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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: What is this song???
From: Orion
2. Re: Ritchie Adams / The Fireflies
From: Tom Taber
3. Re: The Settlers / Cindy Kent
From: Richard Havers
4. Re: Maxine Brown website
From: Mike
5. Re: Instrumentals with lyrics
From: Tom Taber
6. Re: Instrumentals with lyrics
From: Guy Lawrence
7. Re: Instrumentals with lyrics
From: Eddy
8. Re: Happy Together
From: That Alan Gordon
9. Re: Instrumentals with lyrics / Walk Don't Run
From: Mikey
10. Re: Ritchie Adams / The Fireflies
From: That Alan Gordon
11. Re: That Mark Wirtz?
From: Clark Besch
12. grrr
From: Alan Gordon
13. Whatever Happened To Happy
From: Michel Gignac
14. Hudson Brothers
From: Mark Frumento
15. Randy's Marie
From: Alan Gordon
16. The Bermudas
From: George
17. Re: Melancholy Music Man
From: Peter Richmond
18. Re: Ritchie Adams
From: Simon White
19. Re: Hudson Brothers
From: MopTopMike
20. Instrumentals with lyrics
From: Peter Richmond
21. Re: Multiples
From: James Botticelli
22. Randy Newman / Alan Gordon
From: Harvey Williams
23. Re: Happy Together / the two Mr. Gordons
From: Phil Milstein
24. Re: That Alan Gordon
From: Clark Besch
25. Re: Who Was Lois Fletcher?
From: Clark Besch
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 10:30:15 -0500
From: Orion
Subject: Re: What is this song???
Tom wrote:
> There's a new Infiniti commercial that features what sounds
> like a late 60s Spector-esque pop song (I think its called
> "As They Fall"). I'm familiar enough with Spector's catalog
> to know its not him but I cannot for the life of me identify
> the artist. The lead singer has a distinctive baritone voice
> sounding a bit like a young Sinatra. However, judging by the
> prominence of the background vocals I'm thinking it has got
> to be a band rather than an individual.
The song you are talking about is "As They All Fall" by Orpheus.
Orion
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 09:11:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tom Taber
Subject: Re: Ritchie Adams / The Fireflies
Old Rashkovsky wrote:
> For us old folks, Ritchie Adams goes as far back as being the lead
> singer on The Fireflies, "You Were Mine". A real oldie/goodie.
I caught the Fireflies doing "You Were Mine" a few weeks back, I
believe on one of those PBS fundraisers, and it was the most faithful
to the original records 40-years-on re-creations I have ever heard.
Tom Taber
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 16:35:30 +0100
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: The Settlers / Cindy Kent
Austin Powell wrote:
> (The Settlers' lead singer) Cindy, whose surname I still can't recall,
> became a dee-jay and I think I'm right in saying she worked for the
> satellite christian radio station UCB.
Cindy Kent. Here's a link to what she's up to today, still working as a
DJ: http://www.premier.org.uk/radio/presenters/cindyk.html
Richard
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 16:38:52 +0100
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Maxine Brown website
The S'pop Team announced:
> Dear Members, Legendary soul singer Maxine Brown - "All In My Mind",
> "Oh No Not My Baby", "Funny" - has a new website. Take a look:
> http://www.maxinebrown.com/ Be sure to check out the photo gallery
> for some 1960s shots of the lovely lady with the Ronettes and the
> Crystals. Enjoy!
Fantastic - one of my all time favourite soul singers (or is that R&B?
whichever) - with Irma Thomas, Margie Joseph and Carla Thomas.
Mike
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 09:02:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tom Taber
Subject: Re: Instrumentals with lyrics
West Coast Ken asked:
> ... how many other instrumentals were later given lyrics(?)
I've wondered if "Walk, Don't Run" ever had lyrics - if not, here
goes:
Walk, don't you run, better walk don't you run now;
Walk, don't you run - Better walk, don't you run now.
Walk and don't run - better walk, don't run, don't run, don't ru-u-u-n!"
Now perhaps you all will be cursed with having to sing along as I have
since these came to me a few years back.
Tom Taber
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 17:14:23 +0100
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Re: Instrumentals with lyrics
Ken wrote:
> how many other instrumentals were later given lyrics?
Off the top of my head (and without double checking) - the Bob Crewe
Generation's "Music To Watch Girls By" was given lyrics and sung by
Andy Williams and was recently a hit again here in the UK.
Sammy Davis Jnr sang a vocal version of the "Hawaii 5-0" theme called
something like "You Can Count On Me" (would love to hear that!) and
Young Holt Unlimited's "Soulful Strut" became "Am I The Same Girl?"
when sung by Barbara Acklin.
Then there was the Buckinghams vocal version of Cannonball Adderley's
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and the Modernaires take on "Spanish Flea" - a
track I'm extremely keen to get hold of (can anyone help off-list?).
Guy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TweedleeDumsDrive-In/
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 18:20:07 +0200
From: Eddy
Subject: Re: Instrumentals with lyrics
West Coast Ken asked:
> ... how many other instrumentals were later given lyrics?
Paul McCartney's "Hot as sun" (off the first album) had lyrics added
by Tim Rice for Elaine Paige in 1981.
Eddy
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 09:23:55 -0700 (MST)
From: That Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: Happy Together
Steve wrote:
> ...didn`t the Turtles fly you guys in to perform the song?
No Steve, as I recall Gary Klein, who was working for Koppelman and
Rubin in L.A., gave the demo to the guys who owned White Whale. They
in turn gave it to the Turtles. The first time we met them was at
the studio when they were recording "She`d Rather Be With Me".
Best, That alan gordon
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 12:24:46 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Instrumentals with lyrics / Walk Don't Run
West Coast Ken asked:
> ... how many other instrumentals were later given lyrics(?)
Tom Taber replied:
> I've wondered if "Walk, Don't Run" ever had lyrics - if not, here goes:
> Walk, don't you run, better walk don't you run now;
> Walk, don't you run - Better walk, don't you run now.
> Walk and don't run - better walk, don't run, don't run, don't ru-u-u-n!"
> Now perhaps you all will be cursed with having to sing along as I have
> since these came to me a few years back.
No need to make them up, Tom....there WAS a Vocal version of Walk
Don't Run, done by one Tommy Leonetti on RCA in 1961!!
Mikey
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Message: 10
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 09:57:13 -0700 (MST)
From: That Alan Gordon
Subject: Re: Ritchie Adams / The Fireflies
Tom, the PBS oldies show did have the Fireflies doing a fine version
of "You Were Mine" but it was NOT Ritchie Adams singing lead vocal,
like he did on the record.
That alan gordon
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Message: 11
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 18:36:14 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: That Mark Wirtz?
That Alan Gordon asked:
> Mark, are you the "Teenage Opera" Mark Wirtz?
Mark Wirtz:
> Yep, I'm the guilty one :)
See Mark, one of my faves ("Teenage Opera") is known by all!
Clark
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Message: 12
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 11:41:31 -0700
From: Alan Gordon
Subject: grrr
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Two Alan Gordons: Happy Together?
> By the way I think it's great how the two Alan Gordons made room
> for each other. I don't know if I'll be so accomodating when the
> more famous Mark Frumento shows up.
"More famous???!!!" Whyyyy, I oughta...
(Obviously you're not a comic fan, pally)
The comicbook artist/writer schnoodle formerly known as the once
and future...
Al Gordon,
~albabe
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Message: 13
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 18:48:49 -0000
From: Michel Gignac
Subject: Whatever Happened To Happy
"Whatever Happened To Happy" was also recorded by Mojo (aka Mojo
Men). This is my favorite Mojos' track. Thank you Alan and Garry for
so many wonderful compositions!
Michel Gignac
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 19:19:57 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Hudson Brothers
The Hudson Brothers releases are a mixed bag. A few years ago Varese
Sarabande put put a "Best Of" compilation that has some great songs
on it. Some of their material is so close to the Abbey Road period
Beatles that you need to may do a doubletake upon hearing them.
I'm not an authority on their vinyl output but I know they released
at least two LPs on Rocket Records (Ba Fa and Totally Out of Control)
and I believe both were produced by Bernie Taupin. The tracks from
those LPs on the Varese comp are excellent.
Previous to their Rocket Records engagement I believe their LPs were
a mixture of pop and comedy... as the public would have expected. The
tracks I've heard from Hollywood Situation (1974) which was in this
period are also excellent.
Before they were a comedy act, as Scott points out, two of the
Hudsons were in a band called The New Yorkers. Several of the New
Yorkers' songs have popped up on compilations over the years. Again,
the songs are all well written and well sung Beatle knock-offs.
Spectopoppers interested in more should ask about them on the Pop 45
list. I know there are several Hudson experts over there.
They are well worth a listen despite what you may have thought of
their TV show!
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Message: 15
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 12:21:13 -0700
From: Alan Gordon
Subject: Randy's Marie
From: Mike Rashkow:
> R.N., I dare not speak the name, should not be dissected
> --he should be deified."
Actually, my little "treatise" on Marie was meant as heart-felt
appreciative accolades and simple commentary, rather than
dissection.
~albabe
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Message: 16
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 20:45:20 -0000
From: George
Subject: The Bermudas
Hi, can anyone tell me of any other Bermudas' songs, apart from
'Donnie' and 'Chu Sen Ling'? And any idea where I can hear them?
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Message: 17
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 22:28:19 +0100
From: Peter Richmond
Subject: Re: Melancholy Music Man
That Alan Gordon wrote;
> Hi Peter, I was in a group called the Magicians. Garry Bonner was
> lead singer. John Townley played guitar, I played drums and Allan
> "Jake" Jacobs played guitar. "Melancholy Music Man" was written for
> and about Jake. He is one of the great Village personalities ever.
> He enriched my life in so many ways. His later work can be found on
> his Bunky and Jake and Jake and the Family Jewel`s recordings. The
> Righteous Brothers did a fine job on "Melancholy Music Man" but my
> favorite is "Don`t Give Up On Me". "Whatever Happened To Happy" [also
> done by Bobby Darin] was an overproduced, over the top session and
> as I recall, Bobby Hatfield said he felt like a sideman on the date.
> You can hardly hear him!!! Hope that give`s you a little insight.
Thanks for that Alan, it was interesting to hear the story behind
"Melancholy Music Man" after all these years of listening to the track,
was this part of a planned album that never materialised or were the
three songs just a one off session.
On a general note, "Melancholy Music Man" had remained a 'single only'
track until 1987 when it appeared on a Righteous Brothers compilation
cassette "Timeless Treasures" on Everest Europa 821 in 1987. In 1989 it
was issued for the first time in stereo on the excellent Righteous
Brothers "Anthology 62-74" double album on Rhino 71488.
The B side "Don't Give Up On Me" has never appeared on an official
album release, it was included on a German Righteous Brothers
compilation "Blue Eyed Soul Brothers" in 2000 but the sound quality is
very poor, obviously not taken from the master tapes.
Peter
Righteous Brothers Discography
http://freespace.virgin.net/p.richmond/
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Message: 18
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 22:24:39 +0100
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Ritchie Adams
That alan gordon:
> That indeed is the same Ritchie Adams. He also wrote "Tossin and
> Turnin" and "After The Lovin" and of course sng lead on the
> Firefllies' record "You Were Mine".
Ritchie also has a Northern Soul favourite in "I Can't Escape From You".
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Message: 19
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 21:31:28 -0000
From: MopTopMike
Subject: Re: Hudson Brothers
Mark Frumento mentioned;
> Before they were a comedy act, as Scott points out, two of the
> Hudsons were in a band called The New Yorkers. Several of the New
> Yorkers' songs have popped up on compilations over the years.
Just joined up on this list after surfing about...
The New Yorkers debut 45 was a single given out by a local auto
dealership in the Portland, Oregon area...the Fury Four are on one
side, while the New Yorkers "Things Are Changing", a jangley-beat pop
garage number is on the other side of the single. On the Santana
label, released in late 1966 before the New Yorkers were signed to
Scepter records. I am not aware of any comp with "Things Are
Changing" included.
MopTopMike
PS - Shout out to WLS Clark - we're finally on the same list!
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Message: 20
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 22:29:37 +0100
From: Peter Richmond
Subject: Instrumentals with lyrics
Ken On The West Coast wrote:
> I recall Country Paul saying he always thought of Duane Eddy's guitar
> as his voice, which reminded me that James Darren did a vocal for
> "Because They're Young" which I think was from a film of the same title.
> Which then made me think how many other instrumentals were later given
> lyrics. Just two off the top of my head: The Drifters' "Stranger On The
> Shore" and Bobby Rydell's "Telstar" or "Magic Star". Any others?
Doesn't quite fit the criteria but might be of interest none the less,
"Dance On" which was originally a vocal track by an American group (can't
remember who but I am sure someone will) before the Shadows had a number
one hit in the UK with their instrumental version of it in December 1962.
Kathy Kirby then had a vocal version in August 1963 peaking at number 11
in the UK charts.
Peter.
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Message: 21
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 17:31:00 -0400
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Multiples
I heard the two Alans are taking on the four Arties at a party.
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Message: 22
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 22:37:59 +0100
From: Harvey Williams
Subject: Randy Newman / Alan Gordon
First, I must thank Alan Gordon for all those fantastic songs. Far
too many to mention here (obviously), but the one I've been getting
most enjoyment from the past few months is "She Knows", a 1967
b-side by Bobby Darin. Great song, great vocal, great arrangement.
Did anyone else cover this one?
The "other" Alan Gordon wrote:
> Did the other acts/groups that you mentioned that covered Randy's
> sarcasm, change the lyrics at all? That's the difference to me.
> One is implied in Randy's wonderful sarcastic and innocent voice,
> and also by just sorta knowing what Randy is about from listening
> to him for so many years... and the other is indicated precisely
> in the lyrics.
A couple of examples I can think of are Linda Ronstadts cover of
"Sail Away" in which she chages the line "Climb aboard, little
wog..." to the somewhat less "offensive" (ie accurate) "Climb aboard,
little one..". Another is (I think it was) Judy Collins' version of
"I Think It's Going To Rain Today", in which the line "That's the way
to treat a friend" is given a complete volte-face to "That's no way
to treat a friend". Sometimes you have to treat the market with kid
gloves, I guess.
Harvey Williams
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Message: 23
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 17:19:12 -0400
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Happy Together / the two Mr. Gordons
That Alan Gordon wrote:
> Can anyone blame me for being so fond of S`pop, All you wonderful
> people that remember these songs, after all, they were written in
> hopes of standing the test of time.
An interesting comment, especially insofar as most writers, producers
and/or musicians "of the day" report that they had little or no eye
toward posterity when creating their music.
Mark Frumento:
> By the way I think it's great how the two Alan Gordons made room
> for each other. I don't know if I'll be so accomodating when the
> more famous Mark Frumento shows up.
Alan Gordon wrote:
> "More famous???!!!" Whyyyy, I oughta...
With all due respect to all the Alans and Marks involved, I suspect
that what Mark F. meant was "more famous than me", not more famous
than Alan Gordon.
--Phil M.
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Message: 24
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 21:40:22 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: That Alan Gordon
Hi and welcome "That" Alan Gordon! I have had the pleasure of doing
some work on both the Turtles "Happy Together" Sundazed reissue as
well as the Varese "Happy Together: Best of White Whale Records"
compilation. When working with Cary Mansfield at Varese on that
project, he basically felt that if "Happy Together" were not on the
Cd, it would not be a "Best of White Whale". I agree. That's how
highly your song has been thought of by record execs still today!
It would be like a "Best of Uni Records" without "Incense and
Peppermints".
Anyway, just wanted to ditto everyone elses comments on the greatness
of that song. Even oversaturation by oldies radio has not hurt it
much. I do wish they'd play #12 "You Know What I Mean" or top 20
"She's My Girl", and I know your song hurts those possibilities, but
that's a consultant doing his job (I guess). Yet they play P.F.
Sloan's "You Baby" (Only a #20 record) a lot too. Wonder why?
Anyway, if I am not losing my memory, I believe you and Gary Bonner
are in the great Rhino Turtles history video performing "Happy
Together" as you did on the demo you decribe. You were playing drum
part with your hands slapping your lap while singing, correct? So
anyone wanna see the "demo in action", pull that Turtles video out!
Take care, Clark
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Message: 25
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2003 21:42:16 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Who Was Lois Fletcher?
Bob Rashkow reported:
> BTW, according to Joel Whitburn, Lois "I Am What I Am" Fletcher had
> previous recording experience, all right; she was a member of Randy
> Sparks' Back Porch Majority (there's another collectible bunch of 45s
> for us folkies...!
Thanks, Bobster! I believe they were based outta Colorado? A less
popular version of New Christy Minstrels?
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