Here's another “smiler” I got from Chuck Buell yesterday …
Yep! It's Another Monday!
And it sure can seem like this sometimes!
Actually, I'm just wishing that you have a
Spectacular Week!
Chuck!
Ain’t it the truth! May we ALL have a better week! (kk)
More from Tommy Roe …
I think what happened is that
after the Sullivan show, the agents in New York could see an opportunity to get
close to the next super stars and brought their acts in to be a part of the
excitement, and maybe get on the show. Murray the K was there asking me if I
could get him into their suite for an interview. It was chaos.
None of us realized the logistics would be so
difficult because of the weather. Also, I think Brian Epstein and The Beatles
were surprised at the huge reception they received from the American fans. They
were not prepared for what was about to happen to them. They didn’t know it at
the time, but they didn’t need opening acts, it was just how things were done
back then. After that show, there were never any opening acts.
In my book, From Cabbagetown to Tinseltown, I go into a lot
of what happened with my conversations with Brian Epstein when I did the
British tour in 1963 with The Beatles. He had a plan and it worked.
Tommy
Actually, for all of
their American shows, The Beatles always had opening acts … not big names,
necessarily, but during this era, their entire performance only lasted 30-35
minutes … not like the full-blown concerts of today. They were pretty much on and off stage in a
flash, performing their set with very little variation or kibitzing between
songs.
Over the years, The Ronettes,
Cannibal and the Headhunters, Bobby Hebb, Bill Black’s Combo, The Cyrkle, The
Exciters … to lesser-known acts at the time like Brenda Holloway, King Curtis,
The Remains to Sounds, Incorporated (who did the majority of The Beatles’ shows
here in The States.)
From a report covering
The Beatles’ First US Show …
Although the existing
historical record is unclear about which groups actually performed that night
as opening and/or intermission acts, Tommy Roe reports that he was there, and
performed three songs – “Sheila,” “Everybody,” and “Carol.” Also reportedly
appearing that night were Jay & The Americans, The Righteous Brothers, and
The Caravelles. The opening acts were quite good, according to some in
attendance that evening.
With no documentation,
photographs or video content, I think we just have to go with “majority rules”
on this one.
Ironically, The Beatles’
performance was filmed by CBS and then released in theaters as a Closed
Circuit, Pay-Per-View showing … but for theater, they were paired with concerts
by The Beach Boys and Lesley Gore, both of whom had absolutely NOTHING to do
with the Washington, DC show! (kk)
It is ESPECIALLY cool to see a ticket from our very own Lake Theatre, right here in Oak Park! (kk)
Meanwhile, here's a fun Q&A luncheon with Jay Black from that same B103 interview, just before his 70th birthday … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTFP_BfG6pg
With all the shows I’ve seen
over the course of a lifetime, Jay Black is one that I regret never having seen
live … watching some live clips this weekend, it looks like I missed a VERY
entertaining night of music and laughter.
Again, even well into his 70’s, Jay never failed to entertain those who
came to see him. He LOVED to
perform. (kk)
Here’s Jay performing with his
son in 2011 … Jay black with his son -
YouTube
And how about this ...
FH Reader Tom Cuddy and Jay Black, circa 1985 ...
What’s wrong with people?
What would possess somebody to
deliberately go out and deface the Buddy Holly statue in Lubbock, TX? But that’s exactly what somebody did …
Iconic
Buddy Holly Statue vandalized - YouTube
As to the new song by ABBA, I’m just not a big fan anymore.
This sounds like Waterloo
backing (slowed down) and Andrews Sisters-type delivery vocally. Just my
take on it.
Clark
I like it. New ABBA sounds just like OLD ABBA because
this track is, essentially, old ABBA!
I’m curious to hear the rest of the album … but I like what I’ve heard
so far. (kk)
Meanwhile, The Dave Clark Five’s US
debut album, “Glad All Over,” is being reissued on white vinyl in a remastered
version that was overseen by Dave Clark himself.
Three of the songs from this LP
ended up making The National Pop Charts here in 1964 … “Glad All Over” (#5),
“Bits And Pieces” (#3) and “Do You Love Me” (#8). November 26th has been set as the
release date. (kk)
From brand new FH Reader Nick Frankart …
Please
send me your "fascinating newsletter" as referenced on Dwight Rounds'
website AnimalstoZombies.com.
Thank you, Kent!
I
look forward to becoming a regular reader, and at least an occasional
contributor.
I
currently live in Long Beach, CA, although I grew up in the Steel City -
Pittsburgh, PA, just a stone’s throw up the hill (there are hills everywhere in
the Pittsburgh area) from the home of the Vogues, who hailed from the small
town/suburb of Turtle Creek (great name, huh?), PA.
Speaking
of stones, I just saw The Rolling Stones in concert for the very first time
ever - in LA last week. They were sensational, and still bring it!
More
later.
Best
regards, and glad to make your acquaintance!
Nick
Welcome aboard, Nick …
you’ve got a WHOLE lotta catching up to do!
(lol)
And, if you’d like to
prepare a complete Rolling Stones concert review, I’d be happy to run it! (kk)
Frank B sent us this
Facebook Post from Mark Lindsay, correcting the misinformation circulating
about next year’s Happy Together Tour …
A big head’s up, kids - I suppose it’s to be expected after Covid caused Happy Together shows to be re-scheduled, re-re-scheduled, and even re-re-re-scheduled, but we’ve just become aware of several venues advertising a lineup for 2022 including ME. That is INCORRECT info and I’ll be sending off an email to my agent shortly so that it’s fixed. I have no idea who’ll be on the 2022 tour, but it definitely will NOT be me.
ML
Lindsay announced last year that he was foregoing touring for
the near future, trying to get his mind and body into a healthier state. (Mark had heart issues a couple of years ago
as well.)
I’m not sure why any theater would be posting erroneous
information when the CORRECT information exists … but we’re passing the info
along as a Buyer Beware service. Mark
Lindsay will NOT be part of the 2022 Happy Together Tour. (kk)
Chuck Buell waxes on about his dislike of The Fifth Dimension’s
#1 Hit “Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In” from 1969 …
>>>To me, "Aquarius" is just
too much of a saccharin overdose of cosmic hippieness!
CB (which stands for
"Curmudgeon Boy!")
>>>Well, on this one, I think you’ll
find that you’re probably in the minority. Not only did it top the
charts for five weeks back in 1969, but it’s still very popular with oldies
radio and oldies fans in general.
(kk)
HA! Yep!
So, I did a little guesstimation on how many times
(minimum) I must have played that song on the “CB Radio Shows” from its initial
status as a “Pick Hit of the Week,” its Rise UP the Chart, Domination of its
Five Weeks of Number One Position, and its Descend Back down. I calculated roughly
somewhere around 115-120+ times in a short, concentrated 11 to 12 week period
alone!
We all have songs that are not our favorites and
when one has to play a lesser-liked one multiple times a day,
for weeks on end, for on-going months, it can become like “too much ice
cream!” Brain Freeze!!
(I didn’t include the gazillions of times I must
have played it afterwards over the years as it solidified its rightful place in
Contemporary Music History as a “Recurrent,” “Golden Oldie,” “Memory Maker” or
became Enshrined Forever as a Major Hit in the “Forgotten Hits Archives!”)
~CB~
I’ve often wondered
about how torturous it must have been having to play “the hits” a couple of
times in a four hour shift when you didn’t especially LIKE one of those
hits. (I guess I just figured that these
instances became much-anticipated bathroom breaks!)
And, of course, some of
these songs became instant button-pushers for us out driving around listening
to our favorite Top 40 Hits stations. Making me think, “Yeah, these songs may
have been earning points for airplay … but how many people out there were
actually LISTENING to them?!?!?” (kk)
A brand new 13-CD box set
commemorating the Music of The Viet Nam War is in the works … it features 17
hours of music and time-sensitive news reports … you can check out the track
list here …
File this under “Totally Unnecessary Remakes” …
It’s Ringo Starr’s new version of “Rock Around The
Clock,” sent in by FH Reader Frank B.
Meanwhile, congratulate The Beatles on another hit
album …
The “Let It Be” reissue box placed at #5 on Billboard’s
brand new Top 200 Albums Chart … and actually was the top selling album of the
week. (Roughly translated, between
sales, streams and downloads, the combined variations of the reissue set sold
about 55,000 copies … 48,000 of which were physical, actual CDs … ‘cause that’s
the way we old timers roll, ya dig???)
I made it thru the complete box over the weekend and
have to report that overall, I am somewhat disappointed by the content. There was just SO much more out there
available that has never been commercially released that would have been FAR more
interesting to hear. (Do we really need four
or five versions of “Don’t Let Me Down,” “Get Back,” “Let It Be,” “Two Of Us”
and “I’ve Got A Feeling”??? Heck even
the throw-away track “Maggie May” makes three appearances on the box set!) This is especially disheartening when one
considers that the original FAST version of “Two Of Us” isn’t even included at
all. (I especially like the bit in the
original “Let It Be” film when Paul goes into his Elvis impersonation during
the run-through of this song … but you won’t find it here!)
Nor will you find any of the lengthy jams the group
did to warm up for each session, revisiting songs from their earlier
incarnation playing the Hamburg clubs … LOTS of ‘50’s and early ‘60’s tunes
that they would use to loosen up for a session.
For years, The Beatles insisted that what was in the
vault would STAY in the vault. From what
I’ve seen thus far (meaning everything released AFTER the well-picked gems from
the “Anthology” series) probably should have stayed there. I see nothing new and exciting here … and
even less so since the “Let It Be Naked” album release has already shown us the
stripped-down, original intent of the band.
(kk)
Frank B also sent us this one …
This was found online by Scotty's nephew Lee. It’s likely a recent addition to the registry of landmarks. Photo credit unknown.
An interesting Billy Joel concert review from the show he did in Austin, Texas, this past weekend …
Billy
Joel Plays Human Jukebox During Lively Austin Show: Review
(ultimateclassicrock.com)
And another Chuck Buell Production …
We interrupt today’s regularly scheduled Forgotten Hits Post to
bring you this FHTV International Special from Forgotten Hits Television
Network President and General Manager of Programming, Chuck Buell.
(In the interest of full disclosure, he produced only the overall Program Presentation Concept … meaning just its Intro and Close. kk)
