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Spectropop - Digest Number 1702



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               SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 15 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Re: solo you can't hear them
           From: Robert 
      2. Re: Bob Lind today
           From: Robert 
      3. Bobby Darin bioflick
           From: David 
      4. Re: A Song That Never Comes
           From: Richard Campbell 
      5. Re: Mark Lindsay
           From: Larry Lapka 
      6. Re: Kenny Young
           From: Barry 
      7. Re: Smile concert
           From: Phil X Milstein 
      8. John Peel - R.I.P.
           From: Davie Gordon 
      9. Re: Mark Lindsay & Artie Butler
           From: Artie Butler 
     10. Songwriters: In search of Tom Lane & Sharyn Pulley
           From: Richard 
     11. Re: Greg Shaw, R.I.P.
           From: Al Wagenaar 
     12. Re: John Peel - R.I.P.
           From: Mark Wirtz 
     13. Re: Spanky & Our Gang
           From: Al Wagenaar 
     14. Re: Spanky & Our Gang Q
           From: Clark Besch 
     15. Early days in the UK pop record industry
           From: Claire Francis 


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Message: 1 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 05:49:36 -0000 From: Robert Subject: Re: solo you can't hear them Larry Lapka asks: > This begs a question: did anybody who was a main fixture > of a band have solo material that just drove you off the > deep end? Colin Blunstone (gasp!) ... well, everything after "One Year," anyway. Rob -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 06:03:56 -0000 From: Robert Subject: Re: Bob Lind today Country Paul wrote: > I've heard some of the tracks from Lind's new album at his > website. The compositions are still great, and his voice is > still a very effective instrument, but he needed your production > touch. What's posted on Bob Lind's website now are home-recorded demos of new songs. He's currently in the studio with two young producers and all his new songs (including ones that aren't posted on the site) working on the "real" versions ... and yes, I agree, his voice is just as expressive as ever. Rob -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 06:12:29 EDT From: David Subject: Bobby Darin bioflick Is Connie Francis portrayed in the movie? From her book, she was one of Bobby's good girls! Even more interesting would be the scene when Connie's dad pulled a gun on Darin at an Ed Sullivan rehearsal -- is that in the film? David -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 11:45:44 -0000 From: Richard Campbell Subject: Re: A Song That Never Comes Austin Roberts asked: > Was there ever a song on any of their albums called Waiting > For A Song That Never Comes, by the same guys that wrote > Sunday Will Never ...? "A Song That Never Comes" was Cass Elliot's single in 1970, and was written by Terry Cashman, et al, who wrote "Sunday ..." Richard -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 06:03:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Larry Lapka Subject: Re: Mark Lindsay I just found Mark Lindsay's solo output too middle of the road for my tastes. It especially irked me that this guy, who had one of the best voices -- and was quite creative as a writer and producer – decided that his solo career would be just the opposite -- sterile voice and he wrote and produced little of his solo output. There are gems to be had on his three solo LPs on Columbia, but plenty of junk. His Raider albums had become virtual solo albums from Goin' To Memphis on, so why did he feel the need to pursue a solo career anyway? Heck, for a time his name "... featuring Mark Lindsay" was part of the Raiders' monicker. I guess he just wanted to branch out a bit, but the stuff is generally real hard to listen to. He did put out a couple of singles on WB that brought him back to the fore, although they were virtually ignored. I love his "Silly Little B Side" (I think that's what it was called) flip to one of those singles (I think it was "Sing Me High, Sing Me Low" or something like that – another decent song, by the way, although it is pretty MOR). On another note, Mike Nesmith's solo stuff away from The Monkees both irked me and intrigued me at the same time. He did stuff that I would not have heard if he had not done it -- sort of back to basics country space cowboy material, if you know what I mean. Some of this material is hard to listen to today, but he was quite the innovator. Larry Lapka -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 08:30:47 -0500 From: Barry Subject: Re: Kenny Young Austin Roberts wrote: > Both songs were written by Kenny Young, who was produced by > the Jeromes as the San Francisco Earthquake. Kenny came over > from England (though he was American) and sang some background > with me on one of my singles, Ricki Ticki Ta Ta Ta. He had two > beautiful English "birds" with him, who seemed very taken by Kenny. > Great guy and writer; fine choice in women! Kenny Young, who worked for Bobby Darin's T.M. Music with Art Resnick, wrote "Under The Boardwalk", and actually recorded a ton of singles under his own and various other names. Of course, he went on to write such songs as "Just A Little Bit Better". They're all really cool teen pop singles. In 1972, he signed to Warner Brothers and recorded two of the best singer-songwriter albums, before forming the group Fox, which had a giant European hit called "Only You Can". If anyone's interested, I can post the singles I have by him. It's an interesting group of odd teen pop singles. Barry -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 10:59:13 +0000 From: Phil X Milstein Subject: Re: Smile concert Country Paul wrote: > Brian actually did smile a couple of times (he even got up a danced > around for a few bars); he also played a few measures on the > keyboard. And while his voice is definitely a rougher instrument than > it used to be, he was indeed hitting the notes, and wasn't doubled by > Jeff Foskett nearly as much as I'd expected. A couple more notes about the Wilson/Smile show in Boston: During the pre-Smile segment, Brian introduced a set of two songs as a tribute to his late brothers. I can't remember which "Carl" song they played, but the second song was Dennis' beautiful "Together" -- nice version, too. During the post-Smile/encore segment, Brian strapped on his bass for a few songs. If I recall correctly his was the only bass for those songs, and he looked more comfortable standing and playing than he did at any other point in the evening. Yeah, --Phil M. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 15:38:06 -0000 From: Davie Gordon Subject: John Peel - R.I.P. This has got to be one of the worst weeks ever. Here's a link to the news story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041026/325/f5bkv.html Davie -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 11:46:20 EDT From: Artie Butler Subject: Re: Mark Lindsay & Artie Butler Frank Jastfelder wrote, re: Mark Lindsay's "Bookends": > Thanks Paul, what a great song. Very Bacharachesque. I like the typical > Artie Butler flugelhorn. He used it a lot on the "Love Machine" soundtrack, > too. Although I'm not sure who introduced the flugelhorn to these adult > contemporary songs, Burt or Artie. Maybe Mr. Butler can shed some light > on this? And how was songwriting with Jerry Fuller? Working with Mark was a pleasure. He was a lot of fun to work with, and we stay in touch to this day. Regarding the flugelhorn, it was Burt who brought it into popularity initially. It was such a great sound, all of us other guys jumped on the bandwagon. Burt created that sound. In addition Jerry Fuller was really a treat to work with. He had great ears, and was always extremely professional. I saw Jerry about a year or so ago, and it was great catching up. He is really a great guy. We worked together on projects for Mark Lindsay, Andy Williams, O.C. Smith, and dozens of others I can't quite recall at this time. Hope some of this info answers your questions. Artie Butler -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 11:47:23 -0000 From: Richard Subject: Songwriters: In search of Tom Lane & Sharyn Pulley Another goose chase I am on, friends. They were session composers for Dunhill in the late 60's. Let me know if you know how to reach them. At least one of their publishing companies has asked ME to let THEM know if I find them! Richard -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 14:22:18 -0000 From: Al Wagenaar Subject: Re: Greg Shaw, R.I.P. What a shock to lose Greg Shaw. No one, and I mean no one, influenced my musical listening and collecting as much as Greg. I remember seeing his Juke box Jury column in the early Creem Magazines, then ordered a Bomp British Invasion issue from the sleeve notes inside the 2 LP British Invasion set on Sire. This had to be 73 or 74. From there I was hooked, awaited each new Bomp, traded 45's with Greg (he wanted those cool Fentons I could find...lived in Michigan then), sold his Bomp singles at record shows in Detroit (Stu Shapiros shows). Finally met him at a show with the Romantics in Detroit. What a cool guy, and could he talk music. Had the priveledge of writing for Bomp (which led me to write for Goldmine back then). Those were exciting times, with garage comps coming from Greg like Pebbles, and the whole punk new wave thing exploding. And those Flamin' Groovies Records on Sire, they wouldn't have happened without Greg. Lost touch in the mid Eighties, and I've always meant to reconnect. I waited to long. Greg will be missed by many. I for one will miss the passion that was his. I kind of feel like a piece of my life just dissapeared. Al Wagenaar -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 09:22:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Wirtz Subject: Re: John Peel - R.I.P. I am speechless. Not only yet another pivotal music pioneer and icon, but, again, someone who was critically instrumental in the support of my career. Without John, I don't think I would have had one. Dreadful news. I can only wish that John is in a garden now which is indeed perfumed and filled with joyful calm and harmony. My prayers and condolences go out to all that were close to John. To say that John will be missed would be an understatement. Mark Wirtz -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 14:24:48 -0000 From: Al Wagenaar Subject: Re: Spanky & Our Gang Would you believe the baby on the Greatest Hits collection is not Spanky's. I promoted a show with the Mamas & Papas back in the eighties. Spanky was in the group. Had her sign the LP. She laughed and wondered what ever happened to the kid they used for the photo. Al Wagenaar -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 15:50:48 -0000 From: Clark Besch Subject: Re: Spanky & Our Gang Q Austin Roberts: > Was there ever a song on any of (Spanky & Our Gang's) albums called > Waiting For A Song That Never Comes, by the same guys that wrote > Sunday Will Never... Austin, you are probably thinking of the Mama Cass single, "A Song That Never Comes". It was her last chart record in August,1970. It's funny to think about this now, but her solo career to me was quite a departure from the Mamas and Papas, just like the Lindsay/Raiders thing. The Mamas and Papas had the strong meaningful writings of John Philips and a mostly serious approach to music. When Cass started her solo stuff, it often was bubblegummy and light- hearted, but overall was "all over" the place. Starting with recording an old standard, "Dream a Little Dream of me"--that was wierd. Then, a song I really liked, but obviously very dark in comparison with her songs to come, John Hartford's great "California Earthquake" with that destructive ending. Then, it was back to a standard type, "Move in a Little Closer". Then came the "happy upbeat bubblegum" of "It's Getting Better", "Make your Own Kind of Music", and "New World Coming". I actually liked all but the middle one there. "A Song that Never Comes" was ok too. The charters were done, but in the last 3 months of 1970 she continued on with 45s "Good Times are Coming" and "Don't Let Life Pass You By". Then, came the odd pairing of Dave Mason and Cass as "Mason & Cass". The Lp came out on Blue Thumb (Mason's label) and the singles on Dunhill (Cass' label). With that great marble vinyl "Alone Together" Lp still reverberating on the airwaves, this pairing to me was odd at the time, but soon, Mason was doing more MOR stuff too, so in retrospect, it wasn't so odd. The timing was not good for Mason, since his 45 "Waitin' on You" came out about the same time as the duo's "Something to Make You Happy" in January, 71. "Too Much Truth, Too Much Love" soon followed, but neither sold well. Soloing again, 72 saw solo Cass singles of "Baby, I'm Yours", "Break Another Heart", and "Does Anybody Love You". After that, I lost track (interest?) in Cass' career until her unexpected death in 74. I have never read any biography on her, but if she lived in the mood of her songs, she was happy, I guess. Clark -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15 Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2004 17:46:14 EDT From: Claire Francis Subject: Early days in the UK pop record industry Frank Murphy: > Here'a an article by Alan Warner which explains quite a bit about > the UK music scene in the early sixties: http://tinyurl.com/4u4wc I really enjoyed reading the "reflections" article about EMI in the 60's. Some of the names mentioned in the article really brought memories of my days at Transglobal Music which was EMI's New York office. After reading the article, I remembered Ardmore & Beechwood, the publishing company for EMI and how many times I had to write them for sub-license agreements. I remember seeing the memos on Cliff Richard and Adam Faith and Acker Bilk regarding licensing them in the U.S.. All the memories just keep flooding back. As I look back at it now, I realize how lucky I was to be in the UK during the 60's. Thanks for helping me remember such a wonderful time in my life. Please let me know if you find any more records that I did, even if you just tell me the names, I would be grateful. Love & Light, Claire (she who remembers) Francis -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
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