One thing I do know is that the backgrounds were tracked by my wife, the lovely and talented Toni Wine, under the direction of the other co-writer/producer Helen Miller, for Gene’s record, and would not have been on the original (if there was one) Sedaka demo. Also, the double speed phrasing on the "no matter what you do" and "not in love with you" couplet, to my ears, bears little resemblance to Sedaka’s. Not to mention that the tracks just rocks too much…..

However, as was said in Liberty Vallance, "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

(Aside to Mr. Kooper – Toni is on the road with Tony Orlando and will be in your neck of the woods at Mohegan Sun Jun. 14-18 and I’m sure both would love for you to stop by.)
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Bob – Last night, when I wrote the original note, it was too late to talk to Toni, who’s currently in a Northern time zone. Speaking to her today, she told me that in addition to what I wrote, she was also there (it was all the same sessiony) when Gene put his lead vocals on, and Neil’s voice was nowhere to be heard. Neil might have done his own version, or his voice might have been erased from the track before Gene got it, but Gene was not copying Neil. And why should he…..

And, contrary to what I might have implied, Howie Greenfield was also at the session.

It’s funny — as I was listening to the song again while I read your piece i was thinking "shit, this sounds like a Neil Sedaka song and it practically sounds like Neil, but less gay". Then I thought ha ha, well he’s my friend I can think that. Neil Sedaka is a great unappreciated true pop craftsman. When I was running Denise Rich’s publishing company I had him write some Christmas songs which she then wrote lyrics to. I promise you, his gift of melody writing is as sharp as ever. It’s a damn shame melody has become so marginalized in popular music. I think it is the single biggest problem with the music itself. I wish you would write a little bit about the concept of melody and how it has been completely subsumed by rhythm — watered down. Songs (or "tracks" as they’re now called because they’re not even songs) are written from the beat up and the melodies suck. Forget about harmonics. There just aren’t any.

I have a major record coming out in September — Natalie Cole’s new CD which i EP’d and A&R’d but I swear, I think I’m just gonna get out of the business. I can’t pretend I care about beats! Is there anything phonier than a middle aged Jewish A&R guy talking about beats?? Guess I was born at the wrong time. Over and out at 37?

You’re leaving a VERY important person out of your piece.

Pitney’s voice was simply placed over the top of NEIL SEDAKA’S
demo. Everything else on the track including the background vocals are very Sedaka and Gene imitated Neil’s original vocal track, so while Gene was a dear pal of mine (recorded 5 of my songs) he would have emailed you and made you give credit where credit is due.

And now, don’t cry a little bit………

Your pal,
Al (Kooper)