ROCK + ROLL IN COLOR, Part One
WHAT'S SHAKIN', SUGAR? SALEM “DA KATT” SABERHAGEN HERE, TALKING TO YOU FROM FIFTY YEARS IN THE FUTURE. IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN STILL CALL ME SALEM THE CAT, EVEN THOUGH THESE DAYS I ROCK IT IN HUMAN FORM. LET ME LAY A GROOVY STORY ON YOU: ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL NAMED SABRINA BETHEL LESLIE SPELLMAN. JUST LIKE ME, SHE WAS BORN A WICCAN - THAT MEANS "WITCH" IF YOU'RE OF THE MORTAL PERSUASION.
HER WITCHCRAFT POWERS GUARANTEED THAT SHE WOULDN'T HAVE AN ORDINARY LIFE, BUT SHE POSSESSED EXCEPTIONAL MUSICAL ABILITY, TOO. BREE COULD SING AND REALLY TEAR IT UP ON KEYBOARDS! FOR A FEW YEARS, SHE TOURED WITH THE BETTYS, AN ALL-FEMALE ROCK BAND; BUT, TRUTH BE TOLD, PERFORMING JUST WASN'T HER THING. BREE’S DREAM WAS TO COMPOSE MAJESTIC MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACKS! BREE DREAMED OF CONDUCTING A BIG STUDIO ORCHESTRA. I SUGGESTED THAT SHE DO IT INSIDE A RECORDING FACILITY THAT SHE OWNED.
SABRINA SELDOM TOOK MY ADVICE - AFTER ALL, WHO THE FUCK WAS I BUT HER PET CAT? BUT THIS TIME SHE DID. BY THE TIME SHE WAS THIRTY, SHE HAD REALIZED HER DREAM. LET'S SEE, YOU'RE IN THE 2020'S, RIGHT? IN JUST A FEW MORE YEARS BREE'S WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO WILL BEGIN CHURNING OUT A STRING OF HIT MOTION-PICTURE SOUNDTRACKS.
SABRINA'S INTENTION IS TO WORK ON MOVIE MUSIC FULL-TIME, BUT FATE HAS OTHER PLANS! IN THE YEAR 2037, BREE'S OLD FRIENDS ARCHIE + VERONICA LODGE- ANDREWS WILL CALL ON HER MUSICAL EXPERTISE. THEY'LL COMMISSION HER TO PUT TOGETHER A NEW ROCK BAND: A SUCCESSOR GROUP TO THE ARCHIES. WITH HELP FROM ME AND MY PAL NERO THE DOG, BREE WILL CHOOSE SIX AMAZING YOUNG MUSICIANS; AND BELIEVE YOU ME, WHEN THE NEW ARCHIES MAKE THE SCENE, ROCK 'N' ROLL WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!
GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER, FRANKIE FUJIYAMA, RIKKI NINJA AND CARMEN SERNA WILL BE SESSION MUSICIANS ON THE SOUNDTRACK FOR A SMASH-HIT MOVIE CALLED SAY GOODBYE TO RIVERDALE. IT'S A BIG-SCREEN BIOPIC OF THE ARCHIES THAT'LL HIT THEATRES AND STREAMING SERVICES IN 2037. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, GARCY, CHI, FUJI, NINJA AND CARMEN WILL FORM THE NUCLEUS OF THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES.
THERE’S LITERALLY A BITCH IN THE DETAILS, THOUGH: IT SOON BECOMES CLEAR THAT CARMEN SERNA WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE IN A GROUP; BREE IS OBLIGED TO FIRE MISS DIVA! SAX MAN CORTEZ QUINTANILLA IS RECRUITED TO REPLACE HER, FILLING A NEED IN THE BAND FOR A HORN ARRANGER. SHORTLY AFTER TEZ JOINS UP, THE RECONSTITUTED ARCHIES RELEASE THEIR FIRST SINGLES ON THE RED-BIRD LABEL.
DECEMBER 9, 2037
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSION
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
SOUND YOUR FUNKY HORN (CASEY, FINCH)
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS BOX SET
MAD ABOUT YOU (BROWN, EVANS, WHELAN)
- UNRELEASED UNDERDUB
FOR A YEAR, THE BAND WILL HAVE RECORDED BACKING TRACKS FOR OTHER ARTISTS. WITH ONE EXCEPTION, NONE OF THOSE SESSIONS ARE DOCUMENTED IN THIS LOG. "SOUND YOUR FUNKY HORN", AN EARLY HIT FOR DISCO LEGEND KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND, IS THE NEW ARCHIES' FIRST RECORDING UNDER THEIR OWN NAME. WITH RIKKI NINJA ON LEAD, THE BAND WILL HAVE ALREADY BEEN PERFORMING THE SONG AT LIVE APPEARANCES. SABRINA DOESN'T THINK NINJA IS A STRONG LEAD SINGER, SO SHE HAS MAL HYPSTER SUB FOR HIM IN THE STUDIO. “MAD ABOUT YOU” IS DONNA DANTE’S FIRST LEAD BUT SHE DOESN’T LIKE HER PERFORMANCE AND LIKES THE SONG EVEN LESS! A FINAL VOCAL WON’T BE TRACKED UNTIL THE YEAR 2058. ALTHOUGH BREE WILL BOOK THIS SESSION FOR SINGLES, IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT SHE EVER INTENDS TO RELEASE THE MASTERS; THE TRACKING OF "FUNKY HORN" AND “MAD ABOUT YOU” AMOUNTS TO NO MORE THAN AN EQUIPMENT TEST.
JUNE 26, 2038
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSION
WITH STRINGS STRUNG BLUE
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
TIGHTER (JAMES, KING)
- FIRST VERSION, LIGHT OF DAY ALBUM
RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM (EDWARDS, TUBBS)
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS BOX SET
"TIGHTER" WILL BE THE FIRST SINGLE FROM THE NEW ARCHIES' SECOND ALBUM; THIS STATELY BALLAD VERSION IS SUPERIOR TO THAT RECORDING, BUT IT WON'T SURFACE UNTIL THE YEAR 2050. BOTH OF THE SIDES CUT AT THIS SESSION ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED AS SINGLE CANDIDATES AND BOTH FEATURE DONNA "DEE DEE" DANTE SINGING LEAD.
IN THE SPRING OF 2038, THE NEW ARCHIES WILL CUT DEMOS OF THE FOURTEEN SONGS THAT LATER APPEAR ON THEIR DÉBUT ALBUM. SIX OUTTAKES WILL ALSO BE RECORDED. FORTUNATELY, THESE DEMOS WILL SURVIVE INTO THE 22nd CENTURY AND IN THE YEAR 2133, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY WILL RELEASE THEM AS A COMPILATION CALLED BIRTH OF A BITCHIN' BAND!
AUGUST 11 - 13, 2038
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
THE NEW ARCHIES
VOCAL ARRANGERS: MAL HYPSTER, DONNA DANTE
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
DON'T YOU WANT MY LOVIN'? (GAMBLE, HUFF)
GREEN RIVER (JOHN FOGERTY)
THE BULLDOG SONG (LEIBER, STOLLER)
BAD MOON RISING (JOHN FOGERTY)
YEAH, MAN! (SAM COOKE)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
HEART AND SOUL (BYRNE, HOWELL)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
RECORDING FOR THE NEW ARCHIES' FIRST ALBUM COMMENCES WITH THIS SESSION. ORIGINAL VERSIONS OF THESE SONGS WERE CUT BY THE ORLONS, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL, THE SHANGRI-LAS, SAM COOKE AND THE MONKEES. ALL SIDES FEATURE LEAD VOCALS BY DEE DEE EXCEPT "BAD MOON RISING", FOR WHICH CHI DOES THE HONORS.
AUGUST 19 - 20, 2038
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
THE NEW ARCHIES
WITH STRINGS STRUNG BLUE
VOCAL ARRANGER: GARCY BRISEÑO
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
CALL ME (TONY HATCH)
VIP (BOND, JOHNSON, PERRY) - SINGLE A-SIDE
YOU MADE ME SO VERY HAPPY
(GORDY, HOLLOWAY, WILSON)
ISN'T THIS A LOVELY DAY? (IRVING BERLIN)
SOUND ENGINEER YVONNE REMY WILL RECALL THIS SESSION AS A HELLA DIFFICULT ONE! WHEN GARCY BRISEÑO SINGS LEAD VOCALS, SHE'S A PERFECTIONIST AND THEN SOME: DILTON DOILEY'S TALENTED DAUGHTER IS NEVER SATISFIED WITH THE FIRST TAKE. OR THE SECOND, FOR THAT MATTER! GARCY'S OBSESSION WITH PITCH AND TEMPO MODULATION DRIVES EVERYBODY CRAZY, BUT THE STELLAR RESULTS (ALMOST) JUSTIFY THE PIQUE AND DRAMA. ORIGINAL VERSIONS OF THESE SONGS WERE CUT BY PETULA CLARK, BRENDA HOLLOWAY, SCHERRIE PAYNE AND FRED ASTAIRE.
GARCY BRISEÑO WILL BE THE FIRST SUPERSTAR TO EMERGE FROM THE NEW ARCHIES, BUT THE BIGGEST STAR WILL BE RIKKI NINJA. THE FORMER NANCY ROCHELLE FONSECA IS THE FIRST TRANSSEXUAL MEGA-CELEBRITY! TWENTY-SECOND CENTURY FANS WILL KNOW HIM AS A FAITH LEADER: HE'S DESTINED TO BECOME A GURU OF THE MYSTICAL KAUWA RELIGION. HOWEVER, IT'S AS A SINGER (FIRST OF ROCK SONGS AND THEN OF DISCO STANDARDS) THAT HE FIRST TASTES FAME. NINJA'S SOLO MUSIC CAREER BEGINS WHILE HE'S STILL A MEMBER OF THE BAND, AND IT WILL SPAN FIFTY YEARS. HIS DÉBUT AS A LEAD VOCALIST ON THE NEW ARCHIES' 2041 ALBUM BUBBLEGUM BLITZ CAUSED A SENSATION! IN 2131, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY WILL OVERDUB FOUR NINJA VOCALS OVER TRACKS ORIGINALLY RECORDED BY THE FIRST-EDITION ARCHIES AND MARKET THEM ON A BEST-SELLING EP.
AUGUST 24 - 26, 2038
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
THE NEW ARCHIES
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION
(JAMES, VALE)
DONNA, THE PRIMA DONNA (diMUCCI, MARESCA)
STAND BY THE ONE WHO LOVES ME
(GATELY, PEDRICK)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
DOWN BY THE LAZY RIVER (THE OSMONDS)
GARCY TAKES A BILINGUAL LEAD ON "CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION" BUT ALL OF THE OTHER SELECTIONS FEATURE LEAD VOCALS BY MAL "CHI" HYPSTER. CHI CAN BE AS MUCH OF A PERFECTIONIST AS GARCY, BUT SELDOM DOES IT TAKE MORE THAN TWO TAKES TO GET WHAT HE WANTS. DESPITE UNIFORMLY SUPERB VOCAL PERFORMANCES, NOT TO MENTION EXCELLENT MUSICAL BACKING, THE NEW ARCHIES ALBUM WILL BE RELEASED TO MASSIVE INDIFFERENCE! ORIGINAL VERSIONS OF ITS SONG SELECTIONS WERE RECORDED BY TOMMY JAMES + THE SHONDELLS, DION, GENE PITNEY AND THE OSMONDS.
NOVEMBER 19-20, 2038
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
EP SESSIONS
HIGH ON GRASS!
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER, DONNA DANTE
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
SOONER OR LATER
(BOTTLER, McNAMARA, PARIS, ZEKLEY)
TEMPTATION EYES (PRICE, WALSH)
MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS (LOU JOSIE)
COME ON AND SAY IT (WARREN ENTNER)
BABY, HOLD ON (PRICE, WALSH)
HEAVEN KNOWS (PRICE, WALSH)
ONE OF THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES' EARLIEST TV APPEARANCES IS ON A VH1 SPECIAL CELEBRATING POP STARS OF THE SIXTIES. "HIGH ON GRASS!" WILL SHOWCASE BLUE-EYED SOUL SUPERGROUP THE GRASS ROOTS. FROM THESE SESSIONS, TV SOUNDTRACK VERSIONS OF "COME ON AND SAY IT" AND "BABY, HOLD ON" ARE TAKEN; DEE DEE WILL SING HER LEAD VOCALS LIVE. THE PERFORMANCES OF "SOONER OR LATER" (SUNG HERE BY MAL HYPSTER), "TEMPTATION EYES" AND "MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS" (TWO RARE LEAD VOCALS BY RIKKI NINJA) AND "HEAVEN KNOWS" (A GARCY BRISEÑO SPOTLIGHT) ARE UNIQUE TO THIS EP. ON THE ACTUAL TELECAST, OTHER ACTS PERFORM THE VOCALS FOR THESE SONGS.
BIRTH OF A BITCHIN' BAND WILL SCORE A HUGE CATALOG HIT IN THE 22nd CENTURY. NINETY-FIVE YEARS EARLIER, THE DÉBUT ALBUM THIS COMPILATION RECREATES WILL HAVE FAILED TO CHART. IT'S A LONG-DELAYED POSTHUMOUS TRIUMPH FOR THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES!
APRIL 7 - 8, 2039
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
TIGHTER!
VOCAL ARRANGER: GARCY BRISEÑO
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
NOTHING TO HIDE (JAMES, KING)
ADRIENNE (JAMES, KING)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
MEET THE COMER (JAMES, KING)
LIGHT OF DAY (JAMES, KING)
GARCY BRISEÑO TAKES LEAD VOCAL HONORS ON THIS FIRST RECORDING SESSION FOR THE NEW ARCHIES' SECOND ALBUM. IT WILL A TRIBUTE TO THE SONGS OF BUBBLEGUM/PSYCHEDELIC ROCK KING TOMMY JAMES. DETERMINED THAT IT WON'T FLOP LIKE THE FIRST ONE DID, BREE SPELLMAN REJECTS NINJA AND TEZ’S BAND ARRANGEMENTS AND WRITES NEW ONES HERSELF. FUTURE TENSIONS IN HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GROUP CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THAT DECISION!
APRIL 13 - 14, 2039
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
TIGHTER!
WITH STRINGS STRUNG BLUE
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
LOVE SONG (JAMES, KING)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
TELL 'EM WILLIE BOY'S A-COMIN'
(JAMES, KING)
DARK IS THE NIGHT (JAMES, KING)
FORTY DAYS, FORTY NIGHTS (JAMES, KING)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
CHI SINGS LEAD ON THESE TOMMY JAMES SONGS. STRINGS STRUNG BLUE IS A VIOLIN, VIOLA AND CELLO ENSEMBLE COMPRISED OF FOUR GAUNT AND GHOSTLY-LOOKING SISTERS. RUMOR HAS IT ANNA, JOY, SUNNY AND SARAH BLUE REALLY ARE GHOSTS (SALEM: "I KNOW, BUT I AIN’T SAYIN’")! THESE MYSTERIOUS LADIES ARE NEVER SEEN OUTSIDE WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIOS. SABRINA USES THEM FREQUENTLY ON HER PRODUCTIONS, AND THEIR ETHEREAL-SOUNDING WORK DRAWS MUCHO PRAISE INSIDE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. SEVERAL TOP PRODUCERS WANT TO WORK WITH THEM, BUT THE WOMEN REFUSE TO RECORD FOR ANYONE BUT BREE!
APRIL 17 - 18, 2039
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
TIGHTER!
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGERS: MAL HYPSTER, DONNA DANTE
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
DRAGGIN' THE LINE
(JAMES, KING)
BITS AND PIECES (JAMES, KING)
CHURCH STREET SOUL REVIVAL
- fast version, SINGLE B-SIDE
CHURCH STREET SOUL REVIVAL
- slow version, LIGHT OF DAY LP
(JAMES, KING)
TIGHTER! (JAMES, KING)
- SECOND VERSION, SINGLE A-SIDE
BALL AND CHAIN (JAMES, KING)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
DEE DEE SINGS LEAD ON ALL OF THESE SELECTIONS EXCEPT THE REMAKE OF "TIGHTER!" WHICH FEATURES TRIO VOCALS WITH MAL HYPSTER AND GARCY BRISEÑO. USUALLY THIS TRIO SINGS BACKGROUND, BUT HERE BREE HAS THEM SHARE THE LEAD VOCAL; THE RESULT IS MAD HOT SPECTACULAR, ENSURING THAT IT WON'T BE THE LAST TIME! THIS IS THE FINAL RECORDING SESSION FOR THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES' SECOND ALBUM.
MAY 15, 2039
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
SINGLES SESSION
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGERS:
GARY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
CAN'T BREAK THE HABIT (DOZIER, HOLLAND)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
THINGS I SHOULD HAVE SAID (BARRI, SLOAN)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
BREE INTENDS TO RELEASE THESE SONGS TOGETHER, BUT THEY'LL END UP SPLIT BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT SINGLES. GARCY LEADS ON THE OBSCURE MOTOWN OLDIE "CAN'T BREAK THE HABIT" AND CHI IS OUT FRONT FOR THE GRASS ROOTS COVER. (AN ALTERNATE TAKE FEATURES GARCY.) "THINGS I SHOULD HAVE SAID" WILL HAVE BEEN SLATED TO APPEAR ON THE NEW ARCHIES' HIGH ON GRASS! EP UNTIL SABRINA RECOGNIZES ITS STRONG SINGLE POTENTIAL. SHE DECIDES TO HOLD OFF ON RECORDING IT UNTIL NOW.
MAY 30, 2039
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
MOVIE SOUNDTRACK SESSION
"HORNDOG MILLIONAIRE"
VOCAL ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, MAL HYPSTER
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
MAMA CAN'T BUY YOU LOVE (BELL, JAMES)
- HORNDOG MILLIONAIRE SOUNDTRACK LP, SINGLE A-SIDE
LADY JANE (JAMES, KING)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
AT GARCY'S INSISTENCE, THE TOMMY JAMES COMPOSITION "LADY JANE" IS ADDED TO A SESSION SCHEDULED FOR CUTTING A MOVIE SONG. "JANE" BECOMES THE NEW-EDITION ARCHIES' FOURTH SINGLE AND GARCY'S FIRST HIT AS LEAD SINGER. MORE IMPORTANT: IT BREAKS A NO-HIT HEX THAT SORCERESS AND EX-BANDMATE CARMEN SERNA WILL HAVE PLACED ON THE GROUP. FOR SURE, CARMEN'S CURSE IS REVENGE FOR BEING FIRED! HER HEX CAN ONLY BE BROKEN IF THE GROUP REMAKES A SUCCESSFUL FIRST-EDITION ARCHIES SINGLE, WHICH "JANE" WAS; THAT VERSION CHARTED IN THE YEAR 2007. CHI SINGS LEAD ON THE ELTON JOHN CLASSIC "MAMA CAN'T BUY YOU LOVE", WHICH ALSO SCORES BIG ON THE CHARTS; IT WILL BE HEARD IN THE 2039 FILM HORNDOG MILLIONAIRE.
AUGUST 5 - 6, 2039
ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS, LONDON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
MESSAGE TO MARTHA
WITH THE NIGELLA FEDERMAN HORNS
VOCAL ARRANGERS: MAL HYPSTER, DONNA DANTE
ARRANGERS: BREE SPELLMAN, CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
CONDUCTOR: TOBY MAXX
SOUND ENGINEER: TAFFY MIDDLETON
JIMMY MACK (DOZIER, HOLLAND)
WILD ONE (HUNTER, STEVENSON)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
QUICKSAND (DOZIER, HOLLAND)
ONE TIME IN A MILLION
(GREENWICH, RASHKOW)
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS
THE SUCCESS OF THE TIGHTER ALBUM PROMPTS THE ARCHIES’ RECORD LABEL TO REQUEST ANOTHER LP BEFORE CHRISTMAS. SABRINA BOOKS THE FIRST SESSION AT LEGENDARY ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS WHILE THE BAND MAKES PERSONAL APPEARANCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT, BREE TACKS "ONE TIME IN A MILLION" ONTO THE END OF THIS BRASS-HEAVY DATE; BUT DESPITE IT BEING ONE OF HER FAVORITE ELLIE GREENWICH COMPOSITIONS, SHE DECIDES NOT TO RELEASE THE TRACK. CHI SINGS LEAD ON ALL SIDES EXCEPT “QUICKSAND”, FOR WHICH DEE DEE ROCKS THE LEAD.
AUGUST 11 - 14, 2039
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
MESSAGE TO MARTHA
VOCAL ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, DONNA DANTE
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
SWEET DARLIN' (RICHARD MORRIS)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
I GOTTA LET YOU GO (NORMAN WHITFIELD)
NOWHERE TO RUN (DOZIER, HOLLAND)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
I'LL HAVE TO LET HIM GO
(MICKEY STEVENSON)
- SINGLE B-SIDE
TEAR IT ON DOWN (ASHFORD, SIMPSON)
I PROMISE TO WAIT, MY LOVE
(BROWN, GORDY, JOHNSON, STORY)
"CAN'T BREAK THE HABIT" WAS AN UNRELEASED SONG ORIGINALLY RECORDED BY MARTHA REEVES + THE VANDELLAS. SO PLEASED IS SABRINA AT THE ARCHIES' COVER VERSION THAT SHE DECIDES TO HAVE THE GROUP CUT AN ENTIRE ALBUM OF VANDELLAS COVERS. THEY HAVE NO SAY IN THE MATTER AND ARE RESENTFUL AT FIRST! HOWEVER, THEY SOON WARM UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF UPDATING THE VINTAGE MOTOWN SOUND. DEE DEE SINGS LEAD ON ALL OF THESE SIDES EXCEPT "I PROMISE TO WAIT, MY LOVE", WHICH FEATURES A DUET PERFORMANCE BY HER AND GARCY.
AUGUST 18 - 21, 2039
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
ALBUM SESSIONS
MESSAGE TO MARTHA
WITH STRINGS STRUNG BLUE
VOCAL ARRANGERS: GARCY BRISEÑO, DONNA DANTE
ARRANGER: BREE SPELLMAN
CONDUCTOR: NERO THE DOG
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
MY BABY LOVES ME (HUNTER, MOY, STEVENSON)
LOVE, GUESS WHO? (PAUL, SHELBY)
RUNNING IN AND OUT OF MY LIFE
(BROWN, GORDY)
- SINGLE A-SIDE
I CAN'T DANCE TO THAT MUSIC
YOU'RE PLAYING
(DEAN, RICHARDS)
GARCY WILL KEEP THESE SESSIONS GOING ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT ONCE AGAIN, HER PERFECTIONISM PAYS OFF: "RUNNING IN AND OUT OF MY LIFE", FIRST RELEASED BY THE VANDELLAS IN 1971, WILL BE THE FIRST OF THE MEGA-HITS ON WHICH SHE SINGS LEAD. THE DIVINE MS. B! HOLDS FORTH ON EVERY SIDE LISTED HERE EXCEPT "I CAN'T DANCE TO THAT MUSIC YOU'RE PLAYING". ON THAT TRACK, SHE SINGS HARMONY VOCALS BEHIND DEE DEE. MAL HYPSTER WILL SAY LATER THAT IT WAS AT THESE MARATHON SESSIONS HE FIRST KNEW GARCY WAS DESTINED FOR SUPERSTARDOM!
NOVEMBER 1, 2039
WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO, BOSTON
A WITCH QUEEN PRODUCTION
TV SOUNDTRACK SESSION
"A SCOTT WALKER CELEBRATION"
WITH THE BOSTON BRASS ENSEMBLE
VOCAL ARRANGER: MAL HYPSTER
RHYTHM ARRANGER: RIKKI NINJA
BRASS ARRANGER: CORTEZ QUINTANILLA
SOUND ENGINEER: YVONNE REMY
DOIN' THE JERK (SCOTT WALKER)
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS BOX SET
YOU'RE ALL AROUND ME (DUNCAN, WALKER)
- BREE SPELLMAN SESSIONS BOX SET
THESE SIDES ARE RECORDED FOR AN ABORTED BBC-TV MUSIC SPECIAL; IT'S INTENDED TO BE A TRIBUTE TO SIXTIES CULT SINGER SCOTT WALKER. CHI IS FEATURED ON THESE NUMBERS, BOTH OF WHICH WALKER WROTE HIMSELF.
