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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 24 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Little Jimmy Scott
From: Simon White
2. Re: Who'da thought it?!
From: Simon White
3. Honeychile Robinson info sought
From: Neil Hever
4. Andy Pratt joke
From: James F. Cassidy
5. Who'da thought it?!
From: Simon White
6. ATM records
From: Guy Lawrence
7. Re: remixes of 60s music
From: Patrick Rands
8. Re: Zaz Turned Blue
From: Stewart Mason
9. Re: Mae West
From: Joe Foster
10. Re: "She's All I Got"
From: Artie Wayne
11. Re: Beatle-related songs.
From: Artie Wayne
12. Re: "She's All I Got"
From: Jeff Lemlich
13. Re: Honeychile Robinson info
From: Phil Milstein
14. Richard Gottehrer - Charlie Gillett BBC radio show
From: Stefan Wriedt
15. Duelling David Allens
From: Phil Milstein
16. Re: Honeychile Robinson info sought
From: James Botticelli
17. New group which might be of interest
From: Richard Tearle
18. Re: Gentle Soul
From: Efram Turchick
19. Re: Don Robertson; Tim Gilbert; Polyphonic Spree?
From: Country Paul
20. Re: Sha Na Na; Extremes
From: George Leonard
21. Re: James Brown
From: James Botticelli
22. Re: Artie Wayne and The Beatles
From: Guy Lawrence
23. Re: "She's All I Got"
From: Nick Archer
24. Re: Zaz Turned Blue
From: Steve Harvey
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:11:34 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Little Jimmy Scott
Nice to see Little Jimmy's "Falling In Love Is Wonderful"
getting a play in The Liquid Room.
Whilst not really Spectropop [although it is at least sixties],
the recently re-released rare album of the same title is a
wonderful collection of standards done in '63 and withdrawn
quickly at the time. Jimmy's voice and phrasing are extraordinary
and influenced Nancy Wilson, Frankie Valli, Gloria Lynne and
I'm informed, [by some one who knows about these things] that
the first Barbra Streisand album sounds like Jimmy. As I say,
I wouldn't know. Buy the album, or indeed anything else you see
by him. And if you get a chance to see him, just go.
It was a life changer for me.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:19:09 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Who'da thought it?!
Elisabeth wrote:
> How about: Paul Anka "I can't help loving you"
> The label says RCA 2498 (1974), but it *sounds* 60s and
> oh-so-stompy blue-eyed soul. I can't remember the story
> behind this one, but I'm sure someone here does. It sounded
> really good when I just put it on now actually...
Its a re-release you have there, just one of the many that
were done for the Northern scene, legally and otherwise. It
was a big Wigan Casino record and there's another version by
Jimmy Breedlove on Roulette. Slower and more soul. I should
know which is the original really. Paul has another Northern
45, but I've forgotten which one it is.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:37:02 -0000
From: Neil Hever
Subject: Honeychile Robinson info sought
Popsters, any truth to the story that Harry Belafonte began
his career as Honeychile Robinson? A local shop has a 78
(vintage '53 or '54) on Capitol records. The owner claims
it is a young Belafonte singing two jump R&B tunes. Anybody
know about this?
Cheers, Neil Hever
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 10:13:33 -0500
From: James F. Cassidy
Subject: Andy Pratt joke
When I was managing the Strawberries Records store in
Framingham, MA in the late 70s, Andy Pratt (who lived nearby)
used to come in from time to time. On one occasion, I pointed
him out to the cashier, and when Andy came up to the cash
register to pay for his albums, she said "Can I have your
autograph?" The bashful Andy replied, "Who do you think I am,
Livingston Taylor?"
Jim Cassidy
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 16:02:55 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Who'da thought it?!
To keep the ball rolling, of course this means they were
played at some time on the Northern Soul scene, not that
they are all Soul records! There are of course many more....
Johnny Mathis - Come Back
Nat King Cole - The Good Times
Al Martino - More Than The Eye Can See
Eartha Kitt - There Comes A Time
Judith Durham - Again And Again
Tony Blackburn - I'll Do Anything
Elvis Presley - Rubberneckin'
Ral Donner - Don't Let It Slip Away
Sammy Davis Jnr -You Can Count On Me [Vocal to Hawaii 5-0]
Sammy Davis Jnr - The Shelter of Your Arms/Dont Shut Me Out
Ted Cassidy - The Lurch
Muriel Day - Nine Times Out Of Ten
Bruce Forsythe - Keep Your Chin Up
Julius Wechter - Along Comes Mary
T.D Valentine - Love Trap
Brian Hyland - The Joker Went Wild
Derek And Ray - Interplay
P.J. Proby - Niki Hokey
Tom Jones - Stop Breaking My Heart
Tom Jones - Can't Break The News to Myself
Susan Maughan - That Other Place
Cartoon Candy Carnival - Everything Is Mickey Mouse
Andre Brasseur And His Multi Sound Organ - The Kid
April Stevens - Wanting You
The Shangri Las - Right Now And Not Later
The Mike Post Coalition - Afternoon Of The Rhino
Phil Coulter - Good Thing Going
Lester Lanin Orchestra - Dizzy
Mel Torme - Comin' Home Baby
Nancy Wilson - The End Of Our Love
The Skyliners - Everything Is Fine
Connie Stevens - In The Deep Of Night
Sam Butera -The Rat Race
Bobby Callender - My Baby Changes Like The Weather
Helen Shapiro - Stop And You Will Become Aware
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 16:27:45 -0000
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: ATM records
I was on the ATM website (www.atm-records.de) lusting after
their Hondells CDs when I noticed compilations of stuff by
Carole King and Ellie Greenwich. Inexplicably there are no
track listings for them at the site (nor for their probably
excellent surf vocal collections) and a trawl through the
Spectropop archives hasn't got me anywhere either.
Am I the only one who missed these first time 'round?
And can anyone help me out with some tracklistings?
Can I also take this opportunity to thank whoever was
responsible for playing the Full Treatment's "Just Can't
Wait" to musica. An absolutely astounding track!
Guy
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 17:15:37 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Re: remixes of 60s music
Billy G. Spradlin wrote:
> Most 80's/90's dance remixes of original 60's hits just
> dont work.
I think in the past few years remixing has started to grow
to even include good mixes of 60s material. Agreed, most of
it has a funky feel to begin with, and the lack of multi-track
versions probably hinders the mixers somewhat. I just heard a
tremendous mix that included bits of "You Can't Hurry Love" by
the Supremes and one of the surfing tunes by the Beach Boys -
totally brilliantly done by Tim Love Lee. I guess my point
being that the future of 60s remixes is bright and I think an
area untapped for the most part. On a somewhat related note I
love the Jackson 5 and Earth, Wind and Fire Japanese Soul Source
remixes and would love to hear that treatment on a 60s singer -
like Lesley Gore!
:Patrick
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 12:18:47 -0500
From: Stewart Mason
Subject: Re: Zaz Turned Blue
Steve Harvey:
> "Zaz Turned Blue" was a song I heard once and has
> haunted me ever since. The fact that Mel Torme sang it
> was really interesting. Sounds like something Michael
> Brown would have collaborated on with Randy Newman and
> Tom Leher. What the hell is the song about? The lyrics
> sound as if they were written on the way to the
> session and yet the melody is so beautiful. I keep
> rewriting the lyrics in my head every time I play it.
Bizarrely, I just bought a used CD of BORN TO LAUGH AT
TORNADOES yesterday morning to replace my worn-to-death vinyl!
"Zaz Turned Blue," like most of David Was' lyrics, makes very
little literal sense, but basically, it's about a guy being
strangled. This is one of the Was (Not Was)'s more normal
songs, incidentally.
The same album has a terrific '60s pop pastiche called
"Smile," with lead vocals by the Knack's Doug Fieger (an old
high school buddy of the Was brothers from their teenage years
in Detroit) and some terrific twang guitar and Farfisa parts.
Stewart
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 17:34:54 +0000
From: Joe Foster
Subject: Re: Mae West
I emailed my dear friend Ian Whitcomb about the recent
queries on this one....here's what he said:
"As to the questions:
The backing band on 'Way Out West' was Somebody's Chyldren
and they backed me on a couple of records for Tower in 1965.
They were teenagers and led by David Allen, no relation to
Davie Allen & The Arrows (also on Tower). They backed me
live when I appeared at The Troubadour in the summer of 1966.
The guitar on certain tracks on 'Way Out West' is none other
than Glen Campbell! And it's me on organ and piano on some
tracks. David Mallet (the producer) was an upper class English-
man who had been Jack Good's assistant on "Shindig" and went
on to manage me and produce my records, including 'Nervous'."
So there we have it!......
all the best
Joe
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 09:37:04 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: "She's All I Got"
Andrew......
I believe "Swamp Dogg" had the original record on it.
I remember when Johnny Paycheck's record came out, Jerry
came by my office at WB music and played it for me. I still
like his version better....it has one of the best last verses
ever written.
regards, Artie Wayne
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 10:23:32 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: Beatle-related songs.
Guy Lawrence wrote:
> I would strongly advise anyone interested in Beatle
> novelty records to check out the following CD:
> "Better Than The Beatles" Knight Records kcd1003
> ("26 Tunes That Failed To Oust The Fab-Four From
> The Charts")
Guy.....
How ya' doin'? I'm curious - did my "You Can't Go Far
Without A Guitar...Unless You're Ringo Starr" by Neil
Sheppard on DCP records make the album?
regards, Artie Wayne
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 18:37:34 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: "She's All I Got"
Andrew Jones wrote:
> During the early 1970s, country singer Johnny Paycheck had a
> big country hit with a song called "(Friend, Don't Take Her)
> She's All I Got." When I bought an old vinyl album with
> Paycheck's version not long ago, I was surprised to see the
> song was written by two R&B singers - Jerry "Swamp Dogg"
> Williams and Gary U.S. Bonds! As far as I can tell, neither
> writer did his own version of the song. Or did they? And did
> any other R&B or soul singers do a version?
The pair wrote the song for Freddie North, who took the song
to #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:52:37 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Honeychile Robinson info
Neil Hever wrote:
> Popsters, any truth to the story that Harry Belafonte began
> his career as Honeychile Robinson? A local shop has a 78
> (vintage '53 or '54) on Capitol records. The owner claims
> it is a young Belafonte singing two jump R&B tunes. Anybody
> know about this?
Do you mean Sugarchile Robinson? If so, the Belafonte reference
sounds like a canard. I recently had occasion to reread the notes
to my Sugarchile LP on Charly, and seem to recall that he was
marked AWOL after adolescence or perhaps early adulthood. Although
the album was an '80s release, I would think that the Charly
researchers would have already made the connection to Belafonte,
had there been anything to it.
If there is also a Honeychile Robinson and this, in fact, is who
you mean, please disregard the above!
--Phil M.
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 21:00:38 +0100
From: Stefan Wriedt
Subject: Richard Gottehrer - Charlie Gillett BBC radio show
Did anybody save the broadcast of Charlie Gillett's BBC
radio show aired 18th January (Real Audio)? The show was
the one featuring Richard Gottehrer - I was too late to
catch the streamed version a week later.
Any help is appreciated ...
Thanks,
Stefan Wriedt
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:08:42 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Duelling David Allens
Ian Whitcomb wrote, via Joe Foster:
> The backing band on 'Way Out West' was Somebody's Chyldren
> and they backed me on a couple of records for Tower in 1965.
> They were teenagers and led by David Allen, no relation to
> Davie Allen & The Arrows (also on Tower).
Could it be the future "Daevid" Allen of Gong, in that case?
--Phil M.
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:45:51 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Honeychile Robinson info sought
Neil Hever wrote:
> Popsters, any truth to the story that Harry Belafonte began
> his career as Honeychile Robinson?
I'm not sure about that one, but it reminds me of one story
that there IS truth to: That Louis Farrakhan began as a calypso
singer in Mid-50s Boston
JB/full of fun facts to know and tell
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 18:57:56 -0000
From: Richard Tearle
Subject: New group which might be of interest
A friend has just started a group which might be of interest
to at least some of you - it's all for 60s bands who DIDN'T
make it and I think if fills a gap in the many groups about
the 60s....I'm sure those of you who, like me, followed the
then scene can recall a few....
the group URL is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OBSCURE60sBANDS
Cheers
Richard
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:25:43 -0500
From: Efram Turchick
Subject: Re: Gentle Soul
Martin Roberts:
> "Me About You"...is not arranged by Jack [Nitzsche]...but by
> Nick De Caro. I'm unaware of the credits on Gentle Soul's
> 'Our National Anthem' but would be thrilled to add the track
> to the discography if Jack is credited.
Nice to see discussion of the Gentle Soul here! Some good news
for those who'd like to hear more:
Our upcoming CD reissue of the Gentle Soul album will be available
March 25th. The reissue features nine bonus tracks in all (all of
the single sides plus four unissued tracks, including a fantastic
1966 version of Jackson Browne's "Flying Thing"), previously
unpublished photos, and the true story of the Gentle Soul as told
by Pamela Polland and Rick Stanley!
By the way, the original Epic/Columbia paperwork has no indication
of any involvement from Nitzsche on "Our National Anthem" or "Song
For Three."
Regards,
Efram Turchick
Sundazed Music
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:31:46 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Re: Don Robertson; Tim Gilbert; Polyphonic Spree?
Phil Milstein:
> [The Twang Gang] also includes a hillbilly version of "Born
> To Be With You", which the CD dates to Aug. '61. Wouldn't
> that predate The Paris Sisters and Dion versions (not to
> mention Dave Edmunds')? The author is Don Robertson -- did
> he primarily work in the country market?
"Born To Be With You" was originally a hit for the Chordettes
on Cadence (entered the Billboard chart 6/5/56 and spent 20
weeks there peaking at #5). It was a strange blend of female
barbershop harmony, folky acoustic guitar, and whistling!
Robertson also wrote the Les Paul-Mary Ford hit "Hummingbird"
credibly covered by the Chordettes (Cadence 1267, 1956 or 1957).
There's so much depth and delicacy to much of their work. If
you can find it, Barnaby Records reissued many of their best
recordings on a "greatest hits" LP in 1976, although inexplicably
leaving off their most beautiful - and most girl-group - song,
"A Broken Vow," which was actually a low-charter c. 1961.
(Incidentally, that song was written and originally recorded by
The Bush Boys, two brothers named Bush, on Capitol, back in the
adventurous purple-label days. No relation to the guys in the
White House and Florida.)
Don Robertson was indeed a Nashville cat, a major writer with
major pop crossover. His first big hit was "The Happy Whistler,"
an early-mid 50s instrumental (again on Capitol) that you'd
still recognize if you heard it. I was told that he was the
original developer of what became known as the Floyd Cramer
piano style, the two note lead with the melody under the root
or fifth above, which was based a banjo pickin' style. He cut a
mid-60s RCA 45 called "Pianjo" showcasing that style. He also
wrote "Sea of Heartbreak," a country-pop-crossover hit for Don
Gibson; the co-writer is the previously-discussed Paul Hampton.
If you can find the Don Robertson album, "Heart On My Sleeve"
(RCA LPM/LSP 3348, 1965), it has a dozen of Robertson's
compositions, most of which were hits for him and others,
including a nice re-cut of "Happy Whistler." (Among his best
known: Eddy Arnold's "I Really Don't Want to Know"; Hank Locklin's
"Please Help Me, I'm Falling"; Lorne Greene's "Ringo"; Hank
Snow's "I Don't Hurt Anymore" and "90 Miles An Hour Down A Dead
End Street"; and 14 songs recorded by some guy named Presley.
NOT Reg. Even Jerry Springer [!] cut one of his songs.) A
personal favorite is a 45 I signed off with every week on my
first college radio shift: the obscure but gorgeous "What A Day,"
one of the most romantic pop-country songs ever to come out of
Nashville.
And if all this isn't enough, I just discovered
http://www.donrobertson.com - no narratives, but some interesting
lists.
Back to "sunshine progressive": I have a 45 by Tim Gilbert on
UNI 55045 (1968), produced by Frank Slay (Bob Crewe's former
partner), and arranged by George Tipton. "If We Stick Together"/
"Early October" are both written by T.Gilbert/J. Carter; "Stick,"
the A-side, is a Dylanesque stream of consciousness sung in a
voice a bit reminiscent of Peter Rowan's. I've always loved this
track; anyone know anything about this artist? (A Google search
revealed nothing.)
From David Ponak's "Liquid Room" playlist:
> Peter Gabriel/More Than This (Polyphonic Spree Mix)
> More Than This (single) (Realworld-UK
Really???!??? I saw "the Spree" live and even bought their album
sound-unheard. I'm still trying to figure them out; I hear moments
of brilliance dotting acres of self-indulgence. Are they a cult?
trend? too clever for their own credibility? Is this remix done by
them? Answers appreciated by the curious - me.
Finally, while Richard Havers is proposing his Scottish Spectroparty,
is there any word on the one pending for New York?
Country Paul
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 03 12:16:22 -0800
From: George Leonard
Subject: Re: Sha Na Na; Extremes
Country Paul:
> ...then I see a post like George Leonard's. I've read both his bio links:
> http://www.georgeleonard.com/corrected.html
> http://www.georgeleonard.com/shanana_columbia_today.html
> and wonder how I can keep up with guys like this.
That's nice of you to say, Paul, but you know, that will never end?
Whenever you reach a new level, you can see a bit higher, so you meet new
people that make you feel small. My best friend now has a Pulitzer and a
MacArthur Genius award; I work for Ron Howard, a legend in both TV and
film; even my lawyer is bigger than I am. He used to be Oskar Schindler's
lawyer and he was associate producer of Schindler's List with Spielberg.
Yet I know that all of them look up the same way to Lucas! No matter what
you achieve, you will always feel exactly the way you do now. You can see
a certain distance up, and down.
I notice you have a band so people probably bore you too with questions
about what so and so was really like, but you've really said
Rumplestiltskin to me. That is an extremely perceptive question. The
invention of history. But let me see if I can find an email exchange with
U. of Chicago Press from a year ago on that.
Why "Country"? I'm sorry, I'm new to the list. What is your act like?
Best,
George
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:49:58 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: James Brown
David Ponak wrote:
> 17.James Brown/Sex Machine (Readymade Jazz Defector Mix)
> Ultimate Remixes (Universal-Japan)
I picked this one up recently and surprisingly it is remixed bossa nova
style and works! Unsurprisingly it was the fine work of Konishi formerly
of Pizzicato 5. We love you P5, oh yes we do!
JB
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 22:19:15 -0000
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Re: Artie Wayne and The Beatles
Artie Wayne wrote:
> Guy....How ya' doin'? I'm curious - did my "You Can't Go Far Without
> A Guitar...Unless You're Ringo Starr" by Neil Sheppard on DCP records
> make the album? (Better Than The Beatles kcd1003)
Hi Artie, doing very well thanks. "You Can't Go Far" is not on "Better Than
The Beatles" but it is compiled elsewhere - on the compilation "Flabby Road"
alongside 25 other Beatle-novelties. I've only just found out about this
album thanks to contact with a fellow Spectropopper who is a real expert on
this wonderful genre. There are now three different volumes of this series
but their legallity is questionable to say the least. That said, perhaps
someone could play "You Can't Go Far" to Musica so we can all hear Artie's
Beatle tribute.
Regards, Guy.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 17:03:34 -0600
From: Nick Archer
Subject: Re: "She's All I Got"
> During the early 1970s, country singer Johnny Paycheck had a big country
> hit with a song called "(Friend, Don't Take Her) She's All I Got." As
> far as I can tell, neither writer did his own version of the song. Or
> did they? And did any other R&B or soul singers do a version? How does
> it compare to Paycheck's (if you've heard it)?
Oh Yeah, Freddie North on Mankind Records here in Nashville! I have a mint
45 I can play to musica in the morning. Also, didn't Ronnie Milsap do a
version later?
Nick Archer
Check out Nashville's classic SM95 on the web at
www.live365.com/stations/nikarcher
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:24:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: Zaz Turned Blue
"Smile" is a great tune and supposedly has Marshall Crenshaw on the
vocals too, but I can't hear him. Some good stuff on the record. The
lyrics to "Zaz" kind of disappoint me because they sound like they
were written off the cuff. Great music, but ok lyrics.
The Flamin' Groovies use to write such great tunes then attach so-so
lyrics. I recall Cyril saying something once about the words not being
important. Wish he'd taken a little more time on them, however. They're
the icing on the cake so to speak.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
End
