Loggins and Messina are reuniting for two shows only (at The Hollywood Bowl) on July 15th and 16th. Billed as “Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In, 2022, the duo will perform their entire first album together from just over fifty years ago. (In fact, this is the pair’s first performance together in Los Angeles in nearly fifty years as well!)
Although no long-range plans are currently being entertained to continue the reunion or add shows (both artists both have bookings as solo acts beyond this point), one can never underestimate the success of such an event.
The fact that they got together as a duo at all was just a lucky happenstance. Messina was brought in to produce a then-unknown Kenny Loggins’ first album, who was signed as a solo artist to Columbia Records. The pair found that they worked so well together that they would just form a duo on the spot and released the album as “Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In.” It sparked a string of six studio albums together, three live sets and four compilation releases.
Loggins would go on to have a remarkable solo career after the two split in the late ‘70’s. Kenny became “King of the Movie Themes,” scoring hits with “I Believe In Love” from “A Star Is Born,” “I’m Alright” from “Caddyshack,” “Footloose” from … well, you can figure THAT one out for yourselves, (his hit “I’m Free” also came from the “Footloose” soundtrack), “Danger Zone” from “Top Gun,” “Meet Me Halfway” from “Over The Top,” “Nobody’s Fool” from “Caddyshack II” and “For The First Time” from “One Fine Day.”
Together, Loggins and Messina hit The National Top 40 three times: “Your Mama Don’t Dance” (#4, 1972), “Thinking Of You” (#11, 1973) and “My Music” (#13, 1973) … and just missed with “Watching The River Run” (#41, 1974)
I have seen both artists perform as solo acts and it has always been a good show … but the chance to see them for the first time performing TOGETHER would be the ultimate experience all these years later. Let’s hope they continue to consider the possibilities. (kk)
This item JUST missed the deadline for Thursday’s This And That column …
Sad times are back …
We lost Sandy Nelson
on Monday, the 14th, and P.J. O'Rourke (SNL) yesterday, the 15th.
;-)
Mike Wolstein
For an EXCELLENT profile of Sandy Nelson, I suggest reading “Hollywood Eden” by Joel Selvin … and outstanding book by any standards.
Nelson had three quick Top 40 Hits between 1959 and 1962. (“Teen Beat,” #3, 1959; “Let There Be Drums,” #7, 1961; “Drums Are My Beat,” #29, 1962) Then, in 1963, he lost part of his leg in a motorcycle accident ... but even THAT didn't stop him! Session work helped to fill out his time … and then, in 1964, he recorded a new version of his first hit (now titled “Teen Beat ‘65”) and hit The Top 40 again, peaking at #37.
Nelson was part of what became known as the “Hollywood High” crowd in the late ‘50’s, hanging out with Jan and Dean, Phil Spector, Bruce Johnston, Nancy Sinatra and others.
He died on Monday, February 14th, after a long illness. (kk)
I also just got word that Mike Rabon of The Five Americans passed away on February 11th. Mike talked with Forgotten Hits quite a bit when his book “High Strung” first came out in 2012. (It really IS a fascinating look at how this small band from Texas took off virtually overnight to become one of the top selling acts on the charts in 1966 and 1967.)
Unfortunately, it, too, is now long out of print … but if you can find a copy, it is quite an enjoyable read.
The Five Americans scored four quick Top 40 Hits between January, 1966, and August of 1967: “I See The Light” (#26), “Western Union” (#5), “Sound Of Love” (#24) and “Zip Code” (#36). A fifth hit, “Evol, Not Love” only went to #51 nationally but was a big hit here in Chicago (#7) in the Spring of ’66. (kk)
‘60’s FLASHBACK:
I talked to Mike when The Five Americans were voted in as one of Forgotten Hits Readers’ All-Time Favorite Garage Bands. (That short conversation can be found below.)
Prior to that, however, we talked after we ran a lengthy review of his biography. (This, too, is presented again in ‘60’s FLASHBACK fashion)
#17 - THE FIVE AMERICANS
One of my favorite groups from the mid-'60's, The Five Americans could seem to do no wrong for a while there, scoring five straight hits in 1966 and 1967.
"I See The Light" (#26, 1966), "Evol - Not Love" (#51, 1966); "Western Union" (their biggest ... and a #5 hit in 1967); "Sound Of Love" (#24, 1967) and "Zip Code" (#36, 1967) kept these guys (yet ANOTHER garage band from Texas) on the charts and on our radios. Any one of these tunes would sound GREAT coming out of our radios again in 2012, too ... maybe this special countdown will inspire a couple of jocks on the list to step outside the box and play a couple of these for a change. (Your audience will love ya for it!!!)
In fact, we're featuring two of them ourselves ... first, my personal favorite "Evol - Not Love" which, while failing to make The National Top 40, was a #7 Hit here in Chicago ... and then the crowd-pleaser "Western Union". (Tell me THAT one wouldn't get your audience going if you gave it a spin!!!) kk
It's kind of funny watching our pop heroes being introduced by some of the biggest names in show business ... many from the previous generation of viewers, like Jack Benny and Steve Allen ... but that's the way it was done back then. These guys were VERY savvy entertainers ... and they knew they had to offer something up for the kids to enjoy in order to build their audience and maintain credible ratings. Thanks to YouTube, we get to see some of these vintage performances again. (kk)
‘Western Union’ and the follow-up ‘Zip Code’, the Five Americans’ greatest hits, are much more pop than garage but don’t in any way diminish their standing with garage rock fans and collectors. One listen to ‘I See The Light’ clearly demonstrates why. The Durant, Oklahoma, group recorded several excellent songs, including ‘Evol Not Love’ and ‘Good Times’.
Mike Dugo /
60sGarageBands.com
Talk about bridging the generation gap ... in 1967, The Five Americans paid
tribute to an older form of mail communication (with "Western Union")
as well as the latest in postal technology, "Zip Code"!!!
There seems to be a discrepancy as to where these guys hailed from. (I'm showing Texas, which is also what Steve Allen says in the video above, but Mike Dugo says Oklahoma.) So I dug a little bit deeper ... and the band's official website (run by lead singer Mike Rabon) explains:
The Five Americans first met in Durant, Oklahoma, at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1962. Under the leadership of Mike Rabon, they formed a group called the Mutineers. They played local beer joints and various frat dances until the summer of 1964. Mike suggested that they go to Dallas and try and make enough money to pay for tuition for the following fall semester. They achieved some local notoriety in a dive called the Pirate's Nook. There they were "discovered" by a local label called Abnak Records. John Abdnor, president of the label, took them under his wing and provided them the resources to write and practice original songs. In only five short years, The Five Americans were the first to achieve what no other group in Texas had done -- sell millions of singles and albums.
Click here: The Five
Americans
We heard back from Mike after we told him about their ranking in our Top 20
All-Time Favorite Garage Bands Countdown ...
Hi Kent,
Thanks for getting in touch. As founder of The Five Americans, I would like to say thank you to all those great fans out there who voted us into your top twenty and a big thanks to forgottenhits.com for continuing to carry the flame for those of us who tried so hard to please so many all those years ago. Here's a picture of The Five Americans on American Bandstand.
All the best,
Mike Rabon
The Five Americans
What I DIDN'T know is that Mike was also part of the group Gladstone, whose hit "A Piece Of Paper" we have featured previously in Forgotten Hits ... a GREAT track that I'm sure stirred a little bit of controversy back in the early '70's.
http://forgottenhits.com/your_top_50_all-time_favorite_garage_bands
Mike also has
a new book out recounting his whole experience with The Five Americans ... it's
available here:
Click
here: Amazon.com: High Strung (9781608300471): Mike Rabon: Books
(kk)
OUR ORIGINAL FORGOTTEN HITS REVIEW (from 2012)
HIGH STRUNG by Mike Rabon ... A Memoir from the founder, lead singer and lead writer of THE FIVE AMERICANS (Aberdeen Bay - available thru Amazon.com ... Click here: Amazon.com: High Strung (9781608300471): Mike Rabon: Books)
I couldn't wait to read Mike Rabon's book, especially after talking with him briefly for our All-Time Favorite Garage Bands Series.
EVERY review I read ... bar none ... raved about Mike's story ... and, I have to admit, it grabs you right from the get-go.
Chapter One deals with every thought that crossed his mind while he contemplated suicide, high on some unknown substance that, to this day, he still can't identify. It's chilling to read him mentally consider ... and then dismiss ... each potential suicide method before finally coming to his senses and putting it off for at least another day.
Then, in Chapter Two, he starts from the beginning, going back to his childhood, his first guitar and his love for music ... and this pattern continues throughout the book. Each alternating chapter shows Mike in his "today" world of the early-to-mid-'70's, post-Five Americans success, when living was nothing more than drug-induced shambles ... followed by the exciting story of the band making it ... and ultimately scoring five straight Top 40 Hits in 1966 and 1967.
It's an interesting technique ... and it holds you spellbound as you watch what "could have been" quickly spiral and dissolve into what sadly became of Mike Rabon, junkie.
Ripped off by his manager and record company (who, in this case, were one and the same), it sounds like he never really had a chance ... and he ultimately lost it all.
Along the way, he shares some interesting tidbits about rock and roll life in the '60's ... appearances on all of the hot TV shows ... creating HUGE hit records like "Western Union" (and how they came up with the dit-dit-dit concept to the song) ... believe it or not, the original lyrics had the word "stop" after every line, mimicking an actual Western Union telegram before they came up with the "sound" idea of typing out a telegram instead, thus creating the song's greatest hook. He even admits to writing their follow-up hit song "Zip Code" "on demand" to keep the communication theme going, something that I had alluded to in my Five Americans bio in our Garage Band Series without any basis of "fact", just observation and speculation ... it's especially interesting to see that I called it right! (lol)
Mike describes in glorious detail the downfall of Abnak Records (and the sleazy, behind-the-scenes story of its owner, John Abdnor, Sr., who also acted as the band's manager, and his son, Jon Abnor, Jr., who went on to have a Top 20 Hit for the label as Jon and Robin with "Do It Again, Just A Little Bit Slower" ... another one of my Forgotten Hits favorites. Robin ... real name Javonne Braga ... would go on to marry James Wright, one of The Five Americans!) The story behind the "colorful" lawsuit between Abnak Records and AM Powerhouse KLIF Radio in Dallas, who refused to play or chart their second hit record "EVOL, Not Love" because Abdnor, Sr. had given the exclusive "first play" rights to a competing radio station in town, is fascinating!
You'll read how Mike had his throat slit by a drug-crazed hooker ... and how he "broke his face" in a reckless highway accident. You'll read how, despite a pact agreed to by all five members of The Five Americans that drugs would NEVER play a part in their career, Rabon ended up a hopeless junkie, desperate and willing to go through just about any measure to make one more score. (He even tried dealing drugs at one point in time ... but found that he was using more than he was selling ... pretty tough to turn a profit that way!)
In between it all is a fascinating look at "making it in the '60's" ... and the interplay between Mike's two storylines makes this a "can't put it down" read.
All-in-all,
highly recommended ... but with some reservations ... be sure to read our "IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING" observation below before
purchasing.
IF I COULD
CHANGE ONE THING:
Do some fact checking before you write a book!!! Get your
timelines right ... check and double check before you commit it to print.
As good as this book was, it nearly lost me in the second chapter. That's where Mike Rabon described one of the "most vivid memories" of his life ... getting his own record player in 1953 and plopping down the brand new Elvis records "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog" on his little turntable ... and being absolutely mesmerized by the colorful Sun Record Label spinning round and round.
Absolutely,
positively 100% false ... and I've got to be honest with you ... when I read
something like this, it makes every word I read afterwards questionable in my
mind. If he got something as simple, obvious and well-documented as THIS wrong,
what OTHER kinds of mistakes are going to pop up throughout the book that I
also probably shouldn't believe?!?!?
"Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog" BOTH
came out in 1956, not 1953 ... and they both came out on the RCA Victor Record
Label, not Sun. In fact, "Heartbreak Hotel" was Elvis' first RCA
release after the label purchased his contract from Sam Phillips for the then
staggering sum of $35,000.
What's really scary to see is that a good percentage of
Mike's book is off by the same three or four year timeline.
According to "High Strung", Mike partied in Dallas
with Paul and Linda McCartney in 1974, where they were renting rehearsal space
for their American tour ... even though McCartney and Wings toured America for
the very first time in 1976.
Mike was also driving around in 1974 listening to the
Fleetwood Mac album "Rumours" non-stop on his 8-track player ...
three years before the album was actually released. Even the most casual reader
will begin to wonder if Mike Rabon got three year advance copies of
EVERYTHING!!!
And, quite honestly, it's difficult to believe MOST of what
he remembers in his non-stop drug-induced stupor ... if he was even HALF as
fucked-up as he presents himself to be, I don't know how he could possibly
remember a thing ... much less in such colorful detail!!!
It's also hard to imagine that the chick famous for her
plaster-caster penis collection (which included the likes of Jimi Hendrix,
Keith Moon and Jim Morrison) would recognize Mike Rabon from the nameless,
faceless band The Five Americans in a Dallas bar ... and want to add HIS cock
to her Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame collection. Granted, The Five Americans had
five straight Top 40 Hits between January of 1966 and September of 1967 ... but
I doubt that there's an educated Forgotten Hits Reader out there who can name
all five of them without looking it up ... much less identify them by name from
an album cover photograph in their hey-day, let alone seven years later in a
dark bar!
Yet, despite ALL of these distractions, I have to admit that
Mike has written a fascinating book. It's well-written, never dull and tells
the tale of almost having it all ... only to wind up down and out in the
gutter, down to your last quarter. Having ... and losing ... everything,
including your fame, your fortune and your personal dignity is not a story that
Mike is proud to tell. However, it shows again how drink and drugs can destroy
your very being ... and for that reason alone, it deserves digestion by any
up-and-coming rock and roll wannabe ... or anyone who ever dreamed of what fame
and fortune and success might be like in the music business ... it's not a
pretty picture (and hopefully serves as a "wake-up call" to a few
folks out there.
The good news is that, thanks to his family's intervention,
Mike DID clean up his act and was able to pull things together, ultimately
following in both of his parents' footsteps by becoming a school teacher.
I have to believe that he would be the first to admit that he is one of the
fortunate ones who made it through the storm ... and lived to tell about it.
As stated earlier, the reviews for this book have been
exceptional ... every one I've read praises the way Mike tells his story ...
and he's a GREAT storyteller. I just wish he had spent a little more time
getting his facts straight ... as it would make so much more of this
believable.
Still, I
cannot help but recommend this book ... it offers some fascinating insight into
trying to make it in the '60's. I have to believe that MOST bands coming up in
this area were manipulated and mistreated by their managers in much the same
way that Mike and The Five Americans were ... and that's a shame. On the plus
side, many, many years later it sounds like John Abdnor Sr.'s wife finally sent
some legitimate royalty money their way ... and how often does THAT happen?!?!?
(kk)
Hi Kent -
Thanks for posting that picture of Ringo, Joe and their wives.
You are so right ... their wives could be twin sisters! And I LOVE that RINGO is growing his hair long!!!!
Hope he tours again with his All Star Band. I have seen him perform and he makes
great choices for his band!!
Peace and Love (as Ringo would say),
Carolyn
Ringo and His All-Starr Band ARE touring again this summer … but unfortunately (as of right now anyway) no plans for a show here in Chicago.
(And Joe Walsh isn’t one of the “all starrs” this time around either … I think he may be out on the road with The Eagles during some of this time.)
The line-up does include, however, Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Greg Bissonette and Edgar Winter.
We ran the story last week along with this comment from Ringo:
“I can’t wait to get back out on the road and play. This is the longest I’ve been off the road in years – up until 2020, I was touring every year with the All Starrs – and I’ve really missed it. Making music in the studio has been great, and it certainly saved me during the pandemic, but nothing beats playing live with great musicians in front of an audience. I love my fans and they love me and it’s going to be wonderful to be peace and loving and playing for them again.”
The tour dates that have been announced so far include:
May 27th and May 28th, 2022 - Rama, Ontario – Casino Rama
May 30th - Canandaigua, NY – CMAC
June 2nd - Boston, MA – Wang Theater (with The Avett Brothers)
June 3rd - Worcester, MA – Hanover Theater
June 4th - Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion (with The Avett Brothers)
June 6th, 7th and 8th - New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre
June 10th - Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theater
June 11th - Easton, PA – State Theater
June 12th - Providence, RI – PPAC
June 14th and 15th - Baltimore, MD – Modell Lyric
June 17th - Lenox, MA – Tanglewood
June 18th - Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Arena
June 19th - Philadelphia, PA – Metropolitan Theater
June 21st - Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union Live
June 22nd - Atlanta, GA – Cobb Center
June 24th - St Augustine, FL – The AMP
June 25th - Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock
June 26th - Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
Will they be adding any more shows? Unknown at this time … but you can always find more up-to-date information at www.RingoStarr.com (kk)
Speaking of The Eagles, it was announced last Thursday that Deacon Frey (Glenn Frey’s son) will NOT be making the tour this time around, sitting it out due to an “unspecified illness.” The 28-year-old’s return will be based on “his recovery and doctor’s recommendations.” No other details were provided.
The show kicked off yesterday in Savannah, Georgia. (kk)
Eagles 2022 Tour
February 19th – Savannah, GA – Enmarket
Arena (yesterday)
February 21st – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center (tomorrow)
February 24th – Orlando, FL – Amway Center
February 25th – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – FLA Live Arena
February 28th – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
March 2nd – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
March 4th – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
March 17th – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse+
March 19th – Chicago, IL – United Center
March 22nd – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
March 24th – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
March 26th – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
March 28th – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center+
March 30h – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
April 19th – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
April 21st – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center
April 23rd – Belmont Park, NY – USB Arena
April 25th – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 28th – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
April 29th – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
May 14th – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
May 16th – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
May 19th – Austin, TX – Moody Center
May 20th – Austin, TX – Moody Center
May 25th – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena
Jun 17th – Arnhem, Netherlands – Gelredome
Jun 20th – Liverpool, UK – Anfield Stadium
Jun 22nd – Edinburgh, UK – Murrayfield Stadium
Jun 24th – Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium
Jun 26th – London, UK – Hyde Park
And Paul McCartney has just announced HIS 2022 tour dates …
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2022 Thursday 28 April - Spokane,WA - Spokane Arena Monday 2 May - Seattle,WA - Climate Pledge Arena Tuesday 3 May - Seattle,WA - Climate Pledge Arena Friday 6 May - Oakland,CA - Oakland Arena Friday 13 May - Los Angeles,CA - SoFi Stadium Tuesday 17 May - Fort Worth,TX - Dickies Arena Saturday 21 May - Winston Salem,NC - Truist Field Wednesday 25 May - Hollywood,FL - Hard Rock Live Saturday 28 May - Orlando,FL - Camping World Stadium Tuesday 31 May - Knoxville,TN - Thompson Boling Arena Saturday 4 June - Syracuse,NY - Carrier Dome Tuesday 7 June - Boston,MA - Fenway Park Sunday 12 June - Baltimore,MD - Oriole Park Thursday 16 June - East Rutherford,NJ- Met Life Stadium |
|
“I said at the end of the last tour that I’d see you next time. I said I was going to get back to you. Well, I got back!” Paul McCartney |
|
Following more than a year of speculation, Paul announces the GOT BACK Tour, a 13-city return to U.S. stages, kicking off April 28th with Paul’s first ever show in Spokane, WA and running through to June 16th in East Rutherford, NJ.
PRE-SALE INFORMATION: PaulMcCartney.com presale tickets for the GOT BACK tour will be available on Tuesday 22nd February at 12pm local time. Fans signed up to PaulMcCartney.com newsletter will receive an exclusive password ahead of the pre-sale.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday 22nd February at 10am local time.
Tickets for all GOT BACK tour dates will be on public sale Beginning Friday 25th February at 10am local time. |
|
All the best! |
>>>It seemed
like nearly every commercial that aired during The Big Game featured a song by
an artist that played a big part in providing the Soundtrack To Our Lives …
we’re talking about DOZENS of tracks and snippets … and that doesn’t even
include The Half-Time Show!!! (kk)
I noticed that too to my delight! Next year instead of
betting on the game, I should propose a pool on the number of "forgotten
hits" that make it to the commercials. Maybe break it down by decade
or something.
Ed #1
I have always enjoyed the nice write-ups you’ve done on the Chicago 60's bands and sounds that I have seen from time to time in your blog!
Yep ... I’m still doing my WINDY CITY WEDNESDAY on 101.5 and anytime you wanna stop by, just let me know - -
And yes, SNL@THE 70'S still rocking on Saturday nights - - every week that goes by we’re getting some new listeners.
Take care, buddy!
Jeff James
You can listen to BOTH of Jeff’s shows here:
And be sure to send in YOUR requests for Chicago’s only live Saturday Night Request Program! (kk)
Wikipedia lists Gene Pitney's "Blue Angel" (not the Roy Orbison hit) as
written by Roger Cook. Would that be half of Cook and Greenaway? The
following year that Cook relocated to Nashville, where he'd write several more hits, like Crystal Gayle's "Talking in Your Sleep." He is still the only Briton in the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame!
--Bob Frable
It sure is. Gene Pitney recorded a few Cook and Greenaway compositions along the way, including “Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart,” a hit TWICE for Pitney, first as a solo artist in 1967 and then again as a duet with Marc Almond in 1989. (Must be that British connection again!)
“Blue Angel,” which didn’t chart here in The States, was a #2 Hit in Australia. Although it only peaked at #39 in the UK, it became a concert favorite at his shows outside the US, where fans turned it into a bit of a sing-along.
This one was a Roger Cook song all the way. (He even produced Pitney’s record.) kk
>>>And Mike Wolstein sent us this trip down memory lane … (kk)
That's some cool stuff Mike sent in. We heard ALL of those except WKBW (same dial position as KOMA in OKC) and WHOT, where Big Jack Armstrong was also at one time, I believe.
Great stuff, Mike!!!
As to Sugarloaf, I think I have four edits of Green Eyed Lady on vinyl ...
There's the long eight minute LP version, the 5+ and 3:33 versions, BOTH of which were out on 45 when it was a hit and also a 2:58 DJ mix.
Clark Besch
“Green Eyed Lady” is one of those songs I’ve never gotten tired of hearing … love both the long and the single edit … just a great song all the way around. (Their live rendition that I posted the other day from just a short while back was performed flawlessly … great track.)
And when it comes to Two Hit Wonders, it doesn’t get much better than “Green Eyed Lady” and “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You!!!” (kk)
Kent,
First, I enjoyed seeing Mike's Verification of Frequency from WKY 930 here in OKC. When I was on the air one was made for a listener of mine who picked up my show in Australia. That's when I was working for KOMA.
As for the songs that are Venus related, don't forget that Frankie Avalon had a disco version in the late 1970's.
Again, as for actor/singer Bill Hayes, I knew that he had recorded WRINGLE WRANGLE. You may or may not know that actor Fess Parker (Davy Crockett) also recorded THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT as well as WRINGLE WRANGLE on Disneyland records.
Larry
Yes, I never quite understood how Bill Hayes’ version of “Davy Crockett” performed better on the charts than Fess Parker’s did, especially since Parker was in the “Davy Crockett” film … and would then go on to star as Daniel Boone on television!
Keep in mind that this was back in the day where the same song recorded by a variety of artists would often share a chart position until one of those versions broke out of the bunch to clearly lead the pack.
In Billboard, Fess Parker’s version of “Davy Crockett” peaked at #5 on their Best Sellers Chart in 1955. “Wringle Wrangle” (released two years later … and from the film “Westward Ho, The Wagons!,” which ALSO starred Parker), peaked at #12 on their Best Sellers Chart. (It went to #21 on their then-called Top 100 Chart.)
Bill Hayes (obviously also an actor) took his version of “Davy Crockett” all the way to #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers Chart … and it stayed there for five weeks. His version of “Wringle Wrangle” topped out at #33.
Tennessee Ernie Ford and somebody named Walter Schumann also charted with the Crockett theme. Hayes’ version topped the Cash Box Chart for EIGHT weeks. His version of “Wringle Wrangle” also performed better there, peaking at #12. Parker SHARED that #1 position for two of those eight weeks in Cash Box … and both his and Hayes’ version of “Wringle Wrangle” also shared the #12 position. (To my earlier point, Tennesee Ernie Ford shared the #1 spot for two weeks, too, until Bill Hayes broke away from the rest of the pack.) The Voices of Walter Schumann even got credit for one week on top in Music Vendor! (kk)
Check out this Cash Box chart sent in by Randy Price, Guru of all things chart-related.
You’ll find no less than ELEVEN artists sharing the #1 position for “The Ballad Of Davy Crockett” for the week of May 7th. Hayes, Parker and Ford get stars for their “hit” versions … while Tex Stewart, Steve Allen (!), Burl Ives (!), Mac Wiseman, Irving Fields, Rusty Draper, The Voices Of Walter Shumann and even JAMES BROWN (seriously??? For real?!?!) all get credit for recognized versions of this early rock mega-hit. (kk)
Not the same James Brown. This was James E. Brown, who played Lt. Ripley "Rip" Masters on Rin Tin Tin.
For "[The] Ballad Of Davy Crockett," all four artists were listed on the Music Vendor chart for two weeks in late May 1955, when the song was #9 and #10.
Walter Schumann was listed on the Music Vendor charts for two weeks in April, 1955, when the song was #2 and #1. His name was then removed for the next two weeks before it was added back for the two weeks in May.
– Randy Price
Wow, all these actors crossing over to singing careers on the pop charts. (And certainly they weren’t the only ones.) It was a different time in music for sure. Thanks, Randy! (kk)
Kent,
Here's a scan of the Music Vendor issue when "Ballad Of Davy Crockett" was #1 and W. Schumann was listed as an artist, along with B. Hayes, T. E. Ford and F. Parker. Note that, unlike Cash Box at the time, Music Vendor did not specify which version(s) were best-sellers, although I believe they listed the artists in order of popularity of each version.
– Randy Price
Hi Music Lovers,
AN UNEXPECTED ENDORSEMENT FOR “Happy Go Lucky Me – a Lifetime of Music”
It has just been nominated for the 2022 ARSC Awards for “Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research.”
The Association for Recorded Sound Collections is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and study of sound recordings.
When my publisher asked me to write a book about my 60+ years in the music business, who’d have thought (other than my wife) that it would get reviewed as well as it has and be nominated for its Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research?
Certainly not me
A great big “Thank You” to all of you who have let me know that you enjoyed HGLM,
Paul (Evans)
I'm sure by now you're receiving all the press announcements of Record Store Day, 2022. While they published a "complete list": https://recordstoreday.com/PromotionalEvent/585 ...
I found one item missing from the list. They are doing a Jimi Hendrix release.
“Angel (Take 7)” b/w “Message to Love”
Recorded at Hendrix’s newly created recording facility, Electric Lady Studios in 1970, “Angel (Take 7),” makes up Side A of this exclusive 7″ single white vinyl release. The track is being released for the first time and will be included as part of the 3CD/DVD Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision package due out in June.
Side B includes the previously unreleased “Message to Love” that was recorded in 1970 at New York Pop Festival at Downing Stadium on New York’s Randall’s Island.
Ken Voss
Happy 82nd Birthday to William "Smokey" Robinson This Weekend!
Imagine a world where we never heard Smokey Robinson's songs or voice?
Last century I was invited to the
Bel-Air mansion of Berry Gordy, Jr., the founder of Motown Records for an
interview. I asked BG about his first impression of Smokey Robinson.
"Smokey Robinson ... My first impression was he was great, a great poet, but he didn’t know how to really write songs, or put songs together. When he learned how to put stuff together and he really understood, Smokey was incredible. When I turned down his first 100 songs, he got more excited with every song. I said, “This guy has to be either crazy or one of the most special people I’ll ever meet.” He was incredible. He turned out to be one of the most special people I ever met.
So now Smokey has succeeded at the cycle of success. It takes a lot of character, because you are tempted along the way. The cycle of success is a vicious cycle. It takes you into places. People offer you things never offered before. To succeed and be successful is tough so it takes a lot of character. You got to keep your same values. So Smokey has done that."
Harvey Kubernik
And a final smile from Mike Wolstein …
Lawrence Welk would have been turning over in his grave.
I still laugh when I watch this rendition of "One Toke Over the Line" by this young couple.
The New Gospel?
Mike
I’m sure that’s EXACTLY what they thought. (Talk about clueless!!!)
We’ve run this clip before … but it’s certainly worth another look.
And the REAL one’s not too bad either!!! (kk)
GREAT STUFF COMING UP IN FORGOTTEN HITS …
Tomorrow our Coast-To-Coast 1972 Survey Journey stops in New Jersey …
And then you’ve just GOT to check out our special 2/22/22 celebration on Tuesday …
(That’s a WHOLE LOTTA 2’s!!!)
And WE’VE got a whole lotta 2’s, too!!!
It’s a countdown that’s second to none … or, perhaps more accurately, second to ALL …
You’ll have to just stop back and see for yourself.
It all kicks off at 6 am … and runs straight thru to 6 pm … and you won’t want to miss it! (kk)
