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Spectropop - Digest Number 1970



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               SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 17 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

      1. Re: That Thing You Do!--The group???
           From: Lloyd Davis 
      2. Re: Oldies Radio
           From: Various 
      3. Re: Big John
           From: Rodney Rawlings 
      4. Re: Steve Greenberg
           From: Phil X Milstein 
      5. Re: Chiffons and Kristy McNichol
           From: Bob Rashkow 
      6. In My Imagination demo
           From: Jeff Lemlich 
      7. Re:  More Sandi Sheldon
           From: Jeff Lemlich 
      8. Re: Chiffons and Kristy McNichol
           From: John Black 
      9. Jerry Ross & April Young
           From: Mick Patrick 
     10. Re: That Thing You Do!--The group?
           From: ACJ 
     11. Alternative, Answer, and Parody Songs
           From: Larry Bromley 
     12. Re: Big Bruce/Steve Greenberg
           From: Frank M 
     13. Re: April Young
           From: Julio Niño 
     14. Re: April Young
           From: Andres 
     15. Re: That Thing You Do!--The group?
           From: Andres 
     16. Re: Oldies Radio
           From: Will Stos 
     17. Re: April Young
           From: Mick Patrick 


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Message: 1 Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:15:32 -0400 From: Lloyd Davis Subject: Re: That Thing You Do!--The group??? Clark Besch wrote: > On stage, the announcer claimed they had written some of the movie > soundtrack songs. I know some of the writers had a band after the > movie, but not by that name. Can't tell you anything about that band, but the title song, and a few others from the film, were written by Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne. Their other claim to fame/infamy is the 2004 hit "Stacy's Mom (Has Got It Goin' On)," which hit #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. They're scheduled to appear on Conan O'Brien's show this Friday. Perhaps the band you saw were embittered because they hadn't read the fine print in their PlayTone contracts... On a more Spectropoppish note, according to their website, Fountains of Wayne made an appearance on American Dreams as The Hollies, performing "Bus Stop." - Lloyd Davis in Toronto -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2 Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 20:48:24 +0100 From: Various Subject: Re: Oldies Radio Several messages on the same subject: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Will Stos wrote: > As sad as I am to hear another oldies station is off the air, I > think the Jack concept (we have a Bob station in Ottawa) is an > exciting idea. Give us variety! While variety is nice it doesn't make it any better for listening if you're getting a "variety" of today's "artists". No matter what the genre is I find the majority of music "composed" today to be crap. Tuneless bilge pushed with alot of promotion and payola. Starting with the 70s popular music took a nosedive and it only got worse with each new decade. I grew up with 60s music, but came to appreciate 50s and even 40s stuff as the radio and record industry pushed watered down pap for the masses. Quality edges out variety. Even AC/DC seemed like a rather tired replay of what I'd heard in the 60s. But what do I know, I don't know Jack. This is why I burn CDRs for the gym and car, Steve Harvey ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Will, I agree. How people can bemoan the loss of a station that plays only a few hits, when some of these groups had a lot more, as well as album tracks, is beyond me. I am speaking about WJMK in Chicago. They dug their own grave with me years ago. How about a deep tracks 60s oldies station, now that's a novel concept! Bill Mulvy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- New York is probably *the* major radio market in the US. And when a station is as much the sound of that city and its people as it is the music it plays, then to wrest it from the people is just wrong, regardless of how large or small its playlist is. Brucie and other legendary jocks from NY stations aren't just guys who play records, they are almost like flags or identities of the area (which may explain why Wolfman Jack, a huge star in his own right, couldn't cut it on WNBC), they are a part of the people - it transcends the music and the business of radio, which is something corporate people have no understanding of. The fact that they were so surprised by the backlash is proof of that (what did they expect?!?!) - New Yorkers are a fiercely loyal people when it comes to something like this that is "theirs", and while the younger demo may well embrace Jack in the short haul, the longer term damage Infinity has done may well be immeasurable. It is a bad move. And may I remind everyone, that while the corporations may own the licenses and the stations, WE own the airwaves! Most of us seem to have forgotten this, and that radio stations are REQUIRED to perform in the service of the area in which they're licensed - no local traffic, weather, etc. on JACK doesn't sound at all like W-whatever-FM is fulfilling the REQUIREMENTS of its license! Moreover, Brucie et.al. weren't just human iPods, they were personalities we could really connect with. We're all Brucie's "cousin"s, we were all "Luv" to Ron Lundy on WABC - what are we to the anonymous JACK? People to be sneered down to via wiseass copy and programming. Who cares what songs are played, WCBS listeners felt like part of a huge extended NYC family. Other than a wider playlist, JACK offers, well, JACK. Chris Mezzolesta/Power Salad ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Not that I'd ever listen to this Jack crap format, why the heck would anybody of that targeted demographic group bother listening to the radio in the first place? You can get pretty much anything played on that format, throw it on your i-pod, and get the same result WITHOUT commercial interruption or some lame DJ. Radio on the AM and FM bands is a dying breed. Satellite radio is where it's at! MopTopMike ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3 Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 21:34:43 -0000 From: Rodney Rawlings Subject: Re: Big John Of course, one mustn't forget the parody "Small Sad Sam." -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4 Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 15:34:57 -0800 From: Phil X Milstein Subject: Re: Steve Greenberg Bob Rashkow wrote: > Patti Page's version of "Big John" calls to mind Steve Greenberg's > "Big Bruce" (1969?), which is completely politically incorrect, but > amusing all the same. Big Bad Brucey-Woosey is a hairdresser who > wears bell bottoms and a polka-dot tie, etc. He's a gay stereotype > although Greenberg never once mentions any of the labels. ... I don't know for certain, but I assume this is the same Steve Greenberg as the creator of Lipps Inc.'s giant 1980 (+/-) hit "Funkytown." Greenberg currently runs Designstein, a successful Web design and hosting firm based in Minneapolis (which hosted my site for a number of years). Dig, --Phil M. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5 Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 23:51:47 EDT From: Bob Rashkow Subject: Re: Chiffons and Kristy McNichol IIRC it was Jane O's version I heard a few times. Extremely slow, with a very telling lack of "doo lang power" :--(( Bobster -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:48:24 -0400 From: Jeff Lemlich Subject: In My Imagination demo Julio Niño: > Thank you very much to Jeff for the lovely new demo he´s just > posted in musica. I love it. Thanks Julio. Now the question is, WHO IS SINGING THIS? This is an Aaron Schroeder Music demo from 1966. The sheet music shows Rosemarie McCoy as the writer. Also new to Musica: The Chosen Few's version of Sawyer/Burton's "Why Can't I Love Her". Jeff Lemlich (sorry I missed being a part of Spectropop digests 1966 and 1967) http://www.limestonerecords.com -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:54:17 -0400 From: Jeff Lemlich Subject: Re: More Sandi Sheldon John H: > I see an auction currently on eBay for a Sandi Sheldon single on > the Okeh label: "One Minute Too Late/ Touch My Heart." I didn't see > this title listed in her discography on the main Spectropop site. > Can anyone shed some light on it? This looks like the record Ian Levine cut with her, in 2003 or so, around the time she came to London to play at The Rocket. It was part of a handful of releases/giveaways on the resurrected Okeh imprint. Simon White, who d.j.'d the night Kendra appeared, could tell us more, I'm sure. Just don't tell me to FOAD, Simon. Jeff Lemlich http://www.limestonerecords.com -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 14:31:06 EDT From: John Black Subject: Re: Chiffons and Kristy McNichol This is unrelated, I guess, but one of my favorite "He's So Fine" covers was the slightly countrified version by Jody Miller. John Black -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 20:20:35 +0100 From: Mick Patrick Subject: Jerry Ross & April Young Artie Wayne: > You asked how prolific a writer Jerry Ross was? I'd have to say he > was one of the most prolific I'd ever worked with. I became > friendly with him when I went to Philly every couple of weeks to > pitch my songs and see my girlfriend. We became good friends when > he and his wife April Young moved to New York and he became an A+R > man for Mercury records in 1967. Jerry Ross deserves a medal for the series of magnificent records he made at Mercury with Dee Dee Warwick and Jerry Butler. While she could hardly compete with sensational vocalists such as those two greats, April Young made some nice records too, all with hubby Jerry at the helm. The most successful of these singles can be found on CDCHD 823, along with some nice pictures. (From the booklet:) When you're a singer whose husband is a celebrated songwriter, producer and all-round record biz mogul, it's difficult to make a bad record. Such is the case with Philadelphia songbird Janice Friedman, otherwise known as April Young, glamorous wife of Jerry Ross... 'Gonna Make Him My Baby' was the third in a series of four terrific singles April released on Columbia in 1964/5. The song came from the pens of Pete Anders and Vinnie Poncia, of those landlocked surfers the Tradewinds.(Continue reading here: http://tinyurl.com/9y2og ) It would be nice if more of the lovely April's sides were out on CD. As they're not, I'll post one to musica when room becomes available. Special track preferences, anyone? April died young, unfortunately. Hey la, Mick Patrick -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 22:39:19 -0400 From: ACJ Subject: Re: That Thing You Do!--The group? For Clark Besch: I remember frequently hearing mention of a band called The Candy Butchers playing on the TTYD! soundtrack. Maybe this group is The Candy Butchers. ACJ -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:40:34 -0700 (PDT) From: Larry Bromley Subject: Alternative, Answer, and Parody Songs About Big Bad Bruce, it might not have made Billboard, but it did hit Dr. Demento's Funny Five from time to time. I also had the pleasure of hearing it in a lounge in the 70s. On a related note: Along with oldies radio fading away, the same forces causing this problem have pushed the purveyor of parodies and other odd tunes off of many stations, including all of Florida. Man, I miss my chance to "Stay Demented!" each week. If I recall correctly, Jody Miller made a living in the 60s and 70s on "Answer" songs. I recently picked up an old CD collection that was released in Canada through Marlboro Cigarettes. (This was a flea market purchase. I don't smoke.) Jody's "Queen of the House", a parody of "King of the Road", was included. I also remember answers to two Kenny Rogers songs: "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love to Town)" and "(You Picked A Fine time To Leave Me)". Age is a number that tells how long you have lived in this world, not how to live in it. Larry Bromley good day! -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 23:18:12 +0100 From: Frank M Subject: Re: Big Bruce/Steve Greenberg S.J. Dibai: > I've always wondered who Steve Greenberg was and what ever happened > to him. President of Atlantic Records then president of Columbia Records. FrankM -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:55:15 -0000 From: Julio Niño Subject: Re: April Young Hola everybody, Mick Patrick: > It would be nice if more of the lovely April's sides were out on > CD. As they're not, I'll post one to musica when room becomes > available. Special track preferences, anyone?... I'm rather ignorant about April's discography, in fact I can remember just two songs by her, "To Be Loved By You" and "Gonna Make Him My Baby". Can we ask for the menu before we order, Mick? Or am I asking too much (as I often do). Chao. Julio Niño. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14 Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 14:03:48 +0400 From: Andres Subject: Re: April Young Mick: > It would be nice if more of the lovely April's sides were out on > CD. As they're not, I'll post one to musica when room becomes > available. Special track preferences, anyone?... Julio: > I'm rather ignorant about April's discography, in fact I can > remember just two songs by her, "To Be Loved By You" and "Gonna > Make Him My Baby". Can we ask for the menu before we order, Mick? > Or am I asking too much (as I often do). I especially like the beginning of "Gonna Make Him My Baby" with girls on the background singing "Duran-Day-Run".... Smashing hit!!! -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15 Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 14:07:32 +0400 From: Andres Subject: Re: That Thing You Do!--The group? ACJ: > I remember frequently hearing mention of a band called The Candy > Butchers playing on the TTYD! soundtrack. Maybe this group is The > Candy Butchers. Wasn't it the Wonders themselves playing in the movie? I have a DVD with this film and in the Special Features Section they tell us a story how the band members cuoldn't play at first but within some period of time learned to play and then performed the songs themselves? -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16 Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 20:28:50 -0000 From: Will Stos Subject: Re: Oldies Radio Wow, quite a bit of debate here. I'll try to be brief with my responses: Steve Harvey wrote: > Starting with the 70s popular music took a nosedive and it only got > worse with each new decade. I grew up with 60s music, but came to > appreciate 50s and even 40s stuff as the radio and record industry > pushed watered down pap for the masses. Quality edges out variety. I used to say the same thing too. I'm 24, and I endlessly criticized my friends' choice in music (and I still try to avoid some of it). But I've learned to appreciate a lot of what's been released. I don't like all of it, but it's a different generation and they express themselves in a different way. And although a lot of it is retread, you could say the same about some stuff from the 50s and 60s in terms of early jazz/gospel/folk, etc. There's always been fluff, it's just a matter of weeding it out. And, I'm sure some fans of Gershwin couldn't ever imagine music historians and collectors raving over records by Lesley Gore or Connie Francis 40 years on - but here we are. Bill Mulvy wrote: > Will, I agree. How people can bemoan the loss of a station that > plays only a few hits, when some of these groups had a lot more, as > well as album tracks, is beyond me. We've argued on this group before that oldies stations could attract some new fans if they dug deeper or even had alternative oldies stations that went beyond the hits. I think it would be great if some stations would pretend its a certain year from the past every month and play only those songs (hits and misses). Chris Mezzolesta/Power Salad wrote: > Brucie and other legendary jocks from NY stations aren't just guys > who play records, they are almost like flags or identities of the > area, they are a part of the people - it transcends the music and > the business of radio, which is something corporate people have no > understanding of. I'd imagine these people are the exception and not the rule. In smaller markets we have faceless people hired to prvivde inane chatter. While losing Brucie may be tough for NYC, I'm quite happy to be rid of these other announcers. I'm not saying the announcer for JACK/BOB is much better, but at least he doesn't yammer on and on. It's too bad Brucie and others couldn't find another place on conventional radio, but loyal fans will follow him to satellite. Meanwhile, casual listeners who are more interested in music will have a deeper playlist. Hopefully other station managers will opt for a compromise (keep the legends, but don't force them to play the same song every day). MopTopMike wrote: > why the heck would anybody of that targeted demographic group > bother listening to the radio in the first place? You can get > pretty much anything played on that format, throw it on your i-pod, > and get the same result WITHOUT commercial interruption or some > lame DJ. Yeah, but how are you going to hear anything new? You might miss out on a new artist or hit, or find you like a particular song when you normally don't like the genre. Part of it's a social thing. Knowing the melody of a new hit when you're in a club so you can dance to it, talking to friends about a new song you like, etc. And no offense to iPod fans or proponents of mix tapes and CD burns, but you always know what's coming. Even if it's in random order, you've heard the song before. I do agree that satellite radio will have an impact as people try to escape commercials (see TiVO for television), but good DJs and announcers like Brucie will find a niche in the new market. I do wonder how advertisers will try to get a piece of the action. Songs already mention brands, and I'm sure pop artists will be pressured to include more, have their albums sponsored by a company, etc. In closing, give me Spectropop's live365 station any day over Jack/Bob, but also give it a chance. Who knows what changes for the better this hit format will prompt. Will : ) -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17 Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 08:26:01 +0100 From: Mick Patrick Subject: Re: April Young Me: > It would be nice if more of the lovely April's sides were out on > CD. As they're not, I'll post one to musica when room becomes > available. Special track preferences, anyone?... Julio: > I'm rather ignorant about April's discography, in fact I can > remember just two songs by her, "To Be Loved By You" and "Gonna > Make Him My Baby". Can we ask for the menu before we order, Mick? > Or am I asking too much (as I often do). Never! Please select from the following: APRIL YOUNG DISCOGRAPHY (all Columbia) This Time Tomorrow/Will You Be My Steady Boyfriend (4-43046, 1964) To Be Loved By You/Kiss Your Baby Goodbye (4-43122, 1964) Gonna Make Him My Baby/Life (4-43285, 1965) Run To My Lovin' Arms/You're The One (4-43392, 1965) Did I overlook anything? It's too hot to think. Hey la, Mick Patrick -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
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