Sunday, February 5, 2012

The Sunday Comments ( 02 - 05 - 12 )

If you can suffer through Blogger messing with all of my fonts and spacing again this morning, we've got a REALLY good Sunday Comments Page posted ...  been trying to edit it for going on two hours now but having no luck getting it to look right ... so please have patience as you attempt to read along!!!



re:  SUPER BOWL SUNDAY: 
>>>I guess there's no point in watching half - time show ... Madonna promises no wardrobe malfunctions  (Frank B)  


Or ... I guess there's no point in watching the half-time show because Madonna's PERFORMING!!!  LOL ... (did I say that??????  LOL) 
PeteySmoke 


You can relive some "not so great" Super Bowl Halftime moments here ...  Click here: Super Bowl Halftime Bloopers: 10 Huge Mistakes on the Big Stage - Spinner Canada  


Anybody else out there tired of hear all the cat-fighting going on between Divas Elton John and Madonna?!?!?  Check out the above link to see just how many artists lip-synced their "live show" at halftime.  (To hear them tell it, there just isn't enough time to set things up any other way!)  kk
And I guess I probably missed the chance to attend one hell of a big Super Bowl Party later today!  I got an invitation last week that I tried to read without my glasses ... and couldn't figure out why ANYBODY would want to go to a SUPERB OWL Party!!!  My first reaction was "What would one even DO at a Superb Owl Party?!?!?"  ... and then I sent what I thought was a clever response of "Sorry, but I really don't give a hoot".  Guess I'll stay home tonight instead, watch some of the game, catch Madonna's Halftime Show ... and then stick around for the Season Premier of "The Voice" instead.  (kk)


re:  BAD SPELL:  ADDING AN EYE OF NEWT DOES NOT EQUAL SURVIVOR:

I would suspect that you've received this already, but I wanted to make sure.
Bill

While it DOES seem a little petty (I am SO glad to see that Jim Peterik is not involved with this!!!), I think equally as bothersome as any copyright infringement is the fact that the use of the song could be misconstrued as to be taken as an endorsement of the candidate ... and I would probably raise my strongest objection for this reason.  (Guess we'd better not feature this one in Forgotten Hits any time soon!!!  lol)  kk 


Wasn't there a TV show where "eye of newt" was served as a tasty treat?

David Lewis


Here's an updated story (dated February 1st) as first published here by The Chicago Sun Times ...
Former Survivor member sues Newt Gingrich for using ‘Eye of the Tiger’
BY ALLISON HORTON Staff Reporter / ahorton@suntimes.com January 30, 2012 6:00 PM
Newt Gingrich might feel like Rocky Balboa when he takes the stage at campaign events to Survivor’s 1982 hit “Eye of the Tiger,” but it’s the co-writer of the song who is ready for a fight.  Chicago-born Frankie Sullivan sued Gingrich in federal court Monday, saying the Republican presidential candidate is using his “Rocky III” anthem in his campaign without permission.  Sullivan, who has a home in the northwest suburbs, insisted it’s not about politics. It’s about someone who should know better using his copyright material for free. 
“My legacy, my life, has been ‘Eye of the Tiger,’ ” Sullivan told the Sun-Times Monday. “Those copyright laws are there to protect people like me who are lucky enough to create a copyright. ‘Eye of the Tiger’ is an iconic copyright. It’s become a lifelong legacy — something you want to pass down to your kids.” 
Sullivan didn’t want to get into whether he likes Gingrich or his politics. His co-writer on the song, fellow Survivor founding member Jim Peterik, however, gave Gingrich a partial endorsement. 
“My wife is a big fan,” Peterik said. “I’m becoming a fan of Newt Gingrich. He has a mind of his own. He’s not a talking head. Originally, I didn’t like him, but look at the competition. He’s looking better and better.” 
Peterik is not a party to the suit that Sullivan filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. They share the copyright, but tend to stay out of each other’s way when it comes to cracking down on infringers. 
”I hate suits,” Peterik said. “I hate being in court. I avoid that meticulously. When I [heard about the lawsuit on the radio Monday} I said I’m not surprised, but I’m surprised.” 
Peterik described himself as “very apolitical” — and wouldn’t draw a line on which politician should use “Eye” for events. 
“If someone is out there trying to make a difference, let him do it. ... Unless it was Adolf Hitler,” Peterik said. 
Sullivan and Peterik wrote the song in the music room of Peterik’s west suburban LaGrange home at Sylvester Stallone’s request in late 1981, four years after Survivor was formed. Stallone was looking for a theme song for “Rocky III.” 
Peterik said they wrote the piece in an hour and a half, and spent a week stretching out the lyrics. 
It rose to No. 1, won a Grammy and became a cash cow for the men as advertisers, sports teams and countless others coveted its rocking beat and underdog theme. Peterik told the Sun-Times last year the song can command a “quarter of a million for a good [ad] campaign.” For movie usage, it can bring in up to $100,000. For TV, $15,000 to $25,000, he said. 
According to Sullivan’s lawsuit for his Rude Music publishing company, Gingrich began using the song as early as 2009 during political conferences and public events such as the Conservative Political Action Conferences and the Southern Republic Leadership Conference. 
Gingrich has also used the song publicly during campaign appearances in Pennsylvania and a pre-caucus swing through Iowa, the suit said. A video on the Newt 2012 Inc. website features Gingrich entering a packed Moose Lodge in Doylestown, Pa., for a speech as the song “pulsed,” the suit claims. 
Gingrich’s campaign bus also “blared” the song during a stop at an excavation business in Walford, Iowa, and “Eye of the Tiger” also was played when he entered and exited an event in Des Moines, the suit claims. 
The suit claims Gingrich is “sophisticated and knowledgeable” about copyrights, both as a former elected official and as a business owner. 
According to the U.S. Copyright Office, Gingrich is author or co-author of 40 copyrighted works, the suit noted. And while he served as a congressman, the Copyright Act was extensively amended, the suit said. 
During a recent debate in South Carolina, Gingrich criticized the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, saying, “We have a patent office, we have copyright law. If a company finds that it has genuinely been infringed upon, it has the right to sue,” the suit said. 
The suit claims copyright infringement and asks Gingrich to knock it off. It also seeks damages, any profits gained from using the song, attorney fees and court costs. 
Gingrich’s campaign could not be reached for comment. 
It’s not the first time Sullivan has taken on a politician over “Eye.” 
In a statement during the last presidential campaign, Sullivan said: “Survivor has no affiliation with John McCain or Sarah Palin. They have no right to use ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ in any way as part of their campaign. Using our music without our permission can give people the impression that we are supporters of their campaign — this is not the case.” 
Sullivan said dealing with McCain was no problem and the issue was quickly resolved. 
On Monday, he said he’s just exercising his rights with Gingrich — and encouraged other Americans to do the same if they feel cheated. 
“The laws are there to be enforced. And I happen to have a copyright that has been my livelihood. That’s all it’s about.” 

And speaking of politics ... and why Politics and Rock And Roll just don't mesh ... 


Kent ...
Here's a list of The Top Ten Songs Banned From Use In Political Campaigns
I say keep Politics out of Rock-n-Roll.
They screw up everything else.
Leave our music alone.
Frank B.

Click here: Top Ten Songs Banned From Use In Political Campaigns



re:  RUMER:  



>>>CBS Sunday Morning did a story about a British singer / songwriter named Rumer. I confess I hadn't heard of her before. I was blown away. I think she is incredible. They compared her to several other artists but what I kept hearing was Karen Carpenter. She has that same clear, pure sound. It's weird to hear her speak with her British accent and then not even a hint of that in her singing. The lyrics are so clear and lovely that you don't need to wonder what she is singing about. I immediately went on Amazon and purchased her CD entitled "Seasons Of My Soul" ... I love it.  (Stacee)
>>>I need to tell you about a new singer known as Rumer ... I have never been one to tout new talent because there is so much great stuff from my era, that I don't trifle with current screamer / fake backing music on a computer / singing with "goofy sounds" that don't seem real or is used constantly by EVERY current artist.  Yes, I love the old artists and music.  Yet, Sunday on CBS' Sunday Morning, I gotta say that an artist known as Rumer seems to have the Bacharach / David female song vocal to rival Dionne Warwick of the 60's.  The show opened with her cover of "Alfie" which was just great (as is the Warwick version).  If you added the echo effects of Dusty Springfield records, she might rival her sound as well, it would seem.  IF I were to buy a current artist's CD, it would probably be this one.  You can imagine my pleasant surprise at hearing this Rumer music.  Now, I will return to the 60's and you can judge Rumer as you wish.  Check out the CBS Sunday Morning video and story here: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7396768n&tag=contentBody;cbsCarousel

In the end, "Rumer has it" (Clark Besch)  

Wow! Thanks for posting the info about Rumer.  I think I'm in love!
Only one thing I can't figure out, why wouldn't Clark Besch buy this new artist if he likes her?
I'm headed to Amazon right now.
Kent, if my wife divorces me it's because of all the great buying tips I find in your digest.
Bill   

re:  THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED:
Here's one we missed.  (This aired Friday Night, February 3rd.  Unfortunately, I've fallen about three or four days behind on emails again, thanks to working crazy hours this week!)  But fortunately, you will be able to still catch a broadcast of Stu Weiss' three hour tribute to The Day The Music Died ... we're still trying to work out the final details and will let you know shortly how, when and where!!!
I will be bringing you back 53 years as we remember that plane crash in 1959 that till this day has not been forgotten. Don McLean referred to it as "The Day The Music Died" in his song "American Pie". This night we will remember Richie Valens / Big Bopper / Buddy Holly. I will transport you back to that fateful time in our lives. As long as we can listen to this era of music I feel we should never forget three entertainers that left us their music.
Stu Weiss / The Pop Shoppe


Hello,
I thought you might appreciate a story about Elvis when he heard that Buddy had died.
In 2010, I participated in an event in Memphis honoring the soldiers who had been in the Army with Elvis. (There were twelve who were able to attend.)  Judge David Bailey and I were talking about them being in Germany in 1959.  He asked, "Do you remember 'the day the music died'?"  and then proceeded to tell me this story. 
He and Elvis were in the mess hall late in the afternoon having dinner when Elvis got the call from Tom Parker that Buddy, et al, had been killed.  David said Elvis sat there and cried like a baby; he was so upset and depressed about it for days. 
Thank you and please know how much I truly appreciate all of your "Forgotten Hits."   I would like to add that my most fav Buddy Holly song is "True Love Ways."
Jennie Carpenter
Huntsville, AL
Yes, "True Love Ways" is one of MY Holly favorites, too ... although (as I've mentioned before) I prefer the versions recorded by Peter and Gordon and Rick Nelson over Holly's original recording.  Holly's voice never cut it for me ... but there is NO denying the magic (or the staying power) of his compositions!  (kk)
 

Thank you for the contemporaneous article about the “real Donna.” It is a fitting observance.
It’s amazing how much the music of both Holly (especially) and Valens continues to influence rock and pop to this day, even if some of the practitioners have no clue as to who these people were.
Best regards,
Country Paul
Paul Payton


Kent,
In addition to the three versions of THREE STARS which were recorded back in 1959, here in OKC, there were a couple of other tribute records made upon the deaths of Holly, Valens, and Richardson.  Singer Hershel Almond had THE GREAT TRAGEDY on Ace and Ray Campi had THE BALLAD OF DONNA AND PEGGY backed with THE MAN I MET.  I am sure they were others made that I am not aware of.
Incidentally while I am thinking of it, but in the early to mid sixties the Crickets' recordings on Liberty seemed to make our local surveys How about Chicago? Their recordings of HE'S OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER and LONELY TOWN were big.
Larry Neal 

Crickets' recordings from the late '50's and early '60's would have had to chart on the old WJJD Survey as WLS didn't switch over to Top 40 / Rock and Roll until 1960 ... but I don't show ANY charted singles by The Crickets on either chart.  Guess these never made much of an impact here.  (kk)


THE COWSILLS:  
>>>THE COWSILLS?  Got to see them on the STEEL PIER in ATLANTIC CITY one afternoon.  The reward for a year of being a 'PATROL BOY (or girl)' -- kid crossing guards at schools.  (Renfield)   
Kent ...
I enjoyed the discussion about The Cowsills. They had some great hits.
We played a show with "The Cowsills" (Bob, Paul, Susan, and some close relatives) this past summer in Las Vegas, and I have to tell you they were absolutely amazing! Some of the best live performance harmonies I have ever heard, and the musicianship was very high. Susan gives their harmonies that signature "Cowsills Sound" that was so prominent on all of their records. And, they are really fine people, too. I had a chance to chat with Bob Cowsill for quite a while about their recording studio experiences. It was an amazing afternoon. I always considered "The Rain, The Park And Other Things" a small Rock Symphony, and he agreed that recording was special.
Here's a photo of me and Bob Cowsill backstage at the Cannery Casino in Las Vegas this past Summer during our soundcheck for the big show that night ... which was completely sold out, by the way ... almost 4000 people in attendance. Long live Classic oldies rock!!!
Mitch Schecter / The Rip Chords

re:  ETTA JAMES:
In the late fifties / early sixties here in OKC, our top  40 radio station would come out with a
special survey at the end of the year indicating what the top 50 songs for that particular year
was. In 1961 Etta James' SEVEN DAY FOOL was the number two record for that year, flip
being FOOL THAT I AM. 
Larry Neal


re:  PAUL McCARTNEY / RINGO STARR / AND THE BEATLES:
Watch for Paul McCartney to perform his new song "My Valentine" at The Grammy Awards Ceremony! (Now THAT'S a first!!!)  I remember Macca being in the audience and picking up The Grammy for "Let It Be" way back when ... and, of course, The Beatles being shut out in the early days by some RIDICULOUSLY crazy balloting.  (1965:  Best Contemporary Performance (Rock And Roll) of the Year By A Group:  The Statler Brothers for "Flowers On The Wall" ... SERIOUSLY?!?!?)  At least in 1964, when Beatlemania first invaded our shores ... and The Fab Four placed over 30 songs on the pop charts ... they were named "Best New Artist Of The Year"!  For a recap of how The Beatles have fared at The Grammy Awards over the years, check this out ... it's the VERY FIRST web posting EVER by Forgotten Hits.  (After publishing FH as an email-only newsletter for nine years, we were finally convinced to put these up on a website so the rest of the world could see and enjoy them, too.  This was our VERY FIRST POSTING!)  kk





And, speaking of Beatle Paul, it looks like Sir Paul will finally get his own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame!  FH Reader Frank B. just sent us this WCBS-FM clipping:


Frank also sent us this little piece of Beatles trivia ...


Kent ...
The Beatles are out of this world.
Frank B.


Here's a brand new Spinner Interview with Ringo Starr, promoting his new Ringo 2012 Album ...




re:  ON THE RADIO:
Hi Kent,

I discovered your site a couple months ago and have been checking in every few days.  Happened to notice the top 40 dj records piece today and it reminded me of Curt Johnson, CJ the DJ, who I grew up listening to at WEAQ in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  I never personally knew Curt but he's probably the person most responsible for my eventual radio career, which I just retired from last April.  It all began with listening to Curt in the early to mid 60's and expanding my horizons by tuning into WLS and KAAY in Little Rock.  Anyway, I dug out my old 45 of Curt (he was the lead singer) and his group "The Up Stairs" and their song "Operator Please."  It must have come out in the mid to late 60's and probably only got play on Curt's show ... which, of course, probably got it into WEAQ's top ten. It's on the "Cuca" label from the old Cuca Records out of Sauk City, Wisconsin.  I always liked the tune and thought you might get a kick out of it. 

BTW...you're always talking about the NC6.  It was the first group I ever interviewed early in my radio career.  I still remember what a nice guy Pat McBride was ... he did the bulk of the interview.  In fact I still have the station letterhead that the entire group autographed. 

Steve Hotvedt
Another deejay tune that came to mind was Gary Burbank's "Who Shot J.R.", a salute to the popular tv series "Dallas" from 1980.  Burbank was a jock at WHAS in Louisville, KY at the time this record hit the charts.  And let's not forget Rick Dees either ... who drove us all completely insane with his "Disco Duck" hit a few years earlier!
Amazing to think that you held on to The New Colony Six autographs for all these years!  I passed your note along to Ray Graffia, Jr., one of the founding members who was most likely there that day.  He still fronts the band 47 years later!  (Pat McBride is the only member I haven't been in contact with ... either tough to find ... or doesn't want to be found!  lol)  If you scroll back to 4/30/2008, you'll find our first-hand account about a New Colony Six reunion.  (We once did a month-long series on the band, one of our local favorites!)  If you ever get down Chicago way, you should check them out in concert.  They still play most of the hits and rock out pretty good on some rockin' cover tunes, too!  (kk)

From Clark Weber (by way of Lyle Dean), here are some classic, rarely-if-ever seen photos behind the scenes at WLS, The Big 89 ...




Clark also tell us ...  


Hi KK:  
The moving of Dick Biondi to a later shift has nothing to do with his talent. It’s a matter of pure economics. His loyal audience is made up mostly of people over the age of 55. When the WLS sales person approaches a local new car dealer and offers him a sale price on radio time that made up of listeners over the age of 55 or 60, the car dealer is simply not interested. The car dealer wants customers ages 25 to 54 and that’s why you see all those car commercials on TV. Oh, I’m well aware that people over the age of 55 or 60 buy cars, but try telling the car dealer that. I also find it ironic that while Dick was on WLS-AM in the early 60’s, some sponsors balked at buying his show because they felt the audience was too young!  
That’s the same reason that Steve and Johnny got the boot on WGN. Commercials on their show were going for $35 where as the day rate was upwards of $400 a minute. Plus there is now only one WGN host on the overnight show cutting their overhead in half.  
The new owners of WLS-AM & FM are knee deep in debt and they must stem the flow of red ink and this is one way of doing it. Radio is in for a very rough ride so save your CD’s, LP’s and 45’s! 
Clark

Hi Kent,
I agree that it would have been great if Dick Biondi could have kept his Request Night Show on Friday nights. It offered the opportunity to hear records that are never played any more. In addition, Mr. Biondi has interesting stories about the records and artists.
Carolyn




Kent;
To the readers of these writings, be you my fellow Canadians or OUR friends in the U.S.
SHOULD you enter Toronto territory, your OLDIES stations are:
740 in Toronto, 1150 from Hamilton and 98.1 Toronto.
This'll help you dial oldies a tad quicker.
IFN you find another one, AM or FM, pulease let ME KNOW!
And remember ... "Show me a person with a song in their heart ...
And YOU found a person with an AM / FM PACEMAKER
Robert Black




Kent ...
Click to see what you missed Sunday Night.
And running this weekend on WCBS-FM ... it's The Super Battle Of The Bands ...
New York Artists vs. New England Artists
I'm sure it's no surprise when I tell you that the Rascals just beat the Cowsills.
Current standings =  New York Artists - 24, New England Artists - 6
I'm trying to figure out how New England Artists got the 6!
Frank B.

You guys need to follow the link and view some of these programmes. 
They are available until Friday.
George Van Win
Definitely a couple of interesting things on this list ... thanks, George!  (kk)




Our FH Buddy Randy Price (he of Super Charts fame) is doing his monthly radio show on Top Shelf Oldies next Wednesday Night ... and some of his past shows are now available for listening, too.  Here are all the details: 
Anyone interested in listening to my past radio shows for Top Shelf Oldies can find them archived here: http://ramtownlive.com/Wednesdayextras.html. Scroll about half way down the page to the archives for "Randy on the Radio." New shows are streamed the second Wednesday of each month, 8 - 9 pm ET (connection and chat room instructions at topshelfoldies.org). Each show includes many forgotten hits, mostly lower charting records from the '50s, '60s and early '70s (and non-charters that should have been hits). The next new show is this coming Wednesday, Feb. 8, and that one will go up on the archive page the next day.
-– Randy Price

Today at approximately 9:10 am our time, Scott Shannon on the TOC played Van Morrison's
BROWN EYED GIRL and intro-ed it as being one of your favorites songs, if not your favorite song of all time. I am curious if that is true. It used to be one of my favorite but I decided to divorce myself from it since in the last 45 years that is one of the songs that has been thrust upon the listening audience of oldies radio stations over and over again.
Larry Neal
lol ... I think Scott Shannon's just having a little fun at the expense of yours truly!  (lol)  Wish I could have heard that!  Over the years I've criticized how often this song has been played ... I have literally heard it as many times as four or five times a day (and sometimes without even switching channels!!!)  I, too, used to love this song ... but (like so many others) it's been beaten to death over the past twenty years to such an extent that it now constitutes an immediate "button pusher" for me to switch the station.  Still a great song ... but radio's oversaturation has RUINED it for me.  Funny stuff 'tho!!!  (kk)

By the way ... VERY special thanks to whoever it was that plugged Forgotten Hits on their program shortly after midnight on Saturday Night / Sunday Morning ... we had over 800 website visitors between 1 am and 2 am!!!  UNREAL for that time of night!!!  In fact, it boosted us up to a new all-time 24 hour high for last Sunday's issue ... and that was without a Sunday Comments Page!!!  (On Sunday we ran a special look back at "44 Years Ago Today" ... typically The Sunday Comments is the most-read page of the week, often with 3-4 times as many readers as a regular weekday edition.)  So thank you very much, whoever you are.  (Now hopefully these folks'll continue to come back from this point forward!)  kk

re:  BURTON CUMMINGS:
Kent: 
Does that blog say that you have never seen North America’s greatest rock / pop singer / songwriter / musician / stage presence live?
Right now his U.S. tour is limited to the very biggest of his radio hits.  Friday night March 23 in Windsor, ON he may open up the set list a bit wider. 
I’ve seen him close to 20 times since 1972, and I live in Wisconsin.  I have a stash of concert audio and video, and tapes of some of his Canadian TV specials. 
If you send me your mailing address, I will send you a few items.  It’s not the same as a live performance, but it beats whatever is sitting in third place.   
Duane Lee Fox
Actually, I've seen Burton Cummings live about a dozen times ... he's always been a major fave of mine.  I would love to see some of what you've got ... people don't realize that although the majority of this material hasn't been made available here in The States, Burton has continued to record and release albums in Canada for as long as he's been around!  (How unfortunate that we don't get a chance to hear it here ... but you CAN order copies of these CD's through Burton's website!  (kk)


Speaking of the great Burton Cummings, I agree with all of the comments I've seen ... he's an amazing performer!  I saw him as (believe it or not) an UNADVERTISED opening act for the Bee Gees in 1977 (or 8?) when his first solo LP was out.  He was GREAT and many of those around us did not know who he was and I would hear someone say "but hey, he does these great songs really well."  It was funny.  He and Mark Lindsay both have such great song ending rants on their 45s that are always cool ("Steppin Out", "Heartbroken Bopper" etc.) and both the Guess Who and the Raiders have no reason to NOT be in the RNR Hall of Fame.  (Please don't get us started on that again, Kent!)
In a related story, with this huge blizzard on its way, one of my fave stations to have on my TV is the Weather Channel, mainly because I like weather, but also because it allows me to work on other things without being distracted by the TV crap on other channels.  My problem NOW is that their bumper music in and out of almost every commercial comes in the form of the opening guitar licks of BTO's "Down to the Line."  I am SO sick of this riff now.  The song was so-so to begin with, but I just hate hearing this attempt at the ESPN Sports Center song sound-alike.  There are so many other BTO / Guess Who Bachman riffs that are better.  How about trying the intro to Guess Who's "Diggin Yourself"??  Or just about ANY other Bachman riff?!?  Just give it a break, ok? 
Clark Besch

>>>One of the strangest billings I ever saw was right after Burton's first solo hit, "Stand Tall", was released.  Cummings opened the show for Alice Cooper ... about as mis-matched a set as you could imagine.  Teaming Burton Cummings with Alice Cooper boggled the mind back then ... one of The Guess Who's best known album tracks was "Glamour Boy", a swipe at artists like Cooper and David Bowie, about whom Cummings sang, "for $37,000 you can look like your sister tonight".  (Add to this the fact that you wouldn't think that Alice's crowd ... the folks who packed the stadium to see the headliner behead dolls live on stage ... would hold any affection for Burton Cummings' music ... and it just sounds like oil and water to me.  But the music of The Guess Who is TIMELESS and crosses ALL musical boundaries ... and Cummings won the audience over with every performance.  (kk)
Kent,
I loved reading all about Burton Cummings. He has an amazing voice and I loved singing along with the Guess Who records when I was a kid. I actually saw him open for Alice Cooper. I was thrilled to death to see him live! One of the best shows I've ever seen!
Debe Welch
I've never seen Burton put on anything less than a great show ... his voice is incredible and the hit catalog his has to draw from is second to none.  Here's hoping we can get him back to Chicago real soon!  (kk)

Speaking of which ...


Hi Kent,
As a kid growing up listening to the Guess Who and always loving Burton, thanks for the piece on Monday.  I bought his first solo albums, and saw the Guess Who a couple times and also saw him with Bachman when they did their thing together.  It was great.
I grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and before they were famous, they played around the area just like some of the local bar bands did.  I hope he decides to come to the midwest.  If you get him in Chicago, we'd better get him in the twin cities.
Bill 
Nothing would please me more.  (Are you listening, Sam???)  kk
And, here's a response from Sam Boyd, Burton Cummings' tour manager (and long-time FH Reader) ... about both Burton's pairing with Alice Cooper (mentioned above) and planning some upcoming tour dates!

Regarding the pairing of Burton Cummings and Alice Cooper ... Burton's manager at the time was the same manager as Alice (Shep Gordon) and with rocker songs like American Woman, Bus Rider, No Time, Heart Broken Bopper, etc., they figured he'd win over the audiences anyway. I've heard Burton tell the story a few times that "it was a real test of professionalism" looking down at face painted maniac Alice fans wasn't easy ... lol
Burton and Alice are good friends.  Two years ago when we were doing the whirlwind of promo meet and greets and press for "Above The Ground", we were in the lobby of the hotel ... Burton was doing interviews with the press and I see Alice enter the hotel and I say hello.  He asks who's taping, etc., and I told him Burton, so he said to please say hello for me.  I insisted we interrupt the interviewer and the two of them chatted for 10 minutes and exchanged new CD's that both had coming out. It was all real cool.
As for upcoming shows, were just now looking at events across America, hoping to slot one in the area when it all makes sense on a map ... lol
Sam
Please keep us posted, Sam ... the fans will want to turn out for this one!  (And if he DOES happen to come by Chicago way, please put us on the guest list ... that's a show I DEFINITELY want to see!!!)  kk
And all this talk about "Heartbroken Bopper" makes me HAVE to play that song today!!! It's a GREAT overlooked Guess Who classic that only got to #47 in Billboard Magazine back in 1972 ... but went all the way to #26 in Cash Box. (Go figure!)  Give it a listen and see if you think this might have been some early inspiration for Aerosmith!  (kk)
 


You'll find more Guess Who music in today's SOUND ADVICE Column ... a Two-Sided Hit from 1970 ... "Share The Land" / "Bus Rider".  (Speaking of GREAT, vocal ad-libbing during the fade out, be sure to check out the ending of "Bus Rider" ... it doesn't get any better than this!!!)  And yesterday we featured a Birthday Tribute to Alice Cooper ... man, this couldn't have timed out any better had I actually planned it!!!  (lol)  kk


re:  1968 ... and 1924!:
Kent -
I think we talked about before but here is the proof in the pudding, not "Whipped Cream" (although it might give you cause to run the album cover one last time.)
You mentioned the Small Faces' Itchycoo Park song in the edition of latest Forgotten Hits. There was a high frequency tone at the beginning of the 45 that rumor has it was to drive your dog crazy when you played the record. It was a sweep from 18 kHz - 14 kHz. Well, I put the record on the turntable and played it. I did not hear any high frequency at the beginning. I called my wife to see if she could hear it. Still nothing. My son came into the room and asked what was producing the high frequency, it was driving him nuts. Well I guess it was too many Who concerts that deadened my hearing in the high frequencies. So I put it in my audio editing program and went into spectral frequency display mode and viola it was still there. I  have  included both, the beginning of the song and the spectral view in the email. Careful if you play it if you have dogs!
Bill,
with "Too Much Time on my Hands"



VERY strange ... I played it five times ... with our dog laying right at my feet ... and she never so much as rose her head to see what was up ... and she hasn't been to ANY Who Concerts.  I've included the clip for other folks wanting to try this at home (or drive their dogs crazy) ... but nothing to report on this end.  (kk)

Ooops ... oh yeah ... I almost forgot ...


In your reference to the timeless music of 44 years ago -- 1968 -- you commented that while so many of the hits of 1968 are still on the air somewhere today, back in 1968 one would have not heard on the radio the hits of 44 years previous to that -- in other words, 1924.  
You're right, of course, but that brings up the question: what exactly WERE people listening to 44 years prior to 1968?   In his "Pop Memories" book, Joel Whitburn provided the following list of the #1 hits of 1924.  While you've probably never heard most or even ANY of these original chart-topping recordings, do note that a lot of these compositions have become enduring standards -- 88 years after they first climbed to #1.  If nothing else, what follows is a peek into the pop culture of 1924 -- an era in which movies were still silent, Disney produced his debut cartoon ("Alice's Wonderland"), Macy's offered it's first Thanksgiving Day parade, a first class stamp cost only two cents, Russia switched from one evil dictator to another (Stalin replacing  Lenin), Doris Day and Marlon Brando were born, the nation's #1 bandleader, Paul Whiteman, introduced George Gershwin's jazz classic "Rhapsody In Blue," Calvin Coolidge was in the White House, unemployment was at 5% and federal spending topped out at 2.91 billion.  (Wow -- that was a while ago, huh?)  Thanks to YouTube, here are video versions of most all the #1 hits of 1924, starting with Fred Waring's theme song -- which Little Willie John revived so memorably in 1960. 
1.  Sleep -- Fred Waring & his Pennsylvanians (#1 for 5 weeks.  Waring's outfit was then mostly instrumental.  Only later would it evolve into a mass chorale.)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jioU2eioQa4
2.  Charleston -- Arthur Gibbs (#1 one week -- in fact, THIS week, 88 years ago.  THE dance craze of the '20s.) 
3.  It Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo', No Mo' -- Wendell Hall (#1 for 6 weeks.  A country classic.)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQA2lcYbdo
4.  Linger Awhile -- Paul Whiteman & his Orchestra (#1 for 4 weeks)
5.  Somebody Stole My Gal -- Ted Weems & his Orchestra (#1 for 5 weeks.  This was early Weems, hinting at the the more whimsical, tongue-in-cheek jazz style he'd gain his greatest fame with later via hits like "The Man From The South," "Piccolo Pete" and "You're The Cream in my Coffee."  Weems later material sounds just like 1930s cartoon soundtracks!)
6.  California Here I Come -- Al Jolson (#1 for 6 weeks.  The #1 singing star of the pre-Crosby era.  Two decades later, Al cut a superior high fidelity version of this song for Decca.) 
7.  Spain -- Isham Jones & his Orchestra (#1 for 2 weeks)
8.  What'll I Do? -- Paul Whiteman & his Orchestra (#1 for 5 weeks)
9.  It Had To be You -- Isham Jones & his Orchestra (#1 for 5 weeks.  Jones, who led one of the most popular bands of the pre-swing era, wrote "It Had To Be You," "I'll See You In My Dreams" and many other hits.)
10.  Memory Lane -- Fred Waring & his Pennsylvanians (#1 for 5 weeks)
11. I Wonder What's Become of Sally? -- Al Jolson (#1 for 3 weeks.  Note that this expresses the same emotion as countless other "torch" songs written and recorded right up to today about unforgotten lost love.)
12.  Somebody Loves Me -- Paul Whiteman & his Orchestra (#1 for 5 weeks.  YouTube does not have the Whiteman version of this song, but here's a competing recording issued the same year by Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards, who'd eventually supply the singing and speaking voice of Jiminy Cricket.)
One thing I should point out about the hits of 1924: all of those were recorded acoustically, which was the state of the art at that time.  Acoustic recordings, though, suffer from limited sensitivity and frequency range.  One could capture mid-frequency range notes fairly well, but those of very low or very high frequencies -- such as those produced by violins -- were lost.  That all changed in 1925 with the advent of electrical recording, which allowed for a far wide frequency range and dramatically higher fidelity.
Gary Theroux
>>>If you turned on your radio on January 29th, 1968 ... 44 years ago today ... you were likely to hear "Chain Of Fools" by Aretha Franklin, "Woman, Woman" by The Union Gap, "Nobody But Me" by The Human Beinz, "Hello, Goodbye" by The Beatles, "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees, "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, "Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding and "Baby, Now That I've Found You" by The Foundations.  (kk) 


Kent,
You are so right with saying this time 44 years ago was a great time for music.  1968 and 1966 rate right behind 1967 as my fave music years.  I will throw a few more FH songs that NEED to be remembered and played today.  The Montanas' "You've Got to be Loved" with FH member Tony Hatch at the controls is the most memorable for me.  This is also the early days of the Cryan Shames' second album being released.  "A Scratch in the Sky" is possibly the best album the group ever did and just one great moment of excitement for me in early 1968.  There were great tunes playing on my record player at the turn of February, 1968.  I would also call upon the Raiders' then new "Too Much Talk," First Edition's "Just Dropped in," the Outsiders' "Little Bit of Lovin," Etta James' "Tell Mama." Sagittarius' "Another Time," Balloon Farm's "Question of Temperature," Herman's "I Can Take or Leave Your Lovin," NC6's new "I Will Always Think About You," Monkees flip "Goin' Down" to name a few.  The Boston sound was emerging on Boston's WBZ and MGM Records through the Beacon St. Union, Ultimate Spinach and Orpheus.  WBZ was playing the Bee Gees UK hit "World" as the new single here (replaced instead by "Words"). 
We were just a year removed from the Chicago snow storm of late January, 1967 when the American Breed got their big break with Bill Traut's Dunwich getting them signed to Acta Records.  A year later, they have a million seller on the charts.  Traut's company is touting two new productions that are great but don't end with that success story.  The Will-O-Bees' "It's Not Easy" is getting play in my area as a Dunwich production as well as the Rumbles, Ltd. from Omaha with their biggest hit, "Jezebel."  The same song the Hermits had performed on the Sullivan show earlier.  The Rumbles were in Chicago about this time doing an interview on Chicago radio in conjunction with their new 45.  Their 45 would reach #3 here in Lincoln on KLMS amidst the biggest record to ever hit the Lincoln market.  Paul Mauriat's "Love is Blue" was number one for 12 straight weeks from December, 1967 through February, 1968 on KLMS!
Clark Besch

>>>This hasn't always been the case.  Imagine turning on your radio on January 29th, 1968, and having the deejay flash back to 44 years earlier to the songs of 1924!!!  (kk)
Well, maybe not 44 years earlier, but you might be surprised to know you might hear "Buttons and Bows' on an oldie weekend on WLS or other songs from the late 40's / 50's.  The Breakfast Club was still an early morning staple on the Big 89, too.  Just around the corner were all the changes in 1968.  Martin Luther King, Jr. would get killed on my 12th birthday, April 4, 1968.  Robert soon thereafter.  On Chicago radio, the magic Ken Draper brought to WCFL would leave in May when he left and they started taking WLS' jocks.  WLS would move away from the old guard of Riley and Roberts at night for Chuck Buell and Jerry Kaye.  "First of three in a row" was a Drake format sound on WLS now and the nightly "Instant Survey" at 8 replaced Art Roberts' 10 PM Top 3 requested segment.  But for February, 1968, things just seemed like they were "getting better all the time."
Clark

>>>All these hits played side-by-side with Forgotten Hits like "Skip A Rope" by Henson Cargill, "Tomorrow" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock, "Bottle Of Wine" by The Fireballs and "Zabadak" by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tish!   (kk)
All great mentions as well!  The Cowsills' "We Can Fly," "Stones' "She's a Rainbow," Beatles "Magical Mystery Tour" Lp cuts, and Ron Riley's British Billboard pouring out Scaffold's "Thank U Very Much," and Dave davies' "Susannah's Still Alive." 
Clark Besch
 
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