>>>Of special note for Chicagoland music lovers: the first appearance in the series of The New Colony Six (pictured). Gary Theroux
Truth in advertising: 1968 NC6 lead singer of
their biggest romantic hits, Ronnie Rice, is not in the picture you used.
:)
Clark Besch
Yikes! It’s TRUE!!!
(I didn’t even notice that!!!
Just ran with the picture that Gary Theroux had sent!)
Ironically, a couple of
summers ago, Gary came to Chicago to visit (for his daughter’s wedding, if I’m
not mistaken) and he, Ray Graffia, Jr. (of The New Colony Six) and I had
breakfast together at the Baker’s Square up in Palatine, IL. Gary has always been a HUGE fan of The New
Colony Six and, having gone to school here during their hey-day, was more than
familiar with their very best tracks.
(In fact, while working for Readers Digest’s Music Division, he made it
a point to include songs by The NC6 on some of their compilation CD’s.)
CLEARLY just an
oversight …
But here’s a picture of
Ronnie, circa 1969, just to make amends! (kk)
The release of the new Beatles “Get Back” dvd is just over a week away now … (the Blu Ray edition has apparently been delayed with no new release date announced as of yet) … the IMax showing of the complete rooftop concert is this weekend (as in TODAY at select Imax theaters) … that rooftop concert will also begin streaming this weekend … you can still catch the Peter Jackson 3-part documentary on Disney+ … and now The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame will debut a special Beatles / Get Back exhibition on March 18th … and I’ve gotta admit, this sounds pretty cool!
From Greg Harris, President and CEO of The Rock
And Roll Hall Of Fame:
“The Beatles have had a massive, global impact across generations.
We are excited to welcome a diverse mix of fans from around the world to
experience this exhibit and are grateful for the support of Paul McCartney,
Ringo Starr, the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison, Apple Corps Ltd.,
and Peter Jackson for helping us tell this important story.
On display, fans will be able to see The Beatles’ original
instruments, clothing, and handwritten lyrics as used by The Beatles and seen
in the film, including items loaned directly by Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, and
the estates of George Harrison and John Lennon. The exhibit will also feature
high-definition film clips, audio, and custom projections, transporting fans
into The Beatles’ vibrant world of January 1969.
Some of the exhibit’s unique items include:
Paul McCartney’s black and gray shirt that was worn in the
studio and handwritten lyrics for “I’ve Got A Feeling”
Ringo Starr’s maple Ludwig drum kit and his borrowed red
raincoat from the rooftop performance
John Lennon’s iconic eyeglasses, Wrangler jacket, an Epiphone
electric guitar, and handwritten lyrics for “Dig A Pony”
George Harrison’s pink pinstripe suit and handwritten lyrics for
“I Me Mine”
From the official press release:
Fans will also enjoy audio engineer, producer, and Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Glyn Johns’ record acetate from the sessions and
iconic photography by Linda McCartney and by Ethan Russell, who documented the
band’s January, 1969, rehearsals, sessions, and rooftop performance, and whose
photos are featured in the Let It Be album art.
Like Jackson’s “Get Back” docuseries, the exhibit shows how The
Beatles composed and recorded many of their iconic songs from scratch. The
exhibit’s three screening rooms feature a selection of footage from each
location from the docuseries: Twickenham, Apple Studios, and the Apple Corps
rooftop. The footage from the recording sessions and conversations turn the
clock back to 1969, showing the intimacy, joyousness, and humor as The Beatles
write and record songs for Let It Be and some songs featured on Abbey Road and
future solo albums.
I dunno … all of this JUST may make it worth another trip out
there! (Cleveland, here we come!) kk
Clark Besch also sent us this piece on The Beatles …
For decades, the fight has been on going ...
Bloodshed, records burned, you name it!
No, not talking about the War of 1812.
Maybe you have an argument or opinion to share to this long time controversy?
I have the hands down winner, no matter what statistics say.
Q: WHAT was the better song between the first two Beatles US #1 Records???
(The two pics below give the answer):
She Loves You WINS!!
I don't care that the song below was #1 and the first on the air in the US.
For MY money, the first 45 by the Fabs that I bought was the above ...
Hands down better song!
You will see that I STILL have that pic sleeve 45.
The sleeve is battered and tho you cannot see it, there are pin holes in all corners because I had it pinned to my wall in my bedroom in 1964.
It gives new meaning to Swan Records' message: "Dont Drop Out!"
You can see the 45 is barely held in place, but I cannot part with my original.
In the meantime, below, is another great 45 …
but it can't hold a candle to the above … even if you have the original sleeve OR the air brushed out cigarette 1984 sleeve!!
Debate time???
I don't know how many times or with how many people I have had the conversation, but it has been many times!
Clark
I have ALWAYS maintained that “She Loves You” was the stronger
single … and the one that SHOULD have put The Beatles on the map here in The
States …
But the fact of the matter is, when it was first released in August of 1963, it totally
tanked!!!
Unlike “Please Please Me,” which actually got airplay here in
Chicago in February of ’63 (and charted for two weeks on The WLS Silver Dollar
Survey) … or “From Me To You,” which charted in Los Angeles and officially “Bubbled Under” in both
Billboard (#116) and Cash Box (#149), “She Loves You” never even made a ripple
(short of a Rate-A-Record spin on “American Bandstand” … and even then,
probably ONLY because Dick Clark owned a piece of Swan Records, which released
the single here in The States!)
The trademark “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” hook, coupled with the furious head-shaking when they performed the tune SHOULD have made The Beatles household names 4-5 months sooner …
and ALL of this came into play in a VERY big way when the single was finally
rereleased at the end of January, 1964, hot on the heels of “I Want To Hold
Your Hand” reaching #1 on The National Charts.
But the small independent Swan record label didn't have the clout (or the finances) to put together the whole "The Beatles Are Coming!" campaing that Captiol Records did.
Don’t get me wrong … “I Want To Hold Your Hand” was STILL
revolutionary in every way … and, depending on which chart you want to believe,
it stayed at #1 for either 9 (Music Vendor), 8 (Cash Box) or 7 (Billboard)
weeks.
“She Loves You” was held at bay in the #2 position for several of those weeks,
before The Beatles finally knocked themselves out of first place for a couple
of weeks in March.
Hands down, it's the catchier of the two singles … and today I’d say
you’re likely to hear “She Loves You” at least 20-30 times more often than “I
Want To Hold Your Hand,” simply because it’s held up better. (Hell, you’re likely to hear “I Want To Hold Your
Hand”’s B-SIDE, “I Saw Her Standing There,” 20-30 times more often … and it
only peaked at #14 when it was first released!) Today, you hear it just about EVERYWHERE (including major sporting
events!) In February of 1964, it spent
ONE WEEK at #100 in Cash Box, reached #29 in Music Vendor and charted for
eleven weeks in Billboard, ultimately peaking at #14. By February and March, “Please Please Me,”
“From Me To You,” “My Bonnie, “Twist And Shout” (#1 in both Cash Box and Music
Vendor), “All My Loving,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Can't Buy Me Love” and “Do
You Want To Know A Secret” had also joined The Fab Four on the charts. In 1964 alone, The Beatles hit The Pop
Singles Chart an incredible 33 TIMES!!! (kk)
Jumping ahead a few years, here’s news about The Beatles’ trip to
India to meditate with The Maharishi …
THE
BEATLES AND INDIA: DOCUMENTARY TO STREAM
EXCLUSIVELY ON BRITBOX IN NORTH AMERICA STARTING FEBRUARY 15, 2022
~SILVA SCREEN RECORDS
RELEASES COMPANION ALBUM THE BEATLES AND INDIA: SONGS INSPIRED BY THE
FILM~
“When I first heard
Indian music, I just couldn’t really believe that it was so great, and the more
I heard of it, the more I liked it. It just got bigger and bigger, like a
snowball”.
-George Harrison
Post Summer of Love, in 1968 the world’s most popular rock and roll band, The Beatles had achieved mass fame and fortune yet were searching for deeper meaning in their lives. Under the spiritual guidance of Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, The Beatles took a trip to Rishikesh, India to study transcendental meditation and set out on a path of deep enlightenment that would change the world.
Slated for release on February 1th5 via BritBox in North America, the streaming service from BBC Studios and ITV, the award-winning feature documentary, The Beatles And India (Silva Screen Productions, Renoir Pictures) examines how Indian music and culture shaped the music of John, Paul, George and Ringo and in turn, explores how The Beatles served as ambassadors of this pioneering World music sound and cultural movement.
Drawing together an expansive archive of footage including contemporaneous locale shooting in India, recordings, photographs, and compelling first-hand interviews, The Beatles And India exhaustively documents this East meets West touchstone in pop culture history. Purloining inspiration from Ajoy Bose’s book Across The Universe - The Beatles In India, the documentary is produced by British Indian music entrepreneur Reynold D’Silva and directed by Bose (his directorial debut) and cultural researcher Pete Compton. The Beatles And India has been awarded Best Film Audience Choice and Best Music at the 2021 UK Asian Film Festival “Tongues On Fire.”
The Beatles’ were first
introduced to Indian music while filming their 1965 film, Help!,
which featured the Indian musicians in a restaurant scene. George
Harrison would become a lifelong impassioned devotee of Indian music.
He would soon buy his first sitar, befriend and study under sitar master Ravi
Shankar and employ the instrument to revolutionary effect linking the
worlds of pop music with Indian music on the Beatles song,
“Norwegian Wood,” which appears on their Rubber Soul album. That
song marked the group, and particularly Harrison’s full on immersion into
Indian music, a raga rock sound heard in The Beatles songs,
“Tomorrow Never Knows” and “Love You To” (Revolver) “Within You Without
You” (Sgt. Pepper) and “The Inner Light (B-side to the “Lady Madonna”
single)”
In early July, 1966,
while returning from shows in the Philippines, The Beatles made
a quick stopover in New Delhi, India, marking their first trip to the country.
Less than two years later, in February 1968, the group would return for an
extended sojourn at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in Rishikesh, India where
they would take a training course in Transcendental Meditation. Their search
for spiritual enlightenment would both shape their thinking and values and
indelibly color the sounds of their expanding musical palette.
Silva Screen Records, in tandem with the
documentary release on BritBox in North America, presents a 19-song
companion album: The Beatles And India: Songs Inspired by The Film,
featuring wondrous interpretations of The Beatles songbook,
blending traditional and contemporary Indian influences, as recorded and
performed by Indian artists Anoushka Shankar (Ravi Shankar's daughter), Vishal
Dadlani, Kissnuka, Benny Dayal, Dhruv Ghanekar, Karsh Kale, and Soulmate. Many
of the songs featured on the album--“Mother Nature’s Son,” “Dear Prudence,”
“Sexy Sadie,” Back in the USSR,” “I’m So Tired,” “Julia,” I Will,” “The
Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill,” Everybody’s Got Something to Hide (Except
for Me and My Monkey),” “Child of Nature,” (later re-written and recorded by
John Lennon in his solo career as “Jealous Guy”)--were written during The
Beatles 1968 extended stay in Rishikesh, India and most would feature
on the group’s 1968 double-album, The Beatles, better known
as “The White Album.”
The Beatles And India is an
unforgettable audio-visual experience that spotlights the legacy of that
historic visit, chronicling The Beatles’ crucial role as
avatars of a musical movement inspiring newfound societal and cultural
awareness, weaving the fabric of pop and Indian music into a unified force of
positivity and spiritual exploration.
About Silva Screen Music
Group:
The Silva Screen Music
Group is a London based independent record company, which is home to one of the
world’s leading film and television specialist soundtrack labels, Silva Screen
Records. Alternative rock label So Recordings is also part of the group and
includes bands such as Placebo and Enter Shikari. Founded by music devotee
Reynold D’Silva in 1986, the group has a catalog of over 800 titles and in
excess of 10,000 master recordings, with offices in New York, Paris and Mumbai.
About BritBox:
BritBox is a digital
video subscription service offering the largest collection of British TV in the
U.S. and Canada. Created by two British content powerhouses—BBC Studios, the
subsidiary arm of the BBC, and ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster—the
service features iconic favorites, exclusive premieres, and current series and
soaps—most available within 24 hours after their UK premiere. BritBox also
offers expert curation and playlists that enable fans to easily find programs
they know and discover new favorites via the web, mobile, tablet and connected
TVs.
Track listing:
1.) Tomorrow Never Knows
– Kiss Nuka
2.) Mother Nature's Son - Karsh Kale / Benny Dayal
3.) Gimme Some Truth – Soulmate
4.) Across The Universe - Tejas / Mali
5.) Everybody's Got Something To Hide (Except Me And My Monkey) - Rohan
Rajadhyaksha / Warren Mendonsa
6.) I Will - Shibani Dandekar / Neil Mukherjee
7.) Julia - Dhruv Ghanekar
8.) Child Of Nature - Anupam Roy
9.) The Inner Light - Anoushka Shankar / Karsh Kale
10.) The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill - Raaga Trippin
11.) Back In The USSR - Karsh Kale / Farhan Ahktar
12.) I'm So Tired - Lisa Mishra / Warren Mendonsa
13.) Sexy Sadie - Siddharth Basrur / Neil Mukherjee
14.) Martha My Dear - Nikhil D'Souza
15.) Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - Parekh & Singh
16.) Revolution - Vishal Dadlani / Warren Mendonsa
17.) Love You To - Dhruv Ghanekar
18.) Dear Prudence - Karsh Kale / Monica Dogra
19.) India, India - Nikhil D'Souza
Of course, when The Beatles made their pilgrimage to India, they
were not alone … Donovan, members of The Beach Boys and later, even members of
The Rolling Stones wanted to get in on the action and have all of the mysteries
of the world revealed to them. (Of
course, that never actually happened … but we DID get a really good song called
“Sexy Sadie” out of the experience!)
Endless Summer Quarterly’s David Beard recount The Beach Boys’
experience (along with comments from the guys) here …
With all the tour postponements and cancellations going
around again due to this new wave of Covid, it was reassuring to hear that,
after an unexpected by very necessary heart procedure, Carlos Santana is back
up on stage again.
On Wednesday, January 26th, he resumed his
residency at The House Of Blues, Las Vegas.
As it turns out, Carlos had
severely blocked arteries. “Sure enough, we caught it just in time. I think it
was 94 percent blockage in one artery.” Two others were partially blocked.
In addition to
fulfilling these Las Vegas gigs, Santana will be touring later this year with
Earth, Wind and Fire. (Many of these
dates are rescheduled from 2020’s postponement.
This includes a stop here in Chicago on July 2nd … man, I
would LOVE to see that show!!!) kk
Kent,
The list of 50
songs that have been identified by writers Jim Dawson and Steve Propes as
candidates for the first rock-n-roll songs was fabulous ... especially the
justifications. Some of the songs I am very familiar, others not so
much. Now I want to go on a search to hear them.
Although whether
it's because I truly believe what I have always said, or, because I've just
been brainwashed all these years, I still feel "Rock Around the
Clock" should hold the official title, if for nothing else, for
popularizing the style into a movement.
Jon M
Former DJ
Radio. It's a
sound idea!
We have long maintained that regardless of what came before it and
all of the different ways it was developed along the way, “Rock Around The
Clock” was the song that introduced Rock And Roll to the world. It was “The
Shot Heard ‘Round The World” and launched a movement that continues on to this
day.
Yes, there were elements of rock and roll long before Bill Haley
sang this tune … but THIS is the one that, once it was featured in the movie “Blackboard
Jungle,” caused the rock and roll revolution to begin.
(We’ve also always said that since Haley wasn’t “pretty enough” to
lead that revolution, we were very fortunate that Elvis Presley came along at
the right time to become the Poster Boy for the whole rock and roll movement!)
The release of “Rock Around The Clock” … and it moving to the #1
position on the chart is, as far as history is concerned, the day that rock and
roll music began. (kk)
A short while back we told you about a brand new T.J.
Lubinsky project that is designed to bring back and recognize the Doo-Wop
genre.
TJ, of course, has been bringing the great sounds of this
generation into our homes for decades now thru his PBS / My Music television
series and fund-raisers …
But now YOU can compete in a brand new contest to find the BRAND
NEW Doo-Wop Champ!
TJ LUBINKSY and PBS MY MUSIC HAVE LAUNCHED A NATIONAL
TALENT SEARCH FOR "THE NEXT '50s & '60s POP, SOUL AND DOO WOP STAR
Aspiring a cappella and vocal group harmony singers are invited to audition for The Next '50s & '60s Pop, Soul and Doo Wop Star, an ongoing worldwide talent search. The effort will culminate with a national PBS special in August of this year, commemorating the classic 1950s and 1960s pop, soul and doo-wop eras in American musical history. The talent search is being conducted by noted PBS My Music series producer TJ Lubinsky.
Since 1993, his dozens of concerts and retrospective specials have
been enjoyed by tens of millions of viewers and have helped raise more than $2
billion for public television. "If you've ever wanted to be an ‘oldies’
pop, soul or doo-wop star," Lubinsky says, "this is your big chance
to be seen and heard nationwide."
To preserve the legendary organic music that pre-dates today’s
reliance on digital vocal manipulation, Lubinsky's The Next '50s &
'60s Pop, Soul and Doo Wop Star talent search seeks to
discover, document and celebrate contemporary singers who can accurately
channel the iconic sounds and styles of the artists of the 1950s and 1960s.
"We're looking for the unknown voices of today who can replicate and pay
homage to the vocal phrasing, musical arrangements and spirited choreography of
the originals," says Lubinsky. The deadline for video submissions to
be considered for the PBS special based on the search is February 28.
While many of the artists who introduced the favorite pop, soul,
rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues hit songs of the past are gone, Lubinsky
enthusiastically reflects that this uniquely American art form still has a huge
fan base both at home and abroad. "At every one of our shows," he
says, "we see audience members mouth the words to the songs as they are
brought back to when they first heard this heartfelt material that continues to
resonate through successive generations. The ‘50s and ‘60s “oldies” genre in
particular is in danger of extinction unless a new generation is found to bring
the music forward. I'm going to make sure that happens!" As college a
cappella competitions, stage shows and YouTube videos prove, there are
enormously talented young individuals and groups who are keeping the 1950s and
1960s oldies tradition alive. "We're going to find them," Lubinsky
says, "and share them with the world."
How to Audition: Groups and individuals who wish to be
considered for participation in The Next Doo Wop Star special
should visit www.doowopstar.com. One audition
performance may be submitted per entity. The deadline for submissions, for
which there is no fee, is as noted on February 28 and open to legal residents
of the United States who are at least 13 years old. Entries can be sent via
links to online video performances (YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc.) or
physically via DVD. Auditions must be live original performances and, of
course, no lip-syncing is allowed!
THE
SMALL PRINT: About TJ Lubinsky / My
Music: TJ Lubinsky
is the creator of the most successful music fund-raising programming in the
history of Public Broadcasting System. His long running My Music fundraising
series on PBS features historic musical reunions, archival specials and
interviews with scores of performers. As creator/executive producer and director
of My Music, Lubinsky
has filmed more than 800 artists, licensed hundreds of CD/DVD packages to help
PBS member stations stay on the air. These programs span doo wop to disco, folk
to funk, Motown to big band and country-pop to rock and roll. Highlights
include '60s Pop, Rock & Soul (hosted by Peter
Noone), The British Beat (hosted by Petula Clark), Burt
Bacharach's Best, Aretha Franklin's Soul Rewind, John
Sebastian's Folk Rewind, Close To You: Remembering The
Carpenters and many more.. The late Aretha Franklin once
noted, “As artists and as fans, we can count on both TJL and PBS to preserve,
protect and present the great treasury that is our musical heritage.”
Representing the third generation of his family in the music business, Lubinsky
grew up with the sounds of R & B, oldies, gospel and jazz that have
inspired his deep knowledge and passion for music and today is also the Friday
night disc-jockey on his mixcloud.com/tjlradio show streaming worldwide online.
''Very few people can say they have a calling in life,” he told the New York
Times. “I’m lucky to have found one.”
At his request, all of Neil
Young’s music has been pulled from Spotify.
Young said he would pull it himself if the streaming service didn’t
honor his wishes.
The whole problem stems from
Neil’s total disdain of Joe Rogan’s political podcasts. Neil describes Rogan as “the American
anti-vaxxer spreading lies.”
Spotify has honored Young’s
request and says that the rocker will be welcomed back at the time of his own
choosing. They estimate Young’s Spotify
audience at around six million and figure that 60% of all of his streams go
thru their service. (These CSNY boys
have always been nothing if not political … but they back up their beliefs with
strong actions … so one can say that Neil Young may have won the battle on this
one, on behalf of all of unvaccinated America.
(Neil Young also has a short-term
channel on Sirius XM again right now … so there’s ONE place for sure you can
hear his music the way he wants it to be heard!) kk
Speaking of which, Howard Stern
has asked Meat Loaf’s family to please speak out in favor of vaccines after
Meat Loaf passed away from what is believed to be complications from
contracting Covid. (He was somewhat
outspoken about NOT being vaccinated and, as we’ve seen FAR too many times now,
it’s fine to stick up for your beliefs and convictions … but if you’re wrong,
the penalty quite often is death.)
In an interview with Variety,
Stern said:
“I wish the family would come forward and say,
‘Ya know, when Meat Loaf was laying there in the hospital and he couldn’t
breathe, he said, ‘I made a mistake. I should have taken the vaccine.’ Like all
these anti-vaxxers, they all say, ‘I made a mistake.’”
(Of course, by then it’s
too late.) kk
Hi Kent,
I don’t know
if you got the chance to hear it or not, but Harvey Kubernik was back on Coast
to Coast AM Saturday night talking about Meat Loaf (the singer not the food).
Bob Verbos
Unfortunately, no, we were not able to listen to the show. I am checking with Harvey to see if a Podcast
of rebroadcast is available. Stay
tuned. (kk)
Sister Janet Mead, who
earned an unexpected pop hit in 1974 when a record company dubbed some driving
rock music behind her presentation of The Lord’s Prayer, died on Wednesday,
January 26th, apparently of cancer.
“The Lord’s Prayer” went
all the way to #4 and sold a million copies!
(kk)
Since you were recently talking about Todd Rundgren and
Daryl Hall ... Todd produced the absolutely wonderful Atlantic album WAR BABIES
(1974). This was apparently the album that got them thrown off the label ...
but, to me it was a terrifically prescient album of musically what would come.
Todd produced it with members of his then-band Utopia.
H&O, sadly, don't do anything from the album in
their current show ... but, it’s a great album! "Much Too Soon" is a
great, great track that the lads could certainly do today!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Babies_(Hall_%26_Oates_album)
https://magnetmagazine.com/2012/05/24/hidden-gems-hall-oates-war-babies/
This is a great article on War Babies ... and, pic
David Salidor
>>>I have a pretty good idea why
Canadian musicians and groups don't make it into our HOF; it just popped into
my head this evening. I remember the fracas that erupted in 1970
regarding a new "law" that made it mandatory that Canadian radio
stations' playlists had to be made up of a certain percentage of Canadian
artists before they inserted American music into their schedules.
CKLW in Detroit, which has a Canadian call-sign rather than an American one,
has its transmitter in Canada (which, apparently, according to FCC regulations,
makes it a Canadian station). Doesn't make sense to me, though. Their
signal, which emanates from a tower which is probably within 10 miles of the
US/CA border, is the same strength and covers the same listening area as if it
were in Detroit. From a writeup which I
read many years ago, CKLW was not happy about the new regulation, because in
spite of there being a lot of good music coming from Canadian artists, there
was much more money-making music from American artists, and many CKLW listeners
changed their listening habits and jumped over to stations having K and W
call-signs. I believe that CKLW's listenership dropped immensely. Maybe this caused a never-ending friction
between America and Canada, regarding pop music. Just a thought.
Here's the story of the new "rules".
https://www.tvo.org/article/everything-about-it-rocked-how-windsors-cklw-reckoned-with-the-brand-new-cancon-rules (Mike)
Mike, you could be on to something.
We listened to CKLW up to 1969 when FM radio
started stealing my ears most of the time. I NEVER heard CKLW play
Canadian artists in 1968 as a general rule and, if anything, played more RNB
out of Detroit artists than any other type of music.
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