POP CULTURE CANTINA
Presents
DESTINATION: SUGARTOWN!
THE ARCHIE RECORDS STORY
A Journey Through
THE GREAT AMERICAN
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL SONG BOOK
SABRINA: ARCHIE SOUND STUDIOS, THE ORIGINAL LOCATION OF WHICH WAS IN MAMARONECK, NEW YORK, WAS ARCHIE’S RE-IMAGINED VERSION OF MOTOWN’S HITSVILLE STUDIO. VERONICA NEVER THOUGHT IT LIVED UP TO THE NAME! SHE HATED THE ACOUSTICS. "ASS" ENDED UP BEING USED MAINLY AS A DEMO STUDIO FOR CHERRY VAGINA MUSIC, THE PUBLISHING DIVISION OF ARCHIE AMERICANA PRODUCTIONS. THAT’S THE REASON SESSIONS WERE HELD IN MEMPHIS @ SUN STUDIOS, IN LONDON @ ABBEY ROAD, IN HOLLYWOOD @ THE CAPITOL TOWER AND OTHER LEGENDARY RECORDING LOCALES AROUND THE WORLD. I LOVE TO TRAVEL, SO I DIDN’T MIND AT ALL.
HOWEVER, BOTH ARCHIE + RONI WANTED TO HAVE A “HOME BASE” STUDIO. THEY ENDED UP WITH TWO! VERONICA FAVORED SPANISH EDDIE’S IN NEW ORLEANS, AND I THINK THAT WAS BECAUSE THE OWNER, EDDIE ROXCHILD WAS ONE OF THE BEST SOUND ENGINEERS IN THE BUSINESS. ARCHIES PRODUCER RALFI CHINGAS CERTAINLY TOOK A LIKING TO EDDIE, TOO, BUT FOR REASONS MORE CARNAL THAN TECHNICAL!
ARCHIE FAVORED THE CHAPEL OF ROCK, OWNED AND OPERATED BY JEFF BARRY; JEFF WAS THE FIRST PRODUCER ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH THE ARCHIES. THE CHAPEL WAS SET UP INSIDE AN ABANDONED CATHEDRAL IN SANTA BARBARA; I LOVED THAT STUDIO BECAUSE IT WAS HAUNTED BY THE SPIRITS OF CONQUISTADORES, PADRES, INDIGENOUS WARRIORS AND ALL MANNER OF EARLY CALIFORNIANS!
ARCHIES ALBUMS ISSUED ON
THE ARCHIE LABEL WERE FAR
MORE POPULAR THAN THOSE
RELEASED BY KIRSHNER
RECORDS.
ITS APPEAL TO ARCHIE WAS ITS SUPERB SOUND REPRODUCTION; BUT I THINK HIS STRONG CATHOLIC FAITH ALSO PLAYED A PART. HE WAS HIP TO THE FACT THAT EARLY ROCK STARS LIKE BILL HALEY, BUDDY HOLLY AND BRENDA LEE RECORDED INSIDE CHURCH SANCTUARIES. WE CAME TO REGARD THE CHAPEL AS OUR GOOD LUCK CHARM, AND RIGHTLY SO: WITH THE GREAT TOM MOURGOS MANNING THE DESK, THE ARCHIES TRACKED THREE MILLION-SELLING ALBUMS THERE! ONE OF WHICH I WORKED ON WITH THEM.
RALFI CHINGAS PREFERRED WORKING @ HIS RANCHO IN BAYAMÓN, PUERTO RICO. HOWEVER, WE NEVER USED IT THAT MUCH, AND I PERSONALLY NEVER WORKED A SESSION THERE. I DID, OF COURSE, WORK QUITE A BIT @ DILTON DOILEY BRISEÑO’S HOME STUDIO IN EL PASO, TEXAS. HIS MIXING BOARD WAS STATE-OF-THE-ART! BUT THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT FOR THAT FACILITY WAS EL MARIACHI LOWRIDER, THE INCREDIBLE DANCING TEJANO BAND! THOSE GUYS WERE SO MUCH FUN TO WORK WITH. THE ARCHIES WOULD CALL ON THEM WHENEVER THEY WANTED A BIG BAND LATIN SOUND.
THE VERY LAST ARCHIES TRACKING DATES WILL BE HELD @ MY OWN TRACKING FACILITY, IN THE YEAR 2033. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE LEFT TO THEIR SUCCESSORS, THE NEW ARCHIES, TO REALLY PUT WITCH QUEEN RECORDING STUDIO ON THE MAP. THAT’S A WHOLE OTHER NARRATIVE!
THE ELEVENTH YEAR: 2011
"FABULOUS"
ARCHIES FAN CLUB RECORDS
EP SESSIONS
"CANTA RAGAZZINA"
A MADAME AXE PRODUCTION
(VOCALS + INSTRUMENTALS)
JANUARY 10 - 17, 2011
GRAND PRIX STUDIOS,
MILAN, ITALY
COMM’È BELLA A STAGIONE - Canta Ragazzina EP
(Falvo, Pisano)
C’È UNA COSA CHE NON SAI - Canta Ragazzina EP
(Kahan, Keyes, Pace)
NON PENSARE A ME - Canta Ragazzina EP
(Sciorilli, Testa)
SENZA MAMMA E’NNAUMMURATA
- Canta Ragazzina EP
(Francesco Pennino)
TANGO DELLA GELOSIA - Canta Ragazzina EP
(Mascheroni, Mendes)
CANTA RAGAZZINA - Canta Ragazzina EP
(Depedrini, PattaciniI)
DI LA VERITA - Canta Ragazzina EP
(Brignolo, Daniele)
ADDIO, MI’AMORE - Canta Ragazzina EP
(Allen, Merrell)
JUDI PARISELLA + THE SABOTEURS
featuring DEANIE GRUNDY
Vocal Arrangements:
CHUCK CLAYTON
Producers:
CHUCK CLAYTON, D’ANGELO WONG
Executive Producer:
JUDI PARISELLA
Sound Engineer: FRANCESCO NALDI
Executive Producer:
FAWN ETHEL MASON
Salem da Katt: When Big Ethel decided to end AFC's ARCHIES RARE MASTERS series, Archie wanted the first non-Archies EP to be special. During sessions for his Burt Bacharach tribute album, he convinced session guitarist Judi Parisella to cut a solo record. “Madame Axe” had never considered doing so before, but she was intrigued by the prospect - especially when he told her she would own the master tape! As it happened, The Mack Daddys were the first act to succeed The Archies, but Judi's EP would still be a standout.
This time, Archie planned to be her sideman instead of the other way around; but when time came for the session, he was doing something else and couldn’t take part. Veronica assigned the reliable Chuck Clayton to produce Judi; playing rhythm guitar, bass and drums, he ended up accompanying her on record as a one-man band called “The Saboteurs”.
PROMO FOR MADAME AXE'S
PUNK ROCK TRIBUTE TO
CONNIE FRANCIS!
When Judi met with Chuck to plan the sessions, they discovered mutual adoration for Rock ballad queen Connie Francis. Of course, Chuck had produced YOUR OTHER LOVE, the celebrated Connie tribute by Australian singer Deb Delman. That album was full of Pop/Rock hits, but he personally favored Connie’s Country music sides. Judi preferred La Franconero's many Italian-language recordings. “So what about you interpreting some of your Italian favorites instrumentally?” Chuck suggested. “I will,” she agreed, “but only if we can record them in Italy!” They could . . . and they did!
With D’Angelo Wong as co-producer, they tracked a double EP’s worth of Punk Rock instrumentals in Milan; but during demo dates for the record, D’Angelo complained that Judi’s interpretations were “too radical!” Neither Judy nor Chuckii thought so, but to appease their Milanese collaborator Chuck decided to add brief vocal segments to each song. He flew in his life partner, Geraldine Grundy to sing them.
“Don’t try to be a Punk rocker,” he told Deanie. “Just phrase the ballads as you normally would while Judi shreds on guitar! I promise you, the juxtaposition will work.” Not counting her vocals on the limited-edition cast album HOT DOG BUDDY BUDDY, this was Deanie’s first new recording since her heyday as a Sixties Folk icon; for that reason, CANTA RAGAZZINA became Chuckii’s favorite Archies Fan Club recording. Archie dug it, too. “If The Archies had gone in a Punk direction,” he said, “This is how I'd have wanted us to sound.”
Music critics rarely took note of Archies Fan Club releases, but they sure noticed this one! Praise was unanimous and effusive: "One of the best Punk records of the year!" The popularity of this second Connie Francis tribute led Chuck Clayton to cut one of his own in 2013.
HITS OF THE SIXTIES BECAME
THE BASIS OF AN AWARD-
WINNING "ROCKUMENTARY"
THAT AIRED ON ITALIAN
TV DURING THE YEAR
2012.
SABRINA: FROM MARCH TO JUNE OF 2011, THE ARCHIES RECORDED THEIR PLATINUM HITS OF THE SIXTIES ALBUM IN SANTA BARBARA. SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THEY RECORDED THIS CELEBRATION OF SONGS BY BARRY MANN + CYNTHIA WEIL, VERONICA APPROACHED THE HUSBAND-AND-WIFE COMPOSING TEAM FOR PERMISSION TO DO IT. THEY GAVE HER AN EMPHATIC "NO!"
@ THE TIME, THEY STILL REGARDED THE ARCHIES AS A BUBBLEGUM POP BAND, AND MOST OF THEIR MATERIAL ISN'T TEEN-ORIENTED; BUT IN 2010, THE COUPLE CAUGHT ONE OF THE LAST SHOWS ON THE RETURN TO ARCHIE COUNTRY TOUR. THEY WITNESSED THE MUSICAL POWERHOUSE THAT THE GROUP HAD BECOME, AND WERE ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED WHEN REGGIE SANG "I DON'T WANNA LOVE YOU," ONE OF THEIR MORE OBSCURE COUNTRY BALLADS. WHAT THEY SAW AND HEARD COMPLETELY CHANGED THEIR PERCEPTION OF THE ARCHIES! RONI'S EGO GOT A MASSIVE STROKE WHEN A CONTRITE BARRY + CYNTHIA CONTACTED HER AND ACTUALLY REQUESTED AN ALBUM TRIBUTE. IT WOULD BE HER ALL-TIME FAVORITE ARCHIES PROJECT!
THE TWO-RECORD SET WE MADE TOGETHER SPARKLES AND SHINES LIKE THE RARE GEM THAT IT IS. REGGIE WAS IN PARTICULARLY GOOD FORM: HIS VOCAL INTERPRETATIONS OF "ONLY IN AMERICA", "LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE" AND "MAGIC TOWN" (A SMASH HIT OVERSEAS) WERE SUPERB! JUGHEAD TOOK MY BREATH AWAY SINGING "I JUST CAN'T HELP BELIEVIN'" AND THE SECOND BIG HIT FROM THE ALBUM,"LOVE HER!" RONI + BETTY SENT CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE LEADING THE CHORUS ON "MAKE YOUR OWN KIND OF MUSIC," AND BETTY MADE THE CRYSTALS OLDIE "UPTOWN" SOUND BRAND NEW AND ALL HER OWN!
THE LEGENDARY SONGWRITERS HELPED CHOOSE THE TRACK LINEUP, AND THEY ALSO ATTENDED THE TRACKING DATES IN SANTA BARBARA. BOTH TONY BRISEÑO + RALFI CHINGAS LOBBIED TO PRODUCE THE NEW RECORD; TONY HAD THE INSIDE TRACK AFTER HAVING DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB ON RETURN TO ARCHIE COUNTRY! HOWEVER, VERONICA DECIDED TO GIVE RALFI ANOTHER CHANCE.
POOR TONY WAS CRUSHED! IT WAS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF DISAPPOINTMENTS THAT THE ARCHIES SUBJECTED HIM TO; BUT HE NEVER GAVE UP ON THEM. THAT WAS TO THEIR BENEFIT, BECAUSE HE'D LATER CO-PRODUCE THEIR MOST CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED ALBUM! RIDE, RIDE, BABY WILL BE TRACKED DURING THE ARCHIES' BRIEF SOJOURN @ ATLANTIC RECORDS IN THE LATE 2020s.
RALFI WAS @ HIS BEST AND HIS WORST @ THE HITS OF THE SIXTIES SESSIONS: AMAZINGLY CREATIVE AND VEXINGLY MERCURIAL @ THE SAME TIME! @ TONY'S SUGGESTION, HE HIRED ME TO WRITE THE ARRANGEMENTS, AND HE BROUGHT IN HIS NEW DISCOVERY, JONNIEMAE TROUTEN, TO SERVE AS MUSIC DIRECTOR. THAT'S WHERE MAE MAE AND I MET FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE WORKED WELL TOGETHER, BUT THE SAME COULDN'T BE SAID ABOUT RALFI + CYNTHIA WEIL! THE TWO OF THEM WERE BOTH STRONG-WILLED AND HIGHLY OPINIONATED; CLASHES WERE INEVITABLE, THEY WERE EXPLOSIVE, AND THEY TOOK PLACE THROUGHOUT THE RECORDING PROCESS! VERONICA WAS APPALLED AND EMBARRASSED, BUT THERE WAS SYNERGY IN THEIR VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP. THE SESSIONS PROVED TO BE AS PRODUCTIVE AS THEY WERE BOMBASTIC!
BUT THE ALBUM'S ONE-TWO KNOCKOUT PUNCH CAME IN THE FORM OF "GLITTER AND GOLD", A LEAD SINGLE SUNG TO PERFECTION BY ARCHIE + TREVOR; AND ITS HARD-ROCKING FLIPSIDE "CHICO'S GIRL", SENT ROARING UP THE MEXICAN POP CHARTS IN A SIZZLING VERONICA RENDITION! BOTH OF THOSE SONGS WERE BLOCKBUSTERS! MY PERSONAL FAVORITE WAS "IT'S A HAPPENING WORLD", AN ARCHIE/RONI DUET WHICH WOULD BREAK FOR A BELATED HIT IN ASIA THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
THE ARCHIES' SUBSEQUENT TOUR IN SUPPORT OF THIS ALBUM WAS THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL TO DATE. TONY BRISEÑO WAS THE ARCHIES' TOURING MUSIC DIRECTOR, BUT IN 2010 HE WAS CAUGHT UP IN A MESSY DIVORCE FROM HIS WIFE BUNNY. WHEN HE OPTED TO SIT OUT THE TOUR, I SUBBED FOR HIM AND HAD A LOT OF FUN ON THE ROAD!
THE ARCHIES WITH KEVIN KELLER
PLAY RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
IN JUNE OF 2011.
ARCHIE RECORDS
ALBUM SESSIONS
"HITS OF THE SIXTIES"
A RALFI CHINGAS PRODUCTION
(INSTRUMENTALS + VOCALS)
MARCH 2011
CHAPEL OF ROCK,
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
ONLY IN AMERICA - Hits Of The Sixties LP
(Leiber, Mann, Stoller, Weil)
IT'S A HAPPENING WORLD
- Hits Of The Sixties LP
(Mann, Weil)
NEW WORLD COMIN'
- single flipside, Hits Of The Sixties LP
CHICO'S GIRL
- single flipside, Hits Of The Sixties LP*
(Mann, Weil)
I'M GONNA BE STRONG
- Hits Of The Sixties LP**
(Mann, Weil)
LITTLE HONDA in Japanese
- single (Japan)
(Jones, Love, Wilson, Takeshi)
THE ARCHIES
w/MANN + WEIL
w/POP TATE
w/JONNIEMAE
Vocal Arrangers:
VERONICA, *BETTY JONES,
**REGGIE MANTLE
Arranger: BREE SPELLMAN
Music Director: JONNIEMAE
Producers:
RALFI CHINGAS + THE ARCHIES
Sound Engineer: TOM MOURGOS
Executive Producer:
NICHOLAS FREUND
The Archies cut a tribute album to Barry Mann + Cynthia
Weil, arguably the most successful Pop songwriters of the
20th century. The couple sang background vocals @ these
first sessions. Terry “Pop” Tate played the saxophone solos.
Music director and Flamenco guitarist Jonniemae Trouten was a
discovery of Ralfi Chingas. "Chico's Girl" went Top Ten in Mexico;
Roni Lodge-Andrews sang lead. The Archies hoped "Little Honda"
would be the hit follow-up to their Japanese smash "Precious
And Few", but this rare Juggy/Reggie duet failed to catch
on. It was issued as a fan club single flipside.
SABRINA: MY COUSIN AMBROSE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO KEEP SECRETS FROM ME; I KNOW HIM TOO WELL! SO WHEN HE SHOWED UP TO PLAY BONGÓS @ TWO OF THE "HOTS" TRACKING DATES, I KNEW THAT WASN'T THE ONLY REASON HE WAS THERE! AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES OF OBSERVING HOW HE INTERACTED WITH BETTY JONES, I KNEW: MY VERY PROMISCUOUS COUSIN WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH JUGHEAD'S WIFE! I IMMEDIATELY CONFRONTED HIM ABOUT IT.
IT TURNED OUT THAT JUGGY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. @ BETTY'S INSISTENCE, THEY WERE TRYING AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP. SHE + AMBROSE STARTED THEIR FLING IN AUGUST OF 2010; HE LIVED IN HOLLYWOOD @ THAT TIME, AND THE ARCHIES WERE IN TOWN CUTTING THEIR UNRELEASED MOVE IT! EP.
ARRANGING SONGS FOR THE ARCHIES WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, BUT BITTERSWEET, TOO. WITH AMBROSE @ HER SIDE, BETTY LOOKED MORE JOYFUL THAN I'D SEEN HER IN SEVERAL YEARS; BUT MY DEAR FRIEND JUGGY LOOKED MISERABLE! EARLIER, I SPOKE OF HOW EVERY ARCHIES MEMBER HAD HIS OR HER FAVORITE ALBUM. WELL, ONE OF THEM HAD A LEAST FAVORITE! I KNOW WHO IT WAS, I KNOW WHICH ALBUM, AND I UNDERSTAND WHY HE FELT THAT WAY ABOUT IT.
LED BY DRUMMER MIDGE MERCURY,
ARCHIE RECORDS' STELLAR SESSION
CREW STEPPED INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
WITH A BEST-SELLING 2012 KARAOKE
ALBUM AND A HIT EXTENDED PLAY
SINGLE.
ARCHIE RECORDS
ALBUM SESSIONS
"HITS OF THE SIXTIES"
A RALFI CHINGAS PRODUCTION
(INSTRUMENTALS + VOCALS)
APRIL 2011
CHAPEL OF ROCK,
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
I'VE GOT TO FIND ME A WOMAN
- Retro box set
(Barry, Kim)
HUNGRY! - Hits Of The Sixties LP*
(Mann, Weil)
GLITTER AND GOLD
- single, Hits Of The Sixties LP
(Mann, Weil)
KICKS
- single flipside, Hits Of The Sixties LP*
(Mann, Weil)
WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE!
- Hits Of The Sixties LP**
(Mann, Weil)
LOOKING AT TOMORROW
- single, Hits Of The Sixties LP
(Mann, Weil)
THE ARCHIES
w/REY COCHINO
w/AMBROSE NIXON
Vocal Arrangers:
VERONICA, *BETTY JONES,
**REGGIE MANTLE
Arranger: BREE SPELLMAN
Music Director: JONNIEMAE
Producers:
RALFI CHINGAS, THE ARCHIES
Sound Engineer: TOM MOURGOS
Executive Producer:
NICHOLAS FREUND
Rey Cochino played saxophone at these dates and
Ambrose Nixon sang back-ups and played percussion.
"Glitter And Gold", featuring duet vocals by Archie and
Trevor, was a major international hit!
PROMO FOR THE ARCHIES'
2012 EXTENDED-PLAY DISC
GLITTER + GOLD.
ARCHIE RECORDS
ALBUM SESSIONS
"HITS OF THE SIXTIES"
A RALFI CHINGAS PRODUCTION
(INSTRUMENTALS + VOCALS)
MAY 2011
CHAPEL OF ROCK,
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
BLAME IT ON THE BOSSA NOVA
- Hits Of The Sixties LP
(Mann, Weil)
MAGIC TOWN - Hits Of The Sixties LP
(Mann, Weil)
LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE
- Hits Of The Sixties LP
(Mann, Weil)
ON BROADWAY - Hits Of The Sixties LP*
(Leiber, Mann, Stoller, Weil)
THAT'S THE BOY - Glitter And Gold EP*
(Mann, Weil)
BLESS YOU, BABY SUITE:
BLESS YOU/YOU, BABY**/
BABY, BABY (I STILL LOVE YOU)*/
BLESS YOU (REPRISE)
(Mann, Weil/Titelman, Weil/Mann, Weil)
- End Of A Century LP
THE ARCHIES
w/MANN + WEIL
w/AMBROSE NIXON
Vocal Arrangers:
REGGIE MANTLE, *BETTY JONES,
**VERONICA
Arranger: BREE SPELLMAN
Music Director: JONNIEMAE
Producers:
RALFI CHINGAS, THE ARCHIES
Sound Engineer: TOM MOURGOS
Executive Producer:
NICHOLAS FREUND
Not released as a single in the USA, "Magic Town"
was a hit in several countries around the world.
Reggie Mantle sang lead on that track as well
as the fan club single flipside "Looking Through
The Eyes Of Love". The "Bless You, Baby Suite,"
featuring tag-team vocals by Juggy, Betty +
Veronica, was briefly scheduled for release in
South Africa; test pressings exist.
SEVERAL ARCHIES RECORDINGS
PLANNED FOR RELEASE AS
SINGLES WERE EITHER CANCELLED
OR WITHDRAWN FROM SALE.
SABRINA: THERE ARE BEINGS WALKING THIS EARTH THAT ARE MUCH OLDER THAN THEY APPEAR TO BE. ME, FOR INSTANCE (BUT DON'T EXPECT ME TO TELL YOU HOW OLD I AM)! REINCARNATION IS A THEORY THAT WITCHES KNOW TO BE FACTUAL, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT ANIMALS COMING BACK AS HUMANS, AND VICE-VERSA, IS COMMONPLACE. WHEN RALFI CHINGAS HIRED JONNIEMAE TROUTEN TO WORK AS HIS MUSIC DIRECTOR, SHE AND I BECAME CLOSE; BUT I WAS DESTINED TO BECOME EVEN CLOSER TO HER PET POODLE NERO, WHOM SHE TOOK WITH HER EVERYWHERE.
I COULD TELL RIGHT AWAY THAT NERO HAD A PREVIOUS LIFE: I LATER DICOVERED THAT HE'D BEEN A HUMAN CHILD WHO'D TRAGICALLY PERISHED IN AN ACCIDENT. HE RETAINED MANY HUMAN TRAITS, AND I USED MY MAGIC TO ENHANCE THEM EVER SO SLIGHTLY! NERO WAS A "WONDER POODLE", AND OF THE MANY AMAZING THINGS HE COULD DO, HE LOVED TO SING MOST OF ALL. HE WAS A MUSICIAN'S PET, SO WHAT COULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE? BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NERO HAD PERFECT PITCH AS WELL AS AN EXCELLENT SENSE OF RHYTHM. JUST LIKE JONNIEMAE, PUPPY WAS DESTINED FOR A MUSIC CAREER!
WHEN SHE MOVED TO COLOMBIA, NERO STAYED BEHIND AND CAME TO LIVE WITH ME. (SALEM WASN'T HAPPY @ FIRST, BUT HE AND THE POODLE BECAME DEVOTED "FRENEMIES"!) HE DID BECOME AN ARTIST AS WELL AS AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF MY STAFF, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT: HE BECAME A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY! I MISS RUNNING MY HANDS THROUGH HIS THICK PURPLE FUR.
NERO THE DOG WILL RETURN TO
POP CULTURE CANTINA IN HUMAN
FORM FOR A FUTURE CARTOON
NARRATIVE. STAY TUNED!
ARCHIE RECORDS
ALBUM SESSIONS
"HITS OF THE SIXTIES"
A RALFI CHINGAS PRODUCTION
(INSTRUMENTALS + VOCALS)
JUNE 2011
CHAPEL OF ROCK,
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
I JUST CAN'T HELP BELIEVIN' - Hits Of The Sixties LP
TALK TO ME, BABY - Hits Of The Sixties LP
HOME OF THE BRAVE - Hits Of The Sixties LP*
UPTOWN - Hits Of The Sixties LP*
LOVE HER! - Hits Of The Sixties LP**
MAKE YOUR OWN KIND OF MUSIC
- Hits Of The Sixties LP***
(Mann, Weil)
THE ARCHIES
w/NERO THE DOG
Vocal Arrangers:
VERONICA, *BETTY JONES,
**REGGIE MANTLE,
***VERONICA + BETTY JONES
Arranger: BREE SPELLMAN
Music Director: JONNIEMAE
Producers:
RALFI CHINGAS, THE ARCHIES
Sound Engineer: TOM MOURGOS
Executive Producer:
NICHOLAS FREUND
Unbeknownst to Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil,
Jonniemae’s pet poodle Nero “sang” background
vocals during these dates! Looking for a unique
sound, Ralfi Chingas mixed his barks and howls
in with the instrumentation. The writers would’ve
been furious had they known; as it was, they
strongly objected to the recording of “Love Her”
that was cut @ these sessions. At their insistence,
a remix session was scheduled.
ARCHIE RECORDS
SINGLES SESSIONS
A DYAD MUSIC PRODUCTION
in association with
RALFI CHINGAS
(INSTRUMENTALS + VOCALS)
JUNE 27-29, 2011
REX PRODUCTIONS,
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
LOVE HER! (REMIX) - single*
BLUE-EYED SOUL MEDLEY:
IT'S NOT EASY LOVIN' YOU, BABY/GOODBYE, GIRL/
SHADES OF GRAY
- Archie Sings Barry, Mann + Weil LP
(Mann, Weil)
ON THE ROAD - single flipside
(Mann, Weil)
SOUL AND INSPIRATION - single
(Mann, Weil)
BLUE-EYED SOUL
*THE ARCHIES
Arranger: BREE SPELLMAN
Music Director: JONNIEMAE
Producers:
BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL,
*RALFI CHINGAS
Sound Engineer: SOLEDAD ESPINOZA
Executive Producer:
RANDALL WIXEN
"On The Road" was the remake of a song that The
Archies cut for an unreleased 2009 British TV soundtrack.
A favorite of Jughead, it was re-cut @ his suggestion
but with a new arrangement co-written by Barry Mann
+ Bree Spellman. Much to the ire of Mann + Weil, promo
copies of "Soul And Inspiration" b/w "On The Road"
mistakenly omitted their production credit! That single
will be a bonus track on a musical cast album of the
same title; for additional recording details, see the
entries for January and February of 2013.
SABRINA + THE SAINT-GEORGE
BROTHERS SING BACKGROUND
FOR THE ARCHIES @ RADIO
CITY MUSIC HALL.
SABRINA: DURING THE FINAL RECORDING SESSIONS FOR "HOTS", THE ARCHIES AND I FLEW TO NEW YORK. THEY PLAYED A SOLD-OUT, ONE NIGHT ONLY CONCERT @ RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL; THE VENUE WAS PACKED, AND IT WAS VERY EXCITING! I SANG BACKGROUND VOCALS ON STAGE WITH TWO LOVELY CARIBBEAN BROTHERS WHO CALLED THEMSELVES GAYME. SY + HERBIE ST. GEORGE WERE VETERANS OF EARLY SIXTIES DOO-WOP GROUPS; ROAD MANAGER KIX PANUNZIO HIRED THEM TO ACCOMPANY US ON THE "HOTS" TOUR. LATER ON, THEY TOOK PART IN A KEVIN KELLER TRACKING DATE. BETTY JONES USED TO HAVE LONG TALKS WITH THE SAINT-GEORGE BROTHERS, AND THEY TOLD HER ABOUT THEIR LONG-AGO EXPERIENCES ON THE ROAD IN THE SEGREGATED SOUTH. THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE SOURCE MATERIAL FOR DON'T TOUCH MY GUITAR, THE ROCK MUSICAL SHE'LL TAKE TO BROADWAY. TWO DECADES FROM NOW, IT WILL WIN A TONY AWARD!
ARCHIE FAN CLUB RECORDS
REMIX SESSIONS
"THE SAVAGE YOUNG ARCHIES"
A STUDIO B MIX
AUGUST 23-20, 2011
STUDIO “B”
EL PASO, TEXAS
BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY
- Savage Young Archies LP
(Dorsey + Johnny Burnette)
EVERYBODY - Savage Young Archies LP
(Tommy Roe)
FABULOUS - Savage Young Archies LP
(Bernie Lowe, Kal Mann)
KING CREOLE - Savage Young Archies LP
(Leiber, Stoller)
CAT TALK - Savage Young Archies LP
(Lew Williams)
L'IL WILLY - Savage Young Archies LP
(Chapman, Chinn)
ELEVEN-FIFTY-NINE - Savage Young Archies LP
(Jimmy Destri)
I'M A BELIEVER - Savage Young Archies LP
(Neil Diamond)
TEARDROP CITY - Savage Young Archies LP
(Boyce, Hart)
DANCING WITH MYSELF
- Savage Young Archies LP
(Idol, James)
STANDING IN THE NEED OF LOVE
- Savage Young Archies LP
(traditional)
THE CHICKEN + THE HAWK
- Savage Young Archies LP
(Leiber, Stoller)
I JUST CAN'T HELP IT
- Savage Young Archies LP
(Tucker, Wilson)
YOU CAN'T GO HALFWAY
- Savage Young Archies LP
(Fowler, Gary, Johnson, Nash)
THAT'S THE WAY WE GET BY
- Savage Young Archies LP
(John Bundrick)
KISSIN' COUSINS
- Savage Young Archies LP
(Starr, Wise)
THE ARCHIES
Remix Producer:
DILTON DOILEY BRISEÑO
Remix Engineer: HUSSEIN HABAKKUK
With his divorce from Bunny Peckerwood finalized,
Dilton was able to return to work @ his studio.
He taped these early live performances in the years
1987 and '88, when The Archies were still a
“Punk-a-Billy” trio. During part of that time, they were
known as The Juggz. Tony used recording equipment of
his own invention to capture crystal-clear performances
of Archie Andrews, Juggy Jones + Reggie "Gino" Mantle
at their rawest! The tapes were stolen in 1989, but after
the turn of the century, some of them surfaced in the
possession of King Records. The Archie label sued to block
a 2008 release of King's EARLY ARCHIES CD. Three
years later, Archie + Veronica won control of the lost
tapes and released them on an Archies Fan Club LP.
SAVAGE YOUNG ARCHIES was one of three wildly
popular AFC albums (the others were a karaoke LP,
BE YOUR OWN ARCHIES, and Chuck Clayton's solo
album YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME).
T H E S A V A G E
Y O U N G A R C H I E S !
A COMPILATION OF EARLY LIVE
RECORDINGS RELEASED
IN DECEMBER OF 2011.
ARCHIE RECORDS
SINGLES SESSION
AN ARCHIE AMERICANA PRODUCTION
(VOCALS + INSTRUMENTALS)
SEPTEMBER 10, 11, 2011
BABY GRAND STUDIOS,
HONOLULU, HAWAII
MY CLONE SLEEPS ALONE
- single A-side
(Benatar, Capps)
TAKE IT ANY WAY YOU WANT IT
- single B-side
(Briley, Geraldo)
KEVIN KELLER
Arrangers:
BLUE-EYED SOUL
Music Director:
JUGHEAD
Producers:
VERONICA w/BLUE-EYED SOUL
Sound Engineer: RHETT VALENTYNE
Executive Producer:
NICHOLAS FREUND
Salem da Katt: Kevin Keller will be remembered as one of The Archies, but he was only an official member of the group for a few years. He started singing background on Archies studio dates ‘way back in 1990! The band offered him membership for the first time a year later. Kelly declined because he had just signed up to serve a military tour.
The offer was repeated after his discharge, but by then dude had decided to run for public office: Kelly served one term as a Republican state senator. Two years later, the desire to become a film and TV star motivated his third refusal; but the closest Kelly came to stardom was filming “The Equalizer”, the rejected pilot for a superhero series. (Decades later, the concept that had been created for him was revamped into a successful vehicle for actress/rapper Queen Latifah.)
Back in 2009, Veronica had convinced Kelly to sing in public for the first time since his role in HOT DOG BUDDY BUDDY. “You still want to do stage musicals,” she reminded him, “and this will be great practice!” So he'd opened for The Archies during part of their RETURN TO ARCHIE COUNTRY World Tour. It was a plum gig, and Kelly went down so well with audiences, he opened The Archies’ 2011 tour, too. “Don’t lose your momentum,” Archie advised. “Why don’t you cut a solo record? That can be a stepping stone to an acting career.”
KEVIN KELLER REHEARSES FOR A
RECORDING SESSION WITH
VERONICA, JUGHEAD
+ ROD MACK.
When the HITS OF THE SIXTIES tour stopped in Honolulu, Kelly was hustled into Baby Grand Studios. He was presented with a pair of Eighties Pop songs Veronica had specially chosen for him. Dude wasn’t impressed until she revealed her intention to give them a Heavy Metal makeover! Kelly was so intrigued that he wound up helping to arrange the music. Even so, the Iraq War vet didn’t think either side of his forthcoming single would sell “worth a flying fuck!” All Kelly really wanted to do was film a music video.
Just like Veronica, video director Raj Patel liked to think outside the box. He revealed his intention to film Archie Records’ newest artist jumping out of a giant crumb cake. “That’s gonna look hella dumb!” Kelly complained. Raj begged to differ: “Not with you wearing nothing but a smile! I mean, like, totally bare-assed! Dude, are you game?”
Former US Marines aren’t the kind to beg off a dare, so Kevin Keller got cake crumbs and pink sugar icing all over his birthday suit! The video for “My Clone Sleeps Alone” subsequently went viral, and the rest is history!
SABRINA: TWO DAYS AFTER KEVIN KELLER TRACKED HIS SINGLE, BETTY + VERONICA FLEW TO LONDON. THERE THEY RECORDED A SONG CALLED “STOP! AND YOU’LL BECOME AWARE” IN A TRIO WITH MELODY FROM THE PUSSY CATS. THE RECORD WAS CREDITED TO JOSIE + THE PUSSY CATS WITH THE ARCHIES, BUT NO OTHER MEMBERS OF EITHER GROUP ATTENDED THE SESSION!
ALEXANDRA + RALFI CHINGAS CONCEIVED A TEAM-UP SINGLE FOR THE TWO BANDS. THEY BOTH THOUGHT A CERTAIN NORTHERN SOUL OLDIE BY BRITISH POP STAR HELEN SHAPIRO WOULD BE THE PERFECT VEHICLE; THE ARCHIES HAD ALREADY CUT AN UNRELEASED VERSION OF IT. THERE WAS A MAJOR HURDLE TO OVERCOME, THOUGH: JOSIE! SHE ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO WORK WITH XANDIE. WHAT'S MORE, VERONICA WASN'T INCLINED TO LET RALFI PRODUCE THE ARCHIES AGAIN! HIS HOT TEMPER HAD GOTTEN THE BEST OF HIM DURING THE HITS OF THE SIXTIES SESSIONS.
COMPROMISES WERE REACHED: THE SINGLE WOULD BE AN "ALL-GIRL" AFFAIR, WITH NO MALE GROUP MEMBERS TAKING PART. XANDIE WOULD PRODUCE IT, AND RALFI WOULD BE AN OFF-SITE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER. JOSIE WAS SUPPOSED TO PLAY LEAD GUITAR REMOTELY UNTIL SHE CHANGED HER MIND @ THE LAST MINUTE! MADAME AXE COULD PLAY JOSIE'S RIFFS BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ALL BOOKED-UP. ROD MACK WAS THE LOGICAL SUBSTITUTE; BACK IN THE DAY, JOSIE HAD BEEN ONE OF HIS GUITAR TUTORS!
OF COURSE, THIS SPOILED THE FEMALE-ONLY CONCEPT BUT WHAT THE HELL? YOU CAN'T LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD, AND ROD WAS THE BEST. BESIDES, HE WASN'T THE ONLY MALE ON THE PREMISES: JUSTIN STRICKLAND CAME UP WITH A DYNAMITE SONG ARRANGEMENT THAT HAD EVERYBODY RAVING! I WAS ACTUALLY SCHEDULED TO CONDUCT THAT DATE, BUT SINCE JUSSIE WAS ARRANGING INSTEAD OF ME, I DECIDED TO LET HIM DO THE HONORS.
A PUBLIC HUNGRY FOR NEW PUSSY CATS MUSIC SNAPPED UP THIS DECEPTIVELY-BILLED RELEASE, AND ANOTHER HIT WAS LOGGED FOR ARCHIE RECORDS; BUT "STOP! AND YOU'LL BECOME AWARE" WAS THE LAST NORTH-AMERICAN TOP FORTY SINGLE FOR THE ARCHIES! IT WAS ALSO THE LAST ONE WITH JOSIE + THE PUSSY CATS AS ARCHIE ARTISTS.
VERONICA, ROD MACK, BETTY JONES
+ MELLY MUNRO-JONES: PRINCIPAL
MUSICIANS @ THE SEPTEMBER
15th BEL CANTO SESSION.
ARCHIE RECORDS
SINGLES SESSIONS
A KOOLTYME PRODUCTION
in association with
RALFI CHINGAS
(INSTRUMENTALS + VOCALS)
SEPTEMBER 13-16, 2011
BEL CANTO STUDIOS,
LONDON, ENGLAND
STOP! AND YOU'LL BECOME AWARE
- single A-side
(Roger Okin)
JOSIE + THE PUSSY CATS
w/THE ARCHIES
w/KOOLTYME KATTS
w/ROD MACK
Arranger/Conductor:
JUSTIN STRICKLAND
Producer: ALEXANDRA
Sound Engineer:
LAKSHMI SHUTTLESWORTH
Executive Producers:
LEX CABOT, RALFI CHINGAS
Betty Jones, Roni Lodge-Andrews + Pussy Cats
drummer Melody Munro-Jones sang tag-team lead
vocals on this song, originally tracked by The Archies
in September of 2004. Rod Mack played lead guitar
in Josie's signature style. The single wasn't pressed
until March of 2012, with a flipside by Josie + The Pussy
Cats alone. "Stop!" first appeared on the 2011 label
compilation POP ART! and was issued on 45 by
popular demand.
ARCHIE RECORDS
REMIX SESSIONS
"SEVENTEEN AIN'T YOUNG"
AN ALAN M MIX
OCTOBER 2 - 14, 2011
THE CAPITOL TOWER,
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
THE ARCHIES LP - unreleased
SUGAR, SUGAR LP - unreleased
JINGLE JANGLE LP - unreleased
incomplete
THE ARCHIES
Music Supervision:
ARCHIE ANDREWS
Remix Producer:
ALAN MAYBERRY
Remix Engineers:
ALAN MAYBERRY, ZACHARY THAXTON
These were sessions for an aborted
box set of Archies albums from
the Kirshner catalog. This project
was cancelled, but Archie Records
would complete the production of
another LP retrospective in early
2014.
ARCHIES SINGLES RECORDED FOR
THE EUROPEAN MARKET.
ARCHIE RECORDS
SINGLES SESSION
EINE GRAND-PRIX PRODUKTION
(INSTRUMENTALS + VOCALS)
OCTOBER 18, 2011
HANSA STUDIOS,
BERLIN, GERMANY
*A RALFI CHINGAS PRODUCTION
(INSTRUMENTAL)
MARCH 2011
CHAPEL OF ROCK,
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
TWERK SIGNORINA! in Italian
- single (Western Europe)
(Andrews, Britton, Nerangis, Tate, Wong)
IT'S A HAPPENING WORLD in Czech
- single (Czech Republic)*
THE ARCHIES
Vocal Arranger: VERONICA
Arrangers: THE ARCHIES
Music Director:
ARCHIE ANDREWS
Producers:
D'ANGELO WONG,
*RALFI CHINGAS w/THE ARCHIES
Sound Engineer: TROTZKY
Executive Producer:
NICHOLAS FREUND
"It's A Happening World" in Czech was not a hit for
The Archies, but it became quite well-known; the
recording was used in a national campaign to heighten
awareness about climate change. "Twerk Signorina"
(loosely based on the 1976 Crown Heights Affair hit
"Foxy Lady") was the group's entry in Italy's San Remo
Song Festival for the year 2011; Archie + Trevor
sang a rambunctious duet lead! It became a cult
hit in European dance clubs, but because of lyrics
that both Veronica + Betty considered sexist,
the Archie Andrews/Terry Tate/D'Angelo Wong
composition was only ever performed
@ the festival.
SABRINA: THAT RADIO CITY CONCERT I TOOK PART IN WITH THE ARCHIES WAS RECORDED. SOME OF THE LIVE TRACKS APPEARED ON THE SECOND SIDE OF AN ALBUM CALLED POP ART! IT WAS A BEST-SELLING ARCHIE RECORDS COMPILATION THAT CHUCK CLAYTON ASSEMBLED. ALSO FEATURING STUDIO TRACKS BY ARCHIE, VERONICA, SAVOY SOUND, JOSIE + THE PUSSY CATS + KEVIN KELLER, POP ART! WAS MARKETED TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR. RELEASED @ THE SAME TIME, KELLY'S DÉBUT SINGLE WAS A RUNAWAY SMASH, AND THIS COMPILATION CLIMBED THE CHARTS IN ITS WAKE.
PROMO FOR THE MILLION-SELLING
ARCHIE RECORDS COMPILATION
P O P A R T !
ARCHIE RECORDS
REMIX SESSIONS
"POP ART!"
A SPANISH EDDIE MIX
(INSTRUMENTALS)
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2011
SPANISH EDDIE’S BAR + GRILL
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
*A RALFI CHINGAS PRODUCTION
in association with
KOOLTYME PRODUCTIONS
(VOCALS + INSTRUMENTALS)
BEL CANTO STUDIOS,
SEPTEMBER 2011
**A RALFI CHINGAS PRODUCTION
(VOCALS + INSTRUMENTALS)
CHAPEL OF ROCK,
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
MAY, JUNE 2004
STOP! AND YOU’LL BECOME AWARE
- Pop Art LP*
(Roger Okim)
LET’S GET IT ON TODAY, LIVE VERSION
- Pop Art LP
(Adams, Dante)
NINETEENTH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN,
LIVE VERSION
- Pop Art LP
(Jagger, Richards)
BIG CITY MISS RUTH ANN,
LIVE VERSION
- Pop Art LP
(Tom Lazoros)
GLITTER AND GOLD, LIVE VERSION
- Pop Art LP
(Mann, Weil)
GOOD DEAL, LUCILLE,
NEW LIVE VERSION
- Pop Art LP
(Miller, Theriot)
LOVE HER, LIVE VERSION
- Pop Art LP
(Mann, Weil)
HOLD ON BABY MEDLEY
- Pop Art LP**
(Barry, Greenwich)/
(Barry, Greenwich, Spector)
THE ARCHIES
w/GAYME + SABRINA
*w/JOSIE + THE PUSSY CATS
Arrangers:
BREE SPELLMAN, *JUSTIN STRICKLAND,
**RALFI CHINGAS
Music Director: BREE SPELLMAN
Remix Producer: CHUCK CLAYTON
Remix Engineer: EDDIE ROXCHILD
Salem da Katt: Everybody knows that The Archies recorded their first hit singles and albums for Kirshner Records. The owner, Don Kirshner, lost ownership of his company @ the turn of the century and its assets were auctioned off in 2005.
Archie + Veronica were elated when they bid for and won The Archies’ masters; but they were undecided about how to market them. Big Ethel mined the tapes for choice unreleased tracks, which were issued on the four Archies Fan Club EPs we told you about; but the album masters lay undisturbed for seven years.
THIS POSTPONED ARCHIES ALBUM
BOX SET WON'T BE RELEASED
UNTIL THE YEAR 2070!
In late 2011, Archie got the idea for a Kirshner LP box set. SEVENTEEN AIN’T YOUNG would’ve featured new pressings of all six Archies albums released between 1988 and 1991. It was going to be a deluxe release, pressed on baby pink and powder blue vinyl! The project got far enough along for promo ads to be made; but Veronica was never on board.
“We reached a high point of musical sophistication this year with HITS OF THE SIXTIES,” she argued. “Now is not the time to evoke nostalgia for our Eighties sound!” Archie eventually saw the wisdom in her reasoning and sidelined the box set. It would be left for the Vox reissue label to remaster and market, but that won’t happen until the year 2070! In its place, Archie Records put out a single-disc label retrospective.
Compiled by Chuck Clayton, POP ART! included previously-unissued tracks, recently-captured live Archies recordings and a special dance remix by Eddie Roxchild. Following Roni’s advice proved to be a smart move, because this Platinum-selling compilation nearly topped the charts! With The Archies' HITS OF THE SIXTIES album also going Top Ten and Kevin Keller's first single actually claiming the top spot, it was a hella lucrative Christmas for Archie Records!
But the best Christmas present of all came from The Archies: The label's flagship act signed a new long-term contract! While other record companies did express interest in the group, there was little chance that they would defect; the members had creative freedom, handsome royalty rates and individually-crafted perks. However, for one member, Gino, the re-up was short-term instead of long-term; and for another, Betty, it was the last go-round!
Babe made it clear that when this contract ran out, her time in the group would be over; and later, in private, she informed her shocked hubby that their marriage was on borrowed time, too! Betty was divorcing Jughead to marry up Sabrina's cousin, Ambrose Nixon!
"KISSIN' COUSINS"
PORNOGRAPHY GETS TRANSFORMED INTO
HIGH ART IN THE YEAR
2 0 1 2 !