The Ed Sullivan YouTube Channel has now passed ONE BILLION views!
And why not … Sullivan was on the cutting edge of presenting the hottest brand new talent each week, delivering them right into our living rooms.
Ed will FINALLY be honored with a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction this year. (kk)
Ritchie Blackmore, a founding member of Deep Purple, joined the band on stage Wednesday Night (8/12) at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. It marked his first appearance with his former band since 1993. It was a complete surprise to the audience. Naturally, he performed on “Smoke On The Water,” which closed the band’s main set of the evening.
In the weeks ahead, you can catch Deep Purple in concert (without Ritchie Blackmore) here:
August 13th - Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
August 15th – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
August 17th – Laval, QC – Place Bell
August 18th – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
August 19th – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
August 21st – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob
August 22nd – Salamanca, NY – Seneca Allegany Casino
August 24th – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheatre
August 25th – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia
August 27th – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino
August 29th Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
August 31st – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
September 2nd – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Centre
September 4th – Lincoln, CA – Thunder Valley
September 5th – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
September 6th – Highland, CA – Yaamava Theatre
September 8th – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
September 10th – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood
September 11th – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Amphitheater
September 12th – Sparks, NV – Nugget Event Center
I heard from Scott Paton, long-time friend of Forgotten Hits, after we ran a link to his Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band review that ran in Best Classic Bands last week.
Here’s the link again to his original review …
https://bestclassicbands.com/al-jardine-pet-sounds-band-2026-tour-review-8-12-26/
And here are a few more of his “side notes” that didn’t make it into the final post …
Critics (a fan, actually) Notes:
Al Jardine & the Pet Sounds Band’s current tour, with a focus on material from the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and Love You albums is scheduled well into the fall. Further dates may be pending. But when the next tour, and a presumably revised set list are being contemplated, here are some suggestions:
A Dozen Songs to Consider
· “You’re So Good To Me” – Originally designated for Dennis Wilson to sing, as Brian Wilson told me many years ago, “He didn’t show up at the studio that day! He was probably with some chick or sleeping in his camper. So, I ended up singing it. I sang it like Al Jardine!”
“So why didn’t you give it to Al to sing?”
“He already had two leads on the album (Summer Days and Summer Nights – ‘Help Me, Rhonda’ single version & ‘Then I Kissed Her’), so I did it.”
But Al had the chance to do it in concert for many years. Time for a revival.
· “Then I Kissed Her” – Speaking of which… A cover of the Crystals’ “Then He Kissed Me,” it went Top Ten in England.
· “Little Girl I Once Knew” – Brian and Al’s two-part harmony in the verses of this orchestrated masterpiece illustrate how superbly their two voices intertwined. The two Jardines, father and son, would achieve the same effect splendidly. Darian could handle Carl’s responses.
· “Breakaway” – From the crowded “Shoulda been a Beach Boys Smash” category: The Beach Boys closed out the Sixties with this little-heard classic that featured their three best singers sharing the lead—Carl, Brian and Al. The Pet Sounds singers would have a field day with this; the audience as well.
· “Cottonfields” – Originally recorded in a more languid production by Brian for the 20/20 album, ol’ folkie Al stepped up the arrangement in a re-cut version that soared. Released after the Beach Boys had exited Capitol Records, it failed to make a dent on the U.S charts, but it was a Top Five smash in several foreign countries, including the UK. Incidentally, Al told me, post-show, that he and his son Matt have been tinkering with a countrified version of “Cottonfields.” Let’s hope that it gets a release.
· “Susie Cincinnati” – Composed and sung by Al, bumped from the Sunflower album in 1970, relegated to a B-side and a Warner Brothers promo LP, finally issued as an A-side in ’76, this is another hit that should have been.
Another snippet from my conversation with Brian: “Al’s got a great voice. Sings great with me, great with Carl. When he pushes his energy a bit, his voice gets an edge that’s real Rock & Roll. I had to push him a little on ‘Help Me, Rhonda,’ but man, he nailed it! We got another Number One, heh, heh!”
· “California Saga (California)” – Where was this one the other night? Al wrote this, and it was one of the standout tracks on the Holland LP. Never heard the reason Mike got to sing lead instead. Maybe a more obvious bookend to “California Girls?”
· “It’s A Beautiful Day” – Did even the Beach Boys ever do this obscure soundtrack song from the equally obscure film Americathon in concert?
· “San Miguel” or “Sound Of Free” – Brian and Carl Wilson got their share of nods throughout the show. How ‘bout a shout-out to Dennis?
· “Dance, Dance, Dance” – Let the band rock out, especially the guitarists!
· “Add Some Music To Your Day” – A good showcase for all the lead singers in the band.'
· “Take A Load Off Your Feet” – This could supplant “Ding Dang” in the set for a little humor.
There are countless deep tracks, obscure singles from both Al Jardine’s solo material and the Beach Boys catalog that would be welcomed in concert. Pick your favorites.
Writer’s note: In a brief post-concert conversation, I asked Al if he had any updates regarding his former colleague Mike Love’s health status. He agreed that for Mike to cancel as much of the Beach Boys’ summer tour as he had, there was cause for concern—Mie hasn’t cancelled many shows in his long career. But no reports have been made available. We all certainly wish Mike the very best for a quick and complete recovery. SP
Thanks to the lovely Mary Ann Jardine for stopping the old security man from giving me the boot backstage, the ever-gracious Spud, the staff at Maryland Hall and, of course, Mr. Alan Jardine!
Upcoming Tour Dates
SUN, Aug 16
Celebrate Erie Festival – FREE SHOW -
Erie, PA
SAT, Aug 22
The Arcada Theatre - St Charles, IL
SUN, Aug 23
Des Plaines Theatre - Des Plaines, IL
SAT, AUG 29
L.B. Day Amphitheatre - Oregon State
Fair - Salem, OR
SAT, Sept 5
Pangle Pavilion at the Greater Lima
Region Park & Amphitheater - Lima, OH
MON, Sept 7
Woodstock Fair - South Woodstock, CT
FRI, Sept 18
Boom Days – FREE SHOW - Fort
Payne, AL
SUN, Sept 20
The Auditorium - Eureka Springs, AR
SAT, Oct 10
Poway Center for the Performing Arts - Poway,
CA
SUN, Oct 11
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
- Cerritos, CA
THU, Oct 22
The Soraya - Ca State University - Northridge,
CA
SAT, Oct 24
Bankhead Theater - Livermore, CA
The case over the rights to the use of The Isley Brothers’ name was finally settled after years of dispute between Ronald Isley and the estate of Rudolph Isley when BOTH parties asked the court to throw the case out in lieu of an out-of-court settlement, the details of which are not to be disclosed. (Sounds like a whole lotta time and money wasted for something they could have resolved amongst themselves YEARS ago!!!) kk
I Just Saw A Statement From Frankie Valli –
"IN SPITE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD, I AM NOT RETIRING."
Bobby & Frankie Valli … Don't These Two Brothers Talk To Each Other???
FRANK B.
Who’s crazier??? The brother speaking on behalf of the other with only his best interest at heart …
Or the 92 year old brother who’s going to continue punishing himself so he can ultimately die on stage in front of all his fans??? (kk)
Then again, I just got this email from Tom Cuddy …
Another 90-year-old '60's legend making a comeback!
At 90, here's Engelbert Humperdinck’s first single in decades …
(And who’da EVER thought he’d be doing a KISS song?!?!? And actually sound really good doing it?!?!) kk
Last week we premiered the new video from Micky Dolenz …
Now comes word that he has extended his tour again into next year!
9/8 and 9/9 - Phoenix, AZ - Musical Instrument Museum
9/12 - Los Angeles, CA - United Theater on Broadway
9/24 - Greeneville, TN - Niswonger Performing Arts Center
9/26 - Liberty, SC - Pickens County Performing Arts Center
9/29 - Myrtle Beach, SC - Greg Rowles Legacy Theatre
10/1 - Hopewell, VA - The Historic Beacon Theatre
10/3 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Music Box
10/15 - Greensburg, PA - The Palace Theatre
10/17 - North Tonawanda, NY - Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center
10/30 - Beverly, MA - The Cabot
11/1 - Joliet, IL - Rialto Square Theatre
11/4 - Shipshewana, IN - Blue Gate PAC
11/6 - Northfield, OH - MGM Northfield Park’s Center Stage
11/8 - Des Moines, IA - Hoyt Sherman Place
11/11 - Milwaukee, WI - The Pabst Theater
11/13 - St. Charles, MO - Family Arena
11/15 - Senatobia, MS - Heindl Center for the Performing Arts
11/20 - Oxford, AL - Oxford Performing Arts Center
12/3 - Columbus, OH - Kebba Live
12/5 - Newport, KY - MegaCorp Pavilion
1/22/2027 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Wells Hall at the Parker
1/24/2027 - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
2/27/2027 - Carmel, IN - Payne and Mencias Palladium
From Shelley ...
Happy to retract, if necessary …
No one has told me, but I believe that I have made mistakes in my Happy Together performers' names.
I see that Elliott McCoy has returned to complete the tour in The Vogues. This could very well mean he was not there when I saw the show. Also, Dave Peters was not with Jason Perry in The Troggs. It was Martin Andrew.
In order that THE SHOW MUST GO ON, changes are made as needed. After I saw them, Michael Smitham returned to England for a procedure and Bob Cowsill stepped in to The Fortunes.
I name the performers because they deserve individual credit and recognition, but with the necessary absences that occur, maybe I should not attempt this and opt for group credit only. Sorry everyone.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
This is complicated even further when so many artists do not take the time to acknowledge and introduce the participants … or it is done in such a cast-off, casual way that the audience can’t possibly decipher them all. (Believe me, I’ve spent my fair share of time trying to track down and properly credit the band members’ names thru their websites and social media pages and still come up with one or two M.I.A. nearly every time.) So I can appreciate. But I’ve also commented before on how it truly does a bit of a disservice to all the hard work that goes into putting on shows like these when you don’t properly acknowledge all of the guys who help to make it happen. Just sayin’ (kk)
And how about this closer that Timmy sent us ...
A historical photo from the ages to share …
Building the great pyramids
