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______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________
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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 21 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Nino Tempo Interview
From: S'pop Team
2. Re: Ann Sidney; Requiem; Faux Shangs
From: John Frank
3. Beatlettes (or Shangri-Las?)
From: Andres Jurak
4. Re: Tom Courtenay
From: Michael Robson
5. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
From: Larry Lapka
6. Re: Call Me
From: Michael Robson
7. Re: Faux Shangs: The Wild Angels
From: Mick Patrick
8. Re: Organs R Us
From: Artie Wayne
9. Re: Nino Tempo Interview
From: Mary S.
10. re: Downtown
From: Justin McDevitt@weisman.com
11. Re: Round Robin
From: Guy Lawrence
12. Scrooey Mooey
From: Guy Lawrence
13. Re: Scrooey Mooey Hooey
From: Mick Patrick
14. Re: R. Dean Taylor's "Lady Bug Stay Away From The Beatle Bug"
From: John "The Boy From Xtown" Lester
15. Gary and the Hornets
From: martygoes4it
16. Re: Downtown
From: Richard Havers
17. Re: Downtown
From: Mick Patrick
18. Re: Nino Tempo Interview
From: Allen (Smokey) Roberds
19. Re: Gary and the Hornets
From: Fredric Cooper
20. Re: Gary and the Hornets
From: Steve Harvey
21. "Always Something There To Remind Me"
From: Andrew Jones
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 21:07:34 -0000
From: S'pop Team
Subject: Nino Tempo Interview
Original message from Mary S:
> Who was it on this board who said he would put the
> interview he did with Nino Tempo (for a Japanese
> magazine) somewhere on the web, and would inform
> us when he had done so so we could read it?
> I'd enjoy being able to read it.
Hello Mary and anyone else with an interest in Nino Tempo,
S'pop's very own Bill Reed is the person who interviewed
the one and only Nino Tempo. The very good news is that
we have asked Bill if S'pop can publish the piece. The
even better news is that he has agreed. Your Team have
already begun work on preparing the interview for internet
publication. Watch this space for a further announcement.
Regards,
The S'pop Team
Spectropop - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 19:34:27 -0800
From: John Frank
Subject: Re: Ann Sidney; Requiem; Faux Shangs
Thanks, Ian, for the great info on Ann Sidney! I never would
have guessed. But I suppose if I had *really thought* about it,
what could she have done after "Woolly Sweater" BUT to become
Miss World? What more was left for her?! By the way, I'm glad
you've changed your estimation of this fine song, but actually,
I think it was your bad review that led me to hunt for it in the
first place. It's good-dreadful, but not evil.
Thanks, too, for playing "Requiem (...)" to musica. It will be
a great addition to the "Faux Shangri-las" comp I'm working on.
And, you, by helping me, have earned yourself a copy of it if it
ever comes to fruition.
But it never will if I don't get more songs! A couple weeks ago
I posted a plea for 60s Shangri-las "copycat" records, and
garnered exactly two, both of which I hadn't previously known of.
That brings my total to 13 -- "Is that all there is?". I'd like
not to rely on covers or parodies or tributes -- but will if I
need to. Anyone who helps me out will get a copy of the
compilation if he or she wants it.
By the way, I just got a homemade CD from someone that included
Debra Swisher's version of "You're So Good To Me." This is the
best discovery I've had for a long time! Beach Boys meet the
Pixies Three -- 5 stars!
John
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 11:09:55 -0000
From: Andres Jurak
Subject: Beatlettes (or Shangri-Las?)
Phil Chapman wrote Tue May 7, 2002
>And what about some of the girlie 'tributes' to the fab four?:...
>Beatlettes - Dance Beatle Dance
Spector Collector wrote Mon Nov 5, 2001
>Peter Lerner asked about The Bon Bons...I've heard before that
>there was supposedly some Shangri-Las involvement, but I don't
>believe that's been confirmed, has it?...
I know at least 3 'tributes' to the fab four by the Beatlettes -
-Dance Beatle Dance
-Yes You Can Hold My Hand
-Only Seventeen
Strangely enough the latter song is rumoured to be recorded by
the the Shangri-Las in fact. There are some other recordings in
existence that some attribute to the Weiss and Ganser sisters,
but it is unclear who really did them: the Shangri-Las' Wishing
Well on Spokane and What's Wrong With Ringo? by the Bon Bons.
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 12:37:07 -0000
From: Michael Robson
Subject: Re: Tom Courtenay
"Mrs Brown you've got a lovely daughter" (Decca 45, F11729)
certainly wasn't featured in the film "Billy Liar".....it's
featured (along with the B-side, "knocking on the door") in
the ATV production of "The Lads" from 1963.
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 13:11:03 -0000
From: Larry Lapka
Subject: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame came into being, I thought
it was a great idea. Through the years, I have gone the other
way, simply because it has become a place where snobbery is the
name of the game.
Things have come full circle; in the 1950s, didn't the "proper"
music establishment thumb their elite noses at rock and roll?
Now, rockers thumb their noses at their bretheren. Who would
have thought it would come to this?
For the life of me, I don't know why the following performers
are not in the Hall of Fame, but I think it is a bit of elitist
snobbery. All were influential (that's one bit of criteria that
the Hall supposedly looks for), and just because they were ultra-
successful, why should they not have their place there?
Neil Diamond
Dave Clark Five
Moody Blues
Monkees (that's right - ask Tom Petty why he got into the music
business)
Michael Nesmith (you don't want the Monkees, then at least have
this guy in there)
Paul Revere and the Raiders
Petula Clark
Cliff Richard
Connie Francis
I could go on and on. I seriously doubt that any of these will
ever go in, but their influence is still being felt today.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Larry Lapka
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 12:54:01 -0000
From: Michael Robson
Subject: Re: Call Me
Before returning to her cuticles, the lovely Amber enquired:
> ...can one of my S'pop buddies tell me who did the original
> version of "Call Me"? Aah, I remember it well, February 1966.
> Chris Montez was such a dreamboat, don'cha think? Joey tells
> me it was a British song. Surely not?!
It is a British song - written by Tony Hatch, the original is
probably Petula Clark's version from 1965. It's been covered
hundreds of times over the years; other versions of particular
note are Jackie DeShannon's and Lulu's uptempo version.
MICHAEL CLUNKIE VINYL JUNKIE
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Message: 7
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 14:21:00 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Faux Shangs: The Wild Angels
John Frank wrote:
> Greetings to Spectropop! I was off-line for about a year and return
> to find the nice little mailing list has become a cultural phenomenon!
> In a place where terms like "Lesley Duncan," "Mina", "Ginny Arnell,"
> "Nino Tempo", and "Tracey Dey" are casually bandied about, I know I'm
> home! Nice to be back.
>
> In my not-so-humble opinion, of all the inhabitants of Girl Group
> Planet, The Shangri-las reign. Spector and Motown both spawned a lot
> of "copycat" singles -- releases that took the sound as a jumping-off
> point and tried to make a reasonable fascimile, resulting in a lot of
> great music (and a lot of crap). The Shangri-las, too, spawned copycat
> records that tried to capture the melodrama and sometimes the attitude
> of the Shangs... I'd like to track them down... I'm particularly
> interested in original songs ('60s vintage only, please), but am also
> accumulating a listing of covers, parodies and answer songs.
> Help, please?
Yo Frankie, welcome back to S'pop. Where y'been?
Agreed, the Shangs rule. There are many faux Shangs discs out there worth
searching for. In fact, it's an area I specialise in, to some extent.
Unfortunately, I've never made a list of such records, so finding them in
my collection could take more than a minute. However, are you aware of a
girl group called the Wild Angels? They didn't just sound like the Shangs,
they looked like them too. You should see the picture I have in front of
me at the moment. All four of them in matching leopard print pant suits
and ruffled shirts! The group were formed in 1965 in Hicksville, Long
Island - hometown of not only Ellie Greenwich but also Shadow Morton.
Small wonder the Shangri-Las were the Wild Angels' role models.
The group cut four songs for Frog Records in 1966 but it was thirty years
before the label released the tracks on the LP "The Wild Angels" (Frog/
Distortions DR 1029). The long-player also contains songs the girls
recorded in 1967 as the Sassy Ones and the Renaissance. Allow me to quote
a few lines from the album cover: "Some surface noise is noticeable on
the above selections where the master tapes could not be located. In this
case, the most scratched, worn out acetates have been used for your
listening pleasure." There, you have been warned!
Posted to musica: The Wild Angels - "Sweetness" From a four track acetate
recorded at Dynamic Sound Studios, Hicksville, New York, early 1966. Great
Shangri-Las soundalike but less than excellent sound quality. Click here
to hear it: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica/
As you will hear, while lead singer Vivian Perna was a top Mary Weiss
wannabe, and her cohorts were clearly in thrall of the Ganser twins, their
producer Joe Buser was no match for George Francis Morton. Still, this is
one of my absolute favourite faux Shangs discs. The above mentioned album
has excellent sleevenotes telling the full story of the group. It's well
worth searching for. I can't remember where I found mine, probably from a
vendor specialising in garage bands, rather than some girl group maven.
I smell raisin pancakes, gotta fly...
MICK PATRICK
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 06:56:57 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: Organs R Us
Rashkovsky:
> Of course the most interesting instrument at Allegro was
> the subway noise passing through the floor into the studio.
Mike........You're right!!! It all comes back to me......it
wasn't an Ondioline I was playing ....it was the "D" train!!!!
regards,
Artie Wayne
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:43:40 -0000
From: Mary S.
Subject: Re: Nino Tempo Interview
Team S'pop:
> Hello Mary and anyone else with an interest in Nino Tempo, S'pop's
> very own Bill Reed is the person who interviewed the one and only
> Nino Tempo. The very good news is that we have asked Bill if S'pop
> can publish the piece. The even better news is that he has agreed.
> Your Team have already begun work on preparing the interview for
> internet publication. Watch this space for a further announcement.
WOW! Thanks so much! I will certainly be looking forward to reading
the interview of this very much underrated musician, singer and actor!
Mary S.
P.S. Did any of you know that Nino did voices for characters
in "Garfield" movies (about the cartoon cat). I personally don't
care for the Garfield character, but I was glad that NT got some work
that was probably a lot of fun for him. I found this information
somewhere on the Internet, not on the N&A website.
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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 14:20:50 -0600
From: Justin McDevitt@weisman.com
Subject: re: Downtown
Steve Harvey wrote:
> "Downtown" never came off depressing to me. It always seemed full of
> life and hope. I always assumed that Petula was singing to someone
> else who was depressed an trying to get them up on their feet again.
Great sentiments from a Philly guy. Steve, we're on the same page!
Musically, "Downtown" to me is a well-produced, relatively sophisticated,
up-tempo pop/rock gem that well represents what I believe was referred
as the "London sound".
I first heard it as a soon to be adolescent in late November 1964.
Although at this point in my life, I wasn't frequenting the local adult
watering holes, I recognized that Petula was singing to me as well. She
was saying; take some risks, get out of whatever rut you're in, meet
some new people.
To some extent I could apply this to my own life at that time, though
more often than not, when I listened to "Downtown", I pictured myself as
an early 20-something guy in swinging London, at some minor job in an
accounting firm who decides to step out, visit Carnaby Street, buy some
new threads, etc. This is what the song brought to mind, and still does,
for that matter.
Justin
P.s. to Steve: though I never saw Springsteen at the Main Point, I did
see the great Canadian folk artist Stan Rogers, as well as Steve Goodman,
(one of Chicago's finest), and I'm not talking about cops.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 21:41:41 -0000
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Re: Round Robin
Hi Ian, thanks for the Round Robin info. I don't have that track
- "Little People" - could you tell me the writers?
Thanks again,
Guy.
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Message: 12
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 22:03:52 -0000
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Scrooey Mooey
I've had a few PC problems over the last year and have lost several
saved Emails. I've just remembered that about a year ago I promised
to send someone a copy of "Scrooey Mooey" by the Peels. Is that
member still out there waiting? If so, I do apologise and please get
in touch!
Guy.
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Message: 13
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 22:21:55 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Scrooey Mooey Hooey
Guy Lawrence:
> I've had a few PC problems over the last year and have lost several
> saved Emails. I've just remembered that about a year ago I promised
> to send someone a copy of "Scrooey Mooey" by the Peels. Is that
> member still out there waiting? If so, I do apologise and please get
> in touch!
Hi Guy,
No, I'm not the person to whom you promised a copy of "Scrooey Mooey".
I'm the one who's been waiting for the sealed Tamla copy of the
Marvelettes' "Sing The hits Of '62" LP. Remember? No? Oh dear, your
pesky PC must've "lost" my e-mail. Well, consider yourself reminded.
You have my address, yes? No rush. Any time within the next 48 hours
will do fine. You will pack it nicely, won't you?
Thanks in advance,
MICK PATRICK
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Message: 14
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 22:22:13 -0000
From: John "The Boy From Xtown" Lester
Subject: Re: R. Dean Taylor's "Lady Bug Stay Away From The Beatle Bug"
John Lester wrote (Fri Jan 11, 2002):
> ...last two tracks on that R Dean Taylor compilation. I really
> liked Lady Bug.......and I tried to get it on cos it was
> scheduled as a 45 release on VIP with Don't Fool Around....I was
> really pleased to get it.
Andres:
> Could anybody tell me the year of release for MY LADY BUG STAY
> AWAY FROM THAT BEATLE?
John Lester replies:
1964... but it was never actually released...........VIP label copies
were all put together, showing the catalogue number but it never
happened. The flip side was intended as "Poor Girl".
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Message: 15
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 22:24:52 -0000
From: martygoes4it
Subject: Gary and the Hornets
I know I'm really showing my age, but I remember a brother pop group
from the sixties called Gary and the Hornets when I was a kid. I
still have a very beat up copy of Hi Hi Hazel on 45. I also remember
them making and apperance on the Johnny Carson show and in an Oscar
Meyer hot dog commerical. Can anyone give me any information on them,
like where are they now? Thanks
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 22:31:20 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Downtown
Justin McDevitt wrote:
> when I listened to "Downtown", I pictured myself as an early
> 20-something guy in swinging London, at some minor job in an
> accounting firm who decides to step out, visit Carnaby Street,
> buy some new threads, etc. This is what the song brought to mind,
> and still does, for that matter.
Great imagery Justin......I just played it and you're dead right!
There is a very comprehensive Pet Clark web site at:
http://www.petulaclark.net
There is a wonderful picture of her on the home page.....I had
forgotten how gorgeous she was!
Richard
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 22:55:03 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Downtown
Justin McDevitt:
> ...when I listened to "Downtown", I pictured myself as an early
> 20-something guy in swinging London, at some minor job in an
> accounting firm who decides to step out, visit Carnaby Street,
> buy some new threads, etc. This is what the song brought to mind,
> and still does, for that matter.
Hi Justin,
Great message, thank you. It's interesting that "Downtown" should
conjure up images of Swinging London for you, because that was not
what Tony Hatch had in mind at all when he wrote this unforgettable
classic. As you might know, I am presently embroiled in interviewing
the great man for a forthcoming S'pop feature. Here's a taster of
what he told me about the creation of "Downtown":
"I made my first trip to New York in the autumn of 1964. It was this
visit that inspired me to write DOWNTOWN. It isn't true that I wrote
it for Julie Grant. When I first came up with the idea I never
envisaged a girl singing the song. I was actually thinking it might
be good for Ben E King. After my trip to New York I came back to
London with songs from US publishers, then took them with me to see
Petula Clark in Paris in order to fix her next session. I hadn't
written anything specifically for her. She listened to the songs not
written by me and, being pretty underwhelmed, then asked if I had
written anything new to play her. I don't know what I was thinking at
the time but, being a bit desperate, I played her the "Downtown" idea,
still only at the conception state. She loved it immediately and said
'That's the song I want to record. Just make sure the lyrics are as
good as the tune.' So history was written!"
MICK PATRICK
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Message: 18
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:18:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Allen (Smokey) Roberds
Subject: Re: Nino Tempo Interview
The S'pop Team:
> Hello Mary and anyone else with an interest in Nino Tempo, S'pop's
> very own Bill Reed is the person who interviewed the one and only
> Nino Tempo. The very good news is that we have asked Bill if S'pop
> can publish the piece. The even better news is that he has agreed.
> Your Team have already begun work on preparing the interview for
> internet publication. Watch this space for a further announcement.
Mary S:
> WOW! Thanks so much! I will certainly be looking forward to reading
> the interview of this very much underrated musician, singer and actor!
Fantastic! I look forward to catching up on Nino. Knew him when we were
at A&M Records, as in the sixties.
-Smokey Roberds
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:42:30 -0800
From: Fredric Cooper
Subject: Re: Gary and the Hornets
martygoes4it:
> I know I'm really showing my age, but I remember a brother pop group
> from the sixties called Gary and the Hornets when I was a kid. I
> still have a very beat up copy of Hi Hi Hazel on 45. I also remember
> them making and apperance on the Johnny Carson show and in an Oscar
> Meyer hot dog commerical. Can anyone give me any information on them,
> like where are they now? Thanks
Hi,
I discovered Gary & The Hornets by way of the band BIG STAR. They covered
the Gary & The Hornets B-side "Patty Girl". I found a copy a few years
ago. G & T H had at least one other single (with a picture sleeve), the
title of which I don't know.
Fred Cooper
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 16:45:51 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: Gary and the Hornets
I seem to recall them from the glory days of 16 Magazine. Wasn't one
of Gary & the Hornets somebody famous' kid? Mickey Rooney or someone
like that?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003 01:24:40 -0500 (EST)
From: Andrew Jones
Subject: "Always Something There To Remind Me"
Back in the 1980s, the British synth duo Naked Eyes had a big US hit
with their version of Bacharach-David's "Always Something There To
Remind Me." One time, the radio show "American Top 40" played Naked
Eyes' version, and snippets of three previous versions - one by Lou
Johnson, one by Sandie Shaw, and one by Dionne Warwick. I have the
Shaw and Warwick versions, but I've never heard the complete Johnson
version. Has anyone? Is it worth my seeking out? Thanks.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
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