Ramsey Lewis, who crossed over to the pop charts 27 times between 1962 and 1976, passed away peacefully in his sleep. His son Bobby told The Associated Press: “Most people say when they met dad that he was a class act. He was that way even through his last breath.”
NBC News was reporting that Lewis recorded eighty albums during his lifetime … seven of which went gold ... and also won three Grammys.
His biggest pop hit was an instrumental version of Dobie Gray’s Top 20 Hit “The In Crowd” in 1965. (It actually out-performed Dobie’s original recording when it went to #4 in both Cash Box and Record World and peaked one spot lower in Billboard. In hindsight, it’s wild to think that the song everybody used to sing along with was eclipsed by an instrumental version!) His next single, “Hang On Sloopy,” also made The Top Ten in Record World, peaking at #9 that year, the SAME year that The McCoys reached the #1 position with their vocal version. Other notable releases included Ramsey’s versions of “A Hard Day’s Night” (#29, 1966), “Wade In The Water” (#18, 1966) and “Sun Goddess” (#44 in 1975), a record recorded with Chicago’s own Earth, Wind and Fire. He was 87 years old. (kk)
So sad to hear about Ramsey Lewis passing away. His music was a big part of Chicago jazz.
Clark Besch
I was always amazed how the original, most-successful version of The Ramsey Lewis Trio consisted of Ramsey (of course!), Eldee Young and drummer Redd Holt. When they split up, Young and Holt teamed up to create The Young-Holt Trio ... and then Young-Holt Unlimited, who recorded the timeless classic “Soulful Strut,” which has been used in virtually EVERYTHING known to man since its initial release in 1968. (It topped the pop charts in Record World but only climbed to #3 and #4 in Billboard and Cash Box respectively … but I’ll bet you’ve heard a few thousand times since then … in movies, commercials and on the radio.)
And DIDJAKNOW that when Young and Holt split in search of their own fortune, one of the guys who replaced them was Maurice White on Drums?!?! Maurice would go on to fame and fortune when he founded Earth, Wind And Fire … who would ALSO record with Ramsey Lewis many years later. (Don’tcha just love it when all this stuff ties together?!?!) kk
As Elton John’s Farewell Tour draws to a close (with three shows at Dodger Stadium in November) it has now been announced that his final US show, scheduled for November 20th, will be streamed live on Disney+. (In addition, Disney has purchased the rights to a new Elton John Documentary called “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances And the Years That Made His Legend,” which will air in conjunction with the live concert.) Elton will perform his final concert in Stockholm in July of next year. (kk)
PHIL'S NAKED LUNCH WITH MICKY DOLENZ
When Monkee MICKY DOLENZ guests on Phil Rosenthal's Naked Lunch podcast this Wednesday (That's TODAY, People!!!), they'll be chowing down on a meal from Ben Frank's - now re-imagined as Mel's on the Sunset Strip in LA.
When audition notices went up for the four soon-to-be-Monkees (in September of 1965), the ad that appeared in Variety called for '4 Ben Frank's-types.
Dolenz, who had already appeared in NBC's Circus Boy, was chosen alongside Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Peter Tork.
The Monkees first single "Last Train To Clarksville" was released 56 years ago last month. Rosenthal created the TV show, Everyone Loves Raymond with Ray Romano.
DIS
I’ve started reading Andrew Sandoval’s “The Monkees: Day By Day” book … it’s absolutely MASSIVE!!! (It’ll take me awhile to chip away at this one!) But I’m right at the end of 1965 now where NBC has bought the pilot … Micky, Davy, Mike and Peter have all been cast … and the boys are just about to start filming and recording for real. (Guess I’ll be listening to a whole lotta Monkees tunes in the months to come!!!) I think our regular Monkees contributor Gary Strobl may have gotten his hernia picking up a copy of Andrew’s book!!! (And I’m only half joking there!!!) kk
Speaking of The Monkees, Best Classic Bands ran a very nice tribute to The Pre-Fab Four last week in honor of the 56th anniversary of the premier of their TV show. (This was especially timely for me as I’m at the point in Andrew’s book where the pilot has now been picked up and the boys are filming the first several episodes.) kk
https://bestclassicbands.com/monkees-first-year-3-19-19/
I think some of those "Grandmother" pictures Chuck Buell ran the other day are probably GREAT-Grandmothers at this point!
Phil
LOL ... I think you're probably right about that!!! lol (kk)
While broadcasting yesterday’s Cubs game Rick Sutcliffe claimed that he was related to Stuart Sutcliffe, Stuart being his uncle. Never heard that one before.
Robert Campbell
Nor have I … and as big as Sutcliffe was here in Chicago for many years, it really seems rather odd that this story would now after all this time, completely out of the blue!!! This is certainly a new one on me!!! (kk)
UPDATE: I asked a couple of friends who are Die-Hard Cubs Fans … and they were as surprised as I was to hear this …
Gotta admit, that's a new one on me, too!!!!
Maybe Rick started drinking again and was a little "Stewed" during the broadcast!!! Lol
Mike
Yeah, Rick has been known to tip a few too many on the air.
Greg
No mention of any of this on his Wikipedia page which, as we all know, isn’t always the most reliable source of information … but something like THIS I would think would at least be mentioned.
Sutcliffe was quite the rage here in Chicago when he first joined The Cubs in 1984. (He ultimately went 16-1 for The Cubbies that year, after being traded from Cleveland.) Sutcliffe had such an impact on the team that The Cubs even made the playoffs that year! … and he unanimously won The Cy Young Award for ’84, beating out Dwight Gooden and Bruce Sutter! This after winning the Rookie Of The Year Award in 1979 with the Los Angeles Dodgers … and ultimately becoming a three-time All Star. (Let’s just say that being Stu Sutcliffe’s nephew wouldn’t have been his greatest career achievement!!!) Now if he had said that he was “The Red Baron” from all those Snoopy songs, it may have been a bit more believable! (kk)
Now that the Elvis movie has proven there is still a market for more information about The King, it only seems natural that Priscilla should get a movie, too!
Harvey Kubernik tells us …
And I’ll tell you what … now that “Elvis” is streaming on HBO Max, even MORE people are going to discover it. (OMG, it’ll be like “Eddie And The Cruisers” all over again!!!)
Seriously, Elvis is going to be getting more attention now than he has in a long, long time. (I just wish there was more of HIS music being featured in the film! Rap Elvis?!?!? No thanks … I think I’ll pass!) kk
Hey, Kent!
Apparently my mid-1960s to early 1970s Chicago and Radio Claims to Fame continue to blaze!
First, the "Radio Revisited" Air Personality Event in Chicago a couple of weeks ago!
Then, the "WLS - WCFL Rewound Radio Chicago Radio Stations Salute" this past Labor Day Weekend! Now this, here in My Town! Something that sounds like an event you would have attended if it had happened in your area!
When I was Music Director at WLS in Chicago, one of my "Hit Parade Bound" picks was Sugarloaf's "Green-Eyed Lady." It debuted at Number 22 on the "WLS Hit Parade" Survey, went on to Number Two in Chicago and was one of their two Top Ten National Hits! ( The other being, "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You!" )
Fast Forward to late 2020 when a tape was discovered in a box of cables ready to be trashed or something. It turned out to be a rare LIVE recording of Sugarloaf, in Concert, during their 1975 tour! This is the last known Sugarloaf recording and their only LIVE recording!
Bob Webber, the original guitarist of Sugarloaf restored the tape, remastered it and had it pressed in vinyl as "Sugarloaf Live 1975!" I deemed that "Vinyl Then - Vinyl Today!"
And, that led to last Sunday's "Sugarloaf Album Release Party."
Original Sugarloaf member Bob Weber was there and Bandmate Bob Raymond's Grandson ( OMG! ) was also there to play! Using his GrandDad's Guitar!
Oh! And Me! I was there, too! In the capacity as their Official Party Event MC for their "Encore"set!
Anyway, just letting you know so you'll . . . ah . . . know!
CB!
VERY cool!!!
I’ve got a little bit of a roll going on right now, too!
In addition to the two recent events you mention at the start of your email, I am happy to announce that Forgotten Hits and Me-TV-FM have teamed up to bring you a very special weekend that will cross-over between both formats … and it’s all happening THIS WEEKEND!
We’ll kick things off over here at 6 am (Central) with this month’s SWEET 16 feature … and then at 6 pm, we’ll start posting hourly 2-fers straight thru to Midnight Sunday Night (September 18th) Me-TV-FM joins in on the fun at 7 pm Friday Night (also Central) and will also be featuring 2-fers every half hour through Midnight on Sunday.
What this means for YOU is SO much great music that you literally won’t know if your coming or going!!!
Be sure to check the website Friday Morning … and then click on the Me-TV-FM Listen Live link to hear more of the fun. No matter WHERE you happen to be coming or going this weekend, be sure to take ME … and me … with you!
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/
https://www.audacy.com/metvmusic/listen#discover
In conjunction with our friend Kent Kotal at Forgotten Hits, we will present the first-ever “Weekend of Comings and Goings.” We’ve put together dozens and dozens of special two-song combinations. You’ll be hearing, first, a song about “coming,” such as “Along Comes Mary,” “Come See About Me” and “Coming Around Again” … immediately followed by a song about “going,” such as “Going Up the Country,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” and “What’s Going On.” The weekend will be filled with two-song pairs about coming and going. If you find yourself doing a lot of running around on weekends, we think this musical feature will be right up your alley!
Rick O’Dell
Me-TV-FM
And then NEXT Weekend, Phil Nee and I will be playing our personal favorite tracks from 1972 … fifty years ago! That’ll air on Saturday Night, September 24th … and the whole thing will be streaming on WRCO …
WRCO AM FM Radio Richland Center Wisconsin
We’ll remind you as we get closer to the air date. (kk)
The recorded catalog of The Little River Band is being prepared for re-release in October along with two extensive compilation albums, “Ultimate Hits,” which features every chart hit the band had here in America (as well as many of their Australian chart releases) while “Masterpieces” delves into the “deep cuts” from their first eight albums, covering both band and fan favorites. In addition, their first ten LPs will be released on CD for the first time, many with bonus tracks. The LRB placed sixteen songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart between 1976 and 1985. These include thirteen Top 40 Hits, six of which made The Top Ten.
The current touring band has fallen under scrutiny for the last several years because it doesn’t contain a single original member and, in fact, for a considerable amount of time, not a single Australian! Still, they put together a pretty amazing catalog of material so at the very least, I will ordering the “Ultimate Hits” collection when it comes out October 14th. (kk)
Here is the ’Ultimate Hits’ CD track listing:
(US Billboard peak position also noted)
1. It’s A Long Way There (#28)
2. Curiosity (Killed The Cat)
3. I’ll Always Call Your Name (#62)
4. Emma
5. Everyday Of My Life
6. Help Is On Its Way (#14)
7. Witchery
8. Home On Monday
9. Happy Anniversary (#16)
10. Shut Down, Turn Off
11. Reminiscing (#3)
12. Lady (#10)
13. Lonesome Loser (#6)
14. Cool Change (#10)
15. It’s Not A Wonder (#51)
16. I’m Coming Home
17. The Night Owls (#6)
18. Take It Easy On Me (#10)
19. Man On Your Mind (#14)
20. Down On The Border
21. The Other Guy (#11)
22. We Two (#22)
23. You’re Driving Me Out Of My Mind (#35)
24. Playing To Win (#60)
25. Forever Blue
Now this one sounds interesting …
Vanilla Fudge is releasing an album of Led Zeppelin covers!
Titled “Vanilla Zeppelin,” it features “Rock And Roll,” “Immigrant Song,” “Ramble On,” “Dancing Days,” “Black Mountain Way,” “Your Time Is Gonna Come,” “Dazed And Confused,” “Trampled Under Foot,” “Moby Dick,” “All Of My Love,” “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and “Fool In The Rain.”
Vanilla Fudge still has THREE original members! (Mark Stein, Vince Martell, and Carmine Appice) The new LP drops September 30th. (kk)
Have you seen this?
Somebody took the WLS Music Montage that aired as part of Rewound Radio’s Labor Day Weekend Salute to WLS and WCFL and “illustrated” it on YouTube!
It’ll take you about a half hour to watch the whole thing … but this medley was so well put together that it’s always a joy to listen to it again! (kk)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6qnQKaT3qs&t=2s
What’s
REALLY odd about this is that it was first posted in 2012!!! That’s TEN YEARS AGO!!! And yet it’s got the Scott Childers update
that takes you through 1989 … so I’m not exactly sure just WHAT the deal is
here … but it’s almost impossible not to give it a listen. So enjoy!
(kk)
