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Fat Tuesday (?)

February 9, 2016, 4:00 am
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Sure ... why not!










Could there BE a more appropriate "Fat Tuesday" song to celebrate Mardi Gras and New Orleans???



Of course it was Dick Clark's wife who named this former chicken-plucker, based on the success of Mr. Domino above.
(Remember a year or two ago when Chubby sued some phone app company because they came up with a device that women could download to their phones and then, while out looking for companionship at night could aim the thing at their desired quest and the app would gauge the size of the guy's penis?!?!?  
They called it "The Chubby Checker" ... and ol' Earnest Evans was none to happy about it!!!
Kind of an interesting "twist" to his notoriety, no???



Wrapping it up with Weird Al ...



Pig out today, people ... you KNOW you want to!!!

ORIGINS OF FAT TUESDAY:
DIDJAKNOW?:  
Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is the last day of a season called “Carnival.” The Carnival season is characterized by merrymaking, feasting, and dancing. Mardi Gras is the culmination of festivities and features parades, masquerades, and, unfortunately, often drunkenness and shameless debauchery. Carnival is typically celebrated in Catholic countries of southern Europe and Latin America.
The excess of Carnival may not seem to have much in common with the austerity of Lent, but the two seasons are inseparable. The day after Fat Tuesday is Ash Wednesday; therefore, the end of Carnival is followed immediately by the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time of fasting and penance in preparation for Easter. Carnival, then, can rightly be seen as the indulgence before the fast. It is one last “binge” before having to give something up for 40 days.
-- from GotQuestions.org
 
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Feelin' Like Some British Invasion This Morning

February 10, 2016, 4:00 am
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A dozen "must play" tunes from this great era of music ...

Which puts us just short of a Sweet 16!!!























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CHICAGO: Enough Already

February 11, 2016, 3:34 am
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For the past eleven years we have championed Chicago as being one of the most Deserving and Denied artists overlooked by The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The very basis for induction into this elite (and thoroughly confusing and frustrating) group was to honor those who took rock and roll into new directions, establishing new trends and inspiring others to take those strides even further.

It was frustrating and infuriating to see a group as great and talented as Chicago snubbed each and every year of eligibility by never even so much as making the ballot.

And then ... finally ... THIS year all of that changed.  Not only did Chicago finally make the ballot but they also won by a landslide the popular vote of the public, capturing 24% of all of the votes cast for the fifteen acts nominated ... an incredible 36.7 MILLION votes ... over 11 1/2 million more votes than the next closest runner-up.  Finally ... VINDICATION for their incredible contribution to rock history.

But for weeks now all of that glory has been polluted by comments from Peter Cetera about whether or not  he will accept his award and perform again with his old bandmates ... as if HIS presence is the only thing that brings credibility to this honor.

It's a shame ... and frankly, downright embarrassing.

Chicago has NEVER been about one individual.  They are and have always been an ensemble act where ALL members have contributed to their overall sound and legacy.

Over the course of their fifty year career, they have overcome both tragedy (the death of guitarist / vocalist Terry Kath) and vanity (Peter Cetera leaving for a solo career in 1985) ... and, for the past 30+ years now have soldiered on WITHOUT Cetera, traveling the world many times over, playing to sold out, appreciative audiences around the globe.

In fact, one could quite favorably argue that it was Peter Cetera's collaborations with songwriter / producer David Foster that contributed to their lack of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame recognition for decades because they were no longer perceived as the innovative, progressive band they were when they first launched their career and made their mark in the public eye, choosing instead to take the far-safer soft-rock approach with middle-of-the-road fluff and schmaltzy ballads.

Don't get me wrong ... Chicago's all-time biggest hits came as a direct result of this shift of genre but, like any deal with the devil, long time fans and critics alike felt that perhaps they had lost their edge in the process ... and, along with it, any street cred that would have endeared them to The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominating Committee years earlier. 

This award has been a long time coming ... it was incredibly satisfying to see them FINALLY rewarded for all their musical efforts and contributions.

But then, shortly after the first of the year, when Peter Cetera posted his list of "demands" under which conditions he would perform with the band again at the awards ceremony, this quickly began a downhill spiral.   

As a finale, we can walk onstage together one last time as a group, I’ll strap on the bass, and we can do 25 or 6 to 4 in the key of E. I believe it would make for one fantastic Hall of Fame moment and satisfy those who have always wanted some sort of reunion.  (Peter Cetera)

In our post dated January 9th, we complimented Peter on his inclusion of other key members of Chicago over the years that he felt should also be recognized for their contributions.
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-sunday-comments-01-10-16.html 

How we went from this encouraging comment to all that Peter posted this week is beyond me ...

First (posted last Friday, February 5th): 

Hello everyone!
I know you’re all waiting to hear what’s happening with the Hall of Fame. I know how frustrated you all are, but trust me, no one is more tired and frustrated than yours truly. 
I had a conference call with the musical department today and I’ve presented another song option. Right now it’s about a fiddy fiddy chance that we can hammer something out by the weekend. Frankly folks, I'm done if this doesn’t work out. Here’s hoping this one works … I'll let you know either way ASAP …
Ciao, 
Peter
PS As of today it’s now down to 25 per cent chance of happening.

And then this, posted on Monday, February 8th:   

I just sent this to the RnR hall of fame people. This is the the short high road nice version of what I really wanted to say. I’ll post that response at the appropriate time. 
Ciao,
Peter   

Hello Alex and Joel!
Unfortunately, this scenario doesn’t work for me. I know we all did our best to make it happen, but I guess it’s just not meant to be.
Personally, I’m frustrated and tired of dealing with this and it’s time to move on. I have a life with two beautiful daughters and a solo career and it's time to get back and give them all the full attention they deserve.
Thanks for all your help and consideration! Have a great show and please send any individual award I receive to the contact you have for me.  
All the best,  
Peter Cetera
After displaying nothing but extreme excitement about being inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and the prospect of playing with Peter Cetera again ... followed by a round of sincere disappointment that Peter may not participate after all, Chicago posted this notice by way of their manager, Peter Schivarelli, earlier this week ... 

The rock group, Chicago, is honored to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 8 in New York and are looking forward to performing at the event. 

The four original band members, Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, Jimmy Pankow and Walt Parazaider, will be there, as well as former original band member Danny Seraphine. 

Peter Cetera, despite the best efforts of the Rock Hall and the band to reach a happy middle ground, made his decision not to participate. He has made it clear twice now that he will not attend or perform. Cetera, who was an original band member, has been gone for over 30 years. 

Chicago have performed consistently every year heading into their 50th anniversary without ever missing a year.  

Schivarelli went on to say “The band has looked forward to this day since they got word of their induction. They’ve waited a long time and are excited to perform for their fans and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame crowd.”  

What a shame ... and what a waste ... all those years of toiling together to make a name for yourselves and live the dream, winning over MILLIONS of lifelong fans in the process ... followed by all those years of waiting to FINALLY be recognized for your accomplishments and contributions to the history of rock and roll ... thrown aside by some petty bullshit.  It almost makes it embarrassing for having campaigned for them ... 

Almost ...  

But the truth is these guys deserve it and I'm STILL proud to see them make it.  Fuck Peter Cetera ... don't let him diminish this moment from you in ANY way.  Do not allow him to steal one decibel of thunder so rightly earned by this great band.  This is YOUR moment to shine.  Congratulations to the guys who made it all happen ... stuck with it through even the most difficult of times ... and continue to entertain and delight their devoted audience.  

All hail Chicago ... or at least the guys who are still PROUD to call themselves by that name. 
kk 
Kent Kotal   
Forgotten Hits
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The Friday Flash

February 12, 2016, 4:24 am
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re:  Coppock's Topics:  
Kent ...  
#1 = I heard that Wayne Cochran is currently a minister in Florida.  Does Chet know if this is true?  
I'm sure he does ... and we've covered that several times in Forgotten Hits as well.  My understanding is that he doesn't really talk about his rock and roll days anymore ... and yet I found this clip on YouTube from a couple of years ago ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1vBPPjdveE  
I never had the chance to see him ... but when Chet Coppock was roadie-ing for The New Colony Six, he would don a huge white pompadour wig and do his best Wayne Cochran impersonation as part of the show.
#2 = I agree with his Cousin Brucie observation.  I'm still trying to figure out how Cousin Brucie has more hair today then he did during his Palisades Park days.  
He's never really been one of MY particular favorites either.

#7 = Bobby Darin on the Dick Clark Beech-Nut Show . Great. I agree.
We ran a couple of clips during our Bobby Darin Tribute Series back a the first of the year.
Here are the two Chet mentioned ...




#10 = Pat St. John left New York radio when he moved.  I know what he's talking about.
#12 = Who's got more soul than Eric Burdon? Nobody.
#13 = Lady Gaga at the Super Bowl.  There was a Las Vegas bet about Lady Gaga.  Exactly how long will it take her to sing the National Anthem?  Will it be over or under 2 minutes & 20 seconds.  I thought  it would be under. Haven't seen the official time.  I think I was wrong.
Kent , could you ask Chet a question for me?
I know him before Forgotten Hits but I can't remember why.
Did he ever have a show that was on in the New York area?
If I remember correctly, he always wore suspenders.
Thanks for giving me another clip of the week to add to my resume.
Frank B.
Chet has been a part of the Chicagoland Sports Scene for many decades now ... but he also did a stint in New York, hosting "Newsport", a two hour sports talk show on Cable Vision in New York.  So yes, you probably DO know him from that.  (He also used to host wrestling matches back in the day!)
As for the suspenders?  A picture's worth a thousand words!  (kk)



Yes, I hosted Newsport, a two hour sports talk show on Cable Vision in New York, for about three and a half years. C.V. is owned by the Dolan family, which also owns the New York Knicks, The Yes Network and the New York Knicks.
Among many great thrills I enjoyed during my time in the apple was taping video commercials for my show at the historic Brill Building.
I kept on waiting for Carole King to come walking in to hand me an updated version of "The Loco-Motion."
However, N.Y. rock is a drag compared to Chicago. Guys like Cousin Brucie are third stringers compared to legends like Dick Biondi, Jerry G., Joel Sebastian, Jim Stagg and on and on and on.
Chet Coppock     

>>>How much bread did "New Radicals" leave on the table when they disbanded back in '98 or '9? "Wake up kids you got the dreamer's disease."  (Chet Coppock)    
In response to Chet's musings above ... not much ... the rest of the "New Radicals" album was crap. They blew their wad on that one great song!  
Cory Cooper       

Hi.     
I’m a long time subscriber and first time responder.  I love your newsletter and although I sometimes don’t agree with opinions expressed, none have irked me as much as Chet Coppock’s most recent posting.    
I’ve listened to rock and roll from the beginning.  Living in cities like New York (WABC, WINS, WMCA) Detroit (WXYZ, CKLW) Chicago, Philly (WIBG), Atlanta (WQXI) and, in recent years, Phoenix. Everyone’s entitled to his opinion, But Chet, sorry to say,  is an imbecile.  His derogatory comments about Cousin Brucie (who at 75, still sounds very similar to the way he did back in the early 60’s on WABC) and Pat St John, (who remains the only on air D-J on XM’s 60’s on 6 to play “Other” songs besides those same 200 played on every oldies station in America),  are unacceptable.   
Then to top it off he wants to remove Lou Reed from The R&R Hall Of Fame, to make room for Jewell???? Had he said make room for The Moody Blues, Yes, the Guess Who or even Connie Francis ... then I’d also say move aside Lou.  Time for Chet to retire.    
Jeffrey Gallen    
Phoenix, Az    
Love him or hate him ... agree or disagree ... Chet can ALWAYS get the conversation (debate?) going!  (Which, is, by the way, his whole intention!  You do know the Jewel thing was a joke, right???)  kk     

>>>Unless another major rock star dies tonight ... hey, it could happen ... watch for the latest edition of Coppock's Topics tomorrow morning on the Forgotten Hits website!  (kk)

--submitted by Ken Voss  

re:  The Monkees: 
Hey Kent –
I’m enjoying the coverage you’re giving to The Monkee’s 50th Anniversary.  In the spirit of the occasion, Bobby Hart and I wrote a new Monkees tribute song called Rear View Mirror.  We also put together this rough video slide show.  We’re probably too late for it to be considered for their “Good Times” CD, but it’s never too late to share with the Forgotten Hits family.  I hope you like it! 
As always, thanks for all you’re doing at Forgotten Hits!  
Dick Eastman



Thanks, Dick ... I appreciate it ... and thanks for sharing!
Too bad this couldn't be included ... it would have made for a neat track on the new LP.  (Who knows ... we've got some pretty well connected people on this list ... never say never!)
And it's SO good to hear that you and Bobby Hart are writing together again!)
I can definitely hear Micky singing this one, can't you???
Thanks again!  (kk)

re:  Chicago / Peter Cetera:

RIGHT ON KENT - - You hit the nail on the head. 
Peter is one disillusion individual.  I've never had patience for people with egos and the boy seems to have a large one.  Sheesh, even though he made some good money after going solo from the group - - I sure as hell did not buy  any of those cheesy “all sound the same” ballads he did.
Jeff James
Hey, I'm all for bettering oneself when the opportunity to do so presents itself ... but you still don't forget what got you to where you are today ... you can't ever lose sight of that.
This isn't a case of "the band is reforming to go out on the road and make a ton of money so everybody's got to swallow their pride and stay focused on the prize" ... this is the chance ... and a ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE at that ... to FINALLY be recognized and rewarded for living and fulfilling your dream.  If you can't suck it up long enough to make it through a four hour dinner with your former bandmates, then do it for the fans who have supported you for SO many years.  You owe your success to your talent ... you owe your career and longevity to the fans who have stood beside you every step of the way.  Can't you set all of this aside for just one night to give the fans what they most want to see ... and remember and enjoy (even if only for a fleeting moment) what you did it all for in the first place?  So sad to think that all of this ... and all of US ... mean so little to you.  (kk)
You nailed it - your assessment of Peter Cetera was spot on.  Chicago was NEVER about any one individual (and even if it was, it would have been Terry Kath and not Peter Cetera!) - and they did just fine after Kath was gone, thank you very much.
Man, what an over-inflated ego.  Does he not even realize how he comes across to his fans with a bonehead move like this?  He clearly doesn't care - which makes ME care even less.
Frank
To paraphrase Robert Lamm ...
Does anybody really know what the hell Peter Cetera is talking about?
Does anybody really care?
If so, I can't imagine why ...
We've all moved on and will not cry. (kk)

re:  Van Morrison:  
CONGRATS to our good friend VAN MORRISON who picked up his official KNIGHTHOOD Medal at Buckingham Palace before the close of the week!
Not Bad For A Blue Eyed Soul Singer From East Belfast!
-- Van Morrison
What else can I say except I love the man and he deserves all those honors!  I will never forget what he did for me -- as one of the very few artists he's ever asked to tour with him!
Van attended a handful of my shows in the UK over the years and it's still my dream to cut even one tune with him before I leave this earth. God Bless Him!
-- CHARLIE GRACIE
STAND BY ... 🎸☘🏆
See pics of Charlie & Van ... 
(photos submitted by Charlie Gracie, Jr.)







re:  Fat Tuesday / British Rock:

Kent ...

Here's another "Fat Song" for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeWmMJ-J45c
Frank B.
There's also "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" by Paul Simon. It was a Top 10 in the UK, but escaped notice in America.
Carl Wiser
Yeah, I kicked around the idea of several other "Fat Tuesday" related track but decided to stick with the "short but sweet" / Tuesday Short Stack instead.  I figured we'd already done one Fats Domino song (Walkin' To New Orleans ... which killed two birds with one stone) so I opted for the Chubby Checker tune instead.
I'm very familiar with Paul Simon's "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" ... a great track ... was just listening to "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" the other day as a matter of fact!
Another one dropped at the last minute from consideration was "Tuesday Afternoon" by The Moody Blues.  (I mean you gotta draw the line SOMEWHERE!!!)  kk

Loved your list of the”sweet 12” british invasion tracks ... most of which you NEVER hear on the radio.  Too sad!
Also ... for Fat Tuesday there was Freddy Cannon’s “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” or
Gary US Bonds’ “New Orleans”.
Keep up the good work,
Ted
Kent,
Loved the 12 British Invasion tunes you posted today. I always liked the original version of BUMBLE BEE as opposed to the Searchers' version. Fairly big record here in OKC back in 1960 by Lavern Baker. Personally speaking, I always liked the Overlanders' version of  YESTERDAY'S GONE over Chad and Jeremy's. The Adam Faith tune was fairly big here as well in OKC.  The version of IT'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT by Gerry and the Pacemakers is not the original studio version as released on vinyl in 1965 on 45 rpm I believe.
The 45 version's TOV (time to vocal) is 5 seconds compared to 19 seconds on the version you posted. The version you posted may have been an LP version, that I don't know. Again, thanks for the posting of the 12 songs, they were all great.
Larry

re:  This And That:

The Eagles will reunite to perform during next Monday's Grammy Awards ceremony as a tribute to Glenn Frey.  Joining Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit on stage will be original founding member Bernie Leadon and Jackson Browne, who cowrote The Eagles' first hit, "Take It Easy", with Frey back in 1971.  The ceremony airs Monday Night, February 15th, on CBS Television.  (kk)

A VERY special offer thru the end of February from our friend Joel Whitburn and Record Research ...

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RecordResearch/1776f8e329/698b321b8e/d60da511e7http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RecordResearch/1776f8e329/698b321b8e/243a70ab75

Now through February 29, 2016, SAVE when you addon to your bookshelf at www.recordresearch.com!

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RecordResearch/1776f8e329/698b321b8e/99aaea89e5
Kent,
One thing I like about FH is that I read obituaries of artists who have passed away in which the news of their death does not make our local paper. A good example is Joe Dowell in today's FH. Always did like his 1962 LITTLE RED RENTED ROWBOAT which did turn out to be a SMASH hit. 
Today for the first time I saw a commercial on television which I had never seen before. Now I don't know how long it has been running, so maybe you have seen it, maybe not. The product in question, I believe, was Expedia. The background music was from 1957 recorded by the Valiants with a tune called THIS IS THE NIGHT. I have just seen the commercial this one time and I believe it was the original song by the Valiants. What say you if you've seen it?Also, if you are like me, you are watching the Super Bowl right now. They just showed a commercial for Prius. Did you happen to hear the music playing in the background? It was the tune APACHE but not the Jorgen Ingmann version. Funny how us fans of FH recognizes a familiar tune in the background of a commercial but sometimes can't remember the commercial itself.
Larry
As we've discussed many times before you've got to wonder who the marketing guys are who keep coming up with ways to use this older music ... especially when all we keep hearing is that the target buying audience is that 25-45 year old age group.  SOMEBODY out there recognizes the fact that the catchy music of our generation just might stick in their heads and get them to investigate a product they otherwise wouldn't.  Would love to get into that mindset for a few hours to hear how they are able to justify such a double-sided philosophy.  (kk)
Hi Kent,
Still loving your blog, with especially fond memories of the incredible roast beef sandwiches we had together in your beautiful city of Chicago.
I felt compelled to send you this photo when I saw the picture of the Kustom amp in your February 7th edition. 
This is me back in 1971 (I still have that '68 Fender P-bass; and, come to think of it, I think I still have the baby boom mic stand!) with my band, Smile.  I used a Sunn Sonaro with two 15" cabinets, and this cool black Kustom amp.  The amps are, sadly, long gone, but my P-bass (which is shaved blond since 1976) is still my go-to axe.
Good times, my friend!
Warm regards,
Bob Rush

From Diane Diekman' Country Newsletter comes this tidbit about Joe Stampley ... Joe was the former lead singer of the group The Uniques back in the '60's who charted eleven times on the national pop charts between 1965 and 1970.
Two of those chart hits were the song "All These Things", one of Frannie's all-time favorites growing up in Texas where it evidently was a #1 Hit.  The Uniques' version peaked at #44 in 1966 and a reissued version in 1970 bubbled under at #112.  Joe also cut a solo version when he became a country artist years later ... in fact, it peaked at #1 on Billboard's Country Chart in 1976.  (He would hit Billboard's Country Chart 62 times between 1971 and 1989.)
Six of those hits would come when Joe teamed up with Moe Bandy in the early '80's as Moe and Joe.  In 1984 they cut a GREAT novelty record making fun of Boy George with their #8 hit called "Where's The Dress?"
Sounds like Joe's been having some health issues lately ... first time he's been in a hospital since he was six years old having his tonsils removed!!! 

Diane's got the whole story below ... 

Joe Stampleyisrecovering from unplanned heart bypass surgery. He had just returned from a tour and was carrying a fifty-pound sack of corn out to feed the deer on December 21, when his chest started hurting enough to make him drop the bag off his shoulder. It was a warning, not an actual heart attack, and there was no damage to his heart. The doctors at first thought a stent would be sufficient. But further tests showed five blockages, with one artery 99 percent blocked, and they scheduled bypass surgery.  
The morning after surgery, the staff already had Joe up and walking down the hall. He did that three times a day for the remaining six days he was hospitalized. He spent both Christmas and New Year's in the hospital, and went home January 4. He diligently follows his book of exercises, and he is up to three 18-minute walks per day. He will soon be starting rehab.  
He told me during our telephone conversation, "I have a little pain once in a while in my chest." Not surprising, since his chest was cut wide open, and stainless steel staples are now holding it together. The bone will grow around the staples. When I commented about airport security, he told me he quit flying years ago. "You couldn't pay me to get on an airplane," he said.  
Joe is 72 years old, and the last time he'd spent a night in a hospital before this was to have his tonsils removed at age six. He doesn't smoke or drink. His heart trouble is caused by hereditary high cholesterol. His father and grandfather had bypass surgery, as did several cousins, and his brother died of a heart attack at age 46.  
"I'm worried about Mel Tillis," he told me. He was in the same hospital as Mel, who went in for colon surgery and has since been hit with an infection and double pneumonia. Joe says Mel is taking "high-powered antibiotics."  
I asked Joe if the bypass surgery caused him to cancel any shows, and he said no. He's semi-retired, had already completed his 2015 schedule, and doesn't start his 2016 schedule until this fall.   
He and Moe Bandy have a show in Branson on October 5. Then, they will be doing a Good Ole Boys Reunion show on the 2017 Country Music Cruise next January. Vince Gill, Charley Pride, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brenda Lee, Lee Greenwood, Tanya Tucker, and Jimmy Fortune are some of the other entertainers, along with Lorianne Crook as host. They will be traveling from Tampa to Key West, Cozumel, and Costa Maya. "I'm looking forward to that," Joe says.  
"I've had three careers in the music business," Joe told me. He started at age 15 in Louisiana as a pop / rock singer, where he formed a band called the Uniques and recorded on Imperial Records and Paula Records. They backed Nat Stuckey on his recording of "Sweet Thang." I asked if Joe gets royalties, and he said they were paid $100 per person for doing four sides.  
That career lasted from 1960 - 1970, and Joe became a country singer when Al Gallico brought him to Dot Records in 1971. He recorded "The Most Beautiful Girl" before Charlie Rich worked it up off Joe's album. Joe had his own share of hits, with "Soul Song,""Roll On Big Mama," and "All These Things" reaching number one in the 1970s.  
His third career began when he hooked up with Moe Bandy, and they hit number one with "Just Good Ol' Boys" in 1979. Joe continued with top ten hits, both solo and with Moe, into the mid-1980s. He had 72 charted country records.  
When Joe tours solo now, he is backed by the Jeff Griffith Band. "It's a real good band, and they know all my stuff," he says. When he performs with Moe, he is backed by Moe's band. Joe does a segment of his hits, Moe does a segment of his hits, and then they come out on stage together as Moe & Joe.  
Not a user of email or the Internet, Joe does have a website to sell his merchandise: http://joestampley.com.    
He talked about his son, Tony Stampley, who wrote "Where's the Dress" for Moe & Joe. Tony has written hits for Randy Travis, John Anderson, and Hank Williams Jr., and he has two songs on Hank's new album, It's About Time. Tony's songs are "The Party's On" and "Club U.S.A."  
Joe plans to spend the following years enjoying life -- doing some hunting, going out for some shows, and having a good time.
Get on Diane's country list here:

Hey Kent,
I know the media has its own opinion about the meaning of Don McLean's "American Pie", and I know it has been discussed here a lot. I also know that I may piss off some Buddy Holly fans, but based on all I have read in print, interviews, etc., I really believe that "The Day the Music Died" was not Feb. 3, 1959, but Feb. 9, 1964. Yes, Holly's death was part of the song, but McLean was missing his classic rock 'n roll days, and that's what he tried to say in his song. I just brought it up, because of the anniversary of The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show; the night that changed popular music forever. Stephen Colbert brought up the anniversary last night, on his late night show. Nothing against The Beatles, 'cause I love the guys and their music, especially Ringo!
- John LaPuzza
I've met many people over the years who firmly believe that rock and roll music died the moment the British Invasion hit our shores.  For me personally, that's the day that music BEGAN.  And it was through that music that I began to learn more about the influences that came first and inspired it.  Music continues to evolve over time ... I love '50's and '60's rock and roll as much today as I did then ... and, in some cases, even more so.  Everyone thought Disco would kill music ... years later it was going to be the Punk Rock Movement and then Rap ... but music ... GOOD Music ... lives on.  Thankfully we can distinguish that which works best for us and ignore the rest.  Like Sly Stone said,
"Different Strokes For Different Folks".  (kk)
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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

February 14, 2016, 4:00 am
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SWEET 16: River Music (2-16-16)

February 16, 2016, 3:04 am
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Today Forgotten Hits takes you to the river ... as this special SWEET 16 List focuses on "River Music" ...

 1 - TAKE ME TO THE RIVER - Talking Heads


 
 2 - GREEN RIVER - Creedence Clearwater Revival


 
 3 - WATCHING THE RIVER RUN - Loggins and Messina


 
 4 - WATCHING THE RIVER FLOW - Bob Dylan


 
 5 - CRY ME A RIVER - Joe Cocker


 
 6 -MOON RIVER - Andy Williams



 7 - RED RIVER ROCK - Johnny and the Hurricanes 



 8 - DOWN BY THE LAZY RIVER - The Osmonds



 9 - DON'T CROSS THE RIVER - America



10  - THE RIVER IS WIDE - The Grass Roots


 
11 - MOODY RIVER - Pat Boone


 
12 - YELLOW RIVER - Christie


 
13 - LAZY RIVER - Bobby Darin


 
14 - DOWN BY THE RIVER - Buddy Miles 



15 - RIVER OF DREAMS - Billy Joel


 
16 - RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH - Ike and Tina Turner


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Our 2016 Grammy Recap

February 17, 2016, 4:06 am
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A day late due to our new SWEET 16 Feature but I just can't resist talking about the three hours I wasted Monday Night watching this year's Grammy Awards!!!

Thanks, Kent, for the info about one of my all time favorite bands, The Eagles.  I even met Joe Walsh once while back. I guess I will have to "grin and bear" this year's Grammys till I get to the "good stuff."  Patience is a virtue.  
Sandy   

After a couple of great Grammy Awards shows over the past two years I found this year's event to be extremely disappointing ... I can't believe I devoted over three hours to it. (I think in the end I can say that I actually enjoyed about 20-25 minutes!) 

I, too, was looking forward to The Eagles' performance ... an emotional experience, I'm sure, for all parties concerned ... but I still found it somewhat lackluster.  (Jackson Browne forgetting the words to the song he helped co-write to launch their career was a bit disappointing, too.)  

I know it had to be hard coming together and performing for the first time without their leader, Glenn Frey, but honestly statues of The Eagles probably would have shown more life on stage. 

The so-called big events of the evening also fell flat for me ... Lady Ga Ga's tribute to David Bowie was glitz, glamour and noise ... Adele was off pitch more often than on ... and I was about ready to turn in my "I love music" card several times during the high-pitched screaming and strobe light effects of Kendrick Lamar.  If this is what constitutes as "music" these days, I'll keep living in the past.  

Much of the same could be said of the "highly anticipated" (?) debut of The Hollywood Vampires (featuring Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry), who may have set a new record for the longest moment of sustained noise without a single hint of melody.  (Honest to God, it was almost enough to make me want to dig out my Yoko Ono records again ... keyword: almost) 

Then again, a guy like The Weeknd can go up there and absolutely slay his audience through the pure power and magic of his voice.  The same can be said of the extremely short presentation of Miguel's performance of Michael Jackson's "She's Out Of My Life", accompanied by Greg Phillinganes on piano, who also played on Michael's original recording on his "Off The Wall" album.

(How boring was most of the show?  Let's just say that it's kind of sad that three of the best minutes in the three-plus hours were Gwen Stefani's new music video / Target commercial ... but it was catchy as hell and fun to watch ... and probably the best thing she's recorded in years!) 

Don't get me wrong ... there were a few high points ... I absolutely LOVED "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town ... Karen Fairchild has got to have one of the most beautiful, crystal clear voices out there today ... absolutely stunning.  (I wasn't familiar with this song at all until I bought the 2016 Grammy Nominees CD ... and have played it DOZENS of times since.)  Their subtlety orchestrated version gave the song a new dimension ... but I still prefer the original, stripped down version that won them the awards for Best Country Duo / Group Performance and Best Country Song. 

Stevie Wonder saluting Earth, Wind and Fire with Pentatronix was OK ... and I thought the tribute to Lionel Richie was quite well done (even if the most exciting part of that performance was waiting to see if Demi Lovato would fall out of her jacket) ... and who'd have EVER thought that after all the crazy theatrics and special effects thrown at us over the course of this long, drawn-out affair that the single best performance of the night was the tribute to B.B. King?  That was simply a case of letting the music do all the talking ... and it was absolutely outstanding. 

I salute Taylor Swift for accepting her Album Of The Year Award and, in the most classy and professional way, putting down Kanye West for taking ANY credit in her career, after he's made it a point to upstage her on a couple of previous occasions.  And there is absolutely NO doubt in my mind that "Uptown Funk" was the Record Of The Year ... again, thanks to its drawbacks to the vintage funk of the '60's and '70's.  

Sometimes it takes a gathering of this nature to make me realize that music hasn't really "grown" in a positive way of late ... which makes those artists capable of pulling off moments like the ones described above REALLY shine and stand head and shoulders above the rest.  (kk)  

HEY KENT, 
CURIOUS WHO WAS THE FIFTH GUITAR PLAYER ON STAGE FOR THE EAGLES TRIBUTE TO GLENN FREY? (TO JOE WALSH’S LEFT). 
THANKS, 
GARY
That would be Steuart Smith, who's been with them for several years now (since the departure of Don Felder.)  Although never officially named an Eagle, (the core band to the end consisted of Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit), Smith was a frequent songwriting contributor and collaborator and even shared producing credit on the band's last album "Long Road Out Of Eden".  (kk)   

No Randy Meisner?
Bob Rush
Randy's been in poor health for a few years now ... and, from the sounds of things, both mentally and physically.  As such he didn't take part in The History Of The Eagles tours either.  And, of course, Don Felder will most likely never be welcome again!  (Watch the documentary ... absolutely fascinating!)  kk  

With all the great music the Eagles gave us through the years I would have thought the Grammy tribute last night to Glenn Frey would have been more than one song. 
Ga Ga's medley tribute to Bowie included parts of 10 songs. Of course Glen was only one part of the Eagles, but the heart is a big part.
Danny Guilfoyle
I agree, especially when weighed against the two screeching songs devoted to remembering Lemmy and Motorhead.  I found Lady Ga Ga's performance to be far more spectacle than meaningful tribute ... it was less about the music and more about her presentation of it.  Chalk it up to a misstep as this is one extremely talented performer.  God, we've lost SO many great artists over the past year ... that's one thing the Grammys really drove home.  It was a night of tributes.  (Speaking of which, if David Bowie deserved TEN songs and Motorhead deserved TWO songs, how on earth did The Eagles ... and B.B. King, who had a 60+ year career, only warrant one?  Thankfully, it was one of the best performances of the night ... he would have been proud.) 
And how odd to think that MONTHS ago it was determined that Jefferson Airplane and Earth, Wind and Fire would both receive lifetime achievement awards only to have founding members of each group pass away just weeks before the telecast.
I read that Natalie Cole's family was not very happy with the tribute paid to her ... since it showcased her father as much as it did Natalie, virtually overlooking her entire "solo" career.
And what is it about LL Cool J that has convinced the Grammy folks that he should be the permanent host of these proceedings?  I don't get that one at all!  He shows absolutely no charisma and adds nothing to the proceedings. 
When compared to the past two years' ceremonies, this one was a real dud for me.  I kept waiting for those big moments where you say to yourself "Boy, I'm sure glad I got to see THAT!!!"  They seemed to be very few and far between this year.  (kk) 

And how about this ... did you hear about Paul McCartney being turned away for one of the Grammy After Parties?
At one point Paul (who was turned away TWICE) reportedly said "How VIP do we gotta get?  We need another hit." 
Kent ...
How soon they forget.
Frank B.

I'm obviously getting too old to watch the Grammys. Of course the Grammys are about as relevant as the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. 
Jack
I'm with ya ... I swore I would ALWAYS keep up with the times musically but it's been almost impossible to do so.  But what REALLY convinced me was when I saw Rolling Stone's 20 Best and Worst Grammy Moments ... I swear I disagreed with nearly every single one of them.  The things that I hated the most (Kendrick Lamar anyone?) were their favorites!  Check out some of these comments ... in typical Forgotten Hits Point / Counterpoint fashion ...

BEST OF THE NIGHT: King Kendrick Lamar Steals The Show 
Kendrick Lamar conquered the Grammys with a theatrical hip-hop musical that jettisoned through history, paying tribute to the hands that really built Alexander Hamilton's America. This intense piece of jailhouse rock traveled from New Orleans to Compton to Africa to N.W.A's "Express Yourself" music video to Busta Rhymes'"Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" music video to Diddy's ecstatic adlibs. It ended with a celebration of hip-hop itself: Just a close up of Kendrick Lamar's face — all spittle and strobes — bringing an explosive arrangement of "Alright" and new lyrics of fury about the slaying of Trayvon Martin. "2012 mistakes for the world to see/Sent us back another 400 years/This is modern-day slavery." He proceeds to give us what we need. - Rolling Stone
In my opinion the WORST performance of the night.  (kk)

BEST: Lady Gaga Brings the House Down for Bowie 
Lady Gaga spent the days before her Grammy tribute to David Bowie getting an Aladdin Sane tattoo, then showed up on the red carpet dressed as Ziggy Stardust. So, yeah, there was never any doubt she meant business. And like most things she and her Haus do, the attention to detail in her performance was evident — but that's a requirement when attempting to honor a chameleon like Bowie. So while her outfits were dazzling, and her nods to Bowie's performances (updates of "Rebel Rebel,""Fame" and "Heroes") showed a true obsessive, what made Gaga's performance perfect was the way she captured the spirit of the man's work throughout his career. Bowie's looks changed, but the guiding principle behind his work didn't: He delighted in remaining true to himself. And you got the same sense from Gaga, who wasn't just celebrating the man's music, but relishing the opportunity to perform it in front of this buttoned-up, all-business crowd. It was odd, amorphous, over-the-top and everything you could've hoped for. Bowie would've loved this. - Rolling Stone
All show and no substance.  Yes, I truly believe she was a fan ... and considered Bowie to be a MAJOR inspiration in forging her own career ... but I felt virtually nothing during this entire performance.  And it dragged on FOREVER!!!  (kk)   

WORST: Adele's Audio Rolls Into Deep Trouble 
The fact that Adele — who wasn't even eligible for any of this year's awards — was performing at the Grammys, made it a must-watch event. The woman with the best-selling album of 2015, who broke all kinds of records and saved the music industry (again), was to be a draw that would bring together generations during an often disparate awards show.  The performance was plagued by poor sound mixing, dissonant tones that sounded like a fork on a guitar and a volume drop that nearly silenced the singer. "The piano mics fell on to the piano strings; that's what the guitar sound was," explained Adele on Twitter. "It made it sound out of tune. Shit happens. Because of it though... I'm treating myself to an In 'n' Out [burger]. So maybe it was worth it." Adele soldiered on in her first Grammys performance since 2012, but it was a disappointment for those who awaited her return.  - Rolling Stone
Agreed ... it was downright embarrassing ... and she knew it.  She can blame it on whatever she wants ... what should have been the highlight of the show was a disappointing fiasco.  (kk)

BEST: Taylor Brushes Off a Famous Hater 
As the cameras turned to Taylor Swift for the Grammys' opening number, a question hung in the air: Would she take this chance to lash back at Kanye West's crass, misogynist shot at her on his song "Famous" (and his subsequent, half-assed attempt to claim her blessing for the same)? The answer was no: She saved that for a pointed subliminal in her Album of the Year acceptance speech a few hours later.  Sorry, Kanye, this just wasn't your night.  - Rolling Stone
Agreed ... Taylor showed a LOTTA class with the way she handled this.  (But seriously ... when Beyonce came out there at the end, weren't you waiting for Kanye to rush out from behind the curtain, snatch somebody's Grammy and give to Beyonce himself since she couldn't win one on her own???)  kk

BEST: Jackson Browne Soars With the Eagles
In the 2013 doc History of the Eagles, Glenn Frey credits Jackson Browne — his onetime downstairs neighbor — with teaching him how to write songs. Browne meanwhile, thanks the late singer-songwriter for penning the masterfully cocky line ("It's a girl, my lord, in a flat-bed Ford/Slowin' down to take a look at me") that capped off their jointly written smash "Take It Easy." So it was comforting to see Browne taking center stage to sing that very song during the surviving Eagles' classily understated tribute on Monday's show. - Rolling Stone
As stated earlier I found this to be a very stone-faced performance.  Honestly, I just don't think they were ready to do this ... there was still too much pain in their hearts.  (kk)  

WORST: Lionel Richie's Tribute Seems to Last "All Night Long" 
Lionel Richie spent what must have been a surreal holiday weekend sitting in the audience as a parade of contemporary stars covered his hits.  A jumble of oddly matched singers — John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor and Tyrese Gibson — carried the torch at Monday's main event. The medley started decently enough, with Legend's smooth "Easy" and Lovato's fiery "Hello" (you could see Richie in the audience mouthing a sincere "Yes!") but quickly descended into cheese once a lounge-singer-esque Bryan took the stage to croon "Penny Lover." Trainor and Gibson only added to the karaoke-caliber scenery chewing. Even Richie's stage-storming "All Night Long" finale felt like far too little, way too late.
Disagree ... THIS they thought went on too long but they were satisfied with Lady Ga Ga's David Bowie tribute and the excruciating pain of Kendrick Lamar's performance???   
I thought John Legend's rendition of "Easy" was outstanding ... he should cover it for real as it suits him to a "t".  I wasn't especially thrilled by the Meghan Trainor or Tyrese Gibson performances either ... but contrary to what Rolling Stone has stated, Frannie thought Luke Bryan's was among the evening's best.  Far cooler than the shot of Lionel Richie mouthing "yes" to Demi Lovato's version of "Hello" was the quick shot to Adele, who had quite a bit of fun with her recent big hit "Hello" at Richie's expense.  (kk)

BEST: Stevie Wonder and Pentatonix Honor a Shining Star
Yes, Pentatonix is an acapella group, which means they are burdened with a completely inescapable level of uncool that even Stevie Wonder himself cannot untangle.  However, together with Wonder, they paid tender, touching tribute to Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire. A bold choice to reduce "That's the Way of the World" to just its melody, it highlighted the indelible backbone that supported EWF's concept albums and huge arena performances.  - Rolling Stone
Mostly agree ... although Frannie enjoyed this performance much more than I did.  Wonder is ALWAYS entertaining, however ... and this was an excellent song choice.  (kk)

WORST: Pitbull Hails a Cab
What the hell was that closing number? It started out fine with "El Taxi," where Mr. Worldwide bounced merrily over the riddim from Chaka Demus and Pliers' dancehall classic "Murder She Wrote." Sofia Vergara even popped up in a taxi costume after the lyric that referenced her. But the cab went over the divider when Pit switched to a performance of his charmless new single "Bad Man," featuring sleazy Robin Thicke, Blink-182's Travis Barker and, for some reason, Joe Perry. That's right, the 2016 Grammys included two separate all-star performances featuring Joe Perry.  - Rolling Stone
Agreed ... and I'll admit it right here and now that I can no longer tolerate Sofia Vergara in ANYTHING ... not "Modern Family", not in any of the dozens of television commericals in which she's currently appearing ... and definitely not as part of a Pitbull performance ... she gets on my absolute last nerve.  (From a "glass half full" perspective, however, it's nice to see that today's generation now has their very own Charro.)  kk  

BEST: Justin Bieber and Jack Ü Are Guitar Heroes 
Bieber, Skrillex and Diplo brought one of the night's most pleasant surprises to the Grammy stage. After the pop star's solo acoustic take on single "Love Yourself," the superstar DJ duo appeared not from behind their boards, but behind a guitar and drum respectively. With Bieber belting, Skrillex, Bieber and their full band — including Jon Theodore of Mars Volta and Queens of the Stone Age — turned the dance hit into a heavy arena rock joint that was almost as triumphant as Bieber finally getting a Grammy win.  - Rolling Stone
Disagree.  I've never been a fan of The Biebs and I thought this performance was especially hard to watch ... and listen to ... he, too, missed several notes and the collaboration was just pure noise to my ears.  But I will also admit to really liking his stripped down, hit version of "Love Yourself" ... because on THAT record his true talent shines through.  (Is Rolling Stone suggesting that Justin Bieber is worthy of a Grammy???  Boy have they lost THEIR edge!!!  Guess that means he'll be going to The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, too ... and, at this rate, probably ahead of deserving artists like The Guess Who, The Moody Blues, Yes and countless others.  (kk)     

WORST: Gwen Stefani Wins the Grammy for Integrated Marketing 
This was just a commercial, one that ended with Gwen ascending skyward in the center of the company's bull's-eye logo. For the normally savvy Stefani, it was a rare misstep, one that made her look like she was trying to crash the Grammy party from the parking lot. Maybe she was. 
- Rolling Stone
Totally disagree.  Yes, it WAS just a Target commercial ... but it's also the best piece of music that Gwen Stefani has recorded in YEARS.  And, as soon as I'm done posting this, I'm going to go download that one for my collection!  (kk)

BEST: Hollywood Vampires Light One Up for Lemmy
Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry — the core of the supergroup Hollywood Vampires — led a hard-rocking tribute to late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister with a performance of "Ace of Spades." Cooper and Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan traded harmonies on the tune's gritty verses, as dry-ice smoke surrounded them. Perry and Depp played synchronized guitar squeals and offered up dueling solos. - Rolling Stone
Once again, I TOTALLY disagree ... the SECOND worst performance of the night ... pure noise with no redeeming value.  (kk)

BEST: Bonnie Raitt Takes the Blues for a Stroll
A fashionably late entrance from Bonnie Raitt helped elevate what could've been a run-of-the-mill Grammy tribute to the late B.B. King to the level of the sublime. Chris Stapleton and Gary Clark Jr. kicked off the homage with soulful vocals and a stinging lead, respectively, but only Raitt — a friend and longtime collaborator of the blues legend — brought the requisite world-weary wisdom to the trio's reading of King's 1969 hit "The Thrill Is Gone." She strolled in from stage left wearing black leather and sporting a slide on her fretting hand, and matched a molten solo and smoky turn at the mic with the kind of stoic demeanor that King himself was famous for. When she sang the song's title line, it was clear that it held special meaning for her in light of King's absence.  - Rolling Stone
I agree ... to a point.  In my opinion all three artists took full advantage of their moment to shine in the spotlight ... excellent performances by all ... and kudos to the back-up band as well.  The most musical moment of the show because it truly came from the soul.  Sad to think that B.B. King's entire career has been reduced to his one hit record ... but man, what a GREAT record that was.  Best performance of the night ... with second place going to Little Big Town.  (kk)

BEST: Little Big Town Class It Up for "Girl Crush" 
From their geometric stage setup to the string section fleshing out the usually stark ballad, Little Big Town's performance of "Girl Crush" was thoughtful elegance. And it had to be. This was a song the vocal group have been performing everywhere from the CMA Awards to Ellen, and new life was required for the critical Grammy viewership. With Karen Fairchild's conflicted vocals at the fore, this "Girl Crush" felt alive and of the moment in a way that even the studio version can't match — and without sacrificing any of the mature delivery that helped land the band a Best Country Duo / Group Performance Grammy earlier in the night.- Rolling Stone
Agreed ... and I've got a crush on this song ... an absolute gem that I missed the first time around.  (kk)

I had planned to share a few Grammy moments with you today but it looks like all of the videos that had been floating around have been since removed due to copyright infringement.  However, you CAN watch the entire Grammy Ceremony right here if you missed it ...
http://www.cbs.com/shows/grammys/       

Oh yeah, what about the winners?  

So much has been made about the way the show is presented that one almost forgets those who were honored with awards Monday night. 

Here is a list of ALL the 2016 Grammy winners ...    
Record of the year:  "Uptown Funk," Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars    
Album of the year:  1989, Taylor Swift   
Best new artist:  Meghan Trainor   
Best rock performance:  "Don't Wanna Fight," Alabama Shakes
Best musical theater album:  Hamilton
(The Grammys visited Broadway live to show the opening number from this hot new rap musical ... an interesting spin on history ... and how cool is this?  They actually rapped their acceptance speech!
Song of the year:  "Thinking Out Loud," Ed Sheeran
(one of my favorites from last year as well)
Best country album:  Traveller, Chris Stapleton 
Best rap album:  To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar
Best pop duo / group performance:  "Uptown Funk," Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 
Best rap / sung collaboration:  "These Walls," Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat
Best traditional pop vocal album:  The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap 
(another Grammy for the incomparable Tony Bennett!)
Best pop solo performance:  "Thinking Out Loud," Ed Sheeran
Best rap song:  "Alright," Kendrick Lamar
Best alternative music album:  Sound & Color, Alabama Shakes
Best rock album: Drones, Muse
Best rap performance: "Alright," Kendrick Lamar
Best rock song:  "Don't Wanna Fight," Alabama Shakes
Best R&B album:  Black Messiah, D'Angelo and the Vanguard
Best urban contemporary album:  Beauty Behind the Madness, The Weeknd
Best R&B performance:  "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)," the Weeknd
(love this one, too ... the arrangement has kind of a James Brown / "It's A Man's Man's World" feel to it ... and the vocal is outstanding)
Best R&B song:  "Really Love," D'Angelo and the Vanguard
Best traditional R&B performance:  "Little Ghetto Boy," Lalah Hathaway 
Best dance / electronic album:  Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü, Skrillex and Diplo
Best dance recording:  "Where Are Ü Now," Skrillex and Diplo With Justin Bieber
Best music video:  "Bad Blood," Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar
Best country duo / group performance:  "Girl Crush," Little Big Town
(LOVE it!!!)
Best country song:  "Girl Crush," Little Big Town
Best music film:  Amy, Amy Winehouse
Best rap / song collaboration:  "Glory," Common and John Legend
Best pop vocal album:  1989, Taylor Swift
Best country solo performance:  "Traveller," Chris Stapleton
Best contemporary christian music album:  This Is Not a Test, Tobymac
Best roots gospel album:  Still Rockin' My Soul, the Fairfield Four 
Best Latin rock, urban or alternative album:  Dale, Pitbull
Best Latin pop album:  A Quien Quiera Escuchar (Deluxe Edition), Ricky Martin
Best comedy album:  Live at Madison Square Garden, Louis C.K.
Best spoken word album:  A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety, Jimmy Carter
Score soundtrack for visual media:  Birdman
Best gospel album:  Covered: Alive Is Asia [Live] (Deluxe), Israel & Newbreed
Best gospel performance / song:  "Wanna Be Happy?" Kirk Franklin
Best contemporary Christian music performance / song:  "Holy Spirit," Francesca Battistelli
Best contemporary classical composition:  Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances, Stephen Paulus
Best classical solo vocal album:  Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall, Joyce DiDonato and Antonio Pappano
Best classical instrumental solo:  "Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L'Arbre Des Songes," Augustin Hadelich
Best Chamber Music / Small Ensemble Performance:  "Filament," Eighth Blackbird
Best Choral Performance:  "Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil," Charles Bruffy
Best opera recording:  "Ravel: L'Enfant Et Les Sortilèges; Shéhérazade," Saito Kinen Orchestra; SKF Matsumoto Chorus & SKF Matsumoto Children's Chorus
Producer of the year, classical:  Judith Sherman
Best New Age album:  Grace, Paul Avgerinos
Best surround sound album:  Amused to Death, Roger Waters 
Best orchestral performance:  "Shostakovich: Under Stalin's Shadow - Symphony No. 10, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Best classical compendium:  Paulus: Three Places of Enlightenment; Veil of Tears & Grand Concerto, Giancarlo Guerrero
Best regional roots music album:  Go Go Juice, Jon Cleary
Best folk album:  Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn
Best blues album:  Born to Play Guitar, Buddy Guy
Best bluegrass album:  The Muscle Shoals Recordings, The Steeldrivers
Best Americana album:  Something More Than Free, Jason Isbell
Best American roots song:  "24 Frames," Jason Isbell
Best American roots performance:  "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean," Mavis Staples
Best tropical Latin album:  Son De Panamá, Rubén Blades With Roberto Delgado & Orchestra
Best regional Mexican music album (including Tejano):  Realidades - Deluxe Edition, Los Tigres Del Norte
Best children's album:  Home, Tim Kubart
Best world Album:  Sings, Angélique Kidjo
Best reggae album:  Strictly Roots, Morgan Heritage
Best Latin jazz album:  Made in Brazil, Eliane Elias
Best large jazz ensemble album:  The Thompson Fields, Maria Schneider
Best jazz instrumental album:  Past Present, John Scofield
Best jazz vocal album:  For One to Love, Cécile McLorin Salvant
Best surround sound album:  Amused to Death, James Guthrie and Joel Plante
Best remixed recording, nonclassical:  "Uptown Funk (Dave Audé Remix)," Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Best engineered album, nonclassical:  Sound & Color, Alabama Shakes
Best historical album:  The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11, Various Artists, 
Best boxed or special limited edition package:  The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32), Various Artists
Best album notes:  Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting to Be Danced, Joni Mitchell 
Best recording package:  Asleep at the Wheel, Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, Sarah Dodds, Shauna Dodds and Dick Reeves
Best arrangement, instruments and vocals:  "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)," Maria Schneider
Best arrangement, instrumental or a cappella:  "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy," Avi Kaplin, Kirstin Taylor, Kevin K.O. Olusola
Best instrumental composition:  "The Afro Latin Jazz Suite," Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
MusiCares person of the year:  Lionel Richie
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Thursday This And That

February 18, 2016, 4:18 am
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Rollin' On The River:  
Thanx for your river themed segment this morning ... and for including 'Lazy River' by Bobby Darin.  Two of my favorite river songs are Charley Pride's 'Roll on Mississippi' and Alison Krauss with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 'Catfish John' which doesn't have 'river' in the title but is an enchanting song about river life.  If you like river songs and you've never heard these, they are well worth a listen.  
Patti  
I had a hard time narrowing it down to just sixteen selections ... SO many great "river" songs out there to choose from.
Ruled out at the last minute were "Whiskey River" by Willie Nelson, "March on the River Kwai" by Mitch Miller, "Peace Like A River" by Paul Simon, that great rap classic "Old Rivers" by Walter Brennan, "Deep River Woman" by Lionel Richie, "The River" by Bruce Springsteen, "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M and several others.
We have a Classic Rock Station here in Chicago called The River (95.9 FM) and I suggested that they do an hour of REAL "River Music" ... even spice it up with a few isolated snippets along the way like "Rollin' ... rollin' ... rollin' on the river" from "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Picture yourself in a boat on a river" from "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by The Beatles, "I swear I left her by the river ... I swear I left her safe and sound" from "Hazzard" by Richard Marx ... even a deep, rich baritone bar from "Ol' Man River" or a bit of "Swannee River" or "Down By The Riverside".
Or, how about pushing it just a little bit further by featuring something by The Little River Band or Johnny Rivers???
I thought about sending our River Tunes in to Bob Stroud for his Ten at 10 feature ... but figured that promoting a rival classic rock station in town in ANY way, shape or form would probably be considered a conflict of interests.  (lol)  kk





Moon River by Andy is OK. Moon River by Jerry Butler is great. I figured a Chicago guy would prefer that version as well.  
Mark


Kent, 
I enjoyed today's FH featuring songs about rivers. I thought of Julie London's version of CRY ME A RIVER. There was a singer by the name of Chase Webster who had a version of MOODY RIVER which was played as well as Pat Boone's here in the OKC area. The only disagreement I had with the choices is that I would have posted Jerry Butler's version of MOON RIVER instead of Andy Williams'. 
Larry  
I think one of the best blends featured on the site on Tuesday was Bob Dylan's "Watching The River Flow" running into Joe Cocker's version of "Cry Me A River" ... so I just had to go with that one.  (I also thought about featuring Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me A River" from a few years back ... because then we could have featured a river AND a lake!!!)  kk  

Just for the record:  The original version of THE RIVER IS WIDE is by the Forum from the summer of 1967.
Also:  Henry Mancini's version of MOON RIVER is the best one.  Followed by Jerry Butler's. 
But I also do like Andy Williams myself, so I guess I still have no problem with his version after all.  Tal Hartsfeld
Yes, The Forum did it first ... but it was The Grass Roots who had the bigger hit version.  (#16 vs. #44)
Several readers seem partial to the Jerry Butler version ... my personal favorite is the one by Henry Mancini ... but "Moon River" became Andy Williams' theme song ... so I just had to go with that one.  (Even with the Chicago connection, I probably prefer Jerry Butler's version LEAST between the three options presented.)  kk




Don't Get Your Grammy Panties In A Wad:
Your Grammy review was right on. 
You're right - they could have put statues on the stage that showed more life than The Eagles.
And it's good to know that I wasn't the only one waiting for Demi Lovato's jacket to pop open!
Put me on the list for your oldies newsletter.
John
Thanks, John ... you got it!  (kk)

Your take on Sofia Vergara was spot on.  When she first hit the scene she was beautiful - sultry and sexy with just a hint of an accent that made her all that much more alluring.  It's now turned into the over the top, screeching, fingernails on the chalkboard sound that makes her one of the most annoying people on television to watch and listen to.  The new Charro?  You may be right.  Coochie-Coochie, Sofia!
Ted 

Kent,
I still can't believe David Bowie is gone.  I grew up with Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and the Thin White Duke.  I am still heartbroken, maybe more then Davy Jones (I know ... coming from me!)  
He was truly a brilliant, visionary being.  His life force and originality will be missed in this world of conformity and soul-numbing sameness.  He managed to say goodbye without all of us realizing it (I sort of did, though - lots of rumours about his health after "The Next Day").  Still doesn't make the pain go away.  Time to pull out some classic Bowie, on film and on vinyl and CD.  Major Tom is free from his body capsule, and is now floating in the ether.  
Hope he knew what he meant to me, and to all his fans old and new.  He was the ultimate Space Commander, and I was (and always will be) an eager Cadet, ready to follow him into whatever sonic / visual space he wanted to go to.  Saw him with Nine Inch Nails at the newly completed Rose Garden in Portland, OR - the first concert there after being completed.  What a way to baptize a place!  Ziggy played ... guitarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  R.I.P. David.
I agree that Lady Ga Ga's tribute was much more about performance than it was about the music - although, like you, I also agree that she was a huge fan of his music and considered him a major inspiration.  Still, for all of his own theatrics, I cannot help but wonder if HE would have liked it.  I'm just happy that he was recognized for his body of work.
Later - 
Ed Pond
Yeah, so you lost TWO musical heroes named Davy Jones!!!  While I believe Ga Ga's performance was all about "art", I also believe she may have overthought the whole concept, trying to hard to make a visual statement rather than one that exuded even a hint of passsion.  (kk)

The Grammys were a world class, 24 karat gold drag. Give me one moment, any moment. during the program that musically made you think of the Stones' majestic "Gimme Shelter", the Beatles' ethereal "Day in the Life" or the harmonic loneliness of the Beach Boys "God Only Knows?" The program was musically listless.
50 plus years Danny and the Juniors told us "Rock and Roll is Here to Stay.' Sadly, rock 'n roll as we know it, is DEAD. Do you honestly think anybody will remember Taylor Swift 10 years from now? What the hell is an LL Cool J?
Would Eric Burdon and the Animals garner air play in today's washed out radio environment? If so, what station? Maybe 'XRT, right by the Gin Blossoms.
Thank God for the Arcada.
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks Heritage Series  

Kent ....  
Stop the presses ... I like a new song!  
It's by Little Big Town and it's called "Girl Crush".  
Unusual song. 
Usually after a breakup, old girlfriend hates new girlfriend. Not this time. 
Old girlfriend wants to be like new girlfriend to win her man back.  
I want to play this one for those who say I'm stuck in the 1950's with my Doo - Wop Music.  
Frank B.





It's one of my favorites, too ... absolutely love this song!  (kk)

This And That:
Happy Birthday and Congratulations to Lou Christie!
On February 19th, 1966 ... 50 Years Ago Today ... "Lightin' Strikes" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart.
The celebration was especially sweet because this was also Lou's birthday.  (Could an artist ask for a better present?!?!?)
Happy Birthday, Lou!  (kk)



And, speaking of 1966 ...

Hey Kent,
Dunno if you’ve seen this magazine yet, but I just picked it up: The History of Rock 1966
This fascinating magazine contains verbatim 1966 articles from British music magazine New Musical Express and pop / rock music newspaper Melody Maker. 
It chronicles my fave music year month by month.  Great articles and great pictures!  It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years!
I know what you’re wondering: will there be a 50th anniversary issue for 1967 next year?   : ) 
On sale at now (I found it at Jewel) 
Bob
Will have to look for this.  My favorite year in music, of course, is 1967 ... and we've got some big things planned to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of that year coming up ... in fact, it just may be our biggest project ever!!!  Stay tuned!  (kk)    

From FH Reader Tom Cuddy ...  
The Ballad of Mike Love:   
A Beach Boy asks, "Why am I the villain?"

Man, what a wonderful mix of British Invasion samplers you sent out Wednesday. Thanks for assembling these great tracks.
David Lewis
My pleasure ... and my favorite era of music.  (kk)


Loved your list of the”sweet 12” british tunes ....most of which you NEVER hear on the radio.  Too sad!  Keep up the good work!
Ted

I have been reading your blog for over ten years. I love it. It's packed with so many great tributes and feedback about vintage music and updates. I remember that I won the "how would you describe the word psychedelic" contest that you put together for your daughter years ago.  She's probably all grown up now.  
Best regards,
Sandy
Thanks, Sandy ... it's funny ... I still get half a dozen emails each month from brand new readers who discovered our site through that Psychedelic Countdown from 2005.
Yep, Paige was all of nine years old at the time ... next month she'll turn twenty ... and still loves ALL kinds of music.  She's pursuing a career in the arts ... in fact last weekend and next she's starring in her college production of "Romeo And Juliet" ... and last year she headlined as Salley Bowles in "Cabaret"!  (kk)
And, speaking of fans of our Psychedelic Music Countdown, we also received this email recently from a brand new reader who likes what we're doing ...

Kent,
I discovered your website this morning for the first time.  Glad I did.  In particular, I read the 'Top 20 Favorite Psychedelic Songs' piece.  Very interesting and entertaining.
For what it's worth, I found your site from a link off the Chambers Brothers Wiki page.  Had heard your #18-ranked "Time Has Come Today" yesterday, and had to go to the 'net to refresh my memory back to those golden years, when I was a young lad all of 12 years old in Houston, Texas, getting my rock 'n' roll off of KILT-AM, "The Big 610", and pedaling my bike to the K-Mart to get the little flyer they printed each week with the list of the latest Top 40 hits.  1968?  Damn, I am old!
Had rock 'n' roll discovered FM radio in 1968?  Or vice versa?  Were there even many FM stations or radios that could pick them up?
Sometimes I think surfing the web, which I love to do, can be psychedelic, too.  The stream of consciousness as you go from one page to another, at some point realizing you have no idea how you got to the page you're on.
I'm looking forward to catching up and keeping up with "Forgotten Hits".
Regards,
Howard
Houston, Texas

Speaking of 60's music, try this ... it's a fun site ...
Bill Hengels

You know Kent, I can'ttell you how much I enjoyed Coppock's Topics (oh, wait a minute ... I can!) --
there is nothing like material like this, laced with opinion and tongue-in-cheek humor, to get the party and conversation started.  I love reading the reactions, as I am sure does Mr. Coppock.  It doesn't take much with so much polarization in this country today to get a reaction, whether it be watching a political debate or simply trying to mind you own business driving home and changing a lane.  "To every action there is a reaction" and in so many cases an over-reaction.  It is a hair-trigger society we live in today and with so many, their attitude is:  "If I want your opinion, I'll give you one!"  I have to say I look forward to the next edition of Coppock's Topics and the reaction it ignites.  The "Why, I oughta" and "To the moon Alice" reaction and over-reaction letters that follow are almost as entertaining.  In the words of John "Records" Landecker on the Big-89:  "It's time for a Boogie-Check!" 
Cheers, 
Tim Kiley

Chet's response to some of the critiques of his critique ...

This is great. The pot is boiling!
Dear Peter;
Please, you can certainly find a more appropriate word for me than "imbecile" My suggestions would be outlandish, dysfunctional, and "dares to be different." You might also toss in "Loves to lead with his chin".
Kent, my man: The book I get is on Wayne Cochran is that he was offered fairly largely sums of money by several Chicago promoters and other midwest bookers to do some "comeback" shows in the late 90's. As best I know, he rejected all bids.
The Cochran influence is so profound that if Ron Onesti convinced him to work the Arcada I have no doubt Wayne would sell the place out on consecutive nights. Wayne's fans were an absolute cult. You had to see the C.C. Ryders, Wayne's back up band, to realize just how fiery they were. The Ryders blew Blood, Sweat and Tears and Traffic outta the gym. In particular, Chester Mass, the bass player, remains without question the most innovate and powerful bass player I have ever seen.
Wayne Cochran! Damn, I'd kill to write his book.
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks Heritage Series

Congratulations to Me-TV-FM who posted their highest ratings to date this past ratings period.  While they still play a fair amount of tracks that are neither timeless OR memorable (despite their advertising slogan to the contrary), they've still got the best mix of music on the dial, constantly playing "wow" songs and updating their playlist weekly.
Here's the way Robert Feder announced the news earlier tis week ...

Any doubts about whether Me-TV FM is for real were put to rest Tuesday. 
Just shy of a year after signing on as a soft rock/oldies station, Weigel Broadcasting’s WRME LP 87.7 delivered its highest audience share ever in the latest Nielsen Audio ratings. 
With 2.2 percent of all listeners (and a cumulative weekly audience of 569,200), Me-TV FM tied for 21st place overall. The station did even better in some demos: Among women between 35 and 64, it posted a 2.5 share, tying for 15th place. 
That’s nothing short of remarkable for what essentially is a low-power analog station on VHF television channel 6 that operates as a radio station. Its leased signal at the farthest end of the dial isn’t even accessible by some automobile radios. 
Rick O’Dell, the Chicago radio veteran who once programmed the same frequency as Chicago’s Smooth 87.7 FM, returned last October as program director of Me-TV FM. 
“The 2.2 we achieved is a new high-water mark for the 87.7 FM frequency in Chicago,” O’Dell told staffers in a memo. “It surpasses the previous high (2.0) set by 87.7 when they were an alternative-formatted station LMA’d by Merlin. Also, if I’m not mistaken, the 2.2 is also a high for any 87.7 station around the country.”
-- Robert Feder
Considering that the station STILL isn't streaming a year later ... still has no disc jockeys ... and has a weak signal, this is a pretty remarkable accomplishment.  (Earlier talk about syndicating the format in other major cities apparently haven't moved forward either ... so right now Me-TV-FM is a Chicago-only radio treat.)  kk

This is really worth two and a half hours ...
PF Sloan at The Songwriters School of Los Angeles
David Lewis

New Releases:  
Hi Kent - 
Just wanted to let you know that we, The Fifth Estate band, have been doing considerable work with our back catalog and many yet unreleased tunes.  We have them ready for release and they will be happening over the next 3 to 4 months.  You can see our ALBUM PAGE here for what is coming!   http://www.thefifthestateband.com/albums.html  
We also just released our first real BEST OF album on FEBRUARY 1, 2016. 
It is the only official FIFTH ESTATE BEST OF out there.  It can be found at CDBABY.COM and most places like Amazon.com, etc. ... or check it out through the NEW band website at http://www.thefifthestateband.com/fifth-estate-image.html   
You'll also find some Amazing LINER NOTES for the album written by Joe Tortelli on the website.
Sort of FAR OUT, you might say, and very entertaining and possibly worth a chuckle or two.  Some might learn a bit about our band even.  I know I did!!??  Alleviated several misconceptions as well. 
Hope all is well on your end. 
Thanks Kent, 
Furv
Happy to help spread the word, Furvus!  Congrats on the new releases!  (kk)

And our FH Buddy Davie Allan (The King Of Fuzz) has been working hard behind the scenes to get his soundtrack album to the cult-favorite '60's film "Wild Angels" released again to coincide with the 50th Anniversary re-release of the film in theaters ...    

Kent,  
I think I sent the "Wild Angels" message to you about my idea for the 50th Anniversary of the film (coming in July).
Here's an update that includes a new message to and from Bob "Sundazed" Irwin:   

Bob, 
I sent my "Wild Angels" 50th Anniversary idea to 16 people ... after 3 1/2 weeks, not one response! 
s there a chance that you could see about leasing the album from Curb and do the correct release (for the first time!!!)? Either a CD with all 21 tracks or a double LP? 
It's amazing after Curb's label put out my 50th anniversary CD that I get the silent treatment over this other milestone?! 
Thanks, 
Davie  

His reply (and that has been the ONLY reply) ...   

From: Bob Irwin - Sundazed Music
I go at them at least twice a year for the soundtracks.   Even though we’re now their physical neighbors on Music Row here in Nashville, I never get a response of any kind from them. Unfortunately.
Bob Irwin  
www.sundazed.com   
Please keep us posted, Davie ... a re-release of the soundtrack to coincide with the re-release of the film makes perfect sense to me ... each could help cross-promote the other.  (Wow ... 50 years already!!!)  The ad campaign should be launching shortly for these ... hope Sundazed (or Curb) will get onboard to make this happen.  (kk)   

Helping Out Our Readers 
Kent -
I just picked up 14 more WLS Surveys for my collection, from 1960 - 1961. Now I have a complete set from 1961 - 1985, all originals. I was contacted by a guy who lives in Florida. He used to live in Chicago in the '60s. He has more surveys for to sell from 1961, 1962, 1963. If anyone is interested, have them contact me WLSSurvey@aol.com
I am still looking for five more from 1960 if any of your readers have any. I have a large stack from the '70s to sell. Keep up the good work!!!
Bill
Send us your "want list" for the missing five and we'll put it out there again ... originals from 1960 (when WL first switched over to an AM Top 40 Rock Station) are pretty hard to come by.  (kk)
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Search

The Sunday Comments ( 02 - 21 - 16 )

February 20, 2016, 10:00 pm
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Lately A River Seems To Be Running Through Our Comments Pages:
Still getting LOTS of "river" suggestions from our readers ...
(Guess you guys liked last week's Sweet 16 feature!)
Lots more coming up ... very special "Sweet 16" programming on the 16th and 29th of every month this year!
(Be sure to join us on Monday, February 29th, for our very special salute to Leap Years!!!) kk
 
I did a search on my iTunes database (I have over 51,000 songs in it) and came up with 85 songs that charted or are “Classics” that contain the word “river”.  The Music Vault came up with 662 entries for the word “river”.  That includes anywhere it finds that word – in the A or B-side, or in the artist name or even the label name. 
Joel Whitburn
Damn!  And I thought I did a great job coming up with 35!!!  (lol)  Add in all the hits by Johnny Rivers and The Little River Band (the REAL one, of course!) and that tally will double or triple very quickly!  Thanks, Joel!  (kk)
 
By the way you've still got until the 29th of this month to take advantage of Joel's special February discount offer ...
Save $20 on orders over $100 ... and $50 on orders over $200!
Just use the special Promo Code "Presidents" when you check out on the Record Research website ...
 
Kent,
One more river song for you and that is UP A LAZY RIVER by Si Zentner out of 1961. All of these river songs would make one DROWN IN HIS OWN TEARS.
Larry
 
Hi Kent,
Another song to consider is one of my favorite river songs: John Phillips'"Mississippi".
Dube
Although that one didn't make our river cut, you WILL find it featured in one of our March Sweet 16 celebrations ... so be sure to stay tuned for that.  (One of MY favorites, too!  In fact, I was just listening to it the other day!)  kk
 
Hey Kent,   
Thanks for featuring all the songs with "river" in the title. Right away, I thought of a piece of music that takes up about two-thirds of side two of Chase's debut album, "Chase". It's titled, "Invitation to a River", and is a musical journey, dealing with the subject of suicide. One of the cuts is called, "Reflections", which features leader, Bill Chase, playing through an audio loupe, to harmonize with himself! Great stuff to pull off in the early 70s! You can actually picture the subject staring into the river, as you listen. If your readers have time to take in almost fifteen minutes, give it a shot! 
- John LaPuzza   
 
Hi, Kent:
I'm two days shy of my 81st birthday. I don't know if I'm the oldest person on your list but I'll bet I'm in the top ten. So my list of "River" records is a reflection of my age and what I was listening to when I was a whippersnapper of thirty or so.
Here we go with a few not mentioned (I think):
Mills Brothers - Lazy River
Roberta Sherwood - Lazy River (I think she made a career out of that one)
Frank Sinatra - River Stay Away From My Door. Bobby Darin alludes to this one briefly in his version of Lazy River
Deep River by anybody
Bing & Gary Crosby - Down By The Riverside
Roberta Flack - River (I know. One of those album cuts not designed to evoke any memories. But I like it)
And did anyone mention Herbie Hancock's Grammy winner of  2008, a rare Album Of The Year award for a jazz recording? It's called  River: The Joni Letters, a tribute to Joni Mitchell, of course.   Joni and Herbie are long-time friends who worked together way back in 1979. There are no genre boundaries in music, it's nice to know.
Keep it coming, Kent!
Hil
Happy Birthday, Hil ... one of the "original 35" subscribers to Forgotten Hits.  (Hey, that's WAY cooler than being one of the Hateful 8!!!)  kk

 
Hey Kent, 
Are my eyes going bad? With all this talk about songs dealing with rivers did someone forget Ike and Tina’s RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH??!! Tina had a solo version of this song as well, but as much as I can’t respect Ike’s personal behavior, I do have to admit I think the duet version is better. And there’s an ancient WLS Silver Dollar Survey, which you probably have, that lists it somewhere around #30.  Incredible.  I don’t think I was even in high school when River Deep came out. That song took soul music, if we could call it that, to a different area entirely … way ahead of its time.
Bill Fortune
It's there ... song #16 on the 16th ... can't leave out that one!  (Another reader thought we missed Bob Dylan's "Watching The River Flow" but that one's there as well ... in fact, I thought the blend of the Dylan track running right into the beginning of Joe Cocker's "Cry Me A River" was one of the best things about that whole feature!)
You guys know you can play DJ when we post these things, right?  As one song is fading out, you can start the next one to create the perfect overlap ... even throw in some of your own deejay patter if you want to.  Hey, have fun with it!  (kk)

The Grammys: 
Yuck! The Grammys were hideous! Good Grief. That stuff is music? They have basically been useless for 40 years. Marriage Reality Boot Camp is about as interesting. Tributes to Old Musicians who passed away was only tolerable stuff. Put a Fork in them!
Ken Freck 
PS - Uptown Funk wouldn’t be in the Top 5000 songs of 1966. I’m sure it would have been too lame to record back then. Maybe a couple of amateur Polka records weren’t as good. Then again maybe they were.  
As for Girl Crush, I almost made it to a minute in before I fell asleep. Another let’s take the Country out of Country songs.
Sorry but I've got to COMPLETELY disagree with you on both counts here.  "Uptown Funk" is probably one of the best put-together, most exciting records of the past 20 years ... it takes the very essence of '60's soul, infectious pop and just the right amount of funk to create a sight and sound that is uniquely its own.
And "Girl Crush" is pure class from start to finish.  Maybe YOU think Janis Joplin could have cut a better vocal ... but I'll tell you what ... Karen Fairchild has one of the purest, cleanest, clearest voices I've heard in decades ... I found her vocal on this track to be as electrifying as a Linda Ronstadt vocal from way back when ... and that's really saying something!  
You may need to get your ears checked ... these are two of the BEST moments musically of 2015 ... or any other year.  (kk)
 
And check it out ... Scott Shannon agrees with me!!!
 
I, TOO, AM A FAN OF GIRL CRUSH...WHAT A GREAT SONG!
SCOTT SHANNON
 
This And That: 
Hi Kent and All,
Just updating the comments from “Bob” in reference to The History Of Rock magazine series.  It’s been released on a monthly basis for the past eight or nine months, and is actually currently up to the year 1971 in distribution.  It is made up of actual articles / interviews from the designated year, as originally printed in the Melody Maker and New Musical Express.  This gives it a very unique perspective now, so many years later, with so much of the “unknown” in music history still to be discovered at the time. 
The yearly history series is being published by the makers of Uncut Magazine.  Uncut is a British publication that produces a monthly magazine dedicated to Rock music (with a slant toward bands from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and does include a number of forms of rock / folk / soul, but not much heavy metal and little rap, thank goodness.)  Uncut is similar to another British monthly called MOJO. I have been purchasing a number of Uncut and MOJO issues each year for the last 10+ years. They both have extensive album (CD, Vinyl, etc.), music related DVD / BRD and book reviews, including 60’s, 70’s & 80’s CD & Vinyl re-releases & reissues / remasters reviews, which to many might be worth the approx. $10.00 - $11.00 price per issue alone. 
Back to the History series ... the first issue released was the year 1964, I think, and is now up to 1971 (on “newsstands” now).  I have all of them so far, except 1964, which I’ll most likely get online via the publisher to keep my set complete. You can find them at Barnes and Noble stores each month. It’s interesting, though, that the 1966 issue which Bob had mentioned, was actually released about six months ago, and is available currently in food and drug retail outlets.  My guess is that for some reason there was an over-run for that issue / year, or maybe they are staggering releasing the series to certain retail outlets for some reason?   
Anyway, these are fun reads, and can be a great collectors set.  
Mike Stineman 
 
 




 
I did a bit of research on these as well ... 1972 is just out now but I'm finding them to be EXTREMELY hard to find.  (Even the publisher is sold out of most of the back issues.)  And they're not cheap either ... cover price is $15 per issue and, by the time you add freight in from the UK, you're up to about $25 each ... but I love the concept.  They're already quite rare and I've seen copies going for upwards of $50-$60 online just a few weeks after they hit the newsstands! (So if you're interested in this sort of thing, you better climb on board quickly!)  Hey, maybe this is a good investment opportunity ... how many other ways can you triple your money in 90 days???  (By the way, the 1965 issue is the earliest one I've seen ... but 1964 would probably be a killer issue to have if it exists because that's when all these British artists first crossed over in a big way here in America. In fact, a 1963 issue would be awesome, too, because groups like The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers were already enjoying HUGE careers across the pond ... and we hadn't even heard of them yet!)
MOJO used to do collectors' issues like this of a specific artist and/or time period.  In fact, it was their Jimi Hendrix issue that inspired me to do my website piece way back when.  (I was intrigued to hear what Jimi had to say about touring with The Monkees ... and that led to me reading three or four other Hendrix biographies and putting together my own series spotlighting "At Least 12 Things You Probably Never Knew About Jimi Hendrix".  I still get several letters each month from new readers first discovering this decade's old series (and usually wanting to pick a fight with me because I don't show the respect and appreciation to Jimi's music that they feel it deserves.)
The series was a challenge to me for that very reason.  Because I wasn't particularly a fan and just didn't "get" Jimi's music (more flash and noise than substance to my ears) and I wanted to see if I could still put together an informative and educational, unbiased series on an artist I didn't particularly care for.  (The Bobby Darin series was inspired in much the same way, although I have to admit that I became quite a big fan of Bobby's music in the process ... and still listen to it regularly.)
The thing I like about these collections is they feature actual articles written at that time ... which makes them OF that time and not subject to all the myths, misconceptions and embellishments that often accompany these stories all these years later.  (kk)
 
UPDATE:  I have since been able to locate copies of all issues except 1968.  (Believe me, it was some exhaustive research and a bit of "over-paying" to do so ... so if you're interested in these, you better start searching for them now ... otherwise I'll be selling off my copies a year from now for $100 a piece!!!  lol)  Along the way I found comments from several folks who can't find 1968 anywhere ... wonder if it was a shorter press run for some reason.  (kk)
 
I WANT TO COMMEND CHET COPPOCK ON THE BLURBS THAT YOU RUN ...
I REALLY ENJOY THESE, TOO.
SCOTT SHANNON
People are diggin' Chet's style and desire to provoke debate amongst our readers ... we appreciate his participation and are proud to have him onboard as part of the Forgotten Hits team!  (kk)
 
Sunday, the 21st of February, is my birthday and it is with great pride I mention that when I was twenty (1962) Tommy Roe stepped into RCA Studio B in Nashville and recorded his hit version of Sheila backed with Save Your Kisses on US ABC 10329, which will be released in May and enter the Billboard chart at number 73 on July 28th, reaching number 1 on September the 1st where it remained for two weeks. In the UK it would reach number 3. Musicians involved were Buddy Harman and his awesome drumming, Floyd Cramer on piano, Bob Moore on bass and Jerry Reed and Wayne Moss on guitar and with the Jordanaires providing background vocals. The session was produced by Felton Jarvis. The record was a re-recorded of a song that was first released in 1960 when Tommy was part of a group called the Satins.
Take care,
Rockin’ Lord Geoff (in England)
Happy Birthday, Geoff!!!  (Dang, lots of Forgotten Hits birthdays this week!!!)  And thanks for the history lesson!
Tommy Roe has been participating with Forgotten Hits for a few years now ... and I'll finally get to meet him in person next month when he performs at The Arcada Theatre with Chris Montez and a Beatles Tribute Band, recreating the exciting tour they all did together back in 1963 when Tommy was the biggest name in the bunch!  (Hey, he's STILL a big name in MY book!!!)  Really looking forward to this show.  (kk)
 
>>>I just picked up 14 more WLS Surveys for my collection, from 1960 - 1961. Now I have a complete set from 1961 - 1985, all originals. I am still looking for five more from 1960 if any of your readers have any.  (Bill Hengels)
>>>Send us your "want list" for the missing five and we'll put it out there again ... originals from 1960 (when WLS first switched over to an AM Top 40 Rock Station) are pretty hard to come by.  (kk)
The WLS  surveys I need to complete my collection of all originals are:
From 1960:  October 14, October 15, October 29, November 5 and November 12
From 1961:  January 14
I also am looking to replace two WCFL surveys from 1966. They are February 17th and 24th.  I have originals of these but I need to replace them with better ones.
Bill
If anybody has original copies of these and are willing to part with them, please contact Bill Hengels directly at wlssurvey@aol.com.  Thank you.  (kk)
 
And be sure to check out Dion on Conan O'Brien's show Tuesday Night ... we love his new album!
Frank B sent us these Facebook photos ...
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BATMAN

February 22, 2016, 4:00 am
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While searching for my 1968 issue of Uncut Magazine's "History Of Rock" issue I came across a special collectors' edition of "Batman" celebrating 50 years of Batman on television and the movies.  (On newsstands now)


Although the character was first created in 1939 and launched as part of DC's "Detective Comics" series before earning his own comic book a year later, "Batman" probably reached its largest mass audience when ABC created the Batman television series in 1966, starring Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin.  (Thus the 50 Year Anniversary aspect of this special tribute magazine.)  

Poor Adam West was typecast for life ... although he never really left the public eye ... and still does voiceover work on "Family Guy" from time to time.  Burt Ward, however, has chosen to remain mostly out of the limelight, save a few reunions now and again.  Each of their self-penned biographies are VERY entertaining reads ... pick up a copy if you can.




The show was camp and played for laughs (infuriating many of the diehard Batman purists out there) but the audience reaction went through the roof ... and soon celebrities were clamoring for a guest spot as either a villain or one of those people poking their heads out the window as Batman and Robin scaled one of the buildings in Gotham City with their bat rope.



Airing twice a week ... part one always left us with a cliffhanger ending ... would Batman and Robin survive whatever devious plot that week's villain had cooked up for them? ... but part two always found our heroes, The Dynamic Duo, victorious in their ongoing fight against crime ... only to find that three or four weeks later that same villain (be it The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler, Catwoman or one of several others) would be out plotting their next revenge or over-the-top caper.  

Interest is heightened now thanks to the upcoming "Batman v Superman" movie starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in the title roles.  It hits theaters next month.




Me and Catwoman (the incomparable Julie Newmar) from about twenty years ago (with my daughter Kris) at one of those celebrity collectibles shows.
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Here's A Show I Wish I Could Have Seen

February 23, 2016, 3:22 am
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Back on Saturday, February 13th, Ron Onesti booked "The Voices Of Rock" at his Arcada Theatre, featuring the pairing of Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night and Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad.

It was one of my most anticipated shows for this year ... but our daughter Paige was starring in her college production of "Romeo And Juliet" that same night down at Illinois State University, so attending the Arcada show simply wasn't an option for me ... there was absolutely no way we were going to miss her big Shakespearean debut!

Fortunately, Ron has written a piece that captures the spirit and essence of this concert event.  I share it with you now ...


What can you say about a band that had 12 gold albums and 21 consecutive top 40 hits, seven of which went gold?  Especially during a time when there where countless bands vying for airplay and record sales, and a time when the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and even Elvis were making records!  AND … over a period of only about six years. I am sure you would agree that achieving those numbers is quite mind-blowing.  

Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron came together in 1967 as a rock-vocal trio with a backing band. They came to be known as Three Dog Night, a name suggested by Hutton's girlfriend at the time who had read an article about early Australians who would regularly sleep in holes in the ground.  During the chilly nights, the natives would sleep with a dog to keep warm. If it was very cold, they would sleep with two dogs, and, on those blistery nights, three dogs were enlisted for overnight warmth. She thought it was an interesting name, and so did the guys.  

The group disbanded in 1976, but then regrouped briefly in the early '80s. Chuck Negron fell victim to serious drug problems and never really rejoined the touring band. I have had the privilege of working with this band on several occasions, but not before Chuck Negron left the act.  

Cory Wells, the bright-smiled original member who sang lead on several hits including the No. 1 single "Mama Told Me Not To Come," died at age 74 last October of blood cancer. Despite the rampant drug environment of the day, he was noticeably clean, never taking part in those addictive vices of the industry.  

I remember him well as a soft-spoken, talented soft-rocker. The shows I did with Three Dog Night, really consisted of only Wells, Hutton and the band, and I had never worked with Negron up to that point.  

I really wanted to work with Chuck as I have been a fan of the band since hearing their tunes on WLS and WCFL in 1970s Chicago. I wanted to hear the guy who recorded such gems as "One,""Shambala,""Joy To The World" and so many others. My opportunity came on a whim as I was listening to the radio in my car a few months ago when Three Dog's "Eli's Coming" was playing, only to be followed by Grand Funk's "We're An American Band."  

As I was playing the dashboard-keyboard, I thought to myself: "Now THAT'S a cool concert lineup!" Why not pit two of my favorite rock voices together, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night and Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad.  

I spoke to their respective agents and they thought it was a brilliant idea! So both guys came with their own bands, and MAN did The Arcada rock! Two icons, a night of power hits and a crowd that went insane.  

What usually happens is the crew comes in first to set up and test gear. Then the band comes in for a sound check.
THEN come the lead singers. So Negron's band was on stage doing its sound check, while Chuck walked in through our main entrance. He didn't really say hello to anyone; he just heard the music and went straight to the theater doors.
Rather than walking in, he just stayed at the door and watched his band with a proud smile on his face. Before I even met the guy I knew it was going to be a great show because I immediately saw the excitement on his face about his own band!  

Negron has a large, towering presence, in obvious rocker garb with moderately spiked hair while still sporting his signature bushy 'stache. As I introduced myself to him, he could not have been any nicer. Within ten minutes of making his acquaintance, he was already sharing stories of the Three Dog heyday.  

In his native Bronx, New York, dialect, he looked around and said: "I just love these classic joints. Reminds me of places like The Fillmore (a legendary San Francisco club that hosted all the big names back then)."  

As I was talking to this guy, I could not help but think about the drug-addicted part of his life that not only haunts him to this day, but also is regularly associated with him as a rock icon. I complimented him on his tell-all book, the 1999 release of "A Three Dog Nightmare." It talks about his unceremonious departure from the band as he was presented with papers of his dismissal while in rehab. He didn't fight it at the time, thinking his ultimate sobering would result in an invitation to return. The invite never came.  

"Ya know, drugs were absolutely everywhere back then. Most of the guys were into it heavily, except for Cory. Because I chose to come out publicly with my demons and face them, drugs have always been associated with me," Negron told me. "Believe me, the other guys were as guilty as I was."  

"But Cory had his 'situations,' too," he said. "I can tell this story 'cuz he's gone now, and I wouldn't have wanted to embarrass him. I was very good friends with his wife and she told me a cute story. Once in a while, Cory would ask me to tell his wife that he and I were going fishing, which we actually never did. He would do whatever it was he would do, then return home with his 'catch.' The last time he did that though, the fish was stuffed with shrimp and bread crumbs! Instead of buying his raw fish alibi, he bought a stuffed one by mistake. His wife just shrugged her shoulders and was laughing … on the inside! She knew what was going on. That was the time, and that was Cory!"  

We talked about him ever singing with Danny Hutton and the band again. "Now that Cory is gone, it is almost a mute point. There can never be a Three Dog Night again. I have always wished that I would be welcomed back into the band. My heart was broken then, and it is broken now about the issue," he said.  

There isn't a day that goes by that a Three Dog Night song isn't playing on the radio somewhere in the world. "I still get a thrill when I am driving and one of our songs come on the radio," Negron said. "My 15-year-old doesn't think it's so cool yet. She will one day I'm sure, but until I do a duet with Justin Timberlake or Taylor Swift, she will still roll her eyes at the songs."  

As I watched Chuck at the microphone during his show, I was just blown away by the sound of his voice, and the way he connected with the audience. It was like being in his home as he told the stories connected with the songs. It was a virtual jukebox of Seventies tunes, one hit after another, all performed by a guy as excited about the music as the audience was.  

As these rock icons get on in years, and as we join them in the process, I can't help but marvel at the impact their music has had on pop culture. They sold hundreds of millions of albums, performed live to millions of fans over their careers, and left a lasting impact on generations of karaoke-culture vocalists to come. And they did it without the Internet, without international downloads and without the help of sensationalized press.  

They did the old fashioned way, one disc of vinyl, one AM/FM radio play, and one paper concert ticket at a time.
-- Ron Onesti 

• Ron Onesti is president and CEO of The Onesti Entertainment Corp. and The Historic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Celebrity questions and comments? Email ron@oshows.com    

Ron Onesti's columns run regularly in The Daily Herald, spotlighting many of the shows and artists he features at The Arcada Theatre.  (In fact, we've heard from several out-of-town Forgotten Hits Readers who now follow this column regularly ... many of whom are jealous by the number of GREAT shows Ron brings to our area, wishing they had a similar venue hosting these events where THEY live!!!) You can keep up with it here ... as well as catch us with some insightful articles you may have missed:
http://www.dailyherald.com/topics/Ron-Onesti/     

(Now we're hoping he'll tell us all about the Mark Farner show, too!!!)
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February 24, 2016, 4:10 am
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Ron Onesti is calling it "The History-Making SHOW OF THE YEAR" ... when, on Sunday, March 13th, The Arcada Theatre welcomes Tommy Roe and Chris Montez to the stage along with The Cavern Beat Tribute To The Beatles show, thus recreating the magic of the UK tour 1963 tour they all did together that helped launch Beatlemania.
 
 
1962 was an incredible year for American pop music superstars Chris Montez and Tommy Roe.  Chris released the million-selling smash hit "Let's Dance" and Tommy released a number one Billboard chart hit, Sheila, both certified gold records. On March 9th, 1963, they embarked on a 21 concert in 23 days tour of the UK together.  Liverpool locals "The Beatles" were added to the bill to open the show.  And then, on March 22nd, 1963, right in the middle of this UK tour, "Please, Please Me", The Beatles' first album was released, and Beatlemania officially began ... and this became the last time The Beatles were ever an "opening act"!
 
Chriz Montez and Tommy Roe are certified Rock and Roll legends, and now they're back together to perform all their million-selling hits, and to recall the tour that changed music history forever, LIVE at The Arcada Theatre on Sunday, March 13th, which places them smack dab in the middle of the 53 Year Anniversary of that history-making tour ... INCREDIBLE! 
 
And we're turning it into a Forgotten Hits Show!!!
 
We're trying to round up as many Forgotten Hits readers as we can to join us at this very special concert event.  In fact, Ron is even offering a 20% ticket discount just to entice you to come on out and celebrate with us!
 
Tommy Roe's million selling hit songs include "Shelia", "Dizzy", "Everybody", "Heather Honey", "Hooray For Hazel", "Sweet Pea" and "Jam Up And Jelly Tight" . Chris Montez's million selling hit songs include "Lets Dance", "Call Me", "The More I See You", "Time After Time", "Some Kinda Fun" and "There Will Never Be Another You". And to help recreate the magic of that legendary UK tour, we'll have The Cavern Beat Tribute to The Beatles opening the show, featuring an "Early Beatles" set list that will include favorites like "She Loves You", "Love Me Do", "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "From Me To You", "P.S. I Love You", "Twist And Shout", and many others!
 
This is an event you're NOT going to want to miss!
 
Plus it'll be a GREAT chance to get some of our faithful Forgotten Hits Readers together so we can all enjoy the show together!
 
C'mon ... we're looking for a big turn-out for this ... in fact, since the show is on a Sunday at 5 pm, we're hoping we can even get some of our out-of-town readers to come in for the event ... we'll even take you backstage to meet the legendary Tommy Roe and Chris Montez!
 
Just go to the Arcada Theatre / OShows website and enter the special promo code FHITS20 and you'll receive 20% off your tickets purchase!
 
 
Then, drop us a line to let us know that you're coming ... I would LOVE to get a couple hundred of us together to enjoy this show ... and meet many of you for the very first time.
 
Let's make this a Forgotten Hits Concert Event!!!
 
 
Check THIS out ...
The OFFICIAL Poster from their history-making 
1963 tour ... for the show that was held 
EXACTLY 53 Years Ago from the up-coming
Arcada Theatre concert event!



Please come out and join us for this very special event ... we're looking forward to meeting each and every one of you!!!
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Thursday This And That

February 25, 2016, 3:28 am
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re:  Batman:  
An unexpected surprise to see The Caped Crusader in your pages this week.  50 years since the tv series, eh?  I used to tune in to see every episode ... same bat time, same bat channel.  
Rick  
It's interesting reading some of the comic book history in this new magazine, on newstands now. 
In 1940, creator Bob Kane fought the idea of adding a "sidekick" ... then finally relented and said he'd do it for one issue ... but once the public discovered Robin, The Boy Wonder, circulation nearly doubled!  Batman and Robin were The Dynamic Duo from that day forward.  
By 1966, readership was down considerably ... and there was actually talk of scrapping the franchise ... in fact, many would say the hit television series saved it.  Even so, most diehard Bat Fans didn't care for the Pow! Bam! Pop! Zip! of the camp format.  ("Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!")   kk



The comic book also lightened up in nature a little bit during this time ... but once the TV series ended, Batman became a bit darker and broodier to appease the fans who had stuck with the series from the beginning.  The hit, blockbuster movies took the series even further.  (I personally never cared for the whole "Dark Knight" thing and vigilante Batman ... I always liked the storyline that he became what he did for the reasons that he did.)
Poor Bruce Wayne had a lot of heavy baggage to carry from an early age in life ... and kids can be SO cruel ...
KIDS:  Knock-Knock
BRUCE WAYNE:  Who's there?
KIDS:  Not Your Parents
It was enough to drive ANY self-respecting kid to superherodom! 
And then even at the peak of his popularity, having to constantly endure "Where are you going,Batman, to the Bat-room???"  Deep down you just KNOW he had to be smiling inside while he was kicking the crap out of eachweek's villain!  (kk) 

Kent,
The first thing I thought of from Monday's FH was just three items: the Marketts, Neal Hefti and Jan and Dean. Just a little bit surprised you didn't post them. Have a good week. Appreciate the work you do.
Larry  

Hey Kent, 
Every episode of the TV series "Batman" was the talk of my junior high school the next day. I know the show was silly and campy, but it was FUN! Don't forget about the MUSIC. Jazz composer / arranger / trumpeter Neal Hefti wrote the "Batman Theme", and it was played on the radio. I don't know how far it went up the charts, but it was a hit! Hefti had a long, distinguished career, playing and arranging for many of the big band greats, including Count Basie and Charlie Barnett. He also composed many movie soundtracks and TV scores. Have you ever featured a list of TV themes that became hits on your site? 
- John LaPuzza
Neal Hefti's "Batman Theme" went to #28 ... it was The Marketts' catchy vocal version that was the hit (#10, 1966).  But my PERSONAL favorite has always been this Dickie Goodman record which crapped out at #69 on the national charts but was a Top Ten Smash here in Chicago.  (kk)



By the way, you can now own the complete Batman television series on DVD or BluRay ...
And the movie, too!

Guess who I wanted to be back 1967!!!
(Of course my Grade School Graduation Gown came in especially handy in this instance!)  kk


re:  Carole King:
Kent, 
I just finished watching the PBS / American Masters profile of Carole King. I swear, it gave me goose bumps. I had no idea that she had written all of those songs for others. I have always been a fan of her and her talent. I love her "Tapestry" album and her earthy delivery of a song but I had no idea how incredibley talented she really is.
The things that were shared about her life were just plain amazing. I am pretty sure I now have a girl crush.
You may have already seen this show. I do mostly tend to see these things way after everyone else but I highly recommend it and I can't wait until PBS airs it again.
Stacee
Lots of rave reviews for this one.  I was most surprised by how much footage they found to work with as Carole tended to stay out of the limelight prior to her "Tapestry" album. (And what a MONSTER album it was!!!  #1 for fifteen weeks and over twenty million copies sold)  To this day I get chills when I hear "It's Too Late", even for the millionth time.
Carole had been writing hit songs for others for decades before she finally decided to step out front and carry a record on her own.
I found it interesting that what SHE wanted most in life was to be a mom, raise her daughters in a nice suburb ... while husband Gerry Goffin hated the whole suburban scene and wanted to be right in the thick of things in the city ... I had NO idea that this was the basis for his lyrics to "Pleasant Valley Sunday", a big hit for The Monkees in 1967.  (Goffin and King wrote several songs for The Pre-Fab Four along the way include another favorite of mine, "Sometime In The Morning".)
The musical based on her life "Beautiful" is supposed to be outstanding.  (We haven't seen it yet but really want to ... ticket prices are WAY up there 'tho so we've held back.)
The other thing I found interesting is the way these songs are now referred to as "Carole King songs" ... much like "Burt Bacharach songs" and even, to create another parable, how Bob Kane created Batman.  ALL of these enormously talented people had "sidekicks" along the way to help them reach their final destination ... Carole King wrote the bulk of her biggest hits with then-husband Gerry Goffin (who just recently passed away).  Burt Bacharach created BEAUTIFUL melodies that perfectly complimented the lyrics of Hal David.  And Bob Kane may have had the original concept for Batman but it was co-creator Bill Finger who helped bring The Caped Crusader to life.  (kk) 

Try to watch the PBS American Masters series this weekend on Carole King ... it's really well done!
Tom Cuddy
We caught it on Sunday ... wish it was TWICE as long ... it would have been nice to see some of the artists who had hits with Carole's songs perform longer pieces of them.  (kk)

re:  The History Of Rock:
Hey Kent - 
Love those History of Rock magazine covers! Made me think of the legendary History Of Rock And Roll radio documentary from Drake / Chenault and Gary Theroux. There is / was a station in Washington, DC, WHFS, that was once a great alternative station and has gone through several format changes over the years.. Now it's business news, but in between one changeover they ran that program nonstop for several weeks as a stunt. Over thirty years after it was produced, it still blew me away. I still believe if they put it on an endless loop it would still outdraw most anything else on FM theses days! Cool stuff - thanks!
- Larry Cave
 50yearsagoonthehot100.blogspot.com
I just found 1968 on eBay ... my collection is complete!!! (Or at least it WILL be as soon as these all show up in the mail.)
I'm sure Gary would be the first to admit The History Of Rock And Roll is in need of some serious updating ... but I'd still love to hear it straight through in its entirety as is.  (You've got to keep in mind that nobody had really done an in-depth series like this before ... they were truly breaking new ground.
One of our readers (who worked on the competing Canadian edition) sent me their entire series on CD but I still haven't had the time to listen to it ... because it has to be played on the computer.  (SO much easier for me to pop a cd in the car as my work commute is typically 90-150 minutes)  But I WILL get around to it eventually because, again, this is something I REALLY want to hear.  (kk)  

re:  Tommy Roe:
Sounds like a great time!  Unfortunately (or fortunately for me anyway!) I'll be in Florida that weekend - which means NO SNOW!!!  I would have liked to meet some of the Forgotten Hits crew members!
Frank
I'm hoping we get a really good turn out for this.  (Too bad you can't make it)
Over the years, I've met a LOT of Forgotten Hits Readers ... but this would be a GREAT chance to get all of us together in one place for the same show and visit for a little while ... and this is EXACTLY the kind of show our readers should love.  Get your tickets NOW!!! (20% off with the special FHITS20 code)  www.oshows.com   (kk)

re:  This And That:  
TOM TALKS TO COOL PEOPLE –   
MICKY DOLENZ WILL BE TOM PETTY'S FIRST GUEST ON HIS NEW SIRIUS/XM RADIO PROGRAM!  
New York – Tom Petty will debut a new radio show to join his other SiriusXm shows – Buried Treasure and Tom Petty Radio - called Tom Talks To Cool People– set to debut next month. Tom’s first guest is Micky Dolenz, of The Monkees, who begins the Monkees’ 50th Anniversary tour in June and will release a new Monkees album entitled Good Times. 
-- David Salidor
Eric Burdon and the Animals played a gig at The City Winery here in Chicago last week ... we didn't get to go but I've heard nothing but rave reviews about the show.  (Check the link below)  Evidently the audience felt pretty much the same way ... they brought the band out for FOUR encores!!!  (kk)
http://www.examiner.com/article/eric-burdon-and-the-animals-perform-hit-after-hit?CID=PROD-topic-email-articles 

>>>Uptown Funk wouldn’t be in the Top 5000 songs of 1966. I’m sure it would have been too lame to record back then. Maybe a couple of amateur Polka records weren’t as good. Then again maybe they were.  As for Girl Crush, I almost made it to a minute in before I fell asleep.  (Ken)   
>>>Sorry but I've got to COMPLETELY disagree with you on both counts here.  "Uptown Funk" is probably one of the best put-together, most exciting records of the past 20 years ... it takes the very essence of '60's soul, infectious pop and just the right amount of funk to create a sight and sound that is uniquely its own.  As for "Girl Crush", it is pure class from start to finish.  Maybe YOU think Janis Joplin could have cut a better vocal ... but I'll tell you what ... Karen Fairchild has one of the purest, cleanest, clearest voices I've heard in decades ... I found her vocal on this track to be as electrifying as a Linda Ronstadt vocal from way back when ... and that's really saying something! 
You may need to get your ears checked ... these are two of the BEST moments musically of 2015 ... or any other year.  (kk)   
I’m not saying the Girl Crush Chick can’t sing. The music is nothing. Maybe if she were singing a song with some music, it might be better. It’s not bad, it’s just kind of nothing.  I don’t think Pseudo-Country Pop would have been a Janis Joplin vehicle. I wouldn’t want Janis singing Carpenters records, and I wouldn’t want Karen Carpenter doing “Ball & Chain” either.
Again, Uptown Funk may be a mix of something. 60’s Soul wasn’t one I was thinking about. They combined several things to make gibberish. 
Ken  
We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.  For me perhaps the greatest appeal of "Girl Crush" (aside from the OUTSTANDING vocal) is the fact that it is stripped down to its barest essence ... which is how a really GOOD songs shines through ... when you take away all the fluff and production enhancements this girl can just sing the HELL out of this tune ... and it's catchy enough that I can't get the damn thing out of my head.  
As for Bruno, I think he's probably the best all-around entertainer out there today ... the guy can do EVERYTHING!  Yes, he borrows heavily from the soul stars of OUR past ... some of his best moments are James Brown retreads move for move ...  but he pulls it off by being so charismatic.  You can't HELP but feel good during a Bruno Mars song because HE'S having such a ball performing it.  (If you still have any doubts that this song struck a nerve with the whole world, check this out ... the YouTube video is closing in on 1.4 BILLION views!!!  I've NEVER seen one into the BILLIONS before!!!)  kk

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MOTHER FUNKIN' FARNER - MARK FARNER LIVE AT THE ARCADA THEATRE!

February 26, 2016, 4:00 am
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Earlier this week we ran the review of the Chuck Negron half of the "Voices Of Rock" concert held at The Arcada Theatre on February 13th ... and we hoped out loud that Ron Onesti would follow this up with a review of the performance of the OTHER headliner that night, Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad.

Well, today our wishes came true ... so, running simultaneously with his Daily Herald column, here is Ron's review!



The Grandest Band of Funky Blues-Rock!  

I guess I could say that I really began my rock 'n' roll journey back in sixth grade at Our Lady of the Angels School on Chicago’s west side.  We had our first gymnasium dance that year, and I remember that night … and my burgundy outfit well, complete with red vest, deep red polyester pants, red-flowered silk shirt and black platform shoes.  Flashbacks still occur involving streamers taped to the walls and hanging from the basketball hoops, a punch bowl of Hawaiian Punch, just a few of the fluorescent bulbs on, a record player manned by the gym teacher and a bunch of boys on one side of the room, and a bunch of girls on the other.  

Everyone pretty much stayed on their respective side of the gym for most of the night, except for when the teacher called out “Ladies choice” and played Terry Kath’s “Colour My World” by Chicago.  I’ll never forget that dance.  I was a strapping four-feet, ten inches, and she was a solid five-six.   I rested my head on her chest during the flute solo, and from that moment on, I was never the same.

Anyway, in typical youthful fashion, the eight p.m. ending to the dance was quickly approaching and the realization that the evening was coming to an end caused mass concern and the teacher to turn up the music a bit.  “The Loco-Motion” was just released by Grand Funk Railroad, and was the teacher’s last-ditch effort to shake things up.  For some reason, that song brought us “I don’t dance fast” kids all on the dance floor, and all at once we became “American Bandstand” wannabees.  Then the last song came on, GFR’s “We’re An American Band”.  We air-guitared like we were on stage ourselves, and I knew then what it felt to be a rocker!  

But by the time I graduated grammar school in 1976, the band that began as a power-trio with Don Brewer, Max Schacher and Mark Farner had broken up.  No more Grand Funk 45s to be purchased from the record store on Saturday mornings!  I was heartbroken!  But over the years, the band got back together and split up again multiple times with a variety of rosters.  I was able to breathe once more.  

With all the bands I have worked with in my twenty-five-plus years in the music biz, I only worked with Grand Funk for the first time just in the past couple of years.  And that was with the Don Brewer version of the band.  

Although Farner was in and out of the band over the years, he predominantly focused on his solo career.  I recently worked with Mark Farner for the first time on a co-bill at The Arcada Theatre with Three Dog Night original, Chuck Negron. The two guys and their respective bands just killed that night, with just so many hits and both were out-of-control rockers that have not missed a beat!  

I met Farner for the first time as he was on our stage doing his sound check before that night’s show.  He is a thick guy, still sporting his signature patriotic colors and long, straight hair.  As I was watching him effortlessly rock his guitar, I was marveling about how his thick fingers landed perfectly on every fret.  He said hello, and I could pretty much look him square in the eyes.  Whoa!  I thought he was a much bigger guy!  

We talked a bit, and he is still very much grounded, with still a deep appreciation for his fans.  I told him my story about those two songs and he gave me a couple of stories back.  First of all, he saw that Todd Rundgren signed our dressing room walls after his recent Arcada appearance.  “Did you know that Todd produced both those songs, ‘The Loco-Motion’ and ‘We’re An American Band’?,” he said.  “As a matter of fact, had it not been for Todd, we would never have recorded ‘Loco-Motion’”!  

It seems that the guys were recording when Farner walked in whistling the Little Eva version of “The Loco-Motion” he had just heard on his car radio on his way to the studio.  Rundgren heard Farner and the producer wheels started turning!  

“There is a story out there that The Beatles recorded “The Loco-Motion”,” I said.  “No, they never recorded it, but when I was touring with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band, Ringo told me that it was one of the covers they would play before they made it big.  So I sang it on stage with him and it was recorded on his next live album!  That’s as close as I got to playing with The Beatles!”  

In 1965, The Beatles sold out Shea Stadium in New York in just about two weeks.  That was an incredible feat, being that meant over fifty thousand ticket buyers in a pre-internet culture.  A few years later, Grand Funk Railroad smashed that record, selling out Shea Stadium in less than 72 hours!  “It was a mind blowing experience!  People everywhere, we had to be helicoptered in.  When we landed in the parking lot, our limos weren’t there, so the police brought us into the stadium to the stage that was on second base with their sirens on.  One of the coolest experiences of my career,” Farner said.  

During his incredible show, Farner slammed on the brakes to pay special tribute to military personnel.  He touched on their sacrifices, and dedicated his next song, what came to be a Viet Nam War staple.  Originally penned by Farner about a sea captain facing a mutiny with his crew, “I’m Your Captain” (Closer To Home) became a war-time anthem for the troops overseas who just wanted to be “Closer To Home”.  At the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Viet Nam Wall, “I’m Your Captain” was voted the number one requested song by Viet Nam War Vets.  

Both the Don Brewer version of Grand Funk Railroad and Mark Farner’s solo tour of Grand Funk hits continue, and thank God for that.  These songs are a huge part of our pop culture, from the band’s inception in 1969 through the young generations I see at my theatre today.  In a time when patriotism is tested regularly, and national unity is at a rare premium, there is nothing that gives me red, white and blue warmth more than someone on stage proudly professing that they are an “American Band.”
-- Ron Onesti

Man, I'm hoping you bring BOTH of these guys back so I can see them!

I had a chance to interview Mark Farner when he was part of the Happy Together Tour a couple of years ago but I could never free up my schedule to meet his so the interview never happened.  Too bad ... I hear he's a real interesting and down to earth guy to talk to.

My brother was the big Grand Funk fan in our house ... we had competing bands in the early '70's and his always rocked a little harder ... we tended to stay more to the "pop" side of things.

Grand Funk Railroad sold a gizillion albums in the early '70's ... one of the top-selling bands out there ... and that was pretty much how they were perceived at the time.  So it was a real surprise when they started to hit the pop singles chart, too.

"We're An American Band" and "The Loco-Motion" both topped the chart in all three music trades ... and their version of "Some Kind Of Wonderful" and "Bad Time" were Top Five hits, too.  I have to count "Closer To Home" as one of my favorites by them.  I also like their version of "Feelin' Alright" ... and some of their Forgotten Hits like "Footstompin' Music", "Rock 'n' Roll Soul" and "Walk Like A Man".

One of the things I wanted to ask Mark about was how he felt at the time and now, all these years later, about such a drastic move to the pop side ... a lot of the original die-hard Grand Funk Railroad fans thought the band sold out when it went the pop route under Todd Rundgren's direction ... but they also picked up millions of NEW fans in the process.  "We're An American Band" and their version of "The Loco-Motion" are known worldwide ... and took their already VERY successful career to a whole new level.

(By the way, Todd Rundgren is coming BACK to The Arcada Theatre on May 12th ... tickets are on sale now through the OShows online box office ... www.oshows.com
 
Thanks for another great, fly-on-the-wall review, Ron!  (kk) 
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The Sunday Comments ( 02 - 28 - 16 )

February 28, 2016, 9:36 am
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re:  THIS AND THAT:  
Here's a cool photo sent in by FH Reader Frank B of a VERY young Scott Shannon at his first radio gig.  (Man, were we all ever really that young?!?!?)  
We've been working with Scott on a very special weekend feature that will air on The True Oldies Channel real soon ... stay tuned to this website for more details.  (kk)



>>>Chris Montez and Tommy Roe are certified Rock and Roll legends, and now they're back together to perform all their million-selling hits, and to recall the tour that changed music history forever, LIVE at The Arcada Theatre on Sunday, March 13th, which places them smack dab in the middle of the 53 Year Anniversary of that history-making tour.  (kk)   
I bet if Paul McCartney showed up for this one, he wouldn't be turned away!    
– Randy Price  
Man, wouldn't that be something?!?!? 
I don't think I've ever shared this story before ... not even with Ron Onesti. 
A few years back Brian Wilson did an appearance at The Arcada Theatre ... in fact, we had front row seats for this one and it was an awesome show. 
A few days before the concert it was all over the news that Paul McCartney was doing his Historic Route 66 Tour and had stopped in a few shops along the way that were really not all that far from the vicinity of St. Charles. 
I tried DESPERATELY to get in contact with some of McCartney's people ... thinking it would have made for an AWESOME, incredible surprise if somehow, someway, Paul could do an unannounced, unexpected walk on during Brian's Arcada show.  Such an eventwould have made headlines around the world, especially if Paul and Brian sang "God Only Knows" together. 
Sadly, it never happened ... but I still get excited just thinking about what it would have been like if it had ... and I would have had a front row seat to boot!  
Meanwhile, I've got to tell you that we've had very little response about the upcoming Tommy Roe / Chris Montez concert at The Arcada ... c'mon people, we've been talking about doing a Forgotten Hits get-together for quite awhile now ... come on out and see this killer show and meet some of your FH contemporaries!  (kk)



Talking about great upcoming shows, FH Reader Ken Voss sent us notice of THIS major concert event that we're sure you're all going to want to attend ...

Be sure to let your readers know to make plans for the summer's biggest music festival with the world's biggest sound system. 
Ken Voss



Ken also tells us ...

As you said, back issues of Uncut Magazine's History Of Rock series are hard to find ... but you can subscribe to future issues here:  
https://www.magazinesdirect.com/az-magazines/34274666/history-of-rock.thtml?utm_medium=Text+link&utm_source=BRAND+WEBSITE&utm_campaign=XHR+Brandsite&utm_content=XHR+Top+Nav+Text+Link
I've got copies of all the ones I want (1965 - 1970) on their way ... my hope is they'll listen to some of their readers and also publish issues covering 1963 and 1964, the very dawn of the British Invasion, in which case I'll definitely scramble to add those to my collection.  (Check out their website and you'll see that they're sold out of nearly all their back issues as well.)  kk

Hi Kent, 
I recently asked you about the availability of The Eagles 1977 Capitol Centre Concert. Well, my question has been answered ... it is now available as Disc 3 of The History of The Eagles DVD set!!  
5.1 surround sound as well!   
Thanks, 
Eddie   
Ashley, PA 
History of the Eagles:  
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BSBUZPK/ref=cm_sw_r_em_awd_rO6Zwb8D212TB  
Awesome!  Will have to check this out.  I have had this 3-DVD Set since the day it came out and have never watched it ... figured it was just the same special that aired on Showtime ... and since I'd already seen that six or seven times, there was no need to pop in the DVD's!  Thanks, Eddie!  (kk)


7A Records is proud to present Micky Dolenz’s first solo single in 33 years! ‘Chance Of A Lifetime’ b/w ‘Livin’ On Lies’ are two previously unheardDolenz recordings that will be issued in a stunning Limited Edition 7” Gatefold Single set on clear vinyl. It will be officially released for Record Store Day in the UK on April 16th.




*Why put this package together?  
These are two great, long lost, Dolenz recordings that fans have been desperate to hear for years. These tracks have taken on near mythical status amongst Monkee collectors and now fans can finally own them on single, taken from the master tapes. 7a Records’ Glenn Gretlund first heard the songs in the early 2000s and has since tried to locate the owners and producers. When this finally came together, we felt that the best way to do the songs and Micky justice was to release them as a single. Both songs are fantastic rockers that sound modern and fresh and deserve to be heard!  

*How supportive has Micky been?  
Micky is over the moon that these songs he co-wrote are finally seeing the light of day. He’s very impressed with the packaging and amused to be having a solo single release at the age of 70!  

*What’s the single like?   
The tracks are great Pop / Rock songs that really showcase Micky’s talents as a singer. As producer and songwriter Tom Deluca explains: “I came up with the idea for ‘Chance of a Lifetime’, I’ve always been a huge fan of the original Monkees’ catalogue and wanted to write something new with the original vibe attached. Mike [Slamer] came up with the idea for “Livin’ on Lies”. We got together with Micky and finished both songs – we had a lot of fun.” 

*7a Records has previously had great success releasing ‘Micky Dolenz – The MGM Singles Collection’ on vinyl. Will this album be released on CD or will they only be available as a vinyl single?  
At the moment our full focus is on the vinyl single. We cannot say for sure whether the tracks will be available on CD at a later date. A whole album recorded in this style would have made a great release. Tom Deluca adds a bit of background as to why only two songs were recorded: “The idea from the very beginning was to make a full album. We got great reaction from labels to the two songs but they all wanted completed albums delivered before they would commit. We were all busy with other projects, Micky was travelling a lot and it just got put on the back burner.”  

*Will it be available in the US, or just the UK?  
At the moment, the single is set to be released for Record Store Day in the UK on April 16th. However, many of the UK record shops also deal with customers in the US, so it is safe to say that single will also be available to fans in the US and around the world.   

*What does the name of the label signify?   
Monkee fans will get the reference – it’s the spoken intro to Daydream Believer. A very tired Davy Jones asking the producer ‘What number is this Chip?’ to be met by a sarcastic ‘7a!’   

*What’s next for 7a Records?   
These are very exciting times for us. Apart from this 7” single, we have “An Evening With Peter Noone & Micky Dolenz” coming out as a 2CD set on March 11th. We have also recently released Bobby Hart’s ‘First Solo Album’, which we are still busy promoting.  Coming later in the year will be a CD issue of “ Micky Dolenz -The MGM Singles Collection” with bonus tracks, and if that wasn’t enough, we are very excited about some releases featuring Bobby’s songwriting partner Tommy Boyce. Busy times!    

For more information please visit:  www.7arecords.com orwww.facebook.com/7aRecords  

DeeJay Stu Weiss sent us this vintage photo of Frank Sinatra performing at The Rusty Cabin in 1939.  
Frank is 23 in the picture and looks about 14.
The Rustic Cabin in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, located across the river from Manhattan, is where Sinatra was first discovered in 1939 by Harry James.
Sinatra went on to join James' band that year and the rest, they say, is history.
According to Stu, there are no known recorded performances of Sinatra singing at The Rustic Cabin but there is one tantalizingly close encounter - a 1939 radio remote from the Rustic Cabin that mentions Sinatra is to be performing that evening ... however, the recording is cut off before Sinatra takes the stage and therefore doesn't perform.


And check this out ...   

The City of Chicago is throwing a party to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of "Ferris Buehler's Day Off", filmed right here in Chicago! 
They're calling the whole thing "Ferris Fest" ... but you'll need Sausage King Abe Froman's kind of money in order to buy tickets to attend! 
A three-day pass goes for $300 and, believe it or not, they're already nearly sold out.  (Single day tickets for Saturday, May 21st, ARE sold out!) 
Of course the film IS a classic ... and has been parodied numerous times in the past including twice this season that I have seen on the television series "The Goldbergs" and "Limitless". 
Kirstin Fawcett of "Mental-Floss" files this report ...  

Chicago Will Throw a Three-Day Festival to Honor 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' 



A high school student playing hooky is usually cause for condemnation, not celebration. However, that isn’t stopping the city of Chicago from throwing a big party this spring to honor the Midwest's most charming fictional troublemaker: Ferris Bueller. The three-day Ferris Fest — to be held in and around the Chicago area from May 20 to 22, according to WGN-TV—will mark the 30th anniversary of '80s film classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which was released in theaters on June 11, 1986.
Directed and written by John Hughes, the flick starred Matthew Broderick as the titular character, along with Mia Sara as Bueller's girlfriend, Sloane Peterson, and Alan Ruck as his best friend Cameron. The trio skips school and spends a day frolicking around downtown Chicago. They dine at a French restaurant, crash a parade, regale onlookers with a rendition of The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout," and visit a slew of landmarks, including the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower), the Art Institute of Chicago, and Wrigley Field. 
Keeping in the spirit of the movie, Ferris Fest will offer a live re-creation of the film's "Twist and Shout" parade sequence and a two-day, two-part bus tour of movie locations, including the Willis Tower, Glenbrook North High School (the suburban high school where exterior shots of Bueller’s fictional alma mater were filmed), and Cameron’s house in Highland Park, Illinois.  
The event will also feature a special screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at the John and Nancy Hughes Theater in Lake Forest, Illinois, on Saturday, May 21. Film critic Richard Roeper will host the event, which will include a Q&A with Ferris's parents, played by Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward, and the French restaurant maitre d' Jonathan Schmock. Organizers say they’re trying to recruit even more actors and producers to join the event.  
As the Chicago Tribune points out, Ferris Bueller's Day Off received a two-star review fromTribune movie critic Gene Siskel, who deemed it a “film that doesn’t seem to know what it’s about until the end.” However, no one can argue that the flick isn't a celebration of the Windy City from start to finish. 
Full three-day festival tickets are $300, and include admission to the above tours and activities along with access to meet-and-greets, an opening night party, admission to a replica of Ferris Bueller's bedroom, and a T-shirt. One-day tickets for Saturday or Sunday are $175. For more information, visit the official Ferris Fest website.
The website is amazing ... and this would be a REALLY fun thing to do with a group of friends ... but $300 a pop?  And it's nearly sold out?!?!  Damn!  Who would've ever thought???  (kk)


re:  LAST CHANCE:  
You've only got until tomorrow to take advantage of Joel Whitburn's discount offer ... $20 off on $99 orders and $50 off on $199 orders.  Just use the special order code PRESIDENTS at check out and you'll save a bundle on your choice of any books ordered from his incredible series of Record Research chart books.  These are an INVALUABLE tool for me putting together Forgotten Hits ... there isn't a single day that goes by that I don't consult any number of these to bring you the accurate facts and figures we post on a nearly daily basis. 
Head on over to the Joel Whitburn / Record Research Website and place your orders now ... a keep a little cash for yourself in the process!  
http://recordresearch.com/  
Coming next month ... which begins Tuesday don't forget!!! ... Joel's latest book, "America's Greatest Hits" ... a weekly recap of Billboard Magazine's Top Ten pop chart hits from 1940 - 2015!  Order your copy now.  (And stay tuned ... because we'll also be giving a copy away!)  kk




re:  HELPING OUT OUR READERS: 
Kent,  
A friend of mine asked me for some help on a record and I did a little bit of detective work on it but came up with nothing, so I would like to know if any of your readers might know the answer. Apparently, and I am assuming the year was 1966, an answer record came out to Susan Christie's I LOVE ONIONS. The answer, of course, being I HATE ONIONS. If any of your readers know any info about this record, that is artist, year, label, please let you know. My friend did hear the record years ago and knows that one came out. 
For the past thirty minutes or so I have been playing some of the Sonny James' records that I remember and know to have done real well in the OKC. YOUNG LOVE, YOU'RE THE ONLY LOVE I KNOW, DREAM BIG / YO YO, UH UH MM, and the vocal version of APACHE. 
Larry Neal 
I've never heard of an answer record to this ... the guys who would mostly know would be Frank Merrill or Jerry Osborne, so I forwarded your question on to them.  (I also checked with a couple of our Forgotten Hits Regulars who seem to have copies of just about EVERYTHING, Tom Diehl and Clark Besch ... let's see if any of these experts can come up with an answer for your friend.) 
UPDATE:  We got answers from everybody except Jerry Osborne on this one ... unfortunately, it's a mixed bag when it comes to whether or not this record actually exists.  
Sonny James didn't really have much of an impact on the pop charts (other than his 1957 #1 Hit "Young Love") ... but he absolutely KILLED it on the country charts, placing 72 songs on Billboard's Country Singles Chart between 1953 and 1983.  (This includes an incredible 23 #1 Records, including a stretch of 16 in a row between 1967 and 1972.) My mom was a big country music fan, so I heard quite a bit of Sonny's music around our house growing up.  (kk)

Um ... well ... I don't know - it's nowhere to be found in the ANSWER RECORDS master list.  I'm sure I've actually heard rumors of such a song, too.  But if it's not in the master list, it's nowhere to be found.   
Frank Merrill 

Can't say I've ever heard of such a thing ...    
Not what they're looking for, I'm certain, but I did find this, though :-)     
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd_ntZ0pAeo  
Tom Diehl 
If he really heard it in 1966, then The Muppets unfortunately wouldn't have been the answer.
I did some searching, too, and came up empty.
(And that's after pulling back "several layers" of research!)
Two things that DID cross my mind ...
Perhaps the disc jockey he listened to back then put together his own parody record ... not at all uncommon for some of the creative jocks to have some fun with a hit song ...
Or, maybe this was something that was done on one of those old Mad Magazine flexi-discs that came out from time to time???  Sounds like something they might do.
Sorry we couldn't be of more help.  (kk)

Kent,
Here's the answer I got from the guru of novelty answer records, regarding "I Hate Onions".  (Unfortunately, an unsuccessful adventure.)  NOW, can anyone help Rhett with the novelty / answer records he's looking for?
Clark Besch

Hi Clark -
I still have no official word if an actual answer record exists for "I Love Onions", but I believe one does exist.
About 6-7 years ago, Mike Markesich out of Massachusetts informed me he had at one time had a 45 titled "I Hate Onions".  He had already gotten rid of it and had no clue of who the artist was or the label it was recorded for ... and he did not remember who the record went to.
Now I consider Mike Markesich very reputable, so for that reason alone, I firmly believe that such a record exists.  But unfortunately Frank nor I have never seen it, nor has Ron Davis, who also is an answer record "junkie".
Mr Clark, if you're not aware, I put out a 22 volume cd series titled "Vinyl Vics Rare & Obscure Answer Records".   They are now out of print and I have no extra copies ... but most volumes are still available via ebay if that interests you.  There are also several other answer record cd compilations out there, too.
Meanwhile here are three other answer records that I'm looking for ... maybe some of Kent's readers can help me locate these:
Shannon Dale - "I'm Not a Little Town Flirt" on Stinger
Annette Wilson - "Hey Girl That Lifeguard Is Mine" on Riptide
The Mersey Monsters - "Buried Across Mersey / I Feel Mine" on Frightn'n
If you would have any of those, I'd pay just to have a tape or cdr of them.  And if you ever found I Hate Onions, I would like a tape or cdr of that, too.
Sorry I'm probably not much help, but I do believe "I Hate Onions" exists ... I just have never personally seen it.
Sincerely
Rhett Lake

Next, I pulled out ALL the stops ... and went right to Dr. Demento himself!!!  (I figured if ANYBODY on the planet would know for sure, it would be Dr. D!!!)

Here's what he told me ...

Hi Kent,
Real nice to hear from you.
To be perfectly honest, this is the first I’ve heard of any “I Hate Onions” song.
The Susan Christie record wasn’t all that big of a hit (#63 in Billboard) so that wouldn’t normally be enough to inspire a record label to put out an answer song. I don’t remember ever hearing it on the air here in SoCal. However it might have been big in a few markets. 
My guess is that some local DJ somewhere made up an answer song and sang it on his (or her) show, which means it may or may not have been actually pressed on vinyl. 
Best,
Dr. Demento
By the way, Dr. Demento is coming to The Arcada Theatre for a live performance in October.  (October 27th to be exact!)  I asked The Good Doctor what one might expect to see during a Dr. Demento Live Concert ... other than Expect The Unexpected!!!  (Special thanks to my old buddy and former guitarist Ed Andrews who turned me on to Dr. Demento WAY back when ... I've been a fan ever since!)  kk

I do hope to see you in St. Charles.   I’m still working on the precise content of that show.  There will be videos, stories, and probably some live music.  I will definitely be holding a “meet and greet” / selfie-autograph session afterward.
Can't wait to finally be able to say "hello" in person ... and thank you for all the great memories you've provided over the years.  By the way, you're going to LOVE The Arcada ... a BEAUTIFUL theatre dating back to the old vaudeville days.  (kk)

We also talked a little bit about the sudden resurgence in Weird Al Yankovic's career ... seems like he's been all over the place lately ... a recent appearance on "The Goldbergs" and now a big national tour to promote his new album.  Who would have EVER thought this would be going on some 35 years later ... and it all started thanks to some home-made tapes he sent in to the old Dr. Demento radio show way back when!  (kk)
Yes, Weird Al’s career uptick is amazing.  Not the first time ... there were a couple times in the past he faded away and then came back strong.  The fact that “Mandatory Fun” actually was #1 for two weeks was a major psychological milestone. It really woke people up and brought a lot more work his way. Actually “Fun” actually hasn’t moved as many copies as “Bad Hair Day” or “Off the Deep End” did in the past, but you don’t have to sell as many to get to #1 as you used to.  No matter, he totally deserves it, and the show he does now is fantastic.
Dr. Demento


re:  FOR YOUR BOBBY DARIN FILE:  
FH Reader Frank B sent in this vintage Bobby Darin "Password" clip to share with our readers ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGP6DxVGY8c&ebc=ANyPxKoy7RgFeLbfp1QfvRgGAeP-0nKDFhtPN4W-BWR3sSD4x_ft2M3LfkvViIAKL85yP2fPxLQBYnYU9Tj2Al2V5y6l_-AIeg


re:  DIGGIN' FORGOTTEN HITS:  
Hi Kent -
Thought this video really captured the spirit of Forgotten Hits -- just some good ol', flat-ass Rock & Roll! 
Peace, 
Tim Kiley  

Hi Kent -
Thank you for Ron Onesti's write up on Mark Farner of the Grand Funk Railroad!!  Love stories like that ... brings back good memories.
I saw Mark perform at the 'Happy Together Tour" when he was at the Paramount Theater.  I didn't expect it, but he was the BEST PERFORMER  that night in my opinion.
I also like the fact that he is very Patriotic. We need that now more than ever. The'Locomotion' has been around along time, circa Little Eva's version ... it's a great tune and Mark gives it that special touch.
Keep up the Great Work, Kent, and maybe one day do something on the local South Bend, Indiana group "The Rivieras"!
Carolyn
We actually did a pretty in-depth feature on The Rivieras awhile back ... here's a link to a recap of the original piece that also brings things up to date.  (Right now we've been talking with a few people about The Princetons, who had a HUGE Top Ten Hit here in Chicago in 1966 with "Georgianna" ... so keep an eye out for that one!)  kk

I just wanted to drop you a note to say that Forgotten Hits still brightens my day and makes me smile every single time I read it.
Features this week showing you as a 13-year-old Batman ... the God-awful Bruce Wayne knock-knock joke ... the story of Ron Onesti's first grade school dance ... you don't find stuff like this anywhere else ... memories we ALL share.  Sure, we love the music ... but we experienced so much more than that growing up when we did and you have a way of bringing those memories back on a daily basis. 
Thank you for Forgotten Hits.
Sherrie
Thanks for the kind words ... and you're right ... what makes all of this work is that no matter how many thousands of miles we may have all lived away from each other growing up as strangers, we all still managed to share these memories together and can relive them now through these pages.  I'm just the glue that holds it all together ... YOU GUYS are the ones that make it work!  (kk)


re:  THE CORNERSTONES OF ROCK:  
I talked with the folks over at WTTW-TV this week inquiring as to when we might finally see the DVD and CD from the recent television special they aired last November. 
The original expected ship date was to have been mid-February ... but February ends tomorrow and apparently nobody has received their merchandise yet.

Here's what they told me ...  

Hello Kent -  
There was a production delay with the Cornerstones DVD and CD. 
Hopefully, the products will arrive in our fulfillment house in the next two-to-three weeks.  
Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.  
Thank You -  
Carmelita Harris  
WTTW   

Which means that HOPEFULLY these will arrive just in time for the sold out live appearance of our Local Heroes at The Arcada Theatre on March 19th. (kk)


re:  SWEET 16:  
Don't miss our special Leap Year edition of our brand new Sweet 16 feature tomorrow in Forgotten Hits ... featuring the last 16 #1 Records to fall on February 29th!  Look for it after 6 am Chicago time!  (Meanwhile, we're trying to get Scott Shannon to feature hourly Top Five Countdowns of the Biggest Hits In America for the years 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988.  We've done these celebrations together in the past ... kind of a "quad-annual event you might say ... so c'mon, Scott, give the readers and listeners a treat and do it again THIS year!!!)  kk
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SWEET 16: The Leap Year #1's (2-29-16)

February 29, 2016, 3:45 am
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We continue our Sweet 16 salute this year by taking a look back at the last 16 records to top the charts on February 29th ... 

It's THE LEAP YEAR COUNTDOWN ...

Today in Forgotten Hits 


#1 - 2016:  WORK - Rihanna (featuring Drake)



OK, I'm confused ... so is the point of this video to get us to enjoy and appreciate Rihanna as a singer and performer or simply an excuse to stare at her tits???  (Think this one's racy?  Check out her "Bitch Betta Have My Money" video which features full nudity throughout!)  As you will see during today's countdown, music SURE has changed since rock and roll began in 1955!  (Back in 1956, the CBS censors felt that Elvis Presley should only be shown from the waist up ... now it seems that ANYTHING goes ... whether it's music-related or not!)  kk
 
#1 - 2012:  PART OF ME - Katy Perry



Wow!  Has it really been four years since Katy Perry lit up the charts like a Firework?  Perry scored SEVEN #1 RECORDS in a span of only four years ... and watched four others make The Top Ten during that same time frame.

#1 - 2008:  LOW - Flo Rida featuring T-Pain



#1 - 2004:  YEAH! - Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris



#1 - 2000:  AMAZED - Lonestar



A HUGE cross-over hit, this one topped Billboard's Pop Chart for two weeks ... and their country chart for EIGHT!

#1 - 1996:  ONE SWEET DAY - Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men



Speaking of "Amazed", this is a pretty amazing list of #1 Records when one considers the fact that ALL of these hits occupied the #1 Spot on the Leap Year Date of February 29th.  You'll find some pretty heavy hitters in this bunch ... like this one that held down the #1 Spot for sixteen incredible weeks.  Scaling down the list you'll find "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles, a seven week #1 hit, and "Theme from 'A Summer Place'" by Percy Faith, who topped the chart for nine weeks back in 1960.

#1 - 1992:  TO BE WITH YOU - Mr. Big



#1 - 1988:  FATHER FIGURE - George Michael



George Michael had six Top Five singles from his first official solo album "Faith" back in 1987-1988 ... and four of those went all the way to #1.  (Other #1 Hits from "Faith" include the title track, "One More Try" and "Monkey".  The two that missed didn't miss by much ... "I Want Your Sex" went to #2 and "Kissing A Fool" reached #5.  Makes you almost forget the other guy from Wham!, doesn't it???  (What was his name again???  Brian Dunkelman?  No wait ... he co-hosted the first season of "American Idol" ... it was Andrew Ridgeley ... but it was never any question as to who did all the heavy lifting in this band!)

#1 - 1984:  JUMP - Van Halen



Van Halen had already been making their mark on Rock Stations for about six years when this catchy pop tune catapulted them into the stratosphere.  Anybody who hadn't been listening before, was now ... "Jump" was infectious and STILL sounds every bit as good today.  It earned the band its first (and only) #1 Record ... and stayed there for five straight weeks.

#1 - 1980:  CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE - Queen



Queen were one of the most creative and diverse bands to ever come along ... their finely crafted "Bohemian Rhapsody", a rock opera symphony if there ever was one ... their pop hits "Killer Queen" and "You're My Best Friend" ... their rock anthem "We Will Rock You" which segued into the beautiful "We Are The Champions" ... the rock/disco funk of "Another One Bites The Dust" ... even a novelty hit like "Fat Bottomed Girls" sent the message loud and clear to the listener ... ALWAYS expect the unexpected.  So when Freddie Mercury and the boys kicked things back to some early '50's rock-a-billy sounds, we were completely bowled over ... and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" went straight to #1, where it stayed for four weeks.

#1 - 1976:  LOVE MACHINE - The Miracles



Once Smokey Robinson split for a solo career, most of us wrote The Miracles off as a thing of the past ... great while it lasted ... but Smokey was the driving force in that unit, writing and singing all their hits.  So imagine our surprise when The Miracles funked things up in 1976 and earned a gold record and a #1 Hit out of it!  Completely out of left field, even Smokey had to be surprised ... and proud.  (By the way, for the record, Smokey's never reached #1 with any of his solo hits!)

#1 - 1972:  WITHOUT YOU - Nilsson



Harry Nilsson took a Badfinger album track and, together with an incredible arrangement by Producer Richard Perry, scored one of the biggest and most memorable hits of the '70's.  I don't care how many times you've heard it since ... the power of this track sweeps you away every single time.

#1 - 1968:  LOVE IS BLUE - Paul Mauriat



#1 - 1964:  I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - The Beatles



This is the one that broke The Beatles in America.  Designed, reportedly, for the American audience, Beatlemania exploded on these shores and carried on for several years to come.  While "She Loves You" might have been the more likely "universal hit", it was held to the #2 position for weeks behind this juggernaut.  "I Want To Hold Your Hand" topped the US Chart for seven weeks, by which time nearly every boy in America had grown his hair out and picked up a guitar.

#1 - 1960:  THE THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" - Percy Faith



One of the most beautiful and memorable movie themes ever ... "The Theme from 'A Summer Place'" will still make folks stand up and listen, even if they're hearing it for the very first time.  Yes, rock and roll had set in by then ... but there's just something about an incredible memory that trumps everything else ... and this one has it in spades.

#1 - 1956:  LISBON ANTIGUA - Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra



Yes, Virginia, this is what radio sounded like before Elvis Presley came along and shook things up!  His first big hit, "Heartbreak Hotel" would hit the charts a week later ... and music would never be the same again.  But for now, tracks like Nelson Riddle's "Lisbon Antigua" and other middle of the road fare like "The Poor People Of Paris" and "No Not Much" were the norm.  (There was hope, however ... The Platters had the #3 record this week with "The Great Pretender" ... and Pat Boone was already covering Little Richard tunes!)

#1 Records as determined by Billboard Magazine for the chart covering the date of February 29th ... 60 YEARS OF #1 LEAP YEAR HITS!!!
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50 Years Ago Today

March 1, 2016, 5:02 am
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Next Weekend

March 4, 2016, 4:41 pm
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We've heard from a couple of readers who will be joining us for the Tommy Roe / Chris Montez concert next Sunday at The Arcada Theatre.  You can still save 20% off your ticket price by going to The Arcada / OShows website and entering the special promotional code "FHITS20" at check out.
 




We've even got a couple of out-of-towners coming in for this, including Jim Foster, who has written a few reviews for Forgotten Hits in the past.  (Hey, maybe you'd like to cover this one, too!!!)
 
Hello Kent,  
I will be attending the Tommy Roe / Chris Montez concert at The Arcada Theatre on Sunday, March 13th.  I am looking forward to meeting you and all your Forgotten Hits readers.   
Take care,
Jim
 
We're also working on getting some of our readers backstage to meet Tommy ... and he'll be doing signings in the lobby after the show ... so please make plans to join us NEXT SUNDAY, March 13th, at 5:00 at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL, as Tommy and Chris recreate the magic of their 1963 British Tour which just happened to feature The Beatles as their opening act!  (And be sure to bring your cameras and memorabilia!!!)
 
And, depending on when some of you are coming in, you may want to truly make this a Rock And Roll Weekend ... because on Saturday, March 12th, Dennis Tufano, former lead singer of The Buckinghams, will be performing a fund-raising benefit concert at Taft High School in Chicago, backed by the incredible Chicago Experience Band.  As I type this, there are only 134 tickets left at $30 each ... all of the $40 and $50 VIP seats have been sold out ... and proceeds of this concert will help benefit The Taft High School Arts and Music Program, so it's all being done for a good cause. 
 
(Sorry, we can't get you a discount on these tickets because it's a fund-raiser ... but you CAN save 20% off your ticket price for the Tommy Roe / Chris Montez show at The Arcada Theater on Sunday)
 

There are a couple of things I can promise you about this show ...
 
As good as The Chicago Experience is (and believe me, they're outstanding), odds are Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony snubber Peter Cetera won't be performing with THESE guys either ...
 
However, I can assure you that they will STILL put on an EXCEPTIONAL show without him!!!
 
And let's face it ... if you're going to go see some guy sing the hits of The Buckinghams, you may as well go see THE  guy who actually sang all these hits in the first place!!!  (Dennis will also be doing his Tribute to Bobby Darin as part of this performance, too ... so this is going to be a KILLER concert event any way you look at it!)
 
Come on out with us and make it a rock and roll double - header ...
 
Dennis Tufano with The Chicago Experience on Saturday Night at Taft High School ...
 
And Tommy Roe, Chris Montez and Cavern Beat (a Beatles tribute band) on Sunday at The Arcada Theatre.
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The Sunday Comments ( 03 - 06 - 16 )

March 5, 2016, 10:00 pm
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Busy Week!!! 

But we were able to pull together a few things for a Sunday Comments Page. 

From FH Reader Tom Cuddy ...   

SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME: Class of 2016 Announced
Tom Petty, Elvis Costello and the late Marvin Gaye headline the newest members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. 
They'll be joined in the Class of 2016 by Chip Taylor -- of "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning" fame -- and the team of Nile Rodgers and (the late) Bernard Edwards. 
The organization's co-chairs Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff call the new inductees "a beautiful mosaic of the best of late-20th-century popular music" spanning rock, soul, R&B, funk and dance.   
Other names on this year's ballot who fell short include George Harrison, Berry Gordy, Gloria Estefan, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, The Isley Brothers, Madonna, Jeff Lynne, John Mellencamp and Steve Miller.    
Foundedin 1969, the Songwriters Hall will hold its annual ceremonies and gala June 9th in New York.  
Congratulations to the inductees!  (Wow, that's quite an impressive list of incredible songwriters that DIDN'T make the cut!!!)  kk   

Tom also tells us about a new PBS Music special that started running this weekend ...   

Favorite Love Songs (My Music)-New PBS-TV Special  
Join Emmy-winning actress Susan Lucci for this all-new special devoted to sentimental favorites of the 1960s, 70s and early 80s, including classic hits from Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton-John, Chicago, Dionne Warwick, Bread and Elton John.  
Actually, this sounds like something I've seen before ... will have to check it out and see.  (Still can't beat this line-up!)  kk 

Kent ... 
According to Ron Smith's great book "Eight Days A Week,"2/29/1940 is Gretchen Christopher's (of The Fleetwoods) Birthday.   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ioeew4LlxI  
At the bottom of this clip it says Arcadia Performing Arts Center.  Is that the place you're  always talking about in Chicago?   
Frank B.  
Nope, different place ... and I think the credit shown for the video clip is wrong, too ... Gary Troxel still performs as "The Fleetwoods" but not with Gretchen Christopher and/or Barbara Ellis.  We talked with Gretchen several times before in Forgotten Hits and this is a real sore spot with her.  (We've talked to Gary, too).  About 12 years ago Gretchen released a new CD called "Sweet Sixteen" (hey, what a GREAT idea!!!) to celebrate what would have been her 16th Birthday and you only counted the anniversaries of February 29th or leap year.  This year (depending on how you do the math) she's either 19 or 76!  (kk) 

More from Tom Cuddy ...   

CHICAGO: Honor for Their Documentary "Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago" made its debut at the Sedona
> International Film Festival.  
The documentary on the rock band Chicago was named Best of Fest at the Sedona International Film Festival.   
Lost behind the wave of Oscars news this weekend was the honor given to the Peter Pardini-directed film. Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago made its world debut at Sedona.  
It's another chapter in a year of excitement for the Windy City rockers:   
In February, they performed at music mogul Clive Davis's pre-Grammy party in L.A. Davis was a top executive at Columbia Records when Chicago signed their first recording deal.   
They'll kick off their 21-date tour with Earth, Wind and Fire March 23rd in Jacksonville, Florida.   
They'll be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 8th at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.   And we've just learned that they will join forces with The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for the historic venue's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular July 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  

From Gary Pike ... 
We've lost another DeeJay legend ... 
Charlie Tuna Dies  
http://ktla.com/2016/02/29/charlie-tuna-beloved-l-a-area-disc-jockey-dies-at-71-spokesperson/

Kent,   
Has the official grim reaper reported Gayle's March 1 passing yet?   
David Lewis   
Actually I found this on Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com website ...   
Gayle McCormick, the lead singer of the group Smith who had her own hit with “It’s A Cryin’ Shame”, died Tuesday (March 1) in St. Louis of cancer. She was 67. Gayle started out in the mid-‘60s singing in St. Louis with Steve Cummings & The Klassmen, where they had some local hits before travelling to California in 1969 and taking over for a defunct band called Smith. Signed to ABC-Dunhill Records, the group exploded out of the box with their version of the Shirelles classic, “Baby It’s You” (#5 - 1969). Subsequent efforts— “Take A Look Around (#43 - 1970) and “What Am I Gonna Do” (#73 - 1970)-- were less-successful and the group disbanded in 1971. Still impressed with Gayle though, Dunhill signed Gayle as a solo singer. “Gonna Be Alright Now” (#84 - 1971) was no more successful than her group efforts but “It’s A Cryin’ Shame” (#44 - 1971) was much bigger in many markets. It was followed by a cover of “You Really Got A Hold On Me” (#98 - 1972) that disappointed Dunhill enough to drop her. Subsequent efforts on Decca and Fantasy failed to chart, but she did manage to reach the Easy Listening charts again in 1975 with “Coming In Out Of The Rain” on the tiny Shady Brook label. By then she had married and moved to Hawaii, though eventually she re-located to St Louis.    
"It's A Cryin' Shame" didn't get airplay here in Chicago ... too bad 'cause it's a great song.  (I discovered this one when a reader sent it in ... and it was probably YOU!!!  lol)  The Grass Roots also recorded a version ... but I like the Gayle McCormick version the best.  (kk)




Can you believe it's that time of year again?   

Help build the 9th Annual "I.R.S.” countdown.
That's I.R.S. as in "It Really Shoulda" been a bigger hit!
From now until March 15, tell us what songs "Really Shoulda" been bigger hits by filing your I.R.S. "E-Z” form at http://www.thatthingshow.com/#!blank/ltwpw.  
Then be listening March 27th through April 17th, as "That Thing with Rich Appel" counts down this year's"I.R.S. 10-99” and awards "refunds" to lucky filers, along with the chance to win all 109 songs on a 5-disc set.   
And listen to "That aThing …" each week leading up to the countdown for "I.R.S. hours" and lots of songs that "Really Shoulda" been bigger hits!  
Your weekend guide to where and when to catch "That Thing"is here: http://www.thatthingshow.com/#!listening-guide/c1hd9.   
Get your votes in now.  Forgotten Hits Readers have helped to make this a far more interesting countdown these past few years ... so don't miss your chance to "voice your choice" ... and listening to the results is always a blast!  (kk)     

Here's a cool add to The City Winery line-up here in Chicago ...   
Grammy Award-winning singer, bandleader, pianist and songwriter Bruce Hornsby and his longtime band the Noisemakers will be appearing on Monday, July 4, 2016, at 8 pm at City Winery Chicago.  The concert will feature selections from Hornsby’s soon-to-be-released album Rehab Road. Tickets to this show go on sale to the public on Friday, March 11, 2016, at noonatcitywinery.com/chicago.  
Bruce Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter.  Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and seamless improvisations contained within.  Hornsby has achieved recognition for his solo albums, performances and his current live act, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers.  
Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers released a couple of live collections released eleven years apart; 2011's Bride of the Noisemakers, a set of concert recordings from 2007 to 2009, and 2000's Here Come the Noisemakers, which initially unveiled Hornsby and his band's free-wheeling live approaches to the Virginia-born pianist and composer's memorable songs.

And here's a piece that was run regarding the Burton Cummings concert that took place last Friday at Caesars Windsor's Collosseum ...  
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/03/03/burton-cummings-caesars/81224442/   Burton's been doing a lot of shows lately and he says the band is tighter than ever.  This includes some appearances in Las Vegas where he confided he sometimes feels a bit restricted.  It's a very tight schedule, timed to the minute, because the idea is to get the concert goers back out into the Casino and the gaming tables.  Burton tends to cater his show to how well things are gelling between the act on stage and the audience ... when things are going really well, he'll play a little longer to prolong the vibe.  Can't do that in a casino ... it's a strictly timed performance. Still a great show (he isn't capable of doing a bad one!) and I'd LOVE to see him perform in Vegas sometime ... but I also like the up close and personal shows.  Waiting for the word as to when he'll return to The Arcada Theatre this year ... now an annual event that really packs them in.  (kk)  

Hi Kent - 
Thank you so much for the info on'The Rivieras'. For some reason, I didn't recall your original write up on them!   
Like you said, for a local group, they had an interesting career! Their tune "Somebody New" was always a favorite of mine!!   
Carolyn  

Folks seemed to like our vintage chart from one year ago today ... so we'll continue to run these from time to time (and, hopefully, blow you away next year with what we have planned!)   

YES!!!
Bob Merlis   

Kent, 
A few things about today's FH with the survey of station KRGI. I don't believe I have ever seen a weekly radio survey in which the song in position #40 was listed at the top with the #1 song being listed at the bottom. Maybe other stations did this across the country, I don't know.  
When I first saw the survey, the first thing I said to myself that Norma Tanega's song of WALKIN' MY CAT NAMED DOG was the #1 record on the station. The station probably should have listed the climbers and the Pick Hit of the Week at the top instead of at the bottom like they showed. I noticed that one of the climbers was Lesley Gore's remake of Sonny James' YOUNG LOVE with James recently passing away.  Likewise, the Exciters' remake of Jarmels' LITTLE BIT OF SOAP. 
One final thing about today's FH. Since this is Super Tuesday with some 12 states taking part in elections nationwide, I noticed that one of the climbers was Johnny Cash's THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT. I haven't heard that record in years, but if I remember right, it does have some sort of political overtones to it.  
Larry 



Wow, now THERE'S a song where they lyrics just flow off the lips!!!  (Man, what a horrible record!!!)  Nationally this one peaked at #46 on the Billboard Pop Chart ... but incredibly went all the way to #2 on their Country Chart. 
During the course of posting these surveys we've seen a couple of charts that counted backwards ... which is the way you'd hear it on the station's weekly Top 40 countdown if they did one ... so kinda cool in a way ... but yes, the far more traditional way is to list them in the most popular order ... this way at just a glance you know what the #1 Record is for that given week.  (kk)   

I enjoyed the pic of your daughter with you and Julie Newmar.  
The Grammys were pretty much a disappointment to me as well. I was very appreciative of the Eagles comeback performance.  Even though Jackson Browne was a little mixed up on the lyrics, he pulled it off.  
Anyhow it's good to know we music fans are all on the same page.    
Regarding your comment about the new Rihanna video and how now it seems that ANYTHING goes ... whether it's music-related or not!), Yes, Kent ... anything goes ... it's not about the "music" anymore.  I remember when we used to worship God.  Now it's about sex, drugs, money and power, and shock value, too.  
Thanks, Kent 
Best always - 
Sandy  
Well, in all fairness the music business has ALWAYS been about sex, drugs, money, power and shock value ... it's just that I found nothing of redeeming value in the new Rihanna song or video ... there's no melody to speak of, nothing that indicates ANY kind of lasting power where 40-50 years or now people are going to say, "Oh, I remember THAT one" or "Boy, it was sure good to hear THAT again."  And the video (basically a peep show) adds nothing to the equation ... yet THIS is the #1 song in America right now.  Why???  (kk)  

Regarding the leap year number ones and, specifically the current number one hit by Rihanna - 
Great video! I didn't notice any nudity, racial epithets or misogyny. I believe there was some music included, too!  Dube  
Hey, I like looking at pictures of Rihanna in a see-through top as much as the next guy ... and the truth is I actually enjoy a good percentage of her music ... but I don't think this latest release adds ANYTHING to the equation musically or otherwise ... certainly not deserving of #1 status in my book.  Did you check out her "Bitch Betta Have My Money" video?  Censorship has come a long, long way if they're allowing them to show THIS one on TV!  (kk) 

If you're among those of us who are still having a hard time coming to terms with the passing of Glenn Frey, you may enjoy this article, written for American Songwriter Magazine and spotlighting one of Glenn's frequent collaborators, Jack Tempchin ...  http://americansongwriter.com/2016/03/jack-tempchin-and-glenn-frey/    

Made your Beatles spring and summer plans yet? 
Here are a couple of cool things to do ...   

It's March, so what better time to March down to the post office and mail in your reservation for this year's Magical History Tour to Liverpool and London (and Henley)!  
If you've gone with us before, come again; if you've never been to Liverpool, allow us to make your dreams come true:   
MARCH in the footsteps of The Beatles!
Join the fab fun on our travel adventure to BeatleLand, August 22-31, 2016 . The fully-guided, professionally-escorted tour includes all the BeatleWeek events, visits to Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, the Cavern Club, Abbey Road and all  the places that fans have dreamed of someday visiting.  Ideal for families, couples, solo travelers and fans of all ages!   
BeatleWeek Special Guests include Pattie Boyd & Jenny Boyd (first time at a convention together!), Monkee Micky Dolenz, Billy J. Kramer and so many others. Visit  www.liverpooltours.com  & book your space on the tour with us now.  
Call (203) 795-4737 or email  LiverpoolTours@aol.com  for more info or a reservation form.  
Please invite your friends on FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/events/873041776106695/  
  
 

http://thefest.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=5b42ed71e7c5d78b988822a79&id=022f9c78b7&e=04593addee
http://thefest.us12.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=5b42ed71e7c5d78b988822a79&id=28db30da52&e=04593addee
The New York Metro Fest For Beatles Fans is April 15-17, and there are just THREE weeks left to secure your Tickets To Ride at the lowest prices!  Single-day tickets, multi-day tickets, and full weekend passes are available.  Fans from all over the Northeast and as far away as Florida, Texas and the West Coast have already registered!    ::: Head to the FEST site HERE to grab your tix :::
Roll up to the New York Metro Fest, which will feature appearances and performances by British Invasion Legends Peter Asher, Chad & Jeremy, Billy J. Kramer, & Mike Pender of The Searchers. Plus Mark Rivera, Mark Hudson, LIVERPOOL, and many, many more!!! Plus, a rare visit by George's big sister, Louise Harrison.		 
The Fest For Beatles fans hits Chicago in August ...
http://www.thefest.com/2016-fests/chicago-august-12-13-14-2016/ 

Kent,   
I just got a letter from WTTW about upcoming stuff but no news on the  Cornerstones of Rock DVD.  I was ready to send a message to them, but read yours, so I will wait ... but honestly I'm getting tired of waiting for the set, too.  Please update us if you receive yours, as I will to you. 
Clark  
Once you've subscribed to WTTW / Public Television they inundate you with emails and snail mails about other offers and solicitations for on-going donations ... but they don't seem to be real good about delivering the product they advertise and entice you with in order to get those donations.  I had a VERY bad experience last year when I ordered an autographed copy of the "Brian Wilson and Friends" DVD, featuring a live show Brian, his band and numerous guest stars did in Las Vegas to help launch his new "No Pier Pressure" album.  After about six weeks and no DVD I contacted them again and they said that they had no record of my order ... so I ordered it again ... waited another two months and then was told that they had run out of autographed copies.  Very disappointing.  (Of course by then autographed copies were already selling on eBay and Amazon for about $100-$150!)  I finally had to settle for the regular commercial edition simply because I couldn't pass this up ... this is a GREAT concert and behind-the-scenes look at Brian's latest LP ... HIGHLY recommended if you haven't already seen it.  
To make matters worse the "Cornerstones Of Rock" CD and DVD were supposed to be my Christmas present last year.  At this rate, I may be opening it on the 4th of July! (kk)  

Kent, you rock, man!   
Are you going to the Arcada for the really big shewww????  The Chicago All-Stars revisited ... Jimy, Jim, Ronnie, the Bucks, et al? 
Chet  
No, I'm hoping to catch the Skokie show on May 1st.  I heard the Arcada show sold out quickly.  Who knows ... maybe I'll have my DVD by then to watch that night!  (kk)     

I stumbled on your website around the time of the Cornerstones of Rock taping and have found it very interesting.  
A couple of questions … 
1) Have your ever done anything on The Blackstones, aka Dalek: The Blackstones? An early, short lived band with Jerry McGeorge that had a couple of excellent singles, Never Feel the Pain, Could Be In Love, and The Bag I’m In on Invictus Records. The played Barry Fey’s second, and first major event at Rockford College in 1965.   
2) How about the Majestic Bandstand in Lake Geneva, WI. An incredible venue with very little information available today.  
My guess is that you have covered these topics, but like I said, I’m new to the site. 
Robert Campbell  
Actually, no we have not ... nor am I familiar with either topic you've mentioned!  I forwarded your email to Gary Myers, who literally wrote the book on Wisconsin Rock to see if he could offer up any information.  Stay tuned!  (kk) 

After we ran our piece on the "I Hate Onions" answer record, we got this in response to a comment made by  Rhett Lake ...  

Dear Rhett Lake / Vinyl Vic, 
I want my $15 back that I wasted buying one of your CD's (or should I say, cheaply made CD-R's) on Frank Cherval and Gary Criss. Are you aware that your turntable plays your discs (at least) 10% too fast? I thought I was listening to long lost Chipmunks recordings at first. That CD went right in the garbage.   
Signed, 
A pissed off fan of both artists  
Sounds like a not-so-happy customer!  (kk)  

In the last month I had the pleasure of having a rental car and listening to some real oldies stations on Sirius radio. One of the DJs was Scott Shannon, whose name was mentioned by you in this week's blog.  Also I heard MTV former VJs Nina Blackwood and Alan Hunter.  It's interesting how there is such a variety of radio stations: 50's, 60's 70's, 80's, 90's as well as "Classic Rock,""Blend," Tom Petty had his own station, as well as some rapper named Pit Bull, Bruce Springsteen, comedy, sports, and I even found a station from the 40's.  I was looking for 20's and the 30's for those of us who like to go "way back."  One station had an interview with Phil Collins and Peter Noone. Anyhow it was easy for me to get spoiled. Now I would like Sirius radio with no commercials.   
It was great hearing all of the vintage music that I hadn't heard in years!  It brought back some good memories. I was grateful to have the option to flip to more than 2 stations on Sirius radio. Very exciting!  
Also, I happened to be watching a movie over the weekend called "Diner"  I only saw part of it but the one scene I saw was great. It was a dialogue between a man Daniel Stern (sidekick from Home Alone) and his girlfriend / wife.  He discusses how important his records are to him and what they mean to him. He discusses with passion the song itself, the record, the B side, the label, the year it came out, etc. It was inspirational and talked about everything that you and your readers would be able to appreciate and myself as well. I am happy I saw that scene! 
Sandy   
Yes, that's a key scene in "Diner" ... several people mentioned it when we did our "Favorite, Fogotten B-Sides" poll a few years ago ... the people who grew up with this music and went out and bought the 45's every week listened to the b-sides.  Today's generation has NO idea what it's like (or how exciting it could be) to flip the record over and find an undiscovered gem on the flipside!   
There's some great stuff to be found on the Sirius/XM dial ... Peter Noone has a radio show, too ... but we don't have their service so I never get to hear any of it.  If they're now running commercials it kind of defeats the whole purpose of PAYING for radio, doesn't it?  The whole drawing card was the fact that you DIDN'T have to suffer through the commercial interruptions!  (kk)  
http://forgottenhits.com/your_top_200_favorite_forgotten_b-sides   

And speaking of Scott Shannon ...   

Kent ... 
Friday's show (3/4/16) marks Scott Shannon's two-year anniversaryon WCBS-FM.  Big party planned ... cake and all.  http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2016/03/02/scott-shannon-morning-2-year-anniversary-cbsfm/   

Trying to sound like Chet ... 

--- Somebody should've made a movie called "Girl Crush" last year.  Then the song "Girl Crush" would've won Oscar for best song of the year.   

---  Today is a good day to play that Bobby Darin "Rainin'"song" both of us like.  That's what I'm going to do after I finish this e - mail.  

---  Everything you always wanted to know about "In The Still Of The Nite": 

I always spelled it "Night" ... but who am I to argue with Billboard?  ("Nite")    

The song was recorded in the basement of St. Bernadette's Church in East Haven, Connecticut, on 2/19/1956, meaning that 2/19/2016 was the 60th anniversary of the recording.    This is one of the Greatest Oldies of All-Time, #90 on Rolling
Stones' Top 500. 

Fred Parris & The Five Satins hold the record for making the
Billboard Charts three times with the same version of the same song by the same group ... 1956, 1960, 1961.    

On 2/22/2016 a ceremony was held at St. Bernadette's Church.  Wild Wayne presented Fred Parris with a citation from Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal.  After the ceremony a luncheon was held at "Anthony's."   

Here's what Fred Parris said in an interview ...  

Fred wrote "The Jones Girl" as the A-side for their next single. He needed a song to put on the other side.   
Fred was in the Army, walking guard duty in Philadelphia.   It was about 3 AM. He was lonely, thinking about how much he missed his girlfriend.     
He decided to write the B-side he needed. Thus, "In The Still Of The Nite " was born.    
Any questions, Kent?  
Frank B.   
Wow!Two years already for Scott Shannon?!?!  That's incredible.  Time flies when you're having fun ... or is that time flies when you're number one???  
A couple of things on "In The Still Of The Nite" and The Five Satins ...   
It was spelled "Nite" on theoriginal record label so that's why Billboard charted it that way ... my guess is that it's exactly the way Fred Parris wrote it.  
As for holding the record for the most times charted with the same release, I'd have to give that one to The Chipmunks ... "The Chipmunk Song" made Billboard's weekly Hot 100 Chart a total of FIVE times between 1958 and 1962, peaking at numbers 1, 41, 45, 39 and 40 ...a five-time Top 50 record.  (A remake released in 2008 also charted.)  
Did you know that on the two subsequent releases of "In The Still Of The Nite" the record was released as "I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Nite)"?  It peaked at #81 and #99 in 1960 and 1961 respectively.  
Another great release by Fred Parris and the Five Satins came out in 1982 called "Memories Of Days Gone By", which featured a beautifully sung medley on the greatdoo-wop hits "Sixteen Candles", "Earth Angel", "Only You", A Thousand Miles Away", "Tears On My Pillow", "Since I Don't Have You" and, of course, "In The Still Of The Nite", all woven together around a brand new melody ... a very nice record.  
And finally, if you dig Chet's musings, be sure to stop back here tomorrow when he takes a look back at The Evolution of The Beach Boys, circa 1965.  (kk)
 


Speaking of The Beach Boys, one ofthe big shows here in Chicago this summer should be the pairing of The Beach Boys and The Temptations in what they're referring to as the Sand and Surf Tour.  They'll perform on August 5th in Aurora ... and it sounds like a great match.  (kk)


And, speaking of anniversaries, one of the things that REALLY annoys me is when they get it wrong on the radio or on those "This Date In Rock History" reports ... because then other sources continue to repeat the bad information.
Last Friday (March 4th) was the perfect case in point.  
I heard more music by Yes that day than on any other in my entire life. That's because March 4th would have been Yes's founding member Chris Squire's 68th birthday had he lived.  (He passed away last year).  But I found at least THREE online sources that showed that Chris was born on March 4th, 1967 ... which means he would have been all of about four years old when he founded Yes in 1971.  (Doesn't anybody who posts these things bother to proofread them ... or do a little fact checking ... or use a little common sense?!?!)  
Posted in two other places was the anniversary of Hall and Oates recording their #1 Hit "Rich Girl" ... ALSO on March 4, 1967!!!  (I don't think the two had even met yet by that point!!!)  Yep, RCA sat on that record for 20 years until the musical climate was right I guess.  
It's VERY frustrating ... we do our very best to provide "the most accurate truth" possible by checking any number of sources to verify dates and information before going to press with it.  (A new project I'm working on right now demands this more than ever ... and you would not believe how many mistakes and erroneous information is floating around out there!!!)  kk   

FH Reader Alex Valdez sent us these fashion tips for older folks ...


Fashion Tips For Aging Baby Boomers


Many baby boomers, caught between wanting to stay young, and the reality of slipping into old age are confused about what is considered appropriate dress. So we at Bit of Fun would like to provide you with a few fashion tips. Despite what you may have seen, the following combinations DO NOT go together!
  1. A nose ring and bifocals
  2. Spiked hair and bald spots
  3. A pierced tongue and dentures
  4. Mini skirts and support hose
  5. Speedos and cellulite
  6. Short shorts and varicose veins
  7. A belly button ring and a big belly
  8. Banana shorts and Depends
  9. Halter-tops and a hanging bulge
  10. Bikinis and liver spots, or bikinis and gray hair

And Frank B sent us these very cool shots from a German Retirement Calendar ... pretty clever idea!      

A Creative Calendar from a Retirement Home.  What a fantastic idea!  I'll just bet they had a ball.   
A German Retirement Community did a calendar where seniors amazingly recreated famous movie scenes.  
The Comitia Retirement Group in Essen, Germany, made what is probably the best calendar ever with a few of their seniors.    
According to German press, 5000 calendars were printed.  And they were given out to residents of the Senior Centre, along with relatives and staff.   
The calendar models were interviewed about the project and said it was a ton of fun to dress up as their favourite actors.   
The shoot was done with professional stylists and photographers to make sure everything looked as cool as possible.   
The oldest senior involved with the calendar was 98 years!

JANUARY

James  Bond 
Wilhelm Buiting, 89 

FEBRUARY 

Breakfast  at Tiffany's
Marianne Brunsbach, 86

MARCH 

Titanic
Erna Rütt, 86, and Alfred Kelbch, 81

APRIL
 
Rocky
Erwin J von der Heiden, 80

MAY
Mary  Poppins
Erna Schenk, 78

JUNE
 
The  Seven Year Itch
Ingeborg Giolbass, 84, and Erich Endlein, 88

JULY
 
Blues  Brothers
Lothar Wischnewski, 76 and Margareta Schmidt, 77

AUGUST
 
Cabaret
Martha Bajohr, 77

SEPTEMBER
 
Giant
Joanna Trachenberg, 81 and Horst Krischat, 78

OCTOBER
 
Saturday Night Fever
Irmgard Alt, 79 and Siegfried Gallasch, 87

NOVEMBER
 
Dirty  Dancing
Johann Liedtke, 92 and Marianne Pape, 79

DECEMBER
 
Easy  Rider
Walter Loeser, 98 and Kurt Neuhaus, 90
 


'Growing old' is Mandatory,

'Growing up' is Optional!!

AND AS THEY SAY IN THE CLASSICS ...


If you haven't grown up by the time you are FIFTY ...Well, then you don't have to!!!!
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The Beach Boys Evolution (circa 1965)

March 7, 2016, 4:00 am
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Chet Coppock's postings in Forgotten Hits have become very popular with our readers. 

Normally these are free-spirited musings designed to spark some conversation ... but today he plays it straight when he takes a look back at a key, pivotal moment in Beach Boys history.

Take it away, Chet! (kk)

Kent, My Boy: 

Today's sermon is a little bit abstract, but I hope it will shed some light on one of the single most melodic songs in rock 'n roll history. Hey, my house - my game. 

I have been blessed to see the Beach Boys in six different decades. That means I'm damn near at an age where I might have to breakdown and see Wayne Newton. 

Let's go back to 1962.  The Beatles have yet to invade, a global missile crisis will be averted and the Cubs were only 54 years removed from their last World Series title.   

Meanwhile, a group of kids from Hawthorne, California, are beginning to knock out sounds in Murray Wilson's basement or garage. 

The group will emerge on Billboard in October, '62, with "Surfin' Safari." Quite frankly, the title track sung by Mike Love is listless given that Mike's voice just hasn't fully emerged. It's years away from the brilliance he packaged on "Do It Again" during the summer of '68. Don't even get me started on Mike's tremendous performance on "Good Vibrations." 

Maybe Capitol Records or "The Wrecking Crew" knew the Boys were on to something but I have no recollection of the group stealing any attachment I had to Dion, Del Shannon, Ray Charles or Gary "U.S." Bonds. 

Still, the group is on the prowl. By 1963, Brian Wilson's song writing maturity is beginning to emerge as he turns out the raucously enjoyable "Be True To Your School" and a magnificent tribute in a capella, "A Young Man Is Gone", to James Dean. 

But the knockout punch is "Spirit of America," a vocal salute to land speed stud Craig Breedlove and doo wop. The song is just magnificent. There is just one twosome, John and Paul, that could have come close to emulating the magnificent layers of harmony. Brian's falsetto background on "Spirit" makes the song seem almost like an anthem.
So, we move on a few years. In July, '65, The Beach Boys remarkably turn out their ninth album in three years. One can only assume that Brian had both Capital and Daddy Dearest aiming guns at his temple. The piece is titled "Summer Days (And Summer Nights)" and, in its own way, the album is damn near as good as "Revolver."  

A revamped "Help Me Rhonda" carried by Al Jardine will clock in at #1 while "California Girls" would become a top five hit.  

But, this cannot be overlooked. 18 years old Carl Wilson, still lugging a major share of baby fat, sings a melodic and poignant lead on the pristine "Girl Don’t Tell Me." The song is the hopeless lament of a teenage boy expressing his feelings about the end of a classic youthful summer time romance. Fact: the first time I heard the song, I cried. That was a mere 50 years ago.  

With this lead, Carl has emerged. He is now a voice of gold. Side note: "Girl" should have been released as a single, but the Beach Boys had a live album warming up in the bullpen.
14 months later, with Carl still in his teens, he sings lead on the elixir, the incredibly beautiful, "God Only Knows."  

In my opinion, Carl doesn't deliver in such prolific fashion on "God", if he hadn't discovered his vocal resonance on "Girl."  

Lastly, "Summer Days (And Summer Nights)" should be revered as an album of genius, a literal work of art. There are just two issues. "Summer  Days" was a gear change as Brian moved away from 409's and metal flaked rims to more emotional "human element" songs. Secondly, I rate "Pet Sounds" just behind the Beatles'"White Album" as the finest collection of musical art ever released. "Summer Days" gets lost in the shuffle.  

The killer: from "Surfin' Safari to "Pet Sounds" the boys recorded 11 albums in under four years.   

Yes, it was a different era. Please, let’s all give Carl Wilson is just due.  

Game!
Chet Coppock
National Commercial Spokesman: Brain Aneurysm Foundation

 

The liner notes to the reissued two-fer pairing of "The Beach Boys Today!" and "Summer Days (And Summer Nights)" bear out much of what Chet is telling us today.

"Girl Don't Tell Me" is structured very much like The Beatles'"Ticket To Ride", from the guitar breaks to the chord changes ... from the drum rolls to the "I'm the guy, hi, hi" vocal phrasing.
The Beach Boys played on this track, and the era in which it was done certainly contributed to the Beatlesque quality of it.  Brian played the celeste on this cut.  Considering that this was the tenth Beach Boys album and what a great voice Carl has, it's hard to believe that this is his first lead vocal.

"Girl Don't Tell Me" did, in fact end up on a single ... albeit as the B-Side to "Barbara Ann" several months later.  (Do you REALLY like this one more than "I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man"????)  Other great tracks on this LP include "Let Him Run Wild" and "You're So Good To Me", both also featured as B-Sides ... and, of course, "California Girls", perhaps the single greatest production achievement of Brian Wilson's entire career.  Listen to that opening ... it's damn near symphonic!!!  (kk)

Many years later Brian acknowledged as much ...

"California Girls" was something I'm very proud of in a sense because it represents the Beach Boys really greatest record production we've ever made. It goes back to 1965 when I was just sitting in my apartment, wondering how to write a song abut girls, because I love girls.  I mean, everybody loves girls.  So I got the notion and I wrote "California Girls".  And then I said to myself, this needs some kind of an intorduction that would be a total departure of how the song sounds and yet would somehow lead into the melody.
Brian accomplished that with the incredible symphonic intro, which is among the most amazing bars of pop music ever recorded.  Brian recently said it's the favorite piece of music he's ever written. 
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