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Thanks for a countdown just for MEEEEEEE! Lol! Can't wait to read the rest.
BritInvLvr
BritInvLvr
Kent,
I am not sure that this subject has been approached on your list or not but let me stir up some controversy in light of your announced The British Invasion special countdown ...
A lot of people credit The Beatles with starting the British Invasion. But actually the British Invasion term is not about the Beatles but the "other" non-Beatle groups that invaded on their coattails.
As I remember it, and yes I am old enough ...
When the Beatles hit, (January, 1964) everybody thought it was a fluke and would not last long. It was just one group. But then Columbia's Epic label started issuing records by The Dave Clark Five and they were popular in February, 1964, with their first disk, Glad All Over." That proved that record companies could have hits with other British groups besides The Beatles, so they all tried to sign groups after that. At that point, the "British Invasion" was on.
So I propose, that The Dave Clark Five started the "British Invasion" as I believe they were the first non-Beatles group to hit the charts following the Beatles success.
Pass it on ... and yes you can use my name ...
Paul Urbahns
Radcliff, Ky
Without question, The Beatles opened the floodgates ... and then all of the other record companies went scrambling to see what OTHER sounds were coming out of England that were racing up the charts. And once the dam burst, it was pretty much over for many of our favorite American artists. Technically, The Dave Clark Five, Herman's Hermits, The Searchers, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Peter and Gordon, The Zombies, The Animals, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Chad and Jeremy and several others ALL scored MAJOR U.S. Hits before 1964 was over ... The British Invasion was in full swing and these acts continued to dominate the charts for the next two years. It was a VERY exciting time ... and radio and TV were both quick to react and push these acts like crazy. (kk)
COMMENTARY: One has to remember that prior to 1964, rock and roll music was decidedly American ... WE invented it and it took the world by storm. Kids growing up in England lived for the latest, hot new sounds coming from across the pond ... and brand new pop / rock bands became all the fashion as they tried to emulate those sounds themselves. (Ironically, virtually the exact same thing happened here in The States a few years later once we discovered these British acts ... suddenly EVERYBODY wanted to be in a rock band and guitars and drum sets went flying off the shelves and into people's garages!)
Ironically, a lot of this early success involved simply feeding us back that very same late '50's and early '60's American Rock And Roll, but with a British beat this time ... a brand new twist that some of us may have missed the first time around ... a new spin on a time-proven formula that made everything sound fresh and new again.
As a result, you had groups like The Searchers hitting the charts with "Love Potion Number Nine", The Dave Clark Five scoring with remakes of "Do You Love Me", "I Like It Like That", "You Got What It Takes" and "Reelin' And Rockin'"; Herman's Hermits finding great success with their versions of "Wonderful World" and "Silhouettes" ... and dipping WAY back in the time machine for "I'm Henry the VIII, I Am", a number one record. Even The Rolling Stones and The Beatles ... who would "grow" into themselves right before our very eyes ... peppered their acts in the early years with creative renditions of old American rock and roll classics. (Speaking of dipping back, how about The Animals' recording of "House Of The Rising Sun"?!?! I'll tell you what ... as an eleven year old kid, I'd never heard the blues before ... when this song came screaming out of my radio for the very first time, I didn't know WHAT to think!!! All I knew was that I loved it ... and wanted to hear more!)
It was an exciting time to say the least. And we'll be recapping The 100 Biggest Hits of this era all week long in Forgotten Hits. (kk)
Hello kk -
Just wanted to let you know that I ordered Dann's book from Amazon and it should reach me on Thursday when I will read it ... I LOVE books that are accurate don't you?
I wonder if you ever listen to my show on Sirius XM? I am having fun telling stories and some whoppers, too ... lots of my stories are true and are better than a book for me.
I will eventually do my book when everyone else has done one, and I am hoping mine will be fun and I promise not to make it up about who was doing who, where and when, because I didn't see a thing, your honour!
Hope all is well with you and that we see you at the Merrilville concert.
(I spelled Merrilville wrong on purpose to entice your reader(sic) to riot.)-- Peter Noone
Dann's book is no rewrite of history ... in fact, it captures history EXACTLY as it happened ...
It's a detailed analysis of the Billboard Charts, 1960 - 1969, ranking every song in order based on accumulated points racked up at the time.
And in our Top 100 recap of 1964 and 1965, you'll find that Herman's Hermits did quite well.
In fact in MY final analysis, I wrote:
"Peter Noone is still charming his audiences around the globe. People tend to underestimate the impact of Herman's Hermits ... but there was no greater British success next to The Beatles. Sure, people today talk about The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who and even The Dave Clark Five ... but it was Herman's Hermits who were really second in line to the British Royalty Crown on the US charts."
In the overall scheme of things, Herman's Hermits finished as the #25 Act of the entire decade ... ahead of The Dave Clark Five, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Monkees, The Young Rascals, Tommy James and the Shondells and nearly 1800 other artists who also charted during the '60's.
You've got six songs in The Top 100 Biggest British Invasion Hits of 1964 - 1965, including "Mrs. Brown" at #6, "Henry the VIII" at #17, "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" at #23, "Silhouettes" at #39, "I'm Into Something Good" at #52 and "Just A Little Bit Better" at #56. (Six out of the Top 60?!?!? That's 10%!!!)
The only British acts ahead of you are The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. (kk)
Get ready for another rush of Beatlemania: 2013 marks 50 years since the band’s first U.K. chart topper, and next February is the 50th anniversary of their U.S. invasion. Start with the charming documentary Good Ol’ Freda (in theaters, on demand, and on iTunes Sept. 6), about Liverpool teen Freda Kelly, who ran the Beatles’ fan club until 1972. Amazingly, she never cashed in on her memorabilia, which is still stored in her attic.
Get ready for another rush of Beatlemania: 2013 marks 50 years since the band’s first U.K. chart topper, and next February is the 50th anniversary of their U.S. invasion. Start with the charming documentary Good Ol’ Freda (in theaters, on demand, and on iTunes Sept. 6), about Liverpool teen Freda Kelly, who ran the Beatles’ fan club until 1972. Amazingly, she never cashed in on her memorabilia, which is still stored in her attic.
Dave Barry
Kent,
Really enjoyed your three songs you posted today. Haven't heard the DC5 tune on the air in ages. Always did like Chad & Jeremy"s YESTERDAY'S GONE. That song reminded me of a cover version out at the same time by a group known as the Overlanders on Hickory Records. I liked their version, as Herman's Hermits would have said, "just a little bit better".
Larry
As you know by now, "Just A Little Bit Better" was another one of our featured tunes in this very special countdown ... always one of MY favorites, too.
The Overlanders were another British pop band ... their version of "Yesterday's Gone" faded quickly from view once the Chad and Jeremy version hit the charts. They had a big hit here in Chicago with a follow up release, too ... "Don't It Make You Feel Good", one of my favorite forgotten gems. (kk)
Reelin' And Rockin'? From A Window? Yesterday's Gone? THOSE ARE THE 'LOSERS'??!!??
Kent,
Really enjoyed your three songs you posted today. Haven't heard the DC5 tune on the air in ages. Always did like Chad & Jeremy"s YESTERDAY'S GONE. That song reminded me of a cover version out at the same time by a group known as the Overlanders on Hickory Records. I liked their version, as Herman's Hermits would have said, "just a little bit better".
Larry
As you know by now, "Just A Little Bit Better" was another one of our featured tunes in this very special countdown ... always one of MY favorites, too.
The Overlanders were another British pop band ... their version of "Yesterday's Gone" faded quickly from view once the Chad and Jeremy version hit the charts. They had a big hit here in Chicago with a follow up release, too ... "Don't It Make You Feel Good", one of my favorite forgotten gems. (kk)
Reelin' And Rockin'? From A Window? Yesterday's Gone? THOSE ARE THE 'LOSERS'??!!??
What an extraordinary time for music.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
Hey Kent,
Hey Kent,
British Invasion? You’re playing my song! (sorry). 1964 - 1965 changed my life. Until then I was listening to my sister’s 45s. Now the world changes, February 9th, 1964. (The Beatles on Sullivan.) Band after band from England dominate the radio airwaves. One band I always liked was the “Hullaballoos”, England’s Newest Singing Sensations, as they were billed on their first of two albums. Two minor hits in the Twin Cities, “Did You Ever” and “I’m Gonna Love You, Too”. Both albums had several Buddy Holly covers. They made several appearances on the Hullabaloo TV show. Their gimmick was all four members had bleached blonde hair. Didn’t have any real impact in America like so many of the other British bands, but still a footnote in music history. Both of these singles are available on You Tube. Hope your readers check them out. P.S. Music trivia,The band name was spelled with two L’s on the end. The TV show had just one. Who knew? “Thanks”, for keeping our younger days alive and always in our hearts.
Gary
And, in related news, Paul McCartney released a brand new track through the Internet the other day ... lots of hype about how "new Paul" sounds a lot like "old Paul" on this one ... giving credit to Producer Mark Ronson, who scored a number of hits with Foreigner. Titled "New" (as is Paul's new solo album, coming out in mid-October), it promises to have a fresh, new sound ... McCartney's first album of all new material in six years. You can listen to the track here:
And, in related news, Paul McCartney released a brand new track through the Internet the other day ... lots of hype about how "new Paul" sounds a lot like "old Paul" on this one ... giving credit to Producer Mark Ronson, who scored a number of hits with Foreigner. Titled "New" (as is Paul's new solo album, coming out in mid-October), it promises to have a fresh, new sound ... McCartney's first album of all new material in six years. You can listen to the track here:
Click here: VVN Music: Listen: New Paul McCartney Track Sounds Like the McCartney of Old
Speaking of Sir Paul, FH Reader Dave Barry also sent us this article about McCartney wanting to play Candlestick Park ... the final show at the very same ball park where The Beatles performed THEIR very last show ...
Speaking of Sir Paul, FH Reader Dave Barry also sent us this article about McCartney wanting to play Candlestick Park ... the final show at the very same ball park where The Beatles performed THEIR very last show ...
Sir Paul McCartney has tossed up the possibility of headlining one last concert at Candlestick Park - where the Beatles played their final gig for a paying crowd in 1966 - before the stadium's date with the wrecking ball.
No one was more stunned than Mayor Ed Lee when McCartney floated the idea as he was about to take the stage at his recent Outside Lands festival appearance.
"And it was him who made the suggestion," Lee said. "Believe me, it wasn't something I, or anyone else, was expecting."
It all began when Lee - with about a half hour to kill - decided to check out how things were going at the festival in Golden Gate Park the evening of Aug. 10.
Lee was talking with Outside Lands promoter Gregg Perloff, who asked if he had a couple of minutes to meet with McCartney before the singer went on.
"Ah, Mayor Lee, what an honor," McCartney said. "I understand you are the first Asian mayor of the city."
"Thank you," Lee replied, "but I'm not sure it's quite as glamorous as being knighted."
Sir Paul put his thumb and forefinger almost together and said, "It's that much more."
The ice properly broken, city salesman Lee launched into the success of Outside Lands, then slid into another upcoming significant event - the end of Candlestick, and how the city was putting together photos and film footage to honor the Beatles' final concert.
"Oh, kind of like Shea Stadium," McCartney said, referring to the old New York ballpark where the Beatles played two of their most famous shows. "That sounds fantastic."
"Then," Lee said, "he looks at me and Phil Ginsburg" - general manager of the Recreation and Park Department - "and says, 'Well, if you are going to tear down the stadium next year, we should think about us doing the last concert there.' "
As Lee's and everyone else's jaw dropped, McCartney added, "You know my agent. Why don't we follow up with him?"
McCartney did this once before - at Shea Stadium, just before it was demolished in 2009. Then he and Billy Joel helped break in Citi Field, the New York Mets' replacement stadium.
If the Stick show does come together, it would be full circle from Aug. 29, 1966, when the Beatles played to a crowd of about 25,000 - well short of the stadium's pre-expansion capacity of 42,000.
Tickets went for $4.50 and $6.50, and the Beatles played for about 30 minutes.
When McCartney hit the stage at Outside Lands, an estimated 65,000 were on hand - at $75 to $105 a head. Over the three-day festival, the Recreation and Park Department netted $2.2 million.
A McCartney farewell show would grab international headlines - but it's only one of the many ideas in the works for turning the Candlestick tear-down into a boon for Rec and Park.
Kent,
No one was more stunned than Mayor Ed Lee when McCartney floated the idea as he was about to take the stage at his recent Outside Lands festival appearance.
"And it was him who made the suggestion," Lee said. "Believe me, it wasn't something I, or anyone else, was expecting."
It all began when Lee - with about a half hour to kill - decided to check out how things were going at the festival in Golden Gate Park the evening of Aug. 10.
Lee was talking with Outside Lands promoter Gregg Perloff, who asked if he had a couple of minutes to meet with McCartney before the singer went on.
"Ah, Mayor Lee, what an honor," McCartney said. "I understand you are the first Asian mayor of the city."
"Thank you," Lee replied, "but I'm not sure it's quite as glamorous as being knighted."
Sir Paul put his thumb and forefinger almost together and said, "It's that much more."
The ice properly broken, city salesman Lee launched into the success of Outside Lands, then slid into another upcoming significant event - the end of Candlestick, and how the city was putting together photos and film footage to honor the Beatles' final concert.
"Oh, kind of like Shea Stadium," McCartney said, referring to the old New York ballpark where the Beatles played two of their most famous shows. "That sounds fantastic."
"Then," Lee said, "he looks at me and Phil Ginsburg" - general manager of the Recreation and Park Department - "and says, 'Well, if you are going to tear down the stadium next year, we should think about us doing the last concert there.' "
As Lee's and everyone else's jaw dropped, McCartney added, "You know my agent. Why don't we follow up with him?"
McCartney did this once before - at Shea Stadium, just before it was demolished in 2009. Then he and Billy Joel helped break in Citi Field, the New York Mets' replacement stadium.
If the Stick show does come together, it would be full circle from Aug. 29, 1966, when the Beatles played to a crowd of about 25,000 - well short of the stadium's pre-expansion capacity of 42,000.
Tickets went for $4.50 and $6.50, and the Beatles played for about 30 minutes.
When McCartney hit the stage at Outside Lands, an estimated 65,000 were on hand - at $75 to $105 a head. Over the three-day festival, the Recreation and Park Department netted $2.2 million.
A McCartney farewell show would grab international headlines - but it's only one of the many ideas in the works for turning the Candlestick tear-down into a boon for Rec and Park.
Just to let you know, the Tornados were the first British group to get to number 1 in America with "Telstar" in 1962 ... way before the Beatles and the rest.
Regards -
Clem Cattini
I'm well aware ... but The Tornadoes didn't cause the mass hysteria, pandemonium and flat-out mania that The Beatles did. A MAJOR accomplishment, to be sure ... and I mean no disrespect ... but I don't remember tens of thousands of female fans showing up with signs, screaming "Alan, George, Roger, Heinz and Clem" they way they screamed for "John, Paul, George and Ringo"!!! Not only were The Tornadoes the first British act to #1 on our charts but they did so with their very first US release ... a major accomplishment to be sure. That being said, the charts ALSO show little 14 year old Laurie London (from London, England) topping the charts with his version of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" in 1958 ... four years BEFORE The Tornadoes hit our charts ... but this poor kid has never received the recognition he deserved. (Was there a "Laurie for President" movement like there was for Ringo???) Besides, who'd want this punk kid representing an entire revolution?!?! (lol)
All kidding aside, The Tornadoes are ... without a doubt ... a major part of British Rock History ... but The British Invasion started a couple of years later when artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, The Dave Clark Five, The Searchers, The Animals, The Kinks, Peter and Gordon and more flooded our shores with a brand new British Beat. (kk)
Regards -
Clem Cattini
I'm well aware ... but The Tornadoes didn't cause the mass hysteria, pandemonium and flat-out mania that The Beatles did. A MAJOR accomplishment, to be sure ... and I mean no disrespect ... but I don't remember tens of thousands of female fans showing up with signs, screaming "Alan, George, Roger, Heinz and Clem" they way they screamed for "John, Paul, George and Ringo"!!! Not only were The Tornadoes the first British act to #1 on our charts but they did so with their very first US release ... a major accomplishment to be sure. That being said, the charts ALSO show little 14 year old Laurie London (from London, England) topping the charts with his version of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" in 1958 ... four years BEFORE The Tornadoes hit our charts ... but this poor kid has never received the recognition he deserved. (Was there a "Laurie for President" movement like there was for Ringo???) Besides, who'd want this punk kid representing an entire revolution?!?! (lol)
All kidding aside, The Tornadoes are ... without a doubt ... a major part of British Rock History ... but The British Invasion started a couple of years later when artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, The Dave Clark Five, The Searchers, The Animals, The Kinks, Peter and Gordon and more flooded our shores with a brand new British Beat. (kk)
Wow ... this is AWESOME ... hearing from British Rock Royalty like Peter Noone and Clem Cattini ... cool that these guys are diggin' our series right along with all of us "regular folk"!!! (lol)
kk,
The response to the looming Top 100 British Invasion Hits of 1964 and 1965 as reported in today's edition warms the heart. It's a testament to your skill at selecting a theme sure to interest readers and prepping them for what's to come as well as FH fans' never-failing commitment in supporting this music.
re: Peter Noone - Thank you, Peter, for helping to bring these words to life from the introduction of Ranking the '60s: "Anyone involved in the production of one of the minor hits may take satisfaction in knowing that, by viewing these rankings, his or her effort is being recognized hierarchically right along with the unforgettable hits."
kk,
The response to the looming Top 100 British Invasion Hits of 1964 and 1965 as reported in today's edition warms the heart. It's a testament to your skill at selecting a theme sure to interest readers and prepping them for what's to come as well as FH fans' never-failing commitment in supporting this music.
re: Peter Noone - Thank you, Peter, for helping to bring these words to life from the introduction of Ranking the '60s: "Anyone involved in the production of one of the minor hits may take satisfaction in knowing that, by viewing these rankings, his or her effort is being recognized hierarchically right along with the unforgettable hits."
And kk, you certainly whetted Peter Noone's appetite for the book with those powerful stats. Thanks for that. I didn't realize until you brought it out that Herman's Hermits "owned" 10% of the top 60 British Invasion hits from '64-'65. If I manage to pick up enough celebrity endorsements, that might be justification for a second edition of the book. (Maybe by then I could convince Billboard to allow use of its copyrighted peak position data that torpedoed the 100-page artist index from appearing in the just-published edition.)
Dann
I'm expecting big things for the book ... and am happy to help in any way I can. I think it's a great resource and research guide for those of us who hold this stuff dear to our hearts. And, as I said in my original endorsement ... you may not always be happy with the results ... but you can't fight the means by which they were achieved. History HAS chosen to rewrite a lot of what we now perceive as hits today ... over-saturation of selected material by selected artists is all part of the narrow-casting that is broadcast radio today ... but this book doesn't lie. It shows you the hits EXACTLY as they happened. What you have here is a historical document of this era ... with no favoritism shown. (kk)
If those Top 100 of the British Invasion are arranged by Hot 100 chart position, a few ("Catch The Wind," Here Comes The Night," etc.) are a bit out of place. As for #94, Carl Perkins WAS in the studio when the Beatles recorded several of his songs. Carl told me that himself. I also wouldn't consider The Seekers' "A World Of Our Own" to be "long forgotten." It was an international smash in 1965 and STILL WORKS --speaking for lovers' hearts just as vibrantly today.
If those Top 100 of the British Invasion are arranged by Hot 100 chart position, a few ("Catch The Wind," Here Comes The Night," etc.) are a bit out of place. As for #94, Carl Perkins WAS in the studio when the Beatles recorded several of his songs. Carl told me that himself. I also wouldn't consider The Seekers' "A World Of Our Own" to be "long forgotten." It was an international smash in 1965 and STILL WORKS --speaking for lovers' hearts just as vibrantly today.
Also: The Seekers weren't British! They're the pride of Australia -- with an appeal which has outlasted nearly every other act of the '60s. In fact, the Seekers rewrote one of their hits, "Morningtown Ride," into a Yuletide gem they scored with internationally in 2001. It'll be included in the 2013 edition of the 10 hour radio countdown "The 100 Greatest Hits of Christmas," which Wink Martindale hosts and I wrote and produced. Envision Radio Networks will syndicate the special to their 1400 client stations in the U.S. this upcoming holiday season. (Radio Express is handling it outside the U.S.) Here is that Seekers' track:
A few months ago lead singer Judith Durham suffered a brain hemorrhage:
Judith wound up celebrating her 70th birthday while still hospitalized and at last report is still recovering.
Gary Theroux
The Top 100 is based on the accumulated points these records achieved during their entire chart run in Billboard ... so mathematically, they're ranked correctly. (The data comes from Dann Isbell's book "Ranking The '60's", a valuable research aide for collectors like ourselves who just LOVE this sort of stuff ... you should check it out on Amazon ... he's sold quite a few copies since we started talking about it ... and my guess is that this series will help to sell quite a few more. Heck, Peter Noone even ordered a copy yesterday!!! lol)
As for The Seekers, much like The Bee Gees (who also hailed from Australia), they are often lumped into The British Invasion category because they made their mark after moving to England and recording there. Noted CD Compilations like Rhino's 9-disc set "The History Of British Rock" include both The Bee Gees AND The Seekers in their line-up, so we did, too. (They also include The Walker Brothers, which was a bit of a stretch for me since these guys came from California!!!) The big difference is that The Bee Gees had several hits at home in Australia before setting sail for London and international fame ... The Seekers didn't really hit the charts until they arrived in Great Britain and hooked up with Dusty Springfield's brother Tom, who wrote their earliest hits, including "A World Of Our Own" ... which was a legitimate hit back in 1965 ... hence its placement on the chart ... but I'd consider a song that probably hasn't been played on the radio in 40+ years to be "long forgotten". You MIGHT hear "Georgy Girl" ... and, on a really good oldies station, you might even hear "I'll Never Find Another You" ... but it's not likely that you'll hear "A World Of Our Own" or "Morningtown Ride" (both great songs by the way) any time soon.
My understanding is that Carl Perkins was in the studio with The Beatles when they recorded his hits "Matchbox", "Honey Don't" and "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby". (They also performed several of Perkins' songs on their BBC Radio broadcasts.) George Harrison was such a big Carl Perkins fan that when The Silver Beatles adopted stage names, he went by Carl Harrison. Decades later, he was part of the all-star band that backed Carl up for a live, televised concert. (An OUTSTANDING show, by the way, if by any chance you haven't seen it.) kk
Happy belated 60, kk. You've got another sixty years of this newsletter to get out. Smile.
Seems to me McCartney's most compelling, articulate, and inventive stuff was crafted as a Beatle. His first two solo LPs were excellent work, but then came "Another Day", "Coming Up", and "Uncle Albert". Not to diminish that music ... Paul's melodies and sense of what made for cute-pop, stick-in-your-head and whistle-worthy tunes is his veins. But when you want something suggestive, layered, with subtle agendas / messages to snatch attention and intoxicates, ("Your Mother Should know", "Lovely Rita", and one Rocky Raccoon") it seems Paul needed John's neurotic, savvy and darker humour / influence to make him think and risk, thus pulling the real magic from him. I'm preaching to the choir to voice thoughts like this to the FH crowd, but still a fascinating dynamic in the duo.
I haven't like a Macca tune this much in quite some time. Reason one: he sounds amazing, and reason two: it sounds like a catchy Beatles tune.
Happy belated 60, kk. You've got another sixty years of this newsletter to get out. Smile.
Seems to me McCartney's most compelling, articulate, and inventive stuff was crafted as a Beatle. His first two solo LPs were excellent work, but then came "Another Day", "Coming Up", and "Uncle Albert". Not to diminish that music ... Paul's melodies and sense of what made for cute-pop, stick-in-your-head and whistle-worthy tunes is his veins. But when you want something suggestive, layered, with subtle agendas / messages to snatch attention and intoxicates, ("Your Mother Should know", "Lovely Rita", and one Rocky Raccoon") it seems Paul needed John's neurotic, savvy and darker humour / influence to make him think and risk, thus pulling the real magic from him. I'm preaching to the choir to voice thoughts like this to the FH crowd, but still a fascinating dynamic in the duo.
I haven't like a Macca tune this much in quite some time. Reason one: he sounds amazing, and reason two: it sounds like a catchy Beatles tune.
Ron Kolman
That seems to be the major focus this time around ... "new Paul sounds like old Paul" ... and he does to a degree. There's a definite "pop" feel here. I'm anxious to hear the whole LP.
I, too, have been disappointed more than pleased with most of what McCartney has released these past two decades ... and I'm a MAJOR fan. I find that there are always one or two tracks that make the purchase palatable but Paul's last GREAT work is now several years ago. (I really fancied "Flowers In The Dirt" ... and, like I said, could easily pick a couple of songs from each subsequent release to illustrate the fact that Macca still has a grasp on what makes for catchy pop.) A lot of the credit this time around is going to his producer, who apparently drew some "freshness" out of him ... I just say "hey, whatever makes it work!"
I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of this new offering. (kk)
Here's more on the impending release of more Beatles / BBC tracks, courtesy of Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com website:
Here's more on the impending release of more Beatles / BBC tracks, courtesy of Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com website:
| From The Guardian (U.K.) last week. Apparently release date is the first week of October. Sleuthing by Beatles fans appears to have uncovered a new release from the Fab Four. They discovered MCA Music in the Philippines – part of Universal Music, which now owns the Beatles' catalogue – was promising on its Facebook page a new anthology collecting previously unreleased recordings from their mid-60s appearances on BBC radio. The amateur detectives came from Beatles fan-site WogBlog, who discovered both the month of release and the album art for the new full-length. Bloggers even traced the photographer whose colourised image is being used on the cover. Neither Universal's UK and US wings nor the Beatles' official website have confirmed the news. The first volume of Live at the BBC consisted of 56 songs and 13 dialogue tracks from the Beatles' appearances on the BBC's Light Programme (now BBC Radio 2). The double CD, released in 1994, reached No 1 on the UK albums chart, No 3 in the US, and arguably set the stage for the Fab Four's three Beatles Anthology collections, released in 1995 and 1996. Although it was broadcast across the country, the Beatles' BBC material is quite rare. The Beeb did not seriously begin archiving its programmes until the end of the 1970s. As WogBlog points out, the forthcoming Live compilation may be the result of the 2012 Listeners' Archive campaign, in which BBC officials asked the public to donate home-recorded radio and television shows. |
In an unprecedented move, Columbia Records will release the soundtrack to "Glee Sings The Beatles" two days before the season premier airs on September 26th. As previously mentioned here, it'll be a two-part opener and feature FOURTEEN songs by The Fabs ... "Yesterday", "Drive My Car", "Got to Get You Into My Life", "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", "Help", "A Hard Day's Night", "I Saw Her Standing There", "All You Need Is Love", "Get Back", "Here Comes the Sun", "Something", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Hey Jude" and "Let It Be". It sounds like the series won't address the death of Finn Hudson / Cory Monteith until the third episode of the season. (kk)
Cliff Richard never hit it big in the States, but how many artists have had top 40 records in four decades?
Cliff Richard never hit it big in the States, but how many artists have had top 40 records in four decades?
Living Doll hit number 30 in 1959 on ABC Paramount
It's All in the Game hit number 25 in 1964 on Epic
Devil Woman hit number 6 (his biggest hit in the States) in 1976 on Rocket
A Little in Love hit number 17 in 1981 on EMI
Mike De Martino
President of the Lovejoy Music Club
I don't know if anyone can explain why Cliff struggled here ... he recorded some good, pop music ... it just didn't catch on for some reason. Back home, Richard had 92 Top 20 Hits between 1958 and 2003 ... and that tally included FOURTEEN #1 Records. I discovered one of my favorites when Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman recorded "Don't Talk To Him" for their "Jukebox" CD. (Cliff took his version to #2 in 1963). kk
If you haven't heard it, you can check it out here:
Kent,
Although I really like almost all the British Invasion artists, one that stands out for me is Petula Clark -- who, by the way, is still performing and knockin' them out. (Her United Kingdom tour starts October 2 in Manchester.)
When "Downtown" hit in the United States in late 1964, she was pretty much unknown here; I remember that at least a couple of the DJs in Hartford, Conn., where I lived, pronounced her first name as PET-yoo-la. But by that time, she had forged what most other people would consider an incredibly full career.
Here are just some of the highlights: She first appeared on radio at age 9, in 1942, and almost immediately became a major star dubbed "England's Shirley Temple." As a child, she toured extensively with another child star, Julie Andrews, who is three years younger than Pet. By 1944, she was in films, and made 13 pictures in six years. (So far, she has been in 30 movies.) In 1946 she started television work, although as far as I can see about a dozen people in England had TVs then. She soon had an afternoon series, "Petula Clark."
Meanwhile, her singing career continued at a fast clip. Her father had co-founded the British record label Polygon, and Petula ended up recording 50 songs for Polygon. (Polygon was later absorbed by Pye, for which label Pet recorded for almost three decades.) By the late 1950s, she was a huge star in France, and recorded or re-recorded many songs in French for that market; one was "Chariot," which later gained fame here as "I Will Follow Him" by Peggy March. Before long, she had also recorded in Spanish, Italian, French, and German, and toured extensively in Europe. She had #1 hits in Australia.
Then -- only then -- was she able to ride into America on the crest of the British Invasion. In late 1964 and early 1965, Americans discovered this "new" singer. New? Yes, if you consider someone who had been performing professionally for 22 years in radio, television, and film to be "new." An overnight success, you might say.
Henry McNulty
Old Saybrook, Conn.
Contributing Editor, "The British Invasion" (1982, McGraw-Hill)
Petula enjoyed a pretty remarkable career before she caught on here in The States ... but once she did, the hits came quickly. (There wasn't a lot of female competition going on with all the British beat groups dominating the charts ... so Petula really stood out from the crowd!) She has TWO hits on our Top 100 Countdown (and she just missed with another ... "You'd Better Come Home" came in at #101, JUST missing the cut-off!) kk
Our Songfacts buddy Carl Wiser recently interviewed Petula for his online publication ... you can check it out here:
Click here: Petula Clark: Songwriter Interviews
One of my fave subjects! We brothers sat for hours endlessly listening to WLS and other stations for the new Brit Invasion songs -- hits or misses. It garnered many a great moment. Some have never been re-captured! One was taping the Ivy league's new 45 "Runnin' Round in Circles" as a WCFL premier. The odd thing was that it had a cold ending on the taping we made, but no one has ever found this version since! All 45's, Cd's and LP versions have fade outs! There was the airing of "What'd I Say" by Pete Best & the Beatles off some station, as well as a Star Club live version of the Searchers doing "Sho No a Lot About Love" (B side of Alley Oop) off radio back then!
Your Top 100 so far has SOOO many memories from my tapes as well as general thoughts and memories ... too much fun to tell all! Two in particular are:
1. I have told EVERYONE it seems that the DC5's "Anyway You Want it" is the MOST powerful two minutes in rock n roll history. Clark Weber, thanks for backing them, even if it was mostly joking with Riley.
2. Altho the Animals' "I'm Crying" only reached #9 on WLS, it was a time when ANYTHING (funny, that that would be one of their 45 titles in a couple of years) by the Animals in 64 and 65 was GOLDEN in Chitown. "I'm Crying" was one of the highest debuting 45s on the Silver Dollar Survey ever! On Oct 9, 1964, the 45 debuted on Dex Card's countdown at #18, while its predecessor, "House of the Rising Sun" was still riding high in the WLS top 10!
THOSE were the great Brit Invasion days!! Within a few months, Ron Riley would begin airing his Sunday night 8 PM "British Billboard" show counting down all the British hits as they were in England and giving us here in the US a chance to hear what may or may NOT be top 10 soon in our towns. He would air hits there that might be hits here or not or not even be released here on 45! We heard the Pretty Things, Ivy League, Georgie Fame 45s that would not make it here. We heard Uk "A" sides like "the Bee Gees' "World" or Hendrix' "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" that would be big there, but not even be an "A" side or even released on 45 here!
ALSO, my brother just sent me info on the new McCartney song, "New." It's interesting, but right away, I found similarities in the opening repeated descending cadence (not sure of the correct word to use here) melody that begins about five seconds into the song, as well as the overall sound of the song. I like it, but does it sound a bit like UK hitmaker conglomerate? Try out Herman's Hermits 1968 UK hit "Sleepy Joe", just speeded up? Or that piano opening much alike other UK hitmakers, the Zombies' great "This Will Be Our Year." Or how about the beginning of the Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon" or stretching it a bit, Guess Who's "Hand Me Down World." It bounces along much like Queen's "You're My Best Friend" or First Class' "Beach Baby", too. Yet, there is a song I am thinking of that I THINK is an obscure fave of mine that nails this sound exactly. I just cannot think what it is. Anybody?? Ideas?? Maybe the bouncy poppy vocal part in the Moodies' "Legend of a Mind"?? Listen to the lyrics "Along the coast you'll hear them boast. About a light they say that shines so clear." Listen about 1:45 into the song here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_TbovyVOzs
Indeed, throw in some Brian Wilson theatrics at the end too!! Pretty good!
The story on new Macca CD below:
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/08/29/paul-mccartney-releases-track-hints-at-new-album/
Clark Besch
The one I've heard it most often compared to is McCartney's own "Penny Lane". (Thank God Saul Zaentz isn't around to sue McCartney for plagiarizing himself ala John Fogerty!!!) kk
Oh Kent,
During summer break, I read 10 books: 5 music related; 5 popular new books geared to elementary and tween grade students. AND STILL I DON'T EVEN OWN THIS BOOK! I must now have it ... Ranking the '60s ... thank goodness your brain can't explode from over-reading. REMEMBER THAT KIDS!
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
The Sixties feature is right up my radio street.
On Monday The Searchers were on the radio show ... Clem Cattini has been on twice before ... I could list the 100 bands or artists from the decade.
Your information is fabulous -- I read it solidly -- And this from a Brit!!!
Regards
Geoff Dorsett
On Monday The Searchers were on the radio show ... Clem Cattini has been on twice before ... I could list the 100 bands or artists from the decade.
Your information is fabulous -- I read it solidly -- And this from a Brit!!!
Regards
Geoff Dorsett
Radio Presenter
The Soft Rock Show | Kick Up the '80s | Supersonic '70s | Solid Gold '60s | All Our Yesterplays
Visit the website to get the shows on your station, and for audio, pictures, quotes and news
Website | @SoftRockShow Twitter | Soft Rock Show Facebook Page | 93.7 Express FM | 92.3 Forest FM
The Soft Rock Show | Kick Up the '80s | Supersonic '70s | Solid Gold '60s | All Our Yesterplays
Visit the website to get the shows on your station, and for audio, pictures, quotes and news
Website | @SoftRockShow Twitter | Soft Rock Show Facebook Page | 93.7 Express FM | 92.3 Forest FM
One of my fave subjects! We brothers sat for hours endlessly listening to WLS and other stations for the new Brit Invasion songs -- hits or misses. It garnered many a great moment. Some have never been re-captured! One was taping the Ivy league's new 45 "Runnin' Round in Circles" as a WCFL premier. The odd thing was that it had a cold ending on the taping we made, but no one has ever found this version since! All 45's, Cd's and LP versions have fade outs! There was the airing of "What'd I Say" by Pete Best & the Beatles off some station, as well as a Star Club live version of the Searchers doing "Sho No a Lot About Love" (B side of Alley Oop) off radio back then!
Your Top 100 so far has SOOO many memories from my tapes as well as general thoughts and memories ... too much fun to tell all! Two in particular are:
1. I have told EVERYONE it seems that the DC5's "Anyway You Want it" is the MOST powerful two minutes in rock n roll history. Clark Weber, thanks for backing them, even if it was mostly joking with Riley.
2. Altho the Animals' "I'm Crying" only reached #9 on WLS, it was a time when ANYTHING (funny, that that would be one of their 45 titles in a couple of years) by the Animals in 64 and 65 was GOLDEN in Chitown. "I'm Crying" was one of the highest debuting 45s on the Silver Dollar Survey ever! On Oct 9, 1964, the 45 debuted on Dex Card's countdown at #18, while its predecessor, "House of the Rising Sun" was still riding high in the WLS top 10!
THOSE were the great Brit Invasion days!! Within a few months, Ron Riley would begin airing his Sunday night 8 PM "British Billboard" show counting down all the British hits as they were in England and giving us here in the US a chance to hear what may or may NOT be top 10 soon in our towns. He would air hits there that might be hits here or not or not even be released here on 45! We heard the Pretty Things, Ivy League, Georgie Fame 45s that would not make it here. We heard Uk "A" sides like "the Bee Gees' "World" or Hendrix' "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" that would be big there, but not even be an "A" side or even released on 45 here!
ALSO, my brother just sent me info on the new McCartney song, "New." It's interesting, but right away, I found similarities in the opening repeated descending cadence (not sure of the correct word to use here) melody that begins about five seconds into the song, as well as the overall sound of the song. I like it, but does it sound a bit like UK hitmaker conglomerate? Try out Herman's Hermits 1968 UK hit "Sleepy Joe", just speeded up? Or that piano opening much alike other UK hitmakers, the Zombies' great "This Will Be Our Year." Or how about the beginning of the Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon" or stretching it a bit, Guess Who's "Hand Me Down World." It bounces along much like Queen's "You're My Best Friend" or First Class' "Beach Baby", too. Yet, there is a song I am thinking of that I THINK is an obscure fave of mine that nails this sound exactly. I just cannot think what it is. Anybody?? Ideas?? Maybe the bouncy poppy vocal part in the Moodies' "Legend of a Mind"?? Listen to the lyrics "Along the coast you'll hear them boast. About a light they say that shines so clear." Listen about 1:45 into the song here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_TbovyVOzs
Indeed, throw in some Brian Wilson theatrics at the end too!! Pretty good!
The story on new Macca CD below:
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2013/08/29/paul-mccartney-releases-track-hints-at-new-album/
Clark Besch
The one I've heard it most often compared to is McCartney's own "Penny Lane". (Thank God Saul Zaentz isn't around to sue McCartney for plagiarizing himself ala John Fogerty!!!) kk
Oh Kent,
During summer break, I read 10 books: 5 music related; 5 popular new books geared to elementary and tween grade students. AND STILL I DON'T EVEN OWN THIS BOOK! I must now have it ... Ranking the '60s ... thank goodness your brain can't explode from over-reading. REMEMBER THAT KIDS!
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
We just returned from The 2013 Magical History Tour to London - Henley - Liverpool and it was the greatest tour ever! "It's getting better all the time!" And we're now accepting reservations for MMTour 2014 in the year we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles Arrival in America.
It was our 30th anniversary tour, and we were able to get all 80 of us to record at Abbey Road Studios 2, but that was just one of so many other BEATLEful highlights!
Our all day tour of London Beatle sights, our all-day tour of Liverpool sights guided by David "Liddypool" Bedford, the bonus tours of the obscure Beatle locales in London & Liverpool guided by Rene "Beatles Unlimited" van Haarlem, following in the footsteps of the films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!, having the gates open (first time ever!) for us as Paul's Cavendish home, our Good Day Sunshine afternoon in Chiswick Park, our group parties at Hard Rock - Sticky Fingers - Lord's Tavern, visiting George's Friar Park home in Henley-on-Thames, the Music Festival at Sefton Park, the International Beatles Convention, seeing Mike McCartney live onstage with The Scaffold reunion, seeing Neil Innes and John Halsey (Barry Wom) live onstage with The Rutles reunion, the unbelievable concerts at the Liverpool Philharmonic, hear ing Joe Brown perform "I'll See You In My Dreams" on the Cavern stage in memory of George, our surprise gift-bag from the Hard Day's Night shop, getting inside John & Paul's childhood homes, our last-night singalong, meeting with celebrities such as John Lennon's sister Julia, Brian Epstein's friend Joe Flannery, Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, early promoter Sam Leach, Beatles fan club president Freda and so many more.
It was truly one highlight after another - and we had the most beautiful weather all vacation long plus the greatest group of fans who all got along so harmoniously.
We want to recreate the magic again August 17 - 27, 2014 on our 31st Annual Magical History Tour. Please join us for the greatest fan vacation experience, as we invade England on the anniversary of The Beatles invasion of America. Many past MMTour travelers are coming back with us, and we welcome first-timers who are looking to make their dreams come true. Open to all ages: singles, couples, families and groups are all welcome.
Don't miss out on this one!
For complete information or a reservation form, call today (203) 795-4737 or email LiverpoolTours@aol.com.
Man, I've always wanted to do one of these ... and this will be a BIG year to do it. (Plus the tour ends on my birthday!!! What a cool present THAT would be!!!)
It was our 30th anniversary tour, and we were able to get all 80 of us to record at Abbey Road Studios 2, but that was just one of so many other BEATLEful highlights!
Our all day tour of London Beatle sights, our all-day tour of Liverpool sights guided by David "Liddypool" Bedford, the bonus tours of the obscure Beatle locales in London & Liverpool guided by Rene "Beatles Unlimited" van Haarlem, following in the footsteps of the films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!, having the gates open (first time ever!) for us as Paul's Cavendish home, our Good Day Sunshine afternoon in Chiswick Park, our group parties at Hard Rock - Sticky Fingers - Lord's Tavern, visiting George's Friar Park home in Henley-on-Thames, the Music Festival at Sefton Park, the International Beatles Convention, seeing Mike McCartney live onstage with The Scaffold reunion, seeing Neil Innes and John Halsey (Barry Wom) live onstage with The Rutles reunion, the unbelievable concerts at the Liverpool Philharmonic, hear ing Joe Brown perform "I'll See You In My Dreams" on the Cavern stage in memory of George, our surprise gift-bag from the Hard Day's Night shop, getting inside John & Paul's childhood homes, our last-night singalong, meeting with celebrities such as John Lennon's sister Julia, Brian Epstein's friend Joe Flannery, Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, early promoter Sam Leach, Beatles fan club president Freda and so many more.
It was truly one highlight after another - and we had the most beautiful weather all vacation long plus the greatest group of fans who all got along so harmoniously.
We want to recreate the magic again August 17 - 27, 2014 on our 31st Annual Magical History Tour. Please join us for the greatest fan vacation experience, as we invade England on the anniversary of The Beatles invasion of America. Many past MMTour travelers are coming back with us, and we welcome first-timers who are looking to make their dreams come true. Open to all ages: singles, couples, families and groups are all welcome.
Don't miss out on this one!
For complete information or a reservation form, call today (203) 795-4737 or email LiverpoolTours@aol.com.
Man, I've always wanted to do one of these ... and this will be a BIG year to do it. (Plus the tour ends on my birthday!!! What a cool present THAT would be!!!)
Get ahold of Charles Rosenay ... he's your tour guide and he's been making all of this happen for over thirty years now. A splendid time is guaranteed for all! (kk)
We were lucky in Winnipeg in that we got to hear some of the British stuff that the Americans didn't get to hear ... things by Cliff Richard and Georgie Fame and Gerry and the Pacemakers that didn't really get off the ground in the States ... some Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas and a few others. The British Invasion was very, very extensive in Canada, I guess probably because we were part of the Commonwealth and Capitol Records, they had just about everybody ... from The Beatles and Dave Clark on down ... Cliff Richard and the Shadows ... EVERYBODY was on Capitol. It was a cool time in Canada. We took that British Invasion square in the face!
Kent ...
Love ya, man ... but where is Manfred Mann's melodic "Pretty Flamingo." Additionally, I would have ranked "Heart Full of Soul" by the Yardbirds about 30 spots higher ... raging band track - Jeff Beck at his best - remarkably passionate vocal.
And, I still giggle when I think of Ian Whitcomb breathlessly saying...ah...ah...ah...ah...ah...ah...ah..that's my soul ... I'll always equate that song with Paul Revere and the Raiders and "Where the Action Is" and the Summer of '65.
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks - HeritageSeries
Host: Notre Damme Football - WLS
Senior writer: MajorOnions.com
It's not a list of our favorites (although TECHNICALLY they're ALL our favorites!!!) ... but rather a mathematical listing based on each record's actual chart performance at the time it originally charted. And, we limited it to 1964 and 1965 ONLY ... which is why OTHER readers' favorites like "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" and "All You Need Is Love" and "Paint It, Black" didn't make the list. (For the record, Manfred Mann's "Pretty Flamingo" was from 1966.) I've always loved the Ian Whitcomb song ... in hindsight, pretty racy for 1965!!! (kk)
Hi Kent,
Kent,
Technically, The Tornados (there's no 'e' in their name) may have been the first British band to have a #1 instrumental single on the Billboard charts, but there was another before that to top those charts, and I don't mean 14 year old Laurie London's "He's Got The Whole World In His Hand" in '58.
The Tornados made it to #1 on Billboard in December of 1962 ... but earlier that year, in May, Mr. Acker Bilk, a British clarinet player and bandleader took his song, "Stranger on The Shore" to #1 for one week.
Everyone seems to forget about ol' Acker.
And Burton Cummings is right on about Canadians hearing a lot of British artists far earlier than Americans. Capitol Records Canada did have the majority of them (since the majority were signed to EMI in England).
The credit needs to go to Capitol's A&R director at the time, Paul White (an ex-Brit) who took a lot of flak from his Capitol bosses when he released early Beatles 45's in Canada and they didn't sell more than a few copies. But he believed and keep releasing them and was eventually proven correct.
Cliff Richard was actually a huge star in Canada early on in the '60's with songs like "The Young Ones", "Bachelor Boy" and "Summer Holiday" when he didn't have a Top Ten hit in America until he signed with Elton John's Rocket Records and had "Devil Woman" in 1976.
Doug Thompson
Toronto
According to the CHUM Chart Book (graciously given to me by YOU!!!), Cliff Richard hit the Canadian Chart fourteen times before "Devil Woman" reached the American Top Ten. The list includes THREE #1 Hits ("Summer Holiday" , "Dancing Shoes" and "It's All In The Game", my recently-discovered favorite "Don't Talk To Him" (#14 in 1964 ... and covered by Burton Cummings with Randy Bachman on their "Jukebox" CD) as well as seven other Top 20 Hits like "Wonderful To Be Young" (#16, 1962); "Bachelor Boy" (#2, 1963); "It'll Be Me" (#14, 1963); "Lucky Lips" (#8, 1963); "I'm The Lonely One" (#18, 1964); "On The Beach" (#12, 1964) and "A Matter of Moments" (#12, 1964). Not all of these releases were on Capitol but the good majority of them were. He hit The Canadian Top Ten four more times in the late '70's and early '80's with his International Hits "Devil Woman" (#3, 1976); "We Don't Talk Anymore" (#2, 1980); "Dreaming" (#7, 1980) and "A Little In Love" (#2, 1981). (Actually I'm a little surprised not to see his duet with Olivia Newton-John on this list ... "Suddenly" was a pretty big hit in 1981. It comes from that ultimate turkey of a film "Xanadu".)
By the way, a couple of those "Capitol of Canada" 45's sold enough copies here to chart in Billboard, too ... "All My Lovin'" (#45) and "Roll Over Beethoven" (#68) hit our charts as Canadian singles ... as well as as part of the Capitol EP "Four By The Beatles" (#92), all in 1964. (kk)
Hi Kent,
Nice to see the buzz on your British Invasion Countdown -- GREAT recollections of a magical era -- when the wave of Brit talent hit the states, it was a tsunami -- whether you grew up in a major city or a small Midwestern town near the Canadian border like I did, the British Invasion impacted everyone -- from the music to their fashion, the British influence was everywhere. I'll never forget my aunt telling me in response to my Beatle haircut: "Get a haircut, you look like a damn sheep-dog!" I think the Brit musicians were big in the U.K. but over here they were giant and the nice thing about it they had the talent to back it up! Great musicians, great music, and American and Canadian audiences that soaked it up like a sponge -- and some local bands we were going to see on a Friday nights were doing a damn good job of replicating the excitement -- for me it was the The Unbelievable Uglies out of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and Burton Cummings and the Deverons out of Winnipeg -- it's too bad Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five never got to see Burton Cummings jumping on his piano with reckless-abandon wailing out a helluva version of "Reelin' n' Rockin" -- he didn't know what he was missing -- I'm glad I didn't miss it, and I haven't forgotten it some 48 years later!
Cheers,
Tim Kiley
Hi Kent:
Why does a song like “Wonderful World” by Herman’s Hermits not make this countdown? By what criteria? Just a bit confused.
Ken
It looks to me like it didn't make the countdown because we fucked up!!!
In fact, had you not questioned this or pointed it out, I doubt that we ever would have known!
The criteria was based on how many points each song earned during its original chart run ...
As such, it should have been fool proof.
However, now that you've pointed this out, I see that this particular track was a complete oversight ...
Part of this comes from two compilers working on opposite sides of the globe (one in Chicago and one in Taiwan!!!) collecting the final stats ... and part of it comes from collecting the data from three so-called "semi-final" lists into what ultimately made the website.
I just checked our original research and there's no doubt about it ... somehow this one was skipped when we tallied up the final one hundred songs. (We caught one other instance like this but fixed it in time ... one of our lists left off "Bits And Pieces" by The Dave Clark Five and the other left off "I Know A Place" by Petula Clark ... honestly, once this was fixed, I thought that we were "good to go"!)
So first of all, apologies to our faithful readers ... we regret the error ... Herman's Hermits' version of "Wonderful World" SHOULD have finished right in between "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks and "Wishin' And Hopin'" by Dusty Springfield, making it now "officially" I guess the #37 1/2 song in the countdown!!!
Secondly, apologies to Peter Noone ... as we can now report that Herman's Hermits actually had SEVEN of the Top 60 songs ... or 11.67%. Not too shabby, eh Peter???
Thirdly, we're featuring it today, along with this brief memory from Peter about this particular recording session, coordinated by the legendary Mickie Most:
The Herman's Hermits version of WONDERFUL WORLD was recorded as a tribute, the day after Sam was murdered in the USA. At the same recording session THE ANIMALS recorded BRING IT ON HOME TO ME. A tribute !!! We were fans of his music so we did tributes. We didn't want to make the best recording as we all knew that SAM'S recording WAS and ALWAYS will be the BEST recording. I should state here for the record, that I do not believe the music business is a competition. I never felt that we or any of my colleagues or fellow members of the so called British Invasion were competing against the original versions of these songs. Musicians do not compete ... these were tributes. We all loved Sam Cooke, and others and never wanted to compete. Every one of the bands who made up the British Invasion were influenced by the same singers (mostly American). We stole, used, borrowed and adored them. As a 13 year old I once took a five hour bus ride to see Sam, who wore a turquoise suit and sang almost everyone I had heard until that day to shame. Having all of his recordings (ALL means ALL) from his earlier career I was a bit disappointed that he hadn't even referred to them in his concert, only to find out later, that he had no idea that anyone in England knew anything about his gospel music or had ever heard of that period of his career. A true gentleman was Sam, and when Rod Stewart borrowed his voice and loaned it to Steve Perry from Journey, I was happy that at last he was known by everyone. Anyone who knows Sam's history becomes a fan. He was the MAN!
-- Peter Noone
You can find our entire interview with Peter Noone here: Click here: Forgotten Hits - Forgotten Hits Interviews Peter Noone
We were lucky in Winnipeg in that we got to hear some of the British stuff that the Americans didn't get to hear ... things by Cliff Richard and Georgie Fame and Gerry and the Pacemakers that didn't really get off the ground in the States ... some Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas and a few others. The British Invasion was very, very extensive in Canada, I guess probably because we were part of the Commonwealth and Capitol Records, they had just about everybody ... from The Beatles and Dave Clark on down ... Cliff Richard and the Shadows ... EVERYBODY was on Capitol. It was a cool time in Canada. We took that British Invasion square in the face!
I'd guess the response to your Top 100 British Hits would be very successful ... and, of course, The Beatles would score very heavy in there ... boy, what would be the #1 Song of The British Invasion? Oh my God!!! Well, you know what, I'd bet that "Whiter Shade Of Pale" would be right up there near the top. Although they didn't have a string of hits, Procol Harum, I remember that "Whiter Shade Of Pale" was as big as ANY Beatles record ... it was #1 forever! That was a big, big record.
When it comes to Beatles records, I think "A Hard Day's Night" would have to be one of them ... that record hit like a ton of bricks ... "Hard Day's Night" and "Can't Buy Me Love" ... two hard rockers that hit like a ton of bricks in the '60's.
Burton Cummings
You picked a couple of winners for sure ... both "A Hard Day's Night" and "Can't Buy Me Love" made The Top 11 ... but so did five OTHER Beatles tunes (including TWO that ranked higher than both of these!!!) Stay tuned! (kk)
Kent ...
Love ya, man ... but where is Manfred Mann's melodic "Pretty Flamingo." Additionally, I would have ranked "Heart Full of Soul" by the Yardbirds about 30 spots higher ... raging band track - Jeff Beck at his best - remarkably passionate vocal.
And, I still giggle when I think of Ian Whitcomb breathlessly saying...ah...ah...ah...ah...ah...ah...ah..that's my soul ... I'll always equate that song with Paul Revere and the Raiders and "Where the Action Is" and the Summer of '65.
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks - HeritageSeries
Host: Notre Damme Football - WLS
Senior writer: MajorOnions.com
It's not a list of our favorites (although TECHNICALLY they're ALL our favorites!!!) ... but rather a mathematical listing based on each record's actual chart performance at the time it originally charted. And, we limited it to 1964 and 1965 ONLY ... which is why OTHER readers' favorites like "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" and "All You Need Is Love" and "Paint It, Black" didn't make the list. (For the record, Manfred Mann's "Pretty Flamingo" was from 1966.) I've always loved the Ian Whitcomb song ... in hindsight, pretty racy for 1965!!! (kk)
Hi Kent,
What a great presentation you are doing for the British Invasion. I really didn't know how much of my work was part of the Invasion and it seems every entry holds a memory for me. Most of the groups were self contained and didn't use any session musicians but I did a lot of work with groups like Herman's Hermits, The Fortunes, Brotherhood of Man and later with the Dave Clark Five. I'm so pleased that you wrote about Clem Cattini, a very good friend of mine, and his group The Tornados being the first British group to crack it in the States with Telstar. I was featured on Ringo's walkabout at the end of A Hard Day's Night, but your listing of my work with the solo artists keeps on coming: Peter and Gordon, The Bachelors, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Shirley Bassey, Chad and Jeremy, Jonathan King, Dusty Springfield, Julie Rogers, Marianne Faithfull and others that you will mention in the coming days.
The 60s and 70s were a wonderful time to be in the music business. It was hard work and a lot of nervous energy was expended but there were the warm and fuzzy moments, like when Justin Hayward walked across the Television set to the orchestra of the UK hit show 'Top Of The Pops' and said, "Thanks, Vic. If you hadn't inspired me I wouldn't be here now." He shook my hand and returned to the set. Justin is a gentleman and a wonderful musician.
There's a lots of stories in my book, 'Vic Flick Guitarman' available at Amazon.com (excuse the plug) and they will give some color and background to The British Invasion.
Very best wishes to you and all your readers.
Vic Flick
p.s. I think I was destined to come to America where I now live in sunny Las Vegas with my very understanding and dear wife of 53 years, Judy.
Hey, Vic! VERY happy to run a plug for your book ... a GREAT snapshot of British Rock History to say the least! (You guys were like The Wrecking Crew over there ... and Clem Cattini was the British equivalent of our Hal Blaine!) Pick up Vic's book here ... a GREAT read with some VERY interesting tales! (kk)
Click here: Vic Flick, Guitarman: Vic Flick: 9781593933081: Amazon.com: Books
Just want to say I read an article on your website tonight, and I enjoyed it. I have stayed at the Hard Day's Nite Bed & Breakfast in Benton, Illinois, which I understand is no longer in business. I have believed for the past ten years that the first Beatles record played in the United States was played in West Frankfort, Illinois, but your article on this subject brought me up to date. Thank you for the good work that you do!
Just want to say I read an article on your website tonight, and I enjoyed it. I have stayed at the Hard Day's Nite Bed & Breakfast in Benton, Illinois, which I understand is no longer in business. I have believed for the past ten years that the first Beatles record played in the United States was played in West Frankfort, Illinois, but your article on this subject brought me up to date. Thank you for the good work that you do!
Thomas Ruttenberg
Lexington, Kentucky
Of course, he's talking about this one ...
Click here: Forgotten Hits - Who Played The Very First Beatles Record In America?
Certainly appropriate enough to plug again during this very special series! (kk)
Hi Kent,
Click here: Forgotten Hits - Who Played The Very First Beatles Record In America?
Certainly appropriate enough to plug again during this very special series! (kk)
Hi Kent,
Once again a terrific subject to jolt us back in time to wondrous place. The Ian Whitcomb song reminded me of a little 'follow-up' gem he recorded later in life. It pertains to our relationships with our sweethearts and is the anthem of many a married man.
I am unaware of your marital status but it is quite a pertinent little ditty and reinforces the fact that returning to our music roots and exploring exposes us to newer delights to cheer us.
Enjoy "I Picked A Lemon In The Garden Of Love (Where They Say Only Peaches Grow)"
Summer's Gone,
CharlieOFD
PS How often do we use song titles in our daily missives.
CharlieOFD
PS How often do we use song titles in our daily missives.
Kent,
Technically, The Tornados (there's no 'e' in their name) may have been the first British band to have a #1 instrumental single on the Billboard charts, but there was another before that to top those charts, and I don't mean 14 year old Laurie London's "He's Got The Whole World In His Hand" in '58.
The Tornados made it to #1 on Billboard in December of 1962 ... but earlier that year, in May, Mr. Acker Bilk, a British clarinet player and bandleader took his song, "Stranger on The Shore" to #1 for one week.
Everyone seems to forget about ol' Acker.
And Burton Cummings is right on about Canadians hearing a lot of British artists far earlier than Americans. Capitol Records Canada did have the majority of them (since the majority were signed to EMI in England).
The credit needs to go to Capitol's A&R director at the time, Paul White (an ex-Brit) who took a lot of flak from his Capitol bosses when he released early Beatles 45's in Canada and they didn't sell more than a few copies. But he believed and keep releasing them and was eventually proven correct.
Cliff Richard was actually a huge star in Canada early on in the '60's with songs like "The Young Ones", "Bachelor Boy" and "Summer Holiday" when he didn't have a Top Ten hit in America until he signed with Elton John's Rocket Records and had "Devil Woman" in 1976.
Doug Thompson
Toronto
According to the CHUM Chart Book (graciously given to me by YOU!!!), Cliff Richard hit the Canadian Chart fourteen times before "Devil Woman" reached the American Top Ten. The list includes THREE #1 Hits ("Summer Holiday" , "Dancing Shoes" and "It's All In The Game", my recently-discovered favorite "Don't Talk To Him" (#14 in 1964 ... and covered by Burton Cummings with Randy Bachman on their "Jukebox" CD) as well as seven other Top 20 Hits like "Wonderful To Be Young" (#16, 1962); "Bachelor Boy" (#2, 1963); "It'll Be Me" (#14, 1963); "Lucky Lips" (#8, 1963); "I'm The Lonely One" (#18, 1964); "On The Beach" (#12, 1964) and "A Matter of Moments" (#12, 1964). Not all of these releases were on Capitol but the good majority of them were. He hit The Canadian Top Ten four more times in the late '70's and early '80's with his International Hits "Devil Woman" (#3, 1976); "We Don't Talk Anymore" (#2, 1980); "Dreaming" (#7, 1980) and "A Little In Love" (#2, 1981). (Actually I'm a little surprised not to see his duet with Olivia Newton-John on this list ... "Suddenly" was a pretty big hit in 1981. It comes from that ultimate turkey of a film "Xanadu".)
By the way, a couple of those "Capitol of Canada" 45's sold enough copies here to chart in Billboard, too ... "All My Lovin'" (#45) and "Roll Over Beethoven" (#68) hit our charts as Canadian singles ... as well as as part of the Capitol EP "Four By The Beatles" (#92), all in 1964. (kk)
Hi Kent,
Nice to see the buzz on your British Invasion Countdown -- GREAT recollections of a magical era -- when the wave of Brit talent hit the states, it was a tsunami -- whether you grew up in a major city or a small Midwestern town near the Canadian border like I did, the British Invasion impacted everyone -- from the music to their fashion, the British influence was everywhere. I'll never forget my aunt telling me in response to my Beatle haircut: "Get a haircut, you look like a damn sheep-dog!" I think the Brit musicians were big in the U.K. but over here they were giant and the nice thing about it they had the talent to back it up! Great musicians, great music, and American and Canadian audiences that soaked it up like a sponge -- and some local bands we were going to see on a Friday nights were doing a damn good job of replicating the excitement -- for me it was the The Unbelievable Uglies out of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and Burton Cummings and the Deverons out of Winnipeg -- it's too bad Mike Smith of the Dave Clark Five never got to see Burton Cummings jumping on his piano with reckless-abandon wailing out a helluva version of "Reelin' n' Rockin" -- he didn't know what he was missing -- I'm glad I didn't miss it, and I haven't forgotten it some 48 years later!
Cheers,
Tim Kiley
Hi Kent:
Why does a song like “Wonderful World” by Herman’s Hermits not make this countdown? By what criteria? Just a bit confused.
Ken
It looks to me like it didn't make the countdown because we fucked up!!!
In fact, had you not questioned this or pointed it out, I doubt that we ever would have known!
The criteria was based on how many points each song earned during its original chart run ...
As such, it should have been fool proof.
However, now that you've pointed this out, I see that this particular track was a complete oversight ...
Part of this comes from two compilers working on opposite sides of the globe (one in Chicago and one in Taiwan!!!) collecting the final stats ... and part of it comes from collecting the data from three so-called "semi-final" lists into what ultimately made the website.
I just checked our original research and there's no doubt about it ... somehow this one was skipped when we tallied up the final one hundred songs. (We caught one other instance like this but fixed it in time ... one of our lists left off "Bits And Pieces" by The Dave Clark Five and the other left off "I Know A Place" by Petula Clark ... honestly, once this was fixed, I thought that we were "good to go"!)
So first of all, apologies to our faithful readers ... we regret the error ... Herman's Hermits' version of "Wonderful World" SHOULD have finished right in between "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks and "Wishin' And Hopin'" by Dusty Springfield, making it now "officially" I guess the #37 1/2 song in the countdown!!!
Secondly, apologies to Peter Noone ... as we can now report that Herman's Hermits actually had SEVEN of the Top 60 songs ... or 11.67%. Not too shabby, eh Peter???
Thirdly, we're featuring it today, along with this brief memory from Peter about this particular recording session, coordinated by the legendary Mickie Most:
The Herman's Hermits version of WONDERFUL WORLD was recorded as a tribute, the day after Sam was murdered in the USA. At the same recording session THE ANIMALS recorded BRING IT ON HOME TO ME. A tribute !!! We were fans of his music so we did tributes. We didn't want to make the best recording as we all knew that SAM'S recording WAS and ALWAYS will be the BEST recording. I should state here for the record, that I do not believe the music business is a competition. I never felt that we or any of my colleagues or fellow members of the so called British Invasion were competing against the original versions of these songs. Musicians do not compete ... these were tributes. We all loved Sam Cooke, and others and never wanted to compete. Every one of the bands who made up the British Invasion were influenced by the same singers (mostly American). We stole, used, borrowed and adored them. As a 13 year old I once took a five hour bus ride to see Sam, who wore a turquoise suit and sang almost everyone I had heard until that day to shame. Having all of his recordings (ALL means ALL) from his earlier career I was a bit disappointed that he hadn't even referred to them in his concert, only to find out later, that he had no idea that anyone in England knew anything about his gospel music or had ever heard of that period of his career. A true gentleman was Sam, and when Rod Stewart borrowed his voice and loaned it to Steve Perry from Journey, I was happy that at last he was known by everyone. Anyone who knows Sam's history becomes a fan. He was the MAN!
-- Peter Noone
You can find our entire interview with Peter Noone here: Click here: Forgotten Hits - Forgotten Hits Interviews Peter Noone
Looking at your forgotten hit web site everyday I've totally enjoyed your British Invasion Top 100. Being a big contributor to Ron Smith's WCFL chart book and knowing what a great job you do with chart stuff, why don't you do a British Invasion Top 100 Part 2, 1966 and 1967. I think it would be quite entertaining.
A big fan ... thanks for the memories.
Randy Anderson
I hadn't really thought about that ... '64 and '65 seemed to be the pivotal years where this music had its greatest impact ... normally, I'd have covered "The Beatles Years" and shown 1964 - 1970 ... but we did a similar countdown to that a while back (just not "British Only" hits). However, I DO have a couple of other special countdowns planned as we continue our 60 Day Salute to the '60's ... so stay tuned. (kk)
Click here: Forgotten Hits - THE TOP 200 #1 HITS OF THE BEATLES ERA, 1964 - 1970
>>>Technically, The Tornados may have been the first British band to have a #1 instrumental single on the Billboard charts, but there was another before that to top those charts, and I don't mean 14 year old Laurie London's "He's Got The Whole World In His Hand" in '58. The Tornados made it to #1 on Billboard in December of 1962 ... but earlier that year, in May, Mr. Acker Bilk, a British clarinet player and bandleader took his song, "Stranger on The Shore" to #1 for one week. Everyone seems to forget about ol' Acker.
A big fan ... thanks for the memories.
Randy Anderson
I hadn't really thought about that ... '64 and '65 seemed to be the pivotal years where this music had its greatest impact ... normally, I'd have covered "The Beatles Years" and shown 1964 - 1970 ... but we did a similar countdown to that a while back (just not "British Only" hits). However, I DO have a couple of other special countdowns planned as we continue our 60 Day Salute to the '60's ... so stay tuned. (kk)
Click here: Forgotten Hits - THE TOP 200 #1 HITS OF THE BEATLES ERA, 1964 - 1970
>>>Technically, The Tornados may have been the first British band to have a #1 instrumental single on the Billboard charts, but there was another before that to top those charts, and I don't mean 14 year old Laurie London's "He's Got The Whole World In His Hand" in '58. The Tornados made it to #1 on Billboard in December of 1962 ... but earlier that year, in May, Mr. Acker Bilk, a British clarinet player and bandleader took his song, "Stranger on The Shore" to #1 for one week. Everyone seems to forget about ol' Acker.
(Doug Thompson)
Hi Kent,
Hi Kent,
My apologies to Doug and your readers as I forgot to mention Acker Bilk's entry into the USA Charts in 1962. He is a good man and a wonderful musician who I had the honor of working with many times.
Thanks again for all the great work you do. You must spend 25 hours a day on the FH.
Cheers,
Vic Flick
Applause, applause, applause! What a rush this week!
Wait a
minute ... this week coming up is gonna' be a downer.
INSTANT REPLAY, Replay,
replay.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
We'll do our best not to bore you this week! (lol) Meanwhile, you can ALWAYS revisit the countdown ... any time you like! In fact, (once we correct it!), we may just go ahead and permanently publish the complete list on the other website for all to see. (kk)
