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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 10 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Ashes
From: Art Longmire
2. Re: I Wanna Make You Happy, You've Come Back
From: Ian Chapman
3. Re: Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Ashes
From: Martin Roberts
4. Re: Best/Aspinall; P.B. Conspiracy
From: Phil Milstein
5. Re: Best/Aspinall
From: Andrew Hickey
6. A little something that might be of interest
From: Bob Hanes
7. Lesley Duncan
From: David V. Barrett
8. Re: Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Ashes
From: Art Longmire
9. Re: Pete Best
From: Nick Archer
10. Re: Murray The K
From: Nick Archer
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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 19:46:12 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Ashes
I have a rather beat-up copy of an album called "West Coast
Love-In" that features the Peanut Butter Conspiracy and several
songs by this group in its earlier lineup when it was called
the Ashes. I'm especially interested in the Ashes tracks "Dark
On You Now" and "Every Little Prayer" on this LP. I'm trying to
find out if these songs were ever released on a CD.
The song "Dark On You Now" features Sandi Robison and is hands
down one of my favorite tunes ever. It sounds sort of like a
mixture of the Byrds and the Jefferson Airplane and has a
delightfully spooky feel, as well as a terrific vocal by Sandi
Robison. "Every Little Prayer" is an outstanding harmony pop number,
another real gem. If anybody has heard these please comment - I'm
looking for more feedback.
I have the first Peanut Butter Conspiracy album and "Dark On You"
was re-recorded on it - this second version is somewhat disappointing
and doesn't come close to the original take on "West Coast Love-In".
Art Longmire
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 21:30:05 -0000
From: Ian Chapman
Subject: Re: I Wanna Make You Happy, You've Come Back
Julio Niño asked:
> First of all.... in reference to the song "I Wanna Make You
> Happy", composed by Russ Titelman & Cynthia Weil - I am
> familiar with two versions, one being by Margaret Mandolph and
> the other by Dusty Springfield. I would like to know which of
> the two is the original and if any other versions of this song
> exist.
Hi Julio,
Both versions were recorded in the States - Dusty's produced by
Shelby Singleton and Margaret's by Dave Gates. My sources say
that Margaret's version was released in July '65, whereas Dusty's
was a cut on her US album, "Ooooooweeee!!!", which was released
March '65.
However, I can't tell you which of the two was recorded first,
the true criteria for determining originality, I guess.
There was another version by Jackie & Gayle, on Mainstream 629.
> Secondly, do any other versions exist of "You´ve Come Back" by
> Van McCoy apart from the version sung by Lesley Gore?
P.J Proby, who reached #25 in the UK chart with it in '66.
Ian
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Message: 3
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:07:15 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Re: Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Ashes
Sorry Art, I've no CD info on the songs you mentioned and
I've not heard "Dark On You Now" - I would like to, if you
can play to musica. "Every Little Prayer" however, is as you
describe, an excellent harmony number.
However the A-Side, the Jackie De Shannon/Nick De Caro-written
"Is There Anything I Can Do" is better still!
Your description of "Dark On You Now"...
> It sounds sort of like a mixture of the Byrds and the
> Jefferson Airplane and has a delightfully spooky feel, as well
> as a terrific vocal by Sandi Robison
...fits this song to a tee; plus strong vocal backing. Produced
Richard Delvy, engineered by Larry Levine. A Gold Star goodie!
Martin
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 16:35:36 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Best/Aspinall; P.B. Conspiracy
Andrew Hickey wrote:
> but is basically just one of two drummers (the other being his
> half-brother/Neil Aspinall's son, Roag Best).
A bit off the topic, but this line makes me curious about the
familial relationship between Pete Best and Neil Aspinall. I'm
getting a bit dizzy trying to deduce it from Andrew's reference.
This wouldn't be one of those "I'm My Own Grandpaw" types of
situations, would it?
Art Longmire wrote:
> The song "Dark On You Now" features Sandi Robison and is hands
> down one of my favorite tunes ever. It sounds sort of like a
> mixture of the Byrds and the Jefferson Airplane and has a
> delightfully spooky feel, as well as a terrific vocal by Sandi
> Robison.
Art, your description of this track is most intriguing. Are you
able to play it to musica?
--Phil M.
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 23:42:22 +0100
From: Andrew Hickey
Subject: Re: Best/Aspinall
Andrew:
> (Pete Best)..is basically just one of two drummers (the
> other being his half-brother/Neil Aspinall's son, Roag Best).
Phil Milstein:
> A bit off the topic, but this line makes me curious about the
> familial relationship between Pete Best and Neil Aspinall. I'm
> getting a bit dizzy trying to deduce it from Andrew's reference.
> This wouldn't be one of those "I'm My Own Grandpaw" types of
> situations, would it?
According to MOJO's Beatles special last year Neil Aspinall (who
was Pete Best's friend before he met the rest of the Beatles) was
living with Pete Best and had an affair with Best's mother, Mona
Best. Roag Best was their child. Apparently when Aspinall decided
to stick with the Beatles after Best's sacking, he was evicted and
basically lost contact with his son.
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 14:49:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bob Hanes
Subject: A little something that might be of interest
I received this from a pal of mine we call Uncle Mort. I
think at least some of you will be more than a little interested
and entertained by this:
> Subject: blind dj in mexico
> Mexico City 1964: The first rock DJ I ever heard when I
> discovered the big beat, was the blind LARRY JOHNSON on his
> weekend nights. He's written his autobiography, perhaps you'll
> give it a look:
> MEXICO BY TOUCH - True life experiences of a blind American DeeJay
> by LARRY P. JOHNSON ISBN 1-4107-3590-7 http://www.1stbooks.com
>
> It is available from that website either as an E-book or paperback.
> There is a short description of the book, something about the author
> and a peak preview from one of the chapters. I hope you buy it, like
> it and tell a friend. In about 30 days, it's also going to be
> available from: Barnes & Noble, Borders, amazon.com and walmart.com
>
> Larry
The Right Reverend Bob, dumb angel chapel,
Church of the Harmonic Overdub
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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2003 01:30:47 +0100
From: David V. Barrett
Subject: Lesley Duncan
>From the Spectropop Bulletin Board:
Hi. I'm posting this really for Mick Patrick, Malcolm
Baumgart and especially Ian Chapman, though other list
members might also be interested.
The three of you are acknowledged for your contributions in
Val Jennings' liner notes to the CD reissues of Lesley
Duncan's first two albums. Although these originally date
from 1971 and 1972, Lesley Duncan was a backing singer to
Dusty Springfield in the Sixties (and vice versa, I think),
released at least eight singles in that decade, and has been
mentioned several times in your discussion forum --
including Ian's mention of her "quite folky and brooding"
unreleased single "I've Gotta Make A Call" (I'd love to hear
that!) -- hence my trusting it will be okay for me to
mention her here.
Like many other artists from that time, although she has not
recorded for years she has not been forgotten. There is an
excellent fan website at http://lesleyduncan.tripod.com ,
and an email group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lesleyduncan4scorner . I've
been involved in both of these since very early on, and am
keen to increase awareness of Lesley's wonderful music
through these, through reviews of her albums on amazon,
through my own band perhaps playing some of her songs, and
in any other way possible. (I first discovered her albums in
1972, and have loved them ever since.)
So -- anyone who remembers "Sing Children Sing", "Earth
Mother", the classic "Love Song" (recorded by Elton John and
150+ others!) and the song Ian raves about, "I Go To Sleep",
why not check out the site, then come and share your
thoughts with the rest of us in the group?
Thanks for your attention.
David
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:22:32 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: Re: Peanut Butter Conspiracy, The Ashes
Martin Roberts wrote:
> Sorry Art, I've no CD info on the songs you mentioned and
> I've not heard "Dark On You Now" - I would like to, if you
> can play to musica. "Every Little Prayer" however, is as you
> describe, an excellent harmony number.
> However the A-Side, the Jackie De Shannon/Nick De Caro-written
> "Is There Anything I Can Do" is better still!
Hello, Martin
I didn't realize "Is There Anything I Can Do" was written by Jackie
DeShannon and Nick DeCaro. I'm a big Jackie DeShannon fan. In fact I
don't remember that song at all, gotta go back and check it out.
Unfortunately, "Dark On You Now" on my album has a substantial crack
in it so it skips - I don't play it much because I'm afraid it will
damage my phonograph needle. "Every Little Prayer" I recorded on a
mix tape years ago. I never was able to locate another copy of this
album. By the way, I once corresponded with a guy named Dr. Steve who
had a psychedelic music website - he'd heard both versions of "Dark On
You Now" and told me that Sandi Robison passed away a few years ago.
She was certainly an underrated singer.
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 17:59:30 -0500
From: Nick Archer
Subject: Re: Pete Best
Didn't Pete Best score the first Crocodile Dundee movie?
Check out Nashville's classic SM95 on the web at
http://www.live365.com/stations/nikarcher
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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 17:54:20 -0500
From: Nick Archer
Subject: Re: Murray The K
I have run across both the Murray the K album and Gary Stevens'
WMCA album in local used record stores this week. If anyone wants
one, email me off-group.
Nick Archer
Nashville
Check out Nashville's classic radio station SM95 on the web at
http://www.live365.com/stations/nikarcher
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