The Cowsills Concert Review (courtesy of Shelley Sweet-Tufano)

February 13, 2020, 4:00 am

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The Wolf Den pulls me in again with The Cowsills. 

A Sunday spent in line talking with wonderful people who give me new insights while watching a sound check and waiting to be seated for a 7:00 PM show. 

There is the 80 year old former DJ who is also an expert on American China, a couple of friends from Massachusetts, and a party who has traveled over three hours from the state of Maine. I get swamped with information:

 

“We have traveled through five states in three months following The Cowsills.”

“Wait till you hear Susan sing 'To Sir With Love.'”

“They are so sweet. They just can’t believe people still want to come see them.”

“At the concert in Indiana they stayed in line for two and a half hours talking to fans. Paul got leg cramps and had to take a break.”

“Have you watched the video on their family? They had a terrible life.”  

No, I have not seen that video yet, but everyone has heard stories of their lives and more so later on with Bill’s illness, Barry’s disappearance during Hurricane Katrina and the loss of Dick, Bob’s twin. Whether or not they feel their lives growing up were terrible, I don’t know. But the concert tonight has nothing but joy, talent, and the connection of family.  

There are a total of 21 songs performed. TWENTY-ONE! They joke about their own songs: “Did we have three hits or four?” When they perform Simon and Garfunkel’s "The Boxer," Bob says: “The older you get, the more you’ll think these were our songs.” Paul: “I think they’re our songs!”

 

They begin with their 1967 hit, ‘The Rain, The Park, and Other Things’ and end with their hit ‘Hair.’  In between, they perform, banter and charm us with talent. This is talent that has grown and developed over the years. Susan was 7 or 8 eight years old at the beginning, so we really didn’t know if she had talent or was riding the wave with her brothers. Today it is clear ... She has talent! So do her brothers, whose male harmonies can successfully deliver songs like ‘the Boxer.’ 

At the halfway mark, they sing a couple of Peter, Paul and Mary songs , delivering them with sibling mayhem and pantomime that tries to explain Puff the Dragon’s loss of Jackie Paper to other toys. (Susan and Paul pretending to inhale and pass something between them.) 

They have a new album coming out called ‘Rhythm of the World,’ with all new songs written by The Cowsills.  This presents a new adventure for them and for us, as they perform several of these songs before they are available to the public. There are stories that go along with these new songs and reasons why they were written. (‘Nuclear Winter’….”Thinking we were socially relevant performers. HA!”)  

Everything is so fast-paced and lively. They have spent a life-time together, literally, and can react, comment, and disrupt situations with such ease that trying not to miss anything keeps your attention flying from one to another. 

They appear at Mohegan every year and a half, but they have decided to come back yearly now ... “Who knows what will happen and when. We better step it up.” 

They are super! They deserve everything they have and have obviously worked to grow. The drummer is Susan’s husband, the guitar players are sons of Bob and Paul, and each of the front Cowsills: Bob, Paul and Susan all play guitar or keyboards. Busy family! 

I will leave you with a set-list as the tag here to show the range of their abilities.

 

1. The Rain, The Park and Other Things
2. You’ve Got Your Troubles, I’ve Got Mine
3. We Can Fly
4. The Boxer
5. To Sir With Love (“We wrote this song.” Haha. NOPE.)
6. The Long Run
7. Bus Stop
8. Indian Lake (with a guest drummer from the audience. No, don’t contact them for their next gig. Take it off your bucket list.)
9. Gotta Let It Go (Susan alone)
10. Puff The Magic Dragon
11. If I Had My Way
12. Love Is (Elton John)
13. I’ll Be Back (The Beatles)
14. Helplessly Hoping (Crosby, Stills and Nash)
15. You Were On My Mind (We Five)
16. Rhythm of the World
17. Love American Style (“One we did that people don’t know we did.” “I didn’t know we did this.”)
18. Nuclear Winter
19. You Gotta Get Up (written for Howard Kaylan)
20. Reach Out (I’ll Be There)
21. Hair 

Absolutely go see them when you can. Or follow them from state to state. 

The Happy Together Tour gives you their hits. 

Their solo concerts gives you The Cowsills!

 

Shelley J Sweet-Tufano

Without a doubt, one of the most consistently entertaining artists we've seen over the past several years has been The Cowsills ... they never disappoint.  There is just SO much talent in this band ... and they seem to be having so much fun up there .. you can't help but come along for the ride (and get wrapped up in all the joy!)

And for the record, I agree ... go to hear the hits on The Happy Together Tour ... and then go again to hear the full scope of their talent ... it truly is amazing.  Thanks, Shelley!  (kk)

Oh yeah ... and by the way ... you've just GOT to watch The Cowsills documentary ... quite a powerful film. 

---

The Friday Flash

February 14, 2020, 4:00 am

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1970:  February 14^th– The album “The Who: Live At Leeds” is recorded … live at Leeds!

 

Congratulations to John Records Landecker, named to The National Association of Broadcasters Hall Of Fame this week.  (The actual ceremony will take place on April 20^th in Las Vegas.)

If ever a disc jockey connected with his audience, Landecker is the guy.  Thanks to WLS’ incredible 50,000 watt signal, fans all over the country were able to enjoy his radio antics during his ten years with the station.  (With over 40 years in radio … and numerous “spill overs” into television … Landecker has become a household name from coast to coast.)  You can pick up a copy of John’s recently updated bio here … and relive some of those incredible moments …

https://www.amazon.com/Records-Truly-Middle-Name-Graduation-ebook/dp/B07MHXXQGB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=COW4QK257WYS&keywords=john+records+landecker&qid=1581424155&s=books&sprefix=john+records+%2Caps%2C193&sr=1-1

And, congratulations to YOU, because you just might be our next brand new Forgotten Hits winner!!!

In addition to a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March at The City Winery / Chicago on Wednesday, March 4^th… as well as a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Al Jardine at The City Winery / Chicago on Tuesday, March 31^st… we NOW have a chance for you to win a copy of Mark Bego’s brand new book “Rocket Man … The Elton John Story!” (from Pegasus Books)

Drop me an email stat (kk@forgottenhits.com) and we’ll enter you in our latest drawing(s) for any or all of the above.  (Please specify which prize(s) you are interested in when responding.)  Good Luck!

We went to see The Stylistics at The Arcada Theatre on Saturday, February 8^th and were blown away … by their opening act!!!  (Truth be told, The Stylistics, while good, didn’t quite measure up to their previous performance there … they just seemed to fall a little short in the vocal area this time around … but this was MORE than made up for by opening act Gerald McClendon, The Soulkeeper, who won over a brand new audience of fans with his killer set.)

I had not seen McClendon before … and most of his warm-up set was filled with covers of ‘60’s and ‘70’s soul classics, performed to perfection … this guy can vary his vocals to fit every mood and style ... but it was one of his original tunes, “Chalk Line,” that had the audience up on their feet, hootin’ and hollarin’ for more.  It was the performance of this one song that went down as the highlight of the entire night of music … and that’s really saying something when one considers that The Stylistics had eleven Top 40 Pop Hits during their very impressive ‘70’s run on the charts.  (For a much better Stylistics review, check out this recap of the show we saw back in 2016 when they brought out surprise special guests The New Kids On The Block to join them on stage … https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-stylistics.html)

From start to finish, Gerald McClendon and his Soulkeeper band didn’t miss a beat … or an opportunity to win over the crowd.  They have been making the rounds to most of Ron Onesti’s clubs sprinkled throughout the area (and came “all the way from Chicago” to perform in Saint Charles, Illinois Saturday Night!  Lol)  If you get the chance to catch their act, please do so … as you will be very pleasantly surprised.  (kk)

More info here: http://www.geraldmcclendon.com/

The brand new album by Huey Lewis and the News is out today (February 14^th) …

Here’s an update on what’s going on in Huey’s life these days … sounds like he’s got a pretty full schedule!

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8550839/huey-lewis-interview?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20Template%20BB:%20Multi%20Story%20-%202.0&utm_term=daily_digest

Hi, Kent -
After reading your comment about Billy Joel's "For the Longest Time," I had to comment (I may have mentioned this a while back) that it still sounds like The Tymes’ hit "So Much in Love" ... but it also shows that Billy has good taste in old top 40 tunes.

Mike

That’s the thing about Billy’s “An Innocent Man” album … it TOTALLY captures the sound and the feel of this era … it is a masterpiece in this regard … and Billy lovingly shows the influence (and his appreciation) of this music throughout the entire LP.  DEFINITELY worth picking up if you don’t already own it.  (My guess is you can’t listen to it less than three or four times in a single sitting!  Lol)  kk

From FH Reader (and Micky’s PR guy) David Salidor …

Micky Dolenz opened a NorthEast tour Saturday and Sunday night in Tucson, appearing with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. By all accounts, Dolenz, and his band, and the orchestra knocked it out of the park.

Here’s a shot of Dolenz performing before the crowd.

And, here are the remaining dates:

Wednesday, February 12: The Kate, Old Saybrook, CT

Thursday, February 13: The Center for Arts, Natick, MA

Friday, February 14: Palace Theatre, Manchester, NH

Saturday, February 22: Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA

Sunday, February 23: My Fathers Place, Roslyn, New York (two shows)

Friday, March 20: Iridium, NYC

Saturday, March 21: Iridium, NYC

Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28: Beatles On The Beach, Del Ray Beach, FLA

REMINDER: Jim Peterik will be making a special in-store appearance at the grand reopening of Barbara’s Books in the Burr Ridge Center tomorrow (Saturday, February 15^th) at 2 pm … singing songs and telling stories … and then sticking around afterwards to sign copies of his book “Through The Eye Of The Tiger,” copies of his brand new two-year calendar “Stars And Guitars” as well as copies of the brand new Ides Of March CD and double-vinyl LP “Play On” … and more.

This promises to be a very special and intimate experience so we hope you can make it out there.

PLUS:  You’ve still got time to register for the chance to win a pair of tickets to see The Ides Of March at The City Winery on Wednesday, March 4^th… ALWAYS a great show at an excellent venue.  Enter now by sending me an email atkk@forgottenhits.com… we’ll be picking our winners next Friday (February 21^st).  GOOD LUCK!!!  (kk) 

I have to admit that this one threw me for a bit of a surprise … who knew that ANY of these girls were still around … but it sounds like we recently lost Lynn Evans of The Chordettes …

kk:

Reminds how much we miss the Grim Reaper.

Frank B.

https://chroniclet.com/news/201619/lynn-evans-mand/?fbclid=IwAR0uMj1IrcpZPlvLwOZs41gFLqBUXikkSG7LwJVvL3Ue826l0kw4288GMM4

The Chordettes dominated the pop charts from 1954 – 1961.  Their #1 Hit “Mr. Sandman” has been used in countless movies and ad campaigns. The primary quartet of Lynn Evans, Janet Ertel, Carol Buschmann and Margie Needham are the girls featured on the majority of their hit records.  From this group, only Janet Ertel was a true original member.  
She teamed with Alice Mae Buschmann, Dottie Schwartz and Jinny Osborn in 1946 and the girls began singing together in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  After winning the top prize on his Talent Scouts radio program, the girls continued singing with Arthur Godfrey from 1949 – 1953.  (Group members fluctuated, especially in the early years … Alice Mae Buschmann was replaced by her sister-in-law, Carol Buschmann, Lynn Evans replaced Dottie Schwartz and Margie Needham replaced Jinny Osborn, finalizing the hit-making quartet.  You almost need a score card for this one!!!)

Ertel married Archie Bleyer, who owned Cadence Records.  (Think that may have been instrumental with the girls being signed to the label???)  Incredibly, her daughter Jackie married Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers, who also recorded for the label!  
Before you knew it, they placed ten songs on the National Top 40 Charts … “Mr. Sandman”  (#1 for seven weeks in both Cash Box and Music Vendor and three weeks in Billboard, 1954), “Humming Bird” (#6, 1955 in Cash Box but inexplicably not charting in Billboard), “Eddie, My Love” (#4, 1956), “Born To Be With You” (#4, 1956), “Lay Down Your Arms” (#16, 1956), “Just Between You And Me” (#8, 1957), “Lollipop” (#2, 1958, and still a popular tune today due to its use in movies and television commercials … our daughter’s Saxonettes even performed this one as part of their ‘50’s doo-wop medley!), “Zorro” (#17, 1958), “No Other Arms, No Other Lips” (#22, 1959) and “Never On Sunday” (#10, 1961)  kk

DIDJAKNOW?:  The Chordettes were one of the guests on the first nationally broadcast episode of American Bandstand on August 5^th, 1957.

Wow … from The Chordettes to Jimi Hendrix … ONLY in Forgotten Hits!!!

The other day we told you about the brand new, 50^th anniversary remastered edition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Band Of Gypsys” coming out on March 27^th.

Here, frequent FH contributor Harvey Kubernik shares the news on the Cave Hollywood website …

http://cavehollywood.com/songs-for-groovy-children-the-fillmore-east-concerts-by-jimi-hendrix-now-out/

A Forgotten Hits suggestion from reader Nikki Sloane: 

https://youtu.be/DVniQ-lhP0k 
RUBICON is a name I heard from my brother long ago.  It's definitely a forgotten hit and one of the local bands played it.  Weren't there guys in that band who went on to very famous ones?  What a gem this was!!!

Nikki

This one never charted here in Chicago … and, to the best of my knowledge, wasn’t even played here … not on the pop / Top 40 stations anyway.  It DID, however reach #26 on the national charts in 1978.

As far as the band members, according to Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles book, horn player Jerry Martini was a former member of Sly and the Family Stone and guitarist Brad Gillis and bassist Jack Blades would go on to form Night Ranger … quite a departure in sound from their hit single “I’m Gonna Take Care Of Everything.”  (kk)

Bob Shannon was a great disc jockey on WCBS-FM.  He did mostly afternoon drive time. 

One day, he wasn't on the radio -- no explanation. 

At first, I thought he was on vacation.  After a while, I thought maybe it was a leave of absence ... but he never did come back. I think he had health problems. 

When his wife had a baby boy, my mother knitted a blue sweater and I sent it to Bob.  One day, I'm about to sneak out of work early.  I’m just about to run out the door to catch my train and I hear Bob mention my name on the air.

He read the whole letter I sent him and thanked my mother for the sweater. 

That could never happen on today’s radio.
Here’s a sampling of his work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SoxfIqodyQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyFBr4QZKOM

FB

During the late sixties and early seventies, I was a regular at the Wild Goose held at the Elmhurst YMCA ... saw so many great groups there like REO, Mason Profitt, Chase, Rare Earth, Mark Lindsay, Alice Cooper and many other one hit wonders.   They moved the Wild Goose to Willowbrook High School where I then saw Siegel Schwall and Big Brother.  In the early 70s, there was a great club on Roosevelt Road by Lombard called Rush West. It was in the basement of a hotel, probably torn down by now. Great live music. The house band named Spice was really good. I saw Kansas there. Saw another band with a very young kid that looked like Billy Coragin ... great guitar player. Those days are kind of hazy now. The place was a dump but had really good bands every weekend. Have not heard anybody talk about Rush West. 

Rob Rossi

I remember the name but have never been there … maybe somebody else on the list can comment?  (kk)

I think I was there once, for a wet t-shirt contest. Too bad I can't share the pictures.

Guy Arnston

Well, that WOULD have been the highlight of today’s post!!!

Now instead we’ve got to go with THIS! …

After we ran Chuck Buell’s “Czech Czech” comment the other day, FH Reader Mike Wolstein responded with THIS cartoon …

February 16th, 1970

February 16, 2020, 4:00 am

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*****

1970:  February 16^th– Heavyweight Boxer Joe Frazier wins the undisputed World Heavyweight Title when he knocks out Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round.  (The title was up for grabs once Muhammad Ali was banned from boxing for draft evasion)

THIS WEEK IN 1970

February 17, 2020, 4:00 am

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February 17th – Jeffrey R. MacDonald kills his wife and children at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, claiming that “drugged-out hippies” did it.

Also on this date, Bee Gee Maurice Gibb opens in London in the stage musical “Sing A Rude Song”

February 18th – A jury finds The Chicago Seven defendants not guilty of conspiring to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. However, five of the seven are found guilty of the lesser charge of crossing state lines to incite a riot. (A new film commemorating these events is set for theatrical release later this year. Daughter Paige has a small cameo appearance!)

February 19^th– Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart appear on tonight’s episode of “Bewitched”

OLDIES MUSIC ... The End Is Here

February 18, 2020, 4:00 am

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It is now abundantly clear …

The music we love … OUR music … is about to become extinct ... at least in the "relevance" department.

I don’t know any other way to break the news …

But unfortunately, because of the way history is being documented today, most if not all of the songs and artists that shaped our lives will become forgotten afterthoughts … and I’m having a hard time coming to terms with this latest blow.

This is the headline that created this latest travesty …

Lil Wayne Passes Elvis for the Second-Most Top 40 Hot 100 Hits of All Time

Say what?!?!

But sadly, the facts are correct.

Because of the way music is tabulated today, NINE of the Top 12 Top 40 Artists of All Time were not even born yet when Presley ruled the charts … yet statistically they have taken over artists like Elvis and The Beatles to become the most successful Top 40 acts in history … on paper anyway.

As has always been a thorn in my side (and as we’ve pointed out DOZENS of times before in Forgotten Hits), the fact that Billboard now seems to only be interested in its era AFTER they renamed their weekly pop chart list The Hot 100, 26 of Elvis' earlier Top 40 Hits have been eliminated from his tally because they all hit the charts PRIOR to the first Hot 100 chart being published on August 4^th, 1958.   

Incredibly, Billboard FINALLY acknowledges what we’ve been bitching about for the past several years … hey, maybe somebody out there actually has been paying attention after all!!!  (I think it all goes back to that “squeaky wheel” theory!  Lol)

In their article announcing this MAJOR news, Billboard writes:

Notably, "I Do It" earns Lil Wayne his 82nd career top 40 Hot 100 hit, pushing him past Elvis Presley for the second-most in the chart's history. (Notably, the Hot 100 began in 1958, two years after Presley's commercial breakthrough.) Only Drake has more top 40 entries, with exactly 100.  

Here's an updated leaderboard:

Most Top 40 Hot 100 Hits

100, Drake
  82, Lil Wayne
  81, Elvis Presley
  63, Taylor Swift
  57, Elton John
  56, Kanye West
  54, Nicki Minaj
  51, Eminem
  51, Glee Cast
  50, The Beatles
  50, Jay-Z
  50, Rihanna

Lil Wayne's four Hot 100 debuts this week also bring his grand total of career entries to 167, the third-most in the chart's history, after Drake and the Glee Cast, who are tied with 207 each.

I’m sure 25 years from now … 50 years from now … after we’re all long gone and the next generations to follow will only have documentation like this to research popular music, (which clearly downplay ... actually, IGNORE ... the most interesting and exciting period in pop music history), they’ll all be singing the praises of how AMAZING Nicki Minaj and the Cast of "Glee" must have been to rank so highly on a list like this.  Just imagine the life-changing and incredible, long-lasting contributions they each must have made toward shaping the sounds of popular music to place in The Top 12.  (Sadly, it will be their only point of reference ... and who will be here to set them straight???  The legacy of our music is forever doomed ... what a SAD state of affairs!)

I guess to be fair, before we pass judgment on this travesty ... oops, too late! ... we should first examine the contributions of some of these "Leaderboard" artists … 

For example, the Cast of "Glee" placed 207 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart over a four year period … pretty incredible, right?  That's because immediately after each episode of the TV show aired, the music featured in that episode was available for download.  Good News:  The music featured on “Glee,” performed by the show's very charming and talented cast, introduced a whole new generation to the INCREDIBLE music of the ‘60’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s by bringing back and singing songs that the rest of us already knew and loved.  Bad News:  The attention span and popularity of  this "newfound" music lasted for about a minute.

Of the 207 songs charted by the cast, 198 of those songs disappeared off the chart in less than three weeks!  In fact, MOST charted for exactly ONE WEEK … truly one and done ... so of course THOSE entries should fairly be compared alongside the works CREATED by artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, The Beach Boys, Elvis, The Supremes and all the others who came before them, who were limited by their actual original hit songs being released on 45’s (and 45's only) that you had to go to your local record store to purchase, rather than having their entire catalog being available for download in your bedroom minutes later.

The longest ANY song by The Cast of “Glee” stayed on the charts was six weeks … and that was ONLY for their very first “hit,” a cover of Journey's rock classic “Don’t Stop Believin’” from the premier episode.  (For the record, this is also the ONLY song to make The Top Ten of their 283 actual charted tunes, including all of those that also “bubbled under” for a week.)

So if you ever want any of those future generations 25 to 50 years from now to discover the music that shapes OUR souls, it’s time to bury the time capsule NOW, people … because OUR music is obsolete … extinct … just like the dinosaurs we’ve all become … and there isn't going to be anybody around to refute these ridiculous chart stats that Billboard keeps publishing as though they hold ANY relevance to the reality of pop music history.  And it needs to stop ... it needs to be re-evaluated so that these eras of music can be compared FAIRLY when ranked side-by-side.

Because if Billboard is allowed to continue to document pop music history in this way, EVERYTHING that happened musically between 1955’s “Rock Around The Clock” and The Beach Boys’ comeback with “Kokomo” in 1988 will cease to exist, overshadowed instead by all of the music (and new statistical records) that are yet to come, qualified by this new method of documenting the hits.  (I wonder ... how many Lil Wayne, Drake and Jay-Z songs can YOU hum???  Is there a person alive who believes for a second that ANY of these songs are more significant or life-changing than The Beatles'"Yesterday" or "She Loves You," Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Elvis'"Hound Dog," Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" or The Beach Boys'"Good Vibrations?"  Yet THIS is the way they are being represented.)

The REAL shame is that Billboard Magazine, perhaps more so than anybody else , knows better.  There is absolutely NO way to compare these chart performances fairly and accurately side by side when the criteria for determining the chart life of each artist is so drastically different ... and yet they continue to do so without even the slightest hint of relevance, apology or context.  Shame on you, Billboard ... of ALL people.

It needs to stop ... and it needs to stop NOW.

But in the meantime ... until it does ... until this ridiculous measurement of popularity is re-evaluated and changed ...

I hate to be the one to break it to you … but it’s over.

OLDIES MUSIC

On the PLUS side … publications like Forgotten Hits … and oldies radio stations around the world and all over the internet are going to continue to feature, cherish and promote the music that shaped our lives.  We’re not giving up … we’re going to continue saving the oldies, even if that means one song at a time.  Spread the word, people … Oldies Music Lives Here!!!  (Nicki Minaj be damned!!!)  kk

OUR MUSIC

February 19, 2020, 4:01 am

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Hi Kent,
When I began my chart research in 1965, I began with the first Hot 100 chart in 1958. Realizing that all of the classic Elvis Presley, Platters, Chuck Berry and Little Richard hits were not represented in my research, I had to hold up publication of my research until they were accounted for - which meant I had to do three and a half more years of research to get all of the rock and roll classics included. Billboard tabulates their all-time hits beginning with the debut of the Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1958. I've talked to Silvio Pietroluongoand others at Billboard as to these missing rock 'n roll classics and I do believe that they will soon tabulate those missing early years of the rock era.
I sat with Silvio two years ago in NYC and he showed me a print out of that week's top ranked songs - over 10,000 titles! The biggest change in the charts today is the streaming factor, which accounts for approximately 85% of the Hot 100 points. It's how this generation is getting their music.
Unfortunately for oldies fans like you and me, it's a completely different music atmosphere out there. Rap and hip-hop completely dominate the charts, leaving little room for rock and adult contemporary titles. I'm patiently waiting for a new "sound" to take over the charts, the same way Elvis and The Beatles did in 1956 and 1964, respectively.
In the meantime, I pour through my chart books of the '50s & '60s and realize just how lucky we were in those decades to have weekly charts that were plumb full of great pop, rock, R&B, country and adult contemporary genres of music. What a great mix of music and we believed it would always be that way.
The streaming factor today means that it is highly unfair to compare today's chart hits with those of yesteryear. In the early years, up until 1998, album cuts were not allowed to chart on the Hot 100. Today, a whole album full of cuts can make the charts in one week.
Because of the streaming factor, which began in earnest in 2007, I have drastically changed my overall ranking of artists from that point on. I came up with a new formula with help from Billboard's chart director, Silvio Pietroluongo. Because of the unfairness in comparing today's top artists with those from earlier in the rock era, I will have to formulate a whole new ranking system that would completely separate the two distinct eras.
I'll give you more info as we devise new methods. In the meantime, have no fear … all of your favorite artists and songs will NEVER be forgotten!!!
Sincerely,
Joel Whitburn

Billboard’s Programmer of the Year, Scott Shannon, explains just how complicated it is to decipher what’s going on with the charts these days … and the frustration is abundantly clear.

Suffice to say that there is NO accurate way to compare the charts of yesteryear and the way they were compiled alongside the charts and the methodology used today … and, as such, they should NOT be compared as “equals” since the criteria is so DRASTICALLY different.  At the very least, it may be time to define “The Top 40 Era” of 1955 – 1985 (?) 1990 (?) vs. the digital age of music that’s been with us ever since.  (As pointed out numerous times in this column, a record staying on Billboard’s Hot 100 for six months to a year is much more common place today whereas back in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, a HUGE hit song might stick around for about twelve weeks.  That’s because that era was SO creative and so competitive that artists were releasing sometimes 3-4 singles … and, in some cases, up to 3 ALBUMS within a single year!!!  As Joel Whitburn points out above, today an artist can chart EVERY track on their new album during its debut week as long as the downloading totals are high enough.  (Can you even imagine what the charts might have looked like in the ‘60’s had the same ground rules applied to artists like The Monkees and The Beatles, whose album tracks got played almost like they were singles just due to the sheer popularity of these artists???)

Anyway, Scott Shannon’s reluctant comments show, if nothing else, just how confusing and frustrating these chart comparisons have become …

Kent –

I would love to comment but is such a complicated situation and such BS, that I feel ill-equipped to explain my feelings and thoughts … but if you try to break it down to simple terms, it’s merely a case of comparing apples to oranges and, quite frankly, it’s actually ridiculous to try. 

It’ two completely different eras of music and two different systems of ranking the popularity of the songs. The whole damn controversy is a dumpster fire.
Yeah, I know I wasn’t going to comment … but I guess kinda did.

SS

At the very least, Billboard should stop comparing the statistics of the pre-digital era side-by-side with the statistics compiled by the way people buy their music today … as it truly IS apples to oranges.  In fact, there is nothing even remotely similar … so all recaps should be SPLIT to distinguish what the basis is for each chart’s results.  (Certainly Billboard, of all people, should know this … they’re well into their second hundredth year of documenting this information.  When Billboard first started publishing charts in the late 1800’s, the benchmark was sheet music sales.  Would they ever have compared sheet music sales to the sale of records purchased by teenagers once the 45 became the main source of musical enjoyment?  Of course not.  They have a responsibility as “The Music Bible” to take these trends into consideration … and ACCURATELY report the truth in this area.)

The single, for all intents and purposes, phased out in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s.  Sure, they tried cassette singles for a while (a major flop) … and even CD singles.  For a while there, if you only wanted the hit song by an artist you had to go somewhere like Tower Records and purchase the import single on CD.  So draw a line that clearly defines the two different eras.  (Honestly, the end of the single signaled the end of The Top 40 Era … music simply isn’t measured the same way anymore … so just wrap that up as the bygone days of pop music.  Pop music TODAY doesn’t represent pop music … or Top 40 music anymore.)

On a side note, if Elvis’ first 26 Top 40 Hits were allowed toward his tally, he’d actually pull ahead of Drake by a few points … at least until Drake releases his next album and all 10-12 of THOSE songs make The Hot 100.  From 1955 – 1958, Billboard ran multiple charts each week measuring the relative popularity of then current hit music.  If you eliminated the DJ Picks and the Jukebox Plays, you’d still have their weekly Top 100 Chart … as well as their Best Sellers In Stores Chart to follow, either of which would accurately paint a picture of what was hot at the time.  Granted, consolidating all of these charts into one MASTER Chart, and calling it The Hot 100, was a GREAT idea at the time … once and for all, we knew the real deal.  But it really isn’t fair to eliminate the previous works of those artists represented on this new chart simply because Billboard came up with a new way of ranking the hits.  For the very same reason, it isn’t fair today to rank music downloaded … or YouTube plays … or Spotify streaming … against the only way we could purchase our music at the time, from 1955 – 1985 … which was to get up out of the house, get into our cars and DRIVE, walk or bike to our nearest neighborhood record store to BUY it.  Apples to Oranges indeed!!!  (kk)

You hit the nail on the head, sir.

Mike Wolstein

There is hope - Tommy James’ radio shows on Sirius / XM  is in its second year and it is very successful - we get emails from younger folks commenting on how much they like hearing the back stories of the great artists of the 60s - they are listening!!! And maybe that can develop a demand again for radio stations to re-think oldies shows and classic rock shows.  When I go to colleges and universities to talk to their communication students interested in getting into the music business, I refer to many of my previous clients - I ask if they know the artists and I get “of course.”  They tell  me that there are only a few new artists that they listen to – Wow!  That’s enlightening!

Carol Ross

What we have found … what we have ALWAYS found … is that if you expose young people to the music of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, they will respond in a positive way … it’s catchy, “feel good” music that sticks in your head … music with a MELODY (what a concept!!!)  Music that doesn’t have to be bleeped out EVERY line in order to get played on the radio.  Music that will outlive virtually EVERYTHING that is being played today.  So let Billboard’s Charts reflect THAT … and NOT how Taylor Swift is officially bigger than The Beatles.  No, she’s not … in what universe would ANYBODY believe that?!?!  Taking nothing away from Taylor Swift … she has definitely found her niche and her audience … and is in every way a MAJOR star … but bigger than the artists who dominated the chart scene when we were growing up?  I think not.  (I’m going to stop here … before she takes it upon herself to write a song about me!!!)  kk

Hi Kent:

If I might attempt to shed a bit of optimism on your (premature) obituary for Oldies music ...

Now, I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination; I'm just writing from my gut ... but it seems to me that Billboard has been allowed way too much reverence as the be-all and end-all of how we measure music popularity. Yes, it's been around for over a century, and has long been an industry standard … (back when I worked in a number of record stores -- when they existed -- we always displayed our 45s in the order of popularity according to Billboard) … but maybe we shouldn't allow the raw, numerical data the magazine computes in arriving at the Hot 100 to tell us what music has been the most successful (or certainly the most influential.)  Other top music magazines have their own "hot" lists, too, and not always with identical results.

This reminds me of the fact that while movies like "Avengers" or "Avatar" are the top money-making movies of all time, more people have still probably seen "Gone With The Wind" or "Star Wars" -- rising ticket prices will obviously affect net profits, but counting how many people have actually paid to see a given film -- or, perhaps more importantly, have considered it their favorite or most memorable -- is not so easy to calculate.

As for music, will the general population likely be singing Drake or Lil Wayne songs 50 years from now, as we sing 50-year-old Beatles songs today? Pretty doubtful.  There are so many factors that go into the life (or death) of a musical genre or artist, way beyond the numbers issued by the all-mighty Billboard.

If I may offer a little anecdote that may seem a bit off-topic (but isn't):

Lately, I've been obsessed with a jazz music school in Barcelona, the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, in which teens -- and even pre-teens -- are taught only jazz standards from the 1920s - 1950s, along with some Brazilian bossa nova, as well.

The kids are remarkable musicians and singers, and some are genuine prodigies, by any standard. They live and breathe the music of many decades ago, giving concerts and recording albums at a dizzying rate. I wish my parents were still around to see how these young people today (in Spain, no less!) are playing and singing standards made popular by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, et.al. to great popularity throughout Europe and beyond -- songs that my parents grew up with so long ago, and listened to throughout their lives. I've even written a few online articles about the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, partly because it is helping keep swing music alive at a time when you'd expect these young musicians to be listening to the very acts currently on the Billboard Hot 100.  My point being that great music will never truly die or be forgotten, and could pop up again to be revived in the least likely places.

So, take heart, and please break free of Billboard's monolithic grip on who is or isn't the "best-selling" artist at any given moment in time. It doesn't matter. It's only a magazine, and numbers don't tell the whole story, or record the passion people like you put into Oldies music and its history. We all decide for ourselves who's popular to us (my music collection might not resemble that of many of your readers in any way -- so, who's to say which collection is more relevant?)

I hope this jumble of thoughts makes sense to either you, or someone out there. 

All is not lost!

--Garry Berman

Hey Kent,
The oldies aren't going anywhere ...
I asked a friend (currently out on tour with The Eagles), “What do you think of my 'New Oldie'?”
He offered ... “I think you really nailed it, and would love to add a full string section.”
It's the avenue for getting The 'New Oldies' out there, so folks can get involved.
Forgotten Hits has provided coverage of many of The Oldies Artists from the late 50's and early 60's … artists that are still doing their thing … and we thank you for that.
L J Coon

Hi Kent -

GREAT email on the Legacy of Our Music!

It will be up to people like you that keep the Oldies Alive, Oldies But Goodies Radio Stations and Oldies Concerts ...

Each generation has their favorite kind of music, but honoring the other generations’ music is just as important.

This Christmas my 16 year old great nephew wanted to borrow a couple of my Beach Boy CD's ... so there is still hope!!!!! 

Rock On, Kent!

Carolyn

My experience has been that if they try it, they’ll like it … and soon develop their own list of favorites … a hundred times more addictive than crack … and so much better for you!  (kk)

Hey Kent,
Man, I hear ya ... I'm so glad we got to expose our kids and grandkids to real music while we had the chance. They love it to this day and have the same dim view we take on "today's" tunes.
Short of maybe Adele, and a couple of others that are played on the Top 40, I just quit listening to it all together.  Thank God we have oldies stations, and you, my friend, to help keep our music alive. It's appreciated deeply.
Ok ... off my soapbox now. 

Bud, have a great week and catch a breath when ya can.
Later!
Barry 

>>>We’re not giving up … we’re going to continue saving the oldies, even if that means one song at a time.  Spread the word, people … Oldies Music Lives Here!!!  (Nicki Minaj be damned!!!)  kk 

AMEN, Kent ...

When I first started reading your blog, I thought that you were quitting ...

(Phew ... that was a close one!) 

I have to believe that we can pass the great music on to the next generation just by listening to it and singing it in their presence. My grandson knows "Blue Moon,""Surfin’ Bird,""Purple People Eater,""Oh, Sweet Pea" and others … so, in other words, I go around singing these songs all day long while my little four year old grandson visits me. He says "You know a lot of songs, Grandma."  Very cute. 

I have to believe that there are so many of us baby boomers around that the oldies will remain alive for a very long time. I still know songs from the 1920's and 30's.  The tv commercials are featuring some of the oldies songs … and the movies, restaurants and PBS specials do as well. So there are fans who want to keep the music going. 

A good song will always take on a life of its own and an existence of its own no matter what genre. All that we can hope to do is keep the music alive in our own ways. 

You are right though … I can’t name one song by Lil whatever or Big G, etc. (I don't think many of us can!)  I can name a couple songs by Bruno Mars and Lenny Kravitz.

I am doing my best to keep the music and the excitement of the music from our generation alive.  I am "Keepin the Faith."  Yaay, Yaay, Yaay.   Stay positive. 

Sandy

I like quite a bit of the “new” music that has come out over the past twenty years … although most of the artists who rank highest on Billboard’s list have never really been on their radar.  I’m sure some of it must be pretty good or they wouldn’t have had as many hits as they have.

It’s the COMPARISON factor that bothers me … not that they’re having a lot of hits … but on today’s chart all twelve tracks of a new album can make The Hot 100 the day they are released … so of COURSE the tally is going to rack up a whole lot faster … and to a far greater number.

Truth is The Top 40 Era passed 30-35 years ago … some might even say 40 years ago.  It’s not the same make-up as it once was … and, as such, shouldn’t be compared “equally” when, in fact, it’s not.  And Billboard (of ALL people) knows better.  I don’t care about the statistics … I just don’t want these comparisons to be left for future generations to discover because they totally skew reality.  This is NOT the measurement that should be used to determine relative popularity.  (kk)

Hi Kent: 

I know it's pathetic to see how these modern day charts are depressing us, but it should be understood that modern charts are not the same as when we were following them. It's silly to even compare them. Glee is a perfect example. It has nothing in common with older charts except for a monetary component. Think now if the Beatles or Elvis were releasing all their records today, you would be downloading individual tracks from LP's and not just calculating the chosen 45's. So, instead of two Top 40 hits off of "Revolver," The Beatles might have had 11 Top 40 hits off of "Revolver."

What Joel Whitburn should have done / or should do is compile a 45 Era book from 1949 - 1989 basically. That would represent the comparison of 45 sales, etc. You could then have a modern chart book with how things are measured these days. It makes more sense than trying to measure Elvis 45's against every Lil' Wayne song.

Ken

See Joel’s comments above that kick off today’s post.  He is already looking at ways to better evaluate this new methodology of ranking the hits … and has been in talks with Billboard about doing the same.  I’m just saying that until they come up with one, Billboard should refrain from publishing the comparisons they do.  I swear it seems like a new record of some sort is broken almost weekly these days!  (kk) 

I’m extremely dismayed to read that Lil Wayne has had more Top 40 hits than The King, at least according to Billboard’s calculations. If you had asked me which artists would be on the list of the most Top 40 hits, I never would have guessed that there would only be three oldies artists, or that the cast of freaking Glee would show up!

I was born in 1981, so I never experienced the rush of running to a record store to buy the latest 45s, but I’ve grown up on music from the ‘50s through the ‘70s in large part because my parents listened to it and I fell in love with it. My music collection - mainly CDs and digital files - comprises of songs from all decades, but I love oldies music more than anything else. It truly is timeless and holds up so well. Today’s music trends tend to shift so quickly that I can’t imagine most of the current hit songs being relevant in five to ten years, unlike the music I love, which people still enjoy decades later.

I get excited when commercials feature oldies, especially obscure tunes, or when a new CD comes out with oldies I don’t already own. “Discovering” old songs for the first time is a pretty cool feeling. So I’ll certainly keep listening to these old tunes - and I’m not someone who’s contributing to Lil Wayne’s success!

Colin Donahue

I rest my case.  (kk)

Kent,

Your rant about “the end is near” has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

You're not the first person to refer to the music as "our music" ... I see it all the time in various music groups I'm a part of.  Boomers do not have a copyright on music on music from 1955 -1972 and 1973 -1990. It is music we grew up with, but it's not "our" music.

So what … your parents or your children can't like it because it's "ours?" 

Does that mean we can't enjoy the music of Paul Whiteman on one end and Drake on the other end because it's a different era? 

It's been established that we are the most fond of the events that happened during our time as teens and young adults.  Indeed, the music of the last half of the 60s, was very much a salvation for me during my teens, as it truly is the only part of my youth that I can look back fondly upon. It's only natural then to look back fondly at the tunes that were on the radio 50 years ago.

Music is constantly changing. Today's Top 40 is not meant for you, nor does it pretend to be. It's probably not meant for your kids anymore either, as they have begun to age out as well.

The Top 40 of our youth was not meant for our parents. Raise your hand if you had a parent who chided you for listening to that "crap."  Speaking of your kids, within a dozen years, they'll be saying the same thing about that their kids are listening to. In short, you've become your parents. You are the Establishment.

Then you take on Billboard. Unless you're an industry insider, Billboard magazine is very dry reading. It is not a magazine that translates well to average music fans, and it doesn't pretend to be. It is a trade journal that reflects the state of the music industry today, not 50 years ago, or more. Their calculations on the status of a given song has changed over the years. We all used to assume that a #1 song was #1 because it sold more copies than the #2 song. It's not true and never was.

In the beginning, charts were tabulated by sheet music sales. Should we go back to that, since 45s didn't become the standard bearer until much later? Now, since singles are no longer mass produced, what standard do we use? Obviously, downloads are probably the best of any number poor choices. (I've never downloaded anything.)

Next we come to the "awful" realization that with the new method of calculations, Elvis is not the "King." 

I’ve got news for all of you … Elvis isn't the King. He's not even close.

The top artist of all time is the previously mentioned Paul Whiteman. He has almost double Elvis' point total.

Now at least one of you will say, but it was a different era, the charts were determined differently, the music was different. OK, if that's the case, are you telling me there's no difference between Elvis and Drake? Do you believe that the current era has lasted 65 years? It hasn't. 

The entertainment industry is constantly changing. The Rock And Roll Era probably died about 1990 with the discontinuation of mass production of singles. (CD singles never caught on.)  You could say it began as the 45 RPM took over from the 78 RPM, about 1955.

There's new adult rock out there, but don't look for it on Top 40.  And we've already determined what a waste of time a classic rock format is. So you either have to listen to satellite radio or college radio. Either way, it's out there.  If you care enough about the genre, you'll find it. 

Also consider the fact that your lifestyle is different than it was 50 years ago. Do you listen to the radio every waking hour? I'd wager you only listen while you're in the car. 

The end is NOT here, despite what anyone says.

Jack

I think you’re missing the main point of my rant … (yes, I call it a rant, too … in fact, I’m famous for them!  Lol)

What I’m saying is you cannot fairly and accurately compare these two different eras of music side by side.  (If what you’re saying is true … and I’m not certain that it is … then why isn’t Paul Whiteman at the top of these lists?)

The simple answer to that question is “Because he didn’t chart on The Hot 100.”

Forget all that he did BEFORE The Hot 100 list debuted in August of 1958 … it’s irrelevant.  So are Elvis’ first 26 Top 40 Hits … and everything recorded by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra before August of ’58, too.

It’s fine to define the perimeters of time measurement … 1958 thru today … but you CANNOT fairly and accurately compare The Cast Of “Glee” charting 200+ sides for one week each and say that they belong in the same league as Elvis or The Beatles!

But even THAT isn’t the real point of my rant and rave …

The REAL point isn’t what WE all think TODAY … we all know better than to think that Drake or Lil Wayne or Nicki Minaj are bigger than Elvis or The Beatles … there isn’t a Forgotten Hits Reader out there dumb enough to believe that this can be the case … my rant and rave was for the benefit of US … those who know better.

It was the genuine concern that 25 years from now … 50 years from now … when people interested in discovering popular music’s past stumble across the RIDICULOUS list that Billboard Magazine published this week listing the most important artists based on the number of Top 40 Hits they each had, they may stop there and determine that this is a real fact … an actual statistic … so it must be so.  Heaven forbid they don’t investigate any further.  Heaven forbid they don’t listen to the music of the ‘50’s and ‘60’s and ‘70’s and weigh it against these so-called superstars make music in the 2000’s, 2010’s and now 2020’s.  THAT is my real and genuine concern … and yes, I will attack Billboard Magazine for spouting out this crap because they know better and have always been a FAR more responsible and respected publication.  It’s not that I hate today’s music … I actually like quite a bit of today’s music and, unlike you, have downloaded my fair share of it … because it IS the only way to get music for your personal collection these days.

I listen to the radio every single day … in the car … at work … at home … I wake up to it … and I fall asleep to it … it has been part of my life for so long now that I can’t imagine a day without it.  (I flipped out the other night when Me-TV-FM’s signal was so weak that I had to change the station for my 30 minute “drift off to sleep” nightly ritual!!!)
I also see on a daily basis the way new generation has embraced this music once they've been exposed to it.  MY concern is the way a publication as well-respected as Billboard can dismiss it by ranking the achievements of the artists we grew up with alongside those that are establishing their mark with the way the charts are calculated today.  It simply isn't a fair comparison ... yet this is the information generations to come will be left with to determine its importance and significance.

I call it “our music” because I’m speaking here for the whole class, most of which grew up with the music of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s … and nothing could be further from the truth than your comment about the “ownership” meaning that our kids and our parents can’t enjoy it too … or stake their claim to it … because our parents DID enjoy a lot of this music … and our kids … and now our grandkids … do, too.

“Our Music” is universal … it appeals to anyone who gives it a chance.  THAT’S what makes it “Our Music.”

So that ends THIS rant (for the time being anyway!)  Thanks to anyone still reading or listening!  (kk)

IN CLOSING:

It seems a necessity to me at this time (since Billboard has apparently no interest in doing so or including them) to recount the Rock And Roll Era Hits that happened BEFORE they switched over the name of their weekly chart to The Hot 100 … because SO many great rock and roll classics hit the charts between 1954 and August of 1958 that simply CANNOT be ignored or disqualified from their rightful place in the history of this music.

For example, Elvis had 34 chart hits during this period … Chuck Berry had 9, Little Richard 16, The Platters 20, Buddy Holly 10, Jerry Lee Lewis 5 … even mainstream artists like Pat Boone, who was primarily covering R&B tunes at the time had 31 … and that’s just to name a few.

We’ll be putting together a list of ESSENTIAL pre-Hot 100 Rock Hits in the near future … it just might blow your mind as to which rock and roll classics Billboard is now dismissing and ignoring with this latest round of rewriting pop music history.

Stay tuned!  (kk)

Thursday This And That

February 20, 2020, 4:00 am

≫ Next: THE FRIDAY FLASH

≪ Previous: OUR MUSIC

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Kent:

Here’s another exclusive for you! 

Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon is returning to the Chicago area this fall.  He had such a terrific time working with Arcada Theatre music maestro Ron Onesti, he’s returning with two of his close pals, original lead singer Jay Siegel’s Tokens and TV favorite Svengoolie!

Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 13th. 

In the meantime, a video archivist in Boston has unearthed a rare TV video of Freddy performing one of his earliest hits.  On the video, he’s being introduced by legendary Boston DJ Arnie “Woo Woo” Ginsburg of WMEX, who was the very first radio guy to air Freddy’s music at the beginning of his career.  Arnie is still alive and in his 90s living in Maine.

Unlike a lot of the music TV shows of that time (1965) that requested the artists to lip synch, Freddy was singing live on this clip:

Kent, Freddy looks forward to seeing you again on this second visit to the Arcada.

-Tom Cuddy

This is GREAT news, Tom … Freddy, we can’t wait to see you again.

Further proof that you can’t keep a good man down … after another health issue sidelined the “Boom Boom” Rocker about a year ago, Freddy is back up on stage knocking ‘em dead again at the ripe young age of 83!!!

If you missed the show last time, you’ll definitely want to get onboard this time around! And Jay Siegel will blow you away as well!  (kk)

On a recent rock and roll cruise, here’s Bowzer from Sha Na Na hangin’ with Jay Siegel (Tokens) and Freddy Cannon.

From Pam Pulice, the woman behind the Dick Biondi film documentary …

GREAT NEWS!

Dick has been inducted into the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum!  Congratulations to Dick from all of us here on the Dick Biondi Film team!
Here is the announcement made on Facebook on Friday by Museum Founder Ron Romero:

"And the votes have been tabulated ...

On Sunday, March 29th, 2020 the Charter Members of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 will induct: Chicago, Cheap Trick, The Ides of March, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, The Buckinghams, REO Speedwagon, WLS Radio, Chess Records, Thirsty Whale, and Larry Lujack.

The Founder's Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Dick Biondi, who will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame."

For a man who dedicated his life to rock and roll, it is fitting for Dick to be honored with many of the artists he promoted during his legendary six decade career.  And we are delighted to say that Chicago, The Buckinghams, and the Ides of March are all featured in the Dick Biondi documentary!  Congratulations to all!   

It's a Twin Spin Weekend this weekend on Me-TV-FM …

Rick O’Dell tells us …

It'll be "Deuces Wild" this coming Saturday and Sunday, our first ever "Twin-Spin Weekend." Twice every hour we'll be playing two songs back-to-back by a timeless and memorable artist. As a bonus, throughout the weekend, we'll also be shining our spotlight on a select group of artists -- those who had two and only two hit songs: Two-Hit Wonders! We'll be playing their only two hits back-to-back throughout the weekend, too!  (Or is that two???)

You can Listen Live here …

https://www.radio.com/metvfmmke/listen#.W6oi2vZRfcs

And congratulations to Me-TV-FM here in Chicago, who just made another huge leap in the ratings to fall just outside The Top Ten ... a REMARKABLE feat for a low-wattage station difficult to pick up everywhere.  (First you've got to find a car radio whose dial even goes down that far!!!  It's getting tougher and tougher ... which is why I stream the feed out of Milwaukee when I'm at work, just to keep tabs on all the great music they're playing.  (kk)

Hey Kent

Just a heads up on an upcoming show ...

End of the month there will be a Davy Jones Tribute show and some very cool artists will be appearing.

I think it's about time for something like this to be done for Davy. 

Ron Dante

Man, I wish I could go to all this stuff!!!  VERY cool.  (And they just had the recent Monkees Convention tied into Peter Tork's birthday.)  Michael Nesmith posted a nice tribute to Peter on YouTube, too ...



Here’s a GREAT article and interview with Carol Kaye, submitted by FH Reader David Salidor.  (Carol, of course, was the premier bass player for The Wrecking Crew … but don’t ever refer to them that way in front of her!  Lol)

https://pleasekillme.com/carol-kaye/

Another great interview … with Dave Clark … can be found here …

https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/dave-clark-five-interview-all-the-hits-british-invasion/

And an anniversary piece on Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good” hitting #1 on February 15^th, 175 …

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/linda-ronstadt-youre-no-good/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=newsletter_4572276

OK … now that we’ve referred you to several OTHER great pieces on the music we love, here are a few comments we received on our recent postings …

Hey buddy,

I just wanted to stop by and say THANK YOU for the plug awhile back - was hoping to catch some of the listeners that have enjoyed the show when it was back on Y103.9.

Meanwhile, I just found out about this listener this morning as she was writing about a technical issue we had - this email was forwarded to me from out engineer, BUT I wanted to send it to you and once again thank you and your website for your dedication to preserving the music … it WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the email the station got:

As a former fan of Jeff James's awesome Saturday Night Live @ the 70's show on Y103.9, I was SO happy to find the show's new home on 101.5FM! A tip o'the hat to Kent Kotal and his "Forgotten Hits" blog for the news.
Jeff, you are THE BEST EVER (okay, a close tie with Rick O'Dell and Me-TV FM) and I am listening to the show on February 15th as I write this.

What a great mix of tunes, comedy, theme songs, etc.. Where else could you hear "Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys,""Ariel,""King Tut," Janis Joplin and "Dave's Not Here" all in the same show?? Love it!
One note to the station engineers, please ... I was not happy when the online feed quit twice tonight and took a while to return. Please do whatever is needed to make sure the music keeps on keepin' on - we need this show now more than ever.
Thank you, Jeff, for all the great music, and thank you Huntley Community Radio for keeping this show on the air!
Sincerely,
Audrey R.
Wheeling, IL

That’s what we’re all about, Jeff … keeping the music alive … and (as you can see by our rant-out earlier this week) it’s gonna take a village to make that happen … so kudos to you for doing YOUR part to keep these tunes spinnin’.

There’s no happier music around … and I truly believe the whole world would be a happier place if we could all just lose ourselves in the sounds of the ‘50’s, ‘60’s, ‘70’s and early ‘80’s!  (kk)

Hi Kent,

Here's a link to an article calling "Maybe I'm Amazed" Paul's wake-up song from his Beatles break up funk.

Without this one song, it's likely we'd not hear much from Paul for awhile yet.  

The song was written 50 years ago this month.  Remember, this was during the time of the "Paul is dead" rumour.

How "Maybe I'm Amazed" brought Paul McCartney back to life

Dann

I still can’t believe that Paul didn’t issue this as a single back then … it was a sure-fire #1 Hit and would have made him the first Beatle to earn a #1 solo hit.  Instead, no single was released from the album … and George took those honors for “My Sweet Lord” a few months later.  (On the plus side, it did earn George some early street cred as a solo artist … I think everybody figured that John and Paul would each do fine on their own … but there were concerns that George and Ringo made fade into obscurity.  As it turns out, Ringo also had a few #1 records under his own name on the national charts:  “It Don’t Come Easy” (#1 in Cash Box and Record World in 1971), “Photograph” and “You’re Sixteen,” which topped all three national trades in 1973 and 1974 respectively, and “The No No Song,” which hit #1 in Cash Box in 1975.  John Lennon also had four national #1 Hits:  “Imagine” (incredibly, #1 in Record World only, 1971), “Whatever Gets You Through The Night” and “(Just Like) Starting Over,” #1 in all three trades in 1974 and 1980 respectively, and “Woman,” #1 posthumously in Cash Box.

George Harrison had three:  “My Sweet Lord” (#1, 1970), “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)”, 1973 and “Got My Mind Set On You” (#1, 1988).

Macca, as expected, hit the top spot as many times as all of the others combined:  “Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey” (1971), “My Love” (1973), “Live And Let Die” (1973), “Band On The Run” (1974), “Listen To What The Man Said” (1975), “Silly Love Songs” (1976), “Let ‘Em In” (1976), “With A Little Luck” (1978), “Coming Up (Live At Glasgow),” 1980, “Ebony And Ivory” (with Stevie Wonder,, 1982), “Say Say Say” (with Michael Jackson, 1983).  (kk)

>>>RUBICON is a name I heard from my brother long ago.  Weren't there guys in that band who went on to very famous ones? (Nikki)

>>>According to Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles book, horn player Jerry Martini was a former member of Sly and the Family Stone and guitarist Brad Gillis and bassist Jack Blades would go on to form Night Ranger … quite a departure in sound from their hit single “I’m Gonna Take Care Of Everything.”  (kk)

Johnny Colla, who played guitar, would become a founding member of Huey Lewis and the News.

Nikki

Whitburn’s book makes no mention of Johnny Colla in regards to Rubicon … he shows the rest of the band as being Greg Eckler on vocals and drums, Mike Haskett and Dennis Marcellino on horns and Jim Pugh on keyboards.  Perhaps Colla was a latter-day member of Rubicon?  But by 1978-1979, he had already teamed up with Huey Lewis and in 1982, Huey Lewis and the News were already hitting the charts on their own ... so the timing just doesn’t seem to work right.  (kk)

UPDATE:  I did a little more digging and can’t find a Rubicon connection … even Johnny’s own website makes any mention of them … but it DOES state that he also played with Sly and the Family Stone for a spell …

For close to four decades now, Johnny Colla has been a fixture on the San Francisco Bay Area music scene and beyond. Probably best known as saxman / guitarist / vocalist / songwriter with Huey Lewis and The News, Johnny's professional career goes back to the early seventies when Van Morrison picked his band up for a couple tours. No more than a year later, Johnny landed a seat playing with Sly and The Family Stone and, as he likes to recall, Sly "taught me everything not to do in the music business." Proof that if you look hard enough there's a life lesson in every experience.
There were other attempts at a career and success along the way, but throughout it all Johnny and Huey were conspiring to start something new back in Marin County. By the end of the seventies and several name changes later ("The Fools,""The Meteors," and "American Express" amongst others) the band settled on "The News." Over the next year or so the lads were feverishly writing, recording and performing whenever they could, for whoever would have them. By 1979 "Huey Lewis and The News" landed a record deal and they were off and running; the rest is a rich, intoxicating  history, and a few chapters have yet to be written.

-Johnny Colla

His very extensive discography doesn’t mention them either … so I’m thinking he was never a member.  (kk)

https://johnnycolla.com/discography

And, speaking of Huey Lewis, he’s all over the “news” again, thanks to his new LP being released last Friday.  (It’s the band’s first release of predominately new, original material since the band released “Plan B” in 2001!) 

Check out THIS interesting interview with Huey:

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/huey-lewis-regrets/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=newsletter_4572276

Huey’s biggest album with the band was 1983’s “Sports,” which topped Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart for seven weeks in early 1984.  The new LP is called “Weather” … so you’re now able to complete the ultimate Huey Lewis album collection with “The News,” “Weather” and “Sports.”  (kk)

Kent,

That was a good breakdown you did of members of the Chordettes. Like you, I assumed that they had probably all passed on.  And No, I did not know offhand that the Chordettes were one of the guests on the very first nationally broadcast show of American Bandstand.

I double checked my American Bandstand book that covers the history of the show and the first show was telecast on August 5, 1957. The Chordettes lip-synched  JUST BETWEEN YOU AND ME and the other guest that day was Billy Williams doing I'M GOING TO SIT RIGHT DOWN AND RIGHT MYSELF A LETTER. Incidentally in case you didn't know or had forgotten, Jerry Lee Lewis' WHOLE LOT OF SHAKIN' GOIN' ON was the first record spun on AB.

You exclaimed that going from the Chordettes to Jimi Hendrix could only happen in FH. You know if this were the 1960's (mid to late) and the Chordettes were still putting out records that were worthy of playing and buying, probably on the traditional top 40 radio stations they would have been on the playlist. As you know, back in the sixties, variety was the word.

Larry

Oh yes … and those are the days WE all remember and cherish. THESE days everything is over-formatted to the point to sound like one big mega mix … it’s hard to tell where one song ends and another begins … but back in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, we enjoyed and appreciated the blend and, as a result, were exposed to ALL different types on music within the same playlist … rock, country, soul … from Motown to The Beach Boys … from Jimi Hendrix to the psychedelia of Jefferson Airplane … and literally EVERYTHING (“They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haa!” anyone?) in between.  (kk)

Larry also tells us …

I just saw a network commercial (twice) during the last hour and a half. It was for a GMC Arcadia. What was interesting was that in the background was a singer who was doing his worst impersonation of Chuck Berry doing a take-off on JOHNNY B. GOOD. Chuck probably is turning over in his grave.

Larry

I’m guessing you mean this one (???) …

Meanwhile, there’s also that OTHER commercial running right now with Chuck Berry singing a “Johnny B. Goode” rip-off” called “It Wasn’t Me” that I’ve never even heard before … and I have a pretty extensive Chuck Berry collection!  (And I’m not the only one … I’ve heard from several other readers who have said the same thing!)  kk

LAST CALL for Ides Of March tickets at The City Winery on Wednesday, March 4^th…

We’ll be picking our winners this weekend … so enter NOW for your chance to win a pair!  Just drop me an email at kk@forgottenhits.com and we’ll throw your name in the hat!  (kk)

Hey, Kent!

Here's a Special Fashion Update to my equally Special Fashion Story you published back on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 …

Kent!

Chuck Buell here with this ‘just in time’ gift idea for Father’s Day for all our Special former “Child of the 60s” Father-Friends!

Wasn’t there such a “Fashion Forward” idea like this back in … 1967 or so?!

And why didn’t it stay there!

CB ( which stands for “Can’t Believe-It!” )

Well now, this week, after three years of disappointing sales, "RompHim," the brand that made rompers "for him," announced it's going out of business! 

The company is selling off its remaining inventory for 75% off!

So, Kent, you still have a chance to nab one or two "RompHims" at super savings in your preferred design that you had said back then ( I'm thinkin' Tongue in Cheek! ) had caught your eye!

"OK, I've gotta admit ... I kinda like the Splatter Print version! (kk) 

Romper Kent!

CB ( which stands for "Chic Boy!" )

Actually, yes - that’s one of six that I bought … but the Splatter Print version has ALWAYS been my favorite!  (j/k)

I’ve always believed that men’s clothing should come with an expiration date … because otherwise we just don’t know!  (I don’t care what anybody says - my denim Nehru suit will NEVER go out of style!)

Hey wait ... YOU had a few of those too, didn’t you?
kk

Hey, Kent!

Imagine archiving Forgotten Hits Posts of the 1960s using 10MB Computer Media Storage "Discs" of the 1960s!

One 10MB Disk in the 1960s

CB ( which stands for “Computer Boy!” )

 

More funny stuff …

kk:

I never thought about it before … but I guess he's right.

BOBBY VEE RUINED MY LIFE!

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

Frank B.

And from Mike Wolstein ...

THE FRIDAY FLASH

February 21, 2020, 4:20 am

≫ Next: February 23rd, 1970

≪ Previous: Thursday This And That

$

0

0

THE FUTURE OF OUR MUSIC:

>>>The people have spoken (kk)

Awesome responses!!   Thank you for what you do!

Donna

Kent,

As long as the people who visit your blog, the artists like Tommy James, Ides of March and all of the other artists go on the Oldies Cruises and continue to share their talents on the radio and pack in the venues all over the world, "Our" music will never die.

The Top 3333 Countdown woke many people up and exposed the music to a new generation of listeners who are searching for better than what they are hearing today.

Keep bridging that gap.  The music isn't dead by a long shot!

Nikki

We went (with a group of Forgotten Hits Readers) to see The Four C-Notes Wednesday Night at The City Winery … in fact, John Michael Coppola (“Frankie”) even gave us a nice shout out from the stage (which I guess means I’ve got to give them a great review, right?!?!)

But the truth is, they make it SO easy to do so … because this is consistently one of the best tribute shows you can see … two solid hours of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons biggest hits, along with a nice sprinkling of forgotten gems as well, all executed to perfection by this top notch act.  (kk)

Up-coming shows:

https://www.thefourcnotes.com/the-four-c-notes-upcoming-schedule

Which immediately brings to mind the success of a show like “Jersey Boys” … the stage show was a SMASH success, with touring companies appearing all over the country, playing to RAVE reviews everywhere it went.  (JMC was OUR Frankie Valli for the 2 ½ year run here in Chicago ... and let me tell you, he blows the Clint Eastwood movie version away!!!)

But my point here once again is that if you expose new generations to this great music, they will fall in love with it just like we did.  Audiences of ALL ages made “Jersey Boys” a sell out it played … and kids from 6 to 60 are still singing all these great hits and loving the experience.  (Now I realize that The Four Seasons didn’t have as many chart hits as say Nicki Minaj or Jay-Z … but somehow I think they probably made a stronger and more long-lasting impression overall … until, of course, the Nicki Minaj tribute musical opens up 25 years from now and proves me wrong.)

It's shows like this … and “Mamma Mia” … and the Carole King tribute musical “Beautiful” that help to keep this music alive and expose it to a new audience.

And that’s all we ask … give this music a chance and it’ll win over new fans and followers every time.  (Maybe it’ll even help to get that Drake or Lil Wayne song stuck in your head out of there!)  kk

Thanks again for the tickets. My wife and I had a great time. The concert and the seats were excellent ... we were very close to the front. Hopefully I can win tickets again!

Dave Roth

We had excellent seats as well … I could literally rest my elbow on the stage!  (lol)  Thanks again to Dan Conroe and The City Winery for their on-going support of Forgotten Hits … AND the acts that mean so much to our readers.  (kk)

Hi Kent,

Sorry I've been radio silent for so long.  The vagaries and vicissitudes of life have had a way of getting in the way.

The timing of your rant on Billboard's whacked way of tabulating chart statistics coincided with my closing in on securing a copy of every book Joel Whitburn has issued over the past 50 years.  And I'm expecting a shipment of a few of the new ones any day now.  As I was flipping through a recent copy of his flagship "Pop Singles" title, I was thinking, "How on earth can you compare a downloaded song from today with a single that sold a million copies, yet sailed up and down the chart in a dozen weeks in 1966?"  I remember pondering something similar 25 years ago when Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men were at Number One for 16 weeks with "One Fine Day."  C'mon!

Different standards of reckoning produce vastly different results.  This must put a chill in Joel Whitburn's spine.  How does he continue to produce era-spanning books that have legitimate relative statistics?  I just don't think that there's any valid way of putting those "apples & oranges" in the same basket anymore. 

One of your readers mentioned the stature of Paul Whiteman in his era.  Hey, I don't know if any artist other than, perhaps, Elvis or the Beatles who rivalled the overwhelming success and ubiquity of Bing Crosby in his prime years.  But that's why Joel has "Pop Memories" and "Pop Hits" titles that conclude in 1940 and 1954.  Maybe "Pop Singles" needs to be limited to 1955-2000 and then frozen in amber.

I'd keep buying new editions of "Joel Whitburn's "Pop Downloads & Airplay" just to feign some sense of contemporary currency.  But the books he issues that parse out chart statistics prior to the Millennium are the ones I'd continue to enjoy.

I live smack dab in between Baltimore and D.C.-- two major cities with no oldies radio stations at all.  Consequently, heritage Top 40 acts that are still touring skip this corridor altogether, and there's no venue here like your Arcada Theater.  Why would an entrepreneur take a shot at that segment of business without the promotional clout of a local station?

There's no question that we're aging out.  And for the most part, we're taking our pop culture and music with us.  It's been ever thus.  It's certainly true, though, that when a classic record is featured in a film or a TV commercial that younger ears respond the way we did, but those outlets are anomalies.

Oh my!  What will become of my record collection when I kick the bucket?

Hope this finds you well and not too disgruntled, Kent!

Regards,

Scott Paton

ENTER NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!:

Here is a list of our current Forgotten Hits give-away opportunities …

Please enter soon if you are interested in any of these special promotions as we will begin picking winners for some of these prizes as early as this weekend!

A pair of tickets to see THE IDES OF MARCH –

Live at The City Winery – Wednesday, March 4^th

(Winners will be picked this weekend!)

A pair of tickets to see AL JARDINE, founding member of The Beach Boys –

Live at The City Winery – Tuesday, March 31^st

A copy of Mark Bego’s brand new book Elton John:  Rocket Man, a best-selling biography

And this just in …

A copy of the CD “Thank You, Mister Rogers,” featuring several of Mr. Rogers’ original tunes as interpreted and recorded by artists like Kellie Pickler Micky Dolenz (lead singer of The Monkees), Vanessa Williams, Rita Wilson (her husband, Tom Hanks, portrays Fred Rogers in the hit movie “A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood”), Lee Greenwood, Jim Brickman, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. (original members of The Fifth Dimension), The Cowsills, Tom Bergeron, Jon Secada and others.

More info here:  https://www.amazon.com/Thank-You-Mister-Rogers-Memories/dp/B07WLBRD7H/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=thank+you+mister+rogers&qid=1582235908&s=music&sr=1-1

THIS AND THAT: 

Good morning, Kent:

Enjoying the daily Forgotten Hits feed, as always.  You put a lot more time and energy into it than people realize.  I want to tell you how much I appreciate your dedication to the blog. 

I speak for the entire Me Team when I say, “Thank you for the mention in the ‘Thursday This and That.’”   We had a lot of fun doing the prep for the Two-Hit Wonders portion of our upcoming feature, Twin-Spins.  It’s a much more select list, as you might imagine, than that of One-Hit Wonders.  We came up with 48 of them, far fewer than our single-hit artists.  That means we’re able to drop one in every hour of the weekend, starting Friday night in the 7:00 hour, with very few repeats.  And it’s hard to find a more eclectic list — from Jethro Tull and Neil Young to the Left Banke and Vanity Fare to Beverly Bremers (!) and Will to Power.  Two-hit artists actually make up a fun list. 

Also, as for live streams, four of our affiliates are offering one:

WJMK Flint, MI

http://metv.fm/wjmk

WXZO Burlington, VT

http://metv.fm/wxzo

KXXP Portland, OR

http://metv.fm/kxxp

WMYX HD-2 Milwaukee, WI

https://www.radio.com/metvfmmke/listen

Thanks again for the mention … and your ongoing support.

Rick

Hi Kent,

Clicked on to this Prince 2002 video and thought you, Sam Boyd, Burton Cummings, and Randy Bachman would get a kick out of the guitar riff at the open of the show.

Peace,

Tim Kiley   

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

Kent,

You stated in Thursday's FH that Freddy Cannon is 83 years old (young).

Kent, I find that hard to believe. There is no way in the world he is that old.

Also, on television yesterday I saw a commercial (for the first time) headlining Heinz 57 Ketchup. In the background were the 4 Tops singing REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE. Now this commercial may be weeks of being shown on television but yesterday was the first time that I had seen it.

Larry

According to Joel Whitburn’s book, “Boom Boom” will turn 84 on December 4^th of this year … which puts him at 83 for his September 13^th concert.  You would NEVER believe it to see him up there rockin’.

"It Wasn't Me" (perfect title for a guy that got into the trouble he did!) was the opening track on Chuck’s "Fresh Berry's" album in 1965, after which Chuck parted with Chess to join Mercury. (The brothers still had unreleased songs that wouldn't be heard till after Leonard Chess' death)

--Bob Frable

Chuck Berry was better at ripping himself off than just about anybody!  (lol)  Of course when John Fogerty did it, he got sued!  (How do you plagiarize yourself exactly?!?!)  kk

kk:

The Killer Is Back.  He wants to be in the "COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME."

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/jerry-lee-lewis-returns-thought-would-never-play-again-953592/?fbclid=IwAR15E6L1Fgu4DcyYDUuWpRWtoFMy79nXjXFaQt89gGK7s-2Tw8lRlv6JPfc

FB

From left, Marlon Jackson, Joel Brandes (Universal Attractions Agency), 

Tito Jackson, Randy Alexander (cruise publicist / Randex Communications), 

Jackie Jackson, and Alan Rubens (StarVista LIVE Executive Producer and 

Senior Vice President), gather backstage prior to one of The Jacksons’ two performances on the sold-out Ultimate Disco Cruise. Credit: StarVistaLIVE / Randex Communications.

THE JACKSONS MEET THE TALENT EXECS ON THE ULTIMATE DISCO CRUISE

Legendary show biz “First Family” The Jacksons, making a rare music-themed cruise appearance, met up backstage last week at the sold-out Ultimate Disco Cruise with the talent executives responsible for booking the group’s pair of performances on the just-completed voyage: Alan Rubens,StarVista LIVE Executive Producer and Senior Vice President, and Joel Brandes, The Jacksons’ agent at Universal Attractions Agency. StarVista LIVE is the leader in nostalgia-based music cruise experiences.

The Ultimate Disco Cruise was the second consecutive StarVista LIVE music cruise on which the Jacksons performed in 2020. In January, Brandes and Rubens also brought the world-famous brothers to the sold-out Soul Train Cruise to perform before another pair of elated audiences, many of whom have since purchased cabins to return to each cruise in 2021. The 2021 Soul Train Cruise, scheduled to set sail in January, is already sold out.

The 2020 Ultimate Disco Cruise exploded with a “boatload” of superstars in its unstoppable talent lineupin which The Jacksons were just joined by KC and The Sunshine Band, Commodores, Shalamar Reloaded featuring Jody Watley, The Blue Notes, Heatwave, The Trammps featuring Earl Young, The Miracles, , Sister Sledge,; The Miracles, Al McKay Allstars performing the music of Earth, Wind & Fire, First Ladies of Disco featuring Martha Wash, Linda Clifford and Norma Jean Wright, George McCrae, Maxine Nightingale, France Jolie, Anita Ward, and much more. The incredible array of live concerts by the pioneers who made dance music a lasting part of all of our lives “rocked the boat” for five incredible nights, bringing the cultural phenomenon of the 1970s from the dance floor to the high seas on the Celebrity Infinity luxury ship as it wound through the Caribbean, with stops in Key West and Nassau, Bahamas.

For further information on the 2021 Ultimate Disco Cruise, please call 844.296.3472 or visit www.UltimateDiscoCruise.com.

Kent

This morning I'm doing an interview with Marquis Who's Who publication for my "Lifetime Achievement Award In Entertainment"! My new album is being submitted to Warner Rhino today also ...

A big Day … and I'm still Rockin.

Best,

Merrell Fankhauser

Another plea for LJ Coon’s request to reopen the investigation into the plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper has been published by The Pilot Tribune …

Keeping You In The Loop !!

An FBI Investigation has been requested.

LJ

'Plea for Iowa Official's help, to clear name of Buddy Holly Pilot'
By DANA LARSEN
Pilot-Tribune Editor

As the 61st anniversary of “The Day the Music Died” passes, a retired flight expert is taking his crusade to Iowa to clear Pilot Roger Peterson from Alta who piloted that Beechcraft Bonanza in the flight that claimed the life of rock ’n’ roll pioneer's Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper J P Richardson.

L J Coon, who identifies himself as a pilot, aircraft dispatcher and former test proctor for the Federal Aviation Administration, believes the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) got it wrong when it ruled shortly after the 1959 crash that an "Unwise decision" to fly in bad weather by pilot Roger Peterson caused the 4-place aircraft he was in charge of February 3, 1959 to initiate a 'forced landing'. 

After more than five years of struggling to convince the National Transportation Safety Board to open their version of investigation, and to change the cause of the crash from “Pilot error” to “Undetermined” or inconclusive clearing the Pilot Peterson's name. Frustrated, L J Coon is now asking Iowa authorities to get involved.
He has taken his plea to an Assistant Iowa Attorney General, The Iowa County Attorneys Association, The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department. He has asked for assistance from two state political representatives for the Clear Lake / Mason City area where the crash occurred, as well as The Regional Omaha FBI office that covers the Iowa area.
Most of those offices have not responded. 

The Cerro Gordo County Attorney indicated that their office and local law enforcement have failed to find any files from 1959 that would indicate that the FBI or any Federal agency ever conducted an Investigation into the crash.

Mr. Coon,

I appreciate your concerns over the aviation incident that took place in 1959.  

However, we have not found any Investigative file's which would suggest that an Investigation actually took place in 1959.  

I have discussed this with law enforcement and they concur (the lack of Investigative file's).    

I was unable to locate any information on whether The FBI or any other Federal agency actually investigated this matter. 

L J Coon said, that a retired National Transportation Safety Board Investigator told him that the board “will not tolerate having their errors questioned.”

In 2015, the NTSB declined Coon’s appeal to reopen the investigation, saying his NTSB Petition for Reconsideration questioning many points of the original findings failed to present any new facts.
Coon said the board simply brushed him off.

The Dwyer's were Not Allowed to speak during The 1959 hearings

The Dwyer's have concealed information that will prove what Really happened in This Accident 

(The Dwyer's)

"This is gonna stir things up, and some folks are not gonna like what I have to say. 

But you have to remember: I was the only one there and I kept some of the wreckage. 

There’s a reason I still have it.  It backs up what really caused this crash."

Buddy Holly, and fellow rockers Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson were killed when their VFR chartered plane crashed on a rural frozen farm field soon after departure.

The (CAB) Civil Aeronautics Board from 1959 blamed the Pilot, saying Peterson had made a bad decision to take off into poor winter weather, and was not properly familiar with flying by instruments only.
L J Coon challenged The CAB's findings, stressing that 5-adult witnesses to the aircrafts departure reported that there was no “Hollywood Snowstorm,” and that snow did not start in the area until the following morning. 

Visibility at Departure (0058Z) was reported as 6-miles visibility, or VFR. The “ceiling” was 3,000 feet VFR, on departure the plane leveled off at 800 feet, which would have been about twice 

the height of the Statue of Liberty for readers reference. The rest of the reported ceiling height of 3,000 feet was above the aircraft with 6-miles visibility out in front.

The (CAB) found The N3794N Magneto Switch in the Off position. Pilot Peterson would have reached over with his right hand, switched The Magneto from On to Off cutting power in the aircraft 

(a standard procedure to prepare for a Forced Landing) an emergency landing, L J Coon concluded. 

( Not ...a 3,000 foot per minute free fall from 800 feet, as The CAB offered in their 1959 report )

The Magneto Power Switch would have been turned 3-keyed notched position from ON to OFF.

(The Coroner would indicate that Pilot (Roger Peterson's) right thumb was freshly amputated at the first interphalangeal joint (Distal Thumb Tip) and the right index finger tip area with a curved dorsal laceration). 

Turning The Magneto Power Switch to OFF, is indicative of preparation for a 'Forced Landing'.

L J Coon studied weight distribution in the four-seat Bonanza, The Fueling situation or lack there of, Possible Carburetor Icing February 3,1959 at 0058Z, Possible corrosion of The aircrafts Tail Tip area as depicted in Historic photos, and other factors that he felt could have contributed to the crash.

Beech Aircraft’s Bonanza-35 V-Tail marketing campaign highlighted The “Survivability” features of the aircraft. However, in the mind of the consumer, advertising The "Survivability" admitted that aircraft crashes were possible. 

This marketing approach was a huge failure, since the General Aviation community was not ready to hear about anything suggesting the possibility that an airplane might crash.

(Beech Aircraft Corporation)

'Safety studies of the Beech Bonanza-35 V-Tail were conducted by Beech Aircraft and Cornell University prior to the 1947 production.

('The low-wing design, and strong crash-resistant cabin compartment would protect passengers during a forced landing'.) *

For several years now, L J Coon has dissected the Historic photos of the crash scene, insider information on the plane model, weather reports from the time of the tragedy, and scraps of information from witnesses - which he hopes is enough to prove that The Dwyer Flying Service Pilot was not at fault. 
In fact, Pilot Roger Peterson should be remembered for "The heroic effort" he made to try to save his passengers, L J Coon suggests.

Owners of the plane ( Barbara and Jerry Dwyer ) were not allowed to speak at the hearings into the crash in 1959, even though they claimed to have concealed evidence from the wreckage that shows 

“what really happened,” L J Coon says. “This crucial evidence was never revealed.”

The Dwyer's were Not Allowed to speak during The 1959 hearings

The Dwyer's have concealed information that will prove what Really happened in This Accident 

(The Dwyer's)

"This is gonna stir things up, and some folks are not gonna like what I have to say. 

But you have to remember: I was the only one there and I kept some of the wreckage. 

There’s a reason I still have it.  It backs up what really caused this crash."

After souvenir-hunters had damaged buildings trying to get to the remains of the plane, the owner had wreckage taken away to an unknown location, according to L J Coon, and as Owner Jerry Dwyer has stated since 1959 

I was the only one there and I kept some of the wreckage. 

There’s a reason I still have it.  It backs up what really caused this crash."

With hits like “That'll Be the Day,” “Peggy Sue” and “Rave On” 22-year-old Holly was a breakout star in the early days of pop music. Valens, just 17, was best known for "La Bamba," and Richardson, 28, for "Chantilly Lace." Don McLean immortalized the tragedy as “the day the music died,” in his 1971 hit "American Pie."
Holly, fed up with freezing bus rides between his gigs spread across the midwest, had chartered the plane after playing a "Winter Dance Party" concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.

After more than 60 years, The NTSB is far from eager to revisit as well as open their Investigation that would likely spur sensational headlines and controversy.

"You have gotten our attention," agency officials told L J Coon in 2015, but The NTSB Investigation seems no closer to happening today than it was then.

The agency receives about eight or nine petitions every year to change its findings or reopen an aviation accident, according to the Wall Street Journal, but according to L J Coon, a retired executive of that agency told him it has only changed a "probable cause" decision once in The NTSB's history - and that was after being "embarrassed into such action by its own staff." 

A new movie on the latter stages of Holly’s life, called “Clear Lake,” was reported to be in production in the summer of 2018, but there has been no recent word of its release. Coon hints that his research could be the basis for a book or documentary.
The now-deceased owner of the plane and charter service had always maintained that Pilot Roger Peterson was much more experienced and proficient as a pilot than he was given credit for, having flown cross-country. 
"They said he was not familiar with this airplane, which is a crock. If you drove your car out to California and to New York and Florida a few times, you would probably be familiar with how the lights worked and a few other things,” the owner said.

L J Coon mentions that mechanical failure, not pilot error, caused the crash, and that Peterson had properly attempted to make a Forced Emergency Landing on a frozen field, as evidenced by the testimony of a woman who observed the plane descending while she was hanging curtains in a window at her home. She confirmed seeing the landing light turned back on, which indicates that Peterson had remained in control. The slightly dipped nose of the plane that the woman described was correct for initiating a Forced Landing, with Peterson apparently hoping he could settle the plane on its belly on the clear cut frozen farm field having the where withal to turn The Magneto Power Switch 3-keyed notches to the Off position. (The aircraft slid on the cleared frozen farm field backwards for 588 feet, normal landing distance for this aircraft is 580 feet)

The (CAB) Civil Aeronautics Board report from 1959 indicated that the aircraft's navigation equipment had been properly set for the course from the Mason City airport to Fargo, N.D. 

where the performers were to have their next concert.

Northwest Heading,

The Landing gear retracted, 

The Landing Light turned back on, 

The CAB report indicated that the VSI was found at 3,000 per minute (However,  N3794N VSI only went to 2,000 feet per minute ), 

The Right Wing ejected half way into the 588 feet slide backward / tail first, 

The Magneto Power Switch turned 3-keyed notched to The OFF position, 

The Fuel available or danger was never mentioned, 

There was No Snow falling until after 9:30 a.m. via the Coroners report )

The 1959 CAB report stated that All of the aircraft's Seat Belting had failed (However, Pilot Peterson remained in the aircraft)

(Beech Aircraft Corporation)

'Safety studies of the Beech Bonanza-35 V-Tail were conducted by Beech Aircraft and Cornell University prior to the 1947 production.

('The low-wing design, and strong crash-resistant cabin compartment would protect passengers during a forced landing'.) *

Despite manufacturer claims that the Beech featured "a strong crash-resistant cabin compartment that would protect passengers during a forced landing," the plane failed to live up to its survivability claims, L J Coon said. The cabin ripped open, and all the passengers were ejected well before the plane slid to a stop against a field barbed wire fence. Only pilot Peterson's body remained inside, still at the controls.

L J Coon theorizes that Pilot Roger Peterson may have been saddled with an improperly loaded plane. While the Beech was a sturdy four-seater, it had strict limits for cargo weight capacity. 

The Pilot and Holly in the front seating weighed (via The Coroners report) 185 and 165 pounds.

Valens and Richardson the rear seated passengers weight 225 pounds and 250 pounds, along with a full load of the performers' luggage and the weight of Fuel, may have been well over The Manufactures recommended Useful Load for the aircraft.

The aircraft Taxied,

Departed, 

Leveled off at 800 feet, 

Flew for 4.9 miles or 3.5 minutes, 

The Landing light turned back on, 

The landing gear up, 

The Magneto Power switch turned to the Off position, 

All, in a Slow Normal Descent prior to touching the frozen farm field,

'The right wing tip first with The nose lowered slightly'

L J Coon also wonders if someone had off loaded enough Fuel to get to the plane's useful load weight limit within limits. He said there was no report of fire at the crash site or fuel spilled as one would expect with a plane carrying at least enough fuel for a 90-minute flight ( Having 39 gallon total capacity ). 

Reporters at the scene never mentioned a smell of aviation fuel. 

The CAB's 1959 report mentioned settings on the other gauges in the plane, but conspicuously failed to note reading on the fuel gauge, whether there was fuel found in the wing tanks or engine, and whether fueling caps had been closed after fueling, L J Coon offered.

(Beech Aircraft Corporation)

'Safety studies of the Beech Bonanza-35 V-Tail were conducted by Beech Aircraft and Cornell University prior to the 1947 production.

('The low-wing design, and strong crash-resistant cabin compartment would protect passengers during a forced landing'.) *

The 1959 (CAB) report had questioned whether Pilot Peterson understood the Sperry altitude gyro instrument that was ( right there in front of Pilot Peterson) since the day he started flying this aircraft since purchased by The Dwyer Flying Service July 1958. 

L J Coon also mentioned that Historic photos show that The "V tail" area where the tail section joins to the tail fuselage is the only area that depicted a Corrosive area of damage.  
He isn't buying the story that Peterson was disoriented and lost control due to inexperience.

The Dwyer Flying Service that employed Pilot Roger Peterson was certified by The FAA in February 1959 to conduct chartered flights in VFR conditions only (both Day and Night)

Following this aviation accident ...The FAA did not de-certify The Dwyer Flying Service, and their Insurance company did not cancel them.

(This conclusion would indicate that the Dwyer Flying Service chartered Flight on February 3, 1959 was in compliance with FAA VFR Flight Rules)
"Roger would have flown out and about this airport at night, under multiple conditions," Coon told the Pilot-Tribune. "He had to be very familiar with all directions of this airport in and out."

There were other Aircraft out flying that evening February 3, 1959 ....and reported conditions were considered normal with no issues.

L J Coon theorizes that if Buddy Holly, in the right front passenger seat, had twisted to his left to face the rear passengers, his foot / feet could have pressed the passenger side rudder pedals, sending the plane veering sideways and forcing pilot Peterson to struggle to correct the aircraft while already dealing with a heavy workload in The 4.9 miles / 3.5 minute flight from 800 feet above ground.

The passenger side rudder pedals where made available by the manufacturer though sometimes removed to avoid just such an accident, he indicates.

Some other reports theorize that Holly and Richardson had attempted to switch seats while the plane was in the air, based on the pattern of ejection of the victims, but that was never proven or disproven.

Rumors abound to this day - one claiming that aviation enthusiast Holly had pressured the young pilot to let him try the controls, another that there was some kind of struggle on board and a pistol belonging to Holly and found in the snow at the scene had been fired. There is no evidence of either being true.
Coon plans to continue his crusade to right what he sees as an injustice against the Alta native, but does admit that even a new investigation isn't assured of changing the ruling marring Peterson's legacy.

"At this time I am not sure that any of the current findings and reported information over the years will clear pilot Roger Peterson," he says. "Even so, inviting a larger picture of all the contributing factors to be examined, could clear up some of the questions."

The music stars will be forever remembered. The pilot, who also lost his life, was all but forgotten.
"He was a young man who built his life around flying," the Civil Aeronautics Board reflected in its report following the crash. He had begun flying at age 16, had his license just after graduating high school, and by 21, had over 700 hours of flight experience, and a year as a charter flight pilot and flight instructor under his belt.
The eldest of four children, Peterson grew up in Alta and had married his high school sweetheart, Deanne Lenz, the September before. They had just established a home in Clear Lake, not far from the Mason City airport. The career he was passionate about seemed assured.

For the rest of their lives, Roger Peterson's parents, Arthur and Pearl, who continued to live in Alta, hoped that their son would be remembered in the same breath with the more famous personalities lost in the crash. They received letters of condolence from the families of Holly and Valens. While long lines of adoring fans attended Holly's memorial, a quiet Iowa funeral was held for the pilot, and a small marker in a Storm Lake cemetery denotes his grave site, etched with a tiny plane. A memorial tree to Peterson was planted at the crash site. 
One online memorial site to Peterson has hundreds of comments from people all over the world.

On what would have been his 71st birthday, one visitor wrote, "May you always be soaring above the clouds!"
"You are most likely the one person's name that day that no one remembers, but you did your best," another wrote.

Beech Aircraft’s Bonanza-35 V-Tail marketing campaign highlighted The “Survivability” features of the aircraft. 

However, in the mind of the consumer, advertising The "Survivability" admitted that aircraft crashes were possible. 

This marketing approach was a huge failure, since the General Aviation community was not ready to hear about anything suggesting the possibility that an airplane might crash.

(Beech Aircraft Corporation)

'Safety studies of the Beech Bonanza-35 V-Tail were conducted by Beech Aircraft and Cornell University prior to the 1947 production.

('The low-wing design, and strong crash-resistant cabin compartment would protect passengers during a forced landing'.) *

In Closing:

I believe that The 1959 (CAB) Civil Aeronautics Board Accident report / Probable Cause findings of The Mason City Iowa Aviation Accident Tuesday 0058Z February-3-1959'

Should Be 'Found Inconclusive', while an actual Thorough Investigation of The February-15-1959 (CAB) Civil Aeronautics Board  'Probable Cause' findings, is conducted.

Kindest Regards,

L J Coon

---

February 23rd, 1970

February 23, 2020, 4:00 am

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1970:  February 23^rd– Ringo Starr appears on “Rowan And Martin’s Laugh-In”
 

Also on this date, The Fifth Dimension appear on an episode of the ABC Television Series “It Takes A Thief”

And, The Doors’ album “Morrison Hotel” goes gold, eventually peaking at #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart (a pretty amazing feat at the time considering the LP didn’t contain a hit single!)

Meanwhile, here in Chicago, here is how our WCFL Top 40 Chart shaped up for the week of February 23rd, 1970 ...

Simon and Garfunkel hold down the #1 spot for a second week in a row with their timeless classic "Bridge Over Troubled Water."  Meanwhile, The Delfonics make a ten point jump into The Top Ten with "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," rising from #20 to #10.

A new, heavier version of an old classic, "House Of The Rising Sun" seems to be making some noise this week as it moves up 14 places (from #28 to #14) for Frijid Pink.  It will go Top 5 nationally ... and peak at #2 here on the 'CFL chart in a few weeks.

Other big movers this week (ten points or more) include "Kentucky Rain" by Elvis Presley, "Oh Me, Oh My" by Lulu, "Celebrate" by Three Dog Night and "Evil Ways" by Santana.

New on the chart this week at #40 is Todd Rundgren's original version of "Hello It's Me," released under his band's name, Nazz.  John Lennon's latest (the previously covered "Instant Karma") premiers this week at #37.

And Bubble Gum seems to be the flavor again for this week's Hit Bound selections ... check out the new releases by Tommy Roe ("Stir It Up And Serve It") and The Archies ("Who's Your Baby").

Tuesday This And That

February 25, 2020, 4:00 am

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Congratulations to ALL of the First-Time Inductees into the New Illinois Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame …

The Ides Of March, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, REO Speedwagon and The Buckinghams. 

Also being honored this year are legendary DJ’s Dick BiondI and the late Larry Lujack and WLS Radio, where both jocks worked for years … as well as Chess Records and The Thirsty Whale as “favorite club.”

The induction ceremony will take place Sunday, March 29th, 2020, at 2 PM, at the Renaissance Center Ballroom, 214 N Ottawa Street, Joliet, Illinois.

Further information and ticket availability for the induction ceremony may be found at www.roadtorock.org.

On behalf of the Ides of March, we are blown away to be one of the first round of inductees to the Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. To be in the company of such Chicagoland legends is a dream come true.

I hope to see everyone out at the induction ceremonies on March 29^th at 2 pm.

We will be there and I’m sure joined by some of the others on the esteemed list of honorees. (See details on Forgotten Hits and Theidesofmarch.com!)

Rock steady!

Jimbo

Dear Kent,

THANK YOU for standing up for our music and the way Billboard is now tabulating rankings!!!

THANK YOU for the advance news of Freddy Cannon!  I hope Freddy is able to do more than six songs and treat the audience to a greater display of his many wonderful hits!

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!

Ron Lange

Today would have been George Harrison's 77th Birthday.  (Hard to believe he's been gone almost twenty years already!)

We love ya, George ... and no one could be happier to see the resurgence in popularity of your music over the past five decades since The Beatles split.  (You may recall that the Top Two Beatles Tracks named on our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME List were both George Harrisongs ... "Here Comes The Sun" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps!"  Not bad for a guy whose music always took a backseat to those tunes written by the songwriting team of Lennon and McCartney!  (kk)

Last week we announced our latest contest give-away for YOUR chance to win a copy of the brand new Mr. Rogers Tribute CD, “Thank You, Mr. Rogers:  Music And Memories.  We’ve already received quite a few responses for this one … so throw YOUR name into the hat NOW if you want a chance to score a copy!)

From PR Guru David Salidor, here are a few more details about this hot new CD:

Hi Kent ...

We are happy to be able to offer some CD’s for a Forgotten Hits giveaway that I think your readers will really enjoy.

It’s a pretty cool package celebrating the musical legacy of Mister Rogers - here's the official release …

IT’S A MUSICAL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

MISTER ROGERS SONGS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT WITH PERFORMANCES BY CELEBRITY ARTISTS INCLUDING VANESSA WILLIAMS, KELLIE PICKLER,
MICKY DOLENZ, THE COWSILLS and RITA WILSON ON NEW ALBUM,

Thank You, Mister Rogers: Music & Memories

The rebirth of interest in Fred Rogers, which includes the recent Tom Hanks film, has inspired a unique musical tribute that celebrates a special side of the man known as “America’s Favorite Neighbor.” A newly recorded collection of Fred’s songs called Thank You, Mister Rogers – Music & Memories will be available wherever music is available. View the album trailer HERE. 

Providing delightful listening for the whole family, the album embodies unforgettable performances by award-winning artists performing re-imagined renditions of Fred Rogers classics as well as uncovered gems from his 200-plus catalog of songs. The cast includes Kellie Pickler, Vanessa Williams, Rita Wilson, Lee Greenwood, The Cowsills, Jaci Velasquez, Jim Brickman, Jon Secada, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., Micky Dolenz, Tom Bergeron, and Sandi Patty. Significantly, Wilson joins her husband Tom Hanks “in the Neighborhood,” by way of singing a Fred Rogers song on this album while Hanks portrays the children’s television pioneer himself in the upcoming biopic. 

Fred Rogers wrote more than 200 of the songs made popular on his PBS television show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” which celebrated its 50^th anniversary last year. The new album is produced in Nashville by two-time Grammy winner Dennis Scott, who observed, “Fred was a gifted songwriter and understood how music could serve as an effective way to teach and share important life lessons.” Both adults and children familiar with Fred’s songs will enjoy hearing how well they lend themselves to a variety of musical styles and genres.

The album includes some surprises, including a Spanish lyric put to the tune of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” which features a heartfelt performance by Cuban born pop artist Jon Secada. And TV spokesperson Tom Bergeron, best known for hosting “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Dancing with the Stars,” makes his singing debut with a jazzy rendition of “Some Things I Don’t Understand.” It’s also the first-time audiences will experience his talent as a gifted whistler.

Actor, songstress Rita Wilson delivers a touching performance of “Sometimes People Are Good,” a sentiment also reflected in Tom Hanks’ onscreen portrayal of Fred.  Wilson aptly observes, “Mister Rogers’ melody and lyrics are beautifully integrated together. His words of kindness, acceptance, and peace are a classic message.”

David Newell, who portrayed Mr. McFeely on the show, describes the eclectic and joyful nature of this album: “Each song in this collection is different from the other…and each singer has made it their own. Fred would be delighted to know that his music lives on to new generations."

Perhaps the talented and lovely Vanessa Williams describes the audience for Thank You Mister Rogers best, “As a child you appreciated the songs but as an adult you really appreciate his music “

And in the words of Fred Rogers, “It’s such a good feeling…”

Thank You, Mister Rogers – Music & Memories is available on CD and all digital platforms.   

THANK YOU, MISTER ROGERS  (Track list with run times and credits) 

1) Won’t You Be My Neighbor? / The Cowsills
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers 

2) Please Don’t Think it’s Funny / Sandi Patty
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1968 Fred M. Rogers

3) Let’s Be Together Today / Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers

4) Sometimes People Are Good / Rita Wilson
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1968 Fred M. Rogers

5) You Can Never Go Down the Drain  / Jaci Velasquez
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1969 Fred M. Rogers

6) When the Day Turns into Night / Lee Greenwood
Music & lyrics by Fred M. Rogers

7) It’s a Perfectly Beautiful Day / Micky Dolenz
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers

8) Many Ways to Say I Love You / Vanessa Williams
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers

9) Some Things I Don’t Understand / Tom Bergeron
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers , © 1968 Fred M. Rogers

10) It’s Such a Good Feeling / Kelli Pickler
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers

11) This is My Home / Jim Brickman
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers

12) Es Un Dia Precioso en la Vecindad / Jon Secada
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers (Lyrics translated into Spanish by Reinaldo C.Toledo)

13) Thank You for Being You / Music & lyrics by Dennis Scott , © Act IV Music 2019

Drop me an email NOW (kk@forgottenhits.com) for YOUR chance to win a copy of this hot new CD!  (And thanks again, David!)  kk 

Micky Dolenz, who is part of the Mr. Rogers CD, has got to be the hardest working man in show business these days!  It seems that not a week goes by where he isn’t appearing SOMEWHERE … and in any configuration of appearances, too … whether it be as a solo act … or part of the Tribute to The Beatles’ White Album Show … or back on the road with his old Monkees bandmate, Michael Nesmith, as part of The Mike And Micky Show.

The duo will perform “An Evening With The Monkees” when the tour resumes in April …

Tour Dates
4/3/20-- Vancouver, BC Canada-- Commodore Ballroom
4/4/20-- Seattle, WA-- Moore Theatre
4/7/20--Sacramento, CA-- The Crest Theatre
4/8/20-- San Jose, CA-- San Jose Civic
4/10/20-- Riverside, CA-- Fox Performing Arts Center
4/11/20-- El Cajon, CA-- The Magnolia
4/14/20-- "Phoenix, AZ-- Celebrity Theatre
4/16/20-- Dallas, TX-- Majestic Theatre
4/18/20-- Bossier City, LA-- Horseshoe Casino Hotel*
4/19/20-- San Antonio, TX-- The Tobin Center for Performing Arts
4/20/20-- Austin, TX-- ACL Live at the Moody Theatre
4/22/20-- Birmingham, AL-- Iron City
4/24/20-- Lake Charles, LA-- Golden Nugget- Grand Event Center
4/25/20-- Biloxi, MS-- IP Casino Resort & Spa*
4/26/20-- Nashville, TN--Schermerhorn Symphony Center

And now the tour will be commemorated with a Live Album, ALSO being released in April (April 3^rd to be exact) …

(We ran that photo EXCLUSIVELY in Forgotten Hits several months ago ... it's a shot from backstage, taken by Micky's sister Coco Dolenz!)  

THE MONKEES – THE MIKE & MICKY SHOW LIVE

Track Listing

1.    LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE

2.    SUNNY GIRLFRIEND

3.    MARY, MARY

4.    YOU TOLD ME

5.    FOR PETE’S SAKE

6.    THE DOOR INTO SUMMER

7.    YOU JUST MAY BE THE ONE

8.    A LITTLE BIT ME, A LITTLE BIT YOU

9.    THE GIRL I KNEW SOMEWHERE

10.         BIRTH OF AN ACCIDENTAL HIPSTER

11.         ST. MATTHEW

12.         AS WE GO ALONG

13.         CIRCLE SKY

14.         PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY

15.         PAPA GENE’S BLUES

16.         RANDY SCOUSE GIT

17.         TAPIOCA TUNDRA

18.         ME & MAGDALENA

19.         AUNTIE’S MUNICIPAL COURT

20.         GOIN’ DOWN

21.         SWEET YOUNG THING

22.         (I’M NOT YOUR) STEPPIN’ STONE

23.         DAYDREAM BELIEVER

24.         LISTEN TO THE BAND

25.         I’M A BELIEVER

We told you that this was a pretty eclectic set list, geared more for the die-hard Monkees fan than the casual listener … but it’s still a GREAT show and well worth seeing if it happens to be coming through your area.  (Chicago is not on the list this time around … but here’s a copy of our review from when we saw the show back in June of 2018.)

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/06/monkees-monday-concert-review-of-mike.html

And here's a review of a solo show Micky just did at My Father's Place in Long Island this weekend from The Times Square Chronicles ... sounds like he knocked 'em dead again!  (This is supposed to be a GREAT place to see a concert and I've added it to my bucket list!) 

TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES by G. H. HARDING

MICKY DOLENZ TAKES MFP FOR TWO SHOWS 

Micky Dolenz returned to Long Island Sunday night for two shows at the legendary My Father’s Place.  Dolenz just finished the 50 Years Ago tour late last year, with the likes of Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Joey Molland and Jason Scheff, and he brought the energy and excitement of that tour (which he really embraced) to these two shows. With a new set-list –several songs from the Beatles’ White Album are included- Dolenz and his stellar five-piece band were on fire from the opening notes of “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” to his interpretations of “Rocky Raccoon,” “I’m So Tired” and “Back In The USSR.”

I saw three of those 50 Years show and the thing that struck my right away was not the fact that Dolenz sang them so perfectly – his voice seems stronger than ever – but the fact that he acted out the lyrics, which was just mesmerizing. He did the same Sunday night and the crowd reaction was outstanding. Dolenz told me later when I sounded him on that, saying “it’s true music theater.” Personally, he raised the bar on “Tired” and it didn’t stop for the rest of the show.

The Monkees’ hits, “Daydream” Believer,” I’m A Believer,” “Mary Mary and “For Pete’s Sake,” were spot on. By the way, he did make mention of the late-Peter Tork, as the one year anniversary of his passing was last week.

Micky’s sister Coco took the lead for “Different Drum” which, as Dolenz recounted, Mike Nesmith wrote for The Monkees, but the powers-that-be passed on the song, so he got it to Linda Ronstadt. As they say, the rest of history. A great song and Coco delivered, as always, a first class vocal.

Keyboardist Dave Alexander stepped to the front of the stage to deliver a performance of “Look Out, Here Come Tomorrow,” which the crowd ate up. I always loved this song and doing it was a brilliant move.

Also stellar was “Back In The USSR,” where guitarist Wayne Avers put forth a sizzling solo. Avers, if you recall, was noted in the media over and over about his guitar solo for Chicago’s “25 Or 6 T 4” on the 50 Years show. Brilliant musician, no question.

Drummer Rich Dart and bassist John Billings were as good as I’ve ever seen them.

Both shows sold-out and seen in the mix were My Father’s Place own Eppy; Dolenz PR-man David Salidor; Markos Papdatos and Gary Hahn from Digital Journal; Dolenz-aide Jane Blunkell and Dolenz’s wife Donna.

Just the perfect Sunday afternoon.  

And, since we seem to be smack dab in the middle of the All-Micky segment of today's posting, I should ALSO tell you about the upcoming release of a Live Concert CD/DVD from 7A Records featuring one of  Micky's performances in Japan back in 1982 ...
 

I’m a Believer: 7a Records Brings Micky Dolenz’s 

“Live in Japan” to CD, DVD, and LP

By Joe Marchese

[BUY CD/DVD FROM AMAZON.COM]

Last year, 7a Records – the label dedicated to all things Monkees – chronicled the early 1980s rise of Monkeemania in Japan with the release of Davy Jones’ Live in Japan. On May 8, 7a will celebrate another Monkee solo tour from that era with Micky Dolenz’s own Live in Japan. Like Davy’s entry, Micky’s release will be available in CD/DVD and vinyl LP formats.

Early 1982 saw Dolenz make the trip to Japan where he embarked on his first tour as a solo artist. Much as Jones had adopted the Japanese group Ricky and Revolver as his backing band, Dolenz took on a band there with the rather American name of Marlboro. Naturally, his setlist featured all of the expected Monkees classics – “I’m a Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” “(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone,” and “Daydream Believer” – but Micky also dug deep for his Japanese fans. He played a couple of Michael Nesmith favorites from Headquarters (“Sunny Girlfriend” and “You Just May Be the One”), his mother’s song “Pillow Time” from 1969’s The Monkees Present, and even “Zor and Zam” from 1968’s The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees. The rocking “Mary, Mary,” “Goin’ Down,” and “Randy Scouse Git” were all part of the setlist, and in addition to “Daydream Believer,” Micky also filled his friend Davy’s shoes for the touching “I Wanna Be Free.” The concert ends with his then-current Japan-exclusive single “To Be or Not to Be” b/w “Beverly Hills.”

7a’s release has the full concert on both CD and Region 0 DVD (playable on all DVD players everywhere in the world) as well as a complement of five rare bonus tracks. These include the single versions of “Beverly Hills” and “To Be or Not to Be” (both of which were included on Dolenz’s 2016The MGM Singles Collection from 7a) as well as two renditions of “I’m Your Man” from 1978’s World Popular Song Contest and the 1983 U.K. single of “Tomorrow” from the London stage version of Paul Williams’ Bugsy Malone. (Dolenz adapted and directed the musical’s West End premiere at Her Majesty’s Theatre, today the home of The Phantom of the Opera.) Both versions of “I’m Your Man” and “Tomorrow” are making their CD debuts here.

In every respect, these packages promise to be up to the same high standards of Davy Jones’ Live in Japan complete with cover art incorporating the look of an OBI strip. The CD/DVD set boasts a 24-page color booklet.  The vinyl version, to be issued on 180-gram splatter-colored vinyl, drops the introductory “(Theme From) The Monkees” and the bonus tracks but otherwise has the same content as the CD and DVD.

Both the CD/DVD and LP iterations are due from 7a Records on May 8 in the U.K. and May 15 in North America. You’ll find pre-order links and the full track listings below!  

Micky Dolenz, Live in Japan(7a Records, 2020)

CD/DVD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deep Discount)

1.    (Theme From) The Monkees

2.    Sunny Girlfriend

3.    Last Train to Clarksville

4.    You Just May Be the One

5.    I’m a Believer

6.    Randy Scouse Git

7.    Zor and Zam

8.    Mary, Mary

9.    I Wanna Be Free

10.  Pillow Time

11.   Shades of Gray

12.   No Time

13.   Daydream Believer

14.   (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone

15.   Goin’ Down

16.   Pleasant Valley Sunday

17.   Beverly Hills

     18. To Be or Not to Be  

(CD-Only Bonus Tracks:

19.  I’m Your Man (Semi-Final) (from the World Popular Song Contest, Tokyo, 1978)

20.  I’m Your Man (Final) (from the World Popular Song Contest, Tokyo, 1978)

21.  Tomorrow (from Bugsy Malone) (A&M (U.K.) single BUGSY 1, 1983)

22.  To Be or Not to Be (Single Version) (Japan All-Round Music Company single J-8112-A, 1982)

23.  Beverly Hills (Single Version) (Japan All-Round Music Company single J-8112-B, 1982)

Splatter-Colored LP (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deep Discount)

Side One

1.    Sunny Girlfriend

2.    Last Train to Clarksville

3.    You Just May Be the One

4.    I’m a Believer

5.    Randy Scouse Git

6.    Zor and Zam

7.    I Wanna Be Free

8.    Pillow Time

9.    Shades of Gray

Side Two

10. Mary, Mary 

11.   No Time 

12.   Daydream Believer 

13.   (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone 

14.   Goin’ Down 

15.   Pleasant Valley Sunday 

     16.   Beverly Hills 

     17. To Be or Not to Be 

Elton John, who pushed back his shows in New Zealand and Australia to make himself free should his “Rocketman” biopic win any Academy Awards (it actually DID … “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” won for Best Original Song from the movie) has now had to cancel those dates again due to a bout with pneumonia.  (Elton reportedly broke down in tears on stage during his performance in New Zealand on February 16th, saying that he couldn’t go on … shows will apparently be rescheduled for January of next year, meaning his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour still has a LONG way to go.  (Hopefully Elton can regain what’s left of his voice … and his composure … to finish the remaining shows!)  kk

And, speaking of Elton John … and Forgotten Hits Give-Aways, you can still enter for your chance to win a copy of Mark Bego’s new book, “Elton John: Rocket Man.”  Same deal … just drop me an email at kk@forgottenhits.comand you’ll be in the running.  (We’ll pick THOSE winners next week.)

And, since we’re talking about prizes, I’ll also mention that a pair of tickets to see Al Jardine at The City Winery in Chicago on March 31^st are also up for grabs.  (Better hurry on this one!)  kk

THIS WEEK IN 1970

February 26, 2020, 4:00 am

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1970:  
February 26^th– Chevrolet releases what they are calling “The Second Generation Camaro.”

February 27th – Jefferson Airplane is fined $1000 for the use of profanity on stage during a concert they were giving in Oklahoma City, OK. (I can almost picture Grace Slick backstage, after being told, uttering a "What The Fuck, Man?" to anyone within listening distance.)

February 28th – After the family of the late Ferdinand von Zeppelin threatens to file a lawsuit, Led Zeppelin perform in Denmark as “The Nobs”

(SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!)

THE FRIDAY FLASH ... And Our Next Big Ticket Give-Away!

February 28, 2020, 2:51 am

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kk:

How can I not send a missive to you after seeing Burton Cummings in Southern California last night at the Coach House venue in San Juan Capistrano. It was a birthday gift from our pal Gary Strobl. 

I go way back with Burton. Early Guess Who shows in Los Angeles, all tapings of "The Midnight Special" TV appearances in Burbank, his solo performances. I interviewed him for "Melody Maker" in the seventies when "Stand Tall" was released. I wrote a bio on him when he was on the Portait Records label. I'm thanked on the back cover of his "Plus Signs" album. Burton is also quoted in several of my books, including one on Neil Young. The Guess Who did the first cover version of Neil's "Flying on the Ground is Wrong." 

It was a delightful evening. Marvelous power-packed set with a stellar band. The voice is still there. He introduced songwriter John Lind in the audience. Burton cited his Fifth Avenue Band LP that has been one of BC's Top Ten albums of all-time since 1969. 

For many years Burton was a neighbor in SoCal but he's moved back to Canada and I wasn't gonna miss this gig. 

The set list:

No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature

Hand Me Down World 

Clap for the Wolfman

Laughing 

Clementine (a cover he heard from Bobby Darin) 

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (by the Platters)

Albert Flasher 

My Own Way to Rock

Stand Tall

Baby, Come Back (cover of the Equals) 

Trouble in the City 

These Eyes 

Undun 

Star Baby 

American Woman 

No Time 

Share the Land   

"Hand Me Down World" and "Share the Land" became connective audio tissue and took on added significance in 2020. Planet concerns and environmental message on display. 

Best, 

Harvey Kubernik

Glad you guys had the chance to reconnect ... he's still an incredible performer, isn't he?  Hasn't lost a step!  Thanks, Harvey!  (kk)

Strong show. The socio-political aspect of his tunes: "American Woman,""Hand Me Down World" and "Share the Land" really became more relevant than ever. Still has 98 per cent of his hi end range, too. 

HK

And, speaking of cool shows, this one should be interesting …

(We missed it the last time around due to scheduling conflicts) …

But since our oldest granddaughter will be staying with us that week for spring break …

AND since she’ll also be turning fifteen that week …

AND since this would be her very first rock concert …

We’re going to take her to The Arcada Theatre to see The Bay City Rollers!

(She’ll likely go home to Texas with “S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night” playing non-stop in her head until her 16^thbirthday!  Lol)

Here are all the details …

The Bay City Rollers ‘Only Want to Be with You’ on Friday, March 13^th, as the band, featuring original guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Stuart “Woody” Wood, is set to perform at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois.

The evening promises to be jammed packed with the band’s classic hits including"Saturday Night", "You Made Me Believe In Magic", "Money Honey", "The Way I Feel Tonight", "Rock N Roll Love Letter" and "I Only Want To Be With You". Over the course of their career, The Bay City Rollers earned five RIAA certified Gold albums and charted 20 songs worldwide.

Their smash hit Saturday Night has been featured in the Netflix original series, The Umbrella Academy, in addition to The Simpsons, Swingtown, October Road and So I Married an Ax Murdererstarring Mike Myers.

Legend has it that the band’s music inspired Tommy Ramone to write “Blitzkrieg Bop”, one of The Ramones biggest hits.

For more information, visit https://www.thebaycityrollers.co.uk

Location / Ticket Info:

Arcada Theatre

105 E Main St

St. Charles, IL 60174

630-962-7000

Ticket Link: http://www.arcadalive.com/event/bay-city-rollers/

About The Bay City Rollers:

“Is it hype?  Is it hope?”  asked the ever-objective Howard Cosell, “Or is it a bicentennial gift from the old country?”  These were the questions posed to America on the historic night of Saturday, September 20, 1975. The occasion was the premier of ABC-TV’s SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE WITH HOWARD COSELL.  The subject was the Bay City Rollers.

Performing live via satellite from London, America was witness to the unforgettable spectacle of complete shrieking, fainting, Roller-induced hysteria.  Hype or hope, it was a most effective introduction.

Within a week, the Rollers were in America. Arriving at New York City’s Kennedy Airport, their plane was met by national press, television cameras and hundreds of screaming, plaid-clad American teens.  The Rollers performed their new single SATURDAY NIGHT live on Cosell’s second episode. By the next week, it was the #1 record in the nation.  Over the next 18 months, the Rollers would chart five more tunes in the American Top 40 (THE WAY I FEEL TONIGHT, ROCK 'N ROLL LOVE LETTER, YOU MADE ME BELIEVE IN MAGIC, MONEY HONEY and I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU).

The Rollers saga began in 1967 in Edinburgh, Scotland.  As The Saxons, the quintet limped along in relative obscurity for three years before deciding to change their name and image.  As pop history tells it, the lads stuck a pin in a United States map and hit Bay City, Michigan. With the addition of ‘Rollers’ (the British term for “soft rockers”) and a new wardrobe, the Bay City Rollers were born. A succession of Top 10 UK hits quickly followed.

While accusations of hype rage, the physical evidence was irrefutable: concert riots, hotels under siege, mass teen faintings, etc.  Additionally, this teenybopper havoc had a look all its own - tartan.  Like their idols, tartan-trimmed trousers and suspenders and plaid scarves and shirts became required wardrobe for devoted Rollers fans.  “What could girls do to identify with the Osmonds?” admitted one British teen magazine, “Dress up like Mormons?”  By 1974, the phenomena known as “Rollermania” had conquered Britain and most of Europe. 

America’s case of Rollermania lasted until 1977, over the course of five RIAA Gold albums (BAY CITY ROLLERS, ROCK ‘N ROLL LOVE LETTER, DEDICATION, IT’S A GAME and GREATEST HITS).  Now, some decades later, it’s possible to look beyond the hype and hysteria and hear the Rollers’ true legacy.  The Bay City Rollers created some of the most enjoyable and enduring pop music of the 1970s.

And we’ve got some tickets to give away to what is sure to be a very hot, fun evening of feel-good pop!

Drop me an email NOW to get on the list for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see The Bay City Rollers at The Arcada Theatre on Friday, March 13^th… yes, it IS Friday the 13^th… and we’ll see if we can hook you up.  (Tickets for this fun event can be purchased via the link above.)

Hope to see you there!!!  (kk)

FH Reader Danny Guilfoyle tells us there’s a brand new Herb Alpert documentary in the works …

https://bestclassicbands.com/herb-alpert-documentary-2-25-20/

kk –

Billy Joel's house was robbed the last time he played Madison Square Garden.

Watch him warn any would-be robbers not to hit his house again!

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-billy-joel-warn-would-be-robbers-not-to-hit-his-house-again-957368/?fbclid=IwAR0aY8hFF1TEdn9BNrmZOIKCGNelJCBkxXNt5VZIYaUgXZSU5hVe108Vubo

Frank B.

With Joel’s monthly sold-out shows at The Garden, I guess it’s pretty easy to figure out when he’s not going to be home!  Sounds like he’s pulled out all the stops to prevent this from ever happening again ‘tho!  (kk)

Good Morning Kent,

I'm happy to be entered into the Elton John and Mr. Rogers contests.  

I was also excited to read posts about Mickey Dolenz and the Monkees upcoming performances.

Thanks for continuing to provide information on quality entertainment!

Nikki Sloane

We are always happy to do our part to keep the fans in touch with all of these great artists and all of this great music that had such a HUGE impact on our lives … and we seem to be on a roll in the giveaways department of late!

We just handed out six tickets to see The Four C-Notes, The Midwest’s Premier Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Tribute Band …

This weekend we’ll be picking the winners for the Mark Bego / Elton John book giveaway contest …

Next week (March 4^th) we’ll be taking eight readers to see The Ides Of March concert at The City Winery …

As well as picking our winner for a pair of tickets to see Al Jardine perform at The City Winery on March 31^st… (you can still enter for this giveaway but you’ve got to do it NOW!!!) …

And, we’re still throwing names in the hat for the chance to win a copy of the brand new “Thank You, Mr. Rogers” CD, featuring a variety of pop artists performing songs written by the legendary Fred Rogers … (we’ll be taking names thru the end of next week for this one) …

And now we’ve added the chance to win tickets to see The Bay City Rollers at The Arcada Theatre on March 13^th!!!  (Email me now at kk@forgottenhits.com for YOUR chance to win a pair!)

It’s an exciting time … I don’t know if we’ve EVER had this many contests going at once before.  (I honestly don’t think so … so why not take advantage of the chance to cash in on some of these goodies … as well as enjoy the great entertainment that they all provide!)  kk

And …

TOMORROW IN FORGOTTEN HITS:

We do it every four years …

It’s our tribute to The Leap Year Hits!!!

Throughout the day, we’ll be counting down The Top Ten Hits of every leap year of the original rock and roll era …

1956 … 1960 … 1964 … 1968 … 1972 … 1976 … and 1980

Join us for brand new postings at 5 am, 8 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm and 10 pm

Please plan to spend your day with us … check back as we reveal The Top Ten Leap Year Hits for all seven years listed above …

As well as the #1 Leap Year Hit for 1952, 1984 and 1988!

It all happens right here… in Forgotten Hits!

THE LEAP YEAR COUNTDOWNS: 1956

February 29, 2020, 3:00 am

≫ Next: THE LEAP YEAR COUNTDOWNS: 1960

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Believe it or not, this is the FOURTH time we have celebrated the biggest hits of Leap Years past since we launched the Forgotten Hits website back in 2008.

(Hey, you can only do a countdown like this every four years!!!)

Each time we try to revamp it just a little bit to keep it fresh and exciting ... and this year is no exception.

We will be posting The Top Ten Songs of February 29th throughout the day today ... with brand new postings at 5 am, 8 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm and 10 pm ... taking a look back at the most popular music in the country as ranked by The Billboard Pop Charts for 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980.

(And, since it's kinda cool to rank TEN years of Top Ten's, we'll even tell you that the #1 Song in America on February 29th, 1952, was "CRY" by Johnny Ray ... and the #1 Records on February 29th in 1984 and 1988 were, respectively, "JUMP" by Van Halen and "FATHER FIGURE" by George Michael, two other great songs from the rock era.)

Be sure to stop back throughout the day to see the latest postings! 

February 29, 1956: 

#10.  Moritat:  A Theme From "Three-Penny Opera" - Dick Hyman: 

It was Dick Hyman's version of "The Theme from 'Three-Penny Opera'" that placed highest on the charts in 1956 when no less than SIX versions competed for radio airplay. Three years later, it would go all the way to #1 when Bobby Darin covered it as a vocal arrangement now FOREVER immortalized as "Mack The Knife", the biggest hit single of 1959 ... but, incredibly, the melody of this song actually dates back to 1928!  

#9. Band Of Gold - Don Cherry: 

This is another song that was covered by several artists in 1956, back at a time when the music industry considered the SONG to be more important than the ARTIST who recorded it. The BIGGEST hit version of "Band Of Gold" ... not to be confused with the Freda Payne song of the same name ... was done by Don Cherry!  Cherry was a big band singer back in the '40's (one website we found says he sang with the Jan Garber Band for all of seventeen days!) and, in another case of some friendly chart competition, his 1950 version of "Mona Lisa" went head-to-head with Nat "King" Cole's version. (Cole clearly won THAT battle hands-down ... his definitive version peaked at #1 and stayed there for five weeks! ... Cherry's all but forgotten take stopped at #10.) In the 1960's, Cherry attempted a career as a professional golfer but, by the '80's, he was back to telling golf stories between songs in his Las Vegas lounge act.   

#8. I'll Be Home / Tutti Frutti - Pat Boone
He was the biggest recording act of the 1950's, next to Elvis Presley ... and this two-sided hit was another example of clean-cut Pat Boone trying to interpret the latest sounds of rhythm and blues to his whitebread audience.  ("Tutti Frutti," of course, is Pat's version of the Little Richard song ... his next release would be "Long Tall Sally!"  Pat had already hit The Top Ten with his covers of Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame" and The El Dorados'"At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama)."  

#7. See You Later, Alligator - Bill Haley and his Comets: 

Bill Haley had already hit the Pop Top 40 a dozen times before Elvis Presley debuted on the charts with "Heartbreak Hotel" this week back in 1956 ... in fact, his country-rockin' cover version of "Shake, Rattle And Roll" was a Top Ten Hit in 1954 BEFORE the release of "Rock Around The Clock" ... and "See You Later, Alligator" kept the string of rock hits going. (For the record, "Rock Around The Clock" was first recorded by Haley back in 1954 ... but it didn't chart until May of the following year, when it was featured in the teen cult classic film "Blackboard Jungle".  Today it is considered by most music historians to be the song that "officially" launched what came to be known as "The Rock and Roll Era.")   





#6. Memories Are Made Of This - Dean Martin: 

Dino's version of "Memories Are Made Of This" has appeared in several movies, television shows and commercials these past few years ... it's a great tune, and a former #1 Hit. Today Dean Martin is considered to be the epitome of cool lounge singers, a label that at OTHER times in his career may have been considered to be more of a burden than a compliment. We mean it ONLY as a compliment.  

#5. The Poor People Of Paris - Les Baxter: 

Instrumentals were BIG back in 1956 ... and Les Baxter's instrumental hit "The Poor People Of Paris" would go on to top the charts a few weeks later. (Some of you may ALSO remember his big hit instrumental version of "Unchained Melody" from the year before, another #1 Chart-Topping Record for Baxter ... and, years later, a HUGE hit for The Righteous Brothers in their VOCAL version!) 

#4. No, Not Much - The Four Lads: 

The Vogues resurrected this one and had a nice cover hit version of "No, Not Much" in 1968 ... but The Four Lads, one of the earliest successful pop vocal quartets, topped the Cash Box Chart with their platter in 1956.  

#3. The Great Pretender - The Platters: 

And, speaking of hit platters, The Platters were one of the VERY few black groups to cross over in a big, big way to the pop charts during the earliest days of The Rock Era, a time when R&B tracks were still referred to as "Race Music." Their classics "Only You", "The Great Pretender", "The Magic Touch", "My Prayer", "Twilight Time", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and "Harbor Lights" were all Top Ten Pop Hits between 1955 and 1960 ... and four of those went all the way to #1 (including this one!) 

#2.  Rock And Roll Waltz - Kay Starr: 

Kay Starr was not the type of artist you expected to hear singing a rock and roll song!  But this was a brand new phase in music ... and still quite the novelty when she recorded "The Rock And Roll Waltz,"  a song that topped Billboard's chart two weeks earlier.  Starr started her solo career back in 1945, after singing with a string of orchestras since the age of 15 ... including (very briefly) Glen Miller's band. Her first chart hit came in 1948 when "You Were Only Fooling" went to #16 ... and fourteen other Top 20 Billboard Pop Hits followed, including the #1 Hit "Wheel Of Fortune (1952)."  "Rock And Roll Waltz" would be her last big hit ... and was the very first #1 Single to ever have the phrase "Rock And Roll" in the title. (Incredibly, it was ALSO the very first #1 single for RCA Records!  Thanks to Elvis Presley, whose first RCA Hit "Heartbreak Hotel" premiered on Billboard's Chart this week, RCA was assured of scoring many more #1's in the years to come!)  Starr's biggest #1 Hit, "Wheel Of Fortune" was recorded for Capitol Records ... and it topped the pop charts ...with no help from Vanna White whatsoever ... for nine weeks back in 1952.)  As such, she felt that "The Rock And Roll Waltz" sounded almost like a nursery rhyme in comparison, and couldn't believe that RCA was serious about wanting her to record the tune. "I thought, 'What are they doing to me?'" she said. "I made the switch from Capitol to RCA and they're gonna give me THIS stuff to sing?" She ultimately agreed to record the song but later said, "I didn't feel my heart was in it." Despite what Kay may have felt was a "lackluster" performance, the song went on to sell a million copies and top the charts! 

#1 - Lisbon Antigua - Nelson Riddle: 

The fact that three of this week's Top Ten Tunes are instrumentals gives you some idea as to what radio sounded like before Elvis Presley ... and proves yet again just how much we needed him!  Elvis rejuvenated music scene and, before you knew it, TEENAGERS were buying more records than their parents, just to keep up with all the latest hot new sounds.  
That being said, this is a pretty impressive Top Ten ... 
All six of this week's Top Six Tunes topped at least one of the National Pop Charts! 
Nelson Riddle was one of the most successful, in-demand arrangers / conductors of the '50's and '60's ... and was a true fixture on television during that time. Besides being the musical arranger for the hit television series "Batman,""Emergency,""The Rogues,""The Untouchables" and "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea," amongst many others, he was also the "house" orchestra on several variety series like "The Frank Sinatra Show" (for whom he arranged MANY classic albums), "The Helen Reddy Show,""The Julie Andrews Show,""The Leslie Uggams Show,""The Nat King Cole Show,"  "The Rosemary Clooney Show" and one of the many, many, MANY Tim Conway Shows!  Riddle enjoyed a big career comeback when he worked with Linda Ronstadt in the early '80's, too! Sadly, he passed away in 1985.  
"Lisbon Antigua" topped Billboard's Pop Chart for four weeks before being knocked out of the top spot by another instrumental ... Les Baxter's "The Poor People Of Paris."

 

THE LEAP YEAR COUNTDOWNS: 1960

February 29, 2020, 6:00 am

≫ Next: The Leap Year Countdown Continues ... With 1964!

≪ Previous: THE LEAP YEAR COUNTDOWNS: 1956

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Here are The Top Ten Records as ranked by Billboard Magazine for February 29th, 1960 ...

#10. Wild One - Bobby Rydell: 
Bobby Rydell was one of the earliest stars of "American Bandstand" and the Cameo / Parkway label ... an overnight Teen Idol Sensation ... and he's STILL out there performing in Teen Idol / Boys of Bandstand Shows to this day!  (In fact, he returns to The Arcada Theatre on June 7th.)  

"Wild One" was the second of his six Top Ten Hits.   
(You can check out the best of our week-long tribute to Bobby Rydell right here):
http://forgottenhits.com/bobby_rydell

#9. Baby, You Got What It Takes - 

Brook Benton and Dinah Washington: 
"Baby, You Got What It Takes" has got to be one of the greatest duets ever captured on wax. (Brook Benton and Dinah Washington were BOTH successful recording artists on their own for Mercury Records when they teamed up in 1960 to cut a couple of duets for the label. Brook being "in her spot" is one of the highlights of this record!)  You just know they had a good time making this record!

 

#8.  Let It Be Me - The Everly Brothers: 
The Everly Brothers were the first Dynamic Duo of The Rock Era ... by Leap Year Day, 1960, they had already scored THREE #1 Records!
"Let It Be Me" became their EIGHTH Top Ten Hit in just three years ... and while they may have been the ones who recorded it first, it has gone on to become one of the most covered "duets" ever written ... next to their OTHER big smash, "All I Have To Do Is Dream", of course!!! Their impact was everlasting ... and the influence of The Everly Brothers is still heard in music today. 

#7.  Running Bear - Johnny Preston: 
Here is yet another '60's Chart Classic that rarely receives airplay today. Johnny Preston topped the Pop, Country and R&B Charts with this one.  And DIDJAKNOW? that those background Indian sounds were actually performed by The Big Bopper (who wrote this tune) and his label mate, Country Legend George Jones!  How the heck does oldies radio ignore a classic like THIS one!!!  

 

 
#6. Beyond The Sea - Bobby Darin: 
This was Bobby Darin's follow up hit to last year's Record Of The Year, "Mack The Knife", which we told you about earlier today in our 1956 Leap Year Chart.  "Beyond The Sea" did nearly as well, becoming another one of Bobby's "signature" tunes, ultimately peaking at #6, and it seems to be every bit as popular today, some 60 years later! (In the past few years alone, it was used over the closing credits of the Walt Disney movie smash "Finding Nemo", as sung by British popster Robbie Williams ... ... and then was the title track of the Kevin Spacey film of Darin's life ... it was also incorporated into a key episode of the television series "Lost" right around the time our very first 2008 Leap Year Countdown ran ... and was recently used in a commercial for Carnival Cruises, too ... among several others!) 
Both songs ("Mack The Knife" and "Beyond The Sea") came from Bobby's "That's All" pop standards album, released right at the peak of his rock and roll career ... an album that ALL of his friends and advisers told him NOT to make, convinced it would be the equivalent of career suicide to change musical genres when his career was already rocking and rolling along in such high gear. Exactly the opposite happened ... Darin's career SKYROCKETED from there and today he is regarded as one of the most versatile artists and entertainers of all time.  (With SO many Bobby Darin fans on the list, we just HAD to feature THIS one!!!)  

 

 
#5. What In The World's Come Over You - Jack Scott: 
Singer / songwriter / guitarist Jack Scott (he changed his name from Giovanni Dominico Scafone, Jr. ... go figure!) first hit the pop charts in 1958 with his two-sided hit "My True Love" / "Leroy".  Both sides of that record made The Top 40 Chart, with "My True Love" going all the way to #3 and "Leroy" peaking at #25. Seven other Top 40 Hits followed: "With Your Love" (#28, also 1958), "Goodbye Baby" (a #8 hit in 1959), "The Way I Walk" (#25, also 1959), today's #5 Countdown Hit, "What In The World's Come Over You" (which was in its peak week back on February 29, 1960), "Burning Bridges" (#3, 1960, and covered by a number of artists over the years), "Oh Little One" (#34, 1960) and "It Happened Yesterday" (#28, 1960). After his pop chart hits stopped in 1961, Scott pursued a country career ... but never came close to reaching the success he enjoyed earlier in his pop career. By the late '70's / early '80's, he was back performing his hits as part of an oldies show touring package. Jack Scott is one of those names that comes up often as yet another GLARING omission repeatedly overlooked by The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  Sadly, we lost him last year.

#4. Teen Angel - Mark Dinning: 
Mark Dinning hit #1 on both the Billboard and the Cash Box Charts with this one! "Teen Angel" was one of the first (and most famous and successful) teen tragedy songs ever released ... and has gone on to become an oldies classic. 

#3. He'll Have To Go - Jim Reeves: 

One of Country Music's all-time biggest recording artists, Jim Reeves crossed over in a BIG way in 1960, scoring a #2 Hit with "He'll Have To Go".  (In fact, it was pretty much a one-two punch ... an answer song by Jeanne Black, "He'll Have To Stay" ... released literally right on the heels of the Jim Reeves hit ... went all the way to #4!)  Reeves hit Billboard's Country Chart an incredible 80 times ... and, what may be MOST amazing about that feat, is the fact that HALF those hits were released AFTER he died in a plane crash in 1964!!!) His other big pop hit was "Four Walls", which peaked at #11 in 1957.

#2. Handy Man - Jimmy Jones: 

Jimmy Jones had back-to-back Top 3 Hits in 1960 with "Handy Man" and "Good Timin'".  "Handy Man" would go on to become a Top 40 Hit all over again ... TWICE!!! Del Shannon took it back up the charts (with a nearly identical remake in 1964) to #19 ... and James Taylor had a pretty big hit with it, too, when he recorded it in 1977!  (James' slowed-down version climbed all the way to #2, besting Jimmy Jones' original chart showing!) 

#1.  Theme From "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith: 

Percy Faith's Movie Theme (from the Motion Picture "A Summer Place", starring Troy Donahue and the soon-to-be Mrs. Bobby Darin, Sandra Dee) topped the pop charts for an incredible TEN WEEKS in 1960 and went on to become the biggest single of the year.  (To this day, it remains the biggest #1 Instrumental Hit of The Rock Era!)  It was Percy's second #1 Record ... he first topped the charts in 1953 with "Song From 'Moulin Rouge'" ... and, 60-plus years later, "Theme from 'A Summer Place'" is STILL one your all-time favorite instrumentals ... in a Forgotten Hits Poll a few years back, "Theme from 'A Summer Place" placed second, behind only "Sleep Walk" as our readers' all-time favorite instrumental track.  And, it came in SIXTH as your Favorite Summer Song of All-Time, too!  Even today it seems like you can't turn on the TV without hearing it being used in some type of movie or ad campaign!

The Leap Year Countdown Continues ... With 1964!

February 29, 2020, 9:00 am

≫ Next: The Leap Year Countdown: 1968

≪ Previous: THE LEAP YEAR COUNTDOWNS: 1960

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Beatlemania had reached epidemic proportions by February 29th of 1964 ...

The Fab Four had just completed their third consecutive appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show ... and anybody and everybody who had access to material The Beatles had recorded prior to Capitol Records' launch here in The States with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was putting out singles.

This is most evident in this week's Top Ten Countdown for February 29th, 1964 ... where The Beatles have THREE of the nation's Top Ten Songs!!!   

#10.Um Um Um Um Um Um - Major Lance: 
Major Lance would have quite a few of his R&B Hits cross-over to the pop charts in the early '60's. "Um Um Um Um Um Um" would be turn out to be his biggest. It returned to The Top 40 in 1978 when Johnny Rivers recorded it under the new title "Curious Mind."   

#9. Stop And Think It Over - Dale and Grace: 
Dale and Grace topped the charts with their previous release, "I'm Leaving It (All) Up To You," at the end of 1963. This follow-up release, "Stop And Think It Over," would be their last Top Ten (and Top 40) hit. 

#8. Navy Blue - Diane Renay: 
Diane Renay hit The Top Ten with her first release, "Navy Blue" ... a sound-alike follow-up hit, "Kiss Me, Sailor", peaked at #28 later that year ... and then she was gone. When this record was first released, more than a few people thought she sounded an awful lot like Lesley Gore! (Speaking of whom, you'll find at the #7 on this week's countdown!)


#7. You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore: 
"You Don't Own Me" is one of my VERY favorite Lesley Gore songs ... a personal favorite of all-time for that matter! (Was it an early example of The Women's Lib / Women's Rights Movement? Perhaps ... if not, it certainly was a FAR cry from "He Hit Me And It Felt Like A Kiss", recorded just a year and a half earlier by The Crystals under the auspicious guidance of Super Producer Phil Spector!)
Lesley had become quite a regular in The Top Ten during the past year: "It's My Party" topped the charts in early-summer, 1963, followed by "Judy's Turn To Cry" (#4 in August) and "She's A Fool" (#5 in the fall.) "You Don't Onw Me," a powerful ballad produced by Quincy Jones (and  co-written by our good friend Johnny Madara) would keep that string alive and it went all the way to #1 here in Chicago. In fact, Lesley would go on to have seven more Top 40 Hits by 1967 ... and I'm guessing that, back in 1964 anyway, there were probably a FEW people out there who thought that Lesley Gore sounded an awful lot like Diane Renay!!!  (Go figure!!!)

John Madara tells us about "You Don't Own Me" here ...
http://forgottenhits.com/john_madaras_greatest_hits

#6. Please Please Me - The Beatles: 
By February 29, 1964, Beatlemania was EXPLODING here in The United States ... in fact, you'll find THREE of The Beatles' earliest U.S. releases firmly planted in this week's Top Ten Countdown. (Of course, this particular track was already a year old by the time America was FINALLY ready to embrace The Fab Four From Liverpool.) Despite ALL legends to the contrary, (and George Martin's oft-repeated quote, "Congratulations, Gentlemen ... you've just recorded your first #1 Record"), "Please Please Me" never OFFICIALLY hit #1 in England OR The United States ... but it IS a classic early Lennon-McCartney tune nonetheless ... and it helped to ignite Beatlemania all around the world back in early 1963 ... well, everywhere but HERE anyway, where the record tanked the first time around. Fact is, Vee Jay Records thought so little of the band, they mis-spelled their name on the record label as "The Beattles" ... with TWO "T's"!!! (That pressing's worth a small FORTUNE today!) In 1964, The Beatles would revolutionize and revitalize the recording industry ... and music has NEVER been the same since.

#5. California Sun - The Rivieras: 

Although The British Invasion was just starting to get under way here in The States back on February 29, 1964, thanks to artists like The Beach Boys, The Surfaris, and these guys, The Rivieras, Surf Music was ANOTHER hot sound of the era. In fact, "California Sun" went all the way to #5 that year and the song is still quite popular today, continuing to receive regular oldies airplay. Ironically, the band was from South Bend, Indiana, more than a few miles away from the nearest ocean (or the California Sun for that matter!) This single was no sooner recorded (right here in Chicago, btw) than guitarists Marty Fortson (who also sang the lead vocal) and Joe Pennell left the band to join the Marines. (In fact, Fortson later recalled hearing the song played on the radio while he was being shot at in Viet Nam, wondering if, perhaps, he had made the wrong career decision!) Their manager, Bill Dobslaw, who later took over the lead vocal duties, recruited new musicians for their low-charting follow-ups "Little Donna" / "Let's Have A Party" and "Rockin' Robin".  (Despite peaks in the 90's for these two singles on the National Charts, both were Top Ten smashes here in Chicago.) Their brand of "surfing-up" some oldies (Joe Jones first recorded "California Sun" back in 1961, but his version stopped at #81 ... "Let's Have A Party" was an Elvis tune that saw some chart success by Wanda Jackson ... and "Rockin' Robin", of course, was a #2 smash for Bobby Day) coupled with the Midwestern Garage Band Sound of the day made for an interesting combination and "California Sun" became an instant classic. All of these hits were released on their very own "Riviera" record label ... and we've given Indiana's Rivieras The "Forgotten Hits Treatment" a FEW times over the past few years! 

#4. Java - Al Hirt: 

Al Hirt (who always reminded me of Sebastian Cabot for some reason ... and, to the best of my knowledge anyway, was NEVER confused with either Lesley Gore or Diane Renay) was quite a television fixture back in the mid-'60's. Early on, he spent time in both Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey's combos and later headed his own Dixieland band (with famed clarinetist Pete Fountain.)  In fact, next to Herb Alpert, Hirt just may have been the most recognized trumpet player in America at the time! (Ironically, it was Diane Renay's hit "Navy Blue" that knocked Hirt out of the #1 Spot on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart back in March of '64!) "Java" was written by renown New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint (Hirt was also from New Orleans) and the single was produced by Nashville legend Chet Atkins, who probably first saw it as a country song (since Nashville session man extraordinaire Floyd Cramer had also cut the tune.) In fact, both Toussaint's version and Cramer's version were piano instrumentals, showcasing their musical strong suit. It was Hirt who added the "Honey In the Horn" and made "Java" the hit it ultimately became. RCA billed him as "Al 'The King' Hirt" (pretty amazing in that Elvis also recorded for the label!) Hardly a sex symbol, (he, at times, weighed as much as three hundred pounds) he recorded his follow-up LP "Beauty And the Beard" with soon-to-be Elvis movie co-star (and not so secret girlfriend) Ann-Margret.

#3. Dawn - The Four Seasons: 

By the time "Dawn" peaked at #3 on the National Charts, The Four Seasons had already topped the charts three times with "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like A Man".  Today they've been forever immortalized in "Jersey Boys," a MUST-SEE musical depicting the highs and lows of their entire career.

#2. She Loves You - The Beatles: 

Despite the encouragement from Paul McCartney's father to "un-Americanize" the lyrics and sing "yes, yes, yes" instead of "yeah, yeah, yeah," The Beatles stuck to their guns and had their second biggest hit of the year in America ... and their biggest British hit ever!
 

#1.  I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles: 

This is the one that started it all over here ... targeting their recording for "American ears," The Beatles really nailed it with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" ... even Capitol Records couldn't deny it this time ... and a HUGE advertising campaign (along with appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and at Carnegie Hall) paved the way for John, Paul, George and Ringo to enter into the open arms of their biggest, worldwide audience yet. Beatlemania was here to stay. (Don't believe me? Flip through your radio dial today, nearly sixty years later, and count how many Beatles songs you hear in a single day. It's frickin' AMAZING!!!) 

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The Leap Year Countdown: 1968

February 29, 2020, 11:00 am

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These were the Top Ten Songs in America on February 29th, 1968 ... 

#10. Everything That Touches You - The Association 
The Association scored their last Top Ten Hit with this forgotten gem from 1968. It capped a pretty good run ... "Cherish", "Windy" and "Never My Love" had all topped the national singles charts ... and their debut single, "Along Comes Mary," posted a very respectable #7 showing in 1966.  The band is still performing today (with a few original members) ... and can be seen again this year as part of The Happy Together Again Tour! 

#9.  Goin' Out Of My Head / Can't Take My Eyes Off You - The Lettermen 
One of the more creative medleys to ever hit the charts, The Lettermen (long-time champs on the Easy Listening / Soft Rock / Middle-Of-The-Road charts) scored a comeback hit of sorts when they blended the only Little Anthony and the Imperials tune "Goin' Out Of My Head" with last year's #1 Hit for Frankie Valli, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," and created a whole new "megamix!"

#8. I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight - 
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart: 
It was the mention of THIS song in our original Leap Year Series than ran back in 2004 that prompted us to do our "The Music of Tommy Boyce And Bobby Hart" Series a few years ago.  That series proved to be SO popular that it's now been permanently posted on our other Forgotten Hits Website ... www.forgottenhits.com ... in fact, Bobby Hart enjoyed the series so much, he offered brand new commentary and even agreed to a rare interview!
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart had been hitting the pop charts for the past couple of years by supplying hit music to The Monkees.  (In fact, Boyce and Hart had originally auditioned to be the musical act on the show but were designated as the show's "musical producers" instead.) In addition to "The Monkees Theme," they provided the group with their first #1 Hit "Last Train To Clarksville," the smash B-Side "Steppin' Stone" (first done ... without any success ... by Paul Revere and the Raiders), "Words" and "Valleri" (a song recorded in 1967 but not released until later in '68, where it ALSO topped the pop charts.) They also were responsible for some great LP tunes like "I Wanna Be Free", "Gonna Buy Me A Dog" and "She," amongst others, many of which became embedded in our consciousness by repeated plays on their weekly TV series. In 1968, Boyce and Hart finally tried to make their OWN mark in the music biz as recording artists ... and this one was a biggie! "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" (not the same song as the Barry and the Tamerlanes hit, but most likely inspired by its title) hit #7 in Cash Box (and was a #2 smash here in Chicago.) 
In the mid-'70's, Boyce and Hart teamed with Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones of The Monkees and toured as Dolenz, Jones, Boyce And Hart:  The Songs of The Monkees (by the Guys Who Sang 'Em and the Guys Who Wrote 'Em.) I just happened to be at Six Flags in St. Louis the night they broke the all-time attendance record back in 1976 ... and their only studio LP is REALLY pretty good stuff!!! (I also remember hearing them in the studio on Roy Leonard's WGN radio program at the time, discussing how they now wanted to be taken more seriously as artists by appealing to an older audience ... I couldn't help but think that perhaps the FIRST, most logical step in that direction toward CHANGING this perception MIGHT be to stop billing yourselves as MicKY, and DaVY and TomMY and BobBY! LOL)

#7. Green Tambourine - The Lemon Pipers 
#6. Simon Says - The 1910 Fruitgum Company 
Bubblegum was the latest pop music trend in 1968, as evidenced by this week's #6 and #7 songs.  The 1910 Fruitgum Company and The Lemon Pipers both recorded for Buddah Records, who excelled at the genre ... and these were two of the best examples of bubblegum music at its very best. 

#5. Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding: 
Sadly, Soul Singer / Songwriter Otis Redding didn't live long enough to see his biggest hit record make the charts ... he died in a plane crash in December of 1967, three months BEFORE "Dock Of The Bay" hit #1. Redding has inspired SO many other singers over the years ... but this one remains his signature tune. 

#4. I Wish It Would Rain - The Temptations: 
The Temptations experimented with a wide variety of styles in the '60's ... and all of them seemed to work. Whether recording the traditional Motown Sound on early hits like "The Way You Do The Things You Do,""My Girl" and "Get Ready" ... or pushing the musical envelope with more elaborate tracks like "I Wish It Would Rain,""Cloud Nine" and "I Can't Get Next To You" ... or literally re-inventing themselves with over-the-top songs like "Psychedelic Shack,""Ball Of Confusion" and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", virtually EVERYTHING they touched turned to gold. "I Wish It Would Rain" peaked at the #2 position early in 1968 ... and is yet another Temptations classic. 

#3. Spooky - The Classics IV: 
The Classics IV had one of the smoothest sounds on record back in the late '60's. Their hits "Spooky,""Stormy,""Traces" and "Every Day With You Girl" were all National Top 20 Hits. (In fact, "Spooky,""Stormy" and "Traces" all peaked at #2 on at least one of the National Charts!) Lead vocalist Dennis Yost deservedly gets a lot of the credit for the for the band's success ... but when guitarist J.R. Cobb and bassist / keyboardist Dean Daughtry teamed with Classics IV producer Buddy Buie in the mid-'70's to form The Atlanta Rhythm Section, the hits just kept on coming ... including an ARS remake of "Spooky" that went all the way to #15!!!

#2. Theme from Valley Of The Dolls - Dionne Warwick: 
Dionne's love theme from the popular (if somewhat campy) movie "Valley of the Dolls" (based on the long-time mega-best selling book) was an unexpected surprise on the pop charts.  First of all, it wasn't written by her usual team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David ... and, in many cities, it was designated as the B-Side.  That's because the OTHER side of this single was "I Say A Little Prayer," long considered a David and Bacharach classic.  (It also became a Top Ten Hit for Dionne Warwick, going all the way to #4 three months earlier!) 

#1.  Love Is Blue - Paul Mauriat: 
Man, this one was ALL over the radio back in 1968 ... 

it didn't seem to matter WHAT station you listened to ... 

Paul Mauriat took the French song "L'Amour Est Bleu" and made it an American favorite ... it topped the charts for SEVEN incredible weeks in February and March. The song was first performed by Vicki Leandros as Luxembourg's entry into the Annual Eurovision Song Contest in 1967, where it finished in fourth place! Despite the fact that she later recorded the song with lyrics that same year in 19 different languages, it sold moderately at best. All the more surprising then that, in a year where American Music took a turn toward harder, heavier, more sophisticated rock, this one captured our hearts by storm ... and as an INSTRUMENTAL, no less!   (Wow ... that makes THREE HUGE INSTRUMENTAL HITS holding down the #1 Spot in our Leap Year Countdown thus far!)

DIDJAKNOW?: In 1971, Paul Mauriat admitted for the first time that, under the pseudonym Del Roman, he wrote an instrumental called "Chariot" back in 1962 that became a #1 Record throughout Europe for Petula Clark when she recorded it with newly written French lyrics. A year later, when English lyrics were written, it went to #1 here in the States, too.  Don't recognize the title?  That's probably because you know it better as "I Will Follow Him" by Little Peggy March!

THE LEAP YEAR COUNTDOWNS: 1972

February 29, 2020, 2:00 pm

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These were The Top Ten Records in America on February 29th, 1972 ...

#10.  Bang A Gong (Get It On) - T. Rex:

Mark Bolan and T. Rex are being inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year.  "Bang A Gong" was their only significant hit here in America ... but it was a big one.  (This is actually the week where it peaked at #10.  It would hold that spot for another week.)  Part of the British Glam-Rock movement (some might say the LEADERS of that movement), T. Rex earned twenty Top 40 Hits back home in The U.K., including FOUR #1 Hits.  [This was their second #1, following "Hot Love" (1971)]  They also hit the #2 spot four times ... and had three other Top Ten Hits as well.

 

#9. Sweet Seasons - Carole King: 
After writing literally hundreds of hit songs for other artists, Carole King released her "Tapestry" album in 1971 and finally enjoyed some MAJOR chart success of her very own. (It was the Album Of The Year in fact ... and remains one of the best-selling and most popular albums of all time!) The follow-up LP, "Music," spawned the hit single "Sweet Seasons" in 1972.

#8. Let's Stay Together - Al Green: 
Four decades before President Barrack Obama crooned it at a political gathering, Al Green scored the BIGGEST Hit of his entire career when "Let's Stay Together" went all the way to #1. Seriously ... has a day EVER gone by since 1972 when you HAVEN'T heard this one on the radio?!?!? Reverend Al hit a universal nerve when he recorded THIS tune. 

#7. Heart Of Gold - Neil Young: 
Neil Young didn't really have a lot of "pop" success as a solo artist ... only three of his solo releases made The Top 40 ... but this one was HUGE ... and it went all the way to #1. The on-again, off-again member of Crosby, Stills, Nash (and sometimes Young) also topped the LP chart with "Harvest," the album from whence this single came! 

#6. The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Robert John: 
Although the definitive version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" will always be the one recorded by The Tokens (who took it to #1 in 1961), Robert John didn't do too badly with his 1972 remake ... it peaked at #3!!! 
In fact, he had a little bit of "inside help" on this one ... former Tokens member Hank Medress produced John's version.  Robert John first hit the pop charts back in 1958 under his REAL name, Bobby Pedrick, Jr., when, at the ripe old age of 12, his song "White Bucks And Saddle Shoes" went to #74 on the Billboard Chart. His high falsetto voice was the perfect tool for some other popular remakes after the success of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" ... his version of The Mystics' hit "Hushabye" went to #99 later that same year and, after topping the charts with his biggest hit, an original tune called "Sad Eyes" in 1979, remakes of "Hey There Lonely Girl" (#31, 1980), "Sherry" (#70, 1980) and "Bread And Butter" (#68, 1983) followed. 

#5.  Everything I Own - Bread: 

I always thought that this was one of Bread's most beautiful love songs ... then, after seeing them in concert, and learning that David Gates actually wrote the song not about one of the lost loves of his life but rather his father's recent death ... the lyrics take on a whole new, even more powerful meaning in that context. Listen closely to the words the next time you hear this song with that thought in mind ... and I'm sure you'll come away with a whole new feeling about this song. An absolute Bread favorite. 

#4. Down By The Lazy River - The Osmonds: 
I don't care what you say ... The Osmonds rocked out pretty good on this one. It topped the charts here in Chicago (as did their two previous singles, "One Bad Apple" and "Yo-Yo.")  In fact, brothers Merrill and Alan wrote "Down By The Lazy River", proving that the boys COULD rock when they wanted to! (This ALSO gives me yet ANOTHER excuse to tell my ALL-TIME favorite Osmonds Brothers Story: According to Alan Osmond, Led Zeppelin's road manager once invited The Osmonds to come backstage and meet the band. After a short visit, "One of the band members asked us if we would like to come up on stage with them for their final song, when they played 'Stairway To Heaven'."  Their manager didn't think it was a very good idea, concerned about the image of Led Zeppelin having ANYTHING at all to do with The Osmonds!  But the members of Led Zeppelin insisted. A production assistant "escorted us up the back stairs and to the right side of the stage. The audience, which never stopped applauding to get Zeppelin to come back for an encore, were surprised as The Osmonds revealed themselves from the back of the stage with Zeppelin following. We stood stage right and watched the greatest performance of their song.") Now that's even cooler than the time The Osmonds hired world champion karate guru Chuck Norris to teach them some new, "masculine moves" that could be incorporated into their dance choreography! (Also true!) And all this time you thought these guys were just a bunch of wimps!

#3. Precious And Few - Climax: 
At one time or another, we've featured ALL of the hit songs recorded by The Outsiders, the band that Sonny Geraci fronted back in the '60's. You may recall that "Precious And Few" nearly came out as an "Outsiders" track, too, but a lawsuit between former band members as to who really had the rights to the name caused Geraci to change the name on his release to Climax. It was worth it ... "Precious and Few" went all the way to #3, besting The Outsiders #5 peak for their biggest hit, "Time Won't Let Me."

#2. Hurting Each Other - The Carpenters: 
Certainly one of the hottest recording acts of the '70's, "Hurting Each Other" was just one of a dozen songs released by The Carpenters that went into The National Top Ten in an all-too-brief recording career. 

#1.  Without You - Nilsson: 
Here's another one of my '70's favorites ... originally written and performed by Badfinger on their "No Dice" album, Nilsson really made this one his own. (It became a HUGE hit again 22 years later for Mariah Carey.)  Badfinger was ALSO on this week's Top 40 Chart with their new single, "Day After Day."  Many years ago, we did a special Forgotten Hits feature, tracing this song from its inception ... starting with the original Pete Ham demo track through the Badfinger recording ... into the Nilsson chart-topping monster power ballad masterpiece and up through the Mariah Carey remake. A good song is a good song is a good song ... no matter WHO does it ... and THIS is a GOOD song! 

The Leap Year Countdowns: 1976

February 29, 2020, 5:00 pm

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Here were the Top Ten Songs on this date, 1976 ... our Bi-Centennial Year:

10. You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate

Another group that enjoyed greater success back home in England, they still made their mark here in The States as well with three Top Ten Hits"  "Emma," #8, 1975, "Every 1's A Winner," #6, 1979, and this one, their biggest, "You Sexy Thing," which would peak at #3.  (They would have two other Top 40 Hits as well.) 

9. Love Hurts - Nazareth:  
A GREAT remake of the Everly Brothers / Roy Orbison tune. I first heard this song performed by a bar band down in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Spring Break in early 1976 ... and they did a note-for-note, letter-perfect version. (In hindsight, for all I know, it could have BEEN Nazareth!!!  It was THAT good!) "Love Hurts" would turn out to be Nazareth's One Hit Wonder, ultimately peaking at #8.  (Their track "Hair Of The Dog" also did well on our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME List last year.)  
DIDJAKNOW?: Nazareth were from Scotland and they took their name from the first line of the classic Band hit "The Weight"!  ("I pulled into Nazareth ... ") 

#8. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon: 
OK, tell the truth ... did anybody out there actually COUNT them?!?!? I've never been convinced that Paul Simon really told us all fifty ways! "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" became Paul Simon's FOURTH Top Ten Hit after splitting with his 1960's singing partner Art Garfunkel ... and it topped the charts just a couple of weeks earlier.

#7.  Lonely Night (Angel Face) - The Captain and Tennille:   
After the HUGE success of "Love Will Keep Us Together" the year before, The Captain and Tennille went back to the Neil Sedaka songbook one more time for this one. Although nowhere near as big a hit, it DID top the Cash Box chart, and really does fall into the Forgotten Hits category ... you rarely EVER hear this one on the radio anymore.
Neil Sedaka's big '70's comeback was orchestrated by Elton John, who signed him to his Rocket Records label. "Sedaka's Back" became a best-selling album in 1975 and that's where Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille found "Love Will Keep Us Together," which, in their hands, went on to become the biggest pop hit of 1975. (To their credit, they did some pretty incredible arranging ... Sedaka's original version is pretty limp and, to my ears, showed absolutely NO hit potential.) Listen closely and you can even hear Toni Tennille sing "Sedaka's Back" during the fade-out at the end of the record. 
Sedaka's follow-up album, "The Hungry Years", did even better on the charts and it's from THIS LP that The Captain and Tennille took "Lonely Night (Angel Face)."  Dragon was a keyboard player for The Beach Boys in the early '70's (and Toni Tennille was perhaps the first female Beach Boy when she joined the group as a background vocalist!) In fact, it was Beach Boy Mike Love who dubbed Daryl "The Captain" in the first place because of all the hats he used to wear on stage. They went on to have nine Top 40 Hits in the '70's and even had their own TV show for a while.  (Sadly, Daryl Dragon left us recently, too.) 



#6.  Dream Weaver - Gary Wright: 
Gary would eventually top the charts with his first solo hit after years of studio session work (and fronting the rock group Spooky Tooth).  [It peaked at #3 in Billboard.]  The song still sounds good, be it Leap Year or any OTHER year ... and it still gets a fair amount of airplay on the oldies stations, the classic rock stations and the easy listening stations.  (Now that's what I call and across-the-boards hit record!)  His follow up release, "Love Is Alive" is another classic ... it peaked at #2 just a few months later!  

#5. Take It To The Limit - The Eagles:  
When we first published this chart back in 2008, I kicked this off by saying:  
First off, let me say that I am a HUGE Eagles fan (although this is NOT one of my favorite Eagles songs.) However, I find it necessary to right a wrong that's been going on for these last several rounds of Eagles "Farewell Tour" performances. "Take It To The Limit" was written by then-Eagles bassist Randy Meisner.  (Prior to joining The Eagles, Meisner had been around the musical block a few times ... he was an original member of Poco as well as part of Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band.)  As such, this makes Randy one of the Fore-Fathers of Country / Rock.  
When he presented "Take it To The Limit" to The Eagles for recording consideration, they loved the song. All of their previous hit singles had been written and / or sung by leaders Glenn Frey and Don Henley ... so it was quite an achievement when Meisner's "Take It To The Limit" was chosen to be released as a single.  (I can only imagine a George Harrison-like moment when "Something" was determined to be the strongest track from The Beatles' new "Abbey Road" album!)
According to stories that Meisner has told since, Frey and Henley reportedly changed two words of Randy's lyrics ... and then insisted on song co-writing credit. Furious, Meisner agreed for fear that his song wouldn't be recorded otherwise. (He eventually re-recorded it as a solo artist and changed those two words back!!!) For years after Meisner left the band, The Eagles would not perform this song live in concert, even though the record went on to become the band's very first gold single ... and was one of their most popular tunes. 
When I saw the Eagles perform in 2008, it was back in the line-up. Glenn Frey got a big laugh when he told the audience that while we're all out here enjoying what we believe will be one of The Eagles' final performances ever, their managers are actually backstage planning Eagles Reunion Tour VII.  (Not much of a joke in hindsight ... they've toured virtually non-stop ever since ... and then even recorded a brand new album together!)
When he announced "Take It To The Limit" in concert, (which HE sang, by the way, in 2008 ... Vince Gill performs the song in concert today after Frey's passing), he described it as "a song we wrote with Randy Meisner," implying more than a passing credit as to the origins of the song ... and, knowing the whole story behind these circumstances, this more than rubbed me the wrong way.  However, since then, Frey has acknowledged in a new "Eagles' Greatest Hits" CD Package that "Take It To The Limit" was The Eagles' VERY first Gold Single, stating that although they had had #1 Records earlier in their career, NONE of them had actually sold a million copies.  He goes on to state "on the record" that he is VERY proud of Randy Meisner for delivering The Eagles' VERY first Gold Single!!!
Thanks, Glenn ... I feel SO much better now!!!  (lol) 

#4. Theme From S.W.A.T. - The Rhythm Heritage: 
At the time of this original series back on LEAP YEAR, 2004, we were bemoaning the fact that so many TV shows were being made into camped-up movies.  At the time, it had just been announced that Starksy and Hutch were going to be the next victims!  Then, in 2008, word came that "S.W.A.T." and "The A-Team" were going to be given big screen make-overs.  Failure upon failure upon failure at the box office hasn't seemed to deter Hollywood at all ... heaven forbid somebody should actually come up with a NEW idea or plot line!!!
Now, on the one hand, hearing "new" versions of "The Theme from S.W.A.T." and "Shaft" and "Mission Impossible" aren't all bad things ... a whole new generation of music fans are now discovering this "brand-new music" for themselves!  (Otherwise, it may have just slipped through the cracks like so many other great hits from this era.)  The Rhythm Heritage topped the charts with their funky "Theme from S.W.A.T." the week before ... and then later that year they hit The Top 20 once again with the theme from the TV Show BARETTA. 

#3. December, 1963 - The Four Seasons:  
The Four Seasons scored one of the biggest comebacks ever seen on the pop charts ... after not placing a song in The Top 10 since 1967, they came back strong with the back-to-back hits "Who Loves You" (#3) and "December, 1963" (#1) in 1975-76. And, as we've mentioned SO many times these past few years, their music is hotter than ever thanks to the success of "Jersey Boys"!!!  They've reached a whole new audience with one of the best (and most successful) stage shows in ages.  It is literally playing all over the world, insuring the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons will live on forever! 

#2. All By Myself - Eric Carmen:  
We told you once before that Eric Carmen had to re-record his vocal on his first solo hit SEVEN TIMES because everyone connected with the record felt that he sounded too much like Paul McCartney!  (I suppose there are worse insults you could be accused of!)  After placing four hits in The Top 40 with The Raspberries, Carmen didn't miss a beat with his solo career ... "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again,""Sunrise,""She Did It,""Change Of Heart,""I Wanna Hear it From Your Lips,""Hungry Eyes" and "Make Me Lose Control" all followed "All By Myself" into The Top 40.  

#1.  Love Machine - The Miracles:  
NOBODY thought that The Miracles would survive after the departure of Smokey Robinson ... boy, were WE wrong!!! "Love Machine" topped the pop chart in 1976 ... something Smokey himself was never able to do as a solo artist.  (He came close five years later ... in fact, you'll find out just HOW close he came in our 1980 LEAP YEAR Countdown ... which is coming up next ... so stay tuned!!!)

The Leap Year Countdowns - 1980

February 29, 2020, 8:00 pm

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Here is our final countdown of the day ...

The Top Ten Hits on February 29th, 1980 ... 

#10. Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd isn't the first band you think of when it comes to Top Ten Hit Singles ... but this one (from their album "The Wall") went all the way to #1 ... and stayed their for four weeks.  (Seven years early they hit "13 with "Money" from their landmark album "Dark Side Of The Moon" ... and that's pretty much been it and the Pop Singles Chart. 

#9. Working My Way Back To You / Forgive Me Girl -The Spinners: 

The Spinners started their recording career nearly FIFTY years ago when they were discovered by the legendary Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows and had their first Top 40 success with his Tri-Phi Records label back in 1961 ("That's What Girls Are Made For", #27).  The Top 40 Hits continued as they moved on to Motown Records ("I'll Always Love You," #35 in 1965) and V.I.P. Records ("It's A Shame," #14 in 1970) before signing with Atlantic Records in 1972, where their unique sound went through the roof. Between 1972 and 1976, The Spinners hit The Top Ten five times on the Pop Charts, with soulful pop classics like "I'll Be Around" (#3 in 1972), "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" (also #4, 1973), "Then Came You" (a #1 Record in 1974, this time recorded with Dionne Warwick ... or do you say "Warwicke," as SHE did on the record label for this tune?), "Games People Play / They Just Can't Stop It" (#5, 1975) and "The Rubberband Man" (#2, 1976.) 
Their medley of the old Four Seasons hit "Working My Way Back To You" (coupled with a brand new piece of music called "Forgive Me Girl") also shot straight up the charts, peaking at #2 early in 1980. The Spinners would try the medley-thing a couple more times ... once, quite successfully (their version of the Sam Cooke classic "Cupid,"  coupled with "I've Loved You For A Long Time," would hit #4 later that year in 1980) ... and once NOT so successfully (they also took The Carpenters' hit "Yesterday Once More" and "medleyed" it with "Nothing Remains The Same," #52 in 1981.) By the way, ALL of these new tunes were written by Michael Zager, who had some chart success of his own in the mid-'70's after leaving Ten Wheel Drive.

#8. Rock With You - Michael Jackson: 
It was a much darker (and a lot less controversial) Michael Jackson that made a remarkable comeback with his "Off The Wall" album in 1979. It revitalized his solo career and spawned FOUR hit singles including this one (which had already hit #1 in January), "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" (also #1 in 1979), the title track, "Off The Wall" (#10) and my personal favorite, "She's Out Of My Life" (also #10). He followed "Off The Wall" with one of the biggest selling albums of all time, "Thriller."

Of course, since our last Leap Year Countdown ran, we've lost Michael Jackson ... yet another senseless death of a musical superstar who had it all in the palm of his gloved hand at one time.  So sad ... but the music lives on (and always will.)



#7. Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson:  
In our 1976 Leap Year Countdown, Smokey's former bandmates, The Miracles, were at the #1 position with their disco hit "Love Machine."  Incredibly, despite being one of the most prolific songwriters, producers and recording acts for Motown Records, Robinson would never enjoy the same honor.  ("Cruisin'" peaked at #4 and "Being With You" stopped at #2 the following year.)  Smokey Robinson and the Miracles also topped the charts together in 1970 with their mega-hit "The Tears Of A Clown."  ("Shop Around" came close, peaking at #2. 
A nice remake of "Cruisin'" by Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow (from the movie "Duets") saturated the airwaves and eventually topped Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart in 2000 (despite never officially making their Hot 100 listing). 

#6. On The Radio - Donna Summer:   
Disco Queen Donna Summer made her chart debut on our 1976 Leap Year Chart with "Love To Love You Baby."  By the time "On The Radio" came along four short years later, she'd already had NINE more Top 40 hits, including the #1 Records "MacArthur Park", "Hot Stuff", "Bad Girls" and her duet with Barbra Streisand, "No More Tears." 

#5. Desire - Andy Gibb:  
Andy Gibb is another one who seemed to have it all when he first broke through on the pop charts back in the late 1970's. He was the youngest brother of The Bee Gees and all nine of his first chart singles were written by his big brother Barry and made The Top 40.  (Six of those made The Top Ten ... and three of THOSE went all the way to #1!)  Soon he was on the cover of every teenage magazine, playing to sell-out crowds all over the world, appearing on Broadway, dating "Dallas" Actress Victoria Principal, and co-hosting the television series "Solid Gold."  Sadly, drink and drugs got the better of him and we lost Andy in 1988. Today's #5 song, "Desire," written by all three of the older Brother Gibb, would be Andy's last Top Ten Hit. 

#4. Longer - Dan Fogelberg: 
Dan Fogelberg already had a couple of Top 40 Hits prior to "Longer"'s release at the end of 1979, but THIS is the one that put him on the map (as well as the song lists of virtually EVERY wedding performer from this point forward!) Despite recording some very interesting and engaging uptempo tunes, Fogelberg was forever branded a wimpy, soft-rock artist after "Longer" soared to #2 in early 1980. (It would remain the biggest hit of his career.) A very clever (and hysterical) parody ... that sounds EXACTLY like Dan Fogelberg singing ... takes pot shots at one of his future hits and reworks it as "Leader Of The Bland!"  Sadly, we lost Dan to cancer in December of 2007, just a few months before our first online Leap Year countdown ran. 

#3. Do That To Me One More Time - The Captain and Tennille: 
Making another appearance on our very special Leap Year Countdowns, we gave you the low-down on The Captain and Tennille in our 1976 edition. "Do That To Me One More Time" would prove to be their LAST big hit ... however, it topped The National Charts earlier this month. 

#2. Yes I'm Ready - Teri DeSario with KC: 
Harry Casey (as the leader of KC and the Sunshine Band) enjoyed one of the most successful disco-era careers in the mid-to-late '70's with HUGE hits like "Get Down Tonight" (#1, 1975), "That's The Way I Like It" (also #1, 1975), "Shake Your Booty" (#1, 1976), "I'm Your Boogie Man" (yet ANOTHER #1 hit, 1977) and "Keep It Comin' Love" (pretty much a chart failure by comparison ... it stopped at #2 later in '77). 
He also scored the very first #1 song of the new decade when his pretty ballad "Please Don't Go" topped the charts on January 5, 1980. Meanwhile, Teri DeSario was trying to hitch a ride on the enormous Bee Gees bandwagon in 1978 when she cut "Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You," a song written and produced by Barry Gibb.  (It was a very rare Bee Gees flop at the time ... in 1978, NOBODY dominated the charts more than The Brothers Gibb!)  The following year, she was asked to duet with KC on the old Barbara Mason hit "Yes, I'm Ready" and their remake out-performed the original, peaking at #2. (Barbara's original version stopped at #5 in 1965.) 
Both KC and Teri were born in Florida (he in Hialeah, she in Miami) and they grew up as childhood friends. When her first single stopped at #43, she reportedly called KC and asked if there was anything he could do to help. He agreed to produce her follow-up, but then had to convince her to record the remake. Supposedly, on a flight together to Los Angeles, KC got Teri to at least CONSIDER recording the song by singing it with her as a duet on the airplane!  When she saw the positive reaction of the other passengers, she thought it just might have a chance. A follow-up remake of the old Martha and the Vandellas song "Dancing In The Streets" didn't fare as well ... it stopped at #66 ... and Teri DeSario never hit The Hot 100 Pop Chart again!   



#1.  Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen: 
Somehow it almost seems fitting that the #1 Song from our 1980 Leap Year Countdown would feel just as at home back in 1956 (where this Special Leap Year Countdown first began several hours ago.) 
Freddie Mercury, the driving force behind Queen, HAS to be one of the most under-rated songwriters of our time. This guy could take ANY musical style and adapt it to Queen's sound. His classic "Bohemian Rhapsody" encompasses operatic technique, a beautiful ballad intro and ending, a head-banging (or at least head-bobbing ala "Wayne's World") hard-rock mid-section, some of the most incredible vocal work EVER recorded ... and ties them all together coherently in a musical masterpiece. Queen enjoyed commercial success with pure pop hits like "You're My Best Friend," dramatic love ballads like "Somebody To Love," foot-stomping arena rock like "We Will Rock You" and letter-perfect disco funk with "Another One Bites The Dust" ... EVERY musical style seemed to work for the band! Then, in 1980, Mercury went as far away from type as may be humanly possible and recreated the letter-perfect rock-a-billy sound that first came to light in the earliest days of rock and roll ... yet STILL made it contemporary sounding enough to be a MAJOR hit of the times.

(How sad is it that SIX of our Top Eight artists are no longer with us today as we celebrate their 1980 chart achievements!) 

Thanks to everybody who stuck around all day to watch these Top 10's unveil ... 

We won't see another Leap Year till 2024 ... but I'm sure we'll do something to celebrate then, too!!!

The Sunday Comments (3-1-20)

March 1, 2020, 1:44 am

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What a great way to start the day …

>>>It was Twenty Years Ago Today … and it really was! 

On November 26, 1999, the very first Forgotten Hits Newsletter went out by email to a select group of 35 readers ... people I had met in the AOL Oldies Music Chat Room.  We've grown a bit since then ...  (kk)
I was part of that chat room back in 1999.  I may have even spoken to you and your lovely wife, Cherricat.  (I still call her that screen name ... lol!) 

I thought it was so cool how you guys met online ... this was a radical idea back then!

I think it was "Sev"... Severino, Steve, also from NJ, who introduced me to your blog at the Hugy Oldies party, yet in its infancy.  This man, Sev can sing!  So we all go back a ways. 

Over 20 years now since you started your blog for the true fans of vintage music.  Wow!  You have held my attention for a long time. lol....

Best regards and keep on a rockin' in the USA.

Blossmwrld

Hiya Kent ... long time!

Really great job on your comments and tidbits about each leap-day charts since the '50s this weekend.  Your love of the music we all were weaned on shows in every post.

I am not here to necessarily plug anything ... this time … but watch this space!

I have some stuff up my sleeves (including some with the legendary The Late Joey Reynolds) that may surprise a lot of people. 

BTW, Joey's daily exploits are all over social media.  Seek them out as The Late Joey Reynolds.  He is far from dead as of this writing.

This is my 50th year as a radio and sometimes TV personality.  I have the stamina and grit to go for another 15 (or more) if the Big Guy says it's OK. 

Kudos for your continuing passion and getting the stories about songs and performers correct.  It is so cool to read what the actual artists, producers, songwriters, etc. of the songs we adore add to your one-of-a-kind publication. 

I may not always comment; but I read your page whenever possible. 

It IS a shame that radio practically ate itself in the last few years.  Some of those so-called owners responsible, should be doing jail-time, including some FCC types.

I would like to be one of the people to help re-paint the luster of that magical invention called RADIO in its 100th year -- plus TV and streaming.

I find it astounding that I have weathered HALF of that century doing what I love.  

I don't LIVE in the past; however, I choose to celebrate it in an entertaining and informative way -- like you and your cast of thousands do in the NOW. 

Be BIG!

Big Jay Sorensen

Former WCBS FM, Sirius, WNNNBC AM, New Jersey 101.5, WPST FM, WPHT AM, WWDB FM, KLIF AM and a few more great talk and music facilities!

Psssst: I wanna add to the list.

Kent,

THANK YOU for the WONDERFUL posting of the Leap Year Countdowns!!  Your work is tremendously informative, nostalgic and enjoyable!!

Ron Lange

>>>Leap Year Countdown Song #8, 1976:  50 Ways To Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon:   OK, tell the truth ... did anybody out there actually COUNT them?!?!? I've never been convinced that Paul Simon really told us all fifty ways!  (kk) 
Kent,

All 50 ways are listed on the 12 inch version.

Jack

And, speaking of Leap Years …

It’s hard to believe that Davy Jones has been gone eight years already …

He died on “Leap Day” in 2012.

Me-TV acknowledged the event this way:

https://metv.com/lists/8-things-you-might-not-know-about-davy-jones-of-the-monkees

Joel Whitburn has a brand new book coming out in March that recaps EVERY Top Ten Hit on EVERY National Pop Chart, showing the peak performance and trade publication in which it earned that distinction as well as how it fared in the other trades.

Plus it now recaps the charts from 1950 – 2020 … an incredible SEVENTY YEAR look at the most popular music of our time.

This is a must have for all you chart fanatics out there.

More information can be found here … and you’ll even get a $5 discount if you pre-order this book now!

https://www.recordresearch.com/pop/top_10_hits_1950-2020.php

Thanks Kent ...

I was finally able to see the list of Top 300 songs from your Top 3333 Most Essential Classic Rock Songs list … my computer actually cooperated!

Between songs 200-300, there are a lot of my personal favorites.   I like the top songs that were chosen, but do not necessarily agree with the selection.  Apparently, my favorites come much later on the list.  Thanks for consolidating the list so that I can have a look/see. 

It would be nice to have the complete list … a few of my friends have been asking me about it.  We shall see.  So much work involved. 

Kudos to you for spending most of your summer (if not all of your summer!) working on this enormous project. 

Sandy

It’s coming, it’s coming.  We’re getting closer and closer to having the final list available to send (and hopefully ignite another round of interest in the results on classic rock radio.)  I know, I know … where have we heard THAT before!!!  But I really have been using this project to fill any vacant time in my already-maxed-out day … so I really don’t think it’ll be much longer.  (Of course, as I type this, I cringe at missing my March 1^st personal deadline … again!  But we’ll see … we’re closer than ever!)  kk

And, speaking of countdowns …

kk ….

I think I told you that I was going to play the Top 600 songs of the 1960's in Larry's Pub Jukebox, as compiled by XM / Sirius Radio.

3/1/2020 will be day # 16.

I'm down to the Top 20 …

          20 = "ONLY THE LONELY" - Roy Orbison

          19 = "BEYOND THE SEA" - Bobby Darin

          18 = "THEME FROM ‘A SUMMER PLACE’" - Percy Faith

          17 = "YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN'" - Righteous Brothers

          16 = "SOUND OF SILENCE" - Simon & Garfunkel

          15 = "EVE OF DESTRUCTION" - Barry McGuire

          14 = "THE TWIST" - Chubby Checker

          13 = "CRAZY" - Patsy Cline

          12 = "CATHY'S CLOWN" - Everly Brothers

          11 = "THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT"– The Tokens

          10 = "YESTERDAY" - Beatles

            9 = "MY GIRL" - Temptations

            8 = "I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND" - Beatles

            7 = "DOWNTOWN" - Petula Clark

            6 = "CARA MIA" - Jay & Americans

            5 = "CALIFORNIA GIRLS" - Beach Boys

            4 = "OH! PRETTY WOMAN" - Roy Orbison

            3 = "HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN" - Animals

            2 = "SATISFACTION" - Rolling Stones

            1 = "UNCHAINED MELODY" - Righteous Brothers

My observations –

No Elvis ? No "MACK THE KNIFE"?

You know how much I love COUNTDOWNS, even CLASSIC COUNTDOWNS.

Frank B.

Based on airplay alone, you’d think Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” would have made the cut … but keep in mind that this was a fan-voted countdown.  Still, I’m sure it falls pretty high up on the list.

“Mack The Knife” was the biggest hit of 1959 … and thus is ineligible for a1960’s Countdown.

We’ve run links to the complete list before …

Here it is again for the benefit of anybody who may have missed it:

https://blog.siriusxm.com/here-are-the-top-600-songs-of-the-1960s-according-to-you/

Hot on the heels of being eliminated and exposed on The Masked Singer, a brand new Dionne Warwick collection covering The Arista Years has been released …

It’s a 12-CD Box Set encompassing everything she recorded for the label along with a bunch of bonus and previously unreleased tracks.

More details here:

https://theseconddisc.com/2020/02/28/dionne-warwicks-deja-vu-the-arista-recordings-box-out-today-from-cherry-red-soulmusic/

Ask Harvey if he knows who in Burton's band impersonates Wolfman Jack

(unless you already do!).

Bob Frable

Whenever I’ve seen Burton perform it, he has always done those parts himself … not so much as an imitation of The Wolfman … but more a case of incorporating several of the ad libs into the performance of the song.  (This one is ALWAYS a crowd pleaser … he typically performs it pretty early in the show and the audience just sucks it up!)  kk

I love the Guess Who from Canada, our northern neighbor. However, I do have a problem with "American Woman."  Sorry.

I will say, though, that the guitar is very cool in the song.  I can listen to it if I ignore the lyrics. 

Thanks, Kent.

Sandy

There are still a few … VERY few … tickets left to see The Ides Of March this Wednesday Night (March 4^th) at The City Winery.  (This show WILL sell out!)  So you’d better act quick to snag ‘em.

Details here:  https://citywinery.com/chicago/the-ides-of-march-3-4-20.html

And The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights (a GREAT place to see a show, by the way … small … intimate … and with excellent sound) has a few shows coming up that might appeal to our local readers.

On Friday, April 3^rd, you can catch Ronnie Rice, formerly of The New Colony Six, performing in a show that’s being billed as “An Evening With Ronnie Rice And Guest” … and on Friday, April 17^th, The Chicago Experience return to Metropolis for what is, BY FAR, one of the best tributes I’ve ever seen done, performing the music of Chicago … along with “A Tribute To Rock With Horns.”

More information can be found at their online box office:  metropolisarts.com.

(Both of these shows are also expected to sell out as well … so you’d better act fast!)

Meanwhile, you’ve got until Tuesday (March 3^rd) to enter to win a pair of tickets to see Al Jadine at The City Winery on March 31^st… and until Friday, March 6^th, to win a pair of tickets to see The Bay City Rollers at The Arcada Theatre on Friday, March 13^th.  Get those entries in NOW!!!

(Deadlines for our other recent give-aways … the Mike Bego / Elton John book and the Mr. Rogers Tribute CD have now passed.)  kk

kk:

Bobby Darin explains why he took part in "PRESSURE POINT."  I still think he should've won Academy Award.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1613307125490696&set=gm.3165057993522169&type=3&theater

FB

It’s a pretty impressive performance for a first time acting role.  Having never seen the film before, I actually bought a copy of the movie to watch while I was writing the Bobby Darin Series all those years ago.  (kk)

Darin fans can check it out here:

http://forgottenhits.com/the_bobby_darin_story

kk: 
Here’s something you and readers might enjoy …
https://www.musicconnection.com/carole-kings-writer-turns-50/

Harvey Kubernik