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Spectropop - Digest Number 2114



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               SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 11 messages in this issue.


Topics in this digest:

      1. Re: Giant-Kaye-Baum
           From: Fred Clemens 
      2. Lookin' for The Beagles
           From: Ayrton Mugnaini 
      3. Jackie DeShannon's "Should I Cry"
           From: Will Stos 
      4. Re: lookin' for The Beagles
           From: Phil X Milstein 
      5. Re: songs of Larry Weiss
           From: Ayrton Mugnaini 
      6. Re: lookin' for The Beagles
           From: Dave Monroe 
      7. Re: lookin' for The Beagles
           From: Steve 
      8. Re: Ronnie Gittens
           From: Bill Swanke 
      9. Re: songs of Larry Weiss
           From: Ed Salamon 
     10. Re: Jackie DeShannon's "Should I Cry"
           From: Rob Indart 
     11. Re: Peanut Duck
           From: Phil X Milstein 


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________________________________________________________________________ Message: 1 Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 21:09:11 -0000 From: Fred Clemens Subject: Re: Giant-Kaye-Baum Rob Indart asked: > I'm wondering if anybody has any information about Bill Giant, > Florence Kaye and Bernie Baum, who were a great songwriting > team from the '60s. They wrote a lot of Lou Johnson's sides on > Big Top, the V.I.P.'s "You Pulled A Fast One" (also on Big Top) > and also Bill Giant's "Poof (Up In Smoke)" (MGM), which was later > covered by Kenny Lynch (on Big Top) as "Puff (Up In Smoke)." > They also wrote a lot for the Elvis Presley movies. Bill Giant's version is labeled as simply "Poof!" (no "Up In Smoke") on MGM, which dates from around December of 1961. Lynch's song was given the subtitle in the UK because of the derogatory meaning of the word "poof" there, and hit the UK charts in October of '62. Once his version made it to the US (in March-April of '63 on Big Top), its original, shorter title was restored. That was, by the way, around the same time that Peter, Paul, & Mary's own "Puff," which was eventually (in April) retitled as "Puff (The Magic Dragon)" was making some noise. You might also add the American theme to "Kimba, The White Lion" to the trio's credits, with an uncredited Bill Giant doing the main vocals. Fred Clemens -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2 Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2005 19:23:43 -0300 (ART) From: Ayrton Mugnaini Subject: Lookin' for The Beagles Laura asked: > I have not been able to find any information on > the boys behind the '60s cartoon band The Beagles. > Can somebody give me information about their > careers, before and after The Beagles? I hav a single by them -- "Let's All Sing Like The Birdies Sing" / "Deep In The Heart Of Texas" -- even issued here in Brazil, circa 1964. Cheerio, Ayrton -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3 Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 22:15:35 -0000 From: Will Stos Subject: Jackie DeShannon's "Should I Cry" I've had Rhino's girl group box set on constantly and love it more and more if that's possible. "Mr. Loveman" by Yvonne Carroll really grows on you. But my question is regarding Jackie DeShannon's "Should I Cry." This song was new to me, and it just floored me. It sounds like a cross between "One Fine Day," and "Da Doo Ron Ron." Was it intended for any other group/artisit to record? Have any other versions been released? Will : ) -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 4 Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 18:38:25 -0500 From: Phil X Milstein Subject: Re: lookin' for The Beagles Laura Taylor wrote: > I have asked this on other lists, but despite Internet searches and > the knowledge of many, I have not been able to find any information > on the boys behind the '60s cartoon band The Beagles. Can somebody > give me information about their careers, before and after The Beagles? The Beagles, a five-minute animated series created by Leonardo Television Productions (aka Total Television Productions), began in 1966 -- perhaps a bit late in the game to glom onto The Beatles bandwagon. As for the cast, Stringer, a purebred and the only member of the troupe with AKC papers, had been trained practically from birth for a showbusiness career. He was recommended for the role of the lead guitarist and singer by his agent, Marty (son of Zeppo) Marx, and in fact the show (and, for that matter, the band) was largely built around his considerable talents. Scotty, the bassist, was actually a half-breed (with his father a shih tzu), a fact that was carefully hidden from the show's fans. He was discovered in an Alpo commercial by the producer's wife, Evelyn Leonardo. Last to be chosen was Tubby, the drummer. The role in fact had already been filled, by Axelrod, a well-known animal actor from the East Coast, but just before the cameras started rolling he was fired for disobedience and distemper. Tubby was a down-at-the-heels stray who'd been spotted loitering around the studio for a few weeks, but, as they say, there was little wrong with him that a good cleaning wasn't able to take care of. Since so many years have passed, I think it is now safe to reveal the fact that Tubby was of entirely uncertain heritage, and in fact underwent some plastic surgery -- ear extensions -- to get him looking more "beagle-esque." Alas, despite such careful grooming The Beagles project wasn't a very successful one. Failure, as they say, has many fathers, and in the show's post-mortem it became extremely difficult to sort out on precisely whose shoulders the blame belonged, but most commentators at the time stressed the fact that Scotty's habit of sniffing Tubby's butt at inopportune moments caused the show to run up huge production expenses, which may have doomed it despite passable ratings. Stringer, meanwhile, succumbed to the pressures of being leader and developed a nasty Liva-Snaps habit. The last straw came when a strung-out Stringer broke off his leash and snapped at his animator's hand, leaving the latter unable to draw as well as considerable insider sniggering over the consummation of an industry cliché so hoary it harkens back to vaudeville days. Given all this, nobody was entirely surprised when, in the late spring of 1967, the show was finally put down. In its aftermath Tubby made out fairly well, donning a filthy handkerchief he'd found in the alley behind the studio and hooking up with a Deadhead for several tours of the U.S. in the latter's beaten-up VW van. Scotty returned to commercial work, finally drifting over to the business side as an agent specializing in, quite fittingly, animal acts. But the demise of The Beagles hit Stringer hard, leaving him down in the dumps, where he survived on his wits for several years until losing one of his paws in an alley fight. His last residence was the Hollywood Home for Retired Animal Actors, where he died in September 1970 after choking on a bone. That's all I know about The Beagles, although I point you to http://tinyurl.com/aey8g , http://tinyurl.com/dhay8 and http://tinyurl.com/b2udp for further info. Showbusiness can a bitch sometimes, can't it? Dig a bone, --Phil M. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 5 Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2005 20:08:53 -0300 (ART) From: Ayrton Mugnaini Subject: Re: songs of Larry Weiss If I got it right, Larry Weiss has two songs which start with very similar melodies, "Let Me Tell You Baby" (covered by The Troggs) and "What A Wonderful World," the Louis Armstrong megahit. Cheerio, Ayrton -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6 Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2005 09:54:50 -0800 (PST) From: Dave Monroe Subject: Re: lookin' for The Beagles Laura Taylor wrote: > I have asked this on other lists, but despite > Internet searches and the knowledge of many, I have > not been able to find any information on the boys > behind the '60s cartoon band The Beagles. Can > somebody give me information about their careers, > before and after The Beagles? GREAT '60s pop! I think we've asked the same question here and elsewhere, and to no avail. But here are the credits to the theme song: Music and lyrics by W. Biggers, T. Covington, J. Harris, C. Stover Published by Vincent Youmans Co., Inc. Arranged and conducted by Charles Fox http://www.toontracker.com/beagles/beagles.htm So perhaps there are some useful clues there. I'll haul out the 45 and LP when I get a chance, to see what else there might be, but i think I've gone down that road already. Meanwhile, here are the few other even close to illuminating sites I've found: http://vmu.vh1.com/artists/az/beagles/bio.jhtml http://www.stevemandich.com/otherstuff/beagles.htm http://icebergradio.com/artist/15710/the_beagles.html There may be some duplication there, though. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7 Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 23:17:08 -0000 From: Steve Subject: Re: lookin' for The Beagles Laura Taylor asked: > I have asked this on other lists, but despite Internet searches and > the knowledge of many, I have not been able to find any information > on the boys behind the '60s cartoon band The Beagles. Can somebody > give me information about their careers, before and after The > Beagles? Try this link: http://www.toontracker.com/beagles/beagles.htm There apparently was an album released on Harmony records, and though the link above lists no voice actors it does mention why information is so hard to find. Cheers, Steve -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 8 Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 19:01:59 -0600 (Central Standard Time) From: Bill Swanke Subject: Re: Ronnie Gittens >From Peter D. Carpenter, President, Cammy Awards Inc. ----- In loving memory of Ronnie Gittens 10-28-2005 At the time of his untimely passing, Ronnie was a long time member of The Catalinas. In early years, he was a member of The Spontanes and The Fantastic Shakers. Some of his song credits include "Whatja Do That Fo'?", "They Call Me Mr. Bass Man", "You're Driving Me Crazy", "Line Up" (Catalinas) "She's Got My Number" (Fantastic Shakers) and "Big Feet" (recorded by Renee Brown). I was lucky to know him as an entertainer and to have worked several shows with The Catalinas over the years, but I was truly blessed to have him as my friend. Deepest thoughts of sympathy are extended to his daugher, Tammy and the rest of Ronnie's family and band mates. The remainder of my shows for 2005 will be dedicated to the memory of Ronnie. Our hearts and prayers go out to Ronnie's family and friends. The 2005 Carolina Beach Music Industry Awards on Saturday, November 12 will dedicated in his honor. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9 Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 16:42:55 -0000 From: Ed Salamon Subject: Re: songs of Larry Weiss Ayrton Mugnaini wrote: > If I got it right, Larry Weiss has two songs which start with very > similar melodies, "Let Me Tell You Baby" (covered by The Troggs) > and "What A Wonderful World," the Louis Armstrong megahit. "What A Wonderful World" was actually written by George David Weiss, with Bob Theile. I saw Larry at the post office last week. Nashville is such a small town. Ed Salamon -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10 Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 16:31:06 -0000 From: Rob Indart Subject: Re: Jackie DeShannon's "Should I Cry" Will Stos asked: > ... My question is regarding Jackie DeShannon's "Should I Cry." > This song was new to me, and it just floored me. It sounds like > a cross between "One Fine Day," and "Da Doo Ron Ron." Was it > intended for any other group/artisit to record? Have any other > versions been released? "Should I Cry" was recorded by The Concords, a doo-wop group on Epic, in 1964. Here is a link to The Concords' story: http://www.destinationdoowop.com/concords.htm Rob -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 11 Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 13:23:55 -0500 From: Phil X Milstein Subject: Re: Peanut Duck Simon White wrote: > As someone who has lived with and loved "The Peanut Duck" for > many years I feel I must add my voice (quack quack) to the debate. > When I first heard the track -- from a bootleg 45 -- in a record shop > in London I was, to put it mildly, delighted. My first reaction was > exactly as Julio's in that I thought it was Shirley Ellis, a thought > that may have been influenced by the novelty element of the song. > ... I believe it originates from Philly. I must say I don't hear Brenda > Reid in there at all. The "Peanut Duck" voice is very distinctive and > so is Brenda's. Perhaps it is fortuitous that, due to the timing of Halloween this year, Claudine Clark's "Walkin' Through A Cemetery" appeared recently at musica, as hearing it again reminded me of the song's nuances. With the controversy surrounding the identity of the "Peanut Duck" singer having re-emerged around the same time, due in that case to the release of Rhino's "One Kiss Deserves Another" boxset, the confluence of hearing these two records within a few days of one another has sparked a thought. Although I have yet to play them side-by-side, suddenly last night there came a rapping at the chamber door of my brain that Claudine Clark's slightly unhinged vocal performance on "... Cemetery" is like a lite version of the gone antics of the "Peanut Duck" singer (which get goner and goner as the song progresses). I then remembered that, if I understand my Claudine Clark bio correctly, she is from Philly, which is the very city in which "Peanut Duck" was apparently recorded. Is it worth taking this thought to the next logical step, which would be A/B comparison? Or is it, for one reason or another, categorically, patently and prima facie absurd? This seems a good time to add that were it not for Simon White's remarkable patience with contending with Rhino's repeated entreaties for more and more information on a record -- acetate demo, really -- that came with virtually none of its own -- not to mention his ability to, somehow, find them most if not all of what they were looking for -- the track simply would have ended up on Rhino's cutting-room floor. Someday I'd like to hear the full story of how this mystery track became licensed for use in the boxset, but, with the release party being today and me unable to attend, perhaps I've missed my moment. Quack quack, dee-dee-dee, --Phil M. -------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
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