Friday, March 13, 2020

The Friday Flash

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Tonight’s Bay City Rollers concert at The Arcada Theatre has been postponed.  (These are, after all, precautionary times)
As soon as we have the official word on the rescheduled date, we will let you know.  (FAR bigger events than this have been cancelled from coast to coast ... and there still is no end in sight to this threat.  We all have to do our part to follow the precautions advised and help prevent this virus from spreading any further than it already has.)

FH Reader William Tietz send along this informative video for your consideration ... five minutes spent here watching this just might help to save your life and the lives of loved ones.  (kk)


Of course in the meantime, FH Reader Frank Buongervino sent in THIS video under the guise of "equal time" to represent the other side ...


THIS WEEKEND: 
Me-TV-FM is saluting all of the great instrumental hits from the rock era this weekend, kicking off at 7:00 tonight.  (You’ll find a few “forgotten hits” thrown into the mix as well … in fact, they’re even linking to our Instrumental Countdown from several years ago, profiling not only The Top 50 Instrumental Hits, 1955 – 1979, calculated mathematically by actual chart performance … as well as YOUR All-Time Top 50 Instrumental Favorites, as voted upon by our Forgotten Hits Readers.

Locals can listen live on 87.7 FM … but you can also catch affiliate streaming through any of these other options:
WJMK Flint:  http://metv.fm/wjmk 
WXZO Burlington, Vt.:  http://metv.fm/wxzo
KXXP Portland, Or.:  http://metv.fm/kxxp

THIS AND THAT: 
Amazon Commercial Resurrects 1974 Paul Carrack Hit, “How Long,” Sending it Up iTunes Charts After 45 Years | Showbiz411
kk …
A new way to get "OLDIES" back on the charts.
This ones not old enough for me .
FB
This is one of those that falls into the WAY overplayed category … yet I really do love the song … they’re just wearing it out for me … and after seeing this Amazon commercial on television FOUR TIMES the other night, it looks like it’s only going to get worse.  Kinda like that Domino’s Pizza / “Old Time Rock And Roll” ad that places incessantly of late.  To paraphrase Paul McCartney’s lyrics to “Hey Jude,” “Take an old song … and beat the shit out of it” … to the point that nobody wants to hear it anymore.  It’s the vicious circle we live in.
Ace topped the Cash Box Single Chart when “How Long” was originally released in 1975.  (It stopped at #3 in Billboard.)  A good tune, nonetheless … but odds are I’ll be muting this commercial sooner rather than later.  (kk)

And, speaking of Paul McCartney, more news on the Peter Jackson / “Let It Be” film was released today … it will now open in theaters FIRST (on September 4th) before being released on home video.  (It’s also been officially retitled “Get Back,” which was always The Beatles’ original intent.)
Sounds like it’s a complete reworking / revamping of the original film (which is ALSO supposed to be re-released in its original form, probably in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary Box Set and Book that’ll commemorate the “Let It Be” film and album.  Why might even get an upgraded “Let It Be – Naked” CD!)  Jackson’s version (and I’m sure he’s been instructed to do so) will feature more of the “fun and playful” Beatles in the studio, showing that there was still a lot of love between the band members.  Word is that the new film will also include the COMPLETE rooftop concert ... the last time all four Beatles ever played together live.
(Most have felt that the film “Let It Be” in its original form simply documented the break up of the band.  I don’t know that I’d go THAT far … but there were quite a few tense and uncomfortable moments.)
In any event, I’ll be adding ALL of this new material to my collection again VERY soon … and I can’t wait!  (kk)
Some press for the new Dennis DeYoung album, “26 East, Volume 1,” finally out on April 10th (a collaboration with Jim Peterik of The Ides Of March) … 

You can listen to the first two singles here:
“To The Good Old Days,” recorded with Julian Lennon …


... and “East Of Midnight” …

“Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx” will be appearing at the House of Blues, 350 N. Dearborn in Chicago on April 3rd. The night will also feature a CD release sneak peek and Q&A. For tickets, visit houseofblues.com/chicago.

The Box Tops are doing The City Winery tour again this year … with appearances in Nashville on August 29th, New York City on September 11th, and right here in Chicago on August 23rd.  (None of these dates are posted on their official website but we have confirmation from Rick Levy that these three shows have been booked.)  I’m looking forward to reconnecting with Rick, Bill Cunninghams and Gary Talley when they hit The Windy City in August. 
(You can read our last interview with them here: https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/04/forgotten-hits-interviews-box-tops.html )

CLARK WEBER:   
Hi, Kent –
I've been reading all of the wonderful comments about Clark Weber ... I feel like I've lost a friend, even though I wasn't "close" with Clark.  I listened to him quite a bit on WLS in '62 and 63, and also on a couple of other local stations he was
at in the Chicago area.  A fine broadcaster with a genuinely fine personality.
Around 2015, Clark spoke at the Elk Grove Library.  Very interesting talk, and I bought his book, which, sadly, I haven't had time to read. But it WILL happen!
I spoke with Clark on ham radio a few times in the 70s, when many Chicago DJs were active on the bands;  Stu Collins was another DJ who would chat while tooling down the Kennedy and Edens from his home in the northern burbs.
Jeff Duntemann: Clark was originally W9GHM, and in the late 70s he changed his call-sign to W9FFB.  Don't know why.
73, Mike Wolstein
Check your book to see if it’s the second printing … it truly is the “new and improved” edition!  (kk)

A plea to all you radio tapers out there!!!

I've been talking with Allan Sniffen, who heads up the incredible Rewound Radio site, about doing a Dee Jay Hall Of Fame salute to Clark Weber ... but he doesn't have enough material in the way of quality airchecks to fill a program.

If ANYBODY out there feels that they can help fill in the gaps ... and give Clark the proper send-off / recognition he deserves ... please email me and I'll put you in contact with Allan.  (Who knows ... maybe we can even pull together enough material to feature it NEXT weekend!!!)

AND, JUST FOR FUN ...: 
kk:
Have you seen Mac King's infamous rope trick? 
Even Penn & Teller can't figure out how he does it. 
It's been awhile since I won your "CLIP OF THE WEEK AWARD."
FB

OK … I was entertained!!!  (How does he DO that?!?!?)  kk

And now, let's end the week with another "Chuck Buell Forgotten Hits Friday Funny!"