It’s been a week since our last confession … I mean publication … of current material so some of this information is likely out of date for some of you … but we still don’t want these events to go unnoticed.
Over 1.85 million votes have already been cast in this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Ballot. Right now, Eminem and Duran Duran are neck-and-neck at the top of the heap, each with approximately 270,000 votes ... but Pat Benatar, Dolly Parton, Eurythmics, Judas Priest, Lionel Richie and Carly Simon now each have over 100,000 votes as well. (In fact, Pat is closing in on the 200,000 mark as I type this.) kk
>>>..The Rock Hall has been pushing for Rap Artists to get in for some time now ... and quite a few have made it ... but to my ears, NONE of them have ever been as clever, talented and original as Eminem (kk)
This reminds me of my first learning about Eminem in this article on page 3 of the March 6, 1999, issue of Billboard. They were not fans. Times have changed I guess. As for me, with a few exceptions, Eminem is still a button-pusher on my car radio.
Ed #1
It took me a little while to appreciate the depth and cleverness of Eminem. Early on, I agreed with Billboard’s assessment that Marshall Mathers’ “Slim Shady” LP contained a lot of negative and angry content … in Billboard’s own words, “a debut album whose main themes include drugging, raping, and murdering women.”
Between his many multi-characters: Eminem, Marshall Mathers, Slim Shady, Stan … one wasn’t really sure WHO this new artist was … and his early lyrics were more inciting than insightful …
But as he grew as an artist, I found that there was a lot of truth in some of what he was saying … and also that he was providing enough fodder to make you consider some perspective that might not otherwise have crossed your mind.
Honestly, I didn’t keep up with him for long … this music just wasn’t my thing.
But the whole concept of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was to acknowledge artists who brought something new to the genre of rock and roll … and Eminem certainly did that. (Not that I don’t enjoy their music, but what did Bon Jovi, for example, bring to the table that wasn’t already there that got THEM into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? To me, they’re just a VERY successful bar band who just happened to click with millions of people all over the world … but hey, isn’t that ALSO the case with The Monkees, who reached a far greater audience thru their TV show, and gratified millions with their feel-good brand of rock and roll? Yet they’ve never even made the ballot.) [See, that’s what I love about Forgotten Hits … where else are you going to see Eminem and The Monkees mentioned in the same paragraph?!?!]
I cast my two votes for Eminem and Pat Benatar, long overlooked for her contribution to the Women Who Rock Movement. I honestly couldn’t come up with the five allowable votes this time … even with a record seventeen names on the ballot! What a shame. (kk)
The new nominees for The Illinois Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have just been announced. (You have to be a Charter Member in order to vote)
In the various categories, we find …
Recording Label - Pick 1
Aligator
Vee-Jay
Mercury
Radio Station - Pick 1
WXRT
WLUP
WCFL
DJ - Pick 1
Mitch Michaels
Steve Dahl
Terri Hemmert
John Records Landecker
Bob Sirott
Songwriter - pick 2
Willie Dixon
Dennis DeYoung
Richard Marx
Jim Peterik
Lionel Richie
Band or Solo Artist Pick 4
Dan Fogelberg
Styx
New Colony 6
Smashing Pumpkins
Sam Cooke
Alison Krauss
Chuck Berry
Chi-Lites
Howlin' Wolf
Nat King Cole
Chaka Kahn
Jackie DeShannon
More info here as to how to register … and background on the Illinois Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and its previous inductees …
Route 66 the Road to Rock| Music Museum| Joliet, IL|
Hi,
I just voted for the inductees, but was sad to see my nominees of the Cryan’ Shames and Ron Riley and the Mob were not even on the ballot and wonder why? I did not know a certain number of people needed to nominate a person before they could even be on the ballot. Does it say that somewhere? Just disappointed my selections were ignored.
Thanks,
Clark
I know they went thru the nominating process, asking for suggestions, but I don’t know if the rules were clear as to what it took to qualify somebody to actually make the ballot.
As for me, I am NOT a Charter Member so therefore I am ineligible to vote …
But looking over the categories, I know who I WOULD be voting for if I were able! (In fact, I’ve filled out MY ballot above!) kk
Classic Rock claimed its spot during The Super Bowl this year …
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!!!
Some of the ones that WE caught (and are songs that we would all remember) are: “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by The Animals, “Little Green Bag” by The George Baker Selection, “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles, “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba, “Showdown” by The Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac’s “Little Lies,” “Electric Avenue” by Eddy Grant, “Somebody To Love” by The Jefferson Airplane, “Breaking The Law” by Judas Priest, “Long Tall Sally” by Little Richard, “Stuck On You” by Lionel Richie, “Push It” by Salt-n-Pepa, Simple Minds’ “Don’t You Forget About Me,” “Baby, One More Time” by Britney Spears, Survivor’s “Eye Of The Tiger,” “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain, “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” by Bonnie Tyler, “Fingertips, Part 2” by Stevie Wonder (Damn! That's a pretty good playlist all by itself!!!) kk
Speaking of The Super Bowl, have you seen this picture of Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh at the game with their wives?!?!
Barbara Bach and her sister Marjorie could pass for TWINS!!!
(Yep ... Ringo and Joe ... real-life brothers-in-law!) kk
Hi Kent,
I finally took the first step towards trying to
launch a music history podcast or perhaps a regular guest appearance on a radio
show.
Last week, I did a music history show for Rag
Radio, based in Austin. It was all kinds of fun to tell stories about some of
the artists and their songs that I have learned over the years.
Below is a link to the archived radio show. You
can click the Play button and listen to it anytime. And feel free to share it
with any friends who might be interested.
https://archive.org/details/rag-radio-2022-02-04-bill-oakey
If you
would like to give some feedback to the host, you can email Thorne Dreyer at: tdreyer@austin.rr.com
Big Jay Sorensen also sent along this link featuring Chicago Radio Jingles …
https://wgnradio.com/bob-sirott/the-best-of-chicagos-vintage-radio-jingles/ … apparently something Bob Sirott (who I just voted for above!) featured on his program recently. (kk)
[I should mention that my vote for Bob doesn’t actually COUNT … because I am NOT a Charter Member of The Illinois Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame … but hey, it’s the thought that counts!!! – kk]
A BIG part of Chicago radio in the ‘60’s was Ron Riley over at WLS … MUST listening for any kid growing up in Chicago at the time …
I’m not on Facebook, but a friend sent this to me from Mark Lindsay's facebook post today. Ron Riley, the great WLS DJ getting some good accolades!
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10162230951792715&set=a.10151814866467715
A Ron Riley Documentary is also in the works right now … and, being a Forgotten Hits Reader, he chimes in from time to time.
Ron, if you see this, please let us know how things are going! (kk)
And Mike Wolstein sent us this trip down memory lane …
Hi, Kent ...
Well, I got silly this time.
When I saw that list of rock stations that Clark Besch mentioned in his post a couple of days ago, I realized that these were stations I was listening to back in the day, and that I'd written to, in hopes of getting verifications of reception. It was fun hearing 50kW rock stations from both coasts here in Chi-town, but what was more fun was picking up 250 watt (nighttime) stations from 1000 miles away and getting a really cool letter back from the station's chief engineer, who was astounded that I could pick them up.
So, I
tossed a few pictures of a few of my "QSL cards" together below (the
ones that Clark mentioned), plus a couple that
the greatest rock DJ in history, Dick Biondi, worked for in the early days. The
KIXZ one is one of my faves, as it's in Amarillo, Texas and was running 250
watts.
Mike
More from Mike …
Hi, Kent.
Here's a little piece from my collection ...
About 15 years ago, I
mentioned to Dick Biondi that I'd been close with Deon Jackson for many years, and I asked if he'd like to interview him. He said he
was interested, so I had Deon call him, and Dick chatted with him and played
"Love Makes the World Go Round" (1966, Carla Records, a division
of Atlantic Records) on the air.
This took place on March 22, 2007, when Dick was with WLS-FM 4.7 (track attached)
Mike
I always liked this song ... a #11 hit in early 1966. (kk)
>>>Several years ago, Micky Dolenz recorded what I consider to be his best solo album, “King For A Day,” a salute to Carole King’s music. (King, of course, wrote several songs for The Monkees’ songbook, including the #2 1967 smash “Pleasant Valley Sunday.”) Here is MY favorite track on that album … a new reading of The Everly Brothers’ 1962 hit “Crying In The Rain” … recorded as a duet with his sister Coco Dolenz. (kk)
Thanks for mentioning this Mickey Dolenz LP ...
I just downloaded it and am enjoying these versions.
Here's another version of "Crying In The Rain" that caught my ears last year.
The group is a South African duo who call themselves The Dream Merchants. They released a few LPs in the late 60's, and another one much later.
I've found 19 songs by them. Their sound is much like the Walker Brothers and/or the Righteous Brothers.
See what you think.
Wmbradspa
Totally liking this arrangement …
Yeah, it’s country … but so were The Everly Brothers to a great degree.
Good version. (I would have NEVER guessed South African!)
Thanks, Brad! (kk)
I don't know if you already know this or not, but “Sugarloaf” took their name from the name of a Rocky Mountain outside of Boulder, Colorado, a well-known college town near Denver.
Chuck Buell
Wild Bill Cody, a disc jockey from Colorado who spent a WHOLE lot of time visiting with us here in Forgotten Hits, was VERY familiar with Jerry Corbetta, Sugarloaf and their various incarnations.
Here’s a GREAT version of a reformed Sugarloaf performing their big hit “Green Eyed Lady” live in 2011! Outstanding! (kk)
Many have Dreamed, Studied, and Longed for The Passion Planet of VENUS ... In August of 197,0 'SugarLoaf ' had their VENUS Hit with 'Green Eyed Lady,' written by: David Riordan / J.C. Phillips / Jerry Corbetta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdeTEdE3F54 (6:57)
Green Eyed Lady lovely lady
Strolling slowly towards the sun
Green eyed lady ocean lady
Soothing every raging wave that comes
Green eyed lady passion's lady
Dressed in love she lives for life to be
Green eyed lady feels like I never see
Setting suns and lonely lovers free
Green eyed lady windswept lady
Moves the night the waves the sand
Green eyed lady ocean lady
Child of nature friend of man
Green eyed lady passions lady
Dressed in love she lives for life to be
Green eyed lady feels like I never see
Setting suns and lonely lovers free
In August of 1970, 'SugarLoaf' had their VENUS Hit with 'Green Eyed Lady'
written by: David Riordan / J.C. Phillips / Jerry Corbetta
In 1969, 'Shocking Blue' had their Hit with VENUS written by: Leeuwen Van Robert H J Rob
In 1960, 'Frankie Avalon' had a Hit with VENUS written by: Marshall Edward H
Kent,
Thank You so much for All that you do
Kindest Regards,
L J
L J Coon
And let’s not forget “Venus In Blue Jeans” by Jimmy Clanton!
(And what about “Venus and Mars” by McCartney???) kk
In Phil Nee’s Interview in FH with Jerry Corbetta today, Corbetta related that songwriter Stephen Bishop is compiling a book about where, when and on what lyrics to pop songs were written (for instance, Sugarloaf’s “Green-Eyed Lady,” he says, was written on a Taco Bag!)
I wonder if this book ever came out as I think those stories could be very interesting!
I did a little digging of my own because, like you, I found the idea of such a book quite fascinating.
I even tried to contact Stephen Bishop myself to find out the status … did he ever finish the book? And was happy to get this email back shortly thereafter …
Hi Kent!
Thanks so much for contacting Stephen Bishop!
Yes, he released his book “Songs in the Rough” in 1996. It sold out three times. A few copies are still available on the internet. It's really one of the most in-depth and well researched books on rough drafts.
Team Bish
So of course now I had to have it!!! (lol) The book is out there if you look hard enough for it ... I found used copies (in varying condition) on both Amazon and eBay … and actually ordered a “Very Good” copy.
(I still think this is a very interesting concept, especially coming from another songwriter. Depending on which promo you believe, Bishop tracked down either 60 or 80 sets of original handwritten lyrics, including those for "Heartbreak Hotel," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and some of Buddy Holly's tunes. TWO of his own sets of lyrics also appear in the book ... and it won't cost you $1000 to view them like it will if you try to purchase a set of his handwritten lyrics on his website!!! lol) kk
https://www.stephenbishop.com/
Of course, you can always watch Stephen’s scene in “Animal House” for free!!! (kk)
Remarkable bit of research on the Sweet 16 piece
Rick
On February 9th, Ian McDonald, a founding member of the rock group Foreigner, passed away of cancer. He was 75.
Prior to starting Foreigner, McDonald founded the highly praised King Crimson along with Robert Fripp and Greg Lake. While Foreigner enjoyed massive pop success on the chart, King Crimson took a more “high-brow” approach … their album “In The Court Of The Crimson King” is considered to be a masterpiece of its genre.
Ian’s Foreigner bandmate Al Greenwood said, “My bandmate and close friend Ian McDonald passed away peacefully yesterday. He was like a brother to me. A true musical genius, Ian’s musicianship was an integral part of launching both King Crimson and Foreigner into legendary status. His contribution to Foreigner’s success was immense. Ian was a dear friend, a kind and wonderful man, and I will miss him terribly”. (kk)
Sting is the latest major artist to go the garage sale route
with his song catalog … and I think he ended up on the right side of this coin
toss!
He got $250 Million in the deal, which includes all of his solo work as well as
the songs he wrote as a member of The Police.
After running Chuck Buell's Valentine's Day Gift Guide last week, it seemed only fitting to run this follow-up piece that he sent us ...
This just in!
And the Winner is ~~~ this Forgotten Hitter, whose wife on Valentine’s Day thought it would be a romantic and sentimental gesture to share with him an old photo of her and her then future husband from their early 1960s dating years.
After taking a long look at it, he said softly, “So Cool. I loved that Old Car!”
Guess who slept alone in the Bean Bag Chair that night.
CB ( which stands for "Cupid Boy!" )
Kent,
A few day ago, while you were discussing THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT, you might remember that you said or one of your readers, said that he was still alive. I thought I heard that he had passed away some years ago, so I checked and sure enough, he is still alive.
You may not know this, but he had a few follow-up recordings. Two were MESSAGE FROM JAMES DEAN and THE LEGEND OF WYATT EARP, both on Cadence and both from 1956. Wyatt Earp was one of those westerns I watched religiously every Tuesday evening at 7;30, OKC time on ABC.
Larry Neal
The very first thing I did when I received that email about Bill Hayes was check the “Dead Or Alive” website! (lol) Amazing that he is STILL acting on this show at the age of 93!!!
I don’t know about those other two hits you’ve mentioned, but Hayes DID make one more trip into The Top 40 in 1957 with a record called “Wringle, Wrangle.” It peaked at #33 in Billboard … but went all the way to #12 in Cash Box Magazine … and #15 in Music Vendor. (kk)
I LOVE this song by them! In my fave 45s boxes!!!
Clark
I wasn't familiar with this tune so I had to give it a listen ...
And now you can, too! (kk)
(Of course these guys are best remembered for their two back-to-back hits from 1971, "One Toke Over The Line" (#8) and "Tarkio Road" (#39) kk
YES Legend Jon Anderson w/ The Paul Green Rock Academy To Play Select Shows Spring 2022!
Legendary YES vocalist / songwriter Jon Anderson will be playing select shows with The Paul Green Rock Academy in April 2022!
This Jon Anderson with The Paul Green Rock Academy tour is a resumption of the tradition started in 2005 when Jon toured with Paul Green's original School of Rock all stars.
These early shows, over 30 in total between 2006-2008, were nothing short of magical, and now Jon Anderson returns to continue that magic with a set of Yes Classics, deep cuts, mash ups, and solo works, all with lush arrangements featuring choral singing, horns, and all the other benefits of having a backing band with 25 young musicians.
THE ONE THING ABOUT CREATING MUSIC WITH YOUNG MUSICIANS AND SINGERS IS THE ADVENTURE OF IT ALL..
I SANG AND TOURED WITH THE PAUL GREEN SCHOOL OF ROCK MANY YEARS AGO...IT WAS A MIRACLE FOR ME TO JOIN IN WITH THEIR YOUNG ENERGY...AND LEARN FROM THEM..
NOW HERE WE ARE WITH THE PAUL GREEN ROCK ACADEMY …….
AND AGAIN, THEIR EXCITEMENT AND JOY FOR MAKING MUSIC REALLY MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE .... PLUS THEY ARE A REALLY TALENTED BUNCH….
THERE IS A FUTURE IN MUSIC, AND THESE YOUNG SOULS PROVE IT EVERY TIME I HEAR THEM SING AND PLAY...
I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING SPENDING TIME WITH THE FUTURE OF ROCK 'N' ROLL..
MANY BLESSINGS…
JON ANDERSON..
Jon Anderson with The Paul Green Rock Academy tour dates:
Wednesday, April 6, Variety Playhouse in Atlanta,
GA
Sunday, April 10. Capital Theatre in Clearwater, FL
Tuesday, April 12, King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, FL
Thursday, April 14, The Plaza Live in Orlando, FL
Saturday, April 16, ROSFEST at the Sarasota Opera House, Sarasota, FL
Plans for a major North American tour in the summer 2022 are currently in the works!
Watch Jon Anderson with the Paul Green Rock Academy - HEART OF THE SUNRISE promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPdy9VRHeAA
Jon Anderson is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable voices in music as the lead vocalist and creative force behind YES. Anderson was the author and a major creative influence behind the ground-breaking album “Fragile” as well as the series of epic, complex pieces such as “Awaken,” “Gates of Delirium” and especially “Close to the Edge” which were central to the band's success. Additionally, Anderson co-authored the group's biggest hits, including “I've Seen All Good People,” “Roundabout” and “Owner Of A Lonely Heart.” After 50 years of success in the music business, Jon has worked with many variations of YES, as well as collaborations with Vangelis, Kitaro, Roine Stolt and Jean-Luc Ponty. He has released several critically acclaimed solo albums including “Olias of Sunhillow,” “Song of Seven,” “Animation,” “Three Ships,” “Toltec” and “Survival and Other Stories” to name just a few. In 2017 Jon reformed YES with former band members Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman. YES Featuring ARW toured the world to rave reviews and released “Live At The Apollo” CD/DVD in September 2018. Never to stand still musically, in 2019 Jon released an album he started 28 years ago, now called “1,000 Hands,” a reference to the fact that numerous guest musicians perform on the album, including Ian Anderson, Billy Cobham, Jean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Zap Momma, Chris Squire, Alan White, Steve Howe and many more.
For more information:
Paul Green official website: www.PaulGreenRock.com
Jon Anderson’s official website: www.JonAnderson.com
What do you have in your pockets?
Now, think!
Are your pockets essential to your success in work?
Last night I experienced a pocket concert.
That is ... a concert being streamed through the use of a phone dropped into a pocket.
I was truly surprised by the quality of the sound. Usually, phones do not transmit the highest quality of sound. I know it was not just my opinion as this was being streamed on FaceBook and comments went by declaring how wonderful and unexpected the quality of the vocals were. Originally, there WAS a picture, but when the concert began, the phone was inserted into a pocket and the visuals disappeared. It kept me laughing to read the comments.
"What happened to the picture?"
"We are in his pocket."
"Why can't I see anything?"
"He put the phone in his pocket and forgot to turn it off!"
"I just came in. I can hear the music, but why is it dark?"
"We are in his pocket."
Did he forget to turn it off? Was it intentional? idk.
After 'Ring of Fire' was performed, the phone WAS turned off. Then I thought about Lou Christie's demonstration of how he maintains the falsetto in his songs and decided I wanted never to know any more details. I will never ask which pocket we were in.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
Hi,
Kent!
I found these in my "miscellany files" while searching for something
else ... some fun 20th anniversary stuff
[Some quotations by musical personalities, 'stolen' from: Best Quotes of 2002, Metroactive
Features (From the January 2-8, 2003, issue of the North Bay Bohemian. Copyright © Metro Publishing Inc. Maintained
by Boulevards New Media)
"A YEAR IN QUOTATIONS ...
And ye shall know us by the words we spoke –
compiled
by Larry Engelmann"
1. "I'm sorry. I'm very young."
-- Britney Spears on why she had never heard of Yoko Ono or Linda McCartney
(Us, March 25)
2. "I think MTV should consider using subtitles. Half the time even I
can't understand what the fuck I'm talking about."
-- Ozzy Osbourne, featured on MTV's The Osbournes (San Francisco
Chronicle, March 28)
3. "Look at him and how fried his brains are from taking drugs all those
years, and everyone will say, 'I don't want to be like that.'"
-- Dan Quayle, praising the "antidrug" promotional value
of heavy-metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne (Newsweek, May 20)
4. "People wonder why they can't understand him. Well, you'd be hard to
understand, too, if you drank two vats of coffee, two vats of wine, and took 25
Vicodin a day. I can't stop him. The only thing I can do is make sure he sleeps
in a way that he won't choke to death on his own vomit."
-- Sharon Osbourne on her husband, Ozzy (Us, May 20)
5. "That's a real job, and a musician's life is spent avoiding real
work."
-- Bruce Springsteen, explaining why he doesn't want to run for
the U.S. Senate from New Jersey (Entertainment Weekly, Aug. 9)
6. "I was very involved with the very early punk scene. I remember meeting
Johnny Rotten when he was known as Jack Overripe."
-- Kermit the Frog (San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 6)
7. "I hyperventilate opening a box of chocolates. I'm the most nervous guy
in the world, a frightened little man on red alert from when I wake until I go
to sleep. I was born with fear."
-- Rock star Ozzy Osbourne (Newsweek, Nov. 4)
8. "Obviously, I have this sort of strange animal magnetism. It's very
hard to take my eyes off myself."
-- Mick Jagger (Us, Nov. 11)
9. "I don't like pop music."
-- Michael Jackson, King of Pop, in Berlin (Reuters, Nov. 27)
10. "If you don't have a flag sticking out of your ass, you must be a communist."
-- Chrissie Hynde on the new American patriotism (Rolling Stone,
Dec. 12)
You’ve gotta wonder what
some of THEM would think, reading back some of their quotes from 2020! (kk)
