Spectropop - Digest Number 331

• From: Spectropop Group
• Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2001 05:09:54

                
    ===========================================================
         ___  ___  ___   __  ____  ___   __  ___   __  ___ 
        / __)(  ,\(  _) / _)(_  _)(  ,) /  \(  ,\ /  \(  ,\
        \__ \ ) _/ ) _)( (_   )(   )  \( () )) _/( () )) _/
        (___/(_)  (___) \__) (__) (_)\_)\__/(_)   \__/(_) 

    ===========================================================
    An endeavor to epitomize great stars in the recording field
    ===========================================================

There are 10 messages in this issue of Spectropop.

Topics in this Digest Number 331:

      1. ELLIE GREENWICH SPECIAL!!
           From: "Bob Weiner" 
      2. Re: The Pop-Sike World Of Cliff Wade
           From: "Kingsley Abbott" 
      3. Spector Queries
           From: "Don Charles" 
      4. Re: The Tandyn Slave-Master
           From: Matthew David 
      5. Re: Tandyn Almer
           From: Matthew David 
      6. Don't Worry
           From: Michael Rashkow 
      7. Re: Happiness is
           From: "Jeffrey Glenn" 
      8. Re: Happiness is
           From: Bruce Kerr 
      9. Easy Listening People
           From: James Botticelli 
     10. Happy birthday to Phil
           From: "GSPECTOR" 


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________


Message: 1
   Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2001 22:30:46 -0000
   From: "Bob Weiner" 
Subject: ELLIE GREENWICH SPECIAL!!

My name is Bob Weiner. I am Ellie's manager and have been
so since 1984. 

Recently, there has been a rash of misinformation about
Ellie on Spectropop, the latest erroneous info about
Ellie being seriously ill at Duke prompts this note. 

ELLIE GREENWICH IS NOT SERIOUSLY ILL!! SHE IS NOT AT DUKE
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. 

The reality is, that like some of us she has gained
weight, and is in a program to lose it!!!

Don Charles, (to whom Ellie is deeply indebted), as well
as many of you who have corresponded directly with Ellie,
know that she is open and treasures her relationship with
her fans. What she asks is the following:

If you are seeking any information about her, please
contact me, Bob Weiner. Joe Somsky,
the President of her fan club, would also be happy to
share info. You can also contact us through Ellie's
website: 
http://www.elliegreenwich.com/

As she says in her website, she owes her success to her
fans. She does not want them misled and she does not
want or need anyone else to speak for her. 


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 2
   Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 13:11:44 -0000
   From: "Kingsley Abbott" 
Subject: Re: The Pop-Sike World Of Cliff Wade

Carlos asked about this new release on Edsel (EDCD 707):
It has 21 tracks, of which three were written (not
co-written) by Geoff Gill of The Smoke connection.  The
whole album is quite reflective of what was happening in
pop in the UK in the late sixties, tho not reflective, to
these ears at least, of much Psych of the time, at least
not the clubs that I was going to at the time
(Happening/UFO/Electric Garden/Middle Earth).  Whilst I
guess some will hail it as a lost slab of brilliance, it
all sounds rather third rate Manfred Mann (D'Abo era)/Move
to me with a bit of folky stuff thrown in. There are the
requisite range of cellos, flutes and brass that were the
pop 'Plate de Jour' at the time.  I don't hear any great
songs, but I do hear some very dodgy and naff lyrics. 
Wade's voice reflects the groups mentioned, but is far
from distinctive. Sound quality varies from poor/muzzy to
only fair.  Full booklet with history and loads of small
photos. Hope that this is helpful - some will probably
love it, but it misses me (BTW - I didn't buy it, it just
arrived!)

Kingsley Abbott

PS - I got the book "Bubblegum Is The Naked Truth" (Ferel
House ISBN 0-922915-69-5) for Christmas, which I guess
will be an essential purchase for many on this list, with
chapters/sections on Ron Dante, Archies,K/K, Cowsills,
Gary Zekely, Dino Desi & Billy, Turtles, Boyce & Hart,
Jeff Barry, Gary Usher, Carol Conners, and much much more.
A great dip-into book of 300+ pages.


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 3
   Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 21:25:17 +0000
   From: "Don Charles" 
Subject: Spector Queries

Is it Darlene Love or her sister Edna Wright who sings
the duet with Sonny Charles on The Checkmates, Ltd's
version of "Proud Mary?"  And does anyone know the
identity of the second lead singer on The Crystals'
"March Of The Wooden Soldiers?" (from Phil's Christmas
album, natch.)  The one who sings "Hear them all cheering,"
etc?

Don Charles


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 4
   Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 14:15:06 EST
   From: Matthew David 
Subject: Re: The Tandyn Slave-Master

LePageWeb writes:

> Close, but no spliff. Tandyn wrote Along Comes Mary,
> as well as co-writing (w/ Curt Boettcher) Message of
> our Love for the Association and Musty Dusty for
> Sagittarius. For anyone who still wonders why his
> empty cup is as sweet as the punch, it is a little
> complicated to explain, so please refer to the Tandyn
> Slave-Master web page:
> 
> http://www.wusb.org/psycdeli/reviews/tandyn.html
> 
> (In my defense, I searched "Tandyn Almer" in Yahoo and
> this was the first entry - I kid you not!)

That's funny.....  I remember stumbling across that page
awhile back.  Some of Tandyn's other songs include 
"Butterfly High", "High Society" and "I Get High".

I think promo copies of "Along Comes Mary" credit Curt
Boettcher with co-writing the song.  Anyone know the
story behind that?

Matthew


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 5
   Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 14:13:40 EST
   From: Matthew David 
Subject: Re: Tandyn Almer

Bruce Kerr writes:
> Did Almer, as a writer, ever have other giant hits?

Hi Bruce,

The closest Tandyn ever came to having another hit, I
believe, was with "Sail On Sailor" by The Beach Boys. 
Written with Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, Jack Rieley
and Ray Kennedy.  Got to #49 on the charts.

I remember reading an interesting account of Tandyn in
John Kay's (Steppenwolf) autobiography.  Apparently he
lived at the Troubabour in LA for awhile.

Matthew


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 6
   Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 19:03:39 EST
   From: Michael Rashkow 
Subject: Don't Worry

Country Paul writes:

> By the way, the "fuzztone" by Grady Martin was on Marty
> Robbins' "Don't Worry." It's the first time I ever heard
> that sound. It seemed an octave lower than a regular
> guitar, leading me to believe that either he played it on
> a bass or the distortion seemed to drop the lead by an
> octave.


THAT'S THE ONE!

Rashkovsky


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 7
   Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 07:20:28 -0800
   From: "Jeffrey Glenn" 
Subject: Re: Happiness is

>If you're going to start comparing versions of this song,
>I suggest you check out the Anita Kerr Singers version on
>her surprisingly good sunshine pop record, "Sounds".

Thanks for the heads up - I'll keep an eye out for this one!

>Her "Singers" records were head and shoulders above the
>other similar records of the day.  Perhaps that's because
>there were just four of them and they actually harmonized
>rather than singing in unison like so many other
>apparently similar records.

And she was also the mastermind behind the Living Voices
LP's too.  Their reading of "Eve Of Destruction" from
POSITIVELY 4TH STREET AND OTHER MESSAGE FOLK SONGS (RCA
Camden CAS 947) is hysterical in its sheer wrongness!:-)
But I digress.....

>But as good as her records are compared to for instance,
>the Ray Charles Singers, "Sounds" is in a class by itself.

I've got one Ray Charles Singers 45 that is actually
quite genious soft pop:

Holly (L. Pockriss-S. Pinz)/Summer Morning (M. Kent- J.
Arthur) - ABC Command 45-4130: 1969, Arranged by Bill
Holman)

The A-side is a cover of The Cuff Links' "Heather" under
a different name (literally), and both sides are
excellent.  I can upload these too if anyone wants.

>And if you've ever had the misfortune of hearing the Ray
>Conniff Singers record "Happiness Is", you can imagine my
>delight when the song on the Anita Kerr record was the
>OTHER "Happiness Is".  A different song, in other words.

I know which one you're talking about; Bobby Sherman
actually released a version of that other "Happiness Is"
on Cameo C-403 in 1965 (and boy is it fruity!:-)).

>I know at least one person here knows what I'm talking
>about and finds the occasional soft pop gem among the
>Sandpipers/Lettermen/Anita Kerr Singers of the world.

Elliott Kendall's on the list?!  Anyway, now you know two.:-)

Jeff


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 8
   Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 08:10:39 -0000
   From: Bruce Kerr 
Subject: Re: Happiness is

> If you're going to start comparing versions of this song,
> I suggest you check out the Anita Kerr Singers version on
> her surprisingly good sunshine pop record, "Sounds".
> 
> I know at least one person here knows what I'm talking
> about and finds the occasional soft pop gem among the
> Sandpipers/Lettermen/Anita Kerr Singers of the world.

Hi Alan,

I have a soft spot in my heart for those great harmony
soft pop sounds too. Any chance you might "play" that
Anita Kerr Singers version? (no relation)

Thanks.

Bruce Kerr


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 9
   Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 12:19:26 EST
   From: James Botticelli 
Subject: Easy Listening People


> Bruce Kerr

from the family? I just found your Mancini LP at a
thrifty...nice stuff...and AZ is right on the
money...there are lots of easy listening people who
jumped into soft pop...Johnny Mann did it. His title
selection bordered on the amazing.

JB Happy 2002


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------


Message: 10
   Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 23:00:39 -0700
   From: "GSPECTOR" 
Subject: Happy birthday to Phil

>--- In spectropop,"Kurt Schroeder" wrote:
>
>> NPR mentioned this morning that today is Phil Spector's
>> 61st birthday.  I hope he has a happy one!  
>>
>> --Kurt
>
>I can't believe he's 61 already, can you?  I'll always
>think of him as that genius kid who produced all the
>great music of the Sixties; Many happy returns, Mr. Spector.
>
>Laura

Hello.

I too still remember the younger Phil but not as young as
he was in the 60's since my twin and I were only adopted
in 1972 when we about 6.

I too also find it very hard to believe my own father is
61 and I find it harder to believe I am now 35. Where has
the time gone? I am just glad I spent many of those years
listening to his music just like the rest of you, and I am 
glad I still remember the great times we shared.

From the Keyboard of:
Gary P. Spector
Not just another PS fan,
His son.


--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
End

• Prev by Date: Spectropop - Digest Number 330 Spectropop Group, Fri, 28 Dec 2001 13:25:24
• Next by Date: Spectropop - Digest Number 332 Spectropop Group, Mon, 31 Dec 2001 04:30:48
• Spectropop Archive Index
• Spectropop Discussion Group Main Page