__________________________________________________________________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________ ______________ ______________ __________________________________________________________________ Volume #0368 January 13, 2000 __________________________________________________________________ For maximum enjoyment store in protective envelope when not in useSubject: from Carol Kaye Received: 01/12/00 11:50 pm From: Carol Kaye To: Spectropop List Someone has been asking about this, and having been tied up with something else for awhile, I couldn't post this right away, but here it is, about Brian Wilson's "I Was Made To Love Her": Yes, I'm playing bass on that w/Hal Blaine on drums. And yes, Brian knew at that time I had cut the orig. recording w/Stevie Wonder also, who publicly has claimed I was the bassist on his orig. hit record w/Motown. It's typical of the 16th note styles I have always played with a pick, with some compression according to Armin Steiner, the LA Motown engineer, and what you hear on other things I did such as Hikky Burr, the TV theme hit single with Bill Cosby (1970 circa w/Quincy Jones both the TV theme and the hit-single, very slightly different versions), except of course the chords in I Was Made To Love Her were major chords, not minor (funkier) like in Hikky Burr. So anyway, Brian wanted me to play it like that, except a few notes were a little different, couldn't remember note for note what I recorded before - tons of notes (was working 10-16 hours a day recording every day back then for many different accounts), but the feel is the same, sound is a little different of course, but pretty close. Wanted to clear up any questions about this recording. BTW, we won round 1 of my slander/libel lawsuit against Alan Slutsky, aka dr. licks yesterday morning.....the case in Superior Court, thanks to my wonderful attorney David White of Beverly Hills, fine entertainment lawyer and friend. And our "Thumbs Up" jazz trio CD (with the great Ray Pizzi on sax, studio guitarist Mitch Holder, myself on elec. bass) will be on the air very soon, and in all the stores within the next 2 weeks. My "Jazz Improv Bass" book is flying off the shelves, it's the right approach to fine jazz soloing (jazz was formed on chordal progressions, never on note-scales), etc. This is a great year already. The Phil Spector doc ("Wall Of Sound") is supposed to be shown on TV this Feb. 26th. Best, Carol Kaye http://www.carolkaye.com/ --------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------- Subject: Gary Usher biography soon to be released Received: 01/12/00 11:50 pm From: Ron Weekes To: Spectropop List Okay all you patient Gary Usher fans, this is the latest from Stephen McParland regarding his long awaited Gary Usher biography: The California Sound. Stephen assures me that volume one is almost to the printer. We should be seeing that volume available in the next few weeks. When I get the information from Stephen, I'll tell you exact costs for each volume. If you are interested in purchasing this series, e-mail me with your snail mail address at xxxxu and I'll pass the information along to Stephen. Ron Weekes Stephen wrote: Here's the rundown: VOLUME ONE - CHAPTERS 1-7 (pages 1-132) VOLUME TWO - CHAPTERS 8-15 (pages 133-278) VOLUME THREE - CHAPTERS 16-21 (pages 279-374) VOLUME FOUR - CHAPTERS 22-27 + EPILOGUE CHAPTERS 1-4 (pages 375-482) VOLUME FIVE - APPENDICES 1-7 (pages 483-618) In addition, each chapter (except Vol.5) has its own index, and a master index (of Chapters 1-4) is also included in the rear of Volume 5. Each volume also has about 6 extra introductory pages (Volume One has 21 introductory pages) and additional photo pages which are unnumbered. I'm in the process now of choosing and laying out the photos. Hopefully Volume One will be off to the printers in a couple of weeks. --------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------- Subject: Beck is a Gainsbourg fan Received: 01/10/00 11:20 am From: James F. Cassidy To: Spectropop List In an article in the December issue of Tower Records' "Pulse!" magazine, Beck is quoted as saying "Why the hell wasn't anybody listening to Serge Gainsbourg all these years? He's definitely the level of Leonard Cohen, or he's definitely within shooting range of Dylan." He also recounts his discovery of Os Mutantes - "Wait - this is what I've been doing for the last six or seven years!" Jim Cassidy --------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------- Subject: French pop & Curtis Mayfield Received: 01/10/00 11:20 am From: Glenn Sadin & Mariko Kusumoto To: Spectropop List How ironic that we're having a discussion about French pop ! I just recently found a mid '60s Francoise Hardy ("the young French singing sensation of the New Generation") LP in a Goodwill (called "Francoise...." on Kapp/4 Corners Records) that is really fantastic. One track in particular, "Tout Ce Qu'on M'a Dit," is an especially haunting psych popper with very groovy fuzz guitar. %%%%%%% Curtis Mayfield died?! I had no idea. What a terrible loss. He was one of the men in music that I have admired the most, both for his art and character. It broke my heart when he had his accident that rendered him unable to play music. I remember an interview in which he said how much he wished that he could pick up his beloved guitar again. Rest in peace, Curtis. Glenn Read about Japanese pop from the '50s & '60s! NIHON NO POPS: http://home.earthlink/~glenn_mariko/nihon.htm --------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------- Subject: french pop and northern soul duets and supremes.... Received: 01/11/00 12:08 am From: Rough Trade Shop To: Spectropop List Hi, Thanks to those of you who suggested n. soul duets!!!!! I may be contacting some of you privately looking (beggin'!! !) for tapes... thanks!!! Regarding French pop.....I was in a band with a friend which did exclusively French pop cover versions. Gainsbourg did do some fabulous stuff!!!! I also adore Francoise Hardy and Michel Polnareff! I think some of Francoise Hardy's songs are amongst my favourites.....so melancholy at times then some pop classics (et meme etc... ). there are loads of cheap Francoise Hardy comps around and French Universal have just reissued some of Michel Polnareff's albums...also a triple album CD box set which looks very nice but I haven't had a chance to play through yet... I always thought it was a shame that the Supremes went from being 'the supremes' to being 'diana ross and the supremes.' My favourite Supremes album is 'Supremes a Go Go' which also has a fabulous cover!!! Here in England there are bands that go on tour with only one original member .....it can be a bit disappointing ..i think there are about 3 versions of 'the Searchers' at the moment....... Anyway...gonna go and listen to Yma Sumac I think..... x delia x xxxxde.com www.roughtrade.com if you'd like to be sent regular new releases emails let me know ph-0171 792 3490 fax 0171 221 1146 at....130 talbot road , london , wiiija, u.k. --------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------- Subject: Raider Query Received: 01/10/00 11:20 am From: John Hesterman To: Spectropop List Greetings All :) Last evening while killing time in a bookstore before going to see a movie, I happened to check the Christmas closeouts and found a bizarre Christmas CD by Paul Revere & The Raiders called "A Christmas Present . . . And Past". This is a STRANGE record! Totally un-commercial, with nine weird originals and a lunatic version of Jingle Bells. I didn't even know this album existed until last night. Does anyone know anything about this album and it's history? In a way, it reminds me of the Beatles Christmas Messages LP, but with more music and less talk. I'd appreciate any insight :) Regards, John H. A Grape :) Also an Offbeat :) With a TRACE of music in there somewhere! You're invited to visit The Grapes Of Wrath Web Site at: http://www.eastcountychamber.org/grapes.html You're invited to visit The Offbeats Web Site at: http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/vine/6129/index.html You're invited to visit the Gear Fab Records Web Site at: http://www.swiftsite.com/gearfab You're invited to visit the Twist & Shake Fanzine Web Site at: http://www.evans-family.com/twist.htm COMING SOON! www.5Grapes.com THE DOMAIN! Please Visit! Hear My Voice Mail Greeting at Pagoo By Clicking On The Following URL: http://pagoo.com/signature/sacharyj Send Me A Text Message Via Pagoo By Clicking On The Following URL: http://pagoo.com/me.asp?6196970863 Enjoy! --------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------- Subject: soft something-or-other Received: 01/12/00 11:50 pm From: Jamie LePage To: Spectropop List So what is it with this evasive genre called soft pop, anyway? Seems there is no consensus as to its definition among us pop aficionados. In Japanese, it isn't even called soft pop, but rather, sofuto rokku (soft rock). Countless articles (even a book) have been published in Japan on the subject, and the lists of albums falling under this category often include some pretty dodgy stuff. Then there are the sub-genres such as The Burbank Sound (incl. VDP, Randy Newman, Harpers Bizarre). Van Dyke Parks' Come to the Sunshine single pops up on the "It's a Soft Rock World" compilation, but is he soft pop? He&d probably laugh at the notion. Then there is the A&M Sound (yes, but is it all soft pop?). Cyrkle and Harpers Bizarre too are considered soft pop, but what about Simon and Garfunkel who are never mentioned in soft pop circles? Feelin' Groovy and Cloudy were originally theirs. Some would try to pigeonhole soft pop to that period between 1966-1970, but to my ears the soft pop sound started with Patience & Prudence, Teddy Bears and the Fleetwoods. Sticking to the 66-70 window, I think the genre requires a different name and it would have to be a sub-genre of soft pop. It seems like this is now starting to be labeled as "Sunshine Pop," perhaps due to recent compilation albums bearing the word "sunshine" in the titles. But where does Brian Wilson and surf end and sunshine pop begin? Certainly Gary Zekley's Yellow Balloon qualifies as sunshine pop, but what about the Beach Boys' Friends album? Never hear that one name checked as sunshine pop but it is sunshiny and does have a lot of harmony... I think one aspect that qualifies a record or song to be considered "soft pop" has to do with the related works done by the artist, songwriter or producer. I might tend to exclude Bread from soft pop, except that Bread was David Gates in his post-West Coast Brill days. Bread qualifies based on that connection. At least for me. Heck, Gates even wrote for the Fleetwoods! You'll Be Needing Me Baby by April Stevens and Nino Tempo has been tagged "soft rock" in Japan as well. See, I thought that was just a great pop record written by a Screen Gems writer and recorded by LA session cats. Oh well. A rose by any other name is still a rose, I guess. Sandpipers, Chris Montez, Claudine Longet, and even Merry Go Round are considered soft pop yet are part of what makes up the A&M sound. What about a record like Ebb Tide by Righteous Brothers? Phil Spector helped create the soft pop genre with acts like Teddy Bears and Paris Sisters, yet I suppose the "wall" on Ebb Tide is anything but soft. Too much power toward the end of the record? I wonder what other listers thinks about the parameters or definition of soft pop. I occasionally make soft pop comps and have included songs by artists decidedly outside the soft pop genre. But, they made some sides that could be considered soft pop. Love's Alone Again Or, Bruce & Terry's Don't Run Away, Zombies' How We Were Before, Fleetwood Mac's When You Say are all on my soft pop comps. Yet, Love was an LA rock band, B&T were surf, Zombies were Brit Invasion and Fleetwood Mac were a blues band! Sunshine pop is an easier call with the trademark "Monday, Monday"-like background vocals. In the (not so) recent Ballroom CD on Rev-Ola (still with us Joe F and Joey S?), I recall Dawn Eden writing about John Phillips and co. going to see Ballroom and then formulating the Mamas & Papas sound from that. Certainly Ballroom's Curt Boettcher was an early sunshine pop proponent, if not the sole creator. His works with Ballroom, Association, Sagittarius and Millennium are all seminal sunshine pop records, and they all decidedly fit into the soft pop niche as well. By the way, Boettcher fans: I understand that a previously unreleased Curt Boettcher solo album is due for release in March, and there is a second Millennium album in the works as well. C'mon you guys in the know: Fill us in! Call it soft pop or soft rock or whatever: it's music to my ears! Jamie "Come Softly" LePage --------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------- End
