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Thursday This And That

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I had two opportunities to m.c. Kenny Rogers shows.  He was a great entertainer and was giving of his time to his fans.  He also shook hands and introduced himself to nearly everyone back stage.   One of those shows was on June 25th, 2009.   The shocking news of Michael Jackson's death was spreading around the concert grounds.  I was standing with the promoter and a few others when Kenny came up to us and asked if we had heard about Michael.  He told us a couple of stories about Michael including the making of We Are The World.   That night he put on a great show and he sang Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)  in front of a video of the First Editions' appearance on the
Smothers Brothers show.
Phil - WRCO

I remember seeing Kenny Rogers and the First Edition my freshman year in college. I was hooked and my then boyfriend, bought me the LP “Kenny Rogers and the First Edition: Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town” (thank you Bill.) I know that is the title because I am looking at it right now.
As a student of the Theatre Arts Department, I met them afterward. Kenny Rogers had just gotten his name displayed before the “and the First Edition.”  They were all equal in their conversations, answers to questions and friendliness. I never considered him as the star of the group and it appeared none of them (including Kenny) did either.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
I was fortunate enough to see Kenny perform (as a solo artist) THREE TIMES during his chart reign of the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s … but I’ll be honest with you … this isn’t a show I tried to get especially great seats for.
That’s because Kenny’s regular opening act during this era was Gallagher … and being splattered with watermelon and then sitting in it for the rest of the show really didn’t appeal to me!!! (lol) 
There were, however, MANY fans who lived for this experience … the first several rows had a plastic tarp they could cover themselves with when he hit that part of his act!
I have ALWAYS been a Kenny Rogers fan, right from the get-go … I have a few of his television shows (Rollin’ On The River) on VHS tape … and, believe it or not, still have a device hooked up to play them!
Kenny ruled the charts for YEARS … and while some of his material was ruled “too country” to crossover to the pop charts, there was some REALLY good material in that batch worth investigating.  He will be missed.  (kk)

>>>Here is a complete list of every Top 50 Hit Kenny had on both Billboard’s Pop Music Chart AND their Country Chart  (kk)
If you add Cash Box and Music Vendor to the list, it starts much earlier than 1968:
1958 - That Crazy Feeling (Cash Box = 51 / Music Vendor = 77)
– Randy Price
This is true … but it still wouldn’t have made our Top 50 cut-off.  Still, it was a big enough hit to earn him a spot on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” program.  (We covered that, too, in Part One of our Kenny Rogers series from a few years ago … but the audio track no longer plays.  Here it is again for those who have never heard it …)  kk



Sam Tallerico capped off his Lost And Found Oldies Show this past weekend by playing his all-time favorite Kenny Rogers song … which just happens to also be MY all-time favorite Kenny Rogers song, “Twenty Years Ago.”  (I swear I cannot hear this song without getting a little bit choked up EVERY single time!)

I remember one of the very first times Sam and I ever talked, this song came up as one of those GREAT, overlooked forgotten gems that should have been a MUCH bigger hit.  (It did all-right on the country charts, peaking at #2 … but it never made the pop charts at all … and it deserved a FAR better fate.)

And the video’s not too bad either.  We’ve run it here before in Forgotten Hits … but I’m in the mood to see it and share it with you again.

Kenny loved a good story song … in fact, it was this type of material that helped to make him the well-loved, crossover performer that he was.  He had a way of bringing ALL of these songs to life … so enjoy this one … 'cause it's one of the best ... “Twenty Years Ago” by the late, great Kenny Rogers.  (kk)



(You'll find more on Sam’s LAFOS show below) 

Hi, Kent -
Just read the news - we lost Kenny Rogers yesterday, and Jerry Slick (Great Society) - wondering if and how he was related to Grace.
Mike
Jerry Slick was Grace Slick’s first husband.  He was (by his own admission) an inexperienced and not especially talented drummer in their first band together, The Great Society.  (Jerry’s brother Darby was also a member of The Great Society ... in fact, it was Darby who wrote “Someone To Love,” a song that Grace would rework as “Somebody To Love” when she left The Great Society to join Jefferson Airplane.)  She also brought one of her own songs with her when she made the move … “White Rabbit.”  “Somebody To Love” and “White Rabbit” BOTH became HUGE hits (and rock classics) for her new band.
Jerry did not make the move with her … and instead joined The Final Solution … and then got into filmmaking.  (In 1971 he won a Clio Award for a commercial he made recruiting policemen … kind of the opposite approach his by then ex-wife took along the way!)   kk

Looks like Neil Diamond has worked up some new lyrics for his 1969 classic hit “Sweet Caroline” … in light of the ongoing CoronaVirus pandemic …



Bravo, Kent !!!
Your sentiment in reference to what’s going on in the world is spot on.
I find myself even more losing myself in Bubble Gum Music like Yellow Balloon and mostly instrumental music, where there are no words to get in the way of my escape time.
I just love the posting of the Yellow Balloon performance on American Bandstand, especially Dick Clark trying to get Don Grady to reveal himself. I guess if you were a Teen Screen Magazine subscriber and a My Three Son fan, the dimpled chin may have given him away.
Thanks for all that you do, Kent. 
Jerry  

Hey Kent –
Thanks for the posting of the Yellow Balloon on Bandstand.   Boy I wish I still had those teeth! Can't tell you how long it's been since I’ve torn in to a good T-bone steak! LOL!
Thanks again!
Alex

Kent,
Interesting stuff on “How Long” by Ace. As a Paul Carrack footnote, one of my favorite CDs (when I still could play CDs in the car) was Paul Carrack’s Greatest Hits. It included the Ace hit, “Tempted” by Squeeze, the Mike and the Mechanics hits, and Paul’s singles. Taken as a whole, it is a great collection of songs from one of rock’s most underappreciated vocalists.
Bob Verbos
PS:  My favorite virus story is about the people tearing apart their two-ply toilet paper, not realizing they could just use half as many squares.

Me-TV-FM is doing their Forgotten Hits-inspired “45’s and Flipsides Weekend” again this weekend, kicking off at 7 pm (Chicago Time) Friday Night. They’ll be playing “notable A and B – Sides back-to-back throughout the weekend.  (kk) 

You can listen live here:  https://www.radio.com/metvfmmke/listen#.W6oi2vZRfcs

The New York Metro Fest For Beatles Fans has been rescheduled for October 9th– October 11th.  (I guess we have to be optimistic, right?!?!)  Coincidentally, this will now coincide with John Lennon’s birthday … so maybe this was all meant to be.  (By then the brand new Beatles film “Get Back” will be out, too!)
Meanwhile, they’ll still be celebrating the original, postponed fest dates of March 27th– March 29th with an online VIRTUAL FEST.  (They haven’t missed a beat!!!  SO glad to see so many of the promoters and artists coming up with ways to still share our mutual love of music with us!)
Mark Lapidos tells us:
You can look forward to a weekend of livestreamed Beatles performances by our Special Guests and Apple Jam performers! And presentations by our Guest Authors and Beatles Experts and more!
Tune in to Facebook.com/beatlesfest and Instagram @Beatles_Fest to be all together now in these socially distant times. 

Speaking of The Beatles, The Beatles Channel posed an interesting question this past week …

If you were introducing somebody to the music of The Beatles for the very first time, what is the first song that you would play for them?

Curious to hear your answers.  Do you start with the classics?  (“In My Life,” “A Day In The Life,” “Yesterday”)  How about Side Two of “Abbey Road?”  (And would that even count?)

For me, I’d have to go with “She Loves You” … because this is perhaps their most infectious song ever … and was a HUGE part in launching them here in The States (in my mind, even more so than “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” which actually was their breakthrough record.  I think “She Loves You” has aged better, too.) Why not give your brand new listener a chance to be swept in by the same music that drew all of us in in the first place.

What say you, Forgotten Hits Readers?  (We’ll let you know the results of The Beatles Channel Poll next week when they reveal The Top Eight.)  kk

And finally, here’s a cool little bit that Dana Carvey put together … a phone conversation between John Lennon from heaven and Paul McCartney, about working with Kanye West … sent in by FH Reader Charlie Ricci …


I love it!  (kk) 

Last week we told you about the new “Ready, Steady, Go” documentary being put together for British Television (and, ultimately here in The States, too)
Well, today Harvey Kubernik shares the behind-the-scenes stories about this landmark British television series …

I think our FH Buddy Sam Tallerico hit the nail right on the head when he said on his show this past weekend that maybe we’re experiencing March Madness right now after all!

Here’s a new note from Sam … 

Kent,
Your Forgotten Hits site really does provide a welcome distraction.
Reading over the recent comments, I realized that I have become a fan of many of your frequent contributors as well. I was all set to see Burton Cummings if he was coming to my area thanks to Shelley Sweet -Tufano' s review. Frank B is always good for a chuckle, though you might want to take down his now debunked strategy to see if you're infected with C19.
But this week the highlight for me was seeing Clark Besch's personal chart. OMG!
A Top 100?? And typed out and color coded no less, complete with those innocent inaccuracies. Could there be anything more adorable than song number 83 by The Beatles called "lead me to your door"? Love this, Clark!
Attached is my own personal chart from this week in 1970. I frequently botched the titles, too. #5 is supposed to be the duet by Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry "All I Have To Do Is Dream." The chart on the left is the CKLW Big 30 that I wrote down live as I was listening. The Big 15 were my own personal favorites that week. The super albums chart let me know which albums I played most that week. Considering I only had five other LPs –a ll by The Monkees -- there really wasn't much competition. And then the other two charts we're just copied from the Detroit Free Press posting of what I believe were the Billboard charts.

Finally, Kent, thank you so much for your nice comments about last week's 1970 lost and found oldies show. My Mixcloud archive has two new followers and I don't doubt they came as a result of reading your Forgotten Hits page. I'll try to live up to whatever standard I've set until now or do even better. Tomorrow it's March, 1972, and I think I've got some real winners in the mix.
Keep up the great work, Kent!
Sam Tallerico
Here’s hoping the Burton Cummings / Randy Bachman tour isn’t affected by this worldwide pandemic … but I’m not so sure that’s a realistic hope at this point.  Many states (including our own) is enforcing a mandatory lock-down, trying to get a handle on this rapidly spreading virus.  (I just hope that WHENEVER they finally get around to rescheduling this tour, the two guys are still talking to each other!!! Lol) 

Meanwhile, I’m told that Burton has been posting live musical bits on his Facebook Page since they can’t currently play live anywhere else at this point.

Hey Kent –
Your buddy Burton Cummings is playing a few songs every night and doing it live on his Facebook Page.
Steve

Hi Kent,
I watched this quite by accident on Youtube yesterday. I don't remember seeing this posted on FH so thought I'd pass it on.
Bill
Burton Cummings: "Wheatfield Soul" FULL DOCUMENTARY

And here’s another Guess Who clip sent in by FH Reader DoubleDuty (Gary) …
It’s The Guess Who performing “American Woman” on The Midnight Special …

Meanwhile, I remember (like it was yesterday) the night The Guess Who hosted “The Midnight Special” … in fact, I just watched this one recently myself … but apparently it’s no longer available on YouTube.
How good was it???
It was good enough to make me go out the very next day and buy their brand new “Artificial Paradise” album … I loved both “Bye Bye Babe” and “Those Show-Biz Shoes”!!!  (kk) 

As we’ve seen, more and more artists are refusing to let this live concert ban keep them for entertaining their fans.

Many have taken to Facebook or their own websites to broadcast live, intimate concerts, often from their own living rooms.  (You can read about several recent such events below.)

But Elton John is taking it to the next level with a CoronaVirus fundraiser to help offset the incredibly high medical costs (and loss of pay) of MILLIONS of people around the globe.
This Sunday Night, March 29th, John and fellow musical guests Mariah Carey, Tim McGraw, Grammy-Winning Pop Phenomenon Billie Eilish, Country Music Superstar Tim McGraw, The Backstreet Boys and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong will each broadcast their own live performances from their homes in an effort to encourage and show solidarity with the government’s recommendation of social distancing.
Titled the “iHeart Living Room Concert for America,” it all kicks off at 9 pm Eastern on Fox Television and will be broadcast as well on iHeart radio stations across the country.  (The “iHeart Music Awards” were originally scheduled to be broadcast during this timeslot but they, like all other live events of late, have been cancelled.)
Throughout the broadcast, viewers will be encouraged to donate to the Feeding America and the First Responders Children’s Foundation, two of the many organizations that have been set up to help victims and first responders during this medical crisis.  (The event will also pay tribute to the health professionals and first responders who are on the front lines battling the CoronaVirus.) kk  

Wow Kent!  
What an amazing thing to wake up to ... The Ides and my new song. 
I’m making sure all the Ides see this and all involved in Empty Arena.
I’m calling you the healers and the believers to fill this Empty Arena ... soon!  
Thanks again, Kent, for keeping the music alive.
Jimbo
Oops!  I just realized that when we ran Jim Peterik’s new track “Empty Arena” the other day, I forgot to run a couple of photos along with the Sneak Peek track.  (See what happens when you operate on only two hours sleep!!!)
Anyway, Jim has since posted a lyrics video on YouTube that we’ll share with you today which features the FULL song … a pretty powerful message at a pretty uncertain time.   
By the way, Mancow DID feature the same minute-and-a-half snippet on his program Friday Morning at around 7:30 … so that means we were still the first to broadcast it.   (Yeah!!!  Beat him by TWO HOURS!!!)  lol  (kk)




Hopefully, some of you had the chance to catch Peterik's live one man performance Monday night.  It's still posted on his Facebook page ...
https://www.facebook.com/officialjimpeterik/ ... and, later this week, a cleaned-up, edited version will also be posted on YouTube.
You can watch it here - but fast-forward to about 20 minutes in in order to catch the beginning of the concert:
https://www.facebook.com/officialjimpeterik/videos/905243753238398/

Awesome song at the right time for some lift.  Thanks so much, Jim, and thanks to Kent for taking up FH time and space for my Ides stuff, too.
I just asked my boss yesterday if I could forego my last three weeks until retirement and take my retirement as soon as possible.  I was to stay until April 15th, but three weeks is a lifetime, literally, at this point. 
Take care to you both!  AND THANKS for the terrific music, always!
Clark Besch
So sad that we’re living in a world today where tomorrow is uncertain to everyone.  (I mean I guess it ALWAYS is … but the pressure is REALLY on right now … and you have absolutely no say-so regarding your own personal future.  You can do EVERYTHING right … and still have it all taken away by some unseen unaccountable menace.)
After the Chicago lockdown announcement on Friday afternoon, they were playing Christmas Music on the way home from work Friday Night … as a means to bring some element of cheer during this desperate time.  The Hallmark Channel even ran 27 straight Christmas movies back-to-back … anything to convey a happier, more-spirited mood.
Everything seems fine when you’re sitting inside … you're kept away from everything else that is going on around you, sitting in your "safe spot"… but trips outside the house are still necessary, even if only for the essentials.  (Our company is on the “exemptions” list … so we will continue to work during this state-wide Illinois lockdown.  Good news … we’re still part of society and getting paid … bad news is every time you step outside your front door, you’re susceptible to contracting anything and everything around you, regardless of where it may have come from.  A lockdown of this magnitude means that we will only have “the most essential” people left to contaminate as THEY will be the ones being exposed to the elements on a daily basis … and who’s going to lead us then?  It’s kinda like we’re exposing our most elite and talented people to protect those who don’t have the skills to carry on once the A-Team is gone … so yeah, it’s safe to say that I’ve got some mixed emotions and concerns … but I am also unwilling to give up the fight.  We need to find a way to beat this thing and the only way to control the death count is through a lockdown such as this.  Still, I’ve GOT to tell you that never in my WILDEST dreams did I EVER imagine my tombstone saying “He gave up his life for printing!!!”  It’s just not quite the way I expected the story to end.  
I guess I’d feel a whole lot better about it knowing that somehow my efforts actually contributed to the saving millions of lives … but I don’t believe I bring ANYTHING to the table in this regard … so yes, it’s weighing on me for sure.)
Congratulations on your retirement … I hope and pray that the world survives all of this so that you can enjoy the time you’ve worked SO hard to achieve.  (kk)

ANOTHER FACETIME CONCERT??? ANOTHER OPEN CONVERSATION OPPORTUNITY???
This is the way to protect our mental health and keep us connected.
I am not a fan of having to practice social distancing. Oh, I enjoy my home alone, and with friends / family time AFTER work; or AFTER concert travel. But I am not fond of being forced to do things.
Musicians are the first people called upon when we plan benefits and now they give us Facetime events for free. Check out their merchandise. Throw tips in the pot. I wish I could do more than I do, but I will continue to do what I can.
{Holy Smokes what a great concert Mark Dawson gave and then immediately Rich Spina alerts that he is hosting a live video party for a duo. If this were not the result of a pandemic, I would never want it to end.}
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano 
Yes, there have been quite a few of these lately … and I’m fully expecting more.  (The Grand Ole Opry staged an event to an empty theater Saturday Night that featured Marty Stuart, Vince Gill and Brad Paisley simply because they would NOT let this pandemic shut down The Opry.)  At one point Stuart quipped that, looking out at the empty seats, “We’re not drawing like we used to.”  Not at all, Marty … over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND folks tuned in to watch this event … more than The Opry could possibly hold on its own on a Saturday Night.  Musicians are reaching a bigger audience than they could under normal circumstances … and many are also using these freebies as a means to raise money for various organizations. 
You can still catch this show here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ6-i8hI3Gs&feature=youtu.be 

Gotta be a tough time to be a promoter when there aren’t any live shows going on! 
Here’s a little profile on our FH Buddy David Salidor, who has always been so good about keeping us up to date on all the latest Micky Dolenz and Mark Bego news … 
http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/entertainment/david-salidor-talks-about-pr-shifts-during-coronavirus-pandemic/article/569186?fbclid=IwAR0F5LLolgXY0xkmZ1xOnucAATHrFYc4GgrvA1rcSmExaqoQvVxmWB7kkvk

John Fogerty joins the "stay at home" musicians with this performance of "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" ... and other CCR Hits on Rolling Stone Magazine's new "In My Room" concert series ... a means to bring music into YOUR home during the CoronaVirus Crisis when we're all homebound. (kk)

In My Room?
The Beach Boys Should "DO IT AGAIN!"
Frank B. 

Here’s five more … from Frank B! 

kk -
FLORIDA = No "Glen Fisher Doo-Wop Revival" on Sunday … studio closed and locking up building.
CONNECTICUT = Wild Wayne sent me a message ... No "Memory Machine" on Sunday … University of Hartford is closing.
FLORIDA = Scott Shannon was off this week. He called in this morning.  He noticed that a lot of bars and restaurants are closing permanently.  The lock is on the door and the furniture taken out. 
WCBS-FM Update for This Week:
Scott Shannon is talking to us on his phone from Florida.
Patti (News) and John (Weather) broadcasting from home in New Jersey.
FB 

NEW YORK = Today is the first day that Aqueduct Racetrack is closed till further notice.
Luckily I have enough old WCBS-FM shows on cassette tape to last me a few years.
Norm N. Nite + Cousin Brucie + Bob Shannon + Harry Harrison, etc.
Frank B.
It is sad … and scary, indeed.  You really have to wonder how all of this is eventually going to shake out.  (kk)

kk:
Here is the weirdest request story I’ve ever heard …
40 years ago, a New York City gunman had one request: Play 'Desperado'
Hey, I’m not taking any chances!!! (kk)


kk …
To combat boredom, some of my nieces and nephews came up with this idea. 
Get the family together and act out a scene from your favorite movie.
They choose "16 Candles." 
It didn't work for me …
My favorite movie is "GOODFELLAS." I couldn't find a gun or a victim.
FB 

kk …
The Great Johnny Maestro died 10 years ago. 
I don't know what I'd do without Ron Smith's Book "EIGHT DAYS A WEEK." 
Don K. Reed was host of "THE DOO-WOP SHOP."  On Sunday nights, he always had a group singing live in the studio.
Today I’m all dressed up in my Johnny Maestro T-Shirt and Cap and Sunglasses.
All dressed up and no place to go.
I should be heading to Larry's Pub -- for my Johnny Maestro Jukebox Special.
I guess I'll just have to do it on the computer.
FB 

Check out this chance to win Tommy James for your high school concert!  (This was a fairly common practice around this time.)  You might want to ask Tommy about how HE and some of the other great Chicago bands got this concert gig for a high school in March, 1970.  What a great concert that would have been!


Here's the story of the WLS concert win for Woodstock, Il, that took place on 4-29-1970.  The power of WLS led students to 1 million entries (as "counted by a computer!" - haha)  to win this "toe tapping" event!!
Clark Besch
 


Looking at my 1970 chart, it might be an appropriate time to dust off BJ Thomas’ #16 hit "Everybody's Out of Town" for some airplay on FH (?)
Clark
I’ve never been one to turn down a BJ
Thomas song … this one, while not one of my favorites, peaked at #15 as the follow-up to his chart-topping hit “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.”  (It stopped at #26 Billboard.)  kk


In the interest of keeping our readers up to date on all the latest chart performance records being shattered in Billboard Magazine, we just KNEW you guys would want to know that Drake has now charted more songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 Pop Chart than The Cast of Glee, making him the most-charted artist in Hot 100 History.  (I’m told that a select few of these songs even managed to stay on the chart for more than two weeks!!!  So CLEARLY he is an artist to be reckoned with!)
The most recent Joel Whitburn Top Pop Singles book only carries us thru 2018 … but at that point, Drake had charted 151 times.  (The Cast of Glee, thru 2018, had scored 207 times … so Drake did some MAJOR catching up over the past two years to pass them with 208 Hot 100 Hits … that means he has since placed over 57 NEW chart titles on the list over the past two years!)
Looking over those 151 “hits” thru 2018, I find that 82 titles … or just over half … actually DID stay on the chart for over two weeks (although quite a few of those only lasted three.)  However, 34 of those 82 remained on the chart for 20 or more weeks … so I guess we would have to concede that Drake truly IS bigger than Elvis … or James Brown … the only artists to ever chart more than 100 times during OUR era. (I'm sure history will remember him that way.  By the way, can ANYONE out there sing me a few lines of a Drake song??? 'Cause I don't think I know a single one!)

Most Hot 100 Entries All-Time
208 - Drake
207 - Glee Cast
168 - Lil Wayne
109 - Elvis Presley (*NOTE:  Does not include Elvis’ 31 Top 100 Hits before the chart was renamed “The Hot 100”)
108 - Nicki Minaj
107 - Kanye West
100 - Jay-Z
  99 - Chris Brown
  97 - Taylor Swift
  93 - Future
  91 - James Brown
  88 - Eminem
  80 - Justin Bieber
  75 - Ray Charles (plus one prior)
  73 - Aretha Franklin
  71 - The Beatles

More rescheduled shows have been announced at The Genesee Theatre (all subject to change again depending on where this CoronaVirus finds us in June)
The Glenn Miller Orchestra – Original Show Date = Saturday, April 4th / Rescheduled Show Date = Saturday, August 15th
The Million Dollar Quartet – Original Show Date = Thursday, April 23rd / Rescheduled Show Date = Thursday, October 22nd
The Little River Band – Original Show Date = Thursday, May 7th / Rescheduled Show Date = Thursday, June 11th
Los Chicos Del 512:  The Selena Experience – Original Show Date = Friday, May 8th / Rescheduled Show Date = Friday, August 14th 
LeAnnRimes - Original Show Date = Saturday, April 11th / Rescheduled Date = Thursday, July 16th
Christopher Cross - Original Show Date = Friday, April 17th / Rescheduled Date = Thursday, August 13th
Theresa Caputo - Original Show Date = Saturday, April 25th / Rescheduled Date = Sunday, September 27th
Home Free - Original Show Date = Saturday, May 9th / Rescheduled Date = Sunday, October 18th

Eagle Rock Entertainment has come up with several ways to rock out during your time restricted at home …

STUCK AT HOME?

CURATE YOUR OWN MUSIC FESTIVAL

LIVE CONCERT FILMS / DOCUMENTARIES FROM EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT AVAILABLE VIA STREAMING PLATFORMS

It’s a tough time for music fans, as upcoming concerts and festivals dwindle in the wake of Coronavirus. As we all do our part to self-isolate, Eagle Rock Entertainment offers a reward for those of us stuck indoors.
Eagle Rock Entertainment’s vast library of concert films and music documentaries are available via Netflix, Amazon Prime, Amazon Direct, Apple TV, Qello, Nugs, and a variety of other streaming services.
Historic concert films such as The Doors’Live At The Hollywood Bowl, Black Sabbath’sThe End and Motley Crue’sThe End: Live In Los Angeles have been captured in the utmost audio and visual quality, placing the viewer right in the front row. Queen fans have a variety to choose from, including Rock Montreal, A Night At The Odeon, Live At Wembley, and Live At The Rainbow ‘74. There’s something for everyone, from SlashLiving The Dream Tour featuring Miles Kennedy and the Conspirators and The Moody Blues’Days Of Future Passed to Journey’sLive In Manila and Def Leppard’sAnd There Will Be A Next Time...Live From Detroit.
Additionally, there are a wealth of documentaries available, such as The Rolling Stones’Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America -- a travelogue of the band’s 2016 Latin America tour, which culminated in a historic concert in Havana, Cuba. Recent releases include the critically acclaimed Miles Davis: Birth Of The Cool and ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, which each give an in-depth, introspective look at the lives behind the legends.
Of course, album aficionados should take a deep dive into Eagle’s heralded Classic Albums series, which unveil the creative process behind some of music’s most celebrated recordings. Groundbreaking titles from The Doors, The Beach Boys, Nirvana, The Grateful Dead, Rush, Peter Gabriel, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest are all explored, via interviews with artists, producers, and key figures and behind-the-boards dissections of some of music’s most treasured songs.
Fear not, homebound fans - Eagle Rock Entertainment has you covered. Stay safe, and rock on!
DEEP PURPLE RELEASE “THROW MY BONES”, THE FIRST SINGLE OFF THEIR UPCOMING STUDIO ALBUM “WHOOSH!”
~AVAILABLE HERE FOR STREAM AND DOWNLOAD~
~NEW ALBUM TO BE RELEASED JUNE 12 VIA earMUSIC~
Deep Purple is proud to share “Throw My Bones,” the first single from their highly anticipated studio album Whoosh! The single is accompanied by a new music video, which can be viewed here. 
Deep Purple’s 21st album to date, and third produced by Bob Ezrin, Whoosh! addresses resentments and ideas about our current world, with a message geared towards all generations. The music video for “Throw My Bones” reflects that message, extending an invitation to take a step back and see the bigger picture. It’s a call to observe the planet and take action.
“Whoosh is an onomatopoeic word that, when viewed through one end of a radio-telescope, describes the transient nature of humanity on Earth; and, through the other end from a closer perspective, illustrates the career of Deep Purple.” states vocalist Ian Gillan.
Whoosh! follows Deep Purple’s worldwide chart-topping albums inFinite (2017) and NOW What?! (2013). For the third time, the band joined forces with Bob Ezrin, and together they created the most versatile album in their collaboration, “stretching out in all directions” without any limitation, letting their creativity go.
Whoosh! will be available as a Limited CD+DVD Mediabook (including the 1-hour feature “Roger Glover and Bob Ezrin in conversation” and, for the first time, a video of the full live performance at Hellfest 2017), 2LP+DVD Edition, standard CD and Digital on June 12th, 2020 on earMUSIC. Pre-order is available here.
www.deep-purple.com
www.facebook.com/officialdeeppurple
www.twitter.com/_DeepPurple
www.instagram.com/deeppurple_official/
www.ear-music.net www.facebook.com/earMUSICofficial www.youtube.com/earMUSICofficial
earMUSIC is the international rock label of Hamburg based entertainment group Edel, releasing internationally the works of Deep Purple, Foreigner, Chickenfoot, Alice Cooper, Def Leppard, Joe Jackson, Gamma Ray, Stratovarius, Skunk Anansie, H.E.A.T, Status Quo, Lisa Stansfield, Marillion, Thunder, Babymetal, Dragonforce, Tarja and many others.  www.ear-music.net

THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME

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The complete, final list is FINALLY available ...

After months of organizing all the details, we are now proud to offer an Excel Spreadsheet documenting the final results of our months-long efforts.

This list allows you to view The Top 3333 in Rank Order (#1 - #3333) ... in Countdown Order (#3333 - #1), as well as in  alphabetically sorted lists by either Artist or Song Title.

If you want a copy, all you have to do is send us an email at kk@forgottenhits.com and we'll send it off to you.  (Be sure to read the fine print below prior to requesting a copy.)

All that we ask is that you properly credit us for its creation and let us know how you intend to use it.  (We also ask that you link back to the original website where the results were originally revealed so that folks discovering the list for the first time can enjoy and appreciate the work effort that went into creating this phenomenal list.) 
https://classicrockessentials.blogspot.com/

If you're going to count 'em down in some fashion ... Top 2500 (?), Top 1000 (?), Top 500 (?), Top 100 (?), Top 50 (?) or the WHOLE shootin' match ... please let us know when, where and how so we can link to YOUR efforts as well so that others may enjoy the process.

Some background information and a few quick details on how this all came to be ...

For 100 days, we asked Classic Rock Music Fans around the globe to nominate and vote for their all-time favorites.  We immediately began tabulating those votes ... "Layla" by Derek and the Dominoes was #1 at the end Day One ... and then never #1 again.  From that point forward, the lead changed hands over fifty times between "Hotel California" by The Eagles and "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

During that same 100 day period, we monitored the play lists of 30 prominent US Classic Rock Radio stations across the country ... major cities and internet streams ... and logged the amount of airplay each song was being given.

The results were staggering.  While our readers came up with nearly 5000 eligible titles to choose from, Classic Rock Radio from coast to coast seemed to be playing the heck out of the same 300 songs.  It didn't matter WHERE you went ... THESE were the ONLY songs you were likely to hear during normal broadcast hours ... and some of those songs were being repeated as many as three to four times within the same 24 hour time period ... unthinkable in view of the INCREDIBLE wealth of songs being ignored yet available to choose from ... that Classic Rock Fans truly loved.  It became apparent VERY quickly that while these same 300 songs may have been the ones we all were hearing, they were NOT necessarily the songs we wanted to hear.  (All the more reason that a list like ours is so vital and necessary.)

Finally, we measured the number of downloads for each of the nominated songs ... perhaps more than anything else, these statistics helped to prove just how much the public really wanted to hear these songs in that they were shelling out their own money to OWN them and make them part of their personal music library.

When all was said and done, just shy of one million votes and points were accumulated and tabulated, making this list the most complete and comprehensive list of Classic Rock Favorites ever assembled ...

Not RADIO's version of the most beloved tracks ...

Not the opinion of a seven member critics staff of some rock magazine ...

No, this list was derived through the most important factor imaginable ...

YOU ... the Rock And Roll Public ... and this list can now be yours to have and to hold, to scrutinize and debate, and, most importantly, to share.

Much effort went into the final edition of this list to ensure its accuracy.  (For the first time, you'll find the year of release and source of that release ... very special thanks to Dann Isbell for all of his research in this regard.)  We found any number of inaccuracies along our path of nailing down these final details and encourage you to please help us fine-tune the list even further ... if you see errors that need to be corrected, PLEASE let us know so that we can make this list as definitively accurate as possible.

But most of all, enjoy it ... embrace it ... and share it.

I would still LOVE to see somebody take the bull by the horns and count down the ENTIRE Top 3333 Tracks.  (Hey, we're all homebound right now anyway ... what a GREAT way to fill a few weeks worth of programming time ... by keeping folks glued to their radios and computers to hear the final results!  Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to help us all take our minds off of what's been going on around us and escape into the enjoyment of this music, too.)  But I also realize that this isn't necessarily "practically" possible.  So again, if you intend to count down ANY portion of the list, please let us know so that we can let OTHERS know where and when they can tune in and listen.

And finally ... and most importantly ... thanks to ALL of you who participated.  We couldn't have done this without you ... and it wouldn't have meant what it means without this massive amount of input and support.  

The hard parts over ... now it's time to enjoy the list!  (kk)
Kent Kotal
Forgotten Hits

THE ORIGINAL COUNTDOWN CAN BE FOUND HERE:
https://classicrockessentials.blogspot.com/    

WHY 3333?
Because Classic Rock Radio was born when albums became the preferred method of listening to and purchasing music over singles.  (That's not to say you won't find some popular singles on this list ... it's chock full of them ... but we're spotlighting their album counterparts as a means to hopefully give you the chance to expand your own record collections by owing many of these significant pieces of rock history.)
We picked 3300 as a salute to the "33's" ... the 12" album speed ... which was really 33 1/3 ... so we took that 33 hundred and added another third to the tally to come up with THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK TRACKS OF ALL TIME.

ENJOY!!!


THE SMALL PRINT:
In order to obtain a copy of the final list ofTHE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK TRACKS OF ALL TIME, you must make your request by email.
[Send that email request tokk@forgottenhits.com]
By requesting a copy, you agree to properly credit the source of these tabulations as "Research and Final Tabulations conducted by Kent Kotal / Forgotten Hits / Classic Rock Essentials,
© 2020, Forgotten Hits Publishing" in every way and instance that you share these results, regardless of media.  [And we DO encourage you to share these results!]
When ever, how ever and where ever you choose to share this information, we ask that you let us know in advance so that we can link to your efforts and allow other classic rock music fans around the world share in and enjoy the experience.  Please consider this to be our way ofoffering you the ultimate in cross-promotion!
You further agree not to alter this list in any fashion.  If you find that certain corrections or modifications need to be made, please notify us in writing and we will make the changes that we determine need amending.
Otherwise, simply enjoy the list ... and spread the word.  We can all use a little distraction during these trying times ... let the music take you away.
-Kent Kotal / Forgotten Hits

The Sunday Comments (03 - 29 - 20)

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Reminder: 
Tonight on Fox (9 pm Eastern / 8 pm Central / 7 pm Pacific)
Elton John, Mariah Carey, The Backstreet Boys, Tim McGraw, Billie Eilish and Billie Joe Armstrong (and maybe even an additional surprise or two) will all be giving live performances from their respective living rooms to help raise money for the Feeding America and First Responders Children’s Foundation to help combat the incredibly high medical costs (and loss of pay) of MILLIONS of people around the globe.
They’re calling it the “iHeart Living Room Concert for America” and it will also be broadcast on iHeart radio stations across the country.
Here’s hoping you can all pitch in and help make this a successful campaign.  (kk)

UPDATE:  Alicia Keys, Camila Cabello, Dave Grohl, H.E.R. and Sam Smith have joined the festivities

Me-TV-FM threw me for a loop this weekend with their A-Sides / B-Sides picks … some REALLY rare and unexpected stuff this time around … including the pairing of Neil Young’s “Heart Of Gold” / “Sugar Mountain” (live version), a track that never even charted.  (In the past, they have stuck with the more “tried and true” variety of two-sided hits … so this was a completely unexpected … and quite adventurous surprise!  WTG, Rick!)  kk

Also, today is the last day of this year’s first-ever Let It Beatlefest, streaming live on both Facebook.com/beatlesfest and Instagram @Beatles_Fest… with all the unexpected cancellations due to the CoronaVirus, Beatlefest Founder Mark Lapidos has come up with a BRILLIANT way to allow Beatle Fans from all over the world to still be “all together now” in these socially distant times. 
Just log in to either of the above links and enjoy the party!
(Many of the original guests scheduled to perform at the New York Fest For Beatles Fans will be stopping by and performing, talking about their books or sharing their wares.
A splendid time is guaranteed for all!)  kk

SPEAKING OF THE BEATLES … :
Last week The Beatles Channel asked the question:
If you were introducing somebody to the music of The Beatles for the very first time, what song would be the first one that you would play them?
We only got a couple of responses to this question … nowhere near as many as I had hoped for … and both heavily favored The Early Beatles … the infectious music that first hooked all of us back in 1964 when we first heard it here Stateside.
My personal choice was “She Loves You.”
To me, nothing better captured the spirit and the excitement of this brand new music hitting our shores for the very first time.

A few other choices:

For me, the song would be Tell Me Why from A Hard Day's Night, one of my top five Beatles songs ever! It has so many redeeming qualities: signature opening chords, then immediately to the three-part harmony, the call and response lines of the lyrics, and Paul's walking bass line ... John singing "Is there anything I can do?" in the chorus. It rocks hard from start to the end. If that person has two minutes and eight seconds to listen to that song, then the question will be answered!
Bob Burns

Good question on what song by the Beatles would you play first to someone who was not familiar with their music. No question for me and that would be PLEASE PLEASE ME out of 1964.
Larry Neal

THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME:
Hi Kent:
I'd like to request a copy of the Classic Rock Top 3333 list.
I wrote a thing at my website earlier this year premised on the following:
If "Stairway to Heaven,""Free Bird," and "Layla" are the top 3 classic-rock warhorses, then what's #4? 
I'd like to see how your list compares to mine, and to my readers' opinions.
Keep up the good work. I've enjoyed your site for a long time.
Best
Jim Bartlett
The Hits Just Keep on Comin'
thjkoc.net 
Those weren't OUR Top Three ... well, "Layla" came in at #3 ... but "Stairway To Heaven" didn't fare anywhere near as well as it does on all these other lists we've seen where it consistently comes in at #1.  (Listener burn-out perhaps?) 
Still, with one million votes, I’ve got to trust the opinions of those who flooded our mailbox … and found "Hotel California" to be the #2 pick ... with "Bohemian Rhapsody" coming in at #1.  (Not your favorite, I see!  Lol)
"Sweet Home Alabama" finished 4th ... and "Stairway To Heaven" wound up at #6 ... so we’re really not TOO far off from your results!  (The Rolling Stones had FIVE of the Top 13 songs!)
Until the list shows up in your email, you can view the results here:
When you get to the bottom of each page, just hit the "Older Posts" button and it will take you all the way thru to #3333 (if you're patient enough to hang around that long!)
Thanks you!  (kk)

Kent,
Please send me the Top 3333 List.
I also seem to remember early on in the project that you mentioned that we could also request a list of the songs that got votes but did not make the Top 3333.  If that is available, please send me that as well.  I am just curious about some obscure favorites of mine, which I voted for, and how close they came to making the Top 3333.
Thanks,
Doug
I did compile a list of songs that either fell short of the tally needed to make the final count or were determined to be too far off the accepted formula for a classic rock radio station.
Maybe now that we’ve FINALLY released the final countdown of The Top 3333, we can get around to running the other list as well.  (Actually, it was only going to be The Top 100 … so odds are a lot of the single digit vote-getters still won’t make this list.)  When all was said and done, you needed at least 33 votes to make The Top 3333.  I couldn’t believe how ironic that was!
The Top 100 List is also essential, I believe, for radio programmers looking to gain a little more insight as to what their listeners would really like to hear on their stations.  Let’s give the dust a chance to settle first on this list … and then we can hopefully post that OTHER Top 100 (which should be small enough for all interested parties to print their own copies of the list.)  kk

Gary Lewis sings it for me.**
If you need someone to send to
Count me in.
Someone who missed a lot
Like number 110.
When I start to count
the ones that I might ever doubt.
If you show Herbie Alpert again
Count me out.
If you count Chitown songs I wanted,
Count me, too.
And if they're not first on your list,
Ain't it the Shames?
Just be sure to send it to me
Since the counting’s thru,
Count New Colony close
behind at number two.
(Wrecking crew nice piano solo)
If you need a song to count on:
"Don't You Care"!!
And all your Journey votes you've lost,
Count VEHICLE now!
Just be sure to count my Hollies vote
When you're all but done.
Count me madly
in love with Twenty Twenty-Two! (#2022)
(transitioning into the end of Chicago's "Call On Me")
You can count on me baby
you can count on me....
**--From the book "Song writing for dumber and dumber"--special changes from Clark Besch on Jim Peterik's "Song Writing for Dummies" book.  "Get yours' today!"
You’re going to just absolutely bury me now that you’re retired, aren’t you?!?! (lol)
Thanks, Clark!  (kk)

Good morning,
I would like to request a copy of the master list of All-Time R and R songs from you.
What will I do with it?
Most likely debate the order / inclusion / exclusion of songs with my music friends in this time of crisis.
I'll also learn to play some of these songs from the list on guitar or bass which I don't already know.
Lastly, I'll probably create new play lists on Spotify to while away the hours while practicing social distancing. 
Thanks a ton … and blessings on you and yours for all you do for the music world.
Jim Hill
OK, that works for me.  (Kinda what I figured you’d do with it anyway!  Lol)  Thanks, Jim!  (kk)

THE LIVE CONTENT CONTINUES:
Below is a link to my new lyric video for Empty Arena, which you were kind enough to premier a few days ago. The video was created by Paul Braun. We’d love to share it with all of your great legion of FH fanatics!  Lol!  Thanks a million for posting it … https://youtu.be/-QgU5R4T1oI
Since this was created, I performed a one man streamed show called Empty Arena, hosted by Colin Peterik, at his Jam Lab studio. That night (Monday, March 23rd) I sang, took requests and answered questions from over 400 people who tuned into officialjimpeterik on Facebook. 
As the show proceeded, we took in nearly $4000 in donations to the Musicares musician relief fund.  I also sang to the track Empty Arena.
This stream was recorded and can be watched in its entirety on my officialjimpeterik page … 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVLJ6K4h4XU
Donations are still being accepted. 
Thanks to everyone in my virtual audience who tuned in and made it a party.
Hope you enjoy this video!
Keep the music flowing. It is our only sanity.
Thx Kent, for all that you do!!!  
Rock on!!  Jimbo 
Jim's new song and video are just perfect.  I look forward to the youtube posting of Jim's show, as I’m not on Facebook.
Clark Besch
I don’t do Facebook either … but this is a “public page,” which means that anyone can view it.  There are a few glitches here and there … so I’m anxious to see the cleaned-up YouTube version, too.  Heard from several FH Readers who were able to tune in and catch the show live … many of whom also made a donation to MusicCares.  We’ll keep you posted once we have more information.  (kk)

THIS AND THAT:
>>>We've Put Together Another King-Sized Edition of This Week's Thursday This And That  (kk)
kk …
Going to read it this afternoon.
Don't want to use up my best reading material this early in the morning.
Frank B.
We’ve done a lot of all-day suckers lately … so why not spend some of this “extra time” so many of us have these days with us!  (kk)
I really like Tommy James’ new single, especially the Cinnamon Girl / Sunshine Of Your Love Medley.  What a great idea.  And he still sounds great!
Ed
He does, doesn’t he?  Tommy hasn’t lost a step musically … still sounds as good today as he did back then … and still putting out great music.  (Plus the guy sells out every show he plays!)
I know it’s gotta be driving him crazy to be “grounded” like this with no live shows happening at all right now … but you can see that he’s been making good use of his “time off” in the studio … and it’s great to be able to share these results with all of you out in Forgotten Hits Land!  (kk)
Hey, both of Tommy's new songs are good, but I absolutely LOVE the medley side of this two-sider.  I have thought of a few medley things like that that could work as well.  I think he does a great job with it.
Clark
Kent –
I love Hey Sah Lo Ney!  Go Tommy … you still got it!!!
Jimbo 
Kent,
Carol mentioned today that the new Tommy James song HEY-SAH-LO-NEY came out originally in 1965 by singer and song writer Mickey Lee Lane.
Kent, that reminds me of a record that Mickey Lee Lane came out with a year earlier called SHAGGY DOG, also on Swan records.
Kent, this record was on our local top 40 radio station survey for many, many weeks breaking into the top 5. Don't know how well it did in Chicago, but it was a big record here. Got it out while ago and played it since I hadn't heard it in a long long time.
Larry Neal
“Hey-Sah-Lo-Ney” didn’t chart at all nationally … and I had never heard it before until Carol Ross sent me Tommy James’ new remake.  “Shaggy Dog” only managed to chart here in Chicago as an “Extra” .. but it DID make The National Top 40 in both Cash Box and Billboard, peaking at #38 in the Fall of 1964.  I do vaguely remember this one … here it is again to see if it rings anyone else’s memory bell.  (kk)



Interestingly enough, THIS label also has the “Don’t Drop Out” message on it that adorned many copies of The Beatles’ hit “She Loves You” earlier this year!  (kk)

Also …

Since I know one of your favorite pastimes is keeping track of vintage songs being used in brand new television commercials, I know you’re going to LOVE the new Samsung Phone commercial that features “Little Bitty Pretty One” if you haven’t already seen it.
Now THIS is a track that will IMMEDIATELY catch the attention of the younger generation out looking for the latest in cell phone technology. (I don’t know if it’ll put this track back on the charts again, ala Ace’s “How Long,” but this is a GREAT track that hasn’t aged a bit ... and I do believe today’s generation will respond favorably to it.)
What WILL be back on the charts next week will be a number of Kenny Rogers tunes and albums.  After his death was announced last week, sales, downloads and streaming of Kenny’s biggest hits went through the roof (in some cases up 1600%!!!) as fans remembered all the great music he gave us over the years.
And a surprise visitor to the Rock Charts again this week was John Lennon’s 1971 Hit “Imagine.”  Seems that after Gal Gadot led a celebrity chorus that included Jimmy Fallon, Natalie Portman, Norah Jones, Amy Adams, Zoe Kravitz, Kristen Wiig, John Mayer, Sarah Silverman, Will Ferrell, Maya Rudolph, Mark Rufalo, James Marsden, Chris O’Dowd, Lynda Carter and Sia, sales of Lennon’s original (an all-time classic) sparked enough action to place it back on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart where it sits at #15 this week.  (The intention was to boost morale during the insanity of this Covid-19 crisis.) 
Maybe OUR music has a future after all …
You know if enough of us survive this thing.  (kk)

Kent,
In today's FH it dawned on me that the Yellow Balloon's flip of YELLOW BALLOON was the same song backwards, I believe. Not only the wording, of course, on the label but the actual lyrics, too, if I’m not mistaken.  (I honestly don't remember.)
Also, I can't help but wonder if Dickie Goodman were still alive today, would he do a break-in record on the virus going around? Questionable.
Stay safe and be cautious.
Larry
The flip side of “Yellow Balloon” by Yellow Balloon was, indeed, “Noollab Wolley” … and the ENTIRE song was a backwards recording, from start to finish … well, actually, I guess from end to beginning (!)  And, believe it or not, it even got a few votes when we polled or readers many years ago as to their Favorite Forgotten B-Sides!  (Reminder:  Me-TV-FM has been playing A-Sides and B-Sides back-to-back all weekend long … if you tune in now, you can still catch a few favorites before they wrap things up.) 
As to your Dickie Goodman question, I would like to think not … this one just hits TOO close to home … and WAY too many people are dying from this as a result of the widespread pandemic.  Not at all in good taste … and I’m sure Dickie would have been the first one to agree.  We really can’t find ANY humor in what’s going on out there right now.  (kk)

Here's "Yellow Balloon" backwards ... "Noollab Wolley" ... it's REALLY pretty awful!!!



We also found a pretty embarrasing clip of Casey Kasem and Don Grady from 1965 ...


Kent,
I hope you are weathering the storm with this Coronavirus. It’s put a damper on my radio show as our studio has been shut down so, I’m off the air locally until, TBD …
In the meantime, I’m piecing together past shows for my two internet stations and working on creating a home studio. 
I’m running an old video of Freddy Cannon in this week’s newsletter and was wondering if he has (had) any 2020 shows planned? I thought I read in your blog that he had a concert scheduled. I know he did a show at the Villages recently so his health must have improved. Have you heard anything on that front? It’s difficult finding any information on him.
Appreciate you help. Keep up the great work on Forgotten Hits. 
Glen
Glen Fisher
Doo Wop Revival
WJCT 89.9 FM 
Doo Wop Ramblings Newsletter
Click to subscribe
Obviously, right now ALL shows are grounded … but I know that Freddy was scheduled to come back here to perform at The Arcada Theatre on September 13th.  As far as I can see, this is his only show scheduled at this time.
He blew the doors off the Arcada the last time he was here … so I’m really looking forward to seeing this show and visiting with Freddy again.
This whole CoronaVirus thing has turned the world upside down … many of us can only view it as to how it affects us personally … but this is a worldwide pandemic that is affecting everybody.
Freddy has had some serious health issues of late and problems with his lungs is what sidelined him the last time he had shows lined up.  As this is where the CoronaVirus does its greatest damage, NOTHING could be more important than Freddy staying inside and quarantined until SOME resolution can be found for how to deal with this craziness.  I expect most if not all shows to continue to be pushed back until the government feels its safe for us to interact with each other again in a concert environment.  Sad … being a music guy, you know how much we live for this stuff.  Thankfully, several artists are doing live shows on their Facebook pages to stay in contact with and entertain their fans.
Naturally, we’ll keep everybody posted as new developments are announced.
Thanks, Glen.  (At least you can still reach all of your followers thru your awesome newsletter!)  kk


'Sea of Love’ singer Phil Phillips dies at 94
Add another one --- to the already long list --- of deaths
FB



Hi Kent,
Some time ago I found a story online that talked about the possibility that Bits and Pieces was possibly inspired by another song. I found a copy of the track in question and thought there was some merit to the idea ...  but now I can't find where I put the track, and I also can't find any mention of the story behind Bits and Pieces online. 
I didn't see anything when I hunted through the FH archives either.
Am I dreaming? <grin>
Bill Scherer from MN
Sorry, Bill, but this one doesn’t ring a bell with me at all.  Anybody else out there heard similar stories that can help to point Bill in the right direction???  (kk)

Thank you so much for your recent tribute to Tammi Terrell.  I am a huge Motown fan and it was great to see her get that recognition.
Peace and good health to you.
Fran Kriston
Thanks, Fran … these days, Peace and Good Health are about the best two things you can wish somebody … so I appreciate it! 
I was really pleased with the Tammi Terrell piece, too … another artist who never really got her due.  And I still say that if ANYBODY deserves a biopic, it’s Tammi!  (They never even made the Marvin Gaye one that they’ve been talking about for the past 20-something years!!!)  kk

Hey Kent,
Just being now retired, someone told me yesterday that Sundazed's Bob Irwin had an internet radio show.  How cool is THAT? 
Just now listening to the latest show.  Not only awesome tracks, but each show (tons of podcasts of the show) has its playlists!!  Bob and Gina, some great stuff. 
I hope to listen to these shows as much as possible while trying to control my collection for the first time in 60 years!!!!
Clark Besch

A while back we had a brief discussion about the relevance of Progressive Rock.
Well, here’s a new reference book you may be interested in if you’re a fan of this genre …

The 3rd Edition of “The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock”
by Charles Snider To be Released March 27, 2020

The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock, 3rd Edition
• Reviews of 510+ albums from 1967 - 1982
• 572 pages
• Fully edited, proofread and fact-checked
Back in print for 2020! The definitive record guide to the progressive era of rock music, Strawberry Bricks presents a comprehensive discography with reviews of 500+ albums, with band histories, musical synopses, key tracks and critical commentary, all presented in the historical context of a timeline. Beginning in 1967 and continuing through 1982, a generation of musicians took rock music in directions unforeseen as they charted what would become known as progressive rock. From art rock to krautrock, from England to Germany to Italy and all across Europe, Strawberry Bricks offers a candid reappraisal of rock’s most cerebral genre. Also for this edition, Matt Howarth has revisited his original artwork from the first edition of the book.

Says Charles, “The newly written Prologue offers a historical perspective of the pretext to the progressive era, beginning post-WWII, while the Epilogue offers a current perspective on progressive rock since the early 80's. I've also spent a good deal of time fact-checking every detail in the book, including song titles and artist names. Further, this edition has been professionally edited and peer reviewed, all to make this as exacting and rewarding a book as the music it covers. Strawberry Bricks is another narrative on the classic era of progressive rock, one with hopefully a novel and candid outlook on the genre, its albums and the men that made it one of the most interesting chapters in rock's history.”

With 212 more reviews, 210 more pages, completely fact-checked and professionally edited, and with a full index, the third edition is a substantial upgrade to owners of the first edition of the book. For owners of the second edition, Matt Howarth once again revisits his original artwork for Strawberry Bricks. Enjoy the music!

Praise for Strawberry Bricks:

“In Strawberry Bricks Charles Snider gives us a history of progressive rock from 1967 to 1982 through his astute, colourful and insightful entries on a personal selection of over 500 albums – and not always the obvious choices. He acts as an informed and trustworthy guide leading the reader on a fascinating journey through the genre.” - Mike Barnes, A New Day Yesterday: UK Progressive Rock & The 1970s

“Snider’s research is impeccable, his writing style enjoyable and it’s hard to fault the inclusion of any of the hundreds of albums he covers.” - Kev Rowland, The Progressive Underground

“Most impressive! I can see it’s phenomenally well researched. Well done.” - Hugh Banton, Van der Graaf Generator

Comments on previous editions of Strawberry Bricks:

“Only one major book on progressive rock that matters has been published this year, and it's this one: The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock (Revised and Expanded Edition) by Charles Snider. This is a work of great passion and expertise by a true aficionado and historian of the form. It's an exhaustive, comprehensive and engaging overview of the genre. It also offers 500+ reviews of important albums from the "golden era" of this music from 1967 to 1982. This is a valuable addition to the library of every enthusiast of progressive music.” - Anil Prasad, Innerviews

“Charles Snider has an encyclopedic knowledge of progressive rock, and has accrued one of the world’s most formidable record collections. No one is better equipped to write the definitive discography of this rich genre of music.” - Jonathan Schang, District 97

About the Author:
Charles Snider has been collecting records since the early 1970s, amassing one of the most complete archives of progressive rock. “One of my earliest memories of vinyl was The Beatles''Paperback Writer' b/w 'Rain.' Musically, my love for British music and everything thereafter starts with The Beatles. My daughters are even named after Beatles’ songs!” Snider's self-professed passion for the music “archaeology” continued over the decades, branching out to many other genres of music. “In the early 90s, Kevin Eden and I curated the WMO label, with the cooperation and support of Wire. The CD was a new format, and we released a lot of hard to find records, as well as unreleased archival material and two very good tribute discs.” Upon moving to Chicago in 2000, he began writing the first edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock. “I've always loved record guides. Certainly, Ira Robbin’s Trouser Press was the prototype, but growing up in the 70s with magazines like Circus, Creem and of course Rolling Stone, I've always enjoyed the passion writers convey about music.” While not listening to prog rock in his man-cave, Snider can be found blogging about personal technology or cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 3rd Edition of “The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive Rock” will be released on March 27th, 2020. Available directly from
http://strawberrybricks.com/the-book, and from Amazon.com (including UK, JP and the EU). Published by http://www.strawberrybricks.com/via Kindle Direct Publishing, an Amazon company.

To purchase from Amazon:
Amazon.com:
https://amzn.to/39eAui9
Amazon.co.uk
https://amzn.to/2JaeQkA
For more information:
http://www.strawberrybricks.com/

Check this out ...
Remember the "Piranha Man"?
From the CR&M site, a now shut-down gem.
http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/multimedia/audio?start=408
Third entry from the top.
Mike 

OMG, yes, I DO remember Piranha Man!!!  Haven’t thought about him in AGES!!! 
(Jimmy would be SO proud!  Lol)  kk

Thank you, Kent ...
I am grateful that you are able to provide us all with a "happy" place.  Now I have another place to go besides my "peaceful" place. (It happens to be a large meadow located in a nearby national wildlife area about ten minutes from where I live.)
Like your happy place, my peaceful place is an oasis in an area of congestion; northern NJ, which is outside of NYC, is densely populated.
I am listening to the song "Heat Wave" on the radio as write this. It makes me happy and wanna dance.
Thanks for your rockin’ music, happy place blog and all the fun stuff you put out there.  Keep it comin’.
Stay well.
Best always,
Sandy
We’re sure gonna try!  (I find myself escaping to the music lately!)
Plus I’m not going anywhere … I still have EVERY intention of seeing the new Beatles movie when it opens in theaters on September 4th!!!  (kk)

SINCE WE’RE ALL COUPED UP, WHY NOT ENJOY THE VERY BEST OF OLDIES MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT:
Forgotten Hits Reader Rich Klein came up with a great idea as a way to help pass the time while we’re all stuck inside …
Why not come up with a list of the very best oldies music stations around the country … Internet stations … terrestrial stations that stream … special weekend programming … etc, etc, etc.
We actually did this several years ago and came up with a GREAT list of options to check out … so send us your suggestions and favorites and we’ll post them in future issues.
Right off the top of my head, I can quickly rattle off:
Rewound Radio (hands down, the best):https://rewoundradio.com/
WCFL Chicago:  https://wcflchicago.com/
LAFOS (Lost And Found Oldies) - You'll find a ton of archived shows here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/LAFOS/
Scott Shannon’s True Oldies Channel:  http://trueoldieschannel.com/
Bob Stroud’s Rock and Roll Roots (airs live Sundays from 9 am – Noon Chicago time on The Drive):  https://live.wdrv.com/listen/?utm_source=station-website&utm_medium=widget&utm_campaign=livebar
Citizen Bill’s Remember Then:  https://www.fun927.com/ListenLive.html
That Thing With Rich Appel:   
https://www.mixcloud.com/ThatThingWithRichAppel/
Dave The Rave’s Relics and Rarities (broadcast live from the No Static Attic!):  http://www.davetherave.com/
And, of course, on Sirius XM, Tommy James and Peter Noone each do their own weekend oldies shows as well!

And we’ve been telling you about the brand new “Ready, Steady, Go” documentary that began airing in Great Britain this weekend.
Well, Harvey Kubernik sends us a couple of “distractions” to help get us thru our lockdown weekend, courtesy of Nona Hendryx …

Hi All,
In this crazy, scary time here’s two programs to enjoy or simply be distracted by.  And as Monty Python said,  “Always look on the bright side of life.” 
The Story of Ready Steady Go!:   
https://vimeo.com/395931358/a2c8c8db6a
The Best of Ready Steady Go!:  
https://vimeo.com/395929042/ec9fadea21
Enjoy,
Nona Hendryx

WRAPPING THINGS UP WITH ANOTHER ONE OF FRANK’S FUNNIES:

March 30th, 1970

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The Beatles continue their reign at the top of the chart this week.  In fact, Apple Records has THREE of the Top 4 records this week, thanks to their own "Let It Be," John Lennon's "Instant Karma" and Badfinger's "Come And Get It."  (They also hold down the #30 spot with Mary Hopkin's "Temma Harbour."

The Jackson Five seem poised to take over the top spot as "ABC" climbs from #7 to #2 this week ... but The Supremes'"Up The Ladder To The Roof" and The Ides Of March's "Vehicle" are both making seven point jumps within The Top Ten ... so don't count these tracks out either!

The Guess Who leap sixteen places with their two-sided hit "American Woman" / "No Sugar Tonight" (from #32 to #16) ... while Bobbi Martin's "For The Love Of Him" and Kenny Rogers and the First Edition's "Something Burning" also make impressive moves ... from #37 to #19 and #39 to #20 respectively.






I also like Steppenwolf's new hit "Hey Lawdy Mama," which premiers at #35 this week.


Heading Into April, 1970

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From FH Reader Clark Besch ...    

There was a big shake up at WLS at the start of April, 1970.  Buell and Stevens continue "back to back" at night, but Joel Sebastian comes over from WCFL to take the 10 AM - 2 PM slot at the Big 89, moving Art Roberts from that time to 6 - 10 AM morning drive time.  

Here are a few photos for the new slot members mentioned above. 



Also, BEFORE Larry Lujack was "Uncle Lar," he was short lived MOTHER Lujack to his kids, Chuck Buell and Kris Stevens.  


BTW, 1970 newcomer, Bill Bailey, a surprise transplant from WKLO Louisville, had quite a different style and started in January in the 6-10 AM slot, soon to be shelved to the 9 PM - 1 AM slot, moving Art from there to 6 AM drive time.  Eventually, Lujack would take over the 6 AM slot in October, 1970, with Scotty Brink coming to take Lujack's afternoon drive for a short time.  And the wheels on the bus go round and round.  Lujack went back to WCFL two years later.  

This last pic is of the young "peace-niks," Buell and Stevens, with a nice penciled in sketch!  I got this survey in a batch of ones years ago that someone liked to scribble on and thought Chuck might like this!  I used to doodle in high school like this, but this is NOT my drawing, promise!
-- Clark Besch

1970:  March 31st– A Japan Airlines flight carrying 131 passengers and 7 crew members is hijacked by The Japanese Red Army.  All passengers are eventually freed, unharmed.

April 1st, 1970

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1970:  April 1st – “Woodstock,” the documentary on The Woodstock Music And Arts Festival that took place in Bethel, New York in August of 1969, has its world premier in Hollywood.  It will go on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Also on this date, the final Beatles recording session ever takes place when Ringo Starr (the only Beatle present) comes in to overdub his percussion tracks for “The Long And Winding Road,” “Across The Universe” and “I Me Mine.”

In other Beatles-related news, John and Yoko issue a statement to the press (as an April Fool’s joke) that they are both having sex change operations.

Also on this date, President Richard Nixon signs The Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act into law, banning cigarette television advertisements in the United States beginning January 1, 1971.

And, the 1970 U.S. Census begins.  There are 203,392,031 U.S. residents recorded on this day.  (Who the hell counted all them people?!?!)

Finally, in what was perhaps the greatest April Fools joke ever, American Motors introduced The Gremlin on this date.


Thursday This And That

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THE CORONA CONCERTS CONTINUE:
If some good comes out of this whole CoronaVirus pandemic, it’s been the wealth of new music and in-home concerts we’ve all been able to enjoy.  Last week, in addition to all the options we mentioned (including on online version of Beatlefest!), fans were treated to in-home concerts by James Taylor and Dave Matthews … and now more in-home concerts have been released by Graham Nash, Elvis Costello and Paul Stanely of Kiss …

I cannot believe this!
I told you that concerts were so heavy here, I could not get to all of them. Now they are rebooked as to look as though I may get to each of them.
HOWEVER, the Virtual Online Concerts and Events are so heavy I cannot even stay home and be able to attend them all!
The Fest for Beatles Fans, Mark Dawson, Peter Noone, Carl Giammarese …
Notices are popping up on my screen all at once. LIVE NOW!
What a great dilemma. And thank you to one and all for keeping me sane and the music going.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
(OK. Hit me with the “You weren’t sane before this.” Comments.)
It’s true … all of a sudden there are more “in home” shows than you can possibly watch!  (The good news is, most of these remain posted for viewing more to your own personal schedule.)
For me, it’s a bit tougher as we’re all still working our regularly scheduled hours … and there is no way I can cram all of this into an average evening, especially dividing time between all my other commitments …
But what a GREAT over-booked problem to have!  (kk)

How about this stay at home concert suggestion from GJ Kubat?

Now if we could corral up some older artists for our own quarantine concert???
GJK

Meanwhile, Folk Artist John Prine is in critical condition with the CoronaVirus and Alan Merrill, who wrote the Classic Rock Hit “I Love Rock And Roll” is dead at 69 of the virus as well.  When we first started today's comments page, Adam Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne had just been hospitalized with the CoronaVirus but was then reportedly doing better with treatment.  (In addition to writing "That Thing You Do" and the hit "Stacy's Mom" for his own group, Adam has been instrumental with the last couple of Monkees albums as well.)  Then came word on Wednesday Night that he, too, had died from the virus.  He was only 52 ... and not the demo we've been programmed to expect.  (The statistics just keep rising ... it's hard to even watch the most recent updates.)

And now this, from FH Reader EShanks5 (Eileen), regarding fan favorite Tom Rush …

I had tickets to see an old favorite, Tom Rush, who I have known since the coffee houses in Harvard Square back in the 60's. He was going to be appearing with America down here in Clearwater, Florida on March 20. Of course, the venue cancelled all the upcoming shows. He always does a meet and greet … and I always get a hug and a selfie. 
I just got an email from Tom.
Eileen

Gang,
I have just tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. I have no idea where I picked it up but strongly suspect it was sometime on or after March 11th when I was on my way north from my string of shows in NC, GA and FL early in March.
Nonetheless, out of an abundance of caution, IF you were at any of the shows listed here, and were shaking hands or taking selfies with me in the lobby during intermission or at the end of the evening, PLEASE be extra-vigilant for symptoms (fever, headache, dry cough, nausea).


March 4th, Isis, Asheville, NC
March 5th, Eddie’s Attic, Decatur, GA
March 7th, Lyric Theatre, Stuart, FL
March 9th, Studios, Key West, FL
March 10th, Kravis Center, West Palm

Be well, stay well!




















There seems to be no end to this thing … as social distancing has been extended thru the end of April (which, quite honestly, STILL isn’t enough time to really get a handle on this … I’m guessing it’ll be July at the earliest before we truly understand just what is going on and how to deal with it.) 
Meanwhile, more and more artists are making an effort to entertain us from their home … as we ALL should be at home as much as humanly possible to contain this thing.  (kk)

Bruce Springsteen called in to his exclusive SiriusXM channel, E Street Radio, and spoke to SiriusXM’s Jim Rotolo.  During their conversation, Bruce Springsteen raised awareness for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, talked about his friends Tom Hanks and Jackson Browne, who are both recovering from the virus, and shared song and book recommendations for fans in this time of social distancing. During the phone call, Springsteen also shared with SiriusXM’s Jim Rotolo that he has been working on new songs while hunkering down at home.
Bruce Springsteen’s interview with SiriusXM’s Jim Rotolo aired on SiriusXM’s E Street Radio at 10:00 am ET on Friday, March 27th.
The full interview can be viewed below thanks to SiriusXM’s E Street Radio and SiriusXM’s Jim Rotolo. 
Bruce Springsteen talks about New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund in exclusive call to SiriusXM’ E Street Radio
(You’ll find some of the highlights below)
On the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund: Yes, a nice thing that Tammy Murphy, governor’s wife, is coordinating it’s going to help the state if a lot of people can give a hand … there are so many problems with a lot of people being overwhelmed and facilities being overwhelmed and we are just, we don’t know where we are in the whole thing. How much longer is it going to go, how much worse is it going to get. There is something there that people can get involved with if they’d like to. It’s going to be a helpful and good thing.
On friends like Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Jackson Browne testing positive: Yeah, very worried. I’ve known Tom a long time since Streets of Philadelphia. Jackson I’ve known forever … he was one of the kindest people to us when we very first got started. He actually put us on the bill and let us open up.  He is a great, great, great friend of mine. Not only is he also one of my great heroes as a songwriter, I’ve spoken to him a little bit and he seems to being alright at the moment. Just wishing him well and a lot of love.
On if he has spoken to the E Street band: I’ve talked to Steve quite a bit, which is always a source of great entertainment, so he keeps my spirits up.
On what he has been doing: Everyone is just trying to stay busy. Patti and I are hanging out a lot, which is great … we are having a good time together. We are on a farm so we have our horses here and we get to spend a little time with them ... so that’s been nice. I have been busy a little bit working on some music.  I try to keep my day as full as possible and keep myself from going completely cabin fever crazy.
On what songs he is listening to: I have all kinds of old music that I listen to, old blues. I have playlists of the fathers of rock, where I have Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley. This morning I was listening to Del Shannon, who is sort of under sung as a hero of Rock & Roll … I have a playlist of him and Dion, two of the great, great singers in rock music, so I listen to them quite a bit. Future Islands … I like that band. You know I am all over the place.
On working on new music: Yeah, we got that going and it’s going well, so hopefully it keeps going well [laughs] I have no predictions on it yet.  

Follow the link below and read the entire article as near the very bottom, there is possibly a very valid explanation of why "Roll On' reached #4 in Hawaii while having lesser success elsewhere.  Pretty cool, eh?
Already sent the link to current NC6ers so next up shall be my family, IL R&R Museum, Ronnie Rice and the rest of the former and founder NC6ers after sending this to y'all.  Know any other places where it might earn a chuckle or TV/radio responses?  Feel free to circulate. 
Back to trying to garner enough business to make next month's payroll here at Arbortech - getting dicey in Johnsburg! 
Love ya,     
Ray Graffia, Jr.
OMG, that is just TOO funny!!!  What a GREAT promotional idea … and I’m guessing that you guys had absolutely NO idea it was even going on at the time!  This is DEFINITELY worth sharing.

(Of course the fact that “Roll On” is also a GREAT song made it a lot easier to listen to a bit more often … still one of my all-time favorites by The New Colony Six!)  kk



Some folks are trying to smile their way thru these scary times …
(Hey, sometimes you've gotta laugh to keep from cryin'!!!)

From FH Reader Mike Wolstein …
This video is really touching …

And this one’s just for fun …
Somebody spent considerable time on this and did a nice job.  Enjoy!
Tom Cuddy

About ten days earlier, two legendary Chicagoland Disc Jockeys pulled their talents to offer up a similarly-themed parody …
John Records Landecker wrote the thing and Bob Stroud sings it (along with Landecker and Matt Bisbee on background vocals) …

And, since we’re once again on the topic of The Beatles …

THE BEATLES:
I, too, would start with "She Loves You" to introduce a newcomer to The Beatles.   As you know, it was one of the many tracks Capitol had first dibs on to release in the U.S. in 1963 but rejected -- which was why "She Loves You" and so many other early Fab Four classics wound up being first issued in America on minor labels like Swan, Tollie and Vee Jay instead.
Here they are live in England in November, 1963, two months before "She Love You" finally broke in the U.S.A.
Gary Theroux
"The History of Rock 'n' Roll"
"She Loves You" remained their biggest hit in England.  Something about the infections "yeah, yeah, yeah"'s ... the mop-top head shaking ... it truly was the PERFECT pop song to break the band worldwide ... except here in America, of course!  (kk) 

If I were playing a Beatles tune for someone who hadn't heard The Beatles before, I think I'd play A Hard Day's Night. That chord at the beginning sounded so cool slamming through my little transistor speaker, not to mention the car radio in my Dad's 1959 Plymouth.
Bill Scherer
That’s actually a GREAT suggestion!  How can that beginning NOT command your attention?!?!  And the non-stop rockin’ rhythm, John and Paul trading off lead vocals … plus it’s catchy as hell! 
OK, you’ve convinced … THIS one belongs somewhere near the top of the list!  (kk)  

In regards to what the Beatles are / were, my vote goes to their 1963-4 original material as well.  However, that brings up a question I've thought of a few times over the years, but never put into words.
Forget a minute about the impact (good or bad) they have had on music.
Do you think if the Beatles were new in 2020, given the same material, would radio play their music or at best be another boy band?
Jack
Personally, yeah, I think their music was magical enough … and they were charismatic enough … that they still would have made an impression in 2020.
But you have to factor into that what music might have been like had they not revolutionized it they way they did in ’64.
It’s kinda like when Elvis and Rock And Roll hit … music NEEDED something.  Try listening to what passed itself off as pop music from 1954 – 1957 and it becomes REAL obvious that something HAD to happen.  (Now I’m talking “pop music” here … because the underlying sounds of rhythm and blues was sweeping the underground at the time and the REALLY hip kids were on to it.  But without a poster child like Elvis, how far might it have gone?)
Then again, a big question a few years back was “If Bob Dylan auditioned for American Idol, would he have been give a golden ticket … or just been another William Hung?”
Who knows … thankfully, music DID evolve, which allowed room for ALL of these artists to co-exist.  It’d have been a pretty boring past fifty years if it hadn’t!  (kk)

THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME:
Hey Kent,
Yes, I would love an excel spreadsheet of the Top 847,437 Classical Songs of All Time. I promise to give you all the credit you deserve for undertaking this monstrous talk. Thanxalot.
Guy Alone in Algonquin

Hi Kent,
Thank-you again for all the work and endless hours put in tabulating and assembling the top 3333 classic rock countdown.  Also, thank-you for continuing through thick and thin your ongoing publishing of Forgotten Hits.  I think, now more than ever, in these adverse and historic times, people appreciate all you continue to do.  Again, THANK-YOU KENT, it is all greatly appreciated.
Peace,
Tim Kiley

Hi, Kent!
WOW, THANK YOU FOR THE LIST!!! I am particularly thrilled that you included the year of each song.  I have too many missing years on my iTunes list, and this will help tremendously.
The only thing I can think of that would make the list better:  the URLs for the YouTube videos you’ve been showing with the songs.
BOTTOM LINE:  GREAT JOB, THANK YOU!
Kevin Killion
(the other KK)
Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.  (Not on my end anyway!)
Far too many of these videos have already disappeared from YouTube … or were noticeably different versions (live or otherwise) than the hit versions we want to hear on the radio anyway.  I just wanted to feature SOMETHING to help illustrate the songs and artists selected by all of you and make for a more interesting and entertaining countdown as we went from #3333 to #1.
As for the year and original album source, we can all thank Dann Isbell for that added feature.  Dann took it upon himself to spice up our daily reveals by adding in this information … and then allowing us to share it once we published the final list.  (It really IS a cool bonus feature … especially for those of you out there who may be putting together your own countdowns.)  kk

Hi Kent,
Many thanks for the file. It will take a number of hours and quite a few beers to fully appreciate the work that went into this.
Jerry Reuss

Kent,
This list is more than enough to keep any music fan occupied until the lockdown is over. 
I'm planning to write about it later this week at my site (thjkoc.net), as a follow-up to my recent discussion of my top four, which I linked to below.
It will go up on Friday, and I'll send the link when it's live.
Thanks
Jb
Thanks, JB … as we know, there is no singular right answer to the Greatest Classic Rock Song of All-Time.  My research took me to DOZENS of lists, all claiming to be “official” countdowns … and they all had different #1 songs.  (I mentioned during our research that when radio stations last year did their Classic Rock Memorial Day 500 Countdowns, we found three stations out of the eight we polled that listed Queen with the #1 song … but each of those stations listed a DIFFERENT Queen song!!!  (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites The Dust” and “We Will Rock You” / “We Are The Champions.”
Our list probably had more Rolling Stones top-end songs than most … but one of those other eight listed “Gimme Shelter” at #1 and another said it was “Satisfaction” … so who really knows.
Tracks like “Stairway To Heaven,” “Hotel California,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Layla” and even Jimi Hendrix’s version of “All Along The Watchtower” (as well as Bob Dylan’s own “Like A Rolling Stone”) regularly top these lists … but knowing first hand the amount of work, effort and accuracy that went into our compilation … and the sources that we used to measure one million votes … I just HAVE to maintain that ours is the most accurate based on sheer volume alone.
Would it come out differently five years from now?  Likely so … and I’ll bet the results five years AGO would also have produced different results.  Did the effects of the Academy Award Winning Queen movie play a role in the outcome?  Probably … but I can’t think of another song in the HISTORY of rock and roll music that comes even close to capturing what this Queen epic does.  It truly is one of a kind.  (Even after nearly 50 years I have to ask myself EVERY time I hear it … “How do you even WRITE something like this … let alone organize it and arrange it and produce it?”  It is unparalleled in the rock universe … so I stand by the decision of the rock fans who declared it #1.)  kk
PS – Can’t wait to read your update on Friday!!!

THIS AND THAT:
Well, since somebody else has already covered Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead, we’ll offer up THIS option for Things To Do At Home When You’re On Pandemic Lock-Down …

Kent -
These are indeed difficult times for all of us, and a thank you to you and the numerous contributors to your blog, for continuing to entertain us with great music and related stories and information associated with a much gentler era.
You may recall, it now seems likes eons ago, that you helped me connect with Ron Smith (may he rest in peace) who, for a few years before he cut back on his trivia content, published my newly compiled "Rockword" crossword puzzles on his website.   I still compile these puzzles (77 in all).
It's occurred to me that many of your readers might welcome the chance to occupy some of their current downtime in this social distancing, self-isolating environment "having a go" at some of these puzzles.
Perhaps your blog you could provide my e-mail address along with this short blurb, outlining what I can offer, and asking interested readers to contact me for more information.  
I would also add that under the current COVID-19 environment, I am not looking for any personal financial gain by providing these puzzles to anyone.  Folks contacting me for a few, or more, of the puzzles, and who find them enjoyable, could make a donation to a needy charity of their own choosing, should they feel compelled to do so.  (Like they keep saying, we’re all in this together … so please help out in any way you can.)  I am happy to provide just a little relief from the stressful world outside by way of the Rockword Puzzles to anyone who chooses to request them.
Keep up the good work, and more importantly may you and your family be safe.
Mike Ogilvie
Mississauga, ON.
Mike has been doing these puzzles for YEARS … we’ve run some (and sent some out) ages ago in Forgotten Hits … but now he is offering to send them directly to interested readers who contact him via email, requesting a copy (or copies) of some of his archive Rockword Puzzles.
You can request some here: oglivia@outlook.com 
Have fun!!!  (kk)

I thought Tommy James had a couple new songs out. Read his book
"Me, the Mob, and the Music" recently … not my usual read and really enjoyed it.
Then I went and got his "I'm Alive" CD and it grew on me. Dude’s still got the pipes and knows how to arrange. Gonna see him again this year.
Thanx for all the updates in your Sunday Comments Page ...
Great way to worship on Sunday!
Amen.
Bill Faust

kk:
I don't remember the Kenny Rogers song you like ("TWENTY YEARS AGO.”)
Was it an album cut? It is a great song.
Frank B.
Isn’t it?
I swear I get choked up every time I hear it.
It was released as a single and pop radio ignored it. Went to #2 on the country chart.  GREAT track.  (kk)

Do you know about this song?
Today, Bob Dylan released a 17-minute song about the JFK assassination.
I’m adding this one to my LONG SONG LIST.
Frank B.
Not heard about this one before … probably more for the Bob Dylan completists at this point.  (kk)

Hi Kent -
So  sorry to hear about Phil Phillips passing.  His record "Sea of Love" is one of my favorite oldies but goodies. I hope he got royalties when the Honey Drippers sang it and when it was used in Al Pacino's movie " Sea of Love."
I heard a story that he was given only a new jacket for doing "Sea of Love."
It may be an old wives tale??!!
When in doubt ask the master ...
Carolyn
I’d never heard that story before so I can’t really comment.
As for royalties, he certainly should have earned something … he cowrote the song under his real name, John Phillip Baptiste.
The song was first released on the small Khoury label (anybody ever even hear of it??!?) before Mercury picked it up for mass distribution.  The move paid off … “Sea Of Love” peaked at #2 on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart in 1959.  (The Honeydippers version went to #3 in 1985 … so clearly this song was a hit with fans from ALL music generations!)
Although critically panned, I thought “Sea Of Love” was an interesting movie when it first came out … some pretty tense (and intense) scenes.  Not sure how well it’s aged … but I found it quite interesting (and erotic!) at the time.  (kk)

Justin Hayward released a brand new, digital only single last week through all of the usual digital service providers.

Whether performing solo or with The Moody Blues, Justin Hayward’s songwriting is known for its thought-provoking lyrics and inventive melodies. These qualities are fully displayed in the new tracks “One Summer Day” and “My Juliette.” 
“One Summer Day” is written in a conversational style, telling the story of unexpected events taking place one day in the summer. According to Justin, the song came about in an organic manner. “[It] just sprang out of my old Martin guitar late one evening ... I had been playing the riff for a while just for fun, without realizing it could actually be a song.” 
“My Juliette,” which references Danny Williams’ early 60s recording of “Moon River”, was inspired by Justin’s childhood fascination with the theater. His mother played piano for a repertory theater group during a summer in his childhood. He played guitar for the company, and was drawn into the artistry of the stage, from Shakespeare to pantomime. “I was entranced and I still treasure every moment of that theatre life,” Hayward continues. “I had the song for years before I was sure I wanted to actually finish or record it because I enjoyed just playing around with it.”
Hi Kent:
If fans like the concept of the “Yellow Balloon” flip side, they are sure to enjoy the flip side of “They’re Coming To Take Me Away” by Napoleon XIV! Same Concept.
Ken Freck
Yes, Jerry Samuels (Napoleon XIV) beat them to the punch with this one … a geat way to fill the other side of a single (as complete “filler”)!  Believe it or not, this track, too, earned votes a few years back when we were compiling our list of Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides.  (kk) 

>>>Me-TV-FM threw me for a loop this weekend with their A-Sides / B-Sides picks … some REALLY rare and unexpected stuff this time around … including the pairing of Neil Young’s “Heart Of Gold” / “Sugar Mountain” (live version), a track that never even charted.  (In the past, they have stuck with the more “tried and true” variety of two-sided hits … so this was a completely unexpected … and quite adventurous surprise!  WTG, Rick!)  kk  
Good morning, Kent:
First of all, thank you for the multiple mentions in your blog today.  What a pleasant surprise, first thing in the morning!
Interesting that you would bring up the Neil Young “Heart of Gold” / ”Sugar Mountain (live)” combo.  We did not play those two songs the last time we did “45s and Flipsides.”  But, during one of our regular music brainstorming sessions, where Neal Sabin, Bill Cochran and I toss around titles we could be playing (which usually includes a handful of songs recently suggested by listeners), “Sugar Mountain” came up as a deep track that we somehow missed.  The fact that the live version was the B side of “Heart of Gold” made it a must for our feature this weekend.
Also, the benefit of repeating special weekend features is that we’re able to rotate the combinations.  The A and B side combos that aired in the wee hours the last time we did this, last November, could see some daytime spins this time around.
You and your family take care and be safe.
Rick O’Dell
Me-TV-FM

Todd Rundgren Recruits Guest Artists for Democratic Campaign Anthem 
Todd Rundgren and some well known guest artists are re-recording his 1973 anthem “Just One Victory” and giving it away for free to Democrats throughout the US running for public office this year. So far Joe Walsh, Daryl Hall, and Paul Shaffer have already agreed to join the effort along with producer Don Was. The idea was suggested by former Bearsville Records executives Paul Fishkin and Marc Nathan.
“Just One Victory” originally appeared as the final track on Rundgren's critically acclaimed 1973 album, A Wizard, a True Star.
Rundgren hopes that other notable artists sign on as well. “Let's go for 'We Are the World,'” he recently told Andy Greene of Rolling Stone. “Not many people know about it at this particular moment, especially because just as we were getting into the project this huge distraction [of the virus] came along. We are waiting for everyone to settle down from that before we refocus on the political and start actively soliciting some performances.”
Guest artists on the song don't need to be musicians or even musically inclined. Once the song is recorded any Democrat will be able to use the song for free. “It's really the kind of thing to get people hyped up and ready to go out and vote,” Rundgren says.
Read the recent interview Todd Rundgren did with Andy Greene of Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/todd-rundgren-victory-democrats-973903/

MORE GREAT LISTENING IDEAS FROM OUR READERS:
Hi Kent,
One radio station I’d recommend for readers to listen to online is z98fm.com. They primarily play music from the 80s, but two of my favorite shows that play older material air on Sundays.
From 2:00 - 5:00 PM Central, you can listen to The Doo-Wop Stop, a syndicated show hosted by Bob “Cool Bobby B” Backman. Following that, from 5:00 - 11:00 PM Central is The Dusty Rhodes Show. His show features music from the 50s - 70s and is always a good listen. He’s been on the air since 1961, and sometimes will include vintage radio clips on his program.
Both shows feature a nice mix of big hits and lesser-known songs.
Colin Donahue

Here are a few more radio streams to help ward off Corona-Cabin Fever"…
•  www.big8radio.com (CKLW/Detroit Tribute Site)
•  www.wixy1260online.com (WIXY/Cleveland Tribute Site
And my "Every-Other Wednesday Night" show (a.k.a. The Vinyl Arkhives on www.kafmradio.org) has been sidelined as well until further notice.  I wound up being the last LIVE show on the station on the 25th.  That episode (and future episodes when available) can be heard at the website by going to LISTEN -> ON DEMAND -> ARCHIVES -> click on Mar 25 and The Vinal ArKhives will be at the top of the list.
-- Uncle T. Jay
Unfortunately, we’re seeing this more and more, too … studios are shutting down as a means of social distancing and keeping things clean.  (I guess it’s different if you can actually broadcast your program from the confines of your own home … and some of the jocks on our list can and do!)
Meanwhile, radio becomes a more vital source than ever as far as being able to give us to the minute updates … something that is EXTREMELY difficult to do in this day of voice-tracking and pre-recorded, syndicated programs … ‘cause let’s face it, we really need BOTH … new updates to keep us advised of what new regulations may be going into place … and music to free us from the mental burden these news updates continue to give us!  (kk)

Hi Kent –
You might like to mention this link to your readership … https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p087nspj
I have mentioned Bernie Keith to you before as he has a rock “n” roll show every Saturday night on Northampton local BBC radio. This link is to the show he did this past Saturday and can be listened to for thirty days after it has been transmitted. This week he was on air for four hours, normally it is only two hours.
Take care and stay safe,
Rockin’ Lord Geoff (In England)

Hey Kent,
Hope you, Frannie and your family are well.
I listen to podcasts a lot, and I really like is Gilbert Godfrey's Amazing Colossal Podcast. He (and Frank, his co-host) feature episodes with some of our favorites from "back in the day," including Tommy James, Neil Sedaka, Peter Asher and many more.
This last week was Peter Noone. Excellent interview, funny and insightful and Frank really digs deep with his subject matter. Highly recommended for you and the followers of your blog!
Bob Burns
I know you’ve mentioned before how entertaining these shows are … guess I’ll have to check it out.  (Not a big Gilbert Godfrey fan … but if he plays it straight without all the annoying nuances he uses in his voice I can probably handle it … especially with a guest lineup like this!  Thanks, Bob!  (kk)


Hey, I just noticed that I can say "Hey Siri, play Rewound Radio," and she does it!  She will also do that with Oldies America. Does anyone else have other Oldies stations that work?

Plus, I just wanted to add my vote for the Double-Sided weekend on METVFM.
I thought it was great, and I loved the ones I didn't expect.
Bill Scherer …
Still alive in MN  

And a final smile from Frank B. (by way of Wild Wayne):



JACKIE DESHANNON

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Today we turn things over to Ken Voss, who will tell us about a brand new Facebook Page he has started, honoring music and musicians with ties to Illinois ...

As well as a special feature he's put together spotlighting the early years of the career of Jackie DeShannon.

Take it away, Ken! 

Hello, Kent ... 

I wanted to let you know that I have started a project trying to create an encyclopedia of Illinois music and musicians. I've called it the Illinois Rock & Roll Music Archives. 

I have a Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/870729336712789/ - telling stories of some of the artists that have emerged from Illinois.  

Here's one story that I thought you might have an interest in posting - Jackie DeShannon.
Ken Voss



JackieDeShannon – The Early Years 

How many of you remember Jackie DeShannon singing the Top 10 hits “What The World Needs Now Is Love” and “Put A Little Love In Your Heart?” Did you know she was from Batavia, Illinois! 

Born Sharon Lee Myers (8/21/41), her family originally lived on a farm in Kentucky. By age six, she was already singing country tunes on a local radio station there. As her mother was originally from Aurora, the family relocated to the western suburbs, moving to Batavia in 1953. 

Just in eighth grade, Myers hosted her own Saturday morning radio show “Breakfast Melodies” on WMRO in Aurora. On Saturday nights she performed as a vocalist with Don Lee and his Fox Valley Boys square dance band. And made numerous guest appearances on local TV shows including Pee Wee King’s popular “Country and Western Television Show” on Chicago’s CBS-affiliate channel 2.  She attended Batavia High School for two years from 1955 - 1957, but dropped out to pursue a musical career.



As a 16-year-old, Myers first commercial recording was on the Hammond, Indiana-based Mar-Vel label where she was billed as Sherry Lee. Owned by long-time record entrepreneur Harry Glenn, while the label served as an outlet for Myers, it was not a label that would launch a career. Glenn had an unorthodox method of promotion, “personally promoting his releases in a carnival-like manner,” it was noted in bopping.com, “loading his car up with records and traveling from town to town with his set of loudspeakers trying to persuade all those who would listen that his recordings were a must.”

For this first single, Glenn partnered Myers with country singer Shorty Ashford on “I’m Crazy Darling” with the B-side “Baby Honey” (Mar-Vel 903) being her first solo credited side as Sherry Lee, the label noting her as “Miss Country Music.” Take a listen to her first record “Baby Honey” -  https://youtu.be/NEiaVdjMl9U


In her early years, the small independent record labels didn’t seem to like her real name with various releases as Sherry Lee, Jackie Dee and Sharon Lee before finally settling on the stage name she is best known as – Jackie DeShannon.

Her next single “How Wrong I Was” came out on the Gone label, this time as Jackie Dee.  


By now, there was enough interest in Jackie that Liberty Records sent her to Nashville to record, where she stepped into more of a rockabilly style with a tribute to Buddy Holly, titled simply “Buddy.” And while the record proved she was a rocker on par with the likes of Wanda Jackson and Brenda Lee, it was an era where female vocalists were receiving very little airplay from radio programmers.


Yet, the small independent labels still putting out singles by Jackie continued changing her name. Next, she was called Sharon Lee, releasing a single “Kissing Game” b/w “No Deposit No Return” for the Excellent label.
         
In 1959, the Cincinnati, Ohio-based Fraternity Records called her Jackie Shannon. There, she was teamed with Rusty York and the Cajuns. As both Jackie and Rusty were originally from southern Kentucky, there was a familiar vibe to working together. The single “Just Another Lie” came out in the beginning of 1959 billed as Jackie DeShannon and the Cajuns. However, she only appeared on the A-side, the flip being the instrumental “Cajun Blues” by The Cajuns. That record then was licensed to the Sage label, and then to Dot, who released it in April of that year.
          
York recalled that time when Jackie was touring with his group. “Man, that girl could sing,” he said in an interview in the book We Wanna Boogie: An Illustrated History of the American Rockabilly Movement. “We’d travel around to these little record hops and dance programs, and she would say she wanted to be a big-name singer,” the book noting she was “still a brunette and decked out in fitted shiny gold slacks, the teenager proved a popular regional attraction.”

One more single came out under the moniker Jackie Shannon with “Lies” b/w “Trouble” on the P.J. label, a small label that only issued two singles, one by Jackie and one by York. That single was then licensed to Dot, and re-issued the following year on the Sand label.


After a show in Chicago, Jackie met rockabilly star Eddie Cochran, who gave her some advice that changed her life. “He was very encouraging,” she recalled in Finding Her Voice: The Saga of Women in Country Music. “He said, “If you really want to get somewhere, you’ve got to come to California.” And that she did. The connection with Cochran also led to an introduction to his girlfriend, songwriter Sharon Sheeley. That resulted in Jackie and Sheeley forming a songwriting team penning songs for the likes of Brenda Lee, Irma Thomas and The Byrds (she would later go on to enjoy a brief songwriting partnership with Jimmy Page as well as writing hits “Come and Stay With Me” for Marianne Faithful and the Kim Carnes’ hit “Betty Davis Eyes” earning her a Grammy in 1982 for Song of the Year).

Connecting with the Edison International label, she finally became Jackie DeShannon. In a 2003 interview, Jackie recalled, “In the beginning when I was making records, radio stations were not playing records by girls. It was suggested I choose a name that could be a boy or a girl. So there you have it.” She became Jackie DeShannon. She recorded two singles for this label.


       
And finally, Jackie signed a major label deal with Liberty / Imperial, enjoying a long and successful relationship with the label. Her first single “Lonely Girl” hit the U.S. charts. And her big breaks came in 1964, when she opened a U.S. tour for The Beatles and co-starred in the teen movie Surf Party.    


From there her releases kept climbing up the charts, her most popular years 1965-69, with records in the Top 100 surveys through 1980.
               
Jackie DeShannon Early Years
Note: All these sides have been included on the compilation Jackie DeShannon: The Early Singles 1956-1962 (Jasmine JASCD1008)

As Sherry Lee
1957 - I’m Crazy Darling b/w Baby Honey (Marvel 903)

As Jackie Dee
1957 - How Wrong I Was b/w I’ll Be True (Gone 5006)
1958 - Buddy b/w Strolypso Dance (Liberty F-55148)

As Jackie Shannon and the Cajuns
1959 - Just Another Lie b/w Cajun Blues (Fraternity F-836)
1959 - Lies b/w Trouble (P.J. Records 101)
          Licensed to Dot (45-1590) in 1959 and then re-issued
          on Sand (330) in 1960

As Jackie DeShannon
1960 - I Wanna Go Home b/w So Warm (Edison International F-416)
1960 - Put My Baby Down b/w The Foolish One (Edison International F-418)
               
(courtesy Illinois Rock & Roll Music Archives - https://www.facebook.com/groups/870729336712789/) 

******

The Illinois Rock & Roll Music Archives is a group dedicated to the music and the musicians from Illinois. The artists, the recordings, the studios, the players, the labels, the managers, the agents and all those involved with making music happen. Includes bios, discographies and stories about the artists and recordings. 
www.facebook.com/groups/870729336712789/ 

You'll find lots of cool, interesting and very rare things here already ... so this is a page you'll likely want to come back to again and again.  I suggest you bookmark it NOW for future reference.  (kk)

Jackie DeShannon first charted here in Chicago in 1960 when "I Wanna Go Home" reached #16 on The Top Tunes Of Greater Chicagoland Chart. 

A couple more singles made the same chart as "extras" before she started cranking out the hits we best know her for.  ("Lonely Girl," 1960 and "Heaven Is Being With You," 1961.)  "Lonely Girl" debuted at #37 in its only week on The WLS Silver Dollar Survey at the close of 1960.

In 1963, she again achieved "extras" status with her version of "Needles And Pins," a song that would loom large for The Searchers as The British Invasion took hold of the American music charts the following year ... and then in 1965 she hit The Top Ten with her recording of the Hal David / Burt Bacharach classic "What The World Needs Now Is Love." 

Not shown above are some of her early national hits ... "The Prince" bubbled under at #106 in Music Vendor and #108 in Billboard in April of 1962; "You Won't Forget Me" hit #104 in Cash Box and #141 in Music Vendor later that year.  Both of these releases were on the Liberty record label ... as were the next batch of minor chart hits that followed.

Then, in 1963, she finally cracked The Top 100 when "Faded Love" peaked at #97 in Billboard.  "Needles And Pins" would become her biggest hit to date when it reached #58 in Cash Box Magazine in May of that year (yet topped out at #84 in Billboard.)  "Little Yellow Roses" (#108, 1963); "When You Walk In The Room" (#81, 1964); "Oh Boy" (#112, 1964); "She Don't Understand Him Like I Do" (#142, 1964) and a reissue of "When You Walk In The Room" (#131, 1964) also predated her big break-through hit, "What The World Needs Now Is Love," which came hot on the heels of a switch to Imperial Records.

Call it a "worst kept secret," a "long-standing rumor" or a "Beatles factoid," but it would appear that Jackie hooked up in a major way with John Lennon during her US tour with The Beatles.  Incredibly, she still does a guest spot on the Sirius/XM Beatles Channel to this day, phoning in to Chris Carter's "Breakfast With The Beatles" morning show!  (kk)

THE JACKIE DeSHANNON HIT LIST is actually a pretty short list when one considers the incredible length of her career, paying her dues until she finally got noticed and earned her spot in The Top Ten.  Although only two of her records ever made it into The Top Ten, both were HUGE hits and reflective of the Sounds of the '60's.

1965- What The World Needs Now Is Love  (#7)
1968- The Weight  (#35 Cash Box / #55 Billboard)
1969- Put A Little Love In Your Heart  (#3 Record World / #4 Billboard)
1969 - Love Will Find A Way  (#30 Record World / #40 Billboard) 

April 4th, 1970

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1970:  April 4th– Diana Ross makes her first solo concert appearance in Framingham, Massachusetts

Also on this date, Janis Joplin reunites with Big Brother and the Holding Company for a concert in San Francisco.

BILL WITHERS

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Friday Morning:

Another death to report ...
I just read that Bill Withers has died.
Frank B.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8184937/Lean-On-Me-Lovely-Day-singer-Bill-Withers-dies-81.html?ito=social-facebook&fbclid=IwAR0efsFNgDi5zvBHdhXsNW9yBL8vid9kufzl83NNwjZV6PMc6L6nQU6W4sc&fbclid=IwAR1VK6-1g9yHb1wCBO2QOnGnYq-Q8-4doKbFoMHStYZcf7oIy5F1awuaFCI&fbclid=IwAR0cIMDKUtHZExN3ZnBHKBij_lU-UrxmcoWJsFePzLdONpYyzy-WP63TmD4&fbclid=IwAR1o5GwvSuJ2lsftiO5nu5f-gyIMAJQTmzWLoCr_nux_aXxFy4HBzS4WTAw&fbclid=IwAR2ZxOx8rGnFWN3hNKdGQDOmwgU4Kni7jW6Ji7aoceFa6okB2JR8Ob-H2EU&fbclid=IwAR2emZ7lsvkcJnZKz0zeqrjB-E2CoeSnTyelwLHM7GafmfRyfPxSbZerz1A     

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know ...  (kk) 


Every once in a while a new artist will come along that doesn't sound like anybody else who came before them ...

Someone who is distinctly their own creation.

Bill Withers was such an artist.

The very first time I EVER heard "Ain't No Sunshine" in The Summer of 1971, I was blown away ... what a unique sound ... essentially a stripped down record until the strings came in ... and then that CRAZY "I know, I know, I know" bridge that brought you back into the main crux of the song ... it was perfection ... and sounded as effortless as breathing.

Now Bill Withers would have other hits over the years ... eight Top 40 Hits in all ... but none of them ever again quite captured the innocence of this first record.

Don't get me wrong ... "Lean On Me" was a #1 smash ... and I loved it when it was out ... although this one hasn't aged as well for me.  Still, it preaches the gospel to millions of others who have adopted it as their own personal model of inspiration, especially in the most trying of times, such as those that we're all going through today.

I hated "Use Me" when it first came out.  Again, I was in the minority, as this record sailed all the way to #2, hot on the heels of "Lean On Me."  (In fact, my younger brother Mark played the heck out of this song ... ultimately causing me to hate it even more!)  But then, when I heard Hootie and the Blowfish perform it 20-something years later, I was blown away.  In the process, I rediscovered Bill's version and have loved it ever since.

There are a lot of fans out there who cite "Lovely Day" (#23, 1977) as their favorite ... it's another smooth-sounding hit that just flows seamlessly along ... and Bill's vocal on Grover Washington, Jr.'s track "Just The Two Of Us" was superb ... the perfect marriage of sound (even if Dr. Evil and Mini-Me's version stole some of its thunder two decades later.)

The documentary "Still Bill" may have exposed Withers' dealing with stuttering, but it also showed how his release through music helped him escape what others may have perceived as a handicap.  It also endeared him to many more fans who otherwise might not have discovered his rich music catalog.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame worthy???

No ... and I adamantly opposed his very nomination, much less his induction ... he just doesn't fit the model of what this foundation was built to recognize.

But an artist worthy of attention ... a deserving Grammy winner ... an artist who carved out his own place on the musical landscape ... yes, most definitely.  (kk)

THE BILL WITHERS HIT LIST:
1971 - Ain't No Sunshine (#3)
          Grandma's Hands  (#31)
1972 - Lean On Me  (#1)
          Use Me  (#2)
1973 - Let Us Love  (#39)
          Kissing My Love  (#26)
1977 - Lovely Day  (#23)
1981 - Just The Two Of Us  (#2) with Grover Washington, Jr.




The Sunday Comments ( 04 - 05 - 20 )

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LOTS OF ODDS AND ENDS:
We covered a LOT of ground in this week’s Thursday This And That Page …

Here are some of the comments it inspired …

Along with the usual bits of chiming in from throughout the week!

As predicted, Kenny Rogers music made a huge leap back onto the charts this week following his death …

So much so that the Top Two Digital Downloads of the week were “The Gambler” and “Islands In The Stream!”

But we also saw several other of Kenny’s hits charting again this week … a dozen in The Top 50 alone!

No. 1, "The Gambler" (21,000 new downloads, up 5,543% from the previous week)
No. 2, "Islands in the Stream," with Dolly Parton (15,000, up 4,723%)
No. 7, "Lady" (10,000, up 6,215%)
No. 9, "Through the Years" (9,000, up 5,282%)
No. 13, "We've Got Tonight," with Sheena Easton (7,000, up 7,230%)
No. 20, "Coward of the County" (6,000, up 4,517%)
No. 24, "She Believes in Me" (5,000, up 7,578%)
No. 26, "Lucille" (5,000, up 6,847%)
No. 28, "You Can't Make Old Friends," with Parton (5,000, up 24,021%)
No. 37, "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," with The First Edition (4,000, up 6,836%)
No. 40, "You Decorated My Life" (4,000, up 8,816%)
No. 50, "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer," with Kim Carnes (3,000, up 7,077%)

My last chat with Bill Withers was at a Whole Foods market in Sherman Oaks, Ca. We talked about his appearance on the UK TV programme "The Old Gray Whistle Test." He smiled, shook my hand and said, "My man James Gadson on drums!" 
And when we walked to the car, he added, "Look where we are now. Making up for all the grease that we ate." 
For the last 30 years I must have seen Bill once or twice a year locally. 
Jim Keltner told me he was at the recording session of "Ain't No Sunshine" and marveled at watching Al Jackson Jr. on the drums.
In 2009 I interviewed Bobby Womack about Bill for my "Turn Up The Radio!" book.  
He told me "I got to know Bill Withers. I loved him because he reminded me of a deacon right out of the church. “Grandma’s Hands” was done out here. His band had some guys from the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, including drummer James Gadson. They had “Express Yourself” and “Love Land.” That boy [Stephen] Stills is the lead guitarist on Bill’s “Ain’t No Sunshine,” which Booker T. [Jones] produced. I did The Midnight Special TV show with Bill and Buddy Miles. Bill was real clean-cut, and very serious. In the mid-seventies, we made a record together, a remake of “It’s All Over Now” that he sings on. I carry respect for him." 
Harvey Kubernik

Another nice tribute to Bill Withers can be found here:

Christopher Cross (who was SUPPOSED to be out on the road promoting the 40th Anniversary of his multi-Grammy winning first LP right now) has now been diagnosed with The CornaVirus, the very thing that disrupted his scheduled tour.  We wish him the best.  Despite all the devastation this thing has caused, we have also seen a remarkable number of recoveries.  Here’s hoping we can add Christopher’s name to THAT list.  (kk) 

Other City Winery artists added to the list of upcoming shows include Chris Hillman (of The Byrds), October 25th and Sophie B. Hawkins (October 13th) … plus they announced rescheduled dates for Sheila E (September 13th, two shows), Taj Mahal (September 28th, two shows) and Justin Hayward (November 1st and 2nd)  [Man, I sure hope things are back to normal by then, don't you?!?!?]  kk  

As for mixing John Landecker's wit and Bob Stroud's vocals to make "Wash Your Hands," what a brilliant idea.  Glad to hear Bob still has those great chops!!!
Clark Besch  

Kent,
Eileen mentioned that one of her favorite singers was Tom Rush.
In 1971 on Elektra Records, Tom Rush's version of the Bo Diddley song WHO DO YOU LOVE was a very big hit here in the OKC area. One thing about this record ... for general information, the flip was a song called SOMETHING IN THE WAY SHE MOVES. However, underneath the title of the song WHO DO YOU LOVE on the record, in parenthesis, it says that the writer is Gene McDaniels, he of TOWER OF STRENGTH. Now Bo Diddley wrote the song with Diddley's real name, which I believe was Ellas McDaniels. How Gene McDaniels’ name got on the record I have no idea. (Don't know if Bo knew this or not.)  Also, I believe that Tom Rush came out with this song initially in 1966, again on the same record label. Why it was released again in 1971, I don't know.
Larry Neal
I’m not sure how Gene McDaniels’ name got credited to “Who Do You Love” … it’s shown that way in Joel Whitburn’s book, too, but most likely because he took the information right from the record label.  Tom Rush’s version “bubbled under” in Billboard for five weeks in 1971, ultimately peaking at #105.  Although I did find a listing for Tom’s 1966 recording, it never made the charts.
In light of this unexpected sad news as to Tom’s condition, it was ESPECIALLY surprising to receive and email from Chicago’s City Winery announcing his upcoming performance there on November 19th!
Let’s just hope he is able to make a full and speedy recovery in order to make that gig!  (kk)  

I always did like Phil Phillips' song SEA OF LOVE and, of course, I didn't know of his passing until I read it in FH.  I also liked the Honey Drippers’ version. I believe that somewhere there Del Shannon recorded that song as well.
Kent, I have heard of the record label Khoury records. I am not sure, but I think it was one of the many small independent record labels back then. The song began getting a lot of air play and was picked up by Mercury for national distribution. I am not sure, but the group Cookie and the Cupcakes had a song MATILDA on that label before it was picked up for national distribution by Judd records.
Larry Neal
You are correct about the Cookie and the Cupcakes song “Matilda” first being released on the Khoury label in 1958. 
And here’s an interesting story regarding both of those topics, as well as the Phil Phillips #2 Hit “Sea Of Love” …
Phillips (real name John Phillip Baptiste) says he wrote the song in about twenty minutes.  When a gas meter reader heard him singing it, he said “That’s a wonderful song … you should do something about it.”
He told Phillips about a local record producer named George Khoury, who earlier that year had produced a hit record (“Matilda”) for Cookie and the Cupcakes and released it on his own Khoury Records label.  After listening to Phil’s tune, he agreed that this could be a hit … and agreed to record it. 
In fact, for the actual recording session, Khoury brought The Cupcakes in to sing background vocals on Phil’s recording of “Sea Of Love,” changed their name to The Twilights for the purpose of this record and the rest is One Hit Wonder History. 
(It was George Khoury who changed John Baptiste’s name to Phil Phillips for the purpose of a recording career.  Of course, Khoury then also added his name to the songwriting credit when he produced the Phil Phillips record … which is just the way things were done back then.)
I still can’t answer to Carolyn’s earlier question about Phillips recording the song “for a sweater” … but I don’t think there’s any truth to it.
Although Phil Phillips never had another hit record, the song became a #3 Hit for the Robert Plant / Jimmy Page / Jeff Beck / Nile Rodgers-led Honeydrippers in 1985.  And you are also correct that Del Shannon had a hit with this tune when his recording, produced by Tom Petty, went to #33 in 1982, making this one truly “timeless and memorable” tune!  (Don’tcha just love it when all this stuff ties together!!!)

And here's a fun fact ... 

When "Sea Of Love" peaked at #2, it leapt there from #22 the week before, the biggest single week move to the runner-up position in chart history at the time ... and a record it held for more than 35 years.  This is even more ironic when one considers that the week it hit #22, it had actually fallen DOWN the chart by seven places (from #15 the week before, its sixth chart week.)  MOST folks at the time probably figured that the record had run its course ... so when it took a 20-point jump the following week, it showed just how popular it really was.  
It held the #2 spot for two weeks, kept out of the top position by "The Three Bells" by The Browns.  (kk)

Kent,
That New Colony 6 story was great!  I HAD to make sure not "fake news" and I found that the proof is in the Charmin!

Hey, it's a GREAT song and I found it reaching #6.  (I'm surprised it wasn't #1 with that story!)  It also led to the great follow-up hit (and it SHOULDA been #1 everywhere -- three weeks at #1 on my personal charts) "Long Time To Be Alone," reaching #4 and "Someone Sometime" being Top 15 after. 
Check out this K-POI Chart from the first week of 1972 … talk about a Chicago top heavy list!  #1,2, 4, 5 (*arguably), 12, 13*!!!!
Clark Besch

I think the whole New Colony Six toilet paper / “Roll On” story is hysterical!  And, suddenly, so timely, too!  (I sent the scoop to about a dozen deejays on the list, several of whom played “Roll On” on the air after telling their listeners about this incredible turn of events.) 
Perhaps MOST surprising about it is that the guys themselves didn’t’ even know why this was such a big record in Hawaii … but it provided an opportunity for the band to fly out there in 1972 for several concerts.
During my month-long New Colony Six story several years ago, we talked briefly about all of this, but the radio station promotion tie-in was never even mentioned … I seriously don’t think they knew!!!  (Funnily enough, Ronnie Rice and I talked about the marketing appeal of using “Roll On” in a deodorant commercial fifteen years ago!  The subject of toilet paper never even came up, which tells me that the band was unaware of the KPOI promotion.  I’m telling you, NOW would be the time to make this move … as all of us from coast to coast are scrambling to find some!  A world without toilet paper is a nightmare NONE of us need right now, on top of everything else that is already going wrong with the world!)
Too bad all this additional Hawaiian airplay didn’t spark a better fate for this record nationally … and that’s a REAL shame, because this truly IS a great song.
And “Long Time To Be Alone” is even better … absolutely one of my all-time favorite New Colony Six songs EVER … this one should have been Top Five from coast to coast but petered out at #93.  (Locally, both songs only charted on WCFL … after naming them “Best Local Group” of 1969, WLS had apparently already given up on most of our local talent by 1972.  Here in Chicago, “Roll On” went to #10 while “Long Time To Be Alone” peaked at #13.)  kk

Since you showed the KPOI Chart with "Long Time To Be Alone" at #4, here's the chart with "Roll On" hitting that same peak position.

I guess if we're going to talk toilet paper, it's within our rights to offer you this two-ply bonus! ...

This just in from FH Reader Mike Wolstein ...


kk:
What a way to start my Friday!
Kubernik kudos to yourself and Ken Voss for this exceptional tribute to Jackie DeShannon.
10 years ago I devoted a chapter to Jackie in my book "Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon." 
In 2018, I touted her in the introduction to a book on The Band. 
There was a recent and terrific story/interview with Jackie done by Steven Gaydos at "Variety."
Best,
Harvey Kubernik    

In these difficult times, a little bit of hope and inspiration from Tommy James’ manager, Carol Ross …



>>>Me-TV-FM threw me for a loop this weekend with their A-Sides / B-Sides picks … some REALLY rare and unexpected stuff this time around … including the pairing of Neil Young’s “Heart Of Gold” / “Sugar Mountain” (live version), a track that never even charted. 
As to "Sugar Mountain," I find it to be the “MOST USED AS A B SIDE" song there ever was!  Not only was it the B side to "Heart of Gold," but also the B side of his FIRST Reprise solo 45 with Crazy Horse, a cover of "Oh, Lonesome Me."  It was the B side of the next Neil solo records: Cinnamon Girl, When You Dance, The Loner (his VERY first Reprise solo 45), and the 1976 "Lookin’ For a Love" 45.  It eventually made A side status in 1977 with the release of Neil's "Decade" greatest hits package.  That's SEVEN times on different 45s between 1969 and 1977!  As a Neil collector, I feel kinda ripped off!  ;)
Clark Besch

kk –
Scott Shannon announced Adam Schlesinger's death this morning … https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/01/adam-schlesinger-fountains-of-wayne-dead-coronavirus ... which led to him and Patty talking about fountains.  Scott said that he had a one bedroom apartment (when he was single) that had a fountain inside the apartment. He went on to say that he had a party and David Cassidy took a pee in his fountain.  Where else you going to get this inside information?  (I'm still trying to figure out why he invited David to his party!)
Scott also told us that WCBS-FM was the #1 station in New York City during the month of March. Maybe he should keep broadcasting his show from Florida.
FB

>>>Todd Rundgren Recruits Guest Artists for Democratic Campaign Anthem
Nice of him. Enough candidates / incumbents get in trouble 'cuz they think their use of songs isn't subject to licensing (it is).
Bob Frable

I'll just say that Todd has always been a hero of mine and he still is!!!  Go Todd!  Make us a "Magic Dragon Theater"!!!
Clark Besch  

Frank B. mentioned the Bob Dylan tune about the JFK assassination. This reminded me of a record that Connie Francis came out with almost immediately after his death with a song called IN THE SUMMER OF HIS YEARS.
Larry
Connie Francis’ record “In The Summer Of His Years” debuted on the charts almost exactly one month after the Kennedy assassination.  Although it never made The Top 40 in Billboard (it peaked at #46), it DID reach #31 in both Cash Box and Music Vendor in early 1964.  (Read Connie’s EXCELLENT autobiography and she’ll tell you who killed Kennedy.  And, with her family’s mob ties, she probably has a pretty good idea!  This is a GREAT book … and I cannot recommend it highly enough … but you’ll probably have to get somebody to help you carry it around with you!)  kk 

Hi Kent –
I received your This and That email today but my Virus Blocker says that there is a Virus in the email that they can't remove. I wanted to let you know so nobody gets caught with a Virus.
Your Website is Great.  I’ve been reading it for a very long time. Love your stories about Peter Noone I am one of his Noonatics.
Keep up the good (and sometimes hard work).
Hope you can get it before some else does.
Thank You
MaryAnn Maroulis
I’m not aware of ANY potential virus issues … non-Corona anyway … and have not heard anything from any other readers.  Ironically enough, I completely installed and upgraded my own virus computer software about ten days ago … so there should be absolutely NO issues on my end.  (Unless we hear something from other readers, you may want to check things out on your end, just to be sure.)  But if anybody out there DID get some type of virus warning, I'd sure like to know about it!  (kk)

Noollab Wooley actually had TWO ways it was printed on the label.  As pictured from my 45s in their Yellow Balloon booklet, here's one as most got it as well as a rarer one where they reversed the printing completely!!!!  WHICH is politically correct now?  (P.S.  Ya gotta look at this awhile before you realize it is different!) 
Clark Besch


If you happen to be an America fan (the band, not the country … although you really should be both!), then you’re gonna LOVE this brand new 8-CD Box Set that America Records will be putting out in June.  (This one’s really for the die-hards … I remember Gerry Beckley making a comment once when Warner Brothers put out the 30 Year Anniversary 3-CD Box Set “Highway,” calling it “The Highway Robbery Box Set,” charging long-time fans a ton of money to rebuy the material they had already bought over the previous thirty years!)  Well, it’s now been FIFTY years!!!  And while “Highway” boasted only nine previously unreleased tracks, this one offers nothing but … over SEVENTY previously unreleased tracks … plus a bonus DVD of “home movies” that the band collected over the years. Check this sucker out!

America To Release “Half Century” Box Set To Celebrate 50th Anniversary!
Rare archival studio & live recordings consisting of 
alternate mixes, demos and rehearsals

The year 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary of music legends America. America Records is proud to release in early June the ultimate 8-disc Anniversary Box Set “Half Century.” Produced for release and Compiled by Jeff Larson for America Archives, Containing CD's of rare archival studio recordings consisting of alternate mixes, demos and rehearsals, including several previously unreleased tracks ranging from 1970 - 2000. Along with the re-mastered Bremen 1973 in studio performance and two CD's of Radio Interviews providing an audio overview of the band's career, along with a DVD of Super 8 “Home Movies” (1972-1975) to give fans a behind the scenes look at the early years of this enduring band.

Founding members, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (along with former band mate Dan Peek) met in high school in London in the late 1960s and quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song “A Horse With No Name.” America became a global household name and paved the way with an impressive string of hits following the success of their first #1 single. Forty plus years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound.

From their formative years, America has been a band capable of transcending borders with its uplifting music and positive message. Embracing a rainbow of divergent cultures, America's audiences continue to grow, comprising a loyal legion of first, second and third generation fans, all bearing testament to the group's enduring appeal.

“I think that the ingredients of the America sound are the basic fundamentals that translate internationally,” explains Beckley. “The Italians are huge fans of dance music, but they also love a ballad - they're romantic at heart. It's the same in the Far East. A lot of times in these countries, we see people singing along, and they don't really know what the words mean. Music is truly the international language.”

Watch the promotional film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLgUvP6PjgM&t=1s



Disc 1: London Demos 1970: All Previously Unreleased
Early demos from the Fall of 1970 of the trio preceding their first Warner Bros self-titled album. This set represents the most complete set to date from this era recorded between several iconic London studios of the time.
1) Children (Dick James Session)
2) Riverside (Chalk Farm)
3) Rainy Day (Polydor Studios)
4) Here (Chalk Farm)
5) Satan (Polydor Studios)
6) Bummer (Chalk Farm)
7) Sea of Destiny (Chalk Farm)
8) How Long (Chalk Farm)
9) James Holladay (Dick James Session)
10) Children (Chalk Farm)


Disc 2: Bremen 1973 (Live on Air) – First Time Remastered Audio Release (Only previously available as a DVD)
An on-air live recording of the Trio from 1973, in-between the albums “Hat Trick” and “Holiday.”  This recording has been remastered for the first time and includes all the un-edited studio banter.
1) Ventura Highway (Live)
2) I Need You (Live)
3) Don't Cross The River (Live)
4) A Horse With No Name (Live)
5) Moon Song (Live)
6) Lonely People (Live)
7) Wind Wave (Live)
8) Rainbow Song (Live)
9) Tin Man (Live)
10) California Revisited (Live)
11) Green Monkey (Live)


Disc 3: The Caribou Sessions 1976 - All Previously Unreleased
Rehearsals, outtakes, and demos from February1976 for the album “Hideaway,” recorded at the famed Caribou Ranch Studios in the Rockies - Nederland, Colorado.  These recordings provide a “you are there” experience as these songs were being formed on their initial takes.
1 She's A Liar (Outtake / Alternate Mix)
2 Amber Cascades (Alternate Early Mix)
3 Today's The Day (Outtake / Walkthrough)
4 Lovely Night (Outtake / Take 1 Session
5 Hideaway PT 1 (Early Band Outtake)
6 Watership Down (Alternate Mix)
7 Letter (Alternate Mix)
8 Lovely Night (Buzz Studio Demo)
9 Jet Boy Blue (Outtake / Alternate Mix)
10 Who Loves You (Alternate Mix)
11 Caribou (Outtakes Montage)
12  I'm New In Town –(Buzz Studio Demo)


Disc 4: The Poison Oak Sessions 1981: All Previously Unreleased
In 1981, between the album “Alibi” (1980) and “View From The Ground” (1982), the band recorded several songs at Dewey's home studio, Poison Oak, in Northern California. This set contains early incarnations and alternate versions of songs released on later America albums as well as unheard songs that have been in the vault until now. 
1. Sailors and Seagulls (unheard song)
2. Look at Me Now (Early Version)
3. My Dear (Early Version)
4. Sometimes Lovers (Early Version)
5. All The People - Whole Wide World (Early Version)
6. Coming On  (unheard song)
7. Now I Want Your Love (unheard song)
8. Inspector Mills (Early Version)
9. China Sea  (unheard song)
Bonus Tracks:
10. Doesn't The Time (unheard song)
11. Someday Forever  (unheard song)





 








Disc 5: The Alternate 90's Plus: All Previously Unreleased
Alternate mixes from the albums “Hourglass” (1994) and “Human Nature” (1998) along with unreleased songs that came before, in-between and after these official releases.
1. Young Moon (mix without inst. intro)
2. Call of the Wild (Alternate Early Mix)
3. Sleeper Train (Alternate Early Mix)
4. Ports of Call ((Alternate Early Mix)
5. Mirror to Mirror (Alternate Early Mix)
6. Whole Wide World (Alternate Early Mix)
7. Hope (unheard song)
8. The Hills Are Green (unheard song)
9. Horse (Interlude)
10. From A Moving Train (Single Version - edited shorter intro)
11. Wheels Are Turning (unheard song)
12. Town and Country (unheard song)
13 Moment To Moment (Alternate Mix)        
14. Wednesday Morning (unheard song)
15. Oloololo (unheard song)
16. Overwhelming World (Alternate Mix)
17. Moment to Moment (Alternate Mix)
18. Hot Town (unheard song)
19. Pages (Alternate Early Mix)
20. If It Is The End (Previously Unreleased)
21. Remembering (New 2020)


Discs 6 & 7 America on the Radio - All Previously Unreleased
Various radio interviews stemming from 1974 - 2000's which provides a narrative and unique overview to their long career.
America Radio Interviews and Promo - The 70's
America Radio Interviews and Promo - The 80's
America Radio Interviews and Promo - The 90's - 2000's

EXCLUSIVE TO THE BOX SET!
 

Disc 8 – America - Home Movies (DVD)- All Previously Unreleased
“Home Movies” is all previously unreleased footage from the bands personal archive. A collection of very, “fly on the wall” footage, these films provide an amazing insight into the band, shot between 1972 and 1975, showing behind the scenes footage of, “Hat Trick at Home”, early attempts at making home making of music videos and various on the road activities. These films give the viewer an amazing view of historical events as they unfolded. To any America fan, the ultimate access all area’s time machine.
This DVD is EXCLUSIVE to this box set and will not be available beyond it.
Film 1) America Hat Trick at home 1: Rooftop Jam - Green Monkey - 1973 Kings Road, Los Angeles, CA
Film 2) America Hat Trick at home 2: Goodbye – 1973 Kings Road, Los Angeles, CA
Film 3) America Hat Trick at home 3: Sandman – 1973 Kings Road, Los Angeles, CA
Film 4) America Hat Trick at home 4: Hat Trick Rehearsal - 1973 Kings Road, Los Angeles, CA
Film 5) America: Bremen Behind The Scenes - 1973 (No Audio) Bremen, Germany
Film 6)  America: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 1 – 1973 Los Angeles, CA
Film 7) America: Air Studios - London Misc. Footage - 1974 London, England
Film 8)  America: Airplane High Jinx 1 - 1974 (No Audio) In the Air
Film 9) America: Airplane High Jinx 2 – 1975 In the Air
Film 10) America: Tour Plane Interview – 1975 On the Ground

For more information:https://www.musicglue.com/america

Speaking of new releases, we told you a couple weeks ago about a brand new Deep Purple album coming out in June …
But in light of all the recent and ongoing craziness, the band has decided to push this new release back to August.
Here comes the word, via Deep Purple’s very own Ian Gillan …
“For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction ... well, not exactly in this case; more cause and effect, where the latter is often greater than the former. Distribution lines (the physical sales of CDs, vinyl, cassettes (?) etc) and retail outlets are closed until The Dreaded Lurgy gets indigestion. Therefore, as there are still so many of us who love to hold a new record in our hands, and following advice from our magnificent label, we have decided to delay the release of Whoosh! until August. 
“During my quarantine I’m listening to a lot of music and guessing that it’s the same for many of us during this scary disruption to our lives.  We know, don’t we, that music will play a big part in our celebrations as we step back into the light. But, health comes first, so I must stuff my excitement about sharing Whoosh with you back into a box for a little while. Stay well and follow the light … ”
Look for “Whoosh!” to be released on August 7th.  In the meantime, you can still watch the first single “Throw My Bones” here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUW7PvvbbO4  (kk) 

ON THE RADIO:
>>>One radio station I’d recommend for readers to listen to online is z98fm.com. They primarily play music from the 80s, but two of my favorite shows that play older material air on Sundays.  From 2:00 - 5:00 PM Central, you can listen to The Doo-Wop Stop, a syndicated show hosted by Bob “Cool Bobby B” Backman. Following that, from 5:00 - 11:00 PM Central, is The Dusty Rhodes Show. His show features music from the 50s - 70s and is always a good listen. He’s been on the air since 1961, and sometimes will include vintage radio clips on his program. 
(Colin Donahue)
Colin, may I say that Dusty Rhodes has indeed been one of the longest tenured and great DJ voices of the past 60+ years in radio -- mostly in Cincinnati.  He was on the radio in Syracuse, NY, when Dick Clark was starting up there, I believe.  He has long been a great Cincy DJ and good friend of the Besch brothers for decades.  One of the best of the "Good Guys" of radio!
Clark Besch

This one’s fun …
Gary M.

Check out “All the Best Oldies” … I found it on Tunein. I assume it's available in other places as well. No DJ's unfortunately, but they do mix it up quite a bit. It's all 50's, 60's and 70's. They even play the Sinatra, Perry Como, etc. stuff from the 50's.
Not sure if I think it's as good as Rewound, but it's another place to try.
Bill

If you like Top 40 countdowns and/or late 50s music, I believe you will enjoy Patty Vacation's shows, based upon the Cash Box weekly record charts. 
I created "her" and there's a new show every day with the following week's countdown. 
The URL is always the same: https://jerseygirlssing.com/pvc.htm . 
Ronnie Allen

THIS AND THAT:
Hey dude,
I just wanted to let you know how much I really enjoy your blog.
Hope you’re doing well ... and when the Genesse finally opens up again, I hope to see you there.
Jeff

Hey Kent –
I haven’t checked in for a while.  Just wanted you to know that I follow Forgotten Hits all the time.  It is very comforting to read during this strange and troubling time.
Prayers for you and all your readers.  Stay safe and stay well.
Toad
Thanks for the kind words, Tom –
These are some tough times for sure.  Hope you’re all healthy and can stay that way!!!  Looking forward to many more Cornerstones shows.  (kk) 

THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME:
I appreciate you sending me your spread sheet of The Top 3333. Very much appreciated and liked.
Larry

Hello Kent,
As a long time music fan, radio fan, and chart watcher (since 1968), I would like to request a copy of your Top 3333. My 8 year old laptop really doesn't like downloading all the links that came with the original posts. I am glad that I have found a blog for people like me who can sit down and read a Joel Whitburn chart book like it's a top fiction page turner. I thought I was the only weird kid glued to the radio writing down the local Top 40 stations new countdown each week. I will certainly give credit and refer fellow fans to your Forgotten Hits blog, and salute all the hard work it took to compile the master chart. It will be for my own personal use in my collection. And I want to see if Skyscraper Commando by Elephants Memory shows up anywhere, lol. (Doubt if that would be in the Top 9999).
Thanks and stay healthy 
Ron Hayes
Sorry, no, you won’t find THAT one on the list!  lol (“Mongoose” may have been nominated … but if it was, it didn’t receive enough votes to make the cut either.)
There are SO many of us out there who grew up with our radios under our pillows at night when we were supposed to be sleeping … and putting together our own hit lists, performing our own countdown shows in our bedrooms!  You should feel right at home here!  (lol)  kk

On the topic of our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL-TIME List, I think most of you are misunderstanding my intentions regarding the sharing or distribution of this list.
I have received HUNDREDS of promises NOT to share the list with anyone … that the request for a copy is STRICTLY for their own personal use.
That defeats the whole concept of an effort such as this.
The list is MEANT to be shared … the only way other people unfamiliar with our site will learn about it is thru all of you spreading the word.
My point is that when you DO share it, please properly credit where it came from … so that other Classic Rock Music Fans around the globe will know where it came from … how accurate it is … so that they, too, can declare this to be the most definitive list of this nature ever to be compiled … and then have them agree to the concept of sharing it, too.
We want the whole world to be able to enjoy this countdown.  We want radio stations in every market in every city to discover its existence and share it with their listeners.
So please, DON’T lock this thing up where only YOU can see it … share it with the rest of the world and let them know what it took to compile a list as accurate as this.
‘Nuff said.  (kk)

April 6th, 1970

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As expected, "ABC" by The Jackson Five takes over the #1 spot on this week's WCFL Survey.

Surprisingly, there's only one new entry into this week's Top Ten as The Guess Who's "American Woman" / "No Sugar Tonight" climbs from #16 to #10.  The nine other Top Ten Hits were already there last week ... the order's just been shuffled up a little bit.

Neil Diamond's "Shilo" jumps from #21 to #12 and The Poppy Family seem to have a hit right out of the box with "Which Way You Goin', Billy," which climbs from #31 to #18.

"Hey Lawdy Mama" and "Little Green Bag" also make significant moves up the chart for Steppenwolf and The George Baker Selection ... climbing from #35 to #19 and #36 to #20 respectively. 

A remake of The Temptations' hit "Get Ready" is this week's Hit Bound peak by a new WHITE group signed to Motown Records, Rare Earth.

April 7th, 1970

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1970:  April 7th– The Milwaukee Brewers play their first game (as The Brewers) in Milwaukee’s County Stadium.  (The team had recently relocated from Seattle and, incredibly, had played thru spring training as The Seattle Pilots!)  When the decision came down that the move to Milwaukee had been approved, things were hastily put together so that the team was ready to appear before 37,237 opening day fans.  (Make that 37,237 very disappointed fans ... The Brewers lost to The California Angels by a score of 12-0!)  They would go on to lose 97 games that season.

The move was SO last minute that The Brewers didn't even have uniforms yet!  As such, they had to play in their Seattle Pilots uniforms until their new Brewers uniforms arrived!

Milwaukee had not hosted a Major League Team since The Milwaukee Braves relocated to Atlanta in 1965.  Meanwhile, as more of a marketing ploy to show that Milwaukee fans would still turn out to see a major league team if the city hosted one, The Chicago White Sox played nine games there in 1967 ... and eleven more in 1968 (which prompted rumors of a move to Milwaukee which, of course, never happened.)


Read more about it here:

The Buckinghams (aka The Falling Pebbles???)

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Here is another chapter from Ken Voss' new Illinois Rock And Roll Music Archives Series ... ongoing here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/870729336712789/

This time around ...

A look at The Falling Pebbles ...

One of the precursors to The Buckinghams!

Early Chicago promoter, producer, manager Carl Bonafede acknowledges he and his partner Dan Belloc were in the right place at the right time to watch the story of The Buckinghams unfold. 

In the early history of the band, for a fleeting moment they were known as The Falling Pebbles. In Bonafede’s autobiography The Screaming Wildman, he says, “I guess its pseudo name was supposed to be a ‘take off’ of the Rolling Stones.” He goes on, “I have to give a lot of credit to Jon Poulos (the band’s drummer) for the idea. This got a lot of exposure for the group by getting even more of the alliances it took to get a single record to the marketplace.” 

Under that moniker, they released one single, a version of “Laudy Miss Claudy” (Alley Cat A-201), a version of which would ultimately be included on their debut "Kind Of A Drag" album. The flip side was unusual for the group, as one of their primary strengths was their vocals from Carl Giammarese and Dennis Tufano ... this being an instrumental track, “Virginia Wolf." 

The Falling Pebbles 

This was an early Buckinghams' instrumental track, previously issued on their very first album by the group on their "Kind of a Drag" album.

Carl Bonafede, their first personal manager and deejay at the hotspot Holiday Ballroom in Chicago, decided the young Buckinghams should issue "Laudy Miss Claudy" and the flip side "Virginia Wolf" under an assumed moniker ... thus "The Falling Pebbles" (kinda like The Rolling Stones, say what???) – Laudy Miss Claudy b/w Virginia Wolf (Alley Cat A-201) 1964 -featuring Carl Giammarese, Dennis Miccolis, Jon Jon Poulos, Dennis Tufano and Nick Fortuna.
The Buckinghams got all kinds of airplay in Chicago and the strategy worked when the group was lauded by Cashbox magazine as "the most listened to band in America" in 1967.






The Buckinghams enjoyed a bit of success locally BEFORE hitting the national spotlight.

The group evolved from a couple of local bands ...besides recording as The Falling Pebbles, the guys enjoyed some local success as both The Pulsations and The Centuries, who also released a single on the Spectra Sound record label, "It's All Right" / "I Love You No More."  Prior to The Buckinghams' official "Kind Of A Drag" album release, Spectra Sound also released a version of "Sweets For My Sweet" b/w "Beginner's Love" on Spectra Sound 4618. 

The Pulsations consisted of two lead singers, George LeGross and Dennis Tufano, who were backed by Curtis Bachman on bass guitar, Jon Jon Poulus on drums, Carl Giammarese on lead guitar, Nick Fortuna on rhythm guitar and Dennis Miccolis on organ.  These guys honed their skills playing rock and roll, soul, blues and R&B in other outfits like The Darcels and Tuffy and the Redbirds.

This was the line-up that was signed by WGN Television and slated to perform on their "All Time Hit Show," performing the latest hits of the day to a live teenage audience. 

However, WGN wasn't thrilled with the name "The Pulsations" ... so, at the suggestion of WGN Security Guard John Opager, they changed their name to "The Buckinghams" ... especially timely and iconic in light of both Chicago's Buckingham Fountain ... and the onslaught of British Invasion groups hitting the music charts here at home.  A subliminal reference to Buckingham Palace may have also had something to do with this!  (There is no question that their British-sounding name helped the band early on in their career ... and they certainly looked the part ... but even after three or four substantial national hits, the set was decked out with Union Jack Flags when the band appeared on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in late 1967.  They apparently had absolutely NO idea that the band hailed from CHICAGO ... and not Great Britain!!!)   

In hindsight, this video clip shows a group of VERY young, somewhat unpolished Italian Greasers, who were thrust into the spotlight on a syndicated teen-based music program that allowed them entertain a group of kids craving the latest hits, performed by a live group ... and, in the process of playing those hits, they were also able to polish those skills to become a MAJOR recording act just 18 months later.



Before recording their first album, LeGros was drafted, leaving Dennis Tufano to handle the lead vocals, and Bachman became disenchanted, forcing the move of Nick Fortuna to bass.  Miccolis would be replaced by the incredible Marty Grebb in 1967, who played on some of the band's biggest hits ... and even traded off lead vocals with Tufano on "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, a #5 smash in 1967.



The Buckinghams enjoyed SIX Top 40 Hits in 1967, prompting Cash Box Magazine to declare them "The Most Listened To Band In America" that year.  (kk)

THE BUCKINGHAMS HIT LIST:
1966 - I'll Go Crazy  (National Peak = 112 / Chicago Peak = 19)
          I Call Your Name (Nat = 102 / Chi = 14)
          I've Been Wrong  (Nat = 129 / Chi = 13)
1967 - Kind Of A Drag  (Nat = #1 / Chi = 2) 
          Laudy Miss Claudy  (Nat = 36 / Chi = 24)
          [also shown as Lawdy Miss Clawdy - some copies also show "I Call Your Name" on the B-Side]
          Don't You Care  (Nat = 5 / Chi = #1)
          Mercy, Mercy, Mercy  (Nat = 5 / Chi = 4)
          Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song  (Nat = 5 / Chi = 5)
1968 - Susan  (Nat = 6 / Chi = 5 )
          Back In Love Again (Nat = 45 / Chi = 21)


We've done COUNTLESS pieces on The Buckinghams over the past twenty years.  Just type their name into the search engine at the top of this page and you'll find a ton of them.

When I did this, this page immediately gave me a wide variety of topics covered ... scroll back to read "Older Posts" at the bottom of the page for even more information, including comments from several of the original members over the years.  Enjoy!
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/search?q=the+buckinghams

Here is the way Dennis Tufano explained the evolution of the band to our Forgotten Hits Readers back in 2011:  

The Buckinghams - The Beginning (1965-1970)  “Debunking the Myths”

In the beginning, drummer John Poulos personally recruited the band members ... first myself and George LeGros, to be the singers in his new band, The Pulsations. John and I then added Carl Giammarese and Curtis Bachman from the band The Centuries, with whom Nick Fortuna played rhythm guitar. 
“All Time Hits,” the WGN TV show, spawned the newly named band, “The Buckinghams.” 
Members at that time were: John Poulos - drums, Curtis Bachman - bass, Carl Giammarese - guitar, Dennis Micolis - keyboards, Dennis Tufano - vocals, and George LeGros - vocals. 
George LeGros was drafted into military service and had to leave the band. This left me, Dennis Tufano, to step into “lead vocals.”
Later ... after the "All Time Hits" Show, Nick became a “Buckingham” as bass guitarist on the "Kind Of A Drag" album.  After the release of "Kind Of A Drag,"  John Poulos and myself enlisted Marty Grebb from The Exceptions, whose bass guitarist was Peter Cetera, soon to be a member of the group CTA / CHICAGO. 
Now The Buckinghams were: John Poulos - Drums, Nick Fortuna - Bass, Carl Giammarese - guitar, Marty Grebb - guitar / keyboards / sax, Dennis Tufano - lead vocals / harmonica. 
The Buckinghams officially disbanded in 1970 just after Marty Grebb left to play with Leon Russell. Carl and I recorded three albums with Lou Adler’s Ode Records from 1972 - 1976 as Tufano & Giammarese and The Tufano & Giammarese Band. 
In 1980, just after the passing of John Poulos, WLS Radio asked us to have a reunion for Chicagofest and we played a number of  “reunion” shows for the next year. To answer the pressing question, “Why did Dennis leave the band?” – I never “left” the band ... the band was officially dissolved in 1970 and we only got back together in 1980 for the Chicagofest Reunion shows and not as a permanent re-packaging of the original band! 
Due to the amazing response at these concerts, Carl and Nick felt that we could put the band back together and be The Buckinghams again. I was already working as a solo act both in music and acting and living in Los Angeles, so I wasn’t available at this time. Respectfully declining to reunite, I gave them my blessing to go forward and be the band. Even though we all shared trademark ownership of the name, and due to the fact that I didn’t choose to use the name, "The Buckinghams,” Carl and Nick by “using” the name have legal ownership of the name and I admire the great work they’ve done through the years.
Today, we all do our own thing and continue to perform ... Carl and Nick as “The Buckinghams” and myself as “Dennis Tufano, the original voice of The Buckinghams.”
-- Dennis Tufano (2011)
And the great music lives on and on.  (kk)

THURSDAY THIS AND THAT

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Marianne Faithfull (probably most famous first as Mick Jagger’s girlfriend … who recorded “As Tears Go By” a year before The Rolling Stones did … before becoming a bit of a pop icon on her own) has been hospitalized with CoronaVirus.  We wish her the best and a speedy recovery.  (kk)

kk:
Mark Lindsay is a good guy … see if you don't agree with me.
FB
Fortunately, with SO many people out there trying to take advantage of our current situation, it’s nice to see that there are even MORE people willing to pitch in and help in some fashion.  I would agree that Mark is one of the good ones.  (kk)

Ya know I loved Bill Withers’ voice, but sometimes the songs bored me. (Sorry Bill!)
I thought Lovely Day and Ain't No Sunshine were kind of boring songs even though I loved Bill's voice on Ain't No Sunshine … the whole "I know, I know" stuff just seemed to have no purpose.
Lean On Me was a fine tune, but Use Me was always my favorite by far of his tunes.
RIP to a great voice.
Bill in MN  

John Prine lost his battle with Covid 19 on Tuesday Night (April 7th) … VERY sad for all his local fans.  The numbers just keep growing … this is NOT under control … things are NOT getting better. 
As I type this, Illinois has passed 15,000 confirmed cases with nearly 500 deaths.  Nationally, we’ve hit 435,000 cases and almost 15,000 deaths … and globally we’re now up to over a million and a half confirmed cases and almost 90,000 deaths.  It's out of control!!!  (kk) 

We were saddened to learn of John Prine’s passing, the loss of a true American treasure. He was admired both for his art and for his sheer humanity.  He had a nobility that radiated liked a million watt radio station just across the border.
We last crossed paths at the Memphis Music Hall of Fame ceremony, where he inducted Cowboy Jack Clement and we got to do the honors for Roy Orbison.  We greeted each other warmly and I vividly recall passing a most pleasant time with the genuine article.  Never to be forgotten.  

- Billy F Gibbons / ZZ Top

Another nice tribute to John Prine … and Adam Schlesinger …

https://theseconddisc.com/2020/04/08/from-the-founder-hello-from-inside/ 

The other day, Carol Ross, long-time manager of Tommy James, shared Tommy’s inspirational lyrics to “Crystal Blue Persuasion” as a means of helping all of us to cope with the pandemic that surrounds us.

Perhaps as a means to honor our own “self-confinement” … but also giving a bit of a nod to Tommy James … is this new video released by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day … seen here performing Tommy’s “I Think We’re Alone Now”!!!


This song has already charted for Tommy in 1967 (#4), The Rubinoos (#45, 1977), Tiffany (#1, 1987) and is now sitting at #28 on Billboard’s Adult Pop Songs Chart and #50 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs Chart for Billie Joe Armstrong … some 53 years later!!!  In these days of “social distancing,” being “alone now” has become more and more commonplace.  Hopefully this one offers you at least a couple of minutes of relief!

(Timeless and memorable?!?!?  You betcha!!!)  
Seriously now ... all kidding aside ... I'm talking "For Real" ...
HOW the fuck is it even REMOTELY possible that Tommy James has NOT been inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?!?!  There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with the world that this should be the case.  (Now maybe it's not CoronaVirus-serious ... but why not take this moment to reflect ... and FINALLY right this wrongly imposed injustice of ignoring Tommy for his past THIRTY YEARS of eligibility!!!) kk 

UPDATE:  Right after I prepped today’s post, I got this from Tommy’s manager, Carol Ross.  (Be sure to check out the special notice at the bottom of the piece.)  kk

Some songs are so iconic that they return decade after decade as new generations discover them. A case in point: "I Think We're Alone Now."
The original artist ...Tommy James ... laid down his lead vocal for "I Think We're Alone Now" on Christmas Eve, 1966. In April, it reached #3 on Cash Box Magazine's national pop chart.
Then ... 20 years later ... 16 year old pop singer Tiffany rode her rendition all the way to #1. (Coincidentally, her "Alone Now" was replaced at the top of the chart by Billy Idol's cover of another Tommy James & The Shondells original: "Mony Mony.")
In the ensuing years, dozens of artists paid tribute to James' classic single, recording and performing "I Think We're Alone Now."
Which brings us to now … and 53 years to the month since Tommy's version was one of the hottest records in America ... a brand new, exciting take on this timeless song by Billie Joe Armstrong of the platinum-selling band Green Day.
Released while the world is in the grip of a pandemic, Armstrong sees the song as a perfect antidote to these hard times. "While we’ve all been in quarantine, I’ve been reflecting on the things that matter the most in my life: family, friends and, of course, music," the singer says. "I recorded a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells’ ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ in my bedroom. I figure if we have to spend this time in isolation, at least we can be alone together."
Tommy couldn't agree more. He, too, has re-recorded "I Think We're Alone Now" ... this time as a poignant ballad ... which reminds us just how much music can soothe a troubled soul.

Tommy’s new ballad recording will be played over the closing credits of his movie, “Me, The Mob and The Music.”  He’s been performing both the new, slowed-down version as well as the hit pop version at his live concerts for a couple of years now.  And, tomorrow afternoon (Friday, April 10th) at 2 PM Eastern Time, Tommy will be performing the song LIVE on his Facebook Page … so be sure to check it out!  (kk)

Thanks for this news, Carol and Kent. 
A few years ago, Tommy was good enough to help with a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of this song for Mix Magazine, which you might enjoy:

Can’t wait to see him on Friday!
Matt Hurwitz
Contributing Editor
Mix Magazine
This is a great piece, Matt … thanks for sharing it with our readers!  (kk) 

OK ... so how cool is this?!?!? 

Tomorrow Night (Friday, April 10th) at 8 pm, The Drive is organizing a city-wide sing along to Survivor’s "Eye Of The Tiger!"

Even 'tho we can't all gather together to belt it out, Chicagoans are encouraged to roll down their car windows, open their windows at home, take to their balconies or simply step out in the street and belt it out with the rest of us!  (kk)

Here's their official promo:

We’ve sung “We Will Rock You” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Now, it’s time for … “Eye Of The Tiger!”
This Friday, April 10th at 8pm, we invite you, your families, your friends and your neighbors to throw open your windows, step out onto your porches and balconies (with appropriate social distancing), turn up the radio – and raise your voices loud as all of Chicagoland joins together to belt out the triumphant Survivor classic “Eye Of The Tiger.” Let’s once again unite to show the world we’re “Chicago Strong!”
Set a reminder in your phone now and grab a flashlight or other source of brightness because this Friday night we’ll illuminate Chicago’s skies while we sing it out loud.
Turn on The Drive LIVE at 8pm this Friday evening for a huge community rendition of “Eye Of The Tiger!”
We’re with you Chicago and together we’ll get through this! 

From Jim Peterik himself ... 

Hi Kent, Forgotten Hits and Chicagoland!
I’m so honored that Eye Of The Tiger has joined the ranks of one of the most motivational songs of our age. And it’s fantastic that the Drive is deploying it when our city (and the whole world) needs it the most. Thanks to my old pal Bob Stroud for connecting me!
Tune into the Drive at 8pm on Friday to sing along with this Survivor classic. 
From your balcony, from your porch, from your window - let the neighborhood know that you have the spirit to Rise Up to challenge of our Rival.  That rival is, of course, Covid 19. It won’t stand a chance against us. 
Rock steady!  
Jim Peterik 

And check THIS out!!!



By the way, Jim will be on The Drive THIS MORNING at 6:30 am with Sherman and Tingle ... and FH Reader Frank B tells us that he also appeared on Scott Shannon's show Wednesday morning.  (More Ides Of March related material below!)  kk

Scott is a classic. Love that guy!  

Meanwhile, our buddies over at Me-TV-FM have got a similar thing going on for Saturday Night at 7 pm …

They’re inviting listeners to sing along from their porches, balconies and backyards to “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers, who died last week at 81.

Me-TV-FM Program Director Rick O’Dell tells us:

Among the memorable classics we play, ‘Lean On Me’ is a perfect song to lift our spirits and remind us that we are all in this together.  We look forward to playing more songs that reflect our neighborhoods in the Saturday singalongs ahead.

(The citywide initiative was organized by Andre Vasquez, alderman of Chicago’s 40th ward.) 

And have you seen this???
https://eonline.com/news/1138725/see-the-full-house-cast-reunite-in-must-see-social-distancing-parody-video

 
And, speaking of The Ides Of March ...   

50 years ago this month, The Ides of March single "Vehicle" was #1 on the WLS charts.


Here's an ITS video that captures the Ides doing "Vehicle," originally broadcast in 1970.
Ken Voss
VERY nice!  And congratulations again to all the guys on this 50th Anniversary.
(It went to #1 on WLS on their April 27th chart … crosstown on WCFL, the record peaked at #3 … and nationally it made #2 in Billboard, #3 in Record World (for three weeks!) and #6 in Cash Box.)  kk



Check it out ...
The Ides were big in Tucson 50 years ago.
Jack Levin

And herein lies another example as to why so many songs never reached their full potential on the national charts … simply because of the length of time it took to catch on in each individual market.
“Vehicle” topped the charts here in Chicago SIX WEEKS earlier than it did here on May 1st in Tucson … but what a leap to #1 … from #14 the week before.  (Tyrone Davis makes a pretty impressive showing, too, as “Turn Back The Hands Of Time” climbs from #11 to #2.  Neil Diamond’s “Soolaimon” bests both of these showings, however, leaping 14 places from #36 to #22.
“Vehicle” was #1 in SO many markets across the country … but never OFFICIALLY hit #1 on any of the national charts … all due to momentum.  (Still pretty cool to see The Boys From Berwyn” on top in Tucson, Arizona … just one year after Jo Jo left his home there!  (kk)  

And, since we’re talking about really cool videos, here’s an absolutely beautiful reading of a stripped down version of “Undun” performed by Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman on a Canadian television special, circa 1977.  Incredible!




After our Buckinghams piece ran yesterday, we got this from Carl Giammarese …   

Kent,
Thank you!  This was great fun to see and reminisce. When we did “All Time Hits," I laughed at how high my pants were off my shoes … I think I was waiting for a flood, ha! Also what hair … it made me at least three inches taller!  We were still greasers.  
It was also my first duet with Dennis as we sang at the end of Unchained Melody, the one and only last line “Wait for me.” That was the beginning of Tufano and Giammarese, ha ha!
And how ‘bout those Go Go dancers!
Anyway, those were great times.
Once again, thank you, great fun!
Carl
The Buckinghams 

Great to see Ken Voss doing Chicago music great justice.  Since I am not on Facebook, it's good to see I can access his stuff there anyway. 
Thanks, Ken.
Clark Besch 

Here’s a great, brand new interview with Micky Dolenz, talking about the CoronaVirus and how it has sidelined the Mike And Micky Show that’s supposed to be back out on the road right now.
I was shocked to hear The Monkees’ tune “As We Go Along” featured in this week’s episode of “Good Girls.”  Again, you’ve REALLY got to wonder who came up with THAT programming idea.  It’s not that the song doesn’t work perfectly in the scene it’s in … it does … but who from THIS generation even knows it?!?!  Still, it sure sounded great … and I couldn’t help but generate an ear to ear smile listening to the whole thing play.  (There’s a new commercial out now, too, featuring The Zombies’ hit “Time Of The Season” … but that’s a long-time Classic Rock Favorite.)

And don’t forget the brand new Mike And Micky Show live CD is out this week, too.  You can pick up your copy here:  https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Micky-Show-Live/dp/B0849Y7Y2J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ARAAWVQVLKL8&dchild=1&keywords=mike+and+micky+show+live+cd&qid=1586403649&s=music&sprefix=mike+and+m%2Caps%2C171&sr=1-1  

HEY! 
What else are we doing, shut in …
On Friday, April 17th at 8 pm Eastern Time I’ll be hosting a fun, free webinar …
HIGH IN THE MID 60s …
An overview of my memoir, plus interactive Q&A ...
60s garage music, songs, the biz ... keeping the music alive.
Simply CLICK on the LINK below to register … and join in!
Love to meet up with you  in the chat room.

>>>And, if you haven't ordered your personal copy of THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME yet, why not do it now??? (kk) 
Well, having retired, what better time to sort WLS surveys and get my two boxes of charts in chronological order? 
My birthday is April 4 (64 years!) and I noticed that on that date on WLS in 1976, Kent Kotal's Classic 3333 Countdown's All-Time #1, "Bohemian Rhapsody" was #1!*  (*-Check out the CURRENT new WGN morning man on upper left! )


I already knew that the Beatles held the Top 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 on April 4, 1964, so this was icing on the cake! 
As to the Queen classic, Chicago was ahead of the curve nationally on this one.  It peaked at a measly #9 a MONTH after being #1 at WLS. 
What kept it out of the higher 8 positions?  If you want to be sick ...


Back at the ROCK OF CHICAGO, "Bohemian Rhapsody" stayed at #1 a whopping five straight weeks, followed by two weeks at #2!  It was an out and out Chicago smash! 
Queen may have been arguably the best band of the 70's.  The song had spent nine weeks at #1 in the UK back starting in January.  It spent another five weeks at #1 there following Freddie Mercury's death in 1991.
The single was released in the US way back on Halloween of 1975!  It did not reach the WLS survey until February, 1976, but it took off for the top fast.  It actually first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 the first week of JANUARY!  It moved that slowly to #9 17 weeks later!
The promotional video for the song was the MOST awesome thing I had ever seen in 1976!  Can you imagine if it was five years later when MTV was blowing up?  They would have played it every hour -- at least!


Of course, the song DID make it to #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 on May 9,1992 -- almost 16 YEARS to the week after its #9 1976 peak.  The MAIN reason?  It was featured in the hit movie, "Dumb & Dumber."  Also, possibly in part due to Freddie's death on November 24 the previous year.


From what I could tell, NEITHER of the #1 songs on the 1976 and 1992 Hot 100's that were peak weeks for "Bohemian Rhapsody " made Kent's Top 3333! (BTW, in Billboard's Year End review charts, it was #18 for the year in 1976 and #39 for the year in 1992.  "Jump" (whatever that is) was #3 for the year!  "Let Your Love Flow" was only #36 for the year in 1976!)
I still had to wonder if "Bohemian Rhapsody” really had the staying power we may think today that it had.  Has it ALWAYSREALLY been the classic we knew in 1976 when it was WLS' #6 song of the year?
Sadly, apparently not.  WLS featured their Top 500 All Time Songs over two months in the summer of 1981.  Queen had two songs in that countdown, but NEITHER were "Bohemian Rhapsody"!!!  Styx and REO were dominant, of course. 
Was "Bohemian Rhapsody" relegated to "novelty" status in Chicago after five years?  Could be!  Chicago and WLS always loved novelties.  "The Touchables" in the 60's, "Convoy,""Mr. Jaws,""Disco Duck" in the 70's, "The Curly Shuffle,""Superbowl Shuffle" in the 80's -- ALL #1's on WLS.


From 1983 - 1985, I chatted monthly with WLS Music Director Tim Kelly and I am sure we never mentioned that great Queen song.  Why would we?  They were making hits constantly.
At the end of WLS AM's reign as the ROCK OF CHICAGO, they ran another Top 500 chart.  This time, Queen had ONE song and it was NOT "Bohemian Rhapsody."  Note how many of Kent's current list show on these charts, but NOT "Bohemian Rhapsody".


Has "Bohemian Rhapsody" become the "Unchained Melody" from "Ghost" in 1990 of today?  That movie created a huge storm making the song #1 on All-Time charts for years. I think "Bohemian Rhapsody" has just gathered momentum steadily since 1992 and with the release of the recent "Bohemian Rhapsody" movie, it put the song on top of all-time charts where it is likely to stay for the foreseeable future ... maybe?
And lastly, believe it or not, "Bohemian Rhapsody's" piano parts were recorded and played on the very piano Paul McCartney recorded "Hey Jude" on eight years prior!
Clark Besch
I can assure you that “Bohemian Rhapsody” is and has always been a MONSTER song here in Chicago … on the airwaves CONSTANTLY for 44 years now … and as highly revered as a song can be.
And you’re right … Chicago was WAY ahead of the curve on this one, having already seen it hold down the #1 spot for weeks before even making The Top Ten in Billboard.  (Its #9 showing in Billboard was its lowest peak nationally … Record World had it at #4 and Cash Box … where it charted first … ranked it at #6.)  The fact that it WASN’T #1 the first time around blows me away only because it was SO big here in Chicago.  (Of course if it HAD made it all the way to the top, Chubby Checker would no longer be the only artist to reach #1 twice with the same song … but imagine doing that SIXTEEN YEARS APART!!!)
And it wasn’t “Dumb and Dumber” that put it back on the charts … it was “Wayne’s World,” which provided one of the most classic music scenes EVER as Wayne and Garth “head-bopped” their way thru this rock classic.  (As for “Jump” … “whatever THAT is” … it was a HUGE #1 Hit for Van Halen … and one of those classic M-TV videos that played non-stop back in the day.  Surely you know this one … it also ranked at #129 on our Top 3333 List, their highest charting track.
I like your comment about the novelty songs being so big in Chicago … it’s true … off the top of my head, you can add “King Tut” and “Earache, My Eye” to that list!
I have NO idea why “Bohemian Rhapsody,” big as it was, didn’t show up on WLS’ All-Time Hits Lists … it was HUGE.  (Their All-Time Top 500 List had to be another one of those based on the opinion of certain folks working for the station … as it certainly didn’t reflect their own charts or airplay history.  Even their “Hall Of Fame” chart is ridiculously bogus … FOUR REO Speedwagon songs in The Top 50?!?!  C’mon!!!)
That’s the first I’ve ever heard about Freddie playing the same piano that McCartney played on “Hey Jude” … if it’s true, that’s an AMAZING piece of trivia (and EMI should NEVER get rid of this magical piano … it belongs in a museum somewhere!)  kk

JA Bartlett posted his thoughts about our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME List … and you can find it here:
Thank you, sir!
Having recently run a piece like this and taken in the feedback from your own legion of readers, I am sure that you will agree that ANY list like this will inspire debate and a bit of head-scratching ...
That's part of the fun of reading them.
I get annoyed when some of these rock critics pick their Top 100 / 200 / 500 / whatever and feel a need to throw in a handful of acts that NOBODY has ever even heard of ... just to prove that they're hipper than their audience is when, in fact, NONE of these songs or artists will make an impact to last long enough to be played, much less remembered, 20 / 25 / 50 years from now.  (I don't know if you've read any of our other posts but thanks to the way Billboard now tabulates their Hot 100, Drake is now a bigger artist than Elvis or The Beatles ... and so is The Cast Of Glee!!!  Who knew?!?!  It’s certainly not the way I think things should be remembered!!!)
If, after running this post you get some feedback from your readers, please share it with us.  Nobody is EVER going to play The Top 3333 (although in the times we're currently living, what a GREAT distraction that would be!!!  And with so many people forced to stay home right now, one might actually even have the time to put such a program together!)  However, I DO expect to see more Top 50 / Top 100 / Top 500 / Top 1000 countdowns based on these results as things move forward.
Until somebody else comes up with a list determined by TWO million votes, I'm content to live with the results of my little poll as being the most accurate representation as to the way things currently stand!  (lol)
Thanks again, JA!  (kk)

Thank you for sending the 3333 Top Songs file.
When it arrived, this is what transpired:
Computer: What is this?  It is making me buffer. It’s BIG! This isn’t like you.
Me: It’s a list of 3333 songs voted best rock songs from Forgotten Hits.
Computer: They couldn’t have forgotten a few? I’m still buffering.
Me: I want you to save it.
Computer: I’M STILL BUFFERING!
Me: Never mind. I’ll come back later.
LATER
Computer: Oh HI! You want me to save this? OK! DONE! You want me to save it again? You want me to replace the first save with the second?
(actually received pop-up messages asking me these questions)
Me: Just once, please. Once is enough.
Computer: OK then I’m done. It’s in your files under 3333 top rock songs of all time. Want to read it now?
Me: No thanks. I’ll be using it later.
Computer: I’m GOOD!
Me: You drive me crazy ….
Computer: (very quietly) I know.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano

As to Larry Neal's query as to the 45 version of "Who Do You Love" by Tom Rush being crediting GENE McDaniels as the writer -- that's amazing, considering a label like Elektra put that single out in ‘71 like that!  MOST if not ALL other artists' versions credited either "McDaniels" or "E. McDaniels."
As to the reissue in 1971, it made sense because so many had released it as an A side 45 in the years since the 66 release -- Blues Magoos, Bob Seger and the one I think of from that time, Quicksilver Messenger Service.  Certainly, George Thorogood did a great rendition … with my fave version being the great Woolies 1966 rockin' version.
Clark Besch  

That America box is just plain amazing!  Must cost $1000!!!
Clark Besch
Well, like I said, it’s really for the die-hards … but I think, in light of how big it is and by how much it offers, it’s a pretty reasonably priced set … $160 will get you the 8-disc set.  (kk)

I enjoyed your take on the passing of Leon Russell that I just discovered.
Thanks so much and keep up the great work. 👍

John L. Tarver
New folks are discovering our stuff all the time …
Because if you search for virtually ANYTHING related to Oldies Music, our site will probably come up … because over the past twenty years, we’ve pretty much covered it all.
If you missed the Leon Russell tribute obit, you can check it out here:
(A tip of the hat to Steve Sarley, who wrote this piece)
But seriously … do you OWN search (right up there in the very top left-hand corner of the page) … I guarantee you that you’ll find HOURS of worthwhile reading you may have missed along the way!  (kk) 

Jackie DeShannon's amazing interpretation of Bacharach-David's "What the World Needs Now is Love" in 1965 garnered many Grammy Nominations, despite not winning any category below.  Here's Jackie presenting an award at the 1966 show.


The 8th Grammy Award ceremony was held on March 15th,1966, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
The Academy awarded the artists for their outstanding performance for the year 1965. Roger Miller, Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand were the primarily nominated artists for the year. Frank Sinatra and Roger Miller were the artists who took home the highest number of Grammy awards for the year. Frank Sinatra was also honored with the most prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award.” 
A series of taped annual specials was telecasted by NBC.  (Throughout 1960s, the Grammy Award ceremony was not telecasted in live.)
Given below is the list of the nominees and winners, who were presented with the awards for the year 1966. 

Grammy Award Winners 1966

Best Arrangement Accompanying A Vocalist Or Instrumentalist
The nominees were:
  • Frank Sinatra - It Was A Very Good Year
  • Astrud Gilberto - Day by Day
  • Vikki Carr - Everything I've Got
  • Kenny Burrell - Greensleeves
  • Jackie DeShannon - What The World Needs Now Is Love
  • Beatles - Yesterday
Winner: Frank Sinatra - It Was A Very Good Year

Contemporary Rock & Roll Female Vocal Performance
The nominees were:
  • Petula Clark - I Know A Place
  • Barbara Lewis - Baby, I'm Yours
  • Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
  • Lesley Gore - Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows
  • Jackie DeShannon - What The World Needs Now Is Love
Winner: Petula Clark - I Know A Place

Contemporary Rock & Roll Single
The nominees were:
  • Roger Miller - King Of The Road
  • Glenn Yarbrough - Baby the Rain Must Fall
  • Jackie DeShannon - What The World Needs Now Is Love
  • Paul McCartney - Yesterday
  • Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual
Winner: Roger Miller - King Of The Road

Female Vocal Performance
The nominees were:
  • Barbra Streisand - My Name is Barbra
  • Petula Clark - Downtown
  • Nancy Wilson - Gentle Is My Love
  • Astrud Gilberto - The Astrud Gilberto Album
  • Jackie DeShannon - What The World Needs Now Is Love
Winner: Barbra Streisand - My Name is Barbra
Yeah, suffice to say that the Grammys were never really hip to what was happening at the time.  (Check out that “Rock And Roll Single” category … Glenn Yarbrough?!?!?  And I know “King Of The Road” seemed to win everything that year … but Best Rock And Roll Single?!?!  Seriously???  Rock And Roll??? 
Honestly, I’m not sure how artists like Vikki Carr, Nancy Wilson and Kenny Burrell (who?!?!?) make this list at all!  And how do songs like It Was A Very Good Year by Frank Sinatra, Day By Day by Astrud Gilberto - Day by Day, Everything I’ve Got by Vikki Carr and Greensleeves by Kenny Burrell (WHO?!?!?)  even earn the right to compete against ‘60’s (and all-time classics) like Jackie DeShannon’s What The World Needs Now Is Love or The Beatles’ Yesterday???  (kk)

Harvey Kubernik covers Johnny Cash:  The Mercury Years … here:

And check this out from Frank B …

kk:
4/1/1956 = Elvis' Screentest -- According To Ron Smith's Book.
Frank B.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biIjCTboX08

Frank also writes ... 

Just read this in the newpaper ...
Lady GaGa is joining forces with World Health Organization for a virtual concert that she says will serve as a "moment of global unity" amid the pandemic.
The two hour "TOGETHER AT HOME" concert special will air on Saturday, April 18th, and feature Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Andrea Bocelli, Lizzo and Billie Eilish, Eddie Vedder and GaGa.
They say it’s not a fundraiser. GaGa encouraged everyone to "enjoy the show that you very much deserve."
Frank B.
As far as I know, it most definitely IS a fund-raiser, designed to raise money for all the first responders and medical personnel that have given up their time at great risk to their own health to try and combat this deadly virus.
Rolling Stone Magazine described it this way:
“A TV special dedicated to celebrating the work of healthcare professionals during the coronavirus pandemic.  The One World: Together at Home TV special is co-sponsored by Global Citizen and the World Health Organization and will air on April 18.  Funds raised will benefit the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, as well as local and regional charities providing food, shelter and healthcare to those in need.”
Not that there’s anything wrong with ANY part of that … these people DESERVE whatever we can give them as a means of saying thanks.
What it DIDN’T say was when and where to watch it!!!  So hopefully more details will be released shortly.  (kk) 

Just had to drop a line your way, you busy kid ...
LOVED the KPOI Chart action lists ... that one with all the Chicago related artists blew my mind !!!!!
Don't know if you remember the WINDY CITY AT SIX show I used to do on the old Y, but in case you do, I am bringing it back to the FM.  Will let you know details in a couple days if interested.       
Hope you get a chance to check in with SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE @ THE 70'S ...
It's going gangbusters and if you listen, you may notice a lot of the old Y103.9 sound coming through.
Till later, you Rock And Roll nut ...
Jeff James
Hey Jeff!
Yes, I used to love the Windy City at Six ... man, you played some pretty obscure stuff on there from time to time.  Please keep us posted so we can let others on the list know.
Hope you are doing well (or at least as well as can be expected) during this difficult time.
Hang in there ... and keep the music playing!  (kk) 

And, speaking of some of our local heroes, Ronnie Rice’s show at The Metropolis Performing Arts Center has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 12th.  Naturally, tickets for the originally scheduled show will he honored … and additional seats are available here:  
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?actions=4&p=3

And here are some very kind words from Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams ... 

Hi Kent,
Reading all your columns while we suffer through this pandemic is a great joy! Not only is the content and many memories wonderful, but it gives us a feeling of normalcy during this very difficult time.
I have been trying to stay connected with all our wonderful Buckinghams fans, by talking and playing songs into my iPhone. They’re not great video quality or sound, but I love doing it and staying connected with everyone.
I hope you and your family are well and safe.
Carl Giammarese
The Buckinghams
Thanks, Carl … the very best to you and yours as well.
Right now my hope is that I can provide at least SOME distraction from all the crap going on around us … things just seem so dark and bleak …
Your words mean a lot to me this morning.  (kk)

From Mike Wolstein:
A Seniors Check List  (just for starters)


Now THIS one I like!!!  (kk)

This Week In 1970 (April 10th and 11th)

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1970:  April 10th– Keyboardist Keith Emerson, Guitarist Greg Lake and Drummer Carl Palmer join forces for the very first time to form Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Also on this date, Doors Keyboardist Ray Manzarek drags Doors Lead Singer Jim Morrison off the stage in Boston, MA, after Morrison screams to the audience “Would you like to see my genitals?” … not the brightest idea old Jimbo ever had after having been arrested the year before in Miami for lewd behavior and public exposure during a concert there.  Theater management immediately switched off the power after Morrison’s query.

And, promo copies of Paul McCartney’s first solo album (titled simply “McCartney” … clever, no?) are issued to the press with a self-written mock-interview during which Paul announces that he has left The Beatles.



1970:  April 11th– Apollo 13 (carrying astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert) is launched toward the moon

Also on this date, Peter Green, founding member of Fleetwood Mac, announces that he is leaving the band to follow his religious beliefs

Tuesday This And That

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Pretty much every walk of life has been affected by the mandatory shut-downs in an effort to curb the continued spread of the CoronaVirus.  Some are just a bit sadder or hit home a little closer than others … like this piece that FH Reader Frank B. sent us about The Surf Ballroom (courtesy, he says, of Wild Wayne) …


Frank also sent us this nice video of Brian Hyland performing the Babyface song “When Can I See You Again” …


kk:  I went to the same High School … FRANKLIN K. LANE … as Brian Hyland.  (That's my only claim to fame.) 
FB

Carly Simon posted this notice:  

To my dear hearts, my fellow travelers,
'We can never know about the days to come, but we think about them anyway.'
All I had to give up was the Carnegie Hall tribute concert (It will be postponed).
I was having a sorry for myself perfect storm moment until I gained the larger much larger scope of information. The ultimate scary movie moved right into your own house. Your own thermometer. Your own oxygen level device. Your own throat and lungs. Certainly, the latter two are largely in my imagination. But vividly so. So much that I often lack the silver lining view.
- Carly

And from Lou Christie …

I hope all of you are staying safe and practicing social distancing. I hope to see everyone again very soon.
Lou Christie
Lightning Strikes Music 

That’s my all-time favorite Lou Christie song!  Thanks, Lou!  (kk)

And, as promised …

Hi Kent!
Here is the edited Hi Def YouTube link to my Empty Arena live stream from The Jam Lab from last week.  It was shot and edited by Bill Allan and co hosted by Colin Peterik.   Feel free to post!  
Thanks!
Jimbo 

And have you seen this?

Wow, Kent ...
Another great read, my friend.  Don't know how ya do it.  :O)
We want to wish you and yours a safe and blessed Easter ...
and be sure to over eat like you’re supposed to … lol
Bless ya, man -
Barry & Teena
Same to you and yours, Barry … stay safe.  (kk)

I really wasn't familiar with John Prine at all.  After I heard about his death, I checked out some of his music. WOW!!! He was great! 
Don't know if you're familiar with his song "The Other Side Of Town."
When his wife is yelling at him and giving him a hard time, in his mind he's on the other side of town, drinking beer and smoking a cigar. 
Bob Dylan's favorite is "Lake Marie." 
I learned that John was in the Army and was a mailman for six years. 
Frank B.
John Prine was considered a local treasure … but sadly I never got into his music … it just wasn’t my style at the time I was growing up … but the praise has been tremendous since his death … people you wouldn’t even think would be John Prine fans have been commenting on how much his music meant to them.  (kk)  

I am really saddened by the death of John Prine.  It is a great regret that I never got out to see him … even more so, living here in Chicago.
I grew up on his music … both of my parents were huge fans … and I learned to love it, too. 
It just seemed that whenever I thought about going, I put the brakes on because I heard he was only concentrating on building his country music career and wouldn’t be playing any of the songs that I knew and loved when I was growing up.  Now I really regret never having the experience.
I’m amazed by some of the big names who have come forward with tributes and accolades for John’s music … artists you wouldn’t think would be John Prine fans … or that his music would even be on their radar … another true testament to the power of his music.
There are a lot of John Prine videos available on YouTube … it’s been nice to discover some of these tunes again … and experience some new ones.
Zak  

After losing John Prine, FH Reader Mike Wolstein sent us this clipping he had saved from The Chicago Tribune from 1985 when another Chicago musical landmark, Steve Goodman, passed away …

ONE LAST CHORUS FOR GOODMAN 

FANS, MUSICIANS HONOR CHICAGO'S TROUBADOUR
Paul Sullivan - 01/27/85 - Chicago Tribune (Copyright 1985)

By the shores of Lake Michigan, where the hot winds blow so cold,
an old Cub fan lay dying, while his midnight hour, it tolled.
--"A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request"

ON A COLD NIGHT by those Lake Michigan shores, Chicagoans  paid tribute to Steve Goodman, a native son with a quick smile, a love for the Cubs and a talent for making us laugh.  Friends and admirers of Goodman's gathered at the Arie Crown Theatre Saturday night to honor the memory of a man whose 16-year battle with leukemia ended in September, when he died at 36.  Proceeds from Saturday's sold-out show, which featured an all-star line- up of folk, rock and country musicians, will benefit leukemia research.
More than 4,000 fans sat, clapped, stomped their feet and sang along during the five hours of music.  Such performers as Bonnie Raitt, Jethro Burns, David Bromberg, John Prine and Arlo Guthrie dedicated their time and some old songs to their friend. For some in the audience, the concert was like bringing back a different era.
"I always admired and enjoyed him," said Vicky Jones, 29, of Evanston, who first heard Goodman in concert at the Amazing Grace coffee house at Northwestern University when she was an undergraduate. "But I never knew that he was my hero until I found out that he was sick. When he passed away, I was catatonic for about three days."
GOODMAN, A COLLEGE dropout and onetime Park Ridge postal clerk, became a nationally known folk singer in the 1970s by writing songs such as "City of New Orleans" for Arlo Guthrie and "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" with Prine for David Alan Coe. Though Goodman's efforts at recording his own songs were not as financially successful as when he wrote for his peers, he endeared himself to Chicagoans by penning tunes about subjects such as Mayor Richard Daley, a Lincoln Park towing company and, of course, his beloved Cubbies.
In a well-chronicled tale, Goodman and his close friend Prine were discovered by Paul Anka and Kris Kristofferson at the old Quiet Knight club on Belmont Avenue in 1971. He soon became a regular of the North Wells Street folk scene, mostly at the Earl of Old Town, and performed in and around town until 1980. That was when he grudgingly bade farewell to Chicago and moved to southern California to be closer to the record industry.
ONE OF THE highlights of Saturday's tribute was a 20-minute compilation of film clips from Goodman concerts since 1972. Though tears were shed by many when a clip from the boyish singer's long-haired early days led into a later clip in which his head was shaved after cancer treatments, Goodman's ready wit left the crowd laughing and cheering at the reel's end.
Each of Goodman's fans had a different reason for attending the tribute. Ronald Blumenfeld, 34, of Chicago, said he could relate to Goodman because they grew up at the same time and in the same city.  "I remember buying the 'Dying Cub Fan's Last Request' and being towed away by the 'Lincoln Park Pirates' when it only cost $30," Blumenfeld said.
For two old friends from Holy Cross High School, the concert was their first get-together in four years.  Robert Garcia and John Orzechowski had a chance meeting while waiting for the concert to start.  "Goodman had poor success," Garcia said. "He was kind of like the old Cubs. He had a lot of hits but never a lot of runs."

Mike also sent us this photo:


>>>Of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody did make it to #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 on May 9,1992 -- almost 16 YEARS to the week after its #9 1976 peak.  The MAIN reason?  It was featured in the hit movie, "Dumb & Dumber."  Also, possibly in part due to Freddie's death on November 24 the previous year.  (Clark Besch)
>>>It wasn’t “Dumb and Dumber” that put it back on the charts … it was “Wayne’s World,” which provided one of the most classic music scenes EVER in a motion picture as Wayne and Garth “head-bopped” their way thru this rock classic.  (As for “Jump” … “whatever THAT is” … it was a HUGE #1 Hit for Van Halen … and one of those classic M-TV videos that played non-stop back in the day.  Surely you know this one … it also ranked at #129 on our Top 3333 List, their highest charting track.)  kk
Hi Kent,
I have to disagree with Clark Besch's editorial comment about the Top 8 songs on that Hot 100 chart from 1976. 
Those songs don't make me sick … they give me lots of joy!  Each and every one of them deserved their chart positions that week.  Remember, any given weekly Hot 100 chart is just a snapshot of how songs ranked that particular week.  The main problem "Bohemian Rhapsody" faced was that it was peaking in different markets at different times. 
Some more interesting chart stats on the original 1976 release of "Bohemian Rhapsody" ...
It peaked at #8 in Radio & Records (but charted for 21 weeks, which was a lot back then).  It ranked at #20 on the 1976 year-end Radio & Records chart (between "Still The One" by Orleans and "Shake Your Booty" by KC & The Sunshine Band).
It peaked at #4 in the weekly Gavin Report airplay charts.
It ranked at #18 in the Billboard year-end Top 100 (between "More, More, More" by the Andrea True Connection and "Misty Blue" by Dorothy Moore).
Also, the song that kept "Bohemian Rhapsody" out of the #1 spot on the Hot 100 in 1992 was "Jump" by Kris Kross (not "Jump" by Van Halen).  That Kris Kross song got massive singles sales (certified double-platinum) and enough airplay top keep it at #1 on the Hot 100 for 8 weeks!
Paul Haney
Record Research
A few comments of my own …
Is there ANYBODY out there in the ENTIRE world that would rank “Bohemian Rhapsody” between “More More More” by The Andrea True Connection and “Misty Blue” by Dorothy Moore?!?!  Yet that’s how Billboard tabulated their year end chart that year (although I can’t imagine what point system they used to do so!)
The Van Halen / Kris Kross error was mine … and I will be the very first to admit that Kris Kross and their #1 song “Jump” were not on my radar THEN (back in 1992) or at any moment since.  (If they boogied on next to me right now and sang two minutes of it, I STILL wouldn’t know what it was!!!)
I should have LOOKED at the chart before commenting.  (And besides, I ALSO should have known that Van Halen’s “Jump” came out in 1984 (from the album of the same name, if I’m not mistaken.)
It’s often amazing to me looking back at how some of these songs were SO immensely popular at the time yet didn’t sustain that level of interest even just a few years later (much less thirty!)
It’s also the reason that I don’t think much of today’s music (or the music of the past 20 years) will have much long-term impact … so much of it just comes across as “disposable.”
But “Bohemian Rhapsody” is timeless … a one-of-a-kind track for the ages … that apparently has only grown in stature since its first release.  Who out there … at any age … doesn’t know at least some part of that song?  (Remember a few years ago when that video went around of the two year old kid sitting in her car seat singing it???)
Then again, when’s the last time you danced The Macarena???  (kk)

OOPS!  I forgot it was an SNL skit that set up Bohemian Rhapsody for new success.  I actually have never even WATCHED "Dumb and Dumber"!!! 
As for "Jump," this listing is a 1992 song by Kris Kross, not by Van Halen.  Maybe it's the same song?  I KNOW Van Halen and I KNOW Christopher Cross, but have no idea what "Jump" by Kris Kross is.  :)
Clark Besch
Yeah, that was my bad … I had to go find the track just to hear it … I seriously am not familiar with it at all.  Even watching it again now, it rings absolutely NO bells for me.
I remember it being big (#1 for eight weeks, selling two million copies) for the Atlanta Rap Duo, both of whom were just 13 years old when this record topped the charts in 1992.  (They would have three more Top 20 Hits … “Warm It Up,” #13, 1992, “Alright” with Guest Rapper Super Cat, #19, 1993 and “Tonite’s The Night,” #12, 1996.)
Chris “Mack Daddy” Kelly died of a drug overdose in 2013 at the age of 34.  His partner, Chris “Daddy Mack” Smith is still around but never had another hit.
Here it is ... let me know if it sticks in YOUR head in any kind of memorable way.  (Personally, I forgot it the moment it stopped playing!!!)

(kk)

I am formally requesting my copy of The Top 3333 Essentials.   
I have put together what I think is a great show of the Top 50 and some extras,
including number 3333 and others.  The recorded broadcast is still on
hold as management feels we need to be 'live and local' for people during this difficult time.  It has been very rewarding, playing listeners’ 'happy place songs' and their favorite 'quaran-tunes'.  The countdown will play when I get the go
ahead to travel again so that I can finally spend some time with a newborn grand child.
I found my top 25 that I sent to you back when the voting was open.  My
number one was Bohemian Rhapsody.   It lives on after its initial popularity, Wayne’s World, and we had another surge of requests after the Queen / Freddie Mercury movie came out a couple of years ago. 
The music of Queen seemed to chart even better in the midwest.  WLS did have a lot to do with that.  I was an avid listener to that station through the late '70's.  They played Killer Queen all the way to number one in 1975 and number 7 in their year end countdown.  It only made it to number 12 in Billboard.
Phil Nee
WRCO
Queen’s music always did VERY well here in Chicago.
I don’t know that their original intention was to be a pop singles band … but they tapped into SO many different styles of music that we learned to always expect the unexpected.  (How does one go from the classical, operatic sounds of “Bohemian Rhapsody” into the rock-a-billy stylings of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” all in one swoop.  THESE guys pulled off EVERY style brilliantly.  From stadium rock like “We Will Rock You” to beautiful ballads like “We Are The Champions” and “Somebody To Love” to pure pop like “You’re My Best Friend” to dance / disco funk like “Another One Bites The Dust” and “Under Pressure,” these guys could do it all, reinventing themselves on every track.
Billboard officially credits them with TWO #1 Hits:  “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites The Dust” … but here in Chicago, they topped the WLS Chart FIVE (some might say six) times with “Killer Queen,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You” / “We Are The Champions,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites The Dust.”
Anxious to hear what kind of reaction you get to playing The Top 50 (whenever you finally get around to doing it!!!)  A show like that might actually help to lift the spirts during these dire times.  (Be sure to send me a copy!)  Thanks, Phil!  (kk)  

Hi Kent –

The past few weeks we have needed your daily blog more than ever to help us oldies music lovers stay informed and thinking positive thoughts. You bring smiles to our faces in a critical time when many of us need it most. Thank you so very much for that. Hope you and your entire family stay safe.
Here is some exciting news for oldies music fans that you may want to share with your readers. Lots of new stereo on several upcoming CD releases on the Hit Parade and Complete 60s labels. Also, an Eric Records remastered CD with some rare 45 versions.
Check them out here: http://ericrecords.com/
Santi Paradoa
Miami, Florida

Yesterday I was watching the one place where they still play the forgotten oldies ... a TV commercial.  It was a lawn seed commercial and I heard Link Wray's "Rumble"!!  I thought "What an awesome song!  I wonder if it made Kent's Top 3333.  I should've voted for it."  So please send me your list.  I promise to abide by all the terms and conditions.
Ed Erxleben
I’ve seen that same commercial several times now, too.  It sure is an ear-catching tune, isn’t it?  Even some 62 years later!!!  (I remember having the same reaction when Quentin Tarantino used it in “Pulp Fiction!”)
Incredibly, no, it did NOT make The Top 3333 List (which is now on its way to you.)  In fact, I can’t even seem to remember it so much as being nominated.  (Now THAT’S a shame!!!)
I think this one holds up well enough that it would still sound good coming out of your Classic Rock radio source every once in awhile.  (kk)

Hi, Kent!
I wrote to you previously about how delighted I was to see years on the master 3333 Excel file!  That gave me just what I needed to add years to my beloved and carefully curated iTunes library.  And in general, the list is a fabulous resource.
In the process of going through my list, I was surprised by some of the artists and groups not on the 3333 at all.  (First of all, Kent, my sincere apologies for any groups that ARE on the list which I’ve overlooked!)
Now maybe I missed reading criteria of what would be included. But methinks a list of most essential classic rock songs should include at least something from ABBA, THE FOUR TOPS, THE SUPREMES, LESLEY GORE, MADONNA, THE POINTER SISTERS, SAM COOKE, SHIRELLES, WALKER BROTHERS, and WAYNE FONTANA AND THE MINDBENDERS. 
And surely the great TOMMY BOYCE AND BOBBY HART deserve to be on the list, if only for “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight”.  (My personal favorite is “Alice Long”, but that’s my bias showing: when that record came out I bought it for my girlfriend at the time whose name was Alice!)
Other notables missing from the 3333:  Buster Poindexter, Cindy Lauper, Jr. Walker and the All-Stars, Juice Newton, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Minnie Riperton, Frank Zappa and the Mothers, Nancy Sinatra, Ohio Express, Olivia Newton-John, Rotary Connection, Ruby & Romantics, Rufus Thomas, Seatrain, and Unit 4+2.
As my subject line suggested, apologies for quibbles.  There had to be some showing up in an undertaking of that mammoth scope!
Best wishes,
Kevin Killion
(the other KK)
The Classic Rock Top 3333 is exactly that … songs that fit the format for a Classic Rock radio station … the GENRE of classic rock.  Most of the artists you listed might make a list of the all-time biggest and favorite POP songs … or Top 40 songs … but that wasn’t the intent here …
Our series was designed to acknowledge the songs and artists that carved their own place in “album rock” … or the era where the album became more significant than the single.  (A few of the artists on your list made the final list as well … but as a rule, none of these would typically qualify to be on such a specific list.)
Because radio is SO segregated and regimented these days, you’re not as likely to hear the widespread variety that we enjoyed growing up in the hey day of Top 40 radio … back when you could hear artists like Glen Campbell and Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and The Four Tops, The Four Seasons and Napoleon XIV, all played back-to-back and side-by-side without the slightest reservation.  Radio just isn’t like that anymore.  Today’s channels are geared toward your specific tastes in music.
There is a spot for much of the music you have listed … but honestly I think even an all-inclusive list with no barriers or restrictions would have to be pretty large to include artists like Buster Poindexter, Seatrain, The Walker Brothers, Rotary Connection and Frank Zappa!!!  It would likely have to be a list of 10-20,000 favorite songs!!!  (But then again, as you eluded to, that’s why iPads are for!!!)  kk

Hi Kent -
In today’s edition of Thursday This And That / Forgotten Hits, you mentioned that Jackie De Shannon did not win any awards for "What The World Needs Now Is Love".  But didn't she win an award for the song she co-wrote, "BETTE DAVIS EYES"??
What a great song that was.
If in doubt ask the master ...
Carolyn
You are absolutely right … she sure did.  “Bette Davis Eyes” (written by Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss) topped Billboard’s Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart for nine weeks in 1981 … and then went on to win The Grammy for both Record of the Year AND Song of the Year.  (This single rode the charts for 26 weeks … half a year!!! … which was virtually unheard of back then!)  It was Kim Carnes’ (who’s a very successful songwriter in her own right) biggest hit.  (kk)

With multiple mentions of "Unchained Melody" in FH yesterday and today, I'm reminded that it was on this day in 1955 that two versions of "Unchained Melody" first appeared on the Billboard charts. These were performed by Les Baxter's Orchestra and Chorus and Al Hibbler. The movie had premiered on January 19, with its first showing in Chino where it was filmed. Opera singer Todd Duncan performed the song in the flick.
On April 23 Roy Hamilton's cover made the chart - and a few weeks later, on May 14, we see June Valli's brief appearance.
This was one of those rare situations where four versions of the same song were on the charts at the same time. And, as you have often mentioned, this is a perfect example of the time when the song was more important than the artist(s).
David Lewis
Many years ago we did a tribute to “Unchained Melody” in Forgotten Hits, tracing its history back to the original film version.  SO many great versions have been recorded since then (with The Righteous Brothers’ version seeming to be the definitive take against which all others are measured … and THEIR version was a B-SIDE!!!)

I found these comments (including one of your own!) dating back to 2011:

‘Unchained Melody’ lyricist Zaret dead at 99
Song was one of the most frequently recorded of the 20th century
Hy Zaret died at his home Monday, about a month shy of his 100th birthday, his son, Robert Zaret, said Tuesday.
He penned words to many songs and advertising jingles but his biggest hit was “Unchained Melody,” written in 1955 for a film called “Unchained.” It brought Zaret and Alex North, the composer, an Academy Award nomination for best song.
Zaret refused the producer’s request to work the word “unchained” into the lyrics, instead writing to express the feelings of a lover who has “hungered for your touch a long, lonely time.”
The song was recorded by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Lena Horne, U2, Guy Lombardo, Vito & the Salutations and Joni Mitchell, who incorporated fragments into her song “Chinese Cafe / Unchained Melody.”
An instrumental version was a No. 1 hit in 1955 for Les Baxter, while a vocal version by Al Hibbler reached No. 3 the same year.
But most baby boomers remember the song from the Righteous Brothers’ version. The record, produced by Phil Spector, reached No. 4 on the Billboard chart in 1965, and was a hit again 25 years later when it was used on the soundtrack of the film “Ghost.”
In all, it was recorded more than 300 times, according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which listed it in 1999 as one of the 25 most-performed musical works of the 20th century.
Among other songs Zaret co-wrote were “My Sister and I,” a hit in 1941 for Jimmy Dorsey; “So Long, for a While,” the theme song for the radio and TV show “Your Hit Parade”; “Dedicated to You”; and the Andrews Sisters’ novelty song “One Meat Ball.”
“He had some big, big hits,” said Jim Steinblatt, an assistant vice president at ASCAP.
In later years, Zaret had to fend off the claims by another man, electrical engineer William Stirrat, who said he wrote the “Unchained Melody” lyrics as a teenager in the 1930s and even legally changed his name to Hy Zaret. Robert Zaret and Steinblatt both said the dispute was resolved completely in favor of the real Zaret, who continued to receive all royalties. Steinblatt said Stirrat died in 2004.
-- submitted by Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano
How weird that this would happen now in the midst of so much discussion of this tune in Forgotten Hits!
(By the way, Bill Medley told Forgotten Hits a few years ago that HE produced the original Righteous Brothers' version of "Unchained Melody" and not Phil Spector because Spector couldn't be bothered to oversee the B-Sides!  "Unchained Melody" was the original flip side of The Righteous Brothers' single "Hung On You" but quickly surpassed the intended A-Side on the charts, ultimately peaking at #4 in Billboard in 1965, eclipsing "Hung On You"'s #47 chart showing.  Much like the proper songwriting credit, the dispute as to who really PRODUCED this song has also raged for years ... as Phil Spector ALSO claims ownership of this production!)  kk
I found a source that had a nice clean copy of the flick "Unchained".
It's not bad, but it's not great. The melody plays on and off throughout, and there are interesting appearances by Jerry Paris (of Dick Van Dyke fame), Barbara Hale (youngest I've ever seen her), and a young Tim Considine.
Musical highlights are Todd Duncan's vocal and a nice instrumental at the close.
 
David Lewis

Hil's review was less than flattering ... but it IS interesting to see where this song got its origins.  (kk)
>>>Unchained, a 1955 low budget movie, is about a man imprisoned. I have seen the movie and I have it on DVD and VHS but neither is a copy to make a fuss over. It is blurred and shaky. I bought it from one of those online "hard to find" movie places, mainly to get the song. The movie stars Chester Morris, a tough guy type from early 30s films and into the 70s. He plays a warden trying to create a model prison where the inmates are treated decently with the hopes of rehabilitation. The focus is on an inmate played by Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, a football player with Hollywood ambitions that never materialized. The theme is by Alex North, on of Hollywood's finest composers, whose work can be heard in such movies as Viva Zapata and The Long Hot Summer. While the theme is played throughout, the song is in the hands of one of the most cliched characters in movie history, the black prisoner with a guitar. Here he is played by one time Porgy actor Todd Duncan. In the movie itself it is sung without the famous bridge beginning with "Lonely river flows ... ". It was nominated for Best Song Oscar and lost to the highly popular but not long-standing "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing". Time and countless artists recordings have demonstrated over time which is the better song. Here's an mp3 I made. You now have the original version of Unchained Melody. Take my word for it. It is a classic song. It is NOT a classic movie. I feel its low budget, lack of star power and absence of any studio push kept the song from winning an Oscar.
Link to the movie for more information is below.  (Hil)

There are reportedly over 300 known recordings of "Unchained Melody", making it one of the most recorded songs in pop history.  Joel Whitburn's latest "Top Pop Singles" book also says it's the song with the most charted versions:  13 at last count!  (kk)

BONUS ‘60’s FLASHBACK:
After our Phil Spector Series (put together by FH Reader Steve Knuettel) ran, a bit of a controversy erupted regarding who actually produced The Righteous Brothers' hit version of "Unchained Melody" in 1965.  Often regarded as one of Phil Spector's greatest productions, there is a VERY distinct possibility that this track was, in fact, produced by Bill Medley!  See, back then Spector was only interested in producing the A-Sides of his records ... and he was absolutely CONVINCED that "Hung On You" would be a major hit.  So, in what amounted to not much more than "throwing his artists a bone," he allowed Medley to produce the B-Sides of all of The Righteous Brothers' records.  But "Unchained Melody" became a surprise hit.  The intended B-Side quickly surpassed the intended A-Side, rising to #4 on the Billboard Chart (while "Hung On You" never climbed any higher than #47!)  

Finally, to set the record straight, we went right to the source himself ... and Bill Medley exclusively told Forgotten Hits:     

Hi Kent, 
You have the story right. Phil would produce the singles and I would produce the album material.  "Unchained Melody" was never intended to be a single. As such, I produced it.
You have to remember that I was producing our stuff before Phil Spector ... I mean I produced "Little Latin Lupe Lu", "My Babe" and all that stuff. Then when we went with Phil, Phil asked me if I would produce the albums because it was too time consuming for him to produce the entire albums. So he was gonna do the singles and I would do the album. And so that's how that happened and that's how I produced "Unchained Melody," which Phil Spector apparently now takes credit for. He can have the credit. And I'm not a producer. I know how to produce. But it's obviously not a Spector production.  "Unchained Melody" was never intended to be the single ... it was produced to be on the album. It was put on the B side of a Phil Spector single "Hung On You" and the minute it was released "Unchained Melody" just went through the roof. 
--Bill Medley  


The original:


The 1955 hits:



The big one (which has set the standard for all to come after it)


(But then again, not EVERY version was quite this beautiful) ...


kk …
According to Ron Smith's book, on 4/9/1953 Elvis performed at the L.C. Humes High School talent contest, singing "KEEP THEM COLD, ICY FINGERS OFF OF ME." He gets the most applause and sings "’TIL I WALTZ AGAIN WITH YOU."
I can't hardly believe it …
Listen to Elvis say the only subject he failed was music.
And listen to this recording of Elvis singing “TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME,” a song written by Bob Dylan.
If you read some of the comments below, you’ll see that …
Elvis Presley recorded the song on May 26, 1966, during a session for his album How Great Thou Art. The song originally appeared as a bonus track on the Spinout movie soundtrack album. Dylan once said that Presley's cover of the song was "the one recording I treasure the most."  (Mark Parker)
Dylan was supposedly so overwhelmed by this cover that he thought it was the best cover anyone had ever done of him and it was one of his most proud moments in his career to have Elvis cover one of his songs   (Simon Robeyns)  
Frank B.   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dRNZZuuR8I&fbclid=IwAR09s8rCi0RmmHFRQeTdNkVAQrpX2RjLVSVaZIzc_AgZSelzMMwbekv36Hs&app=desktop

And I have always loved Bob Dylan’s version of the Elvis Presley hit “A Fool Such As I,” a #47 hit in early 1974.  (kk)


Mark Lindsay told this story …
He lived with Terry Melcher (Doris Day's Son.)  They wrote songs together.
Terry wrote the music and Mark wrote the lyrics.
Terry had a big desk and was always doing five different things at a time.
Mark had a small desk that he sat at to do his writing. They parted and went their separate ways.
Fast forward to today …
Doris Day's Estate is currently having an auction. 
Mark checks out the catalog and sees that his desk is for sale.
He bid on it and got it. Mark always thought that the desk was part of the house furniture.
Turns out it was Terry Melcher's desk.  He took it with him and gave it to Doris Day.
Mark's hoping when he sits at his desk it will inspire him to write new music.
FB
Mark Lindsay and Terry Melcher lived together in Terry’s house for quite some time and wrote songs together there.  (This is the same house that Charles Manson and his crew came to attack, not realizing that Melcher no longer lived there … instead his disciples found Sharon Tate, et al, and the rest, as they say, is some pretty gory history.)
Lindsay and Melcher wrote the Paul Revere and the Raiders hits “The Great Airplane Strike” (#17, 1966; “Good Thing” (#4, 1967); “Ups And Downs” (#19, 1967); “Him Or Me, What’s It Gonna Be?” (#5, 1967); “I Had A Dream” (#13, 1967) and “Peace Of Mind” (#35, 1967).  Melcher also produced the band.  (He had previously been one half of Bruce and Terry, with Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys, before Bruce replaced Brian Wilson on the road in 1965.  Melcher also cowrote The Beach Boys’ #1 Hit “Kokomo” 20-something years later!)
Several Paul Revere and the Raiders songs were featured in last year’s Quentin Tarantino film “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” … and Mark Lindsay said it was haunting to see the rooms of that house recreated on the big screen after having spent so much time there.  (Obviously, after Terry moved out … and the murders took place … Mark never returned to the house again.  Story goes that Terry Melcher was Manson’s original target … a PLANNED murder, in fact, as revenge for not signing Charlie to a recording contract.  Talk about your sore losers!!!)
It's amazing to me to think that someone of Bob Dylan’s stature has his OWN favorite songwriters … and the fact that John Prine was one of them has to be one of the highest honors one could bestow.
Dylan just scored his very first #1 Record on ANY Billboard Chart this week when “Murder Most Foul” (the 17-minute track we discussed last week, written about the Kennedy assassination) topped the Digital Downloads Chart this week.  (When one considers that Dylan’s career dates back BEFORE the Kennedy assassination … yet he has never officially earned a #1 … that’s pretty amazing!)
Songs he has WRITTEN have become #1 Hits for other artists … but this is the first time he’s scored one under his own name.  Wow!  (kk)

I just got word that Gilbert O’Sullivan’s City Winery show has been pushed back A YEAR due to rescheduling conflicts.
Tickets for this year’s show will be honored …
But the new date will be April 26, 2021.  (kk)

Justin Hayward’s tour dates have been pushed back, too.
Here’s the new list as things currently stand:
October 15th– Infinity Hall in Hartford, CT
October 16th– Flying Monkey in Plymouth, NH
October 18th– Greenwich Odeum in East Greenwich, RI
October 22nd– The Warehouse in Fairfield, CT
October 27th– Robins Theatre in Warren, OH
October 28th– Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall, PA
October 29th– The Kent Stage in Kent, OH
November 1st and 2nd– City Winery in Chicago, IL
November 4th– City Winery in Nashville, TN

Check out Harvey Kubernik’s piece on The Association …

Hey, Kent ...
I was playing a tune on YouTube this evening, and when it finished, the computer, as it always does, threw a panel of six videos up on screen. One of the vids was from 1969, the Guess Who doing "Laughing" on some TV show. It had just become a Gold Record.  No surprise.
I'd never seen this video before.  I was mesmerized.  It was one more reason why
Burton and the Guess Who were one of the greatest pop bands in the world.  Burton's voice melts you into a puddle.
Mike Wolstein



Just found your list of Top 50 Instrumental Hits.
How in the world could you leave out the instrumental great POPCORN from the seventies?!!
Doug Mascaro
For the record, WE didn’t leave out anything …
The first Top 50 List was determined by actual chart performance of these hits at the time they were out.  (“Popcorn” peaked at #9 on the Billboard Chart in 1972 … but hit #7 in Record World.)
The second Top 50 List was determined by the votes of our readers as to which of these instrumental hits have stood the test of time … what are YOUR all-time favorites … and evidently not as many people felt as strongly about “Popcorn” as you do!  (lol)
We just REPORT the results … we don’t create them!  (kk)

UPDATE:  Since this list of Fan Favorites is now over ten years old, it has been suggested that it might be time to do a new poll to see the currently popularity of these tracks.
Likewise, we have heard that it may be time to update our Favorite TV Theme Songs list as well.  (Even the folks at Me-TV have made this suggestion!)
Unfortunately, there just aren’t as many great and memorable TV themes these days … but hey … if we get enough positive response to EITHER of these new polls, we just may put it out there to ALL the readers and ask them to cast their votes again.
What say you, Forgotten Hits Readers???  (kk)

HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
Hi Kent –
Hoping you can help …
If you know anyone who collects local airchecks, Pam is looking for a Biondi clip from WLS-FM 94.7 where he says "Classic Hits" for her documentary.  She says it has to be those exact words.  So, that'd be after 1986.  I went through about 300 airchecks and sites, with no luck.  Maybe you and your audience will get lucky.
Thanx, and stay healthy!
Keep up the great work!
Mike
Puttin’ it out there!  Anybody able to help with this one?  (

April 13th, 1970

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Not much action again on this week's chart.

The biggest mover of the week belongs to Gladys Knight and the Pips, who climb 13 places from #34 to #21 with "You Need Love Like I Do."


Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Tyrone Davis and Marmalade all enter The Top Ten for the first time with (respectively) "Something's Burning" (#5), "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" (#9) and "Reflections Of My Life" (#10).

Simon and Garfunkel's new single "Cecilia" falls just three places behind their previous hit, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," which hit #1 earlier this year.  Can "Cecilia" duplicate this feat?


"Hitchin' A Ride" by Vanity Fare is a catchy new debut ... and Joe Cocker's funky remake of The Box Tops' #1 Hit "The Letter" makes the Hit Bound list, along with one of my all-time favorite Fifth Dimension songs, "Puppet Man."




1970:  April 13th– An oxygen tank in the Apollo 13 spacecraft explodes, forcing the crew to abort their mission and return to earth in four days.


Also on this date, actor Ricky Schroder is born
 

Tuesday This And That

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Pretty much every walk of life has been affected by the mandatory shut-downs in an effort to curb the continued spread of the CoronaVirus.  Some are just a bit sadder or hit home a little closer than others … like this piece that FH Reader Frank B. sent us about The Surf Ballroom (courtesy, he says, of Wild Wayne) …

Frank also sent us this nice video of Brian Hyland performing the Babyface song “When Can I See You Again” …
kk:  I went to the same High School … FRANKLIN K. LANE … as Brian Hyland.  (That's my only claim to fame.) 
FB

Carly Simon posted this notice:

To my dear hearts, my fellow travelers,
'We can never know about the days to come, but we think about them anyway.'
All I had to give up was the Carnegie Hall tribute concert (It will be postponed).
I was having a sorry for myself perfect storm moment until I gained the larger much larger scope of information. The ultimate scary movie moved right into your own house. Your own thermometer. Your own oxygen level device. Your own throat and lungs. Certainly, the latter two are largely in my imagination. But vividly so. So much that I often lack the silver lining view.
- Carly

And from Lou Christie …
I hope all of you are staying safe and practicing social distancing. I hope to see everyone again very soon.
Lou Christie
That’s my all-time favorite Lou Christie song!  Thanks, Lou!  (kk)

And, as promised …

Hi Kent!
Here is the edited Hi Def YouTube link to my Empty Arena live stream from The Jam Lab from last week.  It was shot and edited by Bill Allan and co hosted by Colin Peterik.   Feel free to post!  
Thanks!
Jimbo 



Shelley Sweet-Tufano sent us this video marked “From The East Coast To The Rest Of The World” … an inspired reworking of “We Are The World” for all of us staying safe at home until this pandemic passes …



And I REALLY like this one, sent in by Frank B.  
(Of course, I’m a sucker for magic and card tricks anyway … but tying it all together with the old Wink Martindale classic “Deck Of Cards” makes it the PERFECT piece to share in Forgotten Hits.  (Thanks, Frank!)


I love the fact that people are making the most of their quarantined time by having fun ... and trying to shed a bright light that others can enjoy, too.

This one TOTALLY cracked me up!   
https://twitter.com/i/status/1241782311269457920    

Wow, Kent ...
Another great read, my friend.  Don't know how ya do it.  :O)
We want to wish you and yours a safe and blessed Easter ...
and be sure to over eat like you’re supposed to … lol
Bless ya, man -
Barry & Teena
Same to you and yours, Barry … stay safe.  (kk)

I really wasn't familiar with John Prine at all.  After I heard about his death, I checked out some of his music. WOW!!! He was great! 
Don't know if you're familiar with his song "The Other Side Of Town."
When his wife is yelling at him and giving him a hard time, in his mind he's on the other side of town, drinking beer and smoking a cigar. 
Bob Dylan's favorite is "Lake Marie." 
I learned that John was in the Army and was a mailman for six years. 
Frank B.
John Prine was considered a local treasure … but sadly I never got into his music … it just wasn’t my style at the time I was growing up … but the praise has been tremendous since his death … people you wouldn’t even think would be John Prine fans have been commenting on how much his music meant to them.  (kk)   

I am really saddened by the death of John Prine.  It is a great regret that I never got out to see him … even more so, living here in Chicago.
I grew up on his music … both of my parents were huge fans … and I learned to love it, too. 
It just seemed that whenever I thought about going, I put the brakes on because I heard he was only concentrating on building his country music career and wouldn’t be playing any of the songs that I knew and loved when I was growing up.  Now I really regret never having the experience.
I’m amazed by some of the big names who have come forward with tributes and accolades for John’s music … artists you wouldn’t think would be John Prine fans … or that his music would even be on their radar … another true testament to the power of his music.
There are a lot of John Prine videos available on YouTube … it’s been nice to discover some of these tunes again … and experience some new ones.
Zak  

After losing John Prine, FH Reader Mike Wolstein sent us this clipping he had saved from The Chicago Tribune from 1985 when another Chicago musical landmark, Steve Goodman, passed away …

ONE LAST CHORUS FOR GOODMAN
FANS, MUSICIANS HONOR CHICAGO'S TROUBADOUR
Paul Sullivan - 01/27/85 - Chicago Tribune (Copyright 1985)

By the shores of Lake Michigan, where the hot winds blow so cold,
an old Cub fan lay dying, while his midnight hour, it tolled.
--"A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request"

ON A COLD NIGHT by those Lake Michigan shores, Chicagoans  paid tribute to Steve Goodman, a native son with a quick smile, a love for the Cubs and a talent for making us laugh.  Friends and admirers of Goodman's gathered at the Arie Crown Theatre Saturday night to honor the memory of a man whose 16-year battle with leukemia ended in September, when he died at 36.  Proceeds from Saturday's sold-out show, which featured an all-star line- up of folk, rock and country musicians, will benefit leukemia research.
More than 4,000 fans sat, clapped, stomped their feet and sang along during the five hours of music.  Such performers as Bonnie Raitt, Jethro Burns, David Bromberg, John Prine and Arlo Guthrie dedicated their time and some old songs to their friend. For some in the audience, the concert was like bringing back a different era.
"I always admired and enjoyed him," said Vicky Jones, 29, of Evanston, who first heard Goodman in concert at the Amazing Grace coffee house at Northwestern University when she was an undergraduate. "But I never knew that he was my hero until I found out that he was sick. When he passed away, I was catatonic for about three days."
GOODMAN, A COLLEGE dropout and onetime Park Ridge postal clerk, became a nationally known folk singer in the 1970s by writing songs such as "City of New Orleans" for Arlo Guthrie and "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" with Prine for David Alan Coe. Though Goodman's efforts at recording his own songs were not as financially successful as when he wrote for his peers, he endeared himself to Chicagoans by penning tunes about subjects such as Mayor Richard Daley, a Lincoln Park towing company and, of course, his beloved Cubbies.
In a well-chronicled tale, Goodman and his close friend Prine were discovered by Paul Anka and Kris Kristofferson at the old Quiet Knight club on Belmont Avenue in 1971. He soon became a regular of the North Wells Street folk scene, mostly at the Earl of Old Town, and performed in and around town until 1980. That was when he grudgingly bade farewell to Chicago and moved to southern California to be closer to the record industry.
ONE OF THE highlights of Saturday's tribute was a 20-minute compilation of film clips from Goodman concerts since 1972. Though tears were shed by many when a clip from the boyish singer's long-haired early days led into a later clip in which his head was shaved after cancer treatments, Goodman's ready wit left the crowd laughing and cheering at the reel's end.
Each of Goodman's fans had a different reason for attending the tribute. Ronald Blumenfeld, 34, of Chicago, said he could relate to Goodman because they grew up at the same time and in the same city.  "I remember buying the 'Dying Cub Fan's Last Request' and being towed away by the 'Lincoln Park Pirates' when it only cost $30," Blumenfeld said.
For two old friends from Holy Cross High School, the concert was their first get-together in four years.  Robert Garcia and John Orzechowski had a chance meeting while waiting for the concert to start.  "Goodman had poor success," Garcia said. "He was kind of like the old Cubs. He had a lot of hits but never a lot of runs."

Mike also sent us this photo:



>>>Of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody did make it to #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 on May 9,1992 -- almost 16 YEARS to the week after its #9 1976 peak.  The MAIN reason?  It was featured in the hit movie, "Dumb & Dumber."  Also, possibly in part due to Freddie's death on November 24 the previous year.  (Clark Besch)

>>>It wasn’t “Dumb and Dumber” that put it back on the charts … it was “Wayne’s World,” which provided one of the most classic music scenes EVER in a motion picture as Wayne and Garth “head-bopped” their way thru this rock classic.  (As for “Jump” … “whatever THAT is” … it was a HUGE #1 Hit for Van Halen … and one of those classic M-TV videos that played non-stop back in the day.  Surely you know this one … it also ranked at #129 on our Top 3333 List, their highest charting track.)  kk

Hi Kent,
I have to disagree with Clark Besch's editorial comment about the Top 8 songs on that Hot 100 chart from 1976. 
Those songs don't make me sick … they give me lots of joy!  Each and every one of them deserved their chart positions that week.  Remember, any given weekly Hot 100 chart is just a snapshot of how songs ranked that particular week.  The main problem "Bohemian Rhapsody" faced was that it was peaking in different markets at different times. 
Some more interesting chart stats on the original 1976 release of "Bohemian Rhapsody" ...  
It peaked at #8 in Radio & Records (but charted for 21 weeks, which was a lot back then).  It ranked at #20 on the 1976 year-end Radio & Records chart (between "Still The One" by Orleans and "Shake Your Booty" by KC & The Sunshine Band).
It peaked at #4 in the weekly Gavin Report airplay charts.
It ranked at #18 in the Billboard year-end Top 100 (between "More, More, More" by the Andrea True Connection and "Misty Blue" by Dorothy Moore).
Also, the song that kept "Bohemian Rhapsody" out of the #1 spot on the Hot 100 in 1992 was "Jump" by Kris Kross (not "Jump" by Van Halen).  That Kris Kross song got massive singles sales (certified double-platinum) and enough airplay top keep it at #1 on the Hot 100 for 8 weeks!
Paul Haney
Record Research

A few comments of my own … 

Is there ANYBODY out there in the ENTIRE world that would rank “Bohemian Rhapsody” between “More More More” by The Andrea True Connection and “Misty Blue” by Dorothy Moore?!?!  Yet that’s how Billboard tabulated their year end chart that year (although I can’t imagine what point system they used to do so!)
The Van Halen / Kris Kross error was mine … and I will be the very first to admit that Kris Kross and their #1 song “Jump” were not on my radar THEN (back in 1992) or at any moment since.  (If they boogied on next to me right now and sang two minutes of it, I STILL wouldn’t know what it was!!!)
I should have LOOKED at the chart before commenting.  (And besides, I ALSO should have known that Van Halen’s “Jump” came out in 1984 (from the album of the same name, if I’m not mistaken.)
It’s often amazing to me looking back at how some of these songs were SO immensely popular at the time yet didn’t sustain that level of interest even just a few years later (much less thirty!)
It’s also the reason that I don’t think much of today’s music (or the music of the past 20 years) will have much long-term impact … so much of it just comes across as “disposable.”
But “Bohemian Rhapsody” is timeless … a one-of-a-kind track for the ages … that apparently has only grown in stature since its first release.  Who out there … at any age … doesn’t know at least some part of that song?  (Remember a few years ago when that video went around of the two year old kid sitting in her car seat singing it???)
Then again, when’s the last time you danced The Macarena???  (kk)  

OOPS!  I forgot it was an SNL skit that set up Bohemian Rhapsody for new success.  I actually have never even WATCHED "Dumb and Dumber"!!! 
As for "Jump," this listing is a 1992 song by Kris Kross, not by Van Halen.  Maybe it's the same song?  I KNOW Van Halen and I KNOW Christopher Cross, but have no idea what "Jump" by Kris Kross is.  :)
Clark Besch
Yeah, that was my bad … I had to go find the track just to hear it … I seriously am not familiar with it at all.  Even watching it again now, it rings absolutely NO bells for me.
I remember it being big (#1 for eight weeks, selling two million copies) for the Atlanta Rap Duo, both of whom were just 13 years old when this record topped the charts in 1992.  (They would have three more Top 20 Hits … “Warm It Up,” #13, 1992, “Alright” with Guest Rapper Super Cat, #19, 1993 and “Tonite’s The Night,” #12, 1996.)
Chris “Mack Daddy” Kelly died of a drug overdose in 2013 at the age of 34.  His partner, Chris “Daddy Mack” Smith is still around but never had another hit.   (kk)



>>>I have to disagree with Clark Besch's editorial comment about the Top 8 songs on that Hot 100 chart from 1976.  Those songs don't make me sick … they give me lots of joy!  Each and every one of them deserved their chart positions that week.
(Paul Haney / Record Research)
 

I don't think I said the those songs made me sick.  It DID make me sick to think that so many disco songs were up higher.  Don't get me wrong, #2 "Right Back Where I Started From" is great and some of the others are good, too, but looking back, I would have had to side with the Big 89's thoughts (as usual).  Hey, different strokes for different folks.  :)
Clark
What’s the old saying?  Opinions are like assholes … everybody’s got one???
And we have ALWAYS shared the varying opinions of our readers in Forgotten Hits.  (As Peter Noone once so astutely told me, “That’s why they have menus at restaurants” … not everybody is going to like the same thing.

Clark’s initial comment was:
>>>As to the Queen classic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Chicago was ahead of the curve nationally on this one.  It peaked at a measly #9 a MONTH after being #1 at WLS. 
What kept it out of the higher 8 positions?  If you want to be sick ...  (Clark Besch)


I guess I took it of the opinion that NONE of the other Top 8 songs measured up musically the tour de force of the Queen classic … and I would have to agree with that assessment.  That’s not to say that there aren’t some great songs on the list … “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” has ALWAYS been one of my all-time favorites … and even a couple of the disco tunes … “Boogie Fever” and “Disco Lady” … were records I bought at the time … “Let Your Love Go” by The Bellamy Brothers, too.  I just don’t think that ANY of these records have held up as well as “Bohemian Rhapsody” … and that’s likely a comment that most would agree with.  (“Sweet Love” is probably one of The Commodores’ weakest songs … I’m not convinced it deserved its #5 showing.  “Welcome Back” was a great comeback record for John Sebastian … and it still sounds good every once in awhile … but I’m not sure I’d want to hear it in heavy rotation.  “Right Back Where We Started From” and Frampton’s “Show Me The Way” are probably the two most-played tracks on the list today (behind the Queen song, of course) … and “Love Hangover” was huge at the time … but hasn’t aged as well as some of the others.
Anyway, that’s my asshole … I mean opinion … on these Top 8 tracks!  (kk)

>>>It wasn’t “Dumb and Dumber” that put it back on the charts … it was “Wayne’s World,” which provided one of the most classic music scenes EVER in a motion picture as Wayne and Garth “head-bopped” their way thru this rock classic.  (kk)
Hi, Kent.
A little bit of trivia ...
When that scene was taking place in the movie, the "head-bopping" scene showed their car traveling back and forth along the 4000-4100 block of N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. It goes by quickly, but if you watch closely you'll see that huge picture of Abe Lincoln's face on the sign in front of the Lincoln Restaurant, which was around 4020 N. Lincoln.  Used to have lunch there in the early 70s.
Mike
A lot of “Wayne’s World” was filmed here in Chicago … one of my favorite local landmarks (it’s gone now) was the car sculpture that adorned Cermak Plaza for so many years.  (I guess Mike Meyers was fascinated with this thing!)I drove by this thing nearly every day for YEARS!!!  And people actually came to Berwyn just to see it!  (kk)


I am formally requesting my copy of The Top 3333 Essentials.   
I have put together what I think is a great show of the Top 50 and some extras,including number 3333 and others.  The recorded broadcast is still on hold as management feels we need to be 'live and local' for people during this difficult time.  It has been very rewarding, playing listeners’ 'happy place songs' and their favorite 'quaran-tunes'.  The countdown will play when I get the go ahead to travel again so that I can finally spend some time with a newborn grand child.
I found my top 25 that I sent to you back when the voting was open.  My
number one was Bohemian Rhapsody.   It lives on after its initial popularity, Wayne’s World, and we had another surge of requests after the Queen / Freddie Mercury movie came out a couple of years ago. 
The music of Queen seemed to chart even better in the midwest.  WLS did have a lot to do with that.  I was an avid listener to that station through the late '70's.  They played Killer Queen all the way to number one in 1975 and number 7 in their year end countdown.  It only made it to number 12 in Billboard.
Phil Nee
WRCO
Queen’s music always did VERY well here in Chicago.
I don’t know that their original intention was to be a pop singles band … but they tapped into SO many different styles of music that we learned to always expect the unexpected.  (How does one go from the classical, operatic sounds of “Bohemian Rhapsody” into the rock-a-billy stylings of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” all in one swoop.  THESE guys pulled off EVERY style brilliantly.  From stadium rock like “We Will Rock You” to beautiful ballads like “We Are The Champions” and “Somebody To Love” to pure pop like “You’re My Best Friend” to dance / disco funk like “Another One Bites The Dust” and “Under Pressure,” these guys could do it all, reinventing themselves on every track.
Billboard officially credits them with TWO #1 Hits:  “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites The Dust” … but here in Chicago, they topped the WLS Chart FIVE (some might say six) times with “Killer Queen,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You” / “We Are The Champions,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites The Dust.”
Anxious to hear what kind of reaction you get to playing The Top 50 (whenever you finally get around to doing it!!!)  A show like that might actually help to lift the spirts during these dire times.  (Be sure to send me a copy!)  Thanks, Phil!  (kk)

Yesterday I was watching the one place where they still play the forgotten oldies ... a TV commercial.  It was a lawn seed commercial and I heard Link Wray's "Rumble"!!  I thought "What an awesome song!  I wonder if it made Kent's Top 3333.  I should've voted for it."  So please send me your list.  I promise to abide by all the terms and conditions.
Ed Erxleben
I’ve seen that same commercial several times now, too.  It sure is an ear-catching tune, isn’t it?  Even some 62 years later!!!  (I remember having the same reaction when Quentin Tarantino used it in “Pulp Fiction!”)
Incredibly, no, it did NOT make The Top 3333 List (which is now on its way to you.)  In fact, I can’t even seem to remember it so much as being nominated.  (Now THAT’S a shame!!!)
I think this one holds up well enough that it would still sound good coming out of your Classic Rock radio source every once in awhile.  (kk)   

Hi, Kent!
I wrote to you previously about how delighted I was to see years on the master 3333 Excel file!  That gave me just what I needed to add years to my beloved and carefully curated iTunes library.  And in general, the list is a fabulous resource.
In the process of going through my list, I was surprised by some of the artists and groups not on the 3333 at all.  (First of all, Kent, my sincere apologies for any groups that ARE on the list which I’ve overlooked!)
Now maybe I missed reading criteria of what would be included. But methinks a list of most essential classic rock songs should include at least something from ABBA, THE FOUR TOPS, THE SUPREMES, LESLEY GORE, MADONNA, THE POINTER SISTERS, SAM COOKE, SHIRELLES, WALKER BROTHERS, and WAYNE FONTANA AND THE MINDBENDERS. 
And surely the great TOMMY BOYCE AND BOBBY HART deserve to be on the list, if only for “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight”.  (My personal favorite is “Alice Long”, but that’s my bias showing: when that record came out I bought it for my girlfriend at the time whose name was Alice!)
Other notables missing from the 3333:  Buster Poindexter, Cindy Lauper, Jr. Walker and the All-Stars, Juice Newton, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Minnie Riperton, Frank Zappa and the Mothers, Nancy Sinatra, Ohio Express, Olivia Newton-John, Rotary Connection, Ruby & Romantics, Rufus Thomas, Seatrain, and Unit 4+2.
As my subject line suggested, apologies for quibbles.  There had to be some showing up in an undertaking of that mammoth scope!
Best wishes,
Kevin Killion
(the other KK)
The Classic Rock Top 3333 is exactly that … songs that fit the format for a Classic Rock radio station … the GENRE of classic rock.  Most of the artists you listed might make a list of the all-time biggest and favorite POP songs … or Top 40 songs … but that wasn’t the intent here …
Our series was designed to acknowledge the songs and artists that carved their own place in “album rock” … or the era where the album became more significant than the single.  (A few of the artists on your list made the final list as well … but as a rule, none of these would typically qualify to be on such a specific list.)
Because radio is SO segregated and regimented these days, you’re not as likely to hear the widespread variety that we enjoyed growing up in the hey day of Top 40 radio … back when you could hear artists like Glen Campbell and Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and The Four Tops, The Four Seasons and Napoleon XIV, all played back-to-back and side-by-side without the slightest reservation.  Radio just isn’t like that anymore.  Today’s channels are geared toward your specific tastes in music.
There is a spot for much of the music you have listed … but honestly I think even an all-inclusive list with no barriers or restrictions would have to be pretty large to include artists like Buster Poindexter, Seatrain, The Walker Brothers, Rotary Connection and Frank Zappa!!!  It would likely have to be a list of 10-20,000 favorite songs!!!  (But then again, as you eluded to, that’s why iPads are for!!!)  kk

Hi Kent -
In today’s edition of Thursday This And That / Forgotten Hits, you mentioned that Jackie De Shannon did not win any awards for "What The World Needs Now Is Love".  But didn't she win an award for the song she co-wrote, "BETTE DAVIS EYES"??
What a great song that was.
If in doubt ask the master ...
Carolyn
You are absolutely right … she sure did.  “Bette Davis Eyes” (written by Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss) topped Billboard’s Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart for nine weeks in 1981 … and then went on to win The Grammy for both Record of the Year AND Song of the Year.  (This single rode the charts for 26 weeks … half a year!!! … which was virtually unheard of back then!)  It was Kim Carnes’ (who’s a very successful songwriter in her own right) biggest hit.  (kk)

With multiple mentions of "Unchained Melody" in FH yesterday and today, I'm reminded that it was on this day in 1955 that two versions of "Unchained Melody" first appeared on the Billboard charts. These were performed by Les Baxter's Orchestra and Chorus and Al Hibbler. The movie had premiered on January 19, with its first showing in Chino where it was filmed. Opera singer Todd Duncan performed the song in the flick.
On April 23 Roy Hamilton's cover made the chart - and a few weeks later, on May 14, we see June Valli's brief appearance.
This was one of those rare situations where four versions of the same song were on the charts at the same time. And, as you have often mentioned, this is a perfect example of the time when the song was more important than the artist(s).
David Lewis
Many years ago we did a tribute to “Unchained Melody” in Forgotten Hits, tracing its history back to the original film version.  SO many great versions have been recorded since then (with The Righteous Brothers’ version seeming to be the definitive take against which all others are measured … and THEIR version was a B-SIDE!!!)  

I found these comments (including one of your own!) dating back to 2011:

‘Unchained Melody’ lyricist Zaret dead at 99
Song was one of the most frequently recorded of the 20th century
Hy Zaret died at his home Monday, about a month shy of his 100th birthday, his son, Robert Zaret, said Tuesday.
He penned words to many songs and advertising jingles but his biggest hit was “Unchained Melody,” written in 1955 for a film called “Unchained.” It brought Zaret and Alex North, the composer, an Academy Award nomination for best song.
Zaret refused the producer’s request to work the word “unchained” into the lyrics, instead writing to express the feelings of a lover who has “hungered for your touch a long, lonely time.”
The song was recorded by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Lena Horne, U2, Guy Lombardo, Vito & the Salutations and Joni Mitchell, who incorporated fragments into her song “Chinese Cafe / Unchained Melody.”
An instrumental version was a No. 1 hit in 1955 for Les Baxter, while a vocal version by Al Hibbler reached No. 3 the same year.
But most baby boomers remember the song from the Righteous Brothers’ version. The record, produced by Phil Spector, reached No. 4 on the Billboard chart in 1965, and was a hit again 25 years later when it was used on the soundtrack of the film “Ghost.”
In all, it was recorded more than 300 times, according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which listed it in 1999 as one of the 25 most-performed musical works of the 20th century.
Among other songs Zaret co-wrote were “My Sister and I,” a hit in 1941 for Jimmy Dorsey; “So Long, for a While,” the theme song for the radio and TV show “Your Hit Parade”; “Dedicated to You”; and the Andrews Sisters’ novelty song “One Meat Ball.”
“He had some big, big hits,” said Jim Steinblatt, an assistant vice president at ASCAP.
In later years, Zaret had to fend off the claims by another man, electrical engineer William Stirrat, who said he wrote the “Unchained Melody” lyrics as a teenager in the 1930s and even legally changed his name to Hy Zaret. Robert Zaret and Steinblatt both said the dispute was resolved completely in favor of the real Zaret, who continued to receive all royalties. Steinblatt said Stirrat died in 2004.
-- submitted by Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano
How weird that this would happen now in the midst of so much discussion of this tune in Forgotten Hits!
(By the way, Bill Medley told Forgotten Hits a few years ago that HE produced the original Righteous Brothers' version of "Unchained Melody" and not Phil Spector because Spector couldn't be bothered to oversee the B-Sides!  "Unchained Melody" was the original flip side of The Righteous Brothers' single "Hung On You" but quickly surpassed the intended A-Side on the charts, ultimately peaking at #4 in Billboard in 1965, eclipsing "Hung On You"'s #47 chart showing.  Much like the proper songwriting credit, the dispute as to who really PRODUCED this song has also raged for years ... as Phil Spector ALSO claims ownership of this production!)  kk
I found a source that had a nice clean copy of the flick "Unchained".
It's not bad, but it's not great. The melody plays on and off throughout, and there are interesting appearances by Jerry Paris (of Dick Van Dyke fame), Barbara Hale (youngest I've ever seen her), and a young Tim Considine.
Musical highlights are Todd Duncan's vocal and a nice instrumental at the close.
David Lewis

Hil's review was less than flattering ... but it IS interesting to see where this song got its origins.  (kk)

>>>Unchained, a 1955 low budget movie, is about a man imprisoned. I have seen the movie and I have it on DVD and VHS but neither is a copy to make a fuss over. It is blurred and shaky. I bought it from one of those online "hard to find" movie places, mainly to get the song. The movie stars Chester Morris, a tough guy type from early 30s films and into the 70s. He plays a warden trying to create a model prison where the inmates are treated decently with the hopes of rehabilitation. The focus is on an inmate played by Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, a football player with Hollywood ambitions that never materialized. The theme is by Alex North, on of Hollywood's finest composers, whose work can be heard in such movies as Viva Zapata and The Long Hot Summer. While the theme is played throughout, the song is in the hands of one of the most cliched characters in movie history, the black prisoner with a guitar. Here he is played by one time Porgy actor Todd Duncan. In the movie itself it is sung without the famous bridge beginning with "Lonely river flows ... ". It was nominated for Best Song Oscar and lost to the highly popular but not long-standing "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing". Time and countless artists recordings have demonstrated over time which is the better song. Here's an mp3 I made. You now have the original version of Unchained Melody. Take my word for it. It is a classic song. It is NOT a classic movie. I feel its low budget, lack of star power and absence of any studio push kept the song from winning an Oscar.
Link to the movie for more information is below.  (Hil)

There are reportedly over 300 known recordings of "Unchained Melody", making it one of the most recorded songs in pop history.  Joel Whitburn's latest "Top Pop Singles" book also says it's the song with the most charted versions:  13 at last count!  (kk)

BONUS ‘60’s FLASHBACK:
After our Phil Spector Series (put together by FH Reader Steve Knuettel) ran, a bit of a controversy erupted regarding who actually produced The Righteous Brothers' hit version of "Unchained Melody" in 1965.  Often regarded as one of Phil Spector's greatest productions, there is a VERY distinct possibility that this track was, in fact, produced by Bill Medley!  See, back then Spector was only interested in producing the A-Sides of his records ... and he was absolutely CONVINCED that "Hung On You" would be a major hit.  So, in what amounted to not much more than "throwing his artists a bone," he allowed Medley to produce the B-Sides of all of The Righteous Brothers' records.  But "Unchained Melody" became a surprise hit.  The intended B-Side quickly surpassed the intended A-Side, rising to #4 on the Billboard Chart (while "Hung On You" never climbed any higher than #47!)  
 
Finally, to set the record straight, we went right to the source himself ... and Bill Medley exclusively told Forgotten Hits:    

Hi Kent, 
You have the story right. Phil would produce the singles and I would produce the album material.  "Unchained Melody" was never intended to be a single. As such, I produced it.
You have to remember that I was producing our stuff before Phil Spector ... I mean I produced "Little Latin Lupe Lu", "My Babe" and all that stuff. Then when we went with Phil, Phil asked me if I would produce the albums because it was too time consuming for him to produce the entire albums. So he was gonna do the singles and I would do the album. And so that's how that happened and that's how I produced "Unchained Melody," which Phil Spector apparently now takes credit for. He can have the credit. And I'm not a producer. I know how to produce. But it's obviously not a Spector production.  "Unchained Melody" was never intended to be the single ... it was produced to be on the album. It was put on the B side of a Phil Spector single "Hung On You" and the minute it was released "Unchained Melody" just went through the roof. 
--Bill Medley   


Here's the original:

The two big hit versions from 1955 ...




The definitive hit version that set the benchmark for all that followed ...



(Although they weren't ALL particularly great!!!) ...



Redemption!

 
kk …
According to Ron Smith's book, on 4/9/1953 Elvis performed at the L.C. Humes High School talent contest, singing "KEEP THEM COLD, ICY FINGERS OFF OF ME." He gets the most applause and sings "’TIL I WALTZ AGAIN WITH YOU."
I can't hardly believe it …
Listen to Elvis say the only subject he failed was music.
And listen to this recording of Elvis singing “TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME,” a song written by Bob Dylan.
If you read some of the comments below, you’ll see that …
Elvis Presley recorded the song on May 26, 1966, during a session for his album How Great Thou Art. The song originally appeared as a bonus track on the Spinout movie soundtrack album. Dylan once said that Presley's cover of the song was "the one recording I treasure the most."  (Mark Parker)
Dylan was supposedly so overwhelmed by this cover that he thought it was the best cover anyone had ever done of him and it was one of his most proud moments in his career to have Elvis cover one of his songs   (Simon Robeyns)  
Frank B.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dRNZZuuR8I&fbclid=IwAR09s8rCi0RmmHFRQeTdNkVAQrpX2RjLVSVaZIzc_AgZSelzMMwbekv36Hs&app=desktop

And I have always loved Bob Dylan’s version of the Elvis Presley hit “A Fool Such As I,” a #47 hit in early 1974.  (kk)


And, while we're on the subject of Bob Dylan, it's amazing to me to think that someone of Bob Dylan’s stature has his OWN favorite songwriters … and the fact that John Prine was one of them has to be one of the highest honors one could bestow.
Dylan just scored his very first #1 Record on ANY Billboard Chart this week when “Murder Most Foul” (the 17-minute track we discussed last week, written about the Kennedy assassination) topped the Digital Downloads Chart this week.  (When one considers that Dylan’s career dates back BEFORE the Kennedy assassination … yet he has never officially earned a #1 … that’s pretty amazing!)
Songs he has WRITTEN have become #1 Hits for other artists … but this is the first time he’s scored one under his own name.  Wow!  (kk)  

Mark Lindsay told this story … 
He lived with Terry Melcher (Doris Day's Son.)  They wrote songs together. 
Terry wrote the music and Mark wrote the lyrics.
Terry had a big desk and was always doing five different things at a time.
Mark had a small desk that he sat at to do his writing. They parted and went their separate ways.
Fast forward to today …
Doris Day's Estate is currently having an auction. 
Mark checks out the catalog and sees that his desk is for sale.
He bid on it and got it. Mark always thought that the desk was part of the house furniture.
Turns out it was Terry Melcher's desk.  He took it with him and gave it to Doris Day.
Mark's hoping when he sits at his desk it will inspire him to write new music.
FB
Mark Lindsay and Terry Melcher lived together in Terry’s house for quite some time and wrote songs together there.  (This is the same house that Charles Manson and his crew came to attack, not realizing that Melcher no longer lived there … instead his disciples found Sharon Tate, et al, and the rest, as they say, is some pretty gory history.)
Lindsay and Melcher wrote the Paul Revere and the Raiders hits “The Great Airplane Strike” (#17, 1966; “Good Thing” (#4, 1967); “Ups And Downs” (#19, 1967); “Him Or Me, What’s It Gonna Be?” (#5, 1967); “I Had A Dream” (#13, 1967) and “Peace Of Mind” (#35, 1967).  Melcher also produced the band.  (He had previously been one half of Bruce and Terry, with Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys, before Bruce replaced Brian Wilson on the road in 1965.  Melcher also cowrote The Beach Boys’ #1 Hit “Kokomo” 20-something years later!)
Several Paul Revere and the Raiders songs were featured in last year’s Quentin Tarantino film “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” … and Mark Lindsay said it was haunting to see the rooms of that house recreated on the big screen after having spent so much time there.  (Obviously, after Terry moved out … and the murders took place … Mark never returned to the house again.  Story goes that Terry Melcher was Manson’s original target … a PLANNED murder, in fact, as revenge for not signing Charlie to a recording contract.  Talk about your sore losers!!!)  kk  

I just got word that Gilbert O’Sullivan’s City Winery show has been pushed back A YEAR due to rescheduling conflicts.
Tickets for this year’s show will be honored …
But the new date will be April 26, 2021.  (kk)  

Justin Hayward’s tour dates have been pushed back, too.
Here’s the new list as things currently stand:
October 15th– Infinity Hall in Hartford, CT
October 16th– Flying Monkey in Plymouth, NH
October 18th– Greenwich Odeum in East Greenwich, RI
October 22nd– The Warehouse in Fairfield, CT
October 27th– Robins Theatre in Warren, OH
October 28th– Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall, PA
October 29th– The Kent Stage in Kent, OH
November 1st and 2nd– City Winery in Chicago, IL
November 4th– City Winery in Nashville, TN  

Check out Harvey Kubernik’s piece on The Association …

Hi Kent –
The past few weeks we have needed your daily blog more than ever to help us oldies music lovers stay informed and thinking positive thoughts. You bring smiles to our faces in a critical time when many of us need it most. Thank you so very much for that. Hope you and your entire family stay safe. 
Here is some exciting news for oldies music fans that you may want to share with your readers. Lots of new stereo on several upcoming CD releases on the Hit Parade and Complete 60s labels. Also, an Eric Records remastered CD with some rare 45 versions. 
Check them out here:  http://ericrecords.com/ 
Santi Paradoa
Miami, Florida 

Hey, Kent ...
 

I was playing a tune on YouTube this evening, and when it finished, the computer, as it always does, threw a panel of six videos up on screen. One of the vids was from 1969, the Guess Who doing "Laughing" on some TV show. It had just become a Gold Record.  No surprise.
I'd never seen this video before.  I was mesmerized.  It was one more reason why
Burton and the Guess Who were one of the greatest pop bands in the world.  Burton's voice melts you into a puddle.
Mike Wolstein


Just found your list of Top 50 Instrumental Hits.
How in the world could you leave out the instrumental great POPCORN from the seventies?!!
Doug Mascaro
For the record, WE didn’t leave out anything …
The first Top 50 List was determined by actual chart performance of these hits at the time they were out.  (“Popcorn” peaked at #9 on the Billboard Chart in 1972 … but hit #7 in Record World.)
The second Top 50 List was determined by the votes of our readers as to which of these instrumental hits have stood the test of time … what are YOUR all-time favorites … and evidently not as many people felt as strongly about “Popcorn” as you do!  (lol)
We just REPORT the results … we don’t create them!  (kk)

UPDATE:  Since this list of Fan Favorites is now over ten years old, it has been suggested that it might be time to do a new poll to see the currently popularity of these tracks.
Likewise, we have heard that it may be time to update our Favorite TV Theme Songs list as well.  (Even the folks at Me-TV have made this suggestion!)
Unfortunately, there just aren’t as many great and memorable TV themes these days … but hey … if we get enough positive response to EITHER of these new polls, we just may put it out there to ALL the readers and ask them to cast their votes again.
What say you, Forgotten Hits Readers???  (kk)

HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
Hi Kent –
Hoping you can help …
If you know anyone who collects local airchecks, Pam is looking for a Biondi clip from WLS-FM 94.7 where he says "Classic Hits" for her documentary.  She says it has to be those exact words.  So, that'd be after 1986.  I went through about 300 airchecks and sites, with no luck.  Maybe you and your audience will get lucky.
Thanx, and stay healthy!
Keep up the great work!
Mike 
Puttin’ it out there!  Anybody able to help with this one?  (kk)  

And on this date in 1970:  
April 14th– Stephen Stills breaks his wrist in a car accident, causing the cancellation of a tour by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

THE SPIRIT OF CHICAGO

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Several years ago, a bunch of Chicago musicians got together with Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March to cut a song called “Spirit Of Chicago.”  It was presented to The City Of Chicago as a showing of pride.  (The list of artists involved reads like a Who's Who of Chicago Singers ... including Dennis DeYoung, Cathy Richardson, the late Gary Loizzo of The American Breed, Jim Ellison, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, Frankie Sullivan (Jim's former partner in Survivor), our Forgotten Hits buddy Dick Eastman and many, many more.

Now, with Chicago being one of the leading cities facing the Covid 19 pandemic (NOT a statistic we can be especially proud of!), we're giving the song a new, fresh listen ... and it really couldn’t come at a more appropriate time.

Much as Survivor's "Eye Of The Tiger" has become a theme song for all of those rising up to life's challenges ... and Jim Peterik's "Empty Arena" has recently tackled the state of the world we're currently forced to live in ... "Spirit Of Chicago" is another uplifting song designed to help inspire us to battle through these difficult and uncertain times.

You can check out the brand new lyric video (put together by Paul Braun) here ...



With everything going on in the world right now, and especially close to home here in Chicago, the Ides felt it was time to bring out their 1992 gem "Spirit Of Chicago" with a brand-new lyric video and imagery to fit the times and provide some hope and moral support for our great city.  (Yeah, I live in Valpo, but I was born on the South Side.)
It will be up on the Ides Facebook page shortly … and it's live on the Ides YouTube channel right now ... and today it makes its premier in Forgotten Hits.
Please enjoy and share the heck out of this!
(All I can say is that I've probably heard this song 60 times in the past week or so as I was building the video, and I'm still not sick of it, so that really says something about the song itself!)
Creativity happens when you have great source material for inspiration.
Paul Braun

The Ides of March felt the time was right for re-releasing our 1992 City of Chicago anthem "Spirit Of Chicago" with a brand-new lyric video done by Paul Braun.
Besides yours truly and all of the Ides, our special guests include Dennis DeYoung, Cathy Richardson, the late Gary Loizzo and Jim Ellison of Material Issue, Frankie Sullivan, Rick Nielsen, John Melnick and Dave Carl.  What a cast of Chicago classics including my co-writer Dick Eastman.
This song and video can be seen here, on theidesofmarch.com and on Jimpeterik.com … as well as the Ides' Official Facebook Page.
Special thanks to everyone who took part in this and the photographer
Barry Butler and others who donated their brilliant images to the celebration of The Spirit of Chicago.
Thanks to you, Kent, and Forgotten Hits for reminding your followers of the spirit of this great city!
Jimbo and all the Ides. 

April, 2020 ...    

In an effort to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Chicago is on LOCKDOWN. Strange, difficult times for all of us. But we are Chicago. If we work together, we will come through this stronger than ever. 
Written by Jim Peterik / Dick Eastman
©1992 Dick Eastman Music (ASCAP) / ©1992 Jim Peterik Music, Administered by Concord Music (ASCAP)
Special Guests:
Guitars: Rick Nielsen, Frankie Sullivan
Guest Vocals: Dennis DeYoung, Cathy Richardson, Gary Loizzo, Jim Ellison, John Melnick, David Carl
Keyboard, Vocals: Jim Peterik
Guitar, Vocals: Larry Millas
Drums, Vocals: Mike Borch
Bass, Vocals: Bob Bergland
Hammond B-3, Vocals: Scott May
Horns: The Ides of March Brass
Produced By Jim Peterik
Executive Producers: The Ides of March
Engineered by Larry Millas at World Stage Studio, Burr Ridge
In memory of Gary Loizzo and Jim Ellison
The Ides would also like to thank Steve Harkins
Certain Chicago photos courtesy of Barry Butler, www.BarryButlerPhotography.com
Other images from www.Freepik.com and various sources

Lyrics:

Riders on the new horizon
At just the break of day

The prairie sun is rising high to light their way
America unfolds before their eyes
The pioneers, the new frontiers of Paradise

And it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above,
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now the child has come of age
We’ll stand as one, the best will come tomorrow … Chicago!

People from many different places
Search to find their dreams
The city’s heart embraces everyone it sees
We feel the fire that burned so long ago
Together we will carry on with heart and soul

‘Cause it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now we turn another page
We shine a light for all the world to follow Chicago!

[Bridge]

In a world that keeps changin’
We can light up the land if we keep on believin’ that we can
So take a stand

And it’s the nature of the Brave to rise above,
It’s the Spirit of Chicago
And now the child has come of age
We shine a light for all the world to follow

And it’s the nature of the brave to rise above,
It’s the spirit of Chicago
And now we turn another page
We shine a light for all the world to follow …
Chicago! Chicago!

To rise above, it’s the Spirit of Chicago!  Chicago! Chicago!
We shine a light for all the world to follow 

And here's another Chicagoland classic brought back from the dead ... 

Last week we told you that Jeff James was reviving his “Windy City At Six” program, spotlighting many of our local artists.

Here are the latest details … from Jeff himself!

Here is the update on the new show WINDY CITY WEDNESDAY ...
Thanks for the promo, Kent, on your site!
Jeff James

Tell me more, tell me more ...  

You may remember back on the old Y103.9 in Chicagoland a one hour show called THE WINDY CITY @ SIX.  It was on the air for over a year, Monday through Friday,  for the 6vpm hour.  It was a one hour show that featured artists and groups that had some ties to Chicago … from the Jazz, Soul and Garage Rock sounds that came from the Windy City from such acts as  Mel Torme to Jerry Butler to the New Colony Six. 

Well, I am bringing this show back to the radio under the new name WINDY CITY WEDNESDAY.    

The first show can be heard THIS Wednesday (April 15th) on 101.5 FM HUNTLEY COMMUNITY RADIO from 4 to 6:30 pm.

I will be doing this new show on this station on all Wednesdays through the Spring … and possibly longer.   
https://huntleyradio.com/hcr/ 

Please join me with another show brought back to the air ... SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE @ THE 70'S … at 101.5 FM every Saturday from 6 pm till Midnight. 
https://huntleyradio.com/saturday-night-live-the-70s/ 
JJ 

Sounds great, Jeff … happy to spread the word.  (kk)
[Remember folks, it all kicks off tonight ... right here in Huntley, Illinois ... but available via streaming from anywhere on the globe!]
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