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Volume #0068 04/15/98
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UNBREAKABLE
Subject: All Strung Out
Sent: 4/14/98 7:57 AM
Received: 4/15/98 12:36 AM
From: BOBBYLLOYD, BOBBYLLXXX@XXXXXXm
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
I've seen two references in the past week to Nino Tempo and
April Stevens album "All Strung Out". Is this available on
cd? (I loaned my vinyl copy to Beatle Bob 4 or 5 years ago
for his annual new year's Spector radio show, and can't seem
to get it back.) It's one of my all-time favorite records!
I wanna hear it so bad.
thanks again,
Bobby
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:58 AM ]---
Subject: Navy Blue Crewe
Sent: 4/14/98 6:59 AM
Received: 4/15/98 12:36 AM
From: Jack Madani, Jack_MadXXX@XXXXXX2.nj.us
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
BOBBYLLOYD writes:
>This may not be something you'd have to ask Mr. Crewe,
>(someone on the list may know the answer), but I was always
>blown away by the drummer on all the Four Seasons' records.
>He sounded like Hal, only just a little funkier. Anyone know
>the gentleman's name?
Bobby, I too would like to know who this genius is. I think
he's also the guy who plays on such Diane Renay cuts as Navy
Blue and Kiss Me Sailor. Crisp, clean, sharp ratatat fills.
On the latter song, it sounds so much like Hal Blaine that I
wouldn't be at all surprised to find out it was he. Those
"budda-dup DAH" fills are so Hal.
BTW, there's an interesting passage in the booklet for
"Growin' Up Too Fast: The [Mercury] Girl Group Anthology."
It goes like this:
"...Singles were mixed for monaural sound, as was the
practice in those days. With no channel separation, the
various musical elements were stacked on top of each other,
and they packed an aural wallop on 45 rpm vinyl. Producers,
who were in the habit of "borrowing" techniques from one
another, weren't necessarily happy with having to work in
mono. Bob Crewe: 'Mono was anathema to most of us! If you
separated into stereo, then you could figure out who was
playing certain things. But if you kept it in mono, and
layered it, no one could figure out what you'd put together
to get that sound! I remember joking with Phil Spector
about that.'"
Sheesh, I'm surprised Phil didn't pull a gun on Bob for
daring to "joke" about that.
jack "can't seem to stop talking about Bob Crewe" madani
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack Madani - Princeton Day School, The Great Road,
Princeton, NJ 08540 Jack_MadXXX@XXXXXX2.nj.us
"It is when the gods hate a man with uncommon abhorrence that they
drive him into the profession of a schoolmaster." --Seneca, 64 A.D.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:58 AM ]---
Subject: Re: Cottonfields
Sent: 4/14/98 2:23 AM
Received: 4/14/98 7:35 AM
From: Paulurbahn, PaulurbXXX@XXXXXXm
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
In a message dated 98-04-13 12:49:35 EDT, you write:
<< The last example is down to competing versions by helmed by
Brian Wilson and Al Jardine, and I know that the latter
version was a sizable hit at least in the UK. Was the
former version ever released as a single, or was it merely
an album track? >>
The LP version of Cottonfields was done by Brian and is
quite tame the single version issued in Europe (and big
enough hit for Elton John to do a sound-a-like on it) was
the jardine version and really cooks. Red Roades played
steel guitar on the Jardine version which made the record. I
was kinda upset they didn't put it on Stars and Stripes.
Paul Urbahns
Lost And Found
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Re: Sooo Sad
Sent: 4/14/98 4:11 AM
Received: 4/14/98 7:35 AM
From: RGSauer, RGSaXXX@XXXXXXm
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
In a message dated 98-04-13 12:47:07 EDT, you write:
<< the best Specterrific numbers
are overloaded with melancholy. They're sad songs, or
achingly wistful, or downright tragic (although tragic is
harder to do, because it's too easy to slip into plain old
pathetic). Some examples, in no particular order:
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore (Walker Brothers) >>
I agree. I have a 45 I won at a hamburger joint in the 60's
called "I Still Love Him" by The Joys. This was a very
melancholy, Spectorish sound. (I haven't listened to it in
years). The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine.... fits in the "cover
stands alone" thread, although I prefer the Frankie Valli
original.
Ron
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Spectropop and Melancholia
Sent: 4/14/98 3:17 AM
Received: 4/14/98 7:35 AM
From: David Feldman, feldXXX@XXXXXXerables.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
Jack M observed, in part:
> But it does lead me to something else that I've often
> thought about regarding what makes a great Specterscopic
> tune, and it has less to do with the recording quality or
> arrangement--namely, for me, the best Specterrific numbers
> are overloaded with melancholy. They're sad songs, or
> achingly wistful, or downright tragic (although tragic is
> harder to do, because it's too easy to slip into plain old
> pathetic).
>
That's an interesting and I think accurate observation.
There is a gravitas to the melancholy of these songs,
regardless of the weight of the lyrics. Of course,
Spectors own productions specialize in this feeling. You
could argue about whether the lyrics of "Walking in Rain"
are hopeful or pessimistic, but you can't deny the sadness
of the melody. And I start reaching for the Prozac when
listening to "Just Once in My Life" by the time Bill Medley
sings: "There's a lot..."
One of the reasons why this Bacharach is back boomlet
depresses me a little is that it's trivializing some of his
old work. I don't think primarily of BB/HD's bubbly "San
Jose" and "Pussycat" work, but his mature stuff with
Dionne, stuff like "Walk On By," "The Last One to be
Loved," "Message to Michael," "Reach Out for Me," "Windows
of the World," (one of the few "protest" records that makes
you feel as sad as the "victims" sung about), "I Just Don't
Know What To Do w/Myself," etc.
DF
Dave Feldman
RIP: Carl Wilson
CD of the Month: "The Lateness of the Hour" (Eric Matthews)
Movie of the Month: Love & Death on Long Island
Best Time Killer of the 90's: Filling out the gender survey at
"http://www.imponderables.com"
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Toys
Sent: 4/14/98 2:54 AM
Received: 4/14/98 7:35 AM
From: David Marsteller, davebXXX@XXXXXXlin.org
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
On Tue, 14 Apr 1998, Jamie Le Page wrote:
> I have the Sundazed reissue. There are virtually no liners,
> save for what appear to be the original album liner notes
> by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell: Entertaining but hardly
> informative. I have no complaints about the sound quality,
> Bill Inglot o/b/o Rhino was involved with the remastering
> and his work is always top notch. The thing is, are the
> Toys really all that interesting? It seems to me Linzer and
> Randell mapped out what would be a black GG version of the
> Four Seasons, and after it all worked on paper took it to
> the studio. The tracks groove; in the Let's Hang On-era
> Four Seasons mode. The vocals are really grating though.
> The harmonies are all rather screechy, and just ever so
> slightly out of tune - consistently. The lead vocal on
> Lover's Concerto is fine, but it is in a lower register.
> Often when the lead vocalist reaches for a soulful high
> note, she squeals atonally. Ironically, Frankie
> Valli handled this sort of thing perfectly. Compared to
> groups like the Chiffons or the Exciters, the Toys are
> runners up in my opinion.
I know what you're saying about the vocals. I think there
are quite a few cases where the songs themselves are really
good, even though the performances are a bit lacking. I
have the lp actually, but I found it in a thrift store
years ago. Scratchy vinyl, no cover. I suppose it's worth
my while to upgrade for the better sound, cover and bonus
tracks. On the subject of The Exciters and being off-key,
something about the 'Yeah Yeah...' intro of "He's Got The
Power" always sounded off-key to my ears. Oh well.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Dave
/************************************************************************/
/** "Reach out and grab a fistful of now" **/
/** Thornetta Davis **/
/** David Marsteller davebXXX@XXXXXXlin.org **/
/************************************************************************/
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Re: Spectropop V#0066
Sent: 4/14/98 8:11 PM
Received: 4/15/98 12:36 AM
From: Jeff Glenn, Jeff_GlXXX@XXXXXX.nba.TRW.COM
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
Reply to: RE>Spectropop V#0066
Billy G. Spradlin wrote:
<One wish for us 4-Seasons fans...A Singles collection with
all the MONO mixes of the original hits! (and for someone to
find "Ronnie" and "Huggin My Pillow" in stereo too!)>
Billy, you need to find the recent (1997) Ace UK reissue of
EDIZIONE D'ORO. For those not familiar with this LP, it was
a 2-LP greatest hits released in late 1968 (Philips PHS 2-
6501) which contained most of the usual suspects in stereo,
but also included stereo mixes of "Ain't That a Shame,"
"Dawn (Go Away)," "Save It For Me" (alternate stereo mix),
"Girl Come Running," and "Let's Hang On." The stereo mixes
of both "Dawn" and "Let's Hang On" were minus the slow
intros.
For this new reissue Ace has included all five of
these stereo mixes (all of which were unique to this LP and
had never been reissued), but for the rest of the songs,
rather than issue the same old stereo mixes they have chosen
to use the original mono 45 mixes, the songs being:
Sherry
Big Girls Don't Cry
Connie-O
Walk Like a Man
Candy Girl
Marlena
Peanuts
Stay
Big Man In Town
Alone
Ronnie (Sorry, no stereo, but at least it's true mono!)
Rag Doll
Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)
Toy Soldier
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (The Wonder Who?)
Working My Way Back To You
Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)
I've Got You Under My Skin
Beggin'
Silence Is Golden
C'mon Marianne
The only down side of this CD (which features great sound)
is that three of the tracks from the original LP were
omitted for space reasons:
Tell It To the Rain
Watch the Flowers Grow
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
And Paul Urbahm wrote:
<Yes but the stereo version, If memory serves me has a guitar
break (solo) that is not on the hit mono version. Or is it
the other way around.>
Actually there's nothing on the stereo version that isn't on
the mono; it's just a different mix. In the part you're
talking about, the quitar and orchestra are mixed high in
the stereo mix, with the saxophone at a relatively low
level. On the mono mix the opposite is true, with the
strings and especially the guitar almost inaudible. The
stereo mix also runs five seconds longer (2:54) than the
mono (2:49), which is listed incorrectly as 2:27 on the
label of the original Dynovoice 45. Must be another attempt
to court radio play with a "short" song (kind of like
Columbia listing S&G's "Fakin' It" as 2:74 on the original
45! Or Motown listing anything that ran more than a few
seconds over three minutes on their 45's as 2:59!).
Jeffrey
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Re: Spectropop V#0067
Sent: 4/14/98 2:02 AM
Received: 4/14/98 7:35 AM
From: Billy G. Spradlin, bilXXX@XXXXXXe.net
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
>Doc Rock writes:
>>And does anyone have any burning questions you'd like to
>>have asked?
>This may not be something you'd have to ask Mr. Crewe,
>(someone on the list may know the answer), but I was always
>blown away by the drummer on all the Four Seasons' records.
>He sounded like Hal, only just a little funkier. Anyone know
>the gentleman's name?
>Thanks,
>Bobby
According to the liner notes to my ACE 2-fer of DAWN/RAG
DOLL the drummers name is Buddy Saltzman, and I've read he
played drums on almost all of the 4 Seasons hits. One thing
I love about Bob Crewe's 4 Seasons productions and Charlie
Calello's arrangements is all that percussion! Foot
Stomping, Tambourines, Hand Claps, etc and that thing that
makes that wierd sound at the beginning of "Ronnie"!
Another Song I'd like to ask Mr. Crewe about is Matthew
Reid's recording of "Lollypops Went Out of Style/Cry Myself
to Sleep" on Topix. Its a very silly Bryan Hyland type-song
with not-so great singing but the production on it is great,
and the b-side is the same song the Seasons did on their
"Born To Wander" Album. I found this Promo 45 at a thrift
store in cracked condition, but decided to pick it up anyway
and save it from the trashcan.
Glad I did!
Billy G.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[] Billy G. Spradlin E-mail: bilXXX@XXXXXXe.net ICQ:2039627 []
[] 29 Rim Road Homepage: http://www.tyler.net/wildbill
[]
[] Kilgore, Texas 75662 IRC: Wild`Bill in #Bob's_Tavern (Efnet) []
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Re: Bob Crewe
Sent: 4/14/98 5:49 AM
Received: 4/14/98 7:35 AM
From: Birdy-Num Num, monsaXXX@XXXXXXink.net
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
Jeez, I leave for a couple of weeks and I miss some of my
FAVORITE topics. Bob Crewe (especially his girl-group)
productions, France Gall, Lesley Gore's single version of
"Look Of Love" ( 2nd all-time favorite GG record next to
"Walking In the Rain"), Jack Nitzsche string arrangements,
my god I've missed the motherlode of discussions.
Hey Doc, I thought you were getting some good action in
before I left, but now you're practically an elder
statesman! Just don't forget the little guy who submitted
your name to Spectropop...just kidding. Good to hear
you're finally doing that Crewe interview we first talked
about last summer. Don't forget to mention the Shephard
Sisters, Shirley Matthews, and especially ask if he had
anything to do with Donna Lynn's singles...they're
downright carbon-copy-Crewe! And if "Skiing In the Snow" by
the Beach Girls is actually the Rag Dolls line-up, and. .
.well, I can go on and on. Also good to see you spreading
the Pixies love...after all, they're the reason why we
hooked up in the first place. I'd just like to mention that
Doc turned me on to one of the greatest girl-group covers of
them all, "Girl Don't Tell Me" by solo Pixies Three singer,
Debbie Swisher...it KICKS BUTT !
Hey Jamie, thanks for the nice letter regarding the album...
very flattering, and so far, your musical references are
our favorite, especially the one to "End Of the Season"...
RIGHT ON! By the way, I met up with Frank Ferguson while in
London and he had great things to say about your musical
taste and passes on his regards. I think I had my priorities
right by first visiting the landmark site of Joe Meek's
flat/ recording studio on Holloway Rd. I stood there
summoning messages from Venus and talking cats and I was
answered by a mini hailstorm. Oh well, I did manage to pick
up some absolutely amazing, well let's say unofficial, brand
new Beach Boys CD sets. Unsurpassed Master Series including
all instrumental and vocal takes of their albums up to
"Today". The series is modeled after the Pet Sounds box set
and the sound quality is incredible! Can you believe "Today"
is 2 full box sets, that's 8 CD's! Including the sessions
for "Guess I'm Dumb"...WOW! But just as interesting to our
readers is that Vol. 3 & 4 have sessions for the Honeys and
Sharon Marie including the track for the unreleased "Go Away
Boy"...I'm in heaven!
Can't agree more on the subject of Lesley Gore's "What Am I
Gonna Do With You", one of my faves. DEFINITELY a Jack
Nitzsche arrangement / production. The Bear Family box set
has the official recording date of March 27, 1965 with a
complete listing of musicians and Jack as producer.
Cheers for now,
Darian
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: A few quick comments
Sent: 4/14/98 12:43 AM
Received: 4/14/98 12:46 AM
From: le_page_XXX@XXXXXXies.com
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
I went to the Rock and Roll Diner last weekend (Hard Rock
Cafe's 50's & 60's theme restaraunt) and there was a stack
of 45s for sale sitting near the register, I went through
them and found a couple worth picking up. Eric 185, the
reissue of Music to Watch Girls By by Bob Crewe Generation
b/w A Lover's Concerto by the Toys!! Yes, I have these on CD
but talk about yer Spectropop coinky dinks! The other amazing
one was Collectables COL 3201. This looks identical to a
Philles 45 (except for a small Collectables logo). It has the
red and yellow Philles label with black lettering, and it's
a double hit reissue single with Then He Kissed Me by the
Crystals on the A, and Puddin' N' Tain by *the Crystals* on
the B!!!!!! That alone was worth the 80 cents even though I
have both the Crystals and Alley Cats recordings elsewhere.
If you can, check the newest ish of Billboard for a
spotlight on vital reissues. Comments from many of the label
execs at Ace, Westside, etc. Much about the recent Kinks and
Zombies reissues, etc. Great stuff. One general comment
about 60's reissues I found quite interesting. I will try to
post it in the next day or so. btw, there's a nice side piece
on Japanese reissues that even mentions M&M and A-Side Records,
written for Billboard by one of our own Spectropop members.
Got Doc Rock's Liberty Records book, and I am finally
reading bits and pieces of it. WOW! This is an extremely in-
depth look at what was arguably the most important label in
Los Angeles during our subject timeframe. Very revealing,
with much about Fleetwoods, Jan & Dean, and Bobby Vee, and
that just scratches the surface. Great photo of Doc with
Mike Love and Dean Torrence circa 1982. Dean, looking cool
as ever, Mike, looking as serious as one possibly can with a
dumb baseball cap on, and Doc in the middle, obviously
enjoying a memorable moment with two major surf sound
personalities.
Speaking of surf, I'm finally getting into the second batch
of Sea of Tunes CDs (which have really stressed the wallet,
btw). There is some absolutely amazing stuff on the eight
(8!!!!!!) discs of _Today_ material; these Unsurpassed
Masters CDs even have Sharon Marie, Honeys and Glen
Campbell sessions. Murray is present for a lot of this,
which is revealing, and the sound quality is just amazing,
far better than the official releases in many cases. Anyone
else heard these yet?
--
le_page_XXX@XXXXXXies.com
RodeoDrive/5030
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Re: Spectropop V#0067
Sent: 4/14/98 3:25 AM
Received: 4/14/98 7:35 AM
From: Doc Rock, docroXXX@XXXXXXom
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
Cover versions.
Technically, a cover version is a single recorded while the
original version is a hit. It is intended to "cover" an
audience not covered by the original. For example, a '40s
record by a male crooner would be recorded by a female, by a
country artist, instrumentally by a band, as a polka by
another group, maybe a Western version, a slow version, a
fast version, a version by a local or regional artist, etc.
In a very real sense, the cover versions competed. It was
not considered bad at all to record a cover version, by the
way. It was SOP.
In the '50s, it was common for white acts to cover black
records, although blacks also covered black records ("You
Cheated" by the Slades was covered by the Shields) and
blacks covered whites (Billy Ward covered Jan & Arnie's
"Jennie Lee.") Also Pop acts would cover rock songs.
In the last 3 decades, the definition of a cover has been
expanded until the term has none of the original meaning
left. Now, it means a recording of a previously recorded
song. Instead of a new single of a current hit single, it
can be a new version of a 50 year old oldie; a cut on a CD
of an old LP cut that was never on a single; even a live
performance. In fact, I have heard of recordings of Buddy
Holly songs that were never released (until decades after he
died) referred to as covers!
I feel that if we use that expanded definition of cover
(recording of a previously recorded song), then Elvis (or
any other artist) who records a song off of a demo record
has made a cover record. After all, when white 50s artists
covered black records, they were basically using the black
record as a demo.
As for PJ Proby making Elvis demos, I saw him interviewed on
TV in the '60s, and he talked about how his ability to sing
exactly like Elvis got him the job of recording scores of
demos which then Elvis copied or sang over his track using
the demo backing track.
I may be wrong here, but Elvis did not, I believe, read
music. So any songs written for him had to be given to him
on demos. Even if he did read music, demos are much easier
to assimilate.
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Do You Remember Rock'n Roll Radio
Sent: 4/14/98 11:37 AM
Received: 4/15/98 12:36 AM
From: Javed Jafri, javedjaXXX@XXXXXX.ca
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
I have found another site which offers a great eclectic mix
of oldies on the net. The address is on-air.com. I guess you
could call this an Internet radio station but there are no
DJ's. You can always find out what's on because there is a
continuos listing of the current song playing as well as the
last 10 selections. I was floored today when I heard "Stop
get A ticket" by the Clefs Of Lavender Hill in stereo no
less. The sound quality is excellent and I think they only
play what's available on CD.To give you an idea of how
eclectic the format is I have copied the last ten selections
below. They feature a little bit of everything including
Blues, Rockabilly. Doo Wop, Surf, Girl Groups, British
Invasion, Garage, Psychedelia.
TIME ARTIST TITTLE 18:38 Connie Francis/Stupid Cupid 18:41
Royal Teens/Short Shorts 18:46 Little Walter/My Babe 18:48
Lulu/Best Of Both Worlds 18:52 Gerry&The Pacemakers/How Do
You Do It 18:54 Seeds/Pushin Too Hard 18:56 Duane Eddy/
Cannonball 18:58 Hollywood Argyles/Alley Oop 19:01 Clefs Of
Lavender Hill/lStop&Get A Ticket 19:03 Robin Luke/Susie
Darlin
Javed
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
Subject: Can anyone help?
Sent: 4/14/98 7:38 AM
Received: 4/15/98 12:36 AM
From: Ange from England, AXXX@XXXXXXane.prestel.co.uk
To: Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
Hi,
I've written to you asking this question before. However, I
think I've only just got the drift of Spectropop - is it
like an on-going mail thing where people write in with
questions and everyone gets a copy of the questions on their
Email, and if anyone knows and answers they can Email the
person who asked the question? (If you get my meaning)!
Well, I'm sorry, I haven't known any answers so far, but
I've noticed there's been a lot of people writing about
Cover Versions lately, - so I'll try my question again:-
Does anyone know what year Elton John and Bonnie Raitt did a
cover version of "Love Letters" (the old Ketty Lester song)?
If anyone knows, please help.
Thanks.
Ange
---[ archived by Spectropop - 04 /15/98 - 12:52:59 AM ]---
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