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PLAYABLE ON STEREO & MONO PHONOGRAPHS
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There are 18 messages in this issue of Spectropop.
Topics in this Digest Number 425:
1. RE: Let's Dance!
From: James Botticelli
2. Re: Randy Newman - Portobello Road
From: Mark Frumento
3. Portobello Road
From: Joe Foster
4. Re: 2 joints
From: Dave Gardner
5. Re: Regional Hits
From: "John Solocinski"
6. RE: Let's Dance!
From: "Phil Chapman"
7. Re: Let's Dance!
From: Richard Hattersley
8. Re: Let's Dance!
From: Simon White
9. RE: Let's Dance!
From: "gregg luvoxx"
10. Re: Let's Dance!
From: Richard Hattersley
11. Sedaka & Greenfield/Archies
From: "Don Charles"
12. Re: Regional Hits
From: James Botticelli
13. Re: Let's Dance!
From: Ken
14. "Smoke Two Joints"
From: "Charles G. Hill"
15. Re: Defending Archie
From: Mark Frumento
16. The Bard/Moses Lake produced by Curt Boetcher and
Keith Olsen released on GearFab
From: "Mardig Sheridan"
17. Re: Regional Hits
From: "Joseph Panzarella"
18. Re: Let's Dance!
From: Richard Hattersley
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 17:00:05 EST
From: James Botticelli
Subject: RE: Let's Dance!
In a message dated 3/26/02 4:17:36 PM, phil writes:
>the one record that's
>guaranteed to fill the floor with all ages is "Dancing
>Queen".
and put many spectropoppers to sleep who've heard it a
jillion thymes.
Jimmy Botticelli
Taking the EZ..Way Out! author of "Tales From The VFW
Hall: A Mobile DJ's Guide To Handling Drunken Revelers
Who Think They Are DJ's"
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 07:39:52 -0500
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: Randy Newman - Portobello Road
We could probably talk forever about Randy Newman but
recent posts reminded me that one of my favorite Randy
Newman songs is "Happy New Year" as performed by British
singer Beverly. This was the first single on the Deram
label. Anyone else know this? I've never heard another
version of the song but it seems so well suited for
Beverly's voice.
> And back squarely on topic, do any of our UK friends (or
> anyone) know anything about Ellie Janov's cover of
> "Portobello Road" (Capitol in the US, 1967), written by -
> pardon the words - Cat Stevens? Nice harpsichord-driven
> track. Did she do anything afterward?
I'm not familiar with that version although I do have a
version by Billy Nicholls. It's good song. No need to
pardon Mr Stevens... he wrote some great songs early in
his career..
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 11:34:05 +0000
From: Joe Foster
Subject: Portobello Road
Country Paul wrote:
>And back squarely on topic, do any of our UK friends (or
>anyone) know anything about Ellie Janov's cover of
>"Portobello Road" (Capitol in the US, 1967), written by -
>pardon the words - Cat Stevens? Nice harpsichord-driven
>track.
Don't know the cover Paul, but the beardy and holy Imam
cowrote this with the very unholy Kim Fowley,
surprisingly enough.....Joe
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 05:48:17 EST
From: Dave Gardner
Subject: Re: 2 joints
In a message dated Wed, 27 Mar 2002 "Paul Payton" writes:
>
> Speaking of TV, "The American Embassy" (new and OK, on Fox)
> used a white-reggae-novelty song called "Smoke Two Joints"
> on the soundtrack; I believe the record was originally
> from Hawaii in the '80's. I can't find a tape I have of it
> to get the artist's name - and I also thought only I and
> maybe a hundred other people around the world
> knew/remembered it. (I think Dr. Demento played it a
> couple of times in a less-PC era.) Any help, please?
>
i think you mean the Toyes
http://www.cdtunes.com/
don't ask me why i remember...
-dave
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 07:47:52 -0500
From: "John Solocinski"
Subject: Re: Regional Hits
Javed wrote:
>Sadly the era of the regional hit is long gone. The days
>when the Choir were number 1 in Cleveland, The
>Merry-Go-Round made the top 10 in L.A. and The New Colony
>Six ruled the air-waves in Chicago.
I was going through some of my compilation tapes, and came
across this great Brownsville Station song - "Mad for me".
I can't find my original source, so I'm not sure of the
songwriters, but I was just curious if anyone knew if this
was an original or just an excellent cover, (if it is a
cover, I'd be wondering who did the original). It's
definitely not a typical Brownsville Station hard rocker,
it sounds like it belongs on "Meet the Beatles" (in my
opinion, anyway). Far from being even a regional "hit",
I don't think it ever got any airplay at all in the
Detroit area. I've [played] this tune to musica, so you
can hear for yourself.
I, for one. wouldn't mind if anyone else would [play] some
of your favorite "regional" hits, (or non-hits like this
one). The longer I'm in this group, the more painfully
aware I'm becoming, that there's a whole lot of great
music I've missed out on, and am now trying to play
catch-up. Thanks to all who [play records at musica],
because there's been very few songs there that I didn't
like immediately, or that didn't grow on me after a few
listens.
Keep 'em coming,
John
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 13:12:47 -0000
From: "Phil Chapman"
Subject: RE: Let's Dance!
DJ JimmyBee on "Dancing Queen":
>and put many spectropoppers to sleep who've heard it a
>jillion thymes.
Sage words, but I should imagine many Spectropoppers are
put to sleep after *lunch*:-) I seem to have inadvertently
struck an elitist nerve around here. Takes me right back
to the 60s, when I found my choice of 45s, most of which
are often fervently pored-over in various posts,
continually challenged by a college-background groundswell
of nouveau-intellectual appraisal. I was merely pointing
out that, despite the ten year head start of other
suggestions, "Dancing Queen" enjoys enduring appeal at
across-the-board family social events such as weddings. I,
too, would vacate the premises if Abba surfaced at a Trip
Hop or Northern Soul night, although in the case of the
latter that is unlikely as the criteria for greatness at
these events appears to be rarity value and obscurity.
Like the recently discussed Bubblegum genre of the sixties,
Abba in the seventies were often berated for lack of
credibility, found guilty of being immensely popular. Now
acknowledged by the rock cognoscenti, Abba successfully
took 'Spectropop' writing and production techniques into
the next two decades - "Ring Ring" is straight out of the
Brill Building handbook. Apart from being a superbly
crafted record, "Dancing Queen" is good unpretentious fun,
usually bringing out the latent John Travolta in (at least)
the best man, and the bride's father. I'll bet any money
Peter & Karen don't get through the night without it being
requested! I mean, every DJ worth his salt knows that no
party is complete without drunken revelers who think they
are DJs:-)
.......you can dance, you can jive, having the time of
your life........ Leave your inhibitions at the door.
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 15:04:23 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: Let's Dance!
Pkil wrote:
> Abba successfully took 'Spectropop' writing and production
> techniques into the next two decades...
I agree about Abba.
They managed that most difficult of tasks - they made records
that sounds dumb (I mean commercial by that!) enough to
attract a non-musical listener, and yet the whole thing is
packaged in a seriously complex arrangement. In fact they
weren't dumb at all. They made complex records in disguise!!
A tradition carried on from Spector and the Beach Boys.
All that by the side, if your wife says no Abba you better
do as your told or you will have no fun on your wedding
night!!!!
ho ho!
richard
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 16:28:56 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Let's Dance!
Richard Hattersley on 27/3/02 3:04 pm:
>
> They managed that most difficult of tasks - they made records
> that sounds dumb (I mean commercial by that!) enough to
> attract a non-musical listener,
In other words, music for people who dont like music !
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 07:55:49 -0800
From: "gregg luvoxx"
Subject: RE: Let's Dance!
The Emotions - Best of my love
Curtis Mayfield - Move on up (long version)
Marvelows - I Do (a must)
Marth & Vandellas - Heat Wave
Sam the Sham - wooly bully
Crystals - Da Doo Run Run, He's Sure The One I Love (play
LOUD!)
Shirelles - Big John, Sha La La (not a big hits but
great)
Ike & Tina - It's Gonna Work Out Fine
Little Eva - Locomotion
Arthur Connoly - Sweet Soul Music
Manfred Mann - Doo Wah Diddy
Lou Christie - Lightnin' Strikes (here I turn your
attention to an obscure horror film from 1980 or so
called Strange Behavior, if you can hunt it down do,
theres a dance sequence(!) to this song that has to be
seen to believed)
also, avoid: Who Let The Dogs Out, Macarena
Message: 10
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 18:08:36 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: Let's Dance!
Simon White wrote:
>In other words, music for people who dont like music !
Well yes, exactly. It attracts them, but hidden in that
shell, like I said if you read on, there is wonderful
music.
I mean Da Doo Ron Ron is the same. A real dumb record,
yet at the same time, what a record!!
If you can get past the stuff that is designed to get
these songs on the radio you get a treat.
richard
Message: 11
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 18:04:55 +0000
From: "Don Charles"
Subject: Sedaka & Greenfield/Archies
> Didn't mean to knock the Archies, just that
> listening to two RKO album reissues a few months
> back left me colder than I'd have expected. Ron
> Dante is fine, but it doesn't mean much to me when I
> don't care to hear the song again. I don't know how
> "R&B" Neil and Howard are, but their melodies sure
> do make the 'trotters shine.
Tracks like "You Little Angel, You," "Love Light" and "Get
On The Line" left you cold? Unbelievable! I'm afraid
we'll never see eye-to-eye on The Archies, my friend . . .
I've always said that those Kirshner soundtrack albums
contain some of the best songs Jeff Barry ever wrote. But
it's worth stating again that the music of The Archies,
Globetrotters, Josie and The Pussycats, etc. were aimed at
KIDS! If you tend to gravitate toward more "adult" pop,
small wonder that you don't care for bubblegum rock. Me,
I'm open to good music wherever I find it, never mind the
target demographic.
As for Howie Greenfield and Neil Sedaka not being "R & B",
they most certainly were! They started out in the '50s
writing R & B songs for Clyde McPhatter, LaVern Baker and
other Atlantic artists.
Don Charles
Message: 12
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 16:20:11 EST
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Regional Hits
In a message dated 3/27/02, johnsolo writes:
>I, for one. wouldn't mind if anyone else would [play] some
>of your favorite "regional" hits, (or non-hits like this
>one). The longer I'm in this group, the more painfully
>aware I'm becoming, that there's a whole lot of great
>music I've missed out on, and am now trying to play
>catch-up.
The Remains...Why Do I Cry
The Wildweeds...No Good To Cry
Fourmost Authority...Dance Dance
Mojo Men...Dance With Me
Balloon Farm...Question of Temperature
Easybeats...(Women) Make You Feel Alright
Yardbirds...Happenings Ten Years Time Ago
Manfred Mann...Ha Ha Said The Clown
The You Know Who Group...Roses Are Red
Nathaniel Mayer..Village of Love
Bobby Vee...Walkin' With My Angel
Showstoppers....Ain't Nothin' But A Houseparty
Jimmy Botticelli
Taking the EZ..Way Out!
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 21:38:53 -0000
From: Ken
Subject: Re: Let's Dance!
Just to add my tuppeneth (a couple of dimes to the
Americans) on this Abba "thing". The reason I am
completely turned off by Abba songs is because the last
couple of years in GB we have had to suffer cover versions
by the score of puerile chancers, ruining what were
perfectly good pop songs. Unfortunately the last time you
hear a song is what resonates in your head.
Who now cannot play Bruce Channel's "Hey Baby" without
hearing "ooh aah" inserted into it, it was fine without it!!!
I'm sure Mr Costello himself has on more than one occasion
sung the praises of the Swedes, and i'm sure there
somewhere will exist an Abba song with his tonsils round
it. So Abba songs, bloody good songs , if i'd been locked
away for the past few years. -------But youll never get me
up to "Dancing Queen" oh no.!!!
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 19:13:56 -0600
From: "Charles G. Hill"
Subject: "Smoke Two Joints"
Paul Payton observed:
> Speaking of TV, "The American Embassy" (new and OK, on Fox)
> used a white-reggae-novelty song called "Smoke Two Joints"
> on the soundtrack; I believe the record was originally
> from Hawaii in the '80's. I can't find a tape I have of it
> to get the artist's name - and I also thought only I and
> maybe a hundred other people around the world
> knew/remembered it. (I think Dr. Demento played it a
> couple of times in a less-PC era.) Any help, please?
"Smoke Two Joints" was recorded by the Toyes (with an E)
in Honolulu in 1983 and issued on a four-song 12-inch EP.
The good Doctor has contrived to include this trippy tune
on a two-CD compilation ("Dementia 2000! Dr Demento's 30th
Anniversary Collection", under the sign of the Rhino at R2
79787) which surely can be acquired with much greater ease
than can the original Ginger Coffee release. Truth be
told, though, I'd have bought this set just to get Jimmy
Cross' "I Want My Baby Back" (in stereo, yet!) and to
wonder if Perry Botkin, Jr. admits to having had anything
to do with it....cgh
=======================================================
Charles G. Hill
Onion rings to bring them all, and in the oil fry them.
=======================================================
Message: 15
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 22:03:02 -0500
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: Defending Archie
> Tracks like "You Little Angel, You," "Love Light" and "Get
> On The Line" left you cold? Unbelievable! I'm afraid
> we'll never see eye-to-eye on The Archies, my friend . . .
> I've always said that those Kirshner soundtrack albums
> contain some of the best songs Jeff Barry ever wrote. But
> it's worth stating again that the music of The Archies,
> Globetrotters, Josie and The Pussycats, etc. were aimed at
> KIDS!
Speaking as an Archies convert I agree with this statement.
I wasn't really a big fan at first (though I love
Bubblegum, the music I grew up with) on further inspection
The Archies probably had more well written, non-hits/album
tracks than any other bubblegum act (I know I may be
treading dangerous territory here). Besides the above
mentioned they had tons of other great tracks like "This
Is Love", "Together", "Justine".... oh well... my
"personal favorite" CD has 31 tracks... too many to
mention here.
Though it does help to remember that these songs were
written for kids, the gist of the song writing is solid
and full of adult quality hooks. The throw backs to
Doo-Wop/R&B ("17 Ain't Young") and Everly Bros type pop
("Don't Steal My Guitar") are quite mature. "A Circle of
Blue" is down right Boettcheresqe! Maybe I'm easily
pleased... or maybe I'm just a 41 year old kid?
Message: 16
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 19:56:27 -0800
From: "Mardig Sheridan"
Subject: The Bard/Moses Lake produced by Curt Boetcher
and Keith Olsen released on GearFab
A heretofore unreleased album produced by Curt Boetcher
and Keith Olsen in 1969 is being released by GearFab
records next week. Our group was known as the Bards.
Due to contractual commitments with Capitol, our name was
changed to Moses Lake - the Eastern Washington town we
lived in. This lushly produced Boetcher/Olsen production
was to be released on Together Records, however never was
because of the demise of the label. Many Boetcher/Olsen
enthusiasts may remember the one 45 that was released,
"Oobleck" b/w "Moses"
For more information on this release and background on
The Bards, visit their website at:
http://www.bardsmusic.com
Warmest regards,
Mardi Sheridan
Message: 17
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 23:50:07 -0500
From: "Joseph Panzarella"
Subject: Re: Regional Hits
John, the track "Mad For Me" is included on the
BROWNSVILLE STATION LP title "A Night On The Town"; side
one/cut 4...writers credits are Pookie Shark. The LP is
Bell/Big Tree BTS-2010 from 1972
Joe Panzarella
>From: "John Solocinski" wrote:
>I was going through some of my compilation tapes, and came
>across this great Brownsville Station song - "Mad for me".
>I can't find my original source, so I'm not sure of the
>songwriters, but I was just curious if anyone knew if this
>was an original or just an excellent cover...
Message: 18
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 10:02:25 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: Let's Dance!
Dont get us started on DJ otzi Ken!!!
I agree with you but soon we will totaly forget Abba mania
and steps cover version crimes. With me I still enjoy
listening to the original even if somebody murdered it. It
must have been the same when pat boone did tutti frutti.
But now most folks forget he did it and enjoy Little
Richard's version. It must have something to do with that
part of your brain that blocks out terrible events!!!!
Richard
>From: Ken:
>...couple of years in GB we have had to suffer cover versions
>by the score of puerile chancers, ruining what were
>perfectly good pop songs.
End
