The third time may be the charm,
but I hit the charm three times in a row at The Kate in two weeks. First,
Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, second Gary Lewis and The Playboys and
now FIREFALL. Moving into the 1970s when Firefall originated, I sit in the
midst of very dedicated fans who throughout tonight will be LOUD and
ACTIVE.
Let me introduce the band …
Jim Waddell on keyboards, sax,
and flute; Steven Weinmeister on guitar and front vocals; John Bisaha on drums,
Sandy Ficca on bass and front vocals; and Jock Bartley on guitar, lead vocals
and who has been with the band since 1974. As they start, I write the comments
"fantastic sound" and "solid harmonies".
Wikipedia's blurb says: "Firefall is
an American soft rock band that formed in Boulder, Colorado, in 1974.[1] It was
founded by Rick Roberts, former member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Jock
Bartley, who had been Tommy Bolin's replacement in Zephyr. Other members have
included Mark Andes, Larry Burnett, David Muse, and Michael Clarke, the latter
also formerly of the Flying Burrito Brothers and an original member of the
Byrds." Firefall (or someone who is
advertising for them) are terming them Country Rock. As a teacher whose
students do not fall into one category, I say, "Whatever, as long as there
are people who listen and love your music".
The music of Firefall is rock
with story-telling lyrics. 'Cinderella' is a woeful tale about a boy who woos
and loves and leaves when obligations arise. He regrets this later in life and
wonders how his child grew up and were they taken care of. Reading online, I
see that many listeners feel sorry for him and forgive him. EH! Unless he spent
the rest of his life finding this girl and her child and crawling on bended
knee to apologize, I'm not that compassionate. 'You Are the Woman' is an
opposite angle. Even if this man and woman did not stay together, he praised
her and told her so. Read these lyrics and the others of their songs.
Livin' Ain't Livin'
Just Remember I Love You
It Doesn't Matter
So Long
Cinderella
Sweet and Sour
You're Gonna Lose That Girl - Yep,
The Beatles! And Steve even wore a Revolver shirt!
Long Train Runnin’ - a little
Doobie Bros.
Goodbye, I Love You
You Are The Woman - Arguably my
favorite ... Always loved the flute solos
Strange Way
Mexico
Jock had a great story about
'Mexico'. He had no idea what he was going to play for the guitar/horns battle.
They started recording and he winged it. The recording booth said WONDERFUL!
THAT WAS GREAT! Jock didn't think so. "Let me try it again. I think I can
do better." NO! came from the recording booth. "Come on, give
me another shot." NO! again from the control booth. Ok,
he gives up. puts down his guitar and goes into the booth where the first
person he sees is his guitar hero, Eric Clapton. Turning to mush, he accepted
that the only take of 'Mexico' was the one that would be released.
September is the last month of
summer, and I have six concerts planned. SIX!! Yeah ... be jealous!
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
We have seen Firefall several times now, usually as part of
a three group line-up where Firefall are always the opening act.In each and every case, they have far
outshone the headliners.That’s where
they really belong. They deserve to be "The Main Attraction!"Glad you got to see
them as the “stars of the show.”(“Strange
Way” has always been my favorite.)kk
As of Thursday (9/3), Lionel Richie is back home in Los
Angeles and is “doing great.”
He has a few weeks off before his next scheduled concert …
hopefully he can STAY that way (great) and finish out the tour with Earth, Wind
And Fire.(kk)
Feminine activist Gloria Steinem passed away on Wednesday
(9/2).She was 92 years old.
Frannie and I actually met her (and her husband, David Bale
… father of Chrisian) once … they shared a boat ride with us out to Catalina
Island.I remember very little of the
conversation (it was mostly her and Frannie that talked), but I DO remember her
being fascinated with the fact that we were from Chicago … and The Chicago
Tribune in particular! She also wanted to know all about the airlines, as Frannie worked for United at the time. I guess I more remember
them being a very attractive older couple.
Steinem was a major leader and spokesperson for the women's
liberation movement.Along the way, she
also co-founded Ms. magazine, and helped launch a wide variety of groups and
publications dedicated to advancing civil rights.
Gloria was born in 1934 in Toledo, Ohio.She did not attend school full time until the
age of 12, due to the fact that her father was a traveling antique dealer,
requiring them to move a lot.
Her mother was a former journalist who suffered from severe
mental illness.After her parents
divorced, Gloria was left at home to care for her mother, while her older
sister left to attend college. Steinem later remarked that she never wanted
children because she had already raised her mother.
After her sister returned from her studies, Gloria attended
Smith College, where she majored in government, spent time in Geneva and Oxford
and graduated magna cum laude.After
graduating, Steinem worked as a freelance journalist, who initially faced
pushback when she proposed writing about politics. In 1963, she famously went
undercover as a Playboy Bunny and wrote an article about Hugh Hefner's Playboy
Club … it made her a star.
In 1968, she became one of the founding editors of New York
Magazine, where she wrote about social issues and women's rights and, in the
process, became prominent in the women's liberation movement.Her 1969 essay, "After Black Power,
Women's Liberation," made her a feminist icon.Later that same year, she attended a meeting
in which women spoke in support of abortion rights in New York. (Steinem had an
abortion herself at the age of 22.)After
joining the women's liberation movement, she cofounded Ms. magazine in 1971.(kk)
Dolly Parton Has Scored Her
First #1 On The Official Album Downloads Chart In The UK, With Her "THE
VERY BEST OF" LP.
It Seems Odd To Me That When A
Singer Dies, Everybody Wants To Buy Their Recordings … But The Day Before They
Died, These Same People Had No Intention Of Buying The Recordings.
I Guess Its True … Death Is A
Great Career Move.
FRANK B.
We see it again and again and again.These artists should have been honored to see
this type of activity while they were still around.But then again, as Ral Donner told some 65
years ago, You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Until You Lose It.(kk)
After taking the year off, The Fest For Beatles Fans have
announced their first convention of 2027.It’ll be held at a brand new venue, The World Of Blue Hotel in East
Rutherford, New Jersey, April 9th, 10th and 11th.Fans can order a three-day pass now (thru
September 10th only) for $199.The celebrity line-up has not yet been announced.
A Place Where She Can Do Two or Three
Shows A Week.
She Mentioned New York And Las
Vegas.
(I Think She's Open To All
Ideas.)
Any Suggestions For Her?
Once Again It’s The Traveling And
Not The Singing That Is The Issue.
FRANK B.
That seems to be a better plan for some of our aging singers
who can still sing.(Why put yourself
thru the grueling pace of airplanes and hotels on a near daily basis?!?!)
Keith Richards recently made a comment that this is what The
Rolling Stones would like to do for 2027 … pick a spot and let the fans come to
them!(Imagine the permanent stage they
could build for THESE guys!!!)Mick
Jagger seems in favor of the idea as well … “as long as it’s not Las Vegas.”(Too cheesy, Mick?I remember when putting together my Bobby
Darin article some 25 years ago Darin making the comment that Jagger would KILL
in Vegas … because back then, that’s where ALL the biggest entertainers in show
business ended up.)kk
From Timmy …
Here's a YouTube link to a new Jimi Hendrix video just posted in
anticipation of the new, upcoming “Magic Boy: Live At Berkeley” album …
Timmy also sent us this "Do It Yourself" Home Vasectomy Kit
(personally, I think you'd have to be NUTS to try it!!!) kk
Kent,
According to today's FH, Frank
B. and yourself have all 28 versions of HIGH SCHOOL U.S.A., plus the national
version. The same goes with me.
Now I read years ago that the
OKC version was the last one he recorded but I can't remember what publication
I read it in.
Years ago a friend of mine
brought to my attention a discrepancy in the OKC version. He said that two of
the schools mentioned were a Jr. College and a Jr. High School. I'll have to
get my version out again to re-verify.
Larry
I don’t know if it was the last one he recorded or not … but
it WAS the last catalog number.In
order, the singles were released as Virginia (45–51), New York City (45–52), North
& South Carolina 45–53), Washington D.C. / Baltimore (45–54), Philadelphia
(45–55), Detroit (45–56), Pittsburgh (45–57), Minneapolis/St. Paul (45–58), Florida
(45–59), Newark, New Jersey (45–60), Boston (45–61), Cleveland (45–62), Buffalo
(45–63), Hartford, Connecticut (45–64), Nashville (45–65), Indianapolis (45–66),
Chicago (45–67), New Orleans (45–68), St. Louis & Kansas City (45–69), Georgia
& Alabama (45–70), Cincinnati (45–71), Memphis (45–72), Los Angeles (45–73),
San Francisco (45–74), Texas (45–75), Seattle, WA & Portland, OR (45–76), Denver
(45–77) and Oklahoma (45–78).(kk)
And then ...
Kent,
In regards to today's Brief
Buell Bacon Bit, I could only come up with about two records that might be
listed. First, from 1957, Andre Williams' BACON FAT … and then perhaps Norman
Greenbaum's follow-up to SPIRIT IN THE SKY, that being CANNED HAM.
Larry
I’m not sure you’ll find another one … even if you went hog
wild!(kk)
HERE'S A NOTE ABOUT MY FAVORITE BRITISH INVASION GROUP ... THE ANIMALS ... (FB)
On This Date ... September 5th, 1964: The British group The Animals hit #1 in America with "The House Of The Rising Sun," a folk song set in New Orleans about either a brothel or a prison.
Dolenz was also interviewed Thursday on LA’s KTLA about his show at The United Theater Downtown in LA next Saturday (September 12th) and his new EP "Timeless," featuring the singles “Terri” and “Any Way You Want Me To.”
September 12th marks the official date of the Emmy-award winning TV-show "The Monkees" debuting on NBC.
On Friday, September 11th, at 2:30 (PST), author and music
historian Harvey Kubernik will be the guest interview subject on KPFK-FM 90.7
FM on the Pacifica Performance Showcase with host Donna Walker. Harvey and Donna will discuss his 60-year
relationship with the Monkees, their television series and his 21st book,
"Screen Gems: Pop Music Documentaries & Rock and Roll TV
Scenes," published in 2026.
When Andrew Sandoval first announced his new, upcoming book “The
Monkees On TV: Season One,” I suggested that it might be beneficial (and stir
up a little bit more interest) if he could show examples of some of the pages
so that interested parties could get a better idea as to what they would be
buying.
Now, I can’t say that he listened to me or took my advice …
but that video now exists!It’s a long
one … 26 minutes … but you can definitely skip around on the video to get a
better idea … especially since these book are not cheap!(kk)
Now that their updated Country Chart book is out, Record Research has three more brand new books waiting in the wings.
They're expanding their "Across The Charts" series to now explore the '70's, '80's and '90's decades ... offering even more information as these books will not only include Billboard's R&B and Country chart stats, but will also incorporate the peak positions of these hits in Cash Box, Record World, Radio and Records and The Gavin Report.
Focusing on The Top 40 Hits in ALL of these publications, they've now zeroed in on the very biggest hits of each decade to give you a complete and fully comprehensive look at how these records performed at the time. (Plus, they're really cool looking!!!)
You can get more information (and view sample pages) for each of these new titles here:
Books are expected to start shipping in November of this year. (kk)
From Paul Haney of Record Research:
This new series of books covers not
only the chart data from all of the “pop” charts (Billboard, Cash Box, Record
World, Gavin Report & Radio & Records), but also the Billboard and
Record World Top 40 Country charts as well as Billboard’s Top 40 Charts for R&B,
Adult Contemporary, Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock.(Basically, if we've done a singles book on a
specific chart, it's covered here!)
In order to keep the book cost
at around $50 to our customers, we limited them to Top 40 hits only.
Paul
And, if we're going to talk about the charts, then I've just got to share THIS with you!
A new Billboard Hot 100 record was set this week as Ella
Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” logged its 20th week at the top of the
chart.
The song’s already been around for nearly a year (this week
is its 45th on the chart overall), which is pretty amazing in and of
itself … but it still seems impossible to think that in half a year NO other
song has had sales and streams big enough to overtake it.(Aren’t people tired of it by now???How many more times can you play it for
yourself?!?)
I’m not knockin’ the song … it’s a good one … and there’s no
doubt in my mind that the cool video hasn’t helped it along … and maybe I’d
understand it a little bit better if it was topping the COUNTRY Singles Chart
for a 20th week … but it’s actually already ruled the roost for 38
WEEKS!!!
The only song that has spent more weeks at #1 is Mariah
Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which has now notched 22 weeks at
the top of the chart … but that tally has been spread out over a period of 28 years … Ella reached
her 20 week total over the past thirty WEEKS, returning to the top spot a total of six times over that time period! Pretty Amazing!
Tied for third place are “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey (2024)
and “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring
Billy Ray Cyrus (2019)Is anybody noticing
how it’s bona fide country hits that are taking over the pop charts to set
these new milestones?(kk)
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