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Spectropop - Digest Number 1677



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               SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Re: Virginia Wolves
           From: Austin Roberts 
      2. Re: Herb Alpert as vocalist
           From: Mike Edwards 
      3. Earl or Hal?
           From: Bob Celli 
      4. Re: Pop music as fine art.
           From: Robert Pingel 
      5. Re: Beg, Borrow & Steal / Rare Breed
           From: Mike McKay 
      6. "I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me"
           From: TD 
      7. Zombies / Love concert at Park West
           From: Bill Mulvy 
      8. Info for Al Kooper
           From: Unsteady Freddie 
      9. Linzer & Randell
           From: Joe Nelson 
     10. American Dreams is back
           From: Clark Besch 
     11. Brian Wilson songs
           From: Michael Edwards 
     12. New Eric Soul and Dick Bartley releases!!
           From: Clark Besch 
     13. David Pomeranz
           From: Mark Wirtz 
     14. Where The Girl Are Six.
           From: Julio Niņo 
     15. Re: L. David Sloane
           From: Joe Nelson 
     16. Re: Beach Boys
           From: Tom Taber 
     17. "Apache"
           From: Unsteady Freddie 
     18. Re: Where The Girl Are #6
           From: Mick Patrick 
     19. Surf's Out forever.
           From: Steve Harvey 
     20. Re: Brian Wilson songs
           From: Artie Wayne 
     21. "I Can Hear Music"
           From: Phil Chapman 
     22. Re: David Pomeranz
           From: Artie Wayne 
     23. Re: Steam comes alive
           From: Kurt Benbenek 
     24. Re: Herb Alpert as vocalist
           From: Phil X Milstein 
     25. Claire Francis/Smith
           From: Phil Chapman 


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Message: 1 Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 07:07:08 EDT From: Austin Roberts Subject: Re: Virginia Wolves Peter McCray asked: > Hadn't heard of the Virginia Wolves before Austin, but did a little > digging and found another Virginia Wolves 45 - Stay / B.L.T. released > the previous year, 1966, on Amy. Does this ring any bells, or was > there another pack of Wolves?! There may have been another pack of wolves out there, but because of Johnny's and my being from Virginia we were the true Virginia Wolves, if only for that reason. Go Old Dominion! A. Roberts -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 13:44:26 -0000 From: Mike Edwards Subject: Re: Herb Alpert as vocalist Phil M. wrote: > Does anyone know of the existence of a listing of Herb Alpert's > vocals on record? If not, is there anyone who might be willing to > help me start compiling one? The singing of his that I've heard is > among the most sublime in the entire canon of pop, and, from what > I've heard of his trumpet playing, I'm mystified as to how he > could've chosen the latter on which to focus his career. Interesting observation, Phil, but very surprising. Are you referring to Herb Alpert's vocal recordings while he fronted the Tijuana Brass, such as "This Guy's In Love With You"? Or to those recordings made before the Tijuana Brass came into existence in late '62? There is a reference to the latter in the A&M album discography at: http://www.bsnpubs.com/aandm/aandmstory.html I have the "Fallout Shelter" 45 by Dore Alpert that the writers refer to, but, as Dick Cheney would say, "it is not very distinguished". The "trumpet playing" Tijuana Brass sold boatloads of albums in the '60s; their "Going Places" LP, for example, seemed to be just about everywhere. Sufficient justification, one would have thought, for making his trumpet playing the focal point of his career. Yeah, I could pass on "Spanish Flea" but if you filch through the Tijuana Brass' albums you will find some gems. How about "More And More Amor" from "Going Places", "Up Cherry Street" from "South Of The Border" and "Bitter Sweet Samba" from "Whipped Cream"? But who did the whistling on "Acapulco 1922" (A&M, 1962)? It always sounded pretty atrocious. Mike Edwards -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 14:34:04 -0000 From: Bob Celli Subject: Earl or Hal? I was reading some old posts from a few years ago and came across a question that was never definitively answered in regards to who drummed on Bobby Vee's hit, "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes". The answer is Earl Palmer. Hal Blaine did session work on the "Live On Tour" LP, which included a version of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes", but not the hit version. This may be where the confusion comes from. The only drummers Vee used on his early sessions were Earl Palmer and Jerry Allison. He didn't start using Hal until the mid sixties. As an aside, both Jerry Allison and Earl Palmer played together on "Someday" on the Bobby Vee Meets The Crickets LP. Bob Celli -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4 Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 08:02:17 -0700 (PDT) From: Robert Pingel Subject: Re: Pop music as fine art. Julio, you seem to be mixing apples with oranges; a minor pop recording versus an internationally accepted master painting by perhaps the greatest artist that ever lived. Even Barry Mann's face must be a little red from the comparison. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5 Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 22:48:02 -0000 From: Mike McKay Subject: Re: Beg, Borrow & Steal / Rare Breed Previously: > ... the Rare Breed, long thought to be based in the Brooklyn/Bronx > area, might have been from Iowa. Gary Myers: > FWIW, they are not included in Tom Tourville's Iowa book. Nor are other confirmed Iowa 60's bands. Tourville's books are really weak attempts at documenting an area. Not worthy of using for research, etc. WAY too many errors! Mike -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6 Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 18:34:57 -0400 From: TD Subject: "I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me" In addition to the list of people Chris mentions, "I Can't Believe You're in Love With Me" was sung by Mae Wynn in "The Caine Mutiny" (1954), sung by Dion and the Bellmonts on Ed Sullivan's TV show, recorded by Duke Robillard, and recorded by Charlie Parker with Lennie Tristano... -- TD -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7 Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 22:34:47 -0000 From: Bill Mulvy Subject: Zombies / Love concert at Park West Hello, I'm new to the group. Just wondering if anyone is going to the Zombies and Love concert this Friday. I saw them both seperately last year and was very impressed. This could be one of the best retro 60s concerts ever. Bill Mulvy -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8 Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 23:03:19 -0000 From: Unsteady Freddie Subject: Info for Al Kooper Hey Al, keep reading your posts here; I'm a big big fan of yours. But I wanted to share something personal with you. A fellow who used to work along side me (I'm an attorney but I am a Director of Sales for a printing business that caters to lawyers) was the "child model" BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS used for that first LP cover! His name is John (won't reveal his last name). He claims it's his "body" in every picture, but of course you guys used the head of each BS&T member. Does this ring any bells? Thought you'd find that interesting....it's all kinda connected isn't it? Right now I am promoting SURF MUSIC wherever I can .... I love that genre, and it's alive and well....just got back from Barcelona for www.wipeoutfestival.com and had a blast .... featured 60's icon DAVIE ALLAN! Do you have any thoughts, affections for surf music? Perhaps I could quote you for my show on Internet Radio, TWANG SHEBANG (www.myrealbroadcast.com) ? Thanks man for all the great sounds and fab vibes - bless you! UNSTEADY FREDDIE www.reverbsuperb.com www.catch-the-waves.com -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9 Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 14:47:10 -0400 From: Joe Nelson Subject: Linzer & Randell Simon White: > BTW Al, I rather like 'Love Trap" by T.D. Valentine - one of your > songs. Tell us the story, go on! Al Kooper: > It is such a bizarre story you have chosen, Simon. Sandy Linzer was > a pal of mine who had a staff job for awhile producing at Epic. > Sandy was also a songwriter of note having written a few Four Season > hits. His co-writer was often arranger Denny Randall. Oddly, I was just about to ask Al Quaglieri about a related issue. Several months ago I posted the Music Fair's "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet Again" (circa 1970) to musica. Noting that the track was produced by Linzer-Randall I was about to ask if Epic owned the master or if L-R kept their stuff. (Assuming the Music Fair track was recorded during Linzer's tenure with Epic, these guys were hardly novices, best remembered for writing and producing the Toys' "A Lover's Concerto" for DynoVoice several years earlier.) Just another bit of information should I ever be able to form my own label and put this stuff back out since apparently nobody else is interested. Joe Nelson -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 06:15:15 -0000 From: Clark Besch Subject: American Dreams is back The TV show of American Bandstand 60's fame which blossomed some last season entered it's 3rd year 2 weeks ago. Altho based currently apparently in mid 66, you'd never know it by the live performances on the show. Dick Clark (produced by his company) seems to love 1964, as he had the Exciters (fake Exciters??) performing "Tell Him" this past week. He seems to constantly be a year behind the current setting of the show when he has a fake act rendition on. I know it's just revisionism, but the original Bandstand usually had newcomers on his show doing their current hit, not groups that were supposed "has- beens" by the time period of the show presented on American Dreams. Altho it certainly is different now, back in 1966 as a kid, I wanted to hear the new and current hits and seldom wanted to hear songs 2 years old. Anyway, the show has so much going on that it is hard to imagine it could all happen to one family. The daughter wanted to wear a button that said "End the War" on Bandstand, to which the producer said Dick doesn't like to do political things or some such comment. I coulda believed it if it weren't for a Bandstand show where he asks the dancers in early 68 who they thought would be the presidential tickets in 68. One kid said "Kennedy/McCarthy", I believe, to which Dick said something like, "I think you might be right!". Then there's Dick's cashin 45 on Dunhill, where he followsthe trend of Every Teenage Father's Son's Buddah answer to Victor Lundberg's hit, "An Open Letter to my Teenage Son". Dick had a spoken word 45 (I think I have it, but can't find it now) where he spoke up for (surprise!) the teenagers of America. It was pretty bad. I'm guessing Dick was out to make a few bucks here more than help kids out. Bottom line is that he DID do some political oriented things with his Bandstand situation. By the way, whether you like Victor Lundberg's 45 or not, it sold amazingly well and the message wasn't that dissimilar to Darryl Worley's hit of last year, "Have You Forgotten". Sure there's no draft (yet), but if there is, Victor's record could be more in touch with today than one would like to believe. With war, there's always gonna be two sides--at least in the land of the free! Clark By the way, I like American Dreams, but wish it had more happy moments. As we have proven on SPop, there WERE a lot of great happy moments in the 60's too! -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 15:00:58 -0000 From: Michael Edwards Subject: Brian Wilson songs Bill Reed writes: > I'm far more interested in the seemingly slight "You're Welcome" (my > perception of a pure Brian Wilson >track) than I am in "California > Girls." But neither are as good as "Little Honda", a tune so appealing it was immediately covered and turned into a Top-10 hit by the Hondells (1964), with, I believe, some Brian Wilson involvement. Brian Wilson tunes from the Spectropop era (roughly pre-1968) certainly have longevity, no matter who the co-writer was. Many were the subjects of terrific cover versions both contemporaneously and later. As well as the aforementioned "California Girls" (David Lee Roth, 1985) and "Little Honda", we have "Surfin USA" (Bobby Rydell, 1963; Leif Garrett, 1977), "Help Me Rhonda" (Johnny Rivers, 1975), "Don't Worry Baby" (Tokens, 1970) and "Girl Don't Tell Me" (Tony Rivers & The Castaways, 1966). I cannot recall any of Brian's later works being picked up by other artists. Another point about Brian Wilson songs is that they have zero r&b appeal, which is why his work is not totally embraced by Spectropoppers. Most of our Spectropop songwriting and producing heroes made wonderful contributions to the field of r&b, including some of our current members: Artie Wayne, Eddie Rambeau, Jim Holvay and Al Kooper. "Big Town Boy" over "Fun, Fun Fun"? Ah, who knows. But you know the former will get played at a Spectropop meet. Mike Edwards (who, for the most part, did have fun all summer long) -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 15:09:30 -0000 From: Clark Besch Subject: New Eric Soul and Dick Bartley releases!! My buddy Bill Buster has a new Dick Bartley collection as well as a new soul series that looks good! Happy as usual to see new stereo and his sound quality will be excellent as always, I'm sure. Say, 4 Chicago tracks on Bartley's! Good show, home boy!! Also, Nice to see Dee Jay & the Runaways of Iowa in there!! Anyway, Bill says he'll be shipping Nov 10 and taking advance orders on Oct 23 at http://www.ericrecords.com --Clark Besch -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13 Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 06:08:14 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Wirtz Subject: David Pomeranz Artie, I'm still curious to know what happened to David Pomeranz. Weren't you and David connected back at Warner Music, Artie? Did you keep track of him? I used to think David was a great writer and awesome vocalist, even if his repelling, EST-infested, attitude back then lost him a lot of friends and support in the biz... Keep rocking! Best, Mark Wirtz -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 18:20:01 -0000 From: Julio Niņo Subject: Where The Girl Are Six. Hola Everybody. Iīve just read on the ACE webpage that next month itīs foreseen the sixth volume of "Where There Girls Are" is to be released. This announcement produced an instantaneous greed attack in me. Maybe Mick Patrick could be so kind and reduce my anxiety by giving us an advance of the track list. If not Iīll have to get a massage. Chao. Julio Niņo. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 11:40:43 -0400 From: Joe Nelson Subject: Re: L. David Sloane G. Austin Robertson: > Wasn't L. David Sloane written by Billy Meshel? Single credits: W. Meshel - A. Martin Arr and Cond. by Bill Justis Produced by Jack Gold Hope this helps J. Robert Nelson (wishing I knew Michelle Lee's full name... :-/ ) -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16 Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 08:39:31 -0700 (PDT) From: Tom Taber Subject: Re: Beach Boys Mike: > Some members have drawn attention to Brian's skills as a > producer, and these four tracks are fine examples of this. > The group didn't even need a Brian Wilson song to make a > great record. In at least one case, they didn't even need Brian - I believe Carl Wilson produced "I Can Hear Music". It's miles ahead of the Ronettes version. Tom Taber -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 18:15:58 -0000 From: Unsteady Freddie Subject: "Apache" I first heard "Apache" via Jorgen Ingmann -- and when I met Davie Allan this weekend in Callela, Spain for the Wipe Out Festival, he, too, felt it was the 'smoothest' version. I find Jorgen to be sadly overlooked - he was an amazing talent. There's no surf music from my viewpoint without him. Check my surf pages http://www.catch-the-waves.com http://www.reverbsuperb.com and my internet show called Twang Shebang http://www.myrealbroadcast.com TWANG ON! Unsteady Freddie -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18 Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 19:57:25 +0100 From: Mick Patrick Subject: Re: Where The Girl Are #6 Julio Niņo: > Iīve just read on the ACE webpage that next month itīs foreseen > the sixth volume of "Where There Girls Are" is to be released. > This announcement produced an instantaneous greed attack in > me. Maybe Mick Patrick could be so kind and reduce my anxiety > by giving us an advance of the track list. If not Iīll have to > get a massage. Here t'is. Typed by my own fair hand. Pick the bones out of this lot. It's due for release at the end of the month. WHERE THE GIRLS ARE, Volume 6 (Ace Records) 1. The Darlettes 'Lost' (Van McCoy) Mira 203 1965 Produced by Van McCoy. 2. Barbara Mills '(Make It Last) Take Your Time' (Ralph Maria Siegel, Dub Murray) Hickory 1323 1965 3. Kathy Lynn and the Playboys 'Little Baby' (Nicholas David Ameno, Carl Cisco, Kathleen Mary Keppen) Swan 4209 1965 Arranged by Carl Cisco and Nick Ameno. A Dice Production. 4. Denita James 'I Have Feelings Too' (Clifford Davis, Denita James) Flip 364 1964 5. Joy Dawn 'Hang It Up' (Claudine Clark) Swan 4138 1963 An Inez Ryan Production. 6. The Percells 'The Greatest' (Peter Antell, John Linde) ABC Paramount 10516 1964 Arranged and Conducted by John Linde and Peter Antell. 7. Kathy Lynn and the Playboys 'My Special Boy' (Nicholas David Ameno, Carl Cisco, Kathleen Mary Keppen) Swan 4193 1964 Arranged by Carl Cisco and Nick Ameno. A Dice Production. 8. Sue Thompson 'Walkin' My Baby' (Aldine Louis Mathis, Marcus Felton Mathis) Hickory 1359 1965 9. The 2 Of Clubs 'Walk Tall (Like A Man)' (Paul Vance, Lee Pockriss) Fraternity 975 1966 Produced by Carl Edmondson. 10. The Sweethearts 'No More Tears' (Maxwell Davis) Kent 442 1966 11. Little Eva 'Sugar Plum' (Harold Thomas) Previously unissued 2004 Produced by Guardian Productions. 12. The Belles 'Cupid's Got A Hold On Me' (Sherlie Mae Matthews) Previously unissued 2004 Arranged by James Carmichael. Produced by Fred Smith. 13. The Ladybirds 'Yes I Know' (Frank Bendinelli, Leroy Lovett) Lawn 231 1964 Produced by Frank Bendinelli and Leroy Lovett. 14. Tutti Hill 'Baby Take It Slow' Previously unissued 2004 Produced by Ron Miller and Lee Porter. 15. The Chiffons 'Every Boy And Every Girl' (Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, J. Hamiph) BT Puppy LP 1011 1970 Produced by Bright Tunes Productions. 16. The Cinnamons 'I'm Not Gonna Worry ('Cause I Know He's Mine)' (Rufus Horton) BT Puppy 503 1964 Engineered by Brooks Arthur. Arranged and Produced by Big Time Productions. 17. The Pen-etts 'That's No Way To Spend My Time' Becco 0001 1962 Produced by Mike Hanks. 18. Deanie Parker and the Valadors 'My Imaginary Guy' (Willia Dean Parker) Volt 105 1963 19. Joan Moody 'Big Time Operator' (Fred Dobbs, Scott Douglas) Sylvia 5002 1965 Produced by Ron Miller and Lee Porter. 20. Felice Taylor 'Captured By Your Love' (Vernon S. Jones) Kent 488 1968 21. Beverly Warren 'He's So Fine' (Ronald Mack) BT Puppy 527 1967 Produced by Bright Tunes Productions. 22. Carol Connors 'Lonely Little Beach Girl' (Carol Connors) Mira 219 1966 Arranged and Conducted by Richard Podolor. Produced by Marshall Leib. 23. Carol Connors 'He Belongs To Me' (Bob Dylan) Previously unissued 2004 Arranged and Conducted by Richard Podolor. Produced by Marshall Leib. 24. Reparata and the Delrons 'Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Heart' (Ellie Greenwich, Tony Powers, Phil Spector) Previously unissued 2004 Produced by Steve Jerome and Bill Jerome. 25. Pat Powdrill 'I Can't Hear You' (Carole King, Gerry Goffin) Downey 139 1966 Produced by Nick Risi and Jim Thomas. 26. The Goodees 'Jilted' (Don Davis, Freddie Briggs) HIP LP HIS 7002 1969 Arranged by Dale Warren. Produced by Don Davis and Freddie Briggs. I could do with a bit of a rub down myself now. Hey la, Mick Patrick -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19 Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 12:54:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Steve Harvey Subject: Surf's Out forever. Unsteady Freddie wrote: > Right now I am promoting SURF MUSIC wherever I can > .... I love that genre, Hey Freddie, ever meet Kathy Marshall, queen of surf guitar? What a doll and even had a Fender Jag, or was it a Jazzmaster with a painted headstock? The Crossfires were pals of hers and she even did an acetate of two Ventures tunes. Heard she's still out in Orange County. Steve Harvey -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20 Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 12:58:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Artie Wayne Subject: Re: Brian Wilson songs Michael...How ya' doin'? How quickly they forget. When I was running Irving/Almo music [A+M's pubbery] I gave Olivia Newton-John "God Only Knows", which is on the "I Honestly Love You" album. I also gave "Good Vibrations" to the Troggs with a couple of my lyric changes [with Brians permission,of course] "I love the clothes you almost wear"...etc. regards, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com/ -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21 Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 00:37:25 +0100 From: Phil Chapman Subject: "I Can Hear Music" Tom Taber: > I believe Carl Wilson produced "I Can Hear Music". > It's miles ahead of the Ronettes version. The Beach Boys' version, oddly enough, is closer to how I imagined the Ronettes' version promised to be. Similarly, the Larry Lurex (aka Freddy Mercury) recording is a powerhouse production. The rumoured Spector-produced Ronettes version did not materialise, and the eventual Philles release was produced by Jeff Barry in the fashion of the Barry-Greenwich Red Bird hits. However, I do think it is one of their finer records, and one of Ronnie's best vocals. To add to the interest value, I've played Phil Spector's original voice & piano demo of "I Can Hear Music" to musica. With its portent of "Imagine", I wish there was a recorded version using *this* chord progression. Phil C. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22 Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 13:09:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Artie Wayne Subject: Re: David Pomeranz Mark...How ya'doin'? David Pomeranz joined Warner Brothers music just as I was leaving for Irving/Almo. I'm curious, did you have any dealings with my late partner Lou Reizner, who discovered and recorded Rod Stewart, The Singing Nun, and produced the A+M "Tommy" album. You both are known for such larger than life projects. regards, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com/ -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 21:06:05 -0000 From: Kurt Benbenek Subject: Re: Steam comes alive Andrew C. Jones asked: > Was any S'popper involved, either onstage or offstage, with the > "real" version of the group Steam that was formed in the wake of > the huge success of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"? That (first?) Steam album contains "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" as well as 6 or 7 other songs that sound exactly like "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" The producers took the backing track for "Na Na" and used it as the foundation for nearly every song on the album. The standout track is something called "I Cried a Million Tears" which is basically "Na Na" with more complicated lyrics. Assembly-line bubblegum pop in action! Can't beat it. Kurt Benbenek - USA -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24 Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2004 17:07:20 +0000 From: Phil X Milstein Subject: Re: Herb Alpert as vocalist Mike Edwards wrote: > Interesting observation, Phil, but very surprising. Are you referring > to Herb Alpert's vocal recordings while he fronted the Tijuana Brass, > such as "This Guy's In Love With You"? Or to those recordings made > before the Tijuana Brass came into existence in late '62? There is a > reference to the latter in the A&M album discography at: Sorry for not making myself clearer. Yes, the main source of my affection for Herb-as-vocalist is "This Guy's In Love With You," a record that never fails to stop me in its tracks no matter where I might be or what I might be doing when it comes on, even if the volume is barely audible. A lot of singers TRY to sound relaxed, but the power of Herb's work on this track lies in his ability to sound relaxed without trying (a conundrum) -- in sounding like his profession of love is nothing more than an afterthought. On the other hand, his trumpet playing always sounded kind of dull to me -- flat in inspiration, if not in intonation. That is not meant to criticize the TJB records, as in every other respect they're magnificently alive, and I realize they're not exactly meant as a forum for Miles-ian technique. But I've always wondered if Alpert deliberately downplayed his abilities in order to keep the lead line on those records as simple as possibly, or if he simply is not a gifted musician. I also realize that commercially it made much more sense for him to pursue the TJB angle. And I appreciate the fact that, like Rod McKuen, his early career is marked by stabs at a relatively wide range of ideas, followed by a dogged pursuit of the mode that finally caught on. (And then to hit on A&M Records on top of that!).= I just wish that for the sake of posterity -- or call it art, if you wish -- he'd left us with a few dozen more vocal classics along the lines of "This Guy's In Love With You." Does Herb ever give interviews? I'd love to hear him address issues involving the singing phase of his career, but I can't recall ever reading a single chat with the man. --Phil M. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25 Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 00:37:25 +0100 From: Phil Chapman Subject: Claire Francis/Smith A question for Claire: Rummaging through my 45s, I came up with a Claire Francis and Richard Hill production sung by an artist called Smith. It's two classic tunes back to back, "La Mer" and "Stormy Weather". Both have the trademark 'big' sound, and the vocal seems to be influenced by PJ Proby, who must have recently been in the charts with his 'West Side Story' renditions. For interest, I've posted the flip to musica as the intro quotes "Maria" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". Claire, do you remember anything about Smith? Phil C. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop! End

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