re: UP-COMING AND RECENT SHOWS:
>>>I approached Jody Klein (of ABKCO, who controls the complete Cameo / Parkway catalog) about doing a full-blown Cameo / Parkway Artists tour ... think about it ... The Dovells, The Orlons, Dee Dee Sharp, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, The Tymes, Charlie Gracie ... all of these acts are still performing today ... a tour like this could be good for business for all parties concerned. (kk)
Several years ago I saw Charlie Gracie, The Tymes, The Orlons and Dee Dee Sharp at a concert called the Cameo - Parkway Reunion. It would've been nice if they could've included a few other acts but they all did full sets that were absolutely outstanding and I wished they could've brought that to other cities but that never happened.
Tom Diehl
I think there could be a real market for this, especially now that all of this material is available again. And one of those PBS Special recapping the whole thing would be outstanding! (kk)
Cameo's FIRST hit artist, Charlie Gracie, often finds his name in our pages, thanks to his son Charlie, Jr., who keeps us up-to-date on all of his father's upcoming events and accomplishments. But last week superstar Elton John gave a tip of the hat to Charlie Gracie, too, when he guest-dee-jayed on a radio program, playing some of his favorite songs ... and included Gracie's 1957 #14 Hit "Fabulous". (kk)
HEAR ELTON JOHN TALK ABOUT CHARLIE GRACIE ON HIS BBC-RADIO SHOW (August 27th) and one of his (ELTON's) all time favorite songs: 'FABULOUS!' Elton's in good company with Paul McCartney who liked Charlie follow-up hit to 'Butterfly', ('Fabulous'), so much ... that he recorded it himself! Elton John speaks breifly before and after he plays 'Fabulous' as well! CHARLIE HEADS OVER TO BRITAIN FOR THREE WEEKS OF SHOWS beginning Sept. 25!
Charlie, Jr.
Here's a clip of that segment ... in addition, the entire broadcast can be heard here (today only):
(Catch ALL of Elton's favorites!)
And Wild Wayne's got his recent interview with Bobby Rydell, ANOTHER popular Cameo / Parkway artist, posted on his site, too ...
Frank B. sends us a healthy Bobby Rydell update from Bobby's Facebook Page ...
We'll be doing a gig in the Freeport (IL) Masonic Temple in early November, on the 3rd .
Ray Graffia, Jr.
The New Colony Six
Kent ...
I got up early so I can continue counting backwards.
180 = Summer In The City - Lovin' Spoonful
179 = Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney & Wings
178 = Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
177 = I Miss You - Rolling Stones
176 = California Dreamin' = Cass, Michelle, John & Denny
175 = Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann
174 = Baby Come Back - Player
173 = My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
172 = Fly Like An Eagle - Steve Miller Band
171 = On Broadway - George Benton
170 = Fooled Around And Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop
Since everybody's talking about politics, I'll borrow a phrase from Fox News ...
180 = Summer In The City - Lovin' Spoonful
179 = Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney & Wings
178 = Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
177 = I Miss You - Rolling Stones
176 = California Dreamin' = Cass, Michelle, John & Denny
175 = Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann
174 = Baby Come Back - Player
173 = My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
172 = Fly Like An Eagle - Steve Miller Band
171 = On Broadway - George Benton
170 = Fooled Around And Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop
Since everybody's talking about politics, I'll borrow a phrase from Fox News ...
I report .. you decide.
By the way, Big Jay just came off the midnight countdown shift ... said he'd be back at midnight tonight and at 7:00 AM on Labor Day. That doesn't leave much time for sleep!
Frank B.
Frank B.
I think Big Jay is SO happy to be back on the air that he's running on pure adrenalin right now!!! (Either that, or he's got that same sleep disorder that Al Kooper has!!! lol) kk
>>>The Top 100 One-Hit Wonders counts down this Labor Day weekend on WRNJ's "The Rest Of The Week With Rich Appel," Saturday 6 am - 1 pm and Sunday 10 am - 3 pm.
Stream at: http://wrnjradio.com/streaming (Rich Appel)
>>>I've persuaded Rich to use The Ides Of March song "One Hit Wonder" as the theme song for his big Top 100 One Hit Wonders Countdown running this weekend. Always loved this track ... and it fits PERFECTLY with the theme. (I did his show a few months ago and played twelve of MY favorite One Hit Wonders ... but this should be a pretty interesting countdown.) We featured it on OUR website on Friday, too! (kk)
Woo woo! Our song doing its job. Good stuff! Hope he gives us some props on who dunnit!
Jimbo
(Jim Peterik)
I'm sure that he not only did THAT, but is ALSO featuring The Ides Of March's great #2 Smash "Vehicle" as well! (I found out later that Rich played The Ides' "One Hit Wonder" TWICE on Saturday, and is featuring it again on both Monday and Tuesday ... now how's THAT for a mega-plug?!?!?)
By the way, local fans can catch The Ides of March TONIGHT at Naperville's Last Fling! More details on the website: Click here: The Official Website of The Ides of March
By the way, local fans can catch The Ides of March TONIGHT at Naperville's Last Fling! More details on the website: Click here: The Official Website of The Ides of March
Also tonight ...
Kent ...
Sunday Night, from 6 to 8 PM Eastern Time, Rick Nelson's twin sons Gunnar & Matthew will be talking
to Wild Wayne on "Wild Wayne's Memory Machine". You can hear it at www.wwuh.org
to Wild Wayne on "Wild Wayne's Memory Machine". You can hear it at www.wwuh.org
And you can see a clip of The Nelson Twins, recording with the legendary guitarist James Burton here:
Frank B.
VERY cool ... this was Al Kooper's idea thirty five years ago ... to reunite Ricky with James Burton for a new studio album ... SO cool to see him working with Rick's talented sons. (Scroll back to see our exclusive interview with Al on this very topic!) I've gotta say, the boys do a loving and fitting tribute to their dad ... supposed to be a VERY powerful live show.
This week ... live at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL ...
Lindsay Buckingham (Tuesday, September 4th) and
Kenny Rogers (Friday, September 7th)
Also this month ... Kansas (September 21st). By the way, the September 14th Three Dog Night show is completely sold out ... damn, and I wanted to see that one, too!!!
Don't miss out ... Get your tickets early for these other great shows.
re: ANOTHER VERY SAD LOSS:
Songwriter Hal David (half of the Hal David and Burt Bacharach songwriting team, one of the most successful pop songwriting teams in pop music history) passed away Saturday at the age of 91. In May, the dynamic duo was honored at The White House by President Obama where they were presented with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. (David was too ill to attend, obviously never fully recovering from a stroke he suffered earlier.) Together the duo wrote dozens and dozens of hits in the '60's (including the majority of the Dionne Warwick songbook). Their first major chart hit came in 1958 when Perry Como recorded "Magic Moments", a #21 B-Side. Besides Dionne Warwick hits like "Walk On By", "I Say A Little Prayer", "Message To Michael", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Alfie", "Trains And Boats And Planes" ... the list goes on and on and on, they also wrote "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" for the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", a #1 Hit for B.J. Thomas, "Close To You", a #1 Hit for The Carpenters, as well as soundtrack-of-our-lives hits like "What's New Pussycat" (Tom Jones), "Wishin' And Hopin'" (Dusty Springfield), "What The World Needs Now Is Love" (Jackie DeShannon), "Baby It's You" (The Shirelles), "One Less Bell To Answer" (The Fifth Dimension), "This Guy's In Love With You" (Herb Alpert) and, of course, timeless classics like "Wives And Lovers" for Jack Jones and "The Blob" for The Five Blobs! Because of the timeless quality of these songs (they've never left the radio dial over the past six decades and continue to be re-recorded by artists today), most folks don't realize that the duo actually split up in the late '70's and, at one point, even sued each other! While Bacharach has been more prominently on display of late (thanks, in part, to the Austin Powers movie franchise ... and collaborations with artists like Elvis Costello), David continued to write hit songs with other partners, including the #1 Hit "To All The Girls I've Loved Before", written with Albert Hammond and taken to the top of the charts by Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias. Burt Bacharach may seem to be the main focal point for much of the past few decades ... and there is no disputing the fact that his melodies will live on forever ... but those Hal David lyrics are every bit as timeless and memorable ... and he will be missed. EVERY songwriter worth his salt has been influenced in SOME by by the songwriting team of Hal David and Burt Bacharach. (kk)
(Probably NOT the one you want to be remembered for ... but I just LOVE it!!!) kk
Hal David -- long-time lyricist with Burt Bacharach on such hits as "Close To You," "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," "What's New Pussycat," "This Guy's In Love With You," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence," "I Say A Little Prayer" and countless more -- died Saturday (September 1) in Los Angeles of complications from a recent stroke. He was 91. From 1958 to 1973 they were America's premiere songwriting team and Hal continued writing songs with other composers after the collaboration ended. Last May, the duo was given the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
-- Ron Smith
re: THE IOWA ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME:
>>>I finally decided to do a long term loan of my New Colony Six autograph from the late sixties and a few of the groups radio promo 45's to the museum. As you are aware, the NC6 was previously inducted into their Hall. Connie Mueller, the curator, has a few vintage pictures of the group and plans on putting together a display. Wouldn't it be great if one of the guys would loan the museum one of those old jackets?!? What do you think Ray? :-)
(Steve Hotvedt))
Billboard Magazine is reporting this week that The Rolling Stones will play four dates in November, two at London's O2 Arena and two at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Earlier this year, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards said the Rolling Stones wouldn’t go on tour in 2012 to celebrate the band's 50th golden anniversary ... but now it looks like there will be many more forthcoming announcements in the weeks to come as this is quickly become the year of the 50th Reunion Tours! New documentaries, films, music releases and more ... plus now some live shows after all. Everything old is new again! (kk)
And, speaking of 50th Anniversary Reunion Tours, The Beach Boys certainly captured their fair share of attention this year with theirs. Frannie got me the brand new DVD "Doin' It Again" for my birthday last week ... can't wait to watch it this weekend. Vintage footage as well as brand new material from this year's reunion tour ... and available everywhere now. (kk)
>>>I finally decided to do a long term loan of my New Colony Six autograph from the late sixties and a few of the groups radio promo 45's to the museum. As you are aware, the NC6 was previously inducted into their Hall. Connie Mueller, the curator, has a few vintage pictures of the group and plans on putting together a display. Wouldn't it be great if one of the guys would loan the museum one of those old jackets?!? What do you think Ray? :-)
(Steve Hotvedt))
>>>Actually, I suggested that maybe Ronnie Rice ought to donate HIS jacket ... it probably doesn't fit him anymore anyway!!! (kk)
Regarding loan of a coat, I’d have been willing to lend them my red Breakthrough jacket but lent that one to Bruce Gordon years ago and he never returned it, not even after he left the band to focus on his sound biz. The Nehru is going to stay with me until I am headed below grade permanently, and the Edwardian jacket that I wore on the Lloyd Thaxton Show (and at one of the Bob Stroud Borders’ shows) will probably also remain here and I’ll let the kids decide what to do with all such memorabilia. Gotta leave ‘em something, right, Kent?
Catch you later, my friend,
Ray
And, speaking of The Iowa Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, it's been Tommy Roe week all week long ... in addition to a couple of appearances, Tommy is next in line for his own induction into The Iowa Rock Hall!
It's a TOMMY ROE weekend in IOWA, as he gets inducted into the IOWA ROCK N ROLL ASSN HALL OF FAME on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd in Arnolds Park, Iowa.
This follow a Friday, August 31st "EVENING WITH TOMMY ROE" performance at THE DIAMOND JO CASINO in Dubuque, IA, and a Saturday, September 1st appearance WINNASVEGAS CASINO in Sloan, Iowa.
Meanwhile, TOMMYs new single, DEVILS SOUL PILE, has cracked the TOP 40 on the industry tip sheet FMQB (Friday Morning Quarterback). It is #39 in the AC chart ... yet another hit for TOMMY ROE!
Rick Levy
Congratulations, Tommy, on ALL of the above. Lovin' the new CD, available through Tommy's website. (kk)
Billboard Magazine is reporting this week that The Rolling Stones will play four dates in November, two at London's O2 Arena and two at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Earlier this year, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards said the Rolling Stones wouldn’t go on tour in 2012 to celebrate the band's 50th golden anniversary ... but now it looks like there will be many more forthcoming announcements in the weeks to come as this is quickly become the year of the 50th Reunion Tours! New documentaries, films, music releases and more ... plus now some live shows after all. Everything old is new again! (kk)
And, speaking of 50th Anniversary Reunion Tours, The Beach Boys certainly captured their fair share of attention this year with theirs. Frannie got me the brand new DVD "Doin' It Again" for my birthday last week ... can't wait to watch it this weekend. Vintage footage as well as brand new material from this year's reunion tour ... and available everywhere now. (kk)
re: NO MILK TODAY:
Yep, It was quite a shame that “No Milk Today” didn’t get it’s proper due in the US. Relegated to a late release as B side to “Hush”, it would have been a Top 10 hit, but MGM went with “Dandy” in the US at that time instead. The Kinks own version was a hit in Europe, but Reprise did not see fit to release it here on a single, so MGM put the Hermits one out and “Milk” got squeezed out. Incidentally for trivia’s sake the first version of “There’s A Kind Of Hush” is on The New Vaudeville Band’s “Winchester Cathedral” LP! A Vo Dee O Doh!
Ken
Interesting ... I've got to hear THAT track! (kk)
Hi Kent -
Having read the newsletter this morning, I thought I would share this with you.
I had on my radio show last week the writer of "No Milk Today", Graham Gouldman. He is now touring again with 10cc.
In 1965, at the age of 19, he was working in a mens outfitters in Salford Manchester. During that year he was "moonlighting" writing songs ... and came up with THREE million sellers: For Your love for the Yardbirds, Bus Stop for the Hollies and No Milk today for Herman's Hermits. He had to give up the day job!!!!!
Regards,
Geoff
www.geoffandandy.co.uk
www.geoffandandy.co.uk
Yeah, Graham was definitely in the zone that year! And, as you may or may not already know, Herman's Hermits got first dibbs on each and every one of those tunes! They cut "For Your Love" before The Yardbirds did, "Bus Stop" before The Hollies did and scored their own Top Ten British Hit with "No Milk Today". Years later, Peter Noone produced Graham Gouldman's own version of this tune! Some MAJOR hits in this lot, don'tcha think??? (kk)
re: I'M GONNA SIT RIGHT DOWN AND WRITE MYSELF A LETTER:
"I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," written by Fred Ahlert and Joe Young, first became a hit in 1935 for one of the 20th century's most distinctive masters of music, Thomas "Fats" Waller, who later inspired the Broadway musical "Ain't Misbehavin'". Recorded May 8 of that year, it reached #5 according to Joel Whitburn's "Pop Memories" research. The song has since been covered by everyone from The Boswell Sisters to Frank Sinatra, Billy Williams to, yes, Paul McCartney. American Public Media's business news program "Marketplace" uses a portion of the Fats Waller version to open their weekly letters-from-listeners segment. Fats, the rotund, goodtime master of both stride piano and comic asides worked into his recordings, scored 63 hits between 1929 and his early death in 1943. Below is Fats' original hit version of "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter" along with one of the Soundies shorts he made. Was Waller a proto-rocker? You tell me. Fats scored with "The Joint Is Jumpin'" in 1937 and then filmed this on-camera version in 1941. :The song was inspired by the "cuttin' contests" Fats took part in competition with other pianists during Harlem rent parties in the '20s and '30s. Can you imagine how fun it would have been to see this guy shake the rafters in person? Could anyone NOT smile?
Gary Theroux
Cool ... and how about bringing this full cycle with McCartney's version, too! (kk)
More Macca news ...
re: ANOTHER FORGOTTEN HITS SUGGESTION:
Here's a song that NEVER gets played on the radio ... California Earthquake by Mama Cass - late '60s or early 70s. I only heard this twice or three times on KRLA or KHJ when I was living in Arcadia (near Pasadena). Maybe someone can post it. I have not checked YouTube yet. Thanks again for having a GREAT Site!
Todd S.
Bend, Oregon
I liked most of Mama Cass' solo singles ... "California Earthquake" was her follow-up release to her Top Ten Single "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" (my personal favorite), and went to #67 in December of 1968. It only charted nationally for five weeks in Billboard so that helps to explains its short radio airplay life back then ... as for now, radio only seems to play the same 200 songs over and over again anyway, so the majority of legitimate Top 20 Hits don't even get played, much less a #67 non-hit. I always loved Cass' voice ... other solo hits included "Move In A Little Closer Baby" (#58, 1969); "It's Getting Better" (#30, 1969); "Make Your Own Kind Of Music" (#35, 1969) and "New World Coming" (#30, 1970). I remember being knocked out when they featured "Make Your Own Kind Of Music" on the Season Two premier of "Lost" ... which, ironically enough, we just happened to see again last week! (kk)
re: AL KOOPER:
Hi Kent,
I'm so glad that you're back up and running.
I happened to see this eBay listing and wanted to ask you to forward this to Al Kooper: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-SIGNED-ORIGINAL-Grande-Ballroom-Concert-Poster-BLOOD-SWEAT-TEARS-Stooges-/320969041993?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4abb3ee849
BS&T concert posters with Al's picture in the line-up are virtually non-existent. I thought he might be interested in acquiring this depending on the state of his own archives. If things weren't currently so tight, I'd buy it and gift it to him just as a thanks for his significant contributions to my list of musical joys over the years.
And as always, thanks to you for orchestrating my favorite Sunday morning ritual.
Regards,
Scott Paton
I'm so glad that you're back up and running.
I happened to see this eBay listing and wanted to ask you to forward this to Al Kooper: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-SIGNED-ORIGINAL-Grande-Ballroom-Concert-Poster-BLOOD-SWEAT-TEARS-Stooges-/320969041993?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4abb3ee849
BS&T concert posters with Al's picture in the line-up are virtually non-existent. I thought he might be interested in acquiring this depending on the state of his own archives. If things weren't currently so tight, I'd buy it and gift it to him just as a thanks for his significant contributions to my list of musical joys over the years.
And as always, thanks to you for orchestrating my favorite Sunday morning ritual.
Regards,
Scott Paton
From what I've heard, Al's music and collectibles collection is quite extensive (my guess is, it's probably the hardest part of moving for him ... and he's moved numerous times over the years ... cross country and beyond!) I did forward your note but never heard anything back. Meanwhile here's a copy of the poster for those too lazy to click the eBay link above! (lol) kk
re: VERY SPECIAL THANKS ...:
... to Ken Evans and the Fifth Estate, Gary Renfield (of RIPRenfield.com) and Bill Scherer ... they're the latest folks to contribute to the cause to help keep Forgotten Hits going by making a donation. If you, too, would like to help, just drop me a line. We appreciate your on-going support. (kk)
