Best Classic Bands is reporting that the long-delayed, much-abbreviated Bachman / Cummings Tour has started up at last … with Canadian dates only.
https://bestclassicbands.com/bachman-cummings-reunion-tour-2022-7-21-22
And, as exciting as all of that may have sounded to me a short while back, I got a bit of a reality check when I received this email from FH Reader Ken Kirton this past week, who attended their first show in Toronto. Sadly, it reminded me of my own experience of watching the two rock and roll legends perform live at the Manitoba Unite Concert last year …
I went to go see the Bachman / Cummings concert on the 19th on the Budweiser Stage in Toronto. I was expecting a lot more from them … and their age is showing through. Both of them seem to be having issues keeping on the notes and more issues with their voices keeping in tune with the song. I stayed for half the concert and, looking around me, people were talking to each other more than really watching the concert. They didn't really get the crowd going, which is very surprising for their talents … but I do feel with them being in their late seventies, it’s really time to retire.
With their legend, it was difficult to watch and write this review.
Best of luck to both of them in their retirement.
Ken Kirton
Sadly, that’s kind of how I felt when I watched their show live last year when they were the much-anticipated headliners of The Manitoba Unite 150 Concert … you can read my review here: https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2021/08/bachman-cummings-concert-review.html
As you said, a heartbreaking review to write as both these guys mean so much to me.
I was SO pleased to hear that they were going to do one more round of shows … and even had second row seats to see them here in Chicago before Covid cancelled everything. The US shows have never been rescheduled (and I’m not sure they ever will be.) I just wanted them to have one last big hurrah, because they certainly deserve it. What a shame to instead go out on such a low note. It’s like the heavyweight fighter who just wants to go fifteen more rounds to prove he can still do it … but should have retired years ago. (kk)
Reaction to our review ran the full gamut … everything from “I couldn’t believe it either” to “How can you criticize these legends?” Trust me, it was heartbreaking to witness … and then again to try and put into words just how disappointing it was, especially after an entire lifetime of LOVING their music and seeing them perform killer shows again and again and again. I can only tell you that it wasn’t pretty … and based on Ken’s review above, it sounds like it hasn’t gotten any better. (We ran a similar review a short while back about Al Jardine’s Friends and Family Show … another heartbreaking show by a long-time icon for me. And I suppose you can add Brian Wilson to that list, too. Fortunately, his stellar band carries him thru the concert so that the music he once created can still be presented in an honoring and respectful way, often better than The Beach Boys themselves were ever able to present it in a live setting.)
But the truth of the matter is, you’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em. Burton’s voice has ALWAYS been pristine in concert … to hear it be anything less is something I would think HE wouldn’t stand for … and I say as much in my review. (Burton himself told me that as long as his voice holds up, he can probably continue to do this for a few more years ... but that was more than a few years ago when he told me this.)
And don’t even get me started on Paul McCartney … I refuse to watch any new live clips by him … Paul is probably my #1 music idol of all-time … and I just can’t bear to witness him drag his legacy thru the dirt every time he tries to perform one of his massive hits. This guy should have hung it up twenty years ago! He still could have been raking in the money between all The Beatles’ reissues and McCartney Classics releases! It’s just a shame … these artists were PERFECTIONISTS who wouldn’t let the slightest note go out if it wasn’t done right ... and now that just can't seem to let the brilliance of that legacy stand. (kk)
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2021/08/reaction-to-bachman-cummings-review.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2021/09/more-bachman-cummings-and-few-other.html
This One Hurts …
kk, I don't know if you've heard … but Don K. Reed, "KING OF THE DOO-WOP SHOP" has died.
Takes Me Back To The Old WCBS-FM.
Sunday Night = Bobby Jay's Oldies Top 20, followed by "DON K . REED's DOO-WOP SHOP."
Every Week, Don Would Have Group In The Studio – Singing Live, A Cappella.
Don K. Reed Was Buried Yesterday and Today Would've Been His 80th Birthday.
Don Was Ken Kojak's Friend and Mentor. Tuesday On His Show Will Be A Tribute To Don K. Reed … Remember Then Radio = 8 to 11, New York Time. Listen For The Larry Chance Jingle --- My Favorite.
R.I.P. Don K. Reed.
FB
I was just reading a piece earlier this week about the milestone anniversary of WCBS-FM … 50 Years of broadcasting The Oldies. (Not that there weren’t a few bumps in the road along the way!!!)
Read Ross On Radio’s salute here …
https://radioinsight.com/ross/234009/wcbs-fm-at-50-and-15/
You might also enjoy this obituary on the great Don K. Reed …
https://dhinckley.medium.com/rip-don-k-reed-a-regular-on-a-splendid-radio-team-ceb7fd5c2fa7
Every month when I see your Sweet Sixteen list, I'm reminded of you telling us about the difficulty of finding songs with the word "didn't" in the title. I always thought you had ignored an obvious choice "Gunga Didn't" by Lord Didd. This record made the lower part of the WLS survey. It was supposed to be funny, I think. I don't know.
Ed #1
I wonder how many people have heard of THIS one!!! (lol)
It got to #36 for one week in 1962 … and I can assure you, with 100% certainty, that it is NOT funny. (I wonder who green-lit THIS recording!!!) kk
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Who would have EVER thought that that “little ole band from Texas” who built their career playing every dive bar and club throughout the south, often competing for the audience's attention against a mechanical bull, would be headlining for five nights at The Venetian in Las Vegas!!! Boy, the times have changed! We saw ZZ Top a couple of years ago at The Genesee Theatre … Dusty was still with them then … and it was a GREAT show. (True story … we did not have the greatest seats for this show … and literally sat in Row ZZ!!!) But we got to visit with the band afterwards and took advantage of the photo op …  VERY cool that you can stream the new album on a variety of options via the link above … so now it’s YOUR turn to take advantage and give it a listen. If you like what you hear, buy a copy for your collection. (kk) Guys, We watched a first day streaming of Netflix' most expensive film made ever ... $200 million to make "The Gray Man." #1, it is totally ridiculous, nonsensical story that rivals a million other action films. #2, it has tons of amazing action scenes, but the story is just ludicrous and disjointed. #3, it features one of the old songs almost NO ONE would ever believe would be featured in a film … "Silver Bird" by Mark Lindsay! Not only is it featured, but you hear nearly the entire three minutes of the song early on and then some later, too! $200 mil spent on the film, yet they show the 45 being played by a young girl in today's era and it is certainly NOT the Columbia 45 label. Later, you see the pic sleeve or LP cover of "Mark Lindsay Silver Bird" proudly displayed and it is not ANY product on the market ever. They spent all that money and could not get the records to resemble their actual form? You even see a Parkway 60's 45! How did this girl get these old 45s? Nothing in this film has anything to do with a flight for this girl of any kind. Just like much of the movie, nothing is explained about why she plays 45s or has old ones today. Silly movie to say the least. Oh well, nice Lindsay song and he likely gets some good money for it!! NOW, why doesn't anyone feature Cryan’ Shames songs in movies???? BTW, the songwriter of “Silver Bird” is Kenny Young, who sadly passed away two years ago so won’t be collecting any of the fruits of this venture. Kenny wrote big hits for Ronnie Dove, The Drifters (Under the Boardwalk), Herman’s Hermits (Don’t Go Out Into The Rain and Just a Little Bit Better), The Seekers (When Will Good Apples Fall) and Mark Lindsay's biggest solo hit "Arizona!" https://bgr.com/entertainment/netflixs-most-expensive-movie-ever-is-now-available-to-stream/
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More on the upcoming Rewound Radio Labor Day series spotlighting the glory days of WLS and WCFL radio here in Chicago from Ted Smucker, who’s in charge of putting this whole thing together …
Hi Kent,
Some of this may be redundant to you, but here is further information on where we are in the process of bringing you WLS / WCFL Rewound on Rewound Radio.
Thanks for including us in your blog at http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/.
A big part of the process of getting this program ready to air is cleaning and clearing these airchecks. John Troll has worked for years in curating airchecks for the Rewound Radio DJ Hall of Fame, and he has been my mentor in this process, showing me how to take marginal tapes, and present them as they were originally aired. We have tried to maintain as much consistency with the original presentation as possible, restoring music that may have fallen below the quality bar, or had been edited in the past. We don't add to or change the playlist in any way ... just restore the full version of songs that may have been affected. If there is a bad spot in the tape, or extended newscasts, we may take editing liberties for content, but we never insert songs or elements that were not on the air in the first place.
Our original goal was to have 66 hours of content to present, but we have been fortunate, as we have nearly 150 hours amassed at this time, and more coming to light every day. The hard part is selecting which shows to include over the three day weekend. As one of the producers, I am trying to balance a number of things, such as the dates of the broadcasts, the quality of the airchecks, music variety and, naturally, DJ popularity and aircheck availability. There are a few jocks that I don’t have much workable material for, but I am still researching sources.
The feedback from those that are aware of this venture has been very positive. Of course, there are radio enthusiasts that say “Why WLS and WCFL, when there are great radio stations throughout the USA?” Allan Sniffen, the Proprietor of Rewound Radio, would say, "Content." You gotta have the tapes.
There are tons of WLS and WCFL collectors out there in "Radioland" and for the most part, they are very generous with their offerings.
Thanks to one and all for your interest and participation in WLS / WCFL Rewound.
Ted Gorden Smucker
Well, I, for one, am VERY much looking forward to hearing as much of this as I can over the three day stretch.
As for why WLS and WCFL out of Chicago, I would only say the listeners to these two great, powerhouse station was not limited to the residents of Chicago at the time. With each station boasting 50,000 watts of power, you could pick up WLS and WCFL in 48 states on a clear night … and that’s why some of the disc jockeys who manned the mics at these stations back in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s have become national heroes in the world of Top 40 Radio. (I can’t wait to hear who you’ve got lined up!)
I know Rewound has featured both stations before as part of their weekend DJ Hall Of Fame series … but to expand this thing to run throughout the ENTIRE weekend is really quite amazing … and I can’t wait to hear the results of your efforts. (kk)
Can it be that Peter Jackson, who helmed the nearly eight hour Beatles “Get Back” documentary is already working on his NEXT Beatles film???
“I’m talking to the Beatles about another project, something very, very different than Get Back,” he recently told Deadline. “We’re seeing what the possibilities are, but it’s another project with them. It’s not really a documentary … and that’s all I can really say.”
[Check out the Deadline story via the link above … LOTS of interesting Beatles information there!] kk
OK, this looks pretty cool …
FH Reader Clark Besch tells us about these new Collectors Card sets that are being manufactured by a company called Retrocard …
And they seem to have something for everybody!
PHOTO
There are all kinds of sports cards available, too …
A neat little collectors’ package for every fan. (kk)
From Chuck Buell ...
I'm telling you Big Brother is EVERYWHERE watching and listening to your every move! (kk)
Here’s a little bit of music history, provided by FH Reader Mike Wolstein …
Monday, July 25th, Steve Goodman would have turned 74.
He was studying at my alma mater, Roosevelt High, until his family moved up to the northern burbs.
Here's his symphonic choir pic (front row, 2nd from left,
1963, sophomore year.) I started school there that September.
And no, that's NOT Eddie Munster. ;-)
I found these on a site I visit ...
No idea whether or not the second one is 100% true.
Mike
I’ve actually heard the same story before … and I believe it is … just another great, extremely funny line by Mr. Bob Dylan! (kk)
