By TD (68.70.126.246) on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 06:07 pm:

i just purchased the Shangri-las greatest hits and could not believe my ears when I heard an incredible bass and a very strong Funk Brother type backing of "Right Now And Not Later". When I looked at the information regarding the song, it said that it was written and produced by none other than Robert Bateman.IT WAS RELEASED IN 1965.
Does anyone have the background info on this very Funk Brother inspired song. was there some moonlighting going on?

TD

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 06:23 pm:

Credits:
Right Now And Not Later
(Moseley/Bateman/Holton)
Trio Music/Screen Gems-EMI Music
Issued on Red Bird 036 (1965)
Produced by Ronald Moseley and Robert Bateman
Arranged & conducted by Robert Bateman
Engineer - Brooks Arthur

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 06:35 pm:

Robert Bateman

A very underrated Detroiter.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:36 am:

If you read anything about the Shangrilas they were looking for a Motown sound on them. You will see this noted on anything about them when you see reviews of this song. Its a good song and should have charted much higher. I have all of their records and they are my favorite girl group after the Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas.....gotta love that voice of lead singer Mary Weiss.
Stephanie

By john c (12.2.233.107) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:51 am:

Stephanie,

I have a Shangri-La question for you. Mary Weiss is credited as the lead singer, but doesn't the intro to Leader Of The Pack go, "Hey Betty, is that Jimmy's ring you're wearing?". I'm confused. Is it Betty or Mary on lead?

I love that whiny but sincere teenage girl voice. "Train From Kansas City" is my favorite.

By medusa9e (66.73.6.175) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 08:46 am:

T About a year ago, I met Mr. Robert Bateman and Barret Strong together. They have their own Music Studio and are doing some great things. Mr. Barret Strong is still doing a lot of good things with his music, infact he has a new CD.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.54.101) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 11:16 am:

TD,
I had a copy of this on uk Red Bird a few years ago,
and like yourself I Was totally blown away with it.I never ever expected to hear what came out of the speakers.As I am not a big fan of the Shangri-La's material.
Another record that I had at the time was yet another unexpected goodie.
It was a record by a group that I am still very into,
. The Orlons.
Having a good few by them I wasnt familiar at all with this stomper that my mate spun for me years ago.
Every time I play it today it sounds as fresh as the first time.
The record is called
'I Aint Coming Back'on Cameo Records.
If you or anyone dont know it,then I reccomend it(and then some).A pure,thumping,uptempo dancer to go banana's to out on the dancefloor.
mel.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

I have a Robert Bateman listing just about ready
for posting but before I do can anyone give me the track listing for Lou Courtney's Riverside album ?

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:21 pm:

Ritchie - the "Holton" in the writer credits
for "Right Now" should be Drake Hollon
- "Holton" is possibly a typo on the label.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.51) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:39 pm:

Davie,
I have a Lou Courtney Discography of sorts.
This is all I can make out regards an album etc.
Lou Courtney(vo)with ork.prod.
by Robert Bateman&Lou Courtney. 1966.

4588-A Skate Now
(cb10.29.66)Riverside 4588
LP2000
4588-B I Can always tell
4589-A Do The Thing
(cb3.25.67)Riverside 4589
4589-B The Man is Lonely
4591-B I've Got Just The Thing
Riverside 4591
Another'n Like The Other'n
Me And You
Psychadelic Shing-A-Ling
I Need You Now
I Dont Wanna Leave You.

I am not sure if they are the album tracks or not Davie.
What do you make of it all?
mel.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.10) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 01:15 pm:

Davie

Thanks - better tell UMG. I took the details right off the Shangri-Las' "Mercury Years" CD :o)

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 01:38 pm:

Mel,

Is that from the Lou Courtney discography that Kurt Mohr did for Shout ? If so those final five titles will be the LP tracks that were not issued on singles. Thanks for your help.

Interesting that Lou did the first version of
"I Need You Now" which was one of the Drifters'
late sixties' singles. Reviewed as "music to drive you mad" by Shout at the time :-)

Ritchie,

UMG employ people to research this stuff - if
I can find the right info. why can't they.
Then again I'm actually interested.
Maybe I could get them to pay me to do the
research , maybe pigs will fly :-)

By TD (68.70.126.246) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 02:09 pm:

Mel and thensome

I would love to get the Orlon's greatest hits, I'VE NOT FOUND ANYTHING IN THE RECORD STORES. I WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN GETTING THE CHIFFON'S GREATEST HITS-SAME PROBLEM.
It does not appear that anyone knows if the Funk Brothers moonlighted on this song by the Shangri-las. Hopefully Robert Bateman can answer the question?

Thanks for all your comments.

TD

By Frankm (81.152.61.35) on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 02:44 pm:

I ain't coming back by The Orlons is familiar to many Northern Soul fans. The Orlons appeared in London last year to great acclaim. I think that track was recorded in the last days of Cameo Parkway and they were definitely looking towards Detroit as the original Girl Group sound was disappearing from the charts. In the absence of ABCKO issuing any Cameo parkway material several bootleg CD's of Doo Wop and Northern Soul tracks were issued last year. Allen Klein's son was publicisng the last Stones' catalogue re-issuing and mentioned he would look at putting the Cameo catalogue on CD. ABCKO has a website where you can register your interests. But don't hold your breath. It is rumoured there are some outstanding royalty issues to be settled. I bought a 1974 London (UK) collection on vinyl of The Orlons hits. Great stuff altho with 20 tracks crammed onto it a bit on the thin side soundwise. There are a couple of Orlons' bootleg CD's. You can still buy vinyl versions on e bay. I picked up Dance Time with tracks from Chubby Checker, Don Covay and does anyone know how to do the Froog by The Dardenelles? It cost five dollars.

Frankm

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 09:53 am:

The last I read most of the US Orlons are replacements or 2nd generation. Doesnt Rosetta still live in England? Didnt Robert Bateman produce Flo's ABC stuff? I thoght the Shangri-las were about the only synthesis of Motown and rock that made it--eg Give Him a Great Big Kiss.I think they were very under-rated--great voices,creative music,assertive women from what Ive read...Im not sure if Betty and Mary both sang lead or just Mary. I guess people know the twins died and Mary lives on Long Island.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 05:31 pm:

I want to know if anyone can get in touch with Robert Bateman to see if he can tell us any stories about the Flo Ballard sessions when he produced Love Aint Love. If you listen to those sessions his production is the best. Dont get me wrong I love George Kerr but Bateman did the best with Florence and Kerr did a good job on It Doesnt Matter How I Say It and Like You Babe. I dont think Flo was the right artist for Kerr like Lynda Jones was..
Stephanie

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.188.68) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

Hey, while we're on with the Orlons....

"Going Places" was definately one of my all-time favorites by them, and I remember it was in August, or in (the early part of) September, 1964... when I first heard that one Orlons 'jammer' being played on all three Detroit 'Top 40' radio stations (way back when), on radio greats WJBK; CKLW; and it was also being played on WKNR "Keener 13", all just the same!

By TonyRussi (68.18.33.86) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 08:19 am:

Wasn't Lou Courtney's real name L.R. Peques(he wrote Mary Wells first 20th Century release"Ain't It The Truth"produced by Bob Bateman).As a 14 yr old boy I thought the Shangri-Las were pretty cool, but I hated "Leader of the Pack"...too corny.When I saw them "live" Mary Weiss was the lead on all the songs.Maybe we should start an Orlons thread...one of the greatest vocal groups!

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 08:51 am:

On the Shangri-Las: Right Now had to be recorded
in NYC--Brooks Arthur engineer. They were GREAT
vocally. Has anyone heard their version of I'm
Blue (Ikettes)? Mary did lead on most of the
hits, I never understood that question to Betty
at the start of Leader either. Betty was Mary's
sister and did sing lead on some records--Shout,
Maybe, What Is Love. When we saw them in '66
there were three: Mary, Betty, and one of the
twins.
Only Steve Caldwell of the original Orlons is
performing with the group today. Prior to Steve
going back into it there were 3 girls parading
around as Orlons--no connection to the originals.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 02:12 pm:

Tony,

Yes, Lou Courtney = Louis Russell Pegues

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 03:22 pm:

Stephanie:
According to my sources at BMI, Robert Bateman is listed as residing in the Detroit area.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By TonyRussi (68.18.33.86) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

Thanks, Davie I thought so.