Here's a K-Mart Chart from 1977. It kicks off with a couple of disco-tinged songs at the top ("I Just Want To Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb and "You Made Me Believe In Magic" by The Bay City Rollers) but a fair amount of the rest of this chart would probably qualify for soft-rock / easy-listening / middle-of-the-road programming today.
Not that there aren't a few good tracks scattered amongst the bunch.
A personal favorite is the Dean Freidman song "Ariel". (Dean has participated with Forgotten Hits from time to time over the years ... although we haven't heard from him in a quite a while now.)
Other Forgotten Hits favorites include "You And Me" (a soft-rock track from Alice Cooper), "On And On" by Stephen Bishop and "Just A Song Before I Go" by Crosby, Stills and Nash.
And am I the only one out there that thinks Shaun Cassidy did a pretty credible job singing Eric Carmen's "That's Rock And Roll"???
The Beach Boys top this hard-to-read KRLA Chart from this date in 1963. In fact you'll find quite a bit of surf music on this week's chart ... "Wipe Out" by The Surfaris, 'Baja" by The Astronauts, "Surfin' Hootenanny" by Al Casey and "The Lonely Surfer" by Jack Nitzche are all part of this week's Top 50 listing.
Here's a Top 30 Chart from KGLA, circa 1972. Elton John's on top with one of his biggest hits (but ironically one that DIDN'T top Billboard's Chart), "Honky Cat". "Layla" is also in The Top Ten this week as is a favorite of mine by Austin Roberts, "Something's Wrong With Me".
We also don't get to hear "Conquistador" by Procol Harum much anymore ... and check out Michael Murphey at #14 with "Geronimo's Cadillac"!
Look closely and you'll find Led Zeppelin at #26 with "Stairway To Heaven", a song that was never officially released as a single! (And two spots behind The Carpenters with their latest hit, "Goodbye To Love".)
Yep, variety was the name of the game in Top 40 Radio back in the day!
The Supremes hold down the #1 spot for one more week on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart as THE ANIMALS move into the #2 position with their first American Chart Hit, THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN. A HARD DAY'S NIGHT by THE BEATLES falls to #4, BECAUSE holds at #7 for THE DAVE CLARK FIVE and HOW DO YOU DO IT by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS hangs on at #10.
WISHIN' AND HOPIN' finally falls out of The Top Ten to #11 this week for DUSTY SPRINGFIELD. THE BEATLES are still making their presence known as AND I LOVE HER climbs to #13, AIN'T SHE SWEET falls to #24 and I'LL CRY INSTEAD climbs to #29. IT'S ALL OVER NOW by THE ROLLING STONES climbs to #34 while their previous hit, TELL ME, falls from #27 to #38. Sandwiched in between is I'LL KEEP YOU SATISFIED by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS, now sitting at #36 … and rounding out The Top 40 with 11 British Hits.
IF I FELL by THE BEATLES, RINGO'S THEME by GEORGE MARTIN (from the same film, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT) and SOME DAY WE'RE GONNA LOVE AGAIN by THE SEARCHERS hold down positions 54, 55 and 56 respectively while A SUMMER SONG by CHAD AND JEREMY climbs from #85 to #70. Meanwhile, FROM A WINDOW by BILLY J. KRAMER AND THE DAKOTAS moves to #79. (CHAD AND JEREMY would release THEIR version of the Lennon - McCartney tune FROM A WINDOW a year later!)
August closes with THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by THE ANIMALS at #2, BECAUSE by THE DAVE CLARK FIVE at #5, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT by THE BEATLES at #6, WISHIN' AND HOPIN' by DUSTY SPRINGFIELD at #7 and HOW DO YOU DO IT by GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS at #10, giving The British Invasion Artists HALF of this week's Top Ten Hits in Chicago according to The WLS Silver Dollar Survey.
That's some serious domination … but you won't find another British Hit until you reach #28 where THE ROLLING STONES sit with IT'S ALL OVER NOW. Right behind them at #29 are CHAD AND JEREMY and their latest hit, A SUMMER SONG … but that's it for a British presence on this week's Chicagoland chart.
Congratulations to Scott Shannon and his WCBS-FM Morning Team ... they just hit #1 in New York City! It's Scott's first time at #1 since 1988 when he had the top-rated show with Z100, according to The New York Daily News, who did a spotlight feature on him last week. However one quote from Scott had a few FH Readers shouting "Traitor!". During the course of the interview, Shannon said "The station has done the right thing by moving its music forward into the '70's, '80's and '90's" ... which turned off a few readers (and, I'm sure, loyal listeners as well.) I should point out, however that the REST of his quote (not repeated above) went on to say "Personally, I miss '60's music, but I can play that for myself." And he does ... every day ... on The True Oldies Channel. I suppose the PERFECT mix would be to feature only music from the '50's, '60's and '70's on The True Oldies Channel to pacify the die-hard oldies music fans (as well as Scott's own personal taste in music) ... and then concentrate on the '70's, '80's and '90's for his WCBS-FM audience (and go for the ratings!) It's hard to argue with what's working ... and having the #1 rated show in New York City tells me (like it or not!) it's working!!! (kk)
And, speaking of Scott Shannon ...
Kent ... On Saturday (8/23/14) Scott Shannon went to a friend's wedding in Cleveland. Scott was told that he has a plaque in the DJ section of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He's never actually seen it. This was a perfect opportunity to check it out. It was there --- but --- they still have him working at WPLJ. They have to update the information about his move to WCBS. Lucky he checked it out! Now they can correct his radio history.
Frank B.
One more ...
We shared this awhile back ... but I've got to feature it again.
Scott Shannon tells the story about the time that Eric Carmen invited him to be in his new music video. (This was back during Scott's VeeJay Days at VH-1). Once all the details were worked out and Scott realized the logistics of sorting all this out in order to make the video shoot, he politely bowed out saying that it just didn't make sense for him to do it. Carmen (not so) graciously accepted Shannon's decision and cast someone else as the deejay in the clip. But watch closely at the end of the video ... where you'll find a giant Scott Shannon poster that is soon the target of several darts being throw at it during the fade out of the song! (Paybacks are a bitch!) Funny stuff from two real pros. (Gotta love it!) kk
Star Vista / Time - Life has some GREAT titles coming up for the very first time ... (I'm going to have to get a second job!)
The 6-CD Deluxe Edition of "Motown 25" (the first time any of us saw Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk with TONS of extra special features, featurettes, interviews, etc.) $79.95
"The Wonder Years" - The COMPLETE Series - man, I've been waiting YEARS for this to finally come out on DVD! (Music licensing rights held it up) $249.95 (ouch!)
"The Midnight Special" - a brand new 11-Disc collection of highlights from the great Wolfman Jack-hosted late night series ($99.95)
FH Reader (and DJ) Stu Weiss sent us a vintage Bill Haley interview done for Armed Forces Radio back in 1962. It's too long to run here (30 minutes) but if you'd like me to send you a copy, just drop me an email and I'll be happy to send it along. Thanks, Stu! (kk)
During your discussion of Chicago's two stations WLS and WCFL playing different versions of the same song, you gave an example for artist Giorgio. That triggered my mind to a record he came out with in 1969 called LOOKY LOOKY on Atco. It's the only record that I know of by him that made our survey here in OKC. I always did like it. In fact, I just played it twice before I sent you this e-mail. Don't know if you remember it or if it made your local survey. In my playing of Giorgio's (Morodor) LOOKY LOOKY, in the background I noticed the singers singing remnants of the Rivington's tune PAPA-OOM-MOW-MOW. Coincidence or on purpose, I don't know. Also, to be honest with you, I have never known anything really about the artist Giorgio
Larry Neal
In 1972, Giorgio may have just been a young electronic synth / pop performer from Italy (his version of "Son Of My Father" is nearly identical in every way to the bigger hit version by Chicory ... we once did a whole spotlight feature on these two tracks ... and how difficult it is telling them apart), but a few years later he was the go-to guy for film soundtracks. (He also helped guide Donna Summer's career, producing numerous hits for the disco queen ... and worked with Blondie on their movie hit "Call Me". In addition, Moroder also provided part of the music soundtrack to the 1984, 1988 and 2008 Olympics!) Amongst his extensive film credits: Midnight Express, Top Gun, American Gigolo, Scarface, Flashdance, Cat People, Metropolis, Electric Dreams and several others.
"Looky Looky" never made Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart ... but was a regional hit in several markets. We featured this one, too, back in our "Son Of My Father" spotlight a few years ago. It never charted here in Chicago. (kk)
Diane Diekman (who has written biographies on both Marty Robbins and Faron Young ... and publishes a weekly Country Music Newsletter distributed via email) is reporting about a new Kenny Rogers Exhibit in Nashville: Kenny Rogers is celebrating his 76th birthday and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibition, Kenny Rogers: Through the Years. A crowd of 700 fans came to the new CMA Theater when he was interviewed by John Rumble, senior historian at the museum. Kenny, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, talked about his years as recording artist, record producer, actor, author, and photographer. As for singing partners, he said, "Everybody sings better on a duet. It's like running a hundred-yard dash. You can run it as fast as you think you can. But if you put someone faster next to you, you're going to run faster." One of his duet partners, Dolly Parton, is already in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Kenny asked fans to push to get Dottie West, another duet partner, inducted.
She also gives a short review of Kenny's EXCELLENT biography "Luck Or Something Like It" ...
I purchased the 2012 Kenny Rogers memoir, Luck or Something Like it, when I was thinking about writing a Dottie West biography. Although no co-writer is credited, Kenny acknowledges Patsi Bale Cox working on the book until her death from lung cancer and then Allen Rucker finishing the job. Kenny grew up in the housing projects of Houston, where, he says, "We were poor people, but living in the projects, we really didn't know it because we were all in the same boat." He was in college in 1959 when invited to join a jazz band as a bass player. He said he only played guitar and not very well. He was told, "There's more demand for bad bass players than bad guitar players." He became part of the New Christy Minstrels in 1966 and helped form the First Edition in 1967. (The first concert during my freshman year at Augustana College in 1968 was the New Christy Minstrels, followed two months later by the First Edition.) The name was changed to "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition" with the release of "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" in 1969. When he went solo, "Lucille" became the first of his 20 Number One country songs on Billboard--including duets with Dottie West and Dolly Parton. This well-balanced book covers his music, his movies, his personal life, his many friends, and his love for photography. Looking back, he says, "You've been singing songs for fifty years, and you realize that the most treasured things you have are your family, your friends, and your memories."
I thoroughly enjoyed Kenny's book ... you can find our review (as well as a 4-Part Series that traces Kenny's entire career) at this link below:
We're going to see them tomorrow night! We saw KC a couple of years ago at The Arcada Theatre and it was a real fun and entertaining show. This time around, Ron Onesti has pulled out some of the seats to create a dance floor right up in front of the stage. (I haven't heard yet if he's gone all out and done the light-up disco dance floor or not ... but this is going to be a blast no matter what!) If you're able to come out, please do ... this is a show that's guaranteed to make you smile! (kk) Visit www.oshows.com for tickets
Good morning, Kent,
Not surprised to see the story of Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" as one of your featured items in today's "Forgotten Hits." Ironically, yesterday (Sunday) I was thinking about the most lucrative musical copyrights and the Orbison classic came in at #9.
Four of the top 10 songs were featured in movies -- three of them the titles of the movie -- and three are also Christmas classics: "The Christmas Song," "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town," and "White Christmas," which is also the #1 selling single of all-time -- a reported 100,000,000 to 300,000,000. Whatever is the exact number, there will certainly never be another. The various artists, most notably Bing Crosby, and the songwriter, Irving Berlin, were actually PAID for each sale:)
FYI: Here are the Top 10 most lucrative song copyrights of all-time:
10.) The Christmas Song
9.) Oh Pretty Woman
8.) Every Breath You Take
7.) Santa Clause is Coming To Town
6.) Stand By Me
5.) Unchained Melody
4.) Yesterday
3.) You've Lost That Loving Feeling
2.) White Christmas
1.) Happy Birthday
Yes, the #1 most lucrative song was written by the Hill Sisters (Patty and Mildred) in 1893 as an alternate version of the classic, "Good Morning To You." Supposedly, any time it is sung at in a 'group setting,' (non-related people), a performance fee is due the writers and publisher (Warner Brothers Music). Also, any time it appears in a movie or television program they are paid $10,000 to $25,000, depending on which source is cited. In just two years (2016) the EU (European Union) copyright will expire and in 2030 the US copyright will expire.
Fred Vail
Treasure Isle Recorders, Inc.
Music City, USA
Last week we told you about the new 3-CD Hollies set celebrating their 50th Anniversary ... now comes word of a 2-Disc Set featuring "The Essential Kinks" ... which pretty much covers everything you'd want to hear by these guys (although I would have much preferred the studio versions over the live versions of Kinks Klassics like "Lola" and "Till The End Of The Day". Full details can be found here: Click here: Preview: "The Essential Kinks" ~ VVN Music
Kent,
As another admirer of "Hi-De-Ho", you might want to feature the writer's version from Carole King's "City" group album with the song titled "That Old Sweet Roll."
Also, here's Andrea Carroll's "Please Don't Talk to the Lifeguard" for comparison to Diane Ray's hit version. I think Andrea's is better, myself.
Clark Besch
Yes, I've heard Carole King's original version before ... all I can say is Blood, Sweat And Tears sure did a soulful interpretation of this one! It's my all-time favorite by them and I've never gotten tired of it. (Can't say the same about a couple of their other early hits! lol)
I've never heard the Andrea Carroll version before but our readers sure seemed to be familiar with it. Not sure I prefer it to the Diane Ray version ... but then I'm not real fond of the song overall! (lol) Thanks, Clark. (kk)
Now that the money has been raised for a DVD release, folks are starting to wonder when they're going to finally receive their copy of "The Wrecking Crew". Denny Tedesco tells us they're still editing (and adding tons of extras) but hopes to have the discs ready to ship soon.
Meanwhile, he's just posted another great "outtake" ...
Congratulations to the newest inductees into The Rhythm And Blues Hall Of Fame ...
Michael Jackson / Marvin Gaye / Whitney Houston, The Delfonics, Chubby Checker, The Dells, The Sweet Inspirations, The Spinners, The Impressions, The Funk Brothers, Russell Thompkins, Jr. of The Stylistics, The Whispers and Norm N. Nite.
And finally, resolution for the asshole who ripped off the money raised at last year's Streetsboro Sonny Geraci Benefit Concert ... Bill Thompson plead guilty to grand theft by pocketing over $20,000 raised by the concert. Thompson will be sentenced for his crime and is obligated to settle with Geraci's family. More details here:
Fans, friends and supporters have been outraged over this entire chain of events. Hopefully the court will finally set things right. (kk)
re: Diggin' Forgotten
Hits:
Thanks for all the hard work you put into FH. I
appreciate it and enjoy the publications!
Linette
I gotta tell ya - I can't believe how much work
you must put into this fuckin' thing! 'Cause you just keep it goin'. I know
how much work it was for me to keep The Cryan' Shames going and I've kinda lost
the fire in my belly to keep it goin' ... and it takes fire to keep it goin' ...
but even after all this time, you've still got the fire.
Jim Pilster / The Cryan' Shames
Where on earth do you find the time to put this
much work and effort into Forgotten Hits? Not only to do it ... but to do it
every day ... and organize the comments ... and then RESPOND to all the
comments. I don't know how you do it and I tip my hat to you ... because we all
sure appreciate it.
I didn't know Jimy Rogers and The Mauds the first time around ... I was too young to ever get the chance to see them ... but I certainly remember hearing their music on the radio here in Chicago.
Their first local hit was a cover of the Sam and Dave song "Hold On - I'm Comin'" ... which WLS Radio immediately made them record new lyrics for in order to gain airplay. The radio station apparently felt that the lyrics were "too suggestive", something I've NEVER understood ... then OR now!!! Lyrically, it was all about reaching out to help a friend through any unexpected curve life happened to throw at them ... a statement as simple as "I'm here for you, buddy". To think that "I'm comin'" was a sexual reference makes me wonder who had the dirtier minds ... the disc jockeys and program directors or the musicians?!?!? (For the record, the Sam and Dave version never charted on WLS either.)
However, once the band modified the lyrics (to "Hold On, don'tcha worry") the record peaked at #15 on the WLS Silver Dollar Survey ... and charted at #11 on WCFL (who played the UN-edited version, most likely just to spite the competition.)
I asked Clark Weber, Program Director at WLS at the time, how he viewed this incident then ... and now, with the benefit of nearly 50 years of hindsight ...
Morning kk; I well recall the record and the controversy. The situation was compounded by the fact that Bill Traut was a friend of mine. There were two situations in play. Hard R&B was just beginning to cross over into the pop field ... however the Sam & Dave frantic shouting combined with the song title resulted in many pop stations staying away from the song. Plus there was so much great music to choose from, so why take a chance. While the lyrics suggested a friend helping another friend, the perception of the white listening audience was that the song had a strong sexual connotation. I recall that our sister station WABC didn't play it either. WCFL did play the heck out of the Mauds, not so much because they heard a "hit" but because we didn't play it. The sales were anemic and they finally dropped it from their playlist.
A side story concerning Sam & Dave: I believe it was Sam who shot his wife during an argument. She survived ... however Dave never forgave him for that act and never spoke to him again. During their act they would enter the stage from different ends, sing and react on stage driving their audiences to a frenzy, then depart the stage from each end and never spoke to each other for the rest of their professional lives. -- Clark Weber
The Mauds' second big chart hit here in Chicago came a couple of years later ... it was "Soul Drippin'", probably the song they're best known for nationally. (It peaked at #12 on WLS ... and climbed as high as #55 in Cash Box. Incredibly, it stalled at #85 ... a full thirty points lower ... in Billboard!)
It's a GREAT piece of rock and roll soul, supplemented by the then unknown horn section of Chicago (who were still calling themselves CTA at the time ... in fact, THEIR first album hadn't been released yet!)
When Jimy Rogers reformed The Mauds in 2000, he put together a crackerjack line-up of musicians ... and they put on an incredible show. They continued to record (both new material and old soul classics, including a new "live" version of "Hold On, I'm Comin'".) I was fortunate to have seen them several times during their brief "second coming". (Truth be told, gigs were getting hard to come by ... and paying as many as a dozen musicians and singers for each performance really limited both live opportunities and any sort of meaningful compensation.) Jimy also sat in a number of times with the "Chicago Gold" show put together by Jim Pilster of The Cryan' Shames, which would often feature "guest vocalists" on stage with The Shames as their back-up band. It was not at all uncommon to catch Jimy Rogers of The Mauds, Jimy Sohns of The Shadows Of Knight, Ronnie Rice of The New Colony Six and Dennis Tufano of The Buckinghams all sharing the same stage, performing their best known Chicagoland '60's hits, right alongside those created by The Cryan' Shames.
Jimy got mad at me one time when I made a comment about his weight in a Forgotten Hits column. (I have looked for the actual exchange but haven't been able to locate it.)
Those of us who knew him knew he was a small, thin, but very healthy, well-conditioned performer with one of the most powerful voices to ever grace a stage. When I said something to the effect of Rogers weighing about 95 pounds soaking wet, he took me to task for it, explaining that he worked VERY hard to maintain his weight and condition and took this very seriously. (As someone who's probably gained a hundred pounds since high school, I can't relate! lol) I apologized in print as I didn't mean it in ANY way, shape or form to be construed as a negative comment, but rather a compliment to his rock-solid, petite self.
That's why it was SUCH a shock to find out that he had passed away. Not only did he appear to be in tip-top physical shape, but NOBODY even knew he was sick ... not even his closest friends and relatives ... not his bandmates in Blue Road ... NOBODY. It came COMPLETELY out of left field and shocked us all. (In hindsight I cannot help but wonder if that's why my comment bothered him as much as it did ... he was already sick and having a hard time keeping on any weight ... but none of us knew.)
Jimy was a simple man and a very nice and approachable man. In the liner notes for The Mauds' CD "Soul Attitude", Bob Stroud writes, "Let's face it, you've either got it or you don't. Jimy Rogers had it ... and he knew it. So did everyone who saw him and The Mauds perform."
Shortly before he passed, Jimy Rogers gave me a couple of tracks by The Mauds that had never been released ... material recorded in 1968 and 1969. Quent Lang, the sax player for the revamped band with whom I've remained close to and in contact with since the end, told me "Jimy wanted you to have these." I've never shared them before ... but feel that this would finally be the time to do so as part of our tribute to Jimy Rogers. Keep in mind these are from that heady 1968 - 1969 period where extended jams were the soup de jour ... quite honestly, there's nothing commercial about either of these tracks ... and I don't feel they accurately represent the sound of The Mauds at all. They were R&B all the way ... Jimy was never more at home than he was singing a gut-wrenching scorcher ... which makes these heavy, rare, unreleased tracks all that much more unique. Enjoy. (kk)
Kent: It's still hard to believe that Jimy is gone. I think of him
often. Being a part of the Mauds (2000 - 2007) was quite a ride. One studio CD,
one live CD, several appearances at the House of Blues, Park West, even two sold
-out shows at Ravinia ... you can't get much better than that. Jimy deserved all
the recognition he received. He was one of the kindest and most sincere
individuals I have ever worked with. Yes , he was extremely shy off stage, but
once the show began he transformed himself into a human dynamo ... dancing,
singing, and always delivering. God bless Jimy ! Otis Redding would have been
proud. Quent Lang THE MAUDS saxophonist / flute
And here's a GREAT shot from musician Dave Zane ... Jimy and Dave live on stage ... where they both truly belong!
We received quite a few testimonials from Jimy's friends and fans ... and I think ALL of these folks would agree that most of us feel privileged to have been both.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jimy Rogers several times over the course of a few years. He was an unassuming man who greatly enjoyed sharing stories and talking about The Mauds ... but he had the perfect voice to belt out any number of soul classics. He also had a stage presence that belied his quiet nature. I've always considered The Mauds underrated, and Jimy was and still is a true local legend. I'm honored to have known him. I'm looking forward to reading your piece on The Mauds.
Hi Kent.
I don't have a lot to say about Jimy Rogers because I didn't know him that well or that long. I only got to know him in the reincarnated Mauds of the early 2000's, when they played occasionally with the Cryan' Shames, or at Rory' s. I remember how I used to wonder how a guy who was so shy and introverted could get up on stage and roar like nobody else. He was always a gentleman to me. I remember a few times when he was waiting to go on stage he would be standing near me and he would come over and just hold my hand - not in a way that you'd think, more like it just gave him strength and confidence. I loved that he trusted me for that, and I wish I'd have known him longer. But I don't think there was anyone quite like him, and I was privileged to call him my friend. RIP Jimy, we miss you. Marlene O'Malley
In 1965 I met Jimy Rogers and The Mauds at The Cellar in Arlington Heights, IL. I was just a 14 year old punk kid, but soon became a huge fan with this special band. Every member of The Mauds were always so professional, friendly and personable. I got to know Jimy very well over the decades. He was a very wonderful and talented person, and when he hit the stage he really gave it his all. Jimy was a very powerful entertainer, always putting on quite the show. He did numerous benefits for the 60s Museum in the 2000's. I know many of his fans feel like I do. We miss his friendship and his soulful singing so much. Long live his music. Regards, Nancy Lutz Harless Des Plaines, IL
Kent, Unfortunately I really never had the opportunity to get to know Jimy. We played the same circuit in the old days and more recently some fest. He had a soulful sound and was true to his roots. Jimy was a great showman. Too bad because he had a lot more good music in him. Carl Giammarese The Buckinghams
But fellow Buck Dave Zane had the opportunity to perform with Jimy Rogers many times over the years ... here is what he had to say:
Jimy had such a gentle spirit. When he hit the stage it was his home. He was such a great performer and singer both. He oozed soul! When I first was introduced to the Chicago area at a venue that The Mauds were playing at Jimy said, who is this guy and where did he come from? He wanted me to join the band and there was a short meeting about it but it didn't happen as I was about to join The Cryan' Shames and someone in that organization put a stop to that idea. I had the chance to share the stage with him many times that I cherish. We connected. I remember him telling me that early on when The Mauds just started happening, he met Sammy Davis Jr. Sammy wanted Jimy to join him in Vegas. He told me that maybe it was a mistake that he declined that offer. I sure do miss seeing him, doing what he loved to do. Dave Zane The Buckinghams Jay & the Americans
I heard that they were originally to be called the Mods, but didn't know how to spell "Mods". I loved their TV show, "Mauds and Mindy". Loved Bea Arthur in "Maud". Fred Glickstein The Flock
Well, he had to know him a LITTLE bit ... here's a vintage poster of a Mauds / Flock appearance from way back when! (kk) NOW you're talkin'!!!! This proves that you really DO give a Flock!! Fred
Kent --
I honestly don't know enough about the Mauds to say anything useful. At the time I didn't appreciate soul-ish music, because my first girlfriend dumped me in the summer of 1968 for not raving about Aretha. (I was an Association fanatic, 1966 - 1970.) Since then I've come to appreciate their cover of "Hold On" but have not actually listened to much of the rest.
A friend told me once that the Mauds played at the Immaculate Conception (Harlem Avenue) Teen Club in late 1966, before they were famous. (That was my grade school.) I remember the Riddles there but not the Mauds.
Can't help you much this time.
-- 73 -- -- JD --
The Mauds, like the Mob, were a great RNB band from Chitown. Jimy Rogers kept the band going great right up until his untimely death. I still get his band's Blue Road emails which include an appearance with Chase Revisited at the end of the month!
The Mauds' "Forever Gone" 45 was the first record to list "CTA" (Chicago) with "brass arrangement" on a 45.
Their version of "Hold On" by Sam & Dave in 1967 was too much for some stations, so they re-cut it for WLS and others with Jimy changing the lyrics from "I'm Coming" to "Don't You Worry"! It's only available so far on a DJ 45 special press. I have attached it.
Larry Lujack gave them a nice tribute on air in 1970 when the Ides' "Vehicle" came out. I sent the clip to Jim Peterik who loved it and mentioned it at his gig that night!
The Mauds were just one more Chicago band deserving of a better fate, but had a legion of fans that followed them right up to Jimy's death and now beyond with the Blue Road gigs. Jimy had a great voice and they made powerful music always. I wish I could have met him at some point, but was never able to. I tried years ago to get a label interested in issuing a CD of their material for Mercury, but it was not the right label to try with. Bob Stroud was able to get "Soul Drippin'" onto one of his great Rock N Roll Roots Cd comps, but we need the rest. I still believe their music deserves a good comp and do not understand why no one has taken up the torch. Hopefully, someone will right this wrong, but Jimy and the Mauds will always be remembered as one of Chicago's best horn R&B bands. Clark Besch
Here's some info on the upcoming event:
Mark your calendar.....
Friday Aug. 29th @ Reggies 7 pm
2105 S. State St. Chicago
Get It On!
Blue Road opens for
Chase Revisited- Brass Rock at its Best
Pop a video tape into your VCR, cue up Pulp Fiction or hit the play button on your 8 track cassette for a ride in your Pontiac Trans Am with opening band BLUE ROAD. Featuring Gary Gand on guitar and Joan Gand on keys, sax player TK the Tequila Kid, and drummer Tony Dale; the quartet will be performing a special set of vintage 1970s tunes including your favorite instrumentals from the Average White Band, Billy Preston, Edgar Winter, Sly Stone, and Booker T and the MG’s. Order up a Strawberry Daiquiri for your lady, but careful not to spill on your polyester suit! Make mine Jack and Coke please.
The band CHASE was created in 1970 by Bill Chase, Ted Piercefield, Alan Ware, and Jerry Van Blair, all veteran jazz trumpeters. They were backed up by a rhythm section consisting of Phil Porter on keyboards, Angel South on guitar, Dennis Keith Johnson on bass, and Jay Burrid on drums. Rounding out the group was Terry Richards, who was featured as lead vocalist on the first album. In April 1971, the band released their debut album CHASE which contains Chase’s best-known song, “Get It On,” released as a single that spent thirteen weeks on the charts beginning in May 1971. The band received a Best New Artist Grammy nomination and the album went Gold. On August 9, 1974 while en route to a scheduled performance at the Jackson County Fair in Minnesota, Bill Chase died in a plane crash at the age of 39. Also killed, along with the pilot and a female companion, were Wally Yohn, Walter Clark, and John Emma.
In 2007 Joe Morrissey contacted surviving original group members with a reunion proposition, and Chase Revisited was then born. Since then, the group has been selectively performing with members from all released albums, augmented with some of the best world-class jazz-rock musicians available, bringing this uniquely exciting music back to life.
M13 is a Chicago-based, 13-piece ensemble, whose original compositions and arrangements by saxophonist/bandleader Aaron McEvers has just
been added to the show, following BLUE ROAD. This will be an incredible night of music!
After The Mauds disbanded again in 2006, Jimy joined Blue Road as their lead vocalist. Joan and Gary Gand are still leading the charge today (see poster above for an upcoming appearance later this week!) kk
Hi Kent, Here are our thoughts on Jimy Rogers / The Mauds:
We had the good fortune to perform with Jimy Rogers from 2006 until his death in 2010. Gary remembered him from the original 60s Mauds days, when Gary used to run the light show at Heads Up in Round Lake. The Mauds played several times and Gary never forgot the quality and intensity of their performances. He always said that they were one of the top bands of the 60s and that anyone who saw them live would agree. I never got to see the Mauds in those days, and only experienced a Jimy Rogers performance in late 2006 when he came to sing at the weekly blues jam we used to host at Gabe’s Backstage Lounge in Highwood. I will never forget that night - we had been playing "Mercy, Mercy" as an instrumental - and Jimy came up to sing it with us. What a performance! He did the Mauds version, which has different lyrics, and it was amazing. Then he launched into “Hold On’ and brought down the house. One thing I will say about Jimy is that he was, and lived, as the consummate “rock star.” He had amazing talent, looks, style, and that elusive charisma. We used to call him “the rock star next door” because he was a guy you could hang out with at the neighborhood bar, but you felt like you were hanging out with someone on par with Mick Jagger! He was definitely the coolest guy around, dressed the part, drove a vintage Vette, and had a special mystique unlike anyone we’ve ever met. We had a blast performing with him in our band, Blue Road, and as the Mauds in its final incarnation. It was short, sweet musical friendship that we will never forget. - Joan and Gary Gand
Kent, I've thought about this for a couple of days and all I can say is that I've had the Mauds' original vinyl LP probably since it came out, as well as the 45 of Soul Drippin', which doesn't appear on the album. Never did see them back in the day, and by the time they got back together, I had moved from the area. So I never saw them then either. I was lucky enough to get a copy of their new CD from you in conjunction with some promotion you had about five years ago. As much as any the more well known bands, The Mauds had a feel for the R&B roots of the music we call Rock and Roll. Jack
In remembrance of my dear friend Jimy Rogers an
old song comes to mind: "Day's never end and the years seem to be speeding by".
I can't believe this musical and joyful man has not been with us since 2010.
Every time I take the stage, I not only miss
Jimy, but I remember to incorporate the great lessons he bestowed upon me. One
in particular comes to mind ... Jimy would say "Don't over think ... allow the
music to flow through you ... just be".
Jimy lived what he preached, and this was quite
apparent to any one who knew him. Jimy was a deep thinking spiritual man who
was quiet, shy and sometimes even quite anxious, but when he hit the stage he
became the front man we all admired, Jimy exploded with energy and was quick to
engage and involve the audience. As a musician, Jimy was not interested in only
relying on his past laurels (as many of the musicians and bands did and have
done from his era), but was eager to realize the future, which was always proven
by incorporating newly composed Mauds music in his recordings and live shows.
Long live Jimy's memory and
music!
See you in the next one, my
friend!
Michael Flynn
Lead guitarist and song writer for the
Mauds
The Mauds have never been pretty! No chance!
Never quaint or "soft", The Mauds are what rock 'n roll is mean to be.
Rock isn't the Association doing "Cherish." Rock is meant to have bass lines that cause your spleen to bounce.
The Mauds bring and have always brought 212 degree energy to the table.
If memory serves me correctly, the first time I saw the group, it was opening for Mitch Ryder at the International Amphitheater back in 1967. At the time they had some regional success covering a song by Sam and Dave ... Gotta believe it was "Hold On."
The Mauds endured. They never compromised. They never got the record company backing they deserved. It's a shame ... but there is significant glory in maintaining one's integrity.
To those about to rock, salute The Mauds, a prolific Chicago rock band that has never taken any prisoners.
Chet Coppock
Why just 'A short piece'? If not the Mauds, Jimy deserves a major thought. He was one of my favorite people in the business. I still wear the bracelet I received at one of the memorial shows we did after his death ... I've never taken it off for almost four years now. I still can't pronounce the disease he died from but the bracelet reads www.cholangiocarcinom.org . I loved Jimy Rogers and I would be happy to contribute to your piece. I was so happy just to know him. Just to know him was to have more soul. If you knew Jimy Rogers, you had more soul. If you were his friend, you had more soul. He had more soul than anybody else I ever knew. He was just the quintessential friend and soulful singer and I miss him. And he was just a genuinely nice guy ... he ended up being my best friend in this business. I loved Jimy - I talked to him at least once a week and I still miss him every day. It was very, very sad when he died ... and I always felt bad that he never really talked to me about it before he died. Jimy was a real loss for all of us. I
still miss him every single day. Your friend, Jim Pilster The Cryan' Shames
Thanks to all the accolades we received, our piece quickly grew in size ... to a three-part mini series! (Part One which ran yesterday broke the Forgotten Hits record for most single-day page views!) Jimy was well-loved and respected around town ... now it's time for others to discover his talent from coast-to-coast. (kk)
Hi Kent! My earliest memories of the Mauds would be as a 16 year old, hearing "Hold On!" on WCFL and WLS. Like so many of my age and geographics, I was all about all things connected with Chicago bands. I bought the single first and was just as impressed with the flip, "C'mon and Move" as I was with "Hold On!" So then it was onto their debut album on Mercury. Then in '68 "Soul Drippin'" grabbed me in the same way and I went out and bought that as well. I was always impressed with the "years" in Jimy's voice, so unlike all of the other local pop singers of the era. Jump ahead to my move to Chicago in 1979 and slowly but surely I began to meet all of my childhood heroes from Chicago, including Jimy Rogers. He was a gentle, sweet soul with a huge heart. One of my professional high points was when Jimy asked me to write the liner notes for a new Mauds CD. Wow! I did many shows with Jimy over the years and it was always a special pleasure to be in his presence. I miss him to this day and will always remember the kindness he showed me. Bob Stroud WDRV-FM
Here's our original tribute to Jimy Rogers after we heard the news of his passing ... This was picked up for several obituaries at the time ... and still chokes me up to read it again today, four years later. We miss ya, Jimy! Click here: Forgotten Hits: Forgotten Hits Remembers Jimy Rogers
