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Spectropop - Digest Number 195


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There are 8 messages in this issue.

Topics in this Digest Number 195:

      1. Re: Francoise Hardy, France Gall, Sheila etc
           From: Frank 
      2. Swing Out Sister's new album
           From: "Spector Collector" 
      3. Brian Notes
           From: "David Mirich, Ph.D." 
      4. Francoise Hardy & The Spector Sound?
           From: Glynis Ward 
      5. Re: Motown Lifts
           From: James Botticelli
      6. Re: Walker Bros - "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
           From: "Donny Hampton" 
      7. Re: Walker Bros - "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
           From: "Tony Leong" 
      8. Walker Bros - "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
           From: Dan Hughes 


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Message: 1
   Date: Wed, 27 Jun 01 09:50:48 +0100
   From: Frank
Subject: Re: Francoise Hardy, France Gall, Sheila etc

Since there seems to be some interest in the French "yeye"
sound, do you know anything about an LP by French group
Chance released on French Warner. This group did some of
the best French covers of the great US hits like "Be My
Baby" "Rhythm Of The Rain" "Come Softly to Me" "Three
Cool Cats" "Sh-Boom" "Runaround Sue" etc...

Frank

> Hmm, France Gall and Francoise Hardy are being talked
> about here? Perfect timing! Because this Friday night I am
> doing a one hour French Ye Ye spotlight show on WZBC here
> in Boston. Here's the info: You can tune in from 6 to 7 PM
> Eastern USA time, Friday night (June 29) at 90.3 WZBC in
> Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
> 
> You can also listen to it online at 
> http://www.zbconline.com .
> 
> I hope you can tune in!
> 
> Patrick



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Message: 2
   Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 02:11:01 -0000
   From: "Spector Collector" 
Subject: Swing Out Sister's new album

Hi, gang,

I sincerely hope that it's okay to do what I'm about to do
here. I've seen others post recommendations of new
releases before, but as far as I can remember, they've
always been reissues of older material and therefore "safe"
fodder for discussion. If it's not okay to talk about an
honest-to-God new release, please forgive me and skip
ahead (and/or the group moderator can strike the post
before it hits the digest).

The album in question is the new one by Swing Out Sister,
"Somewhere Deep in the Night." I honestly can't remember
the last time that I was so enchanted and mesmerized by a
new record; I think maybe it was in 1983 with ABC's
"Lexicon of Love," although there's no basis for comparing
the two other than the fact that I continued to play each
of them at least once a day every day for over a month
after buying them.

I could write a long, ecstatic review of the thing, but
that's not my purpose, and a quick surf of the 'net
reveals that there are already plenty of them out there.
Instead, I'll give you a few of my impressions and invite
you to communicate further on-list if it's deemed
appropriate or off if not. To put my feelings into just
one sentence, this is the album that I wish Dusty
Springfield would have left us with instead of "A Very
Fine Love," and I don't invoke her holy name lightly.
"Somewhere Deep in the Night" has all the warmth, depth,
atmosphere, sophistication, timelessness, and class of her
finest work, and then some. It strikes me as odd that I'd
take such a strong liking to such a "grown-up" record when
I've always thought of myself as in my element with such
shamelessly juvenile delights as The Tammys' "Egyptian
Shumba," oft celebrated here of late, but if this is the
music of maturity, I'm willing to consider growing up a
little, at least part of the time.

References abound, but the ones that glance backward do so
completely without irony: Bacharach is certainly in there;
the phrasing and the recurring French horn (yes, the
orchestra here is 100% organic) are clues, and "Where Do I
Go?" packs the most restrained intensity since Burt and
Elvis's "God Give Me Strength." You'll find bits of Sandie
Shaw, Dionne Warwick, The Fifth Dimension, and "Pet Sounds,"
and the intro to "Touch Me Now" reminds me of Mari
Wilson's "Beat the Beat." Similarly, the opening of
"Through the Sky" vaguely recalls that of "California
Dreamin'," and the line "Come live with me" from the title
track brings to mind the "Valley of the Dolls" tune of
that name, except with the cheese transmuted into polish.
In fact, that's the major charm of the disc: the fact that
it is simultaneously so slick and so affecting makes it
irresistible and addictive. (Apparently the artists - and
I obviously have to include producer Paul Staveley O'Duffy
here - knew that, since the segue from end back to
beginning on repeat play is seamless.)

It's only as a result of great effort that I'm able to
restrain myself from further raving here. One of the songs
asks, "What kind of fool are you when you don't want my
love?" which I now put to you as "What kind of
Spectropopper wouldn't love this record?"

Oh, now for the bad news: as nearly as I can tell, the
album is only available as a Japanese import, which makes
it pretty pricey in most parts of the world. If other list
members have heard this CD, I'd love to hear some
more thoughts. Then you won't have to just take _my_ word
for it before investing!

David A. Young


http://www.swingoutsister.com


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Message: 3
   Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 06:37:31 -0600
   From: "David Mirich, Ph.D." 
Subject: Brian Notes

We just saw B. Wilson in Denver where he and his band
sang "Our Prayer" beautifully, followed by my personal
fav, "Heroes and Villians."  What a moment for me!  But
the Paul Simon fans were ignoring the show and talking
and laughing loudly.  I had to turn during God Only Knows
and shush the people behind me.  And the huge beach ball
bouncing about disrupted Our Prayer, with people loudly
oooohing and aaaahing.

Dave Mirich



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Message: 4
   Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 12:25:22 -0400
   From: Glynis Ward 
Subject: Francoise Hardy & The Spector Sound?

I am also baffled at the idea of Spector-esque elements
in many of the listed Francoise Hardy songs. This sound
is much more evident in the hundreds of other French and
French Canadian 60's female vocalists.

The Ultra Chicks CD series is a must! Wide range of
French female 60's gals!

Brand new is also "Girls In The Garage" #10 France vs.
French Canada! Far more pop than garage, and more groovy
gallic girls than one can handle! Italian 60's girl pop
is equally Spector influenced, but much more difficult to
find!

Glynis



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Message: 5
   Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 16:45:43 EDT
   From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Motown Lifts

In a message dated 6/27/1 spectropop wrote:

> I often notice Motown lifts - a recent purchase "Where
> the Girls Are #3" has a few if memory serves.

That is really the essence of Northern Soul...a buncha
Motown lifts IMHO 



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Message: 6
   Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 17:44:21 -0000
   From: "Donny Hampton" 
Subject: Re: Walker Bros - "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"

I believe this Walker Brothers cut was produced by Johnny
Franz in England, and arranged by Ivor Raymonde.  I think
there's an album of the same title, too.

Don Charles


Mark Harris wrote:

>Just been blown away by the above on the wireless - 25
>years too late, really, but there you go.
>
>Is it a Spector production? It certainly sounds like it.
>
>Is from a Spector produced album, does anybody know? If
>not, any ideas where I could pick it up from?
>
>Regards,
>
>Mark


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Message: 7
   Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 03:59:06 -0000
   From: "Tony Leong"
Subject: Re: Walker Bros - "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"

--- In spectropop, Mark Harris wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> Just been blown away by the above on the wireless - 25
> years too late, really, but there you go.
> 
> Is it a Spector production? It certainly sounds like it.
> 
> Is from a Spector produced album, does anybody know? If
> not, any ideas where I could pick it up from?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Mark

Yes Mark, "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by the
Walker Brothers is a fine record, but it's not a Spector
production.  I believe Johnny Franz (Dusty Springfield's
'60's producer) produced the Walker's version in England.
BUT, Frankie Valli originally sang the song (with
virtually the same backing--only the drums are not as
echoey, and the sound not as muddy), and of course Bob
Crewe was the producer.  I wonder why Frankie's version
was never a hit?? It was probably one of those situations
where it WAS ABOUT TO BE RELEASED, but then a UK cover
version was recorded and released first and became the
hit (ie. "We Gotta Get Outta this Place", "Anyone Who Had
A Heart" (in the UK), "Sha La La", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy"
(even though in my opinion, Reparata and the Delrons HAD
the ultimate version).  BTW, the Walker Brothers were
American, not British, but they went to England to become
successful.  On that point, I can ramble on about Goldie
and the Gingerbreads, but it's late now...

Tony Leong


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Message: 8
   Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 05:13:32 -0500
   From: Dan Hughes 
Subject: Walker Bros - "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"

Mark, this will get you started:

http://www.tsimon.com/walker.htm

http://imusic.artistdirect.com/showcase/rock/scottwalker.html

http://www.photofeaturesint.com/scottwalker.html
Walker Bros. music is easily obtainable, as you you'll
see from the above web sites.  Enjoy!

---Dan Hughes, 
http://members.soltec.net/~dan
(spiffy home page)



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