(Admittedly, I've been a little distracted lately ... counting up to 850,000 is a little bit harder than you may think!!!)
But here's what I could put together for you in the way of a "Monday Morning Quickie" on Friday! (Watch for new postings on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, too!)
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Here’s a treat if you’re looking for something to do on Labor Day Monday and happen to live in the area.
The Chicago Experience is performing at Schaumburg’s Septemberfest on Monday, September 2nd, from 5:30 to 7 pm.
The Chicago Experience is performing at Schaumburg’s Septemberfest on Monday, September 2nd, from 5:30 to 7 pm.
If you haven’t had a chance to see these guys yet, here’s a great way to do so …
They’re one of the best tribute bands we’ve ever seen … and, if you stick around afterwards, you can catch 10,000 Maniacs on the Main Stage from 7:30 till 9 pm, too.
Unfortunately, by Monday all the Fest Food Vendors will have already packed up their wares … but you can enjoy food AND music on Sunday Night with Everclear, the other “name” headliner appearing at this year’s fest. (Yeah, we’ve fallen a LONG way from the free Dennis DeYoung, Richard Marx, Randy Bachman and Pat Benatar shows of years past … but for my money you’re not going to see a better show than the one The Chicago Experience will be putting on. However, you’re going to have to shell out some of YOUR money if you’re looking to do so. Whereas these have always been FREE shows in the past, this year they’re charging $10 per ticket to see the live acts if you want “VIP Seating.” (General Admission Lawn Seating is still free.) Hmmm … I guess Schaumburg must be having some financial issues of its own these days! (kk)
Hi Kent,
Thank you SO MUCH for sending my Ides of March review to Jim and for posting his response. It was awesome to hear what he had to say. He's the type of musician who truly appreciates and respects his fans, and you can't really ask for a better quality in a performer than that.
Colin Donahue
I truly believe that Jim thanks his lucky stars every single day … and appreciates the longevity of the career his music has afforded him. He takes NOTHING for granted (as you could see by how genuinely touched he was when “Vehicle” topped our Classic Rock balloting for the day!)
He loves ANY excuse to share his music with others and will be accommodating in virtually every instance to do so. His generosity is unparalleled in this regard. He appreciates ALL feedback from his fans … and newcomers alike, discovering his incredible legacy along the way. He’s one of a kind who’s been able to truly live the dream … 55 years on, EVERY performance is fresh and exciting … and the new music he is creating today is every bit as exciting and relevant as it was decades ago. You heard that for yourself on The Ides Of March’s new “Play On” CD.
Locals can catch The Ides (along with special guests Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad and Bo Bice, former American Idol Runner-Up to Carrie Underwood and lead singer of Blood, Sweat and Tears) at The Genesee Theatre on Saturday, October 26th.
Good seats are still available … check them out if you can … this is going to be one hell of a show! (kk)
And check this out …
The Ides Of March just did a gig at Joliet Prison this past weekend! (Now THAT’S what I call a captive audience!!!) It was billed as the 2nd Annual Great Joliet Prison Break-In and I wish I had had more notice … that might have been an interesting show to see (plus tour the prison … we toured Alcatraz several years ago and it was quite interesting … even spent a few minutes in solitary confinement!)
They’ll be back home at Berwyn’s Oktoberfest on September 21st, too. More details on all their up-coming shows (including Cornerstones gigs) at the website:
I have been watching Montello, Wisconsin’s Underground Sunshine climb the
WLS 1969 chart this Summer courtesy of Forgotten Hits.
I am sending you a tidbit of an interview with Bert Koebl, who was in that band.
Phil Nee – WRCO
Thanks, Phil!
You can find my somewhat less-than-kind review of this single in one of the very first Forgotten Hits posts from 2008 … which incredibly is still up on the site some eleven years later! (kk)
You can find my somewhat less-than-kind review of this single in one of the very first Forgotten Hits posts from 2008 … which incredibly is still up on the site some eleven years later! (kk)
FH Reader Tom Cuddy sent us this recent interview with Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals to share with our readers …
The news came out last week that Jackie Wilson, “Mr. Excitement,” was going to be awarded a posthumous star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame. (Wilson will be the 2,672nd star to be so honored.) Scheduled to speak at the event are Berry Gordy, Jr., (who wrote one of Jackie Wilson’s earliest hits), Marshall Thompson of The Chi-Lites and fellow Walk Of Fame Honoree Smokey Robinson.
The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, September 4th, at 11:30 A.M. PDT and the event will be live-streamed exclusively on www.walkoffame.com
Wilson died on January 21st, 1984, 8 ½ years after collapsing after suffering a stroke while performing on stage at The Latin Casino in New Jersey on September 29th, 1975. (He was hospitalized immediately thereafter and never returned home.)
Sadder still is the fact that Jackie’s widow, Harlene Harris Wilson, who was scheduled to be on hand to accept the honor for him, has now passed away earlier this week, just twelve days before the ceremony.
Wilson was one of Elvis Presley’s favorite singers … and, in fact, Elvis checked out Jackie’s act a number of times when he was performing in Las Vegas.
Jackie Wilson’s best known recording is his 1967 hit “Higher And Higher,” which peaked at #6 on The Pop Charts … but he crossed over to The National Pop Top 40 Chart 27 other times as well, scoring Top 20 Hits like “Lonely Teardrops” (#6, 1959), “Night” (#2, 1960), “Doggin’ Around” (#15, 1960), “All My Love” (#8, 1960), “Alone At Last” (#7, 1960), “My Empty Arms” (#9, 1961), “I’m Comin’ On Back To You” (#19, 1961), “Baby Workout” (#4, 1963) and “Whispers” (#10, 1966).
From his official Walk Of Fame biography: Jack Leroy Wilson, Jr. was born on June 9, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan. Wilson began singing in a gospel quartet called the Ever-Ready Gospel Singers. In 1953, he joined Billy Ward and his Dominoes, eventually becoming lead singer of the vocal group, replacing Clyde McPhatter. He launched his solo career in November, 1957, with his debut single “Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet)” written by Berry Gordy Jr. and Billy Davis which entered Billboard magazine’s pop chart in November 1957. From 1958 to 1970, Jackie Wilson was a mainstay of the R&B and pop charts where he amassed two dozen Top Forty singles. All of his classics were released on the landmark Brunswick Records label under the direction of future label president and record producer Nat Tarnopol.
Known as “Mr. Excitement”, Jackie Wilson captivated audiences with his dazzling stage moves and soaring vocal range. Even today, few artists can reach his mesmerizing upper vocal range in studio or on stage. Wilson’s music career crossed genres, from doo-wop and rhythm & blues to easy listening standards and rock ‘n’ roll. He was an electrifying, charismatic showman who ushered in the emergence of soul and R&B in the sixties and has been honored with inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The R&B Music Hall of Fame.
The commercial success of Wilson along with Brunswick’s endeavors steered Jackie into television bookings on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, The Ed Sullivan Show, Hullabaloo, Shivaree and Shindig! Jackie is also seen doing “You Better Know It” in the 1959 movie Go, Johnny, Go! Wilson’s music was omnipresent on the hit parade: “You Better Know It,” “Doggin’ Around,” “Night,” “Alone At Last,” “My Empty Arms,” “A Woman, A Lover, A Friend,” and Baby Workout.” Additional Wilson sessions were done in Chicago with producer Carl Davis and acclaimed engineer Bruce Swedien at the board, which yielded “Whispers (Gettin’ Louder),” “Higher and Higher,” “I Get the Sweetest Feeling,” and “This Love Is Real.”
In 2008, “Higher & Higher” was utilized by Barack Obama as the theme song for his historic Presidential campaign.
>>>Check out this other clip of Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings together from about 13 years ago on a television program called “First Time Around” … it’s outstanding! (And very much what their Soundstage show would look like!) kk
Kent –
That video of Burton and Randy gave me goosebumps. They just keep on going
strong.
strong.
I still have the ticket stubs from my first Guess Who concert, at SIU Carbondale, October 9th, 1970. Blew us all away. Thanks for posting that.
Mike Wolstein, still a huge BC fan
This photo was taken at a record shop on Oak and Rush after a gig at Arie Crown in '76!
Mike Wolstein, still a huge BC fan
This photo was taken at a record shop on Oak and Rush after a gig at Arie Crown in '76!
And, of course, there’s this totally AWESOME video of me and Burton from … well, let’s just say a few years after that! (kk)
