Hit After Hit After Hit

Joel Whitburn just keeps the hits coming!!!  What an incredible year it's been so far!

AVAILABLE NOW:  America's Greatest Hits, 1940 - 2015 - The Complete Top Ten Pop Charts

COMING SOON:  The companion Top 10 Albums Book, arriving in May  (order your copy online now and save ten bucks!)

 
And now comes word about an updated edition of the grand-daddy of them all ... 

The book that launched Record Research and remains its most consistent best seller ...

An updated edition of Top Pop Singles, now spanning 60 YEARS of chart history ...

With all kinds of cool upgrades and new information. (This book just keeps getting better and better!)

Available now for preorder at a $15 discount.  (Books will start shipping in June)

All books available thru Joel's website:
http://recordresearch.com/

ALL-NEW Top Pop Singles 1955-2015 $15 Off with promo code: BESTYET

Kent,  You're the first to know about Joel's new Top Pop Singles 1955-2015! Get $15 off through April 15, 2016, with promo code: BESTYET Top Pop Singles 1955-2015 will arrive in June of 2016, and will be $79.95.  Order today with the BESTYET promo code and get it for only $64.95! In the 46 years of publishing our flagship book, the upcoming 15th edition of Top Pop Singles is the best one yet!  All of the inexhaustible data our readers expect -- presented with painstaking accuracy in a concise format debuting a host of new features! Thousands of recent entries … Updated, expanded information on previous songs and artists … clean and refreshed format … a ton of data added with our new features! It's the 60-year history of everyone and everything that ever appeared on Billboard magazine's "Hot 100"  and early pop singles charts from the dawn of the rock era. Check out these major, NEW FEATURES below: ► Each US chart hit that hit #1 on the United Kingdom (British) charts is now indicated with an easy-to-find symbol, also showing total weeks at #1. This is the first Record Research publication to show this non-US chart information. ► For every #1 hit from other major trade magazines (Cash Box, Music Vendor & Record Word) that DID NOT hit #1 in Billboard, weve added an easy-to-find symbol, with the total weeks at #1 shown. At a glance, see newly-researched #1 hits for such artists as The Beatles (4 additional #1s), Creedence Clearwater Revival (3 #1s), The Everly Brothers, The Kingsmen, Elvis and many more. actual page size: 8.5" x 11" ► Expanded HRH Listings from 200 to 300 titles - song that are the most-honored by critics and music industry professionals such as the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and other significant rankings. ► Revised "24 Hit Club" now includes 266 members with photos. ► Updated bios - vital information for every new artist, plus group members, birthdates/places, rapper's real names, and death dates updated through Spring 2016. ► List of approx. 200 ultra-rare EPs - never charted, early rock 'n' roll - among them The Harp Tones, The Mello-Kings, Eddie Cochran, LaVern Baker, Chuck Berry, The Crests, Danny & The Juniors, and more!   Order today!

Sweet 16: A Special "April Fool's" Edition

It used to be that April Fool's Day provided the perfect excuse for radio station to dig out the novelty hits that they didn't typically play anymore as part of their daily rotation.  It was a "fun" way to celebrate the holiday.

But for the past few years, outlets like Forgotten Hits and The True Oldies Channel have preferred instead to feature songs with the word "fool" in the title.

A few years ago we came up with about 50 titles to choose from ... so, in the spirit of our very special 2016 / SWEET 16 celebration, today we're going to feature 16 of our "fool" favorites.  (And, since we ARE Forgotten Hits, you'll probably a few surprises on the list this morning!)

Enjoy!

Helping Out Our Readers

Hi Kent,  
I just heard of the passing of Patty Duke. A great actress who won an Oscar and had a successful TV program.  

But didn't she have a Top 40 Hit with her song " Please Just Don't Stand There'??? 

When in doubt, ask the master!  

Carolyn

I was sad to hear about Patty's passing, too.  What a weird and wild life she had.  Over the course of her career she was able to play BOTH leads in "The Miracle Worker", The Helen Keller Story.

Patty had TWO back-to-back Top 40 Hits in 1965 ... "Don't Just Stand There" (which I've always referred to as a "You Don't Own Me" clone ... although it's still a GREAT record on its own merits) went to #5 and "Say Something Funny" (whose flipside, "Funny Little Butterflies" also charted) went to #22, both in 1965.  (kk) 

And of course we all watched her on her hit television series "The Patty Duke Show", where she played twin cousins (one from Britain and one from Brooklyn Heights) ... who can forget the infectious theme song ... "but they're cousins ... identical cousins through and through"!  (kk)

Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke, who starred in her own, self-named television show, died in Los Angeles Tuesday (March 29) of sepsis from a ruptured intestine. She was 69. Born Anna Marie Duke in Queens, New York, her mother turned her over to live with talent managers who changed her name to Patty. She appeared on TV and in print ads and in 1959 even won $32,000 on the "$64,000 Challenge" TV show. Her big break was appearing as Helen Keller on Broadway in "The Miracle Worker" from 1959 to 1961. She then went on to star in the film version of the story and won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1962. In 1963 she starred in the "Patty Duke Show" as both wild Patty Lane and her prim and proper identical cousin, Cathy. The show ran for three years and during that time she recorded two hit records - "Don't Just Stand There" (#8 -1965) and "Say Something Funny" (#22 -1965). She attempted to change her image with a major role in the film, "Valley Of The Dolls" in 1969 and won a Golden Globe as Best Actress for her portrayal of Neely O'Hara. She was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988. Her autobiography, chronicling her battle with bi-polar disorder, "Call Me Anna," was published in 1988. Married four times - including actor John Astin -- she was the mother of actor Sean Astin (who, it was revealed later, was not John's biological son).

-- Ron Smith / oldiesmusic.com

Hello, 
My name is Todd.  Born in '65.  Growing up I had older brother and sisters.  We had shoe boxes of old 45s.  Nothing but popular music of the late 50's and early 60's stuff. (think Love Potion No. 9 type stuff) 
On one of these 45s (B-side) was a preformed sketch like from an old radio show.  It started out with foot steps walking down an alley or side walk.  Then maybe another set of foot steps chasing the original set.  Then maybe some running.  Then three gunshots.  Body falling to the ground.  And then an old timey police siren.   It gets hazy (my memory) after that.  The police may have done some talking but I don't remember.  
Does any of this sound familiar?   The first time I heard it I was probably five years old and it scared the crap out of me.  I've asked my brothers and sisters and a couple of them vaguely remember it too.
Do you have any insight as to who recorded this?
Thank you very much in advance!!
Todd Smith
I'm going to take a wild guess on this one, Todd, and go with "Suspense" by Dickie Goodman, which was the B-Side of his 1966 hit "Batman And His Grandmother."  You describe it perfectly (and I used to play this one a lot, too, when I was a kid growing up.)  Let me know if I nailed it.  (kk)
 
 

Hi,  
I am hoping you can help me.  I remember listening to a song repeatedly when I was in jr. high school that is on the b side of a 45 (7” record).  
I seem to remember the label was green and the male vocalist had a deeper voice close to Bertie Higgins or Michael Johnson.

I think the title of the track is “You Are” and the lyrics that stand out is “you are the sun, after the rain…”

I have googled it repeatedly, I have tried I-tunes – nothing.

Can you help me find the actual vocalist and If I am wrong about the song’s name – the name of the song?

Thank you so much,

Jackie

Wow, back-to-back B-Side questions today!!!
Well, I'm going to assume for starters that you don't mean the Lionel Richie song of the same name with very similar lyrics.  Checking Joel Whitburn's Pop Singles book I don't see anything obvious that would point to this. (I even checked the B-Sides of Michael Johnson's and Bertie Higgins' charted hits to see if that title popped up there ... without success.)

So I'm going to have to throw this one out to the readers to see if they can come up with any good suggestions ... stay tuned!  (kk) 

Hi kk, 

Yes, unfortunately, you assume correctly ... it is not the Lionel Richie song.  

Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated.  

Thanks!

Hi Kent -

I am trying to write a piece about '60s radio, what it meant to me growing up, and how it has influenced my entire life. Being a Chicagoan, I am going to reference some of the radio stations I listened to and loved, WLS and WCFL. Someone in my '60s Facebook group suggested I contact you with my technical questions, if I had any, because you are such a wellspring of information on this topic. 
One that has surfaced is about WCFL's scheduling of DJs. I am trying to find out who were the morning DJs during the weekdays (early AM) and the weekends (late AM). Do you know this information? 
Thanks very much, Kent. 
Joanie Baker
P.S. I think your wife is in my FB group.  
She is ... but that's OK, I'll help you anyway (lol)

Actually I have to give thanks to Jack Levin for redirecting me to this link ... I've had it saved on my computer for years but when I went to access it in order to answer your question the other day, the link was dead.

Here is the COMPLETE schedule (from start to finish) of WCFL Radio ... The Top 40 Years:

(I know there are a couple of modifications that need to be made to this ... for example, Larry Lujack's first gig here on Chicago Radio was overnights on WCFL ... and the schedule NEVER stayed the same for the whole year the way jocks moved around this city ... so hopefully, with a little bit of input from other Chicagoans who grew up listening to Super "CFL we can make a few adjustments where necessary and put together a pretty definitive schedule.  I think checking some of the weekly WCFL surveys would help, too, as they often showed a photo of the jock and listed their air shift.)  kk

Rock Radio Scrapbook

WCFL lineups

WCFL (1965)

(Courtesy: Bill Dulmage)

6 - 9 a.m. - JIM RUNYON

9 a.m. - 12 noon - JOEL SEBASTIAN

12 noon - 3 p.m. - DICK WILLIAMSON

3 - 6 p.m.- JIM STAGG

6 - 9 p.m. - RON BRITAIN

9 p.m. - 12 midnight - BARNEY PIP

12 midnight - 6 a.m. - SID McCOY

WCFL (1966)

(Courtesy: Bill Dulmage)

6 - 9 a.m. - JIM RUNYON

9 a.m. - 12 noon - JOEL SEBASTIAN

12 noon - 3 p.m. - DICK WILLIAMSON

3 - 6 p.m. - JIM STAGG

6 - 9 p.m. - RON BRITAIN

9 p.m. - 12 midnight - BARNEY PIP

WCFL (February 16, 1967)

(Source: WCFL Charts)

5 - 9 a.m. - JERRY G. BISHOP

9 a.m. - 12 noon - JOEL SEBASTIAN

12:10 - 3 p.m. - DICK WILLIAMSON

3 - 6 p.m. - JIM STAGG

6:15 - 9 p.m. - RON BRITAIN

9 p.m. - 12 midnight - BARNEY PIP

WCFL (1968 into 1969)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

5 - 9 a.m. - JERRY G. BISHOP

9 a.m. - 12 noon - JOEL SEBASTIAN

12:10 - 3 p.m. - DICK WILLIAMSON

3 - 6 p.m. - JIM STAGG

6:15 - 9 p.m. - RON BRITAIN

9 p.m. - 12 midnight - BARNEY PIP

Midnight - 5 a.m. - DICK BIONDI

WCFL (July, 1970)

(Courtesy: Bob Dearborn)

6 - 10 a.m. - CLARK WEBER

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - ROBERT E. LEE

1 - 4 p.m. - DICK BIONDI

4 - 7 p.m. - SCOTTY BRINK

7 - 10 p.m. - LARRY O'BRIEN

10 p.m. - 1 a.m. - RON BRITAIN

1 - 4 a.m. - BOB DEARBORN

4 - 5 a.m. - LILLIAN THOMAS (public affairs)

5 - 6 a.m. - BOB DEARBORN

WCFL (February, 1971)

(Courtesy: Bob Dearborn)

6 - 10 a.m. - CLARK WEBER

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - ROBERT E. LEE

1 -  4 p.m. - JERRY KAYE

4 - 7 p.m. - DICK BIONDI

7 - 10 p.m. - LARRY O'BRIEN

10 p.m. - 1 a.m. - BOB DEARBORN

1 - 4 a.m. - STEVE YORK

4 - 5 a.m. - LILLIAN THOMAS (public affairs)

5 - 6 a.m. - STEVE YORK

In June 1971, Clark Weber was replaced by Art Roberts

WCFL (January to June 1972)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

6-10 a.m. - ART ROBERTS

10 a.m.-1 p.m. - ROBERT E. LEE

1-4 p.m. - JERRY KAY

4-7 p.m. - DICK BIONDI

7-10 p.m. - LARRY O'BRIEN

10 p.m.-1 a.m. - BOB DEARBORN

1-6 a.m. - STEVE YORK

WCFL (June to September 1972)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

6 - 10 a.m. - ART ROBERTS

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - BOB DEARBORN

2 - 6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK

6 - 10 p.m. - RON O'BRIEN

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - LARRY O'BRIEN

2 - 6 a.m. - DICK SHANNON

WCFL (October 1972)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

6 - 10 a.m. - BOB DEARBORN and LARRY O'BRIEN

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - ART ROBERTS

2 - 6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK

6 - 10 p.m. - RON O'BRIEN

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - KRIS ERIK STEVENS

2 - 6 a.m. - DICK SHANNON

In November and December of 1972 the only change was deleting Larry O'Brien in the morning

From January to March 1973 the only change was Bob Dearborn and Tom Murphy in the morning

WCFL (March to May 1973)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

6 - 10 a.m. - TOM MURPHY

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - BOB DEARBORN

2 - 6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK

6 - 10 p.m. - RON O'BRIEN

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - CHUCK KNAPP

2 - 6 a.m. - DICK SHANNON

From May to December 1973 the only change was Chuck Knapp to Dick Sainte from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

WCFL (January to September 1974)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

6 - 10 a.m. - TOM MURPHY

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - BOB DEARBORN

2 - 6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK

6 - 10 p.m. - DR. BROCK

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - DICK SAINTE

2 - 6 a.m. - DICK SHANNON

Weekends: BILL TAYLOR

WCFL (September to December 1974)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

6 - 10 a.m. - DICK 'N DOUG

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - BOB DEARBORN

2 - 6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK

6 - 10 p.m. - JOHNNY DRISCOLL

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - BILL TAYLOR

2 - 6 a.m. - DICK SHANNON

Weekends: DON GIRALDEAUX

WCFL (July 7, 1975)

(Courtesy: Brian Douglas)

6 - 10 a.m. - TOM MURPHY

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - BOB DEARBORN

2 - 6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK

6 - 10 p.m. - RON O'BRIEN

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - JOHN DRISCOLL

2 - 6 a.m. - DICK SHANNON

Weekends: TIM KELLY

WCFL (January to March 1976)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

6 - 10 a.m. - DICK 'N DOUG

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - BOB DEARBORN

2 - 6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK

6 - 10 p.m. - JOHNNY DRISCOLL

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - TIM KELLY

2 - 6 a.m. - DICK SHANNON

Weekends: JIM BERNARD HEBEL

WCFL (Final Top 40 lineup - March, 1976)

(Courtesy: John Celarek)

6 - 10 a.m. - JOHNNY DRISCOLL

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - BOB DEARBORN

2 - 6 p.m. - LARRY LUJACK

6 - 10 p.m. - TIM KELLY

10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - DICK SHANNON

2 - 6 a.m. - JIM BERNARD HEBEL

Weekends - MICHAEL SCOTT

NOTES: First word of the impending switch came in the newspapers on February 11, 1976. Format changed to beautiful music at 7 p.m. March 15, 1976; the switchover was preceded by two hours of "ocean waves." Larry Lujack was the only deejay to stay on; Bob Dearborn was asked but declined.

This site is also a GREAT source of information for many of the major Top 40 Radio Stations we grew up with way back when ... click the link below and see if you can find some of YOUR favorites!!!  (kk)

http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/index.html  
And be sure to check out the special page put together by our FH Buddy Doug Thompson!
http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/dougt.html 

Where else would a guy go to for an answer than to the experts.  
I noticed in watching The Wrecking Crew documentary that Tommy Tedesco and other Wrecking Crew folks played on The Ventures' "Hawaii 5-O".  
Didn''t The Ventures play on their own albums? I thought they did since they were darn good players on their own. Thanks for any clarification on this. 
Maybe Denny will pop in on this one. 
As usual, Kent, FH is still my favorite thing to read each day.  
Bill - live from MN

Believe me, I was every bit as shocked as you to hear that The Wrecking Crew were waxing The Ventures' albums!  (Keep in mind these were they guys who were pushing the concept of "Play Along With The Ventures" and "Play Just Like The Ventures" ... and they all were top-notch musicians ... but they could make a lot more money out on the road than they could in the studio so this is where The Wrecking Crews stepped in. 
In the excellent book "Sound Explosion", Tommy Tedesco tells Ken Sharp:  "Joe Saraceno, producer of the Ventures, called me at home one day and told me they were in the midst of recording 'Hawaii Five-O'.  They were having a hard time with the lead guitarist.  He was unable to read the melody line of the written music.  When I showed up, Joe asked me if I would have any problems.  I told him to watch and went out into the recording studio, put the guitar behind my head, read and played the music and everyone in the room laughed.  They were all satisfied.  All of the recordings on 'Play And Learn With The Ventures' were played by me, not the Ventures.  They were too busy out on the road making money and left us studio players the job of doing the recordings." 
Strange but true!  (Crazier still ... The Ventures earned the royalties on the record sales ... while the studio musicians only collected their union fees for the single session!)  kk

I've been a Forgotten Hits Reader for many years now and I've been trying to find a video you ran some time back.  I can't remember the name of the artist but it was sort of an updated disco version of an old instrumental hit from the late '50's or early '60's.  I just remember it being kind of a campy video built around some sort of Indian theme or something.  I believe you ran it several times.  I used to have it saved to my old computer but that's long gone now and I'd really like to see it again.  I'm hoping you know which clip I'm talking about.  Thanks!
Janice
Well, I've got a hunch you're thinking about "Apache" by Tommy Seebach ... and "campy" doesn't even begin to describe it ... it's flat out hysterical.
But what makes it so funny is that I am 100% certain that these guys genuinely thought that they were giving the performance of their lives when they made this video ... this wasn't done as a spoof or a lark ... they were dead serious!!!
(Actually it's really not a bad rendition of the old Jorge Ingmann hit ... and,as you said, it has sort of a contemporary (for then anyway) disco feel to it.
I think we've run it three times previously on Forgotten Hits so I have no problem at all with running it again.  (Geez, you think THAT'S a lot in 17 years???  There are times when I've heard "Brown Eyed Girl" three times in the same day!  But then again there are probably a few people on the list who think we've run the "Whipped Cream" album cover a time or two more than we should have, too.)
Check this out ... it'll keep you smiling all day long!  (kk) 
 

Oops ... I almost forgot!