Italian Pop Artists

9-30-09 Italian Pop Artists

Last weekend, I found some Japanese test pressings of Italian late 60’s / early’s pop artists – really odd stuff to find in Los Angeles in 2009:

CELENTANO, ADRIANO – IL RAGAZZO DELLA VIA GLUCK (Vol. 1), SEVEN SEAS JPN LP collection

MORANDI, GIANNI – (Japanese title), VICTOR JPN LP

V.A. – ALL ABOUT GOLDEN CANZIONI Vol. 1, DISCHI JPN LP compilation

V.A. – CANTAGIRO 1968, SEVEN SEAS JPN LP compilation

V.A. – CANZONISSIMA 1969-70, SEVEN SEAS JPN LP compilation

V.A. – SAN REMO – XVII FESTIVAL SAN REMO, FONTANA JPN LP compilation

V.A. – UN DISCO PER L'ESTATE 1971, SEVEN SEAS JPN LP compilation

I did a lot of Italian pop music in the 1970’s. It was an alternative to the progressive rock scene – and I have never minded the Italian language, when sung.

Adriano Celentano is still alive! I understand that he was greatly influenced by Elvis Presley, and he rode the wave of the hula hoop craze – how are those for credentials? I got on to him by finding some collection CD’s in the late 80’s, notably his “Non Mi Dir” CD.

Gianni Morandi seems to me to be yet another Elvis Presley wannabe. This is the 2^nd album I have by him – I must dig out the LP I’ve had for ages – this might just be a Japanese pressing of it!

But these Various Artist albums are the true prize of my find! Looks like I found compilations for every year from 1968 – 1971. And it’s mainly pop music, with more than a nod towards the Eurovision Song Contest and the San Remo Festival.

While much of it sounds sappy, the Italians really know how to rock, too. I got almost an entire 25 track playlist out of these 5 x Various Artist albums!

Iva Zanicchi, The Classics, Giorgio Gaber, Fausto Leali, Roberto Amadoi, Paolo T., Mina, Frank Orlando, I Giganti, Gianni Imberti, Bobby Solo (as mentioned on a Nits record!), Gian Pieretti, Tony Del Monaco, Mario Tessuto, Oscar, Claudio Villa, Caterina Caselli, Massimo Ranieri, I Dik Dik, Nancy Cuomo, The Haneybeats, Sergio Leonardi, Le Gemelle Kessler, Marisa Sannia, Don Backy, Robertino, Domenico Modugno, Betty Curtis, Sergio Endrigo, Carmen Villani, Johnny Dorelli, Peppino Gagliardi, Andy, 4 + 4 di Nora Orlandi, Paolo Mengoli, Paola Francia, New Trolls (I already knew them, from progressive rock days), Lucio Battisti (another one I already knew), Tony Astarita, Tony Cucchiara, Sergio Menegale, I Califfi, I Ragazzi Della Via Gluck (presumably named after the Adriano Celentano song), Riccardo Del Turco, Milva, Orietta Berti, Wilma Goich, Patrizia Bonaveri, Donatello, Joe Sentieri…the list goes ever on…

The Nice

9-29-09 The Nice

Not sure whether I first heard about Emerson, Lake & Palmer…or The Nice. Certainly, I must’ve seen records by The Nice before ELP, but…did I know what they were? Fans and record companies agree – Keith Emerson was the star.

7" AMERICA IMMEDIATE US ZS7 5008

1967 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LP ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS IMMEDIATE US Z12 52020

1968? 12 TRKS 2^nd album

LP AUTUMN '67 TO SPRING '68 (Collection) CHARISMA UK CS 1

1972 9 TRKS ('67/'68 recordings)

CD ELEGY CHARISMA UK CASCD 1030

1970 10 TRKS ('90 issue) (6 x bonus tracks)

LP ELEGY CHARISMA UK CAS 1030

1970 4 TRKS full-size hatter, 5^th album

LP EVERYTHING AS NICE AS MOTHER MAKES IT IMMEDIATE US IMOCS 102

1969? 6 TRKS stereo, 3^rd album – original edition

CD FIVE BRIDGES CHARISMA UK CASCD 1014

1970 13 TRKS ('90 issue) (5 x bonus tracks)

LP FIVE BRIDGES CHARISMA UK CAS 1014

1970 9 TRKS UK original issue, 4^th album

LP THOUGHTS OF EMERLIST DAVJACK, THE IMMEDIATE US Z12 52004

1968? 8 TRKS stereo, 1^st album

My collection is modest – I never became a completist on The Nice. That I only have CD’s for their two final albums is telling. Well, on the two Charisma / Virgin CD’s, the bonus tracks are all of the “Autumn ’67 to Spring ‘68” album – plus a few others! So, it’s like all three of their Charisma LP’s on 2 x CD’s (11 bonus tracks between them, and they’re not even re-masters in clear trays!).

After The Nice, Lee Jackson went on to form Jackson Heights, and Brian “Blinky” Davison had “Every Which Way” (both bands were initially signed to Charisma UK). And Jackson and Davison effectively re-formed The Nice with Patrick Moraz taking Mr. Emerson’s place – as Refugee (again, on Charisma). And Keith Emerson made all those Emerson, Lake & Palmer albums. Only Mr. Davison is no longer with us – the others are all still walkin’ around.

I should also mention their original guitarist Davy O’List, who was on the Immediate albums – he eventually turned up in Jet, that wonderful mid-70’s faux-Sparks glam rock band, with a self-titled LP (on CBS UK).

My favorite tracks by The Nice are easily “One Of Those People” on “Five Bridges” and some of the swank psychedelia found on the “Autumn ’67 to Spring ‘68” album.

The Nice also provided backing for Roy Harper on “Hell’s Angels” , as found on his “Flat Baroque & Berserk” (Harvest UK) album, in 1970 – but I don’t think they were credited, as such.

C.V. For Today

9-28-09

C.V. FOR TODAY

Here are my answers to these Curriculum Vitae questions. Please feel free to use the same questions and return your responses to me.

What was the last record / CD you obtained?

“Omsk Russian Ensemble” LP for 50 cents at the Claremont record swap meet on Sun. 9/20/09. It’s a 1968 CBS UK LP, and I thought it was amusing to seethe word “Omsk” on an LP cover (I know the word mainly because of The Nits LP of that name).

If you could recommend a record / CD (of music) to someone and have that person actually listen to it, what would it be?

Lately, I have been recommending Aksak Maboul / Marc Hollander “Onze Danses Pour Combattre La Migraine” (1977) to people. I never tire of that album.

Do you think record stores will all close and people will only be able to purchase music (LP’s/CD’s) on-line eventually?

Certainly starting to look that way! More L.A. stores have closed, and a few new ones have opened, but none of them have been all that great. Mostly, they are being run by young people who think “vinyl is cool”, without having heard anything released before Nirvana’s “Never Mind” – apart from their older brother’s copy of “Dark Side Of The Moon” or their parents’ Beatles records.

Do you ever copy music for yourself or your friends? What format(s) do you use?

Yes, I do sometimes generate a ‘CD on demand’ for my friends. I have one friend who will text me and ask, “Do you have any Scott Walker?” (Answer: No) – but sometimes he will hit the jackpot and ask for Nick Drake – the next time I saw him, I was able to fit all three original ND albums onto 2 CD’s. Mostly CD-R’s at this time.

Do you watch TV very much anymore? If not, why?

Almost nothing since the switch to digital. We watched “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” for a while…but the musical guests were better on Jimmy Kimmel and even the Carson Daly show. Also liked “I Survived a Japanese Game Show”.

What’s for lunch?

Today, I might have one of those Indian rice bowls from Fresh ‘n’ Easy. Had a “Mango Chicken” rice bowl last night, which was pretty good.

Seen any good films lately?

No, not really. I think the last film I went to was “Slumdog Millionaire”, which was OK.

Any plans to leave your home anytime soon?

Yes, Las Vegas and San Francisco coming up. Maybe something bigger at Xmas.

What other question(s) would you like to know the answer(s) to?

How much longer will I be able to buy new / used CD’s in brick-and-mortar stores?

Altitude Sickness

Hello readers,

I figured something unpleasant out about myself this weekend: I suffer from extreme altitude sickness.

We went to a birthday party in the local mountains (Twin Peaks, CA) at roughly 5,100 feet altitude - and no sooner than I got out of my car, I felt like I was going to faint. Pounding heart, dizzyness, shortness of breath etc. I laid down for what I thought was 10 minutes, but it turned out to be about 3 hours. When I awoke, I was no better - so it was decided to take me back down the mountain.

I took some Tylenol, with food - and was better in about 2 hours. Despite sleeping for nearly 5 hours in the afternoon, I slept for 9+ hours last night. Today, I haven't felt "full speed" - but the headache finally went away.

This has happened to me twice before - Taos, New Mexico (approx. 7,000 ft elevation) and at Miyanoshita, Japan (not sure how high up there the cable car was, but I freaked when I had to get on it, and I am not one who suffers from a fear of heights).

So...let's live at sea level!

- Ron

Playlist

Playlist made on 9/23/09 – 9/24/09 vinyl

JEBADIAH – (Sing This Song) All Together (Stones song)

KINKS, THE – Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy (on US "GH")

McCARTNEY, PAUL – Coming Up (Live at Glasgow) (45 incl in "McC II")

ROLLING STONES – Parachute Woman (mono)

JETHRO TULL – Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square

ENTWISTLE, JOHN – Thinking It Over

HARRISON, MIKE – I Wanna Be Free (Spooky Tooth singer)

CAMPBELL, JIMMY – That’s Right That’s Me

BECK, JEFF – You Shook Me (feat. Rod Stewart)

SCRITTI POLITTI – Sex

WYATT, ROBERT – Amber & The Amberines

WORKING WEEK – Venceremos (We Will Win) (feat. Robert Wyatt)

SPIZZ ORBIT – Love Me Like A Rocket

PORK DUKES, THE – Let’s Spend The Night Together (Stones song)

CALE, JOHN – Graham Greene

DALTREY, ROGER – Waiting For A Friend (McVicar OST)

MASON, DAVE – Just A Song (Live)

JENSEN, DICK – I’m Good For You

SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Sounds Of Silence, The (“Weds. Morning 3AM” vers.)

STEWART, ROD – Mine For Me (P. McCartney song)

THREE DOG NIGHT – It Ain’t Easy (song found on "Ziggy Stardust")

Simple Minds

9-25-09 Simple Minds – Singles

After jettisoning my Simple Minds collection when CD’s first walked down the pike, I have spent the last 20 years trying to find all of the 7” & 12” singles once again, without disappointing results.

12" ALIVE AND KICKING VIRGIN AUS SMVOZ 01

1985 5 TRKS with pic sleeve – Australian tour EP

12" AMERICAN, THE VIRGIN UK VS 410-12

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" GLITTERING PRIZE VIRGIN UK VS 511-12

1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" I TRAVEL VIRGIN UK VS 578-12

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" I TRAVEL VIRGIN DE 600.796

1983 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" LOVE SONG VIRGIN UK VS 434-12

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" PROMISED YOU A MIRACLE VIRGIN UK VS 488-12

1982 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" SANCTIFY YOURSELF VIRGIN UK SM 1-12

1986 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" SOMEONE SOMEWHERE (IN SUMMERTIME) VIRGIN UK VS 538-12

1982 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" SPEED YOUR LOVE TO ME VIRGIN UK VS 649-12

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" SWEAT IN BULLET VIRGIN UK VS 451-12

1981 4 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" UP ON THE CATWALK VIRGIN UK VS 661-12

1984 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" WATERFRONT VIRGIN UK VS 636-12

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" CELEBRATE ARISTA UK ARIST 394

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" CHELSEA GIRL / GARDEN OF HATE ARISTA UK ZUM 11

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME A&M US AM-2703

1985 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" LIFE IN A DAY / SPECIAL VIEW ZOOM UK ZUM 10

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" PROMISED YOU A MIRACLE / THEME FOR GREAT CITIES VIRGIN UK VS 488

1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" SWEAT IN BULLET (7" x 2) VIRGIN UK VS 451

1981 4 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" WATERFRONT / HUNTER AND THE HUNTED VIRGIN UK VS 636

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

So, probably only a matter of time until I have all of the Virgin UK 7” singles (up to ’86 or so). Have I missed any other UK 12” singles (’81-’86), Jim-san? No UK 12” for “Don’t You Forget About Me”?

Funny Simple Minds footnote: I found a U.S. Virgin DVD-Audio of “New Gold Dream”, with the bonus cut “In Every Heaven”, which was pretty good.

Bo Hansson

9-24-09 Bo Hansson

I have been a fan of Bo Hansson for 35+ years. I first heard “Music Inspired by Lord Of The Rings” on KPFK-FM (90.7) about 1972 or so, played on the science fiction radio show “Hour 25”, and also by other late night KPFK DJ’s. It wasn’t hard to find this LP, as it was in every $1 bin in L.A. in the early 70’s. Took a bit of doing for me to figure out Mr. Hansson’s discography, as the albums do not have the same names / covers between Swedish originals and US / UK issues.

LP SAGAN OM RINGEN SILENCE SW SRS 4600

1970 12 TRKS 1^st ; “Lord of the Rings”

LP LORD OF THE RINGS CHARISMA US CAS 1059

1972 12 TRKS 1^st

CD LORD OF THE RINGS re VIRGIN US 12061.2

1970 12 TRKS 1^st ('02 issue)

LP MAGICIAN'S HAT CHARISMA DE 6369 945

1973 11 TRKS 2^nd

LP MAGICIAN'S HAT CHARISMA UK CAS 1073

1973 11 TRKS 2^nd

LP UR TROLLKARLENS HATT SILENCE SW SRS 4615

1972 10 TRKS 2^nd

CD MAGICIAN'S HAT RESOURCE SW RESCD 509

1972 11 TRKS (1 x bonus track)

LP MELLANVASEN SILENCE SW SRS 4625

1975 9 TRKS 3^rd

LP ATTIC THOUGHTS CHARISMA UK CAS 1113

1975 9 TRKS 3^rd

CD MELLANVASEN re SILENCE SW SRSCD 3625

1975 10 TRKS 3^rd (1 x bonus track) ('05 issue)

LP MUSIC INSPIRED BY WATERSHIP DOWN promo SIRE US SRK 6044

1977 6 TRKS 4^th; test pressing, plain white cover

LP EL-AHRAIRAH YTF SWEDEN YTF 50350

1977 5 TRKS 4^th

CD MUSIC INSPIRED BY WATERSHIP DOWN re VIRGIN UK CDOVD 501

1977 7 TRKS 4^th (1 x bonus track) ('04 issue)

There is also a 1985 album called “Mitt I Livet” that I have somehow missed! Talking about “missed”…I didn’t even know that there were Bo Hansson records before “Lord Of The Rings” until I saw a copy of one in London, England in 1979! Behold! Hansson & Karlsson:

LP GOLD (Collection) re-issue KARUSSEL SW 2468 009

1969 9 TRK Collection

CD HANSSON & KARLSSON (Collection) POLYDOR SW 557279.2

1998 14 TRK Collection (60's recordings)

LP MAN AT THE MOON POLYDOR UK 583 564

1969 12 TRKS original UK issue

LP MONUMENT POLYDOR SV LPHM 46 260

1967 6 TRKS original Swedish issue

I have read that Jimi Hendrix used to like to jam with Hansson & Karlsson – there is a song of theirs called “Tax Free” that appears on some Jimi Hendrix records…

Rupert Hine

9-23-09 Rupert Hine

7" BLUE FLAME / YELLOW FLAME ISLAND DE 107.24

1985 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" CURIOUS KIND, THE A&M UK AMS 8225

1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, promo

CD DEEP END, THE R 'N' D DE 307.2416.2

1994 14 TRKS CD-only release?

10" HINE SIGHT (10") A&M UK SAMP 16

1982 9 TRKS interview, promo-only

CD IMMUNITY A&M JPN PCCY-10051

1981 9 TRKS Original mix, 1^st CD issue

CD IMMUNITY re-mix A&M UK 394858.2

1981 10 TRKS remix (1 x bonus track)

LP IMMUNITY A&M JPN AMP-28038

1981 9 TRKS insert

LP IMMUNITY A&M US SP-4858

1981 9 TRKS promo sleeve / folder & insert, photo

7" IMMUNITY / ANOTHER STRANGER A&M AUS K-8545

1981 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" LIVING IN SIN A&M UK AM 111

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, promo

7" MISPLACED LOVE / PSYCHO-SURRENDER A&M UK AMS 8106

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP PICK UP A BONE CAPITOL US SMAS-879

1971 10 TRKS Paul Buckmaster

7" SET UP, THE / KWOK'S QUEASE A&M UK AMS 8206

1982 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" SURFACE TENSION A&M UK AMS 8126

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, promo

LP UNFINISHED PICTURE PURPLE UK TPSA 7509

1973 9 TRKS

7" VICTIM OF WANDERLUST, THE A&M UK AM 126

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, promo

CD WAVING NOT DROWNING A&M UK 396986.2

1981 10 TRKS (1 x bonus track)

LP WAVING NOT DROWNING A&M UK AMLH 68541

1982 9 TRKS

CD WILDEST WISH TO FLY, THE A&M UK 396987.2

1983 12 TRKS (3 x bonus tracks)

LP WILDEST WISH TO FLY, THE A&M NL AMLH 68556

1983 9 TRKS ‘European’ version

LP WILDEST WISH TO FLY, THE (US) ISLAND US 90181.1

1984 10 TRKS U.S. version

I last wrote about producer / musician Rupert Hine in 2003. As far as I know, he hasn’t released any new music of his own since 1994. I continue to work on my collection of UK original releases. I know I am definitely missing the 12” for “Living In Sin”, as a friend of mine has a copy. I recently added the Australian 45 for “Immunity” b/w “Another Stranger” – it would seem to be a unique coupling. Also finally finding promos for the A&M UK 80’s 45’s!

“Immunity” and “Waving Not Drowning” are astounding albums. I understand they have been re-issued by Voiceprint in England, but I have only ever seen a copy of a re-re-issue “Immunity” once – my friend Joe found a copy recently.