PART 3 – TOMMY JAMES INTERVIEW…”ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
February 18, 2010
As “Shadow” Mann I only had one album release, one single release, and a follow up that barely escaped. After performing at a Hubert Humphrey Rally in Times Square with Tommy James and the Shondells topping the bill, Morris Levy dropped me as an artist from the label.
It’s been 42 years since I’ve been in touch with Tommy, and was excited when I heard he had dared to write a book about his experiences with Morris and Roulette Records called, “Me, The Mob, And The Music”. He gave me an exclusive “no holds barred interview” where he made even more revelations than he did in his astonishing tell all autobiography!
Tommy- “in 1969, when crime boss Vito Genovese died in prison things were tense up at Roulette. All of a sudden they were having a lot of meetings with all the “boys”, figuring out who his successor would be. Were they going to shoot up the place? Was there going to be a challenge? Morris brought me into his office I shook hands with Vincent “The chin “Gigante, “Fat Tony” Salerno (who Tony Soprano character was based on). I also shook hands with Quiet Don Cirillo, and Tommy Eboli (a/k/a) Tommy Ryan.
Morris had his hands on my shoulders and as he is introducing me to of these (notorious people) I felt like a puppet! I couldn’t believe it and said to myself oops…this must be Hell!”
Artie – WOW!”
Then Tommy said he always wondered whatever happened to the “Shadow” Mann? When I told him that I moved to California in 1970, he asked if I heard about the gang wars in New York, between crime families, where 400 gang members were killed…I told him no and confessed that I hadn’t finished the book.
Tommy – “It got so bad that Morris hid out in Spain for a year and left me and everybody at Roulette holding the bag. I had to make myself scarce and went to Nashville. All the details are in the book.”
Artie – “Our pal, Brooks Arthur wanted me to ask you if you remember working on a album with him, while you’re in the middle of re-negotiations and Morris comes into the studio and demands that you sign a new contract .
Tommy – “ Yeah”, Morris said, ” Okay, the contract will say twelve percent, you’re makin’ eight,…I’m paying’ you six!”“
Artie – “I know you had a problem with drugs, and my friend, Gary Stromberg, who’s written several books on addiction and appeared with Dr. Drew Pinsky VH1 on “Celebrity Rehab” Specials, wanted me to ask you , “Many artists falsely believe that drugs and alcohol are the sources of their creativity, and when they stop drinking and using they must confront their creativity without these substances”
Tommy – “ I went into the Betty Ford Center for six weeks and have been clean since 1986! Being straight has been like floating on a pink cloud…I can accomplish so much more by being clear”
When Tommy speaks of his complex love/hate relationship with the late Morris Levy, who passed away 20 years ago he still gets emotional.
Tommy – “He asked to see me on his death bed, but I wasn’t able to get to the hospital in time…something I’ve always regretted. If it wasn’t for a Morris Levy,there wouldn’t have been a Tommy James.”
It’s easy to understand what the excitement surrounding “Me, the Mob, and the Music” is all about. Tommy told me a deal has just been signed to bring his story and his music to Broadway by the producers of “Jersey Boys”, and negotiations are nearly complete to bring it to the big screen.
After I thanked him for the interview, I took the opportunity to pitch an idea to develop a series of five minute segments for “Classic Hits” and college radio stations, with my friend, “Country” Paul Payton.
I’m happy to say that Tommy loves the idea and wants to work on it with us when he gets back from his promotional book tour.
Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
YOU CAN BUY TOMMY JAMES’ “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC” ON HIS WEBSITE http://www.tommyjames.com/
Thanks to members of Spectropop , Forgotten hits, Alan O’Day, “Country” Paul Payton, Brooks Arthur, Ed Salamon, Alan Karr, Jim Cassidy, Kent Kotal, Dee Trane, Patti Dahlstrom, Ayrton Mugnaini, Robby Leff, Art Munson, AJC, and Matthew David, for the questions this article is based on..
IF YOU MISSED PART ONE OR TWO OF MY TOMMY JAMES INTERVIEW JUST CLICK ONTO
TOMMY JAMES’ SHOCKING NEW BOOK! “ME,THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
PART TWO…TOMMY JAMES “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”, AND OF COURSE,
To reach Gary Stromberg http://www.garystromberg.net/
To reach Spectropop http://spectropop.com
Forgotten Hits http://forgottenhits.com
Special Thanks to Carol Ross – Durborow and Ed Osborne for their assistance in putting this article together.
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
DOUG FIEGER R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!
February 17, 2010
I was shocked when I checked Facebook this morning and saw my longtime pal Ellen Feldman had posted that our friend Doug Fieger, lead singer of the Knack, and co-writer of “My Sharona”, had passed away.
I worked with Doug in the studio helping on background parts when he was in the Sunset Bombers, a group DJ Scott Shannon and radio spot maker Joe Klein produced for Ariola Records. Doug was one of the most natural lead guitarists I’ve ever seen in the studio. He could emerge from driving a solid musical track track to playing a dazzling solo in a heartbeat, without overdubbing.
After the Sunset Bombers flew off into the horizon, I ran into Doug a few times at the Whiskey and the Starwood. He told me about a new band he was forming. A few months later Ellen Feldman, who was working at EMI records at the time, kept raving about this new group she wanted me to see, The Knack. You can imagine how happy I was to see Doug with a great band and a set that included “My Sharona.”
The last time I saw Doug, it was after his first #1 record. We were having dinner at Martoni’s Restaurant in Hollywood, with his girlfriend, Sharona and CBS’ Allan Rinde. I remember we had a lot of laughs, hearing stories about the Knack on tour, but I don’t remember much else, since I spent most of the night flirting with Susan Lucci at the next table.
Doug was always a positive person and years later, even though he knew he was fighting a losing battle with cancer he said to others who find themselves in similar circumstances, “Don’t stop living your life. Do every possible thing you can to build up your body. Stop doing anything that might be hurtful to your body. Eat really well, exercise, stop smoking and stop eating junk food,” he advises. “I’m here to tell you that you can get through it. I can’t tell you it’s fun. But going through it, I have to say, is nowhere nears as bad as the fear of going through it. The fear of having cancer is way worse than the reality of having cancer.”
Doug Fieger R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!
Respectfully, Artie Wayne
Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
“SHADOW” MANN RIDES AGAIN!
February 14, 2010
HE’S BACK…AND HE’S PROUD! AFTER LURKING IN THE BACKGROUND FOR YEARS, VOWING TO ONLY COME BACK WHEN THE WORLD NEEDED HIM. HERE HE IS…”SHADOW” MANN RIDES AGAIN!
WHO IS “SHADOW MANN”…HERE ARE THREE RECENT ARTICLES I’VE POSTED WHERE HE MAKES AN APPEARANCE! (JUST CLICK ONTO THE TITLES BELOW)
LEGENDARY MUSIC MAN MORRIS LEVY AND “SHADOW” MANN A LEGEND IN HIS OWN MIND!
TOMMY JAMES’ SHOCKING NEW BOOK! “ME,THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
PART TWO…TOMMY JAMES “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”, AND OF COURSE, MORRIS LEVY!
COMING ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2010, IS THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF MY EXPLOSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TOMMY JAMES AND MORE STORIES YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER HEAR!!!
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
Photo at top of “Shadow” by Stephen Paley
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
February 14, 2010
“CUPID…DRAW BACK YOUR BOW…AND LET YOUR ARROW GO…STRAIGHT TO ALL OF YOU TONIGHT!
HERE ARE THE TOP 69 VALENTINE’S DAY VIDEOS OF ALL TIME!
SAM COOKE, BEYONCE, NAT “KING” COLE, ELVIS, MICHAEL JACKSON, LIONEL RITCHIE, DIANA ROSS, ADAM LAMBERT, ALICIA KEYS, USHER, STEVIE, THE BEE GEES, CARPENTERS, WHITNEY HOUSTON, BILLY JOEL, ELTON JOHN, AND DOZENS…AND DOZENS MORE! (JUST CLICK ONTO) https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/thirty-top-love-song-videos-for-valentines-day/
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
Here is part two of my exclusive interview with Tommy James (“I Think We’re Alone Now” , “Mony, Mony”) about his controversial new book, “Me, the Mob, and the Music”…and the owner of Roulette Records Morris Levy! the story starts back in 1967.
“Although I was apprehensive about having a label with Morris and being an artist for the notorious Roulette records as “Shadow” Mann, I felt somewhat safe because my silent partner in my publishing company was Irving Green (who owned Mercury and Smash Records), who was not only my partner Kelli Ross’ father, but also Morris Levy’s best friend.
I always considered Tommy James, Roulette’s top artist, and his records to be ahead of their time, but I wonder how many people know that he was a major creative influence on the Beatles. How many people are aware that George Harrison even wrote a few songs for him (which were eventually passed on because they too much in the vein of “Mony, Mony”).
Now I had a chance not only to see how the infamous but charming, Morris Levy and Roulette promoted records, but also how Tommy James made them! One day I was up at the label walking past Morris’ office and I heard some great music coming out. I couldn’t help but stop and put my ear a little closer to the door. SUDDENLY…the door swings open and I’m a bit scared to see a startled, serious looking Morris less than a foot away from me!
Then a smile sweeps across his face as he grabs my arm and says, “Shadow…I want you to meet somebody.” Then he introduces me to Tommy James, who brought by a test pressing of his next single, “Crimson and Clover”. From the beginning it sounds like a hit, but when it reaches the end and goes into an electronic chant “Crimson and Clover…over and over”, it sounds like a classic!
(Here’s the original clip of “CRIMSON AND CLOVER” 1969) http://www.faniq.com/video/Tommy-James–the-Shondells-Crimson-in-Clover-YouTube-38590
When my pals at Spectropop and Forgotten Hits, the ‘60s and ‘70s music forums, heard I was interviewing Tommy they submitted six pages of questions. Two of those pages were filled with questions that basically asked, “How did you get that sound on “Crimson and Clover”?
Tommy said, “We had done the record with tremolo on the guitar. It’s just a built-in sound on guitar amplifiers. When I played the guitar, we recorded it with tremolo pretty much in synch with the music. In other words, we tried to make it so that it was vibrating at the same speed that the drums were playing. So we made the whole record that way. And then at the end, it was like one of those whimsical ideas, we said, “Why don’t we put it on the voice?” So that’s what we did, we ran the vocal mike through an Ampeg guitar amp, turned on the tremolo and miked it, and ran it back through the board. It was just that simple. What was so amazing, back then, if you wanted to make a sound wiggle, you had to basically do it yourself. There was no button you could push on a synthesizer, you basically had to build the circuits yourself and everything else. So that’s what we did, we just ran the vocal mike through the guitar amp, and then miked the amp and ran it back through the board.”
“Crimson and Clover” was not only a major point in their career turning them overnight from AM singles artists into FM album artists; it was also the first of the hits that Tommy James and the Shondells created themselves. After working with producers Ritchie Cordell and Bo Gentry on his earlier records, “I Think We’re Alone Now”, and “Mony, Mony”. ” Tommy says, “Those guys were the best and we learned a lot about producing and getting new sounds from them!”
I then I told him that Forgotten Hit’s Kent Kotal, wanted to know if there are any stories about “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. Tommy said, “That’s from the Crimson and Cover” album. At that point we had drastically changed our style. It was a difficult record to make. We completely over produced it, so gradually we started pulling instruments out, guitars, congas, percussion, etc. until it became as you know it.”
Artie – “So basically you let it breathe”
Tommy – “Yeah, we let it breathe…and it came to life!”
Artie- “There has been a lot of speculation about the meaning of “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. I always thought you were writing about Crystal Meth.”
Tommy – (smiles) “No. It’s about my conversion to Christianity…just listen to the lyric.”
The more time I spend up at Roulette I start to believe more and more of the stories I’ve heard about Morris. One day I see him and Nate McCalla, his friend and partner in Calla Records getting off the back elevator with a dozen hot TV sets…giving me the pick of the litter!
Although I was honored to sit in on some of Morris’ meetings there were times when I’d leave the room for fear of hearing too much…especially when the conversation would turn to Morris’ favorite forms of promotion…payola and intimidation.
Tommy told me about his first day up at Roulette, when he overheard Morris and some of his pals, talking about beating up some guy for bootlegging his records, then resumed the conversation as if nothing happened.
Tommy actually tells dozens of compelling stories in his book, “Me, the Mob, and the Music”, which made my hair stand on end…or laugh, sometimes both at the same time!
I told him how my producer Ron Haffkine and I would sit in Morris’ office while he was on the phone “encouraging” disc jockeys to play my records. “You play the Shadow’s records…or I’ll break your legs!”… Then Tommy told me something that made my mouth drop open!
(To Be Continued)
From my forthcoming book, “I Did It For A Song” Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
YOU CAN ORDER TOMMY JAMES’ “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC” ON HIS WEBSITE http://www.tommyjames.com/
Thanks to members of Spectropop , Forgotten hits, Alan O’Day, “Country” Paul Payton, Brooks Arthur, Ed Salamon, Alan Karr, Jim Cassidy, Kent Kotal, Dee Trane, Patti Dahlstrom, Ayrton Mugnaini, Robby Leff, Art Munson, AJC, and Matthew David, for the questions this article is based on..
IF YOU MISSED PART ONE AND PART THREE CLICK ONTO
TOMMY JAMES’ SHOCKING NEW BOOK! “ME,THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
PART 3 – TOMMY JAMES INTERVIEW…”ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
To reach Spectropop http://spectropop.com
Forgotten Hits http://forgottenhits.com
Special Thanks to Carol Ross – Durborow and Ed Osborne for their assistance in putting this article together.
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
TOMMY JAMES’ SHOCKING NEW BOOK! “ME,THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
February 9, 2010
L to R- Manager Lenny Stogel, Tommy James, and Morris Levy
When I heard Tommy had written a book, “Me, the Mob, and the Music”, I wanted to read it and interview him before he was forced to hide out or go into the Witness Protection program. I wanted to know more about his music and the stories behind the songs. I also wanted to hear how he finally won his battle with drug addiction.
Of course, I wondered what he would say about Morris Levy. A man who up until now has only been whispered about …usually by people who really didn’t know him. After reading “ME, THE MOB AND THE MUSIC”…”All I can say is WOW!!!
When Tommy James and the Shondells released “Hanky Panky” in 1964, Tommy was still going to High School. He heard a local band, The Spinners (no relation to hit band), play the song at a local bar to an enthusiastic response from the crowd. The next day Tommy checked the record guide at the Spin-It record shop, where he worked, and found it listed as the B-side to a 1963 Raindrops single, “That Boy John.” by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Tommy and his group recorded it, put it out, and it bombed!
Two years later a local Pittsburgh deejay started spinning it at record hops, which prompted radio airplay and a bootleg, which sold 80,000 records!
That’s when Tommy took “Hanky Panky” to New York to show it to all the major labels, who loved and wanted to release it. Although Roulette Records, a company known more for their forty fives than for their singles, was at the bottom of the list, they got the master. It seems Roulette’s owner, the infamous but charming, Morris Levy, called each record company head, and told them, “It’s my fuckin’ record…back off!”
Although I thought “Hanky Panky” was good, I never would have guessed that it was just first of an incredible string of hits that would eventually give Tommy James and the Shondells combined sales of over a 100 million records!
I became friendly with Tommy in 1968, when Morris Levy gave me and my partner Kelli Ross our own label, ‘Tomorrow’s Productions”, distributed by Roulette and sent me on a tour promoting my album as “Shadow” Mann with Tommy, at the Height of his popularity (“Crimson and Clover”, “Crystal Blue Persuasion”, “Mirage”) .
L to R- Shadow Mann, Ron Haffkine, Kelli Ross, and Morris Levy Photo by Stephen Paley
“Although I was apprehensive about having a label with Morris and being an artist for the notorious Roulette records as “Shadow” Mann, I felt somewhat safe because my silent partner in my publishing company was Irving Green (who owned Mercury and Smash Records), who was not only my partner Kelli Ross’ father, but also Morris Levy’s best friend.
It was during this time that Morris sent me and my protege Sissy Spacek a/k/a “Rainbo”) who was promoting her single, “John, You Went Too Far This Time” (a comment on the John and Yoko naked album cover) to Cleveland to do the “Upbeat” TV show. We all hung out and had a great time until Tommy made us miss our flight back to New York, because he had to go back to his hotel where he had forgotten his stash of hundreds of diet pills.
*********************************************
I always considered Tommy James and his records to be ahead of their time, but I wonder how many people know that he was a major creative influence on the Beatles. How many people are aware that George Harrison even wrote a few songs for him (which were eventually passed on because they too much in the vein of “Mony, Mony”).
Now I had a chance not only to see how the infamous but charming, Morris Levy and Roulette promoted records, but also how Tommy James made them! One day I was up at the label walking past Morris’ office and I heard some great music coming out. I couldn’t help but stop and put my ear a little closer to the door. SUDDENLY…the door swings open and I’m a bit scared to see a startled, serious looking Morris less than a foot away from me!
Then a smile sweeps across his face as he grabs my arm and says, “Shadow…I want you to meet somebody.” Then he introduces me to Tommy James, who brought by a test pressing of his next single, “Crimson and Clover”. From the beginning it sounds like a hit, but when it reaches the end and goes into an electronic chant “Crimson and Clover…over and over”, it sounds like a classic!
(Here’s the original clip of “CRIMSON AND CLOVER” 1969) http://www.faniq.com/video/Tommy-James–the-Shondells-Crimson-in-Clover-YouTube-38590
When my pals at Spectropop and Forgotten Hits, the ‘60s and ‘70s music forums, heard I was interviewing Tommy they submitted six pages of questions. Two of those pages were filled with questions that basically asked, “How did you get that sound on “Crimson and Clover”?
Tommy said, “We had done the record with tremolo on the guitar. It’s just a built-in sound on guitar amplifiers. When I played the guitar, we recorded it with tremolo pretty much in synch with the music. In other words, we tried to make it so that it was vibrating at the same speed that the drums were playing. So we made the whole record that way. And then at the end, it was like one of those whimsical ideas, we said, “Why don’t we put it on the voice?” So that’s what we did, we ran the vocal mike through an Ampeg guitar amp, turned on the tremolo and miked it, and ran it back through the board. It was just that simple. What was so amazing, back then, if you wanted to make a sound wiggle, you had to basically do it yourself. There was no button you could push on a synthesizer, you basically had to build the circuits yourself and everything else. So that’s what we did, we just ran the vocal mike through the guitar amp, and then miked the amp and ran it back through the board.”
“Crimson and Clover” was not only a major point in their career turning them overnight from AM singles artists into FM album artists; it was also the first of the hits that Tommy James and the Shondells created themselves. After working with producers Ritchie Cordell and Bo Gentry on his earlier records, “I Think We’re Alone Now”, and “Mony, Mony”. ” Tommy says, “Those guys were the best and we learned a lot about producing and getting new sounds from them!”
I then I told him that Forgotten Hit’s Kent Kotal, wanted to know if there are any stories about “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. Tommy said, “That’s from the Crimson and Cover” album. At that point we had drastically changed our style. It was a difficult record to make. We completely over produced it, so gradually we started pulling instruments out, guitars, congas, percussion, etc. until it became as you know it.”
Artie – “So basically you let it breathe”
Tommy – “Yeah, we let it breathe…and it came to life!”
Artie- “There has been a lot of speculation about the meaning of “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. I always thought you were writing about Crystal Meth.”
Tommy – (smiles) “No. It’s about my conversion to Christianity…just listen to the lyric.”
The more time I spend up at Roulette I start to believe more and more of the stories I’ve heard about Morris. One day I see him and Nate McCalla, his friend and partner in Calla Records getting off the back elevator with a dozen hot TV sets…giving me the pick of the litter!
Although I was honored to sit in on some of Morris’ meetings there were times when I’d leave the room for fear of hearing too much…especially when the conversation would turn to Morris’ favorite forms of promotion…payola and intimidation…besides I really didn’t want to know where Jimmy Hoffa was buried!
Tommy James started our conversation this morning by telling me about his first day up at Roulette, when he overheard Morris and some of his pals, talking about beating up some guy for bootlegging his records, then resumed the conversation as if nothing happened.
Tommy actually tells dozens of compelling stories in his book, “Me, the Mob, and the Music”, which made my hair stand on end…or laugh, sometimes both at the same time!
I told him how my producer Ron Haffkine and I would sit in Morris’ office while he was on the phone “encouraging” disc jockeys to play my records. “You play the Shadow’s records…or I’ll break your legs!”
As “Shadow” Mann I only had one album release, one single release, and a follow up that barely escaped. After performing at a Hubert Humphrey Rally in Times Square with The Ronnetes, the Delicates, Tommy James and the Shondells topping the bill, Morris Levy dropped me as an artist from the label.
It’s been 42 years since I’ve talked to Tommy, and was excited when he felt comfortable enough to make even more revelations than he did in his astonishing tell all autobiography!
Tommy- “in 1969, when crime boss Vito Genovese died in prison things were tense up at Roulette. All of a sudden they were having a lot of meetings with all the “boys”, figuring out who his successor would be. Were they going to shoot up the place? Was there going to be a challenge? Morris brought me into his office I shook hands with Vincent “The chin “Gigante, “Fat Tony” Salerno (who Tony Soprano character was based on). I also shook hands with Quiet Don Cirillo, and Tommy Eboli (a/k/a) Tommy Ryan.
Morris had his hands on my shoulders and as he is introducing me to all of these (notorious people) I felt like a puppet! I couldn’t believe it and said to myself oops…this must be Hell!”
Then Tommy said he always wondered whatever happened to the “Shadow” Mann? When I told him that I moved to California in 1970, he asked if I heard about the gang wars in New York, between crime families, where 400 gang members were killed…I told him no and confessed that I hadn’t finished the book.
Tommy – “It got so bad that Morris hid out in Spain for a year and left me and everybody at Roulette holding the bag. I had to make myself scarce and went to Nashville. All the details are in the book.”
Artie – “Our pal, Brooks Arthur wanted me to ask you if you remember working on a album with him, while you’re in the middle of re-negotiations and Morris comes into the studio and demands that you sign a new contract .
Tommy – “Yeah”, Morris said,” Okay, the contract will say twelve percent, you’re makin’ eight…I’m paying’ you six!”
Artie – “I know you had a problem with drugs, and my friend, Gary Stromberg, who’s written several books on addiction and appeared with Dr. Drew Pinsky VH1 on “Celebrity Rehab” Specials, wanted me to ask you, “Many artists falsely believe that drugs and alcohol are the sources of their creativity, and when they stop drinking and using they must confront their creativity without these substances”
Tommy – “I went into the Betty Ford Center for six weeks and have been clean since 1986! Being straight has been like floating on a pink cloud…I can accomplish so much more by being clear”
When Tommy speaks of his complex love/hate relationship with the late Morris Levy, who passed away 20 years ago he still gets emotional.
Tommy – “He asked to see me on his death bed, but I wasn’t able to get to the hospital in time…something I’ve always regretted. If it wasn’t for a Morris Levy, there wouldn’t have been a Tommy James.”
It’s easy to understand what the excitement surrounding “Me, the Mob, and the Music” is all about. Tommy told me a deal has just been signed to bring his story and his music to Broadway by the producers of “Jersey Boys”, and negotiations are nearly complete to bring it to the big screen.
After I thanked him for the interview, I took the opportunity to pitch an idea to develop a series of five minute segments for “Classic Hits” and college radio stations, with my friend, “Country” Paul Payton.
I’m happy to say that Tommy loves the idea and wants to work on it with us when he gets back from his promotional book tour.
Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
Thanks to members of Spectropop , Forgotten hits, Alan O’Day, “Country” Paul Payton, Brooks Arthur, Ed Salamon, Alan Karr, Jim Cassidy, Kent Kotal, Dee Trane, Patti Dahlstrom, Ayrton Mugnaini, Robby Leff, Art Munson, AJC, and Matthew David, for the questions this article is based on..
To reach Gary Stromberg http://www.garystromberg.net/
To reach Spectropop http://spectropop.com
Forgotten Hits http://forgottenhits.com
FOR ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB HTTP://ARTIEWAYNE.WORDPRESS.COM
Special Thanks to Carol Ross – Durborow and Ed Osborne for their assistance in putting this article together.
THE BEST 10 VIDEOS OF GRAMMY WINNERS 2010!
February 4, 2010
LADY GAGA AND ELTON JOHN “LIVE” GRAMMYS 2010 http://www.casttv.com/video/hnkx7w1/2010-grammy-awards-lady-gaga-and-elton-john-performance-video
BEYONCE “SINGLE LADIES” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfjtpp90lu8
BLACK EYED PEAS “I GOT A FEELIN” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19rG2CHvCQY
JAIME FOX “BLAME IT” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfjtpp90lu8
ZAC BROWN “LIVE GRAMMYS 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_iW8FLlq7A&feature=related
PINK “LIVE” 2010 GRAMMYS http://showhype.com/video/pink-grammy-s-2010/
Now here is a complete list of all the Grammy nominees and winners from The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences http://www.grammy.com/nominees
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THE FINAL SCORE…BEYONCE 6…TAYLOR 4 IN THE GREATEST GRAMMY SHOW EVER!
February 1, 2010
I could barely sleep Saturday night anticipating the 52nd annual Grammy Show on Sunday and I wasn’t disappointed! I enjoyed the live show so much I forgot I was watching an awards show!
Not only did my favorites perform their best songs better than I’ve ever seen. All of the performers, which included Beyonce, Taylor Swift, The Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Maxwell, Roberta Flack, and Lady Antebellum seemed to be inspired by the imaginative sets, lighting, staging, special effects, and superb sound.
No wonder the usually serious Lady GaGa managed to smile at the end of her brilliant duet with Elton John. It was especially good to see Leon Russell singing and playing with the Zak Brown Band, after an operation that nearly cost him his life less than two weeks ago.
I was also proud when my old boss, the late Florence Greenberg, who owned Scepter Records, won the trustees award and I was happy for my old pal Doug Morris, the head of the Universal Music group, who was honored in a salute to Icons.
The emotional musical highlights of the evening came with an incredible version of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” by Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli, which was dedicated to Haiti, along a never before seen 3 –D tribute to the late “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson.
Beyonce might’ve taken home an historic 6 awards, and Taylor Swift 4, but the clear winners were over a billion people who were watching the Greatest Grammy Show EVER!
Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
Now here is a complete list of all the Grammy nominees and winners from The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences http://www.grammy.com/nominees
EXTRA HERE’S A VIDEO OF BEYONCE’S INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE LAST NIGHT IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!
If the above video is disabled just click onto youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhmCyGdKq-g&feature=related
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A#@HOLES NEVER TAKE A DAY OFF!
January 30, 2010
Back in the ‘60s, a songwriter and a publisher were supposed to split two cents for every record sold. When the infamous but charming, Morris Levy (Roulette records) asked for a “special rate” of one-half cent per song on my Shadow Mann album, I laughed and said, “Sure, why not? You’re not going to pay us anyway!”
Today writers and publishers divide upwards of eight cents for every unit sold and sometimes share hundreds of thousands of dollars that come for licensing fees from films, TV, and commercials.
Since I resumed writing and as well as pushing other people’s songs using the Internet, dozens of people I know from back in the day have been in touch with me to breath new life into their catalog and get new recordings on their songs. Unfortunately, many of these people are nefarious characters and are notorious for screwing anyone they can, and I’d be stupid to do any business with any of them. Needless to say I’m also wary of anyone I’ve never dealt with before, so I make sure I get a fee up front against a percentage of whatever income I’m able to generate, but even so I get taken in at times.
A top writer from the ‘60s, I knew casually, asked me to get a former number one song of his to Miley Cyrus, which I did foolishly, before I had an agreement with him. I stopped trying to deal with him when he became evasive. I never told him that I had played it already for one of Miley’s producers who flipped out over his song. I also never told him that I lied to the producer and told him Carrie Underwood had just cut the song, which of course stopped Miley from recording it!
A few days ago, I got a call from one of the owners (whom I’ve never met) of a publishing company I once was signed to. He wanted me to share my intimate knowledge of his catalog, and asked if I wanted to show some of his copyrights. He said was willing to give me a percentage, but not pay me a fee which…of course I wasn’t interested in.
When he mentioned, however, that he was considering selling his publishing company for $300,000 (10 times recent earnings) my eyes lit up and off the top of my head I came up with a unique idea to sell his company for a million dollars instead, in a way that’s never been done before…an innovation sure to make the front page of Billboard Magazine!
He thought it was a great idea and asked me to draw him up a proposal. He only had two songs that were bringing any income in the catalog, and I knew I could get hit covers on them as well as about 15 other “undiscovered” gems, but I played it cool as he was trying to pick my brain. In my head I was casting his songs with artists I could get to…Beyonce…Adam Lambert…Alicia Keyes…etc. knowing that I could significantly increase the value of his underexploited catalog. Before I talked with him initially, I checked his two biggest titles on “Google”, and found a John Mayer performance video of one of his songs…which he didn’t know about. He didn’t even know who John Mayer was…but that’s why you hire someone like me.
I wonder why this guy hasn’t responded to my phone calls or e-mail, but if he’s thinking of “appropriating” my idea, he should be aware that he needs someone like me with the expertise to pull it off, as well as means to publicize the sale (like my blog with over 1,450,000 hits). He probably doesn’t know I’ll get a “Google Alert” the minute my idea goes up on the Internet, and I’ll jump in 30 minutes later offering one of my clients catalogs, and crush him in the marketplace..
Last week was my birthday, I was 39 for the 29th time, and I’m working harder than ever before. I’m still recovering from contacting every Michael Jackson fan club in the world to alert their members to my song “Little Christmas Tree”, which led to 110,000 views on YouTube during Christmas week. I’m also developing a few ideas for Tommy James (“I Think We’re Alone Now”, “Crimson and Clover”) who has a book coming out Feb.16 called “Me, The Mob, and The Music”. I hope he doesn’t go into some witness protection program before I have a chance to interview him!
Alan O’Day (Undercover Angel”, “Angie Baby”), DJ Paul Payton, and I are finishing up some demos to pitch to classic hits stations which could liven up their formats and attract new listeners. Finally I’m in the editing stages of my book, “I Did It For A Song”.
Of all the things I’m doing, however, I’ m most excited about reconnecting with hundreds of old friends on Facebook, Twitter, my blog, Forgotten Hits, and Spectropop, and helping them reconnect with each other. I just wish those who try to con me into doing one thing or another for free would stop…but I suppose a#@holes never take a day off!
Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
Photo at top by Stephen Paley left to right- Artie Wayne as Shadow Mann, Producer Ron Haffkine, Kelli Ross, and Morris Levy
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SECRETS OF UNLOCKING LOST MEMORIES!
January 25, 2010
How many times have you tried to think of a familiar name or place and come up blank? It’s right on the tip of your tongue, but you just can’t spit it out. Well the next time this happens you don’t have to get frustrated just sit down, lower your head, and do this exercise…
1. (Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5………(Exhale)
2. Repeat this sequence called the 2-2-5 again
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5……….(Exhale)
Then look up and slowly turn your head from left to right. The blood flow to your brain in this relaxed state will open a mental file that will make you remember the name or place that eluded you moments ago.
It might be simple but it works every time. Unlocking Lost Memories is only one of the discoveries I made on the way to my inner self. They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Here’s how I began mine.
“In 1973, I accompanied one of our Warner Brothers staff songwriters, George Clinton Jr. (who went on write the score for three “Austin Powers” movies), to the Tokyo Music Festival. It was my first trip to Japan, and I was impressed how well organized the large masses of people were. Over the years my heavy workload, beautiful women and other excesses used up too much time and too many emotions. I knew I had to find a way to learn how to really focus.
When I got back to the states, I decided to look into deep relaxation techniques. I went to see my Chiropractor and friend, Dr. Floyd Taylor who had developed remarkable physical, mental and spiritual methods of healing after his plane was shot down in World War Two. Over time, and through much pain, he was able to correct his bone structure and musculature, which left him bent over and unable to walk. His super-posture and confident stride was proof positive that his methods work. He not only told me that deep relaxation techniques could help attain my goal to focus, it could help the severe back pain I suffered from congenital scoliosis. He said I could learn to go below the pain level and function better. He also mysteriously hinted that the deeper I went, the more “things” I would discover.
My equally adventuresome friend, Patti Dahlstrom (who introduced me to Dr. Taylor), was just as fascinated with the possibilities of these deep relaxation techniques as I was. We both took private lessons from Dr. Taylor’s friend, Henry Mundt.
I was helped immediately by what he taught me especially “ The 2-2-5 “ a simple breathing exercise that I continue to use everyday when I need to calm down.
When I wanted to go deeper…Here are the simple steps Hank Mundt taught me.
First…in a quiet, semi-darkened room with your eyes closed, lie down on your back on a bed or a couch or sit up in a straight chair with your feet flat on the floor, palms upward.
1. (Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5………(Exhale)
2. Repeat this sequence called the 2-2-5 again
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) hold your breath for a count of Two………1…………….2………….(Exhale)
(Inhale) this time hold your breath for a count of Five
1………….2………..3…………4…………5……….(Exhale)
3. Visualize a flight of stairs and starting at the number 100, count backwards slowly to the number 1, seeing each number as you descend…100……………..99………………98……………etc.
4. When you reach the bottom, say over and over, ”Positive thinking brings results I desire. Positive thinking brings results I desire.” You feel more and more relaxed as you visualize what you want to accomplish. “Positive thinking brings results I desire”…”Positive thinking brings results I desire”
5. Once you’ve repeated it ten times, visualize taking an elevator up to the place where you started
6. You feel relaxed and refreshed…ready to take on the world.”
Over the years, I’ve developed meditation techniques that take me deeper than I ever imagined.. Now I have the ability to go below emotional, mental, and physical levels of pain and function like never before. I’ve been able to control a bi-polar disorder, depression, dyslexia, and an attention deficit disorder…without using drugs. I’ve increased my focus and powers of concentration, as well as ability to access long lost memories whenever I choose..
(TO BE CONTINUED)
From my forthcoming book, “I Did It For A Song” Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
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