Saturday, December 11, 2021

More of the Monkees

As you can imagine, the sudden and unexpected death of Michael Nesmith yesterday threw any number of plans sideways last night as I scrambled to get something of substance posted before bedtime.

We expect to see many more comments in the days to come ... but wanted to get some of this posted yet this afternoon so fans still have enough advance notice to see it.

For starters, Me-TV will be offering a 4-episode Monkees block tomorrow (Sunday, December 12th) as a tribute to the late Mike Nesmith, who passed away on Friday at the age of 78.  (How cool that three of those four episodes are the ones I mentioned in my memoriam piece Friday night!  I still love the episode when Michael takes on The Devil in a court of law to prove that Peter could play the harp on his own … but that probably is more of a Petercentric episode in the long run.)

More details below as to when to tune in.  (kk)

R.I.P. Michael Nesmith of the Monkees 

The singer-guitarist was 78. Watch a special tribute to Nesmith with four episodes of The Monkees this Sunday at 2P | 1C. The episodes include "I Have a Little Song Here," "Monkee Mayor," "The Monkees in Texas," and Nesmith's personal favorite episode, "Fairy Tale."


R.I.P. Michael Nesmith of the Monkees (metv.com)

Then, next weekend (beginning at Noon Eastern on Saturday, December 18th) The Decades Channel will run EVERY episode of The Monkees television series ... all 58 of them ... straight through 6 am on Monday, December 20th.

You can check the schedule here to find your favorite episodes.  (kk)

Schedule (decades.com)

Much as I suspected, Michael Nesmith was determined to finish The Monkees’ Farewell Tour no matter what … one final, last harrah.

Micky Dolenz told Rolling Stone Magazine:

Despite his condition, you could never, never have talked him out of the tour.  We had every opportunity to stop the tour. You don’t need any excuses these days. We had the option all the time to cancel dates, and we did cancel a couple for various reasons. We could have canceled more, but he was absolutely determined to finish that tour.

The last show of the tour is pretty much a blur to me.  Our last conversation probably took place that night, but I don’t recall it specifically. We did hug that night on the stage. And the whole tour was very emotional for me. I knew it was pretty unlikely that, for whatever reason, we’d ever be doing this again. That was both our attitudes for us. We went out with flair.

I don’t really see myself as the last Monkee, but it’s the end of an era. That’s for sure.  That’s what happens. None of us are going to get out of this alive.

--Micky Dolenz

We’ve said many times before over the years that The Monkees are very fortunate as being “frozen in time” … because they have never really been off the air since their TV show first debuted in September of 1966, every generation to come along since has discovered the crazy antics and the incredible catalog of hits.  Their music continues to sell and is well-represented on oldies radio.  When Michael Nesmith died last Friday (just three weeks shy of his 79th birthday … a birthday he shared with former bandmate Davy Jones, who we lost in 2012) and Peter Tork passed in 2019 (almost seven years to the day of Jones’ passing), it left only Micky Dolenz as a surviving member of the group.  (Micky has been the long-standing voice of the group, and always seems to have been working, either in conjunction with some combination of the other three or as a very successful solo act.  He already has a 2022 tour planned with former Rascal Felix Cavaliere.)

Still, this loss really hits home with me.  It was The Monkees that made me want to play music.  By the time they came along, the music of The Beatles had changed, becoming more sophisticated and studio oriented.  In fact (although we didn’t know it at the time), The Beatles played their last live show just three weeks before The Monkees premiered on television.  It was a lot easier for me as a 13 year old to relate to the happy and catchy tunes of The Pre-Fab Four at the time than it was to try and follow along the new mystic ways of the band that inspired them.  (C’mon … The Beatles were growing mustaches for God’s sake!!!)

So yes, the closing of the gap affected me greatly with the passing of Nez.

I’ve been listening to Monkees music ever since.  (And by that I mean even more so than I used to!)  I wore those first four albums out in 1967!  (And I can’t tell you how many copies … or how many configurations … I’ve gone thru since!)

Thank you all for the music you gave us … it totally shaped my life in my all-time favorite year in music.  (kk)

You can relive 1967, day by day, in our Forgotten Hits tribute here:

FORGOTTEN HITS: December 30th (forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com)

[Just continue to click the NEWER POST link at the bottom of each page and it will take you, day by day, thru our 1967 tribute]

Thanks for your piece on Michael Nesmith ... I loved reading your words!

David Salidor

I ran into a neighbor this morning with whom I often have music conversations. He was 11 when The Monkees TV show premiered in 1966. When I mentioned Mike Nesmith's passing, he asked me who that was. When I told him, the first thing out of his mouth was "Oh, I never paid them much attention, they were just actors who didn't play their own instruments." What do you do with people like that? Besides send them a link to Forgotten Hits, which I did just now.

If a musical act is judged by the number of smiles it's put on my face, then The Monkees rank as Number One. Their music is only "bad" (as that 1967 article reports Mike saying) if one doesn't have an ear for melody, harmony, hooks, and first-rate production and instrumentation. Throw in some pretty deft wordplay and (especially in Mike's case when he took songwriting duties) --profundity--and you've got first rate material on those first five albums. 

I don't love ALL of Nesmith's post-Monkee material, but there is much to appreciate there and I loved showcasing The First National Band when I had my radio show.

Kent, your last paragraph before "We love you" summed up my feelings beautifully so I won't repeat your wonderful words except to say thank you.

Now when do we talk about that Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony???

Best,

Sam Tallerico

lostoldies@yahoo.com


Another VERY timely mention ...

(Unfortunately, it may already have aired by the time you see this ... but we're running it anyway just in case)


Chuck Buell here on a Big Football Game and a Big Forgotten Hit.

 

Creedence Clearwater Revival founder and Army Veteran, John Fogerty, will play his song, "Fortunate Son," with the U.S. Army's Six-String Soldiers band as part of "Songs of Service," a 30-minute TV Musical Special scheduled to air on select CBS stations TODAY, after the Army-Navy football game.


U.S. Army Photo of John Fogerty in 1967

            prior to his becoming a supply clerk.


As Forgotten Hitters know, the song became an anthem for young men who didn't have the class or educational background that allowed them to skip military service during the Vietnam War era. Interestingly, because Fogerty was a bit “pissed off” about that situation, he became inspired one day to write "Fortunate Son," which he completed in about twenty minutes.  


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KYRF8vMsJ8


The special is confirmed to air in the New York City and Philadelphia CBS stations. If you live elsewhere, check your local listings. You also can watch the show on the “We Are The Mighty” YouTube Channel.

 

CB ( which stands for “Creedence Boy!” )

Friday, December 10, 2021

Saying Goodbye to Nez

The news was heartbreaking ... but certainly not a surprise ...

Other than it coming so fast after the conclusion of their Farewell Tour

(which sadly takes on a whole new meaning now within the context of Michael Nesmith's passing)

He did not look well when we saw him here in Chicago this past November ... frail and fragile ... yet still the consummate entertainer when it came to giving the fans what they wanted (and mustering up the effort to do so.)

The Mike Nesmith catalog within The Monkees was significant ... especially when one considers that the entire concept was a manufactured image, tailor made to succeed with an audience of teenage girls and perfectly crafted pop songs that would appeal to millions ... which, of course, they did.

And because every album by the band included at least a couple of Nez-tunes, he reaped HUGE benefits in the way of songwriting royalties when these records sold well into the millions of copies.  (The fact that he also inherited millions more when his mother, the inventor of Liquid Paper, passed away only sweetened the pot.)  Suffice to say that after The Monkees split up and Michael Nesmith ran his personal course fronting his own First National Band, there was more than enough money leftover to create movies and experimental (and very successful) video projects like "Elephant Parts" and (later) "Television Parts."  Books and music anthologies continued ... and while Michael sat out most of The Monkees reunions that at other times brought together his former bandmates Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork, he was still able to lead an influential and high profile life outside the public eye.  (Michael developed his own music video production company, years before MTV launched to concept.  Through his company The Video Ranch, Nesmith developed "Pop Clips," later selling the intellectual property to Time Warner, who then used the concept to develop and launch MTV.)  His own videos were very inventive ... but he also produced clips for many other artists, including country stars Roseanne Cash and Jim Stafford.  Many of these clips ran on his short-lived (but excellent) television series, "Television Parts."

Some of the material he contributed was given to Micky Dolenz to sing ... tracks like "Mary Mary" and "The Girl I Knew Somewhere," both of which were EXTREMELY popular cuts from early in their career ... but Michael also took the spotlight (adding a bit of country flavor to the band, thanks to his Texas roots) with tracks like "Good Clean Fun" (which opened the show on the farewell tour), "Listen To The Band," "Circle Sky" (from the film "Head"), "Love Is Only Sleeping," "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round" (written by Boomer Castleman and Michael Martin Murphey), "You Told Me," "You Just May Be The One," "Sunny Girlfriend," "Papa Gene's Blues," "Sweet Young Thing" and "The Kind Of Girl I Could Love."  (Not to mention the fact that he COMPLETELY blew me away with his track "Don't Call On Me" from The Monkees' "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd." LP, a HUGE #1 Hit from late 1967 that also happens to be my all-time favorite by the group.  Nez becomes "lounge singer" Michael Nesmith on this one and executes it to perfection.)

Don Kirshner had lined up a Who's Who of songwriters, including Gerry Goffin and Carole King (with whom Nesmith shared songwriting credit on "Sweet Young Thing"), Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, the songwriting teams of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Hank Medress, Jay Siegel, Mitch and Phil Margo, David Gates, Nilsson, John Stewart, Paul Williams and others.  Collectively, they kept The Monkees at the top of the charts with perfectly crafted pop tunes for two solid years.

(Dolenz told the story during the farewell tour about how Michael once presented his song "Different Drum" to the television show producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider and musical director Don Kirshner, who turned it down flat, dismissing it by saying "That's not a Monkees song."  Nesmith responded, "Well, I'm a Monkee ... and I wrote it ... so how is it not a Monkees song?")  They still refused to let the band record it (although there is a VERY brief segment in one of the episodes where Mike and Peter play strolling musicians, passing the table where Davy and his date are dining, singing a short snippet of the tune.)  When it became clear that Kirsner was never going to let The Monkees record the tune, Nez gave it to an up-and-coming, young female singer named Linda Ronstadt ... and it launched her career, reaching The Top 20 in early 1968. (Micky Dolenz also covered the tune earlier this year on his "Dolenz Sings Nesmith" album.)

The conflict with Kirshner continued.  When The Monkees (led by Nesmith who, with Peter Tork, were the two real musicians in the group) demanded more artistic control (including being able to choose their own material as well as playing on their own records), the falling out between The Pre-Fab Four and Music Director Don Kirshner ended up in the group's favor, with the firing of Kirshner.  (During one confrontation, Nesmith put his fist through a wall and then told Kirshner "That could have been your face."  They did not end on good terms!)

If Davy was the heartthrob and Micky was the nut and Peter was the dumb one, then Michael was the smart one and quite often, the voice of reason ... whether he was negotiating with The Mayor ... or The Devil, he always seemed to be the only adult in the room.  One episode had him fighting to protect his song "Gonna Buy Me A Dog," (a song he didn't even write!) from an unscrupulous publisher ... and in another favorite episode of mine, Mike played both the narrator and the Fairy Princess.  (If you haven't seen it, don't ask ... just watch the "Fairy Tale" episode and enjoy it for its comedic genius.)

His post-Monkees solo career produced four charting singles, "Joanne" (#13 in Record World, 1970 - but only #21 in Billboard) being the biggest.  His follow-up release, "Silver Moon," made The Top 40 in both Cash Box (#28) and Record World, but fell short (#42) in Billboard.  His songs were covered by everyone from Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys to The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to Andy Williams to Susanna Huffs.

I had the pleasure of meeting him once, a few years back, when The Monkees performed as a trio shortly after the passing of Davy Jones at The Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana.  Michael wore these incredibly sparkly shoes on stage for the concert ... but refused to put them back on backstage for a photo.  Instead, I had to settle for a shot of me and Mike (with the top of his head cut off!!!)

I am SO glad we were able to make it to their Farewell Tour ... I'd be beside myself now if I had missed it.  It was one last chance to say goodbye to the music and the artists that were such a HUGE part of my life growing up in the '60's.

Part of me feels like Michael fulfilled his ultimate fantasy ... his whole life he dreamed of being a successful musician ... and that dream came true a million times over.  Despite obvious recent health issues (keep in mind that he also suffered a heart attack a couple of years before Covid side-tracked the tour all-together), he STILL came out (at significant risk to himself) to do the farewell tour with Micky.  Micky had just released a tribute album to Mike's music ("Dolenz Sings Nesmith"), released to universally critical acclaim.  I prefer to think that Nez went out on a high note ... he completed the tour, took his final bow ... and then he went home to die.  I believe he finally came to accept his legacy with the fans, rather than downplay what he often referred to as "just one chapter in my career."

We love you, Michael.  You made a HUGE impact on my life ... and I have been (and will continue to be) eternally grateful.  Thank you for the music.  (kk)

From Micky Dolenz ...

I’m heartbroken.
 
I’ve lost a dear friend and partner.
 
I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing, and doing shtick.
 
I’ll miss it all so much.  Especially the shtick.
 
Rest in peace, Nez.
 
All my love,
 
Mick

I know you understand why I'm in mourning right now.  I look forward to reading the Forgotten Hits comments on Nez.  There is so much I want to say ... will email more this weekend.  I also wanted to tell you again how much I enjoyed reading all of the Dolenz / Nesmith concert reviews.
Sam Tallerico

Bummer ... we lost Mike Nesmith today.
I know you were a huge Monkees fan ... glad you got the chance to see him.
Bob

The Wool Hat has left us, leaving only Micky Dolenz as an original Monkee.  I know you've been saying that Mike has been in poor health ... but it still hurts to lose him just the same.
Tom

Does this mean that Micky will now have to sing his self-prophesized version of "The Monkees Theme" ... "Hey, Hey, I'm a Monkee" ... from this point forward?

And poor Andrew Sandoval ...

It took an extra year and a half to get his INCREDIBLE "Day By Day" Monkees book out into the market ... and now it's already out of date!  (Another Covid casualty!)

You'll find a beautiful tribute ... 

In Memoriam: Michael Nesmith (1942-2021) - The Second Disc

Oh no ... not The Nez!!!
You likely already know, but sad to say, the wool hat has been silenced:
“With infinite love we announce that Michael Nesmith has passed away this morning in his home, surrounded by family, peacefully and of natural causes,” his family said in an issued statement ...

Upon kicking Don Kirshner from controlling the Monkees' music in 1967, this ran in the Lincoln paper here. 
The Nez always told things as he saw them.
I've now got some of Shelly's blues.


Clark Besch  

kk:
I just heard the tragic news about Mike Nesmith's physical passing. Really hits home.   
I first encountered Mike in 1966 when the Monkees held their first press conference. Maybe there were two of them. One in Hollywood at the Columbia Pictures studio or in Burbank at the Columbia ranch. My mother Hilda worked from 1965-1968 for Raybert Productions who did "The Monkees" television series and helped type their scripts and was in the stenography pool on the Columbia lot. I first met Henry Diltz on "The Monkees" set as he was the second season staff photographer.   
Mike was always the "country guy" to me. I think he was introduced initially as Michael Blessing when we met or he had just changed his name. He had a southern accent. That was really unique to a 15 year old child of Hollywood. 
As you well know, long before it was fashionable, I've always touted the Monkees in my various books and articles the last 48 years. Gary Strobl went deep into his archives and provided me a couple of Nesmith photos with Jimi Hendrix on tour that are exhibited in the recent "Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child" book done with my brother Kenneth.     
I've always felt Mike's pioneering work in music videos and helping establish the country rock sound of Southern California has been overlooked. 
Harvey Kubernik  

As a final gesture of my parting tribute to Mike, let me ask once again that we all work to the very best of our efforts to SAVE THE TEXAS PRAIRIE CHICKEN!!!  (kk)




 

The Friday Flash

The Rolling Stones played a brief tribute concert to their fallen bandmate Charlie Watts on Monday, December 6th, at a small London club (Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club to be exact, which was Charlie’s favorite.)  The event was hosted by Charlie’s granddaughter Charlotte and other members of the Watts family.

The venue was packed with 200 invited guests, among them former Stones bassist Bill Wyman (who did not perform with the band.)  Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, all of whom attended with their wives, were joined on stage by No Filter tour drummer Steve Jordan and played two R&B standards (because, as you know, they are essentially just a blues cover band) … “Shame Shame Shame” and “Down The Road Apiece.”  (kk)

Joe Walsh will be hosting his fifth annual VetsAid Concert on December 18th.  ZZ Top and Ringo Starr have already been announced as performers … and more special guests are expected.  Funds raised go directly to charities supporting veterans and their families and have raised over $1.5 million so far.

Tickets for this year's VetsAid live streaming show are on sale now and prices start at just $15. Viewers will be able to watch the premiere on Dec. 18 plus re-airings through Dec. 25.  (kk)

It is being reported that Adele will earn TWO MILLION DOLLARS PER SHOW for her four-month residency in Las Vegas at the Caesar’s Palace Colosseum.  The shows kick off in January and run thru April … and the ticket prices are just as astounding … ranging from just under $3000 per ticket to upwards of $6000 per ticket.  (You know, even if I had a great night at the tables and won $25,000, I don’t think I’d spend HALF of it to see Adele!!!  At that point, it might make more sense to plan a trip to London to see the ABBA Avatars ... and at least get a really cool vacation out of it!!!)  kk

Here’s a pretty cool Eddie Van Halen keepsake …


You can preorder it now thru Amazon.com  (kk)


So, Kent, I never played with Legos when I was a kid.  I only stepped on them in the dark late at night in my bare feet on the way to the refrigerator when my small sons had left theirs out after THEY had played with them! YOWWW!!!  

Still, I find the creative designs the Lego Folks come up with rather fascinating! The “Beatles Rooftop Concert” that Clark Besh shared with us in Forgotten Hits yesterday is one of them!  Pretty interesting!



And THESE weren’t around when I was a Young Dad!



Padded slippers to create a barrier between your feet and the sharp-edged Legos left strewn around the floor!


Can you imagine?!  

Thanx, Clark!  

< Buell >


The official Cat Stevens-centric soundtrack to the cult film favorite “Harold And Maude” is FINALLY getting a commercial release here in The States on February 11th.  (I LOVE this movie … can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve seen it … and finally having ALL of the Cat Stevens songs in one place is a dream come true!  And, they’ll be interspersed with dialog from the film as well!!!)  kk

TRACK LIST:

 1. Don't Be Shy

 2. Dialogue 1 (I Go to Funerals)

 3. On The Road to Find Out

 4. I Wish, I Wish

 5. Tchaikovsky's Concerto No.1 in B

 6. Dialogue 2 (How Many Suicides)

 7. Marching Band / Dialogue 3 (Harold Meets Maude)

 8. Miles From Nowhere

 9. Tea for the Tillerman 

10. I Think I See the Light

11. Dialogue 4 (Sunflower)

12. Where Do the Children Play?

13. If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out - Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort

14. Strauss' Blue Danube

15. Dialogue 5 (Somersaults)

16. If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out

17. Dialogue 6 (Harold Loves Maude) 

18. Trouble 

19.  If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out (ending)

That A&M Documentary we told you about is airing now on Epix … check your local listings or talk to your cable provider to catch this mega-interesting series!  (kk)


And the soundtrack to last year’s “Summer Of Soul” concert documentary will be available soon, too.  Focusing more on what we saw on screen, the track list represents what the film makers have offered up so far …

But the hope remains that we might get to see more from each of the musical acts that appeared at this unique festival.

In the meantime, you can enjoy:

Summer of Soul (...or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Legacy, 2022)

(Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

* digital bonus track

 1. Uptown - The Chambers Brothers (a)

 2. Why I Sing the Blues - B.B. King (e)

 3. Don't Cha Hear Me Callin' to Ya - The 5th Dimension (a)

 4. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) - The 5th Dimension (a) 

 5. My Girl - David Ruffin (c)

 6. Oh Happy Day - The Edwin Hawkins Singers (a) 

 7. It's Been a Change - The Staple Singers (b)

 8. Precious Lord Take My Hand - The Operation Breadbasket Orchestra & Choir feat. Mahalia Jackson & Mavis Staples (b)

 9. I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips (c) 

10. Watermelon Man - Mongo Santamaria (d)

11. Together - Ray Barretto (d)

12. Hold On, I'm Comin' - Herbie Mann (d)

13. Sing a Simple Song - Sly & The Family Stone (a)

14. Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone (a)

15. Africa - Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach (a) *

16. Backlash Blues - Nina Simone (e)

17. Are You Ready - Nina Simone (e)

All tracks recorded live at the Harlem Cultural Festival, Mount Morris Park, Harlem, NY on 6/29/1969 (a), 7/13/1969 (b), 7/20/1969 (c), 7/27/1969 (d) and 8/17/1969 (e)

Last Man Standing: Suge Knight and the Murders of Biggie & Tupac Coming to Starz This Month ~

Latest Nick Broomfield Documentary Explores New Evidence and Witnesses Indicating LAPD Played a Key Role



U.S. audiences will be able to view Last Man Standing: Suge Knight and the Murders of Biggie & Tupac this month on the Starz channel. The film is a new Nick Broomfield- directed documentary that is a companion to his earlier (2002) Tupac & Biggie and premieres December 23. The film includes newly sourced footage taken at the time of the rap icons’ killings as well as evidence that suggests direct involvement of elements of the Los Angeles Police Department in the murder of Biggie Smalls.  The documentary, produced by Compton resident Pam Brooks who had earlier worked with Broomfield on his Tales of The Grim Sleeper (2014), is a compelling look at gang culture as embodied and advanced by Death Row Records kingpin Suge Knight.

Broomfield stated, “After finishing Biggie & Tupac in 2002, I became increasingly troubled by the treatment of LAPD detective Russell Poole, who had come up with evidence that LAPD officers were involved in the hit on Biggie Smalls.” Poole, who suffered a massive heart attack in 2015 and died during a meeting at LA Sheriff’s Department headquarters, claimed that Knight, affiliated with the Mob Piru’s faction of the Bloods street gang, had LAPD officers in his employ and that they played a direct role in the murder of Notorious B.I.G. Broomfield explains, “It was a tragic end that Russell didn’t deserve. However, a few years later people stated talking more freely after Suge Knight was sentenced.” 

 

Knight is serving a 28-year sentence for manslaughter in connection with the hit and run death of music executive Terry Carter in the parking lot of a Compton fast food restaurant. That location was used in the filming of Straight Outta Compton, the 2015 biopic that tells the story of the rise of N.W.A, the legendary Compton-based rap group. Knight’s personal saga. from early childhood through his current incarceration is detailed in Last Man Standing. He will not be eligible for parole until 2034. Broomfield told The Independent, “Now that Suge Knight’s behind bars, a lot of people are coming forward that were, frankly, frightened of getting killed before.” 

 

Last Man Standing: Suge Knight and the Murders of Biggie & Tupac offers eyewitness accounts of the rise of Death Row Records and Knight’s consolidation of power. Tupac Shakur had been convicted of a sex abuse charge in connection with a gang rape that took place in New York in 1993 and was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. It was Suge Knight who facilitated his release from New York’s Clinton Correctional Facility and his move from Interscope to Death Row Records. Thereafter, Shakur was totally loyal to Knight and the Mob Piru Bloods. 

 

The film presents a chilling account of the events surrounding the murders of both Tupac in Las Vegas and Biggie in Los Angeles almost exactly six months later, and the role Suge Knight played in those events.  The film was released earlier this year in Britain where it was critically lauded.  MOJO called it “gripping viewing and one of Broomfield’s best” while Uncut characterized it as a “terrifying portrait of the maelstrom Knight sent whirling and the lives it consumed.” 

­

­

In an interview with The Independent, producer Pam Brooks explored the film’s underlying theme.  “It’s about closure, basically,” she stated.  “It was crucial how Suge Knight crewed up with the LAPD and that just shows you how lowlife they are for a little bit of change. They make good money, but it just shows you how it’s about control. It’s all about control.”

 

Nick Broomfield is a prolific filmmaker, having directed more than three dozen documentaries dating back to the 1970s. He won BAFTA’s Flaherty Documentary Award for Soldier Girls (1981), was the recipient of the Amsterdam Film Festival’s Amnesty International - DOEN Award for Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer(2003) and took home a FOCAL Award for Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love (2019). Aileen was the basis for the film Monster that earned Charlize Theron the 2004 Academy Award for Best Actress. Other of Broomfield’s films that have been nominated for or received major awards include, among others, Battle for Haditha (2007), Ghosts (2006) and Kurt & Courtney (1998) and Whitney Can I Be Me (2017).

Frank B. sent us this newspaper clipping about a push for a street name change …

New Orleans urged to switch street name from Confederate to music legend | New Orleans | The Guardian

kk …

I'm Glad They're Not Naming It After His "MOTHER-IN-LAW."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/04/new-orleans-street-allen-toussaint-robert-e-lee 

FB


Tom Cuddy sent us this link to an article about the new Illinois Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, recapping the events from earlier this past summer.

Hopefully, next year will be a better and safer year to finally check out these facilities.

https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/joliets-new-il-rock-roll-museum-inducting-1st-hall-fame

We’ve been saluting 1971 all year long in Forgotten Hits (and will pay tribute to 1972 next year with weekly surveys from around the country … assuming we can ever find a Vermont chart, that is!!!) …

So we wanted to share this Best Classic Bands 1971 Highlights piece, which takes you thru the whole year, listing all of the key events (including a couple that WE even missed!!!)  50 Years Ago: 1971 in Rock Music | Best Classic Bands

And Ultimate Classic Rock has chosen their Top 40 All-Time Favorite Singer / Songwriter Albums … and it’s quite a list.  (How many of these do you have in YOUR collection?)

Top 40 Singer-Songwriter Albums (ultimateclassicrock.com)

In the December, 2021 issue of “Shindig!” magazine Grahame Bent raves about “Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child” in a 4-star review.  “The fact that this spectacularly illustrated ‘Voodoo Child’ comes from the combined pens of Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik undeniably brings a certain cache.  Written primarily from an American viewpoint, aside from its fantastic visuals, the use of colour and eye-catching layouts, one of the book’s strongest points is the sheer volume of interviewees and sources quoted in the text, which effectively voices the narrative.”

Stephen Peeples interviews the Kubernik brothers on their new “Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child” book (which I SHOULD be starting any day now, Harvey!!!)
Jimi Hendrix 'Voodoo Child' Bio: Kubernik Brothers Q&A - Stephen K. Peeples (stephenkpeeples.com)

Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik do an excellent job of telling the legendary tale of the late great Jimi Hendrix. Through utilizing important figures in Hendrix’s life, the inclusion of rare photography and interviews, and the Kubernik’s own mastery of rock history this book is truly visceral experience.

--Laura Bialobos 

 


The Kubernik Brothers are being interviewed TODAY (December 10th) on KPFK-FM at 5 pm Eastern … more details below …

Tune in Friday, December 10th, at 2 pm Pacific Standard Time to KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles in the Southern California Region.  Co-Authors Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik will be the guest interview subjects, discussing their latest offering, (just published), “Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child” (Sterling Publishing) with “Pacifica Performance Showcase” Host Donna Walker.  The program can also be heard nationally and globally on the internet at https://www.kpfk.org.  The Kubernik brothers will be heard in the 2:00 - 3:00 pm time slot, Pacific Standard Time. Their appearance will be part of the station's fund drive.  

https://www.kpfk.org/on-air/pacifica-performance-showcase

(Simulcast at kpfk.org and available for “Play” or “Download” via kpfk.org “Audio Archives” for approx. two months after the show airs.  1st half-hour is archived under “Arts in Review” and second half-hour is archived under “Pacifica Performance Showcase.”)

And here’s a link to Harvey’s own piece on the infamous Rolling Stones / Altamont incident …

The Rolling Stones' US Tour Gimme Shelter Documentary Interviews (musicconnection.com)

And don't miss your chance to celebrate this weekend ...


From Chuck Buell, keeping his eye out for these, perhaps lesser known, Special Frantic Final End-of-the-Year Holidays for us! 

 

He points out that ...

 

This Sunday, December 12th, is “National Ding-a-Ling” Day!

 

A Day established to encourage us all to reconnect during this Holiday Season with people we once talked to often but not so much anymore and people we haven’t heard from in a while. It might be an old Forgotten Hitter, classmate, co-worker, old lover (you’re on your own with that one!) or a neighbor from years ago who would love to hear the “Ding-a-Ling” of a phone call from you! You know, "Ding-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling!!

 

But, hey, OK!  Because THIS is what you thought it stood for, here, against my better judgement, is Chuck Berry!

 

Chuck Berry 


(Sheesh!)

CB ( which stands for the “Other” Chuck B! )


Watch for a brand new WEEKEND COMMENTS PAGE tomorrow ...

In Forgotten Hits!