e: THIS AND THAT:
It used to be that a song reaching
25 years of age would be considered an "oldie" ... actually, this still may be
the case with so many radio stations now focusing on the music of the '80's, the
'90's and beyond ... so it was interesting to see Yahoo take a look back at the
Biggest #1 Hits from 1988 ... 25 Years Ago. (Also interesting to note that in order to
be considered for a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination, the selected artist had
to record their first music at least 25 years ago.) Makes for some interesting
pickin''s ... (although I don't ever see Tiffany, Debbie Gibson or Rick Astley
ever coming up for serious consideration!) kk
And, speaking of 25 Year Anniversaries, we got this note from Joe Klein
last week ...
Kent,
Hard to believe it was 25 YEARS AGO this week that the very cool "Rockumentary" U2 RATTLE AND HUM opened in theaters in the U.S. My production company, L.A. TRAX, was producing radio commercials for several major record labels and few movie studios back then. Paramount Pictures hired us to produce a series of radio commercials for the movie, which was a pretty "well-paying gig" to be sure (although I recall feeling that it was "almost enough" at the time).
Here's a couple of the spots for the movie which were airing on radio stations all over the country 25 years ago which were CLIO Award finalists.in 1989 ... http://soundcloud.com/prowlerdog/u2-rattle-and-hum-radio-spots
-- Joe Klein
Hard to believe it was 25 YEARS AGO this week that the very cool "Rockumentary" U2 RATTLE AND HUM opened in theaters in the U.S. My production company, L.A. TRAX, was producing radio commercials for several major record labels and few movie studios back then. Paramount Pictures hired us to produce a series of radio commercials for the movie, which was a pretty "well-paying gig" to be sure (although I recall feeling that it was "almost enough" at the time).
Here's a couple of the spots for the movie which were airing on radio stations all over the country 25 years ago which were CLIO Award finalists.in 1989 ... http://soundcloud.com/prowlerdog/u2-rattle-and-hum-radio-spots
-- Joe Klein
Meanwhile, Wanda Jackson's name has come up a number of
times over the years in Forgotten Hits ... so I'm sure these readers will be
happy to hear this bit of news:
RollingStone.com To Premiere A New Wanda Jackson Recording From
The Forthcoming Jack White Tribute Album
Los Angeles, CA - The Queen of Rockabilly,
music legend Wanda Jackson, has recorded a brand new cover version of The White
Stripes’ “In The Cold, Cold Night,” which will be premiered as a full audio
stream on RollingStone.com November 12th. The slow burner penned by Jack White
for The Stripes’ breakout album Elephant is the first single from the
brand new tribute album Rockin’ Legends Pay Tribute To Jack White to be
released on both CD and vinyl as well as digital November 19th by Cleopatra
Records. The album is a one of a kind tribute that features several of White’s
musical predecessors, giants of rockabilly, early rock and classic punk on whose
shoulders White has stood, including Big Jay McNeely, Sonny Burgess, Gary U.S.
Bonds, Bobby Vee, Walter Lure of Johnny Thunders’ The Heartbreakers, Knox of UK
punk legends The Vibrators and many more!
Listen to the stream here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/wanda-jackson-covers-the-white-stripes-song-premiere-20131108
Not all of these names may be familiar to fans of Jack White, but
most will know of his deep admiration for the pioneering performer Wanda Jackson
who broke new ground in the 1950s as the first popular female rockabilly artist.
In 2009, White produced Wanda’s critically acclaimed solo album The Party
Ain’t Over, which landed Jackson on the Billboard Top 200 album charts for
the very first time in her long career. On Rockin’ Legends, Wanda shows
the admiration is mutual with her slightly countrified, ultra sultry take on “In
The Cold, Cold Night,” which also features instrumentation and production by
Shooter Jennings, son of famed country outlaw Waylon Jennings.
And hers is not the only inventive spin on White’s modern
alternative classics. Big Jay McNeely brings a swingin’ vocal to “I’m Shakin’”
as he trades sax solos with Hawkwind wild man Nik Turner. Speaking of wild men,
the lucha libre masked guitar slingin’ trio Los Straightjackets throw down a
raucous instrumental version of “Icky Thump” while the aforementioned punk
rockers, Knox and Walter Lure, team up with drum hero W.S. “Fluke” Holland, the
skinsman for both Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, on “Seven Nation Army.”
Exploring the outer reaches of Jack White’s diverse career, Sonny Burgess brings
in his Legendary Pacers on a cover of The Raconteur’s “Steady As She Goes” and
Tex-Mex singer Rosie Flores crashes the boys club with a stellar cover of the
titular track from White’s recent solo album Blunderbuss.
From rockabilly to punk, neo surf to traditional country, no other
tribute album has spanned so much musical diversity and history, a testament to
the vast range of influences that inspired Jack White’s incredible career.
1.
In The Cold, Cold Night - Wanda Jackson feat. Shooter Jennings
2.
I’m Shakin’ - Big Jay McNeely & Nik Turner
3.
Salute Your Solution - Gary U.S. Bonds
4.
Steady As She Goes - Sonny Burgess & The Legendary Pacers
5.
Trash Tongue Talker - Joe Clay & Cranston Clements
6.
Another Way To Die - Robert Gordon & Chris Spedding
7.
Seven Nation Army - Knox, Walter Lure & W.S. “Fluke” Holland
8.
Fly Farm Blues - Johnny Powers
9.
We’re Going To Be Friends - Bobby Vee
10. Blunderbuss - Rosie Flores
11. Fell In Love With A Girl - The Dirt Daubers
12. You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told) -
Rejected Youth Nation feat. Cyril Neville
13. Top Yourself - The Denver Broncos UK
14. Icky Thump - Los Straightjackets
Purchase the CD at Amazon: http://georiot.co/2cyL
Download the album at iTunes: http://georiot.co/3OUH
I don't know if you saw last week's "Pawn Stars" on the History
Channel, but it featured my and Forgotten Hits' friend, the legendary session
guitarist Vic Flick.
He successfully sold his 1961 Olympic White Fender Stratocaster
for $55,000.00!!! (see attached photo). Both guitars are featured on his book's
jacket.
A while ago, I helped broker the electric Vox 12-String he used on
Peter & Gordon's "World
Without Love".
(see picture of me playing it, attached).
Of interest, Vic still has for sale his 1939 Clifford Essex (with
D'Armond pick-up). This is the guitar he used to play and record the iconic
"James Bond Theme" in 1962. (see photo
of guitar on display at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Museum).
Also attached is a partial discography of only some of the hits on
which Vic played guitar. This is part of
the paperwork that he presented to Rick at the pawn shop featured on the
television program.
Perhaps you have readers who have an active interest in owning
this bit of rock and roll history.
Thanks, my friend, and keep up the great work! (and finally, see
attached of me and a friend of
mine).Best Regards,
Some great photos
here ... thanks, Bob! As for Vic's discography, it's too long to run here (45
pages!!! And counting!!!) But I'll be happy to email it to anybody who asks
for a copy. (It's a PDF format which we can't run on the site anyway ...
suffice to say that Vic Flick has had a VERY extensive career making music in
the British studios!!!)
And, speaking of all
things British ...
Great Britain's ITV
recently ran a poll of The Top 20 Favorite Elvis Songs ... not a bad list (with
a few surprises.) I don't think I could narrow mine down to just twenty ... and
I tend to enjoy the ones that weren't the biggest hits ... things like "Such A
Night" (probably my all-time favorite Elvis recording) and "Easy Question" or
"It Hurts Me" or "Fame And Fortune" ... "Treat Me Nice" or "A Mess Of Blues" ...
SO many great tracks that never get airplay anymore. (Heck they don't even play
his BIGGEST hits on the radio anymore! In fact, for all intents and purposes,
radio has reduced Elvis down to a One Hit Wonder with "Suspicious Minds". If
you DO hear anything else, it'll probably be "Burnin' Love" or the remix of "A
Little Less Conversation" from a few years ago ... which isn't even Elvis
anymore! Culture-changing hits like "Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse
Rock", "All Shook Up" and "Heartbreak Hotel" have all but disappeared from the
airwaves (although I WAS shocked to hear "Love Me Tender" included in a recent
episode of Showtime's "Masters Of Sex" ... bet they paid dearly to license that
track!!!)
Meanwhile, here's how
The Brits voted their all-time favorites:
#1 -
Always on My Mind (not even a hit here in The States ... a
B-Side in fact!)
2 -
Suspicious Minds
3 -
Can't Help Falling in Love (another one of my all-time
favorites)
4 - In
the Ghetto (kinda cool to think that in England they're
enjoying hearing about "a cold and gray Chicago morning!!!)
5 - A
Little Less Conversation (that dreaded
remake!)
6 -
Jailhouse Rock
7 -
Hound Dog
8 -
Love Me Tender
9 -
Return to Sender (another fave ... and apparently one of
Scott Shannon's, too ... I still hear him play this one quite a
bit)
10 -
Are You Lonesome Tonight
11 -
The Wonder of You
12 -
Blue Suede Shoes (Wow! A Carl Perkins tune that the Elvis
fans love!)
13 - All Shook
Love
14 - It's Now
or Never
15 - An
American Trilogy
16 - Heartbreak
Hotel
17 - Viva Las Vegas
18 - Don't Be Cruel
19 - If I Can Dream (a great track from his comeback television special ... the
show-stopping closer)
20 - King Creole (I wouldn't have expected to see THIS one on the list ... would
you???)
A special soundtrack album of these Top 20
Favorites (along with a second disk of other well-loved Elvis tunes) was
released in the U.K. this past week ... and went immediately into The Top Ten.
(Amazing to me how here in The States, radio stations won't even PLAY The King
of Rock And Roll anymore ... yet over in Britain, he just scored his
50th TOP TEN ALBUM ... the first artist EVER in the history of
the pop charts ... to do so. (Man, what's wrong with THIS picture?!?!) Are
programmers here REALLY that out of touch? I mean why on earth would anybody
play any of Elvis' hundreds of chart hits when you can simply play the same
Steve Miller song four times a day instead?!?!? I just don't get it ... and I'm
guessing I never will. (kk)
And this is kinda cool ...
ROY ORBISON’S “OH,
PRETTY WOMAN” TO RECEIVE THE ICONIC
RIFF AWARD FROM THE
MUSICIANS HALL OF FAME
On January 28, the Musicians Hall
of Fame and Museum (MHOF), located in Nashville, TN, will posthumously honor
music legend Roy Orbison by granting him the Iconic Riff Award for his 1964
number one hit single “Oh, Pretty Woman.” Orbison will have the distinction of
being the first ever recipient of this bestowal. MHOF honors musicians from all
genres and eras of recorded music, and inductees are nominated by current
members of the American Federation of Musicians and by other music industry
professionals.
Roy Orbison began
making his mark on the music world in 1956 while recording for Sun Records,
which boasted a roster of unparalleled talent that also included Elvis Presley,
Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. However, it was during his years
on Monument Records in the early-to-mid 1960s, when Orbison’s commercial success
reached stratospheric levels, the apex of which was “Oh, Pretty Woman,” a song
co-written by Orbison and Bill Dees. It went on to sell 7 million
copies, spend three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and also
topped the British charts for three weeks. It was unprecedented
for any American to have this kind of chart-topping power simultaneously on both
sides of the Atlantic in the Beatles-dominated year of
1964.
While Roy Orbison, who is
already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is
acknowledged to have one of the most uniquely beautiful and haunting voices in
popular music, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is focusing on the
unmistakable riff that kicks off “Oh, Pretty Woman.” It remains a
truly iconic and timeless refrain, evidenced by the innumerable cover versions
of the song by artists as diverse as Al Green, a young John Mellencamp, Johnny
Rivers, Bon Jovi, Green Day, and Van Halen, the latter of which achieved a
sizeable hit with their own 1982 version, showcasing the splendiferous guitar
theatrics of group leader Eddie Van Halen. The song inspired the
title of and is heard on the soundtrack from Pretty Woman, the
blockbuster film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
Although Roy Orbison passed
away in 1988, his presence endures. This is due, in large measure,
to the ongoing effort to preserve his legacy by sons Alex, Roy Kelton, and
Wesley Orbison, whose Roy’s Boys LLC manages their father’s name, likeness,
image, and musical output, offering a series of audio and DVD reissues, as well
as newly curated releases.
November 26th (the Tuesday
before “Black Friday”) will mark the release of The Monument
Boxset, a vinyl-only package that includes three classic Monument-era
Orbison studio albums (Lonely and Blue, Crying, In Dreams) as well as a fourth
album, centered around the track “Oh, Pretty Woman” that had never previously
existed. Entitled Oh! Pretty Woman, the LP consists of tracks
reflective of the period and, as determined by the team at Roy’s Boys, to be the
songs that would have comprised a fourth Monument studio album.
“Oh, Pretty Woman,” a
staple of Roy Orbison’s live performances, is also featured as an encore in
the Black & White Night DVD, just released through Sony’s
Legacy Recordings this week. The concert, filmed in September of
1987, features an all-star line up that includes outspoken Roy admirers Bruce
Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, JD Souther and Tom Waits, among
others, joining Orbison on the show’s closer, “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
The time-honored tune was, in
fact, the last song Roy Orbison ever recorded. On December 4, 1988, just two
days before his sudden passing, he performed at a Cleveland-area
venue.
That concert
performance was taped and is set for release this December
3rd as The Last Concert – 25th Anniversary
Edition through Legacy Recordings. Orbison, typically, closed his shows
with “Running Scared,” but the engineer ran out of tape that night almost 25
years ago, thus making his penultimate number, “Oh, Pretty Woman,” the final
document of his melodious brilliance.
-- submitted by Bob
Merlis
A couple of weeks ago we told you about The
Eagles extending their tour into 2014 (and also mentioned that earlier on Don
Henley had said that they would probably continue to tour behind "The History Of
The Eagles" well into 2015!)
Well now comes word of another leg being
added ...
The Eagles are soaring off to Europe ...
with dates in England and Ireland extending through June of next year ... here's
the latest (with more dates likely to be added):
05/28 - Birmingham,
England - LG Arena Birmingham
05/31 - Glasgow, Scotland - The
Hydro
06/04 - Dublin, Ireland - The
O2
06/16 - London, England - The
O2
06/23 - Leeds, England - First
Direct Arena
06/25 - Manchester,
England - Phones 4u Arena
And Vintage Vinyl News reports a possible ABBA
reunion next year, too ... in honor of the group's 40th Anniversary
...
Agnetha
Faltskog, one fourth of the group ABBA, has told a German newspaper
that a reunion of the group for the 40th anniversary of their commercial
breakthrough is "something we're thinking about."
Faltskog has been one of the main sticking points to any reunion due to her private lifestyle along with an aversion to fly; however, the success of her 2013 album A had led her back to public eye.
On April 6, 1974, the band ABBA hit huge when they performed the winning song, Waterloo, on the broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest. A year earlier, they had hit the top ten in Australia with Ring, Ring but Waterloo was a totally different creature, going to number 1 in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Britain, 2 in Australia and 6 in the U.S.
In an interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag, Faltskog said (translated) "There seem to be plans to do something to mark this anniversary in some way. But I can't say at this point what will come of them."
Agnetha also said she doesn't want to dwell on a possible reunion "That eats up too much energy. Don't just think about it, just do it.
"We're all getting older. I can't imagine going onto the stage on crutches.
"I dream often lately of the other three members of ABBA. They are good dreams. ... ABBA is a big part of all of us still."
Faltskog has been one of the main sticking points to any reunion due to her private lifestyle along with an aversion to fly; however, the success of her 2013 album A had led her back to public eye.
On April 6, 1974, the band ABBA hit huge when they performed the winning song, Waterloo, on the broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest. A year earlier, they had hit the top ten in Australia with Ring, Ring but Waterloo was a totally different creature, going to number 1 in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Britain, 2 in Australia and 6 in the U.S.
In an interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag, Faltskog said (translated) "There seem to be plans to do something to mark this anniversary in some way. But I can't say at this point what will come of them."
Agnetha also said she doesn't want to dwell on a possible reunion "That eats up too much energy. Don't just think about it, just do it.
"We're all getting older. I can't imagine going onto the stage on crutches.
"I dream often lately of the other three members of ABBA. They are good dreams. ... ABBA is a big part of all of us still."
Last week we told you about Stevie Wonder
performing his entire Grammy-winning album "Songs In The Key Of Life" in concert
and mentioned that this seems to have become quite the "fad" in live shows of
late. Brian Wilson helped to kick off this trend with his shows spotlighting
both the "Pet Sounds" LP as well as the long-missing-in-action, lost Beach
Boys album "Smile". Other artists like Styx and several others have been
keeping the music alive in much the same way.
Now comes word that John Fogerty will perform
both CCR's "Bayou Country" album AND "Cosmo's Factory" as part of his three
night gig at The Beacon Theatre in New York kicking off this evening. ("Cosmo's
Factory" has long been my favorite Creedence Clearwater Revival album ...
although I've got to put "Green River" as a pretty close second, followed by
"Willy And The Poorboys". "Bayou Country"??? Not so much.)
Still it would be AMAZING to see John pay tribute
to these great LPs, a corner-stone of my youth. (I played CCR virtually
non-stop for several years in the late '60's and early '70's.)
Read our History of CCR Report here: Click here: Forgotten Hits - Creedence Clearwater
Revival
re: JIMI
HENDRIX:
>>>I've heard really good
things about the Jimi Hendrix special currently running on PBS but haven't had a
chance to see it yet. Will have to keep an eye out for that one. (kk)
"
Hello KK!
Hello KK!
Watch it
online!http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/jimi-hendrix/film-jimi-hendrix-hear-my-train-a-comin/2756/
A neatly sanitized version with a non conspiracy ending.
Boobie
A neatly sanitized version with a non conspiracy ending.
Boobie
And here's the chance of a lifetime
...
Big Jimi Hendrix fan, are
you???
Well check this out ...
JIMI HENDRIX GUITAR COMPETITION UNDERWAY
...
ENTER YOUR COVER OF A HENDRIX
CLASSIC AND WIN A SPOT ON THE 2014 EXPERIENCE HENDRIX TOUR
Experience Hendrix LLC, in partnership with Talenthouse, has
announced the Jimi Hendrix Guitar Competition, a celebration of the music and
heritage of the greatest guitarist of all time. Together with Sony Music’s
Legacy Recordings and IK Multimedia, Talenthouse and Experience Hendrix have
launched a competition that offers entrants a chance to win a performing slot on
the annual Experience Hendrix tribute tour, set to roll in March 2014.
Contestants are invited to submit a video that shows them
performing a Jimi Hendrix track. One winner will be selected by a
team of judges, consisting of Janie Hendrix, Jimi’s sister and Experience
Hendrix CEO; and legendary engineer / producer Eddie Kramer who worked with Jimi
Hendrix at the very start of his recording career in London, and, later at
Woodstock and subsequently worked on the authorized series of posthumous Hendrix
album releases. Judges also include Brad Tolinski, Guitar World
Magazine Editor-in-Chief and author of Light & Shade: Conversations
with Jimmy Page; and Dave Stewart, the musician and producer known
for his role in the Eurhythmics and work with Mick Jagger, Orianthi, Bryan
Ferry, Ringo Starr, Stevie Nicks and No Doubt, among others.
The winner, as selected by the panel of judges, will be invited to
perform a song as part of the Experience Hendrix 2014 Tour. Travel
and accommodations will be provided for the winner and a guest. The Experience
Hendrix Tour is an annual event featuring the greatest guitarists of our
generation including Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, and many
others. The 2014 tour line up will be announced shortly.
The overall winner as well as
five popular winners (runners up) will receive an assortment of exclusive Jimi
Hendrix merchandise provided by IK
Multimedia, in addition to
prizes from Fender, Guitar Center, Dunlop, Hal
Leonard, Levy’s Leathers,
and Guitar World Magazine.
The ‘Judges Choice’ (overall
winner) will have the incredible opportunity to perform a song on the Experience
Hendrix 2014 Tour, sharing the stage with several of today’s top guitarists in
celebration of Jimi Hendrix.* In addition, the winner will receive an assortment
of exclusive product and merchandise, including:
IK Multimedia custom prize
package including: iLoud portable speaker, iRig Pro, iRig BlueBoard, iKlip for
iPad
$2,500
Fender Classic
Series '70s Stratocaster®
Dunlop Pedals: JH
F1 Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face, JH OC1 Jimi Hendrix Octavio, JH 1D Jimi Hendrix
Signature Wah
Guitar
Center Gift Card
One year
subscription to Guitar World Magazine
An assortment of
Jimi Hendrix merchandise and music including Hal Leonard Jimi Hendrix
Instruction Books
Levy’s
Leathers collectible album cover guitar strap, featuring many of Jimi's album
covers
*Travel and two nights’
accommodation to Experience Hendrix Tour date provided for the winner plus
guest The ‘Five Popular Winners’
(runners up) will each receive:
IK
Multimedia custom prize package including: iRig Pro, iRig BlueBoard, iKlip for
iPad
Fender Squier
Vintage Modified Stratocaster®
Dunlop Pedals JH
1D Jimi Hendrix Signature Wah
Guitar
Center Gift Card
One year
subscription to Guitar World Magazine
An assortment of
Jimi Hendrix merchandise and music including Hal Leonard Jimi Hendrix
Instruction Books
Levy’s
Leathers collectible album cover guitar strap, featuring many of Jimi's album
covers
re: MIS-SUNG LYRICS:
There've been books written on misheard lyrics ("'Scuse Me While I
Kiss This Guy" being probably one of the most famous ... although it's now been
reported ... by no less a source than Forgotten Hits I might add ... that
Hendrix used to actually sing the song that way in concert from time to time
before planting one on the cheek of Noel Redding live on stage!), but the topic
that's come up here recently is mis-SUNG lyrics ... where the artists either
screwed up the recording right out of the gate (and it was never fixed ... part
of the charm of some of these early releases) or (in the case of a remake)
possibly misheard or misunderstood the original lyric and then proceeded to sing
it wrong on their version.
Here are a couple more examples sent in by our readers ...
HEY KENT!
ANYONE MENTION THE MISTAKE IN THE BACKGROUND
VOCALS ON "PLEASE PLEASE ME" YET?? I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY THEY NEVER FIXED
THAT! THERE ARE A FEW OTHER BEATLE VOCAL FLUBS DURING THOSE EARLY YEARS, BUT I'M
NOT JUDGING ... I GUESS STUDIO TIME WAS BOTH TIGHT AND EXPENSIVE ... AS IS THE
CASE WITH MANY OTHER ARTISTS I'VE SPOKEN WITH, OFTEN THEY WERE AFRAID TO LOSE
THAT SPONTANEITY OF THE "MOMENT".
MICHAEL G BUSH
I think that had a lot to do with it actually (and why you'll hear
coughs in the background on a Beach Boys recording for example.) Plus you have
to remember that this was back in the days of two-track and four-track recording
... not like today where you have unlimited resources available to layer your
sounds. Back then you either nailed it or you had one hell of an engineer
splicing tape together to make it sound better!
I still maintain that it's these little flaws that give this music
their charm and appeal. They weren't perfect ... and as you well know, this
helped inspire a good number of us to pick up a musical instrument thinking that
WE could create these sounds as well! (kk)
Blue Swede's remake of "Hooked On A
Feeling", instead of "I'll just stay a victim and hope I can endure" says
something like "I'll just stay addicted if I can for sure" (? or something like
that).
J Frank Wilson's remake of "Hey Little
One" has wrong lyrics on nearly the entire bridge. It's possible that he
re-wrote that way intentionally but, since they also use wrong chords, I'm
guessing he just didn't know the real bridge.
Gary E. Myers /
MusicGemhttp://www.music-gem.com/index.html
re: JOEL WHITBURN VIDEO:
>>>Back in 2005, Heritage
Auction in Dallas came to Menomonee Falls, WI, to film a tour of my music /
record archive. They have now put it up on YouTube, so if you'd care to do the
tour you can click on the link below. Many of the books shown have long since
been updated and, of course, much has been added to the collection. Anyhow, if
you're interested, here's the link. (Joel
Whitburn)
>>>Record collectors will
be blown away by this clip ... a tour of Joel Whitburn's Record Research
Archives. Although it's a bit out of date (this was filmed in 2005 for a
Heritage Auctions television special), it's still one of the most amazing
collections you'll ever see. In fact, there may not be another one quite like
it! Hear Joel tell you in his own words
how this collection was built. Incredible! (kk)
Have you ever wanted to see Joel Whitburn's collection? If so AND
you have a half hour to watch solid rooms of magical music
history, this is a documentary that is simply amazing!
(Cool to know there are all the
Cryan Shames and New Colony 6 45's are in "the vault" as well as "Mr. Moon" by
the Coachmen and a Smoke Ring 45 or two"!!)
Clark Besch
Here are the comments that I posted
to the Both Sides Now (BSN) site:
I watched this and really don't
know what to say. Truly amazing amount of stuff that would make many of us
(including me) say that we are a poor man's Joel Whitburn. Not a slam at the
man by ANY means! Just sayin' we all have tried in various ways to be
collectors of the music, but likely none have succeeded as much as Joel has.
Personally, my brothers and I have collected 45s, LPs, Billboards and other
trades as well as CDs and videos since we were little kids. This would likely
be the case for many of us on BSN. I love Billboard and note that much of
Joel's cataloging system revolves around the Billboard charts, but many of us
here live outside of the Billboard ties as well. Joel does too, but mainly
focuses on that magazine's hits and lesser knowns.
BSN'ers may have more specific
goals like collecting decades and specific music genres or MP3s or stereo tracks
or DJ copies, or foreign releases, or bootleg LPs or music books or concert
posters or music videos or, with me, many of all of these, but nothing totally
inclusive like Joel's. I am into airchecks and top 40 charts more than many.
When I saw him pull out the Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", I had to
think that I would want to keep my autographed copy signed by Larry Lujack from
his days in Idaho radio at the time over a mint copy any day ... but that's MY
thing. Many of us are into one era, while Joel tries to cover all bases of
decades and genres of music.
He uses the term "hard to find" a
million times. Many are indeed IMPOSSIBLE to find now. Many, many more are
easy to find, but in mint condition, not so easy at all to find. I question
calling his 45s mint when most seem to have a sticker attached to the label.
Thanks to Joel's books, in about 1973 or so, I went thru and stickered most of
my 45s with a white dot writing the peak and dates on them, making them far from
mint suddenly. Oh well, haven't sold any of them anyway. I'm sure Mighty John
the Record Guy would say every record in my collection is worth at least $10.
He finally has started mentioning condition once in awhile. THANKS! That's
what makes Joel's records worth money in most cases (except, of course, the
Journey ones I believe he pointed out).
I was surprised he did not have his
LPs in plastic sleeves. Also, I wondered if these were all store copies. I am
guessing so, as he only mentioned DJ copies when it came to odd pressings in the
80's and the like.
Being a 45s guy, I was happy to see
him take most pride in his Hot 100 45s collection. Strange that LPs get
mentioned so often by people and are what are brought to record shows, yet 45s
seem to be much more important to collectors in general -- such as buyers of the
Billboard books, Singles vs. LPs. I'm guessing the 45s books sell multiple
times more than the LP chart books do.
I would have liked to see his
Billboard, Cash Box, Record World, Music Business, Music Reporter and other
magazines that had national charts. I love them all.
I love picture sleeves and he
really impresses with his "no ring wear" copies. Pic sleeves in most cases are
sold VERY cheap at record stores compared to the old days when I was buying
same. I'm happy now that two of my sleeves ended up in Joel's collection in
about 2002 when he was putting his want lists in his flyers. I have not
replaced them, but to have them in that hallowed shrine is kinda cool!
I wonder what era and music type
Joel enjoys to LISTEN to?? Anyway, it is an amazing collection that likely no
one will ever amass again or has previously. A nice documentary to watch!
Thanks to the maker and Paul for posting this.
Would I swap my collection for
his? No. Simply because I have what I am interested in, but many WOULD trade
in a heartbeat.
Now Joel, it's on to EVERY DJ copy
variance like I am also trying for from my faves.
Clark
re: RADIO:
HELLO!
IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR ANOTHER OLDIES STATION HERE THAT ACTUALLY PLAYS THE
"OLDIES"???? I KNOW THE TWO OF US ARE NOT ALONE ...
MICHAEL
G BUSH
Honestly, it's not
looking good ... and even the so-called "Classic Hits" stations are playing less
and less "hits" and more and more album rock tracks that they wouldn't have
dreamed of touching a year or two ago. Chicago is in dire need of a station
that programs "The Top 40 Years" of Rock And Roll ... 1956 - 1980 ... with a
wide variety playlist encompassing ALL of the hits of this era. I swear, if I
ever win the lottery ... Meanwhile, I just load up the car with half a dozen
CD's each day ... I can't remember a time EVER when there was less variety on
the dial. The other day in the span of 40 minutes I turned of "In The Air
Tonight" three times ... that used to be one of my all-time favorite songs ...
now I can't get past the opening drum beat ... it's been done to death. Today
it was the same Pat Benatar song playing on the two "classic hits" stations at
the exact same time. First song I heard this morning when I got in the car to
head off to work was "Fool In The Rain" by Led Zeppelin. First song I heard
this evening when I got in the car to drive home from work was "Fool In The
Rain" by Led Zeppelin. It's like there isn't even a station out there anymore
that dares to be different ... or, more appropriately, even CARES to be
different. Man, what a shame ... and what a waste of air space.
(kk)
On the plus side, The
Drive (WDRV in Chicago) is kicking off another week of A-Z Programming ...
ALWAYS a fun thing to listen to (which also gives you a full solid week of no
repeats). It kicks off this morning at 10 am Chicago time ... and you can
listen live here: Click here: 97.1fm The Drive
