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Spectropop V#0012

  • From: The Spectropop Group
  • Date: 11/12/97

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               Volume #0012                         11/13/97
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    Subject:     Re: Things You Don't Miss
    Sent:        11/12/97 4:37 AM
    Received:    11/12/97 8:43 AM
    From:        carol knudson, knudXXX@XXXXXXolumbia.edu
    To:          Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
    
    
    Dave Marsteller said:
    
    > 
    > I know we all tend to feel nostalgic about the 'glory days' of  
    > songwriting, but are there any features of songs from that period that  
    > you don't miss? I can think of one. I call it the backhanded compliment  
    > song.  <snip>
    
    
    I've gotta disagree with you on this one Dave- I find those 'backhanded compliments' very endearing
    at times. Though not of the 'Spectropop' era, one of my favorite lines in any song is "You
    ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright..."   And let's not forget the Main Man himself in "He's
    Sure The Boy I Love" "When he holds me tight, everything's
    right..." They're saying you don't HAVE to be the pressed
    and painted model of a person that the media is always
    forcing down our throats- you CAN be a *normal* human
    being and still be pretty special. (but hey, you don't
    want me to get going on that subject any further, I'm sure)
    
    
    
    CAROL (who had Jimmy Soul's "If You Want To Be Happy" played at her
            wedding...Really!! I thought it very sweet and appropriate)
    
    Archived by Spectropop
    
    
    Subject:     Re: Tracy Ullman
    Sent:        11/12/97 11:22 AM
    Received:    11/13/97 12:30 AM
    From:        Chuck Limmer, CLimXXX@XXXXXXm
    To:          Spectropop  List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
    
    In a message dated 97-11-11, David Bash noted that:
    
    > I suppose one could make the claim that "They Don't
    > Know" by either Kirsty MacColl or Tracy Ullman had the
    > classic girl group sound, especially Ullman's version
    > because it was more vocally expansive.
    
    David:
    
    Good call.  Hard to believe, for those who know her only
    from her career as a respected comedian (comedienne?
    probably not the PC term), but Ullman recorded some
    terrific pop for a short period in the early '80s.  Her
    LP, _You Broke My Heart In 17 Places_ (MCA-5471, 1983)
    has been a guilty pleasure of mine for years.  In
    addition to "They Don't Know," it contains Tracy's
    enthusiastic covers of Marcie Blaine's old hit "Bobby's
    Girl" and the Dells' "Oh, What a Night," as well as the
    wonderful pop ballad--first recorded by Doris Day--"Move
    Over Darling."  For the curious, I'm pretty sure that an
    Ullman comp CD exists on Rhino (where else?)
    
    
    Chuck Limmer
    n.p. _The Pet Sounds Sessions_
    
    Archived by Spectropop
    
    
    Subject:     Re: Phil and Celine
    Sent:        11/12/97 4:45 AM
    Received:    11/12/97 8:44 AM
    From:        Mark Easter, MCE1XXX@XXXXXXm
    To:          spectroXXX@XXXXXXeocities.com
    
    In a message dated 97-11-11 14:25:28 EST, you write:
    
    > Here's a question maybe someone can answer. Two or three
    > years ago, Phil   Spector was cutting in the studio with
    > the Wrecking Crew. I believe it   was Ocean Way. It was
    > learned that he was tracking for Celine Dion (!).   When
    > Dion's latest album was released, it included a cover of
    > River Deep,   Mountain High, the Mother Bertha/Trio song
    > first cut by Tina Turner for   Philles. Mother Bertha is
    > Allen Klein o/b/o Phil Spector, Trio is   Leiber/Stoller
    > o/b/o Barry/Greenwich. So, figuring Spector must have  
    > worked on River Deep, Mountain High, I checked the
    > credits. Not a single   mention of Phil or the Wrecking
    > Crew. I listened. Not a sign. Checking a   bit more
    > closely, I discovered that the lyrics to every song were
    > printed   in the CD booklet, except for River Deep
    > Mountain High. No Phil, no   Wrecking Crew, no
    > lyric...Hmmm.    Any ideas why the Spector dates were
    > scrapped?
    
    
    Well, it's a pretty funny story as far as why they didn't
    "click".  Apparently, Phil was doing a "Ramones" with her
    where he'd make her sing one note over and over until he
    was satisfied (which he never was).  Prima donna that she
    is, she walked, and Phil later spilled his guts about the
    whole affair in an open letter that was reprinted in (I
    believe) Q Magazine a couple of years ago, and was none
    to complimentary to her or her other producers or record
    label. It was a pretty hilarious diatribe... I can't
    remember which issue it was in, but it's worth searching
    out.
    
    
    Mark
    
    
    Archived by Spectropop
    
    
    Subject:     Re: Spectropop V#0011
    Sent:        11/13/97 12:11 PM
    Received:    11/13/97 12:30 AM
    From:        David R. Modny, dmoXXX@XXXXXXcom.com
    To:          Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
    
    Jamie LePage wrote:
    
    > Here's a question maybe someone can answer. Two or three years 
    > ago, Phil  Spector was cutting in the studio with the Wrecking 
    > Crew. I believe it  was Ocean Way. It was learned that he was 
    > tracking for Celine Dion (!).  When Dion's latest album was 
    > released, it included a cover of River Deep,  Mountain High, 
    > the Mother Bertha/Trio song first cut by Tina Turner for  
    > Philles. Mother Bertha is Allen Klein o/b/o Phil Spector, Trio 
    > is  Leiber/Stoller o/b/o Barry/Greenwich. So, figuring Spector 
    > must have  worked on River Deep, Mountain High, I checked the 
    > credits. Not a single  mention of Phil or the Wrecking Crew. I 
    > listened. Not a sign. Checking a  bit more closely, I 
    > discovered that the lyrics to every song were printed  in the 
    > CD booklet, except for River Deep Mountain High. No Phil, no  
    > Wrecking Crew, no lyric...Hmmm.    Any ideas why the Spector 
    > dates were scrapped?
    
    
    Hi all,
       There was a big article on this subject, I believe, in
    EW a couple of years ago. As I recall, Spector COMPLETED
    an entire album's worth of tracks with C. Dion, and I
    believe the record company rejected it as not being
    commercial enough. David Foster was then brought in to
    re-work or re-record things, and that's what eventually
    came out. Spector then went on the record as saying, that
    HE would release his produced version of Dion's album
    anyway, and I believe the quote was "the American people
    would find out who really did the better one" - or
    something to that effect. I believe, he also stated that
    he would end up sueing someone. I also recall that the
    reason Phil wanted to work with her, was him seeing her
    do 'RDMH' on the Letterman show and being impressed. For
    the record, I am in no way, shape, or form a Celine Dion
    fan !! ( no flames please ).
    
                                            D-Mod
    
    Archived by Spectropop
    
    
    Subject:     Re: Gary Zekley
    Sent:        11/12/97 5:35 AM
    Received:    11/12/97 8:44 AM
    From:        David Bash, bashXXX@XXXXXXt.com
    To:          Spectropop  List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
    
    > From:        carol knudson, knudXXX@XXXXXXolumbia.edu
    
    > So, first- a song writer I have come across recently 
    > (though I bet he's > not unknown to the experts on this list 
    > :)) is Gary Zekley. Aside from > "Yellow Balloon", I have 
    > found several tunes by him, but would love to > hear more! 
    > Anyone know anything about him?
    
    Hi Carol,
    
    Gary Zekley wrote many a wonderful pop song in the late
    60s!  I have three albums that prominently feature his
    songwriting: 
    
    One is the album by the group that you mentioned, The
    Yellow Balloon.  He co-wrote 8 of the 13 tracks on that
    album, including their near hit "Good Feelin' Time" (which
    was co-written by Don Grady!), and if you love the song
    "Yellow Balloon" then you'd love this album.  It's pretty
    difficult to find, but there is a CD reissue, mastered
    from vinyl, on the Japanese label M&M Records. 
    Apparently, Sundazed is going to do a reissue of the album,
    along with bonus tracks, but I'm not sure when.
    
    Another album which features Zekley is "Elephant Candy" by
    The Fun and Games, a group from Texas that specialized in
    harmony pop and Bubble Gum.  Zekley co-wrote 7 of the 12
    songs on this album, including the abslolutely joyous
    "Close To Carmel" and the wonderful bubblegum hit "The
    Grooviest Girl In The World".  The album came out on UNI
    Records in 1969, and is not all that hard to find, usually
    not going for too much if you do find it.
    
    The third album I have is "The Clique" by The Clique,
    another band from Texas which did some great pop with an
    edge during the late 60s.  Zekley co-wrote 5 of the 10
    songs here.  The Clique are primarily known for two
    things: Having a top 30 hit with Tommy James' "Sugar On
    Sunday", and doing the original version of the Zekley
    co-written "Superman", which was covered by R.E.M. on
    their "Life's Rich Pageant" album.  The album was on White
    Whale Records, and isn't too difficult to find.
    
    I also have a various artists CD on the M&M label
    called "The Melody Goes On" Volume 1, which is loaded with
    excellent soft pop of the late 60s.  There are quite a few
    Zekley written tunes here, including "Baby, Baby It's You"
    and "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" by The Group (both
    songs are also done by the Yellow Balloon on their album),
    "Don't Be Gone Long" and "The Fun We Had" by The
    Ragamuffins, a Beach Boys-ish group, "Like A Summer Rain"
    and "Yellow Balloon" by Jan & Dean, the former being
    an absolutely beautiful Pet Sounds-ish track, and "Other
    Towns, Other Girls" and "Here Comes The Rain" by the man
    himself!  There are actually three volumes of The Melody
    Goes On series, and although the second and third don't
    have Zekley tracks, if you're a fan of soft pop you need
    to have these because they contain some true obscurities! 
    
    
    
    Sadly, Zekley passed away a little more than a year ago, and he'll definitely be missed.  :-(
    -- 
    Spectropop Rules!!!!!
    Take Care,
    David
    
    Archived by Spectropop
    
    
    Subject:     Re: Less known writers, Honeys, Girl Groups
    Sent:        11/12/97 3:05 PM
    Received:    11/13/97 12:30 AM
    From:        Darian Sahanaja , monsaXXX@XXXXXXink.net
    To:          Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
    
    Carol wrote:
    > Gary Zekley. Anyone know anything about him? . . does 
    > anyone know of anything else. . .
    
    Wow. . .a Gary Zekley fan! Zekley has a slew of great
    records under his sleeve. You should check out the great
    article/discography that Domenic Priore did (okay, I
    helped a little) in his Dumb Angel Gazette Vol. 3. The
    flip side of "Cause I Love Him" ("A Little Love Will Go A
    Long Long Way") is fantastic as well. But his girl-group
    tour-de-force is "Close Your Eyes" by Bonnie (same who did
    "Home Of The Brave"). The best Zekley male group record
    has got to be the version of "Baby, Baby It's You" by The
    Group. . .an incredible 45! As for the Honeys/Ginger, have
    you heard the flipside of "Growing Up Is Hard To Do"
    ("Seven Days In September")? I think it's the better side.
    If you're at all interested in checking any of this stuff
    out, feel free to e-mail me.
    
    
    > In talking about New 'Girl Group' sounding  tunes- from the 
    > "Grace of My Heart" Soundtrack are probably as close as we can 
    > get to that sound these days.
    
    I must say I wanted to like that film/soundtrack so bad
    but I just found the whole thing way too mediocre.  . .not
    really good enough to be that impressive but not really
    bad enough (like let's say the made-for-TV Beach Boys
    rockudrama) to be entertaining. The only song that came
    off with any sincerity to me was the Lesley Gore-type
    character's. But that's probably cuz it was written by
    Lesley herself and sung by Miss Lily Banquett (from the
    great Combustible Edison).  Being a HUGE fan of the girl
    group genre I think I've got some recent stuff that you'd
    find more convincing.
    
    
    Grace of My Heart
    
    
    --DARIAN
    
    Archived by Spectropop
    
    
    Subject:     Re: Gary Zekley
    Sent:        11/12/97 7:56 PM
    Received:    11/13/97 12:30 AM
    From:        Jamie LePage, le_page_XXX@XXXXXXies.com
    To:          Spectropop List, spectroXXX@XXXXXXies.com
    
    carol knudson wrote:
    
    >Led Zeppelin...
    
    Definitely off-topic! :-)
    >
    >...Gary Zekley. Aside from "Yellow Balloon", I have found 
    >several tunes by him, but would love to hear more! 
    
    You and I both. Maybe others can help with more info on
    Zekley. He was friends with Dean Torrence and involved
    with the Songs For a Rainy Day album released as Jan
    & Dean. I know of only a few Zekley-related records
    (see list below). Of very, very special note: A wonderful
    full blown Phil Spector production called Close Your Eyes
    by Bonnie. This was recorded October 20, 1965 at Gold
    Star with the Wrecking Crew including Carol Knud... I
    mean Carol Kaye, Frank Capp, Harold Battiste, Jay
    Migliori, Julius Wechter, Al Casey and more! Spector's
    protogEJerry Riopell was involved, as he was with Home
    Of The Brave by Bonnie and the Treasures. The label says
    produced by Jerry Riopell, but I'm convinced it's Spector
    start to finish, as is Home of the Brave and Things Are
    Changing (both also credited to Riopell). btw, the record
    doesn't mention Spector's name, but the master was paid
    for by Philles Records who owned it at one point, which
    makes sense of course since Bonnie and Riopell were both
    under Philles' umbrella. Spector was on the date. Why
    Riopell was credited is open to speculation, but one
    thing for sure; Riopell's post-Spector work sounds
    nothing like wall-of-sound. 
    
    Zekley is listed at ASCAP as Brandon Chase. That is most
    likely his real name (but why Gary Zekley for a pka?). He
    was one of the West Coast Brill writers and has most of
    his songs published under the Colgems catalog (like
    fellow West Coast Brill writer David Gates).
    
    
    >He's also responsible for the song "Cause I Love Him" sung by 
    >Alder Ray.
    
    Yes, this is a great track as is the B side "A Little
    Love (Will Go a Long Way)." Both fabulous faux Spector
    (Jack Madani: N.B.). This disc points to the fact that
    there were so many great records in the early-to-mid
    60's that there wasn't room on the charts for all of
    them. That's what makes this genre so interesting. btw,
    Cause I Love Him was produced by Marshall Leib (of the
    Teddy Bears). But Carol, where did you find this?
    
    
    >I just came across "Growing Up Is Hard To Do" (by Ginger and the 
    >Snaps) which I hadn't heard before-Great Tune!! Another recent 
    >find is "Golly Gee" by Sheila North. Another great song, 
    >in the Patience and Prudence vein.
    
    Same question. Where did you find these? Are you holding
    out? :-) 
    
    To follow is a working list of Gary Zekley songs I have
    been compiling over the last few months. Culled from a
    number of sources including international copyright
    societies' data bases, I am sure the list remains
    incomplete, and probably contains a few inaccuracies.
    Please help fill in the blanks, Spectropop members! btw,
    if anyone has Fun & Games or Clique albums that they
    would dub for me, preferably to DAT, MD or CD-R (even
    cassette!) please Email me privately. I probably can
    compensate in some way for the trouble.
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    LePageWeb
    
    -------------------------
    The Gary Zekley Song List
    
    ACE OF HEARTS - Matadors
    BERRY JAN/DIAZ VIC/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    BABY BABY ITS YOU - the Group, Yellow Balloon
    GOSTING/RICHARD/ST JOHN/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    CAN T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE - the Group, Dick & Dee Dee, Yellow Balloon
    ANTHONY/GOSTING/ST JOHN/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    CAUSE I LOVE HIM - Alder Ray
    ZEKLEY GARY
    
    CLOSE TO CARMEL - Fun & Games
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    CLOSE YOUR EYES - Bonnie
    RIOPELL JERRY/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    CLOSE YOUR EYES (AND KISS ME) - Unusual We
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    DONıT BE GONE LONG - Ragamuffins
    ALTFELD DONALD/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    ELEPHANT CANDY - Fun & Games
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    THE FUN WE HAD - Ragamuffins
    ZEKLEY GARY
    
    GOOD FEELIN TIME - Yellow Balloon
    GRADY DON/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    GOTTA SAY GOODBYE - Fun & Games
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    GROOVIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD - Fun & Games
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    HALLELUJAH - Sweathog
    BOTTLER MITCH/TWAIN ROBERTA/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    HERE COMES THE RAIN - Gary Zekley
    ZEKLEY GARY
    
    HOW CAN I BE DOWN - Yellow Balloon
    ALTFELD DONALD/GIBSON JILL/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    I CAN'T BREAK AWAY - Big Pig
    BOTTLER MITCHELL/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    I'VE GOT A FEELING FOR YOU - Yellow Balloon
    ALTFELD DONALD/GIBSON JILL/LEE JAY
    
    JUDY JUDY JUDY- Clique
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    LIKE A SUMMER RAIN - Jan & Dean
    DEAN  CLARK/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    A LITTLE LOVE (WILL GO A LONG WAY) - Alder Ray
    KING/ZEKLEY
    
    MAKE UP BEFORE WE BREAK UP - Dick & Dee Dee
    SAINT JOHN DICK/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    OTHER TOWNS, OTHER GIRLS - Gary Zekley
    ZEKLEY GARY
    
    PANAMA RED - Yellow Balloon
    LEE JAY/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    POOR BOY - (?)
    LEE JAY/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    RESTLESS SURFER THE - Jan & Dean (?)
    ZEKLEY GARY
    
    SADIE - Fun & Games
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    SOONER OR LATER - Grass Roots
    BOTTLER/MC NAMARA/PARIS/PARIS/ZEKLEY
    
    SUPERMAN - Clique, R.E.M.
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    STAINED GLASS WINDOW - Yellow Balloon
    GRADY DON/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    TELL ME WHO YOU LOVE - ?
    ZEKLEY GARY HORD ERIC
    
    THEME FROM LEONıS GARAGE (HAL RECORDS SCAB DATES THERE) - Our Gang
    DEAN CLARK/ZEKLEY GARY
        
    TOPANGA CANYON ROAD - Fun & Games
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    TUESDAY, TUESDAY - Fun & Games
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    WAIT A MILLION YEARS - Grass Roots
    BOTTLER MITCHELL/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    WE - Fun & Games
    BOTTLER MITCH/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    WHEN I GO TO SLEEP - Gary Zekley
    ZEKLEY GARY
    
    YELLOW BALLOON - Yellow Balloon, Jan & Dean
    LEE JAY/ST JOHN DICK/ZEKLEY GARY
    
    
    Archived by Spectropop
    
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