DICK
BIONDI:
Kent,
Unfortunately, I never had the privilege of
hearing Dick Biondi when he was on the air working at any of the radio stations
he was working at at the time. The next best thing for me (and I did it last
night) was to get out my Cruisin' 1960 album and play it. It was a
reproduction of his days at WKBW, Buffalo, New York.
Larry Neal
It was
nice to see the extensive coverage you gave the Dick Biondi film event this
weekend. We gotta get these events in while we can. This has
certainly been a rough year for entertainers from our youth. We lose one
or two every month, it seems.
Rick
O’Dell
Me-TV-FM
Hoping to see you
there this weekend, Rick, even if it is just virtually!!!
Biondi’s a legend,
as you know … and we’re pushing for a BIG turn-out to wish the guy a Happy 88th
Birthday.
(And raise enough
money to FINALLY get this film made!!!)
kk
My
only direct connection to the legendary Dick Biondi -- other than hearing
"The Wild I-tralian" many times on the air and buying a copy of
his "On Top Of Spaghetti" parody 45 -- came one day in the early
'70s while pawing through cut-out LPs at Rose Records in the Loop.
There
I found and bought a mint, sealed copy of his "Teenagers"
LP.
Knowing
that Dick was then on the air down the street at WCFL, I carried the LP in its
Rose Records bag down to the station and took the elevator up to the floor
where Dick was broadcasting. There was a little lobby there
where fans could stand in front of the on-air studio window and watch
Biondi in action. As I was the only one
in that lobby, Dick noticed me, smiled, and waved.
As
he watched, I then slowly pulled the LP from the bag and pressed it against the
glass. Dick broke into an incandescent grin and a few moments later was
in the lobby with me, gleefully asking where I'd found the album and telling me
all about it. He could not have been nicer or kinder.
I
later played cuts from that LP on my own radio show -- until the day that
record was stolen from me! I still wish I had a copy of it -- but
I've never seen another one since.
Gary
Theroux
"The
History of Rock 'n' Roll"
Back
in the ‘90's, I was interviewing Ronnie Rice on my show and we started talking
about Dick Biondi.
Ronnie
exclaimed "Let's call him."
Mr.
Biondi was on the air at the same time in Chicago. The three of us
chatted briefly on my show.
I
have included the shout out he gave us in Chicago.
Phil
Nee - WRCO
Hi
there, Kent,
Unfortunately,
I don't remember hearing Dick Biondi in the early sixties on WLS, because I was
simply too young at the time.
However,
I have certainly heard plenty of airchecks, and I've even heard a couple of
1959 airchecks of Dick on WKBW in Buffalo.
I
didn't really start DX-ing until around 1966, and that was the year that I
first heard both WLS and WCFL from Vermont, along with other Chicago radio
stations as well, like WMAQ, WGN, WBBM and WJJD.
But
I did hear Dick Biondi on WCFL, and I especially tuned in to a show that he
aired on Sunday nights / Monday mornings from midnight to 2 AM
Chicago
time called In The Beginning.
I
have a tremendous amount of respect for Dick because, although he certainly has
earned superstar status as a disc jockey, he has never forgotten the most
important aspect of being in radio, his LISTENERS.
In
November of 1993, my roommate at the time named Charlie ended up in Chicago and
called up Dick Biondi and had him say hello to me over the air on WJMK.
On
August 19, 2005, I sent Dick an E-mail, letting him know how much I appreciated
his illustrious career as a disc jockey and everything that
he
did to promote some of the biggest rock and roll acts of the sixties. I
didn't think he'd mention hearing from me, not with the very tight format that WJMK
had at the time. But I was wrong.
And
here is the result.
I
feel so honored to have had this gentleman say hi to me twice over the air, a
person that he didn't even know me, and hadn't even met me.
But
that was the way Dick Biondi was.
I
still have that original E-mail that I sent him, and we actually exchanged a
couple of E-mails back in 2005, which I also treasure very much.
Just
thought I'd share this with you, as a man who was lucky enough to have lived in
Chicago all your life.
With
warmest regards,
Sam
Ward
Have fun at the Biondi Birthday Bash!
Every profession has its superstars and Dick
Biondi certainly is one of them in in the radio industry.
Bionic Biondi certainly deserves a lifetime
achievement award and a Purple Heart!
You can hear him now: "It's 5
o'clock at WCFL - Chicago, I'm Dick Biondi at the Voice Of Labor!"
When you are in radio, your life is measured
in dog-years …
Please tell Dick Biondi: "Happy
616th Birthday!"
Peace - Tim Kiley
OTHER BIRTHDAYS:
Bowzer turns 73
September 14th!
.... Makes ya feel ancient,
don't it?
A lady I was seeing was friends with Jon, so we went up to see him at Beloit Fest in 1990. After the show, the three of us got together at the restaurant in the Holiday Inn he was staying at. We chatted into the wee hours.
Great guy, very into not only rock and roll, but classical music, too. I think he even wrote some classical pieces.
And, to top it all off, his opening act was Bo Diddley!
Mike Wolstein
A lady I was seeing was friends with Jon, so we went up to see him at Beloit Fest in 1990. After the show, the three of us got together at the restaurant in the Holiday Inn he was staying at. We chatted into the wee hours.
Great guy, very into not only rock and roll, but classical music, too. I think he even wrote some classical pieces.
And, to top it all off, his opening act was Bo Diddley!
Mike Wolstein
Monday, the 14th,
is Frannie’s birthday, too!
Also sharing that
date: Amy Winehouse, Clayton Moore, Joey
Heatherton, Melissa Leo and Dick Dale.
THIS AND THAT:
Last week we told
you about the new ABBA documentary that is running on PBS … and we voiced our
displeasure with the length of the program …
Subtracting the
time devoted to pledge-begging, the actual time devoted to ABBA clocks in at
right around 45 minutes …
Nowhere NEAR enough
time to do this superstar group justice.
Well, this past
weekend, I dug out an old DVD called “The Winner Takes It All: The ABBA Story,” which spends better than
DOUBLE that amount of time, digging far deeper into the catalog and history of
the group. (It even has a bonus feature
devoted to the then new hit stage show, “Mamma Mia.”)
DEFINITELY head and
shoulders better than what PBS is currently airing (although the PBS special
borrows heavily from this DVD in the way of quotes by the various members of
the band and performance video clips.)
So, I thought that
today I could highly recommend ordering a copy of this DVD if you’re a serious
ABBA fan … (of course, if you’re a SERIOUS ABBA fan, you probably already own a
copy!!!) ... but apparently this is already out of print and hard to come
by. (The only copy I could find on
Amazon was going for $75 … which is still probably less than what you’d have to
pledge to your local PBS station … but still not my intent.)
Anyway, keep your
eyes open for a copy of this one … MUCH better than what PBS is airing and
offering. (kk)
A surprise from Tom
Cuddy …
VINYL OUTSELLS CDs FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES: https://pitchfork.com/news/vinyl-outsells-cds-for-the-first-time-in-decades/
Tom also tells us …
LAST WEEK WOULD HAVE BEEN BILLY PRESTON’S 74th BIRTHDAY …
AND HE’S STILL NOT BEING HONORED WITH INDUCTION INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF
FAME
Tom Cuddy
This is just plain
wrong. We have been campaigning for
Billy’s induction for YEARS now … and his career goes back to the early ‘60’s
when he was playing in Little Richard’s band.
(That’s how he first met The Beatles way back when!)
This guy DEFINITELY
has earned is spot in The Rock Hall.
(But then again, how often does THAT matter???) kk
And while we’re on
the subject of Beatles-related issues …
Hi
again Kent,
I
always like to hear American Top Forty programs from the past, and I always
thought their production was first class. They had some of the
best
engineers in the business.
Having
said that, though, I don't know what I was expecting, but I was really
disappointed in the Beatles songs medley that was put together by
the
American Top Forty staff. It was billed as being a look at every
important Beatles song between 1964 and 1970, and that's how it should
have
been created, but it wasn't.
First
of all, the montage started with Ringo's drum solo from The End. I can
forgive them using that horrible rechanneled pseudo-stereo version of I Want To
Hold Your Hand, because that was all that was easily available at the time as a
stereo version of the song, but editing bits and pieces of the Beatles’ White
Album into the montage, especially in the early songs section of the montage,
just totally ruined the continuity of presenting things in chronological
order.
Furthermore,
George Martin's instrumental versions of Beatles songs from the U.S. United
Artists label version of the A Hard Day's Night album had no business being
there at all.
Even
overlooking this, the engineers still presented songs totally out of sequence
.., Yellow Submarine before Paperback Writer and Rain … and they played songs
from the Magical Mystery Tour album before playing anything from Sergeant
Pepper.
All
and all, I think this was a poor job, and I could have done a better job myself
of creating a chronological montage of Beatles music.
I
was NOT IMPRESSED with it at all!
Sam
Ward
I think for being one of the first (if not THE first) of its
kind at the time … keep in mind, The Beatles had only split up a few years
before … it was pretty well done. It
certainly gave an overall representation of the music they gave the world. (As Casey so eloquently pointed out, you
couldn’t just do one or two Beatles songs and represent the vast number of
changes The Beatles went through over their brief seven year stint on the
chart.)
I’m thinking it was more a case of trying to fit it all in
in a way thought would properly blend tone and temp and still represent the
best of everything … although I DO agree that the George Martin instrumental
bits could have been eliminated. (They even had The Boston Pops Orchestra’s
version of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” squeezed in there for a second!) A chronological “sweep” may have captured
more of the “continuity” that you were looking for … but I’m not sure it would
have flowed as smoothly.
That being said, we’d love to hear YOUR version of a
comprehensive Beatles career medley … so send it along and we’ll post it on the
site.
(Side memo to Gary Theroux:
Didn’t The History Of Rock And Roll do something similar a few years
later to wrap up their Beatles chapters?
Would love to hear THAT again, too!)
kk
Hi, Kent -
Thanks for the link to the AT40 Beatles
montage. Yes, it's not perfect, but one cannot please everyone. For
its purpose as a special feature on AT40 -- a series not noted for its special
features -- I think it filled the bill. Would I have done it
differently? Sure -- but that's just me. And, as you know, I wrote
for AT40 for a while -- and Wink Martindale guest hosted (not at the same
times, through).
The 1978 History of Rock and Roll did, of
course, extensively cover the Beatles, both collectively and as solo stars (up
through that year). But I do not recall building any Beatles montages
into the production.
The montages we featured were what I
called the "B Montages" (key hits of a given year that we did not
have time to play in full), the "A Montages" (every #1 hit of a given
year in chronological order) and, of course, the legendary Hour 52
"Timesweep," which was simply all the A Montages edited
together. It's been a few decades since I've carefully reviewed all the
contents of the HRR, but those are the only montages/medleys I remember at this
point.
Speaking of which, I wonder whatever happened
to "The Beatles Movie Medley," which remains to this day, the only
Beatles hit single to never appear on an LP or CD. It's not even on the
Beatles' Movie Music album (which makes no sense at all)!
Gary
I think the “Beatles Movie Medley” was put together very
quickly to cash in on the trend developed by the Stars On 45 Beatles Medley,
which topped the charts the year before.
(Honestly, Capitol’s mix was a poorly-edited mish-mosh. Still, is somehow managed a #12 showing on
Billboard’s chart in 1982, proving once again that virtually ANYTHING released
by The Fab Four would continue to sell well long after the band called it
quits! (kk)
The
Vega was my VERY first car, circa 1974. It was a ‘71 Vega and it died out
in a year. Pretty car, but lousy engine. I had wide wheels and fog
lamps, so I was in good shape, style wise. Just was a bad engine.
Clark
Besch
I had the VERY
sporty GT model with the big black racing stipe down the hood … bright orange …
couldn’t miss me coming down the street!
It, too, was a ’71 … the first brand new car I ever bought … used my high
school graduation money as the down payment (back in the days when $1000 was
enough to put you in a brand new automobile … albeit very CHEAP new
automobile!!! Lol) kk
Of the many songs (records) that have come out
through the years, there are just three that, when I hear them, just gives me
goose bumps up and down my spine. I can't explain it. One of those records is
OUR WINTER LOVE by Bill Pursell. I did not know he had passed away until I read
it in today's FH.
Larry Neal
Have you heard about this new Ozzy Osborne documentary
running on A&E?
Apparently, it’s a no holds barred / nothing held back
discussion (in which he tells the story of the night he nearly killed his wife
Sharon while out of control on drugs …
Bruce Springsteen releases a brand new album on October 23rd
… “Letter To You” marks The Boss’ 20th LP.
Springsteen says of the experience: “We made the album
in only five days, and it turned out to be one of the greatest recording
experiences I’ve ever had.”
Also new, an
advance single, “Espionage,” from his forthcoming “Space Force” album by Todd
Rundgren. (You can stream it here: https://orcd.co/todd_rundgren_narcy_espionage) …
And, believe it or
not, a brand new 50th Anniversary commemorative box set by Uriah
Heep! It’s an incredible 23-Disc Set
(plus a vinyl LP) Not exactly my thing (I
think I only know two or three of their songs!
Lol) but what an AMAZING tribute to these British rockers.
The group has gone
thru countless band member changes over the past five decades … in fact, the 64
page soft cover book that accompanies this set features a complete band member
timeline) … but founding members Guitarist Mick Box (who is still with the band
after all these years!), Keyboardist Ken Hensley, Drummer Lee Kerslake and
bassist Paul Newton were all heavily involved in compiling the set … and each gave
curated a disc of their favorite tracks by the group as well as contributing to
the liner notes.
More information
here: https://theseconddisc.com/2020/09/08/return-to-fantasy-uriah-heep-mark-50-years-in-rock-with-new-box-set/
Check
out Harvey Kubernik’s review of the brand new, expanded and remixed Rolling
Stones CD, “Goats Head Soup” …
And, speaking of Harvey Kubernik, I've been reading his new book, “Docs That Rock: Music That Matters,” I’ve also
been watching several of the programs mentioned along the way.
Unfortunately, too many of these are now out of print on dvd
(some commanding very high prices thru amazon and eBay) -
But this book acts as a great check list to follow up on
anything you may have missed along the way.
(Build yourself a “want list” as you make your way thru it … because
there are a WHOLE lot of these shows that you’re going to want to see!!!)
However, I also found quite a few, too, that aren’t
mentioned in the book but are DEFINITELY worth seeking out. (The
Turtles, The Cowsills, The Mamas and Papas and The Hollies immediately
come to mind - I’ve watched ALL of those multiple times.)
Harvey might have to do a sequel! (I think one with an actual check list would
be VERY helpful!) kk
kk:
So happy you are
discovering and viewing several of the music television programs mentioned and
cited in my new book.
In 2006, I did my first
book on the filmusic subject ... Hollywood Shack Job: Rock Music In Film
and on Your Screen. University of New
Mexico Press. All of these groups that you listed were touted and
paraded with text and photos. And many more. Did not want to repeat myself with
"Docs That Rock, Music That Matters."
The way things are
going with the new title, maybe it's time for a 3rd book on this
subject!
So many fifties and
sixties music shows were wiped after initial broadcast, ala UK "Ready,
Steady Go!" and others hidden deep in studio libraries. Licensing fees are
a factor regarding "Shindig!" and "American Bandstand," but
that world of exhibition is changing.
I know there is devoted
audience and active consumer base for seminal programs like
"Upbeat."
In the new book I
wanted a blend of music documentaries and dance music programs, some I actually
danced on, along with retail DVD's on "The Johnny Cash Show."
Thank God for SOFA
Entertainment, who have made available "The Ed Sullivan Show"
archive. Pristine footage we can view on the official YouTube channel.
Does anyone realize how
important his 1948-1971 Sunday night TV show was?
And, it's referenced in
my book, what a groundbreaking host he was to blues and R&B artists. Check
out the platform he gave to musical acts before showcasing the Beatles in
February, 1964.
Is Ed really not in the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category? I'm too busy to look
this omission up.
Thanks for the constant
support.
As Gary Strobl often
reminds us, "We are all on the mission together."
Onward!
Harvey Kubernik
So this book sorta IS the sequel!!! (I’ll have to look and
see if copies of “Hollywood Shack Job” are still available!)
No, Ed Sullivan is NOT in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame …
and it is one of their most glaring omissions.
(Not to mention the fact that it’s just plain WRONG!!! And THESE are they guys who say that THEY
understand rock music better than anyone out here in the general public. Bullshit.)
Lots more to check out as time goes by. (I know several of these programs … or
portions thereof … are available on bootlegs … but I want to see some of this
pristine footage that Harvey is talking about!!! Lol)
Special DVDs also exist of Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and
several Motown stars appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. This stuff is out there … you just have to
seek it out! (kk)
Kent,
In the football game last night, I heard a
commercial (can't remember the product) in which the Chambers Brothers’ TIME
HAS COME TODAY was playing in the background. Now offhand, I don't remember
ever hearing this before. Maybe it has been on before several times, but if so,
I can't remember.
Speaking of football, I just now read online
that Monday Night Football is replacing Hank Williams Jr.’s intro of ALL MY
ROWDY FRIENDS with Little Richard's RIP IT UP. Sure would have liked to been in
that room where the powers that be chose than one.
Larry Neal
Normally that would strike me as being a completely out of
left field decision … if this were baseball we were talking about!
(kk)
And here’s a new one on me …
Hello Kent,
I received a copy of the CD compilation "Rock and Roll Teen Pop:
Talking on the Telephone" and came across a pretty rare song called
"Bopper 486009" by Donna Dameron. So of course I immediately thought
about Forgotten Hits!
According to the liner notes, the song was co-written by J.P. Richardson
(The Big Bopper) and was intended as a follow-up / sequel to "Chantilly
Lace."
Although rumored to be The Big Bopper's mother or wife, depending on what
source you read, Donna was actually a lounge singer in Nashville. She recorded
the song in Chicago shortly after "Chantilly Lace" hit the charts,
and it was set to be released on Mercury Records.
Unfortunately, due to The Big Bopper's death a short time later, the song
was pulled from national release and seemingly faded away.
I listened to it, and think it's a pretty good song that may have gone
somewhere under different circumstances.
Since additional details on Donna and the song are hard to find online (I
imagine she had a pretty face and a ponytail hanging down, maybe a wiggle and a
walk ...), I was wondering if any readers know anything else about the song, or
if any DJs on the list remember playing it on the radio.
Colin Donahue
Anybody got any information on this to
share? (kk)
I just discovered something.
I recently told you that my first 45 was "Tie Me Kangaroo Down,
Sport" by Rolf Harris.
I purchased the 1963 version that hit #3 in Billboard on 7/13.
Yes, there was an earlier version that did not hit the U.S. charts, but
went to #9 on the U.K. charts, hitting the charts on 7/21/60, peak date
unknown.
I never knew that there was a re-recorded version. What is also interesting
is that the 1963 version never hit the U.K. charts.
Learn something new every day.
Mike Brown
Learn something new every day.
Mike Brown
PHOTO GALLERY:
Much
as we did last week with some vintage Chicagoland September surveys, this time
around Frank B. has stocked the bar with plenty of vintage concert posters from
back of the day … many (if not most!) of which he attended himself!!!
kk …
I was there.
FB
12 days ... Jackie Wilson, the Ronettes, the
4 Seasons, Joey Dee & Starliters, the Crests, Little Eva, the Shirelles,
Bob B Soxx & the Blue Jeans, Sam & Dave, the Earls, the Dovells, Mike
Clifford ... and a few others.
Murray was one of a kind!
Larry Chance
And here’s a Labor Day Show from the past …
kk:
These are the posters I have hanging in my
basement … all the Richard Nader Doo-Wopp At The Garden shows I went to.
Back then, we used TWO P's to spell Doo-Wopp.
FB
ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR:
Always
enjoy your stuff, man ---- bringing back some excellent memories ---
Thanks
for all you do!
Kris Erik
Stevens
