Kent,
It was mentioned today that the O'Jays at one time were known as the Mascots back in the early days of the 1960's. I don't know without checking how many records they made for King Records but the only one I have by them is from 1961. It was called (DO THE) WIGGLE b/w THE STORY OF MY HEART. I can't remember how the record goes nor could I find it on you tube.
Larry
With all this O'Jays talk of late, it seems only fitting to feature THEIR Hit List in Forgotten Hits ... a pretty impressive list indeed! (While their pop hits seemed to stop at the end of the '70's, The O'Jays continued to chart in a very big way on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues Chart well into the new century!)
THE O'JAYS HIT LIST:
It was mentioned today that the O'Jays at one time were known as the Mascots back in the early days of the 1960's. I don't know without checking how many records they made for King Records but the only one I have by them is from 1961. It was called (DO THE) WIGGLE b/w THE STORY OF MY HEART. I can't remember how the record goes nor could I find it on you tube.
Larry
With all this O'Jays talk of late, it seems only fitting to feature THEIR Hit List in Forgotten Hits ... a pretty impressive list indeed! (While their pop hits seemed to stop at the end of the '70's, The O'Jays continued to chart in a very big way on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues Chart well into the new century!)
THE O'JAYS HIT LIST:
1965 - Lipstick Traces (Billboard Pop - 48 / Billboard Rhythm and Blues - 28)
1965 - Let It All Out (Pop - xx/ R&B - 28)
1966 - Stand In For Love (Pop - 95 / R&B - 12)
1966 - I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow (Pop - 66 / R&B - 8)
1968 - Look Over Your Shoulder (Pop - 89 / R&B - 27)
1968 - The Choice (Pop - 94 / R&B - 41)
1969 - One Night Affair (Pop - 68 / R&B - 15)
1969 - Branded (Pop - xx / R&B - 41)
1970 - Deeper In Love With You (Pop - 64 / R&B - 21)
1970 - Looky Looky (Pop 98 / R&B - 17)
1972 - Back Stabbers (Pop - 3 / R&B - 1)
1972 - 992 Arguments (Pop - 57 / R&B - 13)
1973 - Love Train (Pop - 1 / R&B - 1)
1973 - Time To Get Down (Pop - 33 / R&B - 2)
1974 - Put Your Hands Together (Pop - 10 / R&B - 2)
1974 - For The Love Of Money (Pop - 9 / R&B - 3)
1975 - Sunshine, Part 2 (Pop - 48 / R&B - 17)
1975 - Give The People What They Want (Pop - 45 / R&B - 10)
1975 - Let Me Make Love To You (Pop - 75 / R&B - 10)
1976 - I Love Music (Pop - 5 / R&B - 1)
1976 - Livin' For The Weekend (Pop - 20 / R&B - 1)
1976 - Family Reunion (Pop - xx / R&B - 45)
1976 - Message In Our Music (Pop - 49 / R&B - 1)
1977 - Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Pop - 72 / R&B - 1)
1977 - Work On Me (Pop - xx / R&B - 7)
1978 - Use Ta Be My Girl (Pop - 4 / R&B - 1)
1978 - Brandy (Pop - 79 / R&B - 21)
1979 - Sing A Happy Song (Pop - 102 / R&B - 7)
1979 - I Want You Here With Me (Pop - xx / R&B - 49)
1980 - Forever Mine (Pop - 28 / R&B - 4)
1980 - Girl, Don't Let It Get You Down (Pop - 55 / R&B - 3)
1980 - Once Is Not Enough (Pop - xx / R&B - 44)
1982 - I Just Want To Satisfy (Pop - 101 / R&B - 15)
1982 - Your Body's Here With Me (Pop - xx / R&B - 13)
1983 - I Can't Stand The Pain (Pop - xx / R&B - 35)
1983 - Put Our Heads Together (Pop - xx / R&B - 35)
1984 - Extraordinary Girl (Pop - xx / R&B - 26)
1985 - Just Another Lonely Night (Pop - xx / R&B - 18)
1986 - What A Woman (Pop - xx / R&B - 38)
1987 - Lovin' You (Pop - xx / R&B - 1)
1988 - Let Me Touch You (Pop - xx / R&B - 5)
1989 - Have You Had Your Love Today (Pop - xx / R&B 1)
1989 - Out Of My Mind (Pop - xx / R&B - 11)
1990 - Serious Hold On Me (Pop - xx / R&B - 9)
1990 - Don't Let Me Down (Pop - xx / R&B - 2)
1991 - Emotionally Yours (Pop - xx / R&B - 5)
1991 - Keep On Lovin' Me (Pop - xx / R&B - 4)
1993 - Somebody Else Will (Pop - 104 / R&B - 27)
1997 - What's Stopping You (Pop 73 / R&B - 21)
1997 - Baby You Know (Pop - 76 / R&B - 34)
Hi Kent,
Gary E. Myers / MusicGem
Kent & Ron ...
Ron - Page 327 of your book tells me that these two Rick Nelson songs, "Stood Up" and "Waitin' In School" were both recorded on 11/18/1957.
Also this live show was in Chicago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s2X2gQp2IM
I'm not going to ask Kent if he was at this show, 'cause he's going to tell me it was before his time (and make me feel old).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s2X2gQp2IM
I'm not going to ask Kent if he was at this show, 'cause he's going to tell me it was before his time (and make me feel old).
Ron, were you at this show?
Frank B.
Frank B.
Well, in November of 1957, I would have been four years old! But those clips you sent are from 1985 ... and I DID see Rick Nelson perform several times here in Chicago in the '80's ... everywhere from a 25% filled pizza parlor in Berwyn to a jam-packed show on New Year's Eve at The Park West ... all the more ironic since Rick's last show ever just happened to be on a New Year's Eve. (I probably saw him six times in all ... just loved the guy ... one of my all-time favorites.)
I can't speak for Ron, of course, but he may have been even younger than four back in '57! Sometimes I feel like, next to you, Frank ... and, of course our buddy Hil, I must be the third or fourth oldest person on the planet! (How old???
I went to kindergarten with God!!!) kk
>>>Just following up on my request for images of KRLA and KJR (Seattle) charts from the summer of 1967 that list Beatles songs from Sgt. Pepper. This would be for June, July and possibly August of 1967. I know that KRLA had “A Day In The Life” at number 2 behind the Doors “Light My Fire” for two weeks in July 1967, based on the one chart image (low rez) I came across. Hopefully someone out there in your circle has some charts. Please let me know if any of your followers that specialize in local radio charts have any of these charts. Or you can put me in touch with them if that is easier. As always, your assistance is appreciated. (Bruce Spizer)
>>>We ran this request a few weeks back and never got a response from anyone ... I even did a bit of searching on my own but couldn't come up with anything online. With all the chart collectors on our list, is anybody able to help with these? Please let me know if you might have some high-quality scans to share. Thank you! (kk)
If Bruce needs some KHJ and KRLA charts, check out ARSA. I saw at least nine from KHJ and two from KRLA. If I have any, ARSA probably has the same ones.
I'll be seeing the Shadows Of Knight Saturday.
Hopefully I'll get a review in for your Monday post.
Jack
Unfortunately, he's looking for some very specific charts ... and a lot of the ones shown on these sites are originally printings but rather retyped lists. We'll keep digging 'tho! Thanks, Jack! (kk)
Wow, I wish that I had my surveys (extras) in some kind of order. Looking for KJR's might uncover four of five KJR's from the general era (but none from any needed criteria with Beatles album cuts), but could take me thirty hours to find, as I have thousands of extras. At that time so many surveys were coming in that, in order to keep from being buried, I was simply getting rid of "surveys that nobody will ever need."
As such, nobody was ever going to "need" a KJR survey ... and at the time, *ALL* of our network of collectors were going for STATIONS (AND SOMETIMES "RUNS" as well). But nothing like "a random loose week of KJR" for any of us.
The cheap mimeo Top 20 list from WHHL in Holly Hill, South Carolina (or something like that) was eminently more tradeable and wanted than KJR, KFWB, WQXI, etc. surveys.
Frank Merrill
I figured you were likely my best bet for these ... but I've heard from a couple of other pretty serious survey collectors and they, too, seem to be lacking in this area. Sorry, Bruce ... but we'll all keep digging on your behalf! (kk)
Hi Kent -
Great tribute to Leon Russell!
Since he wrote quite a few songs for Gary Lewis & the Playboys, did he write "Save Your Heart For Me"? One of my favorites.
When in doubt, ask the master ...
Carolyn
Gary Lewis' chart hits co-written by Leon Russell include "Everybody Loves A Clown", "She's Just My Style", "Paint Me A Picture" and "The Loser". (He was probably more actively involved as an producer, arranger and session musician than he was as a song writer ... but he DEFINITELY contributed to the overall hit sound of Gary Lewis and the Playboys. In fact, I'll be talking with Gary this week about this exact subject!)
Gary's first chart hit, "This Diamond Ring", was co-written by our FH Buddy Al Kooper, who always (and to this day) HATES the Gary Lewis version of the song. He always imagined it as more of an R&B piece, originally intended for The Drifters.
As for "Save Your Heart For Me", that tune was first cut as a Brian Hyland B-Side a couple of years before. If you've never heard it, it's a nearly identical version ... and really should have been (at the very least) a two-sided hit for Brian. Give a listen.
>>>Just following up on my request for images of KRLA and KJR (Seattle) charts from the summer of 1967 that list Beatles songs from Sgt. Pepper. This would be for June, July and possibly August of 1967. I know that KRLA had “A Day In The Life” at number 2 behind the Doors “Light My Fire” for two weeks in July 1967, based on the one chart image (low rez) I came across. Hopefully someone out there in your circle has some charts. Please let me know if any of your followers that specialize in local radio charts have any of these charts. Or you can put me in touch with them if that is easier. As always, your assistance is appreciated. (Bruce Spizer)
>>>We ran this request a few weeks back and never got a response from anyone ... I even did a bit of searching on my own but couldn't come up with anything online. With all the chart collectors on our list, is anybody able to help with these? Please let me know if you might have some high-quality scans to share. Thank you! (kk)
If Bruce needs some KHJ and KRLA charts, check out ARSA. I saw at least nine from KHJ and two from KRLA. If I have any, ARSA probably has the same ones.
I'll be seeing the Shadows Of Knight Saturday.
Hopefully I'll get a review in for your Monday post.
Jack
Unfortunately, he's looking for some very specific charts ... and a lot of the ones shown on these sites are originally printings but rather retyped lists. We'll keep digging 'tho! Thanks, Jack! (kk)
Wow, I wish that I had my surveys (extras) in some kind of order. Looking for KJR's might uncover four of five KJR's from the general era (but none from any needed criteria with Beatles album cuts), but could take me thirty hours to find, as I have thousands of extras. At that time so many surveys were coming in that, in order to keep from being buried, I was simply getting rid of "surveys that nobody will ever need."
As such, nobody was ever going to "need" a KJR survey ... and at the time, *ALL* of our network of collectors were going for STATIONS (AND SOMETIMES "RUNS" as well). But nothing like "a random loose week of KJR" for any of us.
The cheap mimeo Top 20 list from WHHL in Holly Hill, South Carolina (or something like that) was eminently more tradeable and wanted than KJR, KFWB, WQXI, etc. surveys.
Frank Merrill
I figured you were likely my best bet for these ... but I've heard from a couple of other pretty serious survey collectors and they, too, seem to be lacking in this area. Sorry, Bruce ... but we'll all keep digging on your behalf! (kk)
Hi Kent -
Great tribute to Leon Russell!
Since he wrote quite a few songs for Gary Lewis & the Playboys, did he write "Save Your Heart For Me"? One of my favorites.
When in doubt, ask the master ...
Carolyn
Gary Lewis' chart hits co-written by Leon Russell include "Everybody Loves A Clown", "She's Just My Style", "Paint Me A Picture" and "The Loser". (He was probably more actively involved as an producer, arranger and session musician than he was as a song writer ... but he DEFINITELY contributed to the overall hit sound of Gary Lewis and the Playboys. In fact, I'll be talking with Gary this week about this exact subject!)
Gary's first chart hit, "This Diamond Ring", was co-written by our FH Buddy Al Kooper, who always (and to this day) HATES the Gary Lewis version of the song. He always imagined it as more of an R&B piece, originally intended for The Drifters.
As for "Save Your Heart For Me", that tune was first cut as a Brian Hyland B-Side a couple of years before. If you've never heard it, it's a nearly identical version ... and really should have been (at the very least) a two-sided hit for Brian. Give a listen.
(Gary also later cut a version of Brian Hyland's big hit "Sealed With A Kiss" ... there's really NO comparison on these two ... even Gary admits it's one of his very worst recordings!) kk)
Kent,
I’m glad you mentioned Leon Russell and the Shindogs (the group). I almost forgot, so this prompted me to get into my time machine for a moment.
Not very good quality, but there are a number of Shindig (the show) clips on YouTube where we can see Leon just jammin’. My favorite among these is this one where he’s just knocking it out of the park with none other than Glen Campbell, among others:
Also good is this CBS Sunday Morning piece where the Leon Russell / Elton John connection is explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RFxA7cVQm0
Enjoy!
Bill Fortune
That Shindig clip is priceless! Thanks so much for sending. Who could have EVER imagined back in 1965 where a couple of these guys would end up!!! (And Leon sounds EXACTLY the same!!!) kk
kk -
First of all let me apologize for not thanking you for the Bobby Rydell book. I have finally finished, a great read! I am glad his drinking problems are over with. Funny how many big stars can not escape the claws of drugs and alcoholism! I am glad I am old, dumb and broke!
Second of all, too many rock legends are dying off. I guess it reflects our age, even thou I try not to think about it.
Last, my life has dramatically changed in the last few years. BUT THE ONE CONSTANT has been your news letter (sorry I don't know what else to call it). I salute you, Kent, for your love of music and for sharing it with us. You make my life more enjoyable.
Thank you,
Mike De Martino
Thank you,
Mike De Martino
Wow, thanks, Mike ... I appreciate that. (And with our 17th anniversary now less than a week away, I've been thinking a lot lately about how Forgotten Hits has changed MY life, too. We really are a "collected bunch" ... folks to whom this music has meant everything throughout our lifetime ... and it's SO cool to be able to present a forum where all can share both those memories and that love of all this great music that has touched us for so many years.
Bobby Rydell's at The Arcada Theatre on Saturday Night (the 26th) ... hoping to see several of our Forgotten Hits Readers there at the show. (kk)
Bobby Rydell's at The Arcada Theatre on Saturday Night (the 26th) ... hoping to see several of our Forgotten Hits Readers there at the show. (kk)
******
Forgotten Hits is taking a few days off to work on future projects this week ...
But will return on Saturday, November 26th.
In the meantime, have a very enjoyable Thanksgiving.
*****
Finally, enjoy another one of those precision-timed dance videos sent in by FH Reader Frank B ... who asks ...
Kent ...
Can I add this to my resume as another "Clip Of The Week?"
Frank B.
Sure, Frank, you got it! (LOTS of our favorites featured in this clip!) Have a Great Thanksgiving! (kk)
