Saturday, January 21, 2012

A Few Beatles ... And Beatles-Related ... Comments

One of our most-read, most-quoted and best-loved early series, "Who Played The First Beatles Record In America", still has folks talking ten years later.
We've received a number of challenges to our findings during this time ... but no "concrete evidence" to disprove our theory that Dick Biondi (of Chicago's very own WLS) was the First Disc Jockey in America to play a Beatles record on the air.  (In fact, "Please Please Me" ... by the mis-spelled Beattles ... charted for a couple of weeks in early March of 1963, the earliest CHARTED Beatles U.S. appearance we've been able to find.)
But we just came across a new finding that has gotten our attention ... read on ...  

re:  WHO PLAYED THE FIRST BEATLES RECORD IN AMERICA:

FH Reader Randy Price sent me this note that he saw posted on Mike Callahan's "Both Sides Now" website, regarding an early playing of "Please Please Me" in the Philadelphia area ...

In Philadelphia, "She Loves You" made WIBG's Top 99 list for September 23, 1963.  It spent one week at position #81 (or perhaps two weeks; WIBG compiled its lists weekly at the time, but published them biweekly).  The station also played "Please Please Me" sometime in mid-February 1963, though it didn't chart;  I wrote the title down on the back of the 2/11/63 list. WIBG's lists included lots of records that didn't chart nationally.
Alex McNeil
We've had a couple of other folks tell us that they remember hearing "Please Please Me" in Philadelphia, too, as (in their words) MOST new records were first broken there.  (I still tend to believe the story that Vee Jay Records, literally right down the street from WLS 890 AM, probably WALKED the record over, hot off the presses, prior to mailing it out to anybody else ... but we could be wrong!)  The fact that Alex wrote it on the back of the 2/11 survey is the intriguing part ... that would be about two weeks before Dick Biondi played it on his WLS radio program ... and recently discovered paperwork indicates that Vee Jay Records OFFICIALLY released this single on February 7th ... and NOT the 20th as has been so often reported.  If WIBG jumped on this literally the day it came it, it is entirely possible that they were the first ... now we need some back-up.  (Sam Lit has been stating this for years but we've never received any documentation.  Surely SOMEBODY must have something in the archives that can back this up???)  Alex's survey notation is impressive, however ... so I'm prepared to pursue this even further if ANYBODY out there can get me some concrete evidence or documentation!  (kk)
And another Beatles milestone, too!  The Cavern celebrates its 55th birthday!!!
Kent ...

How many times did the Beatles appear at The Cavern Club?  Click this link to find out.
Frank B.



re:  PAUL McCARTNEY:
We ran the complete track listing for Paul McCartney's upcoming CD of (mostly) standards the other day.  Macca has been wanting to do an album like this for over twenty years ... and has pushed it back several times. (Probably each time Rod Stewart ... or Barry Manilow ... or any one of countless others ... released THEIR tribute to the "greats"!!!)
Ironically in the same issue that we told you about the songs that'll be featured on Paul McCartney's new release, we ALSO told you about a Mel Carter CD of similar content and inspiration.  (But, in Paul's defense, he has also stated on the record while promoting this new release that THESE are the songs that greatly influenced the early writing styles of Lennon and McCartney ... kinda surprising in that The Beatles were formed at the birth of Elvis, Buddy Holly and Rock And Roll!) 
But, without question, McCartney has embraced ALL kinds of different musical genres over the many years of his career ... so this one still bears listening.  (And he's written a couple of new tunes that "fit the mood" as well ... and resurrected one of MY favorites, "My Baby's Request" from the Wings / "Back To The Egg" album from the late '70's.)
Frequent Forgotten Hits contributor Gary Theroux offers an in-depth look at the history of some of the tracks that McCartney has chosen to honor on this new release.  Here's a fascinating look back at the history of some of these tunes:
Regarding the new Paul McCartney CD, I am sure that for a lot of people, the CD's title -- "Kisses On The Bottom" -- will make them think ol' Paul is referring to one way of earning the favor of your employer.  
It's actually a lyric line from "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter," which was a hit 55 years ago (in 1957) for Billy Williams: "I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter / And make believe it came from you / I'm gonna write words oh so sweet / They're gonna knock me off my feet / A lotta kisses on the bottom / I'll be glad I got 'em ..."
Like most of the other tunes on that CD, "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down ..." is actually a composition of far deeper vintage.  The song was originally a 1935 hit for Fats Waller and then a 1936 hit for The Boswell Sisters.  Five years before the Billy Williams version, one of those sisters -- Connee -- recut the song and scored with it as a solo single.
As this is an album made up of (mostly) classic tunes Paul has long admired, here's a bit of background on the other selections:
“Home (When Shadows Fall)” as written in 1931 by Peter Van Steeden, Jeff Clarkson and Harry Clarkson and became a hit for bandleader Van Steeden (with a vocal by Dick Robertson) in 1932.  Louis Armstrong scored with a cover version that year, Nat "King" Cole did the same in 1950 and Sam Cooke included his version of the song on his 1964 "Ain't That Good News" LP. 
“It’s Only A Paper Moon” was originally introduced on Broadway in the play "The Great Magoo" under the title "If You Believe in Me."  The first hit versions were in 1933 for Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra (vocal by Bob Lawrence) and Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards.  Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald each had hits with the song in 1945.  
“More I Cannot Wish You” is a Frank Loesser composition from the 1950 Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls." 
“The Glory Of Love” was originally a 1936 #1 hit for Benny Goodman & his Orchestra with vocalist Helen Ward.  
“We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)” was a 1940 hit for Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra with vocalist Frank Sinatra.  The next year the song hit #1 for The Ink Spots, the group later emulated by The Platters.
“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” (a tune from the film "The Harvey Girls") was written by and a #1 hit for Johnny Mercer in 1945.  Three cover versions -- one each by Kay Kyser, Artie Shaw and Bing Crosby with The Andrews Sisters -- also scored that year.   
“My Valentine” is a new McCartney composition.
“Always” was written in 1925 by Irving Berlin as a wedding gift for his wife Ellin, to whom he assigned all royalties.   It had been intended for inclusion in the Marx Brothers' Broadway show "The Coconuts" but was pulled from the score by Berlin during the out-of-town tryouts.  Regardless, five hit versions charted in 1926, the biggest being chart-toppers by bandleaders George Olsen and Vincent Lopez.   
“My Very Good Friend The Milkman” was written in 1934 by Johnny Burke and Harold Spina, who also composed the Fats Waller classic "You're Not The Only Oyster in The Stew."  While never a chart hit, "My Very Good Friend ..." was recorded by Waller as well as -- Eric Clapton!  Now THOSE two would make for an interesting musical mash-up!  
“Bye Bye Blackbird” was one of the 1920s' most iconic tunes -- and certainly a sensation in 1926.  There were four hit versions that year, the biggest being a #1 recording by "The Voice of the Southland," Gene Austin.
“Get Yourself Another Fool” was written by Frank Heywood and Monroe Tucker and was originally a 1949 R&B hit for Charles Brown. 
“The Inch Worm” was another Frank Loesser composition.  Danny Kaye made it famous by singing it in the 1952 film "Hans Christian Anderson."  Seventeen years later, under Paul McCartney's direction, Mary Hopkin cut a memorable version for her 1969 "Postcard" LP.  
“Only Our Hearts” is the other new McCartney composition on the CD.  
Bonus Tracks:
“Baby’s Request” is a McCartney song he first recorded for his 1979 "Back To The Egg" Wings LP.
“My One and Only Love” was written in 1952 by Bob Mellin and Guy Wood.  It became a minor hit for Frank Sinatra in 1953.  Five years later WGN DJ Franklyn MacCormack included a moving spoken word version on his Liberty LP "The Torch is Still Burning." 
Gary Theroux    
Interestingly enough, we featured Billy Williams' hit "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" several weeks ago as "Today's Forgotten Hit" ... I've always loved that one (and think it would STILL sound great coming out of your radio quite unexpectedly once in a while.)  The aforementioned Barry Manilow also cut a pretty good rendition of this one.  Cool that McCartney thought enough of "The Inch Worm" to produce a version on Mary Hopkins' first Apple album way back when ... and then cut his own version all these years later

Honestly, I'm not sure how well this new release will go over ... it may be something more for the "die hard" fans than the general public.  We got THIS email from FH Reader Clark Besch the other day, too ... safe to say he's probably not going to buy it!!! (kk)
Can 2012 start any worse?  Paul McCartney becomes the new Rod Stewart?  A CD of "STANDARDS"???  Didn't Ringo try this 40 years ago with "Beaucoups of Blues"?  I guess Ringo was WAY ahead of his time!  I am going back to my Yellow Sub and STAY THERE!  1966, here I come! 
Clark Besch
Actually, it was "Sentimental Journey" ... and I think that some of those tracks worked pretty well.  McCartney produced "Stardust" for Ringo's first solo LP ... and the title track ... (a personal favorite ... I especially like how Ringo pronounces "Sent - ee - mental"!!! lol) ... was produced by Richard Perry ... and Ringo enjoyed working with him so much, he brought him onboard to produce his first REAL rock and roll solo album ... "Ringo" ... in 1973 ... and the LP went all the way to #1!!!
McCartney recorded a duet with Tony Bennett a few years back ... and really it is the kind of "parlour music" you know he listened to with his old man growing up in Liverpool.  (Hey, it helped inspire things like "When I'm Sixty Four", "Your Mother Should Know" and "Honey Pie", too!  So this REALLY isn't anything new!)
My personal feeling is that McCartney hasn't released anything "memorable" since "Flowers In The Dirt" ... and that was a long, long time ago.  (By memorable I mean songs that stick in your head and can be recalled at a moment's notice.  Yes, there have been highlights here and there since then ... but NOTHING of "commercial value" like we're used to hearing from this guy!)  Still, I'm curious to hear it ... and (as a die-hard McCartney fan) will most likely buy this one just like I have all of the others!  (kk)
Kent ...
Instead of slowing down and heading toward retirement, Paul McCartney seems to working harder now than when he was a Beatle.
Now comes word of a possible Olympics Concert, according to MSN.
Several months ago we reported that Paul (AND RINGO!) were in negotiations to appear TOGETHER at the 2012 Olympics in London (and were working out all of the details and logistics in order to do so.)
So now Forgotten Hits is scooping MSN!!! (How cool is THAT?!?!?)  kk
 
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Friday, January 20, 2012

More Bobby


The other day, Forgotten Hits Reader Frank B. (a proud Bobby Darin fan) asked about Bobby's marriage-go-round with (and after) Sandra Dee. 


As promised, here are some edited excerpts from our Forgotten Hits Bobby Darin Series from a few years back.  (No, it's still not posted on the website yet ... but this is better than nothing, right?!?!?)

>>>A friend of mine told me he that he was watching TCM. Between movies they were talking about Bobby Darin. After Bobby Darin & Sandra Dee got divorced, they said that Sandra Dee never re-married. Bobby Darin did get married again. I don't remember that. Can you tell me if it's true?  (Frank B.)

Here's the scoop ... as reported in our month-long Bobby Darin Series a while back: 

At the end of the Summer of 1960, Bobby Darin was signed to appear in a key supporting role in the motion picture "Come September", behind Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida in the lead roles, along with America's Sweetheart, dream-girl-next-door Sandra Dee as his love interest.  Bobby had NO idea just how much this role would change his life!  Darin even wrote the title song for the film.

By 1960, 16 year old Sandra Dee had already made seven motion pictures, including the classics "Gidget" and "A Summer Place".  She was a bonafide movie star and, on the very first day Bobby was introduced to her, he asked her to marry him.  Her reply was, "Not today."  Bobby never stopped trying and over the three months they spent together making "Come September", he asked her again several more times ... eventually winning her over.

Shortly after the picture wrapped, Bobby and Sandy were married ... in old pal Don Kirshner's apartment at three in the morning on December 1, 1960, to avoid the hounding press.  One year later, they had a son, who they named Dodd, which was Bobby's nickname while growing up.

(Ironically, despite not having a father figure at home while he was growing up, Bobby's first words were "Da Da", which, in light of these extremely strange circumstances, was quite awkward.  Rather than deal with this situation, his family turned this expression into the word "Dodd", which then became Bobby's nickname ... by which he was referred to by family members for his entire childhood.  Years later, when Bobby had a son of his own, he named him Dodd Darin.)


Although Bobby wanted a pure and innocent girl for his totally devoted wife, he was hardly a monk ... always believing that he only had a short time to live, he was determined to have as much fun sexually as he could in the time he had left.  No matter how strong his feelings may have been for Connie Francis, Joann Campbell or Sandra Dee, (all of whom he professed his undying love to, proposing to each one), Bobby continued to have sex with other women.  One well-circulated story is that at the age of 18, he was taken under the wing of a dancer, an older woman, who asked him to play bongos in her act and travel with her to South America.  They never went to South America, but for the best part of two years, Darin lived with this woman as her "boy-toy."  Every time he tried to leave, she threatened to commit suicide and, in fact, on two occasions Bobby saved her life from such an attempt.  After two years of craziness, he finally left and, years later, the woman DID succeed in killing herself.  After the relationship ended, Bobby publicly said, "Before I met her, I was just like any kid in the Bronx.  Afterward, I was the most disillusioned human being in the world ... but I was no kid."

Sandra Dee was EXACTLY what Bobby was looking for ... a sweet, innocent, pure, beautiful girl (who just happened to be a movie star!)  Bobby had previously proposed to both Connie Fracis and Joann Campbell, who also fit this description, but neither one of these two other girls were willing to put their careers on hold and remain in the shadow of Bobby's spotlight.

Over the years, Sandra Dee has admitted to having been sexually abused as a young girl by her step-father and becoming both anorexic and an alcoholic.  The pressure of always looking thin for her modeling (and later, movie) career forced her to eat nothing more than a salad for most meals.  In fact, Sandra can attribute her first taste of alcohol to sitting at the head table at one of Bobby's concert performances.  (Bobby insisted that she be there at EVERY show ... sitting right up front where the audience could see his beautiful, loyal, "trophy" wife.)  After putting her own career on hold to appease her husband, she was quickly up to several drinks a night ... medicine to endure Bobby's night-after-night repetitive stage act no doubt.  She quit for about a year when she found out she was pregnant ... but then started back in full force again once the baby was born.

When Sandra Dee was just 15 years old, her stepfather told "American Weekly" magazine that he married Sandra's mother " ... just to get to Sandy."  In fact, truer words may never have been spoken.  Dee says her stepfather began sexually molesting and abusing her as early as the age of five when she used to sleep between her parents in bed.  Amazingly, she never told her mother (but always suspected that she must have known ... to her dying day, Dee's mother said she had no idea and even insinuated that Sandy may have made the whole thing up.)  The truth was, she loved her stepfather and was pleased at how happy he made her mother.  She used to say "When WE married daddy ... " something truly ironic in hindsight.

Perhaps just as ironically, there has been speculation for years that the way Bobby Darin finally got Sandra Dee to go out with him while filming in Italy was to first win over Sandy's mother.  There has even been some speculation that they were intimate ... something that even Sandra Dee acknowledges COULD be a possibility.

During the courtship process, Bobby began sending Sandy 18 YELLOW ROSES every day.  (This would, coincidentally, become the name of one of his biggest hit records in 1963.)  Bobby's composition certainly had a country feel to it and it would have felt every bit at home if sung by Marty Robbins or Roy Orbison ... but it was a Top Ten Bobby Darin hit all the way!  It followed his #3 Country-Flavored Hit "You're The Reason I'm Living" (certainly a nod to Ray Charles and his country hits like "I Cant' Stop Loving You") up the charts. 



Sandra Dee was next scheduled to star in the teen movie "Tammy Tell Me True" when she realized that she was pregnant.  In fact, with virtually NO film experience under his belt, Bobby went in to renegotiate Sandy's film contract (and successfully did so, I might add!)  The fact that Sandra Dee was also the nation's Number One Box Office Female at the time probably didn't hurt either!!!  (Darin just couldn't understand how he could earn $25,000+ per week performing in nightclubs yet Sandy only earned $50,000 a YEAR as a contract player.)

Bobby and Sandra's marriage began to show problems right at the start.  Once the honeymoon was over, the honeymoon was over so-to-speak.  Bobby immediately went back to work and was soon touring the country again.  Sandy still wanted "18 Yellow Roses" to arrive every day.  He wanted her at all of his appearances ... not only to cheer him on but also to be able to show her off.  He also wanted Sandy to entertain many of the celebrities in the audience who showed up each night to catch his performances.  Soon, the animosity began to spill over.  Often, backstage right before Bobby was scheduled to go on, Sandra would make a snide comment about his toupee being on crooked ... just enough to alter his focus prior to his big opening number.

Over the years, they would have several periods of separation, but would always seem to get back together again.  Their doomed marriage was often the cover story on many of the movie tabloids of the day.  Nearly as often, the Darins would file lawsuits against these publications in an effort to maintain some level of privacy in their personal lives.

Bobby needed to command all the attention and needed "down" time after his performances ... he would have his closest friends with him backstage and Sandra was never able to accept this part of their life.  SHE wanted to be the center of Bobby's attention and often made comments about his "hanger-on" friends.  Once (and only once), Bobby was so upset he slapped Sandra hard and sent her flying across the room, telling her to NEVER insult his friends again.  By 1964, Bobby and Sandra had split up so often that, when it came time to send out invitations for one of their big Hollywood parties, several of the invited celebrity guests called first to see whether or not they were actually together that weekend or not!!!

When Sandra started making movies again, Bobby became jealous of her successful movie career ... he wanted to be a big movie star, too, and many feel he only pursued music as the springboard to making movies.  After three years of marriage, Sandra was still only 19 years old!  When the opportunity came to costar with Warren Beatty in the film "That Funny Feeling", Bobby became jealous and told her that "Once you grow up, you won't need me anymore."  (The movie rags at the time were full of stories about the "secret" love affair between Sandra Dee and Warren Beatty.  Dee denies that anything ever happened.)  Beatty ultimately backed out of the film ... and Sandy recommended to the studio execs that Bobby take over the lead role.  Darin was torn between taking a role his wife got for him ... and being the lead actor in a major motion picture.  His ego quickly got the better of him and soon he and his wife were costarring together in the film.  Sandy had hoped that working together would strengthen their marriage ... instead, shortly thereafter, Bobby announced that he didn't "want to be married anymore," packed his belongings, and left.

In fact, it seemed that every time Sandy was about to start work on another movie, Bobby felt it was time to leave.  Whether it was a case of feeling threatened by her movie career ... or jealousy ... no one can say for sure ... but by 1966 it was over for good.

On March 7, 1967, Bobby and Sandra were officially divorced.  Bobby's declaration that "I don't want to be married anymore" was the crux of the case ... no further explanation ever came up.  Surprisingly, over the next several years, Bobby and Sandy would still be together many times ... Bobby even stayed at the house on several extended occasions, and proclaimed to the press that they were happier now than when they were married.  But Sandra Dee was not happy ... the only man she ever loved was gone. 

Jump ahead six years and, after being released from yet another hospital stay, Bobby asked Andrea Yaeger, , a woman he had been seeing for some time, to marry him.  She reluctantly agreed ... Bobby hadn't been himself a lot of the time lately ... he would concoct ridiculously elaborate scenarios in his head about being betrayed by the people closest to him and had very erratic behavior patterns and anger spells ... in fact, by October, just three and a half  months after their wedding, Bobby was already filing divorce papers.

The day after the papers were filed, October 3, 1973, Bobby was admitted back into Cedars of Lebanon for congestive heart failure.  This time, his heart would have to be stopped and restarted ... once again, he survived.  Bobby was thin and gray ... he was down to about 120 pounds and looked haggard.  He could barely speak.  He was having massive personality and mood swings and on October 23rd, he went to his lawyer to change his will, leaving his entire estate to his son Dodd.  It was worded in such a way that Dodd would only receive the interest and income earned from the estate until he turned 65, not the principal ... he didn't want to just hand it all over on a silver platter ... Bobby wanted Dodd to learn to set his own goals and achieve them.  (Years later, Dodd would write "Dream Lovers:  The Magnificent Shattered Lives Of Bobby Darin And Sandra Dee", a biography of both his famous parents ... and an excellent read and source of information for this Forgotten Hits special piece on Bobby Darin.)  The following day, October 24th, Bobby's divorce was granted.   

EPILOG:  In November of 1973, Bobby went to New York to say goodbye to some of his oldest and dearest friends.  On December 10th, he was back in the hospital with congestive heart failure again.  Bobby knew that this was going to be his final trip.  On the 12th, his sister Vee was called and told to get out to Los Angeles right away.  (Fittingly, when she came to visit, she brought Bobby coloring books ... a childhood passion from his sickly past.)  They spent several days together, talking about all the things they had been through ... yet, even on his deathbed, the identity of Bobby's real father was never revealed.  

The 16th was Dodd's birthday.  He called to wish his son a happy birthday but could barely speak ... he was nearly delirious, crying on the phone with the realization that he would not see his son again ... he'd never see him grow up ... and that he was going to die.  Dodd wrote his father a note ... a goodbye note from a loving son ... that Vee delivered to her brother.  Bobby had left a trunk sealed at Sandy's house years before ... with strict instructions that it was not to be opened until after his death.  Inside were several precious family mementos ... photos ... papers ... even a lock of Dodd's baby hair ... all the things that really meant something to Bobby during his life.

Two days later, he slipped into a coma.  On December 18, 1973, his heart stopped beating.  Through electroshock treatment, they were able to revive him,  yet he remained in a coma.  Bobby had previously refused to allow the doctors to perform a catherization of the heart but now, hovering near death and unconscious, Vee gave her permission for the procedure to be done. 

The catherization showed that one of the valves in Bobby's heart was malfunctioning and needed to be replaced.  It was doubtful that Bobby was strong enough to survive such an operation.  It was agreed that if Bobby made it through the night, they would open him up the following day and see what they could do.  Bobby did survive the night and exploratory surgery the next morning showed that the left side of his heart was infected.  However, too much of his heart had already been cut away during the first operation to allow any more to be done now.  Bobby was hooked up to a heart and lung machine while the doctors worked feverishly to remove the infection and replace the malfunctioning valve.  Amazingly, Bobby's heart began beating on its own.  Shortly after midnight, he regained consciousness for a brief time and became hysterical.  His heart stopped again, causing his kidneys to fail and brain damage occur.  He was quickly hooked up to a heart massager ... it was the only thing keeping Bobby alive.  However, it was decided that Bobby was just too weak to make it ... he was, for all purposes, already dead.  Making what she later described as the "hardest and easiest decision of my life," his sister Vee then instructed doctors to pull the plug.  Bobby was pronounced dead in the early morning of December 20, 1973.  Bobby's revised will left very explicit instructions that there was to be no viewing and no burial ... per his wishes, his body was left to medical research.  

Sandra Dee never remarried and says Bobby Darin is the only man she's ever truly loved.  

In 1990, he was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  Bobby used to talk of dying on stage ... that this would be his ultimate triumph ... to die before a packed house.  His closest friends and relatives never really believed (or wanted to believe) just how sick he really was ... he'd go up on stage and give the performance of a lifetime and then collapse backstage ... and then do it all over again the next night and the night after that.  Bobby Darin truly was one-of-a-kind of our generation, bridging the gaps between rock and roll, folk hero and all around entertainer ... and his music will live on forever.
kk
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Thursday, January 19, 2012

HELPING OUT OUR READERS


re:  THE COWSILLS:
>>>Any idea which radio station played the demo and who was the DJ???  It sure sounds like the station and DJ had a lot to do with MGM finally releasing “Hair” as a single, doesn’t it?  (Jerry)   

Found this on a Cowsills website:   
Click here: The Cowsills In Concert Liner Notes    
Remarkably, as 1969 rolled in, there was no plan for a Cowsills live album. They had cut a demo tape of "Hair" that they were to lip-synch on "Pizzaz," an NBC fashion special (sans the original third verse which mentions Jesus; something you apparently couldn't do on TV in 1969). Their label, MGM Records, didn't think the song fit the image of the Cowsills and had no interest in releasing it on vinyl. The Cowsills thought otherwise. "We thought it was so cool that we went on tour and brought the demo with us to carry around," Bob Cowsill now says. While doing a personal appearance at a Chicago radio station, the D.J. played the demo during their on-air interview, and the phone lines lit up. "We split Chicago and continued on tour and things started bubbling, so MGM was forced to put it out as a single," recalls Bob". 
Jersey John
Hmmm ... I'm wondering now if this was WGN (???)  I remember Roy Leonard used to do this sort of thing and then have the artist as an in-studio guest.  (Or perhaps this is the same information that Jerry read in the first place, inspiring his original inquiry???)  kk

One of our readers sent us in the "wind" version of "Hair" to share ... like I said before, I've heard this one played any number of times over the years.  A quick check of Pat Downey's "Top 40 Music On Compact Disc" book shows that all of the commercially released and available versions of "Hair" appear to be the ALBUM version and not the hit single mix.  (This is information current as of 2003 anyway ... but Tom Diehl found some further discussion of this topic on Downey's website ... read on ...)  kk
If there is a stereo album version of Hair that matches the 45 I would sure love to hear it. The stereo mix I am very familiar with has the faint sounds of an original lead vocal take shining through underneath the released vocal (and has the wind sound effects).  
A short discussion on this song can be found on Pat Downey's website here:  
http://www.top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1626
Tom Diehl
 
HELLO KENT, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 
FINALLY GOT AROUND TO READING YOUR YEAR END COMMENTS, AND HAVE A FEW BITS TO SHARE ...
THE COWSILLS "SOME GOOD YEARS" WAS ON THEIR NOW OUT OF PRINT "GLOBAL" CD, WHICH IS FANTASTIC AND A SHAME IT DIDN'T GET SOME SOLID AIRPLAY. I REMEMBER MANY YEARS AGO WHILE I WAS IN LOS ANGELES, I GOT A CALL FROM THE DRUMMER JOHN (NOW A BEACH BOY), WHO INVITED ME TO THE RECORDING STUDIO TO HEAR SOME OF THESE NEW TRACKS THEY WERE RECORDING AND TAKE SOME PICTURES. I RECALL SITTING IN THE CONTROL ROOM LISTENING TO THIS EXCITING TRACK AS THEY WERE MIXING IT. IT WAS VERY LATE AT NIGHT, AND I VIVIDLY REMEMBER PAUL LEANING BACK IN A CHAIR AND DOING A FLOATING PEACE SIGN WHEN THE VERSE "IF I HAD A SECOND CHANCE" CAME UP ... AND EVERYTIME I HEAR THAT SONG, I ENVISION HIM DOING THAT. STRANGE, BUT TRUE! 
WISHING EVERYONE IN FORGOTTEN HITS LAND ALL THE BEST IN 2012!
MICHAEL G. BUSH 

I remember hearing HAIR by the Cowsills on the radio in February 1969 on WKNR "Keener 13" out of Detroit.  Just for the record.
Tal Hartsfeld


Kent, 
Here in OKC one of the earliest, and I might add first, record for the Cowsills to chart on our weekly survey was a record they made in 1966 on Philips Records, MOST OF ALL with the
'B' side being SIAMESE CAT. Don't know of course if it charted in your town. 
Larry  
Nope, I don't know that one.  However, Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles" book shows that "Most Of All" DID, in fact, "bubble under" on The Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for four weeks, ultimately peaking at #118.  (kk)


re:  THE CHIPMUNKS: 
>>>The version of "Alvin's Harmonica" you recently featured is not from the original Liberty 45 ... you can tell from the harmonica intro ... I think it may be the LP version, however, which is the version released on just about all the cd's containing this song.  (Jon Olsen)
>>>Wow!  I didn't know they did "Single Mixes" for The Chipmunks!!!  (How cool is that?!?!?)  The one I featured DID come from a CD (Their Greatest Hits actually) ... so that's neat new information to know.  (kk) 
Well, the way David Seville recorded things, I'm surprised there aren't more alternate versions out there. I'm somewhat certain that the stereo mix of The Chipmunk Song is slightly different than the actual single version, as well ... however there was a stereo 45 of Alvin's Harmonica and I believe that is where this version first originated.  
Tom Diehl
Several years ago Tom sent us an EXTREMELY rare copy of "The Chipmunk Song" 'specially recorded for a store chain called Harry's ... so they certainly DID make alternate recordings along the way!  Here it is again ... 'cause you ain't gonna find it anywhere else!!!  (kk)




re:  CHUBBY CHECKER: 
Kent, 
I thought of something in regards to what you had in Friday's Comments. (Kenny the K's Swap and Shop)
Two readers were looking for songs / records I guess for their own personal collection.I don't know if you yourself are looking for that one 'elusive' 45 you have hunted for for years. Personally I am not.  But from what I know and understand in 1959 Chubby Checker had two songs out on Parkway Records called DANCING DINOSAUR and SAMSON AND DELILAH. Years ago a friend of mine back East sent me DANCING DINOSAUR on CD. Years ago I saw SAMSON AND DELILAH in an auction for some $75. The condition was Poor. I am curious (but not yellow) as to what SAMSON AND DELILAH sounds like. Any chance you could post that one on your website?  How about a Chubby Checker two-fer? These two songs would be classified as forgotten forgotten 45's. 
Larry
Forgotten or "Lost" 45's perhaps ... but definitely not Forgotten Hits, as neither song ever charted.  (Actually, we just DID a Chubby Checker Two-Fer a couple of days ago, on the anniversary of the date that "The Twist" went BACK to #1 on the charts, nearly a year and a half AFTER hit had hit the #1 spot the first time ... the ONLY record in the Rock Era to do so!)
I don't see either of these titles in my collection ... but as part of our on-going "Helping Out Our Readers" Finders Service, if someone on the list has copies of either (or both) of these Chubby Checker rarities, please email them to:  larryneal.waxmuseum@yahoo.com.  Thanks!  (kk)

re:  KENNY THE K's SWAP AND SHOP:
>>>I'm looking for a 1973 MOR song called Love For You by Sonoms.  Does anyone have it?
(Mark The Shark)
>>>Hey folks, welcome to Kenny the K's Swap and Shop and Long-Lost Tune Exchange! 
If somebody has a copy of this and is inclined to send it along to Mark, here is his email information:  shark18@nycap.rr.com  (Please do not send the tracks here ... we're providing this as a " reader only" service!)  Thanks!  (kk)  
Well, the tune is by Sonoma ... not a bad song ... 
Sorry Kent, had to send it to you, too!  
Tom Diehl

Hi Kent!
I've been reading your blogs for quite a while now ... and have occasionally contributed a few small items.
I have been searching frantically for an LP, which seems to be impossible to find.
In 1964, Sunny Gale recorded an album for the now defunct Canadian American Label, #1015, titled "Goldies By The Girls".  Gemm doesn't have it ... and neither does E Bay.  Maybe a reader can find it for me.  I want the record, not the music alone.
Thanks. 
Arnold Kirkbride
Passing along your info, Arnold ... if somebody out there is able to help (or has a copy available), please contact Arnold Kirkbride through the email provided above ... do not respond to us.  Thank you.  (kk)  

re:  BOBBY DARIN:  
Kent ... 
Could you consult your secret Bobby Darin files and answer this question.
A friend of mine told me he was watching TCM. Between movies they were talking about Bobby Darin. After Bobby Darin & Sandra Dee got divorced, they said that Sandra Dee never re-married. Bobby Darin did get married again. I don't remember that. Can you tell me if it's true?
Thanks.
Frank B.
He was probably watching the same Bobby Darin / Sandra Dee movie that we were watching the other night ("That Funny Feeling", which was their third picture together.) The host did, in fact, talk quite a bit about Bobby and Sandra before and after the movie.  (Unfortunately, I missed nearly all of this as I was getting the next edition of Forgotten Hits ready!!!)
To answer your question, yes, 'tis true.
Sandra Dee never remarried, often stating that Bobby Darin was the love of her life.  (They continued to see each other long after they were divorced.)  Shortly before he died, Bobby remarried a woman by the name of Andrea Yeager, who he would later denounce once he became hospitalized, thinking that she (and virtually everyone else close to him) was out to get him.  Yeager reluctantly agreed to marry Bobby in the first place ... and she probably should have trusted her instincts ... just three and a half months after they were wed, Bobby was already filing for divorce. 
Watch for another edited excerpt from our special series (pulled from that top secret file you're referring to) tomorrow, covering "the marriage years" of Bobby Darin.  (kk)  

DIDJAKNOW?:  I don't know if the host covered THIS little tidbit or not during the "That Funny Feeling" broadcast ... but it was originally Warren Beatty who was supposed to star opposite Sandra Dee in this film.  At the last minute, he backed out ... and Sandy suggested that her husband Bobby take his place.  (Truth is that even in 1965, she was looking at this opportunity as a way to help save their marriage!)  You'll find this and more in our next Bobby Darin excerpt ... coming up tomorrow in Forgotten Hits ... so stay tuned!!! (kk)
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Catching Up A Little


Here are a few things we were able to get ready for this morning ...


re:  CARLY SIMON:

>>>REGARDING THE "YOU'RE SO VAIN" STORY, JIM RYAN (YES, FORMERLY OF THE CRITTERS, WHO WAS ONE OF THE STUDIO MUSICIANS ON THE TRACK) TOLD ME IT WAS INDEED ABOUT WARREN BEATTY, AND THERE WAS SOME UNRULY BEHAVIOR BY HIM IN THE STUDIO THAT WAS NOT APPRECIATED ... HOPE THIS HELPS.  (MICHAEL G. BUSH)
>>>This was it ... the story behind Carly Simon revealing the identity of who "You're So Vain" was actually written about.After 40 years of guessing and wondering, Carly Simon has revealed who her iconic "You're So Vain" song is written about.  (We almost don't want to tell you. The mystery is what makes the song!)  Ah well, it's out there already. The song, which was rumored for years to be about one of her ex-boyfriends (like Warren Beatty or Mick Jagger), was actually written about gay record label boss David Geffen.  The answer came to fans after Carly admitted the name of the Vain person was whispered in the new acoustic version of the song off her upcoming album Never Been Gone. After listening to it, sources say the singer whispers Geffen's name backwards on the track.  So while for years the speculation was that song was intended to be an angry-bitter break-up song, now the lyrics take on a new meaning. Some suggest that Carly is signing about her resentment towards Geffen when he allegedly put more effort into promoting rival star Joni Mitchell.  And there you have it! Not as exciting as you thought it would be, huh?  Except my daughter said that Carly was super-jealous and angry because Geffen put her on the back burner while plugging and pushing his new conquest ... Joni Mitchell ... For years there has been debate about which of Carly Simon's ex-boyfriends could have inspired the hit song You're So Vain.  But while former lovers Mick Jagger, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Warren Beatty were left wondering whether 'this song is about you', they have been proved wrong.  For the Seventies singer has finally revealed the real inspiration behind her hit track wasn't a boyfriend at all - it was openly gay record producer David Geffen.  Simon, 64, ended the 38 year guessing game by whispering the name backwards on a reworked version of the song for her new album Never Been Gone, out next week.  Previously Simon had always claimed the song was a 'composite' of people she knew.In 1972 when she wrote the song billionaire Geffen was the head of her Elektra record label.
It is thought she was inspired to write the damning lyrics after Geffen put all his time and energy into promoting her rival, Joni Mitchell, over her.  (Renfield)
>>>I've seen Geffen's name linked to this song a few times over the years ... and, probably just as many times, comments that Carly Simon didn't even KNOW him yet back then.  Remember, her career was really just starting to take off around this time ... and it was "You're So Vain" that pushed it way over the top.  I dunno ... if CARLY says it's so, then it must be so.  (And if she whispered his name backwards on the new CD then that's good enough for me ... I guess!!!)  Honestly, I still believe it more of a "compilation" of a few of the key figures in her life ... and, despite what she says, I think there was a certain unspoken irony in having Mick Jagger sing on the record.  This has been a hot topic for nearly 40 years now!!!  (Makes whatever Billy Joe McAllister threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge seem like small potatoes in comparison, doesn't it???)  kk

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RECHECK THE FACTS ON THE CARLY SIMON STORY THAT WAS TOLD TO ME.
MGB 
Of course that's not to say that Billy Joe McAllister actually threw a bag of small potatoes off the Tallahatchie Bridge.  (Figured I'd better clarify my comment, too ... lest it is soon reported all over the world as a Forgotten Hits Exclusive that Bobbie Gentry FINALLY told Forgotten Hits that it was a small bag of potatoes that Billy Joe tossed off the bridge!!!)  Just covering my bases here, folks!  (kk)

re: AMERICAN PIE:
AMERICAN PIE HITS #1 FORTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEKEND:
Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of Don McLean's "American Pie" reaching #1 in the Billboard pop singles chart.  The epic tune spent four weeks in the top spot during the winter of 1972.  With the tragic death of Buddy Holly -- "The Day the Music Died" -- as a launching point, the song symbolically traces the history of rock 'n' roll from the 1950s through the '60s while mourning the loss of innocence the U.S. experienced during that time. 
Speaking with ABC News Radio this past week, McLean marveled at the continued popularity of "American Pie" decades after its release. 
"What's interesting is that the country's changed so much since the song was written and yet people seem to still value this song after 40 years," he noted.  "It's remarkable." 
McLean said he isn't sure why the song has had such enduring appeal, but he suggests that one reason might be that people might be drawn to the multiple styles of music he incorporated into the 8 minute, 27 second tune. 
"It has a vamp in the front … just like an old-fashioned popular song would have.  It has a rock 'n' roll chorus and a story which is almost set up like a folk song," he explained.  "So, in that one song you can see this fusion of these different styles … But I was also interested in writing something about America that was funny and fun and, in a way, serious because those were serious times." 
Commenting further about the change in the political and social climate he's noticed in the country since he composed the song, McLean said, "We have so much more to be protesting about and to be really angry about and yet people are very docile, almost like they're drugged … I think people have become psyched out almost by the nexus of advertising and the psychology and this was not the case when 'American Pie' was written." 
The massive success of "American Pie" has undoubtedly benefited McLean financially while helping him sustain a long music career, but the troubadour says he's most happy about what the recording did for the music of one of his idols. 
"The most wonderful thing was that they started to play Buddy Holly along with 'American Pie,'" he declared.  "Buddy Holly was my favorite signer and my favorite musician and the person that gave me the most happiness to listen to … So, when I heard later on that [his widow] Maria Elena Holly said that Buddy Holly got more publicity in the six months after 'American Pie' came out then he ever got in his whole career … I think that made me the happiest of all the things that that song did." 
"American Pie," of course, was covered by Madonna back in 2000, and McLean says he was "delighted with" her version. He added, "She is such an amazing show-business pillar … She is quite a remarkable girl." 
McLean also said he enjoyed seeing "American Pie" become the subject of a "Lip Dub" -- a video that featured 5,000 citizens of Grand Rapids, Michigan, lip synching to the song.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZszDTZKs_g
-- submitted by Tom Cuddy

re: DION:
Kent ...
Check out this show. Dion is guest. Never heard of this TV station.
If I can get it, I'll watch the replay tonight.
Scroll through Dion's pictures ... lots of good ones.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150589933129935&set=a.281029604934.176015.34360494934&type=1&theater
Frank B.

re: ANOTHER CHART MILESTONE:
Who'da thunk it?!?!?
Doris Day officially declared as the oldest living artist to reach America’s Billboard ‘Top 150′ Music Chart (with her album “My Heart”) 
Hollywood showbiz icon Doris Day -  received last night the Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s ‘Career Achievement Award’ – now she also has another distinction to her name, that of being the oldest living person to ever reach the ‘Top 150′ on the American Billboard Music Chart. 
At 87 years old, Ms. Day has now officially surpassed George Burns and her dear friend crooner Tony Bennett following the December 2011 release of her US album, “My Heart.” Both performers held the honor at 84 and 85 years of age, respectively.
More (and complete track listing) here:



And, for a GREAT behind-the-scenes look at this album from co-producer Bruce Johnston (he of Beach Boys and Bruce And Terry fame ... which is ESPECIALLY cool since Terry Melcher was Doris Day's SON!!!) ... be sure to check out David Beard's EXCELLENT article here:

re:  ON THE RADIO:
From the looks of things, John "Records" Landecker is back on WLS-FM for keeps.  In addition to his weekend shows previously reported here last month, Landecker has been doing more and more "fill in" work, most notably for Scott  Shannon who, just a few short years ago, SAVED the station by launching his True Oldies Radio Format.
Most puzzling in all of this is that Landeckers' syndicated radio program "Into The '70's" seems to have been DROPPED from WLS-FM's schedule!  (Perhaps too much John "Records" Landecker is not a good thing?!?!?)
Anyway, congratulations to the long-time Chicago radio vet ... now we need Scott Shannon to find another Chicagoland radio outlet to air his True Oldies format 24 / 7 ... couple that with the recently launched K-Hits oldies format (playing the music of the '60's, '70's and '80's) and old stand-by Y103.9 and we'll REALLY have some variety on the dial again!

And Chicagoland Radio and Media reports that Landecker isn't the ONLY familiar sound returning to WLS ...
WLS-FM has brought back more than just John Landecker to its airwaves to remind people of the station's 1970's heyday. Also back is the iconic WLS touchtones. The station is once again using that famous soundbite for its call-in contests. The WLS touchtones sounds were first created by Tommy Edwards in 1973, using the electronic telephone beeps of hitting the numbers 8-5-2-0-5.



In other WLS-related news ...
Bill Bailey, The Duke Of Louisville
Memories – In the late 60'S I was on vacation in Montana when I was informed the WLS morning man, Clark Weber, had turned in his resignation. I was in Louisville the next morning to hear first hand WKLO’s morning show.  The program director at competing WAKY had earlier sent me an air check of his competitor, Bill Bailey ... he owned mornings as the Duke of Louisville.
Arriving in Louisville after midnight, I set my alarm for 6 am in hopes of finding a solution for my WLS opening.  Almost immediately I recognized why this guy was top rated ... his unique voice, delivery and humor should do what WLS wasn’t doing ... beating Howard Miller at WIND and Wally Phillips at WGN.
William Boahn, “The Duke of Louisville", known as Bill Bailey, passed away at Saturday, January 14, 2012 ... he was 81 years  of age.
The ReelRadio tribute is here


In less happy WLS news, former WLS-AM morning show host Bill Bailey passed away Saturday at the age of 81. Bill Bailey was with WLS-AM for just under one year, from mid-1969 to mid-1970. WLS-AM's Program Director John Rook, a fan of Bailey's radio work, brought Bailey up to Chicago to replace the popular Clark Weber, who had announced he no longer wished to do the morning show for the station. Unfortunately for WLS-AM, the following year, Bailey returned back to the south where he was welcomed by fans for many years to come. Bailey, whose real name was William Boahn, also worked in numerous other markets, but achieved his biggest popularity in Kentucky, where he was given the nickname of the "Duke of Louisville." He was one of two gentlemen using the name Bill Bailey at WLS-AM, as a second DJ using the same on-air name joined WLS in 1972.

-- Chicagoland Radio and Media


I'm hoping that some of you had a chance to catch "The Flip Side Show" Tuesday night.  If you did, you heard Mr. C. play both sides of MY very "First 45", "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini / Don't Dilly Sally, Sally by Brian Hyland.  It airs every Tuesday Night from 7 - 8 PM (Central Time) and you can always "Listen Live" here:  
Lots more goodies planned (with tie-ins to our very own Forgotten Hits Sound Advice feature.)
And, if you haven't sent us YOUR "First 45" story yet, please do ... we've got pages and pages and pages of these posted on the other Forgotten Hits website ...


>>>Imagine how fun it would be to hear four knowledgeable music fans try to out-do each other by playing something more surprising than the last!!!  (kk)

I'd like to hear competing radio stations, monitoring each other, attempt to outdo each other. "Oh, yeah, Jim Bob at WXYZ, well, here's the stereo version - time to upgrade your archive!" 
I mean, heck, that's how politicians win - trash each other! :-)

Jersey John



Kent,
After reading today's Sunday comments later on down the page, I thought of something I might do tonight and / or tomorrow concerning something I read. I am going to get out and see how many DJ's here in OKC put out a vinyl record while they were working for the local top 40 radio station at the time.  Interesting to see how high it got on the local charts. Needless to say, if a certain jock did make a record, it was never played on a competing radio station.
Larry
We had a few of them do it here, too ... and some of the more successful ones are well-documented.  One of my favorite '70's radio memories came while listening to the above-mentioned John "Records" Landecker playing down the biggest hits on WLS (where radio rival / competitor Steve Dahl had topped the charts with his Rod Stewart parody "Do You Think I'm Disco") ... instead of announcing the artist, the record was always referred to as being by "Teenage Radiation", which was the name of Dahl's back-up band.  And, as you mentioned, it NEVER actually got played on the air ... but one night (after it came in at #1 again), Landecker fittingly blew the record up on the air, in tribute to Dahl's infamous Sox Park Disco Demolition debacle!  All I can tell you is it made for GREAT radio!!!  (kk)

re:  LIVE SHOWS:
Don't miss rock icon Eric Burdon (and the Animals) at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois, appearing next Saturday (January 21st).  With a hit list of fifteen Top 40 records (plus the #1 Hit "Spill The Wine" with War), Burdon should be able to provide quite an arsenal of material to choose from.  He'll also dip deeply into his bag of blues which inspired the formation of the band in the first place.  Should be a great show.
Also coming to the Arcada Theatre in the weeks to come:
March 3 - Eddie Money
March 9 - Frankie Avalon
March 30 - Bill Medley
March 31 - (and tell me if THIS doesn't sound like a killer night of entertainment) ... Joan Rivers, who'll be taping a "live" television special here!!!
More details are available on the website:  www.oshows.com


2012 EXPERIENCE HENDRIX TRIBUTE TOUR

The 2012 edition of the Experience Hendrix Tour is ready to hit the road again, this time swinging down the Atlantic seaboard into the southeast before heading west along the Gulf coast into Texas with a three week run of dates starting March 6th. As usual, the tour will feature an all-star lineup of musical greats paying homage to Hendrix. The tour will conclude with a taping of the PBS TV series Austin City Limits.
Presented by Fender Musical Instruments, this year's tour will include performances by Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Dweezil Zappa, Robby Kreiger (The Doors), Taj Mahal, Eric Gales, Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, David Hidalgo & Cesar Rosas (Los Lobos), Keb’ Mo, Eric Johnson, Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Living Colour, Chris Layton (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble), The Slide Brothers as well as other special guests to be announced.  The tour offers multiple opportunities for performers and audiences to witness unique collaborations among the participating artists such as Dweezil Zappa with Billy Cox, Buddy Guy with Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang with Brad Whitford. 
The lineup with be anchored by lone living Hendrix sideman Billy Cox. "It's always a great thrill and honor for me to play Jimi's music for audiences now just as it was in the 1960s. The Experience Hendrix tours have shown how timeless this music really is and is just wonderful that we've continued to get an infusion of new, very enthusiastic artists to participate and are able to offer the most wide-ranging Jimi Hendrix-related repertoire possible." 
Janie Hendrix, President / CEO of Experience Hendrix L.L.C., noted, "Everyday, we see how Jimi's musical legacy continues to transcend generational and cultural boundaries. It's always been our continuing mission to do all we can to celebrate what he's given us and to keep his music in the forefront and the Experience Hendrix tour does that most directly. As a child Jimi promised to take care of me and I promised to take care of him. He wanted people to experience the 'ElectricChurch' and wake 'the sleeping people.' The Experience Hendrix Tour does just that with brilliant musicians who love Jimi and will electrify the stage with his music and sound."  
Notes Experience Hendrix Tour producer John McDermott, "The line-up for this tour reflects the breadth of Jimi's ongoing influence that reaches down through the generations. The guests that have been attracted to participate are enthusiastic about the proposition of performing with their counterparts. That mindset underscores the fact that the Experience Hendrix tour is all about musical camaraderie and the recognition that Jimi Hendrix, undeniably, casts the longest shadow in the realm of great music and great musicians."  
Dweezil Zappa, whose new album Live - In The Moment has just been released, is making his Experience Hendrix tour debut on this run of dates. He commented "I've always been a great admirer of Jimi Hendrix. My dad told me some great stories about playing with him. Jimi's ability to express himself so completely with an electric guitar is very inspiring to me. I'm honored to be invited to participate in this tour and I'm really looking forward to playing with everyone!"
Tour dates:
March 6 – Strathmore Theater, Baltimore, MD
March 7 – War Memorial Auditorium, Greensboro, NC
March 8 – Civic Auditorium, Knoxville, TN
March 9 – Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville, TN
March 10 – Fox Theater, Atlanta, GA
March 11 – North Charleston Performing Arts Center – Charleston, SC
March 13 – Hard Rock Café, Orlando, FL
March 14 – Seminole Hard Rock Café, Hollywood, FL
March 15 – Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL
March 16 – Saint Augustine Amphitheater, St. Augustine, FL
March 17 – Wharf Amphitheater, Orange Beach, FL
March 20 – Brady Theater, Tulsa, OK
March 22 – Arena Theater, Houston, TX
March 23 – Winstar Theater, Thackerville, OK
March 24-25 – Moody Theater, Austin City Limits, Austin, TX
March 27 – Hammons Theater, Springfield, MO
March 28 – Midland Theater, Kansas City, MO
March 29 – Orpheum Theater, Wichita, KS
March 30 – Pikes Peak Center, Colorado Springs, CO
March 31 – Paramount Theater, Denver, CO 

TOMMY ROE
"GET READY TO PARTY ... HE SOUNDS TERRIFIC ... BETTER THAN EVER" 
-- LARRY KLEIN ... EXEC PRODUCER, DICK CLARK PRODUCTIONS
"TOMMY'S BACK ... HE DID SUCH A GREAT JOB ... WE ARE HAVING HIM BACK AGAIN."
-- DAN KEENE ... GM, CENTURY CASINO EDMONTON AB CANADA
"WE ARE INDUCTING TOMMY INTO THE IOWA ROCK N ROLL MUSIC ASSN HALL OF FAME ... BECAUSE HE HAS MADE SUCH A HUGE IMPACT ON ROCK N ROLL NATIONWIDE AND IN THE STATE.
-- KEVIN KIN ... VP MARKETING, IOWA ROCKN ROLL MUSIC ASSN.
AN EVENING W TOMMY ROE ...
ALL THE HITS ..
DIZZY, SHEILA, SWEETPEA, EVERYBODY, JAM UP JELLY TIGHT, STAGGER LEE, IF I WERE A CARPENTER ... 11 TOP 40, 6 TOP 10, 4 GOLD, 2 INTERNATIONAL NUMBER 1
FULL BAND, PLUS UNPLUGGED, PLUS AUDIENCE Q & A
CORPORATE, PRIVATE, FAIRS, FESTIVALS, CASINOS, ETC.
RICK LEVY MGT
904 - 806 - 0817


LIVE AT HARRAH's / Chester ...

CLIPPIN' YOUR WINGS will be CHARLIE GRACIE (Butterfly) and BOBBY RYDELL (Wild One) together at HARRAH'S CASINO off I-95 in Delaware County near Chester, PA !!!

It was just booked, but save the date: JUNE 8TH!
More information is coming -- PLUS Bobby and Charlie will headlining the BIG 100th Anniversary Beach Party for WILDWOOD on September 2nd ... so be sure to mark this too!
Charlie Gracie put the Cameo-Parkway label on the map with his late 50s hits and Bobby Rydell cemented the label's success with several hits in the early 1960s!  Pick up Charlie's new hit single: BABY DOL,L which is #1 in Philly this week and #52 nationally according to Billboard Magazine. You can purchase it at I-TUNES!
Charlie's new CD on ABKCO: "For The Love of Charlie!", with guests Al Kooper, Quentin Jones, Graham Nash, Peter Noone, Jimmy Vivino, Dennis Diken and more, is now available in stores ... or order at AMAZON.COM. 

It was British Invasion Saturday ... and Doo-Wop Sunday!
Well, even tho' the Monkees are not technically part of the British Invasion, Davy Jones was around performing on Broadway during its initial landing and he IS from Manchester, so ...
I stand my ground on this. 
Saturday night he gave an extremely fun and artistically entertaining performance at the Mohegan Wolf Den.  He even signed at the merchandise table afterward ... a rare occurrence and evidence of the mood of the night.  I love his song Let Them Be Little, as it always reminds me to allow my students their light-hearted glee and ridiculous April Fools' jokes that I might otherwise see as intruding on "instruction time".  The performance was only marred by the behavior of some of the audience, which reminds me to make sure to include concert etiquette in my music in reading groups.  Somehow, rolling a softball across the stage MANY times while holding up a sharpie with the plea SIGN IT appears more dangerous to the singer
(who is dancing across the stage) than adorable as this audience member apparently thought.  Also, standing up in front of the stage trying to grab performers (or parts of performers?) and successfully blocking all those who are seated behind you is evidence of a "Just Me" thinker.  Davy, you handled it admirably, and I will be sure to train my students in the way they should go so that HOPEFULLY when they are old, they will not depart from it.
Now, it is Sunday, and I have just left the Mohegan Arena after seeing Bowzer and his Doo-Wop show.  Or this year it could be titled:  Bowzer Brings the Bronx and Brooklyn to Doo-Wop at Mohegan. 
OK, not every act was from B & B, but it certainly was a MAJOR majority.  FUN?? Absolutely and without a doubt.  (Hey, the Fleetwoods just passed by me typing here, Kent.  Gave them your info.)  So, The Fleetwoods returned to Bowzer's show as the most requested act for his
Doo-Wop production.  Also in tow were Jay Siegel and the Tokens, still singing in the key of F. (Jay's comment:  "Is that the lowest key of F you have?"), Made in Hot Wax group Kenny Vance and the Planotones, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Chiffons, The Toys (giving us our classical music feature of Lovers' Concerto), an opening song by the Jarmells (A Little Bit of Soap) and SO MUCH DANCING.  Jay Traynor, the original Jay of Jay and the Americans, who is now a Token, sang She Cried.  This was the first hit song for Jay and the Americans and, as with all the vocalists tonight, was spot on!  The harmonies of The Fleetwoods, The Toys, and The Chiffons united with the strength of Kenny Vance, Jay Siegel, Jay Traynor, and Little Anthony, all of whom had the people around me up on their feet applauding.  The arena holds 7,000 people and as I looked around ... VERY FEW (maybe a hundred?) empty seats.
Connecticut is a Truth In Music State, which when coupled with our efforts to establish foundations to refurbish and reopen our theatres and concert halls has greatly increased the quality of the concert performers available to us.  So I am going to Shing-a-ling along upstairs and remember another weekend that ended with the traditional Good Night Sweetheart, by Bowzer and The Stingrays. 
Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano

Now here's a show I would LOVE to see!!!  Glen Campbell is making a stop here in Chicago during his last tour ever, appearing at The Rialto Square Theater in Joliet on January 26th and 27th.  This is your last chance to catch this legend, live and in concert.  Visit The Rialto Square Box Office for more details:  Click here: Rialto Square Theater - Joliet, IL



re:  HONEY:  
I never cared for HONEY but a big record never the less.  Here in OKC former member of the Kingston Trio Bob Shane had a cover version which also made the local weekly survey. His was on Decca.  (Larry)

Bob Shane's was the ORIGINAL version. Goldsboro's was recorded a couple of weeks later and was released one week after Shane's.
Tom Diehl


I was always a little bit surprised that "Honey" songwriter Bobby Russell didn't take his own crack at this one.  (Man, what a way to launch a singing career!)  
He'd eventually have a couple of his own chart hits with far weaker material like "1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero" and "Saturday Morning Confusion" ... but the hits don't come much bigger than "Honey"!
Russell also wrote the classics "Little Green Apples", "The Joker Went Wild" and "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia", which he gave to his wife Vicki Lawrence to record (after Cher reportedly first  turned the song down!)  I guess as far as "Honey" is concerned, Bobby Goldsboro was the "name" artist and his (overly) lush arrangement is probably what helped to push it over the top.  Not enough people were familiar with Bob Shane yet on his own, despite his years with The Kingston Trio.  (kk)
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