Saturday, July 31, 2021

1971 SUPER CHARTS: Week Ending August 7th

It's no big surprise really to see that James Taylor's version of the Carole King song "You've Got A Friend" has made it to the top of the charts this week.  This always seemed to be the song's natural destination.

Meanwhile, The Bee Gees slide into the #2 spot (up from #6) with their latest comeback hit, "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart."  (My guess is that this one will also top the chart in the next week or two.)

And Dee Jay Tom Clay's mostly spoken word record "What The World Needs Now Is Love / Abraham, Martin And John" finally makes The Top Ten this week.  (Look at this track record ... in the past four weeks, the song has moved from #62 to #32 to #14 to #10!)

Jumping ten spots this week is "Riders On The Storm" by The Doors.  "Smiling Faces Sometimes" by The Undisputed Truth also makes a big leap of 13 places (from #40 to #27) .... and Aretha Franklin's latest, "Spanish Harlem," which debuted at #58 last week, jumps an incredible 29 spots to #29.

Playing Favorites:

This week's top debut belongs to George Harrison as "Bangla Desh" premiers at #64.  While not one of my favorite George Harrisongs (or all that great a song for that matter), the song was key in putting together the Benefit Concert for Bangla Desh held this week in New York City.  (Look for a double whammy of coverage on this Sunday and Monday.)

One of the latest teen idols, Donny Osmond, debuts at #66 with his remake of the Steve Lawrence #1 Hit "Go Away Little Girl."  Fellow heart-throb David Cassidy is back on the charts this week, too, as "I Woke Up In Love This Morning" premiers at #70 this week for The Partridge Family.  (I actually don't mind that one.)
 



Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary) has his first solo hit as "Wedding Song" debuts at #77.  And I have always loved the Lee Michaels track "Do You Know What I Mean."  It's new this week at #87.  (The deejays used to LOVE to insert all kinds of weird sounds during the quick pause near the end of the record ... it was always fun to hear what they would come up with next ... everything from farm animal noises to loud crashes!)
 



And we're not done yet ... MORE great music makes its first appearance on this week's chart as "Sweet City Woman" by The Stampeeders premiers at #91, "The Story In Your Eyes" bows at #93 for The Moody Blues, "All Day Music" premiers at #95 for War and Joan Baez is about to have her first real pop hit as her version of The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" debuts at #98.
 





Right behind it is Buddy Miles' "Them Changes" ... new this week at #99.  (A GREAT week for new music for sure!)
 


This Week in 1971:
August 1st – The Concert For Bangla Desh, organized by George Harrison to raise funds for a country besieged by war and famine, is staged at New York’s Madison Square Garden.  Two shows are performed, featuring an all-star line-up of friends of the ex-Beatle who, ironically, was the most vocal of the four mop-tops about never touring again after all the chaos they encountered back in 1966.

Joining George on stage were Ravi Shankar, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Bob Dylan, Billy Preston, Badfinger and more.  The concept worked (and launched similar rock and roll music fund-raising events that continue to run today.)  When all was said and done, sales of the triple album, movie box office receipts and, eventually, home video sales, along with donations from all over the world, helped to raise over eleven million dollars for the cause.
 

August 3rd – Big day for ex-Beatles today!  (A pretty big week, actually, when you consider George’s Concert For Bangla Desh event a couple of days ago!)

First up, Ringo Starr receives a Gold Record for his hit “It Don’t Come Easy,” a record that topped both the Cash Box and the Record World Pop Singles Chart … but only went to #4 in Billboard.

Meanwhile, Paul McCartney today announced the formation of a brand new band, to be called Wings, which will include his wife Linda on keyboards, former Moody Blues lead vocalist Denny Laine on guitar and Denny Seiwell, a session drummer who worked with McCartney on his “Ram” album.

August 6th – A lunar eclipse, lasting 1 hour, 40 minutes and 4 seconds is observed.  (I wonder what that would have looked like from the perspective on the moon, which is where our Apollo 15 astronauts were several days before.)

August 7th – Apollo 15 returns to earth  (They probably stuck around an extra day to see the eclipse.)

Friday, July 30, 2021

The Friday Flash

It sounds like Dusty Hill’s demise was not quite so unexpected by his band members.  Discussions had already taken place regarding him leaving the tour, with Dusty insisting that the band go on without him after he was gone … and, in fact, hand-picking his replacement of long-time guitar technician Elwood Francis, who had already filled in on a couple of Dusty’s missed dates. (Dusty’s last show as part of ZZ Top took place on Sunday, July 18th, in Louisville, KY.)  Francis has worked with the band for over two decades and is expected to fill in on bass, slide guitar and harmonica.  Wednesday’s show in Simpsonville, SC was cancelled as a tribute to their fallen bandmate.  The tour resumes on Friday (July 30th) and runs thru December 12th.  (kk)

I worked with ZZ Top while at London Records back in the day; total professionals and eager to work and learn. Their sound, which was an amalgam of many genres, became a national favorite. Dusty in particular was always a gentleman.

Sad news for sure.

David Salidor

As expected, more names have been added to the New York City Mega-Concert happening August 21st.

In addition to headliners Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Jennifer Hudson, fans can also expect to see live performances by Santana (with Rob Thomas joining them for “Smooth”), Journey, Elvis Costello, Earth, Wind and Fire, LL Cool J, Barry Manilow, Andrea Bocelli and a few more surprises thrown in along the way.

Billed as a NYC Homecoming celebrating the city’s return to “normal” post-Covid (despite stories circulating that we may be going back to wearing masks again in the not-too-distant future), it now competes with a 20th Anniversary Concert remembering the events of 9-11, happening the same night on Long Island.  That show will also feature Journey, along with John Fogerty, Steve Miller, Ann Wilson of Heart and others.  (kk)

It sounds like that, in addition to rehearsing and touring with the Bachman Cummings Band, Burton Cummings has also been writing and recording a new solo album, the first in MANY years.  (See, some good DID come out of the pandemic!  All these stuck-at-home artists found the opportunity to get the creative juices flowing again … and we’re getting new releases from artists we haven’t heard from in AGES!)

Frannie sent me this Facebook post from Burton …

https://m.facebook.com/burtoncummings/posts/10151448397629991

Cousin Brucie talked to Richard Carpenter last weekend.

He worked on one of those Royal Philharmonic Albums that you like so much. What's he doing now?

Somebody wants him to record The Carpenters’ Hits, piano only.

Who in their right mind would want to remove Karen's voice from those recordings?

He also has a book coming out in October.

FB

Who in their right mind wants to hear The Carpenters’ catalog without Karen Carpenter?  (When he says “somebody wants him to,” who exactly??? His mom???)

The truth is, the family relocated to California so that RICHARD could become a star … finding out that Karen could sing became an added bonus … because all of the original focus was on helping to build Richard’s career.  (Not that he isn’t a talented guy, but to my mind, he’s been riding on Karen’s coattails since the whole thing began … and the fact that he’s STILL trying to cash in on the music that they created is more than just a little bit annoying and nauseating.)

As for the book, yes … this is supposed to be a good one ... but to be clear, it’s not HIS book … it’s a book ABOUT The Carpenters.  (Unless he ALSO has a new book coming out in October that I’m not aware of.)  I’m waiting for my advance “review copy” to arrive … and looking forward to reading it.  (kk)

https://www.amazon.com/Carpenters-Musical-Mike-Cidoni-Lennox/dp/1648960723/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=the+carpenters&qid=1627559162&s=books&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFVQzRYRVFPQ01CSFkmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwNjcyNzlLWDJJWFk2UVhON0wmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDM1OTA1MUM0OElGTzdOMkEwQyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

If you'd like to learn more about Karen Carpenter, this is actually a very good one, too …

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Girl-Blue-Karen-Carpenter-ebook/dp/B004D4Y1OA/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=the+carpenters&qid=1627559232&s=books&sr=1-6

 

I enjoyed the "Mas Que Nada" video.  I just finished reading Lani's book, which contains memoirs from her early days growing up on the northwest side of Chicago (we lived about a block and a half from each other).  A couple of her stories got me misty, as I'd had the same experiences and could envision the scenes she had put into words (late 1950s).  We were at the same elementary school, but she's a few years my senior, so I never knew her personally.  I'd love to chat with her (and her husband Herb!) some time.  A friend of mine, who is a fellow vinyl enthusiast, was in her 8th grade graduating class (1959).   She even did an LP in honor of our old neighborhood (1983).
Mike

>>>Bobby Vee jumped onboard after we featured his 1964 hit "Hickory, Dick And Doc" (#63 national but #18 here in Chicago).  Now when's the last time you heard THAT one?!?!?  (kk)

Actually ............ I heard that one yesterday!

I have made a series of CDs for each year from 1963 - 1974 (so far) that contain songs that did not make the National TOP 50.

"Hickory, Dick and Doc" was a good-sized hit in San Antonio in 1964, and I've had the 45 since then.

Brad

It’s one you NEVER hear and while not necessarily one of his greatest, it’s still a fun record to listen to.  (I got my copy of the 45 from my next door neighbor, who had grown tired of the tune!)  kk

 

Hi Kent,

What a great closer to your Thursday blog by Chuck Buell.  It is no wonder his humor consistently ends up being one the headliners in Forgotten Hits.  

I can't but think I wasn't the only fish that innocently got reeled in to his casual, interesting story wondering how it was going to end ... and then boom, getting hit with his hilarious ending.  As they say in the septic-tank business:  "That was some funny shit!"  Thanks, Chuck!

Cheers,

Tim Kiley

 

Chuck Buell is a funny guy.  I’ve come to expect excellence from him whenever his comments appear in Forgotten Hits … and he hasn’t let me down yet.  Keep ‘em comin’, Cemetery Boy!

Tom

 

Kent,

Your ardent radio fans might enjoy a website I recently stumbled upon. It’s called Radio Garden and can be found with a simple Google search. When you open the site, you see a globe of the earth and you can drag a small circle to cities around the world. At the location you select, you use the +/- control to zero in on green dots that signify a station there. One station I have listened to is 60s Chicks Radio in West Hollywood. They play a mix of familiar pop tunes and some more obscure tunes. You can also listen to stations in foreign countries around the world, which is interesting in itself.

I believe this is a must-see for both the amazing technology but for the world-wide radio access.

Bob Verbos

We featured this link a while back and I remember a few readers writing in about how amazing it was (while a few others said it was frustrating trying to get the thing to play!!!)

I know I tried it a few times and it always worked fine for me … but it’s pretty “hit or miss” as far as trying to zero in on a specific station.

It’s actually run by a Dutch company.  (Hey, I wonder if our new friend Ben can shed any light on this!!!)

Here’s a link to try …

It loads pretty quickly … and there are TONS of options as far as listening choices go … but for the most time, it’s kinda like radio roulette … you don’t know what you’re going to get until you click on it!  (kk)

http://radio.garden/visit/lexington-ne/XhQ0IhEX

 

Interesting discussion on "request radio," Kent.

Maybe I'm unusual (I'm certainly weird!), but the few times I've bothered to request a song, I'm doing it mostly to "introduce" -- or re-introduce -- a forgotten song I like to a program's listeners -- and maybe momentarily help broaden a static, repetitive playlist, rather than just so I can hear it. (Most bizarre, of course, are the requests for Happy Together, Brown-Eyed Girl, Unchained Melody or any other overplayed song that either was just played or is about to be played (again)!)

With all the options today for hearing just about any song on demand, there's no real reason for most folks to wait eagerly by the radio to hear their request. And most stations' musical foot-dragging on playing "obscure" songs is even stranger, given the minuscule 2:30 or 3-minute "bites" of most songs. If I can sit through Lobo's irritating, overplayed Me and You and a Dog Named Boo almost every day, others can sit through something "new"/old that they may or may not like ...  

The whole "channel-hopping" phenomenon, I think, is overrated, too. The only folks I can see still doing that is drivers pushing buttons -- and they're just as likely to quickly return to their usual choice when they're turned off by an annoying song on the other channel.

As usual, just sounding off.

Don Effenberger

 

Billboard Magazine remembers the 40th Anniversary of MTV …

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/9607184/best-music-videos-1981/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily&utm_term=daily_digest

 

It sounds like Frankie Valli is happy to be back out on the road.  (Even at 87 years of age, he keeps it all in perspective … the performing, he loves … it’s the TRAVELING that wears you down!)  He’s due back here at The Rosemont Theater on Saturday, October 2nd.

In this recent interview sent in by FH Reader Tom Cuddy, Frankie also tells us that a new Made-For-TV version of “Jersey Boys” is coming … with Nick Jonas playing Frankie Valli in the film.  (Can’t wait to see that!)

The movie version sucked … here’s hoping the tv “remake” is good enough to become the definitive version.  (Of course for THAT they should  have filmed the show here in Chicago about ten years ago when our FH Buddy John Michael Coppola played the lead!  What we saw here as part of the Broadway In Chicago package was outstanding … and blew Clint Eastwood’s movie version away.  In fact, the entire cast was stellar … wish there was a copy of THAT version available out there somewhere!!!)

This is a good interview with Frankie Valli … and puts some perspective into some of the topics that seem to crop up most frequently regarding his live shows.

Thanks, Tom!  (kk)

The Anthem is back — and so is Frankie Valli
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/frankie-valli-anthem-concert/2021/07/28/44e151ba-ee06-11eb-a452-4da5fe48582d_story.html

 

And, speaking of upcoming shows, we’ve got quite a few of them to review with you!

Steely Dan has announced the remainder of their 2021 tour dates. (Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 30th here):  https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/736195?irgwc=1&clickid=0k-3H93jIxyLT5nwUx0Mo3Z2UkBUn5zJRwMt3g0&camefrom=CFC_BUYAT_166800&impradid=166800&REFERRAL_ID=tmfeedbuyat166800&wt.mc_id=aff_BUYAT_166800&utm_source=166800-

Steely Dan 2021 Tour Dates

October 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
October 12th and 13th – Orlando, FL – Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
October 15th and 16th – St. Petersburg, FL – Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater
October 19th – Jacksonville, FL – Times-Union Center for the Performig Arts – Moran Theater
October 20th – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Centre
October 22nd – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
October 23rd – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater
October 25th – Baltimore, MD – Hippodrome Theatre at France-Merrick Performing Arts

October 27th, 29th and 30th – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia
November 1st – Red Bank, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center
November 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th  – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Centre
November 9th and 10th – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
November 13th – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre
November 14th – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center
November 17th, 19th and 20th – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre presented by Citizens

The tour picks up again in May of 2022 when the band will be joined on the road by Steve Winwood …

May 20th, 2022 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum
May 21st – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
May 25th – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
May 27th – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
May 28th – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 31st – Phoenix, AZ – AK-Chin Pavilion
June 2nd – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
June 3rd – Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
June 5th and 6th – Austin, TX – ACL Live
June 10th – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
June 11th – Memphis, TN – Location TBA
June 14th – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
June 16th – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
June 18th – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
June 19th – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
June 21st – Saratoga Springs, NY – SPAC
June 23rd – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
June 25th and 26th – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
June 29th – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
June 30th – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
July 2nd – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
July 3rd – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Reminder:  All dates are subject to change at this point … and new dates may be added

In addition, two brand new Steely Dan-related live albums will be released on September 24th.  Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live!” and a live version of Donald Fagen’s 1982 solo album ”The Nightfly” (performed live by The Steely Dan Band) will also see vinyl releases on October 1st.

“Northeast Corridor” is the first live Steely Dan album to be released in more than 25 years, and includes shows recorded at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, The Met Philadelphia, and more, and showcases selections from the band’s extraordinary catalog.  (See the track list below for each release.)

“Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live! “

1. Black Cow
2. Kid Charlemagne
3. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
4. Hey Nineteen
5. Any Major Dude Will Tell You
6. Glamour Profession
7. Things I Miss the Most
8. Aja
9. Peg
10. Bodhisattva
11. Reelin’ in the Years
12. A Man Ain’t Supposed to Cry

“The Nightfly Live”

1. I.G.Y
2. Green Flower Street
3. Ruby Baby
4. Maxine
5. New Frontier
6. The Nightfly
7. The Goodbye Look
8. Walk Between the Raindrops

August dates to keep an eye on at The Genesee Theatre include The Happy Together Tour (on Saturday, August 7th)


And The Little River Band (with special guest John Ford Coley) on Saturday, August 21st.

Tickets for both events are on sale now at The Genesee Theatre online box office … https://www.geneseetheatre.com/events/all?utm_source=Acoustic&utm_medium=Email

In addition, Christopher Cross returns on October 14th and Brian Wilson on October 23rd.  Tommy James and the Shondells with special guests The Box Tops appear on December 4th and then on February 12th of next year America returns with special guests The Buckinghams.

Speaking of The Buckinghams, they’ll be making a total of FOUR Happy Together Tour Date appearances, including the one at The Genesee Theatre on August 7th.  In addition, they’ll be an added bonus feature for the shows on July 30th at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, PA, August 27th (my birthday!) at The Paramount Theatre in Denver, CO and August 28th at Las Colonias Park in Grand Junction, CO.

Carl Giammarese and Jim Peterik will perform another one of their “Songs And Stories shows at The City Winery on August 16th … and The Bucks have other dates scheduled for August 12th at IACH Amphitheatre in Oshkosh, WI, The American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA on August 22nd, The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL, on August 29th (part of the Cornerstones of Rock show), Hillside, Illinois’ City Festival on August 31st, The Hobart Theatre in Hobart, IN, on September 10th, two shows at The Belfry Theatre in Williams Bay, WI on October 1st and 2nd, The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, NV, on Friday, October 8th, the newly remodeled Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL, on October 9th, The Acorn Theatre in Three Oaks, MI on November 20th and then back to The Arcada Theatre on December 4th for another Cornerstones Show.

A few more key local shows now that live music is back in Chicago …

(Man, it’s just SO cool to be able to talk about upcoming shows again!!!)

THE ARCADA THEATRE:

September 9th – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

September 12th – Bobby Rydell

September 18th – Tower Of Power (also appearing at The Des Plaines Theatre on September 17th)

September 25th – The Yardbirds with Big Brother and the Holding Company

September 26th- Chubby Checker

October 15th – Loverboy

October 17th – Tommy James and the Shondells

November 2nd – Paul Anka

November 18th – Michael Bolton

November 21st – The Association (with The Classics IV)

December 10th - .38 Special

THE CITY WINERY:

Saturday, July 31st (tomorrow):  The Smithereens with special guest lead vocalist Marshall Crenshaw

Sunday, August 22nd – John Mayall

Sunday, August 29th and Monday, August 30th – Shaun Cassidy (both shows are sold out)

Monday, September 13th and Tuesday, September 14th – Justin Hayward (both shows are sold out)

*Note:  The City Winery offers a “Wait List” for all of their sold out shows, should tickets become available for any reason

HELPING OUT OUR READERS:

Hi Kent,

I know this isn’t quite like finding the title of an oldie nobody can remember, but could I ask you if you could or would be kind enough to run the following at your convenience please.

A good friend of mine who runs an oldies sheet has a request to ask …

He says:

I've been posting the Billboard C&W / R&B charts continuously since January, 1953 (previously at Yahoo Groups), but I've come to a point where that sequence is about to be broken unless I can find someone who has access to some back-issues as listed below.  The existing online Billboard pdf files don't contain the vital chart information.
If anyone can help, please get in touch. 

The issue dates in question are:
21 August 1961
28 August 1961
4 September 1961
11 September 1961
18 September 1961 (an estimate can be made from the published chart of the following week)

9 October 1961
16 October 1961
23 October 1961
30 October 1961
6 November 1961
13 November 1961
20 November 1961
27 November 1961 (an estimate can be made from the published chart of the following week)

Would very much appreciate if any of you have this information or know someone who has it, especially bearing in mind he has been doing this since January, 1953.

Take care, stay safe,

Rockin’ Lord Geoff (In England)

Happy to run this past all of the collectors on our list!  And wishing us all the best of luck in finding you this information.  (Actually, I think this one should be doable … we’ve just got to reach the right sources.)  kk

And another closer from CB …

The Olympics are definitely full of remarkable challenges, exciting performances, deep emotions and high drama, but in my opinion, they’ve always lacked one thing …

Humor!

 

I think it’d be great if, between events, they interspersed just a little occasional relatable escapism Fun!

 

Like this clip attached!

 

“On your Mark!  Get Set!  Go!!”

 

CB