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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 15 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. The Lovelites
From: Team Spectropop
2. Re: The Longest Day OST
From: Leonardo Flores
3. Re: Four Freshmen
From: Doug
4. Re: Motorcity
From: James Botticelli
5. Re: Bubble Puppy
From: stephanie
6. Today's music scene
From: Mike Edwards
7. Re: Sandpipers/Grads
From: Billy G Spradlin
8. The Forum
From: Richard Williams
9. Gary Criss unveiled!
From: Mike Edwards
10. Re: Four Freshmen
From: Brian Chidester
11. Freddie is alive and well
From: Roger Kaye
12. New Member
From: Lor
13. Lou Christie
From: Guy Lawrence
14. Re: Freddie is alive and well
From: James Botticelli
15. Phil Spector Interview?
From: ncsmn
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________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 00:16:02 -0000
From: Team Spectropop
Subject: The Lovelites
A Valentine's Day Gift For You from Spectropop:
The Lovelites Story
Formed in 1965 by Phil Spector, the short-lived Phi-Dan label
did not prove to be one of the legendary producer's more
successful ventures, registering just one small chart success.
Unlike the more illustrious stars of Spector's Philles logo,
the Phi-Dan artists have never been afforded the luxury of
having their careers documented. Until now...
For a group who released just one record, there is much more
to read about of the Lovelites than one might expect, with
such names as Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman, the Vagrants, Pete
Anders, Vini Poncia and the Young Rascals all featuring in the
group's chronicle.
Click here to read the full story, as told by Louise Robbins-
Posnick and Linda Stern: http://www.spectropop.com/lovelites/
For a limited period only it will be possible to click on the
Phi-Dan label image scan and hear their great Phi-Dan release
"(When) I Get Scared". Don't miss it.
Enjoy!
Coming soon:
Home Of The Brave - The Story Of Charlotte O'Hara and Bonnie
& The Treasures. Watch this space.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 16:13:01 -0800
From: Leonardo Flores
Subject: Re: The Longest Day OST
Andrew Jones:
> ...the only "soundtrack" album for THE LONGEST DAY that I
> know of isn't a conventional OST...I don't think Tommy Sands
> can even be heard on the album.
Hello Andrew,
Your right, I don't have the sound track (I've never seen one)
but I do have a Knock-off LP on Diplomat records DS2284 which
features a great photo of a WWII US MI Helmet in the sand. It's
the closest LP I'll have until I find an original LP and, as you
said, I don't think it was ever made. The LP does have a remake
of the stirring theme at the end of the film which was done quite
well.
Another Mr Sands isn't heard on the Soundtrack, he was In the film,
which is one of my favorite films...ever. My other passion other
than my record collection is my Militaria collection. I have an
extensive collection of WWI & WWII Items and it's very rare when
the two cross over.
Thanks for informimg me on that LP as I didn't know that existed,
Cheers and Thanks!
Leonardo Flores
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 00:01:58 -0000
From: Doug
Subject: Re: Four Freshmen
Bill Reed wrote:
> I bet they would never be so square as to perform and/or
> record an anti BB's gaffe like the earlier Freshmen
> configuration committed on their 80s "spoof" of Brian and
> Company. Don't get me wrong, I love the Four Freshmen, but
> I thought "How totally stoopid" when I heard their version
> of "Surfer Girl".
This made me think of "Little Dead Surfer Girl" by the Incredible
Broadside Brass Bed Band. One of the most hilarious send-ups I've
ever heard.
Doug
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 19:21:42 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Motorcity
Kingsley Abbott wrote:
> Maybe I never got to the ones I should have...,
> but Hey, I date from the Eddie Holland 'Leaving Here' era of
> Motown (my absolute fave). I shall check out Simon's list and
> see if I have those to go back to listen to....
There were one or two Bobby Taylor tracks that slew me,
drum machine and all!
--
James Botticelli
Member: The EZ Rebellion
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 00:55:28 -0000
From: stephanie
Subject: Re: Bubble Puppy
Dan wrote:
> You probably know that they [Bubble Puppy] later did an album
> on ABC using the name Demian.
I was waiting for someone on this list to mention that classic
record. I think it's one of the hottest pieces of psychedelia
to ever exist.
Stephanie
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 02:25:00 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Today's music scene
Re: the Latin influence on today's music and the declining
British influence
I recently challenged Stuffed Animal's assertion that "there's
probably no form of popular music more under-appreciated in the
United States than Latin music" by citing the existence of two
Latin charts in Billboard and the fact that non-Latin artists
use Latin styles to break into the mainstream pop market. Maybe
I was a little clumsy in citing Geri Halliwell's "Mi Chico Latino"
as an example of this (how quickly the mighty fall!). Stuffed
Animal countered by saying that this "doesn't mean pop culture
at large has begun giving Latin music its due." This I am simply
not sure of, but I have observed that since the mid 80s there has
been a definite shift away from British bands towards C&W and Latin
artists. To make it simple, I consider hip-hop and rap an extension
of the African American chart force that has been with us since the
emergence of rock and roll. Last year it was cited that at one point
there were no British artists in the top-100, the first time since
the Caravelles' "You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry" was there in
1963. It wasn't that much better on the album charts with U2 and Ozzy
Osbourne having to be recruited to give the Brit's a mere handful of
albums. As of right now, I would name Coldplay and that's it.
Stuffed Animal goes on to point out that "You're just talking about
salsa, but Latin music also encompasses ranchera music, cumbias,
tangos, bachata, merengue, flamenco and even certain types of disco
music". I certainly did not know this and have to admit to ignorance
of some of these genres. However, I do have a lot of Latin music in
my collection and am always open to new ideas, so why not play a few
relevant tunes to musica over the next few weeks accompanied by some
commentary. It would make a neat accompaniment to the George Goldner/
Tico piece now playing on the main board. I promise I won't hog the
space on musica with Freddy Cannon records while you are doing this!
Mike Edwards
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 13:32:28 -0000
From: Billy G Spradlin
Subject: Re: Sandpipers/Grads
Were the Grads an early version of the Sandpipers or the
group's original name? Never heard this 45 before, sounds
great despite the wear and tear.
Billy
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 14:52:38 +0000
From: Richard Williams
Subject: The Forum
New converts to the Forum might care to note that track 1 of
their fascinating Rev-Ola CD is not, as labelled, the original
single mix of "The River is Wide". That mix is to be found on
track 14, which is erroneously labelled "Tell The World".
Track 1 is longer, with a completely different intro, and must
be an extended version from the original LP (which I've never
heard). Incidentally, my London-American promo 45 of "The River
Is Wide" has a UK release date of March 1967, but a copyright
date of 1966.
Richard Williams
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 17:36:34 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Gary Criss unveiled!
A few months' ago one of our members asked if someone would
play Gary Criss' version of "Our Favorite Melodies" to musica
as he knew the UK cover version by Craig Douglas but had not
heard the original.
Another member obliged and I hope lots of members got to hear
it. I had always been intrigued by the fact that "Our Favorite
Melodies" and its b-side "Welcome Home To My Heart" had spawned
cover versions in Europe (Craig, Sacha Distel, Caravelli Orch
etc) but did not chart here. I also wondered if he was the same
singer that recorded "Rio De Janeiro" for Salsoul in the late 70s.
Another member wrote in to say that Gary was in the Glass Bottle
in the early 70s.
The disco museum, http://discomuseum.com/GaryCriss.html had
featured a small piece on Gary and were as baffled about Gary on
"Rio De Janeiro" as I was on "OFM"/"WHTMH". Apparently a friend
saw this article, contacted Gary who wrote in to the disco museum
site as follows:
"Sorry that I didn't reply sooner . Anyway, let me make just
a few corrections for your site. I was actually born in New
Brunswick N.J. I began singing and playing guitar at around
12 yrs old and started my first band at 17. I was fortunate
to become very popular [at a local level but "HOT STUFF" for
a kid]. My first chart record was actually the flip side of
"Sweet, Warm & Soft" that you have pictured on the site. It
was called "Our Favorite Melodies". With that record on the
charts I had the opportunity to travel the country with what
was then called "The Dick Clark Caravan Of Stars". After that
I worked with my band around the country which at that time
was called "Gary Criss & The Crystals" clever huh! I also did
quite a lot of studio work [both vocally and as a musician]
along with making many records of my own that didn't make the
charts. In 1970 I signed on as the lead singer & leader of The
Glass Bottle. You already have info on that groups history. With
the success of that group I performed through out the U.S. and
other parts of the world. While performing in Buffalo N.Y. in
August of 1970, I met my wife Linda. That was 32 years ago and
Lyn & I are still together. Then in 1978, Billy Terrell and I
did the "RIO" album. After hearing those great "John Davis charts"
we knew that we had something but had no idea that the song would
become #1 in over 10 countries. Anyway, some legal and financial
hassles prevented a follow up album and like has happened to so
many others, time passes and the world moves on. I did continue
performing for some years after that but somewhere in the late
80s I decided to retire from doing it full time. Today I only
do an occassional gig [ mostly for fun and whenever someone will
listen!] . My professional singing career lasted for 30 wonderful
years and I have always felt blessed to have all that time doing
what I truly loved to do ! Today, Lyn and I live in Point Pleasant,
N.J. at the shore where we have been for over 20 years. I am in
the "antique automobile " business and Lyn & I also have an "E-
commerce" business that we enjoy."www.eddinfo.com/crissorg." Once
again, I thank you for your interest in my career . Feel free to
use as much or "as little" of this as you choose.
We wish you good fortune with "discomuseum" and in whatever else
you may do ! Happy New Year !
Gary Criss"
Absolutely wonderful! Good for you, Gary! And as for those records
that didn't make the charts, one title, "I Still Miss You So"
(Diamond, 1962) is currently being fought over on Ebay – maybe $50
will take it.
Mike Edwards
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 16:08:07 EST
From: Brian Chidester
Subject: Re: Four Freshmen
> I think there is a case to be made for the argument that the
> Frosh might not even be around today were it not for the
> non-stop Freshmen crusade conducted by Wilson over the years.
> They now have a very young, good-looking bunch of guys standing
> in for the leisure-suited, mutton-chopped, dewlapped originals.
Their shows are pretty lame too. I took my grandmother, mom and
two aunts to a show they did in Las Vegas. It was like watching
"American Idol" with mulletts.
> In other words, actual freshman-looking types. I bet they would
> never be so square as to perform and/or record an anti BB's gaffe
> like the earlier Freshmen configuration committed on their 80s
> "spoof" of Brian and Company.
Ah! An '80s recording. That's why I'd never heard it. A spoof, eh?
Any description of how the spoof actually goes?
> Don't get me wrong, I love the Four Freshmen, but I thought
> "How totally stoopid" when I heard their version of "Surfer Girl".
> Didn't anyone ever tell them a) how great Brian's music is, and b)
> about Brian's non-stop flcaking on their behalf?****
I can tell you from having extensive conversations with two original
members and their original producer from the '50s and early '60s that
NONE of them think Brian Wilson had/has ANY talent. They totally feel
that he ripped them off 100%, they seem bitter about it and they say
that he could never arrange voices as good as they could. They think
he was/is a hack and Ross Barbour even went as far as to say that he
told Brian that his version of the "Lord's Prayer" from 1963 or '64,
was off-key. I love the Freshmen as well, but that part of my
conversations really left a bad taste in my mouth.
BC
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 16:57:58 -0500
From: Roger Kaye
Subject: Freddie is alive and well
Heard an answer song to Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead"
last weekend - "Freddie is alive and well", but missed the
name of the artist. A name would be great, along with any
other discographical detail or compilation appearances.
Thanks in advance,
Roger
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 22:23:12 -0000
From: Lor
Subject: New Member
Hello eyeryone, I just discovered this group through
"the sensational sixties" on yahoo.
I have only just started checking out the messages, but already
any group that has Frank Ifield and Thane Russal under discussion
looks pretty good to me!
I mention Thane Russal as I have only discovered him in the last
couple of years. He has a killer version of "Security" on a
collection called "Twisted Teenage Screaming Fuzzbusters ",
how can you resist a title like that !
Hopefully I can add to this excellent group,
Lor
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Message: 13
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 00:03:41 -0000
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Lou Christie
Can anybody provide me with a decent scan of the
"If My Car Could Only Talk" picture sleeve (front and back)?
I'd be extremely grateful.
Regards,
Guy.
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 20:33:43 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Freddie is alive and well
Roger Kaye wrote:
> Heard an answer song to Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead" last weekend
> - "Freddie is alive and well", but missed the name of the artist. A name
> would be great, along with any other discographical detail or compilation
> appearances. Thanks in advance,
The group is called The Spirit of Atlanta. Buddah Records LP. BDS 5135 ST.
1973. It has recently been reissued. "Freddie Is Alive And Well" was also
issued as a single in 1974. Did not place on the Soul Charts in the U.S.
It's very orchestrally funky and bears no melodic resemblance to "Freddie's
Dead". Highly recommended uptempo funkiness at this address.
--
James Botticelli
Member: The EZ Rebellion
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Message: 15
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 02:24:01 -0000
From: ncsmn
Subject: Phil Spector Interview?
Hello, I have never posted to this board, but I have been a member of
this group for a few months. Question: Does anyone know where I can
find an interview with Phil Spector in MP3 format? Thanks
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