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Spectropop - Digest Number 323


                  
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There are 15 messages in this issue of Spectropop.

Topics in this Digest Number 323:

      1. Phil questions
           From: Mark Landwehr 
      2. War Is Over/Try Some Buy Some
           From: Andrew Hickey 
      3. Re: He's a Rebel
           From: Bill Reed 
      4. More Bernie, more stuff
           From: "Paul Payton" 
      5. Martha Reeves - CD availability in the UK!!!
           From: "John Lester" 
      6. You Gotta Have Both He's A Rebel and Out Of His Head
           From: Paul Urbahns 
      7. Laura Nyro
           From: John Clemente 
      8. Re: Darlene performs
           From: Robert Tirado 
      9. Oma Heard Blake
           From: "Jeff Lemlich" 
     10. The O's
           From: "Jeff Lemlich" 
     11. Re: Crazy Horses!!
           From: "Jeffrey Glenn" 
     12. Osmond Brothers
           From: "Ian Chapman" 
     13. Re: Crazy Horses!!
           From: Billy G. Spradlin 
     14. Whoops (No.67)
           From: "Martin Roberts" 
     15. Re: Mr Sandman
           From: "John Lester" 


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Message: 1
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 09:54:18 -0500
   From: Mark Landwehr 
Subject: Phil questions

"Ken Levine" wrote:

> Just got the book "He's a Rebel" about you-know-who
> written by Mark Ribowsky.   Any good?

I'm not even gonna touch that one, Ken ;-) 

BTW, after viewing Spector's "I Dream of Jeannie" episode
on the Hallmark Channel last week (doesn't everyone have
that channel?), I noticed that, although he was referred
to by his real name in the episode, the credits at the
end of the show listed him as playing the part of "Steve
Davis"...Anybody else pick up on that or am I mentioning
something that's "old news"??? 

Has anyone seen Phil's Christmas music on sale
(retail-wise) anywhere??? I have been getting alot of
emails asking where to buy it...Is it available in stores
this year? Cassette? CD?   

Happy Holidays to all Spectropoppers!!! And, more
additions to the website will be coming after the New
Year.

Mark
The Phil Spector Record Label Gallery 


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Message: 2
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 11:36:57 -0800 (PST)
   From: Andrew Hickey 
Subject: War Is Over/Try Some Buy Some

Finally found *a* reference to the Happy Christmas
(War Is Over)/Try Some Buy Some connection. It's not
the one I was looking for (Lennon definitely said at
least once that the *song* as well as the track was
inspired by it) but in The Lennon Tapes p 51 (The
John/Yoko/Andy Peebles interview from Dec 6/7 1980):

"Yeah it was a really nice pleasant thing and
basically I said to Phil, give me the backing you gave
to George on a thing that George wrote for Ronnie
Spector - and it's slipped my mind now, which is Try
Some Buy Some - if you want to do some comparison
shopping and listen to the track Try Some Buy Some
that George has made with Ronnie Spector or whatever
you'll hear the idea for the backing there which is
what we did."


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Message: 3
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 08:46:18 -0800 (PST)
   From: Bill Reed 
Subject: Re: He's a Rebel

"Ken Levine" wrote:

> Just got the book "He's a Rebel" about you-know-who
> written by Mark Ribowsky.   Any good?

merryxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxmas

Good enough so that, as I seem to recall, Phil
Spector won a lawsuit against the publishers and
author shortly after the book was issued. Said victory
consisting of a ruling that all subsequent printings
should delete certain passages deemed actionable. I
now forget, however, what those offensive portions
consisted of. Also don't know if this ever went into
printing beyond hardcover first printing. Is this
still in print?

Speaking of Phil Spector, ahem, here are my two
Brush-With-Greatness PS stories. One time I went to
the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill to see Little Jimmy
Scott. Standing in the lobby I suddenly felt a chill
come over me. I said to the person I was with, "I
suddenly feel the presence of palable evil." Just then
I turned and espied coming right at me, Phil Spector
and a phalynx of bodyguards. True story, as God is my
witness. Also about a year ago I was at the dentist's
office here in Toluca Lake, CA. The phone rang, the
receptionist picked it up, listened a bit, then turned
to her colleague and said, "It's Phil Spector's office
on the line. They want to know what day is the first
one on the calendar that Dr. ____ has the entire day
available." ??????????????

I haven't exactly dined out for a week on either of
these faboo stories, but they have secured me an extra
slice o pie on occasion.

But don't get me wrong; I LUVVVVVVVVVVVVVvvv Phil
Spector.

Bill Reed


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Message: 4
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 14:38:41 -0500
   From: "Paul Payton" 
Subject: More Bernie, more stuff

Peter Lerner writes: 

> So who on earth is Bernie Schwartz?

Gotta be  a name coincidence with "Tony Curtis." At least
OUR Bernie didn't hide it! (Maybe like Murray Kaufman
originally coming from the deep south.) Definitely
different Bernies. And thanks - I'll add WB 45 5651 to my
want list.

> So why, when 5651 was released in the UK, was the 
> singer re-named Bernie Balentine?

Or "Adrian Pride" on "Her Name Is Melody"? As Peter asks,
"Does anyone have a proper answer?"

RIP Rufus Thomas. At least he lived a long life, and did
good along with doing well. These things seems to come in
threes: George, Rufus, and ?????

One more phantom 45 and artist: "Little Did I Know," slow
bluesy 6/8 on Dot, c. 1963 by Lyn Fitzgerald. Any one
with any help here?

Finally, just for a grin I started reading these files
last night and got through the first 10 volumes.
Fascinating - and remarkable how despite the occasional
wisecracking camaraderie, the level of writing and
information was high even then. Congrats to the Admin
Team and everyone who did and does contribute. It's a
pleasure to be among you.

Country Paul


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Message: 5
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 16:56:35 -0000
   From: "John Lester" 
Subject: Martha Reeves - CD availability in the UK!!!

I know a few guys on this list will want to know that
Martha Reeves has put out here own CD...I queried the
email address mentioned on her site about availability
in the UK and the lady wrote back to me herself...

Here is what she said...and I have to say, I rather
like that personal touch.....

----- Original Message -----
>From: <MReevesxxx@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 8:12 PM
Subject: Re: CD availability in the UK!!!


DEAR BOY FORM X-TOWN

MY C.D. CAN BE PURCHASED WITH A POSTAL MONEY  ORDER.  
ALL YOU NEED DO IS GO TO THE POST OFFICE, ASK FOR THE
RATE EXCHANGE FOR THE MOMENT AND PUIRCHASE THE
EQUIVILENT OF $20.00 WHICH COVERS POSTAGE AND ALL.

LET'S KEEP OUR LINK CONNECTED.

LOVE AND GOD BLESS
MARTHA REEVES.

PS( I MUST REMIND YOU THAT I HAVE A LIMITED SUPPLY OF
FIRST EDITION COPIES THAT I SEND PERSONALLY.)


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Message: 6
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 21:10:28 EST
   From: Paul Urbahns 
Subject: You Gotta Have Both He's A Rebel and Out Of His Head

> Just got the book "He's a Rebel" about you-know-who
> written by Mark Ribowsky.   Any good? 

It's only good if you have Out Of His Head to balance
your impression. He's A Rebel digs dirt (much of it is no
doubt true) whereas Out Of his Head holds you know who up
like a god.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

I like both books.

Paul


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Message: 7
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 23:48:14 -0500
   From: John Clemente 
Subject: Laura Nyro

Hello All,


It certainly is nice to hear someone (thank you Mick) say
that someone like Laura Nyro deserves to be on a GG
compilation.  Laura was from The Bronx (yay), and was
influenced to the brim by all the popular girl groups of
the day.  Her album with Labelle is one of my favorites.
(And, like an idiot, I accidentally left it out of the
Blue Belles/Labelle discography in my book.)  I was very
sad when I heard of her passing.  Besides Laura, many
people who write and perform great pop music are girl
group fans, Debbie Harry, Marshall Crenshaw, the late
Kirsty MacColl, to name a few.  My dream LP is a Marshall
Crenshaw produced Darlene Love LP.


Regards,

John Clemente


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Message: 8
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 21:23:54 -0800 (PST)
   From: Robert Tirado 
Subject: Re: Darlene performs

Hi John,

I will be watching Darlene in Hunter College this
friday. Also on TV.

Thanks.

Happy holidays!!!

Robert


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Message: 9
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 17:32:41 -0500
   From: "Jeff Lemlich" 
Subject: Oma Heard Blake

Mick P. wrote:  

> And here's a liitle extra info about Oma not filtched
> from that book but told to me by (name dropping alert!)
> Darlene Love and her sister Sandy Wynns (Edna Wright).
> Oma was married to guitarist Phil Drake and often used
> her married name. She recorded a few duets with Marvin
> Gaye before Motown sacked her for busting her diet.

I have a 45 on Chisa (distributed by Motown) credited to
DOROTHY, OMA AND ZELPHA --
Dorothy being Dorothy Berry:
Gonna Put It On Your Mind/Henry Blake (Chisa 8005). 
Label credit on the "Henry Blake" side is DOROTHY, OMA
AND ZELPHA featuring Oma Drake.  No, "Henry Blake" isn't
the character from MASH!

Jeff Lemlich


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Message: 10
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 17:34:50 -0500
   From: "Jeff Lemlich" 
Subject: The O's

Martin Roberts wrote:  

> One other track on the LP again Prod. by Terry is also
> excellent an uptempo surfin' styled "Mr Sandman" my
> son's just come in the room and he reckons 170BPM!
> (He'd no more about this than me!).
> 
> Would have made a wonderful single.

"Mister Sandman" WAS released as a single on MGM and it's
definitely my favorite track by the boys!

Jeff Lemlich


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Message: 11
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 07:35:13 -0800
   From: "Jeffrey Glenn" 
Subject: Re: Crazy Horses!!

>Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, Puppy Love, Love Me for
>A Reason!!!! The Osmond Brothers, oh how the memories
>come flooding back. TURN THAT S..T OFF!!

>Don't know Jeffrey Glenn's recommendation "Mary Elizabeth".
>(Although-sorry!-I would treat anyone who rates "The
>Saddest Bank Robbery Culver City Ever Had"'s judgement
>with caution! But I can not believe it is better than "My
>Mom" on "The New Sound Of The Osmond Brothers" MGM Album.
>Sandwiched between "Chim Chim Cher-ee" & "Hello Dolly"
>this track is just gorgeous!!!!!

>Co Written 'Mr Supper Club' Bobby Darin with Terry
>Melcher who also Cond & Prod. "My Mom" is a soft wistful
>Beach Boys "In My Room", Robin Ward "In his Car" and
>Susan Lynne "Don't Drag No More" surfing styled weepie.
>Weepie? Evertime I hear it I shed a tear.  One other
>track on the LP again Prod. by Terry is also excellent an
>uptempo surfin' styled "Mr Sandman" my son's just come in
>the room and he reckons 170BPM! (He'd no more about this
>than me!).

>Would have made a wonderful single.

>Martin

Them's fightin' words!!!!!:-)

While I'll agree that "Long Haired Lover..." and "Puppy
Love" are tripe, you can't deny that "One Bad Apple" is
one of the most rockin' J5 rips ever recorded.  Donny
simply cooks on this!

But the The Osmond Brothers pre-"One Bad Apple" were a
totally different animal.

Notice that I only said that "Mary Elizabeth is ONE OF
THE BEST things they every did - not THE BEST.  It's now
been uploaded to the spectropop musica files so everyone
can judge for themselves.

You're very right that "Mr. Sandman" and "My Mom" would
have made a wonderful single.  In fact, they did; it's
MGM K13281 from 1964 ("Sandman" is the A-Side).  What you
didn't mention is that "Sandman" totally nicks the
arrangement from "I Get Around" to great effect
(including a circular hook similar to IGR's intro!).  I
can also upload both of these if anyone's interested.

Another version of "My Mom" was recorded by Tony Rivers
(of Harmony Grass fame) and released in 1971 under the
name Indiana on Plexium PXM 28 in the UK (listed as "My
Mum" natch!) and King 45-6388 in the US.  I found a copy
of the King single the weekend that I met Tony (in L.A.
for the Brian Wilson Pet Sounds show at the Hollywood
Bowl), and he was completely unaware that it had been
released here - let alone on King Records of all labels! 
And it's a nice version of the song (if maybe a little
too upbeat for the subject matter), but I gotta stick to
the original Osmonds version as the definitive one. 
Tony's version is available on the RPM CD THE TONY RIVERS
COLLECTION VOL. 3: HARMONY SOUL (RPM 205).

The other Osmond Brothers single that's better than "Mary
Elizabeth" is "I Can't Stop"/"Flower Music" (UNI 55015)
>from 1967, both sides being great sunshine pop.

And there are a couple of other Barnaby 45's from 1968-69
that are solid late 60's pop.  In fact a compilation of
their 1964-69 45's would be great, though it apparently
is a licensing impossibility according to David Bash, who
has spoken to Cary Mansfield about it.  I've put together
a 10-track CDR with all the 45's from "Sandman" to the
1969 Barnaby 45 "Taking A Chance On Love," and it's a
great listen.

And Martin, am I led to believe that you like "The
Saddest Bank Robbery..." or not - it's not clear from
your wording?

Jeff


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Message: 12
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 22:58:15 -0000
   From: "Ian Chapman" 
Subject: Osmond Brothers

> "My Mom" on "The New Sound Of The Osmond Brothers" MGM Album.
> Sandwiched between "Chim Chim Cher-ee" & "Hello Dolly"
> this track is just gorgeous!!!!!

> Co Written 'Mr Supper Club' Bobby Darin with Terry
> Melcher who also Cond & Prod. "My Mom" is a soft wistful
> Beach Boys "In My Room", Robin Ward "In his Car" and
> Susan Lynne "Don't Drag No More" surfing styled weepie.
> Weepie? Evertime I hear it I shed a tear.  One other
> track on the LP again Prod. by Terry is also excellent an
> uptempo surfin' styled "Mr Sandman" my son's just come in
> the room and he reckons 170BPM! (He'd no more about this
> than me!).

> Would have made a wonderful single.

It did, Mart - MGM 13281. "Mr Sandman"/"My Mom", issued
in '64.  And of course you're right in everything you say
about both sides.  My fave is "Mr Sandman" which is
surf-harmony par excellence, although "My Mom" is a close
second.  Since Terry Melcher co-wrote this track, is it
safe to assume it's about Doris?!!

Ian


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Message: 13
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 23:37:25 -0000
   From: Billy G. Spradlin 
Subject: Re: Crazy Horses!!

--- In Spectropop, "Martin Roberts" wrote:

> Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, Puppy Love, Love Me for
> A Reason!!!! The Osmond Brothers, oh how the memories
> come flooding back. TURN THAT S..T OFF!!

LOL, I was a grade schooler back in the early 70's and
remember that "S--T" very fondly! BTW Curb records has
re-issued thier 1974 concept album "The Plan" on CD.
Imagine Britney or any boygroup (self writing/producing/
playing) an LP based on the Book of Mormon!  

> Don't know Jeffrey Glenn's recommendation "Mary Elizabeth".

I just listened to it in the Files/Musica folder. It's a
excellent track (very Cowsills like!), reminding me of
the "I Can't Stop/Flower Music" 45 on UNI from 1967. 


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Message: 14
   Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 23:49:06 -0000
   From: "Martin Roberts" 
Subject: Whoops (No.67)

A certain group member of the PSAS has reminded me that
The Osmond Brothers "My Mom"/"Mr Sandman" WAS released as
a single MGM 13281 '64 and given a glowing review in a
back issue of That Will Never Happen Again by Carole
Gardiner in a "Boys Have Feelings Too" piece. 

Remember you read it here second!!

Martin


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Message: 15
   Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2001 07:57:20 -0000
   From: "John Lester" 
Subject: Re: Mr Sandman

The Supremes (Di, Flo and Mary) did a wonderful version
of "Mr Sandman" and when there is enough demand, I am
sure they will consider issuing it!


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