Ron Onesti is bringing Priscilla Presley back to town for a Q&A at The Des Plaines Theatre.
This should be an especially interesting return in light of
the recent death of her daughter, Lisa Marie, and all the controversy since
regarding Priscilla trying to take control of Lisa’s affairs as they pertain to
Graceland, causing great conflict within the family. (Lisa bequeathed her rights to her children –
and Priscilla has contested the validity of the amendments to her will.) Her granddaughter, Riley Keough, has been making entertainment headlines of late for her stirring performance as Daisy Jones in the new rockumentary Daisy Jones and the Six, currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
I was fortunate enough to see Priscilla during her first program of this kind at The Arcada Theatre a few years ago (2017 to be exact) … and it was quite enlightening and entertaining. (This was especially exciting for me because Ron invited Forgotten Hits Readers to submit questions for the program that he moderated!) I’m curious to see what kind of tone this new appearance takes on.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (April 14th) at oshows.com … and there’s even a special “Meet And Greet” VIP After Party ticket available for $400 to take part in the Ultimate Priscilla Presley VIP Experience! It all takes place on Sunday, June 4th (kk)
PRISCILLA PRESLEY VIP EXPERIENCE
VIP After Party with two hour Open Bar, Appetizers and
Meet & Greet / Mingle with Priscilla Presley!
Tickets are $400
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2021/06/from-archives-priscilla-presley.html
And, speaking of Ron Onesti and The Arcada Theatre, about a week ago or so we told you about the upcoming Sweet
appearance there.
Well, I see now that this is actually going to be a pretty interesting double bill …
Also appearing that night is April Wine, who had a few hits of note that I always enjoyed (“You Could Have Been A Lady,” #26 in 1972 and “Just Between You And Me,” #16 in 1981, in particular.)
Sweet’s biggest hits include the Top Ten Hits “Little Willy” (#3, 1973), “Ballroom Blitz” (#5, 1975), “Fox On The Run” (#4, 1976), “Action” (#10, 1976) and “Love Is Like Oxygen” (#8, 1978)
Should be a good show! (kk)
Tickets here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSale.do?method=switchSelectionMethod&selection_method=byManifest
NOT touring is Gordon Lightfoot, who just cancelled ALL upcoming tour dates for undisclosed health reasons. Gordon will turn 85 later this year.
Also announcing the cancellation of their tour … which was intended to be a 50th Anniversary celebration … is George Thorogood, citing a “serious medical condition.” His Facebook page posted this message: “George has been diagnosed with a very serious medical condition that will require immediate surgery.” No more details are available at this time. (There’s no denying it … we’re ALL getting older!)
Meanwhile, Peter Frampton, who announced HIS retirement from touring a few years ago due to some serious health issues (in 2019, he was diagnosed with a rare and incurable muscular disease that was causing his muscles to deteriorate), is going back out on the road this year with his “Never Say Never” tour!!! He’ll be out on the road for two solid months beginning at the end of June (health permitting I suppose.) Once last chance to watch Frampton Come Alive I guess! (More power to ya, Peter! I’ve heard he puts on an INCREDIBLE show!) kk
FH Reader Carolyn Mondragon mentioned the other day that both Queen + Adam Lambert shows were sold out here in Chicago … but, as I expected, tickets can still be found (as long as you’re willing to pay top marked-up dollar for them!) Main floor seats are currently going for about $1500 apiece while mezzanines are running about half that ($750.) I did find balcony seats in the $300 range – but that’s still a little bit steep for my budget, much as I’d love to see them. (It sounds like this could be the last time the guys take their act out on the road.) Still, if I’m going to spend $300 a ticket to see a show, I'm thinking we'd probably be better-served waiting to see The Rolling Stones this summer, assuming they make their much-rumored appearance at Soldier Field.
Still, Queen + Adam Lambert fans should be pleased to know that NEW music from the band may be in the works. Brian May hinted that we just may see the release of a brand new album by the band later this year … and THAT would be awesome! (kk)
Rock Cellar Magazine has named The Eleven Best Songs About Crying … and it’s a VERY interesting list … and an entertaining article worth sharing …
Did you guys happen to see that promo video piece for the release of the huge Frankie Valli / Four Seasons 45 CD box set? It's ALL 70's WB stuff in the promo! NO VJ stuff at all. (It IS in this box, of course, but NOT in promo video???)
What a mess that is -- SILVER STAR??? C'mon, man!
No pic of the group on front cover??? You gotta see this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SOEIQo9QwI
Clark Besch
It is rather odd not to feature their first three break-out #1 Hits (“Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like A Man”) and other monster ‘60’s hits like “Rag Doll,” “Opus 17,” "Let's Hang On," "Dawn" or even the title track, “Workin’ My Way Back To You” as part of the promotional video ... an unusual ad campaign to be sure … but still one hell of a collection. (Amazon doesn’t show it as currently being available … but a few years ago I bought THIS collection … https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Albums-Frankie-Valli-Seasons/dp/B00JDZK0QC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=L9XFLI2484ZR&keywords=four+seasons+box+set&qid=1681270717&s=music&sprefix=four+seasons+box+set%2Cpopular%2C83&sr=1-3)
Nowhere near as complete … but a nice set nonetheless. (kk)
UPDATE: The day after I received Clark's email, I received the official promotional release ...
The reason Amazon doesn't show it as currently being available is because it hasn't been released yet.
I will say that this thing truly sounds incredible ... but it ain't cheap!!!
WORKING OUR WAY BACK TO YOU - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION
45 DISC SUPER DELUXE LIMITED EDITION BOX SET
Release Date: 2 June 2023 on Madfish
Pre-orders available here: https://fourseasons.lnk.to/UltimateCollection
With career sales of over 175 million records and their long-time membership in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons have inspired fans and enlightened the music world for more than sixty years.
For the first time ever, Madfish / Snapper Music presents the complete works of simply one of America’s greatest musical exponents. A group who sang about the everyday tragedies and victories that they shared with their audience. A group of the people, for the people.
Rhythm and blues was barely even pregnant with rock ‘n’ roll when a Jersey boy called Francesco Stephen Castelluccio, (aka Frankie Valli,) took his first teenage steps in music.
Working Our Way Back to You chronicles his every stride through a career of 195 singles and 31 studio albums across 44 CDs and 1 LP (a stunning multi-foldout reproduction of the original US packaging of The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette vinyl album, in its original mono mix, available here for the first time ever.)
The package includes an extraordinary assemblage of unreleased treats (demos/alternate takes), rare treasures (vintage live recordings) and long-unavailable mixes, including much sought after tracks the group cut for Motown. The box set also includes a 144-page hardback book, a separate singles book showing a multitude of picture sleeves from around the world, and a book of Collectors notes, penned by Four Seasons Appreciation Society’s Ken Charmer.
The hardback book, authored by lifelong Four Seasons fan Paul Sexton (presenter and producer of BBC Radio 2’s four-part series “Jerseybeat: The Four Seasons Story” in 2008) follows the group’s story from humble New Jersey beginnings to the opening of the award-winning Jersey Boys musical on Broadway. Also included are over 50,000 words of interviews by New York Times Best Selling author Ken Sharp with Four Seasons members Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, Joe Long, Lee Shapiro and John Paiva, producer/collaborator Bob Crewe, arranger Charles Calello, key songwriters and session players.
The full list of contents is as follows:
- 44 CDs documenting a career from 1961 to 2016 featuring 31 newly remastered studio albums and all of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ worldwide singles
- Over 800 tracks including bonus live albums, demos, outtakes, B-sides and more
- A replica triple foldout US-only sleeve issue of The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette LP (available for the first time ever on mono vinyl)
- A lavish hardback coffee table book that tells the full story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons by long-time Seasons expert Paul Sexton, including extensive interviews conducted by New York Times Best Selling author Ken Sharp and written contributions from Brian Wilson, Barry & Maurice Gibb and Billy Joel
- A portfolio chronicling single & EP sleeves from around the world, including chart placings
- A Collectors Notes Book from Four Seasons Archivist Ken Charmer
- Compiled with full cooperation and support of Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio
Praise for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons:
“I thought they were fantastic. The voice blend was fantastic. The competition helped me to get cracking. It inspired me.” - Brian Wilson
“I've always loved Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Everything they did made an intense impression on me from ‘Rag Doll’ to ‘Big Girls Don't Cry’ to ‘Walk Like A Man’ to ‘Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You.’ At the time of The Beatles, Frankie Valli's voice reigned as the voice you would hear when you fell in love.” - Barry Gibb
“Frankie Valli is a fantastic singer. He was doing falsetto long before any of us were doing it. It was just another way of using another instrument for your songs.” - Maurice Gibb
“There were a lot of life lessons in their music.” - Billy Joel
“They made some of the greatest records ever. They were the biggest productions right there with Phil Spector and Motown.” - Stevie Van Zandt
This thing comes out on June 2nd.MY suggestion ...
Go pull a thousand dollars out of the bank right now ... and order yourself the deluxe Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons box set, and tickets to the Q&A Show and VIP Meet and Greet with Priscilla Presley!!! (Ah, if life were only that grand!!! lol) kk
Another new release of interest ...
Paul Simon has announced the release of his highly anticipated musical work, Seven Psalms.
Intended to be listened to as one continuous piece, the 33-minute,
seven-movement composition transcends the concept of the “album" and
will be released in its entirety on vinyl, CD and across digital
platforms on May 19.
Recorded entirely on acoustic instruments, and predominantly performed by Paul, Seven Psalms showcases Simon’s craft at its finest and most captivating, simply with his voice and guitar.
Watch here for a glimpse into Paul's inspiration and process in finding Seven Psalms.
And there's an amazing career-encompassing release coming from Japan honoring Huey Lewis and the News, too. This one sounds amazing. (Wonder if the DVD will be available as a stand-alone piece?) kk
Watch for a new Little Richard documentary, coming soon ...
And we're hoping to catch the premier showing of the new May Pang / John Lennon film "Lost Weekend: A Love Story." More on this if we're able to get in and see it!
A closing smiler from Chuck Buell, who offers these "Two Best Password Tips" for all of our Forgotten Hits Readers. (He is, after all, Our Forgotten Hits Computer Security Manager!)
The Best Password Tip is to change all your Passwords to the word “Incorrect.” That way whenever you forget or enter the wrong password, a message will appear that says, “Your Password is "Incorrect!”
This is the next best tip that should be easily remembered by all Forgotten Hitters ~~~
CB ( which stands for “Cocksure Boy!” )
