Thursday, February 20, 2014

This And That

Ron Smith just sent me this bit of news ...

“The Wrecking Crew,” a documentary film about the studio musicians behind some of the biggest hits in the 1960s and ‘70s. From “Be My Baby” to “California Girls;” “Strangers in the Night” to “Mrs. Robinson;” “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’” to “Up, Up and Away;” and from “Viva Las Vegas” to “Mr. Tambourine Man,” the group dubbed The Wrecking Crew played on them all. A MUST SEE FOR ALL MUSICIANS AND MUSIC LOVERS!
Director Denny Tedesco will be on hand to introduce his film and host a post-screening Q&A.
March 20, 2014 7:00PM
Joliet Junior College (JJC) Theater
General Admission: $20
Seniors/Students: $15.00
BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE HERE: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/wrecking-crew-comes-to-joliet-tickets-10613167269
FINALLY!!!  I think this is the first time this film has ever played in our area.  It may be a tough fit for me on a week night ... but it SURE would be great to finally meet Denny Tedesco face to face and say hello ... and THANK him for this wonderful film.  Hoping some of you out there can make it as well.  (kk)
 

Now this is just amazing! ASCAP, the publishing and song-licensing house, celebrated their 100th Anniversary this past week ... and published a list of their Top 100 Titles of All-Time.  (Keep in mind that ASCAP, along with BMI, are the two largest music publishers in the world ... but they are competitors ... so you won't find any of BMI's song titles on this list.) But what an impressive list it is!  And check out #2 ... nestled right in between "Happy Birthday To You" (#1) and "White Christmas" (#3) is "My Girl", The Temptations' hit from 1965, written by Smokey Robinson.  Who would have ever thought?!?!  Some of the titles listed are amongst the most classic standards of all time ... yet you'll find quite a few Motown "classics" on here as well. 
You can check out the complete list here:  
Click here: VVN Music: ASCAP Celebrates 100 Years With Their Top 100 Songs

FH Reader Frank B sent in this article on Bobby Vee, battling Alzheimer's while recording what will probably be his last album ...


Al Kooper (who put together the Michael Bloomfield box "From His Head To His Heart To His Hands" that has been playing to rave reviews) was recently interviewed by Larry LeBlanc.
Too long to reprint here, if you're interested in a copy, let me know and we'll email one off to you.
Meanwhile, you can read OUR interview with Al Kooper here:
Click here: Forgotten Hits: Sharing Your Comments: Al Kooper and Rick Nelson  

Al's got a few limited engagements coming up ... here's the latest info on that ...  
APRIL 4TH, 2014 / Two 70th Birthday Celebrations:
At The Regatta Bar in Cambridge, MA. Two shows!  I would get tix ASAP as this is a comparatively smaller venue, hence the two shows. 
MAY 15TH & 16TH,  2014 / Two more 70th Birthday Celebrations
Back to BB Kings in NYC / One show a night
7:30 PM - Goes on Sale - 2/14/14
These usually sell out fast so get online and grab what you can ASAP
Check out our own concert review from a few months ago right here: Click here: Forgotten Hits: AL KOOPER CONCERT REVIEW   

And, speaking of new releases ...   

Folk Icon & Irish American Hall Of Fame Inductee Judy Collins Returns To The Land Of Her Ancestors with JUDY COLLINS LIVE IN IRELAND
Los Angeles, CA - Judy Collins has inspired audiences worldwide for over five decades with her sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. March 18th 2014 will see the much-anticipated release of JUDY COLLINS LIVE IN IRELAND, CD/DVD on Cleopatra Records. Recorded September 29, 2013 at Dromoland Castle for PBS broadcast, LIVE IN IRELAND is scheduled to run on THIRTEEN NYC, WGBH Boston & PBS affiliates nationwide March 5th. Now fans worldwide in the comfort of their homes can enjoy time and again this spirited and inspiring set of Judy’s most beloved hits along with her favorite Celtic folk songs and stories (including duets with Irish singer Mary Black & NY singer-songwriter Ari Hest).
In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Her landmark works helped form the backbone of American folk music. Judy’s luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 50+-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century. LIVE IN IRELAND showcases a living legend whose career continues to blossom with each new release.
DVD Track Listing:
Wild Mountain Thyme
Chelsea Morning
Grandaddy (featuring step dancer Emily Ellis)
New Moon Over The Hudson
Bird On A Wire 
Cat’s In The Cradle
John Riley
She Moved Through The Fair (feat. Mary Black)
The Fire Plays (feat. Ari Hest)
How Are Things In Glocca Morra?
Danny Boy
Amazing Grace 
Bonus Tracks:
Gypsy Rover
Barbara Allen
Innisfree
Additional Interview Footage
CD Track Listing:  
Wild Mountain Thyme
Chelsea Morning
Gypsy Rover
Grandaddy (featuring step dancer Emily Ellis)
New Moon Over The Hudson
Cat’s In The Cradle
John Riley
She Moved Through The Fair (feat. Mary Black)
The Fire Plays (feat. Ari Hest)
Innisfree
Danny Boy
JUDY COLLINS Live in Ireland in-store appearance:
Title: Live in Ireland
Event Date: March 17, 2014 - 7:00 PM
Store: Barnes & Noble store #2278 - NYC / Upper East Side
150 East 86th Street
New York, NY 10028

Kent ...
The truth about that "Whipped Cream Cover."
Frank B.  
You mean this one???



Here's a cool clip, too, of Herb, Lani and Sergio Mendes performing live in concert.  I've been trying to convince Ron Onesti that this would be a GREAT show to book for The Arcada Theatre.  Would LOVE to see this!  (kk)

Frank B. also sent us this clip that he saw on Wild Wayne's website ... a tribute to Sid Caesar, who passed away last week, featuring The Three Haircuts ...
Sounds like a hit to me!
Frank B.

Speaking of losing those near and dear to us ...

Kent,
"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."
For me, every time a 20th century musician or actor / TV personality is mentioned or honored in the news in some way, I remember that I now have more than ten years of students saying:  "I know who that is!"  (instead of "Who?  Don't care.")  Here is where my pride is.  They can intelligently and passionately understand and appreciate more than their immediate world.
And in case I doubt this ... they come back to find me and tell me about it.
The recent events involving The Beatles, Shirley Temple, Sid Caesar, etc., really drive this point home for me.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano

Here's a brand new interview with Eric Carmen, promoting his new "essential" CD collection ... sent into us by FH Reader Tom Cuddy ...
And here's a sneak peak at that new album ...

Tom also sent in an update on Sheena Easton ...
We saw Sheena Easton (sort of ... the crowds were enormous ...upwards of 100,000 people ... and, at times, truly impassable!) at what (we had no idea at the time) was some sort of a HUGE Gay Festival downtown a few years ago.  (Looking it up, it's called The Halsted Street Market Days ... and the year we went, attendance was estimated to be right around 300,000 people spread out over the two day event.)  The turn-out was incredible (and, at times, VERY entertaining.)  Pushing my way through the crowd, I was able to catch a glimpse or two of the '80's Pop Princess ... actually she was co-headlining that day with Olivia Newton-John (who we never got to see ... parking was an absolute nightmare and after a number of fights broke out, we decided to leave), who just recently took up residency in Las Vegas, where Sheena has been living for the past 13 years.  (Also on the bill that day were The Pointer Sisters, who we missed circling the neighborhood trying to find a parking spot for close to 2 1/2 hours!)  I would LOVE to see BOTH of these ladies (in a safer venue!) some time again!   I don't know how to better describe our experience ... unreal or surreal!!! (kk) 

Hi Kent ...
Was just wondering if you ever check out YouTube sensation "Live From Daryl's House" ... these are previous live performances from Daryl Hall's house with Daryl included in Upstate New York.  Daryl's home concerts have been on YouTube for many years.  Special guests that have appeared in recent years of the oldies vintage have been John Oates, Smokey Robinson, Ray Manzarek, Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren ... off the top of my head.  If you get a chance, enjoy!!! 
Sandy
Actually, yes ... they air here on Palladium ... sometimes as marathons ... so I've seen quite a few.  I've discovered some new artists that I may not have heard otherwise through this program.  Usually a pretty good way to kill an hour!  (kk)

 EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT PROUDLY PRESENTS THE WHO SENSATION –
THE STORY OF TOMMY  ~ AN EPITAPH OF ROCK HISTORY EXPLORED ~ 
~ ON DVD, BLU-RAY AND DIGITAL FORMATS MARCH 11, 2014 ~


New York, NY (February 14, 2014)—Eagle Rock Entertainment is about to explore one of rock music’s shining masterpieces: The Who’s Tommy. Sensation – The Story Of Tommy will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital formats on March 11, 2014 [Pre-book Order Date February 14, MSRP $19.98 Blu-ray, $14.98 DVD] 
Fully supported and endorsed by The Who, Sensation – The Story Of Tommy explores the background, creation, and impact of this seminal album. Through brand new interviews, the film unveils the history and cultural impact of Tommy through new interviews with Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, archive interviews with the late John Entwistle, contributions from engineer Bob Pridden, artwork creator Mike McInnerney, plus others involved in the making of the album, as well as journalists who assess the album’s historic and cultural impact.   Originally aired on BBC TV in August 2013, this version includes additional material not featured in the TV broadcast, as well as a bonus 33-minute feature from the 1969 German TV show “Beat Club.” This feature, which includes previously unreleased footage, includes tracks from the album and interviews with band members.
Released in 1969, Tommy was a milestone in rock history, and marked a new chapter in the band’s career. Selling over 20 million copies worldwide, the double-album established Pete Townshend’s prowess as not only a musician, but a composer, and further solidified Roger Daltrey as one of rock’s foremost frontmen. A concept album exploring the story of a blind pinball ace, Tommy proved that rock music was a viable vehicle for storytelling, and was the first album to be overtly billed as a rock opera. It was later re-imagined as a film by Ken Russell in the mid-seventies, and a touring stage production in the early nineties.
The direct-to-consumer store for Sensation – The Making Of Tommy is now live at http://www.myplaydirect.com/the-who, which includes exclusive bundles with the DVD or Blu-ray, T-shirt, and a 18X24 poster. Fans have until February 20 at 12:00PM EST to pre-order one of several bundles, and have his or her name included on the poster.
For a sneak peak of Sensation – The Making Of Tommy, here are some video clips:
“Making People Feel” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o596qXRP90
“Screening Interview” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIXLwyfKNao

FH Reader Dave Barry sent us this article, telling us vinyl is alive and well in 2014.  Check this out ... over 33 Million albums were pressed last year ... so SOMEBODY must be buying them!!!  http://www.analogplanet.com/content/30759242-long-playing-records-pressed-worldwide-2013

This Detroit collector struck gold after stumbling across Marvin Gaye's passport inside an old album he bought for 50-cents. He discovered the valuable item from a stack of records he bought from the relatives of a late Motown musician.  It's now worth $20,000.
Frank B.

>>>Since I just saw The Crystals last month at Mohegan, it was interesting to read the info about Darlene Love and the question of 'Who is Leading?".  In concert, La La most certainly sings lead on 'Da Doo Run Run' and gives the lead up to her co-singers for 'He's A Rebel' and 'He's Sure the Boy I Love'.  Co-incidence? (Shelley J Sweet-Tufano)
Well, La La Brooks is not in the Crystals. She is a solo artist now. The only original member in the Crystals these days is Dolores "Dee Dee" Kenniebrew (coincidentally, La La Brooks first name is also Dolores). Dee Dee has been the only original member in the Crystals since 1973. 
Tom Diehl 

OMG!  That royalty check for  $.01 for Janis Ian was unbelievable! 
Sandy

They've put together one hell of a stellar line-up for this year's Malt Shop Memories Cruise (November 2 - November 9)  Check this out:
Dion, The Temptations, Brenda Lee, Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, Jay Black, Jan and Dean's Beach Party starring Dean Torrence, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Kenny Vance and the Planotones, The Duprees, Ricky Nelson Remembered with Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, Frankie Lymon's Legendary Teenagers, Little Peggy March, Al "Li Fats" Jackson, a series of Elvis Tribute Artists, Joe Piscopo and Jerry Blavat!  (Now THAT'S cruisin'!!!)
>>>It was reported this week that David Cassidy and his wife of 23 years, Sue, are getting divorced.  No official word on whether David's drinking had anything to do with this ... but it's hard to imagine that it didn't.  (Maybe he'll offer to meet her halfway and they'll still work things out!  I think he loves her ... and isn't that what life is made of?)  kk grooooooooaaaan ... but laughing all through the groaning.  Song lyrics and titles are great 'code' for music lovers, and here I am trying to help my students 'break the code'.  But these secrets need to be shared.
Shelley
It sound like David is taking this pretty seriously ... after much criticism regarding his behavior was posted on his Facebook Page, he decided to take it down!  But then his REAL fans came out in support of is efforts to clean up his act ... and he put it back up, sans comments.
Vintage Vinyl News reports the whole incident here ... as well as features comments from Cassidy himself:

Focus fans rejoice! The group's 1972 worldwide hit “Hocus Pocus” is now being featured in the major motion picture 'RoboCop' starring Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman and Michael Keaton. The song, which features the distinctive and virtuosic yodeling by keyboardist Thijs Van Leer, was originally released on the band's critically acclaimed second album 'Moving Waves'.
Check out the 'RoboCop' promo clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8vuu0ZbvX8
Says Thijs, “A good friend of mine was so lucky to be present at the pre-premiere of the new ROBOCOP and he called me WHILE 'Hocus Pocus' was played during the film, shouting, 'Hey Thijs, they put your genius song on the best sequence of the picture!!! Congratulations!!!!!' Since that very moment I am crazily happy about this luxurious feeling: as the composer, the yodeller, Hammond - organ player and flautist!! Halleluya!!!”


>>>That's just WILD!!!  You guys may actually KNOW each other!  Over the years, Forgotten Hits has reunited former neighbors and classmates, Army buddies and once, a father with a daughter he never even knew he had!!! It's the power of music ... and that universal language again ... it brings out all of the bonds and memories we share.  Simply put, there is NOTHING more powerful out there. (kk)  
You are amazing Kent.   This was a very interesting coincidence. I agree that music is very powerful. To me it's like a remedy for a rough day ... it can quickly put one in a good mood to forget the bad stuff that happened ... it's one of those things that can provide one with wonderful memories by taking one back to another time and place ... for some folks (like me) it's the fuel that creates the energy that keeps them going ... My current favorite is Steam's Gary DeCarlo ... "Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Kiss Him Good Bye" aka "The Na Na Song" (this song gets me going in the mornings)  AND music can set the mood for a lovely romantic evening as a couple reminisces about younger days. It's a way of keeping us young.  Very importantly as well, if you have the right music collection or a great radio station, the cost is minimal to enjoy such a fine song commodity.  I think people (at radio stations in Chicago especially) really underestimate the power of music. 
Blossmwrld

Kent,
Love your stuff!
One comment, though: Regarding "Nobody But Me" ... The Human Beinz' version was but a remake. I think the Isley Brothers' original version was superior.


Best,
Bruce Scott
'Tis true ... but The Isley Brothers' version went virtually unnoticed at the time ("Bubbling Under" at #106 in 1963.)  It was the psychedelic spin The Human Beinz put on their version that made this record a hit.  Still, it's ALWAYS cool to hear the original ... amazing sometimes where the inspiration comes from! 
(The Isley Brothers inspired any number of future hit records with their earlier work ... "Respectable", later a hit for The Outsiders, "Take Me In Your Arms", a hit for The Doobie Brothers, and"Work To Do", a GREAT track in the hands of The Average White Band, all immediately come to mind.  And of course The Beatles and Rod Stewart did okay with their versions of "Twist And Shout" and "This Old Heart Of Mine", respectively, too!)

Talk about remakes ... I'm sure the world is happy to know that Billy Ray Cyrus has cut a new hip-hop version of his big hit "Achy Breaky Heart" with Buck 22 .  Incredibly, the video already has over six and a half million views on YouTube!  (I love that one critic's analysis ... "It's only been out six hours and it's already 2014's worst song!)  lol
More from Diane Dietman:
Billy Ray Cyrus recently recorded "Hope Is Still Ahead" with Dionne Warwick. He co-wrote the song after the Columbine High School shootings in Colorado in 1999, but his record label at the time considered it too sad. Dionne's son, Buck 22, asked for permission to rework "Achy Breaky Heart" as a rap song, and Billy Ray recorded it with him. The YouTube version has 6,600,000 views in its first week. Billy Ray told the Tennessean,, "When the video came out, one of the critics wrote, ‘It’s only been out six hours and it’s already 2014’s worst song.’ When I heard that, I knew I nailed it." He hopes to appear on the Grand Ole Opry sometime this year and perform the songs with Dionne Warwick and Buck 22. He was quoted as saying, "My man Buck is so excited about playing the Opry, I don’t know if the Opry has ever had twerking aliens."

Diane also reports:

Mark James is one of this year's five inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City. Two of his best known songs are "Always On My Mind" (which he co-wrote) and "Suspicious Minds." About the second song, he told an interviewer, "Late one night, fooling around on my Fender guitar and using my Hammond organ pedals for a bass line, I came up with a catchy melody. I was married to my first wife then but still had feelings for my childhood sweetheart, who was married back in Houston. My wife suspected I had those feelings, so it was a confusing time for me. I felt as though all three of us were caught in this trap we couldn't walk out of."
Not too shabby ... those were two pretty big hits for Elvis (although I personally don't think that anybody's ever done "Always On My Mind" better than Willie Nelson ... he totally nailed it!)  "Suspicious Minds" is one of about three Elvis songs they still play on the radio ... along with "Burning Love" and the God-Awful 2002 Remix of "A Little Less Conversation", virtually ignoring the first 125 hits he had in the '50's and '60's.  (Now that's what I call artist misrepresentation!)  And they play "Suspicious Minds" to death ... so we'll feature Mark James' version here today, just to give you a little break!  (kk)



Diane wrote the noted biographies of Faron Young and Marty Robbins.  She now does a weekly country newsletter via email.  You can subscribe here: 
diane@dianediekman.com
(And be sure to tell her Forgotten Hits sent you!)


Good morning, kk,
I read your comment that you'd been busier than ever and had fallen behind, which does not surprise me, as I don't know how you continue to do this 'labor of love' day after day, week after week, month after month, and -- year after year! I do know you have some very grateful and loyal readers, however, and we all send our combined 'thanks.'
Fred Vail
Thanks, Fred ... these last ten days or so have been a real killer ... but such an important and glorious time in history needed to be celebrated ... so we did our best to pay proper tribute.  (kk)
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