Saturday, February 12, 2022

Today, We're Dropping A Nee ... which, of course means the latest installment of our brand new interview series, hosted by Phil Nee of WRCO Radio!!!

Today we feature a 'two hit wonder' from our Those Were The Days archives.  

I first heard of the group Sugarloaf in the late summer of 1970 playing a song called Green Eyed Lady.  The single version made it to number 3 in Billboard that fall.  

Lead singer and keyboard player Jerry Corbetta joined me on the air in 1995 to talk about that record.

  

I first heard the song Don't Call Us, We'll Call You in early 1975.  It was hard to believe that it was Jerry Corbetta's group back on the charts after five years.   

The song was a tongue in cheek (also the name of their second single, which hit number 55 in Billboard) look at the music business.  

The group faded again after this single and Jerry went on to work with the Four Seasons.  Sadly, we lost him in 2016.  

Today from the archives we feature audio about Sugarloafs' second top ten single.

 

Listen to Phil Nee's THOSE WERE THE DAYS radio program tonight on WRCO ...

WRCO AM FM Radio Richland Center Wisconsin

Just click on the 100.9 headphones and start streaming!


On a personal note, please join me in sending healing wishes to Phil, who I just found out has been in the hospital this past week with Covid.  


We love ya, buddy ... so hang in there and get better so you can keep sharing your Those Were The Days memories with all of us!  (kk)

Friday, February 11, 2022

Your Forgotten Hits Valentine's Day Gift Guide

As has pretty much become our way around here lately when it comes to special events, we've got some GREAT Valentine's Day Gift Ideas to share with you, courtesy of our EXCLUSIVE Forgotten Hits Secret Shopper, Chuck Buell ... who once again bowls us over with his clever ideas!!!

And now, as we all continue to 'Adapt' to “Life As We Know It Today” here, from the Manager of the “Forgotten Hits Fantasy Gift Shoppe,” Chuck Buell, are his lovingly, specially selected “2022 Forgotten Hits Valentines Gift Giving Ideas" for YOUR Valentine based on this year’s theme, 45 RPM Record . . . “Adapters!”

 

To show your Valentine you truly are one in touch with the times, the DaVinci THIS Way; THAT Way; WHICH Way?! Directional T-Shirt shows you are trying to adapt!!!



And, to perfectly compliment your special ‘Adapter’ T-Shirt, top it off with your Official ‘Adapter’ Cap!



And don’t forget a matching Valentine ‘Adapter’ Cap for her because Any Woman probably looks better in an athletic cap than you do! Take it from Kent!

 

    Not Just Any Woman!                             Kent! Not Just Any Man!

If tickets are required for your Big Valentine’s Day Night Out, make sure you keep them safely pinned up where you know where they are until then with your Official ‘Adapter’ Thumb Tacks!



And if, for some cockamamie reason, the event requires a tie, then here to turn heads while choking the Blood Supply from yours, is the undeniably handsome ‘Adapter’ Tie!


If there’s a Mask Mandate in place, you’ll not be “out of place” with the Official ‘Adapter’ Face Mask!



For a memorable Gift of Love, how about a beautiful pair of Silver Sterling ‘Adapter’ Ear Rings for Her or Him?!



And a matching pair of Silver Sterling ‘Adapter’ Cufflinks?!



And if you don’t think you’re overdoing it, there’s also the Silver Sterling ‘Adapter’ Ring!



If your Valentine is the more casual type, there’s the very small Button Size ‘Adapter’ Ear Studs! So tiny and Delicate, they can fit in the hole of an ‘Adapterless’ Forgotten Hit 45!



And to match the more casual styling, there’s the Multiple ‘Adapters’ Print Long Playing Long Sleeve T-Shirt’ for just the right touch!



As are the Single Adapter T-Shirts!


 


Or to mark this Very Special Day of Love, ‘Adapt’ your Personalized Our Song Custom T-Shirts!



Then, to close your Evening of Romance while you continually play Your Song over and over throughout the night, be sure you have the Ultimate Forgotten Hits Perfectly Designed and Engineered 45 RPM Record of Love ‘Adapter!’



And, when the moment’s just right, for a ‘Hit’ gift that’s sure never to be ‘Forgotten,’ the Special “Pièce de Résistance from the Forgotten Hits Collection of Fine Jewelry, a Special Love Pin that will perfectly express just how your Valentine makes you feel! The Forgotten Hits ‘Adapter’ Pin!



And there you Go for this Valentine’s Day!  The rest is up to you!



CB ( which stands for "Cupid Boy!" )

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Thursday This And That

Yesterday marked the 58th anniversary of The Beatles’ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show … and The Beatles Channel’s Chris Carter treated listeners of his “Breakfast With The Beatles” program to the audio clips of not only that complete televised performance, but also several other Sullivan appearances throughout The Fab Four’s fabulous and incredible career.  It was a real treat to hear the live versions of these tunes again.

Wow … 58 years ago.  I was ten and yet can still remember watching the entire thing (as well as their two follow-up appearances in the weeks to come.)  The world has never really been the same since.


How is it even REMOTELY possible that Ed Sullivan isn’t in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?!?!?  He brought the biggest names in rock right into our living rooms every Sunday Night for 20+ years … from the controversial appearances of Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones and The Doors to the biggest names of pop like The Supremes, The Fifth Dimension, Dionne Warwick and Petula Clark.  Herman’s Hermits, The Dave Clark Five, Buddy Holly, Bobby Darin, The Everly Brothers … the list goes on and on and on … and we were introduced to ALL of them thanks to Ed’s program.


Alan Freed and Dick Clark have been recognized … yet the man responsible for introducing rock and roll to MILLIONS of viewers every week has not.  Something is TERRIBLY wrong with this picture.  (kk)

 

Mark Lapidos, founder of Beatlefest (now The Fest For Beatles Fans) shares his memories of seeing The Fab Four for the very first time on The Ed Sullivan Show …

58 Years Ago Today - The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show! (mailchi.mp)

 

And since we find ourselves once again complaining about the logic (or lack thereof) of The Rock Hall, we may as well give you the latest ranking of the Fan Vote as it stands this morning as I type this …

 

FOUR artists have now earned over 100,000 votes …

The Top 40 are Eminem (165,000 votes), Duran Duran (145,000 votes), Pat Benatar (133,000 votes) and Dolly Parton (111,000 votes).  Rounding out The Top Ten (there are SEVENTEEN nominees this year!!!) are: Eurythmics (86,000 votes), Lionel Richie and Judas Priest (each with 77,000 votes), Carly Simon (70,000 votes), Rage Against The Machine (with 58,000 votes) and Devo (with 49,000 votes)  kk

 

Carole King turned 80 yesterday … and her first breakout solo LP, the landmark and legendary “Tapestry,” turns 51 today.

The list of songs she has had her hand in writing is staggering … the fact that so many of these have become timeless classics even more so.

Carole – we salute you and we thank you.  Our lives are richer (and have been so much more enjoyable) because of the gift you have shared with all of us.  (Carole was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame last year as a solo artist.  She had been recognized many years before for her songwriting contributions.)

 

Harvey Kubernik sent in these links to share …

 

I penned the liner notes to the deluxe edition of "Tapestry" ten years ago for Sony/Legacy/Ode Records. 

A month doesn't go by where I am not asked about this epic album produced by Lou Adler. 

Celebrate and enjoy. 

Harvey Kubernik.

(Visit Kubernik's Korner at www.otherworldcottageindustries.com)


 Kubernik: Carole King "Tapestry" 50th Anniversary | Music ... https://www.musicconnection.com/kubernik-carole ...

Jan 21, 2022 · by Harvey Kubernik “Small miracles brought us here.” - Holly Prado The 1971 legendary Tapestry album released on February 10, 1971 from singer/songwriter and pianist Carole King was produced by Lou Adler and … 

Troubadours | Carole King’s Monumental Tapestry Album ... https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters ...

Feb 14, 2011 · Born Carole Klein, on February 9, 1941 or ’42, in Brooklyn, New York, King started learning piano at the age of four. She formed her first band, the vocal quartet the Co-sines, while a …

Carole King’s ‘Tapestry’

https://www.shindig-magazine.com/?p=4488

Carole King’s ‘Tapestry’ As it turns 50 HARVEY KUBERNIK celebrates the phenomenal build-up to CAROLE KING’s landmark album Tapestry by singer/songwriter and pianist Carole King, was produced … 

 

Several years ago, Micky Dolenz recorded what I consider to be his best solo album, “King For A Day,” a salute to Carole King’s music.  (King, of course, wrote several songs for The Monkees’ songbook, including the #2 1967 smash “Pleasant Valley Sunday.”)

Here is MY favorite track on that album … a new reading of The Everly Brothers’ 1962 hit “Crying In The Rain” … recorded as a duet with his sister Coco Dolenz.  (kk)


 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN:

Ringo’s All-Starr Band will be hitting the road again this summer … with a line-up that’ll include Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart and Greg Bissonette and Edgar Winter.  (What??? No Joe Walsh?!?!?)


Ringo says, “I can’t wait to get back out on the road and play.  This is the longest I’ve been off the road in years – up until 2020, I was touring every year with the All Starrs – and I’ve really missed it. Making music in the studio has been great, and it certainly saved me during the pandemic, but nothing beats playing live with great musicians in front of an audience. I love my fans and they love me and it’s going to be wonderful to be peace and loving and playing for them again.”

Tour dates announced so far include:

May 27th and May 28th, 2022 - Rama, Ontario – Casino Rama

May 30th - Canandaigua, NY – CMAC

June 2nd - Boston, MA – Wang Theater (with The Avett Brothers)

June 3rd - Worcester, MA – Hanover Theater

June 4th - Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion (with The Avett Brothers)

June 6th, 7th and 8th - New York, NY – The Beacon Theatre

June 10th - Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theater

June 11th - Easton, PA – State Theater

June 12th - Providence, RI – PPAC

June 14th and 15th - Baltimore, MD – Modell Lyric

June 17th - Lenox, MA – Tanglewood

June 18th - Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Arena

June 19th - Philadelphia, PA – Metropolitan Theater

June 21st - Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union Live

June 22nd - Atlanta, GA – Cobb Center

June 24th - St Augustine, FL – The AMP

June 25th - Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock

June 26th - Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall

More information can be found at www.RingoStarr.com

Also hitting the road … The Who!!!

THE WHO HIT BACK Tour launches on April 22nd at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL, and will run thru the end of May before taking a short break before resuming with the “Fall leg” of the tour on October 2nd in Toronto.  (And they'll be performing with a full orchestra!)

A complete list of currently scheduled dates is shown below …

SPRING

April 22nd - Hard Rock Live / Hollywood, FL

April 24th - VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena / Jacksonville, FL

April 27th - Amalie Arena / Tampa, FL

April 30th - New Orleans Jazz Festival

May 3rd - Moody Center / Austin, TX

May 5th - American Airlines Center / Dallas, TX

May 8th - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion / The Woodlands, TX

May 10th - Paycom Center / Oklahoma City, OK

May 13th - FedExForum / Memphis, TN

May 15th - TQL Stadium / Cincinnati, OH

May 18th - TD Garden / Boston, MA

May 20th - Wells Fargo Center / Philadelphia, PA

May 23rd - Capital One Arena / Washington, D.C.

May 26th - Madison Square Garden / New York City, NY

May 28th - Bethel Woods Center of the Arts / Bethel, NY

FALL

October 2nd - Scotiabank Arena / Toronto, ON

October 4th - Little Caesars Arena / Detroit, MI

October 7th - UBS Arena / Belmont Park, NY

October 9th - Schottenstein Center / Columbus, OH

October 12th - United Center / Chicago, IL

October 14th - Enterprise Center / St. Louis, MO

October 17th - Ball Arena / Denver, CO

October 20th - Moda Center / Portland, OR

October 22nd - Climate Pledge Arena / Seattle, WA

October 26th - Golden 1 Center / Sacramento, CA

October 28th - Honda Center / Anaheim, CA

November 1st - Hollywood Bowl / Los Angeles, CA

November  4th and 5th - Dolby Live at Park MGM / Las Vegas, NV

The other day we told you about Micky Dolenz hitting the road for his “Micky Dolenz Celebrates The Monkees” tour, kicking in April.  These shows will predate his next trip around the country with Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals (which follows hot on its heels!)

Dates announced thus far for THAT tour are as follows:

Micky Dolenz / Felix Cavaliere Tour Dates

April 23rd – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
April 24th – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
May 12th – Red Bank, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center
May 14th – Patchogue, NY – Patchogue Theatre for the Perf. Arts
June 3rd – New York, NY – Palladium Times Square
June 4th – Lynn, MA – Lynn Auditorium

More dates will be added.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: 

You may not know the name … I didn't … but I LOVE everything about this recording he did … Great guitar, echo, singing, the song, you name it.  I had others by the band, but this was the trademark and it was a great one.  https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/donny-gerrard-dead-wildflower-singer-1235027826/

Clark


A great song for sure … and a Top Ten Hit across the boards in 1973.  Love it!  Sad to hear the news.  Thanks, Clark.  (kk)


Short but sweet today, folks … I simply ran out of time …

But I CAN promise you BRAND NEW POSTINGS FOR THE NEXT THIRTEEN STRAIGHT DAYS … so be sure to check back often.  Thanks, all!  (kk)

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

MONKEES MAGICAL MOMENTS (February, 1969)

From Gary Strobl ...

 

 

58 years ago today, The Beatles made their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Purely by coincidence, also appearing on the program that night was young Davy Jones, currently appearing on Broadway in the hit musical "Oliver."


Two years later, Davy would be portraying himself on the hit NBC Music / Comedy Series "The Monkees," along with fellow actors and bandmates Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork.

The show, inspired by The Beatles' film "A Hard Day's Night," would catapult The Monkees to becoming the #1 Act on the Charts in 1967.  (Four #1 Albums and, counting their debut release from September of '66, Four #1 Singles as well.)

Special thanks to Gary Strobl, who continues to take us through these Monkees Magical Moments ... running EXCLUSIVELY in Forgotten Hits!  (kk)

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Tuesday This And That

Big Bumper sheet, Kent, well done!

I will throw my two pence worth into the argument about the Hall of Shame. Look how easy that flowed … I put in fame and my spell checker corrected me lol.

Our mutual friend has recorded more RnR tracks than all the latest band of nominees put together. My question is, When is Freddy Boom, Boom Cannon going to be inducted?  He knows rock n roll the others have only ever read about it!

Take care, stay safe, cause Rockin' Lord Geoff (in England) said so.

Geoff Lambert

It's a crime, isn't it, the number of worthy artists that continue to be overlooked by The Rock Hall in favor of the newer also-rans that show up on their list each year.
And sadly, the longer they ignore the true early champions of rock and roll, the more likely it is that they'll be forgotten and pushed completely off the radar of each new wave of nominating committees to come.

 

Kent (kk):

Just wanted to let you know that I have reached out to The Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as a few other organizations that support The Rock Hall throughout the year. These additional organizations have been 'invited' to reach out to The Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in support of The Induction of 'Tommy James'.

I have contacted: Sherwin-Williams,  Yum Brands,  Sirius-XM,  Apple Music,  Hard Rock International and BMG)

I have also contacted:

a. The Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Trustees members

b. The Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Foundation members

c. The Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Committee members 

d. The Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze members

I trust that The Cleveland Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will be responding ASAP.

I will forward to you any / all responses, as they come in.

L J 

L J Coon 

starrtrac6@aol.com

 

Here is a copy of what I have sent them …

 

February 6, 2022

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame  

Union Home Mortgage Plaza  

1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard  

Cleveland, Ohio 44114  

216.781.ROCK (7625)

 

Dear Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio,

Please take the time out of your very busy day to review the following and respond.

I am very interested in finding out The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,  Cleveland, Ohio’s overall reason / reasons for Not inviting Rock n Roll Artist of 53 years, Tommy James, into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio?

a). Is there an overall reason that Tommy James is not being inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio?

b). Is there something that he hasn't accomplished over his 53 year Rock n Roll career that would explain why he is not being inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio?

c). Is there something additional that he needs to accomplish and that is why he is not being inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio?

d). Is it simply that Tommy James needs to be nominated by one particular individual and that is why he is not being Inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio?

In closing:

Can you please take the time to respond to my inquiry or forward to those offices that can respond in detail ...

Why is Tommy James NOT being Inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio?  

Thank You so much for all that you do

Kindest Regards, 

L J

L J Coon

I appreciate your support, LJ … please DO let us know if you ever receive a response or explanation … as it certainly doesn’t make ANY sense to any other rock music fan out there on Planet Earth as to how Tommy continues to be ignored and denied his proper and deserved place in The Rock Hall.  (kk)


UPDATE:  LJ - You may want to expand your contact list to include The Rock Hall's Corporate Office in New York.  (Boy, it SURE would be great to know the names of all of the members of the Nominating Committee ... and those who are authorized to vote in their annual selection process.)  Please keep in mind that The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame located in Cleveland is strictly the MUSEUM ... and they have absolutely NO say whatsoever as far as who gets nominated or inducted.  I have had NUMEROUS conversations with them over the years ... and believe me when I tell you, most years all of those employees are scratching their heads much the same way all us music fans do each year when the new nominees are announced!!!  Still, I applaud your efforts ... and am curious to see if you get any response at all!  (kk)


Regarding R&R HOF Voting ...

Will somebody please put a fork in this mess!

Ken Freck

Hornets - Give Me A Kiss - Vip: 25004 DJ 

A Kiss or a Kick?

What the???

Please tell me this was recorded as a joke, as in "meant" to be funny. Even The Chipmunks could not have saved it.

Shelley J Sweet-Tufano

Or … were The Hornets really just 25 years ahead of their time, ultimately inspiring The Rutles?!?! 

Who knows …

But I think this was 100% a legitimate recording designed to cash in on the hot sound of the day which, like I said before, was quite a ridiculous idea being that Motown had already CREATED a hot new sound of their own.  (Even crazier … the Motown acts were among The Beatles’ own favorites prior to them coming over here to The States!)

Maybe turnabout is fair play???  The Beatles covered their share of Motown tunes in the early years … as did so many of the other first wave British Invasion acts!  (kk)

 

Regarding "Kind Of Hush," I'm not sure Peter Noone's argument is correct on that either.

The writers of "Hush" are Geoff Stephens and Les Reed, two British and relatively well known writers and producers.

Who do you think would have access to their song first, the Hermits or some 12 year old nobodies from the US?  Also, the Hermits’ version was released way earlier.

I think the real question is why didn't Stephens push it as a single for his New Vaudeville Band?

Ken

Both versions of “There’s A Kind Of Hush” came out in February of 1967.  I have NO idea how Gary and the Hornets had access to this tune … or “Hi, Hi Hazel” either for that matter, as that one was recorded by The Troggs!!!

As for Stephens recording it with his New Vaudeville Band, that’s an EXCELLENT question.  Geoff wrote SO many great songs for other British artists.  If he had planned on having a recording career of his very own, I don’t know why he would have given away ANY of these tunes!!!

(Then again I look no further than The Buckinghams, who scored four Top Ten Hits in one year thanks to the pen of James Holvay, who was a member of the local band The Mob.  Instead of recording these tunes with his OWN band, he gave them to The Bucks because he felt they fit THEIR style more than his own.  Chicago Rock history might have been totally rewritten had he opted to keep these for himself!  (kk)

>>>Concerning the Ballad of Davy Crockett being number 2 on 5-5-55, did you know that Bill Hayes is still alive and still appears on Days of Our Lives soap opera? That’s what I call longevity!  (Bob Verbos)

I found Bob's message about Bill Hayes' "Davy Crocket" story quite amazing to think he is still alive and acting.

Considering I was born less than a year after this big hit, I think my brothers woulda rewritten it: "Scarred up a baby brother later that yarr"

THIS was Billboard's #1 while the one I know better, Fess Parker's was #5 and Tennessee Ernie Ford also #5.   I have the Parker with pic sleeve.

THIS country version by Ford is much better enunciated than the others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ACYcD1ce5E

Meanwhile, Walter Schumann's version might be fun for many to hear because it sounds like what Monty Python used as a model for "Lumberjack Song"!!!!! It reached #14. (Below #29 on 5/5/55 date).  Be sure to listen to first 30 seconds to realize how close they are in sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AitVuN6Hfe0

Clark Besch


I enjoy looking over Clark Besch's weekly chart. He was a true 'breakout station' without a transmitter!

As a chart geek, I love to compare and contrast against what was happening locally in my area (New Haven, CT).
WAVZ was the big gun, messy sounding at that time, a total opposite of the fast 'n' tight sounding shotgun jingle bellowing flamethrower they would evolve into by 1972/'73.

Looking at the Billboard Top 10, nearly all of the songs listed had already peaked weeks earlier on WAVZ; most were off the Weekly Top 60 (Mamas & Papas, Mindbenders, Lovin' Spoonful & Gary Lewis ... James Brown had peaked at #1 two weeks earlier and was on the way off the chart at #12 … ditto for Percy Sledge (#28) ... Bob Dylan peaked at #6 and was off the survey two weeks earlier.

WAVZ Top 13 (well, they were Lucky 13!)

1. Strangers In The Night - Frank Sinatra

2. Paint It Black - Rolling Stones (#1 previous week)
3.  Sweet Talkin' Guy - Chiffons

4. Red Rubber Ball - Cyrkle

5. Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) - Swingin' Medallions

6. Cool Jerk - Capitols

7. I Am A Rock - Simon & Garfunkel

8. Barefootin' - Robert Parker

9. Oh How Happy - Shades Of Blue

10. I'm A Roadrunner - Jr. Walker & All-Stars

11. Opus 17 - Four Seasons

12. It's A Man's Man's Man's World - James Brown

13. Younger Girl - Hondells / Critters
WAVZ played both versions of "Younger Girl, alternating them, according to those former jocks and listeners older than thou...

And...

Since we are looking back at 1972 on Forgotten Hits, my 3rd grade class was dancin’ (during our daily 45 min. lunch break) to 45s I, and a few other 45 hounds brought in for spinnin'.  This was my #1 fave spin in Feb. '72 and  my all time fave by these go'gous gals):

Mike Markesich  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twv90OrOBmI

After studying these charts for many years, it has become pretty clear to me that the national charts were typically a week or two behind the curve in most instances.  Things typically happened much quicker on the local radio level … but it was those sales and airplay spikes that ultimately drove the national charts.

In talking with Sam Tallerico (who did the Lost And Found Oldies Show for YEARS!), he pointed out, too, that by 1972 the charts became a bit more “generic” from coast to coast, as less stations were taking chances programming anything other than the “proven hits.”  Gone were the days of promoting local talent (like WLS and WCFL did in the mid-to-late ‘60’s.)

In fact, Sam told me …

I DO miss the Super Charts. I appreciate the effort you put in posting the different city surveys, but around 1971, the charts got more homogenized, showing fewer regional hits, so they got kinda boring. Interesting that the WABC chart you posted was very similar to the CKLW Big 30 -- but from a month earlier! It underscores how WABC chased trends, while the Big 8 often started them. 

Sam

That was the big thing in the mega-exciting ‘60’s …

Every Top 40 Radio Station worth its salt wanted to be the one to break the latest, greatest and hottest hits … (as we saw recently, even going to great lengths to obtain British copies of songs not yet released here in The States ... and then airing them as "exclusives") ... but then, by the early-to-mid ‘70’s, we saw charts listing fewer and fewer hits, really reducing their playlists, and only sticking with the songs that had proven to score well with other Top 40 stations across the country.  (Factor in somebody like ABC, who had DOZENS of outlets spread out all over the US, and pretty soon radio started to turn into the repetitive monster we’ve been trying to stamp out for the past 25 years!)

For me, the music wasn’t as interesting or inventive either … it just all kind of blended together (or would that be “blanded together”???) and radio wasn’t as exciting anymore.  Couple in the incredible growth of FM radio, playing full-length 8-minute cuts without advertisements for pimple cream and most of us flipped over to that OTHER dial on our radios.  And once FM Radio became available in cars, it was pretty rare that we’d venture back to the AM Dial!

This is why 1972 is the last year we’re going to 50 Year Flashback to … I found the music of 1973 and 1974 the worst of the modern rock era … so for me, there’s very little to celebrate there.  (kk)

Speaking of 1972, Noise 11 is reporting that Jethro Tull’s new album “The Zealot Gene” has debuted in The Top Ten in The UK, giving the band its first Top Ten Album in 50 years!  (Their last Top Ten Album was “Living In The Past” in 1972.)

>>>Interesting to see Todd Rundgren involved again in this upcoming Beatles Tribute Tour … although it’s no secret what a HUGE Beatles fan he is.  It’s just that he made our sheet a week ago in conjunction with his upcoming tour with Daryl Hall ... and now he's going out on the road with THESE guys!!!  (kk) 

By the time Todd gets to Chicago, the Beatle tour is over and he's teaming as a "guest" with Daryl Hall on April 1 at the Auditorium.

Ken Voss

  

And in the meantime, Daryl is recording a new album with Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics!!!  (No rest for the wicked!)  kk

Endless Summer Quarterly has few leftover copies of their Winter 2021 issue available for individual purchase.

This issue spotlights Carl Wilson, who would have turned 75 on December 21st.  (We lost Carl in 1998)


You can order your copy (while supplies last) here …

WINTER 2021, Issue #136: CARL WILSON — 75th birthday tribute » Endless Summer Quarterly (esquarterly.com)

Chicago Legend Syl Johnson has passed away.

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2022/02/06/chicago-blues-soul-legend-syl-johnson-dies-at-85/

https://www.bear-family.com/johnson-syl-talkin-bout-chicago.html

Clark Besch

Although Johnson did have nine national chart hits, none of them ever really established him as an artist to be reckoned with.  (In fact, five of those nine never made it past #90 on the charts!)  His biggest solo hit came in 1975 when his version of “Take Me To The River” peaked at #48 in Billboard.  (As such, I’m not convinced “legend” is a word that would normally be used to describe him.)

He was actually born in Holly Springs, Mississippi … but was raised in Chicago.  Incredibly, his brother, Jimmy Johnson, died just a couple of days before Sylvester did.  (kk)


>>>BTW, I haven't checked lately, but KIMN's 950 station in Denver with

different call letters WAS playing top 40 oldies within last 10 years and we do get it here in Lincoln some.  (Clark Besch)

He's right. From 2008 to 2015, under owner Lincoln Financial, they were KRWZ, "Cruisin' Oldies 950." LincFi sold its stations to Entercom (since merged with CBS Radio, forming Audacy) just before the end, then within months Denver sports-team owner Stan Kroenke picked it up, and transitioned it to its current sports-talk and live-games format, which just changed again to be dominated by VSiN, a sports-gambling-oriented network featuring legendary former CBS-TV host Brent Musburger!

--Bob Frable

 

From Gary Theroux, writer and executive producer of the new History Of Rock And Roll Series running on stations all over the US right now …

 

Coming up next weekend (February 12 and 13) on THE HISTORY OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL:  “The Number One Hits of 1967.”

You’ll hear all 18 chart-toppers from that monumental year along with a few notable also-rans.

Also:  Insightful comments from Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman (of The Turtles), Mick Jagger (of The Rolling Stones), Ray Manzarek (of The Doors), John Lennon (of The Beatles), Mike Nesmith (of The Monkees), Frankie Valli (of The Four Seasons), Bob Cowsills (of The Cowsills), Mama Cass Elliot (of The Mamas and The Papas) and even from Frank Sinatra!

Featured, too, is a profile of Tommy James (“I Think We’re Alone Now.)



Check THE HISTORY OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Facebook Page for both broadcast information and online affiliates.

If you’d like to hear THE HISTORY OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL on your favorite radio station, call them and say so!  And then have them contact G Networks for all the details.

My all-time favorite year in music, hands down … this will be MUST listening for me!  

Lots of "Tommy Talk" here lately, too, with his latest snub by The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  (Seriously ... WHAT are they thinking?!?!  I like LJ Coon's idea above ... tell us WHY he doesn't qualify in your minds so we can at least TRY to understand it ... because nobody who knows ANYTHING about music will ever be able to justify his omission otherwise!)

If you can’t find The History of Rock 'n' Roll on your local radio station, you CAN stream it on Me-TV-FM thru Audacy.)  kk