It was the email I had been dreading …
The Bachman-Cummings concert here in Chicago has been “postponed” with no reschedule date as of yet.
Honestly, it’s for the best … we want America (and Canada, too, for that matter!) to get healthy again first … and the LAST thing we want is for one of these music legends to catch any strain of this thing … but it’s still a tough pill to swallow when you’ve been anticipating this for as long as I have. (Appropriately, at the suggestion of FH Reader Gary Strobl, we listened to The Guess Who's "Share The Land" yesterday for Earth Day!)
Still … we get it … and we’ll be patient … ‘cause we can’t wait to be there to see this show!!! (kk)
Meanwhile, more names have been added to Saturday’s All Together Now concert event … including several “oldies” artists … Tommy Roe, Carole King, The Honeys (for real?!?!), Peter Asher, David Pack, Bill Champlain, The Strawberry Alarm Clock, Bob Cowsill, Rick Springfield, Denny Laine, Jeff Baxter, Robbie Dupree, Chris Montez, Elliot Lurie (of Looking Glass!), Matthew Wilder, Walter Egan … and there’s even a rumor of a mini Beach Boys reunion, now that David Marks and John Stamos are on the list. (Previously, only Mike Love had been announced … but FH Reader Phil Miglioratti just might get his wish. There have even been whispers of some Brian Wilson involvement!)
This is going to be one heck of a concert event.
The concert will be live-streamed here on Saturday, April 25th at 5 pm EST / 2 pm PDT – http://www.alerttheglobe.com/
Legendary Chicagoland Disc Jockey Tommy Edwards (aka Li’l Snot-Nosed Tommy!) has FINALLY published his long-awaited memoirs.
Titled “I Grew Up Listening To You: Stories From Behind The Mic,” it is available now for immediate shipment thru Amazon.com …
Titled “I Grew Up Listening To You: Stories From Behind The Mic,” it is available now for immediate shipment thru Amazon.com …
In addition to being one of the premier, long-standing jocks at WLS, Tommy was also the public address announcer for all of the Chicago Bulls home games for fifteen seasons. (He’s also one of the nicest, all-around good guys to ever come out of broadcasting.) kk
And speaking of legendary disc jockeys, we just got this from FH Reader Clark Besch …
Ronan O'Rahilly, Radio Caroline founder who inspired UK pop and pirate radio, dies aged 79
Ronan – a legend in our UK times.
Clark
Kent,
I have been listening to Channel 177 on my satellite radio for the last couple of days, featuring the Top 1000 Classic Pop Hits -- covering hits from 1957 - 1972.
It might be something you and your readers may want to give a listen.
Enjoying this mix of music --
Joe Cantello
Roswell, Ga
I actually tuned in and listened for a little bit the other day, too. (Can’t pick this one up in my car but I am able to stream it at work.) Sirius XM also has The Top 600 Favorite Songs of the ‘60’s available as an on-demand station, so I’ve been listening to that one, too. And, one of their Classic Rock stations is running THEIR version of The Top 1000 Classic Rock songs … which I found SO ridiculous that it inspired me to poll OUR audience to come up with a more accurate representation! LOTS of choices now that so many of us have all this extra time on our hands!!! (lol)
[Actually, it’s still business as usual for me … our company qualified for an exception … and we’ve been working every single day throughout this whole ordeal. Luckily, there are lots of listening options at work.] kk
Here are the first two of six emails I got this afternoon about the new AT&T television commercial running featuring Chuck Berry’s “School Days” classic ... it must have just started airing widely throughout the US, as I’ve probably seen it half a dozen times already myself! (kk)
I see AT&T is the latest in a looonnng list of companies turning to classic hits, using Chuck Berry's "School Days" in its new commercial about online school services! Fun to hear again!
Don Effenberger
Kent,
Hope you are staying safe up where you are.
I was just now in my living room when I suddenly heard Chuck Berry singing SCHOOL DAYS on my television, which was on in another room. I immediately went in and there was a commercial on (new to me) from AT & T. It showed in different panels on the commercial young school kids doing work which looked like computers they were using. The kids in the commercial looked like they couldn't spell Chuck Berry much less knew who he was.
Stay safe.
Larry Neal
With SO many kids doing “home-schooling” these days thanks to the pandemic, watch some of these youngsters develop an affection for good old rock and roll from the grandfather of it all. (Maybe SOME good can come out of this mania after all!!!)
We were talking about this at work the other day. It’s great that kids, parents and teachers alike are adapting to the “new normal” when it comes to their ongoing education … but what about the parents who have THREE kids in school??? How many of those families have THREE computers so that each can get their equal share keeping up with their lessons?
None of us knows for sure what things will look like on the other side of this … but more home schooling wouldn’t be a surprise for me. Does that mean more teachers will find themselves out of work once the “stay at home” ban has been lifted? Our lives will have changed in SO many ways one can only wonder what this “new normal” will be once all is said and done. (kk)
One Hit Wonder Ian Whitcomb passed away on Tuesday (April 21st). I always liked his tune “You Turn Me On” … pretty risqué in hindsight for 1965!!! (It went to #6 on the US Charts … incredibly, it didn’t chart at all back home in Jolly Ol’ England!)
I remember seeing him perform the song on several tv shows back in the day … and Ian went on to become a respected rock journalist, also penning the liner notes for many LPs once his own singing career had run its course.
Harvey Kubernik sent us an extensive piece (at 20-something pages, too long to run here) but if you’d like a copy, drop me a note and I’ll be happy to forward a copy on to you. (It also includes a nice piece by Jeff Tamarkin.) kk
I knew musician, author, deejay and broadcaster Ian Whitcomb since 1973. Reviewed him for "Melody Maker" in the seventies at a Ash Grove show.
Over the decades I conducted a handful of interviews with him.
He had a hit record, "You Turn Me On," and authored several wonderful books, including "After The Ball."
He was always a delightful and informative interview subject. Ian always provided his Pasadena-based archive and library for research. I passed his Tin Pan Alley and vaudeville test. That was a tough one.
I last saw Ian in 2019 at a memorial service for another beloved musicologist, Gary Schneider. They had deejay shifts back to back at www.luxuriamusic.com
Ian's last words to me were, "Thanks for putting me in your books. But young lad, don't call me or email me about psychedelic music, Jimi Hendrix or the Beatles. Besides, I've got a casual booked this week."
Harvey
kk –
It is being reported that Ian Whitcomb has died. R.I.P.
This song always reminded me of a dirty phone call.
FB
Well, being older, you’ve always had much more experience with this than I have … but I always thought that to be the greatest part of its charm! (lol) kk
Kent,
I received an email from a friend of mine who said that singer Carl Dobkins Jr. passed away some two weeks ago. I did not know this and can't remember reading it in FH. Always did like his MY HEART IS AN OPEN BOOK on Decca.
Larry Neal
I never received any kind of notice about Carl Dobkins, Jr., so I did some checking … and see that Carl did, in fact, pass back on April 8th … apparently with very little fanfare. (Several other sources that talked about his career had not been updated with this information … so you’ve got the inside scoop on this one, Larry!)
You can see the obituary here: https://amgardens.org/obituary/carl-dobkins-jr-1941-2020/
In addition to his #3 Billboard Pop Hit “My Heart Is An Open Book” … it hit #1 in Music Vendor … Dobkins also hit The Top 40 with a track called “Lucky Devil,” which also performed better in Music Vendor (#20) than Billboard (#25). Anybody remember that one??? (kk)
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I always liked his hit MY HEART IS AN OPEN BOOK as well as the follow-up record he had called LUCKY DEVIL.
Larry
DIDJAKNOW? The lyrics to “My Heart Is An Open Book” were written by Hal David. This would have been shortly after the time he first teamed up with Burt Bacharach at The Brill Building in New York. (kk)
Howdy Kent ...
Talk about your This and That’s!!!
I got a big "kick" out of America's Horse With No Name. LMAO ... I needed a good laugh.
Thanks, too, for the Burton Cummings video. He sounded good back in ‘94. Unfortunately, he forgot to sing "These Eyes," … but I still enjoyed the mini impromptu concert.
And I subscribe to Steve Perry's fan page as well, so I got his somber version of "In My Room." His voice has gotten better in recent times.
I didnt see the One World concert, but appreciate seeing the Stones singing "You Can’t Always Get What You Want." They sounded great. I can’t believe that they live such "normal" looking lives, as evidenced by their homes. I thought Jagger was good as always, Ron Wood stole the show, Charlie Watts made me laugh and Keith Richards looks like a regular guy.
I was sorry to hear about the loss of celebrities from Covid-19 in the Chicago area. Terrible illness. I hope it’s over soon.
Please stay well and be careful out there.
Sandy
On the plus side of coronavirus news, I am happy to report that Marianne Faithfull has been released from the hospital after 22 days of treatment. (While the number of deaths related to this thing is astounding … and scary as hell … there is also a VERY high percentage of recoveries that just don’t seem to get as much news coverage as the bad news / doom and gloom updates we get throughout the day.)
Robert Feder is reporting that this week’s Chicagoland Sing-Along tunes will be “Sweet Home Chicago” by The Blues Brothers on WDRV, Friday Night at 8 pm.
(Me-TV-FM just did that one last week … and had to offer downloadable, printable lyric sheets for their listeners so that they could sing along, since this isn’t a tune that typically finds its way into their softer rock playlist!)
The week Me is offering up Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” Saturday Night at 7 pm.
The Drive has also been giving away their own relief checks (at $1000 per pop) throughout the week … as well as jigsaw puzzles to help you fill your time while you’re stuck at home during the pandemic!!! (Clever stuff)
Meanwhile, Me is launching a new “Get Moving With Me” 7 am weekday series, featuring up-tempo songs to jump-start your day, perhaps even with a bit of exercise. (My morning regime consists of sitting up in bed, turning sideways and then planting both feet on the floor. While this may provoke a little bit of groaning, the REAL noise kicks in when I actually try to straighten up and stand!!!) kk
For all you psychedelic music fans out there, here’s some good news …
Legendary 1960's Psychedelic Garage-Band The Chocolate Watchband Release New Video HOPE
The Chocolate Watchband, the 60's legendary psychedelic garage-band from the San Francisco Bay Area, has released a new video today free to the world. As all of us face new challenges that may force us to reckon with future waves of the Covid-19 virus, to survive this experience we need HOPE so that we will prevail.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/WElvGZmum_Y
To all you fans of the Watchband out there quarantined from friends and loved ones, for all of you out there still working and supporting our country, for all you doctors, nurses, health care providers, governors and mayors working together to protect their people, National Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical aid providers and volunteers, mental health providers, teachers teaching from home and leaders of faith, all you delivery truck drivers and store workers keeping food and necessities on the shelves, for all you Fed-X, UPS and postal workers delivering necessities to those confined to their homes and journalists who tell us the TRUTH, this song is dedicated to YOU!
And thank all of you for your continuing support of our latest release “This is My Voice” available now in vinyl, CD and down load at www.thechocolatewatchband.com
David – Timmy – Derek – Alec - Gary
For more information: www.thechocolatewatchband.com
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/WElvGZmum_Y
To all you fans of the Watchband out there quarantined from friends and loved ones, for all of you out there still working and supporting our country, for all you doctors, nurses, health care providers, governors and mayors working together to protect their people, National Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical aid providers and volunteers, mental health providers, teachers teaching from home and leaders of faith, all you delivery truck drivers and store workers keeping food and necessities on the shelves, for all you Fed-X, UPS and postal workers delivering necessities to those confined to their homes and journalists who tell us the TRUTH, this song is dedicated to YOU!
And thank all of you for your continuing support of our latest release “This is My Voice” available now in vinyl, CD and down load at www.thechocolatewatchband.com
David – Timmy – Derek – Alec - Gary
For more information: www.thechocolatewatchband.com
Hi, Kent -
Just heard this tune on the radio and had to share it.
I've seen the Nylons live about half dozen times in the late 80s - early 90s, and they were smooth. The second song played on August 3, 1987, when WMET became WNUA, was one of their big hits ... I was hooked. I think this tune, from about 1987, is relevant to the situation we're going through now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9FwolBqHbg
Mike
Just heard this tune on the radio and had to share it.
I've seen the Nylons live about half dozen times in the late 80s - early 90s, and they were smooth. The second song played on August 3, 1987, when WMET became WNUA, was one of their big hits ... I was hooked. I think this tune, from about 1987, is relevant to the situation we're going through now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9FwolBqHbg
Mike
I wasn’t familiar with this one, nor did it chart. The Nylons’ big hit was their remake of Steam’s “Na Na, Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye,” reworked as simply “Kiss Him Goodbye.” It went to #12 in 1987 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart. (kk)
Today,, April 23rd, would have been Roy Orbison’s 84th birthday.
To celebrate, Wesley, Roy and Alex Orbison, a/k/a Roy’s Boys, are inviting you to attend The Roy Orbison Black & White Night Watch Party on Facebook. Click here at (or after) 4 PM EST and you’ll be treated to a showing of Black &White Night 30 in its entirely. You’ll see and hear Roy Orbison at the very height of his powers, joined by admirers Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, J.D. Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits and Jennifer Warnes. They’re all backed by veterans of Elvis Presley’s phenomenal TCB Band including James Burton, Glen D. Hardin, Jason Schef and Ronnie Tut.
Hi Kent and all,
Speaking of Grace Slick, I heard an interview with her back in her Starship years, during which she talked about her invite to the White House.
It seems that she and Trisha Nixon went to the same college, and the party she had been invited to was for alumni from the school. She didn't know Ms. Nixon, but decided to go to the party anyway.
She had Abbey Hoffman with her and when they got to the White House, they wouldn't let them in. She also said that if they had gotten in, they were going to spike the punch with LSD.
She couldn't figure out why she had gotten invited. Obviously, they didn't do their homework on Grace.
I wish I had the audio from that interview. It was on one of those radio specials that were syndicated back in the 70's.
Bill Scherer
I couldn’t put my hands on my copy of Grace Slick’s biography this morning … was going to run a quote or two from that about this event. (This is a REAL good book, by the way … we have recommended it several times over the years.) Seems like the secret dream of all of ‘60’s rock stars was to do some type of drugs inside The White House! (lol) kk
Hey Kent,
You've witnessed the scene in downtown Nashville. It's like the Las Vegas Strip or New York's Times Square; but for the last five weeks it's been empty. A ghost town! It's crazy and scary with so many jobs tied to music and entertainment. We're hoping it will begin to open up soon.
It was interesting to read the bit about Pacific Gas & Electric being shot at in Raleigh this week in 1970, since the death of guitarist Ken Utterback has been in the news this month.
Forgotten Hits remains the go-to source for any and all information about the music and the artists who brought it - and are still bringing it - to us. Thank you for keeping FH fresh and informative!
David Lewis
