Felix Cavaliere’s biography “Memoir of a Rascal” is now officially out and available … I’ve already added this title to my “must read” list. A brand new album from Felix will be released this summer. (kk)
Hi Kent,
Wednesday, March 23, 2022, marks my 30th Anniversary as an employee of Record Research. I still remember, with great anticipation, walking up the stairs to my office that very first day. 30 years later, I still get that same excitement going to work every single day.
Growing up, my two music / chart idols were Casey Kasem and Joel Whitburn. I never got to meet Casey, but I'm very fortunate to get to work for Joel's company. Some of my favorite times are when we're sitting around Joel's home office desk, chatting about music and charts. A few years ago, I made a video detailing my journey. To my surprise, it now has well over a thousand views. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxDt3qRv-jk
I've also enjoyed reading Forgotten Hits over the years. I'm learning something new all the time.
Keep on rockin'!
Paul Haney
Record Research
Congratulations on hitting the big 3-0!!!
In honor of Paul’s 30th anniversary 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
Kent,
I want you to know that when the record originally came out, for whatever reason, I always referred to the song as TOWN WITH PITNEY by Gene Pity. Go figure! I just did that ... no particular reason why.
Now as for some television commercials or ads
being made into records, Kent, the first thing that came to my mind was
Buchanan & Goodman's THE BANANA BOAT STORY from 1957 on Luniverse. Would
that be considered to be one?
Larry Neal
I suppose that might even be considered the FIRST one … of the rock era anyway! (kk)
It was just pointed out to us that we left off a track from when the commercial cross-overs discussion first began. Here, courtesy of FH Reader Sam Ward, is an early Thom McCann shoe store commercial that uses the Dickey Doo and the Don’t’s hit “Click Clack” as its song basis. (kk)
>>>Robin Luke Told Cousin Brucie That He Used His Sister’s Name, Susie, Not To Make Any Of His High School Girlfriends Mad. I Don't Believe Him. The Story I Heard Was That He Sang It About His Sister, Who Was Very Sick At The Time. All You Have To Do Is Listen To The Lyrics -- "I STOOD CRYING ALL NIGHT LONG" … "I STOOD WATCHING ALL NIGHT LONG" … "HOPING THAT YOU’D RETURN TO ME."
Also, Happy 81st Birthday To Vito Picone, Lead Singer Of Elegants. "LITTLE STAR" #1 Hit In 1958. Vito Said That Gene Roddenberry Told Him That He Thought Of "Star Trek" After Hearing "LITTLE STAR" On The Radio. (FB)
>>>That "Star Trek" story's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard!!! (So what ... you'll believe Vito's story about The Elegants' hit "Little Star" ... but you won't believe Robin Luke ... the guy who WROTE "Susie Darlin'" ... when he tells you what the song is ... and is NOT about?!?!)
kk …
I Don't Know Robin Luke … I Speak To Vito Picone On FACEBOOK. Why Would Vito Lie About Talking To Gene R About "Star Trek?" --- To Promote A Song From 1958? Everything Robin Luke Told You, He Said To Cousin Brucie. He Added That Lots Of His Friends In The Music Business Went To Work At McDonalds In 1964 (thanks to The Beatles.) Robin Quit The Business and Went Back To School.
If You Were Writing A Song About Your High School Girlfriend, Would You Use Those Lyrics?
People Tell Different Stories To Different People All The Time.
After 20 Years Of Doing FORGOTTEN HITS, You Should Know That Better Than Anybody!
FB
It just seems like a convenient afterthought to tie “Little Star” (which has absolutely NOTHING to do with space travel or visiting other planets or pointy ears or interracial kisses) to the “Star Trek” television series. One might even go so far as to say “It isn’t logical.” But it probably makes for a good lead-in as part of Vito's entertaining concert patter. (I mean seriously, what OTHER hits do The Elegants have to talk about???)
But I say you’ve got to believe the songwriter … HE’S the one guy that knows what he was writing about … and if Robin Luke has been telling the SAME story for the past forty years, denying that the song was written about his sister, then I’ve got to believe him.
By the way, not only did Robin go back to school, he became a Professor at a large university for the next forty years. When we talked in 2010, he was retiring his post (and thinking about going out and doing some oldies shows again!!!)
Now, in all fairness, what other song does Robin Luke have to talk about in concert??? Again, it all makes for good show biz chatter. (kk)
Here in Lincoln, Nebraska, like Mike M said, "Dont Say You Don’t Remember" was top 5 the first time around in 1971 on KLMS and I bought it then, too.
KLMS also aired the 1978 History of RNR version at that time. I still have the documentation that Drake-Chenault sent the station somewhere ... quite an impressive press kit.
Clark Besch
Kent,
I would like to say some more, if I may, about THE HISTORY OF ROCK & ROLL, hosted by Humble Harv Miller.
I discovered it one night by channel surfing in my apartment. What was unusual to me at the time was that the station I discovered it on was a day timer, 800 KJEM. Now here is what I didn't understand … at the moment, station KJEM 800 on the AM dial programmed Country and Western music, years later, it was known simply as Country.
Now stupid me, I thought that the announcer was doing the show "live." I actually thought that he was in the studio doing his show. I drove down to the station and the guy doing the board "op" let me in. That's when I discovered that the show was pre-recorded and there were more hours to come. And, somewhere in my home, I have those 48 hours. Why this type of show was being broadcast on a "Country" station boggled my mind.
One other story I have to tell you ...
One night along this time period, I was again channel surfing on my radio and I stopped and heard a commercial about a 1958 Chevrolet car. Was I hearing right? Did he say 1958 Chevrolet? Then it went into a record, BOOK OF LOVE by the Monotones. I thought I was in Rod Serling's TWILIGHT ZONE! (Remember that episode on TWILIGHT ZONE about a man who had an old radio that was playing music from the 1930's?) Anyway, I called the station up and it turned out to be a "pirate" radio station with two guys broadcasting not far from my home ... and what I was hearing over my radio turned out to be the CRUISIN’, 1958 LP with DJ Jack Carney, from when he was with station WIL in St. Louis.
Now I don't know how these guys went on with their station, but it was done illegally according to FCC. I have no idea how much longer they stayed on the air. My one and only experienced listening to a "pirate" radio station.
Incidentally, I have all the Cruisin' LP's and really, the one by Jack Carney is one of my favorites.
Larry Neal
Getting back nto the History Of Rock And Roll, I understand that the original KHJ version of the piece, before it was even syndicated to the other RKO General stations like WRKO in Boston and CKLW in Windsor Ontario, was that Robert W. Morgan did the very first reading for KHJ's version, and all the other RKO General stations got the Humble Harv Miller version.
Believe it or not, I have a two hour aircheck in real time of Jerry Butler and Mark Elliot on KHJ Los Angeles from May 7, 1971, the day that their normal afternoon drive disc jockey, Humble Harv Miller, was mysteriously absent from the airwaves. But suddenly it became clear why Harv Miller was not on the air. On the 5:40 PM KHJ 20-20 News, Harv Miller's activities of the previous night and early that morning ended up being the lead story on that KHJ 20-20 newscast.
Now, you've got to admit that that's something you don't hear very often, a Disc jockey murdering his wife as the lead story of that very radio station's newscast.
Sam Ward
Hi Kent,
I am currently doing a detailed search of your Top 3333 Classic Rock list and I have a question.
You have listed “The Abbey Road Medley” at #575 and "You Never Give Me Your Money" at #2589. Other sources I've checked consider "You Never Give Me Your Money" as part of that medley.
Could you tell me the reason behind listing it separately on your countdown?
Thanks for your time.
Ed #1
There are really TWO separate medleys on the B-Side of "Abbey Road" ...
"You Never Give Me Your Money" is a stand-alone piece as far as I'm concerned. It starts on its own and comes to a complete conclusion ... a distinct ending … and you'll usually hear it played that way on the air.
The first medley kicks off immediately thereafter with "Sun King" ... and runs through "Mean Mr. Mustard," "Polythene Pam" and "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window," which also arrives at a complete conclusion.
Then, the medley we're referring to kicks it ...
This seems to be the one you hear all the time ...
"Golden Slumbers" into "Carry That Weight," then back into a short reprise of "You Never Give Me Your Money" ... and then back to "Carry That Weight" ... which then morphs into "The End." (Some might even include "Her Majesty" as part of this one ... but we didn’t … when the ballot first got posted, we listed the specific songs making up the “Abbey Road Medley” as we just described them above.)
Honestly, even some 53 years later, there are an awful lot of radio stations that air Side Two of "Abbey Road" in its entirety ...
But then even if you do this, you STILL have to consider "Here Comes The Sun" as a stand-alone piece ... and a significant one at that. In fact, George scored the two highest charting Beatles songs in our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL-TIME Poll ... #14 with "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and #19 for "Here Come The Sun" ... not bad for a guy who lived in the shadows of Lennon and McCartney for his entire Beatles career! (kk)
https://classicrockessentials.blogspot.com/
Thanks. Maybe they're referring to the reprise of the song in the medley. Who knows.
George Harrison wrote some of the best songs, a little more cerebral than the Lennon-McCartney songs, I think. I remember reading the lyrics along with "Awaiting On You All" when I heard George sing:
"The pope owns fifty-one percent of General Motors, and the stock exchange is the only thing he's qualified to quote us."
That was not what was printed on the lyric sheet. haha
Ed #1
LOTS of press for the Beatles Exhibit currently going on at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum in Cleveland (and running thru November of this year.) We just may have to make another trek down there to check it out! (kk)
Here is an updated announcement regarding the new Beatles / Celebrity Top 10 Book …
Beatles Festival Promoter Charles F. Rosenay!!! is Planning a New Beatles Book and Looking to Reach Out to Rock and Pop Celebrities
Charles F. Rosenay!!! is known to Beatles fans for all his promotional efforts and productions over the past four decades. Since 1978, he has presented Beatles conventions and festivals across the U.S. His first book, The Book of Top 10 Horror Lists, is a collection of top 10 lists of favorite monster movies, books, and other themes from 100 celebrities, many of whom are rock & rollers, singers, musicians and pop-culture icons. It is available from www.BookOfTop10HorrorLists.com
The follow-up is a similarly themed collection, The Book of Top 10 Beatles Lists, wherein 100 celebrities and music notables will be offering their top ten Beatles-related lists. Many favorites are committed to, or already have, submitted their lists, including Ron Dante, Gary Puckett, Billy J Kramer, Joey Molland, Felix Cavaliere, The Flirtations, Bobby Rydell, Elliott Easton, Freda Payne, Deana Martin, Tommy (Cheech &) Chong, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Bo Donaldson, Jeremy Clyde, Dennis Dunaway, Carmine Appice, Cousin Brucie, and Dick Cavett.
The website is www.BookOfTop10BeatlesLists.com.
Charles is putting out a call to all Forgotten Hits readers. He is looking for emails or contact info of pop/rock singers and musicians to invite them to include their lists in the upcoming book. If you fit the bill, or are friends with anyone you can recommend from the entertainment world to be in this book, please call Charles at (203) 795-4737 or email BookOfTop10BeatlesLists@gmail.com. Anyone providing a lead will be credited in the book. Thank you.
Speaking of books, here’s even MORE praise for Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik’s new Jimi Hendrix book, quickly become the DEFINITIVE work on the topic …
Hi Harvey,
Andy Pearson here from 'Fear & Loathing' fanzine / website … http://www.fearandloathingfanzine.com/books--fanzines.html
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Strangely enough, I've been listening to a lot of Hendrix recently. His music just doesn't get old! I grew up in Canterbury and got to know Hugh Hopper (Soft Machine), who was another humble soul, much in the way that Hendrix was described. I'd sometimes bump into him in the City Centre and while we were chatting, college students would be walking past him wearing Hendrix or Pink Floyd t-shirts, but never even thinking that this 'old guy' had once been a roadie for the Jimi Hendrix Experience and had played on Syd Barretts' solo albums (let alone his work with Soft Machine.) But I doubt that ever bothered him
This is, by far, the best book I have read about Hendrix. It’s the most enjoyable, the most convincing and the most informative, because it tells the story from the grass roots.
JIMI HENDRIX - VOODOO CHILD
by Harvey Kubernik and Kenneth Kubernik (published by Sterling)
There are already over 300 books published about Jimi Hendrix.
I’ve read a few which gave me the facts, so to speak, but this new title takes a different approach and in doing so, makes the whole tale so much more real. It’s an ‘oral history’ of the Hendrix phenomenon rather than just another appreciation or documentary and, instead of being the work of a journalist about an artist he may never have seen or met, this book concentrates on the people who were there at the time and the impressions that Hendrix left in his wake.
This book is all about the real Jimi Hendrix ‘experience’ (the effect not the band) and the incredible impact that he still has, even fifty years after his untimely death. This is, by far, the best book I have read about Hendrix. It’s the most enjoyable, the most convincing and the most informative, because it tells the story from the grass roots.
Again and again, fans, friends and fellow musicians tell us of how Hendrix was such a likeable, humble and down to earth guy, and yet when he took to the stage, his talent was immense, challenging boundaries that had yet to be imagined. Other guitarists (Clapton, Page) had defined how far the instrument could go at that time, but Hendrix was more interested in what came next.
There’s an almost-innocence, yet true intent to the way he unleashed the potential of noise and corralled it to his command. In some ways, it’s more difficult now to appreciate how much Hendrix achieved in such a short space of time but a book like this puts it in a better perspective.
Think of it this way; he was working as a regular session musician up until 1966, before moving to London and forming the Jimi Hendrix Experience. In the ensuing four years, he released three sonically ground-breaking albums with the Experience, headlined at Woodstock, was banned by the BBC (always a mark of credibility), formed the ‘Band of Gypsy’s’ and released a live album, and eventually recorded ‘The Cry of Love’ LP before his untimely and unexpected death in 1970.
In less than four years, he had changed the musical landscape and made an artistic statement that remains valid to this day. And all this from a black guy playing in a white guys’ world! In so many ways, this should never have happened, but in so many other ways, it was perfect. If you want to know what Hendrix really meant, read this book. The fans, friends and colleagues tell the true story. Perhaps there’s yet more that you can learn about Jimi Hendrix, but for now, this book will tell you what really matters.
I agree with the sentiments favoring the original recording (I call it the "garage" version) of "Valleri." The 1968 hit remake suffers from unnecessary horn annihilation … they should have employed the fuzztone guitar instead.
A group from the Syracuse, New York, area that performed in clubs as Ed Wool & The Nomads moonlighted under a few other monikers for various record labels. They are in fact, the guys who masqueraded briefly as the Pineapple Heard. The guys recorded a faithful version of "Valleri" for the Diamond record label in the fall of 1967, no doubt to try and cash in on the AM radio popularity of the unreleased Monkees tune at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg1NoDSRl1A
As a life long Monkees fanatic, I also tried in vain to source the television version of "Valleri." It wasn't until I attended a record convention in the late 1980s (the places where all types of geeky collectors flock to) that I came across a bootleg Monkees LP, titled Monkeeshines. It had several TV-only recorded tunes on it; at $25 bucks it was my bargain score of the year.
Finally, the hit and miss quality Collectibles reissue record label released the TV version of "Valleri" with "All The Kings Horses" on the B side as part of the box set of Monkees 45s n 1995, so now I FINALLY have BEST version the song on a 45. with an equally great B side, too. Colgems should have released these songs one after the other, they would've all charted high nationwide.
I wonder which version of "Valleri" Micky Dolenz prefers???
And to my ever-burning question - WHY was a lousy song like "D.W Washburn" even recorded?
Mike Markesich
When we first ran our Boyce and Hart series way back when, we featured the Pineapple Heard version of “Valleri” … ABSOLUTELY released to cash-in on the popular success of the unreleased Monkees track. I asked Bobby Hart if he and Tommy had anything at all to do with that recording and he told me no … and that they weren’t even aware of it at the time. Other than the fuzz guitar intro that kicks it off, it really is a pretty watered-down version of the tune. (kk)
Hey Kent ...
It sounds like Sam Ward went through a lot of frustration in order to get the original version of Valleri by the Monkees. Wow ... an amazing story in frustration.
Finally in 1990 he was able to get the record. Geez. Sometimes the remix or remastered cds leave something to be desired in listening pleasure. It's not quite the same as one might have expected. I had an experience like that when I bought a copy of the remastered "Grass Roots Greatest Hits." In this case, the vocals were too far in the background and the instruments were the foreground. It sounded off. New and improved leaves something to be desired.
Regarding the Beverly Bremers "Don't Say You Don't Remember" tune, I always felt bad for Beverly. Apparently, she felt used by this guy and was seeking his recognition that she was a person with feelings. I guess he couldn't respond to her.
A lot of great shows coming up in the Chicago area now that covid is gone. Thank God. Take good care, Kent.
Sandy
Believe me, a WHOLE bunch of us were searching high and low for a copy of “Valleri” in 1967 after it aired on The Monkees’ TV show, made all the more frustrating in that radio was playing the heck out of it yet you couldn’t actually BUY it anywhere. (Colgems really dropped the ball on that one … it would have been an absolute #1 smash had they released it at the time. When it finally came out a full year later in rerecorded form, I remember thinking at the time “What’s the point?” But naturally, I bought it anyway … and it DID finally go to #1 nearly everywhere around the country … except in Billboard, that is, where it peaked at #3. It topped both the Cash Box AND the Record World charts for two weeks, certainly a better reflection of the times than “Dock Of The Bay”’s four week run at the top of the Billboard chart only. (kk)
More of The Monkees here …
MICKY DOLENZ's SOME OF SHELLY'S
BLUES HITS THE UK CHART
“Some Of Shelly's
Blues" from Micky Dolenz's new EP (released Friday via 7a Records) Dolenz
Sings Nesmith – the EP - is a new entry at #29 on the Heritage Chart in the UK.
The Heritage Chart in the UK had “Different Drum” at #1 when the full album came out last year.
Dolenz who performed his first show of 2022 Saturday night in Michigan is prepping a full tour for next month and then hits the road with Felix Cavaliere.
Hi Kent:
I believe the 1st version of "Can't Get Enough Of You Baby" was by The Toys from around June of '65. Also, Jamie Lyons (who had the #1 hit on the WDOT chart you featured the other day)was the lead singer for The Music Explosion.
Ken Freck
The first version I was aware of was the one that The Four Seasons cut … now I’ve just GOT to hear the one by The Toys! (This song doesn’t lend itself well to a wimpy rendition! ? and the Mysterians and Smash Mouth put just the right amount of garage into their arrangements. (Of course, ? had to put just enough “96 Tears” elements into their version in order to get it played!) kk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euTaVsCiO3M&list=RDeuTaVsCiO3M&start_radio=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OBv2WlZxzI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqzyi-5An50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xCkg2pWmAw
A little bit of Beach Boys rumor to heighten your Friday …
From Scott Paton, who wrote that excellent concert review of Al Jardine, Friends and Family Show a couple of weeks ago. (We can’t WAIT to see them in May when they land at The Des Plaines Theatre … this will be our first show there at this new venue!)
Just as Al Jardine let it slip in advance regarding the Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour, in a recent post he made on Facebook wishing Mike Love a happy birthday, Al's greeting indicated that there will be a 60th reunion, too ... although by the time they could get that scheduled, it will actually be the band's 62nd Anniversary.
Also, at the show I attended last month, Al indicated that another Beach Boys box set of rarities is tentatively targeting a November release. Included will be their 1972 Carnegie Hall concert that has been widely bootlegged for decades, but in very poor quality.
The surviving "Boys" are certainly getting to enjoy some much-deserved victory laps!
Scott Paton
We missed the 50th Anniversary Tour … broke our hearts … but a 62nd Anniversary show when all the guys are in their 80’s??? I’m not so sure I really wanna see that! (lol) I dunno … maybe it makes sense … they started the group when they were seniors and now they’re all seniors again! They’ve gone from Beach Boys to Beach Men to Beach Seniors right before our very eyes … but the music and the magic will outlive all of us.
Do I really want to see it presented in an unflattering way? I don’t think so. I’d rather hang on to the memories at this point. (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again … the only one of them who can still sing is Al … and he seems to get the fewest chances!!! That’s why I’m so excited to see this Friends and Family show in May!)
After the way the whole fiasco ended last time … Brian virtually being fired from the band that never would have (or could have) existed without him … the second “comeback” album dropped … Why on EARTH would he want to team up with Mike Love again … especially when he’s got his OWN stellar band to perform with??? I just don’t get it.
I wish them well … but maybe I’ll just invest that money in their 62nd Box Set of Rarities instead! (kk)
