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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Dr. Wilson - It's About Time!
From: Mikey
2. Standing in the Shadows of Motown
From: Mike Edwards
3. Dr. Wilson
From: James Cassidy
4. Re: Dr Wilson's Graduation Day
From: Bob Hanes
5. Party togs
From: Bill George
6. Re: Sweetie Baby...
From: Bill George
7. Roy Orbison project
From: Mike Edwards
8. Re: Lisa Hartman
From: Bill George
9. Jackie De Shannon
From: Bill George
10. Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans pics
From: Charles Sheen
11. Re: Roy-like suggestion/Canaries on Dimension
From: Scott
12. Re: Roy-like
From: Bill Craig
13. Re: Graduation Day
From: Andrew
14. A Great Day In Harlem
From: Steve Harvey
15. Re: Gene Pitney "It's Over" medley
From: Andrew
16. Brian Wilson's NYC concert
From: Country Paul
17. Pic of Charlotte O'Hara
From: Rex Strother
18. Re: Roy Orbison
From: Simon White
19. Re: Roy-like
From: Peter Lerner
20. Re: Roy-like
From: Alan V. Karr
21. Re: Roy-like
From: John Henderson
22. Re: Alternate Coasters
From: Guy Lawrence
23. Re: Fake Merseybeat
From: Andres
24. Midnight Joey
From: Michael Gessner
25. Lead Singer of The Butterflys?
From: Stuffed Animal
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 20:18:27 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Dr. Wilson - It's About Time!
Steve Harvey:
> However, wasn't "Graduation Day" the Lettermen, not the
> Beach Boys?
Jimmy B:
> Mine's is by Bobby "Boris" Pickett among others!
Well, "Graduation Day" was a hit for The Four Freshmen, but
it WAS recorded by BOTH The Lettermen and The Beach Boys.
It's on the Beach Boys famous Live LP.
Mikey
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 21:57:13 -0400
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Rashkovsky remarks:
> (Standing in the Shadows of Motown) plays in Britain before
> it plays in North Carolina--what a life.
It is out here on DVD and VHS but not in Britain, I believe.
Amazon.com is listing the DVD starting @ $12.97 - cheaper than
two movie theater tickets, even in Raleigh. That party that Rik
Williams was talking up looks a real blast, though. Too bad we
don't have anything like it in New York.
Mike Edwards
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 21:49:29 -0400
From: James Cassidy
Subject: Dr. Wilson
Phil Milstein, sorry I didn't think ahead to hook up with you at the
Brian Wilson show. Your review was on the money. Small corrections:
"Graduation Day" was written by the Sherman brothers and recorded
originally by the Four Freshman, Brian's fave vocal group; and the
instrumental was "Pet Sounds," not "Let's Go Away..."
Jim Cassidy
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 18:46:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bob Hanes
Subject: Re: Dr Wilson's Graduation Day
The song "Graduation Day" came to the Wilsonian one through
his harmony heroes, The Four Freshman. Who knows how many
vocal groups recorded it?
The Right Reverend Bob, dumb angel chapel,
Church of the Harmonic Overdub
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:13:40 EDT
From: Bill George
Subject: Party togs
I'm looking forward to meeting many of you on Friday. There
may be nametags I think. But one way you can recognize me is
by my T-shirt. I'm planning to wear a shirt featuring the
lovely Jackie DeShannon. (Some of you know me as the publisher
of the "Jackie" newsletter for the Jackie DeShannon Appreciation
Society). So please introduce yourselves to me. I'm rather shy :)
- Bill
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:20:25 EDT
From: Bill George
Subject: Re: Sweetie Baby...
Amber writes:
> Sweetie, Honey, Baby, Lamb.....
That reminds me... has anyone here ever read a trashy novel
titled "Sweetie Baby Cookie Honey?" I can't recall the author.
It is obviously based (inaccurately) on Bette Midler, Neil
Sedaka, and Elton John. Very trashy, and a good summer read.
I don't know if it's still in print, but you can probably find
it on ebay for about a penny.
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Message: 7
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:37:00 -0400
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Roy Orbison project
Great subject for a home CD, Phil. Hope it's as good as your
last one. The Bobby Rydell b-side you featured with Bobby
talking about his trip to the UK for a recording session in
'63 got the whole Tony Hatch thing started here at Spectropop.
Some tunes you might like to consider for this CD:
Jay Black - Running Scared, Atlantic 1975
Jay & The Americans - Crying (UA) 1966
Gene Thomas - Baby's Gone (UA) 1963 Written by Roy Orbison/
Bobby Goldsboro
David Box - If You Can't Say Something Nice (Candix) 1962
Written by Roy Orbison-Joe Melson-Ray Rush
Velvets - Spring Fever (Monument) 1961 Written by Roy Orbison
Velvets - Lana/Laugh (Monument) 1961. Both sides written by
Roy Orbison-Joe Melson
Joe Melson - Barbara (Hickory) 1960 Written by Roy Orbison/
Joe Melson
Probably anything in the 60s from Bobby Goldsboro, Gene Thomas,
Ray Rush and Joe Melson qualifies for inclusion. Joe Melson
"collaborated with Roy Orbison as a songwriter until 1961, then
parted under a cloud. Even Roy admitted the fame wasn't divided
equally" (The Drugstore's Rockin' Vol. 1).
Good luck with the project, Phil
Mike Edwards
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:40:40 EDT
From: Bill George
Subject: Re: Lisa Hartman
Brad Burg wrote:
> I was a songwriter friend of Dene at the time—and became
> the 3rd co-writer on the album, which can be listened to
> online (http://www.lisahartman-black.com/lisahartman.html)--
Thanks for the great link, Brad! Now when is Lisa going to
record a new album!?
- Bill
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:44:06 EDT
From: Bill George
Subject: Jackie De Shannon
Artie Wayne wrote:
> Bill........How ya' doin'? I'm really happy that Rhino
> released Jackie DeShannon's 1972 album....it is one of her
> best! I gave her Van Morrison's "I wanna' roo you" and put
> her together with him to co-write. I'm glad their three songs
> were finally released.
Hi Artie,
Well, I guess we Jackie fans owe you a big thanks! Her work with
Van is excellent. I wish I could have seen them perform together.
They seem like they would have been kindred spirits at that time.
Too bad the rumoured duets album never materialized. Any other
stories about them to tell?
- Bill (serial posting tonight)
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 02:45:34 -0000
From: Charles Sheen
Subject: Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans pics
Hey everyone, sorry I haven't posted anything in a while,
I've been real busy with school and all, anyways we just
found a box of photos and other stuff from the Blue Jeans'
early days, most of which are from New York,(I think you'll
like the Apollo photos). I will post them as soon as I get
back home. I'm still looking for some of my dad's Liberty
stuff so if you guys know where I can get these two songs
please contact me asap
"Seven Million People" and "I'm Talking 'bout My Baby"
Both were acetates. "Seven Million..." was on a Columbia/
Screen Gems disc, about the size of a 78 but was a 45. I'm
sure I won't find this one, 'cause on the top of the label
it said BAD RECORD!
"Talking 'bout My..." was in the same format and sounded
incomplete, maybe playing about 65 secs). Dad said he
recorded "Seven Million People" before the Blue Jeans were
formed so around '61, and "I'm Talking 'bout My Baby" in '63.
Hope all is well with everyone
Rock on
Charles Sheen
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 21:55:23 -0500
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Roy-like suggestion/Canaries on Dimension
Hi Phil,
My suggestion for the Roy-like compilation would be Dusty
Springfield's "I Can't Make It Alone" from "Dusty in Memphis."
Take a listen and see if you agree.
Now my question-- I asked it a few months back and heard
nothing. Does anyone know anything about the group The Canaries
that recorded one single on Dimension records at the end of the
60s?
Cheers!
Scott
in Houston
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Message: 12
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 03:20:47 -0000
From: Bill Craig
Subject: Re: Roy-like
Phil,
This is a record I haven't heard in years but I would think
that Dave Berry's "The Crying Game" would qualify.
Bill Craig
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Message: 13
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 23:57:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Andrew
Subject: Re: Graduation Day
"Graduation Day" was first by the Four Freshmen, and later
by the Vogues; if the Lettermen recorded it, I don't know
about it.
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Message: 14
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:13:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: A Great Day In Harlem
Just saw the above movie tonight outside at the
Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Wilmington, DE. It
deals with a famous 1958 picture of all the famous
jazz artists who showed up for the picture. They were
told to show, no money involved, if they wanted to
have their picture taken. It's amazing how many
appeared.
Seems like a good idea for the Spectropop party. Get a
groupshot shot of the rock and roll braintrust at the
party for posterity.
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Message: 15
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 01:18:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: Andrew
Subject: Re: Gene Pitney "It's Over" medley
Concerning Gene Pitney's "It's Over"/"It's Over" medley:
Years ago, the Gene Pitney Fan Club (I was once a member)
put out a cassette called "The Epic Sessions," which included
Gene's three 1977 Epic singles (one of which was the
aforementioned "It's Over") plus four unreleased tracks,
including a remake of the Gatlin Brothers' country/pop hit
"Broken Lady." It's really too bad Epic didn't put any effort
into promoting Gene while he was there - he still had his chops,
and could've been a real money-maker for them if they'd handled
him right.
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Message: 16
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 01:39:41 -0400
From: Country Paul
Subject: Brian Wilson's NYC concert
Haven't caught up with the last 3 days of dispatches, but
I'm compelled to report - glowingly - on tonight's apparently
sold-out Brian Wilson concert at the Beacon Theatre. In a
phrase, it was a treat! The Wondermints (with a substitute
keyboardist, who was top-shelf) were augmented to a total of
11 pieces (including a female back-up singer and, of course,
Brian). As has been the case for the past two shows I saw, he
sat behind a Yamaha keyboard with two monitors with the lyrics,
never touching the keyboard except to lean on it. However, he
hit all his high notes and let Jeff Foskett do the serious
falsetto parts - which he executed perfectly. Brian was also
somewhat more animated tonight, raising his hands to "conduct"
the band or punctuate a lyric several times, and even nailing
down a half-smile or two; but once again, his voice was fully
smiling and we could feel his happiness in being there.
The first few songs sounded as though they were adjusting levels,
and the band seemed to be working their way through them, but
a few songs into the set they caught fire, and the entire
second set was completely ablaze. The music was sort of The
Beach Boys' Best Hits - many of the greatest, but some very
cool tracks added.
Here's the set list, with a few relevant comments:
Set One:
- Catch A Wave (a cool song to start with)
- Dance Dance Dance
- You're So Good To Me
- In My Room (beautiful as always)
- California Girls (Brian announced it as "the best Beach
Boys record")
- Keep An Eye On Summer (always a fave - by this point things
were groovin')
- Little Deuce Coupe
- Sail On Sailor
- Your Imagination (nicely done, but it points up the richness
of the harmonic progressions on his most creative earlier
work, like...)
- Don't Worry Baby
- Hawaii (what a left-field delight!)
- Row Row Row Your Boat (seemingly an off-the-cuff move to get
the crowd singing a round with him, but then he cut it off
quickly)
- Melt Away (do I have this title right?)
- Wouldn't It Be Nice? (it WAS nice)
- God Only Knows (possibly MY favorite)
- Good Timin' (worked very well live)
- Pet Sounds (Brian turned, faced the band, and got off on
the energized playing)
intermission
Set Two:
- [Jeff Foskett introduced the band - wish I could remember
names]
- Help Me Rhonda (rocked!)
- Darlin'
- Friends (with a brief intro I couldn't identify)
- Please Let Me Wonder (beautiful acapella ending - this is
another personal fave)
- Do It Again (the whole house was on its feet spontaneously,
dancing)
- Sloop John B
- Add Some Music To Your Day
- Marcella (Brian announced it as "our favorite tune"; they
really "cooked it well")
- Good Vibrations
"Encore" set (planned, of course):
- Surfer Girl (you could feel the love in the entire theatre)
- I Get Around (segue into...)
- Barbara Ann (Brian played bass on this; so did the regular
bassist. Segue into...)
- Surfin' USA
- Fun Fun Fun
"Second encore":
- Love and Mercy
I could think of a couple of dozen songs I would have added,
but nothing I would have deleted. Thank you, Brian, thank you,
band.
Brian mentioned from the stage the "Smile" tour in the UK next
year, and that there was a new album coming with various guest
artists, including Elton John.
To all the folks on the list to whom I owe calls - tomorrow!
Meanwhile, hope to see many of you in New York Friday night -
should be great fun!
Love and mercy,
Country Paul
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Message: 17
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 23:31:34 -0600
From: Rex Strother
Subject: Pic of Charlotte O'Hara
Can someone supply with a large, hi-res scan of Charlotte
O'Hara (Matheny) for the Al Hazan website I'm working on
(http://www.alhazan.com)? It is to accompany some text
about her recording of his song "Daydreams".
Of course, this request is meant for off-list response.
Appreciate it!
Rex Strother
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Message: 18
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 06:49:04 +0100
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Roy Orbison
Not sure if this counts but I have a 45 answer record to
"Pretty Woman" called "Lovin' Man" in a more country syle,
but with the same beat. I can't remember the artiste so I'll
have to dig it out.
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Message: 19
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 08:42:39 +0100
From: Peter Lerner
Subject: Re: Roy-like
Anything by the Mavericks. Particularly that slow ballad
that they did.
Peter
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Message: 20
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 09:58:29 -0000
From: Alan V. Karr
Subject: Re: Roy-like
Phil Milstein:
> I have been toying with the idea of putting together a new
> compilation album....the concept would be
> "recordings heavily influenced by Roy Orbison."
Well, don't have time to look up the catalog #s right now but
they're all reissued on CD....
Soundalikes:
David Box's version of "No One Will Ever Know"
- best version in my opinion of this country classic
- B side, 1964 of "Little Lonely Summer Girl"
- best known for being an Buddy Holly acolyte and briefly
a Cricket this late great unheralded talent (who sadly
died in a plane crash) at the time of release was under
Roy's wing
CD- UK Rollercoaster
Blue Rondos' "Little Baby" - UK Pye, 1964
- sadly failed to chart
- much anthologized Meek RGM prod.
- NOT Jimmy Page
- group evolved into prog-rockers Home.
CD-UK Castle/Sequel
Influenced:
Johnny Tillotson's "Without You" - US Cadence, 1961
- from the strings to the backing dum-dum-dum-dums,
definitely a Roy-influenced tune. His greatest hit IMO
Also: his later B-side Judy Judy Judy, featured in the
1963 UK film "JUST FOR FUN"
CD- US Varese, UK Ace (Ace has Judy...)
Regards,
Alan V. Karr
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Message: 21
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 11:42:21 -0000
From: John Henderson
Subject: Re: Roy-like
Phil,
FYI there's a great "Roy Orbison Songbook" CD from "Connoisseur
Collection" 2/3 Fitzroy Mews, London W1P 5DQ. Catalogue # VSOP
CD 215. This contains covers from the Waylon Jennings tune you
mention of "The Crowd" to "It's Over" by Glen Campbell,
"Claudette" by the Everly Bros, "Crying" by Don Mclean, "You've
Got Love" by Buddy Holly, "Uptown" by Robert Gordon, "In Dreams"
by Tom Jones, "Down the Line" by The Hollies, "Blue Bayou" by
Slim Whitman and other tracks featuring Bobby Vee, Bertie
Higgins, Del Shannon, Kitty Wells!!!, Al Green, Johnny Cash, The
Velvets, Bonnie Tyler, Engelbert Humperdinck and Connie Francis.
Not on the above mentioned CD but another interesting cover, from
the movie Mullholland Drive, is "Llornado" (sp?) by Rebekah Del
Rio. This is a Spanish version of "Crying" that simply soars,
particularly in the accapella version.
Gene Pitney does a great job on "Crying," while Jay Black has
admitted publicly that his recording with the Americans fell
far short of the classic Orbison.
Almost any tune based on Ravel's Bolero sounds like "Running
Scared" to me but there's a country tune by Dwight Yoakam, "Fast
As You," that makes an interesting mix with "Oh Pretty Woman."
John
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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2003 13:52:04 +0100
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Re: Alternate Coasters
David Coyle wrote:
> Here's looking forward to a new Coasters compilation.
> The last available US disc besides the budget "Very
> Best Of The Coasters" disc was a 2-CD set called "50
> Coastin' Classics," which was probably passable in the
> early '90s.
"50 Coasting Classics" (Also a Rhino production) was
way more than passable and for me, Rhino will really have
to go some to better it this time 'round. It included half a
disc of Robins stuff, a great booklet and a couple of post
-Atlantic tracks licensed from Sony. It also included one
unreleased track - an excellent Leiber/Stoller demo of
"Shake 'Em Up And Let 'Em Roll" which was also
recorded, but not released, by the Monkees. Thinking
about it, it's highly likely that the new set will be just a
revamp of this one.
> I wish I could have found Sequel's expanded edition of
> their original "Greatest Hits" album, but all I managed to
> snare was the "Coastin' With The Coasters" reissue...
Sequel reissued four albums in all and with the extra tracks
they just about wrapped up everything the Coasters did on
Atlantic. They're all worth getting if you can find them -
some of the later singles, while not quite up there with the
classics, are great fun. "Bull Tick Waltz" and "The PTA"
are two of my personal favourites. Let's hope someone
gets round to doing a similar series - a collection of all the
tracks recorded as the Robins would be pretty essential
too.
Regards,
Guy.
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Message: 23
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 12:24:21 -0000
From: Andres
Subject: Re: Fake Merseybeat
Antonio Vizcarra asked:
> Are there any other American groups who pretended to be
> from England and that tried to cash in on the Merseybeat
> craze that swept America in 1964? Any bands recommended?
I found a very interesting site:
http://www.deathbarney.com/Lets_Be_The_Beatles/Contents.html
Alas, only the "Please Please Me" section is completed but
it's great!
Andres
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Message: 24
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 08:56:00 -0400
From: Michael Gessner
Subject: Midnight Joey
Can someone help me with this? A friend of mine asks,
"1963.. answer song to 'Midnight Mary'. Is the Lorna Dune
title '(Meet you at) Midnight Joey' or just 'Midnight Joey'?"
I emailed Artie Wayne (who wrote the thing). He's aware of
it but never heard it. But he did tell me that Lorna Dune was
in reality Lorna Wright, Gary (Dreamweaver) Wright's sister.
It was on Select Records (they DID have the Glencoves on the
label).
Can someone help or post it to musica.
Thanks a lot.
Mike
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Message: 25
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 13:31:45 +0000
From: Stuffed Animal
Subject: Lead Singer of The Butterflys?
Listening over and over to my copies of The Butterflys'
"Goodnight, Baby" and "I Wonder," the lead singer on these
records sounds to my ears like a very husky Sylvia Peterson.
Sure enough, one of the girls in the Butterflys' publicity
photo resembles Sylvia! Now, I'm not saying that I believe
it's her....but could it be? Or did The Chiffons' Sylvia
have a sister who sang?
Stuff
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