these, especially the Legion release? (And didn't he also cut a couple of
odd 45's on Decca before hitting it big?)
Dixigas, I never knew the Lou Reed-John Cale connection to Otis & The All
Night Workers, as they were known in the upstate NY club scene. "Don't Put
All Your Eggs In One Basket," a great rockin' dance song, was #1 in Syracuse
on its release in 1965. The website,
http://olandem.chez.tiscali.fr/loureed/lrprevu.html is a gem. Thank you!
Also, Gregg, Jackie McLean is indeed a jazz organist, alive and well and
playing and teaching music for many years in Hartford, CT. The folks at
radio station WWUH would know more about him. One more Reed-related note:
Terry Phillips had a really good 45 on Time in the late 50's-early 60's; I
forget the name, and used to have it but it has gone missing. Anyone
remember the name of it? May I assume it's the same Terry Phillips?
Ted L. mentioned Gabriel and the Angels. They had a decent-sized hit on
Swan, "That's Tough, That's Life" (more lyrics? "What's Life?" "A magazine."
"How much does it cost?" "It costs 20 cents." "But I only have a nickel."
"Whoa, that's tough."). There was a follow-up on Swan at the end of 1962:
"All Work - No Play"/"Peanut Butter Song," Swan 4133. No other info
available here.
Finally, Teacho Wiltshire (yep, I loved his name, too) was a major studio
arranger/conductor for a lot of New York doo-wop groups. I remember seing
his name on the very pretty "Our Songs of Love," c. 1960, by the Love Notes
on Cheer. There were many more, often uncredited.
Country Paul
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End
