The list of artists we’ve already lost this year is staggering. (At a time of the world’s worst pandemic in history, only a small handful of these deaths are covid-related … but the headcount of those in the arts, many of whom have greatly affected and impacted our lives, seems to be out of control.)
https://bestclassicbands.com/musician-deaths-2020-6-26-200/
Jim Peterik sent us this nod to John Lennon on what would have been his 80th birthday. (Can you even imagine??? I wonder if you can.)
And check out all the cool photos that follow from Jim’s “Lennon Den”!!! (kk)
Thinking of you, John Lennon, and all the inspiration you’ve given us.
On your 80th birthday. The world needs you now!
Peace.
Jim
And it isn't just the music world that's been losing our heroes …
Last week two of the greatest pitchers of our lifetimes passed away …
Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals and Whitey Ford of the New York Yankees.
Ford’s 236 victories are the most in club history and his .690 winning percentage is the highest of any pitcher with at least 150 wins in the 20th century. His 45 career shut-outs is also a club record. He recorded 1956 strike-outs in 3170 1/3 innings pitched. (That’s a 62% strike-out rate!)
In 1961, he went 25-4 and won The Cy Young Award … he was then named The Most Valuable Player of the 1961 World Series.
He was named to the American League All Star Team ten times and posted a 236-106 career record with The Yankees. During his time there (16 years … his entire major league career … from 1950 – 1967) he helped the team win eleven American League pennants … and, as a result, was also part of the World Series Championship team six times. He still holds the record for most World Series wins as a pitcher with ten. (He pitched 33 2/3 consecutive innings of scoreless ball, another Major League Record. He also holds the record for most World Series starts … 22 … inning pitched … 146 … and strike-outs … 94. Amazing!)
It seemed that Bob Gibson could mow through ANY line-up … in the 1968 World Series against The Detroit Tigers, he struck out 17 batters. (Gibson’s long-time teammate Lou Brock also passed away in September … that makes THREE Hall Of Famers in the past six weeks.)
Like Ford, Gibson spent his entire career with The St. Louis Cardinals, winning an incredible 251 games … those coming from 255 complete games pitched, another club record. During his time there, he posted franchise-best records of 56 shut-outs and 3117 strike-outs in 3884 innings pitched. (That’s an 80% ratio!!! Makes Whitey Ford look like an amateur! Lol)
Gibson had FIVE 20 game winning seasons … and two more with 19 … and another with 18! In 1968, he was voted the National League’s Most Valuable Player after he posted a record of 22-9, throwing 13 shut-outs and posting an unheard of ERA of just 1.12.
I read your piece on David Cassidy and it’s really good.
I know why he didn’t want to associate with Donny Osmond on that cruise ship.
David never wanted to be a teen idol. He wanted to be taken seriously as a musician and artist … and never liked being lumped in with the other artists who regularly made the cover of 16 Magazine.
Joe
David wanted to be Jimi Hendrix! But he didn’t have what it took to be taken seriously in that fashion.
Not that he wasn’t talented … he just hated having to sing all those teeny-bop pop songs … because it wasn’t the kind of music HE listened to or wanted to be associated with.
Unfortunately, that’s the role he was hired to play … and it blew up bigger than anybody ever expected it to. He then had to go out and perform concerts on the weekends just to satisfy the fans … and he HATED having to play those tunes … but he was contractually obligated to.
Read his autobiography … it’s really very well done and you gain a little insight into his own unique brand of “tortured artist.” (kk)
Not sure how I missed this Act Naturally video. I have the 45 in my collection -- ALL 3 ... Ringo, Buck AND this one! Lots of fun to see it after having the 45 for decades.
Clark Besch
Clark and I have been talking about John Landecker’s return to Chicago radio …
He’s on weeknights from 7 – 10 pm on WGN, which is essentially a talk radio station. He plays VERY abbreviated bits of music on his program (clips have to be under 45 seconds in order to avoid the royalty rules) so it takes a little bit of getting used to.
Part of his mandate is that they won’t talk about anything on his program that has already been talked about all day long … so things like the corona virus and upcoming election (and, in Wednesday’s case, the Vice Presidential Debate, which he was on up against) are all off limit topics.
He seems to be devoting more time to unique and colorful guests … mostly unknown people who have an interesting story or life experience to share. (Hey John … I’m relatively unknown … we can go over that whole “Who Played The First Beatles Record In America” thing again and then plug the Dick Biondi Film and ask for donations!)
He’s also experimenting with resurrecting old bits like Boogie Check and Americana Panorama … how successfully they play out over the air will determine which ones stick and which ones don’t. There’s also a nice slant to playing pieces of some Chicago music … he’s already featured tracks by Off Broadway (“Stay In Time”) and The Kind (“Loved By You”), both big local hits here in the ‘80’s.
It’s good to hear him back on the air. (kk)
Kent --
I was scanning some of the articles I've written for magazines in the past, and ran across a 1-page humor item I wrote for a computer magazine back in the early '90s. It includes a song parody and a "hit parade" parody, and although I wrote it for programmers, you'll probably get some of the jokes. I was a big fan of Barney Pip and Ron Brittain back in their day, with weird little sound clips sprinkled in amidst all the manic patter. "Turn into peanut butter!" "There is no Waukegan!" and much other silliness. That's the radio format I was emulating, heh.
Anyway. Just thought you'd enjoy it.
--73--
-- Jeff Duntemann
Scottsdale, Arizona
kk:
More info on Cousin Bruce's Big Surprise …
Starting on October 31st, his show will be 4 hours instead of 3 hours.
(I wonder if they have to give him a raise to work an extra hour?)
New feature started for the first time = Cousin Brucie's Rock & Roll Reunion.
Every week he'll spotlight a roots group.
This week it was the Del-Vikings. He gave a brief history of the group and played "COME GO WITH ME" from December, 1956. It peaked at #4 on the charts and was #447 on Rolling Stone's list of top 500 songs.
Frank B.
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Hey, hey Monkees fans, this one is for you! Run Out Groove is expanding The Monkees' classic 1966 debut to feature a second LP of bonus tracks including two previously unissued songs and two new mixes exclusive to this set, with all bonus tracks making their vinyl debut. The original album will be cut to lacquer from the original analog stereo tapes for the first time since original release by Kevin Grey and Andrew Sandoval. The set will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl, packaged with never-before-seen photos, and a booklet with new liner notes. The first 1000 fans to order will get an exclusive translucent yellow pressing. |
What’s on it? Well, here you go!
Side A
1. (Theme From) The Monkees (stereo mix) 2:20
2. Saturday’s Child (stereo mix) 2:44
3. I Wanna Be Free (stereo mix) 2:25
4. Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day (stereo mix) 2:41
5. Papa Gene’s Blues (stereo mix) 2:01
6. Take A Giant Step (stereo mix) 2:37
Side B
1. Last Train To Clarksville (stereo mix) 2:47
2. This Just Doesn’t Seem To Be My Day (stereo mix) 2:08
3. Let’s Dance On (stereo mix) 2:30
4. I’ll Be True To You (stereo mix) 2:49
5. Sweet Young Thing (stereo mix) 1:56
6. Gonna Buy Me A Dog (stereo mix) 2:39
Side C
1. The Monkees (radio spot) (previously unissued) 2:12
2. (Theme From) The Monkees (TV version) (unissued on vinyl) 0:50
3. This Just Doesn’t Seem To Be My Day (mono TV version) (unissued on vinyl) 2:14
4. All The King’s Horses (mono TV version) (unissued on vinyl) 2:12
5. I Wanna Be Free (fast version – mono TV mix) (unissued on vinyl) 2:38
6. You Just May Be The One (mono TV version) (unissued on vinyl) 1:54
7. Take A Giant Step (mono TV version) (unissued on vinyl) 2:29
Side D
1. (Theme From) The Monkees (second version) (unissued on vinyl) 0:50
2. Saturday’s Child (mono TV version) (unissued on vinyl) 2:26
3. I Don’t Think You know Me (2014 remix) (previously unissued) 2:29
4. So Goes Love (2020 remix) (previously unissued) 3:26
5. I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind (2014 remix) (previously unissued) 2:50
6. (I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love (2020 remix) (previously unissued) 2:58
7. I Wanna Be Free (demo – take 5) (previously unissued) 1:00
And you know how Jimi Hendrix and
The Monkees always go together, right??? So we just had to follow that announcement up with this one!
DAGGER RECORDS SET TO RELEASE NO BUSINESS: THE PPX SESSIONS
VOLUME 2 ON OCTOBER 23
1965-1967 Recordings Showcase Jimi Hendrix’s Early Development and Feature His First Ever Recorded Composition
Dagger Records will release No Business: The PPX Sessions Volume 2 by Curtis Knight & The Squires on CD October 23. The album is a follow-up to Experience Hendrix/Legacy Recordings’ 2015 collection You Can’t Use My Name. The forthcoming release includes October 1965 demo recordings made by the then-unknown Jimi Hendrix, as well as 1967 studio recordings with Hendrix when he was in the midst of his meteoric ascent to stardom. Dagger was founded by Experience Hendrix L.L.C. over two decades ago as an official ‘bootleg’ label to provide Hendrix fans throughout the world with additional live performances, home demos and studio recordings.
Link to order No Business: The PPX Sessions Volume 2 : https://daggerrecords.com/releases/no-business/
Jimi Hendrix was based in Harlem in 1965, working intermittently as an itinerant sideman when he met Curtis Knight in a hotel lobby. Knight invited Hendrix to record with him, booking time at Studio 76, a Manhattan facility run by producer Ed Chalpin. Hendrix joined Knight to record nine demos (tracks 11-19) on or about October 15, 1965. These demos provide a window into the formation of Hendrix’s creative evolution. “Two Little Birds” and “Suddenly” presage his playing on future classics, such as “Little Wing” and “Castles Made of Sand,” while “Working All Day” and “Taking Care Of No Business,” hold the distinction of being the first known recorded Jimi Hendrix compositions.
After the conclusion of this initial demo session, Hendrix was approached by Chalpin to sign what the guitarist thought was a release for his participation. What Chalpin actually had Hendrix unknowingly sign was a contract with his own PPX Enterprises Inc. for $1 and a 1% royalty rate. Hendrix had previously signed an agreement with the Harlem based Sue Records [home to such acts as Ike & Tina Turner) in July 1965 and was unaware that this too was a recording agreement and not a release for a session fee. Chalpin filed away the agreement and Hendrix continued to lend his guitar to sessions on Knight’s behalf in 1965 and the first half of 1966. ,
After moving to England in September 1966 and forming the Jimi Hendrix Experience under the management of Animals bassist Chas Chandler, Hendrix’s sudden popularity in Britain and Europe caught Chalpin’s attention. As Hendrix prepared for his return to the US via the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967, Chalpin initiated legal proceedings based upon his one page, October 1965 agreement. Worse still, now that Hendrix was a known commercial commodity, Chalpin was releasing material Hendrix had recorded with Curtis Knight and passing it off as solo material by Jimi. In a failed attempt to placate Chalpin, Hendrix returned to Studio 76 in July and August of 1967 and recorded more music with Curtis Knight with the hopes of being released from his onerous contract. From a business perspective, his plan backfired, but more unique music was created as a result.
In addition to 1966 studio recordings such as “Hornet’s Nest” and “UFO,” No Business also features highlights from the July and August 1967 sessions. Hendrix’s wah-wah guitar can be heard on “Hush Now” and “Love, Love” while also adding a Hagstrom 8-string bass part on an updated version of “Taking Care Of No Business” and “My Best Friend.”
When Jimi inexplicably appeared at Studio 76 on July 17, 1967, Chalpin was stunned by his good fortune. In addition to the handful of Curtis Knight recordings featuring the guitarist, he now had Jimi Hendrix music made after his groundbreaking debut album Are You Experienced. Chalpin next scrambled to see what else he could pull together from his stockpiled archive to create a contrived Knight/Hendrix album. The following day, he dusted off the 1966 master of “How Would You Feel” and had Knight compose new lyrics and add a new vocal. This alternate version is included here. He crafted mixes of Ricky Mason’s interpretation of “I Need You Everyday [Sick & Tired]” on which Hendrix had originally appeared the previous year.
On July 31, 1967, Chalpin created an unusual recording drawn from “Suey,” an odd 1966 session in which Jimi had participated. Chalpin combined some of the on air patter radio disc jockey Douglas “Jocko” Henderson was known for, and intercut this with a recording he had produced with film star Jayne Mansfield.
The need by Chalpin to scrape together existing PPX material for a potential Curtis Knight/Jimi Hendrix album was made considerably easier when Hendrix returned on August 8, 1967. The highlight of that session was Knight’s “Gloomy Monday”. Jimi provided the song’s propulsive rhythm guitar before he departed. Needing a solo, Chalpin overdubbed two guitars and even a sitar to try and capitalize on Hendrix’s participation. On the first volume of these PPX recordings , Hendrix can be clearly heard instructing Chalpin not to use his name on these recordings prior to a take of the song. The producer disregarded Hendrix’s request and soon thereafter issued Get That Feeling via Capitol Records. The album featured a cover image of Jimi Hendrix from the recent Monterey Pop Festival and no image of Knight. The move both embarrassed and infuriated Hendrix.
Since acquiring the rights to all Jimi Hendrix recordings from Chalpin in 2014, Experience Hendrix has made it a mission to release these Curtis Knight & The Squires sessions tastefully, providing proper historic context, free of misleading packaging and without posthumous overdubs. No Business: The PPX Sessions Volume 2 accomplishes this while helping map out the evolution of Jimi Hendrix as a musician and songwriter.
Curtis Knight & The Squires No Business: The PPX Sessions Volume 2
THE STUDIO SESSIONS:
1. UFO
2. No Business
3. Hush Now
4. Gloomy Monday [Alternate]
5. How Would You Feel [Alternate]
6. Love Love
7. My Best Friend [Takes 3/4/5]
8. Hornet’s Nest [Alternate]
9. I Need You Every Day
[Sick & Tired]
10. Suey
THE DEMO RECORDINGS:
11. Taking Care Of No Business
12. Working All Day
13. Two Little Birds
14. Suddenly
15.UFO
16. Better Times Ahead
17. Everybody Knew But Me
18. If You Gonna Make A Fool Of Somebody
19. My Best Friend
Compilation produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer & John McDermott for Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.
We received a couple of emails about the new Buddy Holly movie being made …
But WE told you about this film over a year ago!!!
Meanwhile, as more details come out, I guess the rest of the world is catching up.
Here’s the latest from FH Readers Bob Frable and Frank B …
Back in 2018, Buddy Holly's widow Maria Elena, along with BMG who manages Buddy's estate and publishes his works in the US, approved a new dramatic movie project, Clear Lake, about Holly's life on tour months before the tragic crash that killed him.
Per Variety, "The film will follow Holly and [Clarence] Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they tour together in the racially charged days of 1958 as part of the 'Biggest Show of Stars Tour.' [Patrick] Shanahan and [Rick] French are collaborating on the story with Shanahan writing the screenplay." They share an advisor, Stephen Easley, with Maria Elena Holly and the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation.
It wasn't till May of this year that a director was found for the movie, Bruce Beresford, best known for the movies Breaker Morant and Driving Miss Daisy, and it was just this week that the actor who will play Buddy, Ireland native Ruairi O'Connor, was introduced. They hope to begin production this coming spring.
--BF
Ruairi O’Connor Is Buddy Holly in the new Biopic Clear Lake
Frank B.
Speaking of which,
We’ve also been telling you about the new Harry Chapin documentary that’s coming out …
FH Reader Tom Cuddy fills us in on more of the details …
“Harry Chapin was one of the greatest storytellers of all time. He wanted to change the world. And he did.” — Ken Kragen, Harry Chapin’s manager and co-creator of USA for Africa and Hands Across America
This October, the incredible life of Harry Chapin will be seen like never before in Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something. This documentary, directed by Rick Korn and released by Greenwich Entertainment (Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President, Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine, Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind), follows the renowned GRAMMY-nominated folk singer from childhood - spent under the shadow of his jazz drummer father - throughout his tragically short life and captures the up-and-down spirit of one of folk’s great humanitarians. The film’s theatrical release is set for October 16 on World Food Day — a fitting coincidence for a man who co-founded the influential hunger non-profit WhyHunger.
Told through archival footages and new interviews, When In Doubt, Do Something explores like never before the key moments in Chapin’s life, including performing with his brothers and working on the Academy Award-nominated documentary Legendary Champions, to his solo success with hits like “Taxi,” “W.O.L.D.” and “Cat’s In The Cradle” and his tireless philanthropic work, which included his efforts with WhyHunger and a seemingly endless run of benefit performances, all of which led to him being posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. This documentary paints a new picture of the singer-songwriter who used his fame as a launching point to help others and influence politics. It features testimonials from Chapin's family (including Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin), as well as peers including Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Kenny Rogers, Robert Lamm (Chicago), Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Pat Benatar, Bob Geldof, Ken Kragen, longtime bassist John Wallace, and WhyHunger co-founder Bill Ayres.
“Harry Chapin was one of the greatest storytellers of all time. He wanted to change the world. And he did.” These words kick off the debut trailer of When In Doubt, Do Something: The Harry Chapin Story. Watch the trailer, which premiered this morning on Rolling Stone: https://bit.ly/32y9dHs
A portion of proceeds from the film will go to both WhyHunger and The Harry Chapin Foundation. The film was produced by Korn, S.A. Baron, and Chapin’s son, Jason Chapin.
Harry Chapin sold over 16 million records, had 14 hit singles, and garnered two GRAMMY nominations. In 1977 he was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger. In 1986, he was posthumously awarded the GRAMMY President’s Merit Award. He was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame.
Have you seen this?
Burton Cummings on The Dating Game!
The Burton video is a hoot … it looks like he wishes he was anywhere else. But bachelor #1 proves that cocaine was alive and well in the 70s. ;)
Have a great day Kent!
LadyLion14
I don’t remember The Dating Game pulling stunts like this … I know celebrities made the show before … but nothing quite as set up as this one.
I agree … it looks like Burton was doing just about ANYTHING not to be selected!
(But the comment from Bachelor #2, describing a mixture of his two opponents, was the best.)
I had never seen this before so thanks for sending. (kk)
After watching this, I also found a VERY cool interview with Burton on The Dinah Shore Show, right after “Stand Tall” came out.
What a CLASSY show this was!
Can you even imagine George Carlin, Dinah Shore, Ray Charles and Burton Cummings all sharing the same couch … and having an INTELLIGENT conversation.
Classy, professional and respectful ... Who would have ever thought that a talk show could be conducted in this manner?!?!
(EVERY talk show on television could learn something by simply viewing this clip!) kk
We’ve been telling you about SOS – Save Our Stages – since the pandemic began.
There is now a new benefit / fund-raising concert even coming up this week that you might want to check out …
There are some big names attached to this …
(Miley Cyrus, Dave Matthews, The Foo Fighters, Demi Lavato, The Lumineers, Macklemore, Reba McEntire, Jason Mraz and Little Big Town to name just a few)
Lots more details here:
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Very cool reading Tom Cuddy's account of the WPLJ theme songs concert. I also found Gary Portnoy to be a super-nice guy when we talked to him about the Cheers theme for Songfacts. He wasn't supposed to be the singer, but the show's producers decided his demo sounded like a guy in a bar, which worked better for the show than a big-name singer would.
Another great TV theme song story came from Allee Willis, who wrote the Friends theme. She told us it was the "whitest song" she'd ever written and was a little disheartened that it became so famous when she wrote classic songs for Earth, Wind & Fire like "September" and "Boogie Wonderland." When Allee passed not too long ago, I was happy to see the headlines tout her as "Earth, Wind & Fire songwriter," and not "Friends theme writer."
Here's that interview:
https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/allee-willis-boogie-wonderland-friends-theme
Carl Wiser
Kent,
I’m casting my votes for Karen, the TV theme sung by The Beach Boys
Note: (Casting one vote for each of the Beach Boys, in their honor. (:>) )
Phil
“Karen” is one of the theme songs that was “saved” in our elimination round this weekend …
I don’t know if it’ll earn enough votes to make The Top 50 or not …
But it now has at least ten!
(And that’s without counting the five you’re attempting to add here! Lol) kk
By the way, the theme song from “Room 222” is also doing very well …
You know, in case your Karen Valentine theme doesn’t make it! (kk)
Please cast my vote for Peter Gunn …
(because Mancini was my hero!)
Davie Allan
And this (from a not-so-modest Ron Dante! Lol):
Hello Kent -
My top 3 are:
Soupy Sales
Spiderman
The Archies
I have a new CD out this month called 'Ron Dante's Fun House" and it has tons of my cartoon shows songs including Spiderman Beyond The Grave, The Amazing Chan and The Chan Clan and The Archies dances.
It in on Amazon for pre-order and also on Ami's Pop and Rock Shop on Face Book.
All the best and thanks for having the best site for our music on the internet.
Ron
HI KENT,
DON’T FORGET A VERY IMPORTANT ONE …
NOT ONLY A THEME, BUT A HIT SONG, TOO!
“ACTION” FROM THE DICK
CLARK TV SHOW “WHERE THE ACTION IS”
THIS ONE HAS GOT TO MAKE YOUR TV THEMES LIST!
THANKS –
FREDDY BOOM BOOM CANNON
LOTS of votes for this one, Freddy …
Right now I’d say it’s a shoe-in to make The Top 50 List! (kk)
The best TV show theme song Ever!
Dean Milano
I dunno …
I always liked this ridiculous rap Bill Cosby did over the theme song that Quincy Jones put together for him!
(This was actually released as a single in 1969 …
Don’t forget that Cosby had “rapped” his way into The Top
Five two years before with “Little Ole Man,” his own unique adaptation of the
Stevie Wonder hit “Uptight.” (kk)
I discovered a couple of cool themes from shows I never watched by way of your nominations so far.
One of my new favorites … the theme from “Simon And Simon” …
Why didn’t somebody release THIS one as a single? (kk)
Meanwhile …
Keep those TV Themes votes coming …
Next Saturday (October 17th) we will run the final ballot …
And ask you to cast your final votes in order to help us determine your all-time favorites.
Send your votes to: tvthemes@yahoo.com … Thank you! (kk)
