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Al Jardine Concert Review - Part 1

April 4, 2018, 4:06 am
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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again …    

Al Jardine has the best singing voice of all The Beach Boys today … strong and clear without a hint of age.

We’ve seen Mike Love where he could barely muster up a raspy whisper …

And Brian Wilson when it seemed like finding (and sticking to) the melody was the unfulfilled mission of the night …

But Al Jardine has consistently come through with one great vocal triumph after another. 

It was on display on The Beach Boy’s 50thAnniversary Comeback LP “That’s Why God Made The Radio” …

It was on display during his featured tracks on Brian Wilson’s “No Pier Pressure” LP …

And it was on display Monday Night (April 2nd) at City Winery Chicago as he worked his way through a very impressive two hour set of Beach Boys favorites, accompanied only by his son Matt and Musical Director Jeff Alan Ross.  (Very special thanks again to Dan Conroe who provided tickets for me and two pair of lucky Forgotten Hits Readers … it was a real pleasure to watch the show with such devoted fans.)

Now I’ll admit, I went into the evening a bit skeptical and apprehensive … what does one expect from an Al Jardine concert?  Sure, he’ll have to do a few Beach Boys songs to please the fans … but will the rest of the night be spent showcasing new, unfamiliar solo material … or will Al use this as an excuse to FINALLY present the folk-roots program he’s always dreamed of doing?

As it turns out, neither could be further than the truth.  (Other than the review of a Massachusetts show posted below, I really hadn’t read anything about what Al would be doing during this special “Postcards From California” tour.)

What he did was take us on a guided musical tour through The Beach Boys’ entire career, pretty much in chronological order, beginning with Al playing a stand-up bass while performing their very first record, “Surfin’,” a local hit that made The Top Ten in California but barely dented The National Charts. (#75, 1962)


From there, the journey continued through their hits “I Get Around,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Surfer Girl,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “California Girls” (Absolutely INCREDIBLE sounding with just the accompaniment of Al’s guitar and Jeff’s piano … in fact, the sound this trio was able to achieve throughout the entire evening was nothing short of outstanding … it was VERY impressive listening to what they could recreate by using just their three voices and two musical instruments!), “God Only Knows,” “Heroes And Villains,” “Good Vibrations” (Can you believe they even dared?!?!  And yet it sounded fantastic!), “California Saga,” “Vegetables” (!!!) and, for me, the highlight of the evening, “Sloop John B.,” which gave Al the chance to tell the story about how he was FINALLY able to get Brian to record a folk song, four years into the band’s success.

In fact, the storytelling was a good part of the fun, even though Al had to be prompted from time to time to stay on point.  The audience was a mix of all ages, as one would expect from any show having anything at all to do with The Beach Boys … they have already spanned four generations of fans … and the trio received rousing applause throughout the evening as well as several standing ovations.  They completed their set with a three song encore:  “Surfin’ USA,” “Barbara Ann” and “Help Me, Rhonda,” the song most closely associated with Al.  (Throughout the night, he proved he could do their entire catalog justice, singing leads to songs he would otherwise never be given the chance to do.)  In fact, photos of the band at virtually every stage of their career were displayed on both sides of the stage during the entire performance, punctuated by an occasional video clip here and there … including … can you believe it!!! … the opening musical sequence from “The Monkey’s Uncle”!!!  OMG … does this mean another three weeks of earworm hell?!?!?)


All three of us in our Forgotten Hits group were able to take a picture with Al and his son Matt after the show.  And we were even able to snag a couple of great stage shots and share them with our readers, courtesy of City Winery House Photographer Howard Greenblatt.

Here's mine:


All-in-all, a GREAT show … I can honestly say that it exceeded my wildest expectations in every way.  

It sounds like Al’s just filling time doing some solo shows through the end of the month until he teams back up again with Brian Wilson in May for a full-scale tour with The Brian Wilson Band, which includes three shows in Nashville with a full orchestra.  They'll return to the Chicagoland area in November at The Horseshoe Casino in Indiana, where’ll they’ll also perform a complete set of Christmas music.

Great time … if the opportunity presents itself again, do yourself a favor and check these guys out … you will not be disappointed!  (kk)

Stage Concert Photos by Howard Greenblatt
Tickets Courtesy of Dan Conroe and City Winery Chicago

******

I received this review from long-time FH Reader (and MAJOR Beach Boys Fan) Phil Miglioratti after he learned that he had just won tickets to the show …

Below is a review of Al Jardine's "Postcards From California" show posted from a Beach Boys fan group I belong to.
Phil 

I attended the Al Jardine show in Beverly, MA, Friday night – same set list as the list posted here earlier with one notable exception. Someone yelled out a request for “Susie Cincinnati” and after spending a few moments trying to remember the key and the chords, Al obliged with the first verse. Earlier, he also played a snippet of “Take Good Care of Your Feet.”

It was an entertaining, although occasionally frustrating, show. Matt Jardine and Jeff Alan Ross do an excellent job of supporting Al, both musically and keeping him on track with the sequence of songs. It’s hard to believe you could do a nice rendition of “Good Vibrations” with just a keyboard, a guitar, a tambourine, and three voices, but they did.

The frustrating part was Al’s rambling stage patter and fidgeting with the mic stand. He had the basis of a few good stories that unfortunately just sort of petered out. I would have appreciated more personal reflections on the band’s early days and his favorite memories of Carl and Dennis, too. If he worked on crafting his anecdotes and observations between songs better, it would have been much more effective.

Tune-wise, I would have also liked to have heard more “deep cuts.”
Al was a bit absent-minded throughout the show and Jeff and Matt jumped in several times to remind him of stories to tell or which tune was next. Since it was a relaxed, semi-unplugged performance, nobody seemed to mind. It was a nearly-full house and a very appreciative audience.
Jim Cassidy

More reviews tomorrow from our ticket winners Phil Miglioratti and Art Walicki ... stay tuned!  (kk)
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Al Jardine Concert Reviews - Part 2

April 5, 2018, 3:05 am
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The Friday Flash

April 6, 2018, 4:03 am
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This may be the ultimate “Helping Out Our Readers” segment …

KENT,
LET ME THROW SOMETHING AT YOU ...
AFTER FINISHING DEAN MARTINS 2ND REPRISE ALBUM, I CAUGHT HIM ON AN INTERVIEW STATING : “THIS BAND IS GREAT … I’VE GOT HAL BLAINE ON DRUMS AND IF HE BEATS THOSE DRUMS ANY HARDER, WE’RE GONNA GIVE HIM THE GOLDEN TRUSS AWARD “ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
KENT, I HEARD THAT IN MY CAR AND JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER THAT AWARD WAS DELIVERED TO ME!!!  WHAT A SURPRISE.
WE ALL LOVED DEAN, OF COURSE.  I WAS ALSO CLOSE TO DEAN’S SON DINO ON THE RECORDS OF DINO, DESI AND BILLY…  WE REALLY WERE FAMILY. DEAN WAS NEVER THE SAME AFTER DINO WAS LOST IN HIS FIGHTER JET IN THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS ... THE SAME MOUNTAINS WHERE DOLLY SINATRA, FRANK'S MOM AND NANCY’S GRANDMOTHER, PASSED AWAY IN A PLANE CRASH.  THE SOMETIMES STRANGENESS OF REAL LIFE ????    
AT ANY RATE, YOU SEEM TO HAVE YOUR FINGERS ON SO MUCH GREAT TAPED STUFF, I HOPED THAT PERHAPS YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE THAT SHORT QUIP BY DEAN??? IT WAS AN L.A. RADIO STATION INTERVIEW.  I JUST CAN’T FIND IT ANYWHERE ... PERHAPS YOU MIGHT HAVE IT????  
SO WHATEVER, THANKS FOR KEEPING ME IN THE NEWS LOOP.
ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND I DO HOPE THAT YOUR EASTER BASKET WAS FILLED WITH GOODIES !!!  
ALL THE BEST ...
HAL BLAINE
We've got a wide array of collectors out there in Forgotten Hits Land … let's see if anybody can come up with this long-lost gem for Hal Blaine.  Stay tuned!  (kk)

And, speaking of The Wrecking Crew …

kk …
Easter Sunday I watched "The Wrecking Crew" again, this time with my nephews. They were surprised to find out how many recordings they were on. 
Frank B.
The great thing about that documentary is that you can put it on again and again, even as background noise, and still be entertained by all the great music it contains along with all of the interviews with so many of the artists.
I spent part of Easter weekend flipping through the channels trying to find something worth watching and came across that classic Chris Farley Easter film "Tommy Boy"… and also Elvis in "Clambake."  (You know I don't think I've ever seen that film all the way through … still haven't!  lol)  We also watched "I, Tonya" again, which I enjoyed every bit as much as I did when we saw it in the theater upon first release … very well done ... and then the whole family camped out in front of the TV set to watch NBC's live presentation of "Jesus Christ Superstar."  Alice Cooper is STILL getting rave reviews for his scene-stealing performance nearly a week later.  In one interview that I read, he said that he channeled Actor Alan Rickman to conjure up enough of a cynical attitude to pull it off.  He was great … and the audience responded in kind.  (kk)

If you still haven't seen it, you can check out Alice's performance here:
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/alice-cooper-jesus-christ-superstar-2018/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=newsletter_4572276

One more quick “Helping Out Our Readers” …

Just wondering if anyone has access to an interview that Diane Sawyer did with Neil Diamond, talking about his admiration of Bobby Vee.  Bobby's Nephew and I are part of a singer / songwriter tribute show. He's doing a Bobby Vee tribute show this summer and asked if I'd ever seen this interview. I haven't and he was told that it was great and is worth trying to track it down.
I said that if it existed, someone on this list might know. 
Thanks for any info. 
BTW, Forgotten Hits still makes my day. 
Bill in MN
Putting it out there to see if anybody knows where Bobby Vee’s nephew might be able to find this clip.  (A Google search didn’t turn up anything … although I did find listings for a couple of interviews Neil did with Barbara Walters … wondering if one of these might be what he’s looking for.)  kk

Local Forgotten Hits Readers got a double whammy this week in the way of free tickets …

First we were able to take two winners and their guests to the Al Jardine show on Monday Night at The City Winery Chicago … scroll back to read our two-part concert review if you haven't already seen it ... and then Wednesday Night we gave away a dozen tickets to the Michael Bolton show at The Arcada Theatre.  (Reviews of THAT show should be posted on Sunday!)

And don't forget … next Wednesday Night (April 11th) is the Ann Wilson live television taping at The Arcada … this show will be broadcast later this year on PBS and should really be something to see.  More information on The Arcada Theatre website … http://www.arcadalive.com/home/

And, speaking of The Arcada, some sad news this week …

Bobby Rydell broke his hip on Monday (4/2) and will be unable to perform as planned on Sunday, April 15th.

Stepping in to fill his spot will be Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals, performing along with Lou Christie.  Both have been Forgotten Hits Readers for years … and we are  REALLY looking forward to this show.  It all happens next Sunday, April 15th, beginning at 3 pm.  Again, you can get your tickets via the website link shown above.

And wishing a speedy recovery to Bobby Rydell, who we gave the week-long spotlight treatment to a couple of years ago when his autobiography was first released.  Bobby’s the “Bionic Man” at this point so we’re hoping he can bounce right back from this and maybe make a return visit somewhere down the line.  (kk)

In other sad concert news …

Hi Kent,
Here's a great story for ya!
So my wife Flo and I fly out last Thursday afternoon to Vegas to catch Burton Cummings at the Orleans.  Easter morning we wake up at our hotel and I say to Flo:  "Happy Easter but guess what … Burton Cummings had to cancel his show tonight due to illness" and after her reply of disappointment I said:  "April Fool, I was just kidding!" 
So later that morning, I wanted to check on where and what time the shuttle left for the Orleans and upon calling the venue I happen to mention we were catching the shuttle for the Burton Cummings show that evening, upon which the operator replied:  "I am sorry, sir, that show was cancelled due to Mr. Cummings being ill!" 
You can't write a script like that can you, Kent!  I had given Ticketmaster my home phone when purchasing the tickets and, as it turns out, they had left their cancellation message on our home phone about an hour and a half after we had already arrived in Vegas. 
Sorry to hear Burton had taken ill and hope he is feeling better, as I know he is scheduled for the Orleans again this weekend.  I know he must have been seriously ill to cancel as I know he is a real trooper when it comes to his gigs and, as you had mentioned, he was already nursing a cold at his Arcada Theater performance. 
Oh well, we will catch another one of his shows in the future.  You win some, you lose some, and sometimes you can't tell the difference.
Peace,
Tim Kiley
That’s a real shame as I know he was really looking forward to these shows and playing with the band again.  Get well soon, Burton!
kk 
I just went on the Orleans Showroom website and found out that all of the Burton Cummings shows are also cancelled for this weekend.  We wish him good health and a speedy recovery.
Kent, life has never been accused of good timing.  You work your ass off your whole life to land gigs like this and then ...
And, of course, as luck would have it, you can take a month off and not a sneeze in sight!  Yes, germs don't own calendars!  And then when the dust settles and perspective sets in, you appreciate the fact that it is just a cold and sore throat, when at this stage of the game, it could be a hell of a lot worse.  His legion of dedicated fans I am sure all wish him a speedy recovery. 
Peace,
Tim Kiley 

https://www.orleanscasino.com/whats-new/events/burton-cummings

And then this from FH Reader Tom Cuddy …

KENNY ROGERS: Cancels Shows Due to Illness 
His doctors say he should recover but needs to take it easy. 
Kenny Rogers has canceled all of his tour dates through the end of the year due to undisclosed health issues. 
Doctors expect him to recover fully, but advised him not perform so that he can focus on getting well. He had only a handful of dates on the books, including two shows at New York 's Beacon Theater in June.
Kenny, who'll turn 80 this year, was on his The Gambler's Last Deal tour and planning to retire from the road after the tour.
Wow, that’s REALLY sad news … all these folks who wanted to see Kenny one more time before he hung it up for good.  But honestly at 80, how much more can one do?  (Think about it … Kenny was enjoying his first big hit exactly Fifty Years Ago Today … so he was 30 years old when “Just Dropped In” was first making its way up the charts.  And what an INCREDIBLE career he’s had since then.)
Fortunately, I was able to see him a few times over the years.  We wish you the very best, Kenny!  (kk)

Hi Kent,
Enjoyed the Al Jardine article (and the rest).  Had the great pleasure
of meeting him many years ago in Nashville.  He was celebrating his
son's birthday.  What a truly nice guy he is ... and I knew he was
talented.
Thanks for all the hard work you do keeping FH going ... you're awesome, my friend.
Be blessed
Barry

Dear Kent,
I'm happy to read your terrific review on Al Jardine's show.
When I was in The Rip Chords, I had the pleasure and honor of performing with Al and his talented sons, along with two original members of The Surfaris.  We played shows with them in California, New York, Florida, Maine and so on.  
Most were big stages, but we also sang in dressing rooms and around a piano at Meet'n'Greets.  The man can sing!  
We were also joined by Billy Hinsche (he of Dino, Desi & ...), a Beach Boy for decades, and a Forgotten Hits reader, and Richie ("Rico") Cannata, sax player of Billy Joel's band, among other notables.
I got to spend a good deal of time with Al, and he really is one of the nicest people you'd be fortunate enough to meet.  And your assessment of his voice is spot-on:  Al has always had, and still has, a clear, powerful and thoroughly enjoyable singing voice.    
Thanks for the great article. 
All the very best, my Chicago Roast Beef-eating friend!
Bob Rush
PS:  I enclosed a couple of photos.  You may not want to use the one where I'm holding the bass, as I'm blocking Al's face (so, who told him to adjust his amp just then?!   : )  But on the one, we're front line …
I'm far left, then Billy Hinsche, then Al, then Richie Rotkin (Rip Chords).

Great Jardine review. Met him at the Genesee a couple of years ago ... great guy. He and Brian signed that Iconic Guitar of mine which, by the way, now has 109 signatures on it. Room for maybe two or three more! Glad to be back on the list … much success to you.
Jim Nowoc
We were at that Brian Wilson show at The Genesee … in fact, we took a few Forgotten Hits Readers along to that one, too … and had FRONT ROW SEATS to see the concert!  (I don’t think I can every tell Colleen thank you enough … so here’s another one!  Lol) 
Someday we’ll have to run a photo of that guitar … along with a list of all of those who have signed it!  Thanks, Jim!  (kk)

The other day as part of our Al Jardine Concert Review we told you that Al was teaming back up with Brian Wilson for a series of shows that’ll run through the end of the year.
This time around they’ll be performing the entire 1964 Beach Boys Christmas Album along with some of the tracks from Brian’s solo Christmas album “All I Really Want For Christmas” … which begs the question … does ANYBODY out there really want to hear this block of material performed live???
Anyway, here’s the new tour poster (featuring Brian and Al … my understanding is that Blondie Chaplin is also along for this tour) and the complete tour schedule as it currently stands:

 

11/28 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
11/30 - Hammond IN - Horseshoe Casino
12/01 - Northfield, OH - Hard Rock in Northfield Park
12/04 - Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center
12/07 - Staten Island, NY - St. George Theatre
12/11 - Sarasota, FL - Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
12/12 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
12/15 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater
12/16 - Midland, TX - Wagner Noel PAC
12/17 - San Antonio, TX - Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
12/20 - Thousand Oaks, CA - Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
12/22 - Santa Rosa, CA - Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
12/23 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino

I ran into Buckinghams Guitarist Dave Zane at the Al Jardine Concert earlier this week … he had just finished up a cruise and said The Bucks will be part of next year’s Where The Action Is Cruise!  (Now that should be quite a line-up!)

Meanwhile, here’s a Disco Cruise that sounds like a lot of fun …

BOOGIE DOWN! FREAK OUT! GET DOWN TONIGHT!
BURN, BABY, BURN! 
THE INAUGURAL 2019 ULTIMATE DISCO CRUISE ANNOUNCES SUPERSTAR LINEUP …
The Era’s Biggest Artists Come Together For One Unforgettable Vacation Experience 
Including: 
KC and The Sunshine Band, Kool & The Gang, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, Tavares; Norma Jean Wright, Alfa Anderson & Luci Martin (formerly of Chic); Evelyn “Champagne” King, Thelma Houston, The Trammps featuring Earl Young, The Australian Bee Gees Show – A Tribute to The Bee Gees, and more! 
Hosted by Deney Terrio of “Dance Fever” 
Featuring Music Host Bob Pantano, host of the longest running radio dance party in the nation 
Luxury Cruise Sails February 14 - February 19, 2019 
From Fort Lauderdale to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico 
Fort Lauderdale, Fla (April 3, 2018) ― StarVista LIVE, the leader in nostalgia based music cruise experiences, announces its newest uniquely themed voyage, the 2019 Ultimate Disco Cruise. This cruise brings the cultural phenomenon of the 1970s from the dance floor to the high seas on a luxury ship that will wind its way through the Gulf of Mexico from February 14 - 19, 2019. Live concerts by the pioneering superstars who made dance music a lasting part of all of our lives will “rock the boat” for five incredible nights, with KC and The Sunshine Band, Kool & The Gang, Gloria Gaynor, the Village People, Tavares; Norma Jean Wright, Alfa Anderson & Luci Martin (formerly of Chic); Evelyn “Champagne” King, Thelma Houston, The Trammps featuring Earl Young, Musique, the Australian Bee Gees Show – a Tribute to The Bee Gees, and more. Famed choreographer and “Dance Fever” TV host Deney Terrio, the man who taught John Travolta his Saturday Night Fever dance moves, hosts one of the greatest lineups of classic disco stars ever assembled – and so much more – aboard the award-winning Celebrity InfinityÒ.
“I don’t know when you will ever see a group of these great dance music phenoms ever again in one place,” says Deney Terrio. “I’ve never seen a better lineup.”
“We’re going to have a blast,” adds Harry “KC” Casey, who’ll be leading a very special KC & The Sunshine Band appearance. “You’re going to have music just practically 24 hours a day, you’re going to see all of your favorite artists all in one place, and you’re going to have the best time of your life. … I can’t wait to get on this cruise, to have fun with you and to do what I love doing. That’s making music and sharing good times with you. “ 
As someone who came of age in the 1970s, Alan Rubens, StarVista LIVE Senior Vice President of Entertainment/Executive Producer of the Ultimate Disco Cruise, remembers the Disco explosion as a “simply unforgettable” lifestyle and musical phenomenon.
“Disco created an entirely new social scene for people of all different backgrounds to come together and share that dance fever worldwide,” says Rubens. “The music had a beat and message that made us get out on the dance floor and kept us there all night. We’re constantly hearing from our guests that their favorite theme nights on our cruises are the Disco/Funk nights. Those dance parties bring back the fantastic memories of the Disco era – the clothes, the clubs, the dances, our old friends, our romances, and that fabulous musical revolution heard and enjoyed worldwide. We can’t wait to recreate that dance fever and era at sea.”
“Boogie Fever” is guaranteed to run rampant day and night from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West to Cozumel, and back, turning a luxury ship into one glorious “Disco Inferno.” Throughout the voyage, guests will also have the opportunity to attend special events to get up close and personal with the artists onboard, including a wine tasting, live game shows, behind the music Q&A sessions, panel discussions, pool parties, and unforgettable themed costume gatherings. It all takes place aboard the luxurious Celebrity InfinityÒ, renowned for excellence in dining, deluxe cabins and stunning showrooms. Celebrity Cruises represent modern luxury in cruise lines, through sleek cruise ships and top-of-the-line amenities.
Cabin fares start at $1,499 and include admission to all main stage shows, meals in main dining options and major parties. For further information on the Ultimate Disco Cruise, please call 844.296.3472 or visit www.UltimateDiscoCruise.com.
About StarVista LIVE: 
StarVista LIVE creates unique entertainment experiences that bring fans together to relive their favorite moments, create new memories, and enjoy unparalleled access to the superstars they love. StarVista LIVE cruise events include, the Malt Shop Memories Cruise, the Soul Train Cruise, The Country Music Cruise, Flower Power Cruise, ‘70s Rock & Romance Cruise, the Southern Rock Cruise, Ultimate Disco Cruise, and Abbey Road on the River Festival.  StarVista LIVE is a division of Direct Holdings Global. Direct Holdings Global is a leading multi-channel marketer with a broad portfolio of products and services, most notably associated with the success of the StarVista / Time Life brand, delivered with a commitment to excellence and integrity. Additional information about StarVista LIVE can be found at:  www.StarVistaLIVE.com
facebook.com/StarVista-LIVE
linkedin.com/company/starvista-live
I’ll have to see if I can find my old disco platform shoes with the live goldfish in the heels for this one!!!  (kk)



Hey Kent ...
A few bit and bobs for you:
     1)    I love that you don't take selfies. It's far more elegant and visually appealing when you have someone snap a real photo from a comfortable distance. Your shot with Burton Cummings is tremendous.
2) The WKRP theme was spun into a full-length song and even charted, making #65 in 1981.
3) If anyone is into Jesus Christ Superstar, we recently published in interview with Tim Rice, who told the story about its remarkable evolution. Before it was commissioned, he and Andrew Lloyd Webber had to release a single ("Superstar") to prove its viability. The song got just enough heat to convince the record company to go through with it.
http://www.songfacts.com/blog/playingmysong/tim_rice_-_superstar_/
4) I recently spoke with Peter Asher, he of "A World Without Love," Apple Records and an astounding career producing James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and even Robin Williams (he earned one of his three Grammys for that). These days, he's producing the likes of Ed Sheeran and Steve Martin. He has no nostalgia for old-time recording and is thrilled that he no longer has to use a razor blade or tape machine in his work. He also feels that Ronstadt was never given proper credit for her creative contributions and was often dismissed as "difficult" when in fact, she was simply opinionated.
http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/peter_asher/
Be Well,
Carl Wiser
Songfacts
I love the fact that Peter Asher has become somewhat “accessible” again between his weekly program on The Beatles Channel on Sirius XM … his appearances at Beatlefests all over the country and the fact that he’s performing again as one half of Peter and Jeremy!  (I’m still dying to see these guys!!!)
I’m told he reads every single email he receives and responds to as many as he can so I’ve thought about trying to contact him for an interview with Forgotten Hits … but just haven’t had the time to follow through.
In the meantime, I’ll read YOUR work instead!  Peter was quite instrumental in the formation of Apple and some of the memories and recollections he shares on his “From Me To You” program are priceless. (kk)

Daryl Hall and John Oates have released their first new single in fifteen years.  Teaming with Pat Monahan and Train (with whom they’ll be touring all summer), last week saw the release of “Philly Forget Me Not”.  (I love the vintage label look … and Daryl’s little “You’re A Rich Girl” drop in!)  Plus this gives them something brand new to perform in concert this summer.  (They hit Chicago on May 18th at The United Center.)


Kent,
I loved the clip of Indian Giver. Sad to say, this song could not be released today due to out-of-control political correctness. “Indigenous American Giver” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
Bob Verbos
Honestly I think there were even some objections to it then … but taken at face value, I think it’s a great song.  (MANY years ago I did a month-long series called Honest Injun, which also got a little bit of flack including some from right here at home.)  I’ve often thought about re-running it because I thought it was a pretty clever piece … but you’re right … it probably won’t go down nearly as well today in our current state of political correctness.  (kk)

>>>Kind of reminds me of the Moonrakers out in Denver, Colorado ... they opened for literally EVERYBODY who came through town ... yet never made it thru to the national charts ... and this despite having all #1 and Top 5 Hits on the local charts. (kk)

Chuck Buell Here ~~~
Yep!  And I played all of their "hits" on my KIMN Denver Afternoon Drive Radio Show!

I also MC'd several of their local club and concert appearances then, too, as well as their most recent club appearance in Denver on August 22nd, 2015 ~~~ their Live, Sold Out, History Making, 50th Reunion Show at the Soiled Dove Underground.
It was Rocky Mountain Musical History at its best as it was the first time in nearly 50 years that all but one Moonraker Band Member were able to reunite and perform together, on the same stage, to present one of their long remembered and again highly anticipated high energy shows.
The Colorado Music Hall of Fame, housed in the Old Trading Post on the grounds of and within steps of the World Famous Red Rocks Amphitheater has a very cool exhibit about them in a large Group Family Tree display that was carefully diagrammed in detail showing
the Moonrakers' beginnings all the way through to when some of the members became part of Sugarloaf.

When you decide to come visit here, Kent, I will personally take you to see this Great Music Museum with exhibits about so many of the Super Artists and Performers who have their roots in Colorado like John Denver, Judy Collins, Firefall, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and many others!
CB ( which stands for "Colorado Boy!" )













            Chuck Buell
    Official KIMN Denver
  Mid-1960s Publicity Photo


You'll recall the lead singer for the band Rose Garden was a young lady named Diana DeRose. In an interesting twist, Kenny (O’Dell) Gist had a daughter named Diana Rose. (For real, from the Obit)
David Lewis

Sir Ringo married Barbara Bach.  She came from Rosedale, New York.  That's where I lived before I moved to Valley Stream, New York. 
I’m glad Ringo stopped singing "You're Sixteen."  I think Johnny Burnette's version from 1960 is much better than his version.
Frank B.
I don’t know about that … Ringo’s original #1 Hit version of “You’re Sixteen” is one of those rare instances where I think the remake is better than the original.  It was just such a fun recording … and an unexpected, out-of-nowhere hit for the guy everybody would have the toughest time after The Beatles split up.  (Of course having Harry Nilsson and Paul McCartney in your back-up band certainly didn’t hurt!!!)  kk

>>>Ringo stopped performing “You’re 16” as part of his act a few years ago because he didn’t think it was the kind of song a 75 year old man should be singing.  (lol!)  kk
Good for him!  (Creepy for sure!)
I feel the same way when I hear today's Beach Boys singing "Little Surfer Girl!"
Chuck Buell

Another 50th Anniversary is upon us … it was announced last week that a fully restored “Yellow Submarine” will be playing in theaters all over the country beginning in July.  “Yellow Submarine,” of course, is the animated film that (quite honestly) The Beatles had very little to do with.  Still it’s a colorful expression of their music.  Four new tracks were recorded for the film (and then “Hey Bulldog” was never used!)  Might be something worth seeing again on the big screen.  (kk)


Regarding WKRP, you mentioned how many artists were helped by this show, especially Blondie. 
I'm thinking that Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap wouldn't mind accepting payola to play a new song.
Frank B.
One of the other little-known-facts about the TV Show is that producers originally wanted former teen heartthrob David Cassidy to play the role of Dr. Johnny Fever … but Cassidy turned the job down flat.  (I can’t even imagine it in my wildest dreams!!!)  Kinda like Micky Dolenz auditioning for the part of The Fonz on Happy Days (which really did happen!) … or Charles Manson auditioning to be one of The Monkees (which didn’t!!!)  kk

Hello Kent,
I actually featured an interview with The Ricochettes on 60sgaragebands.coma few years back (and I believe it was with John). They really were rather popular in Wisconsin, at least when factoring in local newspaper coverage.
Thanks for thinking of me. Hope all is well.
Mike Dugo

Kent:
I think the date you posted for Soundstage with Chicago (performing Chicago II) has changed.  I hear it is debuting on PBS in Chicago this weekend.  And then the remainder of the country will follow.
Tom Cuddy
Interesting … I got my date from Ron Onesti, who hosted the event … who got HIS date from the folks at PBS … so something must have changed between now and then.
As is usually the best advice one can give, check your local listings to see when this concert might be playing in your area … I’ve talked with a few people who were at the taping and it sounds like this one is really something!  (kk)

Regarding that 1956 Chart … Great!!!
Why don't we (meaning you) do a whole year full of 1956 music?
Bakers Dozen =  "Memories Are Made Of This," Dean Martin’s first #1 Hit with The Easy Riders.
"The Great Pretender," by Tony Williams And The Platters … their first of four #1 Hits … my favorite all time group. 
I have a FACEBOOK group called "I Love The Platters."  Every morning at about 7 AM I post a few Platters songs ... lots of deep album cuts. Why don't we (meaning you) do a Bobby Darin type series on The Platters?
Kent- You notice how all my great ideas (1956 music + Platters) mean lots of work for you?
FB
You know I DID notice that!!! (lol)  While I don’t think a very large percentage of 1956 songs would hold up today, there are several that would … which is true of ALL of the ‘50’s tracks after the advent of Rock And Roll.  We probably do need to visit the ‘50’s more often … but honestly, I’m already thinking about gearing up for 1969 next year … SO much great music came out that year!!!  (kk)

Here is what James Taylor posted in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King on April 4th…
Of the people with whom I have shared my time on this planet, I believe King is the most heroic, the most like Christ or the Buddha. Churchill, FDR, Kennedy, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, for me, King eclipses them all. Not that anyone’s asking or there’s a competition or anything but 50 years ago the brightest light in a generation was snuffed out. The great cause of love and compassion, of peace and reconciliation that he led has had many heroic martyrs. Clearly he knew he was at risk and still he carried on.
He was human and he had human weaknesses and misgivings but when he was called upon, he stood up and shouldered the load. A truly great man, he was equal to the great challenge of our time, the deeply rooted racial injustice that plagues our nation and threatens the noble American experiment. He showed us the way.

Let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us,
All men and women, living on the earth
Ties of hope and love, of sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
in our desire to see the world become
A place in which our children can grow free and strong
We are bound together by the task that stands before us
and the road that lies ahead
We are bound and we are bound

James Taylor
4/4/18

Photo: Dedication of Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial, Washington, DC, October 16, 2011 by Gediyon Kifle
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The Saturday Survey (April 7th)

April 7, 2018, 4:00 am
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Wow!
Looks like "Denver" tops the Denver chart this week as Steve Alaimo holds off The Beatles for a second week on top of the KLZ Chart!  (I'm guessing that whoever picked up this particular survey at their local record mart wasn't too fond of The Irish Rovers' new Top Ten Record "The Unicorn," which took a leap of 22 points from #32 to #10 this week.  They've crossed it off completely and written in "Jesus" instead!  Not quite sure what that means ... but it can't be good!  lol)  Pretty cool to see a Top 70 Chart 'tho!  (kk)




4-5-68 - KLZ-FM - Denver, Colorado (Also, KIMN 4-6-68)

KLZ-FM was one of the early FM stations in the US to play rock 'n roll.  Despite being up against legendary top 40 AM giant KIMN, KLZ-FM had a huge playlist and enough stereo listeners to be of interest in the late 60's and early 70's in the Mile High City.  

There was a lot of carry over from the AM to FM giants, musically, including FH members.  Denver was one of few markets to play TWO versions of the Bobby Russell mega-hit "Honey," both at #3 -- the national hit by Bobby Goldsboro and a slightly earlier release by former Kingston Trio member Bob Shane.  They would both be #1 on both stations the following week.  Maybe that is what sent our Chuck Buell packing for the Windy City that month?  

Lots of syrup to hold the Beatles off #1 and the Epic Records "Jennifer Sisters" at #6 and 11.  Cool obscurities abound here, but we'll choose former "Where The Action Is' show regular, Steve Alaimo to feature, since his song "Denver" is #1.  Interestingly enough, one of KIMN's various hits LPs (below) released later that year included, as a bonus (?), a copy of the Alaimo 45 WITH the LP inside the cover!  Maybe Atco made too many copies of the 45???? 





Checking both charts, you'll find little difference other than 70 to 50 song listings.
-- Clark Besch

 

It's a Denver Chart Twin-Spin this week ... 

Again, I just LOVE the chart diversity of ranking Mom and Pop Favorite, Little Ole Wine-Drinker Dean Martin right next to The Godfather of Soul, Soul Brother #1 James Brown, who comes in just ahead of British Rockers, 
Instrument-Smashers, The Who!!!
(And I've just GOTTA play my Michele Lee / Forgotten Hits favorite "L. David Sloane," too, while I've got a chance.  
It ranks at #29, several years before Lee will join the cast of television's Night Time Soap Opera Hit, "Knots Landing!"  (kk)




 


THIS WEEK IN 1968:  

4/3/68:  Simon and Garfunkel’s new album Bookends is released on Columbia Records



4/4/68:  Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.  Rioting breaks out in major cities across The United States.

Also on this date, Bobby Goldsboro receives a gold record for his #1 Hit “Honey”

4/5/68:  Soul and Funk Master James Brown goes on TV to make a nationally televised appeal to stop the rioting in an “appeal for calm” in wake of the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Michael Bolton Concert Reviews - And Our Next Free Ticket Offer!

April 7, 2018, 10:18 pm
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Hey Kent – 
Are you going to review last night's "Scum Of The Earth" (WKRP) Concert for Forgotten Hits? 
Frank B.
Nope … sorry, I missed it …
In fact, I missed the Michael Bolton concert at The Arcada Theatre, too … but fortunately we had a few readers who were there and have filed these reports …

(Thanks again to Ron Onesti for the FH Ticket Give-Away ... and to Luciano Bilotti for sending us these awesome shots!)


Kent,
Here is my review of the Michael Bolton show.
I have included a couple of pictures also ... Michael said that they only had one rule at his concert ... take as many pictures as you wanted ... so I got a few.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this concert. I have not heard any Michael Bolton new music for quite a while. I was cautiously optimistic.
The show started promptly at 7:30. There was an older fellow with a couple of guitars who came out to warm up the audience. He did a fine job of getting us ready for Michael. He played for about 30 minutes. Then nothing for 40 minutes. Michael and his group finally came out at 8:40. No explanation for this. 
Anyway, I must say that he has not lost any of his soulful voice. He sounded great. He played all of his hits and some older songs which I and the audience loved. He left the stage about half way thru the show, at which time his musicians entertained the audience … and they were awesome.
Then he came back out in the audience (very surprised) and, fortunately for me, it was close to where I was sitting. He sang When A Man Loves A Woman and it was flawless. Very Cool!
He sang some duets with one of his back-up singers, Sam Fry, who has a glorious voice.
They played for about 90 minutes ... then came back out and did a couple of songs for an encore.
After all was said and done, it was a very good experience. I must mention that having not seen Michael Bolton in concert before, he looked very stiff and tight on stage. I really think he was having some type of physical issue (possibly a bad back) that he did not mention. It however did not hinder his vocal performance. He did not come out after the show for any meet and greet, all the more reason I think he was not physically up to it.
Let me just say Thanks to Kent Kotal for giving me this opportunity to see this show.
Art Walicki
 

Above two photos by Art Walicki

We all enjoyed the Michael Bolton concert last night. He still has a great voice. The sax player was fantastic.  I was just a little disappointed  that he didn't sing more of his own songs ... we came to hear his songs ... but still it was a great night.
Deborah Zoerink


Michael Bolton sounded really good the other night, but you know his set is filled with mostly slow tunes ... and there was no meet and greet like last year.  
Lou
One of my coworkers was complaining last week about how she didn't get any sleep at all the night before ... I suggested picking up a couple of the free tickets we had to give away to the Michael Bolton show, knowing that nothing would put me to sleep faster than listening to Bolton drone on, slow song after slow song after slow song ... but somebody else told me that he picked up the tempo several times throughout the show ... and that he had a KILLER back-up band that he showcased during a three song break.  Guess it all depends on your listening perspective.
I put Michael Bolton's Greatest Hits CD in the car on Thursday and found most of it to be very listenable.  In fact, his version of one of my all-time favorite songs, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale," was quite impressive.  (This is a song that I have always believed shouldn't be and didn't need to be redone by ANYBODY because NOTHING could ever improve on the original.  That being said, Michael did a VERY credible version, which I had never heard before, so it was a real eye-opener (ear-opener?) for me.  (kk) 

Thank you again so much for the Michael Bolton tickets. 
I have to admit I went into the concert with some reservations.  I had tickets in the 90's for his show on New Year's Eve, at the height of his popularity.  That concert was a disappointment to say the least.  Michael sang for 50 minutes and ended his show at 11:30, leaving all his fans grumbling in the parking lot at the stroke of midnight.  Sooooo, I feel that these free tickets were a vindication for me!   And something that was owed!   Thank you for that. 
As it turned out, I really liked the show at the Arcada Wednesday night. And I like Michael Bolton again ... almost as much as he likes himself.  He was backed by a terrific band and he gave them a three-song chance to show off their stuff.  Very generous.  He had wonderful backup singers and did some duets with one of them.  Outstanding.  Great song choices and diversity and all his hits.  No complaints at all.  The sound was perfect and the crowd was very into it.  All in all, a great evening of music.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but ended up having a wonderful time.  
Thanks again,
Janet


Michael Bolton’s Ten Biggest Hits:  

1.    How Am I Supposed To Live Without You (#1, 1990) 
2.    When A Man Loves A Woman (#1, 1991) 
3.    Missing You Now  (#2, 1992) 
4.    Love Is A Wonderful Thing (#3, 1991) 
5.    Time, Love And Tenderness (#3, 1991) 
6.    How Can We Be Lovers  (#3, 1990) 
7.    Said I Love You … But I Lied  (#5, 1994) 
8.    When I’m Back On My Feet Again  (#7, 1990) 
9.    To Love Somebody  (#9, 1992) 
10.         The Dock Of The Bay  (#11, 1988)  
One of the people I talked to after the show said his encore of “Soul Provider” was outstanding and got the whole place up on their feet.  That one went to #17 in 1989. 
But another complaint was that much of his act was spent singing songs from “The Great American Songbook,” kinda like what Bobby Rydell did when he played The Arcada a couple of years ago.  People come to a Michael Bolton concert to hear him sing HIS songs … not songs made famous by Frank Sinatra!  (Now in all fairness, a good number of Michael’s biggest hits were his interpretations of popular songs from yesteryear … new imaginings and updating of this classic material … but it seems to me that by this point he’s already done enough of those to fill a whole hour of his OWN hit music … and leave the audience satisfied that they got what they came from.  Sure, stick in a surprise or two … but folks came to hear the hits.  (kk) 

REMINDER:  Speaking of Bobby Rydell … remember that he has cancelled his Arcada appearance for April 15th due to a broken hip.  Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals will take his place and now team with Lou Christie for next Sunday’s 3:00 Matinee Concert.  This should be a blast!!!
******

And the good times continue …

We have just been given three pair of tickets to give away to our Forgotten Hits Readers for The Ides Of March show Thursday Night, May 3rd, at The City Winery!  (And these tickets came from Jim Peterik personally!)

Wanna go?  Then drop me a note STAT and we’ll throw your name in the hat.   (All entries must come via email to kk@forgottenhits.com)

Now what would make this REALLY special is if we could find three people who have never seen The Ides before and take THEM to the show …
(As you know, we’ve been raving about The Ides Of March for YEARS now as being one of the best live bands you will ever see … so let us PROVE it to you!!!  You’ll be blown away!)

If somehow, someway you have never seen The Ides Of March perform in concert before, please note this on your email entry … as we would LOVE to have you join us for the show.  And if you HAVE seen The Ides Of March before … (‘cause I mean, you know, who hasn’t?!?!) … you’ve still got a shot, too … our ticket drawing will remain fair and impartial.

And if you STILL don’t win tickets to the show, then hop on over to The City Winery Website Box Office and grab your tickets NOW before they’re all gone!  (This show will likely sell out)
https://citywinery.com/chicago/catalog/product/buytickets/id/2700646/
kk
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A Monday Morning Quickie!

April 9, 2018, 3:54 am
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>>>Al Jardine will be teaming back up with Brian Wilson for a series of shows that’ll run through the end of the year. This time around they’ll be performing the entire 1964 Beach Boys Christmas Album along with some of the tracks from Brian’s solo Christmas album “All I Really Want For Christmas” … which begs the question … does ANYBODY out there really want to hear this block of material performed live???  (kk)   

Are you kidding? 
Every Beach Boys fan(atic) worth their vibe would love to hear this performed live. Take a listen to the five Beach Boys' original songs and think of them outside their Christmas theme. Very good, very timely (as related to rock & roll at that time), very much fun.
Forgive the self-promotion but I've written an article on how Beach Boys Christmas is their "family" album: The Beach Boys All-In-The-Family Album 

Comments / Observations  
The Beach Boys, birthed as a garage band with some harmony thrown in, grew into an American phenomenon releasing a string of hit albums covering the surf music wave, the car craze, and surfer girls. "Best of The Beach Boys" fans often overlook the creative, even daring albums they recorded. Artists and critics from across the music spectrum praise the groundbreaking "Pet Sounds" ('66) and the mind-blowing "SMiLE" (studio tapes finally released some 40 year later) but overlook "Party!" ('65), possibly the first unplugged album by a rock group or "Concert" ('64), one of the earliest (and loudest) live shows by a rock and roll band. "Stack-O-Tracks" ('68), the first backing-track-only album, was ahead of its time; a precursor to bootleg studio tapes (many bands are including similar bonus tracks on their new CD product). [Complete article at:  https://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/beach-boys-christmas-album-all-in-family.html  
Catch a wave this Christmas! 
Phil  
PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com  
Personally, I think I’d rather hear “Stack-O-Tracks” performed live, especially with Brian’s stand-out backing band of musicians.  I can see throwing in a few Christmas songs during the holiday season … and, as you mentioned, they have some outstanding tracks to pick from … but I just can’t imagine sitting through a 40-minute set of their entire Christmas LP, which always struck me as more aimed toward the parents than the kids who were actually buying their records.  (kk)

Phil also sent us this quiz from MeTV … man, if you can’t ace THIS one, you need to give back your record collection!!!

Fun quiz  
https://metv.com/quiz/are-these-names-of-beach-boys-songs-or-episodes-of-the-donna-reed-show  

And this!!!  

Hello Kent, 
Just an FYI that I uploaded another Pray For Surf podcast, once again teaming with Mark Dillon (author of "Fifty Sides of The Beach Boys"). We discuss our versions of what could be "The Beach Boys Humor Album." It was fun comparing our lists (several no-brainers for both of us but a bunch of surprises for each of us). So, if you are bugged at your old man and need a laugh, or have not had your daily dose of vegetables, then this is the podcast for you (:>) 

Humor Podcast: https://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/podcast-beach-boys-humor-album-with.html  

PRAY FOR SURF PODCAST  
The Beach Boys "Humor Album" 

Phil Miglioratti and Mark Dillon (author, "50 Sides of The Beach Boys") discuss the role of humor in the Beach Boys music. Each have selected an album's worth of songs ("Monster Mash") , skits ("George Fell Into His French Horn"), and statements ("Cost too much") that put a SMiLE on your face. They approach humor as "a state of mind" that brings laughter or amusement and, in the case of the Beach Boys, allows them to poking fun, even at themselves.  

And, speaking of The Beach Boys and Al Jardine and such, David Beard, Editor and Publisher of “Endless Summer Quarterly,” is going to run my review of the Al Jardine concert we saw at City Winery Chicago in his Summer Edition of this VERY popular Beach Boys fanzine … so how cool is that?!?!?  (kk)   

Kent,  
Thanks so much for the info on the Soundstage Chicago concert. As someone who was lucky enough to attend, I have been looking for this show ever since I was there.   
It was not even listed in my Channel Guide magazine. I had to go to the online TV schedule for WTTW. Look forward to seeing at least half the show again.   
It is on Saturday @ 11:00 P.M.   
ART WALICKI   

We’ll have to set the DVR for this one (so I don’t fall asleep halfway through!!!)  What an odd time to first premier this program!!!  (kk)  

UPDATE:  We watched the concert on Sunday … overall, I found it to be VERY disappointing … I get it that the program was supposed to be a tribute to the Chicago II album … but they didn’t even perform it in LP order (unless this was more inept PBS editing that messed things up.)  For me, the highlights were few … catching Robert Lamm, who still looks and sounds great ... the timeless “Ballet for a Girl From Buchannon,” probably the LP’s best known track … and the fact the Lee Loughnane stepped up to the mike to sing “Colour My World,” a completely unexpected surprise … meanwhile, everything else fell short of everything else I’ve ever seen Chicago do.  And I wasn’t too keen on the filming technique either … it made the whole show look very dated … grainy and faded … just not at all what I was expecting in this type of showcase.
Still, I’m sure it all came off much better live before editing … this is usually the case … as the audience seemed to be having a really good time.
I guess I just expected more of a Chicago II / Greatest Hits presentation at this stage of the game.  (kk)

And since we just covered Chicago AND The Beach Boys, I've just GOTTA run this clip ... both groups in absolutely top form (and I just LOVE Lee Loughnane's intro ... look at that hair!!!)  kk ...


I agree particularly with the first review that mentioned that Michael Bolton looked stiff … but it didn’t bother his voice at all … but he was moving very slowly. 
Thx, Kent,
Enjoy your blog!
Bill Faust  

Blecccchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh to Bolton. 
Cannot stand his so-called singing which sounds like some poor soul getting a prostate exam from Dr. Edward Scissorhands.  
Brad

Michael Bolton! Good Grief! I don’t think there are enough drugs in the world to get me to see that. LOL 
Ken
While I don't think I ever would have bought tickets to see Michael Bolton on my own ... not even back in the day ... I absolutely would have gone to this show had my schedule been clear to do so.  
I look at it this way ... 
I see a LOT of shows ... but most of the time, it's artists I have seen before ... we tend to go see the same artists again and again because Chicago seems to be a regular stop on their tours ... so catching somebody brand new that I haven't seen before ... especially an artist like Michael Bolton, who DID have 18 Top 40 Hits ... holds a certain appeal for me at this stage of the game.  (Then again, if he only performed four or five of those hits and filled the rest of his set list with songs from The Great American Songbook, I probably would have been disappointed, too ... we just went through that with Bobby Rydell a few years ago.)
That being said, give a listen to Bolton’s version of “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” and see what you think … this one really surprised me!  (I'm not trying to sway anybody's opinion here ... but you've gotta admit this is one hell of a vocal outing!  kk

I’ve definitely been waiting for this one … so was quite excited to receive this email the other day from Paul Haney of Record Research …

Hi Kent, 
The brand new Top Pop Albums 1955 - 2016 book just arrived at the offices yesterday.  It’s 1,600 pages and weighs nearly 8 pounds!  I will be dropping a copy in the mail for you today. 
Paul
This is AWESOME news!  Joel hasn’t done an update to this book since 2006.  You can order YOUR copy from the Record Research Website now …
https://recordresearch.com/


I saw Alice Cooper at the Orpheum Theater in Madison a few weeks ago. 
He still sings "I'm eighteen and I don't know what I want," and he just
turned 70! 
It was a very good show and Alice still sounds like he did in the 70's.   There were fans from ten years old all the way to Alice's age at the show.   He sang most of his hits.  The only ballad he did, though, was Only Women.  He did not do I Never Cry,  You and Me, or (my
personal favorite of his ballads) How You Gonna See Me Now. 
I did enjoy his appearance in Jesus Christ Superstar.  Even though he appeared for only one song,  he was one of the highlights.
Phil – WRCO

Do you get free tickets often? I would have loved to see Burton Cummings. I saw him in the 80's when he opened for Alice Cooper.
Debe Welch
I was at that same show ... about the strangest double-billing I've ever seen!  But I couldn’t pass up the chance to see either of them.  (Burton had just started his solo career and was taking every gig he possibly could to stay out there in front of an audience.  Earlier that year we saw him open for Melissa Manchester … TWICE.)  It was a unusual night for sure … especially knowing Burton’s “Glamour Boy” song from his Guess Who days!  (lol) 
We seem to be on a roll lately with the free tickets … check out Sunday’s Michael Bolton concert review to see that we’ve got THREE pair of tickets to give away for The Ides Of March show May 3rd at The City Winery Chicago.  (It’s hit or miss when it comes to tickets … so anytime we can pass them along to our readers, we try to do so.)  The same week you saw Michael Bolton for free at The Arcada Theatre, we took a couple of other readers to the Al Jardine show at City Winery!  (kk)  
It was a strange pairing, but I loved Burton Cummings. 
Debe


This is something that is been on our minds for awhile lately, what with the reason wave of retirement announcements by so many of the music stars of our era … add to that the recent passing of many more and the fact that more and more of this music is disappearing from the radio, will the rock and roll music we all know, love and grew up with eventually face extinction and disappear completely.  (God, I hope not … there isn’t any better “feel good” music out there!)  What more can we do to help keep this music and these memories alive?

This from FH Reader Tom Cuddy …

As Boomer Musicians Retire From Touring, Concert Industry Faces Uncertain Future

From Music News, a Flipboard magazine by Rolling Stone
"It's extremely worrisome," says one high-powered agent. "Once these artists really do retire, who will be the … “ 

Read it on rollingstone.com

One more great clip that I've gotta share ...

I came across this one while searching for somebody else ... but check it out ... a very young Mickey Thomas handling the lead vocal on the smash hit by Elvin Bishop ... man, what a voice this guy's got!!! (kk)
 


Kent, 
I just now noticed something while listening to a television commercial that I have heard for about a week now. In the national ad for Arby's Roast Beef restaurants, it seems to me that in the background, very faintly I might add, is the song ARE YOU READY … same tune as the Pacific Gas and Electric's song from 1970. Here in OKC, the edited version was played on the radio (some 2 1/2 minutes long). When one went to the record store to buy it, that version was a little over five minutes long. Again, how the advertising firm came up with that song is anybody's guess. I fortunately have a copy of the edited version as well as the longer version. 
Larry
I haven’t seen this commercial yet … good tune ‘tho!  And you’re right, the version played primarily on the radio back then was the shortened edit.  (Actually I’ll have to look for that as it’d be cool to have!)  Thanks, Larry!  (kk)

The other day I mentioned that I’ve been reading some back issues of Melody Maker and New Musical Express from 1965.
When I came across this quote (from Burt Bacharach, no less!) I just had to share.
When Burt Bacharach was asked by New Musical Express whose songwriting he enjoys he answered …
“Richard Rogers in fantastic and I like Jerome Kern.  Lennon and McCartney write some very fine stuff and I think a lot of Goffin and King.  Right now, Tony Hatch is writing very well.”
Kudos to our FH Buddy Tony Hatch (albeit 53 years late!) for earning high praise from one of the most successful songwriters of the ‘60’s!  (kk)

Rockin’ Lord Geoff from across the pond sent us the vintage British Chart from exactly 60 YEARS AGO this week … check out Petula Clark sitting at #23 alongside vintage rockers like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly And The Crickets, Little Richard, The Champs, Danny and the Juniors, Fat Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis … a full SEVEN YEARS before she’d hit the charts here in America for the very first time!  (kk)

Week Ending 12 April 1958
(charts come from the New Musical Express, which we just mentioned above!!!)
Position charts show weeks on the chart / last week’s position / and this week’s position:
10 - 01 - 01 - Perry Como - Magic Moments
06 - 02 - 02 - Marvin Rainwater - Whole Lotta Woman
06 - 03 - 03 - Tommy Steele - Nairobi
05 - 07 - 04 - Jackie Dennis - La Dee Dah
05 - 05 - 05 - Crickets - Maybe Baby
05 - 10 - 06 - Ted Heath And His Music - Swingin' Shepherd Blues
07 - 04 - 07 - Elvis Presley - Don't
13 - 06 - 08 - Michael Holliday - The Story Of My Life
02 - 10 - 09 - Champs - Tequila
02 - 22 - 10 - Connie Francis - Who's Sorry Now
07 - 14 - 11 - Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly
06 - 12 - 12 - Perry Como - Catch Falling Star
01 - NE - 13 - Pat Boone - It's Too Soon To Know
12 - 13 - 14 - Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock
10 - 09 - 15 - Eddie Calvert - Mandy (La Panse)
02 - 16 - 16 - Pat Boone - A Wonderful Time Up There
04 - 17 - 17 - Malcolm Vaughan With The Michael Sammes Singers - To Be Loved
13 - 08 - 18 - Danny And The Juniors - At The Hop
03 - 20 - 19 - Jimmie Rodgers - Oh-Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again
03 - 25 - 20 - Fats Domino - The Big Beat
19 - 19 - 21 - Pat Boone - April Love
01 - NE - 22 - Jerry Lee Lewis - Breathless
07 - 15 - 23 - Petula Clark - Baby Lover
06 - 28 - 24 - George Hamilton IV - Why Don't They Understand
11 - 18 - 25 - Paul Anka - You Are My Destiny
06 - 23 - 26 - Frankie Vaughan - Can't Get Along Without You / We Are Not Alone
03 - 24 - 27 - Jackie Wilson - To Be Loved
09 - 21 - 28 - Alma Cogan - Sugartime
01 - NE - 29 - Ted Heath And His Music - Tequila
01 - NE - 30 - Lonnie Donegan and his Skiffle Group - The Grand Coolie Dam 

And, speaking of great singers from the ‘50’s, Geoff also tells us about an upcoming concert next month that’ll feature Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon as the headliner along with several other acts … catch out the promo poster below …

Singer / Actress REBECCA HOLDEN joined Howard Hewett (Shalamar) for a benefit given by Lifedriven in Beverly Hills. Lifedriven Foundation's mission is to provide life-changing solutions to the socio-economic problem of cancer by helping to enhance the lives and circumstances of children battling cancer in disadvantaged communities.
         Submitted by David Salidor


Here’s an interesting “Helping Out Our Readers” email I received the other day …

Hello there -
My name is Elena and I’m Italian.
Firstly, I want to say that your archive is simply amazing! All those records so well kept and protected, it looks like the Trinity college library in Dublin.
I’m here to ask for your help … hopefully you’ll help us solve a mystery which began in the early 80’s.
In those years, Italy was literally invaded by Japanese cartoons, that are still nowadays much appreciated and remind us of when we were young.
We were all very fond of the theme songs … we used to buy the 45’s or tapes and now you’ll find all those songs in cd collections.
All except one.
There are hundreds of people who are trying to discover who wrote and who sang that song. They’ve also reached the network that firstly broadcasted the series in 1983, but apparently nobody knows the author or the singer. There are no credits appearing in the final theme, the song was never patented and, as they report in forums, the network owner seems very annoyed and declares that the series arrived with the theme included already. Many Italian singers who seem to have a similar voice were asked but they all denied being involved. I discovered those forums just by chance and, reading all the facts, I have come to a personal opinion: that song is probably a plagiarism. This would explain why nobody knows (or simply refuses to admit) who wrote and sang it and why the network owners let spoke their lawyers to give a stop.
I suppose you’re wondering why I am telling you all this (and you probably think I’m crazy.)
Well, I think the original song could be a b-side, and typing it in Google one of the results was your site.
Hoping not to be too annoying, I would like to send you the YouTube link to listen to the song. I see that many readers contribute to your site by posting titles, memories and information about thousands of songs, maybe someone could recognize the melody.
This is just an idea and, after all, I could be completely wrong. But you know, women are stubborn
Thank you for your attention and have a nice weekend.
Elena 
https://youtu.be/t5QVOnk2RS4
Anybody out there got any ideas about this one???  This may be a tough one to find, especially being sung in Italian … but we’ve got some GREAT music detectives on our list so let’s give it a go!  Good Luck!  (kk)

Kent,
Today's Saturday Survey of KLZ with the #1 record of DENVER got my curiosity aroused as to how high it made it here in OKC. For the week of February 29, it was at the bottom of the survey, listed as the PIC-HIT of the week. Two weeks later, it would peak at #24 before falling off the survey.
I was a little surprised in that the record by Michelle Lee didn't make our survey though I do have a copy of it. Incidentally, today if you were ask anyone who Michelle Lee is/was, most would say an actress, especially best known for her work on the "Knots Landing" show. But how many would remember this record she made 50 years ago? Same goes for actress Ann-Margret, who had a big record earlier in 1961 with I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
Now on this day back in 1968 here in OKC, the #1 record was HONEY with Bobby Goldsboro / Bob Shane being listed as the artist. I have got to be honest with you in that I really don't remember Shane's version being played at all.
Larry Neal
“Honey” was one of the biggest records of the ‘60’s … I can’t imagine ANYBODY sticking with the Bob Shane version for very long, let alone long enough to SHARE the #1 position on the chart!
Checking the national scene, I see that Shane’s version “bubbled under” in both Billboard and Record World Magazine … peaking at #104 in Billboard (during a six week run) and #118 in Record World.  Again, how it earned #1 status on ANY of the local charts is beyond me … “Honey” has become the definitive Bobby Goldsboro song (for better or for worse!)  kk

Hi Kent:
When I came home on leave from the Great Lakes NTC in the spring of 1968 the song "Uncle Sam's Navy" by Johnny Martin on Chart Records was getting a lot of airplay on a Charlotte top forty radio station. As you might guess, I could relate to the lyrics. It sounds like it could almost
be the answer song to Diane Renay's "Navy Blue" -- four years later.  Although I don't remember where I bought my copy, I had no trouble finding it in a local record department. For years I thought it had been at least a minor hit. It wasn't until I bought my first copy of Joel Whitburm's TOP POP SINGLES book in the mid-Nineties that I realized it never even charted. When I returned to Great Lakes for school it seemed like WCFL and/or WLS could always be heard in the barracks, but I don't think I ever heard that record played on either radio station, and Chicago was a Navy town! I still like the song though and play it occasionally.
Another thing: One Saturday I rode into Waukegan with a buddy who had a new car with an in-dash tape deck. I think it was a four track. I remember earlier seeing an automobile record player (yes, there was such a thing) but this was the first car tape player I had ever seen. I was quite impressed! It wasn't until I came back from England that I had my own eight track car player. I wish I had all the money I blew on that lousy extinct format! By comparison, I've still got vinyl records that I bought in the Sixties that still play very well. Like "Uncle Sam's Navy".
Mike G

Well, I’m not so sure this one would have caught my ear back in 1968 … I was more into “Pictures Of Matchstick Men” and “I Love You” by People!
I checked Joel Whitburn’s “Chart Comparison” book (a book I use every single day and highly recommend to all of us chart fiends out there!) and see that “Uncle Sam’s Navy” DID “bubble under’ on the Record World Chart, eventually peaking at #145 in its three week run … probably something that can be attributed more to Navy sales than Navy Seals!  (kk)

Hi Kent
I went to the Rocksino in Norhfield, Ohio (Cleveland) on Friday to see Robin Trower, former lead guitarist for Procol Harum, who then went on to a great solo career.
The 73 year old guitar legend did not disappoint with a solid performance backed only by a drummer and bass player.
I was lucky to get press credentials and shoot the show from the stage front.
The playlist was as follows:
Too Rolling Stoned
Lady Love
Returned In Kind
Not Outside Inside
Somebody Calling
Make Up Your Mind
Day Of The Eagle
Bridge Of Sighs
Can't Turn Back The Clock
Confessing Midnight
Daydream
Little Bit Of Sympathy
Rise Up Like The Sun
For Earth Below
Photos Attached
Tom Apathy



I’ve gotta confess that the only Robin Trower song I know is “Caledonia,” which is his only Top 100 Hit (it peaked at #81 in 1977) … so this one would have been lost on me … but I’m sure there are other Robin Trower fans out there who will appreciate this.  Thanks, Tom!  (kk)

And, speaking of great concerts …

Last Call For Ides Of March Tickets!!!

We’ll be picking the winners on Friday … so you need to enter now if you want a chance to see these guys at The City Winery on May 3rd.

And check this out … a recent study shows that going to concerts is good for you!!! 

A new behavioral science study has concluded that attending concerts on a regular basis is good for people’s well being – and could extend gig-goers lives by up to nine years. The study, commissioned by U.K. cellphone network O2, claimed that 20 minutes at a concert is better for you that the same amount of time spent doing yoga or dog-walking.  Researchers calculated that a 20-minute taste of live music increased people’s sense of well being by 21 percent, compared with 10 percent for yoga and 7 percent for dog-walking. “Key markers across the happiness spectrum” also increased, with self-worth up 25 percent, closeness to others up by the same amount, and mental stimulation boosted by 75 percent.

So do your body a favor a register to win a pair of tickets to see The Ides Of March at City Winery Chicago on Thursday, May 3rd!!!

We’ve got THREE pair of tickets to give away (and we’re going to this one, 
too!) so send me an email at kk@forgottenhits.com and get your name on the list!
Tickets are still available through The City Winery Online Box Office, too … https://citywinery.com/chicago/the-ides-of-march-feat-jim-peterik-5-3-18.html

Thx, Kent, for announcing the ticket giveaway for the Ides Of March May 3rd show at City Winery. And though it would be great to see some first timers win, we are just happy to welcome all.  
We are announcing here that we will be doing a two-set show - the first being unplugged - the second full metal jacket. We feel each format has its own special vibe - the first more intimate with more stories - the next relying on the rhythm and brass and more of the hits me and the Ides are have enjoyed through the years.  Can’t wait to see you!
The Friendly Stranger -
Jimbo 
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Thursday This And That

April 12, 2018, 4:36 am
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Hi Kent, 
Just a note to say THANK-YOU for the consistently great reads -- the entertainment and information gained reading Forgotten Hits is invaluable.  Plus, when I hear the music legends and luminaries that pop up to comment, I realize the prominence and importance of your publication.  I wish you would do mini-interviews with some of these individuals.  Something like "5 Questions for ______."  When I see names like Hal Blaine, Tony Hatch, Tommy James, Felix Cavaliere, Burton Cummings, Lou Christie, and a bevy of bands and broadcasters too numerous to mention, I would love to hear mini-interviews on "how it was, how it is, and how it is going to be" concerning the state of music and radio.  Love Forgotten Hits! 
Peace,
Tim Kiley

>>>We watched the Chicago Soundstage concert on Sunday … overall, I found it to be VERY disappointing.  I get it that the program was supposed to be a tribute to the Chicago II album … but they didn’t even perform it in LP order (unless this was more inept PBS editing that messed things up.)  For me, the highlights were few … catching Robert Lamm, who still looks and sounds great, the timeless “Ballet for a Girl From Buchannon,” probably the LP’s best known track … and the fact the Lee Loughnane stepped up to the mike to sing “Colour My World,” a completely unexpected surprise … meanwhile, everything else fell short of everything else I’ve ever seen Chicago do.  And I wasn’t too keen on the filming technique either … it made the whole show look very dated … grainy and faded … just not at all what I was expecting in this type of showcase.  Still, I’m sure it all came off much better live before editing … this is usually the case … as the audience seemed to be having a really good time. I guess I just expected more of a Chicago II / Greatest Hits presentation at this stage of the game.  (kk)

Yes, the Soundstage / Chicago program that was broadcast was heavily edited. They took out all of the talking going on between the band members and the audience, which took out some of the intimacy of the show. The broadcast was less than half of the actual performance. The first half of the show they did the Chicago II album … then they took a break and played their many other hits for over an another hour. And YES, it did sound much better live than it did on the broadcast.  It did mean more by watching and reliving the live experience, than if you were not there at all.  I wonder if they will release a DVD or Blu-ray of the COMPLETE concert. Probably not. Will have this in my archives in case they don't.
Art Walicki
Interesting …
The first headline I saw said that Lindsay Buckingham had quit Fleetwood Mac … again.  Hours later Rolling Stone was reporting that he was fired.  (Sounds like Buckingham had spelled out some "special terms" regarding him touring with the band again ... and the band opted to just do the tour their way without him.)
In either case, he’ll be replaced by Mike Campbell of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House … which should add an interesting dynamic to the band.
Rolling Stone Magazine also seems to be priming us for the announcement of this year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees.
In a recent post they list “deserving” artists who still haven’t made the cut … yet they’re all the same artists they keep nominating year after year.  Incredibly, The Guess Who STILL don’t even make the list!
You can review the next batch of likely candidates here … but don’t expect any surprises … it’s the same batch they keep shoving down our throats who still can’t earn enough votes to actually get inducted!  (Maybe your voting committee is trying to tell you something!)
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/classic-artists-still-not-in-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame?utm_source=rsnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=040918_16&utm_content=daily

Hi Kent,
The Michael Bolton concert was great. I saw him in the 80's when he opened for Belinda Carlise. He sang his known songs and covers. Overall, he still has the chops. Thanks again for the tickets! 
Debe

I've been slammed and should have gotten a note off to you when I first saw the Al Jardine concert review. When I saw a couple of comments in today's 'Monday Morning Quickie," I decided I'd better get a reply off to you or risk my reputation. 
I met Alan when I booked the first Beach Boys headlining concert -- May 24, 1963 -- and, as I tell the die-hard fans, it was the ONLY time I paid to see The Beach Boys: $750, which included six roundtrip airline tickets from LAX to SMF. The sponsors made $4,000, my take was $600, and each Beach Boy made about $50 after expenses. That would be the ONLY time I actually made more money than 'the boys,' but keep in mind, even $50 a night was a lot of money in 1963 ... enough to borrow your 'old man's' car, put a buck or two in the tank, take your girlfriend to dinner -- burgers, fries and a shake or Coke, then to a movie, popcorn and another Coke ... all for about $12 or so dollars :)
I picked up the band in my folk's 1954 Chevy wagon -- equipment and all -- drove to the auditorium, set up, did two 35 or so minute sets, mostly, or at least half 'cover' songs, had late dinner with them after the gig, and it was at the dinner at the Mansion Inn Motel, that I proposed to Murry, their original manger, that they should do their own shows, not let William Morris undersell them for $350 to $500 a night. I talked myself into a job (advance man, marketing guy and emcee) and a friendship, that has lasted 55 years (and counting).
That night, Al Jardine was filling in for Brian, who was back in Hawthorne. David Marks was on rhythm guitar, Carl, lead, Dennis drums, Al filled out on bass, and did Brian Wilson's falsetto parts. Mike, at the time, was the cheerleader, front man, so to speak. That would change over the years as the others did more lead vocals. It was a great show, even in those very early years. Today, Al Jardine is singing like he's still 21, and looks great to boot. I introduced them at the Ryman about a year and a half ago and saw them in Birmingham last spring. Brian's band is incredible and they all love Brian and have a true passion for his wonderful, timeless music. 
I produced an amazing three shows in Sacto that year … May, September and December 21, the show we recorded for their "Beach Boys Concert" album. It was my idea to do the recording and had to talk Murry and Brian into it. I introduced them on the record, which became their first #1 Gold album. We also did the Nov 22 show, the night of the Assassination of JFK. By that time, Dave Marks had left the group and Al had returned to assume his rightful place as an original founding member of the group. 
Oh, on the night of the December 21 concert … billed as a 'gala Christmas concert and recording session"… the boys introduced "Little Saint Nick." The Christmas album followed in 1964. If they do the entire Christmas album front to back, what a thrill that will be -- yes, even in the heat of summer!
Fred Vail, President / CEO
Treasure Isle Recorders, Inc.
Music City, USA, Nashville, TN

Long-time FH Reader Frank B sent us a couple of vintage Wrecking Crew tapes to share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7uTztWtBLM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9-FfwwXRDg

Al Jardine shared some nice memories of Glen Campbell during his solo concert at City Winery.
The Beach Boys, of course, knew Glen from all The Wrecking Crew sessions they did … and they really got along great.  (In fact, in 1965, Brian Wilson even wrote a song for Campbell called “Guess I’m Dumb” which, unfortunately went nowhere and didn’t kick-start Glen’s solo career as they had hoped it would.  However, listening to it now you’ll find it to be a VERY sophisticated record for its time … and a glimpse into the future of where The Beach Boys’ music was headed as they approached the Pet Sounds era.
Anyway, after Brian suffered his nervous breakdown and had to come off the road, the remaining Beach Boys approached Glen about coming out on tour with them for a while, filling in for Brian and, who knows, maybe even ultimately replacing him forever or, at the very least, becoming a sixth Beach Boy.
Glen jumped at the chance, never realizing that he was most comfortable (at that time, anyway) working in the studio, honing his craft.  He wasn't used to all the travel involved, the screaming fans, the girls chasing you after a show, trying to rip your clothes off … and, even more so … the fact that, while he was a top-notch session guitarist, he was now being asked to play bass … not his most familiar instrument to begin with … plus hit all the high falsetto notes that Brian sang on the records … while playing this unfamiliar instrument.  Needless to say, it was a challenge (to say the very least.)
After a few shows, he approached Al Jardine about the possibility of switching instruments … letting Al play bass, allowing Glen to move back to his more customary (and familiar) guitar.
Of course Al could have said no … but he didn’t … he and Glen switched instruments and remained life-long friends right up until the time of Glen’s death a couple of years ago.  In fact, Glen even sang the duet with Al on the title track of his latest CD, “A Postcard From California” … and throughout his City Winery concert Al showed several photos of him and Glen together spanning the past 40 years.
So there you have it … and we’ve got TWO of those tracks to share with you today.
First up … Glen’s 1965 recording (written and produced by Brian Wilson) of “Guess I’m Dumb” … and then the Al and Glen duet from last year on “A Postcard From California.”  Enjoy.  (kk)



Vintage Vinyl News is reporting that Niles Rodgers and Sergio Mendes recently met for the very first time … and are now making plans to work together on a new project.  (Now THAT should be interesting!!!)  We saw Sergio earlier this year at The City Winery and he put on a GREAT show.  That extra dash of funk from Niles on top of Sergio’s well-established Latin beat should make for a VERY interesting batch of Musical Stew!  We can’t wait to hear it! (kk)

Kent,
I enjoyed looking over the British Chart of 60 years ago this week that you posted on FH. I thoroughly enjoyed looking up online the #4 song by Jackie Dennis, LA DEE DAH. This is one of my all time favorites by Billie and Lillie. Had never heard of Jackie Dennie before.
Larry Neal

Got this from DJ Stu Weiss the other day and had to share …

This appeared in a music magazine several years ago.
It's a little history about my dee jay career.
I may not be making money, but I have lots of fun and many new friends over the years.
Stu


As I looked over the latest 'quickie' and read with great interest, and a bit of amusement, the comments on Alan, and the other artists featured in the short issue, I couldn't help but think that, like me, there is probably not a 'baby boomer' reader on your list that does not recall -- with great respect and admiration -- the phenomenal Doris Day, who's music and films have blessed us spanning eight -- yes, 8! -- generations. Like most, Doris, along with Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Dean Martin, Frankie Laine, "the singing rage,' Miss Patti Page, Teresa Brewer, Perry Como, Rusty Draper, Eddie Fisher, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Judy Garland, Mahalia Jackson and Tony Bennett started their careers as 'big band' singers, and, of the list here, only Tony Bennett is still at it and sounds great. Another 'survivor,' although retired for many years, is the aforementioned Ms. Doris Day.
She, too, began as a big band lead vocalist for Les Brown and His Band of Renown. Her hits became 'classics' and Grammy Hall of Fame and Oscar winners, including "Secret Love,""Que Sera, Sera", "Teacher's Pet,""Sentimental Journey,""Till The End of Time,""Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,""A Bushel and A Peck" and "Everybody Loves A Lover." All Top 10 or #1 hits … and all etched in our minds forever. All helping to make up the 'soundtrack of our lives."
Kent, I think that you and your loyal readers might enjoy this video Dave Parrett and I put together to celebrate Doris Day's 96th birthday.  I did this video in conjunction with a class I'm teaching at Lipscomb University (Pat Boone is their most famous alumnus and I visited with him two Friday's ago). Doris turned 96 this past Tuesday, and lives in Carmel-By-The-Sea. Her son, whom I knew during my long association with The Beach Boys, was Terry Melcher. As you've heard over the years, Mitch Miller, the head of A&R at Columbia was no fan of 'rock and roll,' and almost single handedly held the label back from signing rock acts. Terry, who was on the west coast, took a different view. He signed Paul Revere and The Raiders, along with The Byrds, produced their initial albums, and basically got Columbia into the rock and roll business. Unfortunately, Terry passed from cancer at age 62 in '04 -- devastating Doris -- but as I said in the video, Terry did her proud. He also got Brian and The Beach Boys into Columbia's west coast studio on Sunset Blvd, near Vine, and that is where Brian produced "Good Vibrations." I know. I was there. 
And now you know the 'rest of the story.' 
Have a great spring and summer.  The link below will take you, and your readers, to the Doris Day "Happy 96th Birthday" video. 
Fred  
https://youtu.be/eHnexIp1Kcw
Wow! Lou Christie!  I wonder if he can still hit the high notes?
Debe
He sure can!  I saw him a couple of years ago and he sounded great … been trying to get him back to Chicago for an Arcada show ever since!
This is going to be a fun concert … Lou Christie opens the show and then Felix Cavaliere (pinch-hitting for Bobby Rydell, who broke his hip last week) mops things up.
Good seats are still available … and it’s a 3 pm start this Sunday (the 15th)  You should check it out!  (kk)

And, speaking of Lou Christie, I just got this from him yesterday …

Kent, 
Be sure to stop by and say hello this Sunday at the Arcada show.  I will be opening the show and, since some of us will be heading directly to the airport after the performance, I'm sure we will be leaving at intermission. Stop back before the show to say hello.
Looking forward to the show!  See you there!
By the way, I read your articles on The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Here's my version – and, of course there's a story connected to it. Due to a Management and Record Exec dispute, my voice was taken off --- and Robert John's voice was put on the same record.
Lou Christie
Yikes!  OK, you’ll HAVE to tell me THIS story on Sunday!  See you then!
(Stay tuned, Forgotten Hits Readers!!!)  kk


Hi Kent –
Interesting stuff here ...
Bottom Line: In our lifetime of loving music, we never really leave high school!
Clive Topol
The Songs That Bind 
https://nyti.ms/2BlOt8y
Even more interesting for me since for the past twenty years I have been preaching that the music you heard at the age of 13 will most influence your life … it will stay with you and have the greatest impact … and will remain your favorite music till the end of time.  (What do you think my whole 1967 Series was about?!?!  Lol!!!)
Of course twenty years ago things like Spotify didn’t even exist so I had to rely on my own research of years of observing this trend amongst virtually every person I ever met!  (I never got a New York Times article out of my “theory” either … but, much like the success of Me-TV-FM, it’s good to know that I have once again been proven right in the way of America’s taste in music!)  Thanks for sharing.  (kk)

Leaving you on a “feel good” note this morning, courtesy of Chuck Buell …
Hey, Kent! 
Yes, the following would be my opinion!   
First off, The Doobie Brothers “Listen to the Music” is one of the Best all-time “Feel Good” Songs in the last 45 years!   
While they obviously sound great when singing their own song (it was a Top Ten Song and higher in 1972), listen to how it sounds when 30 musicians from countries around the world play and sing it in their natural environments all in ONE fabulous production.
If this doesn’t make you feel good or lift your spirits for a moment, you’re beyond any help I can share with you today!  {:~}
End of “My Opinion.”
So now, turn your speakers up a bit and check out the video posted below ~~ CB  ( which stands for "Calliope Boy!" )

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Ann Wilson Concert Review

April 13, 2018, 3:56 am
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If you came to the Ann Wilson Soundstage Television Taping expecting to hear her perform a bunch of Heart songs, you probably came away from the show a little disappointed … she only did three. (“Barracuda,” her second song in, followed by a completely slowed down, drawn out version of “Crazy On You” and, about two thirds of the way in, a slowed down version of what is already a slow ballad, “Alone,” a #1 Hit for the group back in 1987.)  To keep that number in perspective, she also did three songs by The Who … the show-opener “The Real Me,” a kick-ass version of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Reign On Me.”  She also did songs by The Eagles (“Life In The Fast Lane”), Amy Winehouse (“Back To Black”), Buffalo Springfield (“For What It’s Worth”), the obligatory Led Zeppelin / Robert Plant song (“Misty Mountain Hop”) and an amazing version of the Yes classic “Your Move.”  With a new LP out (“Immortal,” paying tribute to many of the artists who have recently left us), her current solo tour (as well as a new one coming up … “The Stars Align” tour, teaming her with rockers Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers) and now this PBS television special, one could get the impression that she was trying to distance herself from her past with the band she devoted over forty years of her life to, earning Heart countless accolades and, finally, recognition for those efforts by way of induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  (When a fan in the audience held up a Heart album, Ann mumbled something under her breath to the effect of “Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m trying to get away from.”  Wonder if that’ll make the final TV edit!  Lol)

If you came to the Ann Wilson Soundstage Television Taping expecting to see her perform this incredible show, you had better be prepared to stand for the entire performance … because the audience was up on its feet the whole evening … screaming and cheering every step of the way.  There were times it was deafening (and everything was certainly amped up a notch or two for the benefit of the television cameras, preserving the event for all posterity.)   

What you did see and hear was an energized performance.  She looked and sounded great. (Ann Wilson has one of the most powerful voices in rock and roll … but she is just as easily able to channel the blues and soul that clearly inspired her along the way … and she can tear your heart out when she sings a ballad, too!) she rocked the jam-packed Arcada Theatre to the rafters.)  One point was made abundantly clear … no matter what material she chooses to feature (she even did “I Put A Spell On You” for God’s sake!), THE GIRL CAN SING!!!

One of her several encores featured her brand new version of the Lesley Gore tune “You Don’t Own Me,” which is getting quite a bit of press in this current “Me, Too” age ... an anthem again of sorts, thanks to its powerful message.  (WTG to our long-time buddy John Madara, who wrote the tune some 55 years ago … this song is truly timeless and one of my all-time favorites.)

And her reading of an old blues track, “Danger Zone,” accompanied only by a piano, which ultimately closed the show was simply beautiful.  The band then came back out to take their final bow to well-deserved thunderous applause.

No official word on exactly when this Soundstage PBS Special will air other than “Fall” for right now … but we will definitely keep you posted.
kk
Kent Kotal
Forgotten Hits
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The Saturday Survey (April 14th)

April 14, 2018, 4:00 am
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4-14-68 - KBLW - Logan, Utah 

Logan is a city of about 50,000 situated along the Utah / Idaho border just half an hour from the Great Salt Lake.  

With Utah being the base of the Mormon religion, it is not surprising that a religious release might be on this chart and "Holy Man" fits the bill, I guess.  Scott McKenzie's hit with John Phillips'"San Francisco" was the anthem of the previous year and the duo team up again in 1968 to try and recreate the hit sound from the summer of love, but few listened to Scott now.  
Otherwise, this chart is interesting in that it sometimes features the current and previous hit by an artist in their countdown, as well as co-number one songs!  

Following their hit "Zabadak," Britain's great Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich come back with the great "Legend of Xanadu,"which was huge in their home country, but despite heavy airplay in the US, failed to dent the national charts.


-- Clark Besch


*Survey courtesy Frank Merrill

Jeez, I think the fake surveys I made up at home and kept in a notebook looked better than this professional survey published by radio station KBLW!!!  Even store-bough stencils would have made their logo look better.  (And I actually do remember making sure I always had a fresh, dark ribbon in my manual typewriter so that my charts look clean and legible, in the only font offered at the time!  lol)  

I am impressed, however, seeing "Nights In White Satin" listed as a "Sure Shot" ... of course KBLW would be proven right ... about four years later ... when The Moody Blues went all the way to #1 with this track.

We find Dickey Lee back in The Top Ten with "Red, Green, Yellow and Blue," a song we featured a few weeks ago in our Saturday Surveys feature.  It seems to me that these multiple listings should have earned it better than a #107 "Bubbling Under" ranking in Billboard.

And what the heck is "Love Machine" by The Roosters?  A Top Five Hit in Utah that peaked at #106 on The Billboard Chart in April of '68. 
(Clark sent us a copy to share with our readers ... it's not a bad song!)


For MY special track this week, I'm going with "I Love You" by People.

I've told the story numerous times before about how I was SO disappointed when I bought this 45 that it didn't match the version that they were playing on the radio here in Chicago in '68.  It store-bough single was MUCH longer, with a completely different vocal mix ... and recorded so softly you could barely hear it. (I ended up buying several copies trying to find the version I loved but to no avail ... and found that several other copies were poorly pressed ... also too soft and, in a couple of cases, the records skipped as probably being, at the time, more music than you could squeeze on to a vinyl 45.)

A few years back, Clark Besch (who put together this 1968 Saturday Survey Series) sent me an MP3 of the version I remember ... evidently the "promo only" track that our local deejays elected to play instead of the longer, "real" hit side.  Even all these years later, it's the only way I want to hear the song.  (It's a remake of a Zombies album track, which is also quite good ... but I fell in love with the People version that came in at just under three minutes ... so that's the one I'm sharing today.)  For the record, I am still searching for an ABSOLUTELY MINT COPY of this promo version, vinyl or digital ... so if you happen to have one, please contact me!  (kk)


THIS WEEK IN 1968:  

4/8/68:  Petula Clark’s television special “Petula” airs on NBC.  It will spark outrage when, while performing a song together, she takes the hand of black singer Harry Belafonte.  (It was a different time, America)


4/11/68:  LBJ signs The Civil Rights Act prohibiting housing discrimination.  That night Big Brother and the Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin on lead vocals) make their national television debut on The Hollywood Palace.

4/14/68:  Record Producer Phil Spector marries one of his proteges, Ronnie Bennett of The Ronettes.  (The marriage will last five years … but the legend lives on forever!)
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The Sunday Comments ( 04 - 15 - 18 )

April 14, 2018, 10:01 pm
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ANN WILSON: 
Hi Kent –
Thank you for the review of Ann Wilson's Concert.  It would be worth the price of admission just to hear her sing the fantastic song ”You Don't Own Me"!!
Glad she has decided to perform again, but her distain when the fan held up a 'Heart Album" was disappointing to say the least. 
Remember Ann, you wouldn't be on that stage today, if it were not for your career with 'Heart'& your Loyal Fans.
Carolyn 
The falling out between The Wilson Sisters was pretty rough.  (You can read all the gory details in this Rolling Stone Magazine article from last year.)
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/heart-can-ann-and-nancy-wilson-go-on-after-family-assault-w473842
I never had the opportunity to see them perform together, although I always wanted to and have loved virtually everything they’ve ever done. 
For me, I was hoping to recapture some of that magic at The Arcada Show … Ann Wilson’s voice was the heart (no pun intended … but it’s true!) and soul of their sound … so I felt a little bit cheated to hear her pay as much attention to the music of The Who as she did to her own incredible legacy.  (My guess is that moving forward, once some of the wounds heal, she will start to work more Heart music into her show again … but right now she’s trying to establish herself as a solo artist … and within the context of a one hour television special,  this is what she has to concentrate on.)
That being said, it was a GREAT show … Ann Wilson can sing ANYTHING … so the fact that it didn’t live up to my personal desires or expectations takes absolutely NOTHING away from the fact that Ann put on a killer show.
And I’ve been to several television tapings before and I’ve got to say that this was, without a doubt, the most seamless production I’ve ever seen.  Usually they tend to start and stop and fix everything little thing along the way … but Ann performed her entire show brilliantly straight through without a single hiccup … so she and her band have got this down!!!  (I remember being at The Ravinia Show many many moons ago that was filmed for a Barry Manilow television special.  After the show was over, the audience was asked to stick around for another 90 minutes while the camera crew filmed audience shots … and staged wild reactions to what was happening on stage when, in fact, the band had long since left the venue!  Ah, the magic of television!  Lol)  kk

We didn’t receive these awesome photos from our FH buddy Lou Bilotti in time to include them in the review so we’re running them now … Ann Wilson in action at The Arcada Theatre, Wednesday, April 11th, at the live PBS Soundstage Television Special taping.  (kk)




DIGGIN’ DORIS:
Kent, 
I enjoyed Fred's Doris Day tribute video.  My fave movies of hers were "Pillow Talk" and "Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?" (with the nice Letterman theme song!) and how funny / weird it was to see the promo of "Teacher's Pet."  I guess that wouldn't fly today!  At least it told us "who invented Rock N Roll!"????  Gotta watch the video and see, if you don't know.  
Clark Besch

Here’s the link again in case you missed it …
https://youtu.be/eHnexIp1Kcw

Hi Kent, 
Absolutely spectacular articles by Fred Vail in your last edition of Forgotten Hits.  The names of Pop, Jazz, and Big Band artists he noted were really a "blast from the past!"  Having caught the tail-end of the Pre-Rock And Roll Pop Era, Fred's naming just some of the artists really brought back some great memories.  I remember watching Your Hit Parade on Saturday nights (Shindig's Grandmother) and the Perry Como Show among others.  Teresa Brewer -- that's going way back -- but then again, I remember doing dishes at the Last Supper! 
Broomp-bomp! 
And through the Folk Era to Elvis and Buddy Holly to Iron Butterfly and Deep Purple, I am still a huge Doris Day fan and a fan of her son Terry Melcher's work.  As I said before, the info you read in Forgotten Hits by the "people that were there" not only gives you a fuller insight but certainly enhances your appreciation of the "way it happened."  And, it certainly couldn't hurt your grade if you are compiling information for a thesis on Music! 
Thought you would enjoy this cut from Doris Day's latest album by her son, Terry. 
Happy Birthday, Doris Day! 
Have a great day Kent, and thanks for all the infotainment in Forgotten Hits!
Peace,
Tim Kiley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yuqlWtObJs
I have always loved this song … and had not heard the Terry Melcher version before.  (I’m familiar with the version The Beach Boys cut with Little Richard!!!  Talk about an unusual pairing!!!  This was used in the Whoopie Goldberg movie “The Telephone” … but totally tanked on the charts.)  Give a listen if you’ve never heard it before!  (kk)



THE ROOSTERS: 
Kent, 
The Roosters are pretty legendary among garage rock collectors for a handful of songs, particularly 'One of These Days," a personal favorite of mine. It's perfect Los Angeles jangle. Give it a listen: 
The Roosters - One of these days 
This is an A-side single to "You gotta run” and was written by Tim Ward. The 45 was released in 1966 by Progressive Sounds of America.
Break-A-Way Records in Germany released a CD/LP of most of the Roosters recorded legacy, which is HIGHLY recommended. I believe it is sold out but it's well worth searching for. 
The Roosters 
Mike Dugo

Kent, 
I see you commenting “what the heck is Love Machine by the Roosters?”  I asked myself the same thing when a number of years ago I saw from looking at music surveys, that it was a hit in Miami and other parts of Florida.  I was able to find a copy of the single.  Pretty good song, actually.  I have no idea who they are.
Tony Waitekus

THIS AND THAT:
Another great Eagles concert review …
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article208663999.html
(OK, honey, we’re gonna have to find a way to go see these guys when they return to Chicago in October!!!)  kk

We’ve got a double dose of Micky Dolenz today, too …
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/04/12/monkees-star-micky-dolenz-recalls-working-with-jack-nicholson-all-fell-in-love-with-him-immediately.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fentertainment+%28Internal+-+Entertainment+-+Mixed%29
http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/micky-dolenz-the-monkees-157767

Hello ...
Rick Levy here ... manager / guitarist with the legendary Memphis band
THE BOX TOPS ... proud to be performing at THE ARCADA THEATRE in ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS on FRIDAY, MAY 4th… co-headlining a show with  Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night.
It has been an amazing ,reinvigorated comeback ...
Since putting the band back together, we’ve done
The Happy Together Tour, 2017 (48 cities)
SOLD OUT Concerts at Sea, 2018
SOLD OUT the upcoming Flower Power Cruise 2019
and lots of great shows in between.
From the mid-60’s into the 70’s, there was no finer blue-eyed soul group than THE BOX TOPS, from Memphis, Tennessee.
Formed in 1967, The BOX TOPS recorded a string of hits including the worldwide #1 megahit song, THE LETTER (Cashbox Record of the Year 1967, and 4 weeks at NUMBER ONE) and seven additional TOP 40 hits including CRY LIKE A BABY, SOUL DEEP, NEON RAINBOW, CHOO CHOO TRAIN, SWEET CREAM LADIES FORWARD MARCH and TURN ON A DREAM.
In 2015, original bassist / vocalist BILL CUNNINGHAM, and original guitarist / vocalist GARY TALLEY teamed up with veteran music industry bandleader / manager RICK LEVY to bring the BOX TOPS music back to waiting audiences. In short order, they have performed to thousands of fans all over the USA.
THE BOX TOPS show highlights their hit records, and equally importantly, Memphis music of the 60s, especially some of the songs that influenced the members as young teens growing up in such a musical hotbed. The show is complete with horns and promises musical history that is HIP!
TICKETS to The Arcada show are available here:  www.arcadalive.com


We’ll be there, Rick … looking forward to seeing all the guys again!  (kk)

At their recent Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Q&A, The Moody Blues remembered sharing the stage with a young, unknown band from Liverpool called The Beatles …
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/moody-blues-the-beatles-concert/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=newsletter_4572276

WOW! What a cool video by "Calliope Boy" of Listen to the Music. Definitely makes you feel GOOD! 
Art Walicki
I really enjoyed last Thursday’s This And That issue of Forgotten Hits … especially that Uplifting Conclusion!
Chuck Buell
Thanks, Chuck …
Modesty has always been your strong suit!  (lol)  kk

kk:
Scott Shannon just announced that Mark Knopfler isn't showing up at Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. 
Just my luck ... the only one I like out of the whole group going in this year.
FB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il8ZC3O64AU
Knopfler announced a couple of weeks ago that he wasn’t planning to attend the ceremony … no reason was given at the time.  Now comes word that another member of the band, Mark’s brother David, won’t be there either … so, as such, Dire Straits won’t perform at the ceremony at all.  Other than this announcement, this year’s inductees seem to all be anxious for their induction.  I’m still looking forward to the ceremony as there are a number of other artists that I voted for who are getting in.  (Dire Straits wasn’t one of them!)    The ceremony begins airing on HBO On May 5th.  (kk)

Speaking of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, The City Winery has announced booking brand new Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee Justin Hayward for a solo show on August 26th.  Tickets are on sale now at the online City Winery Box Office …
https://citywinery.com/chicago/justin-hayward-all-the-way-in-concert-w-michael-dawes-8-26-18.html?utm_source=City+Winery+Chicago+Newsletter&utm_campaign=78cbf43007-Chicago_Newsletter_2018_4_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_73f0a34b4a-78cbf43007-56885993
(Damn!!!  I think this thing is already sold out!!!)  The City Winery does offer a “Wait List” for sold out shows … so you can sign up for that … or check back to see if a second show will be added (which wouldn’t surprise me at all!)  kk

Kent,
I just saw that the June, 2018 issue of Vintage Rock Magazine includes some very cool stories on John Lennon’s “Rock And Roll” LP and Paul's “Run Devil Run” album … as well as articles on FH'ers Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon and Charlie Gracie.  This might make it worth seeking  out for FH fans.
Clark Besch
Glancing through it I see that it also quotes those brand “new” statistics about the influence music has on you at the age of 13 … damn, I swear it feels like I’ve been twenty years ahead of my time for the past twenty years and the rest of the world just finally caught up to me!!!
There are also articles on The Everly Brothers and Link Wray … plus much, much more.  Yep … this might be a good one to pick up!  (kk)  

We’ve had a lot of Michael Bolton comments recently … but now comes news of a special documentary that Michael has put together which will have a “one night only” showing in theaters on May 15th.
You can read more about the entire event here …
http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2018/04/michael-bolton-looks-at-detroits-past.html 

We’re off to see the double bill of Lou Christie and Felix Cavaliere (of The Rascals) tonight … been looking forward to this one for a long, long time.
Other big shows on the local scene through the end of the month include:

Dave Davies of The Kinks (with special guests The Smithereens) at The Genesee Theatre on April 19th

Engelbert Humperdinck at The Arcada Theatre on April 22nd

On Saturday, April 28th, The Oak Ridge Boys will do a 5:00 show at The Arcada Theatre  and then Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad takes the stage later that night at 8:00!

The following night, The Cornerstones Of Rock (featuring The Buckinghams, The Ides Of March, The Cryan’ Shames, The New Colony Six and The Shadows Of Knight) appear at The Arcada … and Jim Peterik tells me that “Mr. Unreliable” has been added to The Cryan’ Shames’ set list for this show.  (He also told me that Cornerstones will return to the Arcada in November!!!  People just want to see this show again and again and again!!!)

And, speaking of Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March, congratulations to the winners of our free tickets give-away offer:  Bill Faust, Pamela Pulice and Ken Voss.  They’ll be joining us on Thursday Night, May 3rd, at The City Winery to see The Ides perform two sets … an acoustic opener and then a full metal jack rock and roll finale!  (Thanks again to Jim Peterik for this very special ticket offer)

This should be a GREAT show … so even if you didn’t win tickets, we hope you’ll still join us … you can get tickets (while they last!) here:
https://citywinery.com/chicago/the-ides-of-march-feat-jim-peterik-5-3-18.html
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Feel Good Music Makes For A Fun Filled Evening Of Entertainment as '60's Legends Lou Christie and Felix Cavaliere Share The Stage At The Arada Theatre on Sunday, April 15th

April 16, 2018, 4:01 am
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Lightning Strikes … Rhapsody In The Rain …

And that was just on the way to the theatre … as a cold, wet snowy / rainy mix fell on St. Charles Sunday Night.  (C'mon already … it's April 15th!!!) 

But the weather didn't dampen the mood of the fans who came out to see two of the most distinctive voices of the '60's … Lou Christie and Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals.


At Lou's request, we got to the theater early, allowing us to visit a little bit before the show, only to find his band still warming up while the crowd was held at bay outside the theater doors.  (Lou uses a pick-up band everywhere he goes, left to the charges of his Musical Director Ron Wilson.  Sunday's local line-up included our FH Buddy Bobby Abrams and a killer horn section that really complimented the group's overall sound.)  His two female back-up singers (known as The Crayons) augment the songs perfectly (although one of the ladies may have been feeling a bit under the weather Sunday Night as she left the stage for a while, right as Lou was about to introduce them to the audience.)


He put on a very entertaining show … great story-telling and sprinkled with some very humorous body language throughout the set.  He covered all of the hits:  "The Gypsy Cried" (#15, 1963); "Two Faces Have I" (#3, 1963); "Lightnin' Strikes" (#1, 1966); "Rhapsody In The Rain" (#16, 1966); "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" (#5, 1969) and "Beyond The Blue Horizon" (my personal favorite, #72, 1974) and also did some '60's standards like Mel Carter's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" and The Association's hit "Never My Love."  Overall a very entertaining set that moved along quickly and garnered several standing ovations along the way.


photo by Frannie Kotal

Lou's having a lot of fun with his new "It Should Have Been A Hit" web page.   

You can check it out here:  https://www.itshouldhavebeenahit.com/


Up next were Felix Cavaliere's Rascals.  Felix was a last minute fill-in for Bobby Rydell, who broke his hip about a week ago.  (Actually, it's a bit more complicated than that … Arcada Host Master Ron Onesti explained that this show was originally conceived as a double bill of Fabian and Bobby Rydell, the Sound of Philadelphia, circa the early '60's … and two of the premier pin-up boys from the American Bandstand era … but then Fabian had to back out in order to have some sort of a procedure done … so Lou Christie was asked to step in and take his place.  (Lou and Bobby share the same manager … so it seemed like a no-brainer … until Bobby fell and broke his hip!)  In stepped Felix Cavaliere, who has played The Arcada a number of times in the past, and now found himself headlining the show.

Felix did his usual hit-filled set of Rascals music … these guys had sixteen Top 40 Hits between 1966 and 1970 and Felix performed most of them, including the #1 Hits "Good Lovin',""Groovin'," and "People Got To Be Free," along with their Top Ten smashes "A Girl Like You" and "A Beautiful Morning," as well as fan favorites like "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore,""You Better Run,""Come On Up,""Mustang Sally,""Love Is A Beautiful Thing" and more … many of which were "medley'd into" extended jams featuring the likes of "Higher And Higher,""Thank You Fa Lettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin" and others.


Felix has been providing the groove for 55 years now and doesn't seem to have lost any of his enthusiasm for the music or the joy and challenge of enticing his audience to get up and dance and enjoy that music.  He'll be joined later this year by fellow Rascal Gene Cornish for a series of shows so I'm curious if this will revamp his set list a little bit and, if so, in what way.


You can keep us with all of his upcoming appearances here:
https://www.felixcavalieremusic.com/shows


VERY Special Thanks to Lou Bilotti for all the great pix ... again!!!  
Thanks, Lou ... you're the best!  (kk)
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Tuesday This And That

April 17, 2018, 3:46 am
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For the first time, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has begun inducting songs that revolutionized the music industry.  It's a brand new category called The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Singles and the first six inductees are all by artists who are not IN The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  

Little Steven Van Zandt worded it this way: 

This category is a recognition of the excellence of the singles that shaped rock 'n' roll, kind of a rock 'n' roll jukebox, records by artists not in the Rock Hall … which is not to say these artists will never be in the Rock Hall … they just are not in the Rock Hall at the moment.
We all know the history of music can be changed with just one song, one record. In three minutes we suddenly enter a new direction, a movement, a style, an experience. That three-minute song can result in a personal revelation, an epiphany that changes our lives.

The first inductees in this new category (listed alphabetically by song title) are:

"Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf  (1968)
"Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen (1963)
 "Rocket 88" by Jackie Breston and his Delta Cats (1951)
"Rumble" by Link Wray and his Ray Men (1958)
"The Twist" by Chubby Checker  (1960)
 "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum (1967)

We have long campaigned for the induction of The Kingsmen and Chubby Checker, as these records truly did change the face of music at the time … and the course of music thereafter.  I suppose we can take some comfort in knowing that they have finally (at least in some way) been recognized for their impact by The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The Kingsmen single-handedly ushered in the era of Garage Band Rock with their 1963 anthem, “Louie Louie” (which, one could argue, was a precursor to the Punk Rock Movement of the ‘80’s) and Checker’s record, “The Twist,” kicked off a dance sensation so big that it actually went to #1 TWICE … the only record in the Rock And Roll Era to do so … first when the kids picked up on it in 1960 and then again nearly two years later when it became all the rage at the adult discotheques that had sprung up all over the country.

The same would be true of "Rocket 88," often regarded as the very first Rock And Roll Record.  It sparked a change in the way Rhythm and Blues Records were recorded and promoted, which soon gave birth to what we now all call Rock And Roll.

Steppenwolf (“Born To Be Wild”) actually have been nominated for induction before but didn't make the cut.  While "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" is, without question, one of my favorite songs of all time … as well as one of the greatest recordings of all time … I'm a little bit surprised to see it inducted in the very first round.  Likewise, "Rumble"… Link Wray has been nominated before and fans have long lobbied on his behalf in the way of petitions to The Hall … but there are probably more deserving instrumentals that should have been recognized first.  (Still, "Rumble" does have a very unique sound and, in a way, created a new genre of music at the time.)

Rolling Stone Magazine (aren't they really the same thing as The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame???) have published lists in the past of The Top 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time … but the fact that this new category will only honor artists NOT inducted is its greatest selling point.

How do these six records rank on the Rolling Stone List?

#457 – The Twist
#130 – Born To Be Wild
#57 – A Whiter Shade Of Pale
#54 – Louie Louie
Apparently “Rocket 88” and “Rumble” weren’t deemed significant enough to make Rolling Stone’s list.

See the full list here:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407

Congratulations to all of the artists who helped change the course of music … and to all of this year's regular inductees as well.  

The edited television event (one awkward and unusual highlight included Dire Straits inducting themselves into The Hall!!!) will begin airing on HBO on May the 5th.  (kk)

Speaking of HBO, have you seen the seen the new 3 1/2 hour Elvis documentary "The Searcher" yet?  Pretty incredible stuff, much of it from a perspective not often shown in regards to The King's legacy.  Excellent commentary throughout … and quite a bit of it from the late Tom Petty (which is kinda eerie in a way.)  Petty even performs Elvis' hit "Wooden Heart" during the film's closing credits.


A great choice of music in crystal clear sound … some incredible photos and film footage (with special attention paid to his 1968 NBC Singer Comeback Television Special … I especially liked the way they cut back and forth between Elvis' original recording or performance of a given song and them jumped ahead to show his rejuvenated take for the TV cameras in '68 … VERY well done.)

Highly recommended (and available on HBO On Demand) … definitely worth checking out.  (kk)


Huey Lewis is experiencing severe hearing loss and has cancelled all of his tour dates for 2018.  (So sad to hear this … we LOVE Huey and were hoping to see him again this year!)

Doctors believe that Lewis may be suffering from Meniere's disease, a disorder of the inner ear that (in addition to hearing loss) can also cause vertigo, tinnitus and the feeling of pressure.  According to The Mayo Clinic (where Lewis has been treated) it can lead to a permanent loss of hearing.
Huey posted this message to his fans:
Two and a half months ago, just before a show in Dallas, I lost most of my hearing. Although I can still hear a little, one on one, and on the phone, I can’t hear music well enough to sing. The lower frequencies distort violently making it impossible to find pitch. I’ve been to the House Ear Institute, the Stanford Ear Institute, and the Mayo Clinic, hoping to find an answer. The doctors believe I have Meniere’s disease and have agreed that I can’t perform until I improve. Therefore, the only prudent thing to do is to cancel all future shows. Needless to say, I feel horrible about this, and wish to sincerely apologize to all the fans who’ve already bought tickets and were planning to come see us. I’m going to concentrate on getting better, and hope that one day soon I’ll be able to perform again.
Sincerely,
Huey
Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery, Huey … we love ya!  (kk)


Ron Onesti just booked The Bay City Rollers for a show on Sunday, September 23rd.  (We may just have to go to this one … I wonder who’s even in the band anymore!!!)  Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon at The Arcada Online Box Office:  www.oshows.com  (kk)

I have a concert April 29th with Lou Christie, Gary Lewis and The Vogues. If it is still snowing then … I am still going! I’ve had it! I need sunshine even if it is from stage lights!
Shelley
Lou was telling us on Sunday that he had just spoken with some friends in Minnesota who had 19” of snow!!!  (We had more today along with the cold temps … c’mon already!!!)  kk

THE BAY CITY ROLLERS HIT LIST:
1975 - Saturday Night  (#1)
1976 - Money Honey  (#7)
1976 - Rock And Roll Love Letter  (#28)
1976 - I Only Want To Be With You  (#8)
1976 - Yesterday's Hero  (#49)
1977 - You Made Me Believe In Magic  (#7)
1977 - The Way I Feel Tonight  (#19)

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You Don't Own Me

April 18, 2018, 3:27 am
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After seeing Ann Wilson, formerly of Heart, perform one of my all-time favorite songs from the '60's (and any OTHER era for that matter) at the PBS Soundstage Taping at The Arcada Theatre, I decided to resurrect my interview with John Madara, one of the song’s writers, for the benefit of those of you who may have missed it when it first ran way back when.

YOU DON'T OWN ME, the torchy ballad sung by LESLEY GORE, went all the way to #2 on The National Charts (and TOPPED the charts here in Chicago) back in early 1964.

In hindsight, YOU DON'T OWN ME has come to be referred to as perhaps the very first anthem of the Women's Liberation Movement.  (Yes, that means that LESLEY was "roaring" eight years before HELEN REDDY picked up the idea!) Keep in mind that this was an era where other Girl Groups and Female Artists were singing things like I CAN'T STAY MAD AT YOU (by SKEETER DAVIS) and HE HIT ME (AND IT FELT LIKE A KISS) by THE CRYSTALS. I couldn't help but wonder if that was the ORIGINAL intent of these lyrics when the song was first written.

JOHN MADARA: Our original intent was to write a song with a woman telling a man off ... "don't tell me what to do, don't tell me what to say." Though we didn't realize it at the time that it would become a woman's anthem, it definitely was our intention to have a woman make a statement. I believe when Joan Jett's recording came out, there were a lot of articles written regarding the lyric content as a "woman's liberation" song, and has continued to make the same statement through the years with the many films it has been in, i.e., "Dirty Dancing,""Hairspray" and the featured song in "The First Wives Club," which, of course, was a story about wives getting back at the ex-husbands.

kk / FORGOTTEN HITS: Was the song specifically written with LESLEY GORE in mind? Quite honestly, up to THIS point, her hit songs leaned toward more straight ahead, feel good, up-tempo pop ... (although I guess she DID enjoy some good-natured / mean-spirited revenge with JUDY'S TURN TO CRY!!!)

JM: "You Don't Own Me" was originally written for Maureen Gray, but at an A&R meeting at Mercury Records in 1963, we played the song for Quincy Jones, who was also on the A&R staff at Mercury. He loved the song and thought we should play it for Lesley Gore at a forthcoming Mercury Records convention at Grossinger's Resort in the Catskills. At the convention, we got a chance to play it for Lesley by the pool with a baritone ukulele. She loved it and wanted to hear it with a piano. We got to play if for her later that day with a piano and she just loved it so much.

kk/FH: Were you there at the recording session when she laid down this track?

JM: Quincy told myself and David White (EDITOR'S NOTE: DAVID WHITE was JOHN's co-writer on this track) to go meet with Klaus Ogerman, who was the arranger on all of the Lesley Gore records, and dictate to him our arrangement ideas. Several weeks later David and I showed up at A&R Recording Studios for the session, driving up from Philadelphia to attend. We showed up while Quincy was recording "You Don't Own Me." After listening for 10 or 15 minutes, Quincy said to myself and David "What do you think?" So we told him that there were quite a few things that we wanted that were not in the arrangement. Quincy, in his kindness and his affection for us, stopped the session and told Klaus to let us come out there and make the necessary changes, which we did, which were piano, strings, additional modulation in the ending and Lesley's vocal performance, which was great but just needed a few changes. When we were finished, it was the way that we would have produced it ourselves. At the completion of the session, Quincy played all of the cuts from the forthcoming album, and all of the people in the studio picked "You Don't Own Me" to be the next single.

kk / FH: Well, it's a GREAT record ... no question about it ... and one of my all-time faves!

JM: Thank you, Kent, for printing the truth behind the hits. As Al Kooper said, it means a lot!

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH: 

Here is what LESLEY GORE had to say about the recording of YOU DON'T OWN ME ... we found these quotes in The BEAR FAMILY Box Set of her MERCURY RECORDS recordings:   

I met John Madara and Dave White up at the Catskills (New York) hotel Grossinger's. I was up there doing a record hop, gratis, for a disc jockey by the name of Gene Kay at WAAB in Allentown. I was sitting at the pool on, I think it was Saturday -- the day I was going to perform -- and John and Dave came up to me with a guitar, took me into a cabana by the pool, and played me "You Don't Own Me." I told them they had to meet me in New York on Monday, to see Quincy and play him the song, and we were in the studio probably a week and a half later. It is much to Quincy's credit that he could see what was really involved in that song, because his edict, as far as I know, was to keep me in "It's My Party" territory -- keep it light, keep it frothy, keep it young. You can't hold back a seventeen-year-old woman ... she has got to find a way to spread her wings -- and this was a song that allowed me a little bit more freedom vocally. The beauty of that song is that the verses start in a minor key, and then, when you go into the chorus, it goes into the major, and there's such a sense of lift and exhilaration. After seeing how powerful that is, it became a method I've used on a number of occasions.

DIDJAKNOW?: Although YOU DON'T OWN ME was originally written for MAUREEN GRAY, she NEVER actually recorded the song!!! (I guess once LESLEY GORE recorded the definitive version, everybody kinda figured "What's The Point"?!?!?!!)

But the truth is, the song keeps coming back!  Used in movies and television commercials (most recently Toyota and the NFL have been all over the tube with this tune.)  

Here are just a few clips for your enjoyment ...



And, of course The Blow Monkeys cut an unusual version that was used in the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack …



But that’s not the first (or last) time this song was used in a movie …
How about this version sung by Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler from the move “The First Wives Club” …



Here is the Grace remake from a couple of years ago … updated yet still retaining all the feel and magic of the original (with a dash of hip-hop rap thrown in for good measure!)



Ann Wilson’s version leans toward the heavy metal side … but I could not find a clip online (even though there are several videos posted from her recent appearance at The Arcada.)  They didn’t have it on iTunes either … so you’ll have to seek this one out for yourselves in order to give it a listen.  (kk)




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Thursday This And That

April 19, 2018, 4:21 am
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Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:
Just saw your note on the six singles that were recently “inducted” into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  I’m not sure if you’re aware that the Hall of Fame already did something similar to this back in 2004 when they presented their list of “The 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.”  They just recently added another 160 titles to that original list.  You can find a list of all the songs here: http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/halloffame.htm 
We have noted that original 500 list under each title in our most recent Top Pop Singles book.  In fact, I just noticed that we did note those additional 160 R&R Hall of Fame songs in our most recent Top Pop Singles book, so they must have been added a while ago.
Thanks!
Paul Haney / Record Research

kk: 
You mentioned that "Rocket 88" by Jackie Breston (1951) is considered by many to be the first Rock and Roll recording. 
That's true. There are others to consider.
Wild Wayne thinks that "The Fat Man " by Fats Domino ( 1949 ) is the first Rock and Roll recording. I think its Bill Haley's recording of "Rock Around The Clock" ( 1955 ). Because of the movie "Blackboard Jungle,"  this song is better known than the others.   
As far as the first song inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, I can't believe that "Earth Angel" by The Penguins and "In The Still Of The Night" by The Five Satins and "Rock Around The Clock" weren't included in the class of 2018. 
Frank B.

Frank also sent us these highlights from the induction ceremony, courtesy of WCBS-FM.  (The HBO television special begins airing on May 5th.)
https://wcbsfm.radio.com/blogs/maura-omalley/watch-highlights-last-night-s-rock-hall-induction-ceremony?utm_source=second-street&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Email+008

Thanks, Kent. Finally! After being overlooked and misunderstood by the keepers of the keys, it looks like the door to the Rock and Roll Hall is opening for some more of the originators of the genre. It’s about time. Tommy Roe
Long overdue, for sure.  Hopefully they will continue the tradition and recognize more of the innovators while there are still some of us around to remember and appreciate them!!!  (kk)

You Don’t Own Me:
Classic interview with John Madara. Great to see it again. 
Carl Wiser
www.songfacts.com

Great stuff, kk 
Chet Coppock 

Hi Kent - 
What a FANTASTIC edition of  Lesley Gore and "You Don't Owe Me."  I enjoyed reading all of the ‘insights' from not only Lesley Gore but the composers, Madera and White!!   
It is truly one of Rock n Roll's Anthem Songs that will live on forever. 
And adding the You Tube versions of the various artists that performed  this song was an added treat!!  
I was fortunate to see Lesley Gore perform 'You Don't Own Me" at a Wheeling Summer Fest when she was appearing with Lou Christie on the same bill.  
THANK YOU AGAIN......  
Carolyn
Lesley and Lou toured together frequently – they also did some recording together.  (Never got the chance to see this pairing … too bad as I’m sure it was a GREAT show!)
I’m hoping Lou will share a memory or two with our readers … stay tuned!  (kk)

The Lesley Gore song "You Don't Own me" DOES have the Women's Lib Movement idea behind it, but it was a pretty innocent idea at the time, IMO.  I suggest that Lesley herself really had no idea of treating the song as an anthem, especially considering she followed that hit with these lyrics in "That's the Way Boys Are"… and next up was "Maybe I know that he's been cheatin' but what can I do?"  
So, if you wish to put the great song talked of ( and don't get me wrong, I love the songs of Lesley) up on a pedestal, you must follow with the several songs saying it was OK for boys to treat her badly???
Lyrics from "That's the Way Boys Are":  
When I'm with my guy and he watches all the pretty girls go by
And I feel so hurt deep inside, I wish that I could die
Not a word do I say
I just look the other way
'Cause that's the way boys are
That's the way boys are  
When he treats me rough and he acts as though he doesn't really care
Well, I never tell him that he is so unfair
Plus, he loves me and I know it
But he's just afraid to show it
'Cause that's the way boys are
That's the way boys are  
Clark Besch
I see your point … but this also makes “You Don’t Own Me” stand out as even MORE revolutionary.  The fact that female artists were willing to sing these types of lyrics and condone this type of behavior is pretty eye-opening.  You just don't think of this type of attitude as being reflective of the times.  "You Don't Own Me" drew a line in the sand and basically said, "I'm not putting up with your shit anymore."  It marked a HUGE step forward in women standing up for themselves and demanding a little bit of R-E-S-P-E-C-T.  (kk)

This And That:  
MICKY DOLENZ, prepping for his upcoming June tour with Michael Nesmith (The M&M Tour) will appear at next weekend’s (4-27-28) EC Comic Con in Secaucus, New Jersey, and will be presented with the key to the city from its Mayor, Mayor Michael Gonnelli, at a Micky / Make A Wish event.
Dolenz will also sing the National Anthem on Sunday, July 1st, at Citizens Bank Field in Philadelphia, as the Phillies play the Nationals.

Kent: 
We had Chubby Checker on WOR Radio in NYC today.  The co-hosts of Len Berman and Michael Riedel were talking about last weekend’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in Cleveland and were upset that Chubby was still not inducted ... so they arranged for Chubby to call in to talk about the HOF and an upcoming Long Island, NY appearance with Mary Wilson and Martha Reeves.
I have attached a recording of WOR’s interview with Chubby. 
Tom Cuddy 

Nice tribute to our FH Buddy Scott Shannon in AdAge …
http://adage.com/article/media/shower-a-dj/313107/

Before you get your tickets to see The Bay City Rollers, you'd better ask Ron to confirm who is in that band, Kent ... from what I've read, there have been multiple bands recently touring by that name ... something that's occurred with a bunch of groups over the years, as you're well aware.
BOB FRABLE
Yeah, I did a bit of checking online myself trying to pin down the line-up with no real success.  We saw Kyle Vincent perform as a “former member of The Bay City Rollers” a few years ago … he told me later that he was something like the 21st Roller and was in the band about a minute and a half … still, he’s an incredible entertainer with a GREAT voice and he put on a very entertaining show, also handling the lead vocals for Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods.  (I don’t think Kyle’s involved in this show but it’d be cool if he was.)
It’s definitely a “buyer beware” situation … but it’ll also be a fun-filled evening of feel good music … so I think we just may risk it and go.  (kk)

And Vintage Vinyl News is reporting the end of The Searchers, one of the best harmony bands to come out of The British Invasion …

Add another artist to the growing number who are going into retirement.
The Searchers have announced that a performance on March 31, 2019, will be the last for the group. Frank Allen, who has been a member since 1964, made the announcement in the new Searchers Newsletter, saying that he and John McNally, who has been a member since their 1957 start, made the decision for a number of reasons.
For Allen, it was the travel, but much more than just being away from home. "For some time I have become increasingly weary of the travelling side of the life we have led for more than five decades. It reached the point where I no longer wanted to get in a car. When I am at home I drive only if I have to. If I dine out in London, I take the tube these days. A few paltry local miles a day when necessary is enough for my needs and if or when I eventually downsize to a new home it will be within walking distance of an underground station."
He did suggest that McNally carry on with the group and just replace him but, with John being 76, "I don’t think he has the heart to take on such new responsibilities at this time of life. It’s a shame. I think he could have presented the band in a different way and make a great success of it."
The two originally decided to close thing up by the end of 2018 but further discussions between McNally and their promoter, Alan Field, added a final solo tour which went through the end of March of the next year. Even a very lucrative final tour of Australia had to be turned down.
The decision has also been made to not sell the name or license it to any other musicians, just in case they want to, no matter how short of a time, come out of retirement.
Allen finished "So let’s look on the bright side. We still have nearly a year to go during which we can all look back on some wonderful times and enjoy a few more evenings together. John and I, along with Spencer [James, who joined in 1986] and Scott [Ottaway, who joined in 2010] of course, hope to see you at another concert very soon. Let`s make this final year something special."
The Searchers originally formed as out of a Liverpool area skiffle group in 1959 by McNally and Mike Pender. They had their first hit with "Sweets For My Sweet" (1963 / #1 U.K.) and went on to hit the U.K. top ten with "Sugar and Spice" (1963 / #2 U.K. / #44 U.S.), "Needles and Pins" (1964 / #1 U.K. / #13 U.S.), "Don't Throw Your Love Away" (1964 / #1 U.K. / #16 U.S.), "When You Walk In the Room" (1964 / #3 U.K. / #35 U.S.) and "Goodbye My Love" (1965 / #4 U.K. / #52 U.S.). In America, their only top ten was "Love Potion No. 9" (1964 / #3 U.S.).

The end of another era …
To Our Valued Patrons -
It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share that after 18 wonderful years bringing you live performances by some of the most talented names in music and entertainment, we have announced our final run of shows in the current Times Square location. As a result of escalating rent, we are being forced to close our doors at the end of April. While we are in the process of selecting a new location in Manhattan to relocate the venue, we wanted to curate a special closing week celebration to thank you all for your support over the past two decades. None of this would have been possible without you and we are eternally grateful! 
The celebration will consist of performances by Rick Ross (4/23), Slick Rick & Doug E Fresh (4/25), El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (4/26), George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic (4/28), and Buddy Guy (4/29), who will be headlining the final B.B. Blues Club show. See below for the current schedule and ticket links.
All shows scheduled beyond the April 29th closing date will be moved to various venues throughout the city.  The weekly Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring The Harlem Gospel Choir will give their two final performances on April 22nd & 29th, and we are currently working with the group to find a new home for their weekly residency which will be announced shortly.  Lucille's Grill, located inside the venue, will remain open until April 29th and will feature sets by club favorites B.B. King Blues Club All-Stars, Jon Paris, A Decade of Soul, and more.
We look forward to celebrating the past and looking toward the future with you all. Your patronage means the world to us and we cannot thank you enough. We will see you soon! 
Sincerely,
The B.B. King Blues Club & Grill Family 
This breaks my heart!! I love the BB King trips. Going in on the train, a night of great artists at BB’s, a beautiful hotel, and a train ride home next day. NO!!!! 
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
While I’ve never been there, we have been able to give tickets away to special shows held at BB King’s New York several times in the past for our East Coast Readers.  It’s a shame to see any long-standing venue like this close its doors simply because they can no longer afford to keep them open … proof again the big business trumps any sentimental attachment again and again.  Too bad … but it does sound like they’re trying to present these shows in other venues … so hopefully they can still keep things going for a little while longer.
How fitting, though, that it’ll be Chicago Blues Legend Buddy Guy who does the last performance.  (kk)

Harvey Kubernik’s Summer Is Gone is an anomaly in a jungle of Jim Morrison tomes. While other literary endeavors focus on exploiting the folklore, Mr. Kubernik reveals the bare-bones of the Doors of perception. There is an old saying, “When you have the choice of printing the truth or the legend, print the legend.” Wisely, Kubernik veers away from mythology and gives the back story from insiders’ points of view, of the people who were there, who were now and present in that time that we shall never see again.
-         Jan Alan Henderson, author of Crypt 39, Speeding Bullet, Behind the Crimson Cape (the cinema of George Reeves), contributor to FilmFax Magazine, Cult Movies, and American Cinematographer 

 “Harvey Kubernik's newest book The Doors Summer's Gone gives the reader a more intimate knowledge - no holds barred - at times into the life and times of The Doors.    
    “Through the eyes and pen of Kubernik and his very many interviewees, I feel as I have been transported back to the magical years of the mid- to late '60's. 
   “Kubernik's last two books, his literary anthology Inside Cave Hollywood & 1967 A Complete Rock Music History of the Summer of Love shows all that this prolific writer ain't just whistlin' dixie.  Don't say that I'm not warnin' ya 'all.  This is some great human stuff, man!”   
Carlos "Cake" Nunez, former 'scribe for fLiPSiDE Fanzine (who is currently doing research for his upcoming autobiographical book about his experiences and friendship during his Punk Rock college days (1984 - 1987 and his eventual hook-upwithfLiPSiDEFanzine (1990 - 1999)
I’m actually reading this book right now and it’s really quite fascinating.  Once again Harvey has taken key elements from the interviews he’s done over the past 40+ years and woven them into a very descriptive perspective of The Doors, both musically as personally. (For those of you keeping score, Kubernik is averaging a new book about every 13 days now … I don’t know how the hell he does it!!!  But he has a wealth of material to draw from, having had his hands in every aspect of the music business for the past several decades.)
The book is brilliantly put together and even the most casual Doors fan will enjoy the fly-on-the-wall memories who were there from the beginning and caught these guys performing in the clubs before and after their first record was ever released.  The way the band grew in fan appeal (and mythical proportions) is unbelievable.  Highly recommended.  (kk)

Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, will be joined by fellow vintage pop rock group "The Box Tops" at the Arcada Theatre on Friday, May 4. Audiences will leave the co-headline whistling the soundtrack of the 60s and 70s, re-living classic hits such as "Joy To The World," "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)" and "One" as well as "The Letter,""Cry Like A Baby" and "Soul Deep."
Chuck has been captivating audiences for over five decades with his iconic four octave range, unique humor and brilliant storytelling. His latest 2017 solo album, “Negron Generations,” features his two youngest daughters as well as original Three Dog Night drummer Floyd Sneed. Chuck recently announced his return to the highly successful "Happy Together Tour 2018," hosted by The Turtles. From his first single at age 15 to today, Chuck has learned that music transcends all barriers and differences that people might have: “That’s the power of music.”

In 2015, original bassist / vocalist Bill Cunningham and original guitarist / vocalist Gary Talley teamed up with veteran music industry bandleader / manager Rick Levy to bring the Box Tops music back to waiting audiences. The Box Tops' set list highlights their hit records and, equally importantly, Memphis music of the 60s, especially some of the songs that influenced the members as young teens growing up in such a musical hotbed. The show is complete with horns and promises musical history that is HIP!
Tickets for the 8:00 pm show are available at oshows.com.
We’re looking forward to this one … should be a great night of music.  (We saw The Box Tops and Chuck Negron perform together on The Happy Together Tour a couple of years ago.)
By the way, the revised edition of Chuck Negron’s incredible biography “Three Dog Nightmare” is now available.  There are eleven new chapters and over a hundred new photos, bringing the story up to date.  You can order your autographed copy here:
http://www.chucknegron.com/shop/#!/Three-Dog-Nightmare-4th-Edition-Book-*PRESALE*-Signed-by-Chuck-Negron-Ships-Early-December/p/93479653/category=17954031

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The Saturday Surveys (April 21st)

April 21, 2018, 4:00 am
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4-15-68 - WQXI - Atlanta, Georgia 

As could be guessed, Atlanta's top 40 station's list in 1968 was top heavy on RNB music.  In fact, I doubt you will see another top 40 survey in this year's FH feature to have so many soul records in its top 20 list.  

It is doubtful many of you have even heard the #1 song here by Ollie & the Nightengales.  Beginning as a top gospel group in Memphis, this group soon found its way to recording secular music for Stax Records, like other gospel bands of the era.  Their "I Got a Sure Thing" knocked the Wicked Pickett off the top this week in 1968 in the ATL.  

This survey featured QXI's album of various hits for sale.  Alike last week's KIMN album, both (and many others) were on the Take 6 label and featured some of the same recent hits on them -- but no bonus 45s.
-- Clark Besch


Ollie and the Nightingales (originally The Dixie Nightingales) got as high as #73 on Billboard's Top 100 Pop Singles Chart.  It's not a bad song ... just not necessarily what one would consider #1 material when stacked alongside some of these other major '60's R&B artists.  (Talk about your reverse discrimination ... it looks like The Beatles, Johnny Rivers, Simon and Garfunkel, The Rascals and Bobby Goldsboro are the only white faces in this week's Top 20!)

THIS WEEK IN '68:  

4/15/68:  Aretha Franklin records “Think” … it will reach #7 on the pop charts a couple of months later



4/19/68:  John Lennon and George Harrison leave Rishikesh, India, two weeks earlier than originally planned, disillusioned with their studies under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.  (Paul and Ringo had already returned home earlier.)  Soon after all four Beatles would renounce their association with The Maharishi.

4/20/68: The Rolling Stones record “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”

Deep Purple perform in concert for the first time in Jastrup, Denmark.  Four months later their version of “Hush” will debut on the US Charts.

4/21/68:  Tom Jones performs “It’s Not Unusual” and “Delilah” on The Ed Sullivan Show.  (Despite extensive checking, I could not find official documentation as to just how many socks he had stuffed in his pants for this performance.)
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The Sunday Comments ( 04 - 22 - 18 )

April 22, 2018, 4:00 am
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With the 40th Anniversary of “Grease” upon us this was a cool find!  (And be sure to read the whole interview!!!)  kk

(Thanks to Tom Cuddy for sending this one in)

Barry Gibb reveals his long-lost Grease demo for film's 40th anniversary - http://ew.com/movies/2018/04/20/barry-gibb-grease-demo-40th-anniversary-blu-ray/


We told you about Felix Cavaliere teaming up with Gene Cornish, meaning that one half of the original Rascals will be doing a series of shows this summer (with Carmine Appice on drums no less!) for the first time since their Once Upon A Dream tour a few years ago.
What do you call an arrangement like this??? (I mean if Danny Hutton can go out as a "single" and still call himself Three Dog Night, surely one half of The Rascals should count for something!!!)  Or maybe as a fun way of honoring their roots, The Old Rascals might fit!!!
Anyway, FH Reader Danny Guilfoyle sent us this promotional poster for a show coming up in his area …


Having just seen Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals last weekend it’ll be interesting to see how this changes up the dynamics of the show.  (kk)

Speaking of tours, we've been talking about the Roy Orbison Hologram Tour for awhile now … but the first review we've seen (courtesy of FH Reader Tom Cuddy) isn't very flattering … in fact, if anything, it makes the whole experience sound, well, a little creepy …

Roy Orbison, Hammersmith Apollo, review - a live hologram show that's about as dead as can be …
There were audible gasps when the glowing figure of Roy Orbison rose from the bottom of the stage.
Read it on Flipboard

FH Reader David Salidor sent us this link to The Mac Wire, covering a couple of recent news headlines we told you about … the closing of B.B. King's in New York City and a couple of up-coming Micky Dolenz events … http://www.themacwire.com/the-glorious-corner-nycs-b-b-kings-shutters-netflixs-stanger-things-monkees-great-micky-dolenz-coming-to-east-coast-comic-con-and-more/

Now that this year’s class has been inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, the speculation begins as to who’ll make next year’s ballot.
In order qualify, an artist had to release their first record 25 year ago (or, in this case, 1993.)  REALLY hard to believe that the music of 1993 is already a quarter-of-a-century old!!!
The list of first time eligible artists isn’t particularly inspiring … Ultimate Classic Rock lists the “most likely candidates” as Beck, Blink 182, Jeff Buckley, Candlebox, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, The Dave Matthews Band, Outkast, Snoop Dogg, Everclear, The Roots and Shania Twain.
Seriously???
Do ANY of these artists strike you as being particularly Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame worthy???  (Maybe this would be a good time to recognize some of the deserving artists you’ve ignored over the past 25 years!!!)
Or maybe it’s time to just call the whole thing off.
If you listened to Chubby Checker’s comments last week (and you can scroll down to hear it if you happened to miss it), right now his CLOTHES are good enough to be in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame … his RECORD of “The Twist” is good enough to be in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame … but HE isn’t good enough to be in.  (Tommy James has made similar comments over the years … in fact at one point I think he was actually going to ask for his suit back, which had been on loan to The Rock Hall for years!!!)  How is it even REMOTELY possible that Tommy James has never been considered for induction … yet he has never even made the ballot.  Pretty sad.  (kk)

kk: 
This is one of my average type ideas, not one of my great ideas.
I feel kind of guilty --- always making you do all the work.
This time I did the heavy lifting ... all you have to do is copy.
What to call it???  Maybe --- Before & After
Chuck Girard went from The Castels to The Hondells 
"General" Norman Johnson went from The Showmen to The Chairmen of The Board  
Johnny Maestro went from The Crests to The Brooklyn Bridge 
Sonny Geraci went from The Outsiders to Climax  
Mr. Earl "Speedo" Carroll went from The Cadillacs to The Coasters 
Doug Sahm went from The Sir Douglas Quintet to The Texas Tornados 
Billy Vaughn left The Hilltoppers to form his own band 
Tom and Jerry went back to their real names, Simon and Garfunkel 
I would also play a song by each group. 
I bet you and the DJ s who subscribe to Forgotten Hits could come up with a few more. 
Frank B. 
P.S.  One More ... Bill Black left Elvis to form The Bill Black Combo
We actually did help put together a radio show sort of similar to this a few years back … in fact, one of our readers spearheaded the whole thing … but I still think it would make for an interesting weekend feature.  (Some of yours are pretty obscure … and, of course, the station would already have to be playing music by these artists in order for it to make sense to their listeners … but I like the concept.)  I just think it’d have to be more contemporary … for example, Joe Walsh (play The James Gang and then The Eagles … and, if you’re REALLY creative, one of Joe’s solo hits.)  Another one I always liked was Jay Ferguson … play Spirit’s “I Got A Line On You” followed by Jo Jo Gunne’s “Run Run Run” and wrap things up with “Thunder Island,” a hit Jay had under his own name.  Certainly one of the more enterprising deejays on the list can come up 48 of these and spotlight one per hour for a weekend special!  (kk)

Hi Kent,
John here. My site (Uncommon Top 40) was torn down, but amazing until then. Attracted many due to alternate versions and stuff. Contributors came from everywhere. Maybe you and others can feature what others found ... like this one … The Doors, Hello, I Love You … studio opening, Jim Morrison moans, vocal dub, lead and backing, but the really odd thing is the screamin' ending!
Please feature. Thank you.
Best,
John


Hi John!  Long time, no type!
Yes, you had some REAL rarities up on your site over the years … so I am happy to feature this Doors track today (and others from time to time in the future.)
This ties in nicely with the book I’m reading right now, Harvey Kubernik’s “Summer Is Gone,” a tribute to The Doors with TONS of commentary on the band, both from folks who were there at the time and reflective looks back.  VERY well done.
As it turns out, “Hello, I Love You” is a song the band was performing for YEARS before recording and releasing it in 1968, only to capture another #1 Record in the process.  (While these guys were considered one of the bands that helped launched FM Radio, they were no strangers to the pop charts either … between 1967 and 1971 The Door had a dozen National Top 40 Hits including THREE #1 Records (“Light My Fire,” 1967, “Hello, I Love You,” 1968 and “Touch Me, “ 1969 as well as the Top 20 Hits “People Are Strange” (#10, 1967), “Love Me Two Times” (it just missed at #21, 1968), “Love Her Madly” (#7, 1971) and “Riders On The Storm” (#12, 1971).  (kk)



And finally this from FH Reader John LaPuzza ...






Am I safe to assume that "difficult listening" is virtually EVERYTHING being played on the radio today???  (kk)
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As Part Of Our Never-Ending Service And Attempts To Always Please Our Readers, Let Us Help You Plan Your Next Vacation ... circa 2019!

April 23, 2018, 4:00 am
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The always clever and creative Chuck Buell has come up with another great marketing idea for our Forgotten Hits Readers.    

It's not the Heartbreak Hotel ...

Or Morrison Hotel ... 

Or the Hotel California ... 

It's not even the Kotal No-Tell Motel we've been trying to launch for the past several years ... 

This one's for real (and Chuck's even come up with a way for us to be involved!!!) 

Read on ...   

Now Kent, this just in, from your Exclusive Chuck Buell Forgotten Hits Fantasy Hotel Service!   

TWA’s New 1962 Hotel set to reopen next year (2019) 

“USA Today – New York – Rotary dial phones. Iconic midcentury-modern architecture. Tab sodas in the minibar.

If that sounds as if it could be 1962, that’s by design. It’s all part of the DNA of the new TWA Hotel set to open next year at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Anchored around the landmark TWA Flight Center that opened in 1962 as the jet age dawned, the airport property is one of the most-anticipated hotel openings of 2019. 

The 512-room hotel will feature two new six-story towers that flank the old TWA terminal’s “head house,” an architectural masterpiece designed by Eero Saarinen. The terminal is being converted into a 200,000-square-foot lobby the hotel claims will be the world’s largest. 

The TWA Hotel will include six restaurants and eight bars. One of those, a cocktail bar, will be housed in a refurbished Lockheed “Constellation” aircraft that was a staple of the TWA fleet in the late 1950s and early 1960s. 

Already, enthusiasts — both aviation and architectural — have eagerly awaited each new detail to emerge about the iconic structure’s rebirth as a hotel.

Everything they’re doing is unique. 

The standard rooms are on the small side, averaging 325 square feet. Forty-four of the hotel’s rooms will be larger suites, with the biggest topping out at around 1,200 square feet. All will include aesthetics that are sure to appeal to aviation and design buffs. 

The décor, handled by architecture and interior design firm Stonehill Taylor, could be mistaken as a museum exhibit highlighting midcentury Americana. 

Guests will be able to make calls on vintage 1950s-era Western Electric 500 rotary-dial phones, with no charges for either local or long-distance numbers. 

The Hotel is buying them on eBay because there aren’t many other places to track down working rotary phones these days. They replace the guts of the phone swapping out the old analog technology for a modern connection. 

No word yet on whether there’ll be instructions for guests too young to have ever encountered such a phone. 

Also, no word as of yet, of a Special Forgotten Hits Suite, which of course, would no doubt feature:

A Black and White Pay TV with only Three Channels,

A Coin Operated Magic Fingers Vibrating Bed,

The Suite warmed by Steam Heat,

Lamps, TVs and Pictures not bolted down to the tables or the walls,

Small Bathroom Soaps wrapped in Wax Paper and Tiny Little Tubes of Individual Toothpaste,

A Return Postage Paid Room Key!




In-room movie choices would include some of the iconic films from 1962 like “Lawrence of Arabia,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Music Man,” “Lolita,” “Birdman of Alcatraz,” “Days of Wine and Roses,” “Hatari,” “How the West Was Won,” “The Miracle Worker,” "Walk on the Wild Side,” and of course, “Three Stooges Meet Hercules!” 

In celebration of this Age-defiant concept, here's another special Chuck Buell Music Medley highlighting many more than just a few dozen of the Top Ten songs of that early 1960s era!  ( Actually, it’s a production piece I previously put together especially for a Class of 1962’s Reunion a few years ago, but it seems to fit here as well. ) 

So, turn up your speakers, sit back with your favorite beverage and take a dedicated five minute Hit-packed Oldies Trip back to the Fall of 1961 through the Spring of 1962!  

CB ( which stands for “Concierge Boy!” )




https://www.twahotel.com/
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Tuesday This And That

April 24, 2018, 4:12 am
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On the topic of "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore - that song was badly needed as an antidote to Pat Boone's "Technique" a few years earlier, which was released as the title cut on an EP.  Hard to imagine that somebody so religious, so straight-laced would come out with something like this - somebody so pure and so white ... oh, wait ...

You love 'em, you leave 'em
That's what is known as technique, technique
The more you deceive 'em, the more they like your technique
Ah, they have de feminine mind
which is something like being colour blind
Ah we keep 'em guessing and that is how
We out maneuver womankind  

Ohhhh, the womenfolk, their back is broad, de brain is weak
So they pigeon for de bachelor's technique

Strong-arm them, cave-man them
They're unimpressed with the male physique
The more you deadpan 'em,
The more they like your technique

Some like the arrogant stare -
Others like the shy retiring air
While there are others who like you best of all
When you ain't even there 

Ohhhh ... de woman folk their face is fair, their brain is weak
Sooooo ... they pigeon for the bachelor's technique

But to make them jump thru the ring
Or to keep them dangling on a string
You find out what they want you to do
And you do the opposite thing
The less you caress them
The more they turn the other cheek
The more you outguess them,
The more they like your technique

So just remember what I have told you
And always keep it in mind
We keep 'em guessing and that is how
we out maneuver womankind

(I repeat now)
Keep 'em guessing and that is how
we out maneuver womankind (repeat) 
Frank Merrill, Jr.
Pretty amazing.  (Ok, does THAT qualify him for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction???  That’ll make more sense after you read the next letter.)
Although I’ve not heard this song, the dialect implies that Mr. Goody Two-Shoes also dabbled in the earliest form of reggae!!!   (We all remember his tongue-in-cheek heavy metal album, right???)


I think in the right setting, along with some romantic lighting, this track, along with the Hal David – Burt Bacharach gem “Wives And Lovers,” played back-to-back, could provide just about the right amount of mood-music to get you the perfect Stepford Wife!  (kk)


Kent,
Regarding Chubby Checker Rock and Roll Hall of Fame …
As much as I respect Chubby's amazing career, he didn't write "The Twist," Hank Ballard did.  He simply covered it for Cameo-Parkway and it was a hit TWICE (1960 and 1962).  That's a testament to Chubby for sure, but it's also a testament to Hank Ballard's songwriting.
I'm not comparing them in any way, but Pat Boone covering Little Richard and Fats Domino songs in the late 1950's and early '60's and having hits in the 'white pop' world, does not mean Pat should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He shouldn't.
Little RIchard and Fats Domino are already in the Hall of Fame, as they rightfully belong there.  So is Hank Ballard (inducted in 1990).
Chubby Checker was and is still a great entertainer.  I have seen him perform live several times here in Toronto plus I've interviewed him twice.  He did have a ton of other hits and most likely influenced the way adults danced, whereas Hank Ballard and his original version didn't.  
Should Chubby Checker be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?  I believe he should be for his influence on society and dancing, but not before artists and groups such as Neil Sedaka, The Guess Who and many, many others.
Jann Wenner needs to smarten the hell up, but that's a discussion you've been having for years.
Doug Thompson
Toronto
I have to disagree on a couple of points … and, although most will, in turn,  disagree with ME, I do believe that Pat Boone belongs in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  No, he was NOT rock and roll … or even an innovator … but he brought Rhythm and Blues Music (the very foundation of Rock And Roll) into the homes of "White Bread America," making it acceptable in the process … there no telling how long it may have been otherwise for the Rock And Roll Revolution to have taken place.  (I believe Ed Sullivan belongs in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for the very same reason … how is it even possible that he has never been inducted?  It's UNTHINKABLE to me that Ed's contribution to bringing Rock And Roll into our living rooms hasn't been recognized.
Hank Ballard's version of "The Twist" was the B-Side of his low-charting hit "Teardrops On Your Letter" and wasn't even played until over a year later when Chubby's record raced up the chart.  (Hank's version peaked at #28 while Chubby's topped the chart … twice!)
As for Neil Sedaka, The Guess Who and SO many others, The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame needs to open their eyes and undo all the wrongs they've done since their inception.  (Maybe it's time to poll our readers and come up with a brand new Top 40 Deserving And Denied Artists … quite a few of these acts have finally been inducted since we first ran our rant and rave ten years ago!!!)  kk

Kent:  
Thanks for touting my new The Doors Summer’s Gone book. 
Several Forgotten Hits readers / viewers have reached out to my publisher lauding the title. Others keep discovering my catalog. It’s an organic and reel-to real experience where my work and the multi-voice narrative contributors I invited have established a collaborative relationship with true music fans.      
All of them are avid Doors’ fans and collectors and volunteered that they thought knew just about everything about their fave rave band. And, after ordering the book and devouring the data, happily admitted they learned so many new things about their history and the mystery of their still-ongoing impact and influence on popular culture.       
That’s one of the reasons I wrote and assembled this volume, and it continues the interstitial thread and information that is inherent and displayed in my previous 12 books: I just don’t bring something new to the table - I bring lots of new, unique and original furniture into the room along with me. And, hopefully, we re-arrange the desk in your mind and present a different SoCal-centric view where the music and the recordings are the primary focus of the joint trek.  During an interview with Ram Dass in 1999, he instructed me to "honor the incarnation." I acknowledge his directive.  
In the process, I know and feel many other writers and authors also garner some well-deserved exposure on these printed pages. 
Somebody just sent an email "Harvey is the Beyonce of the team." That was cool. Well, I did dance for a short season in 1966-67 on "Dick Clark's American Bandstand." At least back then my teenage acne wasn't too obvious on camera in the black and white footage world. I just re-connected with a junior high school friend who went to one of the AB tapings with me around spring of 1966. 
The Mamas and the Papas and Bob Lind were the guests. Our minds were dancing during their lip-sync appearances. I interviewed Dick a couple of decades ago. Imagine a world where Clark, and Ed Sullivan didn't give weekly music act showcases. And on Ed's Sunday night show the bands played live!         
Plus, over the decades, especially during 2017, numerous record labels and DVD companies willingly participated in my research providing Doors-related product that is chronicled.      
As our pal Burton Cummings once wrote and sang in his journey with the Guess Who, “Share the Land.”
You and I, and the devoted supporters of www.forgottenhits.com do that function very well sharing the music.
Harvey Kubernik
Burton Cummings wrote an entire chapter in Harvey's new book about The Guess Who's first trip ever to LA in 1969 to appear on American Bandstand.  Burton decided to venture out on his own and do a little exploring (he explains that one of his favorite TV shows was "77 Sunset Strip" and he wanted to see the spot where Kookie parked the cars!!!)  From there he was ushered off to a party where he was joined on the piano bench by none other than Jim Morrison.  The two then did a bit of joy-riding around the California Hills.  It's a fascinating story and one that clearly left a life-long impression on a young and impressionable Burton Cummings.  (As a side note, not mentioned in the book, The Guess Who used to host a Canadian television show before their career took off and each week they would spotlight some of the biggest hits of the day by performing cover versions of these tunes.  One of those tunes was "Light My Fire" (and I'm almost positive that "Touch Me" was another … but Burton would have to confirm that.)  You can sense Cummings’ admiration for Jim Morrison’s vocal as he tries to mimic quite closely on this take.  (They also did a Jose Feliciano version that appeared on the program awhile later.)


Because Harvey's books are so California-centric (and I grew up here in the Midwest and was too young to go "clubbing" during this era anyway), they offer an interesting perspective of this time. Being all of about 13-14 years old (and living a pretty sheltered life!) I didn't really get into the whole psychedelic, drug scene that enveloped this era of music … a 13 minute jam was lost on me … I liked catchy pop tunes (still do!) so I don't think I would have succumbed to the allure of The Doors and many of these other California-area bands. 
But that doesn't mean that I'm not completely fascinated by the stories told in this book … under-aged kids seduced by the music, sneaking into the clubs and bars to see their favorite acts perform ... folks who went to school with these guys or hung out with them in some capacity during this exciting time … and just their growing fan base as more and more people discovered their charismatic lead singer, the spiritual soul of their lyrics (described by so many as pure poetry … which is exactly what they were going for) and the almost free-form jazz that underlaid some of their more prolific arrangements.
It is interesting to see the band hone their skills and go from playing clubs with 25 people in the audience to huge arenas like The Hollywood Bowl and Madison Square Garden, which they didn’t want to play again because they felt it wasn’t intimate enough for them to engage with their fans … which is all pretty amazing in hindsight.
Honestly, Jim Morrison doesn't sound like a very nice person … and when you strip it down, you'll find very few nice things said about him … but he had a talent that captivated their audience and still resonates today, all these years later.
I, too, have learned a lot … and am seeking out some of this music that I missed (although, quite honestly, I'm still having a hard time losing myself in some of these 13-minute jams!  lol)
But I'm trying.  Harvey, your book his opened the eyes of many of us who missed this music the first time around … whether we were too young (or not even born yet!) or simply in the wrong proximity to enjoy it … so thank you for that.  This is true of your Laurel Canyon Book, your Monterey Pop book … your LA Radio book … and several others.  You are able to offer a unique perspective with vivid story-telling as seen through the eyes of the people who were there at the time living it, yourself included … and that blend is what makes them so exciting, interesting and unique.  So keep 'em comin', my friend!  (kk)

By the way, Harvey discusses his Doors book on the new Goldmine Magazine Podcast …
http://www.goldminemag.com/podcast/harvey-kubernik-discusses-music-books-goldmine-magazine-podcast-episode-25
Kent:
If I'm displayed next to a photo of Chuck Berry you know it's a REAL good day!   Always nice to share an hour with Chuck Berry.  
We are all in the music together. 
HK

Harvey Kubernik has done the impossible: Create a Doors book that contains special, untold stories and anecdotes about a band that has been sliced and diced, cross-examined and sensationalized. The highlight of the tome was a play-play account of the long lost story of when Jim Morrison met John Lennon backstage at the Toronto Rock n Roll Revival festival...."
Rob Hill, Editor-In-Chief, MG Magazine for the Cannabis Professional  
You can order your copy here:
https://www.amazon.com/Doors-Summers-Gone-Harvey-Kubernik/dp/1892900033/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1524567293&sr=1-3&keywords=harvey+kubernik  

Hey, Kent, Chuck Buell Here!
Nice enhancements on my TWA Hotel Story!
I particularly love your relatable Hit Music Hotel Names!
Heartbreak Hotel ... Morrison Hotel ... Hotel California ... even the Kotal No-Tell Motel (now there’s a name that “harkens” back to the sixties!)
I’m glad you included the Official Hotel website link.  They’ve really done a groovy 60s job on that to show what this place will look like!  Pretty wild!
Wonder if my Vintage (read: Olde!) TWA Introductory Ambassador Card will allow me any Special Guest Privileges!


Other than that, I have nothing more to add to this except, great job, Kent!
CB ( which stands for “Conceptional Boy!” )
It WOULD be an interesting place to stay.  (What seemed like space age technology in 1962 still looks pretty cool today … in a retro sort of way!)  kk


kk …
Are they going to be charging 1962 hotel rates in 2019?
Menu = TV Dinners Only
Instead of "Flashbacks" --- "Flashforwards"
FB
I would expect the rates to be very 2019 – PLUS.  And I’m not sure TV Dinners would work … was the microwave around in 1962??? (lol)  kk

UPDATE:  Found it!!! (See, I KNEW The Guess Who also performed “Touch Me” on that program ... although it's nowhere near as strong a performance as their take on "Light My Fire.")  By the way, the name of the show was “Let’s Go” and The Guess Who performed on it regularly for about two years.  (kk)
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Thursday This And That

April 26, 2018, 4:07 am
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A couple of folks on the list didn’t take too kindly to Pat Boone bearing the brunt of the blame for his recording of “Technique” back in the late ‘50’s …

>>>On the topic of "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore - that song was badly needed as an antidote to Pat Boone's "Technique" a few years earlier, which was released as the title cut on an EP.  Hard to imagine that somebody so religious, so straight-laced would come out with something like this - somebody so pure and so white ... oh, wait ...
(Frank Merrill, Jr.)
The song "Technique" is from the 1957 feature film "Bernadine," which is about the fascination three high school boys have for a fictional girl by that name.  20th Century Fox had bought the movie rights to the 1952 play by Denver playwright Mary Coyle Chase, who also wrote the  iconic Broadway smash "Harvey."   Fox had intended to star Robert Wagner in "Bernadine," but as Pat Boone has become such hot stuff by 1957, a bidding war broke out among the Hollywood studios for the charismatic Pat's on-camera services.  As the high bidder wound up being Fox, the studio chose to retool "Bernadine" a bit as a debut film vehicle for Boone -- who then went ahead and recorded Johnny Mercer's title tune.  Needing a B side for the "Bernadine" single, Pat wound up waxing something called "Love Letters In the Sand," which wound up being the second-biggest hit of the year (after Elvis'"All Shook Up").   
Anyway, the thing to keep in mind is that, like all actors in a motion picture, Boone was hired to play a CHARACTER -- and to the character Boone portrayed, the view of male-female relationship expressed in the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of "Technique" made perfect sense.  They did not reflect Boone's personal view of romantic relationships but instead those of his film CHARACTER. 
Regarding Chubby Checker being inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, that's something that should have taken place decades ago.  Chubby kicked off and led the entire early '60s dance craze chapter of rock 'n' roll history, introducing and popularizing everything from "The Twist" (and variations like "Slow Twistin'" and the Grammy-winning "Let's Twist Again") to "The Fly,""The Hucklebuck,"  "Pony Time,""Limbo Rock,""Popeye (The Hitchhiker)," etc.   He even ventured into folk-rock ("Hey Bobba Needle,""Hooka Tooka," etc.).  The fact that Chubby didn't write "The Twist" (but did compose some of his other material) is irrelevant.  After all, how many of his hits did Elvis pen? 
Chubby scored 33 rockin' hits between 1959 and 1986, a lot more than some folks already enshrined in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame whose impact on rock and pop history far pales when compared to his.   
So why isn't Chubby Checker in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame already?  The fact that most of his hits were recorded for the Cameo-Parkway labels did not help -- as Allan Klein, who came to own those master recordings, deliberately kept them out of print for decades.  That stupid move killed ongoing sales and heavily curtailed oldies airplay.   Beyond that, though, it appears that Jann Wenner, who came to use the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame as a way of rewarding his personal fave-raves (if they deserved it or not), simply did not rate Chubby Checker all that high. 
Gary Theroux
"The History of Rock 'n' Roll"   

Kent,
You're blaming the singer for something that could be blamed on the songwriter. 
Sadly, in this case, that would be the beloved Johnny Mercer, who left us over 40 years ago.
BOB FRABLE



I didn't know Darin #2 from "Bewitched" was in this flick!  (Honestly, I've never seen it.)   kk

We got to see Mark Farner (formerly of Grand Funk Railroad) when he was the featured headliner at this year's World Stage Show, presented by Jim Peterik.
Now you can see him, too, as he headlines his own show at The Arcada Theatre this Saturday Night (April 28th).  More info below …

Legendary all-American frontman and guitarist Mark Farner was the engine that pulled the original Grand Funk Railroad to the top of the charts, and this Saturday, April 28, he performs those mega-hits live on the historic Arcada stage. 
At age 69, the multi-platinum recording artist commands the stage with the same intensity and outpouring of love as he did at 20 during the summer of ’69, and his fans are still flocking to their captain. The rock patriot’s synergy and open heart come through in epic hits that defined a generation —  “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home),” “We’re An American Band,” a recut of “The Loco-Motion” and “Some Kind of Wonderful."
Throughout Farner's career, one constant has remained - the message. “I think our fans connected to our songs because we were sincere,” Farner said. “My lyrics were about Mother Earth, stop the war, and all about love. They still have a point of reference with me in their heart ... Love is unconditional,” he continues. “Just like when you hold a baby, the love transfers. I feel that when I’m on stage from the audience.”
Farner, the rock patriot that he is, works tirelessly to honor service personnel and Veterans everywhere. He wants everyone to remember the huge sacrifices the men and women of our armed services give up to protect our amazing country and our freedoms.
Tickets for the 8 pm show are $39, $49, $59, $69 or $79 and are available at oshows.com or by calling 630-962-7000.
The Historic Arcada Theatre is a 900-seat Vaudeville-era theatre that hosts over 300 live concerts annually.

THE GRAND FUNK RAILROAD HIT LIST
There was a time when their albums were outselling The Beatles!  Their first eleven albums all went gold or platinum … and eight of them made The Top Ten.  These include "We're An American Band" (#2, 1973); "Live" (#5, 1971, multi-platinum); "E Pluribus Funk" (#5, 1972); "Shinin' On" (#5, 1974); "Closer To Home" (#6, 1970, and multi-platinum); "Survival" (#6, 1971); "Phoenix" (#7, 1972) and "All The Girls In The World Beware!!!" (#10, 1975). 
But they also tore up the Pop Singles Chart!  Nine of their singles made The Top 40:
 1. The Locomotion  (#1 - 1974)
 2. We're An American Band (#1 - 1973)
 3. Some Kind Of Wonderful (#3 - 1975)
 4. Bad Time (#4 - 1975)
 5. Shinin' On (#11 - 1974)
 6. Walk Like A Man (#17 - 1973)
 7. Closer To Home (I'm Your Captain) #22 - 1970
 8. Rock 'n' Roll Soul  (#24, 1972)
 9. Footstompin' Music  (#28, 1972)
10. Time Machine (#42, 1969)

Kent,
Just thought you might like to know I finally got to see Jim Peterik perform live.  He performed at the Jam for Jimi here in Memphis.  The venue features artists who volunteer their time to support Jimi’s memory, a local music producer who has cancer and Jimi’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.  Since Jim wrote or co-wrote many of Survivor’s hits when Jimi fronted that band, he closed out the show with songs like Burning Heart and Eye of the Tiger.
Other performers included Mike Reno of Loverboy, John Cafferty, Gunnar Nelson, and Kelly Keigy of Night Ranger.  We had a great time!
Mike Schooler
We've got The Ides coming up on Sunday at the Cornerstones show at The Arcada Theatre … and then again on Thursday, May 3rd, at City Winery.  ALWAYS a great show!  (kk)

FH Reader Danny Guilfoyle sent us this new Rascals poster by way of Gene Cornish, who will be joining Felix Cavaliere for a series of shows this summer …

I like this one — it has that ‘60s feel to it.
Danny


Another fun event you might be interested in …

The 2018 "Fab 4 Music Festival" will be held on Saturday, June 9th, at the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT. There will be two stages of performances, half of the twenty groups will be performing indoors, under the Dome, while the other half will be playing outside on the "Octopus' Garden" patio. The hours are 1pm until 10pm.  There is ample free parking.
Liverpool Productions has announced that THE FIFTH ESTATE will be joining the line-up as Special Guest performers. 

The band began in 1963, and they made a number of TV appearances, including several historic NYC Clay Cole appearances, the first of which they were on the same taping session as The Rolling Stones when The Stones made their very first U.S. East Coast TV appearance. They also appeared on the hit show "Hullabaloo." The program was co-hosted by Beatles' manager Brian Epstein, who expressed an interest in signing them. They later won a Murray The K contest for best new release over The Dave Clark Five and The Animals  in 1965. In 1966 they changed their name to "The Fifth Estate," and they had a national / international hit in 1967 with "Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead," which reached #11 on the charts.
In 1968, on "The Frodis Caper," the last of their 58 TV show episodes, The Monkees covered The Fifth Estate's version of "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead." 
The Fifth Estate toured with acts such as The Byrds, Count Five, The Electric Prunes, Velvet Underground, The Buckinghams, The Music Explosion The Ronettes, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Turtles, The Easybeats, and Connecticut's Gene Pitney. 
They will be performing on the main stage along with such acts as The Hofners,  Penny Lane, Number Nine, The Taxmen, Rotary, Take Two & Call Me In The Morning, Double The Dial, Corporation TeeShirt,  Beatlehead and  Pat Horgan's Thunder Road.
Outside patio artists include  Dramatic Turn's Brideau & Miller, Fools On The Hill Sal & Allen, Dizzyfish Acoustic with Eric Herbst, The Navels, Scott Ringle,  David Tessier's Pre-Fab Monkees All-Star Show and Suns of Walrus .
The popular New York / New England regional Beatles-themed festival, known in past years as "Danbury Fields Forever," is a family-friendly Music, Foods And Arts Festival featuring the music of The Beatles, their solo material and classic songs from the sixties. Along with the great entertainment of 20 bands, there will be Beatles and music memorabilia dealers and vendors, exhibitors, kid-friendly activities, along with food trucks and other attractions.
In 1968 The Beatles produced their most whimsical work, "Yellow Submarine," as both an album and theatrical animated film, and also recorded their most intense collection of songs released as a two-record set, "The White Album." In celebration of the 50th anniversary of these historic releases and the year 1968, advance "Ticket to Ride" general admissions are only  $19.68. There are also V.I.P. tickets available. Note that admission will be higher at the door. Advance tickets available at Ticketmaster.
The "Fab 4 Music Festival" on Saturday, June 9, 2018, is presented by Live Nation is association with Liverpool Productions, the same Beatles Fan Club that presented "NYC FAB 50: The Beatles' 50th Anniversary Celebration" in New York City, and have produced the Connecticut Beatles Conventions since 1978. They also organize the annual fan vacations to Liverpool and London known as the "Magical History Tour."
With a full day of fab 4 fun, 20 bands and non-stop music for all ages, as The Beatles sang, "It's Guaranteed to Raise a Smile."
For further info, visit website www.Fab4MusicFestival.com or call (203) 795-4737.

Hi Kent: 
An FYI for you ...
I will be on the air again on WMSE 91.7 in Milwaukee on Dewey’s Corner, Friday at approximately 6 PM ... available on the internet.
We will be counting down a WRIT Survey from April, 1968, 50 years ago. This list will feature a couple of Milwaukee Groups, a couple of Chicago Groups, etc.  And, as always, we play Records!
Tune in if you get a chance.
Ken Freck

kk –
Here’s another one of my all time favorite WKRP quotes …
After Les Nesman' s news and big introduction, the Venus Flytrap show is about to begin … "More Music and Less Nesman."
FB

While flipping thru the channels late the other night I stumbled upon “Reefer Madness,” the cult-favorite propaganda film, and was shocked to learn that Frannie had never seen it before!  (I clearly remember being shown this film in high school, some 40+ years ago, when it was already wildly out of date by then!)
Almost impossible to think that this film is now 90 YEARS OLD!!!  (And amazing to me to know that even back then, some 90 years ago, they were already referring to the dreaded marijuana (then spelled with an “h” instead of a “j”) as “reefer” and “weed” … I guess I just always thought that this was some type of slang come up by our generation!
In addition to being horribly dated and terribly acted, I am happy to report that the film is just as hysterical as ever.  (We especially liked “the laughing man”!!!)  This was one of those flicks that always seemed to make the bill during all those Midnight Movies we went to back in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s … but I hadn’t seen it since.  Check your cable listings as typically something like this will end up airing several times over the course of the month.  (kk)


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Chuck Buell

April 27, 2018, 3:52 am
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One of the perks of doing Forgotten Hits has been meeting some of the artists and disc jockeys who filled our lives with musical joy during the most impressionable and formative years of our lives.   

As such, we have really enjoyed being able to bring you many of Chuck's comments over the past few years  (and I think he kinda digs Forgotten Hits, too!)

So today's tribute, put together by Clark Besch, a major Chuck Buell fan and regular FH contributor, is just our way of saluting one of the voices that enriched our lives back in the day.

Enjoy!
kk




Hey, I wanna stay at that 1967 hotel, not the 1962 one!  Chuck has the wrong year for me!  

I listened to Chuck from Dodge City when he was at KIMN and then WLS, as I could receive both stations.  KIMN was always trial and error, but at 950 sandwiched between 890 WLS and 1000 WCFL on the close knit top 40 dial that was also sporting great top 40 radio from 900 KEYN Wichita, 910 KLSI Salina, Ks, 930 WKY OKC, 940 KIXZ Amarillo, 990 KNIN Wichita Falls, Tx, we were not searching long on ANY one station often, except for my Chicago faves.  However, KIMN often had a different music choice, as their surveys showed. 

Here's a short bit from summer of 66 we brothers taped mentioning Chuck playing "Along Comes Mary" on the survey countdown show he did then, followed by two years later at the BIG 89 playing the crudely cropped station edit of "Those Were the Days." I have a tape somewhere of KIMN playing an exclusive (they said so in the middle of the song, as stations did back then) of "No Milk Today" as it was a UK 45 months before turning up here in the US.  The tape was November 66 and it was charting on KIMN as an exclusive, but was not available until the 45 here in January, 67. 


Also, I have the New Seekers'"Buy the World a Coke" jingles I had on tape that Chuck thought might have his voice overs.  The only ones I found with voice overs don't sound like him, but are attached.  There were probably many DJs who did those voice overs, tho.  


Here's a whole bunch of small files that I think should come thru to you from newspapers.Also, back in the early 1980's, KIMN had a reunion of the jocks and pulled out stuff from the closet (Djs included?) and spent 30 hours reliving 30 years as a top 40 station.  The great radio newspaper of the day was "Radio & Records," which I LOVED reading as much as Billboard in that day and age, and KIMN put together a 30 minute composite of the 30 years in 30 hours special that actually came on cassetteWITH the newspaper that year in one issue!!!  Can you believe how cool that was to get back then for a 60's radio maniac like me???  Anyway, I have transferred the tape to digital and you can download the 30 minute 28 MB clip below.  Lots of Buell and more (or should I say Moore? -- inside joke for KIMN followers). 




Hope you enjoy all this Chuck Buell remembrances.  I'll sign off as:
 
Clark Besch, the guy who liked listening to Chuck Buell SO much that he asked for the same initials!

Hey Chuck ... hopefully you'll find a few things here missing from your own collection!  Enjoy!  (kk)


 







































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