Thursday This And That

MORE OF THE MONKEES:

We run Micky Dolenz stories all the time in Forgotten Hits … he’s long been a favorite of mine … and having his PR Guy on the list ensures that we always have the latest Micky news to share …

But this one came as a bit of a surprise …

Micky Dolenz is suing The FBI?!?!  (Say what?!??!)

Check it out …

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/micky-dolenz-monkees-fbi-lawsuit/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Ugh&utm_term=UCR

In that Gary Strobl collection of clippings, KCOP channel 13 is carrying a program called "Essentially Sex" at 9.30 AM!  

I hope that at that time of day, LOTS of curious adolescents tuned in to that! It wouldn't have interfered with, f'rinstance, Shebang with Casey Kasem later in the day on KTLA covering the lads' visit!

-- Bob Frable

Had to stop and think there for a second ...

I thought maybe “Shebangs” was another name for “Essentially Sex!!!”
kk

Of course, digging for money all the time, the Monkees' label Colgems first issued "Last Train to Clarksville" in a black & white format and then added an LP plug and then finally color photo as sales rose.  It worked as I have all three of these.  

Clark Besch

I, too, had (have) all three versions.  Back in the days when I used to do record shows I did the first ever Chicagoland Monkees Convention ... sold out of everything I had in less than two hours and had to go home!  I was surprised by how few of even the die hard fans knew that this sleeve was issued three different ways.  As I recall, the color sleeve ended up being the most popular and common ... and the sepia-tone one there in the middle seemed to be the rarest.  (kk)

THIS AND THAT:

Craig Kemp AKA Gregory Kempinski passed away today (Tuesday, August 30^th) according to Chic, Kent.  I just got a text within the past couple hours from Mr. Chitkowski, who is living down in GA. 

Craig was a founder and remained with NC6 for the "Breakthrough" album and also was, along with Chic and myself, a founding member of the RJM Band.  Sad news, but he was in recovery mode from an ailment while up here for the IL R&R HOF induction ceremony and, according to Chic, had fallen a few weeks ago and never got released from the hospital. 

Sent along both RJM singles plus "Gwendolyn," which was to have been an album cut, but did wind up here on this computer, so sharing it with you, too, since it does have an organ solo along with my very inappropriate lyrics that were done in jest when such was not scorned and tsk-tsked as it would be today.

 

R.I.P. Gregory Kempinski, AKA Craig Kemp, NC6's founding keyboard player as well as same/same for Raymond John Michael.     

Ray

So sorry to hear that …

It just seems like every day we’re getting closer and closer to that time -

I hate to say it, but it’s just inevitable - 

The only one who gets out of here alive is Jim Morrison!

Sorry for your loss … but so glad you got to visit one last time at the IL RRFF thing  (kk)

True dat and while truly heartbreaking, KK, it has forced me to dig around to send stuff to folks, post items on LinkedIn and, as a result, wound up finding things I did not even know existed online. 

Ray

We'll go with the rare one this morning ... the unreleased "Gwendolyn."

Thanks, Ray.  (kk)  

kk …

I Just Listened To Wild Wayne's Tribute To Jerry Allison. Born = 8 / 31 / 1939.

Producer Owen Bradley Said "THAT'LL BE THE DAY" Is The Worst Song He Ever Heard.

Buddy Holly & Three Tunes Were Looking For A New Name. They Passed On Beatles & Became Crickets.

EVERYDAY = Jerry Slapped His Knees Instead Of Playing Drums.

NOT FADE AWAY = Jerry Played Cardboard Box Instead Of Drums.

WELL ALL RIGHT = Jerry Played Symbols & Triangle Instead Of Drums.

SUMMER, 1958 = First Song Recorded By Quarrymen ( John + Paul + George + A Few Friends) = "THAT'LL BE THE DAY," Recorded At Friend’s Home Studio.

"REAL WILD CHILD" Was A Solo Hit By Jerry Allison -- Using His Middle Name, IVAN.

FB

P.S. If Buddy Went With Beatles, John + Paul + George + Ringo Might Have Been The Crickets.

John and Paul were HUGE Buddy Holly fans.  (To this day, Paul owns the publishing to Holly’s music) … and “Beatles” was definitely a play on the insect / Crickets name.  (Plus, John love the idea that it had a double meaning … “beat,” as in beat music … which they certainly excelled at. 

The Beatles’ version of Buddy’s “Words Of Love” far outshines the original in my opinion.  (Then again, I always liked Peter and Gordon’s version of “True Love Ways” better, too … but quite honestly, I think I like just about EVERY version of “True Love Ways” I’ve ever heard … it’s just a great song!)  kk

We saw Frankie Valli at the Opry House in Nashville last night: an amazing and entertaining Vegas style show with an eight piece band and four vocalists ("Four Seasons") well suited to this classy entertainer. (We saw the Happy Together tour at the Ryman a couple weeks ago and couldn't help but compare the two.)

The Opry House is 4,000+ seats, compared with the Ryman's 2,000+ seats, but both are equally great venues to see a show. Both have great acoustics and not a bad seat in either house. Both shows are two hours of wall to wall hits (even when Frankie did a couple songs from his "new album," they were rock 'n roll standards.)  While Happy Together sounded just like the records,  Valli's songs were arranged in a polished non-stop production.  Nashville's Bob Guadio (Frankie's partner for "50 years" … actually 60, as impossible as that seems), was introduced from the audience. 

Best description of the show is classy and polished, just like Frankie. So what if technology may be used to make the vocals sound perfect. Unless you are sitting in the front row, you would never suspect. My wife said "You think the guys who complain about that don't have a problem getting it up like they did in 1962?"

Ed Salamon

Nashville, TN

It’s kind of amazing that the Stones could release such a mediocre single as “We Love You” in 1967, when they had so much good stuff around that time. Kind of like The Beatles doing “What Goes On” in ’66. It’s not bad, but the level the Beatles were at, it’s kind of amazing it’s not much better. 

Ken

I never really thought about it that way, but it’s a good point.  I think in The Beatles’ case ‘tho was the fact that they always had to come up for something for Ringo to sing on each album, as he had a very large fan base of his own.  (And didn’t Ringo help write this tune?  In fact, if he was the catalyst behind it, John and Paul probably cleaned it up and made it even better, bad as it was!  Can you imagine what it must have sounded like BEFORE John and Paul got involved!!! Lol)  kk

I was at Danny Hutton's home studio last Monday and Tuesday listening to the playback of songs from their upcoming album. Very impressive! Bill Cooper is producing the final track. Richie Podolor produced the rest of the tracks with Bill's assistance. As you know, they did many of Three Dog Night's biggest hits.

Gary Strobl

Interesting to hear that Danny’s recording new tracks.  With Cory Wells gone … and Chuck Negron all but giving up performing … Danny’s voice may be the last Three Dog Night vocalist we’ll hear from in the way of new music.  (How is it even remotely possible that these guys are not in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame??? My God, what’s the excuse for THIS one?!?!)  kk

 

Outta time ... so outta here!  Ta!  (kk)