Jay Black, the second lead singer called "Jay" to front Jay and the Americans, and the voice heard on the majority of their hits, has passed away ... no cause of death has been announced.
Black (real name David Blatt) took over lead vocal duties after their first hit with Jay Traynor ("She Cried") in 1962. Black's incredible, one of a kind voice guided them the rest of the way through their hit era, including the classics "Only In America" (#21, 1963), "Come A Little Bit Closer" (#3, 1964), "Let's Lock The Door" (#10, 1965), "Cara Mia" (#3, 1965, which he still performed brilliantly well into his 70's), "Some Enchanted Evening" (#13, 1965), "Sunday And Me" (#18, 1965, an early chart success for Neil Diamond as a songwriter), "Crying" (#25, 1966), "This Magic Moment" (#4, 1969, and a HUGE comeback hit for the group) and "Walkin' In The Rain" (#10, 1969.)
Black's gambling problems were infamous and he ran up such an incredible debt that it ultimately forced him out of the band. When appearing before a judge at his bankruptcy hearing in 2006, Jay said he had nothing of value that could possibly pay off all that he owed, to which the judge replied, "Yes you do ... your name."
Founding member Sandy Deanne quickly bought out Jay's rights to the use of the name for $100,000. However, one of the stipulations of the court hearing was that the band had to be able to represent the music and legacy of Jay and the Americans in a professional and accurate manner, to which Black argued, "Nobody can sing those songs like me."
And then in stepped Chicagoan John "Jay" Reincke, who had been performing Jay and the Americans songs in his stage act for thirty years ... and, in fact, had bid against Sandy Deanne for the rights to the name in order to become Jay #3.
Because The Truth In Music Act mandates that a band performing under this name has to have at least one of the original members onboard, Reincke pulled himself out of the bidding ... but then, after hearing Reincke sing a few of these tunes, Sandy did them one better and recruited the rest of the original members and, with Jay #3 now fronting the group, they have been performing together again ever since. (In fact, they're due to take off on the Malt Shop Memories Cruise in about ten days!)
Still, it is Jay Black who will always be associated with the sound and the success of Jay and the Americans. Today, we lost "The Voice" ... there was truly nothing else out there quite like him.
In a widely circulated "Then And Now" video, some might argue that Black sang the song better at age 72 than he did in his 20's! Both are knock-you-over performances. Thank you for some incredible memories ... that will outlive all of us. (kk)
In talking with a brand new Forgotten Hits Reader the
other day (welcome aboard, Nick!), I was telling him about some of the things
we’ve covered over the past 22 years of doing FH … so naturally, I brought up
our Year-Long Tribute to 1967.
It is, without question, the most ambitious piece we
ever did …
Recreating the entire year, 1967, day by day,
throughout 2017, its 50th anniversary. (OMG ... has it REALLY been four years already since this thing first ran?!?!)
Wanna relive 1967?
Much as the link we posted the other day to review
our list of THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL-TIME as
determined by you, the readers, the fans of Classic Rock Music, radio airplay,
iTunes downloads, etc., if you click this link:Forgotten
Hits: Forgotten Hits Salutes 1967 (forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com) … it’ll
get your journey thru 1967 started … and then, as you complete each daily entry
just click the “Newer Posts” link at the bottom to take you to the next day’s
chapter.(This also allows you the
opportunity to pause where necessary as there is just a WHOLE lotta information
here to digest!!!)
And, as if THAT wasn’t enough, we’ve also got a site
devoted to The Best Of The Rest, featuring all of your comments collected
during the course of this series, which ran as additional chapters, often by
email only.
We promised you a new
ABBA single on Friday … and now it’s Friday … so here it is!
First recorded in 1978
(and then revisited for release this past year), this is another great up-tempo tune
from Sweden’s Sweethearts, who rose to worldwide fame, earning fourteen Top 40
Hits here in The States between 1974 and 1982.I like it!(kk)
I have been holding tickets for over a year
for the Tommy James concert at The Arcada Theatre … and finally got to see one
of my faves on Sunday.
Well, it was worth the wait!
Tommy never disappoints, hit after hit!
I was fortunate to also see the sound check
before the official concert, thanks to a friend of a friend.He really cares about the music … time after
time, he stopped the rehearsal to advise the band members / sound man about the
tempo or the sound quality. He really cares about the music.
I wish there was more time for some
more hits like Out of the Blue, She, Gotta Get Back To You, Ball and Chain
and my favorite, Get Out Now. A bigger mystery is why 3 Times in Love, his big
comeback song, is never performed. I wonder why?
Talked to Ronnie Rice yesterday. Boy, I could
talk to him for hours. BOY, ARE WE FORTUNATE to have the BUCKS, the NC Six, the
SHAMES, the IDES and JIMY SOHNS ... all great performers and even better
people!!
Mike De Martino
Tommy James NEVER
disappoints in concert … he’s a class act and puts on one of the best shows out
there.
Over the years, we’ve
heard from many, many fans who have told us that the song they would MOST like
to hear Tommy perform is “She” … it’s one of my all-time favorites by him,
too.
I mentioned this to
Tommy’s manager a couple of years ago and she said she would pass the info
along to Tommy … it sure would make for an interesting surprise to hear that
one (and a few of the others you mentioned) again once in a while.
Still, when you’ve had
24 National Top 40 Hits, it’s hard to miss with any selection you choose to
perform … and that doesn’t even include hits like “Tighter, Tighter” and “Sugar
On Sunday” that he wrote and/or produced for other artists.Several of Tommy’s own hits have gone on to
become hits all over again when performed by other artists … so yes, if you
haven’t had the pleasure yet of seeing one of Tommy’s shows, do yourself a big
favor and get your tickets now.You will
not be disappointed.(Tommy returns to
the area on December 4th with a show at The Genesee Theatre.)kk
Billboard Magazine give
Stevie Wonder the spotlight treatment this week in their on-going Grammy
salute.(And who more deserving than Stevie
… who’s been nominated 74 times and taken home the statuette 25 of those
times!)
One of this year’s Black Friday Record Store Day releases will be a
live album featuring both performances by Big Brother and the Holding Company
(featuring Janis Joplin)’s performance at The Monterey Pop Festival.
As Harvey Kubernik tells us …
Big Brother
performed at the Monterey Pop festival on both Saturday, June 17th and Sunday,
June 18th, 1967.
Both sets are
included on this Record Store Day Black Friday release pressed on psychedelic
color vinyl in a high-gloss tip-on jacket. I had the pleasure of writing the
liner notes for this brand new release.
Side 1 (set one):
Down On Me / Combination Of The Two / Harry / Road Block / Ball and Chain Side 2 (set two): Combination of the Two / Harry
/ Ball and Chain
The Fest For Beatles Fans certainly gets this
analysis right …
This has been an amazing year of new releases for Beatles Fans.
From McCartney
III in late December of 2020, to Ringo's Zoom In EP, to
John's Plastic Ono Band,
to George's incredible All
Things Must Pass, to Ringo's Change
The World EP, to Let
It Be last week, to Paul's Lyrics Books, all leading up to the
Thanksgiving airing of the 6+ hours of Peter Jackson's The Beatles Get Back on
Disney + over three nights. YEAH YEAH YEAH!!
I’m not quite sure how you top this!!!(What kind of anniversaries are coming up
NEXT year??!)kk
Next week The Genesee Theatre celebrates with the Pop 2000
Show, featuring Chris Kirkpatrick of N*Sync, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray and
performances by Ryan Cabrera, OTown and LFO.
Still plenty of great seats are available for next Thursday’s
(October 28th) show.
There's
been some discussion lately about how some of the big stars have lost their
singing voices over the years - and I'd like to bring up the same topic
regarding some of our favorite DJs. Have you heard how rough John Landecker
sounds lately? Compare his voice to Kris Erik Stevens or Jeff Davis. It's
interesting how some keep their voices while others don't. And Tony Orlando -
who isn't famous as a DJ but is on WABC nonetheless - his voice is really
difficult to listen to.
Just
a couple of observations ...
David
Lewis
No doubt about it,
we’re all getting older … and when you make your living with your voice (as
both singers and deejays do), it certainly becomes a point of concern.(I know several artists who, WAY before
covid, refused to do Meet and Greets after concert appearances for fear of
catching something after hugging or shaking hands with a fan … they just
couldn’t risk getting a cold or throat infection and risking their whole
livelihood by being sidelined with some type of virus or infection.Others simply say “the more the merrier” … so
we say “to each his own … just do what you’re comfortable with.”
I still haven’t
listened to Tony’s show … but his singing voice is still very strong … we’ve
seen him a couple of times in the past few years and were always very satisfied
with his performance.(kk)
Check out this
incredible looking 12-LP set celebrating some of Quincy Jones’ best work, put
together by Vinyl Me Please.
While not exactly a
Greatest Hits collection by any means (the hits we know him for best aren’t
even part of this collection … maybe there’s more to come?), this is still a
great way to explore Quincy’s jazz roots and collaborations with Frank Sinatra
and Miles Davis.(And it’s just so darn
pretty!!!)kk
I learned from Diane
Diekman’s Country Newsletter this week that Clint Black and Lisa Hartman are still married – who knew?!?!
– and they’re going out on tour together – Wow!!!
Even MORE fun???They’re billing it as “The Hits … and The Mrs.” Tour!!!(lol) –
He’s 59 and she’s 65 … and apparently they’re still making
beautiful music together .. so how cool is THAT?!?!?(kk)
>>>I will tell you that I've sworn off
asparagus since the age of seven ... never cared for the taste ... and it makes
your pee smell funny!!!(kk)
I, too, have long sworn it off! At a
similarly young age, we had the name of that vegetable that shall not
be named, and I was convinced it was that that later in the
evening made me throw up!
So imagine how I CANNOT GET how anyone can eat
even "Roasted A-------s!"
CB ( which then stood for "upChuck
Boy!!" )
And another thing …
I never did like that
"Dawning of Aquarius" song!
And listening to it again, as I was capturing
the caption to your cartoon to be sure I was close to its "Name
Chorus" repetition, I really didn't like it!
Again!
To me, it's 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.
The fact that it comes
from the hit musical “Hair” probably adds to its street-cred … there are a lot
of show-tunes that have captured the hearts of America the way this one
did.(Keep in mind that “Hair” spawned
FOUR big hit singles … “Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In,” #1 for The Fifth
Dimension, “Hair,” #1 for The Cowsills, “Easy To Be Hard,” #1 for Three Dog
Night and “Good Morning Starshine,” #3 for Oliver.That’s one heck of a Broadway Soundtrack!(kk)
[Of course, I came for
the songs … and stayed for the nudity!]
A couple more things to
make you smile …
Can you believe the
Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone is celebrating its 60th
Anniversary??? (C’mon, what kid didn’t have one of these!!!)
And, to capitalize on
this special historic event, a REAL, wireless phone edition is being made
available in honor of the toy’s 60th Birthday!
From Me-TV:Since its
launch in 1961, the Chatter Telephone toy from Fisher-Price has become one of
the most iconic playthings the company has ever produced.
The colorful, friendly-faced phone has remained mostly unchanged
over the past six decades. The original wood base is gone but you can still buy
new versions with a rotary dial.
Because of its longevity, the phone pulls at the nostalgic
heartstrings of three different generations who all pretended to make important
calls with it as kids, sometimes well past the one to three-year-old age range
designated by Fisher-Price.
The company hopes to capitalize on this prolific nostalgia with
the launch of a special, real and working edition of the Chatter Telephone to
celebrate its 60th birthday. It can make and receive phone
calls and even has a speaker phone option.
Instead of a landline, it’s a wireless device that connects to
any cellphone via Bluetooth. It even has a rechargeable battery!
Luckily, the modern amenities stop there. It comes with a
working rotary dial and the only thing “mobile” about it is the wheels. In
fact, Fisher-Price touts it as “a phone smart enough not to come with any
apps.”
While you can pick up the toy version for ten dollars, this 60th anniversary
Bluetooth edition will set you back sixty bucks. It’s currently available for
preorder online from Best Buy. No
word yet on if the eyes wobble when you pull it.
Don’tcha just HAVE to have one????(kk)
Here’s a clip from the American Idol 2018 Finale,
sent in by FH Reader Tom Cuddy.(How can
you not feel good when an icon like Steve Perry shows up to hear you sing one
of his most famous songs?!?!)kk
I would guess Ringo might induct Todd so that the
BEATLES could have yet another tricky reuniting onstage?
Clark Besch
Now THAT would make for an awesome site
to see!!! (Now all of a sudden a $500
ticket doesn’t sound so bad!!! Lol) I
dunno … it could happen … Todd certainly has done his fair share of All-Starr
Review shows over the years! (And just
recently toured as part of the Tribute to The White Album show.) “Let It Be”
just hit the streets … and the “Get Back” six hour film is only a month away …
You just may be on to something
here! (kk)
Speaking of Todd …
Newly Inducted
Rock Hall Member TODD RUNDGREN Releases Neo-Funk Collaboration With THE ROOTS!
In early 2011, as Todd Rundgren was
promoting an upcoming tour, he stopped by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon for live
performances of two songs from his classic 1972 album Something/Anything,
“I Saw The Light” and “Couldn’t I Just Tell You.” Backing Rundgren for both
songs was Fallon’s long running house band, hip hop auteurs The Roots. The
appearance marked the beginning of a furtive cross-cultural, cross-generational
collaborative relationship born of mutual respect and admiration that would be
repeated again in 2017 when Rundgren sat in with The Roots on a taping of the
Fallon show. Now, these two musical giants reunite on a studio recording, a
track that will appear on Rundgren’s upcoming Space Force album
coming next year. The new single, “Godiva Girl,” is a delectable slice of
neo-funk sweetness with a stellar, soulful groove, decorated with warm
keyboards and smooth as silk background vocals. It’s the kind of rich musical
confection that fans of both Rundgren and The Roots knew these two could cook
up together, and it’s so been worth the wait.
Randy Bachman has been reunited with his lost guitar after 45
years
Talk about your
collectibles …
A vintage, 1971
original Grateful Dead T-Shirt just sold for $17,640 at a Sotheby’s Auction
last week. (I hope they washed it
first!!!) kk
Sent in by Frank B …
60 years ago today (October 17th), Mick Jagger and
Keith Richards meet each other again by chance on Dartford railway station in
Kent, England, on the way to their respective colleges and discover their
mutual taste for rock and roll. They
decide to form a band together.
Dion’s new album, “Stomping Grounds,” has been pushed back a couple
of weeks to November 19th.
His last two blues albums have topped the charts in this category and
have featured a wide array of special guest stars chiming in … and “Stomping
Grounds is no exception.”
We’ve already featured the three pre-release tracks offered up by
the label (including guest appearances by Joe Bonamassa, Boz Scaggs, Bruce
Springsteen and Patti Scialfa.)
Here is the complete track list once again:
1. Take It Back with Joe Bonamassa
2. Hey Diddle Diddle with G.E. Smith
3. Dancing Girl with Mark Knopfler
4. If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll with Eric
Clapton
5. There Was A Time with Peter
Frampton
6. Cryin’ Shame with Sonny
Landreth
7. The Night Is Young with Joe
Menza & Wayne Hood
8. That's What The Doctor Said with
Steve Conn
9. My Stomping Ground with Billy
Gibbons
10. Angel In The Alleyways with
Patti Scialfa & Bruce Springsteen
11. I've Got To Get To You with Boz
Scaggs & Joe and Mike Menza
12. Red House with Keb' Mo'
13. I Got My Eyes On You Baby with
Marcia Ball & Jimmy Vivino
14. I've Been Watching with Rickie
Lee Jones & Wayne Hood
From Blues to Doo Wop …
Kent:
Here’s a
sign that things are slowly getting back to normal.
New York’s
long running Doo Wop Weekend is coming back, after being cancelled last
year. Previously, fans from all over the northeast would travel to this
event. In years gone by I even met fans who flew in for the two days of
shows from Phoenix and Los Angeles.
Below is
this year’s line-up.
-Tom Cuddy
LAR
Enterprises Presents Doo-Wop Weekend
A Weekend With The Stars
of Doo-Wop & Rock n Roll
APRIL 23 & 24, 2022
WE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE
PRESENTING DOO-WOP WEEKEND AT HALF HOLLOW HILLS EAST HIGH SCHOOL APRIL 23 &
24 2022.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT
HAVE KEPT THEIR TICKETS FROM THE 2020 POSTPONED SHOW, YOUR TICKETS ARE VALID
AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO A THING. AS PROMISED, ANYONE WHO KEPT THEIR TICKETS
AND WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO A NEW OPEN LOCATION PLEASE CALL 631-587-3565. PLEASE
LEAVE YOUR NAME AND YOUR NUMBER. WE WILL CALL YOU BACK IN THE ORDER I RECEIVED
YOUR CALL.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE CONCERT/S, THE ONLINE BOX OFFICE WILL BE OPEN ON
OCTOBER 7 AT 11 AM WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ALL THE PERFORMERS.
WE ALSO MADE SOME CHANGES
STARTING WITH THE TWO LARGE LOBBIES:
WE WILL MOVE THE REFRESHMENTS TO THE FIRST BIG LOBBY AND THE
PERFORMERS MEET & GREET TABLES TO THE SECOND LOBBY. THIS WILL HELP
ALLEVIATE OVER CROWDING IN BOTH AREAS.
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW
STARTING TIME FOR SATURDAY’S CONCERT IS 4 PM. SATURDAY’S DOORS WILL OPEN AT 3 PM.
SUNDAY'S STARTING TIME REMAINS THE SAME AT 3 PM.
FOR YOUR SAFETY AND PEACE
OF MIND, WE WILL FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PROTOCOLS THAT ARE REQUIRED THE DAY OF THE
CONCERTS.
LAR Enterprises Presents
Doo-Wop Weekend
A Weekend With The Stars
of Doo-Wop & Rock n Roll
Saturday, April 23, 2022 --
4 PM -- DOORS OPEN AT 3 PM
Herb Reed’s Platters----------------------------------------------------------------Only
You
Harold Winley’s
Clovers--------------------------------------------Love Potion Number 9
The
Flamingos---------------------------------------------------I Only Have Eyes
For You
Jimmy
Clanton----------------------------------------------------------Venus in Blue
Jeans
The
Demensions-------------------------------=------------------------Over The
Rainbow
Norman Fox & The Rob
Roys--------------------------------------------------Tell Me Why
Tony Middleton & The
Willows------------------------------------Church Bells May Ring
Robin
Luke-----------------------------------------------------------------------Susie
Darlin’
Jimmy Gallagher, Original
Lead Singer of The Passions---------Just To Be With You
Cleveland Still & The
Dubs-------------------------------------------Could This Be Magic
The
Fireflies------------------------------------------------------------------You
Were Mine
Chuck Girard Orig. Lead
singer of The Castells---------------So This Is Love/Sacred
Tony
Passa--------------------------------------------------------------------Oh
Rosemarie
Acappella By The Classic
Sounds
Sunday April 24 -- 3 PM --
DOORS OPEN AT 2 PM
Jay Siegel’s Tokens----------------------------------------------The
Lion Sleeps Tonight
Ronnie
Dove--------------------------------------------------------------------------Say
You
Brian
Hyland-------------------------------------------------------------Sealed With
A Kiss
Chris
Montez----------------------------------------------------------------------Lets
Dance
Kathy
Young--------------------------------------------------------------A Thousand
Stars
The
Capris----------------------------------------------------There’s A Moon Out
Tonight
Larry Chance & The
Earls----------------------------------------------------------I Believe
LA LA Brooks Original
Lead Singer of The Crystals-------------------Da Doo Ron Ron
John Kuse & The
Excellents--------------------------------------------Coney Island Baby
Charlie
Gracie-------------------------------------------------------------------------Butterfly
The
Eternals----------------------------------------------------------Babalu's
Wedding Day
Little Peggy March---------------------------------------------------------I
Will Follow Him
The
Mystics--------------------------------------------------------------------------Hushabye
Dickie
Lee-------------------------------------------------------------I Saw Linda
Yesterday
Joey Dee---------------------------------------------------------------The
Peppermint Twist
Half Hollow Hills East
HS
Tickets
$65 Orchestra Rows A-T -- Per Show
50 Vanderbilt
Parkway
$55 Orchestra Rows U-Z -----------Per Show
Dix Hills NY
11746
$45 Balcony--------------------------Per Show
Please Note: Just a
reminder that purchasing Balcony Tickets requires being able to walk up two
staircases and there are no Restroom Facilities on the Balcony Level
To order your tickets on
line 7 DAYS A WEEK, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW to pick your new seats, print out
your tickets and you will be all set. You can also go to www.larentr.com home
page (online only) and purchase you tickets as well OR
https://www.showclix.com/event/saturday-doowop-weekend-2020pwxdqfx https://www.showclix.com/event/sunday-doowop-weekend-2020ucwihzk
OR you can call
1-888-718-4253 (OPTION 1) M-F, 9 AM – 9 PM or Saturday & Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm
EST STANDARD TIME. After you have completed your purchase, don’t forget to
print out your tickets and bring them to the concert/s . At the end of the
phone sale an email address is required for you to print your tickets. Copies
of tickets will NOT be accepted.
Some Acts may not contain
all original members.
Rock Legends Sweet Release New
Single “Everything (2021)”
Sweet (Featuring Andy Scott,
original guitarist / songwriter of “Fox On The Run” and “Love Is Like Oxygen”)
have released their new single, “Everything (2021).”
“Everything” originally appeared on
Sweet’s 2002 album “Sweetlife” … however, the band’s founding member and
guitarist Andy Scott was inspired to re-record it after witnessing the new
incarnation of his band rehearse the track live.
Andy explains, “During the
rehearsals for Sweet’s forthcoming UK tour 2021, we were trying out various
songs from our back catalogue that could be added to the set list. As soon as I
heard Paul Manzi and Lee Small’s vocals on the song ‘Everything,’ I knew that
we needed to get it down and record it as our new single.”
Commenting on the
brand new recording, “Everything 2021,” Andy Scott adds, “I think the new
version is a far superior production. It’s much closer to how I envisaged it
when I co-wrote the song back in the day.”
Sweet’s “Everything
(2021)” was released as a single Friday, 15th October, and is available on all
the usual platforms: iTunes / Amazon
Music / Deezer / Spotify, etc.
Andy Scott is the only
surviving member of the ‘classic’ Sweet line-up following the death of former
bassist and founding member Steve Priest in 2020 aged 72. Brian Connolly and
Mick Tucker passed away in 1997 and 2002 respectively.
The three cancelled Genesis shows
scheduled for London have been rescheduled for March of 2022, leaving us a bit
surprised.
Seems like all we’ve heard about is how much pain Phil Collins is in … and how he’ll never undertake another tour …
and let's face it, it’s kinda hard to measure how much “fun” the guys may be having this early along
on the tour (they don’t hit the US until November 15th when they
perform here in Chicago), especially after being sidelined by a couple of tour
members contracting Covid-19 … but if they’re going to regroup to make up these
three London shows, does that mean that they may even add more dates to their
agenda? Only time will tell. (Oh no, wait … that’s Asia.) kk
Meanwhile, Rod Stewart has just inked a
deal to appear in his 11th year of Las Vegas residency, performing
at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for two stretches in 2022.
Tickets will be going on sale for shows
scheduled for May 13th, 14th, 18th, 20th and 21st as well as shows
scheduled for September 23rd, 24th, 28th, 30th and October 1st. They’re billing it as “Rod Stewart: The Hits”
and the announcement comes on the heels of the upcoming release of his new
album “The Tears Of Hercules,” which hits streets November 12th. (kk)
And, from Chuck Buell, another "origins" feature ...
(In what can only fall under the TMI category, I will tell you that I've sworn off asparagus since the age of seven ... never cared for the taste ... and it makes your pee smell funny!!!) kk
I’m so excited about all this new January, 1969 stuff, yet I
have to say that it all pales in comparison to the ’63 – ‘67 era recordings.
The talk about The Beatles vs. The Stones has
been going on so long, it bores me.
It DID make me think about the recent
"Wonder Years" episode, however, where the main character was trading
baseball cards with his friends.
WHAT A FARCE!
IF five kids were sitting and ONLY trading
baseball cards in 1968, THOSE KIDS knew who the players were and which were
stars. You did NOT trade cards like that in 1968 without being
knowledgeable about them. If you knew nothing about the players, you did
NOT waste five cents on a pack of baseball cards when you could have the run of
pixi sticks, gum, wax lips, fake Roger McGuinn rose colored glasses (I had all
those AND was a card lover) and numerous other items you could spend your money
on.
Trades he made:
Hank Aaron for Jim Fergosi and Bill Freeman
Carl Yaz for Bert Campinaris
and he took a Willie Mays off a kid DESPITE it
being autographed.
C'mon, writers. The Wonder Years is fun
to remember the times, but I NEVER knew ANYONE who liked baseball cards be that
stupid. Personally, I traded with my three brothers and usually, it was two
older season cards for a newer season one with player names being important.
Usually, the lousy players went into bicycle spokes.
Sad Wonder Years writing piece this time.
Clark Besch
I always figured it was Yoko
and Linda that broke up the Beatles. Most of the bands I've been in were
broken up by wives or girlfriends.
Ed #1
Part of this is growing
up and evolving interests.You can put
100% of your heart and soul into the band and sometimes when you do, you
actually make it.It’s SUSTAINING that
level of intensity that presents the greatest challenge! At some point, you also have to go on and live your life.(kk)
kk …
I was watching a clip of John & Yoko -- co-hosting
The Mike Douglas Show.
He denied the fact that Yoko broke up the Beatles.
BUT -- if she did, shouldn't she get credit
for all four solo careers?
As for THE ROLLING STONES, I think they've hit
the perfect formula.
For a few years you don't hear much about
them.
Next thing you know, they're announcing
another tour.
After the tour is over, they separate before
getting on each others’ nerves.
It’s kind of like being broke up, without
really breaking up, f you know what I mean.
FB
I’ve long wondered how
long The Beatles might have lasted had they just taken the occasional break to
work on a solo project … and then only get back together when they were all
gung-ho on doing something new.
Today we take that
concept for granted … Phil Collins doing a solo album and then a new one and a
tour with Genesis … and several others along the way once things became a big
more flexible.
(I guess the other idea
would be to have just kept releasing 2-LP sets, with each Beatle taking a side
for their solo stuff.The others could
act as back-up musicians until it was their turn to take the spotlight.Or, as George did, they could bring in a
special guest like Eric Clapton or Billy Preston and improve the greater
good.)kk
Hi Kent,
I loved the Stones VS Beatles debate this morning.
I
thought you both did a great job.Nobody
lost the fight. <grin>
I have
learned to appreciate a lot of Stones music that I didn’t like when it first
came out.
I
generally liked the hits but to this day, I have very few Stones albums. I
can’t deny their legacy though. I did go see them on the Steel Wheels tour and
loved the show.
If I had
to pick between the two bands, I’d pick The Beatles, of course, but the Stones
have really made their mark as well.
Bill
Other than their Greatest Hits collections, I was never much of one for buying Rolling Stones albums when I was
growing up.
The first Stones album I ever owned was “Goats Head Soup” … and
that’s only because I won a copy in a newspaper contest!But I have to admit, I liked it and listened
to it again as recently as a week ago.
I’ve since bought the complete collection … and discovered a few
new surprises along the way.Let’s face
it, The Rolling Stones have always been well-represented on the radio … and
it’s pretty obvious as to which songs were likeliest to be the hits … but
they’ve got some great album tracks as well.I probably need to get a bit deeper into their catalog in order to
appreciate it better.
But like I said previously, there is VERY little “filler” on a Beatles
album.Nearly every track got airplay,
especially early on, when many album tracks were played as though they were
singles, making them all that much more familiar to anybody out there who
didn’t already have the LP at home, sitting on the turntable!
Song for song, style for style, it’s The Beatles for me hands
down.Their creativity is unmatched …
and to see the group develop as quickly as they did in such a brief period of
time … they went from “She Loves You” to “Sgt. Pepper” in just four years!The sophisticated McCartney ballads like
“Here, There And Everywhere” and “Eleanor Rigby” and even the over-played
“Yesterday” and “Michelle” were unmatched … and have become integral parts of
the ‘60’s musical landscape.(The fact
that this same guy could then go off and write “Martha My Dear” for his dog …
or “Rocky Raccoon” and “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road,” all for the White
Album … and then bounce back with “Let It Be” and “The Long And Winding Road”
for the grand finale just a few months later … not to mention the Side Two “Abbey Road” medley … there
just wasn’t ANYBODY else out there doing this caliper of work.)Did this make them “soft” … or just more
versatile?
John could make a political point with a screamer like “Revolution”
… while Mick preferred singing “Starfucker, Starfucker, Starfucker, Starfucker,
Star” … most likely just to prove that he could get away with it!!!
Maybe someday I’ll be inspired enough to put together a list of The
Top 200 Beatles and Rolling Stones songs, based on their lasting legacy.(That means some of George’s tunes like “Here
Comes The Sun” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” will leap to the top of the
list.)
Or, you can simply look at the 196 Stones / Beatles tracks that made
our Top 3333 Most Essential Classic Rock Songs Of All-Time List and get a
pretty good feel for how they’d fall ... and that ranking is the result of YOUR votes ... nearly a million in all ... to determine the absolute best.(kk)
(Start here and then just scroll forward by hitting the “Newer
Posts” link at the bottom of each page … this will take you thru the entire
countdown IN ORDER … all the way to #1.
The Rolling Stones have NINE songs in The Top 100, The Beatles have
eight … but SIX of those nine Stones songs also made The Top 40, lending even more
credence to the fact that they are The World’s Greatest Rock And Roll
Band. Can’t they just SHARE the title
then by declaring The Beatles The World’s Recording Greatest Band???) kk
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction
Ceremony is finally here.
Festivities will take place in Cleveland next Saturday, October 30th … and the presenters list, for the most part,
has been finalized (although The Rock Hall still promises more surprises.)AND, incredibly, there are still tickets
available for this event.
Tom Cuddy
sent us this announcement from Premiere Radio Networks:
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has
taken the wrap off this year's initial list of presenters and performers for
the 36th annual Induction Ceremony on October 30th at the Rocket Mortgage
Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
Paul
McCartney will induct his buddy Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters. This
marks the fourth time McCartney is doing the honors for a fellow artist. The
other three were John
Lennon in 1994, James Taylor in 2000 and Ringo Starr in
2015.
Actress Angela Bassett will
induct Tina Turner with
performances by Christina
Aguilera, Mickey
Guyton, H.E.R. and Bryan Adams. Tina will
not be attending the ceremony. Angela portrayed Tina in the 1993 bio-pic, What's Love Got to Do With It.
Taylor
Swift will induct Carole
King and perform some of her songs with Jennifer Hudson.
Actress Drew Barrymore will
induct The Go-Go’s.
Lionel
Richie will present the Ahmet Ertegun Award to music
executive, entrepreneur and film producer Clarence Avant, who's
often called "The Black Godfather."
No word yet on who will speak on
behalf of Jay-Z, Todd Rundgren and Kraftwerk (Are
you available Kent?!)
The ceremony will air on HBO and HBO
Max on November 20th.
The idea
of $50 tickets is kind of a misnomer … expect to pay more in the vicinity of
$250 - $600 for a seat … but what a “Once In A Lifetime” event this would be to
see, especially with the All-Star Jam Session that wraps up each ceremony.(You’ve got to expect everyone listed above
to get up on stage and jam, right???)
Of
course, MOST of us will watch it at home on our television sets on November 20th
(or on one of the countless reruns that will air during the next 30 days.)Still, this isn’t a bad class overall.(kk)
>>>Although I have a really hard time
believing that a mobile bachelorette party, packed with young, beautiful women
partying hard and out for a good time would so willingly welcome an 80 year old
stranger onboard to join in. If anything, I’d expect the reaction to be
one more of “Get out of here, you creepy old man!” ... and perhaps even a call
to the police! Lol (kk)
You're
just out of touch with today's young people.
Kesha
kicks guys to the curb "unless they look like Mick Jagger."
Adam
Levine of Maroon 5 tries to impress girls by telling them he has "Moves
Like Jagger."
Kanye
West claims to have "Swagger like Jagger" …
and
Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas says "These girls ... callin' me Mick
Jagger."
They
wish.
Ed
#1
We told you that Elton
John hit Billboard’s Top 40 this week with his duet with Dua Lipa (“Cold
Heart”) … but he has now also hit the #1 spot on the UK Chart (after sitting at
#2 for the past three consecutive weeks), earning Elton his first UK #1 in 16 years.(What was his 2005 #1 Hit, you may ask?I certainly did!Well, it was another duet, this time with
2Pac on something called “Ghetto Gospel.”)
Looking at the list of
#1 Hits for that year, there are some pretty amazing entries hitting the top of
the British charts …
For example, Elvis
Presley had THREE #1 Hits that years, thanks to reissues of “Jailhouse Rock,”
“One Night” and “It’s Now Or Never”!!!
The biggest #1 Hit of
2005 was “(Is This The Way To) Amarillo” by Tony Christie (featuring Peter
Kay.)
For a complete list of EVERY #1 British Hit, dating back to 1952 and running right up thru this week, be sure to check out THIS link ...
>>>“Cold Heart” incorporates three of
Elton’s solo hits (“Sacrifice,” “Rocket Man” and “Kiss The Bride,” all Top 40
Hits in their own right, plus “Where’s The Shoorah,” from his album “Blue
Moves.”) Amazingly, it all works into a pretty good mash-up … in fact,
it’s really not a bad track at all!(kk)
Elton
John and Dua Lipa ... two of my favorite entertainers.
I'm
not into mash-ups myself, but your assessment is on target … "really not a
bad track at all."
I
was wondering if Elton and Dua collaborated on any actual songs and ... my lips
to God's ears ... there exist two duet videos: Elton John's "Bennie And
The Jets" and Dua Lipa's recent hit "Love Again."
Dua
Lipa should do a remix of "Love Again" with Elton John. A few
artists have done that lately and it has netted them Hot 100 #1's.
Ed
#1
To Infinity and Beyond …
With William Shatner back safely from space,
next up is rumored to be Forgotten Hits DJs Chuck Buell, Phil Nee and Larry
Neal! Not sure you guys will get a seat, because I doubt any of you can
beat 90 years old, can you?
SpaceX announcers let the secret out first and
then Jimmy Kimmel ran with the leaked story! Check out :50 into this
clip!
As the late, great Art Roberts would say ... "Excelsior!"
Clark Besch
Kent –
Great news about ABBA’s return –
Been a long time since “Dancing Queen”
Ron Riley
Their “comeback” album
hits the streets on November 5th.(I’ve had my copy pre-ordered since it was first announced!)
It has also just been
announced that a brand new track from the LP will be released this Friday
(October 22nd)The track is
called “Just A Notion” and was actually recorded back in 1978, but never
released
Wish I could see the
new avatar show … but a trip to London to do so just isn’t in the cards for
me!(Maybe when it finally hits
Chicago!)kk
Tutt was Elvis
Presley’s Drummer from 1969 till The King’s death in 1977 as a member of the
TCB Band.As soon as Elvis went back to
doing live shows (first in Vegas and then on tour), Tutt was the backbeat of
the band.Sad to hear of his passing.(kk)
I just had to write this.
Honored to have seen Ron and Elvis a half a
dozen times.
HK
Ron Tutt
(March 12, 1938-October 16, 2021)
By Harvey Kubernik Copyright 2021
I was sad to learn of the physical passing of
Elvis Presley's TCB band drummer Ron Tutt at age 83.Tutt also played on live dates and recordings
with Neil Diamond, Jerry Garcia and Elvis Costello.
Tutt joined Presley's TCB (Takin' Care of
Business) band for Presley's 1969 Las Vegas debut at the International Hotel
and remained with Presley until Elvis' untimely death.Decades ago, I interviewed the legendary drummer/percussionist
Hal Blaine. He recalled one of his encounters with Elvis about the coveted tour
drum seat.
Blaine had already held the rhythm seat behind
Presley on “Can’t Help Falling In Love With You,” “Return to Sender,” and
“Bossa Nova Baby.”
“Before these Elvis dates, I was on recordings
by Nancy and Frank Sinatra,” Hal reminisced in 2008. “I was doing a job in the
studio. We used to say: TTMAR. Take the money and run. Nobody knew how
long it would last. Elvis went to Las Vegas and came backstage when I was there
with Nancy Sinatra at Caesar’s Palace. ‘Hey, Hal. You gonna come and work
across the street [the International Hotel] with me?’ He expected me to join
him for his debut and be part of that band, but it was impossible. I had two
much session work.”
Earlier this century I interviewed Jerry
Schilling, Presley’s best friend and confident. I asked him about how Ron Tutt
got the gig.
“After The ‘68 Elvis Presley Comeback
Special television broadcast, Elvis was a happy person like he should
have been. He decided to put a band together and do a month at the International
Hotel in Las Vegas. I became involved in what was happening around him, even
though I wasn’t working for him. Colonel Parker is never there for rehearsals
or recordings.
“I watched a guy put a rock ‘n’ roll band
together. That’s what he does. He started by picking James Burton. That’s where
Elvis was a genius. That’s where he was the most underrated producer in musical
history. Whether it be in the studio or putting the band together. Whether it
was ‘I hear voices here,’ ‘play this line here.’ The guy was a great producer.
“The ’68 special inspired him,
but he was doing what he had not been able to do for years. He was doing his
thing and he was doing it being able to choose the people he was able to do it
with. Being able to choose what songs and not being told what has to be in the
soundtrack. What he had to wear. He was out of prison, man.
“I remember being at Elvis’ house with a list
that Joe [Esposito], maybe Charlie Hodge a little bit, ‘here’s some of the
musicians that people are suggesting.’ What do you think of this, this and
this? Elvis pretty much picked and chose. He knew who James Burton was.
He knew who Ronnie (Tutt) was.
“Ronnie was the guy who did what D.J.
[Fontana] had come in and done. He could accentuate Elvis’ moves, but more importantly,
when there were bigger name drummers in the audition, like Hal Blaine.
“I remember what Elvis told me and Joe. He
would come over and we both thought he was gonna go for Hal Blaine. It was the
obvious choice. And he said, ‘watch this guy (Ronnie).’ Elvis came over and he
said, ‘I need one guy on stage that has my temperament. Ronnie Tutt.’
That’s why Ronnie Tutt has the job.”
My
wife likes to watch Hallmark channel movies and loves it when I join her. Last night’s long awaited Signed, Sealed, and
Delivered movie featured the wedding between the lead characters and a '71
classic song.
In
one of the last scenes, Never My Love by the 5th Dimension was the song that
was used as she made it clear to him that she would never leave.They used most of the song. It was a
surprise and great to hear Marilyn's beautiful voice.
Phil
– WRCO
Kent,
I saw for the first time today a 30 second
commercial on television during the football games advertising the product
"Fruit of the Loom."I noticed
in the background the song LA-LA-LA-LA-LA. I am sure this was the same song
that came out in 1964 by a group known as the Blendells on Rampart and/or
Reprise records. Have you seen this commercial yet? Don't really know how long
it's been running. Again, the question is, "who determines these odd and
obscure songs" used in background of commercials?
Larry
Another pretty obscure
one for sure … #62 in Billboard in 1964.(kk)
New book …
Finding Fretless: The story of George Harrison’s mad guitar
The remarkable story of George Harrison’s prototype ‘mad’ guitar and the
search for Jimi Hendrix’s and Frank Zappa.
“Paul
has done an amazing bit of detective work for Finding Fretless, it would put
Poirot to shame.” Fiona Bruce – BBC Antiques Roadshow.
“This
is an incredibly rare Beatles guitar with an enviable history, which turns out
to be one of the most valuable items ever seen … valued at £300,000 – £400,000
by Jon Baddeley”.
Finding Fretless tells the
remarkable tale of the discovery and rich history of an invaluable late-1960s
fretless electric guitar, one fondly remembered by George Harrison as the ‘Mad’
guitar.
The prototype fretless model was
gifted to the Beatles legend by Hollywood session player and music shop owner
Al Casey, whose wife Maxine took it to Blue Jay Way in the Hollywood Hills of
Los Angeles while Harrison was staying there in 1967.
Returning to the UK with his new
acquisition, it was used by Harrison and John Lennon on sessions for ‘Happiness
is a Warm Gun’ and ‘Helter Skelter’ as the legendary Liverpool outfit recorded
classic 1968 double-album The
Beatles, aka The
White Album.
Guitar experts and aficionados
were previously unaware of the prototype’s important part in Beatles mythology,
its history a mystery until 2019, after UK session guitarist Ray Russell asked,
‘Who knows anything about this guitar George Harrison gave me in 1985?’
Finding Fretless sees author Paul
Brett amend the history books, piecing together the jigsaw to tell the full
story of the prototype Bartell alongside that of one of the forgotten founding
fathers of the electric guitar, master luthier Paul Barth.
Within, Brett’s extensive
research is supported by leading academics and established authors and personal
memories of top session players who worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra,
Elvis Presley and The Beach Boys, Finding
Fretless including forewords from two highly-regarded
guitarists intrinsically linked to the tale – London session player, producer
and composer Ray Russell, and American producer, sideman and session player
Richard Bennett.
In a compelling story, Brett also
shines light on the incredible history of Bartell and a seminal period in
California that influenced musicians on both sides of the Atlantic.
Finding Fretless also brings in
the guitar’s associations with Charles Manson’s infamous murderous cult, a
million-dollar lawsuit, fire, frying pans, drunken fistfights, corporate
shenanigans, Elvis, The Wrecking Crew, and much more.
And those interviewed include
descendants of Bartell company presidents and surviving employees, Brett also
revealing previously-untold memories of some of the most influential creators
in the development of the electric guitar, including Barth, Beauchamp,
Rickenbacker, Fender, and the Dopyera brothers.
Price $24.99 Paperback
Publication date: October 26, 2021 - 190 Pages full colour
