Catching Up On Some Of Your Mid-Week Comments

re:  Lesley Gore:  
Kent; 

I had the good fortune to see the magnificent Lesley Gore at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, back around 1996. She was headlining a bill with Dion, Bo Diddley and Little Richard.Lesley's voice was strong, her stage presence was solid, and she warmed the audience when she talked about an engagement the night before in which she played with, "The band from Hell, the band from Cleveland."The girl had so damn many hits.  Lesley was truly revolutionary, very much a part of what I call the "Brill Building Era."Her greatest song? I'll go with "Maybe I Know (that he's a been a-cheatin'"). 

Rock 'n roll has lost one of its first ladies.  Is it fair or unfair to say that Ms. Gore in her own way had darn near the impact of Carole King?I'll hang up and wait for the answer.Looking forward to a full house with the New Colony Six at Ron Onesti's Arcada in April. If I don't see your face in the place, I'll send out State Troopers. 
Chet Coppock
Host: Chicago Blackhawks Heritage Event Series

Wish I could have seen her ... my dream bill was to have The Arcada book Lesley Gore and Lou Christie for one of their numerous double-bill shows ... sadly it never happened.

For me nothing resonates quite like "You Don't Own Me", every bit as powerful today as it was some 50+ years ago ... just an incredible vocal and an incredible statement for that time ... light years ahead of the whole Women's Lib / Helen Reddy "I Am Woman" movement.  Kudos again to my friend John Madara for cowriting such a relevant piece of musical history.

As for Carole King, kind of a different league I guess for me ... she being the songwriter and creator and Lesley being "the voice" that brought this music to the public.  Amazingly, NONE of her hits were Goffin - King compositions ... although she did score with a couple of Jeff Barry - Ellie Greenwich tunes ("Maybe I Know", "Look Of Love")  Marvin Hamlisch scored one of his first pop hits in 1965 with Lesley's "Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows" and also had a hand in her last Top 20 Hit "California Nights" ... and Lesley penned a couple of her own tunes as well, albeit nothing that really ranked "hit" status.  Other noted songwriters who contributed to Lesley's hit legacy include Bob Crewe, Carole Bayer Sager, Toni Wine, James Griffin, Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon.  And let's not forget Quincy Jones, the guy who discovered and produced her throughout the mega-hit years!

Looking forward to The New Colony Six show ... hoping tickets are selling well ... it's all for a very good cause:  Click here: The Rhythmic Arts Project - TRAP - Eddie Tuduri

I'm sure we'll see you there!  (Hey, maybe you can squeeze me in between the clowns and the wrestlers!!!  lol)  kk

So sad to hear about Lesley Gore. I guess now it really is Judy's Turn To Cry. 
Steve Davidson 
PS - Thanks for sharing "You've Come Back" ... I agree it could have been a hit on its own.  

Glad you highlighted “Look Of Love” by Lesley Gore. Of all of her excellent 60’s chart hits, this is now #1 for me. What an excellent Girl Group 45. Should have been a much bigger hit. #27 is an insult to this Gem!  

Ken   

re:  This And That:  
Kent:  
Of all the great content you deliver in FH, my favorite is the Sunday Comments. I truly look forward to reading it. On the weeks there isn't a Comments feature I'm sure it's because of your busy schedule as opposed to lack of material. But I wanted you to know how much it's appreciated on the weeks you are able to put one together. Keep up the tremendous work. We readers are fortunate that you have the passion and energy to keep delivering such a quality blog that keeps our favorite music alive. Thanks, again!
- Tom Cuddy 

Thanks, Tom.  Suffice to say my contributions of late have been severely lax ... but not without good reason(s).  Between a bit of traveling, some VERY long work hours and a very nasty bout with the doctor called "borderline pneumonia", I've fallen further behind than ever before with postings and unopened mail ... some of now dating back a good 3-4 weeks.  I'll continue to sift through it and try to find a few pieces that remain "remotely relevant" but unfortunately a good percentage of this stuff is SO dated now it has simply fallen by the wayside.  Apologies to all who sent in contributions that never aired ... but these last three to four weeks have REALLY kicked my ass!  

That said, here are a few recent observations ...  

From Vintage Vinyl News ...   

Paul McCartney performed a one-off show for 1100 people at New York’s Irving Plaza on Saturday night. 
McCartney announced the show the day before via a post at his official website and tickets went on sale the following day for $40 each.
A few of Paul’s closest personal buddies including John Kerry, Leonardo di Caprio, Meryl Streep, Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Crystal, Peyton Manning and Amy Poehler were also seen throughout the crowd.
One of the show’s highlights was One After 909, one of the first songs John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote together but which wasn’t released until the Let It Be album of 1970. It was only the seventh time Paul McCartney has performed the song live since the Beatles last performance on the Apple Rooftop in 1969.
Paul McCartney Setlist February 14, 2015:
 
Main Set

Eight Days A Week (from Beatles For Sale, 1964)

Save Us (from New, 2014)

All My Loving (from With The Beatles, 1063)

One After 909 (from Let It Be, 1970)

Matchbox (single 1964)

Let Me Roll It (from Band On The Run, 1973)

Nineteen Hundred and Eight-Five (from Band On The Run, 1973)

My Valentine (from Kisses On The Bottom, 2012)

Maybe I’m Amazed (from McCartney, 1970)

I’ve Just Seen A Face (from Help, 1965)

It’s So Easy (Buddy Holly cover)

Every Night (from McCartney, 1970)

Another Day (single 1971)

We Can Work It Out (single 1965)

And I Love Her (from A Hard Day’s Night, 1964)

New (from New, 2014)

Lady Madonna (single 1968)

Jet (from Band On The Run, 1973)

Drive My Car (from Rubber Soul, 1965)

Ob-La Di, Ob-La-Da (from The Beatles, 1968)

Back In The USSR (from The Beatles, 1968)

Let It Be (from Let It Be, 1970)

Hey Jude (single, 1968)

Encore:

Golden Slumbers (from Abbey Road, 1969)

Carry That Weight (from Abbey Road, 1969)

The End (from Abbey Road, 1969)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/16/arts/music/paul-mccartney-offers-guileless-romance-at-irving-plaza.html?_r=0   

McCartney also appeared at The Grammy Award Ceremony, caught on camera boogying in his seat (before realizing he was the only one ... and it was being televised) and performing with Rihanna and Kanye West on their new Top Ten Hit Single "Four Five Seconds", his first Top Ten Single in nearly thirty years when "Spies Like Us" peaked at #7.  (I swear his mike was off during the Grammy performance ... I couldn't hear a note!)  Kanye also performed the song he wrote with McCartney, "Only One" ... so big night in a way for Paul, still relevant some 50+ years later. 
(All this occurred before Kanye once again made a COMPLETE ass of himself at the end of the ceremony by insisting that Beck turn over his "Record Of The Year" award to Beyonce, the second time West has caused a spectacle at these ceremonies.  [Last time Taylor Swift was the unlikely and undeserving recipient of his ignorance.]  I suggest Kanye be banned for life from these ceremonies which will free him up to start his OWN Kanye West Awards Show where he can present the awards to whomever he chooses ... a COMPLETELY musical monopoly ala Jann Wenner's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame!!!)

Still and all it was one heck of a night of Grammy performances, kicking off in high-gear with AC/DC with several other musical highlights along the way ... this was NOT your Grandmother's Grammy Awards Show!  (lol)

McCartney, on the other hand, probably would have been better served to leave his microphone off a few nights later at the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Television Special ... his voice was SO incredibly weak he could barely squeak out a live version of "Maybe I'm Amazed".  That being said, I don't know HOW he manages to put on a 2 1/2 hour live show these day.  He's Paul McCartney and, as such, he's forgiven ... but I gotta tell you that my heart ached a little bit for him that night ... it might be time to call it a career.  (The opening bit with Paul Simon as "Two Pauls Who Have Hosted The Show" was pretty funny however!)  It seems like lately Macca is EVERYWHERE ... he's almost adopted New York has his new home ... which is REALLY scary in light of the whole Lennon legacy attached to this city.  (kk)

Speaking of The Grammys ... and great performances ... that two-hour Stevie Wonder special Monday Night was kick-ass WONDERFUL ... solid performances from start to finish ... man, what an INCREDIBLE catalog of music this guy has created ... and it all still sounds TOTALLY fresh and contemporary when performed by some of today's biggest artists.  An OUTSTANDING special showcasing the music of Stevie Wonder.  (In fact those first ten minutes just may be the best ten minutes of television I've seen in forty years!)  kk

The new Joel Whitburn "Comparison Chart Book" came last weekend while we were away ... FINALLY a side-by-side comparison of EVERY charted hit, 1954 - 1982, showing the peak position in all three major music trades, Billboard, Cash Box and Record World.  At a glance you get a TRUE picture of each record's popularity ... in easy to reference "recap" style.  This is a book that I just know I'm going to open several times a day for many years to come.  
You can still order your copy (in stock and shipping now) from The Record Research Website ... and, by the way, Joel's got another special offer available through the end of February ... you can now get his "Hot R&B Songs, 1942 - 2010", a COMPLETE recap of EVERY single to make Billboard's R&B Chart, for $10 off the published price (just $69.95 right now through the end of the month) ... and every order will receive a copy of R&B Top 10 Hits absolutely FREE!  (Regularly a $17.95 value!)

All of this making for the PERFECT tie-in to Black History Month, don'tcha think???  
Order NOW at the website:  
Click here: Joel Whitburn's Record Research | Music & Billboard Charts Data     

Kent -   
I just discovered an oldies show featuring an amazing array of acts from the 60s that I’ve never seen share the same bill before in the New York / New Jersey / Connecticut area. It’s a Golden Oldies Spectacular, April 25th, at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ, featuring:   
--The Lettermen 
--Darlene Love 
--Lou Christie 
--Jay Siegel’s Tokens 
--The Happenings featuring Bob Miranda   
Here’s the link for tickets for any of your readers in the northeast    
http://www.statetheatrenj.org/golden_oldies    
-Tom Cuddy

Congratulations to Eric Clapton, Little Richard and Tommy Brown, all named to The Blues Hall Of Fame in 2015.  A short blurb from Bob Merlis ...

February 18, 2015 - Memphis, TN - The Blues Foundation announces the selection of three living performers to be inducted into its Blues Hall of Fame.  The three are Tommy Brown, Eric Clapton and Little Richard.  They join more than 130 performers who have been inducted each year beginning in 1980. 

Eric Clapton has been tapped for induction into the Blues Hall of Fame for his many musical achievements as well as for his role as a popularizer of the entire genre.   He brought the blues to audiences in his native Britain and throughout the world, illuminating the work of the original blues artists who inspired him. With his induction, Little Richard joins an elite group of Blues Hall of Fame icons including Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley who built upon rock 'n’ roll’s foundation in the blues. His  earliest recordings were in the blues vein and, throughout his career, he continued to employ a blues format in his work. In the early ‘50s Tommy Brown broke through nationally fronting the Griffin Brothers Orchestra with the #1 hit “Weepin’ & Cryin’.”  He brought his intuitive sense of showmanship to the blues over a career that has now spanned over 75 years.  

This year’s inductees’ official biographies and descriptions are available, as well as for all Hall of Fame inductees, at http://www.blues.org/awards-search/?cat=hof. 

Their induction will be held in conjunction with the three days of events May 6 - 8 surrounding the 36th Blues Music Awards on May 7 and the public Grand Opening of the bricks and mortar Blues Hall of Fame on May 8 in Memphis, Tennessee. With living musicians like B.B. King and Buddy Guy, and legends like Muddy Waters and Koko Taylor, the Blues Hall of Fame consists of blues music’s best and brightest stars. 

The Blues Foundation is now in the final stages of the renovations needed to showcase these legendary performers and their work with Blues Hall of Fame exhibits at its 421 S. Main headquarters in downtown Memphis. The Blues Hall of Fame will honor inductees year round, provide interactive and educational exhibits, and create a place for serious blues fans, casual visitors, and students to congregate, celebrate and learn more about the Blues. 

For tickets and more information, visit www.blues.org. 

Major funding is provided by ArtsMemphis and the Tennessee Arts Commission. The 36th Blues Music Awards and Blues Hall of Fame events are also sponsored by BMI, Catfood Records, First Tennessee Foundation, Jontaar Creative Studios, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Sony/Legacy Records. 

The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based, but world-renowned as THE organization dedicated to preserving our blues music history, celebrating recording and performance excellence, supporting blues education and ensuring the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, The Blues Foundation has 4000 individual members and 200 affiliated local blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals around the world. Its signature honors and events--the Blues Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, International Blues Challenge and Keeping the Blues Alive Awards--make it the international center of blues music. Its HART Fund provides the blues community with medical assistance while its Sound Healthcare program offers musicians health insurance access. Blues in the Schools programs and Generation Blues scholarships expose new generations to blues music. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the worldwide Blues community with answers, contact information and news.

2015 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees

Tommy Brown, hailed during the 1950s as "one of the most dynamic entertainers in show business," has spent most of the past four decades out of the performing spotlight, but his resume of vintage records, onstage theatrics and a 21st century career revival have brought him long overdue recognition among current blues aficionados. Brown was a friend of fellow Georgia singer and 2015 Blues Hall of Fame inductee Little Richard when both were starting out, and he remembers letting Richard sleep in his station wagon when times were tough. A young James Brown picked up cues for his fabled stage show from both of them. 

Brown was born in Atlanta on May 27, 1931, and began performing as a dancer when he was in the first grade. He also worked as a drummer before he became a stand-up singer. But he did much more than stand, as the Atlanta Daily World reported in 1953: ". . . he jumped off the stage, fell prostrate on the floor, got up, banged his head on the wall then fell down on his knees and wailed the blues." Brown began recording in 1950 and sang (and sobbed) on the No. 1 R&B hit Weepin' and Cryin' with the Griffin Brothers in 1951. The song evolved from a real life experience, when he broke down while singing onstage as he saw his fiance´ walk in with another man. Humor was an important part of his show, however, and in the 1960s he began performing and recording as a comedian. 

After stays in St. Louis, Chicago (where he teamed on shows with Otis Clay), and New York, Brown settled back in Atlanta in 1977 to run the Landmark West Personal Care Center, a business his mother had founded. After fans sought him out to interview him and book him on festivals in the U.S. and Europe, he began traveling and recording again in the new millenium. His Classic Tommy Brown CD, on his own Chittlin' Circuit label, reintroduced listeners to the rocking, crying and shouting blues he waxed on labels such as Savoy, King, United and Imperial. "I'm looking to retire at 103." he says, "and take up a new profession -- teach people how to love."   

Eric Clapton has been tapped for Blues Hall of Fame induction not only for his many achievements during a long and successful career but also for his role as a popularizer who has brought the blues to audiences far more widespread than those reached by the original bluesmen whose music inspired him. Clapton has consistently included blues material on albums that have registered in the upper echelons of the pop music charts. In the process Clapton has not only brought new listeners into the blues fold but has generated royalties for the blues legends whose songs he has covered--royalties often well in excess of those the bluesmen earned from their own recordings. 

The first British musician inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, on March 30, 1945. He identified with the power and uplifting spirit of the blues from his early days as a guitarist, and amidst forays into other genres has always remained a blues devotee. At the age of 18, as a member of the Yardbirds, he played guitar on a Sonny Boy Williamson LP, and soon did sessions with bluesmen Otis Spann and Champion Jack Dupree, not to mention the influential work he did with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream and Blind Faith. In between his many subsequent albums and world tours, he played on Howlin' Wolf's London Sessions and recorded with several of his early guitar heroes, including B.B. King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker and Otis Rush. 

Clapton topped the Billboard charts with an album of blues standards, From the Cradle, in 1994, and with the blues-laden Unplugged album in 1992, and hit the top ten with his Robert Johnson tribute, Me and Mr. Johnson in 2004 and his collaboration with B.B. King, Riding With the King, in 2000. Clapton's battle with drug and alcohol addiction led him to found the Crossroads Centre rehab facility in Antigua in 1998. His Crossroads Guitar Festival is both a showcase for many of the world's leading guitarists and a fundraiser for the Crossroads Centre.   

Little Richard joins an elite group of Blues Hall of Fame icons, including Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, who built rock 'n' roll from a foundation in the blues. Richard's earliest recordings were in the blues vein and he continued to employ a blues format, often accelerated to a frenzied tempo, on many of his sessions. By bandleader Johnny Otis' recollections from witnessing his first "beautiful, bizarre and exotic" Little Richard performance, Richard exclaimed, "This is Little Richard, the King of the Blues! And the Queen, too!" Gospel was also a profound force in Little Richard's life and music, and at times during his career he left the rock 'n' roll stage to study, preach and sing the gospel, only to return to the secular side. He eventually maintained a mission in both worlds, handing out religious tracts at his rock concerts. 

Born December 5, 1932, in Macon, Georgia, Richard Wayne Penniman stunned audiences even in his adolescent days performing with minstrel shows. As he described himself, "I was very effeminate. I was very frisky. I was loud." He honed his appearance and stage act under the influence of gay blues/R&B artists Billy Wright and S.Q. Reeder (Esquerita). He recorded blues for RCA Victor in 1951-52 and Peacock in 1953 but only with Specialty did he transfer his wild flamboyance to wax, beginning with the bombshell Tutti Frutti in 1955. His lives shows were still more frantic, to the point that even his films could inspire riots among teenaged fanatics. The list of performers he inspired is endless, from James Brown to the Beatles to Jimi Hendrix, who was once the guitarist in Richard's band. Even since his hitmaking days have been over, he has remained a charismatic celebrity. Once "The King of the Blues," he has since anointed himself "The Originator, the Emancipator and the Architect of Rock 'n' Roll."

Jimmy Fallon has done his spot-on Neil Young impression several times before over the years ... but it was EXCEPTIONALLY cool to see him do it on The Tonight Show a week or so ago ... and have Neil come out and join him on stage in the middle of one of Neil's "Harvest" classics ...

Kent ...

I just watched Jerry Lee Lewis from Florida.  He sold his 1959 Harley-Davidson (FLH Duo - Glide) for $350,000. He sang "Great Balls Of Fire" and signed the motorcycle for the guy who bought it.
Frank B.

80 year old Jerry Lee probably doesn't need to be out riding a motorcycle these days!  (lol)  His health's been frail for awhile now.  (We just recently ran a story about Jerry having to leave the stage after singing only three songs because he was ... c'mon, you knew it was coming ... breathless afterwards.)

I never had the chance to see him ... had tickets twice and both times he was a "no show".  But check out that clip we ran the other day of this young kid in the hardware store, putting on his best "Jerry Lee".  Pretty impressive.  (I wish I could just walk up to a piano ... do that ... and then just nonchalantly walk away like it was no big deal!!!)  kk

Click here: Steve Hayes | Facebook    

From Tom Cuddy ... 

RANDY BACHMAN: Announces First Heavy Dates 

He'll be touring the U.S. in April with his new power trio called Bachman. 

Randy Bachman will be bringing his new power trio Bachman to the U.S. in April. 

Five shows have been announced so far, starting April 1st in Milwaukee, but more will be announced soon. The Canadian legend will release a new album with the trio called Heavy Blues on April 14th. The disc features some very special guests, including his longtime friend Neil Young, along with Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph and the late Jeff Healey.

Randy's coming to The Arcada Theatre on April 2nd ... guessing this will be with the new line-up then!  Thanks, Tom.  (kk)

re:  Reminder:

Did you take our Eric Records Survey yet?  Answering three simple questions automatically qualifies you to win a copy of either "Complete Pop Instrumental Hits of 1959" or "Rock And Roll Symphony No. 1, A 1959 Stereo Concert".  Scroll back to last Thursday, February 12th, and send your answers in now.  We'll pick TWO winners at the end of the month and award each of them a copy of one if the above-mentioned cd's.  (kk)