Friday, February 19, 2021

A Little Good News!

Yesterday was a Good News Day for Music as both The Beach Boys and The Bee Gees made headlines with stories about their incredible catalog of music and legacy and future plans.

Speaking of which ...

Could a Brian Wilson / Barry Gibb album be in our future?  (OMG, can you even imagine?!?!)

The two legendary songwriters held a public Mutual Admiration Society fest on Wednesday, each sharing their admiration and respect of the other publicly on their social media outlets. 

It all started when Brian Wilson praised Gibb on his Facebook Page the other day.  “I really admire Barry Gibb.  He is like King Kong. He and I could probably work something up together.”

The fact that the thought had even crossed his mind is encouraging.  (Keep in mind that Wilson and Paul McCartney were supposed to work together, too, some twenty years ago … back when they both could have still mustered up some reasonable facsimile of singing … but that pairing never took place.)

Wilson went on to explain, “We met at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1997. I presented them (The Bee Gees) for their introduction. They sang ‘To Love Somebody.’ Before the show, Barry came down to meet me and he just sat in the room. I heard later that he was nervous. I was nervous, too.”

Barry Gibb was clearly moved by Wilson’s praise and, a short while later, posted:

“You are the reason I’m living.  You prove to me that you can do whatever you want to do with your voice and all these years I have just been following you and everything you do. If I’m King Kong, then you are Godzilla! Thank you for such a wonderful compliment. We must connect and collaborate as soon as we can. I love you, pal! As I said … you’re the reason.”

In other Beach Boys news … and in what seems to be a continuing trend of our vintage artists selling off their music and publishing catalogs, The Beach Boys announced yesterday that they have entered into a partnership with music business legend Irving Azoff.  The two major music forces are teaming up as partners in Azoff’s new Iconic Artists Group to “preserve and grow their legacy in a digital era.”

As part of the deal, Iconic has purchased a controlling interest in the Beach Boys’ intellectual property, sound recordings, the brand, select musical compositions and memorabilia. Looking to the future, the members of The Beach Boys and their heirs will retain an interest in their assets to “participate in the upside Iconic expects to create by actively marketing and promoting the Beach Boys.”  In a statement released to the press, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and the Carl Wilson estate said, “The Beach Boys and our songs have been one of the great joys of our lives. For more than half a century, we’ve witnessed generations of fans from all corners of the world come together to celebrate our music, dancing and singing along to the songs that we have loved and performed for decades. As we look towards the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Beach Boys, we wanted a partner to help expand opportunities for our brand, while continuing to preserve our tradition as a band whose music transcends the test of time.  We are confident that Irving and Iconic are the ideal partners and are confident that the Beach Boys’ ongoing legacy is in the best possible hands. We are very proud of what we have achieved as the Beach Boys and how our songs continue to resonate with our fans.”  

Irving Azoff went on to say, “The Beach Boys are an American treasure.  I am honored that the Beach Boys have entrusted Iconic to preserve and grow their legacy. And I’m thrilled that the Beach Boys want to stay invested in the growth of the incredible cultural brand they created.”

This sounds like an excellent deal for all parties concerned … and hopefully will keep the music of The Beach Boys going for many more years to come, long after all of us are gone … allowing every new generation the opportunity to discover and enjoy the very best of their feel good vibe.  (I guess MY only question would be, Why isn’t Dennis Wilson’s name and estate mentioned anywhere in this agreement?  And have any type of provisions been made for essential group members Bruce Johnston and David Marks?)  Hopefully, more details will emerge as we move forward as this right now is considered to be a “late breaking story” … but a good one!!!  (kk)

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Thursday This And That

A quick correction to our Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame “Deserving And Denied” List …

We recently listed Heart at #15 on our Top 40 Most Deserving Artists list …

But Heart was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame back in 2013.  (Obviously, we were working from our old, original list from 2007 … and when we listed some of the artists from that list who had since been recognized and inducted, we missed Heart, so they stayed on our Deserving And Denied list instead.)  We apologize for the error … as stated every time along the way, their induction is well-deserved.

We also found our original list of “Runners Up” from that 2007 article.  Thankfully, many of these artists have also since been recognized and honored …

But The Rock Hall is still missing:

Connie Francis, The Guess Who, Pat Boone, Chubby Checker, The Monkees, Three Dog Night, Paul Anka, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Turtles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Neil Sedaka, Dionne Warwick (nominated this year), Pat Benatar, Bobby Rydell, Johnny Rivers, Glen Campbell, Styx, Lesley Gore, Herman’s Hermits, Peter Paul and Mary, Jim Croce, Grand Funk Railroad, Petula Clark, America, Gary “US” Bonds, The Grass Roots, Journey, Dickie Goodman, David Seville, The Carpenters, Brook Benton, Peter Frampton, Jan and Dean, The Fifth Dimension, The Marvelettes, Jethro Tull, The Spinners, Loggins and Messina, Poco, Harry Chapin, Bobby Vee, Dick Dale, Herb Alpert (as a performer), Blood Sweat and Tears, The Commodores, Joe Cocker, The Tokens, The Diamonds, Brook Benton, Jay and the Americans, Freddy Cannon, Todd Rundgren (nominated this year), Paul Rodgers, Paul Carrack, B.J. Thomas, Johnny Mathis

Inducted since our 2007 list first ran are:

Neil Diamond (2011), The Hollies (2010), Chicago (2016), The Moody Blues (2018), The Dave Clark Five (2008), ABBA (2010), Linda Ronstadt (2014), Daryl Hall and John Oates (2014), Genesis (2010), Yes (2017), Brian Epstein (2014), Heart (2013), The Doobie Brothers (2020), John “Cougar” Mellencamp (2008), Joan Jett (2015), Electric Light Orchestra (2017), The Ventures (2008), Alice Cooper (2011), Donna Summer (2013), The Cars (2018), Deep Purple (2016), Leon Russell (2011), Kiss (2014), T. Rex (2020), Little Anthony and the Imperials (2009) and Cheap Trick (2016).  What ISN’T reflected here is how long some of these artists had to wait after reaching their eligibility period … in most cases, it was downright insulting.  (kk)

It’s hard for me to not pass along ANYTHING that has to do with 1967, my all-time favorite year in music …

So here’s a look back at 50 of the most significant rock albums released that year, courtesy of Best Classic Bands …

https://bestclassicbands.com/1967-best-rock-albums-8-20-20/

The Top 3333 Most Essential Classic Rock Songs Of All Time list is a masterpiece.  Awesome!  I've found quite a few songs that I was previously unaware of and they are now part of my collection.  Could you send me the revised edition?  Also, sign me up for any any current or future revisions, additions or corrections to this list.  Thanks.

Ed Erxleben

Will do … building a list right now!

Drop me a note if anyone else out there would like the newly revised copy. (kk)

Kent,

I'll tell you what I did after you posted the 3 Friends' DEDICATED (TO THE SONGS I LOVE). I played it over a couple of times and tried to tell how many other songs were mentioned in it. I came up roughly with 29, not counting the repeats like RAMA LAMA DING DONG. Other artists and or groups that mentioned other songs were Billy and Lillie, Larry Williams, and the 4 Preps again with their hit THE BIG DRAFT, similar to the one they did that you posted.

I couldn't agree with you more regarding what you said about Danny & the Juniors' ROCK AND ROLL IS HERE TO STAY. Also, I am reminded of the Showmen with their 1961 recording (also charted in 1964), IT WILL STAND. IT, being Rock and Roll.

Larry

I didn’t sit here and count each one … but there’s a WHOLE bunch of ‘em for sure!!!

Today on The Evolution Of Rock I heard them play “Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Dee Sharp.

Now here’s a record that came out on Cameo / Parkway Records, mentioning “Please Mr. Postman” in its lyrics, a song that came out on Tamla / Motown Records by The Marvelettes … and was then copied musically as “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett for Garpax / Parrot Records!

Rock And Roll at this point was a universal language … it wasn’t dictated by record deals … it was all about feeding the public what they wanted to hear.  The Mashed Potato became the next big dance craze after The Twist died down.  (In fact, in two separate interviews that also aired during this segment, Chubby Checker explained that “The Twist” caught on a second time when Zsa Zsa Gabor was caught dancing it, which turned the whole older generation (aka OUR PARENTS!!!) into dancing it.  Soon even JFK was twisting!  (And “the twist” became the subject matter and/or song title of countless songs to follow in its wake, all trying to cash in on this latest dance craze.

But, as Chubby goes on to explain, after “The Twist” went all the way back to #1, it was shut down overnight by the younger generation … because, he says, the kids didn’t want to be doing ANYTHING their parents were doing.  As soon as “the old folks” caught on to how fun it all was, the kids wanted NO part of it.

Bobby “Boris” Pickett explained that the original idea to do their “monster record” was to base it on The Twist, since that was the most popular dance in the country at the time.  But some additional research showed that The Twist was no longer the #1 Dance Craze … The Mashed Potato had taken over … so the whole song was reworked to echo THAT record’s sound instead.  (In fact, as we all know, one of the song’s lyrics posed the musical question “Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?”)  lol  (kk)

Kent,

Getting back to the subject of records being made that contained lyrics made up of song titles or lyrics of other songs, I just happened to remember two obscure (?) ones that came out. One is from 1963 from the group the Penguins with the MEMORIES OF EL MONTE and remember the 5 Satins' 1982 record MEMORIES OF DAYS GONE BY on Elektra? I believe there was another one from a group called the Trojans with a melody of songs done on Airtown Records. The years was 1966.

Larry

I used to really like “Memories Of Days Gone By” when it was released in 1982 by Fred Parris and the Five Satins.  It didn’t do much on the charts (#71 in Billboard during a five week chart run) but I always thought it was a pretty smooth-sounding record, especially since it had ties back to the golden age of the ‘50’s.  Even better was something called “Love Songs Are Back Again” by Band Of Gold, which came out a couple of years later.  (It features more modern classics … but still done VERY well.)  Give a listen to this one. (kk)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeS-HKUvJhc

This one looks interesting ...  

On April 9, Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to release Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live At Knebworth ‘76 as a DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD, limited edition 2LP+DVD, and digital video, capturing the band’s historic performance in England on August 21,1976.

Featuring the legendary line-up of Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle, Billy Powell, and The Honkettes, this set was part of a daylong festival which also boasted the likes of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, 10cc, and headliners The Rolling Stones.  

This footage, originally only available via the 1996 film Freebird ...The Movie, was intercut with interviews and other performance footage. Now Live At Knebworth ‘76 presents the pure concert experience in its entirety, delivering the show as it happened that day. Kicking off with opening number “Workin’ for MCA,” Lynyrd Skynyrd ignited a powerhouse performance before over 150,000 attendees. Displaying the renowned triple guitar attack of Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Steve Gaines with Ronnie Van Zant’s signature vocals, Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live At Knebworth ’76 showcases fiery performances of such beloved classic rock anthems as “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Gimme Three Steps,” and of course, “Free Bird.” 

As a bonus, the Blu-ray set also features the full-length documentary If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd. Originally released in 2018, the film is an in-depth exploration of the band’s music and history. 

Over 40 years after their inception, Lynyrd Skynyrd continues their legacy as icons of American music. Carrying on after the tragic 1977 plane crash, with sales beyond 30 million worldwide and 60 albums to their name, Lynyrd Skynyrd remain etched as pivotal forebearers of Southern Rock. 


Lynyrd Skynyrd line-up:
Ronnie Van Zant (Lead Vocals)
Gary Rossington (Guitar)
Allen Collins (Guitar)
Steve Gaines (Guitar / Backing Vocals)
Leon Wilkeson (Bass / Backing Vocals)
Artimus Pyle (Drums / Percussion)
Billy Powell (Keyboards / Piano)

Honkettes:
Cassie Gaines (Background Vocals)
JoJo Billingsley (Background Vocals
Leslie Hawkins (Background Vocals)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRACK LIST:

DVD/BD/CD   2LP

      1                 A1     Workin’ For MCA

      2                 A2     I Ain’t The One

      3                 A3     Saturday Night Special

      4                 A4     Searching

      5                 B1     Whiskey Rock-A-Roller

      6                 B2     Travelin’ Man

      7                 B3     Gimme Three Steps

      8                 B4     Call Me The Breeze

      9                 C1     T For Texas

     10                C2      Sweet Home Alabama

     11                D1     Free Bird


Got this one from several readers yesterday …

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons … in quarantine …

“Silence Is Golden” … sounding GREAT!  (And doesn’t Frankie look great, too???)

And I love THIS one, too!

 

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Rock And Roll, Speak Thy Name

Kent,

I have always been somewhat fascinated with songs (records) in which the lyrics are composed of either titles of other songs (records) or maybe lyrics of other records. In either my junior year or senior year of high school in my English class, I wrote and made up a fictitious story that was at least two pages long. I remember for whatever reason, my teacher gave me an average grade on it. I then told her that the story was made up of current records which were being played on the radio or had recently been dropped from airplay.  She re-read it and gave me a higher grade on it. I am trying to find it and will email it to you to get your opinion on it. Hopefully, you will give me a higher grade. (lol)

Remembering this. I got out a record that came out in 1961 on Imperial Records, DEDICATED (TO THE SONGS I LOVE).  To me, this record says it all.

Larry Neal


It is SO weird to get this letter from you now … your timing is unintentionally perfect!  (Just listen to the number of other song titles used in this track, itself already a take-off of the hit “Dedicated To The One I Love.”)

I mentioned recently that I have been making my way thru “The Evolution Of Rock,” a Canadian radio special that ran in the late 1970’s.  It’s a chronological listing of rock and roll’s biggest milestones … events, artists, music and pop culture … adult reaction to the phenomenon and more.  I’m up to 1961 right now (which I believe is Chapter 20) and have been noticing how, early on, the lyrics to SO many popular tunes referenced OTHER tunes that were being scooped up by the teenage record buying audience at the time.

It was as if this new “fad” wasn’t just an expression of music made expressly for this new record-buying audience, but it spoke its own language that this generation (and only this generation) understood.  As such, ANY kid growing up during this era knew exactly who Johnny B. Goode, Good Golly Miss Molly and Peggy Sue were … and so their names came up often in other songs because they provided an immediate connection and familiarity to the listener … something they could relate to (and, quite honestly, a means to help sell their new song.)

Even Bobby Darin, in his first two hit records, “Splish Splash” and “Queen Of The Hop,” mentions Lollipop (twice), Peggy Sue (twice), Good Golly Miss Molly (twice), Mary Lou, Sweet Little Sixteen, Short Shorts, Rock And Roll Shoes, Yellow Dog Blues, Sugartime, Bandstand and The Stroll … which, in hindsight, is almost overkill (!!!) … but it worked.


The latest dance crazes were mentioned often in multiple songs (along with “The Stroll,” Darin mentions “The Bop” in both of his first hits, too) … ANYTHING to make a connection with their audience.  Sometimes the names of other artists are even incorporated into the lyrics … and one REALLY bold example of taking this over the top was The Four Preps actually doing impressions of some of their competition in their “More Money For You And Me” medley.  (Along the way, they sang … and sounded just like The Fleetwoods, Dion and the Belmonts, The Platters, The Hollywood Argyles and The Kingston Trio, doing mockery versions of big hits by these other artists.  Chubby Checker would do a similar thing in his first hit record, “The Class,” offering imitations of everybody from Elvis Presley to Fats Domino to The Coasters to The Chipmunks!!!)  And then you had guys like Buchanan and Goodman using actual parts of these other records in their novelty hits … no doubt about it, rock and roll was using itself to promote itself!  (Think about how many times the term "rock and roll" was used in songs, once it had been defined for what it was!)

It was a different time and rock was new … and fighting to survive at a time when the older generation were doing anything within their power to try and stamp it out.  But when Danny and the Juniors sang “Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay,” they weren’t lyin’ … it has been music’s lifeforce for eight decades now!  (kk)


Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Tuesday This And That

Lots of talk about all of the overlooked artists by The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame again ... just as there ALWAYS is every time the new batch of nominees is announced.  At this point, even with a new regime in place, it is doubtful that we're going to be able to sway any of the ultra-secret nominating committee to take a moment to look BACK before looking forward to the next batch of "eligibles" each year and righting some of these wrongs that have existed for YEARS now.

When I talked with the people at The Rock Hall back in 2007, one point was made VERY clear to me once they learned that Connie Francis topped our Deserving And Denied List.  (Keep in mind that during the late '50's and early '60's, Connie Francis matched Brenda Lee virtually hit for hit ... they were the absolute QUEENS of popular music during this era and still reign supreme whenever chart research for the early years of rock and roll is complied.  In fact, Connie actually outperformed Brenda with 44 Top 40 National Hits to Brenda's 36.  She also had 18 Top 10's to Brenda's 14 ... yet Brenda Lee was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2002 and Connie has never even been nominated.)

An inside source who we spoke to back in 2007 (but insisted on remaining anonymous) told me that most of their colleagues agreed that in hindsight, voting Brenda Lee into The Rock Hall was a big mistake ... that she didn't really belong ... and that committing another "wrong" to allow Connie Francis a spot only worsened the situation ... it didn't really solve anything ... but since they couldn't UN-induct anybody, they just had to let it lie as it was.

Now I will agree that Brenda Lee had the grittier, rock and roll voice between the two ... but these two have ALWAYS been considered "a matched set" ... and it's just wrong that Connie Francis ... and some of the other early rockers from this era ... Chubby Checker, Freddy Cannon, etc., not to mention acts like Paul Anka and Neil Sedaka and some of the other early pioneers ... are not in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ... and have never even merited a spot on the ballot in the eyes of those in charge of these things.  It's just wrong ... and soon folks will completely forget about this early era and what REALLY made it kick.  (kk)

Noted Radio Program Director Tom Cuddy sent me this observation that HE received from Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon after these discussions started stirring up here again in Forgotten Hits ... and it breaks my heart to admit that he's absolutely right ... and worse, that there's nothing any of us can do about it ...

Kent: 

With all the Forgotten Hits conversation recently about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon wanted me to share with you why he, Chubby Checker and dozens others will never get in. 

From Freddy:

I SEE WHERE KENT KOTAL SAID CHUBBY CHECKER SHOULD

BE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL. IT WON’T HAPPEN, BECAUSE WE KNOW IT’S POLITICS.

ALSO, TELL KENT THE OTHER REASON.

THIS IS IT ...   

THERE’S DOZENS OF US THAT WILL NEVER BE ASKED BECAUSE OF THE ERA OUR MUSIC IS FROM.

YOU GOT ACTS THAT ARE NOT THOUGHT OF AS ROCK AND ROLL ACTS AND THEIR MUSIC ISN’T EITHER ... 

LIKE FRANKIE AVALON, BOBBY RYDELL, FABIAN,  BOBBY VEE, TOMMY ROE, JOHNNY TILLOTSON AND PAT BOONE.

THEY ARE CONSIDERED BY HOF BOARD MEMBERS AS ALL TOO CUTE ... BUBBLE GUM.  WE ARE PUT IN THAT BUNCH.

- Tom Cuddy

There is NO doubt that there is some bias against some of these artists ... 

But I'll tell you what ...

Put on a Freddy Cannon record ...

ANY Freddy Cannon record ...

And tell me that that's not rock and roll!!!

(And then try to find one by Leonard Cohen or Percy Sledge or Joan Baez or Bonnie Raitt or NWA or this year's nominee Dionne Warwick and convince me that it IS.)  kk

A brand new Tina Turner documentary is in the works … Tina, of course, is one of the brand new nominees on this year's ballot for The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  (This time around, it's as a SOLO artist ... Tina was previously inducted as part of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue.)

Look, too, for a brand new film about Elvis (a Warner Brothers production), currently shooting in Australia and starring Austin Butler as Elvis, Tom Hanks and Colonel Tom Parker and Olivia De Jonge as Priscilla Presley. And watch for TWO new Aretha Franklin profiles, one of which stars Jennifer Hudson as The Queen Of Soul.  

As such, I am happy to report that our Golden Age of Rock And Roll is alive and well.  (As the cartoon below would indicate, it's the best music EVER!!!)  kk


Hey, Kent ...
Sam's got a good point there!

Oldies Music Power

Mike Wolstein
 

Kent,

I was surprised to see your work on Satchel Paige and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. There are a number of books and articles highlighting his life and I was wondering which ones you used for reference.

Also, if still possible, may I have a revised copy of the Top 3333 list?

Keep up the good work!

Jerry Reuss

Hey Jerry!  Coming from a former Major League Pitcher, that is high praise indeed!

As you said, a number of books have been written about Satchel over the years … including TWO biographies by Satchel himself!  (The problem with Satchel’s autobiographies is that he told several of the same stories differently in each book.  He seemed to have a real proficiency for keeping some shroud of mystery around his life’s details so it is believe that many of these variances were well-planned and thought out prior to him sharing them publicly.)

You’ll also find all kinds of articles and career statistics online …

But the one I found to be the most helpful and accurate was the book written by Larry Tye, published in 2010.

Tye really did his homework and research thoroughly, citing literally THOUSANDS of sources … in fact, at the back of the book you’ll find something like 75 PAGES worth of references (in VERY small type, I might add!) of the various sources he consulted in putting his biography together.

I also liked the fact that he quoted actual news reports published in the sports pages of newspapers like The Chicago Defender who were touting Paige’s exploits AT THE TIME, as they were occurring, thus reporting them as the current news of the day.  This method helps to debunk some of the most outrageous myths out there … although I will also acknowledge the fact that Satchel’s career was SO extraordinary, that you shouldn't really discount ANYTHING you hear about him until you’ve checked three or four other sources … because, incredible as many of these tales may seem, a LOT of this legend is true!

The “Satchel Paige Highlight Reel” is fascinating … but this book offers up SO much more in the way of behind the scenes stories, quotes and newspaper clippings … and, along the way, paints the picture of what it was like to be Black in America during the first half of this past century.  It was not a pretty picture … and Tye’s book delves into all of the tribulations a Black Man had to endure at the time … while also allowing for the love and admiration of the TRUE baseball fan, regardless of color, who had the utmost respect for Paige’s abilities.

I’ve been an admirer for some time … and this 50th Anniversary Tribute of his being named to Baseball's Hall Of Fame allowed me to deviate a little bit from my normal musical fanfare.  It was a fun and VERY interesting piece to write.  (I probably came back and tweaked it at least two dozens times over the course of the last year prior to publishing it last week!)  kk

Oh … and as for the revised list of THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME List, we are sending brand new copies out to anyone who requests one … we have corrected a number of errors and omissions … so just drop us a line and we’ll shoot you off a brand new copy.  Jerry, yours will be on its way shortly.  (I'm trying to gang these sends together to minimize the number of emails going out, rather than sending them in onesies and twosies!)  kk

Kent,

Please send me the revised copy of the Top 3333 List.  Also, didn't you say at one point that you would send out the complete list of all songs that got votes?  I am curious how close some of the songs that I voted for were to making the Top 3333.

Thanks,

Doug

Unfortunately, that OTHER list is so far back on the back burner right now that I can’t even begin to guess when I’ll get to it.  I’ve still got half a dozen things to wrap up from last year … not to mention NEW projects that are popping up every single day.  (And then I go and do something dumb like decide to republish Steve Knuettel’s Phil Spector Series … this is about 250 pages of editing to be done … and the deeper I dig into it, the more things I want to fix … like moving the comments into the chapters that first inspired them (instead of running 50 pages of comments at the end of the series like we did when we first ran i!)  

This particular piece drew the most response of ANY piece we have ever done … or, if not, it was at least in The Top Three in this regard.  Plus, if we’re going to do all of that, we might as well weed out some of the extra comments about little “fixes” that needed to be made along the way and simply FIX them once and for all instead, rather than bore the new readers with all the details.  All VERY time consuming at a time when I have VERY little time to spare.  (On the plus side ... ??? ... between the pandemic and what very well may be FOUR FEET OF SNOW on the ground by the end of the day today, we're spending much more time inside these days!)  

We may get to it eventually, but I don’t see it happening any time soon.  (It might end up being the kind of thing where I’ll just surprise you one day and send it to you, rather than posting it here and drumming up all kinds of questions and controversy again as to the woulda coulda shoulda’s that surrounded the original series.  I'm not so sure I really want to endure all of that again!)  Or, if there are SPECIFIC titles you’re interested in, send me a list of THOSE titles and I’ll see if I can give you some insight.  I can tell you in advance, however, that some of the more obscure titles only received the one vote cast by the person who nominated them … so they were never going to make the list anyway!!!  Many of the bottom 1500 ranked songs only earned single-digit votes.  (kk)

Another look back at the music of 1967 ...

https://bestclassicbands.com/radio-hits-february-1967-2-21-17/

And, speaking of 1967 ...

Kent,
I just want to thank you for posting Petula Clark's song on your website today. I always did like DON'T GIVE UP. 
I agree with you in that the single version of a song should be played and heard as we (the listeners) heard it initially. These LP versions just don't cut it. 
Speaking of Petula Clark, for whatever reason, the day before I thought of a record she came out with in 1967, THE CAT IN THE WINDOW. A short song but I got it out (you tube, the lazy man's version) and played it.

Larry

I always liked "The Cat In The Window," written by the same team that gave us "Happy Together."  (In fact, The Turtles also recorded a version.  It's AWFUL!!!)

For some reason, I always thought this would have been a good song for Olivia Newton-John to take a crack at ... I can hear her voice singing it and think she would have done a great job.   (Something about that breathy vocal ... and those opening notes have always reminded me of Olivia's early vocal style.)  kk 

Hi Kent,

I just found this video on Randy Bachman's website and wanted to send it on. 

Sometimes when you hear a hit song in a different setting and context, it takes on a whole different feel. 

Give a listen to 600 exuberant Canadians at the Burton Cummings Theater in Winnipeg singing "These Eyes."  Somehow a song written by two guys sitting at an upright piano on a Saturday morning sounds brand new some over 50 years later.

Take Care,

Tim Kiley

https://www.facebook.com/choirx3/videos/3768220453217926/UzpfSTE4NjM1NTk5NDkwNjQ1NzoxNjUwOTI3NzM1MTE1OTM1/

FH Reader Tom Cuddy sends in this update from one of the ‘80’s guilty pleasures …

Air Supply on why they got no love from MTV and Rolling Stone:

'We were never cool. We're still not cool.'
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/air-supply-on-why-they-got-no-love-we-were-never-cool-213739521.html

Kent,

Just wanted to let you know that FH is my first “go to” in the morning.

Thanks for all your hard work!!

Jay Grizzle

Thanks, Jay … much appreciated.  (kk)

Just for fun …

Remember this one from a couple of years ago???


A couple more smiles from Chuck Buell ...


CB ( which stands for "Colada Boy!" )

And ... 


Hey, Kent!

Chuck Buell Here!

We all know how you used to attend a good concert!
 
CB ( which stands for "Concert Boy!" )
I love it! (kk)

That is the perspective I have had for a year now. 

When do you think we will get up off the floor?

Shelley

Right now they’re predicting that the earliest that this could happen would be this fall - expect lots more postponements till then. 

(Honestly I’m not ready to risk it - are you???) kk

Absolutely not! 

I just had the first vaccine and will take my parents for their booster next week. Latest findings say that if you are exposed to covid, two weeks or later, following second injection … you are protected for at least three months duration and need not quarantine. That sent me a WHAAAT??  ONLY THREE MONTHS?? Reaction, but continuing to read on (always a good idea) I see that is because they only have research going that far into the vaccine duration. If it proves that this is the length of the protection, we would be getting vaccines three times a year. 

I have accepted that a yearly flu and covid shot is on my horizon. THAT is something I can deal with in order to increase quality of life.

Shelley

I heard more about that this past weekend, too ... and I'm also hearing that a LOT of people are getting very sick after the second vaccination (but typically only for a day or two ... because they're actually GIVING you a small degree of Covid so that the antibodies can start to work to combat it.)   

That's not something I'm especially looking forward to ...

But neither is dying.  (kk)