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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 23 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Instrumental hits
From: Mikey
2. Harmony Grass / Instrumental Hits
From: james botticelli
3. Re: Instrumental hits
From: Phil Milstein
4. Hi hat cymbal on Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel"?
From: Doug Morris
5. "Fifteen Only Fifteen"
From: Brian Davy
6. re: Classical Gas
From: Freeman Carmack
7. More Paul Leka!
From: Leonardo
8. Re: Instrumental Hits
From: Michael Godin
9. Charlie Calello
From: Kingsley Abbott
10. Re: Instrumental Hits
From: Dan Hughes
11. Re: Instrumental Hits
From: Mikey
12. Re: Instrumental Hits
From: Richard Tearle
13. Re: Barry McGuire/Grassroots
From: Mike Dugo
14. Re: Classical Gas
From: Francois
15. Instrumentals: Sounds Incorporated's "The Spartans" etc. and "Apollo"
From: Lindsay
16. Re: Charlie Calello
From: Mike Rashkow
17. Re: Joni Lyman
From: Jeff Lemlich
18. Re: "Fifteen Only Fifteen"
From: Wesley A. Smith
19. Re: Love Is Blue
From: Frank
20. Re: Sounds Incorporated
From: Richard Tearle
21. Re: Love Is Blue / L'amour Et Bleu
From: Dubois
22. Re: Sounds Incorporated / Mary Wells
From: David Bell
23. Re: Sounds Incorporated / Mary Wells / Love Is Blue
From: Richard Tearle
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 03 Oct 2002 16:47:01 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Instrumental hits
Richard Tearle:
> In my 60s group we recently had a poll and Classical Gas by Mason
> Williams came out as the top instrumental hit of the 1960s - any
> members here got any thoughts on that?
>>>>Yea, that "Hawaii-5-O" is a much better song!!
Your Friend,
Mikey
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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 03 Oct 2002 15:16:20 -0400
From: james botticelli
Subject: Harmony Grass / Instrumental Hits
I was happy to get my copy of Harmony Grass today...the CD re-issue
from 1998. Nice harmonies and an especially interesting cover of (It
Ain't Necessarily) Byrd Avenue. I always loved Spanky and Our Gang's
take on that and never knew it had been passed around. Upon closer
inspection (with a magnifying glass!) I saw Kingsley Abbot's name on
the creds. The original liners appear to be in 1 point font. My eyes,
well, they're just not up to the task of tackling those little letters.
Having no memory of the group, could I get a crash course? Kingsley?
Anyone else? Thanks in advance...
Richard Tearle wrote:
> In my 60s group we recently had a poll and Classical Gas by Mason
> Williams came out as the top instrumental hit of the 1960s - any
> members here got any thoughts on that?
Off the top of the head...More if this thread has legs
Music To Watch Girls-Bob Crewe
Summer Means New Love-Beach Boys
No Matter What Shape-T-Bones
Walk, Don't Run-Ventures
Let's Go-Routers
Let There Be Drums-Sandy Nelson
Latinesque-Esquivel
Theme From A Summer Place-Percy Faith
Java--Al Hirt
2120 South Michigan Avenue-Rolling Stones
Comin' Home Baby-Various
Jimmy Botticelli
Taking The E-Z...Way Out!
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Message: 3
Date: Thu, 03 Oct 2002 16:36:09 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Instrumental hits
Richard Tearle wrote:
> In my 60s group we recently had a poll and Classical Gas by Mason
> Williams came out as the top instrumental hit of the 1960s - any
> members here got any thoughts on that?
I would like to see the film that Williams made to promote it, which he
played (in lieu of a personal appearance) on the Ed Sullivan Show. It
was the first rapid-cut film I'd seen, perhaps even the first ever made.
The symbolic images he used were all familiar ones, but they went by so
rapidly that my mind was unable to process them all before the next
appeared. I remember being utterly drained after watching it.
The film was so spectacular that I felt sure it would be the talk of the
town (a Sullivan pun, for other aging New Yorkers out there) for quite a
while to come, yet I never heard about it again after that night.
--Phil Milstein
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 06:58:50 -0700
From: Doug Morris
Subject: Hi hat cymbal on Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel"?
Can anyone in the group tell me who was the studio drummer responsible
for that brilliant hi-hat on Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel"? It really
makes that song.
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 17:22:22 +0100
From: Brian Davy
Subject: "Fifteen Only Fifteen"
I recently downloaded an mp3 that had been given the title "Fifteen Only
Fifteen" by Donna Lee Ann.
It's an archetypal Girl Group song, in melody, lyrics & arrangement, but I
can find no information about either the song or the singer.
Can anyone out there help?
Brian
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 12:36:57 -0400
From: Freeman Carmack
Subject: re: Classical Gas
Previously:
> In my 60s group we recently had a poll and Classical Gas by Mason
> Williams came out as the top instrumental hit of the 1960s - any
> members here got any thoughts on that?"
And redone in the late 80s - early 90s by the irrepressible Mannheim
Steamroller (er, Chip Davis), WITH Mason Williams, no less! Whew-ee!
I would have thought that Paul Mauriat's "Love is Blue" would have
gotten a nod! It was one of our favs at the 7th Grade teen parties so
popular in suburbia in the late 60s ('67-'68), in the US, and I assume
other places as well. (It didn't matter that it was a medium-tempo
fox-trot, we still practiced the plod of the "dance-of-the-horny-
thirteen-year-old-males" to it). It was a chance to rub up against
females in a "socially acceptable" manner...or maybe not so acceptable!
Have a great weekend, all,
Freeman Carmack
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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 03 Oct 2002 22:22:07 -0000
From: Leonardo
Subject: More Paul Leka!
I think Paul Leka was a great pop-pysch producer, every recording I
have by the guy is amazing, the second Left Bank LP, The Peppermint
Rainbow, Steam, The Lemon Pipers. What else did he do that I should
be aware of? His string arrangements are some of the best I've ever
heard on a 60's record and capture 60's pysch at it's best and most
creative.
Has anybody done a recent article about his acomplishments?
Cheers,
Uplandmod
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 06:50:20 -0700
From: Michael Godin
Subject: Re: Instrumental Hits
Richard Tearle wrote:
> In my 60s group we recently had a poll and Classical Gas by Mason
> Williams came out as the top instrumental hit of the 1960s - any
> members here got any thoughts on that?
I'd have to say two other close to the tops would have to be Wipeout by the
Surfaris - a seminal hit of the surf era of the early 60s or Love Is Blue
by Paul Mauriat. It crossed international music boundaries from Adult MOR
to Pop Top 40. But Classical Gas is surely a very 'classy' tune.
Cheers,
Michael Godin
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Message: 9
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 15:16:17 +0100
From: Kingsley Abbott
Subject: Charlie Calello
Was CC ever associated with a poor record? -
Darn you, Richard!! There was a less than perfect
album I bought around 4/5 years ago because his
name was on it, which proved to be, shall we say,
indistinctive in a late 70s/early 80s sort of way...
but can I remember what it is, or find it now....
This will now worry me and lead to too long on
hands and knees inthe inner sanctum. I'll have to
tackle it myself as igor would never understand the
need... Still, perhaps I can replay the Seasons
back catalogue to make it more bearable
Kingsley Abbott
PS Should anyone be, or know of, a huge collector of
material/memorabilia pertaining to Mr Francis Albert
Sinatra I'd very much like to hear from them off list
- Thanks!
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Message: 10
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 14:00:32 -0500
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: Instrumental Hits
According to Joel Whitburn and Billboard magazine, the top instrumental
of the sixties--by far--was Theme From a Summer Place by Percy Faith.
It was second only to Hey Jude as the single of the decade (in terms of
chart performance)! Nine weeks at number one, 12 weeks in the top 10,
17 weeks in the top 40.
Love is Blue was # 12, with 5 weeks at number 1, and it is the other
instrumental on the top 25 hits of the 60's.
---Dan
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Message: 11
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 15:20:05 -0400
From: Mikey
Subject: Re: Instrumental Hits
Michael Godin:
> I'd have to say two other close to the tops would have to be Wipeout
> by the Surfaris - a seminal hit of the surf era of the early 60s
>>>>>>>And dont forget, TWO groups of teens got to hear wipeout...as it
was hit in summer '63, thgen re-released and hit the charts AGAIN in
summer '66.
I think that Wipeout and The Twist were the only two songs ever to be
re-released in their ORIGINAL versions and hit the chart twice.
And by the way...The Ventures "Walk Dont Run-'64" doesnt count, it was a
newly recorded verion, quite different from the 1959 original.
Your Friend,
Mikey
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Message: 12
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 20:01:49 -0000
From: Richard Tearle
Subject: Re: Instrumental Hits
Guys (& Gals?) - my thanks for the interest shown and I'm sure my
group will be interested in your comments..if it makes any odds, I'd
like to say that quite a few of the tunes you mention were in the
poll although there were a couple of notable exceptions: I did it on
25 tunes with the proviso of only one from any one artist; we aren't
a big group liike this one and the vote wasn't huge, but Class. Gas
was a clear winner.....and don't forget I'm British so opinions vary
(to quote Patrick Swayze!) - thanks again - they were all great tunes!
Cheers
Richard
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Message: 13
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 16:36:16 -0500
From: Mike Dugo
Subject: Re: Barry McGuire/Grassroots
I have a video of the original Grassroots backing Barry McGuire on
SHINDIG...maybe there is some confusion here? I don't know about
the Dunhill recordings, but it's possible they backed him on stage.
This Grassroots is definitely the previous Bedouins, who - as the
story goes - bailed when they thought Sloan and Barri were exerting
too much control over them. They later became the Unquenchable Thirst,
though I don't think they recorded under that name. Or did they?
Mike Dugo
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Message: 14
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 22:08:19 -0000
From: Francois
Subject: Re: Classical Gas
Hi everyone...nice chatting around here...I think Love is blue is the
instrumental version of French pop singer Vickie 1966's L'amour est
Bleue..Am I correct? Btw the group mentioned with the poll can be
reached if you care to at this Url:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sensational60s
Cheers
Francois
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 00:56:56 -0000
From: Lindsay
Subject: Instrumentals: Sounds Incorporated's "The Spartans" etc. and "Apollo"
One of my favourite instrumentals is "The Spartans" by Sounds
Incorporated (written by Russ Conway under a pseudonym). S.I. were
a big brassy band from the UK. They toured Australia with the
Beatles in '64.
Chartwise, they were more popular in Oz than in the UK. "The
Spartans" was a #2 in Sydney, #11 in Melbourne, but it peaked at
only #30 in the UK. They had two other tracks on the Oz charts
("Spanish Harlem" and "Maria"/"William Tell Overture"). No impact
nationally in the US, apparently.
I just picked up a 45 by S.I. doing an instrumental version of the
Beach Boys' "The Warmth Of The Sun", of all things! (It's not bad,
either.)
The B-side is a very nice instrumental called "Apollo". Both tracks
seem to feature an oboe, but maybe it's a clarinet or something: what
would I know?
I'm wondering whether anyone here knows the source of "Apollo". It
sounds as if it could've been a theme of some kind. The songwriting
credit is Sondus-New. (I notice that "Sondus" is an anagram of
"Sounds", but that's probably a red herring.)
Cheers,
Lindsay
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Message: 16
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 23:32:39 EDT
From: Mike Rashkow
Subject: Re: Charlie Calello
Richard Williams:
> Did Charlie Calello ever associated with a bad record?
Yes. He did some things with Louis Prima I think that were not so good.
Rashkovsky
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Message: 17
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 04:06:19 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Joni Lyman
Country Paul wrote:
> By the way, Mick, I have a Joni Lyman 45 on Reprise 0378 (1965): "I
> Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" (a beautiful version of the
> Bacharach-David classic)/"Happy Being Blue" (wr. Marty Cooper of
> Vejtables/Mojo Men fame). I'd never heard of Joni Lyman other than
> this, but your easy mention of her indicates there's more to know.
> Could you share the info, please?
Nooney Rickett told me Joni Lyman was part of his entourage, and when
he was booked to appear in "Winter A Go Go", she also got a singing
part in it.
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 02:02:18 -0400
From: Wesley A. Smith
Subject: Re: "Fifteen Only Fifteen"
Concerning Donna Lee-Anne--She did have a song that received airplay
in this area called "FOUR O'CLOCK", which was one of those typical
early 60's female tearjerkers. Her soft convincing voice filled the
role quite well. The flip side of "FIFTEEN,ONLY FIFTEEN", was also in
the same style.
"FOUR O'CLOCK"/"PAULA'S THEME"(Dore 640(6/'62)
"FIFTEEN,ONLY FIFTEEN"/"I COULD JUST DIE"(Dore 650)(9/'62)
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Message: 19
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 11:23:51 +0200
From: Frank
Subject: Re: Love Is Blue
Francois:
> Hi everyone...nice chatting around here...I think Love is blue is the
> instrumental version of French pop singer Vickie 1966's L'amour est
> Bleue..Am I correct?
Absolutely right and the instrumental hit version was mcuch bigger in the
States than in France.
Frank
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Message: 20
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 09:22:37 -0000
From: Richard Tearle
Subject: Re: Sounds Incorporated
Lindsay:
> I'm wondering whether anyone here knows the source of "Apollo". It
> sounds as if it could've been a theme of some kind. The songwriting
> credit is Sondus-New. (I notice that "Sondus" is an anagram of
> "Sounds", but that's probably a red herring.)
Hi Lindsay..I'm afraid I can't answer your question re Apollo, only
wish I could. Sounds Inc were a tremendous group and everything you
say is correct to my knowledge. They were well respected in the UK
but not chartwise (as is so often the cae over here!) The Spartanswas
a great recoprd - but they spent most of their time backing other
artists and very often American visitors on those wonderful 'package
tours' we used to have. But don't ask me who they backed - I really
can't remember now!
Cheers
Richard
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Message: 21
Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2002 12:53:04 +0200
From: Dubois
Subject: Re: Love Is Blue / L'amour Et Bleu
Dear My love is blue/L'amur et bleu fans-
This hit created by André Popp was also included in the soundtrack of
the Movie of "Come Together" (mostly composed by Stelvio Cipriani)
including My Love Is Blue sung by the Dells - and a vocal cameo by Joe
South (by courtesy of Capitol records).
"Come Together" the soundtrack (released on Apple Records- SW 3377) was
the musical companion of a 71 euro-sleaze soft erotica/false arthouse
movie about a man living a love escapade with two girls at the same time
(aaah the 70's!!):-) A William Cash Production!!!! Starring Tony Anthony,
Luciana Paluzzi & Rosemary Dexter.
Fans of Popp should check out the André Popp songbook cd on the great
label Tricatel: http://www.tricatel.com
(+ the David Whitaker songbook cd too while they are at it).
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Message: 22
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 07:13:31 EDT
From: David Bell
Subject: Re: Sounds Incorporated / Mary Wells
Well, I have to jump in here and say that Sounds Inc. backed my
favourite Motowner on her 1964 tour with the Beatles and on her
subsequent ballroom tour. Who? Mary Wells, of course. I posted a
picture on various soul sites of Sound Inc. when they were
rehearsing with Mary prior to this tour.
David.
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Message: 23
Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 12:28:46 -0000
From: Richard Tearle
Subject: Re: Sounds Incorporated / Mary Wells / Love Is Blue
David Bell wrote:
> Well, I have to jump in here and say that Sounds Inc. backed my
> favourite Motowner on her 1964 tour with the Beatles and on her
> subsequent ballroom tour. Who? Mary Wells, of course. I posted a
> picture on various soul sites of Sound Inc. when they were
> rehearsing with Mary prior to this tour.
Thanks David, I didn't know that either! I think it proves my point
that they were respected as musicians. But does anybody remember the
Stop/Go single? They performed one of them in a terrible Broitish
film called 'Just For Fun': it was one of those youth things with lots
of cameo appearances by various artists (Gene Vincent, Jet Harris,
Clyde McPahatter and Louise Cordet) were all in it singing their
'latest' hits! I was a bit of a Motown Rebel, I'm, afraid, and didn't
take to it at first: but My Guy was the first Motown single I bought!
That's testament to how good that single was!! And, finally, the
instrumental Love Is Blue was a big hit in the UK by (correct me if
I'm wrong) the Paul Mauriat Orchestra - but...did you know it was also
recorded (and a minor hit) for...Jeff Beck!
Cheers
Richard
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