'You Know What I Mean' is a personal fave of mine too! Mike
Hi Kent,
You Know What I Mean is my Fav Turtles tune also. Elenore is a great one as well, and I always thought it was done with a giant sense of humor. Sometimes the audience gets the joke.
Bill
Here's what I'm hoping happens here ... the mere mention (and featuring) of one of our favorite Turtles songs ... a #12 hit yet largely overlooked by both radio and the band itself ... sparked at least a dozen responses, all singing the praises of this forgotten gem.
MAYBE Howard and Mark will read some of these and think to themselves ... "Well, if the FANS love it, then maybe we should start doing it again" ... I mean it was, after all, a HUGE hit in 1967.
MAYBE (between the now 200+ disc jockeys we have on the list) some of the more ASTUTE ones will think "Wow, CLEARLY this is a fan favorite ... I need to dig that one out and play it again" ... and spark a whole NEW audience to respond in kind, after being treated to this long forgotten track.
Can we change the world? No, probably not ... but we ARE doing our part to "Save The Oldies" ... even if it's only one song at a time! (kk)
re: FIRST 45's:
If you're scoring at home, the first 45 I ever bought - and still have - is Chuck Berry's phenomenal "Rock And Roll Music", purchased when Ike was in office. I still cringe whenever I hear The Beach Boys lame 1976 cover of that song. But, I break out in hives when I hear the genius of Chuck Berry covering the God-awful "My Ding a Ling." If someone can explain to me just how the hell that song was the St. Louis Tiger's only number one hit, please contact me on facebook or through Forgotten Hits.
Chet Coppock
>>>In today's FH as well in past FH, one discussed his first 45. Well, this got me to thinking. Does anyone remember their last 45 they bought? For example, I can't really remember the last 45 I bought, but it was the year 1989 that I ceased to buy 45 rpm records as we knew them. I won't go into the reason or reasons why I quit, but to be honest with you, I really haven't missed all that much, in my opinion. (Larry)
Considering the fact that I am STILL buying 45's at record shows and on ebay, as of right this very minute the last 45 I have bought was a copy of Light Bulb by the Five Kings on the Columbia label. The last "newly pressed" 45 I bought was the song 7 to 10 by a group called The Right Now. The last newly pressed LP I bought was the recently released album, Minute By Minute by the James Hunter Six.
Tom Diehl
I kinda thought the same thing ... I am STILL buying 45's as I need them (but naturally they're all older, original pressings.) New 45's pretty much ceased to exist (in the mainstream market anyway) in the early '90's. However, I have bought a couple of "limited edition" new vinyl pressings ... a couple that immediately come to mind were shipped by Rhino in conjunction with the purchase of one of those Monkees collectors CD box sets. And brand new 45's are being pressed (by some pretty significant artists) each year for "Record Day", too. (kk)
First 45's is clearly one of our most popular features. You could spend hours (if not DAYS) catching up on some of the postings on our website:
Scott Shannon brought our series to the airwaves a few years ago on The True Oldies Channel ... and we've recently been talking with Lou Simon of Sirius / XM about grabbing the baton and carrying it forward as a brand new feature on "'60's On 6" ... we'll let you know how things develop. (We've also put together a Fourth of July Special for the station ... more details to come.) Meanwhile, keep watching the website for news on how YOU can get a 30-Day Free Trial to Sirius / XM Satellite Radio. More variety ... and no commercials ... and music dedicated to the decade WE love most (along with hundreds of OTHER channels to choose from, too!) Stay tuned! (kk)
re: ON THE RADIO:
I listened to Boss Radio a few different times throughout the day and really did enjoy it. It somewhat reminded me of when I lived in Milwaukee back in the sixties. Late at night if you turned the transistor radio just the right way you could pick up WLS. We had WOKY in Milwaukee but we thought we were in the big time listening to WLS. Based on what you write about WLS now I guess it's greatness is a thing of the past ... good times.
Stacee
Between Boss Radio and Rewound Radio, we've been in oldies heaven of late. I had Rewound Radio on at work the other day and the whole office was jammin'! And Boss Radio makes for an interesting substitute. And of course I'm always switching over to Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel, too. (Now if I can get XM60's back on my computer, life will almost be tolerable again!) kk
Another great internet radio station is kyaradio.com. They play a lot of songs I haven't heard in years. KYA is one of the Top 40 stations I grew up with in the Bay Area back in the day.
Thanks for all your hard work, Kent!
Carol
Hi Kent,
I am so enjoying Rewound Radio. Thank you so much for introducing me to that fabulous station.
Bill
re: DIGGIN' FORGOTTEN HITS:
The day I ask you to stop sending me your list is the day they put the wreath on the door
>>>Here's what I'm hoping happens here ... the mere mention (and featuring) of one of our favorite Turtles songs, "You Know What I Mean", a #12 hit yet largely overlooked by both radio and the band itself, sparked at least a dozen responses, all singing the praises of this forgotten gem. Who knows ... just MAYBE Howard and Mark will read some of these and think to themselves ... "Well, if the FANS love it, then maybe we should start doing it again" ... I mean it was, after all, a HUGE hit. (kk) Howard, Just add it to the Woodstock Fair in CT and I will go home happy. Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano
Kent, Loved the Walter Brennan "Old Rivers" tune -- a song from the day when the lyrics and tunes were pleasant -- any chance of this being covered today by Lil Jon and calling it "Old Rivers, bitch"? Peace, Tim Kiley
Probably not ... but The Lettermen placed their tongues firmly in their collective cheeks and had a little fun with this one back in the day ... here's a clip courtesy of Gary Pike, former Letterman. The single was officially released by Tony, Bob and Jimmy ... check it out! (kk)
These cool crooners played around in the studio and came up with a funny parody of the Walter Brennan hit "OLD RIVERS". The other side was a spoof on "DUTCHMAN'S GOLD", too. Can't say they had no sense of humor! TONY BUTALA, BOB ENGEMANN and JIMMY PIKE ... otherwise known as "THE LETTERMEN".
Jim Pike and Bobby Engemann are the only ones on the record. Jim and Bob were messing around in the studio one day impersonating Walter Brennan and doing a parody of Old Rivers when Nick Venet, their producer, loved it and decided to record it. When the record was first pressed up it said Jim and Bob, but Capitol later included Tony for some reason. Jim starts off as the Brennan charactor and Bobby answers as the son. Bobby recently passed away from complication of heart surgery.
Gary
Kent ...
I watched the first showing of Beverly Hills Pawn. I can understand the other Pawn shows (Detroit & Las Vegas). It seems odd to me that you can afford to live in Beverly Hills and still have to resort to pawning items that you own. A guy brought in a Doors keyboard played by Ray Manzarek. The guy wanted $300,000 for it. After the young lady who worked there explained to the owner who the Doors were, he offered $100,000. He pointed out that if it was played by Jim Morrison it would be worth more. The customer took the $100,000. A young lady came in with some jewelry. She wanted $300 for it. The owner explained to her that it was worth $80,000 and gave her a check for that amount.
I can't help thinking that if she was talking to the Detroit or Las Vegas guy it would've turned out differently.
Frank B.
LOL ... yep, that'd be my guess, too. First he'd talk her down to $150 ... and then turn around and sell the jewels for $150 Grand! (kk)
As far as Pat Boone goes: his 'April Love' and 'Love Letters in the Sand' make me tremble. And that's enough for me.
Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano
Kent, The Bowery Boys were mentioned in regards to the Beatles' Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Kent, I know this has nothing to do directly with FH, but I don't know about you, but I always enjoyed the Bowery Boys' movies seeing them on television. Would you believe just last night I watched their 1943 Movie on DVD THE BOWERY BOYS MEETS THE MONSTERS. I sure felt sorry for the Monsters. Finally, concerning the records of Pat Boone, one of his bigger records here in OKC was his 1966 WISH YOU WERE HERE, BUDDY peaking at #5 in November of that year. Larry
"Wish You Were Here, Buddy" isn't a bad Pat Boone tune ... it hit #18 here in Chicago ... but still wouldn't make my list of songs worth recycling to a new audience. (kk)
Regarding artists and autographs, please, folks, bring in one or maybe two items to get signed and leave it at that. IMO, if there are a bunch of us waiting it's incredibly rude both to the artists and to all the fans if you bring in everything you own, expecting to get it signed.
Of course if you are bringing it in, just so they can have a look, that's something else. Just don't slow up that line.
In a band I was in back in the 70's, we had the pleasure of being an opening act for various folk. Gotta say B.J. Thomas was one of the nicest guys. We got done and he came in to our dressing room and told us what a great job we did and chatted for a few minutes before e went on stage.
We also did a show with Frankie Valli. I have always been a Four Seasons fan, so was totally excited to do that show. He was the total opposite of BJ. I have just always chose to believe that maybe he was having an off night? Interestingly enough, When we did the show with Mr. Thomas, his band wasn't very friendly, and when we did the show with Mr. Valli, his band was incredibly friendly.
Bill
Hiya Kent ...
I'm still here. And this SUNDAY, will be my 60th birthday (and Father's Day) and I'll be doing the "Big Jay Big Birthjay Bash" on the overnight show late Saturday Night / Sunday morning starting at 1 am ET.
I'll be taking greetings and playing the FATHERS of Rock & Roll all night. Just wanted you to know I'm still kickin' on WCBS-FM 101.1 in NYC and www.wcbsfm.com ... plus with the smartphone app at Radio.com.
BE BIG!
Jay
Hey if you're up late and partying, be sure to tune in and catch Big Jay Sorensen Sunday Morning ... and Happy Birthday, big guy! (60's right around the corner for me, too!) kk
Just listened to the Paul Anka rant ... WOW! ... I do understand where he is coming from though. He says it several times ..."I'm the only one on that stage" ... It's his name, his reputation, his talent, his career, his life. He needs all of the people behind the scenes but ultimately it all begins and ends with him. His integrity dictates that he gives the paying public their money's worth and for him that is a flawless performance.
Sounds to me like Joe may have been through one or two of these rants before, hence the no show.
In summation, I have three words for Paul ... NO WIRE HANGERS!!!
Stacee
Hey Kent,
Listening to Paul Anka’s rant at the band makes me chuckle and reminds me of when we were doing a show with him and others. Each performer was given an hour before the show to rehearse with the house band. About a half hour into our rehearsal in walks Anka, strutting up and crowing to us saying: Time to get out of here ... I need to rehearse with the band now! Jim says: We have half an hour left and we need it. Anka says (with a voice very much like on the tape): DO YOU KNOW WHO THE @*#% I AM??? NOW GET OUT OF HERE!!! Jim says, yeah, you're Napoleon ... and if you don’t leave now, I’m gonna plant my fist right in your face. Anka left.
I still don’t why Jim wanted to record “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” (1968), which was a modest hit for us. Maybe Anka made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. NOT! Later after the song was off the charts, Paul Anka called our manager and thanked us for doing it. He said he really needed it at the time. Now go figure.
re: INTERESTING: Kent, Quite by accident, I came across your post of Wednesday, October 27, 2010, regarding the captioned tune. I know I’ve heard the Homer and Jethro version of this song. However, I wanted to tell you that my ex-wife’s father was a survivor (now gone on to his reward) of the D-Day invasion at Normandy. He claimed that the lyrics of this song were allegedly inspired by a less humorous poem, written by another D-Day survivor, commemorating the mind-numbing horror of the invasion, shortly after the experience.
That poem goes like this:
‘Twas on the beach at midnight, Not a streetcar was in sight. The rain and snow fell gently,
For it rained all day that night.
‘Twas in that summer snow storm,
When the rain fell down like glass
That a barefoot boy with boots on
Stood sitting on his ass.
Knowing the context puts a different spin on the words.
I have no way of knowing whether that story is true, but maybe someone else out there does. It seems totally possible to me that someone put together the “Be kind to your web-footed friends” chorus from summer camp or Cub Scout sing-alongs with a sanitized version of the above poem and came up with one of those versatile, well-written tunes that no one ever forgets. Meanwhile, the heroes of D-Day are gone, but never forgotten. Wil Coté Buffalo, NY It wouldn't surprise me at all that somebody took this clever idea, expanded on it, added a catchy chorus and ... whalla ... invented a brand new tune. I've told this story a couple of times before hoping SOMEBODY out there could corroborate it ... and to this day, nobody ever has ... but I saw and heard this with my own eyes and ears and it has never left me. 40+ years ago I was working with a guy at a small printing company in Oak Park when "American Pie" came on the radio for the very first time ... by that I mean the song was brand new ... they may have been playing it for a week or so ... but the guy I worked with (a guy named Earl whose last name escapes me now) didn't listen to Top 40 music ... he was a country guy all the way ... so HE was hearing the song for the very first time ... and halfway through the tune he said "I can't believe they did that ... made a song out of that." Because this song was so new (and all the in-depth discussions about all the song's hidden meanings and symbolism hadn't really come into focus yet) I knew he must have heard something ELSE that triggered this reaction. I asked him what he meant. "We used to sing this up at the hunting lodge all the time" ... and he proceeded to sing along with the chorus verbatim ... "Bye, bye, Miss American Pie ... took my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry ..." the WHOLE deal! I have always wondered in Don McLean was also familiar with this sing-along chorus and built his whole song around it. If so, I've never heard him reveal it ... but the reaction of my coworker was genuine ... there's got to be SOMETHING to it! (kk)
Hey Kent, This past Saturday (6/1) I tuned in to the Rewound Radio air check from 1963 with Dick Clark. Who says you can never go back! Two and a half hours of radio paradise. The energy, the variety of music, the jingles, the voice of a “Live” DJ. Unbelievable entertainment and all you had to do was turn your radio on. Remember this was Pre-British Invasion. Once the “Brits” landed, these bands took radio to a whole new level. As a nine year old, I couldn’t wait to hear another new song by another new band from across the pond. “Sorry”, got off track a little. Anyway, about one hour and thirty five minutes into the broadcast they played a song (with a female lead singer), unfortunately I missed the song title and name of the group. However Dick did say, “How’s that for arrogance”, referring to the song title. Hopefully one of the readers could help me out. “Thanks” so much for taking me and all your readers back to a wonderful time and place when radio and the music that was played actually mattered. Gary I didn't hear that particular broadcast ... but I'm betting somebody else on the list did ... or maybe Allan Sniffen himself can answer this one!!! Alan??? (kk)
Wow! That was my first impression when I found your site. Finding you is like ... well, finding a Forgotten Oldie. I am compiling my list of the Top 200 Instrumentals of all time. I am using Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual, 8th Edition book. So far I have 162 songs which takes me through Instrumentals that Charted 16 or higher. I am using the same point system that Joel uses. Do you know if such a list already exists? I would like to do a comparison. Keep up the great work. Larry, (Mr. O.B.G.) Oldies But Goodies Randy Price put our list together based on chart information he collected while compiling the Super Charts, a consensus of all of the chart collecting information at the time ... but we didn't do 200. (Hopefully you DID see our Top 50 List!) Click here: Forgotten Hits - Top 40 Instrumentals, 1955 - 1979 (If you're using a larger target base than 1955 - 1979 ... a 25 year period ... I'm not sure how much this list will help you ... but it should be good for comparison's sake if nothing else.) Randy is also the genius behind the new series of CD's being released featuring EVERY charted Instrumental Hit of the '60's. They're being released one year at a time and are as complete and comprehensive as can be. If you're a fan, you'll definitely want to check these out. (Visit Amazon.com for more information.) Meanwhile, if any other chartaholics out there have some lists to share, let us know and we'll connect you with Larry. (kk)
Here's one we never solved ... maybe somebody else out there knows??? Hi, I came across your website when trying to find information about the Youngtones. I'm very impressed and added you to my favourites for a definite look back later in the week. I have a track credited to the Youngtones entitled Come On Baby but can find no sign of it mentioned in any discography I have seen on the band. Do you have anything that you could help me with? I'm researching for my weekly radio programme and thank you for any assistance you may be able to offer. Many thanks Kind regards, Ian Bell TD1 Radio.com Scotland UK
We ran this inquiry about six months ago ... I even forwarded a copy to Jocco of The Youngtones, who has participated with Forgotten Hits in the past, but never heard anything back. Maybe some of our astute readers can help us out with this one??? (kk)
Hi Kent, I have just stumbled across your web site. For thirty years I have been searching for a song from my childhood. I thought it was from the very early 60s and I thought it was called "I've Got A Doggie Named Reno. Now I think it must be called "A Doggie Called Leroy" by Tom Paxton. However, I still can't find the song. Can you help? Regards, Brent I couldn't find anything on this one ... so let's put it out there. My guess is that SOMEBODY will know it. (kk) You know, googling around a bit, this song apparently has come up in Forgotten Hits, several, several, several times ... mostly in December of 2009. And, in one instance, you DID post the song (though the link is no longer active) ... as well as a promotional ad for the record. As far as I can determine, Tom Paxton never recorded the song in this variation ... however it was cut by Norma Tracey & The Cinderella Kids and was simply titled Leroy. Strangely enough, the record label says the song was written by Billy Jackson (who did a lot of work with the Tymes and other Cameo Parkway artists) and Jimmy Wisner, and I'd bet if other versions of the song exist, Jimmy Wisner would know. Tom Diehl
LOL ... I just LOVE it when I'm searching and googling for something and Forgotten Hits comes up as the source! (lol) I can't tell you how many times this has happened. Over the years it seems like we've covered EVERYTHING at one time or another ... literally THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of topics ... no way I can possibly remember them all (especially something that wasn't all that familiar to me in the first place!) Hopefully this is it ... I sent a copy of the track to Brent ... let's see what comes back. Thanks, Tom! (kk) Hi， Yesthis is it! Thank you so much. Iwill make a karaoke sing-along, once I have worked out all the lyrics. Thanks again - Brent
Here are a couple of rarities ... 1) "It Was A Sad Day" -- R Stones 2) "She Got A Nose Job" -- flexible 45 inside a Mad magazine! Rich Fairbrother Portsmouth NH The Mad Magazine Flexi-Disc I most remember is "It's A Gas"! (We've featured that one quite a few times before!) kk
>>>Talking about bizarre, rare novelty songs, here's one I haven't featured in ages ... a #23 Hit here in Chicago in 1967 by Bent Bolt that never even charted nationally ... "The Mechanical Man"! (By the way, although the WLS Silver Dollar Survey showed the artist for this song as "Ben Bolt" for a least a week or two ... and Ron Smith's book lists him as the same ... the ACTUAL 45 was released by BENT Bolt (and the Nuts) ... another clever "mechanical" tie-in. Here's a copy of that rare picture sleeve, part of my collection for YEARS!!!) I've read in a couple of places that the artist who recorded this song was actually Teddy Randazzo, who had already placed a few records on the WLS Chart under his own name ... perhaps helping his cause in getting this oddity aired at the station. (The fact that this single was released on the MGM Record Label helps lend some credence to this supposition ... although it's still kinda hard to believe that the guy who wrote classics like "Goin' Out Of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad" for Little Anthony and the Imperials would also come up with this bit of dreck! lol) kk As far as I know, that Bent Bolt And The Nuts single is definitely Teddy Randazzo (and if it's not, he had a hand in its creation either writing or producing it). There's a different Mechanical Man record I like by a guy named Jack Merlin, and the last time I played it on my show, I segued into Automated Man by Artie Wayne on the Smash record label ... two more great songs. Tom Diehl I was too lazy and pressed for time to pull the record out last weekend ... but now I had to see for myself if the label mentioned anything about Teddy Randazzo's involvement. The A-Side ("The Mechanical Man" says "Produced by C.L.C.L. Productions for Teddy Randazzo Productions but does not credit Teddy in any way as the artist or songwriter. (Songwriting credit goes to C. Astone, C. Mastren, L. Burgio and M. Gartman) However the B-Side of the record is a song called "Sweet And Sour" and shows the artist as Teddy Randazzo, so I'd have o agree that Teddy had involvement in SOME fashion. As for your suggestions, I really like that Jack Merlin track ... it's got a fun, sorta rock-a-billy feel to it. (Artie's song I already knew of course!) But all this talk inspired me to dig out the Jerry Mathers' track "Wind-Up Toy". (Jerry, of course, played Beaver Cleaver on the old "Leave It To Beaver" television series!) kk
Kent, I've been trying to find "Sweet Mary" by Brewer & Shipley. I can only find a couple of their disc online, and that song isn't on there. I heard it in the movie "Grass". Hope all is well- have a great day! Ed Pond
I don't know "Sweet Mary" by Brewer and Shipley ... but right around that same time they were hitting the charts, there was a song with title that became a big hit for Wadsworth Mansion. (I'm guessing that maybe it's the same song??? And maybe the reason you haven't had any luck tracking it down is because you're searching for it under the wrong artist!) Give a listen to this and let me know. (kk) Duh! Now I remember. Wadsworth Mansion. Thanks! Ed
Wadsworth Mansion was a one hit wonder band out of Los Angeles, CA, consisting of brothers Mike (drums) and Steve (keyboards, guitar and lead vocals) Jablecki along with Wayne Gagnon (lead guitar) and John Poole (bass). "Sweet Mary" climbed all the way to #7 in Billboard Magazine right as winter was turning into spring in 1971 ... and they pretty much disappeared after that. (It performed even better in Cash Box and Record World, peaking at #5 in both publications ... yet, despite its Top Ten status, you rarely hear "Sweet Mary" anymore ... and that's a shame because this is a REAL catchy tune.) Here in Chicago it went all the way to #2. (Here's hoping we've inspired a jock or two on the list to feature this one today ... a GREAT Forgotten Hit!)
I have a question regarding Sonny Geraci. Is he still in coma or out of it or what? I have not seen anything on the Internet and I was just wondering have you heard anything, Stephanie Campbell, a fan We haven't had an update in awhile now ... but last we heard, Sonny was doing great! Making a REMARKABLE recovery after a couple of major brain surgeries. His daughter shared the news with us by way of Dennis Tufano ... but you're right, we haven't heard any news in quite a while ... so I guess we'll have to ask for an update ourselves! (kk)
ROAD TRIP: We've got some traveling to do this weekend so we'll be out of pocket for a few days ... but will catch up with all of you next week. E-MAIL REMINDERS: Remember, if you would like to sign up for periodic email reminders about recent postings to our web page, you MUST send me an email requesting this service. We are COMPLETELY revamping our mailing list ... so if you'd like to be included, just shoot me an email at forgottenhits@aol.com ... and we'll be happy to add you to the list.
Well, we're right back where we started from ... Featuring The Eagles' version this time around. Hope you enjoyed our Day in the City ... LOTS of great stops along the way. Thanks to everybody who tagged along today.
Kent -- As far as I know, Tom Paxton wrote a song called "My Dog's Bigger Than Your Dog," which was slightly modified and and used in a Ken-L-Ration dogfood commercial. I had an MP3 of Paxton's song once, but I can't find it now. However, it's on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJt0inKFBAo As is the Ken-L-Ration commercial, adapted somewhat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi84maqHgxg The bridge vocals are left out in that version, and in the short form of the commercial, where's there's a voiceover instead. The bridge is: Ken-L-Ration has real red meat And lots of other good things. When my mom goes to the store She buys a million cans or more! The Wikipedia page says that one of the kids singing the original jingle was a young Richard Marx, whose father, marketer Dick Marx, wrote the lyrics. In 1965, Norma Tracey and the Cinderella Kids got on Bubblers with a de-Ken-L-Rationed version called Leroy. She may have been the youngest artist ever to chart. I thought I had an article about that, but that's turned up missing. I believe I sent it to you in 2009; not sure. But I love novelty songs and that's one of my all-time favorites. -- 73 -- -- Jeff Duntemann Colorado Springs, Colorado
That Mad Magazine paper flexi disc of She Got A Nose Job was by Mike Russo And The Dellwoods. It was one of the songs included on one of the two albums of "Mad Magazine" songs put out by Big Top Records which are both actually quite good ... From http://bsnpubs.com/nyc/bigtop/bigtop.html : Big Top 12-1305 - Mad "Twists" Rock & Roll - Various Artists [1962] (7-62, #108) Artists are Geanne Hayes, Mike Russo, and The Dellwoods. "The Pretzel" and "Agnes The Teenage Russian Spy" were issued on a 45 in November, 1961 as by The Sweet Sick Teens (RCA 7940). Throwing The High School Basketball Game / She Got A Nose Job / Please Betty Jane Shave Your Legs / Somebody Else's Dandruff On My Lover Baby's Shirt / Blind Date Yaaaaaaahhh! / Agnes The Teenage Russian Spy / Let's Do The Pretzel And End Up Like One / Even If I Live To Be 22, I'll Always Remember Being Young / He Fell In Love With Me When My Pimples Turned To Dimples / She's A Serious (Yeah Yeah) Teenager In Love / All I Have Left Is My Johnny's Hubcap / I Found Her Telephone Number Written On The Boy's Bathroom Wall Big Top 12-1306 - Fink Along With Mad - Various Artists [1962] Let's Do The Fink / I'll Never Make Fun Of Her Moustache Again / The Biggest Mouth In Town/Her Dad's Got Money Cha Cha Cha / I Accidentally Messed Up His Hair / It's A Gas / Don't Put Onions On Your Hamburger / Loving A Siamese Twin / She Lets Me Watch Her Mom And Pop Fight / When The Braces On Our Teeth Lock / Contact Lenses / The Neighborhood Draft Board / Mad Extra -- Tom Diehl
Here's another good one ... Sidecar cycle by Charlie Ryan. Rich F A low-charting, Billboard-only hit, "Side Car Cycle" peaked at #84 in 1960 as the follow-up to Charlie's version of "Hot Rod Lincoln". (kk)
re: NEW STUFF: New York, NY (June 11, 2013)— On July 9, 2013, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Live At Montreux 2006 by Solomon Burke on DVD, CD, and Digital Audio [Pre-book Order Date June 21, MSRP $14.98 DVD, $13.98 CD]. Described by Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records as “the greatest male soul singer of all time,” Burke had his greatest success in the first half of the sixties but carried on performing right up until his death in 2010. Solomon Burke played at Montreux several times in the 2000s and was always popular with the festival crowd. This performance from 2006 showcases his magnificent voice, his humor and his spirituality on a selection of classic Soul, Gospel and Blues songs for the ultimate goodtime party! This was one of the last Solomon Burke performances to be filmed and features many classic hits including: “Cry To Me,” “Got To Get You Off My Mind,” “Down In The Valley,” “He’ll Have To Go,” “Don’t Give Up On Me,” “None Of Us Are Free,” “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love,” and many more. The line-up for this show featured, Solomon Burke (vocals); Sam Mayfield (lead guitar); Moyes Lucas (drums); Milard Jackson (keyboards); Jack Guitar (rhythm guitar); Stony Dixon (bass); Daniel Moretto (trumpet); Joshua Lempkins (trombone); Carl Vickers (trumpet, saxophone); Pierre Paolo Valero (alto saxophone); Kiana Reese (backing vocals) and Candy Burke (backing vocals). Solomon Burke was one of the pioneers of Soul music in the late fifties and early sixties, blending R&B, Gospel and Blues to create a new and distinctive sound that would be the dominant force in black music through to the mid-seventies. Live At Montreux 2006 is a great way to remember him.
Hey Kent,
Thought that your subscribers would be interested in knowing that Ace Records has released a rather unusual CD, "Paul Evans". It includes TWO 60's LPs of mine, "Folk Songs of Many Lands" (Carlton Records - 1961) and "21 Years in a Tennessee Jail" (Kapp Records - 1964).
I'm really excited. These two original albums had me reaching back to my roots - Folk and Country / Folk. Here's an excerpt from the Ace booklet: "I grew up listening topopular music with my family, singingfolk songs at hootenannies and learning to love country music by listening with my buddies to Barkin With Larkin, an AM country radio show. For my high school variety shows, I chose two Caribbean folk songs made popular by Harry Belafonte. But those loves of my life were only the beginning for me. It was the southern rockabilly artists that had me running to the Brill Building, the pop music Mecca in the heart of New York City. That musical trichotomy – folk, country and pop – has haunted me my whole recording career long." Paul
CASEY PATRICK TEBO DIRECTS FIRST AEROSMITH MOVIE IN NINE YEARS, ROCK FOR THE RISING SUN “It’s very hard to get films made nowadays, so I thought, the one way to have a film made, is to just make it, and ask questions later.” -Casey Patrick Tebo
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
New York, NY (June 17, 2013)—Aerosmith's latest concert film, Rock for the Rising Sun, will be released via Eagle Rock Entertainment on July 23rd. The group's connection with Japan began in 1977, when the band first played to capacity crowds in the Far East. And as evidenced by Rock for the Rising Sun, the band-fan bond remains strong to this day. The director behind the release, Casey Patrick Tebo, is well-versed in not only his 'smith (he directed their music video for "Legendary Child"), but has also worked with such renowned acts as Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Stevie Nicks, Lady Antebellum, The Avett Brothers, and Run-DMC, among countless others. Tebo first began working with Aerosmith in 2006, when Steven Tyler and Tebo met through a colleague, and the singer invited the up-and-coming director (who was in film school at the time) to shoot a few of the band's shows -- for just the band's personal viewing. Soon after, the band was so impressed with Tebo's work that they hired him to start directing their live shows.
Fast forward to 2011, and Aerosmith was hard at work on their 15th studio album, Music from Another Dimension!, but took a break from recording to play shows in Latin America and Japan. Sadly, the Japanese dates occurred not long after tragedy struck the region, as the country experienced a massive earthquake, a monstrous tsunami, and the subsequent meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear plant. Despite warnings about possibly being exposed to radiation, Aerosmith and crew, including Tebo braved the risks and followed through with their visit to Japan. "I shot all this stuff and interviewed all these fans, and realized there is a love affair between Aerosmith and the Japanese fans that was like nothing I'd ever seen, states Tebo.“It was almost like Aerosmith was there helping people heal." What Tebo was able to create is a film that not only captures Aerosmith at their rocking best, but also, shows the group's human side away from the spotlight. "I captured all this stuff, and when I got home to the States, I was like, 'I know I can make something of this, I'm just going to start putting something together.' While Steven and Joe were in LA, making an album with Jack Douglas, I rented out a theater, and emailed Steven and Joe, saying, 'I need you guys to come to this theater. I've got to show you something.' I played them the whole movie, and when the movie was over, Joe stood up, walked over to me, hugged me, and was like, 'That was f-ing amazing, unbelievable.' And Steven was really emotional as well." Tebo is confident that Rock for the Rising Sun matches up well to Aerosmith's earlier classic home video releases. "There was a part of me - as a fan - loving these guys and seeing them live, that said, 'Man, I would love other people to see this as well.'" Soon, fans will get to experience the legendary Aerosmith through the revealing lens of Casey Patrick Tebo. “Steven and Joe once taught me a great lesson in life, it’s called “Dare to Suck” – it means, if you don’t have the balls to just go and do something then you’ll never know what great thing you might have missed out on. This movie was my ‘Dare to Suck’ moment.” Tebo is currently in pre-production on his first narrative feature film, and has since directed other large-scale television productions, most recently CMT’s “Crossroads.” Website: http://www.caseytebo.com/
Ray Manzarek & Roy Rogers 'Twisted Tales' CD Now Available! “In our last meeting together before his passing, Ray and I were both very excited about the upcoming release of ‘Twisted Tales’. We signed off on the artwork and agreed that it should be released sooner than later. So, honoring that decision, I have proceeded with the release. We both were proud of this recording and hope that people enjoy it. This recording is dedicated to Ray’s memory” - Roy Rogers Nevada City, CA - Ray Manzarek and Roy Rogers have received no shortage of kudos since they first recorded together five years ago. Ray Manzarek’s signature keyboard sound was a cornerstone of The Doors - one of the most iconic rock bands of the 60’s. An inductee into the R&R Hall of Fame - he certainly needs no introduction. In the pantheon of music, The Doors’ music continues to be one of the most revered rock song catalogs of any band. Slide guitarist Roy Rogers has been lauded not only for his own recordings but for his long-time collaboration with harmonica master Norton Buffalo as well as his producing of 4 CD projects for blues icon John Lee Hooker and folk legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. He is well known worldwide for his mastery of slide guitar and has received 8 Grammy nominations for his work as artist and producer. www.manzarekrogersband.com http://www.roy-rogers.com In 2011 Manzarek-Rogers released ‘Translucent Blues’- a blues-rock collection of songs tinged with poetry and literary references. The project reached #1 on the Americana Roots chart and debuted at #6 on the Billboard blues chart. The lyrical contributions came from such diverse co-writers as Jim Carroll, Warren Zevon and poet Michael McClure, among others. ‘Twisted Tales’ draws from some of those same writers to tell very different stories. Featured musicians are Kevin Hayes on drums, formerly with the Robert Cray Band; Steve Evans on bass who has performed with the Elvin Bishop Band; and George Brooks on saxophones, who has performed with John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain. The new release is a collaboration of keyboard and guitar sounds that merge with stories, images and art. These two amazing musicians create an intoxicating; plush sound that is - more than unique. Manzarek and Rogers are seemingly an odd pairing - but their new recording unleashes a stunning musical landscape for the listener - this music will ‘take you for a ride’… There is a full-length documentary film to be released examining their unique collaboration and friendship in depth this fall. ‘Twisted Tales’ is destined to become a classic, not only as Ray Manzarek’s last recording, but also as a definitive work of two great artists. Available at www.manzarekrogersband.com/ Amazon and iTunes and retailers nationwide.
re: ROUTE 66 RADIO TOUR: WRLR's Bish Krywko shared a couple more photos (and even a little bit of audio) with us from their recent Historic Route 66 Radio Tour ...
Hi Kent. Well, we survived the Route 66 Radio Tour. Pictured at the starting point at Lou Mitchell's in Chicago is (l to r) Geoff Kemp from Forest FM in the U.K., John Records Landecker of WLS FM,Bish Krywko of WRLR, Paul Peters of Forest FM and (sitting) Paul Lepek of WRLR. Bish
Ray Shasho: How was your classic hit, “Born to Be Wild” conceived? John Kay: “It was just five of us playing in the garage below this little crackerjack apartment that my newly wedded wife and I occupied in Hollywood, and we were kicking around some songs that I had written or co-written with band members. Our drummer one day showed up with a cassette tape that his brother had given him, and on it was “Born to Be Wild.” Mars Bonfire recorded it in the evening …he lived in a place that he couldn’t make any noise, and I think it was recorded with just a Telecaster guitar and it was very low-keyed … very low-energy. Our drummer Jerry Edmonton, Mars brother said, “Why don’t we just kick it around?” So we did, and actually it came to life relatively quickly once we picked a key. But it was just one of eleven songs that we recorded on our first album.” “Nobody picked it as the undeniable hit or whatever; it was in fact the third single on the album released. The album was already in the top five nationally in 1968 before “Born to Be Wild” was released. But once “Born to Be Wild” came out in the summer of ’68, obviously when it became so successful it was all over the country on AM-Hit radio, so we kind of had that double barrel of success, meaning the album was being played almost in its entirety on the so-called “underground” newly formed FM radio stations, while “Born to Be Wild” was played on Top 40 stations. So it kind of built our fan base as a result of those two exposures.”
Ray Shasho: Of course you co-wrote “Magic Carpet Ride,” so that tune had to be extremely lucrative for you, royalties-wise. John Kay:“It did, it certainly was the gift that keeps on giving. But I actually … I guess it’s been about two years now …cashed out. I sold every last right and master recordings, everything that I was on administrative and income level that was associated with the music industry. I saw the writing on the wall sort of speak; the industry began to shrink in size and so while someone was interested in paying me a rather substantial sum, I took my chips off the table and cashed in. Because my interests were not really on managing and administrating all the various sources of music industry related revenue, my interests were in utilizing what time I have left in pursuing those things that I’m more and more interested in. Namely at this point …I’ve been to over fifty different countries and inspired by the work of numerous people and entities I wish to support, so the more time I needed for that, the less time I wanted to become a desk jockey …and so that’s what I did. But yes, you’re right; “Magic Carpet Ride” certainly was like a cash cow.”
In 2004, John Kay and his wife Jutta Maue Kay formed The Maue Kay Foundation, a nonprofit charitable foundation. Kay has been fully committed in helping to provide financial assistance for various projects around the world. Jutta Maue Kay serves as director of the foundation. Although John’s vision is impaired, it has not stopped him from his most important role as videographer for the foundation. John has captured important areas of concern across the globe …particularly in Cambodia, Thailand, Tanzania and Kenya. Visit these important websites to find out more information about the foundation … www.mauekay.org and www.achromatopsia.info/the-maue-kay-foundation.
John Kay & Steppenwolf ... Up-Coming Dates:
Thursday, July 18th - Morristown, NJ - Mayo Performing Arts Center
Thursday, July 25th - Ferndale, WA - Silver Reef Casino
Friday, August 9th - Sao Paulo, Brazil - HSBC Brasil
Saturday, August 10th - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Vivo Rio
Saturday, August 24th - Cartersville, GA - Harley Davidson of Cartersville
Friday, August 30th - Biloxi, MS - IP Casino, Resort and Spa
re: BILLY JOEL: Kent ... Don't know if you know about it - Billy Joel started a feud here in the New York area. Billy said he "would hate to be an Oldies Artist on the Oldies Circuit." Jay Traynor (Original Jay of Jay & The Americans), currently singing with The Tokens & Eugene Pitt (Jive Five Lead Singer) took exception with Billy's statement. Jay said that if it wasn't for those who came before him, he wouldn't be the superstar he is today. Just because he became a big star, that's no reason to put down others. Stay tuned for more. Frank B. Well, it's good to know that now that he and Elton John have buried the hatchet and become friends again, Billy Joel has found someone else to fight with again. (Once a punk, always a punk, I guess!) kk
re: OUR FRIDAY CITY SWEEP:
Geez, Kent, that MUST mean you're including the most "citified" song of all -- Hank Snow's country crossover "I've Been Everywhere" -- which got up to No. 68 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1962. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47c6w46Cgc
Sure hope so.
Don E Sorry to disappoint, but no, that one didn't make the cut ... everything featured in our Friday special included the word "city" somewhere in the title or artists' name. But hey, this one will make for a great follow-up piece! Thanks, Don. (kk)
Kent, This morning early while I was doing my usual walk around the neighborhood, the first song and really only song, that came to my mind, and I don't even know if you will post this, was BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY by that BIG BOSS MAN of rhythm and blues himself, Jimmy Reed. Two more songs just hit me like a brick. Don't know if you will post these but would you believe I thought of the following two songs. I like to think of those that maybe the average reader would have forgotten about. 1. Debbie Reynolds -- CITY LIGHTS (1960 on Dot) 2. Highlights -- CITY OF ANGELS (1956 on Bally) Before I sign off on this e-mail, it seems to me that the label Bally was located up there in your part of the country. Always did like Betty Johnson's I DREAMED on same label.
By the way, a couple of days ago, the morning man here in OKC, which works for the TOC, plays a lot of requests. A listener called up and wished to hear the song you posted by New York City. He admitted over the air that he didn't remember it but did say over the air how high it got nationally. I, of course, remembered it. Incidentally, he played for a listener the song BOTTLE OF WINE by the Fireballs. I guarantee you that I've never heard this version before. Larry
If you scroll back to 8:30 AM, you'll find the version cut by Sonny James ... I debated between the two and finally elected to go with this one. As for the other two, nope ... I have to admit they never even crossed my mind! Regarding the New York City track, what a shame ... AGAIN ... that a legitimate Top 20 Hit has been COMPLETELY forgotten by radio. (Nationally this one peaked at #12 in both Cash Box and Record World ... a pretty decent-sized hit in ANYBODY'S book!) My guess is that anyone who was around listening to the radio in 1973 will remember it ... if radio would ONLY give them the chance to do so. The fact that the deejay himself doesn't remember it is a REAL shame ... but (sadly) not all that surprising anymore. Scroll back to 5:30 PM on Friday's post to give it a listen ... if radio's "programming with blinders on" mentally has caused YOU to forget it, too! (kk) Loved the City tour! We hung around til midnight. Man, you were smokin' with the best stuff from 2 pm - 3 pm. Thanks for putting this one together. It's been a long day. David Lewis
Another pretty clever idea -- and a nice mix of music, too. How do you keep coming up with these? Rich I dunno ... this one just sorta hit me ... and, within the context of Forgotten Hits, we can get away with pushing the envelope a bit further than the average radio station. (They probably wouldn't feature this broad of a mix anyway, now that everything today is so "specialized" to a particular format.) Besides, this list would have NEVER flown on radio today ... no John Mellendcamp, no Billy Joel, no Bob Seger, no Steve Miller and no Journey were featured in 18 straight hours ... and let's face it, that's just unheard of these days!!! (kk) re: FIRST SUMMER WEEKEND: WCBS-FM is playing Summer's #1 Hits from the '60's, '70's and '80's all weekend long. You can still catch them here:
Click here: Summer #1's in the CBS-FM Hall of Fame « WCBS-FM 101.1 We know a thing or two about "Summer Favorites"... in fact, we've polled our readers several times over the past ten years trying to determine your all-time favorites. And (with the help of Randy Price and Jack Levin), we've even put together the All-Time List of Summer Hits ... for every year of the Rock Era, 1955 - 1980! You'll find them all posted here:
Kent: The other day I heard "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" and it reminded me of something that Bob Slade mentioned years ago on his WRKS 98.7 - New York Sunday night "Soul Beginnings" show. He said that the original recording of the James Brown was actually 'sped up', when it was released as a single. Was wondering if you are familiar with the story and does anyone have the 'slow' version that we might be able to hear? Thanks! John I did a little bit of digging around on this but didn't really come up with much. However the B-Side of that single (Part II) definitely has a slower feel to it ... I wonder if this is how the whole song originally started out. Anybody know for sure? (kk)
How is Bobby Rydell managing with his transplants? Thanx! Pttibg Bobby is back out on the road again with a number of dates coming up ... he seems to have rebounded quite well! (kk) Click here: Bobby Rydell's Tour Dates
>>>My ex-wife’s father was a survivor (now gone on to his reward) of the D-Day invasion at Normandy. He claimed that the lyrics of the Homer and Jethro song "Crazy Mixed-Up Song" were allegedly inspired by a less humorous poem, written by another D-Day survivor, commemorating the mind-numbing horror of the invasion, shortly after the experience. That poem goes like this: ‘Twas on the beach at midnight, Not a streetcar was in sight.
The rain and snow fell gently, For it rained all day that night.
Knowing the context puts a different spin on the words. I have no way of knowing whether that story is true, but maybe someone else out there does. It seems totally possible to me that someone put together the “Be kind to your web-footed friends” chorus from summer camp or Cub Scout sing-alongs with a sanitized version of the above poem and came up with one of those versatile, well-written tunes that no one ever forgets. Meanwhile, the heroes of D-Day are gone, but never forgotten. (Wil Coté)
I remember there being quite a bit of discussion on this one back at the time we first covered it. Seemed EVERYBODY was familiar with it through some means (I still swear I knew it from an old Three Stooges kiddie record that I had) but we've seen and heard so many possible origins now, who knows. Here's another one ... from Ron Smith ...
Now those are the words (sort of) I remember my Dad singing (and always thought they came from his Army days — but he was in the Alleutian Islands):
Twas midnight on the ocean A streetcar was in sight A bare-footed boy with shoes on Was standing in the light
>>>I came across your website when trying to find information about the Youngtones. I'm very impressed and added you to my favourites for a definite look back later in the week. I have a track credited to the Youngtones entitled Come On Baby but can find no sign of it mentioned in any discography I have seen on the band. Do you have anything that you could help me with? I'm researching for my weekly radio programme and thank you for any assistance you may be able to offer. Many thanks and kind regards. (Ian Bell, TD1 Radio.com, Scotland)
The Youngtones were a Hispanic group from Coney Island whose group members included Johnny Marsi (lead), Gilbert Rivera (first tenor), Joe Crespo (second tenor), Willy Rivera (baritone) and Louis Lugo (aka Louis Figueroa) (bass). Johnny Marsi later went by the name Jocco. Ronald Jackson was the lead on a couple of the X-Tra sides, he later went on to join the group The Jesters in 1974. I believe this to be the group's entire discography: X-tra 104 - You I Adore / It's Over Now (1958) X-tra 110 - By The Candleglow (accompanied by The Dolls) / Patricia (1958) Brunswick 55089 - Come On Baby / Oh Tell Me (1958) X-tra 120 - Can I Come Over / Gonna Get Together Again (1959) X-tra 121 - Can I Come Over / Gonna Get Together Again (1959) (yes that was issued with two consecutive numbers) Times Square 31 - I Do / Day Train (by the Blasters) (1964) Come On Baby is the only 45 listed by the group in my price guide, for whatever reason... Two of the members of the Youngtones, Johnny Marsi and Gil Rivera later joined with Bobby "Ziggy" Andriani to record as Marci and the Mates for two releases on the Big Top record label, and would later record under other names (Johnny, Gil and Bobby; Hans, Chris & Anderson, etc). I saw on Forgotten Hits where Jocco mentioned recording for Atco -- that would be the Hans, Chris & Anderson 45 that got issued on Atco, The Pied Piper b/w Donna. While Donna is a remake of the Ritchie Valens hit, The Pied Piper is an original tune. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz86oDnKReg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsQrwUpgj6M Hope that helps some. Tom Diehl
Back in HS ('64-"68) I could go to the on-campus Youth Center and have lunch. Eventually, I noticed on the juke box "Ain't Nobody Who Can Do It Like Leslie Can" by Paul Revere and the Raiders. It wasn't a real winner, but I played it a lot (apparently I was the only one who did), and finally the manager got tired of it and rejected it. I never did notice what the flip side was. Can you tell me?
Skipper
The track comes from The Raiders' "Revolution" album ... but I don't show it ever appearing on a single. (Maybe it was on a jukebox EP???) It featured a rare vocal by Paul Revere, who one reviewer referred to as doing a very bad Aunt Jemima accent ...
There's only one truly horrid track, "Ain't Nobody Who Can Do It Like Leslie Can," an unintentional parody of black music sung in Paul Revere's worst Aunt Jemima accent ("Look at that woman dust!"). Its offensiveness would make Jon Spencer look like a sensitive civil rights liberal - if I thought that the Raiders had any idea how offensive they were being; they're just a bunch of clueless whitebreads who don't know what they're doing (hell, there are hardly any black folks in Idaho now, much less three decades ago).
From the sounds of things, you very well may have been the only one playing it!!! (Of course now I've got to hear it too!) kk
re: PALISADES PARK: The other day we told you about the big Palisades Park Concert that Cousin Brucie was hosting for Sirius XM. Now here come a few pics from Mitch Schecter of The Rip Chords ... one of the acts who performed on the bill! Hey Kent ... Had a great time at Cousin Brucie's First Annual Palisades Park Reunion Concert at The Meadowlands, just outside of NYC. It was an amazing lineup of artists ... all of whom had performed at Palisades Park for Cousin Brucie back in the 60's. We did two songs ... most everyone did two songs ... a concert just like the old days. I've enclosed a photo of the poster, a photo of Richie and Bobby with Ronnie Spector and a photo of us with Cousin Brucie. Next up for us is a big show in Simi Valley, California ... more on that later.
Forgotten Hits Regular Frank B sent us a review of the concert that he found posted on Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com website: I was there. Excellent show. Several hundred people sitting. Many more standing. Many people clapping. Some dancing in the aisles here and there. The audience really seemed to be enjoying the show. Brucie wore his leopard jacket. To me the high point was definitely Ronnie Spector, who closed the show. She still has a great voice & looks fantastic. Also the Rip Chords sounded great doing "Hey Little Cobra" and a movie soundtrack song of theirs. Lesley Gore also did an excellent short set. The Crests singing the Righteous Brothers song "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" was also a highlight for me. Neil Sedaka was sick and didn't make the show. From what Bruce was saying, this is going to be an annual event. Couldn't beat the price: free with $9.00 admission to the fair & $4.00 parking.
Tommy Withatee
re: FREDDY CANNON:
You can't really talk about Palisades Park without mentioning Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon! This rock and roll pioneer is STILL rockin' ... playing around the globe to devoted audiences trying to recapture the magic of those early days of rock and roll ... and still sounding great, I might add!
Freddy has a brand new single release ... on 7" VINYL no less! It's a rockin' recording of "Keep Movin'" backed with "Move It On Over", recorded with The Gears, an LA Punk Group ... and you can pick up YOUR copy here: www.wondercaprecords.com ... or download the tracks on iTunes. (kk)
In fact, we may have an autographed copy to give away to one lucky Forgotten Hits Reader in the weeks to come ... stay tuned for more details! (kk)
re: ANOTHER PASSING:
Ron Smith tells us of another recent passing ...
Bobby "Blue" Bland, whose blues recordings hit 18 times on the top ten R&B charts from 1960 to 1966, died Sunday (June 23) at his Memphis home from complications of an ongoing illness. He was 83.
Born in Rosemark, Tennessee, in 1930, Robert Calvin Bland sang with the gospel group, the Miniatures in the late '40s. In 1949, he sang with B.B. King, Rosco Gordon and Johnny Ace in the Beale Streeters. After a stint in the Army, he supplemented his solo career by serving as B.B.'s valet and chauffeur before eventually singing in Johnny's revue. He signed with Modern Records in 1952, but it was on Duke Records in 1957 that he finally charted with "Farther Up The Road" (#43 Pop, #1 - R&B). That was the first of 64 R&B hits, 44 of which crossed over to the pop charts, including "Turn On Your Love Light" (#28 Pop, #2 R&B - 1962), "Call On Me" (#22 Pop, #6 R&B - 1963), "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" (#20 Pop, #3 R&B - 1964), "I Pity The Fool" (#46 Pop, #1 R&B - 1961) and "That's The Way Love Is" (#33 Pop, #1 R&B - 1963). Bobby was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame last year. He received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy award in 1997.
I really got into the blues in high school in the late 50s, amassing everything I could find by Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins and B.B. King. I found that there were no albums by another of my favorites, Bobby "Blue" Bland, but his singles were great ... but hard for me to find. "Further On Up the Road" was the first one I bought in 1957 and it was a different kind of blues, with much fuller orchestration than Jimmy, John Lee and Lightnin's, but still blues. His first album came in 1961 and then they started really coming and by the end of the seventies I must have had at least 20 of his albums. He began to cross over to the pop charts in the sixties with "That's the Way Love Is", "Call On Me", "Cry, Cry, Cry" and "Ain't Nothin' You Can Do". His "Turn On Your Lovelight" is the definitive version and nothing in the blues rocks quite like "Don't Cry No More". Bobby became more unique as he grew older because of his "squall" and his many appearances and releases with B.B. King, including their classic version of "Let the Good Times Roll", brought him a larger audience. One of a kind, Bobby "Blue" Bland. Danny Guilfoyle
re: PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS: >>>Back in HS ('64 - '68) I could go to the on-campus Youth Center and have lunch. Eventually, I noticed on the juke box "Ain't Nobody Who Can Do It Like Leslie Can" by Paul Revere and the Raiders. It wasn't a real winner, but I played it a lot (apparently I was the only one who did), and finally the manager got tired of it and rejected it. I never did notice what the flip side was. Can you tell me? (Skipper)
>>>The track comes from The Raiders' "Revolution" album ... but I don't show it ever appearing on a single. (Maybe it was on a jukebox EP???) kk
Hi Kent,
Regarding Paul Revere and the Raiders’ “Revolution” LP (1967) – What a wonderful album that was! Here’s a review of the CD reissue I found on amazon. The reviewer offers some information on the session musicians and also believes that "Ain't Nobody Who Can Do It Like Leslie Can" was issued on 45. However, like you, I can find no evidence of that. Here’s the review:
“Although this fine album contains one authentic "Paul Revere & The Raiders" cut, "Ain't Nobody Who Can Do It Like Leslie Can", a 1966 B-side (featuring a rare lead vocal from Revere), the rest of the album is performed by Mark Lindsay and producer / co-writer Terry Melcher. Melcher even does much of the lead vocal on the song "Tighter".
The instruments are by Terry Melcher & Van Dyke Parks (keyboards), Jerry Cole, Ry Cooder and ex-Raider, Drake Levin (guitars), Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon (drums) and an unidentified bassist.
The techniques used during recording (live during mix down overdubs) means that half of the songs can be presented only in mono; though the stereo remix of "Him or Me - What's it Gonna Be?" that debuted on the "Essential Ride" CD is included, as are several good bonus tracks, including an extended / unedited version of "The Legend of Paul Revere”. Too bad that Sundazed couldn't give us liner notes with complete details about who played what.
Paul Revere's involvement in the studio obviously ended in late 1966. Mark Lindsay would, from this point onwards, make the records with whomever he wished, whether that meant session men or a combination of session men and some Raiders (but not Revere himself).”
Best wishes,
Mike Edwards
Hi Kent:
For the Raiders Juke box player. I did see that the flip side of “Ups And Downs” is called “Leslie” ... maybe that’s what he played.
Ken Freck
Hmmm ... I didn't see that one ... but you may be right. Anybody have a copy of the single who can say for sure? (Scroll back to Monday's posting to listen to the track to be sure) kk
re: JAMES BROWN: >>>The other day I heard "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" and it reminded me of something that Bob Slade mentioned years ago on his WRKS 98.7 - New York Sunday night "Soul Beginnings" show. He said that the original recording of the James Brown was actually 'sped up', when it was released as a single. Was wondering if you are familiar with the story and does anyone have the 'slow' version that we might be able to hear? (John) >>>I did a little bit of digging around on this but didn't really come up with much. However the B-Side of that single (Part II) definitely has a slower feel to it ... I wonder if this is how the whole song originally started out. Anybody know for sure? (kk) I recall that James Brown's uptempo hit "I Got You" was previously recorded in a slow arrangement as "I Found You" by Yvonne Fair, who was part of his revue. It wouldn't surprise me if he experimented with slow and fast arrangements of other songs as well.
Ed Salamon
Hi Kent, I saw where you were looking for the original slowed down version of James Brown's "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" -- on his Star Time album released in 1991 he has both versions -- an extended "slow version" and the "single" version. Another favorite of mine by James Brown is "I'll Go Crazy" -- the best version of this song is by the Buckinghams, off their "Kind Of A Drag" album -- Clarence Clemons' "Live In Asbury Park" sounds pretty incredible, too, with his version that features a killer horn section.
Another song the Buckinghams kicked up a notch was their 1967 version of "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" which was a hit a year earlier for Cannonball Adderley. Just a brief footnote ... was certainly surprised Rolling Stone did a couple page article on Darlene Love in a recent issue. Darlene Love's voice, though credited to the Crystal's, on the Gene Pitney-written song of "He's A Rebel" is one of the all time great pop songs. Was surprised the article didn't make note of her also being in the group Bob B. Sox & The Blue Jeans with their hit "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da." She and her group the Blossoms, I am pretty sure did a lot of backing vocals for Elvis during his Vegas gigs too. Tim Kiley
The Buckinghams' version of "I'll Go Crazy" was their first chart hit here in Chicago, peaking at #19 in 1966, a good nine months before the group caught on nationally with their #1 Hit "Kind Of A Drag".
Darlene first started singing background on Elvis sessions back in the '60's ... in fact, she was part of Elvis' 1968 Television Comeback Special, too. While there is something familiar-sounding about Love singing with Elvis during the Las Vegas years, I can't find anything to substantiate it. (I think that role was filled more by The Sweet Inspirations than The Blossoms at this point ... but I'm sure one of the may Elvis experts on the list can verify this for sure.) kk
re: VIDEO CLIPS:
If you like to dance or ever wished that you could ... you'll enjoy watching this.
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
FH Reader Tom Cuddy tells us about a new Chicago remake ...
The legendary Chicago have recorded a cover of the old Spiral Starecase hit More Today Than Yesterday with the Les Deux Love Orchestra for what may be the start of an entire album of songs of classic R&B. Spiral Starecase were an American ‘one-hit wonder’ band whose only hit was More Today Than Yesterday in 1969. The song has been covered by Diana Ross, Sonny & Cher, Goldfinger and was featured in the movies My Girl (1991) and The Waterboy (1998) as well as an episode of Ally McBeal. Chicago’s Robert Lamm was introduced to Bobby Woods of the Les Deux Love Orchestra by Gerry Beckley of the band America. “Woods had an idea for Chicago and Les Deux to revisit the great music of the era (mostly Classic R&B) – when Chicago was in its formative stage. More Today Than Yesterday loosely fit the concept as I’ve always loved this record by Spiral Starecase,” Lamm said in a statement. Woods says, Sometimes you have to do things for the fun of it. When Robert suggested More Today Than Yesterday, my immediate response was, ‘Definitely!’ I had a blast working the horns out with Chicago co-founder and trumpet player, Lee Loughnane. It goes without saying that Jason Scheff (bass, backing vocals) is a monster – the guy can do anything”. Click here: "More Today Than Yesterday" -Chicago (feat. Les Deux Love Orchestra) - YouTube Chicago and the Les Deux Love Orchestra’s version of More Today Than Yesterday is available exclusively through iTunes.Read more: http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/06/listen-more-today-than-yesterday-by.html#ixzz2X5H266ug
re: TONIGHT: Tonight at 10 PM (Eastern) I will be trying out a two-hour folk music program. I am calling it RETURN TO BLEECKER STREET! Lots of music from the 1960's plus some of today! There aren't enough folk music shows around so I am going to try this out.
We've all had them ... people like us who are THIS into the music have ALL had our "Goosebump" moments ... a certain song, a certain sound ... something that just grabbed you immediately ... made you take notice and listen ... something so uniquely different than anything you'd heard before that it immediately commanded your complete attention.
It doesn't happen very often ... but when it does, it's a moment that stays with you forever.
Hey, I loved The Beatles as much as anybody ... and bought everything they ever did ... as well as any number of OTHER 45's of the day that caught my fancy ... but the VERY FIRST TIME a song gave me goosebumps on first listen was "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and the Papas.
Now maybe it was just the right song at the right moment ... but something happened that very first time that affected me like no other song had before ... and, incredibly, after some 10,000+ listens since, I have never grown tired of this track.
And it's not even my favorite Mamas and Papas song ... their version of "Dedicated To The One I Love" holds that distinction ... this is the one I can listen to and appreciate till the end of time ... but something magical happened the very first time I ever heard "California Dreamin'" ... and whatever it was, that feeling has never left me. (To paraphrase producer Lou Adler, I couldn't believe my eyes and ears!!!)
It happened again in 1970 ... the very first time I ever heard Bread's "Make It With You". I can't even put into words the electricity that went through me that very first time ... I just HAD to have it. I went out and bought the single and then the album shortly thereafter ... man, what a disappointment!!! About the ONLY song listenable (and memorable) about that LP was the hit single, soon to be the #1 song in all the land. I was SO bummed ... was it just a fluke? Had they hit the motherlode on their very first song and now the well was dry???
Imagine my shock when a classmate of mine (Dennis Gilbert, thank you very much!) turned me on to the fact that "On The Waters" was actually Bread's SECOND album ... their first LP had disappeared without a trace, with nary a radio hit hidden in the grooves.
As fate would have it, I found myself grounded for a week ... came home later than I was supposed to one night ... and Dennis loaned me his LP to pass the time while I served out my parental sentence. I completely devoured it ... I loved each and every song. (How could none of these tracks have been a hit?!?! And, even more surprisingly, where had the magic gone on their second album?)
I did my week's time locked away in the basement ... just me, my guitar and Dennis' Bread album, during which time I learned every single song on that first LP ... I especially loved "Family Doctor", a James Griffin song, that months later I was shocked to hear ANOTHER classmate play on a bus trip out to a school singing engagement. (Ron Arturi, thank you very much!) I think he, Dennis and I may have been the only three students in the entire school who knew this song! Imagine my surprise when, after "Make It With You" had run its course on the charts, Elektra Records went back to the first LP and released "It Don't Matter To Me" as the follow-up single ... and it was a hit!
For me, Bread just kept getting better and better. "Manna" and "Baby I'm-a Want You" remain two of my all-time favorite LPs to this very day ... but nothing will EVER compare to the moment when I heard "Make It With You" for the very first time. (Seems like everybody else that summer was fixated on the brand new Carpenters' hit "Close To You" ... but not me ... I was a "Bread-Head" all the way!)
There've been other moments over the years ... other songs ... but these two in particular affected me in a way like no others. (In fact, I was completely sucked into The Soft Rock '70's ... Carole King's "It's Too Late" remains a favorite some 40 years later ... I dug Sweet Baby James and America and Badfinger, too ... and was COMPLETELY blown away the very first time I heard Free's "All Right Now" ... I had never heard rock and roll played THAT way before!!!) But Bread was the launch pad that took me into my next phase of musical appreciation, post-British Invasion ... and I just couldn't get enough.
If you love the music the way I do, you know exactly what I'm talking about. We've all had those moments ... the electricity that filled the room the first time I saw Paul McCartney ... and Elvis ... those were concert moments I'll never forget ... but if I had to pick TWO "Goosebumps Songs", these would be the two ... "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and the Papas and "Make It With You" by Bread.
And now it's YOUR turn. Can you narrow it down to a specific moment in time ... where the music went straight to your soul upon the very first listen?
We want to hear from you ... send us your "Goosebumps Tracks" ... and we'll run some of your musical memories on the web page. (We only ask that you please keep it to just one or two moments so we can run a larger variety of respondents.)
Like I said, we've ALL had 'em ... I told you mine ... now we'd like to share a couple of yours!!!
Drop us a line at forgottenhits@aol.com ... and then check back to the web page to see if your memories have been posted. kk Kent Kotal Forgotten Hits
re: OOPS!: Kent, First let me say, am I missing something here? The Mary Wells' tune you posted, YOU BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH, following the news on Bobby Bland, I don't seem to get a connection if there is one. I thought there was going to be a Bobby Bland tune. Second, most of Bobby Bland's songs were, I guess you might say, moderate "hits" here in the OKC area. I just checked and his 1962 recording of YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION peaked at number 11 in August of that year. One of his bigger records here in OKC.
Larry
What you got there was a combination of two things ... a track incorrectly identified in the digital ID stamped on the CD it came from ... and me not having the time to listen to it before I posted it. The intention was to run Bobby's "Turn On Your Lovelight" track ... and that's what the computer said it was. In fact, had you not said anything, I never would have known! Hopefully we can make up for that by running Bobby's intended tribute track today. (kk)
>>>I am from Bawston (home of the Future Stanley Cup Champions!) so I respect the fact that your emphasis is parochial to your home town Chicahgo. Your overall love of all things music comes through loud and clear. I may not read your Newsletter top to bottom, but I do review every iteration you send. I would not go so far as to say I would pay to subscribe but if you can benefit by extra 'hits' I am all for it. You deserve something for all the work you do. (CharlieOFD)
That's OK, Charlie, save your money ... our newsletter is still free. Why don't you spend it on one of those Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup shirts that sold out immediately after the final game instead?!?!? (kk)
re: PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS:
Well, I think we've finally nailed it down ...
Although no one officially got back to us about playing the B-Side of the Paul Revere and the Raiders hit "Ups And Downs" (titled simply as "Leslie" on the label), a quick glance at their "Revolution" album cover indicates that this is, in fact, the same song questioned by one of our readers a week or two back. Check it out:
OK it's always fun to hear from one of my hero bands, Chicago, but I think they should have taken a little longer on this one. ("More Today Than Yesterday") Not much drive to it. It sounds so tentative. No energy in the track. Where the heck are the drums? Bass is way out in front of the bass drum.
I think they should go back and listen to one of there 70's era albums and '"Get the Feelin' Again."
Or maybe they should go back and listen to The Spiral Starecase version too, which is a whole lot better. Gees, I feel awful that I'm trashing one of my favorite bands recordings, but gees.
Bill
I'm with you on this one, Bill. The original was just such a lively tune (and let's face it, you still hear it nearly every single day all these years later) that I can only describe Chicago's remake as "unnecessary". Not that there's anything particularly wrong with it ... it just doesn't bring anything new to the table ... and this is one of those tracks that simply doesn't need redoing. (I remember AGES ago watching Sonny and Cher perform this song on their television show ... and it had more pop than this new Chicago-ized "big band' version.) I suppose it's neat that Chicago is going a new direction with the Les Deux Love Orchestra, still growing their sound after all these years ... but if this new venture is supposed to be a tribute to classic R&B, let's hope the rest of the new album has a little more "soul" than this track. (kk)
re: SOME MORE AMAZING SHOWS:
Our FH Buddy Ron Onesti has added some more amazing artists to his up-coming concert line-up ... including a show that I know EVERYBODY will want to see on September 13th featuring THE ZOMBIES!!! (We told you recently that another FH Buddy, Al Kooper, did a show with these guys at the Kewsick Theater in Glenside, PA, on June 21st. We're hoping to feature Al's personal review soon!)
Other up-coming Arcada shows of note:
Tonight: Bachman and Turner
'80's Music Fans will want to check out THIS double bill ... The FIXX and Wang Chung, together for one show on July 26th
Rockfest (featuring Ten Years After, Edgar Winter, Pat Travers, Rick Derringer and Canned Heat) hits the Arcada Theatre stage on August 8th
John Ford Coley and Terry Sylvester (of the Hollies) team up for a double bill on October 11th
America comes back on November 15th
Michael Bolton hits the stage on December 1st
Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March will put on a rockin' Christmas spectacular on December 7th, followed by another Christmas concert special performed by The Letterman on December 8th.
As always, a GREAT place to see a concert. More ticket information is available here:
Click here: Arcada Theatre | Oshows Just got this from FH Reader Clark Besch about an upcoming show this weekend in Cicero featuring "The Chicago Gold Revue" ... members of The Cryan' Shames, Jimy Sohns of The Shadows Of Knight and Ronnie Rice of The New Colony Six ...
Sounds like a groovy Shame show!! The Gold Revue show should grab up Gary Loizzo from the Styx show following to sing "Bend Me Shape Me"!!! I think he's still keyboard / sound man for them, right??
Clark
Really? I didn't know that. Unfortunately, we're traveling again this weekend ... and will be hit-or-miss until after the 4th of July Weekend (so limited postings through this busy time) ... but hopefully a few of our readers are able to check this out and get back to us. Thanks, Clark! (kk)
Danbury Fields Forever Beatles Music Festival Full Entertainment Line-up Announced!
Danbury, CT: On Saturday, August 3, 2013, in celebration of The Beatles' 50th anniversary, thousands of fans will "Come Together" for "DANBURY FIELDS FOREVER," a day-long music, arts and food festival of at Ives Concert Park, 43 Lake Avenue Ext. in Danbury, Connecticut. The Noon - 8 pm event is a fund-raiser for Sandy Hook, with 100% of net ticket sales benefiting charity. (The event is seeking sponsorships)
Open to all ages, this returning family-friendly festival will feature 10 bands, each representing different eras or presentations of Beatles music.
An entire-day "ticket to ride" admission starts at only $20.00 from http://beatlesmusicfestival.eventbrite.com/#. There are also VIP packages. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Another feature of the festival will be music and memorabilia vendors and exhibits, plus family features such as face-painting and inflatables for kids.
As The Beatles sang, "... it's guaranteed to raise a smile!"
All Photos courtesy Liverpool Productions:
The Mystery Tour band, The Lennon Legacy, official Danbury Fields Forever logo, drummer Mike Streeto and also a crowd shot of three fans from last year's Festival
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Speaking of The Beatles, iTunes just published a new list of their Top 12 Beatles Downloads ... and I am happy to report that once again George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun" tops the list! (Man, I wish George could have seen this while he was still alive ... after spending his entire lifetime in the shadows of the powerhouse writing team of Lennon and McCartney he would have been thrilled beyond words to find out what the fans REALLY thought!!!)
Rounding out the Top 12 are:
# 2 - Let It Be
# 3 - Hey Jude
# 4 - Come Together
# 5 - Blackbird
# 6 - Twist And Shout
# 7 - In My Life
# 8 - Yesterday
# 9 - Revolution
#10 - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (another George song)
#11 - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
#12 - I Saw Her Standing There
re: TONIGHT:
DJ Stu Weiss continues his Summer Songs program tonight on Oldies Your Way ...
EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE THE FREDDIE MERCURY TRIBUTE CONCERT
FEATURING QUEEN, DAVID BOWIE, ROGER DALTRY, DEF LEPPARD, ELTON JOHN, GEORGE MICHAEL, ROBERT PLANT AND MANY MORE ~ON 3DVD, BLU-RAY, AND DIGITAL VIDEO SEPTEMBER 3~
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
New York, NY (June 25, 2013)--On September 3, 2013, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert on a triple DVD set, as an SD Blu-ray – with upscaled standard definition original material with uncompressed stereo and DTS-HD surround sound for the best possible quality - and digital formats [Pre-book Order Date August 9, MSRP $29.99 DVD, $24,98 Blu-ray]. This release boasts newly remastered sound across both sections of the concert and represents the first time the opening acts' performances have been made available on DVD or Blu-Ray.
On April 20th 1992, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon, the surviving members of Queen, took to the stage at Wembley Stadium for the start of one of the biggest events in rock history, which the band had organized to pay tribute to their former colleague – the incomparable Freddie Mercury. Queen were joined by some of the greatest musical talent in the world to celebrate Freddie’s life and work and to increase public awareness of AIDS, the disease that had prematurely ended his life the previous year.
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert features many Queen classics in unique performances including: “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Hammer To Fall”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Radio Ga Ga”, “I Want To Break Free”, “Under Pressure”, “Somebody To Love”, “We Will Rock You”, “We Are The Champions” and many more. Special guests include David Bowie, Gary Cherone, Roger Daltrey, Def Leppard, Joe Elliott, Extreme, Bob Geldof, Guns ‘n’ Roses, James Hetfield, Ian Hunter, Tony Iommi, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Metallica, George Michael, Liza Minnelli, Robert Plant, Mick Ronson, Axl Rose, Seal, Slash, Lisa Stansfield, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Young & Zucchero.
As well as being great entertainment, the concert raised a huge and still growing sum of money for the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity formed at the time by Roger Taylor, Brian May and Queen’s longtime manager Jim Beach whose charter is the relief of suffering from AIDS throughout the world. Profits from this release will be donated by the Mercury Phoenix Trust to AIDS charities around the globe.
1) Intro 2) Brian May / Roger Taylor / John Deacon Introduction 3) Metallica – Enter Sandman 4) Metallica – Sad But True 5) Metallica – Nothing Else Matters 6) Freddie Montage (Insert) 7) Extreme – Queen Medley including: Mustapha / Bohemian Rhapsody / Keep Yourself Alive / I Want To Break Free / Fat Bottomed Girls / Bicycle Race / Another One Bites The Dust / Stone Cold Crazy / Radio Ga Ga
8) Freddie Montage (Insert) 9) Def Leppard & Brian May – Now I’m Here 10) Queen – I’m Going Slightly Mad video (Insert) 11) Bob Geldof – Too Late God 12) Guns ‘n’ Roses – Paradise City 13) Guns ‘n’ Roses – Knocking On Heavens Door 14) Elizabeth Taylor Speech
MAIN QUEEN + SET
1) Joe Elliott, Slash & Queen – Tie Your Mother Down 2) Roger Daltrey, Tony Iommi & Queen – I Want It All 3) Zucchero & Queen – Las Palabras De Amor 4) Gary Cherone, Tony Iommi & Queen – Hammer To Fall 5) James Hetfield, Tony Iommi & Queen – Stone Cold Crazy 6) Robert Plant & Queen – Crazy Little Thing Called Love 7) Brian May – Too Much Love Will Kill You 8) Paul Young & Queen – Radio Ga Ga 9) Seal & Queen – Who Wants To Live Forever 10) Lisa Stansfield & Queen – I Want To Break Free 11) David Bowie, Annie Lennox & Queen – Under Pressure 12) Ian Hunter, David Bowie, Mick Ronson & Queen – All The Young Dudes 13) David Bowie, Mick Ronson & Queen – Heroes 14) George Michael & Queen –’39 15) George Michael, Lisa Stansfield & Queen – These Are The Days Of Our Lives 16) George Michael, London Gospel Choir & Queen – Somebody To Love 17) Elton John, Axl Rose & Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 18) Elton John, Tony Iommi & Queen – The Show Must Go On 19) Axl Rose & Queen – We Will Rock You 20) Liza Minnelli & Ensemble – We Are The Champions
BONUS MATERIAL
1) Rehearsal performances of Queen +:
David Bowie and Annie Lennox ‘Under Pressure’
George Michael and Lisa Stansfield ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives
George Michael ‘Somebody To Love’
2) 10th Anniversary Documentary
3) Photo Galleries
4) Mercury Phoenix Trust Facts
* Each section features on one DVD disc, all sections feature on the single Blu-ray discs
re: CLARIFICATION:
I'm not sure exactly what BMG said or implied that sparked this, but I got this from FH Reader Bob Merlis on behalf of ABKCO Records ...
New York, June 26, 2013 - In light of today’s announcement by BMG concerning its involvement in music publishing interests in songs written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, ABKCO Music, Inc. wishes to reiterate that ABKCO, and ABKCO alone, owns and controls 100% of the worldwide copyright to the original 1963-1971 publishing catalog of Jagger/Richards Rolling Stones compositions.
ABKCO CEO Jody Klein stated that the BMG announcement “has no relevance whatsoever to ABKCO’s ongoing role in its ownership or control of all existing copyrights, including such seminal titles as ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’, ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ and others from that period as has been the case for more than 40 years.”
“We wish BMG all the best with their new endeavor but it must be noted that ABKCO, a wholly owned independent entertainment company, remains the sole source of rights and licensing for these compositions along with the corresponding master recordings by The Rolling Stones. It is unfortunate that BMG’s statement may have led some to conclude otherwise.”
About ABKCO:
ABKCO Music & Records isone 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 Wes Anderson’s 2013 Academy Award® nominated Moonrise Kingdom, The Darjeeling Limited and the 20120 Academy Award® nominated Fantastic Mr. Fox, Independent Spirit Award® Winner Safety Not Guaranteed, Our Idiot Brother, the international blockbuster Fast Five, Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief, The Men Who Stare At Goats and the soundtrack to the first season of the hit Showtime® series, Californication. 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 The Rolling Stones Charlie Is My Darling – Ireland 1965. It has been involved with many successful movies including The Greek Tycoon starringAnthony Quinn and Jacqueline Bisset, La Grande Bouffe winner of the International Critics prize at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival and The Concert for Bangladesh featuring Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr. Renowned cult director Alejandro Jodorowsky’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. 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.
Bob later told me ...
BMG put out a news release which would leave you to believe they now control or, at least, have a hand in publishing the original song catalog. We had to counter that with this statement.
re: THINGS ARE TOUGH ALL OVER: Getting kinda crazy at the gas pumps again ... especially here in Chicago where we reportedly have the most expensive gas prices within the continental United States. So as a service to our faithful readers, we thought we'd share this valuable coupon information with you!
I didn't realize it, but these coupons are good for one gallon of gas at most retailers. I have seen them around, but until recently never took advantage of them ... I guess I never realized their actual worth.
You probably have one or two just lying around somewhere, now is the time to use them before they lose their value, and it's too late!!!
Good response to our recent "Goosebumps" piece. (Have you sent YOURS in yet???)
Here are just a few that we received immediately after posting ours ...
Kent!
What a shameless stunt to boost Forgotten Hits traffic! Is there nothing you won't do to increase traffic?
Ha Ha!!
Another stroke of genius! This is exactly what FH is all about! Music and memories interwoven into the fabric of our lives!
I grew up listening to my Mom's radio playing popular hits, and my older sister and brother playing their favorites. I emerged when I first heard Ricky's "Poor Little Fool" and the Elegants "Little Star". I was hooked on music and Rock 'n Roll in particular.
Events in Jr High broadened my love with Bobby Vee's tunes and Johnny Tillotson offerings. I mostly just loved the sound not paying too much attention to the particular artists.
The Dovells' "The Bristol Stomp" brings great and sometimes frightening memories from High School. I consider it my favorite Summer Song ha ha!
Then the Folk Music came along ... "Lemon Tree", "Greenfields", the Kingston Trio, The 4 Preps, Peter, Paul and Mary ... then the Beatles and the harder, deeper songs as we explored life and set out on our own ... "White Rabbit", "Brand New Key", "Whole Lotta Love", "Different Drum" ... songs that made us think with hidden meanings. "Dirty Water" by The Standells, who coincidentally evolved from "The Routers", who authored my class of '63 song "Let's Go" ... what a kick I got out finding that tidbit of information.
I know you said to be brief its very hard ... we grew up in certainly ... "The Golden Age" guided by the "Greatest Generation" and what pleasure it is to return and research all these wonderful songs and artists and take further enjoyment from them. Hell, just writing about them I am grinning from ear to ear ... was there ever a more fortunate generation?
Have a great Summah !!
CharlieOFD
>>>A fellow classmate of mine (Dennis Gilbert, thank you very much!) turned me on to the fact that "On The Waters" was actually Bread's SECOND album ... their first LP had disappeared without a trace, with nary a radio hit hidden in the grooves. As fate would have it, I found myself grounded for a week ... came home later than I was supposed to one night ... and Dennis loaned me his LP. I completely devoured it ... I loved each and every song. (How could none of these tracks have been a hit?!?! And, even more surprisingly, where had the magic gone on their second album?) I served out my parental sentence, doing my time by hiding myself away in the basement, learning every single song on that first Bread LP ... I especially loved "Family Doctor", a James Griffin song, that months later I was shocked to hear ANOTHER classmate play on a bus trip out to a school singing engagement. (Ron Arturi, thank you very much!) I think he, Dennis and I may have been the only three students in the entire school who knew this song! Imagine my surprise when, after "Make It With You" had run its course on the charts, Elektra Records went back to the first LP and released "It Don't Matter To Me" as the follow-up single! For me, Bread just kept getting better and better. "Manna" and "Baby I'm-a Want You" remain two of my all-time favorite LPs to this very day ... but nothing will EVER compare to that first moment when I heard "Make It With You" for the very first time. (I was a "Bread-Head" all the way!) kk
Kent, cool blog. Thanks for the mention.
I was walking through E.J. Korvettes with (the late) Dave Bukovsky one day to buy David Peele and the Lower East Side's Happy Mothers Day album when I heard Baby I'm A Want You. I asked the clerk what group it was and dropped another $3.65 for the Bread Album. The guy took a look at my purchases and said, "Well, no one can say you don't have eclectic taste." He must have been a college kid cause I'd never even heard that word before and looked it up when I got home. Still have All the Bread Albums ... David Peele got loaned out as collateral for a banjo which I never mastered, gave the banjo back and forgot about his having my album and last I heard he was a DJ in southern Illinois somewhere ... probably with my album in his rack.
Hope to make it to the next reunion in September.
Dennis
Your love of Bread's "Make It With You" reminded me of David Gates' story behind the song. Gates had earlier scored as a composer (he wrote The Murmaids' "Popsicles and Icicles" in 1964), but this was the track that put him on the map as both a songwriter and singer. As Gates told me, after "Make It With You" began to climb the charts, he went home to Oklahoma to visit his parents -- and his hometown paper celebrated the event by writing a feature story about the local boy who was making it big. In it, David's mother, while proud of her son's accomplishment, expressed some dismay that his breakthrough triumph was with a song called -- "Naked With You"! I found "Make It With You" captivating as well, but Bread's goosebump record for me was "If" -- which was clearly not the same "If" that Perry Como had taken to the top of the charts in 1951. David told me he felt as if something just took control of his psyche when he wrote "If" in about a half hour at the dining room table after his wife and childen had gone to bed. He felt it was the best song he had ever written and arguably that's still true. An Echoplex -- the tape delay system which creates a warm, round, thick echo effect -- was employed to create the single's haunting, shimmering lead guitar sound which riveted my attention (and that of millions more) from the first note to the last.
A re-recording of "It Don't Matter to Me" -- a song first featured on the first Bread album -- preceded "If." After that, of course, came "Baby I'm-A Want You," which included that phrase written that way simply because David could not come up with anything else that sounded right and still fit that beat structure! "Everything I Own" was written as a tribute to David's dad, who had just passed away (bet you hadn't known it's actually a Father's Day song). More great singles followed: "Guitar Man," "Sweet Surrrender, "Aubrey" (a name given to a lot of babies born over the next few years) and finally "Lost Without Your Love." Every one of them was and remains a gem
Bread's demise came largely over the fact that David Gates wrote and sang all of the group's hits -- which annoyed his bandmates, who felt that their creative skills were being overlooked. After multiple break-ups and reunions, Bread played together for the very last time in 1997. Since then all the group members, except David Gates (who's retired) and Robb Royer (who runs a studio in Tennessee), have "simply flown away" (Mike Botts and Jimmy Griffin both died in 2005, Larry Knechtel in 2009).
Gary Theroux
You're talking to a MAJOR Bread fan here ... was fortunate enough to see them several times back in the day and then the '90's reunion show, too. Most of their songs affected me ... I think part of their downfall was that James Griffin's music was largely overlooked by the public because all of the focus was on David Gates' tunes. Granted, I get the logic of the record company ... why mess up a good thing? The formula was working so why mess with it ... and David's sound absolutely became the sound of the group. But I personally believe that Jimmy Griffin was writing equally strong music that went largely unnoticed.
I learned the true meaning behind "Everything I Own" at one of their concerts when David told the story regarding his father. The song takes on a whole new meaning when listened to in this context. Yet it works perfectly well in a mass-appeal sort of way as a beautiful love song, too. LOVE their stuff ... gonna have to dig out their greatest hits CD right now and stick it in the car! (kk)
"Family Doctor" is at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g88vtZEsy0 .
Nice.
-- BOB FRABLE
Kent:
The thing I remember about Bread's "Make It With You" was that it was a back-to-back Elektra release #45686 with the group Crabby Appleton's "Go Back" #45687 (purchased both in 1970) and I recall early on, it was "Go Back" that looked like it was going to be the bigger hit! Turns out it wasn't even close! That short-lived style Elektra label was one of my favorites! I remember the change to the caterpillar label was during Bread's "It Don't Matter To Me", as I remember in the bin where the 45 was, there were a few of the old labels in the front and the new Elektra style ones in the back. I made sure I got the old style!!
John
"Go Back" is a GREAT track ... my brother played it virtually non-stop when that one came out. While nowhere near as big as "Make It With You", it didn't do TOO badly ... in another one of those unexplainable mysteries, Crabby Appleton went to #21 in Record World while only reaching #36 in Billboard. The record made the Top Ten in Canada and peaked at #12 here in Chicago, where only WCFL played it. Some 40+ years later, you'll find Bob Stroud still playing this one every now and again on his "Rock And Roll Roots" radio program ... a GREAT forgotten hit! (kk)
I love this latest idea of yours. I totally agree with your choice of "Make It With You" ... it is so beautiful and just fills your heart. The two songs that came to mind for me are "Groovin'" by The Young Rascals and "When I Die" by Motherlode. They each move me in different ways but move me they do and I know they always will.
Stacee
kk, You named one of my "Goosebump Tracks," "California Dreamin'. And just a couple of months later, I was struck by "A Groovy Kind of Love" by the Mindbenders. My first Goosebump Moment came the year before (1965) when I heard "Go Now!" by the Moody Blues for the first time. And I simply can't leave it at that without mentioning my biggest: "Incense and Peppermints" by the Strawberry Alarm Clock. I tested it just now and it still gives me the chills. Dann
I was in the kitchen listening to the radio when the DJ (Hy Lit, Philly, PA) said he had a new record he wanted to play. It was Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley. WOW! Now this was back in the day when DJs were allowed a lot of freedom and after it was over he said he loved it so much he was gonna play it again. I couldn't believe how good it sounded. wfisch
Kent, "Goosebump" songs! Are you kidding me? Many years ago ... and I do mean many years ago ... even before you ever thought of FH ... there were two songs that I always said gave me "goosebumps". I don't really remember the first time I heard them on the radio, but to this day whenever I hear them, I get "goosebumps".
The songs in question are: 1 The Flamingos' I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU and 2. Bill Purcell's OUR WINTER LOVE. Can't really tell you why I get those "goosebumps" whenever I hear these on the radio, but I do. I thought of something else while reading your post for today. How many songs can you think of that has the words goose and / or bump in the song title? I can think of a few with one in particular that no one probably can even think of Larry Neal
Several readers cited "I Only Have Eyes For You" as one of their goosebumps favorites ... and this song still has that same effect on quite a few of us today, even all these years later! (kk)
Kent: The first time I heard The Eagles' "Take it to the Limit", I knew I had to buy it. Chris Astle Newport News, VA.
GOOSEBUMPS ? My mind went to a 'newer' old song ... I was out walking and a song was playing on the radio. MELISSA ETHRIDGE (who I don't really care for), UN-PLUGGED, with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (not a music-god to me) ... dueting to a slower version of THUNDER ROAD ... BEE-YOO-TI-FUL!!! Made me tear-up at first listen and still has that effect on me. Gary Renfield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cXzFhZVMnQ (YOU CAN SKIP THE 3 MINUTE TALKING INTRO)
I have had many 'goosebump' moments as well. Here are the two that I can think of right away. The Fall of 1975 ... I was listening to the radio and in between slow ballads and early disco, I heard the opening drum riff of Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen. It stood out like nothing else on the radio. The song captured the restless feeling of youth. Fast forward to the Summer of 1981. By this point I only listened to mix tapes of old 60's and 70's songs in my '75 Ford Maverick. I flicked on a Top 40 station and heard the Greg Kihn Band doing The Breakup Song (They Don't Write Em Like That Anymore). I felt like the song captured what I was feeling ... maybe the best music and the best relationships were behind me. The song also reminded me of The Messengers 1971 song "That's The Way A Woman Is" which got a lot of airplay here in Wisconsin. Thanks for the 'goosebump' idea. It sounds like another Forgotten Hits home run! Phil - WRCO
Hi Kent, I've been listening to r&r for almost 60 years and have had dozens of goosebump moments (at least up to 1990). The two that come to mind first were "Lonely Days" by the Bee Gees and "The Story in Your Eyes" by the Moody Blues. Dube
The year was 1968 and I was stationed at Ft. Ord. CA. A fellow GI buddy kept playing two LP’s in particular and telling us about his song writer friend Jimmy Webb. I think he said they went to college together or just took some classes together in So. Cal. The two albums were both by Johnny Rivers, Rewind (67) & Realization (68). At the time, I’m sure I never heard the term blue eyed soul but that was Johnny Rivers at his best. Rewind mostly consisted of ballads and the majority of the songs were written by Jimmy Webb. Realization was a combination of many of the folk type song writers of the day to include Johnny Rivers own penned songs. The Realization songs really worked at getting in your head while Rewind was definitely a more mellow listening experience. The first six months of 1968 stands out as the most rapidly eventful period of my entire life. First, getting drafted and leaving home, secondly the assassinations of both Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. Third, finding the body of a dead GI laying in a Ft Polk LA training area. Last but not least (or was it) was the infamous “Dear John” letter. None the less, this was all devastating for a young 18 year kid alone and out on his own for the first time in his life. Like stated earlier this was just the first six months of 1968. Just when I thought the second six months 1968 couldn’t throw anymore dirt my way I received deployment orders for Viet Nam in Nov. 68. My reporting date to Oakland Army Depot was 23 Dec. 68. My very first Goosebumps Track would have to be off the Johnny Rivers Rewind album “It’ll Never Happen Again” by Tim Hardin. The Tim Hardin song could also be called my “Killing Me Softly” song. Like your “California Dreamin” Kent, this was also a Lou Alder produced album. Combine Johnny Rivers' gut wrenching delivery,with Tim Hardin words, Lou Alder production and all these fantastic studio musician. I had the whole Goosebumps,neck hair, lump in the throat thing going on all at once. My second Goosebumps track is “Caroline No” from the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album. This is another song that is related to my 45 year old Dear John letter. Brian Wilson got me this time. How could the Beach Boys sing as if they knew me? I had read a while back that “Caroline No “ was in fact written about a girl named Carol. Brian had to change it to Caroline to divert his then wife Marilyn. There were many first time heard Goosebumps Tunes I’m sure but these two will still to this day do a number on me. “Goosebumps Tracks”, good idea Kent. Jerry Sometimes it's a late discovery that grabs you. When I was working on my Dusty Springfield series a few years back, I studied her catalog and came across Dusty's version of "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore", an early Randy Newman song that I was previously unfamiliar with. It just ripped through my heart and caused another one of those "goosebumps" moments. A similar track was "If I Could Reach You" by The Fifth Dimension ... to this day, I consider it to be one of Marilyn McCoo's greatest performances (right up there with "One Less Bell To Answer" ... yet nowhere near as big a hit.) Another one was Michael Jackson's reading of "She's Out Of My Life" which, to this very day, causes me to tear up and swallow hard each and every time I hear it. (kk)
And apparently I'm not the only one. Read on ...
Hey Kent, I remember when my mother was driving me to my music lessons one Saturday afternoon. On the car radio I heard, for the first time, Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual". I looked at Mom and asked her, "Who is this guy with that HUGE baritone voice?" Now THAT gave me goosebumps. Another was Michael Jackson's "She's Out of My Life". The string intro to that song still gives me goosebumps and tears my heart out at the same time. I know you only wanted two, but I have to add "Sailing", by Christopher Cross. What a wonderful recording! I am just as big a fan of Bread as you are. In my opinion, David Gates was the most romantic pop composer of the 70s. His second solo album, "Never Let Her Go" gives me goosebumps all the way through. - John LaPuzza
Just like when the major movie studios get together to release a blockbuster film, Forgotten Hits has teamed up with Lou Simon at Sirius / XM and Dann Isbell, author of the book "Ranking The '60's" for a very special 4th of July Countdown!
(ok ... well ... maybe not JUST like it ... but still pretty cool, don'tcha think?!?!?)
The original concept was "MAY THE 4's BE WITH YOU" ... and the idea was to count down The Top 40 Biggest Songs to Peak at #4 on the Charts!!! (That's right ... it's the very biggest 4's on the 4th!!!)
And, since it's airing EXCLUSIVELY on the Sirius / XM '60's Channel, we narrowed the list down to The Biggest #4 Hits of the '60's.
And that's where Dann's book came in.
"Ranking the '60's" is the definitive list of chart information for the most exciting decade in music history. You can order a copy of the book here: Click here: Get The Book | Ranking the 60s
Kent, Enjoyed your moments that gave you the shivers. Many know of mine. There are VERY many, mostly dealing with hearing songs for the first time on the radio, often WLS. Some would be first hearing "She Loves You" or "All Right Now" or "Love You So Much" (NC6) but my two most exciting would be hearing "Look Through Any Window" by the Hollies on WLS' Dex Card survey show and hearing Ron Riley play "I Wanna Meet You" by the Cryan Shames a year later on WLS. Attached are those moments as preserved on our Bell Reel to Reel along with a photo of me and my little brother Bill circa 1968 with the Hallicrafter receiver my dad had that gave us the chance to pull in those long distance stations as recorded from Dodge City, Kansas. Clark Besch
I had just gotten my driver's license and was tooling around town, enjoying my new independence, radio on, and as Tom Petty said, It was a beautiful day. All of a sudden, out of the very high turned-up radio comes "I Am the God of Hellfire and I Bring You ..." What a jolt!! I was at the corner of Bouquet and Soledad Cyn Rds in Saugus California, and I had to pull over. I listened to every word, making sure I got the Title AND artist. As soon as the song was over, I drove straight to the record store ... Fire by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown ... my first record purchase in which I had personally driven to buy. Scott
Hi Kent, I've had lots of goosebump moments in music. That's probably, at least in part, why I'm still a musician. Here are three quick ones. The Beatles and Beach Boys will not be listed in any of these, because they are just a given as far as I'm concerned. Girl in Love by The Outsiders. I have such a vivid memory of hearing it while sitting on the front steps of our house. It was a hot day, and between the heat, and a nothing to do summer day, and the melancholy sound of the record, I'm always transported back to 1966 and being nine years old when I hear it. 2. Good Lovin' by The Young Rascals. For some reason that one sticks in my mind as being the first song that said "hey, white guys can sing R&B style and still play in a rock band. Felix became one of my singing heroes and I hadn't become a singer yet. <grin> The third one is Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters, and particularly the little ending bit with all the vocals. I can just play that little bit over and over again to this day. I still haven't figured out all the parts yet. It's absolutely amazing to me. OK That's way more than you need, but ... Bill
Hey Kent, One of my first "I’ll never forget" music moments would be the first time I heard the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man". I don’t think I'd even heard of Bob Dylan at that point. All I knew was here was a new band with a new song. The first ten seconds of the song, when the bass kicked in, was so cool, I was hooked. It was the end of the school year and I was 13 years old in Sister Raphael’s 7th grade class. A few of us stayed after class to help Sister do some classroom cleaning. (Flashback: clapping erasers, cleaning the pencil sharpener, washing the blackboards.) We had a 45 record player in class. Me and my friend Rick were telling her about the new song that was just so cool. I had the 45 and lived just a half block from school. I asked her if I could go get it and play it on the record player. She said she would like to hear it. I brought it back and we probably played it 20 times. (All two minutes and 18 seconds.) She ask me how much the record cost? I told her 69 cents. She said, “OH MY!" I guess she thought that was a lot of money for one song. A short time later, the Byrds appeared on Hullabaloo. Awesome! Jim (or was it Roger) McGuinn with the granny glasses, Gene Clark, front and center on tambourine and David Crosby wearing a cape. These guys were so cool! As much as I love this song, my favorite Byrd song is "I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better". (Side one, track #2 from the debut album ... but who remembers that?) Fast forward to today ... I recently learned that on the original recording Roger McGuinn was the only band member who actually played on the song. The Byrds had just formed and the record company wasn't comfortable with the other band members' musicianship. They brought in some session musicians (enter the Wrecking Crew) to play on the original recording. Hal Blaine and company strike again. Thanks SO much for FH’s. As always, there are people who listen to music ... and then there are people like us. Gary
I guess a "goose bump" song has to be a ballad because there are hundreds of rockers that I have immediately loved and probably as many ballads, but only a few ballads have given me "goosebumps" (although many made me excited, depending on who I was dancing with at the time). From the fifties there were "Most of All" by the Moonglows, "I'm Sorry" by the Platters, "You Send Me" by Sam Cooke, "My Heart's Desire" by the Avalons, "I Only Have Eyes For You" by the Flamingos, and "Since I Don't Have You" by the Skyliners. "My True Story" by the Jive Five, "When We Get Married" by the Dreamlovers and "Stay In My Corner" by the Dells are a few from the sixties. "I'm Gonna' Make You My Wife" by the Whispers, "Special Lady" by Ray, Goodman and Brown and "I Only Have Eyes For You" by Art Garfunkle are a few from the seventies. A great one from the eighties is "At This Moment" by Billy Vera and the Beaters. I guess I've been fortunate to have had my share of "goosebumps" through the years. Danny Guilfoyle PS -- just about every ballad that the Four Freshmen ever sang gave "goosebumps" when I heard their amazing harmonies as well. You just conjured up another "late bloomer" for me. I had never heard "Since I Don't Have You" by The Skyliners until it appeared in the film "American Graffiti" ... it grabbed me IMMEDIATELY and I bought the entire soundtrack album (a 2-LP set) for that one song! To this day I get chills every time I hear it! (As an added special bonus that soundtrack LP became the crux of my early rock and roll era collection. It was easy to expand it from there with so many great tracks available in one place!) kk
My best goosebump moment was when I first heard "Pilot of the Airwaves" by Charlie Dore. It brought me back to the days of the 50's and early 60's when nighttime radio was more important (at least for rock and roll) than morning drive time and every teenager would call in their requests and dedications. Steve Davidson
Hi kk - Rick Levy here, bandleader and manager for TOMMY ROE, remembering a true goosebump moment. Summer of 67, I believe ... a bit hazy then ... when WHITER SHADE OF PALE came out. I was was with my band, THE LIMITS, driving from Allentown, PA, to Monticello, NY, for a summer gig ... and we were in one of the guy's Mustang. Well, the dj announced a new song by a new group ... Procol Harum ... what a name ... and when the song came on, we literally ... a carload of teen rockers ... had to pull over ... stop the car ... and were totally mesmerized by the magical, sensual, spiritual sound of Whiter Shade ... it was unlike anything heard before on since. I am so blessed to have been performing non stop since. Ah, the joy of music. (See link below ... recent story on yours truly.) http://www.examiner.com/article/veteran-rocker-rick-levy-leads-tommy-roe-s-band-sells-pottery?cid=db_articles RICK LEVY Rick Levy Management for booking Tommy Roe, contact rick@ricklevy.com
"A Whiter Shade Of Pale" is STILL a "goosebumps song" for me, too ... probably the most sophisticated and intelligent piece of music I had ever heard up to that point ... and it still resonates just as strongly with me today. Even 40 years later, I still get goosebumps (and tears in my eyes) nearly every time I hear it ... and incredible piece of work.) kk
This is kind of a tough one, because there are songs that give me goosebumps now, that might not have at the first playing. I tend to call them “stop-breathers” because the reaction for me is more of my breath stopping for the first few notes. There are four, though, that might fit the category. Back in the day, I kept my own top ten- and do I wish I’d not let those notebooks go! I always did mine on a Thursday, and then wait all weekend to hear Casey Casem on Sunday morning. On one Tuesday night, I heard ELO’s Telephone Line. Thursday it became the first (and one of two) song to ever hit #1 on my list as a debut. Sunday, I owned the 45, which was quite a trick considering I wasn’t driving at the time.
In the early eighties, a girl got us all listening to country. The first time I heard Roseanne Cash’s I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me, I knew it was her somehow in the first three notes. Can’t explain it, but I remember it clearly. Did the same with the next single, Never Be You, but it never had the same impact.
One of the first songs I ever loved was Merilee Rush’s Angel Of The Morning. The first notes I heard of Juice Newton’s remake froze me in my tracks. Still does.
And last, imagine a guy who grew up on the sixties, now living in a world where Pearl Jam was the coolest, and being dead drunk when you hear their remake of Last Kiss the first time. Rotten rub of that was, I was in emergency need of the restroom and didn’t even get to hear the whole thing!
The only one of the three that really still gets me like that is Juice’s Angel. Merilee’s does as well. And maybe a dozen others, ranging from Bobby Helms’ My Special Angel to the Pretenders’ It’s a Thin Line Between Love And Hate. And, of course, Percy Faith’s A Summer Place Theme. And I’ll end here, before I end up writing you a book.
CW Martin
Some GREAT choices on this list. I absolutely loved Roseanne Cash's "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me" and believe it should have been a HUGE cross-over hit. To his day I can't believe it wasn't ... and still smile and sing along every time I hear it.
Personally I prefer the Merilee Rush version of "Angel of the Morning" to Juice Newton's version ... but I will grant you that she did a pretty powerful reading. The Pretenders' recording of "It's A Thin Line Between Love And Hate" ranks as one of my favorites by them ... and I totally agree with you on "A Theme from 'A Summer Place'" ... and have almost mentioned that one at least a dozen times since this topic started. Thanks for sharing with us, CW! (kk)
Today's the day ... Lou Simon is counting down the 40 Biggest Songs to peak at #4 during the 1960's on Sirius / XM ... the program airs today at noon ... so you still have time to get a subscription (or quality for a free 30-day trial).
You won't believe some of the titles that DIDN'T make the list!!! Great, timeless hits that hit the #4 spot back in the day ... yet still didn't earn enough cumulative points to make the final countdown. Our plan was to feature a few of them today just to whet your appetite ...
But, once again, DivShare doesn't have their act together ... and we are "musicless" for the fifth day in a row!!! (Way to REALLY futz up an oldies music website guys!!!)
If ... by some miracle ... this problem gets resolved later today we will repost not only today's planned #4's feature ... but also ALL of the music missing from this week's "Goosebumps Moments" features ... but (since they haven't responded to a single one of my six emails to their "support hotline"), I wouldn't hold my breath that they'll do much about this on a national holiday!!! Meanwhile,be sure to check back to the website tomorrow to see the official list of Top 40 #4 Hits of The '60's!
DIVSHARE UPDATE: I FINALLY heard back from DivShare a few minutes ago and wanted to share this update with you ...
Hi Kent,
Thanks for using DivShare, and I am very sorry for the inconvenience. Our servers have been swamped the past few days and our engineers have been working hard to stay on top of the growth as quickly as possible. We have now got the infrastructure in place and are working on syncing to our system now. We look to have everything running at normal speeds later today. We really appreciate your patience and understanding during this time, and assure you a new and vastly improved service will be up and running soon. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you in the interim, and thanks again for your patience.
Respectfully, Mitko DivShare Support
If this comes to pass,we will update this week's posting once service is available again. At that time we will send out a new notice to everyone to check the site. Again, I apologize for this inconvenience but it truly was beyond our control. Hopefully everything will be back up and running again shortly. Thank you for your patience as well. (kk)
