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Volume #0221 February 4, 1999
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Free on request at your dealer's
Subject: Association and Tokens CDs Are Here!
Received: 02/03/99 1:07 am
From: David Bash, BashXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi Everyone,
Well, they've finally arrived! Warner Brothers Japan, after what
appeared to be a lengthy US embargo, has released CDs of the
first four Association albums, "And Along Comes The Association,"
"Renaissance," "Insight Out," and "Birthday," as well as the
Tokens' "It's A Happening World" album. The release of the
Association albums is a dream come true for me, as "Along Comes"
and "Birthday" have long been favorites and the other two aren't
exactly chopped liver. The Association is a band who hasn't
gotten the respect due them, mainly because they've long worn
that "singles band" tag. The truth is that all four of these
albums are worthy of praise, not only showcasing the bands
patented six part harmonies, but their arranging and songwriting
skills as well. Each one of these discs hang together well as
albums, and "Birthday" is an absolute soft pop masterpiece! I
can't recommend these albums enough to the people on this list!
As for The Tokens, while their career output had been somewhat
sporadic and spotty at times, their "It's A Happening World"
album is their centerpiece. It's another great example of soft
pop, sprinkled with their lighthearted urban sensibilities. This
Warners reissue also has 12 bonus tracks which are comprised of
singles they released for the label in the late 60s. All in all,
essential!
The sound quality on all 5 discs is amazing as well. Being
Japanese imports, they'll cost a pretty penny, but they're worth
it!
--
Spectropop Rules!!!!!
Take Care,
David
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Subject: Soft rock/Neon Philharmonic
Received: 02/03/99 1:07 am
From: Stewart Mason, flamiXXXXXXXXcom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Agnes writes:
>>which makes one question the compilers' taste (better than
>>Odessey & Oracle? Pet Sounds? Roger Nichols?).
>
>I've never been able to get into that Zombies record. It's
>regarded as a masterpiece by many, no?
Including me! I think it's absolutely brilliant, possibly the
greatest album to come out of the UK in the late 60s (yes,
including SGT. PEPPER, which I don't much rate at all). I
understand entirely why some would consider it too "arty," as
Frank put it, but for me the offbeat-but-friendly song
structures, lyrics and arrangements hold up considerably better
than a lot of the more overtly experimental works of the era.
One of the bands on my label, Chrys&themums, released a
song-by-song cover of the entire O&O album in 1989. I think it's
one of the few albums deserving that kind of tribute.
Jamie LePage wrote:
>One aspect of so-called "soft rock" that makes it so relevant to
>this discussion group is that it evolved directly from the
>Brill Building/Girl Group school. Riopell from Spector to Parade,
>Usher from Hondells to Sagittarius, David Gates from Girlfriends
>to Bread, and like that. But by 1968, the old school music makers
>were perceived by the new Rock movement as going in a decidedly
>unhip direction. The real time prejudice against love american
>styled pop music is sort of irrelevant now, especially for those
>whose discovery of this music is recent. And while appreciation of
>music is always subjective, certainly the schooled musicians' and
>arrangers' work of this period is far more structured than much of
>the Rock music that came out at this time. Anyone heard of Blue
>Cheer?
This brings up an observation and a couple of questions: What do
folks here think of the Neon Philharmonic? I admit that my first
interest in them came from being fascinated by the Tupper Saussy
story (former musician becomes leading figure in the right-wing
anti-tax militia undergound and goes on the lam for several
years before being caught and imprisoned -- sorry, but that's
*way* more interesting to me than anything you're going to see on
VH1's Behind the Music).
But when I heard the albums (THE MOTH CONFESSES, 1969, and THE
NEON PHILHARMONIC, 1970, both WB), I became absolutely entranced
with them. The orchestral arrangements and the strong
Bacharach-Wilson influences of the melodies are amazing, and
Saussy's bizarre lyrics -- they're like paragraphs of prose that
happen to scan, sometimes complete with dialogue -- add a whole
different level of interest. I just think these records are
endlessly fascinating.
Sundazed did an exceptional reissue of THE MOTH CONFESSES a few
years ago. Does anyone know if the self-titled album is
available on CD? It's overall maybe slightly weaker than the
debut, but "Forever Hold Your Peace" is possibly the best tune
Tupper Saussy ever wrote.
Having Mary Wilson in your night class. Wow! I was impressed
enough when it turned out that my first English course at Texas
Tech University in 1987 was taught by Dr. Bruce Clarke, whom
most of you here would have known as Bruno in the original
lineup of Sha Na Na...
Stewart
***************************FLAMINGO RECORDS***************************
Stewart Allensworth Mason
Box 40172 "Book says fie to over-oaked
Albuquerque NM 87196 Chardonnay."
www.rt66.com/~flamingo
*********************HAPPY MUSIC FOR NICE PEOPLE**********************
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: from Carol K
Received: 02/04/99 1:30 am
From: Carol Kaye, carolkXXXXXXXXlink.net
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
John, I think I did work for Bob Crewe (or with him), name is
familiar, but can't think of who he is off-hand, sorry.
Sad news: JULIUS WECHTER, whose band was the Baja Marimba Band,
died yesterday (Sunday) -- he lost his brave fight with lung
cancer, nice man, great talent, as good as they come. Funeral
services are Wed. On another sad note, we lost LEW McCREARY
(fine trombonist, worked on the Simpsons TV show for years and
years, did 1,000s of great record dates, wonderful guy, great
humor, fine jazz trombonist too -- we worked together with Page
Cavanaugh early 60s) the week before from cancer also.
Carol Kaye http://www.carolkaye.com/
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: Bel Air Bandits
Received: 02/03/99 7:28 am
From: Doc Rock, docroXXXXXXXXcom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Just think how many things went on behind the scenes in the 60s
that we will never know about!
For example....
Bones Howe told me this story. (Bones engineered Jan & Dean,
Gary Lewis, and much more at Liberty Records; created the 5th
Dimension to be "a black Mama's and Papas," and was VP at
Columbia Pictures for music.
----------------------------
"One of Jan's projects was the big orchestral one, Pop Symphony.
Lou had an idea that there could be a rhythm section called the
Bel Air Bandits. He tried it several times with various people
including me. Later other sections existed, and it would have
been the Los Angeles equivalent of the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
Lou never got it together, but it was a great name, 'Bel Air
Bandits,' so the name ended up being used for Jan & Dean's
football team and later their touring back-up band. But it was
going to be a back-up session band called the Bel Air Bandits.
We made an instrumental recording once, never released. Chuck
Britz was the engineer for that."
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Subject: It's My Party/Favourite Covers
Received: 02/03/99 1:07 am
From: WILLIAM STOS, wsXXXXXXXXt.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
> I recommend them highly. New grist for our mill! Write John at
> impXXXXXXXXom, and tell 'em Doc sent ya'! It won't do you any
> good, but I've always wanted to say that!
Hey, hey. Doc, remember who told you about It's My Party In The
first place! Just kidding. I recommend them too! I like their
first single better than their new one, but that's because I've
heard "That Boy John," and "The Boy Next Door," by the orginal
artists more often..
By the way, It's My Party hit number one on my station CKLU in
Sudbury last week with "I'd Much Rather Be With The Girls," and
"Can't," at number three. This week the hits flipped, "Can't
tops the charts, and "The Girls," falls to number five. If these
gals can make it to the top off the charts on a station which
plays mostly alternative rock, they can do it elsewhere too!
Favourite album cover: The Toys Sing A Lover's Concerto and
Attack! Classic artwork, and very seductive posses.
Will
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Subject: Rare Brian Wilson-Gary Usher recordings
Received: 02/02/99 8:41 am
From: Ron Weekes, WeekXXXXXXXX.edu
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
NOTE: If you know of any other lists or newgroups that might be
able to help me with my quest, please feel free to post them
there.
------------
In doing research for my Gary Usher web page, I've come across
some information that a few days before The Beach Boys entered
the studio in April 1962 to start recording Surfin' Safari,
Brian Wilson and Gary Usher went into Western and recorded
several tracks. If my information is correct, Brian sang lead
vocal on some of the tracks and Gary sang lead on the others.
Sorry, I don't have any information on the titles from what I've
been able to find thus far.
My question is if anyone on the list knows of any recordings of
these very early Brian Wilson-Gary Usher sessions that are
floating around in collector's circles. If so, I'd sure like to
get a copy of them. I'm even willing to trade some of my
material for a cassette of these rare recordings. Any help would
be appreciated.
Please contact me privately at:
weekXXXXXXXX.edu
Thanks,
Ron Weekes
The Surf and Hot Rod Sounds of Gary Usher Web Page
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/8242
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Subject: To: Doc Rock ~ From: Diane Renay
Received: 02/03/99 1:07 am
From: Diane renay, CEIInvXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi There Friend!
Whatever became of the 2 or 3 HOUR telephone interview we did
last year? Sure hope you were able to do something with it,
after all that time we spent chatting over the phone! Please let
me know what happened.
Sincerely: Diane Renay <{:>)
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Subject: To: Jack Madani ~ From: Diane Renay
Received: 02/03/99 1:07 am
From: Diane renay, CEIInvXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi Jack:
So glad that you liked my old songs, especially "I Had A Dream"!
! What a time I had in the studio hitting those HIGH, HIGH,
NOTES!!!!! If you recall, there was a man's speaking part that
said "Do You Take This Man For The Rest Of Your Life"? Well, for
your information, that was Bob Crewe on my recording, ha, ha!!!
Sincerely: Diane Renay <{:>)
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Subject: To: Jimmy Cresitelli ~ From: Diane Renay
Received: 02/03/99 1:07 am
From: Diane renay, CEIInvXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi Jimmy:
Thanks for your welcome. Funny, but when I was 12 years old, I
would hang out on a street corner in South Philly with a few
boys, and I would sing lead and they would sing the background
for me! Those were the good old days for sure, what fun we all
had in the 50s and 60s as kids. So glad you enjoyed my music!!
Sincerely: Diane Renay <{:>)
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: To: John Rauch ~ From: Diane Renay
Received: 02/03/99 1:07 am
From: Diane renay, CEIInvXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi John:
How can I describe "Please Gypsy"? It's different from a lot of
the Bob Crewe songs that I had recorded before I moved to the
United Artists record label. Maybe someone out there that has
the recording could make and send you a tape of it.
Sincerely: Diane Renay <{:>)
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: Re: Spectropop V#0220 Del-Fi Girl Group
Received: 02/04/99 1:30 am
From: Steve Stanley, sstanXXXXXXXXi.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
William Stos wrote:
>p.s. that new Del-Fi Girl group comp sounds great! what other
>artists can we expect to hear?
Steve Stanley wrote:
The Del-Fi GG comp will feature the following sides:
The Ladybugs It's the Last Time Del-Fi 4233
The Ladybugs Sooner Or Later Del-Fi 4233
.......Does anybody know about other tunes of theirs?
The Sisters All Grown Up Del-Fi 4300 (Spector cover)
The Sisters Ooh Poo Pa Doo Del-Fi 4302
The Sisters Gee Baby Gee Del-Fi 4300
The Sisters Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home Del-Fi 4306
The Sisters For Sentimental Reasons Del-Fi 4306 (BEAUTIFUL!!)
The Sisters His Name Was John UNRELEASED
The Sisters Happy New Year Baby Del-Fi 4302
Pippy Shannon My Love For Thee Del-Fi 4179 (GORGEOUS!)
Pippy Shannon He Is Del-Fi 4179 VERY PATSY CLINE. COOL
Pippy Shannon Shade of Red UNRELEASED
Pippy Shannon Pretend UNRELEASED
Lori Martin The Home of the Boy I Love Del-Fi 4201 (A BARRY MANN TUNE &
PROD.)
Lori Martin Mine Til Monday Del-Fi 4201 (A BARRY MANN TUNE & PROD.)
Mary Sawrey Those Memories of You Mustang 3022 ........(FEAT. BARRY
WHITE & JIM MESSINA!!??)
Mary Sawrey A Lover's Plea Mustang 3022 (written by Barry White!!
AMAZING)
Desda Splish Splash Twist Del-Fi 4174
Brenda Holloway I'll Give You My Life Donna 1370 (PRE- MOTOWN,
BEAUTIFUL!)
-Steve Stanley
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