Mel Brooks just celebrated his 100th birthday this past weekend.
(As impressive as this may be, this still gives him a little ways to go before reaching the age of the character that helped launch his career, The 2000 Year Old Man.)
Still, I felt this was a celebration worth commemorating ... so I told Frannie that, as a tribute to this milestone, I would be reenacting the classic campfire scene from Brooks’ legendary flick, “Blazing Saddles” the entire night of the 28th. (She seemed a little bit less than thrilled and enthusiastic about the prospect than I was … but then she was never as big a fan as me.) kk
Tom Cuddy sent us this link …
Mike Love’s Lake Tahoe “spiritual mansion” is now up for sale …
Now that we’re both on social security, this one’s a little out of our league at $43 million …
I wonder how much time he actually got to spend there. It seems like The Beach Boys have constantly been on the road for the last three or four decades!
Speaking of The Beach Boys, The Beach Boys Channel is back on Sirius XM, running now thru July 22nd. You'll find it on Channel 105 on your car radio dial ... also available thru the SiriuxXM app if you're a member. (kk)
Tommy Jones???
Kent,
That’s the first time I noticed the mistake of Tommy Jones on the WLS chart! Was it listed that way in the weeks prior?
Mike Hartman
Ha! That one blew right by me … I never even noticed it!
Being Tommy’s first chart record, I checked his entire chart run on the WLS chart
“Hanky Panky” debuted on the chart dated June 3rd at #15 and rose quickly to #5 and then went right on to #1 on the June 17th chart. It stayed in the #1 position for the next four weeks … and for some reason, they incorrectly showed Tommy’s last name as “Jones” on the July 1st chart only … which just happened to be the one we ran. (Another popular signer of this era, TOM Jones, didn't make the 'LS chart this week.)
By July 29th, Tommy’s next single (“Say I Am”) was already charting … it premiered at #23 while “Hanky Panky” was still making its way down the chart at #15. It would disappear altogether the following week while “Say I Am” continued to rise, eventually peaking at #2, always listing James’ name correctly.
Tommy James and the Shondells ALWAYS fared better on the Chicagoland charts than he did nationally. (This is especially strange in that when James first approached legendary WLS Disc Jockey Clark Weber about playing his song, “Hanky Panky,” Weber told him to go back to his day job … he didn’t think he had a career in music. Incredibly, Weber (who was also Program Director for the station at the time) had to eat his words when “Hanky Panky” became a HUGE national hit … and topped his OWN chart for four consecutive weeks! (kk)
TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS HIT LIST
(National Peak vs Chicago Peak)
|
TOMMY JAMES and the SHONDELLS |
US PEAK |
CHI PEAK |
|
|
1966 |
Hanky Panky |
1 |
1 |
|
1966 |
Say I Am (What I Am) |
15 |
2 |
|
1966 |
It's Only Love |
26 |
10 |
|
1966 |
I Think We're Alone Now |
3 |
1 |
|
1966 |
Mirage |
7 |
1 |
|
1967 |
I Like The Way |
20 |
13 |
|
1967 |
Gettin' Together |
14 |
12 |
|
1967 |
Out Of The Blue |
31 |
14 |
|
1967 |
Get Out Now |
26 |
22 |
|
1967 |
Mony Mony |
3 |
1 |
|
1968 |
Somebody Cares |
35 |
14 |
|
1968 |
Do Something To Me |
24 |
19 |
|
1968 |
Crimson And Clover |
1 |
1 |
|
1968 |
Sweet Cherry Wine |
5 |
4 |
|
1969 |
Crystal Blue Persuasion |
1 |
1 |
|
1969 |
Ball Of Fire |
10 |
9 |
|
1969 |
She |
18 |
23 |
|
1969 |
Gotta Get Back To You |
25 |
19 |
|
1969 |
Come To Me |
34 |
-- |
|
TOMMY JAMES (solo) |
US PEAK |
CHI PEAK |
|
|
1971 |
Adrienne |
90 |
35 |
|
1971 |
Draggin' The Line |
1 |
1 |
|
1971 |
I'm Comin' Home |
10 |
4 |
|
1971 |
Nothing To Hide |
24 |
2 |
|
1972 |
Tell 'Em Willie Boy's A'Comin' |
52 |
25 |
|
1980 |
Three Times In Love |
17 |
-- |
How’s this for a track record …
22 times Tommy James’ records equaled or beat their national peaks on the Chicagoland charts …
That includes a total of SEVEN #1 Records here in The Windy City as opposed to four on the national charts. (We DO love our Tommy here in Chi-Town … he still performs here a couple of times a year and sells out virtually every time!)
He’ll be back October 3rd at The Arcada Theatre … but you’d better hurry if you want to get tickets!!! (kk)
kk …
Saturday Night -- MICKY DOLENZ CALLED COUSIN BRUCIE FROM TAMPA --
The 60th Anniversary Of Monkees Tour Is Going On Right Now
(September 12th Is The Anniversary Date Of The T.V. Show)
Micky Is Doing A Show In Tampa (6/28/26) & Atlanta (6/30/26 ).
He'll Be Telling Stories & Singing Monkees’ Hits In Chronological Order.
His Latest Album "TIMELESS" Isn't Available Yet – But The Video For "TERRI" Is On You Tube.
Cousin Brucie Asked Micky Who He Enjoyed Working With The Most.
He Said That Nilsson Was His Best Friend.
FB
We ran all the “Timeless” EP information (as well as the “Terri” video) in our Saturday Evening Post so we’re all up to date here. (Scroll back to see it if you missed it the first time around!) Looking forward to hearing the whole EP. (kk)
More on Mick from David Salidor ...
Micky Dolenz at Atlanta's City Winery signed a guitar for a charity auction benefiting the Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia. He joins other names including: Vince Gill, Clint Black, Amy Grant, Sara Evans, Christian Singer Lauren Daigle, Jason Mraz, Laney Wilson, Randy Travis, Justin Haywood (The Moody Blues), and country icon Ronnie McDowell.
That's iHeart Robb Richards with Dolenz
And more from Frank B, too! …
kk …
This Week Wild Wayne Flashed Back To An Interview He Did On April 9, 2017 Wilth Hilton Valentine -- Lead Guitarist For The Animals.
Hilton Got His First Guitar At 13 Years Old.
In 1959 He Joined A Group Called The Heppers – And Then The Wild Cats – The Alan Price Combo & Finally The Animals.
The Animals Were On Tour In England With Chuck Berry + Nashville Teens + Swinging Blue Jeans.
They Started Using "HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN" As Their Closing Number.
After Great Audience Reaction, They Decided To Record It.
Producer Mickey Most Wanted To Use It As A B- Side / With The Chuck Berry Tune "TALKIN' ABOUT YOU" As A- Side.
Group Said No.
July, 1964 -- Released In The UK / September, 1964 -- Released In US.
Became The #1 Hit For Three Weeks.
Hilton Valentine's Opening Guitar Lick Is Considered By Many To Be Best Ever.
After Wild Wayne Played "HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN." Hilton Played His Acoustic Version.
FB
There are certain songs that have a profound impact on your life and this is most definitely one of them.
I was knocked out by “House Of The Rising Sun” the first time I heard it – I had never heard anything else like it up to that point … and I can’t really think of anything I’ve heard since that had such an immediate impact.
It’s still one of my all-time favorites … in ANY version … but NONE is better than the one cut by The Animals. (kk)
Timmy sent in this photo of The Beatles and The Stones with the subject line: Battle Of The Bands …
Cool shot. Actually, by all accounts this was always a friendly rivalry … heck, Paul McCartney even plays bass again on the new Rolling Stones LP! (kk)
Victor Willis, a founding member and lead singer of The Village People (and also responsible for cowriting three of their biggest hits, “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man” and “In The Navy”) has passed away. He was 74. (Reports say he succumbed to a short but aggressive illness.) He was the singer that dressed up as a cop.
Willis quit the band in the ‘80’s but in 2017 won legal battles regarding proper songwriting credits and royalties and was ultimately awarded use of the band’s name. It was Willis who put the focus back on The Village People when he partnered in Trump’s campaign. (Like it or not, their songs have stood the test of time … so it is fair to say that Willis went out on a high note, back in the public eye and spotlight, even if it was due to an alignment that many fans may not agree with.) kk
Stephen Bishop will be performing at The Grammy Museum on October 9th in honor of the 50th anniversary of his “Careless” album. Tickets are already 75% sold out as I type this … so if you’re interested, you’d better hurry! (kk)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stephen-bishop-celebrating-50-years-of-careless-tickets-1992172232776
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
7/2/66 – Billie Jean King wins her first of TWELVE Wimbleton Women’s Tennis Tournaments
