The Eagles have added two more January dates to their residency at The Sphere. (I wonder if there’s a way that I can just prepost these announcements to run every couple of weeks instead of having to constantly type the same information again and again and again?!?!?)
Tickets for Eagles shows January 8th and January 9th are now available. (They now have four shows in November: the 13th and 14th and the 27th and 28th; four shows in December: the 4th and 5th and 11th and 12th; and SIX shows in January: the 8th and 9th, the 15th and 16th and the 22nd and 23rd.)
You can order tickets here: https://www.thesphere.com/shows/eagles ...
And if you’re just looking for somebody to hang out with, I will GLADLY come as your guest to any of these shows! (kk)
Hi Kent,
I'm super-excited to have my dear friend and colleague Kim Bloxdorf on the podcast to discuss the life and legacy of her father, the late great Joel Whitburn! I think all of the Record Research fans will really enjoy this episode.
Paul Haney
Record Research
The Legacy of Joel Whitburn | A Heart for the Charts Podcast - YouTube
This is a great review of what these books have meant to so many people. (Every story told is part of my own history and experience … and believe me, there are an untold number of other chartaholics out there as well.)
We’ll be celebrating our annual Joel Whitburn Day next month in Forgotten Hits with commentary and reflections from Kim Bloxdorf, Paul Haney, and new Record Research co-owner Vinnie Freda. You’ll find it up on the site November 30th. If you’d also like to make a comment regarding what Joel Whitburn’s book have meant to you, please drop me a note and we’ll try to include it. Thanks! (kk)
UPDATE: With all the attention being paid to a “Glee” reboot by Disney+/Hulu … and a Billboard feature article spotlighting the chart history of the original cast … I feel fairly confident that Joel may have been doing some post-mortem upchucking this past week … I’m told that he considered the “Glee” chart-attack of the 2000-2010’s, where the cast placed an incredible and unprecedented 207 entries on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, to be one of the greatest chart embarrassments of all time. (173 of those “hits” charted for exactly one week only and were then gone forever … just enough to muddy up the whole chart process for the whole seven days they stuck around.) kk
Donny Osmond told "People Magazine" this past week that Elvis Presley used to frequently call the Osmond family household wishing to speak to his mother, Olive Osmond. Elvis says that Donny's mom reminded him of his own mother, who Elvis loved dearly.
Why this juicy little tidbit is just first coming to surface now after nearly sixty years is anybody's guess, but Donny also says that Elvis counseled him on everything from how to deal with fame to wearing white jumpsuits when performing on stage in Vegas.
Seems a little bit odd that all of this would first be coming to light now after all these years ... but it does make for a pretty cool story. (Be even cooler if he had some photos to share!) Former teen idol Donny Osmond is now 68, already outliving Elvis by 26 years. But I can tell you first hand that his fans are every bit as loyal now as they were then (although the screams have died down to whispers and the panties have changed to Depends.) We have seen Donny perform several times now and he's still got it ... the voice and all the charisma that has served him well throughout his seven-decade career. We love him! (kk)
At the Firefall / Orleans / Atlanta Rhythm Section / Jefferson Starship show last night, Lance Hoppen, the last original member of Orleans, told us that this would be their final tour ... they were wrapping things up by the end of the year. Orleans had two big Top Five Hits in the mid-'70's: "Dance With Me" (#4, 1975) and "Still The One" (#5, 1976) ... and one that just missed ... "Love Takes Time" (#11, 1979). His brother Larry, who fronted the band for many years, passed away in 2012 ... but Lance kept the band going for another 14 years. We have seen them several times before and they have always put on a great show in concert. We wish him well in his retirement. (kk)
UPDATE: It looks like they have eleven dates set up before the end of the year, including one tonight in Nashville, Indiana.
You can view their remaining schedule here: https://orleansonline.net/tour-dates/
Kent,
I really loved that post you did today of that band out of Quebec and their rendition of YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN. I wouldn't mind having a copy of that record. It reminded me of a show I did several years ago on the WAX MUSEUM in which I spot lighted the songs (records) from the rock era that were recorded in a foreign language, either totally or partially. From SUKIYAKI out of 1963 by Kyu Sakamota to partial songs like AMOR by Ben E. King from 1961 and TWIST TWIST SENORA by Gary U.S Bonds from 1962.
Larry Neal
I got a lot of good feedback on the French version of “You Wouldn’t Listen” (“Tu Ne Me Croiras Jamais” by Les Phénomènes. Randy Price sent me a digital stereo mix of this tune which just sounds awesome. I can’t believe Jim Peterik didn’t even know of its existence. (Makes me wonder what it could have possibly generated in royalties as such.) Maybe not a big hit … but a beautiful recording. The Ides of March’s version deserved a FAR better showing than it got, just missing The Top 40 in all three trades. (It peaked at #41 in Record World and #42 in Billboard in 1966.) You'll soon find it posted on the official Ides Of March website! (kk)
They did an incredible and faithful version of this 1966 Ides gem. Thx for excavating this, Kent! You’ll now find it posted on The Ides Of March website.
Jimmie
Rock on!!!
It looks like Aerosmith’s comeback shows at The Hollywood Bowl will include long time drummer (and founding member) Joey Kramer!
This is considered to be pretty big news as Kramer had to previously miss a number of appearances due to health issues. (There were also some undisclosed legal issues as well.) Hopefully all of this has been resolved and fans can look forward to a very positive attitude show.
The shows will feature an incredible line-up of “guest stars” including Guns N’ Roses, The Black Crowes, RUN DMC, Heart, Billy Idol, Pat Monahan of Train, Sammy Hagar, and several others (with more surprises still to be announced.) Don Was will serve as music director. (Let’s hope they film these shows so we can all enjoy them later … or better yet, what about a live, pay-for-view concert on TV???) kk
Look for a new, fully authorized Fleetwood Mac documentary coming to Apple TV next year.
Titled "The Chain," the doc will premier on January 29th, which just happens to be the 50th Anniversary of the release of their "Rumours" album. All of the key members of the "Rumours" line-up will be participating (Christine McVie through archival footage of course.)
More details as they become available. (kk)
kk …
Wild Wayne Just Ran His 50th Anniversary Interview With Bobby Rydell.
Shortly After His July 9, 2012, 20-Hour Liver & Kidney Operation, Bobby Asked If He Could Be A Guest On "THE MEMORY MACHINE" To Talk About Organ Transplants.
Bobby's Operation Extended His Life 10 years. He Died April 5, 2022.
This Was A Very Touching And Emotional Interview. Bobby Was Tearing Up, Thanking His Fans From Around The World Who Wished Him A Speedy Recovery.
Wild Wayne Was Inspired To Be An Organ Donor By Mickey Mantle.
I Was Inspired To Be An Organ Donor By Bobby Rydell.
FB
We got to share some moments with Bobby Rydell after his autobiography was published … even helped to get him a gig here in Chicago at The Arcada Theatre.
You can relive THAT interview (it ran for a full week!!!) here:
https://fhbobbyrydell.blogspot.com/
(Something messed up the spacing along the way and I’ve tried a few times now to fix it, but it keeps reverting back to this “largely extended” version instead. Still, I think you’ll find it very readable … and enjoyable … and if somebody out there can tell me how to permanently fix it, I would be much obliged!) kk
Also from Frank B …
October 9, 2026 = Verne Allison Died - 90 Years Old.
Founding Member Of The R&B Group The Dells.
"OH WHAT A NIGHT" (1956 … and then again in 1968)
FRANK B.
Country music star John Anderson also passed away this past week. He had one big cross-over hit on the pop charts in 1983 called “Swingin’” that made the National Top 40 and went all the way to #12 here in Chicago. (kk)
Timmy sent us this great YouTube clip of an old Harry Nilsson interview … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y_memK9HPo
There are a lot of good Nilsson video clips on YouTube, including some pretty rare stuff. (kk)
New from Y&T: More demo recordings by Badfinger’s Tom Evans
I Believe In You is the follow-up release to 2024’s I Am Myself, a new collection of never-before-heard demo recordings by Liverpool’s Tom Evans, bassist and co-lead singer of the iconic power pop group Badfinger. It will be released as a limited-edition CD by Y&T Music and available on all streaming platforms on October 30, 2026.
Like his Badfinger bandmate Pete Ham, Tom Evans was a prolific songwriter; he gave the quartet many of their greatest “deep cuts,” including “Money,” “It’s Over,” “Believe Me” and “Blind Owl.” Evans and Ham co-wrote “Without You,” which went to No. 1 for both Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey, and is considered by many to be one of the greatest pop ballads of all time.
He sang lead on “Come And Get It,” Badfinger’s smash hit debut, written and produced by Paul McCartney; his soaring tenor voice made “Maybe Tomorrow,” recorded for the Beatles’ Apple Records when they were still calling themselves The Iveys, an international sensation.
Among the 20 tracks on I Believe In You, six went on to be recorded by Badfinger: “Money,” “When I Say,” “Blind Owl,” “Queen Of Darkness,” “Lost Inside Your Love” and “Sail Away”. Another song, “Get To You” went on to be released by The Dodgers in 1976 as the B-side of their debut single, “Don’t Let Me Be Wrong.”
Performed mainly on acoustic guitar plus some on electric guitar or piano, with some assistance on guitar and backing vocals from Badfinger/Dodgers member, Bob Jackson, the album showcases Tommy’s growing maturity as a serious songwriter and lyricist during the 1970s spanning the middle period of his musical career between 1970-1977.
I Believe In You came to be after an exhaustive two year search for previously unheard songs and demo versions of well known Tom Evans tracks for Badfinger and The Dodgers. The recordings were once again compiled & edited by Tom Brennan, and restored & mastered by Kevin McElligott.
Marianne Evans shared photos from her personal collection for the 12-page booklet included with this new collection and Tim Boyle took the front cover photo. Released with the full support and cooperation of the Evans Estate, I Believe In You is a limited edition of 1200 CDs.
Earlier in 2026, Y&T Music issued Miniskirts And Rainbows, their 2nd collection of unreleased demo recordings by The Iveys, which included Tom Evans on rhythm guitar and vocals.
I BELIEVE IN YOU track listing:
1. I Believe In You (version 2)
2. Try To See Eye To Eye
3. Don’t Let it Go
4. Friday Night
5. It’ll Be Alright
6. Money (original demo)
7. When I Say (original demo)
8. Blind Owl (demo version 2)
9. Queen Of Darkness (demo version 2)
10. So Far
11. I’m Gonna Love You
12. Till You Came Along
13. A Dream Come True
14. Fade Away
15. Lost Inside Your Love (demo version)
16. Sail Away (demo version)
17. Get To You (demo version)
18. Twenty-Four Reasons
19. Has Anybody Seen Her
20. I Believe In You (version 1)
