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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 10 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Skip
From: Steve Harvey
2. Happenings on Musica from WBZ Boston!
From: Clark Besch
3. Jeff Barry + Ellie Greenwich = Billy Mitchell
From: Stuffed Animal
4. Blackwells
From: Michael Gessner
5. Re: High Coin
From: Lee
6. Re: Needles and Pins by Love and Tears, 1971
From: Shea Ryan
7. Re: High Coin
From: Bob Hanes
8. Suits you sir!
From: Martin Roberts
9. Help needed
From: S'pop Team
10. Re: Needles and Pins by Love and Tears, 1971
From: Tom Taber
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 19:05:55 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Skip
Skip Battin was one of the nicest members of the Byrds that I
ever met. Would love to hear his version of "High Coin". The
Indian Beating the Drum label: Chattahoochee is the label,
but it was a solo singer.
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 06:46:37 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Happenings on Musica from WBZ Boston!
Mike Edwards wrote:
> "When Summer's Through" is an excellent seasonal song in
> spite of its bridesmaid status. Enjoy this version by the
> Chiffons now playing at musica.
Hi, I found Mike Edwards' comments and playing of the Chiffons'
"When Summer's Through" to musica quite interesting, as I'd
never heard their version. His commentary on the Happenings'
version being a single "B" side is true, but I was able to hear
it thanks to WBZ's "Nightlife" show in January 1968 during the
height of "the sound of Boston". I really like the Happenings'
version and keep it in my 1000+ fave singles. Unfortunately,
I couldn't dig the 45 out at the moment, so at the risk of being
kicked off Musica forever (gasp!), I am posting my recording off
WBZ Boston (DJ is, I believe, Dave Michaels) as they played it
to a kid in Dodge City, Kansas in January 1968 with commentary
and fading (SORRY). Since I know many of you listened to WBZ at
night, this might be a treat from that respect, even if you don't
like the Happenings song. I doubt Spectropop will keep it up
long, so if you wanna hear it, tune in now!
Take care,
Clark Besch
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 13:10:35 +0000
From: Stuffed Animal
Subject: Jeff Barry + Ellie Greenwich = Billy Mitchell
I just acquired a single credited to Billy Mitchell, on Jubilee
5400. This would've come out late 1962 or early '63. The A-side
is "Short Skirts," an early Ellie Greenwich composition co-written
with Jimmy Curtiss. The B-side is "You Know I Do," a Jeff Barry
original that was later recorded by The Edsels under the title
"Shaddy Daddy Dip Dip." Jeff has yet to confirm it to me, but I
am 100% certain that he is singing both lead and background vocals
on this single. I believe he produced it, too, though there are
no production credits on the label (Richard Wolfe was the arranger).
"Short Skirts" is a scream and a half to listen to, by the way....
you haven't lived until you've heard Jeff croon "How I love to see
my baby's knees!"
Stuff
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 10:01:43 -0400
From: Michael Gessner
Subject: Blackwells
I've been a Blackwells fan since I heard "You Took Advantage
Of Me". What's the story with this group? Can anyone post "You
Took Advantage of Me", it's a terrific song.
Thanks,
Mike
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 11:06:42 -0400
From: Lee
Subject: Re: High Coin
Regarding the Skip Battyn version of "High Coin", the right
Rev. Bob Hanes (a member of this group) has a copy of this
record in his collection. A few years back, when I got to
interview Van for ESQ, I showed him the record, and he was
very surprised to see a copy.
I believe it also lists an arranger credit for Van Dyke on
the label, correct Bob?
Lee
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 15:16:22 -0000
From: Shea Ryan
Subject: Re: Needles and Pins by Love and Tears, 1971
David A. Young:
> Great news, in the form of positive identification, for
> Ton Borsboom and everyone else wondering who did the
> version of "Needles and Pins" ..... it's by Love and Tears,
> and was released in the United States in 1972 on Polydor 15038.
Ton Borsboom:
> It's a very different version than the ones I already know
> and that's what it made so interesting for me.
> Thanks for giving me the information I was looking for.
Hi, to those interested,
I discovered a few posts in earlier digests, and wanted to address
the mystery single, "Needles and Pins" by Love and Tears (Polydor,
1971, a Dieter Behlinda/Michael Holms production)... I, too, was
entranced by this VERY different version of the old pop standard...
since its limited airplay in 1971-1972, as a matter of fact.
My older brother scored a radio promo single in 1976 from a sale at
a closing college radio station, and, after I'd begged long enough,
gave me a cassette with the song on it. We both knew NOTHING about
this band, save for the producers (Behlinda/Holms), label (Polydor)
and that the band was Dutch.
During the next 30 years, I searched for this band/single regularly,
with no luck. With the arrival of the internet came more
disappointment (try typing either Needles and Pins, or Love and
Tears, into a search field and see what you get--tons of nothing)...
Finally, just two weeks ago, I struck gold:
http://www.hans-juergen-gritz.gmxhome.de/dj/cover1.htm
This URL led me to DJHansi, who graciously wrote back (albeit in
awkward English to my clumsy Babelfish translation to German) and
gave me a wealth of info on this band. There is not enough room
here to share it all. Visit the link above, and also the one below
...and the mystery will be solved.
I now have in my collection the complete "Love and Tears" album on
CD, as well as several post-LP singles in both Dutch/German and
English...
Hope this helps others who might be on a 'quest' for more info on
this obscure (but incredibly talented) Dutch band and their short-
lived (1971 - 1974) international career...
G.G. Anderson's site (he was the lead singer - Gerd Grabowski -
for Love and Tears)is:
http://www.gganderson.de/biographie.htm
Shea
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 12:44:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bob Hanes
Subject: Re: High Coin
I have a version of "High Coin", as a 45 on the Record,
record label, by Skip Battyn (the spelling on the label, not
mine). It was produced and arranged by VDP. I have sent a
copy to Van Dyke and he promised to, "get back to me" after he
had time to listen to all I sent. The only commentary he made,
in the last year, about said "care package", was to i.d. the
players on the Steeltown Two and Steeltown Three singles, with
his brother Carson. Nothing about Skip, the single was also
issued on another label, whose name escapes me, along with
another single Van had a hand in. Those records are wa-a-ay
upstairs in my record room and I'm too lazy to go look. If
someone really wants the information, I'll dig it up for them.
They'll have to contact me online at my above addy.
Whether this precedes the other versions, particularly the
Charlatans, I don't know, but I suspect as much! Very
bluegrass-y version by Skip, sorta demo-y. (Don't cha love the
way I'm using y's to make my point? Me either!)
The Right Reverend Bob, Dumb Angel Chapel,
Church of the Harmonic Overdub
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 23:34:29 +0100
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Suits you sir!
It is now becoming a strange compulsion to reply to most messages
from Simon, so continuing his 'shopkeepers and the stars' post...
In the 70s, when I managed a shop in Carnaby Street, one of my
customers was Alvin Stardust (aka Shane Fenton). Not sure what he
bought but I have a vague memory it was a black 'tank top'.
Whatever garment it was I'm sure he looked very fetching.
Martin
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 23:52:27 +0100
From: S'pop Team
Subject: Help needed
Hi all,
The S'pop Team need your help. We have a new project in the
pipeline for which we are in urgent need of some label scans.
Can anyone supply scans of the following discs please:
'Green Light' - American Breed, Ventures, Vulcanes
'Feelin' Kinda Sunday' - Frank and Nancy Sinatra
'Your Kinda Lovin' - Rick Nelson, Knickerbockers
'Sensual Man' - Vicki Lawrence
'Danny Come Home' - Nana Mouskouri
'You've Got To Be In Love (To Love A Love Song)' - Brady Bunch
'Instant Happy' - Johnny Mann Singers, Don Ho
'I Get Carried Away' - Tom Jones
'I Love What You Did With The Love I Gave You' - Sonny & Cher
'I Ain't No Miracle Worker' - Brogues, Chocolate Watch Band
'I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night' - Electric Prunes
'Get Me To The World On Time' - Electric Prunes
'She's Somethin' Else' - Freddy Cannon
'Love Songs Are Getting Harder To Sing' - Maureen McGovern
Or, indeed, any versions of any songs written by Annette Tucker.
If so, please reply to the following address and we'll get
back to you: project@spectropop.com
Many thanks,
The S'pop Team
Spectropop - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 17:01:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tom Taber
Subject: Re: Needles and Pins by Love and Tears, 1971
I got my copy way back when, very possibly the day I
visited the Lockport, NY radio station circa 1976, and
asked them if I could go through the several thousand
promo 45s they had accumulated since 1968 or so, in
search of a Jan and Dean record I couldn't find
anywhere else. Well, I didn't find it there, either,
but I asked what I could pay the P.D. for my teetering
14 inch pile of their "junk" 45s that I had found that
appeared "interesting." "Just get 'em out of here,"
he replied. Oh, happiness!
I've put that "Needles" version on several various
artist tapes/cdrs I've done over the years, and it
always sounds good, no matter what kind of music
surrounds it.
Tom Taber
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