FORGOTTEN HITS

re: WE LOST A COUPLE OF THE ORIGINAL GREATS THIS WEEK:

Sad, sad news to hear about the passing of Phil Everly, one half of the duo that defined the late '50's and early '60's. Their inspiration was immeasurable ... everyone from The Beatles and The Hollies to the recently released duet album remake of "Songs Our Daddy Taught Us" by Norah Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds paid homage YEARS ago ... and the number of Everly Brothers cover tunes to make the charts over the past 50+ years in nothing short of incredible. (Everybody from Linda Ronstadt to Dr. Kildare scored hits by re-recording their tunes!) kk

Here is Ron Smith's official report from his www.oldiessmusic.com website:

Phil Everly, younger of the Everly Brothers duo along with his sibling Don, died Friday (January 3) of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in Burbank, California. He was 74. Born in Chicago in 1939 (Don had been born two years earlier in Brownie, Kentucky), the boys made a name for themselves singing with their father Ike and mother Margaret in Shenandoah, Iowa and Knoxville, Tennessee. They came to the attention of Chet Atkins in Nashville, who got the boys a contract with Columbia Records -- where they were dropped after one failed single. Undaunted, Chet introduced them to publisher Wesley Rose, who arranged a contract with Cadence Records, provided they signed with him as songwriters. Ironically, their first single for Cadence, "Bye Bye Love," was written by the husband-wife team of Boudeleaux and Felice Bryant, who would pen many other hits for the duo. "Bye Bye Love" got as high as #2 in 1957 -- the first of 26 top 40 singles. Their next chart hit that year, "Wake Up Little Susie," went all the way to #1. Other chart-toppers included "All I Have To Is Dream" (1958), "Bird Dog" (1958) and "Cathy's Clown" (1960). The latter was their first single after jumping to Warner Brothers Records and the label's first single in the UK, as well. Tensions mounted as the hits dried up in the late '60s and the duo broke up during an infamous concert at Knott's Berry Farm in California in 1973. They reunited for good in 1983 at a concert at Royal Albert Hall in London and continued touring thereafter -- most notably as the opening act for Simon & Garfunkel in 2003 and 2004 (Paul and Art noted that the Everlys heavily influenced their own harmony). The duo was named to the inaugural class of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 (the same year they were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame), received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1997 and were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Other tributes we received:

RIP Phil Everly today around 5:30 from chronic obstructive pulmonary heart disease. Did I beat Ron Smith?

Jack

I think the news may have hit the wire services at 5:30 this morning but Phil actually passed away late yesterday. Besides we HAVE to go with Ron Smith's account ... he's been the Official Forgotten Hits Grim Reaper for over a decade now! (lol) kk

Hey Kent,

Sorry to see Phil go and what a contribution to music he gave.

Interesting side story regarding the Everly Brothers and my older brother Jim Pike of the Lettermen ...

Our dad, back in the radio days, had a western band called Russ Pike and His Prairie Knights. He toured all over the West and Midwest doing a 30 minute show on all the major fifty thousand watt radio stations. Ike Everly, father of Don and Phil, made the same tours with his wife. I was too young but Jim had a couple of kid friends to play with by the name of Don and Phil whenever our parents were working the same stations. Much later after the success of both groups, Phil and Jim, who both lived in Toluca Lake, CA, got together a few times and relived their trouble making days at some of the stations.

Former Lettermen and now Reunion,

Gary Pike

http://music.yahoo.com/news/phil-everly-rock-39-everly-brothers-dies-74-021435388.html

Hi Kent,
I just discovered Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers passed away ... talk about an influential duo ... one of the all-time greats!
Peace,

Tim Kiley

Click here: Phil Everly, Half of Pioneer Rock Duo, Dies at 74 - WSJ.com

Phil Everly passes at 74 ...

An early retiree in 2014. May God bless his spirit. He and brother Don gave us so many great songs and memories.

Ronda Radio
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/01/04/phil-everly-everly-brothers-fame-dies-at-74-wife-says/

And here's a link to the L.A. Times article submitted by Tom Cuddy ...

Click here: LA Times - Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers dies at 74

Phil was awesome with his brother! Although I more often play covers of their songs, the originals are great to hear as well. MANY of their hits were written by others, but Phil and Don wrote, too.

Check out "The Price of Love"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc0vGtHe-FAvs. the Shocking Blue's great 1970 followup to Venus, "Mighty Joe"! SAME SONG! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHub01jVQ3M

They also wrote "I Don't Want to Love You" which Barry Lee Show turned into a WLS top 20 hit in 67 and fave Montanas of mine did their "Devil Child" re-titled as "Heaven Help You" as a KOIL hit in 68. Their influences on MY era music of mid and later 60's were strong, even 'tho at the time, I knew the COVERS as faves. Chicago's Saturday's Children did a killer cover of "Man With Money" too!

Their influence continued in the 70's. They did not write these, but their early version of "The Air That I Breathe" influenced the Hollies in 1970 to do the song and have a hit! Their "Love Hurts" became big for Nazareth. These besides the ones mentioned in the article you sent.

I wonder if KMA will do a tribute to Phil? They should, as what made KMA the friend to farmers back in the 20's and 30's and when the family sang there is still the bread and butter for our "regional radio" station still today. They STILL give the forecasts and ball scores for Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri every day TODAY!

I am surprised to read that his mother is still living!

Dick Barley told me that he met Phil in Chicago in 1975 and said he was a true gentleman and that Dick told him his fave Everlys tune was "Cathy's Clown", which made Phil happy, as it was one of their few hits that the brothers DID write themselves.

R.I.P. Phil.

Clark Besch

Most folks probably don't realize that Phil Everly recorded "The Air That I Breathe" first, prior to the hit Hollies version! (kk)

Neither brother achieved much in the way of solo success after their split (although Phil Everly DID have a few records make the country charts ... including THIS one, one of my all-time Everly favorites) ...

Bad start to 2014. First it was Jay Traynor, now Phil Everly.

I think most of your readers will want to check this one out. Don and Phil reunite at The Royal Albert Hall, after being apart for 10 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXkXY_BEd4Y

And here's another good clip you might want to use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lev9_TgAj8M
Frank B.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/03/showbiz/singer-phil-everly-dies/index.html

Yes, a VERY sad way to start the new year ... more on Jay Traynor below. (kk)

John "Jay" Traynor, the original "Jay" in Jay and the Americans, died Thursday (January 2) of liver cancer. He was 70. John sang with the Mystics on non-chart tunes like "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and "White Cliffs Of Dover," before helping found Jay and the Americans. Songwriters / Producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wanted to call the group "Binky Jones and the Americans" but John balked, preferring his family nickname "Jay," instead. He sang lead on their first hit, "She Cried" (#5 - 1962) but when the next three singles didn't fare well, he left for an equally unsuccessful solo career. In later years he toured with the Jay Siegel's Tokens.

-- Ron Smith

From Tom Cuddy:

Jay traynor, on left

FRIDAY, JANUARY 03, 2014 -

Passings: Jay Traynor of the Mystics and Jay and the Americans (1943 - 2014)

John "Jay" Traynor, who sang with the Mystics and was the original Jay of Jay and the Americans, died on Thursday after a two year battle with liver cancer. He was 70.

Jay Traynor, 1964

Jay Siegel of Jay Siegel's Tokens, the last group with which Traynor worked, wrote on Twitter:

It's with great sadness to tell you that Jay Traynor passed away this morning. He's been fighting liver cancer for the past 2 years. We all lost a great talent & a true gentleman, and I lost a wonderful friend. -Jay Siegel

Traynor was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 30, 1943 and started his first group, the Ab-tones, while in his mid-teens. At the age of 17, Jay was asked to become the new lead singer of The Mystics who had previously had a major hit with Hushabye. He was the third lead for the group and, by the time of his joining in 1960, the heyday of the harmony vocal groups was coming to a close. Traynor recorded three tracks with the group, White Cliffs of Dover, which became a single though not successful, Blue Star (the flip of Dover) and Over the Rainbow which wasn't released to the public until the 1980's.
Unhappy with being the "replacement" guy in the Mystics, Traynor hooked up with Howard Kane, Kenny Vance and Sandy Deanne, the last two of which had been in the semi-successful group The Harborlites who had a moderate New York area hit with Is That Too Much to Ask. The newly formed Jay and the Americans were brought to Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller who molded the group's sound, using the group's doo-wop harmonies with Traynor's more pop voice over the top.
Their first single, Tonight from West Side Story, became a local New York hit but was outsold nationally by the instrumental version by Ferrante and Teicher.
Their second single was the song Dawning backed with She Cried. The record didn't do well until six months after its release when a West Coast DJ turned the record over and started playing She Cried over and over. The song went to number 5 on the national charts.
Jay and the Americans went out on a long national tour in support of the single and the album of the same name, which took a toll on Traynor's psyche. After missing a few rehearsals, the other members of the group asked if he wanted to go solo and didn't stand in his way when he said he had thought about it.
Traynor released a couple of albums during the 60's that were not successful and, in the latter part of the decade, went to work at Woodstock Ventures. In the 70's, he worked behind the scenes with groups like Mountain, Yes, Ten Years After and the Who before settling down in Albany, NY and becoming a camera operator at WNYT television.
Later in his career, Traynor performed with cover bands and eventually became lead singer of the Joey Thomas Big Band where he developed an act featuring Frank Sinatra music. In 2006, he joined his final group, Jay Siegel's Tokens.

re: SOME VERY DISAPPOINTING AND DISCOURAGING NEWS:

Over the past couple of weeks I've received a couple of emails regarding the funds raised in the recent Sonny Geraci Benefit Concert held in Streetsboro, Ohio a few weeks back.

It was not good news ... rumors have apparently been circulating that NONE of the money raised (right around $30,000) ever made it to Sonny's family ... and several people who attended the event (or made contributions to it) are quite upset that their money donated never made it to the proper reciprient.

The whole point of the concert (for which numerous artists also donated their time and effort) was to raise money to help offset the cost of Sonny's enormous medical bills.

Hi Kent,

You don't know me but I came across your blog on the Sonny Geraci Benefit that was held back in November at a local establishment in my neck of the woods - The Z-Plez inside Stringz & Wingz, Streetsboro, Ohio. I did not attend but I bought tickets for a friend and I know many people that went. Rumor has it around town that Sonny Geraci never received the money that this benefit made and I hear it was upwards of $30,000. Do you know anything about that or do you know someone that can verify if this is true? This establishment has always been big on benfits and such and I can't see this being true but so many people are saying it is and they are upset. I spent over $200 on tickets and I would hate to know that the money I spent never made it to the intended recipient. You may not have any way of verifying this but I am at a loss here and looking for answers anywhere I can find them. I am trying to locate an address or something for the family of Sonny Geraci or his assistant to see if I can find some answers. Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Marilyn

I told Marilyn that I would do some checking on my end as well to see what the real status was regarding these funds .. but remained optimistic that all was well and on the up-and-up in that my OWN check to the organization just finally cleared the bank about a week and a half ago. My thinking was that perhaps they simply held all the donations "en masse" in order to make one large deposit / donation.

But apparently some of these rumors were not unfounded. Marilyn, the same FH Reader who sent me the original inquiry (with whom I've been in contact with throughout this whole ordeal) just sent me a newspaper article from the Streetsboro Gateway News stating the sad news that Stringz and Wingz, one of the organizers (who collected the money), has NOT made good on ANY of the payments promised ... and now, under court order to pay up by January 3rd, is holding back about $4750 to help cover some of their own expenses in putting together the event.

From Marilyn:

This was in today's paper concerning the benefit ...

http://thegatewaynews.com/news%20local/2014/01/01/streetsboro-family-days-stringz-wingz-at-odds-over-fundraiser
A VERY sad ending to what was always a very sincere venture.
I asked Dennis Tufano, one of the organizers and performers at the event, if he could share anything with our readers, many of whom also made donations to Sonny's cause but I didn't hear anything back in time for today's web posting. (I'm sure this is equally embarrassing and frustrating for him ... I know how much energy and effort he put into this whole project.) So I also followed up with Reporter Bob Gaetjens, who has promised to keep us posted on any other news regarding this travesty. (Funds were due to be turned over on Friday, January 3rd ... we're still waiting to see if that ever happened. Stay tuned for more details as we receive them.) kk

re: HELPING OUT OUR READERS:

Hi!

I remember an instrumental hit called "Montreal". sometime in the early sixties - I hope my memory serves me well on this. I do not remember the name of the orchestra ... can anyone help me with this?

A million thanks in advance ... hope to hear from someone.

Saludos,

Eddie Bandel - Aruba

I couldn't find a US charted hit with that title ... but thought I might have a better chance looking for a CANADIAN hit ... so I consulted my CHUM Chart Book (which lists every record to make their survey between 1957 and 1986) and found a hit by Johnny Williams from 1962. Give a listen to this and see if it's the song you've been looking for: Click here: ? Johnny Williams and His Orchestra - Montreal - YouTube

By the way, yours is the first letter we've ever received from Aruba!!! So now you've put me on a branda new mission ... to collect a new Forgotten Hits Reader from EVERY resort / island mentioned in The Beach Boys' hit "Kokomo"!!! Jamaica? Key Largo? Bahamas? Bermuda? Montego? Come on, people ... let me hear from you!!! (I know you're out there ... maybe you just haven't discovered us yet!) kk

That's the one! Thank you so much ... you made my day! I owe you big time.

Kind regards and all the best for 2014.

Eddy Bandel - Aruba

Hey Kent,
Great memories hearing "Wild Thing" by Senator Bobby. I always loved those novelty songs. When my friends and I heard it on the radio, we used to wait to hear the man in the control room say, "Not so ruthless, Senator!" It would never fail to crack all of us up! Do you know how far up the charts this version of the song made it? Do you know who played the senator and the producer?
- John LaPuzza

That great Bobby Kennedy imitation was done by Bill Minkin. The record was billed as Senator Bobby and the Hardly-Worthit Players! Believe it or not, songwriter Chip Taylor had a hand in co-producing the track with Dennis Wholey, who also performed on the record. It reached a very respectable #13 in Record World Magazine (#14 in Cash Box and #20 in Billboard) in early 1967 and then faded away ... pretty much permanently after Kennedy was assassinated a year later in Los Angeles. (kk)

re: 20 FEET FROM STARDOM:
Hi Kent,

Just saw on your site that you missed seeing "20 Feet from Stardom". I saw it when it played here recently and found it so interesting. Sometimes we forget how important background singers really are to a song. I hope you get to catch it when it returns to theatres. I also saw Darlene Love light our city's Christmas tree this year and sing her Wall of Sound Christmas song. She was great, as usual. Did you catch her last Friday on Dave Letterman? She always rocks in the holiday season.

Wishing you and Frannie a Happy New Year.

Janet

Happy New Year to you as well!
The only time I saw this film listed as playing here I checked with the theater and they told me that they were going to be closed for renovation ... and I never saw it listed anywhere else ... so I'm REALLY looking to catching this right here in Oak Park on Tuesday Night, the 7th. I've heard VERY good things and want to experience it for myself.
As for Darlene Love's annual appearance on David Letterman, no, I found out about it too late ... so ended up watching the clip online instead. A very solid performance ... just like it is EVERY year! (kk)

re: SURVEY SAYS:
>>>Hey Hits! (et al): Great site; greatrecollections and collections! Makes me want to turn around and do a few more WLS Silver Dollar Survey gigs! Keep spinnin'! (Bob Hale, WLS 1960 - 1964)

Here's a copy of Bob Hale's 1st WLS survey --

Bill Hengels

I'm sure Bob will enjoy seeing this again ... I sent him a link to today's posting.
You'll find LOTS of Top 40Surveys (WLS and otherwise) on the website every Saturday in our brand new feature! Thanks, Bill! (kk)

That's a wild batch of music surveys you posted today, Kent. This Saturday feature is gonna be great fun!

David

I suppose you already knew that Saturday marks the 68th anniversary of the first Billboard chart, hence your tease about the surveys.

Jack

Actually, I don't know anything about that (and I'm not sure it's true ... Billboard's been around since the late 1800's ... and were regularly publishing charts through the '40's.) All I know is that Clark and I have been planning this for about three or four months now ... yet incredibly it STILL turned into a last-minute scramble trying to get Saturday's post ready!!! (lol) kk

UPDATE: I just checked and, according to Wikipedia anyway, you're ALMOST right:

On January 4, 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade. The first Music Popularity Chart was calculated in July 1940.

That would actually make yesterday the 78TH ANNIVERSARY of their first chart. (I believe prior to that they charted sheet music sales ... Joel Whitburn could probably confirm this for us.) kk

Kent,
I love the new Saturday feature.
Attached is a partial set list (apparently, the "fast, rocking" songs) from 1967 that my then-band, Thuh Sqwamps, performed.
A happy, healthy and prosperous new year to you and yours.
Best,
Bob Rush

The Beat Magazine

Wow, far out and totally GROOVY, Kent and Clark ...

The Princetons at #2!!!! (Why wasn't I listening raptly in those days? I mean, like, man, I was TEN!!!!!) And who wouldn't want to be cruising the streets of Miami, FL with "I'm Gonna Do It To You" (The Birdwatchers) going at full blast!!!! WJJD charts are true relics, of course. The Downers Grove HS district had their own station and charts in '71!!!! Fantasti-delic!!!!

Clark -- really cool to see Rumbles Ltd and Stillroven in the Top 10 in Nebraska!!!!

Best for 2014 to everybody -

Bobster

re: THIS AND THAT:

It's been quite a while since we've heard anything in the way of new music from Eric Carmen ... but all that's about to change as "Brand New Year" makes its debut this week. Backed by The Wondermints (who've been acting as Brian Wilson's back-up band for years now), Eric is in fine form on this one. You can check it out here: http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eric-carmen-new-song/

(Thanks toTom Cuddy for getting the word out!) kk

Receivedthis from another FH Reader as well ...

Thought the Forgotten Hits folks might be interested in hearing this. It's part of an Eric Carmen retrospective coming out in March. It's his first new tune in quite a while. http://www.ericcarmen.com/news-2013-12-21.html

This could be a very cool Retrospective. Eric Carmen talks a bit about it here: http://ericcarmen.com/forums/index.php?/topic/30036-the-essential-eric-carmen/

Also Happy New Year to all.

Bill

Several months ago we told FH Readers that Eric Carmen actually had TWO new upcoming releases ... the 2-CD "Essentials" set (featuring 30 remastered tracks including the new track mentioned above) as well as a collection much earlier recorded material, packed together in a retrospective featuring tracks that have NEVER been released on CD before ... all GREAT news for Eric Carmen fans (like me!!!) More information on Eric's website:

Click here: Eric Carmen | News

Did anyone see FH member Vic Flick on Pawn Stars Saturday night? When he said he had a 36 page PARTIAL discography / filmology credit list, even I was impressed.

Jack

Vic lives in Las Vegas so this had to be a no brainer for him! Wish he would have let us know in advance ... I would have been happy to help get the word out. (Will have to look for this "On Demand" as I missed the original broadcast.) Ironically, we offered a copy of Vic's lengthy and very impressive discography a few weeks ago in Forgotten Hits to anybody interested in picking up a copy. If this now piques your interest, drop me a line and I'll send it along! (kk)

Selling music by the pound?!?!? I truly have lived too long!
Al Kooper

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022461533_vinylbutchershop1xml.html

Hi Kent!

Welcome back!
Hope you, Frannie and all your FORGOTTEN HITSTERS had a VERY Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and that 2014 is totally bitchin' for all of us!
Here's my 2014 Wish List for everyone ...

On Christmas Day, in commemoration of its 25th Anniversary, I published the WHOLE story of how my holiday-novelty song, CHRISTMAS IN MALIBU, came to be and went on to become a surprise national hit on radio and television. It's a pretty cool story (about my own "forgotten hit") that involves some some of the biggest names in radio and music television in the late 80's. It was the first (and most likely the last) time this wild, but true, story of an unlikely holiday-music miracle was told and, if nothing else, it's a nice little slice of pop music history. For those Forgotten Hitsters interested in checking it out, it's posted here:

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/prowlerdog/1287792/In other news, just a quick heads-up to a couple of GREAT shows coming to good old Laughlin, Nevada, which has been quite the hot-spot for so many FORGOTTEN HITS artists over the last several years!
This Saturday, January 4, a trio of REAL American Idols ... from the 60's ... are appearing together at the Edgewater Hotel's E-Center. FRANKIE AVALON, BOBBY RYDELL and FABIAN (also known these days as DICK FOX'S GOLDEN BOYS) are in town for one night only. This show promises to be interesting.

Read the story about the show from our local casino and entertainment weekly, the Laughlin Entertainer, here:
http://laughlinentertainer.com/?p=889#more-889
January 14 through 19 marks the return of the current incarnation of THE KINGSTON TRIO to Don's Celebrity Theater at the Riverside Hotel, with today's version of THE FLAMINGOS following in the same venue January 21-26.
Saturday, February 15, pop music legend PAUL ANKA makes his annual appearance at the E-Center in what I am sure will be a terrific show, just as his 2013 performance was. Hey, what's NOT to like about Paul?
Not sure if I'll be making it to The Golden Boys as of this writing but, if I do, I'll most definitely pass along my review. Paul Anka, on the other hand, is a "must-see" for me every year and I'll be checking on tix for that one in the next few days!
More great shows are headed to the river for the spring, so stay tuned for all the details in the weeks to come!
-- Joe Klein
www.facebook.com/joe.klein.producer

NYC FAB 50 Beatles 50th Anniversary Tribute Concert Announced For The Apollo Theater

"TWIST & SHOUT: Soul Legends Celebrate The Beatles," at the legendary Apollo Theater, is just one of the star-studded charity concerts being held as part of "NYC FAB 50: Celebrating the Music of The Beatles" 50th Anniversary Celebration.
This once-in-a-lifetime event will "come together" on Thursday, February 6th, 2014, kicking off a series of concerts and special events under the "NYC FAB 50" series.

Tickets for "TWIST & SHOUT: Soul Legends Celebrate The Beatles" and other concerts & events will go on sale to the public through Ticketmaster on January 7th, 2014. The gala concert at the Apollo will feature veteran music legends, including one star who toured with The Beatles and another whose father toured with The Beatles.

Kitoto Von Hebb, the daughter of two musical parents, one being "Sunny" author / singer Bobby Hebb, is from a family with deep and impressive musical roots. Her great uncle, Harold "Hal" Hebb was a member of the Marigolds, the group that performed for Elvis Presley at the Governor's Mansion in Tennessee.

Bobby Hebb toured with The Beatles and was a friend of theirs. His biggest hit, "Sunny," was recorded in New York City. Released as a single, it reached #3 on the R&B charts, #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. When Hebb toured with The Beatles in 1966, "Sunny" was, at the time of the tour, ranked higher than any Beatles song then on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. BMI rated "Sunny" number 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century."

Kitoto has recorded with producer Joe Viglione (producer of the "Sunny" boxed set) and her recordings of Bobby Hebb's "Proud Soul Heritage" and "Love You" feature Grammy winning drummer Steve Holley (Paul McCartney's Wings / Joe Cocker / Ian Hunter / Elton John) and her cousin Thomas Hebb among others.

This is her first appearance at the legendary Apollo Theater, and her first time performing in a tribute to The Beatles.

She will be joining a line-up of world-renowned soul, jazz and R & B legends at the Apollo Theater on Thursday, February 6, 2014 for "TWIST & SHOUT: Soul Legends Celebrate The Beatles." The slogan for the gala charity concert is "Twist & Shout: HELP! End Hunger" with 100% of the net proceeds from ticket sales to benefit the Food Bank for New York City.

Also confirmed for the star-studded evening are such artists as...

Lloyd Price,a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame artist, is one of thelegends and pioneers of rock & roll. He is known worldwide for his hits "Personality,""Stagger Lee" and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy."“Lawdy Miss Clawdy” topped the R&B charts for seven weeks and was covered by the likes of Elvis Presley (who performed it on his 1968 NBC-TV special), John Lennon and Elvis Costello.

Dee Dee Bridgewater is athree-time Grammy Award and Tony Award winning singer and songwriter who has toured the world and performed on Broadway in "The Wiz." She most recently garnered rave reviews starring as the late, great Billie Holiday in the Off-Broadway production "Lady Day."

Gary U.S. Bonds" is anhonoree of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, a “favorite son” of the Blues Brothers and his classic recording “Quarter to Three" appears on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll" list. His first hit was “New Orleans” and he teamed with Bruce Springsteen for his comeback hit “This Little Girl.” The Beatles backed Bonds on an early European tour, but were actually fired from the tour.

Bettye LaVette is aGrammy Award nominee who has performed at the Kennedy Center Honors and is heralded for re-inventing songs from the British bands who were initially influenced by American R & B music. She joined Todd Rundgren, Patti Austin and others for a Hollywood Bowl concert dedicated to The Beatles, and has thrilled audiences at the annual John Lennon charity tribute concert held in New York.

Melvin Van Peeblesis the ultimate Renaissance man: actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, novelist, visual artist and composer. Best known as a revolutionary film-maker (and to younger movie-goers as the father of Mario Van Peebles), his music has run the gamete from soul, funk, jazz rap and improvisational. An album released on The Beatles U.S. label, Capitol, was described as“filled with stylistic curveballs, Broadway-like compositions, and his animated verbal delivery.”
Rich Pagano of the Fab Faux is the musical director for the concert, and more performers are being added to the bill.

The Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street, is one of the most famous live music venues in the world, and even hosted a memorable Paul McCartney concert in December of 2010.

100% of net proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Food Bank for New York City. Artists subject to change. The production is not affiliated with Apple Corp Ltd or The Beatles.

Further information at www.NYCFAB50.com.

Hi Kent,

I started to delve into the New Colony 6’s albums about 10 years ago, and like so many other people quoted on your pages, I can’t explain why they weren’t more successful – I’ve come to love all four albums, and I love that I can hear so many of those non-lp songs on your site ... with one exception. Any chance of posting “Run”? It’s the big mystery NC6 song for me. Thanks for shining some light on them and all the other “Forgotten” ones.

Glenn Murphy

Over the many years of doing this, we find that new readers are discovering The New Colony Six all the time ... and, once they do, really enjoying what they hear. They really should have been MUCH bigger than they were.

We can help you out with "Run", an "end-of-the-run" single by the band that went absolutely nowhere ... apparently at this point they had worn out their welcome even with our Chicago radio stations. (kk)

Kent,
I was at a party last night and someone asked me what 60's and 70's groups still had all the original members. For a change, I came up blank (and I don't drink any more!) :)

So I put it to some friends and so far they came up with:
Aerosmith
The Rascals (since the reunion)
Rush (and I missed that one! :0 )
and ZZ Top.
What a great trivia question!
Can you think of any more?
Best,
Bob
ps: And no fair using single artists! we *know* all the members of Tom Jones are still in it! :)

The one that came to mind immediately for me was Chicago's own Ides Of March ... they play it up (in a very big way) that the same guys who first started rehearsing in the basement back in 1964 are still together on stage playing many of our local area summertime festivals. Let's see if our readers come up with a few more. (kk)

It's true Kent, that a lot of deserving singers are long overdue to get into the RnR Hall of Fame. But incredibly MAKING the cut for this year from the Philly area is the dynamic duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates. Just love to cruise to the music. Great harmonies and great music and song writing. They really have some classic and beautiful songs. Besides vintage Hall and Oates songs, "Sarah Smile,""She's Gone,""Rich Girl,""So Close,""Did It In a Minute,""One on One," which I never get tired of listening to, I like Hall's "Wait for Me" and "Somebody Like You." Actually the last two songs mentioned defined Daryl Hall's solo success and help to put him in the Song Writer's Hall of Fame.

Sandy

Happy New Year!

Came across your blog while trying to satisfy my curiosity about a radio event as I recalled it. I periodically recall reading an article in the Chicago Tribune eons ago about WCFL and their use of "phony" time checks. As I recall the article from the distance of what, 40 years?, it claimed Big 10 'CFL had done a survey that indicated that most listeners changed the station at the top and bottom of the hour. Hence, at 8:30, they would say it was 8:35, for example, to keep listeners from changing the station. I believe this was at least one of the reasons for their seemingly abrupt format change. Apparently, the FCC took a dim view of this practice. The article contained a sentence something along the lines of the station having to scrub the acne cream off the walls. Believe it also made a snide remark about the station that stands for Labor putting all of it's laborers out of work by deceptive practices. Whenever I recall this event I try searching here on the 'net but my searches never turn anything up. Todays search however turned up a posting on your blog that was kind of along the lines of what I recall, so it appears maybe my recollection on this is not as faulty as I was coming to think it was.

I also recall that AM 1000 was apparently not a clear channel and after sundown, they went to a directional antenna. In the west 'burbs picking up 'CFL at night was sometimes akin to trying to pick up Radio Moscow. Between all the static and "sound rolls" you might hear someone from West Virginia calling in a request as apparently he could get the station better than I could. I will admit this could just be a faulty memory or it was a temporary situation.

While I haven't really had a chance yet to peruse your blog fully, I didn't see any references to an almost 3rd player in the AM radio days - WIND. They had a 50's, 60's and Now format in the early '70s and my tapes of songs recorded off the radio include The Doors "Love Her Madly" and the Beatles "I Feel Fine", recorded from WIND. The only voice I recall was Stu Collins, I believe.

I see Bob Dearborn is a friend of the blog. I was just recounting to someone recently what a phenomenon Don McCleans American Pie song was at the time and that there was a DJ that did a special feature. He would play a line or two of the song and then offer his interpretation of what the lines meant. I believe that DJ was Bob Dearborn.

I remember all those guys - Art Roberts and the top three most requested songs and his secret agent serial; Barney Pipp at 'CFL - "turn it into peanutbutter!"; Jerry Kay, Ron Riley, Chuck Buell, Kris Eric Stevens, Joel Sebastian, Jerry G. Bishop and his original incarnation of Svenghoulie on Channel 32's Screaming Yellow Theater; Dick and Burts "Chicken Man". Wish I still had my old copies of the Silver dollar Surveys and the 'CFL Top 40.

Thanks for keeping the memories!

William Wagner

Wheaton, IL

Hi Kent -

A little late but no less sincere: Happy 15 years of FH! I only discovered you in 2004 when you were looking for a rip of "She Lets Her Hair Down" by Don Young. Have been following you ever since. It seems
like a long time, but when you're 61, ten years goes in a flash.
As for long song titles, my favorite is "Greenberg, Glickstein, Charles, David, Smith, and Jones," by the Shames. Why? In 1974 I was a Xerox repairman on LaSalle Street downtown, swabbing out cranky copiers for law firms like Taylor, Miller, Magner, Sprowl, and Hutchings, of whom all but Hutchings were dead. So I saw stuff like that on brass door plates all the time, and the song stuck in my head.
-- 73 --
-- Jeff Duntemann
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hi Jeff! I thought we first connected with The Riddles' tune "Sweets For My Sweet" ... but there's been SO many connections now over the years that it's getting tougher and tougher to remember them all. I think we DID have some contact on the Don Young song, too.

Oddly enough, I did a very lengthy interview piece with Don (real name Don Albano) that never ran in FH and now since the crash is most likely lost forever. He sent me a bunch of old photos and recordings that he had done prior to his 1970 solo hit, including tracks with The Fireflies and Vito and the Salutations.

I feel bad that we never got it up on the site but quite honestly it just doesn't have the mass appeal that the readers are looking for. Even looking at the new Joel Whitburn book, the best "She Lets Her Hair Down" did nationally was "bubble under" at #104. But maybe someday!!!

"Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles David Smith and Jones" is a personal favorite of mine as well. It was funny to see it come out after "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd." ... and just ahead of tracks by that OTHER famous law firm Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds!!! Jim "Hooke" Pilster once told me that he bet the farm on "GGCDS&J" success ... he was SO sure this one was going to be a success that he ran off and got married!!! The song was huge in Chicago ... and Texas for some reason ... but that's about it. Despite a #9 showing in Chi-Town the best it could do was "bubble under" in Billboard, peaking at #115. As yet another example of why the Super Charts would be such an important reflection of pop music history, it went to #73 in Cash Box ... that's better than a 40 point spread ... how could there be this kind of discrepancy on the charts the time?

Too often a song would peak early in one section of the country (as this one did here in Chicago) but not catch on in another key area until several weeks later. If this was the case with this one (and I believe it was), six weeks later when it started to break big in Dallas, it was already working its way DOWN the charts back here at home. It never sustained the combined momentum to make the showing it deserved. This was true of several of The Cryan' Shames' biggest local hits. "It Could Be We're In Love" topped the chart here for four straight weeks ... yet never rose above #89 in Billboard. Because the Chicago market held more weight in Cash Box and Record World, it was able to climb as high as #52 ... another 40-point spread. Frustrating ... but true. The Shames absolutely should have had at least five National Top 40 Hits ... I'd add "Sugar And Spice", "I Wanna Meet You" and their version of "Up On The Roof" to that list in a heartbeat!

Anyway, glad to hear you're still checking us out and contributing to the cause. That's what makes it all work. Happy New Year to you as well! (kk)

Kent --

You're right ... it was about the Riddles. Below is our first communication, from 2004. The Don Young issue came up in the spring of 2005. I did a vinyl rip of my 45 and sent you an MP3. I'm surprised that I didn't mention this in the email: The Riddles' lead singer wore bright red pants as his trademark.
Shame that the Don Young material is gone. I liked his cover a lot. It didn't sound as much like a shampoo commercial, not that there's anything wrong with shampoo commercials.
Good luck and keep in touch.
-- JD --

>>>I just happened across your webpage this afternoon as I was looking for information about the Chicago-area group THE RIDDLES. (Jeff)

>>>I publish an online music newsletter called FORGOTTEN HITS (which is heavily influenced by the music I grew up listening to here in Chicago on WLS and WCFL.) In fact, an upcoming feature on LOCAL HITS spotlights songs that were BIG hits here in Chicago but barely made a dent on the national charts. (Hence, the reason for my search!) Anyway, I don't have an MP3, but I DID make a wav to use in the upcoming newsletter. If you haven't found it yet, here you go! (kk)

>>>Many thanks! I have a REALLY crappy 45 of the song, but your WAV is way better.
Like you, I grew up in Chicago (on the northwest side, the Edison Park neighborhood) and listened to WLS and WCFL from 1963 until about 1974. I used to record songs off AM radio onto 8" reel-to-reel tape, most of which I still have, though I don't have a deck to play them on right now. The fun part of listening to them is now largely the DJ chatter and commercials over the beginnings and endings of the songs.
The Riddles played at a Teen Club dance once at Immaculate Conception School (I'd guess the summer of 1966) and that's where I first heard their cover of Sweets. Your newsletter sounds interesting, as my sister and I are both interested in local bands of that era. Again, thanks for the song and good luck! (Jeff)

Wow! An email from 2004! That's a good two or three computer crashes ago for me! (lol) I don't know why The Riddles stuck out in my mind but for some reason they did ... maybe you were the first one to ask about them or something.

Anyway, here's that track again, sounding a lot more influenced by The Cryan' Shames' recent hit "Sugar And Spice" than The Searchers' cover version at this point! As well as that "mutual favorite" by The Shames themselves!(kk)

And, speaking of local talent, check out this clip just sent in by FH Reader Bill Hengels ...

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To4Cv2w3r3o&feature=youtu.be

Jimy Sohns (Shadows Of Night) performing at Fitzgerald's Night Club in Berwyn, Illinois on 12/21/2013 singing Gloria / Jumpin' Jack Flash. The drummer is a friend who I worked with. Jimy went to my high school, Prospect HS in Mt. Prospect

Bill

Looks like Jimy sat in with a band called The Redmonds ... his regular drummer (in The Shadows Of Knight) is our FH Buddy Rick Barr, who also plays with The New Colony Six! Sounding pretty good 'tho! (kk)

Everyone,

It finally happened! Silver Laughter is going to be inducted into The Iowa Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2014!

I want to thank all of you for supporting our band by buying our records and visiting our website. Thanks to Kim and Jon Ludtke for finally getting the IRRMA board to listen to our two albums with all original material and recognizing our contribution to Iowa’s music scene! And finally, thanks to those of you who went to the IRRMA website to nominate our band.

We are being recognized as a “Performing Band from Iowa” which is pretty great! The fact that we will be one of the few bands who were fortunate enough to record two albums of music that we wrote is also very special.

Right now we are working on our show for our performance which may include some new material never before recorded. We’ll see. But for now I would like to again say thanks for the support we have had from all of you!

Sincerely,

Mick Orton

Silver Laughter
Click here: Silver Laughter

Click here: The Contents Are: | Music from the 60's and 70's!

Congratulations, Mick! (kk)

Kent -

Hats off to Larry ... or at least to Del Shannon!

In the past month three different oldies bands that have played my local pub have featured Del Shannon’s “Runaway”; not by request but in their basic playlist. A fantastic tribute to a great song and a great singer.

To any FH readers living in Southern Ontario, check out the Abbey Road Pub in Mississauga. Some terrific bands dedicated to playing Oldies music are on tap nearly every Friday and Saturday.

Mike Ogilvie

Mississauga, ON.

We got invited to a retirement part next Friday Night that's being held at a place called Chef Shangri-La in North Riverside, IL. They do a weekend luau ... and the entertainment on Friday nights is by none other than Rick Saucedo, one of the PREMIER Elvis impersonators on the planet. (Rick's been doing this since the late '70's / early '80's and he is by far one of the best and well-known ... can't wait to see him again!)

We don't see a lot of live music anymore ... not in bars and such anyway ... so this will make for an interesting (and fun) night out. The best oldies bands performing in our area remain The New Invaders and Generation (which spun off from The New Invaders) ... very "loyal" representations of the music we love with a much-varied play list covering all kinds of songs you don't typically hear on the radio anymore. (kk)

Hey Kent -

Check out this crazy software all those you tube videos you can download and convert to make dvd's.

Happy New Year.

Mickey

https://shop.novadevelopment.com/store_new/basket.ajax.php?rs=47&preflanguage=5&oid=1056315504&sid=cr8f0n3541iu0ui70chn6jggd4&r=&pc=&dch=1&pch=&gch=1&csh=&prefcountry=&coh=&csh=

And here's a vintage Dave Clark article sent in by The Vibeman ...

kk!

"Happy dog gone new year!

'I always kept my private life to myself. I did find love in my life, but I love my freedom more. I found when I got into serious relationships it interfered with my work.
Read more:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1078300/No-I-havent-facelift--honest-Pop-star-Dave-Clark-talks-sex-drugs--ageing.html#ixzz2pBs4ijW4
The Heterosexual Vibeman

Hi and Happy 2014 to my Oldies-loving friends!
My songs have been rejuvenated as we turn the calendar pages one year further ahead.
"Happy Go Lucky Me" (my version) is being used by the World Wildlife Federation in Canada for their new campaign.

George Formby's version of the song is heard on the tube for a gaming advert.

"When" is is the song chosen for the UK's huge Furniture chain, Wren Furniture with an original track a la the Kalin Twins ...

And while I'm talking about "When", I'd like to thank all of you that sent so many nice words about my friend and co-writer, Jack Reardon, and those of you who mentioned him as part of your year-end memorials.

Thanks for the plays,

Paul Evans

P.S. And just to prove that I am big in Malaysia, check this video out.

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

Long Live the Oldies!

I'm telling you, this music is TIMELESS!!! If folks (and radio programmers) would simply give it a chance, they'd find a whole new generation falling in love with this music, too!

While never the intent, you can find this music being kept alive by all kinds of use in television and radio commercials, movies and television themes.

FH Reader Pittibug sent us this list recently of some of the tunes she sees regularly popping up on her TV screen:

ADVIL~CHUGJUG~FAMILY OF THE YEAR 2010

AFLAC~SURVIVOR~EYE OF THE TIGER

AUDI~BOB DYLAN~NOT DARK YET

AUTO NATION~RAY PARKER JR~GHOSTBUSTERS 1984 (WHO YA GONNA CALL?)

BANK OF AMERICA.COM~FLEETWOOD MAC~NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN 1977

BANK AMERICA VISA~STAPLE SINGERS~I'LL TAKE YOU THERE 1972

BEHR DECK & CONCRETE STAIN~ROBERT PARKER JR~BAREFOOTIN' 1966

BLEU DE CHANEL~JAMES BROWN~IT'S A MAN'S WORLD1966

BLUE MOON BEER~LUMINEERS~HO HEY 2012

BREYERS ICE CREAM~YOUNGBLOODS~GET TOGETHER 1967

BUDWEISER~FLEETWOOD MAC~LANDSLIDE 1997

BUD LITE~STEVIE WONDER~SUPERSTITIOUS

CADILLAC STS~RAY ANTHONY~PETER GUNN 1959 #8

CAPITOL ONE~TEMPTATIONS~GET READY 1966

CHASE~KENNY LOGGINS~FOOTLOOSE

CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP 'TRIUMPH'~FRANKIE FORD~SEA CRUISE 1959

CHANEL #8~JAMES BROWN~IT'S A MAN'S WORLD

CHEVROLET IMPALA~FRANK SINATRA~FLY ME TO THE MOON 1964

CHEVY MALIBU~SPANDAU BALLET~TRUE

CHEVY TRUCKS~BOB SEGER & SILVER BULLET BAND~LIKE A ROCK 1986

CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY~MAR-KEYS~LAST NIGHT 1961

COKE ZERO~EDWIN STARR~WAR 1970

CHROME FOR IPADS/IPHONES, ETC.~LEW LYMON & TEENCHORDS~I'M SO HAPPY 1956

CIROC VODKA~FRANK SINATRA~LUCK BE A LADY 1965

CLARITON~JOHNNY NASH~I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW 1972

COCA COLA~JERRY LEE LEWIS~THE REAL THING

COFFEEMATE~CHARLES WRIGHT~EXPRESS YOURSELF 1970

DODGE TRUCKS~HUGH MASEKELA~GRAZING IN THE GRASS 1968

DSW (DESIGNER SHOE WAREHOUSE)~CHRIS MONTEZ~LET'S DANCE 1962

DSW (DESIGNER SHOE WAREHOUSE)~DOBIE GRAY~THE IN CROWD

DELTA SHOWERHEADS~SURFARIS~WIPEOUT 1963 #1

DURACELL~JIMMY DURANTE~MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY

EGGO~MC HAMMER~YOU CAN'T TOUCH THIS 1990

FIBER ONE~BONNIE TYLER~TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART 1983

GEICO ($ MAN IN BOAT)~THIS IS A CROSS BETWEEN 'WHO DO YOU LOVE?'& 'MONA' BY BO DIDDLY (BEST WE CAN FIGURE)

GALAXY NET2~IMPRESSIONS~KEEP ON PUSHING 1964

GEICO MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE~ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND~MIDNIGHT RIDER 1970

GOOGLE CHROME~HERB ALPERT~ZORBA THE GREEK 1965 #11

HH GREGG~BEATLES~HELP 1965

HERSHEYS~HERMAN'S HERMITS~I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD

HERSHEYS~YOUNG RASCALS~GOOD LOVIN' 1966

HESS GAS COMPANY~BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE~TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS 1974\

HONDA GENERATORS~BILLY JOEL~WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE 1989

HONDA JOURNEY~CYNDI LAUPER~GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

HONDA ODYSSEY~PETE TOWNSEND~LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR

HOTELS.COM~JIMMY DURANTE~MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY

HYUNDAI~BOB MARLEY~3 LITTLE BIRDS 1978

IPAD~CLEFTONES~HEART & SOUL 1961

ICE BREAKERS DUO~VANILLA ICE~ICE ICE BABY 1990

JC PENNEY~T REX~BANG A GONG

JENNY CRAIG~KATRINA & THE WAVES~WALKING ON SUNSHINE

JORDACHE~BEEGEES~STAYIN' ALIVE 1977/1978

KLONDIKE BAR~VANILLA ICE~ICE ICE BABY

KYOCERA~TANGO ALPHA TANGO~ARALIA SPINOSA

LEXUS~THE FIGGS~JE T'ADORE

LAYS POTATO CHIPS~AL GREEN~I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU 1972

LEXUS~THE FIGGS~JE T'ADORE 2004

LIBERTY MUTUAL~DOBIE GRAY~IN CROWD

LIBERTY MUTUAL~STEVIE WONDER~DON'T YOU WORY 'BOUT A THING

LIBERTY MUTUAL~HUMAN LEAGUE~HUMAN

M&M'S~MEAT LOAF~I'D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON'T DO THAT)

MACY'S~CREW CUTS~SH-BOOM 1954

MARCH OF DIMES~BUDDY HOLLY~MARCH OF DIMES

MATTRESS FIRM~BOBBY MCFERRIN~DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

MAYBELLINE~SURVIVOR~EYE OF THE TIGER 1982

MAZDA~THE WHO~BABA O'RILEY 1971

MAZDA, AUDIENCE CHANNEL, THE WALKING DEAD~PHILLIP PHILLIPS~HOME 2012

MISS DIOR CHERIE~JE T'AIME~MOI NON PLUS~SERGE GAINSBOROUGH & JANE BIRKIN

MITSUBISHI~BOBBY CALDWELL~WHAT YOU WON'T DO FOR LOVE 1978

MOUNTAIN DEW~LIONEL RICHIE~ALL NIGHT LONG

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE~MICKEY & SYLVIA~LOVE IS STRANGE 1957

NICORETTE GUM~3 DOG NIGHT~CELEBRATE

NISSAN~JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN~SUMMER NIGHTS

NISSAN~SALT-N-PEPA WITH EN VOGUE~WHATTA MAN 1994

OSTEO-BI-FLEX~FATS WALLER~JOINT IS JUMPIN'

PARTY CITY~LOU BEGA~MAMBO 1999

PEPSI~JOHNNY RIVERS~SECRET AGENT MAN 1966

PHOENIX UNIVERSITY~PEGGY LEE~IT'S A GOOD DAY

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE~WANG CHUNG~EVERYBODY HAVE FUN TONIGHT

QUAKER YOGURT~FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS~GOOD THING

RED CROSS~MIRANDA LAMBERT~THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME 2009

REMAX~JIM CROCE~I GOT A NAME 1973

ROUND-UP WEED KILLER~LORNE GREENE~RINGO 1964

ROOMS TO GO~BILL CONTI~ROCKY'S THEME (GONNA FLY NOW) 1977

SCOTCH BRITE PADS~BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE~YOU AIN"T SEEN NOTHIN' YET

SCOTT TRADE~ARGENT~HOLD YOUR HEAD UP

SENSA.COM~KC & SUNSHINE BAND~SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE 1976

SHARK STEAM MOP~BOB SEGER~OLD TIME ROCK & ROLL 1979

SHEBA CAT FOOD~ROSEMARY CLOONEY~COME ON A MY HOUSE 1951

SODA STREAM~DUELING BANJOS

SOUTHERN COMFORT~JOE BARRY~I'M A FOOL TO CARE 1961 #24

STACY'S PITA CHIPS~BOOKER T & MGS~GREEN ONIONS

STATE FARM~JOURNEY~ANY WAY YOU WANT IT

SUBWAY~EARTH WIND & FIRE~SEPTEMBER

SWIFFER~STARSHIP~WE BUILT THIS CITY 1986

SWIFFER~ISLEY BROTHERS~WHO'S THAT LADY?

TARGET~CSNY~OUR HOUSE 197

TARGET~GET TOGETHER~THE YOUNGBLOODS 1969

TOSTITOS~THE CHAMPS~TEQUILA 1958

TRAVELERS INSURANCE~RAY LAMONTAGNE~TROUBLE 2010

VALUES.COM~KELLY CLARKSON~BREAKAWAY 2004

VOLKSWAGON JETTA~JOHNNY CASH~DIRTY EGG SUCKIN' DOG

VOLVO~LAURA GIBSON~LI'L RED RIDING HOOD

WINDOWS 8~LABYRINTH~EXPRESS YOURSELF 2012

ZALE'S JEWELRY~BOW WOW WOW~I WANT CANDY

VIAGRA~HOWLIN' WOLF~SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN'

VIZIO, DIRECT TV/AUDIENCE CHANNEL~PHILLIP PHILLIPS~HOME 2010

VOLKSWAGEN~AHA~TAKE ON ME 1985

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA~FIVE STAIRSTEPS~OOH CHILD 1970

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT~EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER~LUCKY MAN

VOLVO~ENYA~ONLY TIME 2000

WALGREENS~CCR~DOWN ON THE CORNER

And this from Ron Smith who writes:

I think Ken Levine is just a little bit late with this one: http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-favorite-album-cover.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Tying in nicely with this Christmas Greeting sent in by FH Reader Bill Hengels, who points out (quite appropriately I might add) that no, this is NOT snow!!!:

With about twelve inches on the ground virtually everywhere around us tonight ... and temperatures dipping down as low as 20-degrees-below zero (ACTUAL temp, not windchill ... somebody told me the windchill will feel like 53 degrees below zero!!! YIKES!!!) some hot cocoa with whipped cream sounds pretty good right now! (kk)

re: OUR WILD RETURN:

>>> Please join us. (kk)

Everyone's thinking about H.R. Pufnstuf now.

Kent,

It's really WILD having you back after the holidays. If you were like me, during the holidays you took a WALK ON THE WILD side. You probably had a few WILD WEEKENDS as well.
I decided to do some hunting when I heard the CRY OF THE WILD GOOSE overhead. I stayed out too much in the cold weather, got a cold and sore throat and took some of those WILD CHERRY cough drops. If my parents were still alive, they probably would have said that I was a REAL WILD CHILD.
My actions to some probably looked like I took some WILDWOOD WEED. Not really! I just thought of doing something like that in my earlier WILDWOOD DAYS.
Again, glad to have you back after the holidays. It wouldn't be a WILD WORLD without people like you.
Larry

Well, we covered nearly all of those during our 18 hour wild time on Friday ... scroll back to catch any you may have missed! (kk)

THIS IS AS WILD AS IT GETS!

BARBARA & The VISTORS

(BARBARA PITTMAN & DAVIE ALLAN & The ARROWS)

THE WILD ANGELS THEME (VOCAL)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF1WNlQqW90

Mickey

Davie Allan wasn't thrilled with our selection of his "Wild Angels" theme ... but he didn't know at the time the context in which we planned to run it. I'm sure it all makes perfect sense now! (lol) Thanks, Mickey. (kk)

re: THIS JUST IN:

Right before we went to press we heard from John Rook, who announced The 2013 Class of Hit Parade Hall Of Fame Inductees ... our congratulations go out to:

Patsy Cline, Earth, Wind And Fire, Merle Haggard, The Isley Brothers, The Miracles with Smokey Robinson, Bob Seger, The Spinners, Rod Stewart, Donna Summer, The Turtles and Dinah Washington! (kk)

Kent,

The votes have been counted and we once again for our 8th year present the inductees at the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

The Hit Parade Hall of Fame’s 2013 Inductees:Earth, Wind & Fire (2011)

The Isley Brothers (2011)
The Miracles with Smokey Robinson (2011)

The Spinners (2011)
The Turtles (2012)

Dinah Washington (2012)
Patsy Cline (2013)

Merle Haggard (2013)
Bob Seger (2013)

Rod Stewart (2012)

Donna Summer (2013)
http://hitparadehalloffame.com/inductees/

re: DIGGIN' FORGOTTEN HITS:

Kent -

Welcome back! Great to see your re-charged and ready to pump out Forgotten Hits in 2014. Thanks for all you do for the love of the music.

Tom Cuddy

Happy New Year and here's to a great 2014 -- you're the best!

Danny

Thanks, Danny ... to quote Mr. Miyagi, "you pretty O-K too"! (kk)

Timing is everything!!!

We started preparing this piece during our recent hiatus from the blog in the hopes of generating a movement that might get noticed by both radio listeners and radio station big-wigs alike ... and timed it in such a way that it would have the most impact once the world resumed its regular work activities after the long holiday break. (We figured we'd be lucky to catch anyone at their desk during the last two weeks of 2013, much less in the right state of mind to actually be open enough to listen and consider what we had to say!!!)

However, some major moves were made this past Friday proving that the radio world wasn't really in hibernation during this extended holiday period after all. That being said, maybe we're still not too late to offer some constructive programming suggestions that just might improve the quality of listening choices on the Chicagoland radio dial ... so we're moving forward with our pre-planned campaign.

Rumors have been circulating for weeks now regarding a major programming move here in Chicago by Cumulus Media. They're the guys who own WLS (AM and FM) ... and both radio stations have been "under-performing" of late. (I'm being kind.)

Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey recently paid a visit to the station ... but most reports indicate that this was more of a morale-booster than anything else ... Dickey wished the staff a Happy Holidays and then left town.

Speculation was that some sort of major announcement would be forthcoming ... there have been rumors floating around of flipping long time FM rocker WLS-FM to a country format ... or simply starting up a brand new country station in town. (Cumulus has been pushing NASH-FM, a country station successfully launched in several other cities now, as the next big thing.)

But Chicago is an "oldies town" ... we have supported this format since the late 1970's and early 1980's ... and now we're left without a radio station programming to his loyal and dedicated listener base.

Instead, we're being force-fed cookie-cutter, clone broadcasting ... there are about six stations in town who all seem to be working from the very same play list, leaving absolutely NO variety on the radio dial. Instead we get the same tired songs by the same over-played artists, day in and day out without any surprises or relief. Many folks have given up on listening to the radio all together.

"In-The-Know" radio big wigs tell us that listeners don't have the attention span for much more than this ... nobody stays tuned in long enough to hear the repetition ... and when they DO tune in, they want to hear something familiar, warm and fuzzy ... so they're ok with it.

Once again, I say bullshit ... give the listeners a REASON to stay tuned in and they will. Instead you're driving away more of your audience base every single day by this same narrow-minded programming.

Chicago radio was built on personality ... it's what made stations like WLS and WCFL stand head and shoulders above the rest in the glory days of Top 40 Radio. People tuned in and never left, flipping back between the two AM Powerhouses ... literally afraid of missing ANYTHING! Today's jocks are lucky to get in six sentences per hour, squeezed in between giving out the time, temperature and radio station call letters. Heaven forbid they should talk!!! Why all those lost minutesmight mean that the station could only play "Jack And Diane" SIX times today instead of seven!!!

There is an untapped, proven audience here that is being ignored. When WJMK flipped to Jack-FM a few years ago, listeners went to the Internet to find the music they really wanted to hear and the stations quickly failed. Then Scott Shannon brought The True Oldies Channel to town and we immediately embraced it. (Of course radio, in its infinite wisdom, continued to fuck with the format ... they just never know when to leave things alone and let them work and gel on their own.) But listeners showed their true colors and PROVED what they really wanted to hear on the dial.

WLS, one of the most important names in the HISTORY of radio, aired the format and brought back many of the household names that helped to build the reputation of the station way back when. It seemed like a match made in heaven. Incredibly, despite all of these heavy hitters, it was Scott Shannon's ratings that ranked higher than all the rest ... and his broadcasts came via voice-tracking out of New York!!!

That's because HE knew how to work the format. Once it was turned over to local management hands who kept trying to "improve" the formula by tightening up the playlist and minimizing the chatter, WLS began its Titantic-like venture in the ratings book. And I feel that simply because his name was attached to the station, Scott Shannon took the brunt of the blame ... even though he no longer held the controlling hand ... he was simply going along with what those know-it-all corporate big-wigs wanted. (WHY is there this constant, compelling need to "tinker" with what's working ... all the while continually driving the stations further and further away from its original concept???? I'll NEVER understand it!)

Simply put, itspelled the doom of the station ... suddenly it wasn't about the music or the format or the ratings ... hell, the station flat out IGNORED the ratings ... instead it became all about the "outsider" programming to "our" audience. Forget the fact that it WORKED!!! Listeners LOVED listening to Scott Shannon because Scott Shannon truly LOVES the oldies. He may be the ONLY radio person left on the planet NOT afraid to use the word "oldies" ... in fact, he loves them so much he named his entire radio network after the term ... and oldies fans from coast to coast tune in to hear this Hall Of Fame Broadcaster share his passion for this music over the airwaves. He's on virtually EVERYWHERE ... except Chicago!

Cumulus is clearly looking to shake things up a little bit ... there is a concentrated effort on their part to improve their foothold in our market. The smartest thing Cumulus could do right now is to bring back The True Oldies Channel to Chicago. My guess is it'll be even more popular the second time around than it was the first ... because Chicago has been without their oldies now again for so long, fans of this format (and there are millions of us!) will rush back to once again embrace the station ... which has seen its ratings steadily decline since the departure of Shannon some 15 months ago. (Sometimes you just don't fully appreciate what you've got until it's gone! Radio should know this old adage better than ANYBODY!!!)

Chicago LOVES its oldies ... and what better station to carry on the legacy of the music it helped to pioneer than WLS? WLS-FM could easily become the flagship station for True Oldies ... it could become the base from which all of the other 100-plus outlets coast-to-coast draw from.

Wanna localize it a bit? Then add in a daily segment that touts this legacy ... air vintage clips of WLS' hey-day in the '60's and '70's ... feature all these great, legendary jocks in their prime. (The reaction to the recent loss of radio legend Larry Lujack proves once again that the fans don't forget ... these guys were a HUGE part of our lives growing up ... and instead of allowing their God-given talent and winning personalities shine through and hook us as listeners,they've been replaced by computers programmed to play the same 200 songs in virtually the same order 24/7.) How sad is it that today you can flip through the stations on the Chicagoland radio dial several times a day and find the exact same artist playing on three of them at the exact same time ... and, in many instances, playing the exact same song?!?!?! You call THAT variety?!?! You seriously believe that THIS is what we as listeners really want to hear???

Why not program something that sets YOUR station apart from all the rest ... instead of just being lost in the shuffle so you can run with the pack? It doesn't take a programming genius to figure out that THAT kind of mentality will get you absolutely NOWHERE ... or even noticed! Listeners simply tune out ... because you can hear THAT anywhere ... radio no longer has an "identity" that helps to define a given station. This narrow-casted thinking assures you a spot in the lower half of the ratings book.

Do things like bring back The Silver Dollar Survey Countdown ... air it once a week ... a vintage "this week in rock history" segment that will show listeners what radio was really like back in the '60's when radio ruled ... something that sets you apart from all the rest.

Don't change the call letters of the station ... there are maybe a handful of stations across the country that hold the rights to the kind of radio legacy that WLS has ... BUILD on that legacy and program something DIFFERENT for listeners to enjoy. (Rewound Radio, one of the BEST examples of Internet Oldies Radio around, uses the slogan ... "It's not how old it is ... it's how GOOD it is.") These are TIMELESS tracks that will win over new listeners every day once they are exposed to it. It's "feel good" music at its very best.

Beef up the variety ... beef up the personality ... and WLS-FM will once again have winning ratings.

Please help us with this new campaign. The regime that ousted Shannon is no longer in power ... the timing is right ... and the listening audience is primed. It couldn't happen at a more opportune time. You might not get another chance to win these listeners back. Program something OTHER than the same song selections as every other station in town and allow WLS-FM to stand out as the "one of a kind" radio station it deserves to be.

We are dedicating ourselves to making this change happen here in Chicago in 2014.

Write to the station ... hell, write to Lew Dickey directly at Cumulus ... and let your voices be heard. Chicago wants The True Oldies Channel back ... and we want it on WLS-FM where it belongs. Get the word out through whatever social media network you use ... let the press know so that they cover our campaign.

Send copies of ... or link to ... our latest radio tirade. Get all of the other True Oldies Channel outlets across the country from coast to coast to help fuel the fire ... CHICAGO WANTS ITS OLDIES BACK!!!

And who knows ... if somehow, someway this campaign is successful ... maybe our buddy Scott Shannon will even start to program more of the Forgotten Hits that people want to hear, too!!! (Hey, if by some miracle we're able to pull this off, he'd owe me that much, wouldn't he?!?!) One can only hope ... we're here to help in any way we can!

UPDATE: On Friday it was announced that Cumulus has purchased both WLUP-FM and WIQI-FM. Word is they'll leave The Loop "as is" as one of the city's premier classic rock stations (but may deepen its playlist to better distinguish it from the other six stations in town playing virtually the exact same music) while WIQI will spin off into more of an indie / alternative mix similar to the old WKQX. That still leaves Cumulus with one other radio station in town whose fate has yet to be determined ... so maybe the timing of this piece (originally conceived months ago!) isn't so ill-suited after all! Recent reports indicate that the NASH / Country format is no longer being considered here in Chicago ... but there's still no question that WLS-FM needs to DRASTICALLY improve its foothold in order to continue. There is FAR too great a legacy associated with this station to let it continue to flounder as it is. The time to save this station and turn things around is NOW. The eyes of the radio world are on you right now ... Cumulus is in the prime position of making a MAJOR statement here on the Chicago Radio Landscape ... and I have to believe they've got the best intentions of doing so, or they would be expending the energy they have these past few weeks. Maybe they just need a little "nudging" from us to see that direction more clearly... so again we ask ALL of you out there to help us with this campaign. Please don't waste this opportunity by continuing to offer "clone" broadcasting on one of the best-known, best-loved radio stations in the history of the medium.

Kent Kotal

Forgotten Hits

Hmmm ... Wondering How Many Of You Out There Will Remember THIS One!!!

WILD!

He's Doing It Again!!!

WILD!

It Doesn't Get Much Wilder ... Than Matthew!

Wild!

Wild!

Wild

OK, Now THAT'S Pretty Wild!!!

Wild!

Wild!

Wild!

Wild

WILD!

Winding Down The Wild!

Wild!

Funky AND Wild!!!

The Saturday Survey (1-4)

The Sunday Comments ( 01 - 05 - 14 )

Jay traynor, on left

FRIDAY, JANUARY 03, 2014 -

Passings: Jay Traynor of the Mystics and Jay and the Americans (1943 - 2014)

We Need Your Help! An Impassioned Plea To Help Save Chicago Radio ... From Somebody Who REALLY Cares!!!