Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Sunday Comments ( 11 - 27 - 11 )

After four straight weeks of NO Sunday Comments, it's a tough call to decide which items we've accumulated during this stretch of time will still hold relevance for our readers ... 
But we've selected a few things that we definitely wanted to cover, kicking off with a few recent passings.  The end result is an absolutely GINORMOUS SUNDAY COMMENTS PAGE.  (Guess you could say we're making up for lost time!!!)

And hey ... what fun would it be ... scrambling to put this all together at 1:00 in the morning ... if Blogger wasn't still messing will all my font sizes and spacing?!?!?  (Jeez, it's like we never left!)


Read on:


re:  CLIP(s) OF THE WEEK:

This in from FH Reader Frank B ... as HIS tribute to the recently-departed Andy Rooney:
Banned in the 50's ... now considered one of rock and roll's most important songs.
Courtesy of SONY Music Entertainment.
R.I.P., Andy Rooney
Frank B

We also lost Smokin' Joe Frazier during that period of time (I saw all three of his fights with Muhammad Ali back in the day!) ... and since Frank B. sent us another cool "R.I.P. Joe Frazier" link ... and since I just happened to come across this AWESOME Richard Pryor clip when reviewing some of my Ed Sullivan DVD's ... I figured this would be one definitely worth running! 

Kent ...
R.I.P. Smokin' Joe Frazier. 

The Boxer
My favorite Simon and Garfunkel Song
Frank B.

re:  OTHER RECENT PASSINGS:
Mark "Moogy" Klingman - Died 11-15-2011 in New York, NY, U.S. - Cancer ( Rock ) Born 9-7-1950 - Keyboardist - (He did, "Making The Rounds At Midnight" and "Me And Richard" and also co-wrote Bette Midler's, "(You've Got To Have) Friends") - Was a member of The Living Few (They did, "Let 'Em Cry"), Glitterhouse, The Peaceniks and Utopia (They did, "Freak Parade" and "The Ikon") - Worked with Jimmy James And The Blue Flames, Chuck Berry, Carly Simon, Shawn Colvin, Cindy Lauper, Irene Cara, Andy Kaufman, Thelma Houston, Buzzy Linhart, Bo Diddley and Bob Dylan - Produced Music From Free Creek - His songs have been recorded by Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, Barry Manilow and Todd Rundgren. 
Here's an interesting site if you're not aware of: www.thedeadrockstarsclub.com
Ken Voss


From R.I.P. Renfield:

Paul Vance remembers calling his friend and fellow songwriter Lee Pockriss more than 50 years ago to share the lyrics of a song he had just written: "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." 

"Lee, I said, 'I have an idea'," he recalled Friday. "He went crazy. By the time he got to my office he had 90 percent of the tune written." 

The song, which was recorded by 16-year-old teen idol Brian Hyland, surged to No. 1 on the Billboard charts in August 1960 and has been pop culture staple ever since. 
Pockriss, who wrote other hit songs for an eager, youthful post-World War II generation, died in Connecticut this week after a long illness. He was 87.  His wife, Sonja Pockriss, confirmed his death on Friday. She said he died at home in Bridgewater on Tuesday. 
"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" — about a shy young woman in a skimpy bathing suit — has been used in such movies as "Sister Act 2" and "Revenge of the Nerds II" and was more recently revived in a yogurt commercial. 
Pockriss, who also worked in musical theater, co-wrote several songs with Vance, including "Catch a Falling Star" in 1957.  Vance, 82, said Pockriss did an excellent job on their collaborations.
"He was a very talented composer, a great composer, the opposite of me," he told The Associated Press on Friday. "He knew music inside out. I don't know one note of music." 
Vance was erroneously reported as dead five years ago because of the death of an Ormond Beach, Fla., man who had falsely claimed to have written "Itsy Bitsy" under the name Paul Vance. The real Vance was able to prove that it was he, not Paul Van Valkenburgh, who had written the song. 
Vance, who lives in Boca Raton, Fla., said Pockriss also worked in musical theater and wrote the music for the 1963 Broadway show "Tovarich," for which Vivien Leigh won the Tony Award for best actress in a musical. 
Pockriss was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 20, 1924, his wife said.  He served as a cryptographer, writing in code to guide Army Air Force planes over the Pacific during World War II, she said. Pockriss studied musicology at New York University with the modernist composer Stefan Wolpe, she said.
Sonja Pockriss said her husband was versatile, broadening his formal education in music with an ability to improvise. That talent was in demand for live TV in the 1950s and `60s and helped him land gigs on top programs starring Jack Paar, Milton Berle and Martha Raye, she said. 
"He ran from one studio to another," his wife said.
I remember several people on the list being quite upset about the erroneous reporting of Paul Vance's death a few years back.  "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini" was MY First 45, purchased on the old (and now quite collectible) Leader record label before Kapp Records picked it up.  (In fact, according to Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles book, the single charted on Leader for the first seven weeks of its 15 week chart life ... and that includes peaking at #1!!!)  The B-Side of that hit, "Don't Dilly Dally, Sally", is another one of my all-time favorite B-Sides ... 'cause I played the heck out of it back then ... as my ONLY 45!!! (lol)
Our FH Buddy Ron Dante recently re-recorded "Itsy Bitsy" for an LP and a television commercial ... and worked with both Vance and Pockriss going back to his early Detergents days and their Top 20 Parody Hit "Leader Of The Laundromat".  (kk)

Andrea True, who recorded the 1976 disco hit “More, More More” (#4) and three charted follow-ups, including “N.Y., You Got Me Dancing” (#27 - 77), died November 7 in Woodstock, New York, where she lived. Her obituary lists her age as 68, though biographies had always listed her as being born in 1952. No cause of death was given. Born Andrea Marie Truden in Nashville, she moved to New York and became an actress, appearing in small parts in films like “The Way We Were” and “40 Carats.” Far more successful was her work in hardcore adult films -- she reportedly made more than 50 in her career. Age eventually ended her film career and vocal cord surgery ended her singing career after three albums and she retired from the spotlight in the ‘80s.
-- Ron Smith

Have you seen the list of the 15 top-earning dead celebrities?
http://wcbsfm.radio.com/2011/10/28/the-15-top-earning-dead-celebrities-photos/#photo-1Isn't it depressing that each one on this list makes more one year dead, than we do in an entire lifetime working ?
Frank B.


re:  SICK BAY:
We saw reports last week of Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees being hospitalized for liver cancer ... and George Michael (Wham) hospitalized with pneumonia.  Wishing a speedy recovery to two of our favorite artists.  (kk)

re:  A FEW MORE COOL VIDEOS:
THIS one really made the rounds while we were gone ... but it's SO good we're sharing it again anyway!!!
Jimmy Fallon doing Jim Morrison.
Frank B.

Frannie and I amused ourselves with a few other clips these past few weeks, too! 
(In between watching dozens and dozens and dozens of Ed Sullivan clips of course!!!)  kk

Frannie found a GREAT live performance of MY all-time favorite Osmonds Brothers song: 
 

And we drove Paige CRAZY playing THIS one from The Captain and Tennille!!!  
Click here: Captain & Tennille MUSKRAT LOVE - YouTube
 
Kent,
I ran across this and had meant to send long ago.  I believe Preston Ritter is an FH member from the Electric Prunes, correct?  Here's a nice slice of silliness for him and all to enjoy.  The Prunes were on the Mike Douglas show in 1967 and performed "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)" and "Get Me To The World On Time" on the show.  In between songs, Mike converses with the guys and mentions that Preston has a good selling book, "67 Backbeats"!!  Wish I had a copy!  Pretty cool.  I had no memory about this book until I copied this off my tape.  Anyway, it's pretty funny as Barbara Feldon ("Agent 99" on "Get Smart") gets to try her hand as a "Prunette", trying to impersonate Preston's drumming style over the Prunes as they perform.  Hilarious!! 
Clark Besch
We ran the video for this a while back ... in fact, if I'm not mistaken it was Preston himself who sent it in!  VERY funny stuff looking back ... and still a career highlight for the band after all these years!  Enjoy!  (kk) 

Here's the Original  (Reunited) Byrds with Bob Dylan and John Jorgenson at the Concert for Roy Orbison, with "He Was a Friend of Mine", a heartfelt tribute about the demise of President John F. Kennedy on that fateful day back in 1963.
At the time, I was a freshman at Regis High School in Denver.  We were on a lunch break when the news broke and I was devastated and numb, as we all were. What a SAD time in American History.
This is an outstanding tribute to our murdered President.
Bill Cody
 
Hey Kent,

You’ve probably seen this before, but I sent it because of the short Monkees medley they start out with.
Eddie Burke
Orange, CT
VERY cool clip for all our Monkees / Boyce and Hart fans out there.  In fact, our series spotlighting "The Music Of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart" is still one of our most popular.  You can check them out here (kk):
And, speaking of videos ... 


Hi Kent,
I'm very pleased to announce that there's a new Video Page that is part of my "Ronnie Allen Theater" in the Jersey Girls Sing website. I would appreciate it very much if you can share this with your readers.
I call it "Ronnie's Video Page." The address is: http://www.jerseygirlssing.com/RonnieVideoPage.html .
Although my name is attached to it, it's really a collaborate effort between myself and the two Jersey Girls, namely Denise Ferri and Bernadette Carroll. One of the them (I won't say which one) suggested several videos that are now a part of the Page.
Each time you visit the Page you will have a new experience! Five 50s or 60s oldies or oldies-related embedded performance videos randomly selected by the computer pop up. On a subsequent visit you will get a different set of five. You never know what will show up! (Some will repeat of course.) You can choose to play all of the five that come up, some of the five or none of the five. Pressing the F5 function key (in most environments) will bring up a new set of five. And yes, the "full screen" option is available for any video that you choose to play.
Your feedback is most welcome and we invite you to suggest videos for us to include. We will publicly give credit to you if you are the first to suggest something and we use it and will even link to your website if you own or are affiliated with one that you would like mentioned.
Thanks in advance for your comments. Please email me at RonnieOldiesGuy@aol.com .
Ronnie

re:  AND DON'T MISS:
Premiering on Thanksgiving Night on CMT was an EXCELLENT version of their CROSSROADS Series ... this time pairing Sting with Country Crooner Vince Gill.  BOTH artists are in TOP FORM and this is one of those musical events that you can watch again and again.  The biggest hits of both artists are fully explored with an incredibly tight back up band.  Check your listings ... you don't want to miss this one!  (Sting quips that the duo had so much fun filming this "Crossroads" installment that they may actually team up for a tour next year ... billing themselves as "The Self-Righteous Brothers"!!!)  kk


re:  DON'TCHA JUST LOVE IT?!?!?: 
I was listening to KJZY earlier this morning. The "dj" announced Jimmy Cliff's "I Can See Clearly Now" as being about the Jamaican bobsled team. 
No, the Jimmy Cliff song was heard in the movie "Cool Runnings." The movie is about the Jamaican bobsled team, but the song isn't. The song is about anyone who has experienced adversity in his/her life but has overcome it. Geez!
Dave Barry

On the OTHER hand, some of the TRUE stories are especially interesting to hear after all this time:

Perhaps this is well known, but not to me, until last night. I heard an excellent interview with Jimmy Webb, on an overnight show called "Red-Eye Radio," during which Webb said that he'd written the song "MacArthur Park" for the Association.
I'd never have guessed that.
Gopher
-- submitted by Frank B.

re:  ROCK AND ROLL ROOTS CD's:
Normally by now we would have already been bragging about the WONDERFUL time we had at this year's Rock And Roll Roots CD Party.  However, we were sad to receive the official word from Bob Stroud at WDRV that the series of Rock And Roll Roots CD's that have become such a part of our lives here in Chicago for the past ten years just ain't-a-gonna-be this year ... here's the complete scoop:
Rock 'n Roll Roots CD Series ... Unlucky #13. 
Right before we were to start work on this year's Rock 'n Roll Roots CD, Volume 13, we received word that Borders was filing for bankruptcy. Borders was our main partner and the home for the CD release parties for the past 10 years. Needless to say that their financial situation directly affected the progress of Volume 13.
Our sales staff scrambled to find a suitable substitute for Borders, but to make a long story short, the economic slump that has affected all of us basically sunk Volume 13. Everything possible was done to try and secure a partner and a home for our annual charity event, but it was just not to be this year. I'm sorry announce that for the time being, the Rock 'n Roll Roots CD series is on hiatus. I'm quite aware of how important this CD and event has been to the thousands of you who have supported it over the past 12 years. Believe me when I say that this has been my "baby" and it's tough to let it go this year. It's too early to tell what the future (next year) may hold, but if it's at all possible to pull off, we'll do it with the same vigor and dedication that has been the trademark of the past 12 Volumes. Thank you for understanding and thank you for your undying support these past dozen years.
-- Bob Stroud
The release parties and performances by our local heroes was certainly something that we looked forward to every November ... and it's sad to see it slip away this year.  But I believe that a new home ... and a new sponsor ... WILL be found for this much-loved, much-appreciated series in time for next year ... and we'll keep you posted as this develops.  Meanwhile, thanks for all the great memories thus far.  (Hey, we hated to see Borders close, too ... that was our book store of choice for ALL our literary needs!!!)  kk

re:  HAPPY THANKSGIVING:
Kent ...
Just heard this on the radio:
Micky Dolenz  =  BBQ's his Turkey.
Bob  Seger    =  Deep Fry's his Turkey.
Keep this information on file, until you decide to write your celebrity cookbook.
Frank B.
My guess is that Ron Smith has already been compiling this information for YEARS!!!  (kk)

Kent ...
The "I's" have it.
"Indian Reservation" + "Islands In The Stream" + "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me."
Pleasant surprise:  Big Jay Sorenson is in town to help us count em down.
Thanksgiving Day and Friday -  Big Jay filling in, 10 AM to 3 PM shift.
If it was up to me, I'd sign him up for permanent duty.
He's great.
Frank B.
So start a letter-writing campaign to the station ... jeez, with as much press as you've given WCBS-FM in OUR pages, it would seem to me that they must owe you SOMETHING!!!  (lol)
Hey, WE'D love to see Big Jay back on the airwaves permanently, too ... and I know HE'd love the idea as well.  Start calling and writing the station and let them know how much you enjoy his broadcasts.  You never know!!!  (kk)

Real photos we took of the church where the Alice's Restaurant / Thanksgiving Dinner occurred in '65 ... and the railroad tracks.  Too late to share with others but thought I'd send them on just for fun. (I guess only hardcore music geeks track down the scene of events mentioned in songs)
 
I am thankful for the finest, most thoroughly researched resource for music fans the world over: Forgotten Hits.
Thank you, sir.
David Lewis


re:  SMiLE:
And now that the release date is FINALLY here, we're finding LOTS of press about the long-awaited release of The Beach Boys' "SMiLE" album.  Renown Music Historian (and FH Reader) Harvey Kubernik does a GREAT interview with Brian Wilson right here:
Meanwhile, David Beard (of Endless Summer Quarterly and Beach Boys Examiner) tells us there will be ALL kinds of special press surrounding this hot new release ... including:
a SMiLE Sessions television special airing on The Early Show on CBS November 1st (the official US release date), a 4.5 Star Review in Rolling Stone Magazine and a special ten-part web series running on YouTube.  And that's just the beginning ... promotion for this hot, new release is expected to be HUGE!!!  (kk)
re:  OTHER COOL NEW RELEASES:
CHARLIE GRACIE received a special LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTAWARD from Philadelphia Row Home Magazine on November 3rd ... and 500-plus attended a black-tie event held at "VIE" in Center City Philadelphia to help celebrate!
The Philly Rocker -- just back from a month-long tour of ITALY, ENGLAND and WALES -- was honored as PHILLY' GLOBAL MUSIC AMBASSADOR! His new ABKCO CD: "For The Love of Charlie!" with AL KOOPER, GRAHAM NASH, PETER NOONE and more was just released in the USA on NOV. 8th!
Guests to this special event included dozens of the city's business and restaurant owners, members of the Phila. Eagles -- including Quarterback Michael Vick -- musicians such as Soul singer Bunny Sigler and Actor Leo Rossi were among them. CHARLIE, Baseball Hall of Fame Sportswriter, BILL CONLIN and Community Activist BOB HENON all appear on the cover of the November issue!  MANY THANKS to all who attended and to President and publisher 
DORETTE ROTA JACKSON and  Vice President DAWN RHOADES on the success of a fabulous event! 
It seems like we've been talking about Charlie Gracie's new album FOREVER now ... but the record FINALLY hit the streets last week.
Here's the "official" press release from our FH Buddy Bob Merlis:
FOR THE LOVE OF CHARLIE --
NEW MUSIC FROM ROCK PIONEER CHARLIE GRACIE OUT THIS WEEK FROM ABKCO RECORDS

Charlie Gracie, the legendary Philadelphia-born and raised first generation rock ‘n’ roller whose 1957 hit “Butterfly” helped launch the fabled Cameo Records label, has never stopped recording and touring over the course of the past seven decades.  On November 8, ABKCO Records released "For The Love of Charlie", Gracie’s first album of new material in over ten years. The album release, both on CD and digitally, follows a string of tour dates in the UK (plus one festival performance in Italy) where Gracie's  popularity has long endured. His admitted and enthusiastic admirers include Paul McCartney, who famously covered “Fabulous”, Charlie’s follow-up to “Butterfly”, fellow Beatle George Harrison as well as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Van Morrison (who had Charlie tour with him in recent years). 
Ten of the twelve tracks on the new album by the 75-year-old Rockabilly Hall of Famer were produced by Al Kooper who has been a fan of Charlie’s since his days as a member of The Royal Teens (“Short Shorts”). Also lending some “love” to the project is Graham Nash, who sings on the new album as does Peter Noone of the Herman’s Hermits, who named Charlie as one of the most important influences on his musical career. 
Of note is the fact that the album’s packaging includes a Cameo-Parkway logo, the label having been acquired by ABKCO in the late 1960s. It’s the first appearance of the trademark on an album of new material in over 40 years. Gracie’s original hit recordings for the label have been collected on ABKCO’s The Best of Charlie Gracie 1956-1958, which has been a consistent best seller since its release five years ago.
Al Kooper, the producer / performer whose own career extends back to his early guitar playing teens and includes his work as a member of the Blues Project, founder of Blood, Sweat & Tears and the producer who discovered and recorded Lynyrd Skynyrd, has long been a huge Charlie Gracie fan. Kooper commented, “Charlie was a big part of my growing up in terms of influence on me in my rockabilly period that came after my doo wop phase”.  A couple of years ago, Kooper was approached by producer Quentin Jones with whom he's since become very friendly.  Jones asked him to contribute to a new Charlie Gracie album and, thereafter, sent the tracks to Kooper who noted, “All I wanted to do is make it sound as good as it could; my set-up was more accommodating than Quentin’s. I totally understood the idiom and, in fact, play in a rockabilly trio every now and then though ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Fabulous’ aren’t in the repertoire because there are some things you can't touch”.
As the recording evolved, other players including Conan O’Brien bandleader Jimmy Vivino contributed to the work-in-progress.  Charlie was touched by the efforts of Kooper, Jones, Vivino and the others who worked on the album, stating, “I am so honored and grateful to have such an extraordinary group of artists contributing their enormous talents to this album. It is as much a testament to my peers, the pioneers of rock and roll who helped lay the foundation, as it is to me. Just the same, none of us really knew our music would evolve and have the kind of influence it’s had on successive generations. To those musicians who continue to honor  us through their recognition, I am eternally grateful!”
Graham Nash recalls the night many years ago when Charlie played in his native Manchester. “We had been waiting for many weeks for the show. It was a great night of this 'new music' and was enjoyed by all who were there. It raised and strengthened my spirits to know that I was not wrong when I sought out, strived for and finally loved this feeling, this desire, to make music, to communicate through music... to get it out...” He would, of course, go on to co-found the Hollies and, later Crosby, Stills & Nash and returned the favor to his original inspiration by providing backing vocals onRock 'N' Roll Heaven."
For The Love of Charlie - Track Listing / Credits:
1. All I Wanna Do Is Love You (Charlie Gracie)
Lead Guitar - Quentin Jones
Backing Vocals - Peter Noone
All other instruments - Al Kooper
2. My Hummingbird (Rick Bell)
Guitars - Quentin Jones, Al Kooper, Charlie Gracie
Guitar Solo – Jimmy Vivino
Drums - Jay Sorrentino
Pedal Steel, Piano, Organ, Bass, Handclaps - Al Kooper
Backing Vocals - Al Kooper, Charlie Gracie Sr., Charlie Gracie Jr, Ralph Miller
3. Back To Philadelphia (Quentin Jones)
Rhythm Guitars - Quentin Jones, Al Kooper
Drums - Jay Sorrentino
Organ - Ralph Miller
Backup Vocals, Marimba, Piano, Horns, Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Tambourine, Congas - Al Kooper
4. Sweet Marie (Quentin Jones)
Rhythm Guitar & Lead Guitar - Quentin Jones (center)
Drums - Jay Sorrentino
Shaker - Quentin Jones
Sax - Kenneth McCoy
Trumpet- Robin Church
Rhythm Guitar (left, very “Keef”), Keyboards, Horn Arrangements, Bass, Mandolin, Acoustic Guitars - Al Kooper
Backup Vocals - Amy Banks, Sam "Lugar" Rawhauser
5. And Now I Win (Quentin Jones)
Electric Guitars - Quentin Jones, Al Kooper
Drums, Bass, Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Keyboards, Pedal Steel, Musette, Harmonica, Percussion - Al Kooper
Backing Vocals - Ralph Miller, Al Kooper 
6. School Days (Cobb-Edwards; adapted by Louis Jordan)
Lead Slide Guitar - Jimmy Vivino
Rhythm Guitars - Charlie Gracie, Al Kooper
Wacka Wacka Guitar - Dave Roberts
Horns - Ken McCoy, Robin Church
Drums - Tommy Leanza
Bass, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitars - Al Kooper
Backup Vocals - Ralph Miller, Charlie Gracie Sr., Charlie Gracie Jr., Quentin Jones
7. I Don't Know Why (Quentin Jones)
Arpeggio Guitar, Bass - Quentin Jones
Drums - Dave Ferrara
Baritone Guitar, Acoustic Guitars, Electric Lead Guitars, Keyboards, Horns, Strings, Percussion - Al Kooper
Backup Vocals - Ralph Miller
8. Dance My Blues Away (Accardi-McDonnell)
Guitars - Charlie Gracie
Lead Guitar - Jimmy Vivino
Organ Solo - Al Kooper
Drums - Steve Patton
Bass - Quentin Jones
Horns, Keyboards, Tambourine &“Landlord” - Al Kooper
Backup Vocals - Charlie Gracie Sr., Charlie Gracie Jr., Quentin Jones
9. On The Way To Cape May (Maurice Nugent)
Rhythm Guitars - Charlie Gracie, Al Kooper
Banjo - Charlie Gracie
Drums - Steve Patton
Bass, Tuba, Clarinet, Pedal Steel, Mandolin, Castanets, Musette, Keyboards - Al Kooper
Backup Vocals - Charlie Gracie Sr., Charlie Gracie Jr Quentin, Ashlee & Caroline Jones
10. Everybody Rockin' (Knockin' Themselves Out) (Quentin Jones)
Lead Guitar - Eddie Angel
Rhythm Guitars - Quentin Jones, Al Kooper
Drums - Dave Ferrara
Piano, Organ, Cowbell, Percussion - Al Kooper
Group Vocals, Handclaps - Charlie Gracie Sr., Charlie Gracie Jr., Quentin Jones
11. Rock 'N' Roll Heaven (Charlie Gracie)
Rhythm Guitars - Charlie Gracie
Lead Guitar & Hammond B3 Organ - Craig Ross
Keyboards - Ralph Miller
Bass - Tony Breit
Drums - Tommy Leanza
Backup Vocals – Graham Nash
12. Rock 'N' Roll Party (Ace Filippini)
Lead Guitar and Bass - Quentin Jones
Drums - Dennis Diken
Rhythm guitar - Mike Fisher
Backing vocals - Ace Filipini
Tracks 1-10 Produced & Arranged by Al Kooper / Co-Produced by Quentin Jones
Basic Tracks engineered by Quentin Jones
All Other Engineering - "Magic" Dave Roberts
Mixed & Mastered by Al Kooper & "Magic" Dave Roberts
Tracks 11-12 Produced by Quentin Jones & Tom "T-Bone" Edmonds
Arranged by Quentin Jones
Basic Tracks engineered by Quentin Jones
Overdubs engineered by Tom "T-Bone" Edmonds
Mixed by Tom "T-Bone" Edmonds
Mastered by Joe Yannece
Amazon link to purchase: 
I know several folks on the list have started collecting the new "Complete Pop Instrumental Hits of the Sixties" CDs.  The series promised to compile EVERY instrumental that made Billboard's Hot 100 List during the decade.  Volume One has been out for several months now and features 81 instrumental hits!  I asked FH Readers and Contributor Randy Price when we might expect the 1961 volume ... and here's what he had to say:
Kent,
We're working on the 1961 volume of the Instrumental Hits CDs now. I believe it's scheduled to be released in February. There were 86 instrumentals that peaked on the Hot 100 during that year, the most of any year. This set, as did the first one, will feature some first-time stereo tracks, in addition to top-notch mastering throughout.
-- Randy


re:  GET THE PICTURE?:
ANY CLASSIC ROCK FANS ON YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST? 
PRODUCER/ENGINEER EDDIE KRAMER SHOT PHOTOS OF HENDRIX, STONES, ZEPPELIN WHILE WORKING WITH THESE AND OTHER ROCK LEGENDS
50 DIFFERENT ORIGINAL PRINTS NOW AVAILABLE @ EDDIEKRAMERARCHIVES.COM 








This coming year marks the 50th anniversary of the start of Eddie Kramer's career in music. It was in 1962 that the 20 year-old  native of Capetown, South Africa started working as a "tea-boy" (go-fer) at London's Advision Studios, prior to which he had been recording local jazz groups in his living room.  He went on to collaborate with some of the top names in rock, engineering and/or producing albums by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, KISS and recorded the entirety of the Woodstock Festival.  In celebration of his 50th year in the business and his 70th birthday, eddiekramerarchives.com offers 50 different photographs, shot between 1967 - 1972,  the period Eddie calls "The Golden Era of Rock n' Roll."  
Eddie’s photos have been exhibited in cities around the world, including The Grammy Museum, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, MTV corporate headquarters in New York, the San Francisco Art Exchange, Wild About Music Gallery in Santa Monica, The Morrison Hotel Galleries in New York and Southern California, VIP Gallery in Rotterdam, Gallerie Profilen of Denmark, as well as the Metropolis Studios and Proud Gallery in London. Several of Eddie’s photos are on permanent display at Experience Music Project in Seattle. His images chronicle his years working with some of the biggest and most creative artists of any generation, including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix as well as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Chuck Berry, Joe Cocker, Albert King, Ted Nugent, Santana, Steve Marriott, Steve Winwood, Johnny Winter and Frank Zappa, Images sold through the site are first generation, signed, custom prints that are offered in a variety of formats including museum quality black and white silver gelatin and color Lambda C-type prints, printed on watercolor rag paper or giclée canvas. 
It's understood that any producer is only as good as the sounds and sights he helps create. By this standard, Eddie Kramer must be regarded as one of the very best. For five decades Kramer has painted the rock landscape with his aural and visual brush, working with some of music history's biggest names:. He not only produced and engineered music for these legendary artists who continue to influence rock musicians and producers through successive generations, but he also has set the standard for rock production for all time. Kramer is a true innovator and continues to work as producer, engineer, author, software developer, lecturer and studio designer. His photographs have been exhibited in some of the world’s most prestigious galleries and museums and have become prized possession of collectors throughout the world. His recordings continue to define the soundtrack of each new decade. His affect is one of good cheer, as heard in his signature phrase: "Up is louder mate!!!" 
Please visit www.eddiekramerarchives.com to order and for additional details.

re:  LOTS AND LOTS OF OTHER STUFF:  
Kent: 
Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, pictured here backstage at a NYC concert last weekend that was hosted by Elegants lead singer Vito "Little Star" Picone, received some terrific news recently.  The Rolling Stones, on Nov. 21st,  are releasing an updated edition of one of their most successful albums ever,  1978’s “Some Girls.”   On the special deluxe edition the Stones are including some bonus cuts that were recorded back in the 70s, but never released.  One of those extras is their version of Freddy’s 1959 smash. “Tallahassee Lassie.”  

As many Stones fans know, Mick Jagger has been quoted in interviews over the years as saying that Freddy’s “Tallahassee Lassie” inspired them to write “Brown Sugar.”  
-- Tom Cuddy
Freddy Cannon on left, with Vito Picone of the Elegants. 


(A Forgotten Hits exclusive photo!)  



Mick Jagger discussed this track (a bonus track on the new "Some Girls" CD release) for MOJO Magazine: 
"This is a song made famous by Freddy Cannon. The original version we did at the time of Some Girls sounds like it was recorded in a wind tunnel. It now sounds like we're coming towards the end of the tunnel. Quite funky. I left it alone. Didn't do anything new, except add some handclaps - which is very close the feel of the original."
-- Mick Jagger

Kent ...
In some photos, I think Wayne Cochran looks like Conway Twitty.
I just re-read your Bobby Fuller Story. It said the insurance policy wasn't paid off. If it was suicide and not murder, what reason would the insurance company have not to pay?
Frank B.
I don't think ANY insurance company pays off on a suicide ... I believe that's standard practice.  By the same token if Bobby's handlers had heavy insurance policies riding on their young star, I would think that THEY wouldn't collect either ... if a murder was ruled a suicide.  (kk)
I got this from Wild Wayne ... more on the strange case of Bobby Fuller.
Frank B.





Kent, 
Years ago I read in one of my books that Johnny & the Hurricanes' SHEBA was the 'A' side of the record in some markets. Here in OKC, DOWN YONDER was the 'A' side of the record ... though to be honest with you, that record was one of the few that I actually turned over and played the 'B' side. I liked SHEBA but I liked DOWN YONDER better.

Larry Neal
Since we've seen so many similarities between your Oklahoma City charts and our charts here in Chicago lately, I looked this one up, too.  This single pre-dates WLS switching to Top 40 ... but on the old WJJD / Top Tunes Of Greater Chicagoland chart, it shows "Down Yonder" as the charting side ... eventually peaking at #27.  Seems to be a lot of love and affection for "Sheba", however!  (kk)  

I see a Bobster likes "Sheba", too! Cool! One of those eerie feeling songs for me, like, why do I know this tune!? Feature that song, KK, when you get a chance!
Best,
John
Will do!  (kk)


Three more Wrecking Crew screenings scheduled so far before the end of the year ... hoping you can join us at one of these near you:

November 29th - Camelot Theatre / 2300 East Baristo Road / Palm Springs, CA

December 10th - Pepperland Music / 850 Tustin Street / Orange, CA

December 15th - Regent Theatre / Arlington, MA

We've given an awful lot of press to The Wrecking Crew (especially lately) ... and, over the past few years, featured some "fly on the wall" memories of Vic Flick, one of Great Britain's top session guitarists ... and now comes word from FH Reader Carl Wiser (of Songfacts.com) tells us about ANOTHER great session man! (kk)


 

Hi Kent.
I've always been fascinated with the session musicians responsible for so many of the hits, and we recently contacted one of the top New York studio guitarists of the '60s: Ralph Casale. This was a time when 3-4 songs would get cranked out in a single session, so his work is on hundreds of tunes. A few stories he had to tell:
- Coming up with the guitar line on "Happy Together"
- His thundering solo on "Lightnin' Strikes"
- The "chicks" sound on "A Lover's Concerto"
- The song he didn't think had a chance, but became a big hit (he didn't think this actress could actually sing)
- How a Frank Sinatra or Johnny Mathis session would typically run
Ralph had some great photos to share as well - folks were better dressed back then.
Here's the link to his interview:
http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/ralph_casale_-_session_pro/
Be Well,
Carl Wiser
 

Songfacts.com

 



Thanx for the Smokey interview and thanx to Smokey and Motown for so many hours of listening joy ... his words were very moving.  He is, to me, one of the musical geniuses of our lifetime ... and here he gives credit to the other Motown artists ... his grace is another of his lovely qualities ... it WAS a great collaboration.  Motown is a genre all its own ... and one of my favorites ... their music was magic.  There are some very recognizable songwriters and Smokey is one of them.  Bill Anderson is another and Kris Kris is a third. 
Pttibg

I've just published a website about the Tide Record label of Los Angeles. This might be of interest to record collectors and those who are interested in some obscure 60's - 70's artists who recorded in Los Angeles during the period. It includes photos, discographies, reviews, etc. I welcome any input.
Just letting you know that I've added the Larry Bright story to my Tide Records site:http://tiderecordsstory.weebly.com/the-larry-bright-story.html
Gary E. Myers / MusicGem
 http://www.music-gem.com/index.html


Kent ...
If I had to name one person who was the biggest influence on me I’d have to say it was my late friend Neil Bogart, who not only had a great ear for a hit record … but he also knew how to turn it into one! Everybody who knew Neil has a story to tell about him, I’d like to share a couple of mine.  http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/many-brief-encounters-with-neil-bogart/
With the world in turmoil, I want to revisit a musical milestone in our lives, “WE ARE THE WORLD”, whose message is more relevant today than it was when it was originally released. http://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/original-we-are-the-world-revisited/
Regards,
Artie Wayne


I CHECKED OUT THE VIDEO OF KATHY YOUNG'S IMPROMPTU PERFORMANCE FROM PITTSBURGH IN 2010 SINCE I WAS THERE, AND YOU CAN SEE MY FLASHES GOING OFF NEAR THE END OF THE SONG. YES, KATHY IS STILL VERY MUCH A HOTTIE (SHE'S A TRUE CALIFORNIA GIRL - VERY HEALTH CONSCIOUS) AND EXTREMELY NICE TO BOOT.  SHE ALSO HAS A CHAD AND JEREMY CONNECTION THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING STORY FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL.  THERE WERE OTHER HOTEL LOBBY SING-A-LONGS GOING ON THAT NITE INCLUDING BARRY MCGUIRE. 
MICHAEL G BUSH
 
Would love to hear about Kathy's Chad and Jeremy connection ... enlighten us please!!!

Thanks, Mike!
kk





MFQ's Henry Diltz and Cyrus Faryar of The Group with No Name, both Monterey Pop veterans, asked that I spread the news about their rare local show before they go on a third tour in Japan.  Formed in 1960 and still together. I have interviewed the band members at length.
Hipsters and even music historians will never do the math and realize the roles all these guys played in developing the musical sound of Los Angeles.
MFQ were once managed by Herb Cohen, booked by Benny Shapiro and produced by Jim Dickson two years before the Byrds were formed. They opened for Lenny Bruce three times.    
Member Cyrus Faryar played on some very seminal records in Hollywood, including Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" and Firesign Theater. Jerry Yester produced the debut Tom Waits' album and the second and third Tim Buckley LP's and had a stint in the Association. He was also a session player on Bob Lind's "Elusive Butterfly." Chip Douglas produced many recording sessions on the second and third Monkees' albums, and was a member of the Turtles, while also arranging and producing "Happy Together." Henry Diltz in 1966 became Henry Diltz the photographer. They sang the theme song for "The Big TNT Show" produced by Phil Spector, the rock event held on Sunset Blvd.       
Harvey Kubernik
Unfortunately we got this too late to let anybody know about it ... but The Modern Folk Quartet (MFQ) did a special "One Night Only" gig at The Oyster House in Studio City, California, on Sunday Night, October 30th.  VERY cool to know these guys are still out there doing it!  (Everybody knows Henry Diltz as the world-renown photographer ... but WE got to see him sit in and perform with America a couple of years ago when they filmed their "Soundstage" television special.  Diltz took the photos that eventually became some of America's earliest album covers.  (kk)



We hear a lot about indulgent rock stars and other celebrity boneheads.  I would like to put the spotlight on a handful of real music business pros who donated their time and talents on Veterans Day to perform at the first annual "James River Jam" in Williamsburg, VA.  Some of these artists flew cross country and donated their weekend so we could rehearse, do a full dress rehearsal and then put on a three hour show in challenging weather conditions.

Big props to:

DON FELDER

JD SOUTHER
JOE DON ROONEY
JOHN OATES
MICKY DOLENZ
SAM BUSH
JERRY EUBANKS
Special thanks to JEFF FOSKETT who had the Herculean task of assembling the band to provide back up and vocals for almost 30 songs.
The James River Jam is the creation of the CEO of the Orion Air Group / Tempus Jets, Scott Terry.  Along with his close associate, Indy 500 winner, Danny Sullivan, they conceived of the event to give back to the community largely made up of military families.  There are scholarships and support for the families that have lost loved ones in Afghanistan and Iraq.  It's a remarkable commitment in these times of corporate indifference to find a company
who believes in supporting our military and their community.
It was my honor to work with all of these great talents.  
Here's hoping we have a James River Jam II next year. 
Thanks,
Chip Rachlin, producer

re:  ELVIS:

A friend of mine is in the process of recording and promoting a CD on a concept called “Kingtinuing.”  What would it been like if Elvis never died … an impersonator singing songs Elvis MIGHT have recorded.
Tom

Interesting concept ... keep us posted!  (kk)





And, speaking of Elvis ... see if you guys can make any sense out of THIS one!!!  (lol)


Kent;
Newspaper, cartoon editorialists, are the number one CHARACATURE, artists of their areas.
To me, these ELVIS "IMPERSONATERS?????"  are, Elvis CHARACTURISTS and the sooner THAT fad dies, the better.
To me, there are darned FEW, men, or women, who can / could sound, like Elvis and only a couple who can / could match both, the sound and movements.
I figure that for sure, Elvis worked with choreographers, on movie sets so that the camera knew
where he was going to go, etc., but they likely allowed that because of how the beat moved Elvis, they had to just give him guidelines.
WAS????????????????? he ever given stage movements lessons??????? or was he soooooooooooooooo oh-riginal, NO choreographer could, INVENT, what he did 1954 - 56.
What brand of music were the three songs from LOVE ME TENDER, besides the title song, which had rhythm but, not move, beat.  How he moved on the stage, doing the outdoor scene, with the musicians in back.  
Closest, guy I have seen and heard do ELVIS has been Britain's SHAKIN STEVEN.     THANKFULLY, the only way he DRESSES up is to put on some semi-jazzy clothes.  But his moves are very much Elvis. 
Three / four years back, I bought the three DVD set, Elvis' Ed Sullivan shows.  Guess back THEN, that was considered terrible behavior. BUT it was only on the last of the three broadcasts that the camera was on him from above the waist.  
NOT ASKIN' for any names but it seems I'm the only CANADIAN writing you.  
In downtown TORONTO on University Avenue is Sick Children's Hospital.  In order to build a part of it, they had to tear down a house that Gladys Smith was BORN IN.  Changed her name when she got to HOLLYWOOD ... after that, they called her MARY PICKFORD.
Robert Black  
"OUT" 
I can't say for sure how many Canadian Readers we have ... but it seems to me that we've heard from at least twenty of them over time.  Truth is, proportionally, very few people take the time to write ... we see visitors checking in from all over the world but rarely "hear" from any of them.  (Meanwhile, we've found Forgotten Hits translated into at least a dozen other languages and then run on other websites in foreign countries ... so who knows how many people are actually reading my gibberish!!!)
Always enjoy your letters, Robert ... it's brings out the kid in me, trying to decipher all the secret codes!!! (lol)  Seriously, thanks for writing!  (kk)

And how about this???  A newly discovered, unknown Elvis recording???  Personally, I'm finding all of this a bit hard to believe (and this isn't the first time a story like this has surfaced, only to be proven false later.)  But this was one of the big music stories last week:

Local expert says recording found in Michigan attic contains an unreleased Elvis Presley song

(WXYZ) - Have you ever heard the 1976 Elvis song “Living to Love You”? Probably not. That’s because the unreleased tune apparently sat in a Michigan attic for years before being authenticated by a local audio expert.  

Forensic audio expert Ed Primeau tells 7 Action News that the recording found its way to him after being discovered in the family home of the song’s original copyright holder.

That man, Albert Leigh, had produced the song around 1976, but it was never released. He passed away. A recording and accompanying documentation would later be discovered by family members in west Michigan. They uncovered a reel-to-reel recording and a cassette tape which contained multiple versions of the song.
Primeau provided 7 Action news with a clip of the song and believes “Living to Love You” was recorded by Elvis Presley at a studio in Detroit.
"There's only one person who sounds like Elvis," said Primeau. "It's definitely Elvis Presley.'  The audio expert used spectrum analysis to compare the voice of Elvis on known recordings to those on the recently discovered tape. He says it is indeed The King.
He says he was given three versions of the song to analyze. They were compared to other Elvis songs that were produced around the same time in 1976.
Read more: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/entertainment/expert-says-recording-found-in-Michigan-is-unreleased-elvis-presley-song#ixzz1dYXzlexk


re:  THE BEATLES:

Kent ...
Last weekend was a Beatles #1 weekend in the WCBS-FM Hall-of-Fame.

The Beatles had 27 # 1 Hits. Three of them were one-word titles. Can you name them?
Frank B.

And a couple of other Beatles-related stories that have been making the rounds ...


Big story last week about one of John Lennon's teeth selling for over $31,000!!!
All I can say is ... BEST TOOTH FAIRY EVER!!!!!


Kent ...
I only got a $1 for my tooth.
Frank B.
Inflation???  Wonder if they fall out again in old age if we're allowed to "double-dip" and collect again?!?!?  (kk)


This has been in all the papers: The other summer, Paul McCartney, on tour in Detroit, was dismayed to learn the Steinway grand piano in Motown's museum wasn't playable; he offered to have it shipped to Steinway's factory to be restored, and that's going to happen this week!

-- BOB FRABLE

Yep, 'tis true, 'tis true ... and, it sounds like it's going to happen.  Got this from FH Reader Frank B. (by way of Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com website):
Sir Paul McCartney has organized restoration work on a piano used by several Motown legends after he tried to play the instrument during a trip to the record label's museum. 
The former Beatle wanted to show off his musical skills on the 1877 Steinway grand piano during a visit to the Motown Historical Museum in Michigan over the summer after finding out it had been played by the likes of Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.
Officials advised him the piano was no longer in working order, so he offered to help get the historical piece restored to its former glory. 
The museum's CEO Audley Smith, Jr. tells The Detroit News, "He was disappointed when we told him it didn't play."
McCartney then got in touch with restorers at Steinway & Sons, who have promised to fix the instrument.
A spokesperson for the company says, "Steinway & Sons is honoured to restore the historic Steinway piano that was used by such legends as Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder - and to do so in the very same New York factory where it was originally built in 1877.


"We're especially proud, as an American company, to help the Motown Museum in preserving the legacy of the Motown Record Company, whose artists and albums played such a vital role in one of the great eras of American music."  

re:  THE MONKEES:  
A stage musical based on the music of the 1960s pop group The Monkees will premiere at the Manchester Opera House in March according to BBC. MONKEE BUSINESS will then move to other UK cities.
The musical will feature hits including "I'm A Believer," "Hey, Hey We're The Monkees" and "Daydream Believer." The original band members will not appear in the musical. Instead, it will feature a cast of 20 acting out a "madcap Austin Powers-style plot," according to producers.  Howard Panter, joint chief executive of Ambassador Theatre Group, which owns the Manchester Opera House, said: "Manchester is the ideal place for the original creative process necessary for developing large-scale new musicals like Monkee Business. 
"It is a city with a great foundation in music with knowledgeable and sophisticated audiences who love and understand fantastic musical theatre." 
After its premiere, MONKEE BUSINESS will tour to Glasgow and Sunderland in April. 
For the original article, click here.
-- submitted by Clark Besch
Who would have ever thought?!?!  (kk)

Kent ...
Have you ever heard of this show?  "Circus Boy".  It's an old show that's on Sunday mornings here in New York. Noah Beery, Jr. plays Joey the Clown. Micky Dolenz plays Corky, the kid who takes care of the baby elephant. Does that name sound familiar?
Frank B.
Yes, we've covered this several times in the past ... including a receipt excerpt from Micky's biography talking about having to die his hair blond for the program!!!  Search our website and this one should pop up!  (kk)

Dear Friends and Fans of our Favorite Group,
Gary Pig Gold's feature on the Monkees' series DVDs is now totally Up at the Rock and Roll Report.
Here is its url, for all of your Reading, reprinting, re-posting, quoting from and/or Linking to,
one and all ... http://rockandrollreport.com/pigshit-much-more-of-the-monkees/


And, for a current interview with Peter Tork (courtesy of Jeremy Roberts), be sure to check out this link:


re:  THE DOORS:
LAUNCH "THE YEAR OF THE DOORS" WITH THE ANNIVERSARY REISSUE OF THEIR
L.A. WOMAN ALBUM AND NEW DVD/BLU-RAY "MR. MOJO RISIN'" THE STORY OF L.A. WOMAN JANUARY 24, 2012
(NCLUDES THE DEBUT OF "She Smells So Nice," A NEWLY-DISCOVERED ORIGINAL SONG FROM THE L.A. WOMAN SESSIONS)
Fans of iconic rock band THE DOORS are in for something special.  The group's final album -- 1971's  L.A. WOMAN -- with the signature hits "L.A. Woman," "Love Her Madly" and "Riders On The Storm" -- is being celebrated with a special two-CD release from Rhino and a behind-the-scenes DVD / Blu-ray from Eagle Rock Entertainment
The L.A. WOMAN 40th anniversary edition (Rhino 2-CD) features a never-before-heard song, "She Smells So Nice," which captures the band -- organist RAY MANZAREK, guitarist ROBBY KRIEGER, drummer JOHN DENSMORE and late singer JIM MORRISON -- joyfully barreling through a full-throttle original before segueing into the blues standard "Rock Me." As the song closes, Morrison can be heard chanting, "Mr. Mojo Risin'" -- an anagram of his name that was made famous during the bridge of "L.A. Woman."  Recently discovered by producer Bruce Botnick while reviewing the L.A. WOMAN session tapes, a teaser clip of "She Smells So Nice" can be heard here: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-preview-newly-unearthed-doors-track-she-smells-so-nice-20111117 
In addition to "She Smells So Nice," the second disc of the L.A. WOMAN reissue includes eight never-before-heard versions of songs from the album.  Alternate takes of "L.A. Woman," "Love Her Madly" and "Riders On The Storm" offer a fresh view on this landmark album, which was the group's sixth straight Top 10.  The studio chatter between the songs is a revelation, transporting listeners to The Doors Workshop: the West Hollywood rehearsal space where they recorded the album with Botnick.  One segment in particular captures a fascinating moment of inspiration when Morrison suggests they add the now-iconic thunderstorm sound effects to the beginning of "Riders On The Storm."  Rhino will also release L.A. WOMAN: THE WORKSHOP SESSIONS, a double LP featuring all of the previously unreleased material found on the CD collection on three sides of vinyl, with the fourth side featuring a laser etching of the original "Electric Woman" art originally included with the L.A. WOMAN album.
"Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman" (Eagle Rock Entertainment DVD / Blu-ray) is told through new interviews with MANZAREK, KRIEGER and DENSMORE as well as Elektra Records founder JAC HOLZMAN, original manager BILL SIDDONS, engineer / co-producer BRUCE BOTNICK and others.  The high-definition video also features live and studio performances as well as rare archival photos.  This fascinating documentary contains rare footage of THE DOORSin the studio and on stage.  The documentary was made with the full involvement, approval and cooperation of THE DOORS. [Pre-book Order Date December 20,  2011, MSRP $14.98 for DVD, $19.98 for Blu-ray].
"The Year of The Doors" will be marked by other special releases, with details to be announced soon.
L.A. WOMAN marked THE DOORS' swan song, as MORRISON would pass away a few months after its release. At the time, Rolling Stone's Robert Meltzer called it "The Doors' greatest album ... A landmark worthy of dancing in the streets (5/27/71)."  The first band to release eight consecutive platinum albums, THE DOORS were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.   

And here comes word of a "Doors Reunion" ... of sorts ...
November 09, 2011|By Steve Knopper, Special to the Tribune
It's not quite the Doors, but it is the music. 
Band's guitarist, keyboardist pair up on tour.
In the '50s, when 16-year-old Ray Manzarek was studying classical piano in Chicago, he hit a wall. "I put that to bed, thinking that this is a dead end for me: 'I don't play well enough to be a concert pianist,'" he recalls. 
So Manzarek shifted to casually playing blues, basic jazz and rock 'n' roll, and concentrated more heavily on his interest in film. 
But as all fans of the Doors know by now, Manzarek's career plans abruptly changed one day in 1965, after he graduated from UCLA's film school. He happened to be walking on Los Angeles' Venice Beach when he encountered Jim Morrison. "You know how odd the fates are. You wind up pursuing your hobby as a life's work," Manzarek says by phone from a tour stop with his old Doors bandmate, guitarist Robby Krieger, in Providence, R.I. "We meet on the beach and decide to form a rock 'n' roll band; rather than movies, we were going to play rock 'n' roll. And it turned out gosh-darned well." 
Manzarek's understatement is shorthand for one of the most familiar rock-star mythologies of all time. Morrison, the singer, poet and future shirtless sex symbol, hooked up with Manzarek, Krieger and drummer John Densmore; together they created an improvisational, bluesy, jazz-influenced rock band responsible for some of the most distinctive hits of the '60s, including "Light My Fire," "Break On Through," "L.A. Woman" and "Roadhouse Blues." Although he was more aggressive than, say, the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia, Morrison embodied hippie counterculture rebellion by getting arrested for (very allegedly) exposing himself at a Miami concert in 1969. Then he pushed the Doors from band to legend by dying of an apparent drug overdose in 1971. 
As the focal point of the Doors' music, and a keyboardist who supplies most of the band's distinctive bass lines, the bespectacled Manzarek was one of rock's ultimate role players in the '60s. Harvey Kubernik, a Doors aficionado and author of the recent "A Perfect Haze: The Illustrated History of the Monterey International Pop Festival," believes this aspect of Manzarek's personality derives in part from his longtime fandom of UCLA's basketball team. "When you are a team player, you can play on many teams," he says. Adds Jim Henke, chief curator for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted the Doors in 1993: "Clearly, Jim Morrison was the frontman and the dominant figure, but really the group's sound as we know it would not have existed without Ray Manzarek." 
Manzarek, 72, has put out solo albums of varying quality over the years, but his strength is in finding collaborators — he produced the Los Angeles punk band X's first two albums, and he has worked with avant-garde composer Philip Glass, poet Michael McClure and rockers Iggy Pop and Echo and the Bunnymen. Today, he's juggling two duets. His album with guitarist Roy Rogers, this year's "Translucent Blues," is a Doors-sounding blues-and-jazz interpretation of lyrics by the late Warren Zevon, the late Jim Carroll and others; and he tours regularly with his old compatriot, Krieger, playing Doors classics. 
Rogers showed up one night in 2008 at a Manzarek solo gig near his home in Northern California. Rogers sat in, and it worked. "The conversation boiled down to, 'Hey, that was good — let's do it again!'" the keyboardist recalls. 
Krieger, meanwhile, has been willing to play the old stuff with Manzarek since 2002, and they're "extremely comfortable" together after 46 years. "We know each other well; we know what each other is going to play; we know the songs and we improvise," he says. "Hit a groove last night that was ... my God! By the end of the show they had come down to the front and I see these people pounding on the stage. We're doing 'L.A. Woman' and they're smashing their hands and fists in time on the stage. What a trip." 
The old Doors haven't always been so compatible, however. (Densmore, thus far, has declined to take part in the Manzarek-Krieger tour.) When Oliver Stone's movie "The Doors" came out in 1991, Manzarek ripped it as an exaggerated, overly serious caricature of Morrison and the band, while Krieger spoke favorably of it in interviews. "Oh, that's just in the past," Manzarek says. "I'll ask him about it today. Or I might not ask him about it today. Then we'll get into a fight! I don't want to get into a fight with Robby!" 
Manzarek argues that "When You're Strange," the band's 2010 documentary, with previously unreleased live recordings and actor Johnny Depp reciting Morrison poems, was the antidote to Stone's film. "It tells the story of the Doors," he says. "And guess who gets to play Jim Morrison in this one — my God, it's actually Jim Morrison. You get the story of the Doors, the chronological history of the Doors and you watch the Doors themselves. These are not made-up incidents. ... You can have the sensational Oliver Stone, with the crazed Jim Morrison, and then you can have the Doors as they really are."
re:  A CHART MILESTONE:
Did you happen to catch this story in our brand new "kk's corner" feature last week???
Now, besides checking every day for "Today's Forgotten Hit" (running Monday - Friday in the upper right hand corner of the web page), we've ALSO got "kk's corner" running in the LOWER right hand corner of the page ... typically featuring hot news releases about some of your favorite oldies artists.  THIS time, however, we saluted Taylor Swift for achieving a chart milestone that puts her amongst the TOP SEVEN FEMALE RECORDING ARTISTS of the Rock And Roll Era!!!  Pretty amazing for a 22 year kid from Reading, Pennsylvania ... especially a COUNTRY singer!!!  Check out the company she's keeping at the top of the list!!!
Wow!  Who would have thought that 22 year old Taylor Swift would achieve a milestone like this in such a short period of time!
Last week, Swift placed her 42nd hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart ... in fact, she has THREE entries on the chart this week in the Top 30!  (Considering that she first hit the pop charts just five years ago, this is an even MORE amazing feat.  In all fairness, however, today's charts are based on downloads rather than actual singles sales.  Nowadays, you can download EVERY track of your choosing from an album and those recorded sales impact where a record places on the charts.  Back in the glory days of rock and roll, the record actually had to be released as a single and then sold in stores ... and folks had to go into the stores and buy them.  And let's face it ... artists weren't releasing six songs at the same time!  Nevertheless, this is still a pretty major accomplishment in what amounts to a five year whirlwind career!)
This most recent accomplishment just pushed Taylor ahead of Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson in the run for most charted singles by a female vocalist!  (It also places her just two chart hits behind Mariah Carey, who recently passed Elvis and is gaining on The Beatles for most #1 Hits on the pop charts!)
Swift's current chart hits include "If This Was a Movie" (#10); "Ours" (#13)  and "Superman" (#26). The tracks made their digital retail debuts Nov. 8 after previously being available only on the deluxe CD version of her "Speak Now" album at Target stores.
This achievement places Taylor Swift in SEVENTH PLACE for most charted pop singles by a female artist, behind:
#1 - Aretha Franklin, 1961-98  (73)
#2 - Dionne Warwick, 1962-98  (56)
#3 - Madonna, 1983-2009  (55)
#4 - Connie Francis, 1958-69  (53)
#5 - Brenda Lee, 1959-73  (48)
#6 - Mariah Carey, 1990-2011  (44)
That's some pretty impressive company!!!  (kk)


re:  ALL-TIME GREATEST GUITARISTS:
Rolling Stone Magazine has put together a list of The Top 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time.  As expected, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton topped the list (at #1 and #2 respectively).  
Rounding out The Top Ten are:
#3 - Jimmy Page
#4 - Keith Richards
#5 - Jeff Beck
#6 - B.B. King
#7 - Chuck Berry
#8 - Eddie Van Halen
#9 - Duane Allman
#10 - Pete Townshend



re:  FIRST 45's:
Hi -
First 45 I bought was "Space Race" by Billy Preston ... purchased it at an Alco Store in Concordia, Kansas, for 75 cents back in 1973.
The second and third 45's were purchased for the same price at the same location later in the year 1973, on the same day: 
Just You 'N' Me by Chicago and Helen Wheels by Paul McCartney.  It was a blast to look through the new 45's, and there were usually a few of each ... and you would make sure you picked out the prime ones.
Douglas Rhine - 2011


I started buying all the records by Alvin and the Chipmunks in the early
1960's, along with "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah" by Allan Sherman. 

Then the Beatles hit when I was 14, and I had to buy all their singles
(starting with "She Loves You"), then all the Dave Clark 5 singles.
Finally I had to stop buying baseball cards and comic books so I could
buy more records. Starting in January 1965, I would go downtown every
Saturday and buy three or four 45's, starting with This Diamond Ring,
You've Lost That Lovin Feelin, Keep Searchin and Tell Her No.  I didn't
stop until I had over 7,000 45's and they stopped making them.

Fred


We still get two or three new "First 45's" stories every week ... check out the website for some of our most recent postings:


re:  THE HAPPY TOGETHER AGAIN TOUR, 2012:
I see that a few more dates have surfaced on Pollstar since I contacted you last week with the original New Brunswick, NJ date. 
Steve Epstein
Tuesday, June 19th - Keswick Theatre / Glenside, PA
Wednesday, June 20th - New Jersey State Theatre / New Brunswick, NJ
Saturday, July 28th - Paramount Theatre / Asbury Park, NJ
Friday, August 24th - Paramount Theatre / Aurora, IL
Looks like the 2012 Happy Together Again Tour is slowly shaping up.  For whatever reason, Pollstar keeps listing The Monkees on the bill when, in fact, it's just Micky Dolenz OF The Monkees.  We saw the 2011 show at The Paramount Theatre in Aurora and had a GREAT time.  With Micky and Gary Puckett back in the line up, this should prove to be another real exciting show ... can't wait!  (We're hoping to catch Gary Puckett here in Chicago next month when he appears as part of Paul Revere and the Raiders' Christmas Show at The Rosemont Theatre!) kk

re:  A FEW MORE SULLIVAN COMMENTS:
Hi Kent,
GREAT series on Ed Sullivan ... thanks for including Carl's comments; very interesting reading what Clark Besch wrote today as well.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Dawn Lee


Kent ...
The Ed Sullivan Project was great. What's next?
How about "The Dean Martin Variety Show" ... or "The Andy Williams Variety Show" or " The Bobby Darin Variety Show."
What do you think?
Frank B.
I think we're about "show-ed" out right now!!! (lol)  The Ed Sullivan Piece was a one-of-a-kind opportunity to present some behind-the-scenes insight, promote some GREAT video compilations that our readers can enjoy at home ... and interview not only a show-biz legend in Andrew Solt, but feature personal memories from many of the artists who appeared on Ed's program.  A win / win for EVERYBODY!!!  But we're headed back to the music now ... followed, hopefully by our annual Twelve Days Of Christmas feature.  (That being said, where's all the new Christmas music this year?!?!?  Artists ... promoters ... if you've got some NEW Christmas music that you'd like to see us feature, drop us a line ... stat!!!  Pretty slim pickings so far for Christmas, 2011!!!)  kk

Kent,
One of your readers, Mike Dugo, asked you if you knew anything about a group called The Black Sheep which appeared on Ed Sullivan in 1966.  To be honest with you, I don't know anything about them except this:  They had the following record which made our local top 40 radio station survey back in 1966:
IT'S MY MIND / ARTHUR with IT'S MY MIND being the 'A' side here in OKC.
It was on Columbia records with the 'A' side being written by Dana Jones and the 'B' side written by Jerry Riopell. Overall record was also produced by Jerry Riopell. The 'A' side of the record was 2:01 in length and the 'B' side was 2:15 in length.
Larry Neal
Interesting, as The Black Sheep never officially charted nationally.  (Although you'll find a group called The Black Sheep listed in Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles" Book, this is a DIFFERENT group ... of '90's Rappers ... than the band Mike Dugo is talking about.)  Mike does the awesome 60sgaragebands.com website where obscure, local favorites like these guys often show up.  The '60's group The Black Sheep never had a chart record ... making it all that much more unusual that they landed a spot on the prestigious Ed Sullivan Show.  (Hmmm ... makes you wonder if perhaps there was a little payola going on in the television side of things, too!!!  lol)  kk
I want to thank you, Kent, for raising my question about The Black Sheep with Andrew Solt. He provided great info so now, of course, I'll see if I can track any of the members down!
It's very appreciated - and I'm greatly enjoying the Sullivan feature; Solt comes across as very likable and knowledgeable.
Best,
Mike Dugo
It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Andrew for this very special series ... and he was most helpful in getting us some answers to the questions raised by our readers along the way.  (And, let's face it ... he's got a GREAT product to market along the way, too ... and it fits our readers to a "T" ... this is EXACTLY the kind of stuff we go crazy for!!!)  kk


Hello Kent, 

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Anniversary! Wow! 12 years. Amazing!

I finally had a chance to check out your latest installment. I saw the Friends Of Distinction clip and it said December 2, 1977. I went on YouTube and watched the complete clip and it said 1970. I don't think that clip is from 1977. Anyway, it was wonderful to see this terrific song performed with a live vocal. It turns out that I play in a Senior (55 and over) Softball league on Thursdays in Encino with Harry Elston, lead singer of Friends Of Distinction. Has he ever checked in to your site? Otherwise, I will pass this on to him. I play with Garry Marshall in this league. We just a won a championship in August. Garry happens to be an outstanding pitcher and director. Check out his new movie, New Year's Eve, on December 9th. Also, Elliot Lurie, lead singer of Looking Glass, plays in this league. I will let him know about your site. What an incredibly small world it has become. Once again, thank you for the magic, music and memories.

Cheers,
Gary Strobl
The clip is definitely from 1970 ... the Sullivan show went off the air in '71 so there's no way it could have been from '77 ... no idea where that info came from!
We've never heard from any of the members of The Friends of Distinction or Looking Glass so I would LOVE to include these guys as some of the "go to" artists when we want to get accurate perspective on these exciting music times.  And, if they're still performing, Forgotten Hits is a GREAT way to let fans know about any upcoming concerts or releases.  (We recently featured Looking Glass' OTHER big hit "Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne" in our Today's Forgotten Hit segment! And I think The Friends Of Distinction's performance of "Grazing In The Grass" is OUTSTANDING in that clip!)  The more artists willing to participate the better ... it is SO cool to get the insight from the folks who were actually there.
Sounds like things are going really well for you out on the coast ... I see your name pop up in all kinds of musical context ... so congratulations to you, too!  (kk)


Hi Kent:  
I’ve been told that the Rolling Stones DVD released from the Sullivan shows does NOT have their classic 1st appearance! Is that true? If so, that’s really pretty stupid! Leaving off their 1st with “Time Is On My Side” & “Around & Around”. Yikes!  
Ken

Simply not true ... I've watched these with my own two eyes! 
Now you have to remember that these DVDs were released in two different configurations ... a 4-Show Set and a 6-Show Set ... but I can ASSURE you that ALL of The Stones' appearances ARE included in the 6-show version ... and they're SPECTACULAR, especially the second DVD when The Stones are fully confident of their place on the rock and roll landscape.  Beautifully filmed and restored ... and all in full color ... this is "can't miss" stuff if you're a Rolling Stones fan.  (The tracks you're referring to do NOT appear on the 4-show version ... spring for the DELUXE edition ... you will NOT be disappointed!)  kk 
By the way ...
The OTHER Forgotten Hits Website now has our entire interview with Andrew Solt posted:
As well as the best of the Ed Sullivan Memories shared during our series ...


re:  THE BUCKINGHAMS:



>>>Unlike other acts, The Buckinhams' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show did NOT catapult them to higher heights.  However, I think it was the sudden change of music that led to the group's demise so quickly.  They were great, IMO, BUT the tide was switching.  In 68, teens were swept up by bubblegum music and the slightly older were finding that in order to be hip (like it or not), the Doors and Cream were the new sound and the Buckinghams' pop music followers were more likely jumping on the Union Gap bandwagon (for the time being, at least).  The Bucks were caught up in an outgoing tide that even their more concept oriented later LPs could not conquer.  Songs like "What is Love" and the great "We Just Know" from their new LP were great, but "Love" was not a "Susan"-type 45 song and "Know" was more like the Cyrkle (also now passe' by 68) with a cool psychedelic reprise.  It's best summed up by the year end 67 American Bandstand show.  On it, Dick Clark plays the best of the best throughout the show.  After playing "Light My Fire" and seeing the kids really digging that while dancing, Dick told them that Cashbox's top group of the year was ... THE BUCKINGHAMS!  There was this quiet collective "ohhhh" like it was a big letdown to the late teen kids dancing.  A year earlier, it would have been a big cheer, probably.  It was a fast paced music period of change for sure.  (Clark Besch)
My understanding regarding the demise of The Buckinghams following their string of six big hits in a single year (1967) was more an internal problem than a sudden change in the public's musical taste.  (Just look at what was charting over the next few years and you'll see that The Buckinghams' brass-rock sound was hardly outdated.)  The last four of The Buckinghams' 1967 hits ("Don't You Care," "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," Hey Baby" and "Susan") were produced by James William Guercio, formerly the bassist and road manager for Chad & Jeremy, who signed the group to a very tight management contract with Ebbins-Guercio Associates.   Despite the great success of those singles (Billboard called The Buckinghams "the most listened to band in America" in 1967), the group chafed under Guercio's domineering management style.  They were particularly irked by his insertion of the Beatle-like psychedelic sequence in "Susan" (which caused some stations to either ban the single or at least edit it) and the fact that he had worked their deal in such a way that he was making a fortune while the group itself was splitting peanuts.  Convinced that they could do better without him, The Buckinghams dumped Guercio early in 1968 -- only to see him take their brass-rock concept to his next Columbia Records assignments: Blood, Sweat & Tears and The Chicago Transit Authority (soon to be renamed Chicago).  Guercio even hired the same guy who had created The Buckinghams' distinctive logo -- Jan & Dean's Dean Torrence -- to come up with equally creative logos for BS&T and Chicago (which, of course, Dean did).  As for The Buckinghams, their first post-Guercio single, "Back In Love Again," stalled at #57 and the group never reached Billboard's Hot 100 again.  Interestingly enough, Blood, Sweat & Tears -- after five big 1969-70 hits -- also dumped Guercio for being too greedy and too overbearing.  With their next single, "Go Down Gamblin'," BS&T DID go down gamblin' -- and never again scored a Top 40 hit.  Only Chicago was willing to put up with Guercio over the long run -- which in their case meant eleven highly successful albums (before THEY dumped ihim in 1977).  Guercio went on to produce movies, found the Caribou Ranch (a popular Colorado recording location) and purchase CMT (Country Music Television), which he later sold to Westinghouse.  As for The Buckinghams, they broke up in 1970, with members Dennis Tufano and Carl Giammarese going on to record as a duo for a while.  In 1980 The Buckinghams reformed and still tour today.
Gary Theroux
Since reforming in 1980, The Buckinghams HAVE carried on for over 30 years now, led by Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna, both original members from the hit days.  The James Guercio connection has always been a bit of a sore spot for the band ... yes, he guided them to their greatest success ... but there was a steep price to pay ... sounds like Guercio was quite the control freak.
From our as yet unaired Buckinghams series, here are a few words from 1967-1968 Buckinghams keyboardist Marty Grebb.  Suffice to say there's no love lost between Grebb and James William Guercio ... and the direction he was taking the band!!! (kk)
Let us not forget -- the Bucks' biggest hit of all time (Kind of a Drag) was made without ANY help from Jim Guercio -- he did a good job at following up, but if he had NOT been given the chance by Jon Poulos and Dennis Tufano, he would have gone nowhere.  He had tried unsuccessfully to produce other acts -- he made a deal FOR HIMSELF with Columbia, saying "I will bring you The Buckinghams, the band with the current number one hit, if you give ME, etc, etc" -- the deal was made on that basis -- we SHOULD have gotten a different manager -- AND a different attorney -- but we agreed to use HIS at first -- and this was our BIGGEST mistake.
My opinion about the horn thing is, that if anything, the Buckinghams' use of horns on their early recordings "opened the door" for many, INCLUDING Jim Guercio ... and including ourselves in an ongoing way really.  Credit the horn use to pre-Guercio decisions made by the band --Guercio simply used them "after the fact" -- it's all just musical history really -- he had NOTHING to do with the original decision -- he wasn't around yet.
Don't forget, our manager was also our producer -- a BIG conflict of interest -- it was a situation that chronologically got worse.  Jim Guercio did everything he could to CONTROL everything he was involved with -- it really was not, in my opinion, always about making the best recording possible -- he as a person was not capable of admitting when he was not knowledgeable in a given area regarding ANYTHING -- consequently, I believe he owes a lot more to a lot of people.  ALL of us learned from along the way.  Bottom Line:  Jim Guercio gets a lot more credit then he deserves -- he used many others to accomplish what he did, but always tried to take all the bows, at least in my own opinion -- he was very good at manipulation, as I have said before.  He was taking the lion's share of the money and forcing his name on to tunes he had nothing to do with to get writers and publishing money -- he promised us our own deal and reneged -- THAT was the real reason he was fired.
-- Marty Grebb
And, speaking of The Buckinghams, we had the pleasure of seeing The Bucks perform their "Joy Of Christmas" Concert Saturday Night at the Beverly Arts Center.  It's a nice blend of all the hits you want to hear them perform, along with some favorite Christmas classics and a number of tunes from their "Joy Of Christmas" CD.  (The band REALLY rocked out Saturday Night with their horn section ... it gives their sound a new dimension that really drives the music home.)
Fans have a few more chances to catch this very special show ...
Friday, December 2nd, at the Ft. McDowell Casino in Ft. McDowell, AZ
Friday, December 9th, at the Bartlett Performing Art Center in Bartlett, TN (near Memphis)
Saturday, December 10th, at Viper Alley (back here in Chicago!)
Sunday, December 18th, at Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT
and Monday, December 19th, at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, MD 
As always, be sure to check their website for more details.
re:  TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT: 
Kent,


To answer your question, yes, you were the only one who thought that was Marie Osmond

on that song "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do".

Larry
Thank you for featuring "Be Thankful For What You've Got" ... I love ... love ... love that song!
I was between babies in 1974 and my former husband and I would go dancing. He wasn't much of a dancer so I would dance with some very sharply dressed black men in the club ... with my husband's approval. They were very smooth dancers and you just had to be to this song.
Stacee
LOL ... I thought about saving this one for Thanksgiving Day ... but it just fit so well in our Soul Street segment that I ran it there instead ... now I can take a long weekend like everybody else!  (lol)  kk

Kent,
I thought you might be interested to know that in 1967 Ray Charles' flip of HERE WE GO AGAIN, SOMEBODY OUGHT TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT, made it to number one here in OKC, not HERE WE GO AGAIN.
Larry
Kent,
I just want you to know that those were good choices for FH for Monday. The Searchers also had another record in 1964 I liked, AIN'T THAT JUST LIKE ME.  I believe offhand that was recorded earlier by the Coasters and of course was one of those records which at the time was number one with every teacher in school who taught English.
Larry

I wonder ... when you hear "East, West" by Herman's Hermits ...
Does anyone else think of this as a Christmas, or at least a winter,
song?
-- BOB FRABLE

Well, it WAS a hit during the Winter of late '66 / early '67 ... or maybe it's that chiming bell???  (kk)


re:  NEXT WEEK IN FORGOTTEN HITS:
In celebration of our 13th Year, next week's TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT selections will all be songs that we have recently heard on terrestrial radio ... proof positive that the playlists HAVE been expanded to include many of what ... even a YEAR ago ... we would have considered FORGOTTEN HITS.  I'm happy to report that radio is getting interesting again ... as more and more "retired" songs are finding their way back on to the airwaves.  (Gee, what a GREAT concept ... who would have EVER have thought?!?!?)
Hey, we couldn't be happier ... let's all enjoy the progress, shall we?
Also, THREE more installments of HELPING OUT OUR READERS, posing (and solving) a few more musical mysteries along the way.
And a review (or two or three ... or eight!) of a GREAT new book, "A PERFECT HAZE: THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE MONTEREY INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL".  Another "Must Have" for your music library, you won't find a more beautiful and informative tribute to this landmark concert.

re:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!:
Kent,
Bravo for your 12th Anniversary!
Phil


Kent ...
Happy  Anniversary.
The Ed Sullivan Series is the latest example of the great work you do.
I've heard that the Ed Sullivan Series is right up there with your best work ... like the Bobby Darin Series, for example.
Of course I wouldn't know, since I've never seen the Bobby Darin Series. LoL
Happy  Anniversary.
Here is Dedication  #1.
Happy  Anniversary Dedication  #2.
Only song I can think of with 12 in the title.
Besides The Twelve Days Of Christmas, you mean??? 
Maybe 2012 it will FINALLY see the light of day again. 
(Trying to build anticipation ... you know, like The Beach Boys' "SMiLE" album finally coming out 44 years later!!!)  kk


Kent,
Just a short note congratulating you on your 12th anniversary of FH.
As it is often, the first record that came to my mind was Johnny Mathis' 1957 hit TWELVETH OF NEVER. Good series done on Ed Sullivan.
Larry
Looks like you and Frank B were similarly inspired!  (lol)  Thanks, all!  (kk)


Kent -
Happy Holidays!
Thank you for your love of The Music & The Musicmakers!
Be Well -
Dennis Tufano



Hey Kent:
Congrats on your anniversary! Well Done!
Ken


Wow!  Twelve Years!
And it just keeps getting better and better.
Thanks for sharing your passion with all of us lucky readers!
Dan 

 
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Kent}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Happy Birthday Forgotten Hits!
Thank you for 12 Wonderful Years!
As one of the people who were on your original mailings, I  wanted to make sure that you know that you're appreciated.
You've grown so much and I'm very proud of you and what you've accomplished ...
Sev
Congratulations and I hope Forgotten Hits goes on forever!
Danny


Kent, 
Congratulations on the anniversary of your start.  I am VERY glad someone
suggested I visit your site.
Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano
 

I was just thinking of Paul Wibier this afternoon. I don't recall what triggered the thought of "Wild In The Streets", but I think I'm going to make another run at Paul via email, hoping he'll agree to an interview. I wonder if he'd talk to us if Mike Curb emailed him.
David Lewis
I kinda doubt it.  If you recall, Curb shared his memories of "Shape Of Things To Come" with us last year and they were sketchy at best.  (Davie Allan had to convince him that he did NOT play on the single!)  I think we've gone as far with this as we're ever going to go ... but it's still nice to salute Max Frost and the Troopers every now and then since they were our very first Forgotten Hit.  (We've heard this song a bit more often on the radio these past few years ... and deservedly so ... it was, after all a Top 20 Hit.  We've even heard a few oldies bands perform this one live recently!  (kk)


HAPPY THANKSGIVING KENT!
Just a note to say how much I dig ---> FORGOTTEN HITS !!! ...  
I  LOOOVE  `THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME ...  
Only place I ever heard it played was on  WXRT Chicago ...  &  now  Frank E Lee is the only guy who ever still plays it there ...   
I  appreciate  all  your  hard  work  putting the blog together !!!      
Gail

Had to wish you a happy anniversary. I don't get to read the website as much as I used to read the email newsletters but I do on occasion and I enjoy your work immensely.
Keep it up. I've sent all my old radio buddies your way. And I HAVE asked you questions about songs in the past and you have come up with answers. Thank you.
Buck Lam 


Kent ...
Happy Anniversary Dedication  #3.
How about going back to 1999 and printing one story for each year of "Forgotten Hits" existence ?
Frank B.
While that IS kind of a cool idea, it would probably take me longer to sort THAT out than it would to repost the Bobby Darin Series!!!  Besides, the best of the best is on the other Forgotten Hits website anyway!  (kk)
Cool, congrats!!!
Here's a pic from the San Diego Street Fair on 9-25-11


Happy Holidays,
Davie Allan


Kent,
I celebrated Forgotten Hits' 12th birthday this evening by listening to Clark Besch's WONDERFUL November '67 WCFL air check with Ron Britain ("Helloooo, my tu-lu babes!") and the Birthday Bird and "Out Of The Blue" and Chris Montez' long-ago Sony ad!!!!  Clark and Kent, you truly are Supermen and you are national treasures!!!  Thanks so much again Clark for posting it -- if you have the actual Great Debate I'd love to hear that too!!!  (Of course and obviously, I'll be rooting for Every Father's Teenage Son -- a terrific rejoinder to Lundberg's uptight 'tude.)  Congratulations on 12 years, and lots of love! 
-- Bobster!

Remember when you were going to quit doing this? Can you imagine??
Happy anniversary, you're amazing. 
KW

Congratulations, Kent!
I remember when AOL was this new thing ... a cool thing that enabled a few people from all across the US to talk about the thing they loved ... the thing that kept them sane when things around them were falling apart ... music.  It has evolved into this revolution ... a revolution to keep memories of good music alive.  Thanks for being one of the ringleaders!
Allan0318


Hey Kent ...
I hope you and all of the Forgotten Hits readers had a great Thanksgiving! Ours was great.
Happy Birthday to Forgotten Hits!!!
Keep the hits and memories coming!!!!
Mitch Schecter / The Rip Chords




With great admiration for your dedication to Forgotten Hits, Kent.
The effort and time it must take ... WOW! - Happy 12th ...
John Rook

CONGRATULATIONS ON TWELVE VERY INFORMATIVE AND FUN YEARS! 
HERE'S TO MANY, MANY MORE! 
YOU'RE A RARITY AND A TREASURE IN THIS DAY & AGE ...
THANKS FOR KEEPING US ALL ENTERTAINED & INFORMED ...
SO WHERE'S THE PARTY????  
MICHAEL G. BUSH
You know, we SHOULD throw a party!!!  (How cool would THAT be?!?!?  And have a few of the artists on the list perform?!?!?  Hmmm ... maybe for Lucky 13???)  kk