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There are 7 messages in this issue of Spectropop.
Topics in this Digest Number 243:
1. Re: NY or LA
From: "GSPECTOR"
2. Re: Ann-Margret
From: Carol Kaye
3. Ann-Margaret
From: Carol Kaye
4. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
From: Brian Chidester
5. Re: Reparata & The Delrons on RCA
From: "Peter Lerner"
6. I'm Nobody's Baby Now
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
7. Re:Jeff, Ellie, Carole and Gerry
From: "Donny Hampton"
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 05:35:20 -0600
From: "GSPECTOR"
Subject: Re: NY or LA
Hello: All,
RE: NY or LA
Where is the Brill Building located?
I have not been able to get an answer from anyone
regarding if my father was in NY or LA at the time of the
attack.
Gary P. Spector
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 12:29:05 -0700
From: Carol Kaye
Subject: Re: Ann-Margret
I played guitar on her very first record date (actually a
few dates with her) cut at the old RCA 1-story building,
can't remember the year, but has to be between 1958-1962
or so....she was a nice young lady, we chatted and she
had a lot of backing behind her - we all knew she was
headed to be a big star.
Carol Kaye http://www.carolkaye.com/
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 14:26:01 -0700
From: Carol Kaye
Subject: Ann-Margaret
>From Perry Botkin:
I did one session with her at the then new RCA studios
sometime in the late 60's with Al Schmitt producing. Not
much of a singer but a very sweet lady. Don't remember
anything about the session. (Time to check with Wapensky).
P.
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 12:12:30 EDT
From: Brian Chidester
Subject: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
> Was this because Zip was a 'novelty hit'?, the
> unrepeatable quality of Spectors production? or the
> sheer beauty of Bobby Sheen, Darlene Love & Fanita James
> vocals? Just thinking out a loud
The total experimental way in which it was arranged. I
was told by one member who played on the session that
they thought it sounded so familiar, but couldn't quite
make out what they were playing. Phil was giving them
all directions that seemed way out of sync, but he
insisted that they just play them. Needless to say, it
was a shock to hear that song played in that way. The
reverby surf guitar break is total genius. Just
responding out loud.:-)
Brian Chidester
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 23:10:57 +0100
From: "Peter Lerner"
Subject: Re: Reparata & The Delrons on RCA
I'm so proud that I have started off a really good thread
on Spectropop, which I have come to late but already love.
To add substance to John's analysis of the RCA singles,
here are, in number order (presumably the oldest first)
the singles in my collection:
8820: I'm nobody's baby now / Loneliest girl in town
8921: He don't want you / Mama's little girl
9123: Boys and girls / The kind of trouble that I love
9185: I can hear the rain / Always waitin'
And I beg to differ from whoever said their Kapp 45s
weren't up to much: That's what sends men to the Bowery
(989) was the one which sparked my initial interest in
the group - what a concept and production!
Peter
"John Clemente" wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I must say that I agree with Ian Chapman's old review of
> "I'm Nobody's Baby Now". It is dead on. The bells used
> in the recording are very haunting, like a death knell.
> This is probably the best of the RCA recordings with He
> Don't Want You and "Nobody's" flip, "The Loneliest Girl
> In Town" running close seconds.
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 07:48:26 EDT
From: Jimmy Crescitelli
Subject: I'm Nobody's Baby Now
The song absolutely rocks-- her lead is perfect and
heartrending. I've got this on tape, but that's it...
still fab.
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 21:24:03 +0000
From: "Donny Hampton"
Subject: Re:Jeff, Ellie, Carole and Gerry
Mick Patrick wrote:
>It was me that badmouthed the "Goin' Back" CD to Mr
>Hampton. And guess what? It was me that compiled it, too!
>It was not really my intention to slag the compilation
>off. I merely wanted to inform DC that Sequel's "Songs Of"
>series, of which the Goffin/King volume is part, were
>intended as tongue-in-cheek collections of cover versions.
>That is, they were compiled with a sense of irony.
>
>I never imagined that people might actually prefer the De
>Laine Sisters to Carole King...
>
>Unfortunately, there are too few versions of
>Greenwich/Barry compositions in the Pye catalogue for
>Sequel (now known as Sanctuary) to attempt a "Songs Of
>Jeff & Ellie" compilation. However, I have been asked to
>compile a CD entitled "WALLPAPER OF SOUND" featuring
>British versions of Phil Spector originals. Of course, it
>will contain quite a few EG/JB songs. And I can guarantee
>that not one of the versions will be as good as the
>American originals. Donny Hampton will adore it!
Do I detect a note of sarcasm in Mick's email? I
certainly never said that I preferred The DeLaine Sisters
to Carole King, etc. I merely said (and meant) that the
British versions were good-to-excellent. What's more, few
if any of them came across to me as being "tongue-in-cheek."
I dare anyone to apply that term to gems like Twice As
Much's "Is This What I Get For Loving You" and "He's In
Town" by The Rockin' Berries. Those kinds of performances
and productions are hardly satirical. They don't justify
an inferiority complex on the part of UK artists, either!
What a shame that Mick can't see how excellent a
compilation he and his co-producers came up with here. I'm
a little bit taken aback when he implies that I don't have
discriminating tastes when it comes to covers. I
definitely do, and I think a CD with the following
selections on it would make for very good listening:
BABY, I LOVE YOU by Andy Kim
BE MY BABY by Jody Miller or Cissy Houston
CHAPEL OF LOVE by Bette Midler
DA DOO RON RON by Shaun Cassidy
RIVER-DEEP, MOUNTAIN-HIGH by The Supremes and The Four Tops
DOO WAH DIDDY DIDDY by Manfred Mann
LEADER OF THE PACK by Twisted Sister
Need I add that all of these were hit singles? And don't
forget the later, post-Spector hits written by Jeff Barry.
Obviously, these don't come from the Pye catalogue, but
I'm pretty sure that all of them are available for
licensing.
Mick and I have had a conversation about Barry-Greenwich
originals vs. covers, and we simply had to agree to
disagree. To me, saying you can't do a songbook because
you can't get original versions isn't a legitimate excuse
- especially when there are plenty of good covers to
choose from. A visit to Ellie Greenwich's website
(elliegreenwich.com) reveals just how many covers there
are, and there are many more than she has listed. If you
can't get what you think is the best version, then why not
get the next best? You have to try pretty hard to totally
mess up a Barry-Greenwich classic! I know it's been done
on occasion, but even so...
It's too bad if there aren't many Barry-Greenwich covers
in the Pye catalog, but don't think for a minute this will
stop me from pressuring Sequel/Sanctuary and other British
and American labels to compile Jeff and Ellie songbooks.
I am nothing if not tenacious! As for the Carole and Gerry
compilation, I stand by what I said about it, but nobody
has to take my word or Mick's about its quality. I
encourage as many people as possible to judge for
themselves.
Don Charles
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