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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: Righteous Brothers sing Bonner & Gordon
From: Martin Roberts
2. Lynsey DePaul Meets Spector Via Roy Wood
From: Mark Frumento
3. Re: From classical to pop / the Toys
From: Paul Bryant
4. Re: Mina's "Just Let Me Cry"
From: Michael Fishberg
5. What A Terrific Group!
From: tkptitan
6. Re: Pretty Flamingo
From: David Coyle
7. Re: Mike Smith and Musica addition!
From: Clark Besch
8. Re: Celebrity pottymouths
From: Clark Besch
9. Re: Tom Jones / killing for a hit
From: Phil Milstein
10. Re: The Poor (New Release from Sonic Past Music)
From: Clark Besch
11. Re: The Poor (New Release from Sonic Past Music)
From: JJ
12. Re: Buddy/Dusty & Paul Anka
From: Austin Powell
13. Dobie Gray
From: Kingsley Abbott
14. New Rev-Olas!
From: Joe Foster
15. Troggs
From: Kingsley Abbott
16. Re: Celebrity pottymouths etc
From: Steve Grant
17. Re: Unchained Melody
From: Richard Hattersley
18. Re: Other Cover Versions / Beach Boys doo wop
From: Paul Bryant
19. Re: "Don't Give Up On Me"
From: Andrew Jones
20. Re: Righteous Brothers sing Bonner & Gordon
From: Bill Reed
21. The Association - Collectors Choice Reissues
From: Art Longmire
22. Re: Sandy Posey / Toni Wine
From: Peter Lerner
23. Re: The Poor (New Release from Sonic Past Music)
From: Patrick Rands
24. Re: 60s radio commercials
From: Billy G. Spradlin
25. Righteous Brothers / Mac & Mike
From: Phil Milstein
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 21:08:56 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Re: Righteous Brothers sing Bonner & Gordon
There's too much going on at S'pop for one bod to keep up!
If it hadn't
been for Peter Richmond's message re (That) Alan Gordon's
R'Bros tracks,
I'd have wrongly assumed them to be the two sides
Bonner-Gordon had
written for the Bros and released on a Verve 45. What a
treat I'd have
missed!
My 45 plays "Don't Give Up On Me" too fast and, despite
the spoken
intro, I'd assumed it to be deliberately amusing. It is
rather marred by
Bobby sounding like a chipmunk, so it's great to hear it
as the good Lord
intended. Hallelujah!
As for "Whatever Happened To Happy" - what a great song
and the Brothers
certainly do it justice. These two songs are sure to have
brightened
Peter's day (and Bill Reed, assuming Nick de Caro arranged
"Whatever
Happened..."). Mine day will be brightened if the Bobby
Darin version was
turns out to be arranged by Jack Nitzsche! Looking forward
to hearing it,
thanks That Alan and my ol' mucker Phil M for playing them
to musica.
How sad to think the Righteous Brothers will never perform
again.
Martin
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 23:36:21 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Lynsey DePaul Meets Spector Via Roy Wood
For a taste of "Phil's Spectre" in the '70s, might I
recommend Lynsey
DePaul's "Ooh I Do" (WB K 16401) to musica. Her take on
the Wall of
Sound but it seems to me that she got there via "Angel
Fingers" or one
of Roy Wood's epic rock 'n roll masterpieces.
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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 13:34:04 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Bryant
Subject: Re: From classical to pop / the Toys
Peter Lerner wrote:
...I've never remotely understood the lyrics of any of
(the Toys'
songs...
Lovers' Concerto
How gentle is the rain
That falls softly on the meadow
Birds high up on the trees
Serenade the clouds with their melody
How gentle is the rain
That falls softly on the meadow
Birds high up on the trees
Serenade the clouds with their melody
Oh! See there beyond the hill
The bright colours of the rainbow
Some magic from above
Made this day for us, just to fall in love
You'll hold me in your arms
And say once again you'll love me
And that your love is true
Everything will be just as wonderful
Now, I belong to you
From this day until forever
Just love me tenderly
And I'll give to you every part of me
Oh! Don't ever make me cry
Through long lonely nights without us
Be always true to me
Keep this day in your heart eternally
You hold me in your arms
And say once again you love me
And that your love is true
Everything will be just as wonderful
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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 15:41:25 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Fishberg
Subject: Re: Mina's "Just Let Me Cry"
Julio Nino wrote:
In musica I've played Mina's Italian and Spanish
versions of "Just
Let Me Cry".
Fred Clemens:
Mina, as you may know, recorded the song first (before
Lesley Gore),
having had an English version released in the US in 1962
on Verve
Records.
Flip of this was "Pretend That I'm Her", originally issued
on Italian
Italdisc. Madly rare!
Michael Fishberg
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 00:41:57 -0000
From: tkptitan
Subject: What A Terrific Group!
My friend Nick Archer turned me on to this group, and I
must say I am
thrilled to be here! I'm nuts about this type of music,
and it's
good to have a forum where I can discuss my love for these
pop gems
among the faithful, as it were! I, along with a lot of my
friends,
mourn the passing of Bobby Hatfield, and I know if there
is a "Rock 'N'
Roll Heaven", there's a new high tenor singer in the
ranks!
If I may, I would like to ask a question: Did David Gates
really
write "Popscicles and Icicles" for The Murmaids? I've
always heard
that, but thought it was maybe an "urban legend." Please
let me know!
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Message: 6
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 16:49:36 -0800 (PST)
From: David Coyle
Subject: Re: Pretty Flamingo
"Pretty Flamingo" was originally recorded by Gene Pitney,
whose version
appears on Varese's "American Roots Of The British
Invasion." If there's
a version before Pitney's, I don't know about it. The main
difference is
Gene sings "all of the kids call her Flamingo," as opposed
to "guys."
David
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 06:22:26 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Mike Smith and Musica addition!
It is indeed good news to know that Mike Smith is in good
spirits if
not in good health. He has given me so many great moments
of
listening. I know there are many DC5 detracters, whether
because of
the "don't play the instruments" issues or the non-"issues
of the
day" lyrics they often put forth. I don't care. Mike and
Co. (Dave
and Co.?) put out classic rock in under 2 minutes that
just grabs
you! Even tho short, by the end of the song, you are
singing along
and swaying! I wish Dave Clark would see fit to release
their
material (both released and unreleased) on Cd. You might
think the
timing would be bad right now, but considering Mike
co-wrote much of
their material, I think he could use the royalties right
now. I
played to Musica one of the many unreleased acetates Dave
needs to
get out. It's got that usual Spectorish reverb/echo thing
going that
so many DC5 hits had. Kind of a cross between Peter &
Gordon and the
Everlies for Mike on this one. All clocking in at (you
guessed it) a
whopping 1:48! Plus, the title seems appropriate to wish
Mike a get
well soon: "I Can't Get You off of my Mind".
Take care, Clark
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 06:43:59 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: Celebrity pottymouths
Phil Milstein:
All these moments, and dozens more like them (incl. an
F-word from
Barbra Streisand), are included on Mad Deadly Worldwide
Communist
Gangster Computer God's 3-CD series "Celebrities At
Their Worst."
The CDs list an address of PO Box 420464, SF CA 94142
USA.
Phil, Many thanks for this. I am going to order this.
I've heard
some of these and they are great, but have few in my
collection.
Thanks again. Clark
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Message: 9
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 21:47:31 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Tom Jones / killing for a hit
Scott Swanson pointed out (privately, so as not to
embarrass me) that I
made a few factual errors in recounting the details of Tom
Jones'
appearance on Larry King Live the other night. I don't
dispute them, but
instead point Jones fans to another excellent interview
with the man
(also brought to my attention by Scott), on the Web, where
you can read
the facts for yourself -- or even hear them for yourself,
as an audio
version is also posted:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/tomjones/tomtalks.shtml?index
On a totally unrelated matter, and at an even longer URL
is an article
from the Nashville City Paper about a murder -- committed
in 1989 but
only recently prosecuted -- over chart-rigging in Cashbox!
The case
happened so long ago the magazine doesn't even exist
anymore, although I
doubt that's put an end to chart-rigging:
http://nashville.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htmsite=http:/
/www.nashvillecitypper.com/index.cfm%3Fsection%5Fid=9%26scre
en=news%26news%5Fid=26931
--Phil M.
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 06:33:39 -0000
From: Clark Besch
Subject: Re: The Poor (New Release from Sonic Past Music)
Ron:
"Help The Poor: The Complete Recordings of The Poor
featuring Randy
Meisner" is part of Sonic Past Music's third set of
releases
Ok, Ron, I'm sold! I went to the label web site and
didn't see it.
Is it out yet? I was lucky enough to help out a little
with the UK's
Cherry Red label recent Poor Cd release and it is great
too. There's
always room for more. Hopefully, the new Cd has different
material
too. Sound like it does if it has those early tracks. My
friend
Doug Richard turned me on to the group decades ago and I
tracked down
all their stuff eventually. Fave would be "Feelin Down"
and its'
flip, "Come Back Baby" which Nebraska boy, Randy Meisner,
wrote. It
reached top 30 in Omaha on KOIL in 68. The liner notes
mentioned one
of the group coming from the Sounds of Dawn out of
Chicago. That was
cool to know, as their "How Many Times" got airplay on
WCFL in
Chicago in late 67. Anyway, I look forward to the new Cd.
Just
gotta find how to get it! Thanks for posting this!
Clark
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 06:58:24 -0000
From: JJ
Subject: Re: The Poor (New Release from Sonic Past Music)
Ron Weekes:
..."Help The Poor: The Complete Recordings of The Poor
featuring
Randy Meisner" is part of Sonic Past Music's third set
of releases.
As soon as I heard the first notes of The Poor's CD I
felt: Wow,
I'm back in the late Sixties' and these sounds are
coming from Bill
Graham's Fillmore...
**LOVE THE POOR!
Can u provide the track listing?......earlier this year,
the Rev-Ola
label in England, released a Poor cd, incl ALL their 45
sides + a
Soundtrack song, but NOT the Esquires trax!!
JJ/Sweden
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 09:15:48 -0000
From: Austin Powell
Subject: Re: Buddy/Dusty & Paul Anka
James wrote:
Add to the Buddy Rich stories, now circulating, Paul
Anka Moment(s)
wherein he berates his band saying HE is the show, HE is
the center
of attention and they are only there because HE is
gaddam IT you bunch
of wimpy f____rs! On it goes.
I spent some time a few years back with (in)famous US
record executive
Artie Mogull. He was full of outrageous stories and had
written a
synopsis for a proposed book about his life in the music
business. While
boss of UA, Paul Anka was signed to the label. Artie's
story goes like
this: "...The day after Elvis died, my V.P. of Marketing
walked into a
meeting and announced RCA had orders for $100 million
worth of Presley
albums. To be funny I said, "Christ, there's our solution,
let's shoot
Paul Anka". Everyone laughed....Now skip three weeks, it's
3.30am and I'm
fast asleep. The phone rings, it's Anka, the story has
circulated back to
him and he's in a rage. But when you've been at this (the
record
business) as long as me, you can think in your sleep. I
waited for him to
spout his rage and then said, ' Paul, you a ****ing idiot.
Do you realise
you were the only artist I could think of whose death
would warrant those
kind of sales ?'. 'J**** C*****', he said, ' I never
thought of it that
way'. The artist's ego had reared its head".
The book never materialised, as far as I know......Pity !
Austin
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Message: 13
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:42:57 -0000
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: Dobie Gray
Don Charles wrote:
Spectropoppers will certainly be familiar with the
singles from
(Dobie Gray's) album, "The In Crowd" and "See You At The
Go-Go"
. . . both records are definitely Wall of Sound cops,
besides
being irresistibly danceable.
If memory serves correctly wasn't it Carol Kaye, Hal
Blaine and the
wonderful gang who played the tracks on these??
Kingsley
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Message: 14
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:32:42 +0000
From: Joe Foster
Subject: New Rev-Olas!
Whole new bunch of stuff on Rev-Ola
http://www.revola.co.uk/
Check 'em all out.....let me know what you think....!
all the best
Joe
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Message: 15
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:52:14 -0000
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: Troggs
Clark wrote:
How bout the bonus CD of the "Troggs Argue"??
Reminded me of a nice little moment...last year I happened
to find myself
backstage to do an interview with fine bassist Colin
Hodgkinson, and Reg
Presley was in the same room. Rather than an update on the
f- word script,
he was telling all who were listening about the relative
quality of his
years crop of broad beans. He then grinned and muttered
in his still
broad Hampshire accent "This ain't very rock 'n' roll, is
it!"
Kingsley :-)
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Message: 16
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 09:55:37 -0500
From: Steve Grant
Subject: Re: Celebrity pottymouths etc
How bout the bonus CD of the "Troggs Argue"?? A legit
release of a
bunch of "f" words while "discussing" their recording
session! A
full blown version of "Harrison says to McCartney: 'I'll
Play if you
want me to or I won't play if you don't want me to:'"
Similarly, in "Universal Mind Decoder" on the "Notorious
Byrd Brothers"
CD David Crosby just abuses Michael Clarke nonstop for
several minutes.
The others just stand there and barely say anything.
Completely creepy.
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Message: 17
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 11:33:52 +0000
From: Richard Hattersley
Subject: Re: Unchained Melody
According to the Official Righteous Brothers website,
"Unchained
Melody" was recorded in a single studio take.
Wow ! Amazing. I'll let the bass player off then! I guess
they didn't
spend a lot of time on it when it was not intended to be
the A side.
So ironic that it has turned into such a massive record.
On the other
side of the coin, how many average joes have even heard of
Hung On You.
By the way, sorry for posting about the Bill
Medley/Spector debate but
I missed the talk about it last year (busy time at work).
and I'm sure
there have been new members added since then who missed it
too.
Richard
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Message: 18
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 07:06:55 -0800 (PST)
From: Paul Bryant
Subject: Re: Other Cover Versions / Beach Boys doo wop
David Coyle wrote:
I will have to say that one doo-wop song that benefitted
from a remake
was "Barbara Ann" by the Regents. The remake was never
my favorite
Beach Boys song, but then I heard the Regents version,
which is rather
monotonous by comparison. Throwing in those Beach Boys
harmonies and
Brian Wilson falsetto only improved on it. I realize
that the BB's were
having fun with the song, rather than making fun of it.
There's a
difference, in my opinion.
Great BB versions of doo wop on their 15 Big Ones album -
In the Still Of
The Night, A Casual Look and Talk To Me. They did a few
doowops on early
albums (Why do fools fall in love, etc) but if they'd have
done a whole
doo wop album with the Spectorian production of In the
Still of the Night
it would have been pretty good.
When the '60s rolled around, I think the tendency in
remakes was to up
the tempo and crank up the volume, rather than to
sanitize or satirize.
While the original Isley Brothers version of "Twist And
Shout" may be
more danceable than the Beatles version, there's no
question that the
. latter is a stomping powerhouse.
Likewise their "Money" which surely beats the original.
pb
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 10:29:24 -0500 (EST)
From: Andrew Jones
Subject: Re: "Don't Give Up On Me"
Pardon my iggerance, but is this song "Don't Give Up On
Me" also the
title song on soul man Solomon Burke's recent album?
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 16:16:31 -0000
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Re: Righteous Brothers sing Bonner & Gordon
"Whatever Happened To Happy" by any artist so it was a
wonderful
surprise to hear it by the Righteous Brothers. 'That'
Alan Gordon
did say that he thought that "Whatever Happened To
Happy" was over-
produced...
The producer of this and several other tracks from the
same period
was Joe Wissert, perhaps best known as the producer of the
Turtles
and Gordon Lightfoot. Also from the same session came
Bonner & Gordon's
"Melancholy Music Man." I talked to Joe about these when I
wrote my
article about arranger Nick DeCaro for the Japanese
publication "Record
Collectors" a few years ago. I am not certain, however,
that Joe was
accorded official ("over"?) production credit.
As a point of info, Hatfield and Medley were not in the
studio at the
same time when these tracks were recorded. Conflicting
schedules?
Their voices were recorded separately then mixed, thus
making for a
fairly complicated production scheme.
Bill Reed
http://www.cllrdr.com
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Message: 21
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 19:51:29 -0000
From: Art Longmire
Subject: The Association - Collectors Choice Reissues
I made a trip to my local Virgin Records Store and was
surprised to
see that Collector's Choice had reissued several of the
Association's
original LPs on CD. Years overdue, in my opinion...anyway
I was able
to snap up "Birthday" which has long been a favorite of
mine. Also
saw "Renaissance" which I have on LP, I may pick that one
up later.
Hopefully they are releasing all of the group's LPs.
No bonus tracks as is usual with them, but I'm glad
somebody finally
got around to putting these out at a reasonable price.
Until now, the
only option was to buy the Japanese imports at 25 bucks
apiece!
Art Longmire
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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 17:29:13 -0000
From: Peter Lerner
Subject: Re: Sandy Posey / Toni Wine
Patrick wrote:
Also, I recently got a copy of Sandy Posey's version of
Your
Conception of Love (written by Doc Pomus and Toni Wine)
which is a
perfect mix of that Dylan cynicism and Monkees styled
pop that was so
appealing in the late 1960s. Anyone have any more
information on this
lost little classic tune? Did anyone else try there hand
at it or did
Toni do a demo which is floating around?
I'm only aware of one other Pomus-Wine collaboration,
which is "Bad girl"
by Romy Bishop, from round about the same period, but
quite different in
.....er.... conception. I haven't found any other versions
of either song.
Toni Wine demos would be a wonderful find.
Peter
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Message: 23
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 20:17:46 -0000
From: Patrick Rands
Subject: Re: The Poor (New Release from Sonic Past Music)
Ron Weekes wrote:
"Help The Poor: The Complete Recordings of The Poor
featuring Randy
Meisner" is part of Sonic Past Music's third set of
releases.
I wrote a review of the Rev-ola disc compiling The Poor's
music. Sounds
like it's slightly different so take a look:
http://www.gullbuy.com/buy/2003/9_9/poor.htm
:Patrick
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Message: 24
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 21:50:54 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: 60s radio commercials
Clark Besch:
Hi, I have posted my old recording of the 7Up jingle
from my original
reel to reel recording of it March 68 on WCFL's Ron
Britain show in
Chicago that I sent to Bob Irwin. I suggest you get the
45 from
Sundazed if you really like it. Won't keep it up long,
as the quality
is not great and there are many things to get on Musica,
I'm sure.
Just a quick note to mention that "King B" Ron Britian is
back on the
air in Chicago on WRLL, "Real Oldies 1690" playing mid
50's - to -
early 60's Rock and Pop mixed with MOR standards. You can
listen to
it online at http://realoldies1690.com/main.html Its not
WLS or WCFL
but its great to hear these old timers back on the
airwaves!
Billy
http://listen.to/jangleradio
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Message: 25
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 23:14:20 -0500
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Righteous Brothers / Mac & Mike
It's been brought to my attention that my recent musica
posting of the
Righteous Brothers' unreleased recording of Gordon &
Bonner's "Whatever
Happened To Happy" had a significant defect in it
(truncated approx. 15
sec's. before the finish). I have replaced the faulty
version with a
good one (which I have double-checked this time), so those
interested in
this rare gem are urged to return and relisten. I
apologize for any
inconvenience this screw-up might've caused.
On an unrelated matter, another song currently up there
credited to
Mike & Michael reminds me to ask if any of y'all have a 45
by Mac &
Mike, of Rockin' Teens b/w Be My Next (Glory 273, 1958).
For that
matter, I'm also interested in another version of Be My
Next (Capitol,
1958), by Joel Grey.
--Phil M.
End
