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SPECTROPOP - Spectacular! Retro! Pop!
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There are 19 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Diane Ray and her Snowman
From: Mick Patrick
2. Re: Gabriel & the Angels
From: Margaret G. Still
3. Re: Kim Fowley - Discography
From: Martin Roberts
4. Snowmen & Shy Guys
From: Julio Niño
5. Re: Diane Ray and her Snowman
From: David Bell
6. Re: Hidden Motown covers
From: Dave Monroe
7. Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
From: Martin Roberts
8. Jean DuShon
From: Oliver Penn
9. Re: Joe South and the Tams
From: Roger
10. In-Direct Motown covers
From: Tony Leong
11. More Late Show With David Letterman-related Christmas trivia
From: Mark Hill
12. Re: In-Direct Motown covers
From: Ayrton Mugnaini
13. Re: Hidden Motown covers
From: Artie Wayne
14. Re: Viva Records
From: Paul Urbahns
15. 33 1/3 book series
From: Dave Monroe
16. Stoney Motown
From: Ayrton Mugnaini
17. Re: Joe South "Chain of Fools"
From: ModGirl
18. Jingle Bell Rock in STEREO
From: Matt Spero
19. Re: The Isley Brothers/ Wayne Fontana/ Mickey Most and the Animals
From: Artie Wayne
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:12:55 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Diane Ray and her Snowman
Ronnie Allen wrote:
> I've been able to find very little information about Diane Ray,
> however, other than the fact that she was born in Gastonia,
> North Carolina in 1942.
Elizabeth Curtis:
> I like Diane Ray a lot -- "The Exciting Years" is a great
> album. Everything I know about Diane I learned from the
> album's liner notes...
There were a lot of Connie Francis wannabes around in the
early 1960s, and Diane Ray was one of the best, right up there
with Ginnie Arnell and Linda Scott. One of my favourites is her
seasonal offering from the winter of 1963, "Snow Man" (Mercury
72223), written by Mark Barkan and Hank Hunter. In fact, it
sounds to me if those two guys wrote the song with La Concetta
in mind. I wouldn't mind betting that they got Ellie Greenwich
to sing the demo too. Unfortunately I can't find my copy of the
record, which must have gotten misfiled and could take forever
to locate. However, I do have a convenient mp3, a copy of which
is now playing at musica:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spectropop/files/musica
Mark Maldwyn:
> Diane Ray's version of "Please don't talk to the Lifeguard"
> is fine as is Andrea Carroll's version which I find more
> 'experimental'. Whose recording came first?
Andrea's version came out on Epic 9450 in 1961. Diane's was
released two years later on Mercury 72117. My vote goes to
Diane, but I like 'em both when I'm in the mood for that
perky sound.
Hey la,
Mick Patrick
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:23:03 -0000
From: Margaret G. Still
Subject: Re: Gabriel & the Angels
Julio Niño:
> "That's Life (That's Tough)", by Gabriel & The Angels (Swan
> 4118, 1962). It's included in "Midnight Cryin' Time", an
> irresistible compilation full of angst, sexual frustration,
> desperation and death.
Alan V Karr:
> Also available on Ace's Golden Age of American Rock & Roll
> Volume 2, CDCHD 445. I wonder though....are these the same
> "My Boyfriend's Back" Angels?
For the record, Gabriel and the Angels have another Swan 45
that I like even better than "That's Life":
Swan 4133 All Work – No Play b/w The Peanut Butter Song
"All Work" is all silliness, and it's about JFK (pre-
assassination). It could be compiled somewhere, but I've never
seen that it has been.
The group (I'm pretty sure this is the same group) also is
compiled as GABRIEL AND HIS BAND OF ANGELS (one cut: ("I'm
Gabriel") on one of the early STOMPIN compilations (VOL 5).
Best,
Margaret G. Still
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 16:54:14 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Re: Kim Fowley - Discography
Karl Ikola wrote:
> the discog work is now relegated to a "fan" pursuit which I
> don't have as much time for as I'd like. That said, I don't
> think anyone putting the kind of work it takes into one of
> these wants to hand it out as a party favor. Too much $,
> labor, etc. involved.
Oh dear, the whole raison d'être of
http://www.spectropop.com/
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palladium/9229/christie.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~jackiedeshannon/
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/thebobbyveecollectorsclub/
http://www.garyusher.com/
http://www.songpoemmusic.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters/robins.html
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche
and so many others reduced to a 'party favor'.
I'm in favour of folk making a buck for all their time, effort
and expenditure - anyone want to make a financial offer for the
Jack Nitzsche site :-) - if they can, but most sites on the web
ARE fan pursuits.
Martin
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 21:14:47 -0000
From: Julio Niño
Subject: Snowmen & Shy Guys
Hola everybody,
I´m totally intoxicated by Christmas spirit. Many thanks for
the great musical gifts now playing in musica.
I laughed a lot with "Snow Man" by Diane Ray. It´s an authentic
ode to sublimation. I can't help finding it a little fetishist,
maybe my defective neurons are to blame, but I detect a little
too much enthusiasm in Diane´s voice when she´s describing her
snowman: the size, the button eyes and...the carrot.
One step further in that cryo-fetishism is the perky and also
seasonal "I've fallen In Love With A Snowman" by Millie, with
those crazy backing voices that remind me of The Breakaways.
There are many songs that use the metaphor of the snowman to
refer to their cold and indifferent beloved ones. In addition
to "Snowman" by Diane Ray I can remember now "Snow Man" by
Peggy Sans, or funnily, the Mexican versions of Millie´s hit
"My boy Lollipop", in the voices of Mayte Gaos or Pily Gaos
(I think that they were sisters and both recorded gorgeous
versions of that song) translated as "Mi Novio Esquimal" (my
Eskimo boyfriend), in which the girls complaint about the
indifference and lack of passion of their boyfriends. My
friends and I always laugh a lot with that Mexican lyrics
because the girls seem to be maliciously suggesting that their
boyfriends are more interested in hanging aroung with thier
male friends than with their girls (maybe it is all a product
of my twisted mind, but I could cite a bunch of real similar
situations in which the shy guys resulted not to be so shy in
other circunstances).
And talking about "shy guys", precisely these last days I´ve
been trying to collect songs about girls complaining about
their too shy and not enough affective beloved ones. I would
love to make an special chapter about the subject in my i-pod.
Apart from some tracks mentioned before, I thought of "Shy
Guy" by the Charmers, "Can´t He Take A Hint?" by Kenni Woods,
Joanie Sommers´ "Johnny Get Angry", "Why Don´t You Love Me "
by Teri Thorton or "He Don´t Love Me" by Shelly Fabares,
(apart from a couple of great Spanish yeyé girls tracks).
I would love if someone could take the time of adding some
more songs to this little list.
That´s all for today.
Chao.
Julio Niño.
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 15:51:37 EST
From: David Bell
Subject: Re: Diane Ray and her Snowman
Mick Patrick:
> There were a lot of Connie Francis wannabes around in the
> early 1960s, and Diane Ray was one of the best, right up there
> with Ginnie Arnell and Linda Scott. One of my favourites is
> her seasonal offering from the winter of 1963, "Snow Man"
> (Mercury 72223), written by Mark Barkan and Hank Hunter. In
> fact, it sounds to me if those two guys wrote the song with La
> Concetta in mind. I wouldn't mind betting that they got Ellie
> Greenwich to sing the demo too.
Being a slavish follower of all things Connie, Mick, as you will
testify, having seen my collection, I have to agree that this 45
demonstrates a genre of music unknown to me before - Concetta
Rosa Maria soundalikes.
As soon as I started to listening to Snowman, I found myself
whistling the tune "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter," which 99%
fits Diane's effort. But then I looked up who wrote Connie's
1962 hit "Warm This Winter" and of course it was Mark Barkan
and Hank Hunter - so no surprises there!
And the Ellie connection? Hank Hunter recalls, "The first time
Connie met Ellie Greenwich was when I had Ellie go up and demo
live "I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter" and "Playin' Games" for
her." And then I included jeff Barry and Ellie on several
Connie Francis recording sessions. They got friendly with her
as a result of that."
So who knows? Maybe this was intended for Connie after all.
I'd have loved to have heard her version but, unfortunately,
she never round to doing that tune if Connie's own recording
logs are to be believed.
Oooh, I feel quite excited about "Snowman" and will play it
to my grandchildren next weekend. They're both very young and
this sort of cute poppiness should appeal to them.
David.
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 11:53:11 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: Re: Hidden Motown covers
Ayrton Mugnaini mentioned:
> "hidden Motown covers", I mean songs more or less derivative
> - e.g. compare the riff of the Rolling Stones' "Under My
> Thumb" to "It's The Same Old Song".
A la "Groovy Woovy" by Los Buenos and/or "Trying to Get to You"
by The Feathers and/or Bill Wendry and The Boss Tweeds and that
bit of the chorus to "Get Ready" by The Temptations? There's a
few.
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 19:20:54 -0000
From: Martin Roberts
Subject: Jack Nitzsche at Spectropop update
>From '61, Sammi Lynn's "You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby"
is the newie playing as the Record Of The Week on the home
page. The mystery blonde's answer record to Bobby Vee's "Take
Good Care Of My Baby" is rather good. I hope you like it:
http://www.spectropop.com/JackNitzsche/index.htm
The platter was produced by Ron Barrett, who is also the subject
of the new "The Producers...Arranger Jack Nitzsche" page.
Split into four parts, the feature details Ron and Jack's work
together from the early '60s:
http://www.spectropop.com/RonBarrett/index.htm
Martin
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 03:10:23 -0000
From: Oliver Penn
Subject: Jean DuShon
New Yahoo Group started for soul, jazz and Broadway star,
Jean DuShon. Miss DuShon is distinguised by being the first
artist to record the legendary classic, "For Once In My
Life." She was born and raised in Detroit and started
appearing in nightclubs at the tender age of 16.
John Levy, famed agent for Nancy Wilson, Dakota Staton,
Cannonball Adderley, George Shearing, Roberta Flack and many
others, signed to represent the sexy young star. Later, Jean
sang with Cootie Williams band, Lloyd Price and Fats Domino.
When appearing at NY's Roundtable, Atlantic Records executive
was so impressed with DuShon, he invited her to his record
company and teamed her with the young Phil Spector. They
recorded "Talk to Me" and "Tired of Trying."
She has appeared with most of the famed jazz and r and b
stars. She shared bills with Miles Davis (Birdland), Ray
Charles (Village Gate) and has appeared at renowned clubs
like The Blue Note, Sign of the Dove and many more. She
appeared at Philharmonic Hall in NYC and most of the great
concert halls across the USA and Europe.
Miss DuShon became a full-fledged Broadway star when she
appeared in "What the Wine Sellers Buy," followed by
"Bubbling Brown Sugar (with Cab Calloway, Honie Coles) and
"Blues in the Night" co-starring with Leslie Uggams.
Find out more. Join our brand new group! Some pictures are
already up and we plan to upload music files, reviews, etc.
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/jeandushon
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:56:37 -0000
From: Roger
Subject: Re: Joe South and the Tams
Mike Edwards:
> Finally, we need a decent CD from the Tams. The one on the
> UK BGO label has only 14 tracks - miserly in this day and
> age.
Mike, there are a couple of decent ones out there. I picked
up a 1998 one on the Half Moon / Universal (UK) label called
"Hey Girl Don't Bother Me - The Best of the Tams" with 22
tracks. Most of the hits, a few interesting covers like "The
Letter" and "Anna (Go To Him)", and 6 Joe South writing
credits.
ANother one of more questionable origin is a 30 tracker
called "Dancing Mood" on the Ring of Stars label, allegedly
out of Italy, that contains material from their Arlen, ABC,
1-2-3 and Compleat recordings.
> Ray Whitely wrote the Tams' big hits but they also recorded
> some other Joe South compositions while they were with ABC
> Records:
"All My Hard Times" (produced by Joe South)
"The Greatest Love"
"That Same Old Song" (produced by Joe South)
"Carrying On"
"Concrete Jungle"
"Silly Little Girl" (my favorite of the Tams' ABC sides)
A couple other Joe South titles on the Tams discs mentioned
above include:
"Shelter"
"The Truth Hurts"
"Blue Shadows"
"Standing In"
"Unlove You"
While likely of interest to hard-core Tams fans there is also
a Joe South composition "Better to Have Loved A Little" on
the disc of re-recordings from the 80's "18 Greatest Hits" on
the Black Tulip label.
-- Roger
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 06:01:25 -0000
From: Tony Leong
Subject: In-Direct Motown covers
By the same token, I can think of several great songs that
are based on Motown melodies: "1-2-3" by Len Barry (though
I see no REAL recognition of the Supremes' "Ask Any Girl"),
"Mashed Potatoe Time", and certainly "The 81".
Of course with the invention of Cd's, years later, we hear
so much unearthed rare material from artists whose producers
were no doubt influenced by Motown. For example, on the Red
Bird Story, there's the Bouquets' "Welcome To My Heart" with
a background full of "Baby-Baby", and a Didi Noel song that
sounds like an outtake from the "I Hear A Symphony' sessions!!!!
Even the Chiffons dabbled in the mix with the "I Cant Help
Myself" bass/ piano line on the little known "Dream Dream
Dream". There's tons more from the Sue Box set, and a load
of British groups, but here's only so much space here!!!
Even in the New Wave '80's in England, there was a big (not
great) hit by Belle and The Devotions called "Love Games"
complete with "Baby Baby" and "oooo-ooo-whoo-OOO". Mary and
Flo really left an impression on all of us I must say!!!!
In closing, back to the DIRECT Motown covers--this is a scary
question: Has anybody out there heard the version of my very
fave Miracles song "Come 'Round Here, I'm The One You Need"
by-----The Cowsills???? Is it as frightening as Petula
Clark's (LOVE HER TO DEATH despite this) "Reach Out, I'll Be
There"?????????
Tony Leong (who visited the Hitsville studios in 1996!!!)
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Message: 11
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 01:03:33 -0500
From: Mark Hill
Subject: More Late Show With David Letterman-related Christmas trivia
Another piece of interesting, Late Show With David Letterman-
related Christmas music trivia.
In addition to the "traditional" Darlene Love song (Phil
Spector's "Christmas, Baby Please Come Home.") and annual
Jay Thomas Football Toss to remove the meatball on top of the
studio tree, there's one more annual bit that I think is
older than the other two. (Since Dave's NBC days.) That's
done each year by Paul Schaffer.
When the time comes, Paul goes on at length about a 70s TV
moment that he remembers "fondly"... And that is CHER singing,
"Oh, Holy Night" on THE SONNY AND CHER SHOW.
Then Paul does a cheesy impersonation of Cher doing that song.
"OH HO-LEE NAAAAGHT!!! THE LAATES ARE BRIGHTLY SHA-OW-NIN'!!!"
(<- My best text approximation of his Cher!)
I have never been sure if Cher REALLY sang it on a show, or if
it was just something Paul made up, so he could do the bit.
I finally found the answer out... this year... AT THE DOLLAR
STORE!!!
Where I found this:
GREATEST CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
Good Times Music 2-CD set UPC: 0 18713 01956 1
(c. 1999 Universal Music Special Markets)
That includes CHER's "O Holy Night" as track 10 on CD 1.
AMAZON link to the CD: http://tinyurl.com/dyzpk
Googling, I found out that this is (most likely) taken
from a 1973 SONNY AND CHER SHOW (3rd season)-
www.justplaincher.net/content-16.html
SHOW 57 -- SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SHOW- Guest: William Conrad
1. Sonny and Cher, along with all of the show's regular cast
members, gather at the Bonos' home to sing "Jingle Bells"
2. "Sonny's Pizza Parlor" -- Sonny throws a rousing Christmas
celebration at the pizzeria.
3. Sonny and Cher sing "Higher Ground" to an animated version
of the song by John Wilson.
4. Conrad appears as Santa Claus, listening to Sonny's gift
orders for the holidays.
5. Sonny sings "The Twelfth Of Never"
6. "The Legend Of the Snow" -- William is featured as a
disgruntled winter who won't let the snow fall.
7. William joins Sonny and Cher for a medley of Christmas
favorites, including "A Gift Of Song", "The First Noel", "Joy
To the World", "Oh, Holy Night" and "Deck the Halls."
Parts are available on this Sonny & Cher Show Christmas DVD:
http://tinyurl.com/98a5d
The cut on the CD is surely taken from the TV show, because
it's in mono, very brief and fades quickly, with some audience
clapping at the end.
The date on the CDs say, 1999. But there's a sticker on the box
that says SEPT 2005. Hard to believe this CHER cut has been out
there this long and avoided my watchful eyes and ears.
It's my belief that a fellow fan of Paul Schaffers annual bit,
sought this out to include on this CD. (???) It's so great to
find out the true origin of this classic TV bit.
Paul Schaffer's annual version can be read about here:
http://www.icriticus.com/ticker2004/archives/028009.shtml
As for the rest of the COLLECTION. There are 2 cds. One is
"Traditional", the other "Pop." Some good stuff, too.
Highlights being FANTASTIC, **STEREO** versions of BRENDA LEE-
Rocking Around The Christmas Tree and BOBBY HELMS- Jingle Bell
Rock.
I mention this because I bought a Rhino Christmas comp on
LP and later CD that only had (I think) the BOBBY HELMS cut
in a MONO version.
When I was a kid, I inherited my Moms Decca 45s of both of
those tunes and was used to the Stereo mix and some element
(Backing chorus?) was missing from the mono version on the
Rhino CD. It's here on the Universal CD.
2 CDs, all for $5.00 at Dollar General.
Dr. Mark
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 09:06:43 -0300 (ART)
From: Ayrton Mugnaini
Subject: Re: In-Direct Motown covers
Hello everybody!
Tony Leong wrote:
> By the same token, I can think of several great songs that
> are based on Motown melodies: "1-2-3" by Len Barry (though
> I see no REAL recognition of the Supremes' "Ask Any Girl"),
> "Mashed Potato Time", and certainly "The 81".
I just remembered another: the middle of the Hollies' "Sorry Suzanne", which
could be one of the Supremes or Four Tops hits: four-to-the-bar snare drum
and all, as is even admitted on the liner notes to a Hollies compilation.
Cheerio,
Ayrton
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Message: 13
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 14:37:19 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: Hidden Motown covers
Wait a second! Isn't the intro to "Nowhere to Run"" by Martha
& The Vandellas a variation on Brian Jones' guitar riff on
"Satisfaction"? Or was it the other way around?
Regards,
Artie Wayne
http://artiewayne.com
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Message: 14
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 09:53:06 -0500
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Re: Viva Records
Austin Powell wrote:
> Am I right in believing Warner Music now owns the
> masters? But hey, I just love that logo.
The last commerical release I saw of Viva material was on the Springboard
and GRT labels. I liked the more nostalgia stuff, like Rudy Vallee singing
"Who Likes Good Pop Music" (which I think came out about the time of
"Winchester Cathedral"), and the albums by the Midnight String Quartet
(I have all but one) and their harpsichordist Jonthan Knight. The Jonathan
Knight "Lonely Harpischord" series was somewhat like the Mystic Moods LPs
on Philips/Warner Brothers, but used a solo harpsichord and rhythm. Very
nice indeed.
Paul Urbahns
Radcliff, KY
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Message: 15
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 07:11:21 -0800 (PST)
From: Dave Monroe
Subject: 33 1/3 book series
"Thirty-Three and a Third is a series of short books about critically
acclaimed and much-loved albums of the past 40 years. By turns
obsessive, passionate, creative, and informed, the books in this series
demonstrate many different ways of writing about music. What binds
this series together, and what brings it to life, is that all of the
authors -- musicians, scholars, broadcasters, and writers -- are
huge fans of the albums they have chosen."
http://tinyurl.com/d7zv8
Check out the LPs covered so far: "Pet Sounds," "Let it Be (both Beatles
and Replacements albums of that title), "Village Green Preservation Society"
(which I just reread), "Forever Changes," "Dusty In Memphis," "Notorious
Byrd Brothers," "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn," etc.
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Message: 16
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 14:16:50 -0300 (ART)
From: Ayrton Mugnaini
Subject: Stoney Motown
Artie wrote:
> Wait a second! Isn't the intro to "Nowhere to Run"" by
> Martha & The Vandellas a variation on Brian Jones' guitar
> riff on "Satisfaction"? Or was it the other way around?
It's the other way around - Andrew Oldham was even known to
say that the Stones were about to release a mix of "Nowhere
To Run" and another song that they were to call "Satisfaction".
Compare also "Paint It Black" to "My World Is Empty Without
You". A Motown fan, moi?
Cheerio,
Ayrton
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Message: 17
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 15:52:27 -0000
From: ModGirl
Subject: Re: Joe South "Chain of Fools"
Rex Patton wrote:
> Among his other session work, that's also Joe doing that
> swampy opening guitar lick to Aretha's "Chain Of Fools."
Have you heard the 'long' opening to this song? I am a
subscriber to Mojo Magazine and they routinely send out
specialty CDs, and what I am assuming is the complete version
of "Chain of Fools" appeared on one of these a while back
featuring an extended opening that I had never heard before
and didn't even know existed, with Aretha singing only over
Joe's guitar before breaking into the familiar chain-chain-
chain 'short' opening. This was such a cool novelty to me I
played it several times over upon hearing it, not quite
believing my ears! The editors describe Joe's guitar work on
this particular track as Pop Staples-like, and I would have
to agree with that.
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Message: 18
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 11:02:17 EST
From: Matt Spero
Subject: Jingle Bell Rock in STEREO
Previously:
> As for the rest of the COLLECTION. There are 2 cds. One is
> "Traditional", the other "Pop." Some good stuff, too.
> Highlights being FANTASTIC, **STEREO** versions of BRENDA LEE-
> Rocking Around The Christmas Tree and BOBBY HELMS- Jingle Bell
> Rock.
I mention this because I bought a Rhino Christmas comp on LP and
later CD that only had (I think) the BOBBY HELMS cut I have
never heard Jingle Bell Rock in STEREO anywhere. Please give us
the information on what CD or album has the STEREO version.
Matt Spero
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Message: 19
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 07:53:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: The Isley Brothers/ Wayne Fontana/ Mickey Most and the Animals
Hasse...How ya' doin'? The Isley brothers...You know they
make me wanna' SHOUT!!!
I met Ronald, Rudolf and O'Kelly Isley at an Alan Freed Rock
and Roll show in 1959, when they signed my high school
yearbook. The next time I saw them was in London 1964, when
we all were staying at the infamous Madison Hotel, right off
of Hyde Park.
They were in town to do "Ready, Steady, Go"...and I was there
as a Songwriter/Publisher, playing my songs to whomever would
listen. I would chat with them at the complimentary breakfast,
along with other hotel guests at the time, that included
Wayne Fontana, the Mindbenders and the Pretty Things.
Peggy, the hotel manager, had a very strict policy. If you
didn't pay the daily rate for your room by 6:00 every night,
your belongings would be packed up and moved out. Although I
was only paying a pound a night [$2.80 US] for a tiny room in
the attic...I foolishly showed up late one night after the
6:00 deadline.
I had just spent the afternoon on cloud nine in the studio
with my friends, Mickey Most and the Animals, as they put
background vocals on "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
...but I quickly came down to earth when I saw my luggage and
guitar waiting for me in the lobby!
Peggy demanded her pound for the night...plus payment in
advance for four more nights! I searched through my pockets,
but all I found was a half-crown and a blank personal check,
that Peggy wouldn't accept. My heart sank, as her manservant,
who I'll call "Igor", started to drag my belongings down the
stairs into the street.
That's when Ronald Isley, who I barely knew, came over and
handed Peggy a 5 pound note. I stood there with my mouth
hanging open, trying to say thank you. As he ran off to meet
his limo, he smiled and said, "Don't worry about it...you
can pay me back the next time I see you."
The next time I saw him was 30 years later, when he came in
for dinner at Allan Rinde's legendary Chinese restaurant in
Hollywood, Gengis Cohen [which I named and hosted]. I
reintroduced myself and he laughed as I reminded him what
happened all those years ago.
He was surprised, and maybe a little touched, when I sent
the waiter over with a belated thank you note, a $20 bill,
and a bottle of the best wine in the house!
I thought I saw a little tear in his eye...but maybe it was
just Jeri-Curl juice.
Regards, Artie Wayne
P.S. Last week my "old" friends Jerry Ross, Van Dyke Parks,
Roger McGuinn, and Ron Dante dropped by my website to sign
my new guestbook. I'd be honored if you and all of my "new"
friends at Spectropop would click on and leave your mark for
posterity. http://artiewayne.com
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