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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. Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop Update
From: Martin Roberts
2. Re: Three questions
From: Mikey
3. Re: Lucy in London
From: Phil Chapman
4. brian wilson/Jive 5
From: Kingsley Abbott
5. Re: I Love Lucid
From: Phil Milstein
6. Re: Da doo ron ron by Mick Jagger ????
From: Teri Landi
7. Two out of three ain't bad.
From: Martin Roberts
8. Hit Records and Power Records
From: Dan Hughes
9. Richie Gottehrer
From: Richard Williams
10. Re: Pollyanna
From: Jeff Lemlich
11. Re: Riddler; Billy Joe Royal
From: Mike Edwards
12. Re: Da doo ron ron by Mick Jagger ????
From: Denis Gagnon
13. Re: Beach Boys Sequence from TAMI Show
From: Lee
14. Hang on Sloopy
From: Alan Gordon
15. Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer
From: Mike Edwards
16. The Pixies Three
From: Doc
17. Re: Brian Wilson Productions CD
From: Bob Wallis
18. Re: Lucy in London
From: Hans Ket
19. Barbara Alston
From: Stuffed Animal
20. Re: The Ronettes' Cousin Elaine
From: Sean in Philly
21. Re: Hit Records and Power Records
From: Mikey
22. Re: Three questions
From: James Botticelli
23. Re: Frank Gorshin
From: Phil Milstein
24. Re: Johnny Young
From: Ken Silverwood
25. Classics IV / Tommy Roe / Savage Lost
From: Mike Edwards
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________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 01 Jan 2003 01:16:39 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop Update
The legion of Spectropop Albert Cernick fans have decisively
pushed Gayla Peevey into touch. So, to my surprise and delight,
Guy Mitchell with "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You"
is the first 2003 Record of The Week.
Maybe I shouldn't have described Jamie Horton's 45 as a 'dreamy
country ballad'?
This week, let battle commence between two late '60s rockers:
Them and Tony Ray.
Another new KHJ radio jingle and I'm as excited as you are
wondering what title Phil will come up with this week!
A great beginning of the New Year for me, after many weeks a
new record to hunt...the discography has been updated.
Happy New Year
Martin
PS - I had some friends round over the holidays and they recorded
some seasonal messages for the site - nice of them but I wish
they'd have helped with the washing up!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 12:37:20 -0500
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Three questions
Andrew Jones:
> Second question: Billy Joe Royal's DOWN IN THE BOONDOCKS album opens
> with a song called "Pollyanna". I'm sure I've heard this tune by some
> other act, a Four Seasons-style vocal group (though not the Seasons
> themselves). Anyone know who it could've been?
Right!!! The group was The Classics, who the next year renamed
themselves "The Classics 4" and had hit after hit, like "Traces",
"Stormy", "Spooky", ect.
You will not find a better Four Seasons rip off song anywhere!!!!
I've heard that Frankie Valli and the guys were FURIOUS when they
heard "Pollyanna". "Pollyanna" appears in magnificent stereo on
Taragon's "Dennis Yost and the Classics 4".
Hope this helps.
Mikey
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 17:49:40 -0000
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: Re: Lucy in London
David A Young:
> Originally broadcast in the States on October 24, 1966, "Lucy in London"
> includes a montage sequence in which the a song of that name, written,
> performed, and produced by an offscreen Phil Spector, is used as the
> musical backdrop for much self-conscious psychedelia. Theoretically, one
> can view this video clip at the link below:
> http://www.youns.com/lucy/videospecials.asp
Thanks for the link, David. Finding this was a great way to kick off
the new year. I wasn't able to view the videoclip, although just about
remember its UK airing, but managed to grab the sound. Fun to hear
Spectorised quotes from our National Anthem and The Skaters Waltz!
However, I don't think it sounds like Phil singing, in fact it's more
like a fully-produced MFQ track(?)
Now where can I get a decent copy??
Phil
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 17:50:51 -0000
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: brian wilson/Jive 5
Following the recent mention of Ace records' new issue, the
one in question is called "Pet Projects - The Brian Wilson
Productions" Ace CDCHD 851 due for release on Feb 10th. It
has all the expected goodies (23 tracks) though no Ron Wilson
as the orig masters couldn't be found I believe. Also no Bob
& Bobby. Before that issue, they tell me that a new volume of
"Where The Girls Are" is due. In true Pavlovian style, I
salivate... maybe Mick can tell us a bit more??
On the Jive 5, I'd love to see their later UA material out on CD
- I have the "I'm A Happy Man" album, which has long been a fave
- great songs - no filler there...also a very good line up of the
group, with an especially rich bass voice on it. One of the later
real true Doo Wop albums, but with sixties production/songwriting
/production values!
Happy and peaceful 2003 to all
Kingsley
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 13:05:18 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: I Love Lucid
Steve Harvey wrote:
> Jerry Yester of the MFQ, later the Spoonful, sang
> "This Could Be the Night" that starts the TNT flick.
> Never released officially until the 70s when it came
> out on a compilation of unreleased Phil Spector stuff.
> So if the guy singing on the Lucy special is the same
> one that sang on the TNT it has to be Jerry. Brian
> Wilson's favorite Spector tune, by the way.
Correct me if the chronology doesn't check out, but This
Could Be The Night always struck me as Spector's response
to Pet Sounds - that chromatic harmonica, in particular.
--Phil M.
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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 13:17:39 -0500
From: Teri Landi
Subject: Re: Da doo ron ron by Mick Jagger ????
Richard H:
> It will probably be a demo of the Andrew Oldham Orchestra, with
> Mick on vocals from September 1964. It was produced by John Paul
> Jones of Led Zep fame.
John Paul Jones was likely a session musician or possibly an
arranger (Mike Leander generally arranged the Andrew Oldham
Orchestra recordings) but he did not produce ALO recordings.
Andrew himself was the producer on these.
Teri Landi
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 18:43:25 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Two out of three ain't bad.
Hi Andrew,
I haven't heard Frank Gorshin's "Never Let Her Go" but a lady
close to my heart has a video of him singing "The Riddler" on
The Dean Martin Show. I'm sure the visuals add a lot but I'd
suggest worth seeking out for the A Side.
Re Pollyanna; I'd guess one of two recordings. Either John
Corey on VJ, produced Bob Crewe and co written with Bob Gaudio
or Evan Mitchell on Mala, 'A Bob Crewe Production', arranged &
conducted by Callelo. Both have the same - to these ears -
Four Seasons backing track.
Martin
PS Bit of a typo regarding Guy Mitchell his winning did not
'surprise and delight' but hearing the 45 for the first time
should!
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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 12:42:29 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Hit Records and Power Records
Is there a web site for Hit Records?
I have one: The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, by Joe Cash b/w
Loop De Loop by Herbert Hunter. Who are they really?
Also, there was a similar budget knockoff label in Newark.
It was called Power, and I have one single on that label:
Ruby Ann, by Michael Reed b/w You Are My Sunshine by A. Starr.
(The hit versions were by Marty Robbins and Ray Charles).
The Power label is orange, and in tiny letters at the bottom
it says "S.P.C. Newark, N.J."
Anybody know anything about the Power label?
Thanks,
---Dan
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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 18:55:56 +0000
From: Richard Williams
Subject: Richie Gottehrer
Bill Craig asked:
> Speaking of all the Strangeloves lore, does anyone know what
> Richard Gottehrer is up to these days?
I bumped into Gottehrer in New York a couple of years ago when
he was producing an album on a group called the Pristeens for
my friend Howard Thompson, then A&R man at Alpert and Moss's
now defunct Almo Records. He was cheerful and talkative and so
I asked him about Bobby Comstock's "I'm a Man", which I prefer
to any Strangeloves record by about a million miles. To my
astonishment, he couldn't remember it.
He'll be in the UK soon, and is due to appear on Charlie Gillett's
Saturday night show on Radio London. Charlie is going to play the
Comstock 45 to him and we'll see if that jogs his memory.
Personally, I'd like to know who played on it -- specially the
guitar and organ. Anyone out there got any clues?
Richard Williams
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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 19:24:59 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Pollyanna
Andrew Jones wrote:
> Billy Joe Royal's DOWN IN THE BOONDOCKS album opens
> with a song called "Pollyanna". I'm sure I've heard
> this tune by some other act, a Four Seasons-style
> vocal group (though not the Seasons themselves).
>Anyone know who it could've been?
It was THE CLASSICS (better known as the Classics IV) on
Capitol 5710, released in July 1966. "Pollyanna" was a
top ten song in their home state of Florida, which helped
earn the group an appearance on "Where The Action Is"
(performing that very song). Dennis Yost was still the
drummer at the time. When the band got big, they hired
Kim Venable from the K-Otics to take over on drums, and
put Yost out front.
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 14:40:09 -0500
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Re: Riddler; Billy Joe Royal
Andrew asks:
> First question: Back when he was playing The Riddler on the
> "Batman" TV show, the great Frank Gorshin put out a single
> (on A&M); Side A was a Mel Torme composition called "The Riddler",
> while Side B was "Never Let Her Go", the same song that would later
> become a minor hit for its composer, David Gates, and his group Bread.
> Has anyone heard this single? Is it worth seeking out?"
Not heard this version but there were other versions by Jody Miller
(Capitol, 1965) and the UK's Maureen Evans (UK CBS, also 1965).
[Info from That Will Never Happen Again #5/6]
> Second question: Billy Joe Royal's DOWN IN THE BOONDOCKS album opens
> with a song called "Pollyanna". I'm sure I've heard this tune by some
> other act, a Four Seasons-style vocal group (though not the Seasons
> themselves). Anyone know who it could've been?"
That would be the Classics on Capitol from 1966 when the song (written
by Joe South) got to #106. It is currently available on a fabulous CD
from Taragon, "The Best Of Dennis Yost And The Classics IV".
Mike Edwards
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 14:46:32 -0500 (Est)
From: Denis Gagnon
Subject: Re: Da doo ron ron by Mick Jagger ????
Thanks for the answers to my question.
I don't even know why I'm still amazed by this group...
Denis
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Message: 13
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 14:58:41 -0500
From: Lee
Subject: Re: Beach Boys Sequence from TAMI Show
Speaking of the TAMI Show, I have it from a trusted source that
Brother Records, the corporate entity of the Beach Boys, recently
purchased (off of eBay!) an original 35mm print of the Beach Boys'
sequence from the TAMI Show. The print was in excellent condition,
and has been transferred to a preservation digital format. Seems
the Beach Boys didn't have an original print in their vaults, just
a second- or third-generation videotape. Next time that footage
is licensed for TV use, expect a much improved picture.
Also, there's a bootleg DVD-R of the TAMI show being sold by
underground dealers that has the Beach Boys sequence restored,
but it's not very good quality. The Beach Boys sequence is very
obviously from a much poorer generation tape than the rest of the show.
Lee
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Message: 14
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 13:27:08 -0800
From: Alan Gordon
Subject: Hang on Sloopy
To Bob Beason:
A little more info on the Sloop:
There's a pretty cool series out on cd called: "Dick Barley
presents Collectors Essentials: The Original Hit Singles On
the Radio." Besides the long title, this series has a great
deal to offer, even if it's designation is sometimes a little
(or a lot) misleading. The series' Volume One has some great
stuff on it. For one, it has an unusual stereo version of
Hang On Sloopy made for that specific compilation from the
original multi-tracks. To quote the liner notes:
".. in 1995 reissue producer Bob Irwin and engineer Vic Anesini
uncovered the original multi-track tapes and mixed a true stereo
version of "Hang On Sloopy" for "The Best of The McCoys" release
on Legacy/Epic. ...The track appeared in brilliant stereo, but
with the inclusion of an extra verse that had been edited out of
the original and ran 3:51 nearly a minute longer than the original
hit record."
So it would seem that this version is the long version you've heard
... and now the above mentioned cd has a shortened version of said
stereo version to mimic the original shorter mono release... whew.
I hope that's clear.
For the record: Bartley's above mentioned series has a few very cool
things that really made an rockin' impression on me. On the same
Volume One, there are "single" versions of The Animal's "Sky Pilot"
with the original very interesting 45 mix with cool echo effects,
which weren't on the stereo album... and Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet
Ride" which has a very different ambient sound than the album version
that's been played on oldies radio for years. After hearing them, I
was totally blown away and soulfully brought back to my psychedelic
past. All these two gems needed was that nasty buzzing cycle-humm
from my old Rambler Station Wagon's bad AM radio.
peace,
albabe
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Message: 15
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 20:16:18 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer
Way to go, Martin.
Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer are always worth the time of day.
They were very versatile songwriters, record producers and
recording artists as is evidenced by the variety of the songs
they put out over the years. And it didn't stop in the 60s;
their 70s and 80s work was just as extensive, if not more so
with classics such as:
Marshall Crenshaw – Someday, Someway
Go-Gos – Our Lips Are Sealed
Go-Gos – We Got The Beat
Blondie – I Am Always Touched By Your Presence Dear
War – Low Rider
It probably would need a project the size of "Jack Nitzsche's
Magical World" to do this team justice. I did like your references
to the Jive Five's "What Time Is It" (Beltone, 1962) and the
Concords' "Should I Cry" (Epic, 1963), two great 60s doo-wop
titles. The latter is available in CD quality from Collectables on
"The Spotlite Series – Epic Records, Vol 1".
Mike Edwards
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Message: 16
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 16:47:41 -0500
From: Doc
Subject: The Pixies Three
On New Years Eve, the new CD by the Pixies Three went on sale!
"Pop Pop Popeye"
"Birthday Party"
"Then He Kissed Me"
"He's A Rebel"
"He's Sure the Boy I Love"
Lesley Gore medley
"Beachwood 4-5789"
"Release Me"
"One, Two, Three" (written for them by Len Barry but turned down!)
"Sally Go Round The Roses"
"Thank You and Goodnight"
"'80s Ladies"
"God Bless the USA"
"442 Glenwood Avenue."
All new recordings. It's like it's the '60s again!
Doc
http://www.thepixiesthree.com
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Message: 17
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 13:02:48 -0500
From: Bob Wallis
Subject: Re: Brian Wilson Productions CD
Guy Lawrence:
> Beach Boys addicts might want to keep a close eye on the new
> releases at http://www.acerecords.co.uk Seems there's a rather
> exciting collection of his outside production work due any moment.
> I've been praying for an album like this (Survivors, Glen
> Campbell, Rachel & The Revolvers etc) for years!
Guy,
Actually, there was a bootleg CD released on the Japanese M&M label
in '93 named "Still I Dream of You: Rare Works of Brian Wilson" - 32
songs - that has the tracks by the artists you mention, as well as
"Things are Changing" by the Blossoms (which was discussed here
recently). It comes with a massive 34 page booklet (don't know if Ace
will match that) with lots of label photos.
Ace is OK, but they did the Boston late '60s music scene a disfavor
by allowing Alan Lorber, the Frankenstein that created the ill
conceived MGM "Bosstown Sound" monster to release all his MGM effluent
through them and tout it as THE late '60s Boston music scene on their
Big Beat label.
BW
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Message: 18
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 19:55:39 +0100
From: Hans Ket
Subject: Re: Lucy in London
Hello Spectropoppers,
First I would like to wish everybody a good 2003.
> The source of this misinformation may be a January 8, 2000 Spectropop
> post by Rein Smilde, in which he wrote, "Does anybody know the Ronettes
> singing 'When Lucy was in London, she wore my miniskirt' (or something...
Yes I remember that Rein brought up the subject of "Lucy in London". He
succeeded in getting a copy of the song. Rein sadly passed away about a
year ago.
> Theoretically, one can view this video clip at the link below:
> http://www.youns.com/lucy/videospecials.asp
You're right David, theoretically, I wasn't able to view the clip.
> The tune is an utterly over-the-top latter-day Spector production
> incorporating a very unusual, slow interlude
In the line "Lucy went into a carousel" Phil uses a theme which sounds
similiar to Edelweiss" (from the movie "the Sound of Music" 1965) as
the basis for the interlude.
Hans Ket
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Message: 19
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 19:29:35 +0000
From: Stuffed Animal
Subject: Barbara Alston
I just read that Barbara Alston of The Crystals passed away a few years
back . . . I never heard this before! Is it true?
Stuffed Animal
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Message: 20
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 15:03:58 EST
From: Sean in Philly
Subject: Re: The Ronettes' Cousin Elaine
That is interesting. I wonder how she sounded singing "Be My Baby"
and "Baby I Love You". That's like Florence Ballard singing "Baby
Love" and "Come See About Me" with Mary and Syreeta Wright (a Diana
Ross look-a-like) backing her.
Sean
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Message: 21
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 16:52:49 -0500
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Hit Records and Power Records
Dan Hughes:
> Is there a web site for Hit Records?
Nope!! :))
> Also, there was a similar budget knockoff label in Newark.
> It was called Power, and I have one single on that label:
> Ruby Ann, by Michael Reed b/w You Are My Sunshine by A. Starr.
> (The hit versions were by Marty Robbins and Ray Charles).
> The Power label is orange, and in tiny letters at the bottom
> it says "S.P.C. Newark, N.J."
All I know it that it was pressed at Synthetic Plastics, also in
Newark. There were several pressing plants in Newark in the 50s
and early 60s.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 16:49:32 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Three questions
Mikey:
> Right!!! The group was The Classics, who the next year renamed
> themselves "The Classics 4" and had hit after hit, like "Traces",
> "Stormy", "Spooky", etc. You will not find a better Four Seasons
> rip off song anywhere!!!!
I haven't heard that song, maybe your claim is true Mikey. But Ace
UK put out a CD compilation back in '92 called "Laurie Vocal Groups:
The Sixties Sound". Laurie, of course, being the label from which
this stuff was culled. Some of the groups on that comp that IMHO at
least gave the Seasons a run for their money:
Bon-aires
Four Graduates
Tokens
DeMilles
Illusions
Four Epics
Ray-vons
Concords
Lenny Coleman & The Ebb Tides
Jimmy Curtiss & The Regents
Del Satins
Karillions
Teardrops
JB/Fifth Season
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Message: 23
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 16:56:40 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Frank Gorshin
Martin Roberts wrote:
> I haven't heard Frank Gorshin's "Never Let Her Go" but a lady
> close to my heart has a video of him singing "The Riddler" on
> The Dean Martin Show. I'm sure the visuals add a lot but I'd
> suggest worth seeking out for the A Side.
I believe I have the audio on The Riddler side, and if so will provide
to musica shortly. It's rather over the top, with Gorshin asking (and
answering) cornier riddles than on the show, then laughing hysterically
at his own gags. As per his role model Richard Widmark, Gorshin's
laughter, even at his gooniest, is more sinister than anything else. A
friend has a great pic sleeve for it, but this is the first I've heard
of a Dean Martini Show rendition.
--Phil M.
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Message: 24
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 22:16:06 -0000
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: Johnny Young
Jeff Lemlich:
> I know of at least two other early Gibb Brothers songs recorded
> by Young: "After Dark" and "I Am The World". He also did a
> good version of the Easybeats' "Good Evening Girl".
Yes Jeff, "I Am The World" was the "B" side of "Craise Finton Kirk",
the "B" side to "Every Christian" was "Epitaph To Mr Simon Sir" -
was this a Gibb tune? Talking Australian, how come we never give
Normie Rowe a mention, I remember him coming to the UK with a big
fanfare but he didn't seem to take off, was it 1965/66,I've found
one single on Polydor, "Goin' Home"/"I Dont Care". Could that be
Rolling Stones "a" side Los Bravos "b" side, naah.
Norman: [Re: Johnny Worth ]
> He is also known as Yani Paraskos Paraskeva Skordalides.
Wow, that's one hell of a score in scrabble!!!!
Ken On The West Coast
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Message: 25
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 22:37:43 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Classics IV / Tommy Roe / Savage Lost
There is a Classics IV discography in Jeff Lemlich's book, "Savage
Lost – Florida Garage Bands: The 60s And Beyond". The group is from
Jacksonville so they rate an entry on page 156. Jeff's book has to be
one of the best-researched rock `n' roll titles ever. As you flick
through the pages, you wonder if Jeff made up some of the stuff, it's
so obscure! It's not limited to garage bands either. If they came
from Florida they're in here and there are some extensive sections
covering soul music. The book is great value and available from
Jeff's website at: http://www.limestonerecords.com/author.htm
I do have a question. Tommy Roe & The Roemans appear in the Tampa/St
Petersburg section on page 179 and one of the titles listed is "Diane
From Manchester Square" (ABC, 1965). Buzz Cason and a current fave of
mine, Paul Hampton, wrote this. Was Diane a secretary at EMI's
headquarters in London and the inspiration for this song?
Mike Edwards
(PS - Bertie Higgins of "Key Largo" was in the Roemans? Yeah, it's
right here in Jeff's book. It's that sort of tome.)
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End
