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More Of Your Dave Clark Five Comments

April 14, 2014, 4:00 am
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re:  THE DAVE CLARK FIVE:   
I didn't read today's edition of fh yet but dave clark was on ron and fez today, pushing the dc5 documentary that is airing tonite ... sounds great ... just giving you a head's up so you watch.  
gary  
I found it about 60% satisfying ... just so good to see and hear this music again, even if this special is very Dave Clark-centric.  (There were FIVE members of that band, you know!!!)  Plus it's nice to see Dave doing the press circuit again.  (I almost have to wonder if he waited until the majority of the rest of the band was gone to do this, just so that nobody else could offer up a contrary opinion to his version of the story and their success!  lol)  kk  

Kent ...
I thought it was interesting how The Dave Clark Five first heard American Rock and Roll.  They started out performing at US Military Bases in England.  During the breaks, the jukebox was played. Dave asked for
copies of songs that he liked (such as "Do You Love Me", "Over And Over" and "You Got What It Takes."
Kent, do we know why the DC5 were on the Ed Sullivan Show so many times? I think it was 18 times. Elvis and The Beatles were on three times, I think.
Is it true that Gerry Marsden of Gerry & The Pacemakers really has a Pacemaker today?
Frank B.  
The Dave Clark Five were clearly favorites of Ed Sullivan ... thus so many repeat visits.  (As noted exclusively here in Forgotten Hits, it was actually only TWELVE appearances on Ed's program ... their other appearances were either reruns of previous airings or a series of compilation clips.  Even so, that still only brings their total to SIXTEEN, not eighteen as repeatedly reported during this PBS Dave Clark Five television special ... and several other online publications.   We ran the OFFICIAL list of shows back on March 7th ... you can reference it here:  
Elvis and The Beatles used The Sullivan Show to mutual advantage ... both artists catapulted their careers into the stratosphere after appearing on Ed's program ... and Sullivan garnered the highest ratings of his show's history, thanks to these two artists. Meanwhile, Elvis and The Beatles went off to have their mega-careers, constantly booked with tours, movies and other commitments.  Both artists always kept a warm spot in their hearts for Mr. Sullivan, however, as he was the one who really helped push them over the top.
Gerry Mardsen made world-wide headlines in 2003 after undergoing triple bypass surgery ... but has continued to tour and perform despite this (and other) serious health problems.  So yes, it is quite possible that in addition to being a Pacemaker, Gerry now HAS a pacemaker.  (kk)

Hey Kent,
I wasn't going to say anything about the PBS Dave Clark Five special, but after two cups of coffee this morning, I decided to throw in my hat. An old grade-school friend and musician alerted me to the PBS special over the weekend. Unfortunately, the local station decided to air a baseball game in its time slot, then played the special at midnight. I wasn't willing to stay up until two, and my DVR can't record off of the TV. The special was then replayed the next night at 3 am! I never saw it, but I'm not worried about it now, as I've read your review (and others) on FH. I must say I'm not surprised how it turned out.
As a twelve year old, I was totally swept away by the British Invasion, just like all the other kids on the block. In a music fan magazine, it said that The Dave Clark Five was the number-one group in England, followed by The Bachelors, and THEN, The Beatles, so I had to check those guys out! I remember the first time the DC5 was on the Ed Sullivan Show, and I wasn't impressed. Being a student of the drums, I thought Dave Clark was mediocre at best. I knew Ringo and Charlie Watts could play rings around him. I also thought he was in love with himself, as he was seated behind his kit, down center-stage, while Mike Smith, the real star of the band, was off to the side. When I saw the group's movie, "Havin' a Wild Weekend", I was very disappointed and bored because it wasn't about the band at all. It was about Dave Clark and his love interest. At least "A Hard Day's Night" spent time with all the members of The Beatles. Even Freddie and the Dreamers'"Seaside Swingers" featured all of the band members. The only thing I liked about Clark was his red sparkle Rogers drums, as they looked different from all the others out there. My favorite member of the group was Lenny Davidson, because he had those West-Coast, American surfer looks, but I knew Mike Smith was truly the "man in the band". Paul Shaffer has stated that Smith is his hero, and that his musical interests started with the times he saw Mike doing his thing with the DC5. Shaffer even got Smith to sit in with the band on the Letterman show, and what a great night it was! Do you know if Mike had ever released a solo album? I tried to find something on the music websites, and there is an artist out there, named Michael Smith, who released a couple CDs, but I'm not sure if it's him.
- John LaPuzza
Mike Smith did one solo album that I'm aware of called "It's Only Rock And Roll" ... a rarity and long out of print.  On it, he covers any number of 50's tunes in his unmistakable rock and roll voice ... "The Girl Can't Help It", "Bonie Moronie", "No  Particular Place To Go", "High School Confidential", "Something Else" (which, I believe was released as a single without success), "Reelin' And Rockin'" (a song he also sang with The Dave Clark Five), "Blue Monday" and others. (I found two used copies on Amazon.com ... and it'll only set you back $150!!! lol)
For the FH Reader who asked about Dave Clark's follow-up band, Dave Clark And Friends (I'm sorry, I can't find your email or I'd address you by name!!!), yes, Mike Smith WAS a part of that project, too.  They recorded one LP together in 1972 but it went nowhere.  Also extremely rare, I found a copy as part of a DC5 two-fer here: Click here: Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Play Good Old Rock & Roll / Dave Clark & Friends
Although I remember seeing "Having A Wild Weekend", I can't recall a single thing about it ... which means it left absolutely NO impression on me whatsoever.  Kinda sad in light of everything else from that British Invasion era having such a huge impact.  I'd be curious to see it again (along with "Time") just to see if either has ANY redeeming value!  (kk)  

Whew! I think you fans are a little too kind on the DC5 special. I love this group, and that’s why I was very disappointed. First off, Dave Clark shouldn’t have done this himself. It should have been done by a real biographer. Geezus! I’m Dave Clark, I’m brilliant, I’m Smart, I was a pretty boy -- Love Me! See my elitist friends who will tell you how great I am / was! So Love Me! It was basically a fluff piece by himself with these mostly irrelevant Talking Head tributes. Whoopi Goldberg? Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne? Ian McKellan? Elton John? Oh yeah, they were so big on my DC5 memories. Yikes, what BS! You have a DC5 special where Whoopi Goldberg gets more interview time than Mike Smith, Lenny Davidson, Rick Huxley & Denny Payton combined, and you think this is good?? I’m Dave Clark and I was great and Oh Yeah, there was a guy named Mike in my band who sang some of my songs and Oh Yeah, the three other guys!
A few moments with Mike Smith ... and not one minute of interviews of Lenny, Rick and Denny? Holy crap! Why weren’t these guys on the screen? Lenny for sure is still around. I didn’t want to see these overviewed celebrities talk about nothing relevant! (I was OK with Springsteen, Kiss, etc. because they were influenced). Bios on all five guys maybe? History of the band maybe? Early recordings, and how they came about maybe? How did you guys write some of these great songs? What specifically influenced your song writing. How did you develop the Wall Of Sound on those 45’s? How did you make your albums? How come there was more material in the US than in UK? Who were Lenny and Rick’s guitar heroes? What sax players influenced Denny? What records were your faves? What groups did you play with? Who were some of your favorite groups to play with? Anybody think of interviewing somebody from the Ed Sullivan Show? Maybe the group talking about some memories of Sullivan shows? What memories of Ready Steady Go did the DC5 have? Etc, Etc, Etc.  Where were all their peers from the time? Hollies, Searchers, Animals, Hermits, Pacemakers? Nowhere to be found. Only Pauly Mac, who half the time seemed like he was talking about something else. What did anybody learn about any of the DC5 except for Dave Clark? Nothing!
The clips were great, but as people have mentioned, too many repeats. They should played some more of their excellent flips and some of the great LP cuts that people might find interesting if they wouldhave used some. Also, by the time part two kicks in, it’s like I drove off a cliff. All this cool DC5 music and then we get bogged down by the insipid dreck of “Time”. Yuck! Going from a high and crashing down hard! But, I’m Dave Clark and these people will tell you how great “Time” was ... even though nobody cared then and still don’t. I will go no further on that subject.  So, anybody looking for a two hour special on the Dave Clark Five were disappointed. If you enjoyed it, that wasn’t what you were looking for. By the way, I’m Dave Clark, I’m Great and I’m a Genius and these people will tell you that because I’m making the film about me.
Ken Freck
I agree with virtually everything you've said ... Clark was the WRONG guy to make a film about The Dave Clark Five ... but odds are that film wasn't going to get made any other way.  As mentioned in my review, Dave Clark is a control freak ... and he OWNS the rights to all of this material ... so no how, no way was this going to get made without his complete support ... and control.
Knowing this about him, I was just happy to finally see some of this incredible footage again ... in better quality than all the bootleg tapes I've had for decades now.  I'm hoping the DVD release (with two additional hours of bonus footage) will concentrate more on the music and the other members of the band ... but, as we have learned by the official screening outing, who know exactly WHAT to expect!!!  (It's kind of like when ABC ran their four-hour Beatles Anthology Special ... the box set came out with TEN hours of material that allowed the viewer SO many more opportunities to fill in the blanks.  Hopefully, Clark has done the same ... but like I said, with him, who knows!!!
He held all this material hostage for decades ... there was a time (much like the Cameo / Parkway material) where you didn't even hear his stuff on the radio ... because it simply wasn't available.  What a shame.  As noted, The Dave Clark Five could have won over hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of brand new fans had this self-proclaimed genius simply made this material available and accessible to a whole new audience who, I believe, would have fallen in love with it all over again.  What a shame.
As for "Time", I also agree ... it totally tanked at the time ... and found no audience here.  What I find remarkable about it now is how many big names were attached to this project ... and yet it still failed.
Clark is on a cross-country press junket tour right now, promoting this film and DVD release.  At least he's talking about the band again ... and I'm sure many of these questions will come up.  (I'm sure we'll also find a good deal of them to be "off limits".)  Then again, with the bulk of the radio community these days not having even been born back when The Dave Clark Five helped to rule the world, who knows!  I'm just glad to see them back in the spotlight again ... even if that means we had to make our OWN "deal with the devil" in order to do so.  (kk)  

I caught and recorded the PBS Dave Clark Five special last night and therefore can now fully understand the comments posted by other viewers in Forgotten Hits.  While I've very much liked the DC5 since their debut and was as outraged as anyone else when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame initially denied them admission, there is a reason why the DC5's importance eventually became minimized and/or overlooked by fans, radio programmers and some music historians.    That reason was Dave Clark himself  -- who, for reasons I cannot fathom, kept the DC5 material out of print, out of sight, out of mind and largely off the air for close to two decades -- until the 1993 release of the excellent but sadly only briefly available 2 CD set "The History of The Dave Clark Five."  Used copies now sell on amazon.com for about 75 bucks.   What's the deal, Dave?  Why are you keeping all material by one of the finest, more euphoric and hardest-rocking of all British Invasion bands off the market?   Doing so simply makes no sense at all.
Regarding the TV special, I, too would have liked to learn more about the backgrounds and stories of the other DC5 members, especially lead singer Mike Smith, who co-wrote (with Clark) much of the band's strongest material.    It appears, though, that Dave -- who today looks a bit like Vincent Price with cartoon eyebrows -- wanted the spotlight all to himself, both then and now.  Even in the band's only movie ("Catch Us If You Can" a/k/a "Havin' A Wild Weekend"), the other guys' parts were reduced to little more than stunt extra work.   Guitarist Lenny Davidson  wasn't even granted a single speaking line!   As a DC5 fan, I had high hopes for the film but was quite disappointed when it finally turrned up in the wee hours of the morning a few years ago on TCM.  Obviously an inept attempt to imitate the  "Hard Day's Night" cinema syle, it's a pretty bad movie all around -- quite unengaging and far too often incoherent.  No wonder there was never a sequel.  As for the PBS special, I would have preferred to hear more complete performances of the DC5 hits and less commentary by folks who were truly irrelevant to their story (like say, Whoopi Goldberg).   Far too much time was devoted to two things worth mentioning but only perhaps in a five minute postscript to the DC5 saga: Clark's later purchase of the "Ready Steady Go" film library and his "Time" stage musical.   I may be one of the very few people in the U.S. to actually have a copy of the "Time" double LP, a release which made vitually no impact at all in the U.S.   Completely hitless (except for the very minor UK charting of it's title tune), perhaps the most interesting thing about that two-record set is what is printed on it's spine.  Believe it or not, it reads "Time: The Ablum."
Gary Theroux  

Meanwhile, you can read a Five-Star Review about this special here:
>>>I, too, was a MAJOR Dave Clark Five fan at the time ... and still am.  I can't remember a record I wanted more than their first Greatest Hits album in late '65 ... I begged my parents for WEEKS about getting me that for Christmas ... and I remember telling them even if it's the ONLY present I got, THAT was the one that I really wanted.  When I did, I couldn't plop in on the turn-table fast enough.  And let me tell you, it was all thriller, no filler, from start to finish.  I literally wore the grooves out of that record. 
Kent,
I agree with this thing you wrote above!  I am not positive if I got the Greatest Hits LP in '65 or not, but I got it and I played it SOOO much that it is likely the one album I got new that is now in the worst shape. I'm not an album freak, but having probably 10,000 of them, that says a lot about the play.  I think the entire album (both sides combined) was about 25 minutes!  They crammed a lot of power into those 25 minutes!  If anyone pulls out their copy and looks at the vinyl, I think I remember it having nearly an inch of empty lead out on each side!  I know my aunt and uncle sent "American Tour" in the mail for Christmas '65 and we played it like crazy!  THEY knew how to hook their nephews for life!  Haha.  Hearing the DC5 on radio was ALWAYS a blast (in more ways than one!).  When WLS premiered "Try Too Hard" in '66, I got mad because they interrupted it with a news bulletin in the middle.  I ran the tape back and started it again at the end of the news bulletin and had to play the song that a WHOLE DAY until I could re-tape it the next night!  Haha.    
LOL - I just did exactly that ... pulled out their first Greatest Hits LP and the ten songs it contains totals about 22 minutes!  Too funny!  But like I said, all thriller and no filler:  OVER AND OVER (their brand new single ... and still climbing the charts the day this was releasaed!), EVERYBODY KNOWS (I STILL LOVE YOU), CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE'S MINE, BITS AND PIECES, I LIKE IT LIKE THAT, CATCH US IF YOU CAN, BECAUSE, ANY WAY YOU WANT IT, DO YOU LOVE ME and GLAD ALL OVER ... probably one of the GREATEST Greatest Hits albums EVER released ... and SO timely, too ... all ten tracks had charted in just the past 21 months!  Most artists don't have that many hits in their entire career!  (You're also right about the "lead-out" ... it measures just over one inch on side one of this LP!!!  lol)

A lot of GREAT Dave Clark Five tunes were not featured in the television special ... again, I'm hoping we'll hear a few more of these on the two-hour bonus disk.  One in particular that doesn't fit the mould was the very countrified 1966 hit "Satisfied With You", featured below. 

 
Here's some photos from the 1967 WLS Personality Magazine of Clark Weber hosting the DC5 in Chicago! Nice outfit, Clark!!  Note in the first picture that Dave is telling Clark that he should have signed a pact to be sure his hair all returned to him in three years like Dave did with his records.  In the other photo, Clark as Dave if this is the way to hold a drum stick.  Dave seems skeptical about Clark's drumming capabilities. Clark seems skeptical about DAVE's drumming capabilities!
I think you ran this before, but check out the 1965 Art Roberts Top 5 10 PM countdowns for one week in fall, 1965.
Also, a nice close up shot of Mike Smith was taken by my (then, teen) sister-in-law up close to the stage at a DC5 concert in Lincoln in 65 or 66 maybe??



 

 

Besides being another of my fave LPs, here's a cool reliving of a DC5 contest called "Weekend In London". First, the Revlon sweepstakes commercial via WMCA ... B. Mitchell Reed "will be calling lots of girls" -- wouldn't you like that job??



Then the actual amazing STORY behind the contest winner!
A Milwaukee contest for best banner was ran before the 1964 Milwaukee concert.  The winning banner appeared on the front of the "American Tour" DC5 ALBUM cover (attached)!!  THAT concert followed the day after the McCormick Place show in Chicago.  In Milwaukee, the temp that day was 90+ and the fans ended up rushing the stage and the DC5 ended up playing only 12 minutes!!! Recollections attached. THAT was the mania that the DC5 could convey without hardly playing!
Clark Besch







As I recall there was an incident at the McCormick Place show ... Mike Smith was injured in some way but I can't remember the exact circumstances.  (A bottle thrown at the stage perhaps?  Anybody out there remember?)
Here are some hands-on recollections of that concert in Milwaukee:  
Click here: http://www.thedc5.com/Devinerevelations.html
I also recall The Dave Clark Five being tied in with Revlon ... must have been a sponsor of their US Tour.  VERY cool to think that the winning banner could wind up on the cover of their next LP!  Yep, those were the days!  (kk)    

Here are two cool tunes for you.  First, an unreleased song by the DC5 that I truly love.  Everly Bros type harmonies.  "I Can't Get You Out Of My Mind." Man, I wish they'd release this one!  Dave has put lots of unreleased "drivel" on itunes, but not this great one!
Also, the theme song to their "Hold On" TV show.  Rockin fuzz and drums from the later years of the DC5!  
Clark




When viewing the PBS Glad All Over special, I caught the band being hustled into WKBW studios, Buffalo, NY.  It reminded me that when they landed for these concerts in Canada, a 12 year-old friend of mine was allowed to accompany her high school sister and friends to see them landing in their DC5 plane.  
HER PARENTS LET THEM SKIP SCHOOL!  
Totally unheard of at the time, and I know my parents would never have allowed that.  She gave a 'report' the next day in English class ... teacher was out, and we had a young male substitute who wanted to hear it.  Cheers to you, Carol! 
By the way, I know you probably meant to say "shortly BEFORE Mike Smith's death" regarding the tribute / fund-raiser concert.  I believe the tribute concert was 2005?  Mike's death, I believe, was 2008.  I was very involved in fund raising with Peter Noone during this time.  We provided Mike with his custom-made wheelchair and transport van.  Thank you Peter!  That experience is one I will always treasure.  Being able to 'give back' and 'pay it forward' helped me more than I can ever say. 
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano 
Sorry, yes, you are correct.  The home video of that concert, once offered as a pre-order, never materialized, apparently due to copyright and royalties issues.  Too bad, it was a GREAT show.  (I happen to have a bootleg of THAT, too!  lol)  
We helped publicize Peter's efforts during this time ... a VERY generous and noble offer by a good friend ... sadly, Mike passed away shortly after the customized transport fan became available. 
Hope you saw our Sunday Coverage of this sad, sad time.  (kk)
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Tuesday This And That

April 15, 2014, 5:03 am
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re:  APRIL 12th:

Forgotten Hits Readers felt we were remiss in not mentioning a couple of key anniversaries that took place last Saturday on April 12th.  (It's hard when things are pre-planned and written to squeeze in everything in a timely fashion.  Saturdays in 2014 are dedicated to our new Saturday Surveys feature ... but both are well-worth mentioning ... so here we go!)

Kent ...
In 1964 they recorded this song.  On 4/12/1966 Jan Berry crashed on "Dead Man's Curve."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Cuekbklkg
Frank B.
I cannot believe that you didn’t mention this on Saturday, the 12th!!!   
1954 - Notthat he or anybody else knew what would happen within a year, but today at the Pythian Temple at 135 West 70th Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues in Manhattan -- this big, barn-like building with great echo in New York City, home to one of the most famous -- and certainly most significant -- recording sessions of all time, Bill Haley and his Comets (even if he did show up two hours late because his ferry got caught on a sandbar) arrived for their first session with Decca Records and nothing would ever be the same again.
They came to recorda couple of tunes that had been out recently by other artists -- Thirteen Women, a revamped version of number that had flopped for Dickie Thompson on Herald -- and an obscure song that had also bombed for an even more obscure act, Sonny Dae and his Knights -- Rock Around The Clock,which had been written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers.  Released on US Decca 29124, the Rock Around The Clock side was anything but an overnight sensation, gaining only limited success on initial release in 1954 -- but it refused to go away -- and a year later, after getting exposure as the theme for the MGM movie hit Blackboard Jungle, the song exploded on to the US charts reaching Number 1 -- and, more importantly, became THE vehicle by which rock 'n' roll is finally successfully exported to the rest of the world, thus transforming from a purely American phenomenon to a near global one.
Rock Around The Clock becomes the very FIRST rock 'n' roll record to do so when it appears in the UK and reaches Number 1. Now the WHOLE WORLD clamours for the music that until now has only been known in the US.  The success of this song isconsidered by many to mark the beginning of the rock “n” roll era. It topped the Billboard singles chart on June 29th, 1955, for eight weeks and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1982. Rock Around The Clock was formally released a month later and featured in the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle, which ushered in the rock “n” roll era.  At last count, the record had sold over 25,000,000 copies. In the UK it fist appeared on January the 8th , 1955 at number seventeen, slipping to number eighteen the following week before leaving the charts until October the 15th when it would become the monster hit having been seen in the film Blackboard Jungle. 
Themusicians involved were Bill Haley on vocals and rhythm guitar; Marshall Lytle on upright bass; Joey Ambrose (aka Joey D'Ambrosio) on tenor saxophone; Billy Williamson on steel guitar; Johnny Grande on piano; Billy Gussak on drums and Danny Cedrone on electric guitar. 
There is a tragic sideline to this great number in that the guitarist used for the guitar rift was oneDanny Cedrone, a studio musician and not a member of the Comets. The four hour season had been set up by Milt Gabler (Billy Crystal's uncle) and the A side was to be Thirteen Women "because he owned a piece of the song so he forced it on us," according to Marshall Lytle.  Lytle says they did two takes on it, and one of them had a little problem [the levels were not good in the first take, and the vocals were drowned out] so they spliced the two takes together. Milt Gabler had thrown them the song called Thirteen Women but none of them had ever heard it or knew what it was. "It had no arrangement on it or anything, so it took us two and a half hours to get that song completed and recorded."  After it was recorded, Milt Gabler said "OK, record your rock song.”
"We had a four hour session that day, and we had been on a ferry stuck on a sandbar for an hour ... then spent two and a half hours recording Thirteen Women, which left us only thirty five minutes to record Rock Around The Clock. Danny Cidrone was not at the rehearsal last night when we rehearsed it in Bill’sbasement prior to leaving for New York. Bill had always wanted a guitar solo on the recordings, so Danny was looking for a solo to play. And because the clock was just ticking away, I said, 'Hey, Danny – why don’t you use the solo you used on Rock This Joint?'  He said, 'Do you think that’ll fit?' So we tried it and it worked out absolutely perfect and that solo has become world famous with guitar players. The tragic story behind the song is that two weeks after we recorded “Rock …” Danny got drunk and fell down some very steep steps and broke his neck and died.  
Radio airplay favoured Rock Around The Clock following its May, 1954 release (in both 78 and 45 rpm formats), and while the song did get a place on the Billboard Hot 100, its peak success occurred in the spring of 1955, when it was featured in the film the Blackboard Jungle. That exposure shot Rock Around The Clock to Number 1 for eight consecutive weeks. Although Rock Around The Clock wasn't the first rock and roll record, it thrust rock and roll into the main stream of pop music and nothing would ever be the same again.   
Take care,
Rockin’ Lord Geoff    

Other milestones from April 12th:
David Cassidy was born in 1950 ... he'd have a string of hits ... and DUI's ... years later
John Kay of Steppenwolf was born in 1944
Novelty act Tiny Tim was born (as Herbert Khaury) in 1930
1988 - Sonny Bono is elected Mayor of Palm Springs, California  (Why did he ever take up skiing?)
1996 - The Hollywood Rock Walk inducts Jan and Dean, The Ventures, The Chantays and The Surfaris as the City of Los Angeles declares it "Ventures Day"
And, on the same day that Bill Haley and His Comets record "Rock Around The Clock" in 1954, Big Joe Turner's recording of "Shake, Rattle And Roll" is released, lending further credence to the fact that "Rock Around The Clock" was NOT the first rock and roll record ... it just became the benchmark by which the SUCCESS of rock and roll has been measured.

Never miss a date ... pick up a copy of Ron Smith's book "Eight Days A Week:  Births, Deaths And Events Each Day In Oldies History" (for whence ALL of the above anniversaries came).  You can order your own copy here:  Click here: Eight Days A Week by Ron Smith | 9780983373704 | Paperback | Barnes & Noble
 
And, speaking of The Saturday Surveys ...

re:  THE SATURDAY SURVEYS:
Kent,
It's possible that today's chart selection is the best you've delivered since you began this feature. These are such fun!
David Lewis

Hi Kent,I enjoy looking at the surveys each Saturday.  While look at the Hitbound section of the WDUZ (Green Bay, WI) survey I noticed that Daybreak (by Nilsson) is followed by Sundown (by Gordon Lightfoot). 
Nice to see a sense of humor so far North. 
Tom

LOL ... missed that one!  But I just happen to LOVE Nilsson's "Daybreak" song ... so this is as good an excuse as any to feature it!  (kk)


re:  THIS AND THAT:  
Kent - 
Please let your fans know JAY PROCTOR of JAY & THE TECHNIQUES is in the Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA, where he will be operated on next week for a tumor in his colon. 
It has not spread ... and the prognosis is good.  He will KEEP THE BALL ROLLIN'! 
Fans can email JAY at:  jpro984960@aol.com  
Rick Levy .. manager  
Thanks for the heads up, Rick.  Fans can email Jay (or send along small does of apples, peaches and pumpkin pie) at the address above.  (kk)   

Kent, 
At 7 this morning (Friday, April 11th), The Drive (WDRV in Chicago) played, in order, Billboard's top five songs from fifty years ago: Can't Buy Me Love, Twist and Shout, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand, and Please Please Me.  What a great way to start the day!   
Dan Crabtree 
Wheaton, IL   
Missed it ... not bad, though ... even if they are a full week off!!! (The Billboard Chart where The Beatles held down the top five spots was dated "Week Ending April 4, 1964).  kk  

Hey Kent,
Thanks for the info on Patti Drew. I am assuming that the version you shared was her with the group. The version in the movie and the one I found on youtube must be her single. I personally think it is much better. 
Stacee
OK, here is Patti's solo version from 1967.  Maybe you'll find it more to your liking.  (kk)


Kent ...
Here's what Tommy James had to deal with.
Oh, I'm well aware of Morris Levy's "legacy" in the music biz ... Tommy James documents all of this quite well in his book "Me, The Mob and the Music" ... hopefully soon to be a motion picture playing near you!  (I'm really looking forward to that new James Brown bio-pic we told you about a few weeks ago, too!)  kk  

Paul McCartney has announced FOUR US Dates for his 2014 "Out There" tour ... with more to follow.  So far, the lucky cities include The New Orleans Arena (June 19th in New Orleans, LA); The Yum! Center in Louisville, KY (June 26th), Times Union Center in Albany, New York (July 5th) and The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA on July 7th.  Watch for new dates to be added soon.  (kk)


Here's a great read on Bobby Vee and his family. @StarTribune 52m   
Take good care of my baby: Bobby Vee and his wife celebrate 50 years http://strib.mn/1n2PTYe  
Don Effenberger


And congratulations to our FH Buddy Al Kooper who, at the ripe old age of 70, FINALLY made The Wall Street Journal!!!  (Seriously?!?!  Was that really always a dream of yours?!?!?  The Wall Street Journal?!?!?)  kk  
Click here: Al Kooper: Rocker of Ages - WSJ.com


If you did not know:   http://www.ericcarmen.com/music-audio-01.html
My friend, Michael Thom, pointed out to me that "That's Rock 'n' Roll" is basically the same song as "Bring it on Home to Me" just sped up a lot!  He just realized it recently.  I NEVER realized it!  Very close indeed!!
Clark
Your timing is perfect ... I've been listening to Eric Carmen all week long in the car!  (kk)    

Here, courtesy of Vintage Vinyl News, is a recap of what you missed during this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony.  (Highlights will be broadcast on HBO starting on May 31st)  kk

Vintage Vinyl also published Olivia Newton-John's set list as she launched her new residency at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas ...
re:  MOVIES THAT ROCK:
The L.A. Ticket Link is now up for multiple tickets ... 
This is an amazing story!
The Wages of Spin II "Bring Down That Wall" is the first sequel to The Wages of Spin, which has been running nationally on PBS affiliates (over a thousand affiliate airings) since June of 2013 and is in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Archives.  The new film will have its Los Angeles Premiere on Wednesday, April 23rd, at The James Brooks Theater on the campus of UCLA.   Tickets: www.characterdrivenfilms.com 
The Wages of Spin II "Bring Down That Wall" covers the inner workings of the music industry circa 1979 thru the early 1990's and focuses on the relationships between:  The Record Labels, Promotion Men, Radio Programmers, Payola, Organized Crime and The Government. 
The film also explores a DOJ investigation into MCA that was shut down by The DOJ hierarchy and the relationship between MCA, Ronald Reagan, Edwin Meese, Howard Baker and several other prominent political and entertainment figures and organized crime.   
Three Trailer Links: 
Hoping some of our LA Readers can report back to us on this one.  I still haven't seen it ... but, judging by these trailers, it looks to REALLY be something!  Please let us know if you were able to make the screening! (kk)

Here's an early review of this hot new film that we just received this morning ...
http://www.delconewsnetwork.com/articles/2014/04/14/entertainment/doc534c6d7690c88887027871.txt    

And, speaking of screenings, don't forget about "The Wrecking Crew", which will be showing as a fund-raiser at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL on May 13th at 7 PM.  This is a one-time only event ... and Denny Tedesco will be on hand for some Q&A after the showing of the film.  It's a "Must See" for ANY fan of '60's music ... these guys were on EVERYTHING!!!  Hope to see you there. (kk)
Other cool shows coming up at the Arcada in April and May:
This Weekend:
Friday, April 18th - CTA - The Music of Chicago - featuring Danny Seraphine (Former Drummer and founding member of the rock group Chicago) along with long-time Chicago vocalist Bill Champlain ... with special guest Larry Braggs, lead singer of Tower Of Power

Saturday, April 19th - It's Foghat, with Cosmo, former lead singer of Boston

Then on Monday Night, April 21st, spend an evening with Kevin Costner and The Modern West!
Saturday, April 26th - be sure to catch Dean Torrence with The Surf City All-Stars, playing ALL the great surf hits of Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys and others
Then on Sunday, April 27th, it'll be Dave Mason's Traffic Jam.
Micky Dolenz of The Monkees ... along with The Cowsills ... hit The Arcada stage on Friday, May 2nd, followed by Echoes of Pompeii, an AMAZING Pink Floyd Tribute Show on Saturday, May 3rd.
On May 9th, it's Air Supply, followed by TWO shows by The Alan Parsons Project on May 10th.
Herman's Hermits with Peter Noone (and special guests Jay and the Americans) close out the month on May 30th.
ALWAYS a great show to be seen at The Arcada ... be sure to check the OShows website for more details and ticket information:  www.oshows.com
(By the way, we were there all weekend again ... saw two GREAT shows featuring Little Anthony and the Imperials and Paul Revere and the Raiders ... watch for reviews of BOTH concerts coming up later this week in Forgotten Hits!)  kk    

re:  ON THE RADIO:  
There is a new book chronicling the birth of Top 40 radio written by my friend, the late Richard Fatherley. Shortly after Top 40 wizard Todd Storz died suddenly in 1964, Richard began interviewing people related to the Storz radio empire and a few years ago began a book on the Top 40 radio format's birth.  This is a fascinating story for anyone who grew up on top 40 radio, especially if you grew up in the great plains area where most of the Storz stations were located in the 50's and 60's.  I thought I knew a lot about top 40 radio, but this book just blew me away.  I thank Chris Abercrombie for turning me on to this book.  The front cover features a picture of my long time friend Sandy Jackson, who was instrumental in the success of Storz broadcasting.  After the author's death, David MacFarland completed the book along with help from Storz legends Bud Connell and Deane Johnson.  Between the four of them, this book has done a masterful job of telling how it all began and developed thru KOWH, WTIX, KOMA, WHB, KXOK, WDGY and WQAM. This book is for anyone who ever grew up on top 40 or was a DJ in the time.  IT IS AWESOME!  Buy this one!  You will not regret it!   
Clark Besch   
http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Top-40-Radio-Revolution/dp/0786476303/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390108498&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Birth+of+Top+40+Radio  
Also, try out Deane Johnson's great website with airchecks, photos and memorabilia from the Storz stations that will blow you away. http://www.deanejohnson.net/



Larry Lujack's typewriter (up for auction on eBay) sold to Chicagoan Dave Plier this past weekend.  The winning bid was $755.  Dave plans on loaning this piece of Chicago Radio History to The Chicago Museum of Broadcast Communications
where it will be on display for all to see.  (This isn't the first time Plier has helped to preserve a piece of Chicago broadcasting history ... check out this media coverage from both Robert Feder and Chicagoland Radio and Media): 
Kent ...
Here's a recap of Scott Shannon's 29th show on WCBS-FM ...
Scott talked to Peter Asher, half of the Peter & Gordon duo.  Peter told the story about how he got the song "A World Without Love" from Paul McCartney. Paul was dating Peter's sister. For awhile, when the Beatles weren't on the road, Paul was staying in the Asher's guest room. Peter & Paul became friends.
John Lennon didn't like "A World Without Love.  It starts with the lyric "Please lock me away." John says "Okay we will -- song is over." He also said there's no bridge in the song.
Since the Beatles weren't going to record it, Paul gave it to Peter & Gordon. May is the 50th anniversary of this song becoming a hit.
Peter & Gordon were on the last Hulabaloo TV show.  They toured with the Dick Clark Cavalcade Of Stars.  They also appeared on one of Murray The K's live shows here in New York.
Frank B.

Hi Kent -- 
Click on the Mike Kinosian analysis of the Classic Hits / Oldies formats. He put quite a bit of work with cross-referencing, etc. Sadly, Chicago (three stations listed) is on a downward trend.   
Danny   
Click here: PPM Analysis: Classic Hits - Oldies - RadioInfo : RadioInfo    
Sadly, nothing we don't already know ... and haven't been preaching for the past fifteen years.  People are sick and tired of being force-fed the same selection of music over and over and over again ... yet radio continues to insult our intelligence by doing so.  As such, MOST of us have for greener pastures (and more variety) as programmed on the Internet.  As far as I'm concerned it's the #1 Reason why Radio is in the crapper today ... yet they're still too blind to see it.  SO discouraging!  (kk)  

Click here: Songs You Love vs. Songs You're Tired Of by Carolyn Gilbert & Leigh Jacobs | ... …
Ok, so explain something to me ... since we ALL seem to know about this ... and everybody agrees what a hassle it is ... why isn't anybody out there DOING anything about it?!?!?  I'll tell you what ... the general public will tell you BOATLOADS more than your highly-paid consultants ... if you'd only LISTEN to them ... since you're obviously blind to the fact that MILLIONS of listeners have already left you to find more variety on the Internet and Satellite Radio.  (Duh?!?!  Do you think that's really why???  Let's put it this way ... MILLIONS are now willing to PAY to hear the songs and variety they really want to hear ... if you haven't picked up on this by now then terrestrial radio truly IS dead!!!)  kk 
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Little Anthony and the Imperials

April 16, 2014, 4:09 am
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In a word:  

OUTSTANDING!!!   

Backed by an exceptional nine piece band (that included a four-piece brass section), plus three Imperials as back-up singers (including original member Earnest Wright), Little Anthony Gourdine (at 74 years of age) absolutely killed it Saturday Night at The Arcada Theatre. 

Incredibly, his voice still sounds EXACTLY the same ... he still hits and holds EVERY note ... and he completelywon us over from the moment he took the stage.   

The show opens with a clip of the band from 1965 on The Ed Sullivan Show singing their monster Top Ten Hit "Hurt So Bad".  This then dissolves into a full-blown overture by the band, featuring bits and pieces of all of their best-known hits.  When that wraps up, we hear a single piano note, played repeatedly as Anthony takes the stage all by himself ... to sing "All By Myself", the #1 Eric Carmen Hit from 1976 ... an absolute show-stopper right off the bat.  The Imperials join him for the big-build ending, taken more from the Celine Dion songbook than the Eric Carmen original ... but their voices soar in perfect (and quite dramatic) harmony for the big finish.  People, we've got a SHOW!!!  

Next up, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" ... these don't sound like any late-'50's / early-'60's Imperials at all ... it's a totally contemporary arrangement of a Motown classic. (As it turns out, one of the current Imperials used to sing back up for Marvin Gaye back in the day.)   

And then, their very own first hit ... "Tears On My Pillow" (#4, 1958), executed PERFECTLY to complete crowd approval.  (A standing ovation on the third song!  These guys were smokin' ... and the audience loved them!)  


It really is incredible how much ... in 2014 ... Little Anthony sounds like Little Anthony!!!  Later in the evening, he will tell the story of how when the record promoter first brought their single to Alan Freed and asked him to play it on the air, Freed's reaction was "Boy, that girl can really sing!"  (Original pressings listed the artist as simply "The Imperials".)  The promoter immediately corrected him ... "Girl?!?!?  That ain't no girl ... that's ANTHONY!!!" to which Freed replied, "Wow!  Well he must be little!" ... and he's been LITTLE Anthony ever since!  (Later in the set he would pay tribute to another famous "Little" ... as in Richard, with a rip-roaring rocker, the likes of which you've never heard Little Anthony and the Imperials lay down on record.)


Other hits and funk tunes followed ... including a nice reading of Prince's "Kiss" (which at one point evolved into "U Can't Touch This") along with the expected Little Anthony and the Imperials classics like "I'm On The Outside Looking In" and "Take Me Back".  Before playing their 1960 Top 20 Hit "Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop" Anthony took a moment to level with the audience:  "I've got to tell you that I don't like this song ... I've NEVER really liked this song ... but it was a hit ... and it sold over a million copies ... so we have to play it ... so we're going to play it ... but I want you to know that since I don't like it, I'm going to do the best that I can."  (Little Anthony's speaking voice is very reminiscent of Flip Wilson's ... and his comic timing is impeccable.  You can tell he's been doing this for a long, long time ... everything just flows ... yet from the audience's perspective, it all still feels natural and real, the ultimate testament to an artist with a career that has lasted this long.  The crowd LOVED him!)


In fact, all of the between-song patter was entertaining. (I don't want to give too much away, should you have the chance to see this Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer yourself ... don't pass us an opportunity ... DO IT!!!  You will NOT be disappointed.  Upcoming dates include June 27th and June 28th at the Niagra Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagrara Falls, Ontario, Canada ... and July 18th at The Wolf Den in Uncasville, CT.)  It's a class act from start to finish ... precision timing, clearly well-rehearsed ... but a real treat to watch.  Every single one of themgenuinely looked like they were having fun up there.   

Naturally, he saved two of his biggest hits for the end ... "Hurt So Bad" and "Goin' Out Of My Head" BOTH received well-deserved standing ovations.  After "Goin' Out Of My Head", Anthony said "I don't want to sing any more sad songs ... I've been singing sad songs now for 56 years ... no more sad songs" at which point the band launched into a killer funk finale.  It was nothing short of incredible to watch these guys still handle all the dance moves.  Good show!



Anthony mentioned that he is writing a book, looking back over their entire career.  I, for one, can't wait to read it.  A great show ... and well worth seeing.  With at least half-a-dozen well-deserved standing ovations spread throughout the evening, there is no question that the audience felt satisfied and entertained.  Highly recommended if you get the chance to see it.

*****

Opening for Little Anthony and the Imperials was Darrian Ford and the Cookebook, who put together an AMAZING tribute to the music of Sam Cooke.  Ron Onesti just happened to catch his sold-out act the week before at The City Winery and invited him to kick off the show this weekend at The Arcada.  Once again, the fans LOVED him ... and he did spot-on renditions of many of Sam's biggest and best-known hits.  Onesti has already invited him back for a return engagement on August 31st ... so keep your eyes open for that one. (kk)


 kk and the imperials ... that's some guy named "anthony" to my left
(backstage at the Arcada Theatre ... photo by Luciano J. Bilotti)
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Paul Revere and the Raiders with The New Colony Six

April 17, 2014, 4:34 am
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Even at 76 years of age, Paul Revere can out-perform many of his contemporaries with one hand tied behind his back ... or, in the case of Sunday Night's Show, tied in FRONT of him.  (Revere recently had rotator cuff surgery and only had one hand available to use on his signature keyboard fills.)  

The past couple of years have not been kind to Paul.  He has had a number of health issues and they seem to be taking a toll on him.  But ever the trooper, Revere continues to perform to the delight of sold out audiences everywhere.  (During his show at The Arcada Theatre Sunday Night, he was already talking about his Rock And Roll Cruise leaving in January of 2015 ... simply put, this guy is NOT going down without a fight!) 

He has enlisted his son to join in on stage as part of the band ... but this is no token, throw-away bit of nepotism ... the kid can PLAY!  Quite a guitarist, he dazzled on a couple of solos.  Where Revere's slow down is most noticeable is in his once rapid-fire pacing of patter throughout the show.  On more than a couple of occasions, he truly seemed to lose his place, needing some help from a couple of his band members in order to stay on track ... whereas before this always seemed to be part of the schtick, Sunday Night it felt a lot more real.  While there were times that this was sad and difficult to watch, I've still got to give him an A for effort ... this guy's a performer of the highest caliber ... and that's pure show-biz running through his veins.  (Unfortunately all of that great adrenalin seems to now be sharing the same space as some necessary medication, which appears to be slowing him down!)

On the plus side, he's got an INCREDIBLE band.  Bassist Ron Foos and Guitarist Don Heath have been with him for over forty years now ... and Keyboardist Danny Krause isn't far behind with 35 years under his belt.  Even the new kids ... Lead Vocalist Darren Dowler (a man of a thousand voices) and Drummer Tommy Scheckel (a drummer the likes of which you've never seen before ... unless, of course, you've seen Tommy Scheckel!) ... have already spent a few years with the certified Mad Man of Rock And Roll.  

Musically, they're as solid as a rock ... they can probably do this show in their sleep ... but it never feels that way.  In fact, quite a few more of their hit songs were featured as part of medleys this time around ... which meant that more recognizable hit material could be included in their set ... as such, we were treated to GREAT Forgotten Hits Raiders tracks like "Let Me", "The Great Airplane Strike", "Ups And Downs", "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon", "Him Or Me, What's It Gonna Be" and "Birds Of A Feather", tracks that both radio ... and the band ... have ignored for years.  (One thing about Paul Revere and the Raiders ... even when one considers the thousands and thousands and thousands of shows they've done over the years, they've never done the same show twice.  Revere continues to mix things up on stage to keep the band on their toes ... and, as such, they all seem to be having a great time up there on stage, never quite knowing for sure what to expect next.)  It keeps things moving and adds an extra bit of fun to the whole experience, making it all that much more entertaining when something unexpected happens or goes slightly wrong!  The audience is definitely part of the wild ride when these guys are up on stage!

Here's hoping he stays strong for another 76 years ... there are few artists out there that can entertain an audience the way that these guys do.



***


Opening for Paul Revere and the Raiders were Chicago's very own New Colony Six.  (We were instrumental in instigating this unique pairing, something I've ALWAYS wanted to see.) 

Back in The Summer of '65 (four years before Bryan Adams bought his first real six string), The New Colony Six were starting to make a name for themselves playing the clubs around Chicagoland ... but they felt that they would never hit the big time limiting themselves to The Windy City ... NO other rock band had ever made it big out of Chicago before ... so they packed up all their gear and headed out to Sunny Cal-I-For-Ni-A, landing on The Sunset Strip in Hollywood at a duplex motel.  Back then, part of their gimmick was their colonial uniforms ... so imagine their surprise when they checked in and began unloading to find another rock group renting the space above them ... ALSO decked out in Revolutionary gear.  Yep, it was Paul Revere and the Raiders.  In Ray Graffia Jr.'s words, all jaws collectively dropped.

The big difference during that entire experience was the fact that one of Paul Revere and the Raiders' auditions that week was with Dick Clark Productions ... and Dick fell in love with the band, signing them to host his brand new afternoon rock and roll show "Where The Action Is".  (The New Colony Six, meanwhile, came home feeling quite depressed and dejected.)

But, lo and behold, thanks to the love and belief of their families, several of the parents kicked in money to start their own record company ... and Centaur Records was formed.  The band went in and cut their first single later that year, and by the time the calendar flipped to 1966, "I Confess" was the #2 Record in Chicagoland!  They had done it ... a rock group from Chicago made the charts.  The record soon started climbing the national charts as well, eventually peaking at #64 in Record World.

More hits followed ... SEVENTEEN Top 40 Hits in all on the Chicago Charts ... and a dozen of those made The National Charts as well.  Before The Buckinghams ... before The Cryan' Shames ... before The Ides Of March, The American Breed or The Shadows Of Knight ... The New Colony Six were the FIRST rock band from Chicago to hit the charts and pave the way for all of other acts to follow.  Their 17 local hits is more than ANY other local band of this era ... yet they seem to have been short-changed for a good chunk of their career, often falling in the shadows of some of these other hometown heroes.

Sunday Night they proved that they've still got it ... in one of the best performances I've ever seen them do, The New Colony Six played eight of those hits (along with a killer "Chicago Gold" medley, spotlighting one song each by the other groups mentioned above) to a very receptive audience.  (There seemed to be a fair amount of concern earlier in the week that The New Colony Six may be too similarly dressed as the headliners to share the same stage ... but for me that was always part of the charm of pairing these two acts up together in the first place.)  Incredibly, as a token of deference to the headlining band, The New Colony Six offered to wear their more "subtle black outfits" out of respect ... only to find that Paul Revere and the Raiders came out in a very similar black uniform get-up for their set!  (Needless to say, I'm sure a few more jaws dropped once again!)  Nevertheless, Paul Revere had a bit of fun with the whole idea, first stating that he'd always wondered what happened to the old Raiders outfits that he sold on eBay ... and then later, after remarking that someone earlier that day had recognized him, most likely because of the way he was dressed, went on to say that while normally that's because he's the only one dressed that way, there were WAY too many people dressed that way here today.  All in good sport, of course ... but material other concert goers aren't going to be treated to anywhere else due to the unique circumstances of this particular concert.  Personally, I think they should take The New Colony Six out on the road with them and have this kind of fun EVERY night.  Plus they proved to be a very formidable opening act.)

In fact, both bands got rousing ovations throughout their performances and it made for a fun evening of '60's Rock And Roll.   The '60's was a magical time for music ... and for those of us growing up back then, it's often amazing in hindsight to think about just how "all around us" and accessible this great music actually was.

For starters, we had The Ed Sullivan Show every Sunday Night ... where you just knew he was going to be featuring the latest hit by the hottest band at that moment each week.  We had American Bandstand on the weekend ... and great evening programs like Shindig and Hullaballoo, always bringing the latest hit music right into our living rooms.  After school we had The Lloyd Thaxton Show and Where The Action Is, starring Paul Revere and the Raiders, who showed us several short clips from their hit television series prior to taking the stage Sunday Night.

But here in Chicago we ALSO had Kiddie A-Go-Go, on which The New Colony Six appeared to perform their latest hit record "I Lie Awake" back in 1966.  That clip, when shown at The Arcada Theatre Sunday Night, got as big a laugh as any other ... it was like watching American Bandstand for seven, eight and nine year olds ... all of whom were up there strutting their stuff with all the latest dances.

A FUN night at The Arcada ... some GREAT '60's Music ... and (in my opinion anyway) the PERFECT blend of acts to pull it off.  (kk)   


Some pre-show fun ... 

Prior to the concerts, I got a chance to hang out during the sound checks, during which time FH Reader and frequent contributor (and Chicagoland Sportscasting Legend) Chet Coppock showed up.  (Chet ultimately introduced The New Colony Six on stage that night.)

As pointed out here in Forgotten Hits many years ago, Chet worked as the band's roadie back in the late '60's, earning a whopping $50 a week to help load and set-up the equipment ... and occasionally he even took to the stage himself to treat the audience to his Wayne Cochran impersonation! He said he'd do it again in a minute ... but now they'd have to pay him $70 a week!!!   

He confided that those days are amongst the happiest of his life ... and he still believes that, with the right promotion and management, The New Colony Six could have been one of the biggest groups in the country.  He was there for recording sessions held at the world famous Chess Records studios ... and watched the guys lay down the tracks for their two biggest national hits, "I Will Always Think About You" and "Things I'd Like To Say".  

So when Chet suggested we all huddle around the mike together, doo-wop style, how could anybody possibly resist???

L-R:  Ray Graffia, Jr., founding member of The New Colony Six; 
love-him-or-hate-him sports broadcaster / commentator Chet Coppock; 
and kk, Kent Kotal, that Forgotten Hits guy,
who's doing his part to keep the music alive by saving the oldies one song at a time ... 
live, on stage at The Arcada Theatre; St. Charles, IL
Sunday, April 13th, 2014
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50 Years Ago This Weekend ... And Even MORE Of Your Dave Clark Five Comments

April 18, 2014, 4:39 am
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50 Years Ago This Weekend: 
  
New on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart this week were DIANE by THE BACHELORS (often lumped into The British Invasion despite their real origins in Ireland) at #74, BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS, another act managed by BRIAN EPSTEIN, manager of THE BEATLES, with LITTLE CHILDREN (#87 with a bullet) and WHY (#88), another song recorded back in the Hamburg days by THE BEATLES with TONY SHERIDAN on lead vocals. 

Back in the "meat of the charts", CAN'T BUY ME LOVE was enjoying its third week at #1 (pretty remarkable in that this was only its fourth week on the chart overall!)  TWIST AND SHOUT held at #2 (it reached #1 on both of the other national trades, but for some reason NOT in Billboard.  It was #1 here in Chicago, too … and just about EVERYWHERE from what I've seen.  To this day it remains one of their best-loved singles.)  DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? cracked The Top Ten, coming in at #5, THE DAVE CLARK FIVE's GLAD ALL OVER was at #7 and SHE LOVES YOU was at #8. 

Other British hits in The Top 20 that week include BITS AND PIECES (another hit by THE DC5, now at #11), NEEDLES AND PINS by THE SEARCHERS at #13), and a couple more BEATLES tracks, PLEASE PLEASE ME (#16) and I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND (#19).  The Brits were also represented at #32 with HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE (by THE SWINGING BLUE JEANS), #45 with I SAW HER STANDING THERE, #49 with ALL MY LOVING, #50 with THANK YOU GIRL, #51 with DUSTY SPRINGFIELD's STAY AWHILE and #55 with YOU CAN'T DO THAT.  (That makes 11 BEATLES singles in all ... with ten in the Top 60). 

For the second week in a row an American act holds down the top spot on The WLS Silver Dollar Survey.  (Last week it was "Suspicion", the Elvis sound-alike record by Terry Stafford, and this week it's "Crooked Little Man (Don't Let The Rain Come Down)" by The Serendipity Singers.)  "Suspicion" would rise to the top again next week and sit there for two more weeks before being replaced by a two-sided hit by Jan and Dean, "Dead Man's Curve" backed with "New Girl In School".  The British Invasion acts wouldn't recapture the #1 Spot until May 15th when "Love Me Do" / "P.S. I Love" began its four week reign on top of the WLS Chart. 

This week "Can't  Buy Me Love" is at #3, now coupled with its B-Side "You Can't Do That", "Glad All Over" is at #5 and "Thank You Girl" / "Do You Want To Know A Secret" is at #8 (with "Secret" making its first WLS chart appearance … but "Thank You Girl" still being shown as the A-Side … the same thing happened here with "Shut Down" and "Surfin' U.S.A." by The Beach Boys … and a few years later … for a week anyway … with "Steppin' Stone" / "I'm A Believer" by The Monkees.  As such "Steppin' Stone" actually logged a week at #1 as the A-Side of the record!) 

"Bits And Pieces" is at #10, "Twist And Shout" at #12, Jimmy Griffin's version of "All My Lovin'" at #14, and "Beatle Time" by The Livers at #28. 

New on the charts this week are "Yesterday's Gone" by Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde (#26), "Not Fade Away" by The Rolling Stones (#33) and "Stay Awhile" by Dusty Springfield (#37).  I have NO idea why "I Only Want To Be With You" by Dusty didn't chart here … I absolutely remember hearing it at the time.  (It did, however, make our Top Tunes Of Greater Chicagoland Chart, peaking at #34 … but that survey wasn't tied to any specific radio station at the time … and in 1964 about the ONLY place you were going to hear this stuff was on WLS … WCFL wouldn't start up for nearly two more years!)   


The Dave Clark Five:   

Folks are STILL writing in about The Dave Clark Five / PBS Documentary Special ... only now we seem to be receiving far more negative reviews than positive reviews.  (In all fairness it may be more accurate to say fans were "disappointed" than to say the special wasn't any good.  If you're a fan of this music, you welcome ANY opportunity to see and hear it again!)   

Here's some feedback based on the latest batch of comments we've received ...  

I don't care what anybody says - I thought the PBS Special was fantastic.  I've already ordered a copy of the dvd.  It was just so good to hear this music again and see some of the clips, many of which I've never seen before as well as others that I haven't seen in nearly fifty years.  
Stan    

The Ed Rudy DC5 interview album has been on my search list for decades.  I even asked Ed Rudy, who is still alive, about reissuing it along with his Rolling Stones interview LP combined on a single CD but he didn't sound all that interested.   I do have the Stones one and his Beatles interview LP, and both are quite revealing.   The Beatles one has been reissued but the Stones and DC5 -- sadly, no. All the best, 
Gary 
Doing a quick search I found (incredibly!) a SEALED copy of the Dave Clark Five interview LP ... hey, and it's only $185!!!  (lol)  A little rich for me right now ... but I, too, would love to hear it.  Might anybody out there have an audio copy to share?  Thanks!  (kk) 
Hi, Kent. 
While I do not know how many different Radio Pulsebeat LPs (interviews conducted by Ed Rudy) were produced in the mid-'60s, there were at least four: two featuring the Beatles and one each by The Rolling Stones and The Dave Clark Five.   Ed Rudy today operates his own website (edrudy.com)  and through it sells the contents of the two Beatle interview LPs remastered onto a single CD.   As for the Stones and DC5 material, it has sat unreissued for decades.  A number of years ago I e-mailed Mr. Rudy and suggested he combine the Stones and DC5 content onto a single "British Invasion" CD but he's never done it.   Now that the DC5 PBS special has garned some traction, I again wrote to him with the same request and this time got a different -- but still inconclusive -- answer: 
Dear Gary, 
Thank you very much! 
It is an excellent thought! 
Ed Rudy 
I have a vinyl copy of Ed Rudy's Stones LP but have never been able to score -- at anything close to a reasonable price -- a copy of the DC5 one.   The DC5 made at least one other (possibly one-sided) promo-only interview album released by Warner Bros. in 1965 to help hype their movie "Having A Wild Weekend."   If a FH reader has a clean copy of both or either of those DC5 interview LPs and wouldn't mind burning the audio on them to a CDR for me, I would be very grateful.  Perhaps in exchange I could offer sealed copies of some of the many multi-disc CD box sets of various kinds I've put together for direct-mail marketing over the years.  I always interested in audio interviews I do not have with hitmakers of all eras. 
Gary  
I've seen the "Having A Wild Weekend" disc listed a few times, too ... a quick check this morning turned up the picture sleeve only ... but no vinyl ... on eBay.  If somebody out there can move a little quicker than Mr. Rudy to get us a copy of these two interview discs, please let me know ... 'cause now I'D like to hear them, too!!!    Thanks!  (kk)  

Kent, 
Of course I saw and read your Sunday feature on the Dave Clark Five snubbing by The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  We were so looking forward to seeing Mike at the induction.  All the ducks were in a row so he could appear, but in this case, the last bit of fund-raising for the van and the American trip, helped us more than we were able to help Mike.  Wait ... I think it really helped Mike to see himself as loved through the eyes of others.  We wanted him to know.  I never met Mike in person.  It didn't matter.  There is a musical spirit that binds me to the people and times.  I believe they were where they were supposed to be, and I was where I was and am, supposed to be. 
Did you say that you have a bootleg of The Tribute to Mike Smith concert?  Always good to share with your friends, Kent.  Exasperating that it was never released.  Would have been a great fund-raiser. (which was what it was supposed to be in the first place)  There was much questioning about this whole thing as it was unfolding. 
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano   
Funny thing is I saw it advertised in any number of places ... in fact, had already ordered a copy and then had my money returned when the whole deal fell through.  We were in communication with Gordon Waller at the time who was both hurt and frustrated by the fact that this disc was not going to see the light of day.  Sadder still, Gordon passed away a short time later.  You know, if Dave Clark ever truly realized where his meal ticket came from, HE would step in and get this thing released so that the public can see and enjoy it ... and raise money for Mike's family ... but it's pretty unlikely that that'll ever happen ... because as we all know in HIS eyes, HE was pretty much the sole reason for the band's success.  (kk)   

I agree with most of these comments about the DC5 PBS documentary.  I liked the old footage and hearing the songs again, even in snippets. At least it was the DC5 recordings. I've watched too many cheesy music bio productions that can't obtain the music rights. Watching it made me annoyed and angry at Dave Clark. He bought up the old Ready Steady Go shows banking on a 60s nostalgia craze ... then he locks away his band's efforts. He did his band mates a terrible injustice by being so greedy. What on earth is Whoopi Goldberg doing anywhere near this show? Minus 20 points. And Sharon Osborne?  Minus 20. The Time blab at the end was more Dave self indulgence. Where's Lenny Davidson?  He's still alive, best I can tell. I think I heard last he was teaching guitar and playing in a church band ... probably for food. It was interesting to hear Sir Paul comment about his former pop star rivals. I wonder what kind of deal was going on behind the scenes. Did Paul owe him one for RSG footage in Beatles Anthology? Don't get me wrong ... I love the old songs. Anyway You Want It, Bits and Pieces, Over and Over, Try Too Hard, Glad All Over rock as hard as anything in the 60s or Seattle in the 90s or anything. Dave wasn't THE band but I suspect he was his own Allen Klein. If Dave is trying to be forgotten he's on the right track. He owes Tom Hanks big time. I think he owes Sex Clark Five too although their following may eventually overtake the Tottenham bunch. Thanks  
Matt Reynolds    

>>>I wasn't willing to stay up until two to watch the Dave Clark Five special, and my DVR can't record off of the TV  (John LaPuzza) 
Can you find out from John what his DVR records off of?  Is it his toaster?  His Microwave?  His radio? 
Steve 
I have to admit, I was a little baffled by that one, too!!!  Sounds like it's been on a couple of times already ... and the DVD is available for pre-order with a mid-May release date ... so I think I'm just gonna buy it and enjoy the two hours of extras!  (kk)   

Hey Kent,  
One more quick comment regarding the DC5 PBS Special - for all we heard on the special about what a great live band the DC5 were, we never get to hear them live! In every clip we ever see, they are lip synching. This has been incredibly disappointing for a long time and I was hoping the special would give us a few actual live performances to peruse. Other than a brief Nineteen Days and Georgia On My Mind (which wasn’t very impressive), we got more canned performances.  The special was overall very disappointing - completely irrelevant commentators, nothing but plaudits and a tribute to Clark’s ego. Too bad. 
Greg Favata - NC6 
You didn't find it incredibly entertaining to learn that Whoopi Goldberg wanted to do The Dave Clark Five?!?!  (lol)  Clark has ALWAYS manipulated his band's performances ... even back when the "Ready, Steady, Go" shows came out, the DC5 appearances were cherry-picked and edited in ... FROM OTHER SHOWS!!!  They weren't even RSG performances!  I get the whole idea of always putting your best foot forward ... but I agree with you ... within the context of this "in-depth" profile of the band, it WOULD have been really nice to see them in action once or twice.  (Maybe on the bonus footage???)  kk   

>>>I was just happy to finally see some of this incredible footage again ... in better quality than all the bootleg tapes I've had for decades now.  I'm hoping the DVD release (with two additional hours of bonus footage) will concentrate more on the music and the other members of the band. (kk)  
Hey Kent: 
Yep, it’s better than nothing at all, I give you that. DC would be better served just offering a DVD of all the clips he feels like releasing. That would be great. Also, it was weird in Milwaukee when they came in ’64. You had the banner contest, where the winner got his banner on the LP cover. You had the promoter of the show double selling tickets so that the place was completely jam-packed. It was nuts they say. Also, there are pictures of young kid on stage who looks like he’s passed out, which was my friend Barry!! He was nearly crushed at the stage and luckily some security person saw him and lifted him on stage. Close call!! Ken    

If anyone has  “The History Of The Dave Clark Five”  1993 CD they got a good glimpse of what a PBS documentary of The Dave Clark Five would be like. To start off with, you have the cover of the CD which has Dave Clark’s mug and half of faces of the rest of the boys. If you turn to the last page of the booklet you’ll see Dave’s same mug  shot and the other half of the boys faces. The booklet and pictures are also primary Dave Clark just like the PBS special.   
Dave gives no credit to the amount of writing that Mike Smith and Lenny Davidson did but if you check the 50 song breakdown on the CD you’ll see that Dave Clark collaborated with someone on all but two of their songs. The 13 page write up the CD booklet was done by a Ken Barnes who must of heading up the Dave Clark Fan Club. There are two pages of photos which are headline clipping from the newspapers. They also are primarily Dave Clark headline captions. “We Want Dave”, "They All Want Dave”, “Dave Clark Crushed”, “Riot Over Dave Clark”, “Dave fans banned by airport”, "Dave gets A Jet For U.S. Tour",  “Pop Star Dave Is No. 1”, “Dave Has Good Reason To Be “Glad All Over”.  Was “DAVE” an abbreviated  name used for “The Dave Clark Five” ???  I always thought it was DC 5.   
You really get the sense of Clark having some type of Svengali / Rasputin hold on the boys in the band. I haven’t run into any bad mouthing from members of the group. There is an interview with Mike Smith that I listened to where the interviewer tried to get Mike to dish the dirt out on Clark but he wouldn’t. The closest thing to a negative that Mike gave was when talking about  the collaboration of Clark & Smith on “Glad All Over”.    
Mike Smith said that Dave Clark told him they needed to come out with their own material so Mike went home and wrote “Glad Over Over”.  The collaborating extent of Dave’s contribution to the hit was playing on it and putting it on his produced single and Greatest Hit LP.  The credit for the writing of “Glad All Over” reads Dave Clark – Mike Smith. Apparently, if you check all the DC5’s original material there’s not a song that Smith or Davidson penned on their own.  
Reviewing past articles on Mike Smith's passing, the two that stand out are the benefit concert held after his accident and the death notice which says his estate was a modest 66,000 pounds.  Dave Clark’s contribution to the benefit concert was letting the DC 5  songs be used for one night.   
Jerry Kamper    
 
Kent -  I read something recently that explained that DC5 songs were sometimes left off oldies playlists simply because stations didn't have access to them. Since the songs weren't released on CD until 1992, this would make some sense. With scant radio play and no compilations showing up in the racks, the group was out of sight and mind. Wondering if any Forgotten Hits readers can confirm. 
Carl Wiser  
www.songfacts.com   
I can absolutely tell you that this is true.  Dave Clark, for all his self-proclaimed marketing genius, REALLY blew it with this decision in my opinion.  (Not unlike Allen Klein and all the Cameo / Parkway stuff)  By locking all of this material away in the vaults (I suppose in the hopes of generating more mystique, interest and, ideally, a big pay day down the road), what he REALLY did was a HUGE disservice to these artists by making their music unavailable to the general music-loving public ... people who listen to the radio and then go out and buy the music that they hear. Some of the better oldies stations took the extra steps to buy "oldies 45s" of some of The Dave Clark Five's best known hits in order to keep them in rotation ... there were also a couple of foreign greatest hits collections that came out during that period of time ... but, for the most part, you just couldn't get your hands on this material unless you were willing to pay big bucks for it.  But THAT money went to the collectors, NOT to Dave Clark or his bandmates ... so in MY mind anyway, it's one of the biggest bone-head moves in music history.  PLUS he denied himself the opportunity to keep this music out there and introduce brand new generations to the thumping beat of the Tottenham Sound. Here in The States, The Dave Clark Five had 18 Top 40 Hits between 1964 and 1967 ... we've typically heard the biggest:  "Glad All Over", "Bits And Pieces", "Can't You See That She's Mine", "Because", "You've Got What It Takes", "Over and Over" and "Catch Us If You Can" ... but that leaves nearly a dozen OTHER great hits by the wayside. With SO many people talking about The DC5 again thanks to this PBS Special (albeit not always in the most positive light, as we've seen by the comments that we've received!), perhaps this marketing genius will FINALLY make some of this other material available again for the whole world to enjoy.  (kk)
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The Saturday Surveys (April 19th)

April 19, 2014, 5:00 am
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This WKYC Chart from Cleveland (April, 1968) shows National Hits "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro, "Cry Like A Baby" by The Box Tops, "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell and the Drells, "A Beautiful Morning" by The Rascals and "Young Girl" by The Union Gap all firmly planted in The Top Ten, just like they were from coast to coast.

But it also shows a few surprises ... "Listen Listen" by The Merry-Go-Round is at #5 (these guys were HUGE out on the West Coast ... but never had much success nationally), O.C. Smith is at #8 with "The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp" (a GREAT Forgotten Hit featured not too long ago on these pages) and The Doors'"Unknown Soldier" is at #9, down from #4 the week before.  (This one barely made Billboard's Top 40, peaking at #39.)



Other surprises include "Tin Soldier" by The Small Faces, "Sherry Don't Go" by The Lettermen and "I Will Always Think About You" by The New Colony Six, all snuggly placed in The Top 20. 

(You'll find another Cleveland-area chart down below from 1967 ... again, you'll see they pretty much went their own way when it came to MAKING the hits.)



Without a doubt one of the biggest and most popular radio stations in Philadelphia has always been WIBG ("Wibbage") ... and this chart dating all the way back to 1964 shows them charting The Top 99 Records Of The Week!!!

Naturally, The Beatles top the chart ... but with a rather unlikely candidate ... I don't think I've seen another chart yet where "Do You Want To Know A Secret" / "Thank You Girl" came in at #1!!!  (Of course they're also at #3 with "Can't Buy Me Love" / "You Can't Do That", at #5 with "Twist And Shout", at #30 with "All My Lovin'", at #34 with "Love Me Do", at #39 with "I'll Get You" (a rare B-Side that never charted nationally ... yet one of their very best early tracks), at #71 with "Why" (actually a Tony Sheridan record where The Beatles were the back-up band) and at #72 with "There's a Place".




And then two distinctly different charts from this week in 1967.

First up, WIXY in Cleveland, charting one of their own at the #1 Position ... "It's Cold Outside" by The Choir.  (Some of these guys would go on to join The Raspberries a few years later and enjoy even greater success on the charts.)



And there's Terry Knight again, this time holding down the #3 Spot with "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love".

Check out The Blues Magoos at #12 with "Pipe Dream" ... and Jeff Beck at #31 with "Hi Ho Silver Lining"!


KRLA's chart refers to their list as the "Most Requested" songs ... and there must be something to that ... because you couldn't even buy the #1 Record if you wanted to ... "Valerie" (again misspelled) wouldn't be released as a single until a year later ... so they, too, must have been playing it off of the sound track of The Monkees' television show.  (Here in Chicago WCFL used to count down the most-requested songs of the day ... and "Valleri" consistently beat ALL of the competition ... including The Monkees' own current recordings!  If Colgems would have released this record then, it very well could have been the biggest single of their career!)  The Monkees' REAL single at the time "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" / "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" held down the #4 spot.

Our buddies The Yellow Balloon are all the way up at #3 with THEIR big hit "Yellow Balloon".  In fact you'll find quite a few "Friends of Forgotten Hits" on this list again ... 

Tommy James and the Shondells'"I Think We're Alone Now" is #2, "No Milk Today" / "There's A Kind of Hush" by Herman's Hermits is #6, "Blues' Theme" by Davie Allan and the Arrows is #10, Paul Revere and the Raiders are at #13 with "Him Or Me, What's It Gonna Be", "Happy Together" by The Turtles is right behind it at #14 and "Don't You Care" by The Buckinghams are at #25.

And check out The Beatles' hit at #31 ... a full six weeks before the "Sgt. Pepper" album was released, KRLA was evidently already playing "A Day In The Life" from some sort of advance pressing of the LP ... except they were calling it "A Day And A Life"!!!  (You've REALLY got to wonder how they got access to THAT track!!!)

Other titles worth mentioning:  The Robbs at #35 with "Rapid Transit", "Live" by The Merry-Go-Round at #12 (down from #3 the week before) and a Top Ten Hit by Music Machine called "Double Yellow Line" at #7. (We never heard THAT one here in Chicago!!!)







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The Sunday Comments ( 04 - 20 - 14 )

April 20, 2014, 5:01 am
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re:  RINGO!:
Check it out!!!  WLS-FM is actually doing something REALLY cool in June ... and if you grew up here in the '60's enjoying The Big 89 ... and The Beatles ... this just might be something you'd like to be a part of!  More details to come as they become available ... but here's what we know so far ...  
I wanted to tell you about an upcoming 94.7 WLS event — the Ringo Starr Art Show "With a Little Help From His Friends", benefiting the Lotus Foundation.  The event will take place June 21 – June 28 at the Hard Rock Café in Chicago.  The Art Show will be free and open to the public with all pieces available for purchase.  Customers purchasing a signed Ringo Starr print will meet Ringo and have their picture taken with him at a special pre-concert event on Saturday, June 28th! 

And check this out ... 

Given his tie in to WLS during the British Invasion, Clark Weber will be appearing there on Tuesday, June 24th, from 6 - 8 pm to tell stories of what it was like to program the biggest Rock and Roll station in America during this incredibly exciting time. 

And, it gets better ... check out this note I received from Clark: 

I suggested they contact Ron Riley and fly him into town for the event. They thought that was a great idea and are contacting Ron and setting those wheels in motion.
This should be an exciting night.  Hope to see you there.
Clark 

You can count on it!  Man, you guys were right in the thick of it back then ... in fact, you were flying the plane here in Chicago!  Would LOVE to get a picture with you and Ron for the website ... who knows, maybe we can even convince Ringo to photo-bomb us!!! 

FH Readers ... you are NOT going to want to miss this event.  Ringo's All-Star Band concert is June 28th at The Chicago Theater.  Members of the band this year include Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather of Toto, Gregg Rolie of Santana and Richard Page of Mr. Mister.  (kk)   

re: ON THE RADIO:
In other radio news, congratulations to Bob Stroud of The Drive.  Closing in on his 30th year of broadcasting here in Chicago, Bob's mid-day show is now the third most popular program in this time slot.  And, far more importantly, he placed well ahead of Ryan Seacrest's syndicated program on KISS-FM, which came in at #7, thus accomplishing a life-time goal achievement ... right, Bob?!?!  (Just kidding ... hey, your show is still amongst the best on the radio today ... and we loyal members of The Stroud Crowd have enjoyed listening every step ... and every stop ... of the way.)  Seriously, congrats!

Congratulations two three other Chicago Radio Broadcasting Legends ... according to Chicagoland Radio and Media:  

Radio Facts released its list of the "10 Best Black Radio DJs of All Time" last week.  At #10 was Chicago's living legend, Herb Kent, aka "The Cool Gent,""The King of the Dusties," and "The Honorary Mayor of Bronzeville." Of course, Kent can still be heard each weekend on WVAZ-FM / V103. At #8 was Doug Banks, who is also heard now on WVAZ-FM, and formerly had a show on WGCI-FM (1986 - 1994). #3 was Tom Joyner, who used to be heard exclusively in Chicago on WJPC-AM and WGCI-FM, before becoming one of the country's top syndicated radio stars. As the list was written by Buffalo, NY native Kevin Ross, it features a few Buffalo and east coast DJs, which may not be as well known nationally. The entire list can be seenHERE.

And, speaking of the latest ratings, Scott Shannon's aren't too shabby at his new home in New York City ...

Kent ...
Latest ratings = WCBS-FM checks in at #2.
Scott Shannon said he won't be satisfied till WCBS-FM is #1 again.
I like a man who has confidence in his show.
Here's a mid-week report:
Monday = Bill Medley called in to push his new book "The Time Of My Life."  Bill said that Frank Sinatra brought the Righteous Brothers to Las Vegas. He called them the kids. Both Bill and Elvis were at the International at the same time. Bill did the early show and Elvis did the late show. They got to be close friends. They would sit in the dressing room - Bill, Elvis and his hairdresser. He tells this story:
One day Bill was on stage singing. Elvis walks across the the stage ... Hi, Bill. He was taking a shortcut to his dressing room.
Scott asked what I thought was a good question. How do you replace Bobby Hatfield?
Bill gave a good answer ... You can never replace Bobby Hatfield. Every member of his band sings and his daughter is part of the show. We do the best we can.
Bill Medley talked about some of the woman in his life ... Darlene Love, Mary Wilson and Connie Stevens. Scott described Bill as a hit and run kind of guy. Bill agreed with that description.
During Scott's interview with Bill Medley, Bill said his son was with Paul Revere and The Raiders for about 5 years.
Wednesday  =  Felix Cavaliere was on the Star Phone.  He said he'd be working with The Beach Boys this
Summer.  Working with Darlene Love this Winter.
Just noticed Darlene Love got into both of my stories.
Scott assumed the Rascals were fighting again and asked Felix about it. Felix says no. He said the reunion tour was only supposed to last about a year.  Do you believe him ?
Stay Tuned For More.
Frank B.
Damn, I'm going to have to start listening to Scott Shannon again!!!  SO glad he's doing this ... featuring some of his favorites ... and '60's acts to boot ... on a station that clearly has gone the '70's and '80's direction.  I was hoping they'd let him do his thing 'cause there's just nobody better out there to do it.  Sounds like he's already turned you into a fan!
Speaking of Darlene Love, Chet Coppock dropped a not-so-subtle hint to Ron Onesti last weekend that Darlene would make a GREAT add to the Arcada schedule this year ... and Ron didn't rule this out as a possibility ... so I'm hoping that we just might have a major announcement coming up here soon! 
As for The Rascals, Felix assured us that there's no animosity between the members ... the tour was good fun and they had a blast playing those songs together again.  He indicated (as did Little Steven) that there may be more shows down the road.  As such, I believe him.  However, something doesn't add up in that they actually CANCELLED shows ... including some sold out shows ... out of the blue. That tells me there's more to the story ... but I hope they stay on good terms and do it again.  It was a dream come true to see all four original Rascals up on stage together again.  (Maybe they should commercially release the video of "Once Upon A Dream" now while there's still a buzz about it.  This way Rascals fans all over the world can see their last harrah!)
Felix is coming to Chicago in September, when he'll be appearing at The Arcada Theatre with Felix Cavaliere's Rascals.  I'm hoping to have a chance to catch up with him then.  (kk)   

re:  AFTER CONCERT REVIEWS:
I saw the Soul Stirrers do a tribute to Sam Cooke at the Chicago Theater about four years ago. It was outta sight.
Kudos to Ray Graffia and the New Colony Six for the great warmup they gave the house in The Arcada prior to Paul Revere and the Raiders this past Sunday.
The group's  harmonies were as smooth as they could be. Ray Graffia remains a consummate showman. In fact, Ray's on stage personality is actually stronger now than it was back in the 60's when the band was churning out 17 top 40 hits in about six years time.
Great to see you man. Had a ball talking the music we love ... and a round of applause for Ron Onesti, whose promotional music continues to amaze me.
Chet Coppock
'Host: Blackhawks Heritage Series

I saw Little Anthony and the Imperials perform at The Star Plaza Theater in Indiana about four years ago and your review is right on the money - a great show by a great performer and entertainer.
Chuck

Kent ...
I liked your Little Anthony & The Imperials revue.  Here's Little Anthony, before he was Little Anthony.

I think Little Anthony has been doing the casino circuit, another great place to see the oldies acts these days.  I would love to see him again.
Janet
It's funny in a way ... I can honestly say that it's never even crossed my mind to buy a ticket to a Little Anthony and the Imperials concert ... and I can't even give you a good reason why.  I like all of their hits ... and I've seen him on those PBS Specials where he has ALWAYS been in good voice ... but I just never got around to buying a ticket to check him out in person.  Now that I've seen his show, I can HIGHLY recommend that you guys out there NOT make the same mistake I did ... a THOROUGHLY enjoyable show, from start to finish.  (kk)

Did they perform the a capella version of Two People In The World [flip of Tears On My Pillow]? That was a highlight when I saw them in AlbaNY about 10 years ago.
Mark
They sure did ... and it was yet another concert highlight.  (Of course they did the Acapulco version on stage, according to one of the Imperials!) kk

Hi Kent -
THANKS SO MUCH for the write ups on Little Anthony / Imperials and Paul Revere / Raiders shows!!
I was fortunate to see Little Anthony in Pittsburgh when he appeared on one of TJ Lubinskys Doo Wop shows. Got to talk to him in the green room and he was so nice.
Saw Paul Revere and the Raiders at Westchester Fest and like you said, they are so entertaining. Paul is one of a kind and his Raiders put on a great show. No one drums like Tommy Schickel!!
All I can say is: THE NEW COLONY SIX are the BEST and my favorites (like yours!!!)Would have loved to seen them when they first came out especially performing songs from their second album "Colonization"!!I was fortunate to buy an original vinyl copy of it at a record convention. They rock!
"Rock and Roll and do The Stroll" and keep up the GREAT work ...
Carolyn

kk,
You are having WAY too much fun, fun, fun!! 
EnJOY,

Kent,
I always enjoy reading reviews from you and others on this page.  It many times confirms my feelings, sometimes makes me question, always seems honest and shows love of the music.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano


I was at the Arcada Theater Sunday Night to see Paul Revere and the Raiders with The New Colony Six - what a great show!  I've heard you talk about The New Colony Six many times before but had never actually seen them.  I found that I was familiar with about half of what they did -- and was blown away by a couple of tunes that weren't even theirs, like the Grass Roots song and the whole Chicago Gold Medley  -- for me, these were amongst the highlights of the entire performance.  In fact, dare I say it, I think The New Colony Six may have actually been better than Paul Revere and the Raiders that night!
Thanks for all you do, keeping us informed about these shows in the area.  I had never been to the Arcada Theater before -- what a beautiful place to see a show.  I'll be ordering tickets for several more shows that they've got coming up soon.
Thanks again.
James
Everybody who comes out to The Arcada Theatre goes home a fan ... it's a GREAT place to see a concert ... and it'll keep getting better after the next wave of expansion, improvement and renovation.  That's why we're happy to spread the word.  If you're visiting Chicago, drop us a line ... there is ALWAYS something good going on there ... and you'll enjoy your trip even more if you save a night to see a great show.
As for The New Colony Six, I've probably seen them at least 25-30 times now over the past six or seven years ... and have to say that this one of the strongest performances I've ever seen them do.  I was SO glad that we were able to pull this off.  I heard from several folks at work, too, that recognized and were able to sing along with several of their songs, despite the fact that they haven't heard most of them in decades.  Yeah guys ... that's the whole concept behind Forgotten Hits ... that's what we do ... remind you of those great songs you'll remember the moment you hear them ... but are cheated out of hearing on a daily basis by the tight-reigned programming of radio today, where you get about 200-300 songs all week long to digest ... and the exact SAME 200-300 songs every single week.  (kk)

The show was great fun but I have to admit that it was a little bit sad to see Paul Revere ... he does not look well.  How long has he been like this?  And how is he doing?
Margie
Paul has had a very rough year ... some serious health issues have really taken their toll on him ... and clearly he's having a tougher time getting around these days.  (Several fans commented how he had to leave the stage assisted by his son and a cane ... and he just wasn't as sharp as he normally is on stage, even as recently as a couple of years ago.)  But he's a performer in the truest sense of the word ... even after all these years, he LIVES for this stuff ... and as good as the band is, it's still Paul that the fans come out to see ... he's the glue that holds it all together.  It's tough watching some of our idols grow old ... one of the ladies in our row Sunday Night made a comment that there "sure are a lot of old people here" ... to which I replied, "Yeah, and you're sitting with a whole bunch of us!" (Funny thing was she was a first generation Paul Revere and the Raiders fan herself!!!  But we rarely see ourselves getting older ... especially when we don't FEEL any older inside.)
Another commented "Looks like Paul's lost a step" ... but then quickly added "Who hasn't".  And that, in a nutshell, is the reality of it all.  The music still sounds great ... the band's INCREDIBLE ... and this is feel good music that makes us ALL feel young again ... and I believe Paul Revere would be the first to include himself in that statement.  (kk)

My wife and I just saw Paul Revere and really enjoyed the show. We always have a great time at the Arcada and congratulate and thank Ron Onesti for providing the public with a great value for their money. What spectacular entertainment he provides on a regular basis! Please keep up the good work!  There just aren't a lot of venues devoting shows to this era of music anymore and the Arcada continues to excel in this area.  I live near the Genesee Theater in Waukegan, another beautiful spot, but they would do well to have your experience and expertise with booking these great acts ... the area would benefit greatly by having you book shows at both theaters for the weekend.
You already know that I thought that the Paul Revere show was incredible, as we spoke about it after the show at the Arcada. I am sorry I waited so long to see him. I would have loved to have seen him five years ago when he had full mobility. The Raiders were my favorite band back in the 60's and I fondly remember running home from grade school to watch them every day on Where the Action Is. I also remember the girls at school arguing over which Raider was the cutest, Mark Lindsay or Fang.
You do a stupendous job promoting these shows through your Forgotten Hits website and deserve some credit and a round of applause for all your efforts.  Great job in helping Ron Onesti book the New Colony 6. They were the perfect opening act for the Raiders and they sounded damned good!
See you at the Herman's Hermits show!
Steve
Thanks, Steve.  Ron Onesti and Forgotten Hits are the perfect marriage for oldies music fans ... we both TRULY love this music and get a real kick out of sharing it with all of the "locals" on the list.  (Ironically a couple of weeks ago another reader wrote in to say that Ron should also tandem-book shows with The Rialto Theater in Joliet ... he seems to have his finger on the pulse of all this great entertainment ... all three theaters should consider partnering together to co-sponsor and promote some of these shows ... thanks to Ron Onesti, the midwest is not lacking for premium entertainment right now ... and we truly do appreciate his on-going support of our efforts here in Forgotten Hits ... which is why I'm happy to let EVERYBODY out there know about all the great shows he's got coming up.)  And let me tell you, no matter which shows we tell you about today, you've got to check the website ... because new shows are being added all the time ... and LOTS of GREAT names are being kicked around right now for shows at The Arcada between now and the end of the year.
So please stay tuned to Forgotten Hits ... and check that oshows.comwebsite for more details.  (We may have some major announcements soon!) 
See you at the Herman's Hermits show.  (And who knows ... we just may have a free ticket give-away for that one.  That's why you can't miss a day of Forgotten Hits!)  kk

I loved Paul Revere and the Raiders growing up.  I remember planting myself right in front of our family's big stereo in the living room, jamming with air-guitar to all the hits on their greatest hits album.  Of course my family thought I was crazy as I was rocking out there in the living room ... but I didn't care.  This was GREAT music ... and it still sounded great at the Arcada Theater the other night.  Thanks for letting us know about this show ... and thanks to Ron Onesti for the half-price ticket offer for Forgotten Hits readers.
Jim

OMG - the drummer for Paul Revere is a wild man!  I swear I think I lost ten pounds just watching him play!  What a great showman!
Judy

That drummer is the tits' nipples for the Raiders - I'm a drummer and I couldn't take my eyes off of him all night!
Dennis

I know I've seen that drummer before but I don't think it was with the Buckinghams - who else has he played with?
Steve
All of the above praise can be heaped on the incredible Tommy Sheckel, drummer for Paul Revere and the Raiders ... and he is ALL of the above ... a wild man, a great showman AND the tits' nipples ... whatever the hell THAT means!!!  He's a really good guy, too, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to visit with him a little bit before the show.  (I think we started emailing each other around 6:30 that morning has the band was driving in from Ohio!  Then had a chance to catch up a bit more in the lobby before the show started.)
You probably saw him with The Buckinghams ... they just weren't quite as "showy" as The Raiders are ... a much more "laid-back" performance if you will.  Or, you may have seen him livening things up with Jonathan Brandmeier / Johnny and the Leisure Suits ... where the whole band got wild and crazy every single night.  He's a sight to be seen, that's for sure ... and I agree, there are times when you just can't take your eyes off him!  Great show all around.  (kk)

We passed along some of your comments to Tommy, who we had the pleasure of visiting with before the show.  (In fact Tommy and I had been emailing each other since 6:00 that morning as the band was heading back into town from a gig the night before in Ohio!)  It was great to see him again for this very special home-coming ... and ALWAYS a treat to watch him up on stage in "performance mode"!!!  (kk) 

Kent,
Ha! I love it! Thanks for passing on the kind words.
Great to see you in person last night ... you’re a frikkin’ celebrity, dude! I want to thank you for your help in making the Arcade show a big success.  We really appreciate all you do for us and all of the other touring acts. I don’t know about you, but we just love that old theater. Ron Onesti has really created something special there, hasn’t he? It was a total party atmosphere, which is absolutely perfect for a Raiders show. Chicagoland audiences really are THE best in the world. (only just slightly prejudiced on my part). They just know how to let loose and have fun, even on a Sunday afternoon! Hope to see you again soon.  
Tommy 
Paul Revere and The Raiders

re:  UP-COMING SHOWS:
Wow!  What a GREAT way to wake up this morning!
Ticketmaster just sent me a list of up-coming shows for our area ... check out this list!
Frankie Avalon at The Drury Lane Theater on May 20th
Barry Gibb, May 27th at The United Center
The Monkees at Star Plaza on May 31st (featuring Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith) 
B.B. King at Rialto Square, May 31st
Styx at The First Merit Bank Pavilion on June 6th
Huey Lewis and the New at The Venue / Horseshoe Casiono on June 13th
Lionel Richie at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater on June 15th
Boston at Montrose Beach, June 21st
Jimmy Buffet June 28th at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
Jackson Browne at the Peoria Civic Center on July 8th 
The Steve Miller Band with Journey, July 12th at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
Lynyrd Skynyrd with Bad Company, July 23rd at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
Aerosmith, July 25th, at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
John Fogerty, July 27th at The Chicago Theater
The Happy Together Tour, featuring The Turtles, Chuck Negron, Mark Farner, Gary Lewis and the Playboys and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels at The Peoria Civic Center on August 10th
Kiss and Def Leppard, August 16th, at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
Fleetwood Mac at The United Center on October 3rd
Rod Stewart at The Allstate Arena on August 16th
Johnny Mathis at The Rosemont Theater, December 6th
Add to list list all of the great shows coming up at The Arcada Theatre and Chicago is going to be one rockin' town this summer!


And have you heard about Rock 'n' Blues Fest - Featuring The Johnny Winter Band, The Edgar Winter Band, Vanilla Fudge, Peter Rivera of Rare Earth and Savoy Brown's Kim Simmonds?

Here's the official tour schedule ... with more dates expected to be added later:
Friday, August 1 - Theatre at Westbury in Westbury, New York
Saturday, August 2 - Rockland's Harbor Park in Rockland, Maine
Sunday, August 3 - Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey
Tuesday, August 5 - Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania
Wednesday, August 6 - South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Massachusetts
Thursday, August 7 - State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey
Friday, August 8 - Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey
Wednesday, August 13 - King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida
Thursday, August 14 - Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida
Friday, August 15 - Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Saturday, August 16 - Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida
Thursday, August 21 - City National Civic in San Jose, California
Friday, August 22 - City National Grove of Anaheim in Anaheim, California
Saturday, August 23 - The Cannery in Las Vegas, Nevada
Sunday, August 24 - Snoqualmie Casino in Seattle, Washington

I see that The Cowsills are coming to the Arcada. If you haven’t seen them, you’re in for a treat. They sound great and they’re fun, and very funny people who just love their fans. We’ve done a few dates with them this past year, and they were also a big hit and fan favorites on last years’ cruise. You’ll have fun with them. Check out this little one-camera video I shot of them when we’d played together last July in Vegas (I set it at Bob Cowsills feet and let it run). It’s not a great video (I did the best I could with just the one stationary camera angle) but they sound great, and it’s gotten almost 25,000 hits so far. That’s a lot for a current live version of an old hit. They definitely have a strong fan following! 
Tommy Scheckel
I'm bummed that we have to miss this show as I'd really like to see them ... I'm hoping they go over in a very big way and Ron Onesti will bring them back. (Daughter Paige is starring as Belle in "Beauty And The Beast" that night, her final High School Musical ... so there's no way I can miss that!!!)  kk

Speaking of cool "at your feet" videos, here's another Forgotten Hits exclusive, sent in by Brad Joblin, who took a night off from attending the NAB convention in Las Vegas and shot this incredible up-close video of Elton John at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.  It seems with VIP status, Brad got to stand on stage next to Elton and was so close he could have touched the piano keys. He described the volume level from Elton's stage monitors as more than "11" and hence his camera's mic overloaded somewhat. 
Brad tells us:
Take a look at this video I shot of Elton John.  It turned out rather cool but since I was only two feet from Elton's stage monitors, and he needs them at such an incredibly high volume, my tiny camera mic could not handle it, so the audio levels are "into the red".  Even so, imagine how cool this five minutes was for me, an Elton fan for 44 years!
Elton John in Las Vegas 4-5-14 (Shot on stage) "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)"    

re:  THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME:
Your list of Deserving and Denied is excellent!
However there is one name that should be on the honorable mention list:
The Tokens.
If you want ALL the reasons why, let me know and I shall give them to you (as there are plenty - performers, writers, producers, and some of the first r&r artist commercials!) 
CLAY PASTERNACK
Actually, their name has come up a number of times over the years since our series first ran ... and I'd have to agree.  And, they're still out there doing it!!! Thanks, Clay!  (kk)


re:  THIS AND THAT:
We got this announcement from several Forgotten Hits Readers last week ... seems "Soul Train" is coming to Broadway!  The whole thing is being put together by Matthew Weaver, the guy who produced and created "Rock Of Ages".  Here's the official word from Chicagoland Radio and Media:
"Soul Train," the iconic television music / dance show which started on WCIU-TV in Chicago by the late Don Cornelius in 1970 before becoming a national smash, may be headed for Broadway. Matthew Weaver, who co-produced and co-created "Rock of Ages," has purchased the rights to bring "Soul Train" to a theatrical stage. He hopes to have it become a live musical production next year. In a statement, Weaver said: "Don Cornelius created a television show that became a cornerstone in American culture and I am excited and honored to be bringing it to the stage. We are putting together a top-notch team of artists to ensure 'Soul Train' is the hippest trip on Broadway. We want to thrill the audiences who loved the TV show and introduce the incredible music and style of 'Soul Train' to a new generation."
Hey, "Rock Of Ages" was a HUGE musical hit ... and was even turned into a movie.

And, speaking of great musicals being turned into movies, the first official movie trailer was released last week for "Jersey Boys" ... everybody I know has been waiting for this one!!!

Here's another great music documentary to look forward to!  

Kent: 
I just got back from the STAX Museum in Memphis. While there, I heard that PBS ( Channel 11 ) will be running a special documentary this Monday evening @ 9 pm,, April 21, on the famous Alabama, Muscle Schoals recording studio ... many Aretha, Stones, and Wilson Pickett hits were recorded there in the late 60's. STAX and Muscle Schoals were responsible for the majority of the R&B hits of that late 60's era.  
I thought some of your readers would enjoy this ... many American and British bands / artists tried to duplicate the recording techniques that were used at this off-the-highway location.
Not enough credit is given to the studio musicians and recording engineers that made these "hits" come alive. 
Quent Lang
I've been hearing about this one for quite a while now so it'll be cool to finally see it.  (I saw a few clips a couple of months ago and it definitely looks interesting.)  That whole scene had a sound of its own ... and even Elvis Presley and Dusty Springfield flew down there trying to capture a little bit of magic.  Should be a great special.  Thanks, Quent!  (kk)

Hi Kent,
I wanted to make sure you saw this. It reminded me of some great songs that I haven't heard in awhile.
I'm going to dig out some of these records and give them a listen.
Ed Salamon
This is ALWAYS a fun list ... and I know several FH Readers cast their votes again this year.  I never saw the final list ... and missed the on-air countdown ... but you're right ... there are all kinds of great suggestions on this list for deejays to play on their shows ... better than your "canned" research telling you to play the same crap day in and day out ... here's what the music fans REALLY want to hear.  And I'll bet you won't find a real dog on this list!  (kk)

Thanks for the piece on Bill Haley, Kent. I found something else recently about the record and that was that Peter Ford, the son of Glenn Ford, was the reason it was used in Blackboard Jungle. He disliked the “A” side (Thirteen Women) but loved the “B” side (Rock Around The Clock) and played it incessantly at home and his father and him thought it would be good in the film Glenn Ford was about to star in (Blackboard Jungle) and as they say the rest is history.    
Take care,
Rockin’ Lord Geoff  

Hi Kent -  
Thanks, man, for what your doing – learn something every time I get a chance to pop by for a read.     LOVE Bill Haley and have most of the 45’s the group did even pre-Rock Around the Clock.  Great story about the song, even though it had a sad twist but hey, it’s rock and roll!
Jeff James

Hi,
Nice article on the Beatles first radio broadcast.
I found your article after I found this YouTube that claims to be a recording of that actual first broadcast (or at least, they say it's from February 1963, and it IS Dick Biondi).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W26aSVEwxY
Not sure if you were aware of that, so there it is.
Thanks for all the research you did on the topic!
- Emily Bristor

Rough week for some of our aging rock stars ... VVN reported last week that Glen Campbell has entered an Alzheimer's facility ... and Fabian underwent heart surgery!  Full stories below:
http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/04/glen-campbell-moved-to-alzheimers-care.html
http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2014/04/fabian-undergoes-heart-surgery.html  

And, have you ever wondered why 45's have a big hole?  (Sure you have!) 
Got this from FH Readers Frank B ...

Frank also sent us this clip, put together by Wild Wayne ...
Kent ...
Wild Wayne just sent me this tribute he put together ... singers who have died in the last year.
Frank B.

Kent,
Join me in congratulating rock 'n roll rascal Ron Onesti, the Godfather of the Arcada Theater, on his induction this Saturday night into the Chicago 16" Softball Hall of Fame.
Ron could never hit the curve ball but he is being enshrined as a "Pioneer." What hasn't this cat pioneered?
Meanwhile, kk, we gotta talk Ronnie into an All Chicago, All-Star Jam show with members of the NC 6, the Shames, The Ides, The Buckinhams, The Mauds and, of course, ex 6er Ronnie Rice. Two hour show ... 20
songs ... tell me it wouldn't be a blast.
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks Heritage Series
We've been talking about this for awhile now ... would LOVE to see this all come together ... film the thing for a PBS / Soundstage-type special ... interweave it with vintage clips of all these bands from back in the day ... man, would this be a cool piece of Chicago Rock History.  I've got to believe between ALL of us (band-members included), there just HAS to be a way to pull this off and make this happen.  (kk)

Kent,
Funny you should mention Eric Carmen ...
Eric Carmen was a guest on WJCU's "Retro Radio" oldies program, hosted by Jumpin' Joe Madigan (and heard every Saturday from 3-5:30 PM at www.wjcu.org).
The entire interview can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O1Yt91PbGw and provides a lot of stories of Eric's career before, during and after The Raspberries.
-- Uncle T. Jay


re:  THE SATURDAY SURVEYS:
I really enjoy the blog.
I grew up in central Wisconsin so a lot of the Chicago based surveys are "close to home" for me.  A longtime DJ and 60s radio veteran named Jim Schuh is still active up there. Writing a column for the Portage County Gazette. If I can find any way of hooking you up I will forward on.     
Thank you again for the great memories and reviews. 
Vic Gerard 
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We've Got A Winner!

April 21, 2014, 4:01 am
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A couple of weeks ago, we ran our latest Joel Whitburn / Record Research / Forgotten Hits Oldies Quiz ... searching for the song titles of these fifteen hits, ALL of which are featured in Joel's brand new, soon-to-be released book, "Top Pop Playlist, 1955 - 1969" ... and then gave you a chance to win a copy of this hot, new book.  

We got TONS of correct answers this time around ... so many, in fact, that we had to do a lottery in order to fairly pick a winner.  I sorted out all of the winning entries ... 84 in all ... and then randomly assigned a number to each participant who correctly identified all fifteen song titles.  (You did not have to name the artist ... although several of you did!)  

Then Joel blindly picked the winning number (he never saw the results as I tabulated them ... so it truly was like picking a number out of the hat!)  

That being said, congratulations go out to .....  

Manuel Henriques of Kapaa, Hawaii ...

who correctly identified all of the lyrics featured in our recent Joel Whitburn / Record Research / Forgotten Hits Trivia Contest.     

Manny wins a copy of Joel's brand new book, "Top Pop Playlist, 1955 - 1969" ... shipping later this week.  (Thanks to everybody who played along ... 84 correct entries in all!) 

And don't forget, if you didn't WIN a copy of Joel's latest effort, you can still pick up a copy on The Record Research Website ... Click here: Joel Whitburn's Record Research | Music & Billboard Charts Data
 

Dear Kent,
Thank you so much for sponsoring and allowing me to participate in this contest! I can't believe the unbelievable honor in winning one of Joel's new books. This will be a most welcome addition to sit alongside my copies of Joel's Billboard's Hot 100 Charts: The Seventies and Pop Annual 1955-1999.
Thanks again for your wonderful website and for all you do in helping to keep all the forgotten hits alive!
Aloha,
Manny   

For those of you who may have been stumped by one or two of these, here is the complete list of correct answers ... 
 
1.    Ours is not an easy age, we’re like tigers in a cage
A TOWN WITHOUT PITY - Gene Pitney
 


2.    Bright stars and guitars and drive-ins on Friday night
POPSICLES AND ICICLES - The Murmaids
 


3.    Maybe it’s the clothes she wears, or the way she combs her hair.
SHE'S JUST MY STYLE - Gary Lewis and the Playboys
 

            
4.    I know I need a small vacation but it don’t look like rain.
WICHITA LINEMAN - Glen Campbell
 


5.    Gonna climb the stairs, gonna ring that bell before I lose my nerve.
PUT  A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW - The Four Lads
 


6.    But if I ask you for a date, will you tell me that I’m not too late.
I WANT TO WALK YOU HOME - Fats Domino
 


7.    We lost old Marty Robbins down in old El Paso a little while back.
LET'S THINK ABOUT LIVING - Bob Luman
 


8.    Oh darlin’ where have you been? I’ve been longin’ for you all my life.
THERE'S A MOON OUT TONIGHT - The Capris
 


9.    Yeah, I know it’s so hard to resist the temptation of her tender red lips. 
LITTLE TOWN FLIRT - Del Shannon
 


10.  One day he left his valley pad, I mean to say this cat was mad.
THE JOLLY GREEN GIANT - The Kingsmen
 


11. I fell for you and I knew the vision of your love’s loveliness.
EARTH ANGEL - The Penguins
 


12.   She’s found a new love, buddy, he’s a lucky guy.
THE FOOL - Sanford Clark
 


13.  Then I awake and look around me at four gray walls that surround me.
THE GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME - Tom Jones
 


14.  Ramblin’ around this dirty old town, singin’ for nickels and dimes.
BOTTLE OF WINE - The Fireballs
 


15.  Now you got me started, don’t you leave me broken hearted.
TOO MUCH - Elvis Presley




Order YOUR copy of Joel's brand new book here:
Click here: Joel Whitburn's Record Research | Music & Billboard Charts Data  

Thanks again to everyone who played along!
kk 

 
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April 22, 2014, 5:00 am
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re:  Concert News:
SPECIAL TO FORGOTTEN HITS -
DOLENZ ADDS AUDIENCE Q&A TO SOLO SHOW NEXT MONTH
New York -- When Monkee Micky Dolenz performs his solo show next month at the famed Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois (May 2nd), he'll feature a new component to it: a Q&A session with the entire audience following the show. 
Inspired in part by a lengthy Q&A that Dolenz participated in during last month’s Monkee-Con event in New Jersey (which was received extremely well), Dolenz says he’s added it as a way to say thank you to all the fans.
Added Dolenz, “It was a terrific event at the Monkee-Con as the Q&A session covered questions about my whole career; from the TV-show, of course, to my most recent solo album Remember and the Live At B. B. King’s recording. Andrew Sandoval from Rhino moderated it and did just an exemplary job.”
Promoter Ron Onesti added, “I’ve done several shows with Micky previously,  but adding this Q&A was a brilliant masterstroke. His stories and anecdotes about the songs and the different personalities he’s come into contact with all are truly special. It definitely gives the audience a peak behind-the-curtain."
This "Must See" show just got even better ... and I've got to miss it!!!  (Warming up for Micky is The Cowsills, another group I've always wanted to see!)  Here's hoping a few of our readers make it out to the show next weekend and can report back with full concert reviews.  (kk)

And, speaking of great shows at The Arcada Theatre, there's another real doozie THIS weekend ... Dean Torrence and The Surf-City All-Stars will be performing all the surfin' hits of Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys and others on Saturday, April 26th.  (Check the oshows.com website for tickets and more information.)
We saw these guys a couple of years ago and they put on a great show.  (Rumor has it our FH Buddy Bob Greene might even be there for this one!)  Once again we are unable to attend ... so we welcome reviews from our readers about what promises to be another killer show at The Arcada. 
Several of these guys were former members of The Beach Boys' touring band back over the past several decades.  They include Gary Griffin (keys / vocals), Philip Bardowell (guitar / vocals), David Logeman (drums), Chris Farmer (bass / vocals), Aaron Broering (guitar / keys / vocals) and, appearing as a special guest, Matt Jardine,  son of Beach Boy Al Jardine!
Please do let us know if you're able to attend this show ... we want to hear all about it!  (kk)
Hey Kent -  
Just a quick correction / addition ... the August 16th Rod Stewart Show at the Allstate Arena will also be with Santana - this should be a great show.
Marlene

re:  The Chicago Gold Show:
Kent -
Now that you have the ear of Ron Onesti, I second Chet's suggestion ... but let's take it a little further. Way back at the Holiday Star I saw a "Chicago Gold" show that blew my mind ... Ronnie Rice, Dennis Tufano, Jimmy Sohns, the Cryan Shames, the Ides of March, and back from the dead, the American Breed! Of course we had to go the Holiday Star Plaza to see it ... ironic isn't it? This is a dream of mine ... and if any one can pull this off, it could be Ron.  In fact, he could probably sell out a few dates with a show like this. I'd love to see Ronnie back with Ray for a full NC 6 REUNION and Dennis back with Carl and Nick (yeah, I know that ain't gonna happen ... but if you share the proceeds with a charity, just maybe?????).
THIS COULD BE A HOLIDAY SHOW THAT WOULD KNOCK THE SOCKS OFF ALL TRUE CHICAGO FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And now that I am thinking big, how about a doo wop show? I am dying to see Kenny Vance and the Planetones ... and how about Jay Black? And how about those young Irish kids that have that 60's sound the Strypes?
Then again I probably could not afford all of this but I hope the CHICAGO GOLD idea is given some consideration!
Mike
 

As you said, we've been talking about doing this forever - Jim Pilster (JC Hooke of the Cryan' Shames) has put together the Chicago Gold shows for a few years now - we just need to get it together and do it for the history books, and get it on film for PBS! That would be great! I would love to see the Mauds represented, but unfortunately we lost that great soul voice of Jimy Rogers a couple of years ago. What a powerhouse he was! But I'd love to see that one come together for the archives.
Marlene
I really believe that if anybody can pull this off, it's Ron Onesti ... and he's got the PERFECT venue to host the thing ... maybe even sell out a two or three day weekend ... and with a little help and support from the fans of this music, this could turn into a major musical event.  I think intercutting it with vintage film clips from back in the day and then cutting back to live performances would make for an incredible two hour television show.  (Some of these clips are quite rare ... and quite expensive ... but as a means of permanently documenting this very special moment of Chicago Rock History, I think WELL worth the efforts ... it becomes the lasting memento of this era.  Get somebody like Bob Sirott or Bob Stroud to host it ... it sounds like a "can't miss" to me!
And we need to do this sooner rather than later ... before we lose any more great, incredible talent like Jimy Rogers of The Mauds ... man, what a voice ... and what a stage presence.  Although it wouldn't have been the case at the time, we should probably get The Ides of March to headline this thing ... and put together a super-star, cracker-jack band to back up all the artists ... Dennis Tufano, the original lead vocalist of The Buckinghams (and, if they're willing ... Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna, too ... hey, c'mon ... it's for HISTORY!!!), Gary Loizzo of The American Breed, Ronnie Rice and Ray Graffia, Jr., the guys who sang the biggest New Colony Six hits, Tom Doody, Jim Pilster and Jim Fairs of The Cryan' Shames, Jimy Sohns of The Shadows Of Knight ... a song or two by The Flock and Spanky McFarlane ... all of a sudden (to quote The Carpenters) it's yesterday once more.
Hey, maybe even round up the Chicago horns to give this thing a kick ... and who knows, a song or two by those guys, too, as they issued in the brand new era of Chicago Gold.  And what about Styx?!?!  Rufus?!?!  Man, this thing could play for a WEEK!!!  (And have a different headliner every single night!!!)
Let's get our team of movers and shakers on this, shall we???  (kk)
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A Wednesday Morning Quickie

April 23, 2014, 4:14 am
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re: This And That:
With word last week that Glen Campbell had been checked into an Alzheimer's Facility, I wondered how Mark Bego was coming with his new book, first mentioned here several months ago in Forgotten Hits, written with Glen's daughter (and band member) Debby.
 
Here's the latest news from Mark himself ...
 
Kent:
Thank you so much for asking about an update on one of my favorite subjects, Glen Campbell.  You just so happen to have caught me at the right moment, and I am happy to make a statement to you about my new book on Glen.
My new book (my 61st published book!), "Life With My Father:  Glen Campbell", which I have written with Glen's daughter Debby Campbell, has been one of my most rewarding experiences I have had as a biographer.  It is published by Omnibus Press in London, and it was just recently released in bookstores in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2014.  It is also available globally on both Kindle (Amazon.com) and Nook (Barnes & Nobel) as of that date as well.  Here in America, the print version of the book will be in US bookstores on September 11, 2014, where it will be released via a sublicensing deal with Overlook Press.  Until that time it can be purchased via British Amazon.com if anyone in America wants a hard copy of it before September of this year.  While it sounds a bit confusing, I am thrilled that it is out, and people in the US can get copies on the internet. 
Now, with all of that being said, it is interesting and timely to note that while the British edition of the book was being released this past week, it was also announced that Glen Campbell has been admitted to a Nashville area facility for Alzheimer's sufferers, and is no longer living at home.  This has been sad and upsetting for Glen's family, and his millions of fans around the world.  His oldest daughter, Debby, visited with him on Saturday in Nashville at this facility, and found him to be comfortable and in good spirits.  I am so happy to have been a part of helping Debby tell her touching story about her life with her father. 
Most people don't realize that Glen has had four separate families, from each of his four wives.  He had one child (Debby) from his first marriage, three children from his second wife, one from his third, and three from his fourth wife.  For Debby, this has made it especially challenging to have had a strong relationship with her father.  However, she always made an extra effort to remain actively involved in her father's life no matter who he was married to at the time.  And, in the middle of all of this was Glen's highly publicized affair with Tanya Tucker.  Debby had the extremely gratifying pleasure of singing and performing in Glen's act for 24 years.  She was his duet vocalist, and at times she was his opening act.  She can even been heard on some of his recordings, most notably her touching duet version of the song "Let It Be Me" that she sang with Glen, which appears on the incredible 2002 boxed set:  "Glen Campbell:  Legacy."  That being said, I am happy to have this touching new book out on the marketplace at this time.  It is a beautiful, heartfelt, and often heartbreaking account of a daughter's struggles to remain in her father's life.  However Glen's fans find this book -- via Kindle, Nook, Amazon, or bookstore -- I am proud to have this book as part of my writing catalog.  Debby Campbell has become a dear friend of mine, and for me, writing this book with her has been a labor of love.  I hope everyone enjoys it, and finds it to be a gratifying and in-depth look at one of our truly great singing legends:  the incredible Glen Campbell.
Happy Easter!  Eat lots of chocolate and Peeps!  I will too ... LOL!
Cheers,
Mark
 
I finally had a chance to catch up on some TV over the Easter Holiday Weekend ... and was pleased to see our FH Buddy Tony Hatch featured with TWO songs in a recent episode of "Glee".  The show kicked off with Rachel being picked up in her new limo and heading "Downtown" ... and then, after Artie had been robbed in the subway, she accompanied her former classmate for a ride on the subway while performing Tony's "Don't Sleep In the Subway".  BOTH songs were HUGE hits for Petula Clark back in the mid-'60's. ("Downtown" topped the charts in early 1965 ... and "Subway" peaked at #5 a couple of years later.)
"Glee" has a way of reviving some classic '60's and '70's hits, often introducing a whole new generation to this music for the very first time.  For this reason, I applaud it ... and history has shown that once the kids discover this "new" music, they will often seek out the ORIGINAL versions and download those, too.  I asked Tony if "Glee" was a big hit in England ... and here's what he sent me back:
 
Hi Kent,
Thanks for your Easter Greetings.
I knew about DOWNTOWN and SUBWAY in GLEE as a result of receiving a copy of the sync details from Universal Music last year and, of course, I was delighted. (I'm always pleased when a show like GLEE or AMERICAN IDOL features one of my songs which, as you rightly observe, keeps the younger generations up to date.)
It's in Series Two and I don't think we have had that episode yet.  The show is on Channel 4 here which is one of our five 'terrestrial' TV channels. It's not on at the moment. The show has a big following.
DOWNTOWN will be 50 later this year. The song was conceived in New York in October of 1964 and recorded in London the same month.   It topped the US charts in January of 1965. SUGAR AND SPICE has already celebrated its 50th anniversary, but DOWNTOWN is the special one.
Best wishes,
TONY
 
Can you believe it?  Chicago's next album (coming out in July) will be called Chicago XXXVI -- that's 36 for those of you who didn't grow up in the age of Roman Numerals like we had when this band first started way back when!  (lol)
You can hear sneak peeks of ALL of the new tracks right here:
 
And, speaking of new releases ...
 
ABKCO has announced three significant additions to its Rolling Stones “Clearly Classic” vinyl series that launched last year. Set for reissue on clear 180-gram vinyl on May 6 are Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!The Rolling Stones In Concert, 12 X 5, and Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2).  The titles join Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, and Hot Rocks: 1964-1971, which received resoundingly positive critical and consumer response upon release in 2013. All releases in the Clearly Classic series have been meticulously mastered from high resolution audio files sourced from the original master tapes, assuring optimal sound quality that exceeds both conventional CD audio and digital downloads. 
 
Looks like another music documentary is in the works ... and this one's a book, too!
Just got this from Tom Cuddy: 
 
Kent,
Today they announced Sir Paulie is coming to Lincoln for the first time ever on July 28. Competition to the Chicago Ringo event.  BUT, Ringo AND Riley and Weber sounds better to me.  :)  I may end up paying for Macca tickets IF I can even buy any when they go on sale.
Clark Besch
Macca's Chicago date was announced today, too ... July 9th at The United Center.  (Kinda tough on a Wednesday Night ... and I'm sure they'll add at least another date or two.)  Paul's plane containing all of the band's equipment was delayed on Monday and they had to cancel their scheduled show in Santiago, Chile.  He immediately rescheduled the show for Wednesday Night, honoring all of the Monday Night tickets so that fans could still catch the concert.
More and more dates are being added all the time ... and it sounds like McCartney has revamped the set list a little bit again this time to keep things fresh and new.  He also released another single from his "New" album ... but I've yet to hear ANY of these tracks featured on the radio more than once or twice.  Too bad as the LP has been critically acclaimed since it first hit the streets a few months back.
I'm really looking forward to the Clark Weber / Ron Riley / Ringo Starr thing at The Hard Rock Cafe ... these guys were my IDOLS back in the '60's ... and anybody who grew up listening to WLS at the time (which, with their 50,000 watt signal meant virtually everybody in about 42 states!) knows exactly what I'm talking about.  It is SO cool to still hear from these guys all these years later ... Weber, Riley, Bob Hale, Dex Card, Dick Biondi, Bob Dearborn, John Landecker, Bob Sirott, Kris Erik Stevens, Chuck Buell, Tommy Edwards, Fred Winston,  and several others have embraced the efforts of Forgotten Hits for trying to keep this great music ... and this great ERA ... alive.  It was such a HUGE part of our lives.  (kk)
 
When I was 11 years old in 1958 I had a paper route.  And the first thing I did when I got my very first paycheck was buy a small transistor AM radio ... so that I could listen to the radio while I did my route.  (Of course I also listened to it well into the night with my little earplug under my pillow just like so many others who have written to you over the years.)  I would fall asleep listening to Dick Biondi and Art Roberts and Ron Britain and Barney Pip ... Larry Lujack when he was still on at night ... Bob Hale ... Clark Weber ... Don Phillips "East Of Midnight" ... great memories ... and all these years later, I still remember all of those guys.  It's great to see so many of these names come up again and againin your pages ... and exciting to think about how much they meant to us then ... and how they've stayed involved for all these years.  Obviously these years meant a great deal to all of them, too.
Ed K
 
re:  Chicago Gold:
That sounds like a great idea that Jim Pilster has suggested for decades.  I agree on those artists and singers, but we need an emcee for every act!  Bring in Bob Stroud, Dick Biondi, Ron Riley, Clark Weber, Dex Card, Ron Britain, Chuck Buell!  How about some soul with Jerry Butler, Mavis Staples emceed by Herb Kent??
Clark
 
It does sound like a great event ... but you have forgotten one (at least) group from your list ... Chicago. Though very popular and still touring, they should be included in the mix.  
Scott Schultz,
McHenry
Actually, I DID mention them ... or, more specifically, the Chicago Horns ... but then added "Wouldn't it be nice to feature a couple of songs by them, too?"  And Styx ... and several others.
The main focus era for The Chicago Gold idea would be the music of the '60's ... and that's why names like The Buckinghams, The New Colony Six, The Cryan' Shames, The Ides Of March, The American Breed, The Shadows Of Knight, The Mauds, etc., come up most frequently.  Chicago, Styx and several others ushered in a new era of Chicago Gold, starting in the '70's ... and the odds of getting any of THEM to participate in an event like this are pretty slim.  Then again if you DID turn this into a week-long event ... with a different headliner every night ... you could have your "core group" making sure all the hits are heard for every performance ... but then spotlight one act as the headliner ... meaning Dennis Tufano could sing all of The Buckinghams hits one night while Carl and Nick did them on another.  (Even cooler would be a full-blown reunion ... maybe even get Marty Grebb to come in for this ... but I just don't know if we could pull that off.  Then again, preserving this moment for all posterity by filming it??? Who knows!)
This would be true of several of these acts I would think ... get at least three or four of The Cryan' Shames back up there for one more night ... maybe the current version of The New Colony Six one night and then a special reunion concert with several of the original members on another ... and Ronnie Rice and Skip Griparis on yet another.  Really, the possibilities are endless ... but first we've got to get everybody onboard ... get PBS involved ... (The Arcada Theatre photographs BEAUTIFULLY, by the way ... there are several concerts filmed there currently showing on cable right now!) ... I dunno ... I say let's get this ball in motion and see how far we can roll it!  (kk)
 
re:  The Saturday Surveys:
If you're diggin' our new Saturday feature (and it sounds like quite a few of you are) and you'd like to see WAY more surveys than we could ever possibly post, our FHbuddy Clark Besch suggests you check out this site ...
It allows you to search by radio station, song and artist, and any number of other ways to find exactly what you're looking for ... and they've got a HUGE collection of charts from all over the country.  (WARNING:  Be prepared to spend some time here ... 'cause once you get started, you're going to want to keep on going!!!)
The example above was used to help out Alex Valdez of The Yellow Balloon, who was looking for chart information on their big hit "Yellow Balloon" from 1967.  Here's what Alex thought of this incredible site:
Thanks a million, Kent!
I spent the whole day pouring over this site ... what a great outlet.
Alex
Actually (and I just LOVE saying this!!!) thanks should be directed to that SUPER Survey Team of Clark / Kent on this one!!!  (kk)
↧

Concert Review(s) ... Yours and Ours!

April 24, 2014, 3:50 am
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Forgotten Hits has a VERY special offer for one of our local readers!   

In order to qualify, you must meet ALL THREE of the following criteria:  

#1) - You must be free to attend the Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars Concert THIS SATURDAY NIGHT (April 26th) at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL  

#2) - You MUST love the great surfin' sounds of the '60's, provided by artists like Jan and Dean and The Beach Boys

and #3) - You must be willing and able to turn in a full, concert review by 6 PM Sunday Night that we can run on The Forgotten Hits Web Page on Monday Morning.  

If you meet ALL of the above criteria, we've got an AWESOME offer for you ...    

TWO FREE TICKETS TO SEE 
DEAN TORRENCE AND THE 
SURF CITY ALL STARS 
THIS SATURDAY NIGHT 
AT THE ARCADA THEATRE!!!  

Because this is such short notice, we're giving these tickets to THE VERY FIRST PERSON to respond to today's posting ... send in all your pertinent details in an email to forgottenhits@aol.com and the first one to respond will be going to Saturday Night's Concert!  (Tickets will be left at The Arcada Theatre Box Office in your name) 

Then you can write your own awesome review of the show, just like Shelley Sweet-Tufano did below for a Doo-Wop Show that SHE saw out on the East Coast!  (As much as we had hoped to go, we can't make it to this awesome Surf City All-Stars concert ... so you'll be acting as our eyes and ears for the show ... our "Absentee Reviewer" if you will!)

Remember, first come, first served ... so email me NOW!!! 

***

DICK FOX'S SPRING FLING DOO WOP CONCERT   

In the world of athletics, there are 'body types' that seem to go with certain sports or athletic events.  There are husky football builds, shorter-stockier gymnasts, long-willowy ice skaters ... etc.  Let me tell you that after seeing this March 22nd Doo Wop event, I can safely say:  There is NOT a musician's body type!  Tall, short, husky, slim, blonde, brunette, redhead, young, older than young - it all appears and melds together in music.    

The air outside was windy and cold. 
The atmosphere inside was warm and tender ...  
AND HOPPING WITH CHOREOGRAPHY!   

The Capris:  Vocal Groups Hall of Famers. 
They hit us with "Great Balls of Fire".  (Musically that is ... the show would have ended if they had physically decked us!)  Then a song they recorded in 1982 (not a misprint) ... "Back Home to Me"; ending with the favorite, "There's a Moon Out Tonight".    

Next The Marcels pop out, jump in the air, twist and turn around, and basically define the term 'whirling dervish'.   They are also in the Vocal Groups Hall of Fame. 
They start out with "Heartache" and then do a medley around their (and the audience's) junior and high school memories.  Within this medley, I hear "What's Your Name", "Earth Angel", "In The Still of the Night" and "For a Million Years".  I love the way they act out walking over to that junior high school girl standing on the other side of the gym (boys on one side, girls on the other) and coyly begin to sing.  They end with the 1961 hit:  "BLUE MOON".   
Love it, love it!  

Remember "Charlie Brown"?  Well, The Coasters are still kicking in unison when they sing that song AND "'Yakety Yak".  They started out with two songs that The Beatles covered on the BBC Live shows:  "Poison Ivy" and "Young Blood".  For me, The Beatles' covers are the ones I remember better, and it just reminds me that it was the American influence that exploded The British Invasion.  The Beatles obviously admired The Coasters to have chosen these songs during their early elementary growth.  I could hear Lennon's voice in my head, gumming the words, "What's your name?" in his imitation of an old man trying to pick up a young teen.  Another member of The Vocal Groups Hall of Fame, The Coasters have been favorites of my students through the years.  Their parodies rock with enthusiasm and love of life.  

Ending the first act was Charlie Thomas and The Drifters.  I have seen them before, and as Lou Christie says, "If you ever get the chance to see Charlie Thomas and his Drifters, GO."  The Drifters are one of the main reasons for the Truth in Music laws that have been passed by all but six states right now.  There were so many groups calling themselves The Drifters that we never knew who we were watching ... and many of them had not even been born until the end of the 20th Century!  Charlie is an original Drifter, who appeared with two Veteran back-up singers.  That's Veteran, as in military, and Veteran, as in established vocalists.  With their long frock coats and debonair style, they glide and slide through the performance of "On Broadway", "This Magic Moment", "Sweets For My Sweet", "There Goes My Baby", "Up on the Roof", and "Under the Boardwalk".  They are also members of The Vocal Groups Hall of Fame, as well as The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  I am not a fan of the board on The R&R Hall, but I do admire most of the groups who are in it.   

Since it is intermission, let me introduce our MC for the program:  Emil Stucchio.  Emil has a popular NYC group, Emil Stucchio and The Classics.  He has some funny (I thought they were) stories about aging through the rock and roll era, but our promoter Dick Fox was quick to use the speaker system to ask him, "Is this going anywhere?"  and then snore loudly.  Hey, it was funny and they have to change the set on an open stage, so it works.  

Intermission no more.  The Happenings are happening!  Bob Miranda is bouncing around (honestly, this man is older than me and I only keep jumping around to confuse my students), a horn section has been added for the second half, and more saxophones.  The lead guitar and musical director is George Rizzi.  He is married to the sister of my daughter's childhood dance coach.  When they announced their wedding (about 15 years ago?) the bride's family was heard to cry, "She is marrying a guitar player.  They will starve!"  Hahahahahaha! ... George is doing very well, thank you.   
The Happenings open with a Rascal of a song, "People Got To Be Free", then go into Carole King's "Go Away Little Girl".  Amazing that a woman would write a song that portrays a man's frustration so well.  My fave Happening song, "See You in September" from 1966, is the third offering.  Even though my college years were not in the 60's, this song became the May anthem for four years when we left our college romances for home and summer vacation.  The last song was from 1967, and first heard on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour:  "I Got Rhythm".  WOW, this piece of the show seemed to fly by.  I wasn't ready to let them go ... but they left the stage and I was forced to move on.  

The next group, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, had the least hold on me.  I am not familiar with them, and only their song "This I Swear" rang a bell.  Granted "Pennies From Heaven", which was their opener, is familiar ... but because it has been so often recorded.  However the audience, mostly New Yawkers, held them in high esteem and clapped loudly to bring them on.  "I Can Dream, Can't I?" and "Shooby Doo Wop" were two other numbers, with there being one last title I cannot remember at all.  I know I was distracted by the melon colored dress that the female vocalist wore, and unfortunately not for positive reasons.  If you cannot comfortably move around on stage, rethink your attire.     

"Baby, You still GOT it!"  remarked a woman in the first row.  "What?" said Lou Christie, "Can you repeat that please?"  "I SAID, 'BABY YOU STILL GOT IT!'"  she repeated.  OK, Lou ... did you really not hear her the first time?  Just asking.   
Each of Lou's songs were mesmerizing, but the vision that remains with me is Lou singing "Beyond the Blue Horizon" and two silhouetted figures dancing together at the top of the stairs directly across from us. I wanted a video camera (illegal in Westbury) in the worst way at that moment.  Everyone on my side of the round, will hold that beautiful sight in our memories forever.  It was probably two ushers, but the effect was ever so romantic.  Dick Fox and Emil Stucchio almost literally pushed Lou back on stage for an encore, and so "Hold Me" became the last song of the night.  I had been invited to Lou's reception afterward, and while waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for my turn to speak with him, played "Is that REALLY Billy J Kramer and is that Sean Penn?" with my friends.  It was not Sean Penn.  It WAS Billy J Kramer, who brushed us off with "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah" when I admitted I figured him out.  I giggled, and his wife smiled, but Billy was a bit embarrassed as he was there to visit with Lou as well.  I have seen a picture of Lou and I talking that was taken by the professional photographer on site (and HEY people ... the invitation said DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN CAMERAS ... apparently I am one of two people who can read!)  Anyway, Lou looked deeply interested in my conversation, which was nice to see.  I think we were talking about a friend of his at the time.  
-- Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano    

Sounds like you had a great time, Shelley ... I'm still wishing Lou Christie would come out our way ... he's one of those that I have always wanted to see ... and both times when I actually had tickets, the shows were cancelled at the last minute.  Lou Christie with The Happenings?!?!?  Now THAT would be a show to see!!!  (Hint - hint!!!)   

Thanks, Shelley!  (kk) 
↧

50 Years Ago This Weekend

April 25, 2014, 4:00 am
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On April 25th, Chad and Jeremy appeared on The Hollywood Palace.





On the pop charts, THE BEATLES captured all of the Top Three spots again this week on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart with CAN'T BUY ME LOVE holding steady at #1, TWIST AND SHOUT locked into the #2 spot and DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET moving up to the #3 position.  For the first time, THE DAVE CLARK FIVE ALSO had two Top Ten Records simultaneously as GLAD ALL OVER inched up to #6 and BITS AND PIECES climbed to #7.  That gave the Brits HALF of the Top Ten Records in America that week. 

Other positions of note:  NEEDLES AND PINS by THE SEARCHERS at #13, SHE LOVES YOU at #19, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND at #24, PLEASE PLEASE ME at #29, THANK YOU GIRL at #37 (first week in The Top 40), HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE by THE SWINGING BLUE JEANS at #39, STAY AWHILE by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD at #44, ALL MY LOVING at #45, YOU CAN'T DO THAT at #60, LITTLE CHILDREN by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS at #61, DIANE by THE BACHELORS at #63, LOVE ME DO at #67 and I KNEW IT ALL THE TIME (an older, re-release by THE DAVE CLARK FIVE, trying to cash in on their new-found success), premiering at #90.  That meant THE BEATLES still held 10% of the entire chart with their recent U.S. releases.  

This week's WLS Chart includes "Bits And Pieces" at #6, "Thank You Girl" / "Do You Want To Know A Secret" at #7, "Glad All Over" at #9 (giving The Dave Clark Five two Top Ten Hits of their own), "Can't Buy Me Love" / "You Can't Do That" at #10 (keeping The Beatles even with the pack!), "Twist And Shout" at #12, "All My Lovin'" at #17, "Not Fade Away" at #26, "Yesterday's Gone" at #27, "Love Me Do" (new on the charts for The Beatles) at #30 and "Stay Awhile" by Dusty Springfield at #38.

***

And The Dave Clark Five comments just keep on comin'!  A few cool tracks to share this time around ... and more of your thoughts on the recent PBS Special.  Enjoy!


Having read all the Dave Clark Five reviews here, I really don't care if I see the PBS special now, because it probably will tick me off! I'd rather just see old clips of the band on Youtube. I also forgot to mention that the only thing I liked about "Having a Wild Weekend" was that COOL, white Jaguar XKE, that Clark drove (and wrecked) in the movie. All those band movies back then were fun, though. I even liked the Bee Gees'"Sgt. Pepper", that everybody else hated.
- John LaPuzza    

Kent,  
I was going to chime in immediately after the DC5 program aired, but I decided to see if anyone was going to mention the inclusion of Sharon Osbourne. Of course she's become a media personality, besides being Ozzy's wife and manager. However I must disagree with the FH member who did not think she belonged there. To me she most certainly does. Maybe she isn't the most perfect choice, but it's certainly better than Tom Hanks. Sharon's father was the late music mogul, Don Arden. Among the acts he managed were ELO, Small Faces and Ozzy. Sharon started working for him full time while she was still in her teens. Although she would have been only 11 in 1964, she would have been exposed to the latest sounds either thru her dad, or just listening to the radio. It makes sense that she be included. Twiggy was a top model by 1965 and she was part of the swinging London scene. She was there. I'm not sure about Whoopi. She might have been exposed to the music as a nine year old, but that's a little too young yet. I'd say the same thing about Sharon, if she came from a different background.
Jack

Kent,
I looked and don't have the Ed Rudy DC5 LP.  I think I may have the interview single, but all I could find was a cardboard record for Having a Wild Weekend featuring two hits from the movie.  What I can offer you is a VERY little heard interview with Dave Clark from Feb 28, 1978, on UK's Capitol Radio! This was a half hour show I edited so that I could send via email lowest quality, yet sounds good.  Not sure anyone has this unless they taped it off the radio then in UK.   
You will find Dave plugging the HUGE DC5 comp success in England "25 Thumpin' Hits".  With DC5 records off the market in the UK for many years, this LP was a big success, as I remember it, in the UK.  I bought it as soon as it came in stores here.  Similar packages were released in other European countries as well about that time.  Strange that Dave's "Time" was only two years away and no mention of it in planning stages at all.  Just a bit about his acting "career."   
You'll hear a more UK version of the DC5 story than the TV PBS special.  The interviewer talked about lumping the DC5 with the Searchers, Swingin' Blue Jeans and even the Shadows.  Dave mentions many chart positions that are off, of course.  However, unlike the US situation, the DC5's first UK chart record was "Do You Love Me" and not "Glad all Over."  SO, in reality, the US got a DC5 treatment of Beatlemania in that when "Glad All Over" hit here, Epic quickly followed with "Do You Love Me" as well as the current UK hit "Bits & Pieces" all at once as well as Congress here releasing the old DC5 song "I Knew It All The Time"!  
Dave gives us HIS version so often of the DC5 story that it varies widely. 
Dave talks about the DC5 covering the Contours' hit BEFORE the Brian Poole & Tremeloes' version emerged following their top 10 hit "Twist & Shout." Dave calls it a cover of the Beatles, which it actually was, despite being an old Isley tune.  The Trems' #1 UK hit version appeared a month before the DC5's (#30 peak, not #19 in UK and #11 in US later, not #1 as Dave says here).  Dave says Poole somehow got stocked, while the DC5 got the airplay in UK????  Either way, the DC5 version kicks Poole's butt on this one, IMO. 
Dave is surprised by the interviewer not knowing that DAVE produced his own records and offered the records to a company, not the record company ALLOWING him to do so!   
He compares the "Palladium" TVer in UK to Sullivan show here, which is of interest.  Not sure about the Sullivan story he tells, but possibly??  He talks about focusing on the US market and then back to the UK market.  I think it was more that for some odd reason, most of the UK hits were NOT the hits that happened in the US and vice versa.  "Over & Over" was their biggest hit in the US, but amazingly, reached only #45 in the UK!  
Dave switches the story of "Because" to being HIS idea to bring it out, when the real story is apparently that Dave did NOT want it released, but US Epic did it anyway.  The UK Clark decision was "Think of You Baby" which basically flopped there and was never released here on 45!  In fact, from there on, their UK hits waned for awhile!   Also, "Because" was not a flip side in the UK as Dave claims here.  It did NOT make it to number one and was not their biggest US hit, as Dave claims.  
Dave says "you can't go back into the studio." OK, right.  The other bands are still "flogging around" as the interviewer puts it.  It's nice to see that 36 years later, many of the bands he mentions are still "flogging around" to loving crowds and enjoying it again / still!  
More Dave Clark varying comments for sure.  
Enjoy,
Clark



I know "Because" never charted in the UK ... but the story I've always heard is that it was Dave who was insistent on giving the ballad a shot here in The States.  If not their biggest hit, certainly one of their best-loved and remembered.  (I couldn't find it listed as a B-Side in England either ... but then later heard it was issued as the flip-side of "Can't You See That She's Mine".)
An interesting interview, especially with the benefit of 36 years of hindsight!  Thanks, Clark.  (kk) 

The DC5 were a great part of 60's top 40 radio.  Not only was their music great and exciting, but they were played on some of the great moments of radio.  Here, you will hear them in moments such as Dick Biondi's new return to WCFL and Chicago radio in 1967, Ron Riley with DC5 premiers, Jim Stagg playing DC5 on his Staggline show, Ron Riley playing the DC5 on his British Billboard Sunday night countdown of England's top 10 hits, "Dave Clark 5 Day" on WKY in Oklahoma City in summer of 65, Riley's cheering intro to his show and "Over & Over", the Riley / Weber feud tape sent to Vietnam for airing involving their battle over who's better: DC5 or Beatles, Chuck Knapp of WRKO Boston blowing out a late DC5 hit and lastly, the GREAT Ron Britain at WCFL blasting "19 Days."
Clark Besch




Kent, 
If you read the Ron Ryan story on how he wrote ALL of  the 1964 "original" DC5 hits by HIMSELF (see here: http://asithappens.hubpages.com/hub/CuriousStoryofDC5 ), you will find this interesting.  In the US, Congress Records released "I Knew It All The Time" as a 45 with a picture sleeve in 1964 to cash in on the DC5's instant fame.  The 45 was their first UK 45 on Piccadilly Records in 1962.  Piccadilly gave several artists their early starts like Joe Brown, Carter & Lewis, and the Montanas.   The Congress retread was then the B side to the awful "That's What I Said." There is a link below to the 45 label scan.  It is quite interesting to see Ron Ryan's name half credited with writing the song (along with Dave Clark).  Also, note that the label reads the song as being by "THE DAVE CLARK FIVE featuring Mike Smith"!!!!!  Both Ron and Mike got more credit on that first rare lousy single than Dave gave them the rest of their lives!!  
http://www.45cat.com/record/7n35500
In the US, Congress flipped A sides to give a Mitch Murray cover song "I Knew It All The Time" a chance as the A side, complete with 1964 picture of the band on the sleeve, even tho it was a two year old recording!  The name may not ring a bell, but Murray wrote several Brit faves like "How Do You Do It" and "I Like It" for Gerry & Pacemakers, "You Were Made For Me" for Freddie & Dreamers, "Bonnie & Clyde" for Georgie Fame, "Hitchin' a Ride" for Vanity Fare, "Billy Don't Be a Hero" and "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace.  Anyway, the record reached #53 before fans realized it was another "My Bonnie" ripoff.  Actually, at least this WAS the DC5 and not Tony Sheridan!   
Surprisingly, in the US on Congress, Dave Clark did NOT take co-writing credits from Ron Ryan. However, when the 45 was released in Sweden in 1964, the writer credits had already been changed to "Dave Clark - Mike Smith"!! http://www.45cat.com/record/ns824  (see B side label scan)In late 1962, Piccadilly released a second 45, "First Love" (supposedly a Dave Clark - Lenny Davidson writing) and a Johnny Cash cover song "I Walk the Line." This time, the label says "THE DAVE CLARK FIVE with Strings and Voices"!!!!  How hilarious!  
http://www.45cat.com/record/7n35088  
In the US, Rust Records (appropriate for this record!) released this oldie as new stuff in April, 1964, too. http://www.45cat.com/record/5078us 
Also, in 1962, UK's Ember Records released the DC5's "Chaquita" (an original "Dave Clark - Mike Smith" song) backed with cover "In Your Heart" (see scan below).  In the US, Jubillee also released two old songs on 45 in May, 1964, on a cash in 45 attempt.  SO, the DC5 were not an overnight success in the recording studio as one might have thought. http://www.45cat.com/record/embs156  
After hearing all of these LAME 1962 recordings, who would think they would be so good only a year later??  1963's first UK hit, the cover of "Do You Love Me" showed much more promise.  On UK Columbia, it was backed by the original Clark - RYAN song "Doo Dah", so some credit there for Ryan! http://www.45cat.com/record/db7112  (see B side label scan)  SO, there WAS a US attempt at flooding the market with old DC5 records, but unlike the fabs, these were all "flubs." 
BTW, "Because" (written by Dave Clark ONLY) WAS a B side of "Cant You See That She's Mine" in the UK on Columbia in '64.  I also have a 45 by "The Bugs" on HIT Records (cheap cover 45s in US label) on which they do "Anyway You Want It" and it is also credited to ONLY "D. Clark" as writer!
Somewhere, I have a Dave Clark interview with Jim Stagg from his "Stagg Starbeat" WCFL program, but cannot locate it.  
Clark 

Came across this when I was looking for something else the other day ...
Anybody remember these?!?!  I had the complete set of Beatles dolls ... but I don't even REMEMBER a Dave Clark Five version existing!  (kk)


Here's another link to that great Songfacts interview with Dave Clark from a month ago or so ...  
Click here: Dave Clark: Songwriter Interviews  
(Hey Dave, if you're reading this, we'd love to interview you for Forgotten Hits, too .. but it would have to be a no-holds-barred deal where we can address some of the issues and concerns raised by our readers over the past few weeks.)  Obviously this new special has sparked a lot of reaction from the fans ... perhaps the best way to describe it would be to say that nobody really dislikes it ... overall the reviews of content have been good ... and it's really exciting to see all this material again ... but by the same token the overall feeling can only be described as "disappointed" in the perspective shown with Dave Clark as the primary reason for the band's success.  It's time to share the accolades, dude! (kk) 

Hey Kent
I got the DC5 2 disc Blu Ray from PBS. I give it two thumbs up. I know there has been a lot of talk about Dave Clark. But you have to respect this man.  How many other sixties bands can say they own all their stuff? Not even The Beatles. I think Dave Clark was a genius way before his time. The second disc is great TV performances more interviews. And a killer one with Mike about how he helped out two girls in trouble in a bar ... when they invited him home for drinks, it was Frank Sinatra's house.
I don't think with out Dave there would have been a DC 5 and all the success they had.
Another great interview with Freddy Mercury.  (You see another side of Freddy)
I know we all hate that Dave has sat on all the DC5 stuff for all these years, but it is out there and you can get it if you look hard enough.
Those 3 on 1 cd's are killer with great sound and booklets. Makes you wonder if Dave bootlegged himself!
Anyway, as a long time fan I just wanted to add my view of the DC 5
Mickey
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The Saturday Surveys (April 26th)

April 26, 2014, 5:00 am
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Welcome to another edition of The Saturday Surveys ...

Join us as we take a look back through the charts reflecting the most popular music on this date, circa 1960-something!

This first chart from KRGI in Nebraska took a literal position for their Top 40 Countdown ... the records on their survey are ranked from #40 to #1, just the way you'd hear them counted down on the air!

FH Buddy Bob Lind kicks things off with a two-sided hit, "Remember The Rain" / "Truly Julie's Blues", a couple of tracks that peaked in the mid-60's on The Billboard Chart.

The BIG surprise may be the reissue of "Louie Louie" jumping from #14 to #3 ... this record hit its peak in late 1963 / early 1964 the first time around ... when it was re-released in '66, it charted for just two weeks in Billboard, peaking at #97.

And looks who's on top ... another "Friend of Forgotten Hits", Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits with their hit "Leaning On The Lamp Post"!
 





Let's take another look at 1964 ... as part of our on-going look back at the music of 50 years ago this week ... and the start of The British Invasion.  Once again you'll see The Beatles ruling the charts ... this time in San Diego ... where "P.S. I Love You" / "Love Me Do" is #1, "Do You Want To Know A Secret" is #2, "Can't Buy Me Love" is #5 and "Twist And Shout" is #8. 

Besides dominating The Top Ten, you'll also find The Fab Four at #15 with "Please Please Me", #18 with "She Loves You" and #22 with "I Want To Hold Your Hand", giving them seven of The Top 40 Hits shown on the survey.

Five other positions are held by British Invasion acts this week, too, including THREE by The Dave Clark Five:  "Bits And Pieces" (#3), "Glad All Over" (#10) and "Do You Love Me" (#28).

I like the way the radio station's disc jockeys each get to select their own "Pick Hit To Click" at the bottom ... looking over the list, you'll find that some were a bit more "on the money" than others.  A couple of other British Invasion favorites ... "A World WiIthout Love" by Peter and Gordon and "Yesterday's Gone" by The Overlanders are amongst the selections ... Peter and Gordon would top the charts with this Lennon and McCartney composition a few weeks later ... while "Yesterday's Gone" would go on to become the first big U.S. Chart Hit for Chad and Jeremy.  Meanwhile other selections like Little Peggy March's "Takin' The Long Way Home" would pretty much permanently fade from sight.
 



Here's an unusual chart from a High School Radio Station ... WMTH was broadcast from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge, Illinois .. which might help to explain the more eclectic list of tunes featured on their Top 16 Countdown.  (Hmm ... The Top 16 Countdown ... apparently also know as "The Twin Eight" ... from a chart that lists The Top 20 Hits.  Maybe that's why this high school radio station never hit the big time!  lol)

The Tremeloes sit at #1 with their big hit "Here Comes My Baby", written by Cat Stevens (from before anybody even knew who Cat Stevens was!)

The obvious hits are there ... and even some local tanet ... check out The Riddles at #17 with their version of "Sweets For My Sweet".

But the one that really caught my eye was the #3 Hit "Walk Tall" by 2 of Clubs.

You would not believe how many charts we've seen from around the country where this record ranked as a Top Ten Hit ... here in Chicago, it peaked at #9 on the WLS Chart .. yet nationally it crapped out at #92 in Billboard Magazine.

I've always thought it had a GREAT "Girl Groups Sound" ... so it's MY Pick Hit this week for our Saturday Surveys Feature.





This Detroit Chart from 1971 seems to be a little bit "soulful" ... which is to be expected, I guess, based on the folks up there buying music at the time.  (That's what makes it fun to see Daddy Dewdrop all the way up at #2, ahead of The Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin, The Chi-Lites, Motown's own The Jackson Five and Honey Cone.

All kinds of Forgotten Hits on this list ... songs that we all knew and loved at the time that have fallen by the wayside with today's narrow-minded broadcasting.  We've featured three early '70's soul classics that we're sure you'll remember ... once you hear them again ... below.








If The Top Ten on this chart out of Augusta, Georgia, seems a little bit middle-of-the-road / adult contemporary-ish to you, there are enough surprises elsewhere on the chart to help dispel any "type-casting".

While "Love (Can Make You Happy)" by Mercy sits at #1 (and artists like The Spiral Starecase, Perry Como, Brian Hyland, Henry Mancini and soft-rock hits by The Hollies and Simon and Garfunkel are also sitting in The Top Ten), they completely turn the tables by featuring Ray Stevens' novelty classic "Gitarzan" at #3 and The Monkees' rocker "Listen To The Band" (which only reached #63 in Billboard) at #9.

Another long-time Forgotten Hits favorite sits at #31 ... it's "Medicine Man" by The Buchanan Brothers.







WAY before Jack-FM took over the airwaves, folks in Lansing, Michigan were listening to (and enjoying) WJIM.

These guys, too, seemed to go their own way when it came to programming the hits ... up at #1 is Wanted with their version of "Midnight Hour", followed by the long-forgotten ? and the Mysterians hit "Can't Get Enough Of You", a song that would be resurrected by Smash Mouth some 30 years later.  With this kind of Garage Band / Early Punk Rock at the top of the chart, it seems almost unthinkable that The Platters would have the #4 Record with their minor comeback hit "With This Ring."

The Monkees are still in full swing (pun intended) ... an early David Jones solo hit (shown with a disclaimer as "not available" sits at #7  ("Theme For A New Love"), while "Valerie" (listed here as The Monkees' next single ... which it wasn't) is right behind it at #9.  Meanwhile their REAL hit single at the time, "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" / "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" falls just outside The Top Ten at #11.

You'll find some real diversity on this chart ... yes, radio was a LOT looser and freer back in The Swingin''60's ... wild "chart neighbors" abound as, besides The Platters, we find Tommy James and the Shondells and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels sitting side-by-side with Sammy Davis, Jr. ... Andy Williams followed by Sopwith Camel ... and folk duo Ian and Syliva at #13, sandwiched in between The Byrds and The Five Americans!




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The Sunday Comments ( 04 - 27 - 14 )

April 26, 2014, 10:01 pm
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re:  Another INCREDIBLE Ticket Offer ... 
From The Arcada Theatre and Forgotten Hits:  
Last week we gave away a pair of tickets to see Dean Torrence and The Surf City All Stars at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL.  THIS Week we're giving away several pairs of tickets to see Micky Dolenz of The Monkees AND The Cowsills ... all on one big show ... THIS FRIDAY NIGHT (May 2nd).  
This is going to be one hell of a show ... and one that we were REALLY looking forward to ... but our schedule doesn't allow us to be there ... so once again, we're asking you to be our eyes and ears ... and file a full report on the concert.  
Thanks to the kind generosity of Ron Onesti, we have FIVE PAIRS of tickets to give away to Friday Night's Show!!!  (As first revealed here in Forgotten Hits last week, Micky's going to do a Q&A with the audience after his performance ... so this really IS a VERY special treat!)
Email me NOW to get in the running for a pair of tickets to see this great, great show ... all of The Monkees' hits ... GREAT hits by The Cowsills ("The Rain, The Park and Other Things", "Hair", "Indian Lake" and much, much more) ... ALL on the same stage Friday Night!
We'll draw the winners on Wednesday so DON'T DELAY!!!  Send your entries to:  forgottenhits@aol.com
... or just click the link above ... and you'll be entered to win!  (kk)  

re:  The Wrecking Crew:
We've been telling you guys about this excellent film for over seven years now ... and it FINALLY makes it way to the Chicagoland area next month.
Hoping you'll come out and join us for one of these screenings:
Tuesday, May 13th, at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL and
Wednesday, May 14th, at The Rialto Theater in Joliet, IL
This is a "must see" screening.  Forget all the cliches ... these guys truly DID provide The Soundtrack To Our Lives, growing up in the '60's.  You'll be AMAZED by not only the volume of tracks they were involved with ... but how many of these turned into monster-sized hits from that decade.  ANY style ... The Beach Boys ... The Monkees ... The Mamas and the Papas ... the Phil Spector Wall Of Sound ... and even Frank Sinatra ... EVERYBODY wanted these cracker-jack musicians on their sessions.
Don't miss this opportunity to see this film locally ... let's give Producer Denny Tedesco a warm Chicago welcome.  ("The Wrecking Crew" has "toured" and played all over the country ... and Denny has told me several times that at each and every screening, he meets people who are there because of the coverage we've given his film in Forgotten Hits ... let's make this the biggest reception of all!)  kk
And, speaking of great music / documentary films, "Wages of $pin II" was given its world premier in Los Angeles last week at The James Bridges Theater on the UCLA Campus.  This is one you won't want to miss either ... a look inside the music industry, circa the late 1970's.  The preview clips we've seen are nothing short of amazing ... and the film is already playing to high praise.  Check it out when it hits an area near you.  (kk)    

re:  Chicago:
Hey Kent,
With all the recent posts about the Chicago music scene, it’s funny how one thought always comes to my mind when I hear the words, Chicago and Music. From the album, “CHICAGO 3, (1971) I always think of the album track, “FLIGHT 602. Written by Terry Kath, this song is so totally out of context (in my opinion) with what the band was doing at that time. To me they were still a rock and roll band with a horn section. (MAKE ME SMILE, 25 OR 6 TO 4, FREE.) As they moved to a way more soft pop sound, (something they did with great success) with Peter Cetera doing many lead vocals, this song has CROSBY, STILLS and NASH written all over it. Play the song and 98 out of 100 people would swear it’s CS and N.
“Thanks”,
Gary
I actually had to look this one up ... but you're absolutely right.  Readers can check out a sound clip here:  Click here: Chicago III Remastered] 05 Travel Suite Flight 602 - YouTube
 
re:  And Chicago Gold:
Hi Kent - 
Having seen these shows' back in the day", bringing back Chicago Gold would be fabulous. If Arcada / PBS don't work out, here's my suggestion: Pilster contacts the City of Chicago to stage the show at Pritzker Pavillion, tying it in with Stroud / The Drive / WLS / WTTW / beer sponsor, etc.(?). Chicago paid for a tribute to Don Cornelius at Pritzker a few summers ago and the place was absolutely packed.
Clive   

Hi Kent -
What a GREAT IDEA having the Chicago Groups and Dee Jays together for a show!
I like your idea of including Spanky Mc Farland.  Her voice is comparable to Mama Cass Elliot.
What about including Michael and the Messengers, who had a hit with "Midnight Hour"? Weren't
they a Chicago group??
When in doubt, ask the master.
Carolyn
Actually, Michael and the Messengers were a Wisconsin group who scored big here in Chicago on the USA label with their remakes of "Midnight Hour" (#5) and "Romeo And Juliet" (#12).  I don't know if a touring version of this group still exists or not ... I know they went through several incarnations back in the day ... even during the hit years!
Speaking of group reincarnations, Spanky McFarland actually took over the Mama Cass role when The Mamas and Papas reformed later and toured after Cass' death.  (Daughter MacKenzie Phillips substituted for Mama Michelle, too, leaving either both original Papas ... Denny Doherty and John Phillips ... or, more often than not, the late Scott McKenzie covering the John Phillips spot.)  I got to see both versions of this group in the early '80's and it was a real treat ... always one of my favorites.
Response to a Chicago Gold Show has been VERY positive ... here's hoping some of these wheels are in motion behind the scenes as I type this!  (kk)    

re:  Paul Revere and the Raiders:
Hi Kent, 
You may have already seen this but I just ran across it and thought I would send it to you. They were so young and cute, including Dick.
Stacee


This is a GREAT clip ... thanks for sending.  (Were we ever really this young?!?!)  Pretty amazing to think that this was 1979 ... 35 years ago!!! ... and that even then it had been 14 years since the original hit version of The Raiders first appeared on "Where The Action Is".  Everybody looks great ... and they had to have a ball doing this.  Thanks so much for sending.  (kk)


re:  How Cool Is This???:
When we call our FH Buddy Paul Russo and his wife says he can't come to the phone right now because he's sitting on the throne, I guess that could mean just about ANYTHING these days!!!
Paul owns the coolest ice cream shop on The Jersey Shore (appropriately named Cool Scoops) and we had the pleasure of spending the night with Paul and his family and visiting his establishment a few years ago on our East Coast Trip.
As it turns out, his son Paul is the Visual Effects Coordinator for the INCREDIBLY popular HBO Television Series "Game Of Thrones" (and even won an Emmy in that capacity last year!)  The series films on location in both Los Angeles and Ireland and Paul Sr. got the chance to visit BOTH sets this past year, which is where he was photographed sitting in King Joffrey's Throne (shortly before the character was killed off in the series!)  That's the REAL DEAL shown in the photograph above!
And check out the cool tie-in he's come up with for his Award-Winning Ice Cream Shoppe!
Seriously, does it get any cooler than this???
For information on how you can order your own Cool Scoops / Game Of Cones T-Shirt, drop him a line at info@coolscoops.com ... and be sure to set one aside for me in a 2XL ... this is Frannie's #1 Favorite TV Show ... and she'll probably want to sleep in this every night!!!  (kk)

re: We Lost Deon Jackson Last Week:  
Jackson scored a #11 Hit in 1966 with "Love Makes The World Go Round" (a record that topped the charts in Detroit and Philadelphia ... and reached #19 here in Chicago).  After his One Hit Wonder success, Deon became a teacher and counselor ... and was working right here in the Wheaton, IL, area.  (I had no idea!)  Incredibly, in a perfect example of "that was then, this is now", a personal remembrance notice posted on the school's on-line bulletin board after news of his death circulated said that Jackson never told his students about his past fame until they found an early performance of his posted on YouTube!  (kk)



Grim Reaper Ron Smith reports ...

Deon Jackson, best known for the #11 pop hit, "Love Makes The World Go Round," died at his home near Chicago on April 19th. He was 68. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Deon was signed by producer Ollie McLaughlin while still in high school. After a couple of regional Detroit hits on Atlantic Records and much touring, he broke through with his composition of "Love Makes The World Go Round" on the Carla label in 1966. The song reached #3 on the R&B charts. Three more singles, however, failed to crack the top 60, but Deon kept performing -- a fact that he kept secret from his students at a Wheaton, Illinois, school where he later served as a counselor. They finally discovered him in 2008 on YouTube.

re:  This And That:   
Sad to hear about Glen Campbell.  There are a couple of specialty care facilities for Alzheimer's patients within a couple of miles of my home. It's possible Glen is living in one of them. Whatever the case, this disease is awful in the way it wipes out a person's real personality. This phase can go on for many months or even years as the deterioration progresses. We wish Glen and his family grace and peace as this process takes its toll on all involved. 
David Lewis  
It sounds like he's in pretty bad shape ... so this must have escalated pretty quickly.  He has actually become a danger to himself and needs constant monitoring.  (One report I read said that he will drink virtually any mixture of liquids and has even ingested cleaning fluids.)  Obviously we wish him the best ... and his family the patience to deal with all they're up against.  Let's instead remember all of the beautiful music he gave us for so many years. 
As tipped in this column last week, watch for a new Glen Campbell biography to hit the streets in September, written by his daughter Debby and noted biographer Mark Bego.   (kk)



Speaking of books, I'm reading THIS one right now ... "Turn Up The Radio!  Rock, Pop and Roll in Los Angeles, 1956-1972" by Harvey Kubernik.  Here's a recent review from LA Magazine:  
http://www.lamag.com/laculture/culturefilesblog/2014/04/24/a-love-song-to-las-rock-n-roll-history  
It's a beautifully done, MASSIVE read, much of which is told in the words of the movers and shakers who were there and part of the scene at the time ... a VERY enjoyable read, packaged "coffee table" book style, jammed pack with photos and memorabilia from back in the day.  If you grew up during this rock and roll era of radio, you will want to devour this book!  (kk)  
Click here: Turn Up the Radio!: Rock, Pop, and Roll in Los Angeles 1956–1972: Harvey Kubernik, Roger Steffens, Tom Petty: 9781


>>>Hey Dave, if you're reading this, we'd love to interview you for Forgotten Hits, too .. but it would have to be a no-holds-barred deal where we can address some of the issues and concerns raised by our readers over the past few weeks.  (kk)  
Hope you get this one! 
Phil 
I would LOVE to talk with Dave Clark ... but could ONLY do this if NO topics were off limits and we could do some serious investigating (with some serious soul-searching on his part) ... and I don't think he would EVER agree to that ... I believe he just thinks too highly of himself to tear any of those wall down.  (kk)


Paul McCartney keeps announcing more US tour dates ... as mentioned last week, he's heading back to Chicago in July and will be making a first-ever stop in Lincoln, Nebraska.  And, as expected, he will perform to close down old Candlestick Park in San Francisco, the site of the very last Beatles concert EVER on August 14th.  (Actually, this was McCartney's idea ... after closing down old Shea Stadium a couple of years ago, he suggested that he do the same for Candlestick, especially because of the historical significance it holds in Beatles lore.)  Other tour dates can be found on McCartney's website ... and, as we mentioned above, new dates are being added all the time.  (kk)  
Click here: Out There - Paul McCartney Official Website

Hi Kent,
We get very few "oldies" shows here in Nashville, so I'm really looking forward to this next Tuesday (4/29):
"This one of a kind musical event stars the original classic rock artists performing their biggest hits! Backed by the popular Steve Jarrell and the Sons of the Beach Band, legendary artists Billy Swan, Dickey Lee, Bruce Channel, Robert Knight, Clifford Curry, Melanie, Pat Upton of Spiral Starecase, Dallas Frazier, Bucky Wilkin of Ronny and the Daytonas, Gary Talley of the Box Tops, Jimmy Gilmer, Henry Gross, Buzz Cason aka Garry Miles, and special guests will rock the rafters of The Franklin Theatre in a magical 2 hour spectacular concert! "
The concert was put together by Buzz Cason as a benefit for 2nd Chance 4 Pets, an organization for which his wife volunteers. tickets sold out the same day they went on sale.  All the artists, except Pat Upton, live in the Nashville area.
Ed Salamon
Nashville, TN
Sounds like a hell of a show ... some of these artists NEVER tour!  Please report back to us with a full review!  (kk)
Speaking of concert reviews, here are a couple of readers' clarifications to Shelley's Doo Wop recap from last week ...

Kent,I am sure you already know this but in Shelley's review of Dick Fox's Spring Fling Doo-Wop concert, the one song title by the Capris as she remembered as being BRING HOME TO ME was of course MORSE CODE OF LOVE, which I believe that the Manhatten Transfer later recorded.She said she wasn't familiar with Jimmy Beaumont and Skyliners. She mentioned the phrase SHOOBY DOO WOP. This was probably from their 1959 song IT HAPPENED TODAY.
Larry   

Hi Kent,
Glad to read Shelley Sweet-Tufano's review of Dick Fox's Spring Fling Doo Wop Concert.
I didn't attend the show, but I've seen those acts many times, so maybe I can fill in a couple details.
The Capris' song would have been "Morse Code of Love" not "Back Home To Me".
The song in the Marcels'"High School Memories" medley was "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye", not  "For A Million Years".
The Skyliners'"Shooby Doo Wop" was most certainly "It Happened Today" and the "one last title I can't remember at all" was likely their million selling hit "Since I Don't Have You", later a hit for Art Garfunkle, Don McLean and Ronnie Milsap. Coincidentally, I saw The Skyliners perform to a standing ovation last month in Pittsburgh. Jimmy Beaumont sounds better than he has in years. Ironically, the only comments I overheard about Donna Groom was how well she filled out her dress, but for the record it was a black dress not the melon one that Shelley noted.
Lou Christie's "Hold Me" was "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me", made popular in the 60s by Mel Carter. Lou IS one of the most dynamic 60s performers. I guess that's why he tops the bill.
Ed Salamon
Attached photo is Ed Salamon (center) with The Skyliners last month at the final "Roots of Rock' show in Pittsburgh.
"Since I Don't Have You" is probably the song I remember most by The Skyliners ... I've written before about how I first discovered this song in the film "American Graffiti" in 1973, almost fifteen years after it first was a hit (#12, 1959).  It grabbed me immediately at the time ... so much so that I bought the entire soundtrack album just for this one song.  (Of course, I wasn't disappointed ... there were so many other great late '50's and early '60's songs on this two-record set that I was well on my way to building a "solid gold" collection of my very one, just with the purchase of this one LP!)


All this does is re-illustrate my point of how introducing a new generation to this great, unforgettable music will generate new, devoted fans each and every time. 
At a recent concert at The Arcada Theatre, a young attendee (maybe 30-35) turned around to talk with us during the intermission, telling us how his dad introduced him to all this great music at an early age ... and how he's been a fan ever since.  He rattled off hits by The Everly Brothers, Rick Nelson, Elvis, et al, all of which he includes amongst his favorites.  Radio TRULY has blinders on when they write off this timeless music as "disposable".  (kk) 

A cool article sent in by FH Reader Frank B ... about the ageless Dick Dale!

Eric Clapton's 'Journeyman' Album (Featuring George Harrison, Chaka Khan, Daryl Hall, Robert Cray, Phil Collins and others) Is Now Available On Hybrid SACD “...one of the greatest rock / blues guitarists on the planet!”  
Camarillo, CA - Much to the elation of Eric Clapton fans across the globe, Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity has released Clapton's 'Journeyman' album as a limited numbered edition Hybrid SACD! Eric Clapton is a true legend. 'Journeyman' reached #16 on the Billboard album chart and became Clapton's first solo studio album to go double platinum. Like any of his best albums, there is no grandstanding to be found on 'Journeyman' ... it's simply a laid-back and thoroughly engaging display of his virtuosity. The album was heralded as a return to form for Clapton, much of it has an electronic sound, mostly influenced by the 1980s rock scene, but it also includes blues songs like “Before You Accuse Me,” “Running on Faith,” and “Hard Times.”  
“At the center of it all is Clapton's guitar work ... stinging blues and soaring pop.”
There is an all-star assembly of guests: Dire Straits keyboardist Alan Clark, George Harrison, Chaka Khan, Daryl Hall, Robert Cray, Cecil and Linda Womack, Phil Collins and Gary Burton. Among the highlights are several cuts that feature slide-versus-slowhand guitar dueling with Cray. George Harrison is particularly impressive on his little masterpiece “Run So Far,” playing guitar and singing harmony vocals.
A couple of tracks rank among Clapton's best from any decade.  The strongest commercial single is “Bad Love,” which won the 1990 Best Male Rock Vocal Performance Grammy Award, and reached the No. 1 position on the Album Rock Chart. “Pretending” is a firm mid-tempo rocker that also reached the No. 1 position on the Album Rock Chart and and includes one of his most assured vocal performances ever.
Clapton sounds more convincing than he had since the early '70s. Not only is his guitar playing muscular and forceful, his singing is soulful and gritty - he seems to have struck the perfect balance between the fiery blues of his youth with the pop flavorings of his later years.
TRACKS:  Pretending / Anything for Your Love / Bad Love / Running on Faith / Hard Times / Hound Dog / No Alibis / Run So Far / Old Love / Breaking Point / Lead Me On / Before You Accuse Me
Produced By Jill Dell'Abate & Russ Titelman
Mastered by Steve Hoffman at Stephen Marsh Mastering

Kent,
I have been sent no fewer than eight notices about this new Bert Berns book.  Getting excited.  I NEED more reading time!  Actually, I need someone to pay me to attend concerts and read books.  (otay Shelley :-P)
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
If you ever figure out a way to make that happen, please let me know ... I'm in!!!  (kk)


re:  The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame: 
Got this from a couple of readers who still think the public can in any way, shape or form influence The Nominating Committee of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:http://www.doowoptaxi.com/letter_jm_rrhf.pdf Honestly, you can save yourself a TON of time and effort collecting signatures (not to mention a postage stamp!) 'cause the AIN'T gonna listen ... but hey, knock yourself out!  (kk)


re:  The Saturday Surveys:  
One error in the KRGI Nebraska chart, # 28 listed as "Women" by Pete & Gordon is actually "Woman" by Peter & Gordon. 
This song was written by Paul McCartney under the pseudonym Bernard Webb.  McCartney even went so far as to create a fake bio for Webb, stating that he was a student living in Paris.  Some Capitol 45 pressings had 'written by A. Smith' instead of Bernard Webb.
In reality, McCartney wanted to see if he could write a hit song using another name rather than the now more than famous Lennon-McCartney credit.  The duo (or possibly McCartney alone) had written three previous Peter & Gordon hits, all charted in 1964.  "A World Without Love" (#1), "Nobody I Know" (#12) and "I Don't Want To See You Again" (#16).
It worked ... "Woman" made it to #14 on Billboard's Hot 100.  Within a couple of weeks, word leaked out that it was really written by Paul.  McCartney had been living in the Asher home at the time and was dating Peter's sister, Jane. For 1980's "Double Fantasy" album, John Lennon wrote and recorded a totally different song also called "Woman".
Doug Thompson (Toronto)  
First time I've heard the "A. Smith" story ... yeah, McCartney's "Bernard Webb" situation was one of the world's worst-kept secrets at the time.  We recently shared the story of how John Lennon hated "A World Without Love" (an all-Paul composition) and refused to record it ... so Paul gave it to his girlfriend's brother instead.  (I wonder what John said when it went all the way to #1!!!) 
We've seen SO many typo's on these charts from back in the day ... you really have to wonder if anybody was checking them at all!  (kk)



Kent,
I have discovered something here tonight in going over my past surveys. WALK TALL by the Two of Clubs apparently didn't make our survey. However, for one reason or another, I remember it being played a lot.  Also, I have another record by them HEART which also I failed to find as making the survey. Both records of course on Fraternity Records.
LISTEN TO THE BAND by the Monkees was very big here in OKC. It peaked at #6 in August of
1969, several months after it made the survey of which you posted.
Larry 
Nationally "Walk Tall" peaked at #62 in Record World where it started for ten weeks.  (How it managed a #92 showing in Billboard is beyond me ... that's a full thirty places lower!  And they only charted it for three weeks.)  That tells me that this is one of those records that gained airplay at different times around the country.  (Here it Chicago it was a #9 Hit on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey ... and we've seen it ranked in The Top Ten on SEVERAL charts from various points around the country.)  Joel Whitburn's book also tells us that this song was featured in the Sandra Dee film "Doctor, You've Got To Be Kidding" ... (but quite honestly I don't think that film had ANYTHING at all to do with the song's success ... or failure!)  "Heart" bubbled under in Billboard for two weeks, ultimately peaking at #125. 
"Listen To The Band" experienced a similar fate ... it started off as the B-Side of the record ... the label was pushing the Davy Jones-sung "Someday Man", which is the song we heard here in Chicago (although it never charted ... by 1969, The Monkees weren't making much of an impression on the charts.)  DeeJays flipped the record over and "Listen To The Band" eventually passed the peak of the A-Side, reaching #57 in Cash Box (compared to a #74 showing for "Someday Man".)  I think the marketing strategy here was that Monkees singles were supposed to be sung by either Micky or Davy ... but the Michael Nesmith penned and sung track quickly became a fan favorite ... and it still holds up as one of their better recordings. (In fact, I doubt if Micky or Davy were even ON this track!!!)  
They sang it "live" in their "33 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee" television special and The Monkees (sans Nesmith) have performed it as part of their live show for decades.  Now that Mike's back touring with the group it's gaining even more appreciation. 
Much like "Walk Tall", it peaked at different times in different cities ... this one absolutely should have been a Top 40 Hit ... but it never gained enough momentum at the same time in enough cities to climb higher than #57.  (kk)


kk ...
I am LOVIN' these charts!!!!! It's nice to see what was popular other than the National Charts and, amazingly enough, some of these songs I am not even close to familiar with LOL!  You got me doin' song research again!!!!  Do you ever get charts from WPGC or WINX back in the D.C. area?  Again THANKS for your wonderful research and time spent bringing all these memories back.
Keep up the GOOD work!
Pete Garrison
Nearly all of the charts we've been running were submitted by our readers ... so if you've got some DC Charts you'd like us to share, send 'em along.  Keep in mind that we're pre-posting these ... in some cases a month or two in advance ... so if you've got something to send, start with July ... and be sure to send them in JPEG format.  (That goes for all you other chart collectors out there, too!)  kk

>>>The BIG surprise may be the reissue of "Louie Louie" jumping from #14 to #3 ... this record hit its peak in late 1963 / early 1964 the first time around ... when it was re-released in '66, it charted for just two weeks in Billboard, peaking at #97.  (kk)
Actually,NOT a big surprise.  I think as the year goes by, you will find charts I send to you will bear out "Louie Louie" as a local hit in EVERY year 1963 thru 1966!  In 1967, an updated version took its place finally in the re-write "Beg Borrow & Steal" by the Ohio Express!  Larry Neal has no doubt already mentioned that "Louie" was #1 on KOMA in OKC in 1965!
Clark
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Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars

April 28, 2014, 4:00 am
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Special Guest Review by Patrick Ryan 

Patrick won tickets to see Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars through our Forgotten Hits / Arcada Theatre Free Ticket Give-Away.

I've seen these guys before and they really put on a fun, fun, fun show ... but had to miss the concert this time around ... so PJ acted as our eyes and ears for this one ... and then filed this report:

The Jan & Dean Show with Dean Torrence And The Surf City All-Stars 
Live at The Arcada Theatre
105 E.Main St. - St. Charles, IL. 
Saturday - April 26 at 8:00 PM  
Tickets courtesy of oshows.com

Jan & Dean were a rock and roll duo popular from the late 50's through 1960's, consisting of Jan Berry and Dean Torrence. They were pioneers of the vocals "Surf Music" craze that was popularized by The Beach Boys.  Now let's take you back to 1962, driving your Chevy - top down- cruising down Highway 1 - your girl next to you - holding you tight - cool California breeze blowing though her long blonde hair! 

Now here we are, 50 years later - still driving our 1962 Chevy - top down - cruising down Rt 64 - your girl next to you - holding you tight - cool Fox River breeze blowing through her long gray hair. 

My girl and I arrive at the Arcada Theatre to listen and dance to the great "Surf Music" of Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars, live in concert!   

The Surf City All-Stars open with Surfin' Safari - the Beach Boys song from 1962 - it brought back the memories of the good times of the 60's - followed by - Catch A Wave - Hawaii - Darlin' - Don't Worry, Baby and Kokomo! 

Man, what a band - David Logeman on Drums, Chris Farmer on Bass, Gary Griffin on Keys, Philip Bardowell on Guitar and Aaron Boering on Guitar and Keys !
     
Then, onto the stage, comes Mr. "Surf Music" himself - Dean Torrence - the fans immediately left their seats, stood and started clapping hands and dancing. 

Dean looks good for a young 74 surfer - his birthday was March 10th - Happy Birthday Dean !! 

Dean asked the audience - any Seniors in the crowd? - Dean laughed - then opened with  New Girl In School - followed by California Girls - God Only Knows - Drag City - Little Deuce Coupe - great stuff.

All of a sudden the lights went out on stage - not planned - but Dean went on with the show - with one of my all-time favorites - 409 - lights back on - Shut Down and one last song before the end of the first half of the show - I Get Around.

The second half of the show opened with I Can Hear Music - Sail On Sailor - Little Old Lady From Pasadena - Sloop John B. - Good Vibrations - Dead Man's Curve - Help Me Rhonda - Let's Dance - Do You Wanna Dance - Dance Dance Dance - Sidewalk Surfin' - Surf City - Surfin' USA - Barbara Ann before they encored with - what else - Fun Fun Fun!!!  

An absolutely Awesome Show!!! 

Thanks Dean and The Surf City All-Stars, Ron Onesti and Forgotten Hits - it was the Best of Shows!

If you didn't make it out to this show, it's a must show to see!!! 

We got back in our 1962 Chevy and drove to Surf City!!!  

Keep Surfin'!!!  

(Photos and review by PJ RYAN)

Sounds like you had a surfin' good time, PJ ... thanks for the GREAT review!

(And check out some of the cool shots he took at the theater!)



And THIS week we're giving away FIVE free pairs of tickets to see Micky Dolenz and The Cowsills ... both of whom will be appearing THIS FRIDAY NIGHT ... May 2nd ... at The Arcada Theatre ... 8:00 Show ... with a VERY special Q&A Session with Micky after the show.

You WON'T want to miss this one!!!  

Get your entry in NOW!!!  Drop us an email (at forgottenhits@aol.com) and we'll pick FIVE Winners on Wednesday to see this incredible show.  (VERY Special Thanks again ... AS ALWAYS! ... to Ron Onesti, who is certainly doing HIS part to keep this great music alive!!!)

Winners MUST be able to attend Friday's show and file a complete concert review by no later than 3 PM on Sunday (May 4th)

Good Luck!
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Search

Tuesday This And That

April 29, 2014, 4:59 am
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re:  The Saturday Surveys:
>>>I have discovered something here tonight in going over my past surveys. WALK TALL by the Two of Clubs apparently didn't make our survey. However, for one reason or another, I remember it being played a lot.  (Larry)
Larry and Kent,
"Walk Tall" was indeed a hit in OKC.  On KOMA, it debuted as a "KOMA Klimber" on Jan 26th on their "All American Survey" and stayed there a few weeks and slowly gained chart status reaching #24 peak on the March 9 survey before finally disappearing.  I looked at WKY and did not see it chart there.  Still, a GREAT hit overlooked by Billboard's charts.
Clark Besch  

Kent,
Viewing the surveys is fun, but for some reason it hit me today that THIS was my life at that time.  45s were displayed according to their rankings.  This also made them easier to find.  For me, buying records was a process of earning, saving, and then deciding how to spend money to my best satisfaction.  My best friend earned one Beatles album for every week she didn't eat chocolate. (bad for the skin) My parents wouldn't buy into any of that ... literally.  Looking back, it is amazing what The Beatles accomplished, but at the time it just made perfect sense.  The entire British Invasion was a tidal wave effect that was just as it should be.  At least in my world.  The Beach Boys and the surf sounds were what made summer, summer.  And winter, summer, too.  It was as it seemed it should be.  Now, I look back and realize ... WOW!  How did it all come together?  And WOW!  Look at the amazing facts it all produced.
Shelley
It was an amazing and very exciting time to be sure ... records seemed to come out at a high velocity pace back then ... it wasn't at all unusual for a HUGE hit to only last 8-10 weeks on the charts, quickly replaced by that same artist's follow-up climbing the chart, often overlapping and passing each other on the way up and down.  Looking back at some of these charts it's truly nothing less than astonishing that SO much great music shared the airwaves at the same time ... and virtually EVERYTHING fit!  (Incredibly, back then most stations built the bulk of their play lists around those 40 hottest, current songs ... yet today oldies radio ... with an available play list of literally 10,000 tracks from this era to choose from prefers instead to zero in on the same 2-300 hundred.  What a wasted opportunity THAT is!)  kk

Of course not EVERYONE agrees ... read on ...


OK, I've got to admit that THIS one hurt a little bit!  
Please remove from your mailing list.  You seem to be living in the past.  I’m more interested in the present and future.
Thanks,
Dex Card
Not so much living IN the past ... as much as reliving a bit of the past ... and all the wonderful memories this music gave us ... but clearly not for everyone.  (For those who don't know ... Dex Card is the guy who used to count down The WLS Silver Dollar Survey every afternoon the whole time I grew up listening to the radio here in Chicago in the '60's.)  Ouch!  (kk)

re:  50 Years Ago This Weekend:
Hello Chi-town,
I am curious as you chronicle the 50th anniversary of the British Invasion, about a long standing bit of trivia that I have subscribed to, that "Going To The Chapel" by the Dixie Cups is credited with breaking the hold on the #1 position on the Billboard Top 100 by the British groups in early June of 1964. (I.E. the first American artist #1).
I love the Top 40 listing from the various outlets throughout the country and happened to notice that "GTTC" was listed as a future pop hit on the Oklahoma City chart last week, which would give credence to its eventual rise to #1 by early June. I just was curious if this was in fact true, or maybe only applicable to particular city.
I relish each and every iteration of 'this week 50 years ago', the charts, the song clips the amazing scope of your musical knowledge and your dedication to Forgotten Hits Blog.
May I mention the pure enjoyment and chronicle of the times that 'The Cruisin' Series' offers by offering a different year from '55 through '70 featuring a different 'Nationally Famous' DJ to remind us of the crazy fun times we grew up in. The Increase Record Co. story should be discussed on your blog perhaps. The covers alone are display a historical timeline and add greatly to this collection.
Happy Spring ! (still chilly in Boston),
Keep up the good work,
CharlieOFD  
Regarding "Chapel of Love" ... not exactly ... there were actually several "breaks in the action" as far as British chart domination along the way ... and by some of the least-expected artists to boot.  Like Louis Armstrong ("Hello Dolly") and Dean Martin ("Everybody Loves Somebody") for example ... two "old-fogies" more of our parents' generation than our own.
Using the Billboard Hot 100 Chart as our benchmark (as this is the way history is most-often measured), here's a quick recap of the #1 Hits from 1964 during the initial run of The British Invasion ...
The Beatles took over the top of the charts on February 1st with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and then never relinquished that spot for the next 14 weeks ... seven for their first US Hit followed by two by "She Loves You" and five more by "Can't Buy Me Love".
Then Louis Armstrong knocked them out of first place for a week with "Hello Dolly" ... and Mary Wells KEPT them there for two more with her monster hit "My Guy".
The Beatles bounced back for a week with "Love Me Do" before your Dixie Cups' Hit "Chapel of Love" took over the top spot for the next three weeks.
Then it was Peter and Gordon (with the Lennon - McCartney penned "A World Without Love") for a week before two of the biggest American Groups of this era ... The Beach Boys ("I Get Around", #1 for two weeks) and The Four Seasons ("Rag Doll", also #1 for two weeks) took over.
The Beatles bounced back with "A Hard Day's Night" for two weeks on August 1st, giving that song-writing team of Lennon and McCartney the #1 Spot for 18 weeks out of the previous 28 ... an incredible 64% (appropriately enough for 1964) of the time!
This time it was Dino who knocked them out for a week with "Everybody Loves Somebody", thus fulfilling his prediction that he had just recorded a song that would "knock the Beatles out of #1" ... which is exactly what he did.  A brand new group (for most of us anyway) then followed up with two weeks at #1 with their first major hit "Where Did Our Love Go" ... by The Supremes. 
The British were back on top for the next three weeks with "House Of The Rising Sun" by The Animals, followed by Roy Orbison's HUGE hit "Oh, Pretty Woman", which held the top spot for the next three weeks.  Manfred Mann then grabbed the top spot for two weeks with "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" before we experienced an American Domination of nine weeks on top, thanks to hits like "Baby Love" by The Supremes (#1 for four weeks), "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las (one week), "Ringo" (by Lorne Greene, also #1 for one week), "Mr. Lonely" by Bobby Vinton (#1 for one week) and "Come See About Me" by The Supremes (#1 for two non-consecutive weeks) before The Beatles closed out the year in fitting fashion, again on top with "I Feel Fine", which spilled over into 1965 riding the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart. 
Whew!!!  (kk)

re:  Recent and Up-Coming Shows:
Thanks, Ed, for clarifying some of the song titles performed at the recent doo-wop show put on by Dick Fox.  There is no doubt that The Skyliners were good.  I was obviously distracted by the melon color satin dress and the arms having to be crossed while dancing.  Apparently my Uncle Ray did not play The Skyliners around me as much as other 45's.  HIS fault!  It's ok though ... he just sent me the mono / stereo cd of The Early Beatles.  As for titles, I will get them wrong even on the songs I know, as many times the lyrics do not 'give away' that piece of info.  So, thank you Ed.  This review was totally what I heard from the MC and the performers, with no research prior or after.  Just a music lover's reactions.
Shelley
And please understand that information like this is helpful to our other readers who may wish to seek out this music for their own education purposes.  That's what makes Forgotten Hits so great ... everybody sharing their musical tastes and preferences ... often times with those who simply haven't discovered it yet.  (Thus my own recollection of how important "Since I Don't Have You" was for me, discovering it fourteen years after it first was a hit.  Remember ... we didn't HAVE oldies radio yet at that point in time ... films like "American Graffiti" and TV shows like "Happy Days" helped to rekindle that whole late '50's / early '60's craze!)  kk

Got an email from The Chicago Theater the other day announcing "We've Got Soul!" ... and they're not kidding!
Up-coming shows include Diana Ross (this week ... Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29th and April 30th), Aretha Franklin (on Saturday, May 3rd) and Gladys Knight (with special guest Dennis Edwards and his Temptations Review) on Friday, May 9th.
More information on their website if you're interesting in seeing any of these shows.  (Please report back to us if you do!)
Other big shows coming up:  Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band (June 28th), The Voice Tour (July 16th) and John Fogerty (July 27th)

re:  Chicago Gold:
Hi Kent -
Thanks so much for the info on Michael and the Messengers! I remember seeing Spanky tour with the Mamas and Papas you mentioned! I think it was at the old Berwyn Fest and another outside show.
One more question about the Chicago Groups ... what about including The Mob? I think one of the members was Jim Holvay, who was involved with the Buckinghams at one time.  I saw them perform and what showmen.
Lets hope the Chicago Group Show happens!
Carolyn
I don't know if The Mob are still performing or not ... I believe they reunited for a brief period of time a couple of years ago ... but with only one local hit ("I Dig Everything About You", #20, 1970 ... but only #83 nationally), I don't know if they had the momentum to keep things going.
Holvay was a member of The Mob ... and wrote four of the biggest hits The Buckinghams ever had ... "Kind Of A Drag", "Don't You Care", "Susan" and "Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song".  (I think Murry Wilson would have slapped him deaf in BOTH ears for giving away this arsenal of hits rather than keeping them for his own band!!!)  Over the years, Holvay has explained that The Mob were really doing a completely different style of music back then ... and that this material was better suited for a group like The Buckinghams than his own.  Good news is, he still collected his royalties either way ... and in 1967, The Bucks were one of the biggest groups in the country! 
As for The Mamas and The Papas performing in Berwyn, I was there, too ... I believe it was their Italian Festival ... and sadly it was a pretty small crowd out to see them that day ... the only original member was Denny Doherty ... Scott McKenzie covered John Phillips' parts (and sang his own big hit "San Francisco"), Spanky filled the role of Mama Cass (and I believe sang at least a medley of Spanky and Our Gang hits ... and "Sunday Will Never Be The Same" all the way through as I recall) and the other girl was somebody I don't recall at all ... it wasn't Michelle OR MacKenzie Phillips at that show as I remember it ... but it wasn't a "name" player either.  Anybody else out there have any idea who it could have been?  (kk)

Hi Kent -
Perhaps this only makes it more confusing, but I'd to add a bit to your response regarding Michael & the Messengers.  
As you know, the story is way too complex to cover in brief (9-1/2 pages in my 1st book + some additions in the 2nd book) but:Michaeland the Messengers were really the Del Mars from Leominster, MA, who came to Chicago to basically imitate the Milwaukee Messengers (who never used "Michael" as part of their name) and to tour regionally, purporting the Messengers'"Midnight Hour" as their record. (USA Records added the "Michael" when the Del Mars were brought in after the 1st pressing). The followup record, "Romeo And Juliet" was, indeed, Michael & the Messengers, with no more connection to the Milwaukee Messengers, who went through many personnel changes and charted nationally with "The Way A Woman Is" on Rare Earth in 1971. 
Regarding your question as to whether or not a version of the band is still together and touring, I'm pretty sure that the "Michael & " group hung up the masquerade and mostly went back to MA by sometime in 1968. One of the guys then had a band named Faith, billed as "formerly Michael & ... " but that was short-lived.  I'm pretty sure that the real Messengers ended in 1971 after touring Japan. As far as I know, no one has tried to claim the name and continued to gig anytime since then.-- Gary E. Myers / MusicGem

re:  This and That:
Our DJ Buddy Big Jay Sorensen recently launched his first podcast ... and it's now up for your listening pleasure here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bigtomnj .   
Jay tells us ... 
It’s on-demand now … and I will likely do it semi-regularly … we were just testing the waters so to speak … and it went ok. NEXT time I’ll do video … and perhaps focus more on music … I had Ron Alexenberg call me … he talked about signing Michael Jackson to EPIC ... he also signed Kansas, Boston and other major acts … I had NO idea he was a fan … but he IS ... Wow!  And we just talked.  It was a good spur of the moment interview that I winged because I didn't know he was calling. 
I’m still regularly on CBS-FM every weekend overnight.  The station is doing better now than it ever has … but with very little ‘60s in the mix anymore. I don’t LIKE it, but it’s the reality of today’s radio. We do well in that 25-54 demo it seems … and that’s all Madison Avenue cares about.  Radio companies MUST make money and KEEP an audience that they can make money on. It’s that simple. There is no desire to eradicate an entire generation, but it’s the natural progression that happened with big band / MOR and beautiful music radio over 20 years ago.  
That’s why I have ALWAYS said YOU should partner with someone and DO oldies!  If you know of someone who REALLY wants to do it right, let me know. I even had the PAMS / JAM jingle guy Jonathan Wolfert make jingles for me … Sung: MusicRadio 45 RPM … it sounds FANTASTIC. And with my imaging and knowledge of the right way to blend songs from the ‘50s through the early ‘80s … it WILL work and be VERY pleasing to listen to.  
I read your column ya know … always interesting content from your buds. 
Keep up the great work.  
BE BIG! 
Jay

Furvus here of The Fifth Estate. 
Thanks Clark and Kent for all the great 60s and British Invasion info recently. Seems like yesterday to me. 
Listening to The Dave Clark 5 interview was very thought recalling for me, especially with my having been there as a drummer in an American Rock'n'Roll band releasing records right along with all these guys at the time - Beatles, Stones, Animals, DC5. 
As our other recently released material has done well enough, we seem to have caught on again and we now have two vinyl LPs coming out in the next couple of months ... one of our earlier material called I Wanna Shout! and another of our later material called The Best Of the Fifth Estate! Really BOTH of them together would be The Best Of The 5E we feel!!
AND if that isn't enough, we have another CD of some NEW material called TAKE THE FIFTH coming out in just about a month on Fuel 2000 / UMG.  Some of it was already on Time Tunnel. So when I heard Dave and his interviewer talking about older bands performing live - that really hit home, as we are going to again shortly. I think Dave is basically right that if bands, acts, performers wish to do it AND CAN and they enjoy it, then they should. The interviewer seemed to feel they usually just ended up looking rather sad.  Well that has happened at times.  I can't deny that. Hey, nobody is 16 anymore, not even the 16 year olds. I truly feel music is a lot more multi-generational these days. All for the best. But still if they are up there trying and enjoying it themselves and can somehow find a way to leave you Glad All Over - why not! 
Speaking of the DC5 Glad All Over, we have a live version of the B Side of that, I Know You, on our recently released Anthology 1 double CD set. We were playing in the midwest and although ours was just recorded with a couple of mikes on some cheesy little recorder so we could hear ourselves at the next rehearsal and certainly not in one of the better recording studios in England at the time, I'd still put it up against The DC5's version still today. But then again I'm the drummer on it?? So...?
But if you care to, you can probably hear those for free on Youtube and ITunes for comparison. 
Thanks again, 
Kenneth Evans
The Fifth Estate
Furv 

Styx 'Paradise Theater' Album To Be Released On Limited Numbered Hybrid SACD! 
“Styx's high-water mark...one of the greatest albums in rock history.”
Camarillo, CA - Styx fans rejoice with the release of the band's critically acclaimed album 'Paradise Theater' on limited numbered Hybrid SACD by Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity. Styx's 10th album, the 1981 release, 'Paradise Theater' was the band's fourth consecutive triple-platinum album. A resounding success, 'Paradise Theater' was their greatest commercial triumph and their only #1 album. It remains one of the best examples of the convergence between progressive rock and AOR which typified the arena rock sound of the top groups of the late-seventies and early-eighties such as Journey, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick and Kansas.
Styx was a great group of talented musicians - Dennis DeYoung, Tommy Shaw, James Young, Chuck Panozzo and John Panozzo. The album included three Billboard Hot 100 hits, “The Best of Times,” “Nothing Ever Goes As Planned” and “Too Much Time on My Hands” considered among Tommy Shaw's finest singles ever. Another track, “Rockin' The Paradise” reached #8 on the Top Rock Track Chart.
The concept album is a fictional account of Chicago's Paradise Theatre from its opening to closing, used as a metaphor for America's changing times from the late 1970s into the 1980s.  
“ ... some of the best songs Styx would ever write!”
TRACKS:
A.D. 1928
Rockin' the Paradise
Too Much Time on My Hands
Nothing Ever Goes As Planned
The Best of Times
Lonely People
She Cares
Snowblind
Half-Penny, Two-Penny
A.D. 1958
State Street Sadie
Produced by Styx
Mastered by Kevin Gray
at Cohearent Audio

Here's a recent article written by Terry Kirkman of The Association, talking about their HUGE #1 Hit "Cherish" ... sent in by FH Reader Tom Cuddy ...

Kent ...

"Since I Don't Have You" ... ahhh ... I absolutely love this song ... this is one of my all time favorites. 
It defines the late 50's.  With so many artists covering this tune, it has become an American Standard.  There is an unexplainable magic in this song - it has that  "x factor" and puts chills up my spine.  The words, the arrangement, and the soulful way Jimmy sings has made this song a true classic. Thanks, Jimmy  Beaumont and the Sky Liners.   
PS - The song is so great that an awesome car was named after this band from the same vintage.  hmmm ... which came first the cool band or the great car? 
Thanks for the great pic, Kent.
Blossmwrld

The youtube posted by Phil "Fang" Volk that you showed was such a fresh breath of nostalgia, wasn't it?  In 1979, Dick Clark was being honored and remembered for his PAST.  And his future would continue on for 33 more years.  I loved watching the Paul Revere and The Raiders reunion, and catching sight of the performers (singers, actors,) in the audience.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano 

ROY ORBISON DOCUMENTARY MYSTERY GIRL: UNRAVELED TO SCREEN IN NASHVILLE, LA AND TORONTO IN MAY
New York, NY – April 25, 2014 - A series of intimate screenings of Mystery Girl: Unraveled, a new documentary film that chronicles the recording of Roy Orbison's hugely successful Mystery Girl album and its resonance, 25 years after its original release, has been set for Nashville, Los Angeles and Toronto next month.  The film will be screened at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville on Monday, May 19, the actual release day of Mystery Girl – Deluxe, Mystery Girl and Mystery Girl Expanded releases through Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment. The film will be the centerpiece of a Grammy Museum program in Los Angeles on May 20 and will have a "sneak peek" promotional preview in Toronto on May 12, details of which will be announced soon.   Wesley, Alex and Roy Orbison, Jr. will be on hand at the Nashville and Los Angeles screenings for an onstage discussion of the film that they wrote and executive produced. Alex Orbison will be present at the Toronto screening.  They are Roy Orbison's sons and the principals of Roy's Boys LLC, the company that has spurred renewed interest in the life and work of Roy Orbison in recent months with an ambitious schedule of releases, of which Mystery Girl is a key component. It is expected that some of those who participated in the album's recording and are seen in the film will also be on hand at one or more of these special screenings. 
Mystery Girl: Unraveled, directed by Alex Orbison, offers unique insight into the song-by-song creation of Roy Orbison's Mystery Girl album through rare and intimate archival footage and the memories of those who were there captured in new, never-before-seen interviews.  Special appearances and on-screen commentary from Tom Petty, Bono, Jeff Lynne, Steve Cropper, Billy Burnette, Barbara Orbison, Jeff Ayeroff, John Carter Cash, Mike Campbell, Steve Cropper, Richard Dodd, Jim Keltner, David Malloy along with Wesley, Alex and Roy Orbison Jr, plus archival studio footage of Roy Orbison, as lensed, literally, in Mike Campbell's garage where much of Mystery Girl was recorded, makes this one of the most authentic and compelling music documentaries of our time.  Billy Burnette and David Malloy will participate in the discussion following the Nashville screening and it is expected that other notables who are seen in the film will also be on hand at the Grammy Museum program.  
The Nashville and Los Angeles screenings are open to the public; ticket information:  Monday, 5/19 - Belcourt Theatre, Nashville  
Tuesday, 5/20 - Grammy Museum, Los Angeles 
Through a promotion sponsored by the Nashville Scene, Orbison fans will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win two tickets to the Nashville screening of Mystery Girl: Unraveled. Grand prizewinner will receive a flight for two, hotel accommodations, a dinner, plus two tickets to attend the Belcourt Theatre screening on May 19. Fans will get the chance to enter the contest via Roy Orbison page on Facebook. Additional prizes including CDs and merchandise from the Roy Orbison store will be awarded runners-up.
Roy Orbison would have been 78 years old last Wednesday, April 23, had he not died tragically at the age of 52, a few months before the 1989 release of Mystery Girl at a time when his late career comeback was in full flower. Mystery Girl capped that remarkable comeback that had begun just a few years earlier with the use of the song "In Dreams" in Blue Velvet, the David Lynch-directed surrealist mystery thriller.  In 1988, Roy Orbison joined with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne to form The Traveling Wilburys, underscoring his role as one of rock's keystone musical personalities and, arguably, its greatest vocalist.  As seen in Mystery Girl: Unraveled, Petty, Harrison and Lynne all played activist roles in the creation of the Mystery Girl album.   
Mystery Girl: Unraveled concludes with new documentary footage illuminating the creation “The Way Is Love” produced by John Carter Cash and engineered by Chuck Turner. Roy Orbison's "The Way Is Love" vocal was sourced from a newly discovered work tape recorded at the time of the Mystery Girl sessions.  That vocal was taken to Johnny Cash's Cabin studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee in 2013. Realizing a life-long dream to record with their father, Wesley and Roy Jr. played guitars on the song with Alex handling the drums and all three sons bringing background vocals to the mix. "Cutting a track with my brothers was more incredible than I can describe," said Alex. "I have been looking forward to this for my entire life." Roy Jr. noted that, "More or less the reason Alex and Wesley and I are musicians was to play in Dad's band when we got older" and Wesley summed it up nicely, "I think we really got something special."
Other voices heard (and seen) in Mystery Girl: Unraveled:  
Jeff Lynne: "When he sang it, it was absolutely magnificent. His voice, I had never heard a voice like that live, you know, in the studio, ever.... He had this wonderful spirit, almost like a kid in many ways. I love him.... One of the proudest things I've ever done is to have become his friend. I'd look at him and just go, 'Wow, it's him. The Big O.'"
Tom Petty: "I was just taken by how amazing this guy was.  Just sitting, singing softly, sitting on the sofa with an acoustic guitar, his voice was unbelievable. The music will live on, you know; it's very timeless music."
Bono:  "He was a real innovator, truly a great singer. The real rebels to me always had manners. Elvis, you know, and Roy, Roy was a true gentleman. And that's a scary thing in a man, do you know what I mean? A man that's so sure in himself that he can be polite."
Mike Campbell:  "Any time I hear one of Roy's songs, wherever I am, I just stop and listen to it and he's there, you know. His artistry and his voice and his spirit and the depth of his soul is so unique and it just connects with you in such a deep way....  He just had a way of getting into your heart."
Steve Cropper confided that, "I've only met basically three, maybe three-and-a-half, of what I call 'light bulbs' in my life. And what I mean by 'light bulbs' is they're the brightest one in the room and when they walk in the door every head turns. Every head. Not just a few, not some people still talking in the corner. It's like everyone stops what they are doing. Elvis Presley, Otis Redding and Roy Orbison. And I saw that happen to Bill Clinton. So, there you go and I've never seen that happen to anybody else, ever."
The Mystery Girl - Deluxe CD/DVD Edition may be pre-ordered at Amazon 
Mystery Girl - Deluxe CD/DVD brings together the album's original 10 songs in addition to premiering nine previously unreleased studio and work-tape demos and includes Mystery Girl: Unraveled as a bonus DVD.
Here is a link to a trailer for the new documentary: 

>>>Paul owns the coolest ice cream shop on The Jersey Shore  (kk)
Hey Kent -
I saw the website.   Looks like a ... pardon the pun ... 'cool' place. I will check it out the next time I am in North Wildwood.
Sandy
Year after year voted as Wildwood's best, Cool Scoops is THE cool place to go for ice cream and a trip down memory lane.
Frannie and I went a few years back and had a ball.  Here are a couple of shots from way back when ... as well as a link to the Cool Scoops website:
Hey Kent,  
The Dave Clark Five's movie, "Having a Wild Weekend", has been mentioned several times lately in FH. I thought it might be fun to talk about your readers' favorite movies, that feature single artists or bands. Are any of those made today? I don't think so. "Mama Mia" featured the music of ABBA, but wouldn't you rather see bands like that, doing their own songs on film? I know I would. It was always fun to anticipate when a group would show up on film, from the big band days of Glen Miller and Benny Goodman, to The Beatles'"Hard Day's Night", and all those beach movies! One of those, that comes to mind is "Pajama Party". It showcased a band called The Nooney Rickett 4. The group later appeared on "Shindig", but I don't know what happened to it after that, or if it made any records.   Several years later, I saw "Woodstock" in a three-projector, Cinerama theater. The huge screen made me feel like I was sitting right in the middle of the rain-soaked crowd! - John LaPuzza
We've got a brand new topic launching here soon ... but I'm sure we'll get some response to this, too.  (A much shorter list to draw from, I think, as there just haven't been that many good ones!)  As for capturing the real ABBA on film, check out "ABBA: The Movie" ... like I said, not that many good ones!  (kk)

And, speaking of The Dave Clark Five ...

re:  The Dave Clark Five:
I've been fortunate enough to interview both Dave Clark AND Mike Smith.  Dave Clark was in Toronto in the early 1990's when he was on a promo tour when the DC5 CDs were first released through his deal with Hollywood Records (aka Disney).  He was pretty open, although he did take a lot of credit for the DC5's success (and to a certain point, he was right).  He was a smart businessman, paying the other guys in the band only a salary as well as owning the master tapes and licensing them to the various record companies.  In the U.S., the DC5 were on Epic, here in Canada, they were on Capitol.
I did think (and I told Dave in the interview) that he waited too long to make a deal for the CD releases, but he didn't seem to think so.
Back in 1983 or '84 (I'd have to check the date on the tape) I had a wonderful time with Mike Smith, spending nearly half a day with him in London.  He was a great guy, very friendly.  At the time, Mike had a successful jingle writing / producing / singing career going for all the biggest clients - McDonalds, etc.  We had a lengthy lunch (he paid, although I offered, he insisted) at an outdoor restaurant near his agents' office, then spent an amazing hour and a half on tape with Mike telling great story after great story. 
I had always wanted to ask someone in the DC5 why the stomping at the beginning of "Bits and Pieces" sounded kind of 'off' in certain spots.  Mike told me that between the time they finished the vocals but before the stomping began (on a wooden board by the way), they'd been to the nearby pub for a 'pint or two or three' and the boys were, in Mike's word, "legless". 
He also told me about their first time in America and they performed in Washington DC.  After the gig, girls surrounded them for autographs and Mike was pinned against a plate glass door.  He said he started to hear the door crack and thought he was going to be pushed through it and cut to pieces ("Bits and Pieces"), so he made the fans move back.
Regarding the "Having A Wild Weekend" interview LP, Mike told me that one of the DC5, I think it was Rick Huxley, wasn't actually there for the interview so someone else had to pretend to be him using a slightly different voice than their own.  I've had that LP in my archives since it first came out.  I was at CHUM at the time and the production guy dubbed it onto tape and was going to throw the LP away.  I asked if I could have it and he said 'here ya go'.  Right place.  Right time. 
I'll have to dig out that Mike Smith interview from my archives and listen to the whole thing again.  Fun times.
Doug Thompson (Toronto)

re:  Last Chance:
Today is your last chance to enter to win a pair of free tickets to see Micky Dolenz live in concert (with The Cowsills) THIS FRIDAY NIGHT at The Arcada Theatre.  We'll be picking our five winners tomorrow ... so if you're able to go, please email me today so that you don't miss your opportunity to see this great show.  (A limited number of tickets are still available through the oshows.com website for any last-minute revelers!!!)  kk
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Fred Nightingale

April 30, 2014, 4:07 am
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>>> SUGARAND SPICE has already celebrated its 50th anniversary, but DOWNTOWN is the special one.   (Tony Hatch)  
Congrats to FRED NIGHTINGALE on your 50th anniversary of Sugar & Spice from a guy who has loved the Cryan Shames' version so much, but also calls his "Searchers' Greatest Hits" CD the best CD top to bottom in songs that he owns!  Here's a tune you might find similar, but probably no credit went to you.  Maybe it went to your alter-ego Tony Hatch??  This was a local ad in Omaha on KOIL radio in 1967!  Thanks for all the GREAT music over the years.  I have SOOO many Pet Clark songs in my MP3 player in my car and they always bring a smile!!    
Clark Besch,   
Lincoln, Nebraska 






Several years ago (2007 maybe???) we asked Tony Hatch to fill us in on the story behind "Sugar And Spice", a song he wrote for The Searchers under the pseudonym "Fred Nightingale". 

Here is what he told us:    

Hello Kent,
Here's the full story regarding SUGAR AND SPICE:
SWEETS FOR MY SWEET had been a big hit for THE SEARCHERS but I was having difficulty getting them into the studio again because of the work generated for them by the hit. A familiar story. Their manager could only see the instant money and the boys needed it. They didn't write songs and although they had some other American R&B songs in their repertoire I was reluctant to release another cover. Whilst waiting for them to confirm a recording date I wrote SUGAR AND SPICE as a reserve title although I did think it would make a good follow-up to 'SWEETS' if only they would record it. The session was finally arranged and I fully expected them to arrive with at least a couple of good ideas. They had nothing so I played them SUGAR AND SPICE and, fearing they might not like it or be influenced against it because I, their producer, had written it, I told them it was a song I'd picked up from a young UK writer called FRED NIGHTINGALE. I was thinking, 'Well, if they say it's crap, it's not my song.' Happily, and somewhat to my surprise, they liked it immediately and set about arranging and rehearsing it. This was fortunate for me because we were in an expensive recording studio and not a cheap rehearsal room. By then I couldn't risk telling them the truth and kept saying inane things like, 'I wish Fred had been here.' It was recorded 'live'. It felt good. The record company (PYE) thought it was the perfect follow-up to SWEETS and the rest, as they say, is history.
THE SEARCHERS have said for many years that they always knew it was my song but preferred to let me play my game. It isn't true that I had a proven track record in 1963 but it was building. I'd had a US & UK hit with LOOK FOR A STAR in 1959, some more near misses, a couple of hits with comedian BENNY HILL plus Bobby Rydell's FORGET HIM in early 1963 but that was about it. DOWNTOWN and the real hits started late in 1964.
I haven't heard the CRYAN' SHAMES record for years so can't really remember it but would have been very pleased to have them cover it.
Best wishes.
TONY HATCH 






By the way, after this piece originally ran, I sent a copy of THE CRYAN' SHAMES' version so that TONY could hear it again, figuring that, at the VERY least, it deserves a listen every thirty years or so!!! LOL After listening to it again after all this time, here is what TONY HATCH had to say:
 
Thanks, Kent.
Pretty good for a 43-year-old record but the lyrics are the most basic (or do I mean banal?) ever written. I think that resolves the issue of the songwriting credit. I wrote the tune. Fred wrote the lyrics.
Regards,
TONY
LOL!!! TOO funny!!! 

He also told us the story behind "Downtown" ...
 
Dear Kent, 
I don't know how DOWNTOWN relates to FORGOTTEN HITS but that's an editorial matter. The song has just been a huge hit all over again in the UK. Sung by EMMA BUNTON (former SPICE GIRL, BABY SPICE), her record reached #2 or #3 in early December depending on which chart you trust. Here is the story of how DOWNTOWN was written and presented to Petula Clark (PC) ... 
I had assumed A&R responsibility for PC in 1963 under the Executive stewardship of Alan Freeman who had been her recording manager since the middle 50's. (In fact, Pye Records was originally formed by Pye acquiring Polygon, Alan Freeman's independent 'pop' label, and Nixa, Sir John Barbirolli's classical label.) 
I wrote songs for and produced PC in '62 and '63 without much UK success. During this time she had found a huge following in France, married Frenchman Claude Woolf and was living in Paris. I also produced her French records. One of them, YA YA TWIST, was a hit in the UK in June '62. 
By September, 1964, with only one small UK hit in '63 and none (so far) in '64, PC decided not to record anything more for the UK unless an obvious hit song turned up. 
I made my first visit to New York in October, 1964, with the primary intention of visiting US writers and publishers in search of that 'obvious hit'. On my first night I walked alone (and somewhat a stranger) down Broadway from Central Park to Times Square. Naively, I thought Times Square was 'downtown' and as I absorbed the atmosphere of lights, noise, crowds of people and the general buzz I mumbled the first line of what was to become a classic song: "When you're alone and life is making you lonely you can always go ... DOWNTOWN".  
After three days visiting major and minor publishers I returned to London with a briefcase full of leadsheets and demos. (DOWNTOWN was still only an idea.)  
A few days later I was in Pye's No 1 studio following a recording session whilst waiting for my balance engineer to repatch the desk for a mix-down. (In those days one had to do that.) With time to spare I 'doodled' on the piano and thought about DOWNTOWN. In a few moments I had written the tune and knew roughly what I needed to say in the words.   
A week later I visited PC at her home in Paris to plan further recording sessions in London where she always preferred to record. There would be something in French, of course and, as her popularity grew around Europe, perhaps a track in Italian or German. Hoping for something for the UK market I also took several songs acquired on my New York visit. 
It was obvious she didn't think much of them and asked me if I was working on anything new myself. Well ... I only had DOWNTOWN and I was quite reluctant to play a melody with only a title and no lyric. In truth, I hadn't even thought of her singing it even when finished as it then seemed such an 'American' idea needing a USA artiste.  
Her reaction was instant. "With a good lyric that could be marvellous", she said. We agreed not to copy anyone else or follow any trends. We would try to do something totally original. 
The session was fixed, the lyric written, the song arranged and recorded and we all knew we had something quite special. Pye Records wasn't so sure but when Joe Smith, visiting London from Warner Records, signed it up for a US release on first hearing, the team at Pye knew they had to give it massive promotion.  
Petula said, "I hope it's a hit, of course, but, if it isn't, I'll always be immensely proud of this record". 
The rest, as they say, is history. There was never a demo and I can't even find a scrap of paper from 1964 with notes either musical or lyrical.  

He later elaborated:   

"Downtown" was certainly recorded totally 'live' - everyone in the studio together and there weren't 'millions of takes' or scads of out-takes and versions. When recording vocals with orchestras, my system was always the same. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse ... then record. Nothing is more demoralizing to a studio full of great musicians than to hear words like "OK. TAKE 47!" 
I would first run the chart once or twice to check notes, get the 'feel' right (tempo is critical) and make any changes necessary. Then we would isolate sections of the orchestra and sections of the chart and play them through whilst tweaking mike positions, etc. Then we'd run the whole thing again. When I thought everything was ready, we would put the red light on and go for it. "Downtown" would have been made in a maximum of three takes. The first one we'd play back. We'd do a second take ... then I would ask for just one more for luck. Take 2 (as with "Downtown") was invariably the Master. Getting the definitive take is like a mass orgasm. Everyone involved in the process, from the artiste to the musicians to the balance engineer (no automation in those days) must 'climax' together. I'm not saying thatPetula never came back to the studio to re-do something or never stayed after the session to double-track a chorus or fix some lines she felt she could improve on but it would be very rare because she absolutely loves working with musos in the studio and it inspires her.  TONY HATCH



I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Tony Hatch for drinks at The Palmer House Hotel downtown a couple of years ago.  We spent a couple of very enjoyable hours sitting at the bar, talking music and the excitement of these times.  (He was in town doing some benefit work for The Variety Club, a children's charity he has been involved with for over thirty years.)  Give me a call next time you're in town, Tony ... the first round is on me!

He later confided in me that "Downtown", in fact, was based and inspired by the recored Drifters' Hit "On Broadway".

Listen to it again in that context and see if you pick up on what he's referring to ...



The Tony Hatch Hit List:
Much like Dionne Warwick and the music of Hal David and Burt Bacharach in the 1960's, Petula Clark became "the voice" of many of Tony Hatch's early hits.  In all, Petula charted a dozen times here in The States with material provided to her by Tony Hatch.  Even a couple of other hits by other artists ("Call Me" by Chris Montez ... "You're The One" by The Vogues) first saw life as an album cut on a Petula Clark LP.

The catalog of work is nothing short of extraordinary ... Tony was DEFINITELY "in the zone" during this era.

Top 40 Hits include:

PETULA CLARK:  Downtown, I Know A Place, My Love, I Couldn't Live Without Your Love, Colour My World, A Sign Of The Times, Round Every Corner, Don't Sleep In The Subway, Who Am I, You'd Better Come Home, Don't Give Up, The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener, American Boys

CHRIS MONTEZ:  Call Me

THE VOGUES:  You're The One 

THE SEARCHERS:  Sugar and Spice

BOBBY RYDELL:  Forget Him

GARRY MILLS / GARY MILES - Look For A Star

View the complete list here: Click here: ::.. Welcome to the OFFICIAL Tony Hatch Website ..::
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May Day!

May 1, 2014, 4:00 am
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We'll still be doing our weekly Saturday Surveys feature this weekend ...

In fact, it's by far the BIGGEST issue yet of this popular new Forgotten Hits mainstay ...

But today, in honor of the WLS Silver Dollar Survey issued on May 1st, 1964, we're running this additional BONUS Chart.

Celebrating their 4TH YEAR as a Top 40 Radio Station, WLS took a look back this week in '64, presenting not only the week's biggest Top 20 Hits ... but also the biggest hits that helped to build the station into The Big 89 / The Rock of Chicago / and Chicagoland's Premier Hit Radio Station.



Actually, WLS would continue to honor this anniversary in 1965 ... this time with a Solid Gold Survey where, as you can see, The British Invasion was still going strong ...

Top Ten Hits include the latest from Herman's Hermits, The Kinks, a two-sided hit by The Beatles, Petula Clark, The Rolling Stones, Freddie and the Dreamers, the mis-spelled Gerry and the Pacemakers and the oft-lumped-into The British Invasion group The Seekers.

In fact, the British domination continues through the next several positions, too, with Herman's Hermits also holding down the #11 spot, The Moody Blues at #12 and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders at #13.  That gives British Artists 11 of the Top 13 spots on the chart!!!

The new 20 Best Selling #1 Records List has a lot of repeats ... but some new entries, too, including "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison ... this record hadn't come out yet when the 1964 chart was made ... which was also the case for "Eight Days A Week" by The Beatles, "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes, "Love Me Do" by The Beatles, "This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys, "Rag Doll" by The Four Seasons and "A Hard Day's Night", yet ANOTHER hit by The Beatles), giving The Fab Four 6 of The Top 20 Positions on this chart, too!!!



The station deviated from the program a little bit a year later ... pushing the special survey back till the first week of June ... and this time honoring some of rock's biggest hits from BEFORE they switched over to Top 40 Rock themselves ... spotlighting the biggest hits from 1956 - 1965 ...


... but still sticking with the Solid Gold format.  Now it's Chubby Checker who is represented twice ... with only one hit listed for each year, The Beatles are reduced down to only "I Want To Hold Your Hand" as their contribution to the biggest Rock And Roll Hits of the Past Ten Years!

And finally, they'd travel down this road one last time ... now back to an April anniversary date in 1967 ... and THIS time spotlighting the Biggest Hits of the '60's!  (Funny how each chart somehow portrays a slightly different aspect of the best of the best ... yet it showed that even after only four years on the air with their new Top 40 format, the station was VERY proud of their already established rich radio heritage.  That's what makes it SUCH a great shame that they no longer seem to feel this way today.  WLS was a radio GIANT ... heard in 48 states before the word "streaming" had even been invented!!!


It was great to see them going their own way, too, by promoting local hits by The Buckinghams (#1), The Cryan' Shames (#12), The New Colony Six (#13), The Messengers (as in Michael and the Messengers, from Wisconsin at #14 ... and a recent topic of discussion here in Forgotten Hits) and The Riddles (#23).  All these local hits ranked and played right along side some of the biggest artists of the era:  The Monkees, The Turtles, The Dave Clark Five, The Hollies, The Supremes, Neil Diamond, Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Four Tops, The Four Seasons and Jefferson Airplane ... and nobody ever even gave it a second thought!  THAT's what WE remember about Top 40 Radio in the '60's!  Everything fit ... and we loved it!  (kk)
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50 Years Ago This Weekend

May 2, 2014, 4:00 am
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On The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart dated 5/2/64 CAN'T BUY ME LOVE completes its run at #1 this week (that makes FIVE if you're counting!) while the rest of the Top Ten is rounded out by DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET (#3), BITS AND PIECES (#4) and TWIST AND SHOUT (#7) … not quite the stranglehold of the past few weeks but still FOUR British Hits out of Ten.
GLAD ALL OVER dropped to #13, NEEDLES AND PINS to #24 … while LOVE ME DO leaped from #67 to #32 (!) and LITTLE CHILDREN climbed from #61 to #35.  SHE LOVES YOU (#36), STAY AWHILE (#39) and THANK YOU GIRL (#40) rounded out the British tunes in The Top 40 this week.
THE DAVE CLARK FIVE had the highest debut of the week with their remake of the recent Motown Hit DO YOU LOVE ME (#53).  DIANE (#57), ALL MY LOVING (#59), I KNEW IT ALL THE TIME (another DC5 Hit at #74), SUGAR AND SPICE by THE SEARCHERS (#96) and the very first U.S. chart hit for THE ROLLING STONES (NOT FADE AWAY, premiering at #98) rounds out the list of British Hits this week.
WLS published an abbreviated chart for the week of May 1st … the weekly chart was cut to just 20 positions (of which "Bits And Pieces" held the #5 spot, "Love Me Do", now coupled with "P.S. I Love You", was #7, "Can't Buy Me Love" / "You Can't Do That" at #10, "Thank You Girl" / "Do You Want To Know A Secret" at #14 and "Yesterday's Gone" sat at #16.)  5 out of 20 ... that's 25%.
The rest of the chart listed "THE 20 BEST SILVER DOLLAR RECORDS OF OUR FIRST FOUR YEARS"… and guess who held the Top Three positions on THIS chart!!!  Why The Beatles, of course, with "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You" and "Twist And Shout" at #'s 1, 2 and 3 respectively.  The rest of the chart saluted other previous #1 Records from the WLS Silver Dollar Survey, dating back to its inception in October of 1960 (although only one record from 1960 made the final tally … "Exodus" by Ferrante and Teicher came in at #11.  You can see the rest of the chart below.  (My guess is the May 1st date was selected to best represent when the radio station first switched over to its Top 40 format … although that actually happened in APRIL of 1960.  As we saw yesterday, they continued the anniversary tradition for a couple more years before dropping it completely.)
 

On Sunday, May 3rd, (1964) Gerry and the Pacemakers appeared on The Ed Sullivan and performed "Don'tLet The Sun Catch You Cryin'" and "I'm The One".  They'd return again a week later ... probably part of a deal negotiated by manager Brian Epstein!



Also Announced This Week ... in 2014!!!
The Beatles First Movie, "A Hard Day's Night" is being
re-released in theaters this summer in honor of the film's 50th Anniversary.  
Look for a crystal clear picture and greatly enhanced sound thanks to Giles Martin, son of long-time Beatles Producer George Martin.  (Unfortunately this won't be the "colorized" version that we campaigned for earlier ... but it'll still be cool to see this back up on the big screen again ... especially with all these digital improvements.)  The celebration will take place over the 4th of July Weekend in over fifty cities from coast to coast.  Be sure to check your local listings to find a theater near you!

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The Saturday Surveys (May 3rd)

May 3, 2014, 5:00 am
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It's our biggest Saturday Surveys Feature Yet!!!

Four charts from 1967 to kick off this week's edition of The Saturday Surveys ... featuring our first May Charts.

First up ... CKLW.

Describing itself as playing The Hit Parade "For The Motor City", the station actually broadcast out of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.  With their 50,000 watt signal, they were a favorite amongst teens growing up on BOTH sides of the border.

Chicago's very own Buckinghams top the chart this week in '67 with "Don't You Care", a record that never made it that far nationally but DID hit #1 in several major markets, including here in Chicago (where "Kind Of A Drag" failed to do so!)


Another Forgotten Hit favorite of mine sits at #14.  It's the Jerry Jaye remake version of "My Girl Josephine" ("Hello, Josephine"), the old Fats Domino tune.


Neat to see this Canadian station giving away a day in Hollywood with Davy (Davey?!?!) Jones.  The Monkees were at their peak at this time ... but you won't find them on this chart. 

KACY out of California showed a considerably different ranking ...

Here we find our FH Buddy Davie Allan and the Arrows topping the charts with his '67 Instrumental Smash "Blues' Theme" ... and The Buckinghams are nowhere to be found!



Instead we get more of the pre-Summer of Love California sounds like "My Back Pages" by The Byrds, "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" by The Seeds, "Somebody To Love" by The Jefferson Airplane, "Sunshine Girl" by The Parade and "Creeque Alley" by the transplanted Mamas and Papas.

(You'll also find "Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead" by our FH Buddies The Fifth Estate, listed this week as a KACY Kontender!)






The Dave Clark Five only managed a #22 showing this week on the Detroit chart ... but were locked in at the #1 spot on The Jet Set Sound Survey coming out of WDOT (in Burlington, Vermont!) this week in '67.  



The Buckinghams are still right at the top of the charts (#2) with "Don't You Care" ... and on THIS chart The Monkees have TWO Top Ten Hits ... including the single "Valarie" / "She Hangs Out" (which didn't actually exist!!!) and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You".  (Back in the really fun days of competitive AM Radio, the really hip stations would pull out every trick in the book to stay one step ahead of the competition.  As such, WDOT was most likely playing "Valleri" right from The Monkees' TV Soundtrack [as were a number of stations across the country, like Chicago's own WCFL] and "She Hangs Out", which was the B-Side for a short while of their Canadian only single ... often described as more of an R&B arrangement of this great pop tune that wouldn't "officially" surface for six more months on The Monkees'"Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd." LP.)



Look closely and you'll find lots of great 1967 Hits on this chart including the latest sounds from hip, popular artists like The Tremeloes, The Young Rascals, The Buffalo Springfield, The Electric Prunes, The Yardbirds, The Turtles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Tommy James and the Shondells, Herman's Hermits, Simon and Garfunkel, The Mamas and the Papas and ... Perry Como (?!?!?)  Huh?!?!?



And finally, KYNO, another "Boss Radio" station (from down the road a piece ... in Fresno, California), shows The Young Rascals on top with their hit "I've Been Lonely Too Long", a bit ironic in that all of the OTHER charts featured from this week in 1967 show their current hit as "Groovin'"!!! 



"Don't You Care" is listed as a "moving up" premier ... as is "A Day In The Life Of" (Of?!?!?) by The Beatles, a full month BEFORE "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" would be released!   

You'll still find many of the hot California sounds listed above on our other West Coast Chart ... only this time they're joined by the hits "Yellow Balloon" by Yellow Balloon and "Live" by The Merry-Go-Round.



A glance at these four charts ... all from the exact same week in 1967 ... will show you why the national charts RARELY reflected what you were hearing in your home town ... which is why so many of us remember things differently, growing up listening to the radio in the '60's.



We venture back to Chicago for this survey from May, 1972, where Sonny and Cher top the chart with their unlikely hit "A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done".  



"Run Run Run" by Jo Jo Gunne, "Suavecito" by Malo and "Mister Can't You See" by Buffy Sainte-Marie were all much bigger hits here in Chicago than they were nationally.  ("Suavecito" would top this same WCFL chart a few weeks later ... and "Run Run Run" would ultimately peak at #2.)  

Just outside The Top Ten you'll find "Simple Song Of Freedom" by Buckwheat, a #84 Billboard charter and "Vahevella", an early hit for Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina at #13 (which is how the label showed the spelling of this song on their earliest pressings.)





The 'CFL chart was always fun to look at for their "themed" Top Tens ... notice this week (for "May Day" Gold) they're featuring songs and artists built around a theme of flowers.


Here's something you don't see everyday ... "Gloria" topping the charts ... by THEM!!!



Sure, The Shadows Of Knight hit the top spot on quite a few charts in '66 ... but here in the Santa Barbara / Ventura area of California, it was Them scoring the #1 Hit ... and a full year earlier!  (Despite TWO separate releases ... first as Them's first US single in 1965 ... and the again trying to cash-in on the success of The Shadows Of Knight's remake version ... Them's version of "Gloria" never climbed any higher than #71 in Billboard Magazine ... making this #1 showing in California all that much more surprising.)

At #2 were Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs with what KACY called "The Wooly Bully" (guess they figured it was some type of new dance craze!) and right behind them were Sonny and Cher with the LONG forgotten "Just You".  (We just saw them top the Chicago chart on this date in '72!)

Herman's Hermits have back-to-back hits with "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter" and "Silhouettes" at numbers 5 and 6 respectively, just ahead of The Beatles with their latest, "Ticket To Ride".

And how about the "Hillbilly Hit""Engine Engine #9" by Roger Miller!  (That probably wouldn't fly as "politically correct" in 2014!!!)





And finally, three more charts from this date featuring The Beatles at #1 ...

First, from Los Angeles (on KFW-Beatle Radio), where The Fab Four are holding down the Top Four Spots on the countdown with "Love Me Do", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Do You Wanna Know A Secret?" and "Twist And Shout".  (They've also got two of The Top Four Albums this week!)

Jump ahead four years to 1968 and you'll find "Lady Madonna" sitting on top of this San Luis Obispo KSLY Chart (shown as by The Beatles ... who?)

Sitting at #2 is the remake of The Zombies' track "I Love You", done by People.  We've talked before in Forgotten Hits about how the radio hit version of this song was NOT the one you could actually buy in stores.  Instead you got a completely different take ... twice as long with TOTALLY different vocal arrangements.  The reason this song also made it to #2 here in Chicago is ... I'm sure ... was because of that totally unique radio mix that we heard at the time ... it is INFINITELY superior to the hit single version ... and I can't believe it sits unreleased on CD for all this time.  (Somebody needs to get on this stat ... Dick Bartley ... are you listening?!?!?)



It's also kind of cool to see Fever Tree in the Top Ten.
But I especially like the deejays' pick hits of the week ... and the commentary that follows.

Stanley R. Sogg picks "Lazy Sunday" by The Small Faces ... WAY before anybody knew who these guys were.  

Frank Potter likes "Bring A Little Lovin'" by Los Bravos, their follow-up hit to "Black Is Black" ... while Your Man Flint has selected a B.B. King track, "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss."

Fenwick Rabbit (who?) likes "The Room" by Candy; Bobby Greene likes "My Shy Violet" by The Mills Brothers (really?) and Gregarious Greg Nelson gives the nod to "Peggy Sue" by Buddy Holley(sic) What?!?!?



And proving yet again that it didn't really matter WHAT year it was, here are The Beatles, topping the charts again in 1969 with their two-sided hit "Get Back" / "Don't Let Me Down".

Leaping from #12 to #1, they replace fellow Apple Recording artist Mary Hopkin's hit "Goodbye" (a Paul McCartney tune) ... wonder how many people out there remember THAT one!



Other HUGE leaps up the chart this week include Henry Mancini's "Love Theme from 'Romeo And Juliet'", jumping from #30 to #2 and "Oh Happy Day" by The Edwin Hawkins Singers, who leaps from #29 to #3!

Tommy Roe's in The Top Ten with "Heather Honey".  So is Andy Williams with the mis-spelled "Happy Heart", sitting at #8.  And check out the action on the brand new Three Dog Night hit "One", climbing from #45 to #9 in just one week!

Bob Seger had a local hit here ... (this was Michigan after all!) ... "Ivory" was #3 the week before ... (but has since fallen to #13) and The Monkees debut at #50 with a two-sided hit "Listen To The Band" (shown here as "Bank"!!!) / "Someday Man".  (Who the heck proofread these charts back in the '60's anyway?!?!?)

I also like this weeks "Hit Bound" song, "I Can't Quit Her" by The Arbors, applying the same treatment they used far more successfully on "The Letter" a few months earlier to this vintage Al Kooper / Blood, Sweat And Tears tune.



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