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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. Re: Bobby Darin
From: Mike Rashkow
2. Re: Holy Mackerel appeal
From: Dan Hughes
3. Re: The Metropolitan Soul Show Requests
From: Amber
4. Re: Wrangler Stretch Bluebell recording
From: Jeff
5. East Meets West
From: Steve Harvey
6. Re: Fading Yellow
From: Carol-Anne Lennie
7. Re: "Top Exec Is Leaving Sony"
From: Mike Rashkow
8. Re: Northern Soul Cover-Ups
From: Jon Cook
9. Re: Fading Yellow
From: Richard Havers
10. Re: The 4 Seasons
From: James Botticelli
11. Mrs Wilson's records / Penny Valentine
From: Richard Williams
12. Re: Christine Cooper
From: Mike Rashkow
13. Lonely weekends. Ahh
From: Martin Roberts
14. Soul Harmony Book
From: Paul Lewis
15. Re: 4 Seasons/D.C.LaRue
From: Don Baylis
16. Re: The 4 Seasons
From: Martin Roberts
17. Mikie (Harris) & The Ardons
From: Jeff Lemlich
18. Re: Northern Soul
From: Jeff Lemlich
19. Re: The Metropolitan Soul Show Requests
From: Simon White
20. Re: Northern Soul Cover-Ups
From: Simon White
21. Re: Northern Soul Cover-Ups
From: Eddy Smit
22. Re: The 4 Seasons
From: Artie Wayne
23. Re: The 4 Seasons
From: Ken Silverwood
24. Doodles Weaver
From: Jorgen Johansson
25. Re: Sony Music update
From: Mike Edwards
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 12:13:58 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Bobby Darin
Kingsley Abbott:
> Help please gang - does anyone know who played drums on Bobby Darin's
> 'La Mer'? An ex-big band drummer maybe - any help appreciated.
I asked this a while back and got nothing difinitive. I think it was
Louis Bellson because it sounds like double bass drums. I got shot
down on that theory. Whoever it was made the record.
Rashkovksy
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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 09:26:13 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: Holy Mackerel appeal
Barry Vaughan writes:
> Does anyone have the Holy Mackerel album for trade, or something?
> Desperate to hear it...Thanks!
Hi Barry, I have a well-worn copy I could put on cassette for you
if nobody else responds....
---Dan, Champaign, IL
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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 17:07:28 -0000
From: Amber
Subject: Re: The Metropolitan Soul Show Requests
The Utterly Marvellous Simon White wrote:
> This Sunday 12th January 2003 on Soul 24-7 7pm-9pm GMT at:
> http://www.soul24-7.com/index.htm The METROPOLITAN SOUL
> SHOW. Any requests before Sunday please.
Please Mister DJ, be a doll and play me "Nothing Takes The Place Of
You" by Toussaint McCall, "You'll Lose A Good Thing" by Barbara Lynn,
"Shake A Tail Feather" by the Five Du-Tones, "Foot Stompin'" by the
Flares, "The Roach" by Gene & Wendell, "Mama Didn't Lie" (sigh) by
Jan Bradley or "I'm Blue" by the Ikettes. I'll be listening, honey.
And if you see Corny Collins on your travels, tell him Amber says "Hi".
A.v.T.
xxx
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Message: 4
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 16:57:17 -0000
From: Jeff
Subject: Re: Wrangler Stretch Bluebell recording
Back in May 2002 someone uploaded The Wrangler Stretch to the musica
section but it's no longer there. It was recorded by a group I
believe was called the Pirouettes. If anyone knows how I can hear this
promotional record from the 1960's, please let me know. It was a paper
like record put out by Wrangler jeans. There was a sister song called
The Wrangler Shake which I already have. Many thanks.
Jeff
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Message: 5
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 09:09:51 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: East Meets West
> "No Surfing Today" was the B-side of "Dawn", and a rebuttal to the
> Beach Boys LP track "Sufers Rule" (where they sing "4 Seasons, you
> better believe it").
Interesting when you mention the rivalry between the Hawthorne Hotshots
vs. the boyz from Joisy. Does anyone remember their collaboration
single, East Meets West. It was was the one collaboration that the
Beach Boys did that was a really great tune. Shame that every single I
came across of it skipped.
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Message: 6
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 17:41:40 -0000
From: Carol-Anne Lennie
Subject: Re: Fading Yellow
I received Fading Yellow 1, 02 and 3 today and these comps (Mark F. was
right - very obscure material!) would certainly appeal to anyone who
digs the Ripples comps (count me in there). A majority, I would say,
of the tracks are of the autumnal, minor-key variety with all the
requisite West Coast trappings (soft harmonies, harpsichords, twelve-
string guitars, delicate string arrangements, etc). Lovely stuff. More
volumes are in the works :-)
(BTW, Kingsley, as of last weekend [when I was last there] at least
one vol. was available in Minus Zero/Stand Out records off Portobello
Road.)
C-A x
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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 12:19:42 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: "Top Exec Is Leaving Sony"
> ...it's not to the liking of Sir Howard Stringer, the chief
> executive of the Sony...
ANOTHER SUIT.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 13:00:41 EST
From: Jon Cook
Subject: Re: Northern Soul Cover-Ups
Hello - I had originally heard the story behind 'White Label' records
was that DJs in the 90s would do their own mixes of copyrighted material
and then sell them, but with white labels with little printed on them
outside of a title and not much else, leaving no info that could be
traced back to them should there be legal problems. Then later I read a
story on Northern Soul in which it was related that DJs of this genre
were always looking for a new obscure single to introduce to the
dancefloor - this differentiated the real talent from the followers. To
keep a record 'exclusive' they would cover the label with a white sticker
so any prying eyes could not find a title or artist name, thereby
discouraging any competitors from getting the same song. Hence, this was
said to be the start of the term 'White Label'. Which is true? Just
curious.
jon cook
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 18:05:04 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Fading Yellow
Carol-Anne Lennie wrote:
> I received Fading Yellow 1, 02 and 3 today...
Just ordered Vols 2 & 3 from the Freak Emporium web site.......No.1
is on back order.
Richard
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 13:05:41 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: The 4 Seasons
Leonardo Flores wrote:
> Yes, my favorite band has got to be the 4 Seasons and Bob Crewe group
> of people.
I was at a record shop today and picked up the Seasons LP doing Bacharach
and Dylan. The shop wanted $15 for it! I also got 3 Gene Pitney LP's,
including the Italian one, Chad & Jeremy's "Distant Shores" LP, & Spanky &
Our Gangs' Greatest Hits..these all being more moderately priced at
$5.99/ea, stereo near mint...
JB
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 18:40:23 +0000
From: Richard Williams
Subject: Mrs Wilson's records / Penny Valentine
Peter Lerner wrote:
> 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?>>
I think I may be able to shed some light on this. When I was an A&R man
at Island Records in the mid-Seventies, Marilyn and I talked about
doing a record. I'd interviewed her a year or two earlier for the Melody
Maker, when the American Spring album came out, and she'd invited me to
their house in Bel Air a few months afterwards. She wanted to make a
solo record, and she suggested that Jackie DeShannon might produce it.
That sounded fine to me, and I had a phone conversation with Jackie in
which she indicated her interest. We talked about songs, but all I
remember about that is asking her to consider "What Am I Going To Do
With You (Hey Baby)", which I had in the Inspirations' version on a
cassette given to me by Andy Paley (then with the Sidewinders -- anyone
remember "Rendezvous"?. Anyway I was coming to the end of my time at
Island, where there was more intereste in Sparks than in girl-group
songs done by Beach Boy wives, and the project dissolved. So, belatedly,
I'd like to offer an apology to all Spectropoppers for failing to bring
it off. We'd have bought it, wouldn't we?
PS: Penny Valentine, the wonderful singles reviewer for Disc and Music
Echo in the '60s, died on Thursday night after a long illness. I used to
go out and buy records just on her say-so, and there weren't many who
could do that. A fabulously lovely person, too, right up to the end. I'd
writing an obituary for Monday's Guardian, and there's one thing I need
to clear up in a hurry: who was the Penny Valentine who recorded "I Want
To Kiss Ringo Goodbye", a 1965 Liberty single? Info gratefully received
at richard.williams@guardian.co.uk
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 12:15:10 EST
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Christine Cooper
> 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.
As well as "SOS Heart In Distress", which I think was first. Artie Butler
was the arranger, BG vocals by Jean Thomas, Mikie Harris and Ellie
Greenwich. Overdubbed in Bell Sound studio C. I have a lead sheet
marked up for the remix. Hey--what can I tell you, I vas dere.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 13
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 00:03:12 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Lonely weekends. Ahh
Hans wrote:
> Thanks for the opportunity to listen to Them's "I'm Waiting" for the
> first time in my life.
My pleasure, hope it was worth the wait! But Hans also experienced
problems with a shortened listen and other S'poppers have written about
trouble in getting the track to play at all. Sorry about that, normal
service will be resumed as soon as possible.
I was very tempted to have the Jack Nitzsche-arranged, Ray Ruff-produced,
Charlie Rich-written, 1969 released version of "Lonely Weekends" by Them
do battle against the Jack Nitzsche-arranged, Ray Ruff-produced,
Charlie Rich-written, 1969 released version of "Lonely Weekends" by Tony
Ray! It will do battle one day, I just hope you don't have to wait 25
years!
Martin
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 01:03:04 +0000
From: Paul Lewis
Subject: Soul Harmony Book
Hello
I just recently bought an excellent CD by Candy and The Kisses called
"Do The 81 & Other Soul Classics". In the sleeve notes the authors
refer to a book entitled "Soul Harmony Singles 1960-1990" and I was
wondering where I could purchase a copy. I have searched over the net
for a few days and have had no luck. Maybe its out of print or
published by a small publisher with no web prescence. Any help would
be appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
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Message: 15
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 01:43:09 -0000
From: Don Baylis
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons/D.C.LaRue
To my ears the best track issued by these guys is 'My Sugar', the
flip of 'Peanuts', VJ-717. I also have to give the nod to two of their
later recordings, a very well done '(Who Wrote) The Book Of Love' on
Curb, 1986, and the FBI joint venture with the Beach Boys of 'East
Meets West'. Still and all, pretty well everything they did was
excellent, making the choice most difficult. A question though .. would
the 4 Seasons have been anywhere near as good, or as big, if they had
not teamed up with Bob Crewe ???
> Matthew Reid - any song by Matthew Reid (actually David C. L'Hereaux)
> on ABC or Topix and possibly the Scepter single feature the 4 Seasons
> on backup vocals. Later in the 1970s Reid reappeared in Canada as the
> disco singer D.C. LaRue.
Very interesting to learn this. D.C. LaRue released a couple of albums
that feature tracks by Lou Christie .. 1976's "The Tea Dance" has
'Don't Keep It In the Shadows', and from 1980, the "Star Baby" LP has
Lou going off "Into the Ozone".
Don Baylis
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Message: 16
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 00:58:52 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Re: The 4 Seasons
Very pleasing to read Stuart's posting about the
http://www.genuine-imitation-life-gazette.com - The Unofficially
Official web fan site. Had a look round and wooo classy! A great
looking site with some marvelous pages of pics, news, sheet music
and a fair to middlin' discography :) If they have the space it
would seem the perfect home for Kingsley's Four Seasons/Bob Gaudio
interview. As Leonardo wrote, the Calello interview is priceless,
must have been as much a thrill to conduct it, as it is to read.
I certainly did not find this site when I had my mooch around
yesterday, very highly recommended.
Stuart commented regarding the discography:
> This is not an easy process, is very slow going, and to do the
> job properly depends heavily upon the co-operation of the
> individuals concerned,
In my work on Jack Nitzsche's site I've found that often the main
participants not only cannot recall the details but they are usually
even unaware of the records' release. I've found you need to find and
confirm the records and then try and get them verified!
As promised, two more 'Seasonal' records are playing on musica - Evan
Mitchell & Ronnie Michaels.
Martin
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Message: 17
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 01:54:13 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Mikie (Harris) & The Ardons
Mike Rashkow wrote:
> Artie Butler was the arranger, BG vocals by Jean Thomas, Mikie Harris
> and Ellie Greenwich.
For Rashkovsky, John Clemente, Mick Patrick, or anyone else who might
know:
Who was on the Mikie & The Ardons "Three's A Crowd" recording? Since
it goes back to the Sarasota days, could Jean Thomas also be on there?
I only have it on the second label (Gallant). Does anyone have this
on the first label (Mam'selle), and is the flip ("Donnie") the Rickie
Page/Bermudas song?
Thanks,
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 18
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 02:25:13 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Northern Soul
Simon White wrote:
> Compare it to the Del Larks' "Job Opening", for instance, which
> is rare and soul, but couldn't be a pop hit in a million years
> because it is a wonderful, messy, noisy, racket. It was one of
> those records which almost seem to have been made with Northern
> Soul in mind! [And they exist too!
Excellent example, Simon! Soul with a capital S, without any polish
or gloss. "There's a job opening, UHHHHHH, for a serious heart
mender"... with that "UHHHHHH" being as important as the words
themselves! This will soon be going -- UHHHHHH -- onto musica!
One thing I love about Northern Soul is the wide range of sounds
under its umbrella -- from sloppy white garage bands, to everything
that sounds remotely like "Downtown", to the grittier sounds laid
down in uptown basement studios. And of course there's never any
politics, especially in London :)
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 19
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 02:23:00 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: The Metropolitan Soul Show Requests
Amber, your wish is my command. Coincidentally, I have just returned
from a 60th birthday do, and the deejay played "Shake A Tail Feather"
and the crowd went nuts. It was of course neither the Five Dutones
nor the James and Bobby Purify but an inferior Blues Bros version.
But beggars can't be choosers and we all shook a tail feather anyway,
some of us more than one in fact. And thanks for reminding me where I
have "I'm Blue", one of the sexiest tracks ever. I don't have it on a 45!
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Message: 20
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 02:28:01 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Northern Soul Cover-Ups
As far as I'm aware, in Northern terms, "white label" was generally just
a demo - many/most promo copies being white. White labels as such must
have come later with 12' singles I think.
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Message: 21
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 08:35:23 +0100
From: Eddy Smit
Subject: Re: Northern Soul Cover-Ups
Northern Soul Cover-Ups were to prevent other people from seeing the label,
is what I always heard.
Eddy
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Message: 22
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 13:03:42 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: The 4 Seasons
Mike.......I produced singles on Matthew Reid for Decca and Phillips....
and we didn't use the 4 Seasons on background vocals. Unfortunately I no
longer have copies.
regards, Artie Wayne
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Message: 23
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 19:59:02 -0000
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: The 4 Seasons
Peter Lerner:
> 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.
Oh! Peter you just shook up my brain. I haven't heard or thought about
that track since I last heard it on Radio Caroline North. They really
used to play it to death, along with Charlie Rich "Mohair Sam". I now
have a beautiful pristine MP3 of it nestling near to me, it will never
fly away again. And--and---Frankie Valli on his own "The Girl I'll
Never Know" (Angels Never Fly This Low) breaks my heart. Gotta go.
Ken On The West Coast (really made up!)
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Message: 24
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 21:40:06 -0000
From: Jorgen Johansson
Subject: Doodles Weaver
For many years I've been trying to find out if DOODLES WEAVER's
version of "Eleanor Rigby" was ever released as a 45. I've got his
HILARIOUS (understatement!) version on the Dr. Demento's Delights -
Warner Bros LP BS 2855, 1975. Any info, and even better, if anybody
out there has a copy of the 45(?) for trade/sale, is MUCH appreciated!
Regards,
JJ/Sweden
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Message: 25
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 22:33:11 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Re: Sony Music update
Rashkovsky writes in reference to Sir Howard Stringer, the chief
executive of Sony Of America:
> ANOTHER SUIT.
But, there's more. Today's Business Day section of the New York Times
(Jan 11) reports that Sony has appointed Andrew Lack the former
President and COO of NBC (who will not be replaced at NBC – i.e. a
real winner!) as the replacement for Thomas Mottola, the departing
chief of Sony Music. Mr. Lack's experience in the music business?
Zero – as the NY Times says he has "no background in the music
business". The article concludes with a quote from Tom Freston,
Chairman of MTV: "Is dealing with Dan Rather really that much
different from dealing with Bob Dylan?" Oh my god!! My advice to
fellow Spectropoppers is to keep those turntables oiled because there
is nothing coming down the pike. Good to know that we've still got
one of our own, Doug Morris, at the head of Universal Music Group.
Doug wrote "Sweet Talking Guy" for the Manhattan Transfer :-)
I hope Mr. Lack knows that.
Mike Edwards
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End
