>>> Today we’re looking back at EVERY Friday the 13th during The Top 40 Rock Era!!! They don’t happen as often as you might think … most years only have one or two. In fact, between 1955 and 1989, a span of 35 years, we had exactly 61 Friday the 13th’s … (this year, we’ve got two … today … and then not again until October.) Friday the 13th's fall at different times each year.For example: 1955, 1958, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986 and 1988 each only had ONE Friday the 13thall year … while 1956, 1959, 1970, 1981, 1984 and 1987 each had THREE!!! You can check out EVERY Friday the 13th #1 Record below ... (kk)
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2023/01/friday-13th.html
Kent,
With reference to your statement that Friday the 13th doesn't "happen all that often" -- in fact, the 13th of a month is more likely to fall on a Friday than on any other day!
Here's a link explaining it:
https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/10/12/3036287.htm?site=science/drkarl
Henry McNulty
Cheshire CT
This is actually a very cool, statistical article. Thanks, Henry … I had no idea! (kk)
(So what happens exactly if a black cat passes under a ladder in front of you???)
EXCELLENT compilation of video versions of #1 hits, Kent.
I have built a bunch of those myself -- from today on back to the dawn of recording!
Below, though, is a much better clip to illustrate "The Stripper":
Gary Theroux
"The History of Rock 'n' Roll"
I am SOOOOO turned on right now!!! (kk)
I can see why other than a handful of times, Friday the 13th was never a good music day. Haha
Clark Besch
Boy, did you get "lucky" coming up with this idea!
Very interesting Forgotten Hits Feature for Friday the Thirteenth, Kent! Nicely done!
Good to know you don't suffer from Triskaidekaphobia.
Buell!
I would have rather gotten lucky with the $1.35 Billion Dollar Lottery Drawing!!! (kk)
(And here, for those of you who wanted to know … but were too lazy to look it up) …
From Dictionary.com …
Definition of triskaidekaphobia
Noun: an irrational or disproportionate fear of the number 13
(Personally, in the meantime, I'm just going to continue on trying to "Get Lucky" whenever I can)
CB
(Concupiscence Boy)
OK, I made that one up. (lol) kk
kk …
Great Idea!
I Always Thought That Friday the 13th Was Bad Luck (???)
Shouldn't I Be Playing Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes?
I Say If You're Lucky Enough To Have A # 1 Hit On The Billboard Chart ---
That's "GOOD LUCK," not "BAD LUCK"
I Played "DON'T CRY DADDY" On My Platters Site …
What I Really Think Is That Elvis Has Good Reason To Cry Today.
FB
Still processing the loss of Lisa Marie Presley.
The Elvis Channel has been airing tributes to her ever since the word got out, including vintage interviews that she did with the station at Graceland as well as playing some of her solo material, along with “duets” she recorded with her late father by way of modern day technology.
While there was nothing that really made Lisa Marie’s voice jump out at you and make you take notice (other than the name behind it), she DID record a couple of pretty amazing tracks over the years … most notably “Lights Out” and one of those not-so-obvious duets with Daddy called “Where No One Stands Alone,” a VERY moving piece that I’ve listened to dozens of times already this past week. (You can check out the video below) kk
Two of Lisa Marie’s singles “bubbled under” on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart … “Light Out” reached #114 in 2003 and her duet with Elvis on a remake of “In The Ghetto” peaked at #116 in 2007 … again, not an earth-shattering presence on the pop charts …
But my guess is that now after her passing … when radio actually IS playing her music … she just might surprise you with a couple of posthumous hits. Stay tuned. (kk)
LOTS of talk last week about John Fogerty finally buying back the rights to all of the music he composed during the Creedence Clearwater Revival years. (Congratulations, John … we know what a long hard battle this has been to fight.)
Billboard Magazine was the first to announce the news … and then it spread like wildfire.
https://consequence.net/2023/01/john-fogerty-buys-creedence-clearwater-revival-catalog/
Some rock star tributes to the late Jeff Beck …
https://bestclassicbands.com/jeff-beck-tributes-1-11-23/
Another fitting tribute to the distinguished career of Jeff Beck …
https://theseconddisc.com/2023/01/11/in-memoriam-jeff-beck-1944-2023/
Previously submitted and appropriately resubmitted ...
Here are a couple of photographs of Jeff Beck at the Rock River Roller Palace, just outside Rockford, IL, on 12/11/65. This was the second of two shows that day … the first was an afternoon show in Chicago. The Yardbirds drove to Rockford in a huge snowstorm for the second show.
Robert Campbell
These are truly vintage photos, folks!!! Jeff Beck as America first discovered him … as a member of The Yardbirds in 1965! Thanks, Robert! (kk)
Some memories of Jeff Beck from Harvey Kubernik …
Jeff Beck By Harvey Kubernik
In 1974, I met Jeff after a Grammy event at the Hollywood Palladium on Sunset Blvd. We were at a reception and when George Benson walked in the room, Jeff smiled and those two guitarists were off and engaged in conversation.
Beck confirmed a local rumor that the Yardbirds did record in Chicago in the Chess Records studio, and that he once worked for a few weeks in Hollywood at the British-owned Lewin Record Shop on Hollywood Blvd that stocked English import LP’s. There was some type of passport issue during his stint with the Yardbirds or a Musicians Union problem where he had to stay in L.A. for a bit in 1965 or ‘66. While in town, Jeff visited the legendary Dolphin’s of Hollywood record store in Watts and was also driven to the teenage home of future record producer Michael Lloyd by the local Yardbirds’ publicist, Kim Fowley.
During 2001 in an interview with Chrissie Hynde, we discussed Jeff Beck.
“We were going to do some charity work years ago and since then, we’ve remained very friendly. And I sort of introduced him to a guy who has become one of his best friends, so that was always good, and the three of us would go out together and do things. We’ve always had different schedules and been working on other projects. But when I heard ‘Legalize Me’ … He’s someone who is my guitar hero. Meeting him was such a huge thrill for me. I’m just such a fan of his rock guitar playing, because he’s the greatest rock guitar player. And in his own stuff he’s done the last twenty years, he’s certainly has gone on to Planet Beck, where no guitar player has ever gone. And he doesn’t use a pick. What I always wanted to do was pull him down to Planet Earth and get him to play rock guitar. For him, that might be a little elementary, but for me, that’s where my head is at. So, when we did ‘Legalize Me,’ I thought, ‘Maybe I can get Jeff in to play the solo.’
“So I called him and told him I had a rock track - ‘Do you want to come down?’ ‘Yeah.’ He played on ‘Legalize Me.’ Jeff pulled up in his Corvette, in this English studio, RAK, where he probably recorded ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ (with producer Mickey Most), and he walked into the studio. We played the track four times and he had a couple of passes on it and got it into it a bit. I was so in awe. It was absolutely stupendous when he was playing. I was sort of immobilized. At one point, I caught the eye of Stephen Hague’s glance from across the room and he, too, had this sort of stunned expression. You know, Jeff did five takes. When he finished playing, I said, ‘Great. Thanks for coming down.’ he replied, ‘O.K. Talk to you later.’ And as soon as the studio door shut, we all yelled, ‘Fuck! Oh my God!’ We were screaming in disbelief, but when Jeff was there it was like … ’OK. Jeff, thanks for coming in … Talk to you later.’”
Incredibly, there are NO recordings by The Jeff Beck Band on our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME list … which is one of the reasons we’re going to be taking a long, hard look at this list again throughout this year in an effort to revamp a few things to make it more accurate and relevant. (Keep in mind that a song had to be nominated in order to be eligible … and then it had to earn enough votes to make The Top 3333 … so unfortunately, oversights like this happened along the way. A re-evaluation of some of these statistics will help us to realize a more comprehensive and all-inclusive list down the road … something we’re hoping to accomplish before the end of this year. Stay tuned for more details … but certainly most would agree that Jeff Beck deserves a mention or two somewhere on the list!) kk
Rumor has it that The Rolling Stones once considered offering Beck a spot after the passing of Brian Jones. (How on earth would THAT have worked out in the eyes of Keith Richards?!?!) Sometimes things just work out the right way for a reason!
Also, DIDJAKNOW that when Beck joined The Yardbirds, replacing Eric Clapton on guitar, he was recommended for the job by Jimmy Page … who was so anxious to get him into the band, he even switched to playing bass just to open the spot?!?! Unreal!
Beck played on some of The Yardbirds’ biggest chart hits, including “Heart Full Of Soul,” “I’m A Man,” “Shapes Of Things” (my personal favorite) and “Over Under Sideways Down” but was ultimately FIRED from the band, at which point Page moved into the lead guitarist’s spot. (Page’s “New Yardbirds” ultimately morphed into Led Zeppelin a few years later while Beck went on to form The Jeff Beck Band, recruiting Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and pianist Nicky Hopkins.)
Beck made light of the firing when he was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992 when he said “Someone told me I should be proud tonight … But I’m not, because they kicked me out. They did! Fuck them!”
And, speaking of The Stones, the guys keep dropping not so subtle hints about THEIR upcoming new LP … and a 2023 tour.
No firm details yet … but it sounds like this just may be music worst-kept secret at the moment! (kk)
Meanwhile, U2 is releasing a special album commemorating their 40th Anniversary together as a band.
Titled simply “40,” the 4-LP set (each named for one of the band members) features reimagined versions of some of their best known material, selected by Bono in conjunction with his recent memoirs “Surrender” and arranged by The Edge.
Some of the new recordings include “One,” “Where The
Streets Have No Name,”
“Beautiful Day,” “Pride (In The Name Of Love),” “Ordinary Love,” “I Still
Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” “Desire,” “With Or Without You,” “Sunday
Bloody Sunday” and “I Will Follow.”
In addition to representing the band’s 40th anniversary, it will also contain forty tracks … including a NEW tune called “40!”
Appropriately for the Irish band, the new album will be released on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th! (kk)
Speaking of new releases, we got this rave review from Colin Donahue, who won a copy of Davie Allan’s new CD “Turn It Up!” …
Thanks for sending me Davie Allan's new CD so quickly!
Here's a review you can post on FH:
In the liner notes to Rhino Records' 1998 Nuggets box set, Mike Stax wrote "Fuzz guitar was an integral weapon of many a '60s punk record, and no one wielded it more proudly than Davie Allan & The Arrows."
High praise indeed, and Davie and the band's new release "Turn It Up!" is another terrific disc full of fuzz guitar-driven, full-steam-ahead rock. It’s a testament to the group’s talent that on an album designed to be played at "11," it never descends into mindless noise. There's enough variety in the tempos and melodies through each song to allow the album to remain interesting from start to finish. I especially love the instrumentation on “Stomp It Now” – in addition to the awesome guitar work, the drumming across that song and others is outstanding.
An instrumental reimagining of the group’s first song, “War Path,” and an update of the classic “Blues’ Theme” included near the end of the album’s new material show that Davie’s still got it!
Although I miss the track-by-track notations from other CDs detailing Davie's thought process behind the individual recordings, I love that he used the second half of the CD to include his favorite songs from previous albums dating back to 1996. Not only is it fun hearing his personal favorites, it's a great way to compare and enjoy recordings from the past twenty-seven years.
So thanks to Davie for another fine collection of music. And I got all the way through this review without making a single pun, such as “Davie Allan & The Arrows hit their target again” or “It’s another bullseye for Davie Allan & The Arrows.” Who has time for puns like that when you’re a straight-shooter like me?
Colin Donahue
Colin also tells us …
Hello Kent,
I came across a company called Teensville Records that I thought your readers would be interested in.
It's an oldies reissue label that specializes in VERY obscure songs ...
I bought one of their compilations a couple years ago at a record shop in Wisconsin. It has thirty songs on it, including a Neil Sedaka song I've never heard of called "Heartbreak House for Homeless Children," so we're not exactly talking about Number One hits here!
They manufacture CDs in limited quantities, and use the proceeds from sales to buy more records to release.
I love companies that aren't reissuing the same songs available everywhere and aren't afraid to delve deep into unheard gems.
Check them out at https://www.teensvillerecords.com.
I should mention that the company is based out of Australia, so the shipping cost can be pretty high, but some of their stuff is available through U.S. sites like Amazon, or at local record stores.
And the sound quality is actually pretty good. Considering that all of the songs on the disc I have seem to be transferred from 45s, they’ve been cleaned up nicely.
Plus the liner notes are terrific - somehow the compilers are able to gather info about these tracks, no matter how hard they are to find.
Wanted to pass the info along so you could share with other collectors out there on your list.
Colin Donahue
We're talking about some REALLY obscure tracks here ... I looked at the track listings for everything they have coming up and I'll bet I didn't recognize more than three or four of them!
But that's OK ... but this is EXACTLY the kind of stuff many of our readers are interested in. So if that's YOUR bag, be sure to check it out at the link above. (kk)
Ringo Starr’s ready to venture out on the road again.
After a year plagued by Covid break-outs (including Starr himself testing positive on a couple of occasions), his All-Starr Band is ready to pick things up again this spring, with a show kicking off at The Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California, on May 19th.
Some these may be make-up shows for previously scheduled concerts that had to be cancelled … and I fully expect him to announce more stops once we get closer to showtime (provided everybody can stay healthy this time around!!!)
Joining the legendary drummer on stage will be Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart and Gregg Bissonette.
Dates announced so far include:
May 19th - Temecula, CA -
Pechanga Resort Casino
May 20th and 21st - Phoenix, AZ - Celebrity Theatre
May 24th, 26th and 27th - Las Vegas, NV - Venetian
Theatre
May 28th and 31st - San Diego, CA - Humphreys Concerts
June 2nd - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater
June 3rd - Bend, OR - Hayden Homes Amphitheater
June 4th - Seattle, WA - Venue TBD
June 6th - Denver, CO - Bellco Theater – Denver Convention Center
June 7th - Colorado Springs, CO - Pikes Peak Center
June 9th - Lincoln, CA - Thunder Valley Casino
June 11th - San Francisco, CA - The Masonic
June 13th - Salt Lake City, UT - Eccles Theater
June 15th - Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
June 16th - Paso Robles, CA - Vina Robles Amphitheatre
June 17th - San Jose, CA - San Jose Civic
Robbie Bachman, founding member of Bachman Turner Overdrive, passed away last week. Sadly, 2023 is only two weeks old we have are already building a list of celebrities who are leaving us. Bachman was the band’s drummer on all but one album during the course of their career.
Between 1974 and 1976, Bachman Turner Overdrive hit The National Top 40 seven times. This tally includes THREE Top Ten Hits, one of which went all the way to #1. (“Takin’ Care Of Business,” #6 – CB, 1974; “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” #1 in all three trades, 1974; and “Roll On Down the Highway,” #8 – CB, 1975.)
Back home in Canada, the band had THREE #1 Hits (“Takin’ Care Of Business,” “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” and “Hey You”) and three others that made The Canadian Top Ten.
For a GREAT interview with brother Randy who, along with Fred Turner, ran the band, scroll back to read Phil Nee’s discussion with him. Of particular interest … how there ended up being a piano on their Classic Rock Classic “Takin’ Care Of Business” … and some damn good piano, too!!! Lol (kk)
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2022/12/phil-nee-interviews-randy-bachman.html
Hi, Kent -
I've read numerous letters that have been sent to you by readers about how they
don't understand why certain songs by top artists make the charts when they
"just aren't too good," and some really GREAT tunes don't get onto
the charts at all, and some don't even get airplay.
I was listening to some old tunes by popular artists of the 60s and 70s, and
one song in particular made me agree 1000%. I'm not saying that the
artist(s) on this tune only had one good entry; they had many that never got
the attention they deserved (in my opinion.)
The LP they did together back in 1968 went pretty high on the
"charts," but rarely did we hear airplay of most of its tunes. I can
only recall ONE song from their LP getting acceptable recognition.
I refer to the team of Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood; in particular, a tune
that makes me emotional every time I hear it; but not only is that particular
song a wonderful example of what Nancy could do, but the coupling with Mr.
Hazelwood was so moving that sometimes I'd listen to it a few times in a row.
The tune in question is "Ladybird."
Listen to it using headsets and see if you agree.
I'm not trying to sound like a music expert, but my opinion of "These
Boots Were Made For Walkin'" is that in spite of its "numbers"
on the charts, etc., it did NOT score highly on MY scorecard. I gave it a 2 on
the scale of 10.
Bottom line: to each his/her own.
Mike
I think the pairing of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra was a match made in Solid Gold Heaven. EACH provided exactly what the other needed to make their own unique magic click with the masses.
While they only charted six times together as a duo, Lee was responsible for picking and producing … and in many instances, writing, the majority Nancy’s biggest hits.
“Lady Bird” (not one of my favorites, but like you said, to each your own) peaked at #20 in 1967. The one that did it for me was “Summer Wine” … I still get goosebumps when I hear that song … yet it only managed at #49 showing in Billboard (as the B-Side of “Sugar Town,” a Top Five Hit in all of the major trades.) Years ago we ran a video of a remake of this track and it captured every bit of the energy of the original … but it was also nearly a note-for-note copy, inspiring the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” (They even included one of the “James Bond riffs”!!! lol) kk
The Nancy Sinatra / Lee Hazlewood duet that seems to have gotten the most attention (and affection) over the years would have to be “Some Velvet Morning,” a #26 charter from early 1968. I’m being honest when I say “I just don’t get it” … but some people absolutely LOVE this song. (My guess is that most of them are named Phaedra.) kk
And here’s the incredibly sexy remake version from a few years ago … Lana Del Ray recently cut a version, too …
It’s just a beautiful song … a perfectly crafted duet. (kk)
William Macy made a guest appearance on The Conners last Tuesday Night.
Meanwhile, it was announced the same day that his wife, Felicity Huffman, has just been signed for a new television series …
So it’s reassuring to know that once again the two of them will soon be able to afford the best college education money can buy for their children. (kk)
Tom Cuddy sent us this new video clip by The Zombies, celebrating the release of their new single “Dropped, Reeling And Stupid” …
https://www.loudersound.com/news/zombies-release-video-for-brand-new-single-dropped-reeling-and-stupidAnd here's something else we wanted to tell you about ...
(but we're not saying a word!!!)
Pantomime Legend Marcel Marceau Honored By Centenary Celebration Exhibit and Publication of New Edition of Marcel Marceau: Master of Mime Book
THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB — MARCH 9 through APRIL 28, 2023
The National Arts Club celebrates the centenary of the birth of the world’s most famous mime, Marcel Marceau, with an exhibition of photographs taken by Time/Life photographer Ben Martin. The exhibit, which is open to the public and free, will take place from March 9th to April 28 in conjunction with the publication of a new edition of Marcel Marceau: Master of Mime, a photojournalist’s view of the legendary artist as performer and friend. Begun as a Life magazine pictorial in the mid-1970s, their artistic collaboration produced an intense, intimate portrait of the mime whose stage creation, a white-faced clown in bell-bottom pants, sailor’s pullover and crumpled flower opera hat, continued a century old tradition. In more than 350 photographs, 80 in exquisite color, Martin captures Marceau behind the scenes, rehearsing, applying makeup, and performing. In a series of performance photos, he shows the artist conveying his miraculous emotional range as Bip, his onstage alter ego.
Cumberland Press will publish the revised edition of this intimate photographic portrait with a personal foreword by Anne Sicco, the mime’s widow, and an afterword by Robert Pledge, a close friend and associate of both Marceau and Martin.
To launch the centenary celebration, The National Arts Club will host a reception for Marceau's friends and admirers, on March 20, 2023, at 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003. Anne Sicco will be in attendance representing the Marceau family.
Marcel Marceau: Born Marcel Mangel in Strasbourg, France, on March 23, 1923, Marceau referred to mime as the “art of silence,” an art that he performed professionally worldwide for over 60 years. As a Jewish youth, he lived in hiding and worked with the French Resistance against the Nazi occupiers during World War II together with his daring older brother, Simon Alain Mangel. Marceau gave his first major performance to 3,000 allied troops after the liberation of Paris in August 1944. Following the war, he studied dramatic art and mime in Paris where, in 1959, he established his own pantomime school. In 1956, he won an Emmy Award, and in 1991 was elected to the venerable Institut de France as a member of the Académie des Beaux Arts. In 1998, he was made Grand Officier de la Légion d'Honneur and awarded the National Order of Merit in France. In 2002, the celebrated mime became the eleventh recipient of The Raoul Wallenberg Medal.
Ben Martin covered wars, fashion, politics, arts, business and sports for Time, Life, Fortune, People and Sports Illustrated for 33 years. He covered Martin Luther King’s Selma March, the first Nixon-Kennedy Presidential debate, Fidel Castro in Cuba and “Swinging London,” capturing “evocative images that defined the 1960s,” according to the New York Times. Martin’s photographic archive has been donated to the Briscoe Center at the University of Texas, Austin.
Marcel
Marceau and Ben Martin - photo by Ben Martin
Kathryn Leigh Scott, Ben Martin’s wife of many years and publishing partner until his death, dreamed of reissuing the book. “Marcel offered to write an Introduction to a new edition, but passed away before we could make it happen. The dream was reawakened in early 2018 when I got in touch with Anne Sicco, Marcel’s widow. The two of us began discussing the possibility of an exhibit of the photographs and a new edition of the book to commemorate the centenary of Marceau’s birth, March 22, 2023. For us, it’s a tribute that honors the legacies of both men and their artistic collaboration”
Kathryn Leigh Scott is an author and actress who has written the novels September Girl, Jinxed, Down and Out in Beverly Heels and Dark Passages. Nonfiction includes the Lobby Card books on film art, Last Dance at the Savoy, The Bunny Years and a trilogy of books on caregiving: Now With You, Now Without, The Happy Hours and A Welcome Respite. She played Maggie Evans/Josette DuPres in the original Dark Shadows, and appears in feature films The Eleventh Green, Three Christs and A Rainy Day in New York. Kathryn resides in New York and Los Angeles. www.kathrynleighscott.com.
The National Arts Club —15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003, USA
