Incredible!
Noise 11 (which is an Australian-based publication) is reporting that Olivia Newton-John and Judith Durham now have 52 songs in iTunes’ Top 100!!!
Check it out …
Olivia Newton-John And Judith Durham Dominate iTunes Chart
Fans of Olivia Newton-John and Judith Durham are mourning their loss listening to their music with Olivia and Judith dominating the iTunes chart in Australia today.
Oliva has nine of the top 10 songs in iTunes.
1. Xanadu
2. Hopelessly Devoted To You
3. You’re The One That I Want
4. I Honestly Love You
5. Let Me Be There
Then comes…
7. Summer Nights
8. Physical
9. If Not For You
10. Banks of the Ohio
Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ comes in at number 6, making the newest music in the Australian Top 10 today a 37 year old song.
The Australian chart is also full of song by The Seekers following the passing of Judith Durham on Friday.
34. Georgy Girl
37. The Carnival Is Over
44. I’ll Never Find Another You
48. I Am Australian
In total there are 52 Judith Durham and Olivia Newton-John related songs in the iTunes Top 100 chart today 10 August 2022.
Billboard Magazine finally addressed the missing Elvis hits that charted BEFORE they renamed their weekly chart The Hot 100. Sadly, now missing from the way they present their history are TEN of his #1 Records!!! (He earned a total of eighteen during his career ... so that's a pretty significant chunk when presenting an overview of Elvis' impact as an artist.) Prior to the August 4th, 1958 Hot 100 debut, Elvis charted 28 times on The Billboard Chart.
https://www.billboard.com/pro/elvis-presley-history-hot-100-before/
Were it not for the successful new Baz Luhrmann / Austin Butler / Tom Hanks “Elvis” film, they may never have acknowledged this misrepresentation of how their Hot 100 History omits the dawn of Elvis’ impact on the charts … and the history of rock and roll. (kk)
>>>A lot of nice photos in today’s post so I thought you might like a poor quality vintage photo. This is a publicity photo for a show in Rockford, IL, on 3/18/66 that could have almost been the first Cornerstones of Rock show. It included The New Colony Six, The Shadows of Knight, Baby Huey and the Babysitters and The Flock. Also on the bill were local bands The Grim Reapers and The Komans. (Robert Campbell)
>>>Well, you're right about one thing ... This is an EXTREMELY low-quality photo!!! (lol) kk
After seeing today's FH, I thought I would send you this from the original shoot so you would have better copies to post than what your reader shared. (I actually thought I had even better versions and may have 'em here somewhere … but these still beat what you posted.
Ray
P.S. I did find some others you may or may not already have - one with WLS (right ... or WCFL?) DJ, Bernie Allen, and two photos shot while we were in CA at an audition for a record contract that never materialized - all pics prior to Ronnie's addition and predating Craig's departure.
I think we’ve probably run some of these over the years … but here’s the “replacement photo” for the one that Robert Campbell sent, which is sadly the way it appeared in his local newspaper advertising the event way back when. (What a shame that a newspaper wouldn’t take better care when running something like this!!!) kk
[Note: More New Colony Six posts below!]
>>>I'm a big fan of many forgotten hits (lower case) and, of course, Forgotten Hits. I usually listen to hundreds every week - but every now and then one pops up that I can't recall hearing since it was popular. That's the case with Flash's "Small Beginnings." It was aired often here, especially by the AOR guys, but I can't say I've heard it once since '72. Looking at these old charts from different states is lots of fun, Kent. This is a great feature. Thank you! (David Lewis)
>>>That's not one that’s immediately familiar to me … it peaked at #26 nationally and only WCFL played it here in Chicago, where it went to #23, and I honestly don’t remember ever hearing it on the radio at the time … yet Phil Nee selected it as one of his 40 Favorite Songs of 1972, so it must have been big just across the border in Wisconsin … although Ken Freck’s WRIT Chart Book for Milwaukee only shows it at #36 for a week and then it was gone. Maybe an early FM hit perhaps??? (kk)
I first heard Small Beginnings by Flash on WISM out of Madison, Wisconsin. They were a very good Top 40 station in a college town that played a lot of local and regional records as well. Being a K-tel man at the time, I was pleased to find it on the album '22 Explosive Hits' in 1972. This was a good album that played all the time in my cousins’ V.W. Bug. I think it was the only 8-track he owned.
22 Explosive Hits (K-Tel, 1972)
Side One:
The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr.
Nice To Be With You - Gallery
A Simple Man - Lobo
If Not For You - Olivia Newton-John
One Bad Apple - Osmonds
Rainy Day Feeling - Fortunes
Mammy Blue - Pop Tops
Don't Pull Your Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
Chickaboom - Daddy Dewdrops
You Could Have Been A Lady - April Wine
Popcorn - Hot Butter
Side Two:
Layla - Derek & The Dominos
Small Beginnings - Flash
Son of My Father - Giorgio
Butterfly - Danyel Butterfly
You Are The One - Sugar Bears
Wedding Song - James Last
Baby Let Me Take You - Detroit Emeralds
Power To The People - Chi-Lites
My Man, A Sweet Man - Millie Jackson
Honky Tonk Pt. 1 - James Brown
Power of Love - Joe Simon
I should mention that Small Beginnings reminds me of something from the rock opera Tommy. They may have been inspired by the Who a bit.
Phil Nee
Kent,
I was listening to a WLS aircheck from August of 1970 and heard "Morning Much Better" by Ten Wheel Drive during afternoon drive. Did this track chart high in Chicago? It peaked at 74 on Billboard, but I'm guessing it was much more popular in Chicago. It's new to me.
David Lewis
Actually, yes … in fact, here in Chicago it was a Top 20 Hit, peaking at #16 on WCFL’s chart and falling just short at #21 on WLS. That would be a “WOW! Factor” song for me … I haven’t heard it in YEARS!!! (Anybody else remember this one???) kk
And speaking of “WOW!” songs, here are two I heard last week …
“Tapioca Tundra,” The Monkees’ B-Side hit on “Better Call Saul” … talk about a surprise!!!
It was first released as the flip side of The Monkees’ last national #1 Hit, “Valleri,” and got enough airplay of its own to actually chart at #34.
The version the played on “Saul” was a Michael Nesmith solo version … in fact, it sounded more like a demo … but it also had to be one of the LEAST likely songs I would ever expect to hear again used on a TV show after all these years. Kudos to Vince Gilligan, who must have remembered it from HIS youth, too.
The other major surprise was “Roberta” by Bones, a VERY minor hit in 1972 (#94 in Billboard … but a #19 hit here in Chicago on WCFL. That one was played on Sam Tallerico’s “Lost And Found Oldies Show” (LAFOS), which is back on the air again!!! (Thank you, Sam!!!) Much as Flash’s “Small Beginnings” made Phil Nee’s list of 40 Favorite Songs from 1972, Bones made mine for their recording of “Roberta.”
Sam also did a very cool blend of TV audio from the old kids’ (and by kids, I mean kids aged from about 5 – 12) dance show “Kiddie-A-Go-Go” … an intro of The New Colony Six, blended right into their 1968 Hit “Can’t You See Me Cry,” a local Top 10 favorite that we’ve featured more than a few times here in Forgotten Hits. (Sam was saluting the hits … and misses of 1968 on last week’s program. There’s a link below in Ray’s email where you can listen to the whole show … and it’s well worth the listen.) For the record, The New Colony Six actually performed “I Lie Awake” on “Kiddie-A-Go-Go” in ’66.
I sent a copy of the program to Ray Graffia, Jr., founding member of The New Colony Six … and he LOVED it! And he also forward it to a whole bunch of people!!!
You made my Friday morning, Kent, and I forwarded it to lots of folks ... hope it gains you another dozen or more avid fans and readers! Thank you once again, and always, for your friendship and support!
From Ray’s note:
Thanks a bazillion to Kent Kotal from Forgotten Hits who sent this to me. Quite a surprise seeing as that is NOT the tune (or did we do two - believe that was the case) that we did on Kiddie-A-Go-Go in '65 or '66, but was our hit at the time of this 1968 radio broadcast. Can’t You See Me Cry, as most if not all of you know, is a tune we still feature in concert today and, of course, especially near and dear to me and, if she ever knew it was written about her, might have been a record Theresa Miazga had in her collection. Most of you already know the story - but as a reminder if your aging memories, like mine, fail at times ...
The Miazga family moved into my parents' block on Oleander Avenue in Chicago when I was about 11-12 years old and immediately stole my heart, but she had zippo interest in her new neighbor - not even a hint of tolerance let alone "liking" me! Hence, I would go into the alley behind her house, stand by their garbage cans and wait to see her pass by their windows ... sigh! Pathetic to be sure, but it did lead to one of my favorite lyrics and, as some of you already know, I have announced her name from the stage more than a few times over the years, but nary a peep from anyone in any of the crowds. Oh well, life goes on and perhaps she'll never ever become aware of her contribution to our success and that she was indeed my childhood crush.
Thanks a bunch once again, kk …
This was a GREAT way to begin my weekend and, for those of you copied in here, I hope it brings smiles to a few of your faces, too.
You can listen to the show here:
Lafos : Lost And Found Oldies Show July 31, 2022 / 1968
So thanks a bunch once again, kk!
Ray
Ray also sent us this chart from WGEM that shows “Can’t You See Me Cry” holding down the #1 spot for the week of July 12th, 1968. (Actually, this is a VERY cool chart … some GREAT Forgotten Hits are on this list.) kk
Here’s a clip of our live performance of CYSMC on ABC-TV, filmed down in San Antonio, TX, where the Director loved the look of my tambourine but forbade me from playing it, as it had interfered with my vocal mic pick-up during rehearsals. This was shared with me only moments before the live broadcast, just prior to allowing the audience into the venue -- at the 1968 World's Fair's Hemisfair Theater, as I recall, but don't quote me on that ...
Ronnie was supposed to have a live mic but did not and neither Chuck nor Gerry got more than a moment of airtime, so shame on the guys behind the cameras and/or that same TV Director for nearly omitting them completely and upsetting me moments prior to the broadcast by demanding that I hold but could not use the tambo - not the most stellar vocal track ever due to that disconcerting announcement, but it was what it was ... and still is pretty cool to me anyway!
Sorry for such blatant self-promo and hope to see some of you tomorrow for Jimy Sohns' wake - two of our original Cornerstones' voices now resting in peace ... sigh!
Photo: L-R: The late Gary Loizzo of The American Breed, Ray Graffia, Jr. and Ronnie Rice of The New Colony Six, and the recently departed Jimy Sohns of The Shadows Of Knight
Ray
After I told Sam about Ray’s reaction, I got this …
WOW!!!!
I found that NC6 45 in a "junk pile" in an antiques store in the 90s for a quarter probably. Never heard it, but took it home and wore it out. This was back in the 90s.
Thank YOU Kent!!!
Sam
We attended the memorial service for Jimy Sohns Saturday Night … a bit more low key than I would have expected, but likely in keeping with the family’s wishes.
Jimy was well-loved and, by all accounts, had a heart of goal when it came to helping others.
One story that was told that I was not aware of was of the apparent confrontation between Jimy and The Shadows of Knight and Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols!
He told Vice:
“I toured with Skafish in the late 70s, opening for Iggy Pop. The last date of the tour, we were in New York City playing at a club called Hurrah, and about halfway through the set I saw a big confrontation from the stage and I thought, Oh no, Skafish probably got into it with somebody. It wound up that Patti Smith's brother Todd, who was engaged to the drummer, got into a thing with Sid Vicious. I was probably the only person in there who didn't know who Sid Vicious was. I got over there and this guy, who turned out to be Sid Vicious, spit on me. So I did the all-American thing and beat the hell out of him. The next day, the Post had a picture — that I wish for the life of me that I had — on one of the pages with the caption, "Old punk teaches new punk lesson."
--Jimy Sohns
On his blog when discussing Jimy’s passing, Jim Skafish told this story:
Sohns, while working as road manager for my band from 1978 to 1980, made sure club owners and promoters paid up. He also once put an end to what was quickly becoming an out-of-control situation involving Sid Vicious at a New York club.
Vicious — free on bail at the time on charges he killed his girlfriend Nancy Spungen — caused a disturbance during one of our shows at the club Hurrah in New York City in December, 1978.
Sid first began making gestures from the audience at my guitarist / vocalist Karen Winner. As our set progressed, Sid took notice of Skafish female drum roadie Tara and started making flirtatious advances toward her, including pinching her.
Todd Smith — brother of Patti Smith and later Tara's husband — approached Vicious, and then Sid took a beer bottle and smashed it over Todd’s face.
What was on the verge of becoming complete mayhem was stopped by Jimy Sohns, who was at the mixing board. He rushed to the front, punched Sid Vicious, grabbed him, dragged him through the club and down a flight of stairs.
I saw Marshall Lutle several times in Bowzer's Rock and Roll and Doo-Wop shows. He and the drummer of The Comets, Dick Richards (Boccelli) blew the minds out of the audience with their talent and antics. My students could not stay in their seats when I showed the videos. Even after a leg amputation, Marshall was tipping his double bass on its side and laying on it to play. Dick needed a ramp at the end to walk up to the drum set, but once he sat down...WATCH OUT! Thank goodness I saw this, and so did so many others. Inspiring! Keep it going to the end!
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
>>>Rock Around the Clock was written by Max C. Freedman and Jimmy De Knight (a.k.a. James Myers.) It was the first rock and roll song to reach number one. It was originally recorded by Sonny Dae and the Knights. (Phil Nee)
Sonny Dae's version did not make the national pop charts but it made an appearance in Chicago where it showed up at #10 on the Cash Box Chicago sales chart for October 23, 1954. They listed him as Sonny "Dee," missing the obvious pun. It had very little resemblance to Bill Haley version, more of a novelty record. It began the guitar solo with a "Rock-A-Bye Baby" riff. On that same chart, Bill Haley was listed at #3 with "Shake, Rattle & Roll."
Ed #1
Can you believe I’ve never heard this original version?!?! (How can that be?!?!?)
But now my curiosity is piqued … so I’ve just GOTTA hear it!
Thankfully, Ed #1 sent us a copy to share with the class! (kk)
Another great clip to share …
I just love how ABBA keeps releasing these new “lyric videos” for their hits now that their live show is drawing in fans to see them again. Some of these are very cleverly assembled works of art that stand alone, even all these years later.
Here’s the latest, released last week … “Thank You For The Music” …
