________________________________________________________________________
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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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 26 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Gamma Goochee Himself
From: Jeff Lemlich
2. Re: Bobby Hebb
From: Mike Rashkow
3. Cindy Ellis, Bert Kaempfert
From: Country Paul
4. Re: made to be bad
From: Bill G Spradlin
5. made to be bad etc.
From: Bill Craig
6. Changin' the Subject
From: "Lynn "
7. Re: Peggy Clinger/Johnny Cymbal
From: Mike Rashkow
8. Re: The Liquid Room 10/27/02 (60's Cutie Pop Collection)
From: Kent
9. Re: made to be bad
From: Billy G Spradlin
10. UA>EMI
From: Country Paul
11. Re: Knockin' the Hermits
From: "Richard Tearle"
12. Re: Speaking of Johnny Cymbal...
From: Mike Rashkow
13. April & Nino's B/A side
From: Kingsley Abbott
14. Herman versus Marianne
From: Don Lonie
15. Re: Phil Chapman (and ALO)
From: Mark Frumento
16. Re: Knockin' the Hermits
From: Patrick Rands
17. Re: Changin' the Subject
From: Jeff Lemlich
18. Paul Mauriat
From: JED
19. Vandellism
From: Mick Patrick
20. Peter Noone and the Hermits today
From: Neil Hever
21. Re: Changin' the Subject
From: Lynn
22. Re: Bert Kaempfert
From: Patrick Rands
23. Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
From: Ken Charmer
24. Re: Vandellism
From: Rik
25. Re: Gamma Goochee Himself
From: Phil Milstein
26. Re: made to be bad
From: Martin Roberts
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 21:51:00 -0500
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Gamma Goochee Himself
Does anyone know anything about the enigmatic "Gamma Goochee
Himself", who was produced by Boyce & Hart on the Colpix label?
Nice early versions of "I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog" and "Sweet
Violets"... but who was he??
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 20:01:38 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Bobby Hebb
Eddy:
> Does anybody have any idea who the musicians are on Bobby
> Hebb's "Sunny" ? Apparently the drummer is Bernard Purdie.
> Any ideas on the remainder ?
I was the button pusher on that session. As many of you know.
Sunny was the last song done and was supposed to be the throwaway.
But everybody in the booth knew it was in the groove.
It was a long, long time ago and my memory isn't worth a damn,
but I may know a couple of things.
1. It was definitely Bell Sound Studio B. Probably Eddie Smith,
Phil Macy or Harry Yarmark twisting the knobs. It was recorded
4 track with a 4 track safety and a simultaneous mono reference
mix. Jerry Ross was there--did he produce it?
2. On guitar, leader and arranger was certainly Joe Renzetti.
3. I'm not entirely certain it was Purdie - could have been Herb
Lovell or possibly even Gary Chester or Bobby Gregg on drums.
4.My best guess is Joe Macho bass.
5. Other guitars were likely one or two of these: Carl Lynch,
Al Gorgoni, Everett Barksdale, Hugh McCraken, Eric Gale, Vinny Bell.
Hebb may have played a guitar as well, but I think he was in the
booth singing.
6. Piano? If there was it probably would have been Frank Owens,
Carl Griffin, or maybe George Butcher.
7. Best guesses on horns would be Artie Kaplan, maybe Buddy Tate,
Seldon Powell, Urbie Green, Markie Markowitz, etc. these are just
guesses.
Hey, it's 35-36 years ago, what do you want from me. I'm lucky I
remember my own name.
Rashkovsky
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 01:07:04 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Cindy Ellis, Bert Kaempfert
Ivor Lyttle's mention of German female singers brings to mind my
quest for info on Cindy Ellis, who had "Denckst Du Noch An Mich"
on Polydor 24 033 D, translated to "Do You Think Of Me?" on Laurie
in the US, released c. 1959-60.
The flip is "Nicht Ein Einziges Mal". It was released on the heels
of Ivo Robic's success with "Morgen," and got a fair amount of
airplay in New York.
On a Google search for Cindy Ellis, I also found a Bert Kaempfert
bio site, http://www.kaempfert.de/mediaservice/index_int.html
which mentions another Cindy Ellis title as well, "Dieses Lied
gehört nur Dir" ["This Song Belongs Only To You"]. It is apparently
on a CD included in a German biography of Bert, "Stranger In The
Night" by Marc Boettcher. (There's an interesting surname....)
Not speaking German, I let Google's automatic translation unit
bridge the language gap - and create an entire new one!
About the book:
"Everyone knows its songs, but over the composers and orchestra
leader Bert Kaempfert one knew so far only few.
"Swing and Easy Listening einpraegsame melodies and dragging along
rhythms experience a new bloom time for some years. What is
appropriate there more near, as Bert Kaempfert, for one of the most
famous representatives of the Easy Listening to become acquainted
with in a first Biographie more near? It coined/shaped already early
with titles such as thanks beautiful , A Swinging Safari and
Strangers into the Night its own unmistakable style and wrote music
history. He discovered the Beatles, arranged for Elvis and help
aluminium Martino with Spanish Eyes to its comeback. International
ones of star sang and played his compositions.
"Marc boettcher tells the history of a man, who ascended from simple
conditions to the world-famous star. Its friends and way companions
come to word, like Freddy Quinn, James load, Hilde Knef and Paul
McCartney, just as the family Bert combat RTS, which owes Boettcher
many details and insights, above all however numerous, unknown photos.
The book contains CD with its largest hits, numerous interview cutouts
and unknown photographs."
Explaining the bonus CD with the book, the German "translates" to:
"These CD as addition to the book one arranged. It offers a cross
section of failed photographs and world-well-known compositions,
which are to be heard for the first time on CD."
Seriously, if the Kaempfert bio is out in "real" English, someone
please let me know. And if there are some other Cindy Ellis tracks
available, please clue me in, too.
PS to Bobster: "Oowie-bop-a-cow, bop-a-cow, bop-a-cow-cow"
(Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, quoted by the Turtles'
"Can't You Hear The Cows?").
Country Paul
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 03:34:27 -0000
From: Bill G Spradlin
Subject: Re: made to be bad
According to my Goldmine Price guide "Harmonica" came out in 1959.
Ross Bagdasarian aka David Seville also recorded knockoff b-sides
"Almost Good", "Flip Side" and "Copyright 1960". I always liked
the speeded up piano that he used on Jim Lowe's 1956 "Green Door"
(which he wrote/produced) and many Chipmunk favorites.
Chipmunks (singing): "But we dont like to study hard, Arithmetic..."
Alvin: "Makes me SICK!!"
Dave: "ALLLLLLLLLLVINNNNNNNNNNNN!"
Another Comedy guy who used knockoff instrumentals as B-sides was
the late-great Dickie Goodman. Always sounded to me like he hired
the combo at the local bar to knock off a dull instrumental.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 04:02:31 -0000
From: Bill Craig
Subject: made to be bad etc.
Has anyone mentioned the most famous group's uncharacteristic
tanked b-side?
I'm thinking of "You Know My Name, Look Up The Number".
I'm not positive but I think it was the flip of the American
"Let It Be" single. On the subject of The Hermits, I think they
and the DC5 often are undeservedly bad rapped. Most recently in
Shawn Levy's book Ready, Steady Go!, Bill Wyman is quoted putting
both groups down. The Dave Clark 5 stuff I think for the most
part stands up very well as does a lot of Herman's Hermits, with
their record of the Graham Gouldman tune No Milk Today, being a
personal favorite.
Bill Craig
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 12:35:55 -0000
From: "Lynn "
Subject: Changin' the Subject
I am really enjoying myself here! My husband and coworkers have
often marvelled at my knowledge of little-known and esoteric rock and
roll trivia. I guess I was a teeny bopper before there WAS such a
term. I was in first grade when the Beatles made their debut on Ed
Sullivan. I remember reading the names of the group members as they
flashed up on the screen (even the "Sorry girls, he's married" under
John Lennon's name). Also remember my dad calling to my mom in the
kitchen saying, "My God, Sally. Come and look at all this HAIR!"
Anyway, I literally grew up listening to the British Invasion
groups. My mom liked the music, too. Her station would have been
called Middle of the Road, but it had everything from Tony Bennett to
the New Christy Minstrels to the Beatles. We moved around a lot in
the 60's and there were lots of stations ("Top 40") that played a
little bit of everything. Cincinnati was where I spent the longest
part of the 60's (1965 - 1970) and I am surprised sometimes at what
our program director at WSAI chose to play (a lot of local groups
like The New Lime, The Heywoods, Gary and the Hornets, the Us Two
Group) and to NOT play. (It was years before I heard the songs "Sky
Pilot", "Stop, Stop, Stop", and "Let's Spend the Night Together".)
As often happens, the songs I really liked were the ones that got
little air play. When I chanced to hear them, I would get excited
and turn on my reel-to-reel tape recorder trying to catch the song on
tape. One that I really liked was a little ditty by the Cherry Slush
called "I Can't Help You"! Anybody remember that?
Anyway, to conclude my bio-introduction, by the time I became a
teenager in 1970 (okay, somebody do the math. That's right. I was
born in 1957, so that makes me 45 now!), I began listening--REALLY
listening--to the big bands music that my dad had been forcing down
my throat for years and a funny thing happened: I actually LIKED
it! In high school (early 70's), if you had asked me who my favorite
groups were, I would have told you Chad and Jeremy and Glenn Miller!
Okay, so I am eclectic. I think I am in good company here. I bought
a lot of records over the years, but as I get older, I realize that
the ones I REALLY want to hear again are the ones I only caught
snatches of, or didn't catch at all. In recent years, I have begun
looking for some of these songs. Through Napster and the like, I
have found a lot of them (The Cherry Slush tune I mentioned
above, "November Snow" by Rejoice, "The Carnival Is Over" by the
Seekers). Some of them, I have found on Greatest Hits CDs ("Baby
What I Mean" by the Spiral Starecase or "Love You So Much" by the New
Colony 6). A couple I have found just through corresponding online
with other collectors. (My favorite is John Dawson Read's "A Friend
of Mine Is Going Blind".) But then, there are still some that are
out there to be found, like The Love Generation's "Montage".
Okay, enough of the introductary stuff. What I want to know this
time is anything my learned comrades here can tell me about John
Dawson Read, Rejoice, and the New Lime. (I am still looking for ANY
songs by the New Lime. All I know is they were a local Cincinnati
group.) I read that Rejoice was a husband and wife duo, but I don't
know more than that and a Google search hasn't told me anything
helpful. Anybody have any info on these performers?
That annoying newbie,
Lynn
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 20:03:20 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Peggy Clinger/Johnny Cymbal
Patrick Rands:
> I'm wondering if anyone can help me...I hope to collect...
> songs written by Peggy Clinger and Johnny Cymbal and I can't
> figure out if these were ever recorded by anyone...
Pat,
Contact me privately on this inquiry. I may be able to lead
you to some information.
I used to write with John Cymbal.
Mike Rashkow
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 11:20:52 -0000 (GMT)
From: Kent
Subject: Re: The Liquid Room 10/27/02 (60's Cutie Pop Collection)
David Ponak:
> 8.Nana Kinomi/Mini Mini Rock
> 60's Cutie Pop Collection/Suki Suki Edit (King-Japan)
David (or others?),
I have found 60s Cutie Pop "First Date Edit" available at
CD Japan (and seems reasonably priced, at least compared
with regular Japanese releases).
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VICL-60957
Does anyone have any idea how "First Date Edit" differs from
"Suki Suki Edit" ?
Cheers,
Kent
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 03:46:46 -0000
From: Billy G Spradlin
Subject: Re: made to be bad
BTW does anyone have a Mp3 of The Fastest Group Around "Bears"?
I have a (very worn) copy of the Royal Guardsmen "Snoopy & The
Red Baron" LP and that track was a favorite of mine when I was
a kid. I always thought that song was a band original until now.
Billy
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 01:30:40 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: UA>EMI
JED asked: "Does anyone know who owns United Artists?"
The original UA label merged with Liberty, which then
got swept up into EMI, if I'm not mistaken.
Country Paul
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 13:00:51 -0000
From: "Richard Tearle"
Subject: Re: Knockin' the Hermits
Which all goes to prove that lack of talent often succeeds...gotta
add my two penn'orth here: 3 acts have so far been mentioned in terms
of criticism; Herman's Hermits weren't anything special - I'm into
something good was a half decent cover and he did cover a Bowie
song;Marrianne? can't sing, can't act, can't dance - can sleep around
a bit! Dave Clark 5? Hardly Buddy Rich on the drums and a pretty non-
descript bunch with the possible exception of Mike Smith - BUT! What
did they all have? A talent to entertain, a talent to stand up in
front of others and do things that I certainly never got around to
doing! And where are they now? Both Herman (who used to be an actor,
BTW) and Dave are very successful business man and MF is still going.
My belief, for what its worth is that there is no such thing as BAD
music: its just whether you like it, don't like it or can leave it
one way or the other. Not liking it doesn't make it bad because
somewhere, someone else does like it. For the 3 acts mention, there's
another 3000 who have also made it with the same criteria - and
another 3000 twice as talented who haven't made it. Its the way it
was, is and ever more shall be so...
OK - had my say, I'll wait with baited breath to be shot down! No
offence meant and none will be taken 'cos we're all entitled to an
opinion!
Cheers
Richard
--- In spectropop@y..., Eric Charge wrote:
> 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....
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 20:09:15 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Speaking of Johnny Cymbal...
Zombie:
> My question is (and yes, I do have a question): Was "A Pack
> of Lies" ever even released in 1963?
I may be able to provide some guidance on this via John's
former wife, Carol, with whom I'm in touch from time to time.
I'll send her yours and see what she can tell us.
When I was writing with him in 1967-1968 he never mentioned
the song to me.
John was always very popular in Japan, Carol has told me that
his royalties from there are still good.
I have some unreleased material he and I wrote in the mid-
seventies that I tried to get Jamie interested in.
Some of it's not bad at all.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 10:52:56 -0000
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: April & Nino's B/A side
Catching up here in Norfolk after a three day
lack of electriky stuff after our BIG winds...I have to
recount an episode re "I've Been Carrying A Torch
For You So Long That I've Burned A Great Big Hole
In My Heart" - a few years back, on a hot, wine
soaked evening in the hills above Beziers in Southern
France I was called upon to mime that danged song
in a game of Charades. The assembled company, I
am delighted to report, did eventually piece it together
(after several refills) but then absolutely refused to believe
it existed! My protestations of having a copy fell on deaf
but very happy ears...
Kinshleey 'hic' Aabbottt
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 08:43:31 -0800
From: Don Lonie
Subject: Herman versus Marianne
Eric Charge:
> ll, when I first read this I had to laugh. Who was she to
> croticise 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....
How is it a case of the Emperor's new clothes? Maybe it's the pot calling
the kettle black but since when do you have to prove your own musical talent
to be able to share an opinion? I agree that in retrospect, the Hermits had
some pretty decent tunes hidden on their albums. (And on their B-sides by
the way.) But that doesn't change the fact that they were a minor group.
As were most of the others named by Ms. Faithful who is revered, by the way,
for coming back and proving herself to be a true artist as well as a
charismatic and intelligent person. Bottom line, she's a good interview.
That's why she's in Vanity Fair and Peter Noone is getting together with the
cast of the Love Boat at a dinner theatre near you.
If I understood the report of the interview in question, it sounded like she
was talking about those artists who were trying to create a sound versus
artists who jumped on a bandwagon. Some of my favorite songs were created
by musicians and producers jumping on a bandwagon and making desperate stabs
at stardom. But a great song doesn't make a great artist. It just proves
the law of the happy accident. We can celebrate the happy accidents without
elevating the lucky musicians who happened to be in the room at the time.
DL
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 16:56:27 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: Phil Chapman (and ALO)
Martin Roberts wrote:
> I'm sure he'd be too modest to tell
A while back I came across this interview ALO did about
Stoned where he mentions PC. Pretty cool:
http://www.andrewloogoldham.com/reviews/rocksbpgs.html
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 17:48:55 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Re: Knockin' the Hermits
I have to say I saw the 'Mits this past summer (the same night the
Stones were playing) for a mere $5 and Mr. Noone is quite talented
and funny. He imitated quite a few acts perfectly including the
Stones all in good fun. The bottom line is they were quite
entertaining!
:Patrick
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 18:32:45 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Changin' the Subject
Lynn wrote:
> One that I really liked was a little ditty by the Cherry Slush
> called "I Can't Help You"! Anybody remember that?
"I Cannot Stop You" on the USA label. It reached #20 on WFUN in
Miami in early '68, so I used to hear it on the radio a lot when
I was eleven. The band was from Michigan, formerly known as the
Bells of Rhymney.
> I read that Rejoice was a husband and wife duo, but I don't
> know more than that and a Google search hasn't told me anything
> helpful. Anybody have any info on these performers?
I'm not sure who the two vocalists were, but the musicians on
their album included Hal Blaine, Larry Knechtel, and Joe Osborn...
and Steve Barri was their producer. I like "November Snow" because
the vocalist reminds me of Don Gant. Their "Sausalito Sunrise"
received some airplay around the U.S. in 1969.
Speaking of Cincinnati groups... how about the Two Of Clubs
("Walk Tall") and the fab Teardrops?
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 19:49:10 +0100
From: JED
Subject: Paul Mauriat
I have read a book all in French about Paul Mauriat the man
behind "my love is blue" with André Popp.
The book can be ordered on http://www.valproductions.com -
it's called Paul Mauriat: Une vie en bleu - written by Serge
Elhaik. I'm not the biggest fan ever of Paul Mauriat but there
is a LP to look about his Study in R n' b + my Love is blue of
course - some other stuff by Mauriat are a bit squareville like
the dull of muzak and perhaps this book is not able or willing
to separate stuff that still cool and wallpaper music.
easy listening heaven or hell? -
Lots of interesting info - I could have done without the
embarassing pages on Mireille Matthieu (the worst French:
"the look of love" version though-)
JED ;-)
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 20:13:25 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Vandellism
I am preparing to dive into the pre-history of the Vandellas.
Hopefully, we have among our learned members some Motown mavens
who might be able and willing to aid me in my research.
For starters, would anyone happen to have copies of the
following records:
The Del Fi's "No More" / "The Magic Of Your Love"
(Cadette 8010, c.1962/3)
The Del Fi's "Worthless Love" (Mah's 1001)
I've seen these two discs listed in some Vandellas discographies.
Although the ladies did record under this name - usually in a
backing-vocal capacity, and in a variety of spellings - I need
some convincing about these items, especially the Cadette 45.
Thanks in advance.
MICK PATRICK
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 21:20:52 -0000
From: Neil Hever
Subject: Peter Noone and the Hermits today
Folks, While we are on the subject, if you get a chance to see Peter
today with the touring "Hermits" don't pass it up. If you see him
with the band that includes Dave Ferrara on drums, Ron Vail on Guitar
and vocals and Ken Bussiere on bass you will not be disappointed.
They are all good friends of mine for many years. They were in two
fantastic Pennsylvania bands The Original Sins and Saint John's
Alliance. The band SJA played Mersey music back in the early 80s and
did it very well. In fact, "Listen people" was on their set list.
The Original Sins are garage rock legends in the first degree. Their
collective LP reviews are effusive with praise. But they never made
it big during their heyday circa 1985 to 1990. I saw Peter with this
incarnation of the Hermits last year and saw something I've never
seen before. The band performed "For your love" and audience members
actually gasped and screamed during the drum solo! I mean that in a
really good way of course. The power of the presentation combined
with Peter's pitch perfect singing and humorous delivery was
fantastic. I'm a real jaded sort on so called "oldies" shows so this
is really a high compliment. Regarding Faithfull's comments, I would
agree with everyone else. Both the Hermits and the DC5 had plenty of
great tunes to recommend.
Cheers,
Neil
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 16:43:27 EST
From: Lynn
Subject: Re: Changin' the Subject
Hi, Jeff:
Okay, so I got the name of the Cherry Slush record wrong.
I would normally quip something about my advancing age getting
the better of me, but if you were 11 in 1968, that makes us
BOTH 45!:D I didn't know they were from Michigan or that they
had had a name change.
Wow! You remember "November Snow", too? I am really impressed!
Maybe they weren't a duo--that is just a dim memory I have of them.
And the Two of Clubs! I have a copy of "Walk Tall". They had
another hit, too, called "Heart". I had forgotten that they
were a local group from the Cincinnati area. The fab Teardrops
don't ring a bell. What songs did they did and about what year?
Great reminiscing with you!
Lynn
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 21:56:57 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Re: Bert Kaempfert
Country Paul wrote:
> Seriously, if the Kaempfert bio is out in "real" English, someone
> please let me know. And if there are some other Cindy Ellis tracks
> available, please clue me in, too.
Hi Paul,
The Bert Kaempfert has an English edition too. Just click the
american flag to go there. Here's the english version of the
page you are interested in:
http://www.kaempfert.de/disco/vol_2/index_int.html
I'v always loved his website!
:Patrick
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23
Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 22:11:47 +0000
From: Ken Charmer
Subject: Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
Hi Spectropopers
Just a note to let everyone know that the Frankie Valli and the
Four Seasons UK Historical group has been collecting together as
much info as possible on Bob Crewe et al in the recent fanzines.
Copies are free from our website at
http://www.btinternet.com/~seasonally/
We are also linked to the new Official site run by Stuart Miller
and Frank Rovello. This site will soon feature an interview with
Charles Calello.
The next copy Newsletter No 37 from the UK group will feature the
reviews and stories behind "Sherry" including original Record Mirror
articles and our Ultimate Album Collection of Seasons' Connections
by Bob Crewe. We will be posting this out in a couple of weeks.
I'll let this group know.
It is such a pleasure to learn from you guys. Any contribution to
identify examples of Bob Crewe best work or tracks with the Seasons
on backing vocals will help. (Not many knew of their work backing
Chuck Jackson).
Check the fanzine out and please keep us informed of any
contribution to our ongoing research.
Ken Charmer
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 1997 22:50:31 -0000
From: Rik
Subject: Re: Vandellism
Mick Patrick:
> I am preparing to dive into the pre-history of the Vandellas.
> Hopefully, we have among our learned members some Motown mavens
> who might be able and willing to aid me in my research. For
> starters, would anyone happen to have copies of the following 45s:
> The Del Fi's "No More" / "The Magic Of Your Love" (Cadette 8010)
> The Del Fi's "Worthless Love" (Mah's 1001)
> I've seen these two discs listed in some Vandellas discographies.
> Although the ladies did record under this name - usually in a
> backing-vocal capacity, and in a variety of spellings - I need
> some convincing about these items, especially the Cadette 45.
Hi Mick,
There are two awesome sites on Yahoo Groups which are dedicated to
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. The members are great and will be
able to help you with anything to do with their history. Try
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marthareevesthemotowndiva/ and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveislikeaheatwave/. Shawn is the
moderator and is as a mine of information.
Best wishes
Rik
Editor
Chatbusters
The only monthly Motown magazine in the world!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 17:30:28 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Gamma Goochee Himself
Jeff Lemlich wrote:
> Does anyone know anything about the enigmatic "Gamma Goochee
> Himself", who was produced by Boyce & Hart on the Colpix label?
> Nice early versions of "I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog" and "Sweet
> Violets"... but who was he??
If you flip over Gonna Buy Me A Dog to (You Got) The Gamma Goochee
and check the writer credit, the mystery starts to unfold. G.G.
himself was aka John Mangiagli, a dental ceramicist/rocknroll
wildman from southern California, who in the early '60s would save
up his earnings from making false teeth 3/4 of the year and then
spend it each summer by first making and then selling, to the highest
(or first) bidder, a new record. Each would appear under a different
artist name, until the (relative) success of (You Got) The Gamma
Goochee sealed him at the Gamma Goochee tag for a spell.
(You Got) The Gamma Goochee is a great find, a Sir Doug/Sam The
Sham-type stomper with some frat-rock currents, but instead of a
gaggle of drunken goons chiming in the chorus is supplied by the
Gamma Goochee's young nieces. I know the record did some chart
action at least in New York -- The Velvet Underground used to
include it on some of the tapes they'd pump through club P.A.s
prior to taking the stage.
I believe it was Lester Sill who signed Mangiagli to Colpix, then
assigned Boyce & Hart to work with him. Mangiagli had brought in
(You Got) The Gamma Goochee fully produced, but B&H's names were
added to the producer credit. The other three sides he did at
Colpix were in fact overseen by B&H. Included among these were
the first recording of "Gonna Buy Me A Dog," shortly before the
producers recut it with The Monkees (I suspect both versions use
the same tracks, but I've never A/B'd 'em). This all took place
right around the time The Monkees were being formed, and Mangiagli
told me, when I interviewed him a few years back, that he had been
invited to try out (or perhaps even to join outright), but declined.
There was a third single, recorded by Jack Keller, under Mangiagli's
contract with Sill, but which appeared on a label other than Colpix
(perhaps Mercury).
The holes in the above info will be filled in when my interview with
Mangiagli is finally published in Roctober magazine; for now, I am
going from my leaky sieve of a memory. I don't yet know when the story
will appear, as the tapes remain untranscribed. Anyone with some free
time on their hands who wants to further this project along via some
transcription gruntwork, contact me directly. The package will also
include interviews with Bobby Hart and Jack Keller.
--Phil Milstein
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Message: 26
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 22:56:10 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Re: made to be bad
All this talk of ALO caused Phil Milsten to get me going through
my UK boxes. Quite a few of ALO's B sides were 'inspired' by
Phil Spector i.e. they weren't meant to be played! "There Are But
Five Rolling Stones" B side of 'To Know Him Is To Love Him" by Cleo,
is in fact a good jazzy, rockin' blues knock off. One 45 you'd have
to be a bit crazy to want to flip (but aren't we all!) is: Bo and
Peep – Young Love/The Rise Of The Brighton Surf – UK Decca 11968 '64
featuring a semi spoken monologue musically based on The House Of
The Rising Sun. Andrew(?) sings(!)/chats about driving the Rockers
into the sea, World War 3, The next track is a very good one, Happy
Easter, Happy Thanksgiving, Whatever happened to Ricky Vallance and
on and on and on. Think the record lasts about 15 minutes but it might
be nearer 5! The track is 'co-written' by my good pal Kim Fowley :-)
Martin
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