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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 8 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Mae West's backing group
From: Richard Havers
2. Speaking of Bob Crewe and Ian Whitcomb
From: Deena Canale
3. Re: Ronny & the Philharmonic
From: Mikey
4. Re: Mae West's backing group
From: Richard Havers
5. Re: Larry Henley
From: Bill George
6. Tokens, Planotones and Bonner; Andy Pratt; more
From: Country Paul
7. old Woodstock/Fillmore photographs?
From: George Leonard
8. Planotones' co-stars
From: Country Paul
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 12:33:05 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Mae West's backing group
Claus wrote:
> Can anyone help me with info on Mae West - Way Out West (Tower)
> album. The cover mentions a dynamic young group called Somebody's
> Children. The album was arranged by David Mallet, Jim Horn and
> David Allen. It must be Dave Allen from all the Tower soundtracks.
> But is the superb guitar work on this album also played by
> Dave Allen?
I have emailed Davie to ask him.....I met him last year in LA working
on a new album. I'll let you know.
Best
Richard
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 10:14:20 -0400
From: Deena Canale
Subject: Speaking of Bob Crewe and Ian Whitcomb
In an odd bit of Spectropop synchronicity, I just started reading Andrew
Loog Oldham's "2Stoned," and was pleased to find that the early chapters of
it devote a lot of space to tales of the Stones' first visits to America and
their encounters with such S-pop stalwarts as Bob Crewe, Murray the K, and
Sonny Bono, to name a few. Loogie's one helluva writer, with an inimitable
way with words and recall for detail. Though it wouldn't hurt, you don't
have to be a Stones fan to dig his memoirs, 'cause he covers a lot of ground
beyond his experiences with them. So far this one's just as good as his
first, "Stoned," which I was lucky to get autographed when he spoke at last
year's North by Northeast conference in Toronto.
In addition to "After the Ball," Ian Whitcomb also penned the delightful
"Rock Odyssey," which doubles as both an account of his rise to "fame" and a
fairly comprehensive survey/history of '60s pop in general. Yet another
witty Brit worth reading, no matter what you may have thought of "You Turn
Me On."
Signed D.C.
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 09:58:24 -0500
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Ronny & the Philharmonic
Jeff Lemlich:
> Jerry Carrigan played drums for both Ronny & The Daytonas and the
> Neon Philharmonic. not too long after his credits grew to include
> some guy named Presley.
>>>>Oh yea? Jerry Carrigan played for Reg Presley?? :)))))
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 20:36:08 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Mae West's backing group
Claus wrote:
> Can anyone help me with info on Mae West - Way Out West (Tower)
> album. The cover mentions a dynamic young group called Somebody's
> Children. The album was arranged by David Mallet, Jim Horn and
> David Allen. It must be Dave Allen from all the Tower soundtracks.
> But is the superb guitar work on this album also played by
> Dave Allen?
Here's Davie's reply
It's nice to get a question that isn't about Curb or "Max Frost"!
I may have played on a couple of tracks for Mae West but I never met
her plus there were many times I played on tracks and didn't even know
what they were for. I had nothing to do with arranging that album plus,
note the spelling of the name (since I was on the label, they wouldn't
have made that mistake!).
Thanks,
Davie Allen
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 17:42:25 EST
From: Bill George
Subject: Re: Larry Henley
Larry Henley recorded some songs written by Dan Folger. Does anyone have
copies of "His Girl", "Bring Back the Good Times" or "I've Been A Long Time
Loving You"? These were possibly recorded on Hickory Records.
In the same line, does anyone have copies of the following Folger songs?
"Weeping Annaleah" by Gordon Waller
same song, by Dave Guard
"Young Tears Don't Fall Forever" by The Graduates (rec. 68/69; prod by
Charlie McCoy, Bobby Russell & Buzz Cason)
"Hide the Moon" by The Extremes (pre-1965 on RCA)
Dan Folger also has ties with Joe Melson, which I will touch on later, as I
get caught up on the digests. Thanks!
Bill
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 21:58:07 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Tokens, Planotones and Bonner; Andy Pratt; more
Someone asked recently if Randy & The Rainbows were really the Tokens on
"Denise." I can't comment re: the rest of the group, but last night, UGHA
[United in Group Harmony Assn., the major doo-wop society in metro NYC]
featured Randy & the Rainbows with the original lead, Dominic Safuto. I
couldn't get to the show, so couldn't ask "the" question. I actually
wouldn't be surprised if the Tokens were all or part of the backing band,
though. I asked the Tokens via e-mail (http://www.thetokens.com) - I'll
forward an answer if I get one.
Incidentally, next month (2/22/03 at St. Joseph's Church in Clifton, NJ)
they'll have Kenny Vance & The Planotones which used to include Garry
Bonner. See the Jack Nitzsche page for "record of next week" - my choice of
Bonner sides would be the flip of the nominated track, the gorgeous "Me
Anout You," but Gentle Soul's "Tell Me Love" is a major treat. (May I
propose following these with Gentle Soul's "Our National Anthem", the 45
that never made it to an LP?)
Incidentally, new to the Planotones are Angel Rissoff ("Little Leopold"),
Frenchy Fediu and Johnny Gale, all of the late lamented Little Isidore & The
Inquisitors. The UGHA event should be a show not to be missed; and if you
can't wait, they're on a bill with Barbara Harris & The Toys and Jay Siegel
& The Tokens 2/1/02 on Long Island. Go to http://www.planotones.com/pl3.shtml
for the full schedule.
Played on WFMU this weekend: Lee Hazlewood & Duane Eddy's "Girl on Death
Row." Totally warped and very far out for its time - still pretty far out.
From "The Twang Gang" CD on Jamie.
Jackie DeShannon's "What The World Needs Now" is the song in the trailer for
the next Adam Sandler (!) movie, "Anger Management." Good for Jackie!
Jack Madani:
> [T]he Anita Kerr singers always sounded awesome to me, so it is definitely
> *possible* to get a great tight harmony with female voices on the top end.
> I guess the trick is to sing with as little vibrato as possible.
Agreed, Jack, their sound was amazing even when singing drivel, which as
contract players they had to do far too often. Another amazing but often
overlooked female harmony group: The Chordettes.
Stewart Mason, re: "Oh What A Night," there was indeed a 12" disco remix
"that really emphasized the disco pulse of the song much more than the
original single did and included a sort of dub-style instrumental break with
echoed vocal interjections." Does the station you mentioned, Big 98.5,
stream online?
Stratton Bearhart, re: melisma, best comment yet [in Digest 261]. Thank you.
Phil Milstein:
> [T]he Boston Globe has run several stories in the past few weeks referring
> to Pratt's return to the local club scene, after a decade or more toiling
> (musically and otherwise) in Europe. Perhaps I should try to catch one of
> those shows, before he's gone again.
Phil, do you have links to any of those, or any other info to share? Also,
thanks for the compliment! And Steve Harvey, in what town are you in re: the
management offer for Andy?
Ron Weekes:
> And isn't this list about great musical memories?
IMO, in part; it's also about the incredible amount of knowledge held by -
and new discoveries coming from - the expertise of the people who are part
of it and willing to share their knowledge. Unlike most sites I've
encountered, and considering the number of first-person participants here,
if I read it here, it's probably true.
Grateful to be part of it,
Country Paul
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 03 23:34:42 -0800
From: George Leonard
Subject: old Woodstock/Fillmore photographs?
My brother Rob and I have been reading the posts for a while, impressed
by the scholarship.
This may be a good time to say hello, since there's a good piece this
month about our old group, Sha Na Na, in Maxim's Blender (a glossy rock
mag here in the USA-- you can get it in any supermarket), the edition
with Mariah half naked on the cover. Page 36, "Life After Rock." Big
picture of Rob. It covers my contribution too.
More information about Sha Na Na (and nothing for sale!) is at
http://www.georgeleonard.com/corrected.html
and
http://www.georgeleonard.com/shanana_columbia_today.html
(Rob has a professional website but I'd have to check with him before
sending it to a list.)
Here's why I'm writing. A wonderful fan in England recently sent a lot of
footage we'd never seen before-- Rob's solo at Woodstock, that sort of
thing. After 33 years! Now that we've both got young kids, we enjoy
showing them what we did when we were young.
It struck me that if anyone knew where we might buy similar footage, or
stills, it would be the experts on this list. (Please reply offlist,
though, since it would be a commercial post.) Thank you.
Best wishes,
George Leonard
Conception and Choreography
Sha Na Na
http://www.georgeleonard.com
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 22:44:35 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Planotones' co-stars
Scrolling down the Kenny Vance & The Planotones schedule at
http://www.planotones.com/pl3.shtml, I see they're appearing in Flushing, NY
April 5th with the Shangri Las's! So who's in the Shangri La's these days?
FYI, there's doing a cruise to Bermuda on Celebrity Cruise Lines May 24th
through 31st with Arlene Smith of the Chantels, Frankie Ford, Jerry Blavat
and surprise guests. They'll also be with Lou Christie, Darlene Love, The
Contours and more at Richard Nader's Original Summer Doo Wop Reunion XIV,
Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ on June 21st.
As the Rutles sang, all you need is cash.
Country Paul
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