We were very saddened by the news that Neil Sedaka passed away on Friday (2/27)
Neil is another artist who has made our Deserving and Denied List for The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ... long eligible, most certainly deserving yet for some reason, constantly overlooked by the nominating committee. The Rock Hall seems to have a habit of not recognizing worthy artists until after they've passed on. All I know is this: If you polled a group of 100 random strangers and asked them how many Neil Sedaka songs they new or could sing, I'd be willing to bet the farm that the answer would be FAR more than the total named for this year's nominees, Joy Division / New Order, Sade and Wu-Tang Clan combined.
Between 1958 and 1980, Neil placed 25 songs in The National Top 40. These include three #1 Hits: "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (1962), "Laughter In The Rain" (1974) and "Bad Blood" (1975). Sedaka's slowed-down remake of his first #1 Hit also made The Top Ten again in 1976.
In addition, he wrote several hits for other artists including Connie Francis, The Monkees (and Davy Jones) and the 1975 Record Of The Year chart-topper "Love Will Keep Us Together" by The Captain and Tennille, a song they interpreted from Neil's comeback LP "Sedaka's Back," a phrase the utter during the fade-out at the end of the song.
Look at the end of today's post to find THE NEIL SEDAKA HIT LIST. (kk)
From Tom Cuddy ...
This is the most in depth story on Neil Sedaka I’ve read today. Well written.
https://share.google/ailDgMLnspIBcoFxZ
Tom also sent us this early report around 2:00 of Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, we were in a movie theater so I didn't see it till around 4:30 by which time Neil had already passed.
Legendary Singer Neil Sedaka Rushed to Hospital in Los Angeles
Source: TMZ
https://share.google/Os77nYpWNVbZVubbY
And here's a vintage episode of "American Bandstand" from December 12th, 1964, that features both Neil Sedaka and our FH Buddy Freddy Cannon ... they first appear about 25 minutes in and each sing a couple of songs ... this clip was ALSO sent in by Tom Cuddy!!! (kk)
I saw Neil Sedaka in concert three times, once as the opening act for America when his 1974 comeback was just taking off, once about a year after that when Neil was now the headliner, and once a few years ago with just Neil at the piano at The Arcada Theatre ... more of a "songwriter's / story-tellers show" as he reminisced about how many of his hits came to life.
There were all kinds of stories at the time when Neil was opening for The Carpenters in Las Vegas that he was drawing more applause than they were ... and he was eventually booted off the show. Neil also had a sure-fire #1 Hit stolen away from him when they wiped his lead vocal off the record "It Hurts To Be In Love" and allowed Gene Pitney to sing it instead. Still, he maintained a dignified career and was well-liked and well-respected by most that he encountered along the way. Elton John helped to resurrect Neil's career in the mid-'70's and signed him to his Rocket Records label ... he even sang back-up with him on Neil's #1 Hit "Bad Blood." Neil was always so comfortable and relaxed in front of an audience ... it was what he was born to do. I was definitely a fan. (kk)
I was saddened to hear of Neil Sedaka’s passing. A rare talent, he gave us many hits and co-wrote ‘When Love Comes Knocking At Your Door’ with Carole Bayer Sager, beloved by Monkees fans, too. My thoughts are with his family and all who cherished his music.
- Micky Dolenz
(The Monkees recorded a couple of Neil's tunes over the years ... and one of Davy's first solo hits after the group split was a remake of Neil's 1966 record "Rainy Jane.) kk
Neil Sedaka was so talented, and he inspired me to follow my dream of being a songwriter. With love and gratitude and condolences to his family. - Carole King
(Neil's 1959 hit "Oh Carol" was written as a love letter to fellow Brill Building songwriter Carole King. She wrote back the non-chart hit "Oh Neil" as an answer record.) kk
From Best Classic Bands, “How Neil Sedaka Helped To Create 10cc”
Hey, Kent …
Remembering Neil Sedaka! He will be missed.
Back in the mid-1970's I stopped by The Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada to catch The Carpenters. They had just dropped Neil Sedaka as their opening act. He was getting standing room only crowds of people. They replaced him with the comedy team of Skiles and Henderson, who were very funny 🤣! I caught Neil at a few spots in town.
Jim Roup
>>>Chicago WCFL In Shift Off Top 40 To Beautiful Music (newspaper headline)
The headlines of this article bothers me. Its implication is that nothing in the Top 40 is beautiful. And exactly just what do they consider beautiful, and just who decides? As we have often said, 60s music is so very diverse that there is something for everyone, and everyone is free to pick what they like and not be stuck in one genre. I would not be jumping on the bandwagon based on this article.
Shelley
In this case, this was pretty drastic ... full blown 1970's-era muzak / elevator music / doctors' office music ... I'm talking full strings with occasional chorale vocals, not even "easy listening / soft rock" in nature. It was quite a shock from the station that just a short time ago was blasting Jimi Hendrix and The Stones with screaming dj's and wild contests. My guess is that they retained ZERO listeners - and literally started over from scratch ... playing primarily in elevators and doctors' offices! (lol) kk
In their typical “Let’s Keep ‘em Guessing” fashion, The Eagles just announced three MORE concert dates following their final residency at The Sphere.
Calling it now “Phase Three” of their “Long Goodbye” tour which began back in 2023 (!), The Eagles will now do concert dates May 5th in Atlanta, GA, at Truist Park, May 9th in Nashville, TN, at FirstBank Stadium and May 16th in Arlington, TX at Globe Life Field, all with The Tedeschi Trucks Band as their opening act. These dates follow their previously committed May 2nd in New Orleans, LA, at the 2026 Jazz Fest. (I guess it’s safest to say that more dates are expected to be added!) kk
Hi Kent,
ELO made it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. That by no means justifies the absence of some of the others on your list -- like The Guess Who, Tommy James, The Monkees and Three Dog Night.
Ian Berger
My error –
I thought they had made it in but when I went to the Rock Hall website this morning and searched for them as inductees I got no results -
I see now that that's because I searched for Electric Light Orchestra (which will yield you nothing - not even a choice of options like you'd think it would based on the "el" alone) ...
You have to type in ELO to get the correct result. I have since fixed the posting.
Thank you! (kk)
And, speaking of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, since The Rock Hall has now expanded its playing field for artist consideration (Cher, Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick, Mariah Carey, Sade, etc.), maybe it’s time to consider acts like The Carpenters and The Association, too. And what about Jim Croce? America?
There still seems to be some bias toward Canadian artists, The Guess Who being the most obvious omission. What about Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Paul Anka and a few others who have never even been so much as nominated?
We still push for Ed Sullivan as the now most ridiculous oversight. Glen Campbell for his work with The Beach Boys, The Wrecking Crew and his own sensational career. Dickie Goodman – talk about creating a new branch for the rock and roll tree. I mean this guy practically invented sampling thirty five years before the rest of the world caught up! Dick Dale? (kk)
More from Tom Cuddy ...
The Real Guess Who Finally Have Their Name Back
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-guess-who-have-name-back-1235522329/
Just to be perfectly clear, Burton Cummings was NOT an original member of The Guess Who. (Shouldn't Rolling Stone Magazine know this?!?!) But this IS very good news ... very optimistic news ... and I personally cannot wait to see them! (kk)
“EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert,” the new Elvis concert film from Baz Luhrmann, is must-see entertainment from start to finish. The King never looked or sounded better than he does in this film … it is an absolute joy ride from early rehearsals to live, on stage performances ... and the editing between the two is nothing short of amazing. The film also offers a bit of Elvis history throughout that shows you have Elvis arrived at this phase of his career. Truly a joy (and quite an emotional experience.)
What’s missing, however, is ANY footage from Elvis’ 1968 Comeback Television Special … which is what prompted him to return to live performances again. (The timing couldn’t have been better … his movie contract was FINALLY up so he now had the chance to do something exciting rather than cranking out the same script time and time again with a different movie character name.) This really should have been shown as the springboard to Elvis’ second career.
Other than that, it’s perfect. We saw it at the iMax so it’ll obviously play differently at home once the inevitable dvd is released … interestingly enough, one of the previews was for the new Michael Jackson motion picture “Michael,” opening in April. This, too, will be an iMax delight. (kk)
We also watched the new Paul McCartney and Wings documentary "Man On The Run" on Prime Video. This is a VERY blunt assessment of what was going on in Paul's mind after the break up of The Beatles ... and his motivation for starting the new band with his wife joining him on stage. (After all the John and Yoko press, good bad and otherwise, you'd think that would have been the LAST thing he wanted to do!!!)
The criticism Paul shares is just as honest and brutal FOR him and AGAINST him. Lots of great insight into launching one of the biggest bands of the '70's. (His comment that maybe deep down he WANTED to get busted in Japan is completely out of left field, however ... it was just quite simply the dumbest mistake he ever made in his whole life!)
Well worth streaming. (kk)
And, speaking of new movies, the list of locations showing the Billy Preston documentary we told you about keeps on growing ...
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY BILLY PRESTON: THAT’S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT OPENING NATIONWIDE AFTER SUCCESSFUL NYC PREMIERE
Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It, the documentary described by the New York Times as “mind-blowing,” and “moving and vivid,” and by Texas Weekly as “a poignant examination of the relationship between music, self-hood, joy and spirituality” is opening in select theaters nationally in the wake of last weekend’s premiere at the Film Forum in New York, that resulted in five consecutive sold-out screenings. Distributed by Abramorama and produced by White Horse Pictures and Homegrown Pictures, the film about the GRAMMY-winning musician and genius keyboardist will see a plethora of guests at post-screening Q&A events when it reaches Preston’s hometown of Los Angeles on March 3rd at Laemmle Royal, March 4th at Laemmle Glendale and March 5th at Laemmle NoHo 7.
These guests include the film’s multi-Emmy winning director Paris Barclay (Dahmer, In Treatment, Glee) on March 3 and 4, producer Nigel Sinclair (The Beatles: Eight Days A Week, Pavarotti, George Harrison: Living in the Material World) on March 5, composer Derrick Hodge (Miracle at St. Anna) on March 3, executive producer Daniel Shaw on March 4, and drummer/vocalist/composer Tony Jones, who played with Billy Preston, is featured in the film and served as a consulting producer, on March 5. Emmy-nominated producer Stephanie Allain (Hustle & Flow, Dear White People) and Emmy-winning producer Jeanne Elfant Festa (The Apollo) will participate in all three Q&A events.
The documentary follows the extraordinary life and six-decade career of GRAMMY-winning keyboardist Billy Preston, whose signature sound shaped the work of The Beatles, Ray Charles, Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Eric Clapton, and countless others. Preston generated his own No. 1 hits, including "Outa-Space," "Will It Go Round in Circles," "Nothing from Nothing," and "You Are So Beautiful." Preston’s first hit single, “That’s The Way God Planned It” – recorded in 1969 for The Beatles’ Apple Records – was produced by his lifelong friend, George Harrison. Fifteen years after his death in 2006, Billy Preston was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021 by Ringo Starr.
A 16-year-old Billy Preston met the not-yet-famous Beatles in Hamburg in 1962 when he was playing in Little Richard’s band at a Hamburg tour stop. He befriended the young rockers from Liverpool by sneaking them food and drinks. This led to Billy’s playing, years later, on the Let It Be and Abbey Road albums as a credited musician. He performed with them at their last live performance as a group – the famous Rooftop concert. Preston enjoyed an illustrious solo career and worked with some of the biggest names in music.
Despite his preternatural talent which earned him a place on stage beside the biggest artists in 20th century musical history, Billy had a challenging personal story. Only later in life did he come to terms with his truth and find his peace. The film explores Preston's towering musical accomplishments, matched by his triumphant personal journey to self-love and acceptance.
Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It made its world premiere at SXSW and has screened at festivals including DOC NYC, Palm Springs International Film Festival, and Mill Valley Film Festival, winning Best Documentary at the Oak Park Black Film Festival and FilmFest DC.
BILLY PRESTON: THAT’S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT (USA, [Runtime 105mins, English) CONCORD ORIGINALS, IMPACT PARTNERS, PLAY/ACTION PICTURES and CHICAGO MEDIA PROJECT present in association with SOBEY ROAD ENTERTAINMENT, DK FILMS, and POLYGRAM ENTERTAINMENT a WHITE HORSE PICTURES and HOMEGROWN PICTURES production a PARIS BARCLAY film "BILLY PRESTON: THAT'S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT," produced by STEPHANIE ALLAIN p.g.a., JEANNE ELFANT FESTA p.g.a., NIGEL SINCLAIR p.g.a., CHEO HODARI COKER executive producers PARIS BARCLAY, NICHOLAS FERRALL, CASSIDY HARTMANN, OLIVIA HARRISON, JONATHAN CLYDE, DAVE KNOTT, REGINA K. SCULLY, DANIEL SHAW, G. MARQ ROSWELL, BEN J. MURPHY, SCOTT PASCUCCI, SOPHIA DILLEY, CHARLES HOPKINS, JENNY RASKIN, GERALYN WHITE DREYFOUS, LAUREN & JOHN DRISCOLL, MEADOW FUND, IAN DARLING, JEFFREY LURIE, MARIE THERESE GUIRGIS, STEVE COHEN & PAULA FROEHLE, JOHN KELLER, BRAD & DEBBIE BUSS, ANDREW TRAPANI, BRUCE RESNIKOFF and JODY GERSON. cinematography by ERNESTO LOMELI, CARMEN DELANEY and JERRY HENRY edited by SCOTT D. HANSON original music by ROBERT GLASPER & DERRICK HODGE written by PARIS BARCLAY & CHEO HODARI COKER directed by PARIS BARCLAY. An ABRAMORAMA North American Theatrical Release.
For more information, please visit www.billyprestonfilm.com
Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It theatrical dates
Feb 25-27 New York, NY Film Forum
Feb 25 Louisville, KY Speed Art Museum
Feb 27 Baton Rouge, LA Manship Theatre
Feb 27 Sewickley, PA The Lindsay
Feb 27 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
Mar 1 Louisville, KY Speed Art Museum
Mar 2 Saugerties, NY Upstate Films: Orpheum Theatre
Mar 3 Los Angeles, CA Laemmle Royal*
Mar 4 Rosendale, NY Rosendale Theatre
Mar 4 Glendale, CA Laemmle Glendale+
Mar 5 N. Hollywood, CA Laemmle NoHo 7#
Mar 5 Basalt, CO The Arts Campus at Willits
Mar 5 Arlington, MA Regent Theatre
Mar 6, 7, 11 Camas, WA Liberty Theatre
Mar 7 Austin, TX Austin Film Society
Mar 12-19 Key West, FL Tropic Cinema
Mar 13-14 Providence, RI Avon Cinema
Mar 13-19 Santa Fe, NM Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe
Mar 13-19 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Mar 14 San Rafael, CA Smith Rafael Film Center
Mar 15 Beverly, MA Cabot Performing Arts
Mar 16 Cincinnati, OH The Woodward Theater
Mar 18 Schenectady, NY Proctor’s Theatre
Mar 18 Newport, RI The JPT Film & Event Center
Mar 18-22 Boulder, CO Dairy Arts Center
Mar 20-26 Nashville, TN The Belcourt Theatre
Mar 20-26 Sedona, AZ Mary D. Fisher Theatre
Mar 21-22 San Francisco, CA 4 Star Theater
Mar 21-22 Waterville, ME Maine Film Center
Mar 21-22, 25-26 Cary, NC The Cary Theater
Mar 25-27 Hartford, CT Cinestudio
Mar 26 Tucson, AZ The Loft Cinema
Mar 26, 28, 29, 31 Pittsburgh, PA Harris Theater
Mar 27 Minneapolis, MN The Parkway Theater
Mar 28 Jersey City, NJ WFMU’s Monty Hall
Mar 30 Raleigh, NC The Rialto
Apr 1 Pittsburgh, PA Harris Theater
Apr 3-9 Lincoln, NE The Ross
Apr 10 Overland Park, KS Glenwood Arts Theaterpr 22 Sisters, OR Sisters Movie House
Apr 24 York, PA Strand Theatre
June 15 Sarasota, FL Burns Court Cinemas
June 17 Columbia, SC Nickelodeon Theater
*Q&A w/ Director/Writer/Exec. Producer Paris Barclay, Producer Stephanie Allain, Producer Jeanne Elfant Festa, Composer Derrick Hodge
+Q&A w/ Director/Writer/Exec. Producer Paris Barclay, Producer Stephanie Allain, Producer Jeanne Elfant Festa, Exec. Producer Daniel Shaw
#Q&A w/ Producer Stephanie Allain, Producer Jeanne Elfant Festa, Producer Nigel Sinclair, Musician/Consulting Producer Tony Jones
All showtimes can be found on https://www.billyprestonfilm.com/#watch
Read the New York Times review here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/arts/music/billy-preston-documentary-thats-the-way-god-planned-it.html
Read our review here:
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2026/02/billy-preston-thats-way-god-planned-it.html
Found this interesting article about some of the world’s most valuable records …
And a reminder that this year’s Record Store Day will be held on Saturday, April 18th. Most of the records released that day are VERY limited editions pressed in limited quantities – which means when they’re gone, they’re gone. (kk)
Just Wondering ...
Was anybody else out there as pleased and pleasantly surprised as I was when they saw that Chevrolet has resurrected their old "See The USA In Your Chevrolet" jingle??? (kk)
Some words of wisdom from Howard Kaylan, sent in by Timmy ...
kk:
For Doo-Wop Fans Only …
I Just Found This While Scrolling On YOU TUBE …
"BURLINGTON DOO-WOP" … A Concert From 1983. It Took Place At Burlington College In New Jersey.
Hosted By Bobby Jay & Another Guy I Don't Know. Part 1 - Part 15. Each One Is A Half Hour Long.
I Listened To 10 Of Them So Far. Here’s What I Found …
The Original 5 Keys With Rudy West.
The Original 5 Willows With Tony Middleton.
Earl Lewis & Channels.
Silhouettes = Of Course We Know Their 1958 #1 Hit "GET A JOB." Check Out "I GAVE MY HEART TO THE JUNKMAN," 1959.
The Harptones Were Supposed To Be On The Show But Due To A Car Accident, Willie Winfield Was There By Himself.
Bobby Jay Sang With His Group, The Laddins.
Johnnie & Joe Sang Their Two Hits = "OVER THE MOUNTAIN" & "I'M SPINNING" -- Followed By The Limelites Without Shep.
I Started With Show #1 And Have Watched Ten So Far.
This Show Was Recorded For TV. Bobby Jay Came Out A Few Times & Stopped The Show. He Said They Had To Change The Tape.
We've Come A Long Way Since Then.
FB
From Clark Besch ...
And from Chuck Buell …
A New Take on an Old Joke!
THE NEIL SEDAKA HIT LIST
Neil's records always did quite well here in Chicago ... so these stats are shown as well. If you're not familiar with a couple of these, check 'em out ... because they're great tracks released at a time when Neil couldn't BUY radio air time. (kk)
| Year | US PEAK |
CHI PEAK |
|
| 1959 | The Diary | 8 | 31 |
| 1959 | I Go Ape | 40 | 31 |
| 1959 | Oh! Carol | 5 | 1 |
| 1960 | Stairway To Heaven | 6 | 11 |
| 1960 | You Mean Everything To Me | 12 | 5 |
| 1960 | Run Samson Run | 24 | -- |
| 1961 | Calendar Girl | 4 | 11 |
| 1961 | Little Devil | 9 | 12 |
| 1961 | Sweet Little You | 40 | EX |
| 1961 | Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen | 6 | 4 |
| 1962 | King Of Clowns | 34 | 27 |
| 1962 | Breaking Up Is Hard To Do | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | Next Door To An Angel | 5 | 8 |
| 1963 | Alice In Wonderland | 17 | 13 |
| 1963 | Let's Go Steady Again | 25 | 26 |
| 1963 | The Dreamer | 37 | -- |
| 1963 | Bad Girl | 31 | -- |
| 1964 | I Hope He Breaks Your Heart | 104 | 25 |
| 1965 | The World Through A Tear | 69 | 4 |
| 1966 | The Answer To My Prayer | 76 | 19 |
| 1966 | The Answer Lies Within | -- | 40 |
| 1974 | Laughter In The Rain | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | The Immigrant | 22 | -- |
| 1975 | That's When The Music Takes Me | 27 | -- |
| 1975 | Bad Blood | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | Breaking Up Is Hard To Do | 7 | 2 |
| 1976 | Love In The Shadows | 16 | 8 |
| 1976 | Steppin' Out | 36 | 35 |
| 1976 | You Gotta Make Your Own Sunshine | 53 | 31 |
| 1977 | Amarillo | 44 | 34 |
| 1980 | Should've Never Let You Go | 19 | -- |
with his daughter Dora
