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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 17 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Shirley Ellis - New at S'pop
From: S'pop Team
2. Re: war songs etc.
From: Alan V. Karr
3. Re: The Chicago Sound --the Del-Sonics
From: Nick Archer
4. Re: Scopitone questions
From: Alan V. Karr
5. Re: Murmaids, Cathy Brasher
From: Mikey
6. Re: Adam Faith
From: Alan V. Karr
7. Re: Lindsey Buckingham - can i ask this?
From: Dave Beard
8. Susan Singer, Helen Shapiro
From: Mike Edwards
9. Re: Emitt Rhodes
From: Mike Rashkow
10. Re: The Shapiro Cousins
From: David Bell
11. Emitt Rhodes
From: Alan Gordon
12. Re: S. Singer / Oriole Records Reissues
From: Alan V. Karr
13. Re: Cousins
From: Ian Chapman
14. Lovin' Spoonful... how many CCs was that anyway? 10?
From: Alan Gordon
15. Re: Cousins
From: Phil Milstein
16. A normal male is 9ccs, si, si?
From: Steve Harvey
17. Re: Emitt Rhodes
From: Steve Harvey
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:49:19 +0100
From: S'pop Team
Subject: Shirley Ellis - New at S'pop
Bronx-born singer-songwriter Shirley Elliston stormed the
Top 10 three times between '63 and '65. Better known as
Shirley Ellis, she's the girl who introduced the phrase
"The Nitty Gritty" into common parlance and originated
the much-revived pop classics "The Name Game" and "The
Clapping Song". Working hand in hand with legendary rock'n'
roll songsmith Lincoln Chase, the diminutive Shirley was
also responsible for such nutty treasures as "Ever See A
Diver Kiss His Wife While The Bubbles Bounce About Above
The Water" and "The Puzzle Song (A Puzzle In Song)". Oh,
she was a big favourite of George Harrison and Dusty
Springfield and there wasn't a name that she couldn't rhyme!
The Name Of The Game: The Story Of Shirley Ellis by Malcolm
Baumgart and Mick Patrick is the latest instalment at the
New At S'pop section. Enjoy:
http://www.spectropop.com/ShirleyEllis/index.htm
The S'pop Team
Spectropop - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 02:58:54 -0000
From: Alan V. Karr
Subject: Re: war songs etc.
Alan Gordon wrote:
> What about a song list of "Politics As A Bad Thing?"
> Stuff like "Won't Get Fooled Again" (I am always surprised when
> I find out that a lot of people didn't notice that the band had
> all just piddled on the obelisk on the cover of that album).
> ...or maybe happy stuff like armageddon songs (Eve Of Destruction).
I'm kind of partial to the "answer" song to Eve..."Dawn Of
Correction" by The Spokesmen, except for the part about the U.N.
Regards,
Alan V. Karr
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 23:19:42 -0500
From: Nick Archer
Subject: Re: The Chicago Sound --the Del-Sonics
Does anyone know of a Chicago group called the Del-Sonics?
One of the group members, Gerry Barber, lives here in Nashville.
About ten years ago, he brought over some 4 track masters to
listen to on my old Ampex machine. We did some mixdowns, but
with no reference masters I have no idea if they match the
originals. The sound did fit right in with other Chicago groups,
though. I could play a cut to musica if anyone's interested.
Nick Archer
Check out Nashville's classic SM95 on the web at
http://www.live365.com/stations/nikarcher
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 03:32:26 -0000
From: Alan V. Karr
Subject: Re: Scopitone questions
Jeffery Kennedy wrote:
> The two clips I most want to see in their entirety are Francoise
> Hardy's "Tous les garcons..." and Timi Yuro's "If." I understand
> that Scopitone videotapes and DVDs exist. Even MORE things to
> look for on eBay!
>
> Jeffery
The V*d** B**t" in SF has a Scopitone compilation of UK/
Continental artists I like a lot, many of these versions
never made it to disc. No Francoise or Timi tho'.
Regards,
Alan V. Karr
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Message: 5
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 23:09:20 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Murmaids, Cathy Brasher
Mike Edwards:
> Cathy Brasher cut at least three girl-group classics as a solo
> artist: "Sh..Listen" (1965), "Too Late To Be Lovers" (1964) and
> an absolute peak, "I'll Remember Jimmy" (also 1964). Maybe you
> could ask about her.
"Ill Remember Jimmy" is one FANTASTIC record. If Lesley gore
had covered it, I'm sure it would have gone top 20.
Did Cathy Brashers version chart at all/?
Mikey
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 03:22:04 -0000
From: Alan V. Karr
Subject: Re: Adam Faith
Michael Edwards wrote:
> As with Cliff Richard, Adam's early UK successes met with
> indifference in the US. He didn't chart here until 1965 when
> "It's Alright" got to #31 as part of the British Invasion.
EMI let Capitol determine what would be picked up for the US
market, and they generally refused everything, even some great
UK-origin #1s that could have made some noise here. Although
the barriers to British acts were starting to crumble by 1960
they couldnt usually come over to promote their stuff (for many
reasons, often Musicians' Union prohibitions) However, the
Tornados made it to #1 without the benefit of any Stateside TV,
tours, "Bobbys", or Beatle coattails, so go figure. We also
already had a "Bobby" who did Buddy, Bobby Vee - too bad for
Adam, despite the fact most of his (Johnny Worth aka Les Vandyke)
songs were superior to Vee's A-sides. Perhaps their sense of
melancholy /weltanschmerz (sp?) in comparison (i. e. "The Time
Has Come", "Lonesome") were too much of a downer for cigar-
chomping US record execs... It's Alright was a great DC5 knockoff
but its 2nd-tier label distribution (the old Amy-Mala group) may
have doomed it from a better showing.
> Some US artists did pick up on Adam Faith. Bobby Vee covered
> "What Do You Want" in 1959 and Fabian did the same with "Made
> You" in 1961.
Ersel Hickey also did a cover of What Do You Want, and
Vee also covered Adam's "Who Am I" on an LP
> ...As everything Adam recorded is out on CD,
Really? Everything???? (e.g. I Vibrate from Fontana
Drumbeat EP, HMV & Top Rank B sides etc. Just kidding)
Or just the hits, which definitely have been. Pretty sure
there are several UK LPs that havent made it to CD yet.
Regards,
Alan V. Karr
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 03:42:31 EDT
From: Dave Beard
Subject: Re: Lindsey Buckingham - can i ask this?
The new Fleetwood Mac is very good. Nine songs by Lindsey and
nine from Stevie Nicks. The 18-track collection resonates more
like a Buckingham-Nicks collection, but Mick and John's
contributions are notable; you can't beat that drumming and
bass playing.
Say You Will is edgy, more like Lindsey's style, and the subdued
moments come from Stevie. There are even moments of what I'll
call blues funk (for lack of better term). Although eclectic,
the collections soars.
Dave Beard
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 16:14:04 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Susan Singer, Helen Shapiro
Ian Chapman writes:
> I believe Susan (Singer)'s "Bobbys Lovin' Touch"
> – a kinda jazzy, slow swing – is in big demand on the
> Popcorn scene. Can anyone confirm?
Ian, thanks for the info re: Susan Singer being Helen
Shapiro's cousin. I can confirm that "Bobby's Lovin' Touch"
is a Popcorn title along with "Gee It's Great To Be Young"
and "Lock Your Heart Away".
Helen Shapiro, of course, has many Popcorn titles to her
credit. Some examples are:
He Knows How To Love Me
I Was Only Kidding
Look Over Your Shoulder
Look Who It Is
Ole Father Ttime
Queen For Tonight
Without Your Love
Young Stranger
As with any Helen list, it serves as another reminder of
how sad it was that her UK chart fortunes declined after her
glory years of 1961-2.
And now for a "duh" moment: Ian, who are "Patty and Cathy"?
Thanks, Mike Edwards
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 22:04:57 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Emitt Rhodes
Mark F:
> Mr. Rhodes is not known for having the best personality
> in the business.
If I had his talent I wouldn't speak to normal people.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:57:32 EDT
From: David Bell
Subject: Re: The Shapiro Cousins
At last....a genuine Susan Singer thread! This is the
moment I've been waiting for and I thought that I was the
only person left on Earth who remembered this great little
British singer.
Cue the embarrassment factor as I admit now to belonging to
the Susan Singer fan club from 1963-1966 when it folded.
Every month I received a carbon copy of a badly spelt news-
letter and every month I pored over it, taking in every word.
Well, I was only 13 at the time. The highlight was the photo
offers that would occasionally turn up and for half a crown
I could buy the latest black and white 8x10, fully autographed.
I long to own the 2 German language 45s that she recorded for
Ariola but they're supposedly as rare as the proverbial hens'
teeth. At least their existence is confirmed in Berndt Matheja's
book, "1000 Nadelstiche." She did German versions of cousin
Helen's "Dont Treat Me Like A Child" and Brenda's "It Started
All Over Again." If anyone has copies of these I'll pay you
a small fortune for them! Alternatively, maybe Richard Weize
at Bear Family will include them on his next 1000 Nadelstiche
compilation, which is supposedly dedicated to BritGirls again.
So I have the memorabilia and the photos. All I need is for some
kind Spectropopper to compile the cd, even though licensing
Oriole material is fraught with horrendous difficulties.
A few years ago, I nearly succeeded with RPM records but then
my contact left the company. He contacted Helen Shapiro's
husband/manager, John, and Susan was up for it. She claimed that
she had the master tapes and rights to her Oriole material.
A couple of her songs "Lock Your Heart Away" and "Gee! It's
Great To Be Young" were issued on Marginal's "Girls Girls Girls"
series, volumes 6 and 7. They are considered to be Popcorn and
valuable.
C'mon, Mick 'n' Malc, stop groaning and get on with the job.
I'll bribe anyone to get these tracks released.
Aaaah, I feel like a spotty, angst ridden, hormonally charged
13 year old all over again. Quick nurse, the screens.
David
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 12:52:49 -0700
From: Alan Gordon
Subject: Emitt Rhodes
Mark Frumento:
> The question is was he alienated or did he alienate?
> Probably some of both, I guess. Mr. Rhodes is not known
> for having the best personality in the business.
Mark:
Really??? I've never heard this before.
Emitt's third solo album sure reflects the heart of a very
depressed man. But I know dealing with certain Record Execs,
A&R guys and producers will affect a sensitive soul. Mixing
business with spirit is a tricky business indeed. Movies,
Music, Publishing, Art, etc., will always suffer from the
administrators' supposed vast "understanding" of any particular
business, and their insatiable need to control and suck the
soul of artists. But then again, as most of us know, there
are times when the producer is the real talent. I like what
screenwriter William Goldman says about Hollywood people in
general: "Nobody knows anything."
In a brief unusual moment of clarity I once said to a good
friend (and producer too) that "there were three kinds of
people in the world: Creative People, Appreciators, and people
who, from some weakness of their own, need to control the
creators." He corrected me, saying: "You forgot the couch
potatoes."
Anyway, I'm still trying to figure a way to put together,
from bits that I have accumulated, a chronological sorta-
bootleg box-set of all of Emitt's stuff from MGR thru his
solo recordings - for my own enjoyment of course. I'd love
to include any demos and such, but I've never run across
anything like this. Any ideas or contributions S'Pop people?
I also read in I.C.E. (#193, April, pg. 35) that Emitt is
thinking of releasing "30 years worth of demos and unreleased
songs," depending on interest. If you are at all interested,
go to http://www.emittrhodes.net and offer your support.
peace,
albabe
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 19:48:06 -0000
From: Alan V. Karr
Subject: Re: S. Singer / Oriole Records Reissues
Since Sundazed seemed to be so tight w/ Sony Music lately
(and having dealt with them professionally in the past I
can vouch for their, er, inscrutable ways), I questioned
them (to no avail) on the subject of their reissuing non-
lease deal tracks from the London-based Levy Sound Studio's
Oriole/Embassy Records, which became CBS' UK branch in the
fall of 1964.
In the CD era almost nothing from Oriole has been officially
re-released, save tracks from Chas McDevitt and the "This Is
Merseybeat" LPs - despite Oriole's almost complete lack of
chart impact, there are hundreds of instro, beat and Spectro-
poppish tracks (e.g. Susan Singer, Jackie Lee/Raindrops) that
would be worth reissuing. A longstanding rumor/fact has been
that most/all Oriole/Embassy masters (as is the case with pre-
1967 Philips-Polydor group recordings?) have been wiped and
the aforementioned CDs had to be dubbed from disc.
Comments, anyone?
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 21:38:29 -0000
From: Ian Chapman
Subject: Re: Cousins
Mike asked:
> And now for a "duh" moment: Ian, who are "Patty and Cathy"?
Mike, it was just a reference to the theme song to the Patty
Duke Show, which never aired in the U.K. In it, Patty played
the dual roles of Patty Lane and her cousin Cathy. Altogether
now, you U.S. guys....
"...But they're cousins, identical cousins all the way...."
Ian
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:25:55 -0700
From: Alan Gordon
Subject: Lovin' Spoonful... how many CCs was that anyway? 10?
Does anyone know anything about a Lovin' Spoonful release
from Varese Vintage, that was canceled: September 30, 1999,
called, "Live At The Night Owl Cafe?"
peace,
albabe
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 22:03:46 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Cousins
Ian Chapman wrote:
> Mike, it was just a reference to the theme song to the Patty
> Duke Show, which never aired in the U.K. In it, Patty played
> the dual roles of Patty Lane and her cousin Cathy. Altogether
> now, you U.S. guys....
>
> "...But they're cousins, identical cousins all the way...."
Cathy, by the way, was Scottish, demonstrating the actress'
facility with accents. I'm not sure her last name was ever
revealed in the show.
"A hot dog makes her lose control,"
--Phil M.
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 16:25:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: A normal male is 9ccs, si, si?
Alan Gordon wrote:
> Does anyone know anything about a Lovin' Spoonful
> release from Varese Vintage, that was canceled:
> September 30, 1999, called, "Live At The Night
> Owl Cafe?"
Alan,
The release was an early tape of the Spoonful
done at the Night Owl. When I met the revamped Spoons
I asked about live tapes. The only one they knew about
was a lousy performance that they did before signing
with Kama Sutra. Jerry Yester owned the tape. I
suspect that the live release was his tape, but
someone, probably Sebastian, killed it.
The tunes on it were:
--My Baby Left Me
--Route 66
--Alley Oop
--Wild About My Lovin'
--My Gal
--You Say You Love Me
--Almost Grown
--Good Time Music
--Didn't Want To Have To Do It.
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 16:30:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Re: Emitt Rhodes
> Mark Frumento:
> The question is was he alienated or did he alienate?
> Probably some of both, I guess. Mr. Rhodes is not
> known for having the best personality in the business.
> Alan Gordon:
> Really??? I've never heard this before.....
I remember reading an interview with Emitt, conducted
by Susanna Hoffs, where he seemed more interested in
picking her up than talking about his music. Who could
blame him, however.
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