________________________________________________________________________
______________ ______________
______________ ______________
______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________
______________ ______________
________________________________________________________________________
It's what's happening to Scene '67!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 25 messages in this issue of Spectropop.
Topics in this Digest Number 396:
1. 4 Seasons band biz lesson
From: Andrew Simons
2. Re: The Rokes
From: "Norman"
3. Re: Recent Tokens /Scenes From Another World
From: Mark Frumento
4. Re: Straight goes Psyche and 60s Bee Gees
From: Paul Richards
5. New Musica
From: "Jeffrey Glenn"
6. Songs by BR&M Gibb for other artists
From: "Joseph Scott"
7. Re: LeGrand Mellon
From: Jason Penick
8. Re: Rock Flowers
From: Will George
9. Re:Bryndle/Andrew Gold
From: Will George
10. Re:Lonely Surfer Boy
From: Will George
11. Re:Lonely Surfer Boy
From: "Robert Conway"
12. Isleys...and Motown
From: "John Lester"
13. Re: Songs by BR&M Gibb for other artists
From: Luis Suarez
14. Tokens at the Tail End of their Career!
From: Spectropop Group
15. Re: LONELY SURFER BOY
From: Mick Patrick
16. Gene Pitney
From: Michael Edwards
17. Re: Novelty records
From: Will George
18. Re: Songs by BR&M Gibb for other artists
From: "Den Lindquist"
19. Re: Grapevine
From: Will George
20. Re: Gene Pitney
From: "Mike Arcidiacono"
21. Re: Songs by BR&M Gibb for other artists
From: "Norman"
22. Re: Dora Hall
From: Will George
23. Re:Lonely Surfer Boy
From: "Mike Arcidiacono"
24. Turtles in mono
From: "Dave Swanson"
25. John Simon
From: Bobby Lloyd Hicks
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 10:44:25 -0000
From: Andrew Simons
Subject: 4 Seasons band biz lesson
To all fans of the Four Seasons. I recall a Stateside
story from around 1967-8 regarding the problems of
touring by self-contained rock bands. It seem the FS,
who played their own instruments, had a large van for
all their road gear. Only problem was, the vehicle had
FOUR SEASONS painted on the body. Needless to say but
they lost all their equipment in an unattended moment.
This lesson was learnt by late 60s bands who from then
on (a) used rather anonymous rent-a-vans and (b) never
lost sight of their assets.
Andrew Simons
British Library
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 21:36:52 +1030
From: "Norman"
Subject: Re: The Rokes
----- Original Message from: "Javed Jafri" re The Rokes
> This was the group that did the original version of
> "Lets Live For Today". I recall reading that
> somewhere. I don't know anything about them and have
> never heard their version of the song though.
After being put straight about the Rokes I checked out
the website and listened to the original Let's Live for
Today.
Having grown up with the Grass Roots version I was blown
away with the fact that these guys wrote such classics.
Unfortunately, they did not receive a penny from the
success of the Grass Roots version!
The site is at
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Lounge/3488/
Norman
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:33:24 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: Recent Tokens /Scenes From Another World
--- In spectropop, "Kingsley Abbott" wrote:
> Tonight I Fell In Love With The Tokens - Crystal Ball
> 1038 - Single CD with 29 tracks, including 10
> completely unreleased songs, two alternates and the
> rest pretty rare (i.e. not the standard hits).
> Particularly nice to have here is their version of
> "Cathy's Clown" (really good) and the "Tribute To The
> Beach Boys" that they put out in 1976 as a one-off as
> The Sands Of Time
This sounds interesting. I need to check it out!
Does this release mention (or does anyone know about) a
group called The Scenes? They are suppose to be from
Australia but I have it on good authority that the Scenes
are actually the Tokens doing a British/psych/
pop/harmony thing. The song is called "Scenes (From
Another World") it is definitely written by the Tokens
but it appears that they were "putting on" another group
name. By the way the song is fabulous! Anyone know the
facts?
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 16:28:46 -0000
From: Paul Richards
Subject: Re: Straight goes Psyche and 60s Bee Gees
--- In Spectropop, Jon Cook wrote:
>
> As to 60s Bee Gees - Is there any definitive list of
> the songs the wrote for others? Pre-1970 I mean. The
> best I've heard so far is 'Cowman, Milk Your Cow' which
> was given to Adam Faith. Definitely another case of
> Straight Goes Psyche.
>
> Anyone heard Abyssinian Secret by Cilla Black? I would
> love to hear more discussion on this subject!
Yeh, Jon, it's one of my favourite Cilla songs, I'll have
to try & look it out again. I was just playing the very
pretty 'London Bridge' last night, I'm really into UK late
60' s GirlPop at the moment. My favourite girls are Cilla,
Samantha Jones-Mark Wirtz' 'Today without you' & 'Ford
leads the Way' are faves, Kathe Green - I' ve just got her
68 Deram LP, v. nice, Friday Brown - Spaghetti Junction,
Madeleine Bell, Suzanne Harris. The Adam Faith Bee Gees
song sounds interesting, love to hear it, I also like
'Jumbo' & 'All our Christmases' by 'The Majority'
Paul
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 07:57:46 -0800
From: "Jeffrey Glenn"
Subject: New Musica
I've put up two songs that listers requested:
Shame, Shame (K. Colley-K. Henderson-L. Colley) - Keith
Colley, Columbia 4-44410: 1968, Produced by Gary Usher
with bv's by Curt Boettcher (and possibly other Millenium
members; this is the original version of the song that
became a hit several months later when covered by The
Magic Lanterns
Mary On The Beach (Jeff Barry) - Hank Shifter, Steed
45-708: 1968, Produced by Jeff Barry, Arranged by Dean
Christopher
Later today I'll be posting the list of good obscure late
60's Laurie 45's I've been putting together. I just
found some more on some CDR's a friend made for me, and
they'll be included too.
Jeff
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 6
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 09:52:48 -0700
From: "Joseph Scott"
Subject: Songs by BR&M Gibb for other artists
Hi Jon,
Barry, Robin, and/or Maurice Gibb songs that have been
recorded by other artists but not by them are included in
the lists at:
http://www.geocities.com/bgsongs/a_l.html
and
http://www.geocities.com/bgsongs/m_z.html
Joseph Scott
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:08:10 EST
From: Jason Penick
Subject: Re: LeGrand Mellon
In a message dated 2/25/2002 Paul Payton writes:
> Surprise, Jason - LeGrand Mellon is one person -
> something of a babe, judging by the promotional b&w
> picture sleeve.
Thanks, Paul! Looks like I was a little off base.
"Rolling My Own" sounds like a classic, though!
Jason
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 8
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:17:35 EST
From: Will George
Subject: Re: Rock Flowers
>Put A Little Love Away
I wonder if this is the same Lambert/Potter song that
Maureen McGovern recorded on her 1974 LP Nice To Be
Around?
Bill
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 9
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:17:37 EST
From: Will George
Subject: Re:Bryndle/Andrew Gold
> I've always liked Andrew Gold. Are you aware that he
> is/was part of the trio Bryndle? The group
> consists/consisted of Andrew Gold, Kenny Edwards and
> Karla Bonoff. The CD must be at least 4-5 years old so
> I doubt that another effort will be forthcoming. A nice
> CD laden with harmony and melody. <
I'm still catching up, so forgive me if this has already
been addressed.
Bryndle was a quartet of Andrew Gold, Wendy Waldman,
Karla Bonoff and Kenny Edwards. They released an
excellent CD on MusicMasters (BMG) in 1995. I had the
pleasure of seeing them live several times and getting
to talk to Andrew and Wendy a little bit. Andrew quit
the band after their initial tour. They carried on as a
trio and recorded some tracks for a second album, but it
all fell apart and none of those tracks were ever
released. There were some great songs, too! They also
released a two-song Christmas promo single that I have.
Andrew Gold recorded a song I co-wrote a few years ago,
but it's never been released. He did a great job. He
turned what was essentially a Celine Dion-styled ballad
into Brian Wilson-influenced soft pop.
-Bill
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 10
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:55:52 EST
From: Will George
Subject: Re:Lonely Surfer Boy
Can anyone tell me if this is the song written by Jackie
DeShannon? Is it an instrumental or a vocal? If it is
the DeShannon song, I simply MUST have a copy! As far as
I know, the song has never been recorded. I have the
sheet music for it, but it is almost impossible to
figure out how it is supposed to sound from the very
minimal notation on the page. Thanks for any help!
Bill
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 11
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 13:27:04 -0600
From: "Robert Conway"
Subject: Re:Lonely Surfer Boy
>From: Will George:
>
>Can anyone tell me if this is the song written by Jackie
>DeShannon? Is it an instrumental or a vocal? If it is
>the DeShannon song, I simply MUST have a copy! As far as
>I know, the song has never been recorded. I have the
>sheet music for it, but it is almost impossible to
>figure out how it is supposed to sound from the very
>minimal notation on the page. Thanks for any help!
Not sure if this is the tune you are looking for but the
title is an exact match..."Lonely Surfer Boy" by the
Sunsets is on a VA CD titled "Muscle Bustle"--I believe
it is on the Challenge label. I never bought it (it is
an import here in the States) but I recall it has some
Gary Usher songs on it also. I a m sure the CD is still
available. If there is any way for you to check it out
in a shop perhaps the songs list writing credits on the
back. Good luck.
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 12
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 21:24:20 -0000
From: "John Lester"
Subject: Isleys...and Motown
Billy G. Spradlin wrote:
> Motown's smooth pop sensiblities didnt jibe with the
> Isleys love for hardcore soul and funk. Thats why
> they jumped ship to start thier own label and
> produce themselves. I would have loved to see the
> faces of Motown executives when they first heard
> "It's Your Thing" (and later when it became a
> monster R&B and Top 40 hit). I need to dig up the
> MOJO article about the group and read it again.
John Lester replies....
You might look to see why they later went on to make one
of the the best Motown soundalikes of all time in "Warpath"...
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 13
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 18:42:02 -0000
From: Luis Suarez
Subject: Re: Songs by BR&M Gibb for other artists
"Joseph Scott" wrote:
> Barry, Robin, and/or Maurice Gibb songs that have been
> recorded by other artists but not by them are included in
> the lists at:
> http://www.geocities.com/bgsongs/a_l.html
> and
> http://www.geocities.com/bgsongs/m_z.html
I'm glad to see the BeeGees get some airtime here at
Spectropop. They're up there with the best.
Another wonderful site that shows all the B.G. activity
year to year (actually album to album) is Gibb Songs. All
the songs they wrote for other artists are in there as
well as track listings, session dates, etc. for every
released and pretty much every UNreleased track the
brothers recorded.
Check out the links for "The Loner", "I'll Kiss Your
Memory" and "Sing Slowly Sisters", Maurice, Barry and
Robin's respective unreleased 1970 solo albums. You can
download a bunch of these songs from Audiogalaxy (some of
them with so-so sound). Barry also wrote and produced a
bunch of tracks for P.P. Arnold.
Hi Mafru!
Luis Suarez
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 14
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 08:47:46 +0900
From: Spectropop Group
Subject: Tokens at the Tail End of their Career!
Posted to Spectropop Bulletin Board by Bob R
on Sun, 24 Feb 2002
http://www.escribe.com/music/spectropop/bb/index.html?bID=303
-----------------------------------------------------------
Talkin' TOKENS...I was particularly fond of "She Lets Her
Hair Down" (January, 1970) inspired by a Clairol
commercial, but the flip side is even groovier, "Oh To
Get Away" (To another place and day, etc.) Recently I
spun that song for probably the 1st time in about 25
years. The topic--getting away from a drudge job and then
being anxious to go back to it--appears to be timeless!
Can't locate my 45 right at the moment but this
tragicomic song of whining at just under 2 minutes I
think was penned either by the foursome or by Paul
Leka.....Regards to all, Bob
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 15
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 23:50:23 +0000 (GMT)
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: LONELY SURFER BOY
Hi,
>From: Will George:
> Can anyone tell me if this is the song written by
> Jackie DeShannon? Is it an instrumental or a vocal? If
> it is the DeShannon song, I simply MUST have a copy!
> As far as I know, the song has never been recorded. I
> have the sheet music for it, but it is almost
> impossible to figure out how it is supposed to sound
> from the very minimal notation on the page.
William, William, take a deep breath, calm down and ask
the maid to fetch you a glass of water!
The song "Lonely Surfer Boy", as recorded by the Sunsets,
was composed by Gary Usher, Mike Borchetta & Roger
Christian, not your beloved Jackie DeShannon. The
track is contained on the CD MUSCLE BUSTLE (UK ACE
CDCHD 533, 1994), one of the best Surf'n'Drag CDs
there ever was. There are TEN other Usher-written
tracks, not to mention two penned by the luscious
Carol Connors for the Knickerbockers.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=An7rv288t054a
MICK PATRICK
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 16
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 03:19:33 -0000
From: Michael Edwards
Subject: Gene Pitney
I was in the Liverpool last week for the derby soccer
match between Liverpool and Everton and was able to take
in Gene Pitney's concert at the Philharmonic Hall on Feb
21st. What a great job he does and what fun it was
hearing his timeless classics done faultlessly. His
catalog is so strong and extensive that he couldn't get
them all in. He omitted Liberty Valance, Mecca, Only Love
Can Break A Heart, and That Girl Belongs To Yesterday.
The latter is a Jagger-Richard song, but he did perform
the flip, Who Needs It - maybe he's fallen out with Mick
and Keith. He treated us to a medley of songs he'd
written himself: I Wanna Love My Life Away, Rubber Ball,
Hello Mary Lou and He's A Rebel (done a la Crystals and
not Vikki Carr). He did a tribute to Harry Belafonte with
Jamaica Farewell and Scarlet Ribbons and turned in a very
credible performance of Robbie Williams' Angel, a song
that really suits his singing style. His tour is now
heading for Australia and I recommend it to any
Spectropop members who live in that great country.
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 17
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 19:57:39 EST
From: Will George
Subject: Re: Novelty records
My favorite by far is "Delicious" by Jim Bacchus and
Friend. Who is the friend?? It's impossible to listen to
it without laughing hysterically and continously. For
anyone who hasn't heard it, it is simply a man and a
woman drinking champagne and declaring it delicious over
and over as they get more and more intoxicated. Lots of
party noise in the background as well! Too much fun.
Bill
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 18
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 18:52:59 -0500
From: "Den Lindquist"
Subject: Re: Songs by BR&M Gibb for other artists
My favorite Bee Gees songs recorded by others were:
"Gilbert Green" - Gerry Marsden (US Columbia 4-44309, 1967)
"The Walls Fell Down" - Marbles (US - Cotillion 44029, 1969)
Little-known Bee Gees gems with the classic Gibb
trademark.
Den.
The Doctor - dispensing musical remedies for whatever
ails you.
----- Original Message from Joseph Scott
> Barry, Robin, and/or Maurice Gibb songs that have been
> recorded by other artists but not by them are included in
> the lists at:
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bgsongs/a_l.html
>
> and
>
> http://www.geocities.com/bgsongs/m_z.html
>
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 19
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 19:57:38 EST
From: Will George
Subject: Re: Grapevine
>I'm no Motown expert, but wasn't Marvin's version done
>first, then voted down in one of those meetings they
>used to pick single releases?
Nope. The song was written for Gladys Knight & the Pips,
and given to them secretly by the writers. (Motown might
have given it to one of their "A" groups if they'd heard
it.) They spent quite some time working up the
arrangements, then recorded it. It became a hit despite
Motown's lackluster promotion efforts. Marvin Gaye
recorded it about a year later. This info comes from
Gladys Knight's autobiograpy, "Between Each Line of Pain
and Glory."
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 20
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 22:41:23 -0500
From: "Mike Arcidiacono"
Subject: Re: Gene Pitney
----- Original Message from: "Michael Edwards"
> He omitted Liberty Valance, Mecca, Only Love>
> Can Break A Heart, and That Girl Belongs To Yesterday.
I saw Gene a few years ago in here in Ny at Carnegie
Hall. He was amazing.
BUT.......how he could omit the songs you mentioned is
beyond me. Genes best moment musically in his who career
(and I'm a big fan, too) is probably the way he massages
the lyric in "Only Love Can Break A Heart". To omit this
song is nothing short of sacrilegious!!!
mikey
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 21
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 15:40:13 +1030
From: "Norman"
Subject: Re: Songs by BR&M Gibb for other artists
----- Original Message from: "Den Lindquist"
> My favorite Bee Gees songs recorded by others were:
> "Gilbert Green" - Gerry Marsden (US Columbia 4-44309,
> 1967) "The Walls Fell Down" - Marbles (US - Cotillion
> 44029, 1969) Little-known Bee Gees gems with the
> classic Gibb trademark.
I'm taking "The Walls Fell Down" into our local community
fm station tomorrow to feature with some other tracks
I've picked. Unfortunately, I think it followed too close
on the footsteps of "Only One Woman" to have been as big
a hit.
Does anybody remember the tit for tat that was supposed
to have happen over the similarity between one of those
Marbles songs and the Move's "Something"? One party
was going to sue the other.
Startrax issued a great compilation of Graham Bonnet in
1991. It features 3 Marble tracks written by the Bee
Gees plus a solo version of Warm Ride.
Norman
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 22
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 19:57:36 EST
From: Will George
Subject: Re: Dora Hall
I'm surprised Peter Lerner hasn't jumped in on this one.
Dora Hall recorded on Jackie DeShannon composition,
Franklin Street. I only have a cassette copy, but perhaps
Peter can supply more info?
Bill
PS. The Fourmost also recorded a DeShannon song, Til You
Say You'll Be Mine.
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 23
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 19:40:41 -0500
From: "Mike Arcidiacono"
Subject: Re:Lonely Surfer Boy
>From: Will George:
>
>Can anyone tell me if this is the song written by Jackie
>DeShannon? Is it an instrumental or a vocal? If it is
>the DeShannon song, I simply MUST have a copy!
Will.. I believe I have this on file and played it at
musica for you to hear.
Enjoy!
Best,
mikey
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 24
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 20:07:19 -0500
From: "Dave Swanson"
Subject: Turtles in mono
-----Original Message from "Billy G. Spradlin"
> Go get... the Turtles "Solid Zinc" reissue which is also
> an excellent, though I think they used too many mono 45
> and LP mixes for the 65-66 material.
Thank God! The MONO 45 and LP mixes are thee only way to
go for The Turtles stuff. Those first two albums sound
awful in stereo! God bless those in charge who let the
mono action fly!
DS
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 25
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 22:10:46 EST
From: Bobby Lloyd Hicks
Subject: John Simon
The Skeletons met John Simon soon after we became Steve
Forbert's road band in 1979. John had just produced
Steve's 2nd album, Jack Rabbit Slim, in Nashville. Talking
in the dressing room before a sound check, we discovered
that he produced and played the organ lick on The Cyrkle's
"Red Rubber Ball"... a staple in the Skeletons' song list.
Later during sound check he got up and played it with us.
Very cool indeed. We couldn't stop smiling!
blh
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
End
