re: PAUL McCARTNEY:
It's like McCartney-Mania has kicked up again with all the hoopla surrounding Paul's appearance on The David Letterman Show this past week. We got to see him perform two songs that night ... "Get Back" (ironically on top of the Marquee at The Ed Sullivan Theater, immediately reminiscent of The Beatles' final rooftop concert from the film "Let It Be" ... the last time ANYONE heard all four of the moptops perform together) ... and something off his new "Fireman" CD. Sound clips have been all over the radio lately ... Paul talking about the early days ... Michael Jackson ... performing "Yesterday" solo on The Ed Sullivan Show ... lots of cool clips ... and now additional unaired performances are starting to surface, too. We saw bits and pieces of "Back In The U.S.S.R." and "Band On The Run" on Entertainment Tonight ... and now there's a link for more unaired concert footage. You can check it out here:
Click here: Late Show with David Letterman on TV.com - Free Full Episodes & Clips, & Show Info
Check out Sir Paul singing "Let Me Roll It", "Coming Up" and "Helter Skelter", too, from his "On Broadway" mini-concert!
re: 1971 MUSIC MEMORIES:
When you mentioned you were planning to do a 1971 survey, I instantly thought of "Sooner or Later" and "Don't Pull Your Love." Scott Shannon, Russ Spooner, John Young, Dick Kent, and the other WMAK jocks were playing "Sooner or Later" with the WMAK custom intro just about every hour during June and July of that year. I recall that summer as a summer packed with nights of cruising to many of the tunes listed on the WLS survey. We'd enjoy Scott until dark, then (sorry, Scott) switch to the Big 89. I remember hearing WLS from the open windows of innumerable cars as we cruised our favorite places, and it was probably 1971 that WLS was so popular here that a local Tennessee Honda dealer (Pug Vickers) bought spots on WLS.
1971 was also the first year I knew someone killed in a car accident. Jimmy Pack had a super hot '71 Chevelle SS396 complete with 8-Track and all the goodies. Late one night in midsummer he flipped his car on nearby Gallatin Road in front of the Tradewinds market. When the police arrived, his 8-Track player was still playing Three Dog Night's "Joy To The World". Honest. That song was past peak by that time but everyone was still listening to it on their 8-Tracks. To this day, every time I pass by that spot I remember Jimmy's wreck and hear "Jeremiah was a bullfrog ...."
David Lewis
I LOVE that WMAK-Intro version of "Sooner Or Later" ... again, it takes us back to a different time in radio when the stations that stood out did so because they did unique and creative things like this to MAKE them stand apart ... pretty much my whole point in yesterday's weekly radio rave-out. Sharing it again for those who may have missed it the first time around ... even though I didn't grow up hearing it played this way on the air, it has stuck in my head ever since you first shared it with us ... proof again what an impact this type of creative radio-programming can have on its listeners. Thanks, David! (kk)
re: CONGRATULATIONS TO COOL SCOOPS!!!:
Hey Kent,
A couple of Cool things happening at Cool Scoops!
1- The Travel Channel just filmed Samantha Brown's Great Vacation Show with special guest Chubby Checker.
Here are a few pictures for the fans.
Chubby will be celebrating 50 years since the Twist was performed in Wildwood New Jersey in 1960.We at Cool Scoops have some really great plans in the works for his anniversary in 2010.
In this episode Chubby taught Samantha Brown and all his fans at Cool Scoops how to Twist and do many other dances he created.
2 - The Fabulous Kit Kats will be here on August 8th to sign autographs and have a CD party at 4 pm here in Cool Scoops ... special performances are promised. These guys rocked Wildwood in the mid 60's to early 70's. Their International Hits ... "Let's Get Lost On a Country Road" and "Won't Find Better than Me" are just two of the songs they are known for.
At 7:30 pm I will be presenting them with a Special "Wildwood Music Award" at the Lou Booth Amphitheatre in North Wildwood with special musical guests The 1910 Fruitgum Company. All of these events are FREE !
We invite all the fans to come see these heroes of Rock and Roll.
Yours in Coolness,Paul Russo / Cool Scoops
Great news, Paul ... wish we could be there for all of this ... and even COOLER, Cool Scoops was just voted The Jersey Shore's FAVORITE Ice Cream Parlor AGAIN!!! WTG, you guys!!! (kk)
Thank you All for making Cool Scoops #1 again in 2009!
Paul Russo
re: AND, CONGRATULATIONS TO ARTIE WAYNE, TOO!!!:
Our Oldies Buddy Artie Wayne just passed a million hits on his website ... WTG, Artie!!! It's always interesting reading from a guy who was there ... now get that book out there so we can read the REST of the story!!! (Your support of OUR little website venture is truly appreciated as well ... thank you, Artie!) Congratulations again! (kk)
re: MORE ON MICHAEL:
I was in the studio of http//:www.rockandrollheaven.net with three others when the news of Michael Jackson's death was announced. OK! I get it! He was a well known for many things. Some good, some not so good. I have liked some of the early music by the Jackson 5. And, even some from Michael's solo career. I don't dispute that the man had talent. Not to mention, enough money to obtain anything his heart desired. They call him the KING OF POP. And, whoever "they" are has the right to an opinion.
I must be honest! I found the pre-empting of normal TV and radio programming for his memorial service and, the public being able to to enter a lottery online to win tickets to the same service to be a bit much. In my humble opinion, many who perhaps won these glorified invitations, probably would have never gone to see Michael Jackson in concert.
With that said, I must voice my thoughts on "musical geniuses". Did we watch Buddy Holly, John Lennon, George Harrison or Roy Orbison's funerals? These people, with the possible exception of John, were hardly mentioned after their deaths. I don't even recall if Elvis' memorial was shown, but I think we have enough news channels available to us that regular television / radio could have broadcast this as part of their regular programming. I feel that the only time broadcasting should be interrupted is when the news involves a member of our top government officials.
If I had to choose someone who has influenced the world of rock music the most, although it is a difficult choice, I would think that more people have re-recorded the songs and style of Buddy Holly. Buddy had no clue that rock and roll would become such as it has.
I do not believe there was a day the music died.
J. Howard
The low-down you gave on Michael Jackson just floored me, so I had to write. I gotta tell you that you nailed it right on the head. To me, I always thought he was a great dancer ... and he sang his butt off as a kid on tunes like "I Want You Back" and "I'll Be There" ... these songs still have staying power ... even "Ben" is great if you forget about the subject matter (hehe) ... but honestly, I was never crazy about much he did solo ... that's just me. I like the African bit at the end of "Wanna Be Starting Something" ... that's pretty jamming ... but that's about as far as it goes.
Todd Tin Tear
Thank you, Kent, I thought I was the only one tired of hearing about M J - I almost stopped reading your Sunday comments when you started talking about Michael - now I'm glad I didn't, how long before the Michael Jackson sightings start?
Talk2Me
Michael is STILL all over the news ... by now, I'm sure we've all probably seen the up-close-and-personal film of Michael's hair catching on fire during the filming of his Pepsi Commercial. Now comes word that there's closed-circuit surveillance video footage of his death!!! The always desperate-for-attention LaToya now says that Michael was murdered and the official "cause of death" / toxicology report is about to be released ... all in all, it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Meanwhile, Michael's #1's Album has been #1 for three straight week, his radio airplay is up nearly 1800% and his music is selling like CRAZY ... literally MILLIONS of units each week. Hopefully this will provide for a secure future for his children and pay off some of his ridiculous debt. (Hmm ... I wonder if McCartney will offer to buy back the rights to his Beatles catalog!!! I heard last week that it is currently valued at over $400 Million!!! And with their complete body of work being re-released in September, it'll only go up from there. All of a sudden, Michael's $47 Million Investment sounds like a pretty shrewd business deal indeed!!!) kk
Curious to see if ANYONE has responded to Berry Gordy's statement during the JACKO service that "Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer of all-time." A bit over the top in my humble opinion. More on that one later.
Fred Vail
Honestly, no, I haven't really heard any negative criticism on that. Certainly it's something that one would say at a time like this ... even if you happen to be the guy who let The Jacksons slip away and didn't recognize their true talent and potential. (Berry Gordy's GOOD decisions still outweigh his bad decisions however!!!)
Entertainment Weekly speculates that more kids learned the "i before e except after c" rule from The Jackson Five than the classroom. Meanwhile, TV Guide recently broke down the history of pop music into three distinct eras ... first you had Elvis, which carried us through for about eight to ten years, changing our feelings about sexual liberation and racial integration, all of which lasted until the second era started with The Beatles and all that they brought to the table, including our changes in culture and fashion and experimental sound styles that reverberated for twenty years, echoing into the Springsteen, U2 and Prince eras and then there was Michael, who has influenced EVERYTHING since. TV Guide writes, "The third explosion was 'Thriller', Michael Jackson's 1982 album --- the best selling record of all time and an album that invented the pop world we are still living in more than 25 years later. 'Thriller' remerged pop music with mainstream entertainment. After 20 years of anti-glamour, pop became again what it had been before the '60's: part of show business. After 'Thriller', pop was about not just how you sounded but how you looked, how you dressed, how you danced. Michael Jackson ushered in a new era after the long reign of counterculture. He did Pepsi commercials and met with President Reagan. He did not pretend not to care about commercial success -- he wanted to break all the old records. Michael did not idolize Dylan and Hendrix -- he idolized Elizabeth Taylor and Walt Disney. The Michael Jackson model has ruled pop music for 25 years and it shows no sign of ending. He made the world safe for MTV and Madonna, 'Flashdance' and 'Footloose', Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. A student of P.T. Barnum, Jackson courted crazy rumors and publicity stunts -- and at some point that hunger for tabloid headlines turned on him. He fed a beast and the beast turned around and bit him. At some point Michael seemed to forget about being a musician and got lost in being a star." TV Guide goes on to say "One crucial fact often gets overlooked in all the statistics and hype and hoopla: Michael Jackson was amazingly talented. And now that he's gone, once the gossip and the exploitation and the vultures pass by, the music he made is what will remain." Pretty well written, I think ... kudos to Bill Flanagan for capturing a perspective on this that some of us have chosen to ignore. (kk)
Sharing this ... Darrell "Shifty" Powers, 101st Airborne ... Band of Brothers
PAYING TRIBUTE TO REAL AMERICAN HEROES:
There were no tributes at the Staples Center -- but we can share and launch our own internet tribute!
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen "Band of Brothers" on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made. Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945" ... at which point my heart skipped.
At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the five training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy ... do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped. I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was.
At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I was standing with a genuine war hero ... and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day. I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach. He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.
Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center.
No wall to wall, back to back, 24x7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way.
Please pass this along to everyone you know ... especially to the veterans.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
"A nation without heroes is nothing." -- Roberto Clemente
(submitted by Charlie Gracie, Jr.)
re: DRAKE LEVIN:
Sorry to hear about Drake Levin. Worked many a date with him and the group.
Fred Vail
In this clip, Ray Graffia, Jr. of The New Colony Six talks about living in the same place at Paul Revere and the Raiders in LA. Check at approx 7:30 in the video.
David Lewis
That's from their show right here in Schaumburg last month ... crystal clear video!!! Thanks, David! (kk)
By the way, Ray and I discussed The Raiders connection in our New Colony Six Series a few years ago ... and how odd it was that two groups wearing colonial uniforms would be sharing the SAME residence trying to make it out in California at the time. Here is an excerpt from that interview in yet another one of our infamous '60's FLASHBACKS:
FORGOTTEN HITS: When did the colonial uniforms come into play? Who designed them? Have you still got yours tucked away in mothballs somewhere?RAY GRAFFIA, JR.: Instantly - we purchased Waiters' coats and added lace to the ends of the sleeves, added jabots (look it up in the dictionary ...), (actually, I did: "a ruffle worn down the front of a dress or shirt" LOL) the knee-high black boots and the white pants, viola - looking like colonial dudes ... sort of. Later on, we had a seamstress work with us and come up with fancy schmancy versions, but eventually abandoned them due to criticism of our apparent rip-off of the Raiders (but we both had the look when we lived in the same dwelling in LA so your guess is as good as mine as to who came up with it first) and went to the double-breasted navy blue civil war jackets on the Colonization cover. When we started the reunion band in 1988, our bass player wore my original Waiters' coat, but I never got it back from him - c'est la vie ... but I do still have the brocade Nehru jacket from the Revelations album - and it still fits!
FH: So it's true that during that trip to Hollywood you guys actually shared a duplex with Paul Revere and the Raiders? How weird was that ... that BOTH groups would take on the "revolutionary" look ... and wouldn't you think that by 1968 Gary Puckett and the Union Gap would have realized that it'd all been done before?!?!?
RAY: My comments on this appear above, complete with my own use of the word "weird" - great minds think alike, or so I've heard!
FH: Where did this criticism come from? (Other than from The Raiders
themselves, I mean!!!)
RAY: Probably more self-inflicted than anything else. We did not want to appear as though we were Raiders' wannabes, hence abandoned the red jackets, white slacks and high boots for the Colonization album look, and, after a bit of time, to the "everybody does their own wardrobe" - no-outfit-coordination days.
FH: Tell me more about this whole situation ... was it sort of a friendly competition between the two bands?
RAY: We really didn't compete much - weren't there long enough to become competitors, and we did not wind up auditioning for many of the same gigs, so we knew who they were and they knew us, but until they hit it and we sort of made a dent musically, there was nothing to compete over - with the exception of the outfits.
FH: Obviously, they scored the "Where The Action Is" gig shortly after that (in fact, one of the people on my FH mailing list is the son of one of the original producers of that program ... I've been trying for YEARS to get access to some of those old tapes!) Once they landed that job, were there any attempts to get you guys on the show? (Or was the whole colonial / revolutionary costume thing perceived as more of a conflict of interests at the time?)
RAY: I believe they landed that right before we headed back to Chicago - so as to get to our freshman college classes, since it was apparent at the time that we were not going anywhere if we stayed in CA. At least that was our cumulative perspective - that we were failures.
FH: Even the idea of a bunch of "kids," really, packing up and moving out to California to try to make it was pretty bold ... again, must have been some pretty firm belief in your abilities.
RAY: At 18, this was an adventure - and of course we were sure that stardom was right around the corner - and how could one turn down the chance to possibly hook up with some of those California honeys ...
FH: How disheartening was that, coming home without a major deal?
RAY: I personally was crushed, and I think that was the common sentiment, but we did not give up - kept on keepin' on, as they say, and then my dad did his thing with the record company and studio time. Once "I Confess" was in the can, it almost instantly got airplay and things got pretty hectic in a hurry after that.
re: MICKEY AND MINNIE:
We recently told you about the passing of Wayne Allwine, long-time voice of Mickey Mouse ... and former member of Davie Allan's Arrows. Well, Davie just sent us a copy of this note that he receieved from Russi Taylor, Wayne's widow ... who just happens to ALSO be the voice of Minnie Mouse!!! (Yes, Mickey and Minnie were married in REAL life, too!!! lol) kk
You can imagine what I felt when I received this!
Davie
(From Russi Taylor ... Mrs Wayne Allwine / voice of "Minnie Mouse"):
Davie,
Thank you for the note you sent. I know it would mean a lot to Wayne to have the album dedicated to him. How wonderful of you to do that.
I wanted to let you know there is a "Celebration of Wayne's Life" to be held at Disney Studios in the Legend's Plaza on July 27th. If you wanted to say a few words that would be fine. If you wanted to play something that would be fun and fine. No pressure, though. Mostly I would just really love it if you would be there if you can.
I'm also hoping that you will stay in touch with me even though Wayne is gone. I enjoy hearing about the things you are doing and I'm glad you're still out there doing what you love to do.
All the best to you and a big hug,
Russi
re: ANOTHER GREAT FILM:
Frannie and I just saw ANOTHER great music film, "My Dinner With Jimi", written by Howard Kaylan of The Turtles and produced by Harold Bronson of Rhino Records. (We've been talking about this one for a while now ... it did VERY well on the Film Festival circuit and has FINALLY been released on DVD for home purchase. It's a VERY entertaining recollection about what it was like when The Turtles traveled to England in 1967 after "Happy Together" topped the charts all over the world ... and partied the night away with the likes of The Beatles, Graham Nash of The Hollies, Donovan and Jimi Hendrix. The music is OUTSTANDING (Rhino did a KILLER job with the mix) and the story of these guys spending the night out clubbing with their idols will take your breath away. (Sadly, after the image of Beatles-greatness was shattered for Turtles' guitarist Jim Tucker, he never played his instrument again!!! But then again Jimi Hendrix never wore that red velvet suit again either!!! lol) And, speaking of Jimi Hendrix, Kaylan's recollection of their sit-down is to die for. Exceptional kudos to actor Royale Watkins, who portrays Hendrix in a down-to-earth way we can only imagine. Kaylan himself is portrayed by actor Justin Henry, all grown up from his stint as the kid in "Kramer Vs. Kramer". Highly recommended to ALL our '60's fans out there, ESPECIALLY if you love The Turtles' music as much as we do. (I couldn't help but wonder how, under the circumstances of the era, Howard was able to remember ANYTHING about that night!!! But I guess under the circumstances of being awed by being in the presence of their musical heroes, something like this WOULD stick with you ... no matter HOW many Scotch and Cokes may have been consumed!!! lol And Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones asking Kaylan for HIS autograph is classic!!!) Seek this one out, folks, you WILL enjoy it!!! (Ironically, Frannie and I had just seen the purported funniest comedy of the year, "Bruno", earlier that afternoon ... and we both agreed that THIS film blows Bruno away ... even if it ISN'T heavy on male frontal nudity!!!) It's probably hard to find as a rental but IS available at all the usual outlets. You'll be glad you did! (kk)
Hi, Kent,
So glad that you finally got to see my little movie; I am so happy that you enjoyed it and that, perhaps, you will pass along the good vibrations to all of your loyal readers.I really DO remember these events vividly despite any residual grey matter losses. Hopefully, anyone who grew up in the sixties, or wish that they had, can identify with my fan-boy situation and meet the Beatles, Hendrix, and the other characters who made up my world back then.
Thank you, Kent, for vicariously being with me during my summer of love.
Howard Kaylan
"Luck favors the prepared mind"
Can you even IMAGINE a time when you could walk into a club and see the members of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, The Turtles, The Monkees, Herman's Hermits and Donovan all just hanging out together??? Or walk into a restaurant at three in the morning in L.A. and run into members of The Mamas and The Papas, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds and The Lovin' Spoonful??? Man, what a different and exciting time this was ... of course, none of US lived in that same world ... but we are SO grateful that some of these artists have shared those memories with our readers so that, even for just a moment, we CAN live vicariously through their eyes. Thanks, Howard ... this is ALL part of what makes Forgotten Hits so rewarding!!! (kk)
And, ironically this just in, too, regarding The Turtles ... which ties in nicely with our NEXT piece titled "Good Show, Bad Show"!!!
You've given us Howard Kaylan ... I've seen Flo And Eddie by themselves 3 times ... used to put on a wonderfully funny show ... very satirical ... I think they even decided to bring back "Keep It Warm" (great tune) to play on their Turtles gigs. The standout for me was when they opened for Sparks New-Years Eve '76-'77 in Santa Monica ... GREAT show ... and, if you can believe it, Van Halen was the opening act! They didn't even have a record out yet. I was not quite yet 16.
We caught The Turtles out here in Las Vegas a couple of years ago when they were the opening act for another fellow you gave us ... Peter Noone.
Here's a little tidbit for you. We went to a 'Rock And Roll Oldies' show out here in Las Vegas back in 2004 and saw The Buckinghams, The Grass Roots, Tommy James and Herman's Hermits.
Trish and I grew up with that music ... although at 48 I remember it from when I was a wee pup from my sisters having the radio on quite a bit ... "Must To Avoid" and all that! They played this stuff on the radio all the time back then.
Anyway, after the show, the only one out there with a stand for giving autographs was Mr. Noone. Anyway, when we finally got up there to meet him ... I was pushing Trish in the wheelchair (she had a broken foot) ... Peter looks at me and goes "Eh, pushing her around, are you?" Great sense of humor! Cracked us up ... it was classic. We still have the T-Shirt he signed.
Todd
We met Peter after a local performance here shortly after our interview ran in Forgotten Hits and then in "The Beat", a British publication ... in fact, we were all supposed to have dinner together but plans fell through at the very last minute. If any of you recall, what prompted my contacting him in the first place was the fact that we had just seen him perform in concert one night a few summers ago and then both caught the same flight to California the following morning. When I had mentioned that we had "shared a flight" ... and that Frannie (at the time) worked for United Airlines ... it must have connected ... because several months later when we met him after a show (and I just happened to be wearing a blue and white striped shirt), Peter says "You look like YOU'RE the one who works for United!" Cracked us up. He seems VERY happy to be back in the "Herman" role and, as we've said numerous times now, puts on one of the best, most entertaining shows out there ... and at a free summer concert you REALLY get your money's worth. (Just kidding!) More on Peter below. (kk)
re: GOOD SHOW, BAD SHOW:
I read your comments about the new Jay and the Americans show and I have to agree. The new Jay can sing every bit as good as the previous Jays but the best part of the night is hearing the stories that the original members of the band tell about the way some of this music came their way. They are definitely worth checking out if they come back to your area.
Bill
Here's a link to their website ... no Chicagoland appearances in the near future, but I DO want to see them. I'll take NOTHING away from Jay Black ... that man can sing the roof off of a theater ... and ideally I'd like to see BOTH of these acts in concert as I've never had the pleasure to do so. Black's voice DEFINED the sound of Jay and the Americans ... but it IS nice to have three of their long-time members back onboard to tell those stories you mentioned. One of their 1965 hits opened the door for then-unknown songwriter Neil Diamond. About six months before he first charted under his own name as a singer / songwriter / recording artist, Jay and the Americans took his song, "Sunday And Me" into The National Top 20. It's another one of those GREAT, completely Forgotten Hits. We last featured this one a few years ago in our "Month Of Sundays" feature ... and I'll bet you haven't heard it played since. We'll rectify that today ... crank this one up ... it's a GREAT one. (Gerry Granahan, a FH List Member, produced this track for the band and told Ed Osborne, who wrote the liner notes to the brand new 3-CD Set of Jay and the Americans / United Artists Singles, "Neil Diamond was a hustler. He used to bug me every day. 'You gonna put it out as a single, you gonna put it out as a single?' He knew that he had a Jay Black song." Tailor-made, I'd have to say ... the PERFECT match of singer and song. Once Black sang "Cara Mia", there was no turning back ... the sound of Jay and the Americans had forever changed and been re-established as The Jay Black Sound! (kk)
Click here: Jay and the Americans
David Lewis
http://www.festaitaliana.com/
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a spot for this announcement until it was too late ... but we've talked to Al a couple of times now in Forgotten Hits and can only say that if ANYBODY belongs at Festa Italiana, HE does!!! Glad to hear that he's still out there performing ... and making NEW music to boot! A quick check of the website also shows appearances by The Vogues (now THAT would be cool to see!) and Bobby Valli, Frankie's brother, doing a tribute to the songs of The Four Seasons! I've heard that this is a GREAT annual event ... we're going to have to try to make it up there next summer! (kk)
Peter Noone has always put on one of the best oldies shows around. It's a love-fest between artist and audience every time he performs. While he may sometimes come across as difficult and arrogant off the stage (as we witnessed in your interview with Peter a few years back), he always turns on the charm when the music comes on - and the fans love him for it. The Noonatics are a very loyal bunch - quite often they have pre-show get-togethers and Peter always signs autographs and mingles with the fans after his performance. Thank you for recognizing what a great talent he truly is.
Julie
LOL ... yeah, Peter CAN be a little difficult!!! (lol) And he's one of those artists we talked about the other day ... he actually had to LEAVE "Herman" for a while in order to appreciate what it all meant ... and once he decided to come back and EMBRACE this character he created, it was a win / win situation for everybody. Without a doubt, one of the BEST and most consistent oldies shows around. (Peter wrote us a while back when a couple of other artists mentioned being leery of coming in contact with their fans for fear of catching germs or a cough, cold or virus ... and basically said, "Good ... LET them stay away ... because then I'LL go out there and meet the fans after EVERY show and they'll remember what a good time it was and how nice it was to meet me.") He's right ... after our interview ran, several folks on the list wrote to Peter and told him how much they enjoyed the interview and appreciated his honesty ... and he wrote personal notes back to literally a couple of hundred of them!!! Now THAT'S good showmanship. Last year, he gave us a bunch of T-Shirts to give away because he LOVES to see people in the audience wearing a Herman's Hermits T-Shirt when he performs. Believe me, he knows ALL the right marketing moves and strategies ... and it pays off with TREMENDOUS turn-outs for his shows all over the country, all year long. If you haven't seen him lately, do yourself a favor and check him out ... you'll be glad you did (and you'll come home feeling 25 years younger, too!!! lol) kk
You are absolutely right when stating if you're paying anything to see a performer you should expect the best. Especially when you're paying outrageous prices to see them. Too many acts phone it in. That being said, it's actually a wonder that Gordon Lightfoot is still performing. He hasn't been well in the last few years. I saw him about 10 years ago and, to be honest, I don't remember anything about it, good, bad, or otherwise. Furthermore, when you have an act like Gordon, who's been around over 40 years, he's not going to do every song he's ever recorded. However maybe it's time that some of these acts remember how they got to be successful. It's the fans.
Jack (Rock And Roll Never Forgets)
Sadly, we've seen a few disappointing shows lately ... but also been completely blown away by others. (If The Eagles are going to charge $250 per ticket, then they'd BETTER bring down the house!!! lol) We've also seen performers "going through the motions" and recently wrote about the complete hissy-fit that David Cassidy threw on stage when some of his equipment wasn't functioning properly. All he had to do was stop the show, apologize for the inconvenience (which by that point was painfully obvious anyway), fix the problem and move on. The audience would have appreciated it and had a lot more respect for him had he taken the high road ... instead of chewing out his bass player in front of a crowded theater. We've seen artists perform drunk (or worse), showing little or no respect for their audience and it just needs to stop. Forgotten Hits is PROUD to help promote our long-time favorites who are still out there performing ... but you've got to EARN it ... and if part of our role here means that we have to become some sort of music monitor, then so be it. It's just TOO damn expensive to go to a lot of these shows anymore and, quite honestly, the older we get, the more trouble it becomes. So if we venture out to enjoy the nightlife, we expect not to be disappointed. Incredibly good shows we've seen lately include Joe Cocker and The Moody Blues ... we would have NEVER expected to be so blown away by these two, acts we might ordinarily not even have considered going to see. Pat Benatar and Richard Marx were outstanding at the last couple of Septemberfests, too. So please, continue to send us your reviews and let the oldies fans out there know which shows are "Can't Miss" and which ones are "Don't Waste Your Time". (kk)
re: EASY EVIL:
Hey Kent!
I gathered you were a fan of "Easy Evil" so I thought I would send you our version, recorded in 1975. Thought you might like to hear it.
Take Care,
Gary Pike
The Lettermen
Wow, thanks, Gary ... it's a GREAT version ... and about the LAST thing I would expect to hear The Lettermen record. A real smooth arrangement with killer harmonies. What on earth prompted you guys to take a crack at this one?!?! As I said, the LAST track I expected to hear from The Lettermen. GREAT job ... please pass along our thanks and appreciation to the other guys. (I sent a copy to Alan O'Day, who WROTE the song and he couldn't agree more) kk
Hey Kent,
This is actually very well-done, good harmonies and they got the Electric Piano riff right. There were somewhere around 50 covers done on this song. Many thanks for re-kindling memories of the 70's yet again!
Alan O'Day
I wondered how prompted The Lettermen to even take on such a track ... as I said ... three times so far, in fact ... this is about the LAST thing I would expect to hear The Lettermen singing!!! So I asked Gary, who sent me this:
Hey Kent,
Either Alan or his publisher sent us a demo. I'm sure it was Alan singing on it and we liked it. We always put a few songs on our albums that we thought would cross demographics a little bit to let the audience know we weren't stuck in 1961. We knew we could achieve a more commercial sound so we did it.
Some stuff we did had a hint of the Eagles, Crosby-Stills-Nash and Young, even the Four Seasons ... also just new and different stuff. But most of the songs on the albums were for the fans that expected a certain sound, which wasn't bad but we liked to throw something in the mix a little different and "Easy Evil" was perfect. On the other song I sent you, "For No One", by the Beatles, we did the same thing they did with that horn solo in the middle. We slowed the track down to 16 ips and recorded a French Horn and then played back at normal speed and it sounds like a real, real mellow Trumpet. We had people asking us what in the world kind of horn did we use.. As you know since you're a big Beatles fan, they did this all the time.
In the future I'll send you some more of our stuff and you'll say ... Whaaaa???
Take care,
Gary
Thanks, Gary. We featured Alan O'Day's original demo for "Easy Evil" a while back in Forgotten Hits ... it sounds GREAT! And we just might feature The Lettermen's version of "For No One" somewhere down the line, too. (You just NEVER know what's going to pop up here in Forgotten Hits!!!) Thanks again for sending me these tracks. (kk)
... and, speaking of Alan O'Day ...
re: ALAN O'DAY:
I said whaaat?
Gee, thanks for putting "Undercover Angel" on the website.
I can't get it out of my head and am singing it constantly.
Please don't put "The Night Chicago Died" on the site ...
If that one got stuck in my head, I could possibly go postal.
By the way, try Googling "Undercover Angel."
There seems to be a lot of discussion as to whether it is
about self-pleasurification or not. Yes, I did just invent that word.
What does Mister O'Day say about it.
Later -
Steve Sarley
Now see if you read the website every day, you'd already KNOW what Alan O'Day had to say about it!!!
In one of our more popular exchanges recently, we said this:
A question for Alan O'Day: The Book Of Rock Lists mentions Undercover Angel as one of the best songs about masturbation. Is that really what the song is about? Jack
I sent your inquiry on to Alan for an answer, wondering if you were right on the money with this assessment ... or perhaps just a beat off ... and here's what he had to say:
Kent,
I got a large industrial strength laugh out of your question at the end of your email! Here's my official response:
Return with us now, to those thrilling days of double meaning songs!
I don't want to piss Jackoff ... haha ... but this question has been asked of me often through the years. The Book of Rock Lists may have gotten their Rocks off with that editorial opinion ... however, they were wrong.
I still am not comfortable being specific, as I wrote Undercover Angel to be a romantic fantasy song and I was thrilled that so many pre-teens and kids felt the innocent childlike vibe of the record (while their parents looked askance ...). But if one is determined to find a sexual connotation, it might help to know I have referred to this song as a "nocturnal novelette".
'Nuff said, except thanks to Jack for the question.
Alan
Thanks, Alan. Suffice to say (especially in THIS context) that you really whacked it out of the park with "Undercover Angel" ... it topped the charts back in 1977!!! And it's a true gem. Tell me ... speaking as an accomplished songwriter ...is this one of those that just kinda came to you all at once in one big spurt ... or, creatively speaking, did you have to massage it for a while in order to properly polish this pearl? (All-right, all-right, enough already!!! Before we get dismissed as just another FINE example of jerk-off journalism, we're going to go watch our favorite episode of "Seinfeld" now!!!) kk
Forgotten Hits ... let's face it ... you're not gonna find THIS kind of questioning ANYWHERE else on the web!!!
Which, of course later prompted THIS:
Bear with me, I'm taking a moment to celebrate one of my connections to Pop Music History!
http://readerrant.capitolhillblue.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=118885
1977 - "Undercover Angel", by songwriter (turned pop singer) Alan O’Day, reached the top spot on the "Billboard" chart. It was not the first visit to the top of the pop music world for O’Day, though the million-seller would be his last as a singer. He wrote "Angie Baby", a number one hit for Helen Reddy and the #3 hit, "Rock And Roll Heaven", for The Righteous Brothers.
(Scroll down to "This Day in History", 1977. And where it reads "though the million-seller would be his last as a singer", add in the words "SO FAR"!!! heehee ... )
Sales: Approximately 2 million copies. And the Appetizers album will be released for the first time as a CD in Japan later this year!
Blessings,
Alan
Congratulations, Alan ... I'm encouraging ALL of our Forgotten Hits readers to masturbate in YOUR honor this evening!!! (kk)
I can hear them now ... "OOOO-OOOO-OOOO-WEEE!!!"
Thanks, Kent!
Alan
re: BEALE STREET:
Freddy and Ron's "Down On Beale Street" is a great song! Every radio station in Memphis should be playing it. What a delightful collaboration, guys.Beale Street is still an interesting place after all these years. There's a guy who plays in B.B.'s place who does a killer performance of "Apache". You'd swear Jorgen Ingmann himself was there. And this story from a couple of days ago:
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090710/NEWS02/90710020/1001/NEWS David Lewis
Thanks, David ... it IS pretty good, isn't it??? I passed your note along to Freddy Cannon and Ron Dante ... and just got these back:
Thanks for the feedback.
Memphis is playing our song and we hope to spread it all over.
All the best,
Ronnie D.
THANKS, KENT!
FREDDY CANNON
... and, speaking of "Thanks" ...
re: THANKS!:
Hey Kent,
Well, again you brighten my Sunday! Thanks for the generous coverage of my "anniversary", including Artie's post. :)
Alan O'Day
Glad we could whack-off another one for you, Alan!!! Congrats on your "Undercover Angel" anniversary! (kk)
Always good stuff!
Thanks!
Phil
Great write-up Sunday – thank you so much!
And even more thanks for supporting the cause!
Rich Appel
I don't know how you do it, man! Thanks for making me feel like a Rock God again last week! We really do appreciate your support of the local Chicago music scene!
Jim Pilster / The Cryan' Shames
Maybe all of us FH lovers are excessively nostalgic ... but the truth is, the music truly helps us all cope. Thanks again for Forgotten Hits.
David
Thank you for keeping Forgotten Hits going ... for many of us it has become a necessary part of our daily routine ... like that first cup of coffee in the morning, Forgotten Hits gets us going ... and we love the fact that your articles and the artists and music that you feature help to stimulate some of our brain cells that may have been laying dormant for far too long. Keep up the great work!
Ed
I've been reading your work for about the last 10 years ... Trish and I pretty much consider you a friend at this point and you have enriched our lives with your writing. You've done a wonderful job with this site. You're f-n good.
I think the world of you and what you're doing with Forgotten Hits. I read it every day, Kent, even 'tho I don't respond all the time. It's great.
You rock!
Thanks for everything. Truly, what you do enriches lives. Keep it going.
Todd Tin Tear
Thanks, Todd ... you and Trish were part of our Original 35 WAY back when ... great to see that we haven't lost you guys along the way!!! (kk)
