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Volume #0107 June 26, 1998
See label for correct playing order:
_______________________________________________________
Subject: "The Letter" by the Box Tops
Sent: 06/25/98 3:59 pm
Received: 06/25/98 11:54 pm
From: Scott Bauman, ScottBauXXXX@XXX.msn.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
Javed Jafri, javedjaXXXX@XXXt.ca wrote:
>I think the hit version of "The Letter" by the Box Tops was the
>first one to be released. After that came the versions by the
>Arbors and of course Joe Cocker. It's funny that you should
>mention a different version by the Box Tops though. I recall
>hearing a version on the oldies stations in the early 80's and it
>sounded like a re-recording but it was announced as by the Box
>Tops. I think I heard this version several times. It may have been
>recorded when Alex Chilton got back together with the Box Tops for
>the oldies package tours in the 80's. Perhaps it was an
>alternate-take from the 60's that somehow made it's way to the
>oldies stations. I'm sure someone will shed some light on this
>unless we're both losing our minds Doc.
You're not losing your mind. Several years ago, I was representing
the major record companies in litigation against companies that
were selling "oldies" albums without securing rights to the master
recordings. Usually, these companies either claimed rights to the
master recordings through some bogus chain of title or claimed
that the recordings on their albums were re-recordings of the
original hits. As part of my job, I listened to many of these
albums to determine whether the recordings were originals or
re-recordings. Almost always, the alleged re-recordings were, in
fact, the original recordings. However, the version of "The Letter
" on one of these albums CLEARLY was a re-recording. The voice was
most certainly Alex Chilton, but it sounded like the Alex Chilton
from his "High Priest" album days and not the gruff blue-eyed soul
days of the Box Tops. Perhaps this is the version that you heard on
the radio.
-- Scott
---------------[ archived by Spectropop ]---------------
Subject: A Thousand Dees, & WhutsaRonette
Sent: 06/25/98 6:47 pm
Received: 06/25/98 11:54 pm
From: Jack Madani, Jack_MadXXXX@XXX12.nj.us
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
I'm sorry that I can't contribute anything to the discussion of
Dee Dee Sharpe, but I thought that I would toss in a tidbit about
a different Dee, Big Dee Walker. I like her Spector-Zip-A-Dee-Doo-
Dah-knockoff, Swinging On A Star. Then, just recently I bought this
disc of a mid-eighties British chantoosie named Dee Walker ("Jump
Back!" Tangerine Records TangCD6); the packaging of the disc makes
it look like a 60's-swingin'-groovy-London sorta thing, but in fact
the sound is very much contemporary mid-eighties-revisionist
girlgroup; the best description I can think of is to say that it's
like a minor league version of the stuff that Tracey Ullman was
doing, particularly Tracey's cover of Breakaway. Was that clear
enough? Should I put in more hyphens? Hoo boy, I'm having a tough
time this morning....
Anyway......There is ONE song on this Dee Walker disc that gets it
exactly right: A cover of Swinging On A Star, obviously done
because of the Dee/Dee connection.
>That was Kathy Young with The Innocents' #3 hit from October of
>1960, on Indigo 108. To me, the song drives me crazy because her
>voice is so off-pitch, but hey -- she was only 15 when she sang it,
>so she can be forgiven. :-)
OTOH, that never seemed to bother Brenda Lee.
Say, if you're a fan of that primitive girlgroup singing (and in
fact I'm sorta ambivalent about that empty-recording-studio sound,
which I think might be characterized as earliest-stage Spector),
there's the compilation on Ace "Early Girls Vol.1" (CDCHD 608). It
includes Kathy Young's 1961 recording of The Great Pretender (
Indigo 117). I originally got this disc for Robin Ward's Wonderful
Summer, which I have since found on some other discs--thanks to
some members of this list--but I still keep this disc for songs
like Betty Everett's original version of You're No Good, the
Exciters' original Do-Wah-Diddy, Dodie Stevens' Pink Shoe Laces (
man o man!), the Murmaids' Popsicles & Icicles, and Reparata's
Whenever A Teenager Cries. The stuff that leaves me cold is stuff
like Toni Fisher's West of the Wall (Berlin Wall, that is; just
how big is the subgenre of Cold War GirlGroup Records?), Bonnie
Guitar's Dark Moon, and Janie Grant's Triangle. This disc also
includes the Blossoms' "Son-In-Law," an answer record to Ernie K.
Doe's "Mother-In-Law."
>Phil should convey to the Ronettes their just due as they
>were an integral part of the Phil Spector sound
[snip]
>yes, it's only a song but it made #1 with RONNIE'S voice...NOT
>Phil's...Veronica is asking for what's hers and the Ronettes
Having read Ronnie's autobiography, I have to wonder what the
contracts will say about the payment of moneys, because from
Ronnie's own admission, Nedra and Estelle are actually singing on
a verrrrry few of the "Ronettes" records. Certainly Ronnie herself
should have a very strong case at least on the face of it, but I
wonder about the the other two. Would that mean that the amount of
the settlement would have to be cut by two-thirds?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack Madani - Princeton Day School, The Great Road,
Princeton, NJ 08540 Jack_MadXXXX@XXX12.nj.us
"It is when the gods hate a man with uncommon abhorrence that they
drive him into the profession of a schoolmaster." --Seneca, 64 A.D.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------[ archived by Spectropop ]---------------
Subject: Dee Dee's Gospel
Sent: 06/25/98 4:29 am
Received: 06/25/98 8:18 am
From: David Feldman, feldXXXX@XXXderables.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
John Mahoney said:
> If you mean "Songs Of Faith" (Cameo C-1022) from 1962, I was able
> to track down some LPs at Les Harris' web site at:
> http://www.stic.net/users/lharris/
>
John,
I don't think this is the one. As I recollect, Dee Dee married
Kenny Gamble (or was it Leon Huff?) and the album I'm referring to
might have been credited as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble or Dee Dee Gamble,
although I don't think so. Somewhere, I have a review of the album.
I'll try to find it.
Dave Feldman
CD of the Month: "Imagination" (Brian Wilson)
Word of the Week: tenderloin
Movie of the Month: Bulworth
Best Time Killer of the 90's: Filling out the UPDATED gender
survey at "http://www.imponderables.com"
---------------[ archived by Spectropop ]---------------
Subject: Re: The Letter
Sent: 06/25/98 4:32 am
Received: 06/25/98 8:18 am
From: Big L, biXXXX@XXXtmail.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
>It's funny that you should
>mention a different version by the Box Tops though. I recall
>hearing a version on the oldies stations in the early 80's and it
>sounded like a re-recording but it was announced as by the Box
>Tops.
Javed, I have an "alternate" version on one of those greatest hits
tapes that sounds like an earlier mix than the hit version. The
organ is a bit different, also the lead vocal. Could that be the
one in question?
Big L Check out my Radio Legends pages at:
biXXXX@XXXtmail.com http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/9816
---------------[ archived by Spectropop ]---------------
Subject: Requesting Some Information Re: Gary Usher
Sent: 06/25/98 5:55 pm
Received: 06/25/98 11:54 pm
From: Brad Elliott, surfXXXX@XXXnline.net
To: Spectropop Mailing List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
Originally, I sent this response directly to Scott Bauman, but at
his request I've agreed to post it to the list as well. Apparently
, several people are interested in what I had to say. Anyway, I
wrote:
Scott,
That was quite an interesting list of songs you posted to the
Spectropop List. I'll do my best to help you.
These I can nail down definitely for you:
> Beach Party (Usher/Christian)
>From the movie of the same name. Recorded by Annette on ANNETTE'S
BEACH PARTY (1964) and by Frankie Avalon on MUSCLE BEACH PARTY AND
OTHER MOVIE SONGS (1964).
> Bikini Drag (Christian/Usher)
>From the movie "Bikini Beach." Performed in the movie by The
Pyramids, but never released on record.
> Cycle Set (Christian/Usher)
>From the movie "Beach Blanket Bingo." Performed in the movie by
The Hondells (whose version was never put on record) -- recorded
by Donna Loren on BEACH BLANKET BINGO (1965).
> Everybody's Runnin Wild (Christian/Brian Wilson/Usher)
Aka "Runnin' Wild," from the movie "Muscle Beach Party." Recorded
by Annette on MUSCLE BEACH PARTY (1964), by Frankie Avalon on
MUSCLE BEACH PARTY AND OTHER MOVIE SONGS (1964) and by The Super
Stocks on SURF ROUTE 101 (1964).
> The Greaser (Christian/Usher)
I think this is a typo in Polygram's records. An Usher/Christian
song, "The Gasser," is from the movie "Ski Party," where it is
performed by The Hondells (whose version was never put on record).
> Muscle Beach Party (Christian/Usher/Wilson)
>From the movie of the same name. Recorded by Annette on MUSCLE
BEACH PARTY (1964) and by Frankie Avalon on MUSCLE BEACH PARTY AND
OTHER MOVIE SONGS (1964).
> Muscle Bustle (Christian/Wilson/Usher)
>From the movie "Muscle Beach Party." Recorded by Annette on
MUSCLE BEACH PARTY (1964) and by Donna Loren on 45.
> My First Love (Christian/Usher/Wilson)
>From the movie "Muscle Beach Party." Recorded The Super Stocks
on MY FIRST LOVE (1964).
> Record Run (Christian/Usher)
>From the movie "Bikini Beach." Performed in the movie by The
Pyramids, but never released on record.
> Secret Surfin Spot (Christian/Usher)
>From the movie "Beach Party." Recorded by Annette on ANNETTE'S
BEACH PARTY (1964).
> Ski Party (Usher)
This likely is the same song as the next listing; it was not
uncommon for Usher to copyright a song two or three times with
slightly different writer credits.
> Ski Party (Usher/Christian)
>From the movie of the same name. Performed in the movie by
Frankie Avalon and by The Hondells, but never released on record.
> Surfer's Holiday (Christian/Usher/Wilson)
>From the movie "Muscle Beach Party." Recorded by Annette on
MUSCLE BEACH PARTY (1964) and by Frankie Avalon on MUSCLE BEACH
PARTY AND OTHER MOVIE SONGS (1964).
> Surfin Woodie (Christian/Wilson/Usher)
>From the movie "Muscle Beach Party." Performed in the movie as
an acappella cast singalong. Never released on record.
These two titles are odd cases:
> Beach Blanket Bingo (Usher/Roger Christian)
> Bikini Beach (Usher/Christian)
Both of these are titles to some of the "Beach Party" movies for
which Usher and Christian wrote songs, but in neither case did
they write the title song! Rather, in both cases, the title song
was written by Styner/Hemric. Either there's an error in Polygram
Music's records or these are songs Usher/Christian wrote as
possible title songs, but had rejected in favor of the Styner/
Hemric songs.
The following is a known Usher composition (it's listed with BMI),
but to the best of my knowledge it was never released on record. It
may be the same song as the above "Beach Party."
> Beach Party Tonight (Christian/Usher)
Now, we come to the more unknown titles. Usher was a writing fool
and left lots of demos and unreleased compositions behind when he
died. So a long list of unknown songs doesn't surprise me.
I have never heard of the following solo compositions being released
anywhere:
> Gray, Soft, Black and Blue (Usher)
> Greener Is the Grass (Usher)
> In the Land of Change (Usher)
> Love Again (Usher)
> Spend a Little Time (Usher)
> Still Is (Usher)
> What Can You Lose (Usher)
In the late 1960s and into the early 1970s, Usher worked on an
album project (titled BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT) with somebody
named Dick Campbell. The album was never released, so there's not
much information available on it. However, I feel certain these
songs all stem from it:
> Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt (Richard Campbell/Usher)
> Butterflyin' (Campbell/Usher)
> California Way (Campbell/Usher)
> Dance With Me (Campbell/Usher)
> Don't Give Up On Me (Campbell/Usher)
> Echo (Campbell/Usher)
> Go, Rocket, Go (Campbell/Usher)
> High N' Dry (Campbell/Usher)
> Love Knows Only You (Campbell/Usher)
> Maybe (Campbell/Usher)
> Point of View (Campbell/Usher)
> Seagull (Campbell/Usher)
> Ships (Campbell/Usher)
> Sleepy Land (Campbell/Usher)
> So Long (Campbell/Usher)
> Time to Sing for You (Campbell/Usher)
> Walk a Mile (Campbell/Usher)
> Wendy (Campbell/Usher)
> White Lace and Such (Campbell/Usher)
> We May Make It Yet (Campbell/Usher)
> You're Only Losing (What You Will Find Again) (Campbell/Usher)
Robert McDonald is an unknown collaborator to me. But all through
his career, Gary wrote with a lot of people for just one or two
songs. To the best of my knowledge, this song has never been
released.
> Put Your Mind at Ease (Robert McDonald/Usher)
Well, we all know who Randy Bachman is, so he's not unknown.
However, I've never heard anything about Gary working with him.
What vintage are these songs? My guess is that they probably
pre-date Bachman-Turner Overdrive, but post-date The Guess Who.
Bachman did a solo album (AXE) in 1970 and it would seem logical
to think that Usher's path and his might have crossed at that
point.
> Good Times, Bad Times (Usher/Randy Bachman)
> My Best for You (Usher/Bachman)
> Too Close To Me (Usher/Bachman)
[NOTE: Scott has since confirmed that these date from about 1971,
so my guess was right.]
Brad Elliott
surfXXXX@XXXnline.net
---------------[ archived by Spectropop ]---------------
Subject: The Collector's God and Sugar Kane
Sent: 06/25/98 4:13 am
Received: 06/25/98 8:18 am
From: Brad Elliott, surfXXXX@XXXnline.net
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
I couldn't let this one go by:
Francesc Sole (fsXXXX@XXXes) wrote:
> it seems to be Volume 23 of a
> Collectors God series. Any further info anyone?
I believe in a Collector's God! I thank him every time I score a
great find at a Goodwill store or in a garage sale! I can just
imagine the kind of stuff he'd pack into a reissue series!
Then Jack Madani wrote:
> And speaking of Beach Blanket Bingo, this is one more chance (gad,
> I'm such a one note johnny on this topic) for me to mention that
> perhaps the greatest *lost* Wall of Sound tune of all time is "New
> Love," performed in Beach Blanket Bingo by Sugar Kane (played by
> Linda Evans, who I'm sure was just lip synching).
Yes, Linda Evans was lip-synching. The vocal really was by Jackie
(aka Robin) Ward (yes, she of "Wonderful Summer" fame), with
backing by Darlene Love and the Blossoms! Production was by Jerry
Styner and Guy Hemric, who wrote the song.
Surf's up!
Brad
---------------[ archived by Spectropop ]---------------
Subject: What do the contracts say?
Sent: 06/25/98 2:16 am
Received: 06/25/98 8:18 am
From: Paul MacArthur, RTF_XXXX@XXXEDU
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
>Phil should convey to the
>Ronettes their just due as they were an integral part of the Phil
>Spector sound and the money that rolls in at this time from "Be My
>Baby" and "Baby I Love You" not to mention the high cost of one
>single copy of the original Ronettes Lp Philles 4006...certainly,
>Phil's magnificent talent cannot be totally ignored but fair is
?fair...and in the long run, Ronnie did give up a lucrative career
>just to be married to the man who wrote "I'll make you happy
>Ronnie, just wait and see."..
And Little Richard should get his records back.
Muddy Waters should have been paid better by Lenoard Chess.
ETC!!!!
Forget fair. What do the contracts say? In the end, that is all
that will matter.
- Paul
---------------[ archived by Spectropop ]---------------
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