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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 18 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: The Cat In The Window
From: Mike Edwards
2. cute stuff
From: Alan Gordon
3. Re: Wilson/Smile
From: Stratton Bearhart
4. Re: "Live at Disneyland"
From: Billy G. Spradlin
5. Re: Where The (Goffin / King) Girls Are
From: Mick Patrick
6. The Velvelettes Hit Britain
From: John Lester
7. Re: B. T. Puppy
From: Andrew Jones
8. recently released titles.
From: Justin McDevitt
9. Re:Tony Hatch
From: Billy G. Spradlin
10. Re: The Velvelettes Hit Britain
From: David Bell
11. Goldstar website?
From: Richard Hattersley
12. Tony Hatch replies in person
From: Mick Patrick
13. Re: TONY HATCH / DOWNTOWN
From: Norman
14. Re: Cat In The Window
From: David Coyle
15. Re: When The Deeeeep Purple Falls...
From: David Coyle
16. Re: The Cat In The Window
From: Mark Frumento
17. Re: Faux Shangs
From: John Frank
18. Re: Meet Me At Mary's Place
From: Teri Landi
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 19:21:57 -0500
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Re: The Cat In The Window
Guy Lawrence wrote:
> (Petula Clark's) "Cat In The Window" was written by Bonner and Gordon
> not Tony Hatch. Returning to an earlier thread, was there an American
> "original" of this track?
I wonder if the Turtles (big customers of Gary Bonner and Alan Gordon)
might have recorded this first. The only version I can find by them was
on "More Golden Hits" from 1970. If that's the case, then the honors go
to Petula Clark with her 1967 45 release.
Mike Edwards
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 16:31:32 -0800
From: Alan Gordon
Subject: cute stuff
Just something kinda cute that reflects the state of most
musicians abilities...
The OFFICIAL RedTelectronix Custom Effects Website
http://www.angelfire.com/yt3/redtele/redtelectronix.html
albabe
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 06:29:44 -0000
From: Stratton Bearhart
Subject: Re: Wilson/Smile
Indeed, I too would relish the opportunity to hear Mr Wilson perform
Smile.
One interesting aspect of this opportunity is that, as the most
famous non-record of the 20th century, it has generated truck loads
of interest. I think its mystique has relied to a great degree on this
fascination.
So, it will be even more fascinating to end the speculation, and hear
what all the fuss is about. Festival Hall beckons.
Stratton.
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 08:00:14 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: "Live at Disneyland"
Rex Strother:
> But my new query is this: My aunt, in the early 1960s, put
> out a 45 on Buena Vista Records titled "Scream Along (With
> the Monster)", Kay Bell and the Spacemen (Live at Disneyland).
> Did Buena Vista Records put out other "Live at Disneyland" 45s?
> Is there a compilation of these somewhere? If not, why not?
> (that would be final question) Help? (ooops, I was wrong)
I doubt there is a legit CD of those records, or any of Disneyland's
albums from the 50's through 70's. I guess Disney corporation hasn't
any interest in re-issuing any of those albums or singles on CD.
Besides an Annette 2-CD set and several CDs of "Disney's Greatest
Hits", Disney Records haven't done any serious re-issues of any of
those classic albums many of us baby boomers grew up on. My first
record collection contained a lot of Disney (and Chipmunks!)
Disneyland, Hanna-Barbera and many 60's cartoon albums are selling
for a lot of money on E-bay now.
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Message: 5
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 08:18:42 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Where The (Goffin / King) Girls Are
Mike Carter on "Where The Girls Are, Vol 5":
> "Takin' The Long Walk Home" sung in Dorothy Jones' straight-
> forward way a-top those mighty strings is better than Cookie
> dough...
Hello to all friends of Dorothy. Columbia obviously had high
hopes for Miss Jones' single. They placed full page ads in
Billboard for starters. And they issued the record not only in a
full colour picture sleeve, but also as a seven-inch stereo 33rpm
single. If you ask me, they promoted the wrong side ("It's
Unbearable", excellent but not commercial). Oh well, that's the
way the Cookie crumbles.
> "The Harlem Tango" sure sounds GREAT to me. Better than my vinyl
> dub! And to think that the flip side was thrown in for good
> measure. I can't decide which is better, A or B.
More Orchidology...who do you reckon did the original demo version?
Carole King herself? Little Eva Boyd? The Cookies? And who do think
this number might have been aimed at? The Shirelles, I guess.
Talking of whom, I notice that a version of the Orchids' other side,
is listed on the back cover of the Shirelles' "Swing The Most" LP,
yet is not included on the actual record. I persuaded Ace Records to
"order up" this mystery missing track a few years ago. They were
told that all that existed in the tape vaults was the instrumental
backing track. By the way, I swear to God that I can hear Ellie
Greenwich singing in the background on the Orchids' version.......or
could it be that girl is messin' up my mind?
> Those Franklin girls ARE where it's at. Oh, no, no, no, I don't
> even have the right to compare such bitter sweet love. But Sister
> Erma belting out from sweet to harsh and back again what might be
> one of Carole and Gerry's most soulful, overlooked gems is worth
> the price of the whole disc...
I'm glad the inclusion of these tracks did not render this CD too
soulful for you. Aretha's "Sweet Bitter Love" and Erma's "The Right
To Cry" are two of my favourite records, *ever*. Take note that the
latter is noticeably longer than the original US Shout label single.
> Peggy Lipton's "Wasn't It You" certainly isn't the strongest song
> of the entire set but for G&K searchers here's one where the
> material really outweighs the singer. Makes me appreciate Petula
> Clark once more.
You're quite right. Petula Clark's Tony Hatch-produced version of
this number is the definitive one (and the original, it seems). Not
wishing to be unkind, I made a point of not using the words "tune"
and "bucket" within Peggy Lipton's paragraph in the booklet. There
are much nicer ways of saying "This girl can't sing" and I thought
"A Shelley Fabares for the Age of Aquarius" might be one of them.
Peggy and Shelley shared the same paramor/producer (not
simultaneously, well, not to my knowledge). Her voice might not have
been the strongest but her face...what a sweet thing that was.
Oh how I wish Ace Records could have persuaded Sony to have licensed
out the Blossoms' "Cry Like a Baby" for this CD, not to mention the
Witches on Bang and Gale Haness and Teri Thornton and the Exciters...
I could go on, and frequently do.
By including four Goffin/King songs, I knew this CD would get Carter!
That's what I call niche/niche/niche marketing: *one* guaranteed sale!
MICK PATRICK
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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 12:26:38 -0000
From: John Lester
Subject: The Velvelettes Hit Britain
Friday, May 16th 2003
Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
Velvelettes, Contours and Ollie Ali Woodson competing against the
Merseybeat Sound
Hope to see some of you there
John Lester
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 09:28:03 -0500 (EST)
From: Andrew Jones
Subject: Re: B. T. Puppy
I have a BT Puppy albm, but it's probably one of the more common ones:
"The Happenings' Greatest Hits." I also saw a BT Puppy album
(black-and-white label) in a thrift store years ago, which had tracks by
the Tokens on one side and tracks by another group on the other side.
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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 12:05:40 -0600
From: Justin McDevitt
Subject: recently released titles.
Hello Spectropop,
A recent review of CDs released by Collectors Choice records:
http://www.ccmusic.com/ (60s link) identified some interesting titles.
To name a few, a cd compilation of Naz's three lp's, a collection
featuring the Holy Modal Rounders and the definitive, (or so it sounds)
Tornados comp.
Give the site a look.
Justin Mcdevitt
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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 07:46:55 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re:Tony Hatch
> Or, in the case of "Cat In The Window" written by adults. The
> song was written by Bonner and Gordon not Tony Hatch. Returning
> to an earlier thread, was there an American "original" of this
> track? Nice song either way and while I'm here can I too thank
> Justin for his wonderful "Downtown" imagery.
The Turtles recorded it in 1967 - but it stayed "in the can" until
1970 when it was issued on thier "More Golden Hits" LP. Its on
Rhino's "Solid Zinc" 2-fer compilation.
Their version is a very basic arrangement and it sounds to me that
orchestration was going to be added later but they never finished it.
Since many Gordon/Bonner songs were recored during that time I bet
someone else recorded it too.
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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 13:51:58 EST
From: David Bell
Subject: Re: The Velvelettes Hit Britain
The Boy From Crosstown wrote:
> Friday, May 16th 2003
> Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
> Velvelettes, Contours and Ollie Ali Woodson competing against the
> Merseybeat Sound
> Hope to see some of you there
Yes, John. Yes, yes, yes....(To the tune of Je T' Aime, of course).
See you there,
David.
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 19:41:37 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Goldstar website?
Hi,
Im sure I recall some one posting a link to a site all about
Goldstar studios. Did I imagine this or does anyone remember
or know the link. Cheers
Richard
http://www.wiz.to/richardsnow
[Admin:] http://goldstarrecordingstudios.com
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 19:42:26 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Tony Hatch replies in person
David Feldman wrote:
> "Downtown" made an indelible impression on me, but it was really
> the subsequent ballad singles ("You'd Better Come Home", "Don't
> Sleep in the Subway," and the upbeat in tempo but relentlessly
> downbeat in mood "Who Am I") that made the biggest impression.
> Even as an addled teenager, I realized that these were songs written
> by an adult for adults, and yet they connected strongly with me and
> do so now.
>
> If I could ask Tony Hatch anything, it would be if in the early/
> mid-60s, he saw himself as a tunesmith in the Brill Building mode.
> His songs are so personal, so mature and pessimistic, that it's
> hard to believe that he was "churning 'em out." I don't think
> Pet Clark and especially Tony Hatch get the respect on this side
> of the Atlantic that they deserve and I can't wait to read your
> interview.
David,
I enjoyed your message so much that I copied it to Tony Hatch himself.
I thought you might appreciate a direct reply to your question. Are
you sitting comfortably?
Take it away please, the one and only Mr Anthony Peter Hatch:
> Mick, The gentleman's comments are very interesting. No, I never
> had time to think of myself as a 'Brill Building' songwriter.
> Those songwriters were given facilities and financial assistance
> by entrepreneurial US music publishers. None of those writers was
> a staff producer for a major record label, as I was. A Brill
> Building situation did follow some time later in the UK. Several
> UK publishers with a bit of extra space and spare cash supported
> aspiring writers in return for publishing rights to whatever was
> created. Dick James gave Elton John his break this way.
>
> Maybe I did 'churn them out' but it was always to meet the demand
> of the many artistes for whom I was responsible, to be less reliant
> on American songs (most of which were already recorded by the time
> we UK producers heard them) and because I've always been pretty
> good at 'writing to order or need' whether the 'order' came from a
> TV company or the 'need' for a particular type of song for one of
> my artistes.
>
> As for my songs being described as 'personal, mature and
> pessimistic', I would have to say I agree totally with 'personal
> and mature' but argue passionately against 'pessimistic'. Many,
> such as I KNOW A PLACE, MY LOVE and I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR
> LOVE are fairly shallow yet positive and, with very few exceptions,
> even those songs like DOWNTOWN, WHO AM I and THE OTHER MAN'S GRASS
> that begin with a downbeat view of life or a personal situation
> have an optimistic finish.
>
> DOWNTOWN ends with "So maybe I'll see you there, we can forget all
> our troubles forget all our cares so go Downtown etc. (Very
> optimistic).
>
> WHO AM I ends with "For I have something else entirely free, the
> love of someone close to me, unfettered by the world that hurries
> by, (a reference to the first verse), to question such good fortune,
> WHO AM I? (Good positive thinking!)
>
> JOANNA...."I loved you but nothing in this world could make you
> mine, yet still in time...Joanna....Joanna...you may remember me
> and change your mind." (The door of optimism is kept unlocked!)
>
> The last two lines of YOU'D BETTER COME HOME are, "I won't share my
> love with anyone new, I just want to share it with you". (This, I
> would say, whilst not being too optimistic, is certainly not
> pessimistic.)
>
> THE OTHER MAN'S GRASS is also full of optimistic lines.
>
> The only song with a really negative finish is IF YOU EVER LEAVE ME,
> the final line of which is, "If you ever leave me.....I'll die".
> (Even this is more 'life threatening' than pessimistic).
>
> Regards, Tony
Thanks to Justin for starting this thread with his remembrances of
the song "Downtown". My question and answer session with Tony Hatch
is ongoing, if anyone has anything specific they'd like me to ask him.
(I've already asked him about the "Don't Sh*t In The Custard" story).
MICK PATRICK
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Message: 13
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 06:56:52 +1030
From: Norman
Subject: Re: TONY HATCH / DOWNTOWN
Hi,
Some talk on Tony Hatch and his great tunes.
Was he a lyricist as well?
I am constantly amazed that an anthem of the British Pop
scene of the sixties, one that is indelibly associated
with the swinging sixties, was recorded by an actor/singer
from the 50s. I never tire of "Downtown", a great song.
Norman
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Message: 14
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 16:49:48 -0800 (PST)
From: David Coyle
Subject: Re: Cat In The Window
I don't know if it was the original, but the Turtles
recorded this song in 1967, following in the steps of
other Bonner/Gordon hits like "She'd Rather Be With
Me" and "Happy Together" (they did write those,
right?). I don't have the liner notes to Rhino's
"Solid Zinc" Turtles Anthology, but there is a mention
of Petula Clark in the notes for that song.
I do know that the Turtles version wasn't an album
track, as I used to have all the individual album
reissues, and I'd never heard the song before the
Rhino set came out.
Dave
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Message: 15
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 17:08:22 -0800 (PST)
From: David Coyle
Subject: Re: When The Deeeeep Purple Falls...
Someone mentioned the version of "Deep Purple" that
was recorded by Billy Ward And The Dominoes. Yes, yes,
yes, that is also a great version! They also did great
justice to "Stardust," which I think was a song Nino &
April followed "Deep Purple" with as well. I would
imagine it was done in a similar style. The Dominoes
did the songs in similar styles as well.
As famous as the Dominoes are for having had both
Jackie Wilson and Clyde McPhatter as lead singers, I
think Eugene Mumford, who sang on the aforementioned
tracks as well as other great Mercury-era recordings
as "In My Solitude" and "Yours Forever," was an
underrated vocalist, not only for the Dominoes but for
the era in general.
Like Nat King Cole, Earl Grant, Brook Benton, and Gene
McDaniel, among others, he favored a more pop-oriented
vocal sound, which had great crossover potential,
without losing too much of a soul edge. And his little
trills that he threw in were an instantly recognizable
Mumford trademark (as in, "buh-UUUUHT, that was long
ago..." from "Stardust").
Unfortunately, since Clyde McPhatter graduated to the
Drifters and then to a moderately successful solo
career, and everyone knows about Jackie Wilson's
phenomenal string of hits and acrobatic stage
presence, he's been relatively ignored as a vocalist
for one of the most versatile vocal groups of their
time.
David
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Message: 16
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 02:59:21 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: The Cat In The Window
Mike Edwards wrote:
> I wonder if the Turtles (big customers of Gary Bonner and Alan
> Gordon)might have recorded this first. The only version I can find
> by them was on "More Golden Hits" from 1970. If that's the case,
> then the honors go to Petula Clark with her 1967 45 release.
I presumed that "More Golden Hits" was a compilation of material
"previously recorded" to cash in on their past glory. Not sure I'm
right but it seems odd that at that point in their career they'd opt
to record such a song. My vote would go to The Turtles (if I had a
vote!). So do my leanings for the better version go the Turtles.
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Message: 17
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 19:07:19 -0800
From: John Frank
Subject: Re: Faux Shangs
I just love this place.
Thanks to Mick for his donation of The Wild Angels' history, photo and song.
This is fabulous stuff! Also to Mick for the Brenda Hall "Oh Eddy, My Baby".
The only thing by Brenda I have in my collection has been "Soldier Baby Of
Mine" -- on tape or CD, THREE TIMES OVER -- and always thought it was sort
of weak. Another gem hidden on a B side!
Jeff, Thanks for reminding me of "I Believe They're All Talking About Me,"
by Dawn (not the Peggy Santigilia group, right?). I do have it.
Phil Milstein, Thanks for Bernadette Carroll's The Hero (Angels back-up,
right? Really fake crying by Bernadette, right?) and The Bunnies' "Rebel
Without a Cause (Dum Dum Ditty)". Mine were unusable. And thanks as well for
the ongoing, off-board encouragement and reminders of possible songs.
Ian for Requiem and Delia for Dead and Charles for the Detergents' song I
didn't know about. My single of "Dead!", ordered from a GEMM vendor
(www.gemm.com), came today. Carolyn Sullivan, a soulful Mary Weiss, wants
out of this world: her boyfriend's behaving badly... Who can blame her??
And finally, Thanks, Norman, for the message from the other Norman regarding
his recording of "It's Not Easy." Would love to hear Bill Medley's version,
but whether I ever do, Normie Rowe's is just great. However, unless there's
a hidden Dusty LP out there somewhere (please God, let it be!), I think he's
mistaken in saying that she recorded it around 1970 (or any other time).
A couple weeks after hearing it on musica, a friend made me a Sandy Posey
comp -- and there it is: "It's Not Easy" from her 1968 LP "Looking At You."
I think I only knew the song from The Will-o-Bees' minor hit. Anyone know of
other versions?
John
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Message: 18
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 00:36:35 -0500
From: Teri Landi
Subject: Re: Meet Me At Mary's Place
Previously:
> Haven't heard the Springsteen version, but I read
> somewhere when the CD first came out that "Mary's
> Place" is either a ripoff or rewrite (depending on
> who you ask) of Sam Cooke's "Meet Me At Mary's Place",
> recorded for his SAR label in the early '60s.
Sam's "Meet Me At Mary's Place" was actually recorded for RCA, not SAR,
and released on Sam's final studio LP Ain't That Good News in 1964 and
as a single two years after his death. It can be found on Abkco's Keep
Movin' On CD.
Teri
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End
