In celebration of Elton John’s 75th birthday on March 25th, Billboard Magazine has put together a list of staff picks selecting his Best 75 Songs.
While we’re not going to list them all … (that’s what the link is for!) … we WILL give you a few highlights from the list …
(And let me point out IMMEDIATELY that by NO means am I in ANY way agreeing with these chart positions!!!)
#75 – His most recent chart-hit with Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart” (which was also his 68th career Hot 100 Pop Hit)
#43 – “Elderberry Wine” (a GREAT B-Side!)
#40 – “Harmony”
#25 – “Sacrifice” (see #75 above!)
#24 – “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (with Kiki Dee)
#10 – “The Bitch Is Back”
# 9 – “Take Me To The Pilot”
# 8 – “Philadelphia Freedom”
# 7 – “Bennie And The Jets”
# 6 – “I’m Still Standing”
# 5 – “Tiny Dancer”
# 4 – “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”
# 3 – “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
# 2 – “Your Song”
# 1 – “Funeral For A Friend” / “Love Lies Bleeding”
Also on the list: “Mama Can’t Buy You Love,” “Believe” (one of MY favorites), “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” (but the duet with George Michael version!) … along with a whole bunch of obscure tracks that I’d have to listen to in order to determine if I even recognized them! (kk)
In a follow-up piece, Billboard asked several recording artists to name their favorite Elton John song …
Here are a few of the responses ...
Neil Diamond and Annie Lennox both chose “Rocket Man”
Garth Brooks: “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”
Lionel Richie: “Your Song”
Jimmy Buffett: “Country Comfort”
Sheryl Crow: “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”
Diane Warren (who has written a few hit songs of her own!): “Candle in the Wind”
Sting: “Come Down in Time”
Dionne Warwick: “Daniel”
Billy Joel and Sara Bareilles both chose “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”
(Billy says he and Elton used to perform the song together during their Piano Men Tour … and he’ll still do it again today from time to time)
Dua Lipa, who just charted (Top Ten US and #1 UK) with her duet with Elton of “Cold Heart,” which “borrows” from FOUR different Elton John songs: “Rocket Man,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” “Bennie and The Jets”
She says: It’s impossible to pick just one favorite from Elton’s iconic catalog of songs, so I’ll give you three: “Rocket Man,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and “Bennie and The Jets.” His songs work for any situation — singing in the shower or the car, or a night out with friends. I just want Elton with me wherever I go.
And I have ALWAYS loved this story …
Donny Osmond: “Your Song”
“Back in 1976, my brother and I picked up our respective dates and took them to see Elton’s concert in Salt Lake City. When Elton started playing ‘Your Song,’ I remember looking at my brother’s date and thinking to myself, ‘I’m going to marry that girl someday. Debbie and I will be celebrating 44 years of marriage this coming May. Thanks Elton. It was your song, Your Song.’ that made it happen.”
Genesis has announced collectively that their show last night at The 02 in London will be their last show ever. The “Last Domino” Tour has wrapped up and Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks are once again going their separate ways. (The tour was excruciatingly painful for Collins from the beginning … his son took over on drums and Phil spent most of the evening performing from a chair at most of the shows.)
Still, it was great to see them regroup and go out and do this one more time. And now that they’ve fulfilled that dream, we wish them all well.
(Will there be new Genesis music WITHOUT a tour??? This remains to be seen. And don’t be surprised if a final live album is also in the works!) kk
>>>In honor of Paul Haney’s 30th anniversary at Record Research, you can now purchase Joel Whitburn’s “Comparison Chart” book for THIRTY DOLLARS OFF for a limited time. (This is an absolute MUST HAVE volume for ANYONE out there who follows the charts of the Forgotten Hits Era.) Pick up your copy today! (Or, at THIS great price, pick up a spare!) kk
https://www.recordresearch.com/books/the-comparison-book-1954-1982/
Guys,
I need another Whitburn book like I need a hole in the head!
Thus, I just ordered the Comparison Book at $30 off and will be sending this info to a lot of friends because even tho I have each book of BB, CB, RW individual books with all the label info, THIS is what I will use most probably.
Paul, you have suckered me again. haha
Clark Besch
Earlier this week I learned from Carl Giammarese that The Buckinghams have just been added to the 2022 Happy Together Tour … congratulations to Carl and Nick! (Guess they’ll have to redo their poster! Lol)
Carl told me that The Bucks were added late to replace Chuck Negron, who
had to bow out due to health reasons. As
such, they will be onboard for all but eight of the 53 shows as The Buckinghams
had previously booked shows this summer for those eight dates. (This has got to be the 7th or 8th time now that The Bucks have been part of the touring line-up!)
We ran a complete list of tour dates a week or two ago … scroll back if you missed it. (kk)
And former Buckinghams Drummer Tommy Scheckel, most recently a member of Paul Revere’s Raiders for the past decade or so, told me that their show at The Arcada Theatre (with Jay and the Americans) on April 3rd will be the band’s last.
In his own words …
Hi Kent –
Hope all is well with you and yours.
You may have heard (or may have already written) that The Raiders’ Arcada show on April 3rd will be our last. It's a poetic ending for us, as Paul Revere's last performance on earth was also at The Arcada. (April 13th, 2014, almost 8 years to the day)
45+ year Raider, Doug Heath, had retired last year for family reasons and now our other 45+ year member, Ron Foos, has retired as well. We're down to just a couple guys form the original six we had in the Raiders touring band when Paul passed away, so we decided to say farewell. The band name has been removed from circulation and we're all moving on.
Ron Foos will be with us at The Arcada for what I'm sure will be a bittersweet, emotional evening, but high energy nonetheless! Our good friends, Jay and the Americans, will help see us off, probably with a good, hard kick in the tights!
We’ll still have Danny Krause, Ron Foos and myself at the show so 3 out of 5 ain't bad. And Dave Huizenga has been our lead vocalist for three years now.
I personally have nothing planned moving forward … so now I just wander around asking everyone, from the UPS driver at my door, the Starbucks barista, the girl at the bank - "Hey, do you guys need a drummer?!!"
I want to thank you for all the great press and wonderful friendship you've given us over the years, both before and after Paul's passing. You're the best and you deserve every accolade and great success you've had with Forgotten Hits.
We hope to see you at The Arcada!
Tommy Scheckel
We were at Paul’s final show … who knew (although I remember commenting at the time that he didn’t look well … but I don’t think anybody really knew for sure that he was that near the end, other than the guys in the band apparently … he had already asked them to carry on the long-standing tradition as Paul Revere’s Raiders after he was gone.) So Sad.
But what a fitting way to go out … at The Arcada. (We don’t have tickets for this show and I have seen that Ron Onesti sent out a “Low Ticket Alert” … so you guys should be playing off to a near full house on April 3rd.
I wish only the best for you and the guys … and thank you all again for the DECADES of fun and entertainment that you have provided. We, as fans, have loved every minute of it. (kk)
Collector’s Call returns to the Me-TV line-up this week (starting today at 5:30 pm Central)
It’s a pretty amazing show, spotlighting collectors from all over the country who have some of the most amazing memorabilia collections around.
(In a special email to help relaunch the show, Me-TV sent out a list of The Top Ten most value items they’ve come across so far … VERY cool to see both Jim Peterik and The Monkees … via The Monkeemobile … represented. And how awesome would it be to actually own a set of Disney Haunted Mansion mannequins, one of only THREE sets that exist in the world today?!?!)
Check your local listings to see if this program airs near you. (kk
https://www.metv.com/lists/the-top-10-most-valuable-items-weve-seen-so-far-on-collectors-call
Speaking of The Monkees …
Enjoyed your recent blog … especially the feature on Boyce and Hart and the Monkees. I was on tour with those guys during my days at KYA in San Francisco ... really connected with Michael Nesmith and still keep in touch with Bobby Hart ... not only a super talent. but a super guy.
Stay well -
Johnny Holliday
I was already locked into the NC6 45s by 1968, but "I Will Always Think About You" was certainly a game changer and a great 45 indeed. ALL of them were, but I think their biggest nationally, "Things I'd like to Say" was actually NOT as good as many others, don't get me wrong -- IT's GREAT still.
This may sound a bit strange, but had the song “Happiness Is Me And You” been available to the NC6 at the time, it could have been a perfect follow-up to "I Will Always Think About You." Just pretend you don't hear Gilbert and insert Ronnie's vocal. Give it a bit more lush orchestration, too. Gilbert's was #1 on my personal charts six years later in 1974.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mjTh7iuYTM
Clark Besch
Thanks for the great write up on The New Colony Six, Kent!!!
One year later I was in the band.
I was the one who landed the two years in Hawaii - two years in a row. It was awesome driving the highway from the airport in a convertible listening to I Will Always Think About You on the AM(!) radio ... followed by a sold out show at The University of Hawaii at their band shell.
Bruce Gordon
Fans and band members alike were completely shocked to learn of the death of Foo Fighters’ Drummer Taylor Hawkins, who was found dead in his hotel room in Bogata, Columbia. (The Foo Fighters were scheduled to perform in Bogata on Friday night, March 25th.) No official cause of death was announced.
In a statement to their fans, The Foo Fighters posted this acknowledgement:
“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time.”
They are also scheduled to perform at this year’s Grammy Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 3rd … no word yet on whether or not that performance will take place.
Bobby Hendricks Has Died.
He Started With Five Crowns … Next Was With The Swallows. He Also Spent Eight Months With The Drifters. In 1958, He Had A Solo Hit With "ITCHY TWITCHY FEELING.”
FB
Bobby made The Top 100 twice as a solo artist … “Itchy Twitchy Feeling” (which featured The Coasters on background vocals, by the way!) went to #25 in 1958 … and then, a couple of years later, he earned at #73 hit with a song called “Psycho,” written by former Drifter Clyde McPhatter. (It was recorded as a duet with New York Disc Jockey Dr. Jive, who played the role of the psychiatrist on the record!) Ironically, BOTH of these records performed MUCH better in Billboard than they did in the other national trades. (“Itchy Twitchy Feeling” only got to #76 in Music Vendor and #42 in Cash Box … that’s a far cry from its #25 showing in Billboard … while “Psycho” peaked at #82 in Cash Box and #91 in Music Vendor.) Bobby also “bubbled under” (in Music Vendor only) with a record called “I’m Coming Home” in 1961. (#103)
Bobby was only with The Drifters for a short time … but he sang the lead on their 1958 #58 hit “Drip Drop,” which Dion DiMucci took into The Top Ten five years later. Ironically, “Drip Drop” ONLY made Billboard’s Pop Chart … Cash Box and Music Vendor didn’t recognize it at all … so again, a rather wide discrepancy on the record’s overall performance. (kk)
>>>Other stand-out singles include "Ventura Highway," "Don't Cross The River," "Lonely People" and "Woman Tonight.” In addition to their hit singles list, they've got some INCREDIBLE album tracks that likely would have been just as popular had they been given more attention. Fortunately, as this was era of "The Soft Rock, Singer / Songwriter '70's," so a lot of these songs still found airplay at the time. (kk)
Hey Kent:
There are a number of non-hits from America that are big favorites of mine. You mentioned several of them in your posting
Check out a song from their 1998 LP called "Pages." I didn't find this one until last year, and it's among my favorites now.
They also released an LP of cover songs called "Back Pages" that has some really good stuff on it. If you're not familiar with this 12 song collection, you should be. Their versions of "America" (Simon and Garfunkel) and "Time Of The Season" (Zombies) are excellent. But the other 10 songs are also quite enjoyable.
"Sister Golden Hair" is likely in my TOP 10 favorite all time songs. And even at their worst, America's tunes are always enjoyable to my ears.
Brad
America’s “Back Pages” albums is one of my all-time favorites by them … we have taken it along on many a road trip over the past several years … which is kind of ironic in a way, as my favorite track on the album is “A Road Song,” a new discovery for me at the time. I always thought the idea of America singing “America” was pretty cool, too! But they also do interesting takes on “Caroline, No,” the title track, “My Back Pages,” “Till I Hear It From You,” “Woodstock” and several others. High recommended. (kk)
Hi there Kent,
I thoroughly enjoyed your March 23rd blog entry devoted to Harvey Kubernik's article on Eddie Cochran and Gold Star Studio.
Even though I don't remember Eddie Cochran at the time (although I think I do remember hearing that amazing echo at the end of Sitting In The Balcony when I
was extremely young, like three years old), there's something about the music of the fifties that is so fun and up lifting. Life was so innocent and times were so different then. It seemed that everybody liked Ike, and most parents hated Elvis Presley.
It's always wonderful to read Harvey Kubernik's great articles, and he certainly is a great wealth of knowledge, as are you also, Kent.
One thing I recently learned from you was that the original version of Can't Get Enough Of You Baby was by the 4 Seasons. I don't think it's as terrible as you seem to think, but certainly ? and the Mysterians’ version of the song is a lot better.
I just wish there was some way for me as a totally blind person to read Harvey Kubernik's book, Turn Up The Radio! Rock, Pop and Roll In Los Angeles 1956-1972. Of all his books, that's the one I really want to read the most … although if I could,I'd probably read almost all of them ... but I don't think it's available as an audio
book or a pdf file.
Anyway Kent, just wanted you to know how much I truly enjoyed that article from March 23rd.
Sam Ward
And we have since learned (the very next day as a matter of fact!) that The Toys (of “A Lover’s Concerto” fame) cut “Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby” even before The Four Seasons did! (See, even I continue to learn something new by reading Forgotten Hits!)
I passed your inquiry along to Harvey Kubernik … I think this subject may have come up once before. I even suggested that this might make for a whole new career for him … narrating his books as he writes them!!! (Or perhaps we can throw some work Chuck Buell’s way … he seems to be the king of voice-over audio books these days!) kk
From Harvey:
Thanks for passing this along.
I am actually in the process of putting together an audio library. Waiting for some funds. That Eddie Cochran piece really rocked if I do say so myself.
HK
>>>In yet another example of just how
messed up Billboard’s Pop Charts are these days, Dua Lipa just posted her 70th week
on the chart, a new all-time high for a female artist. (kk)
Don't
shoot the messenger! "Levitating" really is still in rotation at
local Top 40 stations. I hear it all the time. So are
"Blinding Lights" and "Mood" from 2020, "Circles"
(2019) and "Perfect" (2018). Billboard has recurrent rules to
remove songs after certain time if they fall below a certain point, but radio
just won't let these songs go.
Remember when Art Roberts had that "One Year Ago Today" feature and he would reminisce with year-old "Oldies But Goodies?" Today he could just take them from the current playlist. Maybe there's just not as much good music available today.
Ed #1
That’s my take exactly … back in the ‘60’s, artists were putting out as many as three albums a year!!! And before your current hit single fell off the charts (usually within 12 weeks or less), you’d better already have your NEXT single out and climbing the ranks to replace it. A FAR more interesting and exciting time in music to be sure. Plus all of the most popular artists kept inspiring each other to reach new heights in music and push the envelope just a little bit further. It was an INCREDIBLE era to grow up in … and experience the nearly weekly changes to the musical landscape. (kk)
>>>And to my ever-burning question - WHY was a lousy song like "D.W Washburn" even recorded? (Mike Markesich)
AGREED!!! I cannot stand that 45 and the B side is the best side, but still not that great either. POOR idea that ruined the chart success and they never hit top 10 again.
Clark Besch
I think The Monkees did a very entertaining version of “D.W. Washburn” … so much so that The Coasters even released THEIR version of this Leiber-Stoller effort. I think Micky got the chance to show off his vocal prowess … and do the kind of track that typically Davy would do on a Monkees LP.
As you mentioned, it would be The Monkees’ last Top 10 Record … in Cash Box anyway … in Billboard, it never made it past #19. The Coasters’ version never even charted at all … and I think you’ll agree (if you listen to both versions side by side) that The Monkees win this vocal and arrangement battle.
Should it have been released as a single? No ... probably not … it was kind of a downer song that The Monkees’ pre-teen audience really couldn’t relate to … and I agree that the Davy-sung flip side, “It’s Nice To Be With You” was probably the more likely candidate for success … but with their television series cancelled, The Pre-Fab Four were now out of the spotlight and the run of hit singles was about to end anyway. Regardless, I still think Micky did a great job on the vocal on this one … and it really was an excellent showcase for him ... pure show-biz! (Their 1986 MTV-fueled comeback did produce another Top 20 Hit in “That Was Then, This Is Now,” which I still think is a great recording. Of course, I also love the Dolenz-Jones-Boyce-and Hart single “I Remember The Feeling,” too, which I think should have been a smash in ’76! (kk)
And check out The Monkees doing this live version … with Peter Tork handling the bass notes, borrowed from The Coasters’ version! This is a GREAT clip that I’d never seen before … not exactly sure what program this is from … but I like it! (kk)
In an interview many years later, Tork revealed that The Monkees were going to record the song with the deep bass voice as well … which is probably exactly the way Leiber and Stoller intended it to be done … but the powers that be nixed that idea …
Originally, there was a black bass singer on the take. Bert Schneider said, “Wait a minute! It’s one thing to have Tommy (Boyce) and Bobby (Hart) singing 'ohhs' and 'ahhs' in the background; it's another to have a prominent black bass singer responding that way.”
--Peter Tork
The original version with the black bass singer was released on “The Birds, The Bees And The Monkees” box set in 2010. (kk)
And, speaking of great clips, check out this live performance of Lulu singing her 1970 hit “Oh Me, Oh My” … absolutely incredible! (kk)
Check out this quite amazing new song by Timothy B. Schmit, closing in on CSN sound!!!
Clark Besch
The guy’s got an incredible voice … and he had some quality help on this one … Lindsay Buckingham and Matt Jardine lent their voices to this track.
Timothy’s new album will be out May 6th …
(You’ll find Jackson Browne and John Fogerty on the new LP as well.)
And you can read more about it right here …
Schmit’s back out on tour with The Eagles right now (where he’s lucky to sing two songs a night!!!) We saw him perform a solo show at The City Winery a few years back and were quite impressed. (Of course, singing harmonies in Poco and The Eagles certainly trained him right!!!) kk
‘60’s FLASHBACK:
From our Timothy B. Schmit / City Winery Review – April, 2017:
I didn't really know what to expect seeing Timothy B. Schmit in a solo show.
I mean, I love his voice … and he's been a GREAT compliment to The Eagles (and, at the time, after the passing of Glenn Frey, it was uncertain that The Eagles would ever perform together again. Of course, by now you already know that they've put together a full-scale tour for 2018 with Glenn's son Deacon and Country Superstar Vince Gill onboard as new members of the band. Doubling up in certain cities with Jimmy Buffett or James Taylor, this looks to be one of the major tours of 2018.)
What I liked about the Timothy B. Schmit show was the fact that, although I wasn't familiar with most of the music he played, I enjoyed all of it … enough to come home and download some of his solo material just because I was so impressed with what he played.
He's a soft-spoken guy with an absolutely pure
and beautiful voice ... and, to my surprise, played nearly all upbeat
material, rocking out FAR harder than I ever would have expected. (Schmit
played to a near capacity house on Easter Sunday Night, the first gig of his
new 17-city tour.)
This is one of those shows I enjoyed so much
that I wish they'd release a live, dvd of the complete performance so you
could enjoy it again and again ... being unfamiliar with most of Timothy's solo
work, he completely won me over with a set that never dragged and completely
enchanted the crowd. (I've already downloaded seven of these "new to
me" tracks ... and just may come back for more!)
Timothy and his band (I guess I can refer to these
guys as "his other band" since all night long he referred to The
Eagles as "his other band") opened the show with "One More
Mile" and we were instantly hooked. Other immediate favorites were
"My Hat", "Red Dirt Road", "Ella Jean" (a song
about the long vacation his wife took in Hawaii while Timothy labored at home
alone trying to crank out his next album), "White Boy From
Sacramento" (which really highlighted his trio of female back-up singers)
and a killer rendition of the Poco song "Keep On Tryin'", stripped
down to just Timothy on guitar while the entire band and chorus rallied
around him with spot-on, perfect harmonies. (I will say this ...
throughout the performance this group delved into a wide variety of styles and
genres ... country ... rock ... gospel ... balls out rock and roll
and soft ballads ... and they excelled at each and every one of them!)
During a short mid-set acoustic break that Schmit did
on his own, he paid tribute to his recently departed bandmate Glenn Frey by
singing an absolutely beautiful version of "Peaceful Easy Feeling"
that drew massive applause from the crowd. He didn't do one of his OWN
Eagles songs, however, until an hour and forty-five minutes into his set
(which is a LONG time to wait for the songs you really came to hear!) ...
but he completely satisfied his audience with a touching version of
"I Can't Tell You Why," my personal favorite by him. (He did two more
Eagles tracks as part of his encore ... the equally stirring "Love Will Keep
Us Alive" and "I Don't Want To Hear Anymore".)
All in all, an excellent show and highly recommended
if he happens to hit your area. (kk)
MERCURY STUDIOS PROUDLY PRESENTS:
THE POLICE: AROUND THE WORLD RESTORED & EXPANDED
~FOR THE FIRST TIME ON DVD+CD, BLU-RAY+CD, AND
DVD+LP~
WITH NEVER-BEFORE-RELEASED LIVE AUDIO
~AVAILABLE MAY 20, 2022~
PREVIEW HERE
Embarking on their first ever world tour, The Police journeyed through six continents in 1979 and 1980. Capturing behind–the-scenes footage and candid personal moments as the band explores new terrain, The Police: Around The World Restored & Expanded displays the beginning of their meteoric rise to worldwide fame.
A poignant snapshot of this pivotal moment in their career, The Police: Around The World Restored & Expanded blends footage of the band performing live with intimate footage of Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland exploring Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Egypt, Greece, France, South America, and the US. The band was filmed on and off stage as they visited local monuments, tasted foreign cuisines, and organically grew a global fanbase.
On May 20, 2022, Mercury Studios presents The Police: Around The World Restored & Expanded on DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD, and DVD+LP (pressed on silver vinyl). Originally available on VHS and laserdisc, the film is being presented on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time, with restored picture and remastered audio, as well as complete performances of four bonus songs featured in the documentary.
Additionally, The Police: Around The World Restored & Expanded includes never-before-released live audio on CD and LP. Boasting songs from their first two albums recorded in Japan, Hong Kong, and England, it showcases The Police playing with a frenzy and passion that would soon make them the biggest band in the world.
At the same time, the British band were enjoying their first chart success in the UK with “Roxanne” and “Message In A Bottle”. They were young, hungry, and ready to break big. As Andy Summers enthuses in the liner notes, “Like Napoleon, we wanted the world. Out of the messy and fervent atmosphere in London at that time we conceived the idea to go all around the world and film the whole adventure. As far as we knew no rock band, at least, had ever done that. We had just about enough popularity to get booked around the globe. Plans were made.”
And the rest is history … beautifully captured in The Police: Around The World Restored & Expanded.
About Mercury Studios
Mercury Studios is a multi-faceted content studio established to develop, produce, globally distribute, and invest in innovative, music-rooted storytelling across a range of media including film, television, podcasting, publishing, and live-streamed performance. Taking its name from the iconic Mercury Records label, Mercury Studios is powered by Universal Music Group and creates an open space for experimentation to unleash and amplify both emerging and established artists. With offices in London and Los Angeles, Mercury Studios harnesses its established relationships with best-in-class talent from music and film, seamlessly bridging the two worlds to create a completely distinctive community of trailblazers driven by original IP, innovation, and collaboration.
DVD & Blu-ray track listing:
Features performances of:
Next To You
Walking On The Moon
Born In The 50’s
So Lonely
Man In A Suitcase
Can’t Stand Losing You
Bring On The Night
Canary In A Coalmine
Voices Inside My Head
When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What’s Still Around
Shadows In The Rain
Don’t Stand So Close To Me
Truth Hits Everybody
Roxanne
Bonus Features:
Complete live performances of:
Walking On The Moon (Live from Kyoto)
Next To You (Live from Kyoto)
Message In A Bottle (Live from Hong Kong)
Born In The 50’s (Live from Hong Kong)
CD
Walking On The Moon - Live from Kyoto
Next To You – Live from Kyoto
Deathwish - Live from Kyoto
So Lonely - Live from Kyoto
Can’t Stand Losing You - Live from Kyoto
Truth Hits Everybody - Live from Kyoto
Visions Of The Night – Live from Hammersmith
Roxanne – Live from Hammersmith
Intro
Born In The 50’s – Live from Hong Kong
Message In A Bottle – Live from Hong Kong
Bring On The Night – Live from Hong Kong
LP
Side A:
Walking On The Moon - Live from Kyoto
Deathwish - Live from Kyoto
So Lonely - Live from Kyoto
Can’t Stand Losing You - Live from Kyoto
Side B:
Truth Hits Everybody - Live from Kyoto
Roxanne – Live from Hammersmith
Born In The 50’s – Live from Hong Kong
Message In A Bottle – Live from Hong Kong
Bring On The Night – Live from Hong Kong
A previously unreleased recording of The Rolling Stones performing live at The El Mocambo Club in Toronto, in March, 1977, is being released on May 13th.
Playing a mixed assortment of their hits and some early blues favorites (they are, after all, essentially just a blues cover band … ask anybody!), it makes for an eclectic mix of 23 tunes that have been sitting in the vault for the past 45 years.
Here is the track list for the 2-CD set:
DISC: 1
1.
Honky Tonk Woman
2. All Down The Line
3. Hand Of Fate
4. Route 66
5. Fool To Cry
6. Crazy Mama
7. Mannish Boy
8. Crackin’ Up
9. Dance Little Sister
10. Around And Around
11. Tumbling Dice
DISC: 2
1.
Hot Stuff
2. Star Star
3. Let’s Spend The Night Together
4. Worried Life Blues
5. Little Red Rooster
6. It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It)
7. Rip This Joint
8. Brown Sugar
9. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
10. Melody
11. Luxury
12. Worried About You
Take the "Pennys in your pockets" out because we have a new Pilot album!!!!
Hello Pilot and David Paton fans!
We have a new release that we are very excited about.
That’s right … a brand new PILOT album!!!
Thank you for your support!
Clark Besch
The complete Motown recordings of Meatloaf and Stoney (who had a minor hit in 1971 with “What You See Is What You Get,” #59 in Record World but only #71 in Billboard) will be released on May 6th to commemorate the early records of the recently departed Meatloaf. It’ll be a 2-CD set … and you’ll find more details here …
And, if you’re a fan of Jethro Tull, you’ll love this new two volume book set that’s about to be released on the band …
https://www.musicglue.com/jethro-tull-spin-me-back-down-the-years-by-pat-kent/
Ron Onesti has booked Freda Payne into his Club Arcada for two nights in May. (I think all the publicity for her new book might have had a little bit to do with that!)
It’s a beautiful 1920’s Speakeasy … bar / restaurant / and music venue … and people actually rent vintage clothing to attend these things! Should make for a nice night of music!
Long-time Arcada favorites America will be back for two shows on August 26th and 27th as well, one in St. Charles and one at his new Des Plaines Theatre. These shows tend to sell out really fast so if you’re interested, hop on over to the OSHOWS website now and grab your seats. (I mean you don’t have to literally grab your seats!!! But you WILL need a ticket to attend the show!) kk
Meanwhile, Aerosmith has announced that they will resume their Las Vegas residency in June … and continue to perform a total of 24 shows over the next five months!
Tickets for all dates will go on sale March 31st.
June, 2022: 17th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 29th
July, 2022: 2nd, 5th, 8th
September, 2022: 14th, 17th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 29th
October, 2022: 2nd, 5th
November, 2022: 19th, 23rd, 26th, 29th
December, 2022: 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th
Unfortunately, Drummer Joey Kramer will be sitting the residency out, opting instead to spend time with his family "during these uncertain times." Long-Time Aerosmith Drum Technician John Douglas will assume the drumming duties for the Las Vegas performances. (kk)
And Justin Hayward is hitting the road in May …
Here is a list of his current tour dates …
Tuesday, MAY 10th - The Lyric Theatre - Birmingham, AL
Wednesday, MAY 11th – The Bijou Theatre - Knoxville, TN
Friday, MAY 13th - The Heights Theater - Houston, TX
Saturday, MAY 14th – The Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
Sunday, MAY 15th – The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts - San Antonio, TX
Wednesday, MAY 18th – The Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ
Thursday, MAY 19th – The Celebrity Theatre - Phoenix, AZ
Friday, MAY 20th – The Coach House Concert Hall - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Sunday, MAY 22nd - Ventura Music Hall - Ventura, CA
Monday, MAY 23rd - Belly Up Tavern - Solana Beach, CA
Wednesday, MAY 25th - Golden State Theatre - Monterey, CA
Thursday, MAY 26th - Crest Theatre - Sacramento, CA
Saturday, MAY 28th - Revolution Hall - Portland, OR
Sunday, MAY 29th - Triple Door - Seattle, WA
Tuesday, MAY 31st - The Egyptian Theatre - Boise, ID
Wednesday, JUNE 1st – The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center - Salt Lake City, UT
Friday, JUNE 3rd – The Paramount Theatre - Denver, CO
Sunday, SEPTEMBER 11th - The Playhouse Theatre - Weston-super-mare, United Kingdom
Monday, SEPTEMBER 12th - Birmingham Town Hall - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 13th - Darlington Hippodrome - Darlington, United Kingdom
Thursday, SEPTEMBER 15th - Floral Pavilion - Wallasey, United Kingdom
Saturday, SEPTEMBER 17th - Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre - Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Sunday, SEPTEMBER 18th – The Concorde Club - Eastleigh, United Kingdom
Monday, SEPTEMBER 19th - Union Chapel - London, United Kingdom
Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 21st - The Anvil - Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Thursday, SEPTEMBER 22nd - Derngate Lofts - Northampton, United Kingdom
Friday, SEPTEMBER 23rd - White Rock Theatre - Hastings, United Kingdom
kk:
FINAL JEOPARDY … SINGERS CATEGORY …
2021: What Singer Made The Guinness Book Of World Records ---
For Being The Oldest Singer To Record An Album Of New Music ? (95 Years Old)
2 of the 3 contestants said Diana Ross ... born 3/26/1944.
Wrong Age.
FB
Gotta be Tony Bennett, right? 95 years old … and he still gets to hang out with the hot chick, Lady Gaga!!! I love it! (kk)
YOU ARE RIGHT, MY FRIEND!
Why Can't They Have the SINGERS Category Every Night???
FB
I’ve noticed that Wheel Of Fortune has been having a lot of puzzles lately where you have to solve the “’70’s Lyrics” crossword. (kk)
kk …
I Just Saw On FACEBOOK That Jerry Lee Lewis Is Going To Record A New Album.
That Still Puts Him Just About Ten Years Shy of Tony Bennett's GUINNESS WORLD RECORD -- For Being The Oldest Singer To Record A New Album.
Tony did it at 95 Years Old. Jerry will only be 86 Years Old.
"LAST MAN STANDING!”
FB
Kent,
I saw a brand new commercial on television that spot lighted a car dealership here in OKC. The song basis for the background music was Sting's DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME.
It was mentioned that Robin Luke had only one song to talk about in his concert if he decided to give (or gave) one. It reminded me of a Richard Nader Rock and Roll Concert he gave here in OKC years ago.
The emcee was Ron Holden. Various acts came out and performed the various hits they had in the past. (Coasters, Shirelles, Rivingtons, etc.). Midway through the show, Ron Holden came on stage and said he would like to sing a melody of his "hit" … that being LOVE YOU SO.
Larry
In all fairness, now that Joel Whitburn includes ALL of an artist’s hits (including the ones that fell short of The Top 100 but still managed to “Bubble Under”), we have to acknowledge:
RON HOLDEN – Gee, But I’m Lonesome (#74, 1960, in Cash Box … but only #106 in Billboard)
ROBIN LUKE – Chicka-Chicka-Honey (#91, 1958, in Music Vendor only), as well as the B-Side, “My Girl” (#97 in Cash Box only)
Plus “Bad Boy” (#105 in Cash Box, 19600
And THE ELEGANTS – Goodnight (#77, 1958, in Cash Box only) and ITS flip-side, “Please Believe Me,” which peaked at #83 in Music Vendor, #94 in Cash Box and failed to chart at all in Billboard. (kk)
While we do our best to keep politics out of Forgotten Hits, there are times when we simply cannot ignore and deny the craziness that is going on around us. (I’ve heard World War III mentioned more times in the past month than in the last forty years combined!)
FH Regular Chuck Buell shared this video with us … and, if nothing else, it serves as a reminder of the innocent people … and children … that are being ravaged by Russia’s constant attack on Ukraine.
I agree with Chuck … it’s hard to watch this and not get choked up about the innocence that is being wiped out before our eyes, all for the sake of power by someone who has set their sights on world domination. Pretty sad. (kk)
I share this video with you with a tear and a hope that the day will come sooner than later that Beautiful Children like these can gather together once again to give their wonderful gift to you, me and the rest of the world.
All the singers in this Ukrainian Children’s Choir video were born in Ukraine. It was filmed there just a few short years ago in 2019 in such a peaceful setting.
Chuck
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES:
ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE HAVING PROBLEMS VIEWING THE SITE PROPERLY?
We don’t know about it unless we hear from you … and everything displays just fine on our end … and I’ve got to believe that if EVERYONE were having issues seeing what we’re posting, we’d be receiving all kinds of mail about it …
But instead, we’ve only received these three …
What’s concerning is all three of these came the same week!!!
But they’re all describing completely different issues, incidents and results …
Which makes me think that this HAS to be more of a display issue on THEIR end than ours …
But … that being said … for the amount of work that goes into pulling this whole thing together every day, I sure would like to make the site as user-friendly and accessible as possible.
So …
If you’re having any type of viewing issues, please let us know …
And if not … but know of some setting adjustments that any of these readers could apply make THEIR viewing experience a bit more enjoyable, PLEASE let us know so we can pass the info along.
THANKS! (kk)
For maybe over a year now I have been having great difficulty reading the FH web page.
[Seriously?!?! Then I have to ask why are you first telling me about this now?!?! – kk]
Now I must also mention that for the last seven years, I have had a lot of problems with my eyes. I developed a bizarre ailment in my right eye and lost about 85% of my eyesight. Two years ago, this was surgically corrected and I even have a lens permanently inserted in my right eye. I recently upgraded all of my contacts and now even have three formats for reading, normal use and long distance. I am always in the reading format when I read FH. I am also partially colorblind as a result of the solar eclipse in 1962 when you had to put the box over your head, I didn’t.
The problem that I am having is that the font size is just too small. I can barely read the black print, but have great difficulty with the blue and green print … just guessing that you switch between based on whether the author is you or a reader. I do not have any problems whatsoever in reading the newspapers, newsletters, etc. that I subscribe to, as I can adjust the font size on all these sites. 95% of the reading I do is on an iPad and I have read FH for many years with this iPad. The problem that I have with the FH site is that I cannot increase the font size for the following reasons …
A) There is a (aA) font increase tab on Google, but it will not increase the size of the font on your site.
B) I can increase the size of the screen, but then the lines of type on the current site go border to border and the left and right side then disappear off the screen. You then have to move each line of type back and forth in order to read one line of type.
Just to make sure, I went back and read some archived articles from your site and they were in a different format ... the pages were not border to border like the current screen. You could expand them and easily read them. I also have PDF files of past articles I wanted to save and I can easily read them. The problem appears to be in the format of the current screen.
[This is something I probably can look into in my display settings … it’s just that when we display our posts in the full-screen mode, it allows us to run much larger pictures on the site, which I always looked at as a plus. Anybody else want to chime in on this one? – kk]
My guess is that at 72, I am somewhere in the middle of the average age group of your readers and I cannot be the only one having these problems. I used to read each blog cover to cover, so to speak, but now find myself looking for key words that I might be interested in and just letting the other ones go, especially with the blue and green print. I think it would help if you narrowed the page size, left to right, as it appears on the site in order that it can be expanded. I hope this feedback has been helpful.
RC
I know there are display settings that you can adjust on your computer screen to capture the full screen view without having to scroll across, up and down in order to read every line. You can also adjust your display window size by bringing in (or out) the width of your window via the arrows that appear when you hover over the left and right window margins on your screen. I think I would start there and see if that doesn’t help. (I should point out that I am very old-school in this regard … I still work only from a desktop, which also has a very large screen. I wouldn’t know the first thing about fixing any of the topics we’re covering here today on your cell phone, for example. I know that even on MY phone I can’t get the music clips to play … so I have to do that on a real computer.) But I do believe this is a very solvable problem, simply by adjusting the display size of what you’re viewing. Anyone else got any other ideas??? (kk)
And then …
Hi Kent ...
Confusion ... It's not the name of a song ... I just can’t seem to be able to get on your blog. Every time I try to read an older blog, it's the same one over and over. It's the Top Countdown of 1972 page and it doesn’t refresh.
If I go back a couple months, the same page comes up.
I am wondering if I need a new computer or if it is my security software giving me problems. Any ideas as to why I can’t get to a newer page?
I feel bad. I'm so sorry. I hope this problem can be remedied.
It says "page not secure" and it bounces me back to the same blog each time. Hmmmm ...
Thanks, Kent, for your patience.
SL
[No, thank YOU for your patience and persistence!!! I have NO idea why this would be happening, unless you saved a particular posting as your favorite … I think if you just use the standard “master” link, it should take you to the most recent page every single time … and then, if you choose to go backwards to see what you’ve missed, just use the “Older Posts” button at the bottom of each page … and it will literally take you back day by day to the nearly 4500 posts we’ve done since we launched this website back in May of 2008. (YIKES!!!) – kk]
I think in this instance I would do a COMPLETE computer reboot … and then, once you’re fully refreshed (meaning you AND your computer), click on this link to get to the site … and then once you’re there, save THAT into your Favorites so that you’re coming back to this fresh link every time you visit Forgotten Hits (which, as you know, should be every single day!!! Lol)
Try that and see if it helps … and if it does, get rid of any OTHER links you may already have saved on your computer so that it only draws you there via this one. (kk)
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/
[Please also read our F5 “refresh” note below … because I believe this will also work to solve YOUR problem. If it takes you the wrong edition of Forgotten Hits, simply hit F5 and your computer should refresh to the latest and greatest edition … in which case you can always scroll back to see what you may have missed. – kk]
And here’s another one …
Remember sometime ago, when I shared with you that when clicking on your Box Songs in FHs, I could not get them to play?
Well, I found ONE way to play them purely by accident!
So, here’s what a song looks like on you page:
If one RIGHT Clicks on the song box, a Drop Down List Appears.
Near the Bottom of that list is an option to “Reload frame.”
LEFT Clicking on that brings up this, which makes the song Playable!
I’m pretty excited about discovering this! But I'm tellin' ya! Gettin' to this point "Didn't ComeEasy!"
I relate this to you in case anyone else ever has a similar difficulty trying to get a song to play!
CB
(Can’t Play … But Now I Can Boy!)
[OK, I made that one up!!! – kk]
I don’t know what’s going on with this one … you shouldn’t
have to go thru all these steps just to get the music to play! Let me suggest an easier way ...
Try hitting your F5 button – it’ll refresh the page and all of the music should come up and play without a problem … I’ve never seen just a blank rectangle on the site like this before. I’m thinking the page never fully loaded.
I always play the tracks after they’re posted to make sure
(A) That they all loaded properly … and
(B) That they’re really the song they say they are in the ID … as far too many times we get mislabeled tracks.
I don’t know of anyone else having the problems that you’re having … and, based on previous conversations, I know you’ve been having these for a while … so PLEASE, if anybody out there can recommend a better setting to listen to these tracks, we would BOTH appreciate it. Like I said, FAR too much work goes into putting Forgotten Hits together every week for people NOT to be able to enjoy it the way it is intended to be digested!
(I’ve had tracks load slowly before … sometimes you have to hit the F5 refresh button … and sometimes when there are a whole bunch of ‘em … like the Sweet 16 features we publish every month, it may take a little longer to load … but otherwise, they always seem to play fine for me.)
Imagine the old days of dial-up!!! You could spend all day trying to load the page to play those sixteen songs!!!
UPDATE: After an up-close-and-personal phone conversation, Chuck WAS able to get all of this music to load and play properly by using the F5 trick … if anyone out there is having a similar problem, please try this and see if it doesn’t offer you a solution. This music is meant to be enjoyed! (kk)
Continuing our conversation ~~~
The "F5" Key is Good to Know to get Songs to Play!
AND that refresh icon in the Upper Left of the Page ~~~
Also does the Trick!
So, if one prefers Hotkeys, the "F5" Key is the way to go!
If one prefers the mouse, clicking on the "Refresh Circle" works.
We're so Smart!
CB
Please believe me when I say that we want to make Forgotten Hits easy to read, easy to enjoy and presentable to ALL of the readers who visit the site …
And with now well over six million views, to receive just three random viewing complaints … even in the same week … makes me think that this HAS to be something more on their end than anything that we’re doing (because we’re not doing anything differently!)
Still, I want to do whatever I can to help them achieve the full FH experience, without any hassles …
So PLEASE, if you have any other viewing suggestions, please pass them along so that EVERY reader can enjoy Forgotten Hits the way it is intended to be seen. (Meanwhile, please remember that F5 is your friend … it will instantly refresh your page … and reload any music it may contain.) By the same token, if you are finding that you’re having to do this ALL the time, it may be time for a “computer clean-up” to free up some additional disc space … it likely means your computer is running much slower than it should be.
Thank you so much. (kk)
And, as Chuck so often does, here he reminds us that technology really HAS improved over the past fifty years or so.
In fact, here’s not only the perfect example … but also the perfect way to wrap up this week’s edition of The Sunday Comments!!! (kk)
Chuck Buell’s on the line!!!
CB ( which stands for "Call Boy!" )
[OMG … how true, how true … and didn’t we ALL do that back then!!!] - kk
