The Saturday Surveys (April 26th)

Welcome to another edition of The Saturday Surveys ...

Join us as we take a look back through the charts reflecting the most popular music on this date, circa 1960-something!

This first chart from KRGI in Nebraska took a literal position for their Top 40 Countdown ... the records on their survey are ranked from #40 to #1, just the way you'd hear them counted down on the air!

FH Buddy Bob Lind kicks things off with a two-sided hit, "Remember The Rain" / "Truly Julie's Blues", a couple of tracks that peaked in the mid-60's on The Billboard Chart.

The BIG surprise may be the reissue of "Louie Louie" jumping from #14 to #3 ... this record hit its peak in late 1963 / early 1964 the first time around ... when it was re-released in '66, it charted for just two weeks in Billboard, peaking at #97.

And looks who's on top ... another "Friend of Forgotten Hits", Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits with their hit "Leaning On The Lamp Post"!

 

Let's take another look at 1964 ... as part of our on-going look back at the music of 50 years ago this week ... and the start of The British Invasion.  Once again you'll see The Beatles ruling the charts ... this time in San Diego ... where "P.S. I Love You" / "Love Me Do" is #1, "Do You Want To Know A Secret" is #2, "Can't Buy Me Love" is #5 and "Twist And Shout" is #8. 

Besides dominating The Top Ten, you'll also find The Fab Four at #15 with "Please Please Me", #18 with "She Loves You" and #22 with "I Want To Hold Your Hand", giving them seven of The Top 40 Hits shown on the survey.

Five other positions are held by British Invasion acts this week, too, including THREE by The Dave Clark Five:  "Bits And Pieces" (#3), "Glad All Over" (#10) and "Do You Love Me" (#28).

I like the way the radio station's disc jockeys each get to select their own "Pick Hit To Click" at the bottom ... looking over the list, you'll find that some were a bit more "on the money" than others.  A couple of other British Invasion favorites ... "A World WiIthout Love" by Peter and Gordon and "Yesterday's Gone" by The Overlanders are amongst the selections ... Peter and Gordon would top the charts with this Lennon and McCartney composition a few weeks later ... while "Yesterday's Gone" would go on to become the first big U.S. Chart Hit for Chad and Jeremy.  Meanwhile other selections like Little Peggy March's "Takin' The Long Way Home" would pretty much permanently fade from sight.
 

Here's an unusual chart from a High School Radio Station ... WMTH was broadcast from Maine Township High School in Park Ridge, Illinois .. which might help to explain the more eclectic list of tunes featured on their Top 16 Countdown.  (Hmm ... The Top 16 Countdown ... apparently also know as "The Twin Eight" ... from a chart that lists The Top 20 Hits.  Maybe that's why this high school radio station never hit the big time!  lol)

The Tremeloes sit at #1 with their big hit "Here Comes My Baby", written by Cat Stevens (from before anybody even knew who Cat Stevens was!)

The obvious hits are there ... and even some local tanet ... check out The Riddles at #17 with their version of "Sweets For My Sweet".

But the one that really caught my eye was the #3 Hit "Walk Tall" by 2 of Clubs.

You would not believe how many charts we've seen from around the country where this record ranked as a Top Ten Hit ... here in Chicago, it peaked at #9 on the WLS Chart .. yet nationally it crapped out at #92 in Billboard Magazine.

I've always thought it had a GREAT "Girl Groups Sound" ... so it's MY Pick Hit this week for our Saturday Surveys Feature.

This Detroit Chart from 1971 seems to be a little bit "soulful" ... which is to be expected, I guess, based on the folks up there buying music at the time.  (That's what makes it fun to see Daddy Dewdrop all the way up at #2, ahead of The Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin, The Chi-Lites, Motown's own The Jackson Five and Honey Cone.

All kinds of Forgotten Hits on this list ... songs that we all knew and loved at the time that have fallen by the wayside with today's narrow-minded broadcasting.  We've featured three early '70's soul classics that we're sure you'll remember ... once you hear them again ... below.

If The Top Ten on this chart out of Augusta, Georgia, seems a little bit middle-of-the-road / adult contemporary-ish to you, there are enough surprises elsewhere on the chart to help dispel any "type-casting".

While "Love (Can Make You Happy)" by Mercy sits at #1 (and artists like The Spiral Starecase, Perry Como, Brian Hyland, Henry Mancini and soft-rock hits by The Hollies and Simon and Garfunkel are also sitting in The Top Ten), they completely turn the tables by featuring Ray Stevens' novelty classic "Gitarzan" at #3 and The Monkees' rocker "Listen To The Band" (which only reached #63 in Billboard) at #9.

Another long-time Forgotten Hits favorite sits at #31 ... it's "Medicine Man" by The Buchanan Brothers.

WAY before Jack-FM took over the airwaves, folks in Lansing, Michigan were listening to (and enjoying) WJIM.

These guys, too, seemed to go their own way when it came to programming the hits ... up at #1 is Wanted with their version of "Midnight Hour", followed by the long-forgotten ? and the Mysterians hit "Can't Get Enough Of You", a song that would be resurrected by Smash Mouth some 30 years later.  With this kind of Garage Band / Early Punk Rock at the top of the chart, it seems almost unthinkable that The Platters would have the #4 Record with their minor comeback hit "With This Ring."

The Monkees are still in full swing (pun intended) ... an early David Jones solo hit (shown with a disclaimer as "not available" sits at #7  ("Theme For A New Love"), while "Valerie" (listed here as The Monkees' next single ... which it wasn't) is right behind it at #9.  Meanwhile their REAL hit single at the time, "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" / "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" falls just outside The Top Ten at #11.

You'll find some real diversity on this chart ... yes, radio was a LOT looser and freer back in The Swingin' '60's ... wild "chart neighbors" abound as, besides The Platters, we find Tommy James and the Shondells and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels sitting side-by-side with Sammy Davis, Jr. ... Andy Williams followed by Sopwith Camel ... and folk duo Ian and Syliva at #13, sandwiched in between The Byrds and The Five Americans!

50 Years Ago This Weekend

On April 25th, Chad and Jeremy appeared on The Hollywood Palace.

On the pop charts, THE BEATLES captured all of the Top Three spots again this week on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart with CAN'T BUY ME LOVE holding steady at #1, TWIST AND SHOUT locked into the #2 spot and DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET moving up to the #3 position.  For the first time, THE DAVE CLARK FIVE ALSO had two Top Ten Records simultaneously as GLAD ALL OVER inched up to #6 and BITS AND PIECES climbed to #7.  That gave the Brits HALF of the Top Ten Records in America that week. 

Other positions of note:  NEEDLES AND PINS by THE SEARCHERS at #13, SHE LOVES YOU at #19, I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND at #24, PLEASE PLEASE ME at #29, THANK YOU GIRL at #37 (first week in The Top 40), HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE by THE SWINGING BLUE JEANS at #39, STAY AWHILE by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD at #44, ALL MY LOVING at #45, YOU CAN'T DO THAT at #60, LITTLE CHILDREN by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS at #61, DIANE by THE BACHELORS at #63, LOVE ME DO at #67 and I KNEW IT ALL THE TIME (an older, re-release by THE DAVE CLARK FIVE, trying to cash in on their new-found success), premiering at #90.  That meant THE BEATLES still held 10% of the entire chart with their recent U.S. releases.  

This week's WLS Chart includes "Bits And Pieces" at #6, "Thank You Girl" / "Do You Want To Know A Secret" at #7, "Glad All Over" at #9 (giving The Dave Clark Five two Top Ten Hits of their own), "Can't Buy Me Love" / "You Can't Do That" at #10 (keeping The Beatles even with the pack!), "Twist And Shout" at #12, "All My Lovin'" at #17, "Not Fade Away" at #26, "Yesterday's Gone" at #27, "Love Me Do" (new on the charts for The Beatles) at #30 and "Stay Awhile" by Dusty Springfield at #38.

***

And The Dave Clark Five comments just keep on comin'!  A few cool tracks to share this time around ... and more of your thoughts on the recent PBS Special.  Enjoy!

Having read all the Dave Clark Five reviews here, I really don't care if I see the PBS special now, because it probably will tick me off! I'd rather just see old clips of the band on Youtube. I also forgot to mention that the only thing I liked about "Having a Wild Weekend" was that COOL, white Jaguar XKE, that Clark drove (and wrecked) in the movie. All those band movies back then were fun, though. I even liked the Bee Gees' "Sgt. Pepper", that everybody else hated.
- John LaPuzza    

Kent,  
I was going to chime in immediately after the DC5 program aired, but I decided to see if anyone was going to mention the inclusion of Sharon Osbourne. Of course she's become a media personality, besides being Ozzy's wife and manager. However I must disagree with the FH member who did not think she belonged there. To me she most certainly does. Maybe she isn't the most perfect choice, but it's certainly better than Tom Hanks. Sharon's father was the late music mogul, Don Arden. Among the acts he managed were ELO, Small Faces and Ozzy. Sharon started working for him full time while she was still in her teens. Although she would have been only 11 in 1964, she would have been exposed to the latest sounds either thru her dad, or just listening to the radio. It makes sense that she be included. Twiggy was a top model by 1965 and she was part of the swinging London scene. She was there. I'm not sure about Whoopi. She might have been exposed to the music as a nine year old, but that's a little too young yet. I'd say the same thing about Sharon, if she came from a different background.

Jack

Kent,

I looked and don't have the Ed Rudy DC5 LP.  I think I may have the interview single, but all I could find was a cardboard record for Having a Wild Weekend featuring two hits from the movie.  What I can offer you is a VERY little heard interview with Dave Clark from Feb 28, 1978, on UK's Capitol Radio! This was a half hour show I edited so that I could send via email lowest quality, yet sounds good.  Not sure anyone has this unless they taped it off the radio then in UK.   

You will find Dave plugging the HUGE DC5 comp success in England "25 Thumpin' Hits".  With DC5 records off the market in the UK for many years, this LP was a big success, as I remember it, in the UK.  I bought it as soon as it came in stores here.  Similar packages were released in other European countries as well about that time.  Strange that Dave's "Time" was only two years away and no mention of it in planning stages at all.  Just a bit about his acting "career."   

You'll hear a more UK version of the DC5 story than the TV PBS special.  The interviewer talked about lumping the DC5 with the Searchers, Swingin' Blue Jeans and even the Shadows.  Dave mentions many chart positions that are off, of course.  However, unlike the US situation, the DC5's first UK chart record was "Do You Love Me" and not "Glad all Over."   SO, in reality, the US got a DC5 treatment of Beatlemania in that when "Glad All Over" hit here, Epic quickly followed with "Do You Love Me" as well as the current UK hit "Bits & Pieces" all at once as well as Congress here releasing the old DC5 song "I Knew It All The Time"!  

Dave gives us HIS version so often of the DC5 story that it varies widely. 

Dave talks about the DC5 covering the Contours' hit BEFORE the Brian Poole & Tremeloes' version emerged following their top 10 hit "Twist & Shout."  Dave calls it a cover of the Beatles, which it actually was, despite being an old Isley tune.  The Trems' #1 UK hit version appeared a month before the DC5's (#30 peak, not #19 in UK and #11 in US later, not #1 as Dave says here).  Dave says Poole somehow got stocked, while the DC5 got the airplay in UK????  Either way, the DC5 version kicks Poole's butt on this one, IMO. 

Dave is surprised by the interviewer not knowing that DAVE produced his own records and offered the records to a company, not the record company ALLOWING him to do so!   

He compares the "Palladium" TVer in UK to Sullivan show here, which is of interest.  Not sure about the Sullivan story he tells, but possibly??  He talks about focusing on the US market and then back to the UK market.  I think it was more that for some odd reason, most of the UK hits were NOT the hits that happened in the US and vice versa.  "Over & Over" was their biggest hit in the US, but amazingly, reached only #45 in the UK!  

Dave switches the story of "Because" to being HIS idea to bring it out, when the real story is apparently that Dave did NOT want it released, but US Epic did it anyway.  The UK Clark decision was "Think of You Baby" which basically flopped there and was never released here on 45!  In fact, from there on, their UK hits waned for awhile!   Also, "Because" was not a flip side in the UK as Dave claims here.  It did NOT make it to number one and was not their biggest US hit, as Dave claims.  

Dave says "you can't go back into the studio."  OK, right.  The other bands are still "flogging around" as the interviewer puts it.  It's nice to see that 36 years later, many of the bands he mentions are still "flogging around" to loving crowds and enjoying it again / still!  

More Dave Clark varying comments for sure.  

Enjoy,

Clark

I know "Because" never charted in the UK ... but the story I've always heard is that it was Dave who was insistent on giving the ballad a shot here in The States.  If not their biggest hit, certainly one of their best-loved and remembered.  (I couldn't find it listed as a B-Side in England either ... but then later heard it was issued as the flip-side of "Can't You See That She's Mine".)

An interesting interview, especially with the benefit of 36 years of hindsight!  Thanks, Clark.  (kk) 

The DC5 were a great part of 60's top 40 radio.  Not only was their music great and exciting, but they were played on some of the great moments of radio.  Here, you will hear them in moments such as Dick Biondi's new return to WCFL and Chicago radio in 1967, Ron Riley with DC5 premiers, Jim Stagg playing DC5 on his Staggline show, Ron Riley playing the DC5 on his British Billboard Sunday night countdown of England's top 10 hits, "Dave Clark 5 Day" on WKY in Oklahoma City in summer of 65, Riley's cheering intro to his show and "Over & Over", the Riley / Weber feud tape sent to Vietnam for airing involving their battle over who's better: DC5 or Beatles, Chuck Knapp of WRKO Boston blowing out a late DC5 hit and lastly, the GREAT Ron Britain at WCFL blasting "19 Days."

Clark Besch

Kent, 
If you read the Ron Ryan story on how he wrote ALL of  the 1964 "original" DC5 hits by HIMSELF (see here: http://asithappens.hubpages.com/hub/CuriousStoryofDC5 ), you will find this interesting.  In the US, Congress Records released "I Knew It All The Time" as a 45 with a picture sleeve in 1964 to cash in on the DC5's instant fame.  The 45 was their first UK 45 on Piccadilly Records in 1962.  Piccadilly gave several artists their early starts like Joe Brown, Carter & Lewis, and the Montanas.   The Congress retread was then the B side to the awful "That's What I Said."  There is a link below to the 45 label scan.  It is quite interesting to see Ron Ryan's name half credited with writing the song (along with Dave Clark).  Also, note that the label reads the song as being by "THE DAVE CLARK FIVE featuring Mike Smith"!!!!!  Both Ron and Mike got more credit on that first rare lousy single than Dave gave them the rest of their lives!!  

http://www.45cat.com/record/7n35500
In the US, Congress flipped A sides to give a Mitch Murray cover song "I Knew It All The Time" a chance as the A side, complete with 1964 picture of the band on the sleeve, even tho it was a two year old recording!  The name may not ring a bell, but Murray wrote several Brit faves like "How Do You Do It" and "I Like It" for Gerry & Pacemakers, "You Were Made For Me" for Freddie & Dreamers, "Bonnie & Clyde" for Georgie Fame, "Hitchin' a Ride" for Vanity Fare, "Billy Don't Be a Hero" and "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace.  Anyway, the record reached #53 before fans realized it was another "My Bonnie" ripoff.  Actually, at least this WAS the DC5 and not Tony Sheridan!   
Surprisingly, in the US on Congress, Dave Clark did NOT take co-writing credits from Ron Ryan. However, when the 45 was released in Sweden in 1964, the writer credits had already been changed to "Dave Clark - Mike Smith"!!  http://www.45cat.com/record/ns824  (see B side label scan)In late 1962, Piccadilly released a second 45, "First Love" (supposedly a Dave Clark - Lenny Davidson writing) and a Johnny Cash cover song "I Walk the Line."  This time, the label says "THE DAVE CLARK FIVE with Strings and Voices"!!!!  How hilarious!  
http://www.45cat.com/record/7n35088  
In the US, Rust Records (appropriate for this record!) released this oldie as new stuff in April, 1964, too. http://www.45cat.com/record/5078us 
Also, in 1962, UK's Ember Records released the DC5's "Chaquita" (an original "Dave Clark - Mike Smith" song) backed with cover "In Your Heart" (see scan below).  In the US, Jubillee also released two old songs on 45 in May, 1964, on a cash in 45 attempt.  SO, the DC5 were not an overnight success in the recording studio as one might have thought. http://www.45cat.com/record/embs156  
After hearing all of these LAME 1962 recordings, who would think they would be so good only a year later??  1963's first UK hit, the cover of "Do You Love Me" showed much more promise.  On UK Columbia, it was backed by the original Clark - RYAN song "Doo Dah", so some credit there for Ryan! http://www.45cat.com/record/db7112  (see B side label scan)  SO, there WAS a US attempt at flooding the market with old DC5 records, but unlike the fabs, these were all "flubs."  
BTW, "Because" (written by Dave Clark ONLY) WAS a B side of "Cant You See That She's Mine" in the UK on Columbia in '64.  I also have a 45 by "The Bugs" on HIT Records (cheap cover 45s in US label) on which they do "Anyway You Want It" and it is also credited to ONLY "D. Clark" as writer!

Somewhere, I have a Dave Clark interview with Jim Stagg from his "Stagg Starbeat" WCFL program, but cannot locate it.  
Clark 

Came across this when I was looking for something else the other day ...

Anybody remember these?!?!  I had the complete set of Beatles dolls ... but I don't even REMEMBER a Dave Clark Five version existing!  (kk)

Here's another link to that great Songfacts interview with Dave Clark from a month ago or so ...  
Click here: Dave Clark: Songwriter Interviews  
(Hey Dave, if you're reading this, we'd love to interview you for Forgotten Hits, too .. but it would have to be a no-holds-barred deal where we can address some of the issues and concerns raised by our readers over the past few weeks.)  Obviously this new special has sparked a lot of reaction from the fans ... perhaps the best way to describe it would be to say that nobody really dislikes it ... overall the reviews of content have been good ... and it's really exciting to see all this material again ... but by the same token the overall feeling can only be described as "disappointed" in the perspective shown with Dave Clark as the primary reason for the band's success.  It's time to share the accolades, dude! (kk) 

Hey Kent

I got the DC5 2 disc Blu Ray from PBS. I give it two thumbs up. I know there has been a lot of talk about Dave Clark. But you have to respect this man.  How many other sixties bands can say they own all their stuff? Not even The Beatles. I think Dave Clark was a genius way before his time. The second disc is great TV performances more interviews. And a killer one with Mike about how he helped out two girls in trouble in a bar ... when they invited him home for drinks, it was Frank Sinatra's house.

I don't think with out Dave there would have been a DC 5 and all the success they had.

Another great interview with Freddy Mercury.  (You see another side of Freddy)

I know we all hate that Dave has sat on all the DC5 stuff for all these years, but it is out there and you can get it if you look hard enough.

Those 3 on 1 cd's are killer with great sound and booklets. Makes you wonder if Dave bootlegged himself!

Anyway, as a long time fan I just wanted to add my view of the DC 5

Mickey

Concert Review(s) ... Yours and Ours!

Forgotten Hits has a VERY special offer for one of our local readers!   

In order to qualify, you must meet ALL THREE of the following criteria:  

#1) - You must be free to attend the Dean Torrence and The Surf City All-Stars Concert THIS SATURDAY NIGHT (April 26th) at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL  

#2) - You MUST love the great surfin' sounds of the '60's, provided by artists like Jan and Dean and The Beach Boys

and #3) - You must be willing and able to turn in a full, concert review by 6 PM Sunday Night that we can run on The Forgotten Hits Web Page on Monday Morning.  

If you meet ALL of the above criteria, we've got an AWESOME offer for you ...    

TWO FREE TICKETS TO SEE 

DEAN TORRENCE AND THE 

SURF CITY ALL STARS 

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT 

AT THE ARCADA THEATRE!!!  

Because this is such short notice, we're giving these tickets to THE VERY FIRST PERSON to respond to today's posting ... send in all your pertinent details in an email to forgottenhits@aol.com and the first one to respond will be going to Saturday Night's Concert!  (Tickets will be left at The Arcada Theatre Box Office in your name) 

Then you can write your own awesome review of the show, just like Shelley Sweet-Tufano did below for a Doo-Wop Show that SHE saw out on the East Coast!  (As much as we had hoped to go, we can't make it to this awesome Surf City All-Stars concert ... so you'll be acting as our eyes and ears for the show ... our "Absentee Reviewer" if you will!)

Remember, first come, first served ... so email me NOW!!! 

***

DICK FOX'S SPRING FLING DOO WOP CONCERT   

In the world of athletics, there are 'body types' that seem to go with certain sports or athletic events.  There are husky football builds, shorter-stockier gymnasts, long-willowy ice skaters ... etc.  Let me tell you that after seeing this March 22nd Doo Wop event, I can safely say:  There is NOT a musician's body type!  Tall, short, husky, slim, blonde, brunette, redhead, young, older than young - it all appears and melds together in music.    

The air outside was windy and cold. 
The atmosphere inside was warm and tender ...  
AND HOPPING WITH CHOREOGRAPHY!   

The Capris:  Vocal Groups Hall of Famers. 
They hit us with "Great Balls of Fire".  (Musically that is ... the show would have ended if they had physically decked us!)  Then a song they recorded in 1982 (not a misprint) ... "Back Home to Me"; ending with the favorite, "There's a Moon Out Tonight".    

Next The Marcels pop out, jump in the air, twist and turn around, and basically define the term 'whirling dervish'.   They are also in the Vocal Groups Hall of Fame. 
They start out with "Heartache" and then do a medley around their (and the audience's) junior and high school memories.  Within this medley, I hear "What's Your Name", "Earth Angel", "In The Still of the Night" and "For a Million Years".  I love the way they act out walking over to that junior high school girl standing on the other side of the gym (boys on one side, girls on the other) and coyly begin to sing.  They end with the 1961 hit:  "BLUE MOON".   
Love it, love it!  

Remember "Charlie Brown"?  Well, The Coasters are still kicking in unison when they sing that song AND "'Yakety Yak".  They started out with two songs that The Beatles covered on the BBC Live shows:  "Poison Ivy" and "Young Blood".  For me, The Beatles' covers are the ones I remember better, and it just reminds me that it was the American influence that exploded The British Invasion.  The Beatles obviously admired The Coasters to have chosen these songs during their early elementary growth.  I could hear Lennon's voice in my head, gumming the words, "What's your name?" in his imitation of an old man trying to pick up a young teen.  Another member of The Vocal Groups Hall of Fame, The Coasters have been favorites of my students through the years.  Their parodies rock with enthusiasm and love of life.  

Ending the first act was Charlie Thomas and The Drifters.  I have seen them before, and as Lou Christie says, "If you ever get the chance to see Charlie Thomas and his Drifters, GO."  The Drifters are one of the main reasons for the Truth in Music laws that have been passed by all but six states right now.  There were so many groups calling themselves The Drifters that we never knew who we were watching ... and many of them had not even been born until the end of the 20th Century!  Charlie is an original Drifter, who appeared with two Veteran back-up singers.  That's Veteran, as in military, and Veteran, as in established vocalists.  With their long frock coats and debonair style, they glide and slide through the performance of "On Broadway", "This Magic Moment", "Sweets For My Sweet", "There Goes My Baby", "Up on the Roof", and "Under the Boardwalk".  They are also members of The Vocal Groups Hall of Fame, as well as The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  I am not a fan of the board on The R&R Hall, but I do admire most of the groups who are in it.   

Since it is intermission, let me introduce our MC for the program:  Emil Stucchio.  Emil has a popular NYC group, Emil Stucchio and The Classics.  He has some funny (I thought they were) stories about aging through the rock and roll era, but our promoter Dick Fox was quick to use the speaker system to ask him, "Is this going anywhere?"  and then snore loudly.  Hey, it was funny and they have to change the set on an open stage, so it works.  

Intermission no more.  The Happenings are happening!  Bob Miranda is bouncing around (honestly, this man is older than me and I only keep jumping around to confuse my students), a horn section has been added for the second half, and more saxophones.  The lead guitar and musical director is George Rizzi.  He is married to the sister of my daughter's childhood dance coach.  When they announced their wedding (about 15 years ago?) the bride's family was heard to cry, "She is marrying a guitar player.  They will starve!"  Hahahahahaha! ... George is doing very well, thank you.   
The Happenings open with a Rascal of a song, "People Got To Be Free", then go into Carole King's "Go Away Little Girl".  Amazing that a woman would write a song that portrays a man's frustration so well.  My fave Happening song, "See You in September" from 1966, is the third offering.  Even though my college years were not in the 60's, this song became the May anthem for four years when we left our college romances for home and summer vacation.  The last song was from 1967, and first heard on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour:  "I Got Rhythm".  WOW, this piece of the show seemed to fly by.  I wasn't ready to let them go ... but they left the stage and I was forced to move on.  

The next group, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, had the least hold on me.  I am not familiar with them, and only their song "This I Swear" rang a bell.  Granted "Pennies From Heaven", which was their opener, is familiar ... but because it has been so often recorded.  However the audience, mostly New Yawkers, held them in high esteem and clapped loudly to bring them on.  "I Can Dream, Can't I?" and "Shooby Doo Wop" were two other numbers, with there being one last title I cannot remember at all.  I know I was distracted by the melon colored dress that the female vocalist wore, and unfortunately not for positive reasons.  If you cannot comfortably move around on stage, rethink your attire.     

"Baby, You still GOT it!"  remarked a woman in the first row.  "What?" said Lou Christie, "Can you repeat that please?"  "I SAID, 'BABY YOU STILL GOT IT!'"  she repeated.  OK, Lou ... did you really not hear her the first time?  Just asking.   
Each of Lou's songs were mesmerizing, but the vision that remains with me is Lou singing "Beyond the Blue Horizon" and two silhouetted figures dancing together at the top of the stairs directly across from us. I wanted a video camera (illegal in Westbury) in the worst way at that moment.  Everyone on my side of the round, will hold that beautiful sight in our memories forever.  It was probably two ushers, but the effect was ever so romantic.  Dick Fox and Emil Stucchio almost literally pushed Lou back on stage for an encore, and so "Hold Me" became the last song of the night.  I had been invited to Lou's reception afterward, and while waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for my turn to speak with him, played "Is that REALLY Billy J Kramer and is that Sean Penn?" with my friends.  It was not Sean Penn.  It WAS Billy J Kramer, who brushed us off with "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah" when I admitted I figured him out.  I giggled, and his wife smiled, but Billy was a bit embarrassed as he was there to visit with Lou as well.  I have seen a picture of Lou and I talking that was taken by the professional photographer on site (and HEY people ... the invitation said DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN CAMERAS ... apparently I am one of two people who can read!)  Anyway, Lou looked deeply interested in my conversation, which was nice to see.  I think we were talking about a friend of his at the time.  
-- Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano    

Sounds like you had a great time, Shelley ... I'm still wishing Lou Christie would come out our way ... he's one of those that I have always wanted to see ... and both times when I actually had tickets, the shows were cancelled at the last minute.  Lou Christie with The Happenings?!?!?  Now THAT would be a show to see!!!  (Hint - hint!!!)   

Thanks, Shelley!  (kk) 

A Wednesday Morning Quickie

re: This And That:

With word last week that Glen Campbell had been checked into an Alzheimer's Facility, I wondered how Mark Bego was coming with his new book, first mentioned here several months ago in Forgotten Hits, written with Glen's daughter (and band member) Debby.

 

Here's the latest news from Mark himself ...

 

Kent:

Thank you so much for asking about an update on one of my favorite subjects, Glen Campbell.  You just so happen to have caught me at the right moment, and I am happy to make a statement to you about my new book on Glen.

My new book (my 61st published book!), "Life With My Father:  Glen Campbell", which I have written with Glen's daughter Debby Campbell, has been one of my most rewarding experiences I have had as a biographer.  It is published by Omnibus Press in London, and it was just recently released in bookstores in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2014.  It is also available globally on both Kindle (Amazon.com) and Nook (Barnes & Nobel) as of that date as well.  Here in America, the print version of the book will be in US bookstores on September 11, 2014, where it will be released via a sublicensing deal with Overlook Press.  Until that time it can be purchased via British Amazon.com if anyone in America wants a hard copy of it before September of this year.  While it sounds a bit confusing, I am thrilled that it is out, and people in the US can get copies on the internet. 

Now, with all of that being said, it is interesting and timely to note that while the British edition of the book was being released this past week, it was also announced that Glen Campbell has been admitted to a Nashville area facility for Alzheimer's sufferers, and is no longer living at home.  This has been sad and upsetting for Glen's family, and his millions of fans around the world.  His oldest daughter, Debby, visited with him on Saturday in Nashville at this facility, and found him to be comfortable and in good spirits.  I am so happy to have been a part of helping Debby tell her touching story about her life with her father. 

Most people don't realize that Glen has had four separate families, from each of his four wives.  He had one child (Debby) from his first marriage, three children from his second wife, one from his third, and three from his fourth wife.  For Debby, this has made it especially challenging to have had a strong relationship with her father.  However, she always made an extra effort to remain actively involved in her father's life no matter who he was married to at the time.  And, in the middle of all of this was Glen's highly publicized affair with Tanya Tucker.  Debby had the extremely gratifying pleasure of singing and performing in Glen's act for 24 years.  She was his duet vocalist, and at times she was his opening act.  She can even been heard on some of his recordings, most notably her touching duet version of the song "Let It Be Me" that she sang with Glen, which appears on the incredible 2002 boxed set:  "Glen Campbell:  Legacy."  That being said, I am happy to have this touching new book out on the marketplace at this time.  It is a beautiful, heartfelt, and often heartbreaking account of a daughter's struggles to remain in her father's life.  However Glen's fans find this book -- via Kindle, Nook, Amazon, or bookstore -- I am proud to have this book as part of my writing catalog.  Debby Campbell has become a dear friend of mine, and for me, writing this book with her has been a labor of love.  I hope everyone enjoys it, and finds it to be a gratifying and in-depth look at one of our truly great singing legends:  the incredible Glen Campbell.

Happy Easter!  Eat lots of chocolate and Peeps!  I will too ... LOL!

Cheers,

Mark

 

I finally had a chance to catch up on some TV over the Easter Holiday Weekend ... and was pleased to see our FH Buddy Tony Hatch featured with TWO songs in a recent episode of "Glee".  The show kicked off with Rachel being picked up in her new limo and heading "Downtown" ... and then, after Artie had been robbed in the subway, she accompanied her former classmate for a ride on the subway while performing Tony's "Don't Sleep In the Subway".  BOTH songs were HUGE hits for Petula Clark back in the mid-'60's. ("Downtown" topped the charts in early 1965 ... and "Subway" peaked at #5 a couple of years later.)

"Glee" has a way of reviving some classic '60's and '70's hits, often introducing a whole new generation to this music for the very first time.  For this reason, I applaud it ... and history has shown that once the kids discover this "new" music, they will often seek out the ORIGINAL versions and download those, too.  I asked Tony if "Glee" was a big hit in England ... and here's what he sent me back:

 

Hi Kent,
Thanks for your Easter Greetings.

I knew about DOWNTOWN and SUBWAY in GLEE as a result of receiving a copy of the sync details from Universal Music last year and, of course, I was delighted. (I'm always pleased when a show like GLEE or AMERICAN IDOL features one of my songs which, as you rightly observe, keeps the younger generations up to date.)
It's in Series Two and I don't think we have had that episode yet.  The show is on Channel 4 here which is one of our five 'terrestrial' TV channels. It's not on at the moment. The show has a big following.
DOWNTOWN will be 50 later this year. The song was conceived in New York in October of 1964 and recorded in London the same month.   It topped the US charts in January of 1965. SUGAR AND SPICE has already celebrated its 50th anniversary, but DOWNTOWN is the special one.
Best wishes,
TONY

 

Can you believe it?  Chicago's next album (coming out in July) will be called Chicago XXXVI -- that's 36 for those of you who didn't grow up in the age of Roman Numerals like we had when this band first started way back when!  (lol)

You can hear sneak peeks of ALL of the new tracks right here:

Click here: VVN Music: Preview: Now: Chicago XXXVI - Chicago

 

And, speaking of new releases ...

 

ABKCO has announced three significant additions to its Rolling Stones “Clearly Classic” vinyl series that launched last year. Set for reissue on clear 180-gram vinyl on May 6 are Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones In Concert, 12 X 5, and Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2).  The titles join Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, and Hot Rocks: 1964-1971, which received resoundingly positive critical and consumer response upon release in 2013. All releases in the Clearly Classic series have been meticulously mastered from high resolution audio files sourced from the original master tapes, assuring optimal sound quality that exceeds both conventional CD audio and digital downloads. 

 

Looks like another music documentary is in the works ... and this one's a book, too!
Just got this from Tom Cuddy: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-rY0kSkOdU

 

Kent,

Today they announced Sir Paulie is coming to Lincoln for the first time ever on July 28. Competition to the Chicago Ringo event.  BUT, Ringo AND Riley and Weber sounds better to me.  :)  I may end up paying for Macca tickets IF I can even buy any when they go on sale.

Clark Besch

Macca's Chicago date was announced today, too ... July 9th at The United Center.  (Kinda tough on a Wednesday Night ... and I'm sure they'll add at least another date or two.)  Paul's plane containing all of the band's equipment was delayed on Monday and they had to cancel their scheduled show in Santiago, Chile.  He immediately rescheduled the show for Wednesday Night, honoring all of the Monday Night tickets so that fans could still catch the concert.

More and more dates are being added all the time ... and it sounds like McCartney has revamped the set list a little bit again this time to keep things fresh and new.  He also released another single from his "New" album ... but I've yet to hear ANY of these tracks featured on the radio more than once or twice.  Too bad as the LP has been critically acclaimed since it first hit the streets a few months back.

I'm really looking forward to the Clark Weber / Ron Riley / Ringo Starr thing at The Hard Rock Cafe ... these guys were my IDOLS back in the '60's ... and anybody who grew up listening to WLS at the time (which, with their 50,000 watt signal meant virtually everybody in about 42 states!) knows exactly what I'm talking about.  It is SO cool to still hear from these guys all these years later ... Weber, Riley, Bob Hale, Dex Card, Dick Biondi, Bob Dearborn, John Landecker, Bob Sirott, Kris Erik Stevens, Chuck Buell, Tommy Edwards, Fred Winston,  and several others have embraced the efforts of Forgotten Hits for trying to keep this great music ... and this great ERA ... alive.  It was such a HUGE part of our lives.  (kk)

 

When I was 11 years old in 1958 I had a paper route.  And the first thing I did when I got my very first paycheck was buy a small transistor AM radio ... so that I could listen to the radio while I did my route.  (Of course I also listened to it well into the night with my little earplug under my pillow just like so many others who have written to you over the years.)  I would fall asleep listening to Dick Biondi and Art Roberts and Ron Britain and Barney Pip ... Larry Lujack when he was still on at night ... Bob Hale ... Clark Weber ... Don Phillips "East Of Midnight" ... great memories ... and all these years later, I still remember all of those guys.  It's great to see so many of these names come up again and again in your pages ... and exciting to think about how much they meant to us then ... and how they've stayed involved for all these years.  Obviously these years meant a great deal to all of them, too.

Ed K

 

re:  Chicago Gold:

That sounds like a great idea that Jim Pilster has suggested for decades.  I agree on those artists and singers, but we need an emcee for every act!  Bring in Bob Stroud, Dick Biondi, Ron Riley, Clark Weber, Dex Card, Ron Britain, Chuck Buell!  How about some soul with Jerry Butler, Mavis Staples emceed by Herb Kent??

Clark

 

It does sound like a great event ... but you have forgotten one (at least) group from your list ... Chicago. Though very popular and still touring, they should be included in the mix.  

Scott Schultz,

McHenry

Actually, I DID mention them ... or, more specifically, the Chicago Horns ... but then added "Wouldn't it be nice to feature a couple of songs by them, too?"  And Styx ... and several others.

The main focus era for The Chicago Gold idea would be the music of the '60's ... and that's why names like The Buckinghams, The New Colony Six, The Cryan' Shames, The Ides Of March, The American Breed, The Shadows Of Knight, The Mauds, etc., come up most frequently.  Chicago, Styx and several others ushered in a new era of Chicago Gold, starting in the '70's ... and the odds of getting any of THEM to participate in an event like this are pretty slim.  Then again if you DID turn this into a week-long event ... with a different headliner every night ... you could have your "core group" making sure all the hits are heard for every performance ... but then spotlight one act as the headliner ... meaning Dennis Tufano could sing all of The Buckinghams hits one night while Carl and Nick did them on another.  (Even cooler would be a full-blown reunion ... maybe even get Marty Grebb to come in for this ... but I just don't know if we could pull that off.  Then again, preserving this moment for all posterity by filming it??? Who knows!)

This would be true of several of these acts I would think ... get at least three or four of The Cryan' Shames back up there for one more night ... maybe the current version of The New Colony Six one night and then a special reunion concert with several of the original members on another ... and Ronnie Rice and Skip Griparis on yet another.  Really, the possibilities are endless ... but first we've got to get everybody onboard ... get PBS involved ... (The Arcada Theatre photographs BEAUTIFULLY, by the way ... there are several concerts filmed there currently showing on cable right now!) ... I dunno ... I say let's get this ball in motion and see how far we can roll it!  (kk)

 

re:  The Saturday Surveys:

If you're diggin' our new Saturday feature (and it sounds like quite a few of you are) and you'd like to see WAY more surveys than we could ever possibly post, our FH buddy Clark Besch suggests you check out this site ...

http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/artists_item.php?rtid=2485&lidx=0&lttl=1&srt1=tsc_rt%20DESC&vqry=Yellow%20Balloon

It allows you to search by radio station, song and artist, and any number of other ways to find exactly what you're looking for ... and they've got a HUGE collection of charts from all over the country.  (WARNING:  Be prepared to spend some time here ... 'cause once you get started, you're going to want to keep on going!!!)

The example above was used to help out Alex Valdez of The Yellow Balloon, who was looking for chart information on their big hit "Yellow Balloon" from 1967.  Here's what Alex thought of this incredible site:

Thanks a million, Kent!

I spent the whole day pouring over this site ... what a great outlet.

Alex

Actually (and I just LOVE saying this!!!) thanks should be directed to that SUPER Survey Team of Clark / Kent on this one!!!  (kk)