Spectropop - Digest Number 843

• From: Spectropop Group
• Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003

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                        Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
                  http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 13 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Scopitones! on Disquesmerites.com
           From: B Vlaovic 
      2. Re: American Dreams
           From: Justin McDevitt 
      3. Beatles Anthology - Include Music Videos?
           From: Rex Strother 
      4. Re: Association
           From: Paul Richards 
      5. Brian Wilson On Tour DVD
           From: Bill Reed 
      6. war songs
           From: Patrick Rands 
      7. Gordian Knot
           From: Justin McDevitt 
      8. Re: Skip Bifferty
           From: Stephane Rebeschini 
      9. Re: Monkees novelties
           From: Phil Milstein 
     10. Re: Monkees novelties
           From: Mikey 
     11. Kay Starr...and Edwin
           From: Bob Rashkow 
     12. Re: War Songs
           From: James Botticelli 
     13. Re: Beatles Anthology - Include Music Videos?
           From: Mark Frumento 


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Message: 1
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 07:23:36 -0500
   From: B Vlaovic 
Subject: Scopitones! on Disquesmerites.com

Patrick:
> Do some poking around at this site and you can find some 
> scopitones for Michèle Richard and Jenny Rock, and some 
> others too - http://www.disquesmerite.com/

Great Quebecoise site!  I'd heard that there were some Canadian 
Scopitones and here they are!  The leftfield web site 
http://www.sharpeworld.com used to post a weekly scopitone but 
the owner of the site seems to have run out of them for now.  
You can still view the final one posted at the site, but I'd 
suggest visiting occassionally as she might obtain some more.  
If anyone is in Toronto and wants to see an actual scopitone 
player go to the Faema store (2nd Floor) at the corner of 
Dupont and Christie.  In amongst all the state of the art 
espresso machines somehow they've managed to plonk a scopitone 
machine, complete with all it's original films.  No idea if it 
works or not, none of the staff knew anything about it.  I was 
astonished to find it there and started poking around in back 
and saw that all the films were still loaded in the machine.   
Amazing...no big names on the title cards other than Petula Clark.  
But an amazing bit of stuff to stumble upon!

N



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Message: 2
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 09:23:45 -0600
   From: Justin McDevitt 
Subject: Re: American Dreams

Andrew Jones wrote:
> My big question about "American Dreams" is: What's gonna happen when 
> Bandstand moves to L.A.? 

Andrew, you raise an interesting question, one which I also made a mental
note of during one of the show's early episodes. 

When the show first aired, the historical timeframe was around Sept-Oct
1963, just prior to the Kennedy assassination. As I recall, and I may be a
year or two off here, American Bandstand began its new season, (September
1963) in Los Angeles. Again, my memory of the exact move to LA is a bit
fuzzy. However, if in fact, Bandstand did relocate to LA in mid 1963, then
American Dreams really is taking some historic/geographic licence.
 
Justin McDevitt



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Message: 3
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 08:56:22 -0700
   From: Rex Strother 
Subject: Beatles Anthology - Include Music Videos?

I wanna pick up the Beatles Anthology now on DVD.  Does anyone have 
this yet - does it include the music videos for both "Free as a Bird" 
and "Real Love" (the Lennon tracks which were appended by the then 
remaining Beatles)?

Has anyone noticed all that remains of the Who is the lead guitar and 
vocalist, while all that remains of the Beatles is the bass player and 
drummer?  I suggest they unite and tour as the "Whotles."  Or possibly 
the "Bho."

Rex Strother



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Message: 4
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 11:22:13 EST
   From: Paul Richards 
Subject: Re: Association

Thanks guys for putting me onto http://www.theassociation.net
brilliant to see video clips of Windy, Requiem for the Masses, Along 
comes Mary, Changes (with Andy Williams on vocals, very nice) 
Everything that Touches You & my favourite 'Birthday Morning' They're 
the greatest ever in my book. Anyone know if these videos are 
available to buy (I doubt it) or if anyone has them to exchange?

Paul



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Message: 5
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 16:58:18 -0000
   From: Bill Reed 
Subject: Brian Wilson On Tour DVD

In the 1960s, while nearly all my rock crit brethren had the good 
sense to direct their energies toward writing about such trendoid 
outfits as Martha Proud and the Birth of God, AxeMeat, Urban Sprawl, 
the Desi-Rays, and the Triffids, etc.,  I had the "bad fortune" to be 
deeply strung out on the uncool Beach Boys. I was flakking for the 
BB's at a time when they couldn't even get arrested. Pre-Beatles, 
they were the hottest thing in American pop, but by the time of the 
so-called Summer of Love they were considered a joke. A 1969 concert 
at the Fillmore East had been a near disaster. They came on stage 
decked out in ice-cream colored suits. Fillmore habitues liked their 
groups grungy, raw and au courant, and the Good Humor apparition on 
the stage couldn't help but bring out their sadistic side. By the end 
of their set the Beach Boys were reduced to goosing each other and 
acting like panicky circus ponies.

The "Boys" were so desperate for coverage of any kind, that I 
received their full cooperation during this period on numerous pieces 
I wrote about them in "Rolling Stone," "Fusion" and in "ROCK." For 
the latter, in 1968, I had the opportunity to do a phone Q & A with 
the notoriously reclusive Brian, the Mary Pickford of rock. A sample:

Brian: Bill?

Me: Yes, Brian.

Brian: Have you ever talked with Mick Jagger?

Me: No, I never have. Why?

Brian: Are you going to?

Me: I'd like to, sure. But I don't foresee it in the near future.

Brian: I think you should.

Me: What do you mean?

Brian: I think he would be a really interesting rap. He's in this 
movie, "Performance," where he's dressed like a girl, and I think 
he'd make a good rap.

Me: Okay [Beat] Are you tired of being asked about "Surf's Up"?

Brian: NO!

Me: Do you think it might make it onto a future album?

Brian: No.

Me: Why?

Brian: We lost it.

Me: No dubs or anything?

Brian: Nope. it's gone. [Slightly retooled, the dubs, or course, DID 
appear on the BB's 1971 album "Surf's Up" not long after this 
interview took place.]

Me: What are you working on now?

Brian: I'm doing the soundtrack of an Andy Warhol movie about a spade 
gay surfer?

There was eventually a Warhol movie along these lines, "San Diego 
Surf." But it was never released and to the best of my knowledge 
Brian Wilson had nothing to with its music.

Put-on artist or space cadet? I couldn't figure out then, and three 
decades later, folks, myself included, still haven't quite cracked 
the conundrum of Brian Wilson.

I think I did my best in the 60s and 70s to help propagate in the 
rock press the then novel idea of Brian Wilson as a creator of 
something beyond MERE surf music. It's just about the only thing I'm 
proud of during the few years time I spent shilling for the record 
industry food chain.

All of which leads me to a gift I received for my birthday yesterday--
--along with two too small belts. . . hey! I'm a growing boy!---- the 
brand new Brian Wilson On Tour DVD. There has been a bit of back and 
forth in these parts recently  about exactly the degree to which 
Brian Wilson is or is not manipulated into performing these days and 
the validity of such efforts. Brian Wilson On Tour provides a few 
clues.

Watching Brian in action on the DVD, the sound of his music echoing 
back to his ears, as played by his twelve-piece WONDER band, brings 
to his face what appear to be smiles of genuine happiness and 
fulfillment. Apparently he likes hearing this timeless music over and 
over again just as much as we, his fans, do. What's NOT to like? From 
time to time this look of satisfaction seems to come from his band 
actually translating into "live" performance" actuality what had oft-
times taken him hours, days, and even weeks to conjure up in the 
crucible of the recording studio

The fairly lengthy rehearsal sections included in the document should 
dispel any suspicion that Brian might just being going through the 
motions; here he seems fully engaged and in charge of the proceedings. 
Lingering around the edges are traces of the old (almost) autistic 
demeanor typical of yore. But I sense that presentation of self is 
more out of habit and doesn't reflect much in the way of a muddled 
inscape of the mind these days.

In the best of all possible worlds a person of Brian Wilson's gifts 
and accomplishments should be able to find at least a modicum of 
peace and stability. IMHO this is definitely not the best of all 
possible worlds, but Brian appears to have beat the odds and managed 
to have found some Love and Mercy anyway.

In a recent interview Brian Wilson spoke to the effect that of all 
his accomplishments, he was proudest of having beat the odds of mental 
illness. I think I always knew he would make it. . .and I only talked 
to the guy on the phone once back in '68.

Bill Reed



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Message: 6
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 17:48:19 -0000
   From: Patrick Rands 
Subject: war songs

I'm a little nervous getting this thread going (and seem to recall it 
has been discussed, but was unable to dig anything up in the 
archrive), but now is as good a time as any to get a list of topical 
war songs together. I'm working on a compilation of songs and would 
love some help. Especially with the early 60s, but also the later 60s 
period too. Also if the songs are available anywhere would be nice. 
If not, maybe we can post some of them in musica? Anyone have any 
interest in this thread?

I was depressed to hear of Edwin Starr's passing from a heart attack 
yesterday. He was a great singer, and he will be missed.

:Patrick




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Message: 7
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 12:18:42 -0600
   From: Justin McDevitt 
Subject: Gordian Knot

Hello Spectropop,

Recent comments regarding the group Gordian Knot prompted me to consult
http://www.Allmusicguide.com for a some biographical data. 

There were two references to Gordian Knot, one a Soft rock group from the
60s, the 2nd notation referenced a rock group from the 90s.

A look at Amnazon.com identified a couple of Cds from the 90s group, but no
titles from the 60s era Gordian Knot.  This leads me to ask; was a Cd
released of material from the 60s group?

Justin McDevitt



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Message: 8
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 21:07:43 +0200
   From: Stephane Rebeschini 
Subject: Re: Skip Bifferty

Country Paul a écrit:
> Ashley: "Skip Bifferty"?!?!?!? (or am I showing my ignorance again?)

There's an entry about the UK group "Skip Bifferty" here (look at
"Skip"): http://www.borderlinebooks.com/uk6070s/tapestry.html

Stephane




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Message: 9
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 12:24:45 -0500
   From: Phil Milstein 
Subject: Re: Monkees novelties

Guy Lawrence wrote:
> there ever a novelty record inspired by the Monkees? In a
> huge bout of wishful thinking I've managed to convince myself
> that someone must have recorded say, a "Don't Draft My Darling
> Davy" record. Does anyone out there know of any kind of Monkee
> cash-in?

I have a "Hollyridge Strings play the hits of The Monkees" type of LP.

--Phil M.



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Message: 10
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 16:17:27 -0500
   From: Mikey 
Subject: Re: Monkees novelties

There is a Monkees rip-off LP called "Monkey Business" on 
Wyncote Records, which was the budget division of Cameo 
Parkway.

Funny stuff....songs like "Papas Blue Jeans" to confuse 
people into thinking this was the real deal.



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Message: 11
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 16:26:45 EST
   From: Bob Rashkow 
Subject: Kay Starr...and Edwin

Country Paul inquired about Kay Starr.  Kay was one of the 
most successful female hit parade singers of the 40s to mid-50s, 
second only probably to Doris Day, Patti Page, and Rosemary 
Clooney!  Don't know if she's still alive or not, saw her on 
her tour with Frankie Laine years ago in the 80s.  Other big 
hits of hers were "Rock & Roll Waltz," "Allez-Vous En," and 
"Kay's Lament."  Believe she was on the Mercury label during 
the period of "Wheel of Fortune" (with apologies to Pat and Vanna)

Another Starr, talented "soul" who convinced me that Detroit was 
never more than "25 Miles" away from Chicago (for me!) has sadly 
passed away this week at 61--RIP Edwin, a true Agent Double-O-Soul.  

Bobster



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Message: 12
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 16:17:47 -0500
   From: James Botticelli 
Subject: Re: War Songs

Patrick Rands wrote:

> I'm a little nervous getting this thread going (and seem 
> to recall it has been discussed, but was unable to dig 
> anything up in the archive), but now is as good a time as 
> any to get a list of topical war songs together. I'm working 
> on a compilation of songs and would love some help. Especially 
> with the early 60s, but also the later 60s period too. Also 
> if the songs are available anywhere would be nice.

Patrick...You might recall when I used to do my "Sugar Shack" 
soul program in the 80s, I did a Veterans Day salute to vets 
everywhere in listening range. (I would have reached farther, 
but no one would have heard it ;-) I have a collection of about 
forty 45s of soul and gyrrrl group soldier songs. Not in the anti-
war vein, but a lotta my listeners were vets and dug it on that 
level. Of course today's American army is comprised of volunteers, 
not conscriptees........Anyway, I would be into working on it with 
you and please, don't be nervous. Its okay!

JB (you can contact me off list)



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Message: 13
   Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2003 23:57:00 -0000
   From: Mark Frumento 
Subject: Re: Beatles Anthology - Include Music Videos?

Rex Strother wrote:
> I wanna pick up the Beatles Anthology now on DVD.  Does 
> anyone have this yet - does it include the music videos 
> for both "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" (the Lennon tracks 
> which were appended by the then remaining Beatles)?

Rex,

Yes it does and it has an excellent "making of" the 
amazing "Free As a Bird" video.  Really a landmark DVD!

Mark




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