Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Sunday Comments ( 03 - 13 - 11 )

re: PBS SPECIALS:
The PBS special on Rock and Doo-Wop will be shown here in OKC this coming Thursday evening, March 10 at 9 PM. Our PBS station always delays first time programs for some reason.
Larry

We finally got to see some of this last night, too ... they ran it back to back so between the two showings I think we got to see most of it ... VERY impressive how good some of these voices still sound after all these years ... TONS of highlights (with only a few bumps in the road) ... definitely worth watching again from start to finish. (And I've just GOT to see Jay Black before he hangs it up for good ... this guy is absolutely AMAZING ... and I hear he does a REAL lewd and bawdy show ... and that's after toning it down some. But man, this guy can sing!!! re: JAY BLACK: Not a lot of shows coming up ... but check out this line up for Jay's appearance in The Bahamas!!! Click here: Jay Black (kk)

Kent ...
Everybody is raving about Ronnie Spector's performance on the latest PBS Show. I agree.
She's great. Brought back a lot of memories for me. I can remember when Ronnie, Estelle and Nedra were Murray The K's dancing girls. Before they sang. I went to all the shows at The Brooklyn Fox and The New York Paramont. They would come out and dance between acts. I guess they must've been teenagers then. So was I. Seems like yesterday. Where does the time go?
Another funny bit from the show is when Jay Black looked at his watch and timed himself hitting the high note while singing "Cara Mia." During one of the breaks, Jay Black was interviewed.
He said people come up to him and tell him he has a great voice. That's always nice to hear.
He's gotten letters from people telling him that they were in a fox hole during the Viet Nam War, and his music helped them get through it. Or - a person who's very sick goes to his show and is entertained and gets a few laughs out of it. That's what's important to him.
Here's some more info on the PBS Doo-Wop Special ... I pay attention to detail ... that's why I make big bucks .LoL !
On tape: Hal Miller and The Rays sang "Silhouettes." They left this line out of the song - " Put his arms around your waist, held you tight." Songs were short enough, why did they do it?
The Marcels singing " Blue Moon " with an 8-man group. Why so many? Fred Johnson, bass, got a haircut ... last show he had long hair.
Kathy Young sang "A Thousand Stars" ... last time she had her group "The Innocents" with her. This time she didn't.
Jay Black sang "Cara Mia" with The Alley Cats. First time I saw this pairing.
Kenny Vance started with Jay & The Americans. Kenny & Jay ... another duet I would've liked to have seen.
Don't want to confuse the folks out there.
On tape: The Rays sang "Silhouettes" and The Silhouettes sang "Get A Job". First time I remember group and song with the same name.
Frank B.

>>>I enjoyed the original 'black and white' footage of a number of artists but wished that they'd included my dear friend -- and the 'golden voice of rock and roll' -- Ray Peterson, who passed away on January 25, 2005. He worked with many of those acts through the years and one of the last public performances he made was at another PBS taping, "At The Drive-in," filmed in Austin, TX. While that special has not become a staple like the Doo Woop shows, it's an exceptional show, hosted by Fabian, and featuring Jan & Dean (his last major television special), Bobby Vee and The Vees, The Orlons (also featured on this show), Merilee Rush, Dodie Stevens, The Surfaris, The Rip Chords, and The Nelsons, doing a tribute to their Dad. (Fred Vail)
Hey Kent ...
Fred mentioned the PBS show "AT THE DRIVE IN" in his fine review of the new PBS show that's currently airing. I had an amazing moment during the taping of the "At The Drive In" show in Austin. I stepped into an elevator with Ray Peterson and Fred and had the opportunity to tell Ray how much I loved his records. I must have played "Tell Laura I Love Her" thousands of times ... always picturing that little play he was singing about, in my head while listening. Ray was very gracious, and super friendly. It was one of the best moments I have ever had meeting one of my favorite musicians. I wish I would have taken a photo with Ray that week. I also met Fred Vail at that show ... I looked at him and said "You're Fred Vail!" He looked surprised that I knew who he was. But to me, Fred has always been a "member" of The Beach Boys. Fred and I have remained friendly to this day. (Photos attached)
Mitch Schecter / The Rip Chords


KK ...
The other day Fred Vail mentioned the PBS Program "At The Drive-In" ... is this available anywhere? I haven't seen it. BTW Fred, your comments in Forgotten Hits are incredible!
Much love to you both,
Wild Bill
You know, I've never seen it either ... it's not one of those that they rerun regularly like so many of their other programs. I know it was available at the time through your pledge donations ... and actually at one point a few years back when we first covered this concert, one of The Rip Chords was going to send me a copy ... but that never happened either. Sounds like a GREAT show with a great line-up ... does anybody else out there know if it might be available through PBS' website? Heck, I'd like to see it, too!!! (kk)
Doesn't PBS do an incredible job with theose shows? And I can't believe the entertainers still have the "chops". Sure the backup guys for Jay Black were just kids, but what a great job they did. I'd LOVE to get involved with that whole thing, I believe I could bring something to the table.
Wild Bill
TJ Lubinsky has a real passion for this stuff ... and he's assembled some top-drawer acts over the years. (The upcoming '60's special sounds KILLER!!!) We've tried to get him on The Forgotten Hits list 'cause I think he could add SO much to our forum ... and we could help promote the shows, too ... what a GREAT tie-in to have some of the artists participate in little mini-interviews and such. Maybe someday! (kk)

Kent ...
I've been thinking about this for awhile. I've got a great idea for a show.
In fact, I sent this idea to Richard Nader ... got an answer ... from one of his lawyers. He said all three acts were already on his show ... didn't understand me at all .
TJ Lubinsky from P B S wouldn't answer my emails ... so that leaves you.
Okay, here's my idea:
Only three acts on the show. It's the way it's presented that's different.
The show stars Jay Black, Ronnie Spector and The Drifters (with Ben E. King or Charlie Thomas singing lead ... Ben E. King as the first choice.)
The Drifters open the show. Jay Black comes out to sing the last song with them ... "This Magic Moment".
Ronnie Spector sings all her Ronettes hits ... then, on the last song Jay and Ronnie sing "Walking In The Rain."
Finally, Jay Black closes the show with the rest of his hits.
I like the idea that the star interacts with others on the show. I think that this show would be a sell out from coast to coast ... the casinos, Branson, Mo. ... maybe even Broadway.
What do you think about it ?
Frank B.
I think it's an interesting idea ... and I also think it would play very well on PBS ... have Jay Black host the thing ... maybe add a few more similar acts in between but throughout the night Jay introduces an act and the sings a song with them as part of that act's finale. There's definitely some potential here ... anybody listening??? (Don't feel bad, Frank ... TJ doesn't want to talk to me, either!!! lol And I really think we could help each other!!!) kk
... and, speaking of upcoming shows, we just got this from R.I.P. Renfield:
re: UP-COMING SHOWS:
check this out ... www.WoodbridgeArtsNJ.com
I guess all major roads between here, nyc, and phila DO cross here, but I'm shocked that the real 'talent' chooses to perform in my city and for a 250 seat show! The John Doe / Jill Sobule looks real good to me, but with Dave Mason, Roger McGuinn, and Chad & Jeremy ... I might have to see more than the one show ... (the pic archive from previous years should be checked too)
I might have to vote for this mayor again !
gary renfield
Roger McGuinn did one of those "up-close-and-personal / intimate" shows here in Schaumburg last year, too ... we didn't get to go but I heard it was real good. And I would LOVE to see Chad and Jeremy! After Frannie and I had the chance to see Peter and Gordon a few years ago, this would be an EXTREMELY cool show to see! (kk)

re: THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL:
Regarding the picture from Billboard in 1978, yep -- that's me all right -- as I looked in one corner of my office at Drake-Chenault.


If you look behind the open file drawer in the photo, you'll see the edges of the Hank Williams poster I had on one wall. Another wall held a copy of the Holly - Bopper - Valens Winter Tour of 1959 poster (among other things). The Billboard article did credit Bill Drake as my co-writer on "The History of Rock 'n' Roll," but that was really P.R. The truth was that his only contributions to the final script were minor tweaks he made to match his speaking cadence while in the recording booth cutting voice tracks. Once I got used to Bill's distinctive speech pattern, I was able to write to match his rhythm and the tweaks ceased. I did the same thing -- customizing my writing to match voice patterns -- when crafting scripts for Casey Kasem, Johnny Hayes, Phil Hendrie, Kris Erik Stevens and others -- including me!
I've attached a jpeg of the original "History of Rock 'n' Roll" poster, which was created by Tom Jung, who also designed the "Star Wars" poster.
At the time of the HRR release in 1978, many listeners wrote in asking for show souvenirs. I came up with a bunch of ideas, including a coffee table book containing the entire script with pictures. It was never published, though, because I was unable to convince the company's clueless GM, Jim Kefford, of the potential of ancillary merchandising. It was simply a concept beyond his comprehension. Among other things, I proposed a series of official "History of Rock 'n' Roll" albums -- an idea he rejected outright, claiming that releasing such items "would be like giving the show away." Into that void stepped the Pickwick label, which then issued a series of completely unauthorized "History of Rock 'n" Roll" LPs! They contained music only -- no narration or interview tracks -- and in fact had no connection to the 52 hour broadcast special other than copping the name (see second attachment). Not surprisingly, ol' Jim never got around to suing Pickwick for infringement.
Gary Theroux

re: JOHNNY PRESTON:
Johnny and I traveled to the Philippines together. That tour was my "biggie" and I have thought of Johnny lots over the years. My condolences to his family and his fans. Here's a photo of Johnny and me with a Philippine movie star.
Paul Evans

re: SOUND-ALIKE RECORDS:

We used to have sound-alike records here in the UK too but they were always much cheaper than the originals and the musicians always remained anonymous, though it was later revealed both Elton John and David Bowie performed on many of these before they became international stars in their own right. I bought several of these sound-alikes at the time because records were expensive here, and to a 12 year old kid having six top hits on an e.p. for less than the price of a single was too good to miss. As with the example of Kind Of A Drag, most of the songs were just that, but now and then some would crop up which in my opinion were as good if not better than their counterparts on the chart. What really annoyed me came in the late 70s when many 50s and 60s singles started appearing in stores again. I used to run a mobile disco back then and seeing this as an opportunity to introduce the younger generation to some of the classics I grew up with, bought them by the bucket load. They were by the original artists and cost the same as a standard single, but the record companies neglected to mention that they were all re-recordings. I was conned big time and to me was a bigger deception than anything Hit Records appear to have done.

Nicky

I was actually going to use one of the Elton John "sound-alikes" as an example but never got around to it ... but, since you mentioned it, this is the PERFECT place to do so. Here in America, several of these early recordings were gathered together and issued as a "Reg Dwight" album under Elton's real name. One that actually got some radio airplay at the time ... and is every bit as good as the original ... is Elton's early take on "My Baby Loves Lovin'", a track we recently featured by White Plaines. (He also cut a version of our recently-featured "Yellow River", another FH favorite!) An import CD I bought several years ago also includes sound-alike versions of "United We Stand", "Spirit In The Sky", CCR's "Travelin' Band" and "Up Around The Bend", "In The Summertime", Badfinger's "Come And Get It" and "Neanderthal Man" ... ironically, MOST of these became huge U.S. Hits right before Elton hit the charts here in The States for the first time with his break-through hit "Your Song". (In no time at all, these "copy artists" were probably recording their best Elton John impressions for the label!!!) kk








"My Baby Loves Lovin'" got the most commercial airplay at the time ... but Elton's version of "United We Stand" is my personal favorite. (Even at this early age there are hints of what was to come during Elton's booming voice ballads period of the '80's and '90's. And frankly, ANY deejay who hasn't added "Yellow River" by Christie to their regular oldies playlist simply isn't paying attention ... this is the most positive reaction we've had to a single song in a long, long time! (kk)

>>>Hit Records not only made sound-alike records ... they even made "look-alike" records, trying to trick shoppers into thinking they were getting the big hit record they heard on the radio. On this Hit Records sound-alike, they even used a band name that would make people think they were getting the original. Take a look at "Kind of a Drag" by "The Buchanans!" (David Lewis)

>>>Now that's just downright dirty!!! And an unsuspecting listener hearing "Kind of a Drag" the first few times but not really settled in yet as to the name of the group (especially since this was the band's first national hit) could EASILY be misled to pick up the wrong version here. And listening to it is even WORSE ... Kind Of A Drag INDEED ... QUITE a drag, in fact ... as there is absolutely NO "ooomph" to this tepid recording ... I feel bad for ANY music fan out there who got duped into buying this pale comparison to the jumping original. Still hard to believe that this is how these guys conducted business back in the day. Worse yet, they got away with it ... and people bought 'em!!! (kk)

KK -
AMAZING!!! Someone trying to make dirty money off a rock band, unheard of!
WOW! Never heard that one before! Dirty and Scary!!!
Thanks for the mp3, I think?
"Hit Records", I wonder where it was done?
Thanks, again my friend.
Hope to see you this summer!
Be well.
Dennis Tufano
Hit Records was apparently a label out of Nashville ... and, from the sounds of things, they did HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of these "sound-alike" recordings ... ripping off just about EVERYBODY with rush-released, inferior cover versions of the hits ... then they sold them for 39-cents when the "real deal" went for about 99-cents ... unreal! (kk)
Thanks, Kent.
Man, We could've bought a few more Neru Jackets with those illegal sales!!
Sadly, the Music Industry has always been a den of iniquity for opportunists.
You, however, are a continuing source of truth and revelation in music.
United We Stand.
Mille Grazie
Dennis

Dennis' former partner Carl Giammarese was none too happy with the revelation of this recording either ... here's what Carl had to say:
Hi Kent,
Yeah, that is a drag. At least if it were a decent remake, I would take it as a compliment.
Thanks for sending,
Carl Giammarese

From what I understand, this version of "Keep On Dancin'" released on Hit Records is not by THE Gentrys but rather a Nashville knockoff group and the name just happened to accidentally get put on the label. I believe David is wrong by saying it is the same recording, as some web research shows posts on the Spectropop website stating that the version on the Hit 45 sounds more amateurish and raw. Indeed the hit (um, that is, the MGM version) was first issued on the Youngstown label, as the group's second 45 under that group name for the label. I don't have a copy of the Hit label version but Paul Urbahns might ... he's the first person I always go to when it comes to anything relating to the Hit label.
Tom Diehl
Having not heard David's single, I can't even offer an opinion ... so David maybe you can shed some additional light on this topic. (kk)

re: EDITED HITS:
When Warner Bros. edited "Tonight's the Night", they left the 'Spread Your Wings and Let Me Come Inside' lyric, but they cut out some woman sexually cooing French lyrics. After Rod sang "Woo!", that's when the woman did her bit, all they way through the fade (she faded out, also). I never really understood why the did that, considering a lot of people probably had no idea what she was saying. All the copies I have of that song have the 'Spread Your Wings' lyric.
Ed

re: AND WHITTLING DOWN YOUR IPOD:
>>>WANT TO PLAY WITH YOUR MUSIC? I keep about 50 songs on my mp3 player. Seems that even though I'm the 'dj', pick the songs, and they are favorites ... I GET SICK OF MOST OF THEM PRETTY QUICKLY! (I think it's mostly a mood thing) Although there are a few that stay forever. Here's an experiment ... Make a 50 song playlist of favorites on your own mp3 player
... MAKE THE PLAYLIST THE ONE YOU LISTEN TO DAILY. Then as you get sick of a song ... (no matter how much you think you love it) ... and in two weeks, see what you have left. I'd be curious to see what makes YOUR final 10 or 5 Songs that you just can't get enough of! MAYBE THE RESULTS COULD BE COMBINED TO MAKE A 'MASTER' MUST HEAR LIST (or start eliminating from that 'master' for the ultimate) ANY TAKERS? (renfield)
Kent,
I love where you're going on this, but for me to limit a play list to 40 or 50 songs, let alone 5, is equal to "Mission Impossible." We're talking nearly 60 years of music here -- and even if I limit it to the period 1954 to 1964 - probably my favorite years with a few exceptions (Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Paul Simon and a handful of others)
-- it's still impossible to limit it to just five.
However, the top five+ would absolutely have to include:
"Don't Be Cruel" (tied with "Loving You" and "Love Me Tender")
"Love Letters In The Sand" (tied with "The Great Pretender")
"That'll Be The Day" (tied with "Everyday" and "Oh, Boy")
"Travelin' Man" (tied with "Poor Little Fool")
"Don't Worry Baby" (tied with "Let It Be Me")
I just realized I must be a male chauvinist pig for not including any 'chick' singers. How about a separate Top 5+ for them:
"Who's Sorry Now" -- tied with "Lipstick On Your Collar"
"Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" tied with "Secret Love"
"Be My Baby"
"Tammy"
"Sincerely" (tied with "Sugartime" and "Mr. Sandman")
Okay, I still can't believe I just consolidated seven decades of music down to only 20 songs. It needs to be at least 50, Kent! Shame on you! :) Or, should I say "Ain't That A Shame!" :) Now I'm at 21!
Fred / "Music City, USA"
lol ... it's not OUR poll this time ... this idea came from R.I.P. Renfield ... and I guess he's already had a few frustrated takers on his challenge. (Of course, as Gary points out, in order for this to really work right, the REAL results won't come in for another week or two ... or more!) It's a catchy idea (not unlike the "Desert Island Discs" thing that went around a few year back ... only this time you can still go about your regular business!) I, for one, couldn't do it ... I've NEVER been able to narrow down even a Top Five by a given artist, much less five all-time favorites from the past fifty years!!! (But then again I don't own an iPod either!!! All my music is always available at my fingertips and, although I've thought many times about consolidating it down to an iPod, I'm not sure I could narrow that playlist down to less than 20,000 songs ... much less five!!!) kk


re: HOW'D YOU LIKE THE CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE
AN IDEA TO A BRAND NEW CD RELEASE?:
Hey, my friends, if you have not checked out a fairly new release I was associated with called "Book a Trip," you might be interested in these obscure tracks from the Capitol Records vaults from 66-69. I hope you find some cool sides to want to buy in here. There's some great tunes that deserve to be heard -- and from MASTER TAPES!!
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Trip-Sounds-Capitol-Records/dp/B003ODL3YW
I have been asked for input on the 2nd "Book a Trip" volume of obscure Capitol releases. Here's YOUR chance to help me give some ideas. Feel free to send me your Capitol obscure psych - pop faves from 66 - 69. Now is the time. Maybe you were in such a band that sent tapes in to Capitol and never got released too! If it fits the bill, you never know! Shameless promotion, ain't it!? What do you expect from a guy whose fave band is the Cryan Shames? :) Clark Besch
Well ... since you asked ... do you think there's any chance we could FINALLY get them to release the DJ edit of People's "I Love You" that I've been dying to own for 40-something years?!?!? I'm sure you'll get some other great suggestions, too ... just send 'em along to:
WLSCLARK@aol.com. (kk)

re: RECENT TOPICS:
Wowwwww Kent!
So many fascinating topics and artists and records and ... I'll just mention a couple or I'll be punching the keys all day.
I picked up the Wadsworth Mansion LP because I hadn't heard their follow-up tune "Michigan Harry Slaughter" since May, 1971, when 'CFL gave it some airplay and it didn't catch on. Apparently MHS dented the Cashbox charts at either #99 or #100 -- but it didn't even bubble under on Billboard. "Sweet Mary" fades out on the LP, or at least the pressing I found.
Cherry People's Heritage LP is really great for the sunshine-pop fans out there (I like Left Banke's version, too, which I hadn't heard before!! Left Banke was one of my favorite groups anyway!!!) with tunes such as "Girl On The Subway", "On To Something New" and "Light Of Love", which was also slated to be on the Music Explosion's debut LP and got replaced (confirm, anyone?). Cherry People's producers got penners like Larry Weiss, Linzer - Randell and Fischoff and his partner (the guys who gave us Keith's 98.6) for the LP.
Finally -- Evergreen Blues. Absolutely great group. Because the guys were halfway decent-looking, they were featured in one of those little books tailored for girls in the late sixties, talking about the Monkees, the Raiders and other supposedly "budding young rock and roll bands." That was where I first saw them. Never heard their take on "Midnight Confessions"
(though that would undoubtedly be intriguing) but they had a great 45 on ABC circa 1969, "The Moon Is High / Girl, I Got Wise." Downside: they'd gotten on the "brass wagon" by that time, but the tunes are both melodic, which IMO makes up for the overproduced jazziness!!! Anybody have their earlier sides to post?
Best,
Bobster
We featured the Evergreen Blues Band's original version of "Midnight Confessions" a while back ... but I have no problem spinning it again today. (kk)




On Brown Eyed Girl, toward the end of the song, Van shouts out "lying in the green grass" ... which is a reference to the earlier part of the song. With the lyrics change, this reference simply doesn't exist.
MARK

-- submitted by Ron Smith

re: PHIL COLLINS:
Kent ...
Phil is forced to quit, due to hearing problems & nerve damage to his hands.
Frank B.
We've been hearing about these issues for a while now ... too bad as he was a MAJOR force in music there for quite a few years. While working on another project, I was surprised to see that between 1984 and 1990, Phil Collins ran up a string of TWELVE Top Five Singles, including SEVEN #1 Records! ("Against All Odds", "One More Night", "Sussudio", "Separate Lives", "Groovy Kind Of Love", "Two Hearts" and "Another Day In Paradise".) In fact, during that stretch, the only song that missed The Top Five was "Take Me Home", which peaked at #7 ... pretty amazing indeed!

re: AND IN OTHER OLDIES NEWS:
Kent ...
Mick working on his 4th solo album.
Frank B.
Gee, I wonder if it will make as huge an impact as his first three did!!! (kk)

I'd like to nominate this fine tune as Forgotten Hall Of Fame Hit!!! ...
"Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games With Me)" by Crow, 1969.
http://www.angelfire.com/empire/abpsp/images/evilwoman.mp3
Thank You!!! :)
John
One of MY favorites, too ... and a HUGE hit here in Chicago, where it reached #6. (It peaked at #16 nationally.) Even bigger was their follow-up single "Cottage Cheese", which went all the way to #4 here in Chi-Town despite a #56 Billboard showing. And they kept the streak alive with their third single, too ... "(Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie On The) King Of Rock And Roll" reached #13 locally and peaked at #40 on the Cash Box Chart. (kk)
But DIDJAKNOW? that "Evil Woman" was also selected as the first single for Ozzy Osbourne's old band Black Sabbath???
Loved the song; dig the horns. Had the LP.
On Wiki it states the group did a demo for Columbia Records and after approval they were assigned to Amaret Records. I first thought Columbia owned Amaret. However, another site has Capitol Records as the distributor for Amaret. Strange. But it gets stranger.
On Amazon you can find K-Tel marketing Crow's material. Somewhere MGM is involved in this mess, too. But another Crow CD that is marketed by some strange label, one Amazon review suggests not to buy it, as the group won't receive and money royalties. Yet, Crow's web site
offers that CD, not the K-Tel one. Maybe the group owns their material? Maybe a FH reader may be able to clarify who owns what?
Signed,
Kent ...
He produced 700 recordings, including 30 #1's.
Frank B.
I found out last night that the original drummer of the Grass Roots, Rick Coonce, passed away on 2/26 from heart failure at age 64.We will miss you Ricky!
So I took the day off to play all their albums and remember his good natureness. He played drums in their hey-day from the mid 60's to the early 70's. In 1971, Rick left the band and immigrated to Canada. When he applied for citizenship, they told him that there was a point system. They asked him what his occupation was and he said musician. They immediately gave him the full ten points because they said they needed more musicians! He played in many groups since moving there. He loved the island that he lived on and had a farm and recording studio. He was approached by a friend to start working as a child protection social worker and did that important work in Canada for 27 years until his retirement. With his great sense of humor he was able to break the ice with many troubled children and families, helping them to find a road to a better life. Rick was a dedicated family man with a loving wife, two children and two grandchildren to fill his days. He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed the peaceful living at his home on Vancouver Island. He continued to write songs in his studio and had a great love for music, as always.
Mike De Martino,
PRESIDENT LOVEJOY MUSIC CLUB
Rick Coonce: August 1, 1946 – February 26, 2011

Rick Coonce is perhaps best remembered as a long time drummer for the popular Los Angeles rock band, the Grass Roots. The Grass Roots sold millions of albums and charted several times on both sales and radio charts during the late ’60s and early ’70s. Records like “Let's Live For Today,” “Midnight Confessions,” and “Temptation Eyes” are considered staples from the era. Coonce provided the back beat for the band during their hit period of 1967 to 1971. After leaving the group in 1971, he moved to Canada where he continued to record and perform with other bands. Rick Coonce was 64 when he passed away on February 26, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.

re: BUDDY HOLLY:

YouTube - HEY, BUDDY..tribute to Buddy Holly

Kent ...

Gary W. Moore got the title for his book from this John Mueller tribute song. Gary was doing his wife a favor - taking his Mother-in-Law to the Winter Dance Party Concert. He never heard of Buddy Holly or his music.

Let Gary explain it in his own words:

"I walked into that theater dreading the performance and left feeling compelled to write a book. How do you explain that to anyone?"

Interesting interview with Don McLean at the end of the book.

Frank B.

re: PSYCHEDELIC FAVORITES:
Hey man, park the Volvo, tune in, drop out again and check out some new tunes before you declare all time greatest psychedelic songs.
Check out any song by "The Black Angels" ... "The Cult" did a lot stuff in the early days like on Love or their first album, try "Six Organs of Admittance" and I have no other category for "The Violent Femmes" but psycho-delic. Not to be all negative ... I did get turned on to "Count Five" by your site. Sorry for not checking the whole list first, but was "Red Telephone" (Love) or "Mind Flower" (Ultimate Spinach) on there?
Wes Hammick
Ummm ... no ... actually NONE of your favorites made the list. But we got a pretty good representation of the music fans' votes when we conducted this poll about six years back. Yeah, it's mostly the popular stuff ... but that's the stuff that everybody knows. My guess is that they'll still be playing most of the songs on our list 20 years from now ... not so sure about the ones on YOUR list ... especially in that I haven't heard a single one of them in the past 20 years either! (kk)
To see which tunes DID make the list, be sure to check out our All-Time Favorite Psychedelic Songs List here ...
It is WITHOUT QUESTION the most popular page on our website, bar none!!!

re: JON ABNOR:
Kent,
As I stated in my last e-mail, I contacted DJ friend of mine here in OKC what he knew about Jon Abnor and whether he was still alive or not. He said that many years ago he had to testify in a trial Abnor was in. He knew about the shooting but was reluctant to talk about it. As far as I am concerned, the case is closed as to whether Jon Abnor is still alive or not. I know that some of your readers would be interested in knowing.
Larry
Well, apparently a few folks are still interested in talking about it ... while we haven't reached a definitive answer yet (unless you have one to share), we DID find out a bit more about the circumstances surrounding Jon's state of mental health and problems with the law ... read on. (kk)

While I can't comment on whether Jon Abnor is alive or not, I can give the facts regarding his crime. They all come from accounts of his trial at the time from the Dallas Morning News:
John Howard Abnor, Jr. (Jon of Jon and Robin and the In Crowd, and son of Abnak Records owner John Howard Abnor, Sr.) was found guilty of murder in October of 1981. He had been charged in the July, 1980 slaying of his one-time nurse and girlfriend, Janis Ballew in his North Dallas
apartment. She had been shot four times with his .30-30 rifle. The defense had argued during the six-week trial that John was mentally ill at the time of the shooting, which he admitted to police was during an argument over an abortion she had. But he was found fit to stand trial
and convicted. After only 2 ½ hours of deliberation, John was sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime, the maximum allowable by the state of Texas.
Janis met John while he was a patient in the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and she was a psychiatric nurse. Doctors there said he had been a "paranoid schizophrenic" and had "multiple stays" in institutions since 1966 and his father said he had spent $1.5 million on
psychiatric treatment for his son in the late '70s (the younger John almost never left his father's ranch from 1975 to 1978). John, Jr. and Janis dated for five months after his release from the facility, but the two argued frequently. After the shooting, John reportedly called his ex-wife, Sandy (with whom he has a son), and admitted the shooting, saying Janis had wanted him to marry her and got upset when she refused. John told two mental health experts he was high on drugs at the time, which the prosecution used to disputing the mental illness defense.
-- Ron Smith

re: THE BEACH BOYS:
>>>Other songs getting short changed at that time were "Little Girl I Once Knew" and "A Must to Avoid", which both got sales cut by the popularity of LP cuts "Barbara Ann" and "Listen People" getting released before they could complete great runs. "Caroline No" actually might have hurt "Sloop John B" as well, since both were on the charts soon thereafter. Had the Beatles issued "Michelle" as a 45, it most certainly would have played havoc with "We Can Work it Out" as it was actually more popular than the current 45 was at the time. Even our own Shadows of Knight's "Gloria" was hurt by many stations playing Them's version instead. "I Confess" actually may have hurt "I Lie Awake" since it was still charting in markets other than Chicago when "Awake" was released. An odd but exciting new music time! (WLSClark)
Thanks Clark (and Kent!) ...
For recognizing how Capitol Records' too quick release of Barbara Ann sabotaged Little Girl I Once Knew, already in the top twenty (after only a few weeks) and moving up the charts. If Capitol had waited 3-4 weeks, LGIOK would have certainly been top ten. Maybe the bigger problem for the Beach Boys was not the loss of another top ten hit, but the repeated perception they were at best a fun-party-school dance band. The quick disappearance of LGIOK, a song John Lennon raved about when he first heard it, kept top 40 listeners from realizing the progression Brian Wilson was achieving. Like the Beatles, Brian had matured musically and thematically. Fun, Fun, Fun had become Help Me Rhonda then the almost #1 hit, California Girls. Little Girl I Once Knew was the perfect bridge, the next progressive step, from California Girls to Pet Sounds.
Both Barbara Ann and Sloop John B, huge hits and songs that still sound great today, became thematic diversions and stylistic competition. It was as if Beach Boys hits were about to hinder Brian Wilson's artistic and creative expressions. Pet Sounds was a top ten album but considered, at the time, a failure. That diseased mindset infected his next project, SMiLE, which some music critics say would have topped Sgt. Pepper.
Music fans in the future will not be tethered to songs on the basis of their top 40 success. They will hear songs like Little Girl I Once Knew and recognize them for what they are, pop masterpieces.
Phil
PrayForSurf's Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Heroes & Villains List (voice your choice)
We DO make a pretty "Super" Team, don't we??? (lol ... Must be that Clark / Kent combo!) In hindsight, it almost seems that Capitol Records was hell-bent on destroying The Beach Boys' career around this time ... they were determined to permanently typecast them in the surfing / car songs mold and didn't seem to appreciate the fact that Brian Wilson was expanding as a songwriter and artist ... they simply did not want to see the group grow as artists, yet embraced every new sound and technology that The Beatles developed. Another good case in point would be their decision to release the first "Beach Boys Greatest Hits" album at exactly the same time "Pet Sounds" was climbing the charts, taking all of the focus of the band's new, evolving sound and feeding us a bunch of proven oldies instead ... it killed the sales of "Pet Sounds" practically over night. I don't think The Beach Boys ever truly got the respect they deserved at Capitol ... the focus was all on The Beatles at the time and nobody there was smart enough to realize that one band was directly responsible for inspiring the other to great heights ... it was this very back-and-forth that caused BOTH artists to produce some of the greatest works of the '60's. (kk)
And, in other Beach Boys news that's sure to make you SMiLE, here's the latest on the upcoming release of the long-delayed Beach Boys / "Smile" album, courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine:
Beach Boys to Officially Release Long-Incomplete Album 'Smile' This Year Recordings will be sold as double CD and box set
By Matthew Perpetua (March 11, 2011 11:50 AM ET)
Capitol Records have announced that they will be releasing the Beach Boys' lost, incomplete album Smile later this year. Smile was originally planned as the follow-up to the band's 1966 classic Pet Sounds, but the material was mostly abandoned due to creative mastermind Brian Wilson's fragile mental health at the time. Though no release date has been set, the official release of Smile will be sold as a two-CD set and as a deluxe box set including four CDs, two vinyl LPs, two vinyl singles and a 60-page hardbound book penned by Beach Boys historian Domenic Priore. The final track listing has not been announced, but disc one of the CD set and the first three sides of the vinyl edition will contain a close approximation of the Smile album, with the remainder collecting outtakes and alternate versions from the sessions. The Smile sessions have been widely bootlegged among fans for decades, but the proper track listing for the album has never been established, largely due to the fact that the record was never completed as intended. According to engineer Mark Linett, Brian Wilson's 2004 version of Smile has been used as the template for this project, though it could turn out a bit different depending on input from Wilson and the surviving members of the group.
The super deluxe edition sounds nothing short of amazing. (And remember, if this turns out to be a summer release, my birthday is August 27th ... and I would just LOVE to finally have a pristine copy of all this stuff after all these years!!! (kk)

re: TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT:
We wrapped up our week-long salute to this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees with a Neil Diamond tune on Friday. (It's all been part of our daily "Today's Forgotten Hit" feature that runs Monday through Friday exclusively on The Forgotten Hits Website.)
In addition to a couple of Neil Diamond comments we received last week, we also got a few comments about some of the other artists we saluted this past week. Read on!

NEIL DIAMOND:
Neil's almost complete collection of Bang label songs is finally released even if it is two songs short, and contains the album versions of the songs in mono. But it's great to have the material available again.
The 23 songs issued here, including the extremely rare "Time Is Now" previously only issued as the B side to Kentucky Woman", are the ones issued when Neil was with the label, on his albums and singles. The CD is mastered in clear, chrisp, loud and really jumps.
The two obvious omissions for fans are Crooked Street and Shot Down. Crooked Street is not included probably because it was done as a demo with only Neil and a guitar. But that provided an intimate few moments with a superstar just like if he was serenading you in your living room. This "unplugged" performance would have fit perfectly since Neil makes it clear in the liners he composed songs on a guitar, not a piano as most songwriters of the period did.
Shot Down a fine recording and the only explanation for it's omission, is because it was not initially released until several years after Diamond left the label.
But let's not dwell on it's short comings, the songs sound great and well worth purchasing.
Paul Urbahns
Radcliff Ky

Kent ...
Me and Neil have a lot in common.
We were both born in Brooklyn.
Okay, we only have one thing in common.
Frank B.

ALICE COOPER:
Interesting you chose "How You Gonna See Me Now?" to post - I used to have the "From The Inside" LP, with Bernie Taupin's lyrics. Always felt it was quite unevenly put together, yet still as a sort of "concept" album depicting the residents of a looney bin, for 1978 I felt it worked pretty well. JFTR, we used "Inmates (We're All Crazy)" in the play I got cast in last summer -- just because he references Lizzie Borden, who was one of the "characters."
Bob

DARLENE LOVE:
Kent,
I always did like Darlene Love's TODAY I MET THE BOY I'M GONNA MARRY. In fact, would you believe I got it out just a couple of nights ago and played it here at home.
What kind of boy did she marry? Why, A FINE FINE BOY!
Larry
DR. JOHN:
Kent ...
Check out "The Night Tripper"
Frank B.

You site is still cranking out the best reading and listening on the web. Keep up the good work.
Here's another list of my faves that never seem to get played on oldies(???)radio.
Jeans On - David Dundas
Goin' Down on the Road to L.A. - Terry Black & Laurel Ward
Playgirl - Thee Prophets
Sweetest Thing This Side of Heaven - Chris Bartley
If This Is Love - Precisions
Michael (The Lover) - C.O.D's
All These Things - Joe Stampley (extended version, with strings)
Graham Nash - Chicago
Honeycone - While You're Out Looking For Sugar
Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street
Wade Flemmons - Here I Stand
Natural Four - Can This Be Real
Percy Sledge - Take Time to Know Her
James Brown - I Got the Feelin'
Beginning of the End - Funky Nassau
Maybe one of these will qualify for your oldie of the day.
Jim B
Without giving too much away, a couple of these ARE coming up in the weeks to come. (Actually, we just did "Funky Nassau" a few weeks ago!) "Take Time To Know Her" by Percy Sledge is a personal favorite ... and another one of those that belongs on the tail end of our "One You Know ... One You Didn't Even Know You Forgot" twin-spins. Glad you're diggin' Forgotten Hits! Watch for brand new "Today's Forgotten Hit" postings Monday through Friday on The Forgotten Hits Website. (In fact, Monday's song will be posted sometime before 10 PM tonight, Central Standard ... and now Daylight Savings ... Time! (kk)

Here's another choice pick for you ...
The Critters - Younger Girl
You got it right, another fine New Jersey group!!
Big deal, so it didn't make US Top 40, but it was popular in New Jersey!!
Didn't that other group, The Lovin' Forkful, do this song, too!!???
http://www.angelfire.com/empire/abpsp/images/youngergirl.mp3
Best,
John :-)
One of OUR favorites. (Frannie prefers The Lovin' Spoonful original ... I'm partial to The Critters' version 'cause that's the one I heard first ... and I think they did a FINE job on this. Neither one of us were particularly knocked out by the one recorded by The Hondells!)

re: SUN RECORDS:
>>>The Gentrys' version of "Cinnamon Girl" was a really good "pop" rendition of this Neil Young album rock track. It got as high as #45 in Cash Box Magazine in 1970. Interesting to see that the band had signed to the legendary Sun Records label by then ... I don't think anybody even knew that Sun was still in business in 1970! (kk)
Regarding Sun Records in 1970, please be aware that that was one year after Shelby Singleton (see attached photo) had purchased all rights to the label and its masters from Sun founder Sam Phillips. Shelby and Sam remained close friends until Sam's passing in 2003, two years after they and I had dinner together on the night Sam was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Now THAT was a memorable evening!
Sam Phillips was a big believer in hit singles but not albums. Therefore, he released very few LPs during his tenure heading the Sun label. Shelby, though, was convinced that he could compile a string of hit LPs strong enough to reach Billboard's album charts from the Sun archives -- and he proved himself right.
Beyond that, as former Sun stars Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis were still highly viable chartmakers, albeit on other labels, Shelby was sure he could issue old vault tracks as new singles and score new hits with material Sam had overlooked. Again, Shelby was correct -- as a host of old Sun tracks he exhumed became country and even pop hits after 1969 ("Get Rhythm," "Invitation to Your Party," "One Minute Past Eternity," "I Can't Seem To Say Goodbye," etc.)
The point is that in 1970 and the years surrounding that date -- when The Gentrys resurfaced with "Cinnamon Girl" and "Why Should I Cry" on Sun -- it and Shelby's other labels, like Plantation (Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley P.T.A."), SSS International (Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson's "Lover's Holiday") and Amazon (The Rugbys' "You I") were all active and selling music.
Sun, the most legendary of them all, was the busiest of the bunch -- issuing "Original Golden Hits" retrospective LPs on not just Cash and Lewis but Carl Perkins, Carl Mann, Charlie Rich, Bill Justis and other acts on the roster. Later came releases of new and old material by Patsy Cline, Patti Page, Webb Pierce, Dave Dudley, Johnny Horton, Leroy Van Dyke, The Vogues, the Red Bird / Blue Cat stars (The Dixie Cups, The Shangri-Las, etc.) and a whole lot more. Shelby, a former master promoter and producer for Mercury Records, wasted no time in maximizing the potential of Sun's past and present from the moment he took over until his passing in 2009. Every year during CMA week, I'd come to Nashville and Shelby once more would prove to be the ultimate host. He knew everybody in town and everyone knew him. Shelby's brother John now holds down the fort at one of the most legendary independent labels of all time.
At their website -- sunrecords.com -- you'll read the slogan "where rock 'n' roll was born." That's not really true, of course, but Sun was the birthplace of a lot of legendary masters from rock, country and R&B's earlier years.
Gary Theroux

re: THE MONKEES:
Want a chance to win a copy of the brand new Eric Lefcowitz book "Monkee Business: The Revolutionary 'Made-For-TV' Band"? After our interview ran on the website last week, Eric was so pleased that he agreed to give away a copy to one lucky Forgotten Hits reader. In fact, he even came up with a trivia question ... and the FIRST ONE IN with the correct answer will win a copy of his new book! (kk)
"What was The Monkees' highest charting B-side?"
Think you know the answer? Then drop us a line ... quick! ... and we'll get a copy of this hot new book off to you! (kk)

Hi Kent:
I just wanted to thank you for the excellent article that was published yesterday in Forgotten Hits. I've been sending it all around to everyone I know and I believe it will prove very beneficial in terms of promoting the book. Anyway, I was raving to David Salidor about it and asked him for your email and just wanted to drop a quick note of thanks.
Best regards,
Eric

Thanks for running the Eric Lefcowitz interview ... getting tremendous comments from all!
David Salidor

When I read the Monkees' tour schedule, I turned to my husband and informed him that we have a concert to attend in July. I'll let you know how the Greek performance was.
Suzanne

re: ON THE RADIO:
Here's more on the new K-Hits Radio Format coming to Chicago on Monday ... submitted by recent Forgotten Hits Interviewee, Ron Smith!!!
Kinda cool that they're switching over at EXACTLY 1:04 PM ... and many locals WILL consider this a long-sought-after victory as "oldies" returns to the Magic 104 spot on the dial. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out against Chicago's OTHER oldies stations (True Oldies, broadcasting on WLS-FM, 94.7) and Y-103.9 FM where they regularly play music off the beaten play list path. (And who said oldies music was dead?!?!?) kk

Hi there !
We would love to be added to your list of Oldies websites!
We are an All Oldies, All the time Internet Radio Station.
We pride ourselves on taking care of our listeners requests for all those golden oldies songs you never hear anymore.
We also offer a totally free unlimited webcam video chatroom for Oldies music fans to gather. Unlike the rest of the Internet's chatrooms , we have absolutley NO DRAMA there. It is a place where people can gather, relax, have fun, have good conversation, listen to great music, meet new people, and not have to deal with all the annoyances that you normally find in chats everywhere. It isn't tolerated on our site.
Please stop by visit and say hello ... and I hope that you will consider adding us as a link
Thank You!
John Michaels
Owner
BullsEye Radio
All Oldies, All the time
http://www.bullseyeradio.com/

re: WHAT IS AN "OLDIE"?:
>>> What is an "oldie"?
Unfortunately, I am an oldie. But a goodie, I hope.
Ed44

Does my mother-in-law count as an oldie?
(Just kidding)
Hey Kent!
Long time, no type!
Come get some ice cream ... we are already open for the 2011 season.
Stay well,
Paul Russo
Cool Scoops

... and the answer is ...
I am an Oldie.
Paul Evans

Hi Kent,
As an estimate, I would say 1954 (Rock Around The Clock) to around 1969. (End of The Beatles Era). However, I suppose it's what a person listened too when they were young.
In which case, I might choose - "Mary Had A Little Lamb" - By Thomas Edison.
Arnold Kirkbride

I quote Paul McCartney (and John Lennon) ...
"We used to say to each other, 'if we can't remember it tomorrow, it's no good.'"
So, if you can't remember those "oldies" ... without someone reminding you ... they probably weren't good!
John :-)
I think we ALL have some long-forgotten favorites that have disappeared from the memory banks due to lack of exposure after so many years. Granted, many times I'll play or hear a song that I absolutely LOVED back in the day only to wonder "What the heck was I thinking?!?!?" ... and the TRUE favorites ... the really GREAT ones ... never really leave you ... but we've done a pretty good job of "reminding" people about some of the music they may have forgotten through no fault of their own ... it's simply been ignored for SO long that, for all intents and purposes, it has ceased to exist. (kk)

We'll run more of your "What Is An 'Oldie'?" comments throughout the week next week on the web page ... so check back often. And, if YOU'VE got something you'd like to say on this topic, drop us a line at forgottenhits@aol.com. Thanks! (kk)