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Volume #0224 February 10, 1999
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Exclusive Original Television Soundtrack Album
Subject: The Cyrkle - what about them?
Received: 02/09/99 1:21 am
From: Andrew Sandoval, APSXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
In a message dated 99-02-07 09:58:19 EST, you write:
>Love [the Cyrkle] records. I wish the CDs had the single
>mixes in mono like the new Association CDs do.
>
>The Cyrkle - 01 . Ad agency. 2. Brian Epstein. That's all I know.
>Anyone?
The Cyrkle were led by Tom Dawes & Don Dannemann (on vocals,
guitars and sometimes bass). Also included were drummer Marty
Fried and off and on keyboard players Earl Pickens and Mike
Losekamp (in the studio many of the keyboards were played by
their producer, the great producer/songwriter John Simon). They
formed at college on the East Coast in the early '60s and scored
some summer gigs where they were spotted by Brian Epstein
business associate Nat Weiss. Through his connections they
signed to Columbia Records in '66 and scored two monster hits
with Red Rubber Ball and Turn Down Day. As a result, they scored
a spot on the Beatles final U.S. tour in '66. Now things got a
lot more interesting musically as their singles got better and
better and the sales got lower and lower. Terrific records like
We Had A Good Thing Goin' and Reading Her Paper rank above and
beyond the great "soft pop" of the era and are very classy
productions a la the Left Banke (great arrangements and
orchestrations). Producer Charlie Calello was in charge of their
later singles which included some great early Bee Gees covers
(Turn Of The Century/Red Chair Fade Away) and the terrific Byrds
pastiche: The Words.
As for albums, both their debut LP and Neon (their second) have
loads of great tunes but are quite flawed by some hopeless
filler (this is what sets the major artists apart from all the
other groups we love, no?). The band's final project together
was a soundtrack and performance in a film some friends of Nat
Weiss were making in 1968: The Minx. What emerged two years
later in 1970 was a soft porn caper flick and a hopelessly rare
soundtrack album. In the film the group, dressed in Sgt. Pepper/
military garb perform the fab Murray the K put down song, Murry
The Why! On the record they lay down some of their toughest
material like the song Squeeze Play based on the movie's plot.
The album, unfortunately, has become coveted for its
pornographic connotations (of which there are really none)
instead of its phonographic delights, hence its rarity.
Shortly after Dawes and Dannemann retired the Cyrkle and moved
into the world of jingles. To this day each owns and operates
his own jingle firm in New York. As an aside, if anyone on the
list has copies of their singles Squeeze Play or Where Are You
Going, please let me know.
Best,
Andrew Sandoval
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: Re: Curt Boetcher (was: Eternity's Children)
Received: 02/08/99 8:44 am
From: Horatius Hufnagel, MUV96XXXXXXXXnt2.lu.se
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Jamie LePage wrote:
>The listmember currently known as Agnes Skinner wrote:
Not anymore! :)
Thank you so much for yr information on Eternity's Children,
definitely sounds like a group I'd like! However, you didn't (I
think) mention the availablity of their records today. You said
Timeless was only released in Canada, but has the first one
(with Boetcher) been reissued on CD?
>I was hoping someone else would post on this because I too know
>very little about them.
I was thinking about this....were do *you* guys find info about,
for example, Curt Boetcher's various projects? I mean, there are
hundreds of books on The Beatles or The Rolling Stones but I
can't think of a single book dedicated to *one* of our soft rock
heroes. Well, there's that Japanese A-Z book but what else? I,
for one, would be interested in reading extensively about The
Millenium or The Association or Harpers Bizarre...CD liner notes
are usually informative but often only touch the surface. I'd
like to read more in depth stuff...any suggestions? Websites,
books, magazines....actually, the Spectropop website is one of
the very few places I can find info on these artists!
In case anyone missed it (I did, of course :)), there was a
quite long article (and interview?) about Curt Boetcher in one
of the autumn issues of Record Collector. I think it was the
same issue as the one about the Sea Of Tunes Beach Boys bootlegs.
>Together Records project (the label that released the second
>Sagittarius' LP "Blue Marble").
Has this been reissued? I've seen one Sundazed reissue which I
think is their *first* album (with bonustracks)...
Actually, what role did Gary Usher have in The Sagittarius if
Boetcher wrote most of the songs, did the arrangements, etc? He
might have been the producer since some of the sounds on the
Sagittarius record are very similar to his production work with
the Byrds. Am I right?
>In the liner notes to the recent Ballroom CD (you must have
>this Toby!),
I intend to buy the Ballroom CD but it's unfortunately a pretty
expensive import over here. From what I've heard in the record
store, it sounds AMAZING! I'd like to plug a great recordstore
over here called Doolittle; they have a website at:
www.doolittle.m.se
They have a pretty large selection on Spectropop music, such as
girlpop, Spector, Bacharach, soft rock, lounge and lots of other
sixties pop genres and artists! I do almost all of my
recordshopping there. As a matter of fact, they usually keep
those hard to get Beach Boys 2-fers in stock (Smiley Smile/Wild
Honey, atleast) so if anyone wants me to pick up a copy, let me
know.
Sorry about all the questions, but keep in mind I'm just a young
puppy :)
Tobias
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: Re: Okie Surfer
Received: 02/08/99 8:43 am
From: Stewart Mason, flamiXXXXXXXXcom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Steve Stanley writes:
>
>Our new Del-Fi Beach Party features Gates' "Okie Surfer."
>Certainly no "Lost in Wonderland," but interesting nevertheless.
I cannot recommend DEL-FI BEACH PARTY highly enough, for this
song alone. Even as someone who has never been a particular fan
of Gates' work (though I'm eternally in his debt for writing the
Monkees' transcendental "Saturday's Child"), I think "Okie Surfer"
is one of the best, and certainly one of the most bizarre,
surf singles ever recorded. A mere synopsis cannot do it justice
-- it's one of those things you just have to hear for yourself.
Preston Epps' "Bongo Beach" and Bruce Johnston's "Mazatlan,"
both previously unreleased, also make this a more than
worthwhile reelase.
Stewart
***************************FLAMINGO RECORDS***************************
Stewart Allensworth Mason
Box 40172 "Hellcats in tight pants
Albuquerque NM 87196 running in packs."
www.rt66.com/~flamingo
*********************HAPPY MUSIC FOR NICE PEOPLE**********************
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: Re: Diane Renay
Received: 02/08/99 8:43 am
From: Scott, smfXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hello everyone. I just joined this list a few days back and am a
big fan of 60s music (the era in which I grew up). I've tried to
replace all my old 45s & LPs with CDs. Its an expensive hobby,
but I love the music. Noticed you have some correspondence from
Diane Renay. Could this really be the same artist who did "Navy
Blue"? I used to have that 45, from back when I was a kid. Loved
that tune & still do. Its one of those great songs you hear
rarely on the radio, what I call a "lost 45". A classic -
really takes me back. Is that one available on CD? Please
advise. I don't own a phonograph anymore & gave all my records
away to Goodwill some years ago. I'm a true believer in the
superior sound quality of CDs, but have found too many great
songs have been forgotten and aren't readily available on CD.
Thanks.
Scott.
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: speeded up
Received: 02/08/99 8:43 am
From: Doc Rock, docroXXXXXXXXcom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
. Are some
>recording slowed down/speeded up to make vocals sound different,
>or did another person record Gonna Make Him My Baby?
>
>Doc, I think I found the newest version on one of the tapes you
>sent me a while back.
>
>Will
>
Will,
Yes, a great many oldies were speeded up in the 50s and 60s. The
classic case is Chuck Berry. His company speeded his tracks up to
make him sound younger. Problem was, he had trouble reproducing
that sound on stage! (Made the guitar parts harder, too!) This
comes to light when a CD is released. Unlike oldie LPS and 45
reissues, CDs are usually made from the master tapes. And THOSE
are not speeded up. So unless an engineer is savvy enough to
now to speed them up, the CD version will not be like the 45. A
prime example of this is "Little Queenie," which sounds quite
slow, with a deep-voiced Chuck, on some CDs.
Another example is "Sidewalk Surfin'" by Jan & Dean. Jan very
often speeded up the 45s. The stereo version of "Sidewalk Surfin'"
which was released on Liberty LPs was mixed by the engineer,
not Jan, and is much slower than the 45 and the mono LP cut.
Jan also had trouble singing high notes. So he would slow down
the track for songs such as "You Really Know How To Hurt A Guy"
while recording his vocals. That made the high notes easier to
reach. Then for the release, the normal speed was restored, and
Jan sang higher!
The classic girl record that was speeded up was Robin Ward's
(real name Jackie) "Wonderful Summer." Since she was a
full-grown woman with a daughter (named Robin, btw), to make her
sound like a teen, her voice was speeded up.
Perhaps the earliest example is Sue Thompson. As if her voice
was not high and kiddish enough in the early 50s, her record
company (Mercury) speeded up an early record of hers. She begged
them not to do it, but they persisted, and it made her cry. She
always said it made her sound like a Space Girl.
Doc
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: The Carpenters
Received: 02/09/99 7:18 am
From: Horatius Hufnagel, MUV96XXXXXXXXnt2.lu.se
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Picked up The Carpenters' "Close To You" LP a couple of days ago.
Having always ignored the group for some reason, it was a
pleasant surprise to discover that the duo's music is really
fantastic! This record has two great Roger Nichols songs, three
brilliant Bacharach/David covers and several of their own tunes.
What other "essential" Carpenters LPs should I get hold of?
And what's Richard Carpenter up to these days? It'd be great if
he somehow could join this list...
Tobias
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: To: Glen Lalich ~ From: Diane Renay
Received: 02/08/99 8:43 am
From: Diane renay, CEIInvXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi Glen:
Thanks for your compliments. " Watch Out Sally" was my
favorite recording also. At the end of the song I started to
ad-lib at the last moment, it was not rehearsed and I didn't
even know it was going to come out of my mouth, it just did!
Sincerely: Diane Renay <[:>)
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Subject: To: Ian Chapman ~ From: Diane Renay
Received: 02/06/99 10:27 pm
From: Diane renay, CEIInvXXXXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXXXXXXXties.com
Hi Ian:
Thanks for letting me know about this new compilation of
girl-group songs that will be coming out. I'm happy to hear that
your friend chose to use one of my songs that I liked very much,
but didn't think too many people have ever heard, "The Company
You Keep." I would like to know when it comes out on the market
and how I can get a copy. I will try and answer your questions
as best I can................
My real name is Renee Diane Kushner. I was born in South
Philadelphia and we moved to a suburb when I was 9 years old.
It's a long story how I finally got together with Bob Crewe, so
I will just say that I was first under contract to Atco Records
and for my second single they called in Bob Crewe to write and
produce my next session on the companies label. That is how I
first met Bob Crewe and the rest is history, ha, ha! Jeanie
Thomas use to sing background along with two other girls on some
of my recordings. I became friends with these girls and sometimes
would hang out with them when I was in New York. However, I can
only remember the first name of one of the other girls, I think
her name was Mikey and that's all I can remember.
Well, I hope this helps your friend out bit. Thanks for
your interest.
Sincerely: Diane Renay <[:>)
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
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