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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. New At Spectropop
From: Spectropop
2. Re: Moon / David Marks / the Bell label / Ecology songs
From: Steve Harvey
3. Re: the Bell label
From: Jeffrey Glenn
4. Re: Righteous wannabees
From: James Botticelli
5. Re: Plant Life
From: Jeff Lemlich
6. Re: Sounds British / Ecology songs
From: Javed Jafri
7. "Rock 'n' Roll High School" before "End of the Century"
From: David A. Young
8. Re: Spoonful covers / Ecology songs
From: Andrew C. Jones
9. Mari (and Joey) Christmas
From: David A. Young
10. Sounds British / Ecology songs
From: Norman
11. Re: Moon / David Marks
From: Richard Havers
12. Congratulations!
From: Keiko Kondo
13. Re: Ecology songs / The Archies "Mr. Factory"
From: Rat Pfink
14. Exclusive Bo Diddley/Stones pics
From: David Blakey
15. Morton Downey Jr. and Surf Music
From: Mike Edwards
16. Re: DC5
From: Mary
17. Re: Ecology songs
From: Simon White
18. Sound Waves And Traction
From: Martin Roberts
19. Patti Leatherwood
From: Bill George
20. Re: Spoonful covers / Mr. Sebastian
From: James F. Cassidy
21. Re: the Knickerbockers
From: Neil Hever
22. Re: Brit Wannabes/Bee Gees/Klaatu?
From: Mark Frumento
23. It's Only Love
From: Simon White
24. Re: Ecology songs
From: Bill George
25. Re: The Knickerbockers and the Righteous Knight Brrothers
From: Mick Patrick
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 12:19:48 -0000
From: Spectropop
Subject: New At Spectropop
Dear Members,
New at Spectropop Recommends: SOUND WAVES AND TRACTION,
Volumes 1 and 2, by Stephen J. McParland.
Lovers of Surf, Drag and all things West Coast should be
aware that the world's leading authority on the subject
has just published two new books. Kingsley Abbott has
reviewed them for us:
http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index.htm#SoundWaves
Enjoy,
The Spectropop Team
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 16:13:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: Moon / David Marks / the Bell label / Ecology songs
Yeah! Mark's rejoined the Beach Boys for a while when Mike Love
was trying to prop up his claim to the name (there had to be 3
Beach Boys in the band to have the name). Marks has his own
website that talks about his time in the band.
My Bell single of the The Birdwatchers "I'm Gonna Do It To You" is
great!
How about Quicksilver's "Fresh Air" and Steve Forbert's "Good Planets
Are Hard To Find". Did Plastic World really record a tune called
"Tommy Roe"? Always dug their rock opera "Kneel Sedaka!" Plus David
Ackles' "Subway To the Country".
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 13:36:18 -0800
From: Jeffrey Glenn
Subject: Re: the Bell label
> I think there's hundreds more artist hopefuls who contributed their
> pop, folk and rock talents to Bell during that time. Both Jeff
> Glenn and Jeff Lemlich are no doubt familiar with many more of them!
Yeah, there are lots and lots of great Bell/Mala/Amy singles out there
from the second half of the 60's. I could put together a whole list of
stuff that I've comped for myself in the Lost Jukebox series if you're
interested. And, for information purposes, I've just placed in the
files section of the Spectropop yahoo group site an updated text document
with the complete track listings/credits for all 114 Lost Jukebox CD's
(so far :-) ). Just reading through them is an education in itself. Have
fun with it!
Jeff
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 19:45:35 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Righteous wannabees
Steve Harvey on the Knickerbockers:
> However, listen to their tune "Wishful Thinking" and it sounds like
> Bill and Bobby, the Righteous Brothers. No wonder when Medley split
> Bobby took the singer from the Knickerbockers to replace him.
Some say The Righteous Bros were white versions of The Knight Brothers
("Temptation's Out To Get Me").
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 02:02:15 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Plant Life
Jeffrey Glenn:
> ...Plant Life 45...If you mean "Flower Girl"/"Say It Over Again" by
> Plant Life on Date 2-1572 (1967), then no, neither side is
> ecologically oriented. The A-side is a great catchy late 60's pop/
> rock song which nicks the riff from "Friday On My Mind" to good
> effect. I've seen this listed in Ron Dante discographies as him
> singing the lead, and although it does sound quite a bit like him,
> this was a real band from Orlando, FL (though the record must have
> been made in New York as it was produced by Al Kasha). I'm guessing
> that Jeff L. will jump in here with more info. :-)
Well if you insist :)
Plant Life was actually the Go Mads from Orlando. The record label
changed their name, so they had to roll with the flow. "Flower
Girl" deserved to be a huge hit; as Jeffrey said, it was very much
influenced by the Easybeats. Plant Life made some other recordings
while in New York, but they were never released and their whereabouts
are unknown. A couple members of the band joined Tommy Talton of We
The People, and Scott Boyer of the 31st of February in the 70s
country-rock band Cowboy. There's a thread about Plant Life
(including a photo, and an mp3 of "Flower Girl") on my site. Here's
the direct link:
http://pub64.ezboard.com/flimestoneloungefrm7.showMessage?topicID=9.topic
Jeff Lemlich
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 23:02:59 -0500
From: Javed Jafri
Subject: Re: Sounds British / Ecology songs
Justin McDevitt:
> The Knickerbockers with their late-1965 radio hit "Lies", to many
> ears were compared to the Beatles in their sound and vocal style.
> A great track, along with their followup, "One Track Mind".
You could have a sub genre of American Beatle wannabees from the 60's
and the Knickerbockers Lies is definitely one of the best examples if
not the best.
Here are some others and I know I must be leaving off some obvious ones:
She's The One/The Chartbusters
Pretty Things/The Blue Things
Stop Get A Ticket/The Clefs Of Lavender Hill
I Love You/The People (yes, I know it's a Zombies song).
I Wonder/The Gants
Time Will Show The Wiser/The Merry-Go-Round
I Can't Do It/The E-Types
730 Guided Tour/The Five Americans (Actually sounds like the Beatles
meet the sunshine pop sound).
From "r13dodo":
> Thanks for the ideas. Here are the ones I found so far:
> ...Beach Boys-Don't Go Near The Water...
And on the same album, A Day In The Life of a Tree, a rare non-group lead
vocal by Jack Riley and some additional vocals by Van Dyke Parks.
Javed
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 04:33:39 +0000
From: David A. Young
Subject: "Rock 'n' Roll High School" before "End of the Century"
Allow me, please, to further explore a question hanging 'round since digest
700, when Mick Patrick asked whether the pre-"End of the Century" version of
The Ramones' "Rock 'n' Roll High School" was available on CD.
Dave Swanson correctly pointed out that, at least somewhere in the world,
the original soundtrack CD is in print (although whether it's an import or
not may depend upon where you live!).
Eddy Smit posited that it may also be on the "Hey Ho Let's Go!" anthology,
but that may be TOO pre-"End of the Century" for Mick. The credits for that
release (which also apply to its inclusion of the soundtrack's other
Spector-remixed song, "I Want You Around") read, "original Ed Stasium mixes
from the 'Rock 'N' Roll High School' original motion picture soundtrack
(previously unissued)."
If that version of R'n'RHS was previously unissued, though, then what of the
version included on the much earlier compilation "Ramones Mania"? Credits
for that one read, "previously unreleased stereo movie mix."
So, if Mick's looking for the Spector remix, the answer's easy. But can
anyone tell the alleged difference between the other two releases? (Sorry,
but "three seconds" is not going to be considered an acceptable response.)
David
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Message: 8
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 23:36:06 -0500 (EST)
From: Andrew C. Jones
Subject: Re: Spoonful covers / Ecology songs
Spoonful covers: A Texas group called Friday and the Girls did a gender-
changed (and age-changed) version of "Younger Girl," which they retitled
"An Older Boy." It was on a Collectables CD, "We Had The Beat!: Texas
Girls of the 60s.".
Ecology songs: The Archies did a song called "Mister Factory," but I
don't know if that was ever released on record or just done on the show.
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 04:52:21 +0000
From: David A. Young
Subject: Mari (and Joey) Christmas
Happy holidays to all!
We had a Mari Wilson thread going here a few months back, and I'd like to do
a seasonal resuscitation of it in hopes that someone can help me find
something I've been in search of for all too close to twenty years.
I understand that she recorded a version of her hit "Just What I Always
Wanted" with revamped, Christmasized lyrics. I can't remember now, but maybe
it was a TV appearance or music video, maybe a flexi or an audiocassette. It
wasn't a conventional record or CD as I recall. I'd be happiest of all to
get my hands on a recording in any format (musica, anyone?), but would
settle for more specific information so that I at least know what I'm
looking for.
Speaking of music dubbed from videotape, I sent a copy of "The Big TNT Show"
to our Team and requested that they make Joan Baez's live recording of
"You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" (piano accompaniment and overall musical
direction by Phil Spector) available to the group via musica, so watch for
it there soon!
In other Christmas news, a visit to the link below leads me to believe that
this very day saw the release of a Joey Ramone version of "Christmas (Baby
Please Come Home)" featuring Ronnie Spector on background vocals. I hate to
be a day late, but you can be sure that I'm off to the shop tomorrow!
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=OBDF8IOW77&ean=60768458925
Cheers,
David
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 17:35:56 +1030
From: Norman
Subject: Sounds British / Ecology songs
In 1965 the Beau Brummels always reminded me of the Searchers, or that
sort of British stuff borrowed from the Byrds etc. I remember them
being played a lot down here. Laugh Laugh and Just A little made the top
forty. They were a breath of fresh air.
Then there was Lies by the Knickerbockers, a record which generated media
hype about the group possibly "being" the fab four. In my hometown they
reached the top ten with Lies but only top 30 with One Track Mind.
Klatuu caused some interest but I never bought into the crap so I know
very little about them.
Of course, by culture, the Bee Gees, were bound to sound British.
Mark Frumento in an earlier posting (Feb 2002):
> The first 3 to 4 Bee Gees albums are GREAT pop records (of course many
> will argue they continued to be great a pop act long after that. But
> these earlier records really proved their creative songwriting
> abilities, their inventiveness and a knack for memorable melodies.
One of my favourites from this era is "Claustrophobia" (I get
claustrophobia cos there's too many boys on your mind)! Not just the
words but the sound is brilliant.
A great compilation for those interested in early Bee Gees is 'The Birth
of Brilliance - The Bee Gees 1963 - 1966' original released by Festival
Records on the Infinity label in 1978. I imagine it would have found its
way to CD by now. This compilation features Lennon-McCartney's "You
Won't See Me".
Jumping across to Ecology Songs "Down By The River" by Albert Hammond is
a great one from the early 70s. And anything Jimmy Buffett has to offer
on the subject. Even "Come Monday" had a line or two about 'haze". Maybe
Jonathan King's Good News Week and Everyone's Gone to the Moon may fit
into the category!
Norman
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 16:37:08 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Moon / David Marks
Steve Harvey wrote:
> Yeah! Mark's rejoined the Beach Boys for a while when Mike Love
> was trying to prop up his claim to the name (there had to be 3
> Beach Boys in the band to have the name). Marks has his own
> website that talks about his time in the band.
Your assertion about Mike's claim to the groups name and having to have
three BBs to secure it is entirely false. Sure David was in the band
for a while, and for much of that time was in pretty bad shape.
Thankfully David is a lot better now and working on his own projects.
Don't fall into the trap of 'Love the villain' ......it's peddling one
of the great rock 'n roll myths.
Best
Richard
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 18:03:51 -0000
From: Keiko Kondo
Subject: Congratulations!
Happy holidays to all Spectropoppers.
December 11th is Jamie LaPage's birthday, and now members are 800!!
It is great birthday present for him. I think he would want to say
Thank you for all members and the admin team.
Keep on making this group more interesting!
Sincerely,
KK
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:52:57 -0500
From: Rat Pfink
Subject: Re: Ecology songs / The Archies "Mr. Factory"
> Ecology songs: The Archies did a song called "Mister Factory," but I
> don't know if that was ever released on record or just done on the show.
"Mr. Factory" was on The Archies' Sunshine LP.
RP
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 16:29:59 -0000
From: David Blakey
Subject: Exclusive Bo Diddley/Stones pics
Exclusive pics of rock & roll founding father Bo Diddley backstage
with Mick, Keith & Ronnie in Miami, FL October 2002:
http://www.turnup-root.com/bosconcerto.htm
David Blakey, Webmaster,
Bo Bo Diddley's Turnup Root
http://www.turnup-root.com/
The Official Bo Diddley Website
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 17:02:03 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Morton Downey Jr. and Surf Music
From time to time, we read in Spectropop about artists who are
seriously underrated. Justifiably, Brain Hyland, Helen Miller and
those on the Ripples CDs have been tagged as such in recent messages.
But aren't we overlooking one person: Morton Downey Jr.? A visit to
his website http://mortondowneyjr.com/mortondowney.html reveals the
following:
> As a young man he held a number of jobs, including special assistant
> on Capitol Hill, businessman, author, radio host, singer and
> songwriter. Among his most successful songs were the 1960s surf
> hits "Wipeout" and "Pipeline".
"Wipeout" and "Pipeline" were great "songs" and for Mort not to have
received his credit for them in the rock media is shameful. Mort's
reticent personality is the most probable explanation for this. To
make amends, let's all make an entry in his guestbook right now!
Mike Edwards
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 15:50:57 -0000
From: Mary
Subject: Re: DC5
My Sis and I saw DC5 in concert in the 60's. And yes that was Dave
playing the drums as in the records.Last time I saw Dave he was doing
reruns of Ready Steady Go on cable.
Mary
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 16:08:25 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Ecology songs
A couple of 70's soul things...
This Air I Breathe - The O'Jays
When The Fuel Runs Out - Chuck Jackson / The Ambitions / Executive Suite
And not sure whether these count as ecology or not.
The Night The Lights Went Out - The Trammps
New York In The Dark - The Ad Libs
> Lovers of Surf, Drag and all things West Coast should be
> aware that the world's leading authority on the subject
> has just published two new books. Kingsley Abbott has
> reviewed them for us:
> http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index.htm#SoundWaves
When you say "Drag" what EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN ???
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 18:04:22 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Sound Waves And Traction
Just read Kingsley's Spectropop Recommends review of Stephen McParland's
"Sound Waves And Traction" 2 volume set
http://www.spectropop.com/recommends/index.htm#SoundWaves and I must add
my "Hear, hear". These books are two more wonderful additions to Stephen's
growing library and reputation. At least one of his books must cover some
artist you have an interest in. I urge you to take the plunge and send your
US dollars to the land that "down under". As a first purchase it would be
hard to beat "Bull Sessions With The Big Daddy" - 24 shortish 3-6 page
interviews with the likes of Denny Aaberg, Davie Allan & Jim Pewter, Kim
Fowley, Danny Hamilton, David Marks, Gary Zekley etc, etc. Ron Weeks on his
fab Gary Usher site has a page that gives all the information you need to
purchase your books: http://www.garyusher.com/cmusic.html
Martin
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Message: 19
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 01:31:46 EST
From: Bill George
Subject: Patti Leatherwood
All this talk lately of Toni Wine, Chips Moman, et. al. got me wondering if
anyone has heard of Patti Leatherwood. She apparently recorded an album with
the Memphis sound circa 1970 that was never released. I am in touch with her
ex-husband Alan. He sent me a recording of them performing a Jackie DeShannon
song from the late 60s. But he has no idea whatever became of her. The little
I've heard is quite good. Another one that fell through the cracks. Anyone?
-Bill
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 20:53:09 -0500
From: James F. Cassidy
Subject: Re: Spoonful covers / Mr. Sebastian
Jeffrey Glenn beat me to it! I remember "Mr. Sebastian" by The
Distant Cousins being played on WORC-AM in Worcester, Mass when I was
a lad. "Mister Sebastian of the Loooooovin' Spoonful, write me a
love song real soooooft and tuneful!" IIRC, it worked in bits of
"Daydream" and "Younger Girl," too, didn't it, Jeff?
Jim Cassidy
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Message: 21
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 18:27:11 -0000
From: Neil Hever
Subject: Re: the Knickerbockers
Popsters, Certainly "Just one girl" and "High on love" rate well as
British inspired pop. "High on love" is a tremendous track with its
rolling drums, harmony vocals and pulsing lead guitar. It is high
energy to be sure! I always thought the Tom Hanks film featuring The
Wonders could have used the Knickerbockers singles as the soundtrack
instead of the slightly limp material they passed off as 60s pop.
Does anybody know if the Knickerbockers Challenge records material is
in print?
Thanks, Neil Hever
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Message: 22
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 02:12:52 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: Brit Wannabes/Bee Gees/Klaatu?
Freeman Carmack wrote:
> Another American band....this time from SOUTH America, Argentina,
> I believe, with a penchant for Beatlesque flourishes; We All Together
Cool to see someone else bring We All Together up! They don't get a
lot of recognition but their two albums are really full of great
Lennon/McCartney-esque pop. They probably lean toward the McCartney
side of the sound which appeals to me. The best thing about them is
that the songs hold up and are in no way copies of the Beatles. The
reissues of their two LPs are still around too and really deserve
more publicity. Check this out: http://www.incarock.com/inca_rock/ircd/cd2.htm
Norman wrote:
> Klatuu caused some interest but I never bought into the crap so I
> know very little about them.
I take it you mean "hype" instead of "crap"? Klaatu, if you got past
the hype, are really a good group for 4 of their 5 LPs. That's
assuming you like late period sytles Beatle-pop. Sad that they will
always be the band who pretended to be the Beatles when that was not
what they had intended. They were also releasing 60s/early 70s pop at
a time no one wanted it... then they had the audacity to release a
concept album! They were 10 years too late.
> Of course, by culture, the Bee Gees, were bound to sound British.
Technically they were British, I believe. Once they moved back to the
UK I take it that their releases were considered British?
> One of my favourites from this era is "Claustrophobia"
That is a great song as are some of their other Beatle knock-offs
on "Birth of Brilliance" like "Coalman."
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 10:46:40 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: It's Only Love
This week I finally got a 45 I first heard in 1969 as a very young man
and hadn't heard since - Tony Blackburn "It's Only Love" MGM 1467. Not
a difficult record to find, however one that I never saw anywhere. The
writers are Cordell / Trimachi/ Levy which makes me think there was a
U.S. version although I cant find one listed. The song is registered as
"It's Only Love Trying To Get Through". Anyone?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 01:35:54 EST
From: Bill George
Subject: Re: Ecology songs
Ecology songs: Don't forget "Dirty Water". I remember hearing this song
in the 70s in my hometown of San Jose California. I don't know who the
artist was, but they had dubbed in "San Jose you're my home" on the track.
=Bill
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 13:31:27 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: The Knickerbockers and the Righteous Knight Brrothers
Neil Hever:
> Does anybody know if the Knickerbockers Challenge records material
> is in print?
I imagine there are several CDs by this group extant. One'd probably
be hard pressed to beat "Rave Up With The Knickerbockers" on Big
Beat. Click below for a full tracklist:
http://216.15.202.119/cgi-bin/SearchCatNo.asp?intSite=1&lngID=181478
James Botticelli:
> Some say The Righteous Bros were white versions of The Knight
> Brothers ("Temptation's Out To Get Me").
"Temptation 'Bout To Get Me" is a great record. However, it entered
the Billboard chart in May 1965, six months after the Righteous
Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". The Righteous Brothers
were formed in 1962, a year before the Knight Brothers. So, I can't
help wondering in what way Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield can be
considered to be "the white version" of Richard Dunbar and Jerry Diggs,
the Knight Brothers? Now, if the righteous twosome had been described
as the "caucasian Don & Dewey" - originators of "Justine", "Ko Ko Jo"
and "Big Boy Pete" - I would have had no choice but to totally agree.
MICK PATRICK
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