Congratulations to ALL of the
First-Time Inductees into the New Illinois Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame …
The Ides Of March, Chicago, Cheap
Trick, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, REO Speedwagon and The Buckinghams.
Also being honored this year are
legendary DJ’s Dick BiondI and the late Larry Lujack and WLS Radio, where both
jocks worked for years … as well as Chess Records and The Thirsty Whale as
“favorite club.”
The induction ceremony will take
place Sunday, March 29th, 2020, at 2 PM, at the Renaissance Center
Ballroom, 214 N Ottawa Street, Joliet, Illinois.
Further information and ticket
availability for the induction ceremony may be found at www.roadtorock.org.
On behalf of the Ides of March, we are blown away to be one
of the first round of inductees to the Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
To be in the company of such Chicagoland legends is a dream come true.
I hope to see everyone out at the induction ceremonies on
March 29th at 2 pm.
We will be there and I’m sure joined by some of the others
on the esteemed list of honorees. (See details on Forgotten Hits and
Theidesofmarch.com!)
Rock steady!
Jimbo
Dear Kent,
THANK YOU for standing up for our music and the way
Billboard is now tabulating rankings!!!
THANK YOU for the advance news of Freddy Cannon!
I hope Freddy is able to do more than six songs and treat the audience to a
greater display of his many wonderful hits!
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!
Ron Lange
Today would have been George Harrison's 77th Birthday. (Hard to believe he's been gone almost twenty years already!)
We love ya, George ... and no one could be happier to see the resurgence in popularity of your music over the past five decades since The Beatles split. (You may recall that the Top Two Beatles Tracks named on our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME List were both George Harrisongs ... "Here Comes The Sun" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps!" Not bad for a guy whose music always took a backseat to those tunes written by the songwriting team of Lennon and McCartney! (kk)
Last week we announced our latest
contest give-away for YOUR chance to win a copy of the brand new Mr. Rogers
Tribute CD, “Thank You, Mr. Rogers:
Music And Memories. We’ve already
received quite a few responses for this one … so throw YOUR name into the hat
NOW if you want a chance to score a copy!)
From PR Guru David Salidor, here are
a few more details about this hot new CD:
Hi Kent ...
We are happy to be able to offer some
CD’s for a Forgotten Hits giveaway that I think your readers will really enjoy.
It’s a pretty cool package celebrating
the musical legacy of Mister Rogers - here's the official release …
IT’S A MUSICAL DAY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD
MISTER ROGERS SONGS TAKE THE
SPOTLIGHT WITH PERFORMANCES BY CELEBRITY ARTISTS INCLUDING VANESSA WILLIAMS,
KELLIE PICKLER,
MICKY DOLENZ, THE COWSILLS and RITA WILSON ON NEW ALBUM,
MICKY DOLENZ, THE COWSILLS and RITA WILSON ON NEW ALBUM,
Thank You, Mister Rogers:
Music & Memories
The rebirth of interest in Fred Rogers,
which includes the recent Tom Hanks film, has inspired a unique musical tribute
that celebrates a special side of the man known as “America’s Favorite
Neighbor.” A newly recorded collection of Fred’s songs called Thank You, Mister Rogers – Music
& Memories will be available wherever music is available.
View the album trailer HERE.
Providing delightful listening for the
whole family, the album embodies unforgettable performances by award-winning
artists performing re-imagined renditions of Fred Rogers classics as well as
uncovered gems from his 200-plus catalog of songs. The cast includes Kellie
Pickler, Vanessa Williams, Rita Wilson, Lee Greenwood, The Cowsills, Jaci
Velasquez, Jim Brickman, Jon Secada, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.,
Micky Dolenz, Tom Bergeron, and Sandi Patty. Significantly, Wilson joins her
husband Tom Hanks “in the Neighborhood,” by way of singing a Fred Rogers song
on this album while Hanks portrays the children’s television pioneer himself in
the upcoming biopic.
Fred Rogers wrote more than 200 of the
songs made popular on his PBS television show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,”
which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. The new album is
produced in Nashville by two-time Grammy winner Dennis Scott, who observed, “Fred was a
gifted songwriter and understood how music could serve as an effective way to
teach and share important life lessons.” Both adults and children familiar with
Fred’s songs will enjoy hearing how well they lend themselves to a variety of
musical styles and genres.
The album includes some surprises, including a Spanish lyric put
to the tune of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” which features a heartfelt
performance by Cuban born pop artist Jon
Secada. And TV spokesperson Tom Bergeron, best known for hosting
“America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Dancing with the Stars,” makes his
singing debut with a jazzy rendition of “Some Things I Don’t Understand.” It’s
also the first-time audiences will experience his talent as a gifted whistler.
Actor, songstress Rita
Wilson delivers a touching performance of “Sometimes People Are
Good,” a sentiment also reflected in Tom Hanks’ onscreen portrayal of Fred.
Wilson aptly observes, “Mister Rogers’ melody and lyrics are beautifully
integrated together. His words of kindness, acceptance, and peace are a classic
message.”
David Newell, who
portrayed Mr. McFeely on the show, describes the eclectic and joyful nature of
this album: “Each song in this collection is
different from the other…and each singer has made it their own. Fred would be
delighted to know that his music lives on to new generations."
Perhaps the talented and lovely Vanessa Williams describes the audience
for Thank You Mister
Rogers best, “As a child you appreciated the songs but as an adult
you really appreciate his music “
And in the words of Fred Rogers, “It’s such a good feeling…”
Thank You, Mister Rogers – Music & Memories is available on CD and all digital platforms.
THANK YOU, MISTER ROGERS
(Track list with run times and credits)
1) Won’t You Be My Neighbor? / The
Cowsills
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
2) Please Don’t Think it’s Funny / Sandi
Patty
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1968 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1968 Fred M. Rogers
3) Let’s Be Together Today / Marilyn McCoo
& Billy Davis
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
4) Sometimes People Are Good / Rita Wilson
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1968 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1968 Fred M. Rogers
5) You Can Never Go Down the Drain /
Jaci Velasquez
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1969 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1969 Fred M. Rogers
6) When the Day Turns into Night / Lee
Greenwood
Music & lyrics by Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred M. Rogers
7) It’s a Perfectly Beautiful Day / Micky
Dolenz
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
8) Many Ways to Say I Love You / Vanessa
Williams
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
9) Some Things I Don’t Understand / Tom
Bergeron
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers , © 1968 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers , © 1968 Fred M. Rogers
10) It’s Such a Good Feeling / Kelli Pickler
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers
11) This is My Home / Jim Brickman
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers
12) Es Un Dia Precioso en la Vecindad / Jon
Secada
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers (Lyrics translated into Spanish by Reinaldo C.Toledo)
Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers, © 1967 Fred M. Rogers (Lyrics translated into Spanish by Reinaldo C.Toledo)
13) Thank You for Being You / Music &
lyrics by Dennis Scott , © Act IV Music 2019
Drop me an email NOW (kk@forgottenhits.com) for YOUR chance to win
a copy of this hot new CD! (And thanks
again, David!) kk
Micky Dolenz, who is part of the Mr. Rogers CD, has got to be the hardest working man in show business these days! It seems that not a week goes by where he isn’t appearing SOMEWHERE … and in any configuration of appearances, too … whether it be as a solo act … or part of the Tribute to The Beatles’ White Album Show … or back on the road with his old Monkees bandmate, Michael Nesmith, as part of The Mike And Micky Show.
Micky Dolenz, who is part of the Mr. Rogers CD, has got to be the hardest working man in show business these days! It seems that not a week goes by where he isn’t appearing SOMEWHERE … and in any configuration of appearances, too … whether it be as a solo act … or part of the Tribute to The Beatles’ White Album Show … or back on the road with his old Monkees bandmate, Michael Nesmith, as part of The Mike And Micky Show.
The duo will perform “An
Evening With The Monkees” when the tour resumes in April …
Tour Dates4/3/20-- Vancouver, BC Canada-- Commodore Ballroom
4/4/20-- Seattle, WA-- Moore Theatre
4/7/20-- Sacramento, CA-- The Crest Theatre
4/8/20-- San Jose, CA-- San Jose Civic
4/10/20-- Riverside, CA-- Fox Performing Arts Center
4/11/20-- El Cajon, CA-- The Magnolia
4/14/20-- "Phoenix, AZ-- Celebrity Theatre
4/16/20-- Dallas, TX-- Majestic Theatre
4/18/20-- Bossier City, LA-- Horseshoe Casino Hotel*
4/19/20-- San Antonio, TX-- The Tobin Center for Performing Arts
4/20/20-- Austin, TX-- ACL Live at the Moody Theatre
4/22/20-- Birmingham, AL-- Iron City
4/24/20-- Lake Charles, LA-- Golden Nugget- Grand Event Center
4/25/20-- Biloxi, MS-- IP Casino Resort & Spa*
4/26/20-- Nashville, TN--Schermerhorn Symphony Center
And now the tour will be commemorated with a Live Album, ALSO being released in April (April 3rd to be exact) …
THE MONKEES – THE MIKE & MICKY SHOW LIVE
Track Listing
1.
LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE
2.
SUNNY GIRLFRIEND
3.
MARY, MARY
4.
YOU TOLD ME
5.
FOR PETE’S SAKE
6.
THE DOOR INTO SUMMER
7.
YOU JUST MAY BE THE ONE
8.
A LITTLE BIT ME, A LITTLE BIT YOU
9.
THE GIRL I KNEW SOMEWHERE
10.
BIRTH OF AN ACCIDENTAL HIPSTER
11.
ST. MATTHEW
12.
AS WE GO ALONG
13.
CIRCLE SKY
14.
PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY
15.
PAPA GENE’S BLUES
16.
RANDY SCOUSE GIT
17.
TAPIOCA TUNDRA
18.
ME & MAGDALENA
19.
AUNTIE’S MUNICIPAL COURT
20.
GOIN’ DOWN
21.
SWEET YOUNG THING
22.
(I’M NOT YOUR) STEPPIN’ STONE
23.
DAYDREAM BELIEVER
24.
LISTEN TO THE BAND
25.
I’M A BELIEVER
We told you that this was a pretty
eclectic set list, geared more for the die-hard Monkees fan than the casual
listener … but it’s still a GREAT show and well worth seeing if it happens to
be coming through your area. (Chicago is
not on the list this time around … but here’s a copy of our review from when we
saw the show back in June of 2018.)
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/06/monkees-monday-concert-review-of-mike.html
And, since we seem to be smack dab in the middle of the All-Micky segment of today's posting, I should ALSO tell you about the upcoming release of a Live Concert CD/DVD from 7A Records featuring one of Micky's performances in Japan back in 1982 ...
Elton John, who pushed back his shows in New Zealand and Australia to make himself free should his “Rocketman” biopic win any Academy Awards (it actually DID … “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” won for Best Original Song from the movie) has now had to cancel those dates again due to a bout with pneumonia. (Elton reportedly broke down in tears on stage during his performance in New Zealand on February 16th, saying that he couldn’t go on … shows will apparently be rescheduled for January of next year, meaning his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour still has a LONG way to go. (Hopefully Elton can regain what’s left of his voice … and his composure … to finish the remaining shows!) kk
And here's a review of a solo show Micky just did at My Father's Place in Long Island this weekend from The Times Square Chronicles ... sounds like he knocked 'em dead again! (This is supposed to be a GREAT place to see a concert and I've added it to my bucket list!)
TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES by G.
H. HARDING
MICKY DOLENZ TAKES MFP FOR TWO SHOWS
Micky Dolenz returned to Long Island Sunday night for two shows at the
legendary My Father’s
Place. Dolenz just finished
the 50 Years
Ago tour late last year, with the likes of Todd Rundgren,
Christopher Cross, Joey Molland and Jason Scheff, and he brought the energy and
excitement of that tour (which he really embraced) to these two shows. With a
new set-list –several songs from the Beatles’ White Album are included- Dolenz and
his stellar five-piece band were on fire from the opening notes of “(I’m Not
Your) Steppin’ Stone,” to his interpretations of “Rocky Raccoon,” “I’m So
Tired” and “Back In The USSR.”
I saw three of those 50
Years show and the thing that struck my right away was not the
fact that Dolenz sang them so perfectly – his voice seems stronger than ever –
but the fact that he acted out the lyrics, which was just mesmerizing. He did
the same Sunday night and the crowd reaction was outstanding. Dolenz told me
later when I sounded him on that, saying “it’s true music theater.” Personally,
he raised the bar on “Tired” and it didn’t stop for the rest of the show.
The Monkees’ hits, “Daydream” Believer,” I’m A Believer,” “Mary
Mary and “For Pete’s Sake,” were spot on. By the way, he did make mention of
the late-Peter Tork, as the one year anniversary of his passing was last week.
Micky’s sister Coco took the lead for “Different Drum” which, as
Dolenz recounted, Mike Nesmith wrote for The Monkees, but the powers-that-be
passed on the song, so he got it to Linda Ronstadt. As they say, the rest of
history. A great song and Coco delivered, as always, a first class vocal.
Keyboardist Dave Alexander stepped to the front of the stage to
deliver a performance of “Look Out, Here Come Tomorrow,” which the crowd ate
up. I always loved this song and doing it was a brilliant move.
Also stellar was “Back In The USSR,” where guitarist Wayne Avers
put forth a sizzling solo. Avers, if you recall, was noted in the media over
and over about his guitar solo for Chicago’s “25 Or 6 T 4” on the 50 Years show.
Brilliant musician, no question.
Drummer Rich Dart and bassist John Billings were as good as I’ve
ever seen them.
Both shows sold-out and seen in the mix were My Father’s Place
own Eppy; Dolenz PR-man David Salidor; Markos Papdatos and Gary Hahn from Digital Journal;
Dolenz-aide Jane Blunkell and Dolenz’s wife Donna.
Just the perfect Sunday afternoon. And, since we seem to be smack dab in the middle of the All-Micky segment of today's posting, I should ALSO tell you about the upcoming release of a Live Concert CD/DVD from 7A Records featuring one of Micky's performances in Japan back in 1982 ...
I’m a Believer: 7a Records Brings Micky Dolenz’s
“Live
in Japan” to CD, DVD, and LP
By Joe Marchese
[BUY CD/DVD FROM AMAZON.COM]
Last year, 7a Records – the label
dedicated to all things Monkees – chronicled the early 1980s rise of
Monkeemania in Japan with the release of Davy Jones’ Live in Japan. On
May 8, 7a will celebrate another Monkee solo tour from that era with Micky
Dolenz’s own Live in Japan. Like Davy’s entry, Micky’s release will be
available in CD/DVD and vinyl LP formats.
Early 1982 saw Dolenz make the trip
to Japan where he embarked on his first tour as a solo artist. Much as Jones
had adopted the Japanese group Ricky and Revolver as his backing band, Dolenz
took on a band there with the rather American name of Marlboro. Naturally, his
setlist featured all of the expected Monkees classics – “I’m a Believer,” “Last
Train to Clarksville,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” “(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone,”
and “Daydream Believer” – but Micky also dug deep for his Japanese fans. He
played a couple of Michael Nesmith favorites from Headquarters (“Sunny
Girlfriend” and “You Just May Be the One”), his mother’s song “Pillow Time”
from 1969’s The Monkees Present, and even “Zor and Zam” from 1968’s The
Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees. The rocking “Mary, Mary,” “Goin’ Down,”
and “Randy Scouse Git” were all part of the setlist, and in addition to
“Daydream Believer,” Micky also filled his friend Davy’s shoes for the touching
“I Wanna Be Free.” The concert ends with his then-current Japan-exclusive
single “To Be or Not to Be” b/w “Beverly Hills.”
7a’s release has the full concert on
both CD and Region 0 DVD (playable on all DVD players everywhere in the world)
as well as a complement of five rare bonus tracks. These include the single
versions of “Beverly Hills” and “To Be or Not to Be” (both of which were
included on Dolenz’s 2016 The MGM Singles Collection from 7a) as well as
two renditions of “I’m Your Man” from 1978’s World Popular Song Contest and the
1983 U.K. single of “Tomorrow” from the London stage version of Paul Williams’ Bugsy
Malone. (Dolenz adapted and directed the musical’s West End premiere at Her
Majesty’s Theatre, today the home of The Phantom of the Opera.) Both
versions of “I’m Your Man” and “Tomorrow” are making their CD debuts here.
In every respect, these packages
promise to be up to the same high standards of Davy Jones’ Live in Japan complete
with cover art incorporating the look of an OBI strip. The CD/DVD set boasts a
24-page color booklet. The vinyl version, to be issued on 180-gram
splatter-colored vinyl, drops the introductory “(Theme From) The Monkees” and
the bonus tracks but otherwise has the same content as the CD and DVD.
Both the CD/DVD and LP iterations
are due from 7a Records on May 8 in the U.K. and May 15 in North America.
You’ll find pre-order links and the full track listings below!
Micky Dolenz, Live in Japan
(7a Records, 2020)
CD/DVD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deep Discount)
1.
(Theme From) The Monkees
2.
Sunny Girlfriend
3.
Last Train to Clarksville
4.
You Just May Be the One
5.
I’m a Believer
6.
Randy Scouse Git
7.
Zor and Zam
8.
Mary, Mary
9.
I Wanna Be Free
10. Pillow Time
11.
Shades of Gray
12.
No Time
13.
Daydream Believer
14.
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
15.
Goin’ Down
16.
Pleasant Valley Sunday
17.
Beverly Hills
18.
To Be or Not to Be
(CD-Only Bonus Tracks:
19. I’m Your Man (Semi-Final) (from the
World Popular Song Contest, Tokyo, 1978)
20. I’m Your Man (Final) (from the World
Popular Song Contest, Tokyo, 1978)
21. Tomorrow (from Bugsy Malone)
(A&M (U.K.) single BUGSY 1, 1983)
22. To Be or Not to Be (Single Version)
(Japan All-Round Music Company single J-8112-A, 1982)
23. Beverly Hills (Single Version)
(Japan All-Round Music Company single J-8112-B, 1982)
Splatter-Colored LP (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Deep Discount)
Side One
1.
Sunny Girlfriend
2.
Last Train to Clarksville
3.
You Just May Be the One
4.
I’m a Believer
5.
Randy Scouse Git
6.
Zor and Zam
7.
I Wanna Be Free
8.
Pillow Time
9.
Shades of Gray
Side Two
10. Mary, Mary
11.
No Time
12.
Daydream Believer
13.
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
14.
Goin’ Down
15.
Pleasant Valley Sunday
16.
Beverly Hills
17.
To Be or Not to Be Elton John, who pushed back his shows in New Zealand and Australia to make himself free should his “Rocketman” biopic win any Academy Awards (it actually DID … “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” won for Best Original Song from the movie) has now had to cancel those dates again due to a bout with pneumonia. (Elton reportedly broke down in tears on stage during his performance in New Zealand on February 16th, saying that he couldn’t go on … shows will apparently be rescheduled for January of next year, meaning his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour still has a LONG way to go. (Hopefully Elton can regain what’s left of his voice … and his composure … to finish the remaining shows!) kk
And, speaking of Elton John … and Forgotten
Hits Give-Aways, you can still enter for your chance to win a copy of Mark Bego’s
new book, “Elton John: Rocket Man.” Same
deal … just drop me an email at kk@forgottenhits.com
and you’ll be in the running. (We’ll
pick THOSE winners next week.)
And, since we’re talking about
prizes, I’ll also mention that a pair of tickets to see Al Jardine at The City
Winery in Chicago on March 31st are also up for grabs. (Better hurry on this one!) kk
