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PROMOTIONAL COPY - NOT FOR SALE
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There are 23 messages in this issue.
Topics in this Digest Number 398:
1. Re: Aunt Norma Theme
From: Bobby Lloyd
2. which came first?
From: "Spector Collector"
3. free musique
From: "Spector Collector"
4. Chatting With Al Hazan, PhD
From: "Martin Roberts"
5. Made it in
From: Bob Rashkow
6. Red Coats
From: Doc Rock
7. Tokens Help
From: Mark Frumento
8. The Skeletons Questions & Others
From: Mark Frumento
9. One Night Stand - Magic Lantern
From: Thomas Taber
10. Jack Spector....
From: Joe Foster
11. Bob Crewe's "Crewe Record" Info needed
From: "Spectropop Administration"
12. Re: The Majority?
From: Dan Hughes
13. Re: Laurie 45's
From: James Botticelli
14. Dusty
From: "Don Charles"
15. Re: One Night Stand - Magic Lantern
From: "Norman"
16. Tokens
From: Michael Edwards
17. Re: a bit twisted
From: "Dave Swanson"
18. Rokes, Mellon, Gold, Laurie list, Majority
From: "Paul Payton"
19. Family Dogg
From: Richard Havers
20. Re: bubblegum debate
From: "Dave Swanson"
21. Re: Albert loves Rebecca...
From: Paul Richards
22. Re: Family Dogg
From: Paul Richards
23. Re: Family Dogg
From: "Norman"
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 15:53:39 EST
From: Bobby Lloyd
Subject: Re: Aunt Norma Theme
Mark Frumento said:
> I came across this song given to me
> by a friend. It's the theme song to a kids show called
> Aunt Norma.
> The song itself is an amazing Beach Boys influenced
> thing ala Pet Sounds/Sunflower. It's that good!
> Does anyone know this song? I've got to know who
> recorded it. It sounds like Alan Boyd to me but I can't
> be sure. Any help.
> If it helps to post a snippet to the files area I will.
The song "Aunt Norma" was the creation of Nick Sibley,
an early member of the Skeletons and the current "jingle
king" of southwest Missouri. It was his homage to Norma
Champion, who had been the hostess of "The Children's
Hour", broadcast on KYTV in Springfield, MO from the mid
60's through the early 80's. "Next to Mom, she's just
about the neatest lady in this Whooole Wiiid e
Wooorld---"
He sang and played all the instruments except the drums
and percussion (which I played) and the clarinet part.
The voices of Skinny McGuiness and Rusty Rooster, Aunt
Norma's sidekick/puppets, were done by Fred Raines who
did their voices on the show. It wasn't done with any
kind of release in mind, just a labor of love. But I
sent out copies on cassettes to friends and
acquaintances because it is, as you described, a great
piece of "Smile"-like music. (It'd be nice if it could
be posted to the files area. I think this crowd would
appreciate it.)
Dr. Champion now teaches broadcasting and communication
theory at a college here in Springfield, and has been a
member of the Missouri House of Representatives since
1992.
A picture of "Aunt Norma" can be found here:
http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills99/member99/mem134.htm
blh
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 20:15:09 +0000
From: "Spector Collector"
Subject: which came first?
Howdy, y'all,
One of the genres I collect is cover versions of Phil
Spector productions. Recently I got an LP from New
Zealand called "Dynamic," by Antoni Williams, because of
its inclusion of a version of "Spanish Harlem." As it
turns out, it also contains a version of the song "How
Many Nights," which Phil produced for Bobby Sheen on
Liberty. Williams's version shares the shuffling feel of
the Spector production, so I'm wondering if anybody out
there knows who cut the song first? The writers (E.
Miller and B. Carroll) aren't among "the usual suspects."
Same question regarding another Spector record from the
same period. Also on Liberty, he cut Obrey Wilson on "Hey
There Mountain," which I also have on a single by Art
Polhemus. Again, no Brill staples among the writers (B.
Buchanan, H. Miller, and D. Ervin), although that one's
published by Aldon. So, in both cases, which came first,
and are there any other recordings, especially ones that
predate those mentioned, of either or both of these songs?
David A. Young
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 20:29:47 +0000
From: "Spector Collector"
Subject: free musique
A while back, someone on this list (more than one, I think)
was praising the song "La Musique" by French artiste
Nicoletta (it's the French version of the Mann/Weil song
"Angelica"). Based on the comments here, I ordered a CD
that includes the track, but I'm sad to say that the
song's charms (and those of the CD as a whole) are lost on
me. I know that someone out there will be happy to have
this, however, so whoever writes first to let me know that
she or he is sending me a postage-paid envelope to cover
expenses can be the proud new owner of the disc, titled
"Master Serie" and containing 18 songs. Come and get it!
David A. Young
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 22:47:41 -0000
From: "Martin Roberts"
Subject: Chatting With Al Hazan, PhD
I followed a link posted by Phil Chapman to Al Hazan's
web page
http://www.bellsisters.com/more-about-hazan.html
and was mightly impressed! The site administrated by Rex
Strother is full of great pictures, stories and
information. With more tales and happenings at Gold Star
still to come, well worth a 'click'! I've had some 'chats'
with Al Hazan and he sure has many more stories to tell!
This one I'm sure will thrill Spectropopers as much as it
did me. Take it away AL!!.....
> I was pleased to see you mentioned Charlotte O'Hara in
> your email to me. She was a very dear friend of mine in
> the sixties. Actually I named her "O'Hara" since her
> real name was Charlotte Mathini. As far as her recording
> of "Daydreams" is concerned, there's an interesting story
> behind it. My friend Stan Ross, owner of Gold Star
> Studios, asked me to produce a record for him so he could
> show the members of a social club he belonged to how
> records were made. He said he would donate all studio
> expenses and I resonded that I was sure all the musicians
> would be happy to help for free. So the cost of the
> record was Zero. I asked Charlotte to sing, Ray Pohlman
> played bass, Tommy Tedesco on guitar, I played piano and
> Hal Blaine on drums. Stan invited all the members of his
> club and they sat in the booth while we put down the
> rhythm track. After that Charlotte sang her lead vocal
> while I overdubbed the background voices. It took about
> an hour and a half to make.
>
> When the record was finished, I took it over to a new
> company owned by Fred Astaire called Ava (named after his
> daughter). They liked it so much that they hired me as
> their A&R man and Charlotte became the first session as
> we needed a second side for the release. I recorded her
> on a song called "What About Me?" "Home of the Brave"
> was recorded not long after her release on Ava and was
> produced by another friend of mine named Jerry Riopell.
> She was a terrific girl and died unexpectedly at a very
> young age of breast cancer. Truly a tragedy. Al Hazan
Now wasn't that GREAT!!!(And of course a bit sad)
Martin
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 01:48:29 -0000
From: Bob Rashkow
Subject: Made it in
Hey, finally made it in & thanks everybody for your
input thus far--I thought I'd add a title to the list of
Laurie 45s from the late sixties that deserve proper
recognition. "Red Light, Green Light" by the Love-Ins,
presumably from NYC area or New England--believe it's
3461 or thereabouts--GREAT pure bubblegum song with a
wistful- sounding keyboard--wish I still had it! (Ruined
by plaster damage!) It's on a never-ending list of
"Should-have-been-hits"! Bob Rashkow, henceforth
signing The Bobster
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 19:51:00 -0500
From: Doc Rock
Subject: Red Coats
> The Dum Dum Song/Love Unreturned - The Red Coats,
> Laurie LR 3319: 1965 (A-33/B-42) - The A-side is a
> terrific Herman's Hermits knockoff, even down to the
> vocal; the B-side a nice Mersey style ballad. There
> is now a Red Coats CD out with these tracks
Do you know how to get the Red Coats CD?
Doc
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 00:26:46 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Tokens Help
Ok, I've read a lot about the Tokens on this board so
I'm sure I can get help here. I need to know what CDs to
buy. I have two already: The Best of (on RCA, 20 tracks)
and Intercourse. I have a few tracks scattered in other
places like "She Let's Her Hair Down" (my favorite) and
I have a Chiffons CD on Ace that captures a bunch of
songs written by the Tokens. I like all periods but I'm
a bit partial to the more pop oriented songs, especially
later things.
Looking at the list of CDs available is rather confusing.
HELP!
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 00:21:13 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: The Skeletons Questions & Others
Bobby Lloyd - thanks for the answer to the Aunt Norma
mystery. I'll try to get our mutal friend Steve on
board here at Spetropop so he can explain himself!
That song would be worth listening to at musica. It is
really great.
There is another great song about which I have a
question: was "Talk to Me" released as the Skeletons
the Morells or as D Clinton Thompson (that is who wrote
it? right?)?. Did you play on that? Has it ever gotten
a CD reissue (my 45 is long gone but still have it one
tape)?
Don't know if others know this song but it is a great
song in the Spector tradition. Catchy as hell and if
the backing track had been fronted with girl singers
you'd swear it was the reincarnation of the man himself.
Spectopop is quite a place. Good thing we don't say
anything bad about these bands. They are lible to turn
up as members.
While we're at it is there anyone out there who knows
of a band called "Merseybeats USA"? I think Steve
Ferguson of the original NRBQ was in that band. Another
group I have on tape but no other information.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 07:45:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Thomas Taber
Subject: One Night Stand - Magic Lantern
If memory serves, Albert Hammond WAS the Magic
Lantern. He spoke about it on WKBW radio in Buffalo
in the early 70s.
Tom Taber
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Message: 10
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 19:01:05 +0000
From: Joe Foster
Subject: Jack Spector....
Here is a link I came across...the site feature a fine
picture of the much-discussed Jack Spector with none
other than Salt Water Taffy!
http://community-2.webtv.net/philip711/OLDIESROCKANDROLL/page2.html
Joe
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Message: 11
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 21:32:18 +0900
From: "Spectropop Administration"
Subject: Bob Crewe's "Crewe Record" Info needed
Posted to Spectropop Bulletin Board by Leonardo Flores
on Tue, 26 Feb 2002
---------------------------------------------------------
Hello,
I'm looking for information on Bob Crewe's "Crewe Records"
label. Does anybody know the following:
1) Does record 342 The Toads have a stock copy and if it
does what is the B-Side?
2) Does anybody know what record 345 was suppose to be as
it was unreleased or just rare. I havn't found any
information about the record.
3) B-Side to record 600 Cross Town Children It Took a
long Time / ?
4) What are records 603 and 604 and was 605 the last
record?
5) Crewe Lp's Titles and artists still needed:
1338,1339,1340,1342,1343,1346,1347. Was 1350 the last Lp.
All Help greatly appreciated!
Cheers
Leonardo
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Message: 12
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 07:12:58 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: The Majority?
My contribution to the list of Bee Gees songs performed
excellently by others:
To Love Somebody--The Bubble Gum Machine. Self-titled
album on Senate, 1967. (Wasn't Senate an ABC subsid?)
Who else has heard this song?
---Dan
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Message: 13
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 09:57:53 EST
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Laurie 45's
In a message dated Tue, 26 Feb 2002, "Jeffrey Glenn" writes:
> Some time ago I had posted that I had included several
> good late 60's (and early 70's) Laurie 45's in my Lost
> Jukebox series, and one of you (Joe Foster, to be exact)
> requested that I make a list of them with a mind towards
> a possible CDR or two. What follows is that list. All
> of these 45's belong to either me or David Bash (and
> some we both have). For the full credits on the songs
> you can find them in the complete Lost Jukebox Track
> Listings in Spectropop files. And I can also play any
> of these to musica.
>
great and very obscure list...would LOVE a CD-R of those
tracks...I found another goodie: The Click "Girl With A
Mind"...Hippie pop at its finest
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Message: 14
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 23:38:57 +0000
From: "Don Charles"
Subject: Dusty
>From: Carole Gibson
> ... Dusty Springfield... Apparently in the early
> sixties she was involved with an Italian guy who was a
> member of "the group who sang The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
> and he "broke her heart". Anyone elaborate on this
> little snippet?
Dusty Springfield in a serious relationship with a guy?
Very doubtful. Nothing's impossible, though.
Don Charles
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 14:18:33 +1030
From: "Norman"
Subject: Re: One Night Stand - Magic Lantern
----- Original Message from: "Thomas Taber"
> If memory serves, Albert Hammond WAS the Magic
> Lantern. He spoke about it on WKBW radio in Buffalo
> in the early 70s.
>
> Tom Taber
I was under the impression that Albert Hammond was a
member of the Magic Lanterns as well as Family Dogg.
Steve Rowland turns up in one of them but also does Neil
Landon of the Flowerpot Men. Someone, please put me
straight.
Norman
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 04:05:03 -0000
From: Michael Edwards
Subject: Tokens
I've seen a number of messages re: the Tokens over the
past couple of weeks. Isn't this a group crying out for
better representation on CD? There have only been two
releases from the major labels: "The Best Of The Tokens"
>from RCA (BMG) and "All Time Greatest Hits" from Taragon
(also BMG). The latter covers all 5 of the group's 60s
labels but has only 14 tracks. Here's some top cuts that
appear to have been neglected by the compilers:
1. I Could See Me Dancing With You (UK flip of I Hear
Trumpets Blow - 1966 on UK Fontana). Rated highly in no
less a magazine than Bomp.
2. Don't Cry Sing Along With The Music (US flip of I
Hear Trumpets Blow). Also done by Billy & the
Essentials on Smash.
3. A Bird Flies Out Of Sight (aka Felicidad) (their
contribution to the thriving 1962 Bossa Nova scene - on
RCA）
4. You're My Girl (a Goffin-King tune from 1965 on BT
Puppy). Covered in the UK by the Rockin' Berries - as
was He's In Town.
5. Nobody But You (from Barry-Greenwich in 1965 on BTP）
6. Just One Smile (a Randy Newman song from 1966 on BTP).
I believe this was out before Gene Pitney's version,
which charted late in 1966.
7. The Three Bells (their take on the Browns 1959 hit -
on BTP in 1966）
8. The Greatest Moments In A Girl's Life (co-written by
Brute Force - on BTP in 1966）
9. Life Is Groovy (a combined effort with the Kirby
Stone 4, released as by the United States Double
Quartet - BTP, 1966）
10. I Like To Throw Back My Head And Sing (That Good
Old Rock And Roll) (great bubblegum on Bell from 1972）
11. Groovin' On The Sunshine/Sesame Street (Buddah,
1970）
12. Go Away Little Girl/Young Girl (more Goffin-King,
blended with the Union Gap hit on WB from 1969). They
also produced Go Away Little Girl for the Happenings in
1966.
13. Till (on WB from 1968 and as good by the Vogues'
version that charted in the same year）
14. She Comes And Goes (flip of Portrait Of My Love on
WB in 1967）
15. Please Say You Want Me (1969 on BTP, a revival of
the Schoolboys/Little Anthony & the Imperials ballad),
coupled with
16. Get A Job (a revival of the Silhouettes 1958 # 1)
17. Cattle Call (a revival of Eddy Arnold's 1955 C&W
# 1 and on BTP in 1965）
18. A Girl Named Arlene (group composition and the
first record out on the BTP label - from 1964）
(The WB stuff may be out on the Japanese It's A Happening
World CD. Likewise, some of the above tunes might be
included on the 2 new Crystal Ball CDs referred to
recently by member, Kingsley Abbott. That would be good
to know.）
There are strong album cuts as well. In fact their whole
Wheels album (RCA) features some great surf vocals. My
Friend's Car and My Candy Apple Vette from this album are
both on the RCA CD.
Let's hope Sundazed or Rhino treat us to a boxed set!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 23:31:41 -0500
From: "Dave Swanson"
Subject: Re: a bit twisted
-----Original Message from: James Botticelli
> This may sound a bit twisted, but in hindsight I like the
> failed efforts and phony attempts to cash in on the
> zeitgeist of 1968-71 more than I like the "real" stuff
> which to me comes across as often as not as overblown
> arrogant elitist spoiled brat stuff...
In full agreement! Genuine Imitation Life Gazette is
actually quite a record. Sure, it's kind of goofy in a
"we are soo hip and psychedelic now" kind of way, but the
songs are good and the production is aces. The only real
drawback on it is on the one song (the title cut I
believe), where they use the Hey Jude refrain...stupid
move in any case. "Saturday's Father" and "Mrs.
Statley's Garden" are great. "Look Up Look Over" really
is Psychedelic! There was an article in Mojo last year
called "Granny Takes A Trip" (or something to that effect)
that talked about when straight artists went psych which
mentioned this one along with other faves. And yeah,
Sinatra's "Watertown" was the end result of this LP as
Frank was more than impressed by Gaudio & Co.'s work here.
Well worth checking out...just don't trip out too heavy
on us.
DS
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 23:54:52 -0500
From: "Paul Payton"
Subject: Rokes, Mellon, Gold, Laurie list, Majority
Norman wrote about the Rokes at
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Lounge/3488/.
The site is a trip into a parallel universe (right down
to the Bee Gees hair and suits in the late 60's pix) but
I wish I could play the songs....
Jeff: good musica songs. I've re-listened to 'em both
(I've got the 45's). You're right - Colley's original
"Shame Shame" definitely eclipses the Magic Lanterns,
I wrote to Jason Penick:
> Surprise, Jason - LeGrand Mellon is one person -
> something of a babe, judging by the promotional b&w
> picture sleeve.
Upon listening to it again, I'm going to slip "Growin' My
Own" into a dinner-music tape for an awards banquet my
business-development group is doing in March. (We'll see
if anyone's _really_ listening....)
Will George wrote:
> [Bryndle] 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.
I do know that Mr. Gold reads and responds to the e-mail
in his discussion group at his website,
http://www.andrewgold.com.
Maybe a groundswell would cause a
release of what exists on a limited-run basis.
Michael Edwards: I've never read a bad review of a Gene
Pitney concert. By the way, I remember that "Who Needs It"
was the first A-side and got some radio play before "That
Girl Belongs To Yesterday" eclipsed it. And I never
realized he wrote "Rubber Ball" - what a cool song!
Re: Jeffrey Glenn's very interesting Laurie list:
> I'll Never Love Again/Try Your Luck - The Four Coins,
> Laurie LR-3331: 1966 (A-100, B-Pending)
> - Both sides good midtempo folk/pop with nice harmonies.
As I remember, the Four Coins were an early-50's
close-harmony group, whose biggest hits included
"Shangri La," "Memories of You" and (I think) "Three
Coins In A Fountain" on Epic. They tried to make a leap
to more contemporary pop in the 60's; I have a
brilliant Mersey-style 45 of theirs called "Boys Cry"
(wr. B. Scott, B. Kaye), Joy 45-273, 1964. Well worth
finding!
> Rocky Ridges/I'd Like To Know - The Castels, Laurie 3444:
> 1968 (A-32, B-68)
> - A-side is really good soft psych; B-side is a good
> slow midtempo pop tune.
Is this the same Castells who did "Sacred" on Era?
> Purple Haze/The Dolphins - Dion, Laurie 3478: 1969 (A-19, B-36)
> - Dion's folky rethinking of the Hendrix tune is great; B-sides
> a nice version of the Fred Neil song.
IMO "Purple Haze" is an under-known masterpiece! Dion at
his all-time finest.
> Lady Godiva/(Rooty Tooty) - Pooh and The Heffalumphs,
> Laurie 3281: 1964
Wow! Didn't have a clue this existed!
May I contribute one, please?
Dancing Babies/Fat Lady In A Wicker Chair - Click,
Laurie 3402: Sept., 1964 - Both sides are
singer-songwriter flower-psych. Click Horning was also
a violinist, and had 45's on several labels, including
a very good instrumental on ABC, which was collected on
a WFMU marathon [annual fund-raiser] premium tape done
a couple of years back by Bob Brainen (Wed 4-6pm). Bob
is the foremost expert on Click Horning (probably the
only one, except for Click himself, I'd assume); you
can contact him (Bob, not Click) via e-mail through
http://www.wfmu.org. I'm sure he'd be delighted
to hear
>from someone who was interested.
Mark Frumento: I have the Majority's "Pretty Little Girl"
on London, 45 LON 9779, mid 60's; very innovative and
nice. Also veddy English (not a putdown, just a
description). I notice the writers are "Carter; Lewis."
Do I recognize these names from the Ivy League's "Funny
How Love Can Be," or just from two docs on "ER?"
Bill Jackson: I too wonder if the laughter on Jack Ross'
"Cinderella" was live. There's one
apparently-raging-drunk guy in the foreground of the
laughter who's almost as funny as the Spooneristic rant
itself.
G'night,
Country Paul
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 07:34:48 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Family Dogg
On Wednesday, February 27, 2002, at 03:48 AM, Norman wrote:
Norman wrote
> I was under the impression that Albert Hammond was a
> member of the Magic Lanterns as well as Family Dogg.
> Steve Rowland turns up in one of them but also does Neil
> Landon of the Flowerpot Men. Someone, please put me
> straight.
>
>
>
A little bit of a biog on the Dogg
Family Dogg
In '62 in Spain, two groups were continuously vying for
top honours; Les Flaps, fronted by 23 year old Steve
Rowland, and Albert Hammond's Los Diamond Boys, which led
to the two leaders getting together to discuss the
possibility of a male/female group. The idea was put in
abeyance. Three years on Hammond and Mike Hazlewood met in
Luxembourg while the latter was playing with Cyril
Stapleton and started writing together, eventually leading
to London's 'Tin Pan Alley, Denmark Street, where Hammond
and Rowland's paths crossed again. By ''66 Rowland had
acted in films like 'Battle Of The Bulge' and 'The Thin
Red Line', successfully produced hits for Dave Dee, Dozy,
Beaky, Mick and Tich, as well as a hit single for Geneveve.
Still keen to perform, the American teamed up with
Hazlewood, who claimed to be the Hon Sec of the Crawley
Horticultural Society, and Hammond, who was born in
Paddington, London, but grew up in Gibraltar and spoke
fluent Spanish. They added 20 year old Pam Quinn, 'Zooey'
who Rowland met in the Kenco Coffee Bar in London's Kings
Road.
In '67 the group released their first single, Family Dogg,
it failed to chart; a fact that may not have unduly
worried Rowland as he was still busy producing other bands.
He worked with The Magic Lanterns who had a No.29 in
America with Shame Shame. Rowland, Hazlewood and Hammond
also lent vocal support on DDDBM&T's '67 hit Zabadak. By
the beginning of '69 blonde parttime singer Doreen De
Veuve was the regular fifth member of the outfit, by which
time none of their three releases had clicked, but in the
spring Way of Life changed all that as it soared to No.6
in Britain. During its climb to the top ten De Veuve was
replaced by the exCrackerjack girl from Solihull,
Christine Holmes, who had just completed three and a half
years in 'Charlie Girl' alongside Derek Nimmo, Anna Neagle
and Gerry Marsden, who took over from Joe Brown. She had
released 5 singles on the Mercury label in '64/'65 with no
success, a fate that would befall singles she would
release after Family Dogg when she recorded as Christine
Sparkle. The follow-up single, Kenny Young's Arizona,
could not match their one off success and, as Irene Shoon
replaced Zooey, the group soldiered on releasing more
singles and a couple of albums. They were helped by
sessioneers Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones,
Doris Troy, Madelaine Bell, B.J Cole and Chris Spedding.
By this time Rowland had also produced successful singles
for The Herd as well as extending his formidable run with
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich. Hammond and
Hazlewood had written several hits for other acts
including Little Arrows and Gimme Dat Ding for Leapy Lee
and The Pipkins respectively, although they had primarily
been penned for the children's TV show 'Oliver and the
Overlord', and a hit for Joe Dolan, Make Me An Island.
Hammond & Hazlewood moved to America where Hammond got a
record deal while they wrote songs. First, Down By The
River, a small hit at the end of '72, followed by It Never
Rains In Southern California which climbed to No.5, '73
brought four more chart entries, the most successful Free
Electric Band, which also made the UK top 20. '74 saw Air
Disaster and I'm A Train also chart in America, the travel
theme continued in '75 with the lowly placed 99 Miles From
L.A; later brilliantly covered by Art Garfunkel. Hammond's
writing partners extended to include Hal David with whom
he cowrote To All The Girls I've Loved Before for Julio
Iglesias and Willie Nelson; Carole Bayer Sager, who
together wrote Leo Sayer's When I Need You, Diane Warren,
Graham Lyle and Living in a Box. In the 80's and 90's
Hammond continued to be one of the world's most successful
songwriters providing hits for Tina Turner, Aswad, Roy
Orbison, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston and Starship, amongst
others. In '92 artists like Jason Donovan and Rick Astley
benefitted from their writing talents, later in the 90's
Hammond and Hazlewood helped write Creep for Radiohead. In
the mid 80's Rowland was involved in one of his strangest
production jobs, 'Kimera and The Operaraiders with The
London Symphony Orchestra'. Kimera, a Korean Princess,
singing in French enjoyed a fair measure of success in
Europe.
Richard
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Message: 20
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 23:50:14 -0500
From: "Dave Swanson"
Subject: Re: bubblegum debate
-----Original Message from: Alan Zweig
> I think of bubblegum as a much more specific and
> short-lived genre. It was more specific than just
> cutesy pop. Or to put it another way, not all cutesy
> novelty rock was bubblegum...
>
> It had to do with a certain voice quality...combined
> with the cutesy titles and a sort of cleaned-up garage
> rock sound that defined bubblegum to me.
God bless the makers of Bubblegum music. I loved it
as a kid (the right age at the right time to be ok to
be a fan of all the Kasenetz Katz stable) and I still
love it today. KK deserve to be applauded as much as
any of the great producers of the era as they were
able to create a true and unique sound and vision! I
don't think Bubblegum is as easily explained as some
would have you believe, and I think Kim Cooper's
fantastic book helps tell the story. There was a
certain garage element to Bubblegum that prevents
things like Menudo or Britney being labeled as such.
The problem is, to me, Bubblegum is not simply
pre-teen pop music...it was a sound! Whether it is
The Ohio Express, Tommy James, early Sweet ("Little
Willy" is definitive!) or The Pooh Sticks, there is
something special about what is Bubblegum. Take
someone like Redd Kross, who when I first saw them in
1985 struck me as the perfect melding of The Bay City
Rollers and The MC 5, which to me, is what total rock
ac! tion is all about...great melodies and loud
guitars! Keep on chewin!
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Message: 21
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 10:18:30 EST
From: Paul Richards
Subject: Re: Albert loves Rebecca...
Yeh, I agree I think the Strokes are really overrated.
Was Albert Hammond in 'The Family Dogg'? a much better
group
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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 04:49:46 EST
From: Paul Richards
Subject: Re: Family Dogg
Thanks for the Dogg Biog,really interesting- I've got a
really nice clip of them doing 'I wear a silly grin'
>from Beat Club,they look great with Zooey tapping away
on her tambourine.
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Message: 23
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 20:15:55 +1030
From: "Norman"
Subject: Re: Family Dogg
Terrific biog Richard, Thanks.
Norman
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