King B …
In a word: heartbroken.
I wrote to Ron back in '04 ... (Sent Thursday, 1/15/2004)
Hi, Tulu!
Been a fan since the old days at ‘CFL with you, Art Roberts, Barney Pip and the rest.
Great to have you back ... hearing your wonderful "shtick" gives me goose bumps and makes me feel like it's 1966 again!
Just one question ... how did you get the nickname "King B"? I've always wondered about that.
Mike Wolstein
Hey Mike:
You are just the type of listener I like hearing from!
Every time some writes to me and mentions having listened to me at WCFL, it gives me a good feeling. Those days were magical, weren't they?
It’s interesting that you have compared the two because I haven't had this much fun on the radio since ‘CFL. Tells you something about radio management and music formats that were in between, doesn't it?
You asked about the name, "King B."
When I was first starting out in radio in Cincinnati, Ohio, I had an incredible rating of 72% listening to my show and a lot of those were teenagers. I was just in my early or mid-20's myself.
I decided to buy a nightclub, turn it into the first non-alcoholic teenage key club in the country (Life Magazine came into Cincinnati to do a story on it) ... and I have a very loyal group of teenagers who helped my wife and I get the club up and running.
We were doing all the painting, decorating, lettering, wiring, actually everything imaginable ourselves to convert it to a teen club ... and the teenagers who were working for me didn't want to call me Ron because back then (early 60's), teenagers called anyone who was over 21 years old, "Mr." or "Mrs."
I didn't feel comfortable with them calling me Mr. Britain ... so they themselves began calling me King B. It stuck. Soon everyone in Cincinnati was calling me that ... and the name was a natural by the time I reached Chicago. In fact, more people call me King B than Ron! I do like it, as I said, it feels natural.
So you are still a hippie, Mike. Me, too! This music does remind us of how carefree and simple life was back then, doesn't it? Hope you are getting some laughs out of my show.
Take care, Chico …
Thx for writing and, of course, wella, wella.
King B
Ron Britain
Country Singer / Songwriter Billy Joe Shaver passed away on Wednesday (10/28) after a massive stroke.
While his songs never really made any impact on the pop charts, several of his compositions were covered by some of country’s biggest stars, including Bobby Bare (who signed him to a songwriting contract in 1968), Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings, who recorded an entire album of Shaver’s songs called “Honky Tonk Heroes.” (Many consider this to be the first “outlaw” album.)
Shaver has been described as someone best known for writing songs about “sin and redemption.”
Elvis Presley recorded his “You Asked Me To” and The Allman Brothers Band recorded his “Sweet Mama.” Actor Robert Duvall performed Shaver’s “Live Forever” in the film “Crazy Heart.” (kk)
Having been a longtime friend and fan of Billy Joe Shaver’s, there was so much about him to love and enjoy. He was a great singer, songwriter and performer and, above all, a great storyteller. He will be missed.
- Billy F Gibbons
In a related story, FH Reader Bob Merlis sent us this news clip from CMT (circa 2008) …
Singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver married Wanda Lynn Canady, his most recent ex-wife, for the second time on Oct. 13 in Las Vegas. (Shaver married his late ex-wife Brenda three times.) ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons presided over the ceremony. Shortly after the wedding, Shaver cracked a vertebra while “Indian wrestling” with a friend but is expected to recover fully. He was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in August.
And I love this quote from Outlaw Country:
“His personal life was full of high drama: He married the same woman three times, survived a heart attack on stage, broke his neck on his wedding night, and was acquitted of a shooting incident in 2007, in which he reportedly asked the victim “Where do you want it?” However, Billy Joe Shaver was also a man of deep faith, and wrote and recorded many gospel songs.”
The “Wacko From Waco” indeed! (kk)
I found these vintage Forgotten Hits pieces from 2011 after running Mike Gentry’s salute to Hot Chocolate on Wednesday …
>>>Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing - Released in the US on Big Tree Records. It is written that it was an (unknown) American DJ who flipped the 45 RPM record over and spotted its potential. How he was able to persuade Producer Mickie Most abroad, to modify it and reissue it is also unknown. (John)
>>>Hard to tell ... this simply could be a case of the extended album mix vs. the punched-up hit single mix ... that sort of thing happened all the time, especially if the single was pulled from the album AFTER pressure to release it.
That being said, I don't know that anyone from Big Tree Records (or American radio for that matter) had to convince anybody to release "You Sexy Thing" as a single ... it debuted on The British Singles Pop Chart a week after it premiered in Billboard here in The States. It peaked at #2 in its U.K. showing and reached #3 (for three weeks!) in Billboard in early '76. (It also peaked at #2 on the Cash Box Chart.)
By 1976, Hot Chocolate had already racked up nine British Top 40 Hits, so they were no strangers on the charts. Here in the States, "Emma" (#6, 1975) and "Disco Queen" (#21, 1975) were already proven hits before "You Sexy Thing" first hit the charts. Again, an established chart track record would indicate that they knew EXACTLY what song to release as their next single.
Once they signed with Mickie Most's RAK Records label, they earned their first British Top Ten Hit with "Love Is Life" (#36, 1970). Early Hot Chocolate recordings of '70's hits like "You Could Have Been A Lady" and "Brother Louie" went on to become bigger hits for April Wine and Stories respectively here in The States, but they would earn a total of 13 Top Ten British Hits under their own name between 1970 and 1987 (including a remix of "You Sexy Thing" that went to #10 in 1987.)
Having checked a number of reference sources, I can't find ANYTHING stating that it was an American deejay who prompted the success of "You Sexy Thing" (or its release as a single) ... as I said, Hot Chocolate had already scored two U.S. hits prior to its release on Big Tree Records. Honestly, I think by this point they were pretty well recognized as world-wide hit makers. (kk)
Hi Kent -
Just been reading the newsletter dated November 8, 2010, and would like to clarify things regarding Hot Chocolate.
Written by Phil Hendriks, the following comments come from the sleeve notes of their As, B's and Rarities cd released in 2004:
"The morose 'Blue Night' single issued in April 1975 was a fairly blatant attempt to re-create 'Emma' in a bid to revive the group's fortunes. It failed to catch the imagination of radio producers and with little airplay or promotion failed to chart. Once again it appeared that success was deserting the band, yet hidden on the B side of 'Blue Night' was a hint of glories to come, a song entitled 'You Sexy Thing'. Hindsight reveals that Mickie Most's decision to make 'You Sexy Thing' the B side could have been a major blunder, had it not been for an American DJ flipping the record over and spotting it's potential."
So you see Kent, we do have an American DJ to thank for bringing us this classic, even though it was completely re-worked for release later in the year.
It went on to reach number 2 then and number 10 when re-mixed in 1987. It then reached the top 10 for a third time in 1997, making it their most successful hit ever. Cheers!
Nick
You Sexy Thing (1975) - Hot Chocolate. Stereo.
First known as The Hot Chocolate Band, in 1969.
After charting records in the UK, but while their chart success was fading, this song was released in the UK on RAK Records, #199, B Side, with "Blue Night" as the A (Plug) Side. Maybe also released in the US on Big Tree Records.
It is written that it was an (unknown) American DJ who flipped the record over and spotted its potential. How he was able to persuade Producer, Mickie Most (known for his diehard mono Herman's Hermits mixes, now deceased), abroad, to modify it and reissue it is also unknown. It is certainly a different "mix" with a noticeable rhythm guitar, in long form, clocking in at 4:00, with double tracking on lead vocals in spots. Some verses were later edited out in the US Hit version ...
Best,
John
Well, we certainly gave them their due this week, running SEVEN cuts by Hot Chocolate on Wednesday, encompassing both US and UK hits in the process.
(Now I wanna hear somebody play “Emma” on the radio … I toss the baton to you, Scott Shannon!!!) kk
And Scott Shannon rose to the challenge!
Here’s a clip from The True Oldies Channel that aired earlier this week …
kk:
2 NEIL's FOR THE PRICE OF 1 …
NEIL DIAMOND & NEIL SEDAKA - Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen (Live - 1993)
FB
And, speaking of cool duets, how about this one, featuring Karen O (from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Willie Nelson … doing the Queen / David Bowie classic “Under Pressure!!!”
The official press release states that the cover was “inspired by the looming presidential election.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEU-7uga_4A&feature=emb_logo
And here’s an impressive list, sent into us by FH Reader Tom Cuddy …
These 18 Songwriters Have Written More No. 1 Hits By Themselves Than Any Other Songwriters in Hot 100 History
