Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Tuesday This And That

Cornerstones Of Rock: 
Since our recent commentary, we're hearing from more "unhappy customers" regarding the WTTW "Cornerstones Of Rock" DVD.  (On the other hand, the live concert reviews have been great!)  kk   

I think it's a real shame that the Jimy Sohns / Gloria segment was cut from the DVD.  It was one of the televised concert highlights and it has always been one of the best representations of the Chicago rock scene of the 60s - not to mention a true, garage band classic.
This is especially sad news after Jimy's recent stroke.  
Get well, Jimy!  
Ed
The decision to cut this segment happened WELL before Jimy's stroke.  (By the way, we hear he's doing great and is determined to get back up there on the stage again.  There's still one local area Cornerstones concerts coming up on September 3rd at The Arcada Theatre and Jimy has EVERY intention of being there.)
I can only assume it was some kind of licensing thing that prevents this clip from being included although I'm really surprised for this to be the case ... both "Gloria" and "Louie Louie" (also deleted from the DVD) have appeared on countless compilations over the years.  In that "Gloria" is also missing from the CD featuring the remastered original versions of all these songs, I can't think of any other legitimate reason for its absence.  (Still waiting to hear back from WTTW as to an "official" explanation.)  kk

Hi Kent,
Some kind soul has posted a few clips on Youtube, which I promptly downloaded.
Here, for example, is GLORIA:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A0eRueg0XE 
Keep up the good work!
Carl Karstadt  
Clips from the broadcast have been circulating ever since the original taping ... you'll find performances from the live shows online, too ... but fans who shelled out upwards of $100 - $150 shouldn't have to search online for footage of Jimy Sohns and The Shadows Of Knight performing "Gloria" ... it should have been included on the disc they purchased through the television station.  (A further review of the DVD against the original program that I DVR'd shows that the entire Jimy Sohns interview about "Gloria" is also missing from the disc ... as is the full ensemble finale performing "Louie Louie".  (Without question the TOP TWO ALL-TIME GREATEST GARAGE BAND CLASSICS have GOT to be "Gloria" and "Louie Louie" ... yet in a program based around the theme and genre of "American Garage", BOTH of these songs were omitted from the DVD ... and that's just wrong.
Upon further review, I paid particular attention to the pledge drive breaks to see how they presented the contents of the DVD.  While I couldn't find a single instance of them mentioning anything about "bonus footage", on at least six occasions they DID offer up DVD copies of "the program you are watching right now" ... which clearly isn't the case.  Fans (and there are PLENTY ... this has to be one of the biggest fund-raising ventures the station has ever had ... and both subsequent live shows were complete sell-outs as well) deserve better and we will continue to address this issue in Forgotten Hits.  In fact, our FH Buddy Larz of Chicagoland Radio and Media is picking up our cause and looking into this matter as well.  We're hoping that he'll be able to provide some answers and insight into just how and where this all went wrong.  (To the best of my knowledge, PBS subscribers who make substantial donations during these pledge drives typically get "bonus footage" not shown during the original broadcast ... this is the first time I've ever heard about getting LESS!!!)  And, having interviewed most of the artists who participated, I know that each band performed at least another song or two that was edited from the television broadcast that fans who weren't able to attend the taping were now hoping to see.  Key members of every group also did brief interviews which they thought would be edited into the dvd release ... but that didn't happen either. 
Great performances, yet ... but now, due to all the controversy, we find ourselves with an all in all VERY disappointing disk ... especially when one considers what COULD (and SHOULD) have been included.  Add to that the extended wait for delivery due to manufacturing delays and you'll see why the fans are speaking out.  (kk)

Hi Kent,
I went to the Cornerstones Of Rock show in Skokie last night, and it was a blast!
Afterwards I did the ‘meet & greet' with a handful of the performers.
I’m still on a cloud … I just purchased a couple tix for the 9/3 show — they’re goin’ fast!
~ Bob
PS — I passed on getting the Ch 11 concert DVD for sale, ‘helplessly hoping' they might reissue the full performance.
Hang tight ... who knows, they still might.  If enough disgruntled fans email the station and voice their disappointment maybe we can get the disc(s) that we deserve!  (This was a long show ... I'd be COMPLETELY pleased if they issued the concert as broadcast on one disk ... and then filled a SECOND disc with bonus extras ... some of the missing live performances, more of the filmed interviews, even some vintage clips of the groups from back in the day.  Now THAT is something that EVERY Chicago Rock fan would want for their own collection!!!)  kk
I'm hoping to finally make it to the September 3rd show at The Arcada ... especially since I missed the original WTTW taping and the two subsequent live shows.  Maybe we'll see you there!  (kk)
[For the record ... the ONLY additional footage available on the DVD that was NOT broadcast during the original telecast was the tribute to Chase, which was a rousing rendition of their big hit "Get It On".  Oddly enough, this track showed up in the end credits of the television broadcast but was never actually shown!!!]

David Bowie / Davy Jones: 
Kent -
With regards to Davy Jones of the Monkees, he first came into prominence way back in the UK television soap Coronation Street, where he played the son of one of the leading characters in the series and I believe before that with no connection whatsoever to do with television, I believe he also trained as a jockey here in the UK.
Take care,
Rockin’ Lord Geoff (in England)
Yes, Davy DID work as a jockey for quite some time ... and his love for horses never left him.  As I recall he had a heart attack while tending to his horses back in 2012.  Peter Noone first got HIS start on "Coronation Street", too, as an actor ... he and Jones remained close friend throughout their careers, which crossed paths many many times.  (kk)

Kent,
It would not have been a stretch for Bowie's VOICE to be compared to Newley's in 1966.  You can hear it here.  It's certainly a lame version, but you can hear the inflections.
Clark Besch


Oh my GOD, that's awful!!!  What were they THINKING?!?!?  (kk)
Bowie's "Rubber Band" is indeed strange with tuba, so they got the description correct. 
Tony's songs with Bowie are really quite good and sound vocally much alike he always has.
Anthony Newley is not far from this "Rubber Band" hokey stuff, from 1967.  It would seem that Bowie took two steps backwards after leaving Tony Hatch, judging by this Dream US 45 after Tony's nice 45s. 
Clark

I really am guessing that the MONKEES' David Jones was very possibly known by Bowie well before he was a pre-fab.  David Jones was in theater in England and known to some extent.  His Colpix 45 was also released there in 1965, causing more conflict possibilities.
Meanwhile, this TV theme by Tony Hatch could easily have been background for Bowie's vocal styling's later on??  I wonder if Bowie got any ideas from this for his "Space Oddity" hit later in the 60's???
And finally, here's a Tony Hatch (and then-wife) song that could have easily been a 1970 Montanas single too.

This And That:   
Check out these 80th birthday greetings to Engelbert Humperdinck, sent in by FH Reader David Salidor ...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3yS5pgGRTI&feature=share 

Kent,  
I am a bit perplexed as to how “I CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU” makes the top 16 list of Motown 60’s hits when “MY GIRL” is nowhere to be found.  
I was unable to come up with solid sales figures, but “MY GIRL” was certified platinum. I can’t find any evidence that “I CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU” even made gold.  
I am arguing numbers here exclusively here. I love both these Temptations songs.  
Bill Fortune
The list was compiled based on chart points earned at the time each record was on The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart.  Sales only comes into play as it relates to each record's particular chart position at the time.
I agree whole-heartedly that "My Girl" is by FAR the more recognizable and associated tune with The Temptations ... but both records reached #1 on the Billboard chart.  When "My Girl" first came out in 1965, it spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart ... eleven of those in The Top 40, 8 in The Top Ten and one week at #1.  By comparison, "I Can't Get Next To You" (in 1969) spent 17 weeks on the chart, 15 of those in The Top 40, 11 in The Top Ten and TWO weeks at #1.
When you analyze the facts AS THEY OCCURRED, it's easy to see how "I Can't Get Next To You' would outrank "My Girl".  However, as we have been prejudiced (and brain-washed) SINCE 1969, there is NO question that "My Girl" has been the more popular radio hit.  (kk)

Kent,
Enjoyed your Sweet 16 this time around, especially #15 by Smokey Robinson ("Being With You"). Hadn't heard that one in a long time. If this were Motown's biggest 16 of all time, I couldn't help but wonder what the LEAST biggest (?) 16 of all time would be.
Put me down as a second to Brad's listing of the top 16 obscure Motown hits, er, non-hits. One of the first records to come to my mind was a record out of 1960 which was somewhat of an answer or follow-up to Larry Verne's MR CUSTER. The record was called CUSTER'S LAST MAN by a group known as Pop Corn and the Mohawks, if you can believe that. Somebody by the name of Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson co-wrote it.
Incidentally, tell Davie Allan I got out his 1965 APACHE '65 and played it again.  Loved hearing that version again. And when I said I played it, I am talking about the original 45, not you tube. Flip was BLUE GUITAR. Have a great day.
Larry
About twenty years ago I compiled a list of The Top 200 Motown Hits of All-Time by combining each record's performance on both the pop chart AND the R&B chart ... it presented a VERY interesting perspective of just how big some of these hits really were.  (Of course it's now long since lost ... but it would be cool to put one together again.  One thing I do remember is that Bruce Willis' version of "Respect Yourself" was right there near the bottom ... so I'd have to say it was a pretty comprehensive list!  (lol)
One of my favorite Motown non-hits was the original version of "Devil With A Blue Dress On" by Shortly Long.  It went absolutely NOWHERE on the pop chart and yet when Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels revived it in 1967, it was a Top Five Hit.  (Growing up in Detroit, he probably heard it there.  Personally, I have always preferred this more "bluesy" treatment that Shorty Long gave it.)
Davie Allan will be pleased by your comment.  He was hoping for a little bigger push from the record company in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of "The Wild Angels" but it never happened.  Would have been cool to see a theatrical re-release along with a cleaned up version of the soundtrack on cd.  (kk)



Kent ...
5/2/1969 = "Something", recorded by The Beatles, written by George Harrison about Patti Boyd
5/2/1977 = "Wonderful Tonight", recorded by Eric Clapton, written by Eric about Patti Boyd
"Layla" was also about her.    
When was the last time you heard a Patti Boyd Triple-Play?
Frank B.
WONDERFUL TONIGHT:  PATTIE BOYD'S LOVE TRIANGLE WITH GEORGE HARRISON AND ERIC CLAPTON
This is a VERY cool Pattie Boyd profile ... check it out when you get a chance.  (I've always said she must have REALLY been "something" to turn the heads of these two rock guitar gods ... "wonderful tonight" indeed!)  kk
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