Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Terry Melcher
(February 8, 1942 – November 19, 2004)
American Musician and Record Producer.
 
Melcher was born Terry Jorden in New York City to trombonist Al Jorden and his wife, singer/actress Doris Day.  Day was only 17 years old, when she gave birth to Terry.  Before Terry's birth, Day was planning to leave the abusive and violent Al Jorden.  Jorden was outraged when he found out about her pregnancy, and demanded Day get an abortion.  Doris refused, and in turn, Jorden physically abused Day throughout her entire pregnancy.  Shortly after Terry's birth, Day filed for divorce, left Terry with her mother in Ohio, and went back to touring with big band leader Les Brown.  After the divorce, Terry's father failed to visit his son on a regular basis, and had little presence in his life.  Al Jorden would ultimately commit suicide years later.
Doris' career led her to Hollywood where she appeared on local radio shows.  After marrying and divorcing her second husband, saxophonist George Weidler, Day met and married Martin Melcher.  Martin would become Doris' manager and go on to produce many of her movies.  Although Terry and Martin disliked each other intensely, Martin adopted Terry, giving the boy his surname.  After Martin's death in 1968, it was discovered that he had mismanaged or embezzled $20 million of Doris Day's money.
In the early 1960s, Terry Melcher and Bruce Johnston formed the vocal duet Bruce & Terry.  The duo had hits like "Custom Machine" and "Summer Means Fun".  Melcher and Johnston also created another band together, The Rip Chords, that had a Top 10 hit "Hey, Little Cobra".  Later, Bruce Johnston would join The Beach Boys
By the mid-60s, Melcher had joined the staff of Columbia Records, and went on to work with The Byrds
He produced their song, "Turn, Turn, Turn", and helped them to produce their remake of Bob Dylan's, "Mr. Tambourine Man".  Due to conflicts with the band, Melcher was replaced.  He later worked with Paul Revere and the Raiders, Wayne Newton, Pat Boone, Glen Campbell, and The Mamas & Papas.  Melcher was instrumental in signing another near-legendary L.A. band, the Rising Sons led by Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder.  Melcher also performed on the Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, as a background vocalist, and introduced Brian Wilson to Van Dyke Parks in February of 1966, beginning their partnership on the ill-fated SMiLE project.  He was also a board member of the Monterey Pop Foundation and a producer of the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
In 1968, Beach Boy Dennis Wilson introduced Melcher to ex-con and aspiring musician Charles Manson.  Wilson expressed interest in Manson's music, and even recorded two of Manson's songs with The Beach Boys.  Manson eventually auditioned for Melcher, but Melcher declined to sign him.

He served as the executive producer on his mother's CBS series, The Doris Day Show.  He later recorded two solo albums titled, Terry Melcher and Royal Flush.  In 1985, Terry co-produced the cable show, Doris Day's Best Friends, and worked as the director and vice president of the Doris Day Animal Foundation.  He and his mother, to whom he remained extremely close throughout his life, also co-owned the Cypress Inn, a small hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 
In 1988, Melcher earned a Golden Globe nomination for co-writing the song "Kokomo" with The Beach Boys.  The song was featured in the 1988 Tom Cruise film, Cocktail, and rose to number one on the pop charts that year.  On November 19, 2004, Terry Melcher died at his home after a long battle with melanoma.  He was 62 years old.  http://www.biographicon.com/view/1k518

138 comments:

katie8753 said...

While Terry Melcher and Candace Bergen were living at Cielo Drive, she says that one morning she went in the kitchen and there was a hairy little man sitting at the kitchen table. She says she had an instant dislike to him, and quickly left the kitchen.

Also she says that in December 1968Terry abruptly informed her that they needed to move quickly from Cielo Drive to his mother's beach house. When she questioned why, he was vague and said something about finances. She thought that was strange because she didn't know of any financial problems.

After the murders and the killers were revealed, she says she yelled at him and said "THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME!!"

Melcher was so terrified of Charlie that when he was called as a prosecution witness, he had to be medicated, and he refused to look at Charlie.

Terry & Candace later broke up, but I have never found out why. Manson??

katie8753 said...

Interesting that he co-wrote Kokomo. I love that song!

Anonymous said...

god i hate that song!!!
sorry katie.

katie8753 said...

Matt. HA HA.

It's the ONLY Beach Boys song I ever liked. Don't know why, but I just do. I guess it reminds me of an island paradise somewhere. LOL.

katie8753 said...

Incidentally, off subject a bit, I saw the Beach Boys on the Early Show a year or so ago, and they need to just hang it up. They're just a bunch of old men.

Well, I was never a big fan. Maybe others thought they were good. :)

Anonymous said...

pet sounds is a great album

katie8753 said...

You know Matt, The Beach Boys had a great following back in the 60's. I guess I'm a different turnip. I never really liked them. I couldn't stand that one guy with the high voice. GRRR.

HA HA.

In my room....in my room....

BORING!!

I was an avid Beatles fan, of course, Stones, Hermans Hermits, Dave Clark Five, Moody Blues, Jan & Dean, Dino, Desi & Billy, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Harry Nilsson, Elton John, Billy Joel AND The Monkees!!

I was never into the hard stuff like Iron Butterfly, Frank Zappa, etc. Except, I DID like Led Zeppelin. I had an older brother and sister who listened to all that hard stuff, and I guess I got sick of it. HA HA.

katie8753 said...

Oh...and Janis Joplin sucked as far as I was concerned!!

And she was a good ole Texas gal. HA HA.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

I saw the Beach Boys at an outdoor "general admisson" concert... (ya know... slang for... stand, where-ever you can find a spot).
It was at a huge air force base around... goodness, 1990ish.

It was the hottest day of the year... and the red cross showed-up, and was handing-out sun-screen, and water.
Seriously... it was like 110 degrees, or some shit.
My brother and I, were literally wearing our t-shirts on our heads like turbins... just like Clem! LOLOL

Eh... the music wasn't phenomenal... they were already pretty old by then... but, it was a GREAT party!
Half bare-ass girls on shoulders... and coolers everywhere... if you know what I mean.

I remember that (kinda dorky if you ask me) John Stamos came on-stage at one point, and played drums, or something.

Yes... Pet Sounds is a milestone record.
Kokomo... LMAO... not so much.
Although, any song that gets the girls swaying, has some merit, I guess (rolling my eyes). LOL
I honestly can't remember if kokomo was released before the concert I attended.
It's all kind-of a blur. LOL

I do remember vividly, stopping for lobster with my brother, on the way back... and being completely drained... and burn't to a crisp, when I got home!

katie8753 said...

Hi Lynyrd, you mentioned the best part...the lobster. HA HA.

I know what the best part for you was. "Half bare-ass girls on shoulders... and coolers everywhere... if you know what I mean."

I'm just kidding.

I know that the Beach Boys had a great following. I just wasn't one of their members.

katie8753 said...

"Melcher later worked with Paul Revere and the Raiders, Wayne Newton, Pat Boone, Glen Campbell, and The Mamas & Papas. Melcher was instrumental in signing another near-legendary L.A. band, the Rising Sons led by Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. Melcher also performed on the Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, as a background vocalist, and introduced Brian Wilson to Van Dyke Parks in February of 1966, beginning their partnership on the ill-fated SMiLE project. He was also a board member of the Monterey Pop Foundation and a producer of the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967"

Boy, he was a busy guy. I LOVED the Byrds and the Mamas & Papas. :)

I wonder if Charlie really poked Mama Cass? Well, we all know Roman got the good-looking one, Michelle. And I'm not sure who was uglier, Roman or Charlie. HA HA.

katie8753 said...

Okay Lynyrd here's your new poll.

Who is uglier...Roman or Charlie?

Let's see, Roman has a big nose, no lips and no chin.

Charlie HAD pretty deep set eyes, ugly teeth and dirty hair.

Let the games begin. HA HA.

Okay I'm turning in. I'll be gone for a fortnight. Y'all just talk amongst yourselves. LOL.

lurch said...

I know The Beach Boys turned "Cease To Exist" into "Never Learn Not To Love", but what's the second song I keep hearing about?

As far as the Beach Boys go......they should have quit after Pet Sounds!

Anyone heard any of Melcher's music? Curious if it's any good.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

A question for my readers...

The original article was a bit longer, and I removed a few parts, which I questioned the accuracy of.

One section (which I questioned being accurate)stated:

"There was still talk of a documentary being made about Manson's music, but Melcher abandoned the project after witnessing his subject becoming embroiled in a terrifying fight with a drunken stuntman at Spahn Ranch".

Can anyone confirm this paragragh as being true, false, or otherwise fabricated?

Truth be told... I had never read that before.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Hey Lurch!

I'm not sure what you mean by a second song.
Maybe someone else can help you.

Guns-n-Roses recorded "Look at you game girl", on their "Spaghetti Incident" album.
I'm not sure if that's what you mean.

BTW... in my estimation, the Beach Boys destroyed Manson's song.
"Never Learn Not To Love", is just horrible.

beauders said...

the second song is titled "be with me" and i believe is on youtube.
manson supposedly hit the stuntman randy starr who while drunk pointed a gun at him, manson. melcher was a witness to the violence.

MrPoirot said...

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...
A question for my readers...

The original article was a bit longer, and I removed a few parts, which I questioned the accuracy of.

One section (which I questioned being accurate)stated:

"There was still talk of a documentary being made about Manson's music, but Melcher abandoned the project after witnessing his subject becoming embroiled in a terrifying fight with a drunken stuntman at Spahn Ranch".

Can anyone confirm this paragragh as being true, false, or otherwise fabricated?

Truth be told... I had never read that before.

Gilda Radner replies

That's the most interesting part Lynyrd. Charlie could easily go off on drunks. I think he'd flashback to his childhood where he saw momma drunk. Pity he never realized that LSD made him worse than his drunken mom.

Melcher witnessed a flashback. Melcher saw Charlie's ingrained rage towards his mother who abandoned him. Charlie HATED drunks. Seeing a drunk to Charlie was like a PTSD Viet Nam vet hearing a car backfire.
Melcher led a lovely sheltered lifestyle. Charlie was too much for his upbringing.

Anonymous said...

mr.p-theres something we can agree on manson must have scared the hell out of a little rich kid like melcher
does anyone know if melcher recorded
the september 11th 1967 sessons that
have popped up in the last 10-15 years or were they done by the beach boys producer steven despar i think his name was.
also does anyone know where i can download a complete clean version of them?
i have the summer of hate cd that i think is complete but theres got to be a better sounding version out there somewhere.
one more question for anyone who knows-are these the tapes that dennis wilson told bugliosi he destoyed?

starship said...

Melcher could have become afraid for whatever reason, but if a drunken cowboy pointed a gun at me, I'd probably beat the hell out of him too.

Katie, where did you hear Candace bergen say all that? Is it all in her book?

starship said...

I was never a big Beach Boy fan, but several years ago I saw a show of theirs on PBS, black and white live concert show someplace...and they were fantastic! Ever since then I have alot of respect for them. Brian Wilson, although an emotional basketcase, was brilliant!

That was kind of a big thing about Kokomo, it was their only hit not composed with Brian, nor did he perform on the recording so I think, and I am pretty sure it's their biggest hit ever. Melcher made some serious coin on that one, and the other guys finally had something to hold over Brian's head.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Bob said:
>>>>"read you Monday, headed for the wilderness".<<<<

Have a fun time Bob.
Katie is also traveling until tomorrow (friday) evening, to visit with family.

Seems we're down, a couple "regulars" for a while.

Enjoy summer while it lasts folks!
Especially the northerners, 'cuz winter can be brutal.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Lurch said:
>>>>"As far as the Beach Boys go......they should have quit after Pet Sounds!"<<<<

There's some truth to that statement.
I wasn't a big Beach Boys fan, but I always loved the "Endless Summer" double album.

It was a compilation album, of all the hits they had prior to Pet Sounds.
It came-out in 74, but was basically, all their hits from 1962-65.
If you had just the "Endless Summer" and "Pet Sounds" albums alone (I'd say) you were pretty well outfitted "Beach Boy-wise". LOL

Endless Summer:
"A collection of hits from the pre-Pet Sounds period,
Endless Summer is notable for reclaiming the band's commercial glory at home, spending 155 weeks on the Billboard album chart, and peaking at #1, selling over three million copies".


Side 1
1."Surfin' Safari" – 2:05
2."Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson) – 2:26
3."Catch a Wave" – 2:07
4."The Warmth of the Sun" – 2:51
5."Surfin' USA" (Chuck Berry/Brian Wilson) – 2:27

Side 2
1."Be True to Your School" (Album Version) – 2:07
2."Little Deuce Coupe" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 1:38
3."In My Room" (Brian Wilson/Gary Usher) – 2:11
4."Shut Down" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 1:49
5."Fun, Fun, Fun" (Album Version) – 2:16

Side 3
1."I Get Around" – 2:12
2."Girls on the Beach" – 2:24
3."Wendy" – 2:16
4."Let Him Run Wild" – 2:20
5."Don't Worry Baby" (Brian Wilson/Roger Christian) – 2:47

Side 4
1."California Girls" – 2:38
2."Girl Don't Tell Me" – 2:19
3."Help Me, Rhonda" – 3:08 originally entitled "Help Me, Ronda," with false endings, retitled as "Help Me, Rhonda"
4."You're So Good to Me" – 2:14
5."All Summer Long" – 2:06

Bonus CD track
1."Good Vibrations", was added to the end of Endless Summer in the 1980s for its CD edition.

Hit #1 in the US during a chart stay of 155 weeks.

Anonymous said...

i'd always heard that smile was one of the great lost albums of all time so when i saw it pop up on a torrent site a few years back i said lets check this out.
gotta say i was pretty underwhelmed
mostly bits and pieces of songs some beautiful harmonies here and there.
the 15 minute version of good vibrations is pretty cool and heroes and villians ain't too bad either.
i heard capitol records is going
to do a smile sessions boxset this year.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

I'll have to check-out that "Smile" recording Matt... thanks.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

BTW... Poirot made several interesting contributions to this thread... including YouTube video links and everything!

His comments can be found on Liz's "Tennerelli" thread. : )
LMAO

Poirot... you're a f#cking trip... but, we love ya anyway.

I've heard of "multi-tasking", but this is getting ridiculous. hahaha

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I think Kokomo was also written by John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas...looking it up, only Mike love of the Beach Boys was involved- the other person involved was Scott McKenzie (If you're going to San Francisco....)

Anonymous said...

Kokomo: Scott McKenzie, Mike Love, John Phillips and Terry Melcher....

Anonymous said...

lynne i think you mean garth hudson.
btw i love todd rundgren

Mary said...

Kokomo - one of those songs that you hate - mostly because it becomes an ear worm and you walk around humming it all day. Thanks a lot y'all!

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Here ya go mary:

"Aaaruba, Jamaica, girl I wanna take ya... to Bermuda, Bahama, C'mon pretty mama... Key Largo, Montego... baby why don't we go, down to Kokomo... do do do... Florida Keys... and we'll perfect our chemistry"!
AHahahahahaha
LMFAO!

Anonymous said...

I like Kokomo better than that song Key Largo...."we have it all, just like Bogey and Bacall....."

Anonymous said...

Yep, Matt, Garth Hudson...thanks for that...not much sleep last night and I am operating on fumes of some sort....

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

((((((((((LYNN))))))))))

I gotta do that at least once a week.
Great for the soul.
As Manson says: "It just kinda reaches-in, and breaks-up all the patterns in my brain". LOLOL

Mary said...

Lynn - if I get an ear worm for that song...you will hear from me!

Mary said...

Lynyrd - AAARRRGGGHHHH!

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Oh Man...

I LOVE "Key Largo" by Bertie Higgins.
That's a beautiful song.

"Honey, I was your hero... and you were my leading lady"!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru2tsT32pHA

Mary... are you with me?

Mary said...

Beach Boys never really did anything for me either...guess I really didn't listen to them a lot. And growing up, I heard about John Stamos playing with them - so they lost a lot of credibility with me. Just turned me off...maybe I should give them another try. Pet Sounds is the one everyone seems to agree is the best - guess I will start with that one

Mary said...

Lynyrd - AAARRRGGGHHHH!

Anonymous said...
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LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Mary... listen to the Bertie Higgins video... it will break-up all those Kokomo patterns in your brain. hahaha

Mary said...

Katie - did you see the Casey Anthony trial today? How about that poor sap from the galley who flipped off the prosecuter and got 6 days in jail for contempt of court...gotta freakin love that judge!

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Lynn said:
>>>>"I had a friend in high school whose Mom had recently divorced and reconnected with an old flame...they would go out and drink Pina Coladas in a bar with mirrored walls and sing the Bogey and Bacall song to each other" <<<<

Awww.
See... that's what that song is for!!!
You just described the perfect setting!!!

Mary said...

Lynyrd - AAARRRGGGHHHH! NOOO!!! NEVER! Lynn just mentioned pina coladas and I start humming some song I don't remember too well...if you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain...that is all I think I know of that song

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Listening to Bertie Higgins, as I post. LOL

Damn... the girl in that video, isn't half bad! LOL
She can be my leading lady. LOLOL

Pina Colada???

They don't say "pina colada" in that song.

Mary said...

No, Lynn mentioned pina coladas and then another song came to my head...

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Now... that's a song I HATE!

"If you like pina coladas, gettin' caught in the rain".

ARRGHH!!!

That's horrible.

Payback's a bitch. LOL

Anonymous said...

Yep, the Pina Colada song sucks. When John Stamos came on board, most of the heart and soul of the Beach Boys were already gone (all of the Wilson Brothers) so that left creepy Mike Love and company. I have heard that Al Jardine does not tour with them anymore either so it's Bruce Johnston and Mike Love

Anonymous said...

While Terry Melcher and Candace Bergen were living at Cielo Drive, she says that one morning she went in the kitchen and there was a hairy little man sitting at the kitchen table. She says she had an instant dislike to him, and quickly left the kitchen.

That would creep me out. I would be getting the Lysol out and spraying every where!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Lynn said:
>>>>"That would creep me out. I would be getting the Lysol out and spraying every where!<<<<

AHahahaha LMAO.
I love it!

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Mary...now you have a rotation of bad songs....

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Lynn said:
>>>>"BTW, I make really really good Pina Coladas...around these here parts, I am known as the Pina Colada queen......<<<<

NICE!!!
We love you Lynn! : )

I'm always joking about renting a mobile home, and heading out to Cali... rounding-up all the troops on the way.
If that ever happens.. we'll have to stop-in, and see "the queen" for those drinks!

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Mary said:
>>>>"Katie - did you see the Casey Anthony trial today? How about that poor sap from the galley who flipped off the prosecuter and got 6 days in jail for contempt of court...gotta freakin love that judge!"<<<<

Katie hopped a plane this morning, to visit family.
She won't be back online until tomorrow (friday) night.

Anonymous said...

Lynyrd, come on down! It's going to be hot out here for the upcoming holiday

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

MattP asked:
>>>>"does anyone know if melcher recorded
the september 11th 1967 sessons that
have popped up in the last 10-15 years or were they done by the beach boys producer steven despar i think his name was".<<<<


MP... I've been trying to answer that question myself, for some time.
If anyone has the definitive answer... please come forward.
MattP... I'm 85% sure, the session was recorded by Gary Stromberg.
----------------------------------------------------
What I do know:

(According to Sanders, bottom page 60)...
"Sometime that summer of '68, Manson recorded his songs at the recording studio located in the home of Beach Boy, Brian Wilson... Dennis Wilson's brother and the producer of their albums.
(Blah, blah, blah... to page 61):

"Stephem Despar was an electronics whiz who built the Beach Boys' fully equipped studio in Brian Wilson's house. He was listed as the producer the album 20/20, which the Beach Boys were recording the summer and fall of 1968.
Despar was the engineer stuck with recording Manson, and was also witness to Manson's knife nuttery"...

No mention of September 1967... he's talking about 1968.
--------------------------------------------------------
However... earlier in the book (on page 20), we get into Stromberg and fall 1967.

There was a man at Universal Studios in Los Angeles named Gary Stromberg, who was a close friend of Manson's jail pal, Phil Kaufman. Through Kaufman, Manson met or contacted Stromberg and a routine was arranged whereby Manson would record a session or so, for Universal Records, the company evidently agreeing to pay for the recording costs".

Blah. blah, blah... (Middle of page 21):
"The Family stopped for a couple days in Santa Barbara, then drove to Universal Studios in North Hollywood for a recording session. Manson recorded only one three-hour session for Universal Records, then hit the breeze, off to the Mojave Desert though Mr. Stromberg was eager to record more sessions with this barefoot little minstrel".

Technically Matt... Sanders is talking (sorta in-and-out) about November of '67, not september of '67...on those pages... so, he never actually states 9-11-67 specifically... so that's my 15% loophole. LOL
But, that's the closest documented recording session (to 9/67), I've ever personally found... in regards to answering that question.

My answer would be Gary Stromberg... especially, if you can prove that the album was recorded at Universal Studios.
------------------------------------------------
(Folks, this is a re-post. I had a few typos earlier, and it was driving me crazy... so, I made the corrections, LOL)

lurch said...

The 67 recording sesion was indeed Gary Stromberg, There have been several versions of this put out over the years. The most complete version is called "The Psychedelic Soul of Charles Manson". Not sure which version has the best sound quality though.

As far as the 68 recordings by Steve Despar, nothing has come out to date. Dennis Wilson claims the tapes were destroyed cuz the vibes connected to them were just too weird, while others have claimed the tapes have been locked in a safety deposit box all these years.

As with most things connected to this case (music,movies,pics) your guess is as good as mine as far as what's real and what's rumor.

Check out mansonmusic.blogspot.com for the most complete selection of Manson's music.

Good nite all, and peace to you and yours!

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Thanks Lurch!
Great contributions as usual.

MrPoirot said...

I've heard a great many of Charlie's songs and none of them seem professional. He was a talented amateur who did not play the road circuit instead choosing to play amongst the Family where he never received audience feedback. It would be the same if a guy trained in his backyard for the 100 meter sprint and just shows up at the olympics and asks to be given a lane to run in.

I read a book about the Beatles once that said they had played on stage together for 10,000 hours. Their American tours covered cities over a 25,000 mile path.

Charlie just shows up at a record studio and thinks he will be put straight on the radio. And yet there are people who think Charlie is sane.

MrPoirot said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPYnJLpqXHo&feature=fvsr

This youtube shows the two singers of the Ripchords.

Was Melcher just the writer of the Ripchord's hit "Little Cobra"? Od did he sing on it in the studio?

Mary said...

Mr. P -

"Contrary to popular belief,The Rip Chords did sing on this song. Producers Terry Melcher and Bruce Johnston sang the lead vocal and backup parts respectively, but Phil Stewart, Rich Rotkin, Arnie Marcus, and Ernie Bringas did contribute to the back-up vocal parts. Marcus also played Bongo parts on many Rip Chords recordings. Melcher was the son of actress Doris Day; he went on to produce albums for The Byrds and Paul Revere And The Raiders. Johnston became a member of The Beach Boys. They persuaded Columbia Records to release this as by The Rip Chords to take advantage of the act's name recognition."

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1999

Mary said...

But according to Ernie Bringas, "HEY LITTLE COBRA
It was also during this critical period that Melcher and a young songwriter named Carol Conners collaborated on a song called Hey Little Cobra. Recognizing the song's potential, Melcher called for a RIP CHORDS recording session. Prior to this event, Melcher did not consider himself a vocal talent (although vocally he had already experimented somewhat at Columbia ). But as it turned out, his lead vocal on Hey Little Cobra was outstanding. He not only discovered his voice, but he also discovered he had a great “sound” (the equivalent in photography of being photogenic). So Melcher the producer, writer, and arranger, had also become Melcher the singer. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Terry Melcher was to the RIP CHORDS what Brian Wilson was to the BEACH BOYS. But unlike Brian, Terry was singing for a group of which he was not a member. As a consequence, he never received his well-deserved recognition as a vocalist (at least not in the public eye). The same is true for Bruce Johnston, who does the falsetto on Hey Little Cobra. Although Terry and Bruce alone appear on this recording, it was Terry’s lead vocal that gave this song its winning impetus (peaking at #4 nationally in early 1964)."

I would believe Ernie since he was in the band - but both sources do agree that Melcher took the vocal lead on the song.

http://www.ripchords.info/

katie8753 said...

Hi guys. Starship, I read those comments from Candace in her book Knock Wood. I've read excerpts from the book. I didn't buy it, because I wasn't interested in her WHOLE life, just with Terry. Check it out.

Mary, yes I saw that waiter dweeb from T.G.I. Friday's who thought he could flip off Jeff Ashton and make funny on TV got 6 days in the Orange County jail and a fine for $625.

That judge read him the riot act. In fact he made him feel about 3 inches tall, which he is.

I'll damn sure betcha he doesn't do anything like again that anytime soon!!

I love the HELL outta that judge!!!

Think about it....if Judge Older had enforced those rules in the Manson Case....hooo wahhhhh. There'd been a whole lotta blood lettin'. HA HA.

I've been out of touch with this trial the last two days being on the road, but I think final arguments are set for Sunday starting at 6am Eastern Time.

This case has been a roller coaster ride. Casey refuses to testify. Which is probably in her best interest because the jury already hates her, and if she opens her dirty little mouth, she will insert a foot as big as King Kong's.

Stay tuned.....

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

She's BAaaack! LOL

Welcome Back Katie!

katie8753 said...

Judge Perry said: This sign is on the door of the courtroom.

"Any gesture, facial expression or audible comment showing approval or disapproval during a court proceeding is absolutely prohibited."

Can you read and write?” the judge asked Bartlett.

“Yes sir,” he replied.

“Did you not read this sign, sir?” Judge Perry then asked.

“I have read that,” Bartlett said. He then apologized for his actions.

Perry found him guilty of direct criminal contempt, and sentenced him to six days in Orange County Jail. The judge also imposed a fine of $400 along with court costs of approximately $223. Bartlett has six months to pay the fees."

HA HA HA. What a marroooooooon.

"He who laughs last....laughs best." Mr. William Shakespeare.

katie8753 said...

Hi Lynyrd. I finally made it back. Boy....4th of July holiday travel weekend. Don't wish that on anyone. But I had a great time with my family. So it's worth it.

Bobby have a great time in the "wilderness". Are you looking for bodies at Barkers??? HA HA

Matt, I know that Charlie scared the "beejeebies" out of Melcher.

The funny thing is, and it's not clear to me, when exactly Terry got scared of Manson.

It was BEFORE the Cielo Drive murders.

He moved out in haste from Cielo Drive to his mother's beach pad. And he INSISTED that no one tell Manson where he lived.

I'm wondering if it had to do with his witnessing Manson attack that Stuntman, Randy Starr????

Anyway, he moved to his mother's pad and Manson stole his telescope just to make sure Melcher knew that HE KNEW. You know???? HA HA.

MrPoirot said...

katie8753 said...
Hi guys. Starship, I read those comments from Candace in her book Knock Wood. I've read excerpts from the book. I didn't buy it, because I wasn't interested in her WHOLE life, just with Terry. Check it out.


Mr Poirot replies:

Touche'

katie8753 said...

"Mr Poirot replies:

Touche'"

Not sure what that means.

Mary I'm sorry you don't like Kokomo. I loved it. But...to each his own.

The Pina Colada song. BLAAAHHHH. that song SUCKED!!! It was more than stupid. It was a 70's song that made you say "huuuhhhhhh????"

Lynn, I like the Byrds, way back then, Turn, Turn, Turn. In fact I downloaded it.

But I'm not that crazy about them henceforth.

It's like The Association singing "Cherish".

GOD I hated that stupid song.

I guess to each...his own. In fact when they sang "Along Comes Mary", I wanted to puke.

They were B-O-R-I-N-G!!

katie8753 said...

"Bridge Over Trouble Waters", by Simon & Garfunkle.

Now that was a good song.

LOVED that Song!!!

And please don't mention "ma-na-ma-na.

Yuck!!!

katie8753 said...

Correction on my part.

"He who laughs last...laughs longest." Boy, that says a mound of words.

Think about it won't you???

Bill Shakespeare.

Man that guy can say things. HA HA.

katie8753 said...

He who laughs last...

You can attribute that to any situation.

The Manson Family, this case, or any other case.

I'm in awe of William Shakespeare, because he was always in the NOW. HA HA.

MrPoirot said...

I always thought Bridge Over Melodramatic Waters was Simon and Shuster going a bit to far with their writing as if their vocals could overcome any amount of soap. No matter how talented you are you can go overboard. Ask john Lennon if he regretted saying the beatles were bigger than jesus.

But then it was john lennon who said, "who listens to lyrics anyhow". I know I didn't. I listened to the guitars.

katie8753 said...

Mr. P. that's just my take on "Simon & Shuster".

I thought Bridge Over Troubled Waters was nice.

But you might just as well like "Why Don't we Do It In The road?"

Who knows??? HA HA.

katie8753 said...

Mr. P., I'll give you one clue.

Hickory Dickory Dock.

The Mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one... the mouse ran down.

Hickory Dickory Dock.

Can you guess???

It's between A & Z....

HA HA.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Katie said:
>>>>"It's like The Association singing "Cherish".
GOD I hated that stupid song".<<<<

Yeah... I hate that song too!

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Poirot said:
>>>>"I've heard a great many of Charlie's songs and none of them seem professional. He was a talented amateur who did not play the road circuit instead choosing to play amongst the Family where he never received audience feedback. It would be the same if a guy trained in his backyard for the 100 meter sprint and just shows up at the olympics and asks to be given a lane to run in.

read a book about the Beatles once that said they had played on stage together for 10,000 hours. Their American tours covered cities over a 25,000 mile path.

Charlie just shows up at a record studio and thinks he will be put straight on the radio. And yet there are people who think Charlie is sane".
<<<<

I've given my opinion on Manson's music many times, so this will come as a boring re-hash for many, but here goes...

In the 60's, Manson had a better than average voice.
His guitar playing was a bit "un-polished".
He got the chord changes down with his left hand quite handily... but "guitar-wise", his right hand is kinda "weak".
His rhythms are a bit un-disciplined, and his meter/tempo varies.
That's OK to be all over the place, when you're a solo performer... you have that luxury.
But, if you wanna perform with an 8 piece band... it's not gonna work.
Your right hand has to be steady like a clock.
My music teacher used to say:
"Tempo is the only element, every musician in the band shares at all times".
(Unless you're playing Captain Beefheart music).

Bottom line... he was talented enough to be entertaining, but, performance wasn't his strong point.
My music teacher once told me (and this is true):
"If you wanna make money, you can't just be pretty good, you gotta be the best".
Truer words were never spoken.
In music, there's a million "pretty goods".
It's like sports... you gotta be exceptional.

Having said that... Manson's big gift was songwriting ideas.
He was a warehouse of thoughts, ideas, experiences and emotions.
Many bands write 10 great songs... and then there's crickets in the studio..
The well runs dry, and they're all left in a room (great performers), with no more ideas.
Sometimes a "fresh ear" (as they say in the industry), is what you need.
So they pay guys to come-in, and throw song ideas at them.
Sometimes the lyrics come first... sometimes the music.
Many, many guys have made a very good living, just feeding song ideas to other performers.
Manson could have made a name for himself that way.
Creativity, brainstorming, and rattling-off ideas and lyrics... that was his forte'.
As for performing in-front of 10,000 people... I just don't see it.

You gotta wonder if Manson could even focus on one task, long enough, to complete a professional, two-hour, pre-planned, show, with 5-6 other musicians.
I can see him playing only half of some songs... changing the set-list mid-concert without telling the rest of the band... and wrapping things-up early.
Heck... given a 50-city tour... he'd probably only make it to 50% of the shows. LOL

Also... given the chance... would he really have the focus and dedication to "collaberate" with other musicians for an entire project, or projects?
Recording an album can require months.
Making it, as a completely solo act, is very difficult... and you still have to work with people.

He was pretty damn good in the 60's.
As for now... I think it's like Gacy's paintings.
There's interest, just because Gacy painted them... but, c'mon folks, let get real. LOL

That's my take on Manson's music... for what it's worth.

BTW... what happened to 8/9 baby?
Seems she disappeared, as quickly as she arrived.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Keep in mind however:

Music is a very subjective art.

If someone really likes Manson's music, that's cool too.

I like his early work.
His recent stuff isn't my thang... but, whatevers.

"If it makes you happy, then it can't be that bad". LOLOL

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Speaking of Captain Beefheart...

Check out this dude playing Bass, to "Abba Zabba" off the "Safe as Milk" album...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nf539nkQ0w&feature=channel_video_title

KICK-ASS SOLO AT 1 MINUTE, 15 SECONDS.

Great Stuff.

I hope the bass sounds good on your system.
I have my computer hooked-up to a PA, and 15" speakers... so, it really kicks. LOLOL
I'm not sure what it will sound like on regular computer speakers. : (

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Same dude...

This guy can play!

50 seconds in, he REALLY heats-up!
He starts sliding 8 frets (one octave), on a bass... and that's a quick tempo.
That's impressive stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mst9cG3jijg&NR=1

MrPoirot said...

My point with Charlie's attempt at a recording contract was that he had not put in the work. He was like that at everything in his life. He always took shortcuts. I think Charlie thought the Beatles just walked in off the street and stepped into their fame and success by accident. If you wanted to be a professional recording artist in the 1960s then you needed to be playing on a stage 6 nights a week perfecting your music in front of a paying audience. You needed to be on the long hard road circuit putting in your dues. No matter how good or bad Charlie's talents were he still was just an amateur who walked into a studio off a dusty, run down horse ranch in the middle of nowhere. Most professional recording artists started in their high school band. The Beatles played onstage 6 nights a week for years before they got a contract. Charlie just shows up and says here I am, put me on the radio and hand me a million dollars. Charlie didn't even know that his style was more suited to Nashville than Hollywood. Charlie was in the wrong town sitting on his butt 7 days a week. Even Brooks and Paul worked years on stage together and made several attempts at getting a record deal. They didn't take shortcuts. They'd take penny ante gigs they could get at every watering hole in the desert.

katie8753 said...

Mr. P., that's a good point. I hadn't thought of that.

The Beatles (and other groups) were "nobodies" for years, working their butts off in different countries, never dreaming they'd hit it as big as they did. They were good musicians, but some of their success is due to the fact that they were in the right place at the right time.

Charlie just thought up a few songs, knew a few chords and thought since he knew Wilson and Melcher that he'd hit a home run. He didn't put any effort into it. He wanted it all handed to him on a silver platter and when that didn't happen, he got really pissed off.

The music business was like everything else in Charlie's life. Everybody "owed" him something because he'd been given the shaft his whole life, in his opinion.

MrPoirot said...

Melcher's mother, Doris Day travelled the road for years honing her vocal style with several bands. Doris was a dedicated singer who achieved great fame yet she worked hard everyday of her life even after she hit the bigtime. Doris Day wouldn't know a shortcut if she saw one. Melcher knew this and looking at Manson I doubt he saw any sort of dedication required to be a professional recording artist. There is even a well known confrontation twixt Melcher and Charlie where Melcher told Charlie flat out that at times that Charlie could disappoint the hell out of him. Charlie was basically a habitual screwup which i think is derived from his intense antisocial disfunctional disorders.

katie8753 said...

Mr. P., you're right, Doris worked hard for her success. It wasn't dropped in her lap by any means. In fact, without Doris' money & fame, I doubt that Terry would have made it as far as he did in the music industry.

Doris Tate also went to great lengths to present a pure and wholesome image to the public in everything she ever did.

I don't know if Doris ever met Charlie or knew of him in any way, but if so, I have a feeling that she was not too happy with Terry's association with riff raff. This wasn't something that she would approve of I'm sure.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

Poirot:

I agree, I don't think Manson had quite what it takes, to be a truly "professional" recording and touring musican... in terms of talent, and performance skills/technique.
He wasn't a "session" player.
Session players can sit-in with anyone on a moments notice... and (like "Otis Day"), say "hit it"! LOL
No... Manson didn't have that kind of talent.

Having said that:
I think you're under-estimating the time and effort required to master an instrument.
Have you ever taken music lessons?
Even the skills Manson has/had on guitar, surely required thousands of hours of practice.
Buy a guitar tomorrow, and start-in.
It will take you years to do what Manson does on guitar.
I think you're being a bit too harsh.
You make it sound like Manson picked-up a guitar, and auditioned the next week.

I agree, Manson was something of a dreamer, and his skills weren't quite music-industry polished.
In sports... the nearest comparison would be a "walk-on tryout".
So, we're essentially on the same page.
But heck... he wasn't a complete slouch.
I think you're taking your point, a little too far.
He had some talent, and obviously invested considerable time practicing somewhere... if not on-stage.

The recording business is very competitve.
Manson was indeed a long-shot... but if guys like Wilson/Stromberg/Melcher/Kaufman didn't think he had anything at all to offer, I submit, they wouldn't have given him the time of day.
He did at least get a "look", and an "audition", which is more than most musicians ever get.
Keep in mind also, the Beach Boys did record one of his songs.
That says something.
Guns-n-Roses also recorded one of his songs... which quite frankly, I think is one of the better songs on that album.

In general, I agree with most of what you're saying Poirot.
But, you state it, as if, Manson never practiced at all.
That's a bit of an exaggeration.

katie8753 said...

Lynyrd I have to say that I don't agree with you.

>>>Even the skills Manson has/had on guitar, surely required thousands of hours of practice.
Buy a guitar tomorrow, and start-in. It will take you years to do what Manson does on guitar.>>>

I personally don't think Manson has any talent. I find it very hard to believe that he played for thousands of hours. He seems like the kind who would just pick up the guitar and strum some chords and make up some dumb lyrics.

>>>Manson was indeed a long-shot... but if guys like Wilson/Stromberg/Melcher/Kaufman didn't think he had anything at all to offer, I submit, they wouldn't have given him the time of day.>>>

I think the only reason anybody other than Wilson took the time to look at Manson was as a favor to Wilson. And as a matter of fact, I think the only reason Wilson tried to get him any studio time was because Charlie wouldn't shut up about it and he wanted Charlie off his back. He probably thought somebody else could tell him to get lost and he wouldn't look so bad.

John Phillips thought he stunk. So did Rudy Altobelli. They didn't want to spend two seconds with him.

>>>Keep in mind also, the Beach Boys did record one of his songs.
That says something.>>>

At the time the Beach Boys recorded Manson's song, they were flat out of material. They had run dry. Here was something that could fill a void until the creative flow returned.

>>>Guns-n-Roses also recorded one of his songs... which quite frankly, I think is one of the better songs on that album.>>>

Guns-N-Roses recorded that song for the shock value. "This song was written by Crazy Killer Charles Manson". They're not really what you'd call "squeamish about their image". HA HA.

>>>In general, I agree with most of what you're saying Poirot.
But, you state it, as if, Manson never practiced at all.
That's a bit of an exaggeration.>>>

I'm not sure if he ever "practiced" (my definition of practicing to learn to play an instrument is hours and hours of sight reading and memorization).
I think he was just "jamming", which in my opinion, isn't a serious effort to master an instrument.

LynyrdSkynyrdBand said...

LOL

Yeah... I doubt Alvin "Creepy" Carpis was teaching Manson hours of sight-reading. LOL

And, I agree... I'm sure Manson's young "harum", opened doors, and got him a bit more "consideration" than he would have gotten otherwise.
Although, I'm also sure Mr. Wilson and company didn't exactly need a smelly, ex-con hippie, to ascertain girls for them either.

I'm simply saying... I'm sure Manson did practice considerably.
What else did he have to do?
Well... besides that! LOL
Poirot would have us believe, he played the guitar for 24 hours.

I play guitar... I know it's not easy.

Anonymous said...

neil young thought he was'nt bad if memory serves.
he brought manson up to the head of reprise records mo ostin i think it was and said this guys good but hes out of control.
i think there was some thread about this on this blog somewhere.
i've heard that the song mansion on the hill from the ( imo great) album ragged glory was about manson.

MrPoirot said...

Manson had some talent but he would not do the heavy work of playing live 6 days a week. He never went on the road. He did play a few live failed gigs with Beausoleil is all. Manson never tried to become professional. He tried to bypass the work part and go straight from rehearsals with Clem and Paul to being nominated to the R&R Hall of Fame with nothing in between. Charlie never got past the rehearsal stage. There were hundreds of talented rock bands in California in the 60's Charlie had them to compete with. Charlie stood no chance being given a record deal going against tons of travelled stage hardened bands.

Lynyrd why do you suppose Charlie never did any cover songs? Why did Charlie bypass the typical route to stardom? Why didn't Charlie form a band and hit the road? Why did he remain in the rehearsal hall? Surely Charlie knew that is how you get to stardom. All the other bands on the radio did it the hard way so why didn't Charlie? Why didn't Charlie get an agent to set up gigs and promote him? if he had everything else why did he not throw his hat into the ring with all the other singer/musicians? I don't recall Lennon and McCartney offering George Martin a bevy of nekkid young girls in exchange for a record contract.

katie8753 said...

I guess I'm agreeing more with Mr. P. because I think that if Manson really wanted to be a popular musician and have his music taken seriously, then he would have put a lot more effort into THAT, than gathering a harem of chicks, passing out drugs, directing orgies, pontificating on the upcoming appocalypse, appointing himself the new world leader, and killing folks. HA HA.

As we discussed earlier, and as you just said, Manson had a lot of spare time on his hands. He never took advantage of any rehabilitation activities offered by the prison to seriously learn to read music, learn musical theory, study composition, study different genres of musical syncopation, etc. And I mean BEFORE 1967.

v717 said...

I´m not so sure Manson wanted to become a Rockstar.
One of the theories about the murders is that a frustated Manson unleashed Helter Skelter as a revenge on Terry Melcher because Melcher hadn´t offered him a record contract. In an interview Neil Young Cherished that theory.
But I have my doubts.

Anonymous said...

I also read somewhere that Neil Young thought Manson was talented. I agree that Manson was not willing to work on his craft. Sometimes luck finds you and you can be in the right place at the right time and the pieces come together and it's magic. But more often than not, you have to work hard at something....but of course, if you love it, it really is not work.


I played in a band a long time ago....playing in a band means leaving egos in check and you really need to work at something together. I don't think Charlie could have been in a band unless he was the leader. I don't think he could leave his ego behind.

Now...music....I don't hate the Association....my fave song of there's is "I love you, Alice B. Toklas"...which is a great Peter Sellers movie.

Love Captain Beefheart as well....even bands I do not love, if they are working at their craft, I can at least appreciate what they bring to the table....

Anonymous said...

My fave Simon and Garfunkel...Me and Julio down by the school yard or Cecelia.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
katie8753 said...

V717 said:

>>>One of the theories about the murders is that a frustated Manson unleashed Helter Skelter as a revenge on Terry Melcher because Melcher hadn´t offered him a record contract. In an interview Neil Young Cherished that theory.
But I have my doubts.>>>

I think that's just one of the reasons that Charlie was mad. And I DO think that the reason for the TLB murders was because Charlie was pissed.

katie8753 said...

Lynn said:

>>>I don't think Charlie could have been in a band unless he was the leader. I don't think he could leave his ego behind.>>>

That's true Lynn. He would have to have been in charge of everything. I think that's why he & Bobby couldn't play together. Too many egos.

stella1971 said...

Hi Lynn - I love the Byrds as well, especially "Sweetheart of the Rodeo". Gram Parsons was the best.

Stella

katie8753 said...

Hi. Stella. I liked Mr. Tambourine Man.

Gram Parsons was so cute. I think he died of an overdose.

MrPoirot said...

Ive read a book on Parsons and hes mentioned in every book on R&R from the 60s and early 70s but Ive never heard his music. Ill check out that song. He was only with the Byrds 6 months. Thanks Ill check that out.

katie8753 said...

There were a couple of comments on the previous thread that I'm going to bring forward here. Don't want any comments getting lost in the shuffle. LOL.

Marliese, I'm sorry to hear about your son. I hope it's nothing serious. I'm glad he's doing better. You keep nursing that boy!!! LOL.

katie8753 said...

Starship said:

>>Adam GoRightly is definitely a pseudonym. And I don't know what all he has done to earn some of the admiration around here, except write a poorly written - kitchen sink-throw everything up at the wall and see what sticks - kind of book.

Examples: He writes the girls went to the POLANSKI residence for a swim, and this is confirmed by MELCHER. WTF does that mean? Melcher would have only been there when he lived there, not the Polanskis...and when did he recently confirm this to Mr. GoRightly?>>>

Starship...right on!!! Melcher confirms that "the girls" went to "the Polanski residence" for a swim.

First of all, "the Polanksi residence" is important. I've read so many ditzy folks say that Melcher rented this house to the Polanskis.

THIS WAS A RENT HOUSE!!! Melcher didn't OWN it!!! Roman didn't OWN it! Rudy Altobelli did!!! PLEASE, PLEASE.....people out there. Let's get this one straight!!!

And how in the HELL would Melcher know who went swimming there after December 1968 when he split the scene???? He wasn't interested at ALL who went swimming there. Pffhhhhh.

>>>And then we get that Linda Kasabian had been to Cielo Drive before. How do we know? Sandy tells us. For crissakes, I don't thaink I'd believe a word of what that bat shit crazy broad has to say. Plus it only fits into her blaming LK and not CM for what happened.>>>

Right on again Starship. If Sandy was on the side of the road selling tomatoes, and claimed they were organic, I would buy ONE, and then throw it in her FACE!!!

That's how much I trust her. HA HA.

Kimchi said...

Katie said:

<>

Yes Katie, he died in a little motel room in Joshua Tree, CA - the little motel is still there with a little memorial to him in the courtyard.

Did you ever see the movie "Grand Theft Parsons?" Mostly based on fact - Phil Kaufman (Road Mangler and Charlie's buddy) stole his coffin at LAX and took it to Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree NP and set it on fire, to cremate him - the way he wanted to go...

And this is true!

Phil Kaufman was arrested for this...the coffin did not burn all the way...

Anonymous said...

mr p- you should check out the flying burrito brothers lp the gilded palace of sin i'm not big
country music but gram parsons
had one helluva voice.
70s bands like the eagles owe him a big debt.
sin city is one of the best country
songs ever and his cover of wild horses ain't bad either

MrPoirot said...

Kaufman was a headcase too. I can see him partying with Charlie. Oddly Kaufman only briefly mentiona the Family in his autobio.

Kimchi said...

Sorry Katie, I meant to quote you -
"Gram Parsons was so cute. I think he died of an overdose."

Before my post...

katie8753 said...

!!!!!!!!!!!!KIMCHI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where have you been girl? I thought with your last comment you were thru with blogs.

Glad to see you're not!! HA HA.

Kimchi said:

>>>Did you ever see the movie "Grand Theft Parsons?" Mostly based on fact - Phil Kaufman (Road Mangler and Charlie's buddy) stole his coffin at LAX and took it to Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree NP and set it on fire, to cremate him - the way he wanted to go...

And this is true!

Phil Kaufman was arrested for this...the coffin did not burn all the way...>>>

No Kimchi, I'm not that familiar with Parson's death.

I'll admit...the only 3 passions I've ever really had were classical music, Shakespeare and The Manson Family saga.

In that order. HA HA.

Interesting info.

So...Kaufman stole his coffin and tried to burn it....like a Viking funeral???

Wow!! Talk about true friendship. :)

katie8753 said...

In other reports...

The "transvaginal mesh" is being pursued by every ambulance chasing mouthpiece in the country!!!

Diane....take your pick!! HA HA.

Hoowah....gotta love this country!

BTW, Texas has decided to get rid of frivolous lawsuits.

If you file a frivolous lawsuit in Texas and lose, you will PAY not only the court costs, but attorney's costs for the plaintiff, etc.

Gotta love Texas.

BTW, our favorite saying in Texas right now is:

"I hope Rick Perry gets elected President in 2012, because he won't be our Governer anymore."

He thinks he's the next George W. Bush. Think again.

stella1971 said...

Mr. P: Sweetheart of the Rodeo was the only record the Byrds cut with Gram, but IMHO their best. Matt is right - check out anything the Flying Burrito Brothers did to get Gram's full impact to rock and/or roll. Very tasty. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmMd7xWxbX0

Tracy

katie8753 said...

Mary, on the Casey Anthony trial, HLN is doing 24/7 news regarding this case.

This case is soooo mind boggling.

Final arguments start tomorrow at 9am Eastern Time. Jury deliberations begin after that.

This may be over by Monday.

Stay tuned.......

katie8753 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
katie8753 said...

And here's something else:

the mother was Cynthia Marie Anthony.

The daugher was Casey Marie Anthony.

The granddaughter was Caylee Marie Anthony.

They all had the initials CMA.

They all had the middle name Marie, first name starts with a "C".

Interesting......

katie8753 said...

Okay, back to the Manson case.

You know, a good friend told me years ago...if life hands you lemons...you either have sour lemons...or make lemonade.

I've thought about that for a long time now, and I think that can be applied to Charles Manson.

Life handed him lemons.

Well.....I can think of many individuals that life handed that to.

But one name comes to mind.

Helen Keller.

She was blind, deaf & dumb. She didn't make excuses and didn't kill people.

She went onto Radcliffe College. She learned German, French, Greek and other languages.

She turned her condition around to benefit her and others. She was a true humanitarian.

I CAN see, speak and hear. I didn't learn ANY of those languages..

My point being....there are people who are faced with insurmountable obstacles, and surface like the Phoenix.

And there are others, like Charles Manson, whom so many people like to follow like a role model and a champion him, that made lemons and killed people. He only complained about the "man", the establishment, because he was jailed. He only bellyached about not having a family. So he created one.

Like Von Frankenstein.

katie8753 said...

You young people who are reading this, think about this.

Charles Manson, if he had any talent at all to be a musician, or to be a gallant leader to "save the world", has never applied any energy to these things.

All he's done is complain about his situation, jam about jail, talk about how the "establishment" kept him from a recording contract", mouth off about the "pigs" who were living off the land and he couldn't quite get into their lives.....

He was sick & twisted. He wanted to be a "pig". He wanted so much to be THEM.

But he couldn't. And that pissed him off.

So he killed.

Think about it....I hope you young people go on to someone who made strides in life to help people.

Because Charles Manson didn't. Period. CASE CLOSED.

v717 said...

Katie 8753 said:Right on again Starship. If Sandy was on the side of the road selling tomatoes, and claimed they were organic, I would buy ONE, and then throw it in her FACE!!!

That's how much I trust her. HA HA.

Right and I would do the same to Vincent Bug with his book. That´s how much I trust him.

MrPoirot said...

Charlie tried to get others to do his work for him. His mother said that about him as a child that he never did chores. He even brags that he doesnt have to do anything in prison yet he doesn't seem to realize that nobody cares if he does anything or not. Charlie thinks he's getting over on everybody by not doing any work.

Marliese said...

MrPoirot said...
Charlie tried to get others to do his work for him. His mother said that about him as a child that he never did chores. He even brags that he doesnt have to do anything in prison yet he doesn't seem to realize that nobody cares if he does anything or not. Charlie thinks he's getting over on everybody by not doing any work.


So true. From what we know of him, he's always been lazy, didn't have the discipline with the music, couldn't stand being told what to do, had a way of getting others to do work for him...the pimping, having others steal for him, sponging from others for housing, food, drugs, money, services etc. He went to Gary's, sliced his face...not his fault Bobby couldn't get any money out of him without killing him, right? He rounded up Tex and a few girls and sent them out of Spahn Ranch on the night of August 8, 1969 to do something witchy, saw Leno on the sofa, got Tex and depending who we believe they get the victims tied up...he once said in a parole hearing "i never tied anyone up", he tells the girls do what tex tells you, takes off, if we believe Linda, asks her know anyone we oughta kill? yeah, I do, they go to the guy's place, he takes off again. Then there's Clem stabbing Shorty in the heart. I wonder if he thought he was outsmarting everyone...that there'd be nothing on him while the others got their hands filthy dirty. How wrong he was, if that's what he thought.
One thing that's consistent is his ability to get others to do work for him, and his laziness.

katie8753 said...

Marliese!!!

Here comes the calvary!!!

TAG!!!

I'm about to "give up the ghost". Then comes Marliese!!!

I agree with EVERYTHING she says.

I'm gonna go to bed....

Okay

tomorrow (or maybe now) I'm gonna turn into Nancy Grace.

HA HA.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MrPoirot said...

Lynn said...

I had friends who had lived in Phil Kaufman's old house. Phil had a Gram Parsons party where he had liquor bottles printed with Gram Parsons picture on the bottle

Mr Poirot replies:

Phil seemed to feel the need to ingratiate himself to people like Gram and Keith Richards. He called himself a professional nanny to the stars. I don't think he helped Gram because he catered to Gram's dangerous cravings. Gram died quicker than most from drugs.

Marliese said...

Ahhhhh...Katie. The calvary!! LOL. You have an aura here, Katie, and it's filled with terrific energy.

Thanks for the support for my son's ordeal too. No, nothing serious...oral surgery for orthodontic treatment. A bit unexpected though because the ortho referred us with 'this will be nothing, a quick five minute procedure'. After consult with the oral surgeon, reality was more than 45 minutes of full on IV sedation, altogether more than expected...so he had a rough two days, but there is such amazing healing ability at his young age, so now it's about keeping him in rest mode for a few more days while he'd rather be surfing. :)

Casey Anthony, you and Mary have me into it now! What's up with the weekend court? Is it because the jury is sequestered? i'm coming into it late. I do like that judge...sent that smart ass kid to jail, good for him...you're not going to disrespect my court.

Think she'll be convicted of first degree?

katie8753 said...

Hi Marliese!! I'm glad you're son is on the mend. Surgery on your mouth can be brutal! I could tell you horror stories about getting my wisdom teeth out, but I won't get into that now. HA HA.

Well, today is final arguments for the prosecution and defense in the Anthony case.

The prosecution finished up this morning, and the defense has started final arguments, and right now they've recessed for lunch. Court will resume at 1:00pm Eastern Time.

The prosecution has done a bang up job on this case. Since the body was decomposed when it was found, the M.E. wasn't able to determine cause of death.

The prosecution has maintained that Casey Anthony was a selfish sociopath, who wanted to party, and couldn't have the "beautiful life" (she had that tattooed on her body after Caylee disappeared) with a toddler holding her back. PLUS....Casey is a pathological liar, and the prosecution states that since Caylee was 2 years old (almost 3) and she was beginning to verbalize effectively, that she was in Casey's way because she could reveal all of her lies.

Thus....she had to go. Casey did internet searches for chloroform and they think she put Caylee to sleep with it, and then duct taped her mouth and nose to kill her. Then she had her in the trunk of her car, all the while lying to her mother about where she was, day after day, for a MONTH.

I won't go into all her lies, that would take up about 20 comments. HA HA. But, today is the last day, then the jury will go into deliberations. Hopefully, they'll have a verdict by tomorrow. They can assess the penalty, but I believe the judge can override it if he wants to.

katie8753 said...

Do I think she'll be convicted?

I'm not sure. Lots and lots of emotions going on in this case.

I think the jury will come back with a guilty verdict. There are just too many loose ends dangling in this case for Casey to have any credence. But I really doubt they will give her the death penalty. If they do, I'll really be shocked.

I think given her young age and the fact that she obviously has mental problems, they will probably give her life in prison.

katie8753 said...

I found out today that the prosecution says final arguments first, then the defense can have their say, and afterward, the prosecution has final rebuttal.

I didn't know that. Interesting. I was thinking that the jury will probably listen to the last words more than the first, so I'm glad the prosecution will speak last.

katie8753 said...

Oh wait, court will resume at 1:30pm Eastern Time.

This case and the Manson case are the only cases I've ever followed so closely.

When the Manson trial was going on, I was in High School. Of course back then, it wasn't on TV like it is now. I just kept up with it in the paper.

I wish I'd kept all those articles. WOW. What a gold mine! LOL.

Anonymous said...

don't get me wrong i think shes guilty.
but if they havent proven when she died or how she died how can they prove who did it?
all they've really proved is that she was a bad person and a liar.

i don't think thats enough to convict if you go by the letter of the law

katie8753 said...

Matt you're right. It's all conjecture about how she died, when, where and who did it.

They've proven that Casey is a manipulative liar. And she's not on trial for that.

BUT.....they have also proven that for a month after Caylee disappeared, Casey lied her ass off about her activities, where she was, made up people that she was hanging out with, and the WHOLE WHILE...never showing any evidence of any emotional distress about her daughter being gone.

I think the jury will look at that long and hard. Plus, they can see Casey every day and she is the coldest, most un-emotional person I've ever seen. She's a great actress. She only cries at odd times, but her eye makeup never smears, which any woman can tell you, that won't happen if you're really crying. LOL.

I guess we'll find out sometime soon what the jury thinks.

The defense is doing pretty good on final arguments, but they appear sloppy and unprepared, so that works against them.

Anonymous said...

lying and being unemotional isn't proof that you killed someone.
you can't convict on conjecture.

katie8753 said...

"lying and being unemotional isn't proof that you killed someone."

No it's not proof of murder. But you have to admit, Casey Anthony acted very suspiciously after Caylee disappeared, with no apparent excuse for it.

The defense has made a pretty good case, except they're still talking in final arguments, which started before noon Eastern Time. I think they're overdoing it big time. Saying the same things over and over. The jury is going to stop listening.

Oh well....I guess we'll see what happens.

katie8753 said...

Well the prosecution will have final rebuttal tomorrow starting at 8:30am Eastern Time. Then the jury deliberates.

We'll see what they come up with.

katie8753 said...

Okay, back to Melcher.

I don't know if Terry Melcher was really interested in Charlie's abilities. I have my doubts. It seems in everything I've read, he just kind of "went along with the auditions", I think to satisfy Wilson.

Terry went to Spahn's Ranch to hear the "family jam". He wasn't impressed.

But...I'm sure that at some point, around December 1968, Terry Melcher decided that Manson was dangerous.

He made sure to tell everyone NOT to tell Charlie where he moved.

Charlie was pissed at Melcher for not getting a contract.

This was probably the beginning of Charlie's slide down into madness.

MrPoirot said...

I thought charlie's guru status helped get him studio time as much or more than his singing and writing. i thought Wilson was enamored with Charlie's galactic spiel. This led dennis to use Charlie's songs. I never thought Charlie's talent alone got him into a major studio. Melcher just seemed to be placating Jacobson and Wilson's pleadings to record Charlie.

katie8753 said...

>>Mr. P. writes: I thought charlie's guru status helped get him studio time as much or more than his singing and writing.
i thought Wilson was enamored with Charlie's galactic spiel. This led dennis to use Charlie's songs.>>>

Charlie was only a "guru" to his minions. I don't really think that Wilson ever thought Charlie had any talent. I think that Wilson was thinking, as long as I placate Charlie, he'll keep bringing the broads and drugs.

>>>I never thought Charlie's talent alone got him into a major studio. Melcher just seemed to be placating Jacobson and Wilson's pleadings to record Charlie.>>>

Yes, I agree. Melcher listened to Jackobson & Wilson whine about Charlie and finally relented. He agreed to listen to Charlie's ramblings, but I have a feeling that he was already of a mind to disregard it. His obligation was filled by listening...he didn't have any obligation after that.

He turned Charlie down.

Then he got scared.....

katie8753 said...

I'm going to ask some questions that I've asked several times and no one has answered.

Why did Tex take a rope and bolt cutters to Cielo Drive & not Waverly Drive???

Why did Charlie go along the 2nd time, and not the first?

WHY????

beauders said...

casey anthony in my opinion is a classic sociopath. most of these people never kill, but they are narcissistic and care nothing about other people's feeling. i am not convinced she purposely murdered her daughter though.

MrPoirot said...

katie8753 said...
I'm going to ask some questions that I've asked several times and no one has answered.

Why did Tex take a rope and bolt cutters to Cielo Drive & not Waverly Drive???

Why did Charlie go along the 2nd time, and not the first?

Mr Poirot replies:

The wire cutters were needed because there were two houses they were attacking at Cielo. The rope
was to hang bodies from the convenient rafters at the main house. The hanging was an added touch Charlie thought up to spread fear. But the struggle to kill 5 people was harder than they thought. They even sustained injuries.
Charlie went on night two to manage the murders since the killers didnt do it like Charlie wanted on night one. They knew the layout at Labiancas. Rope and wire cutters werent needed but Charlie did tie up the victims with leather string he brought.

katie8753 said...

>>>Beauders said: casey anthony in my opinion is a classic sociopath. most of these people never kill, but they are narcissistic and care nothing about other people's feeling. i am not convinced she purposely murdered her daughter though.>>>

She may have murdered her accidentally, but in any case, she's still guilty of first degree murder.

Casey Anthony is the last person to see Caylee alive. Why won't she say what happened to her? The only reason I can come up with is that she killed her and she doesn't want to admit that.

katie8753 said...

>>>Mr Poirot replies:

The wire cutters were needed because there were two houses they were attacking at Cielo.>>>

Okay, I guess that makes sense.

>>>The rope was to hang bodies from the convenient rafters at the main house. The hanging was an added touch Charlie thought up to spread fear. But the struggle to kill 5 people was harder than they thought. They even sustained injuries.>>>

Well now you've lost me. I don't recall anyone saying that Charlie said to hang anyone. Am I missing something?

>>>Charlie went on night two to manage the murders since the killers didnt do it like Charlie wanted on night one. They knew the layout at Labiancas. Rope and wire cutters werent needed but Charlie did tie up the victims with leather string he brought.>>>

Well, they knew the layout of Cielo Drive too. Tex had been there.

Anonymous said...

mr p- are you saying that the plan was to kill garretson or just to knock out his phone line?