Friday, March 20, 2015

The First Day Of Spring

Well, that's what the calendar says anyway!!!  Headlines today about an arctic blast in the northeast may prove otherwise for some of our readers!

Here in Chicago, we'll probably see the mid-50's.  I thought we'd celebrate "Spring Fever" ('cause after this winter, I can't WAIT for it to get nice out again ... and STAY nice out!!!) by looking back at some of the #1 Hits on this date over the past 60 years.

This week's #1 Record in Billboard has been holding that position for the past eleven weeks ... and it is, without question, one of the best songs out there in a long, long while.

Harkening back to the sounds of 1965 and 1975 ... the James Brown Funk Era ... Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars have TOTALLY captured the sound and feel of this era ... which means they'll probably be sued by Marvin Gaye's family any day now!

Give a listen to UPTOWN FUNK ... #1, First Day Of Spring, 2015 ...



20 Years Ago Today ... March 20th, 1995 ... found Madonna topping the chart with her latest, TAKE A BOW.  This record spent SEVEN weeks in the #1 Spot on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart.



Flashback 25 Years Ago Today ... March 20th, 1990 (God that's SO hard to believe!!!) ... and you'll find JANET JACKSON wrapping up her third and final week on top of the chart with ESCAPADE.



30 Years Ago Today, REO Speedwagon found themselves in a similar position, enjoying a three week run on top with CAN'T FIGHT THIS FEELING, one of those songs we still hear all the time here in Chicago.



Step into the time machine and set the dial to March 20, 1980, and you'll find Queen topping the chart with their rockabilly revival hit CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE, another guaranteed daily airplay track some 35 years later.



March 20th, 1975 found The Doobie Brothers on top with their first #1 Hit, BLACK WATER.  (They'd hit #1 again five years later with What A Fool Believes).



On March 20th, 1970, Simon and Garfunkel were enjoying the biggest hit of their careers when BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER topped The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart for six straight weeks.  The duo split up shortly afterwards, figuring they could NEVER top the success of this record.



Those of you who follow our weekly chart feature 50 YEAR FLASHBACK on Monday Mornings will see that next week (on our chart from WRIT in Milwaukee), "Eight Days A Week" is the #1 Record.  It also topped Billboard Magazine's Pop Singles Chart on March 20, 1965, their latest US Hit to do so.  (EIGHT DAYS A WEEK was not released as a single back home in England.)



55 Years Ago Today, March 20th, 1960, we were treated to one of the longest running #1 Records of the '60's when Percy Faith's THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" spent one of its nine weeks on top of the chart at #1.



And finally, flashing back to March 20th, 1955 ... 60 Years Ago Today ... it was The McGuire Sisters and their version of SINCERELY that held down the #1 position.  (Music certainly has come a long way since then!!!)



And there you have it ... our First Day Of Spring Flashback!!!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

More Mid-Week Comments and Announcements

re:  THIS AND THAT:  
After seeing the list of all of the media coverage dedicated to the reopening of the investigation into the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, even Frannie had to admit:
You scooped the world with this one!!!
(Best Ray Stevens voice from "The Streak" ... "Yeah, I did.")  kk 

Kent,
Thanks for posting the two selections concerning Cinderella. I wonder how many of your readers remember old Jack Ross's tune and another one he had, HAPPY JOSE. Another tune I remembered
immediately was the 4 Preps CINDERELLA out of 1958.
Have a great weekend.
Larry
P.S. Incidentally here in Oklahoma this weekend in a town not too far from OKC, the Temptations and 4 Tops are appearing in concert for one night. I was immediately reminded of your discussion this past week concerning original members in the groups, etc. 

The craziness surrounding the "Blurred Lines" / Marvin Gaye copyright controversy continues ... last week the courts decided that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams were guilty of copyright infringement and ordered to pay the Gaye family $7.4 million ... then Gaye's family said they were seeking to block any future sales or airplay of "Blurred Lines" (a bit extreme really ... just cut them in for a share of the royalties and then let them play the hell out of it ... EVERYBODY wins!) ... then Thicke and Williams said they would appeal the judge's decision (or possibly even file a counter-suit).
Now Gaye's family says they're considering more legal action regarding Pharrell's #1 Hit "Happy" ... they feel it sounds much too similar to Marvin's 1965 Hit "Ain't That Peculiar"!!!  (Are they gunning for this guy or what???)
After a recent copyright decision regarding Sam Smith's infringement on the Tom Petty / Jeff Lynne song "I Won't Back Down" (a BLATANT rip-off in my opinion ... something I noticed the very first time I heard it ... although all parties seem to have amicably agreed that this was probably more of an unconscious / subconscious thing ... remember the George Harrison / "My Sweet Lord" / "He's So Fine" case???), one cannot help but wonder if this will be a new trend in music.  (Kind of surprising in a way with all the "sampling" that's been going on for the past few decade now!)  Like Frannie says, is there even such a thing as a new, original idea anymore?  Is there ANY melody that can be constructed that doesn't in SOME small fashion resemble some nuance of the MILLIONS of songs that have been written and recorded in the past?
For me, I just don't hear it in the Gaye / Williams case ... if you're creative enough, you can lay any two similar "feels" on top of each other and make a case that one resembles, compliments or "fits" another ... I don't believe for a second that Williams sat down in either instance and said "OK, I'm going to write a song now that mimics "Got To Give It Up" and/or "Ain't That Peculiar" ... he may have been going for a certain Marvin Gaye "feel" ... but I do NOT believe that he consciously (or otherwise) sat down with the malicious intent to rip somebody off ... he's far too talented an artist in his own right to do so.  (kk)







More great stuff from that Jeremy Roberts / Mark Lindsay interview ... now up to Chapter 5!!!

Kent ...
Jimmy Sacca, lead singer of the Hilltoppers, died 3/7/2015. He was 85 years old.
The Hilltoppers bridged the gap between early pop and the Rock Era.
R.I.P. Jimmy Sacca.
According to Joel Whitburn's new Chart Comparison Book, The Hilltoppers made The National Top 40 eleven times between 1954 and 1957.  They also had eight Top 20 Billboard Pop Hits on the pre-rock era charts, the biggest coming in 1953 with "P.S. I Love You".  (Obviously NOT The Beatles song!!!)  Their biggest hit overall, of course, was "Marianne", which topped the Music Vendor Chart for a couple of weeks in 1957 and peaked at #2 and #3 respectively in Cash Box and Billboard Magazine.  (It was also a #1 Hit here in Chicago.)  The group, formed in Bowling Green, Kentucky, scored a Top 20 pop hit on The Billboard Pop Chart in 1955 with "The Kentuckian Song" from the Burt Lancaster film of the same name!  (How's that for rock and roll symmetry???)  kk  




Kent;
Random thoughts about today's Forgotten Hits.
Frankly, at this point, I'd pay 100 bucks to AVOID seeing The Steve Miller Band. I'm also burned out on Steely Dan. God, I love the group and the brilliance of Donald Fagen but I always have this empty feeling when I leave their shows. Maybe, I would feel better if I thought Donald was actually enjoying himself.
Chet 

A while back we told you about a new CD / DVD Release spotlighting Shania Twain's residency in Las Vegas with a grand, full-length live concert event.  The original plan was to have this release distributed exclusively through WalMart ... and I remember thinking at the time that I couldn't wait to pick up a copy.  (LOVE Shania!!!)
Well apparently now, after the success of her television special (an edited version of this same show) and the announcement that Shania would be doing her farewell tour this summer, Eagle Rock Entertainment has picked up the reigns and will now be mass-marketing this for a full-blown release around the globe.  (It makes sense ... Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV and Digital Media in the world. They work directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition programs, both concerts and documentaries.  Past releases include The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Genesis, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton and Aerosmith.  Eagle Rock Entertainment is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 40 multi-platinum, over 80 platinum and over 144 gold discs, worldwide ... and they have offices in London, New York, Paris and Hamburg.) 

Here are all the details, courtesy of Carol Kaye at Kayos Productions:   

SHANIA TWAIN TO RELEASE SHANIA: STILL THE ONE LIVE FROM VEGAS
DVD AND BLU-RAY ON APRIL 7 VIA EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT
New York, NY (March 11, 2015)– International superstar Shania Twain wrapped up her successful two-year residency in Las Vegas, NV as her SHANIA: Still the One stage show came to a close in December. The five-time GRAMMY winner entertained concert-goers from all over the world at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace during the course of her 105 performances and now, fans have an opportunity to bring the Vegas production home with the release of Twain’s live Blu-ray and DVD SHANIA: Still the One Live from Vegas via Eagle Rock Entertainment on April 7, 2015.  
Produced by Twain and directed by Raj Kapoor, Live from Vegas captures the full SHANIA: Still the One stage performance, plus the bonus feature “Backstage Pass,” which boasts over an hour of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage tracking the conception, training, rehearsals, costumes and all decisions in-between that go into creating a one-of-a-kind experience for the audience. The show – a powerful journey through Shania’s biggest hits, country favorites, and beloved crossover songs – features a 13-piece live band, dancers, trained horses, a flying motorcycle and plenty of Vegas flash. 
“This show has been my labor of love for over three years,” shares Twain. “It has meant so much to me and was such a privilege to live out my visions on that stage, and it is so exciting to now get to share the whole experience with the fans all over the world!” 
With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide and U.S. sales topping 34.5 million, Twain remains the top-selling female country artist of all time. Her 1997 release Come On Over has sold in excess of 15.6 million making it the top-selling country album and places it in the Top 10 all-genre best sellers of all time. 
For more information, visit www.ShaniaTwain.com

SHANIA: Still the One Live from Vegas 
Track Listing:
1. Opening
2. I’m Gonna Getcha Good!
3.  You Win My Love
4. Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
5. Up!
6. Good, Bad And Sexy (Interlude)
7. I Ain’t No Quitter
8. No One Needs To Know
9. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
10. Any Man of Mine
11. Shania Style (Interlude)
12. That Don’t Impress Me Much
13. Honey, I’m Home
14. (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here
15. Carrie Anne
16. Come On Over
17. Love Gets Me Every Time
18. Rock This Country!
19. Today Is Your Day
20. Black Horse, White Horse (Interlude)
21. You’re Still The One
22. From This Moment On
23. Red Storm (Interlude)
24. Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
25. Rock This Country!  (Live From Calgary) – Credits  www.ShaniaTwain.com | Facebook.com/ShaniaTwain | Twitter.com/ShaniaTwain | Instagram.com/ShaniaTwain 
Hoping to catch Shania's Farewell Tour?
Here are the announced dates so far ...
“Rock This Country” Tour Dates:

June 5 – Seattle, WA – Key Arena

June 7 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

June 9 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

June 11 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

June 12 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

June 14 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre

June 15 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

June 19 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens

June 20 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens

June 22 – Hamilton, ON – First Ontario Centre

June 24 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

June 25 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

June 27 – Ottawa, ON – Wesley Clover Field

June 28 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

June 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

July 1 – Uniondale, NY – Nassau Coliseum

July 3 – Uncasville, UT – Mohegan Sun

July 7 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

July 8 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

July 10 – Pittsburgh, PA – Consol Energy Center

July 11 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena

July 13 – Indianapolis, IN – Bankers Life Fieldhouse

July 15 – Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Veterans Memorial

July 16 – Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena

July 18 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena

July 19 – Charlotte, NC – Time Warner Cable Arena

July 21 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center

July 22 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

July 25 – Auburn Hills, MI – Palace of Auburn Hills

July 26 – Moline, IL – iWireless Center

July 28 – Minneapolis, MS – Target Center

July 29 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena

July 31 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

August 1 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena

August 3 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center

August 4 – Saint Louis, MO – Scottrade Center

August 6 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena

August 7 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center

August 9 – Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center

August 10 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

August 12 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena

August 14 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center

August 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – Energy Solutions Arena

August 17 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center

August 19 – Anaheim, CA – The Honda Center

August 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center

August 22 – San Diego, CA – Valley View Casino Center

August 23 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
Asia and King Crimson Lead Vocalist John Wetton to Release Solo Career Retrospective 'The Studio Recordings Anthology' and Live Album 'New York Minute'

London, UK - Legendary John Wetton, best known for his work with Asia, UK and King Crimson, is releasing two new albums this month: The Studio Recordings Anthology 2CD Set and New York Minute - John Wetton & The Les Paul Trio, on Primary Purpose via Cherry Red Records. 
As a singer, bassist and songwriter, John Wetton initially rose to fame as the lead singer of King Crimson and thereafter Wetton formed UK with Eddie Jobson and later he was the lead vocalist of the supergroup Asia, his biggest commercial success. The band’s self-titled debut album was the biggest selling album in the world in 1982.
Wetton also has a successful solo career releasing a large number of studio and live albums and these are showcased on the 2CD ‘The Studio Recordings Anthology’ meanwhile a unique live album with The Les Paul Trio includes a number of songs Wetton has never sung elsewhere.  

The Studio Recordings Anthology 2CD Set  
The Studio Anthology collects together the best of John Wetton's six solo studio albums within a 2-CD set with extensive new liner notes.  
For more information: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4974  

New York Minute - John Wetton & The Les Paul Trio  
New York Minute sees John Wetton playing a selection of the songs that inspired him, many of which are not available on any other release. This new live album also includes unique renditions of his solo hit BATTLE LINES and the ASIA mega hit HEAT OF THE MOMENT. 
Track Listing: 
1. DO IT AGAIN 
2. WHAT’S GOING ON? 
3. GOD ONLY KNOWS
4. CAN’T FIND MY WAY HOME 
5. ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER 
6. NEW YORK MINUTE 
7. LADY MADONNA 
8. HEAT OF THE MOMENT 
9. BATTLE LINES 

For more information: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4972  
John Wetton is embarking on a number of live projects in 2015 including the final tour of UK and a German 'Rock Meets Classic' orchestral arena tour. 
John Wetton's official website: http://www.johnwetton.com  

EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT SIZZLES THIS SPRING WITH STYX - LIVE AT THE ORLEANS ARENA LAS VEGAS  
~ DVD, CD, BLU-RAY, AND DIGITAL FORMATS ~ 
COMING MAY 26, 2015  
New York, NY (March 11, 2015) — On May 26, 2015, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Live At The Orleans Arena Las Vegas from Styx on DVD, Blu-ray, CD, and Digital Formats
Filmed in High Definition on July 25, 2014, Live At The Orleans Arena Las Vegas is a sonic showcase of Styx’s live prowess and razor-sharp musicianship. This show features the band, backed by huge video screens, performing a set list packed with hit songs, classic tracks, and fan favorites, including “Lady,” “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Rockin’ The Paradise,” “Come Sail Away,” “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),” “Renegade,” and “Suite Madame Blue.” The evening also held a special surprise when Don Felder – former Eagles guitarist – took the stage to join the band on “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)”.
In addition to the live set, Live At The Orleans Arena Las Vegas features a bonus interview with band members Tommy Shaw (vocals/guitar), James “JY” Young (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Todd Sucherman (drums), Lawrence Gowan (vocals, keyboards), Ricky Phillips (bass, backing vocals), and Chuck Panozzo (bass guitar). 
Formed in Chicago in 1972, Styx played a key role in defining the AOR genre, and established themselves as one of America’s greatest rock bands. Their blend of soaring melodies, hard rock guitar, and prog-rock elements led to millions of global record sales and numerous platinum and multi-platinum albums. With over 40 years of rockin’ under their belt, the band isn’t slowing down any time soon, and will embark on a national tour this summer with Def Leppard and Tesla. See below for dates.

Track Listing:
The Grand Illusion / Too Much Time On My Hands / Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) / Lady / Suite Madame Blue / Light Up / Crystal Ball / Superstars / Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) / Come Sail Away / Rockin’ The Paradise / Renegade

2015 Tour Dates (with Def Leppard and Tesla):
Thu 6/25 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheater
Sat 6/27 - Birmingham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Sun 6/28 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Tue 6/30 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavillion Charlotte
Thu 7/2 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
Fri 7/3 - Virginia Beach, VA - Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
Sun 7/5 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
Tue 7/7 - Gilford, NH - Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook
Thu 7/9 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
Sat 7/11 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Sun 7/12 - Darien Lake, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Tue 7/14 - Toronto, ONT. - Molson Amphitheatre
Fri 7/17 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sat 7/18 - Oshkosh, WI - Rock USA
Thu 7/23 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Fri 7/24 - Saratoga Springs, NY - SPAC
Sat 7/25 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Fri 8/7 - Davenport, IA - Mississippi Valley Fair (STYX ONLY)
Sat 8/8 - Sioux Falls, SD - Sioux Falls Arena
Tue 8/11 - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre
Fri 8/14 - Sedalia, MO - Missouri State Fair
Sat 8/15 - Des Moines, IA - Iowa State Fair
Mon 8/17 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
Tue 8/18 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
Fri 8/21 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
Sat 8/22 - Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sun 8/23 - Austin, TX - Austin360 Amphitheater
Thu 8/27 - St. Paul, MN - Minnesota State Fair
Fri 8/28 - Grand Forks, ND - Alerus Center
Sun 8/30 - Noblesville, IN - Klipsch Music Center
Tue 9/1 - Allentown, PA - The Great Allentown Fair
Thu 9/3 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center
Fri 9/4 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Sat 9/5 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
Wed 9/16 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
Thu 9/17 - Ridgefield, WA - Amphitheater Northwest
Sat 9/19 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
Tue 9/22 - Chula Vista, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Wed 9/23 - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Pavilion
Fri 9/25 - Albuquerque NM - Isleta Amphitheater
Sat 9/26 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
Mon 9/28 - West Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
Wed 9/30 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena
Fri 10/2 - Bozeman, MT - Breeden Fieldhouse
Sun 10/4 - Bismarck, ND - Bismarck Civic Center 

A couple of weeks ago Forgotten Hits was all abuzz with news about The Platters ... now this week we've learned about a brand new release by the legendary Coasters!!!  (And I'll tell you what ... they're sounding MIGHTY FINE on The Temptations remake we get to feature today, courtesy of Billy James and Glass Onion PR.
Read on ... 
Legendary Vocal Group The Coasters Celebrate Their 60th Anniversary With Their First Album Of New Recordings In 35 Years!  
Los Angeles, CA - America’s premiere R&B vocal group and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, The Coasters, have had one incredible, miraculous, astounding ride in the music business. Less of a group and more of an institution, The Clown Princes of Rock & Roll established themselves six decades ago, and in that time have seen many musical fads come and go. But one thing has always remained - the power of a truly timeless song especially when experienced through the prism of the expertly sung 4-part harmonies that are The Coasters stock in trade.
To commemorate the group’s unique and longstanding career, The Coasters are proud to present Magical Favorites a collection of brand new recordings covering some of the very best American rock and R&B classics such as Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me,” The Temptations “Just My Imagination,” Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” and many more - all done in the indelible Coasters way! Magical Favorites will be available March 31 from Goldenlane Records.  
For those unfamiliar with the group’s history, The Coasters scored their first hit single “Down In Mexico” in the spring of 1956, which they followed in 1957 with “Young Blood” and “Searchin’” the following year. In 1958, the band again hit the chart with two blockbuster hits that would become as iconic as the band that sang them, “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown.” From then on, it was hit after hit for the group with songs such as “Poison Ivy,” “Along Came Jones,” “Love Potion #9,” “Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart” and many more! The line-up of The Coasters that was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 (Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, Will Jones, Cornell Gunter) have all since passed but their legacy lives on with the help of Joe Lance Williams (tenor / baritone), Primo Candelara (tenor), Dennis Anderson (baritone), and Eddie Whitfield (bass). Three of these gifted vocalists were personally handpicked by group founder Carl Gardner, with Dennis coming aboard in 2011 after Carl had passed. Though often imitated, they have never been duplicated and they continue to do what they do best on both the stage and in the studio, entertain the audience!
Track List:
1. All I Have To Do Is Dream
2. Cool Jerk
3. Don’t Be Cruel
4. If I Had A Hammer
5. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
6. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
7. Lyin’ Eyes
8. Shout
9. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay
10. Turn Back The Hands Of Time
11. You Send Me
12. Twistin’ The Night Away
13. Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe
14. Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)
Pre-order the CD here: http://geni.us/3BA2
Pre-order the digital version here: http://geni.us/3pLj




The Marty Grebb Benefit Concert is getting closer.  (This one-night-only event will be held on Thursday, May 7th.) We've heard from a number of fans who would LOVE to see this show but live out of state and are unable to attend.  You can, however, still make donations to the cause ... in fact, a dedicated website is being set up for this very purpose.  (More details to follow) 
There are also other ways you can help ... including this one as submitted by Pam Dixon ... 
Do you want to buy a ticket or tickets to the AMAZING Chicago Music 60s Style Marty Grebb Benefit Concert May 7 at The Arcada Theatre, St Charles, IL, but are not able to attend?
As you may have seen posted recently, we have a way that you can be a part of helping not just Marty but also to expose the awesome Chicago 60s sound to some very talented Chicago kids who otherwise might not be able to see a concert like this!!
Call The Arcada Theatre Box Office @ 630 962 7000
MON - FRI 10 AM - 6 PM

Sat 12 - 6
Sun 12 - 4
Central Time
Let them know that you would like to buy a ticket / tickets and donate it to “The People’s Music School” of Chicago (tickets are $45 and $75)
We carefully selected this organization because it fits the spirit of this event so well.
Here is the “Mission” of The school:
"Our mission is to deliver access to the benefits of high-quality, tuition-free music education. Through intensive instruction and performance, our students achieve excellence in music that transfers to other areas in life. They grow musically, socially, emotionally and intellectually, and develop a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience and purpose.” 
More information here:  http://www.peoplesmusicschool.org   

And ... don't forget ... there will also be all kinds of one-of-a-kind memorabilia for auction including autographed material by all of the show participants.  Keep watching The Forgotten Hits Website for more details!  (kk) 

And let's take this opportunity to also remind you of the New Colony Six Benefit Concert, raising funds for The Rhythmic Arts Project, being held at The Arcada Theatre on April 19th ... 



>>>Unfortunately, when the 2015 British Invasion Tour stopped at The City Winery in Chicago last weekend, we ended up missing the show I most wanted to see this year.  Needless to say, I was quite disappointed, thinking that this very well may have been my one and only chance to see them.  (kk) 
The 2014 British Invasion Concert Tour was a testing of the waters. But I told you, right from the get-go, that it was a winner and everyone should get there before it ends.  Would that it could go on forever ...Shelley 

And, after we talked about the "altered line-up" of The Happy Together Show last week, Shelley sent us THIS photo from backstage at The Strawberry Festival in Florida ...   

Some friends of mine sat in the red chairs to have their picture taken at the 2015 Strawberry Festival in Florida.  Those guys in the back photo-bombed!  Oh well, I'll keep the picture anyway! 
The "Happy Band" was the Godfrey Townsend Band.  I've always said they were worth seeing by themselves.  
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano



Bob Lind told us that he'll be performing at one of his favorite live haunts next month when he returns to The Luna Star Cafe.  More details below from Bob himself ...  

TO MY FLORIDA FRIENDS AND FANS  
(And friends and fans who may be in the area in April): 
Next Month, I'll be back at the Luna Star Café again (one of the few South Florida venues I care about playing these days). As some of you know, I recorded my live album at the Luna and it still has a special place in my mushy old heart. I hope to see a whole mess of you there.
Here are the juicy details:  
Luna Star Café
775 NE 125th St
N Miami, FL
305-799-7123
LunaStarCafe.com | lunastarcafe@aol.com
Show starts at 8 pm   
I realize that's almost a month away, but I know some of you like to mark your calendars early.
I'll send another reminder closer to the time for you less compulsive plan-makers.
Love to you,
Bob Lind
www.boblind.com 

Sociologist / Author Candy Leonard and her book ‘Beatleness’ will make their NY debut at the Fest for Beatles Fans with her book Beatleness: How the Beatles and Their Fans Remade the World  
Candy's book has been called a must-read for Beatles fans of all ages across the globe. And now she will be bringing her book, Beatleness: How the Beatles and Their Fans Remade the World, to the 41st Annual Fest for Beatles Fans, in Rye Brook, NY on March 20-22, 2015.  
Candy Leonard will be giving presentations and appearing in various panel discussions throughout the weekend. She will be discussing Beatleness and taking questions in a presentation on Friday night, and on Sunday she will participate in a Beatleness Q&A with Beatlefan magazine Executive Editor Al Sussman. She will also be participating the Author’s Panel Discussion on Friday evening and the ‘She’s A Woman … Historian’ on Saturday evening to discuss the influence of women on the Beatles.  
When not giving presentations, Candy will be in the marketplace meeting and greeting fans, answering questions and signing books. She will be available for media interviews.   
Candy Leonard is a sociologist and first-generation Beatle fan. She spent years researching and interviewing other first generation fans for her book, Beatleness: How the Beatles and Their Fans Remade the World.  Beatleness is a unique analysis of how the Beatles’ constant presence between 1964 and 1970 transformed the childhood and adolescence of millions of baby boomers who then transformed the culture.  
Candy has also done research on the impact of popular culture on gender relations and family life. She’s a qualitative research consultant to the healthcare and entertainment industries, and blogs about Beatles, boomers, and health at the Huffington Post. For more information on Candy Leonard and her book go to Beatleness.com. Like Beatleness on Facebook, and follow @CandySez and @BeatlenessBook 

Also coming ...

Dee Elias brings her ‘Confessions’ to the Fest for Beatles Fans in NY  
Dee Elias, author of ‘Confesssions of a Beatlemaniac’, will be making her NY debut at the Fest for Beatles Fans March 20-22, 2015.    
Confessions of a Beatlemaniac is the true story of a 14 year old Dee Elias and her friends on a two year adventure to try to meet the Beatles.  Dee will be bringing her book and her tales to this year’s NY Fest for Beatles Fans in Rye Brook, NY on March 20-22, 2015. 
Dee will be giving two presentations in the Fest’s Discussion Room about her book and her escapades as a Beatlemaniac in the early 60’s.  Dee’s first lecture at the festival will be on Friday evening and the second on Sunday afternoon.  When not giving presentations, Dee will be in the Fest marketplace, meeting fans and signing copies of her book. Confessions of a Beatlemaniac takes the reader on Dee Elias’ personal journey to meet the Beatles.  Along the way, she tells of her encounters with Billy J. Kramer, Sonny and Cher, and Simon and Garfunkel.  
For more information about Dee Elias, or to purchase her book, go to: www.ConfessionsOfABeatlemaniac.com.  
For more information on the Fest for Beatles Fans, go to: www.TheFest.com 

Kent, 
The flip of the Riviera's hit CALIFORNIA SUN, H.B. GOOSESTEP, which was mentioned in FH today reminded me of the only time it was played on air here in OKC. Back in the 1960's, one of our local DJ's was named Jim Bowman. He was known on the air as Jim "Goose" Bowman. A lot of times as he was heading into the top of the hours' news, he would play that instrumental. And MOBO is right, in that one would believe that it was done by Johnny and the Hurricanes if they weren't familiar with it.
Larry Neal


You can hear a long lost Jimi Hendrix track from 1967 via this link.  (By the way, did you see the quote from Grace Slick last week?  When asked, as she looks back over her long and successful career, if she had any regrets, her only comment was "Not screwing Jimi Hendrix"!!!  Lol)
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/hear-lost-1967-jimi-hendrix-recording-gloomy-monday-20150316     

>>>Just as he did with all of The Billboard Charts from 1955 - 2009, Joel will soon be offering exact photo reprints of EVERY Cash Box Chart published in the 1970's!!!  These are black and white reproductions of Cash Box's Top 100 Pop Singles List for every week of the decade.  (More books will follow ... but this first one is expected to be ready to ship by the end of May!)   kk   
Kent, 
I would buy this IF it were the 1960's book.  Hopefully, he will release one like that??
Clark
Visit The Record Research Website and you'll find ALL kinds of books to select from.  There was an all-'60's book called "Across The Charts" which shows EVERY charted Billboard Hit from the Pop, R&B and Country Charts issued in the '60's.  
There was also a Billboard Chart list that reproduced every individual pop chart Billboard published during that decade.  (I believe a similar Cash Box books will be coming as well ... but he's kicking this new series off with a 1970's chart book.)
Then you've got the Pop Playlist books to choose from, featuring the biggest hits of every month, available in two volumes ... 1955 - 1969 and 1970 - 1984.
Plus TONS more, specializing in just about EVERYTHING chart-aholics like us crave.  The brand new Comparison Chart Book shows you the peak position of every single to hit Billboard's, Cash Box's and Record World's Charts between 1954 and 1982.  And the list goes on and on and on.
Trust me ... you'll find WAY more stuff here that you want than you can possibly buy at one time!  (lol)  And they're addictive, too!!!  
Visit The Record Research Website today ...
http://recordresearch.com/ 

And, speaking of new books, FH Reader Ed Salamon tells us about HIS new offering ... a tome to the music that came out of the Pittsburgh area during the '50's, '60's and '70's ...  

Hi Kent,
I thought that you might be interested in hearing about my latest book. Pittsburgh’s Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Lou Christie wrote the foreword and it contains more than 325 photos memorializing nearly a thousand Pittsburghers who made rock 'n' roll music in the area in the 50s, 60s and 70s. The official publication date is April ... but here's a little aAdvance praise for Pittsburgh’s Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll:
“The DEFINITIVE 'feel good' history of Pittsburgh rock ‘n’ roll “– Mike Frazer, 94.5 3WS radio
“A must have for any Pittsburgh music fan. I loved it!’ – Joe Grushecky
“Well, my friend, you have outdone yourself’ – Lou Christie                                                                   
 “So fascinating for Pittsburgh music lovers like me” – Sean McDowell ,102.5 WDVE radio
Pittsburgh’s Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll can be ordered from any bookstore and is available from amazon.com
Ed Salamon   
 
A couple of weeks ago we told you that Grateful Dead tickets were selling for upwards of $150,000 here in Chicago for their appearances here at Soldier Field.  (Well, maybe "selling" is too strong a word ... did anybody REALLY buy them for that price?!?!?)
Now comes word that legendary film director Martin Scorsese will be filming those shows for a new documentary he's making about the band.
http://entertainment.suntimes.com/entertainment-news/martin-scorsese-film-grateful-dead-concerts-chicago/     

Whew!  That's a LOT for a Wednesday!!!  (But it DOES help us to catch up a little bit!)  More as things become available.  Thanks, all! (kk)