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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 12 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. The Millennium, Sandy Salisbury, and Randy Meisner on Sonic Past Music Label
From: Ron Weekes
2. Re: Hamilton Camp
From: Art Longmire
3. Re: Hamilton Camp, "Here's To You"
From: Art Longmire
4. Re: Mommie Dearest - Cissy Houston
From: Shawn Baldwin
5. Re: Hamilton Camp, "Here's to You"
From: Art Longmire
6. Re: Brute Force
From: Mike Rashkow
7. Re: Hamilton Camp
From: Dan Hughes
8. 3 New Eddie Rambeau Tracks
From: Rosemarie
9. You Go Go Girl
From: Patrick Rands
10. Re: Big O PPM Crosby lyrics
From: Tom Taber
11. Steve Harvey @ Goodwill
From: Mike Edwards
12. Re: Hamilton Camp
From: Phil Milstein
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 16:00:10 -0000
From: Ron Weekes
Subject: The Millennium, Sandy Salisbury, and Randy Meisner on Sonic Past Music Label
Not too long ago, Kingsley posted some info about the new releases
being distributed by Sound City Entertainment. These Millennium
related releases are on Joey Stec's Sonic Past label. Here's my
review on the label's first three releases.
Ron Weekes
July 15, 2003
There is no arguing the fact that some of the most melodic and
memorable music of the late Sixties came from Gary Usher, Curt
Boettcher and Keith Olsen produced groups like The Millennium and
Sagittarius. Although not as commercially successful compared to
the popular music of the day, listening to this music over thirty
years later proves that the artists who comprised The Millennium and
Sagittarius individually and collectively were well ahead of their
time. Maybe that's why listening to their music in this new
millennium is such a joy.
The dilemma for fans of the Usher, Boettcher, Olsen musical
triumvirate is finding their music in the United States and at a
reasonable price. Over the past few years, original Millennium
member Joey Stec and his Sonic Past Music has released such gems
with foreign labels like Dreamsville in Japan and Poptones in the
U.K. Those of us stateside have had to pay higher import prices to
add these releases to our collection. But this dilemma has been
solved for U.S. fans of Usher's, Boettcher's and Olsen's stable of
artists. Stec will shortly be releasing (July 22) the first three
CDs on his newly created Sonic Past Music label. The first three
releases will be offerings from Sandy Salisbury, The Millennium, and
Randy Meisner.
Even if you have previously purchased the Japanese or U.K. versions
of these releases, I strongly encourage you to lay your money down
and pick up Sonic Past Music's domestic releases when they hit the
shelves in the next few days. The main reason is that each of these
releases, and subsequent Sonic Past Music releases, have been
completely remastered by John Porter (Roxy Music) to be more
sonically compatible with our U.S. stereo systems. Each of these
discs have new liner notes including some never before seen photos.
Liner notes have been written by the likes of Matthew Moring, Jason
Penick, Joe Foster, Randy Meisner, and Gary Usher biographer,
Stephen J McParland. Distributed by Sound City Entertainment, the
discs will have a mid-level list price and will be easily obtained
at stores like Tower Records and Wal-Mart.
Now the question you have all been wondering about: what exactly is
on these first three releases?
First up is Sandy Salisbury's lost classic called "Do Unto Others".
This disc receives its name from Salisbury's first Together
Records single of the same name. This album was recorded back in
1969 with Usher and Boettcher as producers and Olsen as engineer.
The first eleven of the fifteen tracks on this release were slated
to be released as Salisbury's first solo album in September 1969.
Unfortunately, the Together label went under before the album could
be released. Sonic Past Music's release includes all the tracks
that are missing from both the Dreamsville and Poptones releases
plus several alternate mixes. My favorite is the marimba track
from "Once I Knew A Little Dog", which is mixed down in the
completed track.
The gem of these first three releases is The Millennium's "Pieces".
According to Joey Stec, "this is actually pure Millennium!" No
Ballroom or Sagittarius on this release. Recorded prior to Sandy
Salisbury's ill-fated solo release, this Keith Olsen and Paul
Bluff engineered recording includes twenty-one tracks. Although
billed as a disc of outtakes, the band produced such high quality
demos that these could very well be considered as completed tracks.
The biggest selling point is the fact that this release compiles
tracks from three hard-to-find releases from Dreamsville, Poptones,
and Polystar. Missing from this release is a Levi's commercial (no
great loss) and the tune "Love At Last". Hopefully Joey Stec
is holding the latter for release on a subsequent The Millennium
release on his new label. Sonic Past Music's release also
provides the listener with a great anthology of how the individual
artists comprising The Millennium gelled into a phenomenal under
appreciated L.A. supergroup. An A-B comparison between this release
and the actual "Begin" album should provide some great insights and a
long term discussion on such Internet-based discussion groups such as
Spectropop!
Last up is a release I have never heard before. It has been
available as an import, but it's nice to finally see Randy
Meisner's live album from 1982 available here in the U.S. Simply
entitled "Live in Dallas" this fabulous album was recorded on
December 1, 1982 at Nick's Uptown Theatre in Dallas, Texas. The
first time I heard this release was on my car's CD player. My
first impression, sounds like a live Poco/Eagles concert! Backed up
by seven other musicians, Meisner has total control over the group
and their sound is very, very tight. The backup vocals are amazing.
If you are into a country-flavored rock with very tight vocals, this
release is a must for your collection. One suggestion: when you
listen to it, play it loud!!!
So what's next from Sonic Past Music if this isn't enough for
you already? In October we should be seeing three more releases
including a Lee Mallory solo effort, Davey Johnstone's (Elton
John) solo album, and an enhanced CD of Lee Mallory and Joey Stec's
live unplugged concert in Japan. I can't wait. In the meantime, you
know what's playing on my stereo. Play it on yours!
Ron Weekes
http://www.GaryUsher.com
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 23:21:20 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: Re: Hamilton Camp
Hello, Ken.
Thanks for the info, even Hamilton thinks "Here's to You" is obscure.
It made #76 on the Billboard charts in the spring of '68, not that
high, but I sure remember it being played on the radio as a kid. I
know that it was covered by Ian and Sylvia on an album, haven't heard
their version.
Art Longmire
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 23:13:57 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: Re: Hamilton Camp, "Here's To You"
Hello Bill,
Hamilton Camp was really a sort of "Jack of All-Trades"-a folk-pop
musician, actor, and voice-over artist. I have several children's
records on the Scholastic label that feature him as narrator under
the name "Hamid Hamilton Camp" which he went by in the early
seventies. As an actor I've seen him on an episode of the Mary Tyler
Moore show, and may have seen him on many other shows without
realizing it-his resume as a character actor is huge.
I'd definitely like to check out the "Here's to You" LP. One of the
people who dissed it was Richie Unterberger, and Unterberger is well
known for not appreciating some of the great pop music. I do have the
first Quicksilver LP and wouldn't mind hearing Camp's version
of "Pride of Man" as well.
Best,
Art Longmire
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 18:41:28 -0500
From: Shawn Baldwin
Subject: Re: Mommie Dearest - Cissy Houston
Mick Patrick asked of Cissy Houston's biographer Jonathan Singer:
> The other week, UK C4 re-ran a Whitney Houston documentary. I
> realise that you might not want to comment on this but I, for
> one, would like to know if you are of the opinion that Cissy
> Houston, as an overbearing showbiz Mom intent on bestowing
> upon her daughter the stardom she was unable to achieve for
> herself, is in any way responsible for the mess young Whitney
> seems to have made of her personal life?
I don't feel that way at all !Cissy didn't make it as you say
for a lack of talent their are few women who have the vocal
abilities of Cissy Houston are who have contributed to Music what
she has !Whitney wanted to be a star Cissy didnt' want Whitney in
showbusines period maybe for some of the reason's we see but all
in all I think People make way to much of Whitney so called drug
problem as if other Major stars haven't been worse off !Whitney
too me sounds better than ever and doesn't sound like a immitation
of her Mother anymore ,Whitney's 80's Material was really way to
high for her being an alto they were really for someone like her
Mother a Top soprano .It's really sad to me that people are trying
so hard to tear Whitney down yes she has done some things that
maybe people don't like but so have a lot of people .This is why
Cissy didn't want Whitney in SHow business "They Build You Up To
Tear You Down ".!Shawn
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 23:28:27 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: Re: Hamilton Camp, "Here's to You"
Hey Rob,
Got that CD as soon as it came out, just to get the tune on CD (I
purchased the 45 back the same week I heard it in 1984). You're
right, it does have some excellent tunes, including the great pop-
psych gem "Looking At a Baby" by the Collectors (don't miss this
group's first album on Warner Brothers if you can find it)!
Art Longmire
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 20:12:19 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Brute Force
Martin Roberts:
> ..."In Jim's Garage" to musica. This is not only interesting but
> musically enjoyable as well, in a very 'over the top' way! I recall
> Rashkovsky mentioning the recording of this LP, anything to add sir?
Not add, but reiterate; that it was my favorite cut on the LP, that the
production on that LP was first class--Columbia Studio, John Simon Prod.
AND, Ellie, Jeannie and Mikie all the way in the BG parts.
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 19:38:33 -0500
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: Hamilton Camp
Art, I remembered the name of the album I like: WELCOME TO HAMILTON
CAMP.
---Dan
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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 05:04:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rosemarie
Subject: 3 New Eddie Rambeau Tracks
I have updated the Eddie Rambeau Website - and replaced the music on
the homepage with 3 New Tracks by Eddie..
Stop by and listen to them if you get a spare moment.
Rosemarie
http://www.edrambeau.com
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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 14:13:20 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: You Go Go Girl
Hi all,
I've posted my music review of Go Girl. What a wonderful collection,
a lot of love went into this one. If anyone has any corrections for
me, please feel free to email me and I'll correct any inaccuracies.
:Patrick
Go Girl - Dream Babes Volume 4
various artists
label:: RPM
format:: CD
Dream Babes just keeps getting better and better, the further along
the Dream Team get, and Go Girl - Dream Babes Volume Four is yet
another incredible romp into the 1960s Brit Girl Group Singer Sound.
The Dream Team this time around have centered their attention on the
groups, the superstars and the Northern Soul Classics. The groups and
girls included are - The Chantelles, The Orchids, The McKinleys, The
Breakaways, Twiggy, Linda Thorson, Ross Hannaman, Jacki Bond, Paula
Parfitt, and Janie Jones.
Dream Babes is an incredible series of girl group music which came
out in the UK in the 1960s. While I wouldn't say this series is
crucial for everyone - I would definitely have to say that it is
crucial for those who have jumped headlong into the girl group sound
and are hungry for more. For those girl group fans, this is a
treasure trove of some groovy 60s girls. And the series gets better
as it goes along.
click to read the whole review:
http://www.gullbuy.com/buy/2003/7_15/dreambabes4.htm
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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 05:39:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tom Taber
Subject: Re: Big O PPM Crosby lyrics
Eddy Smit wrote:
> Also, I [John Lennon] was always intrigued by the words to a Bing
> Crosby song that went (singing) "Please lend your little ears to me.
> Please ... I was intrigued by the double use of the word "Please".
> So it was a combination of Roy Orbison and Bing Crosby."
Lennon was obviously slightly misquoted. I think the real lyrics were
even cooler - "Please - lend a little ear to my pleas..."
Tom Taber
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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 10:22:58 -0400
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Steve Harvey @ Goodwill
Steve writes:
> Yesterday I did my weekly check down at the local Goodwill.
Very nice message, Steve. Always good to read about people still being
enthused by the vinyl.
Best, Mike
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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 11:12:44 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Hamilton Camp
Dan Hughes wrote:
> And finally, you probably know he's also an actor, having appeared in
> nearly a hundred films. From IMDB: "Has dubious distinction of being
> a cast member on two of television's biggest failures: both "Turn-On"
> (1969) and "Co-ed Fever" (1979) were cancelled after only 1 episode."
I believe Camp was also a semi-regular on M*A*S*H. I also saw him in the
early '70s in an off-Broadway production called Paul Sand's Story
Theater, where he was billed as Hamid Hamilton Camp (had he
semi-converted to Islam?). Very tiny dude -- couldn't have been more
than 5'3", but he had a lot of talent.
--Phil M.
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