In regard to Larry Neal’s request Sunday for where I was on February 3, 1959, I was a senior in high school in Lubbock, TX, Buddy Holly’s (Holley) hometown.
I had just come back to class from lunch when I heard the news about his death. Many girls in the class were crying and a few of my buddies actually knew Buddy and started relating old stories about him. He was a few years older than us. I did casually know Joe B. Mauldin, one of the band members of the original Crickets. He dated a girl in our class. The Crickets used to play at some of our school assemblies, etc., before they were famous. They played on weekends out at a local roller skating rink and actually won a talent contest held at a movie theater in Lubbock. Their winning song was “That’ll Be The Day”. All the local radio stations played the song all of the time. Most older people in Lubbock at the time didn’t realize how famous and popular they were until years later. Waylon Jennings was a local DJ at KDAV radio station. He was a native of Littlefield, a small town near Lubbock. He played a lot of what he called “Rockabilly”, a crossover of country & rock & roll songs.
Some of my friends attended Buddy’s funeral. It was a sad time. Like so many other people, I always thought it was a shame that he died so young and always wondered what other songs he would have written, had he lived.
None the less, he obviously made a great impact on the future direction of rock & roll, and popular music in general.
Jay Wiginton
If you checked out our 50th Anniversary Tribute Pages, you'll see that one of Ritchie Valens' classmates contributed, too. A very, very sad day in rock history ... the first REAL tragedy of rock and roll. (kk)
Sam Lit sent us a GREAT link to his website remembering "The Day The Music Died" ... you can check it all out right here:
Click here: HyLitRadio Remembers February 3, 1959.
WHAT WAS I DOING THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED?
I CRAPPED MY PANTS!
SERIOUSLY!
AFTER ALL, I WAS ONLY SIXTEEN MONTHS OLD.
AND TO DIGRESS EVEN FURTHER, "THAT'LL BE THE DAY" WAS BATTLING "TAMMY" FOR THE HOTTEST RECORD IN THE COUNTRY THE DAY I WAS BORN!
KEEP UP YOUR AWESOME WORK ...
MICHAEL G. BUSH
re: WANDA JACKSON:
Wanda's been ALL over the media lately, with her new CD, TV appearances with Jack White ... and now a special upcoming performance to launch a new "Women Who Rock" Exhibit at The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum in Cleveland. Here's a photo from a few years back with our buddy Jacofan / Ed Parker with Ms. Jackson:
I'm not at all thrilled with how I turned out in this pic but it serves its purpose.
This is me with Wanda Jackson in 2008 at a local blues / rockabilly / country joint here in Kansas City, MO, called Knuckleheads. I got her to sign our 'Rockin' With Wanda' CD as well as Wanda's chapter in the book 'Unsung Heroes Of Rock and Roll: The Birth Of Rock In The Wild Years Before Elvis' by Nick Tosches. The first line of her chapter begins: "Wanda Lavonne Jackson was, simply and without contest, the greatest menstruating rock-'n'-roll singer whom the world has ever known." It was clear that she was unaware of the book. When I gave it to her to sign, she obviously read that line and had a puzzled look on her face as a result.
Ed
Kent ...I know that most of us don't like The R-N-R Hall Of Fame. I guess this is a good idea.
Frank B.
Actually, it's a GREAT idea. (I heard Scott Shannon talking about this new exhibit the other day on The True Oldies Channel, too.)
For the record, my beef has never been with the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame MUSEUM ... they have gone out of their way over the years to spotlight ALL forms of rock and roll music. (Witness recent exhibits devoted to One Hit Wonders and Bubblegum Music!) My problem has been with the nominating committee and the whole voting process ... each year, well deserving artists are continually being overlooked in favor of acts that the majority of the public hasn't even heard of or whose music is unfamiliar to the masses. (If this is the case, how "influential" and "ground-breaking" can it really be ... if MOST people are familiar with it?!?!?) Likewise, the voting doesn't include the public, who regularly shell out MILLIONS to visit the Museum and buy memorabilia. We keep talking about putting together a Forgotten Hits Road Trip to visit the Museum ... would LOVE to actually do that some day! (kk)
Kent,
Attached is Wanda Jacksons' version of the classic "Shakin' All Over" from her CD"The Party Ain't Over".
Give it a listen,and see if it's worthy of sharing to the rest of the group.I think every song on this CD is a winner,which is why I bought it.
Happy days!
Don
Paul Fraser Collectibles The Beatles’ infamous and rare ‘Butcher Cover’ LP goes up for sale
Kent ...
I don't remember this one.
Frank B.
I'm surprised to hear that ... this is perhaps the most infamous piece of memorabilia in Beatles history ... the "Holy Grail" of Beatles collectibles in fact! (Personally, I've gone through TWO of these, both now LONG gone.)
re: NOW THAT'S GOOD TV!!!:
I don't know how many FH readers saw the Debbie Gibson / Tiffany flick Mega Python vs. Gateroid last nite on SyFy. However if there was gonna be a fundraiser, regardless of the cause ... and I could see these two women engaged in a catfight AND see Mickey Dolenz eaten by a Python, I'd be there with my checkbook.
Jack
lol ... will have to watch for this one!!! I remember running the story about them making this film several months back but didn't realize that it had already made its way on the air! Sounds like a CLASSIC for sure! (kk)
re: PIANO MEN:
From FH Reader Frank B (by way of the WCBS-FM website):
ELTON JOHN HAS SOME TOUGH LOVE FOR BILLY JOEL:
Elton John has some stern advice for his friend and former touring partner Billy Joel. In the February 17th issue of Rolling Stone, Elton says Billy needs to “do something better” with his life and to get serious about rehab, adding that they canceled many dates on their Face-to-Face tours because of his “alcoholism” and illnesses.
Billy Joel, who is recovering from double hip replacement surgery, was in rehab in 2002 and 2005, but Elton suggests he undergo a treatment program like he did where there is no television and patients clean floors. Elton goes onto say that he knows Billy will “hate” him for these comments, but feels that he needs tough love.
BILLY JOEL RESPONDS:
Billy Joel has responded to Elton John’s comments in Rolling Stone that he needs “tough love” and has to be “serious” about quitting alcohol.
Billy says, “I’ve worked with Elton for such a long time and I’ve enjoyed our relationship too much to let something as random as these comments change my affection for him. Elton is just being Elton.“
Billy Joel is in Florida recuperating from double hip-replacement surgery.
re: THE WRECKING CREW:
Dear Abby,
Regarding the Wrecking Crew documentary:
Anyone know why they're only showing it in screenings? If it's due to lack of funding (which I can't imagine), and if backers or distributors cannot be found (again - can't imagine it) wouldn't more money be made if it were sold / rented as a DVD in general distribution?
Also, it would then be available to the audience for whom it is intended instead of rarified audiences who live near the screening sites and / or are invited.
Signed,
Confused in New Hope (Bob Rush, DC)
Sadly, financing is a HUGE, HUGE issue with The Wrecking Crew Documentary. (Have you seen it? It's outstanding!!!) Biggest hold up is the licensing of all this music that runs throughout the film. Think about it ... these guys were on EVERYTHING ... they'd do a Frank Sinatra Session in the morning, The Mamas and the Papas in the afternoon and The Beach Boys at night ... and that was just a typical Tuesday!!! (lol)
And the inevitable soundtrack album complicates things even further. It is a film that NEEDS to be seen ... but until these licensing issues can be resolved, film festivals is about the ONLY way to see it. If given the opportunity to do so, don't miss it ... 'cause there's just no telling when you'll be able to own a copy. (And I imagine the DVD extras will be nothing short of AMAZING!!!) kk
And, without The Wrecking Crew, the music of The Beach Boys would have NEVER sounded the same!!! Check this out ... as we celebrate The Boys' 50th Anniversary!
re: THE BEACH BOYS:
Pray For Surf is looking for collaboration on:
The 50th Anniversary - 50 Beach Boys' Heroes & Villains http://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/50th-anniversary-50-beach-boys-heroes.html
An initial, unfinished list has just been posted, inviting you to nominate a hero or villain or two and comment on the opinions of others. Maybe we'll have more of a finished product by Labor Day, 2011.
Your help is appreciated,
Phil
prayforsurf.blogspot.com
re: ANOTHER LOSS:
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of one of our greatest film composers, John Barry R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!. http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/john-barry-r-i-p-rock-in-perpetuity/
John Barry was involved in COUNTLESS film soundtracks over the years but WE remember him best from the James Bond films. FH Member (and studio guitar great) Vic Flick shares MANY stories about John in his book "Guitar Man" ... well worth reading! (kk)
Click here: Amazon.com: Vic Flick, Guitarman (9781593933081): Vic Flick: Books
From Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com website:
John Barry, the five-time Oscar-winner known in the U.S. for "Goldfinger" (#72 - 1965), died of a heart attack in New York Sunday (January 30) at the age of 77. The British-born musician wrote the music for 11 James Bond films, as well as "Midnight Cowboy" (his version of the theme bubble-under the American charts at #116 in 1969), "Born Free," "The Lion In Winter," "Out Of Africa" and "Dances With Wolves." John reached the British top 40 nine times, most notably with "Hit And Miss" (#10 - 1960), "Walk - Don't Run" (#11 - 1960), "The James Bond Theme" (#13 - 1962) and "Theme From The Persuaders" (#13 - 1971) and he was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth in 1999.
-- Ron Smith
And this from Rock Photographer Mike Bush after reading that Gladys Horton of The Marvelettes had recently passed away:
DAMN! WHEN ARE GOING TO QUIT LOSING OUR ROCK & SOUL LEGENDS?
GLADYS HORTON WAS A TRIP. IT'S SAD TO HEAR THAT SHE WAS IN A HOME AT THE END. I WAS ACTUALLY CURIOUS AS TO WHY I HADN'T SEEN HER AROUND IN RECENT YEARS. SHE WAS ALWAYS VERY NICE TO ME (SHE LOVED TO TOUCH MY HAIR!) AND DOESN'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT FOR BEING ONE OF THE ORIGINAL "LEGENDS" THAT PUT MOTOWN ON THE MAP, LONG BEFORE THE SUPREMES AND THE TEMPTATIONS!
SHE USED TO TELL STORIES ABOUT THE MOTOWN / MOB CONNECTIONS AND ALWAYS CRACKED ME UP WHEN SHE USED A TELEPHONE ONSTAGE AS A PROP DURING HER PERFORMANCES OF BEECHWOOD 4 - 5789.
ON THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROCK N ROLL TOUR, DONNIE BROOKS USED TO YANK HER CHAIN BY TELLING "BLACK" JOKES TO HER (AND AL WILSON) ON THE ROAD. IT WAS PURE HUMOR TO HIM, BUT THEY SEEMED TO TAKE OFFENSE TO IT SOMETIMES. HOWEVER, DONNIE WAS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST GUYS I EVER MET AND I REALLY MISS TALKING ON THE PHONE WITH HIM. HE REALLY SHOULD HAVE DONE SOME COMEDY RECORDS.
GOD BLESS YOU, GLADYS ... WE'LL SEE YOU IN "POSTMAN" HEAVEN.
MICHAEL G. BUSH
re: JOHNNY MAESTRO:
Kent ...
As you can see, I stole this from Ron Smith's Message Board. A well deserved honor.
Frank B.
Oldies Music Bulletin Board: Maestro Honored
There will be a street named after Johnny Maestro in Staten Island, N.Y., on March 26.
The location is Midland and Mason Avenues. The time is 12 Noon.
Bruce DWDJ
Johnny was born and grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1939. His family had a summer home on Staten Island since 1945. In 1958, the Mastrangelo family moved to Mason Avenue in the Midland Beach neighborhood of Staten Island. Part of Mason Avenue will be renamed "Johnny Maestro Way" in his memory.
Johnny Maestro's entire final concert appearance (January 17, 2010) with The Brooklyn Bridge is now on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKRYiUx1aTE
Topaz
Clearly a LOT of Johnny Maestro fans on OUR list, too ... his name has come up numerous times since his death last year. A very fitting honor for this great, well-loved singer. (kk)
re: FIVE BY FIVE:
Kent,
Just got through reading Sunday's comments.
First of all, the group Five by Five's version of FIRE was also very big here in OKC. The following year, they had a song called APPLE CIDER which was also very big (both songs on Paula Records).
Secondly, you showed a couple of record picture sleeves on your website. Would you believe that through the years I always took those picture sleeves off and threw them away. I put the record in those heavy duty paper shucks that radio stations used.Hey! I wasn't thinking. How did I know or think that in the future some of them might be worth more than the record which was in them?
Larry Neal
We featured "Apple Cider" many, many years ago ... VERY much a regional hit. (It "bubbled under" in Billboard at #133.) I've always been a Picture Sleeve collector and, despite running a HUGE Picture Sleeve Auction in Goldmine 20-something years ago, still have quite a few in my collection, especially of my favorite artists. (I've got a damn-near complete collection of Beatles, Elvis, Rick Nelson, Beach Boys, Monkees and a few others. One of these days I'll have to run a list of the few that have alluded me over the years ... thankfully, my "want list" in this area is down to next to nothing these days!) kk
re: THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN:
Last week Dave White talked with Chris Nunley, one of the founding members of the Royal Guardsmen, who recorded "Snoopy vs. The Red Baron," "Return of the Red Baron," "Snoopy for President," and "Snoopy's Christmas," as well as a few non-Snoopy hits! Dave also introduced some brand-new Guardsmen music from their new live CD. If you missed it, the program is also available for download anytime you like at: www.audioentertainment.org.
The Royal Guardsmen have been getting quite a bit of buzz lately and are back out making appearances again. (Scott Shannon featured a little bit of their ultra-rare "Squeaky Vs. The Black Knight" Canadian Single on his program last week, too!) You can keep up with the guys via their website here: Click here: The Royal Guardsmen
re: THREE DOG NIGHT:
Longtime sportscaster in New York, now a blogger, Len Berman pointed me to this one:The Akron Aeros, a minor-league baseball team in the Cleveland Indians' system, this season introduce a new food item, the Three Dog Night, combining the classic frank with kielbasa and bratwurst, topped with sauerkraut and mustard.Detailed pictures, plus some of earlier creations from the concessions director that came up with it, on the Minor League Baseball site:
http://bensbiz.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/12/joy_to_the_world_--_its_three.html
Doesn't at least one of this item's namesake group frequent this site?
-- BOB FRABLE
I guess I'd try it!!! Chuck Negron has participated from time to time ... wish we could get ALL the guys on board ... TONS of Three Dog Night fans on the list! (kk)
re: CHICAGO:
I saw Chicago live before anyone really knew about them. I saw Jimi Hendrix on the Electric Lady Land Tour,they were the opening band. I think that might have given them some spotlight. I had never heard of them, but after the show I was a fan.
Mickey
Now that folks are translating Forgotten Hits into different languages all over the world (I'm still TOTALLY amazed by this!!! The other day, I did a website search to see where the last 25 website visitors came from ... and 19 of the 25 were from foreign countries!!!), it was kinda cool to get this email the other day after our Terry Kath / Chicago series ran. Never knowing for sure if this was a REAL email or not (or just another crazy piece of spam), I went ahead and had this one translated ... VERY cool because Federico also sent me some cool pictures of Florence to share with our readers! (kk)
Mi chiamo Federico Michelagnoli da Florence - Italy, mai dimenticherò la scomparsa di Terry Kath che ha lasciato un segno indelebile nella mia vita.
Greek to me?!?!? Well, Italian, actually ... here's what Federico said:
I call myself Federico Michelagnoli from Florence - Italy, ever I will forget the passing away of Terry Kath that left an indelible mark in my life.
Kent -I also saw Chicago and the Beach Boys at Popular Creek. It was a fantastic concert.
Why oh why did they tear down Popular Creek?!? It was such a great venue with great sound. We saw many great concerts there. Also caught James Taylor, Kenny Loggins and more. Great sound!
The sound at the theater in Tinley Park SUCKS. Even when I worked at the Tweeter in town, people came in and complained.
The one concert I did miss at the Tweeter Center was the Jimmy Buffet show. I had free tickets through Tweeter. I had to go visit with Ingrid Croce in San Diego. Oh shucks!
I highly recommend the DVD of Chicago with Earth Wind and Fire Live at The Greek Theater. Put it on and sit back for a great concert. You will definitely sing along and maybe even dance. Chicago comes out, then EW&F, then both come out!
Amazon has it for $16.00 bucks.
Click here: Amazon.com: Chicago/Earth Wind & Fire - Live at the Greek Theatre: Jim Gable, Chris Osterhus, Albert Spevak, Patri
Bill
We have that DVD ... great show! (Wanted to see these two together in concert, too, but missed that show the last time it came around.) Without question, Poplar Creek was the BEST outdoor theater to experience a live concert ... I probably saw 30 shows there over the years and NEVER had a bad experience. I've missed it, too, ever since they tore it down. (kk)
re: ROCKIN' WITH FRANK:
Kent,
I agree with Frank B. about staying away from the Frank Sinatra CD,I already learnedmy lesson with "Johnny Cash-Remixed" ... it's terrible,and is a disgrace to a legend!
Happy days!
Don
re: BUBBLEGUM MUSIC:
I personally always liked this "Bubblegum" music. One of my all time favorites is the Ohio Express's 1968 recording of DOWN AT LULU's. I wonder if Scott Shannon played that this weekend on his salute to the girls of rock and roll on the TOC. The song DOWN AT LULU'S was number one with a certain boy by the name of Tubby. I wonder how many of your readers know what I am talking about?
Larry
One of MY favorites, too. The Ohio Express scored three straight Top Three Singles here in Chicago in 1968: "Yummy Yummy Yummy" went to #1 (it peaked at #4 nationally), and both "Down At Lulu's" and "Chewy Chewy" reached #3. (Nationally, these peaked at #25 and #8 respectively on The Cash Box Chart ... they charted seven or eight positions lower in Billboard.) And my guess is that quite a few of our readers will get the Tubby and Lulu connection! (kk)
re: CHRIS MONTEZ:
Hi Kent,
It's so funny that Mr. Montez took the Loungey route a couple years after Let's Dance and got back on the charts. I wonder if anyone remembers a Soap Opera that was on in the mid 60's on ABC called Never Too Young? Chris Montez made an appearance in the show and did The More I see You. It was a soap geared more towards the younger crowd. I don't even know how long it ran, maybe a year or so. My older sisters watched it, and more often than not, I would watch as well. I think there were a couple other pop star appearances, but don't know for sure.
Bill
Chris Montez re-invented himself with those mid-'60's hits ... and I loved 'em! ("The More I See You" is my personal fave ... but I played the heck out of "Call Me" and "Time After Time", too ... and STILL do for that matter.)
Chris is still out doing performances ... and you can check out his official website right here: Click here: "Welcome to the Official Chris Montez website"
As for "Never Too Young", I've never heard of it ... but a quick check of TV.com shows that The Castaways appeared on the series' final episode and performed "Liar Liar". Wikipedia says that Tommy Rettig (of "Lassie" fame) and Tony Dow (from "Leave It To Beaver") were series regulars ... and that the program (geared toward teens as you said) also featured musical performances by The Sunrays, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Rivers and our FH Buddy Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon! (kk)
re: AMERICA:
Got this link from Tom Cuddy the other day ... a very interesting article and interview with the America guys regarding their first hit record: http://www.accessbackstage.com/america/news/uncut10.pdf
re: TIMING IS EVERYTHING!:
In Response to Tuesday's "Ross On Radio" Column about whether Etta James’ “At Last” (or many other classics) could be a hit today — we commented that it wasn’t really a pop hit at the time either, gaining its classic status over many years from TV, movie and commercial placements, we received this note from John Rook. (Sean Ross)
“Way back in 1961, KTLN Denver PD George Wilson insisted on adding ‘At Last’ by Etta Wilson to the station’s playlist . . . A few weeks would pass before her version would stall at No. 47 on Billboard’s Top 50 singles. George continued to believe ‘At Last’ was a hit and programmed it on his show, but due to my concern, it was exempt from any other shows on the station. As MD, I questioned the wisdom of continuing to program the record. George said, ‘You’ll see, this will be a big hit.’ So almost 50 years later, with Etta’s ‘At Last’ now a standard, I’m ready to admit, George was right.”
– John Rook, keeper of the Hit Parade Hall Of Fame.
It really IS pretty amazing ... kinda like Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World", a song that couldn't even crack Billboard's Top 100 Chart when it was first released in 1968 (it "bubbled under" at #116) ... but has been a radio staple ever since it was used in the soundtrack to the Robin Williams flick "Good Morning, Viet Nam" ... proving again the power of music. (Unfortunately, it often takes a fluke like this to introduce a whole new audience to a great piece of music. There is no limit to how many movie and tv soundtracks ... and commercials ... have SAVED some of this great music for new generations to enjoy.) kk
Kent ...
Here's one I have to admit I was wrong about.
I saw him live when he was first starting his career and I didn't think he'd make it.
Frank B.
Stevie Wonder To Be Inducted In The Apollo Theater Hall Of Fame
I've been a Stevie Wonder fan most of my life. Honestly, I didn't care for the "Little Stevie Wonder" stuff either ... but he hooked me for good with "I Was Made To Love Her" in 1967 ... and I've been a MAJOR fan ever since! What a great honor for this great artist. (kk)
re: ON THE RADIO:
Kent ...
Here in New York this weekend - WCBS - FM is having a Two - Hit Wonders Weekend. Singers who stretched their 15 minutes of fame into 30 minutes of fame.
Just Played = Left Banke - "Walk Away Renee" & "Pretty Ballerina."
This is hard. I know a lot of One Hit Wonders. Two Hit Wonders, that's a different story!
But all weekend long, WCBS - FM is playing singers who made it into the top 40 twice.
I just heard - Louis Armstrong = " Hello Dolly " & " Wonderful World "
Frank B.
Actually, I had that same idea several years ago ... it's a nice variation on the whole One Hit Wonder thing ... and there are a whole lot more of these than you might think! Every artist who has ever charted knows how hard it is to get that second hit ... imagine charting big TWICE ... figuring that you've made it ... and then never charting again!!!
(In a similar vein, we came up with The True Oldies Channel / Forgotten Hits Twin-Spin Weekend: "One you know ... one you didn't even know you forgot!!!" A GREAT excuse to play some things that don't otherwise ordinarily get played. In fact, I really think it's time to put another one of these together ... what do YOU think, Scott???) kk
re: CALLING ALL DEEJAYS:
I got this from several of the jocks on the list last week ... obviously something that's been making the rounds ... but still worth reading if you haven't seen it yet ... really hits home for the Golden Days of Top 40 Radio, doesn't it??? (kk)
Back In The Day
You know you're an Aging Radio DJ when ...
You were first hired by a GM who actually worked in radio before becoming GM.
Radio stations were no place for kids.
You got off on the sound of "dead air" on the competitor's station.
Sales guys wore Old Spice to cover the smell of liquor.
You were playing Elvis' #1 hits when he was alive.
Engineers could actually fix things without sending them back to the manufacturer.
You worked for only ONE station ... and you could name the guy who owned it.
You remember when normal people listened to AM radio and only "hippies" listened to FM.
Radio stations used to have enough on-air talent to field a softball team every summer.
You're at least 10 years older than the last two GMs who fired you.
You used to smoke in a radio station and nobody cared.
Engineers always had the worst body odor ... not because they worked too hard, but because they just didn't shower that often.
You know the difference between good reel-to-reel tape and cheap reel-to-reel tape.
Religious radio stations were locally owned, run by an old Protestant minister and his wife, never had more than 20 listeners at any given time ... and still made money.
You have a white wax pencil, a razor blade, and a spool of 3M splicing tape in your desk drawer - - just in case.
You know people who actually listened to baseball games on the radio.
You can post a record, run down the hall, go to the bathroom, and be back in 2:50 for the segue.
The new guy you're training has never listened to an AM station. He couldn't even name one in his own home town if his life depended on it.
You knew exactly where to put the tone on the end of a carted song.
You spent most of the time on Friday nights giving out the high school football scores. And when they weren't phoned-in, you got really pissed off.
You never thought twice about drinking from the same bottle with another DJ.
You only did "make-goods" if the client complained. Otherwise, who cares?
You can remember the name of the very first "girl" that was hired in your market as a DJ.
Somebody would say, "You have a face for radio," and it was still funny.
Sixty percent of your wardrobe has a station logo on it.
You always had a screwdriver in the studio so you could take a fouled-up cart apart at a moment's notice.
Agents were people like James Bond and the Man From U.N.C.L.E.
You would spend hours splicing and editing a parody tape until it was "just right," but didn't give a damn how bad that commercial was you recorded. Hey, I can only work with what they give me, right?
You still refer to CDs as "records."
Dinner? Let's see what the last shift left for me in the refrigerator.
The only interaction between you and someone else prior to bedtime is, "Thank you. Please pull ahead to the second window."
Your family thinks you're successful, but you know better.
You played practical jokes on the air without fear of lawsuits.
You've been married at least three times, or never married at all.
You answer your home phone with the station call letters.
You used to fight with the news guy over air time. After all, what was more important: your joke about your ex-wife, or that tornado warning?
You knew how to change the ribbon on the teletype machine, but you hated to do it because "... that's the news guy's job."
You had listeners who only tuned in for the news ... and not you. You could never figure that out.
You know at least three people in sales who take credit for you keeping your job.
You remember when "Rock" wasn't a bunch of guys who look and sound more like girls.
You have several old aircheck cassettes in a cardboard box in your closet that you wouldn't dream of letting anyone hear anymore, but you'll never throw them out or tape over them. Never!
You can still see scars on your finger when you got cut using a razor blade and cleaned out the cut with head-cleaning alcohol and an extra long cotton swab on a wooden stick.
You still have nightmares of a song running out and not being able to find the control room door.
You've ever told a listener, "Yeah. I'll get that right on for you."
You have a couple of old transistor radios around the house with corroded batteries inside them.
People who ride in your car exclaim, "Why is your radio so loud?"
You remember how upset people used to get about Richard Nixon.
You have at least 19 pictures of you with famous people whom you haven't seen since, and wouldn't know you today if you bit 'em on the ass.
You wish you could have been on "Name That Tune" because you would have won a million bucks.
You even REMEMBER "Name That Tune".
You were a half-hour late for an appearance and blamed it on the directions you received from the salesperson.
You've run a phone contest and nobody called, so you made up a name and gave the tickets to your cousin.
You remember when people actually thought radio was important.
Hey, deejays ... we're still looking for vintage airchecks, photos and memorabilia to post on the brand new Airplay website. If you've got something unique to share, please drop us a line at forgottenhits@aol.com so we can pass this along. THANKS! (kk)
And, speaking of radio deejays ... are you playing THIS new feature on your program yet???
re: TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT:
Hey Kent,
I'm really enjoying your new Today's Forgotten Hit feature, Monday through Friday. It's a great feature ... maybe the best idea in years! Thanks again ... and keep 'em flying!
A fan for life,
Don
P.S. When are we going to get to hear anymore of your singles? I enjoy them,and you have a great voice!
lol ... not so much "singles" as the TRUE basement tapes!!! Thanks for the kind words ... but we're more about the REAL hits than my teenage aspirations! Lord knows there are enough of the real deal that's being overlooked to keep this feature going for years and years ... even at running only one a day during the week! Watch for five more great forgotten titles next week! (kk)
Though I'm no big fan of Varese Sarabande, I have to admit, having had the mint stereo LP, "Medicine Man (Pt. 1)", by The Buchanan Brothers sounded pretty fine on their CD! However, the entire LP on CD, offered by Collectables, (re)mastered by Steve Hoffman, was a disappointment.
Best,
JJ
You mentioned, as well as in the past before, why some records aren't heard today on Oldies station, like the Vanity Fare's EARLY IN THE MORNING.
Through the years I have just imagined that there is just one, and only one, P.D. and or M.D. in the world. He operates out of an office back East. He goes through all these records and puts them on this chart or survey called a "Hot 100". The other so-called P.D.'s and or M.D.'s see this list and then added these records to their local surveys. Same with the oldies that have been played through the years. I have known P.D.'s and or M.D.'s who were that in name only. They were taking orders from someone back East in a corporate office. Through the years some of the smartest people I have known in radio have been the guys behind the microphone. They had good opinions and they also knew what their listeners told them on the telephone.
Larry
And there WAS a time where radio stations actually LISTENED to these deejays ... because THESE were the guys who had their fingers on the pulse of their listening audience. For the past twenty years or so, we've been told that THESE are the 200-300 songs that you want to hear ... with virtually NO input from the listeners at all. That's what inspired me to start Forgotten Hits in the first place. Even today, some of the BEST deejays in America believe that it's too late ... the listening audience has been brainwashed into thinking that THIS is what they really want ... or (far too often) have already tuned out completely by now. There IS a place for Forgotten Hits on the radio, even if it's just in small doses. That's what this new feature was developed for ... a once-a-day Oldies Fix to stimulate the listeners. (kk)
re: CHRISTIE / YELLOW RIVER :
When I was 13, my parents sent me to "church camp" for a week. We weren't allowed to bring radios, but I couldn't imagine not listening to music for a whole week, so I brought mine anyway. One day when we had free time I snuck into the woods with the radio. I was afraid of getting caught, so I only stayed for a few minutes. The only song I heard was "Yellow River", so I'll always remember it fondly.
Clete6
Gotta love those musical memories ... they stay with you for the rest of your life! (kk)
According to Whitburn, Christie was an English band with a Tremeloes affiliation. "Yellow River" is one of my all-time favorites, a wonderful slice of power-pop with just that right touch of melancholy in the arrangement. I first heard the song on a radio station in Wisconsin -- I was up at Camp Moshava in Waushara County -- in August, 1970, two whole months before it broke in Chicago. The radio station was very small --
I don't remember the call letters -- but they were also spinning Dionne Warwick's "Paper Mache" and Mama Cass' "A Song That Never Comes" that summer, as well as Shocking Blue's "Never Marry A Railroad Man", so I had my transistor tuned to it every chance I got. I believe they were out of Adams or Friendship, Wisconsin. When "Yellow River" debuted on WLS and WCFL, I was stunned. I had been afraid I would NEVER hear that fantastic song again
- Bobster
You are on a roll, my friend. Christie's 'Yellow River' is a long-time favorite of mine, and one you just don't hear enough of on the radio. What a great, upbeat tune! Not only should dj's play this as a Forgotten Hit, but they should add it to their regular play list more often, too!
Rich
We hear about all this "testing" and listener profiling that radio stations and programmers do to determine which oldies people want to hear ... yet time and time again, the same 200 - 300 songs keep coming up ... so that's what we're force fed on a regular basis. Then along comes one like today's Forgotten Hit and blows ALL of that research out of the water (river?). Hmmm ... I wonder how much they pay all these consulting firms for this information ... I'd certainly be willing to offer MY services ... and the opinions of the REAL oldies fans out there ... to help shake things up a little bit! (kk)
AS A SIDE NOTE: One of the things wrong with this type of research is that they pre-pick a couple hundred songs and then ask their listeners to vote on them ... which ones do you like, which ones are you tired of, etc. The problem with this is that the list of song titles never changes ... which means that nothing NEW ever gets added because they just keep whittling down the same list of recycled titles. So if, for example, "Stand By Me" tests poorly, you still hear it ... you just don't hear it as often. If something else charts positively, you'll probably hear it three or four times a day instead of two or three times a day. If instead they seeded the list with 50 new titles each time they polled their listeners ... and then polled their listeners more often ... some of this rarer, forgotten stuff might actually have a chance. Instead, we have to hope that somebody will request one of these tunes in order to get it played.
Kent,
Excellent choice of YELLOW RIVER by Christie for the Forgotten 45 of the day. I am notsure but I believe they had a follow-up (what group and artist didn't?) called San Bernardino, also on Epic Records.
I just thought of something while I am typing this out. I hereby appoint you as National Program Director of all the "oldies" radio stations in the U.S.A. You would tell the stations what songs to play. The only drawback I see to this is that you would have tochange the name of your website. The "forgotten hits" wouldn't be forgotten anymore.
Larry
lol ... thanks, Larry ... now THAT would be a job I could really enjoy doing!!! You're right ... "San Bernardino" WAS their follow-up hit (although just barely ... it spent exactly one week at #100 on The Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart! It fared a little bit better in Cash Box, where it peaked at #86.) We featured this one a long, long time ago in Forgotten Hits. (kk)
The song Yellow River was a good choice to feature. That has been a popular request on my shows over the years. It seems to be another case in which it was bigger in many regional markets. It is great to know that many remember one of my favorites, 'Its a Cryin Shame' by Gayle McCormick. I have always loved that song. For me it ranks right up there with 'Nothing But a Heartache' by the Flirtations.
Keep up the great work. Your daily dose takes my mind off of all the snow and the long Winter days.
Phil - WRCO
Got a really good response to "Yellow River" ... proving A) that folks remember it and B) that they REALLY dig hearing stuff like this again. (Any OTHER deejays paying attention out there?!?!?) kk
After a couple of singles with a skiffle band called The Outer Limits, Leeds-born Jeff Christie cut a songwriting demo that wound up in the hands of Alan Blakely, a guitarist with The Tremeloes. Impressed by the tape, Alan played it for his brother, a drummer named Mike, and the two set up a recording session with Jeff in London that featured The Tremeloes as backing musicians. Jeff sang and played bass, Mike handled drums and one of his colleagues, Vic Elmes, contributed vocals and a guitar line. And that’s how “Yellow River,” the debut single of the combo given Jeff’s family name, came to be.
An infectious 45 one never really tires of, “Yellow River” soared to #1 in England but strangely peaked at only #23 in the U.S. in August 1970 -- despite clinging to the American hit parade for nearly six months. (Well, I told you one doesn’t tire of it.) The follow-up single, “San Bernadino” (Epic 10695), topped the charts in Germany and reached #7 in the U.K.; while in the U.S. it peaked out at #100 for one week. (It was a big hit, though, on the campus of our radio station at Illinois State University.) The group some critics had dubbed “England’s answer to Creedence Clearwater Revival” then went through several personnel changes before breaking up in 1972.
Gary Theroux
We did a short feature on Christie a few years back in Forgotten Hits, but despite an extensive search of the archives, I just can't seem to find it! (Thought that would have been cool to rerun again today, too!) Oh well ... sounds like all of you folks out there have got this one covered! (kk)
re: MORE RIVER MUSIC:
Kent,
Your twin spin records for today concerning rivers reminded me of another one I always enjoyed. From 1961 on Liberty Records, Si Zentner's UP A LAZY RIVER. It was playedon top 40 radio stations and the artist made Norm N. Nite's Rock On, Volume I.I am going to get out Bobby Darin's version tonight and play it as well as Si Zentner's. This reminds me of the question,"Which is worse?" A lazy river or a moody one? Maybe Pat Boone has the answer to that one.
Larry
Pat Boone's "Moody River" is ANOTHER track worthy of a spin now and again ... one of his better tracks ... and a #1 Hit to boot! (Guess it's up to me again!!!) kk
This also presents me with a GREAT opportunity to feature my all-time favorite Big Daddy track again ... give a listen to their treatment of the Bruce Springsteen classic "Dancing In The Dark"! (kk)
Kent,
In today's twin spin of THE RIVER IS WIDE, at the end you ask the question, 'when was the last time you heard these on the radio?" The answer reminds me of the comment which was at the end of a television commercial a few years ago on a brand of chili. "Well, neighbor, that's been too long."
Larry
While I'll admit to not knowing the version of 'The River Is Wide' by The Forum that you featured the other day, (I don't think they played that one here in Chicago), I used to LOVE The Grass Roots' hit -- and haven't heard it in probably close to 30 years! It was actually one of my favorites and I remember buying this 45 when the record first came out. Once again, you've totally nailed it! Thanks for the memories!
Sandy
It was relatively easy coming up with some "river music" to feature. In fact, I even rejected a few titles.
Originally, "Yellow River" was going to run as part of a two-fer, too ... I thought about "Red River Rock" by Johnny and the Hurricanes. (When's the last time you heard THAT one?!?!?) "Green River" by CCR crossed my mind (but that's really not a forgotten hit ... in fact, Creedence is one of those rare artists where virtually their entire hit single output is still part of radio programming, which says a whole lot as to just how popular ... and great ... these songs really were (and still are!) "Blue River" by Elvis crossed my mind ... but that one's just TOO obscure. (Quite honestly, I couldn't even sing a line to you if I had to unless the record was playing.) Of course, I suppose I could have featured "Old Rivers" by Walter Brennan this week, too, right??? That's the song that Larry Lujack calls the "very first rap song ever recorded"!!! (lol) But, in hindsight, running "Yellow River" all by itself worked out just fine ... we haven't had that much positive response to a single track here in a long, long time. (Hopefully some of the oldies jocks on the list have been paying attention ... my guess is you'll hear that one a little more often on the radio before too long!) kk
Just for the heck of it, I put together a little list of "river" songs that we DIDN'T use ... thought some of you might enjoy looking this over ... and coming up with a few of your own!
ROLLIN' ON THE RIVER:
Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival / Ike and Tina Turner
(You've just GOTTA kick it off with this one!!!)
River of Dreams - Billy Joel
Take Me To The River - Talking Heads
Down By The River - Buddy Miles
River Deep, Mountain High - Ike and Tina Turner / Deep Purple
Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Yellow River - Christie
Blue River - Elvis Presley
Red River Rock - Johnny and the Hurricanes
Watching The River Flow - Bob Dylan
The River Is Wide - The Forum / The Grass Roots
Watching The River Run - Loggins and Messina
Let The River Run - Carly Simon
Old Rivers - Walter Brennan
March From The River Kwai - Mitch Miller
Rivers Of Babylon - Boney M
River's Risin' - Edgar Winter Group
Many Rivers To Cross - Nilsson
Cry Me A River - Julie London / Joe Cocker
Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake
Deep River Woman - Lionel Richie
Down By The Lazy River - Osmonds
Lazy River - Bobby Darin
Too Many Rivers - Brenda Lee
Moody River - Pat Boone
Moon River - Henry Mancini / Andy Williams
The River - Bruce Springsteen
ANYTHING BY THE LITTLE RIVER BAND
ANYTHING BY JOHNNY RIVERS
Probably not enough here for a True Oldies Channel Weekend ... but I'll betcha Scott MacKay could put together could put together one hell of a Monday Morning Special with this list! (kk)
re: DUSTY SPRINGFIELD:
I just found the article on your website about Dusty Springfield and just wanted to point out an error in your Dusty piece.
Her Nashville album was completed and released before her death as A Very Fine Love.I was Dusty's backing singer and closest friend in her last years.
Best regards,
Simon Bell
www.simonbell.com
I just LOVE it when some of the folks who were part of the story find our work and offer a little more fly-on-the-wall insight.
We got some pretty good feedback on this piece ... if you haven't read it yet, you can check it out here: Click here: Forgotten Hits - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (kk)
Simon then sent me this Wikipedia clipping in regards to Dusty's last LP:
A Very Fine Love is the fourteenth and final studio album by singer Dusty Springfield, and thirteenth released. Recorded in 1994 with producer Tom Shapiro and released in 1995, A Very Fine Love was a Columbia Records release in both the US and UK, Springfield's first such simultaneous release since Living Without Your Love in 1979.
The album was originally tentatively called Dusty in Nashville, to tie in with the 25th anniversary of Springfield's keynote work Dusty in Memphis, but her record company "decided against it, in the belief that it would lead audiences to mistakenly expect a country album.". A Very Fine Love was to be promoted by the TV documentary Full Circle, a 90 minute career retrospective featuring British comediennes Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French interviewing Springfield in their inimitably irreverent way - Springfield herself was a big fan of French & Saunders' and their goonish sense of humour - as well as interviews with friends, fans and colleagues like the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello and Martha Reeves, and footage from the recording of the upcoming Nashville album.
During the three months of recording of the album, Springfield often had bouts of laryngitis and other undiagnosed health issues. Upon returning to England, she saw a specialist and was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer. Upon learning Springfield was to undergo radiotherapy, her manager, Vicki Wickham, was able to convince Columbia Records to delay releasing A Very Fine Love until Springfield was well enough to do promotion work.
Springfield's cancer went into remission, and in June of 1995, A Very Fine Love was released. It made little impact on the US album charts, but did reach #43 on the British charts. The title that got the best critical reception was the blues-tinged closing track "Where Is A Woman To Go?", written by K. T. Oslin featuring guest vocals by Oslin and Mary Chapin Carpenter. (The song was originally recorded in 1984 by Dottie West.) When promoting the album in the UK on TV-show Later With Jools Holland Springfield performed the track live, then instead with backing by two longtime fans of hers; Sinéad O'Connor and Alison Moyet. One track from the album "Wherever Would I Be?", a Diane Warren-penned duet with Daryl Hall was featured in the movie While You Were Sleeping, and was a minor chart hit in Britain, along with Will Jennings' gospel-flavoured "Roll Away", the last charting single of her lifetime.
Due to modest sales of the album, Springfield and Columbia Records decided not to renew the contract, and as the cancer recurred in late 1996, and Springfield died in 1999, it proved to be Springfield's final album.
1 - "Roll Away (Will Jennings, Marlee Lebow) - 4:12
2 - "Very Fine Love" a.k.a. "Fine, Fine, Very Fine Love" (Bob DiPiero, Jim Photoglo) - 4:09
3 - "Wherever Would I Be?" (Diane Warren) - 3:58 (Duet with Daryl Hall).
Note: US edition Walter Afanasieff Mix.
4 - "Go Easy on Me" (Randy Goodrum, John Jarvis) - 5:36
5 - "You Are the Storm" (Matraca Berg, Ronnie Samoset) - 4:16
6 - "I Can't Help the Way I Don't Feel" (Tom Shapiro, Chris Waters, Michael Garvin) - 3:41
7 - "All I Have to Offer You Is Love" (Craig Wiseman) - 3:47
8 - "Lovin' Proof" (Diane Warren) - 3:40
9 - "Old Habits Die Hard" (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle) - 3:36
10 - "Where Is a Woman to Go?" (Jerry Gillespie, K.T. Oslin) - 4:08 (Featuring K.T. Oslin and Mary Chapin Carpenter)
Personnel:
Dusty Springfield - lead vocals
Daryl Hall - vocals ("Wherever Would I Be?")
Mary Chapin Carpenter - vocals ("Where Is A Woman To Go?")
K.T. Oslin - vocals ("Where Is A Woman To Go?")
Kristina Clark - background vocals
Kim Fleming - background vocals
Sandy Griffith - background vocals
Ron Hemby - background vocals
Skyler Jett - background vocals
Conesha Owens - background vocals
Guy Penrod - background vocals
Claytoven Richardson - background vocals
John Wesley Ryles - background vocals
Audrey Sheeler - background vocals
Judson Spence - background vocals
Jeannie Tracy-Smith - background vocals
Cindy Richardson Walker - background vocals
Audrey Wheeler - background vocals
Chris Willis - background vocals
Dennis Wilson - background vocals
Simon Bell - background vocals
Lonnie Wilson - drums
Terry Lee McMillan - percussion
Glenn Worf - bass guitar
Brian Tankersley - bass, keyboards, drum programming, synthesizer bass
Walter Afanasieff - programming
Gary Cirimelli - programming, background vocals
George Cocchini - electric guitar
Dan Dugmore - steel guitar
Dann Huff - guitar, electric guitar, rhythm guitar, classical guitar
Jerry McPherson - electric guitar
Michael Thompson - rhythm guitar
Biff Watson - guitar, acoustic guitar
John Jarvis - piano, keyboards
Carl Marsh - keyboards
Steve Nathan - keyboards, Hammond organ
Kirk Whalum - soprano sax
Production:
Tom Shapiro - record producer, musical arranger
Brian Tankersley - associate producer, engineer, mixing
Jan Perry - assistant producer
Walter Afanasieff - arranger, co-producer ("Wherever Would I Be", Walter A. Mix)
Dana Jon Chappelle - sound engineer, mixing
Jay Healy - sound engineer
Greg Parker - assistant engineer
Bill O'Donovan - assistant engineer
Wayne Morgan - assistant engineer
Shawn McLean - assistant engineer
John Kliner - assistant engineer
Steve Ledet - assistant engineer
Mick Guzauski - mixing
David Gleeson - mixing assistant
Craig Silvey - mixing assistant
Mike Scott - mixing assistant
Hank Williams - mastering
John Geary - illustrations
Recorded at Javelina Recording Studios, The Bennett House, Recording Arts, Woodland Digital, Eleven Eleven Sound, GBT Studio (Nashville) & Schnee Studio (Hollywood), late January to early April 1994 and overdubs in London.
Here is a link to Dusty performing one track - Where Is a Woman To Go - with backing vocals including Alison Moyet & Sinead O'Connor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ_omzpxBd4
Simon Bell
re: DIGGIN' FORGOTTEN HITS ... :
Kent,
Thanks for the plug!
Getting good feedback.
It was quite a journey ... lots of hours ...And we feel good about it.
All the best to you!
Bobby Vee
Tom Diehl tells me that his special Bobby Vee program got a GREAT response ... and they're already planning "Part Two". (In fact, a second CD release may also be in the works ... stay tuned for more details!) kk
Kent,
It's been a while since I thanked you for your efforts in Forgotten Hits. This has been one of the most informative programs I have ever subscribed to. Every issue is like taking a free college course in history and social studies.
Rock on, Kent! Don't ever stop!
Pat and Ellen Fogel
Floral City, FL
Thanks, Pat ... you're right, I haven't heard from you in a while ... glad to see that you're still "tuning in" and enjoying Forgotten Hits. (Could use a little of your Florida weather right now ... we're digging out of the "deep freeze" here in Chicago ... below zero temperatures and about three feet of snow on the ground!!!) kk
Great site!!
We have a playlist of over 5000 songs so hopefully we found some of the lost hits.
Cliff Edwards
bigoldieschicago.com
Thanks, Cliff ... we've plugged your website before ... hopefully a few more oldies fans will venture over to check things out! (kk)
Thanks much - I love your newsletter!
Mike Hartman
Chicago
re: ... OR NOT!!! :
Hi Kent,
I just heard the Trade Martin song about Ronald Reagan from the link shown on Forgotten Hits. The “protest” song has always been part of rock and roll but back in the day, the songs had some class. Notable examples being: Barry McGuire’s “Eve Of Destruction”, the Spokesmen’s “Dawn Of Correction” and Jay & The Americans’ “Tricia, Tell Your Daddy”. This entrant into the genre from Trade Martin is totally lacking in class, with its blatant attempt to embarrass our President, Barack Obama. This is not something Reagan would have done and his successors, George Bush Sr. and Jr. have not done. They all had and have respect for the Presidency and for the “progressives’ in the US Army who are fighting wars overseas so that Mr. Martin can live as a free man. This is a very poor way to celebrate Reagan’s centennial.
Mike Edwards
It's a tough position sometimes, putting together Forgotten Hits. Too often we find ourselves walking a very fine line.
On the one hand, we encourage ALL of the artists who participate with us to "use us" to help promote new releases, upcoming appearances and as a general means to stay in touch with their fans. Then when one of these artists sends us something that some might find a bit "controversial", we have to question our purpose. If we start to censor what we're sent, it defeats the whole purpose of asking artists to participate. Obviously, our goal is to get even MORE artists to participate with us ... and the list continues to grow by leaps and bounds, thanks in part to GREAT word of mouth. (Then again, NEGATIVE word of mouth could be just as damaging, I suspect ... so, like I said, it's a tough position sometimes ... or, at the very least, a fine line we walk.)
In that Trade Martin approached me, looking for a way to plug his new recording ... and this is a service that we provide, I naturally agreed. In that Trade also does a couple of radio shows that are VERY politically based ... and, in that the general press had already picked up on his new recording and were covering it in the media ... I figured we had that base covered as well ... folks would already have a pretty good idea as to what they were in for before listening to the tune. And, like we always say, we trust our readers to be their OWN censors ... every music player I've ever seen has an "off" button.
That being said, if we in any offended anybody, we apologize ... it was certainly NOT our intent. But our intent IS to offer a forum where recording artists can come on board, stay in touch with their fans, and promote new releases and upcoming events ... so to THAT extent I believe that we have lived up to our purpose. (kk)
