________________________________________________________________________
______________ ______________
______________ ______________
______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________
______________ ______________
________________________________________________________________________
Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. RIP Nina Simone
From: S'pop Team
2. Gary Usher and Dick Campbell
From: Gary Campbell
3. So sad that 60's oldies are becoming a vanishing breed
From: RonnieOldiesGuy@aol.com
4. Annette Tucker-Nancy Mantz
From: Michael Edwards
5. Fwd: Jazz Great Nina Simone Dies
From: Neb Rodgers
6. 60s inspired CDs - The Villas - The Ceasars
From: Neil Hever
7. Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
From: Martin Roberts
8. The Liquid Room 4/20/03
From: "Ponak, David"
9. Re: Murmaids aftermath
From: Wes Smith
10. Buckingham & FMac
From: Country Paul
11. Many's The Slip 'Twixt the Cup and the Lip (or Baby the World Really Turns"
From: gabrielle 233
12. Re: "Cuddly Toy" -- Nilsson/Monkees
From: David Bailey
13. Re: Nancy Sinatra questions
From: Phil Milstein
14. Re: "Cuddly Toy" -- Nilsson/Monkees
From: astro4004
15. The Symbols
From: Rob Stride
16. Re: Oriole & Nancy Sinatra
From: Ken Silverwood
17. Chicago scene
From: Guy Lawrence
18. Suzanna Hoffs + Cuddly Toy =
From: Steve Harvey
19. Songs of Ricky Page
From: Paul Urbahns
20. Al Hazan
From: Martin Roberts
21. Harmonies and a new Group........Harmony High
From: Rob Stride
22. Re: "Cuddly Toy" -- Nilsson/Monkees
From: Tom Taber
23. The Glaswegian Brian Wilson
From: Rob Stride
24. Re: "Cuddly Toy" -- Nilsson/Monkees
From: Roger Smith
25. Del-Vetts
From: Bob Rashkow
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 08:40:44 +0100
From: S'pop Team
Subject: RIP Nina Simone
Dear Members,
An excellent tribute to the late great Nina Simone, written
by David Nathan, can be located at the following URL:
http://www.soulmusic.com/EYS-NinaS.htm
The S'pop Team
Spectropop - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 14:11:36 -0000
From: Gary Campbell
Subject: Gary Usher and Dick Campbell
Hello all
My name is Gary Campbell, the son of Dick Campbell. My dad wrote
398 songs and had quite a few published including his "Dick Campbell
Sings Where It's At" album on Mercury records. The Mercury album was
had a very Dylan like sound.
Searching the net I have seen reference on this site to Gary Usher
(whom I was named after) and Dick Campbell. Dick and Gary were best
friends for a number of years and wrote over 50 songs together. The
only cowritten song ever published prior to the "Beyond the Shadow of
Doubt" CD was "Good Old Rock and Roll Song" by the Cowsills. I noticed
that there was no info on Dick Campbell in the above mentioned
discussion. If anyone would like to learn more about Dick, who passed
away last year, and hear some of his music can visit the following two
sites I have created.
http://webpages.charter.net/dickcampbell/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Dickcampbell/
There are also alot of photos of Dick and Gary Usher and lots of
links on both sites.
p.s. I noticed that the song "Grey Soft Black and Blue" was credited
to Gary Usher. This should be credited as being co written by
Usher/Campbell.
If anyone is interested I could post a list of the songs written by
Usher/Campbell or you can see a complete discography for Dick
Campbell including the Campbell/Usher songs on the Dick Campbell
Yahoo group.
Thank You.
Gary Campbell
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 11:48:08 EDT
From: RonnieOldiesGuy@aol.com
Subject: So sad that 60's oldies are becoming a vanishing breed
I keep hearing more and more that 60's oldies are gradually
in the process of being totally phased out on oldies stations
throughout the country. I think it's an absolute shame. I can
think of even stronger words but I won't use them here!
I grew up loving 50's and 60's oldies and feel it's a disgrace
that this is happening. Though I guess it's understandable why
it's happening. There are younger people in authority making
decisions who are totally not into 50's and 60's music at all.
I am grateful that the radio station I work for (WBCB) is allowing
me -- even with all their sports programming -- to do occasional
shows such as my Murmaids show last week. That was very special to
me. In my own small way I certainly want to try to keep the music
alive on the airwaves as much as I can. For those of you here who
missed that show and have sent me e-mails asking if you'll get
another chance to hear it I hope to have an announcement here
shortly that should make you happy. Fingers crossed. :)
But back to my original thought.....
It's troubling enough to me that so many oldies stations have for
so long stuck to the same rotation of generic oldies ad infinitum
while ignoring many other oldies that were as big on the chart and
at least just as good. But what's even more troubling is the thought
that the folks in charge of today's oldies radio are more and more
totally writing off an entire generation of music lovers.
Nowadays the term "oldie" seems to refer to music of the 70's, the
80's and even the early 90's!
Give me a break!
Ronnie Allen
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 22:03:44 -0000
From: Michael Edwards
Subject: Annette Tucker-Nancy Mantz
Deep in the bowels of Spectropop there is mention of one Annette
Tucker. She co-wrote and recorded an Al Hazan song, "Stick Around".
In the same section we find Al sharing writing credits with Nancy
Mantz on a song entitled "Gimmie Jimmy". This and other detailed
information about Al Hazan was put together by Martin Roberts at:
http://www.alhazan.com/index.html
From these humble beginnings, the ladies went on to write some
important material during their Spectropop years. The notes to
the Sundazed CD, "Orange, Sugar And Chocolate" say that they are
considered these days to be a prolific duo in the Psychedelic
Composer's Underground with countless masterpieces to their mutual
or individual credit...among them "I Had Too Much To Dream Last
Night", "Dr. Do Good", "Green Light" and loads more." The CD
contains their "I Ain't No Miracle Worker" by the Brogues, a song
also recorded by the Chocolate Watch Band.
Segue to the American Breed whom we have featured recently. The b-
side of "Bend Me Shape Me", "Mindrocker", was a cover of a Keith
Colley song recorded by Fenwyck. The latter's version is on this CD
and it is more folk rockish than the Breed's brass led up-tempo
version. It's good, though.
The Breed's follow-up to "BMSM" was the above-mentioned "Green Light"
and it was another cover. The original by the Vulcanes from 1966 is
now playing on musica. Again it is more stripped down than the
Breed's version with the organ to the fore, but you get to make the
comparison.
Segue now to Freddy Cannon, who has also featured in S'pop recently.
He recorded a Tucker-Nantz song, "She's Somethin' Else": it was his
2nd record after "Action" and didn't make the cut for his recent
Varese WB CD. In this one, Freddy's buddy called him up at half past
eight one night to see if he would take his cousin on a double date.
The lyrics continue:
"I hardly had the heart to shine my dancin' shoes
Cos I had a funny feelin' she would be bad news"
How does it all work out? Well you get to find out because this
Tucker-Nantz song is also playing in musica.
I would be interested in any other thoughts or comments on Annette
Tucker and Nancy Mantz's songwriting as I think this is the first
time it has been discussed.
Enjoy the tunes,
Mike Edwards
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 14:15:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Neb Rodgers
Subject: Fwd: Jazz Great Nina Simone Dies
Jazz Great Nina Simone Dies
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
NEW YORK - Nina Simone , the jazz great whose rapsy, forceful
voice helped define the civil rights movement, died Monday at her
home in France, according to her U.S. booking agent. She was 70.
Though she remained a top concert draw in her later years, she was
quite frail. Eric Hanson, an agent with her U.S. booking agency Ted
Kurland Associates, confirmed the death to The Associated Press.
At a 2001 concert at Carnegie Hall, she had to be helped to the
stage, and was later seen sitting backstage in a wheelchair.
Simone spent much of her recent time in France. She was survived by a
daughter, Lisa, according to her personal manager, Clifton Henderson.
Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, N.C., was a classically
trained pianist whose songs ranged from blues to spirtuals to
classical fare. But she gained fame in 1959 with her recording of "I
Loves You Porgy," from the musical "Porgy & Bess." She later became a
voice of the civil rights movement, with her song "Mississippi
Goddam," and later, "To Be Young, Gifted and Black."
In 1998, she blamed racism in the United States for her decision to
live abroad, saying that as a black person she has "paid a heavy
price for fighting the establishment." She did not elaborate but said
racial inequality in the United States was now "worse than ever."
She left the United States in 1973 and lived in the Caribbean and
Africa before settling in Europe.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 17:40:12 -0000
From: Neil Hever
Subject: 60s inspired CDs - The Villas - The Ceasars
Popsters, Just a heads up to those of you who seek out 60's inspired
bands. Pennsylvania band The Villas have a new disc called "Set for
Life". They have an excellent guitar based sound with touches of
Hammond organ recalling 60's era pop and 70's New Wave. They
employed the current Herman's Hermits drummer Dave Ferrara to handle
the drum duties. I'd compare them favorably to the Raspberries and
The Attractions. You can find out more at http://www.villasongs.com
Another interesting disc came by my desk last week. If your tastes
swing more towards garage/pop then you might want to check out The
Caesars "39 minutes of bliss" on Astralwerks. They cover the great
60s chestnut "Out of my hands" by LaPorte Indiana's garage band The
Endd. Some of you may recognize the track from Pebbles Volume 9 -
one of the best LPs in the series. You can check them out on the
record web site http://www.astralwerks.com. I am not employed by
either the Villas or Astralwerk's records! I'm just passing on my
observations for those interested in finding material like this for
their listening pleasure. Since I work at a radio station there is
a lot of stuff on my desk every week. Most of it is not very good.
I always like hearing about good new music and thought the group
might enjoy it as well.
Cheers,
Neil Hever
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 17:00:57 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
Not as close as I expected the winner of the Record of the Week,
a fine and dandy song for the UK's mini heat wave, is The What
Four "Baby Can't You Hear Me Call Your Name".
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm
The choice for next week is a toughie, Eddie Hodges, "The Water
Is Over My Head" or Round Robin, "Kick That Little Foot Sally Ann",
two excellent and contrasting tracks.
Nitzsche Radio is playing Jingle #9 "Wild Side".
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/jacknitzscheradio.htm
Good to see my pal and movie critic Michael Kemp posting to
S'pop the other day. Welcome aboard.
Martin
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 09:30:35 -0700
From: "Ponak, David"
Subject: The Liquid Room 4/20/03
The Liquid Room, (usually) hosted by David Ponak (me), airs every Saturday
night from Midnight to 3AM (PDT) on 90.7FM KPFK Los Angeles, as well as
streaming at http://kpfk.org.
Please join me this coming weekend for an in studio performance by The
Sugarplastic.
The Liquid Room 04/20/03
1.The Association/Come On In
Birthday (WB)
2.Death In Vegas/Leather
Scorpio Rising (BMG-UK)
3.Gilberto Gil/Cerebro Electronico
1969 (Mercury-Japan)
4.Junior Senior/Shake Your Coconuts
D-D-Don't Stop The Beat (Mercury-UK)
5.The Sugarplastic/Sins Can Sing Like This
7" (Tall Boy)
6.Mandrill/Lord Of The Golden Baboon
Fencewalk: The Anthology (Polydor)
7.Gimmicks/The Joker
Brasilian Samba (Universal-Japan)
8.The Evolution Control Committee/Rocked By Rape
Plagiarhythm Nation (Seeland)
9.The Cardigans/Communication
Long Gone Before Daylight (Stockholm Records-UK)
10.Francoise Hardy/Comment Te Dire Adieu
Comment Te Dire Adieu (Virgin-France)
11.Sparks/I Married Myself
Lil' Beethoven (Universal-UK)
12.Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark/Extended Souvenir
Architecture & Morality (bonus track) (Virgin-UK)
13.Richard Cameron/Winter
Back
14.Pico/I Love You
ABC Pico 1st (Kitty-Japan)
15.The Electric Prunes/Agnus Dei
Mass In F Minor (Reprise)
16.The High Llamas/In The Yacht
Retrospective And Rarities (V2)
17.Spiritualized/Anyway That You Want Me
The Complete Works Volume One (Arista)
18.The Walker Brothers/Night Flights
Night Flights (Sony-UK)
19.Barry Adamson/Whispering Streets
King Of Nothing Hill (Mute)
20.Isaac Hayes/A House Full Of Girls
Truck Turner (soundtrack) (Stax)
21.Black Box Recorder/These Are The Things
Passionoia (One Little Indian-UK)
22.The Zombies/I Love You
The Zombies (Varese Sarabande)
23.Elis Regina/Zazueira
For Cafe Apres-Midi (Universal-Japan)
24.Tony Lasley/If You Don't Know
Beat Nova
25.Tommy February6/Je T'aime Je T'aime
single (Sony-UK)
26.Olivia Newton-John/Sam
The Very Best Of (Universal)
27.Adult/Kick In The Shin
Anxiety Always (Ersatz Audio)
28.Jumping Jacques/Double Francoise
Avalon (Petra-Italy)
29.Elektel/Better Sound For Better Kindness
Space Travel With Teddy Bear (Sucre-Japan)
30.Lemon Lemons/Beautiful Dreams
60's Cutie Pop Collection-Twiggy Edit (Tokuma-Japan)
31.Dimitri From Paris/Okinawa Love
Cruising Attitude (Victor-Japan)
32.Kahimi Karie/About The Girls
Trapeziste (Victor-Japan)
33.Lyme & Cybelle/Follow Me
Warren Zevon-The First Sessions (Varese Sarabande)
34.Seksu Roba/Up, Up And Away
Pleasure Vibrations (Eenie Meenie)
35.Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme/Love Is Blue/AutumnLeaves
A Man And A Woman (GL Music)
36.Sketch Show/Chronograph (Cornelius Remix)
Tronika (Daisy World-Japan)
36.Miles/Menlo Park
Don't Let The Cold In (V2-Japan)
37.Blur/My White Noise
Think Tank (Virgin)
38.Electrocute/Sugar Buzz
Electrocute (Emperor Norton)
39.Cody Chesnutt/The World Is Coming To My Party
The Headphone Masterpiece (Ready Set Go)
40.Junior Senior/Chicks And Dicks
D-D-Don't Stop The Beat (Mercury-UK)
41.Paul Williams/Mornin' I'll Be Movin' On
Someday Man (Reprise)
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 05:50:36 -0000
From: Wes Smith
Subject: Re: Murmaids aftermath
Ronnie Allen wrote:
> First off I want to thank all of you who have already sent
> me e-mails regarding my radio interview show with the Murmaids.
> You have made me feel really good!
> Thanks in advance for all your additional feedback. :)
Ronnie,as far as I'm concerned,I have TOTALLY ENJOYED every one
of your interviews that I've been fortunate enough to hear!
Your latest,with those Murmaids was no exception !
It is truly wonderful to be able to pay tribute to these talented
artists from years gone by,who deserve so much recognition for all
their wonderful accomplishments,and of course,some of them are still
going strong and deserve our support so much!
These interviews certainly provide us with so much insight regarding
their accomplishments and interesting facts about their careers!
Also, many times you come up with some great surprises (many times
for the artists themselves, as well as the listeners.)
What can I say except a sincere THANK YOU!
As far as who I'd love to hear you interview,it would probably
look like a 'Who's Who" list but one can only be so greedy,so I'll
just mention a couple of my personal favorites that haven't been
on with you yet.
THE PIXIES THREE - Some TALENTED GROUP FOR SURE!!!!
Since all 4 of them have contributed so much almost from the
beginning of their recording careers, wouldn't it be WONDERFUL
to maybe come up with a first - interviewing all four of them!
I guess I want more--- bring on the "PIXIES FOUR"!!!!
Speaking about more - how about a well deserved encore for those
two WONDERFUL LADIES that you've already had on--- DIANE(RENAY)
and JANIE(GRANT)--- I'm sure that you could come up with many
new insightful things and surprises in NEW interviews with them!
Guess that I'll have to get one more request in while I'm at it-
-- How about that talented little girl from New Haven,Ct.--- the
one and only Ginny Arnell---- she seems to remain quite popular,
especially around Spectropop Land.
Once again,Ronnie--- Thank you so much for all your GREAT interviews.
Sincerely,
Wes Smith
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 21:38:47 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Buckingham & FMac
Dave Swanson, Re: Lindsey Buckingham's "Gift Of Screws" - where did you hear
it? Can it be found anywhere? Off-list reply is fine. BTW, I like much of
the new Fleetwood Mac album's first half - turned it off at "Come", which
was pretty much a primal scream, and haven't gotten to the second half yet.
Ronnie Allen, sorry I missed the Murmaids interview; please keep it up - I'm
probably 25 miles from your signal area and will hear you one of these days!
Country Paul
(A long way from catching up, but trying)
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 22:27:52 -0000
From: gabrielle 233
Subject: Many's The Slip 'Twixt the Cup and the Lip (or Baby the World Really Turns"
I was a member of the group named "The Present" that recorded
"Many's The Slip...". It WAS a hit in Florida and also in England
as I'm told. About two years ago, someone had posted a message on
Spectro talking about the use of a "rock and roll" harp. I played
the organ, and sang backup. The studio, during production, added
the harp. That song was actually recorded with the entire band
playing together in real time but the voices were tracked. Tony
Powers (who wrote "98.6") wrote this song with George Fischoff at
Columbia. What a blast it was actually making a record in New York!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 22:12:11 -0000
From: David Bailey
Subject: Re: "Cuddly Toy" -- Nilsson/Monkees
Roger Smith wrote:
> Some people have said that the line "you're not the only
> choo-choo train" in "Cuddly Toy" implies a gang-rape scenario.
> Although Harry seemed to back up this interpretation in a couple
> of interviews, most of the time, when asked about it, he said
> that the song is a little risqué, but not *that* risqué.
I was always under the impression that the term "choo-choo train"
indicated a "gang-bang" as opposed to a "gang-rape" meaning that
the acts were consensual.
db
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 16:35:18 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Nancy Sinatra questions
Justin McDevitt wrote:
> I assume that the title of this track is Love Eyes, though
> a track with this title is not on her 1966 Lp with These Boots
> Are Made For Walking.
"Love Eyes" is correct. It appears on Rhino's 1986 NS hits
compilation Boots; not sure of any digital incarnations.
According to Nancy in the LP's liner notes, Lee apparently
wrote the song as a trope for the word "Levi's", as in the
jeans. Thus, "My world lies right there in your Levi's."
--Phil M.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 21:41:51 -0000
From: astro4004
Subject: Re: "Cuddly Toy" -- Nilsson/Monkees
Roger Smith wrote:
> Some people have said that the line "you're not the only
> choo-choo train" in "Cuddly Toy" implies a gang-rape scenario.
> Although Harry seemed to back up this interpretation in a couple
> of interviews, most of the time, when asked about it, he said
> that the song is a little risqué, but not *that* risqué.
I remember reading about the Cuddly Toy/ "Hell's Angels gang bang"
story in the liner notes of one of the Monkees CD reissues, but
could never suss out the lyric that was supposed to illustrate it.
Thanks for shedding some light! The choo-choo train metaphor is
rather subtle (maybe a tad strained - perhaps all a publicity gag
by Nilsson?) so I can see how the censors might not have caught it.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 21:11:29 -0000
From: Rob Stride
Subject: The Symbols
I've just played a track to musica. It's a cover of the Ronettes
classic "Do I Love You" performed by 60's UK harmony band The
Symbols. They had minor success in the UK, No 44 in Aug 1967 with
a cover of Four Seasons track "Bye Bye Baby" and No 25 in Jan 1968
with a cover of the Ronettes " Best Part Of Breaking Up".
The Bass Player Mick Clarke went on to be a founder member of 70's
band The Rubettes. Now he can often be found performing Duo Gigs
with Tony Rivers.
Hope you enjoy it.
Rob
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 20:47:43 +0100
From: Ken Silverwood
Subject: Re: Oriole & Nancy Sinatra
Ian:
> Nancy Sinatra did the original of "Like I Do" in '62, quite
> a different arrangement to Maureen Evans' hit version. I've
> always liked both equally.
Well, I'm really surprised, I didn't know Nancy Sinatra had
recorded before 1965 & " So Long Babe" is the pre 65 stuff
available anywhere, I presume it was through Reprise?
Oriole, yellow & black, what other incarnation's were there,
do I recall silver & blue? Oh! if only I'd bought the early
Tamla releases. Maureen Evans, she brought out loads of singles
on Oriole, only hit with one though. I always thought she'd
dented the American charts with "Like I Do" but a quick look
tells me I'm wrong.
A couple of quickies for Mick to ask of Tony Hatch if possible,
the impeccable choice of top tunes the Searchers had as "A" sides
where they all supplied by Chris Curtis as I believe he had an
impressive collection of US 45s. And what was it like working
with Benny Hill?
Ken On The West Coast
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 19:07:13 +0100
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Chicago scene
A couple more Chicago points...
I'm afraid I've always thought that "I Call My Baby STP"
was a really weak follow up to "Last Time Around". The
subject matter was a couple of years out of date and
structurally the song is a bit of a mess. Don't get me wrong,
I could listen to hot rod songs all day, I just think the
Del-vettshad something stronger in them. Obviously Clark and
Bob would disagree - I wish I shared their appreciation - it's
the only Del-vetts 45 I actually own!
There is actually a pretty decent Del-vetts website at:
http://members.aol.com/delvett/welcomepage.index.html
Did any of you Chicago experts ever catch the group live?
I would strongly recommend American Breed fans to search out
the soundtrack to the Rod Steiger/Lee Remick movie "No Way To
Treat A Lady" (Dot '68) as it contains the Breed singing "A
Quiet Place". This track, which didn't appear on any of their
LPs is, for me, the best of all their "soft" stuff - a really
beautiful piece of music. As far as I know the album has never
been reissued.
Guy
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 09:00:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Suzanna Hoffs + Cuddly Toy =
Alan Gordon:
> I had the distinct pleasure of comforting Ms. Hoffs
> when......She came into the studio all upset that she
> had "dinged" a car in a supermarket parking lot with
> her newly rented car.
Did you try to claim the dinged car was yours, but
you'd be willing to forget it all if only she'd. . .
we're ready for the story about skinnydipping with
the Go-Gos now.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 10:32:15 EDT
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Songs of Ricky Page
Ricky Page's name should be fairly well known to listers as a
session singer that appeared on many of the big hits of the 60s.
She was the Crypt-Kickers on Monster Mash, sang background on
Nancy and Lee's Jackson. Just to name a few.
Ricky Page recorded a version of Harper Valley PTA in Nashville
about the same time as Jeannie C Riley. Ricky Page's version
sounded more country, less hick-ish than Jeannie C. Riley's.
Spar Records (the label it was on) was largely associated with
issuing covers of recent hits on its Hit Records label. But this
cover (Ricky's Harper Valley PTA) got sole listing on the Seattle
charts (KOL 1300 & KJR 950), debuting August 16, 1968 at KOL.
Vancouver's 730 CKLG listed both Page's and Riley's versions.
Riley didn't chart nationally until August 24th, 1968 (Cash Box).
Ricky's Harper Valley PTA was on the Spar label and distributed in
Canada by London Records. Apparently London had better distribution
in the great Northwest than the independent Plantation label (also
from Nashville) that had the Riley version out.
Does anyone on the list have airchecks or radio station surveys with
stations playing Ricky Page's Harper Valley PTA. It was number one
for the week of Sept 6, 1968 on CKLG Vancouver. #17 on KOL week of
Aug 16, 1968. Made it up to Number 3 on KJR in September 1968.
Is there a Ricky Page discography available?
Thanks!
Paul Urbahns
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 19:13:29 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Al Hazan
Mike Edwards wrote:
> This and other detailed information about Al Hazan was put
> together by Martin Roberts at: http://www.alhazan.com/index.html
As much as I agree with his praise for the site, the credit belongs
to Rex Strother. Al Hazan's 'Early Days' page on Jack Nitzsche at
Spectropop http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/AlHazan.htm offers
a link to Al's own page administered by Rex.
Like you Mike I share a healthy regard for Al's musical and writing
skills. Al also wrote part one of Bonnie's "Home Of The Brave Story"
- on Spectropop, http://www.spectropop.com/HOTB/index.htm
A little bird tells me we can expect some exciting new developments
from Al Hazan and Rex Strother - stay tuned!
Martin
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2003 20:25:51 -0000
From: Rob Stride
Subject: Harmonies and a new Group........Harmony High
Hi everyone just to let you know that I've set up a new group
for fans of harmony acts. I hadn't intended to set one up but
I couldn't find a group that dealt solely with harmony groups.
So if you're into The Beach Boys, Four Seasons, Yellow Balloon,
Montanas, Chris Rainbow, Adrian Baker, Jellyfish, Turtles, Four
Freshmen etc or anything at all to do with harmonies, check it
out. MP3s Photos & Discographies:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/harmonyhigh
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Message: 22
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 12:25:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tom Taber
Subject: Re: "Cuddly Toy" -- Nilsson/Monkees
> ...the song is a little risqué, but not *that*
> risqué.
When I was 17, I thought that those "choo-choo" lines
just meant "you weren't the first thing to ever be
treated as an object, and tossed aside in a big
hurry," but Nilsson said it much more cleverly. At
about-to-be-53, I still think the same.
As Freud said, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Tom Taber
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Message: 23
Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2003 20:42:39 -0000
From: Rob Stride
Subject: The Glaswegian Brian Wilson
I've just played to musica a track by Chris Rainbow,
a self-confessed Brian Wilson fan. Chris released a number
of singles in the 70s without getting the chart success
that he really deserved. He later made many appearances
on Alan Parsons Project albums. A friend of mine inter-
viewed him back in the early 80s and was suprised to find
that Chris has a very broad Glaswegian accent and a severe
speech impediment, but he also saw the humour in that
problem: When my friend (Eamon Percival, sadly no longer
with us) asked Chris which acts he had produced, Chris
looked at him over his beer can and started stuttering
"I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I'll write
it down it will b, be quicker." The man is modest has
humility and talent by the bucket-loads and I'm a huge fan.
Listen to "Dansette" - Chris does all the vocals and it
really is a work of art. Hope you enjoy it.
Rob
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Message: 24
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 17:01:34 -0400
From: Roger Smith
Subject: Re: "Cuddly Toy" -- Nilsson/Monkees
> I was always under the impression that the term "choo-choo
> train" indicated a "gang-bang" as opposed to a "gang-rape"
> meaning that the acts were consensual.
Yes, that's what I meant.
In any case, I think Harry was just using a metaphor for the
girl having slept with the guy who then leaves her. It was
only after someone else suggested the "gang-bang" scenario
that he started mentioning it.
-- Roger
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Message: 25
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 20:00:10 EDT
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: Del-Vetts
Guy Lawrence is right about The Del-Vetts' "I Call My
Baby STP" being behind the times. What I love about it
is that in the Midwest, there were so few pop and garage
bands into the surf/drag thing--it seemed a tribute to the
Beach Boys, Jan & Dean and all the others (plus the guys
apparently had a contract with STP Oil Treatment to hype
their decals!)
We don't need Clear Channel or any of these
conglomerate radio empires that prefer to play England Dan
and Foreigner etc. over 6Ts stuff. We've got a great bunch
of fans and online stations right here, not to mention many
talented people who have been a part of it. I've said it
before......it's really great to know that there are people
in their twenties on groups like this who appreciate the 6Ts
legacy whether they like Puff Daddy and Sarah McLachlan or not!
Bobster
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