re: SUMMER SONGS:
Hey, look what Billboard Magazine just did!!! They've compiled a list of the All-Time 30 Greatest Songs of Summer!!! (Are we trend-setters or what?!?!?) FH Correspondent Ron Smith just sent me this link with their Top 30 Summer Countdown ... biggest difference is their list runs from 1958 through Now ... which means that Katy Perry's "California Gurls", still riding their Hot 100 Pop Chart, actually makes their Top 30 List! Smallest difference??? They've come up with the EXACT same #1 Summer Song that WE did, every time we've run this survey. You can check out the full results right here (and catch a video for each track, too!!!) kk
http://www.billboard.com/#/features/top-30-summer-songs-1004101310.story
(Actually, this is getting just a little bit freaky!!! That's two in a row now ... last time we did our True Oldies Channel / Forgotten Hits Top Remakes Weekend, AOL came back with their list of The Top 20 Greatest Remakes Of All-Time ... and now THIS ... after True Oldies counted down our Top 20 and we put a list of The Top 100 on the website!!! Unreal!!! And yes, for the record, I have been looking over my shoulder the entire time I've been typing this!!!) kk
Two of my favorites summer songs are oddball choices, I guess: "Make Believe" by Wind from 1969. Many years later, I got the LP with the silver cover and found out who Wind really was, and there's at least one other super cut "Teenybopper." Then from 1977, I always liked "Over the Summer" by Sparks. Just perfect in every way, if slightly off-kilter. "A little redder, but much better." Boy, I remember that! Kids coming back on the first day of school, so sore they could barely sit down.
-- stolf
"Make Believe" by Wind was one of our original Forgotten Hits way back when ... a song deserving of more recognition and airplay ... and it seems to be receiving that (or at least a little more respect, perhaps due to the Tony Orlando connection) these days. (I couldn't believe that Orlando didn't so much as MENTION the recording of this track in his autobiography! Never understood that.) We'll feature it again today because it's one of OUR favorites, too. (And was a #13 Hit here in Chi-Town back in 1969 ... but actually in the FALL of '69!) kk
Oh, man! You left off the best summer song by the HOTTEST woman who ever lived!
"Summer Wine" by Nancy Sinatra!
Later ...
Stan
If you check the "expanded" list, you'll find "Summer Wine" by Nancy and Lee at #76 ... then again, if you check our Top 200 All-Time Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides List, you'll find them all the way at #3!!! Without question, a GREAT tune ... and a personal favorite. (And yes, Nancy WAS hot!!! lol) kk
Kent-man:
You nailed it brother!
Love your posts!
Wild Bill
Kent,
Thanks for the "short stack" ... of 'HOT 'CAKES' ... lol.
Those are all GREAT songs on your list, and as I was reading down thru the song titles I could almost smell the open air NIGHTS in my old 53 Ford convertible during that 1964 Summer of my High School Graduation. Again, your newsletter is helping me remember a LOT of great times.
There is ONE song however ... (Oh Great Master of the Forgotten Disc ... lol) ... that your list did NOT include ... it's a "summer song" that I think SHOULD have been included ... George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun".
Maybe it doesn't fit the criteria, but you have to admit, the lyrics seem to point to this MOST pleasant of ALL the seasons for 'action' and 'memories'.
Let me know what you think about that, and as I've told you before, "Thanks" for all the work you put into your great newsletter. You NEVER fail to entertain me and to "take me back" to my younger years.
Best "Summertime Dreams' to you and your Crew,
Veeder Van Dorn
The 'Original' Moonrakers
PS. I'm including a "remix" I did of a Beach Boys favorite of mine "Getcha Back". It's fun to listen to and maybe your readers would like to hear it. I'm still working in music, though these days I'm mostly playing for Alzheimer patients and for Convalescent Hospitals. I'm getting a hip replacement surgery done soon and I'm in the same boat that some of THEM are. I make a joke out of my situation and tell them ... " I'm a Hip Guy ... and an Old Hippie ". That usually gets a chuckle or two.
Van Dorn!!! Great to hear from you!!!
Actually, if you check the "updated and expanded" list on the website, you'll see that The Beatles' classic "Here Comes The Sun" is indeed listed as an "extra" ... incredibly, NONE of The Beatles' hits earned enough votes to make The Top 40 ... or even The Top 100 List for that matter! (Top Beatles vote-getter? "Good Day Sunshine"!!!) But you're absolutely right ... at the very least, it deserves an "Honorable Mention" ... so that's where I've listed it!
Sounds like things are going well ... as always, thanks for the praise, it means a lot! Have a GREAT summer! (kk)
Click here: Forgotten Hits - Your All-Time Summer Favorites
Good late evening, Kent,
Just back from a week in WA -- Seattle, Tacoma and the "Tri-Cities" -- where I had a chance to listen briefly to 97.5, an oldies station there programmed by an old friend, Barry Long. Barry is also the afternoon jock. Love 'small town' radio ... they get so wrapped up in the community ... which is why radio should continue to be around for many more years -- it's a 'local' thing.
So, tonight was my first opportunity to read the Top 40 All-Time Summer Favorites -- and, for the most part -- I have to agree with you ... particularly since 'the real 'boys of summer,' The Beach Boys, landed two in the Top 10 and four more filled out the remainder of the Top 40. Actually, if you include Brian's "Surf City," a #1 for Jan & Dean, the group has seven songs represented out of forty. Don't think any group or artist will ever top those numbers.
But it was also wonderful to see two 'all-time' greats, Nat "King" Cole and "old Blue Eyes," make the list. Great songs, great singers -- and great melodies -- will always stand the test of time.
"Fun, Fun, Fun" always comes up when you ask folks what their favorite 'songs of summer' are -- even though it was actually written in the depth of winter -- or at least wrapped up during that period. I was with Brian Wilson at his new office in the Sunset - Vine Tower (corner of Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street - and catty corner with Wallich's Music City retail store) when he was putting the finishing touches on the song. In fact, he had me sing a few harmony parts with him so he could get a feel for what it would sound like when he went into Western Recorders a few days later on January 1, 1964, to record the classic. "Warmth of the Sun" filled out the session that day. Not a 'bad day at the office,' wouldn't you say, guys?
So, even though "Fun" opens their 'live' concert album, it had not been recorded when we did the first of two 'live' recording sessions at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, on December 21, 1963. "Beach Boys Concert" became the group's first #1 album and first "Gold" album. It also contained their first #1 single, "I Get Around."
Overall, I have to agree with most of the choices but I was a bit surprised that Gail Garnett's "We'll Sing In the Sunshine" did not show up. It, too, was not a 'summer song,' per se, but did manage to win a Grammy for "Best Folk Performance" at the 1965 Grammy Awards. It had been a Top 5 pop hit, a #1 A/C hit and even got a good deal of country play in '64.
Fred Vail / Treasure Isle
Nashville -- "Music City, USA"
PS Great to see The Jamies, "Summertime, Summertime," on the list. I don't know if it was a nationwide thing, or just the Sacramento stations having fun with the song, but a few of the jocks used to play it at 33, instead of 45. It gave the song a real r&b sound ... and I actually got used to listening to it that way. Would love to hear from a few of the readers to see if their local stations played it at the slower speed?
Gale Garnett's Hit "We'll Sing In The Sunshine" ALSO made our "Honorable Mentions" list ... it earned a total of 24 votes ... just not enough to make the "hot" list. Honestly, after all this time, "Summertime Summertime" has not aged well for me ... I think it would be a RELIEF to hear it at 33 rpm!!! As always, thanks for your "hands on" insight, Fred! (kk)
... and, speaking of The Beach Boys ...
re: THE BEACH BOYS:
This just in from David Beard, publisher of "Endless Summer Quarterly", the PREMIER Beach Boys fanzine ...
THE WORLD’S LEADING BEACH BOYS PUBLICATION ENDLESS SUMMER QUARTERLY, INC., CELEBRATES THE BOYS OF SUMMER!
Endless Summer Quarterly Celebrates Summer With A New CD
With The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary over six months away, Endless Summer Quarterly (now celebrating its 23rd year) is pleased to be bringing subscribers of the fanzine a brand new 14-track compilation featuring music from Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Dean Torrence, as well as material from the late Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Jan Berry. The complimentary disc is included in the Summer 2010 issue available exclusively to subscribers until October 1, when the edition will be available for individual purchase.
ESQ editor David Beard is also the featured writer in Goldmine Magazine’s “Summer Surf Issue” in which Beard has contributed three feature articles: an interview with Al Jardine on the 45th anniversary of the Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!!) album, vintage q & a with Jan & Dean and “The 10 Albums That Changed My Life” by David Marks; he has also contributed a two-page spread on compiling the complimentary CD titled, “Behind the scenes: The Making of the ‘Boys of Summer’ CD.” The July 16 edition [Issue #782] is available now.The rest of 2010 looks great for subscribers of ESQ, with an upcoming special edition on the 40th Anniversary of Sunflower … and interviews with Brian Wilson and Al Jardine on their respective album releases. Subscribers of ESQ have come to expect accuracy, quality and fun, and that’s what each edition delivers for the fans in celebration of The Beach Boys’ amazing legacy.
Endless Summer Quarterly was established in 1987 by editors emeritus Rick Edgil and Phil Mast in San Diego. Editor emeritus Lee Dempsey and current editor David Beard began publishing in Charlotte, NC with just over 200 subscribers in the summer of 1993. Within a few years the East Coast team had established a new following of readers with an incredible increase of over 1,000 readers. With the passing of Carl Wilson in February of 1998 and The Beach Boys pursuit of individual musical, ESQ refocused on the individuals and their musical contributions both to the band’s history as well as their individual output. Considered to be the world’s leading Brian Wilson / Beach Boys / Jan & Dean publication by the group members, their associates and historians worldwide, ESQ continues to create historically memorable editions with David Beard’s positive vision and desire to celebrate the band’s legacy.
ESQuarterly.com now includes a complete back issue order form (dating 15 years back to 1993) with a breakdown of every edition as a downloadable PDF file.
For further information on ENDLESS SUMMER QUARTERLY, ENDLESS SKY and ESQUARTERLY.COM contact: Editor@esquarterly.com
www.ESQuarterly.comhttp://endlesssummerquarterly.blogspot.com/
Al Jardine ... Steve Miller ... Flea ... That was a killer version of the Beach Boys hit "Help Me Rhonda"! And this on the eve of the Beach Boy's 50th Anniversary!
Wild Bill
And still available on Al Jardine's website:
Click here: Al Jardine - "Help Me Rhonda" Video
In fact, if you go right now, you'll also see a brand new video posted featuring Alec Baldwin!!! (kk)
re: McGUINN AND McGUIRE:
>>>I'VE BEEN AT THE PBS TAPINGS IN PITTSBURGH AND I HAVE ANOTHER 50 ROLLS OF FILM TO ADD TO MY COLLECTION! IT WAS THREE DAYS OF "HEAVEN ON EARTH". IT WAS GREAT TO MEET SOME PERFORMERS I'VE NEVER MET BEFORE (LA LA BROOKS OF THE CRYSTALS "DA DOO RON RON", DEE DEE SHARP, JACKIE DESHANNON, EDDIE FLOYD, JONATHAN EDWARDS & MANY MORE), BUT IT WAS EVEN BETTER TO SEE A LOT OF SINGERS I HAVEN'T RAN ACROSS IN AWHILE. FINALLY GOT A PIC OF "McGUINN & McGUIRE" TOGETHER, AND BARRY ACTUALLY JOINED OUR ALL NITE HOTEL LOBBY PARTY ON THE LAST DAY AROUND 3 AM, TWO HOURS BEFORE HE WAS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE FOR THE AIRPORT. WHAT A GREAT GUY!! THOSE SHOWS ARE WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD. DAVY JONES WAS A FANTASTIC HOST AS WELL ... EVERYONE WORKING THERE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM! IT WAS PURE MAGIC. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT IN DECEMBER! (MICHAEL G BUSH)
Hey Kent:
When did this occur in Pittsburgh?? And did you get a copy of Barry and Roger together on a pic?
Wild Bill
Sounds like just a few weeks ago ... late May / early June maybe??? We're already looking forward to watching a FANTASTIC concert once PBS finishes editing this thing. Mike Bush snapped a photo of McGuinn and McGuire backstage at the event ... and while we haven't obtained the rights to run a copy yet, we're still hoping to have something for you soon! Stay tuned! (kk)
P.S. Hey Mike ... Barry would like a copy, too!!!
By the way, the line-up for this show sounds nothing short of spectacular ... check this out ... these are some of the artists confirmed for PBS Oldies tapings (many of whom will appear on this program recently filmed in Pittsburgh!): Ronnie Spector – "Be My Baby"
Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone – "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter"
LaLa Brooks – "Da Doo Run Run"
Bill Haley's Comets – "Rock Around the Clock"
The Passions – "Just to Be With You"
Lou Christie – "Lightnin' Strikes"
Paul Revere and The Raiders - "Kicks", "Just Like Me"
Carl Gardner's Coasters – "Yakety Yak", "Poison Ivy"
Sonny Turner's Platters – "Only You", "With This Ring"
Jay Traynor – "She Cried"
Jay Black - "Cara Mia", "This Magic Moment"
The Guys from Turtle Creek (Bill Burkett & Huey Geyer) –"You're The One"
Kenny Vance and the Planotones – "Looking for an Echo"
The Kingsmen – "Louie Louie" (Tom Cruise's ringtone in the new "Knight And Day" movie, by the way!!! kk)
The Toys – "A Lover's Concerto"
Question Mark and The Mysterians – "96 Tears"
Roger McGuinn (of the Byrds) – "Mr. Tambourine Man"
Barry McGuire – "Eve of Destruction", "Green Green"
Bruce Channel – "Hey! Baby"
Jefferson Starship – "Miracles"
Davy Jones (of the Monkees) – "Daydream Believer"
Mitch Ryder – "Devil with A Blue Dress"
Jesse Colin Young of the Youngbloods – "Get Together"
Dee Dee Sharp – "Mashed Potato Time"
The Orlons – "The Wah Watusi"
Shirley Alston Reeves – "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"
The Chiffons – "One Fine Day"
Eddie Floyd – "Knock on Wood"
Eddie Holman - "Hey There Lonely Girl"
The Miracles – "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"
The Marcels – "Blue Moon"
Kathy Young – "A Thousand Stars"
Gary Lewis and the Playboys - "This Diamond Ring"
The Chad Mitchell Trio The Dixie Cups – "Chapel of Love"
Steam – "Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye"
Cannibal & The Headhunters – "Land of 1,000 Dances"
The Exciters – "Tell Him"
Cathy Jean and the Roommates – "Please Love Me Forever"
Len Barry – "1, 2, 3"
Randy & The Rainbows featuring Randy Safuto – "Denise"
The Edsels – "Rama Lama Ding Dong"
The Cleftones – "Heart and Soul"
Quotations – "Imagination"
Chad and Jeremy – "Yesterday's Gone", "Summer Song"
Jonathan Edwards – "Sunshine Go Away"
Linda Jansen of The Angels – "Till"
That just means that there's some REALLY good music coming up on PBS later this year!!! (kk)
And speaking of Roger McGuinn, here's something from his #1 Fan, Wild Bill Cody:
Growing Bolder did a great interview with Roger & Camilla, it's an hour long interview, however there is a small faux pax, after 22 mins the interview starts again, (so you might want to start it around 22:30), but then it goes for the entire hour to the end. Really alot of great and interesting info that I think you'll enjoy. If you get a chance, check it out!
Wild Bill
http://growingbolder.com/media/entertainment/music/roger-mcguinn-699.html?fr=ot1156fs3786pi360sbv966d#content_tabs
re: DADDY DEWDROP:
I just happened to catch Jim Shea interviewing Daddy Dewdrop the other morning on Y103.9 ... what an interesting background this guy has had ... I had NO idea!!! (I guess I've always just thought of "Chick-A-Boom" as one of those great, one-hit wonders ... I mean, I've ALWAYS loved the song ... and played it non-stop back in the day ... but I never realized how far back the career of Richard Monda (Daddy Dewdrop's real name) went! From late vaudeville dates that included dancing with Frank Sinatra at the age of five (Monda's age, not Sinatra's! lol) and appearing on stage with the likes of Danny Kaye and Abbott and Costello ... to a lead role in the film "The Eddie Cantor Story" (he played Eddie as a young boy ... and even sang in the movie!) ... to auditioning for the part that ultimately went to James Dean in "Rebel Without A Cause" ... this guy's done it all at one time or another. (But I was perhaps MOST impressed by finding out that Monda wrote The Mauds' big Chicagoland Hit "Soul Drippin'" back in 1969 ... how is it possible that I never knew this?!?!? I mean, we've spent YEARS discussing how a young Tony Orlando co-wrote The New Colony Six's big local hit "I'm Just Waiting, Anticipating (For Her To Show Up)" ... but I had absolutely NO idea that Daddy Dewdrop was involved with writing THIS Chicagoland classic!) And The Mauds aren't the only artists to record Richard's music ... everyone from Tom Jones to Engelbert Humperdinck to Gary Puckett to Sammy Davis, Jr., to Kenny Rogers to Ringo Starr have recorded songs penned by Richard Monda over the years! You can check out all the details on The Daddy Dewdrop Website:
Click here: Daddy Dewdrop Welcome
Wish I had known Jim was going to have him on his program ... I think Daddy Dewdrop would have enjoyed hearing one of my favorite "Grade School Frannie" stories from years back:
When I was a fifth grade elementary student in Fort Worth, Texas, our music teacher, Mrs. Mitchell, allowed us to bring our own records from home and play them in her class each Friday. Since I used my allowance to treat myself to one 45 a week, I always provided the Friday music. One particular Friday, I brought Chick-A-Boom to play. My classmates were quite excited about this since it was our favorite song and we sang it every day at recess. I gave the record to Mrs. Mitchell, she put it on to play and then sat down at her desk to read Good News For Modern Man, which was not out of the ordinary back in 1971 Texas. Mrs. Mitchell was engrossed in her bible studies and not paying much attention during the opening of the doors 1 and 2 in the song, so she did not hear of the bikini parts located behind each door. At the point of, "I opened the third door ... " my whole class sang as loud as they could, " ... and she whispered so sexy and low ... oooooo!!" THAT caught Mrs. Mitchell's attention and she jumped up, went to the record player, removed the record and exclaimed, 'Frances Elizabeth..you are never again to bring such dirtiness to my classroom ever again! This is not the way of our Savior!" She then sealed the record in a manila envelope, taped the back shut, and put my mother's name on the front. That was also the end of Friday Record Day, and we went back to singing Waltzing Matilda and My Grandfather's Clock.
-- Frannie Kotal
lol ... I LOVE it!!! One of my favorite childhood stories from Frannie's adolescence!!! (Not sure which left deeper emotional scars ... the lyrics to "Chick-A-Boom" or Mrs. Mitchell's reaction to them!!! lol) kk
re: EDDIE COCHRAN:
I am reading the biography of Eddie Cochran, written by his nephew. John Rook is mentioned a lot in the book. I seem to remember that he was also writing a book on his association with Eddie. I am hoping that he will let us know when it will be available. I live in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the town where Eddie Cochran was born. We have Eddie Cochran Weekend every year in June, with a drive in movie, car cruises, car swap, ice cream social, concert and a dance with local oldies bands. Our museum is home to Eddie's gold records, stage clothes, etc, so I have developed in interest in him and his music and want to get to know a little bit more about him. John Rook?? I need an update!!! Thank you so much!!
LeAnn Zerck
Albert Lea, Minnesota
I sent your note to John Rook (who I believe has attended The Eddie Cochran Festival many times in the past) and asked him to share an update with our readers. During our Summer Favorites Countdown, Scott Shannon mentioned that if it were up to HIM, "Summertime Blues" by Eddie Cochran would have been #1 ... it's his favorite Summer Song of all time! (It came in at #8 on our list.) By the way, be sure to check out John's Tribute to Eddie on his web page ... it's OUTSTANDING! (kk)
Click here: John Rook - www.johnrook.com
(Be sure to scroll down to see ALL kinds of "Eddie Links"!!!)
Kent,
A few years ago Scott Shannon discovered my life prior to radio. He told me then that he was a huge Eddie Cochran fan.
On my website, www.Johnrook.com in the "Passing Thru" section, you'll find a rather detailed writing and photos of my years with Eddie. His mother Alice Cochran invited me to join her in Albert Lea before she passed away. It was during a time when I virtually shut out Eddie from my life. It was just too painful to go. That fifty years has now past since I last talked to Eddie, the sadness of his death has begun to be replaced with some great memories of our time as teenagers. I miss him. He was a great influence for me and with his suggestion that I entered into a radio career.
Just a few days ago I heard Summertime Blues on the radio and in recent years I've been able to listen to 60 some odd cuts, many that were never released but given to me by Al Bennett, President of Liberty Records, before his death several years ago. A few dozen of them bring special memories because I was in the recording studio at Liberty or Gold Star in Hollywood when they were recorded.
Eddie always signed every autograph "Don't Forget Me" ... he would be so pleased knowing they haven't.
I've attached one of my favorite Eddie Cochran songs, "Sick and Tired". It was a hit by Fats Domino in 1958 and Eddie is joined by our pal Bob Denton. It was a song that they often sang while I was driving them down the road for a weekend on the California desert. It was never released for the public.
John Rook
Wow!!! VERY cool ... and another Forgotten Hits Exclusive! Thanks, John, for sharing this VERY rare track with our readers. (kk)
re: BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS:
>>>According to Joel Whitburn's Pop Single Book, "Burn That Candle" charted as the A-Side, peaking at #16 on The Billboard Best Sellers Chart in 1956. "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie", the flip side, reached #23. Incredibly, neither record made the Cash Box Chart. (kk)
In fact, both sides of that Bill Haley single did appear on the Cash Box charts, peaking in late 1955. Here's the link to the chart from Dec. 17, 1955, showing "Candle" at #13 and "Boogie" at #38 (after peaking at #24 a month earlier): http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/50s_files/19551217.html
–- Randy Price
Wow ... my source for this is the "Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950 - 1993" by Pat Downey, George Albert and Frank Hoffman ... based on YOUR chart copy, clearly they've gotten it wrong. (Any idea how many OTHER errors like this might exist in this book???) kk
There are literally hundreds of errors in the Cash Box chart books, but this was not one of them (technically) ... The Pat Downey book used the earlier Frank Hoffmann book as its source for all the '50s chart data; Hoffmann, for reasons best known to him, researched the Top 10 Juke Box charts for his chart data up through July 1956, before switching over to the Top 50 Best Selling Singles charts. As a result, any record that failed to make the Top 10 on the Juke Box chart prior to August 1956 is not included in those books. (All the charts posted on the cashboxmagazine.com website are transcribed from the Best Selling Singles charts.)
–- Randy
I would LOVE to get a list of these corrections so that we can update OUR chart information as well ... always want to be sure to be quoting the correction statistics, as often as we refer to this chart information in our newsletters! (kk)
Kent,
After I got the Pat Downey Cash Box book, I compiled a list of errors and omissions for the A thru M section of the Artists listings and sent it to Pat. I spoke with him on the phone shortly thereafter, and he told me that, due to poor sales for the book, he did not plan to publish an updated edition, so I never took the time to complete the list through the end of the alphabet. Some of those are minor corrections to song titles or artist and label names, but many are corrections / additions to the chart data. It should be noted that most of the errors / omissions were originally in the earlier Frank Hoffmann Cash Box book and were unknowingly carried forward by Downey (who had been told by Hoffmann that his book contained no errors). Someday I hope to have the time to put together my own Cash Box book, which would include complete and accurate chart data from the earliest Best Selling Singles chart through the last one in November 1996.
– Randy
I would LOVE to see you take on the challenge of putting together the COMPLETE book of Cash Box Charts with all this information corrected once and for all ... a GREAT research tool for all of us who share this passion. Please keep us posted, Randy! (kk)
... and speaking of The Charts ...
re: THE BILLBOARD CHARTS:
>>>Should we reprint our Sixties Chart Book? Help us make the decision. To Reprint or Not To Reprint ... It's Up To You! Straight from the pages of Billboard -- every weekly "Hot 100" music chart, from January 1960 through December 1969, reproduced in black and white at about 70% of its original size. But before we can commit to a costly reprint, we need a commitment to order from you. If we reach our print quota, you will then be charged and we will reprint. If our quota is not met, you will not be charged. So, tell your friends who also have a heart for the charts and CALL TODAY to reserve your copy. Pre-Orders for this book CANNOT be made online or by mail. You MUST call to order: In the U.S., please call (800) 827 - 9810; Outside the U.S., call (262) 251 - 5408Monday through Thursday, 8 am - 5 pm; Friday: 8 am - Noon Central Standard Time
(Joel Whitburn / Record Research)
>>>I've got a complete set of ALL of Joel's Billboard Chart Books ... these are a GREAT reference tool and if you're into the charts the way we are, you're going to want to get your hands on a copy, too. (kk)
For those of your readers who do not have a copy of Joel Whitburn's Hot 100 Charts, the 60's, you should call and tell them they would like a copy. I bought one when it originally came out and it should be on the library shelf of anyone who likes our type of music. Also, you might get ,if they are still available, the Bubbling Under 100 Charts.
Larry Neal
The "Bubbling Under" book was discontinued after the inventory ran out ... ALL of that chart information, however, is now available in Joel's "Top Pop Singles" book ... an INCREDIBLE source of EVERY record to every make ... or "bubble under" Billboard's Top 100 Chart. (In addition, you get THOUSANDS of "classic tracks" that didn't make the charts but have long been associated with these artists. It's an absolute MUST HAVE for ANY serious music fan. (kk)
... and, speaking of the charts ... AGAIN!!! .. be sure to check out the special 4th of July Anniversary noted below!!!
re: THE FOURTH OF JULY:
Of course we all know what The Fourth of July REALLY means ... and MOST of us will take note of this in between the hot dogs and the beer consumed this weekend ... but we also thought we'd share a couple of patriotic videos submitted by our readers for you to enjoy this weekend ... along with this interesting musical tidbit ...
DIDJAKNOW?: The 4th of July marks the 40th Anniversary of "American Top 40", the syndicated Top 40 Countdown program originated by Casey Kasem back in 1970?!?!? Hard to believe (and Casey stepped down as host YEARS ago, most recently relinquishing those duties to Ryan Seacrest, who someone seemed to have a hole in his otherwise seemingly non-stop schedule!) Casey's old programs are being broadcast all over the country on great oldies stations (and XM70's has been playing them for YEARS!) Kinda neat to hear some of the songs from the bottom half of The Top 40 that simply don't receive ANY airplay anymore ... always a neat study. (Personally, I always enjoyed Casey's special countdown features ... they really mixed things up a bit!) As a special anniversary feature, Seacrest will announce "The Top Artist of the Past 40 Years" on this weekend's program ... and will also pay homage to Casey Kasem, the guy who launched “the most famous countdown show in radio history”, which debuted on the July 4 weekend of 1970 with Casey countin’ ‘em down, coast to coast. (kk)
Kent ...
Do you remember? Top 40, hits 40. It was 40 years ago this Sunday (7/4/10) that Casey Kasem went on the radio with a new syndicated show called "American Top 40."
The #1 song on the first "AT 40 " was "The Love You Save" by the Jackson 5 -followed by Three Dog Night's "Mama Told Me Not To Come" and the Carpenters' "Close To You." The first countdown included one of Elvis' last hits, "The Wonder Of You" and the last major Beatles hit, "The Long And Winding Road." Today the show is hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
Meanwhile, this holiday weekend, here in New York, at 12:40 PM Big Jay Sorenson is back on New York radio. Currently playing I's = I Second That Emotion by the Miracles.
The A to Z countdown started on Monday, and will be running through the holiday weekend, from 6:00 AM to midnight - everyday.
Frank B.
Kent ...
A few months ago my friend producer / manager, Joel Diamond, who’s under consideration to replace Simon Cowell on “American Idol”, and I were talking about the problems facing America today.Both of us wished that we could do more to help the country that has given us so many opportunities. The next day I got an e-mail from him, which he has allowed me to reprint.
Artie Wayne
Dear Artie,
I’m not a politician or even a reality show star; I’m just a guy who loves America and everything it stands for! We are dealing with more crises at the same time than any other point in our history … but we cannot let it get us down.
While the rest of the world is in turmoil, we can proudly say that we have never turned away from a challenge because it looked too difficult or when it looked impossible.
I truly believe in America and the unifying power of music. It moved me so much that I recorded this brand new version of “UNITED WE STAND” by the Joel Diamond Experience featuring Benny Mardones and Teresa James in preparation for the 10th anniversary of 911. Upon completion of this recording, I realized that America needed to hear it NOW!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sil-Hdlipo
“UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL AND IF OUR BACKS SHOULD EVER BE AGAINST THE WALL … WE’LL BE TOGETHER …TOGETHER YOU AND I.”
Happy Birthday America! July 4th, 2010
Your friend always,
Joel Diamond
This is a GREAT remake of a GREAT song ... and we featured it several weeks back here in Forgotten Hits ... I've probably played it two dozen times here at home since Artie first sent this in ... and it certainly seems appropriate to feature it again over this 4th of July Weekend. (kk)
We received a couple of emails about this new video by Mel Carter ... and wanted to share it with our readers ...
Hi Kent:
Mel “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” Carter, who to my ears and eyes has been a true highlight of the PBS-TV Doo Wop concerts, has just posted a video at You Tube dedicated to the troops, past and present. Very moving! Plus, when anybody has the confidence to record something a capella, you truly get to see how gifted they are vocally.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccduz30yvd0
-- Tom Cuddy
This is beautiful -- Mel's voice is as pure as ever.
Danny Guilfoyle
It certainly is a powerful reading ... and there's no question that this man can still sing. We've addressed Carter's career before in Forgotten Hits ... while "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" is and will always be his signature tune, Mel hit The National Top 40 three other times with his readings of "When A Boy Falls In Love" (#38, 1963); "All Of A Sudden My Heart Sings" (#35, 1965) and "Band Of Gold" (#32, 1966). Thanks for sending this one ... very well done! (kk)
Thank you for featuring my "Taps" video from U-tube on your website. This vocal rendition of the national song has been played at many military funerals --- leave comments if you are incline to do so ---
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccduz30yvd0
Thank you and God Bless ---
Mel Carter
And some food for thought this holiday weekend, courtesy of Fred Glickstein of The Flock ... and Will Rogers!
Will Rogers, who died in a 1935 plane crash with his best friend, Wylie Post, was probably the greatest political sage this country ever has known.
Simple but Brilliant and full of truths! Enjoy!
-- Fred
1. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.
2. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.
3. There are two theories to arguing with a woman . . . Neither works.
4. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
5. Always drink upstream from the herd.
6. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
7. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back into your pocket.
8. There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading, the few who learn by observation, and the rest of them who have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.
9. Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
10. If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.
11. Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back.
12. After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
Wishing ALL of our readers ... and ALL of their loved ones ... a Happy and Safe Fourth of July Weekend! See you next week ... with more great Forgotten Hits! (kk)
