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Volume #0180 November 7, 1998
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Boss Radio
Subject: My New Radio Show & Japanese Boy
Sent: 11/06/98 11:34 am
Received: 11/07/98 2:24 am
From: David B Ponak, dpXXXXXXXXhlink.net
To: Spectropop List, spectrXXXXXXXXities.com
Hi Folks,
For those Spectropoppers in Southern California, I'm going to be
starting a new radio show this weekend on 90.7 FM KPFK. The show
is called "The Liquid Room" and will run from 3-6 AM on Friday
Night/Sat. Morning. The music will be a mixture of modern music
from around the world with a 60's pop/lounge retro bent, 60's soft
rock, lounge, soundtrack, even a little techno and hip hop. I've
been promised that in December I'll be moved to an earlier slot.
If you're up, check it out!
fyi, "Me Japanese Boy" was originally recorded by Bobby
Goldsboro. It can be found on Rhino's new Bacharach Box or the BG
EMI Legendary Masters series CD. Also check out the cover version
by Japan's Pizzicato Five on their "5X5" EP on US Matador.
David
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Subject: On Broadway?
Sent: 11/06/98 3:45 pm
Received: 11/07/98 2:24 am
From: Frank Youngwerth, FXXXXXXXXcom
To: Spectropop List, spectrXXXXXXXXities.com
Years ago I read that Phil Spector plays the guitar break on the
Drifters' "On Broadway," but the credits for the track on the
Atlantic R&B box don't list him as being on the session. Anybody
know what the deal is here?
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Subject: Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans
Sent: 11/06/98 3:14 am
Received: 11/06/98 4:15 am
From: Barbara Alston, BARBXXXXXXXXcom
To: Spectropop List, spectrXXXXXXXXities.com
Hi Claudia,
Yes, your detection was correct -- Darlene Love sang with Bob B.
Soxx & The Blue Jeans just as she sang with everyone else when Phil
recorded in California. What can I say? I can't remember the
individuals in the group at the time. I'll have to get that
information from Dee Dee. She remembers all! I know it was one guy
and a couple of girls. That's all I can remember. In the studio,
however, Darlene sang with and for everybody! Met her recently in
New York at her trial against Phil Spector and she is a very nice
person, by the way.
Babs
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Subject: Rebel Discoveries
Sent: 11/06/98 3:55 am
Received: 11/06/98 4:15 am
From: Doc Rock, docrXXXXXXXX.com
To: Spectropop List, spectrXXXXXXXXities.com
Babs,
Thanks for your thoughts on "He's A Rebel!" There is a huge
controversy about that among some collectors. When I was writing
my book about Liberty Records in the early '90s, I interviewed
several people about "Rebel," including one of the Blossoms and
the writer, Gene Pitney. If only I could have gotten a hold of you
for an interview!
Later, I wrote an article on it for Discoveries Magazine.
The article is available from me (docrXXXXXXXX.com), or perhaps
Will would be kind enough to include it on his GG page and provide
us with a link? It is probably too long for Spectropop!
Doc
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Subject: Re:Bad Stereo Mixes
Sent: 11/06/98 1:24 am
Received: 11/07/98 2:24 am
From: Billy G. Spradlin, biXXXXXXXXore.net
To: Spectropop List, spectrXXXXXXXXities.com
>I've said it before and I'll say it again: songs that were mixed
>to be on a 45 RPM single rarely benefit from being mixed or
>remixed in stereo. And sometimes youy hear things that weren't
>meant to be heard, things that were mixed down in the track to add
>depth and body.
One new remix that reminds me of that is Dusty Springfield's "I
Only Want to Be With You" which is on a Targon Two-Fer (I Only
Want To Be with You/Dusty) that was released earlier this year. It
sounds fantastic, until you listen closely to it and hear little
things like the background vocals being out of tune! I've read
that Dusty made the orchestra and background singers (The
Breakaways, I believe) do take after take of this song til she got
it right (A tradition with her) so Im sure their voices were pretty
ragged out by the final take.
Sometimes CDs and remixes can "pull" too much sound off the master
tape. I have heard coughs, hard breathing, lead singers "P-Pop" the
microphone, musicians moving papers on a music stand, and even Mama
Cass licking her lips during the intro of a song (probably after
eating a ham sandwich...just kidding!)
"Hot Fun in The Summer Time" by Sly & The Family Stone on CBS's
"Rock Chronicles" that was remixed by Bob Irwin. There's some weird
out-of-tune piano "plunking" (sorry can't think of a better word) on
the left channel during the chorus that was buried in the mono mix.
It didn't ruin the song for me, it just made me wonder why that was
recorded in the first place and not turned down on the remix.
Another bad stereo remix is The Hollies "Look Through Any Window"
which has never been mixed in stereo the way the mono mix was. The
30th Anniversary 3-CD set has a remix where the reverb has been
removed from Tony Hicks lead guitar and the background vocals
("highways..biways..") have been buried. A lousy remix of a great
song.
>A classic example is "Satisfaction." On the stereo mix, the vibes
>dominate the left channel. Vibes? On Satisfaction? They were never
>ment to be heard, and hearing them ruins forever the concept I had
>of this song as a power chord rock anthem.
I prefer the mono mix too, but its kind of fun to turn the balance
control and listen to the acoustic guiar and vibes alone with
Mick's voice. The stereo mix of "Get off My Cloud" is lousy too.
Theres a strange guitar line thats not in the mono mix thats
cranked way "Up" in the stereo mix and ruins that song for me.
The entire 60's Stones catalog needs to be remastered, but with
greedy Alan Klein and ABKCO controlling the rights to it, we will
have to settle for poor sounding CD's until he passes away or some
music fan who wants him to release the Cameo/Parkway library on CD
shoots him. (Just kidding)
I like playing around with the stereo mix of the Beach Boys "Dont
Worry Baby". Just turn the balance control and listen to Brian's
sweet voice on the left channel and the groups amazing harmonies
on the right. I kinda wish more classic early Beach Boys songs
were mixed in stereo like that! :)
Billy G. Spradlin
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Subject: The black and white of it
Sent: 11/06/98 4:27 am
Received: 11/06/98 8:09 am
From: Jamie LePage, le_pageXXXXXXXXities.com
To: Spectropop List, spectrXXXXXXXXities.com
Barbara Alston wrote:
>...can you imagine being Black in the 60's singing about being a
>"Rebel?" I don't think so! Black women certainly don't call
>their men "Rebels." God only knows what we might really call
>them, but Rebel surely ain't one of 'em. Know what I mean? :-)
>
>So, the song never really touched us...
WOW!!! That is an amazing observation. Thanks for that. I am
sure I am not alone in finding your comments to be delightful.
Every time I read one of your posts, I have to re-examine the
records from a different perspective. Simply fantastic, Barbara.
I never thought He's a Rebel was written from or for a black
perspective. It always seemed to me to be James Dean or Leader of
the Pack kind of imagery. Particularly since the original version
was recorded by Vikki "it must be him or I shall die" Carr. In
addition, the lyric makes a statement that non-comformity is not
necessarily an evil thing, reflecting the Anglo-American tendency
to deify the rebellious.
Many believe contemporary record makers produced black music for a
white audience. Red Bird, Philles, Motown...these labels seemed to
target a white audience at least as much as a black one. Entire
books have been written on this subject, and whether this practice
glorified or simply exploited the black music experience.
Either way, the truth is songs like He's a Rebel, Spanish Harlem
and even Uptown cross racial and ethnic barriers, taking on
universal appeal. To me, Uptown and Five O'Clock World are two
peas in a pod. The "Rebel Without a Cause" image of James Dean has
become a pop icon. He's a Rebel may not reflect the black
experience, but it is a timeless theme that has retained
across-the-board appeal for nearly 40 years.
I went to a concert in the early 80's featuring Ronnie, Darlene
and Martha Reeves. There were no black Americans in the audience.
Ironically, it seems that most black Americans themselves do not
recognize the contribution the black GG artists such as Shirelles
and Crystals made to the history of popular music. Or, if they do,
I sure don't hear it reflected much in the current Urban/R&B music
being made. Give me Baby Love any day.
--
le_pageXXXXXXXXities.com
RodeoDrive/5030
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