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Volume #0114 July 9, 1998
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Unbreakable Long Playing Monophonic Microgroove Record
Subject: Re: Everybody Loves Dean Martin
Sent: 07/08/98 10:39 am
Received: 07/09/98 1:01 am
From: Marc Wielage, XXXX@XXXtrax.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
Chuck Limmer <CLimXXXX@XXXom> commented on the Spectropop list:
>What I long for is a copy of Dean's biggest hit of the '60s on CD.
>Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but the Martin comps I've seen
>recently seem to have everything *but* "Everybody Loves Somebody."
>Why one of his only two U.S. #1 singles would be left off the
>various best-ofs and collections is beyond me. Anyone have a
>lead(s)?
------------------------<snip>------------------------
The disc you're looking for is
THE BEST OF DEAN MARTIN 1962-1968
on Charly CDGR-106
It's a British pressing, but is relatively easy to find from any
decent mail-order dealer. This is the best-sounding collection of
all the major Reprise hits, including "Everybody Loves Somebody,"
"I Will," "Houston," and all those.
I'm completely baffled as to why Warner/Reprise in the states
doesn't sell a similar collection over here.
--MFW
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-= Marc Wielage | "The computerized authority =-
-= MusicTrax, Ltd. | on rock, pop, & soul." =-
-= Chatsworth, CA | XXXX@XXXtrax.com =-
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Subject: The Caravelles
Sent: 07/08/98 6:06 pm
Received: 07/09/98 1:01 am
From: Keiko Kondo, kondoXXXX@XXXjnet.or.jp
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
le_page_XXXX@XXXties.com wrote:
>>Winter's Here
>This song is amazing. I swear I have heard a different version,
>but I can't find it by another artist anywhere. This is driving
>me nuts. Anyone know if this was covered by another artist?
Hi Jamie
I've got The Caravelles "You don't have to be a baby to cry" CD on
Marginal. On that CD is a song "You are here" which is the same as
WINTER'S HERE. Maybe you heard that version. They covered Patience
& Prudence songs too. Their voices are wonderful. I love their
whispered harmonious sound. So I read the not-so-genius liner note,
and I knew that The Caravelles were Two English girls nineteen
year old Lois & seventeen year old Andrea and more. But I don't
know who produced them, who played on their records, etc. Does
anyone know more info about The Caravelles.
KK
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Subject: Re: Oldies Radio
Sent: 07/08/98 3:43 am
Received: 07/08/98 8:08 am
From: WILLIAM STOS, wsXXXX@XXXt.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
What I don't understand is why don't some of the stations
occasionally throw in a song that wasn't a hit. I once requested
"Twistin' Postman" by the Marvelettes. The guy said, "I think you
mean Please Mr. Postman." I told him no, I was looking for the
second single the girls had recorded. He didn't know what I was
talking about. "What, you mean they recorded more than just
Postman, Beechwood 4-5789, Playboy, and Don't Mess With Bill."
Aren't people getting a little tired of hearing these songs.
They're great and all, but why not see if listeners would like
some diversity. Most people don't consciously listen to the music
anyway. It's just background noise in some shops. I say let's get
the Orchids' Oo-Chang-A-Lang on there. The Crystals Da Doo Ron Ron
might have a run for its money.
will
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Subject: Oldies Radio
Sent: 07/08/98 12:25 pm
Received: 07/09/98 1:01 am
From: Javed Jafri, javedjaXXXX@XXXt.ca
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
I have been listening to some of the oldies stations on the net
and there are still a few independent minded station in major
markets. Two of the best are WGRR in Cincinnati and WMJI in
Cleveland. These stations play the usual staples but also throw in
the odd regional hit and songs that made the lower rungs of the
national charts. For example, I have heard "Open Up Your Door" by
Richard & The Young Lions on WGRR. This song only made it to the
90's on Billboard in 1966. The only problem with this station is
that their RealAudio netcast is very unreliable. WMJI broadcasts
via a software called Audioactive which I think has better
fidelity than RA. It sounds good and the song selection is
relatively eclectic covering the period from the 50's to the mid
70's.
As mentioned on a previous post onair.com is probably the best bet
to hear mostly obscure oldies and their sound quality is also very
good. There are no DJ's though and I miss that, although they have
a continuous on-line playlist.
Regarding 1050 CHUM in Toronto. Yes their selection of Canadian
hits by Bobby Curtola, The Five Man Electrical Band and The Guess
Who can get tiresome for us Canadians. The other music they play
is about the same as most American stations, meaning mostly top
ten hits. They used to have a great morning show for about 8 years
with really fun and challenging music trivia contests and a witty
host. They canned the whole morning team, however, for lack of
ratings. Proving once again that creativity and good ratings do
not go hand in hand.
The Canadian content regulations do make for some interesting
listening. Even songs written by Canadians qualify and are used to
fill the quota. The version of "Woodstock" by Matthew's Southern
Comfort gets a lot of airplay here simply because it was written
by Joni Mitchell. MSC's version of "Tell Me Why" is also played
because it was written by Neil Young. Another example of this is
the song "So Long Marianne" by Brian Hyland which I do not believe
made the American charts at all but it still gets played here
because it was written by Leonard Cohen.
Americans listening to 1050 CHUM will probably be fascinated by
selections played by the likes of The Ugly Ducklings, The Mandala,
The Stitch In Tyme, Fludd and Thundermug, to name a few. These were
acts that had top ten hits here in Canada but fizzled in the States.
Currently the best show on 1050 CHUM is "Sunday Morning Oldies"
(9 am to 12) featuring a DJ that dates back to the 60's with the
station. This program features lesser known material.
Javed
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Subject: Re: Oldies radio
Sent: 07/08/98 10:52 am
Received: 07/09/98 1:01 am
From: Marc Wielage, XXXX@XXXtrax.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
Alan Haber <zoogXXXX@XXXlink.net> commented on the Spectropop List,
>Same goes for The Temps. "Ask The Lonely" and "Keeper of The
>Castle." The former reached #24 on Billboard; the latter hit
>number 10, but probably didn't get played very often because it
>peaked at #10 in November of 1972, the year after it first charted.
------------------------<snip>------------------------
Alan, I agree with all of your message about the nature of
selecting "safe oldies" for oldies radio stations except this one.
First, as far as I know, the Tops left Motown in mid-1972 and
their KEEPER OF THE CASTLE album on Dunhill came out about four
months later, and the single did not come out a year earlier in
1971 (when they were still with Motown). To my knowledge, the
single debuted in November of 1972, both on the R&B and Pop charts,
and then peaked in mid-January of 1973. If you have a date
before November of 1972 when the song may have charted lower, I'd
like to know what it is.
Secondly, I think the real problem is a subtle kind of racism that
affects the oldies playlists. Most oldies playlists cut off around
1973 (with very few exceptions), and because "Keeper of the Castle"
is kind of on the cusp, I think the programming staffs opt to go
with the Tops' more-memorable 1960s hits -- despite the fact that
"Keeper" is their fifth-biggest Pop hit overall.
"Keeper" is a regular fixture on the _soul_ oldies stations, which
are beginning to pop up in many urban areas around the country. LA
finally got a full-time 1960s-1970s soul oldies station about six
months ago, and it's a pleasure hearing at least a few songs not
already played to death by the "regular" oldies stations.
I share your enthusiasm for the future of "narrowcasted" oldies
stations actually intended for oldies fans. But even then, a 4000-
song playlist doesn't even begin to scratch the surface -- given
that there were over 5200 songs that made the Top 40 Pop charts
just between 1955 and 1973. When you stir in the years before that,
plus significant R&B hits and album tracks, let alone bona fide
obscurities and B-sides, the number goes up astronomically.
--MFW
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-= Marc Wielage | "The computerized authority =-
-= MusicTrax, Ltd. | on rock, pop, & soul." =-
-= Chatsworth, CA | XXXX@XXXtrax.com =-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: Oldies radio
Sent: 07/08/98 7:06 pm
Received: 07/09/98 1:01 am
From: Paul Urbahns, PaulurbXXXX@XXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
In a message dated 98-07-07 14:06:43 EDT, you write:
<< Never heard of this Carl Perkins fellow. Or this Gene Vincent
fellow. Heard someone called Buddy Holly once, but never again.
I'm truly disgusted by oldies radio. RB >>
Some artists get no play at all, look at old surveys from the
beatle era and you will see, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Brenda
Lee, Connie Francis, Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass well the list
could go on. Hardly ever are they on oldies radio.
Another thing that gripes me is they play so many songs by other
artists. I wish someone would try something different, for example
the average record had a chart life of three months. So if a song
(example: Moonshadow by Cat Stevens was popular in May 1971) was
popular in May, why not just play it during the April, May, June
months and no during the rest of the year. It would allow the
listeners a break from the constant repetition and allow them a
chance to add a good song like Migel Rios, A Song Of Joy which
never gets played. An oldies station will play an oldie almost
every day for two or three years. The songs did not get that much
play when they were hits!
Paul URbahns
paulurbXXXX@XXXom
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Subject: Re: lost oldies [theirs and mine]
Sent: 07/08/98 3:27 am
Received: 07/08/98 8:08 am
From: Jeffrey Thames, KingoGrXXXX@XXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
In a message dated 98-07-07 14:06:43 EDT, ron wrote:
<< I enjoy it when they have an "Oldies you don't hear on the
radio anymore" weekend. Occasionally some of those will stick
around a few weeks. >>
our oldies conglomerate in Houston (klde 94.5) had a "lost oldies"
weekend to celebrate the 4th...whatta joke...everything they
claimed to be a "lost oldie" was just something they didn't play
every 3 hours...although my wife heard the walker brothers' "make
it easy on yourself" last Friday...I'll give 'em that...
jack blanchard and misty morgan's "tennessee birdwalk" was
mentioned recently...does anyone know where i could find the
*original* version on disc? and could somebody tell me the name and
catalog # for the time-life disc with rolf harris' "tie me kangaroo
down, sport" and the serendipity singers' "beans in my ears"??
gaping holes in my library that must be filled...
thanx,
jeff
p.s.: lost oldies from every decade have a home on houston
radio...come see!
http://members.aol.com/kingogrief/grief.html
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Subject: Radio, Radio
Sent: 07/08/98 4:06 am
Received: 07/09/98 1:01 am
From: le_page_XXXX@XXXties.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
Mark Landwehr had some interesting comments, I'd like to throw in
a few additional ideas.
>I was chewed out for playing "Baby Sittin' Boogie" by our consultant.
OK, you're eternally redeemed. :-)
Love that record, and did you know that Robin Ward does the
baby talk, and they sped her voice up to make her sound younger?
OK, that's a pretty dumb joke; Doc, please forgive! Seriously, it
is fairly obvious how the record was constructed, and it's very
cleverly made. Anyone have any anecdotes about this recording?
>In the mid-70s, I was a deejay at an oldies station in Atlanta, GA
>(now that's when oldies were oldies - today, Peter Frampton is an
>"oldie")...Our program director was a record collector, and we used
>15,000 of his platters as our playlist!!! We played virtually
>everything from 1954 to 1968, and we were all quite knowledgeable
See, that's exactly the area you have an edge on. If one has that
edge, one has to slice to advantage. It is because people like you
and your program director get airbrushed out of the corporate
picture that many oldies get cut in favor of listener-tested
pre-fabro Burger King programming. To me it's a matter of trying
to remain true to your ideals and convictions while flipping
patties under Corporate Policy.
>But, the station didn't make $$$, was sold, and that was
>that...Eventually, owners became increasingly paranoid and greedy,
>playlists tightened, on-air patter became more restricted, and the
>TRUE oldies station eventually faded away to what you are
>complaining about today. It will never return, because everyone
>wants to play it "safe" now...The name of the game today is MONEY,
>like it or not.
I completely empathize with you, and as you hint at, it's
the commercialization of American Graffiti that makes Happy
Birthday Sweet Sixteen a so-called "evergreen," while other more
fundamental records are ignored. At the end of the day, though,
it's a double edged sword. Ironically, the cultural acknowledgment,
commercial exploitation and dumbing down of Golden era popular music
give credibility to our rather more esoteric interest in same. Some
cats even make a living at it.
Anyway, this is an interesting thread.
--
le_page_XXXX@XXXties.com
RodeoDrive/5030
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Subject: Goldie Moldy Oldies
Sent: 07/08/98 8:50 am
Received: 07/09/98 1:01 am
From: CLAUDIA CUNNINGHAM, TPXXXX@XXX.net
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXX@XXXties.com
Thanks for so much feedback from my comments on today's "oldie"
stations. So, what are we to do? Storm the Bastille? Have public
lynching of all station managers and d.j.s? A nice tar and
feathering would be nice, or perhaps get 'em all fitted with
cement sneakers and take 'em for a nice boat ride!
Gone are the days of Casey Kasem and Murray the K and all those
greats. Instead we are inflicted with the presence of a gen-u-ine
grad-u-ate of the local "broadcasting" school, where anyone,
including an orangutan, can get a diploma for $5.50. In their
squeaky voices they chirp for the1,568,000,088th time, "And now,
here are the Mamas and the Papas singing "California Dreamin'".
Lock and load!!
Today's music (as today's culture) is based on greed and greed
alone. In the 50's and 60's it was so different. People played
music for the love of it ... good music spanned all generations
and the Top 40 had room for all: Dean Martin to Moms Mabley - from
Walter Brennen singing "Old Rivers" to Chubby Checker singing "The
Madison". I guess the answer is tape your records and throw the
radio out the window! There is a place in Albany, New York called
Blue Note Record Shop on Central Avenue which still sells those
great 45's from yesteryear. I don't know what I would do without it.
And they will mail you records to anywhere in the world! Thank
heavens for it. This is no plug, but if anyone is interested, this
is one of the last places that sell new "old" 45s. What a
collection the guy has!
You can't fight City Hall and the pimply faced geeks which run the
radio stations. They just don't get it. There was a time I never
trusted anyone over 30 and now I won't speak to anyone under 40.
Especially station managers! Go figure!
The culture is so different now, it is mind bending. When someone
asks me what it was like to be a kid of the 50's and a teen of the
60's I just tell 'em that "the world threw a 20 year party which
was the best ever given and will never be given again...and you
weren't invited!"
So, fellow music lovers of the 50's and 60's, get out your old
Brenda Lee records and dust off your Buddy Holly's, too. Grab your
dancing shoes and let's go! And for crying out loud, turn off that
radio!!!.....Cheers...Claudia
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