Tom Cuddy sent us this great review of The Happy Together Show that played last week at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida.
Sounds like a GREAT show with another stellar line-up …
And wait till you see all the awesome photos!
The Brian Wilson / Chicago tour has started so some of the early reviews are starting to trickle in.
Unfortunately, this one doesn’t sound much better than the Al Jardine review we ran a couple of weeks ago … Brian seeming completely detached from all that is going on around him, missing cues and abruptly ending songs early … again, how can this POSSIBLY be any fun for any of them at this point?
It’s almost like they’re doing this just to generate a paycheck for the rest of the band.
We DID read, however, that The Beach Boys come out and join Chicago (who are the opening act on this tour) to sing “Wishing You Were Here” … while the Chicago horns coming out during Brian Wilson’s set to pump some brass into tracks like “Darlin’” … so THAT should make for an interesting mix. (I saw The Beach Boys tour with Chicago three times over the years … dating all the way back to the ‘70’s and ‘80’s … and Brian wasn’t part of any of them … so this at least allows the connection to come full circle.)
We’re going to see them in July … and I’m sure it’ll still be an enjoyable night of music. (kk)
Although Brian Wilson has kept a fairly active touring schedule since the launch of his first solo trek in 1999, he'd never be mistaken for a person who feels comfortable onstage. He barely moves or says a word and tends to stare into the distance with a blank expression from his seat behind that rarely played piano. When he sings, he often misses cues or drops the final word or two of individual lines. On "Sloop John B," he came in early.
Any song that required the iconic falsetto that defined so many Beach Boys classics, Matthew nailed, from "I Get Around" to "Help Me, Rhonda." And he sounded especially angelic on "Don't Worry Baby" and "God Only Knows."
Ed Masley / Arizona Republic
LOTS of Beach Boys happenings of late … and there’ll be plenty more as this 60th Anniversary runs its course throughout the rest of the year.
Our Forgotten Hits Buddy Spud (who works for Al Jardine) sent us these links to share:
A few words from Al on the Brian Wilson/Chicago tour:
https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/beach-boys-al-jardine-says-brian-wilsons-tour-chicago-will-be-lot-fun
Some cool pics from opening night in Phoenix:
https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/music/2022/06/08/chicago-brian-wilson-2022-concert-review-photos/7537488001
Review of Phoenix show with setlists included:
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/brian-wilson-chicago-summer-2022-tour-launch
Meanwhile, has it really been ten years since That’s
Why God Made The Radio was released?
https://somethingelsereviews.com/2022/06/08/beach-boys-thats-why-god-made-the-radio
Finally, check out this JUST-released Ultimate Music
Guide on The Beach Boys from UNCUT Magazine. You can buy it at Barnes
& Noble and other magazine/record stores or directly from UNCUT in the UK
(scroll down for BUY link):
https://www.uncut.co.uk/publications/special-issues/the-beach-boys-deluxe-ultimate-music-guide-138743
Meanwhile, it has just been announced that Ringo has postponed the balance of the first leg of his summer tour due to two members of his All-Starr Band (Edgar Winter and Steve Lukather) testing positive for Covid.
Reviews have been great and, in fact, he and Paul McCartney will have each played New York City within eight days (which, as you know, in Beatles terms, is a week) of each other. (Ringo just did his show there at The Beacon Theater for three nights last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday ... and I'm told Edgar Winter missed those last two shows because he already had Covid at that point. Macca is due to appear at MetLife Stadium next Thursday, on June 16th, as the last stop of his US tour. Two days later, he'll be celebrating his 80th birthday!)
The good news is that the remaining twelve postponed shows will be added to the second leg of the tour, due to begin in September. (September 23rd, to be exact. Leg One was supposed to run through the 26th of June.) Covid has been a factor in this tour's history from the beginning ... it was first scheduled to commence in 2020. Due to repeated delays, the All-Starr Band line-up changed a few times along the way due to artist availability. Winter, Lukather, Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette and Warren Ham are all expected to be on hand when the tour resumes in September.
In his statement announcing the postponement, Ringo said, “We are so sorry to let the fans down. It’s been wonderful to be back out on the road and we have been having such a great time playing for you all. But as we all know, Covid is still here and despite being careful, these things happen. I want to thank the fans for their patience, I send you all peace and love, and we can’t wait to be back in the Fall.”
Hey Kent –
Thought you needed some more drama on Forgotten Hits!
Here are The top 200 Songs as voted on Boom Radio. A lot I have never heard before, but check out # 41.
This should provide some fodder
for discussion with the note that it is from England. Enjoy!
Keith Brodkorb
Yes, there is a distinctly British tone to this list … and there are probably 30 or 40 songs listed here that I don’t know as well!
A bit Beatles top-heavy … between the group’s hits and solo efforts, 22 tracks (just over 10%) dominate the list
And it appears this was an “anything goes” ballot … because you’ve got British crooner Matt Monro represented with three hits, The Seekers (!) represented with FOUR hits … and several other British Only hits and artists thrown in in between. (Even ‘80’s rockabilly artist Shakin’ Stevens has three entries … which is one shy of the number that Elvis has!!!) Clifford T. Ward??? At #7? Ahead of “Stairway To Heaven”?!?!? (Ward also holds down the #36 and #44 spots) And what is the deal with all the love for The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset”??? We see this time and time again!
The only Fleetwood Mac song that makes The Top 100 is “Albatross,” an instrumental from 1969 from the band’s pre-pop blues band days? Seriously??? Interesting, too, to see the recently-discussed Chris Farlowe version of The Stones’ “Out Of Time” up at #43. (And I was quite surprised to see that “Penny Lane” edged out “Strawberry Fields Forever,” too, finishing at numbers 17 and 20.)
You mention #41 (“Runaway” by Del Shannon) which became a controversial title when we tabulated The Top 3333 Most-Essential Classic Rock Songs Of All-Time … but also ultimately dropped from that list was “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell, which comes in on this list at #30! (But this isn’t a rock list … by any stretch … like I said, Anything Goes once you look for the list of artists who are represented here.)
The British vs. American artists seem to win hands down as well … “Anyone Who Had A Heart” by Cilla Black (rather than Dionne Warwick), “Apache” by The Shadows (Cliff Richards’ band) over the #2 US Charting Hit by Jorgen Ingmann. (Between them, Cliff and the Shadows have five songs on the list.)
And who can forget THESE guys, performing this in one of my
favorite videos of all time!!! C’mon,
I’ve just GOT to run this clip every four or five years in case anybody new to
the list may have missed it! (Please note that this is NOT a parody ... but rather a legitimate video released at the time, attempting to turn this vintage instrumental into a disco hit!) I LOVE IT!
Still, this would make for an interesting countdown. (I can’t argue with #1 … which also placed first on their last ballot … and is likely MY all-time favorite song, too.)
But do people REALLY think that THIS is the #7 Greatest Song Ever (?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akKVtGUsbbY
Peruse the list … and see what you think. (kk)
Kent,
First, I have heard twice this morning a network commercial (I've never heard before) on LOWE'S. In the background was the instrumental version of Sammy Davis's Jr. CANDY MAN. It featured products one father might like for Father's Day coming up.
Also, I always did like the Addrisi Brothers’ song CHERRYSTONE. I checked and for the week of May 21, 1959, it made our local Top 40 weekly survey as the PICK HIT of the week. It was only on the survey for a period of four weeks, peaking at #24.
Now Kent, I checked my reference book and I would have sworn up and down that they lip-sync that song on American Bandstand but apparently they didn't. (I still think they did.)
I was somewhat surprised of their WE'VE GOT TO GET IT ON AGAIN. In 1972, the weekly survey consisted of the Top 20 records at the top of the survey. The next ten were classified at HIT BOUND. The next ten were classified as EXTRAS.
For the week of January 20, 1972, it made its initial appearance on the weekly survey as an EXTRA Now for the next seven weeks, it was listed in the HIT BOUND records. Then it fell off the survey and never made it into the top 20. I was a little surprised because I remember it being played for a long time.
On February 19, 1972, they did lip-sync that song on Bandstand.
Larry
When I saw Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" debut at #8 this week on the Hot 100, I thought "Oh, no, she died!" Happily, though, she is still alive. The song was just featured in some show that I never heard of but the kids apparently like, once again proving that the oldies will never die
The Hot 100 today is the dumpster fire that I just can't take my eyes off of.
Ed #1
The show you’re referring to is “Stranger Things” … and yeah, it’s been one of the hottest cable shows out there for about four years now.
I mentioned the other day about all the great music being featured this season in the television series “Hacks” … they’re even offering a special soundtrack link as part of the program so you can hear the full-length versions of these songs … definitely a way to help build a new audience for “music in the vaults.” (There’s gold in them thar hills!!!)
In this day and age of streaming and downloading music immediately, the game has certainly changed. That’s why you can watch the final episode of “The Sopranos” and feel the need to grab a copy of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” … or Badfinger’s “Baby Blue” if you were a “Breaking Bad” fan. (Personally, I think those impulse decisions are equally split between your love for the show and a great tune to remember it by.)
Here’s the way Billboard explained it this past week …
The biggest story in the music world this week is about a song from 1985: Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God).” The fever-pop classic re-enters the Billboard Hot 100 this week (chart dated June 11) at No. 8 — 22 spots higher than it originally peaked at back in ’85 — thanks to its extensive use in the fourth season of Netflix sci-fi series “Stranger Things,” a usage that has introduced the song to a new generation (while re-igniting older audiences’ love for the singular left-field hit.)
Which, of course, is exactly what we’ve been saying for years now … introduce today’s generation to the music of OUR generation and odds are they’ll fall in love with it, too.
Billboard ran a list of examples of songs that enjoyed a whole new chart life after they were featured in a new movie or television series. (Repeated usage in television commercials doesn’t hurt either!)
Some of the other (somewhat more obvious) examples cited were “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, “Do You Love Me” by The Contours, “Twist And Shout” by The Beatles and “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King … ALL great tunes that are still connecting with audiences today, some 50-60 years later.
You can read the whole article here: https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/10-times-movies-tv-shows-sent-decades-old-songs-back-onto-the-hot-100-kate-bush-queen-more-1235083441/#recipient_hashed=fa7e92da6f6e66bffcf0bcbf863670c6eb37d7159eb4d0ea1e44fecd5ec87eeb
More here, with commentary by Sean Ross of Ross On Radio fame, who points out several other excellent examples of rebooted hits …
Congratulations to our buddy Chuck Buell, who just won a voice-over award for …
Oh hell, I’ll just let HIM tell you!
I got some Great Professional News yesterday!
I was informed that I've received the award for “Best Theatrical Trailer Voice” at the recent Hollywood Horror Film Festival for the Film, “Meet My Pet Monster!”
Pretty scary, huh!
In addition to my award, this Film won over an amazing dozen other awards including “Best Feature!”
For those who may not be familiar with “My Pet Monster,” it was one of the few plush dolls created for boys that was initially produced in the mid-1980s and remained popular through the early 1990s. Some of you Guys out there could quite possibly have had one!
The “Monster” had blue fur, white fangs, tan horns and came with magic orange handcuffs (which could also be worn and unshackled by kids who owned the toy).
The premise was that the Monster would be brought to life when his shackles were released and that took a “magic key.”
The design of the Monster was wild enough for kids that loved monsters, but gentle enough to be a cuddly “friend,” just as it is in the overall story. You could think it had shades of ALF because of his Fun Furry appearance or Calvin & Hobbes because only the Monster’s “Friend” ( the boy who owned it ) could “see it alive!”
This film is considered a very special and ultimate Fan Film Homage, that is, a film inspired by a character or characters in a movie, television show, comic book or similar source created by another other than by the original creators.
It was conceived, created and produced by filmmaker James M. Storm. He produced it in the style of classic live action-adventure films of the 1980s utilizing the familiar traditions of puppet performers, animatronics and in-camera special effects. Classic characters and traditional story lines were brought together to deliver a fresh, new,
all-in-fun take on the original franchise.
Now, please turn off your Cell Phones. No texting! No talking! The Trailer is about to begin!
It’s attached.
Chuck
>>>The Rolling Stones played a show in Liverpool last week as part of their new “Sixty” tour. It was The Stones’ first appearance there since 1971 … 51 years ago … and they added “I Wanna Be Your Man” to the set list to commemorate the event as a tribute to The Beatles, who gave them the song to record as a single back in 1963. (Although it was recorded later, The Stones’ version was released PRIOR to The Beatles’ version when it was issued as their second single in The UK. The Beatles’ version first appeared three weeks later on their “With The Beatles” album (issued in America as “Meet The Beatles.”) Here in The States, “I Wanna Be Your Man” wound up on the B-Side of The Stones’ first US single, “Not Fade Away.” It was only released as a single … and didn’t appear in LP form until some compilation collections issued many years later. (kk)
Kinda cool, especially when the Stones’ first 45 WAS a Beatles song.
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rolling-stones-beatles-i-wanna-be-your-man-liverpool/
Clark
We’ve raised this question before …
Is Jay Ferguson a three-time One Hit Wonder?
He first struck gold as a member of Spirit with their 1969 hit “I Got A Line On You.” (#25)
Then, in 1972, he took “Run Run Run” (which we featured the other day) up to #27 as a member of Jo Jo Gunne (a band named after a Chuck Berry tune!)
And then, he scored the biggest hit of his career as a solo artist when “Thunder Island” (what a GREAT song!) went all the way to #6 in 1978.
Sure, Tony Burrows had a few more as a “ghost vocalist” on half a dozen early ‘70’s hits …
But I think Jay Ferguson should get HIS due, too! (kk)
I love Run Run Run! That was a great feature.
Thunder Island was a great hit. Shakedown Cruise got a lot of play
around these parts. I think of him as a 2 hit solo wonder. He made the
most money when he composed the theme to 'The Office'. He makes
royalties hourly, (I would guess).
Phil Nee
I think you may be right about that! There are at least two stations that I know of that air “The Office” 24/7!
And you’re right about “Shakedown Cruise,” too …
It went to #27 in 1979 as his follow-up hit to “Thunder Island.”
(Blows MY theory all to dust!)
Thanks, Phil! (kk)
NEXT WEEK IN FORGOTTEN HITS:
A trip to Washington, D.C. to visit a fifty year old survey in our Coast-To-Coast trek across the U.S.A., looking at the biggest hits of 1972
A profile of RAY STEVENS as part of our monthly Jeff March / Marti Smiley Childs INSIGHT INTO Series
A Brand New SWEET 16 List
Father's Day Gift-Giving Ideas from CHUCK BUELL
An interview with GINO VANNELLI, courtesy of PHIL NEE of WRCO Radio
And More!
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