________________________________________________________________________
______________ ______________
______________ ______________
______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________
______________ ______________
________________________________________________________________________
Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Northern Soul
From: James Botticelli
2. The Cousins
From: Eddy Smit
3. Mrs Wilson's records
From: Peter Lerner
4. Jack Nitzsche At Spectropop, Update.
From: Martin Roberts
5. Tandyn Almer Davon Publishing Demos
From: Randy
6. Re: Philles Musicassette in America
From: Steve Harvey
7. Sharp Threads
From: Bill Craig
8. Re: Phil Spector - Top 40 Hits?
From: Javed Jafri
9. Re: Four Seasons
From: Phil Chapman
10. Darlene Love: Blonde Bombshell
From: Mick Patrick
11. Re: the piano man; Beatle phrases
From: Phil Milstein
12. Bobby Darin
From: Kingsley Abbott
13. Re: Neil Sedaka/All The Words In The World
From: Mike Edwards
14. Re: 4 Seasons
From: Mark Frumento
15. Re: Christine Cooper
From: Stephanie
16. Interesting article on the record business
From: Stephanie
17. Re: Eddie Rambeau
From: Rosemarie Edwards
18. Re: 4 Seasons
From: Peter Lerner
19. Re: Phil Spector - Top 40 Hits?
From: Monophonius
20. Re: 4 Seasons faves & a question
From: Kingsley Abbott
21. Re: 4 Seasons / Dylan
From: Richard Hattersley
22. The 4 Seasons
From: Martin Roberts
23. Re: Phil Spector - Top 40 Hits?
From: Richard Havers
24. Just a note.
From: Martin Roberts
25. "Top Exec Is Leaving Sony"
From: MikeEdwards "
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 20:39:59 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Northern Soul
Simon White wrote:
> To be honest, you either know when something is "Northern" or not!
One essential ingredient of pure "Northern" is often said to be the
ubiquitous tambourine a-la-Motown. And don't forget the Vymura! Apparently
Vymura--a record label removing substance--was used by some over the top
jocks who didn't want their rare 45's glanced at while they spun atop the
steel wheels at the infamous "all-nighters".
JB
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 08:48:42 +0100
From: Eddy Smit
Subject: The Cousins
Not much detail avilable at the moment, but I thought I'd just
inform you of the passing of Guido van den Meerschaut, lead singer
for The Cousins, who hit the big time with the Kili Watch 45.
Eddy
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:03:16 -0000
From: Peter Lerner
Subject: Mrs Wilson's records
Recent talk of the Honeys reminds me that a magazine interview
with Jackie DeShannon, sometime in the 70s I think, said she
was great pals with Marilyn Wilson and that she (Jackie) was
producing an album for Marilyn.
Does anyone know anything about this?
Peter
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 22:55:54 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Jack Nitzsche At Spectropop, Update.
Had to use my casting vote with the Record of The Week and the
winner is...Them - I Am Waiting - Happy Tiger. Arranged by Mr.
Nitzsche, who knew how to arrange a Rolling Stones record!
Playing at http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm
Next week the choice will be even harder, Jerry Cole with a
fabulous Artie Resnick and Kenny Young song "Every Window In The
City" or one of Jack's first arrangements, the equally fabulous
"It Must Be Raining" by Daniel A. Stone.
No new radio jingle this week, Phil C's gone 'big-time' since
the party:-) Still, there's a couple of station idents for
visitors to the page.
Martin
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 23:14:14 EST
From: Randy
Subject: Tandyn Almer Davon Publishing Demos
A long time ago Alec Palao posted to this group about a batch of 15 songs or
so of publishing demos by Tandyn Almer. As I am listening to a batch of of
songs right now that seem to be from this same group of songs, I'm wondering
if Alec or anyone else can post a list of what was on this demo lp.
Besides the more obvious songs like "Along Comes Mary" and "You Turn Me
Around" there are much older sounding songs like "wander love" and "the
dancing distance". Any info on this stuff? And is Curt Boettcher involved?
thanks!
randy
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 16:10:20 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: Philles Musicassette in America
Were the musicassettes as rare as the Philles 78s
(Wall of Shellac series)?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 04:11:55 -0000
From: Bill Craig
Subject: Sharp Threads
With regard to a bunch of recent threads:
My fave Four Seasons track is Big Man In Town.
I don't think Murray The K even with his I'm sure considerable ego
ever referred to himself as The Fourth Beatle. I'd say that honor
would have to fall to Richard Starkey (Sorry Ringo). I'm sure you
meant Fifth which of course he did claim to be along with hundreds of
others.
On the subject of The Jive 5, in 1968 they were booked to be the one
pro act headlining a show at my high school in Clifton N.J.
My band was to go on before them and when they didn't make it to the
school in time to appear because of car trouble, we had to stretch
our set by about 15 minutes which was really pressing our luck.
At the time the only thing I knew by them was I'm A Happy Man which
as a kid I didn't care for. Years later I realized how wrong I was.
A question: Did Billy Joel play on any Shangri-las tracks? I've heard
of a possible Shadow Morton connection.
Lastly, as Emily Littella might say, "What's all this about Lenny
Kravitz and Dean Martin?".
Bill Craig
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 00:34:44 -0500
From: Javed Jafri
Subject: Re: Phil Spector - Top 40 Hits?
Richard Havers:
> On a trivia note, can anyone tell me exactly how many Top 40
> hits Phil had in the USA? As a producer, rather than covers
> of Phil's songs.
Mark Ribowsky's "He's A Rebel" has a Phil discography with chart
positions for singles and albums. I think I counted 33 hit singles
produced by him. The first being "To Know Him Is To Love him" and
the last "Imagine".
Javed
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 11:09:14 -0000
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: Re: Four Seasons
IMHO The Four Seasons can do little wrong. I admire the way
they embraced the style changes throughout the decades, yet
remained unique.
I tend to like their earlier stuff...well, I was younger, and
they were all over pirate radio. Faves from that time are
"Girl Come Running", "Big Man In Town", "Dawn" and the flip,
which conjurs up many memories of late night listening on Radio
Caroline, "No Surfin' Today".
Phil
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 20:43:10 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Darlene Love: Blonde Bombshell
Anyone interested in viewing some sensational new photographs of Darlene Love
are reccommended to visit the website of photographer Alan Mercer at the URL
below. Also on view are some wonderful shots of Maxine Brown, Freda Payne, Dee
Dee Sharp, Mabel John, Linda Hopkins and many other legendary ladies. If you
find yourself as entranced as I did, do send Mr Mercer an email and tell him
Spectropop sent you. Click below and go to the Divas section:
http://www.alanmercer.com/
MICK PATRICK
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 14:38:18 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: the piano man; Beatle phrases
Bill Craig wrote:
> A question: Did Billy Joel play on any Shangri-las tracks? I've heard of a
> possible Shadow Morton connection.
I believe that Shadow Morton claims Billy Joel, aged c.15, played on the demo
version of Remember. That would stand to reason, as the studio was in
Hicksville, Long Island, his hometown. I don't know that the story's been
corroborated by anyone else, but I'm sure Shadow would have no reason to
embellish any of his stories.
Returning to the thread about songs with Beatle references in them, today's
Boston Globe reports this, about a new release by the local group Super
Genius: "It's a group with expansive, well-articulated songs about romance and
social consciousness, plus one song, 'Nothing In My Head,' which consists
entirely of phrases grafted together from Beatles tunes." The CD's
entitled "Eleven Songs About Love, Lies, Money, Class Warfare And Monkeys," and
list a URL of http://ignatiusjrecords.com.
--Phil M.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 18:40:23 -0000
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: Bobby Darin
Help please gang - does anyone know who played drums on Bobby Darin's 'La
Mer'? An ex-big band drummer maybe - any help appreciated.
Kingsley
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 13:31:37 -0500
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Re: Neil Sedaka/All The Words In The World
Brian Grey writes:
> Can someone out there in Spectropopland please tell this Sedaka fan when he
> first recorded "All the words in the world?" I know it was on an album
> released in 1977, but I'm interested if it might have come out earlier than
> that as a single. Thanks
"All The Words In The World" was recorded by Neil on Feb 9, 1962 along with
"King Of Clowns" and "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do". The last two titles
appeared as a-sides but "All The Words In The World" was shelved in favor of
the then more recent recording, "Next Door To An Angel". It wasn't released
until 1977 on the album you refer to. The back up vocals were by the Cookies.
It is likely that Jimmy Clanton's "All The Words In The World" (Philips, 1963)
is the same song. I have not heard it but Jimmy was a solid customer of the
Brill Building songwriters.
Mike Edwards
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 15:36:50 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons
Phil Chapman wrote:
> IMHO The Four Seasons can do little wrong. I tend to like their earlier
> stuff...well, I was younger, and they were all over pirate radio
All I can do is agree with the first statement. I think their songs have some
of the best melodies in pop music. The Four Seasons were probably the first pop
band I really ever paid attention to. My father won their Christmas album at a
church fair. I guess he didn't like it and let us kids beat it up by playing it
over and over and over. We were fascinated by the voices.
I don't think it is always recognized how much influence they had on British
bands. Ripples did a little to prove this but still I think the Beach Boys are
given most of the credit. Probably my favorite version of "Beggars Parade" is
by a British band. "Beggin" by Timebox was my first exposure to that song (I
think it was on a Sire British Invasion LP).
To my taste "Marlena" is the definitive Four Seasons song.... but I find it too
hard to pick favorites.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 11:18:04 -0000
From: Stephanie
Subject: Re: Christine Cooper
Previously:
> Richie Cordell and Sal Trimachi were also behind a few Northern spins, most
> notably "Heartaches Away My Boy" by Christine Cooper and "Love, It's Getting
> Better" by the Groove.
My mother has Heartaches Away my Boy and we used to hear it on the radio in the
sixties. Does anyone know what she is doing now and where that record charted.
I have been wondering this for 20 years now I'm 40...LOL I'm from Washington
DC and they played that record quite a bit but it was not a hit here.
Steph
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 11:12:42 -0000
From: Stephanie
Subject: Interesting article on the record business
Interesting article on the record business:
http://www.starpolish.com/features/print.asp?ID=477
Steph
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:18:59 -0000
From: Rosemarie Edwards
Subject: Re: Eddie Rambeau
I have just recieved a copy of "Concrete and Clay". It was
sent to me by a friend in USA - as it is not available in
the UK...my favourite tracks... "My Name is Mud", "Concrete
& Clay" and "(Look For The) Rainbow" .... Great to find
some more people that have heard of Ed!
Rosemarie (Leeds UK)
http://www.edrambeau.com
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:09:02 -0000
From: Peter Lerner
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons
My fave Seasons track? No question - "No Surfing Today".
It was the B-side of one of their 60s singles. Radio Caroline
(North) used to play it to death. Beautiful arrangement -
great vocals.
Peter
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 23:03:32 -0000
From: Monophonius
Subject: Re: Phil Spector - Top 40 Hits?
Richard Havers wrote:
> On a trivia note, can anyone tell me exactly how many Top 40
> hits Phil had in the USA? As a producer, rather than covers
> of Phil's songs.
Between 1958 and 1971, Phil produced 33 US Top 40 hits.
They are:
TEDDY BEARS-TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM #1
RAY PETERSON-CORRINA, CORRINA #9
CURTIS LEE-PRETTY LITTLE ANGEL EYES #7
PARIS SISTERS-I LOVE HOW YOU LOVE ME #5
PARIS SISTERS-HE KNOWS I LOVE HIM TOO MUCH #34
CONNIE FRANCIS-SECOND HAND LOVE #7
CRYSTALS-THERE'S NO OTHER LIKE MY BABY #20
CRYSTALS-UPTOWN #13
CRYSTALS-HE'S A REBEL #1
CRYSTALS-HE'S SURE THE BOY I LOVE #11
CRYSTALS-DA DOO RON RON #3
CRYSTALS-THEN HE KISSED ME #6
BOB B. SOXX-ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH #8
BOB B. SOXX-WHY DO LOVERS BREAK EACH OTHER'S HEARTS #38
DARLENE LOVE-THE BOY I'M GONNA MARRY #39
DARLENE LOVE-WAIT TILL MY BOBBY GETS HOME # 26
RONETTES-BE MY BABY #2
RONETTES-BABY I LOVE YOU #24
RONETTES-BREAKIN' UP #39
RONETTES-DO I LOVE YOU #34
RONETTES-WALKING IN THE RAIN #23
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS-YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN'FEELIN' #1
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS-JUST ONCE IN MY LIFE #9
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS-UNCHAINED MELODY #4
RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS-EBB TIDE #5
SONNY CHARLES WITH CHECKMATES-BLACK PEARL #13
BEATLES-THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD #1
JOHN LENNON-INSTANT KARMA #3
JOHN LENNON-POWER TO THE PEOPLE #11
JOHN LENNON-IMAGINE #3
GEORGE HARRISON-MY SWEET LORD #1
GEORGE HARRISON-WHAT IS LIFE #10
GEORGE HARRISON-BANGLA-DESH #23
Note: On the Beatle's track, the basic rhythm session was
not supervised by Spector, but the sweetening, mixing, mastering
was done by him. The Lennon and Harrison records were
co-productions except for "Instant Karma" which is credited
solely to Spector as producer.
There is doubt that Spector actually produced "Unchained Melody".
There are questions about Spector's involvement with the Connie
Francis record (he did co-write it.) There are no producer
credits on the label. The track is never included on Spector
compilations. I once read an interview with Paul Case (Hill and
Range publishers) who said Spector produced a version of the song
which Connie didn't like. It was too slow or something. She
then went to Nashville and got it cut using Owen Bradley's session
players (including Floyd Cramer). It sure sounds like it, but no
one in Nashville has ever said they played on the record or taken
any credit for it as arranger, engineer, etc. In Richard
Williams' OUT OF HIS HEAD: THE SOUND OF PHIL SPECTOR, the author
accepts the record as a Phil Spector production and remarks how
"Second Hand Love" was marginally less offensive than some of her
other big hits, and that she wasn't allowed to over-emote on this
track. Maybe so. IMHO, "Second Hand Love" does have a much better
overall balance and mix than any of the other Francis tracks.
Listen to her greatest hits CD and you'll hear it for yourself.
BTW, Phil did something never done before and never done since:
He released 19 straight Top 100 records in a row! Philles label
numbers 106 through 124. Some really great music in that sequence!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 22:50:22 -0000
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons faves & a question
Good to see so much group approval of The Seasons. I find
it nigh on impossible to pick a fave - there are so many
corkers. Rather than mention the well known ones again,
I'll give a shout for a few lesser know ones: "Everybody
Knows My Name" (on 'Working My Way Back To You') and some
B sides - "Dody", "Let's Ride Again" and "Around & Around".
Anyone with old Record Collectors (the mag, not the
wizened old chap in the front room) may recall I did a big
4S piece with a Gaudio interview in No 252. I'd offer to
post it somewhere, but it was pre my computer crash so I no
longer have it within the system.
Now a question - the current RC reviews Vols 2&3 of compilations
called Fading Yellow on the Flower Machine label. They appear
to be US pop harmony from the late 60s (Vol 1 being UK stuff)
- they sound our sort of stuff - does anyone have them or know
where to get them?? I trawled around London today without
success. Someone please tell me more!!
My London rambles did lead to a chance bump into Mick P. at
Helter Skelter (where all the best folk meet), so the day was
not wasted!!
Kingsley
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2003 23:46:58 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons / Dylan
Re. "Queen Jane Approx." Yeh I love this one too. Amazing what
a good job they did of some of those Dylan tunes. On paper,
Four Seasons sing Dylan sounds like a bad idea but the results
were impressive. On the subject of the 4 seasons, the "Working
My Way Back To You" album is a real neglected gem. A very strong
L.P.
Richard
http://www.mp3.com/richard_snow
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 21:39:04 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: The 4 Seasons
I've been really enjoying this Four Seasons thread and
yesterday I had a search, albeit a modest one, to see what
would turn up on the web. Hotels and property empires in the
main, but once I'd entered the search correctly... again,
disappointment. Okay bios of the group and Frankie Valli,
but nothing to get excited about until I remembered the posting
on our own Spectropop. Message 7728 from Chameleon (Ken Charmer)
with a link to The Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Information
Warehouse; follow the link to a page to read their last three
newsletters. Stored as pdf files, they are very easy to download
- right click and 'save as'.
What you get is a wonderful trip down memory lane, back to the
days of The Phil Spector Appreciation Society - can't give much
higher praise than that! Reviews, old ads, opinions and news.
The item that most caught my eye was quite a detailed review
('zine News 37 Pt2.) by Chameleon on a new bootleg that contains
a lot of the 45's doowopdaddy (Mike Miller) mentioned as having
a confirmed Seasons connection.
Mike Edwards, who started the Four Seasons thread, some time ago
mentioned the late Alan Betrock's Girl Group top 100. This came
fairly late in my collecting career but as a source for lovers of
the genere, very useful. And then there is Fitzpatrick/Fogerty's
"Collecting Phil Spector" book with 100s of soundalikes to hunt
and argue over, and also Stephen McParland/Jon Blair's Surf
and Hot Rod books and record listings.
What about the Four Seasons? As far as I'm aware, diddly squat.
Not even a list of records the Seasons were on. Maybe I've
missed it but if not I'd like to suggest that Chameleon starts
compiling one! Well not one, perhaps 4 lists;
1/ Confirmed
2/ Probable
3/ Possible
4/ Soundalikes (which I'd suggest would be far larger than 100!)
I'm sure once compiled, plenty more could be added, given the
wealth of knowledge on S'pop, but it needs someone with a real love
of the group to get it started. This could really be a wonderful
resource for collectors.
Quite a few titles have been mentioned so far by doowopdaddy,
Kingsley, Doug, Mike and myself. I'll play Evan Mitchell's
"Pollyanna" on Mala - a probable - and Ronnie Michaels' "All
Night Long", also on Mala - a possible - to musica in a day or
so. But really, the list can just keep growing. What about
The Kokomos on Josie or Johnny Halo on Topix - probable or
possible? The Bitter End Singers "Come The Mornin'" or
The Questions on RCA - possible or soundalikes? And as for
definite soundalikes surely they can't come any better than
the Volumes' "Sandra", or the Neighborhood's "Why Can't You
See", or the #1's "Cracks In The Sidewalk", or the Portraits'
"Over The Rainbow", or the Possesions "No More Lies", or the
Haciendas' "Sherry Stole My XKE", or.......
This could be so much fun - so Chameleon if you or any of your
intrepid band of UK Enthusiasts and Historical Society members
are up for it I'll sure be willing to give all the help I can.
Martin
PS My copy Of Frankie Valle & The Romans (bootleg?) lists the
co-writer with Calello of "Come Si Bella" as DePalma and the group
name on this side as simply "The Romans".
PPS Playing The High Keyes and Lenny O'Henry back to back and yes,
I think doowopdaddy may well be correct in thinking they are one
and the same. How about some "voice experts" checking it out? And
while you're about it, any guesses re female backing vocals on
Evan Mitchell's "Dirty Lies"?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 22:04:22 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Phil Spector - Top 40 Hits?
Monophonius,
That is a fantastic response......thanks so much!
I am sure lots of people on the list found that as
fascinating as I have.
Best,
Richard
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 22:08:14 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Just a note.
Thanks to Simon for his message regarding Northern Soul -
a good and informative piece of writing. To be honest, I for
one do not know when something is Northern or not!
Thanks to John for posting "Lucy In London" to musica.
"I'm In Love With A Bunny* (At The Playboy* Club)" might not
be Paul Hampton's best written or sung 45, but it sure has the
nicest picture sleeve!
Martin
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 22:53:17 -0000
From: MikeEdwards "
Subject: "Top Exec Is Leaving Sony"
"Top Music Executive Is Leaving Sony" says the lead story
in the Business Day section of today's The New York Times
(Jan 10). The article discusses the circumstances surrounding
Thomas Mottola's impending departure from Sony Music
Entertainment. Mr. Mottola is my type of guy: he would
refuse "to fly to Sony's headquarters in Japan unless asked
personally by the Chairman, Nobuyuki Idei" and "he also
traveled with bodyguards at times". (Well, didn't our Phil?)
I think that's cool but, apparently, it's not to the liking
of Sir Howard Stringer, the chief executive of the Sony
Corporation Of America. The article also states that:
"sales of compact discs have fallen as much as 10% this year
as CD-Burning and Internet file-sharing proliferate". Really?
And there's poor old me thinking that the decline was due to
the quality of the music!
Mike Edwards
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
End
