And our first round of snow flurries these past few days ...
(C'mon ... it's not even Halloween yet!!!)
We thought we'd offer up a little bit of HOT CHOCOLATE this morning, courtesy of FH Reader Mike Gentry ...
After getting dropped from the label's artistic roster during Allen
Klein's takeover of Apple Corps' operations, two acts would come to somewhat
dominate record charts for the next decade and beyond.
Jamaica born Errol Brown was lead singer of a south London band that
started out doing reggae covers of UK hits of the day. Songwriters Brown and
Tony Wilson wanted to make some changes to the lyrics of "Give Peace A
Chance" and asked for John Lennon's permission. The Beatle was so
impressed he decided to let them release their version on Apple Records. An
Apple press secretary even suggested a name for the group, The Hot Chocolate
Band. The single failed to chart. And, like James Taylor, Hot Chocolate became
victims of Klein's belt tightening moves.
When A&R man Peter Asher was fired, he took his protege Taylor to
Warner Brothers. Then legendary UK music producer, Mickie Most, claimed Hot
Chocolate for his new RAK music label. Klein had been Most's US business
manager for several years.
On August 15,1970, Hot Chocolate's first RAK rock/soul single, the
optimistic "Love Is Life", was released and peaked at UK#6 on
September 19. In 1973, Stories' sanitized cover of Hot Chocolate's
controversial tale of an interracial romance, "Brother Louie", topped
both Billboard and Cash Box in the US. Two years later, Hot Chocolate's mildly
suggestive "You Sexy Thing" was released and became an international
smash hit. This catch phrase from the song, "I believe in miracles",
has been used in numerous tv commercials over the years. That single reached
the UK top ten in three successive decades. Hot Chocolate was the only band to
have a UK chart single in every year of the Seventies. In fact, for 15 straight
years! In America, James Taylor also had a chart hit for every year in the
Seventies. But Taylor's 1968 eponymous Apple debut album had flopped. His lone
Apple single release was "Carolina In My Mind". I only remember a
cover by Marmalade getting some UK radio airplay. The Beatles' brainchild,
Apple Corps, gave both JT and Hot Chocolate their first big breaks, but let
them get away.
Mike Gentry
THE HOT CHOCOLATE HIT LIST
1970 - Love Is Life - (US - xx / UK - 6)
1971 - You Could Have Been A Lady (US - xx / UK - 22)
This was a hit here for April Wine
1971 - I Believe In Love (US - xx / UK - 8)
1972 - You'll Always Be A Friend (US - xx / UK - 23)
1973 - Brother Louie (US - xx / UK - 7)
This was a hit here for Stories
1973 - Rumours (US - xx / UK - 44)
1975 - Emma (US - 4 / UK - 3)
1974 - Cheri Babe (US - xx / UK - 31)
1975 - Disco Queen (US - 21 / UK - 11)
1975 - A Child's Prayer (US - xx / UK - 7)
1975 - You Sexy Thing (US - 2 / UK - 2)
1976 - Don't Stop It Now (US - 42 / UK - 11)
1976 - Man To Man (US - xx / UK - 14)
1976 - Heaven Is In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac (US - xx / UK - 25)
1977 - So You Win Again (US - 31 / UK - 1)
1977 - Put Your Love In Me (US - xx / UK - 10)
1978 - Every 1's A Winner (US - 6 / UK - 12)
1979 - I'll Put You Together Again (from Dear Anyone) US - xx / UK - 13
1979 - Mindless Boogie (US - xx / UK - 44)
1980 - No Doubt About It (US - xx / UK - 2)
1980 - Are You Getting Enough Of What Makes You Happy (US - xx / UK - 17)
1981 - Love Me To Sleep (US - xx / UK - 50)
1982 - Girl Crazy (US - xx / UK - 7)
1982 - It Started With A Kiss (US - xx / UK - 5)
1982 - Chances (US - xx / UK - 32)
1983 - What Kind Boy You Looking For (US - xx / UK - 10)
1983 - Tears On The Telephone (US - xx / UK - 37)
1984 - I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I) - US - xx / UK - 13
1987 - You Sexy Thing (reissue / remix) US - xx / UK - 10
1987 - Every 1's A Winner (reissue / remix) US - xx / UK - 49
1993 - It Started With A Kiss (reissue) - US - xx / UK - 31
1997 - You Sexy Thing (reissue) US - xx / UK - 6
1998 - It Started With A Kiss (reissue) US - xx / UK - 18
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
The last remaining original WCFL jock, Ron Britain, has committed suicide,
just days after his wife Peaches passed.
Jack Levin
On the one hand, I can honestly say that I'm not surprised –
Everybody
handles grief in their own way … and this is certainly not the first (or last)
time we’ll see this happen when someone THIS close to you … so much a part of
your very being … passes.
It also doesn’t
help that he has not been mentally stable for a long time –
Decades even –
(Some might argue
his entire career … but that was all part of his charm!)
And my first thought when I heard of his wife's death last
week was that he would probably die shortly thereafter, which so often is the
case when literally your other self is gone.She was such a HUGE part of his life and they spent literally every
moment together, married for 62 years.
Even so, I really didn't expect the suicide thing ... but
like I said, I can't say that I'm surprised by it either.
Britain’s departure at Real Oldies was another sad
event.You don’t bring in a guy like Ron
Britain, whose whole schtick was stream-of-consciousness broadcasting, and then
try to confine him and prevent him from doing exactly what you hired him for!The whole concept of WRLL was to bring on
disc jockeys who we listened to growing up to here in The Windy City and having
them play the music they played during the peaks of their careers again as
oldies, sharing memories with the fans and listeners.The signal was always too weak (and some
radios didn’t even go up that far on the dial … Me-TV-FM anyone???) but we
suffered thru the static just to listen to Uncle Lar and Little Snot-Nosed
Tommy in the mornings again.These guys
were REAL pros … and even ‘tho their broadcasting manner may have seemed a bit
dated to anyone who didn’t live thru it originally, they were the very essence
of what radio sounded like in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s … and, as such, created some
of our strongest and most vivid memories.
In this regard, Ron Britain was in a class by himself.The double-teaming of Britain and Barney Pip
in the evenings on WCFL was unlike anything else you were likely to hear on the
radio dial.
Crazy as he may have been, he will be missed.(kk)
Never be another another "King
B," Tulu Babes.
Clive Topol
Somehow I missed running this shot of Micky Dolenz and
Spencer Davis together, circa 1967, when we reported of Spencer’s passing last
week.
(Lately I feel like Ron Smith’s
Grim Reaper around here … SO much sad news to report of late.This has been a very tough year in SO many
ways, not the least of which is the recent spike in Covid numbers.And some of these names are really hitting
close to home … including Ron himself last year.)kk
Here’s a salute to the #1 Hits from our favorite year in
music history, 1967.
You’ll see that this list contains quite a few titles that
didn’t reach the summit in Billboard Magazine … it represents the Record World
charts … and, as such, several deserving tracks are noted for their
contribution to the Best Year Ever in Music!!!
And then just tabbing forward at the bottom of each page by
clicking the “Newer Post” link.
And this is new ...
Here’s the official trailer for The Rock And Roll Hall
Of Fame “remote” induction ceremony …
Did The Cartwrights REALLY flip the bird in that ViewMaster shot?
Or was this something that was photoshopped years later?
Mike
Apparently, it’s for real … and it sounds like Michael
Landonmay have been behind it.This topic has evidently come up before … but
I’d sure like to see the original reel for myself just to be sure.(Odds are I probably owed it back in 1964!)
I do believe than Ben Cartwright who, as you know, was
virtually the same age as all three of his sons (!) had quite a sense of humor
as well, as did the other cast members.(kk)
The ages of The Cartwright Family has been the butt of
many jokes over the past eight decades … so here’s the REAL deal.
Lorne Greene was, in fact, the oldest … but had to be
made up to look even older to have any chance as being believable as Pa
Cartwright. (Some of his many flashback scenes were likely filmed WITHOUT all of the additional "aging" make-up.)
Adam and Hoss (Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker) were both
thirteen years younger than Greene … so he would have had to have them pretty
early in life! And Michael Landon was just a baby comparatively … but still only 21 years younger
than his TV Papa.(kk)
New Supergroup THE RISE ABOVE (featuring JAY DEMARCUS of
RASCAL FLATTS, DEEN CASTRONOVO of JOURNEY and JASON SCHEFF of CHICAGO) Come
Together With Their First Live Show to Benefit The ACM Lifting Lives COVID
Relief Fund
From Rock & Roll to the Broken Roads, The Journey that led them to
become, THE RISE ABOVE. Made up of Music Legends, 2 time Grammy Award Winning
JAY DEMARCUS of RASCAL FLATTS, former lead singer and drummer of JOURNEY, DEEN
CASTRONOVO, and JASON SCHEFF, lead vocalist and bass player for the
multi-platinum band Chicago for over 30 years. Joined by, CHRIS RODRIGUEZ and
TOM YANKTON.
In the beginning of 2020, the band
got together with the intent to form a supergroup with a purpose, to bring 80’s
Rock and Classic music back to life. The group has spent the past 9 months in
the studio working on their debut album set to release in 2021.
WITH A SUPER HIT HEAVY
SETLIST INCLUDING:
ANY WAY YOU WANT IT - JOURNEY
STAY THE NIGHT - CHICAGO
THESE DAYS - RASCAL FLATTS
SEPARATE WAYS - JOURNEY
25 OR 6 TO 4 - CHICAGO
BROKEN ROAD - RASCAL FLATTS
OPEN ARMS - JOURNEY
WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME - CHICAGO
WHAT HURTS THE MOST - RASCAL FLATTS
LIFE IS A HIGHWAY - RASCAL FLATTS
DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' – JOURNEY
THE RISE ABOVE ALBUM
COMING 2021
TOUR DATES
October 28, 2020 - Marathon Music Works - Nashville, TN
All proceeds benefit The ACM Lifting Lives COVID Relief Fund TICKETS:https://bit.ly/31eb4QA
A couple of years ago we gave away several copies of Mark
Bego’s book “Eat Like A Rock Star,” featuring celebrity recipes by several of
our favorite music artists.
Well, that book has FINALLY made its way to paperback …
And here are all the details …
MARK BEGO’S BEST-SELLING “EAT
LIKE A ROCK STAR” PAPERBACK EDITION
TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 24,
2020
We would all like to live
like a rock star, but now you can cook, eat, and drink like one thanks to the
ultimate rock & roll cookbook: Eat Like a Rock Star by Mark
Bego! The new paperback version of the best-seller will be released November
24, 2020 by Skyhorse Publishing.
Who knew that Mary Wilson
(The Supremes) loves a Caviar Omelet, that Michael McDonald (The Doobie
Brothers) loves Pasta with Ham and Parmesan Cheese, that Bill Wyman (The
Rolling Stones) makes an amazing Lamb Chops with Endive and Blue Cheese
Salad, or that Boz Scaggs cooks Tuscan Grilled Chicken?
New York Times best-selling
author Mark Bego, along with ‘Supreme’ singing star Mary Wilson, have gathered
beloved recipes from legendary rocker friends and invites the ultimate music
fan to put on an apron and join them at the table. Eat Like a Rock
Star gathers together more than a hundred recipes from seven decades of
rock & roll, pop, country, R&B, and disco.
According to Bego, “I was
working with Mary Wilson on a magazine project, and I asked her if she had a
couple ‘Supreme’ recipes to contribute to the magazine, she gave me two, and
all of a sudden, I had this idea: a rock & roll cookbook, that’s
what I want to write next! And, Eat Like a Rock Star was
born.”
Adds Wilson, "I loved
the idea of this cookbook from the moment Mark mentioned it to
me. He not only gathered recipes from our rock star friends, but he
also proves that he can cook as well, and every chapter of this book contains
some of his favorite recipes."
Featuring each rock star’s
biography, their favorite recipe, and other fun facts, Eat Like a Rock
Star is a must-have for every die-hard rocker-at-heart who loves to cook
and eat.
When the hardcover edition of
the book was first released, in 2017, it immediately shot to the Top Ten on the
Amazon charts as well as becoming a must-have item for rock-music reviewers
across the country. It was so successful that Skyhorse Publishing
decided to release it to a wider audience in this new paperback edition of the hardcover
classic.
There is nowhere else you
will find Thelma Houston’s “Better Than Sex” Cake, Rita Coolidge’s Collard
Greens, Rickie Sambora’s (Bon Jovi) Mint Julip, Ray Parker Jr.’s Salmon
and Eggs, Joey Fatone’s (’N SYNC) Rice Balls, Micky Dolenz’s (The
Monkees) Micky ‘D’ Cocktail, Randy Jones’ (Village People) Bruschetta, and
Freda Payne’s amazing Gumbo all in one book.
Whether it’s brunch, lunch,
dinner, or desert, learn to cook:
•
Michelle Phillips’s (The Mamas & The Papas) Organic Lemon Chicken
• Lou
Christie’s Linguine with Fresh Tomatoes
•
Marilyn McCoo's (The 5th Dimension) Leg of Lamb
•
Jimmy Greenspoon's (Three Dog Night) Leg of Lamb
•
Sarah Dash’s (Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles) Peach Cobbler, and more!
With a chapter of
head-spinning cocktails, full menu suggestions, as well as author Mark Bego’s
own culinary concoctions such as classic French Macarons, Spicy Szechuan
Sesame Noodles, and Boozy Banana Cream Pie, look no further for the
all-in-one cooking and rock ‘n’ roll companion. As Martha Reeves
says about her recipe for Smoked Turkey Necks & Lima Beans, “Honey,
this is real soul food!”
Chef Bego made and created
all of the food featured in Eat Like a Rock Star, and took all of the accompanying
food photographs himself as well, including the cover pizza photo.
From 2018 to 2019 Mark Bego
racked up three consecutive Number One books on the Amazon.com best-seller list. They are: Supreme Glamour with Mary
Wilson (Thames & Hudson Publishers / 2019), Living the Luxe Life with hotel
owner Efrem Harkham (Skyhorse Publishing / 2019), and Aretha
Franklin: The Queen of Soul / Tribute Edition (Skyhorse
Publishing / 2018). With his new 2020 paperback edition of Eat Like a Rock Star, Bego continues his winning streak!
If you don't already own a copy (Shame on you!!!), you can preorder the paperback edition here:
LOTS of great ideas are to be found between these pages! (kk)
Evenin' Kent,
Finally got off the Honey Do list long enough to read a bit ... lol.
When you were talking about tunes in commercials and movies, I'm still blown
away that Leonardo DiCaprio sang Snoopy vs the Red Baron with me in "Once
Upon A Time In Hollywood."I can
see where it could be quite lucrative if one could land a few of those a
year. :O) Truly is an incredible business.
Have a great Halloween weekend, my friend. Try to keep the candy intake down ...
lol
Stay safe and well.
Barry
I love how these songs keep coming back around … and in
virtually any and every context.While
“Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” takes place in 1969 … by which time music had
taken a MUCH heavier turn (as reflected on most of the soundtrack), it was SO
cool to hear our ol’ buddy Snoopy making a surprise appearance.(kk)
Earlier in today’s post, we sent you Best Classic Bands’
look back at 1967, our all-time favorite year in music.
Well, they’ve also just released a 1970 calendar recap,
too, pinpointing specific musical events from exactly fifty years ago.(Hey, we’ve been doing that on a day-to-day
basis all year long, too!)
Three reasons OUR look back is better than theirs (???)
#1 – By spreading it out throughout the course of the
year, we can take a much more in-depth look at many of these events.
#2 – We run weekly charts, showing The Top 40 biggest
hits for EVERY given week of 1970 (rather than an alphabetical recap of some of
the most notable)
#3 – OUR calendar features my birthday … and their doesn’t
(and likely never will!!!)
Still, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to size up the
competition!(lol)
Just kidding, of course … I read their posts every
single day and they are ALWAYS extremely well done …
And (as I’ve been told numerous times over the years in
regards to my notorious ramblings), sometimes short is sweet.
"We've Only Just Begun" replaces "Indiana Wants Me" at #1 this week (up from #4 the week before) and The Partridge Family make another impressive leap to land at #4 this week (from #15 the week before, a move of 11 places.)
The big mover of the week is Canned Heat's "Let's Work Together," which jumps 16 places to land at #19 (from #36 the week before) ... but Christie's "Yellow River" and "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops both climb over ten places this week as well.
All three of last week's Hit Bound tracks make the Top 40 this week, leaving room for only one new premier ... and it belongs to Joe Cocker for his remake of the old '50's torch song crooner "Cry Me A River" done up NOTHING like the style we all became used to way back when!
Also on this date:
1970 - October 26th – Gary Trudeau’s comic strip “Doonesbury” premiers in approximately two dozen newspapers in the US
