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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 22 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Many Thanks!
From: Lynn
2. Commercials
From: Steve Harvey
3. Re: made to be bad
From: Mark Frumento
4. Re: made to be bad
From: Jeffrey Glenn
5. Re: made to be bad
From: Billy G. Spradlin
6. knockin' the Hermits
From: Xavier
7. Nino and April B Side
From: Paul Urbahns
8. Re: knockin' the Hermits
From: Phil Milstein
9. Re: United Records
From: Marc
10. Re: knockin' the Hermits
From: Mikey
11. Re: knockin' the Hermits
From: Mark Frumento
12. Re: knockin' the Hermits
From: Richard Hattersley
13. Re: made to be bad
From: James Botticelli
14. Re: made to be bad
From: Martin Roberts
15. Re: made to be bad
From: Norman
16. Middle Of The Road
From: Guy Lawrence
17. Dem Bones
From: Bob Rashkow
18. Re: knockin' the Hermits
From: Steve Harvey
19. Re: made to be bad
From: Jeff Lemlich
20. Re: knockin' the Hermits
From: Jeff Lemlich
21. Phil Chapman (and ALO)
From: Martin Roberts
22. Re: Knockin' the Hermits
From: Eric Charge
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 01:05:57 -0000
From: Lynn
Subject: Many Thanks!
I am so glad to know the name of my "mystery song", Montage by The
Love Generation. Thanks for the help!
I love the discussions here! I have a copy of the Napoleon XIV hit
from 1966. As a kid, I even memorized the nonsense syllables of the
B Side of "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha" (which sounds
rather like "Hayem wee em kesh nesh ne muckedah ha ha"). :D
Lynn
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 19:32:55 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Commercials
It's pretty pathetic that I hear better music on tv
commercials than I do on commercial radio. Does
anybody remember the first rock and roll sellout?
Donovan let Yardley use his "Wear Your Love Like
Heaven" back in the late 60s. There is a car
commercial out that I swear samples the bass line to
the Lovin' Spoonful's "Jugband Music".
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 01:42:56 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: made to be bad
Not sure if this one fits into the 60s because I don't know the exact
release date but a clever bad B-side is "Mediocre" on the back of
of "Alvin's Harmonica" by David Seville and the Chipmunks.
Comdey/novelty record or not, who is going to play a song with that
title. Not me, I just listened to it for the first time!
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 16:50:39 -0800
From: Jeffrey Glenn
Subject: Re: made to be bad
Phil, here's a couple that haven't been mentioned yet. The first is also a
backwards one, but with a twist. The B-side of The Committee's "California
My Way" (White Whale WW-257, 1967) is a backwards track called "You For
Weren't It If" which is not "California My Way" backwards, but a different -
and apparently otherwise unreleased - song called, predictably, "If It
Weren't For You." I've turned it around in SoundForge, and it's a fine song
in it's own right. If anyone wants to hear it I can play it to musica
(forwards or backwards! :-)).
The other is the B-side to "Walk In The Sky" by The Crackerjack Society (a
New York cover of the Flowerpot Men song) on Columbia 4-44434, also from
1967. It's called "Listen To This Side" whereupon when you do you are
confronted with three minutes or so of pure noise (credited to coproducers
Murray Wecht and John Walsh of course).
I can also play this to musica. :-)
Jeff
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 01:42:54 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: made to be bad
Another throwaway B-Side
Sonny & Cher's - "Hello" which is basically small talk to thier fans.
Another strange B-side is "You For Weren't It If" by The Committee on
White Whale WW257, the A-side was "California My Way". It's a track
written by Dalton & Montgomery (from the 60's group Colours). After
copying the song to my PC's hard drive and listening to it the right
way, its not a bad song or performance. But why did White Whale flip
it backwards??
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 15:27:59 -0000
From: Xavier
Subject: knockin' the Hermits
Marianne Faithfull in Vanity Fair:
> In the wake of those bands which were actually good (like the Beatles and the
> Stones) - real musicians with some kind of vision - came all this other crap
> like Herman's Hermits, the Dave Clark Five, et cetera.
Hey now. I'll give you that the Dave Clark Five had very few redeeming
qualities, but I think it's unfair to paint Herman's Hermits as total crap. ;)
Hell, their "vision" was to do songs in a British musical tradition, and I
think they succeeded. Yeah, they're a bit twee, but "Listen People" *does*
rock (for Herman's Hermits anyway), and their cover of Donovan's "Museum" is
actually pretty amazing...
Xavier
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Message: 7
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 06:59:11 EST
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Nino and April B Side
Dan wrote:
> ...I'd go with two from Nino and April: 1-45 (flip side of Stardust), and
> I've Been Carrying a Torch For You So Long That I Burned a Great Big Hole In
> My Heart (flip side of Deep Purple).
I read someplace I've Been Carrying a Torch For You So Long That I Burned a
Great Big Hole In My Heart was supposed to have been the A side and they did
"Deep Purple" as a B side. Strange.
Paul Urbahns
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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 12:20:55 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: knockin' the Hermits
Xavier:
> Hey now. I'll give you that the Dave Clark Five had very few redeeming
> qualities, but I think it's unfair to paint Herman's Hermits as total crap. ;)
I feel the exact opposite: love the DC5, but am usually turned off by
Peter No One et al. To each, his own.
--Phil Milstein
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 11:57:37 -0500
From: Marc
Subject: Re: United Records
JED - Delmark out of Chicago owns United now.
Marc
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 12:51:40 -0500
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: knockin' the Hermits
Marianne Faithfull in Vanity Fair:
> ...Jackie Nitzsche thought the DC5 and Herman's Hermits were crap...I agree
with him.
>>>>Marianne Faithful was know to abuse certain illegal substances, so I'll cut
her some slack. However, NOBODY better knock the DC5 and The Hermits around me.
Between them they scored 43 chart hits from 1964 to 1970. That's nothing to
sneeze at. Is there a more rocking song than "Any Way You Want It"? Is there a
prettier song than "No Milk Today"? They rule!!
Your Friend,
Mikey
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 19:00:29 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: knockin' the Hermits
Xavier wrote:
> Hey now... I think it's unfair to paint Herman's Hermits as total crap.
I agree with you! The problem with the statement is that most Vanity
Fair readers would not be equipped to dispute her. It's sort of an
obvious and easy slam dunk if you don't actually listen to music
(like comparing The Beach Boys to The Ohio Express).
Can SOMEONE on this list PLEASE tell me why we left the post of "60s
Music Authority" in Marianne Faithfull's hands for even one interview? ;>)
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Message: 12
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 19:52:00 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: knockin' the Hermits
I would put DC5 over Hermans Hermits by a mile. I agree however that HH's did
some great records.(No milk today,Just a little bit better).
Richard
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Message: 13
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 15:19:26 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: made to be bad
Personally, I enjoy most all Phil's instrumental b-sides. They're especially
good when it's aerobics time, or after a couple of Manhattans. Oooo, wah oo.
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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 20:40:07 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Re: made to be bad
"Interesting' thread from Phil, not sure if I'm keen on the thought of a cdr
though! A release that more than fits the bill; Valiant 754 - The Fastest Group
Alive - The Bears / Be Side, the B-side lasts 35 seconds too long. With a
semi-spoken refrain of "Well it's cottons pickings times in the valley" sung
chorus (with out the extra s's) and musical backing heavily featuring a banjo.
Sadly the A-side isn't much better! Continuing the Double B side, (the usually
excellent) Valiant label AND Napoleon XIV thread; Valiant 743 – Josephine –
They Took You Away-I'm Glad, I'm Glad. B-side (I'm still not sure if this is
slowed down or the A side speeded up), Josef with the same song.
Martin
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 07:18:37 +1030
From: Norman
Subject: Re: made to be bad
Re: Phil Milstein
I grew up thinking that a bad B side to a good A side didn't matter. If you
wrote the B side you would make a lot of money if the A side became a smash.
And, after listening to some B sides in my time I would say there is a lot
of wasted space out there.
My contributions for your list are Ohio Express with the B side to Sweeter
Than Sugar being Bitter Lemon, and the B side to Orange Bicycle's Carry That
Weight/Golden Slumbers (sic) being Want To B Side. Fair enough, the Orange
Bicycle do not reverse the A side but it is pretty boring stuff non the less.
Norman
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Message: 16
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 13:14:40 -0700
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Middle Of The Road
Hi kjw and all,
Yeah I like "Yellow Boomerang" but you've inspired me to compile this......
TOP TEN GREATEST MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SONGS - as chosen by Guy.
1."Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum" (probably the best bubblegum song about inter-clan warfare ever!)
2."To Remind Me"
3."On This Land It Time"
4."Rainin' 'N' Painin'"
5."Universal Man"
6."Soley, Soley"
7."Louise"
8."Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep"
9."Samson And Delilah"
10."Medicine Woman"
All the Best, Guy
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Message: 17
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 17:53:31 -0500
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: Dem Bones
Kent is absolutely right! ! ! "Put The Bone In" is dreadful and it's hard to
believe Terry sang that with a straight face. Of the Buddah bubblegum hit B-
sides I'm familiar with my absolute favorite is also by 1910 Fruitgum Co., "Pow-
Wow". That's the B of INDIAN GIVER and it's some tune they did taped backwards,
creating an eerie, dirge-like effect at certain places. Very frightening. Used
to spin that one with all lights off!!! Lynn's comment on Napoleon XIV reminded
me of how the backwards tape used to make me crack up in hysterics. At one
point it sounds like Mr. Samuels is speaking French--he says something
like "missou, missou"!! Finally, the Hermits...I've never been a real fan but
two of my favorite sides by them are "I Can Take Or Leave Your Loving"
and "Something's Happening", from their waning-popularity period. Each should
have been a MUCH bigger hit IMHO. And "Can't You Hear My Heart Beat" just
brings childhood right back to me! Long live the memory of the great Richard
Harris! Bobster
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Message: 18
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 14:50:09 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: knockin' the Hermits
My first excursion into oldies was via the Hermits. Never heard of Sam Cooke,
Ernie K Doe, Skeeter Davis, Cliff Richards, etc. until I heard the Hermits
versions.
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Message: 19
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 22:15:52 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: made to be bad
Martin Roberts wrote:
> "Interesting' thread from Phil, not sure if I'm keen on
> the thought of a cdr though! A release that more than fits
> the bill; Valiant 754 - The Fastest Group Alive - The Bears
> / Be Side, the B-side lasts 35 seconds too long. With a
> semi-spoken refrain of "Well it's cottons pickings times in
> the valley" sung chorus (with out the extra s's) and musical
> backing heavily featuring a banjo.
I was thinking of this one too! "The Bears" was a regional hit
here in Miami in '66, and was even covered by Ocala, Florida's
Royal Guardsmen. I used the Guardsmen's version on a sports
video we put together after the Chicago Bears won the '86
Super Bowl!
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 20
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 22:57:19 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: knockin' the Hermits
The Hermits get put down because they were a teenybopper group. They
had NOTHING to say, except to 8-year-olds, but you know what? I was
eight years old when I first heard some of their music, so no wonder
I like some of it. I remember being blown away by their version
of "Jezebel" on "The Ed Sullivan Show". Yeah, they had some
stinkers, but in the end it's all pop, and there's nothing wrong with
bringing Kenny Young's tunes to the top of the charts. "Don't go out
into the rain, you're gonna melt, sugar"...
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 21
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 20:46:35 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Phil Chapman (and ALO)
I'm sure he'd be too modest to tell but while browsing in
my local bookshop I noticed "2Stoned", Andrew Loog Oldham's
latest tome. Straight to the back to check whom he's talking
about and up pops the name (over four pages) our very own Phil
Chapman. I'm inclined to wait for the paperback but I did read
Phil's piece and in his succinct manner, he sums up ALO's
producing style, brings up the names of Phil Spector, Glyn
Johns and George Morton and still has the space to describe
a rather hairy producing session with ALO in Italy.
Phil Chapman aka The Wild Man of Pop!
Martin
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Message: 22
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 22:56:38 -0000
From: Eric Charge
Subject: Re: Knockin' the Hermits
Well, when I first read this I had to laugh. Who was she to
criticise anybody else? What was Marianne Faithfull but the
least talented female singer in Britain in the 60s? She still
can't sing. Why do people revere her just because she took
drugs and slept around? Looks like a case of the Emperor's
new clothes to me....
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