Looks who's up on top of our WLS Chart THIS week!!!
(click chart to enlarge)
Enjoying his fourth week at #1 here in Chicago, it's our very own Alan O'Day, frequent contributor to Forgotten Hits (and all around good guy!)
Disco was still running rampant here in Chicago ... Andy Gibb's first chart hit (and next week's #1 record), "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" was the #2 record this week ... and the once "bubblicious" Bay City Rollers incorporated a little disco into THEIR sound for this week's #3 smash, "You Made Me Believe In Magic", another one of those songs that absolutely deserves a spin now and then.
Quite a few remakes on the chart this week, too ... Rita Coolidge's version of the Jackie Wilson classic "Higher And Higher" was in at #5, Shaun Cassidy's rocker "Da Doo Ron Ron" (which spent four weeks at #1 before Alan O'Day matched that feat) was now the #6 record in town, "You're My World", the old Cilla Black torch song was now a #16 Hit for Helen Reddy and James Taylor's slowed down version of the Jimmy Jones Hit "Handy Man" was in at #27.
Brand new music on the chart this week included the now over-played "Smoke From A Distant Fire" by The Sanford-Townsend Band and the long-since-forgotten "Slide" by Slave.
One of my personal favorite pop songs of the '70's, "Ariel" by Dean Friedman (also a sometimes Forgotten Hits Contributor), was climbing the chart at #11 this week (on its way to a #4 peak a couple of weeks later) and the annoying novelty hit "Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson jumped from #37 to #30 this week.
Another Forgotten Hit is this week's #10 Record, "Angel In Your Arms" by Hot ... we're going to suggest that some of the deejays on the list feature THIS one sometime this week, along with the previously mentioned Bay City Rollers track.
One small step for man ... One giant leap for mankind. -- Neil Armstrong
And with those words, we had officially landed a man on the moon.
In 1961, President Kennedy had challenged us as a nation to make this happen before the end of the decade ... and, in 1969, we did.
The entire world was transfixed watching the landing. Virtually EVERY country covered the ground-breaking event and congratulated The United States on their efforts to win The Space Race. (Well, every country except for China, that is ... according to Time Magazine, they virtually ignored the moon landing ... and one Hong Kong daily newspaper ran the headline "The American People Pray: God Give Me A Piece Of Bread, Don't Give Me The Moon".)
Incredibly, when Kennedy first extended his challenge back in 1961, the nation's entire manned space experience consisted of only 15 minutes and 20 seconds, which was the length of Alan Shepard's maiden voyage on May 5, 1961. In fact, virtually NONE of the equipment capable of making the journey to the moon even existed yet back in '61 ... but over the next eight years, The United States assembled a team of over 400,000 men and women at 120 universities and 20,000 industrial firms to develop the technology (and the fifteen million parts) necessary to make such a half-million-mile road trip.
Our track record up to that point wasn't very impressive ... joining "The Space Race" in 1957, after The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, The U.S. saw thirteen straight failures between 1958 and 1964 while trying to accomplish a successful "lift off" from the Cape Canaveral Launch Pad, headed toward the moon.
And the flight of Apollo 11 didn't exactly go off without a hitch either! Before Armstrong announced "The Eagle Has Landed", the crew experienced a few "tense" moments when, just 160 feet away from the moon's surface, an alarm went off signaling that only 114 seconds worth of fuel remained aboard the lunar module, leaving the crew 40 seconds to decide if, in fact, they could land within the next TWENTY seconds!!! Apparently some communication interference between the command module, the "mother ship" Columbia and The Eagle caused a false reading that potentially could have driven the crew into an area occupied with lunar boulders ... or have forced them to reach the decision to abort the mission entirely. Ultimately, Mission Control simply turned off the radar to remedy this situation and, as we now all know, The Eagle landed safely.
Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong spent a total of five and a half hours on the moon's surface over the next several days collecting soil samples, moon rocks and photographs but, reportedly, NO blue cheese. (Regarding the answer to the trivia question, who was the THIRD astronaut onboard Columbia for this legendary voyage, oft-forgotten about Michael Collins stayed onboard the mother ship, controlling the steering, rendezvous and docking maneuvers.)
Incredibly, we learned on the recent anniversary of the moon landing that much of the original video filmed by NASA had been erased over the years ... the scramble was soon on to collect and clean up video from a variety of other sources in order to recapture the complete event for all posterity.
Incredibly, it is entirely possible that the footprint shown above, imprinted by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969, on the moon's surface, may remain entirely intact some 40 years later. That's because the moon has no atmosphere and no winds ... so speculation is that, unless it was in some fashion disrupted by one of the countless meteorites that collide with the moon each year, it very likely remains EXACTLY where he left it, looking virtually identical to the photo shown above! Amazing!
Likewise, because there is no wind on the moon, The American Flag planted there had to be rigged with a support bar to keep The Red, White and Blue unfurled ... the 3 foot by 5 foot flag was stiffened with a thin wire so that it would appear to always be waving in the vacuum of the moon's non-atmospheric state!
***
As they say, if you remember it, you weren't there. I guess there was some faked moon landing and a concert we didn't even hear about until the next year. And Mary Jo Kopechne got driven off the Chappaquiddick Bridge (there's a song there, Bobbie, I tell ya).
But the most important thing was that I got my learner's permit. Not that my father let me touch his car ...
Graham Nash reports on a new angle to Woodstock -- his helicopter almost crashed:
Lol ... yeah, I remember when James Brolin landed on the moon ... with O.J. Simpson, no less!!! (lol) You'll see ALL kinds of memorable headlines from 1969 spread out over the course of this month ... I'm hoping that more and more of our readers will write in to share some of their personal memories! (kk)
The Summer of 1969 in Chicago was genuinely magical for me. I had just turned 17, the very geeky president of the Lane Tech High School Astronomical Society. As far as I was concerned, Apollo 11 was the greatest triumph humanity had ever experienced, and I was constantly down in the basement, tinkering my home-made telescope, fooling with electronics, and wondering why girls ran screaming from me.
My grubby AM radio was always on, no matter where I was, to either WCFL or WLS. (I was still too poor to afford FM.) Most people remember songs like "Sweet Caroline," "Crimson and Clover," or "Hot Fun in the Summertime," but there were lots of other odd cuts that got some play here and there, especially on the 9-noon slots. One of my favorites was "Abergavenny" by Shannon, a rousing novelty beer-hall march about taking a hike up to a small town in Wales. Shannon included Peter Knight, who went on to join Steeleye Span in 1970.
By far my favorite band was The Association, which had seen its peak in previous years and was not charting much. However ... while I was out cleaning the garage the morning of July 31, 1969, I heard a new Association single, "Goodbye Columbus," the theme of the Richard Benjamin / Ali McGraw film that was playing about that time. It was a great manic upbeat tune with a lyric that stuck in my mind:
Got to say hello, it's a lucky day!
Kiss the moon goodbye and be on my way!
It's a lucky day 'cause I found you!
Gonna build a new world around you!
Touch the sun and run, it's a lucky day!
Hello, life! Goodbye, Columbus ...
A lucky day?
Well ... That same evening, my best friend and I went over to a youth group function (coffee house! Remember those?) at our church, and by some insane accident I found myself sitting next to a beautiful girl from nearby Resurrection High School. I'm not sure where the courage came from, but I asked her out to see my favorite movie, Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, that weekend. I found to my delight that she was a bit of a girl geek, and didn't think it too freaky when I set my telescope up in her parents' driveway to show her the planets and galaxies that I was always looking at myself. We were a bit of an odd couple, but most of the oddness came from me. (See photo.)
I was dumbfounded when I learned that her favorite band was ... The Association. "Goodbye Columbus" became our song.
I married her in 1976, and forty years later, we are still together, never happier. July 31, 1969: Days don't get any luckier than that!
-- Jeff (and Carol) Duntemann
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Great story, Jeff! (And the REALLY crazy part is that I think I had those very same pants in MY wardrobe collection back then, too!!! lol)
"Goodbye Columbus" was a GREAT book that didn't translate very well to the silver screen ... that's a shame, too, because both Richard Benjamin and Ali McGraw were pretty much at their peaks right around this time. Not a bad tune, though, so we'll feature this one today ... let's face it, you're not likely to hear it on the radio anytime soon!!!
Thanks again for sharing with us! (kk)
Fantastic. It was a pivotal year for a lot of my friends in my age-cohort. We were old enough to start exploring the world beyond our parents' houses, and still too young to start worrying about Vietnam.
The Peter Knight connection is key to the success of "Abergavenny." He arranged the orchestration on the instrumental accompaniment, which is amazingly complex if you tune out the voice and pay attention to the instruments.
One final note about "Abergavenny": I was at a book publishing trade show eight or ten years ago, and there was a small chamber-of-commerce type booth there pushing Wales as a potential business location. I asked the young British woman at the booth if she had any brochures about Abergavenny. She did not, and was visibly puzzled as to why I would single out such a nondescript little town, which is evidently not a tourist destination. I told her it was because of the song, which she had never heard of. I then sang a couple of verses for her right there in the booth, and she almost wet her pants laughing. Makes me wonder if there are songs known in the UK about American towns like Decatur or Hoffman Estates. (The Association did one called "Dubuque" which while not a masterpiece is still memorable.)
Good luck and keep at it!
Jeff Duntemann
THIS JUST IN: Speaking of The Association, this Friday night (as in "tomorrow"!) at 9 PM DJ Stu Weiss will be talking on the phone with Jim Yester (one of the founders and singers of The Association on his Top Shelf Oldies Radio Program, "The Pop Shoppe". It airs every Friday night from 7 PM till 3:01 AM (eastern time). The Pop Shoppe can be heard at www.topshelfoldies.com
I remember seeing an article on The Beatles in TV Guide in mid-April, 1969. It showed the group performing on a London rooftop and stated that there would be a forthcoming TV special on The Beatles. Then, a few weeks later, Get Back was released, only to be followed a month later by The Ballad Of John & Yoko. There was also talk of a new Beatles album coming out. 1969 was shaping up to be a great year for Beatles fans. Then my other passion was pushed to the forefront. Apollo X had gone into lunar orbit and two astronauts in the LEM had all but landed on the moon. An actual landing was scheduled for Apollo XI. I was at Camp Zakelo that July and anxiously awaited the flight. I saw the lift off on the camp TV in the lounge and asked to be allowed to see the landing that Sunday night. I also wanted to stay up late for the entire walk on the moon. The camp director was reluctant to allow me to do so as he was concerned that other campers would make the same request. I persuaded him to let me watch the whole thing by promising to write an article on the lunar landing for the camp newspaper. He agreed and a few days later I had published my first newspaper article of significance. I still have that issue of the camp newspaper, which was called the Zakolog.
Camp Zakelo was in Harrison, Maine. To keep up with world events, I subscribed to the Boston Globe morning newspaper. I remember reading about the moon landing and Woodstock in the Boston Globe. I wondered what it must have been like to walk on the moon and to attend Woodstock. What an incredible summer! That fall Abbey Road was released. I’ll never forget my surprise the first time I played side one on my record player and heard the surprise sudden ending on I Want You (She’s So Heavy). I remember looking around my room to see what happened to make the music stop! And the surprise appearance of Her Majesty as the end of side two! Just as I was about to life the tone arm, that little tune came out of the speakers! It was so cool.
There were a lot of other great moments that year, but for me, The Beatles and the space program were the highlights.
Bruce Spizer Beatles author / historian Who got his start in journalism By writing about the space program
lol ... Thanks, Bruce!!! I had forgotten about that initial shock of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" ending like that ... that was back in the day where the tone arm didn't leave the record until it hit the dead wax / label area of the album and you're absolutely right ... I, too, jumped up to see what had gone wrong ... Had we lost power?!?! Did my brand new LP skip?!?!? Worse yet, had my turn-table died?!?!? "Her Majesty" was a somewhat more-pleasant surprise ... especially since its title wasn't even listed on the original LP cover. (Yet even then the final note was still missing!!! lol)
Thanks so much for sharing your memories with us ... we'll have more on The Moon Landing tomorrow in Forgotten Hits ... so keep those cards and letters coming, folks!!! (kk)
1969 was a pivotal year for The Fab Four ... just look at what had led them to this point in time:
After a year of COMPLETE European Pandemonium, Worldwide Beatlemania reached its peak in 1964, ushering in the era forever known as The British Invasion ... sales records and television ratings were routinely shattered with each and every new release and appearance.
By 1965, besides a string of nearly 40 U.S. Hits, The Beatles already had two feature films under their belts ... a year later, they would quit touring forever, resigning themselves to the studio where each new release became more sophisticated and involved.
In 1967, they had recorded their landmark LP, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', still considered by many to be their crowning achievement ... the recording that forever changed the criteria for making albums.
Their appearance on the "Our World" satellite special (where they world-premiered their new single "All You Need Of Love") was, without question, the apex of that night's performances.
They followed that with their first real disaster ... their "Magical Mystery Tour" television special was universally panned by critics in The U.K. ... so much so that it wasn't even shown here in The United States for many, many years.
In 1968 they spent weeks on end in India, studying transcendental meditation with The Maharishi Yogi and writing songs for what would ultimately become known as The White Album. They also started their own record company, Apple Records, and released the biggest single of their career, "Hey Jude", which topped The U.S. Charts for nine straight weeks.
But behind the scenes, they were also slowly beginning to come apart at the seams. The band's two real leaders and songwriters, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, suddenly had new distractions in their lives ... each had found the love of their life and, early in 1969, John would marry Yoko Ono and Paul would marry Linda Eastman. Both were VERY strong women who greatly influenced (some might even say dominated) the lives of their men.
The year began auspiciously enough ... The Beatles were not only going into the studio to make a new album, but they were also going to film these activities for theatrical release. Literally hundreds and hundreds of hours of film footage was made, showing the good, the bad and the ugly sides of the band and each of its members. We saw them rehearsing their new material and warming up with songs that they probably hadn't performed since their Hamburg / Cavern days. At various times between 1968 and 1969, each of them had quit the band, feeling that they no longer fit in with the other three. Yoko's presence in the studio only resulted in cramping their style even further ... and soon old pal Billy Preston was asked to join the sessions in the hopes that everyone else would stay on their best behavior with an old friend in the studio.
What started out as the "Get Back" album ... and eventually became the "Let It Be" album a year and a half later ... was an effort to "get back" to where THEY once belonged ... just the four of them in the studio without all the fancy strings and overdubs and special effects that had made their recent albums like "Revolver" and "Pepper" so distinctive. A return to their roots, if you will ... to the raw sound that first captured our hearts all those years ago. In concept, it sounded interesting ... in reality, they were already bored with each other ... and no amount of trying to rally the troops was going to change that.
On January 30th, The Beatles gave whole new meaning to the musical phrase "Up On The Roof" when they moved their equipment to the rooftop of the Apple Records Studios and played ... for the very last time ... live music as a four-piece band (five counting Billy Preston on keyboards) for a live audience (albeit passers-by on the street down below.) Paul McCartney recently revisited this idea when he performed on top of the marquee of The Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on The David Letterman Show. His first song that day??? Why "Get Back" of course!!!
When all was said and done, all these hours of toiling in the studio were shelved, left to be sorted out later by anyone with any interest in doing so ... by this point, The Beatles themselves couldn't have cared less. In fact, it seemed all but over. John was on his honeymoon / bed-in for peace and would soon release a solo record, "Give Peace A Chance", recorded in his Montreal Hotel Room as The Plastic Ono Band. Even a mid-summer single, "The Ballad Of John And Yoko" which, although a great rocker, amounted to little more than a newsreel recounting of what the newlywed couple had been up to lately. Incredibly, it only John and Paul were featured on the record ... George and Ringo weren't even invited to the studio that day. John wanted an immediate release (yes, it pays to own your own record company) but the record was banned on as many stations as it was played, and, as such, only managed a #8 showing on the charts.
The previously mentioned "Get Back" ... to MY ears one of their weakest outings ever ... topped the charts for five weeks the month before and remains one of their biggest recordings ever. (Shows you what I know!!!) A few of us first caught wind of this song ... and the "new look" associated with the band ... when a film clip from that rooftop concert was aired on The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour in April of '69. The actual film "Let It Be" wouldn't hit theaters until a year later, by which time Phil Spector had been brought in to clean up the tracks. Paul was so unhappy with Spector's work that he pushed to have the "naked" version of the LP released for the next thirty years. It finally was in 2003.
But then, when all had given up hope, The Beatles regrouped in the studio one last time to record what would become their swan song LP, "Abbey Road". (Paul reportedly called Producer George Martin and begged him to come back to produce just one more ... "the way we used to do it". Martin ultimately relented and the album that MOST of us today consider to be their greatest achievement was finally realized.)
So, in recapping 1969, it was the beginning of the end ... quite honestly, their final chapter. ALL of their final tracks were laid down this year ... 31 in all (besting The White Album by one, but falling seven songs short of their 1968 total output thanks to the singles Lady Madonna / The Inner Light and Hey Jude / Revolution and the soundtrack music included on "Yellow Submarine".) The music contained in the albums "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road" have been with us for 40 years now ... and sound every bit as fresh today as they did when they were first recorded. Tracks like "Come Together", "Something", "Here Comes The Sun", "Let It Be", "The Long And Winding Road", "Get Back" and "Across The Universe" are considered nothing short of rock classics today. With the entire Beatles Catalog being remastered and re-released next month, generations to come will continue to discover this great music that so shaped our lives back then.
re: MORE ON THE CONCERT SCENE: MOHEGAN SUN RESORT / CASINO Friday, August 7th: Uncasville, CT. Philadelphia's First Rock 'n' Roll Star, CHARLIE GRACIE, joins forces with several legendary peers: THE CADILLACS, THE COMETS, LESLEY GORE, JOEY DEE, SAM THE SHAM AND THE PHARAOHS, LOU CHRISTIE, WANDA JACKSON and JOHNNY FARINA (Santo & Johnny) in BOWZER'S TRIBUTE TO ROCK' N' ROLL CONCERT with the STING RAYS. -- Charlie Gracie, Jr.
The Chicago Catz were great. (They performed at Bensenville's Music In The Park Series on Wednesday, July 29th) They came out and played for 1/2 an h2ur with non-stop funk before taking a breath. They played for two hours and only played 1 or 2 songs I did not know the words to sing along to. I would recommend them to all! By the way, here is a picture I got of the Cryan' Shames in 1966 at Randhurst when they were singing autographs. (See attached.) Bill Hengels I think even the guys would agree that this was a LIFETIME ago!!! (lol) I first saw The Shames when they were still The Travelers playing in the parking lot of the old Hillside Shopping Center ... even went into their trailer to look at Jim Fairs' Gretch Country Gentleman Guitar ... he was looking to sell it at the time! ALWAYS loved The Shames ... and still do! Glad you had a good time the other night ... hopefully, you'll make it out to Bolingbrook on the 26th to see the official reunion of five of the original guys ... something Fairs promises won't happen again until 2049!!! (kk)
We had the pleasure of catching Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars last Tuesday Night at an outdoor concert gig right here in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. If the band got off to a bit of a rocky start (as suggested by some of the folks we've talked to since), they recovered beautifully and, in fact, seemed to get stronger and stronger as the night wore on. We singled out Philip Bardowell, who absolutely KILLED that night on his rendition of The Beach Boys' classic "Darlin'" ... Frannie even made it a point to tell him (on our way back to the car) not only what a great job he had done, but that Carl Wilson would have been proud. He really seemed to appreciate that!
Here again is the short mini-review we ran the morning after ... followed by a few more of YOUR comments from some of the folks who were there that night:
>>>We caught Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars at their local appearance here last night ... GREAT show and a good-sized crowd on hand. The band performed the best live version of "Darlin'" (the 1968 Beach Boys tune) I've EVER heard ... and that includes seeing The Beach Boys themselves perform it at least a dozen times!!! From here they're off to Texas where former Beach Boys Al Jardine and David Marks join the line-up. (Here in Chicago, Bob Greene took the stage, along with Al's son Matt Jardine, who handled most of the high falsetto vocals.) If you get a chance to see them before the summer's over, do so ... GREAT summertime music and a guaranteed night of Fun Fun Fun! (kk)
Glad you were able to come to the Dean Torrence / Surf City All Stars show. I met up with Philip Bardowell and he gave me full access ... sat with the band before and after. What a hoot! The promoter was telling old Cryan' Shames, Chicago and Buckinghams stories ... I've posted a few photos here: http://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/jan-dean-staring-dean-torrence-with.html
Phil
I'm glad we made it, too ... a VERY enjoyable evening of music that we all love. (The Chicago connection didn't end there either ... I saw Jimy Sohns of The Shadows Knight lurking about all night long, only to take the stage at the end for the "Barbara Ann" / "Fun Fun Fun" finale!) kk They gave 110%; each song was true to the original recording (Gary Griffin told me some are actually in a higher key than normal - I had assumed they'd be lowered to help the guys on falsetto!). They had the crowd on their feet for most of the night. And Philip Bardowell's lead on Darlin' would have made Carl proud! Phil I told the guys that their live rendition of "Darlin'" was the best one I'd ever heard ... and that includes having seen The Beach Boys themselves perform it about a dozen times!!! Yep, DEFINITELY worth checking out if they're out in your area. The band performs in a variety of line-ups ... and I suppose having someone like Dean Torrence or Al Jardine "front" the band DOES help to sell a few more tickets ... but I'll tell you what ... these guys are plenty strong on their own without ANY guest appearance gimmicks. They were all schooled on the road as members of The Beach Boys touring band ... and this apprenticeship has served them well. But they didn't just do Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and Surf Songs ... they got the WHOLE place rockin' with their take on The Beatles' classic "I Saw Her Standing There" and renditions of "Margaritaville" and "Stir It Up" were also highlights of the evening. All-in-all, a VERY strong performance ... we're hoping to catch them again sometime! (kk) And YOU can, too ... here's a list of upcoming tour dates: Click here: The Surf City Allstars, World's Greatest Surf and Beach Party Band >>>The band performed the best live version of "Darlin'" (the 1968 Beach Boys tune) I've EVER heard ... and that includes seeing The Beach Boys themselves perform it at least a dozen times!!! (kk) Philip Bardowell took the lead in Chicago - Only Carl Wilson could have done it better. Here is his site (with songs he has recorded and released): http://www.philipbardowell.com/fr_index.cfm
Phil /PhilPrayForSurfblog.blogspot.com Yes, we've been checking out his site and some of his other work. I hope he saw our review ... he DESERVES the recognition for this. (We even stopped by to tell him so on our way back to the car after the show!) Without question, Carl Wilson sang the shit out of this song ... but Phil totally KILLED on it that night! (kk)
Kent,
I will try to get it to him ...
Phil
and then this ...
Kent,
Got a "Wow" reply from Philip Bardowell - Your note seemed to mean alot to him ...
Phil
Then he'll REALLY dig all the gushing we're doing over him today in Forgotten Hits!!! (lol) Thanks for passing our well-wishes along, Phil! (kk)
>>>Speaking of great surf music, we caught Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars at their local appearance here last night ... GREAT show and a good-sized crowd on hand. The band performed the best live version of "Darlin'" (the 1968 Beach Boys tune) I've EVER heard ... and that includes seeing The Beach Boys themselves perform it at least a dozen times!!! From here they're off to Texas where former Beach Boys Al Jardine and David Marks join the line-up. (Here in Chicago, Bob Greene took the stage, along with Al's son Matt Jardine, who handled most of the high falsetto vocals.) If you get a chance to see them before the summer's over, do so ... GREAT summertime music and a guaranteed night of Fun Fun Fun! (kk) Hi Kent - I was at the merchandise table off to the right of the stage. I am the drummer. Sorry we missed each other. Please put a great review on your website. That was Philip Bardowell who played with me, Matt, Gary, and Chris in the Beach Boys. We are off to Ft. Worth, TX to do a date featuring us, Dean, plus Al Jardine & David Marks. See you next time ... David Logeman The Surf City All Stars
Thanks so much, Kent. You were at the show last night? It would have been good to say hello. Did you talk to Dean or any of the other guys in the band? I thought that was one of the best shows of all the time I've been traveling with the band -- great setting, great weather, great crowd, great, long set. Maybe it could have benefited by cutting out "Little Honda," but ... Thank you again, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Bob Greene Yes, it would have been nice to say hello and meet ALL the guys in the band ... by the time I made it to the backstage area, it looked like everybody had pretty well cleared out. Hey, your rendition of "Little Honda" might not win you the "Male Vocalist of the Year" Award this year ... but it was a fun night of music ... and it always means SO much more when the band is having as much fun as the audience ... which was clearly the case the other night. Thoroughly enjoyed you guys and hope to catch you again! (kk)
HI EVERYONE! LAST NIGHT MY FAMILY AND I VENTURED OUT TO ELK GROVE VILLAGE, ILLINOIS, NEAR O'HARE AIRPORT IN CHICAGO, TO SEE DEAN TORRANCE AND THIS YEAR'S VERSION OF THE SURF CITY ALLSTARS. THE LAST TIME DEAN WAS IN THE CHICAGO AREA FOR A FREE CONCERT WAS 3 YEARS AGO. THAT CONCERT AND MANY OTHERS WAS CHRONICLED IN THE BOOK "WHEN WE GET TO SURF CITY" WRITTEN BY BOB GREENE. THE BOOK PRETTY MUCH TELLS THE STORY OF BOB GREENE TOURING AROUND THE COUNTRY SINGING AND BEFRIENDING DEAN TORRANCE AND HIS BACKUP GROUP THE SURF CITY ALL STARS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN THERE THAT NIGHT AND I HAD PROMISED THE FAMILY IF HE EVER GOT BACK TO THE WINDY CITY WE WOULD GO AGAIN. SO OFF WE WENT, LAWN CHAIRS IN HAND, AND GOT THERE AN HOUR AND A HALF EARLY. WE PLACED OUR CHAIRS IN THE 4TH ROW STAGE CENTER AND WATCHED THE GROUP MINUS DEAN RUN THROUGH SOME SOUND CHECKS DOING THE LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA. IT GOT ME IN THE MOOD FOR WHAT FOLLOWED, A 2 HOURS TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE THAT MADE ME FEEL LIKE IT WAS THE MID 60S AGAIN. TO BE SURE MR TORRANCE CAN STILL SING PRETTY GOOD BUT LIKE ALL OF US HE'S NOT QUITE THE SAME AS WE WERE WAY BACK WHEN. THIS YEAR'S VERSION OF THE SURF CITY ALLSTARS MORE THAN MADE UP FOR ANY OF THAT AND DEAN CERTAINLY HASN'T LOST HIS ABILITY TO ENTERTAIN AND HOST AND MAKE THE AUDIENCE FEEL RIGHT AT HOME. OF COURSE IT DIDNT HURT THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW FIVE YOUNG LADIES THREW BEACH BALLS IN THE AUDIENCE AND ONE OF THEM FOUND THEIR WAY INTO MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S ARMS. THE CROWD WAS TERRIFIC, MAYBE 1500 PEOPLE AT THIS FREE EVENT. THEY HAD LEFT AN AREA IN FRONT OF THE STAGE OPEN AND BEFORE LONG THE CROWD WAS BEING INVITED TO COME UP AND DANCE AND LOOKING AROUND I ACTUALLY FELT I WAS AT A LARGER VERSION OF HUGYFEST LOL. NOW ON TO THE MUSIC AND A SET LIST OF PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY PLAYED: DRAG CITY, THE LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA, SIDEWALK SURFIN, THE NEW GIRL IN SCHOOL, SURF CITY, LINDA AND, OF COURSE, DEAD MANS CURVE. THE BACK UP BAND INCLUDED SOME TERRIFIC VOICES INCLUDING MATT JARDINE, THE SON OF BEACH BOY AL JARDINE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO RECREATE THE SOUND OF THE BEACH BOYS WITH CLASSICS LIKE DO IT AGAIN, DARLIN, GOD ONLY KNOWS, GOOD VIBRATIONS, WOULDN'T IT BE NICE, SLOOP JOHN B, LITTLE DUECE COUPE, SURFIN SAFARI, SURFIN USA, 409, KOKOMO, DON'T WORRY BABY, IN MY ROOM, SURFER GIRL, HELP ME RHONDA, CALIFORNIA GIRLS, DANCE DANCE DANCE, DO YOU WANNA DANCE AND LITTLE HONDA (FEATURING BOB GREENE ON LEAD). THEY THREW IN A FEW MORE POP MUSIC CLASSICS LIKE LET'S DANCE AND MARGARITAVILLE AND THEN CLOSED THE SHOW WITH THE HELP OF THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT COMING ONSTAGE TO HELP SING FUN FUN FUN AND BARBARA ANN, A BEACH BOYS CLASSIC THAT, BY THE WAY, DEAN TORRANCE SANG LEAD ON. WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO SPEND A SUMMER NIGHT. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. IF ANY IF YOU EVER GET THE CHANCE TO SEE THIS SMALL SLICE OF 60S AMERICANA, DONT PASS IT UP. MARK GOHAWKSGO
It really WAS the perfect night for an outdoor concert ... and we haven't had a whole lot of these lately around here!!! (lol) Yeah, Dean's voice was off here and there but the other vocalists more than made up for any of those weaknesses ... these guys can SING!!! (Like I said earlier, their tenure touring with The Beach Boys certainly wasn't wasted!!!) I was a little bit disappointed that Dean DIDN'T sing "Barbara Ann" ... he let the crowd and the rest of the band (along with a wave of "guest vocalists") handle the lead instead. ("Barbara Ann" has become a bit of a Beach Boys Party Anthem these past twenty years or so ... damn those kids on "Full House"!!! lol) The thing is, "Barbara Ann" is as much associated with Dean as it is with The Beach Boys so it was a bit of a shame not to hear him take hold of that one. Other than that, though, I couldn't find much to complain about ... a GREAT show, a GREAT night, a GREAT crowd and some GREAT music. What more do you need??? (kk)
Here are The Surf City All-Stars (with Al Jardine) doing their version of The Beach Boys' Classic "California Girls"!
Thanks for that cool review of the Jan & Dean show with the Allstars. We had a great time. Thanks also for mentioning the LEGENDS OF SURF MUSIC line up. I am trying to promote them as much as possible. I am now in Atlanta to perform with David Marks at a club called Mike's Attic. We will have to meet next time I am in the area. Thanks again - David Logeman SURF CITY ALLSTARS LEGENDS OF SURF MUSIC Looking forward to it, David! (kk)
And, in OTHER "Surf News" ...
Kent,
Brian Wilson has released a new single, What Love Can Do - Sounds like a good song and a strong Brian Wilson production.
We've got some pretty wonderful and amazing people on the list ... and we are thankful for this fact each and every day ... thanks to some of these readers, we're able to share things with the rest of you that none of us might otherwise have seen or experienced in our lifetimes ... and that's just plain cool!!! (Seriously, where else on EARTH are you EVER gonna have the chance to see and hear some of this stuff?!?!? Don't believe me??? Then just check out some of these recent bits!) kk
re: PETER AND GORDON: >>>Larry does great covers. He did this one of "A World Without Love" today in memory of Gordon Waller. (David Lewis) Hi Kent, I was very sorry to learn of Gordon's passing. I saw both Gordon and Peter at a great performance they gave on Santa Monica Pier about two years ago. I did think Gordon looked tired and Peter had a sore throat but, as always, they were both perfect gentlemen and great performers. I loved Larry's rendition of World Without Love and especially his 12 string work. As the original guitarist on the recording, with a Vox Electric 12 String guitar, I compliment him. I have a story about the original session in my Book, 'Vic Flick Guitarman.' Very best wishes to you and all your readers. Attached is a picture of the actual Vox 12 string as heard on the Peter and Gordon recording of World Without Love. There's not many of these guitars about. Thought Larry might be interested, or maybe some of your readers. Cheers! Vic www.vicflick.com
How TOTALLY cool to have been part of these AMAZING sessions!!! And to SEE the actual instrument that played on the session ... UNREAL!!! Yes, I think Larry ... and ALL of our readers ... will enjoy this!!! Who'd have EVER thought that we'd not only be sharing a photo of the guitar that played on this Worldwide #1 Hit, but be talking with the guy who PLAYED it!!! We LOVE hearing your old war stories, Vic ... keep 'em coming!!! (kk)
Be sure to check out Vic's website ... and pick up a copy of his biography, too! You'll find all the information here: Click here: Vic Flick - The Official WebsiteExcellent! This is fantastic. And only on Forgotten Hits! David
I couldn't help but wonder about this very first Peter and Gordon session. I mean, let's face it ... they were virtual unknowns at the time ... who went into the studio for the very first time and cut an International #1 Record!!! I asked Vic to tell us a little bit about that session ... and the early days of Peter and Gordon.
FORGOTTEN HITS:Did you typically know in advance whose sessions you'd be playing on when you got the call to be at the studio?
VIC FLICK: Very seldom. Usually it was can you do 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at EMI, electric and banjo - or similar. We always had a trunk full of guitars and pedals etc. to be ready for anything.
FH: Peter and Gordon were really a brand new, start-up act at that point ... had you had any prior knowledge of these guys or their musical style?
VF: No idea at all what the session was for until I arrived. Always remember Peter and Gordon as two real nice guys who worked hard at what they did.
FH: Who made the decision to use the 12-string guitar on the "A World Without Love" session? Was there a particular sound they were going for on this record ... or was that something that YOU might have some input towards? And, if so, how would you even know to have a 12-string at that particular session? VF: The electric 12 string had come into fashion - and then disappeared like the Sitar after a few months - and I was specifically asked for the electric version as opposed to the acoustic. No input other than the few fills I made up on the spot.
FH: How often would you feel ... at the end of a recording date ... that you had created something magical? What was your original impression of this particular session? VF: Something magical, not too often. 'Gold Finger' with Shirley Bassey, 'Shout' with Lulu. 'It's Not Unusual' with Tom Jones, 'Trains And Boats And Planes' with Burt Bacharach to name only a few. But something good quite a few times. Impression of World Without Love was just a tuneful, folksy session. Nothing out of the ordinary. When I started hearing it all day and every day I knew something was happening. I still hear it today but mostly in Supermarkets.
FH: "A World Without Love" went on to become an International #1 Record ... but, as I said earlier, Peter and Gordon were virtually unknown at the time. Certainly, having Paul McCartney write their first hit helped ... and the fact that Paul was dating Peter's sister generated a fair amount of publicity at the time ... but this was TRULY a GREAT record ... and, without question, these guys were very talented. What was it like working with them? They must have been pretty "green" in the studio. Of course, Peter went on to produce a number of HUGE hit records in the years to come ... but what were they like back then? Did you do any other sessions with them? Perform on any of their other hits? Do any tours or television appearances? VF: It wasn't as obvious as other recordings that World Without Love was going to be an International hit. They were 'green' in the sense of studio work but I remember them being well prepared which didn't happen too often back in the 60s. The EMI A&R team were throwing many artists against the wall and seeing who would stick so some of the singers who later became stars (or not!) were very unprepared and a bit awestruck with the studio scene. Before backing tracks became prevalent this meant quite a few takes!
FH: We've concentrated mostly on Peter Asher here ... but most folks feel (Peter included!) that it was Gordon Waller who was the VOICE of the band. Certainly, we were all saddened to hear of his passing a few weeks ago. Any final thoughts or comments on Gordon? VF: To me, they were always Peter and Gordon. They had their separate characters, with Gordon being the more assured and outspoken and Peter sort of 'managing' in the back ground. I suppose that was a characteristic that led Peter to his position with Sony. I visited with them at their concert on Santa Monica Pier some time ago. Gordon looked tired and Peter's throat was bothering him but being always very professional, they did a great show. I was very saddened to learn of Gordon's passing. He was a real good guy and a great artist and entertainer. FH: Thanks, Vic ... I think this really helps to enhance the piece ... we just LOVE getting the "inside track" on some of these songs and artists!
VF: Many thanks for the opportunity to say a few things about the duo. Keep up the good work.
For some reason you did not give a mention to Bobby Rydell's version of A World Without Love, which was a top 20 hit in NYC. It is definitely done in over the top Rydell style but nevertheless is a good solid version of the song. MARK Actually, I think we talked about that in our first posting. Rydell's version charted here in Chicago, too, ultimately peaking at #10 on the WLS Chart. (Most of its chartrun it SHARED its position with the Peter and Gordon version, until that one became the obvious break-away hit.) No, it's not a bad version ... for a Bobby Rydell record ... but there's just NO comparison to the chart-topping hit. (We've featured Bobby's version here today for those folks around the country who DIDN'T get to hear it back in 1964 ... nationally, it topped out at #80.) kk
re: CAMEO / PARKWAY: Kent, I remember listening to Chubby Checker's "The Twist" when it was first released, and I probably heard it at a Friday Night dance, played by the DJ, or I might have heard it on my car radio, but wherever or whenever I heard it, I always liked it. The thing is, in those days I was paying more attention to my "Date Situation for Saturday Night" than I was to the technical quality of the songs I heard on the radio. I say that because, years later, after having done many recording sessions myself with Producers like Roger Christian and Richard Russell, Barry Friedman, Ray Thompson and other well known 'ears', I was listening to a CD I bought that had nothing but "Oldies" on it, and Chubby Checker's "THE TWIST" was one of the tracks. When I heard it this time I couldn't BELIEVE the technical quality of it ... there's something going on there with the mix of the Bass and the Drums, and ALL of the tracks, that in my humble opinion, puts that track at or near the top of my all time "Technical Sound Mix" favorites. Maybe it just 'represents' the sound of that time in my ears, I don't know, but when I listen to it now, I always think ... "what a powerful and noteworthy mix!!!". Today your newsletter included a story about how Cameo / Parkway owner Allen Klein locked up the original Master of that recording, and so Chubby had to re-cut it. That little known fact blows me away, and I'm hoping you or one of your readers can help me answer my question, "Which one am I listening to on my oldies CD? ... The ORIGINAL or Chubby's re-cut?" I don't understand why with today's technology, the "original" couldn't be duplicated somehow onto a CD from the "original" vinyl, but anyway, I'd sure like to hear the complete inside story about Chubby Checker's "THE TWIST". Maybe one of your readers can help me get more information on it. Thanks once again Kent for the 'brain candy' Forgotten Hits puts on my plate. This newsletter is fun to read and always full of great information. Rock On !!! Van Dorn Without hearing which version of "The Twist" you're referring to ... or knowing what oldies compilation you have that contains the track ... I'm guessing it's the REMAKE that's been blowing you away all these years ... simply because the REAL version hasn't been available. (Couldn't somebody have duped it from vinyl??? Yeah, sure ... but not LEGALLY ... Klein kept ALL those master locked up in the vault until the Cameo / Parkway CD Box Set release a few years ago. As such, the Bobby Rydell track mentioned in the previous email ... and ALL of Bobby's hits, for that matter ... weren't available either. You RARELY heard much Cameo / Parkway stuff on the radio (other than in Philly, from what I'm told) and Checker and several other artists on the label had to go in and record remakes of their biggest hits to get any airplay at all. (MOST of the CD reissues I've seen ... which include all of the Rhino and Joel Whitburn stuff ... CLEARLY note that the recording of "The Twist" contained on that compilation is a re-recording ... honestly, YOUR CD should, too!) How do you keep the ONLY record to reach #1 TWICE during The Rock Era out of the public's eye for 40 years?!?! Again, I will NEVER understand Klein's "Business Strategy" on THIS issue!!! (kk)
(That's the ORIGINAL smash hit that went to #1 TWICE on The Billboard Chart ... a feat never matched during The Rock Era.) re: THE SURVEYS: Did anyone else have problems clicking and enlarging this week's chart on the blog? All the others worked fine for me, as do the other pictures -- but when I click on the 1973 chart nothing happens ... David Lewis Ironically, I had troubles with the 1971 chart ... but the 1973 chart worked fine for me. In any event, we'll rerun it again, just in case ... hopefully, this one enlarges just fine. (kk)
It was on 7/29/66 that I picked up my very first WLS & WCFL surveys at some neighborhood TV & radio repair place. I had no idea that the decision I made that day would lead me down the path to where I am today. It would lead to the two of us meeting a dozen or so years later and it would begin a life long obsession with rock and roll music, radio & top 40 charts, that's still going strong as I just received a batch of WABC surveys in the mail today. Jack (Rock And Roll Never Forgets) I started collecting these a little earlier than you ... I remember when my brother and I would ride our bikes "into town" to the local record store ... right down the street from the drug store where we'd buy our comic books and sit at the soda fountain and order our "specialty" drinks like Cherry and Vanilla Cokes ... had to be the Summer of 1965 ... 'cause I remember going into the record shop and picking up a copy of that week's WLS Survey ('CFL wasn't playing Top 40 yet ... but I listened to them for the Sox games!!!) and trying to decide which one new single I was going to buy that week. I must have already been somewhat "chart-savvy by this point because I remember that on this particular week ... which is FOREVER imbedded in my mind ... I asked my brother, "Which songs on this list do you think will make it to #1" ... to which he replied "All of them." I couldn't help but laugh ... no, of course they wouldn't ALL get to #1 .. but even at the ripe old age of 11 I was already calculating and predicting which records were going to be the hits!!! How clear is that memory??? The 45 I decided to buy that day was "Sunshine, Lollipops And Roses" by Lesley Gore!!! And, practical, analytical ... (or is that anal) ... person that I am, I remember coming home, playing the record and thinking, "Man, I could have bought ANOTHER record instead ... for the SAME amount of money ... that would have lasted longer than a minute and fifty-five seconds!!!" Yeah, I'd say the memory is pretty clear!!! lol (kk)
re: THE FORGOTTEN HITS BOOK CLUB: BIG NEWS: My book "Fat Guys Shouldn't Be Dancing At Half Time" hits the book stores September 10. It's a tongue in cheek, semi-biographical look at Chicago sports over the last 40 plus years. Take this to the bank. You may love the read or hate it. But I guarantee you it will make you laugh and think. I welcome all arguments. Chet Coppock Host: Notre Dame Football WLS Radio Can't wait to read THIS one, Chet! More info (and a rundown of Chet's illustrious career) can be found on his website: Click here: ChetCoppock.com
Hey Kent -- Just finished reading Bob Greene's 1993 book "All Summer Long." I got it after hearing you talk about how good it was. I think we should update your resume. Let's put Literary Expert next to Music Expert. This was another great book, just like all the other Bob Greene books I've read. I'm going to start reading Bob's latest book, "Late Edition, A Love Story." I'll send you my review when I'm finished reading it. Frank B. Ah yes, yet another satisfied customer!!! (lol) Thanks, Frank ... sounds like SEVERAL folks on the list have been picking up copies of Bob's older works ... and TOTALLY lovin' 'em, too!!! (kk)
re: AND WE'RE INTO FILMS, TOO!: I just heard from Carolyn Travis that her EXCELLENT "History Of Rock And Roll Radio" Documentary "Airplay" will be making an appearance right here in Chicago at The Music Box Theater in September ... we'll keep you posted as we receive more details ... but this IS a "Must See" Film for fans of radio and the rock era. (We're hoping to be on hand for this very special showing ... and may even have a few tickets to give away to some of our local readers!!! Stay tuned!!!) kk
This just in from George Manney: Philly Pop Music - Pt. 1 Click the Link to view on YouTube here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Yhwsdbw1s "Philly Pop Music, The Lost Pioneers", profiles the extraordinary and diversified Philadelphia musical community with rare and unseen interviews, archive footage & photographs. Visit the officail website here:http://phillypopmusic.com/ Buy music here: http://www.cameoparkway.com/cameo.php http://www.sonymusic.com/ Seen in this clip are: Kenny Gamble, Sylvester Stallone, Chubby Checker, Joel Dorn (RIP) - Grammy award producer, Connie Francis, Charlie Gracie, The Orlons, Earl Young - (Baker, Harris & Young), Roger LaMay - WXPN G.M., Larry Magid - Electric Factor promoter, Pat Martino - Grammy nominated jazz guitarist, Michael Bacon, Dee Dee Sharp, Bunny Gibson - American Bandstand dancer, Nicky Blue - - American Bandstand dancer, Harvey Sheldon - Jewish American music historian, Joe Tarsi - Sigma Sound Studios founder / engineer, Weldon McDougal III, Barbara Mason, Grover Washington Jr., Lloyd Remick, Esq., The Soul Survivors and Tommy Conwell Philly Pop Music - Pt.2 Click the Link to view on YouTube here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpQFPa1P-mE "Philly Pop Music, The Lost Pioneers", profiles the extraordinary and diversified Philadelphia musical community with rare and unseen interviews, archive footage & photographs. A George Manney film. Visit the officail website here:http://phillypopmusic.com/ Seen is the clip are: Kenny Gamble, Kevin Bacon, Joe Sgro - session guitarist, Mummers, Beatles, James Dunn - Dreamlovers, Jay Proctor - Jay & Techniques, Albert Berry - The Tymes, Todd Rundgren, Frank Stallone, Rufus Harley, Odean Pope, Laurie Anderson, Charlie Gracie, Phillie Phanatic, Skip Denenberg, and Philly Cheese Steaks! -- George Manney LOTS of focus on the Philly Rock Era lately ... this film should fall right into that "Must See" category! (kk)
>>>The movie "My Dinner With Jimi" is a whole lot of fun if you're a fan of this era of music. Probably a bit hard to find as a rental (as it appeals to a very specific audience) ... but I know that it's available through Collectors' Choice and Amazon.com. As for Howard Kaylan, I have ALWAYS loved his music (Frannie and I are HUGE Turtles fans ... and I think Howard Kaylan's is one of the BEST, most over-looked and under-appreciated voices of the '60's). Just recently, Frannie and I were driving out somewhere when "You Baby" came on the radio ... of course we IMMEDIATELY began singing along with the record ... as we ALWAYS do ... and I wondered out loud if Howard Kaylan does the same thing when HE hears it come on the radio ... because, let's face it, EVERYONE else in the whole wide world sure does!!! Maybe he'll see this and drop us a line!!! (lol) kk Thanks for the kindness, Kent, especially your review of My Dinner With Jimi, which, indeed, is available from Amazon and elsewhere. If any one has a hankering to know what life was like in a sixties rock band, give it a view -- the cast is super cool and guys like John Corbett and George Wendt add a screen cred that I certainly don't possess.As for our record, You Baby ... no, I don't sing along whenever I hear it on the radio, but I sing everyone else's songs ... you gotta be a fan of the music first ... then you can make your own. Thanks for keeping the home fires burning, sir. Howard Kaylan
re: NOW THAT'S PERFECT: We've been receiving quite a bit of mail for our 1969 Memories Series ... and more than a few of them mention the Cubs / Mets battle that dominated the baseball scene that year. (We could use a couple more from The Mets perspective, New Yorkers!!!) It certainly has stirred up some Chicagoland baseball memories ... and all of this right on the heels of Mark Buehrle pitching a PERFECT game for The Chicago White Sox, which REALLY had our town jumping for joy this past week. In case you missed it, here's Buehrle's appearance on The David Letterman Show, counting down "The Top Ten Things That Went Through His Mind While He Was Pitching His Perfect Game": Click here: YouTube - Letterman - Mark Buehrle Top Ten List
re: MORE MICHAEL: Where does it end?!?!?Five and a half weeks later ... and you STILL can't turn on the TV without seeing Michael Jackson on virtually every channel!!! Amazing. I wonder ... with the anniversary of Elvis' death right around the corner ... how much coverage The King Of Rock And Roll will get in light of all this focus on The King Of Pop lately. BOTH of these deaths expose the need to better-regulate the ability of doctors riding on the coat-tails of their celebrity patients to be able to over-prescribe medication in MASSIVE excess to these celebrity patients. One good point raised this past week ... why would ANY physician so captivated by this "dream gig" want to risk killing their meal ticket??? Jackson's doctor was being paid $150,000 a month to be available for 24/7, round-the-clock care. Now he's facing criminal charges ... and his medical career is over. Elvis' Dr. Nick was known as the "Doctor of the Stars" ... meaning his reputation was such that artists who wanted (or needed) an abundance of drugs knew that HE was the guy who could get them for them. How is this ANY different than any junkie drug dealer on the street? NOBODY noticed this extreme behavior or felt a need to investigate? And why are THESE addicts and junkies elevated above the law simply because of their celebrity? Role models??? I don't think so. (kk)
Here's a GREAT Michael Jackson quote I came across this past week ... it is attributed to Egberto Willies, who was interviewed by CNN shortly after Jackson's death: I grew up ... on Michael Jackson I loved ... Michael Jackson I hated ... Michael Jackson I admired ... Michael Jackson I was ashamed ... of Michael Jackson I was sorry ... for Michael Jackson I was proud ... of Michael Jackson Pretty much describes EXACTLY how I feel about Michael ... his death may have flooded the media with all this non-stop coverage ... but it has also served to remind us just what an amazing talent he truly was. Lots more will be written about Michael Jackson ... his habits, his addictions, his eccentricities, the circumstances surrounding his death ... we're sure to hear HUNDREDS of variations of the story, all giving us little bits and pieces about the man ... but despite all the speculation and opinion, we will NEVER know the true inner turmoil that WAS Michael Jackson. He was in a league of his own ... and truly lived a crazy life in his own crazy world. We as observers can only draw our own conclusions ... but you can't take away the music that he gave us ... for nearly 40 years, he was in our lives, for better or for worse. Most of the time, he entertained us ... some of the time he baffled and / or angered us ... but ALL of the time he made us stand up and take notice. How big might this tour have been? Who knows. Knowing what we now know about his medical condition, could he EVER have gotten himself in the shape necessary to complete it? In hindsight, that seems impossible ... odds are inside of the "ultimate comeback" he was aiming for, this would have been his final failure. Sadly, we'll never know. Instead, he goes out surrounded by controversy and "what if's" ... which is pretty much the way he lived his life anyway. In that sense ... and especially because of the music ... he will always be with us. (kk)
Can you narrow it down to one moment that catapulted Michael into the showbusiness stratosphere? Certainly, he was successful BEFORE the "Thriller" album ... he enjoyed several years of mega-success with his brothers as The Jackson Five and The Jacksons, called by some in the media "The Black Beatles" ... and had already scored three #1 records with his teeny-bopper solo hits "Got To Be There", "Rockin' Robin" and "Ben". His "Off The Wall" album proved that Michael could compete on the "adult" level, with four Top Ten Hits: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (#1), Rock With You (#1), Off The Wall (#10) and She's Out Of My Life (#10) ... and, without question, "Thriller" became the Album of the Century ... almost a Greatest Hits collection BEFORE the fact!!! But if you had to break it down to exactly one moment ... then it HAD to be his performance at the Motown 25th Anniversary television special. From the opening beat of "Billie Jean" through all of the flash, spins and moonwalk, Michael captivated the world in that four minute performance. From that moment forward, it would never be the same. Life, as he knew it, was gone forever. (kk) re: AL STEWART: FIRST ... I do great compilations ... it's been suggested I do movie soundtracks ... I was listening to an older one today ... and several AL STEWART songs were included ... Not the 'hits' ... but several selections from a great, great album ... MODERN TIMES ... it's poetry! If anyone can get the word to AL ... let him know the album holds up and still 'kicks ass' ... I recommend either listening or buying ... IT'S SOME OF HIS BEST WORK ... (ok ... it IS his best) ... RENFIELD www.RIPRenfield.com I love Al's earliest works ... both "The Year Of The Cat" and "Time Passages" are GREAT examples of "listen-all-the-way-through" albums, a rarity these days when you can program your CD player to only play the tracks you want to hear or download single songs online. Al is still recording AND performing. His entire album catalog seems to be available, too, through Amazon.com (judging by his website ... which gives you ALL the latest information): Click here: al stewart online Click here: http://www.alstewart.com/news/concerts.htm Listening back to these LPs now you can really hear the Alan Parsons influence on some of these tracks, ANOTHER under-rated artist who turned out some INCREDIBLE work a few years back. We've got back-to-back "Time" Tracks for you today ... "Time Passages" by Al Stewart, a Top Ten Pop Hit from 1978 that also topped Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart for an incredible TEN WEEKS ... and "Time", one of my all-time favorites by The Alan Parsons Project, featuring the incredible vocals of Eric Woolfson. This one hit #14 in Cash Box in 1981. (kk)
re: ANOTHER FUN VIDEO: Hey Kent, I just found this & had a great laugh at the humor & creativity, enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Psfn6iOfS8&NR=1&feature=fvwp (For those few not familiar with AutoTune, it is an audio effect, first associated with Cher's hit {circa 1998} "Do You Believe", and currently being {over} used in pop & R&B) Alan O'Day Pretty well done ... although politically incorrect on SO many levels!!! (lol) Then again, perhaps more of this type of "treatment" might inspire some of us to actually listen to what some of these folks are saying!!! Thanks, Alan! (kk)
Kent: So cool to see Eric Carmen's "Make Me Lose Control" video ... always one of my favorite songs AND videos. I always told my ex-girlfriend P.M. Esther that I wish I had hair like Eric Carmen back then or John Lodge of the Moody Blues. She said that if I had hair like that, I'd be GAY!!! I don't think so ... especially after turning 60 years old, I'm just happy to have hair PERIOD!!! Great column, keep it coming brother, Wild Bill Yeah, Carmen's hair is pretty wild in this clip ... an out-and-out MANE of hair!!! Speaking of cheezy '70's videos, here's one of MY all-time favorites again ... we run this one every so often in Forgotten Hits ... the scariest part of all is that you know they were 100% Serious when they made this clip!!! (lol) kk Click here: YouTube - Apache (Tommy Seebach)
re: HELPING OUT OUR READERS: Good to hear The Buckinghams' version of "I'll Go Crazy" the other day. If I remember correctly, didn't The Shadows of Knight cover it on one of their LPs, too?And I do remember as a kid Bocky & the Visions covering it on "Where The Action Is" back in the 60s ... Scott Levison Pinellas Park, FL Bocky and the Visions?!?!? Sorry, I can't tell you much about THESE guys!!! (lol) As for The Shadows Of Knight, it wasn't included on their "Gloria" LP ... so if they did it, they would have had to have covered it later. (A "pop group" rendition of a James Brown song just didn't seem like that likely of an occurrence ... especially to happen TWICE ... but who knows!!! Back then, all the local groups knew what the other acts in town were doing ... and which songs were going over well. MOST of these guys were covering British stuff ... as The Shadows themselves did with "Gloria" ... (Get it?!?!? THEMselves?!?!?)kk
Thought you would be interested in this and please know that we will continue to actively pursue the crooks who are at the heart of it. Not like any of us is making anything anyway, but it just irritates the Hades out of me that bootlegging has even reached the New Colony Six. Feel free to beat on anybody’s head with me if you like, but please not Maryann Hutchison, who is the original eBay seller (this time – there have been others too, which surfaced through the diligence of Jerry Schollenberger. I figured this would all go away but now has only multiplied internationally – despicable!) but now has not only pulled her auction but is also helping me try to track down the criminals who are violating us and, I’m certain, fellow artists. Kent, feel free to pass the word; maybe if enough list members get up in arms and write these folks and the others who surely will surface, at least our rights, if not those of our sisters and brother in music, will be protected. Ray Graffia, Jr. The New Colony Six I, too, thought this had pretty much gone away ... but Ray is noticeably (and understandably) angry about this ... here is a copy of some correspondence pertaining to this bootleg release currently being pedalled on eBay: Neil Patte, President Continental Records Company Ltd. Neil: It was recently brought to my attention that a bootleg / pirate CD was being sold on eBay, theoretically put out by Raven Records, an Aussie firm – but actually not by them at all. As a founding member of the New Colony Six and still fronting the band in our limited appearances each summer now since 1988, I know of the seven legitimate CD compilations that have been released on our music worldwide and this product is not among them. I investigated and corresponded with the eBay seller who agreed to remove it from sale and has done so. However, and this is where you fit into the picture, she went beyond that, giving me the name of the person from whom she purchased the CDs (see his name below and note that I have already tried to contact Walter by e-mail) and then also searching for other sellers of the same CD. In her search (look closer to the bottom of this transmittal), she pointed at you as another source for the CDs. (See the CD in question in the first note below) I want to get to the originating source of this and have distribution of the illegal product ceased and try to secure all unpaid royalties. If you are this source, I respectfully ask you to stop; if you are not, please tell me your source. You must know how artists are ripped off so I truly pray you are not involved, and hope you can help me get to the perpetrator(s) and stop them. Please respond so that I can continue my pursuit of justice relative to the release below and please help me stop its sale and preserve the integrity of our music and its distribution to the public. Thank you very much, Ray Graffia, Jr., founding member New Colony Six P.S. Failing to hear back from you in writing soon will lead to my presumption of your participation in this illegal activity and I will take any and all additional legal actions as can be taken. Good luck with this, Ray ... please keep us posted. Meanwhile, this just proves AGAIN that the market is ripe for an updated New Colony Six collection. Looking over the track list on this bogus CD is a pretty good start ... most of the A-Sides and B-Sides are here ... but fans deserve to hear updated copies of the latter day singles, too ... THOSE are the ones that are virtually impossible to find. Again, we appeal to some of the label honchos on our list to consider assembling a COMPLETE New Colony Six Greatest Hits selection ... the fans are out there ... and willing to buy an inferior (and illegal) compilation just to fill in the holes in their collection! SOMEBODY needs to jump on this opportunity!!! (kk)
re: OLDIES RADIO: Dear Kent: Got a great phone interview coming up on "The Pop Shoppe" ... Friday night, August 7th, at 9:30 PM Jim Yester of the Association Should prove to be quite interesting. Stu Weiss www.topshelfoldies.com
I've just posted my latest radio interview show, which I did with a singer - entertainer who has been at it for over 60 years! In the United States he had about 40 nationally-charted singles and 24 nationally-charted albums. And in 1972 he achieved additional fame by portraying a very well-known character (a singer) in a blockbuster motion picture. The man is Al Martino. He hit #1 with his very first released recording that came out on a tiny label based in Philadelphia: that was "Here In My Heart" and the label was B.B.S. Many people who started following pop music with the dawn of the rock era or later first became aware of Al when they heard "I Love You Because." That one made it to #3 on the chart and was the first of many, many more hits to come. What is amazing about Al, apart from his raw singing talent, is his versatility. "Here In My Heart" had a big band sound. "I Love You Because" had a country sound. Later on he even had a hit disco single with his version of "Volare" and sounded natural doing it! He assured me that he has no intention of retiring! Oh yes, there's that one other thing that I must mention before listing the tracks on this show. "Johnny Fontane." Al played the role of singer Johnny in the blockbuster Oscar-winning Best Picture from 1972 called "The Godfather." Who can forget that scene in which Marlon Brando gives Al a good tongue lashing and slaps him? Well, just in case you did forget, I'll remind you because I've included it in this show, along with Al's interesting comment about that particular scene. It really surprised me. Al is truly a winner and this show was one of the most special ones that I have ever done. Here's a sequential list of the recordings (plus the film audio clip) in this one hour show plus the two bonus tracks. All the recordings are by Al Martino. I Love You Because (excerpt); Here In My Heart; I Can't Get You Out Of My Heart; I Love You Because (complete); Painted, Tainted Rose; Living A Lie; I Love You More And More Every Day; Tears And Roses; Daddy's Little Girl; Spanish Eyes; audio clip from "The Godfather" -- Al Martino and Marlon Brando; I Have But One Heart [Al sang this during the wedding portion of "The Godfather]; Mary In The Morning; To The Door Of The Sun (Alle Porte Del Sole); Volare; Lili Marlene; T Granada; Dear Heart To access this Al Martino radio interview show or any of my previous ones, please visit the "Jersey Girls Sing" website at http://www.jerseygirlssing.com When that home page comes up, please click the "Ronnie Allen Theater" (the name has a yellow background) in the picture on the right-hand side. That will bring you to my index page. Please click on "Ronnie's Radio Page" and you will then be able to access the Al Martino (the first one listed under the blue heading "Current Radio Interview Shows") or any of my previous ones, which are listed in reverse chronological order. Ronnie Allen Happy to pass this along. As I'm sure you already know, Forgotten Hits was one of the VERY first sources to break Al's most recent recording ... which ALSO has a bit of a country flavor to it. Last time we spoke, he said he was trying to put together an album deal ... not bad for a kid of 81!!! (lol) Hope some of you will get a chance to tune in and listen. (kk)
Hi Kent, Just thought I'd pass this little article on. It really shows just how badly radio blew it with this generation. This article shows how my kids get their music suggestions. Just seems like a lot of work, though. Bill http://www.surfnetkids.com/social_music.htm Without question, the golden days of listening to the radio are behind us ... we keep talking about the "Ipod Society" that can carry their 10,000 favorite songs around with them wherever they go ... listen to exactly WHAT they want, WHEN they want ... without commercials or repetition. Why on earth ANY programmer believes that he can compete with that with a playlist of 200-300 songs is beyond me. Artie Wayne brought up a good point the other day when we were talking ... he told me that he's virtually given up on listening to oldies radio anymore because he has literally heard it all before. Certainly that's a true statement for ALL of us ... why don't the jocks and programmers realize that it's what you DO with the music ... how you present it ... how much affection you show for it ... that will keep listeners tuning in. Let's face it, if I want to hear The Beatles, I can put The Beatles on whenever I want ... ALL of their stuff is committed to memory ANYWAY ... I don't NEED to hear a Beatles song today (because there's probably already half a dozen of them playing in my head anyway!!!) Give us a REASON to tune in and enjoy these songs again and we'll come in droves!!! Entertain us ... enlighten and educate us ... draw us in through some means of participation ... allow us to SHARE in these memories (like we do right here in Forgotten Hits) and all of a sudden you've got a HUGE Hit Oldies Station on your hands!!! Stop chasing the EXACT same demographic every OTHER radio station in town is chasing ... cater some of your programming to the kids just discovering this music for the very first time ... and some of the older folks who were there and HAVEN'T forgotten about all of the OTHER great songs you don't bother to play anymore. Expand your horizons and you'll let EVERYBODY in!!! (kk)
Kent, One of the biggest business opportunities in America today is being largely ignored. Let me explain with a couple of examples: Both of my kids are in the upper 20s to 30 age range. Both live in distant cities where Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel can be heard, and both listen to it regularly. (Too bad the Nashville radio market is so messed up that no one will bring it here where Scott spent his best years) It's an interesting feeling when I hop in my daughter's soccer mom van and hear TOC when I turn the key. Here's a clip from a recent message from my son: Trying to figure out how it's possible that True Oldies is playing Eddie Money's "Take Me Home Tonight" from 1986. Is it because the song features Ronnie Spector who had a career during the actual oldies era, and therefore the song passes as an oldie?? Another example:My wife was shopping in a retail store recently where a great mix of oldies was playing over the PA. She noticed the songs weren't the standard 200 worn down oldies, but included some lesser heard gems. At the checkout she remarked to the 18 year old clerk that she enjoyed the music they were playing. The young lady replied that she loved all the new music she was hearing while she worked and wished she could hear more of it. We've gone on and on with this topic on FH, so I won't add my own comments. These stories stand on their own. David Lewis It's called "Radio With Blinders On" ... tunnel-vision programming that has turned many of the REAL oldies fans away. Unfortunately ... or fortunately, depending how you look at it ... the oldies ratings are very good right now ... proving that there IS a market for this music ... and that new people are discovering it every day. Now if they would only allow these "new" fans the opportunity to expand their horizons a little bit before THEY burn out on it, too. Instead, we are pre-programming radio drones ... ten years from now, if the market exists at all anymore, those 200-300 songs will likely be the ONLY representation of this entire musical era. How sad. (The rest of us may wish to be buried with our ipods!!! lol) kk
re: AND MORE OLDIES FUN: It's that time of year again. Time for the eleventh OldiesMusic.com Labor Day 500. (For anyone from outside America, Labor Day is a U.S. holiday that pays tribute to the average working man. It's the first Monday in September).We do it now every other year, so this is our first since 2007. Previous winners have included "Hey Jude," "Rock Around The Clock,""Satisfaction," "American Pie" and "In The Still Of The Night," though the Beatles' classic has won five of the eleven years. Participants are asked to vote for their ten favorite oldies singles in order from the decades of the '50s, '60s or '70s (songs must have made the Billboard Hot 100 chart or its predecessors though Oldies Music reserves the right to allow classic R&B tunes such as "Bo Diddley" to appear). Participants can only vote once. Anyone voting more than once will have all their ballots disqualified. The deadline for voting is Saturday,August 29 with the results available the following (Labor Day) weekend.Those who request it will receive a copy of the top 500 list when it comes out. To vote or see winners from past years (including some interesting trendanalyses), go to: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/500.htm. -- Ron Smith
re: WE DON'T CARE WHEN YOU READ IT ... AS LONG AS YOU READ IT!!!: Hi Kent - I'm one of those folks who 'tune in on Sunday' ... but it's always a great read. And really helps with the 'limited down-time' thingee us working stiffs have to go through. Always a good read, and a nice diversion from 'day-to-day' life ... You fucking rawk, Kent! Joshing aside, that was pretty cool, bud. Todd
Kent ~ I'm an 'every Sunday' reader and can't find the words to properly express my thanks for all you do to put this together for us. So, simply said ... from the heart ... Thank You!! Linette (Red) Thanks, Linette, that means a lot! (kk)
I read EVERY word ... EVERY day ... NEVER miss an issue ... have LOVED what you do for the past eight or nine years now (no, I'm not one of the infamous "First 35" ... but I joined the list pretty early on!) I wish you could have found a way to earn a living and make a career out of what you do ... your passion shines through in every word you write ... and you deserve recognition for all you've done to keep this music alive. Please don't ever stop writing Forgotten Hits ... pace yourself if you need to ... but we look forward to everything you send. Here's to another ten years! Bob Michels Thanks, Bob! Glad to hear you've stuck with us all these years! Like I've said before, FAR too much effort goes into pulling all of this stuff together for it NOT to be read or deleted. All we ask is that you visit the website when you can ... read the pieces that interest you ... and comment from time to time ... not so much to let us know how "great" we're doing as much as simply to let us know that you're still out there!!! I believe there's something for EVERYBODY that can be found in Forgotten Hits ... and your participation only helps to make it all that much more interesting and enlightening!!! To ALL our readers, Thank You for your continued support! (kk)
re: 1969: We ran our first batch of 1969 memories yesterday ... (scroll down and read it if you haven't seen it yet!!!) ... and there's LOTS more to come. We'll be slipping these special 1969 features in throughout the month of August, so please share YOUR memories with us, too! Next week we'll have special reminisces about The Beatles, The Moon Landing and "Hair", the musical. Send us your thoughts and memories ... and we'll share them with the list! Thank You! (kk)
