re: LITTLE RICHARD ON THE MEND:
Little Richard underwent hip surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville November 6. He is currently undergoing physical therapy and asked for prayers from his fans for a quick and full recovery. A spokesperson for Richard said fans should "get ready to rock 'n' roll with him in the new year because he's coming back strong."
-- Ron Smith
re: OTHER ROCKERS:
Rocker CHARLIE GRACIE met backstage with Rock Legend RAY DAVIES of THE KINKS at his Tower Theater Concert - Saturday, Nov. 21st. Ray and his brother Dave are long time fan of Charlie's, dating back to the 1950s when Charlie became the first SOLO U.S. ROCKER to tour the United Kingdom ... and Ray actually included Gracie in the telling and performing of his musical autobiography.
In fact, CHARLIE GRACIE and his wife Joanie were invited guests of the British Rock Icon, who performed in Philly as part of a big East Coast tour last night.
Charlie discussed the possibility of having Ray join a long list of artists already contributing to his new cd. That makes Ray a possible addition to Charlie's upcoming cd release in 2010 which already includes: Graham Nash, Peter Noone, Al Kooper, Keb Mo and more!
-- Charlie Gracie, Jr.
Hello KK ...
Happy Anniversary & Happy Bird Day.
I want to talk about Marty Robbins. I always liked his music. I just watched the DVD Marty Robbins Music Anthology. I now think he is vastly underrated. He plays guitar & piano. Writes music & books. He also did some acting. Lets concentrate on his music . Marty sings Country, Rock-n-Roll, R&B, Gospel. He even recorded 2 Albums of Hawaiian Music. He died at 57, during a Heart Operation. I'd like to know what you & your readers think of Marty Robbins.
Frank B.
In addition to placing nearly 100 songs on Billboard's Country Music Chart, Marty also had several cross-over hits in the late '50's and early '60's, most notably the chart-topping "El Paso" and The Top Three Hits "A White Sport Coat And A Pink Carnation" (1957) and "Don't Worry" (1961). Marty hit Billboard's Pop Top 40 a total of 13 times. Other hits included his version of the #1 Guy Mitchell Hit "Singing The Blues" (#26, 1956); "Big Iron" (also #26, 1960); "Ballad Of The Alamo" (from the John Wayne film, #34, 1960); "Devil Woman" (#16, 1962) and "Ruby Ann" (#18, 1962). His last pop hit just missed The Top 40 when "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife" peaked at #42. Personally, I'm just a "casual" fan ... but I'm guessing that some of our list members could rattle off some astounding facts on Marty Robbins. Let's see what comes back! Thanks, Frank! (kk)
re: AND THIS SAD NEWS:
Just lifted this bit of sad news from Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com web page ... about Linda Laurie, whose novelty hit "Ambrose (Part 5)" we recently featured in Forgotten Hits:
Linda Laurie, singer / songwriter best known for the novelty hit "Ambrose (Part 5)," died Thursday (November 19) from cancer at a hospital in Santa Barbara, California. She was 68. Linda (whose real last name was Gertz) was a senior at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn when she recorded "Ambrose," providing both her voice and the caustic title character, who constantly replied, "Just keep walking." Linda had already recorded with her friend Linda Yellin as the Knott Sisters in 1958 -- "Sunglasses" on Big Top Records failed to chart. And "Ambrose"? "It was just a party routine I used to do to amuse my friends. We played around with the idea of making some records of the routine and made a few tapes." Ambrose, by the way, was the name of her rag doll. Picked up by Glory Records in late 1958, the song made it to #52 early the next year. While there were no Parts 1 through 4 (though an instrumental version was released by the Hal McKusick Quartet), there was a "Forever Ambrose" follow-up. That, and her song "Jose, He Say," both missed the charts, as did more serious songs like "Prince Charming." After attending New York University, Linda became a songwriter, most notably composing the Helen Reddy hit "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)". She also wrote the title song for the original Saturday morning TV version of "Land Of The Lost." It was reprised for the Will Farrell movie this year.
Here's a recap of our recent piece on "Ambrose", which also features a link to Linda's appearance on the "To Tell The Truth" television program:
'60's FLASHBACK:
Kent -- I dimly recall a song I believe was titled "Ambrose, Part 2" and I want to say it was sung by Sue Thompson. But in surfing the web, I couldn't find it. It was funny in a macabre way as the female singer keeps asking why they are walking in a dark place and the man just keeps saying "just keep walkin". I recall it was only played a few times on Chicago radio and then quickly disappeared either because no one liked it or because it was so demented. Can you provide any clues on this one? Steve Davidson
It was actually called "Ambrose, Part 5", a novelty hit that was done by Linda Laurie, and became a #46 Cash Box Hit, #52 Billboard Hit and a #36 Hit here in Chicago on the old WJJD Chart in those pre-rock-and-roll-WLS days. It's a CLASSIC novelty track that gets a VERY rare spin on the radio now and again (unless, of course, you happen to be listening to "The Dr. Demento Show", where it's been a favorite for DECADES!!!) Linda Laurie's real name is Linda Gertz, but under her stage name, she went on to write The Top Three Helen Reddy hit "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" many years later. According to Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles" book, she ALSO sang the theme to the popular Saturday morning television series "Land Of The Lost." Linda was still a high school student when she began writing and recording demonstration records ... and, when "Ambrose Part 5" was released as a single, her OWN recording career started to take off. Incredibly, that's her doing BOTH parts on the record ... playing the part of the girl AND her boyfriend!!! (Nope ... contrary to what you may have heard, it wasn't Hugh Downs OR Rod McKuen ... they did their little voice contributions to Betty Johnson's "Little Blue Man" and Bob McFadden and Dor's "The Mummy"!!!) As to why it was called "Ambrose Part 5" ... and what happened to Ambose Parts 1 thru 4, Linda explained at the time, "Well, we were working backwards!!!" The truth is, there ARE no other "prequels" or "sequels" ... Ambrose, Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 do not exist ... but there WAS a follow-up record called "Forever Ambrose" that never charted. We found a VERY rare clip of Linda on the TV Show "To Tell The Truth" ... where she was there both as a contestant and to promote her new record ... and she ultimately went on to stump half the panelists! (lol) In fact, watch closely and you'll even hear her DO that low "Ambrose voice" at the end of this clip: Click here: YouTube - Linda Laurie on "To Tell the Truth" (kk)
re: ON THE RADIO:
With SO many former Clear Channel employees on the mailing list, I just HAD to run this latest radio blurb, submitted by John Rook:
Radio in the immediate days ahead ... read this:
Clear Channel’s Frightening Plan
re: AND NEW BOOKS:
Kent ... This is the beginning of a new series NEW BOOKS THAT ROCK! Today featuring “THE PIED PIPER OF WOODSTOCK” by songwriter/ producer Artie Kornfeld and “SH-BOOM” by Disc Jockey Clay Cole. http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/pied-piper-of-woodstock-and-sh-boom-two-new-books-that-rock/
Regards,
Artie Wayne
... and speaking of new books ...
re: JOEL WHITBURN / RECORD RESEARCH:
We've been promoting a couple of recent interviews with Record Research / Billboard Chart Expert Joel Whitburn lately ... and mentioned that a brand new edition of his Top 40 Pop book will soon be in bookstores everywhere ... but the truth is, the new project that we were EXTREMELY excited to hear about is a new book that Joel is working on spotlighting some of the local and regional hits that many of us music fans fondly remember ... records that we heard growing up in a particular part of the country but that never received enough national airplay or momentum to make much of an impression on The Billboard Charts. Many of these showed up in the "Bubbling Under" category ... and, as most of you know by now, THOSE titles can now be found listed in Joel's latest "Top Pop Singles" volume. But we wanted to know more about this new, regional research. (One of our most popular features these past couple of years has been a little thing we call "Show Me Your Hits" ... where readers write in and share some of the songs that were HUGE, Top Ten Hits when and where THEY were growing up, but were virtually ignored by the rest of the country ... in fact, we'd LOVE to put together another series of these if you guys are willing to send us some great, lost tracks!!!) I asked Joel about his latest project (kk):
Hi Kent,
Many thanks for plugging my recent interviews. Your interest and help is much appreciated. I’m sending you a sampling of the “Breakout” artists from just a few of the more than 30 markets that Billboard surveyed beginning on January 9, 1961. Perfect timing for this feature, as the 60s decade featured many local garage bands, doo-wop groups, girl groups, instrumental bands and Northern Soul music. These artists and songs will be displayed in my next edition of “Top Pop Singles”.
In the 50s, Billboard published Top 10 surveys from all of the major markets. I have researched all of these charts and will include in my book anything that did not make the main pop charts.
Shown as “Territorial Best Sellers”, included will be 50s artists such as The Bon Bons, Billy Brooks, Bobby Charles, The Commanders, The Commodores (not the Lionel Richie group), The Delroys, Willie Dixon, The Five Strings, The Four Fellows, Big Boy Groves, Robbin Hood, Bill Kenny (Ink Spots), The Medallions, The Native Boys, The Nutmegs, Red Prysock, The Ravens, Jack Scott (on ABC-Paramount), Warren Smith, The Three Haircuts (guess who they are?),The Tracey Twins, Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires and The Wrens.
That’s about all I can show you right now. I’ve got a good year’s worth of research work in front of me and I’ll keep you posted as to what it’s all going to include.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your readers!!
Joel Whitburn
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, too, Joel!!!
I just LOVE the fact that, even after 40 years, you're STILL coming up with new and innovative ways of bringing us this chart information!!!
Even though the charts are now a part of history and permanently etched in stone, over the last several years The Record Research Books have added features like The B-Side to Every Charted Record, The "Bubbling Under" Charts (now incorporated into The Pop Singles Book), The "Classics" ... songs long-associated with the artist that for one reason or another didn't chart on Billboard's Hot 100 ... expanded biographies ... copies of original advertisements and record reviews run in Billboard Magazine way back when ... SO many new features to help to keep us record fact geeks satisfied ... and still keep us coming back for more! (Personally, I'm waiting for the book showing all 18,000 Picture Sleeves in your collection!!! AMAZING!!!!!)
Thanks for filling in some of the details on this new project ... can't wait to get my copy!
Continued success to you, Joel ... we've been enjoying the fruits of your efforts for over 40 years now!!! (kk)
Here's just a short sample of what we can expect in this new edition, courtesy of Joel Whitburn:
BREAKOUTS BY MARKET:
These artists did not make Billboard’s Hot 100 or Bubbling Under charts. They did, however, hit Billboard’s “Breakout Singles” chart. Listed first is the city (or market) where an artist made their first appearance as a “Breakout”. We will show bios with group member names and their city and state of origin, although most are from the “Breakout” city. This is just a small sampling of the hundreds upon hundreds of new artists and songs that will appear in the next edition of “Top Pop Singles”with full chart information as follows:
CITATIONS, The
Garage/surf band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Ted Kasper (lead guitar), David Gustin (rhythm guitar), Joe Halser (bass) and Tom Lamanchek (drums).
5/4/63 Breakout / 1 wk. Moon Race……[I]…..[Milwaukee]…..Slippin’ & Slidin’…….Sara 3301 ... released in August 1963 on Epic 9603; written by Ted Kasper (2:12)
Here is a small sampling of “Breakout” artists from a few of the markets surveyed:
BALTIMORE … The Jolly Jacks / The Telstars / Lue Cazz / Dotty Daniels
BIRMINGHAM … The Distortions
BOSTON … The Avons
BUFFALO … The Raging Storms
CHICAGO … The Buttons / The Cardigans / The Exports / The Livers / Junior Wells / Johnny Cooper
CLEVELAND … Dick Whittington’s Cats / Ivan & The Sabers / The Pussycats / Selective Service / The Springers
DALLAS … Floyd Dakil Combo / Scotty McKay / Clay Cole
DETROIT … The Companions / The Concords / The Escorts / The Rockin’ Ramrods / The Southbound Freeway / The Underdogs / Unrelated Segments
HARTFORD … Sam Kimble / The Roller Coasters
HOUSTON … C.L. & The Pictures / Neal Ford & The Fanatics / Gaylan Ladd / The Nightcaps / Tippie & The Clovers
LOS ANGELES … The Belairs / Manuel & The Renegades / The Surfmen / The Uptones
MEMPHIS … The Guilloteens / The Scepters / Homer Banks
MIAMI … The Golliwogs (pre-Creedence) / The K-Otics
MILWAUKEE … The Citations / The Legends / Paul Steffan & The Royal Lancers / Paul Steffen & The Apollos
MINNEAPOLIS / ST.PAUL … The Chancellors / Gregory Dee & The Avanties / The Del Counts / The Do’s & The Don’ts / The Electras / The High Spirits / The Stillroven / The Underbeats
NEW ORLEANS … The Stokes
NEW YORK … The Del Satins / The Dreamers / The Five Discs / The Latin Quarters / Marci & The Mates / The Rubies / The Visuals / The West Siders
PHILADELPHIA … The Cobras / Eddie & The Starlites / The Exceptions / The Philadelphians / The Volcanos / Billy & The Essentials
PITTSBURGH … The Fenways / The Roosters / The Tammys
ST. LOUIS … Patty McCoy & The Renegades / Hal Blaine & The Young Cougars
SAN FRANCISCO … Frankie Anthony
SEATTLE … Boot Dog Pefferly & The Loafers / The Redwoods / The Sonics / Van Doren
WASHINGTON, D.C …. Pearlean Gray / The Hangmen / Bobby Sax & The Housekeepers / Dey & Knight
-- Joel Whitburn
If some of these songs and artists ring a bell with you ... and you'd like to share some of their music with the rest of the list ... just drop me a line and we'll see what we can put together. Local chart information, photos and copies of the music would be much appreciated ... we've unearthed some GREAT, classic gems in the past ... so show your support for YOUR Local Heroes!!! Thanks, Joel! (kk) Good Morning Kent,
Thanks so much for your comments about my research work. As you know, I have an unending passion for what I’m doing. I enjoy getting up each day, never knowing what I’ll discover about some older songs and artists or some brand new and exciting new releases. It has been a joyous and fruitful career for me. And then to be able to share my discoveries with fellow music fans all over the world makes it the ultimate in satisfaction.
Thank you, Kent, for your loyal support. Have a great holiday season!
Joel
re: MIDNIGHT MARY:
What a fantastic Joey Powers story - and what wonderful linkage to "Warmth Of The Sun." Many thanks to Artie ... and Fred, and everyone else who makes the effort to write down these marvelous bit of history. What's Joey Powers doing these days?Now you've got me wondering about the story behind these slightly different mixes to "Midnight Mary". Compare this one to the one you linked on your blog page.
And it's not just the mix ... the backing vocal arrangement is substantially different beginning at about 1:50. The "cleaner" version I sent you isn't the version we heard on the radio in 1964. The version you posted is the one I clearly remember hearing on the radio. Not that I remember the layering of Joey's voice at the beginning, but because of the strong difference in the backup arrangement. Interesting ......
David Lewis
So many of these stars have gone back and re-recorded their hits for various compilation albums over the years ... perhaps this is one of those (but it sure sounds true to the original recording ... as if it is from the same session.) I asked Artie Wayne if HE could shed any light on this ... was it, in fact, an "alternate take" that somehow has made its way into the public's hands? Or is it a remake recorded well after the fact? I also asked what Joey is up to these days, as it seems his comments on Artie's blog were fairly recent. Here's what he told me:
Happy Thanksgiving Kent ... to you, your family, and readers of Forgotten Hits. The last I heard from Joey Powers he was living in Russia. The "Midnight Mary" mix you sent me is the one I did for the stereo mix of the album.
Regards,
Artie
Great memory, but there is practically zero chance that Artie heard “I Want to Hold Your Hand” then in NYC – supposedly a girl got a British copy to a Washington, DC station in early December for its first US airplay … Life magazine bought the Zapruder film and had an exclusive on it for some time, and didn’t at the time show the frame where the president’s head was hit.
Tom Taber
Our timeline regarding the first U.S. airplay of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" would seem to back this up ... even less likely would be any airplay of "This Boy", a track that wouldn't show up on the radio until after Beatlemania EXPLODED Stateside and their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. (kk)
Great post about Midnight Mary. However, not to take away from the power of the overall story - and I also wrote this to the author at the original site of the story:
Regarding “I Want to Hold Your Hand” ... The Beatles did not have any single being promoted in the US in November of 1963, and “Hand” wasn’t released in Britain until 11/29. It literally would not have been available to an American DJ at that point.
It began getting airplay in NYC about ten days before Christmas, and was rush released by Capitol on 12/26.
RasMaster
We seem to be having some "timeline" issues in Forgotten Hits lately ... waiting to see if Artie has any thoughts to share on this one! (kk)
re: DEAD MAN'S CURVE:
This past October 16, I was rounding a curve just north of my town when I, too, caught some gravel on the shoulder. As I lost control of the car, went thru a ditch, crashed thru a fence and smacked head on into a tree, all I could think of was the line, won't come back from Dead Man's Curve. I suffered a broken collarbone, but I'm on the mend.
Jack (Rock And Roll Never Forgets)
Glad to hear that you're healing fine!!! After a couple of rather serious car-related mishaps of my own this past year, I'm thankful to put it all behind me!!! (kk)
re: MORE MICKY / MONKEES NEWS:
Monkee Micky Dolenz will start rehearsing in January to join the London cast of the stage musical "Hairspray." He will take over the part of Tracy Turnblad's dad, Wilbur, February 2.
-- Ron Smith
re: THE BEE GEES:
Hi Kent,
So glad to hear the Bee Gees will be touring again! Next to the Beatles, they were my favorite group.
I have a tape of one of their concerts when Maurice was with them and they sounded better that their records.
Hope they come to Chicago. Keep us informed!
Carolyn
ps Any news on how things went in Highwood with Jimy Sohns???
No official tour dates yet for The Bee Gees ... but if they come to Chicago, we're planning on going. I haven't heard anything about the Highwood Show ... but it sounds like things were rockin' at The Abbey Pub last weekend ... check out the emails below! (kk)
re: RECENT EVENTS:
Kent -
We had a great time at the Dean Milano Book Signing Concert Event at The Abbey! The music was electric, the food was yummy and to see Ronnie Rice, Hook (Shames), Ray (NC Six) the two Jimmys and the guys from Jamestown Massacre and the Flock was like so cool!
Thanks for the advance notice! Love your newsletter!!!!!!!!
Mike De Martino and the guys from the Lovejoy Music Club
We never made it to the show ... but we're hoping for another chance ... stay tuned to these pages for more details!!! (kk)
Here are a few words from Dean Milano himself!
Hey guys, thanks so much for all your plugs on our party.
I hope you can make it Sunday. Looks like there are going to be over 60 musicians from the book on hand signing autographs.
Lots of great music and food, too!
Dean Milano
Yes, it actually did happen!
For those of you who missed it Sunday, there were over 75 musicians at the event signing books. The music went on all day and it was fantastic!
The cast (as far as I know): Tricia Alexander, Muriel Anderson, John Benishek, Geoff Boyan, David Bragman, Mark Bringman, Greg Cahill, Andrew Calhoun, Bob Centano, Tom Cloud, V.J. Comforte, Rob Curtis, Al Day, Al DeCarlo, Elliott Delman, Bobby Diamond, Marc Edelstein, Josie Falbo, Chris Farrell, Andy Foertsch, Tommy Furlong, Dennis Giovannini, Fred Glickstein, Ray Graffia, Steve Hashimoto, Annie Hat, Nate Herman, Ron Hoeller, Ron Holder, Alaric “Rokko” Jans, Steve Jones, Perry Jordan, Ron Karpman, Rob Kleeman, Tom Kleeman, Fred Kores,
Jeannie Lambert, Al Lathan, Warren Leming, Bruce Mattey, Glen Messmer, Michael Miles, Ed Mooney, Mike Peterson, Justin Pomeroy, Paul Petraitus, Jim Pilster, Alejo Poveda, John Priola, Jeff Quinn, Ronnie Rice, Jimy Rogers, Dean Rolando, Victor Sanders, Anne Schwartz, Chris Shannon, Barb Silverman, Greg Simone, Rick Simone, Ken Slauf, Tony Smith, Jimy Sohns, Barry Soliday, Pete Spero, Kestutuis Stanciauskas, Don Stiernberg, Craig Takehara, Ruth Tobias, Greg Trafidlo, Chip Trindl, Jim Ulett, Russ Ward, Tom Webb, Jim Williams, Ron Woodward ... And these are just the folks who were in the book itself, many of whom are in this picture! There were many more wonderful Chicago musicians in the picture who should’ve been in the book, but weren’t for reasons beyond anyone’s control.
Dean Milano
re: MORE THANKSGIVING ... AND ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS:
dear kent ...
congrats on the numbers. denny tufano was spot on when he said that your sight is what rolling stone used to be ... "interesting." continued success.
by the way, do you agree with me that "Gimme Shelter" is not just rock 'n roll, its thundering band track and raging vocals make it the greatest rock 'n roll song of all time.
1-gimme shelter
2-like a rolling stone
3-johnny b. goode
4-l.a. woman-doors
5-us and them-pink floyd
have a world class 24 karat gold holiday season ... tell ray graffia he owes me lunch!
chet coppock
chetcoppock.com
lol ... thanks, Chet, that means a lot. I've passed your note on to Ray Graffia ... but THIS weekend that might simply mean a leftover turkey sandwich ... so good luck with that!!! (kk)
KENT ...
IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR FOR YOU AND ME ... CONGRATS AND HAPPY TURKEY DAY!~!
SHANNON
Thanks, Scott ... and right backatcha!!! (kk)
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Kent, from everyone in The Rip Chords Family ... and thanks for your support through the years ... we are thankful.
Mitch Schecter / The Rip Chords
Thanks. To you also. I'll be spending Thanksgiving working on a Jimi Hendrix tribute radio show (his birthday is 11/27).
WPFW 89.3 FM
www.wpfw.org
Hendrix -- Thursday 26th
Thanksgiving Day 12 Noon to 6 PM
Hosted by Bob Daughtry & Guest Co-Host Cordell Dickerson
Guests include Steve Roby, author of the Jimi Hendrix biography Black Gold; Billy Cox, original bass player for Band Of Gypsys; and Ken Voss, curator of the Jimi Hendrix Information Management Institute. Ken Voss
Happy Thanksgiving to our Friends and Fans!
Have a great holiday, and tune in to 94.7 WLS this Friday for Dick Biondi's annual Toy Drive Broadcast live from the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale. Jimy Rogers will be interviewed between 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. and a new live Mauds track will be played! Listen online at http://www.947trueoldies.com/
The 2009 Dick Biondi Toy Drive takes place at Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale on Friday, November 27th, from 7 am until 10 pm. Join 94.7 WLS-FM and Dick Biondi as he broadcasts live in the Sears court area on the lower level of Stratford Square Mall. Special guests will be stopping by throughout the broadcast. Help make the holidays a little happier for underprivileged kids by bringing new, unwrapped toys or cash donations to the toy drive on behalf of UCAN of Chicago. For more information, click here.
BLUE ROAD and THE MAUDS feature Jimy Rogers on vocals, Gary Gand on guitar, Joan Gand on keys, Joel Treadwell on drums, Steve Nevets on bass and vocals.
plus Mauds backup vocalists Veronica Stanford and Jocelyn Mallard
For more info, see: www.themauds.com
Upcoming Shows for Blue Road w / Jimy Rogers:
Wednesday, Dec. 9 Chuck's Voodoo Lounge, Burbank
Saturday, Dec. 12 Blue Bayou, Chicago
Saturday, Dec. 19 Gabe's Backstage Lounge, HighwoodSee our website for details: www.blueroadchicago.com
Hi Kent ...
Happy Thanksgiving and congratulations on your ten year anniversary of Forgotten Hits. I look forward to reading your E-Mails every week. I hope things are good with you.
Lots of love,
John Madara
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving ...
TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,
BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.
TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES ...
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.
MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER
STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!
Gary Pike / The Lettermen
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!! And thank you for all you do.
Jimmy Pilster / The Cryan' Shames
Kent ...
I'm really happy for you ... you deserve all the success you are having! As far as I'm concerned you've got the best music forum on the net. May you grow and prosper,
Your friend,
Artie Wayne
HAPPY HOLIDAYS MY FRIEND,
GOD BLESS,
Austin Roberts
Congrats on 10 years at the Forgotten Hits’ helm and thanks, as always, for the incredible support you personally, and as captain of the good ship FH, have provided for the New Colony Six and our peers.
Peace today, peace tomorrow and over this entire holiday season,
Ray Graffia, Jr. / The New Colony Six
re: WHAT'S NEXT???:
>>>We're receiving LOTS of ideas and suggestions as to what our next countdown should be ... how does the All-Time Favorite Polka strike you?!?!? (kk)
Speaking of Polka ...
Kristy
Yeah ... some pretty pathetic gems can be found here!!! (lol) kk
re: HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
>>>Elvis did a version of an Ink Spots' song called " A Fool Such As I".
(Bob Hughes)
>>>We've been looking for a copy of The Ink Spots doing the Elvis Presley tune "(Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I" ... and so far, no luck.
Meanwhile, I got this from one of our readers, who checked an Ink Spots Music site (kk) ...
>>>Can you ask the requester if they know a site that lists this song? Because at this site it doesn't show it: http://inkspots.ca/ISALPHAZ.htm (Cookie)
>>>I couldn't find a listing for it in any of the sources that I checked either ... then I got this from Hil (TheOneBuff) kk ...
>>>I found Tommy Edwards via youtube singing A Fool Such As I. Maybe this is what was heard and supposed as The Ink Spots. Worth a shot, I figured. (TheOneBuff)
>>>Worth a spin ... I found early '50's charted versions by both Jo Stafford and Hank Snow, too ... but nothing on this one by The Ink Spots. (kk)
This is what the Originals Project site had to say for the song:
A Fool Such As I - Hank Snow (5-19-52), Tommy Edwards (11-20-52), Jo Stafford (12-30-52), Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan
No Ink Spots among them and I've never heard of such a record either. Hank Snow was the original, and the Tommy Edwards version may be the one the original requestor may be seeking, as TheOneBuff stated.
Tom
I'm starting to think that The Ink Spots never recorded this one ... perhaps it was their version of the early Presley hit "That's Where Your Heartaches Begin" that Bob was thinking of ... we featured that one back on November 16th. (Scroll back to this date and give it a listen!!!) kk
>>>DO YOU THINK INDIVIDUAL CD COLLECTIONS OF THE SWINGIN MEDALLIONS, MAGIC LANTERNS OR J.J. JACKSON ARE WORTH PURCHASING BEYOND THE OBVIOUS HIT? CURIOUS FOR YOUR INPUT. THANKS! (MGB)>>>Personally, the only one I'd be curious to hear would be The Magic Lanterns, as I heard they had several hits that didn't chart here ... as for the others, I'm not even remotely curious!!! (lol) But that's just MY opinion ... let's see what the rest of the list thinks ... maybe there are some lost "gems" out there that we don't even know about! (kk)
Kent ...
I oughta smack you ... the Swingin' Medallions had a lot of other great records, their version of Hey Baby is quite excellent.
Tom Diehl
Well, that's the kind of input we were looking for!!! (Not THAT great in my opinion ... but it's OK ... they even manage to work the "My Girl" riff into the song!) kk
re: AND, NOW THAT THANKSGIVING'S OVER ...
IT'S ON TO CHRISTMAS!!!:
And, just like he did last year, Artie Wayne has sent us an INCREDIBLE collection of Christmas videos to share!!! (Careful ... you can spend HOURS here checking all of these out!!! lol) kk
Kent ...
They’re all here: ELVIS, REINDEER SINGING “WHITE CHRISTMAS”, BOB DYLAN, NEW MILEY!!, Aretha, Nat “King”Cole, Bing, NEW ARCHIES, Rudolf, JOSH GROBAN, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, PAUL EVANS, Jingle Cats, Neil Diamond, The Rad Dudes, Band-Aid, CHRIS BROWN, Ashley Tisdale, Enya, The Carpenters, NEW JULLIANNE HOUGH, Brenda Lee, Beach Boys, Sponge Bob, MANILOW, Perry Como, Alvin and the Chipmunks and so much more! When Whoppy and Streaker were little more than kittens I sat down with them on their first Christmas Eve and sang Christmas songs on my guitar. Ten years later they’re playing Christmas songs for me that they found on the Internet! Sound outrageous? Not as outrageous as some of the the videos they found! For example, here are the Singing Reindeer and “White Christmas”, by Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters http://digg.com/d3fDc1
NOW HERE ARE THE REST OF THE 99 CHRISTMAS VIDEOS http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/the-top-the-best-and-the-greatest-christmas-music-videos/
Regards,
Artie Wayne
http:over50music.com
Meanwhile ...
REMINDER #1: If you're in the Richland Center, Wisconsin area, be sure to tune into Phil Nee's Radio Program this evening from 6 pm - Midnight ... because he'll be counting down YOUR Top 50 All-Time Favorite Instrumentals, as voted on by The Forgotten Hits Readers all over the world.
REMINDER #2: And, if you're NOT able to listen to the show, you can catch the WHOLE List on this very web page tomorrow morning ... as well as its new PERMANENT Home on the OTHER Forgotten Hits Web Page here:
Click here: Forgotten Hits - Top 40 Instrumentals, 1955 - 1979
REMINDER #3: And, coming next week, a link enabling you to listen to the ENTIRE Phil Nee Show on Podcast ... keep watching these pages!!!
REMINDER #4: If you missed The History Channel's One Hour Beatles Special Wednesday Night, it's airing again tomorrow (Sunday, November 29th) at 4 PM Chicago Time. It's a GREAT One Hour Overview of the recorded history of The Beatles, with some REALLY cool, rarely seen video footage and all kinds of extra studio chatter between The Fabs. DEFINITELY worth a viewing (or even ANOTHER viewing if you DID happen to catch Wednesday's broadcast!)
REMINDER #5: Don't forget to register to win a copy of Davie Allan's brand new CD "Retrophonic". We'll be giving away an autographed copy to one Forgotten Hits Reader next weekend ... but you can't win if you don't enter! 17 great new tracks including awesome remakes of Davie's Hit "Blues' Theme" and a kick-ass version of "Rebel Rouser". (The original version of BOTH of these hits made our Top 50 All-Time Favorite Instrumentals Countdown!) Just send me an email and register for next weekend's drawing. Send it to: forgottenhits@aol.com!!!
