What a GREAT way to kick off this week's Sunday Comments Page!!!
I received this from Tom Cuddy earlier this afternoon, sent to me under the headline: A FORGOTTEN HITS EXCLUSIVE!!!
Kent:
Here’s a FORGOTTEN HITS EXCLUSIVE:
If hell could freeze over for the Eagles, then why can’t Guess Who hit-makers Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman get back together for another tour?
The talent agency APA is now accepting offers from U.S. concert promoters for a Summer of 2019 BACHMAN/CUMMINGS tour.
Along with a full band, Bachman / Cummings will play the hits of the Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive and solo hits.
Bachman / Cummings have a deal to film a PBS-TV Soundstage special this October, which will be aired nationally to promote the summer reunion tour.
Tom Cuddy
New York, NY
Now this is INCREDIBLE news!!! (Memo to Ron Onesti …. We need to get on this, STAT!!! We’ve been talking about getting these two guys back together one last time for YEARS now … we CANNOT miss this opportunity!!!)
And why not film that Soundstage television special right at The Arcada Theatre??? This has been done several times before (we most recently attended the Ann Wilson taping a few months back.) Randy and Burt did a GREAT Soundstage special about forty years ago (can that possibly be true?!?!) after Burton Cummings released his first solo album. I would LOVE to obtain a crystal-clear copy of THAT broadcast. (I taped it off the tv myself on vhs … and even made a cassette tape to listen to in the car from the broadcast … but both of those technologies have fallen by the wayside in the decades since so if ANYBODY happens to have access to clean copies of both audio and video, PLEASE get back to me on this!)
Summer, 2019, is still a year away … let’s hope that ALL of the necessary details can be worked out in time to make this happen … but October is only three months away, so PLEASE include me in the Soundstage taping as I wouldn’t miss this for the world! (See … ALWAYS a fan first!) kk
Burton’s Road Manager Sam Boyd tells me that Burton is doing much better now since his car accident back in May. In fact, he sent me an email on the way home from a private bash that Burton performed at, three hours north of Toronto … so he is performing again. All the best, guys, for a speedy and permanent recovery! (kk)
And, speaking of Burton Cummings, we just got these long-lost clips from FH Reader Tim Kiley, another HUGE Burton Cummings fan …
Thought you, Burton Cummings, Don Everly, Sam Boyd, Lorne Saifer, and everyone would get a kick out of this performance!
Peace,
Tim Kiley
And then …
Hi Kent,
Just wanted to send another memorable segment of Don Everly and Burton Cummings performing together.
Peace,
Tim Kiley
We were fortunate enough to see Burton and Randy together in 2001 when they performed at The Rosemont Theater as part of a Guess Who Reunion Tour … and it was FANTASTIC! Can’t wait to see the magic happen again on stage one more time. (kk)
An update on Tommy Roe from Rick Levy, his manager and musical arranger …
TOMMY ROE is out of surgery and now in recovery after his quadruple bypass surgery.
His daughter Cindy, who is there at his side, said that all went well … so, so good, so far. He will be in the ICU for awhile ... and then move into to a hospital room.
For those who are interested, I am making regular updates on my Facebook page.
Thanks all -
RICK
>>>On 7/21/ 2018, Rewound Radio featured one of my favorite D J's from the old WCBS-FM, Bob Shannon. One of the shows featured was
Bob Shannon sitting in for Norm N. Nite. This show was from 7/27/1996, playing the New York City Top 20 from 7/27/1968.
A few interesting facts:
#12 = "Sunshine Of Your Love," by Cream. Most people think Eric Clapton is singing lead. It's really Jack Bruce. (Frank B)
We got quite a few responses to this comment, most to the effect that Frank was only “half right” because Bruce and Clapton actually trade off vocals throughout the song. I admitted that this was news to me, too, as I was always under the impression that Jack Bruce was the lead singer of Cream and thusly handled ALL of the vocals on their recordings. I even went so far as to say how surprised I was to heard Clapton’s voice on his first hit solo single, “After Midnight,” and was impressed with his work with Derek and the Dominoes. (As far as I knew, Clapton never sang lead with The Yardbirds, Cream or Blind Faith, all prominent bands he performed with prior to stepping into his own spotlight as a solo artist.)
In all fairness (and in complete defense of Frank B’s comment), you have to realize is that all he was repeating was the “facts” as given to him during Bob Shannon’s Top 20 Countdown from fifty years ago. It isn’t at all fair to come down on Frank for simply recapping the broadcast as it existed at the time. (“Sunshine Of Your Love” was climbing the charts fifty years ago today. In fact, if you follow our Saturday Surveys feature, you’ll find it in the #1 Spot on this week’s survey from WMID in Atlantic City, New Jersey!) kk
>>>I specifically remember being shocked how good Clapton’s voice was when he finally pursued a solo career and released “After Midnight” and sang all of the Derek and the Dominoes stuff. (kk)
Yes, I agree. The fact that he eventually became VERY boring with songs yawners like "Wonderful Tonight," "Promises" and what was up with these crap songs "Lay Down Sally" and "Watch Out For Lucy"???? “Let It Rain" b/w "Let It Grow" are truly his best, period, especially being a TSW!!!
Clark Besch
I like most of Clapton’s solo singles (although “Promises” and “Watch Out For Lucy” wouldn’t make my list of favorites either. I think “Lay Down Sally” is a fun song that really doesn’t sound like anything else … and while I won’t dispute the fact that, forty years later, “Wonderful Tonight” is a TERRIBLY boring song that’s difficult to get thru, I absolutely LOVED it at the time … and for most of those forty years until it just became SO saturated with “overplay” on the radio that I find myself turning it off these days. (I find it difficult to listen to “I Shot The Sheriff” these days, too, for pretty much the same reason.)
Other Clapton favorites that really stand out for me (and I agree, the “two-sided winner” you mentioned is among the best!), are “Easy Now” (the original flipside of “Let It Rain”), “Cocaine,” “I’ve Got A Rock And Roll Heart,” “Tears In Heaven,” both the rock and acoustic versions of “Layla,” “Change The World” and “It’s In The Way That You Use It.” (Perusing the Clapton catalog, it’s pretty interesting to see how he was able to prolong his career by switching from one of the greatest rock and blues guitarists on the planet into what, for the last 25 years or so, seems to be entrenched as a middle-of-the-road, soft-rock artist.) kk
Hi Kent -
It is surprising when you pick apart recordings you've heard hundreds of times and learn something new! I never noticed until two years ago, for example, that Lindsay Buckingham sings the first verse of Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop", and Christine McVie sings the second!
Clapton had several other lead vocals with Cream, including "Anyone For Tennis," "Outside Woman Blues," "Badge" and "Strange Brew." His is the first voice you hear in "I Feel Free" as well.
Mike Lane
Minneapolis
Hey Kent,
Clapton does indeed sing the lead on Badge.
He also sings Strange Brew and Outside Woman Blues, to name a couple more. If you listen to his version of After Midnight and then go back to Sunshine of Your Love you'll be able to hear the differences between his and Jack Bruce's voice easier I think. They really do have quite a bit of difference. Clapton's voice is much less intense than Jack Bruce's voice.
Clapton's voice didn't get that rough edge and intensity to it until stuff like Layla came out.
Bill
And then this from Frank B. himself …
kk:
Answering our doubters ...
According to this Bio, Jack Bruce sang lead on "Sunshine Of Your Love."
It’s okay to say I'm wrong. I have to stick up for my man, Bob Shannon.
Frank B.
The ultimate proof, I guess, can be found in this vintage Cream performance …
In a Clapton-related comment …
Thanks for this list of upcoming shows! I remember seeing on an earlier list you sent out that the ‘Sons of’ Cream were playing the Arcada in November, but aren’t on this list. Are they still scheduled?
Rich Silverman
As far as I know, yes …
We don’t list every show on every list … typically pointing out the “new” highlights … but yes, on Thursday, November 8th, the 50th Anniversary Tour featuring “The Music Of Cream” will be appearing at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL.
The lineup includes Ginger Baker‘s son Kofi Baker, Jack Bruce‘s son Malcolm Bruce and Eric Clapton‘s nephew by marriage, Will Johns —and this is the first time that they have come together in North America to pay homage to the band’s extraordinary legacy with The Music of Cream. (Hey, that’s still a hell of a lot closer than Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon!!!) kk
More ticket information here:
Excellent – thanks!
Rich
What a great line-up of shows!
Hope you do a review of the Jan & Dean show (say hi to Dean for me if you think of it)
Phil
PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com
Hope you do a review of the Jan & Dean show (say hi to Dean for me if you think of it)
Phil
PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com
Folks on the Locals List recently received a calendar of upcoming shows heading our way. If you live in the Chicagoland area and would like to be added to this list, just drop me a line at kk@forgottenhits.com, and I’ll add your name to the list. We provide this service via emails and sometimes even have special ticket offers to pass along to our readers.
On the WMID survey, the top 20 songs have a sponsor listed next to
Them ... would the DJs intro / outro them with a commercial read?
BOB FRABLE
I don’t know … but that might make sense. Anybody who grew up in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area able to answer this one? (kk)
Kent,
Here is a survey for CK radio in Saskatchewan for July 29, 1961. Thought you might enjoy looking at it. Have no idea how I got it. Also, loved the Art Roberts' jingle.
Larry
I was a young DJ who was not into country when Harper Valley PTA hit the charts. Unfortunately, (although I came to like it), I was working at a C&W station then and I felt some kind of guilty pleasure when I could play something that was on the rock charts. I still like it to this day.
Jon M
kk …
Check out Scott Shannon's Birthday Present.
FB
Happy Birthday, SS ... from your Forgotten Hits buddy, kk! And congratulations on your upcoming 1000th show at WCBS-FM! (kk)
SiriusXM kicks off a very short, limited series next Tuesday saluting the 60th Anniversary of The Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart. They’ll be running continuously a chronological recap of EVERY #1 Record to hit the top of The Billboard Chart beginning with the premier issue of The Hot 100 on August 4, 1958. (Rick Nelson’s “Poor Little Fool” has the distinction of holding that honor … the very first official #1 Single on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart.) As lamented here several times before, the recognition of this new “official start date” eliminates Elvis’ first 32 charted hits, including ELEVEN #1 Hits, greatly diminishing his impact of all things to do with The Rock And Roll Era … but clearly THIS is the version of history they’ve elected to go with. (If the whole world has accepted the release of Bill Haley’s “Rock Around The Clock” as the record that launched rock and roll, you simply cannot ignore the musical impact of the early rock records released in 1955, 1956, 1957 and the first half of 1958. In fact, anybody with ANY rock and roll knowledge knows that rock's roots date back even farther than this, encompassing the early R&B Roots of signature tracks like “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” “Shake, Rattle And Roll,” “Sixty Minute Man,” “Rocket 88” and many, many more. Billboard documented the success of these records, too … but without the official “Hot 100” banner. Still, they published a Top 100 Chart as well as a Best Sellers list that was the accepted industry standard.)
I don’t get it … and I don’t like it … but I WILL be listening when the Billboard #1’s Channel kicks off on July 31st (Channel 3) and runs thru August 5th. Billboard will present their own 60th Anniversary Content on their website beginning August 2nd at www.billboard.com. (kk)
Here’s Part One of a great new interview with Tommy James, sent into us by FH Reader Tom Cuddy …
(Hey, Tom … let us know when Part Two is available!!!) kk
>>>On September 7 ABKCO
Music & Records will release Heavy Music: The Complete Cameo
Recordings 1966-1967 by Bob Seger And The Last Heard. This will be the
first time ever that all records by the celebrated Detroit group will be made
available since their origination as 45rpm singles. Bob Seger contributed to several local
Detroit groups leading up to his breakthrough success with "Ramblin'
Gamblin' Man" (1969) and "Night Moves" (1976). While serving as keyboard player and
occasional singer in Doug Brown & The Omens, Seger met his future manager
Edward "Punch" Andrews who co-owned the Hideout Records label. After
The Omens split up, Seger formed his own group and while writing for The
Underdogs, another band on Hideout, he co-authored their single "Get Down
On Your Knees." After a failed attempt by The Underdogs to record the
Seger-penned "East Side Story," Seger was encouraged to record it
himself and it was released by Hideout in June of 1966 under the name Bob
Seger. The fantastic single was quickly reissued by Cameo Records just six
months later, with Bob Seger And The Last Heard on the label, cementing the
band's name. With the help of former bandmate Doug Brown, the group
recorded four more singles for the Cameo label over the course of the next year
culminating with "Heavy Music" in July, 1967. Launched with a simple
but catchy bassline with snaps and claps to get the groove going, "Heavy
Music" became a hit locally in Detroit, and the band appeared on the local
Detroit TV show Swingin' Time. The 45 of "Heavy Music (Part
1)" backed with "Heavy Music (Part2)" charting at #103 in
Billboard and #70 in Cashbox. Stylistically, Bob Seger And The Last Heard
went beyond the simple garage rock stomp and stammer formula and spread their
wings lyrically and sonically in a few short years. "Persecution
Smith" pokes fun at half-hearted revolutionaries in a style
reminiscent of "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream," "Sock It To Me
Santa" (released for Christmas, 1966) references James Brown's
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," and "Heavy Music (Part 1)"
carries a Spencer Davis Group swagger before "heavy" music was even a
term in the popular vernacular. "East Side Story" is an urban saga
that tells the story of a woman in a tenement apartment begging her man not to
head uptown with his knife; placed akin to a tune reminiscent of
"Gloria" by Them.
Bob Seger & The Last Heard
- Heavy Music: The Complete Cameo Recordings 1966-1967
1) Heavy Music
(Part 1)
2) East Side Story
(Vocal)
3) Chain Smokin'*
4) Persecution
Smith*
5) Vagrant Winter#
6) Very Few#
7) Florida Time
8) Sock It To Me
Santa
9) Heavy Music
(Part 2)
10) East Side Sound
(Instrumental)
Produced & arranged by Bob Seger
and Doug Brown except:
*Produced & arranged by Bob
Seger
# "A Hideout Production"
Reissue Producer: Teri Landi
Featuring:
Bob Seger - lead vocal, organ, piano
guitar
Dan Honaker - bass
Carl Lagassa - guitar
Pep Perrine - drums, percussion
Additional vocals - Doug Brown,
David Whitehouse
Personnel on tracks 2 and 10:
Bob Seger - vocal, guitar
Doug Brown - guitar, organ
Dan Honaker - bass
Pep Perrine - bongos
Bob Evans - drums
WOW! What GREAT news, Kent! Is
ABKCO finally getting act together again? These guys must like releasing
about ONE important CD comp every 10 years from their vaults(???) I'm
telling you that IF you have never heard Bob Seger's pre-Capitol stuff, it is
some of the most hard nosed, hard rockin', mean and tough music I have ever
heard. AND it's GREAT! There's raw lyric messages, distortion,
screaming, LOUD instrumentation and Bob's unmistakable growly singing. It
most certainly is stuff 60's kids could dance to, as well!
We got "Heavy Music" when ABKCO
put out their 4 CD set two decades ago, but these other great 45s have
languished only to be heard on the grungy Cameo 45s for 50 years. I've
bought the 45s and the boots of this stuff, but it will be great to hear these
in CD quality. Too bad it doesn't have the Underdogs record (released on
Frank Sinatra's Reprise records after initially being on Hideout Records) or
the awesome anti--anti-war protest single, his first ever, as the Beach
Bums: "Ballad of the Yellow Beret." The B side is what
the Beach Boys could sound like as a garage band, with, of course, an EAST
COAST theme instead! Todd Rundgren shoulda recorded this one, too.
He'd have been a perfect fit for it. It's on this CD below, so why not
the Beret song too???
Clark Besch
I just got an exclusive “first listen” to the new CD
five weeks before it becomes commercially available … and it’s a VERY nice
collection. While you can tell it’s
Seger, the true gritty tonal vocal sound we’ve all grown so accustomed to isn’t fully
developed yet. (Of course in 1967 he was
only 22 years old.)
Although Seger was tearing up the clubs in Detroit for
years already, “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” was our first glimpse at this classic
rocker … it was a HUGE hit here in Chicago (#2) in early 1969. (It peaked at #17 nationally in Billboard.)
Incredibly, it would be another EIGHT YEARS before
Seger hit it big with “Night Moves.” (#4, 1977)
A steady stream of Top 40 Hits followed through the late ‘80’s …
“Mainstreet” (#24, 1977); “Still The Same” (#4, 1978); “Hollywood Nights” (#12,
1978); “We’ve Got Tonight” (#13, 1979); “Old Time Rock And Roll” (#28, 1979); “Fire
Lake” (#6, 1980); “Against The Wind” (#5, 1980); “You’ll Accomp’ny Me” (#14,
1980); “Tryin’ To Live My Life Without You” (#5, 1981); “Shame On The Moon”
(#2, 1983); “Even Now” (#12, 1983) “Roll Me Away” (#27); “Like A Rock” (#12,
1986) and his first and only #1 Billboard Hit Single, “Shakedown” in 1987.
This look into some of Bob’s earliest work is quite
enlightening. “Heavy Music” deserved a
better chart showing than it got. “Very
Few” is a beautiful ballad and “Florida Time” must be the Beach Boys sounding
tune Clark is referring to. “Sock It To
Me, Santa” must have been a novelty attempt with a little bit of a nod to James
Brown. At only ten tracks, it’s a quick
run-through listening-wise … but all-in-all, an interesting new perspective to
the career of Bob Seger. (kk)
I was very disappointed to read this in Diane Diekman’s
Country Music Newsletter last week …
Larry Gatlin wants his Grammy back -- no questions asked.
He won his only Grammy in 1977 for Best
Country Song for "Broken Lady." The Tennessean reports the
trophy was stolen from the Gatlin Bros. Music City Grill in the Mall of America
in the 1990s.
"I have a question for someone in
America out there," Larry says. "You have Larry Gatlin's Grammy for
'Broken Lady' for Song of the Year. It's on your mantel or somewhere in your
house. What do you tell people when they come over and ask you how you got
Larry Gatlin's Grammy?" There's a monetary reward, and Larry says,
"I'll give you a written statement that I won't prosecute you."
Anyone with information can email assistant@absolutepublicity.com.
Larry
Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers will be performing at The Arcada Theatre next
Sunday (August 5th) and we want to do our part to help him get his
Grammy back. Between all of us Forgotten
Hits Readers, we’ve got a pretty large network of music fans around the
world. If ANYBODY out there knows
ANYTHING at all about this, PLEASE let us know … or contact the source through
the email address shown above. Let’s get
Larry his Grammy back … it needs to be returned to its rightful hands. (kk)
Last week we
told you about Billy Joel’s 100th performance at Madison
Square Garden.
Well
CBS Morning News made note of this event as well … check out this clip sent in
by FH Reader Tom Cuddy …
Just in case you haven’t seen this … The Lonesome Death Of Danny Rapp, The
Front Man for Danny and the Juniors …
I didn't know the whole story, but saw this today and thought the readers might
enjoy it -- even though it's a very sad story.
Bill Scherer
On the 50th anniversary
of their groundbreaking album, Sweetheart
of the Rodeo, Byrds co-founders Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman were
on hand to perform it in its entirety in the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in
downtown Los Angeles July 24th and 25th.
McGuinn and Hillman were
joined on stage for the tour by country legends Marty Stuart and His Fabulous
Superlatives. Stuart himself plays the famous 1954 Fender Telecaster originally
owned by legendary country-rock pioneer Clarence White, a musician on Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
In the tour publicity release, Chris
Hillman said, “On March 9, 1968, Roger McGuinn and I, along with many fantastic
musicians, began recording the Sweetheart
of the Rodeo album at Columbia Studios in Nashville. It was
truly a pivotal moment in our lives, taking a turn toward the music we always
felt a strong kinship with. We are honored that it has left a strong, long
lasting impression on country and rock music. To celebrate this
special time with Roger, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives is such a
blessing on this, the 50th anniversary of Sweetheart of the Rodeo.”
Roger McGuinn added in
the media statement, "Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Sweetheart of the Rodeo with
a group of my favorite musicians is an honor. I can't wait to be on stage
with Chris Hillman, Marty Stuart and those Fabulous Superlatives! We're all
looking forward to taking the fans through the back pages of the recording. The
concert will include songs that led up to that ground-breaking trip to
Nashville and all the songs from the album."
Marty Stuart remarked
about the influence the album had on him: “The Bryds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo recording
stands as a milestone in American music. I bought my first copy of the record
in 1972. Upon my first listen, I was mesmerized at the effect of the combined
power country music, rock & roll, bluegrass, gospel and folk music had on
me.
“From that day forward,
I considered Sweetheart
of the Rodeo a blueprint as to how I should live my musical
life. It is truly an honor for me and the Superlatives to get to go out and
play music from Sweetheart with Roger and Chris. We love and greatly
admire both of them and I have to believe this is a show not to be missed.”
Goldenvoice presented July 24th
and July 25th Los Angeles performances at the Ace Hotel.
I was thankfully invited
opening night by the promoters and comped out with full access. I’ve
interviewed McGuinn numerous times, the first one in 1974, and have touted the Sweetheart
album for decades in print, online and on the radio.
I go back 50 years with
Chris Hillman ... saw the Byrds during the sixties and talked to Chris for a
slew of my books this century. Chris has always been one of the best interview
subjects a journalist could ask for. Honest, candid and a gentleman.
It was a terrific
victory lap at the gorgeous venue for this Hillman and McGuinn Byrds-album
themed booking at the L.A. venue. The hippies were in the crowd the first night
and PBS-TV influenced viewers filled in the seats for the second evening.
The first real country
rock album was on display, with Hillman and McGuinn serving as on stage
narrators providing the back story of their collective glory as well as some of
the greatest hits of the Byrds.
Marty Stuart and his
band smoked on Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” with Stuart offering a
jaw-dropping mandolin solo, which replaced the guitar solo from the original
studio endeavor.
There was a sense of
community that informed the entire evening. Henry Diltz, Gene Aguilera, Bill
Mumy, Gretchen Parsons Carpenter and her husband Bob Carpenter of the Nitty
Gritty Dirt Band were in attendance. Marty Stuart introduced his wife, the
legendary singer Connie Smith, sitting in the house.
Mike Campbell, the now
former Heartbreakers’ guitarist, sat in front of me opening night, excused
himself, and then joined the lineup for a version of “American Girl.” I can remember decades ago Mike coming into a record
shop in the San Fernando Valley and buying a vintage Byrds’ picture sleeve EP
before I could nab it.
As an A&R man at MCA
Records in 1978, I suggested to Tom Petty and his manager Tony Dimitriades that
a recent engineer-turned producer Jimmy Iovine produce the Damn the
Torpedoes album for the Backstreet / MCA label. In 1981 served as “Organic
Catalyst” on Del Shannon’s Drop Down and Get Me which Tom Petty produced
and features the Heartbreakers as the backing band.
After the show I was
leaving the backstage area and ran into Dwight Yokam. I complimented Dwight on
a 1988 tour package he initiated years ago with Buck Owens that re-introduced
Buck to a new generation of fans. It was akin to Marty Stuart and his Fabulous
Superlatives supporting and collaborating with Hillman and McGuinn on these
dates.
We really need to have
more of these kind of old school and new school pairings live on tour and not
just presented on award shows after someone dies and their tribute shiva is
televised.
Other "Sweetheart
of the Rodeo" shows are scheduled for
Sep 24: New York City//Town Hall
Oct 3: Akron, OH /// Akron Civic
Oct 3: Akron, OH /// Akron Civic
Harvey Kubernik
Hi Kent,
All this talk of the old record stores got me thinking about all the great shops we had in the Minneapolis area.
When I turned 16 and got my driver’s license, me and my best buddies Mark and Tony would get together on Saturday and make the rounds to as many shops as we could.
The first stop was usually Oar Folkjokeopus, a legendary record shop in Minneapolis. The owner was also the head of the local Twin / Tone record label and they would always have the latest single releases from local bands like The Replacements and Husker Du. I vividly remember going in one day and one of the guys behind the counter looked familiar. Turns out it was Peter Buck of R.E.M.! I guess they were in town for a concert and he just came to the shop to hang out for a while. As great as Oar Folk was, the REAL treat for us vintage 45 collectors was the place just around the corner. It was a little basement shop with just a little generic lawn sign with an arrow pointing to the entrance, called The Record Collectors Co-Op. Like many of us, I was attempting to collect every Top 40 hit from 1955-present. It was like a secret little place that only us diehards knew about and I found many gems there at great prices.
Some of the other shops we hit every Saturday were Down In The Valley, Cheapo Records, Wax Museum, Northern Lights, Hymie’s, and another little shop that I can never remember the name of. It was run by a real record snob that we called the “bald jerk.” He had his favorites and if you dared waste his time buying anything other than what he liked, he’d either just sneer or downright mock you as he took your money! Still, I got some great stuff from him too. Even though he hated them, his selection of novelty records was second to none. We also hit the Salvation Army stores. The best one was in a very sketchy neighborhood. We sometimes had to dodge the panhandlers, drug dealers and prostitutes. It was a real eye opener for a teenager raised in the lily white suburbs!
One of my favorite shops was Don Leary’s. Don was a real character. He was a crabby old man most of the time, but for some reason he took a real liking to me. I guess he was impressed that a kid my age knew so much about the oldies. He always let me get the first crack at any new 45s that came in before he put them out for the rest of his customers. He died in 2000 at the age of 92.
I really love the fact that I can listen to any song, any time on my hard drive these days. However, a part of me still longs for the days of driving all over town and hunting down those treasured little pieces of vinyl.
Paul Haney
Record Research
You’ve gotta wonder if the John Cusack character from “High Fidelity” was based on your “Bald Jerk” record guy! (lol)
What I have found over the years is that MOST people who worked in or owned record shops shared the same passion for the music that we did … and were really good about turning us on to new music we might not otherwise have been exposed to. All part of the “connection” process. (kk)
Hi Kent -
Great comparison of The Beatles and Drake and their music sales!
In five or ten years you won’t even know who Drake was ... while the Beatles Music will live on FOREVER!!!!!
Also, loved your memories of the old record shops! My favorite was the one at the Cermak Plaza in Berwyn years back. What a treat to stop in, get a copy of the latest Record Survey, browse through all the albums, buy one of the latest hits on 45rpm plus order a record they didn't have in the shop! And when that record came in you were in music heaven!
Keep up the Great Work Kent …
Carolyn
I used to stop at GC Murphy’s (in the plaza) to buy most of my 45’s … they seemed to have the biggest selection and best prices … but I also would venture over to Sears to pick up each week’s WLS and WCFL survey … and stop by Balkan Music about a block away, to see if they had anything interesting on display. (Years later I discovered this INCREDIBLE record shop in Cicero … I believe it was called Kral’s - ??? – and they had EVERYTHING there … including VINTAGE copies of old records, picture sleeves and EP’s from the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s. I’ve told the story before of riding my bike up there the day after the Elvis Singer / Comeback TV Special aired to try and buy some of the original recordings of the tunes I heard him do on TV the night before … and picking up half a dozen ORIGINAL EP’s in their hard cardboard sleeves … and this was in 1968!!! … LONG after these records had gone out of print.) It was a different time, for sure.
When we lived in Brookfield, my brother and I would ride our bikes up to THEIR local record store with just enough money in our pockets to stop and the drug store and buy a couple of comic books … then sit at their soda counter and guzzle down a hand-mixed Cherry Coke … and the scoot up the block to the record store and pick up the latest WLS Silver Dollar Survey … and select ONE new record from the chart each week. (Yep … blew thru the whole allowance in a single Saturday afternoon!)
The most vivid memory of these trips was asking my younger brother Mark, after showing him the list, “Which records on this list do you think will be #1?” to which he replied, “Well, all of the will.” I was dumbfounded!!! How could ANYBODY think that?!?! (lol)
And the 45 I bought that day … with a picture sleeve, I might add … was Lesley Gore’s “Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows.” I remember getting home thinking I had made a GREAT deal, getting the record and the sleeve … only to find out that Lesley’s latest hit only timed out at 1:37!!! … and then thinking that somehow I had been ripped off! (lol)
Everything was all redeemed, however, when I played the B-Side of this record, a tune called “You’ve Come Back,” to this day one of my all-time favorite songs from this era.
Lesley could tear your heart out when she sang (witness “You Don’t Own Me”) and she grabbed my 12 year old heart on first listen to this great track.
Yes, the excitement of those trips to the record shop … still as vivid as yesterday, some 50+ years later. NEVER underestimate the power of the music … it’s what connects us all here in Forgotten Hits. (kk)
