Voting for the Fan Ballot for this year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees ends on Friday, April 29th … but you can vote once daily between now and then if you choose …
Duran Duran has opened up a sizeable lead since we last checked the tote board …
As of Saturday Evening (4/16) at 6 pm, they were about 200,000 votes
ahead of Eminem. Previously, the two
artists had been in a neck-and-neck battle, with Eminem the early leader. Rounding out the Top Five are Pat Benatar
(another 100,000 votes behind Eminem), and then, dropping down another 150,000
votes, Eurythmics and Dolly Parton, who are nearly tied at this point. (After all the fuss a few weeks ago, you just KNOW that Dolly's going to get in this year ... and I just can't wait to hear her acceptance speech ... and see what she performs at the end during the All-Star Jam!!!)
The following artists currently have over a quarter million votes:
Duran Duran – 845,000
Eminem – 650,000
Pat Benatar – 555,000
Eurythmics – 390,000
Dolly Parton – 365,000
Judas Priest – 325,000
Carly Simon – 295,000
Lionel Richie – 275,000
Just under five million votes have been cast so far.
The Class of 2022 Inductees will be announced the first week
of May. (kk)
Art Rupe, Founder of Specialty Records, home to artists like Little Richard, Lloyd Price, Sam Cooke, Larry Williams and several other early R&B / Rockers, passed away at the age of 104 on Friday (April 15th)
Ironically, a White Jewish Boy who fell in love with the sounds of rhythm and blues music, Rupe (real name Arthur Goldberg) founded the label in 1946 and earned early R&B #1 Hits with “Pink Champagne” by Joe Liggins in 1950 and “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” in 1952. (Price went on to have his biggest hits with ABC-Paramount.) Sam Cooke signed with the label as part of The Soul Stirrers, before leaving for his very successful solo career with Keen Records in 1956 and later with RCA throughout the ‘60’s. Specialty released a couple of vintage tracks trying to cash in on Cooke's newfound popularity, the biggest one ("I'll Come Running Back To You") peaking at #18 in 1958. (Also quite ironically … when he passed away last week at the age of 104, Rupe had outlived virtually his entire roster of artists!)
The record label's crown jewel, however, would have to be the outrageous Little Richard who, between 1955 and 1958 scored 18 Top 20 R&B Hits, including three #1’s: “Long Tall Sally” (1956), “Rip It Up” (1956) and “Lucille” (1957). Fifteen of those R&B hits crossed over to the pop charts as well, as Little Richard became one of rock and roll’s early pioneers and innovators. (“Long Tall Sally,” “Jenny, Jenny,” “Keep A-Knockin’” and “Good Golly Miss Molly” all made Billboard’s Top Ten Pop Chart.)
Rupe was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. (kk)
From Harvey Kubernik:
From my 2014 book “Turn Up The Radio! Rock, Pop and Roll in Los Angeles 1956 - 1972” ...
Art Rupe owned Specialty Records from 1949. Roy Milton and His Solid Senders hit with “RM Blues” in 1945, and Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers charted with “The Honeydripper.” Percy Mayfield recorded in town, [and] later was a staff writer for Ray Charles. Rupe signed Lloyd Price out of New Orleans. Rupe then found Little Richard in 1955, off a demo audition tape. “Tutti Frutti” happened. Larry Williams was also on the label in the late fifties. He wrote songs the Beatles covered — “Short Fat Fannie,” “Dizzy Miss Lizzie,” and “Bony Moronie.” The Soul Stirrers, featuring Sam Cooke, were on the label. Thank you Art Rupe for Percy Mayfield's recordings.
And then this …
Chris Darrow: An Observation About Specialty Records
Little Richard sang as though there was no tomorrow, at the top of his lungs, and played piano like no one else. His songs were so blatant that there was no doubt as to what they were about. Of all his records, “The Girl Can’t Help It” is my favorite. It’s the title song to a rock ’n’ roll movie of the same name. The 1956 film features a number of rock ’n’ roll stars of the time. Besides Little Richard, there was Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino, and the Platters, to name but a few. Little Richard’s entrance in the film is unforgettable, and the song, written by Bobby Troup, is perfect for him.
The thing I don’t understand is why Don and Dewey, basically two screaming Little Richards, never became a household name. They recorded a number of songs for Specialty in 1957 and 1958. Don was Don “Sugarcane” Harris and Dewey was Dewey Terry. They were both born and raised in Pasadena, California, the home of the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade. After becoming Don and Dewey, they recorded two singles comprised of two vocals and two instrumentals for another small label. Their tune “I’m Leavin’ It All Up to You,” a ballad, didn’t fare well, either, but became a number-one hit for Dale and Grace in 1963. Many songs that they wrote, or recorded, were covered by other artists and made the charts. But somehow, the great Don and Dewey just couldn’t make it click. The Righteous Brothers were the most obvious, as they pretty much copped Don and Dewey’s deal and included “Koko Joe,” written by Sonny Bono, “Justine,” and “Big Boy Pete” in their repertoire.
When I heard the news about Bobby Rydell passing away, my jaw dropped.
My sister emailed me an article in the NY atones. Before opening, it I saw the headline and that’s when it happened, my jaw dropping.
He was a great performer, had a very lovable personality and he just LOVED his fans. A cousin of mine who was in the music business sent me an autographed album from Bobby and I didn’t ask him if he could get it for me. My cousin did it on his own.
I finally med Bobby in Atlantic City in 2016 and he was very gracious to all of his fans and listened to every word the fan(s) said to him. WHAT A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING! He will be missed. He is singing 🎵🎵in Heaven. 🙏🙏
Arlene
One of Rock And Roll's Biggest Mysteries ...
(from Tom Cuddy) ...
Music Industry Mysteries: Was Bobby Fuller Murdered By His Own Record Label?
We tackled this topic back in 2002 (OMG, that's 20 years ago!!!)
There were just FAR too many conflicting circumstances that have never made sense. (I'm not quite sure why this topic has surfaced again ... it's not the anniversary of his birth or his death ... but it is still a pretty fascinating story nevertheless.) kk
http://forgottenhits.com/bobby_fuller
FH Reader Frank B tells us about another Unsolved Musical Mystery ...
kk:
I just learned this about Walter Scott …
He Was The Lead Singer For Bob Kuban & THE Inmen, "THE CHEATER" …
A One-Hit Wonder From 1966.
Walter Scott's Car Was Found At St. Louis Airport. He Didn't Take A Plane Ride.
He was Missing For Three Years. His Wife And Her Boyfriend Were Involved In His Murder.
Walter Scott's Mother Believes His Wife Joanne Shot Him In The Back Three Times.
Check It Out On Wikipedia & Court TV - Forensic Files - "THE CHEATER."
FB
If you’re a Monkees fan, you’ll want to know about this one!
Rhino Records is releasing a limited edition BluRay box set featuring ALL of The Monkees’ TV episodes in fully restored, high definition quality. In addition, you’ll also get their 1968 movie “Head” and their 1969 television special “33 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee” … along with a ton of extras not previously available on home video release.
The set is being limited to 10,000 numbered copies … so when they’re gone, they’re gone. Preorders are being accepted now … and it’ll run you around two hundred bucks. (For $205, they’ll even throw in a Monkees T-Shirt!)
Now, full disclosure, I have already purchased their complete television series on VHS when Rhino released it for the first time many, many years ago. Truth be told, I probably watched about four episodes and that was it. Cool set … I just never went back to it.
Then, a decade later when they put it out on two DVD box sets, (one for Season One and one for Season Two), I bought it again … once again, it was the “extras” that swayed me … this time I skipped around a bit, watched the bonus footage and that was it … both boxes (along with the VHS set) have been sitting on my bookshelves ever since.
But I’ve gotta tell you, I will very likely order this AGAIN … because the extras this time around are absolutely killer! (And the improved BluRay quality sounds like it’s to die for.)
Full contents of THE MONKEES - THE COMPLETE SERIES on Blu-ray revealed!
This Blu-ray set is REGION FREE.
1. All 58 episodes, newly remastered in stunning HD from the original negatives for the very first time, plus the 1969 TV Special "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee"
2. Bonus material featuring commentaries from all four Monkees, original Kellogg's Monkees commercials, and more
3. The 1968 Monkees film "HEAD" in HD with never-before-seen outtakes
4. Unique packaging including a 7" featuring "Star Collector" b/w "Goin' Down" in unique TV mono mixes
5. Strictly limited to 10,000 individually numbered sets
6. Only available at Monkees.com
We're excited to reveal the contents of this long-awaited collection. But first, check out the fantastic packaging - a lenticular 3-D cover mount that "moves" as you tilt it!
Discs 1-7
All 58
original, uncut episodes of THE MONKEES, remastered in HD from the original
film negatives
• Audio commentary from all four Monkees
• NEW audio commentary from Rodney Bingenheimer, Donna Loren and
"Monkee Girl" Valerie Kairys Venet
• Alternate "Saturday morning rerun" versions with 10 alternate songs
and mixes
• All in the original glorious mono direct from the film audio mags
Disc 8
•
The 1968 movie HEAD, in HD
• Optional DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround soundtrack
• Audio commentary from all four Monkees
Disc 9
•
The 1969 NBC television special 33 1/3 REVOLUTIONS PER MONKEE, restored from
newly discovered video elements
• Audio commentary from Micky Dolenz
Disc 10 - BONUS DISC, AVAILABLE IN THIS STRICTLY LIMITED EDITION ONLY!
• Original screen tests
• Original TV commercial spots featuring The Monkees
• Newly discovered outtakes from THE MONKEES TV series
• Newly discovered color promo film for "Randy Scouse Git" created
for TOP OF THE POPS and unseen since its original airing
• Never-before-seen backstage footage of The Monkees at the 1967 Emmy Awards
• Newly discovered outtakes from the movie HEAD
• Newly discovered outtakes from the TV special 33 1/3 REVOLUTIONS PER MONKEE
•
The Monkees on THE JOHNNY CASH SHOW in 1969
• The Monkees on THE GLEN CAMPBELL GOODTIME HOUR in 1969, including a medley of
"Last Train to Clarksville/I'm A Believer/Salesman" and a performance
of "Tear Drop City"
• The Monkees on ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN in 1969
• Davy Jones performing "Someday Man" from the 1969 TV special MUSIC
BAG, unseen since its original airing
• Newly restored color promo film for "Oh My My"
This collection is strictly limited to 10,000 individually numbered boxes and once
those are sold out, this edition and bonus disc will never be available again.
https://monkeesstore.warnermusic.com/the-monkees-complete-tv-series-blu-ray.html
Hello Kent,
Here's an article I came across this week from a local station in the Quad Cities area. It's an interview with songwriter and trombonist James Pankow, who has been with the band Chicago ever since the beginning.
I was fascinated to learn that he attended Quincy University (back when it was Quincy College). That's where I went to college - a few decades after he was there, but still pretty cool.
I saw Chicago perform live at an outdoor concert in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, several years ago and they were nothing short of incredible. They played for two hours straight while managing to keep the energy level up and proved why they're a band worthy of being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Colin Donahue
>>>Twenty
five copies of the “Yesterday And Today” butcher cover on display in a store
window?!?! That would have made for an INCREDIBLE photo op … who knew!!! Sadly, so many of
these copies were recalled by Capitol Records and then “pasted over” with the
trunk cover that still adorns copies today. Those 25 albums in pristine condition today would
probably be worth somewhere between $250,000 to close to a have million dollars
today!!! (And they were probably selling them for
$3.98!!!) kk
Very true. Typically, a stereo copy still sealed with the
price sticker on it, etc., would easily fetch over a couple thousand.
Interesting item I forgot to mention. About ten or more years ago, I was
chatting with Val Camiletti (R.I.P.), who owned that fantastic little record
shop in Oak Park, and the subject of the "Butcher Cover" came up. She
mentioned that when that LP first came out, she was working in the offices of
Capitol Records, and one of her tasks was to send out letters to record stores
and distributors, telling them to send back all of their copies of the LP,
which would then be replaced by a copy of the same LP, but having a
"new" cover, due to the [complaints]. Who knew?
Mike
While we're on The Beatles, I've got to share this great quote from Paul McCartney that I read last night in his book "The Lyrics."
It gives the PERFECT explanation of not only how The Beatles appreciated the music created by the early Black R&B artists, but also the reality of how this music evolved and morphed into rock and roll when it was interpreted by the White artists.
When you get right down to it, in everything I've ever done - in The Beatles, Wings, solo - there's an undercurrent of Black music. You could say it's blues, but it could be soul. So many of the white groups looked to the Black players and singers for inspiration. If you think of The Beatles' early stuff, it was mostly covers of Black guys: "You've Really Got A Hold On Me," "Twist And Shout." We loved Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard. Then there were the white guys - Elvis, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis - who were already influenced by the Black guys. So, even though we were admiring these white guys, we were admiring white guys who admired Black guys.
-- Paul McCartney
Paul's "white covers" of R&B classics like Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" and "Lucille" as well as Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City" are great representations of his non-ballad, silly love songs side. The Beatles covered Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Rock And Roll Music, providing excellent versions of each. John loved Larry Williams' "Dizzy Miss Lizzie" and "Bad Boy" so The Beatles recorded them, too. He also favored Arthur Alexander ... so "Anna" appeared on their first LP. Ringo did The Shirelles' hit "Boys" and The Beatles also recorded the big Motown hits "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes and "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. They even did Barrett Strong's "Money," another Motown hit. Paul also mentioned "Twist And Shout," a song best remembered (prior to their definitive version) as an Isley Brothers tune. A couple of weeks ago FH Reader Jack Levin referred to these as lame, weak covers ... but I couldn't disagree more. I'd put every single one of them (except, perhaps, "Money") up against the originals. (kk)
Best Classic Bands saluted the Biggest Hits of 1967 again this past week … MY favorite year in music … and boy, this week’s chart in ’67 just goes to prove why …
Once again, they used Chicago’s WLS Chart as the benchmark …
And you can see and hear many of those favorites here:
https://bestclassicbands.com/top-radio-hits-1967-12-22-1555/
Health issues have derailed a couple of tour plans for this spring and summer …
Randy Bachman, citing “a series of health challenges,” has postponed his spring tour, stating that "the past six months have been the hardest of my entire life." All dates scheduled for April and May will be rescheduled. (The Bachman-Cummings Tour, delayed several times due to Covid over the past two years, was finally cancelled last year as well, although four dates scheduled for July in Ontario still show up on the list ... and Bachman says, health permitting, he and Burton fully intend to do those shows.) "I have been struck by a series of health challenges. In my heart, soul and mind, I feel fantastic, but physically, I realize I can't perform at this time." (kk)
Meanwhile, Blondie will kick off their big reunion tour without bassist Chris Stein …
He’s sitting out their Summer Tour due to a heart issue … or as he describes it, “A Dumbass Condition Called Arterial Fibrillation.”
In an official statement released last Thursday (4/14), Stein said:
I’m sad and frustrated to report that I’m not going out with the next bunch of Blondie touring. I’ve been dealing with a dumbass condition called Arterial Fibrillation or AFib, which is irregular heartbeats and, combined with the meds I take for it, I’m too fatigued to deal. I’m still all in with recording and other band projects and I should be out for discussions, etc., later on. The band will be great and Glen Matlock will be joining them on bass. That’s it, I’m fine, I’m around here and I love you all.
Blondie hits Chicago on my birthday, August 27th, with a gig at the beautiful Chicago Theater. The Damned is their opening act. (kk)
Kent,
One of your readers today mentioned Red Prysock's HAND CLAPPIN'. I immediately thought of CLAP YOUR HANDS by the Beaumarks from 1960, a group from Canada I believe. They had a follow-up, I believe, called STILL CLAPPIN' or something like that. Big record here in OKC
Larry
And, of course, today you get to hear the Shirley Ellis hit “The Clapping Song” nearly every night in a television commercial! (Actually, it was good to hear that one again … an underrated follow up to her smash hit “The Name Game,” which has ALSO been used in commercials recently.)
As for me, I’ve made it a point my entire life to stay away from ANYTHING having to do with the clap! (kk)
One last little memory that ran thru my head while you and your readers were discussing little-known facts about songs and their composers, etc. ...
A factual item that always comes to mind, when someone says "Did you know that ..." is that crazy old novelty tune that hit the top 40 back in the 60s, "They're Coming to Take Me Away ..." by Napoleon the XIV. It was written and performed and had all of the electronics effects done by a recording engineer named Jerry Samuels. The surprise is that Samuels also wrote a beautiful hit song for Sammy Davis, Jr., "The Shelter of Your Arms." That song still gets me misty.
Mike Wolstein
From Clark Besch …
Baby baby, there's things I'd like to say about the relaunching of Mercury Records.
A bit of a pipe dream?
It looks like this is for new music and out of NYC so why not choose a label name with some kind of attachments to today instead of pretending recapturing the good old days???
Republic Relaunches Mercury Records
Republic Records is relaunching the Mercury imprint as an “extension” of the label, the company announced Monday. The move is similar to Atlantic’s relaunch of Elektra and Interscope’s of Geffen, an effort to split the parent label’s large roster so that artists receive more attention. The relaunched label will have Tyler Arnold as president, based in New York, and Ben Adelson as GM in Los Angeles. Both will report to Republic co-founders Monte and Avery Lipman.
Mercury will launch with a new roster including Post Malone, James Bay, Lord Huron, Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler, and Noah Kahan, as well as emerging talents BoyWithUke, Ka$hdami, Lyn Lapid, Stephen Sanchez, and Camylio. They also have strategic alliances with Nashville’s Big Loud Records (Morgan Wallen, Lily Rose) and Imperial Music (Bo Burnham).
The Mercury label was originally founded by Irving Green in 1945 and operated for decades out of Chicago. It was acquired by PolyGram which in turn was acquired by Universal in the late 1990s and ceased operations as a stand-alone shortly afterward. It will now operate as an extension of Republic.
Regarding the next chapter of Mercury Records, Monte Lipman commented, “Tyler and Ben’s accomplishments speak volumes as top A&R executives over the past few years, and the legacy of Mercury Records will be in perfect hands. Their competitive spirit, drive and determination will lead a new vanguard of creative artists into uncharted waters.”
Arnold commented, “We’re very grateful to Monte and Avery for entrusting us with such a legendary label and brand. I am so proud of our incredible roster and am excited to represent some of the most talented, influential and creative artists in music today. It is Mercury’s priority to lead as a creative company, putting our artists first and taking an energetic, entrepreneurial approach to A&R and marketing. We are building Mercury to become the modern music label.”
Adelson added, “Tyler and I each began our careers at Republic and have worked together for almost a decade. We’ve leaned on Republic Co-President’s Jim Roppo and Wendy Goldstein for their wisdom, perspective, and guidance and hope to bring that same leadership and forward thinking to our roles at Mercury. The path to success looks different for every musician, and Tyler and I are committed to fostering an environment where artists who are uniquely themselves can thrive.”
Arnold was most recently executive VP of A&R at Republic, a role he has held since 2020. Since joining the company in 2014, he has been responsible for signing and developing Post Malone and partnering with super-producer Metro Boomin. He has also signed Clairo, Bo Burnham, Jeremy Zucker, and Chelsea Cutler and led the initiative to team up with Big Loud Records in 2020.
Adeleson, an executive VP of A&R at Republic since 2018, has signed James Bay, Conan Gray, Lord Huron, and Noah Kahan. He joined Republic as an intern in 2007, left in 2009 and returned two years later.
And, speaking of Mercury Records, I just got this earlier this week …
ROLLING STONES - LICKED LIVE IN NYC
RESTORED AND REMASTERED WITH FOUR PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS, BONUS PERFORMANCES FROM AMSTERDAM AND REHEARSAL FOOTAGE
~ON MULTIPLE FORMATS ON JUNE 10, 2022~
PRE-ORDER HERE
VIEW TRAILER HERE
“New York City, top of the world…” testifies Mick Jagger after a raucous performance of “If You Can’t Rock Me”. “It’s great to see you here looking really beautiful tonight all dressed up. You think you’re on TV or something?”
In 1964, The Rolling Stones arrived to absolute mayhem for their first show in NYC, after the release of their debut album The Rolling Stones. Having played New York City multiple times, at several venues, it was only fitting that in January, 2003, as part of their 40th anniversary tour, they made it a point to return to New York’s most celebrated arena … Madison Square Garden.
The Rolling Stones’ 40-year celebration tour with the NYC crowd bearing witness to a razor-sharp performance is evidenced throughout this entire set.
On June 10th, Mercury Studios will proudly present Licked Live In NYC on DVD+2CD, SD Blu-ray+2CD, as well as a standalone 2CD and 3LP. Originally released in 2003 as an HBO special and as part of the Four Flicks package, this concert has been fully restored and remastered with four previously unreleased songs: “Start Me Up”, “Tumbling Dice”, “Gimme Shelter”, and “Sympathy For The Devil.”
Joining Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Charlie Watts were Darryl Jones (bass, backing vocals), Chuck Leavell (keyboards, backing vocals), Bobby Keys (saxophone), Bernard Fowler (backing vocals), Lisa Fischer (backing vocals), Blondie Chaplin (backing vocals, acoustic guitar/ percussion), Tim Ries (saxophone, keyboards), Kent Smith (trumpet), and Michael Davis (trombone) who set the Garden’s stage ablaze. Kicking off with “Street Fighting Man”, the Rolling Stones made their way through “Angie”, “Midnight Rambler”, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”, to name a few, as well as “Honky Tonk Women” with a special guest appearance by Sheryl Crow.
The addition of three bonus performances from Amsterdam and rehearsal footage gives an insider’s view of the Rolling Stones gearing up for this tour. The SD Blu-ray package includes the additional 51-minute documentary Tip Of The Tongue, which captures the conception and preparation of the Live Licks tour’s innovative three show / three venue approach. Inspired to switch up venues on a nightly basis between arenas, ballrooms, or theaters, and setlists along with it, the band are captured preparing for this tour from the recording studio in Paris to the rehearsals in Toronto.
A dynamic performance delivered at one of the most celebrated of venues, Rolling Stones Licked Live In NYC showcases a landmark, celebratory moment in the lives of the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band.
Track listing:
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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. |
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http://www.facebook.com/therollingstones |
I just noticed this ... A new Hot 100 record has been set.
On March 12th, "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals first reached #1 on the chart, in its 59th week ... more than a year. That's 24 weeks longer than the previous record holder, "All I Want For Christmas Is You." As of April 9th, it was still #1 in its 63rd week. Billboard credits (or blames) its long rise to alternative-to-pop crossover and slower charts because of streaming and radio's reluctance to play anything new.
Ed #1
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/glass-animals-heat-waves-chart-record-hot-100-1235040223/
Is it any good???
59 weeks to reach #1 … unreal! And I love the quote “radio’s reluctance to play anything new.” You’re preaching to the choir on this one.
So I guess in terms of actual weeks charted, the Mariah Carey Christmas Classic may have taken 35 weeks to reach #1 … but didn’t it REALLY take something like 24 YEARS to do it?!?! Now THAT’S a record that’ll likely never be broken … that a song could have that kind of long-lasting impact to still appeal to every generation to come along since and still earn enough sales, downloads and streams to top the Billboard Hot 100 Chart every Christmas season now for the past three or four years. That’s staying power, baby! (kk)
Billboard itself questioned “Where are all the hits for 2022?” this past week …
Why Are There So Few New Hits in 2022?
Prior to Harry Styles' "As It Was" hitting the Billboard Hot 100, only a handful of songs released this year have made a major impact on the chart.
If you’ve been looking to catch up on the hottest new songs released in 2022, you wouldn’t find them towards the top of the Billboard Hot 100 lately. While the Hot 100 measures the biggest songs in the country every week, recently the chart has been absolutely dominated by holdovers from 2021 — some of which didn’t begin their chart runs in 2022, some of which have only hit their peaks in 2022, and some of which have just continued to hang around the listing many months (a couple even close to a year) after reaching their chart apex.
In fact, if you look at last week’s chart, dated April 9, more than three months into the calendar year, you’ll find more songs in the both the top 10 (Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves,” No. 1) and top 20 (Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” No. 15) that were released in 2020 than in 2022 — with the latter year only represented by Yahritza y Su Esencia’s brand new “Soy El Unico,” a debut entry at No. 20. (The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears,” at No. 17, also began its chart journey a full two years earlier, in April 2020, though the Ariana Grande remix it’s currently credited for did not impact the chart until May 2021.)
Andrew Unterberger / Billboard Magazine
Music in a word today: Boring (kk)
Hi Kent,
Alan and I saw "The Orchestra" on March 28 at Epcot in Orlando, the whole reason we went to Epcot for the day, and I must say that you were spot on with your opinion that they are EXCELLENT. I must admit that most of my attention was on Mik Kiminski, the only remaining true member who actually played in the classic ELO lineup. I believe several other members played with ELO Part II before that band dissolved. But all were very talented musicians in their own right and would have made Jeff Lynne proud and, as you said, perform very faithful and respectful versions of all the hits - plus and a few "deep cuts" including "Fire on High." To my knowledge, I had never known ELO to play that song live in concert. Alan may have a few comments to supplement mine herein. All told, it was three very entertaining 30-minute sets and here were their setlists for your perusal: I was so stoked that I've ordered 9 ELO CDs to complete my set. Of course, this involved re-purchasing the LPs I already have!
Nick
Definitely a great show every time out … we’ve seen them several times now and they never disappoint … very faithful and respectful representation of some of Jeff Lynne’s greatest musical achievements.
From a piece we ran a few years back …
(And we’ve seen them a couple more times since!) kk
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-orchestra.html
Today’s Sunday Comments Page pays tribute to two of the biggest labels of The Rock Era, Specialty Records and Mercury Records.
From his book “Billboard’s Hottest Hot 100 Hits,” here is how Fred Bronson shows The Top 20 Hits for Mercury Records, based on their rankings in Billboard Magazine during The Forgotten Hits Era, 1955 - 1985 …
MERCURY RECORDS:
# 1 – MY PRAYER – The Platters (1956)
# 2 – LITTLE DARLIN’ – The Diamonds (1957)
# 3 – MAGGIE MAY / REASON TO BELIEVE – Rod Stewart (1971)
# 4 – SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES – The Platters (1959)
# 5 – THE GREAT PRETENDER – The Platters (1956)
# 6 – RUNNING BEAR – Johnny Preston (1960)
# 7 – IT’S MY PARTY – Lesley Gore (1963)
# 8 – EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD – Tears For Fears (1985)
# 9 – TWILIGHT TIME – The Platters (1958)
#10 – COME ON EILEEN – Dexys Midnight Runners (1983)
#11 – THE BOLL WEEVIL SONG – Brook Benton (1961)
#12 – LOVE ROLLERCOASTER – The Ohio Players (1976)
#13 – SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY – Donna Summer (1983)
#14 – I’M NOT IN LOVE – 10cc (1975)
#15 – SEA OF LOVE – Phil Phillips
#16 – YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET – Bachman Turner Overdrive (1974)
#17 – THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED – Paper Lace (1974)
#18 – YOU DON’T OWN ME – Lesley Gore (1964)
#19 – ONLY YOU – The Platters (1955)
#20 – FIRE – The Ohio Players (1975)
Modern Day Mercury Classics:
“You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain, “Mmmbop” by Hanson, “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi, “Wild Night” by John Mellencamp and Me’ Shell Ndeg’Oocello, “You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi, “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus and “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard
Likewise, Chart Statistician Randy Price does the same thing for Specialty Records, based on these records' showing in Billboard and Cash Box below ...
SPECIALTY RECORDS:
# 2 - LONG TALL SALLY - Little Richard (1956)
# 3 - KEEP A KNOCKIN’ - Little Richard (1957)
# 4 - BONY MORONIE - Larry Williams (1958)
# 5 - JENNY, JENNY - Little Richard (1957)
# 6 - GOOD GOLLY, MISS MOLLY - Little Richard (1958)
# 7 - RIP IT UP - Little Richard (1956)
# 8 - I’LL COME RUNNING BACK TO YOU - Sam Cooke (1958)
# 9 - LUCILLE - Little Richard (1957)
#10 - TUTTI-FRUTTI - Little Richard (1956)
#11 - OOH! MY SOUL - Little Richard (1958)
#12 - READY TEDDY - Little Richard (1956)
#13 - BABY FACE - Little Richard (1958)
#14 - YOU BUG ME, BABY - Larry Williams (1957)
#15 - SLIPPIN’ AND SLIDIN’ (Peepin’ And Hidin’) - Little Richard (1956)
#16 - MISS ANN - Little Richard (1957)
#17 - THE GIRL CAN’T HELP IT - Little Richard (1957)
#18 - SEND ME SOME LOVIN’ - Little Richard (1957)
#19 - FOREVER - Sam Cooke (1958)
#20 - BAMA LAMA BAMA LOO - Little Richard (1964)
– Randy Price
Leaving you with a couple of smiles …
From Frannie ...
And finally ...
Is this our way of wishing you a Hoppy Easter???
EGGSZACTLY!!!
