They've been talking about it for years now, but boy, there sure has been a LOT of fuss lately about whether or not Ed Sheeran pinched the melody of Marvin Gaye’s hit “Let’s Get It On” to use in his own chart-topper “Thinking Out Loud.”
Personally, I never really heard the similarity (but this isn’t the first time Sheeran has been accused of “borrowing” from other tunes to create his own music … consciously or not.)
Then I saw this clip this morning and thought, “Wow … it sounds more like it than I thought it did! Maybe they’ve got a case!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9rBN4UtkWQ&t=9s
But as it turns out, that case was thrown out of court later that same day, stating that the songs were NOT strikingly similar. A Manhattan jury deliberated for three hours before siding in favor of Sheeran in this highly publicized case. (kk)
Hello Mr. Kotal:
Here is something you have probably never heard regarding Gordon Lightfoot and his song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” It is an interview done by Tom Mischke, a former radio host on AM1500 in the Twin Cities to a gentlemen that is an expert on the sinking of the Fitzgerald. The clip is a bit long, but the runup to the interview is worth listening to. The Interview starts at about 7:40. What makes it fun is that Tommy sings the interview questions to the man using the song from Gordon Lightfoot and the guy just goes along with it. Take the time and listen to it.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv4yMUKBOX8
And it is about time and many congratulations to Al Kooper for being inducted into the R&RHOF. Long overdue for him. Now, if the Hall would only finally wake up and induct Blood Sweat and Tears, Paul Revere and The Raiders and so many other ignored groups, and of course Ed Sullivan, they could probably redeem themselves.
Keep up the good work and again, CONGRATULATIONS TO AL!
Pete Heger
Tom Cuddy sent us this trailer to the new Donna Summer film we mentioned the other day …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQXInltKe8E&ab_channel=HBO
Honestly, I hope the movie’s better than this trailer would indicate! I have been looking forward to seeing this and the trailer is pretty watered down. Surprising since it’s Donna’s daughter who made the documentary.
(That doesn’t mean I won’t still watch it … I’m just a little less excited about it right now!) kk
He also sent us this …
The 50 Best Music Documentaries and Concert Films Ever
https://www.vulture.com/article/best-music-documentaries-ever.html
I dunno … I’m a music guy … AND a movie guy … and I’ve only seen ten of these … and can probably think of about fifty others that I’d put on my list … but to each his own. (For more suggestions, be sure to check out Harvey Kubernik’s “Docs That Rock” book!) kk
FH Reader Frank B loaded us up with goodies this week …
Zoletta Lynn Taylor Was A Contralto Singer For The Platters From 1954 - 1964.
On April 30, 2007, She Died Of Complications Of Pneumonia In Riverside, California.
"HE'S MINE" Was The Platters’ Only Billboard Hit She Sang Lead On.
It Debuted On The Chart 4/6/1957, Peaked At #16 And Stayed On The Chart For 23 Weeks.
No, I'm Not Going To Talk About The Frankie Lymon Story.
A Week Ago Last Saturday, Cousin Brucie Interviewed Kenny Vance.
Did You Hear About His New Documentary "HEART & SOUL?"
Check Out The Trailer On You Tube.
Kenny Said It's Very Difficult To Get Financial Backing For An Independent Project.
Nowadays, These Streaming Services Make Their Own Movies & Concerts.
So What Kenny Is Doing Is Traveling Around & Appearing At Festivals.
"HEART & SOUL" Won An Award At A New Jersey Festival.
He Also Appeared At Two Florida Festivals, Trying To Raise Money For National Distribution Of His Documentary.
This Tuesday Night from 8 – 11 PM on Remember The Radio …
IT’S KOJAK’S 1960's JUKEBOX REVUE --
Spotlighting Frankie Valli's Birthday + Artists That Started Their Careers At Apollo Theater.
I Just Started Reading "THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN EAR: DON KIRSHNER.”
CHAPTER ONE = "SPLISH - SPLASH" ( One Guess: Who's This About? )
Early In Their Careers, Don Kirshner ( Lyrics ) & Bobby Darin ( Music ) Were Songwriting Partners.
Connie Francis Recorded One Of Their Songs: "MY FIRST REAL LOVE."
This Was Two Years Before "WHO'S SORRY NOW." The Song Didn't Make The Charts.
It Wasn't The First Break All Three Of Them Were Hoping For.
Don Says There Was A Spark Between Connie & Bobby Right From The Start … You Could See They Liked Each Other.
4/16/1958 = Bobby Darin Recorded " SPLISH - SPLASH. "
In Order To Simulate The Sound Of Dripping Water, The Sound Engineer (Tom Dowd) Started The Recording Off By Rapidly Clicking His Index Finger Against A Dixie Cup. I Didn't Know That --- Did You?
That's All I Got For Now.
FRANK B.
I’ll have to pick up that Don Kirshner book …
I’m reading all about his time spent launching The Monkees right now in Andrew Sandoval’s “The Monkees Day By Day” book. You’ll have to tell me about your books slant on these events when you get to that part.
Oh, and by the way, I LOVE the “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” / Frankie Lymon Story movie … betcha I’ve watched it thirty times!!! (lol) kk
By the way, if you enjoy these ‘50’s artists, you’ll just LOVE this clip that Clark Besch sent in … an entire “Coke Time” show starring Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, Annette, Paul Anka, Edd “Kookie” Byrnes, Bob Denver (as Maynard G. Krebbs) and Anita Bryant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auwZSm78Emo
I love this quote offering songwriting advice from Stephen Bishop’s book “On And On”:
It always helps me to
have a title before writing a song. Having a title to your song is like having
half the song written because it gives you an idea of where you want to go. I
try to have lyrics that are interesting, unusual, and unpredictable.
If you get an idea for a song, and it’s going well,
you’re making significant progress. You should spend all night working on it
even if you have to go to work the next day. Who cares? You will have a song.
I’ve always been lucky with melody. I try to keep all my songs with their own
melodies for each one to be unique. I’m fortunate that I don’t have many songs
that sound alike.
I’m entirely self-taught. I started writing songs at fourteen years old. I found the best way to get an idea of how good a song was, was to play it for as many of my friends as possible and get their opinions. If you read my book, you'll know that Paul Simon gave me advice on one of my biggest songs. He said he didn't like my song “Separate Lives,” the title or anything really. So, I guess friends are not always right.
And how about this very pompous remark from Davy Jones, given during an interview with Penny Valentine that ran in “Disc” and “Music Echo” over the Christmas holidays in December of 1966 … before The Monkees’ tv show had even premiered in England:
“The reason for the group’s great success is just a matter of timing. We happened to be what the public wanted at the time we were formed. The Beatles are tired and on the way out, right? Not everyone wanted to go on listening to Herman’s Hermits singing about Mrs. Brown or the Rolling Stones singing dirty songs. There was nobody to take over and then we came along and just hit it lucky. And we try to give the kids something. I don’t know whether it’s enthusiasm or what it is. Our act is different from most.”
A pretty bold statement when one considers that The Beatles had just released “Revolver,” considered by many to be their crowning achievement as recording artists … and still had “Sgt. Pepper” and “Abbey Road” yet to come … and that The Rolling Stones would go on to achieve the title of The World’s Greatest Rock And Roll Band, STILL touring to sold out mega-audiences sixty years later. (And I think our buddy Peter Noone is still doing all-right, too! Lol)
That quote just really surprised me. (kk)
From Tom Cuddy …
Smokey Robinson turns seductive with new album 'Gasms' …
>>>I enjoyed most of my conversation with Bobby Rydell … although I had to prod him along every now and then, trying to get him to give me enough to run a full week’s worth of copy … but also pointing out that NOBODY else was going to give him this kind of attention. Although he pushed back (and at one point actually told me not to contact him again! lol) he then later brought up the “excellent interview in Forgotten Hits” during OTHER interviews he was doing at the time to promote the book … so I figure he couldn’t have hated me THAT much!!! (kk)
kk:
Congrats On That Bobby Rydell Interview.
How Can Anybody Piss-Off A Mild-Mannered Guy Like Bobby Rydell?
You Must've Asked Some Probing Questions (?)
If I Ever Become Famous, My Pal Kojak Gets The Interview …
NOT YOU.
Sorry.
FB
When Bobby came seeking publicity for his new book, he pretty much allotted each interviewer fifteen minutes to ask their questions. Because I knew his PR Guy (a Forgotten Hits Reader for many years), I told him I wanted to do something much more in-depth than any of these other sources were going to do.
Give an interviewer fifteen minutes and they’re all going to ask the same questions … which I would think would be just as boring for Bobby as for the readers seeing the same quotes again and again and again … so I got him to give me 45 minutes instead … and that formed the bulk of the week-long series we ran in Forgotten Hits.
As a result of that conversation, however, additional questions needed to be asked for further clarification … Bobby wasn’t too happy with that … so I had to remind him that we were doing a FAR more in-depth piece than anyone else was going to do … and promote the heck out of this very special one week feature … at which point he reluctantly agreed.
Sure enough, before our piece came out, I saw half a dozen other interviews with Bobby, all virtually identical and every single one of them telling the world how he was “his generation’s Justin Bieber” … it was like they all just took the same template and signed their own names to it. That’s when I knew ours was going to be a stand-out piece … because we were going to show ALL phases of Bobby’s career … and portray him in the proper light and context. (Of all the Philadelphia Teen Idols, Bobby was by far the most talented … the guy could do ANYTHING!)
And I feel we achieved what we set out to do … I am very proud of the end result, which all can still read here: Forgotten Hits - Bobby Rydell
As for “probing questions,” I only asked one in half-jest. I remember hearing a radio interview that he and Ann-Margret had done (fairly recently … in the last ten years or so) to promote the anniversary of “Bye Bye Birdie” and Bobby asking her, “Why didn’t we ever get married?”
Bobby’s book was squeaky-clean, maintaining his image as the cute and friendly boy next door … but the guy was a teen idol, for God’s sake, and had women throwing themselves at him on a regular basis. As an actor, he also got to work with any number of beautiful Hollywood starlets. I asked him to “dish some dirt” on at least SOMETHING to help convey the REAL lifestyle of an entertainment superstar … but he refused … said he wasn’t going there. I felt it was a noble move in respect for his wife. Knowing now (as you told us) that it was Bobby’s wife who encouraged and ultimately convinced him to write the book, this makes even more sense now. Once again, I was just looking for SOMETHING that the other trades would have missed … especially since none of this was ever really touched on in his book.
I am very proud of the fact that Bobby would go on tell other interviewers about the great piece that Forgotten Hits did on him, something unheard of when trying to make another interviewer feel special and the center of attention … so I think he came to feel those few extra minutes were worth it. We even got Ron Onesti to book him at The Arcada Theatre, where he appeared with a small orchestra ... and gave away a few free tickets to a couple of FH Readers to boot! Unfortunately, Bobby used his time on stage to salute The Great American Songbook rather than focusing on his own long string of hits … which I found very disappointing … and when I went to meet him after the show, he barely even acknowledged knowing who I was … which is something I’ve always been warned about when meeting your heroes. (Bobby wasn’t really of my era … and I can’t say that I was ever really a fan … although I have come to love many of his recordings over the years … but I can certainly appreciate the great music he gave us and what a great entertainer he was … all of which I tried to convey in our piece. It was especially fun hearing him talk about some of his earliest releases, all of which bombed, before he finally clicked with Cameo Records.)
Anyway, I, too, had always been told that he was one of the nicest guys in show business that you could ever possibly meet … and I’m hanging on to that as the proper benchmark as I truly do believe that that was the standard he set for himself with his audience. I think he may have felt at times that I had overstayed my welcome, so to speak, from an interviewers perspective … but all I know is that OUR interview and week-long piece on Bobby Rydell blew EVERYONE ELSE’s pieces away … and I can live with that! (kk)
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2016/11/bobby-rydell-concert-review.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2016/06/bobby-rydell-comments-and-testimonials.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2022/04/bobby-rydell.html
Timmy C sent us another great Whisky A-Go-Go pic, this time showing “The Cream” up on the marquee. (It still cracks me up that this is the way the band was originally known … because by the time of their first album, it had already been shortened to simply Cream, which is the way we all remember them today … but I’ve seen all kinds of British ads over the years referring to them as The Cream as well.) kk
The other day we posted a link offering an AI version of The Beach Boys’ legendary “Smile” album …
Now we’ve heard AI-constructed clips of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, each being added to one of the other’s solo tunes … and while it’s obvious they’re not real, they’re also not bad. (I especially like this version of John’s “Grow Old With Me,” which sounds downright classical with this incredible string arrangement.)
Interesting that people are STILL trying to put The Beatles back together, 53 years after they split up! Lol (kk)
Of course these new creations aren’t for everybody (and the REAL fans of these artists probably won’t like them at all) …
Like this from Clark Besch after he heard an AI creation of Paul McCartney (and The Beatles) covering The Beach Boys’ classic “God Only Knows” …
How do people think THIS Artificial Intelligence sounds like McCartney and WHY are they preying on HIM anyway? It doesn't sound anything like Paul.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFV7k3n_LN0&t=25s
This whole AI thing for fake music versions this week is beyond horrible now. We need laws passed over this!
Clark Besch
I, for one, am already tired of it ... you'll hear a good moment hear and there but this is akin to rewriting history ... and not even featuring the actual artists themselves when doing so. I don't know that I'll be listening to very many more ... burned out in under a week! (kk)
Hi Kent,
You had a great discussion going on about songs that were shortened for radio play and it made me think of quite a few. The big one is “Light My Fire.” I remember the first time I heard the long version on the radio it was like “Hey what, where did this extended music come from?” I think it was one of the first hits that this happened to. I think I remember reading that the Doors did not want it shortened but when the record company played them the edit, they were ok with it.
I got the same feeling when I heard the longer version of “All Right Now” by Free. Another verse!
Same with “Black Magic Woman.” The instrumental that continues after the edited version is sooo good.
Another was the short version of “In A Gadda Da Vida,” which surely is a tune that can’t be truncated, but they did it and I suppose it might’ve helped steer people to the full side version of the album. The single works but it’s hardly like the full version.
“No Time” but the Guess Who is another one. The extended guitar solo on their Canned Wheat album is another mind blower when you’ve only heard the single version. That ended up on the next album, American Woman.
In a reverse of this, I believe (and someone may correct me here) that “Crimson and Clover” was actually a single first (as we all know it) and then they made an extended version for the album to make it “heavier.”
“Radar Love” and “Green Eyed Lady” both were shortened for radio. The great organ solo was cut from the latter.
Steely Dan’s “Do It Again” had a shorter version, but I’m not sure if it gets played anymore.
“Make Me Smile” and “25 or 6 to 4” both got cut just before some great guitar from Terry Kath.
“Sky Pilot” by the Animals had some psychedelic bombast cut for its shorter version, as did “Whole Lotta Love” and “Susan” by the Buckinghams. (Imagine that the Buckinghams had a single shortened!) To this day when I hear these songs, I wonder which one I’m hearing as it goes to the normal edit spots.
“Time Has Come Today” by the Chambers Brothers … another one that I was blown away by when I first heard the long version.
I’m sure there’s more … I’ve heard that “My Sharona” got cut, but not sure if I’ve heard it.
Those were great times that we grew up in and these quirks and musical inconsistencies made it even more fun!
Cheers!
Jim
There were a ton of them once FM Radio started becoming the preferred listening choice in the early ‘70’s. A lot of times the record companies would shorten a song in the hopes of getting it airplay … keep in mind, this was back in the era where a three minute single was about the most you could hope to get on the air.
Some of these shortened singles are so familiar to me now after all these years that I actually prefer them to their longer, unedited album counterparts. (And every once in a while I’m still amazed when I hear a long version I didn’t know existed … the last time that happened, it was “Black Betty” by Ram Jam. But I think that’s a record that makes a strong case for the idea that too much of the same thing does NOT make for a better song!)
And yes, you are correct … Tommy James and the Shondells went back into the studio to try and lengthen “Crimson And Clover” because that was the sound that was selling in the FM/underground market at the time. (I have NEVER liked the longer version of this song … and I never will … this single was absolutely PERFECT just the way it was! They didn’t need to go out and try to get all “heady” just to keep up with the Joneses!) kk
Kent,
Sam said he didn't know anything about Robert Q.Lewis and his answer to the Rosemary Clooney song. As some of your readers will write in, Robert Q. Lewis was a panelist on a lot of game shows back in the day and also was the M.C. of a couple. Now in 1958 on MGM Records, he had a song called (I LOVE THAT) LITTLE GREEN GIRL. However, the flip was a song called SANTA CLAUS JR. which I played on my special Christmas shows when I had them.
Larry Neal
More from Sam below ...
Hi there, Kent,
I must admit that it was a real rush to see those songs up on your blog, songs that I was really happy to be able to share with your FH readers.
There's something else that I thought I'd share with your FH Readers, since Dickie Goodman's name has come up lately.
One night back in October of 2006, I got bored, so I decided to take apart Dickie
Goodman's most successful charted record in Billboard, Mr. Jaws from 1975, and substitute the song fragments that he used with my own song fragments. Of course, Dickie Goodman limited the songs he chose to records that had been out in the spring of 1975, but I didn't stick to that criteria at all. Instead, I just thought about the questions he asked, and came up with answers that I thought might be somewhat better, and at the same time rather humorous. So, this is my version of Mr. Jaws,for what it's worth. (You'll notice that I used a bit of April Steven's 1951 song Don't Do It in this version.)
Although I am glad to have that early April Stevens recording from 1951, I am missing quite a few other of her early selections, and I would love to find decent mp3 recordings of the following songs by her, all recorded between 1950 and 1953:
No! No! No! Not That!
Black Lace
The Sweetest Day
Later Perhaps (Not Now)
End Of Desire
Put Me In Your Pocket
The Tricks Of The Trade
Roller Coaster
Dreamy Melody
Gimme A Little Kiss, Will Ya Huh?
And So To Sleep Again
Aw C'mon
I Love The Way You're Breaking My Heart
Meant To Tell You
That Naughty Waltz
I Like To Talk To Myself
Treat Me Nice
Hot Tamale
How Could Red Riding Hood (Have Been So Very Good)
You Said You'd Do It (Are You Gonna?)
April
Stevens could have remained in obscurity as that hot, passionate sounding woman
that could not be possibly played on the air if she didn't end up having a
little luck after her first several records which were all recorded on very
small labels. For example, Don't Do It was recorded on the Society
label. One of my buddies at the Oak Hill School for the blind in Hartford
Connecticut had it on a 78.
Anyway, luckily for her, Henry Rene learned about her, and thought she would be
just perfect for a very romantic song called I'm In Love Again, not the Fats
Domino song obviously. The song was certainly very sultry, but not
sexually explicit.
Henry
Rene recorded for the RCA record label, which put April Stevens on a major
record label. Obviously, Henry Rene loved recording sultry women, because
in addition to recording I'm In Love Again by April Stevens, his orchestra also
backed up Eartha Kitt on her 1953 recording of Santa Baby.
But you're right, Kent, Don't Do It is certainly one of the most sexually
explicit records of the time, and to think that the NBC Network banned Tony
Martin's 1951 song I Get Idea simply because of the line, "When we are
dancing and you're dangerously near me, I get ideas, I get ideas."
Well, obviously April Stevens already had those ideas, she wasn't just getting
them. She certainly would have taken Billy right in that car with no
hesitation if the pill had been around back then. I mean, that was a
thing to consider. After all, rubbers broke. It was certainly a very
different time than today, that's for sure.
Have you ever heard the out-takes of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis for their
movie, The Caddy? It seems mild today, but in 1953 when it was secretly
being bootleged and passed around to Hollywood disc jockeys and movie mogles,
well, it was absolutely shocking. The "f" word was a lot more
shocking in the early fifties than it is now.
Also, if anyone is interested, I have a few other pre Chipmunks David Seville songs that I can share with you folks as well. Of course in 1956, David Seville recorded an instrumental called Armen's Theme, which I believe charted in Billboard, and probably on quite a few local radio stations as well.
Take care, and keep on rocking,
Sam Ward
Anybody out there able to help Sam out with his April Stevens “Want List”?
Drop me a line if you’ve got MP3’s to share … and also if you are looking for any other David Seville-related recordings from the ‘50’s and ‘60’s.
Thanks! (kk)
Another closer from CB …
"Like sands through the hourglass so go the days of our lives!"
And yesterday, May 4, was a Big Day! I do hope “May the Fourth” was with you!
Now today, May 5, is Cinco De Mayo, and I would like to introduce you to my Friend, an Unofficial Representative of this day today ~~~
"May the Fifth of Mae Be With You!" - cb
CB ( which stands for oh “Carlos-Buelly” Wan Kenobi!
What's that you say???
You've got another Shelley Sweet-Tufano Concert Review all queued up and ready to go???
Yeppers ...
And you'll see it posted right here tomorrow morning.
Have A Great Weekend, Everybody!!! (kk)
