
________________________________________________________________________
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______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________
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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 27 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Continental 4's "Day By Day" on CD
From: James Botticelli
2. RE: Be My French Baby
From: Phil Chapman
3. Falsettos etc.
From: Bill Craig
4. re: a few US 45 wants(CAN ANYONE HELP?)
From: JJ
5. Re: Be My French Baby
From: Frank
6. re: Be My French Baby
From: Brian Davy
7. Renaissance "Illusion" Island Records HELP27
From: Matthew Kaplan
8. Re: Seasonal Similitude / Wind
From: Javed Jafri
9. Re: Whooping melismas
From: Phil Milstein
10. Re: Newbeats
From: Justin McDevitt
11. Re: Eclection (no, not the band!)
From: Richard Havers
12. Worst falsetto
From: Phil Chapman
13. Re: Ketty Lester
From: Simon White
14. Famous Last Wirtz
From: Mark Frumento
15. Re: Albert Hammond
From: Jeffrey Glenn
16. Re: Falsettos
From: Simon White
17. Elaine Page/Nancy Wilson
From: Richard Havers
18. Re: The Utterly Marvellous Ketty Lester
From: Amber
19. Re: Whooping melismas
From: Phil Chapman
20. Re: Whooping melismas
From: Shawn Baldwin
21. Ketty Lester - Nice And Easy
From: Mike Edwards
22. Wind and the Carmel
From: Guy Lawrence
23. Re: Newbeats (+ Neon Philharmonic + Roy Orbison)
From: Jeff Lemlich
24. Re: Worst falsetto
From: James Botticelli
25. Re: Famous Last Wirtz
From: JJ
26. Three Nancys
From: Simon White
27. Re: Falsettos
From: James Botticelli
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 20:44:51 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Continental 4's "Day By Day" on CD
Alexandra Dillard wrote:
> I am still looking for the duet by James Brown and Lyn Collins,
> This Guy - This Girl's In love.
I have the 45, but I have yet to see it on any other format
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 18:01:17 -0000
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: RE: Be My French Baby
> A friend of mine has asked me where he can find a French version
> of "Be My Baby". Now, if you lot don't have the answer.......!!
There are a couple of French versions, most notably at the time by
that delightful troupe 'Les Surfs' entitled "Reviens Vite Et Oublie"
(and in Spanish as "Tu Seras Mi Baby").
Frank Alamo also recorded it using the same French lyrics, but BMI
lists another French title for BMB as "Arc Et Des Fleches", does
anybody know this one?
There's a couple of fun German versions too:
Bernhard Brink - Wo Steht Das Geschrieben
Die Flippers - Sei Mein Baby
All the above are currently available on various CD comps from
http://www.amazon.fr or http://www.amazon.de
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 03:53:08 -0000
From: Bill Craig
Subject: Falsettos etc.
With regard to the the high tenor/falsetto question we might
consider singers whose natural voice has a very falsetto-like
quality. Certainly Smokey, as well as Sting and Jesse Colin
Young would qualify.
Speaking of singing styles, having just watched a bit of American
Idol (My daughter had it on), I would like to know who we can
hold most responsible for the trend of the last ten years or so
of pop singing by definition having to incorporate all that nasal
melisma? Maybe Boys To Men or Mariah Carey? Whoa! Enough already!
When the history of Renaissance gets straightened out maybe we
can move on to Box Of Frogs? No responce to my Vacant Lot query?
I know the record was not a hit but they did appear on Upbeat to
lipsync it in '68.
Cheers
Bill Craig
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 09:29:22 -0000
From: JJ
Subject: re: a few US 45 wants(CAN ANYONE HELP?)
I´m looking for clean ORIG copies of the following US 45s;
CAROLE KING-Road To Nowhere(Tomorrow)
THE COOKIES-I Never Dreamed(Dimension 1032)
SAM THE SHAM-Oh Lo(MGM ´73)
Any leads appreciated!
JJ/Sweden
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 09:41:32 +0100
From: Frank
Subject: Re: Be My French Baby
There were quite a few French versions of Be My Baby
The first one and the hit single French version was by a group called the
SURFS (Reviens Vite Et Oublie) and the latest one was just a few years ago
by SHEILA (Comme Aujourd'hui).
Frank
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 17:04:38 -0000
From: Brian Davy
Subject: re: Be My French Baby
Hi Guy,
The song you're looking for is:
"Reviens Vite et Oublie" (or something similar) by Les Surfs.
Brian Davy
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 11:40:07 EST
From: Matthew Kaplan
Subject: Renaissance "Illusion" Island Records HELP27
Only because Eddy wrote: : The way I see it there is no way that
HELP 27 can be released in in the early 70's. Nevertheless, since
you seem to actually have the record, details would be appreciated
re: song titles."
I will not offer all of the information that I have been able to
find regarding Renaissance's second album entitled "Illusion."
The track listing is as follows:
1. Love Goes On (Relf)
2. Golden Thread (McCarty/Relf)
3. Love Is All (McCarty/Thatcher)
4. Mr. Pine (Dunford)
5. Face of Yesterday (McCarty)
6. Past Orbits of Dust (McCarty/Relf/Thatcher)
The group has two line-ups on these 6 tracks and that information
is as follows:
* Keith Relf (vocals,guitars)
* Jim McCarty (drums,vocals)
* Louis Cennamo (bass)
* John Hawken (keyboards)
* Jane Relf (vocals,percussions)
* Neil Korner (bass on 4.)
* Michael Dunford (guitars on 4.)
* T.Slade (drums on 4.)
* T.Crowe (vocals on 4.)
* Don Shin (electric piano on 6.)
- Produced by Keith Relf on tracks 1,2,3,5,6
And here is the rather convoluted release history of the record and
this does clear up all of those nasty confusing catalog numbers:
LP, Island (W Germany) 6339017, 1971.
LP, Island (France) 6339017, 1973.
LP, Island (Israel) 85 689 IT, 1973.
LP, Island (W Germany) 85 689 ET, 1973. Released with gatefold and
non-gatefold covers, with slightly different art on each.
LP, Island/Toshiba-EMI (Japan) ILS-80895, 1977.
LP, Island (UK) HELP 27, 1977. Original UK release. Front and rear
cover art are switched, liner notes by John Hawken announce the
release of the forthcoming Illusion (the band) release. This is the
version that I have of course.
CD, Line (W Germany) LICD 9.00425, 1987.
CD, MSI Music Scene, Inc. (Japan) LICD 9.00425, 1987. Repackaging of
Line release.
CD, Repertoire (Germany) REP-4513, 1994.
CD, MSI Music Scene, Inc. (Japan) MSIF-7392, 1995. Repackaging of
Repertoire release.
CD, Renaissance (USA) RMED00168, 1997. Unauthorized release?
I saw Renaissance play at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts
back around 1979 with Tim Weisberg as the support.
And that should now conclude a topic that I am sure nobody ever
expected to see on this mailing list.
Matthew Kaplan
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 22:51:51 -0500
From: Javed Jafri
Subject: Re: Seasonal Similitude / Wind
This crossed my mind just now. When I first heard the song "Make Believe" by
Wind (a Tony Orlando led studio outfit) I thought it sounded like the Four
Seasons. Released in 1969 it peaked at number 28 on Billboard. I'm aware of
at least one cover of the tune by Joan Jett.
Speaking of the 70s, I was an F.M. snob and still enjoy much of the music
mentioned over the last few days but I have to confess that I was missing
out on some of the AM gold at the time and have come to appreciate it.
Examples :
Magic/Pilot
Moon Light Feels Right--Starbuck (included members of Eternity's Children)
Sugar Baby Love/The Rubettes
Let Your Love Grow/Bread
Beach Baby/First Class
Some Sing Some Dance/Pagliaro
The Raspberries (actually I liked them from the get- go)
I never understood why FM ignored the Raspberries and power pop in general.
Badfinger was played but not much else. We got to hear the Wackers here in
Toronto. The Big Star albums were never even released in Canada and I'm not
sure how much FM airplay they got in the states. Power pop as a movement
was sadly ignored by both AM and FM but to my mind it was also a natural
extension of the core music we discuss on this list.
Javed
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 13:19:54 +0000
From: Phil Milstein
Subject: Re: Whooping melismas
Bill Craig wrote:
> I would like to know who we can hold most responsible for the trend
> of the last ten years or so of pop singing by definition having to
> incorporate all that nasal melisma? Maybe Boys To Men or Mariah Carey?
I blame it all on Patti Labelle.
--Phil M.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 10
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 12:24:53 -0600
From: Justin McDevitt
Subject: Re: Newbeats
Doug wrote:
> all this talk on the Newbeats and nobody has mentioned my fave
> song by them: "Run Baby Run."
Right on target Doug! This is a great tune that received local
airplay in the D.C. area in the early autumn of 1965. For me, it
has a strong association of getting my first bottle of Jade East,
or was it English Leather? Both fragrances had a detection range
of 50 yards, a trait which they shared with Ambush for women.
Back to music: What, (if any) is the connection between the
NewBeats and Neon Philharmonic? Did a Newbeat help to form the
latter group?
Justin Mcdevitt
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 18:33:55 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Re: Eclection (no, not the band!)
Top man Matthew....and you're right, who would have believed it.
But that is the beauty of Spectropop, it defies definition. In
many ways I think Spectropop demonstrates what is so wonderful
about pop music. It shouldn't be so demarcated that we cannot
like something just because it does not have the right label on
it. For me eclectic is best......and that's not a hint to have
a thread about Eclection, the pre-Fotheringay Elektra band!
Richard
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 12
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 18:46:36 -0000
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: Worst falsetto
Much as I love nearly all the records mentioned in the falsetto
posts, if I'm not in the right mood I find those same falsetto
vocals incredibly irritating. Top of the list would be Dick &
Dee Dee (I'm thinking of "Thou Shalt Not Steal"); near the top
would be Jimmy Somerville, Frankie Valli in 'Wonder Who' mode,
and dear old Russell Thompkins Jr at times. Do others here share
a pet falsetto vocal aversion?
Phil
PS - My favourite Eddie Holman falsetto is on "Somewhere Waits
A Lonely Girl"; not much of it, but brilliant!
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 19:08:24 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Ketty Lester
Amber wrote:
> Maybe the Utterly Marvellous Simon White will put the poor guy
> out of his misery and play Ketty's "Nice 'N' Easy" on his show
> this Sunday?
As ever Amber, your taste is impeccable and your wish is my command.
It was earmarked. Incidentally this track - it's a killer version of
the Frank Sinatra tune also done by Nancy (did anyone see her on the
Dale Winton Music Show recently?) - is on the Belgian bootleg CD
previously discussed, but I can't find out which album it is originally
from. Anyone know? Has Ketty's distaff take on Joe Tex's "Show Me" been
mentioned?
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 19:29:05 -0000
From: Mark Frumento
Subject: Famous Last Wirtz
A little more than a year ago I started a project to compile a
somewhat comprehensive group of CDRs dedicated to the work of
Mark Wirtz. As many of you know, RPM Records in the UK has done
a fabulous job of re-exposing Mark to the public... but still,
I felt, more should be done to remind people of the depth of his
work from the 60s through the 80s.
The result has been two single CDRs, a 4 CD box set and now a
final CDR call "Pop Works Two" (more on that in a minute). What
is most gratifying is that this little CDR effort has yielded
an official reissue of "Philwit & Pegasus" due to be released
by RPM later this month. Somehow this masterpiece has slipped
by the public for too many years.
The last CDR in this project is called Pop Works Two. It is
available at my cost of production/shipping or for swaps of
comparable material. A track list, cover photo, MP3s and email
address for inquires are at the web site below.
I have to thank so many Spectropop people for support and
encouragement, especially Phil Chapman for his vital
contributions and knowledge. The biggest thanks goes to
Mark W. for tons of great pop music.
Check it out Pop Works Two:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/popworks/pw2.htm
Don't forget to buy Philwit!!!
Mark F.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 15
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 13:04:40 -0800
From: Jeffrey Glenn
Subject: Re: Albert Hammond
> ...'74 saw "Air Disaster" and "I'm A Train" also chart in America...
"I'm A Train" was already at least five years old at the time Albert
Hammond had the U.S. hit with it. I've just played to musica a 1968
version by Colors Of Love, a UK folk/pop trio; it was the A-side of their
first (of three) 45s on Page One Records in the UK (though this is from a
promo on US Page One). Good version, and the flip side "Up On A Cotton
Cloud" - also a Hammond/Hazlewood song - is even better. Is trio member
Elaine Page any relation to Larry Page?
Jeff
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 16
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 19:08:25 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: Falsettos
Kingsley Abbott wrote:
> On the soul side, I'd have to throw Eddie Holman into the
> list as well.
I'm with Kingsley on this one. Eddie influenced the whole next
wave of Philly Phalsettos. But the king of the soul falsetto has
to be the aforementioned other Eddie, the sublime Mr Kendricks.
Honourable mentions have to go to the soaring angel in The
Flamingos "I Only Have Eyes For You" - is it Johnny Carter? -
I really should know - and ditto The Skyliners' "Since I Don't
Have You", both of which reduce me to jelly.
Shawn Baldwin wrote:
> Re Jimmy B's Top 10 falsetto songs: I love your list.
> Is the Continental 4's "Day By Day" on CD, do you know?
It was available in the U.K. on the now deleted "Battle Of The
Bands Round Two - First Class/Continental Four" from Sequel
Records. There were four in the series, all falsetto based
seventies soul groups. I've just compiled a CD "On The Real Side",
due out in Febuary, which contains amongst other tracks the flip
of "Day By Day", "What You Gave Up".
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 17
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:40:42 +0000
From: Richard Havers
Subject: Elaine Page/Nancy Wilson
Jeffrey Glenn wrote of Colours of Love:
> Is trio member Elaine Page any relation to Larry Page?
Don't think so, but she was very nearly a close relative
of Tim Rice! Her solo career reads like a who's who of
British stage musicals.
Simon White wrote re Nancy Wilson:
> did anyone see her on the Dale Winton Music Show recently?
Does anyone else in the UK find the whole notion of Dale
Winton and music show in the same sentence slightly worrying?
Apologies to American readership for a parochial post.
Richard
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 18
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 23:09:10 -0000
From: Amber
Subject: Re: The Utterly Marvellous Ketty Lester
Moi:
> Maybe the Utterly Marvellous Simon White will put the poor guy
> out of his misery and play Ketty's "Nice 'N' Easy" on his show
> this Sunday?
Simon:
> As ever Amber, your taste is impeccable and your wish is my
> command. It was earmarked. Incidentally this track is a killer
> version of the Frank Sinatra tune also done by Nancy. I can't
> find out which album it is originally from. Anyone know?
Hey blondie!
Aah, I remember it well, Ketty Lester's "When A Woman Loves A Man"
LP. It was on the Tower label and "Nice And Easy" was side two,
track two, I recall. Unfortunately, my beloved copy of this divine
record was put into storage when I was committed some years ago.
Darn it! Must dash, my face pack was due to come off ten minutes ago.
A.v.T.
xxx
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 19
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 22:27:03 -0000
From: Phil Chapman
Subject: Re: Whooping melismas
Bill Craig wrote:
> I would like to know who we can hold most responsible for the trend
> of the last ten years or so of pop singing by definition having to
> incorporate all that nasal melisma? Maybe Boys To Men or Mariah Carey?
Phil M:
> I blame it all on Patti Labelle.
...and I was going to blame Aretha Franklin, although she was admirably
melismatic without a hint of nasality. However, I think the above-named
artists display the modern predilection for technique over taste,
ironically exemplified by Aretha's rendition of "Nessun Dorma". Watch
out for Pavarotti's version of "Think" :-)
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 20
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 15:53:57 -0600
From: Shawn Baldwin
Subject: Re: Whooping melismas
Bill Craig:
> I would like to know who we can hold most responsible for
> the trend of the last ten years or so of pop singing by
> definition having to incorporate all that nasal melisma?
> Maybe Boys To Men or Mariah Carey?
Phil Milstein:
> I blame it all on Patti Labelle.
I blame Patti Labelle for nothing but flawless vocals!
Shawn
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 21
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 17:28:53 -0500
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: Ketty Lester - Nice And Easy
For Amber and Simon White:
The original Ketty Lester album on which "Nice And Easy"
appeared was "When A Woman Loves A Man" (Tower 5029, 1966).
This album was issued in the UK on Stateside 10196 the
following year.
Let me use this opportunity to make one last plug for
Ketty's Van McCoy-written, "Pretty Lies, Pretty Make Believe"
on RCA from 1965. Ketty Lester always struck me as being one
of those 60s artists who made great 45s but sold out to the
supper club set when making albums. Another example is
Nancy Wilson, whose version of Romance Watson's "Where Does
That Leave Me" was a 45 that didn't even make it to an album.
Another fine Van McCoy song, though.
Mike Edwards
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 22
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 22:31:08 -0000
From: Guy Lawrence
Subject: Wind and the Carmel
Javed Jafri wrote:
> This crossed my mind just now. When I first heard the
> song "Make Believe" by Wind (a Tony Orlando-led studio
> outfit) I thought it sounded like the Four Seasons.
> Released in 1969, it peaked at number 28 on Billboard.
> I'm aware of at least one cover of the tune by Joan Jett.
Wind seems to have been something of a rest home for tired
Bubblegum aces: - Bo Gentry, Richie Cordell, Joey Levine,
Anders & Poncia, Paul Naumann, Bobby Bloom and Kenny Laguna
all show up in the credits of the sole album released under
this name. The Four Seasons comparison holds water - the
great run of hits that Tommy James & The Shondells produced
while under the control of Gentry and Cordell has been
compared in sound to Frankie & company. Lack of falsetto
notwithstanding, tracks like "Out Of The Blue" and "Get Out
Now" have that same galloping beat and those same unorthodox
backing vocals.
As this Seasons thread is still running (on and on!) I'll
just bring up Nick Massi's involvement with MGM group
The Carmel. He arranged, co-wrote and produced their wonderful
semi-protest song "Let My Child Be Free" (MGM K13869) - one
of my favourite pieces of New York pop. I know of one other
Carmel single - was there a real group? If so, how involved
was Massi?
Regards, Guy.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 23
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 22:43:59 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Newbeats (+ Neon Philharmonic + Roy Orbison)
Justin McDevitt wrote:
> Back to music: What, (if any) is the connection between
> the Newbeats and Neon Philharmonic? Did a Newbeat help to
> form the latter group?
Neon Philharmonic vocalist Don Gant was heavily involved
behind the scenes with the Newbeats, and was a mentor to
Newbeat Larry Henley. (Umm, you might say he was the Wind
Beneath His Wings). Gant co-wrote "Run Baby Run" with Joe
Melson, the long-time Roy Orbison collaborator.
Gant & Melson also wrote Orbison's "Cry Softly Lonely One".
Orbison is a huge part of the Neon Philharmonic story.
Tupper Saussy wrote the liners to an Orbison LP. And
"Southbound Jericho Parkway", Orbison's kinda psychedelic 45,
is virtually a Neon Philharmonic record (minus Gant's vocals).
Now for bonus points, name the link between Nashville cats
Ronny & The Daytonas and the Neon Philharmonic.
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 24
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 18:11:46 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Worst falsetto
Phil Chapman wrote:
> Do others here share a pet falsetto vocal aversion?
I have to say Ian Whitcomb for "You Really Turn Me On"
("...and when-a-when-a-when you do...aha-aha-aha-aha-aha-aha
that's my song") bleccccccch.
> PS - My favourite Eddie Holman falsetto is on "Somewhere
> Waits A Lonely Girl"; not much of it, but brilliant!
I'd like to think I'm the sole owner of his brilllliant
jelly-kneed "I'll Be There" on ABC, but I'm sure I'll soon
be proven wrong! Also the ballad on his 1977 Salsoul LP
"Immune To Love" is a stone-killer.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 25
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 23:28:44 -0000
From: JJ
Subject: Re: Famous Last Wirtz
Mark Frumento wrote:
> A little more than a year ago I started a project to compile a
> somewhat comprehensive group of CDRs dedicated to the work of
> Mark Wirtz.......
> Check it out Pop Works Two:
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/popworks/pw2.htm
**Mark F. has done an INCREDIBLE/Labour of Love job, so I highly
recommend his CDs...GET 'EM WHILE THEY'RE HOT!
JJ
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 26
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 23:54:31 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Three Nancys
Richard Havers:
> Simon White wrote re Nancy Wilson:
>> did anyone see her on the Dale Winton Music Show recently?
> Does anyone else in the UK find the whole notion of Dale
> Winton and music show in the same sentence slightly worrying?
Alas, it was a Nancy of the Sinatra variety and not one of the
Wilson type. Dale, bless him, has a keen interest in music of
the type sometimes discussed on here.
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
Message: 27
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 18:04:39 -0500
From: James Botticelli
Subject: Re: Falsettos
Simon White wrote:
> I've just compiled a CD "On The Real Side",
> due out in Febuary, which contains amongst other
> tracks the flip of "Day By Day", "What You Gave Up".
Is this a new "On The Real Side"? I have a comp, I believe
from the UK, from the early 90s with the same name. We've
also yet to mention Eddie Kendricks' dancefloor packer
"Date With The Rain" from his 1972 LP "People Hold On".
Someone did a new "mix" of it a year or two ago and it
clocks in at over 9 minutes. It was a 12" killer.
JB
-------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]-------------------
End
