Article 4

July 26, 2013, 9:00 pm

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We're heading into the home stretch now ...

And hour to go ... but still LOTS of great music coming your way!

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Article 3

July 26, 2013, 9:30 pm

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Article 2

July 26, 2013, 9:45 pm

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And one more ...

It's Time For The Grand Finale

July 26, 2013, 9:58 pm

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Thank you all for spending at least part of your day with us today ...

I hope you had a good time!!!

But now it's time ... to say goodbye ... to all our (Forgotten Hits) family ...

Good Night!



If somehow during this incredible time warp journey we still didn't get to YOUR song, we apologize ...

Truth is, we simply ran out of time!!!

Two Weeks From Tonight

July 27, 2013, 4:03 am

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A couple of weeks ago we told you about the hot new concert coming to RiverEdge Park in Aurora, IL called "Sail Rock". The line-up consists of some of the biggest names on the radio from the late '70's and early '80's ... a virtual Who's Who of musical entertainment. Here are a few more details provided by the venue: RIVEREDGE READY TO FLASH BACK TO THE 70'S AND 80'S WITH SAIL ROCK FEATURING CHRISTOPHER CROSS, ORLEANS, GARY WRIGHT, FIREFALL, JOHN FORD COLEY, ROBBIE DUPREE AND PLAYER,  SATURDAY, AUGUST 10            Top, from left:  Christopher Cross, Orleans, Gary Wright,  (middle) Firefall, John Ford Coley,   (bottom) Robbie Dupree and Player.   AURORA, IL, July 15, 2013 - When Sail Rock docks on the banks of the beautiful Fox River at Aurora's new RiverEdge Park on Saturday, August 10, seven great music artists will share the stage for one unforgettable night, with a set list that plays like a soundtrack to the summers of the 70's and early 80's.   Sail Rock stars Grammy Winner Christopher Cross, best known for his Top Ten hits Sailing, Ride Like the Wind and Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do). This first-ever, feel-good music tour also features rockers Firefall with top 40 hits JustRemember I Love You, You Are the Woman and Strange Way. Dance with your sweetheart to Orleans and their Top 10 hits Dance with Me and Still The One. Gary Wright, whose Dream Weaver and Love Is Alive spent time at the #2 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1976, joins the lineup along with Grammy nominated John Ford Coley, whose triple-platinum and gold records include I'd Really Love to See You Tonight and Love is the Answer. Rounding out the bill are Robbie Dupree, remembered for his 1980 Top 10 hit Steal Away, and Player with their #1 hit Baby Come Back.     RiverEdge Park, Chicagoland's newest outdoor concert venue, is located at 360 North Broadway in downtown Aurora. Gates open for Sail Rock at 6 p.m. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 general admission; $60 Skydeck.  Skydeck tickets include food and drink (beer, wine, soda and water), private restrooms, and an amazing view of the stage. (NOTE:  The Skydeck is already sold out for this performance) Tickets are on sale online at RiverEdgeAurora.com, via phone at 630.896.6666, or on-site at RiverEdge on all concert and event days, starting at 10 a.m. Or, stop by the nearby Paramount Theatre, the satellite box office for RiverEdge, located at 23 E. Galena Boulevard, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.                                                                                                                                                                                                            Note:  Other than Sky Deck, there is no reserved or preferred seating to this show. General admission ticket holders are advised to bring low back bag chairs or a small blanket. Children two years of age and under are admitted free.  More about Sail Rock     The wind will be just right for Sailing when Christopher Cross and Sail Rock docks at RiverEdge August 10th   Christopher Cross was by far the biggest new star of 1980, virtually defining adult contemporary radio with a series of smoothly sophisticated ballads including the #1 hit, Sailing. His 1980 self-titled debut album with the lead single Ride Like the Wind rocketed to the #2 spot; the massive success of the second single Sailing made Cross a superstar, and in the wake of two more Top 20 hits, Never Be the Same and Say You'll Be Mine, he walked off with a record-setting five Grammys in 1981, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for Sailing. He soon scored a second #1, as well as an Academy Award, with Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do), which he co-wrote with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen for the smash Dudley Moore film comedy Arthur. For more information, visit ChristopherCross.com. She knew it from the start too! Firefall performs You Are The Woman Firefall formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1974. It was founded by Rick Roberts, who had been in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Jock Bartley, who had been Tommy Bolin's replacement in Zephyr. The band's biggest hit single, You Are the Woman, peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard charts in 1976. Other hits included Just Remember I Love You (#11 in 1977), Strange Way (#11 in 1978), Cinderella (#34 in 1977), Headed for a Fall (#35 in 1980), and Staying with It (#37 in 1981). For more, visit Firefall.com. Watch the Solid Gold Dancers' interpretation of Still the One live with Orleans   Orleans is best known as the 70's pop/rock band that brought us the classic hits Still The One, Dance With Me and Love Takes Time. Now in its 40th year, Orleans has produced a body of work spanning 16 albums and several DVDs. In 2012, Orleans experienced a tragedy in the sudden passing of co-founder Larry Hoppen. While there is no replacing Larry, co-founder Lance Hoppen, along with current members Lane Hoppen, Fly Amero and Charlie Morgan are now rejoined by co-founder John Hall. OrleansOnline.com Get through the night, reach the morning light with Gary Wright and Dreamweaver at RiverEdge Gary Wright is most closely associated with his atmospheric 1976 smash Dream Weaver. He fronted a number of local rock bands during high school before turning his attention to psychology, completing his studies in Berlin at Frei University. In 1967, Wright's band, the New York Times, opened for Traffic, bringing him to the attention of Island Records. Relocating to London, Wright joined the band Spooky Tooth which later emerged among the UK's premier hard rock outfits. When Spooky Tooth temporarily disbanded in 1970, Wright jumped ship to form Wonderwheel, concurrently playing keyboards on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass. He returned to his solo career, scoring his greatest success with 1975's The Dream Weaver; both the title track and Love Is Alive reached number two on the Billboard pop charts, and the album - one of the first created solely via synthesizer technology - achieved platinum status. Follow-ups including Light of Smiles, 1977's Touch and Gone, and 1979's Headin' Home. In 1981, Wright notched his final chart hit with Really Wanna Know You fromThe Right Place. TheDreamweaver.com "I'm not talkin' 'bout the linen?"  What? Oh, I'm sorry, it's "...movin' in."  Tune in to John Ford Coley with England Dan singing  I'd Really Love to See You Tonight   John Ford Coley is a singing legend thanks to songs like I'd Really Love To See You Tonight, Nights Are Forever Without You and Love Is The Answer. He has spent decades touring, writing, recording, and producing. Coley is best known as half of the Grammy nominated duo England Dan and John Ford Coley. He continues with an active roster performing the platinum and gold record hits for audiences around the world. Classically trained on piano and an avid guitarist, John loves the craft and enjoys every audience he encounters. With double platinum and gold records behind him, John has also produced other artists. Most recently, he co-produced several sides on Eddie Money. Country musician, Vince Gill added vocals along with John to give the sessions a country feel. JohnFordColey.com   Wolfman Jack introduces Robbie Dupree and Steal Away on The Midnight Special   Robbie Dupree began his career singing on the street corners of Brooklyn in the rich, creative atmosphere of the late 1960s. By 1970, he was performing on the club scene in Greenwich Village. Acting on the advice of a friend, Robbie packed up and moved to Woodstock, New York. It was 1972. Dupree formed a number of bands in those early years, among them The Striders, Small Fortune, and Chrome Willie and the Sparks. National recognition came in 1976 when his song, When You're Down, received the American Songwriting Festival Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song. In 1978, Robbie moved to Los Angeles to pursue a solo career. In 1980, Robbie signed a contract with Elektra Records. His debut self-titled album yielded two Top 10 singles, Steal Away and Hot Rod Hearts, and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. To date, Steal Away has been played on American radio almost three million times. Over the past 25 years, Robbie has released 11 albums. His latest is Arc of a Romance, which features covers of the songs that most influenced his career. RobbieDupree.com Way before Baby Got Back, there was Baby Come Back, Player's biggest hit Player is a Los Angeles-based American rock band that gained popularity as a live act during the heyday of the 70's stadium rock era. The group scored a few US Hot 100 hits, three of which went into the Top 40; two of those single releases went Top 10, including their biggest hit, Baby Come Back, which rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1978 and was a chart success in other countries. Their follow up single, This Time I'm in it For Love, also peaked at No. 10 the same year. Among several notable accolades, Player was named Billboard's Best New Singles Artist of 1978. Player-theband.com   RiverEdge Park is located directly across Metra's Aurora Transportation Center, on the east bank of the beautiful Fox River. Concessions at RiverEdge offer a diversified food menu from official food vendor Two Brothers Roundhouse, along with a bar featuring Two Brothers' craft beers, Anheuser-Bush products, wine, sodas, bottled water and more. No outside food or drink (except water) are allowed in the park during events.      Concerts take place rain or shine, unless conditions endanger the safety of artists and the public. Concertgoers may call the RiverEdge Park WeatherLine at 630-723-2478 to check the status of a concert if inclement weather is pending. For tickets and information, visit RiverEdgeAurora.com or call the RiverEdge box office, 630.896.6666. The show takes place Saturday Night, August 10th, and promises to be a great night of entertainment.  General admission seats are still available.  Just click on the links above for more information.  (kk)

The Sunday Comments ( 07 - 28 - 13 )

July 27, 2013, 10:01 pm

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re:  APOLOGIES:  
As most of you figured out, my Yahoo Account got hacked this past week ... and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of emails were sent out to my various mailing lists ... so first of all, apologies to all of you who got this junk mail spam.  (I don't really use Yahoo for much of anything other than hosting the website ... in fact, the really BIZARRE part about all of this is that I don't use them to send out Forgotten Hits reminders because there are just too many names on the list ... and Yahoo won't give me a "bulk mail" account ... this is supposedly all part of their "cutting down on spam" policy ... and yet some hacker can get into my account and send their crap to THOUSANDS of those same names with no difficulty at all.  It'd be nice if somebody could explain THAT one to me some time!!!)  So anyway, apologies again ... and hopefully this problem has since been solved.  

re:  JJ:

No, not the "Dynomite!" guy ... and not the guy who produced "Lost" either ... but on Friday we lost singer / songwriter J.J. Cale.  Cale wrote a couple of big hits for Eric Clapton, including "Cocaine" and "After Midnight".  (In fact he scored a minor hit with his own version of "After Midnight" a few years after Eric's version climbed the charts, reaching #42.)

He ALSO recorded one of my All-Time Favorite Forgotten Hits of the '70's ... "Crazy Mama", a #22 Hit in 1972 ... and featured here today (because NOBODY on the radio seems to play it anymore!)  It's a great track ... and my way of paying tribute to this great artist.  (kk)

 

John Weldon "J.J." Cale, who wrote the Eric Clapton hits "Cocaine" and "After Midnight" (which was also was a #42 hit for J.J. in 1972) and performed the #22 hit, "Crazy Mama," in 1972, died Friday (July 26) in a hospital in La Jola, California after suffering a heart attack. The Oklahoma City native was 74. He was raised in Tulsa (his blend of blues, roots rock and country became known as the "Tulsa Sound") before moving to Los Angeles in the early '60s to be a recording engineer and artist. He moved back to Tulsa when his career didn't take off, only to be "discovered" when Eric recorded "After Midnight." All told, J.J. recorded 14 studio albums, but guested on dozens more. His other charted tunes were "Lies" (#42 - 1972) and "Hey Baby" (#96 - 1976). J.J. sings and plays guitar on Eric's latest album, on a track appropriately called "Angel."

-- Ron Smith  

Kent,
I just received an e-mail from a friend of mine here in the city saying that J.J. Cale passed away last night. When I think of him, I think of his earlier recordings on Chan Records which made our local survey here in OKC.  I am quite sure you already know of his passing.
Larry  

And this from Bish Krywko of WRLR ...

Songwriter J.J. Cale dies  by Ron Warnick

J.J. Cale, a Tulsa Central High School alum whose songs became hits for other artists and proved to be a huge influence on Eric Clapton, died of a heart attack Friday night. He was 74.

You can read all sorts of obituaries and tributes (including this one by roadie Dave Hoekstra). But one cannot compile a road-trip song list without having this Cale-written tune, a No. 1 hit for Don Williams in 1978.

According to one account, Cale cut his teeth musically at a club on Sheridan and 11th Street (aka Route 66) in Tulsa during the 1950s.

re:  THIS AND THAT:

Kent,

Plash Phelps just announced that Howard Kaylan will be playing his favorite 45's on Monday (July 29th) at noone ... I mean noon. 

Play 'YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN', Howard. hahahahahahaha (that's SiriusXM)

Shelley

In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Paul McCartney (who's winding down his latest world tour) says he doesn't even think about retiring.  "I can't imagine ever not doing it. It's what I do, and it's what I've always done, and I love it so much."  Macca is still having fun ... and quite enjoys slipping in a few new Beatles and Wings songs into every new tour.  (Just think of the wealth of material to draw from!!!)

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-paul-mccartney-looks-back-on-his-latest-magical-mystery-tour-20130725#ixzz2a7L3f4ls  

And, talking about getting old, Happy Birthday (#70) to Mick Jagger!  

I just had to send this to you.  Very humorous.  It's a short read and guaranteed you'll enjoy it.

Dann Isbell
Click here: Mick Jagger, Birthday Boy - NYTimes.com  

Hi Kent,

I attended last night's Monkees show, which was great as in the review below.  I sat near Mark Volman who was on only a couple day break from his own Happy Together tour, but said he could not miss this show.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashvillecream/archives/2013/07/25/the-monkees-at-the-ryman-72413

Ed Salamon

Be sure to check out the cool slide show of photos, too ... good stuff.  Thanks, Ed!  (Man, I wish I could have seen this show!)  kk 

Speaking of The Monkees, Jeremy Roberts has a GREAT interview with Micky Dolenz up on his Examiner site.  You can check it out here:

Click here: A piercing 'Mommy and Daddy' conversation with Monkee Micky Dolenz - National Pop Culture | Examiner.com  

MOJO MAGAZINE, UK ... the rock music BIBLE for sure ... features The Beatles and Beatlemania in their August issue ... with fab quotes from TOMMY ROE on their '63 tour.  The September issue will feature a current interview with TOMMY on his new recordings, concerts, etc.

Rick Levy 

Hi to all my Oldies friends,

I posted a 3 minute celebration of my Ace CD on You Tube yesterday.

The photos and memorabilia are courtesy of my mother, the collector.  :-)

Just click the CD cover (below).         
          

              

Thanks to every one of you for the plays and for keeping our music alive and well.

Paul 

Wella wella!  Our Forgottten Hits friend Artie Wayne had two hits on Radio Caroline's charts this week in 1966!  ARSA just posted this one and there's #13 and 21 written by Artie!! 

http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/charts_view.php?svid=33435

Clark  

Clark also tells us about some feuding going on within Cheap Trick ...  

Cheap Trick Drummer Sues The Rest Of The Band

Cheap Trick drummer Bun E Carlos has sued the rest of the band for hundreds of thousands of dollars, saying they have no right to keep using the band name without him.

He’s joined in the action by former manager David Frey, who says he’s still owed money for covering the band’s costs after the 2011 stage collapse which destroyed their equipment.
Carlos claims his ex-colleagues failed to stick to an agreement that saw him removed from the lineup while remaining a full member of the band for business purposes.
He was sidelined in 2010 and replaced by guitarist Rick Nielsen’s son Daxx, in circumstances which have never fully been explained. Cheap Trick said at the time: “Bun E Carlos is not currently the touring drummer for Cheap Trick. Bun E remains a band member. Everyone is healthy and Cheap Trick will continue to tour as planned.”
Last year the drummer admitted he hadn’t spoken to Nielsen, Robin Zander or Tom Petersson in some time, adding: “Solely as an accommodation to some of the band members I reluctantly agreed to take a temporary hiatus from touring. The other members have never seriously talked to me about leaving the band permanently.”
He was incensed after the band recorded a track for the Special Olympics without him, and said he’d consider legal action.
Now he and Frey have filed legal papers at Cook County Court, in which they say: “Plaintiffs are forced to bring this action against the three Defendants due to defendants’ outright refusal to account for, or pay, hundreds of thousands of dollars which are owed to each of the Plaintiffs, or to otherwise comply with their obligations to Plaintiffs.”
They allege that an agreement with Carlos meant he’s entitled to “receive all remuneration that would have been paid to him had he fully performed, without delay, penalty or offset.”
Frey says he advanced Cheap Trick nearly $400,000 via his credit card to cover the costs of replacing lost equipment following the Ottawa Bluesfest incident two years ago.
He alleges that $71,000 was still owed when they fired him, and while they sent a cheque to cover the amount, it bounced – and since then they haven’t taken any further action to resolve the debt.
The court papers continue: “Defendants have failed to provide any justification whatsoever for the wrongful actions which they have perpetrated against the Plaintiffs. These acts are plainly unjustifiable, not to mention unconscionable.
“Enough is enough. Defendants should be ordered to account for and pay Plaintiffs all the money they are owed, and to compensate for their acts of self-dealing and other corporate misfeasance.
“The Court should also enjoin Defendants from further misuse of the trademarks and other assets of the Cheap Trick Companies, and grant other appropriate relief.”

Is this a case of "I Want You to Want Me" or is Bun E asking them to "Surrender"???  "The Flame" seems to be very hot in this case.  Who is asking "Don't be Cruel" here??  Will the "Dream Police" intervene??  All I can say is "Ain't That a Shame."???? 

Clark  

Please thank John for yesterday’s positive feedback re “I Could Never Lie To You" ... and thanks to you for keeping up with the massive task of putting FH out and kudos again for the super good work done re: Forgotten Hits; I am a fan and an admirer of stick-to-it attitudes; you excel across the board!     

Ray Graffia, Jr.

The New Colony Six

Thank you, Ray ... "I Could Never Lie To You" seems to be one of Ronnie Rice's favorite New Colony Six tracks, too.  Although it stalled at #50 in Billboard, it hit #40 in both Cash Box and Record World ... so that makes it a Top 40 Hit in my book.  (Here in Chicago, it peaked at #7 ... and it's one of my favorites by them, too ... certainly worthy of another spin here today in Forgotten Hits!)  kk

We've been telling you about the upcoming Beach Boys box set collection "Made In California" ... here's a brief video presentation and a GREAT article by David Beard about this remarkable set (being released on my birthday this year!!!)  Click here: Made In California box set is The Beach Boys' best yet! - National Beach Boys | Examiner.com  

Everybody’s talkin’ about Harry Nilsson againLee Blackman knew the minute he met Harry Nilsson, he had found a friend for life.   
Nilsson may be gone – he died of heart failure on Jan. 15, 1994 – but Blackman is making sure his legacy lives on.  
The Encino, Calif.-based lawyer, who has handled several big Hollywood divorces, provided legal help for the singer-songwriter up until his death and continues to represent his estate. He has overseen the placement of Nilsson’s songs in films and on TV, and he produced the 2010 documentary, “Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him?).”    
“Harry was the smartest, wittiest person I’ve ever met,” Blackman says. “He had a bullshit meter like you wouldn’t believe. He could spot a phony from a mile away and he just couldn’t do stupid. He probably thought I was real, and that’s why he felt so at ease with me.  
"We had so many things in common, like our love for Ray Charles.  When I was a kid, when I heard 'What I'd Say' for the first time, it changed my life.  He told me the same thing." 
Blackman is talking about Nilsson for a reason: He’s hoping that a new RCA/Legacy box set, “The RCA Albums Collection” (out July 30), and a new biography, “Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter” (released July 16), will revive interest in Nilsson and eventually gain him overdue induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  
The 17-disc box set contains all of Nilsson’s 14 RCA albums, expanded with 65 bonus tracks, including 26 previously unreleased songs. There are also three CDs of 58 rarities, 29 of them previously unreleased. 
In the late 1960s, about the only thing that all four Beatles could agree on was that their favorite artist was Nilsson.    
“They really admired Harry,” Blackman says. “They loved his voice and how many different ranges he had, and of course, his songwriting. They invited him to London in 1968 and he got a chance to see the way they lived. They couldn’t go anywhere in public; they were holed up in their houses and their studio.  
“He made a conscious decision after that meeting, ‘That’s not for me. I want to walk around on my own and not become a famous rock star.’ If you notice, on all his album covers, he has a different look about him … that’s because he just wanted to move about freely.”  
Nilsson had plenty of hits – like the 1972 No. 1 “Without You,” the Grammy-winning “Everybody’s Talkin’” (written by Fred Neil, from the film “Midnight Cowboy”), “Coconut,” “Jump Into the Fire” and wrote Three Dog Night’s “One.” But he shunned the public life and did not tour. That’s why Blackman thinks Nilsson’s low profile has kept him from being recognized for his career achievements.  
“He certainly deserves it,” Blackman says. “I miss him dearly. He was the most generous, most amazing friend I’ve ever had.”  
-- submitted by Tom Cuddy  

Do you remember when some stores had their own music surveys?
David Lewis

David Lewis also came up with the two Herb Alpert tracks that FH Reader Mike Mertes was looking for.

I knew the readers would through ... Thanks again!!!!!

Mike  

'Fly Like An Eagle – An All-Star Tribute To Steve Miller Band' Featuring Members Of YES, Asia, XTC, Dream Theater, Survivor, The Tubes, Curved Air, Deep Purple, GONG, Nektar and Others Now Available!

Featuring Peter Banks, Rick Wakeman, Tony Kaye, Colin Moulding, John Wetton, Steve Morse, Steve Hillage, Fee Waybill, Rod Argent, Sonja Kristina, Jordan Rudess, Steve Stevens and others!  

Produced By Billy Sherwood

Los Angeles, CA – A whole host of space cowboys, gangsters of love and legendary music icons from around the globe gather together to pay special tribute to classic rock legends the Steve Miller Band! Now available on Purple Pyramid Records, 'Fly Like An Eagle' features performances by members of YES, Asia, XTC, Dream Theater, Survivor, The Tubes, Curved Air, Deep Purple, GONG, Nektar and others! With exciting renditions of Steve Millers' classic hits, 'Fly Like An Eagle – An All-Star Tribute To Steve Miller Band' is sure to please music fans worldwide! Also includes some final recordings by guitar legend Peter Banks.

Producer Billy Sherwood of YES/CIRCA: fame explains, “Steve Miller has written so many great songs, working on this record gave me a chance to look deeper into the inner workings of the material and explore it all with so many amazing guest artists. It was an honor producing and playing on this project. I think the fans of the music will appreciate the contributions of all the artists involved.”

Tracks include:

Take The Money And Run

Jet Airliner

Living In The USA

Abracadabra

Swingtown

Winter Time

The Joker

Jungle Love

Space Cowboy

Rock'n Me

Fly Like An Eagle

To purchase 'Fly Like An Eagle – An All-Star Tribute To Steve Miller Band' CD: http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Like-An-Eagle-All-Star/dp/B00D3ZJDA2

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fly-like-eagle-all-star-tribute/id662660456  

re:  TIMED OUT:

Well, it didn't work out QUITE the way I planned it ... I didn't realize that the entire page had to reload EVERY time you refreshed it ... which locked up the computer for several people ... and also delayed the blending feature from track to track that works well with three or four songs ... but not 150!!!  It was just too much material for the website to handle ... but, if you were patient (as several of you were), you eventually got to hear it all.  Oh well, lesson learned.  Still 'though ... did you EVER imagine that there were THAT many songs about time?!?!  (kk)  

HEY KENT --

WHAT TIME IS IT?

IT'S HOWDY DOODY TIME!

This may be the only 'time' song that did not make your cut.

Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano

Then you just didn't listen long enough!!!  We saluted Howdy Doody a couple of times (in different ways) during our time study!  (kk)

9:30 pm.  Just as I got home.  Apparently, at 2 years of age, I met my father at the door after work to tell him we needed to buy a TV set so I wouldn't have to go to the neighbor's to watch 'Howdy Doody'.   He did.

Shelley 

Kent ... 

I gotta tell you "Time has Come Today", the Chambers Brothers classic, is the most underrated slice of rock / funk in music history. The band track forces you to dance and the lyrical delivery just grabs you by the jugular. an amazing song that sounds as good today as it did in 1968.

Chet Coppock 

Thus far, I think the track with the broadest appeal that I never hear is "Bad Time."
But we're only half way through the show.  Runners up are "Time Passages" and "Twelve-Thirty."
BTW, Linda's very best track has always given be goosebumps, today and since the first time I heard it.
Really appreciate the inclusion of The Glass Bottle's terribly under-appreciated track.

This is gonna be a fun time to be listening to FH!

David Lewis 

I just have two questions to ask you about Friday's FH. The first question is, "Where did you get the TIME to do that?" and the second question is "Where did I get the TIME to listen to them?"
Larry Neal

To quote Keith, I ain't gonna lie ... this one took some serious time to put together ... but once I got started, I just had to see it through.  I even amazed myself by how many titles I was able to come up with.  The tracks are still there for anyone adventurous (and patient!) enough to give 'em a listen.  This was a goodie!  Thanks to everyone who took the "time" to listen! (kk)

I can't even imagine how long it must have taken to put together your musical walk through time on Friday but kudos on a job well done.  And LOTS of forgotten hits featured along the way, too.  WTG, kk!
Mike 

The Semi-Great Debate

July 29, 2013, 4:00 am

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Our Forgotten Hits Buddy (and Chicagoland Sports Broadcasting Hall-of-Fame Legend) Chet Coppock is at it again ... only this time he's debating good ol' rock and roll with Keegan Goudie, who edits an blog on Electronic Dance Music.

Both have agreed to share their debate with our Forgotten Hits readers.  Enjoy! 

Debating Four Decades of Music: Rock N’ Roll vs. EDM   

What happens when a 23-year-old and a 63-year-old debate music? It becomes a holy war. Then eventually, it becomes a column idea.  

In the left corner, we have American Emmy award-winning sports journalist Chet Coppock. He’s otherwise known as the ‘Godfather of Sports Talk Radio”. His expertise is Chicago sports, but his first love is a little thing he likes to call Rock N’ Roll. 

In the right corner, we have Keegan Goudie, editor  / co-founder of Major Onions and Rager Onions. One blog covers Chicago sports, and the other covers Electronic Dance Music.  

In order to seek some generational sanity, we decided to give each other a little music lesson. And what’s the first rule about music? It differs by taste. Or age.  

Coppock gave the first jab, and Keegan retorted. Enjoy the melodic debate, folks.  

-- 
From: Chet Coppock 
To: Keegan Goudie 
Subject: Just take those old records off the shelf.  

Keegan, listen up kid - you walked into the wrong arena, matched up against the wrong fighter. You're riding Green Day? I'll raise you Eric Clapton and Cream. You want to hustle Linkin Park? Hey pal, have you ever heard the electric thunder of Jimi Hendrix?

By the way, just what is a Breaking Benjamin or 30 seconds to Mars? Don't you get it, K-man? My generation is Rock N’ Roll. We are the dance floor. We are Wolfman Jack and American Bandstand. We are Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Yardbirds, Steely Dan, Janis Joplin, Motown, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and the funky horns of the Memphis sound. For further education, check out Sam and Dave. 

So, let's weigh in. If you can match this three-banger, you win complimentary driving lessons from Justin Beiber. Or two seats in the 300-level to catch Lady Gaga at the United Center. 

Douse the house lights. Split the curtains. Here are my top three, knock down, in your face Rock N’ Roll songs of all time.  

3. Johnny B. Goode- Chuck Berry  
"If you were to give Rock 'n Roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry” - John Lennon 
Berry, the incomparable St. Louis Tiger, is simply the most imitated guitar player of all time. 

"Johnny B. Goode" will always be his signature piece – a lesson in hot licks combined with the greatest vocal of Chuck's career.  

https://soundcloud.com/metal-duro/chuck-berry-johnny-b-goode   

2. L.A. Woman- The Doors  
Sizzling keyboard work from Ray Manzarek compliments the explosive vocal of Jim Morrison, who takes us on his own subterranean tour of the underbelly of "La La land." 

Dig it:  "Mr. Mo-Jo Risin'….Mr. Mo-Jo Ris'n." Roll down the windows and drive at least 96 mph.

https://soundcloud.com/pradaofficialsoundcloud/the-doors-l-a-woman 

1. Gimme Shelter– The Rolling Stones  
Simply the greatest rock song of all time, ‘Gimme Shelter’ is in a class of its own. 
Drummer Charlie Watts rips the skins to pieces with stirring, gut-wrenching rhythm. Keith Richard’s guitar work (lead and rhythm) begins in blues fashion before erupting into an explosive musical frenzy. Who can forget "guest" vocalist Merry Clayton wailing, "Rape…murder…it's just a shot away…its just a shot away.” Mick Jagger was never better. 
The song signals the end of the 60's, the conclusion of the Flower Child era, peace and love, and an evolution from hallucinogens to Studio 54. The eventual move from "Turn on-Tune in" to Disco. https://soundcloud.com/colorviento/the-rolling-stones-gimme   

--  
From: Keegan Goudie 
To: Chet Coppock 
Subject: RE: Just take those old records off the shelf.   

Hey Chet, go ahead and leave those records on the shelf. 

Haven’t you heard of Soundcloud? 

I have all the respect in the world for the list of musical dinosaurs you mentioned. But come on Chet, you’ve got to stop living in the past. Welcome to the digital age. An age of music where tunes can be modified in a million different ways, and musicians can recreate other artist’s work in their own creative style. Artists like Skrillex, Sub Focus, and Sound Remedy have taken hits and made them bigger than the original with their masterful renditions. Welcome to the beauty of electronic music.  

Linkin Park? Green Day? I’m not in 7^th grade anymore, dude. And if you think Rock N’ Roll was the dance floor, you’ve never been to a Pretty Lights concert. Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, and The Doors? Can’t complain with that artillery. As a matter of fact, I learned a lot about Chuck Berry during my senior year of college - thanks to the barrage of PBS documentaries that my American History professor forced down our throats. Even as a youngster, all of those names (especially Jim Morrison) scream one word to me: legendary. 

But you know what else is legendary? These three tracks: and my favorite EDM songs of all time. 

3. Feel So Close– Calvin Harris  
You actually might even recognize this one. Please meet Calvin Harris – one of the most talented producers in the game. He’s not just the nerd behind the computer for this one either, as he was the singer, songwriter, and producer of this modern-day masterpiece. 

It’s so good that some of the biggest names in the game spun their own remix to it, like Nero, Benny Benassi, and of course - Dillon Francis. But you’ll meet him in a minute.   

https://soundcloud.com/wynnsocial/feel-so-close-radio-edit   

2. Bonfire– Knife Party  

You think you’ve heard a banger, and then you hear Knife Party. ‘Bonfire’ is the quintessential example of a reggae-dubstep anthem. While I won’t sit here and try to explain the overwhelming number of sub-genres in EDM, I’ll just tell you that Knife Party haunts the world of dance music. In a good way. 

And if you didn’t nod your head at all to this epic jam, I’ll pay for your new speakers.   

https://soundcloud.com/knifepartyinc/knife-party-bonfire    

1. I.D.G.A.F.O.S. 2.0– Dillon Francis  
And last but not least, my equivalent to your Mick Jagger. 
Funk lives vicariously through Dillon Francis’ music, and that’s a fact. He’s a party-boy, a wild child, and one incredibly talented musician. He’s become the king of Moombahton – a genre that was non-existent five years ago. 
And in case you were wondering, ‘I.D.G.A.F.O.S.’ stands for one thing, and one thing only: 

I don’t give a fuck or shit.   

https://soundcloud.com/dillonfrancis/dillon-francis-idgafos-2-0    

And there you have it ... a debate for the (modern) ages.  (I'm not quite sure we'll sway anybody with this one but hey, we're happy to share!)  kk  

Chet Coppock further expounds on the glories of good old rock and roll here: 

Click here: Contemporary Rock ‘n Roll is a Corpse on a Slab | NoozeBox.com#.UdOBjFX9kUg.email#.UdOBjFX9kUg.email

While Keegan Goudie does his best to convince us of the values of Electronic Dance Music here:

Click here: Rager Onions   

(Hey, no bias or prejudice here ... but we ARE after all an oldies music publication aren't we???  Convince me that ANY act featured on Keegan's list will someday be doing a "50 and Counting" tour.  This music is "of the moment" with a limited appeal to a very select audience.  Vintage Rock and Roll was for EVERYBODY ... and it TOUCHED everybody in its own unique way.  Very few of us loved it all ... and that list includes yours truly ... but like it or loathe it, we HEARD it and developed our taste from there.)  kk

 

Coppock's Topics

July 30, 2013, 3:28 am

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Completely this week's "Twin Bill / Doubleheader" ... 

Another edition of Coppock's Topics ...

More of Chet Coppock's free-form musical observations ...

EXCLUSIVELY in Forgotten Hits!  

Eric Burdon and the Animals knocked the ball out of the park with their 1965 classic, "Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood." But, time out! Eric's vocal finishes in the runner up spot behind Joe Cocker's gritty- guts out performance of the song some four years later on his debut album.  

I'm just curious. Does anybody know if on again - off again, from time to time, Beach Boy, David Marks, collects any dough in royalties? It seems like the reunited Beach Boys were at the Chicago Theatre about, you know, a year ago. 

Do yourself a favor. Log on to youtube and check out the Fantastic Four's "You Gave Me Something." It’s a soul classic that was on the charts in Chicago on old WVON in the mid-60's for about 12 minutes. Just a melodically beautiful song. 

Reflections of Fleetwood Mac, who recently performed at the United Center. I never dreamed I would see Lindsey Buckingham covering notes that Stevie Nicks couldn’t reach if you gave her a 50 foot pole. 

Speaking of which, has it been 25 or 30 years since Roger Daltrey was capable of hitting every note on "Baba O'Riley?" How many people do you know who think think "Baba", released a mere 42 years ago on "Who's Next" is actually "Teenage Wasteland?"   

Styx should be ashamed of the way it has treated songwriting genius Dennis DeYoung. Dennis, of course, is a big time White Sox fan. I recall him flying former Sox boss Tony La Russa on the group's private jet to a Midwest concert one day after the Southsiders were bumped out of the 1983 ALCS by the O's. Hello, do the other Styx old timers ever remind themselves that Dennis wrote all six of the group's top 10 hits.  

Did you know that Terry Jack's lugubrious "Seasons in the Sun" was Billboard's #2 song on its 1974 top 100 scorecard … just back of Streisand's "The Way We Were." When I think of "Seasons" I genuinely believe that the arrival of Disco was a blessing.  

If you're scoring at home, the first 45 I ever bought - and still have - is Chuck Berry's phenomenal "Rock And Roll Music", purchased when Ike was in office. I still cringe whenever I hear The Beach Boys lame 1976 cover of that song. But, I break out in hives when I hear the genius of Chuck Berry covering the God-awful "My Ding a Ling." If someone can explain to me just how the hell that song was the St. Louis Tiger's only number one hit, please contact me on facebook or through Forgotten Hits. 

Finally, do you still find the Bobby Fuller 4's "I Fought The Law", a wonderful guilty pleasure?

---

Three Dog Night

July 31, 2013, 5:12 am

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Although it rained for a good while both before and during the show, the weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the large crowd gathered to see Three Dog Night perform a free, live concert in Elk Grove Village last night ... in fact, it's probably one of the biggest turn-outs this series has ever seen.   

Cory Wells and Danny Hutton were both in fine voice as they rattled through their hits in quick succession.  (The missing third of the original line-up, Chuck Negron, blows through town in a couple of weeks as part of The Happy Together Tour.)  

The set kicked off with what can best be described as two classic Forgotten Hits ... "Family Of Man" and "One Man Band".  More hits followed.  (Three Dog Night scored 21 consecutive Top 40 Hits between 1969 and 1975, an INCREDIBLE track record ... and they performed most of them last night.  You can check out the complete Three Dog Night Hit List below.)   

In addition to classic gems like "Black And White", "Shambala", "Out In The Country", "An Old Fashioned Love Song", "Eli's Coming", "Celebrate" and "Never Been To Spain", we were also treated to a couple of vintage album tracks (like their earlier-than-Joe-Cocker version of "You Can Leave Your Hat On" and the title track from their "It Ain't Easy album) as well as two brand-new tunes from their forth-coming album that Wells promises should be out "by 2035".  (You can check out these tracks on their official website ... www.threedognight.com ... "Prayer of the Children" proves just how strong these guys are vocally ... they performed a letter-perfect rendition last night that rivaled some of the best Beach Boys harmonies you've ever heard.)   

I won't say that Chuck's voice wasn't missed ... he provided the high end of those classic harmonies and really drove home Chuckcentric songs like "One" and "Joy To The World", which the band featured as their final encore.  They also did an updated, rap version of their #1 Hit "Mama Told Me Not To Come" that Frannie hated but I thought was a clever idea that simply went on far too long.  (Do the faithful version as you did and then cut the gimmick down to about a third of what you did last night and you'll probably retain more of your audience's attention.)  

It's too bad the guys can't mend the fences after all these years ... a full-blown Three Dog Night reunion tour would generate millions and sell out theaters around the world.  (We recently ran a video clip of deejay Jimmy Jay interviewing Chuck Negron backstage after one of his shows.  He blames the failure to put things back together squarely on Danny Hutton.)  Read Chuck's book, "Three Dog Nightmare" to find out how his drug abuse ultimately did in the band, at the time the #1 recording and touring act on the planet.  It's understandable why there might be some hard feelings between the two camps ... these guys were literally on top of the world.  It's one of the best rock biographies you'll ever read.  But Chuck's been clean and sober for decades now, out doing his own shows.  One can only imagine the intense excitement a full reunion could generate.)  That being said, long-time keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon is still onboard.  He's been playing with Cory and Danny since 1965, before Three Dog Night even existed!  (One thing I've got to say is that back in the day, Three Dog Night had one of the best back-up bands around ... these guys totally killed and were often given their own spotlight as part of the show.)  

Last night's performancewas a fast-paced, very entertaining show. Between songs, both Cory and Danny recount humorous stories and experiences ... they've really got their show down pat.  (The guys seem to be really big on the casino circuit lately.  Last year they completely sold out The Arcada Theatre at tickets close to $100 ... so seeing them for free in Elk Grove Village last night was an especially sweet treat for local fans, who turned out in droves to see the concert.)  If there was one disappointment, it's that in all the recollections of their hey-day they never even once mention or acknowledge the fact that they accomplished this incredible career as a trio. 

Three Dog Night continues to tour extensively (and there's a great video available, now out of print, of them performing with The Tennessee Symphony Orchestra through Amazon.com)

Click here: Amazon.com: Three Dog Night - Live with the Tennessee Symphony Orchestra: Three Dog Night: Movies & TV

Highly recommended if they hit your area.    

TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT:  
An absolute concert highlight for me last night was their spot-on rendition of "Liar", a #6 national hit from 1971.  For some reason, you never hear this one on the radio ... and it deserves, at the very least, an occasional spin. 
The song was first recorded by Argent.  Keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon heard it and immediately called Cory Wells, for whom he then played it over the phone in one of those "you've just got to hear this" moments.  The rest, as they say, is history.

DIDJAKNOW?:  
We mentioned earlier that the boys performed their new track "Prayer for the Children" displaying harmonies worthy of The Beach Boys ... but DIDJAKNOW that there is an actual Beach Boys connection to Three Dog Night? 
Danny Hutton has been a long-time friend of Brian Wilson.  Hutton started with a solo career (and even toured as part of Dick Clark's Caravan Of Stars back in the day ... in fact, that is how he first met Cory Wells, in 1965). 
Just prior to launching Three Dog Night, Danny was fronting another band called Redwood, who secured a recording contract.  Brian Wilson gave the band a song to record, "Time To Get Alone" ... but then had to pull it back from the band when The Beach Boys decided they wanted to cut it themselves.  As such, this one sat unreleased for decades, Redwood disbanded, Three Dog Night united and history was forever rewritten.  We've got that extremely rare Redwood track to share with you today.  (We featured The Beach Boys' version as part of our time sweep last Friday!)

THE THREE DOG NIGHT HIT LIST:  
One misnomer I'd like to correct.  Early in the set last night, Cory Wells made a comment that Chicago was one of the last major cities to climb onboard the Three Dog Night bandwagon as the group was starting to make it ... but that once they did, Chicago became a very supportive city and a favorite place for the band to play. 
This simply isn't the case.  The song that most consider to be Three Dog Night's break-through single, "One", went all the way to #1 here in Chicago in 1969, a feat it didn't even accomplish in Billboard Magazine where it peaked at #5.  In fact, their follow-up single, "Easy To Be Hard", ALSO topped the Chicagoland charts despite stopping at #4 in Billboard.  In all, Three Dog Night scored 18 consecutive Top 20 Hits in Chicago, including six #1's, one #2 and three #3's.  This hardly sounds lackluster to me!!!  A close analysis of this chart will show that in nearly every instance, their records performed better here locally than they did on the national charts.   (Truth be told, Three Dog Night's records consistently performed better in Cash Box Magazine and Record World than they did in Billboard.) 

Here is the complete Three Dog Night Hit List, highlighting the highest national peak for each record as well as how these tunes scored here in Chicago.  Impressive doesn't even begin to describe this track record ... you'd be hard pressed to name many other bands who put together this kind of a recording legacy.  (kk)  

1969 - Nobody  (National - 72 / Chicago - 28)

1969 - Try A Little Tenderness (22 / --)

1969 - One  (1 / 1)

1969 - Easy To Be Hard  (1 / 1)

1969 - Eli's Coming  (7 / 3)

1970 - Celebrate  (11 / 7)

1970 - Mama Told Me Not To Come (1 / 1)

1970 - Out In The Country  (9 / 7)

1971 - One Man Band  (11 / 15)

1971 - Joy To The World  (1 / 1)

1971 - Liar  (6 / 10)

1971 - An Old Fashioned Love Song  (4 / 3)

1972 - Never Been To Spain  (3 / 5)

1972 - The Family Of Man  (8 / 6)

1972 - Black And White  (1 / 1)

1973 - Pieces Of April  (18 / 2)

1973 - Shambala  (1 /1)

1973 - Let Me Serenade You  (12 / 8)

1974 - The Show Must Go On  (1 / 3)

1974 - Sure As I'm Sittin' Here  (16 / 11)

1974 - Play Somethin' Sweet  (24 / 20)

1975 - Til The World Ends  (22 / 14)

Six Great Songs You Probably Won't Hear On The Radio Today

August 1, 2013, 4:00 am

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Bonus points to any DJ on the list who features three of these songs on their program today. (kk)

Three Dog Night

August 2, 2013, 4:00 am

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Sharing some of your comments today ...     

Hi Kent, 
Thanks for the review. Glad they are still sounding good. I haven't seen the 2 Dogs for a while now, but they were always great. 
Just thought I should correct you on a couple things, though. 
Maybe others already have. <grin> 
The guys that were the players back in the day were actually part of the 3 Dog Night brand -- it wasn't just the 3 singers. Also Jimmy Greenspoon did leave for a while, not exactly sure when, but he was replaced by Frank "Skip" Konte who had been in Blues Image. As I recall he was quite a shoman. I think I have a PBS show with "the dogs" on it in the days when he was playing. I know he was on the album Hard Labor. 
Bill  
I was simply referring to the fact that they have managed to maintain a relationship with Greenspoon for some nearly fifty years ... I believe drummer Floyd Sneed has also returned to the fold at various times over the years.  But they were, without a doubt, a cracker-jack band and had a HUGE amount to do with the sound of their success.  Their line-up during the biggest hit years also included Mike Alllsup on guitar and Joe Schermie on bass.

The players that Cory and Danny are touring with now are no slouches either ... all are seasoned musicians who have played with any number of name artists throughout the years ... and they're able to recreate this sound to perfection on the live stage.  All in all a very enjoyable show.  (kk)   

Hi Kent, 
Nice to see you and Frannie last night ... I thought the show was excellent too.  Too bad that's the last one at EGV ... they've been good.  Thanks to Murray and Elk Grove Village for bringing out some good old bands. Hope it continues next year.  
Marlene  
We've seen some great shows there over the years ... Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars, Micky Dolenz, The Chicago Gold Sounds of The Cryan' Shames, Dennis Tufano, Ronnie Rice and Jimy Sohns ... and it sounds like the budget has already been approved for next year ... so we're already looking forward to that.  It's a nice place to see a show (although I think it's rained probably 50% of the times I've been there!  lol But that's not Elk Grove's fault.)  You GOTTA sit up close though ... if you go too far back, the echo between the buildings makes it almost unlistenable.  (kk)   

We were at the Three Dog Night concert last night, too, and just read your review --- and agree completely with everything you said.  Of course, it would have been nice to see Chuck there, too, but Cory and Danny still put on a great show.  I'm so glad we went. 
Rick   

Things have never been the same since Wells and Hutton severed ties with Chuck Negron ... but perhaps all is not "roses and rainbows" between these two guys either.  We heard from different three readers this week, ALL of whom wished to remain anonymous, who have done shows with the two-thirds version of Three Dog Night over the years, and all of them told us that, despite what you see on stage, Danny and Cory really do not get along at all ... in fact, they don't even speak to each other offstage.  We've heard that they typically enter from different sides of the stage, they have separate limos and their rooms are on different floors of the hotel and that they literally don't socialize or have anything to do with one another once the show is over.  I can only say that I saw no evidence of this at all at this week's concert.  The guys DID enter the stage together and seemed to genuinely have a good time up there, putting on a GREAT show for the large crowd on hand.  They're still making brand new music together (and it sounds great, too) and we found it to be a very enjoyable concert experience.  

Fact is, if it was only about the money, they would have invited Chuck back ages ago ... these guys are passing up untold millions by not doing the full-blown reunion.  They'd be playing to sold out world tours in huge arenas, just like the good old days, instead of casinos and outdoor fairs. 
It's funny 'cause when you're a trio and one-third is gone, it REALLY shows ... especially if your name is THREE Dog Night!!!  Let's face it, Dan Peek left America and Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley have continued on to great success ever since without him, never missing a beat.  Today we look at America as a duo, no questions asked. (Of course Dan's recent passing now makes this a permanent arrangement ... but these guys have been playing together now nonstop for 45 years!!!  It's kind of like Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman of The Turtles ... they've put together a partnership that has lasted longer than most businesses, doing what they love doing the most.)  Kudos to Danny and Cory for keeping it together ... they don't need Chuck's voice to carry on the sound (although, as I mentioned in the review, there were a couple of rough spots where it was noticeably missing) and the sentimental, nostalgist in all of us wishes that everybody could just play nice and get along ... but this isn't the case here.  The good news is that now you get to see BOTH camps out on tour ... but one big final reunion ... even for a live television special or something ... sure would be nice.  These guys were KINGS of the pop world back in the day.  

By the way, I forgot to mention in my review that Cory Wells displayed the old show-biz adage "The Show Must Go On" that night.  Delta Airlines lost his luggage so he had to perform in "casual wear" instead of his usual on-stage garb.  Didn't matter ... Tuesday night is was all about the sound.

I saw Three Dog Night three times back in the '70's ... they were, without a doubt, one of my favorite bands of this era.  The first time was at the old Chicago Auditorium Theater ... and their warm-up act that night was the virtually unknown Elton John!  Elton had yet to have a hit here yet ("Your Song" would follow just a few months later) but Three Dog Night had already recorded a few of his tunes for their albums (including that one!) and they invited him out to tour with them to help break him in America.  (Yes, they had that kind of power back then!)  Three Dog Night ALWAYS had an ear for a good tune ... and introduced us to SO many great songwriters back then, many of whom later went on to have hits of their own.  They were very big on the Randy Newman sound and cut several of his tunes ("Mama Told Me Not To Come" being the biggest, a #1 Hit in 1970) ... as well as Nilsson ("One"), Leo Sayer (the above-featured "The Show Must Go On" ... Leo had several hits in the '70's, kicking off with "Long Tall Glasses" shortly after his big Three Dog Night payday), Dave Loggins ("Pieces Of April" and "Til The World Ends" and Hoyt Axton ("Joy To The World", their biggest hit, and "Never Been To Spain".)  They also recorded three Top 20 Paul Williams tunes ("Family Of Man" along with "An Old Fashioned Love Song" and "Out In The Country".  In fact, Danny says that Williams gave them both of those songs together on the same demo tape for consideration, along with a third track ... "We've Only Just Begun", which went on to top the charts for The Carpenters!)  Cory, Danny and Chuck had an impeccable ear for a hit song and, as we showed you the other day, they went on to score 21 one big ones ... 21 Top 40 Hits in a row from 1969 - 1975.  Wow!  (kk)  

Two Dog Night is one of the best concerts I've seen live (however for my money I'd say the Moody Blues put on a better show, and when I saw the Beach Boys on the 50th Anniversary tour I thought they sounded better, too). I don't think re-adding Chuck to the group would make them sound better as a group (and I think they know it) but it would've made the show even more enjoyable. I saw Chuck on the Happy Together tour and I felt that his voice was a little rough around the edges, though given all he's been through I'm not surprised. It could also be that he may have had a cold, as some of the other performers did and they sounded worse than usual too, but this was the only time I had seen Chuck live. From the stage, Chuck did appear to at least feel sad about not having the other members of Three Dog Night on the stage with him (and he did mention them by name a few times), and it's a shame that a group with all of their primary vocalists still living can't patch things up after almost 30 years ... I guess the group figures they have a good thing going so why mess it up, yet they don't seem to realize how huge their tour could be if they would just let Chuck back into the group ... even if it were for only a few shows a year with him. The most recent time I saw 3DN live, someone shouted "Where's Chuck?" to which one of the others replied "I don't know, he's probably at home".
I just think that if the original members of the Rascals can reunite after so many decades apart, why not Three Dog Night? 
Tom Diehl  
I would agree with that assessment ... Two Dog Night don't need to bring Chuck back to sell out shows and put on a good show ... and they must have invested well and don't need the money that a full-blown reunion could bring in.  Like I said, I get it ... Chuck burst their bubble when the band was sitting on top of the world ... and that's hard to forgive.  But it HAS been nearly 40 years now ... and he's clean and sober and out there singing these same songs anyway.  I'd love to see it happen ... but the truth is THAT show would sell out so fast, I might not even be able to get a ticket!  Now I can just grab a lawn chair or head out to a casino and know that I'll get a seat!  And STILL see a great show!  (kk) 

>>>One thing I've got to say is that back in the day, Three Dog Night had one of the best back-up bands around ... these guys totally killed and were often given their own spotlight as part of the show.  (kk)  
Live at the Forum (one of my top 10 live albums) is testament to that.  
KKiley (from Jersey!)  
And that was really early on in their career ... their biggest hits were still ahead of them at that point!  But the label wanted to capture the magic of their live shows and rushed out this LP.  As a fan of this album, you might be pleased to know that the guys have put "It's For You" back in the act, exercising those same vocal gymnastics amongst all of the members that they used to do as a trio back in the day.  Personally, I never particularly cared for their rendition of this little known Lennon-McCartney tune, but I think I was in the minority ... and the crowd sure seemed to love it Tuesday night, too!  (kk)

Kent,

A two out of three dogs concert was one of the first non-British Invasion concerts I took my children to see.  Since then, we have had the pleasure of also experiencing one dog out of three.  The incurable romantic in me agrees with your suggestion about a reunion.  I have been able to imagine all three on stage at both types of concerts.  I would love to actually see it.  It would require harmony off-stage that was sincere though, or the harmonies on-stage would come out sour.  Another lesson from the 60's:  Life isn't always as we would wish it.  We need to strive to change the wrongs into rights, but that is many times more difficult than we first imagined.

Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano 

It's strange that we never hear "Liar" on oldies radio, and serves as another example of a great Forgotten Hit that charted rather high. My wife references it often, though. When she senses I'm not being thoroughly transparent about something, she immediately says "There's a Three Dog Night song about you, David." It doesn't get played around the house or car, so tonight I played it on YouTube and after three seconds she yelled "That's Liar." 
David Lewis  
Yep, it's a good one ... and I'm betting that a few of the jocks on our list dug this one out of mothballs, too, to play it on their programs this week.  Here's the Argent original for the benefit of anyone who may not have heard it before.  (kk)

 

CORRECTION:
The other day I mentioned the fact that Danny Hutton recorded the Brian Wilson track "Time To Get Alone" prior to launching Three Dog Night ... but the band (Redwood) had to pull the record back when The Beach Boys decided to record this track themselves.
Well, further research shows 
A) That Brian Wilson actually gave them TWO tracks to record ... and even helped produce the session.  Neither track was commercially released by Redwood, as The Beach Boys released them both themselves.  The other track?  Their Top Ten Hit "Darlin'"!
And ...
B) Cory Wells and Chuck Negron BOTH sang on these recordings with Danny.  Just think ... if these HAD been released and had become early hits for the group, they may never have become Three Dog Night and we might know them today only as Redwood ... in which case TWO guys performing as three guys probably wouldn't phase anybody!!!  (lol)  kk

The Sunday Comments ( 08 - 04 - 13 )

August 3, 2013, 10:02 pm

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re:  AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMIN':  
Wow!  Every time we turn around Ron Onesti has added more great acts to his line-up of stars headlining at his Arcada Theatre ... and now he's also booking some great double bills for The Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin!  

Topping things off at The Arcada is one of my all-time favorites, Burton Cummings, lead vocalist of The Guess Who, who'll be appearing on September 27th with (Holy Frankenfuck, Batman!!!) The Zombies!!! And, talk about your two-for-the-price-of-one double-bill entertainment, you can catch Joan Jett and the Blackhearts along with Eric Burdon and the Animals on Saturday, August 24th at The Grand Victoria Casino... and then come back again on Saturday, September 21st, to see Grand Funk Railroad and Night Ranger!  
Back at The Arcada (in St. Charles, IL) he's got The Rock 'n' Blues Fest on August 8th (featuring Rick Derringer, Ten Years After, Pat Travers, Edgar Winter and Canned Heat ...  
Screen legend Debbie Reynolds appearing on September 15th ...

and September 18th sounds like an interesting evening of entertainment ... that's the night that Creed Bratton (Creed on "The Office" and original guitarist of The Grass Roots) throws "An Office Party" at The Arcada Theatre!

Coming October 11th are two '70's favorites, John Ford Coley (of England Dan and John Ford Coley) and Terry Sylvester (of The Hollies) who'll team up to bring us a night of entertainment.

The BoDeans and UFO bring us a couple of back-to-back shows on October 18th and 19th respectively and then another interesting night of music is promised for October 26th when Lisa Marie Presley takes to the stage!

November brings us Los Lonely Boys (the 8th), America (the 15th) and one of Frannie's all-time favorites, Gino Vannelli, on November 16th.

A Tribute to the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons with "Walk Like A Man" on November 23rd, will be followed by "Hot August Nights", an evening of Neil Diamond Music on November 24th.

Michael Bolton takes the stage on December 1st and on December 6th, he's calling it "Singer / Songwriters Night" with an up-close and personal concert featuring Don McLean and Judy Collins.

Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March will rock the Arcada on December 7th and The Lettermen return for their Christmas Show on December 8th.

Complete ticket information is available at www.oshows.com ... some GREAT shows here that you will not want to miss!!! 

And, speaking of Burton Cummings ...  

Kent:

I attended one of two sold out solo shows that former Guess Who vocalist Burton Cummings did in NYC this week.  He said it was the first time in his career he had performed by himself in New York City.  It was just him and a keyboard for 90 minutes at the City Winery.  He told stories and sang songs from his catalog that he felt he could do justice to with only keyboard accompaniment.  

Here’s a picture of the set list he had taped next to his keyboard.  

Burton added songs that weren’t on the setlist, including is take on one of his favorite British pop tunes from the 60s, “Ferry Across the Mersey.  Video link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gCuAneG6fE 

- Tom Cuddy  

New York, NY  
Sounds very much like the show and set list he did for his "Up Close And Personal" live CD a few years ago.  (He did "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey" for that show, too ... and his "Gordon Lightfoot Does 'Maggie May'" bit as well.)  We just got tickets to see his September 27th show at The Arcada Theatre ... can't wait ... with The Zombies as his warm-up act.  (Does it get any better than this?!?!?)  

re:  TIME:  
Kent, 
Again, I enjoyed your FH for Friday. I believe that it will turn out to be a TIMEless piece. 
So again, kudos goes out to you for your main "time" feature in Friday's FH. 
I am like my dad in that sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with some sort of idea or solution to a problem. I will try to come up, maybe, with an idea or two for you to use with songs like you did on Friday for a future Forgotten Hits feature. 
Without going over them again, did you choose TIME IS ON MY SIDE by the Rolling Stones and / or Irma Thomas? I remember, I believe, that you couldn't get some "time" songs posted, I don't really remember hearing this song, though I could have.   
Here is what I'm really writing to you about. I started thinking about songs that have an exact time in the title. You did one or two of these I believe. I thought of the following:
1. Paul Anka -- MIDNIGHT from 1958
2.Gary "U.S." Bonds -- QUARTER TIL 3
3. Robins / Coasters -- QUARTER TIL12 from 1958
There is probably others which I can't think of offhand.
Larry  

We did "Time Is On My Side" by The Rolling Stones ... in fact, The Stones may have led the pack with three tracks ... that one, "The Last Time" and "Out Of Time" were all featured. 
I only did a couple of tracks that were time-specific, more as a clever break from the action than anything else.  "Six O'Clock" by The Lovin' Spoonful was featured at 6 pm, as was "Twelve Thirty" (at 12:30 naturally) by The Mamas and The Papas.  I also kicked the series off with Billy Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around The Clock", using the opening lyric of "One, two, three o'clock, four o'clock rock ... five, six, seven, eight o'clock rock" as a means to set up the theme. I let Steve Miller's "Fly Like An Eagle" / "time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'" do the same thing ... but other than these I pretty much went with the word "time" all the way ... and its many different uses. 
All the tracks are still posted ... and if you started at 6 am on Friday (July 26th) and played 'em straight through till Midnight, you'll find yourself entertained for the bulk of the entire day.  (kk)  

re:  J.J. CALE:  
Kent, 
Like a few other of your readers, I like to look at old radio surveys from other 'markets' to see what records that charted that did not chart here in OKC and vice versa. 
With the passing of J.J. Cale, I had to get out two recordings he made in 1960 on the Chan Record label and play them as they say "one more time". 
The songs in question were TROUBLES, TROUBLES, TROUBLES, and his version of the Jimmy Reed tune, AIN'T THAT LOVIN' YOU BABY. 
I am probably quite sure these were  never played and heard in Chicago. 
Larry

Neither of these tunes charted nationally and, checking my sources, I don't see that either title charted here in Chicago either.  This was an exciting time in radio where a radio station, disc jockey or program director could take a chance with a song that they happened to like personally, give it a spin on the air and see if their audience felt the same way.  More often than not, these records disappeared without a trace ... but every once in a while a great, local hit was born ... and those records have stayed with us (with as much love and affection) as some of the biggest hits on the national charts at the same time.  That's just one of the joys in discovering some of this regional music.  (kk)  

re:  THIS AND THAT:  
>>>Eric Burdon and the Animals knocked the ball out of the park with their 1965 classic, "Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood." But, time out! Eric's vocal finishes in the runner up spot behind Joe Cocker's gritty - guts out performance of the song some four years later on his debut album.  (Chet Coppock) 
Have you guys heard Bettye LaVette's version from 2010?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-q7kt9hmU
KKiley (from Jersey)  
Just being honest ... this one did absolutely nothing for me ... and I still prefer Eric Burdon's version over Joe Cocker's too!  (kk) 

Speaking of Eric Burdon, DIDJAKNOW that he cut the original single version of Randy Newman's "Mama Told Me Not To Come" before Three Dog Night took their version to #1?  With all our Three Dog Night coverage last week, we figured we'd share this one with you, too!  (kk)

Hail Paul Evans -- what else is there to say!!! Thanks, Kent, for posting all those great oldies in the "marathon of records."  I picked up The Glass Bottle's debut LP at the CHIRP Record Fair a few months ago. It's got "The First Time", a wonderful pop ballad that was, ironically, the SECOND B-side of "Ain't Got Time Anymore" (I believe!!!), the theme song from "The People Next Door" and a rousing rocker by, surprisingly enough, penners Bradley Raisin and Joanie Levitt entitled "Red River Sal."  Certainly worth a few spins. Especially for Gary Criss' terrific voice. 
Blub 
I always liked "I Ain't Got Time Anymore", an overlooked gem from 1971 that I think would still sound great on the radio today if given an occasional spin.  (We got to feature it twice recently ... as part of both our "Ain't" music sweep and most recently in our salute to "Time"!!!)  By the way (you may already know this) but the record was produced by Novelty Giant Dickie Goodman, also known as the King of the Break-Ins records.  I think he did an excellent job with this one!  (kk) 

Congratulations to Dion, celebrating 45 years of clean and sober living. 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201721712712736&set=vb.34360494934&type=2&theater   

Kent ...  

The story  behind the Hit.  
Frank B. 
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/28/5600136/a-pop-record-helped-turn-shame.html  
And here's the video ...  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C35DrtPlUbc  
That's interesting, Frank ... of course, you could have just gone to The Forgotten Hits Website to learn this ... we've covered "Sukiyaki" at least three times now over the years.  (Here's the most recent posting I could find): Click here: Forgotten Hits: Sukiyaki  
In fact, type in "Sukiyaki" into the search feature on the site and you'll find all kinds of follow-up pieces, too, including several other recorded versions of this great song.  
Then again, if you enjoy this sort of thing, you may want to check out a section on the site called (ironically enough) The Stories Behind The Songs!!!  (kk)  
Click here: Forgotten Hits - THE STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS 

Click here: Forgotten Hits - More Stories Behind The Songs ... And The Remakes

Tom Cuddy just sent us this note about another upcoming PBS / T.J. Lubinksy music special that promises to be quite entertaining ...  

PBS Premiering "My Music: '60's Girl Groves" Starting August 3  
PBS has another edition of the My Music series coming starting on Friday, August 3. '60's Girl Groves features some of the female acts, both solo and groups, that were popular from the early to the mid-60's including Dusty Springfield, the Shirelles, Lesley Gore, Jackie DeShannon and Petula Clark.
Series creator T.J. Lubinsky said of the special "This period in American pop music was very special. It was a time of innocence, angst, puppy love, heartbreak and, most of all, great memories of carefree youth -- like the feeling of those wonderful summers in our teens -- wherever we were hearing these songs on the radio."
Former Supreme Mary Wilson hosts.
The performances:  
My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels 
Heatwave - Martha and the Vandellas 
Leader Of The Pack - The Shangri-Las 
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles 
Da Doo Ron Ron - The Crystals 
I Will Follow Him - Little Peggy March 
I Hear A Symphony - The Supremes 
The Loco-Motion - Little Eva 
I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield Johnny Angel - Shelley Fabares 
The End Of The World - Skeeter Davis 
It's My Party - Lesley Gore 
The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) - Betty Everett 
What The World Needs Now Is Love - Jackie DeShannon 
Yes, I'm Ready - Barbara Mason 
My Love - Petula Clark 
Rescue Me - Fontella Bass   
Read more: 

http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/08/pbs-premiering-my-music-60s-girl-groves.html#ixzz2apTrFZrs

Which reminds me ... are you one of the 15 million people hooked on the CBS Summer Series "Under The Dome"?  We are.  Last week's episode the military decided to hit the dome with a nuclear missile that would have taken it down but killed everybody inside.  As they reached zero hour to the point of impact, the radio station inside the dome broadcast the Skeeter Davis hit "End Of The World" ... outstanding!!!  (kk)

Tom alsosent us this interesting history lesson on The Billboard Hot 100 Chart ... which celebrated its 55th birthday this past week!  
http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/08/01/207879695/how-the-hot-100-became-americas-hit-barometer  

>>>Styx should be ashamed of the way it has treated songwriting genius Dennis DeYoung. Hello, do the other Styx old timers ever remind themselves that Dennis wrote all six of the group's top 10 hits.  (Chet Coppock) 

Regarding Chet's comment about The rest of the Styx guys who should be ashamed about the way they've treated Dennis. 

I think it's a 2 way street. Don't forget that Mr. Robotto was Dennis's baby and even after all these years it still stinks.  Heck it's really what broke up the band. 

On another note, though, I met Dennis  DeYoung and James Young back in the days when they were still on Wooden Nickel records. I was 15 and a huge fan. They were out supporting their third album.  One of our local DJ's set it up so I could meet them. They couldn't have been nicer to this 15-year-old kid. I got to talk to them for around 45 minutes. They let me ask questions about gear, music etc. I have always stayed a fan. I even forgave them for robotto. 

Bill

It's been 30 years now and I STILL can't forgive "Mr. Roboto"!!!  And I don't think I ever will.  While there is some truth to Chet's comment about Dennis DeYoung providing the "hit machine" side of Styx, I find that most of those syrupy ballads have not held up well over time.  Most of it is just WAY too over the top and have not aged well.  Today, the best Styx music on the radio is the rockin' stuff provided by Tommy Shaw and James Young.  I'll listen every time "Too Much Time On My Hands", "Fooling Yourself", "Blue Collar Man" or "Renegade" come on the radio ... but find myself pushing the button at the first few notes of "Babe", "Lady" or "Don't Let It End" ... and we hear a LOT of Styx music here in Chicago!  (I do love "Come Sail Away", however.)

Having seen both factions of the band live in concert, I've got to go with the Tommy Shaw version here as well.  I found myself bored ... in fact, we actually left early!  (kk) 

And, speaking of our local bands, here's more praise for one of our favorites, The New Colony Six ... from no less an authority than Gary Theroux, the guy who wrote the nationally syndicated "History Of Rock And Roll" radio special! 

The problem with the New Colony Six's "I Could Never Lie To You" is that, while it is a great track, the NC6 cut so many great tracks it's very hard to isolate any in particular as their very best.  You certainly can't rely on peak chart position in Billboard, because their hitmaking career was split between small labels with limited distribution (Centaur, Sentar, Sunlight) and Mercury, which seemed incapable of properly promoting the band.   Among the NC6's best and most upbeat: "I'm Just Waitin' (Anticipatin' For Her To Show Up," which peaked at -- #128!   Aside from their only national Top 40 hits ("Things I'd Like To Say" and one of my own chiller records, "I Will Always Think About You"), heartfelt gems like "Can't You See Me Cry," "I Want You To Know," "Barbara I Love You" and "Roll On" became only regional hits due to either poor distribution and/or Mercury's promotional ineptitude.   One thing I do know is that when I played the above tracks as oldies on New York radio -- where they were never hits in the first place -- the phones lit up with people telling me that they loved those tracks and wanted to hear them again.   When assembling "Dedicated To The One I Love," a romantic hits CD box set I put together for Reader's Digest a few years back, I worked in a bunch of New Colony Six tracks which I licensed from Universal (which owns the Mercury catalogue today).  The Universal rep told me she's never heard of the New Colony Six, no one had ever asked to license their material before and why was I at all interested?   I suggested she listen to the material.  The next day she called back with the clearances and said, "Wow.  You know -- they're really good."  "Yeah," I replied.  "I know."

Gary Theroux

Amen!  (Pretty sad when your own record label doesn't even know who you are!!!  Actually, that explains a lot!)  kk 

Here's a Forgotten Hit on The Mothers-In-Law ... it's The Seeds, playing as The Warts!
David Lewis

Two other favorite clips sent in this week by our readers ... both of these made my day!

Well, it looks like about 27 1/2 million of you out there knew about this one before I did ... but it still totally cracked me up!!!  (kk) 

From our buddy Bish over at WRLR ...

Leave it to the British to come up with this!

- Bish



Get into the groove - literally
Ashes to ashes is so old-fashioned - vinyl is better
By Mark C. Brown
7/30/2013 - MSN Entertainment
That sound you hear is the ripping of millions of wills around the world as music fans rewrite their wishes for the afterlife. A British company, Vinyly, will take your cremated ashes and press them up on fully-functional slabs of vinyl to pass out to your friends after you die (on second though, better delegate the "passing out" part to someone you trust).
You choose the music. You choose the cover. And you've got immortality in a far cooler way than any urn could provide you.
It can be spoken words so your friends can hear you from beyond the grave. It can be pet ashes (Vinyly isn't picky). Costs start at 3,000 British pounds, and custom covers and add-ons can boost the price considerably (especially if you want your record to be sold in stores - yep, that's right. You could top the charts posthumously, just like Elvis did).
While the concept is novel and combines two technologies no one had thought to put together in the past - cremation and pressing records - the company is dead serious. "Despite the site's lighthearted tone, all of our services are carried out with the utmost respect & care," Vinyly notes.
The playlist possibilities are endless: "Stairway to Heaven," "Highway to Hell," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," or, of course, "You Spin Me Around (Like a Record)." And every pop and click in the recording? That's you! 

Speaking of vintage vinyl, who amongst us has spent a fair percentage of their lives hanging around a Tower Records Store???  Of course these all closed for good several years ago ... but here's an update submitted by FH Reader Dave Barry, spotlighting a little bit of Tower's grand history ...

August 3, 2013
At age 87, Russ Solomon is still willing to board a train in his hometown of Sacramento and ride down to see a display of blown-up images of Tower Records, the music store chain he founded - and folded 46 years later.
The pictures, inside Hot Italian at Public Market Emeryville through August, are a teaser for the Tower Records Project ( www.towerrecordsproject.org), an archive with aspirations to be a traveling museum exhibit.
As front man for the project, Solomon is eager to offer the opportunity to shake the hand that shook the hand of Glenn Miller, and showed Dave Clark how to hold a tow rope. History like that will always find an audience, and apart from the Tower Records Project, a documentary film has been in the works for five years now.
Q: Where did Tower start?
A: It started in my dad's drugstore, Tower Cut-Rate Drugs, in Sacramento, in 1941. It was named after the Tower Theatre, which is still there. We started selling records in the drugstore in 1941.
Q: How big did Tower Records get?
A: We did about $1 billion a year and had about 170 stores worldwide.
Q: How small did it get?
A: It ended with bankruptcy. All the stores closed at once.
Q: Describe the Tower Records Project.
A: It's an interesting accident. I had all kinds of stuff, and the Center for Sacramento History asked me to donate my big neon sign to them. After that, they said, "You're part of Sacramento history and we would like to have anything else you've got." I'm just glad it didn't all get thrown away.
Q: What else is in the collection?
A: I used to take people's ties. I'd explain, "You're in the music business; you're not comfortable with the tie on. I'm going to make you feel better." So I'd take the ties right off their neck. I have Bill Graham's tie and Richard Branson's tie. I donated the ties to the archive, maybe 400 of them.
Q: What do you think about the North Beach store becoming a Walgreens?
A: It started in a drugstore and the damned thing ends up in a drugstore. There's something poetic about that.
Q: Who is making the documentary?
A: Colin Hanks and Sean Stuart are the partners in it. They're a couple of Sacramento boys that are in the movie business, because of Colin's dad (Tom Hanks).
Q: Record stores have died everywhere. Why the continued interest in Tower?
A: Damned if I know. I think during that period of time, from 1960 to 2006, we became a part of an awful lot of people's lives. If you were into music, and most people were, Tower was the place to go because we had the biggest selection, and we were part of the scene.
Q: Any other projects?
A: Not really, just keeping alive.
Q: Were you a musician?
A: The only thing I could play was a phonograph and I was really good at that.
Q: Regrets?
A: I should have gone public in the '90s. I was talked out of it by my financial guy and it was a terrible mistake. If we'd gone public, we would have had time to change and evolve into something better.
Q: Of all the musicians you've met, who was your favorite?
A: I got a chance to meet Count Basie and Benny Goodman. Today nobody would care about that, but those are the big thrills in my life.
Q: If you hadn't started a record store, what would you have done?
A: I don't know. Everything was an accident.
Q: What would you call your autobiography?
A: "Everything Was an Accident."
Q: Who plays you in the movie?
A: Somebody who is a little bit nuts and funny.

-- Sam Whiting
Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @samwhitingsf 

This related response was just too funny not to share ...    

I worked for 3 Record Chains in Southern California. In 1974 I was hired by The Wherehouse in Torrance, CA as a manager trainee. I managed a few stores and was eventually made a store "Supervisor" with 10 stores under me, a company Pinto, and the title of "Assistant Vice President".  
The Music Plus chain (formed by disgruntled Wherehouse partners) came calling in 1977, and I managed two different stores including Azusa (A to
Z in the USA) where I met my future business partner Hoyt.  
In 1979, I was hired by Tower Records in Buena Park, CA (across from Knott's Berry Farm) and was put in charge of their HUGE Classical Records section. The classical LP's were filed by label and serial number, and we carried literally every title. Customers would use the Schwann Classical catalog to look up composers, artists, and works of music and find it by label and number. It was a crazy system!   
I usually only dealt with classical dweebs at this time, who I learned a lot from, but I remember one incident. A young fella asked if we had any off the wall records, and I walked him over to the Comedy section.
"Cheech & Chong are pretty off the wall. So is Monty Python; and National Lampoon is really off the wall."  The dude gave me a puzzled look and said "No. I want the Michael Jackson album "Off The Wall".  
It was the number one album in the country at that time, and there was a gigantic display with the Afro'd MJ looking right at me. Was I red-faced!   
I did meet Russ Solomon who was a pretty nice fellow.   
Long live record stores (and records!)  
Doug Jayne
Last Record Store
Santa Rosa, CA

I saw your comment the other day about a song that left one of your readers compelled to drive sharpened pencils through his eyes and thought, now there’s a nice topic to bring up!  I have two opening candidates for “sharpened pencil songs” - The Sunrays’ Andrea (a worse use of harmony I’ve rarely heard) and the Free Design’s Kites Are Fun (Which I think even toddlers would turn the station on.  How about yours? 

CW Martin

We're gonna pass on this one!  For one thing, I LOVE The Sunrays' version of "Andrea" ... and for another we caught a tremendous amount of flack a few years back when we proposed a similar theme we called "Guaranteed Gaggers".  In fact we heard from several of the artists on the lists asking us not to pursue this topic as they still had to earn a living by going out and performing some of these songs!!!  So, out of respect for those who mean the most to us, we backed off and dropped the idea altogether.  Nothing personal, CW ... just not a road I want to go down again.  (And believe me, we ALL have our lists!!!)  kk

re:  EDM:

I will readily admit I know nothing about electronic music. Why? Because music is made with guitars & drums, with help from keyboards and horns. Ya want sounds, fart into a mike. Chet's three songs might not be my three songs, but I don't see a problem with it. My question would be, how many of today's artists will still be strutting their stuff on stage at age 70 like Mick Jagger? Then take it one step further. Chuck Berry is 86 and he still gets up on stage once a month in St. Louis. Talk about the Rolling Stones & Beach Boys performing for 50 years? Chuck Berry, B.B. King and even Tony Bennett have been going up on stage for 60 plus years.

Jack

LOL ... I love it ... "fart into a mike"!!!  Frank Zappa built a whole career around rock and roll "sounds" like that!!!  (Oh boy, I'm gonna REALLY hear it from the Zappa freaks out there now!!!)  It's true 'tho ... most of today's music is disposable pop ... great for its time but I don't see it having the lasting power of the music we grew up loving.  Maroon Five?  One of my favorites ... but the Maroon Five "50 And Counting" Tour???  Probably not going to happen.  Will Katy Perry or Taylor Swift be packing 'em in in a Las Vegas showroom in 2062?  Probably not.

We watched the Paul McCartney Gershwin Honors performance at the White House again over the weekend ... my God, what a wealth of material this man has to choose from ... and people at every age know every word to every song.  Without question, the most successful songwriter of our time.  But President Obama made a spot-on statement that day.  He said that pop music, by its very nature, isn't designed to last.  It is popular at its time because it reflects that time, thus rendering it disposable (and forgettable) years later.  So the fact that our generation produced not only popular music (of its time) but classic, enduring music that still captures the listener some 50 years later is REALLY saying something.  Whether it be Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry or Tony Bennett, these artists STILL have a hold on their audience and are winning over brand new fans every single day.  Electronic Dance Music?  If you can listen to it at all, you probably won't be ten years from now.  In fact when I listen back to some of the '80's and '90's stuff I found tolerable at the time, I'm often amazed and asking myself "Did I really like that song?!?!?"  Yeah, I did ... but probably because it was simply the best thing out at the time ... and not because of some overwhelming need to keep it part of my life's soundtrack.  And therein lies the very difference that makes Forgotten Hits relevant.  (kk) 

Just a comment on your Chet Coppock / Keegan Goudie debate ...

I admit I haven't listened to any of the songs posted yet, but in my line of work have heard a lot of electronic music ... my objection to the whole scene is that everybody now seems to rely on outside goings on to put their shows on ... dancers, electronic feeds, overdubs, lighting, huge stage sets, and lots of fireworks, etc. ... are they covering up something that they can't or aren't doing themselves with their voices and instruments? What about the days of having a couple of guys on stage with guitars and drums, horns or whatever to accompany their voices?  If some of the "music" I hear now is considered progress, then keep me back in the old days, too.  Not saying that some of it isn't pretty good, but if you have to use lyrics and song titles like IDGAFOD or whatever it was to sell records (or MP3's or whatever they call them nowadays!), that's pretty sad.  When did it become ok to use that kind of language in songs and everyday talking?  I don't want my nieces growing up hearing that or using it.  Sorry, I'm not an old fuddy duddy, but that just hits me in the wrong place.  Have a little finesse, is what I say.

Marlene

I agree with you. EDM will never have classics like good old R&R. EDM came from Rock and roll and all it's sub genre's, and though it has many interesting moments, where are the melodies and lyrics? Where are the great players and singers? It's hard to strut around a stage clutching your computer.  

Can there be a Lennon McCartney of EDM? Can there be a Jimi Hendrix of the "computer keyboard"?

Bill

re:  HELPING OUT OUR READERS:

Over the years, we've been asked some REALLY strange questions in Forgotten Hits ... and, incredibly, have found some unbelievable coincidences, helping people make connections with others they've lost track of over the past 30 or 40 years.  Unfortunately, this isn't one of them!  (lol)  kk 

Kent,  

Back in the mid 1980’s I flew Remote Control planes with someone who looked very much like Gary Pike.  I bought an old Chevette from him and then traded it back after fixing a mechanical problem.  This all took place in the Gaithersburg / Germantown area of Maryland.  It is possible, however, that it was his brother, Jim, but my recollection is more of Gary.  It’s been awhile, I could be mistaken all together but any chance you could run this by Gary and see if he remembers any RC planes and Chevettes? 

Thanks,

Pete Loevinger

I sent Pete's note to Gary (he of Lettermen fame) who gave us this response: 

Well Kent,  I have owned some rare and classic cars in my time and I did own a black with gold trim 2 door Chevette Sport with a 4 speed somewhere in the late 70’s or early 80’s but it never saw the light of Gaithersburg, Maryland, unless the guy I sold it to took it back there, but it was running fine when I sold it and I never got it back.  I can’t remember the name of the guy I sold it to and the name Pete Loevinger does not ring a bell (Sorry Pete).   Donny, my younger brother was into RC and glider planes then and still is but he never owned a Chevette.   He resides in Hawaii and has a great on shore breeze where he lives for flying gliders.  Jim, my older brother has neither owned a Chevette or flown RC planes.

Kent, that’s  about as close as I can come to answering Pete’s question, but there are some coincidences there.  I did have a race (Drag) car at one time for many years and was my own wrench, and I did service all my own cars but you're right, this is a strange one for Forgotten Hits.  Can’t even relate it to “Little Deuce Coupe”, or “409”..  Hmmmm,  

Thanks,   

Lettermen / Reunion 

Gary Pike    

re:  SIX GREAT SONGS YOU PROBABLY WON'T HEAR ON THE RADIO TODAY: 

Kent,
Got a trivia question for you. In today's FH, what do your first two songs have in common?
They both were recorded by Wilbert Harrison. I figured you knew that.The second song, LET'S WORK TOGETHER, I believe he originally did back in 1961, later remade in 1969 on Sue.
The other day Scott Shannon did play the tune by Rocky Burnette as a listener's request.  Occasionally on his show, you'll hear the tune by the Gentrys.
Larry  
Yep, that's exactly why I strung those two together.  "Keep On Dancin'" by The Gentrys is probably the most likely one on this list to still get played ... although Scott Shannon apparently wasn't the only jock to play "Tired Of Toein' The Line" recently. (kk)

I just played Rocky Burnette.  Will that extra credit raise my Summer school grade?

Phil - WRCO

Sure does.  But some of the other jocks on the list will have to clean the erasers for not taking part in our little challenge!  (kk) 

It has been filtered out of some of the later collections, but every original copy I ever heard included the noticeable hum during the first 9 seconds of Mississippi Queen -- including the version you posted today.

David Lewis

It seems that this has come up once before but I had forgotten all about it until I saw your note today.  Still a great track 'tho!  (kk) 

Good morning, Kent:

I can't guarantee I'm going to play them this weekend, but four of the six songs you posted Thursday under "Six Great Songs You Won't Hear on the Radio Today" are in the weekend music library at my station, Magic 98 in Madison. We do "Saturday at the 70s" and "Sunday at the 80s," and the libraries, especially on Saturdays, are pretty deep. the weekends also feature vintage American Top 40 shows from the 70s and 80s (as syndicated by Premiere and not hacked up a la Sirius/XM). We're streaming at magic98.com, so drop by sometime.

jb   

re:  YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO GET IN ON THIS!:  
Balloting has begun for the bi-annual Oldies Music Labor Day 500 -- the first since 2011 and 13th overall. It's a chance for the Oldies fans to let the world know they like more than Steve Miller and Fleetwood Mac (though -- horrors! -- John Cougar already has a vote).
This year, we've expanded the ballot to your 15 favorite songs from the '50s, '60s and '70s. In addition to OldiesMusic.com and Kent Kotal's Forgotten Hits blog (which cover a lot of ground), I'm even buying
Facebook ads to get a genuine cross-section of Oldies fans participating.  So spread the word!
Vote now at:

Click here: Oldies Music - Labor Day 500  

Voting runs through Sunday, August 25 and those who request it will get a copy of the full list when it's out Labor Day weekend.  

Need some memory joggers? Here are the songs that have made the list in the past 12 surveys:

Click here: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/2011ld500accumulated.pdf

- Ron Smith

Let me guess ... is it for "Jack and Diane"??? 'Cause let's face it, it's almost IMPOSSIBLE to hear THAT one anymore!!!
What do the REAL oldies fans want to hear?  Here's a pretty good representation.  Check out the past winners ... and browse around Ron's site ... one of the first dedicated to oldies music ... and one of the best!  (kk)

A Monday Morning Quickie

August 5, 2013, 4:00 am

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re:  RECENT AND UP-COMING SHOWS: 

AL PACINO FILMS MOVIE SCENE IN MIDDLE OF CHICAGO CONCERT IN L.A. 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An Al Pacino movie broke out in the middle of a concert by the band Chicago, with thousands of fans serving as extras. 

Cameras were wheeled onstage during intermission of the group's show at the Greek Theatre on Friday night to film a scene from Pacino's upcoming movie "Imagine," in which he plays aging rock star Danny Collins. 

With coaching from the director, the crowd chanted the name of Pacino's character as the 73-year-old actor walked on stage to sing "Hey Baby Doll" in a black suit. The movie co-stars Michael Caine, Annette Bening and Jennifer Garner. 

"This is an improvisation," Pacino told the crowd. "You just came in and got it. That's not easy." 

Chicago's band members remained on stage to watch and clap along during the 25-minute filming.  

Earlier in Chicago's set, Joe Mantegna of CBS' "Criminal Minds" joined his hometown band to sing "If You Leave Me Now." 

Pacino returned to the stage during Chicago's encore and sang and danced to their hit "25 or 6 to 4." 

"For a shy guy from the South Bronx, this has been great," Pacino said.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSKTxXM3Wko

And here's Al, joining the band on stage to sing "25 or 6 to 4"  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAE6a_WQpN4   

Davie Allan will be at the 6th Annual SurfGuitar101.com Convention (CA)   
When - August 10, 8 am – 8 pm  
Where - The Starting Gate, 5052 Katella Ave, Los Alamitos, CA 90720 (map)  
It's the 6th SurfGuitar101 convention. Please see the SurfGuitar101 forum thread for the latest news and updates.  
It is to my understanding that he is not scheduled to perform on stage but he will be there for his fans to come out and meet him. Davie Allan's newly released CD "RETROPHONIC 4" will be available for purchase in the vending area where he will be signing them in person!

www.davieallan.com

KING OF THE FUZZ GUITAR!

Come and meet the originator of underground instrumental music!

A true living legend and one of the original architects of heavy guitar music. 

The Arrows were aimed and fired to usher it all in and Davie Allan has kept it alive and kick started!

"Eric Von Zipper"

Hi Kent,
Just saw in Forgotten Hits that you will be catching Burton Cummings in concert on September 27th, and I wanted to let you know you are in for a real treat as he still is in good voice at 65.  I got a kick out of you also mentioning you were excited about seeing the Zombies, too (and nice to know Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent are still touring).  I have a couple of interesting stories to tell you concerning these artists.  
I grew up in northeastern North Dakota and my best friend's family owned a cottage on the Manitoba - Ontario border and one night my buddy and I took in a concert in Keewatin, Ontario, just outside of Kenora.  The band was a killer, with the lead-singer that was unbelievable, pulling out all the stops with astounding vocals and gymnastics including standing on the keyboards.  The band was the Deverons out of Winnipeg and the lead-singer was Burton Cummings.  He remains my favorite singer all these 49 years later.  Six months after I initially saw him I caught his second night with the Guess Who at the Grand Forks Pavilion -- a stellar performance.  Years later, about 1980, while he was promoting his song "You Saved My Soul" and starring in the movie "Melanie", I had the chance to interview him on the radio and prior to going on the air I told him I remembered him in the Deverons and he said "You made my day, you made my week."  I saw him some years later at Colorado College in Colorado Springs where he played on his "Up Close And Alone" Tour, and during the show I yelled out "how about one for the Deverons" and, somewhat startled, he replied "what did you say?" and I yelled back "how about one for the Deverons" and he replied "I thought I was a long way from home but apparently I am a little closer than I thought."  After the show, I was able to meet him backstage and talk with him for awhile but in retrospect, having a chance to meet my favorite singer, I was a bit star-struck and I am sure I came off like a dork.  Last year I caught his show in Denver -- and he still has the voice that remains one of the finest, if not the finest in Rock.  You will really enjoy "The Voice of the Man from Manitoba!"  
And to make a short story long, just a quick ditty on the Zombies.  In 1965, several Dick Clark Caravan of Stars were touring the country and one of the tours had an open day between Fargo and Winnipeg and booked a night in Grafton, North Dakota.  So here it was on a cold winter night in a town of less than 5000 in our armory we enjoyed the likes of The Shangri-Las, Dee Dee Sharp, Mel Carter, Jewel Akens, The Ikettes, and of course, the Zombies, and their house-band The Executives with Jimmy Guercio and other members that made up part of a future band called Chicago.  What a show, what a moment in time.  Somehow I don't think Jay-Z and Beyonce are going to be in Grafton, North Dakota tonight!  
Peace,  
Tim Kiley
GREAT stories, Tim ... thanks for sharing.  I've seen Burton probably six or seven times, both with The Guess Who and as a solo artist, and he has never disappointed.  (In fact, I caught him as part of Ringo Starr's All-Star band, too ... and backing up ... believe it or not of all people ... both Melissa Manchester and, a few months later, Alice Cooper, when he was trying to get his solo career off the ground ... and "Stand Tall", one of my all-time favorites, was climbing the charts.)  He is amongst my all-time favorites, too, and, since I missed his show here two years ago on The Fourth Of July (when the temperatures climbed to 110 degrees ... and our air-conditioning went out!!!), I am REALLY looking forward to seeing this show.  The Zombies (who I have never seen) are the icing on the cake ... I've heard that they still sound remarkable.  Truly looking forward to this one!  (Tickets are still available through www.oshows.com to see both acts at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL, on September 27th.)  kk

Also coming ... next weekend (Saturday to be exact), the "Sail Rock" concert we've been telling you about, featuring SEVEN great acts from the late '70's and early '80's, including Christopher Cross, Firefall, John Ford Coley, Gary Wright, Player, Orleans and Robbie Dupree.  More details here:

Click here: Forgotten Hits: SAIL ROCKS

Click here: Forgotten Hits: Two Weeks From Tonight 

re:  THIS AND THAT:  
>>> The Sunrays’ Andrea (a worse use of harmony I’ve rarely heard) - this is one of those "sharpened pencil songs" that you alluded to the other day -- songs that make you feel compelled to drive sharpened pencils through your eyes.  (CW Martin)  
>>>Can't go along with you on this one ... you see, I LOVE The Sunrays' version of "Andrea"!  (kk)   
"Andrea”!!! An Eye Gouger! Yikes! With all the empty skulled mush over the last 40 years, to pick “Andrea”.  
Holy Crap! 
Ken    

Hey Kent,

In celebration of my 100th "Vinyl Arkhives" show (a considerable feat since the show only airs every other Wednesday Night), I have decided to go DEEP into the "arkhives" and play nothing but music that PEAKED at #100 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Charts!

Between 1955 and 1979, there was just over 100 songs which barely made it on the Billboard Pop Charts -- some a flash in the pan, others doing better on other Billboard charts.  There will be remakes of bigger hits, and some surprises as well.  I will be playing a good chunk of them this Wednesday night from 9 PM well into the Midnight Hour, Mountain Time on 88.1FM / KAFM in Grand Junction, CO.

For he 99.99% of you not in Western Colorado, you can pick us up on the internet at www.kafmradio.org (and click on the listen live tab), or if you have the TuneIn Radio app, just search for KAFM and listen on your smartphone or Roku device.

Tune in this Wednesday and be sure to roll tape -- it's gonna be good!

"Uncle T. Jay" DexterThe Vinyl Arkhives   

Speaking of The Hot 100 (which just celebrated its 55th birthday last week), Sirius / XM's Lou Simon just sent me this link to a new series that Billboard Magazine is running, counting down The Top 100 Singles since this chart began.  (Incredibly, in the five years since the last ran such a list ... in honor of the chart's 50th anniversary ... TWELVE new songs have been added to the list ... another reflection on how the times have changed ... more and more of our long-standing favorites are being eliminated, due to the fact that music today STAYS on the chart for a year or better!  Saddest of all ... and we've covered this numerous times before ... by now starting their "rock and roll history" chart at August of 1958, 33 of Elvis' earliest hits have been eliminated from the equation ... and that's just wrong!!!  We're talking about the Elvis Peak Years here ... during that time, he scored eleven #1 hits, a full third of his chart output, topping the Billboard Singles Chart!  Rock and Roll classics like "Heartbreak Hotel","Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", "Love Me Tender", "All Shook Up", "Teddy Bear" and "Jailhouse Rock".  Nevertheless, this still makes for an interesting list!

Click here: Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs | Billboard

I have always maintained (and have discussed this several times with Joel Whitburn, Randy Price and anyone else who would listen) that the only TRUE way to measure a record's success is to award it a "hit index" ... how can you compare a #1 hit of the '60's that captured America by storm but only stayed on the charts for 8-10 weeks because artists were releasing 4-5 new singles per year back then against a song today that stays on the chart for a year and a half?!?!?  The ONLY fair way to do it is to take theassigned chart point total a given record has earned and then divide that total by the weeks spent on the chart, thus giving you a fraction which becomes the measurement of the hit index.  As such, a record like "Hey Jude" that was #1 for nine weeks and spent 19 weeks on the chart wouldn't be ranked side by side with such other unworthy titles by artists like Jewel (a #2 record that spent 65 weeks on the chart), Usher (45 weeks on the chart), Mariah Carey (43 weeks on the chart) and LMFAO (68 weeks on the chart).

"Yesterday" was a MAMMOTH hit ... but only spent a total of 11 weeks on the chart ... however FOUR of those weeks were at #1 ... as such, its hit ratio is going to be heavily weighted against songs that made this new Billboard list ... incredibly, according to THIS Top 100, "Yesterday" doesn't even make the list at all!  (For that matter, neither does a single Elvis Presley record, save "Are You Lonesome Tonight" at #91.) 

This tally shows that "Abracadabra" and "Gangsta's Paradise" rank higher than "Billie Jean" ... is that the way YOU remember rock and roll history?  Paula Abdul makes the list but The Rolling Stones don't?!?!?  (Well, I guess technically they're represented ... because Maroon Five's "Moves Like Jagger" made this countdown, too!)

Even a monster hit like Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", #1 for 14 weeks, falls at #49 in the scheme of things, behind Alicia Keys and Carly Rae Jepson's "Call Me Maybe"!!!  Meanwhile "Too Close" by Next comes in at #27.  Sing a verse of it for me ... I dare ya!!!

Does anybody out there REALLY believe ... for a second ... that Usher's "Yeah!" was a bigger hit than "Yesterday"???  Or, for that matter, "Theme From 'A Summer Place'", "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "I'm A Believer" and about 1000 other timeless tracks that have reached EVERY generation since they were first released?!?!  Sadly, we won't be around 50 years from now to see how much Usher, Justin Bieber, LMFAO and Ke$ha radio is still playing.  My guess is that even 50 years from now, you'll still hear some version of "Yesterday" before you'll hear ANY of this other pop music.  Most of today's music seems to have an expiration date stamped right on the label ... and that's just the cold hard facts.

kk

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August 6, 2013, 4:00 am

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Today Forgotten Hits takes a stroll down Soul Street, '60's / '70's style!













More Sweet Soul Music ... every one of them a cross-over pop hit ... that radio doesn't play anymore.

Spread the love ... call or email your favorite oldies deejay and ask them to play a couple of these on their programs today!

He's A Soul Man!

August 7, 2013, 4:00 am

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Yesterday we featured six great pop / soul tracks from the '60's and '70's.

Today Forgotten Hits Correspondent Chet Coppock selects his All-Time Top Ten R & B Favorites!

Kent ... 

Here are my top 10 r and b and soul classics.

Chester   

Just how do you categorize soul?  How do you determine what is truly R and B? Actually, I have a rather simple method.   

In my world, if The Osmond Brothers, The Happenings or Bobby Sherman can't nail it, it just ain't sweet soul music. Side note:  Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music" actually had about as much funk as Peter, Paul and Mary spitting out Puff the Magic Dragon.   

Really, I hate African American and "Delta" stereotypes. I saw Hall and Oates close a show seven or eight years ago with "Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul. Daryl Hall absolutely knocked the ball out of the park. Hall will tell you while kids his age in Philly were digging the Beatles and the Stones he was all over Motown, Stax and the Philly sound itself.   

Check out Eddie Money's tormented vocal on his '86 hit "I Wanna Go Back" and then dare to suggest to that the former New York cop doesn't feel the r and b vibes.   

I got hooked on soul about 50 years ago when I began turning up regularly at the Regal Theater, Pervin Spann's Club Boogaloo and, from time to time, the Chicago Coliseum and the Hammond Civic Center.   

I was nuts about WVON. I still maintain that 'Von's talent roster, Bill "Butterball" Crane, E. Rodney Jones, Joe Cobb, Ed Cook and Spann "The All Night Blues Man" was the greatest "jock" lineup in Chicago radio history.    

So, here we go, fast and loose ...   

The All Coppock - "All the Time" - Soul Songs - of All Time:  

10. "Black Man" - A magnificent offering by Stevie Wonder off his majestic album, "Songs in the Key of Life." 

9. "Love T.K.O." - Feel the sweat, feel the ballsy voice of Teddy Pendergrass. It doesn't take a Phi Beta Kappa to see why chicks from coast to coast were tossing panties and room keys at T.P.    

8. "My True Story" - Eugene Pitt, lead singer for the Jive Five has made a living off this song since its release back in 1961.  

7. "You Are Everything" - The Stylistics. The falsetto of Russell Thompson, Jr. is nothing short of magnificent. Song is best heard in either between the sheets or in a gin mill over Jack on the rocks after 2 a.m.  

6. "Since I Lost My Baby" - David Ruffin's vocal combined with a magnificent string section and the harmony of the Temptations makes this song a Blue Ribbon entry. I love the bridge: "Determination is fading fast … Inspiration is a thing of the past."   

5. "There Was a Time" - James Brown truly made his cross over complete with this raging 1967 blast that was as much a rocker as it was a classic r and b number. I love the chicken scratch guitar. Maceo Parker's horns provide a tremendous back drop. "But dig me now baby, don’t worry 'bout later … dig the dance I used to do they called the mashed potatoes." Man, Sinatra couldn't top that.  

4. "The Who Who Song" - This is one of these musical gems that was either fumbled by the record company or just wasn't deemed worthy of Jackie Wilson after he'd charted big time with ("Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher. You think I'm not hip to Jackie? Try this one on for size. The cat had the greatest voice in R and B history. 

3. "Dead End Street" - "They call it the Windy City because of the Hawk, the almighty Hawk." Lou Rawls, at once a soul, jazz and pop singer, turned "Dead End" into a lament of ghetto life in Chicago.  

2. "I Been Loving You Too Long" - The gritty yet loving, the edgy yet poetic sound of Otis Redding. "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" is a distant second to this gourmet slice of music.  

1. (Tie) "Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Sexual Healing" - Marvin's vocal on "Grapevine" quite frankly leaves Gladys Knight chewing dust while "Healing" absolutely drips of sex and passion.   

So, let the arguments begin. Kent, go ahead, hit me with your best shot.

---

Thursday This And That

August 8, 2013, 4:41 am

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re:  BURTON CUMMINGS:  
Hi Kent, 
I just read your post that you, too, are a big admirer of Burton Cummings and "Stand Tall" is one of your favorite songs.
So, I thought you'd enjoy this video clip I shot of Burton last week in New York doing just that!  Tom Cuddy and I went 
to see him and were once again amazed.   
Burton Cummings "Stand Tall" Live at City Winery - New York City - July 30, 2013

Brad Joblin

Ridgefield, CT

I saw him in 76 opening for Bee Gees in Omaha.  He was GREAT!  I am surprised his current set list does not include "My Own Way to Rock" or more Guess Who tunes like "When Friends Fall Out" or "American Woman".  "Wolfman" seems like it would be dated for today?? 

Clark

I think a lot of that probably had to do with the fact that Cummings was putting on a stripped-down, one man show with no band ... tough to make something like "American Woman" work under those surroundings.  Now I'm not sure what he's doing in Chicago ... first I heard it was going to be another solo show ... but his website says "Burton Cummings and His Band" ... so I'm looking forward to being pleasantly surprised.  As a major fan, I can't think of anything Burton could do that would disappoint me.  I'm just SO glad he's back out performing again ... especially here in The States.  (kk)

re:  THIS AND THAT: 
Hi Kent -

Just got the DVD of the Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Concert and they were F A N T A S T I C ...

I was to glad to see my favorite BRIANWILSON and in fine form!

I adore the Beatles and they had Lennon and Mc Cartney for their songs and arrangements.

The Beach Boys had Brian Wilson and  he did it ALL!!!!!

I may be prejudice because I always had a "crush" on him. You were so fortunate to meet him when he was at the Arcada Theater. Wish I could have seen him perform there.

Just wanted to share my thoughts. Keep up the Great Work!!!!!

Carolyn

I've met Brian a couple of times now ... obviously we're HUGE fans, too.  The DVD is outstanding ... and I've been listening to the live CD as well.  (It's a 2-CD Set that captures the entire concert ... typically budget-priced for under $15.00 ... definitely worth picking up and adding to your collection.)

The thing that irks me the most about Mike Love pulling the plug on continuing the good vibrations beyond the 50th anniversary tour is the fact that the entire band sound SO incredibly good ... honestly, the best they've sounded in decades.  Why he felt that any fans would prefer seeing the Mike and Bruce show over the authentic Beach Boys is beyond me.  (Brian has included Al Jardine and David Marks in his summer tour ... all three played at Ravinia about a week ago.  Naturally, as it has nearly every night this past month, it poured!!!) 
Here's a link to the live CD ... Click here: Amazon.com: Buying Choices: The Beach Boys Live - The 50th Anniversary Tour   Some of this will absolutely blow you away when you hear just how good they sound.  (My daughter was at the show here in Chicago, sitting in the nose-bleed seats ... but still said it sounded amazing.)  kk

Here's the latest on our Whipped Cream girl, sent in first by FH Reader Eileen ... and then by several other readers later in the week who also saw this article:    
Herb Alpert's 'Whipped Cream Lady' now 76, living in Longview and looking back 
The Whipped Cream Lady who is the model on the memorable LP cover of the 1965 Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass' "Whipped Cream & Other Delights" is 76 now and living in Longview. Dolores Erickson wants to tell all you teen dreamers, "Enjoy the memories."

By Erik Lacitis

Seattle Times staff reporter

GREG GILBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Dolores Erickson appeared on the cover of the 1965 Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass' "Whipped Cream & Other Delights." The former model now is 76 and living in Longview.

Guys, the girl of your teen dreams now is 76.

Her name is Dolores Erickson and she has been living in Longview for around 35 years, after a career that included being an Eileen Ford model in New York.

She appeared at a Seattle record store Wednesday and wants to tell you teen dreamers, "Enjoy the memories."

You don't know her by name — maybe as the "Whipped Cream Lady" — but certainly by the album cover on which she is featured: the 1965 Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass' "Whipped Cream & Other Delights."

There she is, seemingly naked but covered in what is supposed to be whipping cream looking at YOU.

Whenever a list of the most memorable record covers is put together, that album is right at the top.

How did a 2006 New Yorker magazine article explain the impact of that photo?

Oh, yes, it: "fogged the minds of many young men, as they gazed at the... personalized come-hitherhood to the woman staring back ... the inner portion of a bare breast protrudes from the foam. She is licking cream from the index finger of her right hand... in the virtually pornless atmosphere of the suburban mid-sixties it was ... the pinnacle of allure."

The record spent 141 weeks on Billboard's Top 40 albums chart.

In later years, at concerts, Alpert would tell audiences, "Sorry, but I can't play the cover for you."

Erickson drove up here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Golden Oldies, the used-record store in Wallingford. A steady stream of fans stopped by, including, surprisingly, women.

Toni Weschler, 56, got signed copies for her brothers. She remembers growing up in New York and playing the album.

She remembers how her brothers couldn't take their eyes off the LP. "They stared at it constantly. It was very risqué. They hadn't seen this much breast in their life."

For Erickson, the photo shoot was one of many in her career.

She is a 1954 Cleveland High School graduate, and her modeling began when she was 14 and won a contest at the venerable Frederick & Nelson department store in downtown Seattle.

Her modeling career blossomed, and she ended up a staff model for Macy's in San Francisco, in the days when department stores could afford such things.

Erickson spent time in Los Angeles, signed to contracts by Paramount and then Warner Bros., but her movie and TV career mostly consisted of bit parts.

At age 24, she went to New York City and ended up being signed by Eileen Ford. She was in ads for Max Factor and was in all the women's magazines. Erickson is 5 feet 7, with dark brown hair and green eyes, and still weighs about the same as in the modeling days, which is around 119 pounds.

But she's cognizant of time having gone by. "Please don't do any close-ups," she tells a photographer.

In 1965, she got a call to fly to Los Angeles for a photo shoot for A & M, a new label started by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. The photographer was Peter Whorf, with whom she had done other covers.

Payment would be around $1,500 ($11,000 in today's dollars), plus expenses.

The shoot began midmorning and lasted through the afternoon. Erickson put on a bikini, but with the straps down.

She was 29 and three months pregnant. "But I wasn't showing," she says.

Erickson sat on a stool and from the waist down, Whorf placed on her a white Christmas tree blanket.

Then shaving cream was sprayed on Erickson. Under the bright lights, whipping cream would melt, although it was real whipping on top of her head.

The shoot kept going, Erickson remembers, and she didn't notice that the shaving cream kept slipping down.

Months later, Whorf mailed her two outtakes.

"He sent them to shock me. And it did shock me. I screamed," says Erickson. "I was a Christian girl."

Erickson has kept a copy of one of the outtakes, and it is a bit more revealing, but not by that much.

But she worried that her then-husband, a New York shoe manufacturer, and "conservative," would become upset. She hid the two photos behind the refrigerator at a girlfriend's home. Later, she'd tear up the photo she deemed the most revealing.

In the mid-70s, raising a young son, Erickson moved to Longview to be near her sister, and for years, ran an art studio.

Actually, it was by happenstance that back in 2000, while visiting here, that recognition began for Erickson's role on that memorable album cover. She had stopped by Golden Oldies to buy some used copies of "Whipped Cream."

She didn't have any copies herself and wanted to sign some for friends. Before that, the album's importance in pop culture hadn't registered with her.

But when Dean Silverstone, owner of Golden Oldies, found out he was dealing with the actual Whipped Cream Lady, he thought, "It was like finding a jewel that's been buried in the desert for 40 years. Everybody knows about the album cover but nobody knows about her."

By 2012 standards, that album cover is demure.

Yet it endures. Teen dreams.

"I looked at it as being an ice cream sundae," Erickson says.

I wonder why so many of you felt the need to send this article here.  I mean, wow ... that IS a pretty cool album cover ... but what made you think of me?!?!?!  (j/k)
Thanks for sending, Eileen!  (kk)

Kent ... 
Recently reported in New York Newspaper.  A young woman, who worked for the Mayor and the MTA, was dying of cancer. She was a lifelong Beatles fan. Paul McCartney called her up and spoke to her before she died.  Not many other people would take the time to do that.
Frank B.

I just picked up some new albums.  Wanna come over and listen?

Dr. Bob

Click here: 21 Painfully Awkward Band Photos
Awkward AND Awesome.  (Hey can I borrow your Turds Of Misery album?!?!?)  kk
 

>>>Sorry, but I can't go along with you on this one ... you see, I LOVE The Sunrays' version of "Andrea"!  (kk)   

>>>"Andrea”!!! An Eye Gouger! Yikes! With all the empty skulled mush over the last 40 years, to pick “Andrea”.  Holy Crap!  (Ken)  
As I mentioned recently, "Andrea" is GREAT!  Dislodged "Look Through Any Window" for one week on my weekly charts before the Hollies reclaimed the spot in January, 66.

Clark Besch 
Jeez, I didn’t know I was smacking such a hornet’s nest.  To me, the harmonies don’t flow into the verses, the verse lyrics don’t have a whole lot to do with those leading into the chorus (which I find annoying), and they sing the word “Andrea” as if she’s bursting into a room with a cape on ... but, sigh, that’s just me.  Didn’t mean to make a big deal of it.  I do see your point on not doing such a topic, though.  I could get away with it because I’m a small fry, but you have too many connections.  I just thought it might be fun, and I mentioned it knowing some of my sacred cows would get hit.  

A while back I stumbled onto a site where you could post your fifty favorite albums of all time.  I thought it would be fun, but I like ELO and some dude from England thought I’d be interested in John Lennon’s derogatory comments about them.  And I had Asia’s first album on there which rated “... and Asia?  Really?” from this guy.  A few less-well-worded posts later, he got the idea through that you can disagree without being insulting.  I hope you will take my take on Andrea in this light.

CW Martin

LOL ... don't take it personally, CW ... we all like what we like for different reasons.  I, for one, have always enjoyed "Andrea" ... to this day I don't know how much Beach Boys Pop had to do with achieving this sound, but I thought he captured it pretty well.  But I'm also the first to acknowledge that one man's trash is another man's treasure.  There are no right or wrong opinions when it comes to music ... it's whatever works for you.  (And hey, I love most of ELO's stuff, too ... no matter WHAT John Lennon said about them!!!  In fact, it was Jeff Lynne who captured the sound of The Threetles for the Anthology series and made a masterpiece out of Lennon's old demo / rehearsal tapes.  So there!!!  lol)  kk 

A few comments to your comments ...

I'm on board with Bobster (Blub) when it comes to Glass Bottle's B side "The First Time", which I enjoyed a lot when it was the B side of their great 45 "I Ain't Got Time Anymore", which seems reminiscent of Brooklyn Bridge's earlier sounds to me.

As for STYX, I agree that "Mr. Roboto" was a horrendous ending to their career.  Sadly, the local station still plays it a lot.  I agree that I turn the dial (if possible) when many of their songs come on, but disagree about "Lady."  That one is still their best song ever.

Meanwhile, it was great to see Gary Theroux praise all the NC6 records.  VERY cool coming from a vet of the History of Rock N Roll documentary.

Clark Besch

I've always thought "Lady" was a GREAT record ... that record broke right here in Chicago and helped define the early sound of Styx. Of the wimpy ballads I named, it certainly is my favorite ... and has aged pretty well by comparison.  But they still play it to death here in Chicago.  (Speaking of which, I heard "Too Much Time On My Hands" THREE TIMES today during my work commute ... what's up with that?!?!?)

I asked Ray Graffia, Jr. to share Gary Theroux's comments with the rest of the original band ... some high praise indeed for a group far too often overlooked.  (kk)

Here's another early Styx that doesn't get enough airplay or recognition ... "Best Thing" from 1972.  



ROCK POP LEGEND AND MULTI MILLION SELLER TOMMY ROE, best know for international hits DIZZY, SHEILA, SWEETPEA, EVERYBODY and JAM UP JELLY TIGHT is back on the international recording and touring scene with his brand new AMERICANA / COUNTRY HIT SINGLE "MEMPHIS ME".

I am proud to attach the single to this email ... for your immediate play on air.  A perfect end of summer, autumn song ... MEMPHIS ME is a mature TOMMY ROE at his best.

TOMMY and band are available for international touring as well as local, domestic appearances.

All information can be found here: http://www.tommmyroeonline.com/

 
"Memphis Me" is the great, lead-off track from Tommy's new CD "Devil's Soul Pie".  Give a listen ... and then hop on over to Tommy's website to order your own copy of this hot, new release.  (kk)

The Friday Flash

August 9, 2013, 4:00 am

≫ Next: The Sunday Comments ( 08 - 11 - 13 )

≪ Previous: Thursday This And That

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re:  DON'T MISS:  
Mike Baker And The Forgotten 45s presents "The Soundtrack Of The Eagles"

Sunday, August 25th 12 - 4 pm (Central Time) on 88.1 WLTL The Soundtrack Of The Eagles is a radio companion to the DVD / cable documentary "History Of The Eagles".  This radio special is a timeline of The Eagles music and solo careers from 1969's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" Bob Seger System through the 70s, 80s and beyond.  
Mike Baker And The Forgotten 45s on TuneIn   

http://tunein.com/program/?ProgramId=39516&StationId=30810

Frannie made my day when she bought tickets to the upcoming "History Of The Eagles" show at the All State Arena as a birthday present this year!  Can't wait to see this new, revamped show ... quite likely the last time the band will tour.  (kk)   

re:  JIM SHEA / Y103.9:  
Former Y103.9 Morning Host Jim Shea will be back in our area next Sunday (August 18th) performing stand-up musical comedy at the Longshot on Route 120 in Lakemoor.  It's an "open mic" setting that runs from 3 - 6 pm and, schedule permitting, we're hoping to attend as well.  (Jim's was the very first radio show I ever appeared on ... and he asked me back numerous times.  It'll be great to see him again.)  While Jim is now out of radio ... and the oldies / greatest hits format of the station no longer exists ... Shea still has a loyal legion of fans here in the area ... so come on out and say hello.  (Y103.9 is now "The Fox" and broadcasts classic rock because ... as we all know ... you just can't have enough of THOSE stations in the same city ... I think we're up to six now aren't we?!?!?)  kk  
Click here: Long Shot Sports Pub Lakemoor IL    

And, speaking of Jim Shea ... and, coincidently, The Eagles ... watch for a very special EXCLUSIVE report from Jim next week in Forgotten Hits regarding a "Classic Music Moment".  Stay tuned!  

And, speaking of Y103.9, imagine my surprise when I heard from Jeff James the very next day!!!  (Maybe he'll show up at The Longshot, too!  Who knows?!?!  In fact, with an "open mic" format, there's no telling WHAT we'll be exposed to that day!!!)   Jeff reports that all is well ... 

Hi Kent -  
Sorry I have not been in touch lately but with summer in full swing I have been out on the mountain bike as much as possible.    Still get a chance to check out your cool site and whenever I want to chime in with something , well I get distracted with something else ... uugh!    Anyways, keep the oldies alive man – right now I still spin for the public at some of the local car shows in Chicagoland.  
As always still adding records to the vault and with the warm weather was out in the garage building some nice album and 45 rpm cabinets for all the new additions.  
Take care, Kent, and for goodness sakes get away from the computer and enjoy the warm weather before it’s too late again – haha!  
Jeff James  

Man, I miss listening to you two guys on the way to and from work (or for as long as the signal held out anyway!!! lol)  Sounds like everybody's doing well and still in touch with the music.  Would love to see you at Jim Shea's thing ... and still want to come on out to the record vault for a personal tour.  (We never did get to film our week of Great B-Sides!!!)  Thanks, Jeff!  (kk)  

By the way, Stew Cohen, long-time news guy at Y103.9 FM, has a new book out about the history of WYEN.  (I think HE might be there next Sunday, too!  Bring some books to sign and sell, Stew!)  You can find more information about it here:  Click here: The WYEN Experience: Stew Cohen: 9781475969610: Amazon.com: Books  

re:  PAINFULLY AWKWARD ALBUM COVERS:  
My Eyes! My Eyes!  
Shelley   

re:  SOUL STREET:  
First of all when I saw your topic of the day, I thought well Kent is gonna play Funky Street, Love On A Two Way Street, Dead End Street, and if I thought about it long enough, I'd come up with three more. However, no issues with the six you chose, especially the Flirtations, Nothing But A Heartache. Great song.  
Jack  

"Nothing But A Heartache" is perhaps the greatest song never recorded by Martha and the Vandellas ... The Flirtations TOTALLY capture the sound of that bygone era.  (How on earth did this one peak at #25?!?!?)  It always ranks right at or near the top of Rich Appel's I.R.S. Countdown every year (as in It Really Shoulda ... Been A Top Ten Hit) ... and deservedly so.  Be sure to hop on over to Ron Smith's website and cast your vote for it in his Labor Day 500 Countdown, too!  What a great track!  
Funny 'cause after I posted these random six I noticed how much songs like "Natural High", "Side Show" and "Do What You Wanna Do" seemed in some way inspired by the great sound of The Stylistics ... but most of these songs co-existed during The Stylistics' reign on the charts.  Bloodstone's "Natural High" hit #5 in 1973, Blue Magic's "Side Show" went to #5 in 1974 and Five Flights Up peaked at #25 with "Do What You Wanna Do" in 1970.  The Stylistics really hit their stride in 1972, scoring five Top Ten Pop Hits in the next two years with "You Are Everything" (#9, 1972); "Betcha By Golly Wow" (#3, 1972); "I'm Stone In Love With You" (#9, 1972); "Break Up To Make Up" (#5, 1973) and "You Make Me Feel Brand New" (#1, 1974).  kk  

Kent:  
Every time I hear that Five Flights Up classic I think I'm hearing the soul counterparts to the New Colony Six. I mean, it just sounds like a Ronnie Rice track through and through.  
David Lewis  

And then, after we ran Chet Coppock's All-Time Top Ten R&B Favorites ...  
Well Chet, this isn't necessarily my best shot, as I'm still waking up. Actually while your top ten soul / r&b classics wouldn't necessarily be mine, for the most part, I don't have a problem with it. However there's always a catch isn't there? We disagree on I Heard It Thru The Grapevine. Even though it was released first by Marvin Gaye (it just sat around as an album track for over a year before Motown issued it as a single), I think it's Gladys Knight who nails it. I thought that way in late 1968 when I first heard Marvin's version and almost 45 years later, I still feel that way. Not that Marvin's take sucks, far from it. I just think in this case Gladys nails it. Chet, I know Sundays are a bad day for you, but you gotta come down to one of the record shows.   
Jack  

Kent,
I always enjoy what others think or believe are the top ten r' and b' songs of all time, at least according to Chet. Whether one agrees or not, is not the point.
His choice for #8, what a classic still today from the Jive Five.
His choice for #6 by David Ruffin is one I haven't heard on the radio in years.
Finally, his choice for #4 by Jackie Wilson, is one I had never heard of. I did locate it on the internet and played it. Personally, I liked it.  I did hear (hint) that a certain Dr. by the name of Seuss liked it.
I did check and the record did not chart nationally, which I know you knew. I knew it never played here in OKC.
Larry  
Jackie Wilson's "Who Who Song" was a new one on me, too.  I'd never heard of it before and, checking all of the pop charts ... and Billboard's R&B Chart ... I don't show it ever charting at all ... so I'm guessing Chet must have fallen in love with it as an album track or something he heard in a club.  (My folks used to go to The Checkerboard Lounge every time Sonny Charles and the Checkmates came through town ... they LOVED these guys!!!)  I did find a YouTube clip, however ... so check it out and see what you think.  (kk)  
Click here: ? Jackie Wilson - The Who Who Song - YouTube  

And, speaking of soul classics, check out the line-up for this year's Soul Train Cruise ... as well as some other amazing shows coming up!  

re:  COOL SHOWS:  
Talk about your Who's Who of Soul Artists, look who's headlining this year's Soul Train Cruise ...  
Earth Wind and Fire, Gladys Knight, Jeffrey Osborne, The Whispers, Freddie Jackson, The Ohio Players, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Paul, Jonathan Butler, Con Funk Shun, Regina Belle, The Bar Kays, The Dazz Band, The Mary Jane Girls, The Original Lakeside, A Taste Of Honey, DW3, Alonzo Bodden and Biz Markie.  
More info here:  
http://www.soultraincruise.com/2013/Fall  

Tomorrow night is the Sail Rocks show we've been talking about at River Edge Park.  We're hoping to have a full review up on the website on Monday.   
Click here: Home - RiverEdge Park | Aurora   

We've also been telling you about all of the great shows coming up at Ron Onesti's Arcada Theatre in St. Charles ... in fact, we're going to quite a few of these in the months to come.  
Click here: Arcada Theatre | Oshows  

Later this month (August 23rd to be exact) The Happy Together Tour rolls back into Aurora, IL, with a stop at The Paramount Theatre.  The line-up this year features The Turtles, Mark Lindsay (of Paul Revere and the Raiders), Chuck Negron (of Three Dog Night), Gary Puckett (of The Union Gap) and Gary Lewis and the Playboys ... between them, they've had over 60 feel-good Top 40 Hits ... and tickets are only $59, available through The Paramount Theatre Box Office ... Tickets are $59.50. ParamountAurora.com  
There's even a pre-show party / get-together for $10.00 more held in the Grand Gallery from 5 to 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to join fellow oldies music fans as well as sample amazing appetizers prepared by local restaurants and dining partners and enjoy a refreshing drink from the cash bar while you peruse silent auction items.  

And, speaking of COOL shows, our FH Buddy (and former Beach Boys Manager) Fred Vail got a chance to check out Brian Wilson live in concert, with special guests David Marks and Al Jardine!  Here is his report:  

Hi Kent!  
We just returned from our summer vacation to DC -- with a brief side trip to Pittsburgh, PA -- where, on Sunday, July 21, my wife, Debbie, daughter Taylor, and I, were able to spend the afternoon and evening with my old buddies, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Dave Marks -- along with Al's wife Mary Ann and Dave's wife Carrie. 
It's been several years since I visited with Brian and Al, and over seven years since visiting with Dave. We got to the venue just in time for most of the sound check, stayed for the first set, but left right after intermission to drive back to DC.  
As I've said a number of times -- whether it's Al Jardine and Dean Torrence -- with members of the Beach Boys band(s), Mike Love's "Beach Boys" with Bruce Johnston, or Brian Wilson and his band, with all the various configurations, that since the tragic passing of Carl Wilson on February 6, 1998, the real 'star' of any of these shows is 'the music.' Fortunately, all three configurations have great bands, but Brian's, featuring Jeffrey Foskett, Paul Mertons and The Wondermints, adds something very special to their performances. I think one of the reasons for this is the fact that the entire band -- which totaled 12 (including BW, AJ, and DM) in Pittsburgh -- are so passionate about the music -- and all idolize Brian Wilson.  
I've been booking bands for fifty-one years now - since 1962 - and did my very first Beach Boys show a year later on May 24, 1963, at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium -- and Bri's band is simply the overall best of any band I've seen, booked, or promoted. I've seen two other bands who were also outstanding -- Paul Simon's and Barry Manilow's (please, no laughing out there) -- but you have to see them to know just how good they actually are -- and Barry treats all of his musicians as 'stars' often letting individual members step out front and center to be featured on a solo performances.  
The Pittsburgh show at Stage AE -- an open air venue -- was hampered by rain during the sound check -- and the threat continued into the night's performance -- but it didn't put a damper on the crowd -- who danced, stood and cheered for most of the night.  
The concert began with "California Girls," always Brian Wilson's favorite 'live' tune, followed by "Catch A Wave," which has always been one of my favorites. Two back to back ballads, "Surfer Girl" and "In My Room," were highlights in the first set, but there were others, including the song that closed the set, "I Get Around."  
There is something very special about Bri's band -- particularly Jeffrey Foskett -- whose rendition of "Don't Worry Baby" took me back to '63-'64 when Brian was at his youthful best. "Heroes and Villains" was another highlight, as was the youthful vocals and appearance of Al Jardine, who not only has the best voice of any of the remaining founding members, but looks ten years younger than he is. All-in-all, a stellar night -- with rave reviews from the Pittsburgh Star Gazette and nine out of ten stars from members of the audience who reviewed it after the show.  By the way, I just saw a clip from the 50th Reunion tour DVD -- mentioned by several forgottenhits.com readers -- and it was fantastic. Outstanding film and sound quality. Over an hour of it is posted on youtube.com -- so watch it and judge for yourself.   

Brian Wilson and 'the boys' music has lasted over 51 years and the three generations of fans continue to be blown away whenever they hear the music on the radio, performed as part of a movie soundtrack, or attend a 'live' performance. I just wish that Dennis and Carl Wilson had lived to see the band's continued popularity. Fortunately for all of us, Brian, Mike and Alan continue to salute their fallen band mates at each performance they give -- regardless of which band you see. 
Fred Vail / Treasure Isle  
Music City, USA -- Nashville, TN    
Great review, Fred ... we missed the 50th reunion show (my daughter got to see it ... and I swear it was over in a blink of the eye!) and then missed Brian's stop at Ravinia here a couple of weeks ago, too (where it also down-poured all night long!)  Would have loved to have seen ALL of the guys together ... and I'm SO glad that Brian has invited Al and David along for the ride this go 'round.  The DVD proves just how solid these guys still are ... impeccably filmed with EXCELLENT sound ... recommended to all.  It's cool, too, to see how the new songs they performed fit right in with all of the classics ... truly a timeless band.  Thanks so much for writing!  (kk)  

I had an occasion to click on Mitch Ryder's website to see if he was still active. He is and he's currently on tour with a stop in the Chicago area at the Star Plaza, Merrillville, IN,  9/27. It figures that I'm in town two weeks earlier. Would have loved to see him.

Jack  
Mitch was doing a series of shows with Paul Revere and the Raiders ... it may have even been that oldies cruise ... but I believe he's part of this year's "Where The Action Is" tour.  (Now THERE'S a hell of a show to see ... Paul Revere and the Raiders, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Mitch Ryder and The Association!!!)  More info here:  Click here: Paul Revere & The Raiders | Tour Dates   
(I'll tell you what ... if you still have a chance to get tickets for this one, do it ... Paul Revere and the Raiders put on one of the best live shows I've ever seen!!!  Highly recommended.)  kk

The Sunday Comments ( 08 - 11 - 13 )

August 10, 2013, 10:02 pm

≫ Next: SAIL ROCK - Our Concert Review

≪ Previous: The Friday Flash

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re:  ABBEY ROAD:
Last week marked the anniversary of the photo shoot for The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album cover ... incredibly, 44 years ago!  (Steve Downs, morning deejay on The Drive, said the infamous Volkswagon "Beetle" Bug pictured on the cover with the "28 IF" license plate is now on display at the Volkswagon Museum in Germany!!!  How cool is that ... in a pop culture sort of way!!!)  He then proceeded to play a couple of tracks from the landmark LP, clearly a case (as he stated) of The Beatles "saving the best for last". 

FH Reader Gary Pike sent us some photo outtakes from that afternoon session ...    

Kent, 
Didn't know if you had seen this. 
Gary Pike 
Some cool photos of the Abbey Road cover photo session.  Click on link for the rest.

​Yes, this is the Beatles. And, yes, they're about to take 'the walk.'

Here you can see John, Paul, George and Ringo receiving some last minute touch-ups, and we've got a few more behind-the-scenes shots not many have seen.   

re:  BURTON CUMMINGS: 

>>>I am surprised his current set list does not include "My Own Way to Rock" or more Guess Who tunes like "When Friends Fall Out" or "American Woman".  "Wolfman" seems like it would be dated for today??   (Clark Besch)   
>>>I think a lot of that probably had to do with the fact that Cummings was putting on a stripped-down, one man show with no band ... tough to make something like "American Woman" work under those  surroundings.  (kk)  

Looks like I called that one right on the money ... here is an excerpt from an EXCELLENT concert review provided by FH Reader Tom Cuddy ...     
He did plenty of Guess Who’s 1960s / ’70s many hits, to be sure, but only if it made sense: When shout-outs for 1970 chart-topper “American Woman” inevitably surfaced late in the set, Cummings requested a minute to explain that “that song is all guitars and drums,” then proved it with a meager, momentary attempt to play it on piano—where it indeed lacked the record’s intensity.     
You can read Jim Bessman's entire five-star review here: Click here: Guess who rocks City Winery: Burton  Cummings - New York Local Music | Examiner.com   
Man, I can't wait to see this show!  (kk)   
Click here: Arcada Theatre | Oshows   
Click here: Burton Cummings      

re:  SOUL SHOTS:  

I found the listing of Chet's top 10 soul records to my liking. 
So I added my own personal top 10 ...
1  I Don’t Want To Cry—Chuck Jackson 
2  Mind, Body & Soul—Flaming Ember 
3  A Change Is Gonna Come—Sam Cooke 
4  This Is My Country—Impressions 
5  Higher And Higher—Jackie Wilson 
6  Be Thankful For What You Got—William DeVaugan 
7  I Was Made To Love Her—Stevie Wonder 
8  In A Moment—Intriques 
9  C’mon Round Here[It’s You I Need]—Smokey & Miracles 10 Chain Of Fools—Aretha Franklin 
I could have listed some pop/soul oriented Drifters, Motown sides but these 10 certainly soothe my soul.   
Mark 

As most lists of favorite songs go, it's all in the ears of the beholder, or listener, in this case. Chet's list is a good one and he states that he got hooked on what he defines as soul 50 years ago. I got hooked 63 years ago. My father had given me his collection of 78 rpm records and some of Louis Jordan's records such as "Ain't That Just Like a Woman", "Caldonia", "Saturday Night Fish Fry" and "Blue Light Boogie" were just plain different than anything else I had ever heard. Then in the Spring of 1955 the song that would define what was later called "soul" came along and it changed my taste in music completely. That song is "I Got a Woman" by Ray Charles. I could make an entire top 10 list of Ray Charles songs that would be great, but others in my top 10 by Ray would be "Night Time Is the Right Time" and "What'd I Say". 

James Brown followed the next year with "Please, Please, Please" and in 1958 with "Try Me", both dripping in "soul". Jackie Wilson was next with "Doggin' Around" and "Am I the Man" in 1960 (and so many other greats such as "I'm Comin' On Back To You" and "Baby Workout"). 

They call Sam Cooke "The Man Who Invented Soul" (although he didn't) so a couple of greats from him are "Bring It On Home To Me" (with Lou Rawls) from 1962 and "Shake" from 1965. Also from 1962 were "I Found a Love" by the Falcons (led by Wilson Pickett) and "I Need Your Lovin' " by Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford, both as soulful as you can get. 

Otis Redding was all about soul and his original "Respect" and his version of "Try a Little Tenderness" are prime examples

Chet -- "My True Story" has always been an underrated group harmony classic and one of my favorites. It was a #3 pop hit and #1 R&B hit and rarely is anyone able to name who did it or even remember it.

Thanks for jogging my mind in this great category,

Danny

All great lists.  (Personally, I can't ever nail anything down to a Top Ten ... just too many great selections to choose from!)  LOTS of praise from our readers for "My True Story" however ... this one seems to be on everyone's favorites list ... so we've got that track for you today.  (kk)

>>>Chet's choice for #4 by Jackie Wilson, is one I had never heard of. I did locate it on the internet and played it. Personally, I liked it.  I did check and the record did not chart nationally, which I know you knew. I knew it never played here in OKC.  (Larry)  

 >>>Jackie Wilson's "Who Who Song" was a new one on me, too.  I'd never heard of it before and, checking all of the pop charts ... and Billboard's R&B Chart ... I don't show it ever charting at all ... so I'm guessing Chet must have fallen in love with it as an album track or something he heard in a club.  (kk)  
Kent, 
This is strange one. I actually heard Jackie Wilson's "Who Who Song" in for the first time in Charleston, West Virginia, shortly after "Higher and Higher."  I thought it was a going to be smash. It obviously lasted about ten minutes on the chart. I still maintain it's a great r and b, dance track with Jackie at his vocal best. 
Chet  
Jackie Wilson (Mr. Excitement) always ranks high on the list of all-time great soul and R&B vocalists ... he was one of Elvis' favorites, too.  (In fact, many say Elvis borrowed heavily from Jackie's work as part of Billy Ward's Dominoes.)  For me personally, I like most of the most-obvious hits ... "Lonely Teardrops", "Doggin' Around", "Baby Workout", "Whispers" and "Higher And Higher", the song that put him on the map for many of us.  "The Who Who Song" was the B-Side to that record's follow-up release "Since You Showed Me How To Be Happy", a #32 hit in 1967 ... but quite honestly I don't recall either of those songs ever being played here in Chicago.  
I'll be the first to admit that I didn't get some of Jackie's early '60's hits ("Night", "Alone At Last") which came across as almost operatic in tone.  In retrospect, this may have diminished some of his street cred as one of the premier soul singers of our generation.  (Despite these ventures into foreign waters, Jackie still scored sizeable hits with both releases, hitting #4 and #9 respectively on Billboard's Pop Chart.)  kk  

re:  COMING UP:  
This is Ronnie Allen inviting you to join me for my next "YesterYear Countdown" radio show which is tonight: Sunday August 11, at 7 PM Eastern Time.  I will be presenting the top 25 national hits from the second weekend of August, 1950, which is 63 years ago.

To access the show, please click on the following link when the show starts airing or any time thereafter. (Clicking prior to that will simply display the information about the upcoming show).

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thebigbands/2013/08/11/ronnie-allens-top-25-countdown-2nd-Sunday-of-august-1950 

If for any reason the link doesn't work you can simply copy and paste the above URL into your browser.

Please note that -- in spite of a phone number being listed on that page -- you won't be able to reach me via phone during the show. However you can Email me at: RonnieOldiesGuy@aol.com and I will be checking and responding to emails throughout the show.

Thanks to all of you who have send me feedback on those shows. It is so much appreciated!

Ronnie Allen  

Examiner columnist Jeremy Roberts has an interesting new piece on Ronnie Milsap, who did a number of recording sessions with Elvis back in the day (before becoming a major country star in his own right) ...

More thunder on the piano: Ronnie Milsap relives Memphis days with Elvis Presley   
Ronnie Milsap successfully bridged the gap between country and pop during the '70s and '80s, and his influence remains all over contemporary country music radio. In a new, wide-ranging interview debuting in this column today ... Read more  

Kent ...

I think Johnny Cash has released more music since he died, than he did when he was alive.  I never knew that death would be a great career move.

Frank B.  
Click here: Amazon.com: LIFE Unheard: Johnny Cash: Music  

And, speaking of new releases, here's one for all you Hendrix fans out there ...   

LEGACY RECORDINGS AND EXPERIENCE HENDRIX LLC RELEASING NEWLY EXPANDED EDITION OF THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE "PURPLE BOX"

New US Edition of "The Rolls Royce of posthumous Hendrix sets" features 4 previously unreleased tracks

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Legacy Recordings and Experience Hendrix LLC will release a newly expanded edition of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, the legendary "Purple Box," which Rolling Stone's David Fricke proclaimed "The Rolls Royce of posthumous Hendrix sets."  The box set earned RIAA Gold Album sales status in the US and has enjoyed widespread critical and commercial success throughout the world.  The new four CD boxed set, which includes the entire 2000 original edition in addition to four tracks eagerly sought by fans of the legendary guitarist, will be available Tuesday, August 20, 2013.

A deluxe four CD boxed set, The Jimi Hendrix Experience is not a collection of previously existing recordings from Hendrix’s famous studio albums.  The Jimi Hendrix Experience presents 60 previously unreleased or unavailable studio and concert recordings from a remarkable four-year period in musical history--1966-1970--when guitarist Jimi Hendrix was bringing pop and blues and jazz and soul and psychedelia together and changing the way everybody listened to everything.

First released in 2000, The Jimi Hendrix Experience box is sequenced in chronological order, beginning with the first known recordings of the Jimi Hendrix Experience in October 1966, and continuing through the recording of his groundbreaking studio albums as well as a variety of transcendent performances, and ending with the artist's final multi-track recording session at New York's Electric Lady Studios in August 1970. 

The new edition of The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- which includes all the alternate versions of classics like "Purple Haze," "Foxey Lady," “Bold As Love” and "Little Wing" and stunning, unheard Hendrix music such as "It's Too Bad" and "Country Blues" contained in the original 2000 box--offers fans additional new tracks either previously unreleased such as a commanding performance of Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” from Hendrix’s unforgettable October 1968 performances at Winterland in San Francisco.  The original recording of “Peace In Mississippi” from the October 1968 sessions at TTG Studios, previously available only as the b-side of the 2010 “Valleys Of Neptune” single is a welcome addition to the collection as is a rare, recently discovered 1967 performance of “Burning Of The Midnight Lamp.  The — original UK single mix of "The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice," now makes its US debut as part of this special collection. 

The Jimi Hendrix Experience includes an 80 page color booklet filled with rare photos, essays and annotation by Dave Marsh and John McDermott, detailed track notes and more.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience track listing:

disc one

1. Purple Haze

Previously Unreleased Recording

2. Killing Floor

Recorded Live At: Olympia Theater, Paris, France, October 18, 1966

Previously Unreleased Recording

3. Hey Joe

Recorded Live At: Olympia Theater, Paris, France, October 18, 1966

Previously Unreleased Recording

4. Foxey Lady

Previously Unreleased Recording

5. Highway Chile

Previously Unreleased Recording

6. Hey Joe

Previously Unreleased Recording

7. Title #3

Previously Unreleased Recording

8. 3rd Stone From The Sun

Previously Unreleased Recording

9. Taking Care Of No Business

Previously Unreleased Recording

10. Here He Comes [Lover Man]

Previously Unreleased Recording

11. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp

Previously Unreleased Recording

12. If 6 Was 9

Previously Unreleased Recording

13. Rock Me Baby

Recorded Live At: Monterey International Pop Festival, June 18, 1967

14. Like A Rolling Stone

Recorded Live At: Monterey International Pop Festival, June 18, 1967

15. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp

Recorded Live At: Dee Time, London, August 22, 1967

16. The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice

Previously Unreleased in the United States

disc two

1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Recorded Live At: Stockholm, Sweden, September 5, 1967

2. Burning Of The Midnight Lamp

Recorded Live At: Stockholm, Sweden, September 5, 1967

3. Little Wing

Previously Unreleased Recording

4. Little Miss Lover

Previously Unreleased Recording

5. The Wind Cries Mary

Recorded Live At: Olympia Theater, Paris, France, October 9, 1967

Previously Unreleased Recording

6. Catfish Blues

Recorded Live At: Olympia Theater, Paris, France, October 9, 1967

Previously Unreleased Recording

7. Bold As Love

Previously Unreleased Recording

8. Sweet Angel

Previously Unreleased Alternate Recording

9. Fire

Recorded Live At: Clark University, Worcester, Ma. March 15, 1968

10. Somewhere

Previously Unreleased Recording

11. (Have You Ever Been To) Electric Ladyland

Previously Unreleased in the United States

12. Gypsy Eyes

Previously Unreleased Recording

13. Room Full Of Mirrors

Previously Unreleased Recording

14. Gloria

Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix

15. Peace In Mississippi 16. It's Too Bad

Previously Unreleased Recording

17. Star Spangled Banner

Previously Unavailable on Compact Disc

disc three

1. Stone Free

Previously Unreleased Recording

2. Like A Rolling Stone

Recorded Live At: Winterland, San Francisco, Ca., October 10, 1968

Previously Unreleased Recording

3. Spanish Castle Magic

Previously Unreleased Recording

4. Hear My Train A Comin'

Previously Unreleased Recording

5. Room Full Of Mirrors

Previously Unreleased Recording

6. I Don't Live Today

Recorded Live At: Los Angeles Forum, Ca., April 26, 1969

Previously Unreleased Original Mix

7. Little Wing

Recorded Live At: Royal Albert Hall, London, February 24, 1969

8. Red House

Recorded Live At: San Diego Sports Arena, Ca., May 24, 1969

9. Purple Haze

Recorded Live At: San Diego Sports Arena, Ca., May 24, 1969

Previously Unreleased Original Mix

10. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Recorded Live At: Royal Albert Hall, London, February 24, 1969

11. Izabella

Previously Unreleased Recording

disc four

1. Message To Love

Previously Unreleased Alternate Mix

2. Earth Blues

Previously Unreleased Recording

3. Astro Man

Previously Unreleased Recording

4. Country Blues

Previously Unreleased Recording

5. Freedom

Previously Unreleased Recording

6. Johnny B. Goode

Recorded Live At: Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, Ca., May 30, 1970

7. Lover Man

Previously Unreleased Recording

8. Blue Suede Shoes

Recorded Live At: Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, Ca., May 30, 1970

9. Cherokee Mist

Previously Unreleased Recording

10. Come Down Hard On Me

Previously Unreleased Recording

11. Hey Baby/In From The Storm

Recorded Live At: Maui, Hawaii, July 30, 1970

Previously Unreleased Recording

12. Ezy Ryder

Previously Unreleased Recording

13. Night Bird Flying

Previously Unreleased Recording

14. All Along The Watchtower

Recorded Live At: Isle Of Wight, England, August 30, 1970

15. In From The Storm

Recorded Live At: Isle Of Wight, England, August 30, 1970

16. Slow Blues

Previously Unreleased Recording

jimihendrix.com  

And, of course, you can't talk Hendrix and not mention Woodstock ... 

Now this is kinda cool ... sounds like they're going to scatter Ritchie Havens' ashes over the site of the Woodstock Music Festival he opened in 1969!

Click here: Richie Havens’ Ashes To Be Scattered Over Woodstock Festival Site During Public Event « WCBS-FM 101.1

OMG!!!  Is it REALLY time to start planning for Christmas?!?!!  You betcha!  And here's an excellent addition to the holiday season ...

Envision Radio Networks^® Announces The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time

Ten Hour Radio Countdown of the 100 Most-Loved Yuletide Classics

(AUGUST 2013) –What are the all-time greatest Christmas hits? What inspired them, who made them famous, and why is hearing them every Yuletide season a beloved American tradition? Envision Radio Networks^®is getting in the holiday spirit early this year with The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time, the award-winning ten-hour radio special hosted by beloved TV game show host Wink Martindale. Available on a cash basis, this special holiday programming will count down everyone’s favorite Yuletide hits from 100 to number one.  

The song list is based on data compiled by Billboard Magazine and listings of the Christmas tracks most played on radio over the past decade.  This compilation includes hit singles as well as classic tracks from the most-loved and best-selling Christmas albums of all time. 

Every form of Yuletide evergreen is included, from the goodtime gold (“Holly Jolly Christmas”), the sentimental songs (“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”), and the deeply romantic (“Merry Christmas Darling”) to the beloved carols (“Silent Night”) and the Santa/Rudolph/Frosty fantasy favorites (“Santa Claus is Coming to Town”).  The songs span the years from 1942 (Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”) through today (“We Need a Little Christmas” by the cast of “Glee”).  It’s a portrait in sound of your favorite music, magic and memories.  

Augmenting each hour is a handful of “bonus tracks” – other beloved Yuletide gems guaranteed to make you laugh, move your heart and rekindle your life’s fondest memories. Wink Martindale supplies the story and fun facts throughout the 10-hour broadcast. Plus, hear insightful commentary from the hit-making stars themselves including (in alphabetical order):   

Bryan Adams l Eddy Arnold l Gene Autry l Band Aid l The Beach Boys l Pat Benatar l Clint Black l Jim Brickman l Garth Brooks l Michael Buble l Jimmy Buffett l Mariah Carey l The Carpenters l Johnny Cash l Peter Cetera l Chubby Checker l Nat “King” Cole l Perry Como l Jim Croce l Bing Crosby l The Crystals l Bobby Darin l The Drifters l The Eagles l Jose Feliciano l Judy Garland l Amy Grant l Josh Groban l Merle Haggard l Hall & Oates l Faith Hill l Whitney Houston l The Impressions l Elton John l Spike Jones l Brenda Lee l John Lennon l The Lettermen l Madonna l Mannheim Steamroller l Paul McCartney l George Michael l Anne Murray l The New Kids On The Block l Roy Orbison l Elvis Presley l Jim Reeves l Kenny Rogers l The Ronettes l Simon & Garfunkel l Frank Sinatra l Bruce Springsteen l Rod Stewart l George Strait l The Trans-Siberian Orchestra l Randy Travis l U2 l Carrie Underwood l Andy Williams l and many more! 

Listen to The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time demo here. Stations interested in more information about The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time should visit envisionradio.com or contact Hannah Rosenthal athannahr@envisionradio.com or 216-831-3761.

About Envision Radio Networks^®: 

Envision Radio Networks^® provides content and services to more than 1,400 radio stations and reaches millions of listeners each week. Envision Radio Networks, Inc. is the largest independently owned affiliate relations company in the country and supplies all types of programming and services to radio including morning show content, short-form vignettes, virtual news-weather-sports broadcasts, live syndicated morning shows, long-form weekend programming, 24/7 formats, comedy services, event programming, off-air tools, web content, album releases and artist specials. Envision Radio Networks^® is based in Cleveland, Ohio, with offices in New York City and Nashville.

Our FH Buddy Gary Theroux is the guy who put this whole special together ... and it covers EVERYTHING related to a pop music Christmas celebration.  Fans should check their local listings ... and interested radio stations should contact Envision Radio via the links above.  (kk) 

Lots of buzz about RCA's brand new 17-CD Nilsson box ... it includes remastered versions of all 14 of his commercially released RCA albums (many with bonus outtakes) along with 3 complete CD discs of material not previously available, including foreign recordings, demos, single-only tracks and unreleased material.  A must for all Nilsson fans!  (kk)

Great info on the "Where the Action Is" tour -- somehow I missed that one. One more reason Forgotten Hits is required reading among us fans.  Thanks for keeping the relevant topics in front of us. 

The New Colony Six will be up north in Lacrosse, WI, for their Octoberfest on 9/29. We had a great time there a few years back, with Dennis Yost (Classics IV) and Jim Sohns.  It's a pretty wild scene, and I look forward to doing it again.

The Shadows of Knight return to Blues Bar Saturday 8/24 in time to celebrate Jimy's birthday (again!, remember what happened there last birthday). Come out and say hello if you're not otherwise booked at the many music opportunities you've covered in recent weeks.

Best to you and yours, and thanks for all you do, Kent.

Rick Barr

New Colony Six / Shadows of Knight

We had a great time last year at Jimy Sohns' Blues Bar Birthday Bash ... locals can come on out to Mt. Prospect to take part in the festivities this year on August 24th.

Ray Graffia, Jr. had mentioned the Lacrosse gig a few weeks ago ... send us some more information so local fans can attend.

And yes, the Where The Action Is Tour is not to be missed ... a great line-up of artists performing on this one ... now an annual event hosted by Paul Revere and the Raiders ... just like they did when it was a television series back in the day!!!  (kk) 

More on Paul Revere and the Raiders below ...  

re:  PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS:   
I'm trying to figure out which of the Paul Revere collections has the single versions of the songs rather than the album versions. Anyone know the answer to this?  I seem to remember that a package came out a few years ago that finally gave us the single versions. 

BTW some great stuff on the site as usual Kent. 

Bill

Columbia Records put out an EXCELLENT 2-CD career retrospective on the band a few years ago ("The Legend Of Paul Revere", 1990) which featured some very candid commentary about the group's history from Paul Revere and Mark Lindsay, as well as some rare and previously unreleased material ... it's a great set.

Then in 2010 Collectors' Choice put out "The Complete Columbia Singles" collection, this time a 3-CD set featuring every A and B Side (an incredible 66 tracks in all, including "Leslie", a track that sparked a bit of conversations here in Forgotten Hits recently.) 
Judging by the links below to Amazon.com, these CDs may no longer be in print ... but both are still available from other sellers ... and make valuable additions to any CD collection. (kk)  
Click here: Amazon.com: The Legend of Paul Revere: Paul Revere & The Raiders: Music 

Click here: Amazon.com: Complete Columbia Singles: Music

(You'll find the complete Columbia Singles collection of Mark Lindsay available, too.) 

re:  THIS JUST IN:
Right before we went to press we heard that sad news that Eydie Gorme passed away earlier today.  At press time they were still referring to her passing as being from "an undisclosed illness", prompting many, of course, to Blame It On The Bossa Nova.  Eydie's Top Ten Hit from 1963 is a classic ... and literally EVERY person I have ever introduced it to has fallen in love with this track.  Steve and Eydie were part of all of our lives growing up ... so here it is one more time.  (kk) 

re:  MERGERS:

As bands are finding it harder and harder to line up gigs (thanks to all the "copy bands" filling up the schedules at our local venues) maybe they should consider some type of merger with OTHER bands in order to broaden their following.  Let's face it, everybody loves to get "two for the price of one"!!!  (One of my early favorites, of course was The Ides Shames Union from the early '80's!)   

Speaking of which, here's a list of suggested mergers, courtesy of Jim Peterik of The Ides Of March and Fred Glickstein of The Flock ... in addition to some pretty catchy names, some of these combinations offer some pretty interesting possibilities!    

The Ides Of Little Peggy March  
Jim Peternoone

Quiet Riot Police

Bad 1910 Fruit Gum Company. 

Bela Flock and the Flocktones

Grand Funkadelic Railroad. 

Pet Shop Boyzz To Men

The Dave Clark 5 Stairsteps

BB King Crimson

Aerosmithereens

Flock U2

The Shadows of Knightranger

Aliotta Haynes and Jerimiah Was A Bullfrog.

Blood Sweat and Tears of A Clown

Ten Years After Midnight

Counting Black Crows

Crowded James House

Jackson Brownsville Station

Steely Dan Fogelberg

Bill Haley Mills Brothers and the Comets

The Rob Zombies

SAIL ROCK - Our Concert Review

August 12, 2013, 4:18 am

≫ Next: Some Tuesday Treats

≪ Previous: The Sunday Comments ( 08 - 11 - 13 )

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We've been talking about it for weeks now ... so when Saturday night finally rolled around, we were pumped and ready to go see the 2013 Sail Rock Concert Tour when it landed in Aurora, Illinois, at RiverEdge Park.  An extraordinary line-up of artists were on hand to perform their biggest hits ... and what a line-up it was ...   

Christopher Cross, Orleans, Firefall, Gary Wright, Player, Robbie Dupree and John Ford Coley ... it just doesn't get any better than this ... between them, these artists have scored an incredible 32 Billboard Top 40 Hits.   

It was a beautiful night ... and a beautiful venue ... for some beautiful music ... and the seven artists performing Saturday night delivered a fast-paced, non-stop entertaining show.   

With Orleans acting as the back-up band for every featured artist, the music literally never stopped.  The show began precisely at 8 pm and ended two hours later ... and during that time we heard some of the biggest hits of the late '70's and early '80's, executed to musical perfection live on stage. 

The soft-rock duo of England Dan and John Ford Coley put together a string of eight straight Top 50 Hits beginning in 1976 and I was fortunate enough to have seen them live three times during their original hit era, both as a warm-up act (for America) and later as headliners (backed by Neil Sedaka, who was on the comeback trail at the time.)  Coley's former partner, England Dan Seals, passed away in 2009 after a very successful solo career on the country charts.  As such, John Ford Coley is back out on the road as a solo artist.  (In fact, he'll be back in town in October for a show at The Arcada Theatre, which will also feature Terry Sylvester, one of the late '60's / early '70's Hollies.)   

Coley opened the show with "We'll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again", their Top Ten Hit from 1978.  After poking fun at the misinterpreted lyrics to their biggest hit, he then performed "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight" (#2, 1976).  He closed his set with the gospel-tinged "Love Is The Answer" which elicited a great response from the crowd, most of whom were clapping and singing along.  And then that was it.  (Without question, he left the crowd wanting more ... but with so many artists on the bill, we knew coming in that these were going to be hit-filled, abbreviated sets.)

Next up was Robbie Dupree, who scored back-to-back Top Ten Hits in 1980 with "Steal Away" and "Hot Rod Hearts" ... and those were the only two songs he performed.  When it was first released, all the focus was on how much "Steal Away" sounded like The Doobie Brothers' #1 Hit "What A Fool Believes" ... but today the song stands alone on its own merits today as a great '80's track ... and Robbie was in fine voice Saturday night. 

While I'm sad to report that Dupree looks like he's aged about 60 years since his biggest hit rode the charts 33 years ago, the two guys representing Player (Peter Beckett and Ronn Moss) look like they haven't aged a day!  In fact, it was Peter Beckett's birthday Saturday night and when they brought out a small cake, the audience happily turned the tables to sing "Happy Birthday" to Peter.  Once again, they, too, were limited to just two hits ... so they performed their two biggest, "This Time I'm In It For Love" and their chart-topper "Baby Come Back", which has never left the airwaves in the past 35 years.  The duo were in excellent voice (ALL of the acts were, quite honestly) as they did their "next best thing to Hall and Oates" #1 Hit, garnering a rousing, standing ovation.  

The entire night was a "move 'em in and move 'em out" exhibition in stage finesse ... they never missed a beat changing over to the next artist ... and Orleans proved to be a very fitting and versatile back-up band for all parties concerned, giving strong musical support to every style and genre being presented.  Unfortunately, for most of the night I had an additional show going on right in front of me as an obnoxiously drunk couple (literally falling down drunk, I might add ... several times, in fact) with what had to be the worst body odor I've ever smelled in my life, who seemed to feel the need to display their best attempt at ill-conceived dirty dancing to the complete disgust of anyone close enough to witness this pathetic display of affection.  The saddest part of all was knowing that their total life existence must consist of not much more than passing out and cleaning up each other's vomit.  After they spilled their beers for the fourth time, several people just moved to another location.  It was the first time in my life that I can honestly say I missed The Danzman at a concert!!!  Scariest part of all was knowing that these two numbskulls then drove themselves home, putting every other concert attendee (and unsuspecting driver on the road) in serious jeopardy.  But I digress.  (Let's get back to the MAIN concert at hand)  

Moving on, the next artist to take the stage was Gary Wright, who absolutely KILLED with his live rendition of "Love Is Alive", easily the biggest reaction of the night thus far.  Wright mentioned that he's just finished a book on his career, which most likely will be called "Dream Weaver", the name of his 1976 chart-topping hit, which also closed his set.  It was now ten minutes to nine and we had already seen four of the seven acts performing that night!!!  



Before the hour was complete we could add Firefall to that list.  They kicked off their set with "Just Remember I Love You", which had most of the crowd singing along.  Anybody who wasn't joined in on their next tune, "You Are The Woman", which they proudly told the crowd has now passed six million airplays.  (In all fairness, I think three million of those were on WLS-FM last week alone!)  They wrapped things up with "Strange Way", one of my all-time favorite Firefall songs.  (Several years ago Forgotten Hits was the first publication to announce the Firefall reunion so it was great to finally get to see these guys performing live in concert!)  Another Firefall favorite of mine has always been "Always" ... how THIS one failed to make The Top Ten is beyond me.  (Truth is, it pretty much bombed, not even making The Top 50).  Sadly, they did not perform it ... so I'll have to feature it here.  Odds are most of you out there probably never got the chance to hear it!

At this point I have to stop for a minute in order to give special props to David Muse, one of the instrumentalists of Firefall, who augmented every artist's performance with some absolutely KILLER sax and flute solos.  This guy wailed all night long and really added something extra to each and every track he played on. (I'd go so far as to say he took the songs to a whole new level ... and, as such, deserves this special mention for his stellar contribution to the overall sound.)  WTG, David ... EXCELLENT job!

Shortly after nine, Orleans finally got the chance to play their own hits after wrapping up the Firefall set and rocked the crowd with their first chart record "Let There Be Music", a modest hit from 1975.  (Although they called it their first foray into The Top 40, the record actually peaked at #49).  They followed that with one of their best, "Dance With Me", another tune that has never left the airwaves or our consciousness since it first climbed to #4 later that same year.  A brief tribute to the recently departed Larry Hoppen followed (Orleans still consists of two Hoppen brothers, Lance and Lane, as well as boasts the return of original founding member John Hall) and then they launched into a very credible version of the King Harvest hit "Dancing In The Moonlight".  They referenced some connection between the members of the two groups but despite a bit of research, I can't seem to find one.  Nevertheless, the one-two punch of "Dance With Me" and "Dancing In The Moonlight" got the crowd back on their feet.  They then pushed things over the top with perfect readings of "Love Takes Time" (clearly a crowd favorite, even though radio continues to ignore it) and "Still The One".  (DIDJAKNOW? that Orleans' John Hall left the music business for a few years and served in The House Of Representatives as a representative for New York State??!?)  

Finally, headliner Christopher Cross took the stage, opening his segment of the show with 1980's "Never Be The Same".  Next came his #1 Hit "Arthur's Theme" (with loving nods to Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Peter Allen and the late Dudley Moore ... and no apologies to Russell Brand!).   Lance Hoppen then set the crowd on its ear when he informed us that TWO Grammy nominated artists were performing this evening ... Robbie Dupree had been nominated for "Best New Artist" in 1980 ... but lost that honor to none other than Christopher Cross!  (Who knew!  Or, more accurately, who remembered?!?!?)

While all of the artists performing this evening continue to record new material, tonight's concert was all about the hits.  Only Christopher Cross was allowed the freedom to play a new (2011) track, "Dreamers" ... but please don't be misled.  All of these artists continue to lead very active musical lives ... and you'd do yourself well to check out their websites for more information, not only about new releases but also about upcoming concert appearances ... as every artist presented tonight absolutely wowed the crowd. (Website links are provided below)  

Cross then wrapped up the evening with performances of his two best known hits, "Sailing" (#1, 1980) and "Ride Like The Wind" (#2, 1980).  The entire ensemble cast then came out for a show-ending rendition of the Jackson Browne / Eagles classic "Take It Easy".  In and out, two hours on the dot. 

A GREAT concert experience, chock full of hits.  They've only got a few dates left so if you find them heading to your area, do yourself a favor and check out the show ... you will not be disappointed.  And be sure to check out the websites listed below, too!

kk

Kent Kotal

Forgotten Hits

UP-COMING DATES:
(As always, subject to change ... and more dates may be added)
Tuesday, August 13th - Mayo Performing Arts Center - Morrisontown, NJ

Wednesday, August 14th - Indiana State Fair

Thursday, August 15th - The Family Arena - St. Charles, MO

Wednesday, August 21st - Sandy City Amphitheater - Sandy, UT

Saturday, August 24th - Sunrise Marketplace Outdoor Pavilion - Citrus Heights, CA

Friday, September 20th - Starlight Theatre - Kansas City, MO

Tuesday, October 8th - Norfolk County Fair - Simcoe, ON

Click here: John Ford Coley Home

Click here: http://www.orleansonline.com/TourDates.html

Click here: Firefall

Click here: The Dreamweaver

Click here: Robbie Dupree - www.robbiedupree.com

Click here: PLAYER the band 70's rock

Click here: Christopher Cross Official Website

You'll find more of our Sail Rock Coverage here:

Click here: Forgotten Hits: SAIL ROCKS

Click here: Forgotten Hits: Two Weeks From Tonight

 

Some Tuesday Treats

August 13, 2013, 4:13 am

≫ Next: A Forgotten Hits Exclusive -- Jim Shea Looks Back At The Music That Changed His Life

≪ Previous: SAIL ROCK - Our Concert Review

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re:  HELPING OUT OUR READERS:  
Just got this one from legendary Chicagoland Jock Chuck Buell ... would love to get him this information if anyone on the list happens to know ...  
Hey, Kent,    
Hope this finds things going well for you!  
Here's a "Forgotten Hits" question from me!  
Do you have, or do you know where one could find, a list of the Radio Guys who tagged or introduced the famous Coca Cola Pop Singers and Groups Radio spots of the 1960s and 1970s?  
Appreciate any info.  
Thanx!  
Chuck Buell 
I know we've got a ton of Coke Ad Commercials Collectors out there ... anybody able to help out with this one?  (kk)   

re:  EYDIE GORME:  
Hey Kent,
I am saddened by the passing of Eydie Gorme. I used to get a big kick out of her "Tonight Show" appearances, when she'd get the giggles before singing a song with the band. Sometimes it would take five or six starts! Her other Bossa Nova song, besides "Blame it on the Bossa Nova", that I enjoy, is "Can't Get Over the Bossa Nova".  My favorite of all her recordings is "I Want You to Meet My Baby". I wonder who played sax on the track. I really don't know how far the two songs charted. And, about her husband, Steve Lawrence, you can't really appreciate his voice until you hear him live. He sure has a great, deep, vocal resonance. When I saw him, he performed his own great styling of Michael Jackson's, "She's Out of My Life".
- John LaPuzza 
"Can't Get Over The Bossa Nova" (obviously an attempt to cash in on the success of her Top Ten Hit) peaked at #87 in Billboard Magazine.  The flipside of that record is "I Want You To Meet My Baby", which fared a little better, peaking at #43.  (kk)   

re:  SAIL ROCK:  
Hi Kent
Thanks for supporting this tour. It's our first year out and we hope we get to do it again.  Thank you for the very nice review.
Lance Hoppen

Orleans   

Hi Kent;

Glad you enjoyed the show.  We do have a fun time. Thanks for all the kind things you had to say.

Blessings,

John Ford Coley   

I wish I could have seen the Sail Rock concert - it just sounds like such a great time.  Your review made me feel as though I was there, all the way down to the drunk couple dancing in front of you.  (Been there, seen that)  Seriously though, your descriptive commentary and recap of the set list was the next best thing to being there.  Thank you.

Sharon

It was a great show ... non-stop fun from start to finish.  And, if you read Lance Hoppen's comment above, they're all hoping to keep it going ... so get on on to support this show ... lots of great dates are still coming up.  (kk)  

Tonight (Tuesday, August 13th) - Mayo Performing Arts Center - Morrisontown, NJ 
Tomorrow Night  (Wednesday, August 14th) - The Indiana State Fair

Thursday, August 15th - The Family Arena - St. Charles, MO

Wednesday, August 21st - Sandy City Amphitheater - Sandy, UT

Saturday, August 24th - Sunrise Marketplace Outdoor Pavilion - Citrus Heights, CA

Friday, September 20th - Starlight Theatre - Kansas City, MO

Tuesday, October 8th - Norfolk County Fair - Simcoe, ON, Canada  

Thank you so much for your review and set list - I was there Saturday Night and couldn't hear a thing. We were out on the lawn with a blanket and the echo was so bad I had a headache afterwards.  I'm not sure what the sound was bouncing off of but it was like hearing the show on a seven-second tape delay, only to have those sounds played back to you two or three more times on top of the new sounds that were just first reaching you.  I have to say that it was a very disappointing experience.  It sounds like your seats were MUCH better than ours!
Jim Nash

Wow, I'm really sorry to hear that.  I can only speak from my own personal experience (and yes, my seats were AWESOME ... dead center, four rows back, right in front of the stage ... had my arms been six feet longer I could have reached out and touched the lead singer of every act that performed that night!!!)  That's discouraging to hear as the venue was beautiful ... everything is so fresh and new ... and the staff that I talked to Saturday Night are quite proud of their new concert park.  (I have had that echo experience however ... the worst is at the Elk Grove Village concerts ... if you don't get there early and get stuck between the buildings, the echo will literally drive you nuts ... it truly renders the concert unlistenable.  Truth be told, I've gotten up and left a couple of time simply because the sound was so bad.)  From my vantage point, however, I can only give RiverEdge Park the highest marks for cleanliness and hospitality.  (You may want to invest in the VIP seats next time around!)  kk   

You're right about that Firefall record, 'tho it does sound far different than their other songs.
-- BOB FRABLE   

Excellent review!  Other than Dupree, these were all favorites of mine, especially Player’s This Time I’m In It For Love, which spent that summer fighting with Heatwave’s The Groove Line for my #1. 
CW Martin

As for the King Harvest thing, Wiki says this:

Drummer Wells Kelly first met John Hall, an in-demand session player and member of the group Kangaroo, in the late 60s when he played with him in a group called Thunderfrog and later played on John's first solo album, Action, released in 1970. In 1969 Wells joined the first incarnation of King Harvest, who would have a hit a few years later, in 1973, with the song "Dancing In The Moonlight", a song written by Wells' brother, Sherman Kelly, and first recorded by Boffalongo, a group Wells joined in 1970 after leaving King Harvest.   
CW

I knew that some of the members of King Harvest were tied in with Mike Love's band "Celebration", who had the minor hit "Almost Summer" back in 1978.  (The song went to #28 in Billboard and was the title track to the movie of the same name starring Bruno Kirby.)  Celebration included Ron Altback and Doc Robinson, both members of King Harvest during their "Dancing In The Moonlight" period.  In fact, if I remember correctly, King Harvest used to open some show for The Beach Boys back then.  (kk)

Sounds like Sail Rock was a great show.  While I may never have been interested enough in any of these acts to shell out my hard-earned money to go and see them during the hit years, I will admit that the idea of having all of these artists together in one setting is somewhat appealing ... and it sounds like you witnessed a non-stop hit assault of music.  Now I'm wishing I would have sprung for the tickets!
Rich
I'll tell you what ... these guys played for two hours straight, non-stop ... 24 legitimate hits in a row ... and I'm not talking hit medleys here ... you got the full-length (and, in some cases, expanded length) edition of every hit record ... and it was all songs you know by heart.  I was lucky enough to have seen Christopher Cross and John Ford Coley before ... so I pretty much knew what to expect in concert ... but the bonus addition of Orleans, Firefall, Gary Wright, Player and Robbie Dupree was the icing on the cake.  It was a GREAT show ... and one well worth seeing if it hits your area.  (kk)


re:  THE BILLBOARD HOT 100:

Kent ...

This one should start a few debates.
Frank B.  
Click here: Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs | Billboard

Yes, we ran this list a week ago.  Scroll back to August 5th to get my take on the results.  (See, this is why you have to read Forgotten Hits EVERY day!!!)  kk

re:  CLEAR HISTORY:

Kent ...

Don't know how you feel about Larry David (Seinfeld & Curb Your Enthusiasm) but I watched his new HBO movie "Clear History." It's a little bit on the dirty side (Sex Talk).  Very funny. They talk about Chicago (The Band) throughout the movie.
Opening scene = Cop stops Larry for drunk driving. His car was weaving.  He wasn't drunk ... he was singing along with "25 Or 6 To 4."

Some Chicago members make a brief appearance in this movie. (Not Singing).
If you watch it, let me know what you think.
Frank B.

Our FH Buddy Tom Cuddy has been talking about this one for months now ... we finally had a chance to see it Sunday afternoon and it's a very funny movie (in a typical low-key / Larry David sort of way).  Great Chicago music throughout ... in fact, the film presents sort of an "oral history" of the band.  (lol)  Funny stuff.  Check it out if you get the chance ... running now on HBO and HBO On Demand.  (kk)  

re:  CHET'D BE PROUD:

Did any of you stick it out to the finale of "Magic City" on Starz???  The crime drama left a lot of balls up in the air at the end of its second season ... but over the closing credits they blasted Wayne Cochran's "Goin' Back To Miami", which is were the whole late '50's / early '60's drama takes place.  Another strong season ... but the inclusion of one of Chet Coppock's favorites is what brought a smile to my face.  Where on earth are you EVER going to hear THAT one?!?!?  (kk)