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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 20 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Neil Sedaka / All The Words In The World
From: Brian Grey
2. Goldmine Mag: Market Beat
From: Mike Edwards
3. Re: Northern Soul and the importance of flock wallpaper in Indian Restaurants
From: Simon White
4. Re: The 4 Seasons
From: Mike Miller
5. Re: Sorry, more Lovey Kravezit!
From: Scott Swanson
6. re: Four Seasons
From: John Lang
7. Re: Fading Yellow
From: Cedric
8. Re: Second Hand (Spector) Love
From: Paul Urbahns
9. Re: Fading Yellow
From: Mark Frumento
10. Re: No Surfing Today
From: Mark Frumento
11. Re: The 4 Seasons
From: Leonardo Flores
12. Re: 4 Seasons
From: Billy G. Spradlin
13. Help required
From: Ray
14. Re: 4 Seasons B-side hits
From: Mick Patrick
15. Re: Second Hand (Spector) Love
From: David Bell
16. Re: 4 Seasons websites
From: Stuart Miller
17. The Metropolitan Soul Show
From: Simon White
18. Holy Mackerel appeal
From: Barry Vaughan
19. Story of Them
From: Hans Ket
20. Re: mastered backwards
From: Jack Madani
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 15:05:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Brian Grey
Subject: Re: Neil Sedaka / All The Words In The World
Thanks, Tom for your help. Your guess of 1962 is right on.
A futher answer by Mike Edwards on this thread states it was
recorded Feb 9th 1962, but not released until on the album
in 1977.
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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 23:26:35 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Goldmine Mag: Market Beat
Cathy Barnaby has a Market Beat column in the Jan 24th
edition of Goldmine and she discusses the current state of
CD reissues with Mike Dalgaard, the dealer principal of Rock
Classics. Mike makes some interesting observations:
"Nothing really interesting has come out recently and lots
of collectors in their 50s and 60s are getting out of the
market. American record companies abandoned the 50s/60s
reissue market more than three years ago. That's what happens
when you have accountants making marketing decisions instead
of music people. Our figures indicate that there were almost
35% less reissue titles available this year than there were
two years ago."
What surprises me is that this decline is taking place as
Internet familiarity and use is increasing. No, I don't mean
mp3 file swapping, I mean the ability companies now have to
reach their targeted consumer base easily – the financial
institutions have figured it out, as we get 3 e-mails a day
asking us to refinance. Any marketing exec armed with a
twelve-year-old kid can find thousands of targeted customers.
Make that a sixteen-year-old kid and you've got millions!
Wouldn't it be nice to open Outlook Express one morning and
find an e-mail from Universal Music Group informing us that
they have a Reflections compilation CD available for sale?
Mike Edwards
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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 00:55:48 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Northern Soul and the importance of flock wallpaper in Indian Restaurants
James Botticelli wrote:
> One essential ingredient of pure "Northern" is often said
> to be the ubiquitous tambourine a-la-Motown. And don't forget
> the Vymura! Apparently Vymura--a record label removing
> substance--was used by some over the top jocks who didn't
> want their rare 45s glanced at while they spun atop the
> steel wheels at the infamous "all-nighters".
Never heard that one! I always thought Vymura was a wallpaper.
I doubt any Northern Deejay would try and remove a label. They
used to put paper over them so you couldn't see it - hence the
term "cover-up".
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 19:56:04 EST
From: Mike Miller
Subject: Re: The 4 Seasons
Four Seasons/Frankie Valli connections:
Confirmed backups:
Kokomos - both singles by the Kokomos on Gone and Josie records
are the 4 Seasons with a different lead singer added in there.
Frankie Valli is also in there, as he can be clearly heard on
all 4 songs. Possible lead singers are: Bob Crewe/Matthew Reid
/Kevin McQuinn or John Corey (aka: Johnny Saber) or yet another
anonymous voice - no one seems to know. But positively it is the
4 Seasons with a Bob Crewe production.
Matthew Reid - any song by Matthew Reid (actually David C.
L'Hereaux) on ABC or Topix and possibly the Scepter
single feature the 4 Seasons on backup vocals. Later in
the 1970s Reid reappeared in Canada as the disco singer D.C.LaRue.
He also recorded singles on Decca and Philips, but I have not
heard them, so I do not know if the 4 Seasons appeared on the
tunes.
Lenny O'Henry (real name: Daniel Cannon) - Valli and the Seasons
appeared on his northern soul gems on the Smash label from 1961,
"Mr. Moonlight"/"Burning Memories" - for those who have not
heard these songs, I advise you to find them and give a listen.
2 very early northern soul gems - a very rare record!!
The 4 Seasons may appear on the O'Henry songs "Saturday Angel"/
"Across The Street" from 1963 on Atco, another pair of early
northern soul gems. I have no valid reason why these songs
were not huge hits, except that there was so much good music
being released at this time that a lot was overlooked. The
songs were re-released later in the sixties ('66-'67) but fared
worse than the first time (actually the record charted in 1964).
The Seasons also appear on many of the ABC releases by
O'Henry.
The High Keyes (High Keys) featured Troy Keyes on lead along with
the "High Keys". Various records were released by this group
in 1963-64 on Atco. Crewe productions, Calello arrangements -
the 4 Seasons appear on all of these recordings. This is later;
after they had already hit the big time, they continued to do
backup vocals for Crewe records. It may have been happily or
reluctantly, no one knows. The best of these sides is "Daddy
Ohh Long Legs" and "Don't Leave Me Now". I believe that Troy
Keyes is also Lenny O'Henry. I will stick my neck out here and
say that Valli/Gaudio/Crewe might have gotten the idea for the
falsetto lead from Daniel Cannon (O'Henry), because he worked
in the 50s with Donnie Elbert, who was the first of the lead
falsetto singers (for the doubters: listen to "Believe It Or Not"
by Elbert. This was years ahead of "Sherry".
Well, thats all for tonight for me!! I will continue with more
in a few more days !!
Mike Miller, doowopdaddy
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Message: 5
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 17:59:58 -0800
From: Scott Swanson
Subject: Re: Sorry, more Lovey Kravezit!
> This has to be one of our more bizarre threads but I'm afraid
> I can't resist adding to it...
Well then, I may as well add my 2 cents too...
"Lovey Kravezit" was also recorded by The Bachelors -- everyone's
favorite MOR trio from Ireland -- and released on their 1966 album
"Bachelors' Girls" (every song on the LP had a different girl's
name in the title).
There's a priceless comment on the album's sleeve:
"We don't apologize for including Miss Lovey Kravezit,
Dean Martin's secretary in 'The Silencers.' She is the
swinging crazy chick in our bevy of beauties. She affected
us all very much, particularly Jimmy Page and his guitar solo."
I wonder what exactly they meant by "affected"? ;-)
Regards,
Scott
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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 18:06:17 -0800
From: John Lang
Subject: re: Four Seasons
I agree: "Candy Girl" is just marvellous with that riveting
electronic glissando. Also loved "Teardops" and their version
of "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" from the first album ("Sherry",
I think).
John Lang
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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 03:04:20 -0000
From: Cedric
Subject: Re: Fading Yellow
Kingsley Abbott wrote:
> Now a question - the current RC reviews Vols 2&3 of compilations
> called Fading Yellow on the Flower Machine label. They appear
> to be US pop harmony from the late 60s (Vol 1 being UK stuff)
> - they sound our sort of stuff - does anyone have them or know
> where to get them?? I trawled around London today without
> success. Someone please tell me more!!
Hi Kingsley,
I have all three volumes and they're fantastic! Actually there's no
big difference between the US and the UK stuff: the selection here is
pure (melancholic) pop psych. I don't think it qualifies for sunshine
pop or even harmony pop but i'm sure you'll like it. To get them, the
easiest way is to contact the man behind the project, a gentleman
named Jörgen "JJ" Johansson at tracksonwax@swipnet.se
Happy new year from France!
Cedric
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Message: 8
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 22:41:04 EST
From: Paul Urbahns
Subject: Re: Second Hand (Spector) Love
Monophonius wrote:
> There are questions about Spector's involvement with the Connie Francis
> record (he did co-write it.) There are no producer credits on the label.
> The track is never included on Spector compilations. I once read an interview
> with Paul Case (Hill and Range publishers) who said Spector produced a
> version of the song which Connie didn't like. It was too slow or something.
> She then went to Nashville and got it cut using Owen Bradley's session
> players (including Floyd Cramer). It sure sounds like it, but no one in
> Nashville has ever said they played on the record or taken any credit for it
> as arranger, engineer, etc.
I read a Goldmine Interview with Connie and she said the same thing, so case
closed. I talked to a Connie Francis expert a few years ago and ask if the
Phil Spector version would ever be issued. He said probably not unless
someone like Bear Family wants to include it on a set. Anybody out there with a
demo to post to Spectropop? Phil obviously includes Second Hand Love because he
wrote it, but it is not a Spector production.
Paul Urbahns
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 04:30:40 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: Fading Yellow
Kingsley Abbott wrote:
> Now a question - the current RC reviews Vols 2&3 of compilations
> called Fading Yellow on the Flower Machine label. They appear
> to be US pop harmony from the late 60s (Vol 1 being UK stuff)
> - they sound our sort of stuff - does anyone have them or know
> where to get them?? I trawled around London today without
> success. Someone please tell me more!!
I have all three volumes. A co-member of another Yahoo group I'm on
puts them out. I'm not sure I'd call the material "harmony" as in the
Ripples brand of harmony pop... more soft/sunshine pop if I can, but
for a brief moment, use those subjective terms. They are, for sure,
excellent compilations of very obscure material. I prefer the first
volume, being partial to UK sounds, but all three are worth getting
if you are into that vague category of music called pop psych. Get
them from the nice people at Freak Emporium:
http://www.freakemporium.com/shop/index_ie.html
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 04:49:53 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Re: No Surfing Today
I don't find the 4 Seasons' "No Surfing Today" among any of my CDs. Was it
ever put on a CD. If not, can anyone play it to musica?
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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 04:55:36 -0000
From: Leonardo Flores
Subject: Re: The 4 Seasons
Yes, my favorite band has got to be the 4 Seasons and Bob Crewe group
of people. First off I have to give major props to all the wonderful
articles that the Yahoo 4 Seasons group as well as Ken Charmer and the
official Unofficial 4 Seasons website as well as Mick Patrick and
Mike Miller for having such wonderful record collections and well
written articles about Crewe/ Valli and comapany. If you haven't read
the Charles Calleo Article on the site, it is one of the finest
interviews I've ever read on Rock and Roll! Thanks for keeping it alive!
The world of Bob Crewe and the 4 Seaons is a monster to collect. The
50's Crewe/Slay material is still somewhat of a mystery to me as they
did a ton of material. Between Bob Crewe's Labels alone (XYZ, Topix,
Perri, Dynovox, Dynovoice (bell), New Voice, Dynovoice(Dot), Crewe,
CGC and Maxwell) numbers in at 153 singles, that's 306 songs! That
doesn't count the solo Crewe, 04 Seasons, Swan, Vee Vay, unreleased,
"lost" records, LP's etc. Take a gander on BMI of the songs Crewe wrote,
over 1000 listed.
I always play a heavy set of Seasons and Crewe at http://www.the45club.com
Are you ready Now is still very popular with the Club. Maggie Thrett
Soupy, the Invitations What's Wrong With Me Baby, Opus 17, the Pround
One, The Night, give Her Up baby, are very popular and out here in LA
I've one of the very few who spins these songs. I believe Bob Crewe/
4 Sesaons were a very big influence on the Northern Soul sound. Quite
funny I had a lot of these records before I even heard the Term
Northern Soul and it was quite good that there so many other records
with that "sound" I love so much.
Valli was such a great singer of our times. He can sing anything and
make it his own.....what a career!
Cheers,
Leonardo
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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 08:38:30 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons
Peter Lerner wrote:
> My fave Seasons track? No question - "No Surfing Today".
> It was the B-side of one of their 60s singles. Radio Caroline
> (North) used to play it to death. Beautiful arrangement -
> great vocals.
"No Surfing Today" was the B-side of "Dawn", and a rebuttal to the
Beach Boys LP track "Sufers Rule" (where they sing "4 Seasons, you
better believe it"). Plus its another parody of the "death discs"
(Tell Laura I Love Her, Last Kiss) that were popular at the time.
(Frankie's "surfer girl" gets killed").
My personal favorite 4 Seasons B-side is "Huggin' My Pillow",
recorded as a LP track for 1964's "Rag Doll" LP but later wound up as
the B-side to 1966 "I've Got You Under My skin".
If you look at the Seasons catalog its also amazing they didnt have
any "flip hits" (though I have read "Connie-O" was a regional hit).
Billy
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Message: 13
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 05:03:08 EST
From: Ray
Subject: Help required
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the Phil Spector Masterpiece
Vol 3 CD? A mini disc or cassette copy will do. I will buy or trade.
Let me know at WINNIE1757@AOL.COM
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Message: 14
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 10:36:20 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons B-side hits
Original Message from Billy G. Spradlin:
> If you look at the Seasons catalog its also amazing they didnt have
> any "flip hits" (though I have read "Connie-O" was a regional hit).
Yo Billy,
For the record, the following 4 Seasons B-sides all charted:
Soon (I'll Be Home Again) - VJ, #77, 1963
Marlena - VJ, #36, 1963
That's The Only Way - VJ, #88, 1963
You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You - Philips, #96, 1966
Something's On Her Mind - Philips, #98, 1969
Fabulous group, the 4 Seasons.
MICK PATRICK
(Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955 - 1996 always at his side)
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Message: 15
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 05:24:01 EST
From: David Bell
Subject: Re: Second Hand (Spector) Love
In the Bear Family box set, Kissin', Twistin', Goin' Where The Boys Are,
which includes 2 versions of Second Hand Love, one a single track vocal and
the other double tracked, the accompanying booklet says,
"This Top 10 recording (it reached # 7), is alleged to feature either Spector
or Floyd Cramer on piano and though Connie's vocals were laid at A & R
(Studios in NYC), the backings, assumedly, were from Nashville."
The sessionography lists the producer as Danny Davis.
I'd love there to be a Phil Spector produced version of this song but I've
never heard of one. Bear Family do a thorough job on their recordings and
Richard Weize is meticulous at locating all tracks before issuing a box set.
I have friends who work for Connie and they insist that no Phil Spector
produced version has ever been found and that they doubt such a recording
exists. Only 3 or 4 songs have never been found in the archives that Connie
has recorded and she kept meticulous studio session notes of everything she
ever did. Please, somebody, prove me wrong and find this alleged recording!
David.
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Message: 16
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 11:30:23 -0000
From: Stuart Miller
Subject: Re: 4 Seasons websites
Following the current thread regarding Frankie and the Boys, those who are
interested may like to know of the following sites:
http://www.genuine-imitation-life-gazette.com - The Unofficially Official web
fan site. The convoluted title is a reflection of the current difficulties in
the relationship between the group and their fans. I would mention this one
first as I co-own it with my partner Frank Rovello. We attempt to bring
current news, tour information etc. as well as detailed discographies, old
articles, photos, interviews, etc. The interview with Charlie Calello that
Leonardo mentioned can be found on our site. Message posting board as well.
Web site growing continuously.
http://www.btinternet.com/~seasonally/ - The site mentioned by Martin Roberts
and run by Chameleon and others, and also the group's longest serving presence
on the web by far. Very strong on obscure articles, cuttings etc. as well as
current input. A labour of love, they have managed to keep going despite some
very adverse conditions at times.
ValliSeasons-subscribe@yahoogroups.com - A defunct web site but a fairly active
message posting board. Worth a look-in.
Martin - you mentioned "OK biographies" to be found on the web. We are
currently in the process on our site of trying to write definitive biographies
of all the principal players in the 4 Seasons history. This is not an easy
process, is very slow going, and to do the job properly depends heavily upon
the co-operation of the individuals concerned, as you might expect. We are
getting there gradually and I hope the final results will be worth it.
As an aside to this, the Seasons have had a intended Broadway musical of their
life stories in the pipeline for some time now, but there are constant
difficulties with scripts and so on.
Stuart
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Message: 17
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 11:38:28 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: The Metropolitan Soul Show
This Sunday 12th January 2003 on Soul 24-7 7pm-9pm GMT at:
http://www.soul24-7.com/index.htm
The METROPOLITAN SOUL SHOW, 02 solid hours of 60s, but mainly
Northern, Soul. This week - The Utterly Marvellous Simon White.
And as an added bonus this week - leading up to the Metropolitan
Soul Show - Sunday from 4-7 GMT, three hours of Soul, Disco,
Boogie and some other stuff from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Any requests before Sunday please.
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Message: 18
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 12:42:51 -0000
From: Barry Vaughan
Subject: Holy Mackerel appeal
Does anyone have the Holy Mackerel album for trade, or something?
Desperate to hear it...Thanks!
BV68
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Message: 19
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 14:32:59 +0100
From: Hans Ket
Subject: Story of Them
> Had to use my casting vote with the Record of The Week and the
> winner is...Them - I Am Waiting - Happy Tiger. Arranged by Mr.
> Nitzsche, who knew how to arrange a Rolling Stones record!
Thanks for the opportunity to listen to Them's "I'm waiting" for the
first time in my life (It's a pity that last 25 seconds of this song
seem to be missing). I think it's one of the convulsions of a band
with a confusing history, but who recorded a lot of great R.& B
classics (feat. Van Morrisson) some produced by Bert Berns. After
Morrisson left, various "Thems" soldiered on releasing their products
as "Them", "Belfast Gypsies" or "Freaks of Nature" depending in what
country you bought your records. One of the lineups recorded a great
"weird" freakbeat album in Skandinavia with producer Kim Fowley. This
"Them" must be the American Connection specialising in "garage" and
"psychedelica". Jack Nitzsche states: "Sometimes they put the name on
both sides of the record, but that doesn't mean I did it" Does this
suggest that Jack did remember arranging the other side (A side?) of
this 45? Is this the same song as Charlie Rich's "Lonely weekends"
also recorded by "George Bean" (1963) produced by Andrew Loog Oldham.
May I suggest "Lonely weekends" as a candidate for one of the next
"record of the week" at Jack Nitzsche At Spectropop?
Hans Ket
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Message: 20
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 09:13:03 -0500
From: Jack Madani
Subject: Re: mastered backwards
Phil Milstein writes:
> "Pow-Wow", the mastered-backwards flip of the 1910 Fruitgum Co.'s
> "Indian Giver", is a garage-pop version of "The Howdy Doody Theme".
> I realize this may sound like an early (or late) April Fool's joke,
> but it is the fact, Jack.
Okay, Phil. Thanks for the update. But don't worry, I never doubted you.
<:-B
Kcaj.
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