Next Weekend

We've heard from a couple of readers who will be joining us for the Tommy Roe / Chris Montez concert next Sunday at The Arcada Theatre.  You can still save 20% off your ticket price by going to The Arcada / OShows website and entering the special promotional code "FHITS20" at check out.

www.oshows.com

 

We've even got a couple of out-of-towners coming in for this, including Jim Foster, who has written a few reviews for Forgotten Hits in the past.  (Hey, maybe you'd like to cover this one, too!!!)

 

Hello Kent,  

I will be attending the Tommy Roe / Chris Montez concert at The Arcada Theatre on Sunday, March 13th.  I am looking forward to meeting you and all your Forgotten Hits readers.   

Take care,

Jim

 

We're also working on getting some of our readers backstage to meet Tommy ... and he'll be doing signings in the lobby after the show ... so please make plans to join us NEXT SUNDAY, March 13th, at 5:00 at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL, as Tommy and Chris recreate the magic of their 1963 British Tour which just happened to feature The Beatles as their opening act!  (And be sure to bring your cameras and memorabilia!!!)

 

And, depending on when some of you are coming in, you may want to truly make this a Rock And Roll Weekend ... because on Saturday, March 12th, Dennis Tufano, former lead singer of The Buckinghams, will be performing a fund-raising benefit concert at Taft High School in Chicago, backed by the incredible Chicago Experience Band.  As I type this, there are only 134 tickets left at $30 each ... all of the $40 and $50 VIP seats have been sold out ... and proceeds of this concert will help benefit The Taft High School Arts and Music Program, so it's all being done for a good cause. 

 

More details here:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2489329

(Sorry, we can't get you a discount on these tickets because it's a fund-raiser ... but you CAN save 20% off your ticket price for the Tommy Roe / Chris Montez show at The Arcada Theater on Sunday)

 

There are a couple of things I can promise you about this show ...

 

As good as The Chicago Experience is (and believe me, they're outstanding), odds are Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony snubber Peter Cetera won't be performing with THESE guys either ...

 

However, I can assure you that they will STILL put on an EXCEPTIONAL show without him!!!

 

And let's face it ... if you're going to go see some guy sing the hits of The Buckinghams, you may as well go see THE  guy who actually sang all these hits in the first place!!!  (Dennis will also be doing his Tribute to Bobby Darin as part of this performance, too ... so this is going to be a KILLER concert event any way you look at it!)

 

Come on out with us and make it a rock and roll double - header ...

 

Dennis Tufano with The Chicago Experience on Saturday Night at Taft High School ...

 

And Tommy Roe, Chris Montez and Cavern Beat (a Beatles tribute band) on Sunday at The Arcada Theatre.

50 Years Ago Today

SWEET 16: The Leap Year #1's (2-29-16)

We continue our Sweet 16 salute this year by taking a look back at the last 16 records to top the charts on February 29th ... 

It's THE LEAP YEAR COUNTDOWN ...

Today in Forgotten Hits 


#1 - 2016:  WORK - Rihanna (featuring Drake)



OK, I'm confused ... so is the point of this video to get us to enjoy and appreciate Rihanna as a singer and performer or simply an excuse to stare at her tits???  (Think this one's racy?  Check out her "Bitch Betta Have My Money" video which features full nudity throughout!)  As you will see during today's countdown, music SURE has changed since rock and roll began in 1955!  (Back in 1956, the CBS censors felt that Elvis Presley should only be shown from the waist up ... now it seems that ANYTHING goes ... whether it's music-related or not!)  kk
 
#1 - 2012:  PART OF ME - Katy Perry



Wow!  Has it really been four years since Katy Perry lit up the charts like a Firework?  Perry scored SEVEN #1 RECORDS in a span of only four years ... and watched four others make The Top Ten during that same time frame.

#1 - 2008:  LOW - Flo Rida featuring T-Pain



#1 - 2004:  YEAH! - Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris



#1 - 2000:  AMAZED - Lonestar



A HUGE cross-over hit, this one topped Billboard's Pop Chart for two weeks ... and their country chart for EIGHT!

#1 - 1996:  ONE SWEET DAY - Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men



Speaking of "Amazed", this is a pretty amazing list of #1 Records when one considers the fact that ALL of these hits occupied the #1 Spot on the Leap Year Date of February 29th.  You'll find some pretty heavy hitters in this bunch ... like this one that held down the #1 Spot for sixteen incredible weeks.  Scaling down the list you'll find "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles, a seven week #1 hit, and "Theme from 'A Summer Place'" by Percy Faith, who topped the chart for nine weeks back in 1960.

#1 - 1992:  TO BE WITH YOU - Mr. Big



#1 - 1988:  FATHER FIGURE - George Michael



George Michael had six Top Five singles from his first official solo album "Faith" back in 1987-1988 ... and four of those went all the way to #1.  (Other #1 Hits from "Faith" include the title track, "One More Try" and "Monkey".  The two that missed didn't miss by much ... "I Want Your Sex" went to #2 and "Kissing A Fool" reached #5.  Makes you almost forget the other guy from Wham!, doesn't it???  (What was his name again???  Brian Dunkelman?  No wait ... he co-hosted the first season of "American Idol" ... it was Andrew Ridgeley ... but it was never any question as to who did all the heavy lifting in this band!)

#1 - 1984:  JUMP - Van Halen



Van Halen had already been making their mark on Rock Stations for about six years when this catchy pop tune catapulted them into the stratosphere.  Anybody who hadn't been listening before, was now ... "Jump" was infectious and STILL sounds every bit as good today.  It earned the band its first (and only) #1 Record ... and stayed there for five straight weeks.

#1 - 1980:  CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE - Queen



Queen were one of the most creative and diverse bands to ever come along ... their finely crafted "Bohemian Rhapsody", a rock opera symphony if there ever was one ... their pop hits "Killer Queen" and "You're My Best Friend" ... their rock anthem "We Will Rock You" which segued into the beautiful "We Are The Champions" ... the rock/disco funk of "Another One Bites The Dust" ... even a novelty hit like "Fat Bottomed Girls" sent the message loud and clear to the listener ... ALWAYS expect the unexpected.  So when Freddie Mercury and the boys kicked things back to some early '50's rock-a-billy sounds, we were completely bowled over ... and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" went straight to #1, where it stayed for four weeks.

#1 - 1976:  LOVE MACHINE - The Miracles



Once Smokey Robinson split for a solo career, most of us wrote The Miracles off as a thing of the past ... great while it lasted ... but Smokey was the driving force in that unit, writing and singing all their hits.  So imagine our surprise when The Miracles funked things up in 1976 and earned a gold record and a #1 Hit out of it!  Completely out of left field, even Smokey had to be surprised ... and proud.  (By the way, for the record, Smokey's never reached #1 with any of his solo hits!)

#1 - 1972:  WITHOUT YOU - Nilsson



Harry Nilsson took a Badfinger album track and, together with an incredible arrangement by Producer Richard Perry, scored one of the biggest and most memorable hits of the '70's.  I don't care how many times you've heard it since ... the power of this track sweeps you away every single time.

#1 - 1968:  LOVE IS BLUE - Paul Mauriat



#1 - 1964:  I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - The Beatles



This is the one that broke The Beatles in America.  Designed, reportedly, for the American audience, Beatlemania exploded on these shores and carried on for several years to come.  While "She Loves You" might have been the more likely "universal hit", it was held to the #2 position for weeks behind this juggernaut.  "I Want To Hold Your Hand" topped the US Chart for seven weeks, by which time nearly every boy in America had grown his hair out and picked up a guitar.

#1 - 1960:  THE THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" - Percy Faith



One of the most beautiful and memorable movie themes ever ... "The Theme from 'A Summer Place'" will still make folks stand up and listen, even if they're hearing it for the very first time.  Yes, rock and roll had set in by then ... but there's just something about an incredible memory that trumps everything else ... and this one has it in spades.

#1 - 1956:  LISBON ANTIGUA - Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra



Yes, Virginia, this is what radio sounded like before Elvis Presley came along and shook things up!  His first big hit, "Heartbreak Hotel" would hit the charts a week later ... and music would never be the same again.  But for now, tracks like Nelson Riddle's "Lisbon Antigua" and other middle of the road fare like "The Poor People Of Paris" and "No Not Much" were the norm.  (There was hope, however ... The Platters had the #3 record this week with "The Great Pretender" ... and Pat Boone was already covering Little Richard tunes!)

#1 Records as determined by Billboard Magazine for the chart covering the date of February 29th ... 60 YEARS OF #1 LEAP YEAR HITS!!!

The Sunday Comments ( 02 - 28 - 16 )

re:  THIS AND THAT:  
Here's a cool photo sent in by FH Reader Frank B of a VERY young Scott Shannon at his first radio gig.  (Man, were we all ever really that young?!?!?)  

We've been working with Scott on a very special weekend feature that will air on The True Oldies Channel real soon ... stay tuned to this website for more details.  (kk)

>>>Chris Montez and Tommy Roe are certified Rock and Roll legends, and now they're back together to perform all their million-selling hits, and to recall the tour that changed music history forever, LIVE at The Arcada Theatre on Sunday, March 13th, which places them smack dab in the middle of the 53 Year Anniversary of that history-making tour.  (kk)   
I bet if Paul McCartney showed up for this one, he wouldn't be turned away!    
– Randy Price  
Man, wouldn't that be something?!?!? 
I don't think I've ever shared this story before ... not even with Ron Onesti. 
A few years back Brian Wilson did an appearance at The Arcada Theatre ... in fact, we had front row seats for this one and it was an awesome show. 
A few days before the concert it was all over the news that Paul McCartney was doing his Historic Route 66 Tour and had stopped in a few shops along the way that were really not all that far from the vicinity of St. Charles. 
I tried DESPERATELY to get in contact with some of McCartney's people ... thinking it would have made for an AWESOME, incredible surprise if somehow, someway, Paul could do an unannounced, unexpected walk on during Brian's Arcada show.  Such an event would have made headlines around the world, especially if Paul and Brian sang "God Only Knows" together. 
Sadly, it never happened ... but I still get excited just thinking about what it would have been like if it had ... and I would have had a front row seat to boot!  
Meanwhile, I've got to tell you that we've had very little response about the upcoming Tommy Roe / Chris Montez concert at The Arcada ... c'mon people, we've been talking about doing a Forgotten Hits get-together for quite awhile now ... come on out and see this killer show and meet some of your FH contemporaries!  (kk)

Talking about great upcoming shows, FH Reader Ken Voss sent us notice of THIS major concert event that we're sure you're all going to want to attend ...

Be sure to let your readers know to make plans for the summer's biggest music festival with the world's biggest sound system. 
Ken Voss

Ken also tells us ...

As you said, back issues of Uncut Magazine's History Of Rock series are hard to find ... but you can subscribe to future issues here:  
https://www.magazinesdirect.com/az-magazines/34274666/history-of-rock.thtml?utm_medium=Text+link&utm_source=BRAND+WEBSITE&utm_campaign=XHR+Brandsite&utm_content=XHR+Top+Nav+Text+Link

I've got copies of all the ones I want (1965 - 1970) on their way ... my hope is they'll listen to some of their readers and also publish issues covering 1963 and 1964, the very dawn of the British Invasion, in which case I'll definitely scramble to add those to my collection.  (Check out their website and you'll see that they're sold out of nearly all their back issues as well.)  kk

Hi Kent, 
I recently asked you about the availability of The Eagles 1977 Capitol Centre Concert. Well, my question has been answered ... it is now available as Disc 3 of The History of The Eagles DVD set!!  
5.1 surround sound as well!   
Thanks, 
Eddie   
Ashley, PA 
History of the Eagles:  
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BSBUZPK/ref=cm_sw_r_em_awd_rO6Zwb8D212TB  
Awesome!  Will have to check this out.  I have had this 3-DVD Set since the day it came out and have never watched it ... figured it was just the same special that aired on Showtime ... and since I'd already seen that six or seven times, there was no need to pop in the DVD's!  Thanks, Eddie!  (kk)

7A Records is proud to present Micky Dolenz’s first solo single in 33 years! ‘Chance Of A Lifetime’ b/w ‘Livin’ On Lies’ are two previously unheard Dolenz recordings that will be issued in a stunning Limited Edition 7” Gatefold Single set on clear vinyl. It will be officially released for Record Store Day in the UK on April 16^th.

*Why put this package together?  

These are two great, long lost, Dolenz recordings that fans have been desperate to hear for years. These tracks have taken on near mythical status amongst Monkee collectors and now fans can finally own them on single, taken from the master tapes. 7a Records’ Glenn Gretlund first heard the songs in the early 2000s and has since tried to locate the owners and producers. When this finally came together, we felt that the best way to do the songs and Micky justice was to release them as a single. Both songs are fantastic rockers that sound modern and fresh and deserve to be heard!  

*How supportive has Micky been?  
Micky is over the moon that these songs he co-wrote are finally seeing the light of day. He’s very impressed with the packaging and amused to be having a solo single release at the age of 70!  

*What’s the single like?    
The tracks are great Pop / Rock songs that really showcase Micky’s talents as a singer. As producer and songwriter Tom Deluca explains: “I came up with the idea for ‘Chance of a Lifetime’, I’ve always been a huge fan of the original Monkees’ catalogue and wanted to write something new with the original vibe attached. Mike [Slamer] came up with the idea for “Livin’ on Lies”. We got together with Micky and finished both songs – we had a lot of fun.” 

*7a Records has previously had great success releasing ‘Micky Dolenz – The MGM Singles Collection’ on vinyl. Will this album be released on CD or will they only be available as a vinyl single?  
At the moment our full focus is on the vinyl single. We cannot say for sure whether the tracks will be available on CD at a later date. A whole album recorded in this style would have made a great release. Tom Deluca adds a bit of background as to why only two songs were recorded: “The idea from the very beginning was to make a full album. We got great reaction from labels to the two songs but they all wanted completed albums delivered before they would commit. We were all busy with other projects, Micky was travelling a lot and it just got put on the back burner.”  

*Will it be available in the US, or just the UK?  
At the moment, the single is set to be released for Record Store Day in the UK on April 16^th. However, many of the UK record shops also deal with customers in the US, so it is safe to say that single will also be available to fans in the US and around the world.   

*What does the name of the label signify?   
Monkee fans will get the reference – it’s the spoken intro to Daydream Believer. A very tired Davy Jones asking the producer ‘What number is this Chip?’ to be met by a sarcastic ‘7a!’   

*What’s next for 7a Records?   
These are very exciting times for us. Apart from this 7” single, we have “An Evening With Peter Noone & Micky Dolenz” coming out as a 2CD set on March 11^th. We have also recently released Bobby Hart’s ‘First Solo Album’, which we are still busy promoting.  Coming later in the year will be a CD issue of “ Micky Dolenz -The MGM Singles Collection” with bonus tracks, and if that wasn’t enough, we are very excited about some releases featuring Bobby’s songwriting partner Tommy Boyce. Busy times!    

For more information please visit:  www.7arecords.com or www.facebook.com/7aRecords  

DeeJay Stu Weiss sent us this vintage photo of Frank Sinatra performing at The Rusty Cabin in 1939.  
Frank is 23 in the picture and looks about 14.
The Rustic Cabin in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, located across the river from Manhattan, is where Sinatra was first discovered in 1939 by Harry James.
Sinatra went on to join James' band that year and the rest, they say, is history.
According to Stu, there are no known recorded performances of Sinatra singing at The Rustic Cabin but there is one tantalizingly close encounter - a 1939 radio remote from the Rustic Cabin that mentions Sinatra is to be performing that evening ... however, the recording is cut off before Sinatra takes the stage and therefore doesn't perform.

And check this out ...   

The City of Chicago is throwing a party to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of "Ferris Buehler's Day Off", filmed right here in Chicago! 
They're calling the whole thing "Ferris Fest" ... but you'll need Sausage King Abe Froman's kind of money in order to buy tickets to attend! 
A three-day pass goes for $300 and, believe it or not, they're already nearly sold out.  (Single day tickets for Saturday, May 21st, ARE sold out!) 
Of course the film IS a classic ... and has been parodied numerous times in the past including twice this season that I have seen on the television series "The Goldbergs" and "Limitless".  
Kirstin Fawcett of "Mental-Floss" files this report ...  

Chicago Will Throw a Three-Day Festival to Honor 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'  

A high school student playing hooky is usually cause for condemnation, not celebration. However, that isn’t stopping the city of Chicago from throwing a big party this spring to honor the Midwest's most charming fictional troublemaker: Ferris Bueller. The three-day Ferris Fest — to be held in and around the Chicago area from May 20 to 22, according to WGN-TV—will mark the 30th anniversary of '80s film classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which was released in theaters on June 11, 1986.

Directed and written by John Hughes, the flick starred Matthew Broderick as the titular character, along with Mia Sara as Bueller's girlfriend, Sloane Peterson, and Alan Ruck as his best friend Cameron. The trio skips school and spends a day frolicking around downtown Chicago. They dine at a French restaurant, crash a parade, regale onlookers with a rendition of The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout," and visit a slew of landmarks, including the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower), the Art Institute of Chicago, and Wrigley Field. 
Keeping in the spirit of the movie, Ferris Fest will offer a live re-creation of the film's "Twist and Shout" parade sequence and a two-day, two-part bus tour of movie locations, including the Willis Tower, Glenbrook North High School (the suburban high school where exterior shots of Bueller’s fictional alma mater were filmed), and Cameron’s house in Highland Park, Illinois.  
The event will also feature a special screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at the John and Nancy Hughes Theater in Lake Forest, Illinois, on Saturday, May 21. Film critic Richard Roeper will host the event, which will include a Q&A with Ferris's parents, played by Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward, and the French restaurant maitre d' Jonathan Schmock. Organizers say they’re trying to recruit even more actors and producers to join the event.  
As the Chicago Tribune points out, Ferris Bueller's Day Off received a two-star review fromTribune movie critic Gene Siskel, who deemed it a “film that doesn’t seem to know what it’s about until the end.” However, no one can argue that the flick isn't a celebration of the Windy City from start to finish. 
Full three-day festival tickets are $300, and include admission to the above tours and activities along with access to meet-and-greets, an opening night party, admission to a replica of Ferris Bueller's bedroom, and a T-shirt. One-day tickets for Saturday or Sunday are $175. For more information, visit the official Ferris Fest website.
The website is amazing ... and this would be a REALLY fun thing to do with a group of friends ... but $300 a pop?  And it's nearly sold out?!?!  Damn!  Who would've ever thought???  (kk)

re:  LAST CHANCE:  
You've only got until tomorrow to take advantage of Joel Whitburn's discount offer ... $20 off on $99 orders and $50 off on $199 orders.  Just use the special order code PRESIDENTS at check out and you'll save a bundle on your choice of any books ordered from his incredible series of Record Research chart books.  These are an INVALUABLE tool for me putting together Forgotten Hits ... there isn't a single day that goes by that I don't consult any number of these to bring you the accurate facts and figures we post on a nearly daily basis. 
Head on over to the Joel Whitburn / Record Research Website and place your orders now ... a keep a little cash for yourself in the process!  
http://recordresearch.com/  
Coming next month ... which begins Tuesday don't forget!!! ... Joel's latest book, "America's Greatest Hits" ... a weekly recap of Billboard Magazine's Top Ten pop chart hits from 1940 - 2015!  Order your copy now.  (And stay tuned ... because we'll also be giving a copy away!)  kk

re:  HELPING OUT OUR READERS: 

Kent,  

A friend of mine asked me for some help on a record and I did a little bit of detective work on it but came up with nothing, so I would like to know if any of your readers might know the answer. Apparently, and I am assuming the year was 1966, an answer record came out to Susan Christie's I LOVE ONIONS. The answer, of course, being I HATE ONIONS. If any of your readers know any info about this record, that is artist, year, label, please let you know. My friend did hear the record years ago and knows that one came out. 

For the past thirty minutes or so I have been playing some of the Sonny James' records that I remember and know to have done real well in the OKC. YOUNG LOVE, YOU'RE THE ONLY LOVE I KNOW, DREAM BIG / YO YO, UH UH MM, and the vocal version of APACHE. 

Larry Neal 

I've never heard of an answer record to this ... the guys who would mostly know would be Frank Merrill or Jerry Osborne, so I forwarded your question on to them.  (I also checked with a couple of our Forgotten Hits Regulars who seem to have copies of just about EVERYTHING, Tom Diehl and Clark Besch ... let's see if any of these experts can come up with an answer for your friend.) 

UPDATE:  We got answers from everybody except Jerry Osborne on this one ... unfortunately, it's a mixed bag when it comes to whether or not this record actually exists.  

Sonny James didn't really have much of an impact on the pop charts (other than his 1957 #1 Hit "Young Love") ... but he absolutely KILLED it on the country charts, placing 72 songs on Billboard's Country Singles Chart between 1953 and 1983.  (This includes an incredible 23 #1 Records, including a stretch of 16 in a row between 1967 and 1972.) My mom was a big country music fan, so I heard quite a bit of Sonny's music around our house growing up.  (kk)

Um ... well ... I don't know - it's nowhere to be found in the ANSWER RECORDS master list.  I'm sure I've actually heard rumors of such a song, too.  But if it's not in the master list, it's nowhere to be found.   

Frank Merrill 

Can't say I've ever heard of such a thing ...    
Not what they're looking for, I'm certain, but I did find this, though :-)     
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd_ntZ0pAeo  
Tom Diehl 
If he really heard it in 1966, then The Muppets unfortunately wouldn't have been the answer.

I did some searching, too, and came up empty.

(And that's after pulling back "several layers" of research!)

Two things that DID cross my mind ...

Perhaps the disc jockey he listened to back then put together his own parody record ... not at all uncommon for some of the creative jocks to have some fun with a hit song ...

Or, maybe this was something that was done on one of those old Mad Magazine flexi-discs that came out from time to time???  Sounds like something they might do.

Sorry we couldn't be of more help.  (kk)

Kent,

Here's the answer I got from the guru of novelty answer records, regarding "I Hate Onions".  (Unfortunately, an unsuccessful adventure.)  NOW, can anyone help Rhett with the novelty / answer records he's looking for?

Clark Besch

Hi Clark -
I still have no official word if an actual answer record exists for "I Love Onions", but I believe one does exist.
About 6-7 years ago, Mike Markesich out of Massachusetts informed me he had at one time had a 45 titled "I Hate Onions".  He had already gotten rid of it and had no clue of who the artist was or the label it was recorded for ... and he did not remember who the record went to.
Now I consider Mike Markesich very reputable, so for that reason alone, I firmly believe that such a record exists.  But unfortunately Frank nor I have never seen it, nor has Ron Davis, who also is an answer record "junkie".
Mr Clark, if you're not aware, I put out a 22 volume cd series titled "Vinyl Vics Rare & Obscure Answer Records".   They are now out of print and I have no extra copies ... but most volumes are still available via ebay if that interests you.  There are also several other answer record cd compilations out there, too.
Meanwhile here are three other answer records that I'm looking for ... maybe some of Kent's readers can help me locate these:
Shannon Dale - "I'm Not a Little Town Flirt" on Stinger
Annette Wilson - "Hey Girl That Lifeguard Is Mine" on Riptide
The Mersey Monsters - "Buried Across Mersey / I Feel Mine" on Frightn'n
If you would have any of those, I'd pay just to have a tape or cdr of them.  And if you ever found I Hate Onions, I would like a tape or cdr of that, too.
Sorry I'm probably not much help, but I do believe "I Hate Onions" exists ... I just have never personally seen it.
Sincerely
Rhett Lake

Next, I pulled out ALL the stops ... and went right to Dr. Demento himself!!!  (I figured if ANYBODY on the planet would know for sure, it would be Dr. D!!!)

Here's what he told me ...

Hi Kent,

Real nice to hear from you.

To be perfectly honest, this is the first I’ve heard of any “I Hate Onions” song.

The Susan Christie record wasn’t all that big of a hit (#63 in Billboard) so that wouldn’t normally be enough to inspire a record label to put out an answer song. I don’t remember ever hearing it on the air here in SoCal. However it might have been big in a few markets. 

My guess is that some local DJ somewhere made up an answer song and sang it on his (or her) show, which means it may or may not have been actually pressed on vinyl. 

Best,

Dr. Demento

By the way, Dr. Demento is coming to The Arcada Theatre for a live performance in October.  (October 27th to be exact!)  I asked The Good Doctor what one might expect to see during a Dr. Demento Live Concert ... other than Expect The Unexpected!!!  (Special thanks to my old buddy and former guitarist Ed Andrews who turned me on to Dr. Demento WAY back when ... I've been a fan ever since!)  kk

I do hope to see you in St. Charles.   I’m still working on the precise content of that show.  There will be videos, stories, and probably some live music.  I will definitely be holding a “meet and greet” / selfie-autograph session afterward.

Can't wait to finally be able to say "hello" in person ... and thank you for all the great memories you've provided over the years.  By the way, you're going to LOVE The Arcada ... a BEAUTIFUL theatre dating back to the old vaudeville days.  (kk)

We also talked a little bit about the sudden resurgence in Weird Al Yankovic's career ... seems like he's been all over the place lately ... a recent appearance on "The Goldbergs" and now a big national tour to promote his new album.  Who would have EVER thought this would be going on some 35 years later ... and it all started thanks to some home-made tapes he sent in to the old Dr. Demento radio show way back when!  (kk)

Yes, Weird Al’s career uptick is amazing.  Not the first time ... there were a couple times in the past he faded away and then came back strong.  The fact that “Mandatory Fun” actually was #1 for two weeks was a major psychological milestone. It really woke people up and brought a lot more work his way. Actually “Fun” actually hasn’t moved as many copies as “Bad Hair Day” or “Off the Deep End” did in the past, but you don’t have to sell as many to get to #1 as you used to.  No matter, he totally deserves it, and the show he does now is fantastic.

Dr. Demento

re:  FOR YOUR BOBBY DARIN FILE:  
FH Reader Frank B sent in this vintage Bobby Darin "Password" clip to share with our readers ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGP6DxVGY8c&ebc=ANyPxKoy7RgFeLbfp1QfvRgGAeP-0nKDFhtPN4W-BWR3sSD4x_ft2M3LfkvViIAKL85yP2fPxLQBYnYU9Tj2Al2V5y6l_-AIeg

re:  DIGGIN' FORGOTTEN HITS:  
Hi Kent -

Thought this video really captured the spirit of Forgotten Hits -- just some good ol', flat-ass Rock & Roll! 
Peace, 
Tim Kiley  

https://youtu.be/auqlW2ofMyI

Hi Kent -

Thank you for Ron Onesti's write up on Mark Farner of the Grand Funk Railroad!!  Love stories like that ... brings back good memories.

I saw Mark perform at the 'Happy Together Tour" when he was at the Paramount Theater.  I didn't expect it, but he was the BEST PERFORMER  that night in my opinion.

I also like the fact that he is very Patriotic. We need that now more than ever. The 'Locomotion' has been around along time, circa Little Eva's version ... it's a great tune and Mark gives it that special touch.

Keep up the Great Work, Kent, and maybe one day do something on the local South Bend, Indiana group  "The Rivieras"!

Carolyn

We actually did a pretty in-depth feature on The Rivieras awhile back ... here's a link to a recap of the original piece that also brings things up to date.  (Right now we've been talking with a few people about The Princetons, who had a HUGE Top Ten Hit here in Chicago in 1966 with "Georgianna" ... so keep an eye out for that one!)  kk

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2012/10/remembering-couple-of-60s-classics.html

I just wanted to drop you a note to say that Forgotten Hits still brightens my day and makes me smile every single time I read it.

Features this week showing you as a 13-year-old Batman ... the God-awful Bruce Wayne knock-knock joke ... the story of Ron Onesti's first grade school dance ... you don't find stuff like this anywhere else ... memories we ALL share.  Sure, we love the music ... but we experienced so much more than that growing up when we did and you have a way of bringing those memories back on a daily basis. 

Thank you for Forgotten Hits.

Sherrie

Thanks for the kind words ... and you're right ... what makes all of this work is that no matter how many thousands of miles we may have all lived away from each other growing up as strangers, we all still managed to share these memories together and can relive them now through these pages.  I'm just the glue that holds it all together ... YOU GUYS are the ones that make it work!  (kk)

re:  THE CORNERSTONES OF ROCK:  
I talked with the folks over at WTTW-TV this week inquiring as to when we might finally see the DVD and CD from the recent television special they aired last November. 
The original expected ship date was to have been mid-February ... but February ends tomorrow and apparently nobody has received their merchandise yet.

Here's what they told me ...   

Hello Kent -  
There was a production delay with the Cornerstones DVD and CD. 
Hopefully, the products will arrive in our fulfillment house in the next two-to-three weeks.  
Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.  
Thank You -  
Carmelita Harris  
WTTW   

Which means that HOPEFULLY these will arrive just in time for the sold out live appearance of our Local Heroes at The Arcada Theatre on March 19th. (kk)

re:  SWEET 16:  
Don't miss our special Leap Year edition of our brand new Sweet 16 feature tomorrow in Forgotten Hits ... featuring the last 16 #1 Records to fall on February 29th!  Look for it after 6 am Chicago time!  (Meanwhile, we're trying to get Scott Shannon to feature hourly Top Five Countdowns of the Biggest Hits In America for the years 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988.  We've done these celebrations together in the past ... kind of a "quad-annual event you might say ... so c'mon, Scott, give the readers and listeners a treat and do it again THIS year!!!)  kk