Thursday, September 3, 2020

Thursday This And That


What a prize THIS was … 

>>>In reading Rob Durkee's book, I am coming across SO many classic moments that aired during Casey's reign as host of American Top 40.  One that I would LOVE to hear again was the 13-minute Beatles montage that aired over the weekend of October 6th and 7th in 1973.  It features snippets of 107 Beatles songs, covering their entire career from start to finish.  If ANYBODY out there has a copy, I would LOVE to receive an MP3 ... we'll even share it with our readers!  Thanks!  (kk)

Well, FH Reader Mike Brown DID have a copy …

And he sent it in for us to share with everyone.

Settle in for the next 14 minutes or so …

And give a listen as The Beatles’ career unfolds right before your very ears!

(Thanks, Mike!!!)  kk

Kent:
I read a rumor that you were looking for the Beatles montage from an AT40 program that ran in 1973.  That was show 734-1, The 40 Top Artists of the Rock Era special.
I just finished transferring the track and removed as many clicks/pops that
I was able to hear.  The transfer was mastered @96kHz, 32 bits.  FYI, the copy is from my original AT40 LPs.
Mike Brown

Absolutely AMAZING!!!  (kk)

And, in response to some reason discussion about American Top 40 accepting on-air advertising from MGM Records …

I read the comments about American Top 40 and I found one of the MGM Records clips that were ads placed in the middle of AT40 shows from late 1970 into 1971.  I know they did ads for this ("Wasn't it Easy" by Bill Medley) and "When I’m Dead & Gone" by Bob Summers and "Make Me Happy" by Bobby Bloom, among others.  At the time, it seemed like payola a bit to me, but the thing is that none of these songs became hits (the last one made #48, I think), yet because of these ads, I just had to find them all eventually! 
Another odd thing is that after hearing the ads several times and then getting the 45s later on, I was kinda disappointed, because the ads were about a minute of different segments thrown together and when I got the 45s, they were edited so differently that I was kinda let down! 
Now the below just CANNOT be the same take as the track in the ad!  I need to find my 45.  I will in the coming days as I sort my 45s in the M's. 

Clark Besch


Some more great Ed Sullivan clips are coming up on The Ed Sullivan YouTube Channel …

Here are just some of the highlights you can look forward to between August 28th and September 17th:

Live On The Ed Sullivan Show YOUTUBE channel
(Keep in mind that these are all the original, full length clips, just as the aired at the time on Sunday Nights when we were all glued to our television sets!)

PREMIER DATE:  Saturday, August 29th – Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps – Dance To The Bop  (original air date = November 17, 1957)
8/31 – Diana Ross and the Supremes – Love Child (9/29/68)
9/2 – The Rays – Silhouettes  (12/1/57)
9/2 – Elvis Presley – Peace In The Valley  (1/6/57)
9/3 – The Temptations – Runaway Child, Running Wild  (2/2/69)
9/3 – Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley  (11/20//55)
9/4 – The Mamas and the Papas – Creeque Alley  (6/11/67)
9/7 – Bobby Darin – Medley:  Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Lonesome Road / The Saints Go Marching In  (9/6/59)
9/8 – Lulu – To Sir, With Love  (10/22/67)
9/9 – Elvis Presley – Hound Dog  (10/28/56)
9/11 – The Temptations – Get Ready  (1/31/71)
9/12 – The Beach Boys – Do It Again  (10/13/68)
9/12 – The Bee Gees – Words (3/17/68)
9/15 – Tommy James and the Shondells – Crimson and Clover  (1/26/69)
9/15 – Gerry and the Pacemakers – I’m The One  (5/3/64)
9/16 – Jackie DeShannon – Put A Little Love In Your Heart  (2/1/70)
9/16 – Elvis Presley – Don’t Be Cruel  (10/28/56)
And LOTS more …
Subscribe to The Ed Sullivan YouTube Channel Now!!!
The Ed Sullivan Show’s official YouTube channel

Kent, 
Thank you for posting a Shocker with Thrills! 
I didn't really know what to expect ... but man, let's get JB Bingham on some stages somewhere, somehow! He's still got it!
Thanks for including his video in today's awesome serving on FH. 
David Lewis
He blew me away.  I agree … this guy should be out there singing … as part of some ‘70’s Soul Revue or something!  (kk)


Regarding “Go Back,” it was a great song for me up in Milwaukee as well.
I first heard it at the tail-end of March of 1070. Couldn’t get it around here until May and it doesn’t peak here until late June / early July, so it does take a while for it to move here as well, although it does better on WOKY than WRIT.  It was right around my Top 10 Hits of the year.
Ken Freck
Clark Besch delves into the long chart-life of this one below … the lack of momentum on this one certainly cramped its chart position.
Nationally, it debuted on 5/20 in Cash Box … and a week later in both Record World and Billboard.
Once again, we had a peak spread of fifteen places between Record World (#21) and Billboard (#36).  Here in Chicago it only charted on WCFL, where it peaked at #12 in a nine week chart run … but didn’t even premier until August 19th … THREE FULL MONTHS after its national chart debut.  Why it took so long is anybody’s guess.  (kk)

Kent,
I had NO idea that Chicago was SO far behind with "Go Back."  That song was great and a huge hit right when it was released in my area.  I charted it on my personal charts on 4/11 yet ‘CFL was charting it into late OCTOBER!!  It was OFF the Hot 100 by August 8, one week BEFORE CFL STARTED charting it and three months before ‘CFL knocked it off their chart! 
Below, it was battling "Vehicle" for a top spot on our KEYN-FM in Wichita in May, just after it started climbing the Hot 100.  Cottage Cheese just started climbing that week in the Hot 100, too, yet on KEYN the original A side, "Slow Down," had just dropped out after reaching top 10 status!
Clark Besch


Wow … April 11th is nearly a full month before it made the national charts …
This record should have been on the chart for at least six months!  (LOL)  kk

You'll find more on “Cottage Cheese” below (kk)

Since you mentioned "cheesy one-hit wonders" on Saturday, I thought I'd toss in a bit of info that's probably unknown to the most music lovers.
Jerry Samuels, the guy who wrote and recorded that lovely hit "They're Coming to Take Me Away" in 1966, penned a beautiful tune called "The Shelter of Your Arms" for Sammy Davis, Jr. three years earlier. 
Hard to figure how these two songs could come from the same mind.
Mike
Several of Jerry Samuels’ songs were recorded prior to “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha- Haa!” … dating all the way back to 1954 and Johnnie Ray … but “The Shelter Of Your Arms” was by far the biggest hit.  (Sammy Davis, Jr.’s version hit Billboard’s Top 20 in late 1963, peaking at #17)

I'm surprised and shocked that the #1, All-Time, CHEESIEST One Hit Wonder has yet to be mentioned ...
"On Top Of Spaghetti," by Tom Glazer and the Do Re Mi Chorus.
I rest my case.
-- Uncle T. Jay

And, speaking of cheese, after seeing “Cottage Cheese” by Crow at #4 on last week’s WCFL Survey, FH Reader Clark Besch emailed Tom Konrad, who helped put together the WCFL surveys back in the day, to see what the scoop was on this one …

Tom, there HAS to a story here. 
This week 50 years ago, "Cottage Cheese" by Crow reached #4 on WCFL's survey.  I did not remember WLS playing this much, if at all.  I checked and it did not chart AT ALL!  Did they boycot it or did you guys just LOVE the song???  A story you can share here????
Clark

Hi Clark,
It's funny … I have a Scotty Brink aircheck which starts with "Cottage Cheese" by Crow.  I thought nothing of it, really. 
I actually didn't listen to WLS. 
I know there was a big deal with Tommy James and The Shondells, earlier, where 'CFL did not play a song they did ... I forget which one.  Paul Christy brought me into the music department in 1971, from the mailroom where I was for eleven months.  I started in March of 1970, but not in music until very early in 1971 and Paul had me re-do the survey, as I guess you know.
Actually, I DO like the song, but I don't know anything about how or why it charted as high as it did on ‘CFL. 
I can tell you, though, I have no proof, that I know payola still went on. 
As the song goes in "West Side Story," if you can recall, " ... could be ... who knows ..."  Maybe someone ... well, lots of maybes. 
When I was actually DOING the survey, I recall we were instructed to move up a particular record AT LEAST three spots no matter what sales showed.  Again, I can't recall details.  The GM actually picked the records to be added and he was, in essence, the PD.  It was sort of a one-man show with figureheads.  That record I refer to was a female vocalist and the GM had a part interest in a club in near north Chicago where she was appearing.  So, the real world, is all. 
I really tried to just avoid politics and just did what I was told.
I'd like to know more about Crow out of curiosity, but as Sgt. Schultz used to say "I know nothing." Sorry.
Well, I HOPE you are well there in the state Les Nessman loved!
Cheers -
Tom
I personally loved the track … we played the heck out of it … but Clark is right … it never charted on WLS … which is REALLY odd since their other two big hits … “Evil Woman, Don’t Play Your Games With Me” and “Don’t Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie On The King Of Rock And Roll” both did extremely well on the WLS Chart.  (#’s 6 and 16 respectively.)
I DO know that I would LOVE to get a nice, CLEAN copy of the 45 radio edit that they used to play on the station … because it sure ain’t the LP version, which is all that seems to be available these days.  (Even Bob Stroud had to put the album version on his Rock And Roll Roots CD when he featured “Cottage Cheese” by Crow on one the early editions.
Crow was promoted here like a local band … I had absolutely NO idea they were actually from Minnesota until years later … it seemed they were playing in Chicago all the time.
For the record, “Cottage Cheese” peaked at #4 on the WCFL Chart in the Summer of 1970.  “Evil Woman” only went to #17 and “King Of Rock And Roll” did a little bit better on ‘CFL than it did on the WLS Chart, peaking at #13.  (kk)

Here's the test pressing of Cottage Cheese / Slow Down with a promo insert for original A side "Slow Down." 
Attached is the short Amaret 45 version shown below.  Same exact as store 45 copies.  ALL mono.
Clark



I remember that “Slow Down” was played in Chicago (albeit VERY briefly) but I don’t personally remember ever hearing it myself.  “Cottage Cheese was definitely the better choice … and it deserved a better national fate, especially coming right on the heels of their Top 20 Hit “Evil Woman Don’t Play Your Games With Me.”  (kk)
UPDATE:  It looks like “Slow Down” charted first nationally.  Released in March, it peaked at #84 in Record World.  (Again it fell twenty points lower in Billboard.)
Then, in May, they flipped the record over to see if “Cottage Cheese” could be Crow’s next hit.
This time, it went to #55 in Record World (just one spot higher than Billboard.)
Charting only on WCFL, it peaked #4, where you saw it on last week’s chart.  (kk)


kk …
Here's a link to the Brian Hyland and La La Brooks (Crystals) Interview I told you about, should you want to listen to it or post it.
Highlights:
Brian and Gene Pitney were roommates on Dick Clark Tour.
Brian stayed at Del Shannon's house in California, 1968 and 1969.
They wrote some songs together. At the last minute they decided to throw an oldie into the mix, "GYPSY WOMAN.
La La Brooks lived in Vienna and England before returning to U.S.A.
Brian talks about being in Dallas for a Dick Clark show the day JFK was shot in 1963.
Dick Clark called Berry Gordy, Jr. He wanted Brenda Holloway for the tour.
Berry said, Okay ... but I’ve also got this new girl group you might like … called the Supremes.
Frank B.
P.S.  Don't know if you might be interested in some of these older interviews they’ve done:  https://www.facebook.com/PopRockDooWopp/live_videos/
Hmmm … some good ones here … Gary Puckett, Gary Lewis, Peter Noone, The Cyrkle, Chuck Negron, The Box Tops, Dennis Tufano, Larry Chance, Russell Tompkins, Jr., Bobby Rydell, Jay Siegel, Tony Orlando, Chris Montez, David Marks …
You can spend some serious time here!  (lol)  kk

I had forgotten about the fun "Fakin it" with the 2:74 time.  Thought that was cool, too. 
Also, the "Ain't She Sweet" story was awesome … and I am looking forward to the Mob special as well!!
PS.  The Ravinia MINI-CONCERT with the Ides of March sounded great!!!  This is one of the best Ides videos yet!  GREAT studio sound and you can see and hear the band as primo performers on stage without audience noise.  
Clark Besch

Hi Kent,
Congratulations on the 50th Anniversary of THE MOB Album.
I have it hanging on my downstairs wall, along with my other favorite albums. 
They were one of a kind! I remember seeing them perform at the old  'Gi Gi a Go Go Club' in Lyons, IL.  They put on a Great show with their special sound and total performance.  Would have been great in Las Vegas.
Wish they received more fame, but we have the memories.
As their hit record said, "I Dig Everything About You"!
Carolyn 
WLTL will be paying tribute to the 50th Anniversary of The Mob’s album on Monday, October 12th.  (Scroll back to yesterday’s post for all the details.)  kk

Hi Kent,
All three blogs were great, Bud.
So glad you posted those vids ... that sure brings back some great memories.
Still don't know how ya keep up with it all ... just glad you do.
Stay safe and well, my friend.
Bless ya
Barry

Yesterday we ran a photo of Scott Shannon with pop singer Debbie Gibson, celebrating her 50th birthday.

Well today, BOTH are back in the news!

Scott Shannon just extended his contract with WCBS-FM in New York City, where he’s had the #1 Morning Show ever since he “relocated” there six years ago … so congratulations again, Scott … STILL #1 after all these years.  

In making the announcement, Chris Oliviero, Senior Vice President and Market Manager of Entercom New York, the parent company that owns WCBS-FM, said "When New Yorkers think of morning radio, they hear Scott Shannon in their minds.  Generations of listeners have woken up with Scott as the first voice they hear each day. As relevant and compelling as ever, it is fitting that he holds court on WCBS-FM 101.1, right in the middle of that radio dial that he has influenced like no other talent in history."
Shannon’s show is listened to by more New Yorkers than any other morning show - ranked No. 1 in cume 6+ M-F, 6 am – 10 am in the just-released Nielsen August 2020 ratings. Scott Shannon also has the largest average quarter-hour share among music station morning shows - No. 1 among listeners 6+. WCBS-FM 101.1 is consistently a top three station in America's largest city and is currently the No. 1 station among listeners 12+, M - Su 6 am-12 pm, according to Nielsen.  He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2006. 

(And of course I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you just one more time that Scott’ll be playing ALL of your All-Time Summer Favorites starting at Noon Eastern tomorrow … and running STRAIGHT thru The Labor Day Weekend … on The True Oldies Channel … ask Alexa to play The True Oldies Channel … or just visit www.trueoldieschannel.com … and turn it on … and KEEP it on , all weekend long.  
That's right ... The #1 Dee Jay in The USA ... playing OUR list all weekend long!!!)

And secondly we got an email from long-time FH Reader and supporter David Salidor, who reminded us that HE was Debbie Gibson’s very first publicity agent back in the late '80's … and even sent along a photo of himself and Debbie from way back then!

dis COMPANY's David Salidor was Deb's first publicist - working on her landmark OUT OF THE BLUE and ELECTRIC YOUTH albums for Atlantic un the late-80's. HAPPY BDAY DEB!



And, from our 1970 calendar ...

September 3rd – Vince Lombardi, famed Green Bay Packers Coach, dies.  His name will adorn the Super Bowl Trophy from this point forward.