Tuesday, January 3, 2012

A Few New Comments

Happy New Year again, everybody!  

Let's kick 2012 off with a few of your most recent comments ... 

re:  UP COMING (AND RECENT) SHOWS:  
JAY & THE TECHNIQUES WILL BE APPEARING AT THE HOTEL BETHLEHEM IN BETHLEHEM, PA ON JANUARY 12th!  

Some upcoming Tommy Roe dates include:
April 7 - 8: Riverside Casino ... Riverside, IA

April 14:  Seneca Niagara Casino ... Niagara Falls, NY

May 25:  Century Casino ... Edmonton AB, Canada

June 16:  Fountain of Life Festival ... Gray, TN
(Tommy doesn't do many winter dates ... he spends his time golfing in Palm Springs!)  

Friends ... Have a marvelous , safe, and successful 2012!!  
Me ... I am livin' the life!  I live right at St. Augustine Beach ... still get to tour with TOMMY ROE ... play in my own local band ... make pottery, yoga, etc.  All said, that's what life's about.  
I really really hope we can bring a TOMMY ROE show to you for a weekend this year ... we will work with you.  After all, 2012 is the 50th ANNIVERSARY of SHEILA, his first number one.  THE SHOW IS GREAT!
Happy New Year  
RICK LEVY   
We've mentioned a Tommy Roe show to a few of the promoters here locally on the list ... but if anyone else out there would like more information on booking Tommy for an appearance next year ... which I guess is now THIS year ... just drop me a note and I'll be happy to hook you up with Rick Levy, his manager and band leader.  (Rick mentioned that Tommy would SURE like to play Las Vegas in 2012!!!  In addition, he suggested something more along the lines of a "Performing Arts" venue as an idea concert location.  Would love to help make this  happen!)  kk  


re:  RADIO MEMORIES:
Hi Kent,
A friend sent this to me. You may have seen all these photos already, but if not, enjoy :)
The good ol' days when Radio Stations played a little bit of all genres of music! We were
blessed!
Debe Welch
Yep, some GREAT memories here ... scroll all the way down to find more links (including some vintage 'CFL airchecks). 
Here's a photo of my WCFL T-Shirt ... 

You can order your very own here: 
Click here: RadioLogoLand: Tshirts for vintage "W" radio stations in Illinois  


>>>Could this be the same Johnny Holliday who charted at #40 on the November 25, 1961 WLS Silver Dollar Survey with "One More Time" on Roulette?  (Ed)  
Happy New Year Kent;
A reader asked about Johnnie Holliday’s “One More Time” single that charted at #40 on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey for November 25, 1961. I was hosting the “East of Midnight” show on LS on that date and while I don’t recall that artist or the song.
Here’s how some of those songs charted.
Sam Holman was the PD and his office would actively survey record sales each week. The top 20 or 25 songs would indicate movement and interest from the public ... however beyond that number, it was simply a case of what caught Sam’s ear. After a week or three in the music rotation if a song such as “One More Time” didn’t indicate sales it was dropped.
Clark Weber  


re:  THIS AND THAT:
Caught a couple young girls performing that '50's song, "Tonight You Belong To Me", live, in a Borders' book store.
John  
We might be able to attribute this one to the hot new FX Television Series "American Horror Story" ... they've featured the tune twice now (on both the first and last episode of the first season) ... and even our 15 year old has been walking around the house singing it!
It's what I keep saying ... expose this new, younger generation to this great music ... and they'll fall in love with it just like WE did ... all over again!  The Patience and Prudence hit is about as unlikely a crowd-pleaser as any these days ... but clearly we've both witnessed evidence to the contray.  (DeeJays ... Programmers ... Consultant "Experts" ... are ANY of you paying attention?!?!?)  kk 




Speaking of great music coming at you out of nowhere, we rented the new remake movie "Straw Dogs" over the holidays ... and I was COMPLETELY blown away to find The Monkees belting out their GREAT B-Side "Goin' Down" after the opening credits ... only to find another Favorite, Forgotten B-Side ... "Summer Wine" by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood ... featured later in the movie.  Looks like SOMEBODY's been checking the Forgotten Hits website!!!  (kk)







It's ALWAYS cool to hear something TOTALLY unexpected completely out of the blue ... purely by coincidence, here's an email we received today from FH Reader Clark Besch: 

Hi,
Here's a one in a million New Year's Eve tale for you Cryan' Shames fans. 
We went to the big city today (Omaha) and were shopping and stopped in to eat at the Nebraska old fashioned hamburger chain store "Don & Millie's" which have the best hamburgers in the state, IMO, reminiscent of the old 60's area chain "King's Food Host."  Anyway, they have great food and a jukebox with 45s and when it is not in use, they play 60's and 50's classic 45s. 
Anyway, we stopped in for lunch there about 12:15 this afternoon and immediately were humming along with the Hollies' "On a Carousel."  As we started to eat, my ears could not believe what I was hearing.  Those opening guitar bass lines were SOOOO familiar, but could it be?  IT WAS!!  Over the store speakers came "We Could be Happy" by the Cryan' Shames!!  Between Ricky Nelson's "Never Be Anyone Else but You" and Little Richard's "Tutti Fruitti" came Toad's sweet vocals of a B side classic!!  A one in a million to have it played there in those circumstances and even more amazing that I WAS THERE when it happened!!! 
I waited until the last day of the year to hear the most surprising and cool happening I had in music in 2011.  Gives me hope for the New Year!  Hope you all have a great one. 
Clark Besch  

Frannie and I were inspired to watch "Deliverance" over the long holiday weekend.  Truth be told, I had never seen that movie all the way through before ... so it was a new experience for me.
But the incredible use of "Dueling Banjos" in that film is quite inspired ... so I just HAD to play this one today.  Now THIS is a song that ought to get a radio spin once in a while.  (They sure played the heck out of it when it was out!!!)


 


Hi Kent:  

Another name missing from the list of people we lost last year was Hubert Sumlin who was Howlin’ Wolf’s great Guitar Player! I think he had a slightly bigger impact than Andrea True.  

Ken 

Hmmm ... I dunno about that ... did Hubert ever do porn???


Actually, we found quite a few more deserving names missing from this list.  In 2011, we also said goodbye to:


January 4 - Grady Chapman - lead singer of The Robins ("Smokey Joe's Cafe")
January 10 - Margaret Whiting
February 6 - Gary Moore (blues guitarist and early member of Thin Lizzy)
February 22 - Jean Dinning (sister of Mark Dinning ... she wrote his #1 Hit "Teen Angel")
February 25 - Rick Coonce - drummer for The Grass Roots
February 26 - Mark Tulin - bass player for The Electric Prunes
March 4 - Johnny Preston ("Running Bear")
March 8 - St. Clair Lee (Baritone singer in The Hues Corporation)
March 12 - Joe Morello (Drummer for The Dave Brubeck Quintet)
March 18 - Jet Harris (Bassist of the British Instrumental Sensations, The Shadows)
March 21 - Pinetop Perkins (according to the piece I read, "one of the oldest living pianists ... his 'Pinetop's Boogie Woogie' was later redone by Ray Charles as 'Mess Around'")
March 26 - Carl Bunch - Buddy Holly's drummer on his ill-fated Winter Dance Party Tour.  (Says here that he wasn't on the doomed plane because he had frostbite!  Wonder if he ALSO lost the coin toss!)
April 5 - Gil Robbins (of The Highwaymen)
April 23 - Tom King (The Outsiders) and Producer Huey Meaux
April 29 - David Mason (the horn player who played the famous piccolo trumpet solo on The Beatles' #1 Hit "Penny Lane")
May 3 - Odell Brown (co-wrote Marin Gaye's hit "Sexual Healing")
May 7 - John Walker (The Walker Brothers)
May 10 - Norma Zimmer (the "Champagne Lady" on the old Lawrence Welk television show)
May 12 - Lloyd Knibb - drummer for The Skatalites
May 13 - Jack Richardson, producer of The Guess Who
May 18 - Bob Flanigan, one of The Four Freshmen
June 2 - Ray Bryant ("The Madison Time")
June 3 - Benny Spellman (bass vocal on the #1 Hit "Mother-In-Law")
June 8 - Alan Rubin - "Mr. Fabulous" in The Blues Brothers' band (and trumpet player on Saturday Night Live)
June 14 - Mack Self (early Sun Records rock-a-billy pioneer)
June 16 - Wild Man Fischer (a long-time Dr. Demento favorite)
July 5 - Fonce Mizell (co-wrote and co-produced the early Jackson Five hits "I Want You Back", "ABC" and "The Love You Save")
July 13 - Jerry Ragovoy (songwriter:  "Time Is On My Side" and "Piece Of My Heart")
July 17 - Alex Steinweiss - who, it says here, "was a graphic designer who, while working at Columbia Records, invented, developed and popularized the album cover".
July 29 - Gene McDaniels ("A Hundred Pounds Of Clay")  How was HIS name left off the original list?!?!?
August 7 - Marshall Grant - bass player for Johnny Cash's original back-up band, The Tennessee Two

August 15 - Betty Thatcher - Renaiisance
August 20 - Ross Barbour - another member of The Four Freshmen
August 29 - David "Honeyboy" Edwards - "last surviving witness to the death of Robert Johnson"
September 6 - Wardell Quezergue - known as The Creole Beethoven", he recorded King Floyd's "Groove Me" and Jean Knight's "Mr. Big Stuff" with the same band, in the same studio, on the same afternoon!
September 16 - Willie "Big Eyes" Smith - played blues harp with Muddy Waters
September 21 - John Du Cann - Atomic Rooster
September 27 - Johnnie Wright - one half of the country duo Johnnie and Jack
October 9 - Bill Brown, one of the first oldies deejays (and a New York broadcasting legend for over 30 years)
October 12 - Joel DiGregorio (pianist, Charlie Daniels Band)
October 12 - Paul Leka (produced a number of bubblegum hits in the '60's including "Green Tambourine" and Steam's "Na Nah, Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye")
October 14 - Chuck Ruff (Drummer, The Edgar Winter Group)
October 29 - Sir Jimmy Savile (British TV Host and oldies deejay)
November 14 - Lee Pockriss (songwriter; "Catch A Falling Star", "Johnny Angel" and MY First 45, "Itsy Bitsy, Teenie-Weenie, Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini")
November 15 - Moogy Klingman - Utopia
December 8 - Bob Burnett (another member of The Highwaymen) and Dick Sims (Eric Clapton's organist on many of his solo hits)
December 18 - Ralph MacDonald (songwriter: "Just The Two Of Us" and "Where Is The Love")  kk 

What, no mention of Gene McDaniels (July 29, 2011)? Is VintageVinyl trying to rival the Oscar telecast in terms of controversial inclusions and omissions? :)
MF Ping

We noticed it, too ... and rectified it above!  (kk)  

Here are more details regarding Sean Bonniwell's recent death ...
Mickey

Sad to hear about Sean Bonniwell's death. I just played "The People In Me" the other day!  

Did anyone notice on Jay & The Techniques' Ed Sullivan appearance:  The recording (if that's what it was) is speeded up and Jay Proctor sings the 1st verse over again -- also, I don't like that false ending.  Keep The Ball Rollin' was one of the tunes that got me started with "Kiddie A-Go-Go" and Top 40 radio in Chicago. 

BTW Happy 2012 to one and all. 

Bobster


re:  AND A NEW PASSING ALREADY IN 2012:
Kent ... 
Somebody on Facebook is reporting that Fred Milano of the Belmonts has died.
Here's more information on Fred Milano's death:
Frank B.
Fred Milano (born August 22, 1939 in New York) is an American doo-wop singer. He is a member of The Belmonts who became successful in the late 1950s as Dion and the Belmonts[1] and in the early 1960s.  Fred passed away on January 1st, 2012.
Tom Cuddy 

Fred Milano, second tenor with the Belmonts, died Monday (January 1) of apparent lung cancer. He was 72. Formed in 1957 as the Tamerlanes, the group was soon paired with Dion DiMucci on Mohawk Records before joining Laurie Records as the Dion and the Belmonts (named after Belmont Avenue in the Bronx where Fred lived) the following year. Their first Laurie single, "I Wonder Why" that year, reached #22 on the charts. It was followed by such hits as "No One Knows" (#19-1958) and "Don't Pity Me" (#40-1958), which led to the groups's inclusion on the ill-fated Winter Dance Party tour that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in early 1959. Other hits included "Where Or When" (#3-1960), "A Teenager In Love" (#5-1959) and "When You Wish Upon A Star" (#30-1960). Dissatisfied with the musical direction they had headed down, Dion left the group in late 1960. The Belmonts, with Carlo Mastrangelo now on lead, charted eight more times, (mostly on Sabine Records) including "Tell Me Why" (#18-1961) and "Come On Little Angel" (@28-1962). They reunited with Dion for a Rock 'n' Roll Revival Show in New York in 1972 and continued performing and recording under various incarnations to this day. The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
-- Ron Smith


Here's an official statement released by Dion regarding the passing of Fred Milano:
With everyone who loves the roots of rock 'n' roll, I'm mourning the loss of Freddie Milano. Fred played an important role in my younger life. He was a boyhood friend from the Bronx and one of the original members of Dion and the Belmonts. He was very savvy with harmonies. We had our ups and downs through the years but that's how things go in families, even rock 'n' roll families. I will always remain grateful for his contribution in 1958 and 59; may he rest in peace and rock on in heaven.
-- Dion Dimucci
 

re:  BYE BYE CD's:


Hey Kent, 

I thought you might want to read this after seeing the post from your reader about CD cut outs.  Or they making this up to justify getting rid of cd's?


Mickey 
We've been hearing this for at least six months now ... "hard copy" CD's will go by the wayside in favor of digital downloading.  Too bad ... 'cause there's just something about holding the box, cover and liner notes in your hand that has always held a great appeal for me.  (kk)

re:  DARLENE LOVE:
Here's a clip of a brand new CBS News Feature spotlighting Darlene Love.
Tom Cuddy

re:  HAPPY NEW YEAR:
Kent ...
I'm sending New Year's greetings with Bobby Darin's old girlfriend, JoAnn Campbell, to remind you of your promise to re-play your Bobby Darin Series.
Frank B.


Actually, I just read that there's a Bobby Darin / Sandra Dee movie on TCM tonight for New Year's Day.  Still no immediate plans to rerun the series (actually what we'll do is permanently post it on the other Forgotten Hits Website ...
Click here: Forgotten Hits - The Bobby Darin Story ... where we've been teasing it for YEARS now!!!)  But I have been giving some thought to another special excerpt from the series to tie into another piece that I'm currently working on ... so stay tuned!!!  (kk)  

Hi Kent
Here's a great New Years song featuring Joel Katz, Bobby Jay and Eugene Pitt. 
A perfect song for this time of year. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhzTKH6WNlA 
Dave Judovin 
Cameo / Parkway 

More Doo-Wop New Years below ...
Happy New Year Kent & family.
Here's the perfect song for New Years Day.
Frank B.
 
Click here: The Heartbeats-After New Year's Eve (Is Over) - YouTube


Thanks for all your hard work compiling the Forgotten Hits newsletter.
What would we do without you!!
You and the wife have a Healthy and Happy New Year.
Mike De Martino
President of the Lovejoy Music Club (where vinyl still lives)
Thanks, Mike ... and the very best to you and yours as well!  (kk)

Kent ...
What to do?
Have to go to two stores that open at 7:00 AM ... but I don't want to miss song #101 on the WCBS-FM Party Songs Countdown that starts at 7:00 AM.
What to do?
Leave early and hope for the best.
Leave my house at 6:46 AM.  No ice on car windows. Good ... that saves time.
Stop 1 = Buy two newspapers, one racing program + Take Five Lottery Tickets.
Stop 2 = Dry Cleaners. Pick up Yankee blanket.
Back home and happy to report ---
101 = I Love New York - Sal Soul Orchestra
100 = On Broadway - George Benson
99 = Get Down Tonight - KC & Sunshine Band
98 = Working For The Weekend - Loverboy
97 = Nights On Broadway - Bee Gees
Elvis just checked in at #80 with A Little Less Conversation.  (I wasn't expecting to hear him on this countdown!)
Too much Disco for my taste. Guess I'll still listen.
Frank B.
And then later ...
Kent ...
Here's the # 1 song on the WCBS-FM Top 101 Party Songs.
#101 = I Love New York
#1 = New York, New York.

Here's the whole list, for anybody interested in checking it out.

Frank B.

For a GREAT Rockin' New Year's Eve Memory, be sure to check out David Beard's column on the 1974 celebration ... starring Chicago and The Beach Boys!!! (kk)
Click here: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Chicago and The Beach Boys - National Beach Boys | Examiner.com


Thanks for featuring NEW YEAR'S CAROL again this year, Kent. 
Best wishes for 2012 and beyond.
Bob Lind
Happy to, Bob, it's a great song!  And best wishes to you and yours as well as we make our way thru 2012!  (kk)