Hey Kent,
Along with Paul Haney and Matt Phillips, I, too, grew up in the Twin Cities (South Saint Paul). Paul nailed all the local record stores from back in the day. I frequented many of the same ones. My favorite was The "Wax Museum" on University Ave. in St. Paul.
My one lasting memory will always be in 1984, Springsteen's "Born in the USA" album came out in June. For some reason there was a delay getting out the album. So, many fans would constantly stop at the "Wax' just to check to see if the album was in (including me.) The guys behind the counter told me the phone would ring off the hook asking the same question. Finally, when the album showed up the "Wax" put a giant sign in the front window. One word only, "YES" ................ Everyone knew what the sign was referencing.
Springsteen's tour started in St. Paul, (three shows. June 29, July 1, and July 2.) My buddy and I went to all three shows and I swear each night the concert was better than the night before. (If that's possible!)
"Thanks" for your time and space.
Gary
I would do the same thing … see all three shows of a hot act back in the day (McCartney and Wings’ first US tour being a prime example.) I bought tickets to multiple shows for all the hot artists on my “favorites” list, including McCartney (several time), George Harrison, Eric Clapton and even Elvis!!!
I remember the days of waiting outside in line no matter what the weather for the store to start selling the new release right at midnight … can’t tell you how many times I did that!!! (lol)
Kids today have absolutely NO concept of what it was like to truly LOVE our music back in the day! (kk)
From Tom Cuddy …
Chicago X Turns 50: The Album That Changed Chicago's Trajectory
https://www.noise11.com/news/chicago-x-50th-anniversary-20260614
Last week we told you about a new biography coming out in October, written by Alice Cooper. Now comes word that Rhino is releasing a 5-disc set spotlighting the first four Alice Cooper studio albums: "Welcome to My Nightmare" (1975), "Alice Cooper Goes to Hell" (1976), "Lace and Whiskey" (1977) and "From the Inside" (1978). (The 5th CD includes seven bonus tracks recorded during this same period.)
I'm not quite sure I get this ... prior to this, Cooper charted with SEVEN other albums: "Pretties For You" (1969), released on the Straight label, "Love It To Death" (1971 - his first Warner Brothers LP), "Killer" (1972), "School's Out" (a biggie in 1972 that went all the way to #2 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart), "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973 - even bigger, TOPPING that same album chart), "Muscle Of Love" (1974) and "Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits" (1974). Why are they referring to this new box-set release as his "first four studio albums?!?!? (kk)
Kent,
Through the years, off and on, a few personalities in the sporting world makes a record or two. Probably the majority of them are forgettable.
One may or may not remember that former Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw made a record back in 1976 on Mercury Records with a song called TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM MY HEART, recorded earlier by Ray Charles in 1963.
In today's obituary column of our paper was the notice that Lance Rentzel had passed away at the age of 83 in Alexandria, VA.
For those who don't know or remember, Lance Rentzel was a high school athlete here in OKC at Casady School, who went on to play at the University of Oklahoma and later played in pros with teams such as Minnesota, Dallas, and the Rams.
I don't really know how it came about, but in 1968 Rentzel recorded a song called LOOKIN' LIKE SOMETHIN' THAT AIN'T with a flip side called BEYOND LOVE on Columbia Records. It got somewhat a lot of air play on our local Top 40 radio station, probably because he was a local guy who was trying to get into the recording business I guess.
In his fairly lengthy obit today, it told of his accomplishments in his life. One thing missing, however, was the making of that record.
I am probably the only one that knew it wasn't mentioned since I am into this music. But the making of that record in 1968 would have to be maybe one of the least remarkable details of his life.
One other thing …
At one time, Rentzel was married to actress Joey Heatherton who in 1973 recorded GONE on MGM, the old Ferlin Husky tune.
Larry Neal
Rentzel’s record never made any of the national charts. It was likely a local hit due to his ties to the community there. (By the same token, the only record to chart nationally for Terry Bradshaw was his cover of the Hank Williams tune, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” which peaked at #91. His version of “Take These Chains From My Heart” didn’t chart nationally at all.)
Doing a little more digging (because Joey Heatherton was one of my MAJOR TV crushes in the ‘70’s!), I see that she and Lance Rentzel were married for three years (from 1969 thru 1972.) Rentzel was with The Dallas Cowboys at the time. (It was her only marriage.)
Truth be told, this wasn’t a particularly good time for Rentzel … in November of 1970, he was arrested for exposing himself to a 10-year-old girl. He pled guilty and promised to undergo psychiatric treatment and was given a suspended sentence. (I'm curious as to how in-depth his obituary went in this regard.) Heatherton filed for divorce in September, 1971. Some say she never fully recovered from the psychological shock of Rentzel’s offense. Their divorce became final in 1972.
Heatherton’s career can best be described as somewhat scandalous from this point forward. In 1985 she was arrested and charged with interfering with a government agent's duties and disturbing the peace after she allegedly slapped and pulled the hair of a clerk at Manhattan's U.S. Passport Agency office. (She was later acquitted of both of these charges in September, 1986.)
In July, 1986, Joey was arrested and charged with theft of services for refusing to pay a $4,906 bill from a hotel and spa in Long Island where she stayed in 1984. She pled not guilty.
And on August 30, 1986, Heatherton was arrested for assault in Hillcrest, Rockland County, New York, after she stabbed her former boyfriend and ex-manager Jerry Fischer in the hand with a steak knife during an argument. (Fischer was later treated at a local hospital and released.) Adding insult to injury, when Heatherton told police who she was after her arrest and they didn’t believe her, she handed one of the officers her purse to verify her identity. While looking through it, the officer found a foil packet with less than a gram of cocaine. Heatherton was then charged with assault as well as a misdemeanor drug possession. In October, 1987, a court ruled that the search was unconstitutional as Heatherton was not advised that she could refuse a purse search. As a result, the misdemeanor drug possession was dropped. Fischer later dropped the charge of assault against Heatherton.
In the early ‘60’s, Joey dated our FH Buddy John Madara (for which I will be eternally jealous.) kk
No, I suppose not (although they DO allude to him receiving intense Internet publicity, both positive and "certainly negative" ... so maybe that's their way of covering it. Interesting, too, that they referenced his "celebrity wedding" without mentioning the name of his first wife ... but did detail the participants in his second marriage.
Not for me to judge ... I had absolutely NO idea about the "rest of the story" (as Paul Harvey might say) ... which includes "certainly negative" information about both Lance AND Joey. (kk)
You can catch Mick Jagger talking about the new Rolling Stones album on NBC's "Sunday Today" ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKBfw28wFFU
As well as Mick and Ronnie Wood doing an episode of "Tracks Of My Years" ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTayu0B42iU
The guys are doing LOTS of press to promote the new LP, out July 10th. (kk)
Tom Cuddy sent me this Instagram clip ...
Little Anthony always likes to have a little bit of fun with this one on stage ... https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZoQ8wbsQyf/
On June 15th, Bonnie Tyler’s family FINALLY posted a health pdate regarding her condition after being placed in a medically-induced coma and having intestinal and then heart surgery in Portugal:
Bonnie is no longer in a coma, but remains very unwell and in intensive care. Although her condition is improving, it is a slow process. Her doctors remain confident that she will make a good recovery but it is going to take time. We would like to thank everyone for the huge outpouring of love and support from all over the world that we have received for Bonnie and want to tell you that she is aware of, and very grateful for, your good wishes.
The remainder of her 2026 tour has been cancelled, but doctors and her family remain optimistic that she will recover and perhaps even go on to perform again someday. (kk)
kk ...
July 26, 1987 = Wild Wayne Interviews Hank Ballard.
Hank Was One Of The Early Pioneers Of R&B + ROCK & ROLL
He Had 22 Charted R&B Hits + A Series Of "ANNIE SONGS."
Of Course He Wrote & First Recorded "THE TWIST" -- Before Chubby Checker.
Once Again The Record Company Gets It Wrong ...
They Released The A-SIDE As "TEARDROPS ON YOUR LETTER" With "THE TWIST" On The B-Side.
Hank Was The First To Have Three Songs On Charts At The Same Time: "THE TWIST" + "FINGER POPIN' TIME" + "LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO" -- Before The Beatles.
In 1990, Hank Was Inducted Into The "ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME."
In 1992 He Received The "R&B PIONEER AWARD."
Hank Ballard Died March 2, 2003.
FB
First of all, let's set the record straight ...
Hank Ballard was NOT the first artist to have three records on the chart at the same time.
Prior to The Beatles placing FOURTEEN records on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart, Elvis Presley achieved a total of TEN Top 100 Hits back in 1956: For the chart dated Week Ending December 19th, you could find Elvis hits at #2 ("Love Me Tender"), #7 ("Love Me"), #26 ("Don't Be Cruel"), #38 ("When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again"), #47 ("Old Shep"), #54 ("Hound Dog"), #55 ("Poor Boy"), #70 ("Any Way You Want Me"), #78 ("Paralyzed") and #93 ("Blue Moon").
And, for whatever it's worth, Pat Boone also had three chart hits that week, preceding Hank Ballard's achievement ... so a little bit of embellishing was definitely done here. (In fact, I'd be willing to be that if you checked back BEFORE The Rock Era, you'd be likely to find numerous cases of the same artist being represented on the same chart multiple times.)
As for Ballard's "series of 'Annie' hit records," I count three: "Work With Me Annie" (#1 R&B, 1954), "Annie Had A Baby" (#1 R&B, 1954) and "Annie's Aunt Frannie" (#10 R&B, 1955). NONE of these records crossed over to the pop charts at the time. (kk)
As spotted in Forgotten Hits by Chuck Buell ...
>>>After contributing to Forgotten Hits for over twenty five years, Clark Besch and I finally got the chance to meet face-to-face! (kk)
(L-R: Kent / Clark … I know, it just doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it???) kk
Well, Ding-a-Ling-Ling! It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Ring!
All you would have had to do was switch places!!
Like so!
And NOW the Streets of Chicago are Safe with Clark / Kent on the scene!
(That’s Super, Man!!!)
CB (which stands for "Chicago Boy!")
Chuck also reminds us that 32 YEARS AGO TODAY many of us were glued to our tv sets watching one of the slowest chases in police history ...
I hereby christen this the first official "Timmy's Pick Must View Of The Day".
(There could be a steady flow of these, if approved by management.)
I don’t know about DAILY … but this certainly could become a new, recurring feature in Forgotten Hits … especially if you keep coming up with clips as crazy as this one!!! (kk)
