In fact, we'll even give you a dozen chances to do so!
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Please Enjoy Today's Edition of Forgotten Hits ... With No Strings Attached
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Helping Out Our Readers
We haven't done one of these in awhile!
Here are some of the questions that have come up recently in Forgotten Hits ...
I remember the old radio ads for rock n roll shows in Charlotte. I often went to the Coliseum or Park Center. Can anyone post any of these radio ads? Not necessarily from Charlotte, anywhere else is good, too. They were well produced spots with snippets of songs. This type of show was common in the 50's to the mid 60's.
Check out this Summer of Stars poster from Chicago, circa 1966! And look at some of these prices! Incredibly Tony Bennett and Bill Cosby had a higher top line ticket price than The Beatles! And Andy Williams topped them both!![]()
It was Dick Clark who told them that "the bop" was on its way out ... "kids today are going to the hop" ... so Madara and songwriting partner David White (who was a member of Danny and the Juniors) reworked their lyrics to reflect the latest trend ... "let's go to the hop" ... and boom! Straight up to #1.
When they went to publish their song, publisher Artie Singer put HIS name on the copyright, claiming to be both the cowriter and producer of the hit record. Madara and White were told, quite simply, that this is how it was done ... and that if they ever wanted to work in Philadelphia again, they needed to get with the program. (Welcome to show business, guys!)
You can read our full accounting here: Click here: Forgotten Hits - John Madara's Greatest Hits
Hi,
Hi Kent,
Here it is for all the curious out there!
For a few days here in OKC, they have been running an Arby's roast beef commercial spotlighting an Hawaiian BLT. You probably have seen it on your television. In the background is an instrumental which I am somewhat familiar with, but can't quite name. Have you seen the commercial and do you happen to know what instrumental they are playing in the background ... or perhaps this is something new?
Looking for a song by the Seventh Sons back from the mid 60's (maybe "I Live In Fantasy" or "Baby, Please Come Back")
Before the group Salt and Peppa of the 90's, there was another group called Salt and Pepper. I don't think they were well known but they did have an instrumental soul song called Salt and Pepper. When I was in high school it was used for one of the dance pieces in our music program and I have never forgotten it. I have tried to find it but every time I do research, I keep on coming up with the updated group. Is it possible for you to find out any information about this group that performed around 1973-75?
Hi ~
I have spent the last hour or so looking for a song that was an instrumental from the 1960's ... and I cannot locate it anywhere. The name of it is "More".I saw your list that you shared of songs from 1959 - 1970's, but it's not there. I was sure it was a hit. Maybe with your field of expertise, you can assist me?Thanks for your feedback,
Mary Anne Haskins
This was an easy one, Mary Anne ... (FINALLY!!!) ...
Kai Winding scored a #7 hit with his 1963 version of "More", originally from the motion picture "Mondo Cane". Honestly, I was surprised not to see it on either of our Top 50 Instrumentals lists either ... because it was a HUGE favorite. We'll right that wrong by featuring it today! (kk)
Here are some of the questions that have come up recently in Forgotten Hits ...
I remember the old radio ads for rock n roll shows in Charlotte. I often went to the Coliseum or Park Center. Can anyone post any of these radio ads? Not necessarily from Charlotte, anywhere else is good, too. They were well produced spots with snippets of songs. This type of show was common in the 50's to the mid 60's.
Any help from your readers would be appreciated.
Charlie Miller,
KPOO FM Autumn King Show
Charlie Miller,
KPOO FM Autumn King Show
Check out this Summer of Stars poster from Chicago, circa 1966! And look at some of these prices! Incredibly Tony Bennett and Bill Cosby had a higher top line ticket price than The Beatles! And Andy Williams topped them both!
(Anybody know the inflation rate for 1966? Seeing headliners like these for about five bucks still blows my mind!) kk
OMG - I just found a calculator rate online ... $6.50 in U.S. Dollars in 1966 only comes out to be $48.00 in today's money. (How can that be??? Wouldn'tcha think it'd be at least 10-20 times more?) But even so, doing the math, you can't find a $65 ticket to see Paul McCartney these days ... much less all four Beatles! And back in '66 you had a ticket price range of $3.75 - $5.75. (kk)
Hello Kent,
I just read your piece on Do The Bop / At The Hop.
I've been doing a little research of my own regarding this song and I have heard a very interesting story that may or may not interest you.
If you are familiar with West Philly High and several doo-wop groups that came from there, I know of one little known group called "The Gems" that Danny Rapp was closely associated with along with a man name Harvey Reed. This story also eludes to the fact that "Do the Bop" may have been a project of "The Gems" before it was reassigned to Danny and the Juniors.
This story also alleges that Danny also knew Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble back in West Philly High, along with a Ronald Sellicks.
Would you happen to know the real truth about this song? And was it stolen from a group because the promoter at that time wanted an all white group and not the mixed race group called "The Gems"? I'm just trying to get the story straight because I know songs were stolen back then and I am certain despite the reasons the true song writer did not pursue legal action is because the song wasn't copywritten until way after it became a hit.
If some one has this evidence what would you do with it? Sincerely
Vanessa
I put your inquiry to John Madara, one of the cowriters of the #1 Hit "At The Hop" but never heard anything back regarding these specific circumstances. He has told his story numerous times over the years, including right here in Forgotten Hits in a series we ran several years ago spotlighting some of the hit records he wrote and/or produced. (Including "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore, "1,2,3" by Len Barry and others.)
I asked him if the song had been pedaled around prior to Danny and the Juniors recording it ... not at all an uncommon practice back in the day of placing the right song with the right artist. (Actually we even ran an early demo of "Do The Bop" on the site way back when ... and are running it again today for the benefit of those who may have missed it.)
Hello Kent,
I just read your piece on Do The Bop / At The Hop.
I've been doing a little research of my own regarding this song and I have heard a very interesting story that may or may not interest you.
If you are familiar with West Philly High and several doo-wop groups that came from there, I know of one little known group called "The Gems" that Danny Rapp was closely associated with along with a man name Harvey Reed. This story also eludes to the fact that "Do the Bop" may have been a project of "The Gems" before it was reassigned to Danny and the Juniors.
This story also alleges that Danny also knew Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble back in West Philly High, along with a Ronald Sellicks.
Would you happen to know the real truth about this song? And was it stolen from a group because the promoter at that time wanted an all white group and not the mixed race group called "The Gems"? I'm just trying to get the story straight because I know songs were stolen back then and I am certain despite the reasons the true song writer did not pursue legal action is because the song wasn't copywritten until way after it became a hit.
If some one has this evidence what would you do with it? Sincerely
Vanessa
I put your inquiry to John Madara, one of the cowriters of the #1 Hit "At The Hop" but never heard anything back regarding these specific circumstances. He has told his story numerous times over the years, including right here in Forgotten Hits in a series we ran several years ago spotlighting some of the hit records he wrote and/or produced. (Including "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore, "1,2,3" by Len Barry and others.)
I asked him if the song had been pedaled around prior to Danny and the Juniors recording it ... not at all an uncommon practice back in the day of placing the right song with the right artist. (Actually we even ran an early demo of "Do The Bop" on the site way back when ... and are running it again today for the benefit of those who may have missed it.)
It was Dick Clark who told them that "the bop" was on its way out ... "kids today are going to the hop" ... so Madara and songwriting partner David White (who was a member of Danny and the Juniors) reworked their lyrics to reflect the latest trend ... "let's go to the hop" ... and boom! Straight up to #1.
When they went to publish their song, publisher Artie Singer put HIS name on the copyright, claiming to be both the cowriter and producer of the hit record. Madara and White were told, quite simply, that this is how it was done ... and that if they ever wanted to work in Philadelphia again, they needed to get with the program. (Welcome to show business, guys!)
You can read our full accounting here: Click here: Forgotten Hits - John Madara's Greatest Hits
Hi,
I enjoy your site and when I clicked on the link to see Honey House from the Smother Brother's show it showed that the video does not exist anymore. If you do find it please contact me, that was a funny skit.
Thank you.
Roy
It is a VERY funny skit ... but apparently those in control of the CBS / Smothers Brothers material didn't authorize it to be posted ... so it's actually been missing for a very long time. (It doesn't appear on either of the two commercially released "best of" DVD box sets either ... anybody out there have ANY idea why Season One has never seen the light of day? For some goofy reason, they released these BACKWARDS ... Season Three first, followed by Season Two ... but it's been YEARS now and Season One has never come out.) It would be nice to have them all ... and by that I mean much more COMPLETE programs than just these edited "favorites". (kk)
We've run this request several times before in Forgotten Hits / Helping Out Our Readers ... but have never been able to come up with an answer before ... till now!
We've even asked Harvey Kubernik, who is often in touch with Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, if maybe HE could help us out securing this answer so we could share it with our readers! (kk)
Ok, here is the song I'm looking for (to the best of the info I have on hand) ... I know Michelle Phillips would know exactly what this song is. If you need an actual video recording of this, I have something saved in my phone. I'd be happy to meet you to play this (or if you could record this on your i-Phone as well?) One would be hard pressed to believe that if Michelle heard this, she would not know right away what this song is and if there is an actual recording of it.
1. It was featured in the documentary Straight Shooter about the Mamas and Papas
2. It featured Denny, John and Michelle (it was a folksy type of song) from BEFORE they were the Mamas and the Papas3) I will "attempt" to put as many words from the song as I can. (I thought that maybe it was called "Rake and Ramblin' Boy" or "Cumberland City" based on the lyrics ... but the title doesn't appear in the end credits for the documentary film ... so I've been trying to find it ever since.
Here goes:
I am a rake and a ramblin boy, many a city I have been
The Cumberland City I've made my way, just to spend my money on the balls and play
Well, the Cumberland City yes, I married me a wife ... Loved her better than I did my life
She treated me kind by night and day, and she caused me to ride on this high-a-way
Well a pretty little girl, 17 years old ... hair just as yellow as the shining gold
Prettiest face and the neatest hands ... God Bless the ground on where she stands.
I'm not ashamed or afraid to die, but I hope I meet you by and by
Kent,
This song has haunted me ever since I first watched and heard it. There has to be SOMEONE who knows this song.. My fear is that Michelle might be the only one left who could know!
Please, anything you can do would be wonderful!
Thanks -
Loyal Reader of Forgotten Hits -
Bob Morrow
Kent,
Do you remember off the top of your head ...
Was there ever a 60s pop duo that lived briefly in or near the Palatine, Arlington Hts, Des Plaines area? Perhaps someone who sounded like Dick & DeeDee or Paul & Paula or someone of that vintage. I remember one of the WLS DJs talking about it back in the mid-80s and can't remember anything more specific about it. I can't even remember if they lived there during the 60s or much later.
No need to put this question on your site, just a passing curiosity.
Jon M
Off the top of my head, no ... it doesn't ring a bell ... but we've got a LOT of experts on the list who may be able to help you answer this question ... so we're running it up the flagpole in this installment of "Helping Out Our Readers". (Guy Arnston of The Illinois Entertainer and Dean Milano, who has written a book about all of our local talent, immediately come to mind as folks who may be able to help you solve your mystery.) kk
Could it have been Friend and Lover ... or Family?
Guy
I believe it was just one member of a duo. The more I think about it, it might have been Ray Hildebrand that was mentioned having lived there for a very short time, but I can't find any proof of it. I mentioned it to my boss and he challenged me to find out for sure. Since I asked you the question, I did find on an old census website that a Ray Hildebrand had lived in Palatine at one time, but it was a different guy. Perhaps it confused more than just me.
Jon M
Anybody else out there got any ideas on this one? (kk)
Hello Kent Kotal,
Thank you.
Roy
It is a VERY funny skit ... but apparently those in control of the CBS / Smothers Brothers material didn't authorize it to be posted ... so it's actually been missing for a very long time. (It doesn't appear on either of the two commercially released "best of" DVD box sets either ... anybody out there have ANY idea why Season One has never seen the light of day? For some goofy reason, they released these BACKWARDS ... Season Three first, followed by Season Two ... but it's been YEARS now and Season One has never come out.) It would be nice to have them all ... and by that I mean much more COMPLETE programs than just these edited "favorites". (kk)
We've run this request several times before in Forgotten Hits / Helping Out Our Readers ... but have never been able to come up with an answer before ... till now!
We've even asked Harvey Kubernik, who is often in touch with Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, if maybe HE could help us out securing this answer so we could share it with our readers! (kk)
Ok, here is the song I'm looking for (to the best of the info I have on hand) ... I know Michelle Phillips would know exactly what this song is. If you need an actual video recording of this, I have something saved in my phone. I'd be happy to meet you to play this (or if you could record this on your i-Phone as well?) One would be hard pressed to believe that if Michelle heard this, she would not know right away what this song is and if there is an actual recording of it.
1. It was featured in the documentary Straight Shooter about the Mamas and Papas
2. It featured Denny, John and Michelle (it was a folksy type of song) from BEFORE they were the Mamas and the Papas3) I will "attempt" to put as many words from the song as I can. (I thought that maybe it was called "Rake and Ramblin' Boy" or "Cumberland City" based on the lyrics ... but the title doesn't appear in the end credits for the documentary film ... so I've been trying to find it ever since.
Here goes:
I am a rake and a ramblin boy, many a city I have been
The Cumberland City I've made my way, just to spend my money on the balls and play
Well, the Cumberland City yes, I married me a wife ... Loved her better than I did my life
She treated me kind by night and day, and she caused me to ride on this high-a-way
Well a pretty little girl, 17 years old ... hair just as yellow as the shining gold
Prettiest face and the neatest hands ... God Bless the ground on where she stands.
I'm not ashamed or afraid to die, but I hope I meet you by and by
Kent,
This song has haunted me ever since I first watched and heard it. There has to be SOMEONE who knows this song.. My fear is that Michelle might be the only one left who could know!
Please, anything you can do would be wonderful!
Thanks -
Loyal Reader of Forgotten Hits -
Bob Morrow
Kent,
Do you remember off the top of your head ...
Was there ever a 60s pop duo that lived briefly in or near the Palatine, Arlington Hts, Des Plaines area? Perhaps someone who sounded like Dick & DeeDee or Paul & Paula or someone of that vintage. I remember one of the WLS DJs talking about it back in the mid-80s and can't remember anything more specific about it. I can't even remember if they lived there during the 60s or much later.
No need to put this question on your site, just a passing curiosity.
Jon M
Off the top of my head, no ... it doesn't ring a bell ... but we've got a LOT of experts on the list who may be able to help you answer this question ... so we're running it up the flagpole in this installment of "Helping Out Our Readers". (Guy Arnston of The Illinois Entertainer and Dean Milano, who has written a book about all of our local talent, immediately come to mind as folks who may be able to help you solve your mystery.) kk
Could it have been Friend and Lover ... or Family?
Guy
I believe it was just one member of a duo. The more I think about it, it might have been Ray Hildebrand that was mentioned having lived there for a very short time, but I can't find any proof of it. I mentioned it to my boss and he challenged me to find out for sure. Since I asked you the question, I did find on an old census website that a Ray Hildebrand had lived in Palatine at one time, but it was a different guy. Perhaps it confused more than just me.
Jon M
Anybody else out there got any ideas on this one? (kk)
Hello Kent Kotal,
I hope that this e-mail still works. My name is James Moniz.
I came across your blog and e-mail while trying to search for a way to contact anyone who used to talk to (or work with) Joe Somsky.
I am attached to a re-issue CD project and I know that shortly before Joe Somsky died he was readying a CD project that included the master tapes to some songs I need. I am desperately trying to track down the tapes and when I saw on your blog that you spoke to him sometimes, I thought you might know how to get me in contact with some of the people who worked with him on reissue projects. I do not know if Somsky had the actual tapes or if he simply just knew where the tapes were located. Perhaps someone close to him knows. If you can think of anyone, please introduce me. I am trying every avenue to solve this mystery. I sincerely appreciate any help you can give me.
-- JAMES MONIZ
Hi James!
I'm sorry but I don't recognize the name Joe Somsky at all! (If you can tell me in what context we referred to him that might help me remember something ... but off the top of my head, it's not at all familiar to me. Sorry!)
But that's not to say that someone else on the list might not still be able to help you. Let's run your inquiry here and see if we get any nibbles. (kk)
Hi Kent,
I'm trying to trace a b-side I think was called 'Walk With Me, My Sherilee'. It may have been by Tab Hunter, 1950s. Can you help?
Thanks,
Pauline
And then, before I could even publish her inquiry ...
Found out it was Tommy Steele, 1957 .. number 11 in the charts. From the film of the same name.
Pauline
A British Hit then, I take it. We may not have found this one! Thanks, Pauline! (kk)
Here it is for all the curious out there!
Hey, Kent!
I have been having a lot of fun listening to Bill Drake's excellent series "The History of Rock and Roll", both the 1978 and 1981 versions. The '78 I have been listening to is on one web site, but the other with the '81 has been taken down.
There have been a few sites on the web that have been streaming Bill Drake's legendary masterpiece, "The History of Rock and Roll" . One is http://www.alycefaye.com/radio-audio.html . The other is at http://thehistoryofrockandrollradio.com/HRRprogram1.html . Sadly those who have been at the second site have found that the latter has been taken down as of 6/17. This is because the domain license has expired.
There have been a few sites on the web that have been streaming Bill Drake's legendary masterpiece, "The History of Rock and Roll" . One is http://www.alycefaye.com/radio-audio.html . The other is at http://thehistoryofrockandrollradio.com/HRRprogram1.html . Sadly those who have been at the second site have found that the latter has been taken down as of 6/17. This is because the domain license has expired.
The first site is streaming the 1978 version of THORR. The second, the one that was taken down, streamed the '81 edition. I hope someone out there can find a site that I missed that is streaming the '81 version so I can hear it for comparison, or at least lead me to someone that has this version.
It is the granddaddy of all radio documentaries. I hope this spirit never dies.
I have been using software to record material from both versions for my iPod. But now I can't find the '81. Do you know somewhere or someplace I can find anything to hear or even obtain the ' 81? Thanks.
Joe Campas
Quite honestly, I'm not sure ANYONE out there has the necessary licensing required to broadcast either of these programs ... but in the sickly state of oldies radio today, it's no wonder fans of the "real deal" are out there searching for quality programming out. I'm happy to run your inquiry but I'm not real optimistic that anything will come back. Meanwhile, it'd be nice if one of the producers of this great series, Gary Theroux (a Forgotten Hits regular) could drum up a market to legitimately dedicate a station to airing this again ... even on some type of a time-loop that played continuously so that you could click it on whenever you wanted to in order to hear all of the chapters that make up the entire piece. Meanwhile, Gary's 2 1/2 minute spotlight pieces run daily (Monday - Friday) on Rewound Radio ... so you might be able to get a "temporary fix" there! (kk)
For a few days here in OKC, they have been running an Arby's roast beef commercial spotlighting an Hawaiian BLT. You probably have seen it on your television. In the background is an instrumental which I am somewhat familiar with, but can't quite name. Have you seen the commercial and do you happen to know what instrumental they are playing in the background ... or perhaps this is something new?
Larry
Sorry but I can't help you out with this one ... as I've never seen this commercial ... but maybe somebody else out there has. Anybody able to help Larry out with this one? (Instrumentals are the toughest to track down ... but knowing absolutely NOTHING about it, I can't help but wonder if they didn't take something like "Hawaii Tattoo" by The Waikikis or something like that if they're pushing a Hawaiian sandwich! (If not, it probably would have been a pretty clever choice! Damn, I should have gotten into marketing!) kk
Looking for a song by the Seventh Sons back from the mid 60's (maybe "I Live In Fantasy" or "Baby, Please Come Back")
Thanks!
Minx
I checked the usual sources ... can't find anything charting in Billboard ... didn't see anything on YouTube or on the Gemm website ... hoping somebody out there will be familiar with these. (kk)
I checked the usual sources ... can't find anything charting in Billboard ... didn't see anything on YouTube or on the Gemm website ... hoping somebody out there will be familiar with these. (kk)
Before the group Salt and Peppa of the 90's, there was another group called Salt and Pepper. I don't think they were well known but they did have an instrumental soul song called Salt and Pepper. When I was in high school it was used for one of the dance pieces in our music program and I have never forgotten it. I have tried to find it but every time I do research, I keep on coming up with the updated group. Is it possible for you to find out any information about this group that performed around 1973-75?
Charmin Wells
Unfortunately, I hit the same dead end with this one. I don't see anything charting for either a group called Salt And Pepper OR a song called "Salt And Pepper" so I'm afraid I can't be of much help here. (Again, nothing on YouTube or Gemm for this track either.) However, we're always amazed by what our readers come back with, especially now that you've narrowed down the field a little bit to the early '70's. Let's see what we get. (kk)
Hi ~
I have spent the last hour or so looking for a song that was an instrumental from the 1960's ... and I cannot locate it anywhere. The name of it is "More".I saw your list that you shared of songs from 1959 - 1970's, but it's not there. I was sure it was a hit. Maybe with your field of expertise, you can assist me?Thanks for your feedback,
Mary Anne Haskins
This was an easy one, Mary Anne ... (FINALLY!!!) ...
Kai Winding scored a #7 hit with his 1963 version of "More", originally from the motion picture "Mondo Cane". Honestly, I was surprised not to see it on either of our Top 50 Instrumentals lists either ... because it was a HUGE favorite. We'll right that wrong by featuring it today! (kk)
Oh my gosh!
Kent! How can I thank you for this??
This was such a favorite song of mine and do you realize I have not heard it since the 1960's?
I have to ask someone how to get this on my iPod!
I just found it on You Tube![Emoji]()
You have rekindled the most wonderful childhood memories for me.
Thank you for replying so quickly to my email!
Mary Anne
Kent! How can I thank you for this??
This was such a favorite song of mine and do you realize I have not heard it since the 1960's?
I have to ask someone how to get this on my iPod!
I just found it on You Tube
You have rekindled the most wonderful childhood memories for me.Thank you for replying so quickly to my email!
Mary Anne
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I Guess We've Had A Pretty Good Run
Looking back, maybe we've been pretty lucky after all.
Think about it ... we've been listening to and enjoying rock and roll music for nearly 60 years now.
At no other time in pop music history has this been the case.
When Elvis first crashed on the scene in 1956, his music didn't replace the music of 1896 ... it just replaced the contemporary music of the day.
When The Beatles invaded America in 1964, we were listening to American Rock and Roll Music ... not the music from 1914, fifty years earlier. Yet 50 years later there have been countless anniversary celebrations of the momentous event.
When Disco hit it big in 1976, there wasn't anybody out there filling up the clubs dancing to the music of 1916 ... or 1926 ... or 1936 ... in fact, you couldn't find an outlet to hear this music, even if you wanted to!
And when Madonna became the latest rage in the '80's, there weren't music fans out there clamoring for more music from the 1930's, fasinated by its ageless appeal.
Yet here we are ... sixty years later ... and rock and roll music is still the preferred choice of the day.
Sure, it's evolved and changed over the years ... sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse ... but the basic root of rock and roll music is still with us today ... and, even after sixty years, the faithful Forgotten Hits readers only want more, more, more.
No other music has ever sustained an audience and continued to grow the way rock and roll music has. We live and breathe it. It's been with us every step of the way and gotten us through every life crisis and event ... and it's still going strong.
And, for the most part, the majority of this music still holds up well today ... still impacts and affects new listeners all the time, winning over new fans on a daily basis ... yet radio doesn't want to "time stamp" this music ... or offer a playlist larger than two or three hundred songs.
Don't they get it??? (Clearly they don't ... we've been singing this same song for nearly fifteen years now and lately, it's only gotten worse!!!)
Rock and Roll Music isn't going anywhere ... unless the greatest source of its growth simply abandons it all together. PLEASE don't do this. Radio gave rock and roll music life ... it brought it to every corner of the world and, as a result, reaped the benefit of billions of fans and listeners. Don't turn your back on us now!
Looking back, maybe we've been pretty lucky after all.
But we're not giving up without a fight.
kk
re: What Do You Want From Oldies Radio?:
Hi Kent -
Very interesting debate on that 50 year question. To me it is exactly what we are discussing with some magazines and writers who are helping us promote all the new / old Fifth Estate material we have out just now. But to me anyway, I think David there in what you wrote has it about right - just mention the year - instead of stressing how long ago it was!!! THAT makes perfect sense to me.
I like much music from the 1940s and 50s ... BUT I don't really care to hear how long ago that was. But then again I like a lot from the 1600s and 1700s, and I don't mind hearing that it was 300 and 400 years ago. In fact, I like that.
Maybe if it's during our lifetimes, then it's the "avoidance factor" on the mortality issue I guess. So it seems to me mentioning just the year does AVOID all that.
Also, there have been several mentions about radio station WTAD lately. A great our music station!! I've been called to be on the Bill and Ed show a number of times. It's a Saturday night blast. Wide open - great jocks - anything goes and usually does. Much more than old radio. They often have me, Furvus of The Fifth Estate, and say Moltey of The Barbarians on at the same time and Moltey always jokes with me about, "ah all you two-handed drummers, etc." But even better than that, if you can imagine, they just play great music! They seem to have given the jocks free reign AND these guys just have great musical "taste." That's what matters and what is most often missing now. Another great thing these days is that with it being online as well as the radio, they don't just get out to Mass. and Rhody but "everywhere" it seems. And the call-ins were immense from places like Oregon, Georgia, and London!
Thanks -
Furv -
Yeah, the sky's the limit these days when it comes to reaching an audience ... so why would you put anything other than your best foot forward when programming these stations? Sadly, music fans have had to turn to the internet to find the music they really want to hear, simply because terrestrial radio isn't feeding it to them. It's not unlike cable vs. network tv ... more and more of tv's best dramas are now produced by the "premium channels" and not the stations limited by content. (Plus, of course, we get to see boobies ... but I digress!)
You bring up a good point, however ... back in the early days of radio, a lot of the jocks programmed their own music ... even brought in their own records to play on the air ... and, as a result, many a hit was born as this music found a new audience. Today everything is so regimented that the jocks themselves don't even listen half the time. (Let's face it ... how many times a day ... a week ... a month ... can you listen to "You May Be Right" by Billy Joel? I'll bet even Billy himself turns it off these days! And if not that one, then most certainly "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me"!!!) kk
Kent,
I agree with reader Phil's comments in that years ago the oldies station I was working for had a consultant who told the station not to mention the year the song came out. I don't really remember the reason he said to do this. He also told the station, for all practical purposes, not to backtrack or forward announce the name of the song which was to be played or had been played. One could do this but not every time.
That is where my problem has been through the years.
I like to think my knowledge of this music is a little above average. So when a song is not being told by the DJ or announcer what year it came out, I really don't care because I, for all practical purposes, know the year of its release. What I have a problem with is not telling the listener the name of the song and or the artist / group doing the song.
I can just imagine someone driving in his or her car listening to their favorite (?) oldies station on the radio. A song is played, an instrumental which is very familiar to the listener but they can't quite remember the title or group or artist. When said record is done, nothing is said about the title, artist or group. The listener is going bonkers for the rest of the day trying to remember the name of the song and or the artist / group.
The times in the past when I have listened to Sirius on my car radio (when they have free trial weeks), a few times they will play a song I simply can't remember or don't know. Usually it is of the doo-wop type which was played primarily back East.
Again, I think the year should be given out, maybe not every time, but surely most of the time.
I hate it when I hear an oldie on the radio and can't think of the name of the artist or group and title. One of those situations where it is right on the type of my tongue but can't think of it. I know it just like I know my own name.
Larry
Yeah, instrumentals are the toughest. MOST radio listeners don't have the background or musical knowledge of our Forgotten Hits readers ... and would be greatly helped by knowing this information, especially on some of those "ear worms" that drive you crazy all day long. At least then they have the option to do the research and seek this music out.
And that JUST may be the biggest problem with oldies radio today. Back in the hey-day of Top 40 Radio, radio was the GREATEST means of selling a record ... and the record companies knew this ... and depended on it. Today, most couldn't care less about their "catalog artists" ... which is a shame ... because there's gold in them there hills if it's mined properly. As discussed before, especially in this day of online music purchasing, there's literally NO expense attached to making this music available ... and promoting the hell out of it.
Perhaps if the record labels got behind this great catalog music ... and realized they could make a fortune by selling what they already have in their vaults ... radio would FINALLY expand and start playing more than the same 200-300 songs every day. And, for a small investment, these record companies could advertise some of this product on the air, thus enticing listeners to call in and request hearing some more of this great music. Sounds like a win / win situation to me! (kk)
Good Morning, Kent,
Shout out to Jimmy Jay! I had to respond to his mention of the 27 year old DJ being groomed at WATD 95.9 Marshfield, Mass. My favorite 'Oldies Station' primarily Saturdays noon to Midnight, and several after Midnight slots during the week. The show can be streamed and they are archived to listen to 'on demand' from your 'online device'.
I also wish to complain for the very first time about the unnecessary 'details' relayed in the 'Rolf Harris' story. Better to offer a link to the sordid details than to diminish the FH Blog's high standards to date by putting them in the body of the Blog.
Regarding the mentioning of the release dates of songs, our lives and experiences are intertwined with music we listened to as we reached 'benchmarks' in our development so they are an important feature of the playing of them. I also think that cars are an important part of that development and memory making. I attended a great 'car show' this weekend with 'the oldies' blaring over loud speakers and getting a 'rush' from seeing all the great cahs (intentional inflection) we had the opportunity to enjoy ... it was like a live American Graffiti experience. I took special care to check out the back seats to recall great moments in my development, so maybe I shouldn't complain so much about the Rolf Harris article.
Have a great Week,
CharlieOFD
No doubt about it, the Rolf Harris article went on WAY too long. But the cool thing about Forgotten Hits is we put it all out there and you pick and choose what you want to read or spend time with. Every piece isn't going to grab your attention and spark a memory ... but hopefully we get it right most of the time! Will have to listen to WATD 95.9 this weekend and see what all the fuss is about! Thanks, Charlie! (kk)
Kent,
Thank-you for your continued campaigning for the Oldies format despite, I'm sure, feeling like Benny Goodman at a Def Leppard concert! We all know the music from our youth is timeless and continues to hang on by it's fingernails on the edge of the cliff while corporate and time march on. Don't try to figure out the current metamorphosis of radio, you won't ... it's changing faster than Joan River's face.
I see the Jersey Boys movie is already out on DVD. I still haven't seen it yet and though I have seen the stage show version in Vegas and it was excellent, I wish Clint Eastwood would have gone with the original Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons versions. It would have been great to hear their music in a movie after having been brightened, remixed, and restored in the hands of a digital wizard. With Franki's voice and the Four Season's harmonies in the hey-day, I certainly think it would have turned the movie from a triple to a home-run.
I know I am bouncing all over the place but I playing catch-up. I did enjoy the "CNN-Sixties - British Invasion but trying capture that musical era in about 42 minutes (the show minus commercials), though it was good, didn't come close. So many groups and performers in this abbreviated show didn't see the light of day -- this era certainly, as you mentioned, would have been better served in at least two hours and could have easily covered two or three shows.
I remember playing the Mob's hit "I Dig Everything About You" in about 1970 ... it was about the same time as Chicago's "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It is." Didn't know the Mob were the innovators and so influential in the Windy City's Horn Sound. I could be wrong but I would swear the Mob played the Merry-Go-Round Nightclub in Colorado Springs in the early-70's.
And, speaking of great blue-eyed soul horn bands I am sure Larry Neal of KOMA can tell of the Fabulous Flippers out of Hays, Kansas, that traveled the Midwest, played to packed houses and had a regional hit in 1965 with "The Harlem Shuffle." Another great horn band, The Boogie Kings out of Eunice, Louisiana, were also spectacular. Enclosed is a video of the Flipper's "Harlem Shuffle" and a video of G.G. Shinn that used to sing with the Boogie Kings (though his video has less-than-perfect sound it captures the soul-horn sound that permeated the mid-60's -- give it a minute to play past his introduction as it is worth the wait).
Best Regards,
Tim Kiley
We had a very soulful "show band" that played around Chicago for quite a few years in what would have probably been the mid-to-late '70's called "Stop" ... GREAT bunch of guys playing some great music. They'd even come back and do an all-oldies set, much like Sha-Na-Na, vamping it up and just have a great time with the music. I believe they traveled all over, too, and played Vegas every now and then. I don't know if they ever did any recording or not ... but they were always fun to see in concert.
I've heard a lot about The Fabulous Flippers from many readers over the years ... sounds like these guys were YOUR local heroes back in the day. So many REALLY great acts that never caught on nationally ... what a shame ... shows you just how competitive things really were at the time.
As for "Jersey Boys", I don't think it's out on DVD just yet ... maybe available for pre-order? (It's still playing in theaters all over Chicagoland ... we talked about seeing it again but consistently find better things to do ... how sad. We looked forward to this movie for SO long. (Meanwhile you'll find several four and five star reviews for the film on Amazon!) kk
kk:
I almost always announce the year of the records I play on my FLip Side Radio show each week. I say "almost" because sometimes I forget, LOL. I guess I'm lucky because I get to choose my own playlist.
The feedback I get from my listeners is that they like to know the date; it instantly transports them through time, back to when that song was released. They even tell me where they were when they heard the song!
My humble opinion is: keep on announcing the date of the songs!
Mr. C.
I think it' a great barometer to transport you back in time ... and was surprised to hear these know-it-all consultants discouraging (and forbidding) it! The way listeners are being driven away in droves certainly speaks volumes about who right they are. (Why would ANYBODY listen to a radio consultant today ... when their best advice is: Play exactly what the other guy is playing. It must be working ... EVERYBODY'S doing it!!!) Morons!!! (kk)
I host karaoke. If one sings an oldie [50s, 60s, 70s, even 80s] I usually give the year of the song as well as some trivia. There is always someone who appreciates this knowledge at a gig. I love the fact that I have people born in 1990 choosing to sing 1960s era songs. It would be like someone my age choosing to sing Bing Crosby [which never happens].
Mark
Is there even such a thing as "Bing Crosby karakoke"?!?! I agree ... seeing these young kids today get up there and belt out a song from the '60's and '70's is always fun ... it makes ME feel proud (and I had nothing to do with it!!!) Then again, I've also seen the kids performing on American Idol having to pick a Motown Song or a hit from the '60's and '70's and, despite being very talented singers, having absolutely NO connection to it ... it's so foreign to them they can't do it justice ... which is just weird to me because this is the catchiest music around! (kk)
Hey, if you love FUN SUMMER MUSIC, my Buddy TED BELL and 94.9 FM in Myrtle Beach is the place to dial up. I hired him at WORG in 1962 and he is still spinning Great Music!
THIS is where you should be listening.
Marty Green
Mama Green's Favorite Son {yes, I stole that from Clark Weber of WLS}
Betwixted and Between the Turntables Playing The Top 60 in Dixie on WORG
http://www.949thesurf.com/index.html
Marty Green
Mama Green's Favorite Son {yes, I stole that from Clark Weber of WLS}
Betwixted and Between the Turntables Playing The Top 60 in Dixie on WORG
http://www.949thesurf.com/index.html
They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
Clark Weber
Actually, we've plugged this station a few times before ... in fact, I listened for a half hour after you sent me the link again. A nice mix of "beach music" ... not the constant stream of the same old oldies ... but quite a bit off the beaten path, too. Still, it was an enjoyable listen. (kk)
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50 Years Ago This Weekend (July 18 / 19)
7/18/64 - Big news this week as the title cut from THE BEATLES' first motion picture, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart at a very healthy #21. It's their second "real time" single release here in The States, following CAN'T BUY ME LOVE. (I have to point this out because ALSO premiering on the chart this week was AIN'T SHE SWEET, a track recorded in Germany back in 1961. It's a GREAT JOHN LENNON vocal … and it debuts at #90 … but it's also three years old at this point … and not indicative of the music the band is currently recording.)
Other British Chart Hits this week: CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE'S MINE by THE DAVE CLARK FIVE at #4, DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS at #7, WISHIN' AND HOPIN' by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD at #12, NOBODY I KNOW by PETER AND GORDON at #15, BAD TO ME by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS at #18, DON'T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY by THE SEARCHERS at #20, A WORLD WITHOUT LOVE by PETER AND GORDON at #22, LITTLE CHILDREN by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS at #29, YESTERDAY'S GONE by CHAD STEWART AND JEREMY CLYDE at #34, YOU'RE MY WORLD by CILLA BLACK at #42, NOT FADE AWAY by THE ROLLING STONES at #48, I BELIEVE by THE BACHELORS at #53, TELL ME by THE ROLLING STONES at #62, HOW DO YOU DO IT by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS at #63 and I'M THE ONE by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS at #82.
On the WLS Silver Dollar Survey, The Beatles jump from #30 to #8 with their latest, "A Hard Day's Night" / "I Should Have Known Better", both tracks coming from their brand new film "A Hard Day's Night". (It was also housed in one of my all-time favorite Beatles picture sleeves!)
Other British Acts in The Top Ten this week include "Can't You See That She's Mine" by The Dave Clark Five at #3, "Nobody I Know" by Peter and Gordon at #4, "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" by Gerry and the Pacemakers at #6, "Don't Throw Your Love Away" by The Searchers at #7 and "Little Children" by Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas at #9 … giving British Invasion Artists SIX of The Top Ten positions once again on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey.
"A World Without Love" is at #12 for Peter and Gordon, "Wishin' And Hopin'" is at #20 for Dusty Springfield, "I Believe" is at #23 for The Bachelors, and a brand new track by Gerry and the Pacemakers, "How Do You Do It", premiers at the #39 spot.
DIDJAKNOW?- After "Love Me Do" peaked at #17 on the British Charts, Producer George Martin brought The Beatles "How Do You Do It" to record ... he felt certain that this song could be a #1 Hit. Written by noted British songwriter Mitch Murray, Martin felt this could be the boost The Beatles needed to make their mark on the chart ... and then, after establishing a little bit of success, they could try recording some of their own material again. The Beatles (VERY) reluctantly agreed ... and cut a half-spirited version of the song ... but then protested that they really only wanted to record their OWN material for release as singles. Martin's response? "Then write me something as good as this one and we'll release it."
Inspired, John and Paul went back and dug out an old chestnut they had been working on called "Please Please Me". They revamped the tempo and added the "call and response" feature so prevalent in the song and, having just toured Europe with Roy Orbison, gave the song what they called "The Roy Orbison feel" of the changley guitar. They played it for Martin and he was knocked out by it.
"Boys", he said, "You've just cut your first #1 Record." ... and on MOST of the British Charts, that's exactly where this one went. (On Great Britain's OFFICIAL chart, however, it peaked at #2 ... which is why it was left off The Beatles'"1" CD 35 years later.) After that, George Martin never questioned their song-writing abilities again ... and the rest, as they say is history.
But on a side note, George Martin was RIGHT about "How Do You Do It" being a #1 song. After The Beatles turned it down, he gave the track to Gerry and the Pacemakers to record, and they did, in fact, top the British charts with their version.
In addition to the Gerry and the Pacemakers' hit version featured above, we're also giving you a listen to the track The Beatles cut in late 1962 ... THEIR half-hearted attempt at "How Do You Do It". (kk)
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The Saturday Surveys ( 07 - 19 )
Covering a couple of years we haven't looked at in a while this week in our Saturday Surveys feature.
First up, 1976 ... where Paul McCartney has THREE of the Top 13 singles this week!
"Silly Love Songs" is on its way down the charts, falling from #3 to #4 this week ... while his follow-up single, "Let 'em In" makes a huge leap from #20 to #9.
But the biggest surprise is this week's #13 Hit ... it's the re-release of The Beatles' track "Got To Get You Into My Life", a single pulled from their new "Rock And Roll Music" album.
Although the track peaked at #7 on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart, it would climb to #1 in several local markets (including here in Chicago) ... and sounded every bit as good in 1976 as it did when it was recorded for the "Revolver" album ten years earlier. The Beatles had only been apart six years and they were already winning over a brand new audience. (Ironically The Beach Boys are also charting this week with THEIR remake of the Chuck Berry classic, "Rock And Roll Music", a track The Beatles did to pure perfection on their "Beatles For Sale" LP in late 1964.)
Country Music seemed to have a pretty good hold on this 1976 Denver Chart ... Eddie Rabbitt's got the #7 Hit with "Rocky Mountain Music", a song that would score well on Billboard's Country Singles Chart but only reach #76 on the pop side. The Bellamy Brothers also have a Top 40 Pop Hit on a chart that features disco (The Andrea True Connection, Silver Convention and Diana Ross), pop (The Starland Vocal Band, Elton John and Kiki Dee and Starbuck), soul (The Manhattans, War and Brothers Johnson), novelty (Cheech and Chong!!!) and rock (Queen, Thin Lizzy and Gary Wright) ... back in the day when you could play ALL of these different genres of music side by side and nobody found anything wrong with it!
In addition, America's "Today's The Day" and Chicago's "Another Rainy Day In New York City" both fare better here on this Denver chart than they did nationally.
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We haven't featured a chart from 1968 in a while either ... Gary Puckett and the Union Gap have the #1 Single in Lincoln, Nebraska, this week in 1968. In fact, MOST of the Top Ten this week is taken up with tracks that scored very well all over the country ... with TWO exceptions ...
What the heck are "All's Quiet On West 23rd" by Julie Budd and "Sally Had A Party" by Flavor?!?! The Julie Budd single never even charted on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart ... and "Sally Had A Party' only climbed as high as #95!!! Yet here in Lincoln, BOTH records are Top Ten Hits! (Joel Whitburn's book refers to "Sally Had A Party" as sounding very similar to the Spencer Davis Group hit "Gimme Some Lovin'" ... so I had to check that one out for myself!)
>>>Julie recorded the song "All's Quiet On West 23rd" at age 13 for MGM and was dubbed the "Young Barbra Streisand" at the time. The 45 came with a pic sleeve. To me, the male version of the song, by the Jet Stream, is a much better version, even tho her record was huge in Lincoln. Flavor was a DC group who did well with the song "Sally Had A Party", but their followup, "Heart-Teaser" (also a pic sleeve 45), was much better, IMO.
-- Clark Besch
The Monkees sit just outside The Top Ten with their last big two-sided hit "D.W. Washburn" / "It's Nice To Be With You" ... and, speaking of The Monkees, The Stone Poneys must have been thinking "Why mess with success?" when they cut "Some Of Shelly's Blues", another tune written by Michael Nesmith (which was also covered by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). It followed their successful take on Nesmith's "Different Drum" from a few months before.
Look how well The Buckinghams' single "Back In Love Again" did in Lincoln, Nebraska ... it's down from #12 to #27 ... while The New Colony Six are slowly creeping up the chart with THEIR latest, "Can't You See Me Cry".
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And finally, another 1967 Chart from KYA in San Francisco where "Purple Haze" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience grabs the #1 Spot.
It's funny to see "Ode To Billie Joe", "Fakin' It" and "Heroes And Villains" show up on this week's chart as KYA Premiers ... as all three records were charting (and doing quite well) on the 1967 chart we featured last week.
Lastly, give a listen to my favorite Stevie Wonder song of the '60's, "I Was Made To Love Her".
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First up, 1976 ... where Paul McCartney has THREE of the Top 13 singles this week!
"Silly Love Songs" is on its way down the charts, falling from #3 to #4 this week ... while his follow-up single, "Let 'em In" makes a huge leap from #20 to #9.
But the biggest surprise is this week's #13 Hit ... it's the re-release of The Beatles' track "Got To Get You Into My Life", a single pulled from their new "Rock And Roll Music" album.
Although the track peaked at #7 on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart, it would climb to #1 in several local markets (including here in Chicago) ... and sounded every bit as good in 1976 as it did when it was recorded for the "Revolver" album ten years earlier. The Beatles had only been apart six years and they were already winning over a brand new audience. (Ironically The Beach Boys are also charting this week with THEIR remake of the Chuck Berry classic, "Rock And Roll Music", a track The Beatles did to pure perfection on their "Beatles For Sale" LP in late 1964.)
Country Music seemed to have a pretty good hold on this 1976 Denver Chart ... Eddie Rabbitt's got the #7 Hit with "Rocky Mountain Music", a song that would score well on Billboard's Country Singles Chart but only reach #76 on the pop side. The Bellamy Brothers also have a Top 40 Pop Hit on a chart that features disco (The Andrea True Connection, Silver Convention and Diana Ross), pop (The Starland Vocal Band, Elton John and Kiki Dee and Starbuck), soul (The Manhattans, War and Brothers Johnson), novelty (Cheech and Chong!!!) and rock (Queen, Thin Lizzy and Gary Wright) ... back in the day when you could play ALL of these different genres of music side by side and nobody found anything wrong with it!
In addition, America's "Today's The Day" and Chicago's "Another Rainy Day In New York City" both fare better here on this Denver chart than they did nationally.
We haven't featured a chart from 1968 in a while either ... Gary Puckett and the Union Gap have the #1 Single in Lincoln, Nebraska, this week in 1968. In fact, MOST of the Top Ten this week is taken up with tracks that scored very well all over the country ... with TWO exceptions ...
What the heck are "All's Quiet On West 23rd" by Julie Budd and "Sally Had A Party" by Flavor?!?! The Julie Budd single never even charted on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart ... and "Sally Had A Party' only climbed as high as #95!!! Yet here in Lincoln, BOTH records are Top Ten Hits! (Joel Whitburn's book refers to "Sally Had A Party" as sounding very similar to the Spencer Davis Group hit "Gimme Some Lovin'" ... so I had to check that one out for myself!)
>>>Julie recorded the song "All's Quiet On West 23rd" at age 13 for MGM and was dubbed the "Young Barbra Streisand" at the time. The 45 came with a pic sleeve. To me, the male version of the song, by the Jet Stream, is a much better version, even tho her record was huge in Lincoln. Flavor was a DC group who did well with the song "Sally Had A Party", but their followup, "Heart-Teaser" (also a pic sleeve 45), was much better, IMO.
-- Clark Besch
The Monkees sit just outside The Top Ten with their last big two-sided hit "D.W. Washburn" / "It's Nice To Be With You" ... and, speaking of The Monkees, The Stone Poneys must have been thinking "Why mess with success?" when they cut "Some Of Shelly's Blues", another tune written by Michael Nesmith (which was also covered by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). It followed their successful take on Nesmith's "Different Drum" from a few months before.
Look how well The Buckinghams' single "Back In Love Again" did in Lincoln, Nebraska ... it's down from #12 to #27 ... while The New Colony Six are slowly creeping up the chart with THEIR latest, "Can't You See Me Cry".
And finally, another 1967 Chart from KYA in San Francisco where "Purple Haze" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience grabs the #1 Spot.
It's funny to see "Ode To Billie Joe", "Fakin' It" and "Heroes And Villains" show up on this week's chart as KYA Premiers ... as all three records were charting (and doing quite well) on the 1967 chart we featured last week.
Lastly, give a listen to my favorite Stevie Wonder song of the '60's, "I Was Made To Love Her".
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The Sunday Comments ( 07 - 20 - 14 )
re: On The Radio:
Chicagoland Radio And Media has added a WCFL Tribute Station to their line-up this week. It's described as:
Another fresh addition to the CRM website is yet another new station for theCRM Radio Network. This one is a salute to the great Chicago radio station WCFL, aka "Super CFL." This tribute station was created and is programmed by Richard French. It features music from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s, the heyday of WCFL-AM as a powerhouse Chicago Top 40/rock & roll music station. Additionally, the classic WCFL jingles can be heard between many of the songs. To hear this blast-from-the-past Internet radio station, visit the CRM Radio Network section of the website or just click on the link below.
Chicagoland Radio And Media has added a WCFL Tribute Station to their line-up this week. It's described as:
Another fresh addition to the CRM website is yet another new station for theCRM Radio Network. This one is a salute to the great Chicago radio station WCFL, aka "Super CFL." This tribute station was created and is programmed by Richard French. It features music from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s, the heyday of WCFL-AM as a powerhouse Chicago Top 40/rock & roll music station. Additionally, the classic WCFL jingles can be heard between many of the songs. To hear this blast-from-the-past Internet radio station, visit the CRM Radio Network section of the website or just click on the link below.
I listened for two straight days ... honestly, I don't see ANYTHING at all that this has to do with WCFL (other than the occasional jingle). It's not at all represented in the "style" of the station ... nor does it really accurately present the play list of the station in song selection. (Although I will admit to hearing some very surprising oldies on the air ... many of which you simply NEVER hear anymore.) But the repeats finally drove me to turn it off. Hearing "Concrete And Clay" the first time was a real joy ... hearing it a second time a few hours later made me cringe a little bit, hopeful that they MUST have a bigger selection to offer than this ... after it started to play for the FOURTH time in twelve hours, I finally switched it off.
To respond to the article about listeners not wanting to know the year when a song came out, I don't mind knowing how long ago it was. It makes me think about where I was on the timeline of my life and what I was doing, who my friends were and what my hopes, dreams and aspirations were. Sure, I've had some rough times but it doesn't bother me knowing the year of the song. I try not to think of any negativity. (I can sometimes guess the year which is a fun game I like to play with myself or whoever I am with at the time.)
To respond to the article about listeners not wanting to know the year when a song came out, I don't mind knowing how long ago it was. It makes me think about where I was on the timeline of my life and what I was doing, who my friends were and what my hopes, dreams and aspirations were. Sure, I've had some rough times but it doesn't bother me knowing the year of the song. I try not to think of any negativity. (I can sometimes guess the year which is a fun game I like to play with myself or whoever I am with at the time.)
I appreciate your great commentary about the state of affairs in the rock 'n roll business. There is always strength in numbers and I think there will be a time when we "baby boomers" will be saying "Hear us roar"- Bring back our music! The readers had some interesting things to say as well. I do like songs from 400 years ago ... one that's still around is a madrigal called, "Deck the Halls" (I am sure you have heard of it.) The way I look at it a good song is a good song ... it really doesn't matter what genre it is.
Sandy
And for those of you who DO want to go back and listen to music of the 1930's ... here's a cool new site we found ... music from 1930 through today!
And for those of you who DO want to go back and listen to music of the 1930's ... here's a cool new site we found ... music from 1930 through today!
Kent,
Here's the latest regarding a very special upcoming edition of my radio show:
Joel Whitburn's Record Research recently published a new chart book devoted to the Cash Box Looking Ahead charts (its equivalent to Billboard's Bubbling Under charts). Now you can hear many of the songs listed only in that book. Tune in to Top Shelf Oldies (www.topshelfoldies.org) at 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 23, for a special edition of Randy on the Radio. This four-hour special will feature records that never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 or Bubbling Under charts, but peaked in Cash Box on the Looking Ahead chart. The show will include songs from Oct. 1959 (when the Looking Ahead chart debuted) through the end of 1969, presented chronologically. The show will also be available after that date in the Randy on the Radio Archives: http://ramtownlive.com/randyontheradio.html.
– Randy Price
Now THIS should be a good one! Mark your calendars for Wednesday Night! (There are over 3500 titles listed in Joel's "Looking Ahead" Cash Box book that never made The Billboard Charts. (kk)
The book is available here ...
So my wife and I are eating breakfast at the Steak n Shake in Erie, PA when on their music system comes I Could Never Lie To You by the New Colony Six. I must say, they have a great music system here, its better than the food, unfortunately.
Tom Diehl
Doesn't it strike you as odd that some of the best places to hear this music these days is in restaurants (like Steak And Shake, Portillo's, Applebees, Long John Silver, pizza parlors), theme parks (Six Flag, Great America), grocery stores (we hear this all the time from readers coast to coast), and elevators in office buildings ... when the medium that SHOULD be bringing you all these hits and variety is radio ... and yet they choose to ignore these tracks all together? (Think about this for a second ... if the logic of these high-priced, know-it-all consultants states that the "general public can't digest more than the same 200-300 songs per day" wouldn't a restaurant be one of the most DANGEROUS places to offer this type of variety?!?!) Proof yet again that radio isn't paying attention and simply doesn't care. Best solution ... play CD's in the car on your way to the restaurant of your choice that offers the music you most want to hear! (Man, what a shame ... and what a wasteful abuse of resources!) By the way, I also heard The New Colony Six featured on the WCFL station mentioned above ... on Saturday Afternoon they played "Love You So Much". (kk)
re: The History Of Rock And Roll:
>>>I have been having a lot of fun listening to Bill Drake's excellent series "The History of Rock and Roll", both the 1978 and 1981 versions. The '78 I have been listening to is on one web site, but the other with the '81 has been taken down. There have been a few sites on the web that have been streaming Bill Drake's legendary masterpiece, "The History of Rock and Roll" .
The other is at http://thehistoryofrockandrollradio.com/HRRprogram1.html .
Sadly those who have been at the second site have found that the latter has been taken down as of 6/17. This is because the domain license has expired.
The first site is streaming the 1978 version of THORR. The second, the one that was taken down, streamed the '81 edition. I hope someone out there can find a site that I missed that is streaming the '81 version so I can hear it for comparison, or at least lead me to someone that has this version.
It is the granddaddy of all radio documentaries. I hope this spirit never dies.
I have been using software to record material from both versions for my iPod. But now I can't find the '81. Do you know somewhere or someplace I can find anything to hear or even obtain the ' 81? Thanks.
Joe Campas
Thanks to Joe Campas for both his kind comments on the 1978 edition of "The History of Rock 'n' Roll" and his identification of two websites which have been streaming versions of the special as of late. Over the years numerous websites carrying parts or all of the 52 hour program have appeared out of nowhere and then disappeared just as quickly. All of them, of course, are or were steaming the production illegally because none have ever been legally authorized by the program's succession of rights holders, the identify of which has changed several times since 1978 as the assets of Drake-Chenault Enterprises have been resold to different entities.
The 1978 Billboard award-winning edition (which I researched and wrote, co-producing it with Bill Drake and Mark Ford) and the unsuccessful 1981 remake (which is about 75% an edited-down reissue of the 1978 production with new material I did not authorize added) are both currently owned by Westwood One. Over time that firm has acquired the assets of several other companies which either went bankrupt or got absorbed into their operation. And while Westwood One does own both of those particular versions of the HRR, they're not promoted at all and only licensed out if some entity special orders them. Not long ago, for example, KYNO in Fresno -- the station where Bill Drake and Gene Chenault originally met -- licensed and reran the HRR in part becuse of the station's key role in bringing Bill and Gene together.
Over the years there have been a number of radio and TV productions, books, LPs, CDs and other assorted offerings employing the phrase "History of Rock 'n' Roll" -- none of which had any connection at all to Drake-Chenault's 1978 or 1981 productions. This was because -- over my strong objections -- Drake-Chenault never bothered to trademark the term "History of Rock 'n' Roll"! Realizing its intrinsic value, I finally I did it myself -- which is why today Gary Theroux Productions owns the trademark phrase "History of Rock 'n' Roll." I also still own -- and have massively added to -- the extensive research archives I drew material from in scripting the 1978 HRR. I still draw from that archive of photos, clippings, bios, reviews, audio interviews and more today -- in writing and producing the daily 2 1/2 minute shortform feature version of "The History of Rock 'n' Roll" which runs three times a day Mondays through Fridays online at rewoundradio.com and supernovaradio.co. And, as you probably know, the shortform HRR feature just won the trophy as "the world's best online radio program" at the 2014 New York Festivals International Radio Programming Awards. I'm sure my good friend Bill Drake is smiling down from Rock 'n' Roll Heaven about that!
I get asked sometimes if there will ever be an updated 52-hour plus new version of "The History of Rock 'n' Roll." While I'd love to put one together, I seriously doubt it -- unless it was produced for public radio. A new "History of Rock 'n' Roll" would have to incorporate music spanning from the '40s (Wynonie Harris'"Good Rockin' Tonight," etc.) on through to the present day -- in other words, some SEVENTY YEARS of rock evolution -- and no commercial radio station in this age of ultra-narrowcasting airs music from anything close to that wide a time frame. Far too many don't even acknowledge that there ever was a 20th century!
If you're going to be around Danbury, CT on Saturday, July 26, come on out to Ives Concert Park (43 Lake Avenue Ext.) for the Beatles-themed music festival "Danbury Fields Forever," celebrating the 50th anniverdsary of the Beatles' arrival in the U.S. Over Saturday and Sunday some 20 bands and solo acts witll be playing Beatles music amid the many dealers, vendors, special guests, a food court and, oddly enough, me -- hosting that opening day. Ken Michaels, the host of "Every Little Thing," takes over as emcee on Sunday. A good time is guaranteed for all!
Gary Theroux
Bill Drake, Mark Ford and Gary Theroux in Gary's office during the production of the Billboard award-winning 52 hour "History of Rock 'n' Roll" in 1978.
Note the reel-to-reel tape deck, turntable, electric typewriter and shelves of interview tapes. This was long before the introduction of CDs, PCs, the internet or digital recording. All the music in the HRR was taken from LPs or 45s transferred to quarter-inch recording tape -- the state of the art at the time.
Of course, not everything at Drake-Chenault was exactly "state of the art."
A lot of what was in chief engineer Mark Ford's production studio he had to jerry rig from parts he picked up at Radio Shack! While the face in the framed photo on the wall is obscured by the flash, it's of -- of all people -- Engelbert Humperdinck!
Gary's secretary put that up as a joke and he decided to leave it there.
Note the reel-to-reel tape deck, turntable, electric typewriter and shelves of interview tapes. This was long before the introduction of CDs, PCs, the internet or digital recording. All the music in the HRR was taken from LPs or 45s transferred to quarter-inch recording tape -- the state of the art at the time.
Of course, not everything at Drake-Chenault was exactly "state of the art."
A lot of what was in chief engineer Mark Ford's production studio he had to jerry rig from parts he picked up at Radio Shack! While the face in the framed photo on the wall is obscured by the flash, it's of -- of all people -- Engelbert Humperdinck!
Gary's secretary put that up as a joke and he decided to leave it there.
And then, literally moments later, we heard from Joe again ...
Hey Kent!
I am happy to report my search to find the '78 and '81 versions of the History Of Rock and Roll on the air is over! KYNO Fresno is airing the '81 version Saturdays at noon Pacific time, and their website is kynofresno.com. RadioMax music is airing the '78 version at radiomaxmusic2.wordpress.com three hours earlier at 9 AM Pacific time. Each channel is only an hour each week, but still worth listening!
Joe
re: Man, What A GREAT Idea!!! (I Wonder How They Came Up With This?!?!?):
Every day I get Google Alerts that tell me where and when Forgotten Hits is mentioned in other columns of on radio stations, etc., to kind of help me keep tabs on how our material is being circulated and used in the media. As a result of this, I've seen columns translated into dozens of different languages and run in other countries (all without my permission or knowledge by the way ... but still kinda flattering in a way) as well as jocks who are using our suggestions for both music selections and topics of discussion on their programs or their own blogs.
But THIS one kinda surprised me ... 'cause while the material didn't come from me, I cannot help but wonder where the inspiration came from!!! (kk)
The whole idea behind our "50 Years Ago This Weekend" feature (running every week in 2014) was to recap The British Invasion as it happened, circa 1964, on both a national and local level ... show how these artists took over and dominated the charts. We also launched "The Saturday Surveys" this year, showing you charts from around the country every weekend. Interestingly enough, I had planned to only run these features for 2014 ... but instead I have since decided to COMBINE the two features for 2015 ... it'll still be a "50 Years Ago This Weekend" type of theme ... and we'll still track the hits on both a local and national level ... but we'll also feature a couple of "spot charts" from around the country for that same week in 1965 ... as well as maybe some "music news" features from back in the day ... maybe even some air checks, etc, etc, etc. So ... with nearly six months notice, we're inviting ALL of you to help us launch this new feature by sending us whatever you've got that you think may be worth sharing. 2015 will be all about 1965 in Forgotten Hits in this brand new weekend feature. (And for all those Forgotten Hits wannabes out there, we ALL know that these ideas originated RIGHT HERE!!!) kk
And, speaking of The Saturday Surveys ...
Kent,
This is FYI. Here in OKC in July of 1968, Flavor's SALLY HAD A PARTY peaked at lucky #7. Big record here in OKC. And you have to really believe me on this and that is, would you believe just a couple of nights ago, I got it out and played it here at home?
Larry
When you started your website with the heading I Guess We've Had A Pretty Good Run the other day you scared the __ _ _ _ out of me. What!!! No forgotten hits would have killed us!
Mike
Elvis? 'Puppet on a String'? It was difficult for me to move on to the others. Replayed it today. That song is CREAMY.
re: Johnny Winter:
While he never really made much of a mark on the pop charts, it was virtually impossible to escape at least some passing knowledge of Johnny Winter, the white-haired albino singer / guitarist who entertained fans for decades. (Our readers are probably more familiar with his brother Edgar, who scored big hits with tracks like "Frankenstein" (#1, 1973) and "Free Ride" (#9, 1974).
Winter passed away on Wednesday in a hotel room in Switzerland. (Ironically, Al Kooper and I had recently talked about this ... about how he DIDN'T want to die in a hotel room in some foreign country while out on tour. Unfortunately, we've had a few of these lately!)
Here's what Al had to say about the passing of Johnny Winter:
Here's what Al had to say about the passing of Johnny Winter:
We lost Johnny Winter a couple of days ago. It seems there is a tribute every week now and I am starting to feel privileged to still be alive as I work hard to finish my life's work.
@l k%per
You can hear Al's tribute track to Johnny on his "New Music For Old People" website, a weekly column introducing old fogies like us to some hip, new sounds that fit right in with the music we've always enjoyed. You can access the column (and hear this track) here:
11. RIP Johnny Winter, 1944 - 2014: "It's My Own Fault Baby"— Johnny Winter (9:50)
This is a recording from the first night I met Johnny Winter and heard him play. Mike Bloomfield and I were playing the Fillmore East in 1969 and Mike showed up with Johnny in tow and asked me if it was okay if he sat in. I knew of his reputation — a Texas Terror of the Blues — but never actually heard him play. But I certainly trusted Bloomfield’s taste and a slow blues didn’t really need to be rehearsed to get the point across. So Michael introduces Johnny halfway through our show, and the audience obviously has NEVER heard of him and when this long-haired albino walks out, the applause is slight. But after the first four and a half minutes of his playing and singing, Johnny hands it over to Bloomfield, receiving a much more respectful response. Bloomfield plays right back at him for three more minutes, and then Johnny takes the last three minutes home like he was playing for his life. It was pretty incredible. The audience went nuts, as you can hear.
The top brass from Columbia Records were in the front row to hear Mike and me play live and fortunately we were recording the show. Within the next two weeks, they signed Johnny to a big contract and the rest is history. This is the actual start of that history. I am proud to have been a part of it and I am really sad to see him go. He played right to the very end and died on the road like the true bluesman he always was.
The top brass from Columbia Records were in the front row to hear Mike and me play live and fortunately we were recording the show. Within the next two weeks, they signed Johnny to a big contract and the rest is history. This is the actual start of that history. I am proud to have been a part of it and I am really sad to see him go. He played right to the very end and died on the road like the true bluesman he always was.
Famed blues guitarist Johnny Winter, brother of Edgar Winter, died Wednesday (July 16) in a hotel room in Zurich, Switzerland, while he was on tour. The Texas native was 70. He toured and produced Muddy Waters and teamed up with Edgar for a live album in 1976. He had two charted singles of his own with “Johnny B. Goode” (#92 - 1970) and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (#89 - 1971).
-- Ron Smith / oldiesmusic.com
When I first saw Johnny perform, I was, maybe 12 or 13, and he was known as 'Johnny Cool Daddy Winter' and we've always thought of him as exactly that: "One Cool Daddy". Johnny became a dear and passionate friend as well as the accomplished bluesman we have come to admire. It's now a moment for celebration of his brilliance frozen for all time. We've lost another of the gifted guitar greats and a truly soulful spirit. -- Billy F Gibbons / ZZ Top
And, believe it or not, Frannie has her OWN personal recollection of Johnny Winter! It's one of my favorite stories of hers, growing up in Texas. Seems she and her mother were out at the movies one night (at the 7th Street Theater in downtown Forth Worth) and were waiting for her dad to pull the car around to pick them up when this big-ass limo pulls up beside them ... the window comes down ... and there was Johnny Winter, out and about, fresh from having just wrapped a concert down the street, who asks them both if they'd like to get inside and go with him to a party that night! (Guess he was looking for some mother / daughter action! lol) They politely declined and walked on ... but I always like to tease her about how differently her life could have turned out had they gotten in the limo that night! (kk)
re: Invasion of the Body Snatchers:
When I first saw Johnny perform, I was, maybe 12 or 13, and he was known as 'Johnny Cool Daddy Winter' and we've always thought of him as exactly that: "One Cool Daddy". Johnny became a dear and passionate friend as well as the accomplished bluesman we have come to admire. It's now a moment for celebration of his brilliance frozen for all time. We've lost another of the gifted guitar greats and a truly soulful spirit. -- Billy F Gibbons / ZZ Top
And, believe it or not, Frannie has her OWN personal recollection of Johnny Winter! It's one of my favorite stories of hers, growing up in Texas. Seems she and her mother were out at the movies one night (at the 7th Street Theater in downtown Forth Worth) and were waiting for her dad to pull the car around to pick them up when this big-ass limo pulls up beside them ... the window comes down ... and there was Johnny Winter, out and about, fresh from having just wrapped a concert down the street, who asks them both if they'd like to get inside and go with him to a party that night! (Guess he was looking for some mother / daughter action! lol) They politely declined and walked on ... but I always like to tease her about how differently her life could have turned out had they gotten in the limo that night! (kk)
re: Invasion of the Body Snatchers:
WTF?!?! Casey Kasem's body has been stolen?!?!
Click here: Casey Kasem's body missing from funeral home, daughter's rep says - LA Times
re: This And That:
Kent,
Click here: Casey Kasem's body missing from funeral home, daughter's rep says - LA Times
re: This And That:
Kent,
What a pleasant surprise this morning to find your dozen STRINGALONG songs.
The Chairmen of the Board!! Are you kidding me? I haven't heard that song in years!
Likewise the song by the group known as the P-Nut Gallery.
Some things I immediately thought of, though not necessarily song related ... how about that science fiction movie out of 1958, ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE?
Johnny Crawford's 1962 song YOUR NOSE IS GONNA GROW. Puppets reminded me of Pinocchio, likewise his nose grew when he told a lie.
Finally, at times through the years I have had THE RIGHT STRING but unfortunately had THE WRONG YO-YO.
Good Job.
Larry
Dang! "Your Nose Is Gonna Grow" would have been a GREAT one to feature ... wish I'd thought of that! (That's OK ... we'll make up for the oversight by featuring it today.)
Obviously I did go down the Pinocchio road by featuring Dion and the Belmonts doing "When You Wish Upon A Star", followed by the hit pop song it inspired, "Surfer Girl" by The Beach Boys. That Frankie Avalon tune, "The Puppet Song" was a big hit here in Chicago, reaching #14 in 1961. And, based on your opening statement, I suppose "String Along" by Rick Nelson (or "Wheels" by The String-Alongs) would have worked, too! (kk)
Elvis? 'Puppet on a String'? It was difficult for me to move on to the others. Replayed it today. That song is CREAMY.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
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>>>On July 22nd, the legacy of folk singer Jim Croce will see added to its distinguished discography, the release of Lost Time In A Bottle,a 24-track collection of rare versions of all his greatest hit songs including “Time In A Bottle,” “Operator,” “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and “I Got A Name.” The collection will be released by Cleopatra Records first on CD, with a 2LP vinyl version set to follow shortly thereafter. Between the years 1966 and 1973, Croce released a mere five studio albums and 11 singles, 2 of Sadly, we lost this incredible artist on September 20, 1973. His body of work, however, has lived on in a timeless state as new fans and old have embraced the incredible songwriting that has made him into the legend that he is today.
Kent ...
Here's your WCBS-FM Update ...
Scott Shannon is back from a one week vacation on July 14.
The latest ratings find Scott's " Big Show" still in second place, behind WLTW-FM. (He might make it to #1 if he eliminates Joe Nolan's dumb contests.)
This past weekend was 80's double play weekend.
By the way, I saw that Ron Smith is reporting that Carl Giammarese of the Buckinghams threw out
the first pitch in the Cubs' July 11th game. Any information on the quality of his first pitch?
Frank B.
By the way, I saw that Ron Smith is reporting that Carl Giammarese of the Buckinghams threw out
the first pitch in the Cubs' July 11th game. Any information on the quality of his first pitch?
Frank B.
It takes quite a bit of doing to get me to put on a Cubs game ... and I didn't hear about this one until after the fact ... so I honestly don't know because I didn't see it. The Buckinghams have, however, on numerous occasions, been out to Wrigley Field to sing The National Anthem. In fact, they even included one of those live renditions as a hidden bonus tracks on one of their cd's a few years back (which I couldn't find in time to include here today because ... well, ya know ... because it's hidden!!!) kk
As far as "Jersey Boys" goes, I have seen the movie twice and I might see it a third time. It's a good movie and very entertaining!
Blossmwrld
Speaking of movies, this is ULTRA-Cool! Harvey Kubernik's new book "Turn Up The Radio" (which I've been reading for WEEKS now ... it's totally awesome and just jam-packed with LA tidbits from back in the day, beautifully done "coffee table book" - style, with pages and pages and pages of sensational photographs and memories) has inspired a mini-film festival of music-related movies that will be showcased at The Egyptian Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles in August!
Read on ...
TURN UP THE RADIO: L.A. ROCK ON FILMAugust 13 - 17, 2014, at the Egyptian Theatre
Co-sponsored by Amoeba Records and Santa Monica Press
Los Angeles has been the center of the film world for nearly a century, but the city’s leading role in popular music began more recently. The birth of rock ’n’ roll brought forth a teen record-buying audience independent of the Broadway/Tin Pan Alley axis, which had long dominated American music, and as local rock scenes began to ferment across the country, few could compete with the sunny SoCal environment as a draw for the top performers, songwriters and producers. Harvey Kubernik’s new book, Turn Up the Radio!, captures the zeitgeist of Los Angeles rock and pop between the years of 1956 and 1972 – an era of unprecedented growth and creativity in the record industry.
The American Cinematheque celebrates the intersection of music and media in the City of Angels with several evenings devoted to L.A. rock icons on film. Southern California was on the itinerary of virtually every performer of note, and director-producer Steve Binder put many of them on film and TV, including the all-star line-up in the classic concert film THE T.A.M.I. SHOW. Legendary quartet The Doors were at the peak of their powers in hometown appearance LIVE AT THE BOWL ’68. The Seeds once headlined a tour with The Doors; the world premiere of the documentary PUSHIN’ TOO HARD tells the story of the L.A. garage rock greats for the first time. And musical iconoclast Frank Zappa paints a wickedly satirical portrait of life on tour in 200 MOTELS.
Series programmed by John Hagelston, Harvey Kubernik and Grant Moninger. Program notes by John Hagelston.
At the EGYPTIAN THEATRE (6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028):
Wednesday, August 13 – 7:30 PM -- TURN UP THE RADIO: L.A. ROCK
The Doors! LIVE AT THE BOWL ’68, 2012, Eagle Rock Entertainment, 71 min. Dir. Ray Manzarek. A legendary band, an iconic venue! With their Waiting for the Sun album fresh in stores, The Doors made a triumphant appearance at the Hollywood Bowl on July 5, 1968. The L.A. quartet was at the peak of its powers that night, balancing hit singles including “Light My Fire” and “Hello, I Love You” with epic renditions of “When the Music's Over” and “The End.” Painstakingly restored from original camera negatives and remixed from multi-tracks by the group’s longtime engineer, Bruce Botnick,this mesmerizing film presents the historic concert in its entirety for the first time. Program begins with a slide show by rock photographer Henry Diltz, who will share his classic images of The Doors and other L.A. music icons. Film begins at 8:15 PM.
Thursday, August 14 – 7:30 PM -- TURN UP THE RADIO: L.A. ROCK
Tribute to Steve Binder! 50th Anniversary! THE T.A.M.I. SHOW, 1964, 123 min. Dir. Steve Binder. The Rolling Stones, James Brown, The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry and The Supremes were among the top acts who took the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium stage for the Teenage Awards Music International Show, captured in “Electronovision.” This priceless cross-section of Top 40 radio at its mid-’60s peak offers northern and southern soul, rock ’n’ roll, surf, garage and British Invasion hits in one of the most legendary concert movies ever made. Unquestionably the grooviest, wildest, most exciting beat blast on the National Film Registry! Discussion following with director Steve Binder, moderated by John Landis, who attended the original concert.
Saturday, August 16 – 7:30 PM -- TURN UP THE RADIO: L.A. ROCK
The Seeds! World Premiere! PUSHIN’ TOO HARD, 2014, GNPCrescendo, 110 min. Dir. Neil Norman. Beginning in the mid-1960s, The Seeds spread a web of sound from the Sunset Strip to the rest of the country with such anthems of teen frustration as “Pushin’ Too Hard” and “Can’t Seem to Make You Mine.” Fronted by the sneering, attitude-laden delivery of charismatic lead singer Sky Saxon, the band’s driving sound would help lay the groundwork for punk. This definitive documentary on The Seeds follows the quartet’s bizarre odyssey from rags to riches to rags again - and ultimately their rediscovery by new generations of garage-rock fans - using vintage television and concert performances, rare photos and recent interviews with all of the group’s original members, as well as fans and observers including Iggy Pop, Kim Fowley, Johnny Echols of Love and Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys. Discussion following with director Neil Norman, producer Alec Palao and Seeds members Daryl Hooper and Jan Savage, moderated by Kirk Silsbee.
Sunday, August 17 – 7:30 PM -- TURN UP THE RADIO: L.A. ROCK
Frank Zappa! World Premiere! “Bunny Bunny Bunny” (ca. 1987, 20 min.) Directed and produced by Frank Zappa, this one-camera shoot stars daughter Moon Zappa (a couple of years after their radio hit “Valley Girl”) in improvised dialogue with her best friend Kyle Richards and her cousin Lala Sloatman. “Cheepnis” (1973, 10 min.) Featuring the only footage Zappa cut together from his legendary 1973 Roxy concerts, “Cheepnis” sings the praises of low-budget monster movies. This short documents the director, bandleader, songwriter and musician at work. Followed by:
200 MOTELS, 1971, United Artists, 98 min. Dir. Frank Zappa. “Touring can make you crazy. That's what 200 MOTELS is all about,” noted Frank Zappa, a mad scientist constantly pushing the boundaries of music and film. 200 MOTELS, a surrealistic documentary of life on the road conceived, written and scored by Frank Zappa, features The Mothers of Invention with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and was filmed live (200 MOTELS is the first feature shot on video in six days and transferred to film; cameras were directed by Tony Palmer). Some of Zappa's favorite topics - groupies, mundane Americana, inside jokes – crop up all over this film, with musical interludes to provide transcending breaks where things such as place, time and plot are forgotten. With Theodore Bikel, Keith Moon, and Ringo Starr as Larry the Dwarf disguised as Frank Zappa. Discussion following with Gail Zappa.
For the August/September issue of Record Collector News, Harvey Kubernik will be writing another cover story on the Beatles that will include comments and quotes from their recording engineers. Kubernik and Paul Zollo have also been taped for an NPR Beatles radio show produced by Paul Ingles that will examine "Rubber Soul" which will be broadcast in late October.
Man, I wish I could get to a couple of these! If any of our LA Readers are able to attend, please report back to us so we can share your experience with the others on the list! (kk)
And, speaking of Al Kooper (as we were just a few minutes ago!), his legendary "Super Sessions" album (recorded with the aforementioned Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills) is getting the 5.1 Multi-Channel Hybrid SACD treatment!) Here's the complete scoop:
Audio Fidelity To Release 5.1 Multichannel Hybrid SACD of Mike Bloomfield - Al Kooper - Steve Stills 'Super Session' Album Mixed By Legendary Al Kooper!
"...one of those albums that seems to get better with age...a super session indeed!"
Camarillo, CA – Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity will be releasing a limited numbered edition 5.1 Multichannel Hybrid SACD of the legendary Mike Bloomfield - Al Kooper - Steve Stills 'Super Session' album! Al Kooper was an A&R executive with Columbia Records in the early 1960's after leaving the group Blood, Sweat & Tears. The Super Session album was conceived as a jam session with Kooper on keyboards and former Paul Butterfield Blues Band member Mike Bloomfield on lead guitar along with veteran studio musician and Wrecking Crew member "Fast" Eddie Hoh on drums and Barry Goldberg, also on keyboards. Bloomfield was available during the first day of recording for Side 1 of the LP (tracks 1-5). For the second day of recording, Kooper brought in former Buffalo Springfield guitarist Steven Stills to perform on the music that became Side 2 of the LP (tracks 6-9). Recorded on a shoestring budget over a 2-day period in Los Angeles, Super Session went on to become a rock classic and earned the trio a gold record for sales of over one million copies.
"I always wanted to mix this in 5.1. I finished it in 2006, and it's been sitting there until Audio Fidelity released it from captivity. It's the first album I ever mixed in 5.1 I hope everyone enjoys it. Surround Sound allows the listener to get up close to each musician and hear details you can't hear in stereo. Hope ya like details - I DO!" - Al Kooper
The package includes new liner notes written by Al Kooper that tells the story of the Super Session album and the new 5.1 Multichannel mix. The 5.1 mix by Al Kooper with mastering by Bob Ludwig was never released and yet it has acquired some fame from industry insiders familiar with the Multichannel mix with comments like "excellent" and "it deserves to be heard." The new mastering of the Stereo layer of tracks for new SACD Stereo and CD Stereo audio are by mastering engineer Steve Hoffman.
"...some truly spectacular, not to mention, historical rock'n'roll moments."
Tracks:
1. Albert's Shuffle
2. Stop
3. Man's Temptation
4. His Holy Modal Majesty
5. Really
6. It Takes A Lot to Laugh, It Takes A Train to Cry
7. Season of the Witch
8. You Don't Love Me
9. Harvey's Tune
Produced by Al Kooper
Stereo CD and SACD mastering: Steve Hoffman at Stephen Marsh Mastering
Multichannel SACD 5.1 mix: Al Kooper
Multichannel SACD 5.1 mastering: Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios
For more information: http://www.audiofidelity.net/content/bloomfield-kooper-stillssuper-session
Al Kooper official website: http://alkooper.com/
>>>On July 22nd, the legacy of folk singer Jim Croce will see added to its distinguished discography, the release of Lost Time In A Bottle,a 24-track collection of rare versions of all his greatest hit songs including “Time In A Bottle,” “Operator,” “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and “I Got A Name.” The collection will be released by Cleopatra Records first on CD, with a 2LP vinyl version set to follow shortly thereafter. Between the years 1966 and 1973, Croce released a mere five studio albums and 11 singles, 2 of Sadly, we lost this incredible artist on September 20, 1973. His body of work, however, has lived on in a timeless state as new fans and old have embraced the incredible songwriting that has made him into the legend that he is today.
Included on Lost Time In A Bottle, is a previously unreleased radio concert from Cazenovia College in 1964. Recorded near the beginning of Jim’s career, it is a marvelous showcase of the storytelling skills and sparkling personality that the world would soon come to love.
1. Next Time, This Time (Harper College 2/5/73)
2. New York’s Not My Home (Harper College 2/5/73)
3. You Don’t Mess Around With Jim (Harper College 2/5/73)
4. Careful Man (Harper College 2/5/73)
5. A Good Time Man Like Me (Demo)
6. Tractor Trailer Story Intro (Harper College 2/5/73)
7. Speedball Tucker (Demo)
8. Operator (Demo)
9. Hard Time Losin’ Man (Demo)
10. Seems Like Such A Long Time Ago (Demo)
11. It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way (Harper College 2/5/73)
12. Bar Story Intro (Harper College 2/5/73)
13. Roller Derby Queen (Harper College 2/5/73)
14. One Less Set Of Footsteps (Harper College 2/5/73)
15. Dreamin’ Again (Harper College 2/5/73)
16. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Demo)
17. Time In A Bottle (Demo)
18. I Got A Name (Live 1973)
19. Charley Green, Play That Slide Trombone (Cazenovia College 1964)
20. San Francisco Bay Blues (Cazenovia College 1964)
21. Washington At Valley Forge (Cazenovia College 1964)
22. La Bamba (Cazenovia College 1964)
23. Seek And You Shall Find (Cazenovia College 1964)
Woke Up This Morning (Cazenovia College 1964)
To pre-order the CD at Amazon: http://georiot.co/Km8
To pre-order the album on iTunes: http://georiot.co/vlo
>>>Our FH Buddy Bill Hengels recorded that show at Harpers College back in 1973 ... MANY years ago we "sneak peeked" a couple of tracks after he sent the masters to Croce's widow in the hopes of eventual release. (A few tracks made it out here and there ... but this is probably the most complete collection ever released commercially.) kk
Kent -
Don't forget the CD that also contains seven of the songs from the concert
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Duration: 33:01
Recording Date: 1970 - 1973
Singer and songwriter Jim Croce had been looking for a break in the music business since making his first album in 1966, and it looked like he'd finally hit the big time in 1972 when he scored a hit single with the song "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" in 1972. Croce recorded three albums and landed a few more songs in the pop charts, including "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)," before his rising star suddenly fell on September 20, 1973, when he died in a plane crash following a concert in Louisiana. The Lost Recordings collects 12 rare recordings from Jim Croce: seven live songs from a concert staged in 1973 at Harper College in Palatine, IL., as well as original home-recorded demo tapes for five tunes, including "Time in a Bottle" and "These Dreams," with Croce accompanying himself on guitar.
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![Have You Heard: Live]( "click to embiggen")
Speaking of live concerts filmed and recorded right here in the Chicago area, Chicagoland Radio and Media is reporting about a brand new music / television series called "Music From The Mayne Stage". Similar to program's like "Austin City Limits" and our very own "Soundstage" Program (originally titled "Made In Chicago", by the way) the series will film live concerts by new, up-and-coming acts, which will they be broadcast over PBS affiliate WYCC-TV. (Several shows have already been filmed and will start airing shortly. Meanwhile, there's even a spot to request tickets to be in the audience at a future taping.) All of this information (and more details on the who's, where's and when's) can be found here: Click here: WYCC-TV Teams Up With Mayne Stage For New Live Concert Series
And Country Superstar Garth Brooks kicks off his world tour right here in Chicago at The Allstate Arena on September 4th. It'll be Brooks' first appearance in Chicago in 17 years! Incredibly tickets for this show (which will sell out IMMEDIATELY) are only priced at about $65 each ... and that includes ALL of the service charges! More dates to be announced shortly. (kk)
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Track Listing
| Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:55 | |||||
| 2 | 4:01 | |||||
| 3 | 1:49 | |||||
| 4 | 3:01 | |||||
| 5 | 3:00 | |||||
| 6 | 2:27 | |||||
| 7 | 2:47 | |||||
| 8 | 2:35 | |||||
| 9 | 2:41 | |||||
| 10 | 2:33 | |||||
| 11 | 2:50 | |||||
| 12 | 2:22 |
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Shout! Factory's 2006 CD release of Have You Heard: Jim Croce Live is a companion piece to their 2003 DVD of the same name. That DVD collected 13 live television performances, taken from shows like The Old Grey Whistle Test, and Underground, all of which were quite rare, since there isn't much footage of Jim Croce live on television. Not only was the music rare, but it was also quite good, some of the best live material he recorded, so it made sense that Shout! Factory would spin it off into an audio-only release. And that's exactly what this CD is -- the audio portion of those 13 TV performances. The two photo-collage montages on the DVD -- set to "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" and "Time in a Bottle" -- have been cut, since they weren't live concert performances to begin with, and a version of "Hard Time Losing Man" recorded live at Harper College in Palatine, IL, is the one exclusive cut on this collection. None of these performances loses anything heard as a mere audio track, and the collection is sequenced nicely, flowing as if it were an actual concert. That said, this doesn't offer anything new: if you have the DVD, you have this music, so this may not be a necessary purchase. But for dedicated Croce fans looking to enjoy these performances as music only, this is a welcome release
Track Listing
Bill HengelsSpeaking of live concerts filmed and recorded right here in the Chicago area, Chicagoland Radio and Media is reporting about a brand new music / television series called "Music From The Mayne Stage". Similar to program's like "Austin City Limits" and our very own "Soundstage" Program (originally titled "Made In Chicago", by the way) the series will film live concerts by new, up-and-coming acts, which will they be broadcast over PBS affiliate WYCC-TV. (Several shows have already been filmed and will start airing shortly. Meanwhile, there's even a spot to request tickets to be in the audience at a future taping.) All of this information (and more details on the who's, where's and when's) can be found here: Click here: WYCC-TV Teams Up With Mayne Stage For New Live Concert Series
And Country Superstar Garth Brooks kicks off his world tour right here in Chicago at The Allstate Arena on September 4th. It'll be Brooks' first appearance in Chicago in 17 years! Incredibly tickets for this show (which will sell out IMMEDIATELY) are only priced at about $65 each ... and that includes ALL of the service charges! More dates to be announced shortly. (kk)
Weird Al is back ... and in a big, big way. In fact, his brand new album "Mandatory Fun" is expected to be the first #1 Album of his career! In an unprecedented, genius move, Al released a brand new video for eight straight days ... some (like "Word Crimes" ... a parody of the Robin Thicke hit "Blurred Lines" ... which scored nearly seven million views in just three days!) have driven MILLIONS of fans to YouTube to check out his latest parodies. Check 'em all out on YouTube now! (kk)
And, while we're on the topic of "funny guys",VNN got the chance to interview Ray Stevens about his new book ... and you can read the whole thing right here: Click here: Interview: Ray Stevens Talks His New Book, CD and Movie ~ VVN Music
Speaking of books, Burton Cummings is NOT real happy with Randy Bachman's latest ... and says so in this interview, flat out calling Bachman a liar and stating that they are no longer friends ... what a shame! (These two have had an on-again / off-again relationship for over 40 years now ... and when they're "on", we as an audience reap the benefits of some GREAT music. Too bad after all this time that they can't just sweep the rest of this under the rug and enjoy the rest of their lives, resting on the laurels they've created both together and apart ... because it SURE is some GREAT music ... a legacy ANYONE would be proud of!!!) kk
Kent:
They gave us some of the most memorable rock music of the late 60s and 70s as principal talents in the Guess Who, but, sadly, the professional relationship has gone bad and Burton Cummings is no longer friends with Randy Bachman.
Mike McCann of Premiere Radio spoke to Burton earlier this month. Here’s what Mike reported:
And, while we're on the topic of "funny guys",VNN got the chance to interview Ray Stevens about his new book ... and you can read the whole thing right here: Click here: Interview: Ray Stevens Talks His New Book, CD and Movie ~ VVN Music
Speaking of books, Burton Cummings is NOT real happy with Randy Bachman's latest ... and says so in this interview, flat out calling Bachman a liar and stating that they are no longer friends ... what a shame! (These two have had an on-again / off-again relationship for over 40 years now ... and when they're "on", we as an audience reap the benefits of some GREAT music. Too bad after all this time that they can't just sweep the rest of this under the rug and enjoy the rest of their lives, resting on the laurels they've created both together and apart ... because it SURE is some GREAT music ... a legacy ANYONE would be proud of!!!) kk
Kent:
They gave us some of the most memorable rock music of the late 60s and 70s as principal talents in the Guess Who, but, sadly, the professional relationship has gone bad and Burton Cummings is no longer friends with Randy Bachman.
Mike McCann of Premiere Radio spoke to Burton earlier this month. Here’s what Mike reported:
-- Tom Cuddy
Burton accuses his former band-mate and writing partner of being a liar.
Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman were band mates in The Guess Who and writing partners on suchclassic songs as "American Woman,""No Time,""These Eyes" and "Undun." But they're no longer friends. Even after reuniting in 1999 when The Guess Who played the Pan Am Games, and then touring and recording as a duo, Cummings tells us that too many issues have come between them.
"We did OK as Bachman - Cummings. But now, he's gone his own way again and you know what? I was doing most of the work anyway, you know? Randy sang about four songs a night, took half the profits and his name was ahead of me on the marquee. Not that I care about any of that. But it was really an unbalanced situation energy-wise. He's a tremendous guitarist but ... we've had our time together.”
That's being diplomatic. Cummings got annoyed while reflecting on what Bachman wrote about him. And some of his ex-bandmate's claims regarding the Guess Who just don't hold water.
Burton said: "He'sreally said something terrible things about me in his two books. And, you know what? He's a liar. Randy's a liar. He's said things ... like ... now he's claiming that he wrote part of 'Share the Land.' Bull [bleep]! He was long gone before that ever ... ."
Here’swhat Randy said about Burton in his book: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2014/03/07/randy_bachman_writes_about_split_with_burton_cummings.html
Burton and I touched on the Randy Bachman relationship briefly in the interview that I did with him last year ... he seems to have SO many fond memories of the early years, just the two of them learning the craft of songwriting, coming back to his mother's house, Burton on the piano, Randy on the guitar, experimenting and such ... and the brief Bachman / Cummings Band reunion in 2007 produced some great cover versions of some of their favorite songs growing up ... but Burton felt like they could no longer write together ... and, as such, no "NEW" music would be forthcoming from the pair. Unfortunately they seem to have spent more time on the "outs" than connected. Meanwhile, Burton Cummings has continued to write and release some brilliant new material that just hasn't been marketed to the masses ... too bad as some of this stands right up there with his very best work from back in the day. (kk)
And you'll find links to that great Rolling Stone piece on Barry Gibb here, too ... Barry wants one more hit before he hangs things up! (I figure if ANYBODY can do it, he can ... The Bee Gees had more "comebacks" than any other artist I can think of!)
And FH Reader Tom Cuddy sent us this recent interview with Mark Volman of The Turtles:
Michael Nesmith cancelled his British tour for undisclosed reasons. This notice was published on his official website:
Sad to announce the UK tour is cancelled. In putting it all together we ran into some recent snags that were too difficult to overcome or to reconcile, so I made the decision to withdraw sooner rather than later so everyone would have time to rearrange schedules, and get their ticket money back from the promoter(s) there.
I am fine, family is fine, health is good, and I am busy and active. No worries about that, please.
The detailed reasons for the cancellation are too complex and intertwined with privacy issues I need to honor, so I can't get into the nitty gritty. Things finally came down to a point where there was no other decision open to me but to cancel.
I am very unhappy about it all, and I was really looking forward to coming. The 2012 tour was so much fun, the band had all made plans to bring the families, and it was shaping up to be a pretty good time. But at this last moment things fell apart in a way that was unrecoverable, so it was time to call retreat.
You all have my undying affection and gratitude for your support, and for the very early and brisk sales of the tickets, but this tour was not shaping up in a way that would work. I am so disappointed about it I can hardly write all this.
The redeeming fact of your support and encouragement gives me solace and you all have my heartfelt apologies for not being there with you.
Even as I write I am examining other avenues for putting a later UK/Euro tour together and am optimistic something will come together. At this point I can't say when.
But I am hard at work on it.
Even as I write I am examining other avenues for putting a later UK/Euro tour together and am optimistic something will come together. At this point I can't say when.
But I am hard at work on it.
SO glad I got to see him when I did as part of The Monkees Reunion Shows! (kk)
kk and Nez
Keith Emerson and Greg Lake To Release 'Live From Manticore Hall' CD July 14, 2014
London, UK – Welcome to Manticore Hall! Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, two of the founding members of prog legends Emerson Lake & Palmer, will be releasing their highly anticipated new CD 'Live From Manticore Hall' on July 14, 2014, on Manticore Records, via Cherry Red. The duo's forthcoming live album captures their unique two-man versions of a selection of well known material from ELP’s celebrated catalog, including the hit “Lucky Man”. These recordings were taken from a live show during their 2010 world tour and presented here for the first time!
“'Live At Manticore Hall' is an introspective revisit to some of the music of ELP. I think Greg and I gave it a personal touch with our Q&A sessions midway through the show. It was a delicate transformation that we present now.” - Keith Emerson
“I think this album offers a very interesting perspective upon how Keith and I work and create together.” - Greg Lake
Track Listing:
1. FROM THE BEGINNING
2. INTRODUCTION
3. I TALK TO THE WIND
4. BITCHES CRYSTAL
5. THE BARBARIAN
6. TAKE A PEBBLE
7. TARKUS
8. C’EST LE VIE
9. PIRATES
10. MOOG SOLO / LUCKY MAN
To purchase Keith Emerson & Greg Lake's 'Live From Manticore Hall' CD: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4712
Keith Emerson official website: http://www.keithemerson.com/
Greg Lake official website: http://greglake.com/
Wanna feel old? (or older?!?!?)
Donny Osmond announced last week that he'll be releasing a brand new CD in January of 2015 celebrating his 50th Year in Show Business!!!
Hi Kent,
Love your comparisons of ticket prices -- even taking into account for inflation, I see concert ticket prices have gone the way of medicine and Big Oil. They say music is medicine and it looks like they are both being held hostage by greed. Just a little food for thought. Funny how time treats certain recording acts ... take Paul Revere & The Raiders and the Rolling Stones -- both with quite a catalog of hits -- and they both put on great shows ... one act you pay a moderate amount to see perform and the other act is through the roof on ticket prices. Wait a minute ... weren't we told when Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged "we would have more variety of acts to see and ticket prices would come down" ... kind of like if we just let the oil companies do more drilling and fracking, gas prices will come down!
Peace,
Tim Kiley
Peace,
Tim Kiley
Kent,
In regarding the ticket prices for those acts back in the mid sixties, my parents and I would go to the professional wrestling matches on Friday nights when they were here in OKC. We always sat at ringside. Ticket prices then were $1.85 per ticket. The price of those tickets and the ones you listed for the recording acts seems preposterous but then again, that was some fifty years ago.
Looking for ward to MORE of FH.
Larry
I saw the Rolling Stones at Symphony Hall in Newark in the Fall of 1965, then the Dave Clark Five at the same venue a month or two later. Ticket prices were $4.50 and $5.00.
– Randy Price
Hey, for a buck you can get into "Disco Demolition 2"!!! And that's in 2014!!! (Why would ANYBODY in their right mind want to attempt this promotion again?!?!) Yet that's EXACTLY what Mike Veeck ... if ANYBODY, one who should know better having been there for the FIRST Disco Demolition Debacle 35 years ago ... is doing.
Full details here, courtesy of Chicagoland Radio and Media:
Got a couple of Beatles-related clip this week ... ironically BOTH with a "letters" theme of sorts ...
Of course The Beatles wrote a couple of letters of their own ... "P.S. I Love You" and "gonna write a little letter, gonna mail it to my local deejay" from Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" immediately come to mind! (kk)
And, of course, big news last week that Ron Howard (little Opie Cunningham!) will be producing a brand new Beatles documentary spotlighting the touring years. Fans are encouraged to submit film and memorabilia for the movie. (Everything from The Cavern Club through their final roof-top concert at Apple Records is expected to be included.) More here: Click here: Ron Howard Directing Documentary on the Beatles' Touring Years ~ VVN Music
That may have been a half-hearted effort by The Beatles on 'How Do You Do It', but the harmonies are beautiful. John starts to get into the song, and then it sounds like he realizes what he's doing and calms down. "What's the point? I don't like this song?"
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
It's not a bad rendition ... actually it sounds quite a bit like some of the stuff on their Decca audition tapes ... but clearly their hearts weren't in it. Thankfully, they pulled "Please Please Me" out of the hat ... there was never really any looking back after that! (kk)
Hi Kent ...
50 years ago? ... Gee, it seems like yesterday!
I remember when "A Hard Day's Night" arrived at the movies. It was the much hailed first Beatles movie. There was much "hub bub" about what the title meant, who was in it besides the Beatles, what the story line was, what songs were included, etc. Yep, I've seen it a few times.
Blossmwrld
There's a GREAT Paul McCartney interview in Rolling Stone ...
As well as an update on the brand new, upcoming Brian Wilson album ... which now (instead of being the second Beach Boys Reunion LP) will apparently be a series of duets with female artists! (Much of this material was written for the follow-up to The Beach Boys' Top Ten comeback CD "That's Why God Made The Radio", a new album Brian was REALLY looking forward to ... until Mike Love ... in typical dumb-Love fashion ... pulled the plug on the whole reunion thing so that he could carry on with HIS version of The Beach Boys on his own.)
Speaking of The Beach Boys, David Beard of Endless Summer Quarterly helps celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their "All Summer Long" album in this week's Examiner column ...
Here are some of my instrumental favorites from the '60's -
Fred Glickstein
For more favorites, be sure to check out THIS list ...
I can't believe one of your readers hasn't heard Kai Winding's instrumental version of MORE since the 1960s. That song has actually gotten plenty of airplay over the years on various oldies and "memory" stations, and has gotten regular play on MUSIC CHOICE as well. Plus, it was easy to come by on CD during the 90s and into the early part of the 2000s.
Tal Hartsfeld
Tal Hartsfeld
Honestly, I'll bet I haven't heard it in over 20 years here in Chicago ... where REAL oldies (and especially vintage instrumentals) are pretty hard to come by. Glad we could feature it here! (kk)
Many thanks for this great site. On the 45th anniversary of Woodstock, your followers would love Tunes. Thank you in advance and have a great summer.
Cheers and best wishes,
Blair Sorrel
TunesCompany.com
Enjoy the Great Memories of your Favorite Artist from the Vinyl Era with Framed Albums Covers, Collectable Art, Memorabilia, Rock and Roll, Music Art.
Hey Kent,
When I get to sing in public, there a couple of songs that never let me down with the audience: "Don't Stop Believin" and "Daydream Believer"; two opposites, for sure. I've really gotten tired of the requests for Journey, and I've always liked The Monkees' song. It's fun to sing, and doesn't push my voice off a cliff.
When I get to sing in public, there a couple of songs that never let me down with the audience: "Don't Stop Believin" and "Daydream Believer"; two opposites, for sure. I've really gotten tired of the requests for Journey, and I've always liked The Monkees' song. It's fun to sing, and doesn't push my voice off a cliff.
It was written by John Stewart, during his last year with the Kingston Trio, my all-time favorite vocal group. It was rejected by Spanky and Our Gang and We Five, before the Monkees recorded it. I'm surprised We Five turned it down, because Stewart's brother, Mike, was leader of that group. The Monkees' producer asked John if he could replace the original word, "funky" with "happy", but Stewart didn't want that to happen, until he realized that his song could be a big hit with the change. I've never been too keen about the word, "funky". I think "crazy" could have been used without changing the meaning of the verse. It tells how a beautiful woman has found out that musicians are "different" than all the others. "Now you know how happy I can be" does change things a bit, and Anne Murray's version "how happy WE can be" changes them even more. When I saw Davy Jones singing at a festival, a few years back, I got there just after he started, and stayed for a lot of it, but there was another band playing about five blocks away, and wanted to catch them, too. As I was on my way, I told a friend of mine that I really wanted to hear Davy sing "Daydream Believer", and he assured me that he had already sung it, so I walked down to hear the other band. After one song, I wanted to return to hear Jones, and on the way back, in the distance, I could hear him start his famous song. I ran as fast as I could, but got there just as Davy was taking his bows. Needless to say, when I run into that "friend" again, I will remind him of how he took that moment away from me!
I found this very touching video of Davy recording the song again, with Stewart's widow, Buffy Ford. I've always liked her singing voice. Besides her duets with her husband, she had some nice solo recordings in past years. AND, I didn't know that another lyric about the shavin' razor being "cold" is supposed to be "OLD", which makes more sense again! Take a look!
- John LaPuzza
I found this very touching video of Davy recording the song again, with Stewart's widow, Buffy Ford. I've always liked her singing voice. Besides her duets with her husband, she had some nice solo recordings in past years. AND, I didn't know that another lyric about the shavin' razor being "cold" is supposed to be "OLD", which makes more sense again! Take a look!
- John LaPuzza
Wow ... what a GREAT video ... very moving. Thanks for sending, John. (kk)
And here's another cool Teen Idols Tribute to this classic song ... featuring David Cassidy, Micky Dolenz and Peter Noone ...
Ron Onesti just announced some new shows coming to The Arcada Theatre later this year ...
KC and the Sunshine Company - August 29th
(We saw KC there a couple of years ago and it was a GREAT show! The air-conditioning went out that night and the heat was almost unbearable ... but, trouper that he is, KC just kept on going, spraying the audience with his water bottles throughout the night. A WHOLE lotta fun!)
Burton Cummings - November 14th
America - November 15th (This show sells out EVERY time! Don't miss your chance to see these guys! Hit after hit after hit)
And a couple of REALLY cool Christmas shows featuring Ronnie Spector and Jim Peterik with The Ides Of March!
LOTS more great shows ... ticket information on the website ... oshows.com
Speaking of great concerts, it sounds like we missed another good one last week ...
Hi ya, Kent;
Bolted the city last night to go see Pat Benatar at a free outdoor show in Elk Grove Village. The crowd was huge, flat out enormous.
I found myself thinking, "By the time we got to Elk Grove we were half a million strong." However, given the make up of the audience, maybe I should have hummed, "By the time we got to Elk Grove we were 72 years old." Trust me, the assembled throng wasn't a bunch of teenagers doing the bop on Dick Clark's old "American Bandstand" Show. These were rock 'n roll veterans. People who grew up digging Freddie Cannon, Bobby Vee and Dion along with the Beatles and Stones.
Kudos to the diminutive Benatar. Pat loses a note from time to time, but then leaves you breathless when she sings the heart-felt, "Hell is for Children" or throws the left hook on "Love is a Battlefield."
Her hubby and lead guitarist, "Spider", is aggressive, if somewhat unimaginative. The bass player and the drummer are strictly along for the ride. They fill out the roster.
The set was boosted by electronic music pushed in to hype the sound. Most notably on "Battlefield" where the affect created the the double-drums affect that were so much a part of the song.
In this, her 35th year in the biz, Pat still looks a tad uncomfortable trying to interact with the audience. That's shame since the little lady who still looks like a corn fed Midwestern cheerleader clearly had the house in the palm of her hand.
Pat Benetar 3.5 stars.
Chet Coppock"
Host: Chicago Blackhawks heritage Series
Host: Notrte Dame football, WLS Radio
Bolted the city last night to go see Pat Benatar at a free outdoor show in Elk Grove Village. The crowd was huge, flat out enormous.
I found myself thinking, "By the time we got to Elk Grove we were half a million strong." However, given the make up of the audience, maybe I should have hummed, "By the time we got to Elk Grove we were 72 years old." Trust me, the assembled throng wasn't a bunch of teenagers doing the bop on Dick Clark's old "American Bandstand" Show. These were rock 'n roll veterans. People who grew up digging Freddie Cannon, Bobby Vee and Dion along with the Beatles and Stones.
Kudos to the diminutive Benatar. Pat loses a note from time to time, but then leaves you breathless when she sings the heart-felt, "Hell is for Children" or throws the left hook on "Love is a Battlefield."
Her hubby and lead guitarist, "Spider", is aggressive, if somewhat unimaginative. The bass player and the drummer are strictly along for the ride. They fill out the roster.
The set was boosted by electronic music pushed in to hype the sound. Most notably on "Battlefield" where the affect created the the double-drums affect that were so much a part of the song.
In this, her 35th year in the biz, Pat still looks a tad uncomfortable trying to interact with the audience. That's shame since the little lady who still looks like a corn fed Midwestern cheerleader clearly had the house in the palm of her hand.
Pat Benetar 3.5 stars.
Chet Coppock"
Host: Chicago Blackhawks heritage Series
Host: Notrte Dame football, WLS Radio
We saw them a few years ago at Schaumburgfest and I thought they were great. Had every intention of going to the Elk Grove show, too, but never made it out there. (Have yet to see one of their summer concerts this year ... but am REALLY looking forward to the close-out show on July 29th with Kenny Loggins.) I've heard they've had record crowds this year for these programs so best to get there early. (I talked to a friend of mine whose son works at the Jimmy Johns across the street and he says it was their biggest single-day sales ever, both before ... and especially AFTER ... the concert!) kk
re: OK, Now THIS Is Pretty Cool:
Early last Sunday Morning (7/13) our meter-count of viewers at The Forgotten Hits Website hit 2,222,222!!! How cool is THAT?!?! Thanks again to everybody for their continued support of our efforts. (kk)
↧
Helping Out Our Readers
We haven't done one of these in awhile!
Here are some of the questions that have come up recently in Forgotten Hits ...
I remember the old radio ads for rock n roll shows in Charlotte. I often went to the Coliseum or Park Center. Can anyone post any of these radio ads? Not necessarily from Charlotte, anywhere else is good, too. They were well produced spots with snippets of songs. This type of show was common in the 50's to the mid 60's.
Check out this Summer of Stars poster from Chicago, circa 1966! And look at some of these prices! Incredibly Tony Bennett and Bill Cosby had a higher top line ticket price than The Beatles! And Andy Williams topped them both!![]()
It was Dick Clark who told them that "the bop" was on its way out ... "kids today are going to the hop" ... so Madara and songwriting partner David White (who was a member of Danny and the Juniors) reworked their lyrics to reflect the latest trend ... "let's go to the hop" ... and boom! Straight up to #1.
When they went to publish their song, publisher Artie Singer put HIS name on the copyright, claiming to be both the cowriter and producer of the hit record. Madara and White were told, quite simply, that this is how it was done ... and that if they ever wanted to work in Philadelphia again, they needed to get with the program. (Welcome to show business, guys!)
You can read our full accounting here: Click here: Forgotten Hits - John Madara's Greatest Hits
Hi,
Hi Kent,
Here it is for all the curious out there!
For a few days here in OKC, they have been running an Arby's roast beef commercial spotlighting an Hawaiian BLT. You probably have seen it on your television. In the background is an instrumental which I am somewhat familiar with, but can't quite name. Have you seen the commercial and do you happen to know what instrumental they are playing in the background ... or perhaps this is something new?
Looking for a song by the Seventh Sons back from the mid 60's (maybe "I Live In Fantasy" or "Baby, Please Come Back")
Before the group Salt and Peppa of the 90's, there was another group called Salt and Pepper. I don't think they were well known but they did have an instrumental soul song called Salt and Pepper. When I was in high school it was used for one of the dance pieces in our music program and I have never forgotten it. I have tried to find it but every time I do research, I keep on coming up with the updated group. Is it possible for you to find out any information about this group that performed around 1973-75?
Hi ~
I have spent the last hour or so looking for a song that was an instrumental from the 1960's ... and I cannot locate it anywhere. The name of it is "More".I saw your list that you shared of songs from 1959 - 1970's, but it's not there. I was sure it was a hit. Maybe with your field of expertise, you can assist me?Thanks for your feedback,
Mary Anne Haskins
This was an easy one, Mary Anne ... (FINALLY!!!) ...
Kai Winding scored a #7 hit with his 1963 version of "More", originally from the motion picture "Mondo Cane". Honestly, I was surprised not to see it on either of our Top 50 Instrumentals lists either ... because it was a HUGE favorite. We'll right that wrong by featuring it today! (kk)
Here are some of the questions that have come up recently in Forgotten Hits ...
I remember the old radio ads for rock n roll shows in Charlotte. I often went to the Coliseum or Park Center. Can anyone post any of these radio ads? Not necessarily from Charlotte, anywhere else is good, too. They were well produced spots with snippets of songs. This type of show was common in the 50's to the mid 60's.
Any help from your readers would be appreciated.
Charlie Miller,
KPOO FM Autumn King Show
Charlie Miller,
KPOO FM Autumn King Show
Check out this Summer of Stars poster from Chicago, circa 1966! And look at some of these prices! Incredibly Tony Bennett and Bill Cosby had a higher top line ticket price than The Beatles! And Andy Williams topped them both!
(Anybody know the inflation rate for 1966? Seeing headliners like these for about five bucks still blows my mind!) kk
OMG - I just found a calculator rate online ... $6.50 in U.S. Dollars in 1966 only comes out to be $48.00 in today's money. (How can that be??? Wouldn'tcha think it'd be at least 10-20 times more?) But even so, doing the math, you can't find a $65 ticket to see Paul McCartney these days ... much less all four Beatles! And back in '66 you had a ticket price range of $3.75 - $5.75. (kk)
Hello Kent,
I just read your piece on Do The Bop / At The Hop.
I've been doing a little research of my own regarding this song and I have heard a very interesting story that may or may not interest you.
If you are familiar with West Philly High and several doo-wop groups that came from there, I know of one little known group called "The Gems" that Danny Rapp was closely associated with along with a man name Harvey Reed. This story also eludes to the fact that "Do the Bop" may have been a project of "The Gems" before it was reassigned to Danny and the Juniors.
This story also alleges that Danny also knew Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble back in West Philly High, along with a Ronald Sellicks.
Would you happen to know the real truth about this song? And was it stolen from a group because the promoter at that time wanted an all white group and not the mixed race group called "The Gems"? I'm just trying to get the story straight because I know songs were stolen back then and I am certain despite the reasons the true song writer did not pursue legal action is because the song wasn't copywritten until way after it became a hit.
If some one has this evidence what would you do with it? Sincerely
Vanessa
I put your inquiry to John Madara, one of the cowriters of the #1 Hit "At The Hop" but never heard anything back regarding these specific circumstances. He has told his story numerous times over the years, including right here in Forgotten Hits in a series we ran several years ago spotlighting some of the hit records he wrote and/or produced. (Including "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore, "1,2,3" by Len Barry and others.)
I asked him if the song had been pedaled around prior to Danny and the Juniors recording it ... not at all an uncommon practice back in the day of placing the right song with the right artist. (Actually we even ran an early demo of "Do The Bop" on the site way back when ... and are running it again today for the benefit of those who may have missed it.)
Hello Kent,
I just read your piece on Do The Bop / At The Hop.
I've been doing a little research of my own regarding this song and I have heard a very interesting story that may or may not interest you.
If you are familiar with West Philly High and several doo-wop groups that came from there, I know of one little known group called "The Gems" that Danny Rapp was closely associated with along with a man name Harvey Reed. This story also eludes to the fact that "Do the Bop" may have been a project of "The Gems" before it was reassigned to Danny and the Juniors.
This story also alleges that Danny also knew Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble back in West Philly High, along with a Ronald Sellicks.
Would you happen to know the real truth about this song? And was it stolen from a group because the promoter at that time wanted an all white group and not the mixed race group called "The Gems"? I'm just trying to get the story straight because I know songs were stolen back then and I am certain despite the reasons the true song writer did not pursue legal action is because the song wasn't copywritten until way after it became a hit.
If some one has this evidence what would you do with it? Sincerely
Vanessa
I put your inquiry to John Madara, one of the cowriters of the #1 Hit "At The Hop" but never heard anything back regarding these specific circumstances. He has told his story numerous times over the years, including right here in Forgotten Hits in a series we ran several years ago spotlighting some of the hit records he wrote and/or produced. (Including "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore, "1,2,3" by Len Barry and others.)
I asked him if the song had been pedaled around prior to Danny and the Juniors recording it ... not at all an uncommon practice back in the day of placing the right song with the right artist. (Actually we even ran an early demo of "Do The Bop" on the site way back when ... and are running it again today for the benefit of those who may have missed it.)
It was Dick Clark who told them that "the bop" was on its way out ... "kids today are going to the hop" ... so Madara and songwriting partner David White (who was a member of Danny and the Juniors) reworked their lyrics to reflect the latest trend ... "let's go to the hop" ... and boom! Straight up to #1.
When they went to publish their song, publisher Artie Singer put HIS name on the copyright, claiming to be both the cowriter and producer of the hit record. Madara and White were told, quite simply, that this is how it was done ... and that if they ever wanted to work in Philadelphia again, they needed to get with the program. (Welcome to show business, guys!)
You can read our full accounting here: Click here: Forgotten Hits - John Madara's Greatest Hits
Hi,
I enjoy your site and when I clicked on the link to see Honey House from the Smother Brother's show it showed that the video does not exist anymore. If you do find it please contact me, that was a funny skit.
Thank you.
Roy
It is a VERY funny skit ... but apparently those in control of the CBS / Smothers Brothers material didn't authorize it to be posted ... so it's actually been missing for a very long time. (It doesn't appear on either of the two commercially released "best of" DVD box sets either ... anybody out there have ANY idea why Season One has never seen the light of day? For some goofy reason, they released these BACKWARDS ... Season Three first, followed by Season Two ... but it's been YEARS now and Season One has never come out.) It would be nice to have them all ... and by that I mean much more COMPLETE programs than just these edited "favorites". (kk)
We've run this request several times before in Forgotten Hits / Helping Out Our Readers ... but have never been able to come up with an answer before ... till now!
We've even asked Harvey Kubernik, who is often in touch with Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, if maybe HE could help us out securing this answer so we could share it with our readers! (kk)
Ok, here is the song I'm looking for (to the best of the info I have on hand) ... I know Michelle Phillips would know exactly what this song is. If you need an actual video recording of this, I have something saved in my phone. I'd be happy to meet you to play this (or if you could record this on your i-Phone as well?) One would be hard pressed to believe that if Michelle heard this, she would not know right away what this song is and if there is an actual recording of it.
1. It was featured in the documentary Straight Shooter about the Mamas and Papas
2. It featured Denny, John and Michelle (it was a folksy type of song) from BEFORE they were the Mamas and the Papas3) I will "attempt" to put as many words from the song as I can. (I thought that maybe it was called "Rake and Ramblin' Boy" or "Cumberland City" based on the lyrics ... but the title doesn't appear in the end credits for the documentary film ... so I've been trying to find it ever since.
Here goes:
I am a rake and a ramblin boy, many a city I have been
The Cumberland City I've made my way, just to spend my money on the balls and play
Well, the Cumberland City yes, I married me a wife ... Loved her better than I did my life
She treated me kind by night and day, and she caused me to ride on this high-a-way
Well a pretty little girl, 17 years old ... hair just as yellow as the shining gold
Prettiest face and the neatest hands ... God Bless the ground on where she stands.
I'm not ashamed or afraid to die, but I hope I meet you by and by
Kent,
This song has haunted me ever since I first watched and heard it. There has to be SOMEONE who knows this song.. My fear is that Michelle might be the only one left who could know!
Please, anything you can do would be wonderful!
Thanks -
Loyal Reader of Forgotten Hits -
Bob Morrow
Kent,
Do you remember off the top of your head ...
Was there ever a 60s pop duo that lived briefly in or near the Palatine, Arlington Hts, Des Plaines area? Perhaps someone who sounded like Dick & DeeDee or Paul & Paula or someone of that vintage. I remember one of the WLS DJs talking about it back in the mid-80s and can't remember anything more specific about it. I can't even remember if they lived there during the 60s or much later.
No need to put this question on your site, just a passing curiosity.
Jon M
Off the top of my head, no ... it doesn't ring a bell ... but we've got a LOT of experts on the list who may be able to help you answer this question ... so we're running it up the flagpole in this installment of "Helping Out Our Readers". (Guy Arnston of The Illinois Entertainer and Dean Milano, who has written a book about all of our local talent, immediately come to mind as folks who may be able to help you solve your mystery.) kk
Could it have been Friend and Lover ... or Family?
Guy
I believe it was just one member of a duo. The more I think about it, it might have been Ray Hildebrand that was mentioned having lived there for a very short time, but I can't find any proof of it. I mentioned it to my boss and he challenged me to find out for sure. Since I asked you the question, I did find on an old census website that a Ray Hildebrand had lived in Palatine at one time, but it was a different guy. Perhaps it confused more than just me.
Jon M
Anybody else out there got any ideas on this one? (kk)
Hello Kent Kotal,
Thank you.
Roy
It is a VERY funny skit ... but apparently those in control of the CBS / Smothers Brothers material didn't authorize it to be posted ... so it's actually been missing for a very long time. (It doesn't appear on either of the two commercially released "best of" DVD box sets either ... anybody out there have ANY idea why Season One has never seen the light of day? For some goofy reason, they released these BACKWARDS ... Season Three first, followed by Season Two ... but it's been YEARS now and Season One has never come out.) It would be nice to have them all ... and by that I mean much more COMPLETE programs than just these edited "favorites". (kk)
We've run this request several times before in Forgotten Hits / Helping Out Our Readers ... but have never been able to come up with an answer before ... till now!
We've even asked Harvey Kubernik, who is often in touch with Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, if maybe HE could help us out securing this answer so we could share it with our readers! (kk)
Ok, here is the song I'm looking for (to the best of the info I have on hand) ... I know Michelle Phillips would know exactly what this song is. If you need an actual video recording of this, I have something saved in my phone. I'd be happy to meet you to play this (or if you could record this on your i-Phone as well?) One would be hard pressed to believe that if Michelle heard this, she would not know right away what this song is and if there is an actual recording of it.
1. It was featured in the documentary Straight Shooter about the Mamas and Papas
2. It featured Denny, John and Michelle (it was a folksy type of song) from BEFORE they were the Mamas and the Papas3) I will "attempt" to put as many words from the song as I can. (I thought that maybe it was called "Rake and Ramblin' Boy" or "Cumberland City" based on the lyrics ... but the title doesn't appear in the end credits for the documentary film ... so I've been trying to find it ever since.
Here goes:
I am a rake and a ramblin boy, many a city I have been
The Cumberland City I've made my way, just to spend my money on the balls and play
Well, the Cumberland City yes, I married me a wife ... Loved her better than I did my life
She treated me kind by night and day, and she caused me to ride on this high-a-way
Well a pretty little girl, 17 years old ... hair just as yellow as the shining gold
Prettiest face and the neatest hands ... God Bless the ground on where she stands.
I'm not ashamed or afraid to die, but I hope I meet you by and by
Kent,
This song has haunted me ever since I first watched and heard it. There has to be SOMEONE who knows this song.. My fear is that Michelle might be the only one left who could know!
Please, anything you can do would be wonderful!
Thanks -
Loyal Reader of Forgotten Hits -
Bob Morrow
Kent,
Do you remember off the top of your head ...
Was there ever a 60s pop duo that lived briefly in or near the Palatine, Arlington Hts, Des Plaines area? Perhaps someone who sounded like Dick & DeeDee or Paul & Paula or someone of that vintage. I remember one of the WLS DJs talking about it back in the mid-80s and can't remember anything more specific about it. I can't even remember if they lived there during the 60s or much later.
No need to put this question on your site, just a passing curiosity.
Jon M
Off the top of my head, no ... it doesn't ring a bell ... but we've got a LOT of experts on the list who may be able to help you answer this question ... so we're running it up the flagpole in this installment of "Helping Out Our Readers". (Guy Arnston of The Illinois Entertainer and Dean Milano, who has written a book about all of our local talent, immediately come to mind as folks who may be able to help you solve your mystery.) kk
Could it have been Friend and Lover ... or Family?
Guy
I believe it was just one member of a duo. The more I think about it, it might have been Ray Hildebrand that was mentioned having lived there for a very short time, but I can't find any proof of it. I mentioned it to my boss and he challenged me to find out for sure. Since I asked you the question, I did find on an old census website that a Ray Hildebrand had lived in Palatine at one time, but it was a different guy. Perhaps it confused more than just me.
Jon M
Anybody else out there got any ideas on this one? (kk)
Hello Kent Kotal,
I hope that this e-mail still works. My name is James Moniz.
I came across your blog and e-mail while trying to search for a way to contact anyone who used to talk to (or work with) Joe Somsky.
I am attached to a re-issue CD project and I know that shortly before Joe Somsky died he was readying a CD project that included the master tapes to some songs I need. I am desperately trying to track down the tapes and when I saw on your blog that you spoke to him sometimes, I thought you might know how to get me in contact with some of the people who worked with him on reissue projects. I do not know if Somsky had the actual tapes or if he simply just knew where the tapes were located. Perhaps someone close to him knows. If you can think of anyone, please introduce me. I am trying every avenue to solve this mystery. I sincerely appreciate any help you can give me.
-- JAMES MONIZ
Hi James!
I'm sorry but I don't recognize the name Joe Somsky at all! (If you can tell me in what context we referred to him that might help me remember something ... but off the top of my head, it's not at all familiar to me. Sorry!)
But that's not to say that someone else on the list might not still be able to help you. Let's run your inquiry here and see if we get any nibbles. (kk)
Hi Kent,
I'm trying to trace a b-side I think was called 'Walk With Me, My Sherilee'. It may have been by Tab Hunter, 1950s. Can you help?
Thanks,
Pauline
And then, before I could even publish her inquiry ...
Found out it was Tommy Steele, 1957 .. number 11 in the charts. From the film of the same name.
Pauline
A British Hit then, I take it. We may not have found this one! Thanks, Pauline! (kk)
Here it is for all the curious out there!
Hey, Kent!
I have been having a lot of fun listening to Bill Drake's excellent series "The History of Rock and Roll", both the 1978 and 1981 versions. The '78 I have been listening to is on one web site, but the other with the '81 has been taken down.
There have been a few sites on the web that have been streaming Bill Drake's legendary masterpiece, "The History of Rock and Roll" . One is http://www.alycefaye.com/radio-audio.html . The other is at http://thehistoryofrockandrollradio.com/HRRprogram1.html . Sadly those who have been at the second site have found that the latter has been taken down as of 6/17. This is because the domain license has expired.
There have been a few sites on the web that have been streaming Bill Drake's legendary masterpiece, "The History of Rock and Roll" . One is http://www.alycefaye.com/radio-audio.html . The other is at http://thehistoryofrockandrollradio.com/HRRprogram1.html . Sadly those who have been at the second site have found that the latter has been taken down as of 6/17. This is because the domain license has expired.
The first site is streaming the 1978 version of THORR. The second, the one that was taken down, streamed the '81 edition. I hope someone out there can find a site that I missed that is streaming the '81 version so I can hear it for comparison, or at least lead me to someone that has this version.
It is the granddaddy of all radio documentaries. I hope this spirit never dies.
I have been using software to record material from both versions for my iPod. But now I can't find the '81. Do you know somewhere or someplace I can find anything to hear or even obtain the ' 81? Thanks.
Joe Campas
Quite honestly, I'm not sure ANYONE out there has the necessary licensing required to broadcast either of these programs ... but in the sickly state of oldies radio today, it's no wonder fans of the "real deal" are out there searching for quality programming out. I'm happy to run your inquiry but I'm not real optimistic that anything will come back. Meanwhile, it'd be nice if one of the producers of this great series, Gary Theroux (a Forgotten Hits regular) could drum up a market to legitimately dedicate a station to airing this again ... even on some type of a time-loop that played continuously so that you could click it on whenever you wanted to in order to hear all of the chapters that make up the entire piece. Meanwhile, Gary's 2 1/2 minute spotlight pieces run daily (Monday - Friday) on Rewound Radio ... so you might be able to get a "temporary fix" there! (kk)
For a few days here in OKC, they have been running an Arby's roast beef commercial spotlighting an Hawaiian BLT. You probably have seen it on your television. In the background is an instrumental which I am somewhat familiar with, but can't quite name. Have you seen the commercial and do you happen to know what instrumental they are playing in the background ... or perhaps this is something new?
Larry
Sorry but I can't help you out with this one ... as I've never seen this commercial ... but maybe somebody else out there has. Anybody able to help Larry out with this one? (Instrumentals are the toughest to track down ... but knowing absolutely NOTHING about it, I can't help but wonder if they didn't take something like "Hawaii Tattoo" by The Waikikis or something like that if they're pushing a Hawaiian sandwich! (If not, it probably would have been a pretty clever choice! Damn, I should have gotten into marketing!) kk
Looking for a song by the Seventh Sons back from the mid 60's (maybe "I Live In Fantasy" or "Baby, Please Come Back")
Thanks!
Minx
I checked the usual sources ... can't find anything charting in Billboard ... didn't see anything on YouTube or on the Gemm website ... hoping somebody out there will be familiar with these. (kk)
I checked the usual sources ... can't find anything charting in Billboard ... didn't see anything on YouTube or on the Gemm website ... hoping somebody out there will be familiar with these. (kk)
Before the group Salt and Peppa of the 90's, there was another group called Salt and Pepper. I don't think they were well known but they did have an instrumental soul song called Salt and Pepper. When I was in high school it was used for one of the dance pieces in our music program and I have never forgotten it. I have tried to find it but every time I do research, I keep on coming up with the updated group. Is it possible for you to find out any information about this group that performed around 1973-75?
Charmin Wells
Unfortunately, I hit the same dead end with this one. I don't see anything charting for either a group called Salt And Pepper OR a song called "Salt And Pepper" so I'm afraid I can't be of much help here. (Again, nothing on YouTube or Gemm for this track either.) However, we're always amazed by what our readers come back with, especially now that you've narrowed down the field a little bit to the early '70's. Let's see what we get. (kk)
Hi ~
I have spent the last hour or so looking for a song that was an instrumental from the 1960's ... and I cannot locate it anywhere. The name of it is "More".I saw your list that you shared of songs from 1959 - 1970's, but it's not there. I was sure it was a hit. Maybe with your field of expertise, you can assist me?Thanks for your feedback,
Mary Anne Haskins
This was an easy one, Mary Anne ... (FINALLY!!!) ...
Kai Winding scored a #7 hit with his 1963 version of "More", originally from the motion picture "Mondo Cane". Honestly, I was surprised not to see it on either of our Top 50 Instrumentals lists either ... because it was a HUGE favorite. We'll right that wrong by featuring it today! (kk)
Oh my gosh!
Kent! How can I thank you for this??
This was such a favorite song of mine and do you realize I have not heard it since the 1960's?
I have to ask someone how to get this on my iPod!
I just found it on You Tube![Emoji]()
You have rekindled the most wonderful childhood memories for me.
Thank you for replying so quickly to my email!
Mary Anne
Kent! How can I thank you for this??
This was such a favorite song of mine and do you realize I have not heard it since the 1960's?
I have to ask someone how to get this on my iPod!
I just found it on You Tube
You have rekindled the most wonderful childhood memories for me.Thank you for replying so quickly to my email!
Mary Anne
↧
Let's Live For Today
I got this email about a week ago ... I always find it interesting how new people continue to discover Forgotten Hits every single day, depending on what they may be searching for ... even if it's an article we did way back in 2009!!!
Hello Kent -
I must respectfully disagree with much of the background you wrote about the song "Let's Live For Today".
Back in the late 1990's I began digging into the background of the Grass Roots favorite of mine. It took a couple of years, but once all the evidence was gathered, I was able to piece together my own take on the song's background, with input from some of the Rokes themselves, Bobby Posner and Mike Shepstone, among others. Their telling of the song's background differs greatly from what you wrote about it. First of all, the Rokes started off as a British group who found a home in Italy. The Living Daylights were not from New York, they were from the UK.
Hello Kent -
I must respectfully disagree with much of the background you wrote about the song "Let's Live For Today".
Back in the late 1990's I began digging into the background of the Grass Roots favorite of mine. It took a couple of years, but once all the evidence was gathered, I was able to piece together my own take on the song's background, with input from some of the Rokes themselves, Bobby Posner and Mike Shepstone, among others. Their telling of the song's background differs greatly from what you wrote about it. First of all, the Rokes started off as a British group who found a home in Italy. The Living Daylights were not from New York, they were from the UK.
Rather than try and retell the entire story in this e-mail, you can read my story about it here:
http://web-beta.archive.org/web/20030603160413/http://bobshannon.com/fred/letslive.html
The finished product was originally published on Bob Shannon's web site in April, 2003. Bob himself initially inspired the digging, whereas I found the pieces and pieced them all together.
Fred Clemens
I reviewed Fred's analysis ... honestly, I don't know that it's all that different than mine ... other than one obvious error on my part (the origins of a group called The Living Daylights), I think we pretty much tell the exact same story ... but since we're always in pursuit of "the most accurate truth" I wanted to share it with you today as a means to better explain the history of this song ... released SEVERAL times before The Grass Roots' version finally caught on here in The United States.
Click here: Forgotten Hits: Let's Live For Today
http://web-beta.archive.org/web/20030603160413/http://bobshannon.com/fred/letslive.html
The finished product was originally published on Bob Shannon's web site in April, 2003. Bob himself initially inspired the digging, whereas I found the pieces and pieced them all together.
Fred Clemens
I reviewed Fred's analysis ... honestly, I don't know that it's all that different than mine ... other than one obvious error on my part (the origins of a group called The Living Daylights), I think we pretty much tell the exact same story ... but since we're always in pursuit of "the most accurate truth" I wanted to share it with you today as a means to better explain the history of this song ... released SEVERAL times before The Grass Roots' version finally caught on here in The United States.
Click here: Forgotten Hits: Let's Live For Today
My piece was designed to be short and to the point ... almost a "script", if you will, for Scott Shannon to use on his True Oldies Channel Rock And Roll Remakes Weekend (which we plugged as part of the original posting.)
Fred's goes into far more detail (and takes the topic FAR more seriously than WE did! lol) ... but most of this can be attributed to LOTS of label and foreign release information. (For the most part, the general HISTORY of the song is pretty identical.) On the plus side, he also had the opportunity to interview members of The Rokes, whereas my piece was culled from my own research on the topic. (Ironically, Fred's piece ran on DJ BOB Shannon's website as one of those "Stories Behind The Hits" type features.)
Fred starts out by chronicling the "roots" and evolution of The Grass Roots ... no arguments here.
He states: The Grassroots (original spelling) started out as a studio concoction made of primarily of its producers, Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan. the "group" was beginning to have some success with a song called "Where Were You When I Needed You", so a real group was needed in an effort to promote the song. After some searching, which included a west coast group calling themselves the Bedouins, a group called the Thirteenth Floor (not to be confused with The Thirteenth Floor Elevators) was chosen to fill the group's identity. Headed by lead singer Rob Grill, the group was filled out by Warren Entner, Creed Bratton and Rick Coonce.
OK, I agree with all of that so far ... and will even take it a step further. Reportedly the original Grass Roots version of "Where Were You When I Needed You" (it was actually first recorded by Herman's Hermits as part of their "Hold On" film soundtrack nearly a year before) was sung by singer / songwriter P.F. Sloan. He and co-writer Steve Barri recorded the track with a bunch of studio musicians (including several members of The Wrecking Crew) in 1965.
The duo had achieved some earlier success as The Fantastic Baggys but never intended to take their efforts beyond the studio walls. After the record became a hit, however, it became imperative to find a band to tour as "The Grass Roots" in order to cash in on this new-found success. Once The Bedouins were recruited to "masquerade" as The Grass Roots for live appearances (after a series of auditions held at The Whisky A-Go-Go), they cut the song again, this time with lead singer Bill Fulton handling the lead vocal. (They also found work as Barry McGuire's back-up band, a fellow Dunhill Records artist hot at the time with his #1 Hit "Eve Of Destruction". In fact, if you're ever able to catch Barry McGuire's appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show", that's The Bedouins version of The Grass Roots backing him up on stage!)
When The Bedouins started complaining about having no control over the direction of their career, they were dumped and replaced by Rob Grill and company (known then as the above-mentioned Thirteenth Floor) ... who recorded the track for a THIRD time for use on The Grass Roots' first album. (It is the Rob Grill version that has been commercially available ever since.)
So that's the group history in a very quick nutshell. (For more on this ... and an INCREDIBLY in-depth interview with several of the members of The Grass Roots who passed through their revolving door line-up over the years, we STRONGLY recommend the Jeff March / Marti Smiley Childs book "Where Have All The Pop Stars Gone? Volume 2". I should point out that it was the record label, Dunhill Records, who owned the name "The Grass Roots", which is how they were able to bestow it on so many variations of the band in these early years.)
Our 2009 report states: The song that we all know today as "Let's Live For Today" was originally recorded in Italian by a group called The Rokes ... they released it as "Piangi Con Me" ("Cry With Me") which, I guess, got a fair amount of airplay in Italy back in 1965. Fred's article concurs with this so far.
Then a group called The Skope (according to Fred Clemens, from The Netherlands) heard the song and attempted to do a literal English translation of the lyrics ... all of a sudden "Piangi Con Me" became "Be Mine Again". They released THAT as a single ... and it quickly proceeded to bomb. Clemens, however, states thatthe record charted at #36 on The Dutch Charts in January of 1967 ... but I've not seen any documentation of this claim ... nor does he offer it in his article.
Here's where we start to differ. In 2009, I wrote: Next, a New York group called The Living Daylights liked the melody enough to re-write the lyrics and, for the very first time, "Piangi Con Me" and "Be Mine Again" became "Let's Live For Today". Although The Living Daylights record got a little bit of airplay in New York City ... enough to make it a Top Ten Hit on the WOR Survey (see below), it STILL wasn't a hit nationally, as most people outside the New York market never had a chance to hear the song.
Apparently THISis incorrect information ... despite charting Top Ten on WOR in New York, The Living Daylights were NOT a New York-based band ... but rather another group from England. Clemens reports that (per chart guru Randy Price, who we consult with regularly), WOR simply chose to play The Living Daylights' version of the song over The Grass Roots' hit ... despite this fact, it never really made much of a dent on the national US charts.
But quite honestly that's the ONLY discrepancy I've been able to find ... so I'm not quite sure I understand why Fred wrote "I must respectfully disagree with much of the background you wrote about the song." What else about our report do you disagree with? We pretty much cover everything you did, point for point. (If I'm missing something here, please let me know ... 'cause I just don't see it!) Again ... our goal is to present "the most accurate truth possible" ... so the LAST thing I want to do is post incorrect information ... but I can't find another single discrepancy!
Fred Clemens states: It was only a couple of months later that The Rokes decided on an English language version of their now Italian classic. That song would be called "Passing Thru Grey". After recording the tune, it was decided by their publisher in London (Dick James Music) that the lyrics were in need of a change. So, with some new words by the publisher's writing staff, "Let's Live For Today" was born. The Rokes recorded the song expecting to have it released in the UK right away. But somehow or other, the song came into the hands of another group from the UK, The Living Daylights, first. The Living Daylights were a band from Newcastle. In early 1967, The Living Daylights' version saw release on the Philips label. It is said that this was the version that got the attention of Grass Roots member Warren Entner, who happened to be in Europe at the time.
Here's where Fred Clemens loses me ...
In comparing The Living Daylights' version and arrangement to the one recorded by The Grass Roots, he states that he finds "little comparison in terms of arrangement and style. In fact, I'd have to say that The Grass Roots version more emulates The Rokes arrangement and sound than The Living Daylights version. The problem is that The Rokes' English version had yet to be released!"
Clemens then goes on to speculate (his word, not mine) on how The Rokes' new version of the song may have come into the hands of Warren Entner and The Grass Roots. In that on at least three occasions during the course of his article Clemens admits "this is entirely speculation on my part", I'm not quite sure how he can justify stating that HIS version of the story is far more definitive than mine ... but I will acknowledge the fact that there IS a lot more detail offered in the way of foreign pressings and variations between these recordings in his accounting ... so it's still highly recommended if you're looking to piece together more details regarding this song's convoluted origins!
My article states that somewhere between the time that The Living Daylights' version started getting airplay and charting in America and The Grass Roots' hit version was released, The Rokes went back into the studio and cut ANOTHER new version of their song ... in English this time ... calling it "Let's Live For Today" as the song had now come to be known. (Clemens says The Rokes re-recorded their English version BEFORE The Living Daylights cut their take ... but that it sat in the can for a while, eventually being released AFTER The Living Daylights' version started to circulate. The exact timeline of these events may be tough to ever prove or ascertain ... suffice to say that BOTH versions seemed to appear at right around the same time.)
Regardless, this version unfortunately bombed, too! (Thanks to the three-strikes-and-you're-out rule, The Rokes were virtually never heard from again ... despite being the FIRST band to actually record SOME version of this classic '60's hit!) It did see release here in The States, however, on the RCA Record label, which Fred shows in his in-depth article. The Living Daylights' version was pressed as Buddah Records #2 ... and The Grass Roots' hit version was released a short while later on Dunhill.
Regardless, this version unfortunately bombed, too! (Thanks to the three-strikes-and-you're-out rule, The Rokes were virtually never heard from again ... despite being the FIRST band to actually record SOME version of this classic '60's hit!) It did see release here in The States, however, on the RCA Record label, which Fred shows in his in-depth article. The Living Daylights' version was pressed as Buddah Records #2 ... and The Grass Roots' hit version was released a short while later on Dunhill.
HYSTERICAL SIDENOTE: Under the heading of WAY too much information, some time back a famed Chicagoland sportscaster shared with all of our Forgotten Hits Readers that he lost his virginity to this tune!!! (Now THAT's a "Coppock's Topic" for a whole 'nother day!!! lol)
But wait!!! Believe it or not, there's even MORE to this story!!!
Way back in 1961 The Drifters recorded a song called "I Count The Tears" ... give a listen to THIS tune and see if the chorus doesn't sound just a little vaguely familiar.
According to Carl Wiser's Songfacts website (http://www.songfacts.com/), who interviewed Geoffrey J. Felder, son of legendary songwriter Doc Pomus (who WROTE "I Count The Tears" for The Drifters), his father never pursued any type of legal action against any of the parties involved with the various recorded versions of the song we all know and love as "Let's Live For Today". Here's what he had to say about it on the Songfacts site:
The "Sha-la-la" chorus is very similar to The Drifters' hit "I Count the Tears," which Pomus and Shuman wrote. Pomus was upset about the obvious similarity, and even though lawyers called him to suggest that he should sue, he did not. The main reason was because he was not that kind of person. If you were a thief and stole from him, as long as he could still support himself and his family (and no one was physically injured of course) he would let it go. He felt that you'd get what you deserved in the end. The other reason was that at the time the song was released he was under contract with Hill & Range (later to become Warner / Chappell) and they would have had the authority to sue and not him.
-- Geoffrey J. Felder, son of Doc Pomus
-- Geoffrey J. Felder, son of Doc Pomus
Clemens disputes this connection as well. He states:
Some insist that the hook (Sha-La-La-La-La-La) was stolen from The Drifters' tune from 1961, "I Count The Tears" ... But Bobby Posner of The Rokes assures me that this is merely a coincidence. An even odder coincidence would be a different song of the same title ("Let's Live For Today") also using "Sha-La-La"'s as part of the lyric that was also done back around 1961. The group was called Robby Robber and the Hi-Jackers and was released on a Coronet LP "Let's Twist Again". Again Clemens won't commit to a definitive correlation: "I'll leave you to speculate on that one."
Listen to both tracks and see what YOU think ... I'm sticking with MY original theory that it was The Drifters' track that most inspired the creation of "Let's Live For Today". (Actual this one's a no-brainer if you ask me!!!)
Oh yeah, one more thing ... (as if all of this isn't already complicated enough) ...
Oh yeah, one more thing ... (as if all of this isn't already complicated enough) ...
Did you know that there are actually TWO sets of lyrics sung on The Grass Roots' hit version? Original pressings featured the lyrics "I need to feel you inside me / deep inside me". Deemed just a little too explicit for 1967 radio, an edited, "cleaned-up" version was quickly put together changing the lyrics to "beside me", which became the most-common, "accepted" version of the hit. Apparently, however, the two different vocal mixes were unintentionally used for the mono and stereo pressings of their "Let's Live For Today" LP without the label realizing that they'd mixed the tracks. Because of this, mono pressings of the LP say "I need to feel you ...""inside me" / "deep inside of me" while stereo versions of the same LP say "beside me"!!! (Naturally, we've got both of THOSE tracks for you here today, too!)
Sadly, we lost Rob Grill in 2011 after a long illness from which he never really recovered. Those last years were NOT easy ones for him ... but his recorded legacy will live on for my decades to come. Rob's wife Nancy posted this announcement the day he died ... ironically listening to the song "Let's Live For Today" at the moment he passed!
My dear husband Robert Frank Grill, 67, of Mt Dora, Fl, passed away peacefully in my arms at 11:37 a.m. (EST), while listening to one of his favorite songs ... "Let's Live For Today." He loved his fans and he loved The Grass Roots!
Thank you for all of your prayers, love and support during this time.
Nancy Grill
My dear husband Robert Frank Grill, 67, of Mt Dora, Fl, passed away peacefully in my arms at 11:37 a.m. (EST), while listening to one of his favorite songs ... "Let's Live For Today." He loved his fans and he loved The Grass Roots!
Thank you for all of your prayers, love and support during this time.
Nancy Grill
↧
Thursday This And That
re: This And That:
Hey Kent,
Hey Kent,
You weren't kidding -- that was one big-ass edition of Sunday Comments in Forgotten Hits -- you are now in the Lightning Round for the three-biggest publications to come out of Chicago: Forgotten Hits, the Sears catalog, and Playboy -- speaking of, when the hell are you going to start featuring a Centerfold -- or maybe a feature pictorial like Johnny Winter's Limousine Ladies! Ha!Cheers,
Tim Kiley
Tim Kiley
FINALLY!!! Vintage Vinyl News is reporting that "Motown 25", the television special that launched Michael Jackson into the musical stratosphere is FINALLY being released on DVD. In fact, it sounds like fans will have the opportunity to purchase either the complete TV special as it aired or an extended 3-Disc Set that will feature all kinds of unaired performances, rehearsals (and even a little backstage drama!) Amazon.com shows a release date of September 30th through Time-Life. More details here: Click here: Motown 25 Television Special May Finally Be Coming to DVD ~ VVN Music
JC Hartsfield, one of the original founding members of the band Heartsfiield,has passed away. JC was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on July 4th. Recently, JC had been enjoying his retirement and loved to ride that bike. We'll miss you JC. Hope you are jammin' with Perry Jordan.
JC Hartsfield, one of the original founding members of the band Heartsfiield,has passed away. JC was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on July 4th. Recently, JC had been enjoying his retirement and loved to ride that bike. We'll miss you JC. Hope you are jammin' with Perry Jordan.
The visitation for JC Hartsfield will be Friday, July 25th from 4-6pm with a service at 6.
It will be held at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven, MI.
1076 S Bailey Ave
South Haven, MI 49090
Tel: (269) 637-0333
It will be held at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven, MI.
1076 S Bailey Ave
South Haven, MI 49090
Tel: (269) 637-0333
-- Ken Voss
There was a time when Heartsfield seemed to be the opening act for virtually EVERY major act that came through Chicago. Although it was never really a hit, FM radio played the heck out of "Music Eyes" for awhile ... a really good song, actually. We've featured it a few times before ... so this seemed like as appropriate time as any to run it again. (kk)
Kent,
A few days ago when it was announced that Johnny Winter had passed away, I thought immediately of his 1971 remake of the Stones' JUMPIN' JACK FLASH. It did make our local survey here but I don't think it charted very high. I got it out the other night to play it for the simple fact that I really couldn't find the 2:55 45 version on you tube. There were just live recordings with the bulk of them in the 4-5 minute range.
Going back to the STRING songs, I always liked Fabian's 1960 version of STRINGALONG as opposed to Ricky Nelson's. Likewise the String-a-Longs' version of WHEELS instead of Billy Vaughn's.
Larry Neal
A few days ago when it was announced that Johnny Winter had passed away, I thought immediately of his 1971 remake of the Stones' JUMPIN' JACK FLASH. It did make our local survey here but I don't think it charted very high. I got it out the other night to play it for the simple fact that I really couldn't find the 2:55 45 version on you tube. There were just live recordings with the bulk of them in the 4-5 minute range.
Going back to the STRING songs, I always liked Fabian's 1960 version of STRINGALONG as opposed to Ricky Nelson's. Likewise the String-a-Longs' version of WHEELS instead of Billy Vaughn's.
Larry Neal
Hi Kent-
Loved this last edition of Forgotten Hits.
Worked at Wrigley Field Friday for the Billy Joel concert - he sounded great, as usual! Great band, all the hits. He started to introduce one of his songs this way ... "This song has a lot of high notes and I can't promise I'll hit them all anymore, but I'll just sing it anyway. This way you'll all know you're not listening to pre-recorded music!" He did fine, but it was pretty funny, although a sad commentary on 'live' concerts these days! Awesome show though! I love those Wrigley Field shows - it's like old home week for me, I spent so much time there growing up! Then worked the Crosby, Stills & Nash concert yesterday and, while I really love them, to be honest their voices left a little something to be desired. But loads of great memories from that era!
Marlene
Hi Kent -
Thank you for the FANTASTIC edition of Forgotten Hits from July 20th. It was a potpourri of EVERYTHING worth reading! I came across an old 45 while I was changing the records in my jukebox called "Night Theme" by a group called The Mark II. I am guessing that it came out in the early sixties. It' an instrumental.
What is unusual is that it was written by Wayne Cogswell and Ray Peterson. I am guessing that it may have been the Ray Peterson from "Tell Laura I Love Her" fame????
It's a catchy tune that could have been played as a closing song for a late night radio show in the 60's!!!!
If you know anything about it, I would like to know. When in doubt ask the Master!
Carolyn
Night Theme" was a #75 instrumental hit in 1960 released by The Mark II. Mark II consisted of the duo of Wayne Cogswell and Ray Peterson, who also wrote the song. Funnily enough, after doing a bit of checking online, I found an equal number of websites that said that this WAS the same Ray Peterson who sang "Tell Laura I Love Her" ... as I did stating that it was NOT the same Ray Peterson. I checked Joel Whitburn's book, too, as typically Joel would cross-reference these two acts in the short bio he runs for every artist to ever make The Billboard Charts ... and see no such reference ... so I'm inclined to think they are two different people ... but if somebody out there can send me concrete proof otherwise, I'll be happy to definitively announce the opposite! (How's THAT for a "politically correct" answer?!?!) kk
Thank you for the FANTASTIC edition of Forgotten Hits from July 20th. It was a potpourri of EVERYTHING worth reading! I came across an old 45 while I was changing the records in my jukebox called "Night Theme" by a group called The Mark II. I am guessing that it came out in the early sixties. It' an instrumental.
What is unusual is that it was written by Wayne Cogswell and Ray Peterson. I am guessing that it may have been the Ray Peterson from "Tell Laura I Love Her" fame????
It's a catchy tune that could have been played as a closing song for a late night radio show in the 60's!!!!
If you know anything about it, I would like to know. When in doubt ask the Master!
Carolyn
Night Theme" was a #75 instrumental hit in 1960 released by The Mark II. Mark II consisted of the duo of Wayne Cogswell and Ray Peterson, who also wrote the song. Funnily enough, after doing a bit of checking online, I found an equal number of websites that said that this WAS the same Ray Peterson who sang "Tell Laura I Love Her" ... as I did stating that it was NOT the same Ray Peterson. I checked Joel Whitburn's book, too, as typically Joel would cross-reference these two acts in the short bio he runs for every artist to ever make The Billboard Charts ... and see no such reference ... so I'm inclined to think they are two different people ... but if somebody out there can send me concrete proof otherwise, I'll be happy to definitively announce the opposite! (How's THAT for a "politically correct" answer?!?!) kk
Johnny Winter releases perhaps his greatest album on September 2, 2014! Step Back features an amazing list of musical guests and takes Johnny back to a more aggressive style of blues… one that helped shape the musical icon. Produced by Paul Nelson.
Step Back Track Listing:
1. Unchain My Heart – Johnny Winter
2. Can’t Hold Out (Talk To Me Baby) – Johnny Winter with Ben Harper
3. Don’t Want No Woman – Johnny Winter with Eric Clapton
4. Killing Floor – Johnny Winter with Paul Nelson
5. Who Do You Love – Johnny Winter
6. Okie Dokie Stomp – Johnny Winter with Brian Setzer
7. Where Can You Be – Johnny Winter with Billy Gibbons
8. Sweet Sixteen – Johnny Winter with Joe Bonamassa
9. Death Letter -Johnny Winter
10. My Babe – Johnny Winter with Jason Ricci
11. Long Tall Sally – Johnny Winter with Leslie West
12. Mojo Hand – Johnny Winter with Joe Perry
13. Blue Monday – Johnny Winter with Dr. John
-- Ken Voss
Step Back Track Listing:
1. Unchain My Heart – Johnny Winter
2. Can’t Hold Out (Talk To Me Baby) – Johnny Winter with Ben Harper
3. Don’t Want No Woman – Johnny Winter with Eric Clapton
4. Killing Floor – Johnny Winter with Paul Nelson
5. Who Do You Love – Johnny Winter
6. Okie Dokie Stomp – Johnny Winter with Brian Setzer
7. Where Can You Be – Johnny Winter with Billy Gibbons
8. Sweet Sixteen – Johnny Winter with Joe Bonamassa
9. Death Letter -Johnny Winter
10. My Babe – Johnny Winter with Jason Ricci
11. Long Tall Sally – Johnny Winter with Leslie West
12. Mojo Hand – Johnny Winter with Joe Perry
13. Blue Monday – Johnny Winter with Dr. John
-- Ken Voss
Kent ...
Pass this on to record collectors on your list.
Frank B.
Click here: Clean Your Vinyl Records and Make Them Sound Like New With This Unbelievable Tip « WCBS-FM 101.1
I dunno ... I'd be afraid that if I didn't apply it just right and couldn't get it off, I'd ruin that record forever, never able to play it again!!! There's GOT to be a better method than this! (kk)
Pass this on to record collectors on your list.
Frank B.
Click here: Clean Your Vinyl Records and Make Them Sound Like New With This Unbelievable Tip « WCBS-FM 101.1
I dunno ... I'd be afraid that if I didn't apply it just right and couldn't get it off, I'd ruin that record forever, never able to play it again!!! There's GOT to be a better method than this! (kk)
Flock leader Fred Glickstein sent us this excellent Four-Star Review of the release of the long lost Flock album "Heaven Bound" ...
The lost album from The Flock holds the secrets of what might have been!
Brent Black / http://www.criticaljazz.com/
Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears were and are still considered the pioneers of the jazz / fusion movement. News flash ... toss a horn section in a rock band and that doesn't make it jazz. Moving on ... The Flock were an eclectic mix of improvisational adventure that included strings, pedal steel, and a saxophone. Violin wizard Jerry Goodman later left to join Mahavishnu Orchestra. The band reformed yet the natural evolution of the band did not seem to fully materialize.
Heaven Bound would have been their fourth release but has sat quietly on the shelf gathering dust as time, careers and musical tastes changed at perhaps the most turbulent and creative point in America's artistic history. Tight harmonies, classic rock guitar and the same improvisational spirit keeps The Flock alive and allows Heaven Bound to be a great addition to any library.
4 Stars
Many thanks for mentioning The Flock album in Forgotten Hits. It’s very good ... you WILL like (even LOVE!) it!
Fred Glickstein / The Flock
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KINIQVE/ref=dm_ws_ps_cdp/187-2079941-5334339?ie=UTF8&s=music
Kent,
The lost album from The Flock holds the secrets of what might have been!
Brent Black / http://www.criticaljazz.com/
Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears were and are still considered the pioneers of the jazz / fusion movement. News flash ... toss a horn section in a rock band and that doesn't make it jazz. Moving on ... The Flock were an eclectic mix of improvisational adventure that included strings, pedal steel, and a saxophone. Violin wizard Jerry Goodman later left to join Mahavishnu Orchestra. The band reformed yet the natural evolution of the band did not seem to fully materialize.
Heaven Bound would have been their fourth release but has sat quietly on the shelf gathering dust as time, careers and musical tastes changed at perhaps the most turbulent and creative point in America's artistic history. Tight harmonies, classic rock guitar and the same improvisational spirit keeps The Flock alive and allows Heaven Bound to be a great addition to any library.
4 Stars
Many thanks for mentioning The Flock album in Forgotten Hits. It’s very good ... you WILL like (even LOVE!) it!
Fred Glickstein / The Flock
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KINIQVE/ref=dm_ws_ps_cdp/187-2079941-5334339?ie=UTF8&s=music
Kent,
I see the interesting Jim Croce CD of early tracks. I kind of expected the following song to be on it. I believe "Age" was a 1969 track released at one time by Capitol. I cannot remember now. My first knowledge of Jim was when I got a DJ copy of "Age (Where I Started Again)" by Horatio in 1969 on the Event label. This was the same label as the Buchanan Brothers' hit "Medicine Man" that year. I imagine Horatio is a fake name and wondered who really sang this track, the first I'd ever seen of Jim Croce's name (he wrote the song). Horatio had another 45 on Event and both sides were Cashman, Pistilli and West 45s, so am guessing this great trio sang the Horatio track. CP&W wrote the terrific "California on my Mind" by Morning Mist on Event as well, and am pretty sure this TV commercial song was performed by them, too. I've sent along an MP3 of the Horatio version to share. Meanwhile, here's the nice Croce version from youtube.
Clark Besch
How'dja like to be out to lunch and find these guys sitting at a table next to you?!?! (kk)
A QUICK REMINDER TO ALL MY FLORIDA FRIENDS AND FANS AND THOSE WHO MIGHT BE IN FLORIDA NEXT WEEK:
Here's the official flyer. Hope to see a slew of you there. I couldn't ask for a more perfect cast. And the director, Margaret Ledford, is legendary. Winner of Best Director in 2011 and a six-time Carbonell Award nominee.
CAVEAT: In case you haven't heard, this play contains sexual situations -- in fact it's ONE BIG sexual situation -- and there is plenty of "adult language." Probably not a good idea to bring the kids.
----------------------------------------------
MONDAY, JULY 28 – 7:30 p.m.
GABLESTAGE
AT THE BILTMORE
PERSENTS A PLAYREADING OF
LACTOSE
By Bob Lind
With ALEX ALVAREZ, MARGARITA COEGO,
BETSY GRAVER, KIM OSTRENKO
and GREGG WEINER
DIRECTED BY MARGARET LEDFORD
Documentary journalist Allyson Lamont, known for asking her subjects probing personal questions, finds the tables turning when she takes on libertine poet David Bridge. Her interviews with him force her to go places inside herself she would rather avoid. Before it’s over, she will confront her deepest-held beliefs about sex, love and honesty – and whether they have anything whatsoever to do with one another.
NO RESERVED SEATS / NO ADMISSION CHARGE
PLEASE COME EARLY! LARGE AUDIENCE EXPECTED.
GableStage is located in the eastern section of the Biltmore Hotel.
1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 445-1119
Valet parking is available
Free parking is available in the Biltmore parking area west of the hotel.
-- Bob Lind
Robert Feder is reporting that Steve Dahl has raised his subscription price by 20% for folks looking to listening to his syndicated podcasts. (Hmm ... maybe all that extra publicity we gave him a couple of weeks back drove more fans to his website!!! Just don't forget my 10% Stever!!!) Actually, the deal was (keyword "was") that if you took an annual subscription you paid $99.95 to listen ... folks paying by the month were paying $9.95 ... so all he's REALLY done is level things off ... at a new annual rate of $119.95, annual subscribers just aren't getting their "two months free" anymore. Kinda makes sense, I guess, since the network now offers 40 new shows a month ... when it launched, Dahl was the only one broadcasting! (kk)
A George Harrison Memorial Tree Has Been Destroyed ... By Beetles!!!
http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2014/07/22/george-harrison-memorial-tree-destroyed-by-beetles/
Kent ...
I guess Beetles don't like Beatles.
Frank B.
>>>The biggest surprise on this week's 1976 survey is the #13 Hit ... it's the re-release of The Beatles' track "Got To Get You Into My Life", a single pulled from their new "Rock And Roll Music" album. Although the track peaked at #7 on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart, it would climb to #1 in several local markets (including here in Chicago) ... and sounded every bit as good in 1976 as it did when it was recorded for the "Revolver" album ten years earlier. The Beatles had only been apart six years and they were already winning over a brand new audience. (kk)
The most amazing thing about the Beatles' hit was that it was the freshest sound on the radio, six years after the Beatles stopped releasing new music and even longer since they had recorded that song. A pretty sad reflection on mid 1970's radio.
Robert Feder is reporting that Steve Dahl has raised his subscription price by 20% for folks looking to listening to his syndicated podcasts. (Hmm ... maybe all that extra publicity we gave him a couple of weeks back drove more fans to his website!!! Just don't forget my 10% Stever!!!) Actually, the deal was (keyword "was") that if you took an annual subscription you paid $99.95 to listen ... folks paying by the month were paying $9.95 ... so all he's REALLY done is level things off ... at a new annual rate of $119.95, annual subscribers just aren't getting their "two months free" anymore. Kinda makes sense, I guess, since the network now offers 40 new shows a month ... when it launched, Dahl was the only one broadcasting! (kk)
A George Harrison Memorial Tree Has Been Destroyed ... By Beetles!!!
http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2014/07/22/george-harrison-memorial-tree-destroyed-by-beetles/
Kent ...
I guess Beetles don't like Beatles.
Frank B.
>>>The biggest surprise on this week's 1976 survey is the #13 Hit ... it's the re-release of The Beatles' track "Got To Get You Into My Life", a single pulled from their new "Rock And Roll Music" album. Although the track peaked at #7 on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart, it would climb to #1 in several local markets (including here in Chicago) ... and sounded every bit as good in 1976 as it did when it was recorded for the "Revolver" album ten years earlier. The Beatles had only been apart six years and they were already winning over a brand new audience. (kk)
The most amazing thing about the Beatles' hit was that it was the freshest sound on the radio, six years after the Beatles stopped releasing new music and even longer since they had recorded that song. A pretty sad reflection on mid 1970's radio.
Sabrgeek
And, incredibly, you STILL hear this song all the time and it STILL sounds fresh and new, even after literally THOUSANDS of listens! Another Beatles / Revolver track that seems to play constantly is "Drive My Car" ... yet that track was never released as a single ... yet today it's just GOT to be one of the most-played Beatles tracks on the radio! (kk)
ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill is slated to undergo surgery to remove two kidney stones this week, necessitating a delay in the start of the group’s US summer tour. The kidney stones were discovered in the course of a routine physical examination where Hill’s doctor advised him that they should immediately be removed, lest they cause more serious problems down the line.
ZZ Top dates affected include Morton, MN (July 25), West Bend, WI (July 26), Cincinnati (July 27), Louisville (July 29), Asheville, NC (July 30) and Bethlehem, PA (August 1).
It is expected that Hill will make a full recovery following two weeks of recuperation. ZZ Top’s tour is now set to launch on August 6 in Sturgis, SD with the band joining forces with Jeff Beck for a string of tour dates immediately thereafter.
Keeping a stiff upper lip regarding the whole proceedings, bandmate Billy Gibbons decided to chime in!:
Just after we heard the news of the delay of the start of ZZ Top's tour, Billy Gibbons, the band's front man, got in touch with an update from bandmate Dusty Hill.
Billy recounted the lines of the immortal Robert Johnson blues "Stones In My Passway" while Dusty Hill chimed in, "I got stones in my passway," then going on to sound a positive note, added, "... but my doctor says not for long."
With a bit of r&r, ZZ Top will soon be back on the road as Dusty, taking yet another cure from Robert Johnson, notes, "we're booked and we're bound to go," adding, "I had stones in my passway but you know those old boulders couldn't last, I had stones in my passway but those stones will soon be in my past."
Also knocked out of commission for a little while is our FH Buddy Paul Revere. Under strict doctors' orders, Paul will be sidelined at home for a spell while the band completes their currently booked engagements. FH Reader Tom Cuddy found this posted on the Official Paul Revere and the Raiders website the other day:
Hey gang, Paul Revere here!
You know, 2014 has been just a great year for the band so far, thanks to you guys. We've played killer shows to great audiences all over America, and we're having a blast - Disney, Busch Gardens, the "Where The Action Is" cruise, Las Vegas and every supermarket opening and pie eating contest along the way.
Even though I've had some health issues, nothing can stop the old man. I'm like the Energizer Bunny! I jump on my tour bus and go from city to city, packing a trunk full of great Raider songs, tight pants and bad jokes - all against doctor's orders, by the way!
I've been the worst patient these guys have ever seen, and they've been on me to take a break all year. So, we finally did take a break, and recorded two new singles (due out in September), but that's not good enough for them. They want a longer break. I told them, "Hey, I've got to hit the road, I'm booked! And I'm bored!!"
Well, you can't ignore doctor's orders forever, and I have to give in this time or these wonderful men and women might stop trying to help me. It breaks my heart to have to stay home while the band goes out without me to our next block of dates. You don't even know how much it kills me. But the truth is, The Raiders kick major butt with or without me. We've designed this show to run like a Ferrari, even if it's only firing on 11 cylinders. It's built for speed from the ground up. High energy and fun is what a Paul Revere and The Raiders show is all about, and that's always the same, no matter which one of us shows up in a body cast.
So come out and see my boys, and tell them how much you miss me. We have the absolute best fans. I love you all and will see you soon.
Billy recounted the lines of the immortal Robert Johnson blues "Stones In My Passway" while Dusty Hill chimed in, "I got stones in my passway," then going on to sound a positive note, added, "... but my doctor says not for long."
With a bit of r&r, ZZ Top will soon be back on the road as Dusty, taking yet another cure from Robert Johnson, notes, "we're booked and we're bound to go," adding, "I had stones in my passway but you know those old boulders couldn't last, I had stones in my passway but those stones will soon be in my past."
Also knocked out of commission for a little while is our FH Buddy Paul Revere. Under strict doctors' orders, Paul will be sidelined at home for a spell while the band completes their currently booked engagements. FH Reader Tom Cuddy found this posted on the Official Paul Revere and the Raiders website the other day:
Hey gang, Paul Revere here!
You know, 2014 has been just a great year for the band so far, thanks to you guys. We've played killer shows to great audiences all over America, and we're having a blast - Disney, Busch Gardens, the "Where The Action Is" cruise, Las Vegas and every supermarket opening and pie eating contest along the way.
Even though I've had some health issues, nothing can stop the old man. I'm like the Energizer Bunny! I jump on my tour bus and go from city to city, packing a trunk full of great Raider songs, tight pants and bad jokes - all against doctor's orders, by the way!
I've been the worst patient these guys have ever seen, and they've been on me to take a break all year. So, we finally did take a break, and recorded two new singles (due out in September), but that's not good enough for them. They want a longer break. I told them, "Hey, I've got to hit the road, I'm booked! And I'm bored!!"
Well, you can't ignore doctor's orders forever, and I have to give in this time or these wonderful men and women might stop trying to help me. It breaks my heart to have to stay home while the band goes out without me to our next block of dates. You don't even know how much it kills me. But the truth is, The Raiders kick major butt with or without me. We've designed this show to run like a Ferrari, even if it's only firing on 11 cylinders. It's built for speed from the ground up. High energy and fun is what a Paul Revere and The Raiders show is all about, and that's always the same, no matter which one of us shows up in a body cast.
So come out and see my boys, and tell them how much you miss me. We have the absolute best fans. I love you all and will see you soon.
The show must always go on!
Love,
Paul
We wish you a speedy recovery, my friend. This has been a tough couple of years, I know ... (to say the least!) ... but there are very few entertainers who "love the greasepaint" the way you do ... and we're looking forward to a few more "kicks" before we're through!!! (kk)
I am always pleased (and a little bit amazed!) at the volume of new people discovering Forgotten Hits every day. (I guess it just depends on what you're searching for ... because it seems that we've covered virtually EVERY musical topic known to man at some point or time during the past fifteen years , sooner or later you're going to stumble across us on via Google, Bing or any of the other major search engines out there!) So it was a very pleasant surprise to receive this email the other day ...
Love,
Paul
We wish you a speedy recovery, my friend. This has been a tough couple of years, I know ... (to say the least!) ... but there are very few entertainers who "love the greasepaint" the way you do ... and we're looking forward to a few more "kicks" before we're through!!! (kk)
I am always pleased (and a little bit amazed!) at the volume of new people discovering Forgotten Hits every day. (I guess it just depends on what you're searching for ... because it seems that we've covered virtually EVERY musical topic known to man at some point or time during the past fifteen years , sooner or later you're going to stumble across us on via Google, Bing or any of the other major search engines out there!) So it was a very pleasant surprise to receive this email the other day ...
Dear Mr. Kotal:
I have just read your article at: http://www.forgottenhits.com/dusty_springfield. I thank you for writing it. I am a newer Dusty fan, and am interested in anything about her life. I agree with you that most writings about her talent and life lack in describing anything about how she did what she did musically.
I enjoyed your article tremendously and I appreciated how you approached the subject matter. So, thank you very much for bringing this to readers even though it was some five years after her passing. I do believe you wrote the article in 2004?
You have created a fan in me and I will look forward to finding more of your articles.
All the best to you,
Teresa Boler
Thank you, Teresa! Hope you'll continue to check us out from time to time! (kk)
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↧
50 Years Ago This Weekend (7/25)
THE BEATLES' latest hit, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT leaps from #21 to #2 this week on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart … it'll top the charts in another week. Its flip side, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, makes the chart this week as well, debuting at #75. Never one to miss an opportunity to sell additional BEATLES product, Capitol Records rush releases two more singles from the film's soundtrack … AND I LOVE HER / IF I FELL and I'LL CRY INSTEAD / I'M HAPPY JUST TO DANCE WITH YOU. Eventually they'll all chart … but this week AND I LOVE HER is the first to do so, premiering at #80. (BEATLES Movie soundtrack music could also be found on two hot new LPs … the A HARD DAY'S NIGHT Motion Picture Soundtrack Album released by United Artists … and SOMETHING NEW, a new hodge-podge compilation LP slapped together by Capitol Records. Didn't matter … we still bought 'em both!) In fact, GEORGE MARTIN's instrumental version of THIS BOY (now retitled RINGO'S THEME for the film) ALSO broke into the charts this week, debuting at #94.
Other British Invasion Hits on the Billboard singles chart this week: CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE'S MINE by THE DAVE CLARK FIVE (#7), WISHIN' AND HOPIN' by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (#9), NOBODY I KNOW by PETER AND GORDON (#14), DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS (#17), DON'T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY by THE SEARCHERS (#21), BAD TO ME by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS (#24), A WORLD WITHOUT LOVE by PETER AND GORDON (#28), YOU'RE MY WORLD by CILLA BLACK (#31), LITTLE CHILDREN by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS (#41), TELL ME by THE ROLLING STONES (#49), I BELIEVE by THE BACHELORS (#50), HOW DO YOU DO IT by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS (and featured last week in Forgotten Hits), at #53, NOT FADE AWAY by THE ROLLING STONES (#58), AIN'T SHE SWEET by THE BEATLES at #67, giving THE FAB FOUR a total of FOUR songs on the chart this week, and IT'S ALL OVER NOW, a brand new ROLLING STONES release, holding down the #100 spot. That gives the British Rockers nearly 20% of the positions on this week's chart.
Here in Chicago, "A Hard Day's Night" / "I Should Have Known Better" moves into the #2 position on The WLS Silver Dollar Survey, just behind "Rag Doll" by The Four Seasons. (Fittingly, The Four Seasons replaced The Beach Boys at the top of the WLS Silver Dollar Survey the week before!) Dean Martin has wedged his way between The Beatles and The Dave Clark Five with his eventual chart-topper "Everybody Loves Somebody" (#3), pushing The Dave Clark Five's hit "Can't You See That She's Mine" down to the #4 spot. At #5 are Jan and Dean with "Little Old Lady From Pasadena" before three British hits in a row hold steady in the Chicagoland Top Ten: "Don't Throw Your Love Away" by The Searchers (#6), "Nobody I Know" by Peter and Gordon (#7) and "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" by Gerry and the Pacemakers (#8).
Other Chicagoland British charters include "Wishin' And Hopin" by Dusty Springfield at #12, "I Believe" by The Bachelors at #21, "I'll Keep You Satisfied" by Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, new on the chart at #28 (another track given to them by the songwriting team of Lennon and McCartney), "How Do You Do It" by Gerry and the Pacemakers at #30, another new two-sided hit for The Fab Four at #35 ("I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" / "I'll Cry Instead", more soundtrack music from "A Hard Day's Night"… Capitol Records would release a total of THREE singles from this film!), followed by a brand new hit at #38 by Lulu and the Luvers, featuring their version of a rock and roll classic, "Shout"!
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The Saturday Surveys ( 07 - 26 )
Every Friday we've been looking back 50 years to re-examine The British Invasion ... but here in St. Paul, Minnesota, it looks like it's America's Band that's topping the chart this week in 1964.
The Beach Boys have a two-sided hit with "I Get Around" / "Don't Worry Baby" ... and you'll find Johnny Rivers, The Four Seasons, Roger Miller and Jan and Dean firmly positioned in The Top Ten this week, too.
That isn't to say that British Acts aren't well represented. Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas hold down the #2 spot with a two-sided hit of their own, "Little Children" / "Bad To Me", followed by The Dave Clark Five at #7 with "Can't You See That She's Mine" and Dusty Springfield's "Wishin' And Hopin'" at #9. Peter and Gordon have back-to-back hits on the countdown this week with "A World Without Love" at #12 and their follow-up release "Nobody I Know" at #13. Both songs were written by the hit song-writing team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney who also happen to have the #14 record this week with their very OWN two-sided hit "A Hard Day's Night" / "I Should Have Known Better". (You'll also find The Beatles at #35 with "Love Me Do" / "P.S. I Love You" and premiering at #39 with "Ain't She Sweet", a tune they recorded in Germany several years earlier.)
I think it's great that one survey can encompass so many different styles of music ... jazz ("The Girl From Ipanema" by Getz and Gilberto) at #17, show-tunes ("People" by Barbra Streisand at #25), folk music ("Today" by The New Christy Minstrels at #37), Motown Soul ("My Guy" and "Where Did Our Love Go" by Mary Wells and The Supremes respectively), the Sounds of The British Invasion, middle-of-the-road stuff like Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody" playing right alongside The Trashmen with their latest, "Peppermint Man".
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The Beach Boys also topped this KDKA Chart from 1965 with "California Girls". (Probably not a whole lot of surfin' goin' on in Pittsburgh that summer!) Their latest jumps from #14 to the top of the charts!
The Righteous Brothers have a two-sided hit at #2 with "Unchained Melody" / "Hung On You" and The Beatles premier at #10 with their latest, "Help!"
Check out the #4 Record ... "Happy Feet Time" by The Monclairs. (This one "bubbled under" in Billboard, peaking at #108 ... but here in Pittsburgh, it was a Top Five smash!) And they weren't a local group either ... Joel Whitburn's book refers to The Monclairs as "an R&B band from Cleveland, Ohio"!
All-in-all, an interesting Top 50 Chart from this week in 1965.
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Now here's a station that clearly went its own way!
Check out THIS Top Five ... The Carpenters are on top with "Yesterday Once More", followed by The Charlie Daniels Band with their first big pop hit "Uneasy Rider". Another somewhat novelty country / swamp song follows by way of Jim Stafford's "Swamp Witch", a song that predated his big break-through hit "Spiders And Snakes" by about six months. (It only climbed as high as #39 in Billboard ... so seeing it at #3 is a real treat!)
And then you've got Deep Purple with THEIR classic "Smoke On The Water" settled in at #4 ... and Gilbert O'Sullivan climbing to #5 with his latest, "Get Down", a record that would top the charts here in Chicago.
The Carpenters ... Jim Stafford ... Charlie Daniels ... Gilbert O'Sullivan ... and Deep Purple ... ALL ranking in The Top Five this week on KOMA!!! (Now THOSE were the golden days of Top 40 AM Radio!!! lol)
You'll find a couple of other country cross-over hits as you scale down the survey ... "Behind Closed Doors" by Charlie Rich, "Lord Mr. Ford" by Jerry Reed and "I'd Rather Be A Cowboy" by John Denver just to name a few.
There are also a couple of other novelty tracks ... "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and "Back When My Hair Was Short" but Gunhill Road are at numbers 8 and 7 respectively ... but rockin' hits like "Money" by Pink Floyd and "We're An American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad also found a spot on the chart this week. And check out the David Gates solo hit "Clouds" at #22 this week, too.
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There are a few surprising Top Ten Hits on this KXOK Chart from 1969, too!
The Grass Roots hold down the #1 Spot with their latest, "I'd Wait A Million Years", something they were never able to achieve on the Billboard Charts. The #3 Hit is "Abergavenny" by Shannon, a song that did pretty well here in Chicago, too ... but peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart. Cat Mother and the All-Night Newsboys are at #4 with "Good Old Rock And Roll" (a song we featured a few weeks back) and Elvis is at #6 with "Clean Up Your Own Backyard", a record that wouldn't climb any higher than #35 on the Billboard chart.
Sitting at #11 is the Underground Sunshine version of The Beatles' classic "Birthday". (That record went all the way to #2 here in Chicago ... but petered out at #26 in Billboard.) Listening back to it now, it's a wonder it charted at all ... it's a pretty awful rendition! And check out The Rolling Stones at #17 with their mis-spelled hit "Honkey Tonk Woman" (which has an extra "e" where it doesn't belong ... and is MISSING the "e" where it does!!!)
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The Beach Boys have a two-sided hit with "I Get Around" / "Don't Worry Baby" ... and you'll find Johnny Rivers, The Four Seasons, Roger Miller and Jan and Dean firmly positioned in The Top Ten this week, too.
That isn't to say that British Acts aren't well represented. Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas hold down the #2 spot with a two-sided hit of their own, "Little Children" / "Bad To Me", followed by The Dave Clark Five at #7 with "Can't You See That She's Mine" and Dusty Springfield's "Wishin' And Hopin'" at #9. Peter and Gordon have back-to-back hits on the countdown this week with "A World Without Love" at #12 and their follow-up release "Nobody I Know" at #13. Both songs were written by the hit song-writing team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney who also happen to have the #14 record this week with their very OWN two-sided hit "A Hard Day's Night" / "I Should Have Known Better". (You'll also find The Beatles at #35 with "Love Me Do" / "P.S. I Love You" and premiering at #39 with "Ain't She Sweet", a tune they recorded in Germany several years earlier.)
I think it's great that one survey can encompass so many different styles of music ... jazz ("The Girl From Ipanema" by Getz and Gilberto) at #17, show-tunes ("People" by Barbra Streisand at #25), folk music ("Today" by The New Christy Minstrels at #37), Motown Soul ("My Guy" and "Where Did Our Love Go" by Mary Wells and The Supremes respectively), the Sounds of The British Invasion, middle-of-the-road stuff like Dean Martin's "Everybody Loves Somebody" playing right alongside The Trashmen with their latest, "Peppermint Man".
The Beach Boys also topped this KDKA Chart from 1965 with "California Girls". (Probably not a whole lot of surfin' goin' on in Pittsburgh that summer!) Their latest jumps from #14 to the top of the charts!
The Righteous Brothers have a two-sided hit at #2 with "Unchained Melody" / "Hung On You" and The Beatles premier at #10 with their latest, "Help!"
Check out the #4 Record ... "Happy Feet Time" by The Monclairs. (This one "bubbled under" in Billboard, peaking at #108 ... but here in Pittsburgh, it was a Top Five smash!) And they weren't a local group either ... Joel Whitburn's book refers to The Monclairs as "an R&B band from Cleveland, Ohio"!
All-in-all, an interesting Top 50 Chart from this week in 1965.
Now here's a station that clearly went its own way!
Check out THIS Top Five ... The Carpenters are on top with "Yesterday Once More", followed by The Charlie Daniels Band with their first big pop hit "Uneasy Rider". Another somewhat novelty country / swamp song follows by way of Jim Stafford's "Swamp Witch", a song that predated his big break-through hit "Spiders And Snakes" by about six months. (It only climbed as high as #39 in Billboard ... so seeing it at #3 is a real treat!)
And then you've got Deep Purple with THEIR classic "Smoke On The Water" settled in at #4 ... and Gilbert O'Sullivan climbing to #5 with his latest, "Get Down", a record that would top the charts here in Chicago.
The Carpenters ... Jim Stafford ... Charlie Daniels ... Gilbert O'Sullivan ... and Deep Purple ... ALL ranking in The Top Five this week on KOMA!!! (Now THOSE were the golden days of Top 40 AM Radio!!! lol)
You'll find a couple of other country cross-over hits as you scale down the survey ... "Behind Closed Doors" by Charlie Rich, "Lord Mr. Ford" by Jerry Reed and "I'd Rather Be A Cowboy" by John Denver just to name a few.
There are also a couple of other novelty tracks ... "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and "Back When My Hair Was Short" but Gunhill Road are at numbers 8 and 7 respectively ... but rockin' hits like "Money" by Pink Floyd and "We're An American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad also found a spot on the chart this week. And check out the David Gates solo hit "Clouds" at #22 this week, too.
There are a few surprising Top Ten Hits on this KXOK Chart from 1969, too!
The Grass Roots hold down the #1 Spot with their latest, "I'd Wait A Million Years", something they were never able to achieve on the Billboard Charts. The #3 Hit is "Abergavenny" by Shannon, a song that did pretty well here in Chicago, too ... but peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart. Cat Mother and the All-Night Newsboys are at #4 with "Good Old Rock And Roll" (a song we featured a few weeks back) and Elvis is at #6 with "Clean Up Your Own Backyard", a record that wouldn't climb any higher than #35 on the Billboard chart.
Sitting at #11 is the Underground Sunshine version of The Beatles' classic "Birthday". (That record went all the way to #2 here in Chicago ... but petered out at #26 in Billboard.) Listening back to it now, it's a wonder it charted at all ... it's a pretty awful rendition! And check out The Rolling Stones at #17 with their mis-spelled hit "Honkey Tonk Woman" (which has an extra "e" where it doesn't belong ... and is MISSING the "e" where it does!!!)
And what's wrong with THIS chart from Radio Splendid 1200? Well for one thing all of the songs listed are from about six months EARLIER on everybody else's charts!!! In fact, "Mellow Yellow" dates back to the previous year!!!
But tracks like "I'm A Believer", "Good Thing", "Penny Lane", "Kind Of A Drag", "Ruby Tuesday", 'Tell It Like It Is", "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" and "Georgy Girl" were all Top Ten Hits in January and February of 1967 ... NOT at the end of July!!!
So this is either a SERIOUS typo on the date ... or maybe D. Michael was broadcasting out of his basement at the time. (I can't find any official call letters anywhere on this chart ... nor the name of a city!)
It IS cool to see The Cryan' Shames ranking at #14 with "I Want To Meet You" (actually "I Wanna Meet You" on the label) ... and check out The Electric Prunes' hit "I Had Too Much To Drink"!!! (lol) While that very well may have been true, the REAL title of their biggest hit was "I Had Too Much To DREAM (Last Night)"!!! They've also got The Casinos premiering at #25 this week with "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" ... which debuted in Billboard back on January 14th ... a full 24 weeks earlier!!!
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The Sunday Comments ( 07 - 27 - 14 )
Here's a little tribute to Paul Revere - get well soon!
Clark
Clark
It was pretty obvious at the Arcada show that Paul Revere was not in the best of health. We hate to see our rock and roll heroes fall but let's face it, he's not a young man ... and he's spent nearly his entire life out on the road making people happy. Anyone who has ever seen one of his shows has come away in brighter spirits ... and for that, we thank you, Paul Revere.
Jim
Our FH Buddy (and Raiders Drummer) Tommy Scheckel has played with a lot of artists over the years and says he has NEVER worked with anyone who appreciates their fans more than Paul Revere.
Paul is all about not letting down fans and promoters. He is a one of a kind entertainer, a true original and he makes magic on a stage and has total control. Knows just how to press those buttons, man!
Thanks for the well wishes ... I'll pass them along.
Tommy
Our FH Buddy Joel Whitburn has some INCREDIBLE deals running right now ... offering MAJOR savings on some of his most popular Record Research chart books. But you've got to act quickly ... this offer expires on July 31st!
Our FH Buddy Joel Whitburn has some INCREDIBLE deals running right now ... offering MAJOR savings on some of his most popular Record Research chart books. But you've got to act quickly ... this offer expires on July 31st!
Check out the link below ... EVERY single one of these is a valuable research tool ... a day doesn't go by when we don't refer to at least a few of them! (kk)
Click here: A Dozen Deals!
Click here: A Dozen Deals!
Speaking of The Billboard Charts, here's a link you've just GOT to check out ... but prepared to invest HOURS and HOURS of your life surfing around.
It's called The Nostalgia Machine ... and not only does it list The Top 100 Songs from every year (1960 - 2013!), culled from Billboard's Year-End Charts, but it also offers a video clip for each selection! You'll definitely want to bookmark this one ... and come back again and again. VERY well done ... and an absolute MUST for chart-a-holics like us! (kk) Click here: The Nostalgia Machine
And, in other Billboard chart action, last week we told you that it looked like Weird Al Yankovic was going to score his very first #1 Album. Well, he pulled it off ... but check this out ... he beat Jason Mraz out of the top spot by EIGHT units!!! (I doubt that there has EVER been a closer battle for #1 Album honors!) Meanwhile, Al says this is likely his last LP ... he'll just do random downloads in the future since that's what people are buying these days. Releasing eight straight brand new videos certainly didn't hurt his cause ... some of these earned close to ten million views in a matter of days, propelling his album to the top of the charts! (kk)
Fascinating site, man!
I was the original PD at KIIS-AM / FM, switching it to Top 40 in early 70's. What a ride. Worked there 3 different times; the last time stayed 15 years!
And, in other Billboard chart action, last week we told you that it looked like Weird Al Yankovic was going to score his very first #1 Album. Well, he pulled it off ... but check this out ... he beat Jason Mraz out of the top spot by EIGHT units!!! (I doubt that there has EVER been a closer battle for #1 Album honors!) Meanwhile, Al says this is likely his last LP ... he'll just do random downloads in the future since that's what people are buying these days. Releasing eight straight brand new videos certainly didn't hurt his cause ... some of these earned close to ten million views in a matter of days, propelling his album to the top of the charts! (kk)
Fascinating site, man!
I was the original PD at KIIS-AM / FM, switching it to Top 40 in early 70's. What a ride. Worked there 3 different times; the last time stayed 15 years!
Do you have any info on a 45 called "NEXT PLANE TO LONDON"by THE ROSE GARDEN?
Don Elliot
I remember covering this song a few times in Forgotten Hits, (a great track, by the way, that I heard on that WCFL station we plugged last weekend), most recently because a rumor started circulating that the opening voice over the airport loud speaker belonged to comedian Steve Martin, before he made it. We ultimately proved that it wasn't him ... but it SURE does SOUND like him when you have that thought in mind! (kk)
The voice for the airport announcer is me on the front and middle of the song and there's a whole story that goes with it about how the reverb was broken in the studio at Nashville West next to KHJ on Melrose in Hollywood -- and I hung a Telefunken mic in the men's room to get the echo. It was recorded on an Ampex 4- track by Engineer Charlie Underwood.
Originally the voice was supposed to be that of Sam Riddle, a KHJ Boss Jock who is also the TV host of the show called 9th St., West, later when I'm to put a show together called Star Search. We have been best friends for years working K rock together in the beginning.
-- Sincerely,
Don Elliot
Kent ...
Have you ever heard this story before? I was listening to Scott Shannon the other day. They were talking about the song "Mac Arthur Park." A listener wrote in with this comment --
"Someone left the cake out in the rain and we'll never have that recipe again."
It's supposed to be about a man who lost his wife and child during birth. Scott said he never heard that before. I say I never heard that before. What do you say?
Frank B.
There are VERY few songs that I actually detest ... but this is one of them ... GROSSLY over-rated in my opinion (and always has been as far as I'm concerned.) In a rare instance, I actually like the Donna Summer disco-version of this song over any other that I've ever heard ... that is if I have to listen to it at all.
Nevertheless, no, I've never heard that story before. Songwriter Jimmy Webb (who wrote the tune ... so I figure HE should know) says that the inspiration for the song came from the relationship and breakup between Webb and Susan Horton. Mac Arthur Park (in Los Angeles) was where the two occasionally met for lunch and spent their most enjoyable times together. In fact, he has gone on record to state that their breakup was also the inspiration for his tune "By The Time I Get To Phoenix". As for someone leaving the cake out in the rain (I HATE when that happens!), Webb says that the lyric was meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair.
Webb first pitched the song to The Association, who turned it down. Although numerous artists have recorded the song over the years, the HIT version belongs to actor Richard Harris, who took it all the way to #2 in 1968. (The song was written in 1965 as, what Webb envisioned, a HUGE symphonic piece! Coming in at 7 1/2 minutes, it paved the way for longer music to gain airplay on Top 40 AM Radio. (The Beatles would soon top the chart with "Hey Jude", a 7:11 masterpiece of their own!)
Webb described the song this way to journalist Geoff Boucher:
"In mid-1965, I was absolutely besotted with my girlfriend at the time. MacArthur Park was where we met for lunch and paddleboat rides and feeding the ducks. She worked across the street at a life insurance company."
The breakup left Webb reeling ... and writing. "I also wrote 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix' about her, but I never even got as far as Riverside. But I lost her. She married some other guy. We're still friends. Her name is Susan Ronstadt" (a cousin to singer Linda Ronstadt.)
"Those lyrics were all very real to me; there was nothing psychedelic about it to me. The cake, it was an available object. It was what I saw in the park at the birthday parties. But people have very strong reactions to the song. There's been a lot of intellectual venom." (kk)
Don Elliot
I remember covering this song a few times in Forgotten Hits, (a great track, by the way, that I heard on that WCFL station we plugged last weekend), most recently because a rumor started circulating that the opening voice over the airport loud speaker belonged to comedian Steve Martin, before he made it. We ultimately proved that it wasn't him ... but it SURE does SOUND like him when you have that thought in mind! (kk)
The voice for the airport announcer is me on the front and middle of the song and there's a whole story that goes with it about how the reverb was broken in the studio at Nashville West next to KHJ on Melrose in Hollywood -- and I hung a Telefunken mic in the men's room to get the echo. It was recorded on an Ampex 4- track by Engineer Charlie Underwood.
Originally the voice was supposed to be that of Sam Riddle, a KHJ Boss Jock who is also the TV host of the show called 9th St., West, later when I'm to put a show together called Star Search. We have been best friends for years working K rock together in the beginning.
-- Sincerely,
Don Elliot
Kent ...
Have you ever heard this story before? I was listening to Scott Shannon the other day. They were talking about the song "Mac Arthur Park." A listener wrote in with this comment --
"Someone left the cake out in the rain and we'll never have that recipe again."
It's supposed to be about a man who lost his wife and child during birth. Scott said he never heard that before. I say I never heard that before. What do you say?
Frank B.
There are VERY few songs that I actually detest ... but this is one of them ... GROSSLY over-rated in my opinion (and always has been as far as I'm concerned.) In a rare instance, I actually like the Donna Summer disco-version of this song over any other that I've ever heard ... that is if I have to listen to it at all.
Nevertheless, no, I've never heard that story before. Songwriter Jimmy Webb (who wrote the tune ... so I figure HE should know) says that the inspiration for the song came from the relationship and breakup between Webb and Susan Horton. Mac Arthur Park (in Los Angeles) was where the two occasionally met for lunch and spent their most enjoyable times together. In fact, he has gone on record to state that their breakup was also the inspiration for his tune "By The Time I Get To Phoenix". As for someone leaving the cake out in the rain (I HATE when that happens!), Webb says that the lyric was meant to be symbolic and referred to the end of a love affair.
Webb first pitched the song to The Association, who turned it down. Although numerous artists have recorded the song over the years, the HIT version belongs to actor Richard Harris, who took it all the way to #2 in 1968. (The song was written in 1965 as, what Webb envisioned, a HUGE symphonic piece! Coming in at 7 1/2 minutes, it paved the way for longer music to gain airplay on Top 40 AM Radio. (The Beatles would soon top the chart with "Hey Jude", a 7:11 masterpiece of their own!)
Webb described the song this way to journalist Geoff Boucher:
"In mid-1965, I was absolutely besotted with my girlfriend at the time. MacArthur Park was where we met for lunch and paddleboat rides and feeding the ducks. She worked across the street at a life insurance company."
The breakup left Webb reeling ... and writing. "I also wrote 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix' about her, but I never even got as far as Riverside. But I lost her. She married some other guy. We're still friends. Her name is Susan Ronstadt" (a cousin to singer Linda Ronstadt.)
"Those lyrics were all very real to me; there was nothing psychedelic about it to me. The cake, it was an available object. It was what I saw in the park at the birthday parties. But people have very strong reactions to the song. There's been a lot of intellectual venom." (kk)
Man, I just LOVE it when all the planets align!!! The VERY next email I opened came from FH Reader Clark Besch, who sent THIS in ...
Here's an FH that was remembered in full glory last night ...
Here's an FH that was remembered in full glory last night ...
Now ... what are the odds?!?! Check out this clip ... and make sure you stay for those last few notes!!! Amazing! (kk)
Hi Kent!
I loved your “Forgotten Hits with No Strings Attached” post with my favorites being James & Bobby Purify’s “I’m Your Puppet” and that rarely heard Chairmen of the Board track . You could have also added Sandie Shaw’s massive British hit “Puppet on a String” to the list as well to show what was going on on the other side of the Atlantic.
Speaking of the other side of the Atlantic, I wonder if there is a site or radio station devoted to mainly British oldies. One that not only concentrates on well known British Invasion (or Beat Boom as it was known in the UK) artists, but also lesser known UK artists and many Pre-Beatle era British pop artists. The reason I ask this is because of my interest in 1960’s British rock & roll but also pre-Beatle era Britpop as well (much of my record collecting these days concentrates mainly on Sixties British rock and pop).
Keep up the good work on your blog!
Mr. Kelly Izaj of Pittsburgh, Pa.
With the wealth of variety offered through Internet Radio these days, I'm sure there must be SEVERAL stations specializing in this type of music ... I just personally don't know of any ... but I'll betcha some of our readers do. Stay tuned! (kk)
Kent,
It was a hot Saturday night in Palmdale for "Merrell Fankhauser And Friends" ... A Great 60's Night In The Desert! We had a very enthusiastic crowd, some fans I hadn't seen in over 40 years ! Bassist Jim Ferguson of Merrell And The Exiles played on a few songs with us. There was even a lady there that went to High School with Beefheart & Zappa ! It was a big success!
Best Always,
Merrell
 Sounds like you guys had a GREAT time! Thanks for sharing, Merrell! (You'll find lots of live performances ... as well as clips from Merrell's TV Show "The Tiki Lounge" on YouTube!) kk A Forgotten Hits Reader just sent in this link to a brand new interview with Denny Tedesco, Producer of the excellent Wrecking Crew documentary ... Just in case you didn't know about this, I thought I'd let you know. It's very recent -- this week, I believe. Bill http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_517_-_denny_tedesco/?curator=MediaREDEF I was at a private meet and greet with the Blackhawks Alumni on Saturday during the convention. It was great ... there were about 20 of the old members from the Standby’s club (the old fan club dating back to the 40’s) and about 11 past players. Chet Coppock was there and I went up and said that we had a mutual friend, namely you. Well, that opened up the flood gates and he couldn’t say enough about you and started to talk, of course, about his connection to the New Colony Six, etc. So I kind of have a new friend. Attached is the photo we took together. Georgiann Burke  Very cool ... I believe Chet is a genuine fan of what we do here in Forgotten Hits ... a short while back, he, Ray Graffia, Jr. (of The New Colony Six) and I hammed it up pre-show at The Arcada Theatre, doing our very best doo-wop pose! (Pretty cool under the lights, eh???) kk  Now THIS is really odd!!! Here's a song and artist I'd never heard of before ... and now they've come up TWICE in the last couple of weeks! Last week as part of our Saturday Surveys feature we ran a track called "All's Quiet On West 23rd" by Julie Budd ... Forgotten Hits Reader Clark Besch (who sent us both the survey and the sound clip) told us a little bit about how Julie was being groomed to be "the next Barbra Streisand" ... and now I just got THIS email from long-time FH Reader Ronnie Allen ... My next interview show for my Jersey Girls Sing website will likely be in August with Julie Budd, a singer who never had a big hit but whose work I've admired for so many years. Her only Hot 100 entry was under the name "Julie"; it was her 1976 recording of "One Fine Day," which peaked at #93. Her 1968 recording of "All's Quiet On West 23rd" -- inspired by the Kitty Genovese killing that occurred four years earlier -- should have become a big hit but did not because of the reluctance of radio to play what was understandably a controversial recording. Ronnie Allen Let us know when you've got this posted, Ronnie, and we'll be sure to pass the info along. (kk) Speaking of The Saturday Surveys ... Hi Kent! I enjoy the Saturday Surveys, especially the one from KDKA-AM 1020. I have one theory why the Montclairs’ “Happy Feet” was a Top Five single here in Pittsburgh during that time. Some of the DJ’s at KDKA were using “Happy Feet” as a “news kicker” to introduce the hourly news. The requests for that song – because of its use as a news kicker – got it its Top Five position on the KDKA charts despite “bubbling under” at #108 nationally. After all, more than a few classic instrumentals became popular because of their use as news kickers. Mr. Kelly Izaj of Pittsburgh, PA. Kent, I share a birthday with Mick Jagger. So as I was viewing the Saturday Surveys from our past birthdays, I was really able to look back and enjoy. The best part was clicking on "Birthday". Mick and I thank you ... even tho' he doesn't know he does. Shelley J Sweet-Tufano Kent ... Be sure to check this out on 8/1/14 http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2014/07/22/celebrate-scott-shannons-101st-show-at-our-special-live-broadcast-at-city-winery-nyc/ It's a celebration of Scott Shannon's 101st show, but its really his 103rd show -- according to the article. I still don't think it's right. According to my count, Scott took six vacation days and one sick day. Mickey Dolenz will be one of Scott's live guests. Reminder - Micky Dolenz was on the air with his 101st. show, when they replaced the old WCBS-FM with JACK-FM. I hope it doesn't happen again! Frank B. A WHOLE lotta cities got "jacked around" with that whole fiasco ... thankfully it died a quick (and rather uneventful) death! Happy 101, Scott!!! (kk) This weekend on WCBS-FM, every hour they're playing two songs from a # 1 Album. New idea. I don't remember them doing this before this weekend. I say good idea. What do you say? Frank B. I think it's a great idea ... if done right. What would make it a REALLY great idea would be if they played one hit from the LP along with a true LP-cut ... something that HASN'T already been played to death ... to give you more of a real feel of the album. If all you're going to do is play the two hit singles that you play every single day anyway ... then you might as well just make it a two-fer / twin-spin weekend ... or simply every "Two For Tuesday". (kk) Finally, a few more show dates you'll want to know about at The Arcada Theatre ... tickets and more information are always available at the oshows.com website! (And while you're there, be sure to check out Ron's new weekly program "Backstage with Ron Onesti - All Access", a WGN radio feature that is also filmed for viewing on the oshows website. This week ... Jim Peterik ... EXCLUSIVELY on the site! By the way, I absolutely LOVE the opening promo of Carl Giammarese in the parking lot at Gene and Jude's!!! A Chicagoland landmark!) AUGUST 29th - KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND (We LOVED him last time he was here -- a GREAT entertainer!) AUGUST 30th - JOHNNY RIVERS (This'll be my first time to see Johnny!) SEPTEMBER 13th - LOU GRAMM OF FOREIGNER (Was really looking forward to this one but we've got a scheduling conflict and are going to have to miss the show ... hoping a Forgotten Hits reader two can file a complete concert report!) SEPTEMBER 20th - Our FH Buddy FELIX CAVALIERE'S RASCALS with THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE SEPTEMBER 21st - VINCE GILL with THE TIME JUMPERS SEPTEMBER 27th - A GREAT Triple Bill featuring AMBROSIA, ORLEANS and FIREFALL (I saw these guys last year as part of the SAIL ROCK Concert Series ... and it was OUTSTANDING!) OCTOBER 5th - AL STEWART (billed as a WINE TASTING AND BOOK TOUR) Here's another guy who NEVER seems to tour ... SO glad to see that he'll be making a stop at The Arcada Theatre! OCTOBER 9th - ASIA (can't miss THIS one!!!) OCTOBER 10th - It's 80s NIGHT AT THE ARCADA WITH THE ROMANTICS AND THE SMITHEREENS OCTOBER 16th - BILL MEDLEY (special 7:30 PM show ... just don't let RON put you in the corner!) OCTOBER 17th - TOWER OF POWER (just added!) OCTOBER 22nd - GARY WRIGHT BOOK TOUR AND CONCERT (7:30 PM) Gary was also part of last year's SAIL ROCK extravaganza ... a GREAT show! OCTOBER 24th - THE FIFTH DIMENSION OCTOBER 25th - TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS NOVEMBER 7th - BJ THOMAS with guests EXILE (We'll be at THIS one for sure!) NOVEMBER 14th - It's our FH Buddy BURTON CUMMINGS NOVEMBER 15th - AMERICA (this show sells out every time) NOVEMBER 16th - THE LITTLE RIVER BAND (7 pm) Really looking forward to this one, too ... I've always wanted to see these guys! |
NOVEMBER 22nd - THE SPINNERS with RAY PARKER, JR. (Another one we've been anxiously awaiting!)
DECEMBER 7th - RONNIE SPECTOR's BEST CHRISTMAS EVER Show
DECEMBER 15th - JIM PETERIK AND THE IDES OF MARCH ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 7th - RONNIE SPECTOR's BEST CHRISTMAS EVER Show
DECEMBER 15th - JIM PETERIK AND THE IDES OF MARCH ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS
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Happy Together - 2014
It's nearly that time of year again!
The Happy Together Tour is heading into the Chicagoland Area on Friday, August 22nd ... and once again, we're looking forward to catching some of the biggest stars of the '60's and '70's at The Paramount Theatre in Auora, IL.
There'll be a couple of brand new editions this year ... joining The Happy Together Tour Line-Up for the very first time are Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels!
Returning from last year's line up are Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night and (of course), Flo and Eddie ... aka The Turtles ... who've been spear-heading this rock and roll extravaganza for DECADES now!!!
The Happy Together Tour has been playing to satisfied, sold-out audiences all over the country since June 7th ... and there are still plenty of chances left to catch these guys when they head into YOUR neighborhood! (Including SIX shows this week alone!!!)
HAPPY TOGETHER TOUR, 2014
July 29 - State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey
July 30 - Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington, West Virginia
July 31 – Centennial Terrace in Sylvania, Ohio
July 30 - Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington, West Virginia
July 31 – Centennial Terrace in Sylvania, Ohio
August 1 - Tennessee Performing Arts Center / Polk Theater in Nashville, Tennessee
August 2 - DTE Energy Music Theater, Clarkston, Michigan
August 2 - DTE Energy Music Theater, Clarkston, Michigan
August 3 - Wisconsin State Fair / Main Stage in West Allis, Wisconsin
August 4 - The Sanford Center, Bemidji, Minnesota
August 4 - The Sanford Center, Bemidji, Minnesota
August 6 - Fraze Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Kettering, Ohio
August 7 - Hard Rock Live in Northfield, Ohio
August 8 - Iowa State Fair / Grandstand in Des Moines, Iowa
August 9 - The Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri
August 10 - Peoria Civic Center (Theatre) in Peoria, Illinois
August 10 - Peoria Civic Center (Theatre) in Peoria, Illinois
August 12 - Indiana State Fair / Marsh Free Stage in Indianapolis, Indiana
August 14 - Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland, Texas
August 15 - Stafford Centre, Stafford, Texas
August 16 - Greenville Municipal Auditorium, Greenville, Texas
August 14 - Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland, Texas
August 15 - Stafford Centre, Stafford, Texas
August 16 - Greenville Municipal Auditorium, Greenville, Texas
August 20 - Effingham Performance Center in Effingham, Illinois
August 21 - Kentucky State Fair / Fairgrounds Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky
August 22 - Paramount Arts Centre in Aurora, Illinois
August 23 - Ho-Chunk Gaming, Black River Falls, Wisconsin
August 24 - Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg, MB, Canada
August 25 - Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, Minnesota August 27 - Colorado State Fair / Events Center in Pueblo, Colorado
August 23 - Ho-Chunk Gaming, Black River Falls, Wisconsin
August 24 - Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg, MB, Canada
August 25 - Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, Minnesota August 27 - Colorado State Fair / Events Center in Pueblo, Colorado
CLASSIC MUSIC FANS, REJOICE!
THE HAPPY TOGETHER TOUR,
FEATURING THE BEST MUSIC OF THE 60s AND 70s
PERFORMED BY THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS, RETURNS TO AURORA'S PARAMOUNT THEATRE ON AUGUST 22nd!
Featuring ... FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!
(from left) THE TURTLES FEATURING FLO & EDDIE,
CHUCK NEGRON formerly of Three Dog Night,
MARK FARNER formerly of Grand Funk Railroad,
GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS and MITCH RYDER &THE DETROIT WHEELS
GARY LEWIS & THE PLAYBOYS and MITCH RYDER &THE DETROIT WHEELS
Back by popular demand, The Happy Together Tour, 2014 - this year starring The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Gary Lewis & The Playboys and Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels - makes its fourth annual Chicago-area stop, one-night-only, Friday, August 22 at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. Tickets are only $59.50.
For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, call the Paramount box office at (630) 896-6666, or purchase in person at the Paramount Theatre box office, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Be there, preferably in full tie-dye, when Flo & Eddie sing all of their great Turtles classics including, of course, the tour's title song "Happy Together." Don't miss Chuck Negron belt out "Joy to the World" and other rockin' hits by Three Dog Night. Mark Farner will be "Your Captain" through the Grand Funk Railroad set. There's Gary Lewis & The Playboys with their "Diamond Ring," and no rock-n-roll show would be complete without Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels cranking "Devil With the Blue Dress On."
Happy Together audiences truly feel and see the soundtrack of their youth as they're transported back in time, jamming to hit-after-classic-hit such as "We're An American Band,""Some Kind of Wonderful,""Good Golly Miss Molly,""Mama Told Me Not To Come"and many more. Multi-media highlights are woven throughout the show to reference the era of the music, the best pop rock of the 60s and 70s.
Get happy before the show at Paramount's Season Kick Off Party
The 2014-15 season is Paramount's biggest in its 83-year history, with more than 300,000 patrons expected to pass through the theater's Grand Gallery lobby on their way to enjoying nearly 300 performances. So Paramount plans to kick off its new season with a big Season Kick Off Party from 5 to 7 p.m. Your $10 ticket, purchased separately, includes samples of amazing cuisine from area restaurants. Paramount's biggest fans will browse awesome silent auctions items, including several behind-the-scene packages. Cash bar available.
The Season Kick Off Party and Happy Together Tour at Paramount are sponsored by CBK Global Enterprises.
More about The Happy Together Tour 2014
According to Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad, "I am proud to be suckin' air and still able to do what I love doing. Rock has a grip on my soul and our fans rally to the call and bring it out of our innermost being time after time. DAMN that's GOOD! I know for a fact that Mitch Ryder, Gary Lewis, Chuck Negron, Flo and Eddie and myself will certainly be Happy Together this summer!"
Mark Volman of The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie, added "This Happy Together Tour is the strongest and most rocking summer we've had so far. The artists who are with us make us excited to get started and the audience is in for a great night of music and memories."
"Happy Together" by The Turtles hit #1 on the charts in 1967 (displacing the Beatles'"Penny Lane") and remains a staple on classic rock radio to this day. Although their biggest hit and signature song, it's just one of their nine Top 40 singles, which includes such popular songs as "She'd Rather Be With Me,""Elenore,""You Showed Me" and "It Ain't Me Babe." For more information, visit theturtles.com.
The Turtles - Happy Together - 1967 |
Chuck Negron co-founded the hugely popular, multi-platinum band Three Dog Night in 1967. The group went on to become one of the most successful bands of the late 60s and early 70s with 21 Top 40 hits and three number one songs including "Joy to the World,""Black and White" and "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)." The band's first gold record was "One," which featured Negron on lead vocals as did "Joy to the World" and many other of the band's biggest hits including "Old Fashioned Love Song."chucknegron.com
Chuck Negron Joy to the World Las Vegas Show, 2013 |
Mark Farner originally from Flint Michigan and of Cherokee ancestry, is best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, as well as the songwriter for most of their material. His best-known composition is the 1970 epic "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)." Grand Funk's "We're An American Band" reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 on Farner's 25th birthday on September 29, 1973. Farner also played on such Grand Funk hits as "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "The Loco-motion," toured with Ringo Starr's Allstars in the 90s, and later established himself as a contemporary Christian musician. markfarner.com
Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) - The Locomotion |
It was 1964 when Gary Lewis & The Playboys were discovered by producer Snuff Garrett. By the following year, they had a song go straight to the top of the charts called "This Diamond Ring." After their second hit "Count Me In" went to number two, the band followed with more Top 10 songs like "Save Your Heart for Me,""Everybody Loves A Clown,""She's Just My Style" and "Sure Gonna Miss Her." In 1965, Lewis was Cash Box magazine's "Male Vocalist of the Year" and the first and only artist during the 60s to have his first seven releases reach Billboard Top 10 on the Hot 100 chart. garylewisandtheplayboys.com
Gary Lewis & The Playboys - This Diamond Ring |
High octane, turbo, high performance, super charged Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels didn't need to hail from the Motor City for those adjectives to be tossed their way, but it was Mitch and The Wheels who served as the musical bridge between the Motown soul factory and the high energy, take no prisoners rock 'n' roll that would roar out of Detroit. The band recorded several hit records in the mid to late 60s, most notably "Devil with the Blue Dress On," their highest-charting single at number 4, as well as "Sock It to Me-Baby!,"a number 6 hit in 1967, and "Jenny Take a Ride!", which reached number 10 in 1965. mitchryder.net
Devil with the Blue Dress - Mitch Ryder |
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Happy Together, 2014 - The Hit List
The 2014 Line-Up of The Happy Together Tour has amassed an INCREDIBLE 30 Top Ten Hits between them ... and nearly TWICE that many (56) made The Billboard Top 40. (In fact, SEVEN of these records went all the way to #1!!!)
You'd be hard pressed to find a more impressive list! And you can catch all five artists together on the very same stage as part of this year's tour. (Scroll back to yesterday's posting for all the latest concert information.)
Meanwhile, CHECK OUT THIS LIST!!!
#1 - JOY TO THE WORLD - Three Dog Night (#1)
#2 - HAPPY TOGETHER - The Turtles (#1)
#3 - THIS DIAMOND RING - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#1)
#4 - WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND - Grand Funk Railroad (#1)
#5 - MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME - Three Dog Night (#1)
#6 - THE LOCO-MOTION - Grand Funk Railroad (#1)
#7 - BLACK AND WHITE - Three Dog Night (#1)
#8 - SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#2)
#9 - COUNT ME IN - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#2)
#10 - SHE'D RATHER BE WITH ME - The Turtles (#3)
#11 - Some Kind Of Wonderful - Grand Funk Railroad (#3)
#12 - She's Just My Style - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#3)
#13 - Shambala - Three Dog Night (#3)
#14 - Easy To Be Hard - Three Dog Night (#4)
#15 - Bad Time - Grand Funk Railroad (#4)
#16 - Everybody Loves A Clown - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#4)
#17 - An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night (#4)
#18 - Devil With A Blue Dress On and Good Golly Miss Molly (Medley) - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels ( #4)
#19 - The Show Must Go On - Three Dog Night (#4)
#20 - One - Three Dog Night (#5)
#21 - Never Been To Spain - Three Dog Night (#5)
#22 - You Showed Me - The Turtles (#6)
#23 - Elenore - The Turtles (#6)
#24 - Sock It To Me Baby - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (#6)
#25 - Liar - Three Dog Night (#7)
#26 - It Ain't Me Babe - The Turtles (#8)
#27 - Green Grass - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#8)
#28 - Sure Gonna Miss Her - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#9)
#29 - Jenny Take A Ride - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (#10)
#30 - Eli's Coming - Three Dog Night (#10)
#31 - Shinin' On - Grand Funk Railroad (#11)
#32 - You Know What I Mean - The Turtles (#12)
#33 - The Family Of Man - Three Dog Night (#12)
#34 - My Heart's Symphony - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#13)
#35 - She's My Girl - The Turtles (#14)
#36 - Celebrate - Three Dog Night (#15)
#37 - Out In The Country - Three Dog Night (#15)
#38 - You Don't Have To Paint Me A Picture - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#15)
#39 - Sure As I'm Sittin' Here - Three Dog Night (#16)
#40 - Let Me Serenade You - Three Dog Night (#17)
HONORABLE MENTION:
Pieces Of April - Three Dog Night
Walk Like A Man - Grand Funk Railroad
You Baby - The Turtles
Try A Little Tenderness - Three Dog Night
Footstompin' Music - Grand Funk Railroad
Closer To Home - Grand Funk Railroad
Little Latin Lupe Lu - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
You'd be hard pressed to find a more impressive list! And you can catch all five artists together on the very same stage as part of this year's tour. (Scroll back to yesterday's posting for all the latest concert information.)
Meanwhile, CHECK OUT THIS LIST!!!
#1 - JOY TO THE WORLD - Three Dog Night (#1)
#2 - HAPPY TOGETHER - The Turtles (#1)
#3 - THIS DIAMOND RING - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#1)
#4 - WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND - Grand Funk Railroad (#1)
#5 - MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME - Three Dog Night (#1)
#6 - THE LOCO-MOTION - Grand Funk Railroad (#1)
#7 - BLACK AND WHITE - Three Dog Night (#1)
#8 - SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#2)
#9 - COUNT ME IN - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#2)
#10 - SHE'D RATHER BE WITH ME - The Turtles (#3)
#11 - Some Kind Of Wonderful - Grand Funk Railroad (#3)
#12 - She's Just My Style - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#3)
#13 - Shambala - Three Dog Night (#3)
#14 - Easy To Be Hard - Three Dog Night (#4)
#15 - Bad Time - Grand Funk Railroad (#4)
#16 - Everybody Loves A Clown - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#4)
#17 - An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night (#4)
#18 - Devil With A Blue Dress On and Good Golly Miss Molly (Medley) - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels ( #4)
#19 - The Show Must Go On - Three Dog Night (#4)
#20 - One - Three Dog Night (#5)
#21 - Never Been To Spain - Three Dog Night (#5)
#22 - You Showed Me - The Turtles (#6)
#23 - Elenore - The Turtles (#6)
#24 - Sock It To Me Baby - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (#6)
#25 - Liar - Three Dog Night (#7)
#26 - It Ain't Me Babe - The Turtles (#8)
#27 - Green Grass - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#8)
#28 - Sure Gonna Miss Her - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#9)
#29 - Jenny Take A Ride - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (#10)
#30 - Eli's Coming - Three Dog Night (#10)
#31 - Shinin' On - Grand Funk Railroad (#11)
#32 - You Know What I Mean - The Turtles (#12)
#33 - The Family Of Man - Three Dog Night (#12)
#34 - My Heart's Symphony - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#13)
#35 - She's My Girl - The Turtles (#14)
#36 - Celebrate - Three Dog Night (#15)
#37 - Out In The Country - Three Dog Night (#15)
#38 - You Don't Have To Paint Me A Picture - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (#15)
#39 - Sure As I'm Sittin' Here - Three Dog Night (#16)
#40 - Let Me Serenade You - Three Dog Night (#17)
HONORABLE MENTION:
Pieces Of April - Three Dog Night
Walk Like A Man - Grand Funk Railroad
You Baby - The Turtles
Try A Little Tenderness - Three Dog Night
Footstompin' Music - Grand Funk Railroad
Closer To Home - Grand Funk Railroad
Little Latin Lupe Lu - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
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Kenny Loggins
I've been to a LOT of concerts over the years ... good ones ... bad ones ... incredible shows that literally took your breath away ... and some that left you feeling a bit disappointed (and perhaps even losing some affection for a particular artist you previously held in high regard.)
But amongst all of those mixed emotions, the one adjective I've never felt before was ... bored. Yet last night, at the Kenny Loggins show in Elk Grove Village, I can't think of a single, more descriptive adjective to use.
It's not that Kenny was bad ... quite the contrary ... he sang all the hits you'd want to hear and sounded good enough performing them ... he just never grabbed me. (I should immediately point out that this was NOT the case with the greatest majority of the audience, most of whom seemed to be having the time of their lives out there on what turned out to be the most PERFECT night to sit outside and listen to music, despite threats of rain all day long.)
He just never grabbed ME. I don't know how else to put it. I found the whole thing rather low-key and a bit lack-luster, almost like Kenny was just cranking out what he had to in order to fill his hour. And that in itself was one of the things that annoyed me the most ... he played EXACTLY one hour and then left the stage. It was SO contrived and calculated ... ALL of the big hits had been saved for last ... surely nobody else who has ever performed at one of these Elk Grove Village Mid-Summer Night Concert Series Shows has ever done a set this short ... so there was never any question that he'd come back to do an encore of all the songs everybody out there really came to see ... it was truly a pointless, aggravating and calculated moved ... and held absolutely ZERO surprise factor. (Was he really NOT going to do "Footloose"? "Danger Zone"? "Your Mama Don't Dance"? I don't think so.)
And here's another thing that annoys me more and more as I get older ... WHEN are these artists going to realize that we didn't come here to hear thousands of Elk Grove Village music fans sing "House At Pooh Corner" and "Danny's Song" ... we came here to hear YOU sing it. All these artists who constantly turn the mic toward the audience to have them sing lose me immediately the moment they do this. And SO many of them do this ... repeatedly ... that there's no longer anything the least bit unique about doing it!
Taking it an annoying step further, Kenny even split the audience into "now the girls sing this part and the boys sing this part" on what ended up being about a fourteen minute version of "Celebrate Me Home". It just wouldn't end!!! I can honestly state, without ANY fear of future contradiction on my part ... that I don't EVER have to hear that song again in my lifetime ... and may even die a happier man should this be the case. Talk about milking it ... AND wasting fourteen minutes of your sixty minute set! That's a quarter of the show spent on one song ... and not even one of your best!
Another batch of time was wasted with Kenny promoting his "new band" Blue Sky Riders, sort of a country-trio that also includes songwriter Gary Burr and singer Georgia Middleman, sharing the spotlight for three straight songs that nobody knew. Again, not that they were bad songs or weak performances ... they just never grabbed me ... or made me feel like Kenny would soon be on the comeback trail with this new musical venture.
Worse yet was his plea for Kickstarter funds to allow them to record their next album. Come on, Kenny ... you've written DOZENS and DOZENS of hit songs and, per your introduction, Gary Burr has written 14 #1 Hits and about 30 other Top 40 singles ... do you guys really need the fans' money to go in and cut a new album to launch your latest musical venture??? If you're so sure of this new direction, put your OWN money behind it and get it out there for people to hear.
I believe Kickstarter has already outlived its purpose and is now being abused on a regular basis. The whole concept behind this organization was to potentially give a break to a new, upcoming artist to launch a project that otherwise might never have gotten off the ground, no matter HOW good it was, because they simply didn't have the necessary funding to help get it to the public ... talented new upstarts getting that one big break for a shot at the big time. Now it seems that there isn't a week that goes by where some MAJOR artist with a 40+ year career isn't trying to take advantage of their public by getting them to front the bill for a new project ... and it REALLY annoys me.
Fact is, nobody buys CD's anymore. Remember a few years back when N*Sync sold something like two and a half million copies of their brand new CD the first week? Last week Weird Al topped the charts with sales of about 65,000 ... and THAT's considered high by today's standards. Put the music out there if you believe in it ... even if it's one track at a time ... and if we like it, we'll shell out the $15 to buy it ... but don't ask us to kick in $85,000 in advance so you can go record the damn thing!!!
Kenny performed with a stripped down band consisting of only three support players (shy of the Blue Sky Riders mini-set) which probably accounted for some of the lack-luster feel of the concert ... it's tough to reach highs and lows with that little musical and vocal support. Honestly, until he hit the encore (which, by now was 75 minutes into the concert), I found very little to cheer or get excited about. But the back-to-back readings of "Danger Zone" and "Footloose", two of Kenny's biggest movie hits, had the whole crowd up on their feet at last ... and he did them justice. (I'm afraid I can't say the same for my personal favorite Kenny Loggins tune, "I'm All-Right" from "Caddyshack" ... kicked off as sort of a Louisiana stomp / bayou rendition, it just never jelled, again primarily because there just wasn't enough musical and vocal support behind it to pull of this complicated piece of work, my favorite simply because it IS so vocally challenging.)
Kenny's show wrapped up a VERY successful series in Elk Grove this year ... record crowds turned out each week and last night was no exception. (I waited about 50 minutes just to buy a sub sandwich before the show ... lines were out the door at all of the neighboring food venues.) Organization needs to be better if these are the types of crowds Elk Grove can expect in the future. (It took another 45 minutes just to get out of the parking lot!)
And the concert venue itself was an absolute mess ... there were literally chairs on top of each other, people were so crammed into the allowable space. They need to clear aisles so people can navigate their way through the complex. I overheard policemen talking about how if anything were to happen last night, they couldn't even get an ambulance in to tend to the issue ... and that's just wrong (not to mention incredibly unsafe.)
And, naturally, (as ALWAYS seems to be the case at these Elk Grove shows) we had the usual crowd of belligerent concert goers surrounding us ... these folks seem to be a main-stay at the Elk Grove shows for some reason ... I don't know why ... people just want to come out and listen to some music and have a good time ... yet there seems to be a select percentage of the audience who will only be satisfied if they can turn the evening into something confrontational. Worse yet, we saw more than a few dozen people who had WAY too much to drink and would soon be trying to drive themselves home. For the safety of all concert attendees, Elk Grove REALLY needs to crack down on these issues for 2015. They've got a GREAT thing going here and are drawing HUGE crowds out to these shows ... but one serious, mismanaged incident will end it all ... please rethink this arrangement in the future!
But amongst all of those mixed emotions, the one adjective I've never felt before was ... bored. Yet last night, at the Kenny Loggins show in Elk Grove Village, I can't think of a single, more descriptive adjective to use.
It's not that Kenny was bad ... quite the contrary ... he sang all the hits you'd want to hear and sounded good enough performing them ... he just never grabbed me. (I should immediately point out that this was NOT the case with the greatest majority of the audience, most of whom seemed to be having the time of their lives out there on what turned out to be the most PERFECT night to sit outside and listen to music, despite threats of rain all day long.)
He just never grabbed ME. I don't know how else to put it. I found the whole thing rather low-key and a bit lack-luster, almost like Kenny was just cranking out what he had to in order to fill his hour. And that in itself was one of the things that annoyed me the most ... he played EXACTLY one hour and then left the stage. It was SO contrived and calculated ... ALL of the big hits had been saved for last ... surely nobody else who has ever performed at one of these Elk Grove Village Mid-Summer Night Concert Series Shows has ever done a set this short ... so there was never any question that he'd come back to do an encore of all the songs everybody out there really came to see ... it was truly a pointless, aggravating and calculated moved ... and held absolutely ZERO surprise factor. (Was he really NOT going to do "Footloose"? "Danger Zone"? "Your Mama Don't Dance"? I don't think so.)
And here's another thing that annoys me more and more as I get older ... WHEN are these artists going to realize that we didn't come here to hear thousands of Elk Grove Village music fans sing "House At Pooh Corner" and "Danny's Song" ... we came here to hear YOU sing it. All these artists who constantly turn the mic toward the audience to have them sing lose me immediately the moment they do this. And SO many of them do this ... repeatedly ... that there's no longer anything the least bit unique about doing it!
Taking it an annoying step further, Kenny even split the audience into "now the girls sing this part and the boys sing this part" on what ended up being about a fourteen minute version of "Celebrate Me Home". It just wouldn't end!!! I can honestly state, without ANY fear of future contradiction on my part ... that I don't EVER have to hear that song again in my lifetime ... and may even die a happier man should this be the case. Talk about milking it ... AND wasting fourteen minutes of your sixty minute set! That's a quarter of the show spent on one song ... and not even one of your best!
Another batch of time was wasted with Kenny promoting his "new band" Blue Sky Riders, sort of a country-trio that also includes songwriter Gary Burr and singer Georgia Middleman, sharing the spotlight for three straight songs that nobody knew. Again, not that they were bad songs or weak performances ... they just never grabbed me ... or made me feel like Kenny would soon be on the comeback trail with this new musical venture.
Worse yet was his plea for Kickstarter funds to allow them to record their next album. Come on, Kenny ... you've written DOZENS and DOZENS of hit songs and, per your introduction, Gary Burr has written 14 #1 Hits and about 30 other Top 40 singles ... do you guys really need the fans' money to go in and cut a new album to launch your latest musical venture??? If you're so sure of this new direction, put your OWN money behind it and get it out there for people to hear.
I believe Kickstarter has already outlived its purpose and is now being abused on a regular basis. The whole concept behind this organization was to potentially give a break to a new, upcoming artist to launch a project that otherwise might never have gotten off the ground, no matter HOW good it was, because they simply didn't have the necessary funding to help get it to the public ... talented new upstarts getting that one big break for a shot at the big time. Now it seems that there isn't a week that goes by where some MAJOR artist with a 40+ year career isn't trying to take advantage of their public by getting them to front the bill for a new project ... and it REALLY annoys me.
Fact is, nobody buys CD's anymore. Remember a few years back when N*Sync sold something like two and a half million copies of their brand new CD the first week? Last week Weird Al topped the charts with sales of about 65,000 ... and THAT's considered high by today's standards. Put the music out there if you believe in it ... even if it's one track at a time ... and if we like it, we'll shell out the $15 to buy it ... but don't ask us to kick in $85,000 in advance so you can go record the damn thing!!!
Kenny performed with a stripped down band consisting of only three support players (shy of the Blue Sky Riders mini-set) which probably accounted for some of the lack-luster feel of the concert ... it's tough to reach highs and lows with that little musical and vocal support. Honestly, until he hit the encore (which, by now was 75 minutes into the concert), I found very little to cheer or get excited about. But the back-to-back readings of "Danger Zone" and "Footloose", two of Kenny's biggest movie hits, had the whole crowd up on their feet at last ... and he did them justice. (I'm afraid I can't say the same for my personal favorite Kenny Loggins tune, "I'm All-Right" from "Caddyshack" ... kicked off as sort of a Louisiana stomp / bayou rendition, it just never jelled, again primarily because there just wasn't enough musical and vocal support behind it to pull of this complicated piece of work, my favorite simply because it IS so vocally challenging.)
Kenny's show wrapped up a VERY successful series in Elk Grove this year ... record crowds turned out each week and last night was no exception. (I waited about 50 minutes just to buy a sub sandwich before the show ... lines were out the door at all of the neighboring food venues.) Organization needs to be better if these are the types of crowds Elk Grove can expect in the future. (It took another 45 minutes just to get out of the parking lot!)
And the concert venue itself was an absolute mess ... there were literally chairs on top of each other, people were so crammed into the allowable space. They need to clear aisles so people can navigate their way through the complex. I overheard policemen talking about how if anything were to happen last night, they couldn't even get an ambulance in to tend to the issue ... and that's just wrong (not to mention incredibly unsafe.)
And, naturally, (as ALWAYS seems to be the case at these Elk Grove shows) we had the usual crowd of belligerent concert goers surrounding us ... these folks seem to be a main-stay at the Elk Grove shows for some reason ... I don't know why ... people just want to come out and listen to some music and have a good time ... yet there seems to be a select percentage of the audience who will only be satisfied if they can turn the evening into something confrontational. Worse yet, we saw more than a few dozen people who had WAY too much to drink and would soon be trying to drive themselves home. For the safety of all concert attendees, Elk Grove REALLY needs to crack down on these issues for 2015. They've got a GREAT thing going here and are drawing HUGE crowds out to these shows ... but one serious, mismanaged incident will end it all ... please rethink this arrangement in the future!
↧
Thursday This And That
Can't wait to read this one ... I feel like I grew up with this guy!!! (Actually, I practically did! The Ides Of March were a HUGE part of my life growing up in Berwyn ... Jim Peterik and I graduated from the same high school a few years apart ... and the fact that he's finally telling his story in "no-holds-barred" fashion should earn him even MORE recognition that he genuinely deserves.) Check it out!
SURVIVOR / IDES OF MARCH FOUNDER JIM PETERIK’S THROUGH THE EYE OF THE TIGER OFFERS AN OVERVIEW OF A MOST UNLIKELY ROCK STAR ~ COMING SEPTEMBER 23 ~
The writer / performer of such classic hits as “Eye of the Tiger”
and “Vehicle” reveals his life both on-stage and off,
including having a chart hit as a 15-year-old,
penning one of the great inspirational anthems of all time
and touring with Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead
New York, NY (July 28, 2014) — You may not recognize the name Jim Peterik, but the songs he’s written have made an indelible mark on pop music history, an incredible first-person tale he relates in his biography, Through the Eye of the Tiger: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Life of Survivor’s Founding Member, published by BenBella Books on September 23.
It’s all here, from his beginnings as a 15-year-old in the Ides of March, which the Illinois native playfully dubs “The Beatles of Berwyn,” scoring a #2 Billboard hit in 1970 with the horn-laden “Vehicle,” to being personally asked by Sylvester Stallone to write a song for Rocky III, which turned out to be “Eye of the Tiger,” the triple-platinum, Grammy-winning inspirational anthem that gives the book its name.
“This is my chance to connect the dots and put a face behind those songs,” says Peterik about writing the book. “I love the past, but I don’t live there. And I’m not ashamed of it, either. I’ll be playing ‘Vehicle’ until the day I die, but I would feel unfulfilled if I wasn’t paying it forward, discovering new talent and writing with my heroes.”
Through the Eye of the Tiger offers a close-up view of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle – its pitfalls and triumphs along the way, as Peterik’s anecdotes include The Ides of March touring with Led Zeppelin (opening for them in Winnipeg), Janis Joplin (“I had to walk her home because she was too inebriated to get to her hotel”), the Grateful Dead (“I shared a deli tray with Jerry Garcia without getting dosed”) and the Allman Joys (the predecessor to the Allman Brothers).
It’s also a cautionary tale about the dangers of drugs and groupies, which Peterik carefully avoided during a 42-year (and counting marriage) to his wife Karen, whom he met when he was 17 and she was 15 during a Turtles concert at their high school. The two have a 24-year-old son, Colin, who is a musician himself, which makes Jim one proud father.
“I don’t think I could have written this book 10 years ago,” says Peterik. “I’ve finally reached a point where I see a very bright future for all the things I’m doing, but I can also appreciate what I’ve done. I thought the time was right to tell my story.”
That story includes a personal invitation from Sly Stallone, who left a message on his answering machine to call him, then asked if he’d write a song for Rocky III, which turned into “Eye of the Tiger,” a huge hit still ubiquitous at sporting stadiums and arenas everywhere. “I got the title from what Burgess Meredith tells Rocky in the movie,” says Peterik about the song he co-wrote with Survivor bandmate, guitarist Frank Sullivan, revealing it was the demo that made it into the final movie. “It had the mojo,” he said simply.
A world class tunesmith, Peterik’s songs have sold 30 million around the world, with 18 Top 10 hits, including “Hold on Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” “Rocking Into the Night,” “Fantasy Girl,” collaborating most recently with Brian Wilson on the title track to the Beach Boys’ acclaimed album, That’s Why God Made the Radio. The artists Peterik has worked with over the years include .38 Special, Sammy Hagar, REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin, Buddy Guy, the Doobie Brothers, Cheap Trick, Night Ranger, Dennis DeYoung, Reba McEntire, David Hasselhoff, Johnny Rivers and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
“I always lived in a creative bubble removed from the business,” he says. “For me the song is the ‘vehicle’… pun intended. I did everything in the service of the song. It didn’t matter what happened on the bus or in the dressing room. I wanted my message of positivity to survive.”
To that end, Peterik’s first book, Songwriting for Dummies, is a best-seller about his own creative methods, and he travels around the world giving seminars on the subject.
As for his survival, he credits it to never losing his focus. “I’m a late bloomer,” says the 64-year-old. “I’m now the guy with the purple hair, red leather suit and striped guitar. It’s a delayed response to the fact I took a back seat all those years. I’m having the time of my life.
“I do this for the love of music, to hear my God-given voice echo across a filled auditorium.”
Later this year, Peterik will mark the 50th anniversary of his still-active The Ides of March with a deluxe, 70-song, three-disc reissue of the seminal band’s catalog, including a DVD featuring a live concert from Chicago’s House of Blues, Rare footage, interviews with the band and videos of “Vehicle” and “Last Band Standing.”
“Writing this book tore me apart,” he admits. “Going through the good times – those early idyllic years as a teenager with The Ides of March, and then with Survivor, surviving some rough times. It was very painful dredging all that up… the separation from my wife for months at a time, when the loneliness would just grip me, with music my only drug.”
Peterik captures it all in Through the Eye of the Tiger, the memoirs of a true rock ‘n’ roll Survivor.
FOLLOW JIM PETERIK AT:
Website:www.JimPeterik.com
Twitter:www.twitter.com/jimpeterik (@jimpeterik)
I was at the Kenny Loggins show the other night, too. I live in the area so I rode my bike up there because I knew the crowd was going to be enormous ... and this would give me the freedom to shuttle around from spot to spot during the show to visit with friends and neighbors. As you said, the crowd was massive ... and the only clear path I found was from the seats to the food vendors. (My son works at the Jimmy Johns right there at the same plaza and he said they also experienced a non-stop line out the door before the show, selling over $5000 worth of sub sandwiches before the concert began!)
I agree with what you said about it being a bit boring ... and I, too, think it was because of the limitations of the band ... omitting any of his biggest hits from the first hour also helped to make the show drag ... everything sounded the same. The new music was okay ... and Kenny still sounds great ... but there were no high points. In fact, when he started "Celebrate Me Home", I took off on my bike to scout around the area to see who else I knew. I stopped at a food vendor, saw some friends and talked for awhile ... shot on over to the library and saw some more people from the neighborhood there ... probably made about three or four other stops along the way ... and when I got back to my spot, he was still playing the same song!!! And it's just not that good a song! So I can TOTALLY relate to what you said there.
All of that being said, it was a BEAUTIFUL night for a concert ... perfect temperature ... a nice, cool night to be outside and, having ridden my bike, I escaped all of the traffic snafus you described in your review. Sorry you ran into some rowdy and obnoxious fans ... why can't people just enjoy the night out and listen to the music?
As successful as these shows have been, I'm fully expecting Elk Grove to extend the concerts into August next year. Why not? Still great weather and each week the crowds got bigger due to good word of mouth. The local merchants are making TONS of money off the concert-goers and it's almost turned into a mini-Ravinia ... without the expensive tickets. All these acts -- Pat Benatar, America, Kenny Loggins, Survivor -- for FREE! You're going to draw some pretty big crowds this way!
-- Jim
From our seats you couldn't even make your way to the food vendors (so I ended up not eating that night.) Was able to make one trip to the porta-potty but even at that had to literally climb over people to do so. For the safety of ALL concert-goers, Elk Grove REALLY needs to rethink the structure of these shows. Like I said, one major incident will shut this down and ruin a really good thing for everybody. And don't get me wrong ... for the most part, the crowd was very well-behaved and attentive. We just seem to always end up sitting next to assholes who aren't there to do much more than try and throw their weight around ... almost like you're invading their turf. (People were already setting up chairs and tarps at 8:00 in the morning for a show that didn't kick off until 7:30 pm!)
I've heard some really good reviews of the show ... and saw several postings from folks who really loved Kenny's new material with Blue Sky Riders. I thought it was OK, too ... but NOT the kind of material that's going to put him back on the radio. But several folks there bought copies of their first CD. I just was completely turned off by the whole Kickstarter thing ... I think it's really abusing your fan base when a major artist does this.
Anxious to see who they book next year ... Elk Grove always seems to get the big acts. I just hope the village figures out a game plan for better crowd control. If not, I doubt that we'll go to very many more of these shows. (kk)
Speaking of cool shows, Al Jardine and the Endless Summer Band are doing something truly interesting and unique on August 9th, performing at something billed as Aquapalooza. The stage is actually set up in the harbor ... and the audience watches the show from their boats! (Obviously a very elite audience!!!) Our FH Buddy Billy Hinsche is the musical director ... I asked him if he could get us passes aboard The Beach Boys Yacht so that we could see the show, too!
Honestly, this sounds like a blast. If you're in a position to participate in something like this, check out this website link below. (And if any of you DO go, please send us a full report!)
And, speaking of The Beach Boys ...
Beach Boys fanzine "Endless Summer Quarterly" offers up a special 50th Anniversary celebration of the boys' 1964 release "Shut Down, Volume 2". Here's a sneak peek (and subscription information): Click here: The Beach Boys magazine celebrates 50th anniversary of Shut Down Vol. 2 - National Beach Boys | Examiner.com
Hi Kent -
Thank you SO MUCH for the information on "Night Theme"!
Ray Peterson, from the record, spelled his name that way ... I don't know if Ray from "Tell Laura I Love Her" fame spelled his Petersen??? Both records came out in the early sixties, too.
It will remain a "MYSTERY" unless one of your readers comes up with something!
You did a GREAT job checking it out ... but, well, you are the MASTER!
Thank you SO MUCH for the information on "Night Theme"!
Ray Peterson, from the record, spelled his name that way ... I don't know if Ray from "Tell Laura I Love Her" fame spelled his Petersen??? Both records came out in the early sixties, too.
It will remain a "MYSTERY" unless one of your readers comes up with something!
You did a GREAT job checking it out ... but, well, you are the MASTER!
Carolyn
PS I recently saw "Jersey Boys" and I give it thumbs up!! Clint Eastwood did a fine job, in my opinion. All the actors played their parts very well.
PS I recently saw "Jersey Boys" and I give it thumbs up!! Clint Eastwood did a fine job, in my opinion. All the actors played their parts very well.
American Pop Rock Legend Tommy Roe will headline this year's International Beatle Week at the Cavern in Liverpool on August 266, 2014.
Roe has charted 23 singles in Billboard with 11 Top 40, 6 Top 10, Four Gold and Two International #1 Hits.
DIZZY -- SHEILA -- EVERYBODY -- SWEET PEA -- HOORAY FOR HAZEL -- JAM UP AND JELLY TIGHT -- THE FOLK SINGER -- CAROL -- HEATHER HONEY -- STAGGER LEE -- and more
Tommy Roe wrote and recorded more Top 10 songs than any other American solo artist during the '60's.
In 1963, The Beatles opened for Roe in the famed UK Tour
In 1964, they asked Tommy to open for them at their first US concert at The Washington, DC Coliseum on February 11, 1964.
On February 11, 2014, Tommy headlined Yesterday And Today - The 50th Anniversary Concert of the Washington, DC show.
His latest album, Devil's Soul Pile, gained three stars in Mojo Magazine
More information - contact Rick Levy Management (904) 806 - 0817
Booking information - contact John Regna (407) 993 - 4000
FH Reader Tom Cuddy tells us Little Steven is busy with a brand new project that should interest many of you ...
Kent:
Little Steven has moved his focus from the Rascals to Darlene Love.
- Tom Cuddy
I had a terrific time on Saturday, July 26th, at Ives Concert Park in Danbury, CT, hosting The Fab4 Music Festival, the first of a two day event honoring the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' arrival in the U.S.A. (Ken Michaels of "Every Little Thing" fame" hosted the second day). The mayor of Danbury even issued a proclamation declaring July 26th and 27th "Beatles Weekend" in his fair city -- partially because the sprawling event, now in its third annual incarnation, was also dubbed "Danbury Fields Forever." Onstage I got to present ten different bands, solo singers or instrumentalists, all of whom specialized in Beatles and Beatles-related music. It was a beautiful day -- one of those picture-perfect afternoons to both relive and create lifelong memories -- and a great time was had by all.
"Age" was a track on Jim Croce's failed debut album for Capitol in 1969. After that LP bombed, Jim pretty much gave up music and tried a new career as a truck driver -- but couldn't escape thinking up new songs like "Operator" and "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." He finally put down four new tracks on a demo tape and submitted it to ABC Records -- which rejected it! He then submitted the same tape a second time and in that case it was accepted -- setting the stage for Croce's brilliant yet all-to-short rocket ride through the hit-making heavens. Remarkably, Jim Croce scored more hits AFTER his death in a 1973 plane crash (6) than he had before (4)! As I recall, "Age" was the only track on Jim's Capitol album that his wife, the still charming Ingrid, did not also sing on -- making it the closest to the solo sound of his later hit material on that debut disc. There came a point over the 20 years in which I programmed and annotated CD box sets for Reader's Digest in which I wanted to include a Croce track but none of his ABC masters were available for licensing -- due to ongoing legal wrangling over the rights. As those court battles did not include his earlier Capitol material, I dug out a copy of Jim's first album -- actually a budget line early '70s reissue of the LP released to cash in on Jim's newfound fame -- and selected "Age" from it, licensing the recording from Capitol. It's a pretty good track and the one on that early album which most resembles Jim Croce's later work for ABC.
Gary Theroux
Speaking of aligning of the planets ...
I just got home from attending The Happy Together Tour in Webster, MA, and your blog is all about ... The Happy Together Tour!
I was going to send you my thoughts but maybe I should wait until you see it? I sat under an umbrella keeping dry in a torrential rain waving at Mark Volman giving me the 'What ya gonna do?' sign with a river running between us down the paved walkway. Just 20 minutes before showtime: the rain stops, the sun comes out, the seating fills up and ... (to be continued another day)
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
By all means, send it. (Wish I'd had it sooner ... I could have tied it into our little back-to-back feature on the tour!) We'll see the Chicago-area stop on August 23rd at The Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL ... fourth year in a row for us (so nothing you'll say will spoil anything! lol) I'm actually working on interviews right now with Mark Volman and Mark Farner which I'm hoping to have wrapped up before the show hits town ... so stay tuned for that! Thanks, Shelley! (kk)
The guy that was singing "Mac Arthur Park" left out "I will drink the wine while it is warm and never let you catch me looking at the sun and after all the loves of my life, after all the loves of my life, you'll still be the one. I will take my life into my hands and I will use it, I will win the worship your eyes and I will lose it, AND THEN "I will have the things that I desire and let my passions flow like rivers through the sky", etc. He left out most of what I always felt was the redeeming part of the song. I have this song by Richard Harris on my ipod. I think I appreciate much more now that I am older.
Stacee
Hi Kent:
At the time, I, too, despised Mac Arthur Park by Richard Harris. I listened to it on the Lettermen You Tube clip. I’m telling you, it sounded interesting to me. Melodic, Symphonic, Orchestral, with a little Punch as well. When is the last time we had songs with those ingredients? Most of these modern Glop hits don’t have anything Melodic, Symphonic, Orchestral, etc. It always amazes how Good and Fresh 60’s songs sound to me after hearing modern drivel.
Ken
Hi Kent,
In Sunday's comments, Mr. Kelly Izaj was inquiring about an Internet Radio station that programmed British rock and pop. Tell him to try www.oldiesproject.com
When he hears his first Radio London jingle, he'll know he's found a new home.
I love everything you do.
Keep up the great work, Kent.
Bill in Ft. Worth
Thanks, Bill ... happy to pass this link along. (kk)
>>>The voice for the airport announcer on the Rose Garden hit "Next Plane To London" is me on the front and middle of the song and there's a whole story that goes with it about how the reverb was broken in the studio at Nashville West next to KHJ on Melrose in Hollywood -- and I hung a Telefunken mic in the men's room to get the echo. It was recorded on an Ampex 4- track by Engineer Charlie Underwood. Originallythe voice was supposed to be that of Sam Riddle, a KHJ Boss Jock who is also the TV host of the show called 9th St., West, later when I'm to put a show together called Star Search. We have been best friends for years working K rock together in the beginning.
(Don Elliot)
Kent,
Kent,
Even though Diana DeRose has been pretty much incognito for the last 45+ years, original Rose Garden lead guitarist John Noreen plays with local oldies band Boomerang here in Nashville. He is a superb guitarist, and the band does a great, accurate cover of "Next Plane to London." The gate announcements are done by band leader Frank Feinstein, who won't mind me saying he can't quite reproduce the sound of Don Elliot's voice echoing in the bathroom.
David Lewis
I've looked everywhere for our original piece on this song and FINALLY found it! (Pretty cool that we came to the same conclusion nearly ten years ago! lol) kk
'60's FLASHBACK:
According to an on-air announcement that one of our readers heard on XM60's (who then played the song "Next Plane To London" by Rose Garden) ...
>>>that voice belongs to none other than STEVE MARTIN
Holy crap! I never made that connection before either ... then again I've always hated this song (it took me dozens of listens to determine whether the lead singer was a male or female regardless that the lyrics are sung from a female's standpoint!) tomd
DIANA DiROSE was the lead singer (hence the name, THE ROSE GARDEN) ... and this is one of those FORGOTTEN HIT gems ... you hear it so rarely that it ALWAYS sounds good when it comes on the radio. (kk)
UPDATE: Tom and I no sooner had this exchange than he sent me THIS ...after doing a little research of his own ...
"Still, nothing they were doing looked very promising until Greene & Stone’s promotion man, Pat Pipolo, put them in touch with his cousin, a songwriter named Kenny Gist, Jr., who happened to be working on something new and quirky that bore no resemblance to a sunshine pop song. “That’s how we got [Gist’s] “Next Plane to London,” says Noreen. They went into Nashville West Studios on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood and recorded the song on such short notice that Noreen was unable to come up with a good guitar solo. Either Greene or Stone solved the problem with an on-the-spot decision that gave the song its most unique element: an “airport voice” announcing the plane’s departure at Gate 5. “Don Elliot was the program director for KBLA, which was near the studio,” Noreen says. “So someone called him to do [the voice]. We were not real thrilled with this, but G&S wanted it to stay, so it stayed. By the time I had a guitar part ready it was too late.” The moment Greene & Stone got their hands on a test pressing of “Next Plane to London,” they took it directly to Elliot - and the single instantly went on the air."
This all looks pretty legit to me ... which makes the XM60s guy wrong big-time ... but I'll tell you what ... it sure does SOUND like STEVE MARTIN, doesn't it?!?!? (Especially once you get that idea in your head!) kk
Hi Kent,
Speaking of Julie Budd, here is one of her songs that I have been listening to for several years. I like it! By the way, the intro reminds me of the 4 Seasons.
Mike Hartman
I hear that! (Actually, The Happenings did their best to sound like The Four Seasons, too, so I guess it's really not all that clever an idea! lol) But it IS a very nice arrangement of a '60's standard ... and definitely worth a listen. Thanks, Mike! (kk)
Hi Kent,
I've seen your mentioning that you were looking forward to the James Brown Biopic this summer. Just read this article this morning and thought I'd send it along for you and the rest of the Forgotten Hits folk. It sounds like it could be a good one.
Bill
While I was never a James Brown fan, I have to admit that I cannot wait to see this movie ... it looks EXTREMELY well done ... and there's a hell of a story to tell. It seems like forever since we first ran the trailer clip ... and now the release date is already here. (It opens this weekend) My guess is this one will put "Jersey Boys" to shame. And this is a GREAT article so please check it out. Thanks, Bill! (kk)
Our FH Buddy Tony Hatch got the spotlight treatment recently with a "Life In Song" celebration. FH Reader Clark Besch sent this clip along to Tony and I ... and you'll see several others available for viewing via the same link ...
Tony and Kent,
It looks like someone was nice enough to post the video for your celebration on July 5th with Petula. Here's "Downtown" ... and I assume Tony that you are in the white dress coat. Looks like it must have been a quite wonderful night. Do you have a set list of what was played that night?
Thanks again for all the great music over the years. Now, if I could only hear a Montanas / Tony Hatch reunion!!
WLSClark
At my request, Tony sent a list of the songs played that night.
They started with an overture medley of "I Know a Place" / "Don't Sleep in the Subway" / "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love"/"Other Man's Grass is Always Greener" / "Call Me" / "Joanna Neighbors" / "Sugar & Spice" / "Downtown".
Various singers took stage for vocals on his hits "Look For a Star" / "Forget Him" / "Where Are You Now?" (Song by then wife Jackie Trent) / "I Know a Place" / "Call Me".
Then, a medley of songs in which Tony conducted the orchestra. Then, songs from musicals and a chat with Petula, followed by some of her songs sung by others ... then another chat with Pet and she herself sang "The Rainbow", "Don't Sleep in the Subway" and a finale with all involved of "Downtown".
Tony had chats throughout as well. Sounds like it must have been a great night. If only "You've Got To Be Loved" would have been used!
Here's a year old conversation on Downtown with Pet and Tony. It has great commentary on the songs that were so much fun to hear in the 60's from these two.
Clark
Sounds like a GREAT show. I wonder if anybody filmed this for some type of future broadcast ... or if more clips will start to show up on YouTube. Thanks Clark (and Tony)!!! kk
THE BRITISH ARE COMING (AGAIN)!
ABKCO’S CLEARLY CLASSIC SERIES ADDS THE BEST OF THE ANIMALS +
HERMAN’S HERMITS: THEIR GREATEST HITS --
CLEAR VINYL LPS OUT AUGUST 12
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the British Invasion, ABKCO Records will release clear vinyl editions of The Best of The Animals and Herman’s Hermits’ Their Greatest Hits on August 12. These titles are the newest additions to ABKCO’s Clearly Classic series, which saw the release of six clear vinyl Rolling Stones titles over the last few years. Both releases are pressed on 180 gram vinyl with original art. Lacquers were cut by Carl Rowatti at Trutone Mastering from high resolution audio sources mastered at Gateway Mastering.
Herman’s Hermits, hailing from Manchester, were among the British Invasion’s freshest faces. The group, led by heartthrob vocalist Peter Noone, introduced a unique blend of infectious pop and traditional English music hall to the world in 1964, when “I’m Into Something Good” shot straight to No. 1 in the UK and pierced the top 20 in the U.S. The following year, Grammy-nominated “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” and “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” became No. 1 hits in the U.S., and the Hermits edged out The Beatles to become the top selling pop act in the nation in 1965. Their Greatest Hits covers the period of mid-1964 to early 1967, and features other top 5 singles like “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat,” “(What A) Wonderful World,” written and originally recorded by Sam Cooke, and “Dandy,” which was a bigger hit for the Hermits than fellow invaders The Kinks. The legendary Mickie Most produced all of the tracks on Their Greatest Hits.
“I am really excited,” Peter Noone commented, “that my group Herman’s Hermits are now part of ABKCO’s Clearly Classic series with the release of the original recordings of our greatest hits on high quality, clear vinyl. I know our fans will appreciate hearing our music the way it was when we recorded it.”
Fronted by charismatic lead singer Eric Burdon, The Animals exploded onto the world stage in 1964 with their transatlantic No. 1 hit “House of the Rising Sun.” Straddling the line between hard-edged blues and Brill Building pop, the group from Newcastle enjoyed a swath of top 20 singles under the guidance of producer Mickie Most, including “I’m Crying,” “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” and “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.” Recorded entirely within a scant 20-month period ending in September of 1965, The Best of The Animals includes all the aforementioned hits as well as timeless gems such as “It’s My Life,” and “Animalized”, renditions of Chuck Berry’s “Around And Around” and Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me.” All of The Best of The Animals tracks were also produced by Mickie Most.
“For me the release of The Best of The Animals on vinyl is a journey back to a working world that doesn’t exist anymore,” said Eric Burdon, who is ecstatic about the upcoming release. “This is the way that all of those songs were originally intended to be heard. I am happy to see more and more young people discover the joy of putting on a record – and the elders rediscovering the thrill of the needle setting down into those grooves.” Burdon then vividly described the organic nature of the recording process in the 60s. “The Animals were a live, living band, coming off of the road and completing an album in two days and then going back on the road again. The moment was captured on quarter inch tape and now it’s returned to you in its original form, 50 years later. Enjoy the trip down memory lane!”
The Animals – The Best of The Animals
Side 1
House Of The Rising Sun
I’m Crying
Baby Let Me Take You Home
Around And Around
Talkin’ Bout You
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
Boom Boom
Dimples
Side 2
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place
I’m In Love Again
Bury My Body
Gonna Send You Back To Walker
Story Of Bo Diddley
It’s My Life
Bring It On Home To Me
All tracks produced by Mickie Most, 1964-1965
The Best of The Animals was originally released in 1987
Mastered by Adam Ayan, Gateway Mastering
Lacquer cutting by Carl Rowatti, Trutone Mastering
Pre-Order The Best Of The Animals: http://smarturl.it/BestOfAnimalsLP
Herman’s Hermits – Their Greatest Hits
Side 1
Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter
No Milk Today
End Of The World
This Door Swings Both Ways
Just A Little Bit Better
I’m Henry The VIII, I Am
There’s A Kind Of Hush
Silhouettes
Side 2
I’m Into Something Good
Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat
Dandy
(What A) Wonderful World
Hold On
Listen People
Leaning On A Lamp Post
A Must To Avoid
All tracks produced by Mickie Most, 1964-1966
Their Greatest Hits was originally released in 1987
Mastered by Bob Ludwig, Gateway Mastering
Lacquer cutting by Carl Rowatti, Trutone Mastering
Pre-Order Their Greatest Hits: http://smarturl.it/HermitsGreatestLP
Other ABKCO Clearly Classic series releases:
- Rolling Stones – Hot Rocks 1964-1971
- Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
- Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed
- Rolling Stones – 12 x 5
- Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!
- Rolling Stones – Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)
ABOUT ABKCO - ABKCO Music & Records, founded over 50 years ago by Allen Klein, is one of the world’s leading independent entertainment companies. It is home to iconic catalog assets that include compositions and recordings by Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Bobby Womack, Eric Burdon, The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Marianne Faithfull, The Kinks as well as the Cameo Parkway masters by such artists as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Clint Eastwood, The Orlons, The Dovells, ? & The Mysterians, Charlie Gracie, The Tymes and Dee Dee Sharp. Soundtrack releases include Edgar Wright’s The World’s End and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2013 Academy Award®-nominated Moonrise Kingdom, the 2010 Academy Award®-nominated Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Darjeeling Limited, Independent Spirit Award® Winner Safety Not Guaranteed, the international blockbuster Fast Five, Boardwalk Empire Volume 2: Music from the HBO® Original Series, the soundtrack to the first season of the hit Showtime® series Californication and through ABKCO Records Little World imprint, American Girl:Isabelle Dances into the Spotlight. ABKCO is active on many fronts including the release of critically lauded compilations and reissues from its catalog, film and commercial placement of its master recordings and music publishing properties in all media. ABKCO Films most recent release is Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The Dance of Reality. The renowned cult director’s classics El Topo and The Holy Mountain, fully restored and remastered to HD, were shown at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival (Classics section) and at the prestigious 44th New York Film Festival. Other releases include the 2014 GRAMMY Award®-winning The Rolling Stones Charlie is my Darling – Ireland 1965. In 2003 ABKCO won a GRAMMY® for the DVD release of Sam Cooke – Legend and the following year released the DVD of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus to universal acclaim. Upcoming releases include a restoration of the Spaghetti Western Blindman starring Ringo Starr. ABKCO Films is in pre-production on a biopic on the life of Sam Cooke.
Wow! This one came as a bit of a shocker to me! Honestly, I'm a bit surprised to see Peter Noone supporting ANYTHING that ABKCO is doing! (He's certainly aired his views publicly about his distaste for all things Allen B. Klein-related over the years, including in these pages many times over.) Then again with vinyl making a big comeback right now, maybe this is one of those "good for all parties concerned" deals ... so if you're into the idea of upgrading your record collection, be sure to check out the pre-order links above. (kk)
Joel Whitburn's latest, "Top Pop Playlists, 1970 - 1984" is now available for pre-order. (In fact, click on the link below and take advantage of a pre-order discount of $5 per book!)
This is the sequel to his 1955 - 1969 book released just a few months back ... a full-color month-by-month recap of the biggest songs in America according to the Billboard Charts. You'll find some great programming ideas between these covers, including lots of "Forgotten Hits" that were very big at each point and time but have fallen off the airplay radar! (kk)
Kent ...
You're one helluva guy ... a 24 karat gold pro!
Chet Coppock
Thank you, Daniel-son ... you pretty OK too. (kk)
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50 Years Ago This Weekend (August 1st and 2nd)
8/1/64 - A HARD DAY'S NIGHT moves into the #1 Spot this week on The Billboard Hot 100 Chart as The Four Seasons fall to #2 with their monster hit "Rag Doll". Other Top 20 British Hits include WISHIN' AND HOPIN' by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (#6), NOBODY I KNOW by PETER AND GORDON (#12) and CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE'S MINE by THE DAVE CLARK FIVE (#13).
Admittedly, The Top Ten has a decidedly "American" feel to it. In addition to The Four Seasons at #2, you'll find Jan and Dean at #3 with "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", their counterparts The Beach Boys at #8 with "I Get Around", a brand new Motown Hit "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes, leaping from #18 to #5 and the Johnny Rivers remake of "Memphis" at #9. There were also a few surprises. Country Novelty King Roger Miller is enjoying his first Pop Chart Hit with "Dang Me" (#7) and two records that seem a bit out of place … "Everybody Loves Somebody" by Dean Martin and "The Girl From Ipanema" by Getz / Gilberto are holding down the #4 and #10 spot respectively.
Other British Hits on the list: DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS (#22), DON'T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY by THE SEARCHERS (#25), YOU'RE MY WORLD by CILLA BLACK (#26), BAD TO ME by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS (#35), TELL ME by THE ROLLING STONES (#36), I BELIEVE by THE BACHELORS (#39) and, cracking The Top 40 for the very first time, AIN'T SHE SWEET by THE BEATLES at #40, up from #67 the week before. (This was another track The Fab Four recorded in Germany back in 1961 … and features one of my favorite John Lennon vocals ever.)
It doesn't end there … GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS are back at #43 with HOW DO YOU DO IT, BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS are up over 30 points to #54 with I'LL KEEP YOU SATISFIED, THE DAVE CLARK FIVE premier at #60 with their beautiful ballad BECAUSE (a song the record company fought Dave Clark on, saying it would NEVER be a hit here in America because that's not what the audience wanted to hear from THE DAVE CLARK FIVE), I'LL CRY INSTEAD, new at #62 by THE BEATLES, AND I LOVE HER (#65, also by THE BEATLES), I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER (#66 … ALSO by THE BEATLES), IT'S ALL OVER NOW, up nearly 20 points to #81 by THE ROLLING STONES, IF I FELL (#92) and I'M HAPPY JUST TO DANCE WITH YOU (#95), two more BEATLES tracks from the soundtrack to their new film A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, SHOUT by LULU AND THE LOVERS (#97), BACHELOR BOY (#99) by CLIFF RICHARD and YOU'RE NO GOOD (#100, and later a #1 Hit for Linda Ronstadt some ten years later) by THE SWINGING BLUE JEANS.
Don't think for a moment that The British Invasion was waning … that gives The Brits and incredible 23 of The Top 100 Hits in the country for this week in August, 1964. Even Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops Orchestra got wrapped up in the mania … THEIR version of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" climbs to #55 this week!
Here in Chicago THE BEATLES move into the #1 spot with their two-sided hit A HARD DAY'S NIGHT / I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey. DUSTY SPRINGFIELD's WISHIN' AND HOPIN' sits at #4 with NOBODY I KNOW by PETER AND GORDON at #6 and CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE'S MINE by THE DAVE CLARK FIVE, DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS and DON'T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY by THE SEARCHERS holding down the #10, #11 and #12 spots respectively.
GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS also have the #14 Hit this week on The Silver Dollar Survey with their latest, HOW DO YOU DO IT, a song turned down by THE BEATLES. (They convinced Producer George Martin to release PLEASE PLEASE ME instead.) I BELIEVE by THE BACHELORS is this week's #15 Hit, followed behind by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS with their latest, I'LL KEEP YOU SATISFIED (#21), the two-sided hit I'M HAPPY JUST TO DANCE WITH YOU / I'LL CRY INSTEAD by THE BEATLES at #30 and SHOUT by LULU AND THE LUVERS at #37.
DIDJAKNOW?-The American version of "I'll Cry Instead" has an extra verse ... Capitol Records felt the song was too short. (Its British counterpart ... NOT released as a single ... only timed out at 1:47 ... so Capitol edited in a repeated "middle eight" to stretch it out to another 22-seconds! We've got BOTH versions of this one for you today ... one of those very RARE Beatles tracks that seems to be overlooked by radio today. (They pretty much play EVERYTHING else!!!)
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The Saturday Surveys (August 2nd)
It's a little funny in a way to see The Monkees topping the "Heavyweight Hits" list on KACY ... especially on a survey prominently featuring The Doors (the station was giving away tickets to see The Doors in concert at the time), as well as other "heavy" acts like The Jefferson Airplane, Procol Harum, Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Buffalo Springfield and Moby Grape ... but despite all their "Pre-Fab Four" TV Pop-dome, The Monkees actually hung out with many of these artists back in the days ... and were often the hosts of some of these backyard get-togethers!
Emitt Rhodes' early band The Merry-Go-Round has a KACY Kontender with their latest single, "You're A Very Lovely Woman" ... and it's neat to see artists like The Everly Brothers, Teddy Neeley, Don and the Good Times, The Fifth Estate (with "The Goofin' Song"), Lewis and Clarke and Bobby Goldsboro all charting with songs that never made much of a mark at all nationally. (Notice The Turtles bringing up the rear with one of our Forgotten Hits favorites, "You Know What I Mean"???)
I guess when it comes to this KACY Chart, Harpers Bizarre sang it best ... "Anything Goes"!!!
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Lots of local talent on this WLS Super Summer Survey from 1967.
The Cryan' Shames top the list with "It Could Be We're In Love", a song that would sit in the #1 Spot for four consecutive weeks. (Why they always referred to it as "We're In Love" on WLS is beyond me!) This one SHOULD have been a Top Ten National Hit ... and a Summer of Love Classic.
Chicago's Buckinghams are at #7 with "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", Michael and the Messengers (from nearby Milwaukee) are at #12 with their version of "(Just Like) Romeo And Juliet" and The Flock have a Top 20 Hit this week as well, with my all-time favorite by them, "Take Me Back". (Bruce Mattey of The New Colony Six does a KILLER version of this track live in concert.)
And, speaking of The New Colony Six, you'll find them at #24 with "I'm Just Waiting, Anticipating", a song written by a young Tony Orlando. Bringing up the rear for Chicago talent are The Mauds ... they've the #38 Hit with their version of Sam and Dave's "Hold On".
Another record that did fairly well here in Chicago was "Lonely Drifter" by Pieces Of Eight. This week it climbs a couple of notches to #22. And I really liked Sandy Posey's latest hit this week, too ... "I Take It Back". (For YEARS, whenever I was confronted with the need to apologize, I used to say "I take it back ... I didn't mean it ... I must have been out of my head" ... and absolutely NOBODY had a CLUE what I was talking about!!!)
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This 1970 Chart from WHBQ in Memphis shows The Rascals at #3 with "Glory Glory", a song that didn't even make The Top 50 in Billboard.
A couple of big movers this week ... "In The Summertime" is up ten places to #4 for Mungo Jerry ... Edwin Starr's "War" jumps from #28 to #7, "Yellow River" by Christie is up six places from #17 to #11, The Guess Who have another hit as "Hand Me Down World" climbs from #22 to #13. The re-release of Neil Diamond's first hit single "Solitary Man" jumps from #21 to #14 and Tony Joe White's latest, "Save Your Sugar For Me" is up eight spots from #30 to #22 ... this one never got any higher than #94 on the Billboard Singles Chart.
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Here's a 1974 Chart from KEDD in Dodge City. Jim Stafford's back on the chart with "Wildwood Weed" ... as are some songs that don't jump to the tip of your tongue when you think back to the biggest hits of 1974 ... "River's Risin'" by The Edgar Winter Group, "Put Out The Light" by Joe Cocker, "Light Shines" by Jesse Colin Young, "Run Him Back To Mama" by Chase and "Love Is The Message" by MFSB ... but ALL of these are Top 20 Hits on this KEDD Chart!
And the obscurities don't stop there ... how about "It's Raining" by Rick Derringer, "Shinin' On" by Grand Funk, "Kalimba Story" by Earth, Wind and Fire, "Eyes Of Silver" by The Doobie Brothers, "Travelin' Prayer" by Billy Joel, "Get Out Of Denver" by Bob Seger and "Walk On" by Neil Young.
Big names? Yes. Big hits??? Not hardly. While some of these charted nationally, they're hardly the songs you think of by these big name artists ... but KEDD apparently played them all back in '74.
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Emitt Rhodes' early band The Merry-Go-Round has a KACY Kontender with their latest single, "You're A Very Lovely Woman" ... and it's neat to see artists like The Everly Brothers, Teddy Neeley, Don and the Good Times, The Fifth Estate (with "The Goofin' Song"), Lewis and Clarke and Bobby Goldsboro all charting with songs that never made much of a mark at all nationally. (Notice The Turtles bringing up the rear with one of our Forgotten Hits favorites, "You Know What I Mean"???)
I guess when it comes to this KACY Chart, Harpers Bizarre sang it best ... "Anything Goes"!!!
Lots of local talent on this WLS Super Summer Survey from 1967.
The Cryan' Shames top the list with "It Could Be We're In Love", a song that would sit in the #1 Spot for four consecutive weeks. (Why they always referred to it as "We're In Love" on WLS is beyond me!) This one SHOULD have been a Top Ten National Hit ... and a Summer of Love Classic.
Chicago's Buckinghams are at #7 with "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", Michael and the Messengers (from nearby Milwaukee) are at #12 with their version of "(Just Like) Romeo And Juliet" and The Flock have a Top 20 Hit this week as well, with my all-time favorite by them, "Take Me Back". (Bruce Mattey of The New Colony Six does a KILLER version of this track live in concert.)
And, speaking of The New Colony Six, you'll find them at #24 with "I'm Just Waiting, Anticipating", a song written by a young Tony Orlando. Bringing up the rear for Chicago talent are The Mauds ... they've the #38 Hit with their version of Sam and Dave's "Hold On".
Another record that did fairly well here in Chicago was "Lonely Drifter" by Pieces Of Eight. This week it climbs a couple of notches to #22. And I really liked Sandy Posey's latest hit this week, too ... "I Take It Back". (For YEARS, whenever I was confronted with the need to apologize, I used to say "I take it back ... I didn't mean it ... I must have been out of my head" ... and absolutely NOBODY had a CLUE what I was talking about!!!)
This 1970 Chart from WHBQ in Memphis shows The Rascals at #3 with "Glory Glory", a song that didn't even make The Top 50 in Billboard.
A couple of big movers this week ... "In The Summertime" is up ten places to #4 for Mungo Jerry ... Edwin Starr's "War" jumps from #28 to #7, "Yellow River" by Christie is up six places from #17 to #11, The Guess Who have another hit as "Hand Me Down World" climbs from #22 to #13. The re-release of Neil Diamond's first hit single "Solitary Man" jumps from #21 to #14 and Tony Joe White's latest, "Save Your Sugar For Me" is up eight spots from #30 to #22 ... this one never got any higher than #94 on the Billboard Singles Chart.
Here's a 1974 Chart from KEDD in Dodge City. Jim Stafford's back on the chart with "Wildwood Weed" ... as are some songs that don't jump to the tip of your tongue when you think back to the biggest hits of 1974 ... "River's Risin'" by The Edgar Winter Group, "Put Out The Light" by Joe Cocker, "Light Shines" by Jesse Colin Young, "Run Him Back To Mama" by Chase and "Love Is The Message" by MFSB ... but ALL of these are Top 20 Hits on this KEDD Chart!
And the obscurities don't stop there ... how about "It's Raining" by Rick Derringer, "Shinin' On" by Grand Funk, "Kalimba Story" by Earth, Wind and Fire, "Eyes Of Silver" by The Doobie Brothers, "Travelin' Prayer" by Billy Joel, "Get Out Of Denver" by Bob Seger and "Walk On" by Neil Young.
Big names? Yes. Big hits??? Not hardly. While some of these charted nationally, they're hardly the songs you think of by these big name artists ... but KEDD apparently played them all back in '74.
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The Sunday Comments ( 08 - 03 - 14 )
re: Kenny(s):
We all hear things differently ... as evidenced by two emails we received after our review of Tuesday Night's Kenny Loggins Concert in Elk Grove Village ...
Kent -
I have to disagree with you completely on your review of Kenny Loggins' concert. I thought it was the best I've seen there in the last few years they've had this series going, and was not the least bit bored. I thought Kenny was in great vocal form and put a lot of energy into the show, and I thought his band was excellent. He didn't need a huge band behind him - the lead guitarist, keyboard player and drums were enough to accompany his voice - in fact the guitarist, I thought, was excellent. Artists are always taking a chance when they introduce a new band, or style of music they're working on, because everyone wants to hear the hits. But I personally loved Blue Sky Riders and their music, especially when Georgia came out with the dulcimer, an instrument I played a little bit myself. I bought their cd and really enjoyed it. I agree about the kickstarter thing. And I definitely agree with your comments about the mess in the crowd. I was in the second row, and since I've worked concert security for so long, my first thought was 'If there's an emergency, people would be trapped and trampled for sure.' Our first job is always to keep the aisles open and passable, in case of emergency. (That's why concert goers get ticked off at us when they want to beat the crowd out, so they come to the top of the stairs during the last song to watch it there, and we either make them go back to their seats or leave - man, they hate that! But it's a fire hazard, and we have to do it!) but I didn't see that happening the other night, and it should have. And with the barricades in the front hitched together, you couldn't have gotten out that way either. And while I understand the police putting chairs for their families in the front row, once everyone else got in they were still putting chairs BETWEEN the rows so the folks that were in the rows behind them had no foot room, which added to the aggravation and further blocked up the aisles! I think maybe they're just not used to crowd control at these type of events. I have plenty of respect for the police, but I just thought it could have been handled a little more safely. But I think Elk Grove did a fine job overall, and we really should thank them for allowing us to invade their town to enjoy some great music every year, for free, and hope they'll continue and maybe take some of our comments to heart. Thank you Elk Grove!
Marlene O'Malley
They need to organize SOME kind of a system to better control the spectators. I don't think they ever expected these kinds of crowds this year ... clearly this series has really taken off. (But it's also gotten out of hand with people bringing HUGE Ravinia-type set-ups to house their own little private parties. All this does is deny other fans a place to sit and cause tempers to rise.) With that thought in mind, I think they need to seriously re-think some method of organization for next year. And, as mentioned by Jim last week, I'd love to see them extend the series with more shows in 2015 ... this clearly brings big bucks into the community and the nearby merchants had to be thriving these past five Tuesday nights. But they, too, need to beef up their operations in order to accommodate this huge influx of business. Restaurants were literally running out of product and having to shut down early ... and NOBODY should have to wait in line for nearly an hour to pick up a cold sub sandwich. Kinda defeats the whole concept of "fast food"!!!!
We all hear things differently ... as evidenced by two emails we received after our review of Tuesday Night's Kenny Loggins Concert in Elk Grove Village ...
Kent -
I have to disagree with you completely on your review of Kenny Loggins' concert. I thought it was the best I've seen there in the last few years they've had this series going, and was not the least bit bored. I thought Kenny was in great vocal form and put a lot of energy into the show, and I thought his band was excellent. He didn't need a huge band behind him - the lead guitarist, keyboard player and drums were enough to accompany his voice - in fact the guitarist, I thought, was excellent. Artists are always taking a chance when they introduce a new band, or style of music they're working on, because everyone wants to hear the hits. But I personally loved Blue Sky Riders and their music, especially when Georgia came out with the dulcimer, an instrument I played a little bit myself. I bought their cd and really enjoyed it. I agree about the kickstarter thing. And I definitely agree with your comments about the mess in the crowd. I was in the second row, and since I've worked concert security for so long, my first thought was 'If there's an emergency, people would be trapped and trampled for sure.' Our first job is always to keep the aisles open and passable, in case of emergency. (That's why concert goers get ticked off at us when they want to beat the crowd out, so they come to the top of the stairs during the last song to watch it there, and we either make them go back to their seats or leave - man, they hate that! But it's a fire hazard, and we have to do it!) but I didn't see that happening the other night, and it should have. And with the barricades in the front hitched together, you couldn't have gotten out that way either. And while I understand the police putting chairs for their families in the front row, once everyone else got in they were still putting chairs BETWEEN the rows so the folks that were in the rows behind them had no foot room, which added to the aggravation and further blocked up the aisles! I think maybe they're just not used to crowd control at these type of events. I have plenty of respect for the police, but I just thought it could have been handled a little more safely. But I think Elk Grove did a fine job overall, and we really should thank them for allowing us to invade their town to enjoy some great music every year, for free, and hope they'll continue and maybe take some of our comments to heart. Thank you Elk Grove!
Marlene O'Malley
They need to organize SOME kind of a system to better control the spectators. I don't think they ever expected these kinds of crowds this year ... clearly this series has really taken off. (But it's also gotten out of hand with people bringing HUGE Ravinia-type set-ups to house their own little private parties. All this does is deny other fans a place to sit and cause tempers to rise.) With that thought in mind, I think they need to seriously re-think some method of organization for next year. And, as mentioned by Jim last week, I'd love to see them extend the series with more shows in 2015 ... this clearly brings big bucks into the community and the nearby merchants had to be thriving these past five Tuesday nights. But they, too, need to beef up their operations in order to accommodate this huge influx of business. Restaurants were literally running out of product and having to shut down early ... and NOBODY should have to wait in line for nearly an hour to pick up a cold sub sandwich. Kinda defeats the whole concept of "fast food"!!!!
I had no problem with Kenny introducing new material ... or even his new band ... and I found nothing at all objectionable about the music they performed. You chose to buy a copy of their first CD, I didn't, as I didn't hear anything that night that compelled me to want to hear more. It just didn't click with me ... but I think for brand new material, it generated a pretty good response from the crowd (which rarely happens) so I'm content to say it was more MY problem than the band's. It was just the overall pacing and vibe of the whole show that turned me off. It came off as monotone and calculated (OK, I'm only going to play for an hour so I'm going to take these six or seven songs and stretch them out for as LONG as I can to fill that time ... throw in a bunch of new shit that nobody knows ... and that hour'll be over before you even know it. THEN I'll come back and play the hits that they REALLY want to hear ... and we'll call that "the encore".) Honestly, I would have preferred to see the encore ONLY and have skipped the first hour of the show ... especially all the bits where he had the audience sing his songs for him.
In fine voice? Yes. Kenny Loggins is a music legend and I couldn't wait to go see him. He's amassed a HUGE collection of hits over the years and I've bought nearly every single one of them. I saw him in 1978 when he was the opening act for Fleetwood Mac and his duet with Stevie Nicks ("Whenever I Call You Friend") was out ... and that was a GREAT show and a GREAT vibe. Tuesday Night? Not so much. Disappointed? Definitely. Bored? Sorry to say, yes. (kk)
By the way, another thing that REALLY annoys me ... and has for 36 years now ... is the fact that Kenny Loggins NEVER acknowledges the fact that he wrote "Whenever I Call You Friend" with Melissa Manchester ... and the original intent was for the two of them to record it together as a duet. Instead, Loggins jumped on the incredibly hot Fleetwood Mac bandwagon and cut the song with Stevie Nicks instead, leaving Melissa to do a solo version on her album. (She ultimately ended up recording a duet with Arnold McCuller instead.) But worse than that is the fact that he ALWAYS plays up the Stevie Nicks connection ... and NEVER mentions Manchester at all when he performs the song ... and that's just wrong. (kk)
By the way, another thing that REALLY annoys me ... and has for 36 years now ... is the fact that Kenny Loggins NEVER acknowledges the fact that he wrote "Whenever I Call You Friend" with Melissa Manchester ... and the original intent was for the two of them to record it together as a duet. Instead, Loggins jumped on the incredibly hot Fleetwood Mac bandwagon and cut the song with Stevie Nicks instead, leaving Melissa to do a solo version on her album. (She ultimately ended up recording a duet with Arnold McCuller instead.) But worse than that is the fact that he ALWAYS plays up the Stevie Nicks connection ... and NEVER mentions Manchester at all when he performs the song ... and that's just wrong. (kk)
Regarding the Kenny Loggins Elk Grove Village concert, I have to say I agree with you Kent, on many issues, including the fact that the show didn't live up to the hype. Kenny seemed so out of touch with the audience. And I have to say, when he came out, I didn't even recognize him! Maybe it's just me, but hair dye and botox maybe??? Anyway, I also agree with the sing-along. Hate that part. Funny thing was, a few times the crowd didn't even know the lyrics. Embarrassing. I also felt he milked a lot of the songs to the point to where I couldn't wait for the song to end.
Regarding the crowd, our experience was a little different than yours. We got there at 2 and put our chairs down in the front left section, about ten rows back on the aisle. This could be a bad spot because people tend to run down the aisle to take pictures, etc. Didn't happen because the police were on top of it and made everyone go back to their seats. Many of these fans had the nerve to argue with the police and of course they felt it was their right to stand in front of everyone and dance and take pictures. I thought the police and the security people did a great job of keeping that at bay. This concert, we had the good fortune to be surrounded by very nice people, who were there to hear the music, not to eat, drink, and scream out the words to the song. That has been our experiences in the past. We got lucky I guess.
All in all, a great night for music. And you can't beat the price! I think Elk Grove does a good job and I commend the police force and the security team. Without them, it could be a different story.
Thanks for all you do for our music.
Janet
Yeah, several times during the show the audience of "loyal Kenny Loggins fans" didn't even know the songs well enough to recognize the endings ... and clapped before Kenny was finished ... or, on a couple occasions not at all until the realized the song was over! This was especially discouraging because it pretty much was a hit-filled set from start to finish, other than the new material ... VERY familiar to anyone who had followed Loggins' career (or simply listened to the radio between 1973 and 1985.) There was one young woman near us (18 - 20 years old maybe), however, who sang along with virtually every word ... so clearly Kenny Loggins' music was played a lot around her house while she was growing up! (kk)
Regarding the crowd, our experience was a little different than yours. We got there at 2 and put our chairs down in the front left section, about ten rows back on the aisle. This could be a bad spot because people tend to run down the aisle to take pictures, etc. Didn't happen because the police were on top of it and made everyone go back to their seats. Many of these fans had the nerve to argue with the police and of course they felt it was their right to stand in front of everyone and dance and take pictures. I thought the police and the security people did a great job of keeping that at bay. This concert, we had the good fortune to be surrounded by very nice people, who were there to hear the music, not to eat, drink, and scream out the words to the song. That has been our experiences in the past. We got lucky I guess.
All in all, a great night for music. And you can't beat the price! I think Elk Grove does a good job and I commend the police force and the security team. Without them, it could be a different story.
Thanks for all you do for our music.
Janet
Yeah, several times during the show the audience of "loyal Kenny Loggins fans" didn't even know the songs well enough to recognize the endings ... and clapped before Kenny was finished ... or, on a couple occasions not at all until the realized the song was over! This was especially discouraging because it pretty much was a hit-filled set from start to finish, other than the new material ... VERY familiar to anyone who had followed Loggins' career (or simply listened to the radio between 1973 and 1985.) There was one young woman near us (18 - 20 years old maybe), however, who sang along with virtually every word ... so clearly Kenny Loggins' music was played a lot around her house while she was growing up! (kk)
Hey Kent,
I'm with you on your review of Kenny Loggins at Elk Grove Village. No, I wasn't there, but so much of what you said happens across the land. I rarely go to concerts anymore. Ticket prices are through the roof. There are so many distractions from "me" generation individuals, who are there because it's an event; not really to hear a particular artist. Some of the headliners DO have apathetic attitudes, and often show up late. Several years ago, I attended a concert of one major star, whom everybody knows. As we entered the arena, there were "assistants", handing out pamphlets that dealt with environmental issues. About twenty minutes into the show, the audience got a "dissertation" from the artist, going on and on about Earth's terrible condition. Wait a minute. Did I pay mucho bucks to be lectured? Needless to say, I have not been back, even though the artist has been here since. Others take up time at concerts, by shoving "their" politics down your throat. It's too bad about your experience with the Loggins show. You felt short-changed. He knew what he could get away with. He was recently here with the "Night of the Proms" production, that has been shown on PBS every week, this Summer. Unfortunately, the arena was less that half-full. Maybe today's concert goers don't like the idea of pop stars being backed by an orchestra. Who knows? I do like Kenny Loggins and his songs, but if it was me, having the same experience you did, I'd throw in the towel. Artists need to know these things, if they really care.
- John LaPuzza
Well, it's hard to feel like you didn't get your money's worth at a free show!!! (lol) But I will admit that there were moments when I felt like I was wasting my time ... not the ideal concert experience. But, as I said, I think the MAJORITY of the crowd was into the show ... he just didn't click for ME. The worst are all the surrounding assholes who feel that they lay claim to a particular piece of real estate in what is SUPPOSED to be a shared concert experience ... it ruins it for anyone else anywhere near the vicinity. (kk)
I totally agree on your comments on how some artists will just "phone it in" at live performances.I have always said you have two types of musical performers: "Prostitutes" and "Significant Others" ...
The "Prostitutes" won't start playing until they have their money in hand, they fake the enthusiasm, they don't personalize their performance (i.e. they don't know or care what city they are in) and when the time is up, so is their performance.The "Significant Others" are the ones who do their best to know who and where they are playing, they will talk to the audience in between songs, and if everyone is having fun, the 90 minute concert may go 2+ hours because of the interaction between songs, the encores, or the extra tunes they play during the show. Fortunately, there are more "Significant Others" than "Prostitutes" in the concert world ... especially from our age of the rock era. Some of the Significant Others I have seen over the years include Sir Paul, Huey Lewis and Peter Noone. One of the most noted "Prostitutes" I saw was back in the mid 80s. It was at the old Cleveland Stadium after a Cleveland Indians game. When the Beach Boys came out, they ran through their Greatest Hits library -- many as medleys -- in about 60 minutes. The part that really made me lose respect for the musical "Boys of Summer" was when during the concert, Mike Love said "Hey, how 'bout a hand for the home team ... The home team won today!!!" Despite the Cleveland Indians name and logo plastered around the stadium, they didn't / wouldn't / couldn't acknowledge that they were in Cleveland. BTW, I usually give a pass to performers who are part of a multi-bill concert show who only get a 20 minute set in which to have their moment in the spotlight, although there are / were some that probably would fall into the prostitute category if they were given a solo show.
Tim Kubat
Kent,
After reading your Kenny Loggins concert review and some of the feedback that has come since, I am rethinking my decision regarding writing about my three state, three day concert trip the beginning of July. My initial reason was that it was the same artist at all three, but I was well aware during the concerts of the change in AUDIENCE style and how that affected my experience. Maybe a review (and I HAVE mentioned it before in print) of how to be an audience is in order. I won't even say 'good audience' because a correct audience should always be 'good'. I teach proper etiquette and socialization to children, but there are adults who never learned it OR decided it does not matter.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
Sadly these experiences ruin it for the real fans who genuinely care about these artists. To a degree, some of this may be the fact that it's a free show ... ANYBODY can get in ... whereas if those same fans had to pay upwards of $100 per ticket they may have chosen instead to drink and be obnoxious at home. Then again I've lost count of the times I've been at shows where I HAVE paid upwards of $100 per ticket, only to find myself telling the person in front of me or next to me that I didn't pay a hundred bucks to hear YOU sing their songs ... or block my view for the entire performance. At a recent Eagles concert I swear we had to get up 28 times during the show to let our "neighbors" get by to head back out to the bar and/or bathroom ... it was virtually non-stop throughout the entire concert. They EASILY had to spend $500-$600 on booze that night! (I guess if you can afford an Eagles concert ticket you've got extra money to burn ... but it made OUR night miserable. What should have been the ultimate concert experience was ruined by these inconsiderate assholes.) kk
One hit Kenny Loggins DIDN'T perform during his Elk Grove Village concert was "Welcome To Heartlight", a #24 Hit in 1983 (and one I really enjoyed at the time.) When's the last time you heard THIS one on the radio??? (Probably 1983!!! lol) kk
And a quick word on the OTHER Kenny ...
Don'tcha just love the new Geico commercial where Kenny Rogers sings "The Gambler" to a group of annoyed card players??? Cracks me up every time. Like many of you who have written in, I'm sick and tired of most of these Geico commercials ... they seem to be the ONLY company advertising these days ... and they're literally everywhere you turn ... tv, radio, movie theaters, billboards ... there's no escape. But every once in a while they come up with a pretty clever one. I love the one where the cowboy rides off into the sunset and gets "de-horsed" when he crashes into "The End" sign, too ... clever stuff! (kk)
re: The Saturday Surveys:
The Saturday surveys are the best. Just today there are at least a dozen songs that you never ever hear on the radio anymore. Good stuff!
Santiago in Miami
Kent,
Regarding the KACY Kontenders shown in your recent Saturday Surveys segment, I also noticed that Heroes & Villains by the Beach Boys was listed. This one almost made the national Top Ten (#12) but should have been a huge hit ... brilliant Beach Boys sound ... a dash of psychedelia and Brian Wilson humor ... Westward-ho! This was the beginning of a string of excellent-creative-even relevant but ignored singles (Wild Honey, I Can Hear Music, Darlin', Friends, Bluebirds Over the Mountain (OK, not Bluebirds ...), Break Away, Add Some Music to Your Day). 50 years later, Heroes & Villains is just as beautiful and evocative.
Phil
PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com
Phil
PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com
I have ALWAYS maintained that "Heroes And Villains" should have been MUCH bigger than it was. To MY ears, I've always preferred it to "Good Vibrations", which got all the attention and accolades. For me, "Heroes And Villains" will always be a creative highlight in The Beach Boys' career. (kk)
Many thanks to Clark Besch for sending along the video of Petula doing "Downtown." Doesn't she just look fantastic? And how has she kept such a wonderful voice into her eighties? There's always some great stuff in a FH "This and That" - so we always read every entry!
David
Including YOURS! Thanks, David! (kk)
With Weird Al hot again, it was neat to come across this batch of videos paying homage to The Beatles ... rarely seen (or heard) Al-ism's! (kk)
Click here: Five times when Weird Al Yankovic hilariously met the Beatles - National Beatles | Examiner.com
With Weird Al hot again, it was neat to come across this batch of videos paying homage to The Beatles ... rarely seen (or heard) Al-ism's! (kk)
Click here: Five times when Weird Al Yankovic hilariously met the Beatles - National Beatles | Examiner.com
Hi Kent -
Enjoyed the information on Jim Peterik's new book coming out in September! Can't wait to read it,
along with Carl Giamarese's book when it comes out.
You mentioned the Beach Boys'"Shut Down" album celebrating fifty years, but didn't "All Summer Long" come out in 1964? Wasnt that the last album where Brian concentrated on surf, beach music and then went on to other things?
One more thing regarding the "MYSTERIOUS" song "Night Theme" by the Mark II. I forgot to mention that it was recorded on the WYE label and the BMI music was listed as "LAURA MUSIC". Would that be another connection to Ray Petersen and his song "Tell Laura I Love Her"???
Keep up the GREAT WORK!!!
Carolyn
The Beach Boys released an incredible FOUR albums in 1964 ... and Endless Summer Quarterly has been paying tribute to each and every one of them as they reach their 50-Year Anniversary.
New in '64 were (in order) "Shut Down, Volume 2", "All Summer Long", "Beach Boys Concert" and "The Beach Boys' Christmas Album". In addition, three LP's carried over from the year before ... "Surfin' USA" (which stayed on the charts for a year and a half), "Surfer Girl" (just over a year) and "Little Deuce Coupe" (just under a year)! Hard to believe ... but that's how things were done back then!
As for Ray Peterson, I went searching for a more definitive answer ... and put your query to Fred Vail, a close associate of Ray's, booking him for numerous performances back in the day. (We haven't heard back from Fred yet ... but if ANYBODY would know for sure, Fred would be the guy!) Although I found SEVERAL online websites claiming that Ray Peterson of Mark II was the same Ray Peterson of "Tell Laura I Love Her" fame, I think I've got the definitive answer here.
Believe it or not, Mark II is being inducted into The Rhode Island Music Hall Of Fame this year for their 1960 Hit "Night Theme" ... and THAT Ray Peterson is quoted in the article covering this event shown below.
Click here: The Mark II among 2014 RI Music Hall of Fame inductees - Cranston Herald
The Ray Peterson who recorded "Tell Laura I Love Her" (and my personal favorite, "Corinna, Corinna" ... as well as the original hit version of the Elvis tune "The Wonder Of You") passed away from cancer in 2005 ... so I don't think he's still talking to the press nine years later!
Click here: The Mark II - Night Theme (1960) - YouTube
New in '64 were (in order) "Shut Down, Volume 2", "All Summer Long", "Beach Boys Concert" and "The Beach Boys' Christmas Album". In addition, three LP's carried over from the year before ... "Surfin' USA" (which stayed on the charts for a year and a half), "Surfer Girl" (just over a year) and "Little Deuce Coupe" (just under a year)! Hard to believe ... but that's how things were done back then!
As for Ray Peterson, I went searching for a more definitive answer ... and put your query to Fred Vail, a close associate of Ray's, booking him for numerous performances back in the day. (We haven't heard back from Fred yet ... but if ANYBODY would know for sure, Fred would be the guy!) Although I found SEVERAL online websites claiming that Ray Peterson of Mark II was the same Ray Peterson of "Tell Laura I Love Her" fame, I think I've got the definitive answer here.
Believe it or not, Mark II is being inducted into The Rhode Island Music Hall Of Fame this year for their 1960 Hit "Night Theme" ... and THAT Ray Peterson is quoted in the article covering this event shown below.
Click here: The Mark II among 2014 RI Music Hall of Fame inductees - Cranston Herald
The Ray Peterson who recorded "Tell Laura I Love Her" (and my personal favorite, "Corinna, Corinna" ... as well as the original hit version of the Elvis tune "The Wonder Of You") passed away from cancer in 2005 ... so I don't think he's still talking to the press nine years later!
Click here: The Mark II - Night Theme (1960) - YouTube
By the way, ironically, while working on another project, I found this entry in Ron Smith's "Date Book", "Eight Days A Week: Births, Deaths And Events Each Day In Oldies History":
On August 8, 1960, England's Decca Records destroyed 25,000 copies of Ray Peterson's "Tell Laura I Love Her" for being in bad taste. (The times, they REALLY have changed!!!) kk
>>>The guy that was singing "Mac Arthur Park" left out "I will drink the wine while it is warm and never let you catch me looking at the sun and after all the loves of my life, after all the loves of my life, you'll still be the one. I will take my life into my hands and I will use it, I will win the worship your eyes and I will lose it, AND THEN "I will have the things that I desire and let my passions flow like rivers through the sky", etc. He left out most of what I always felt was the redeeming part of the song. I have this song by Richard Harris on my ipod. I think I appreciate much more now that I am older. (Stacee)
Interesting comment from Stacee. When the great Tony Bennett did MacArthur Park, this was the only portion he sang!
Mister Hil
>>>The guy that was singing "Mac Arthur Park" left out "I will drink the wine while it is warm and never let you catch me looking at the sun and after all the loves of my life, after all the loves of my life, you'll still be the one. I will take my life into my hands and I will use it, I will win the worship your eyes and I will lose it, AND THEN "I will have the things that I desire and let my passions flow like rivers through the sky", etc. He left out most of what I always felt was the redeeming part of the song. I have this song by Richard Harris on my ipod. I think I appreciate much more now that I am older. (Stacee)
Interesting comment from Stacee. When the great Tony Bennett did MacArthur Park, this was the only portion he sang!
Mister Hil
Lots of celebrating this past week as Scott Shannon hosted his 101st show and WCBS-FM 101 (actually it was his 103rd ... but the celebration was tied in nicely to a live appearance at The City Winery, right near the WCBS studios.) Micky Dolenz of The Monkees (and former morning host of WCBS-FM a few years back ... he was on the air and had just wrapped up his 100th show when Jack-FM came in and ruined everything!) along with Gene Cornish of The Rascals were on hand to help Scott celebrate ... as was Constantine Maroulis of American Idol fame and Mark Rivera.
All the details, tons of great pictures and audio snippets can be found here:
http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/guide/scott-shannons-101st-show-celebration-at-city-winery-nyc-recap/
(By the way, Gene Cornish says the guys are trying to get together again next year to celebrate The Rascals' 50th Anniversary ... maybe even for some type of television special! I'll have to ask Felix Cavaliere about that next month when he appears at The Arcada Theatre!) kk
All the details, tons of great pictures and audio snippets can be found here:
http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/guide/scott-shannons-101st-show-celebration-at-city-winery-nyc-recap/
(By the way, Gene Cornish says the guys are trying to get together again next year to celebrate The Rascals' 50th Anniversary ... maybe even for some type of television special! I'll have to ask Felix Cavaliere about that next month when he appears at The Arcada Theatre!) kk
I was only familiar with the original version of the song "All's Quiet On West 23rd" by The Jet Stream on Smash Records. I much prefer their version. It was written and produced by Joey Levine and Artie Resnick, who are apparently the vocalists on the song (I suspect Artie's wife Kris Resnick is there, too - the trio of them were The Third Rail on Epic Records). It just barely missed the Hot 100 Billboard chart.
Tom Diehl
Yep ... it peaked at #101! I remember discussing this song some time back ... definitely not the kind of track you'd expect to hear sung by one of the kings of bubblegum music! (kk)
From FH Reader Dave Barry, this assessment of the brand new Led Zeppelin remastered albums series, featuring bonus tracks ...
Dood!! Stairway To Heaven!!!
Your first sip of beer. Your first drag on a cigarette. Maybe even that first kiss. Led Zeppelin was the soundtrack for the Seventies and now, you may want to file away those cherished but worn LP copies and replace them with the much ballyhooed reissues from Rhino.
Recently, I received a promo set of the deluxe edition vinyl LPs for the first three Zep records and I must say, they are fairly special. The rest of the catalog will follow. And yes, you guessed it, Zoso, or Led Zeppelin IV if you prefer, will be out just in time for Christmas. Yes, buying more plastic from the record labels gets galling. They prey upon our weakness and weak spiders that we are, we willingly roll into the web. We have paid for this intellectual property over and over again, so no worries — the artists are getting paid. But the reissue juggernaut, no matter what the format, can be very problematic, and very expensive, particularly for collectors.
Having said all that, Page, Plant and Jones have not been overly greedy. There has only ever been one remastering of these records in 1994 and the band has been smart about not flooding the market with inferior “collectors” repackagings. Or dodgy, sonically compromised live sets. And to be honest at $115.00 - $118.00 depending on the outlet, the super deluxe editions which are the most expensive of all these formats, do not feel like gouging.
Happily, these new remasters, supervised by Page of course, come in seven different formats (super deluxe edition box, deluxe edition 2 CD, deluxe edition vinyl, single CD, original album vinyl, digital download, HD Tracks 96/24 download) has reignited the Zep wars. In the past couple days, I’ve fielded a number of calls and emails from friends and Stereophile readers who I didn’t know, tussling yet again with the question of which Zep album is the best. The newly released July issue of Mojo has poured oil on the fire by listing the top 50 Led Zeppelin songs. Stereophile Contributing Editor and world class record collector David Sokol went through the Mojo piece and did some figuring. Surprisingly, the two albums with the most songs on list are Physical Graffiti and Zep II (i.e. the Brown Bomber) with nine songs each. Zep I has seven on the list while Zep III has eight. Most controversially, “Kashmir” (from Physical Graffiti) gets the nod as the best song. And the always underrated Presence, my personal favorite, only places two tunes on the list.
The results of these remastering jobs, including that of the much–praised Beatles set, have become a bit predictable — a brighter, fresher sound that’s slightly more expansive and has slightly improved dynamics. These Zep LP pressings from Pallas in Germany are beautiful, heavy and very, very quiet.
Recorded in less than two days, for less than two thousand pounds, Zep I, with the Hindenburg gloriously aflame on the cover ranks as one of the best debut albums ever and one of the first records in a genre soon to be known as metal. It’s arrival signaled that strummy folk rock was being replaced by something harder-edged. Even the blues cover, “You Shook Me” featured a tortured vocal from Plant and a blinding solo from Jimmy Page. The unforgettable riff rock of “Communication Breakdown” set many a teenage boys heart aflutter. The album’s heart, “Dazed and Confused,” may begin as a psychedelic anthem but it soon takes flight and becomes a basher with Bonham’s thunderous drumming and crashing cymbals leading the way. Upon release, the album was viciously slagged by critics, especially in the States. My favorite bit is the album’s notorious Rolling Stone review which inveighed that Robert Plant was “foppish as Rod Stewart, but nowhere near as exciting.” In the case of all three records, the biggest draw for fans who know the original records by heart are the “companion” discs of rough mixes and alternate takes. In the case of Zep I, this means two discs of live material from a concert in October 1969 at the Olympia in Paris, which was recorded by French radio, and has here been remastered and spread across two LPs. Sonically better than most Zep bootlegs of this era, it shows how fully formed the band was from the very start. An overlong “You Shook Me” meanders endlessly while a version of “Heartbreaker,” which was on the then just released Led Zeppelin II, rocks the house.
Written on the road and recorded piecemeal in Los Angeles, London, New York, Memphis and a primitive studio in Vancouver that the band called “the hut,” Zep II, which was released nine months after the debut, has always sounded remarkably good, thanks no doubt to the good ears of Page and engineer Eddie Kramer who performed miracles with its many sources. With a cover that used a photo from WWI of the Red Baron’s crew (with the band’s faces superimposed) and Page’s first crack at the Theremin (on “Whole Lotta Love”), this may be the Zep masterpiece. Remastered once in 1994 for the CD boxed set, II’s 2014 Page remix is its best sound yet. The extra LP of 8 tracks contains a more relaxed rough mix of “What Is And What Should Never Be,” a stripped down “Ramble On” with a killer vocal performance by Plant, and a previously unknown/unreleased instrumental track “La La” that shows how much creativity was coursing through this band at this time when even their rave ups were better than most band’s best stuff. Finally, the backing track on the companion disc for “Moby Dick” is comically short considering that when the band played it live, Bonzo’s drum solo could run half an hour by itself!
Finally there’s Led Zeppelin III which unlike it’s predecessor was written in mid–1970 at a remote cottage in Wales, the legendary Bron-Yr-Aur. Back then, very much like Led Zeppelin I, this album was also disliked by critics and was not initially a huge seller. Written in a cottage with no electricity, not to mention the fact that Plant and Page seem to have reacted against the Marshall stacks of Zep II, Zep III is a much more acoustic and introverted recording. My record guru, the aforementioned David Sokol calls this a “more mature record,” which I have to say rings right. Recorded at Headley Grange, a rundown mansion, as well as Olympic and Basing Street studios in London, it was mixed at Ardent Studios in Memphis. As for the companion tracks, III actually has three worthy, if less than earth–shattering extras; the first being “Bathroom Sound,” which is a very bass heavy, odd sounding rough mix of eventual III track “Out on the Tiles.” “Jennings Farm Blues” is the instrumental version of “Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp.” The last, which Page has mentioned over and over again in interviews about these remasters, is “Key To The Highway,” a blues standard previously recorded first by Charlie Segar and then every other blues musician on the planet, most memorably by Big Bill Broonzy, Little Walter and Eric Clapton. Here it’s Page on slide and acoustic guitar and Plant on blues harp and vocals, the latter of which are run through a vibrato amp and so quaver with a tremolo effect. Best of all, the LP cover reproduces the spinning wheel or more properly, the volvelle, which was included with in the original. Designed by artist Zacron, this was considered “multi–media" in 1970! Speaking only for the LPs, this is Zep done right both in terms of improved sound and high quality pressings.
Bring it on man. What’s next? Oh yeah I know!
“Hey, Hey mama said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove!
Your first sip of beer. Your first drag on a cigarette. Maybe even that first kiss. Led Zeppelin was the soundtrack for the Seventies and now, you may want to file away those cherished but worn LP copies and replace them with the much ballyhooed reissues from Rhino.
Recently, I received a promo set of the deluxe edition vinyl LPs for the first three Zep records and I must say, they are fairly special. The rest of the catalog will follow. And yes, you guessed it, Zoso, or Led Zeppelin IV if you prefer, will be out just in time for Christmas. Yes, buying more plastic from the record labels gets galling. They prey upon our weakness and weak spiders that we are, we willingly roll into the web. We have paid for this intellectual property over and over again, so no worries — the artists are getting paid. But the reissue juggernaut, no matter what the format, can be very problematic, and very expensive, particularly for collectors.
Having said all that, Page, Plant and Jones have not been overly greedy. There has only ever been one remastering of these records in 1994 and the band has been smart about not flooding the market with inferior “collectors” repackagings. Or dodgy, sonically compromised live sets. And to be honest at $115.00 - $118.00 depending on the outlet, the super deluxe editions which are the most expensive of all these formats, do not feel like gouging.
Happily, these new remasters, supervised by Page of course, come in seven different formats (super deluxe edition box, deluxe edition 2 CD, deluxe edition vinyl, single CD, original album vinyl, digital download, HD Tracks 96/24 download) has reignited the Zep wars. In the past couple days, I’ve fielded a number of calls and emails from friends and Stereophile readers who I didn’t know, tussling yet again with the question of which Zep album is the best. The newly released July issue of Mojo has poured oil on the fire by listing the top 50 Led Zeppelin songs. Stereophile Contributing Editor and world class record collector David Sokol went through the Mojo piece and did some figuring. Surprisingly, the two albums with the most songs on list are Physical Graffiti and Zep II (i.e. the Brown Bomber) with nine songs each. Zep I has seven on the list while Zep III has eight. Most controversially, “Kashmir” (from Physical Graffiti) gets the nod as the best song. And the always underrated Presence, my personal favorite, only places two tunes on the list.
The results of these remastering jobs, including that of the much–praised Beatles set, have become a bit predictable — a brighter, fresher sound that’s slightly more expansive and has slightly improved dynamics. These Zep LP pressings from Pallas in Germany are beautiful, heavy and very, very quiet.
Recorded in less than two days, for less than two thousand pounds, Zep I, with the Hindenburg gloriously aflame on the cover ranks as one of the best debut albums ever and one of the first records in a genre soon to be known as metal. It’s arrival signaled that strummy folk rock was being replaced by something harder-edged. Even the blues cover, “You Shook Me” featured a tortured vocal from Plant and a blinding solo from Jimmy Page. The unforgettable riff rock of “Communication Breakdown” set many a teenage boys heart aflutter. The album’s heart, “Dazed and Confused,” may begin as a psychedelic anthem but it soon takes flight and becomes a basher with Bonham’s thunderous drumming and crashing cymbals leading the way. Upon release, the album was viciously slagged by critics, especially in the States. My favorite bit is the album’s notorious Rolling Stone review which inveighed that Robert Plant was “foppish as Rod Stewart, but nowhere near as exciting.” In the case of all three records, the biggest draw for fans who know the original records by heart are the “companion” discs of rough mixes and alternate takes. In the case of Zep I, this means two discs of live material from a concert in October 1969 at the Olympia in Paris, which was recorded by French radio, and has here been remastered and spread across two LPs. Sonically better than most Zep bootlegs of this era, it shows how fully formed the band was from the very start. An overlong “You Shook Me” meanders endlessly while a version of “Heartbreaker,” which was on the then just released Led Zeppelin II, rocks the house.
Written on the road and recorded piecemeal in Los Angeles, London, New York, Memphis and a primitive studio in Vancouver that the band called “the hut,” Zep II, which was released nine months after the debut, has always sounded remarkably good, thanks no doubt to the good ears of Page and engineer Eddie Kramer who performed miracles with its many sources. With a cover that used a photo from WWI of the Red Baron’s crew (with the band’s faces superimposed) and Page’s first crack at the Theremin (on “Whole Lotta Love”), this may be the Zep masterpiece. Remastered once in 1994 for the CD boxed set, II’s 2014 Page remix is its best sound yet. The extra LP of 8 tracks contains a more relaxed rough mix of “What Is And What Should Never Be,” a stripped down “Ramble On” with a killer vocal performance by Plant, and a previously unknown/unreleased instrumental track “La La” that shows how much creativity was coursing through this band at this time when even their rave ups were better than most band’s best stuff. Finally, the backing track on the companion disc for “Moby Dick” is comically short considering that when the band played it live, Bonzo’s drum solo could run half an hour by itself!
Finally there’s Led Zeppelin III which unlike it’s predecessor was written in mid–1970 at a remote cottage in Wales, the legendary Bron-Yr-Aur. Back then, very much like Led Zeppelin I, this album was also disliked by critics and was not initially a huge seller. Written in a cottage with no electricity, not to mention the fact that Plant and Page seem to have reacted against the Marshall stacks of Zep II, Zep III is a much more acoustic and introverted recording. My record guru, the aforementioned David Sokol calls this a “more mature record,” which I have to say rings right. Recorded at Headley Grange, a rundown mansion, as well as Olympic and Basing Street studios in London, it was mixed at Ardent Studios in Memphis. As for the companion tracks, III actually has three worthy, if less than earth–shattering extras; the first being “Bathroom Sound,” which is a very bass heavy, odd sounding rough mix of eventual III track “Out on the Tiles.” “Jennings Farm Blues” is the instrumental version of “Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp.” The last, which Page has mentioned over and over again in interviews about these remasters, is “Key To The Highway,” a blues standard previously recorded first by Charlie Segar and then every other blues musician on the planet, most memorably by Big Bill Broonzy, Little Walter and Eric Clapton. Here it’s Page on slide and acoustic guitar and Plant on blues harp and vocals, the latter of which are run through a vibrato amp and so quaver with a tremolo effect. Best of all, the LP cover reproduces the spinning wheel or more properly, the volvelle, which was included with in the original. Designed by artist Zacron, this was considered “multi–media" in 1970! Speaking only for the LPs, this is Zep done right both in terms of improved sound and high quality pressings.
Bring it on man. What’s next? Oh yeah I know!
“Hey, Hey mama said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove!
Chase Revisited (featuring a couple of the original members of the early '70's Chicago horn band Chase, several of whom were killed in a plane crash in 1974) is making a special "reunion" appearance later this month at Reggie's downtown. Also on hand will be our buddies Blue Road and, just added, M13. Full details are below.
The band CHASE was created in 1970 by Bill Chase, Ted Piercefield, Alan Ware, and Jerry Van Blair, all veteran jazz trumpeters. They were backed up by a rhythm section consisting of Phil Porter on keyboards, Angel South on guitar, Dennis Keith Johnson on bass, and Jay Burrid on drums. Rounding out the group was Terry Richards, who was featured as lead vocalist on the first album. In April 1971, the band released their debut album CHASE which contains Chase’s best-known song, “Get It On,” released as a single that spent thirteen weeks on the charts beginning in May 1971. The band received a Best New Artist Grammy nomination and the album went Gold. On August 9, 1974 while en route to a scheduled performance at the Jackson County Fair in Minnesota, Bill Chase died in a plane crash at the age of 39. Also killed, along with the pilot and a female companion, were Wally Yohn, Walter Clark, and John Emma.
In 2007 Joe Morrissey contacted surviving original group members with a reunion proposition, and Chase Revisited was then born. Since then, the group has been selectively performing with members from all released albums, augmented with some of the best world-class jazz-rock musicians available, bringing this uniquely exciting music back to life.
Pop a video tape into your VCR, cue up Pulp Fiction or hit the play button on your 8 track cassette for a ride in your Pontiac Trans Am with opening band BLUE ROAD. Featuring Gary Gand on guitar and Joan Gand on keys, sax player TK the Tequila Kid, and drummer Tony Dale; the quartet will be performing a special set of vintage 1970s tunes including your favorite instrumentals from the Average White Band, Billy Preston, Edgar Winter, Sly Stone, and Booker T and the MG’s. Order up a Strawberry Daiquiri for your lady, but careful not to spill on your polyester suit! Make mine Jack and Coke please.
M13 is a Chicago-based, 13-piece ensemble, whose original compositions and arrangements by saxophonist/bandleader Aaron McEvers has just been added to the show, following BLUE ROAD. This will be an incredible night of music! Pop a video tape into your VCR, cue up Pulp Fiction or hit the play button on your 8 track cassette for a ride in your Pontiac Trans Am with opening band BLUE ROAD. Featuring Gary Gand on guitar and Joan Gand on keys, sax player TK the Tequila Kid, and drummer Tony Dale; the quartet will be performing a special set of vintage 1970s tunes including your favorite instrumentals from the Average White Band, Billy Preston, Edgar Winter, Sly Stone, and Booker T and the MG’s. Order up a Strawberry Daiquiri for your lady, but careful not to spill on your polyester suit! Make mine Jack and Coke please.
And speaking of cool concerts, FH Reader just sent us this clip from a recent Chicago / REO Speedwagon Concert ...
Kent -
Chicago kicked off their annual summer tour this week in California. Their touring partner for the month of August will be another band from your home of Chicago, REO Speedwagon.
Chicago kicked off their annual summer tour this week in California. Their touring partner for the month of August will be another band from your home of Chicago, REO Speedwagon.
Both bands will be do their own one hour solo set and then Chicago and REO share the stage for an encore singing multiple songs together.
Here’s a video link from opening night where both bands jammed on “Keep on Loving You.”
Below are the August tour dates.
-Tom Cuddy
Monday, August 4th - Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CA
Thursday, August 7th - Starlight Theatre - Kansas City, MO
Friday, August 8th - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater - Maryland Heights, MO
Saturday, August 9th - FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island - Chicago, IL
Sunday, August 10th - Klipsch Music Center - Noblesville, IN
Tuesday, August 12th - DTE Energy Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI
Wednesday, August 13th - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
Friday, August 15th - Xfinity Theatre - Hartford, CT
Saturday, August 16th - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
Sunday, August 17th - Nikon At Jones Beach Theater - Wantagh, NY
Tuesday, August 19th - Saratoga Performing Arts Center - Saratoga Springs, NY
Wednesday, August 20th - Blue Hills Bank Pavilion - Boston, MA
Friday, August 22nd - Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa Event Center - Atlantic City, NJ
Saturday, August 23rd - Walnut Creek Amphitheatre - Raleigh, NC
Sunday, August 24th - Chastain Park Amphitheatre - Atlanta, GA
Tuesday, August 26th - Choctaw Event Center - Durant, OK
Wednesday, August 27th - Cedar Park Center - Cedar Park, TX
Saturday, August 30th - OKC Downtown Airpark - Oklahoma City, OK
Sunday, August 31st - Gexa Energy Pavilion - Dallas, TX
Yep, they've been giving away concert tickets to this one for awhile now on the radio stations here in town ... should be a GREAT double bill! Thanks, Tom! (kk)
Tom also sent us this link to an interview with Jim Yester, Founding member of The Association, talking about their brand new line-up ...
Kent:
For All the Forgotten Hits readers who are fans of the Association, here’s a link to a recent interview with original member Jim Yester. The band has gone through some line-up changes recently.
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Happy Together
Here's a Happy Together Tour Concert Review courtesy of Forgotten His Reader Shelley Sweet-Tufano from a show she saw last week in Webster, MA. (The Happy Together Gang hits the Chicagoland area on August 22nd for a show at The Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL ... and we can't wait to see it!)
More info here:
Sounds like a great show ... and Shelley sent along some great pictures as well ... so enjoy (as we live vicariously through her concert experience until we get to see the real thing in a couple of weeks!) KK
What's better than sitting under an umbrella in the pouring rain waiting for an outdoor concert to start?? Actually many many things ... I made a mental list while I was waiting.
BUT because God loves music, me, and the musicians I love, the rain stopped, the clouds parted and 20 minutes before concert time, the sun came out.
Back in time to July 12th in Atlantic City. This is a conversation I had with a friend when I was questioned about past and future concerts I had seen / would be seeing.
ME: I will be going to Webster, MA, to see The Happy Together Tour. I'm surprised to be hearing all the rave reviews on Mitch Ryder and Mark Farner.
HE: WHY DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU? (Now comes a stream of their virtues and what songs I would be hearing)
ME: I guess because I have never seen them live, I don't know what to expect; whereas I know Gary, Chuck, and The Turtles will be great.
He has already received an email from me proclaiming him correct.
Back to yesterday: July 27th. I have always loved the beginning of this concert with the countdown. People slowly filing in or now leaving to get food (you didn't know you were hungry or needed that alcoholic beverage until you sat down?) Or nodding "yeah, yeah, sure. Five minutes ..." NO! I MEAN IT! IT WILL START IN FIVE MINUTES! HONEST! Then I can laugh when they come running back sloshing beer, etc. all over their hands and arms.
First up is Gary Lewis! As he always says: "Ah, Memories." Ones we never get tired of. It is so much fun hearing the stories, singing along, swinging my feet. Oh yeah ... swinging my feet. My chair is a great seat. No one in front of me, but raised up off the ground so I look like a five year old. My feet just won't touch the ground. This actually came in handy during the rain as a waterfall flowed down the steps of the stadium seating and I was the only one with dry feet because the water ran under them hanging in midair. It really DID turn back time for me, and gave my friends fits of giggles. Each performing set ran about 20 minutes and seemed to be jammed into 'quick-mode'. I believe Mitch Ryder referred to this as due to the possibility of rain returning. Hey, Turtles and Three Dogs can swim! Not great for a Railroad though, whether it's in or out of a Grand Funk. Thank you Gary, for your enthusiasm, willingness to be first in line, and details of the origins of your songs. I DID miss 'Sealed With a Kiss' though ... really did, Sir.
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Mitch Ryder! The connection between Rock and Motown! As mentioned, I have never before seen him in performance and ... HOT DANG! The entire audience should have worn blue dresses for this segment. Actually, a few wore blue tops and implied they were devilish. Always thinking that I am part of the generation that tested the rules and tried to open new doors, it does not surprise me that 'Sock It To Me' was banned on the radio for having 'dirty lyrics'. But when Mitch sings the original lyrics, I say, "Really? Really? THAT was banned?" I think the same thing listening to 'Rhapsody in the Rain'. Surprisingly, these are some of the songs I turn my students onto to get them away from the rap lyrics they are prone to listen to. Maybe because they can be symbolic and have more than just sexual tones. I wanted to get up and dance during this segment, but I am polite AND remember ... my feet don't touch the ground.
![]()
Mark Farner is older than me. This came as a shock since the man covered more space on the stage dance-hopping with a guitar than TV commercials on 'seniors' would imply is possible. Yes, exceptions to every rule. My Great-Grandfather did hand stands in his 70's because his grandsons were doing them wrong and he felt he needed to show them correctly. Mark Lindsay says, "Rock and Roll Keeps You Young". I'm sure that helps. It does with me. Working with kids also helps. I think performing helps. I muse here about this because HE WAS SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL. Locomotion or just in motion, he is wild. Mark, I stand again in ovation ... you can sing and move! (This is why I mentioned the Atlantic City conversation before ... my friend was right.)
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After the duel surprise thrill of Mitch and Mark, I was ready for Chuck Negron, knowing the capacity of his voice in performance. As I said, the sets seemed to run a little too quickly for me. I would have enjoyed more verbal time with each performer. Chuck, I don't know how you did it, but you put on a little speed while appearing totally calm and laid-back. Chuck Negron gives you the appearance he will be there all night, just hanging and singing. And suddenly he is gone and you say, "I didn't see that coming." He ends as calmly as he begins, and you have heard about how awful Eli is, how lonely One is, and all about a bullfrog named Jeremiah. Time flies when you're having fun is an understatement. Chuck, your voice was so strong and powerful. It packed a punch while you stood there calmly delivering the message. Whew!
![]()
And then ... mayhem enters in the form of The Turtles. Mark dances their opening number which has now become 'Gumbo Style'. Words escape me (in a good way guys). It is hard to believe that I saw them before the concert and they blended into the crowd, appearing totally sane. On stage, they are certifiably insane, wild, comical, musical, drumstick wielding, tambourine tossing, entertaining monarchs of the 60's (and I don't mean the 'butterfly' Mark)! Howard encourages snapshots as "you just never know when one of us will keel over. We're OLD!" Funny! I hate it! I hate the thought of any ending ... today, tomorrow, or ever. They are the brains that puts this show together and the reason it has grown in such popularity.
![]()
And now for the genius behind the scenes and the glue that holds this together. Who really has the most fun and the longest exposure during the show? THE MUSICIANS IN THE BAND. Godfrey Townsend has again assembled a group that travels with and accompanies every performer. Manny Focarazzo on keyboards, John Montagna on guitar, and Steve Murphy on drums (who also is killer soloist with Mark Farner and Chuck Negron when needed), do NOT leave the stage except for intermission, and when they need to get out of Mark Volman's way. (Go see!) Applause, gentlemen! Your job is the best, and maybe worst, rolled into one.
![]()
It is a HOT show! Go see it!
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
On first glance, Mark Farner and Mitch Ryder may seem like unlikely choices for this year's Happy Together line-up. (Farner might fit in better with "Hippiefest", another Flo and Eddie / Turtles mainstay ... although it's REALLY hard to classify the music of Grand Funk Railroad these days.) Typically, the Happy Together Tour has always taken on more of a "feel good" / "pop" motiff, so they've definitely "rocked things up" a bit this year by adding Farner and Ryder to the equation.
Grand Funk Railroad were one of the original hard rock bands, selling ZILLIONS of albums back in the late '60's and early '70's (at one point, right up there ... and surpassing ... The Beatles for Capitol Records.) Their first eleven albums went gold and platinum several times over. (There was a time when you never heard Grand Funk Railroad and Black Sabbath mentioned without one another ... and then Led Zeppelin came along and all of a sudden the whole world was rockin' a little harder!)
But the BIG hits didn't come until they went "pop" with "We're An American Band", a #1 Single in 1973. Their cover of "The Loco-Motion" (alo a #1 Single) came from as far out of left field as a band could stray ... and today about the only things you still hear by these guys are those two #1 Hits and "Some Kind Of Wonderful" ... but they also recorded a whole bunch of OTHER great music that deserves a spin now and then. (I love their version of "Feelin' All-Right" for example ... and "Closer To Home" is a Classic Rock Classic.) Other early album rock tracks like "Heartbreaker" and "Mean Mistreater" ... soulful takes like "Footstompin' Music" and "Rock And Roll Soul" ... legitimate hits like "Walk Like A Man" and "Shinin' On" and "Bad Time" and credible covers like "Gimme Shelter", "Parnoid", "Inside Looking Out" and the aforementioned "Feelin' All Right" are all undeservedly ignored by classic rock aradio today ... these guys were HUGE!!! ... and breaking their entire career down to a couple of pop hits like "We're An American Band" and "The Loco-Motion" doesn't do them justice. (I'm hoping Farner will play at least a few other favorites in his brief set list when we get to see them later this month.)
Mitch Ryder's been back on the oldies circuit for a few years now, doing a number of shows (most notably along with Paul Revere and the Raiders and their "Where The Action Is" series). Mitch had a real knack for working out some interesting medleys back in the day ... yet here again his career seems have been narrowed down to the occasional playing of "Devil With A Blue Dress On" by ignorant radio programmers across the country. (For a closer look at just how big these artists really were, scroll back to our posting from last Tuesday, July 29th, where we recapped the Composite Top 40 Hits of all five head-liners ... an impressive list to say the least.
As for Gary Lewis, you're not likely to hear him singing "Sealed With A Kiss" anytime soon ... it's his LEAST favorite record that he ever made. (We probably have a better chance of convincing Howard Kaylan to give "You Know What I Mean" one more spin than we do of getting Gary to resurrect this one!) Listening to it now is pretty painful ... I'm still surprised they let that one go, as foff-key as it is. But no worries ... he's got plenty of OTHER Top 40 Hits to draw from ... including "This Diamond Ring", "Count Me", "Save Your Heart For Me", "Everybody Loves A Clown", "She's Just My Style", "Sure Gonna Miss Her" and "Green Grass", seven straight Top Ten Hits released between January of 1965 and May of 1966. Famous dad or not, these are all GREAT hit records!
I know what you mean about these short sets ... and I swear it feels like they've grown even shorter these past few years during The Happy Together Shows. Even The Turtles themselves come and go so quickly. (Perhaps it's that old adage "Leave 'em wanting more" ... and let's face it, you can always go check out The Turtles and/or Chuck Negron in solo shows and get more bang for your buck ... although a $59 ticket to see five superstars like this in one show is really pretty remarkable!)
I would love to hear Chuck Negron do a full-blown set of Three Dog Night hits ... maybe even some of the over-looked album tracks that he's become so well know for. After seeing the Cory and Danny show a few times now these past couple of years, I'm ready for a full-on Chuck Negron version of the Three Dog Night catalog.
And TheTurtles are always fun, no matter how many times you've seen them. These guys just have a good time up there ... and take the audience along for a ride. Even after 45 years of hit-making schtick, it still never gets old. HIGHLY recommended!
Thank you, Shelley ... you have REALLY whet my appetite to see this show! (kk)
More info here:
Sounds like a great show ... and Shelley sent along some great pictures as well ... so enjoy (as we live vicariously through her concert experience until we get to see the real thing in a couple of weeks!) KK
What's better than sitting under an umbrella in the pouring rain waiting for an outdoor concert to start?? Actually many many things ... I made a mental list while I was waiting.
BUT because God loves music, me, and the musicians I love, the rain stopped, the clouds parted and 20 minutes before concert time, the sun came out.
Back in time to July 12th in Atlantic City. This is a conversation I had with a friend when I was questioned about past and future concerts I had seen / would be seeing.
ME: I will be going to Webster, MA, to see The Happy Together Tour. I'm surprised to be hearing all the rave reviews on Mitch Ryder and Mark Farner.
HE: WHY DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU? (Now comes a stream of their virtues and what songs I would be hearing)
ME: I guess because I have never seen them live, I don't know what to expect; whereas I know Gary, Chuck, and The Turtles will be great.
He has already received an email from me proclaiming him correct.
Back to yesterday: July 27th. I have always loved the beginning of this concert with the countdown. People slowly filing in or now leaving to get food (you didn't know you were hungry or needed that alcoholic beverage until you sat down?) Or nodding "yeah, yeah, sure. Five minutes ..." NO! I MEAN IT! IT WILL START IN FIVE MINUTES! HONEST! Then I can laugh when they come running back sloshing beer, etc. all over their hands and arms.
First up is Gary Lewis! As he always says: "Ah, Memories." Ones we never get tired of. It is so much fun hearing the stories, singing along, swinging my feet. Oh yeah ... swinging my feet. My chair is a great seat. No one in front of me, but raised up off the ground so I look like a five year old. My feet just won't touch the ground. This actually came in handy during the rain as a waterfall flowed down the steps of the stadium seating and I was the only one with dry feet because the water ran under them hanging in midair. It really DID turn back time for me, and gave my friends fits of giggles. Each performing set ran about 20 minutes and seemed to be jammed into 'quick-mode'. I believe Mitch Ryder referred to this as due to the possibility of rain returning. Hey, Turtles and Three Dogs can swim! Not great for a Railroad though, whether it's in or out of a Grand Funk. Thank you Gary, for your enthusiasm, willingness to be first in line, and details of the origins of your songs. I DID miss 'Sealed With a Kiss' though ... really did, Sir.
Mitch Ryder! The connection between Rock and Motown! As mentioned, I have never before seen him in performance and ... HOT DANG! The entire audience should have worn blue dresses for this segment. Actually, a few wore blue tops and implied they were devilish. Always thinking that I am part of the generation that tested the rules and tried to open new doors, it does not surprise me that 'Sock It To Me' was banned on the radio for having 'dirty lyrics'. But when Mitch sings the original lyrics, I say, "Really? Really? THAT was banned?" I think the same thing listening to 'Rhapsody in the Rain'. Surprisingly, these are some of the songs I turn my students onto to get them away from the rap lyrics they are prone to listen to. Maybe because they can be symbolic and have more than just sexual tones. I wanted to get up and dance during this segment, but I am polite AND remember ... my feet don't touch the ground.
Mark Farner is older than me. This came as a shock since the man covered more space on the stage dance-hopping with a guitar than TV commercials on 'seniors' would imply is possible. Yes, exceptions to every rule. My Great-Grandfather did hand stands in his 70's because his grandsons were doing them wrong and he felt he needed to show them correctly. Mark Lindsay says, "Rock and Roll Keeps You Young". I'm sure that helps. It does with me. Working with kids also helps. I think performing helps. I muse here about this because HE WAS SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL. Locomotion or just in motion, he is wild. Mark, I stand again in ovation ... you can sing and move! (This is why I mentioned the Atlantic City conversation before ... my friend was right.)
After the duel surprise thrill of Mitch and Mark, I was ready for Chuck Negron, knowing the capacity of his voice in performance. As I said, the sets seemed to run a little too quickly for me. I would have enjoyed more verbal time with each performer. Chuck, I don't know how you did it, but you put on a little speed while appearing totally calm and laid-back. Chuck Negron gives you the appearance he will be there all night, just hanging and singing. And suddenly he is gone and you say, "I didn't see that coming." He ends as calmly as he begins, and you have heard about how awful Eli is, how lonely One is, and all about a bullfrog named Jeremiah. Time flies when you're having fun is an understatement. Chuck, your voice was so strong and powerful. It packed a punch while you stood there calmly delivering the message. Whew!
And then ... mayhem enters in the form of The Turtles. Mark dances their opening number which has now become 'Gumbo Style'. Words escape me (in a good way guys). It is hard to believe that I saw them before the concert and they blended into the crowd, appearing totally sane. On stage, they are certifiably insane, wild, comical, musical, drumstick wielding, tambourine tossing, entertaining monarchs of the 60's (and I don't mean the 'butterfly' Mark)! Howard encourages snapshots as "you just never know when one of us will keel over. We're OLD!" Funny! I hate it! I hate the thought of any ending ... today, tomorrow, or ever. They are the brains that puts this show together and the reason it has grown in such popularity.
And now for the genius behind the scenes and the glue that holds this together. Who really has the most fun and the longest exposure during the show? THE MUSICIANS IN THE BAND. Godfrey Townsend has again assembled a group that travels with and accompanies every performer. Manny Focarazzo on keyboards, John Montagna on guitar, and Steve Murphy on drums (who also is killer soloist with Mark Farner and Chuck Negron when needed), do NOT leave the stage except for intermission, and when they need to get out of Mark Volman's way. (Go see!) Applause, gentlemen! Your job is the best, and maybe worst, rolled into one.
It is a HOT show! Go see it!
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
On first glance, Mark Farner and Mitch Ryder may seem like unlikely choices for this year's Happy Together line-up. (Farner might fit in better with "Hippiefest", another Flo and Eddie / Turtles mainstay ... although it's REALLY hard to classify the music of Grand Funk Railroad these days.) Typically, the Happy Together Tour has always taken on more of a "feel good" / "pop" motiff, so they've definitely "rocked things up" a bit this year by adding Farner and Ryder to the equation.
Grand Funk Railroad were one of the original hard rock bands, selling ZILLIONS of albums back in the late '60's and early '70's (at one point, right up there ... and surpassing ... The Beatles for Capitol Records.) Their first eleven albums went gold and platinum several times over. (There was a time when you never heard Grand Funk Railroad and Black Sabbath mentioned without one another ... and then Led Zeppelin came along and all of a sudden the whole world was rockin' a little harder!)
But the BIG hits didn't come until they went "pop" with "We're An American Band", a #1 Single in 1973. Their cover of "The Loco-Motion" (alo a #1 Single) came from as far out of left field as a band could stray ... and today about the only things you still hear by these guys are those two #1 Hits and "Some Kind Of Wonderful" ... but they also recorded a whole bunch of OTHER great music that deserves a spin now and then. (I love their version of "Feelin' All-Right" for example ... and "Closer To Home" is a Classic Rock Classic.) Other early album rock tracks like "Heartbreaker" and "Mean Mistreater" ... soulful takes like "Footstompin' Music" and "Rock And Roll Soul" ... legitimate hits like "Walk Like A Man" and "Shinin' On" and "Bad Time" and credible covers like "Gimme Shelter", "Parnoid", "Inside Looking Out" and the aforementioned "Feelin' All Right" are all undeservedly ignored by classic rock aradio today ... these guys were HUGE!!! ... and breaking their entire career down to a couple of pop hits like "We're An American Band" and "The Loco-Motion" doesn't do them justice. (I'm hoping Farner will play at least a few other favorites in his brief set list when we get to see them later this month.)
Mitch Ryder's been back on the oldies circuit for a few years now, doing a number of shows (most notably along with Paul Revere and the Raiders and their "Where The Action Is" series). Mitch had a real knack for working out some interesting medleys back in the day ... yet here again his career seems have been narrowed down to the occasional playing of "Devil With A Blue Dress On" by ignorant radio programmers across the country. (For a closer look at just how big these artists really were, scroll back to our posting from last Tuesday, July 29th, where we recapped the Composite Top 40 Hits of all five head-liners ... an impressive list to say the least.
As for Gary Lewis, you're not likely to hear him singing "Sealed With A Kiss" anytime soon ... it's his LEAST favorite record that he ever made. (We probably have a better chance of convincing Howard Kaylan to give "You Know What I Mean" one more spin than we do of getting Gary to resurrect this one!) Listening to it now is pretty painful ... I'm still surprised they let that one go, as foff-key as it is. But no worries ... he's got plenty of OTHER Top 40 Hits to draw from ... including "This Diamond Ring", "Count Me", "Save Your Heart For Me", "Everybody Loves A Clown", "She's Just My Style", "Sure Gonna Miss Her" and "Green Grass", seven straight Top Ten Hits released between January of 1965 and May of 1966. Famous dad or not, these are all GREAT hit records!
I know what you mean about these short sets ... and I swear it feels like they've grown even shorter these past few years during The Happy Together Shows. Even The Turtles themselves come and go so quickly. (Perhaps it's that old adage "Leave 'em wanting more" ... and let's face it, you can always go check out The Turtles and/or Chuck Negron in solo shows and get more bang for your buck ... although a $59 ticket to see five superstars like this in one show is really pretty remarkable!)
I would love to hear Chuck Negron do a full-blown set of Three Dog Night hits ... maybe even some of the over-looked album tracks that he's become so well know for. After seeing the Cory and Danny show a few times now these past couple of years, I'm ready for a full-on Chuck Negron version of the Three Dog Night catalog.
And TheTurtles are always fun, no matter how many times you've seen them. These guys just have a good time up there ... and take the audience along for a ride. Even after 45 years of hit-making schtick, it still never gets old. HIGHLY recommended!
Thank you, Shelley ... you have REALLY whet my appetite to see this show! (kk)
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