It seems like the polls had no sooner closed (last Friday, April 28th) and The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was already announcing this year’s inductees.
And it’s quite a list … 13 names in all.
From the Performers Category, The Hall will enshrine Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine and The Spinners.
Under the category of Musical Influence, DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray will be honored … and, for Musical Excellence, Chaka Khan, Al Kooper and Bernie Taupin.
This year’s Ahmet Ertegun Award goes to Don Cornelius, who created Soul Train, Black America’s answer to American Bandstand. (Yep … Don Cornelius gets in … Ed Sullivan gets snubbed again!)
George Michael won the Fan Vote this year ... no big surprise … he led nearly the whole way there … but he was the ONLY artist to place in The Top Five to make the cut this year. (Michael was also the only artist to receive over one million votes … 1,040,072 to be exact … but the other Top Five Fan Favorites just didn’t make the cut this time around.) It was surprising to see artists who placed near the BOTTOM of the Fan Vote get inducted over the clear fan favorites. Missing out were Top Five vote-getters Cyndi Lauper (928,113 votes), Warren Zevon (634,130), Iron Maiden (449,682) and Soundgarden (427,040)
Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson were nice additions (although not necessarily surprises) … Lauper not being included in the group that got in was the biggest surprise, especially since she earned nearly a million votes on her own.
I fully expected Willie Nelson to get in (you can read all about his 90th birthday bash below) … and The Spinners FINALLY got inducted in their fifth time on the ballot. As for some of the others in the specialty categories, it was great to see our long-time FH Buddy Al Kooper get the nod … I don’t think he’s ever so much as made the ballot before. Chaka Khan was a nice surprise, too (in a Hail Chicago sort of way!) and Bernie Taupin getting his due was a long-overlooked acknowledgement as well. Link Wray has long enjoyed a cult following and has often been mentioned as being an overlooked candidate … and I really don’t have a problem with Don Cornelius getting in … I just have a problem with him (and so many others) getting in BEFORE Ed Sullivan, a man who did more to advance rock and roll on a national basis than just about anyway.
When I congratulated Al Kooper on his honor ... a well-deserved recognition for an illustrious career ... he replied (in typical Al fashion):
Thanks … but I had MORE forgotten hits!
@l k%per
And while we’re on the subject of George Michael, I wanted to let you know that a brand new Wham Singles Box Set is being primed for release, featuring everything the duo recorded together, including a number of 12” mixes and remixes, along with a couple of previously unreleased tracks.
Noticeably missing from the set is Michael’s #1 Hit “Careless Whisper.” That’s because it was officially released as a SOLO single by George Michael, rather than under the Wham banner. (Hardly seems fair … the biggest hit of the Wham era will be missing from the collection. You’d think they could have at least included it as a Bonus Track or something!)
Far more popular in Great Britain, Wham still managed to place six tunes in the US Top Ten, including three straight #1 hits: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Careless Whisper" (here in The States, this record was released as Wham! featuring George Michael) and "Everything She Wants." (kk)
So sad to hear of Gordon Lightfoot’s death. He really was a troubadour, as they say, sticking to his own inspirations for 60 years and always following his own muse. In recent years, he still played and made albums up to 2020. He was one of a kind and I didn’t really pay much attention to him in his hit-making days but have since realized what a special talent he was up there in Canada.
In recent years, I have gone back and listened to so much of his early work and the common thread through it all is his own individual style that came through in the music every time. There was no big showiness or attention-getting effects. Just the man and his music. And there is an understated beauty in so many of his tunes. Sincere with great lyrics and music to fit.
Two songs that are so melancholy that they may bring you to tears are “Beautiful” and “The Last Time I Saw Her Face” from early in his career. So beautiful. He was a rare talent that probably should’ve been more popular, but he did what he felt and that’s the best way.
Jim C
Billboard Magazine ran a list of their staff picks for Gordon Lightfoot’s ten best songs …
Unless you were more than just a casual fan, you probably won’t know half of these!
Ultimate Classic Rock ran a series of tributes to Gordon from other rock artists … https://ultimateclassicrock.com/gordon-lightfoot-dead-rockers-react/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ugh&utm_term=UCR
And, of course, there is always that great tribute that Burton Cummings used to do during his concerts …
Clark Besch sent us this clip (which I had not seen before) … but I HAVE seen Burton do this in his act a number of times over the years … and have even shared audio of it in the past.
Honestly, this video clip may be one of his weaker tributes … it really doesn't do the bit justice ... I always found it much more entertaining years later … but looking at Burton in this clip gives you some idea as to just how long he’s been performing this shtick in concert! (Judging by his appearance here, I’d peg this as late ‘70’s / early ‘80’s … he looks a lot like he did when his big hit “Stand Tall” hit the charts … which is a lot longer ago than Clark claims it is in his email below. I think it may have first been POSTED thirteen years ago … but the clip definitely dates back further than that.)
Still, we’ve still gotta share it … because we just love this guy! So thanks, Clark! (kk)
Great and funny tribute to fellow Canadian from Guess Who's Burton Cummings from 13 years ago!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlmcx06aiAI
Here’s a more recent clip … more what I’m accustomed to hearing …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuPLz4RI5V0
As expected, Aerosmith announced their farewell tour (although they refuse to call it that, preferring instead to refer to it as “Peace Out”)
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Friday, May 5th) for this last blast of shows:
Aerosmith, Peace Out
Tour
September 2nd – Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
September 6th – Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena
September 9th – Belmont Park, NY - UBS Arena
September 12th – Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena
September 15th – Chicago, IL - United Center
(I dunno, honey, what do ya think? Wanna go? I’ve never seen them before …
And it IS your birthday!!!)
September 18th – Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
September 21st – Cleveland, OH - Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
September 24th – Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena
September 27th – Washington, DC - Capital One Arena
October 11th – Tampa, FL - Amalie Arena
October 14th – Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
October 17th – Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center
October 20th – Sunrise, FL - FLA Live Arena
October 23rd – Austin, TX - Moody Center
October 26th – St Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
October 29th – Indianapolis, IN - Gainbridge Fieldhouse
November 1st – San Antonio, TX - AT&T Arena
November 4th – Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
November 7th – Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
November 10th – Omaha, NE - CHI Health Center
November 13th – St Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
November 16th – Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
November 19th – Denver, CO - Ball Arena
November 22nd – Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Arena
November 25th – Portland, OR - Moda Center
November 28th – Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena
December 1st – San Francisco, CA - Chase Center
December 4th – San Jose, CA - SAP Center
December 7th – Los Angeles, CA - The Kia Forum
December 10th – Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center
December 28th – Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
December 31st – Boston, MA - TD Garden
(VERY cool … New Year’s Eve back home in Boston!)
January 4th – Cincinnati, OH - Heritage Bank Arena
January 7th – Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center
January 10th – Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
January 13th – Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena
January 16th – Buffalo, NY - KeyBank Center
January 19th – New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
January 23rd – Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center
January 26th – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
FH Reader Mike Wolstein reminds us that yesterday (May 3rd) would have been James Brown’s 90th birthday …
And Tim Kubat, The Vinyl Lark, sent us this May Day clip …
I have always liked this song … a minor hit for The Brothers Gibb in 1969 … but the version that really pushed it over the top for me was the one performed live by Lulu with her ex-husband Maurice Gibb on her television show …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwfYO_S13_0
From our FH Buddy Bob Lind …
TO MY SOUTH FLORIDA FRIENDS AND FANS SOUTH FLORIDA ... and those of you who may be in South Florida this weekend … or during the rest of the month …
My one-act play, "Spain," has been selected for the CURTAIN CALL PLAYHOUSE SHORT PLAY FESTIVAL. The presentation includes eight plays that will run as a single evening (and/or matinee.) The festival opens this Friday, May 5th, and runs through Sunday, May 7th, at the Willow Theatre in Boca Raton. It will also run at other South Florida venues throughout May.
Here are the specifics including how to get tix for all performances:
https://curtaincallplayhouse.com/current-season.html
This is a real honor for me. The play has a huge chunk of my heart in it. It's being brought to life by director Gary Solomons and a fantastic cast, under the auspices of artistic director Kris Coffelt. I was at a rehearsal last night and they really nail it.
I hope to have a whole mess of you there.
Yers,
Bob Lind
Bachman-Turner Overdrive lost another founding member this past week (April 28th) when Guitarist Tim Bachman passed away. A member of Brave Belt, which evolved into Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Tim left BTO before their greatest chart success hit in 1974. (He would rejoin the band ten years later for a brief reunion.) His brother Robbie, BTO’s drummer, died earlier this year. (kk)
For a recap of Willie Nelson’s two night Birthday Party Bash at The Hollywood Bowl (along with a bunch of video), be sure to check out this link:
https://bestclassicbands.com/willie-nelson-90th-birthday-concerts-4-30-23/
The idea of Willie Nelson and Keith Richards performing together (the butt of SO many of our jokes this past decade) was something we never thought we’d see …
But perform together they did at Willie’s 90th Birthday Bash … and Timmy C also sent us in this fan video to share …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xm2klFmK4Q
With a combined age on stage in the low 2000’s, it was a real treat to see.
Willie’s LONG STORY SHORT Set List:
Night One – Saturday, April 29th:
Billy Strings
– “Whiskey River,” “Stay All Night”
Charley Crockett – “The Party’s Over”
Particle Kid & Daniel Lanois – “The Ghost”
Edie Brickell and Charlie Sexton – “Remember Me”
Lyle Lovett – “Hello Walls”
Margo Price and Nathaniel Rateliff – “I Can Get Off On You”
Beck – “Hands on the Wheel”
Norah Jones – “Down Yonder,” “Funny How Time Slips Away”
Warren Haynes – “Midnight Rider”
Rosanne Cash and Kris Kristofferson – “Lovin’ Her Was Easier”
Lukas Nelson – “Angles Flying Too Close to the Ground”
Leon Bridges and Gary Clark Jr. – “Night Life”
Gary Clark Jr. – “Texas Flood”
Jack Johnson – “Willie Got Me Stoned”
Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps – “Healing Hands of Time,” “Time of the
Preacher”
Ziggy Marley – “Still Is Still Moving to Me”
Tom Jones – “Opportunity to Cry”
Jamey Johnson – “Live Forever”
Bob Weir – “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”
The Chicks with Keith Sewell – “Bloody Mary Morning”
The Lumineers – “A Song for You”
Nathaniel Rateliff – “City of New Orleans”
Sturgill Simpson – “I’d Have to Be Crazy”
Miranda Lambert – “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”
Chris Stapleton – “The Last Thing I Needed,” “Always on My Mind”
Neil Young, Stephen Stills with Promise of the Real – “Long May You Run,” “For
What It’s Worth”
Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Micah Nelson, Neil Young with POTR – “Are There
Any More Real Cowboys”
George Strait and Willie Nelson – “Sing One With Willie,” “Pancho and Lefty”
Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson – “Roll Me Up”
Willie Nelson – “On the Road Again”
Group – “Circle Be Unbroken,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Happy Birthday,” “It’s Hard to
Be Humble”
Night 2: Sunday, April 30th:
Billy Strings
– Whiskey River
Billy Strings – Stay All Night
Orville Peck – Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other
Charley Crockett – Yesterday’s Wine
Allison Russell, Norah Jones – Seven Spanish Angels
Dwight Yoakam – Me and Paul
Margo Price, Waylon Payne – I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train
Particle Kid, Daniel Lanois – (Die When I’m High) Halfway to Heaven
Rodney Crowell – It Ain’t Over Yet
Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris – ‘Til I Gain Control Again
Rosanna Cash – Pancho & Lefty
Warren Haynes – Night Life
Lyle Lovett – My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Jack Johnson – Willie Got Me Stoned and Took All My Money
Beck – Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Tom Jones – Across the Borderline
Bob Weir, Margo Price, Billy Strings – Stay All Night
Lukas Nelson, Shooter Jennings -Good Hearted Woman
Lukas Nelson – Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
The Avett Brothers – Pick Up the Tempo
The Avett Brothers – Heaven and Hell
The Lumineers – Pretty Paper
Norah Jones – Down Yonder
Kris Kristofferson, Norah Jones – Help Me Make It Through the Night
Nathaniel Rateliff – A Song for You
Sheryl Crow – Crazy
Dave Matthews – Funny How Time Slips Away
Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois – The Maker
Jamey Johnson w/ Booker T – Georgia (On My Mind)
Lukas Nelson, Particle Kid, Shooter Jennings, Rossana Cash – Highwayman
Willie
Nelson, Booker T – Stardust
Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow – Faraway Places
Willie Nelson, Lily Meola – Will You Remember Mine
Willie Nelson, Buddy Cannon – Something You Get Through
Willie Nelson, Billy Strings – California Sober
Willie Nelson, Keith Richards – We Had It All
Willie Nelson, Keith Richards – Live Forever
Willie Nelson – On the Road Again
Willie Nelson, Everyone – Will the Circle Be Unbroken / I’ll Fly Away
Willie Nelson, Everyone – Happy Birthday to You
I love this one …
Elvis Presley’s step-brother, Billy Stanley, revealed this past week what The King thought of KISS the first time he heard them …
I love it … K.I.S.S. … Keep It Simple, Stupid! (kk)
Congratulations to our buddy Chuck Buell, who just won the “Award Of Merit” for his Best Voice-Over / Trailer Voice for the short film “Meet My Pet Monster.”
He won these latest Honors from the San Diego International Film Festival, Southern California’s Premier Film Event, in their Best Shorts Competition, Movie Trailer Category, as they honored the Best from over 100 independent films from around the world. (If you’re counting, this is the third separate award he has won for this same trailer!)
WTG, Chuck!
Chuck also leaves us with this appropriately timely final shot …
Well, yes, of course!
From all of us at Forgotten Hits ~~~
"May the Fourth Be With You!"
And if you don't know how to do it,
Kent will show ya how to Walk the Dog!
CB ( which stands for "Canine Boy!" )
More tomorrow ...
God willing and the creek don't rise! (kk)
