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Volume #0219 January 31, 1999
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A Long Playing Microgroove Unbreakable Record
Subject: Del-Fi Girl Group Comp.
Received: 01/30/99 2:44 am
From: Steve Stanley, sstanXXXXXXXXi.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
My name is Steve Stanley and I'm the Sales Manager for Del-Fi
Records in Los Angeles. I'm currently producing a Girl Group
comp that will probably come out in the spring. The disc,
comprised entirely of Del-Fi masters, is shaping up quite well,
but unfortunately we are missing the following master tapes and
singles from our master catalog:
Janis Rado: "I had a Dream" b/w "The Only Guy For Me" (DONNA 1340)
Jeannie Sanders: "Friday Night Prom" b/w "The Gunslinger" (DONNA 1342)
Janis Rado: "This Feeling" b/w "Let's Go Home" (EDSEL 782)
Mary Sawrey: "Those Memories of You" b/w "A Lover's Plea" (MUSTANG 3022)
The Top Secrets: "Astrology Lesson" b/w "That's What Makes a Boy Cry"
(DEL-FI # unknown)
If anyone has a copy of any of these singles, please contact me
at sstanXXXXXXXXi.com I have enough amazing material to make a
great 20 track comp, but it's sooooo annoying not to know or
hear any of the above cuts...
Thanks,
Steve
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Subject: Favorite Album Covers
Received: 01/30/99 2:44 am
From: imponderabXXXXXXXXpring.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
John asked about favorite "classic" album covers. There are so
many to choose from, but for me the Fleetwoods' "Mr. Blue" album
takes the, er, blue ribbon.
Dave Feldman
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Subject: What is soft rock?
Received: 01/30/99 7:42 pm
From: Frank Youngwerth, FMXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
>There are a few unlikely entries (Frank Sinatra's Bob
>Gaudio-produced 'Watertown' is a great LP, but what's it doing
>here?)
Glad you appreciate Watertown, but curious as to why you think
it *shouldn't* be classified as soft rock.
>and there's a Soft Rock chart placing Salt Water Taffy's '
>Finders Keepers' at the top, which makes one question the
>compilers' taste (better than Odessey & Oracle? Pet Sounds?
>Roger Nichols?)
I'm fascinated by the Japanese take on soft rock, which appears
to be every bit as hip over there as it's traditionally been
un-hip here. I only know the title song to the Finders Keepers
LP, but it's so much fun (great kids chorus!) that I applaud the
taste of anybody ranking it as best. To me O&O is a little arty,
Pet Sounds a tad whiney; though frankly I'm surprised Roger's
not at the top of that list.
Frank
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Subject: Diane Renay Hotcha!
Received: 01/31/99 8:14 am
From: Jack Madani, Jack_MadXXXXXXXX12.nj.us
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
What a thrill to have yet another big name on this list. I'd
sure like to take this moment to mention that of all my cd
purchases in the last two years, The Shangri-Las "Myrmidions of
Melodrama" (RPM 136) and Diane Renay "Navy Blue" (Collectables
COL-5877) are by far my two favoritest. Diane, your
"grrrrrrrRUFFF!!!!" on your version of "Soldier Boy" gets me
every time.
But I've just heard another Diane Renay recording that I'm sorry
to say isn't on the Collectables disc. The song is called "I Had
A Dream" and it's unbelievably primo. What I'd give to have a
clean copy of this on cd! Spectorian in orchestration, but
Creweian in production (best of both worlds, IMO), and Diane's
last note actually goes through the roof and up and out and
beyond my ear's ability to hear. By the end of the song, the
recording has reached a critical mass of groovy stuff going on
similar to what happens in the Four Seasons' "Girl Come Running."
As much as I love every track on the Collectables disc, "I Had
A Dream" has become my favorite Diane Renay recording.
Welcome Diane Renay. Viva Spectropop.
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Subject: Re: Diane Renay!
Received: 01/30/99 7:42 pm
From: Doc Rock, docroXXXXXXXXcom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Diane Renay!
Hi! We did an interview last Spring, remember? And at that time,
I told you that you had a lot of fans, many of whom I was in
touch with. In fact, I asked you if you had a message for me to
pass on to these fans.
Well, that was in the early days of Spectropop, and now here you
are, face-to-face (sort of) with the very fans I was speaking of!
Cool, eh?
I passed on a few tidbits last year from the interview. Things
like your singing the final high notes on the Rag Dolls' "Dusty,"
that sort of thing.
Anyway...Welcome! I hope you enjoy your time with us! Other
members from the Biz include Barbara (Babs) of the Crystals and
session bass player Carol Kaye. This is a very fun group!
Michael "Doc Rock" Kelly
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Subject: To: Tom Simon - From: Diane Renay
Received: 01/30/99 2:44 am
From: Diane renay, CEIInvXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi Tom:
Just wanted to thank you for the welcome to the Spectropop list.
I hope I can add a little bit of interest and fun for everyone,
with some of my input of how it was for me in the 1960s music
scene!!
Sincerely: Diane Renay <{:>)
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Subject: To: Ian Chapman - From: Diane Renay
Received: 01/30/99 7:42 pm
From: Diane renay, CEIInvXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi Ian:
Thank you for the warm welcome. I am so surprised that you
remember "Please Gypsy" on UA label! I am always surprised when
people tell me that they remember my other songs either before
or after Navy Blue & Kiss Me Sailor!! I had a little Maltese dog
that I had just bought when I finished recording "Please Gypsy,"
and I named my beautiful little fur ball....."GYPSY". She was
just gorgeous.
I must admit that my favorite recording out of all the songs I
ever recorded was "Watch Out Sally," it gave me a chance to open
up my lungs and sing out, whereas a lot of my other songs were of
a softer more demure style. I use to tell Bob Crewe that I didn't
want to always sound like a sweet goodie two shoes, ha, ha!!!!!!!
Most of my songs were bubble gum syrupy stuff, oh so sweet and oh
so nice girl next door. With "Watch Out Sally" I was able to step
into high heeled boots, leather jacket, tight pants, and pretend
I was a bad motorcycle chick!!!! No offense to those of you
folks who like to ride bikes, one of my brother-in-laws owns and
rides his Harley religiously.
As far as the trademark soprano "Ah-aaaaah", that was my own
ad-lib at the end of Navy Blue and whatever other songs I might
have added it to. Bob Crewe was pretty good at letting me be
creative in the studio; he didn't hold me back and tell me how
to or how not to sing. We had a GREAT relationship both in the
studio and personally.
He more or less took me under his wing; he went clothes shopping
with me to help pick out some of my clothes, he took me out to
some of the finest restaurants in New York City and introduced
me to gourmet foods that I had never tasted before, and of
course he invited me to all of his jet set parties that he would
have in his lavish condo (The building where John Lennon lived
and unfortunately was shot, called the Dakota). I remember at
one party Richard Burton was there with his first wife Sybil
(Before Elizabeth Taylor). Also, at that party was Peter from
Peter, Paul and Mary, and Peter was chasing me around the place
until I locked myself in one of Bob's bathrooms, HA, HA, HA!!!!!
Oh well, those were the good old days when we were all young and
crazy (well, maybe only some of us that is)!! I have lots of fun
stories to tell but I've got to go. But thanks for your
compliments and I am glad that my music was able to bring some
joy and now bring back fond memories to us older Rock n Rollers.
Sincerely: Diane Renay <{:>)
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Subject: For DIANE RENAY and Fans
Received: 01/31/99 8:14 am
From: Jimmy Cresitelli, JimmyXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi Ms. Renay! Welcome aboard... "Navy Blue" was a very big hit
in my Brooklyn neighborhood back in 1964. (We used to refer to
it as "Blue Navy Blue...") The older girls on the block did the
lead, and they would make us little kids do the background; we
had to move back and forth while giving "sailor salutes." I was
all of 8 and 9 years old. Fun, those days... Over the years I've
managed to gather on tape some of your other work, too. It's nice
that you're in touch here! It provides us all a link back to those
more innocent times...
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: Diane Renay - Session player for 4 Seasons
Received: 01/30/99 7:42 pm
From: Jamie LePage, le_page_XXXXXXXXties.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
CLAUDIA asked:
>who worked as session players for the 4 Seasons...?
Doc wrote:
>...hand claps and foot stomps were Bob Crewe and Diane Renay.
That's interesting. Most of the prominent instrumental accents
in Bob Crewe records sound as if they were overdubbed on top of
the original rhythm tracks, and then mixed disproportionately
up in the final mix (to great effect). Often the "hand claps
and foot stomps", bells and other percussion sound that way.
Diane,
Can you tell us a bit about the recording process?
How did you all work out your records before they were recorded?
Who worked directly with you on listening to and deciding on the
material, checking the key etc.?
Were you ever at the rhythm sessions, for your or other Crewe
productions? If so, can you describe a typical session?
Did you usually have an acetate of the rhythm track for a while
to practice, or did you record your vocals fairly soon after the
rhythm track was cut?
Can you sort of help define the working roles of Bob Crewe and
Bob Gaudio? What role did each play in Growing Up Too Fast, for
instance?
Can you tell us a little bit about Sandy Linzer and Denny
Randell? How involved were they with the arrangements of their
songs on Crewe's records?
Well, that's too many questions all at once!. As time allows,
please let us hear from you.
--
All the best,
Jamie LePage 
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