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Always handle records like this - without touching the playing surfaces.
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There are 6 messages in this issue of Spectropop.
Topics in this Digest Number 81:
1. Bobbie Gentry question
From: Stewart Mason
2. Re: Mortimer
From: "Sean Anglum"
3. Four Seasons
From: John Clemente
4. Just a couple of facts
From: The Right Reverend Bob
5. Re: beach boy controversy
From: alan zweig
6. Phil Spector?
From: Carol Kaye
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 14:47:50 -0700
From: Stewart Mason
Subject: Bobbie Gentry question
I just did my twice-yearly used vinyl splurge at Bow Wow
Records (142 albums for $30), and among this batch were a
couple of Bobbie Gentry albums. I'm listening to ODE TO
BILLIE JOE right now, and the title track is on. I could
swear this is not the hit single version. My sense memory
of this single is that she sings it deadpan, almost with
the sweet-voiced detachment of Astrud Gilberto's English
vocals, and that's what makes the song so creepy. Her
voice is much rougher and bluesy on this version, and it
sounds like it's just a hair faster. Am I just
misremembering this song entirely or did she do more
than one version?
Just for clarity, the album is ODE TO BILLIE JOE
(Capitol ST2830), the cover photo is Bobbie in jeans and
a white t-shirt sitting on a fence, and she just happens
to be holding her acoustic guitar in such a way as to
emphasize her breasts. The back photo is even less
subtle, with her standing, back to the camera, guitar
over shoulder, left thumb hooked in the back pocket of
her jeans, looking over her shoulder with a facial
expression that says, "Yes, you looked at my butt before
you looked at my face. Why do you think I'm standing like
this?" Given that my childhood memories of her on the
Glen Campbell Show all involve modest polyester
pantsuits, I had no idea that she started out with a
Caroll Baker-with-guitar shtick.
Speaking of Glen Campbell (and modest polyester
pantsuits, come to think of it), I also bought BOBBIE
GENTRY AND GLEN CAMPBELL and discovered an unexpected
cover of Margo Guryan's "Sunday Morning," making this
the fourth version I own of this song.
Stewart
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 16:41:24 -0700
From: "Sean Anglum"
Subject: Re: Mortimer
Greetings Spectroids,
Thanks for sparking the "Mortimer" remembrances........
the best one I have comes from the May 1968 appearance
of John and Paul on the Tonight Show. They were in New
York to hype the new Apple label (and shop, and film
group, and publishing arm, et al) and appeared on the
Tonight Show (then taped in New York). Johnny Carson was
off that night and baseballer Joe Garagiola (sp?) was the
sub host.
Anyway, I had the Mortimer LP and knew what they looked
like and had heard the rumors of them either signing
with Apple or Apple Publishing (having some sort of
Baetle connection). Well, when the show went to
commercial during the J&P segment, what did my wondering
eyes see, but Mortimer all sitting front row and center
in the studio audience. If you're lucky enough to have a
video of this interview, check it out. They are there.
Gives more creedence to the Beatle rumors, I'd say.
All the best in 2001.
Raised On Records,
Sean Anglum
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2000 23:28:49 -0500
From: John Clemente
Subject: Four Seasons
Hello All,
I am sad to report that Nick Massi (Macioci), one of the
original Four Seasons, passed away from cancer on
December 24th in West Orange, NJ. He was 73. Nick
started his career in music by playing in jazz combos
with fellow future Four Season Tom DeVito during the
late 1940s. When he joined Frankie Valli and DeVito in
The Four Lovers in the late 1950s, it wasn't long before
the group changed its name to The Four Seasons, with Bob
Gaudio from The Bronx joining the three Newark natives.
The group hit big in 1962 with "Sherry", under Massi's
vocal direction, Charlie Callelo's musical direction and
the production and writing talents of Gaudio and Bob
Crewe. After numerous hits to his credit (Big Girls
Don't Cry, Marlena, Dawn, Rag Doll, etc.) Massi left The
Four Seasons in 1965. Massi then worked with The
Victorians (Reprise) and Carmel in the late 60s and 70s.
The Four Seasons were eventually inducted into the R&R
Hall of Fame.
John Clemente
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 10:01:53 -0800 (PST)
From: The Right Reverend Bob
Subject: Just a couple of facts
Brian Wilson did NOT regain ownership of his songs, from
Almo Music, A&M's publishing branch. The settlement was
for $$$! Brian had sued hoping to regain ownership, but
one, Gene Landy, had very different, goals in mind. So
the lawsuit focused on the dough, rather than on a
settlement that allowed Brian to regain his songs,
without a cash windfall.
The Capitol Years box set of years ago, was NOT a P Reum
production, or even a Peter Reum compilation. Peter, was
asked to, and paid to, write the liner notes for the
project, which was initially, done in England, Peter did
a wonderful job, on those liners, by the way, and I can't
emphasize enough, that this was a "legal" deal, and Peter,
ONLY WROTE THE LINER NOTES! The BBs English "deal" of
the day, was very different than it is today. World
Records, as they called themselves were "leased" the
rights to BBs recordings for a one time, limited and
numbered, issue. As long as, royalties were paid, as
contracted, the deal, that made the English version, of
the Capitol Years box set happen, was completely legal!
Now here's the tricky part! When the box set was,
illegally, as I understand it, issued in Australia, and
then, finally in Japan, (though, publishing law in both
of these countries, is considerably different than the
US or even England, ask Paul McCartney!), the fertilizer
hit the cooling unit. At that time, it was also
discovered that royalties were being paid to the BBs for,
the Survivors- Pamela Jean/After the Game. It was
erroneously believed, at that time, (Peter's liner notes
substantiate this error), that the Survivors were simply
the BBs in cognito. They were NOT. and the guys, that
WERE, the group, which did include Brian, BTW, were
interested in getting proper credit, and royalties.
Refer to Jamie's post in the previous issue of Spectropop
digest, for a more detailed, legalese, explanation of
the wonderful world of music and publishing
The Right Reverend Bob, dumb angel chapel, The Church of
the Harmonic Overdub
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 16:38:38 -0500
From: alan zweig
Subject: Re: beach boy controversy
I don't know anything about the current Beach Boys
controversy but I do find the uproar here on this list a
bit strange. Some guy actually had the insolence to say
that he disagreed with Carol and the jaws could be heard
dropping all over the world. As far as I recall, his
disagreement was very respectful.
But suddenly outraged fingers are banging on keys.
Carol reminds us once more of her qualifications. As in..
>With over 10,000 record dates to my name, a Lifetime
>Achievement Award, and a Women in Music Award etc., I'd
>say I have the background to support this lawsuit
>publicly to help my friends)
Since when did you need to be qualified to hold an
opinion or to support your friends? But it's not just
Carol herself who jumps to her own defense, even though
no defense was necessary.
BUT we also get supporters for her right to an opinion, as in...
> From: Dmirich
> Subject: BB recordings
> Carol has a right to side with the Beach Boys.
Not only that but again, in my opinion, he
mischaracterizes the disagreement. As in...
>But you shouldn't admonish Carol so strongly
I don't believe he admonished her at all.
(And if he did, she can stick up for herself.)
I hope my opinion here isn't seen as disrespectful.
I don't mean it that way. I'm just trying to keep the
conversation going.
AZ
P.S. :
>The BB lawyers must feel that there is good legal
>reasoning to file the suit.
Yeah, the good reason is they might make some money.
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 10:47:21 -0800
From: Carol Kaye
Subject: Phil Spector?
I don't think you can compare this with Phil Spector's
operation at all. Even I have a huge record company
compared to surf-s up,
Carol Kaye
--------------------[ archived by Spectropop ]--------------------
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