The news of Teddy Pendergrass's passing this week saddened many of us ... here, closer to home, Frannie was a HUGE fan of Teddy's music and our visit a couple of years ago to Philadelphia International Records (thanks again Rich and Mamie!!!) meant SO much ... to see this legendary studio where SO many classic hits were recorded ... The Sound Of Philadelphia indeed!!! We'll miss you, Teddy! LOTS of media coverage on this one ... but of course here in Forgotten Hits we always defer first to our very OWN Grim Reaper, Ron Smith:
Teddy Pendergrass, a drummer who became the lead singer with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes on hits like "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (#3 - 1972) and "The Love I Lost" (#7 - 1973), then on his own with eleven solo chart records from 1978 to 1997, died of colon cancer Wednesday (January 13) at a suburban Philadelphia hospital. He was 59. The Philadelphia native had undergone colon cancer surgery eight months ago. An auto accident in 1982 left him paralyzed from the waist down. As a solo artist, he was best known for 1978's "Close The Door" (#25) but continued performing until his retirement in 2006, even appearing in a touring company of the musical "Your Arms Too Short To Box With God" in 1996.
-- Ron Smith
We also lost songwriter Bobby Charles this week:
Kent,
Another iconic singer / songwriter from the golden era of rock and roll has passed away. What a loss for all of us who remember those 50+ year old hits so vividly. That's the wonderful thing about great music: it's timeless. You hear it once or twice and it immerses itself in you. It becomes part of your life, your memories, your influences.
Bobby's songs were great partly because of their sheer simplicity. I can hear "Fats," "Frogman" and Haley singing Bobby's songs as if it were yesterday. I remember every word, verse and chorus, just as a proud Mother remembers everything her kids did 50 or 60 years ago.
I gave a tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to 20 high schoolers earlier today (Thursday). I told them it was not the amount of time we spend on this good earth that is important, it's what we do with the time we have here. The time between birth and death ... it's the time in between that is most important ... it's our legacy. Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Sinatra, had fifty years or more.
The first two inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame had only six active years to make their mark. Jimmy Rodgers and Hank Williams' music careers spanned only six years. For Jimmy it was 1927 to 1933, for Hank it was 1946 to 1952 -- he died on Jan 1, 1953.
Bobby was a bit more lucky ... his songs have stood the test of time for six decades. And he lived to see them become a cornerstone of rock and roll. Dare I say they'll still be around for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to enjoy.
RIP, Bobby. You've earned your rest.
Fred Vail / Treasure Isle Recorders
Iconic songwriter Bobby Charles died suddenly this morning at his home in Abbeville, LA. In recent weeks, Bobby was incredibly excited about his forthcoming release, Timeless, which he produced with his good friend, Dr. John. The album is dedicated to his friend and major influence, Fats Domino. In fact, Bobby wanted to be certain the album was released before Fats' birthday on Feb. 26, so he had the release date set for three days earlier. The album begins with “Happy Birthday Fats Domino.”
Noted writer Keith Spera of The Times Picayune in New Orleans, submitted the following story earlier today:
Bobby Charles, Louisiana songwriter, dies at 71
By Keith Spera, The Times - Picayune / January 14, 2010, 1:39PM / Abbeville, LA
Robert “Bobby” Charles Guidry, the gifted, reclusive southwest Louisiana songwriter who crafted hits for Fats Domino, Frogman Henry and Bill Haley & the Comets, died early Thursday after collapsing at home, his manager said. He was 71. Known professionally as Bobby Charles, he wrote “Walking to New Orleans,” one of the most beloved songs in Domino’s catalog; “(I Don’t Know Why I Love You) But I Do,” an enduring classic by Henry; and “See You Later Alligator,” a smash for Haley in the early years of rock ‘n’ roll. He counted Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and James Taylor among his friends and fans. A reluctant performer, he largely disappeared from the public eye after participating in the Band’s legendary 1976 farewell concert “The Last Waltz.” He preferred to release the occasional album while living anonymously outside Abbeville, an enigma whose songs were more famous than he was. Mr. Charles initially agreed to a “comeback” performance at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell, only to beg off at the last minute, citing health issues. Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack, Marcia Ball, guitarist Sonny Landreth and other fans performed his songs in his absence.
Mr. Charles grew up poor in Abbeville. His father drove a truck for a gas company, delivering 50-gallon fuel drums to far-flung farms. At 14, he joined a band that entertained at high school dances around Abbeville. “Nobody in my family wanted me to get into the music business, but I always loved it,” he said during a 2007 interview. “The first time I heard Hank Williams and Fats Domino, it just knocked me down. When I was a kid, I used to pray to be a songwriter like them. My prayers were answered, I guess.”
Leaving a cafe one night, Mr. Charles bid farewell to friends with “see you later, alligator.” As the cafe door closed behind him, a drunken stranger replied, “after ‘while, crocodile.” Not sure he heard correctly, he went back inside and asked the stranger to repeat it. That couplet inspired him to write “See You Later Alligator.” He sang it over the phone and landed a recording contract, sight unseen, from Chicago blues and R&B label Chess Records. The company’s owners assumed he was black until he stepped off the plane in Chicago.
As a burgeoning teen idol, he hit the road with other Chess artists, the only white guy on the bus. Not all audiences appreciated such integration. The threats soured him on touring. So did the occasional bullet fired his way. “I never wanted to be a star,” he said. “I’ve got enough problems, I promise you. If I could make it just writing, I’d be happy. Thank God I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of people do my songs.”
In the 1970's, Mr. Charles wrote a song called “The Jealous Kind.” Joe Cocker recorded it in 1976, followed by Ray Charles, Delbert McClinton, Etta James and Johnny Adams. Kris Kristofferson and Gatemouth Brown covered Mr. Charles’ “Tennessee Blues,” as did newcomer Shannon McNally. Muddy Waters recorded “Why Are People Like That”; so did Houma guitarist Tab Benoit on his Grammy-nominated 2006 album “Brother to the Blues.”
He could not play an instrument or read music. Songs popped into his head, fully formed. To capture them, he’d sing into the nearest answering machine; sometimes he’d call home from a convenience store pay phone. “I can hear all the chords up here,” he said, pointing to his brain, “but I can’t tell you what they are.”
In his younger years, he ran around with the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Willie Nelson, and raised all kinds of hell. His rogue’s resume included scrapes with the law, a busted marriage, and too much of too many things. “To love and lose -- I know that pain,” he said. “And cocaine killed so many of my friends. (The Band pianist) Richard Manuel hung himself. (Blues harmonica ace) Paul Butterfield OD’d.”
For a time in the 1970's, he laid low in Woodstock, N.Y. But mostly Charles holed up in the bosom of south Louisiana, waiting for the next song to come along. Or the next calamity. For years, he lived on the Vermilion River outside Maurice, La. In the mid-’90's, his house burned to the ground with all his earthly possessions. With nowhere else to go, he moved into a trailer on the grounds of Dockside Studios in Maurice. Despondent, he hit the road with one of his four sons and washed up at Holly Beach, a forgotten hamlet with 300 permanent residents on the Gulf of Mexico southwest of Lake Charles. “I’m a Pisces. I love water,” he said. “There’s nothing like a wave to wash away your problems and clean out your mind. Well, it doesn't wash ‘em away, but it helps.”
He bought a house facing the Gulf, and the two houses next door, to eliminate the possibility of neighbors. He also snapped up the surrounding lots to protect his view. In Holly Beach, Mr. Charles disappeared for a decade. But in the summer of 2005, Hurricane Rita found him. He escaped just ahead of the storm, then later returned to find his house had washed away.
The reclusive songwriter preferred to live quietly, out of the limelight. He moved to a two-bedroom trailer amid the grand oaks of an eight acre property outside Abbeville. He kept his address and phone number secret, and cast a wary eye toward strangers and acquaintances alike. “They all want to meet Bob Dylan or Willie Nelson. They say, ‘Man, I got a song for Bob Dylan.’ I think Bob Dylan writes most of his own. So does Willie. I don't even sing any of mine to them. Some people have to depend on somebody else to make a living. And that gets tiresome, man, carrying a load like that. It gets to the point where you're afraid to open your mouth in front of anybody.”
Despite being swindled out of publishing rights and shares of his songwriting credits years ago, his annual royalties afforded him a comfortable living. When, for instance, Frogman Henry’s version of “But I Do” landed on the “Forrest Gump” soundtrack, Mr. Charles received a royalty check.
Mr. Charles was happiest in the studio. In 2003, he and his manager, Jim Bateman, gathered recordings spanning 20 years for the double-CD “Last Train to Memphis,” released via Charles’ own Rice ‘n Gravy Records. Special guests included Neil Young, Fats Domino, Willie Nelson, Delbert McClinton and Maria Muldaur. Mr. Charles’ voice, graced with a slight, Randy Newman-esque drawl, was still strong, as was his gift for pairing lyrics and melody. He was due to release a new album next month. But he was unlikely to hit the road to promote it.
In recent years, he tended to keep to himself. Most days, he ate alone at an Abbeville seafood joint where the waitress mixed his preferred cocktail -- a Grey Goose martini on the rocks -- as he parked his car.“I don’t really have anybody,” Mr. Charles said in 2007. “I just don’t have a whole lot in common with the people I went to school with. I still love them as my friends, but I don’t have anything to say to ‘em. They wouldn’t believe half the (stuff) that happened to me anyway. But when I get around Mac Rebennack or Fats or somebody like that, then I’m in my world.”
Bobby Charles, who wrote Fats Domino's hit, "Walkin' To New Orleans" as well as Bill Haley's "See You Later Alligator" and "I Don't Know Why (But I Do)" from Clarence "Frogman" Henry, died Thursday (January 14) in New Orleans at the age of 71. He had suffered from diabetes and was in remission from kidney cancer. The Abbeville, Louisiana native recorded on his own, as well, and even appeared in the film, "The Last Waltz" with the Band. His latest recording, "Timeless," is scheduled for release February 23.
-- Ron Smith
Thought you would be interested in this article ... one of my close buddies was in south Louisiana for Christmas and met Charles. Turned out his brother in law and Charles had been friends since childhood.
Regards
Mike
Bobby Charles, Louisiana songwriter, dies at 71 New Orleans Music News - - NOLA.com
re: WILLIE MITCHELL:
We in the south got a good feeding of Willie Mitchell singles, 20-75 and Soul Serenade in particular. "HI" Records was / were a big deal in the south east.
BOB MAYBEN
They did OK everywhere else, too! "20-75" hit #31 nationally in 1964 and went to #20 here in Chicago. (The title refers to the Hi Record Label Number ... and you guys thought Van Halen and Yes thought this stuff up!!! lol) "Soul Serenade" did even better, peaking at #23 in Billboard and #19 here in Chi-Town. Hi Records enjoyed their GREATEST success once Al Green came onboard the label ... he enjoyed 14 Top 40 Pop Hits between 1971 and 1977. Willie, too, will be missed. (kk)
re: AND THIS FROM SICK BAY:
Leon Russell underwent five hours of brain surgery Monday (January 11) in a California hospital to repair a "chronic condition." The 67 year-old's web site says he is in good condition, will be released in a "few days" and hopes to resume touring in March.
-- Ron Smith
I am shocked!
He is supposed to record next month with Elton John, Bernie Taupin and T-Bone Burnett.
Talk to you soon!
Steve Sarley
I hadn't heard anything about this either ... but you can ALWAYS find the latest oldies news on Ron Smith's AWESOME Oldies Website: www.oldiesmusic.com!!!
re: MORE PHILLY MEMORIES:
MARK YOUR CALENDERS!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
(NOTE: INCLEMENT WEATHER DATE -- IF NECESSARY: SUN. MAY 16TH)
THE CAMEO-PARKWAY REUNION: Featuring Charlie Gracie, Dee Dee Sharp, Tymes and Orlons -- Together In Concert!
CANNSTATTER'S BALLROOM / 9130 Academy Road / Northeast Philadelphia
SHOWTIME: 7:30pm
Charlie Gracie, Dee Dee Sharp, the Orlons and the Tymes ... all sold millions of discs in the late 1950s and early 60s ... and all contributed to making the Cameo - Parkway label the largest independent record company in the nation from 1957 through 1963.
All continue to tour nationally and internationally, enjoying a global fan base.
Charlie Gracie's hits Butterfly (#1), Fabulous (#16) and Ninety Nine Ways (#11) got the label off the ground in 1957 and 1958. He had five titles reach the British Top 20 as well, including: Wandering Eyes, I Love You So Much It Hurts and Cool Baby.
Charlie's new cd ... with guest artists Graham Nash, Peter Noone, Al Kooper, Keb Mo and others ... will be out in the spring of 2010.
Dee Dee Sharp had five monster top 10's in the early 60s: Mashed Potato Time, Gravy, The Bird, Ride and Slow Twistin' with Chubby Checker. She also scored chart placings in the late 70s and early 80s when the Philly Soul sound ruled the
airwaves.
The Orlons and Stephen Caldwell carved up the Top 10 as well with The Wah Wahtusi, South Street, and Don't Hang Up. Other Top 20 hits followed: Crossfire and Not Me.
The Tymes reached #1 with So Much In Love and followed that with Wonderful, Wonderful (#7), Somewhere (#19), You Little Trust Maker (#12) and the British #1, Miss Grace.
JOIN US FOR THIS HISTORIC SHOW!
re: SO CLOSE:
>>>and Jake Holmes should have had much better success with this nice 1972 release than he experienced. There's a YouTube clip of him doing this song live just last year, so he still gets requests for it 37 years after the fact.
(David Lewis)
>>>Amazingly, I've never heard this song before! "So Close" never charted here in Chicago ... but was a #29 Hit in Cash Box Magazine in late 1970. (It reached #49 in Billboard.) kk
Ooops - 1970 instead of '72. That's almost 40 years. Man, are we getting old, or what??
David
I don't remember which NY stations played this song; but I heard this song a TON when it was released in 1970. All of us 10-11 year old kids who were into top 40 (and that was a large part of my 6th grade class) all loved this song.
I have no idea why it was not a bigger hit.
And, IIRC, this song was "mistakenly" played on an AT40 in 1970.
Thanks for playing this song!
Rich
As I said, this was a new one on me ... had NEVER heard it before ... but obviously a hit here and there to achieve a #29 ranking in Cash Box! Glad we could share it and stir up a memory or two! (kk)
re: "LATE EDITION", BOB GREENE'S NEW BOOK:
>>>I just finished reading Bob Greene's latest, "Late Edition", and found it quite enjoyable. FH readers who have been in the media business, whether radio, TV, or print, will especially enjoy this one from Bob. And, since Bob served time as a copy editor, his books contain absolutely no typos or grammar errors - ever. He personally checks them. Check it out! (David Lewis)
Bob Greene's "Late Edition" is indeed a wonderful book -- as evocative of that same American era as "Surf City" (minus the music stories, of course). It has several profound points to make about American culture and changing times. As a journalist, I found spot-on stories that seem to ring universally true about local newspapers throughout the nation -- and about the unique value they bring to local residents on multiple levels. With the growing death rate of America's newspapers, folks unfortunately won't know what they've truly lost until it's too late. Bob's book offers an enjoyable "time travel" trip that provides a different glimpse at our Forgotten Hits era -- one that's already slipping from the nation's memories.
Don Effenberger
>>>I wanted to mention that Bob Greene's book includes the word "rotogravure." It's been a long time since I've seen that word in a book. Even longer since I've heard it in a song. Do you know what popular (not rock) song includes "rotogravure"? (David Lewis)
"and you'll find that you're in the rotogravure"
So wrote Irving Berlin in "Easter Parade"
(Chalk this up to the "Old People Know" Department!)
Hil
In terms of the "rotogravure" song, it's Irving Berlin's "Easter Parade."
Don Effenberger
"Easter Parade" contains rotogravure ...
-Ron Smith
Easter Parade :D red
re: AND, SPEAKING OF BOOKS ... :
Kent ...
Can't remember if you talked about Clay Cole's Book " Sh - Boom." Remind me.
I really liked this Book. Maybe living in New York & knowing all the places he's talking about adds to my enjoyment.
Clay Cole had TV shows on Channel 13 & 11. He also hosted live shows at The Brooklyn Paramount, New York Paramount And Palisades Park. The Book covers the years 1953 - 1968. Clay Cole left New York, September 1, 2001. He went from the bright lights of Broadway to retirement in a sleepy - North Carolina fishing village. He says he's happy. That's all that matters. He knew when it was time to quit & he quit. Most people can't figure that out. They hang on too long, past their prime.
Frank B.
We received a number of letters from Clay's fans when his book first came out. (I personally haven't had time to read THIS one either!!! But I've heard good things, especially from the folks who grew up watching his program.) kk
re: HERMAN'S HERMITS:
Kent,
Happy New Year and thank you for your years of helpful information for those of us whose lives have been enhanced by music (hey, that is the world, right?)
I am sending a slideshow link for you to enjoy that depicts some of my students and their families watching a Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone concert that was a summer field trip on July 10th this year. The slides start out with all of us getting ready. Making Henry the 8th fans, blowing bubbles, learning how to sway, clap and crack glowsticks. Then we are up: clapping for Vindaloo. The rest of the pics show just how intensely involved my kids and their families were. None of them had been to one of Peter's concerts before, and my kids had never experienced a live show. The last pics show Matty (that day was his 4th birthday) trying out Peter's hamonica, which I gave him as his gift. He can play "Blowin' in the Wind" now and is picking up other tunes by ear. His comment as they left, "This was the best birthday, ever!"Enjoy. Part of this belongs to us all.
Here is the link!: http://s257.photobucket.com/albums/hh226/lazct/Hamden/Shelleys%20Kids/?albumview=slideshow
I also have a video of Matt swaying to "Something Good" ... it's too big to send via email though!
Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano
... and, speaking of Herman's Hermits ... and The British Invasion ... check THIS out!!!
re: THE BRITISH INVASION:
THE BRITISH INVASION IS COMING!
New DVD series captures classic artists of the original British Invasion with vintage complete TV performances from their heyday!:
Dusty Springfield - Once Upon A Time 1964-1969
Small Faces - All Or Nothing 1965-1968
Herman’s Hermits - Listen People 1964-1969
Gerry & The Pacemakers - It’s Gonna Be All Right 1963-1965
The Invasion Arrives March 23, 2010
-- Bob Merlis
Over forty-five years after the Beatles sparked the legendary ‘British Invasion’ that forever changed the face of popular music, Reelin’ In The Years Productions, in association with Voyage Digital Media, is proud to announce the release of the initial four DVDs in the new British Invasion series. The four titles are Dusty Springfield - Once Upon A Time, 1964-1969; Small Faces - All Or Nothing, 1965-1968; Gerry & The Pacemakers - It's Gonna Be All Right, 1963-1965 and Herman's Hermits - Listen People, 1964-1969. Distributed by Naxos of America Inc., all four DVDs will be available separately and as a deluxe boxset featuring a bonus fifth disc with over 2½ hours of additional content.
Produced by Reelin' In The Years Productions, each DVD features complete 1960's television performances filmed at the time the songs were hits and while the artists were at the height of their careers. Interspersed between the performances, original band members and others who helped create their classic music, talk about each song and recount special moments in the history of the group. In addition, all performances have been transferred from the original master tapes and include best-possible video and remastered audio. Each DVD also includes a 24-page booklet with insights and essays by noted rock historians as well as previously unseen photos and memorabilia. The series, originally released only in the UK in September of 2009, has received both commercial success and critical acclaim, with four-star reviews and inclusion in many year-end “Best Of 2009” lists in the British music press.
Reelin’ In the Years is the San Diego-based company that has produced some of the most highly-regarded anthology DVD series including the four-volume, GRAMMY-nominated American Folk Blues Festival series, the multi-platinum selling Definitive Motown series (Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) and the award winning Jazz Icons series. As in all of their projects, each DVD is produced with the full support and cooperation of the artists or their estates.
Notes about each of the four individual releases:
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD - Once Upon A Time 1964 - 1969
Features 20 definitive complete television performances by Britain's greatest pop diva including “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me,” “Son Of A Preacher Man,” “Wishin’ And Hopin’” and “I Only Want To Be With You.” Dusty’s story is told through new interviews with Burt Bacharach, Madeline Bell (who sang back-up for Dusty in the ‘60s), Simon Bell (Dusty’s back-up singer from the ‘70s to the ‘90s), and a newly discovered interview from 1978 with Dusty herself. Bonus features include Dusty’s complete 1965 and 1966 New Musical Express Poll Winners Concert appearances as well as a duet with Burt Bacharach on “A House Is Not A Home.” Annie Randall, Dusty’s biographer, wrote the accompanying essay.
SMALL FACES - All Or Nothing 1965 - 1968
In the mid-1960’s the Small Faces challenged the Who, Kinks, Rolling Stones and even the Beatles for UK chart domination. This is the band’s first official anthology and features 27 complete performances capturing every aspect of their brief but brilliant run including early Mod/R&B classics such as “What’cha Gonna Do About It”, “Sha La La La Lee” and “All Or Nothing”, timeless rockers like “Tin Soldier” and later psychedelic treasures including “Itchycoo Park”, and “Green Circles.” Nine songs are included from the band’s masterwork Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake including “Lazy Sunday”, “Song Of A Baker”, the title track and the six song “Happiness Stan” suite. Also included are interviews filmed exclusively for the DVD with original members Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones and Jimmy Winston as well as archival interviews with the late Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane. The 24-page booklet includes an informative essay by pop historian Ken Sharp as well as rare in-studio photographs by famed engineer Eddie Kramer.
GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS - It's Gonna Be All Right 1963 – 1965
The first band ever to have their first three singles top the British charts, Gerry & The Pacemakers rivaled the Beatles in the early years of the British Invasion. Their first official anthology DVD features 17 classic complete performances including the smash hits “How Do You Do It?,” “I Like It” and “You’ll Never walk Alone” as well as the timeless classics “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying” and “Ferry Cross The Mersey.” Also included is an interview with Garry Marsden that was conducted exclusively for the DVD at Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club. Bill Harry, founder/publisher of Mersey Beat, the music paper that originally chronicled the Liverpool scene, also tells the band’s story both on screen and in his accompanying liner notes.
HERMAN'S HERMITS - Listen People 1964-1969
The DVD is their first official anthology chronicling their meteoric rise melding a traditional British music hall influence with good time rock ‘n roll. Among the 22 full-length performances are all of their biggest hits including “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” and their later evocative masterpieces “No Milk Today,” and “Listen People.” The Herman’s Hermits’ story is told by original members Peter Noone, Keith Hopwood, Karl Green and Barry Whitwam as well as in the accompanying essay by GRAMMY-winning music historian Rob Bowman. A complete concert filmed in 1966 for Australian television is included as a bonus feature.
Producers David Peck, Phil Galloway and Tom Gulotta are available for interviews. For additional information and to view trailers for each of the DVDs visit www.reelinintheyears.com/britishinvasion.
The #1 independent classical music distributor in the U.S., Naxos of America is the exclusive American distributor for Naxos Records and over 70 other Jazz, Folk, Audiophile, Classical, Opera, Dance, Film Music, New and Electronic Music, and Wind Band CD and DVD labels from all over the world. Naxos of America has committed itself to a catalog of some of the most diverse music and film distributed in North America. Labels and artists from the Naxos of America family of distributed labels have won 15 GRAMMY® Awards, and this year, its new releases garnered 17 GRAMMY® Award nominations. Partnered with Reelin’ In The Years Productions, Naxos has released 30 titles in the award-winning Jazz Icons DVD series and is proud to be branching out yet again into classic rock ‘n roll with the new British Invasion DVD series.
Look for me right at the front of the line when THIS set comes out!!! What an AWESOME addition to our video collection! (kk)
re: AND, IN BEATLES-RELATED NEWS:
The brand new Ringo Starr album, "Y Not" is now available. Tune in and watch Ringo promoting his new album Y Not, and performing the single 'Walk With You'. Ben Harper and Relentless 7 are among the special backing artists.
Jan 13 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Jan 18 The Jay Leno Show
Jan 19 Grammy Music Series
Jan 20 Rockline Radio
Jan 21 Larry King Live (broadcast date either 21 or 22)
Feb 5 The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
The new LP also features guest appearances by Joe Walsh, Paul McCartney, Joss Stone, Ben Harper, Richard Marx, Dave Stewart and others.
One cannot help but wonder what those Jay Leno / Conan O'Briend appearances REALLY mean in light of all that's been going on in NBC Late-Night-Land lately!!! Ringo's been on The Larry King Show a number of times in the past ... as long as Larry doesn't accuse him of murdering actress Sharon Tate, it should be all-right! (kk)
P.S. You'll find more on the whole Leno / Conan thing below
By the way, according to Ron Smith's www.oldiesmusic.com website,
Ringo Starr has requested that all his fans honor him on his 70th birthday, July 7, by making the "peace sign" V-gesture at Noon that day, wherever they are.
You may recall that last year Ringo made headlines when he announced that he would not be giving any more autographs!!!
And, speaking of Paul McCartney, watch for Macca to appear as one of the presenters on this evening's Golden Globes Awards Show. (He's nominated for his soundtrack song "(I Want To) Come Home" from the new Robert DeNiro film "Everybody's Fine" ... which is also available as a free download from McCartney's website with the purchase of his new "Good Evening, New York City" CD. (Read on!)
To celebrate Paul's Golden Globe and Critics' Choice nominations for the song (I Want To) Come Home from the Miramax film 'Everybody's Fine' starring Robert De Niro, paulmccartney.com is running a special offer for fans to receive a free download of the new song (I Want To) Come Home with any purchase of Good Evening New York City via the paulmccartney.com dedicated store. Click here for more details.
Check out the promo video for the song featuring behind the scenes footage of the recording and excerpts from the film 'Everybody's Fine' at Paul's Official YouTube page.
The song has been nominated in the Best Original Song category at the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards which take place this coming Sunday, 17th March 2010 and in the category for Best Song at the 15th Annual Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Awards, taking place on Friday, 15th March 2010.
The Critics' Choice Awards are broadcast live on VH-1 in the USA this coming Friday night at 9pm EST - click here to vote for Paul in the poll running on the VH-1 website and get full details of the broadcast.
The Golden Globe Awards are broadcast live on Sunday on NBC from 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT in the USA and on Sky 1 in the UK at 1 am, with red carpet coverage from 11 pm.
Hi Kent,
I wanted to let you know that our Jan / Feb issue of Keep Rockin' has a cover story on The Beatles. It's a 10 page spread with photos of The Beatles never before published in a magazine. The photographer, Ian Wright, was there in the early 60's in England taking pictures of them on and off stage before Beatlemania took hold in the U.S. An article about Ian's experiences with The Fab Four accompanies the pictures and is a very interesting read.
Also in this issue is an interview that Lou and I conducted with Dave White, Founder of Danny and the Juniors. Sheree Homer wrote an article about Dale Hawkins who had a big hit with 'Suzy Q'. This issue is our best yet!
Please let all of your Beatles and Rock & Roll fans know about Keep Rockin'. They can order a copy or subscription directly from our website at www.keeprockinmag.com, order by mail, call us at 1-888-577-6256 or check with their local Borders or Barnes & Noble bookstore.
Wishing you the best for the New Year!
Liz Harris, Publisher
Lou Holly, Editor
KEEP ROCKIN' MAGAZINE
888-577-6256
PO Box 608
Naperville, IL 60566
Sounds like a good one, Liz ... happy to pass this info along! (kk)
... and, speaking of "Keep Rockin'" Magazine, we just received this note from Michele Abrams, wife of Buckinghams Guitarist Bob Abrams ...
re: THE BUCKINGHAMS:
Hi Kent,
Got a copy of the latest “Keep Rockin’” magazine </" href="http://www.keeprockingmag.com%3e/" target=_blank>www.keeprockingmag.com>;; and wanted to give you a heads-up that you and your FH newsletter are mentioned by name in Dawn Lee Wakefield’s review of “When We Get to Surf City”. She also wrote about Carl Bonafede, Chicago’s own Screaming Wild Man, in this issue, that also includes never before printed pictures of The Beatles.
I had the pleasure of creating Mr. Bonafede’s web site for him www.carlbonafede.com. Any FH readers who want to can write him at carlbonafede@gmail.com. For a gentleman who didn’t have a computer last year, he’s jumped in feet first and is launched across Cyberspace, thrilled to hear from so many friends. I also manage his Social Media so he is on Facebook too, and anyone can add him as a friend.
Local friend Chicago Joe (Joseph Pytel) handles his blogs, including one you mentioned in your column last week: <. /" href="http://www.carlbonafede.blogspot.com%3e.%c2%a0/" target=_blank>www.carlbonafede.blogspot.com>. ; When Carl Giammarese invited Mr. Bonafede to be The Buckinghams’ VIP guest, Bucks’ road manager, Susan Rakis, took their picture and it’s also in the Keep Rockin’ feature, so it’s a Bucks’ family production (my husband Bob is their lead guitarist).
Carl Bonafede is still a dynamo and just received two requests to do radio station liners, thanks to Facebook. On his web site, there are tracks Carl Bonafede wrote and produced, as well as a spot that was never aired: Dueling DJ’s: Ron Riley vs. Clark Weber, for those who remember radio back in the day.
Regards,
Michele Abrams
Michele Abrams Media
Hi Michele - great to hear from you.
Bob has been a welcome addition to The Buckinghams line-up for quite a while now ... HIGHLY respected in our quarters here at Forgotten Hits!
Ironically, I just heard from Liz Harris, who publishes "Keep Rockin'" Magazine last night ... in fact, you'll find a plug for this latest issue right above YOUR email on our web page this morning.
I'd like to add you to our mailing list and invite you and Bob to take part in our many musical discussions. (Carl Giammarese has been on the list for quite a while, as has former-Buck Dennis Tufano ... in fact, MOST of the Chicago bands are represented on our list in some shape or form ... we just a major piece on The New Colony Six yesterday, as a matter of fact!)
Anyway, thanks for the info ... and we will be happy to pass along the Carl Bonafede information ... a while back a few of our readers were looking to get in contact with him ... it'll be great to be able to tell them now how to do so!!!
Thanks again! (kk)
Kent ... The last musical guest on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show was Bette Midler. The last musical guest on Conan O' Brien's Tonight Show will be Barry Manilow. Barry use to play piano for Bette.
Frank B.
I've avoided this whole Jay Leno / Conan O'Brien disaster ... Conan has TOTALLY been screwed by NBC on this deal and the network has lost an ENORMOUS amount of face and credibility with the public over the way they handled this whole debacle. We tried to watch Leno's new show a few times and couldn't stand it. How the same material is going to seem "funnier" 90 minutes later is beyond me ... is it because most of his audience will be half asleep??? I just don't get it. But it WILL be interesting to see Conan's final show ... this guy's going to be paid an AWFUL lot of money ... but it STILL isn't enough for all the crap they put him through in my book. (kk)
Kent,
Here is the new benefit mummers music video, "Watch The Mummers Strut" (More Than A Tradition). Available Jan. 20th as a download at iTunes.
Happy New Year!
George Manney - director, producer
YouTube - Watch The Mummers Strut (Official) - Tony Luke Jr. & The Tacony Funk Machine View the clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUGC9dBCw28
The new fund-raising song for the Philadelphia mummers, "Watch The Mummers Strut (More Than A Tradition)". Performed by: Tony Luke Jr. & The Tacony Funk MachineVideo by: George Manney - copyright 2010
http://www.phillypopmusic.com
Recording Features: Charlie Gracie (R&R pioneer), Rocco Notte (The A's, Clutch Cargo), Barry Warhoftig (Hot Club of Philly), Su Teears (of Clutch Cargo), Chip Roberts (Lives in crises productions), Winkle (American Dream), Dave Humphreys, George Manney (Clutch Cargo), Skip Denenberg
Written by: Skip Denenberg
Produced, engineered & mixed by: George Manney
Asst. engineer: Tommy Stinson (Guns N' Roses - Replacements) -
Chip's guitars
Recorded at: Geo Sound: http://www.GeoSound.org
A Clutch Cargo Production: http://www.clutchcargomusic.com
Mastered by: Peter Humphreys - Masterwork Recording
Donate at: http://www.SaveTheMummers.com
Recently discovered!
VERY RARE TV newsreel film from Bill Haley's first visit to Brazil in 1958!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH--VHMrxGQ
This EXTREMELY rare video footage was recently discovered and put on YouTube ... In 1958 Bill Haley toured Brazil for the first time. The Comets members on this particular tour are: Rudy Pompilli - sax; Ralph Jones - drums; Billy Williamson - steel guitar; Johnny Grande - piano & accordion; Al Rex - bass; and Joe Oliver - rhythm guitar. Interesting ... guitarist Frannie Beecher is the ONLY one still living (at 87) from this film!
What's also interesting is how the band traveled with all its own back-line equipment back then (amps, drums and instruments; though the sound system was provided by the venues.) When Haley returned to Brazil in October 1975 the situation was muchdifferent, with ALL the back-line provided, including the standup bass. We just brought our guitars, Fender bass & sax.The clip below is from that 1975 tour -- only Bill & Rudy are the same. The rest of the band was: Tony Benson - drums; Ray Parsons - rhythm guitar; Jim Leback - electric bass; and myself on guitar. The amps were much bigger, and the sound systems and recording technology, much more modern. Intersting comparison ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ppjEuqecY
Submitted by Stu Weiss (with comments courtesy of Bill Turner, Haley's lead guitarist on that 1975 tour)
>>>My point is "Long Tall Sally" by Pat Boone kicked Lil Richard's original version in the ass in sales and chart position. (Alex Valdez)
Actually, that is not accurate. Pat Boone covered both of Little Richard's first two pop chart hits, "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally." It was the first of these that saw Boone's version overtake Richard's and become the bigger pop hit. By the time the two versions of "Long Tall Sally" were released, the tastes of the pop record-buying public had apparently matured, as Richard's version both outsold Boone's and outperformed it on the Billboard pop charts (#6 vs. #23 on the Best-Selling Singles chart; #13 vs. #18 on the overall Top 100 chart).
– Randy Price
Kent:
Don't know if I ever shared this with you but Them's "Gloria" came out while we were in CA, living in the two-flat with Paul Revere & Raiders. CA radio had the tune in heavy rotation and we loved it enough to add it to our repertoire. We had no clue it was not a killer hit all over the place so when we returned to Chicagoland, we were stunned to hear Jimy Sohns and the lads covering it - made no sense to us and, seeing as the Shadows were local brothers-in-arms, we stopped playing the song from their release of the 45 until we put it into our Chicago Gold Medley several years ago now. Another case of coulda, woulda, shoulda???
Ray Graffia, Jr. / The New Colony Six
Nope, had never heard that story before. Interestingly enough it was WLS Disc Jockey Clark Weber who prompted The Shadows Of Knight to record the song ... he told their manager that if they could come up with a less-raunchy version of the tune, he'd put it on the radio ... and it wound up topping the charts a few weeks later. (Clearly, HE heard the hit-potential ... he just thought that the Them version was a little "too rough" for an "innocent" teenage audience.) Truly, who knows ... in that the Them version was being pretty much ignored here locally, one cannot help but wonder ... would, coulda, shoulda indeed!!! (kk)
Kent,
Being the Emitt Rhodes fan that you (AND I) are, apparently there is a documentary film being made about him that is competing in a Rome Film festival presently! Hope we get to view this one!! Here's how I found out: EBAY! They are selling T-shirts with money going to Emitt. Here's the site followed by the film trailers now on YouTube! Emitt forever!!
WLSClark
http://cgi.ebay.com/The-One-Man-BEATLES-EMITT-Rhodes-T-Shirt-60s-70s-NEW_W0QQitemZ190340930010QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?var=&hash=item72164a4378
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLL8CsVeOiE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxpFjue5Q7s&feature=related
And did you see THIS one?!?!? (kk)
Click here: YouTube - The Dating Game: The Merry-Go-Round (1960's Rock Band)
Kent, Yes I have that video. It worries me to think that the documentary will be about his "ho hum" post 74 years and not about the CLASSIC 64-74 years when he WAS a genius. His late years just frustrate me so. He COULD be a star again, but he chooses to lie in anguish and self pity, it seems. I wish they would have contacted me about his music. I assume you have heard the demos of his songs? Somewhere I have his performance on the "Tomorrow" show on cassette. It's sad he dealt his music away to the point that he could not keep up. Still, I would love to see the film someday. WLSClark
As you know, I'm a big-time Emitt Rhodes fan and have NEVER tired of hearing his music. I still listen to it all the time and it's a shame he never got more recognition for his work. (This may be a case where sounding too much like McCartney ... and playing all his own instruments at the same time that that first "McCartney" album came out ... did more to hamper him than help him ... but it's ALL good stuff.) I'd be curious to see the film, too, if it gets released here in The States in some format ... what HAS he been doing for all these years?!?!? (kk)
Kent ...
I think it's great to see the younger generation singing our Oldies. These young ladies couldn't have been born, when these songs were hits.
Frank B.
YouTube - Live! The Best of Doo-Wop - The Four Quarters
We're seeing this more and more ... even our daughter is more apt to ask me to play something like "Sh-Boom" or "Mr. Sandman" or "Runaround Sue" than she is for the latest by Flo Rida or Eminem!!! (kk)
Blue Road's "Live at Gabe's Backstage Lounge" picked for Top CDs of 2009
on Chicagoblues.com! To read Hambone's review and Top 11 CDs for 2009, click HERE
Congrats, Jimy! (kk)
re: COOL STUFF:
Just to let you know - the Internet's only week-by-week news and pop culture lookup is about finished. The work has been long and painstaking - some 80,000 hours - but it'll be worth it. Get ready for a brand new www.mrpopculture.com! The weeks are choc-full of news, trends, Hollywood, music, TV, radio - you name - all hand edited. No search spyders. And - I can tell you - there's only one researcher - me.
There's plenty of radio and music on those week-by-week pages and the fantastic part is - it'll keep growing after it's launched. And, it'll have it's own search (custom). It'll be the only week-by-week search on the planet and - anyone will be able to grab for their site or blog.
And, it compliments any book, website - or any lookup because it does it's own thing. For example - Rich Appel's new book - if you're looking up a week in 1967 - you can go to Mr. Pop and find out what else went on that week - to put it all in perspective!
We're beta testing the finished product - I can tell you - there will be nothing like it on the Internet. It'll be about 2900 weeks, 30,000 pages. That's like researching and writing 6 (500) page novels. The frustrating part up to now - I couldn't even promote it because - it wasn't finished. It will be - in about 3-4 weeks.
Hopefully - you'll be seeing more of me here!
Now - back to the music. I've always enjoyed the West coast work of Sloan / Barri and as you know, they worked with the likes of Lou Adler, The Grass Roots and others. They must have had some deal with Dunhill Records to develop new artists and delightfully - a lot of that work shows up on Youtube. Take a look at this fantastic-sounding pop band - The Thomas Band (featuring the son of Danny Thomas). I haven't heard a bad song from these guys - but I love this one ... Listen to "Penny Arkade" from 1967.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJLWRHpIZM
Here's a little more on the Thomas Group. Found this on Youtube ... Fascinating!!!
... as Danny Thomas' son, Tony (on drums & percussion) and pals put together The Thomas Group, did TV, tours, and records 1966-1968. Tony Thomas, drums / percussion, vocals; Greg Gilford, lead singer, keyboards; David Goldsmith, bass guitar, vocals; Bobby Wallerstein, rhythm guitar; Mryon Howard, lead guitar. TV: "The Ed Sullivan Show", May 1966; Casey Kasem's "9th Street West", 1966; Dick Clark's "Where The Action Is" 1967; The Danny Thomas Hour, 1968.
Best -
Gary West
ALL good news, Gary ... please keep us posted. (Just what we need ... another great distraction to keep us from doing OUR thing!!! lol) Sounds like you've REALLY put the work into this one ... wishing you continued success ... and please provide links as topics pertain to Forgotten Hits. Last week we gave the link to Barry McGuire's Trippin' The '60's site, another great source of the stuff we all love ... so keep 'em comin' folks! (kk)
re: RADIO STUFF:
We told you about the WLS Big 89 of '69 Countdown that Reel Radio ran on New Year's Day. Well, they also ran a brand new interview with John Rook, who programmed the station back at that time ... and it looks like it's a Reel Radio Hit. Last week's "ratings" show it to be the site's second most listened-to piece. (A link is provided below ... but you must be a subscriber to use their service.) In fact, you'll find THREE WLS-related broadcasts in The Top 20 ... people sometimes underestimate just how powerful a force this station was in our lives back then. WLS Airchecks by Larry Lujack and Fred Winston can ALSO be found in The Top 40, as well as one by Bob Dearborn from WCFL. (Of course you also have your choice of two Soupy Sales cuts in The Top Three, too. Kinda makes you want to hit John Rook in the face with a pie, doesn't it?!?!?) kk
The ReelRadio interview of John Rook leaped from HB to #2 in the first week.
Week Ending 01-09-10
1 - Soupy Sales Moldy Oldies, April 12-13, 1986 Pt. 1
2 - John Rook - The Big 89 of 1969 Interview, December 30, 2009
3 - Soupy Sales Moldy Oldies, April 12-13, 1986 Pt. 2
4 - Johnny Holliday, KYA San Francisco Top 30 of 1967, December 9, 1967
5 - Don Clark, KOL Seattle, December 25, 1970
6 - Gary Shannon, KJR Seattle WA. December 31 1969 (unscoped)
7 - Billy Moore, Drake Chenault Best of 1979 Top Ten Countdown
8 - Ron Riley, WLS Chicago, 1968
9 - Bob Elliot, WOR-FM New York January 1968
10 - JJ Jeffrey, Chuck Knapp, WRKO Top 300 1967
11 - Jimi Fox, B-100 KFMB-FM, San Diego, Summer 1975
12 - John Records Landecker, WLS Chicago December 17, 1979
13 - George Michael, WABC New York, December 19, 1974
14 - Richard Irwin, WIXE Monroe NC March 29, 1969
15 - Mark Elliot, Drake-Chenault Weekly Top 30, Hr. 1 Sep 19, 1981
16 - Dr. Don Rose KFRC San Francisco March 10 1978
17 - Mike Kelly, CKLW Logger #6, June 29, 1973
18 - Tiger Bob Raleigh, WPGC Washington D.C. July 20 1969
19 - The REELRADIO Tenth Birthday Special, February 12, 2006
20 - Robert W. Morgan, KHJ Los Angeles October 1968
Jimmy Jay and I do our weekly controversial and informative show, "TODAY IN THE NEWS" on Mondays, between 3:00 & 4:00 pm EST, following LAURA INGRAHAM. It's all part of the popular Mary Jane Popp News Hour, which broadcasts a powerful signal on KAHI am radio from Auburn, California. PLEASE LISTEN ... IT STREAMS ON LINE. Just Google it and hear us LIVE!!!
Best regards,
Trade Martin
Do people really listen to radio any more?? Considering what's on the radio nowadays, I stopped listening. The ONLY radio station I ever listen to is TOP SHELF OLDIES, which plays the songs I love and songs I never heard but wish I had.
the great and wonderful Malcolm Collins
You need to send your opinion over to Rich Appel at Hz So Good for his upcoming "alternatives to conventional radio" series. (kk)
Mel Carter made his first recording at the age of four in a penny arcade: it cost his grandmother 25 cents. That not-quite-polished performance wasn't exactly the "start of something big" but it was a hint of what was to come.
The emphasis on this show is on Mel's pop music career. But before his commercial success in that genre, he was an active gospel singer, performing with many of the top artists in the field including the great Mahalia Jackson. In 1957 he was voted "Top Gospel Tenor" by a magazine.
His ultimate destiny was pop music and he owes a debt of gratitude to Sam Cooke who took him under his wing as his protege. In 1963 Sam signed Mel to his own label, Derby Records, and wrote Mel's first hit record which was released on that label called "When A Boy Falls In Love." Mel subsequently moved to Imperial Records and in 1965 hit the top ten with his revival of "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me," a recording that is one of the most beloved of the rock era. Right after we played that record, he told me what he really thought of the song, which in fact has become his signature song: what he had to say may surprise you!
Mel continued to chart by reviving old hits. The executives at his record label dubbed him the "Bring 'em Back Alive Kid," a reference to those "lucky" songs that came back into the public consciousness thanks to Mel's winning interpretations.
All told he had seven Hot 100 hits, six of which were revivals: the only exception was his debut hit, the Sam Cooke song mentioned above.
In addition to having a very successful career as a singer, he's also acted in dozens of TV shows and commercials.Mel still performs today and recently recorded an album called "The Heart & Soul of Mel Carter" in which, true to form, he "brings back alive" several more chestnuts: we end the show with two songs from that album.
"Multi-talented" is a great word to describe this gifted man and doing this show with him was a total delight.
Following are the tracks on the show plus the two bonus tracks in sequence.
1 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (excerpt)
2 When A Boy Falls In Love -- Mel Carter
3 The Richest Man Alive -- Mel Carter (excerpt)
4 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me -- Sonny Til and the Orioles (excerpt)
5 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me -- Karen Chandler (excerpt)
6 Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me -- Mel Carter
7 (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings -- Mel Carter
8 Band Of Gold -- Mel Carter
9 You You You -- Mel Carter
10 Cry -- Mel Carter
11 Where Or When -- Mel Carter
--------------------------------------------------
BT Love Is All We Need -- Mel Carter
BT Take Good Care Of Her -- Mel Carter
This interview show was recorded exclusively for the "Jersey Girls Sing" website. The Home Page of that website is
http://www.jerseygirlssing.com The following link will get you directly to my Radio Page, which is a part of the website and which contains this latest show and all of my previous ones.http://www.jerseygirlssing.com/RonnieRadioPage.html
Ronnie Allen
Is Bob Morgan a ForgottenHits reader? He certainly should be! Take a look: http://www.thebobmorganshow.com/
David Lewis
Not as far as I know ... why don't you drop him a line, tell him and show him what we do ... and ask him to come onboard!!! (kk)
Done!
David
Kent ...
Here in New York, this Holiday Weekend, WCBS - FM is counting down the Top 101 Artists of All Time.
#101 = David Bowie
#ONE = ELVIS
I agree with # 1. Don't agree with # 101.
Frank B.
I guess it all depends on what this ranking is based on. Popularity votes? Some sort of chart status? WCBS' custodian's opinion? Joel Whitburn lists The Top 500 Artists based on Billboard's Chart Rankings every time he publishes a new edition of his "Top Pop Singles" books. Based on HIS rankings, Elvis is ALSO #1 and The Pointer Sisters come in at #101. (David Bowie comes in at #140 ... but Whitburn's list includes chart performance through the 2008 charts, which puts artists like Mariah Carey, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, etc, pretty high up on the list. If we only ranked the artists that typically qualify as "oldies artists", we'd have a far-different outcome ... but that would also mean that Bowie would rank even higher!!!) kk
re: MORE COMMERCIAL COMMENTARY:
>>>Does anybody else remember "Give me rival dog food ... arf arf ... arf arf." To this day I can't hear Strauss' "Blue Danube" without thinking about those lyrics. (Ed Erxleben)
Being quite a senior citizen, I remember the Rival Dog Food, arf arf, very well. I also remember Dash Dog Food's " D-A-S-H, D-A-S-H, Dash Dog Food, Dash Dog Food. Fortified with liver, Dogs will love that liver, Dash Dog Food, Dash Dog Food", done to the tune of "Frere Jacques". Probably the dog food that Rival rivaled back in the day.
Hil
Maypo cereal. I never tried it, but I remember the commercial.
the great and wonderful Malcolm Collins
Hey Kent,
Here’s an old Jan & Dean Coca Cola commercial with Cousin Brucie. Very rare!
And here's Jay and the Americans for Coca Cola
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kyRAnsvAOk
Jerry Cullen
Brooksville, FL
Hey Kent,
In reading about all these commercials in Forgotten Hits and this being an area in which I am involved these days, makes me remember a commercial we did as "The Lettermen" in the late 60's for Pan American Airways.
In the commercial we are doing a live show when we leave the stage, walking out through the audience and they get up and follow us outside. We then climb into a large blue Pan AM globe, which was their logo, and float away.
The name of the song was "Get Into This World", and I believe it's on the CD I sent you called "The Lost Hits".
You know, you do these things and you see them on TV, then time goes by and you realize you don't have a copy of it. That's why I'm writing you about this in the hopes that a reader might know if someone has it in a vault some where.
I know Pan Am has long been defunked and I don't know who the ad agency or production company was, but I would dearly love to have a copy.
Thanks,
Letterman, Gary Pike
Well, let's put it out there and see what comes back. (I'm assuming you've already checked the obvious places like YouTube???) Meanwhile, here's a copy of the tune Gary's referring to ... (it's actually titled "For Once In A Lifetime") ... maybe if this sounds familiar to somebody out there, they'll know where to look next to find a VIDEO copy! (Hey, WE'D like to see it, too!!! lol) kk
Love the Jingles. In the NYC area, I think the Palisades Park [not the excellent Freddie Cannon song] commercial would rank very high.
Mark
Freddy recently redid his "Palisades Park" single for a jingle spot promoting K-Earth Radio ... and we've got THAT clip here for you, too! (kk)
>>>My original demo for "Happiness Is" was cleaned up and released in a Sanctuary compilation, “The Paul Evans Songbook”. If you think your audience would be interested in the original demo, just let me know and I’ll shoot it over to you as soon as my music toys have been put back together. (Paul Evans)
>>>I think our readers would LOVE to hear the original demo version, Paul ... we've been VERY fortunate in being able to air several of these rarities over the years ... ALWAYS interesting to see where these recordings first came from!!! So please, by ALL means, forward us a copy once you're up and running again and we'll be happy to share it with the list! (kk)
Hey Kent,
You asked for an Mp3 of “Happiness Is”. I don’t have the Ray Conniff Singers nor do I have the Count Basie record – but here’s my pre-Kent commercial, pre-chart original demo. You’re “the man”.
Paul
re: HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
I just got this request from Mr. C, the guy who does "The Flip Side Show" over at Radio Free Nashville ... he received it from one of his listeners. I don't recognize it at all ... but I'm hoping that somebody on the list can help us track down this B-Side so we can send it to him to play on his show. (kk)
Hey Kent,
I received the email below from a person looking for a recording of a b-side. She can't remember the artist; just some of the lyrics. Do you recognize it? I tried google got nothing. I don't recognize it.
Mr. C
Hello Mr. C,
I have been looking for years, off and on, for a recording of a song with the lyrics, "Can't you see for the tears that have just sprung sadly to your eyes how I'm begging to you see and believe how much I care for you. I know it's hard to find the words that you might have me to say, to tell me the doubts you have, and fears you have, that I might never return one day."
It was the flip side of a 45 that I had when I was a kid, so in the 70's probably. I can't remember what was on the A side, but you can bet it was an AM pop radio song. I can't remember the artist either.
Can you tell me what the name of the song is, the artist, and if it is even remotely possible to get a copy? I will try to listen to your show, but I usually don't get home from work until after 7 pm. Would it be possible for you to reply via email?
Thank you very much! When I saw your web site come up in my search I believed I may finally be able answer this longing for what I remember as a beautiful sad song from my early teen years.
Susan Gant / Kenly, NC
re: DIGGIN' FORGOTTEN HITS:
damn!!
your site is fantastic Kent!
Vic from Philly
Thanks, Vic ... glad to see you're enjoying Forgotten Hits! (kk)
Kent -
The website is absolutely fabulous!!!! I saw the 200 Greatest Two-Sided Hits ... I thought the list was fabulous! And so many ELIVS songs on the list! I sent your link to my entire Elvis list so that they could see it, too. And thank you so much for your kind words about my dear and wonderful friend, Citizen Bill.
Elvis Always,
Jennie Carpenter
Huntsville, AL
Without question, Elvis was the KING of The Two-Sided Hits!!! Citizen Bill was playing selections from our list for a while there when it first went out on his Sunday Night "Remember Then" radio program ... and Scott Shannon did an entire Two-Sided Hits / Twin-Spin Weekend on The True Oldies Channel, too. (Speaking of which, isn't it about time for him to do that again?!?!?) Thanks for the kind words, Jennie ... and for all the Elvis referrals. If anybody on the list HASN'T seen The Top 200 Biggest Two-Sided Hits Of The Rock Era, you need to check this out! It's a mathematical countdown, compiled by ranking each record's performance on the national charts. (Points accumulated for every A-Side and B-Side were added together in order to achieve a TRUE representation of the BIGGEST Two-Sided Hits EVER, regardless of any ONE side of a record's chart performance.) The WHOLE list is on display here:
Click here: Forgotten Hits - The Top 200 BIGGEST TWO-SIDED HITS of All-Time
... along with a list of "Honorable Mentions". DEFINITELY worth a look-over when you've got the time! Thanks, Jenny! (kk)
and ... speaking of Elvis ...
re: ELVIS:
Kent,
In celebration of Elvis' 75th birthday, I offer up 2 little known releases he made! BTW, he called me from Argentina this week asking if they are still buying the "Elvis is dead" story!
WLSClark
re: CALLING ALL RECORD COLLECTORS:
A couple of weeks ago we mentioned wanting to do a special segment on the hobby (and art) of record collecting. A few of you responded ... but not very many ... and I know that we have TONS of Record Collectors out there on the list. So c'mon ... tell us your stories ... What's the best deal you ever made? What's the most you ever paid for a record? Which is the one you're still looking for ... and how long have you been looking? Tell us your stories ... Where'd you find that needle in the haystack? What's your favorite Garage Sale Goldmine Story? Let us know and we'll wrap them all up into a little mini-series exploring the fun, craziness and frustration of record collecting! (kk)
re: TOMORROW ON THE WEB PAGE:
A VERY SPECIAL FINAL DEBATE regarding the practices of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Yes, we've beaten it to death ... yes, many of you are sick and tired of our constant ranting and raving and don't want to hear it anymore. MOST of you couldn't care less about who they nominate and induct because it all stopped making sense long, long ago. So tomorrow we take one final look reviewing point by point our position on just what's wrong with The RRHF. Thanks to a strongly-worded email we received a while back from The Drive's Bob Stroud, a guy for whom I have nothing but the UTMOST respect, we're now able to officially "debate" some of these issues point by point ... and restate our position AND our confusion with just what the heck constitutes Rock And Roll. Don't miss it ... it's a doozy!!! (And then we'll put this topic to rest for a while!!!) kk
