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Volume #0367 January 9, 2000
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Serendipity and synchronicity
Subject: BOUNCE spectxxxxxities.com: Non-member submi
Received: 01/09/00 12:12 am
From: Spectropop Admin,
To: Spectropop List,
========= Start of forwarded message =========
Subject: Re: This is NARAS! re: Spector 2000 Trustee Award
From: Eric
Dear Spectropop:
Thank you for your confirmation and the extension of my
request for Phil Spector material for the NARAS Trustee
Award.
I'd like to clarify one point so that potential
contributors will not be scared off. The Lifetime
Acheivement / Trustee / Technical Awards ceremony is a
live presentation which is held as part of at the annual
GRAMMY Nominees reception held the night before the GRAMMY
Awards, Tuesday, February 22. This event is a non-broadcast
event where a 3-4 minute compilation of the honorees'
accomplishments will be shown. Copyright control of
materials is *NOT* required for material to be included in
this compilation.
The 42nd annual GRAMMY Awards will be telecast on the CBS
Television Network (8-11 PM ET/PT) on Wednesday, February
23, 2000 from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. During this
broadcast a 15-30 compilation of the Lifetime Achievement
and Trustee Award honorees will be shown on air. Anything
we show on air will have to have been cleared with the
copyright owners prior to the broadcast. Normal on air
material is chosen that is relatively easy to clear.
Please assure your members that we understand that as
collectors most material they own is copyrighted material
-- unless its something like a candid photo they shot
themselves, a record company publicity photo, or some sort
of record store promotion display. We can still use it for
the live event.
If you have additional questions regarding copyright
please contact me.
Thanks again very much for your kind support of our
tribute to Phil Spector.
Eric Jerstad
NARAS/RAMP
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Subject: lucy in london
Received: 01/08/00 10:28 pm
From: john rausch
To: Spectropop List
To Rein Smilde:
Phil Spector sings the title song Lucy In London, not the
Ronettes. A very uptempo number with the whole wall of
sound. Also I would like to know who does the other
recordings: "Rockin' around the christmas tree", "Jingle
bell rock", "Let it snow, let it snow" that you mention on
the "Christmas Wall Of Sound: A tribute to Phil Spector" CD?
John Rausch
Phil Spector`s Wall Of Sound at
http://members.tripod.com/~rauschj/
and
Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes at
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Studio/2469/
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Subject: Outrageous Cherry
Received: 01/09/00 12:32 pm
From: David Feldman
To: Spectropop List
Bryan Thomas said:
> "Phil Spector is reportedly considering a return to the
> studio. It seems the producer heard Outrageous Cherry (a
> Detroit fuzz-thing with Brian Wilson melodies), on the
> radio, and announced his intentions to Kim Fowley with the
> immortal words, 'These guys are f&#$ing great.'"
Funny you should mention this. I believe it was Stewart
Mason who recommended the O.C. album based on an advance
copy. I tried to buy it from an online shop a couple of
times with no success, but I finally received a copy,
which lay unopened until about two weeks ago.
Along with the Stevie Wonder box set, it has been #1 on my
CD changer ever since. The album is terrific. It's the kind
of craftsmanship in modern pop that I crave.
And right as I type this, I hear the strains of the
opening piano solo of Stevie's "Ribbon in the Sky" on a
videotape of "Now & Again," the new Glen Caron Smith show
on CBS. I've been obsessed with the song and particularly
the piano intro, and whaddya know? Serendipity and
synchronicity.
Dave Feldman
http://www.imponderables.com
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Subject: Sumpreme Lineup
Received: 01/09/00 12:32 pm
From: Claudia
To: Spectropop List
Regarding William Stos' question as to what we think of
the Supremes reuniting for a t.v. spectacular (one time
only), I feel that it would be great to see it, I would
certainly tune in. But the Supremes, to me, were always
Flo, Mary and Diane....Cindy Birdsong, although talented,
to me was always part of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells
("I Sold my Heart to the Junk Man") and not a Supreme. Jean
Tyrell, Linda Lawrence and Sherry Payne were NEVER in the
same league as the original lineup. The name, the Supremes,
should have been retired when Florence died.
In Mary Wilson's book on the group, she mentions that Flo
was the genuinely "talented one"...Her voice was
reminiscent of the old time gospel singers...Flo got her
practice singing in a church choir before joining the
group. Mary says Flo's suprano voice was so powerful that
when the group recorded they would place Flo about 15 feet
away from the other girls so she wouldn't overpower Diane's
lead. It was tragic, according to Wilson's book, that all
Flo got to do with the Supremes was sing, "ooh, baby, baby,
baby" behind Diana Ross.
There are some album cuts out there of Flo singing solo
which I'd love to get my hands on. Mary lamented Flo's
fate, (an early death), utterly despondent over Diana
Ross's star treatment at the hands of lover, Berry Gordy
and fed up with promises by Gordy to let Mary and Flo sing
lead vocals on other recordings, (not just Ms. Ross), which
never happened.
Of course, Flo died of her alcoholism - (probably more
than likely of a broken heart), living on welfare, always
looking for that big comeback and never getting it. All
that remained of her fortune was the Cadillac which she
and her husband drove around Detroit. She was down to
earth and salty, always adored her fans and would stand
and chat with them while Diane did a slow burn, telling
Flo not to mingle with the peasants (fans) .... It was an
interesting read ("Dream Girls" by Mary Wilson).
So, I would tune in to see how the "Supremes" look today
but it would be bittersweet without Florence Ballard
singing with them....even if all we heard was her "ooh,
baby, baby" in the background.. As I always say, Dobie
Gray was right when he sang in the "In Crowd" ("...the
originals are still the greatest")
Claudia
_______________________________
"Paul McCartney? Oh, he's a very nice fellow, once you
get to know him."
Ringo, 1964
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Subject: French music
Received: 01/08/00 10:28 pm
From: Marie J. Leclerc
To: Spectropop List
Dear Spectropop,
I have been reading with great interest the discussion on
French Pop music. My English writing isn't the best, but I
would like to add something.
If you were to ask me who is the best French writer and
artist, I would say Gainsbourg, hands down. To explain the
way he plays with words, his poetry is very hard, it's
something you just feel. I have always thought he could be
compared to Brian Wilson as a genius composer. I would also
like to mention Charles Aznavour. I'm not sure if we can
call him Pop, maybe not, but then again, his work is of
great quality and sensibility. As a Quebecer, I have
listened to my share of copycat artists singing the US and
UK hits. Five years ago, I would have laughed at those
versions, all in French, but as I am getting older, I find
humor in it and appreciation of the music/instrumentation
that differ. I am thinking of Tony Roman version of
Manfred Mann hit, Les Baronets which featured Rene Angelil
(Celine Dion husband/manager) and their many versions of
Beatles hits. It was a nice and refreshing moment to hear
a version of The Beach Boys Fun Fun Fun the other day, but
all in French, from a Montreal 60's group.
My older brother used to be a big success in our small
town playing guitar with a group that attracted a crowd
each Saturday night with a version of The House of the
Rising Sun. They renamed it Les portes du Penitencier,
right from the Johnny Haliday version. They couldn't have
sung the Animals words, since nobody in the band spoke one
word of English. Either you translated the song to French
or you sang it phonetically, which meant they would often
sing songs while having no clue what the words were about.
What I mean to say is, I now see this music as an asset, a
different way to hear a song. Thanks for reading.
Regards,
Marie
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Subject: "Da Doo Ron Ron" - the epitome of silliness?
Received: 01/09/00 6:26 pm
From: Frank
To: Spectropop List
Lindsay Martin wrote
>
>Jake Tassell approvingly mentions French writer/producer/
>singer Serge Gainsbourg and his work with Francoise Hardy,
>Jane Birkin and others.
>
>Hardy's "Comment Te Dire Adieu", has a spoken refrain
>which is one of the most sexy and heartbreaking things
>I've heard on a pop record. And take a look at the lyrics,
>by Gainsbourg (go to
Being French I'd tend to agree with you, Lindsay, but what
you write stresses a point : French artists always tend to
emphasize lyrics as opposed to the generally "production
centered" works of American pop. As far as I can remember
there has never been any worthwile equivalent of a song
like "Da Doo Ron Ron" for instance. This song is even
regarded in France as the epitome of silliness. Most of
our singers failing to recognise the the greatness of the
production (not to mention the singer!). I'm afraid there
was definitely no French artist to even come near the magic
of what US and then British producers and singers gave us.
Again, this is not to say that we had no great artists
over here, I already mentioned Gainsbourg and Trenet and
many many more but they all dwelved in a kind of music
that was and is entirely different.
>Tommy Steele never really sounds
>convincing to me as a rocker, but you don't need to make
>any excuses for Johnny Kidd & The Pirates' "Shakin' All
>Over". (And check out "The Cruel Sea", a surf-instrumental
>masterpiece by Britain's Dakotas, of Billy J. Kramer fame!)
Quite true "Shakin All Over" is definitely a classic. And
the same definitely goes for "Friday on My Mind".
FRANK
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Subject: BOUNCE spectxxxxxities.com: Non-member submi
Received: 01/09/00 12:12 am
From: Spectropop Admin
To: Spectropop List
========= Start of forwarded message =========
Subject: The early 60s works of Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield didn't get mass recognition early on as
did the Motown stars, and because he is so strongly
recognized for his Superfly-era work, his contribution
to the seminal R&B music of the 60s is often overlooked.
Born in Chicago on June 3, 1942, as a child Mayfield
taught himself to play guitar. Mayfield began his musical
career with a school band called the Alphatones, where he
began developing his trademark tenor voice. In 1956, he,
Jerry Butler, Arthur and Richard Brooks, and Sam Gooden
formed a new group, The Roosters. In 1958, The Roosters
were renamed The Impressions and had a big hit with "For
Your Precious Love," Lead vocalist Jerry Butler started a
solo career, but Mayfield kept the Impressions together.
He was a very good guitarist, too, and his weaving, Latino
guitar phrases characterized many of his early recordings,
including "Gypsy Woman," an amazingly compassionate and
sensitive record. Although it was unusual for soul
performers in the early 60s to write their own material,
Mayfield wrote and sang some of the finest soul music of
the 60s. "Gypsy Woman," "People Get Ready," "It's All
Right," "People Get Ready," "He Will Break Your Heart,"
"Keep On Pushing," and "Find Yourself Another Girl" are all
essential listening to anyone even vaguely interested in
60s soul.
As a songwriter and a producer, Mayfield's work epitomized
the Chicago sound that rivaled the Motor City. He was the
driving force in Chicago, not only through his work with
the Impressions, but also through his writing and
producing Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler and Major Lance. At
the time, perhaps the only other soul artist doing this
much production work was Smokey Robinson.
While the majority of contemporary black soul material
focused on love songs and the latest dance crazes,
Mayfield was stretching the limits. He was perhaps the
very first soul singer to write about African-American
pride and community struggle in his songs, a concept
followed by R&B, funk and rap artists ever since.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice,
first with his gospel-soul group, the Impressions in 1991.
He was inducted again in 1999 for his solo career, which
began in 1970 after he left the Impressions.
Mayfield died on Sunday, December 26, 1999. He was 57.
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Subject: Le Dernier Mot Sur Le Pop Francais
Received: 01/09/00 11:20 pm
From: jake tassell
To: Spectropop List
Dear Spectropop
Thanks very much to Frank and Lindsay for their thoughtful
and informative responses to my French Pop prompt. For
those wanting a suitable footnote to this discussion, I
just found one on this URL:-
http://www.emperornorton.com/artists/pop_romantique/index.html
Regarding Serge Gainsbourg; The Anglo-tongued
unenlightened would do well to check out:-
http://www.wfmu.org/~bart/sg.html
for a witty biog in English of 'L'Homme a Tete de Chou'.
Unfortunately for the more 'sauvage' of Spectropoppers,
the Gainsbourg site with a WAV of 'The Whitney Houston
Incident' does not yet exist.
Potential fans of contemporary Francopop (it's been big in
England - don't know where else) could do worse than check
out 'Moon Safari' by Versailles band: Air - in my opinion
one of the best pop albums of the last five years, their
'proper' follow-up is scheduled for Autumn, imminent is
their soundtrack to the film 'The Virgin Suicides'. Air
stuff at:-
http://source.astralwerks.com/air/
Fin
Jake Tassell
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Fin
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