2016 claimed another superstar victim ... this time on Christmas Day ...
when it was announced that George Michael had passed away.
Michael ruled the charts in the '80's, first as one half of Wham! (seven
Top Ten Hits, including three #1's) and then as a solo artist, scoring 14 more
Top 10's and 7 more #1's (including a stretch a string of four in a row from his
"Faith" album.)
George's life wasn't without controversy ... and the official cause of
death won't be announced until after an autopsy.
THE GEORGE MICHAEL HIT LIST
(released as George Michael unless otherwise
shown)
1984 - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (#1) as WHAM! (#1 UK)
1985 - Careless Whisper (#1) as WHAM! featuring George Michael (#1
UK)
1985 - Everything She Wants (#1) as WHAM!
1985 - Freedom (#3) as WHAM! (#1 UK)
1986 - I'm Your Man (#3) as WHAM! (#1 UK)
1986 - A Different Corner (#7) (#1 UK)
1986 - The Edge Of Heaven (#10) as WHAM! (#1 UK)
1986 - Where Did Your Heart Go? (#50) as WHAM!
1987 - I Knew You Were Waiting For Me (#1) as Aretha Franklin and George Michael (#1 UK)
1987 - I Knew You Were Waiting For Me (#1) as Aretha Franklin and George Michael (#1 UK)
1987 - I Want Your Sex (#1)
1987 - Faith (#1)
1988 - Father Figure (#1)
1988 - One More Try (#1)
1988 - Monkey (#1)
1988 - Kissing A Fool (#5)
1989 - Heaven Help Me (#5) as Deon Estus with George Martin
1990 - Praying For Time (#1)
1990 - Freedom (#8) ... different song than above
1991 - Waiting For The Day (#27)
1991 - Mother's Pride (#46)
1992 - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (#1) as George Michael and Elton
John (a live recording of Elton's big 1973 hit) (#1 UK)
1992 - Too Funky (#10)
1993 - Somebody To Love (#30) George Michael and Queen (recorded live at
the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert)
1996 - Jesus To A Child (#7) (#1 UK)
1996 - Fastlove (#8) (#1 UK)
WHAM! also scored with their Christmas classic "Last Christmas", now a
holiday staple, as is "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Band Aid, on which George
Michael was prominently featured (kk)
stats courtesy Joel Whitburn / Record Research
The best Christmas song of all
time
The first
time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-8ZERV_D_Q
Then in 1995: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpimLgh3pJU
But this is the one I love the best ... it
also just happens to also be the last time she sings it on the Letterman show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omp0G9RzD8I
Take care ... and have a great Christmas and healthy
new year
Geoff
I think this'll be our last blast of Christmas for 2016 ... although our All-Christmas Radio Station has announced that they'll continue playing holiday music through New Year's Eve before returning to their regular format. (WHY!?!?!?!? Have you not already beaten this to death???) kk
Hi Kent -
Merry Christmas to
you and your family!
Any word on a concert tour yet for
Cornerstones ? Would love to see this in NE Ohio
Take care
Tom
Recent conversations with Carl Giammarese of The
Buckinghams, Jim Peterik of The Ides of March and Ron Onesti of The Arcada
Theatre indicate that a Midwestern Tour is definitely in the plans for 2017 ...
but several details still need to be worked out.
My suggestion ... help get some momentum going by
contacting venues in your area (Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri,
etc., asking them to book this show ... have them contact Ron@OShows.com for more information. I know
all the guys are chomping at the bit to take this show on the road!
(kk)
Speaking of The Arcada Theatre, here's a nice
piece Ron did on Burton Cummings, who returns to The Arcada on April 21st (and we can't
wait!)
The Top 77 show will be
held Monday at 2 PM on www.RewoundRadio.com
Hope you
can tune in for the songs which got the most votes this year, plus some notes on
the songs and some fun trivia questions! There will be a pre-show starting at
#140 with Allan Sniffen at 10 AM. So, please make a note to join me, Mike Riccio
and Bob Radil!
Plus, all
week long after the show, Rewound Radio will be playing only songs which
received votes this year, no matter where they turned up on the
list.
Thanks!
Tom Natoli
/ Rewound Radio
Hopefully most of you
will see this in time to tune in ... and if not, they typically replay the
countdown numerous times during the week. Check out www.rewoundradio.com for
more details.
Speaking of countdowns
...
Hi again
Kent,
I mentioned Roy Orbison's backing band The Candymen in my earlier post. If my memory is correct,
I heard back in 1967 that the group was originally formed in Dothan, Alabama, by Bobby Goldsboro as The Webs. Roy changed their name to The Candymen after the B-side of his 1961 smash hit "Crying". As a guitarist, Bobby toured with Roy until "See The Funny Little Clown" became a hit and he went solo.
I am enclosing our 1966 year end radio station chart showing Bobby at #15 with "Blue Autumn".
Mike G
I mentioned Roy Orbison's backing band The Candymen in my earlier post. If my memory is correct,
I heard back in 1967 that the group was originally formed in Dothan, Alabama, by Bobby Goldsboro as The Webs. Roy changed their name to The Candymen after the B-side of his 1961 smash hit "Crying". As a guitarist, Bobby toured with Roy until "See The Funny Little Clown" became a hit and he went solo.
I am enclosing our 1966 year end radio station chart showing Bobby at #15 with "Blue Autumn".
Mike G
Again, I STRONGLY suggest picking up
a copy of the new "Where Have All The Pop Stars Gone" (Volume Three) book by
Jeff March and Marti Smiley Childs.
What I especially like about this
edition is that several of the artists featured are cross-referenced because
their paths crossed behind the scenes along the way. The formation of The
Candymen is well documented ... and you might be surprised about who played in
that group over a period of time.
(In fact, pick up the whole
collection ... you'll find Bobby Goldsboro profiled in Volume
Two!)
It is available on Amazon as well as
their own EditPros website ... http://www.editpros.com/search.html
FH Reader Tom Cuddy sent us this
piece spotlighting Bev Bevan and his take on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
Induction of The Electric Light Orchestra ...
ELO's Bev Bevan Talks Rock Hall Induction, Jeff Lynne Rift
The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will bring together many bandmates that haven't shared a stage in a long, long time … Read it on rollingstone.com
Sounds like Henry Gross has been busy!!! He just filed this report
...
Hi Kent!
Happy holidays!
I just returned from nine weeks in the U.K., touring with my pal,
the amazing Joe Brown ... his most successful tour ever ... just playing ...
great tour.
Then I played on a benefit for the Musicians Fund in Nashville in
honor of my dear friend and my bassist of 30 years, the incomparable Mike
Chapman. Mike played on just about every recording Garth Brooks ever made as
well as a slew of other country hits. I miss him every day!
Then I played a solo show at Lafayette's in Memphis, TN, this past
Friday night at what was the best Xmas party!
Gonna take it easy for a while and figure out what's next.
Hope your having a wonderful holiday.
Henry
Sounds like you've been having a blast, Henry ... thanks for
checking in! And keep us advised of any new music and shows you may be sending
our way in 2017! (kk)
