Spectropop - Digest Number 691

• From: Spectropop Group
• Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002

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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 15 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Ripples 8
           From: Spectropop 
      2. Ode to Billie Joe
           From: Phil Chapman 
      3. Here in Philly it's Candy and the Kisses.  The Pearls
           From: Steve Harvey 
      4. Ode to BJ
           From: Steve Harvey 
      5. Re: Tar And Cement
           From: Mike Edwards 
      6. Re: The Pearls
           From: Shawn Baldwin 
      7. Bobby Russell / Buzz Cason
           From: Norman 
      8. THANKSGIVING
           From: Louise Posnick 
      9. Re: Lisa Mychols
           From: Doug 
     10. Re: Bobby Russell / That English sound
           From: Mikey 
     11. Re: Ode to Billie Joe
           From: Phil Milstein 
     12. Who's so fine ?
           From: Eddy Smit 
     13. The Pearls
           From: 
     14. Alzo from Alzo & Udine  updates!!!
           From: Alzo Fronte 
     15. Gary, Ginny, Pearls, Candy
           From: Ian Chapman 


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Message: 1
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 10:47:30 -0000
   From: Spectropop 
Subject: Ripples 8

Dear Members,

...How many music fans know there are eight full CDs- 
worth of British acts doing American-style melodic pop? 
England, last I heard, has never been known as the land 
of sun, surf and sand! Get this CD...then get the rest.

The CD in question? "Butterfly: Ripples, Volume 8". 
Click below to read Mark Frumento's full review:
http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index.htm#Ripples8

Enjoy!

The Spectropop Team



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Message: 2
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 11:18:26 -0000
   From: Phil Chapman 
Subject: Ode to Billie Joe

Phil M:
> And I always thought it was just an old ragdoll that 
> Billie Jo threw off the Tallahatchee Bridge.

Are you referring to the alleged original seven minute 'B' side 
which explained a lot more about what was thrown off that bridge?
I can't find evidence to support its existence, and there's no trace 
of these original lyrics anywhere on the internet. Even Bobie Gentry
remains silent on the issue. It must be a government conspiracy to 
suppress the truth about the whole affair:-)



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Message: 3
   Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 19:33:09 -0800 (PST)
   From: Steve Harvey 
Subject: Here in Philly it's Candy and the Kisses.  The Pearls

Eric Charge wrote:
> I have had a good ticking off for daring to suggest that the 
> Holland/Dozier/Holland song "Third Finger Left Hand" is best 
> interpreted by Britain's own Pearls.

That was a hit in this area under the name The 81. 
A dance craze that never caught on.



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Message: 4
   Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 19:35:41 -0800 (PST)
   From: Steve Harvey 
Subject: Ode to BJ

Phil M:
> And I always thought it was just an old ragdoll that
> Billie Jo 
> threw off the Tallahatchee Bridge.

Actually it was box that contained The Thing by Phil Harris.



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Message: 5
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 02:32:42 -0000
   From: Mike Edwards 
Subject: Re: Tar And Cement

Although we haven't had too many votes in, Mel Carter definitely took 
it in the shorts in the Tar And Cement "Battle Of The Bands" contest! 
Spectropoppers favored Françoise Hardy, Caroline Munro and Tampa 
Bay's very own Verdelle Smith over Mr. Carter. You'd think that being 
a Sam Cooke protégé Mel would have done better.

Mike Edwards  





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Message: 6
   Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 21:28:28 -0600
   From: Shawn Baldwin 
Subject: Re: The Pearls

Eric Charge:
> I have had a good ticking off for daring to suggest that the 
> Holland/Dozier/Holland song "Third Finger Left Hand" is best 
> interpreted by Britain's own Pearls.

I beg to differ -  I have yet to hear any remake of a Martha 
Reeves song that compared to the original!

Shawn



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Message: 7
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 22:23:08 +1030
   From: Norman 
Subject: Bobby Russell / Buzz Cason

Hi,

I was checking out my collection after my last message about 
Bobby Russell and found a couple of singles and an LP. He had 
a good time in the charts in my home town between 1968 and 
1971.  Apart from the stuff he wrote for Bobby Goldsboro, his 
own records played on radio were:

"Franklin Pike Circle Hero" went top twenty and "Our Love Will 
Rise" made it to the top ten (I certainly remember the B-side 
"For A While" being played a lot) and surprisingly, according 
to my source, "Saturday Morning Confusion" only made it into 
the lower reaches of the top forty! (I don't think so.) "Go 
Chase A Rainbow" at least reached top twenty.

Buzz Cason also had a good time down here. "Adam and Eve" went 
#1 at Christmas 1968 and faded out of the charts in February 
1969.

After the success of Robert Knight with "Everlasting Love" in 
1967 (#8) and the Love Affair (UK) and Town Criers' (Australia) 
versions the next year, a couple of Australian groups had 
success with the Cason-Gayden songbook. The Flying Circus with 
"La La" and "Hayride" in 1969 The New Dream had "Groupie" and 
"Candy Love" in 1970 & 1971 respectively.

The most interesting record I came across was one recorded here 
in my home town in 1963! A couple of local groups recorded 
"Tennessee "Stomp"  by Bobby Russell and Buzz Cason for the 
Young Modern label. This label was an off-shoot of a local teen 
magazine called Young Modern, the creation of local entrepreneur 
Ron Tremaine. The Four Tones with The Penny Rockets "Tennessee 
Stomp" (Russell / Cason) - Young Modern YM-SP 001 / "Momma - 
Poppa" (Barry Mann). Although the Penny Rockets are regarded as 
a major Rock'n'Roll band in Adelaide they, like most of their 
peers, originated from the big band era. And yes, Tennessee Stomp 
is the same song as Tennessee with a slight change of words to 
the only verse!

Norman



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Message: 8
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 15:22:29 -0000
   From: Louise Posnick 
Subject: THANKSGIVING

WE ARE CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING IN THE STATES TODAY...

FROM LOUISE AND LINDA OF THE PHIL SPECTOR LOVELITES, 
WE WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY THANKSGIVING, NO MATTER WHERE 
YOU LIVE, AND A PEACEFUL HOLIDAY SEASON.

YOU HAVE MADE OUR LIVES MORE INTERESTING AND MEMORABLE.

THANK YOU.




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Message: 9
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 15:28:01 -0000
   From: Doug 
Subject: Re: Lisa Mychols

Kingsley Abbott wrote:
> Here's a luvverly newie one for the season...one that is dedicated 
> to Jamie...As I write, the new Lisa Mychols CD "Lost Winter's Dream" 
> is on its third straight play.  This is without doubt a pre-Xmas 
> treat for all Spectropoppers - don't wait to be given it on the 
> 25th!  Lisa has written it, and worked with Darian and Nick from the 
> Wondermints, so there are lovely little musical quotes all over it.
> If you like bells, glocks and big drum thumps....Several tracks stand 
> out: the title track (also in track and girlie ooohs b.vox form, 
> especially for Elizabeth!) which immediately recalls The Rag Dolls to 
> my ears, "Listen To the Bells Ring", "Blizzard Of Aaahs", "x-Mass = 
> Tyme" and "Christmas Came Too Soon".  It's just out on Revola as CR 
> REV 17.

Has this been released yet?  I usually buy my imports from Amazon 
UK, and I've been watching for this and the Moon CD.  They show a 02 
Dec release date for the Moon, and the Lisa Mychols CD isn't listed 
at all.  What gives??

Doug

Admin. Note:
Revola have a new website just up: http://www.revola.co.uk
 





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Message: 10
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 10:48:42 -0500
   From: Mikey 
Subject: Re: Bobby Russell / That English sound

Antonio Vizcarra: 
> I have in my collection an album which has always been something
> of a mystery to me. It's entitled "That English Sound" and It's
> the usual low-budget compilation of the era featuring covers of
> hits like "We can work it out", "As tears go by", "Mrs brown you´ve
> got a lovely daughter" and so on. It was released on the Modern Sound
> label, produced by William Beasley and probably appeared around 1967.
> Any information is really welcomed :-)

Antonio, I'm your man!!   Here is the Scoop about your LP:

Modern Sound was one of several labels owned by a Nashville company called
HIT Sound Alikes .  They also owned the HIT Record Label which they used to
issue pop 45s. "Modern Sound" was used to release LPs. They also had a 
Country Label for country knock offs.

Their mission was to record quickie "knock offs" of the chart hits of the
day, have the pressed inexpensively in Nashville, and sold them just about
everywhere at discount prices. Because of the HIT label name, many people
thought they were buying the original, simply at a discount price.

They used top Nashville session players who could knock off like 10 titles
in a 3 hour session. And Bobby Russel was indeed a featured HIT artist, he
recorded many songs ans Bobby Russell, and many MORE under other ficticous
names, designed to trick the record buyer into thinking he was buying the
original!!

They issued THOUSANDS of records from 1962 to 1972 . Most everything that
was a top 40 hit was issued. I know this, because I'm one of the biggest 
HIT Records collectors in the country. I'm trying to aqcuire a copy (tape, 
CDR or disk)  of every 45 issued. That will probably take many more years!!!

As for your LP, they used some original tunes to flesh out the LPs here and
there, hence some of the songs you mentioned. As long as they had hits on
there for title strength, they didnt really care.

I hope this helps you!!

Mikey






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Message: 11
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 12:04:40 +0000
   From: Phil Milstein 
Subject: Re: Ode to Billie Joe

Phil Chapman wrote:
> Are you referring to the alleged original seven minute 'B' side
> which explained a lot more about what was thrown off that bridge?

That version is news to me. I believe the "old ragdoll" theory came 
from the movie of the same name, which was based on the song but 
with extravagant extrapolation.

Steve Harvey wrote:
> Actually it was box that contained The Thing by Phil Harris.

Are you sure the box didn't contain Thing from the Addams Family? 
I am getting so confused!

--Phil M.



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Message: 12
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 17:49:57 -0000
   From: Eddy Smit 
Subject: Who's so fine ?

Listening to the intro of Verdelle Smith's Tar & Cement, I 
started humming Pretty Belinda. Is somebody in trouble now ?
Happy Thanksgiving to you all !

Eddy



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Message: 13
   Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 18:31:39 EST
   From: 
Subject: The Pearls

The Pearls ROCKED - I love The Pearls, great vocals, huge 
production.  Great tracks like "Third Finger", "Guilty", 
"You Came, You Saw, You Conquered", "Wizard Of Love",
"I'll see you in my dreams"......



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Message: 14
   Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 00:08:31 -0000
   From: Alzo Fronte 
Subject: Alzo from Alzo & Udine  updates!!!

Hello, my name is Alzo Fronte......I see your chats about
me and would like to inform all of my fans of my new website,
which can be reached at this link  http://www.alzomusic.com 

I am so happy that there is an interest in my music and that 
there are people out there that care.  Hope to chat with all
of you wonderful people, and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Love you, 

Alzo



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Message: 15
   Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 00:29:57 -0000
   From: Ian Chapman 
Subject: Gary, Ginny, Pearls, Candy

Phil and Mike, thanks for Gary Criss' original version of "Our 
Favourite Melodies".  I like his vocal, but I have to come down 
on the side of the Craig Douglas cover, which has a more dynamic 
track, with Craig really giving his all.  Of course, I could be 
biased because his was the version that I already knew. 

Anyway Mike, as per your request, Ginny Arnell's original of "Tell 
Me What He Said" is played to musica.  And personally, I would have 
to apply the same comments as above on comparing it with Helen 
Shapiro's version.  See if you agree.

Eric:  the Pearls were none other than Lyn Cornell and Ann Simmons, 
both members of the original Vernons Girls troupe.  Lyn had solo 
45s on Decca in the 60s.  Ann's career progressed thus: Vernon Girl, 
Redmond Twin, Breakaway, Pearl, Ladybird.  I always thought "Lead Us 
Not Into Temptation" was the Pearls' punchiest record, but it never 
charted.

Steve:  Yay, Candy & the Kisses "The 81"!!  What an irresistible 
record – no wonder it's such a stalwart oldie on the U.K. northern 
soul scene.  The 81 as a dance had been around for awhile before 
Candy & the Kisses' record - in fact another record entitled "The 81" 
had been cut by Allen Cromer in '63, albeit a different song.  But 
the story goes that producer/writer Jerry Ross was at a Philly record 
hop watching some kids doing the 81 to the Martha & the Vandellas' 
tune "In My Lonely Room", and decided to make a new "81" record - 
based on the Vandellas' song - with Candy, Suzanne and Jeannette.  
Many would say he surpassed it – me, for one!

Ian





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