Kent:
Doing some research in Billboard on a new project and I ran across this article from May 18, 1963. Thought you'd like it.
Hope you're well.
Bill Carroll
Interestingly enough, I have been doing some WLS research of my own … and have recently run across a number of Dick Biondi clips that I had forgotten I even had!
With the new documentary nearing release, it’ll be
interesting to see all that is included in this film. (I know that several Forgotten Hits Readers
made contributions to Pam’s memorabilia list!)
kk
More talk about the recently reissued 30th anniversary edition of Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album cover art being changed … this time, from Dave Grohl himself …
As covered just about
everywhere now, the original release featured young Spencer Elden’s dangling
penis on the cover … and a recently filed lawsuit demanding damages has brought
this whole controversy into public view again, particularly in light of the 30th
anniversary edition.
Dave
Grohl Hints Nirvana Nevermind Cover May Change - Noise11.com
After all the hype as
well as the release of two brand new live album sets, Donald Fagen has decided
to postpone the Steely Dan tour due to the increasing number of Covid cases
happening right now. (On Tuesday, the
2021 Covid-related death toll passed the incredible 2020 numbers … how can that
even be??? And this with a vaccination
available now?) It certainly hasn’t been
getting the publicity awarded the pandemic last year and I thought the numbers
overall were down … and that even the people getting Covid were getting much
milder cases of the disease … certainly not DYING from it! And it keeps breeding stronger and stronger
strands of the virus. When does it
end???)
Anyway, back to Donald Fagen …
In an announcement posted on the Steely Dan website, the official word is that Steely Dan will postpone their upcoming shows in Miami, Orlando, St Petersburg, Jacksonville, North Charleston, Charlotte, and Richmond. “The postponement comes out of an abundance of caution despite COVID-19 health and safety precautions in place.” Plans now call for Fagen to resume the tour in Baltimore on 26 October. (Not much of a postponement there then, if he’ll be doing shows again in less than three weeks!)
We’re hearing about more and more shows being postponed and rescheduled again … a sad, sad shame, but ultimately for the best in regards to the health of both these artists and the fans. Expect more announcements like this to come. (kk)
Meanwhile, former Foreigner lead vocalist Lou Gramm is back out
on the road, touring with Asia (featuring John Payne), and both will be sharing the same
back-up band. (Gramm called it a career
a couple years ago, announcing his retirement for the first time on stage at a
show in Schenectady, New York … but now he says he misses being out on the road
… and also has a new album to promote!)
You can read all about it (as well as an interview with Lou)
here:
Why
Lou Gramm Is Touring Again: Exclusive Interview (ultimateclassicrock.com)
From Diane Diekman's Country Music Newsletter, this story about a brand new album from Ray Stevens ...
Ain't Nothin' Funny Anymore is the title of the new Ray Stevens album, a 14-song collection of topical tunes about everything from the border crisis to quarantine, according to PEOPLE magazine. "I'm not going to let a bunch of people who consider themselves judges and politically correct tell me what to do," he says. "I'm way too old for that. I'm going to do what I want to do. I think it's perfectly legitimate to put out songs dealing with current events. If you agree or don't agree, that's your prerogative."
Ray, 82, recently re-opened his Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom, the Nashville dinner theater he willingly closed in the spring of 2020 because he wanted to help end the pandemic. COVID-19 claimed the lives of some of the industry's most respected names, including Charley Pride, Joe Diffie, and John Prine. Ray has had two vaccines and will receive the booster as soon as it is available. "Why would anyone politicize getting the vaccine?" he wonders. "There ain't nothing political about vaccines. It's not political to me. I got up this morning and ate breakfast. Is that political?"
Ray can be found most Saturday nights at his CabaRay Showroom. He now performs his hits with a 20-piece orchestra. "I decided to blow it out," he says. "Nashville has some of the best musicians in the world."
I've always been a big admirer of Ray's work ... he's had a pretty remarkable career.
When we went to Nashville a couple of years ago, I really wanted to check out his theater but there just wasn't enough time to see and do all of the things we wanted to do. (Sounds like a return visit is due!) So cool to see that he's back open again ... and still performing nearly every Saturday night at the age of 82! (You know, it's funny ... Ray made his musical mark as a "funny man" ... but when he all of a sudden decided to "get serious," that effort earned him a #1 Pop Record. Who can forget "Everything Is Beautiful"??? It topped the charts for a couple of weeks in early Summer, 1970!) kk
Hi Kent,
I
haven’t written in a while, but couldn’t let the death of Barry Ryan go without
sharing something about him.
I know
“Eloise” barely made a dent in the US at the time, but I was fortunate enough
to hear it on WRKO out of Boston in late ’68. It made it as high as #23
on their survey and then faded away. I believe I only heard it a couple
of times but went out and bought the single right away. MGM
Records.
I knew
nothing about him, but the song was this big bombastic affair that leads to a
rave-up at the end and it blew me away. Yeah, it may be over-produced
with the big orchestra, but there’s nothing like it anywhere. It’s kind
of like “MacArthur’s Park,” only this is more energetic and not so silly.
This guy is crazy for Eloise! He’s belting it out at the end like a wild
banshee.
At over five
minutes, it’s not surprising that US radio didn’t get behind this unknown
singer. I have since listened to other Ryan tunes including those with
his brother Paul. They were a pop act for many years in the UK. Then Paul
stepped away to write and “Eloise” was his first that Barry recorded.
Much of their work might be termed a little shmaltzy today, but there were some
great melodies and singing. “Eloise” was an epic that should’ve made it
bigger here. (And how many times have we said that?!)
Jim
Culveyhouse
I love it … to paraphrase, “It’s like ‘MacArthur Park’ … without
the cake!” lol
Paul and Barry Ryan were definitely more of a sensation back home
in the UK …
As a duo, they hit Great Britain’s Top 40 five times between 1965
and 1967 … and then Barry did it again (often with Paul’s help as a songwriter)
five more between 1968 and 1972.
Here in The States, “Eloise” was their biggest hit, topping out at #50 in Cash Box, but only reaching #86 in Billboard.
THE PAUL AND BARRY RYAN BRITISH HIT LIST:
1965 – Don’t Bring Me Your Heartaches (#13)
1966 – Have Pity On The Boy (#18)
1966 – I Love Her (#17)
1966 – I Love How You Love Me
(#21)
1967 – Keep It Out Of Sight (#30)
THE BARRY RYAN BRITISH HIT LIST:
1968 – Eloise (#2)
1969 – Love Is Love (#25)
1969 – The Hunt (#34)
1970 – Kitsch (#37)
1972 – Can’t Let You Go (#32)
How can it POSSIBLY be a year already since Eddie Van Halen passed?!?! Man, where does the time go ... especially when you're running around less than ever simply because you can't go where you'd like to go anymore!!! That just blew me away earlier this week. (kk)
Kent,
Towards the end of today’s FH, you discussed
the singer Laura Lee. Now there's a singer whose name I have not heard
mentioned in a long, long time.
To be honest with you, I don't know that much
about her. I do know that I only had one record by her that charted here in OKC
back in 1967, that being DIRTY MAN on Chess. Again, I know virtually nothing
about her.
Larry
“Dirty Man” was Laura’s
first chart hit back in 1967, reaching #52 in Record World (but only #68 in
Billboard.) In all, she charted a dozen
times, with “Women’s Love Rights” her biggest. (#20, 1971 / #36 Billboard) I don’t see any of her records charting here
in Chicago … which may be a bit surprising in hindsight, as Joel Whitburn’s
book says she was born right here in Chicago, IL! (kk)
Kent,
I am
with you on Women's Love Rights by singer Laura Lee (Newton and/or Rundless, according
to Wikipedia.) Never heard the song in
1971 on any radio station I listened to.
Laura
Lee was born in Chicago in 1945, and grew up in Detroit. Like many soul singers,
she started singing Gospel in the church before transitioning to Soul / R&B
-- and her only Top 40 hit (on the pop chart) is Women's Love Rights, recorded
for Hot Wax (the Holand, Dozier, Holland label). The song just made it
into the Top 10 on the Record World R&B chart in October, 1971, which is
why it probably made it into the Top 40 on the pop charts.
Totally
enjoy your (almost) daily tidbits on the music we grew up with.
Joe
Cantello
Marietta,
Ga
This is one of those
baffling chart situations … how does a record make it all the way to #20
nationally when hardly anybody knows it???
I can’t believe it was airplay and sales that drove it there … not if
nobody ever heard it! (lol) I’m sure you’re right … its R&B success
probably helped to propel it up the pop charts … but this one just doesn’t make
sense to me. (Or that the song’s
performance in Cash Box was enough to influence it to climb this high on The
Super Chart, once you factor in the Billboard and Record World data.) kk
Freda Payne (who’s got
a new book to sell, written by our FH Buddy Mark Bego), will be appearing on
Cousin Brucie’s WABC radio program this Saturday Night (October 9th)
According to PR Guru
David Salidor …
The book is called Band of Gold (Yorkshire Publishing). She'll also be talking about her current Ella Fitzgerald-tribute show, which she'll perform later this month at the Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania and the NYC launch party for the book at The Cutting Room.
https://wabcradio.com/?s=cousin+brucie
Now here’s an
interesting concept …
Gather up over 100
drummers … including Ringo Starr … and cut a brand new version The Beatles’
classic “Come Together” (now called “Drum Together” for the cause) to raise
money for charity!
In addition to Starr,
you’ll also find The E Street Band's Max Weinberg, Stewart Copeland of The
Police, Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge), Steve Gadd, Steve Jordan, The Red Hot
Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam, Mike Portnoy, Simon Kirke
(Bad Company), Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Nic Collins (Phil’s son, now
drumming and touring with Genesis), Keith Carlock, Vinnie Colaiuta and even 11
year old YouTube sensation Nandi Bushell!!!
Drum Together supports
“WhyHunger,” a charity working to “end hunger and advance the human right to
nutritious food” in the US and abroad.
You can donate to the cause here … Donate
- WhyHunger
The
ten minute clip presents not only a showcase for the multiple drummers (and
other musicians) involved, but also offers up a VERY jazz-infused version of
The Beatles’ #1 tune. (kk)
