Sunday, July 24, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

PHIL SPECTOR'S WALL OF SOUND

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 08:57 PM PDT


The Ronettes Phil Spector George Harrison

A good portion of my favorite Retro 60's songs were produced by Phil Spector. A very unstable musical genius with a vision. His methods in recording have never been matched though Motown's Funk Brothers and Berry Gordy gave him a run for his money.

Phil's impact on American Pop Music is undeniable... I did not even know until tonight that Phil produced so many songs with the Beatles. Though it is said that Paul McCartney didn't approve of Phil's orchestration on Beatle songs like "Long and Winding Road"


Phil Spector

Considered by many to be the greatest rock and roll producer of all time. In the early Sixties, Phil created the famous "Wall of Sound" technique that inspired countless musicians and producers..


The Ronettes

He put girl groups on the map with hits by The Ronettes and The Crystals. Brought a dramatic, orchestral flair to teen pop that was unheard of at the time.


The Crystals

Phil Spector's Number 1 Hits

The Teddy Bears, "To Know Him Is To Love Him" (1959)
The Crystals, "He's A Rebel" (1962)
The Righteous Brothers, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (1965)
The Beatles, "The Long And Winding Road" (1970)
George Harrison, "My Sweet Lord" (1970)
Spector's Complete Discography

To attain his "Wall of Sound" signature sound, Phil Spector gathered large groups of musicians (playing some instruments not generally used for ensemble playing, such as electric and acoustic guitars) playing orchestrated parts—often doubling and tripling many instruments playing in unison for a fuller sound.



Spector also arranged the songs for large groups of musicians playing instruments traditionally associated with orchestras (such as strings, woodwinds, and brass). Spector himself called his technique "a Wagnerian approach to rock & roll: little symphonies for the kids". Read More



Just look at some of the songs/films Phil Spector produced.... it's staggering!

"Uptown," The Crystals; "He's Sure The Boy I Love," The Crystals; "Baby, I Love You," The Ronettes; "Walking In the Rain," The Ronettes; "River Deep - Mountain High," Ike and Tina Turner; "Black Pearl," Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, Ltd.; "Mother," John Lennon; "Power to the People," John Lennon; "Bangla-Desh,"John Lennon; "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," John Lennon and Yoko Ono; "Rock And Roll High School," The Ramones; "Do You Remember Rock N' Roll Radio," The Ramones wrote or co-wrote (not produced by Spector): "Spanish Harlem," Ben E. King \. Appears in the movies: "The T.A.M.I. Show" (1964), "The Big T.N.T. Show" (1966), "Easy Rider" (1969), "The Concert for Bangladesh" (1972), "Imagine" (1972), "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" (2003)

SCOTT MORGAN'S SUNDAY VIDEOS

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 08:13 PM PDT


Scott Morgan and Kimmer

I aint mad at you.... don't be mad at me..... Kimmer LOVES this video!!! great pic Scotty...



Dr John 1969...



Classic...



Where Janis Joplin went to school..



YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME.. ROKY ERICKSON/DENIZ TEK

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 07:32 PM PDT


The 13th Floor Elevators

The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland, which existed from 1965 to 1969. During their career, the band released four LPs and seven 45s for the International Artists record label.


Rare performance video of 13 Floor Elevators....



You know... strange as it may seem... since I began Retro: Kimmer's blog in 2008... So many of the musicians and music fans I have met have given me such a musical education. 13th Floor Elevators are band I never heard of... Deniz Tek is a huge Roky Erickson fan and Deniz recorded with Roky years ago in Texas. Deniz told me alot about this band. My Facebook friends have filled in a lot of history as well. Gotta love the internet!


Deniz Tek and Radio Birdman

From Deniz: I've been inspired by the voice and songs of Roky Erickson aka Roger Kynard Erickson, from my teen years. His band the 13th Floor Elevators recorded at Sugar Hill in the 60s on the International Artists label. Some say they spearheaded psychedelic rock.

Deniz's band Radio Birdman did a great cover of "You're Going to Miss Me"... Occasionally I will post one version or another as lots of garage bands covered Miss Me too. It is just a classic rock song... Sad that I missed out on these great bands years ago but how LUCKY I am to meet the bands now and hear the back stories of these great songs...

The 13th Floor Elevators found some commercial and artistic success in 1966-67, before dissolving amid legal troubles and drug use in late 1968 (familiar story...). As one of the first psychedelic bands, their contemporary influence has been acknowledged by 1960s musicians such as Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Peter Albin of Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Chris Gerniottis of Zakary Thaks. Their debut 45 "You're Gonna Miss Me", a national Billboard #55 hit in 1966, was featured on the 1972 compilation Nuggets: Original Artifacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968, which is considered vital in the history of garage rock and the development of punk rock.




Punk band Television played their song "Fire Engine" live in the mid-1970s. In the 1980s-90s, the 13th Floor Elevators influenced important bands such as Primal Scream and Spacemen 3, both of whom covered their songs, and 14 Iced Bears who use an electric jug on their single "Beautiful Child".

In 2009 the International Artists released a ten CD box set entitled Sign of the 3-Eyed Men, which included the mono and new, alternate stereo mixes of the original albums together with two albums of previously unreleased material and a number of rare live recordings.

THE COWSILLS: THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS...

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 01:06 PM PDT



Occasionally when I am stuck for a story to write, I'll post music videos on my Facebook page and see what my friends feel strongly about... This past week I posted the Cowsills video of The Rain, The Park, and Other Things...



The Cowsills did have two Number Two hits, "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" and the title track to the hit rock musical Hair. They were nearly reality-television pioneers, as well: The filming of their daily life together was briefly considered for a TV program, before producers decided to fictionalize the story as The Partridge Family.


The Cowsills

My friends and fans jumped all over this song... and The Cowsills in general...

The family band first performed in 1965. Bill, Bob, Barry, John, Susan, and Paul in tandem with mom Barbara were the Cowsills line up. Barry sadly passed away in the wake of Hurricane Katrina at age 51. Read More

Bill was the front man and he too sadly passed away at age 58. Bill Cowsill, who was once considered as a possible replacement for Brian Wilson in the Beach Boys' touring band, was the first family member to release a solo album, 1971's Nervous Breakthrough.



Some of the siblings eventually fell out of the music business; Bob, John, Susan and Paul briefly reunited in the late Seventies, recording a set of songs that went unreleased. It was the first of the Cowsills' periodic comebacks, most recently in 1998, when they released an Internet-only album.


The Cowsills

Both Barry and Susan had their lives turned upside down by Hurricane Katrina, which hit the gulf coast in August 2005, since both were residents of the New Orleans area at the time. Susan and her family lost their home and most of their belongings but they were all safe during the hurricane and it's aftermath and returned to live in New Orleans in January 2006.

Barry, unfortunately, did not get out of New Orleans before Katrina hit and was among the missing of Hurricane Katrina for 4 months. Then, sadly, on January 4th, 2006, The Cowsill family got the news that Barry's body had been found and identified

Barbara Cowsill died of emphysema in Tempe, Arizona in 1985.

Susan Cowsill has embarked on a solo career and has a new CD of singer/songwriter music that is getting high critical praise. The CD "Just Believe It" is on the Blue Corn Music label and features guest vocals by Adam Durst of the Counting Crows and Lucinda Williams.

She is good...




Quotes from my readers:

Jeff P wrote: another fine tune penned by the Father of Woodstock, Artie Kornfeld (born Arthur Lawrence Kornfeld, 9 September 1942, Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, record producer and music executive, aka "The Pied Piper" i dig it too "The Rain, The Park & Other Things", (aka "I Love The Flower Girl")really i want to hear Susan Cowsill sing "And Spaghetti" from Hair one more time.

Ted C: I like Hair and Indian Lake too :)

Larry L My friend Wendy is a huge fan of them. She has been in touch with Susan Cowsill for some time

Wendy.... I'm an Endless, Lifelong Cowsill Fan. -Many tragedies in that family, including Barry and Bill's deaths. -If you are a 'True' fan, check OUT Susan Cowsill Today.... She IS Amazing. Bill Cowsill (who is singing lead on 'Rain, Park and Other Things') died at home on February 18, 2006...just as services were being held for Barry Cowsill: Who died in the midst of Hurricane Katrina.

THE WORLD'S YOUNGEST PRO DRUMMER: JULIAN PAVONE!

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 12:25 PM PDT


Macomb Township, MI World's Youngest Drummer

Hey gang... check this young man out! Wow what a talent... Got a phone call from Randy Bernard of the band Slaves of Illuminati yesterday and he asked if I knew Julian Pavone. No I do not but I want to meet Julian and his family soon... Randy is a huge fan of Julian's and now I am too..


Julian on Jazztimes.com (2006)

A little bit about this incredible musician...

Julian is now 7 and lives in Macomb Township, about 25 miles north-northeast of Detroit. His drummer-father, Bernie Pavone, said Julian's percussion background dates back before birth.

"I used to play music on my wife's stomach all the time when she was pregnant with Julian," Guinness quoted the father as saying.

Julian has appeared on about 150 television and news shows, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America," ''Martha Stewart," ''The Maury Show," ''FOX News Dayside" and "Inside Edition." Next week he is flying out to Los Angeles to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Julian's Official Website


Julian was born to be a drummer...



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