More weekend goodies ...
ROBBIE:
Bob Dylan on the passing of his long-time friend (and former bandmate) Robbie Robertson:
“This is shocking news. Robbie was a lifelong friend. His passing leaves a vacancy in the world.”
The Band helped “electrify” Dylan’s sound in the mid-‘60s … and future collaborations were in the cards for them as well. It was after performing with Dylan as his back-up band that the guys decided to forge out on their own … and from 1968 – 1976 The Band was one of the most highly-respected acts in rock and roll. (kk)
Today I'm thinking about the late summer of 1968, when I’d first met singer and songwriter Jackie DeShannon at the Laurel Canyon Country Store. She was doing a new album called Laurel Canyon for Imperial Records.
I recognized Jackie from a 1965 Shindig! ABC-TV appearance and newspaper coverage in the KRLA Beat. After I complimented her on “When You Walk in the Room” and “Needles and Pins,” Jackie said “Have you heard the new LP of The Band? I just recorded ‘The Weight’ from Music From Big Pink at Liberty Studios. Harvey! Have you heard their songs?”
This was a woman who knew Elvis Presley and Eddie Cochran, opened for the Beatles on an American tour, and had songwriting credits with someone named Jimmy Page on a Marianne Faithfull LP I owned. I had heard her voice for half a decade on local AM radio stations KHJ, KRLA, and KFWB.
In her alluring Southern drawl — she was born in Kentucky, as Sharon Lee Myers — Jackie DeShannon gave me a stern directive I never forgot: “Boy, you need to go to Wallichs Music City and get this album!”
The Robbie Robertson-penned "The Weight” was on the KHJ playlist, while the regional FM stations, KPPC and KMET, blared The Band’s LP constantly. I got paid from my after-school job at Clinton Laboratories and purchased Music from Big Pink at Wallichs. It sounded ancient, yet modern, and I wore the grooves out. One afternoon I even schlepped out to Encino in the San Fernando Valley to Make-A-Tape on Ventura Boulevard, and for a few bucks got a copy transferred to an eight-track cartridge.
I conducted three long interviews with Robbie Robertson in 1976, 2000 and 2017.
After we discussed his 2017 autobiography "Testimony," I asked him to sign my book.
In 2023 I now wonder, is there anybody around I can I speak with about R&B / blues singer and songwriter Titus Turner? Who Robbie described as "an incredible character at the Brill Building."
Harvey Kubernik
Lots of talk and tributes still going on after the passing of Band founder Robbie Robertson.
Despite numerous offers to do so … and several mini-reunions between certain band members, Robertson never agreed to reunite with his former Band-mates. And his reasoning was simple:
"I just didn't want to," he told Gary Graff during an interview that took place in the fall of 1987, as he released his first, self-titled solo album. “We called it “The Last Waltz” ... and to me that was it. The end. It was over. To come out a few years later and say, 'Hey, just kidding' or 'We've changed our mind,' that would be wrong, to me at least. It would be a cheat."
Gotta respect him for that … we’ve seen FAR too many other artists launch numerous “farewell tours,” only to regroup again later. WTG, Robbie! (kk)
A great tribute to Robbie Robertson …
https://theseconddisc.com/2023/08/10/in-memoriam-robbie-robertson-1943-2023/
MAUI:
Mick Fleetwood, a part-time Maui resident for over two decades now … and the proud proprietor of the restaurant Fleetwoods On Front St … lost that restaurant to the devastating fires that have been sweeping the island for most of the past week.
Over 80 lives have already been lost as I type this … and the damage just seems insurmountable. Although they say they still can’t confirm for certain what started the blaze, it is believed that hurricane-like winds are what made it spread as fast as it did. Residents are actually going off into the ocean as a means of safety to protect themselves (which, of course, in MY sick mind conjures up the old Bill Cosby “Noah” bit … “How long can you tread water?”) … not a very likely permanent solution to the problem at hand.
More than 1700 buildings have been destroyed in an 1100 acre area, including Fleetwood’s restaurant, which he opened in 2012. (The city of Lahaina has been completely wiped out.) kk
Support Maui here: https://www.mauinuistrong.info/support
WLS / WCFL REWOUND:
You did a great job of telling the story of WLS / WCFL Rewound! I am pleased you put in the links to the various jocks. They ALL have done a great job ... and even more voice tracks are coming in ... some very cool stuff.
Thanks again.
Ted
Hi Kent -
Great to see the photo of Ted Smucker and Lyle Dean with Fred Winston.
We hired him for mornings when I rebooted WCFL as a music station for Mutual in 1980. Fred had done mornings at KQV in my hometown of Pittsburgh, so I knew his work well. I hired Dave Martin as PD from WFYR and he hired Johnny Kay (later Jhani Kaye of KOST, etc.) as APD
Dale Pon, who had created the ads for other stations I programmed in that era (WHN, 10-Q, K-Best, WGBS) was busy either working with Bob Pittman at WNBC or on to MTV and I was lucky to get my friend from Pittsburgh, Mike Waterkotte, to do the creative for Musicradio1000 .
I loved going to work in "the corncob building," Marina Towers
Ed Salamon
Now see, I didn’t know you had a Chicago connection! Cool stuff, Ed! (kk)
SPECULATING ON THE NEW BEATLES RELEASE:
Kent,
After you sent this new Beatles info, it got me thinkin’.
Another buddy mentioned the idea they could do a "Live" set instead, which I think is an excellent idea with Shea / SF / rooftop, etc., in cleaned up sound. That seems a better deal.
Still, MY thoughts on Red/Blue/Green are.......
Will it happen?
(Bonus CDs are my mock ups--haha)
Have you heard they may be issuing a new Beatles CD package? Talk of September release dates for revamped Beatles 62-66 and 67-70 sets each with an extra CD of other songs from the eras not on the original packages.
(Assuming the later extra disc will include the new A.I. version of Paul's revamped Lennon song, 'Now and Then," that he talked about recently.)
As for the existing tracks to be cleaned up (what? MORE cleaning?) for the new reissue CDs, does that mean DES I.A. stereo versions of only mono before? If so, they'd better not have the swishy sound many DES things have. Giles working on the package, I guess.
The whole new Blue/Red thing reissues seem to be just some way to put out that new song and get people to pay huge amounts for same old stuff just to get that song. Granted, if I remember right, it seemed like those two sets had songs squeezed a bit to get more on, so lesser quality sound back then. I imagine that IF Giles can do DES well enough now, he might do the mono songs for stereo. Otherwise, issuing the same #1 songs (basically) again does seem pointless. However, I am sure some whose faves did not make the cut first time and might be appeased now? Maybe??? haha
Considering there are a total of 54 tracks on the original vinyl LPs, making an extra CD of each set would not be hard to fill with great extras. Maybe some demos or things like "Not Guilty," "That Means A Lot" or BBC songs? Most likely nothing new other than "Now & Then" and maybe "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" ??? Just a weird thing to even think about. Both UK and US versions were identical in tracks and 62-66 was 100% Lennon-Macca songs! The 67-70 had only four Harrisongs and one Ringo!
For 62-66:
Time to spread the wealth around and also allow some covers like "Twist & Shout," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Aint She Sweet (the ONLY UK charting A side NOT on the Red LP!)," "Act Naturally."
Also, some other major choices of L/M: "I Saw Her Standing," "I'll Get You," "You Cant Do That," "Do You Want To Know A Secret," "Thank You Girl," "P.S. I Love You," "I Should Have Known Better," "If I Fell," "She's A Woman," I’m Down," "Rain."
"Cry For A Shadow" was Lennon/Harrison … and the only one, so why not? George songs like "If I Needed Someone," "I Need You," "Taxman," "Think For Yourself," "You Like Me Too Much."
For 67-70:
EVERY A side and most B sides from US AND UK singles are on the Blue LP already!!! STILL, you’ll find only 2-4 songs from most of their LPs including The White Album, so there are plenty left to pick. "Getting Better," "She's Leaving Home," "Dear Prudence," Glass Onion," "Blackbird," "Birthday," "Yer Blues," "Savoy Truffle," "Hey Bulldog," It's All Too Much," "All Together Now," "Golden Slumbers Medley" "I Me Mine," "For You Blue."
IF they expand years, "Beatles Movie Medley," "Real Love," "Free As A bird" and "Now & Then."
Could be a decent set, but necessary? Maybe 5.1 yes?
Clark Besch
SOME BEACH BOYS HISTORY YOU PROBABLY WERE NOT AWARE OF:
From our FH Buddy Spud …
Al Jardine
returns to Lima:
https://www.limaohio.com/top-stories/2023/08/01/reminisce-al-jardine-of-the-beach-boys-returns-to-lima
Al Jardine gets
honored in Lima:
https://youtu.be/onnf4SUAiHI
Al Jardine &
his Endless Summer Band setlist:
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/al-jardine/2023/greater-lima-region-park-and-amphitheater-lima-oh-4ba40f32.html
I just found out that Al is going to be performing right here in Schaumburg on Labor Day as part of their Septemberfest Weekend ... so we will definitely be there for that! (kk)
SIXTO RODRIGUEZ:
Susan Cowsill shared this comment after the passing of Sixto Rodriguez (“Sugar Man”) last week:
“I’m forever grateful to Rodriguez for ‘I Think Of You,' the beautiful song of his that I recorded in the ‘70s. I was only sixteen and now we’ve come full circle. Rest well, beautiful song master.”
Susan Cowsill-Broussard
“I Think of You” Warner Bros. Records single WBS 8333, released February, 1977
HAPPY TOGETHER:
Hi Kent,
The press thinks it's amazing that the audience sings every word to the songs at Taylor Swift concerts, Last night the Nashville audience for the Happy Together Tour were similarly participating in singing along with every song for every act.
The tour is aptly named, since both the audience and the performers were, well, happy together.
Mark Volman is an inspiration for carrying on despite his illness. The Turtles’ act is as good, if not better, than ever.
I got to hang and swap stories with the charismatic audience favorite Gary Puckett afterwards
Ed Salamon
DISHING ON OUR TV HABITS:
>>>Those 1979-84 years of MTV were just awesome! In the beginning, my brother (an electrical engineer) had these two satellite dishes in his back yard in 1979 and I could go over and watch pay per view fights and football games live for free including the announcers commentating during the commercials -- which was very funny sometimes. (Clark Besch)
KK:
Referring to Clark's story about listening to announcers on sports back-haul satellite channels during commercial breaks, I was audio engineer on a few of those during the early 1980s and it was fun to mess with the eavesdroppers. During breaks, we'd pretend the FCC handed us notes about who was listening … there would be some conversation about the police coming to YOUR home, and I'd add in some siren SFX. Then we'd cut ourselves off by saying that we didn't realize we were on. We didn't do it too often, but it was fun until the back-hauls were scrambled around 1983-4.
Jon M
Too funny!!!
I remember when cable and satellite tv first came out and they had the adults only channel on late at night showing soft-core porn films. Naturally, these, too, were always scrambled … but if you watched long enough, you just might catch something erotic going on between the wavy lines for a second or two! Lol (kk)
THIS AND THAT:
>>>In fact, I suppose that if I were a clever enough person, I might even suggest that you could "bookend" this little CB triolgy as SPACE ... The Vinyl Frontier …
but I'm just not that guy!!! (I know, I know ... that's pretty bad ... So just grab your Portable, Handheld, User-Friendly, No Batteries Required, Word-Processing Device from article #2 ... and pretend I never said it!) kk
But you DID say it … and I am still groaning. However, it does give me another "Dad Joke" to send to my son.
Shelley
Another "Damn! I wish I'd thought of that!" Very Clever! I Love it!
CB
From Me-TV …
Remembering Davy Jones on The Brady Bunch
https://www.metv.com/stories/davy-jones-a-brady-for-life?novid=1
This song SHOULD have been an absolute smash … and really allowed Davy a solo career after The Monkees … but incredibly, it never even charted.
In fact, Davy’s only post-Monkees chart hit was the Neil Sedaka tune “Rainy Jane,” which only reached #31 in Record World and #32 in Cash Box (yet it only made it to #52 in Billboard … just ANOTHER 20-point chart discrepancy!) kk
And, speaking of The Monkees ...
>>>42 years ago was the launch of MTV (August 1, 1981) ... creativity came about very quickly in the videos. (Gary)
You quite possibly have written of Michael Nesmith's early pioneering of Music Video Production . . . ?
CB
It has come up from time to time … but never a specific piece about it, no, not that I recall.
Nesmith won all kinds of awards (the first handed out for music videos, if I’m not mistaken) for his “Elephant Parts” compilation. A short-lived television series followed (called “Television Parts.”) Sadly, it just never caught on with the masses … but I quite enjoyed Nesmith’s sense of humor. Somewhere packed away in boxes (probably in the garage!) I have every episode that aired, as I taped them on my old VHS video recorder. Now THIS is something I would love to see them reissue. (kk)
Me and Nez
(This photo was taken by Micky Dolenz's wife, Donna!)
Brand new bronze statues of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were unveiled this past week in their home town of Dartford, Kent, England. (kk)
Carl Court, Getty Images
From Tom Cuddy …
Merry Christmas, Baby: Johnny Mathis Celebrates the Holiday Season with a Brand New Studio Album "Christmas Time Is Here" … https://theseconddisc.com/2023/08/11/merry-christmas-baby-johnny-mathis-celebrates-the-holiday-season-with-new-studio-album-christmas-time-is-here/
Johnny Mathis knows a thing or two about putting out a holiday album …
His first release, titled simply “Merry Christmas,” first premiered on the charts in 1958 and went all the way to #3 … it then subsequently recharted in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996 before the turn of the century. (And this was WAY before all these Christmas songs are allowed to chart every year again in Billboard!)
Follow-up Christmas album releases include “Sounds Of Christmas” (#2 in 1963 … and then recharting in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968), “Give Me Your Love For Christmas” (#1, 1969 … recharting in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1988 and 1989) and “The Christmas Album,” which charted in 2002 and 2003. (A Christmas compilation disc, “The Christmas Music Of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection” was released in 1993 and recharted in 2002. “Gold: A 50th Anniversary Christmas Celebration” was released in 2006 … and charted again in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 … and “Sending You A Little Christmas” was released in 2013, which is the most current chart data I have.) kk
They’re holding another private screening of the new Dick
Biondi documentary … in Bolingbrook this time … on Thursday, September 7th,
from 6 – 10 pm CDT. Doors open at 6:00 P.M. and the film starts at 7:00 P.M,
followed by a Q&A.
Your $25 General Admission Ticket Includes (1) Drink Ticket, Popcorn, and Dry
Snacks. A $1,000 VIP Sponsorship Ticket Includes Reserved Front Row Group
Seating for 6 guests, (2) Drink Tickets for each guest, Popcorn, Dry Snacks,
and Supporting Acknowledgments for Dick Biondi Film. A Cash Bar and Merchandise Tables Will Also
be Available. Click here: For tickets and more information.
Hi, Kent!
Another Dick Biondi Film screening will be shown at the Bolingbrook Golf Club on
September 7th, 2023 from 6 to 10 PM.
For tickets, go to: Dick Biondi Special Tribute Documentary Tickets, Thu, Sep 7,
2023 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite
Mike Wolstein
kk …
Congrats To Glen Fisher.
Right Now, I’m Listening To The Last 1/2 Hour Of Show # 500.
FB
>>>From Mike Wolstein …
>>>Ain’t It The Truth! (kk)
Somewhere in Chuck Buell's Hometown ( True! )
Perhaps in your town, too?!
CB ( which Stands for "Charlie BeachBoy! )
We’re averaging about $4.60 a gallon this week here … so that’s gotta be high for you guys. (But that could just be the altitude) kk
A smiling closer from Stephen Bishop who did this cameo appearance in the 1977 film “Kentucky Fried Movie” …
The film "Kentucky Fried Movie" premiered on August 10th, 1977, featuring Stephen's timeless and hilarious cameo.
A note from Stephen on this video …
I did this scene in one take. The director said to do something funny. So I did a duck puppet singing "Surfin' USA."
TOMORROW IN FORGOTTEN HITS:
To quote the folks at Record Research, if
you’ve got “a heart for the charts,” be sure to tune in tomorrow for more Chart
Chat! (kk)
