________________________________________________________________________
______________ ______________
______________ ______________
______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________
______________ ______________
________________________________________________________________________
Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 12 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Joe Melson
From: Dan Hughes
2. Belmonts, Weekends
From: Ian Chapman
3. The Strangeloves
From: Richard Havers
4. Re: NRBQ Documentary this Sunday, 07 AM Central
From: Steve Harvey
5. Re: Eddie Holman
From: Simon White
6. Re: Whooping melismas
From: James Botticelli
7. Re: On The Real Side
From: Simon White
8. Re: Worst falsetto
From: Dan Hughes
9. Re: Hammond & Hazlewood
From: Andrew Jones
10. Re: Whooping melismas
From: Freeman Carmack
11. Re: Melisimata
From: Stratton Bearhart
12. Ben Bagley/ Crewe / Herve Vilard
From: Leonardo Flores
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 18:13:03 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Joe Melson
Jeff mentioned Joe Melson. When I was a kid and saw
"Orbison-Melson" on those 45s, I thought it was a misprint
and should have been Nelson. Whoever heard of the name Melson?
I'd love to know more about Mr. Melson. Is he still with us?
Did he write the lyrics to Roy's tunes? Did he ever put out
any of his own records?
Thanks,
---Dan
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 00:48:50 -0000
From: Ian Chapman
Subject: Belmonts, Weekends
A later line-up of the Belmonts duetted with Shirley Alston
on her solo album "With A Little Help From My Friends", on
what has to be my favourite version (ever!) of "Where Or
When". One reason I like it so much is because one of the
guys in there has one of the clearest, most spine-tingling
falsettos I ever heard, it cuts right through the track.
Anyone know who this guy would be?
And talking of the Newbeats-styled falsettos, is anyone
going to put in a good word for the Weekends' copycat
version of "Canadian Sunset"? So close to "Run Baby Run",
you couldn't slip a plagiarism suit in between 'em.
Ian
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 00:17:51 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: The Strangeloves
I just picked up an October 16 1965 Billboard off ebay.
There is a wonderful full page ad for The Strangeloves.
It's headed 'Bert Berns and Julie Rifkind say
"the Strangeloves are hot!!!"'
The ad finishes with the sign off '"...and we're still
not tired", the gang at Bang.'
Richard
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 16:27:25 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: NRBQ Documentary this Sunday, 07 AM Central
Documentary Pays Tribute to Wild and Crazy Band
By KEVIN O'HARE
c.2003 Newhouse News Service
They're loved by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Keith
Richards and Elvis Costello, but it took Mike Scully,
executive producer of "The Simpsons,"to finally make sure
that the members of NRBQ got the recognition they have
deserved for so long. In what he refers to as "a labor
of love," Scully and his wife, Julie Thacker, co-produced
"NRBQ: Rock 'n' Roll's Best Kept Secret," a thoroughly
entertaining one-hour documentary that will air as part of
A&E's "Breakfast With the Arts" program on Sunday from
8 to 10 a.m. EST, PST.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 01:25:11 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Eddie Holman
James Botticelli wrote:
> I'd like to think I'm the sole owner of his brilllliant
> jelly-kneed "I'll Be There" on ABC, but I'm sure I'll soon
> be proven wrong! Also the ballad on his 1977 Salsoul LP
> "Immune To Love" is a stone-killer.
The Salsoul album is great. I don't think I know "I'll Be There" -
is it a flip side? For me, Eddie's best ballad is "This Can't Be
True" on Parkway. Of course he's a Northern Soul hero here, and
such a nice guy.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 19:21:26 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Whooping melismas
Shawn Baldwin wrote:
> I blame Patti Labelle for nothing but flawless vocals!
Albeit histrionic and overblown, bordering on self-indulgent IMHO
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 01:37:03 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: On The Real Side
James Botticelli wrote:
> Is this a new "On The Real Side"? I have a comp, I believe
> from the UK, from the early 90s with the same name.
Tis a new comp, same title - and has a nice track by Lezli
Valentine on it too.
There was a good version of "Date With The Rain" by Jamie
Principle a few years back. And I think I have one by
Frankie Gee [who was he?] and also a version of "Mixed Up
Shook Up Boy" [Girl]. But we're dangerously into disco
territory now....
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:01:51 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: Worst falsetto
James sez:
> I have to say Ian Whitcomb for "You Really Turn Me On"
> ("...and when-a-when-a-when you do...aha-aha-aha-aha-aha-aha
> that's my song") bleccccccch.
Yes, but....
I think I read somewhere that Whitcomb was doing a serious recording
session and finished before his time ran out. So for the last few
minutes he just did some goofing around, and "wrote" that song on the
spot as a joke. So of course it was the hit....
---Dan
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 22:43:33 -0500 (EST)
From: Andrew Jones
Subject: Re: Hammond & Hazlewood
Richard Havers: Thanks for the essay about one of my all-time fave
songwriting teams, Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 23:00:19 -0500
From: Freeman Carmack
Subject: Re: Whooping melismas
Re: "Whooping melismas". I hope that Iraq doesn't have THAT disease in
the germ arsenal that we gave them. Oh no, the dreaded Whooping Melismas.
Freeman Carmack
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 05:34:25 -0000
From: Stratton Bearhart
Subject: Re: Melisimata
Surely the template for a trillion young imitators quite unintentionally
is Stevie Wonder. In my own listening history I thrilled at the most
ornate and extended melismas he produced, "Jesus Children Of America"
from "Talking Book" immediately comes to mind. And even today, live,
Wonder takes greater liberties than on record with volleys that match
Charlie Parker for dexterity. However, unfortunately, turn the radio on
and everyone's doing it. A pity it should become so jaded a skill.
Stratton Bearhart
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 06:44:35 -0000
From: Leonardo Flores
Subject: Ben Bagley/ Crewe / Herve Vilard
Hello All,
Does anybody know who the artist is who painted all the Ben Bagley
album covers on Crewe and I believe Ben's own label Painted Smile
Records? I can't seem to make out the signiture...
In my quest to find pre-Richie Family/ Village People (pre-73) music
written by French producer Jacques Morali, I recently discovered that
he wrote music for French artist Herve Vilard. does anybody know
about this artist? His co producer Henri Belolo worked for Barcaly
records, did Jacques write music on that label as well? All for the
same reasons, Jacques knew how to write a hook in a song and I'm
wondering if he did any Serge / Dutronc type music. he was a huge
Gamble and Huff fan as well.
Thanks
Leonardo
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
End
