Marty Grebb

January 3, 2020, 4:00 am

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 MARTY GREBB ... photo by Jack Mongan Photography

Marty Grebb left us on New Year's Day ...

I guess you could say he did so on his own terms ... 

That's not to condone what he did ...

We may all have our theories on why he chose to leave us ...

But only Marty knew the whole story.

My Thursday Morning began early with a very unexpected email from FH Reader Mike DeMartino:  

Thanks for all you do! Happy and Healthy New Year to you and Frannie. 

I am Facebook friends with Marty Grebb and there was a post that he was going to  commit suicide. Many replies to him about how much he is loved and needed. The post is gone now.  Can you tell me if you heard anything? So tragic If he is gone. I went to his benefit concert at the Arcada and always enjoy his music with the Buckinghams and solo work. 
Mike DeMartino 

I've not heard anything on this -
And kind of an awkward question to investigate -

You don't happen to have a copy, do you?

The only thing I can think of (if it's even true) is a Tommy Boyce scenario ...

Maybe he got some devastating health news and decided he'd rather end it all on his own terms rather than be a burden to anybody ... and that's just pure speculation on my part ... again, if it happens to be true.

I'm inclined to stay away from this one until we hear more information from some reliable sources.  (kk)

I understand. There have been a few postings that he has passed away on Facebook ... also on Wikipedia. If this is what happened, this is so sad! 

Maybe someone will also mention this to you like Dennis or Carl.

Mike

We have since learned that after Marty's Facebook post, effectively thanking all he had crossed paths with over the years (and essentially saying goodbye), there was an outpouring of concern by email, voicemail and more from friends, family and fans, encouraging Marty to hang in there … give me a call … let’s talk … tell me what you need … I’m here for you … but apparently by this point it was already too late and Marty was gone … a VERY sad ending to an incredible career.

As it turns out, Carl Giammarese DID email me later in the day … he has posted a BEAUTIFUL tribute and remembrance to Marty on The Buckinghams’ website … truly touching … please take a moment to read it via the link provided below …

Kent,

You probably already know about the passing of Marty Grebb. Nick, Dennis and I are devastated.  

I have put together a post for Facebook, and was hoping you could post it on Forgotten Hits.

Thank you.  

We are all devastated … he was a great one ... flooded with so many memories.

Much appreciated, thank you,

Carl

http://thebuckinghamsconcertblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/in-memoriam-martin-joseph-grebb.html  

Thanks Carl -

Yes I heard the news early this morning - how very sad.

Your piece is excellent and, as it should, accentuates all the positive of Marty’s long and varied career.

I am happy to run the link in Forgotten Hits – so glad I had the chance to meet him and experience his genius on stage (kk)

Here are a few more comments we received upon hearing the news: 

Marty Grebb was truly an unsung hero in the music industry, especially that which came out of Chicago.  He was a true genius who did not give himself the credit that he deserved. We were honored at the Arcada to host a very special evening that Dennis Tufano put together. I know it was one of the best nights of his life.  So many people who came to the Arcada, whether a customer or an entertainer, knew Marty, respected him and loved him. And I don't think he knew how much.
I know I join literally countless people who will remain brokenhearted for a long time to come.

- Ron Onesti

I am in total disbelief this morning at 2:00 am finding out just minutes ago that my friend, Marty Grebb, the very talented and one of the most unique guys I have ever met, as well as being The Buckinghams’ Keyboardist on many of their biggest hits and went on to play with so very many for me to even mention now has ended his life. He had been depressed for a while after his divorce as well as not having a band to help support him. It was just too much for him to handle as he left a note on his Facebook page. I only wish there was something I could have done to help. I feel so terrible. He was a good friend and would call me occasionally to talk. 

My time on stage with Marty for his Benefit Show in 2015 at the Arcada Theatre was one of the highlights of my career. Marty called me as the show was being put together and asked me if I’d like to play guitar for his portion of the show. I was surrounded by Rock & Roll Royalty, all awesome musicians. It was a very Surreal moment.

From that time on forward Marty and I had become good friends and would  talk quite often on the phone. He would share music with me and tell me about certain performers that he had played with. He was full of information.

Marty had such a big heart. You could feel it the moment you met him. I sure will miss this talented guy and his great personality and our talks. He will be so missed by so many. Prayers to his family and loved ones.

I will miss you so very much, Marty. You are now united with some of your friends and so many others in Rock & Roll Heaven.   

– Dave Zane (Buckinghams Guitarist)

Marty Grebb (Grebe) has passed on. 

All of Chicago 60's fans and musicians likely know his name and his talent.  I have to rate "Back in Love Again" as my fave song by him.  I only believe it was not a top 10 record due to the sudden changing times by early 68 and NOT the song.  It was fabulous. 

Marty did great with the Exceptions, Fabulous Rhinestones, Lovecraft.  He just did some great songs and that's all I know other than he was a multi-instrument talent as well. 

We will miss you, but always think of you when we play your tunes. 

- Clark Besch

One of the things that I believe limited The Buckinghams’ time in the spotlight in the mid-to-late ‘60’s was the fact that they didn’t really write their own material.  Their biggest hits were provided by songwriter Jim Holvay … and at some point they simply ran out of them.  (Keep in mind that ALL of those tunes … “Kind Of A Drag,” “Don’t You Care,” “Hey, Baby, They’re Playing Our Song” and “Susan” were provided on the SAME TAPE initially for consideration!!!  That’s some pretty impressive material!  Even Lennon and McCartney didn’t have that caliber of material ready at the get-go!)

Marty joining the band offered the opportunity for them to continue on within themselves … and I rank “Back In Love Again” right up there as one of their finest.  It should have been a MUCH bigger hit than it was. (#45 nationally, #21 here in Chicago)

It TOTALLY captured the sound and feel of The Buckinghams … and should have paved the way for more success in a new direction.  I believe its failure may have been a contributing factor in Marty leaving as soon as he did instead of sticking around a while longer to see where this path may have taken them.

He blew us away on sax and keyboards at the benefit show ... (first time I had ever seen him) … and worked his magic in the studio with Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and Leon Russell as well (among others).  His talent … and his passion for the music … will be missed.  (kk)

******

Several folks have written in about Marty's work with The Buckinghams.  To set the record straight, he was NOT their original keyboardist.  (That distinction belongs to Dennis Miccollis, who is also a long time Forgotten Hits Reader.) Marty joined the band in time for their second album ... and even traded off the lead vocals with Dennis Tufano on their Top Five Hit "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy."  His impact was felt immediately as the band was signed to Columbia Records and taken under the wing of Producer James Guercio.  Marty appears on their string of hits that included "Don't You Care,""Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,""Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song,""Susan" and his self-penned "Back In Love Again."  It's Marty that you'll see in the videos of their most prominent television appearances, such as The Smothers Brothers Show, among others.  Over the last several years, Marty would make occasional appearances with Dennis, performing The Hits Of The Buckinghams, while Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna carried on with the official version of the band, performing all over the world and, quite frequently, as part of The Happy Together Tour. 

It was four and a half years ago that Dennis Tufano organized a benefit concert to help cover some of Marty's medical expenses.  We were on hand to help promote the event, one of the most amazing and heartfelt concerts I've ever seen.

As a result, I got to meet Marty ... I can't even begin to pretend that I got to know him ... a word here and there during rehearsals and backstage ... and an occasional email before and after the event ... but I CAN say the Grebb was a formidable presence throughout this event ... never once looking like he needed anybody's help ... he was just there to play his music (and an exceptional musician he was.)

As one can imagine, organizing an event such as this took quite a bit of juggling, hand-holding and lip-biting ... keep in mind this benefit concert predated the Cornerstones shows that are so popular today, featuring the very best of Chicago Rock from the '60's and early '70's, some of whom were not necessarily on the best of terms all these years later.

I'll also be so bold as to say that this thing nearly fell off the rails a couple of times along the way, one of the most difficult stumbling blocks being getting everybody to agree as to how this incredible reunion (Don't Call It A Reunion!!!) of the most famous line-up of The Buckinghams (minus Jon Jon Poulos, of course, who passed away in 1980) for this one-time only mega show.  I had to do a bit of refereeing along the way to keep everybody focused on exactly WHY we were putting this show on in the first place.

Most of the emails exchanged in our efforts to make things run smoothly were addressed to a group of us ... probably 30-40 in all, copying everybody involved in on these exchanges to ensure that we were all on the same page ... but one that I received ... one that was sent ONLY to me by Marty ... simply said "Oooh ... Drama!"  It warmed my heart and provided one of the few smiles I enjoyed prior to the actual show!!!

During a break at the concert he approached me ... again the ONLY private conversation I ever had with the man ... and said "Thank you for standing your ground and holding this thing together."  If your entire life is going to consist of two sentences with Marty Grebb, I can't think of two that would have meant any more than these did.  There is no doubt in my mind as to what this concert meant to all four of the remaining Buckinghams that night ... a return, as Carl so eloquently put it, to that "band of brothers" who got it done in the '60's.

Marty was an INCREDIBLE musician, switching off from keyboards to sax, and handling some of the most memorable vocals of the night.  I am glad I was there to share even the smallest part of it.

Today we are all saddened by this turn of events ... and we will be sad for awhile.

But the music of The Buckinghams brings you back to a happier time when thoughts like this would never cross your mind.  Their music was designed to make us feel good ... and it succeeded in every regard.

There was supposed to be a DVD release of the concert ... another way to help raise funds.  Sadly, it never happened ... but I have to believe this footage exists out there somewhere.  Maybe now would finally be the time to let the rest of the world experience the magic we who were there felt that night.

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-benefit-concert-for-marty-grebb_12.html

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-marty-grebb-benefit-concert-part-two.html

******

On this date in 1970:

1970:  January 3^rd– Davy Jones quits The Monkees, leaving only Micky Dolenz tied to the group.  
(The running joke at the time was "Will he continue to perform as "The Monkee"???)  
Truth be told, on more than one occasion, Micky has been known to sing "Here I come ... walkin' down your street ... I get the funniest looks from ... everyone I meet!!!  Hey, hey I'm a Monkee!!!"
Some fifty years later, he's STILL out on the road packing them in, treating fans to feel good rock and roll music, reminding us all of the great times of our youth.

Ironically, on this same date, The Beatles would hold what would ultimately become their last recording session together as a band to put the finishing touches on George Harrison’s song “I Me Mine”

---

January 4th, 1970

January 4, 2020, 4:00 am

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1970:  January 4^th– Amidst the strangest of circumstances, Keith Moon of The Who accidently ran over and killed his chauffer, Neil Boland.

It seems that a gang of teens attacked Moon’s Bentley limo.  When chauffer Boland got out to try and protect the car, he inadvertently left it in gear … and as it started moving forward, Moon (who didn’t have a driver’s license) jumped behind the wheel and accidently gunned the engine instead of hitting the brake.  Unbeknownst to him, Boland had been beaten and had fallen under the car.  He was run over and killed.

Keith was eventually absolved of any blame and didn’t face any type of involuntary or accidental murder charges … but the incident haunted him for the rest of his life.  It didn’t help that Neil’s family never forgave him for the accident.

January 5th, 1970

January 5, 2020, 4:00 am

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Our weekly posting of The WCFL Charts will begin next Sunday (January 12th) with the first chart they issued in 1970 after a long hiatus.

Meanwhile, here is the WLS Chart issued for the week of January 5th to tide you over!

And, because I already know that some of you will ask, here are the 1969 Award Winners that appeared on the back ...

1970:  January 5^th– A 7.1 earthquake shakes Tonghai County in the Yunnan province of China.  It is estimated that as many as 14,621 were killed … while another 26,783 were injured

Another Outside Concert Review

January 6, 2020, 4:00 am

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'Twas the Saturday night before Christmas and all through the concert hall, all the creatures were stirring in anticipation of a great rock and roll show. 

And a great rock and roll show they got! 

The great Southern rock band The Outlaws (formed in Tampa in the early 70s) presented their annual Yuletide Jam here at the Capitol Theater in Clearwater, Florida, before a sold-out crowd of 800. In fact. the show has become so popular it was also held on Friday night, the day before, in front of another sold-out throng. This year, the special guest was the legendary Firefall who opened the show.

Promptly at 8:00, Firefall took the stage. 

Who was in the band I hope you are asking? 

To start with, the man who founded Firefall himself in 1974, guitarist and singer Jock Bartley, along with original keyboardist, saxophonist and flutist David Muse. 

The drummer was Sandy Fica, who has been in the band since 1984. Gary Jones played the acoustic guitar and sang many of the lead vocals and has been with the band since 2014. 

The fifth and final member would have been original bassist Mark Andes but, as Jock Bartley explained, "Filling in tonight for our bassist Mark Andes, who has just had a hip operation, is a great friend of ours from the band Orleans, please welcome Lance Hoppen."  

The band opened up with their very first single, "Livin' Ain't Livin'," and it smoked. They followed up with probably their second best selling song, "Just Remember I Love You" and the group nailed the harmonies perfectly. Everybody contributes vocally except drummer Sandy Fica. 

"Cinderella," their third single was next, followed by "Goodbye, I Love You," a minor hit from 1979. 

Next was "So Long," another minor hit from their second album, "Luna Sea. " 

Next was finally the song most people know Firefall for. Jock Bartley explains, "Next we are going to play a song that even if you have no clue who Firefall is, you know this song. If you have been in an elevator you have heard it. Sitting in a doctor's office you have heard it. Going to the Piggly Wiggly you have heard this song. I was in my dentist's chair not long ago and as his hands were in my mouth this song was playing and he was saying, "This is your song, right?" All I could do was nod my head. So again if you do not know who the hell we are, you know this song." 

David Muse then started the opening flute introduction, the audience roared in approval, and Gary Jones started singing the familiar words to "You Are The Woman." The song then became one big audience sing-a-long. 

And then for something completely different, Firefall played their other major hit, "Strange Way," although not quite like the record. The song started out very familiarly but then became one big extended jam with David Muse contributing a great sax solo, Bartley jammed on his electric guitar and even Lance Hoppen played a short bass solo. Sandy Fica threw in a drum solo of about a minute and then back to original song to close it out. Wow! 

If you think of Firefall as that light rock band from Colorado, you are only partly correct. They can cook and jam with the best of them. 

To close out their portion of the show, they played "Mexico" from their debut album. Firefall played an excellent eight song set of all their hits and I, for one, was totally impressed. It also turned out that David Muse, who went from keys to flute and sax and vocals, is a resident of Clearwater. He mentioned that "it is great to play in my hometown, especially when I can drive just right down the street to the show."

Intermission time. 

Towards the end of the intermission, Henry Paul (Outlaws founder and guitarist) came onstage to present a couple of awards. He presented the Frank O'Keefe award (for the Outlaws original now deceased bassist) to his daughter Shannon O'Keefe. And then, for a great surprise, he brought out original Firefall founder Rick Roberts for an award. I don't remember what the award was unfortunately, but it was great to see Rick Roberts on the stage. 

He left Firefall in 1981 and , except for a brief reunion at the end of the 80s, hasn't played with them since. I kinda wondered why he didn't join the band for a song during their set but maybe declining health prevented it (he did not look in great shape.) And then he mentioned that he also was a resident of Clearwater. He said he was born and raised here before moving out to Colorado in the early 70s to form Firefall with Jock Bartley and, in case, I forget Larry Burnett in 1974. He is now a current resident of his hometown. That's three rock musicians that I have seen in the last week that make their home in Clearwater; Rick Roberts, David Muse and Gary Puckett. I have lived here most of my life and I can see why. 

Now it's time for The Outlaws. 

They are probably the Tampa Bay area's most well-known band in the rock and roll era. Formed in Tampa in 1967, they played the local circuit for many years until 1975 when they released their first album titled "The Outlaws" and the rest is history. 

Their Southern Rock / Country Rock / Boogie Rock is distinguished by dual lead guitar play by three lead guitars along with great four part harmony, which sets them apart from other Southern Rock bands. 

The only original member left is Henry Paul, who sings most of the leads and, of course, is part of the three lead guitar attack. Original drummer Monte Yoho was not at the show,  Henry Paul explained, because "Monte has got to the point where his health does not permit to plays drums live for two hours any longer. He is at home right now enjoying Christmas with his family." I feel bad cause I did not get the name of the drummer filling in for him as it is not listed on their website either. So I'm wondering if Monte will rejoin the band someday or if this past summer was it for him. 

Steve Grisham was on lead guitar, and he has been with the band since 2013, along with a brief appearance in the middle 80s. The third lead guitarist was Dale Oliver, and he joined the band just over a year ago, replacing Chris Anderson. And boy, can this guy play the guitar! Of the three guitarists, he got the most solos. Fun fact; he was Reba McEntire's guitarist in the 2000's. 

The bass was handled by Randy Threet, who has been in the band since 2005 and on keys is Dave Robbins also in the band since 2005.

They opened up with two of their most well-known songs, "There Goes Another Love Song" from the first album and "Hurry Sundown," the title track from their third album. 

Like I said earlier, one thing that makes them different from a lot of other bands of the Southern Rock genre is their four now five-part harmonies. Whenever they would start jamming (which was quite often), all four members would move to the front of the stage and stand next to each other and just wail away for a brief time and then finally separate and move around the stage or back to their original spots. This really made the show quite entertaining as if the guitar jamming was not enough. 

The repertoire consisted of most of their best-known songs like "Freeborn Man" and "Stick Around For Rock & Roll." They played a couple of The Henry Paul Band covers like "So Long" and "Grey Ghost." The Henry Paul Band is a group formed by Henry Paul in the late 70s after he first left the Outlaws and lasted until 1985. He formed the band Blackhawk in 1992 and the band technically exists to this day. Four current members of the Outlaws also either play or have played in Blackhawk (Paul, Oliver, Threet & Robbins). 

Henry Paul then announced, "We have a brand new album coming out in February. It's called "Dixie Highway," and we are going to play a couple of songs off of it now. And I hope you like them." 

The first song was called "Showdown." It was a instrumental and it just cooked. The next was a song that should become a new anthem for the South along with "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird." It was titled "Southern Rock Will Never Die." It was beautiful. Cell phones with the lights on were in the air. A couple songs that were all about the fans were next, "It's About Pride" and "You Are The Show."  Another new song called "Rattlesnake Road" was played and then a hugely popular Outlaws song "Ghost Riders In The Sky," which is a cover song played by many, made its appearance. 

Henry Paul then thanked the crowd for continuing to support the band over all the years and especially for making their Capitol Theater Yuletide Jam so popular. A lot of the proceeds from both shows were being donated to charity. 

"We are gonna close out the show with this one! You all know it! Enjoy!!" And then the Outlaws rock anthem (sort of their "Free Bird") started to ring out over the now completely on their feet crowd, "Green Grass And High Tides." And jam this song they did, stretching it out to about 15 minutes. 

Each member took their turns with a solo with Dale Oliver perhaps turning in the most crowd-pleasing one. Again all four members would come to the front of the stage and stand together and simply (for want of a better word) just simply jam together. The crowd roared their approval. And then more solos and more solos and more front of the stage jams; it went on and on as the audience watched, some in disbelief. And then finally and unfortunately, it came to an end. The band came together and took a bow and left the stage. I just stood there trying to take in what I had just seen and heard as did my girl friend Alice and a lot of the crowd. We all finally made our way to the exits and then out of the theater.

And then, OMG, the icing on the cake. We went out by their tour bus just as the Outlaws were boarding and we got to meet most of them. Henry Paul, Dale Oliver and Randy Threet could not have been more kind and gracious and actually engaged in conversation. Could it get better? 

Yes, Rick Roberts stepped off the bus by himself and started to walk away. Alice and I caught up to him and got photos with him and some talk about Clearwater being all of our homes. I don't think anybody else even recognized him. You could tell by the look in his eyes he seemed to really appreciate being remembered. We said our goodbyes and he turned and walked away down Osceola Street (apparently heading home) all by himself.

The only other thing I want to mention before I wrap this up is that I have always been a big fan of The Outlaws but I had not seen them in concert since the 70s until this past February on The Rock And Roll Legends Cruise. That concert on the ship convinced me that I had to see them again and they did not disappoint. It was simply an incredible show!! 

And speaking of Rock And Roll Cruises, Kent, I do not know if you have ever been on one, but if not, make it a priority! Last February was my first and it was probably one of the five best things in my life I have ever done. The featured act of our cruise was Roger Daltrey. Can you imagine seeing his show, sitting and standing probably 15 feet away from Roger himself. We saw him three times in four days. He never played the same show either. Let Roger explain as he did to us:  "A lot of people in the business try to make fun of me for doing these cruises. But I tell them that it is one of my favorite places to perform. I can play Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 people and when I play a new song 19,000 people get up and go buy a beer or use the bathroom. Out here on the ship I have everybody's undivided attention for the entire show. The crowd here is the true rock and roll fans. And I love it!" I believe that says it all. And where else will you get a fist bump from Roger Daltrey (initiated by him.) 

Other bands on our cruise were Kansas, Buddy Guy, .38 Special, Night Ranger, Dave Davies, Foghat, Nazareth, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Edgar Winter Band, Canned Heat, Martin Barre (from Jethro Tull) and many others. 

We are now going to take what is called The On The Blue Cruise in April 2020, with the featured act being Justin Hayward. Others performing are Art Garfunkel, The Alan Parsons Project, Wishbone Ash, The Zombies, Al Stewart, Poco, Dave Mason, Strawbs, The Orchestra (ELO members), The Babys (without John Waite), Orleans and yes, Firefall again, along with many others. I mentioned to Jock Bartley (when I took a pic of him and my girl Alice that I would see him on the Blue Cruise. He seemed impressed. Anyway I digress.)

After the show (you know 'Twas The Saturday Night before Christmas) it looked like by judging the faces of the crowd that Christmas might have come early!    

Rich Turner

Palm Harbor, Florida

PHOTOS:
(Note:  All photos supplied by Rich Turner)

 Firefall's Jock Bartley

 

Firefall Flutist David Muse

Substitute Bassist Lance Hoppen (of Orleans)

 Dave Oliver

Henry Paul

Steve Grisham

Oliver, Paul and Grisham, center stage

 Henry Paul and Steve Grisham

Here's Rick Roberts with my girlfriend Alice

Henry Paul and Me

Jock Bartley and Alice

Henry Paul and Alice

 

More Marty Memories

January 7, 2020, 4:00 am

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The sudden, unexpected loss of Marty Grebb, former keyboard player for The Buckinghams and studio session musician for some of the biggest names in the music business, still has quite a few of us rattled.

Here is some more commentary on this very talented man ... 

MARTY GREBB: 
Hi Kent,
So sorry to hear about Marty's passing. He will be missed greatly. We pray for his family and friends to have peace and comfort.
Bless ya, my friend.
Barry

Thanks, Barry.  I’m sure The Buckinghams and The Royal Guardsmen probably crossed paths a time or two during what turned out to be a banner year for BOTH groups, 1967.  Always sad to lose our music heroes.  (kk)

Yes ... very sad indeed ... a great man and a brilliant musician and singer.  

Scott May will be sending you a piece on behalf of himself and the Ides for you to run in Forgotten Hits.

Thx!  

Jimbo 

Looking forward to it.  (I wrote to Scott earlier, hoping he would share something with our readers.)  Without question, one of the highlights of The Marty Grebb Benefit Concert was Scott's tribute to Marty's former band, The Fabulous Rhinestones days (during which he also told a very touching story about how Marty reworked Scott's original "demo" tape and sent it back with full vocals and instrumentation.)  May, an accomplished keyboardist and vocalist who doesn’t get to stand in the spotlight on his own often enough, took great pride in pointing out to the audience that night that his “back-up band” for this particular performance included Marty Grebb, along with Dennis Tufano and Tom Doody on background vocals.  It was an awesome performance … and another reason the video of this show needs to be released.  (kk)  

From Scott May, on behalf of all of The Ides Of March ...

And all whose lives Marty touched ...

The Ides of March join the rest of the musical community in mourning the passing of our brother in arms Marty Grebb -

We can still hear his soulful voice soaring over his wailing B3.

We watched from the wings as he sang “What A Wonderful Thing We Had” with his amazing band with Kal David, the Fabulous Rhinestones, when the Ides had the pleasure of sharing the bill with them at many Chicago venues including Dex Card’s Wild Goose in Schererville, Indiana.    

Marty’s vocal work as a member of the Buckinghams on songs such as Mercy, Mercy, Mercy defines what the term “blue eyed soul” is all about. 

More recently, as he fought his brave fight against cancer, he put it all aside and blew away the crowd at the Arcada at the amazing Hammond Organ event.    

Marty Grebb will live eternally through the rich legacy of his music.

Rock in Peace - 

Jimbo and all the Ides of March 

 

There are too many days and too many more to come where friends, fellow musicians - known and simply unknown but desperately admired - leave us earlier than we ourselves move on to whatever is next.  Faith in there being something and something better keeps me going and, in light of recent events in my own life, it makes the realization of an end point here all the more real.  Scary to be sure, but if this life is indeed only a beginning or just another step, my hopes and prayers are to remain here long enough to right all my wrongs and then find others who left me first so I can share with them again. 

Sad to read - tears at the edges of my eyes and a lump in my throat as I type this.  I’ve been personally touched by the losses of Les Kummel, Billy Herman, Mark Eskin and countless friends and family outside of the music world - all gone, but to where ... ??? 

Be blessed, my friends –

May this event be the only one that impacts any of us until at least enough time has passed to regain our smiles and get back to thinking about our own destinies.  Peace, brother Kent, my Cornerstones companions, and everyone else whose lives Marty impacted and whose passing came too soon. 

I cannot help but think of Peter Gabriel's lyrics when he suffered such a loss and wrote "I Grieve" - my "go to" song in times like these.

Ray Graffia, Jr.

It was only one hour ago
It was all so different then
Nothing yet has really sunk in
Looks like it always did
This flesh and bone
Is just the way that we are tied in
But there's no one home
I grieve, for you
You leave, me
So hard to move on
Still loving what's gone
They say life carries on
Carries on and on and on and on

The news that truly shocks
Is the empty, empty page
While the final rattle rocks
It's empty, empty cage
And I can't handle this
I grieve, for you
You leave, me
Let it out and move on
Missing what's gone
They say life carries on
They say life carries on and on and on

--Peter Gabriel

This is beautiful, Ray!  Can’t see how anyone could say it better.

Jimbo

Thanks, Jimbo … feel free to share wherever and with whomever.

I am touched by your feelings.  You make this negative news approach positivity and at least more bearable.  30 years active in Roman Catholic church ministry, half as a Lay Minister and then 15 more years as an ordained Deacon exposed me to too much grief in funerals but also to incredible happiness while presiding at marriages and Baptisms - blessings that generated sensitivity way beyond what I thought I had.  When we moved out of the Archdiocese of Chicago (where my rock & roll liberal approach to Christianity was not only tolerated but endorsed) and into the far more conservative Diocese of Rockford in 2007, I commuted for a year, then decided to return to the church pews and give up my vestments but cannot contain learned emotions, especially in times like these. 

I am humbled by your note and will be honored if you do indeed choose to share it with others.

Far too long until May when our paths are most likely to next cross, Mr. Peterik (and Mr. Onesti and others copied here) …

May we all be blessed until then and long beyond –

Make it always,     

Ray

I guess I wasn’t consciously familiar and aware of this song … although I most definitely did see the film “City Of Angels” and watched the Jonathan Kent death scene on “Smallville” … but I agree … an appropriate and emotional choice.  Thanks to all for sharing.  (kk)

An interesting way to listen to this tune that really captures the sadness of losing a loved one ... even more so if you happen to be a "Smallville" fan ...

Hey Kent –

I knew Marty beginning with his days with The Exceptions and then going to the Bucks.  Everyone knows what an incredible, incredible musician he was … not only in his ability to play, but also in his ability to express the music.  I also knew him as a very, very good guy.  I'm sure everyone else can give you more insight into Marty than I can because I knew him tangentially ... I was never in a band with him, but admired him greatly and enjoyed the friendship we developed after the Marty benefit show.  This one hurts.

Tom Doody / The Cryan’ Shames

Hi Kent ...

My condolences to the family of Marty Grebb on his passing. He was an asset to the band with his great keyboarding talents.  Looking at the videos, he seemed to be in good spirits, all decked out while performing with the Buckinghams. So sad.  There is one thing that I can say for certain about the Buckinghams ... 

Whenever I hear a Buckinghams song, I can attest to becoming magically transformed into being in another time and another place.  The music does that to me.  I can attest to being back in high school and being 16 years old. It is a great lift to my spirits. It's good for my mental health. I look back and smile. It was a simpler time and a simpler life. They do that to me. Thank you, Buckinghams!

Sandra Lorenz

 
And, ending on a timely, upside note, take a look at this ...

JOIN IN THE FUN IF YOU’RE ABLE:

>>>Hey, Brad, let us know more about the chat room games … maybe some of us can chime in!  (kk)
Hi Kent:

I plan to run the first game based on your top 3333 list tomorrow night, (Wednesday, January 8), at 10 PM Eastern, 7 PM Pacific times.

Unfortunately, a player / listener MUST have the (truly awful) AOL Gold to be able to access our chatroom.

I can send details about how to get there if you wish.  I cannot send a link because the chatrooms on AOL Gold don't have a way to send a link.

What I am doing in this game series is sending lines of song lyrics, to which players respond with the song title and artist name for 1 point each.

I have constructed each of the 4 (so far) games I have outlined by taking JUST ONE song from each page of the Countdown list (which I painstakingly wrote on legal pad paper as the list wound down (or up...) 

I try to equally divide my song selections for each game from TOP 10 national hits and non TOP 10 songs.

Following next Wednesday's game # 1, I'll likely be running a similar game every 3-4 Wednesday nights.

Mr. Jaded and I have been a game hosting/scorekeeping team for more than 20 years now in that time slot.  Time REALLY does fly, doesn't it?

If anyone out there expresses an interest in the chatroom games, please pass my e-mail address on to them.

I'll be glad to explain what we do and when we run games to anyone interested.

Brad

wmbradspa@aol.com

Does ANYBODY out there have AOL Gold???

Just kidding … I know that this is VERY short notice (my fault, not Brad's ... here's an example of the scheduling conflicts I mentioned above!) ... but I hope that we can steer a few participants your way.  Let me know how it goes!  (kk)

*****

1970:  January 7^th– The Friends of Distinction record “Love Or Let Me Be Lonely.”  It will ultimately peak at #5 on the national charts when it is released as a single in March.

Also on this date, a $35,000 lawsuit is filed against Max Yasgur, owner of the farm that hosted last year’s Woodstock Festival.  The suit alleges property damages and is just one of over 70 lawsuits filed against Yasgur.

Happy Birthday, Elvis!

January 8, 2020, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Thursday This And That

≪ Previous: More Marty Memories

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Today marks what would have been Elvis Presley's 85th Birthday.  (He's now officially been gone longer than he was with us ... so hard to believe the amount of time that has passed since we first heard the news about Elvis' death on August 16th, 1977.)

But today we're focused on his life.  (Does anybody out there remember the commemorative CD that RCA released five years ago in honor of what would have been Elvis' 80th birthday???)

(A bit tacky maybe???)

As we typically do on Elvis' birthday, we're going to feature a few of our favorites that don't often receive much airplay but represent the wide range of his vocal talent.

We'll kick it off with this track from his 1960 film "G.I. Blues," appropriately marking The King's return from The Army.


These next two tracks are among my all-time Elvis favorites.  Both were recorded earlier and then released as singles in 1964 / 1965 during a period where Elvis' chart success was being hampered by The British Invasion.  Both are outstanding examples Elvis' range of style.  "Easy Question" was also used in the film "Tickle Me" at the time, a low-budget soundtrack made up of "recycled" tracks from years before ... while "Such A Night" was later used as the closing vamp in the film "3000 Miles To Graceland," featuring Kurt Russell, who also portrayed The King in a TV movie several years earlier.  (That end-title sequence is, without question, the highlight of the entire movie!!!)



This one is no stranger to the radio ... it is still one of Elvis' best known and most loved tracks ... and how "Can't Help Falling In Love" failed to reach #1 remains one of the greatest mysteries in rock and roll history. (It was held to the #2 spot by "Peppermint Twist" in early 1962!)


And finally, a commentary on our current state of mind ...

Since Elvis is gone, all we're feeling is A Mess Of Blues.


We have bitched on and on about Billboard Magazine's recent position of only keeping track of the hit records that made their Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart after it was officially unveiled on August 4th, 1958 ... this despite the fact that Billboard had already been publishing top music charts for over fifty years by this point.

As such, this new qualification has completely eliminated Elvis' first 32 hits from the radar, which include Eleven #1 Records. (That's better than half of his eighteen #1 hits.)  Many of these ("Heartbreak Hotel,""Don't Be Cruel,""Hound Dog,""Love Me Tender,""Jailhouse Rock,""All Shook Up" and "Teddy Bear") not only launched but also DEFINED The Rock And Roll Era. This new position and way of thinking effectively rewrites history as it exists.  No Elvis, No Beatles ... No Beatles, nothing that has followed them since.  Bottom line ... No Elvis and No Beatles = no need for Billboard Magazine ... they likely would have ceased to exist decades ago.

The way the charts are measured today hold no relation whatsoever to the way this music has been calculated in the past.  I understand that the times change ... look at all the various waves of technology we have had to adapt to over the years just to listen to our music.  But let's not forget where it all began.  Let's not compare Mariah Carey's or Drake's chart stats to the ones established years ago by artists like Elvis Presley and The Beatles ... when every track on an album WASN'T available to chart thanks to downloads and YouTube and streaming plays ... when people used to have to physically get out of their homes and drive their cars or ride their bikes to the record store and BUY the music they wanted to hear and own ... and then could only purchase what the record companies saw fit to release as singles.

As recently as the 1990's a group like N*Sync could release a new album and sell two and a half million copies the very first week.  Today, a number one album might have sold 5000 copies that week!!!  So PLEASE don't compare how many weeks THAT record stayed at #1 to an album like "Rumours" or "Thriller" or "Dark Side Of The Moon" that brought people out of their homes and out to the stores for YEARS to purchase.

We'll never seen another artist like Elvis or The Beatles ... they changed music forever ... and we, The Forgotten Hits Community, remember.  There may not be a lot of "forgotten hits" recorded by these artists because their impact was so great ... but Forgotten Hits ALSO acts as a reminder of an era when this music mattered to us ... it affected our lives ... and odds are if you're reading this right now, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.  (kk)

Thursday This And That

January 9, 2020, 4:00 am

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≪ Previous: Happy Birthday, Elvis!

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Bouncing back and forth between our 1970 Calendar Of Events and our current stream of ongoing events makes things a bit more challenging and confusing this year … but it’s what we’ve committed to … and I’m sure we’ll all adapt eventually!  (lol)

Here are some of the topics that have been on your minds recently … 

HELPING OUT OUR READERS:

And this is a BIG one, folks!!!

I received this email from Carol Ross, Tommy James’ long-time manager, who is looking for material to include in the movie currently being made about Tommy’s best selling book, “Me, The Mob And The Music.”

Now I know of a few of you out there that can probably bury me with stuff … so let’s touch base before you start unloading everything so that we can zero in on more of what she’s looking for.

But here’s a copy of her original email to me, right after the first of the year …

Hi Kent,

I wish you a very successful 2020 with great expectations ...

I am hoping you can be of some help to us.

Our producer for Tommy's movie needs vintage photos, trade publications with TJ chart positions, posters from the 60s with TJ ... really, anything Tommy James ...

We are gathering what we have but I am sure there is a lot more stuff out there ... let me know - will greatly appreciate your assistance.

Thanks ...

Carol

DON IMUS:

Rewound Radio ran the expected tribute to Don Imus on Saturday, January 4^th (unfortunately prior to our new Comments Page going out this morning.)

Not as many comments as I was expecting from our readers, however, on this guy … a broadcasting legend.

Hello, Kent ...

Received this a few hours ago from a friend of mine in Sarasota, FL, from today's Sarasota Daily Herald.
Mike
====================================

from today's Sarasota Herald-Tribune (1/3/20):

Imus always went too far

From the early days of broadcasting a century ago, the business had its outlaws. They built radio stations in border towns just across the Rio Grande and cranked their signals far beyond the 50,000-watt limit mandated by the U.S. government. They filled the air with stemwinders, spellbinders, conspiracy theorists and purveyors of quack remedies.

North of the border, radio created mass culture. Suddenly everyone was dancing to the same music, falling for the same crooners, tuning in at the same hour to the same dramas and comedies and political speeches.

South of the border was the land of rebels, titillaters and scandalizers. John Romulus Brinkley, a medical charlatan of epic proportions, opened the first Mexican megastation, call letters XER, across the river from Del Rio, Texas, in 1931. The million-watt signal was so strong it could be heard in the barbed wire of nearby ranch fences and as far away as Canada.

Speaking for hours on end, Brinkley rambled about topics ranging from the federal government’s machinations against him to the value of goat testicles for treating sexual dysfunction. There was music — XER was country music’s incubator, hatching the likes of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter family. There was wild, passionate Pentecostal preaching. There was peddling of sketchy merchandise, including, for a time, autographed photos of Jesus.

Most of all, there was a voice, hypnotic and compelling.

For Don Imus, outlaw radio was the best kind. As a young man in the early 1960s, Imus didn’t tune his receiver to some cookie-cutter Top 40 station playing a rote rotation of 2 ½-minute pop hits. He dialed in XERF, a direct descendant of Brinkley’s border blaster, where a charismatic broadcaster known as Wolfman Jack did his strange and edgy business. The Wolfman’s music was good, but his talk was the thing. He howled. He rasped. He said things Mom and Dad would not approve of, speaking to the entire body: ears, brain, spine, gut, libido.

Imus, who died a week ago, was a radio revolutionary. What he perceived, earlier than most, was that the rise of television during his adolescent years meant that domestic radio was going to lose its role as the maker and arbiter of mass culture. The time was ripe for the outlaws.

During a career that filled a half-century, the I-man applied the lessons of outlaw radio to the evolving technologies of modern communication. He made radio interesting — not like a seminar is interesting, but like a bank robbery is interesting. Like emergency surgery is interesting. Like climbing a cliff with no rope is interesting.

He broke every rule, written and unwritten. He swore on the air, mused about his genitals and asked female callers whether they were naked. He trafficked in racial stereotypes and epithets. He spoke disrespectfully of authority figures. He got suspended, got reprimanded, got fired and got rich on his way to the Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

The essence of outlaw radio as practiced by Imus, by Howard Stern, by Rush Limbaugh, by Art Bell is authenticity. A man - it’s always a man - sits at a microphone and bares his soul, his body, his lust, his fear, his paranoia, his insecurities, his resentments, his biases, his megalomania, his mean streak, his sentimental side. The revelation is different for each broadcaster, but whatever it is, it must be real — and the assay of authenticity is his willingness to go too far.

The I-man was always willing. 

David Von Drehle

David Von Drehle was an editor-at-large for Time Magazine, and is the author of four books.

kk …

We all know that Imus was not a modest guy. 

And he wasn't above patting himself on the back. 

I've been listening to some old clips.

He said to an interviewer "There's only one person who has more Marconi Awards than I have … Paul Harvey.  What is Paul on the radio for, three minutes a day?  Give Me A Break!" (Paul Harvey would give his news observations once an hour.)

“Two important events in radio history: 

1 = Marconi invented the radio.

2 = I was on the radio.” 

Humble man.

FB

Speaking of broadcasting legends (OK, maybe I’m being a little kind!), Bob Sirott is back on the air as of yesterday morning on WGN Radio here in Chicago, weekdays from 5 – 9 am.  (I’m kidding, of course … I’ve been a fan since forever and it’s great to have him back on the air, albeit in a bit of a more “grown-up” role than we would have liked … but still, this guy just oozes personality from back in the day when personality was a VERY important ingredient in radio.)

This one cracked me up …

When Robert Feder asked him …

What’s the best advice Larry Lujack ever gave you?

Bob Sirott replied …
Lujack once told me: “Robert, you haven’t really made it until you’ve been fired, divorced, and sued.” I can check off two out of three and I think I’ll stop there.

I also liked these exchanges …

RF:  When can we expect you to bring back the BS Love Counselor and BS Horoscope?

BS:  We’ve scheduled that for the 12th — of NEVER!

RF:  What do you think Wally Phillips would say if he heard you were hosting mornings on WGN Radio?

BS:  There goes the neighborhood.

And, while we’re on the topic of broadcasting legends, here’s the latest on The Dick Biondi Documentary … which Pam Pulice assures us WILL finally see release in 2020!

Happy New Year, Kent and Frannie!  

Thanks for everything you do to keep this community vibrant.  It’s unlike anything else I know of and it’s due to your passion and extraordinary dedication.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who have supported our mission to bring the Dick Biondi story to the world, including you Kent.  The highlight of 2019 was our big fundraiser, captured in this awesome video filmed by "In A Nutshell TV Show’s" Delores Weissman.  Part 2 (there are 4!) features a  rare performance by Carl Giammarese and Dennis Tufano, backed by the fabulous Meteors, Jimbo rockin’ the house, Live Auctioneers Actor Joe Farina and the great showman Ron Onesti, our superb emcee Scott Mackay, and a special appearance by radio and television star Bob Sirott.  There is a salute to the great Bobby Darin by Dennis Tufano singing Mack The Knife.

Here’s the link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNIAxqel6lo&feature=youtu.be&list=TLPQMjgxMjIwMTnvpcejY9eiPA&fbclid=IwAR1yE4Ztjx9dOtXkjvguIQZ275l_w4xc2wdZqQV1RFXu5h02Y3Upft6YeX4

Watching Delores’s video rekindles the good vibes and the incredible talent that made our fundraiser so successful and allowed us to get to ACT 3, our final act of the movie.  

We’re almost there!  We intend to push to make 2020 the year we give birth to this dream.  We are blessed to be part of this amazing community!  

With love and gratitude,

Pam Pulice

Director 

www.DickBiondiFilm.com 

ANOTHER KILLER COUNTDOWN:

I missed this when it began airing the Day After Christmas on Sirius / XM’s ‘60’s Channel (A – because Frannie went into the hospital that day and B – because my subscription to Sirius / XM expired that day!!!)

For about a month prior, The ‘60’s Channel asked their listeners to vote for their favorite songs of the ‘60’s.  You were allowed to pick ten favorites from the early ‘60’s … and ten more favorites from the late ‘60’s.  Forgotten Hits Reader Frank B (by way of Forgotten Hits Reader Jay Siegel of The Tokens!) sent in the final list … and there are some REAL surprises here,

including the #1 Song, “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers!  (And "Hey Jude" doesn't make its appearance until #32!)
Sure, many of the typical suspects are way up there ("Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones came in at #2 ... and we've seen it top many of these types of lists before) ... but for every expected triumph ("Oh, Pretty Woman," #4, "Downtown," #7, "My Girl," #9, "Yesterday" (#10) there are more than a few surprises by how highly some '60's classics ranked that may be some of OUR favorites ... but that seldom receive the type of respect they deserve.  ("California Girls," 5, "Cara Mia" by Jay and the Americans, #6, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline, #13, as just a few Top 20 examples.)
There are a few '70's songs that don't really belong on this list ... so I can only assume that they received enough votes by listeners to force the station to bend the rules a little bit.
And, for the record, Jay Siegal's Tokens just missed The Top Ten, coming in at #11 with their '60's (and all-time) classic, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."  (kk)

kk …

I got this countdown from Jay Siegal (Lead Singer Of Tokens). 

If I keep playing these JUKEBOX COUNTDOWNS, I'm going to have to go back to work in order to pay for it!

Today I played, off your list, #40 - 21.

Next Thursday, it’ll be the top 20.

Frank B.

https://blog.siriusxm.com/here-are-the-top-600-songs-of-the-1960s-according-to-you/?fbclid=IwAR2WwIbYE-iHbvY03lHbJv_zUTvxoY3eeqQoDpZRDdn4bVty7qA0BKL-X00

Also from Frank B ...
 
Now THIS is a countdown I can get excited about.  (It would've been better if they used the real Drifters.)  My favorite group the Platters made four appearances.

FB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDm-GNc8Ik4&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0vc6M5_mjJTRkI6Yeva8qZ4Ins_aUUpnFcbPtnVXKRqa4oot8pBt1osvM

The announcement of your top 3333 countdown put me into a tizzy.

Can I define Classic Rock?

Can I keep within my own definition?

Do I nominate my faves only or try to be open to looking at songs I truly do not like, but which may be deserving?

What about my students’ faves?

I chronically dislike some of their choices, and others I have come to enjoy through new eyes.

So, I decided to watch the nominations.

I mean, 3333? There is bound to be at least one I like! (sarcasm at its best).

Once it came to final voting, I did put votes in through other people. HARD!! I heard dissention from the readers as well as agreement. But it was all informative to we educators (and their bright-eyed pupils … ok, corny!) Some of the same-old songs we overhear and some that I did not even remember.

The point that was clearly made is NOT that the songs we hear constantly are not worthy, but that there are SO many more choices that we could be hearing.

For me, I return to my vinyl records when I want to hear what I don’t hear on radio. This is not everybody’s available option. Well done job to everyone who had any role in this, as confusing as it may have been.

I woke up to a rainy morning recently and felt gloomy and dull. I remembered a conversation with one of my granddaughters about being able to listen to ANY type of music, including seasonal, whenever we want. I put on some Classic Christmas records and felt enlivened and had a great day. I texted my son to tell her and she replied: “Music can just make anything better! It’s just so important!” Isn’t it though?

And yes, there is a direct genetic line there.  She is the one who could find The Beatles app on her father’s phone at 6 months old.

She is now 7 years old.

Shelley J Sweet-Tufano

We're still waiting for the official, print-out version of Rewound Radio's Year-End Countdown of Listener Favorites ... what say you, Allan Sniffen?  Something we can print at home and share with our readers sometime soon???  (kk)

THIS AND THAT:

We got a kick out of the 1974 ad for Jim Peterik's appearance at a club near where we live here in Nashville. I never visited the Frontier Club. It didn't last long at all, but I hope Jim had a pleasant engagement there. 

David Lewis

Everybody's talking about this performance from "America's Got Talent" ... a new interpretation of the Queen Classic (and, according to you guys out there, The Most Essential Classic Rock Song Of All-Time) "Bohemian Rhapsody by 13 year old Angelina Jordan, including the members of Queen themselves!  (Hmm ... I wonder how long it'll be until she's up on stage performing this with the band!!!  Hey, let's face it ... they discovered their current lead singer, Adam Lambert, in a singing competition as well!!!  Certainly she deserves at least a moment in the spotlight, backed up by the band's full endorsement!)
Of course they'll have to learn a whole new arrangement in order to do so.

Check this out if you haven't already seen it ...
 

From FH Reader Tom Cuddy …

Singer-Songwriter Jackie DeShannon Discusses the ’50s L.A. Music Scene – Variety

https://variety.com/2020/music/news/singer-songwriter-jackie-deshannon-remembers-the-late-1950s-l-a-music-scene-1203440168/

He also sent us this Happy New Year Brian Wilson clip to share …

Here’s a new video than Brian Wilson sent out to his fans.  Some media outlets have picked up on it as well.  In the video, he’s included photos taken with some fellow artists he admires, including Russell Thompkins, Jr., the Zombies and Jeff Bridges.

Tom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqp7rXujtsg&feature=youtu.be

Kent,

In addition to the artists that passed away in 2019, I received an email from a friend of mine that said Norma Tanega passed away recently. She had a big record locally back in 1966 here in OKC with a song called WALKING MY CAT NAMED DOG ... I always did like it Don't know if it charted in Chicago or not.

As for that commercial featuring SUNSHINE LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS, I have always thought it was a Lesley Gore sound-a-like but I could be wrong.

Larry Neal

“Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog” is one of those songs I could go another entire lifetime without hearing and not be bothered in the slightest!  (lol) 

It DID chart here in Chicago … but only got to #35.  (Somehow it reached #18 nationally in Record World … #22 in Billboard.)

Tanega died on December 29^th at the age of 80.  (Actually one month shy of what would have been her 81^st birthday.)
She recently had another fluke bit of musical success when her recording "I'm Dead" was used as the theme song of the FX television series "What We Do In The Shadows."  (It was also used in the movie of the same name.)  She also stayed on the media radar due to her paintings and brief affair with singer Dusty Springfield. 
You'll find an interesting article about her here:
https://www.dailybulletin.com/2020/01/02/norma-tanega-cat-named-dog-singer-dies-in-claremont/
I've only seen the “Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows” commercial that one time so it's hard for me to weigh in on this with any certainty …

There were times like it sounded just like Lesley Gore and other times like it didn’t … so I really can’t say for sure.  (I always did like that song, however.)

It clocked in at something like 1:37 … one of the shortest hit records ever.  I can still very clearly remember the day I bought that 45 (with a picture sleeve) at our local record shop in downtown Brookfield, IL.  I remember it so clearly for a couple of reasons …

Every week my brother Mark and I would ride our bikes “into town” to stop at the drug store, buy a couple of comic books and have a soda at the soda bar that was still installed there … and then head down the street to the record store (I cannot remember the name of it to save my life … but it was a REALLY small Mom and Pop operation) to pick up the latest WLS Silver Dollar Survey and buy one new 45.

I remember this particular day because, as I scanned all the entries in that week’s Top 40, I asked my brother, “Which ones of these records do you think will make it to #1?” … to which he replied, “Well, they all will.”  (Yes … it was one of those slap your forehead moments!!!)

“No they won’t!” I said … “Only a few songs ever make it to #1.”  (I would have been 12 years old, going on 13 at the time.)  THIS was the 45 I decided to bring home with me that night … so I stuck it in my bag with most probably the latest Superman and/or Batman comic I also bought that day.  (I couldn’t help but think how STUPID my brother was to think otherwise!)

Then we rode back to the drug store to get our sodas.

When we sat down at the counter, I ordered a Cherry Coke.  (This was back in the day when they had to actually MIX a Cherry Coke at the counter.)  My brother paused for a minute, looked around and then said, “You know what … I think I’ll have a 7-Up.”

At that moment, the man sitting next to him said, “Good choice, young man,” and paid for my brother’s soda!  I was dumbfounded … until I happened to notice that he was wearing a 7-Up uniform and had most likely just delivered this week’s supply to the drug store!  (I couldn’t help but think how STUPID I was at that moment!!!)  lol 

When we got home, I immediately put my new 45 on the turn table and was SHOCKED to see that the song was over in 1:37!!!  I just spent $1.29 on a record that only lasted a minute and a half!!!  I had to play it three times just to make it feel like it was worth as much as many of the other records in my collection.

But then I did something else that I’ll never forget.

I flipped the record over and played the B-Side.  (Now you ALL know how important B-Sides are to me!)

And on the flip side of that record was one of the greatest songs Lesley Gore ever recorded.  It’s a tune called “You’ve Come Back” … and to this day I rank it right up there with “You Don’t Own Me” as one of her best vocal performances ever.  It’s still one of my all-time favorite B-Sides (and made our list of Top 200 Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides several years ago.)   
So yes, this was a pretty memorable day for me!  (kk)

DIDJAKNOW:  “Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows” was written by Marvin Hamlisch, who eight years later would have his own big #1 Hit when he recorded “The Entertainer,” an old Scott Joplin tune from the early 1900’s that was used as the theme song to the Paul Newman / Robert Redford movie “The Sting.”

And, Lesley’s hit ALSO came from a film … the completely forgettable “Ski Party!”  (Gore’s hits were being produced by the up and coming Quincy Jones at the time … so let’s just say she had a pretty solid support team working with her on the way up!)  And, of course, my all-time FAVORITE Lesley Gore song, “You Don’t Own Me,” was written by our Forgotten Hits Buddy, John Madara!  (And THAT one's been used in ITS fair share of commercials, too!!!)  Now how’s THAT for a Crash Course Music History Lesson?!?!?  (kk)

MORE COMMENTS COMING UP TOMORROW ...
In Forgotten Hits!

The Friday Flash

January 10, 2020, 4:00 am

≫ Next: January 11th, 1970

≪ Previous: Thursday This And That

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We got this from FH Reader Frank Sennish … who sent in this year-end chart from 1968 as published by CKLW in The Motor City!

 

Some pretty obscure titles can be found on this year-end chart ... right alongside many of the biggest hits of the day!  (kk)

And then, a jump to 1969, with Clark Besch …

 

Kent,

So many thoughts about your final week posting of 1969, but the passing of Marty Grebb kinda put me back.  I will attach a few photos and thoughts now. 

First, what a great year in music and you did a great job with it all.  I look forward now to a dial move from 890 to 1000 for the new decade. 

Despite the fact that we talked so much this past year about the then long time top bands of 60's Chicago rock, 1969 ended in a different atmosphere for those bands and Chicago music in general.  There was a change in so many ways going into 1970 for all of us.  The Buckinghams would take a country sound, the Cryan’  Shames would dissolve into country-rock Possum River and other incarnations.  The Shadows of Knight?  Not sure by this point what they were.  NC6 would do a hard rock song to start the year, while my 1969 #1 song, “Barbara I Love You" would still top my personal chart with their standard soft rock style.  The NC6 won the WLS "Best Local Group" award.  The Ides of March had moved to Warner Brothers with a soft rock style song for their first release, soon to blow up into a great horn rock outfit in 1970, bringing the groups Chicago and Crow along with them.  The American Breed would move towards the RNB sound morphing into Ask Rufus and then Rufus. 

Now, it was a new decade and a new breed of music and radio.  FM was sending new stereo vibes to our ears.  This is witnessed by the December 30, 1969, Aragon Ballroom Pop Festival below.  As quickly as the transistor radio got under our pillow with Art Roberts, it was being replaced by stereo headphones and FM radio, it seemed.

ALL of the above mentioned bands from the 60's are not present in the pop fest and MOST could scarcely be heard on the Big 89 or Big 10 Radio. 

JC Hooke and Clark Weber did have a little bit to do with Coven, I believe, in their first LP and the jocks from these stations DID do some gigs with some of these bands, too.  Some of these went on to stardom in the coming decade (Seger, Cooper) and some would get acclaim without sales (MC5, Stooges, Litter) while others had TONS of talent but could not get over the hump and would dissolve. (Baby Huey, Rotary Connection, Mason Proffit, Bangor Flying Circus).  Looks at how the Trib wrote up the show description:

It's not under MUSIC, it's under "Variety."  True, but ...

THIS article from the Bensenville, Ill paper on 12-30-1969 gave possible insight to the 70's, but the 60's is still remembered more fondly by far than most any other decades in music, I believe.

Clark Besch

Kent,
Here's MY Top 100 of 1969 vs. Billboard's OFFICIAL Top 100 from their December 27, 1969 MEGA 75th anniversary issue.  Both differ from Joel Whitburn's most likely more accurate chart, but interesting to see.
By my count, MY chart has 17 Chicago area artists' records in my top 100, including #1, #3 and #4 in the top 10 ... 11 in the top 50 and 17 total in the top 100.  Locally in Chicago, 1970 would see local (generally) area artists like Tommy James, Jackson 5, Ides of March, Tyrone Davis, New Colony 6, Chicago (CTA), 5 Stairsteps, Impressions, Neighborhood, Gene Chandler, Crow, Happy Day, Lost Generation, Bobby Trend, and the Mob make the WLS and WCFL charts.

Clark 

And, of course, we, too, have turned the page and entered the ‘70’s with damn-near-daily calendar postings of all that was happening exactly 50 Years Ago Today.

Watch for WCFL weekly Top 40 Surveys beginning this Sunday, January 12^th, to follow every week throughout the year.

Meanwhile, we’ll still be slipping in all of our regular features, too …

So be sure to check back daily to The Forgotten Hits Web Page for all the latest in oldies news … then … and now!  (kk)

I received an email the other day from Shelley Sweet-Tufano asking if she had missed our coverage of the passing of Les Chadwick of Gerry and the Pacemakers.  Quite honestly, her inquiry was the first I’d heard of it … but she says that she has since received confirmation from a few other music authorities stating that Les passed away on December 26^th in Sydney, Australia at the age of 76.  (We confirmed this as well with one of our contacts over there, Geoff Dorsett, who hosts a very popular oldies music show that we guested on a few years back.) 

As the bass player for the band, it looks like Chadwick had a hand in cowriting a few of their records, including their big U.S. Smash “Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey,” which made The Top Ten here in The States in early 1965.

Gerry and the Pacemakers hold the distinction of being the first British Invasion band to score a #1 Hit at home in England when “How Do You Do It” (a song turned down by The Beatles) reached the top of the British Charts.  (Brian Epstein was managing and George Martin was producing both acts at the time.  John Lennon and Paul McCartney were adamant about writing their own material for singles release … but Martin was convinced that this tune was a #1 Hit.  The Beatles actually recorded a version that showed up decades later on their Anthology Series … after being bootlegged for nearly as long!)  When Lennon and McCartney balked about Parlophone releasing the record, Martin told them “Then write me something as good” … to which they responded with “Please Please Me,” which topped most of the British Charts (but not the “official” chart that served as their “Billboard” over there), thus allowing Gerry and the Pacemakers to reach the summit first.

It was really no contest after that … although Gerry and the Pacemakers DID go on to have a total of THREE #1 Hits in Great Britain.  (“How Do You Do It” was followed by “I Like It” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to the top of the charts.)

Here in The States they managed three Top Ten Hits:  “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying” (#4, 1964); “How Do You Do It” (#9, 1964) and “Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey” (#4, 1965.)

Because Chadwick didn’t originally own a bass guitar, he played a Fender Stratocaster with special tuned bass strings to help fill in the group’s sound when he first joined the band.

Les was Chadwick’s middle name, which is most likely why Joel Whitburn’s book lists him as John Chadwick … but apparently Les is the name he went by and was most commonly known.  (Kinda like James Paul McCartney I suppose!)  He apparently moved to Australia in 1980, where he ran an employment agency.  Although we could only find a couple of mentions of his passing during our own Google search for confirmation, the best we could come up with was the date ... and no official cause of death was reported.  Geoff tells us that Chadwick died of a brain tumor.  (kk)

As The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame winds down the Fan Vote Ballot for the Class of 2020 Inductees (see below for a quick recap as to where the voting currently stands), Tom Cuddy sent us this article about other deserving candidates for consideration …

According to Chuck Yarborough, Don Cornelius, Irving Azoff and especially Peter Asher deserve to be part of Rock Hall’s Class of 2020:
https://www.cleveland.com/arts/2020/01/don-cornelius-irving-azoff-and-especially-peter-asher-deserve-to-be-part-of-rock-halls-class-of-2020-chuck-yarborough.html

Sorry, but I can’t even BEGIN to make a case for Don Cornelius since Ed Sullivan still hasn’t been inducted!!!  Ed brought the biggest names in rock and roll music right into our living rooms week after week after week, allowing ALL of America to discover these hot new acts … and he’s never even been so much as nominated!!!  Honestly, at this point, I don’t know if I can come up with a bigger snub or a more deserving candidate.

I guess one could make a case for Peter Asher … not so much as a “revolutionary” artist, perhaps, but as a very accomplished producer.  But again … how do you vote Asher in after Todd Rundgren (who produced countless acts over the years … as well as created his own Rock Hall-worthy recordings) has been ignored for so long?

Irving Azoff?  There really about to be a special wing for guys like Azoff who worked behind the scenes to make household names of some of the biggest acts of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s … and I’ll bet our list could come up with at least a dozen more just like him … and just as deserving.

But first let’s honor some of these other Deserving And Denied Artists who still haven’t found their way into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s hallowed halls.  (The Guess Who anyone???)

After this year’s ceremony we may open up the polls again in order to determine who YOU GUYS think have been the most-snubbed acts … it’s been quite a while since we last updated our list and (as we recently mentioned) several of the artists who made our original Top 40 Deserving and Denied Artists List have since been inducted.

Stay tuned for this one … after we several OTHER works in progress mopped up!  (kk)

UPDATE:  Who's leading the pack right now for this year's nominees?

Well, The Dave Matthews Band seems like a shoe-in with 965,000 votes.
Pat Benatar is currently second with 855,000, followed by The Doobie Brothers with 760,000.  My guess is that all three will receive induction this year.  Bringing up 4th Place is Sound Garden (700,000) and Judas Priest is fifth with 680,000.
We have been campaigning for Todd Rundgren for years now ... he's got about 430,000 votes ... even trailing Whitney Houston (rock and roll???) who's got 575,000.
And who's dead last?  Again???
Why it's the MC5 with 155,000.  If THIS doesn't finally get them knocked off the ballot for good to allow space for at least 200 FAR more deserving artists, then something's rotten in the new RRHF regime, too!  (kk)

Kent,

I just can't imagine what Elvis Presley would look like and what he would be doing today on his 85th birthday if he were alive.

I am glad you posted those songs he did. However, to be honest with you, from what radio stations play on the air today of Elvis, I thought the only songs he ever recorded were SUSPICIOUS MINDS and BURNING LOVE. (lol).

Larry

That’s for sure.  (Oh wait … he did that “great” remix of “A Little Less Conversation” back in 2002, too … you know, 25 years after he died!!!)

How radio can justify playing THAT piece of trash while ignoring MONSTER hits like “Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Jailhouse Rock” and “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Love Me Tender” and “All Shook Up” and “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Love Me” and “Teddy Bear” and at least 2-3 dozen more absolute classics is beyond me.

(In all fairness, “Kentucky Rain” also gets a ton of airplay … because, after all, Elvis’ career really took off in 1969 … the 120 songs he charted with before “Suspicious Minds” were just his warm-up act!)

We DO hear “Return To Sender” quite a bit here in Chicago … as well as occasional spins of “In The Ghetto,” “The Wonder Of You” and “My Way” from “the later years” … and “Stuck On You,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” “Surrender,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” “Little Sister” and “Viva Las Vegas” from the ‘60’s.

 But there is SO much more that radio COULD be playing, even if only dropping in as Wow Factor songs now and then.  Instead, it seems like we have to wait for either the anniversary of his birth or his death to hear anything out of the ordinary.  (Hey, he’s no Jay-Z!!!) kk

Kent,

I totally agree with your comments regarding the Billboard charts written on Elvis's 85th birthday. There is no comparison to the way the charts are compiled now as to how they were figured years ago. There is a huge difference to someone having to travel to purchase their favorite tunes (pre-internet days) compared to just searching for your favorite tunes online and listening as many times you want (for practically no charge).

Thanks for keeping the early years of the rock era alive.

Joe Cantello

Roswell, Ga

I’ve been preaching for decades now about a Hit Index measurement being necessary to accurately compare charts across the decades.  Reading Billboard today with new records being broken on a nearly monthly basis is just discouraging.  (We’ve run any number of examples over the years … and even Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles Book now lists Drake, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Usher, R. Kelly, Eminem, Jay-Z and Tim McGraw among The Top 50 Artists of All-Time … ahead of far less significant acts like The Platters, Sam Cooke, The Four Tops, Bobby Darin, The Jackson Five, Linda Ronstadt, The Carpenters, Roy Orbison, Neil Sedaka, Heart, Bob Seger, Aerosmith and Earth, Wind and Fire, all of whom place between #51 and #100.

(Think that’s sad?  Johnny Cash, Santana, Three Dog Night, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, ELO, Eric Clapton, David Bowie, The Dave Clark Five, The Doobie Brothers, Chuck Berry, Styx, Herman’s Hermits, Tom Petty, Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Monkees, Petula Clark and Tommy James and the Shondells don’t even rank THAT high … falling between #101 and #200.)  The concept of comparing these artists on what Billboard presents as “a level playing field” is beyond ludicrous.  (kk)

---

January 11th, 1970

January 11, 2020, 4:00 am

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1970:  January 11^th– In what is considered to be a major upset, The Kansas City Chiefs defeat The Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV by a score of 23-7

January 12th, 1970

January 12, 2020, 4:00 am

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WCFL became a major force in Chicagoland radio in 1966 when it went head-to-head with WLS trying to capture a share of their Top 40 audience.

From 1966 thru 1976, the two stations battled it out, swapping places as Chicago's favorite "teenage" station numerous times in the process.  (They also traded off deejays left and right ... nearly a dozen jocks worked for BOTH stations during this Radio Wars Era!) 

One perk for us kids growing up during this era was that both stations published their own weekly Top 40 Survey, which you could pick up for free at local record stores (remember those?) all over the Chicagoland area.  It was often quite surprising to see the different rankings for the same songs, polling the same audience and retailers ... and how one station might jump on a tune, only to see it go Top 10 or Top 20, while the other station completely ignored that same tune.  Sometimes each station featured a different version of the same song, each charting the success of the version they were playing while completely ignoring the other version all together.

Last year, we featured every WLS Hit Parade issued for 1969 as part of our 50 Year Tribute.  This year, thanks to collector Jack Levin, we're giving the same treatment to the WCFL charts.  (Thanks, Jack!)

But first, a little history ...  

The last chart WCFL published for distribution during the pre-1970 era was dated "Week Ending May 23, 1968."  Thereafter (skipping what would have been a chart for the week ending May 30th) they began sending a poster instead to each retail outlet that previously distributed their weekly lists.  This was meant to be displayed in the stores until the following week's chart was supplied.

That meant that kids like me (and thousands of others just like me) could no longer pick up a copy and bring it home to add to their collection.

Fortunately, there were kids out there FAR more fanatical than I was who actually wrote down the survey every single week in order to keep up with the latest hits as determined by Super 'CFL.  Those lists have since circulated among collectors for the past five decades!  As such, we now have a listing of EVERY chart WCFL ever published ... in some form or another.

They kept up this practice of sending poster charts thru the Week Ending October 8, 1969 ... and then stopped printing charts altogether.  (For some reason, no one has EVER found a copy of the 1969 chart dated "Week Ending August 20th" ... if by some miracle somebody out there has a copy, we would love to see it!)  

For the balance of October and all of November and December of 1969, NO charts were distributed ... and then, lo and behold, all of a sudden when we went to the store to pick up our WLS Chart in January of 1970, we found a brand new WCFL Chart available to take home, dated "Week of January 12, 1970."

This practice continued until the station switched formats to "Beautiful Music" in February of 1976.  (WLS actually went thru a similar practice of "poster charts only" for a period that ran from March of 1972 thru July of 1973 before going back to their weekly "street sheet" again.) 

Starting today (and then running every Sunday throughout the year) we will publish a copy of the WCFL Chart from exactly fifty years ago ... often offering commentary and a few key tracks to help remind you of the music scene, circa 1970.  As usual, your comments and memories are always welcome.

But for now, please enjoy the first WCFL Chart of 1970 ... a LONG time coming back then for all of us collectors out there!!!  (kk)

(Seriously ... could they have made it ANY harder to read?!?!)

The Dutch group Shocking Blue has the decade's first #1 Record with "Venus," a timeless track that you still hear almost daily today, some fifty years later.

Here in Chicago, Bubble Gum still seemed to rule the day as Tommy Roe, The Archies and Bobby Sherman all have Top 6 Hits ... sharing space in The Top Ten (with no apologies necessary ... because that's the way Top 40 Radio sounded back then!) with Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and a couple of Motown acts of note ... The Jackson Five enjoying their first hit ("I Want You Back") and Diana Ross and the Supremes enjoying their last (with "Someday We'll Be Together.")

Being a brand new chart, there is really no way to track which records are on their way up or down at this point (that will all change NEXT week ... and from that point thereafter) ... but it's interesting to see hits by The Plastic Ono Band ("Cold Turkey," #38, a John Lennon record that was banned on any number of stations around the country), Elvis Presley with yet another Top Ten comeback hit ("Don't Cry, Daddy," #7), and The Carpenters with their slowed-down cover of The Beatles' tune "Ticket To Ride." (#35 ... already higher than it would ever climb nationally.)

I have always liked Vic Dana's cover of the Neil Diamond tune "If I Never Knew Your Name" ... and Crow's "Evil Woman, Don't Play Your Games With Me" was on our turn-table at home non-stop around this time.

Of the new so-called Hit Bound tracks, only Joe Cocker's "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" left a lasting impression (and even that one only climbed to #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart.)

However, (being "Forgotten Hits" and all!), I wonder how many people out there remember the Cold Blood song "You Got Me Hummin'"!!!  (This one peaked at #29 on the WCFL Chart ... and is one of those tunes that never charted at all across the river on WLS.)

More next Sunday ... and EVERY Sunday in 2020 ... as our 50 Year Flashback continues, spotlighting the WCFL Charts of 1970 ... right here in Forgotten Hits! (kk)

January 13th, 1970

January 13, 2020, 4:00 am

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1970:  January 13^th– John and Yoko cut their hair for peace and donate it to a charity auction

And some Monday Morning Madness, circa 2020, as well! 

BOB SIROTT: 
Hi, Kent –

Bob is one busy guy!  He's done so many different things - gotta be multi-talented to do all that he's done over the past ... um, lotsa years.
We graduated HS the same year, same school.  But we were 1/2 year apart, and I feel that I missed out on a lot of things by not getting to know him back in those days, as I, too was a radio and music enthusiast.
When he started at WLS-AM on June 8, 1973, he walked onto that stage like he owned it - he was spot on with his timing, and his rapid fire commenting and humor sounded like he'd been doing it for 30 years.
Mike Wolstein
RHS '67
Note: I airchecked that show and edited it down, but my e-mail program says it's too big to send - it's 23.7 Mb but my e-mail says it's 32 Mb, and won't send it. 

If you or anyone else wants to hear it, it should still be available for download from CR&M (Chicagoland Radio & Media).  I uploaded it to that site on the 40th
anniversary of the broadcast.
The URL  is
http://www.chicagoradioandmedia.com/multimedia/audio/5672-bob-sirott-s-1st-show-on-wls-am-6-8-73 
Mike Wolstein 
Bob Sirott's 1st Show On WLS-AM 6/8/73

Details:  Published on Saturday, 08 June 2013 10:52

This aircheck is a very special one! It is the very first radio show for Bob Sirott on WLS-AM from exactly 40 years ago today. Recorded live directly to a reel-to-reel tape by an old high school classmate of Sirott's, transferred to a cassette a few years later, and recently made into this cleaned up digital file. This audio recording captures Bob Sirott's first ad libs, live reads, talk-ups, and more from his WLS debut. This aircheck has Bob Sirott, the nighttime "new guy," announcing that now-legendary overnight host Yvonne Daniels would be making her debut on WLS a little later in the evening, as well. WLS newsman Don Hoover can also be heard briefly three times. A rare and wonderful gem! (Running time: 16:56)

Bob certainly honed his radio skills on WBBM-FM, where I was a very faithful listener.  He was a radio natural … and a TRULY devoted fan of the medium.

Larry Lujack never let him forget the fact that, as a teenager, Sirott sent him a gushing fan letter, praising Super Jock’s radio skills.  (Lujack read it on the air several times over the years … during which time they built quite a friendship … as close as Lujack allowed himself to be to anybody, I guess!)

Sirott has taken part in several of the WLS Reunion Shows … and was on hand to launch the brand new WLS-FM back in the early ‘80’s, too.  He’s become a fixture of Chicago Broadcasting … television, radio and then some.  Congratulations on him on his brand new gig at WGN.  (kk)

TOMMY JAMES MEMORABILIA:

Hey Kent,

Hope you’re holdin’ up, my friend. 

Maybe Carol would like these two pics from when we toured with Tommy James.

Shame I don't have more ... years ago, I stored my stuff in a unit when I moved to Nashville.  It was broken into and all my music related items were gone ... 335 Gibson, Vox amps, a gold record, and tons of pics ... I know ... I'm still wanting revenge for it!!! 

Anyway, see if she'd like these ... and maybe you and I could get a small "walk on part" or something in his movie!  lol
Bless ya, my friend.
Barry

Thanks, Barry.  (Right now I’d just settle for an end credit!  Lol)  Ever since “Ferris Buehler,” we NEVER leave a movie theater until the very last credit has rolled!  (lol)  Be REALLY cool to see our Forgotten Hits Family thanked up there in some fashion!  (kk)

Here are a couple of submissions from FH Reader Clark Besch …

Here's a photo of frequent Forgotten Hits Contributor Chuck Buell (2nd from right) giving Tommy and the Shondells advice (???) 

"You guys will NEVER quit playing these high schools unless you listen to ME.  And get your hands off my locker, Tommy!"

Here are a few radio memories from my tapes and a few other sources.

Hi Kent:

Oddly, we just played our Milwaukee Top Hits of 1969 and “Crimson & Clover” was #1. Do you want any Milwaukee Surveys with his songs at #1??

Ken Freck

I think if you have copies to send with Tommy at #1 they might be able to use them.  I'm going to make a montage of WLS Charts, where Tommy had SEVEN #1 Hits!  (kk)

We’ve received ALL kinds of cool stuff so far … if you’ve got more Tommy memorabilia, we’d love to hear from you!  
 Just email me at kk@forgottenhits.comand we’ll pass the info along to Tommy’s long-time manager, Carol Ross.  (kk)

CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE?

FH Reader Scott Paton send me this article about somebody looking for a home for their THREE MILLION RECORDS!!!  (There was a time in my life when I would have been absolutely salivating over such a prospect!!!)  kk

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/nyregion/Archive-of-Contemporary-Music-NYC.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes&fbclid=IwAR26QgfTpIdIxjDQYAiRcr5qYwSUiGk6dnUSknad8D0IzgNXa1SbnFB14vk

Just reading this puts a knot in my stomach.

Granted, I'd only have to move a couple hundred thousand items.  But I'm just one man.

Maybe I should go nonprofit and start soliciting donations from celebrities.

I've accepted that collecting is a mental disorder-- acknowledgment is the first step, right?

Scott

WALKING MY CAT NAMED DOG … AND THE TOP 3333 CLASSIC ROCK COUNTDOWN:

kk:

I don't mind "WALKING THE DOG"…

But I'm not going to be "WALKIN' MY CAT NAMED DOG."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3-tdrPkY7w

Last week I played part of your Top 3333 Countdown at Larry's Pub.

Bartender (DENNIS) said it was the first time he was able to name every song and artist that I played. (Sunday, when I played the DOO-WOP COUNTDOWN, his average wasn't so good!)

FB

HI Kent -
Enjoyed reading your memories of having a cool one at your local drug store's counter! We had a place in Berwyn on 26th Street called "Celbas."  That was the name of the married couple who owned the place. They had a soda counter, comic book section and, of course, a large display of "penny candy" choices! We would go there after school. What memories!!
And I have "Walking My Cat Named Dog."  Sorry to hear about Norma Tanega's passing. Now I will have to find it and put it in my juke box. I really don't remember why I bought it because I am sure there were better songs out there. i will have to play it now and maybe I will find out what I liked about it ... lol
Keep rockin'… and I cannot wait for that Dick Biondi Movie to be completed!
Carolyn

Hi Kent,

Is the top 3333 available in a simple list format showing only ranking / song / artist per line in a Word document or Excel spreadsheet or even a simple text file?  This would be very useful in searching for all entries by a single artist for example.

Thanks,

Frank

Not yet … but we’re working on it – and it’ll be searchable by a variety of methods.  Our original goal was to have it ready by January 10^th but (as with ALL things related to this countdown), there’s still a long way to go.  Not to worry, ‘tho … we’ll definitely announce it when it’s ready.  (kk)

Kent,

You mentioned today after school you and your brother would stop by the local drug store and get a 10 cent cherry coke. Oh, those were the days.

I did the same thing every day after school. I would stop by the local drug store to buy a large cherry coke for ten cents as well as look at the many magazines they had on their newsstand which, of course, included the comic books.

Kent, you probably may already know this but I just got an email from a friend of mine who said that actor Edd Byrnes has passed away at the age of 87. For those of your readers who don't know, back in the day (1959), Edd Byrnes had two records on the charts, KOOKIE KOOKIE (LEND ME YOUR COMB) with a follow-up called LIKE I LOVE YOU. Speaking of combs, back in those days, men and even boys going to school, would carry with them a comb.

Larry Neal

I got to meet Edd Byrnes many years ago at one of those Celebrity Collectibles Show … and his booth was PACKED with kids who knew him not as Edd “Kookie” Byrnes from his “77 Sunset Strip Days” but as Vince Fontaine from the movie “Grease”!!!  (In fact, today, I would bet that this is still the case.)

Edd’s single “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb” went all the way to #1 here in Chicago … I remember playing the heck out of that record once I got it from a neighbor.  Sadly, not much press about his passing … he deserved more.  (kk)

SUPER BOWL IV:

>>>1970:  January 11^th– In what is considered to be a major upset, The Kansas City Chiefs defeat The Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV by a score of 23-7  (kk)

Weirdly, both the Chiefs and Vikings (as of when this was sent) still

have a shot at this year's Super Bowl!

(Granted, the starting QBs aren't in the same class as those back then,

but...)

Bob

I won a $5 bet on that game (two in a row for the AFL!)

– Randy Price

THE FEST FOR BEATLES FANS:

This year’s New York Fest is shaping up to be quite an event … with a Who’s Who Parade of Beatles People stopping by …

Including Jenny Boyd (sister of Patti Boyd, George Harrison’s first wife) and muse to more than a few famous songs from the ‘60’s. 

She’ll also be signing copies of her brand new book “Jennifer Juniper.”  (You can also order signed copies of Peter Asher’s “The Beatles: A to Zed” thru The Fest For Beatles Fans.  (And for those of you who happen to have an extra $2000 in your pocket, you can get a copy of Linda McCartney’s “The Polaroid Diaries,” autographed by hubby Paul.)

LOTS of cool stuff available now through their mail order service.

The Fest runs from March 27^th thru March 29^th at The Hyatt Regency in Jersey City.

Billy J. Kramer will be on hand to provide musical entertainment, as will Laurence Juber, former Wings guitarist, and Don Dannemann of The Cyrkle, who shared the stage with The Beatles when they toured The States in 1966.  (The Cyrkle were also managed by Beatles Manager Brian Epstein.)  And, of course, Liverpool will be closing the show (as is typically the case.)

Some of our Beatles Authors buddies will also be on hand, including Bruce Spizer, Jude Southerland Kessler and Wally Podrazik.  A splendid time is guaranteed for all! 

Complete Fest Info can be found here:

https://www.thefest.com/2020-fests/new-york-metro-march-27-28-29-2020

But check back often for updates … as there are ALWAYS new surprises being added to the list!  (kk)

THIS AND THAT:

Lots of talk last week about Rush Drummer Neil Peart after it was announced that he had passed away on January 7^th from a brain tumor.  He joined the band during the making of their “Fly By Night” album in 1975, the group’s first platinum LP.  (Every single one of their first 22 albums, released between 1974 and 1998, went gold or platinum … and while they never really became the type of hard rock artists to cross over to the pop singles charts, well-known, heavy-rotation tracks like “Spirit Of Radio,” “Closer To The Heart,” “Tom Sawyer,” Limelight,” “New World Man,” “Fly By Night / In The Mood,” “Subdivisions” and “Freewill” were popular enough to make our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL-TIME List … the first FIVE of those making The Top 1000.  In addition, the band has scored TEN Top Ten Albums on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart.)

Rush was one of the artists who popped up frequently on our Deserving And Denied List of artists long ignored by The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  (First eligible in 1999, they were FINALLY inducted in 2013.)  Quite often it seems that The Rock Hall has blinders on when it comes to Canadian Artists … and the fact that top notch acts like The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive (as well as their principle architects, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman) … along with Paul Anka, Gordon Lightfoot, Steppenwolf (at least they’ve been nominated!) and Bryan Adams continue to get passed over doesn’t do much to dispel this feeling.

Rush last toured in 2015, after which Peart remarked that he was “through with touring,” preferring, he said, to “spend more time with his wife (Photographer Carrie Nuttall) and their daughter (Olivia).”  Bandmate Alex Lifeson commented after Peart’s death that “His shoulders were hurting, his arms were hurting, his elbows, his feet … everything.  He didn’t want to play anything less than 100 percent.  He was finding it increasingly difficult to hit that mark on our last tour, so, all those things combined, I get it.”

Based on the outpouring of love, respect and admiration shared in the press by fellow musicians, friends and fans, he will be missed.  (kk)

It was announced last week that nearly 27% of all PHYSICAL music sold last year was on vinyl … a remarkable comeback for a medium declared dead a few decades back.  (We’re talking physical product here, not downloads or streaming or YouTube views or any of the other ways folks listen to music these days … these are albums that people bought … and CHOSE to buy … released on vinyl, just like in the good old days.)

And, just like in the good old days, the #1 Best Selling Vinyl Album of 2019 was … “Abbey Road” by The Beatles!!!  (In fact, it was the Best Selling Vinyl Album of the Decade!!!  The group’s “Sgt. Pepper” album also made The Top Ten Best Selling Vinyl Albums List of the 2010’s.)

Re-released on its 50^th Anniversary, “Abbey Road” (arguably The Beatles’ best album) out paced all other music available to take home top honors in this area.  (You’ll find an upcoming piece running in Forgotten Hits called “Is The Music Of The Beatles Still Relevant In 2020” in February (February 9^th, to be exact, the anniversary of the group’s first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.)  Based on this latest piece of evidence, I’d have to say that the answer to THAT question is a resounding “Yes!”  (kk)

I was looking at a Chicago area "memories" blog and they featured this. 

Got me all misty.  I was about 17 at this time.
It’s the NC6 on "Kiddie a Go-Go".  I used to see Jack Mulqueen at the Hillside record shows back in the 80s.
Mike Wolstein



Yes, we’ve run this clip several times before … wish they would have done one of their bigger hits on the program … “I Confess” would have been awesome to see! (kk)

My favorite Lesley Gore song at the moment is “Look Of Love” ... not one you ever hear.

Ken Freck  
I just heard Sam Tallerico play “We Know We’re In Love” by Lesley Gore this past weekend … what a GREAT song from early ’66 … another one of those that certainly should have been a bigger hit.  (It peaked at #58 in Record World and stopped 20 points lower in Billboard!)  You’ll find LOTS of great undiscovered Lesley Gore songs out there if you search for them.  (The girl could sing!!!)  kk

January 14th, 1970

January 14, 2020, 4:00 am

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The End of an Era ... 

1970:  January 14^th– Diana Ross performs for the last time with The Supremes at The Las Vegas Frontier Hotel.  She introduces Jean Terrell as her replacement at the end of the show.  The revamped Supremes will go on to have eight more Top 40 Hits (three of which will make The Top Ten) without Diana.

Another Guest Concert Review

January 15, 2020, 4:00 am

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“The more you drink, the more we look like The Beatles.”

 

Those words uttered by Ardy Sarraf, as Paul, may be true, but I was not drinking (alcohol anyway) and I swear they DO resemble The Beatles more and more as the show goes on. Maybe it is us sinking into the spirit of the event, or maybe they actually channel their roles from the originals.

 

There is a new role player tonight: Jon Fickes portrays John Lennon. The other players are Ardy Sarraf as Paul, Gavin Pring as George, Luis Renteria as Ringo and Jeff DeHart as Ed Sullivan. Let me go backward to this afternoon now and tell you about an experience I never had before … 

A Fab Four sound check!

 

This soundcheck is far different from any others. There are times that I see the complete band, including the lead singer, at the checks. There are times that I see only the band at the sound check. BUT this is the first time that I see the whole band and not know who they are! 

Easy to explain:  they are not in “costume.”  So while they set up the instruments, I am looking at each one, plus the roadie crew, trying to establish the roles for tonight. It is a game where I set myself a goal to label the parts BEFORE they pick up their final instruments and rehearse. This is not easy. A longish hair man setting up the drums. Ringo? Wait! He is tuning a guitar! I think it may be John’s. Is that the back of Ardy Sarraf I see? That man is tall. Is it Gavin? He has very short hair. So does the man whose back I’m staring at. Wait! Is there an Ed Sullivan talking to them?

 

OK! I am ready to vote. Tall Man turns toward me and I see the eyes of  … George Harrison. Gavin Pring is in the house. And YES! That IS Ardy Sarraf. I don’t remember Jeff DeHart’s name at the time, but I give him the Ed Sullivan title. Longish hair is Ringo, but WHO in real life? And I have NO CLUE who is playing John. He wears a Hawaiian shirt with short light color hair. I did OK, given the fact that I have never seen Jon Fickes or Luis Renteria perform before.

 

SHOWTIME!!! 

The Beatle quiz video begins, the vintage videos play, and I count 11 guitars perched onstage. How do you travel with all this equipment? My friend has put us in the front row, which will give me a challenge to blend in and yet take notes. I am so close, I notice Ardy Sarraf wearing an ID bracelet just like Paul McCartney’s. I never saw that before. Hey, that is such a Kool detail. These performers are serious, even though they refer to each other as “the drummer,” “the guitar player,” “the little old man,” etc., and NOT by their role names. This is very respectful to me and to The Beatles. They want to represent them as correctly as possible and yet not absorb their identities. 

Here we go:  

She Loves You

All My Lovin’

I Want To Hold Your Hand

A Hard Day’s Night

I Should Have Know Better (complete with John’s “harmonica contraption”)

8 Days A Week

Roll Over Beethoven (“My one allowed song. If you like it, it’s by Lennon. If you don’t, it’s by McCatney”)

I Saw Her Standing There

Twist and Shout (The only way to blend in on this song is to get up and TWIST)

 

And now comes the first costume change, so more vintage video before Ardy comes to the mic to sing Paul’s most famous … White Christmas. I love how he segues into Yesterday. As I watch, I see that the eyes appearing above the microphone are most definitely those of one Paul McCartney. How is this possible?! I swear there is only coffee in my cup.

 

Ed Sullivan emerges to allow the finishing touches on the costume changes. Jeff DeHart has been in movies and besides Sullivan does a great Nixon, Rodney Dangerfield and Jack Nicholson. As he exits, he introduces the video from the English Countryside where we have the diversity of England singing Beatles songs. I love this video. Whoever first filmed it was genius. And now, direct from Pepperland comes

 

SGT PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND

 

The front cover of the bass drum has been changed from “The Fab Four” to “It was 20 Years Ago Today”. I missed that switching detail.

 

We’re Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

With A Little Help From My Friends

Sgt Pepper Reprise

 

I have heard ooohs and ahhhhhs from the audience as memories are remembered or songs recognized. And now, tonight’s greatest accomplishment: A Day In The Life. They nailed it! The instrumentals, the eerie echoed vocals, the talent! While I listened, these words came to me and I quote them here ...  

We’ve listened to the songs for so long that we are inside of them. We ourselves emerge when The Fab 4 release the notes.

 

Got To Get You Into My Life

 

I catch Gavin snatching the bass drum cover on his way offstage and again it says “The Fab Four.”  Jon Fickes remains onstage at the keyboards, giving the tribute to John Lennon and performing Imagine. The return of the cast in Abbey Road outfits signals the final songs.

 

Something (for me, tied with While My Guitar Gently Weeps for Harrison besty)

Get Back

Revolution

Hey Jude - Encore

 

My friend has not been to see The Fab Four in over five years. It was at her insistence that she “could stand in line as long as I could” that brought us back to The Wolf Den and placed us second in line to see this show. The Den will continue to draw me in, as they have such great performers. I can’t resist.

 

Each of us buys the cd ‘Hark’ and going home in opposite directions, find ourselves listening to it on our way home. I cannot honestly buy a cd of a group who is mimicking The Beatles’ song recordings, but this cd is 22 Christmas songs that each have the intro from a recognizable Beatle composition and then smooths its way into a popular holiday song. It is so very creative, just as we would expect from The Beatles, that it instantly became a favorite for me this season. 

 

I know who my favorite cast performers are, but I will not sway you on finding yours. To renew happy positive memories and experience something unique, go see The Fab Four. Looking at their schedules, they ARE coming to a theatre near you.

 

Shelley J Sweet-Tufano

Thanks, Shelley!

As you know, we are MAJOR fans!  They even hosted a nice little post-concert get-together for some of our Forgotten Hits Readers who were able to attend their show at The Arcada Theatre this past November.

Upcoming concert appearances include:

January 11, 2020 at 4:00 pm -

Pechanga Resort & Casino - Temecula, CA

January 11, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Pechanga Resort & Casino - Temecula, CA

January 16, 2020 at 7:30 pm -

Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL

January 17, 2020 at 7:30 pm -

Mayo Civic Center - Rochester, MN

January 18, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

State Theatre - Minneapolis, MN

January 19, 2020 at 2:00 pm -

Colosseum at Caesars Windsor - Windsor, Ontario (Canda)

January 19, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Colosseum at Caesars Windsor - Windsor, Ontario (Canda)

January 23, 2020 at 7:30 pm -

The Plaza Theatre - El Paso, TX

January 24, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Mesa Arts Center - Mesa, AZ

January 25, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Fox Theatre - Tucson, AZ

January 31, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Revention Music Center - Houston, TX

January 31, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Bluesville At Horseshoe Tunica Casino - Robinsonville, MS

February 01, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Majestic Theater - Dallas, TX

February 06, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Carolina Theatre of Durham - Durham, NC

February 07, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Atlanta Symphony Hall - Atlanta, GA

February 08, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Charleston Music Hall - Charleston, SC

February 09, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Savannah Civic Center - Savannah, GA

February 12, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT

February 13, 2020 at 7:30 pm -

Flying Monkey Performance Center - Plymouth, NH

February 14, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Plymouth Hall - Plymouth, MA

February 15, 2020 at 7:00 pm -

Paramount Theatre - Rutland, VT

February 20, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

People's Bank Theatre - Marietta, OH

February 21, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Taft Theatre - Cincinnati, OH

February 22, 2020 at 7:30 pm -

The Carson Center - Paducah, KY

February 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm -

Circle Square Cultural Center - Ocala, FL

February 28, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Biloxi, MS

March 06, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Crest Theatre - Sacramento, CA

March 07, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Palace of Fine Arts - San Francisco, CA

March 13, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Bing Crosby Theatre - Spokane, WA

March 14, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA

March 20, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

The Grove of Anaheim - Anaheim, CA

April 08, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Helena Civic Center - Helena, MT

April 09, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Dennison Theatre - Missoula, MT

April 10, 2020 at 7:30 pm -

Pike's Peak Center - Colorado Springs, CO

April 11, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

The Paramount Theatre - Denver, CO

April 21, 2020 at 7:30 pm -

The Grand - Wausau, WI

April 23, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Crystal Grand Music Theatre - Wisconsin Dells, WI

April 24, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Coronado Performing Arts Center - Rockford, IL

April 25, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland - Kansas City, MO

April 30, 2020 at 9:00 pm -

The Canyon Club Theatre - Agoura Hills, CA

May 01, 2020 at 9:00 pm -

The Canyon - Montclair, CA

May 02, 2020 at 9:00 pm -

The Rose - Pasadena, CA

May 03, 2020 at 9:00 pm -

The Canyon Theatre - Santa Clarita, CA

June 05, 2020 at 9:00 pm -

River Cree Resort and Casino - Enoch, AB (Canada)

June 19, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Byham Theater - Pittsburgh, PA

June 20, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Mayo Performing Arts Center - Morristown, NJ

June 25, 2020 at 7:30 pm -

Santander Performing Arts Center - Reading, PA

June 26, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Warner Theatre - Washington, D.C.

June 27, 2020 at 8:00 pm -

Harrison Opera House - Norfolk, VA

Be sure to check their website as new dates are being added all the time.  (As you can see, they're everywhere, they're everywhere ... so make it a point to check these guys out ... you'll love the show!)
http://www.thefabfour.com/#tour


Our interview with The Fab Four from last year:
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2019/10/meet-fab-four.html

Previous FH Concert Reviews: 
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-fab-four.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2019/11/concert-review-fab-four.html 

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2020 ... Saying Goodbye To Ron Smith ... And A Look Back At January 16th, 1970

January 16, 2020, 3:57 am

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The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame delivered another colossal, collective slap in the face to music fans everywhere (not to mention the artists they insulted in the process) when it overlooked the top two artists in this year’s fan vote, The Dave Matthews Band and Pat Benatar.  In fact, they chose to ignore FOUR of the Top Five vote-getters this year … a first … which begs the obvious question “Why offer a fan vote at all”??? 

In all, 8.25 million votes were cast this year … 3.3 million of which (or 40%) were cast for the four Top Five artists that were then completely overlooked in favor of five artists who, between them, split 2.2 million votes.  (I know the first group that I think of when somebody mentions rock and roll is Depeche Mode … remind me again, what was it exactly that these guys did to reinvent rock and roll???  I must have missed it!)  

And let’s be honest … Pat Benatar NEVER rocked our world the way Whitney Houston did!  (For the record, The Notorious B.I.G. and Nine Inch Nails who, combined, earned nearly 150,000 votes fewer than Benatar did all on her own!) also made the cut for 2020. 

The one bright spot regarding this year's class is that The Doobie Brothers will FINALLY be inducted in 2020. (Prior to this, they had been ignored for 25 years of eligibility!!!)  The only other new inductee that I can tip my hat to T. Rex.  At least THEY did something to change the face of and advance the art form known as rock and roll.  (I have to admit that I cast a few votes for them myself … let's face it, it was pretty slim pickings once again this year and you were, after all, allowed to vote for up to five artists … so consider this to be the lesser of twelve other evils!)   

I’ve said before that I think sometimes The Rock Hall deliberately makes some of these selections just to piss off the music fans who cast over 8,000,000 votes with the false hope that their opinions actually mattered to anybody … but this year's selections just may be the most outrage I’ve seen and heard in many, many years.

Snubbing Benatar (eligible since 2004) is downright insulting … and exactly how do you justify ignoring over 1,000,000 votes for The Dave Matthews Band.  A million votes!!!

I doubt that I’ll watch ANY of this year’s ceremony … I’ll just wait for The Doobies to show up on YouTube a few hours later and watch that instead!  (HBO is actually broadcasting the induction ceremony LIVE this year … another first.)  Meanwhile, I’ll just continue to dwell in the past when artists like The Guess Who and Jethro Tull and Tommy James and Paul Revere and the Raiders and Chubby Checker and Freddy Cannon were out there helping to invent … and improve … rock and roll ... and reflect in private once again about what The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was SUPPOSED to be about.  (kk)

BY THE WAY, DIDJAHEAR?:  The Rock Hall may have tipped their hand the daybefore yesterday’s official announcement …

Cleveland.com reported the day before that a quick check of The Rock Hall’s website revealed that six brand new potential pages had been created for this year’s new inductees … but they couldn’t be accessed on the 14^th.  (The official list wasn’t revealed until 8 am on Wednesday, the 15^th.)  As Cleveland.com described it (nearly eighteen hours before the big reveal), “Those six artists, and quite possibly the Class of 2020, are The Doobie Brothers, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, The Notorious B.I.G., T. Rex and Whitney Houston. As of early Tuesday afternoon, searching the URL rockhall.com/inductees/using their name yields an “Access Denied” message for the page.”

Their research went on to explain “Search any of the other of this year’s nominees (i.e. Pat Benatar, Kraftwerk, Soundgarden, etc.) in the same way” and you’ll find a broken URL and the words “Looks like the page you are searching does not exist.”  The web issue was brought to Cleveland.com’s attention by a representative for Future Rock Legends, a blognot associated with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  As such, one could infer that the six aforementioned artists would be The Class of 2020 Inductees, set to be honored during a ceremony at the Public Hall in Cleveland on May 2nd.  They went on to explain that if these results were accurate, the Class of 2020 would not not feature the top two acts in this year’s Fan Vote - Pat Benatar and Dave Matthews Band ... nor would it include (as we pointed out) FOUR of the Top Five vote-getters this year.  (In the past, all seven of the previous Fan Vote Winners were inducted that same year.)  kk

kk …

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!?!?

If I was forced to pick one, I’d have to go with the Doobie Brothers.

Frank B.

This might be the worst Hall Of Fame class ever!  The Doobie Brothers deserve to be in.  That is long overdue. 

I have always liked T-Rex but I don't know if I would agree that they are Hall material.  It must be on the influence on glam/glitter rockers.

My listeners gave the Guess Who the vote as most deserving during my morning poll.   

You need to start the Forgotten Hits Hall Of Fame.  With your connections, you could rent out a concert hall and have a big bash!

Phil Nee – WRCO

Actually, discussions have come up several times over the past twenty years about doing something to better commemorate the worthy artists long overlooked … and I still have some very solid ideas on this subject. 

Stick around … I just may surprise you with an announcement before too long!  Meanwhile, it may be time to update our Deserving And Denied List ... the more time that passes, the less likely it seems that ANY of these artists will be duly recognized.  (kk)

OK, so The Dave Mathews Band wins popular vote.  Of course, the electoral college of musical knowledge laughed at the fans again.

Whitney Houston in the RNR Hall?  HAHAHA.  What a joke!  She didn't even do the best version of her biggest hit -- and did not write it.  I don't think she WROTE any hit, did she? 

The Doobies and MAYBE T. Rex deserve entry of the bunch.  The rest are not necessary before the FH stars mentioned previously are in.

Clark Besch

 

We got some very sad news on Tuesday Night that Ron Smith, long time contributor to Forgotten Hits and proprietor of the tremendously popular oldiesmusic.comwebsite, had passed away suddenly on Saturday, January 11^th. 

Ron’s Oldies Music site, which ran for decades, was a pioneer of this kind with nearly daily oldies news updates and a well-visited oldies music posting board that brought responses from all over the world … a place where people could share their love of the genre and open nearly any related topic to discussion.  (It was also one of the coolest … and most coveted domain names out there!!!  Can you even imagine owning the rights to oldiesmusic.com?!?!?  EVERY Google Search for "oldies music" would send traffic your way!)  

I’d known Ron for over twenty years and we have been regularly quoting statistics from his WLS and WCFL Chart Books as well as his “Eight Days A Week” rock and roll calendar book for every bit as long here in Forgotten Hits.

He also did his fair share of radio work, most notably as Dick Biondi’s right-hand man in the studio at WJMK and then as program director and late evening host on Real Oldies 1690.  He also programmed the decades channels for Slacker Radio in the early days of Internet Radio. 

Over the course of time, he also became affectionately known as Forgotten Hits’ official Grim Reaper … which I think Ron accepted with a bit of clenched teeth … he told me that one of the reasons he decided to shut down his long-running website was because all there seemed to be lately to report was the death of yet another music icon from our past … there just seemed to be far more bad news than good news as our musical heroes grew older … as did we.  (Truth be told, I was disappointed that he didn’t talk to me first before pulling the plug because I have to believe there could have been some way to merge his efforts with our own and create a SUPER oldies website that offered the best of both worlds.)  His bi-annual Labor Day Top 500 Countdowns drew tens if not hundreds of thousands of votes, despite always seeming to come up with essentially the same Top Five Favorite Oldies Tunes.  Lol! 

We shared a number of broadcasting acquaintances, many of whom I know will be saddened by this loss.  (Far too many of them have already passed before him … and Ron and I were both touched by those losses as well.) 

I’ve still got a copy of my well-worn first WLS Chart Book, which Ron signed for me at one of our local Record Collector Shows many, many years ago.  (I’ve bought a couple of copies since for, as you can imagine, these are heavily-traveled and regularly visited volumes in my world!)  We talked for YEARS about doing a final, all encompassing book combining the stats of ALL of the published Chicago radio charts … including the ‘50’s charts from WJJD, WGN and WIND … The Top Tunes Of Greater Chicagoland charts that carried us through early 1966 … and the short-lived WBBM and WMET charts (along with assorted others) that kept us up to date in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s.  I know we were both building databases chock full of this chart information but sadly the final volume (which would have also encompassed his previous work documenting the charts of WLS and WCFL into one master volume) never came to pass.  (Sadly, Ron never made ANY money from the sale of his books ... his efforts, too, were an extensive labor of love, just wanting to get the information out there that he was so passionate about.)  With the recent passing of Bill Hengels and long-time survey collector and dealer Jack Levin now looking to liquidate his own massive survey collection (more on this in tomorrow's post), I feel like an era has passed and a major chapter of my own life is closing as well.  (Sure, there are still a lot of other obsessed survey freaks out there like me, but this was all part of our tight little family!)

I wasn’t aware that Ron had a twin brother.  I am hoping that as news of this post circulates, perhaps he will get in touch with me.  I would love to gain access to Ron’s work and database to combine with my own and finally be able to complete the definitive book on The Chicagoland Charts we both dreamed of, getting it published once and for all, if only as an eternal testament and keepsake documenting all of Ron’s efforts over the years.  If anybody out there has the connections to help make this happen, please let me know … as this work … and these statistics deserve to be documented so that all interested parties can share in them as well.  (kk)

R.I.P. Ron Smith … I still use his book (8 Days A Week) every day.

Frank B.

Thanks to Ron Smith and his Real Oldies radio station, I was inspired to search for the music that I remember from my school days.  He has always been helpful.  I talked to him recently and I had no idea he wasn't doing well.

It's the end of an era …

Rest In Peace, Ron.  You are missed.

Ed Erxleben

Hi Kent,

OMG, no, I just heard!  This is sad news.

Pam Pulice

Fittingly his funeral/wake comes on the eve of a record show. From what I gather, he died suddenly, as opposed to some long illness. I didn't know of any siblings, not that I ever talked to him about his personal life. 

Jack Levin 

Ron and I never really talked about anything but music … this was our common ground, I guess and, as such, we never really got to know each on a more "personal" basis.  I feel bad about that now in hindsight ... but ours was a shared passion for the charts and the radio we grew up listening to.  (I remember meeting him once for dinner at Portillo’s shortly after Frannie first moved here … had to be early 2000 … I can’t believe that was twenty years ago already.)  

I would also see him at the record shows from time to time, the few times I still went to these over the past several years, but we would often talk on the phone about what this or that radio station was doing, often comparing notes about the jocks we both kept in contact with.  (He always had some great stories to tell about Dick Biondi, Tommy Edwards, Larry Lujack, John Rook, Scott Shannon and several others.)  I know he sent copies of his Chicagoland Chart Books to Me-TV-FM when they first signed on the air (almost five years ago now!!!), which I also know Programming Director Rick O’Dell studied religiously for local programming ideas.

Robert Feder said in his column yesterday that nobody knew more about oldies music in Chicago than Ron Smith … and Tommy Edwards echoed those sentiments.  I remember that if Larry Lujack wanted to play a particular record on the air, Ron would dub that tune for him the very same night while he was doing his own radio shift so that Lujack could feature it the next morning.  He was also instrumental in putting me in touch with Dick Biondi twenty years ago when we first put together our “Who Played The First Beatles Record In America” series.

A good guy … loyal to his church and his fellow music aficionados … and, like I said, creative enough to found oldiesmusic.com way back when many of us were just first discovering the internet.  He will be missed.  (kk)

So sad to hear about Ron's passing.  His WLS book is right here beside me and his other books directly behind for easy access. 

We used to email a lot during his book days and I always got cool Christmas cards from him, too. 

He changed emails a lot when he left radio and it was a bit hard to email then.  I had a feeling he may not have been doing well economically, but hoped all was well health-wise. 

He did the books we wish WE would have done.  I did lots of the research myself back in the 80's when I finally secured every chart (some xeroxes) of 60-70 WLS and ‘CFL charts (except the 2nd WLS one), but never even dreamed of doing a Whitburn type book to SELL. 

Ron was always great to me.  He autographed his books to me and gave me free copies of each when released, knowing how much the stations meant to me.

Rest in Peace, Ron.

Clark Besch

Joel Whitburn’s books were certainly the role model for Ron’s research … might as well follow the footprint of the best … but it sure was great to have the history of our Chicago charts right at our fingertips whenever we needed them.  (kk)

Here's his obituary:  https://www.curleyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Ronald-P-Smith?obId=10529311#/obituaryInfo

You can click on the tribute wall to leave condolences.

Clark

*****

1970:  January 16th - Outfielder Curt Flood files a landmark civil lawsuit  in protest of his trade from The St. Louis Cardinals to The Philadelphia Phillies.  Flood contends that baseball reserve clause “violates federal antitrust laws.”  The case will change baseball rules forever.

Also on this date:  Scotland Yard confiscates eight John Lennon lithographs from a London art gallery for “being obscene”

 

January 17th, 1970

January 17, 2020, 4:00 am

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1970:  January 17^th– Singer Billy Stewart (“Summertime”) dies in an auto accident along with three members of his band in Smithfield, North Carolina

Also on this date, The Doors record their “Absolutely Live” album in Los Angeles

And The Sporting News names Willie Mays the “Player Of The Decade” for the 1960’s.

THE FRIDAY FLASH:

It’s finally happening … for sure this time …

Two years after we first told you that Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman would be touring together again, it looks like they’re FINALLY ready to announce tour dates.

This will likely be the last time it happens and, incredibly, they can’t bill it as a Guess Who tour as the name is currently owned by other former members of the band (who shall remain nameless here … because who else other than Burton and Randy could you POSSIBLY associate with The Guess Who to begin with?!?!)

As soon as the tour dates are announced, we’ll give you the run down here.  (No official word yet if a Soundstage taping is still in the works … but that would certainly be the icing on the cake and a GREAT way to commemorate this awesome reunion.)

Stay tuned for more details!!!  (kk)

https://bestclassicbands.com/burton-cummings-randy-bachman-reunion-1-12-20/

Kent,

I thought you might be interested, as well as some of your readers, what was taking place here in OKC 50 years ago as far as the music being played on our local top 40 radio station. The playlist was somewhat shorter; however, there were ten records listed at the bottom as being HIT BOUND. There were still listed at the very bottom PIC ALBS. Some, if not most, of the albums listed had nothing to do with the current format. For example, the survey I sent you has listed an album about the music of Glenn Miller, an orchestra leader, as you know, from the 1930's-1940's. The printing was more legible than that of WCFL.

But Kent, I've got a question to ask you ...

Has it really been 50 years since these records were being played on our favorite top 40 radio station?

Kent, please say it ain't so.

Larry Neal

And, speaking of the 1970 charts, we may be able to add some more street cred to this year’s WCFL Chart feature … 

Long-time FH Reader Clark Besch has put us in contact with Tom Konrad, who worked for WCFL back in the ‘70’s, and actually designed their new “street sheet,” which we will be featuring throughout the year.  (Incredibly, Tom now lives in Belgium!!!  That’s a long way from Berwyn, IL, where I grew up when these surveys were first distributed in stores!!!)   He may be able to offer some insight into the compilation of these charts as we move forward with our Fifty Year Flashback Series! 

By the way, Jack Levin, whose WCFL Survey collection we mentioned here a few weeks back, now has his complete WCFL Survey collection listed on eBay (444 charts in all … plus “a few goodies and surprises” thrown in), with a minimum bid of $4000.  (No bids yet, apparently, but you can check out all the details right here):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WCFL-CHICAGO-RADIO-MUSIC-SURVEY-LOT-OF-450-THE-COMPLETE-SET-OF-PUBLISHED-CHARTS/254478753342?hash=item3b401d9e3e:g:oFsAAOSw~uFdm8iH

Robert Feder is reporting that Amy Louise Williams, the woman who was driving the car that resulted in the death of our FH Buddy, Chet Coppock, passed away on January 5^th.  No official word if her death was related to the accident as well, but Feder says Williams “underwent numerous surgeries after the accident near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, on April 6, 2019. The car she was driving veered across a highway median and struck another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Her injuries included two broken legs, two broken femurs, four broken ribs and a broken arm.”  (kk)

I will have to admit that up until the 1990s I had never heard of Rush or listened to any of their songs purely by circumstance. In that time period, one of my best friends, who had gone into the business of managing rock tours, began working on the Rush tours. At the time, his knowledge of Rush was comparable to mine.

For a period of time he went out on all of their tours up until the point in time when the tours started getting bought out by the large national entities. Prior to that, he worked for some pretty big name acts all over the world. Needless to say, I was seventh row, center, the seats reserved for friends and family of the bands, at some pretty decent shows. I don’t think I paid to see a show until I bought tickets to The Cornerstones of Rock show.

Well, Rush came to our town on one of their tours and my high school aged son and myself were invited to the show. Although I was completely unfamiliar with Rush, I was impressed by the economics of their tour. They appeared to sell out all of their shows with little advertising. I actually enjoyed the performance, even though I knew none of the songs.

The performance was interesting as well. There was about a 1,200 square foot area to the left of the stage full of computers, controls and electronic equipment. There was a handful of guys working away in there during the entire show.

After the show, my son ended up getting some of their cds and we did listen to them. There were some songs I liked.

During the following tours, we attended several more shows that came close to town. In the mid-90’s, my friend took my son and the son of another friend on a Rock Field Trip. They travelled with my friend and the band on a three night tour of the Midwest and we picked them up at The Mark in the Quad Cities. Needless to say, they were pretty impressed.

During his tenure with the band, my friend was most impressed with Neal Peart, mostly as an individual and not as a musician.

Neal was an incredibly interesting guy. In the early days, he was an avid cyclist. They would plan their tours so that the weather was in sync for outdoor activities. Whenever possible, Neal would get off the bus, maybe 50 - 100 miles from the show, and ride his bike the rest of the way in. Later, as he got older, he switched to motorcycles, which were trailered behind the bus, and he rode as much as possible to the shows with a friend. Now keep in mind that these were in the days where your phone didn’t tell you every move to make.

Sometime around 2004, I received an iPad for Christmas. I decided to download a Rush album to my iPad so that I could become more familiar with them, as my friend worked for them. They had a new album out called “Feedback” and, not knowing what it was, that was the one I got. It turned out to be one of the best and most interesting albums that I ever bought. It basically is an album of covers. The songs are all absolutely great songs from the mid 60s. As it turns out, these guys liked the same kind of stuff that we did.

The album starts out hard and heavy with their version of “Summertime Blues.”  Basically, in this version, they take the other covers of this song such as The Who and Blue Cheer and meld it into their own unique version.

After that the album settles down a little as follows ... Heart Full of Soul, The Seeker, For What It’s Worth, Shape of Things, Mr Soul (With an Eight Miles High riff inserted in the solo), Crossroads and Seven and Seven Is.

For years, this has been the only album I had on my iPad. This is my go to album when I need an immediate 60s fix and I don’t have the patience to be surprised by Pandora.

Interesting enough, I had my friend over one night after that and we were listening to music. Although he works in the music management business, his mind is more closed than mine. He is strictly a Yardbirds, Jeff Beck, Small Faces, Faces, MC5 kind of guy.

I played the album all the way through. When it was done, I asked him if he knew who it was. He said he had no clue. I said, “Well, you work for them.”  And that’s what a huge pleasant surprise this album is. It also gives you a completely different take on the band Rush, a take I would never have had if my friend did not work for them.

In addition to his interest in bikes and motorcycles, Neal Peart had a pretty unique collection of cars. Seemed like a regular guy.

Robert S. Campbell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_MrtGW5svo

Hi Kent ...

I am afraid I don't have any Tommy James memorabilia.  "Hanky Panky" was as greasy as "Louie Louie" and "Wild Thing," too.  I agree with Sam ... maybe next year for the Hall of Fame induction. 

Anyhow, sounds like you had an amazing time seeing the Beatles cover band "Fab Four."  I will check them out hopefully in June by me in Morristown, NJ.  

Keep Rockin’ -

Sandy

Ronnie Rice has just been booked at The Metropolis Theater in Arlington Heights, IL, for a show on Friday, April 3^rd.

It’s being billed as “Ronnie Rice and Guest” … (Skip Griparis perhaps???)

I saw Skip do his solo show there a little over a year ago.

Beautiful theater if you want to join in on the party!  (kk)

https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=111158

The Peter Tork Memorial Monkees Convention has been booked for Saturday, February 8^th at The Best Western Plus Hotel in North Haven, CT.  It’ll run from 1 – 8 PM (with an early bird noon VIP option so serious collectors can have first access to the vendors / dealers marketplace.)  There will also be an after-convention party at the hotel, which is included in the admission price.  (Tickets are limited so there is no guarantee that tickets will be available at the door … use the links below for purchase your tickets now … or email MonkeesFanConvention@gmail.comfor more information.

https://petertorkmemorial.ticketleap.com/2020/t/website/

 

More tomorrow in Forgotten Hits ...

And be sure to stop back on Sunday to see this week's WCFL Top 40 Chart ... from exactly fifty years ago!  (kk)

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Some Of Your Weekend Comments

January 18, 2020, 4:30 am

≫ Next: January 19, 1970

≪ Previous: January 17th, 1970

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Ron Smith: Quiet, friendly, knowledgeable, great smile and a good source of knowledge.
RIP @ 45 rpm.
CLARK WEBER

I'm sorry to hear that Ron Smith has passed away.

Before he started cutting down on the "Trivia" segment of his website, he gave me a lot of support, posting one of my "Rockword" crossword puzzles every month.

Mike Ogilvie

Mississauga, ON

As the first of four Jerrys at Ron’s Oldies Music website, I was devastated to see the posting notification at Jack Levin’s Facebook page.

At first glance, I saw a picture of the cover of Ron’s book, “WCFL Top 40 1965 to 1976.” I thought Jack was maybe plugging it until “I read the news today, Oh Boy.”

I owe so much to Ron who, thru his Oldies Music site introduced me to many music lover friends, history of music and as a matter of fact, Forgotten Hits and you, Kent.

Even after the shutdown of Oldies Music, we kept in touch thru emails and Facebook.

After reading the sad news of Ron’s passing, I notified Linda, Karen, John, Mark The Shark and Frannie because I didn’t know if you knew or not.

I, like you, Kent, never really had any one on ones that weren’t about Oldies. I do remember the thrill I had many years ago during a trip back home to Chicago.

Coming from the airport, I started playing with the radio dial and lo and behold I came across Chicago DJ Ron Smith at Real Oldies 1690 on your dial. Here was Ron, introducing one of my favorite all time oldies “You Wouldn’t Listen To Me” by Chicago’s own Ides Of March.

At that time, I knew for sure I was listening to an Oldie that I had not heard on the radio since my cruising high school days of 1966. I also knew that there was a good chance I would never hear this song again on the radio or the song that followed, “I Call Your Name” by The Buckinghams.  I can say that was the last time I heard these two song with an intro by a DJ.

Yes, Ron,  Rock N Roll Never Forgets! And we will never forget you, my friend.
Jerry Kamper

Ironically, the copy of “WCFL Chicago Top 40 Charts, 1965 – 1976” sitting next to me as I type this was ALSO signed by Ron in 2007!

When Ron’s book “Eight Days A Week – Births, Deaths And Events Each Day In Oldies History” first came out in 2011, he sent me an advance copy to review.  Imagine my surprise when I saw that the book contained a foreword written by Dick Biondi, and quotes on the back cover by Tommy Edwards and Clark Weber, both Radio Royalty, and yours truly, who wrote “A fascinating day-by-day recap of all of the notable and memorable rock and roll-related events.  Smith’s book is the definitive calendar covering any and all of rock and roll’s biggest events.”

In fact, I have to admit that I felt a little bit guilty for even being included in the company of some of the other incredible names he thanked and mentioned in the book … former WCFL Disc Jockey Bob Dearborn (who ran his own “This Day In History” / “Disc Jockey’s Almanac” web page for AGES), Robert Feder, Bob Sirott, Scott Shannon, Greg Brown, Scott Childers, John Geron, Art Roberts and even our own Clark Besch.

So thank you, Ron, for sending MANY Forgotten Hits Readers our way over the years.  (Over the years, we found that our Oldies Community is a very loyal bunch … and if they were reading Forgotten Hits they were likely regular visitors to Ron’s oldiesmusic.com website as well … and vice versa.)  Now in our 21^st year, it’s pretty humbling to see our audience continuing to grow as more people discover this great music from the ‘50’s, ‘60’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s that we pay tribute to on a daily basis … especially in light of all the followers and artists we’ve lost during those past 21 years.

Ron’s death drove this point home for me in a very big way … so I thank you again, my friend, for helping us all keep the music alive.  (kk)

Hi Kent,
The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame has become a FARCE!
They don’t seem to care about all the singers and groups from the 50's and 60's.
Rock n Roll started in the 50's and the 60's reinforced the power of Rock n Roll to keep it going.  I know a lot of fans agree with me. But we will always have the memories of those fine entertainers that gave us the Roots of Rock n Roll.

I rest my case.
Carolyn

This is why I decided to never, ever go to the ROF.

At the beginning, when it first opened, I told my now late husband that I wanted to go to Cleveland. NOT ANY MORE! I'm finished with the b.s. and them overlooking the really great recording artists for lame brain, not so good artists.

Arlene

Rock And Roll Biographer Mark Bego has another new book, out now … it’s a newly updated and revamped edition of “Elton John: The Bitch Is Back,” originally released in 2009, taking us through last year’s popular (and Golden Globe Award-Winning) film “Rocketman,” which also serves as the title of this new edition.

Mark’s been all over our pages this past year. Thanks to the releases of his “Eat Like A Rock Star” Cookbook (from which there is now a TV pilot in the works … wouldn’t THAT be cool to see some of these recipes come to life with the actual rock stars behind them!), the incredibly beautiful coffee table book “Supreme Glamour,” written with Mary Wilson of The Supremes (who also shows off her amazing collection of gowns worn by the girl group trio) and another revamping, “Aretha Franklin: The Queen Of Soul,” updated through her death in 2018.  (We gave away copies of all three of these books to lucky Forgotten Hits Readers … and may have a few copies of Mark’s new book, “Rocketman,” to give away, too … stay tuned!)

“Rocketman” delves into Elton’s life from the perspective of first-hand observations into several personal moments with the rocket man, his friends, associates, and former lovers. 

“I have met Elton several times, including attending his annual Oscar viewing party in Hollywood with Mary Wilson,” Bego tells us.  “I have actually been following Elton’s career since the 1960’s, before the release of his debut American album.  I fell in love with his composition ‘Your Song,’ via the Three Dog Night version of it.  Based on my love of that song, I bought the first Elton John album the week it was released.  I have been an avid fan and follower ever since.  I even reviewed his album ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ for my college newspaper, making Elton one of the first rock stars I ever wrote about.”

Rocket Man marks Bego’s 66th published book … and it also coincides with Elton John’s ongoing international Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert tour.  (Bego’s Michael Jackson biography sold over eight million copies internationally and spent six weeks on The New York Times best-seller list.)

In the book, Bego includes new insights into the making of the hit biographical movie Rocketman, and the critical response to it, which was nominated for three Golden Globe nominations: Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy; Best Performance by an Actor in a  motion Picture/Musical or Comedy (Taron Egerton); and, Best Original Song-Motion Picture – “I'm Gonna Love Me Again” written by Elton John, Bernie Taupin. 

“Elton is a one-of-a-kind rock star,”  Bego continues.  “There is no one in the rock world who has had such critical acclaim, and whose list of hits spans so many decades.  ‘Rocket Man’ is one of the most fun and fascinating books I have ever written!”

Advance reviews of the book are good …

“Bego discusses John’s extensive recording output as well as his drug addiction and various health issues, his failed suicide attempt, his coming out, his forays into musical theater (Aida, The Lion King, Billy Elliot), his marriage to David Furnish, and the making of Rocketman ... Elton fans won't want to miss this.” 

---- Booklist

“The life and times of Elton John are explored in this fascinating read — and no details are left uninvestigated”

----Star

“Bego narrates the ups and downs of musician Elton John’s career and music. In breathless prose, Bego cheerleads for John.”

---- Publishers Weekly

“Celebrity-author Mark Bego released his Rocket Man book; his take on the whole Elton-phenomena. We've read it and it’s just a terrific take on Elton. Inspiring; revealing; heartfelt and fun ... a terrific read.”

---- Times Square Chronicles

https://booktrib.com/2020/01/rocket-man-satisfies-both-rabid-and-casual-elton-fans/?fbclid=IwAR34UmOG_Vr2_oWY-d5C65n-tBFfeU-XiTNsFhz4c0J3bqo03C38srwOiNw

The new release should make the perfect companion piece for Elton’s OWN book, now in bookstores everywhere, “Me.”

Can you believe it?

Christopher Cross is heading out on tour in celebration of the 40^TH ANNIVERSARY (!!!) of his debut album!  (How is this even possible?!?!?)  The Multi-Grammy Winning Album spawned the hits “Ride Like The Wind” (#2), “Sailing” (#1), “Never Be The Same” (#10) and “Say You’ll Be Mine” (#20) … not a  bad way to break into the business, eh? 

He hits The Genesee Theatre here in Chicago (Waukegan) on April 17^th… and also does a three day stint at Epcot in Walt Disney World.  (kk)  

Christopher Cross Celebrates 40th Anniversary With 2020 Tour 

Christopher Cross made history with his 1980 self-titled debut album, winning five Grammy Awards, including — for the first time in Grammy history — the “Big Four” most prestigious awards: Record of the Year (for the single “Sailing”), Album of the Year, Song of the Year (also “Sailing”), and Best New Artist.
In a career spanning over five decades, Cross has sold over 10 million albums. His music has garnered five Grammys, an Oscar, a Golden Globe and five Top 10 singles.
This year, Christopher Cross is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his breakthrough debut album with a major tour featuring songs from his debut album: “Sailing,” “Ride Like the Wind,” “Say You’ll Be Mine,” and more.
Says Cross, “This tour celebrates the first chapter in what has been my life’s journey. I look forward to seeing everyone on the road.”

Tour dates*:
April 1, 2020 - Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre
April 3, 2020 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre
April 5, 2020 - Nashville, TN - Schermerhorn Symphony Center
April 7, 2020 - Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Center for the Arts
April 9, 2020 - New York, NY - The Town Hall
April 10, 2020 - Atlantic City, NJ - Sound Waves @ Hard Rock
April 11, 2020 -Westbury, NY - NYCB Theatre
April 13, 2020 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere Music Hall
April 17, 2020 - Waukeegan, IL - Genessee Theatre
April 18, 2020 - Welch, MN - Treasure Island Event Center
April 21, 2020 - Orlando, FL - Epcot / Walt Disney World Resort
April 22, 2020 - Orlando, FL - Epcot / Walt Disney World Resort
April 23, 2020 - Orlando, FL - Epcot / Walt Disney World Resort
April 26, 2020 - Clearwater, FL - Capitol Theatre @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
*More dates announced soon

Details:https://www.christophercross.com/

Follow Christopher on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherCrossOfficial/
Instagram & Twitter: @itsmrcross

>>>You’ll find LOTS of great undiscovered Lesley Gore songs out there if you search for them.  (The girl could sing!!!)  kk

Great timing ...

I had just been thinking of her - one of the great loves of my life - and listening to
this "undiscovered" tune she did after her stretch with Mercury ... 1975, on A&M Records.  (Herb Alpert knew a winner when he heard one!)

Gives me gooseflesh - listen closely to the lyrics. (1975)
Rest in peace, Lesley.  ;...-(
Mike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gKZ0xxTKYs

Lesley continued to record some GREAT music long after the hits stopped … I regret never having the chance to see her.  (She toured with Lou Christie for a good number of years … and they even recorded a few tracks together.)  Watch her performance of “You Don’t Own Me” on The T.A.M.I. Show … it absolutely takes your breath away!  (kk)

 
Hey Kent,
Every true Beatles fan remembers when Ringo had to have his tonsils taken out! Here is the story I found about his fill-in, on tour.

John LaPuzza

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/meet-jimmy-nicol-the-forgotten-beatle-standin-drummer-for-ringo/news-story/0f79dd8eda8adc579d3c35c6bfb32f1f

Poor Ringo!  The guy gets asked to join what will ultimately become the most popular band in history … and then Producer George Martin brings in and uses a stand-in drummer (Andy White) on their very first recording session, just in case Ringo didn’t have the chops to get the job done.  (Martin was previously concerned about the drumming abilities of former Beatles Drummer Pete Best … and didn’t want to take any chances regarding the talent of their thus far unproven replacement, Ringo.)

Then, The Beatles become the biggest phenomenon the world has ever known … and right in the middle of it, at the onset of a world tour, Ringo has to go in for a tonsillectomy … and rather than postpone or reschedule the tour, they hire Jimmy Nicol (also at George Martin’s urging) to fill in on the drums while Starr is laid up in the hospital!  (It’s almost unthinkable … and would NEVER happen with ANY band today, much less a band of this caliber … and yet that’s what they chose to do, rather than risk disappointing their fans by cancelling or postponing their concert tour.)

Jeez … no WONDER the poor guy had a inferiority complex (which they then played to the hilt in their first film, “A Hard Day’s Night”!!!)

Ah, it just made us love him all the more. 

(On the plus side, Nicols’ short time with the band DID inspire one of their tunes years later on their “Sgt. Pepper” album.  Whenever John would ask him how he was getting along and holding up under the pressure of filling in on drums before a sell-out, Beatlemania-infused crowd, Nicols’ standard reply was “It’s getting better all the time.”)  kk

Here's a rare shot of The Fab Four ... with Ringo AND Jimmy Nicols ... after Ringo rejoined the lads on tour in Melbourne, Australia

January 19, 1970

January 19, 2020, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Just Another Manic Monday

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Yowsah!!!

Sly and the Family Stone jump 19 PLACES from #20 to #2 with their latest hit, "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin."  (Strange as it may seem, I am the one who spelled the title correctly!!!  lol) 

Several songs made moves of ten places or more this week ...

"Hey There Lonely Girl" by Eddie Holman climbs from #15 to #4 ...

The Fifth Dimension also jump eleven spots from #28 to #17 with "Blowing Away" 

The Temptations jump a ten-spot from #31 to #21 with "Psychedelic Shack" ... (Psychedelic Motown?!?!  You betcha! As The Temps themselves would tell you, "That's where it's at!")

And Joe South is up 13 places from #36 to #23 with "Walk A Mile In My Shoes"

(The Carpenters also make a nice move of nine spots with their version of "Ticket To Ride.")

Two of last week's Hit Bound tracks make The Top 40 this week ... and THIS week's Hit Bound list looks like nothing but hits!

Just Another Manic Monday

January 20, 2020, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Tuesday This And That

≪ Previous: January 19, 1970

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kk:
As for this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees, I don't know too much about these groups.
T-REX:  Did they have a lot of hits?  The only one I remember is "Bang A Gong."

Any local tributes being planned for Ron Smith?

Frank B.

I’m not aware of anything planned for Ron Smith … I went to the wake Friday evening … and honestly, there was very little there celebrating his life on radio or behind the scenes … I thought maybe they’d have a little display of his work … but it was more of a slide show, with only a few photos having anything at all to do with his radio career.  (I will say this … Ron sure was a VERY colorful dresser!!!  Some of his custom-made outfits were to die for!  I overheard a couple of girls talking and one of them said “Boy, I’d sure like to see the inside of his closet … it must just be a complete blast of color!”)

As for T. Rex, “Bang-A-Gong,” of course was the big one … a National Top Ten Hit in 1972.  They had five other chart hits, but all fell short of The Top 50.  (Here in Chicago, we first heard them when “Hot Love” went to #15 the year before on the WCFL Chart.  Meanwhile, “Bang A Gong” reached #4 on WLS.)

They were part of the original Glam Rock movement of the early ‘70’s … and absolutely HUGE in Great Britain where leader Marc Bolan was a major idol.  They had 21 Top 40 Hits at  home,  including four #1’s and four #2’s.  I can absolutely make a case for their inclusion in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame … and it may eventually pave the way for others of this ilk to finally be acknowledged, too.  (At least THEIR selection holds true to the original credo of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame when they started … recognizing rock and roll as an art form … and honoring those who took the genre in new directions by developing new “branches” on the rock and roll tree.)

As such, it's the others that have really got me baffled ... which has definitely been the case for the majority of the past twenty years now. 

Whitney Houston ... Rock and Roll???

A great singer, yes … one of the best … but Rock And Roll??? 

And over Pat Benatar, who has one of the greatest female rock voices ever and an entire library of hits to back up the genre?  To me, that was the biggest snub of all … even over fan vote front-runner Dave Matthews, as I personally believe there was a bit of “ballot box stuffing” on his behalf.  (Fans would follow him from concert to concert at the peak of his career.  I just never really got it.)  kk

As to Larry Neal's great WKY chart, between WLS and WKY, note that "Jam Up & Jelly Tight" was Top 5 on both stations.  I'm not sure I understand why this was not a bigger hit nationally in Billboard's Hot 100. It was a GREAT bubblegum song that was also big on my (Chicago biased) charts as well.  It deserved better!

Clark Besch

“Jam Up And Jelly Tight” made The Top Ten in all three major trade publications ... and Top Five in two of them, reaching #4 in Record World, #5 in Cash Box and #8 in Billboard.  I’d say that was a pretty good chart run for Tommy, considering the fact that “Heather Honey” and “Jack And Jill” charted in between his #1 smash “Dizzy” and “Jam Up And Jelly Tight.”  He retained his “King Of Bubble Gum” status in my mind with this hit.  (kk)

Speaking of Larry Neal, (he’s the one who always makes mention of obscure songs being used in television commercials), how about that new one for Amazon Prime featuring Chuck Berry’s “It Wasn’t Me?”  I’ve been a Chuck Berry fan for decades and wasn’t even familiar with this tune!  Great to hear it ‘tho!!!  (kk)   

Little blurbs of Classic Rock Songs seem to be all over TV lately ... both as background music in television series as well as a wave of television commericals.  But lately, we’ve seen a couple of real surprises. 
For example, over the last couple of weeks, instead of the usual song snippets we get during an hour long drama, “Ray Donovan” featured the full-length versions of Rare Earth’s “(I Know) I’m Losing You” and then, this weekend on the season finale, the Linda Ronstadt version of “Desperado.”  (In fact, the story line also discussed Linda being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and how it has taken her precious vocal gift from her.)

Most surprising of all, however, was the scene right near the beginning of the movie “Just Mercy” … where we heard a brand new, revamped version of “Ode To Billie Joe” playing on Jamie Foxx’s truck radio.  This was especially shocking in that the song’s writer (and original hit maker) Bobbie Gentry has been a complete recluse for the past four decades.  One has to wonder how they got permission to cut a new version.  (Honestly, it’s not very good … but it’s the very concept that they were able to make this happen that completely blew me away.)  SOMEBODY had to contact Gentry (even if it was thru her publisher) in order to obtain permission to both cut a new version and include in on the soundtrack.

Does this mean that she might FINALLY be willing to talk about her 1967 monster hit again?  (Long time readers of Forgotten Hits already know that it has been a lifetime dream of mine to be the first to interview Bobbie Gentry after all these years!)  While I hold little hope of that ever happening, the experience of hearing it used in the film gave me a glimmer of excitement … especially in light of the otherwise extremely depressing nature of the rest of the film.)  kk 

Thanks for the plug, Kent.

Yes, groovy guys and groovy girls, it looks like an end of an era for yours truly.

In theory I'd love to continue being a one of the major survey dealers, but I can't. For almost two years, I've been unable to find any decent survey collections and, as a result, I'm not making any money. However, as you know, it doesn't stop the bills from coming in.

So, a couple months ago, I had to make a hard decision since the surveys are pretty much my only tangible asset.

My first survey was WLS 7/29/66, and whatever the corresponding WCFL week was. Since then, I have amassed the complete set of WCFL surveys available to the public, plus a few from the summer of 1968 that weren't. I think I'm missing four from WLS.

Some of the sheets are autographed by the corresponding jock. One even has Larry Lujack's autograph, but I can't confirm if it's his.

The value is in the completeness of the collection. Some charts are worth some major money, most aren't worth more than $5.00 each. If I allow it to be picked thru, then it becomes worthless and I'm still in the same situation.

Now keep in mind I have about 8,000 WCFL Surveys, and that much and more WLS surveys. Yes, Virginia, that means I could have 100 copies of the same week ... but it also means that I have complete years for sale, beyond my own collection.

So, if you want to make a mega buy, you can get my extras for a lot cheaper than the charts from my original collection.

I also have surveys from other locals, mainly other metro areas. I'm almost completely out of anything from small markets. 

Now two things could happen that would change things.

First is me finding a stash of surveys, from non-metro areas, and/or improving my cash flow to a point where I don't have to watch every penny. If that happens, I'll let you know.

There are a few FH readers out there, who are my customers and you know what to expect. For right now, it's a chance to get a great deal on this stuff, before I pull it off the market.

Since Kent is featuring 1970 this year, remember that a 15 year old kid then is now 65. How many still have this stuff hanging around in a shoebox in a closet?

After all you finished high school, went to college/military, got married, divorced, married, maybe more than twice. You've had kids, grandkids. Hell, maybe your mom or spouse, tossed them during a round of cleaning one day.

The point is, how many 65 year olds still have the original surveys around?

I only know a few collectors who are close to having all of them.

Sure, they'd like to complete their collection, but it's not worth it to them to pay major money for a dozen holy grails. We won't get into how many teens in 1964 still have them. Now you know my problem.

Go look at what the stuff sells for on eBay. You'll see some of my items there, too. While I have more than my share of beat up surveys, I don't sell them at premium prices, nor do I pretend they are anything but beat up. So drop me a line, gimme a call, come on by, if you want to make a road trip. Tell 50 of your closest friends. 

Jack

I’ve known Jack for about forty years and he has always been one of the premier survey dealers around.  Check out his eBay listing and you’ll also see that he’s got 100% positive feedback, which is pretty rare in this day and age.

I agree that this would make for a unique collection … I just don’t know about the investment aspect … will these appreciate in value or simply crash and burn as more and more of the people who made picking up these charts part of their weekly ritual pass along?

Still, I wish I could spring for it myself.  (Hmm … I may have to give some thought to this “buy a whole year” concept and see how many times I can afford to do that over the course of the next couple of years.  At least then I can zero in on the charts that would mean the most to me.)

I discovered the WLS Silver Dollar Survey for the very first time when I heard Dex Card counting it down in May of 1964.  I remember this because the #1 Record here in Chicago that week was “Little Children” / “Bad To Me” by Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.

I started picking them up at my local record store the following year … and, after switching schools, also discovered the Top Tunes Of Greater Chicagoland Chart, right before WCFL started printing their own weekly surveys, too.

I can’t even describe the excitement of a 12-year-old boy bringing these home and analyzing them in order to come up with the best COMBINATION Chart between the two or three listings.  I typed my own surveys for years after that.

THAT’S the kind of guy this collection is going to appeal to … somebody who lived that same kind of dream but didn’t hang on to their own collection and now wants to recapture an important moment of their youth.  (I’ve been looking for the Beatles Dell Comic Book I bought in 1964 for 12 or 15-cents … and have found several copies on eBay for upwards of $200.  Whereas I’d love to have it, just to look thru it again, I cannot justify $200 in my own mind to experience that privilege, as I know that once I do, it’ll just go back to sitting on a shelf somewhere again!)

But that’s just Practical Me talking.  I already have a copy of EVERY WLS and WCFL Chart ever printed.  True, most are xeroxes … but I collected these charts for the information contained therein … and this collection gives me what I need.  Still, I would LOVE to have a complete collection “in living color,” so to speak … but if I had an extra $4000 lying around I’d be more inclined to use it for a nice vacation or to pay off my car!!!  (Again … Practical Me!!!  Man, I hate that guy!!!)

But if there’s anybody out there who wants to recapture that magical time of when you stopped to pick up the latest survey every Friday on your way home from school, THIS is your chance to do so … and get the whole shootin’ match in the process!  Good Luck!  (kk)

Check this out …

Billboard Magazine is reporting that since Neal Peart’s death was announced on January 10^th, Rush downloads and streaming are up 2000%!!!!  (I personally know someone who downloaded their covers album, “Feedback,” after reading Robert Campbell’s assessment in Friday’s Comments Page.)  Watch for any number of their releases to show back up on the charts next week.

In fact, during the first four days of on-demand streaming (between the 10^th and 13^th), Rush streams increased to 24.5 million, up from 2.8 million over the previous four day period of that same week.

As might be expected, “Tom Sawyer” was their most their most-streamed song during this period, with 2.8 million listens (compared to 698,000 the week before.)

Billboard says that, at the very least, Rush’s Greatest Hits album “The Spirit Of Radio: Greatest Hits, 1974 – 1987) will make next week’s Top 200 Albums chart … but watch for more titles to pop up, too.

(For example, Rush songs filled 23 of the top 25 positions on the LyricFind Global Chart ... whatever that is! ... and 18 of the top 25 on the LyricFind U.S. chart.  Track leaders in The Top Ten included “Tom Sawyer” at #1, followed by “Limelight,” “The Trees,” “The Temples of Syrinx,” “Losing It” and “The Garden,” coming in at #’s 2-6 respectively. “Afterimage” was at #8 and “Closer to the Heart” at #10 … from that point forward, EVERY song through to No. 25 was also by Rush.  AMAZING!!!  (kk)

We should also mention the recent passings of Steve Martin (Caro), lead singer of The Left Banke, Tobin Matthews, a local boy who topped both the Top Tunes Of Greater Chicagoland chart and the brand new WLS Silver Dollar Survey in 1960 with “Ruby Duby Du,” Chris Darrow of Kaleidoscope and Bobby Comstock (in addition to the previously featured Marty Grebb, one time keyboardist of The Buckinghams.)

Jeez, we’re only three weeks into 2020 … not quite the kind of news we enjoy reporting.  (kk)  

Regarding the passing of Willy Henson, aka Tobin Matthews, it's hard for me to come up with what to say that would accurately express how I've been feeling since I learned of his passing. He was a longtime friend.  I'd known him for over 10 years, and his sudden passing has kind of thrown me off a bit, considering I had last heard from him just over a week ago. The world, to me, just doesn't seem right without him here in it.  
Chicago natives might remember the name Tobin Matthews for the hit Ruby Duby Du, which was actually a recording Willy Henson was not on. If I'm remembering what Tobin (as I always called him) once told me, the label owner, Paul Glass, had issued the recording by studio musicians under an artist name that was the first and middle names of his firstborn son. When it became a surprise hit, he needed an act to tour on the record. He remembered an artist who kept sending him recordings of his band, Willy and the Jeepers, hoping to get them signed to a deal. He wanted the lead singer alone, to record and tour, but only if he agreed to do so under the Tobin Matthews name. He did, and the name stuck for the rest of his recording career. After three singles at USA Records, he signed with Columbia and had two singles released. Then he switched to Warner Brothers and, with his debut release for the label, was about to go on television to perform Can't Stop Talking About You when the show was cancelled after the assassination of President Kennedy. His career kind of derailed after that but until the end of his life, he always continued performing music, and he loved chatting with his friends, fans, and even strangers about music, be it his own or anyone else's. I will miss him deeply.
He had pictures and stories of his life on his blog, which I admit I hadn't been to in years ... https://earlyrockandroll.blogspot.com/ 
Tom Diehl

Wow! That's the first time I’ve ever heard that Tobin Matthews wasn’t on the Chicago #1 Hit by Tobin Matthews!!!  (lol)

While hardly a local legend here (Matthews charted a total of twice more … “Susan” bubbled under in Cash Box at #104 … and “Steel Guitar Rag” reached #30 on the WLS Chart), he still was one of our earliest local chart heroes.  Thanks for the much more in-depth profile, Tom!  (kk)

UPDATE:  I found this in the archives … wish I still had a copy of the original piece we did back in the old newsletter days!  (kk)

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-friday-flash_19.html 

Here's a brand new interview with Tommy James in Goldmine Magazine:

Clark Besch

https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/tommy-james-alive-and-well-with-the-release-of-new-album?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=82077617&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8yjwmv1G5YxOPIjNNFig-2fR9ADBNZM5mE0YYBNR6hLAIm1y998DjVoPUcEZkzR3qeBR5gx93NdcghXduUX0XuU-7Llg&_hsmi=82077617

And this from Tom Cuddy …

Norman Greenbaum on ‘Spirit in the Sky’ at 50: ‘The Interest in It Just Doesn’t Wane’
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/norman-greenbaum-interview-spirit-in-the-sky-934508/

As we’re compiling our research for our on-going salute to 1970, I was surprised to see that “Spirit In The Sky” was the #1 Song Of The Year according to Cash Box Magazine.  I would not have expected that, as typically you’ll see “Bridge Over Troubled Water” at the top of most of these year-end lists.  Other popular titles that always seem to do well are “Close To You” by The Carpenters and “American Woman” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” … but while “Spirit In The Sky” always MAKES this list, it’s unusual to find it at #1.

You’ll find OUR Top 70 of 1970 Compilation Chart at the end of December when our Fifty Year Flashback concludes.  (kk)  

Outside the snow has started coming down in silent sheets of small flakes and ‘Revolution’ is playing on Sirius/XM (yes, we finally agreed on a price and I had it reinstated).  Appropriate song as I am writing about a book by Michael A. Hill titled “John Lennon: The Boy Who Became A Legend.”  Incredibly, I won this book! Nope … I am not a lucky person generally. In this case, I knew the answer to the question and this was my prize. Thank you, DJ Ken Michaels and Fabfour and More, Inc.,  Jacksonville, FL. As I was waiting for the book, I wondered if it would be signed … IT IS! 
Mike Hill gives us a boy’s eye view of John Lennon and the times in which they both lived. You see, Mike went to school with John and was the one who had the rock and roll record collection that sent the fever through John’s being that this was the calling he had been waiting to find. Up until then, he was an intelligent, lazy, often in trouble boy who had endured emotional upheaval from birth. Mike is candid and honest about all of his “gang” of friends and that ALWAYS John was the undisputed leader. The fact that John’s passion also enabled him to have the time he wanted to achieve his goal of “not going to work” (in the traditional sense) is not lost on me. I am totally convinced that John Lennon would have been a “bust” in life had he not found out he could express himself through music and be very good at it.
This book is full of meaning on “people in the right places at the right time.”  It is modest, honest and claims no credit other than the facts as they happened. I loved reading about Lennon as a boy, the thoughts and feelings others had about him and how he, McCartney, and Harrison crossed paths in and out of postwar England, finally connecting in a permanent relationship that changed them and the music world. And then Michael’s reconnection back to John years after John’s death through an innocent photograph reiterates to me that there are so many threads of connection between people of which we are totally unaware until the thread snaps taught, and a puzzle piece is added to the scene.

Easy to read, fun family photos and John revealed as a child. Enjoyed every word.

Shelley J Sweet-Tufano

 

And, speaking of The Beatles ...

Hey Kent,

Thanks for posting the story about Ringo's fill-in, Jimmy Nicol. Did you happen to see the photo of the poor guy sitting at the airport, all by himself, waiting to return to England, after Ringo rejoined the group? A day earlier, he was mobbed by thousands of fans, who just wanted to touch his clothes, while he was running from them. Talk about "getting no respect"! I wonder if the boys ever stayed in touch with him.

John LaPuzza

Talk about your ultimate mood swing moment!!!  How does one even begin to cope with that?!?!

I don’t know that any of The Beatles really stayed in contact with Nicols (or Pete Best for that matter) over the ensuing 58 years … hard to believe it’s even possible that it’s been that long.  (Check out the cartoon FH Reader Mike Wolstein sent in below!)

I spotted Southwest F.O.B.'s cover of "Feelin' Groovy" on the WKY chart but have never heard their version. Some of their stuff is on YouTube, but I can't find this one. Anyone have a link where we can hear it?

David Lewis

England Dan and John Ford Coley were both members of this band prior to branching off on their own as a very successful duo in the late ‘70’s.  Their version of “Feelin’ Groovy” (the Paul Simon tune “The 59^th Street Bridge Song” that had been a big hit for Harpers Bizarre in 1967) bubbled under at #115 in Billboard in early 1970.  (“Smell Of Incense,” their first chart hit, actually went to #56.)

Special thanks to the ever-reliable Tom Diehl for tracking this one down for us.  (Interestingly, the opening sounds like it could have been a song by Chase ... until it just completely slows down to a crawl once the vocals start.  Honestly, it's a pretty awful rendition ... I wonder if Larry Neal will remember hearing it on the radio back then once he hears it again.  Of course, knowing Larry, he probably already owns a copy of this record!)  kk

*****

1970:  January 20^th– Former Cub (and future voice of The Cubs) Lou Boudreau is elected to Baseball’s Hall Of Fame

Tuesday This And That

January 21, 2020, 4:01 am

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Thanks to Tom D for coming up with a copy of the Southwest FOB recording. I agree … it starts off strong with the horns and then it feels pretty dead by about the one-minute mark.

David Lewis

Kent,

What you mentioned of Amazon Prime's music in the background is true. I also was not familiar with the tune of Chuck Berry which was used.  However, that guitar riff at the beginning had to be no other than that of Chuck Berry. I have seen two others, one of which was a tune by Nat King Cole and the other one which I did not recognize offhand.

Jack asked the question of how many 65 year old kids still have the original radio surveys around … well, I know of one and that one is me.  From August of 1958 up through mid-1980, I have the weekly surveys for local station WKY-AM 930 here in OKC. That is the year and month they were started to be printed and the year they ended.

Kent, you mentioned the passing of singer Bobby Comstock. The biggest hit he had here in OKC was a record he made in 1961 called the GARDEN OF EDEN. It was a Top 10 record as I remember. Was his biggest hit nationally LETS STOMP?

Kent, you are right in that I really don't remember hearing Southwest F.O.B.'s “Feelin' Groovy" all that much on the radio, if at all ... but I can say that about a lot more records. And yes, you are right ... I do have a copy of the record. It was on the HIP record label with a flip of BEGGAR MAN, with the time of being 2:52.

Larry Neal

Bobby Comstock’s biggest national hit was “Tennessee Waltz,” which peaked at #34 in 1959.  (#52 in Billboard)  “Let’s Stomp peaked at #57 in both Billboard and Music Vendor, the precursor to Record World, in 1963.

Incredibly, “Garden Of Eden” didn’t chart nationally at all!!! … but was also his biggest hit here in Chicago, where it reached #10 on the WLS Chart.

By the way, as for the Southwest FOB, I had a hunch you’d have the record!  I learned something in the process of all of this in that I never knew that this band led to the hit ‘70’s pop duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, who enjoyed six Top 40 Hits (four of which made The Top 10!) between 1976 and 1979.  (So I guess in MY twisted mind, that makes Southwest FOB more significant than Notorious BIG!!!  But what do I know?!?!) kk

RUSH in Rio Live is my favorite live album.  I have to get the video now.

They didn’t want to do another live album, although they allowed the Brazilians, in a van, to record them.  They then brought the recordings back to Canada and digitally remastered them, making a 3 CD set.

Alan Morgan

A brand new Dave Clark Five Greatest Hits compilation CD will be released at the end of this month.

More details here … (but you may want to opt for the more-inclusive British import on this one!)  Still, there are several deserving tracks missing from the list … you might do better to download your personal favorites instead to make it a bit more of a complete collection.)

https://theseconddisc.com/2020/01/20/glad-all-over-dave-clark-five-preps-all-the-hits-collection-on-cd-and-lp/

Vintage Classic Rock points out that yesterday marked the 55^th anniversary of the death of rock and roll radio pioneer / legend Alan Freed.

For a nice tribute and recap of his illustrious career, check out the following:

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/alan-freed-dies/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=newsletter_4572276

How about a true picture of the bubblegum era?  Thanks for the rest of the great lists on your site.  Keep up the great work.

Will Hagfors

I guess we never really have covered things from that era in any great detail.  (We’ve got everything from Garage Bands, to Summer Songs, to Psychedelic Songs, to Instrumentals … even TV Themes.

But I’m not quite sure how to define “the bubblegum era” … certainly for a couple of years there Buddah Records cornered the market with great groups like The Ohio Express and The 1910 Fruitgum Company and The Lemon Pipers, ALL of whom enjoyed GREAT success on the charts in 1968 … but in hindsight the term “bubblegum” has become associated with numerous other artists, too.  (We ourselves have referred to Tommy Roe as “The King Of Bubblegum” in these pages … but is that solely because of “Dizzy” or does that mean we have to trace “the bubblegum era” back to “Sheila” in 1962?  Because for me, “Sheila” was always more of a tribute to the sound of Buddy Holly … so would that make most of Buddy Holly’s hits bubblegum, too?  (Depending on how you define your criteria, I think it kinda does … listen to some of Buddy’s best known work with that thought in mind an you can almost hear it!)

So I’m up for putting together the ultimate bubblgegum list … but first I need some feedback from you folks out there as to where we draw the line … and then, once we’ve better defined it, maybe we’ll open up the polls again and see what all of you think.  (I’ll betcha we can get a radio station or two interested in counting down The All-Time Biggest Bubblegum Hits … because ALL of this is real good, feel good music!  (kk)

Meanwhile, you’ll find several of our OTHER special countdowns and fan polls here:  http://forgottenhits.com/

January 23rd, 1970

January 23, 2020, 4:00 am

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1970:  January 23^rd– While testifying at the Chicago 7 trial, singer Judy Collins is denied permission to sing her testimony

(nope ... nothin' weird about that!!!)