Because Kent, they were the first way we could bring our favorites
into the car with us ... pure and simple. A battery run turn-table on a bumpy
road? Not going to work. And we didn't accept the negatives of these 8 tracks
for long, as cassettes came right behind. The stereo system I bought in the mid
70's (and is still working) had all 4 possibilities: turn-table, radio (AM/FM),
8-track and cassette.
Shelley
re: This And That:
Kent ...
9/11/1945 = Happy Birthday Dennis
Tufano.
Don't know what I'd do without Ron Smith's
book "Eight Days A Week."
Frank B.
P.S. - 9/13/1944 = Happy Birthday
Peter Cetera.
Speaking of Dennis Tufano, "The Buckinghams: The Complete Hit
Singles" is available today. We told you last week that we'd be running the
complete, unedited, unabridged version of the disc's liner notes on October 1st
... and also that we had a copy to give away to a lucky Forgotten Hits Reader
... so if you'd like YOUR shot at a free copy, please drop us a line and let us
know. Simply put "Buckinghams CD" in your subject line and we'll enter your
name in the drawing.
Here's one FH Reader who won't be entering for his chance to win a
copy ...
Music4Me
says:
This is good or bad news, depending on your point of view: The new
Buckinghams Complete Hit Singles (release date 9/11/15) on Varese Sarabande will
be all stereo despite the actual singles in many cases being in mono. Carl
Giammarese, the group's guitarist / lead singer, has voiced his disappointment
with the stereo single mixes, saying they sounded watered down and lacked the
punch of the original 45's. He has stated that he has offered to be involved in
the mixing / mastering to get the sound right but has never been given the
opportunity. Word is also that Varese requested mono versions of a number of
songs from CBS / Sony but were only given stereo versions to work with. Another
chance to get it right goes by the wayside.
Personally, from what I heard of the stereo remixes, the mono
versions should be better, unless you narrow the stereo versions, but I'm not
sure digital alteration can't save the stereo versions. Not that I'd buy them
... Varese is okay, but you'll find a vinyl ripping CD tune now and then. I
don't think Carl was there when the music was recorded. As far as I can
tell, others (studio musicians) played the music. I'm sure Sony will handle all
audio work; this is typical.
You can tell some Columbia hits
were remixed, like The Cyrkle ... their Turn Down Day includes a drum piece that
was dismissed (when mixing) from the hit. Whoops! :)
Embarrassing moments on CD? A Rhino
- Dick Bartley release (DJ I admired) had a (debut) stereo version of "You're
The One" by We Five, but missing some overdubbing, but what someone set free in
public domain was more complete stereo.
Best,
John
I'm guessing you mean either "You're The One" by
The Vogues or "You Were On My Mind" by We Five in your above statement ... not
sure which, but both of those at least make sense ... "You're The One" by We
Five does not.
As for the new Buckinghams CD, I've listened to
it and it sounds pretty good to me. It's a short set (just 15 tracks), but all
the hits (and non-hit single releases) are here.
If I have an objection to anything it's the fact
that they used the "radio edit" for "Susan", with the "offensive" (to the band,
anyway) psychedelic interlude deleted. For me, this doesn't work within the
context of "The Complete Hit Singles" banner because this version was never
released as a single ... you couldn't buy it that way nor do I recall ever hear
it being played that way (in its edited form) at the time. (In fact, I didn't
hear the "radio edit" until probably twenty years later ... but apparently some
radio stations WERE playing it at the time, despite the fact that it wasn't
available commercially.) I would have preferred that they released the REAL
single (as advertised) and, if they truly felt it necessary to showcase the
edited version, included that as a bonus track instead. (Just my opinion ... at
least this way the disc lives up to its title.)
I asked Cary Mansfield of Varese Vintage and
Clark Besch, who helped to assemble the new collection (as well as write the
liner notes) about this decision but never heard back from either of them on
this topic. (kk)
And, speaking of some of our Chicagoland Local
Heroes ...
This Sunday, September 13th, our FH Buddy Dean Milano will be
hosting a fund-raising event honoring Mitch Aliotta of Aliotta, Haynes and
Jeremiah, who passed away a couple of months ago.
On Sunday, September 13th, c’mon down to WIRE for a party in honor
of Mitch Aliotta, who passed away recently.
He left behind a lot of medical expenses
and his friends are getting a benefit together to help with the costs.
I’ll be stage managing the event and
I’ll also perform a special song. The event starts at 6:00, I’ll be on at 10:30
and the address in Berwyn is 6815 W. Roosevelt Road.
We’ll see ya
there!
Dean
More on this from Chicagoland Radio and Media
...
A benefit concert is taking place this weekend
to help out the family of the late Chicago born musician Mitch Aliotta. The
concert will feature numerous acts with some very special guest appearances.
Emceeing the whole event will be WDRV-FM / 97.1 The Drive overnight DJ Greg
Easterling.
Mitch Aliotta is best known as the bass player and founder of
the Chicago area band Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah, famed for their iconic hit "Lake
Shore Drive." Prior to his time in that group, he played with Rotary Connection,
which featured Minnie Riperton on lead vocals. Aliotta passed away on July 21st
at the age of 71 due to complications from diabetes and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.
Unfortunately, Aliotta's passing left his family with a
large amount of debt. His brother and some friends have put together a benefit
show to help Aliotta's immediate family out with the final expenses.
Called
"The Party for Mitch Aliotta," the concert will feature at least five bands:
Omega 3 (which includes Mitch's brother Ted Aliotta), Maggie Aliotta & The
Mighty Fines (Mitch's daughter), Doubleplay, Rough Draft, and Kurt Michaels'
Continuum (KMC) featuring Alain Quinn.
Among the special guests expected to
participate are Jimy Sohns of The Shadows of Knight and Ray Graffia of The New
Colony Six.
WDRV-FM's overnight voice Greg Easterling will serve as the emcee
for the entire evening. Also appearing will be another Chicago radio veteran,
WERV-FM / 95.9 The River's afternoon host Mitch Michaels.
"The Party for
Mitch Aliotta" will take place this Sunday, September 13th at Wire, located at
6815 W. Roosevelt Road in Berwyn. (Mitch Aliotta grew up in Berwyn.) Tickets to
attend this special event are only $15, which can be purchased in advance at
this link HERE. Ticket proceeds will go toward helping Mitch
Aliotta's family.
For those unable to attend but who wish to help out, a
GoFundMe page has been set up for the Mitch Aliotta Memorial Fund. That page can
be found HERE.
On October 30,
Eagle Rock Entertainment and Zappa's Honker Home Video will issue the
never-before-released Frank Zappa’s Roxy: The Movie on DVD &
Blu-Ray with an exclusive Soundtrack included.
A Frank Zappa
show goes way beyond a mere concert – it is an experience … a flight of
improvisation, musicianship, and cerebral cynicism. An unparalleled Composer
and Guitarist, Zappa redefined rock n roll paradigms by introducing into
the mix his favorite influences from classical music, jazz, blues, doo-wop,
traditional and non-traditional music. And he did so with unparalleled humor
and audacity. But it was the music itself that influened generations of
musicians and, quite frankly, blew minds. Roxy: The Movie,
filmed over three nights in December, 1973, at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood,
CA, is a powerful display of this experience, and reveals what made him such a
pioneering musical revolutionary.
Right from the top of the program, the film
exudes the essence of Zappa, as we only see a dark room with a single
light, and we hear him commiserating with the audience, as he stalls for time
because of technical snafus that would ultimately force the film into
hibernation for decades (make that eras in musical terms) while advancement in
technology aligned allowing the Zappa Family Trust to bring this project to a
patient and deserving audience. The curtain goes up and the magic unravels to
reveal “Cosmic Debris” and we are up and away with one of the most enduring band
line-ups under Frank Zappa's leadership.
“Frank broke all sound barriers in Music and
pushed musical event horizons to educate and entertain his audiences so
they could experience real possibilities on a contemporary music stage – all
without taking himself seriously. He always said he had “something for everyone
from 8 to 13.” Being a mom I can tell you, that is when your imagination is
wide open and some of those ideas stay fixed and expandable in time and space
forever,” says Gail Zappa.
"I'm beyond thrilled that Roxy The Movie is
finally going to be available. It took a herculean effort to bring it to life.
So much love, time, energy and attention to detail went into its resurrection.
This movie rocks so hard, I think both old and new fans will agree,” says Ahmet
Zappa. “Enjoy!"
Written, directed, conducted & performed
by Frank Zappa, as well as originally produced by him, all these 40
years later Gail Zappa, Ahmet Zappa, and Jeff Stein, bring
you now Roxy: The Movie. Starring Zappa, The Mothers, and
the Music and the Musicianship. The film contains some of Zappa's most
challenging instrumentals, expertly executed by himself (lead guitar, vocals),
George Duke (keyboards, synthesizer, vocals), Bruce Fowler
(trombone), Napoleon Murphy Brock (flute, tenor saxophone, vocals),
Tom Fowler (bass guitar), Ralph Humphrey (drums), Chester Thompson
(drums), and Ruth Underwood (percussion).
Released just in time for Frank
Zappa's favorite holiday, Halloween. Roxy: The Movie is
a stunning homage to one of unpopular music's most fearless
musicians.
To my friends and fans in South Florida -- or
those who may be in South Florida next month:
I've been invited to be October's featured act
at THE ACOUSTIC UNDERGROUND CONCERT SERIES.
As some of you may know, The A.U.C.S. is the
longest-running acoustic concert series in Florida and I'm honored to have been
asked.
What's more, it's being held at one of my
favorite Florida venues: The Luna Star.
It's the first Saturday of the
month.
Here are the details:
Your attendance is mandatory.
Also notice that I'll be doing Micheal Stock's
FOLK AND ACOUSTIC radio program on the Sunday before the show (Sept. 27). You can here it online by going to
WLRN.org and clicking "Listen Live."
From your favorite
commercials piece ... #37 - 7-Up ...
If you're interested, I remember the rest of
the lyrics to that 7 Up jingle.
After "it's the light shining over the dark"
it goes --
"And in this time of over complication there's
Un ... there's Un. If what you want is simplification come Un, come Un ... Un
for all, all for Un, 7 Up the Un Cola.
Alan
Kent ...
That would be tomorrow,
airing on CMT. Check your local listings. (kk)
Hi Kent,
I
loved your post of Roy Orbison’s “Ride Away.”
A
couple of days ago, I saw another odd use of an oldie in a commercial: Amazon
Prime is using Lee Marvin’s “Wand’rin’ Star.” When was the last time anyone
heard that one?!
-
Charlie
Perhaps never!
(lol) You've gotta wonder about the creative minds behind the sources for some
of this inspiration. The Roy Orbison tune WAS a hit ... Top 20 in fact ... but
over the past 50 years only so many songs by so many artists continue to exist
... the rest are put out to pasture, many forevermore. Resurrecting this one
was a REAL surprise ... but the Lee Marvin tune? How many people are even going
to know what that is? Kind of like the Roger Miller / Robin Hood ditty that
proved to be so popular a few months back! (kk)
Kent
...
Maybe
one of your reader's can answer my questions.
Every time I go to Larry's Pub
I play the Jukebox.
Every time I play the Jukebox I play "In The Still Of The
Night" by The Five Satins.
A
couple of weeks ago I found that the song was removed from the Jukebox.
They
tell me that the Jukebox company lost the rights to this song.
I
think they made enough money just from my plays to want to keep the song in the
Jukebox.
Another time I'm at Larry's Pub and, since I was wearing
my "GoodFellas" T-Shirt, I thought it would be clever of me to play the
soundtrack from the "GoodFellas" movie.
I
attempt to do that. I'm able to play 11 of the 12 songs. For some unknown reason
"Sincerely" by the Moonglows isn't there and I'm wondering why?
Frank
B.
Wow, this one's
going to have to be answered by someone far more savvy than me! (lol) I didn't
know you could lose "jukebox rights" ... or that if an entire album was offered
as a choice and listed 12 songs, it would play anything less than that. Anybody
out there have any thoughts or ideas on this one? (kk)
Some new thoughts on
the "evolution of radio" ...
Here's
an article forwarded by our friend Larry White, who will be returning to Buffalo
in the near future. I expect we
all agree with Dick Taylor's thoughts.
Hope everyone is well,
Danny
