Did you catch the premier of “The Greatest Night In Pop” last night on Netflix?
It’s a brand new documentary remembering the recording of “We Are The World” …
A literal Who’s Who of pop recording artists, banding together to record a song to help a nation.
What I really liked about it is the fact that so much previously unseen footage was shown. (Over the years, we've revisited "the making of" that night numerous times ... to the point of knowing it virtually by heart ...
But SO much new footage was used, coupled with interviews with many of the artists who took part.)
The shocker? They never showed the finished video all the way through! (The fans at least deserved to see THAT!!!)
Still, well worth watching ... and available now, on Netflix. (kk)
Tom Cuddy sent us this article from People Magazine …
Diana Ross Asked Daryl Hall for Autograph While Recording We Are the World
https://people.com/diana-ross-asked-daryl-hall-autograph-while-recording-we-are-the-world-8549478
And trust me, they weren’t the only ones …
Many of these artists were in awe of each other … so the chance to work together … and for such a good cause … and with such a positive song … it truly was a night of magic. Before the night was over, virtually everyone had signed each others' sheet music ... what an INCREDIBLE keepsake that had to be for all of the artists involved. (kk)
Paul McCartney's photo exhibit, "The Eyes Of The Storm," is coming to New York ... and will be on display at The Brooklyn Museum from May 3rd thru August 18th.
These are photos that Macca took himself during The Beatles' first visit to America (which we, of course, are documenting all year long in Forgotten Hits!)
More info here: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/paul-mccartney
Kent,
I see that at #8 this week in 1964 is Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um by Major Lance and I am curious if there are any tapes of DJ's playing the song from that time frame. As a former DJ, I am wondering how they 'announced' the song — seemed like it could've been a bit of a challenge.
Sincerely,
Joe Cantello
Marietta, Ga
I’ll betcha somebody on our list has an aircheck of this to share … it was quite a popular hit, rising to #4. (Not so much here in Chicago, where it only climbed to #21 … and I can honestly say that I don’t remember ever hearing it on the radio at the time.)
Johnny Rivers cut a remake in 1977 but titled it “A Curious Mind (Um Um Um Um Um Um”, perhaps to avoid the very concern you are addressing above! Johnny’s version climbed to #34 on The National Charts … and didn’t make our local chart all … although THIS one I do remember hearing … maybe on something like Casey’s Countdown (???) kk
Here's Major Lance doing a poor job of lip-synching his hit song on “Shivaree” …
And a GREAT recent track by our FH Buddy James Holvay doing HIS tribute to both Major Lance and Curtis Mayfield with this OUTSTANDING track “Sweet Soul Song,” an original composition that TOTALLY captures the feel of this era …
Here's Billboard’s tribute to the late Mary Weiss of The Shangri-Las … it comes from their on-going “Forever #1” series, honoring “Leader Of The Pack,” a HUGE 1964 #1 Hit … https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/shangri-las-leader-of-the-pack-mary-weiss-forever-number-one-1235589572/#recipient_hashed=fa7e92da6f6e66bffcf0bcbf863670c6eb37d7159eb4d0ea1e44fecd5ec87eeb&recipient_salt=3a1d6b09af3b92ad7e38f8327cf18febeb049fd1c9a251b66957a07d9375735c
>>>So . . . , how'd you do?! (kk)
I got them all!
Keep in mind I work in an elementary school with special education … so I have learned to recognize just about anything.
Shelley
Hey Kent!
I just happened to know the Kazoo sounding songs in CB's quiz. But Kent, guess what song (record) I thought of in some strange way?
It was KOOKIE! KOOKIE! (LEND ME YOUR COMB) from 1959 with Edd Byrnes. Why this song? Kent, when you were a kid, did you ever take a comb, put a piece of paper over it and press it against your lips to hum? It made a kazoo type of sound. Man, I haven't done that in years.
Larry
And, believe it or not, that is how Paul McCartney added the “kazoo track” as his contribution to Ringo’s #1 Record “You’re Sixteen” back in 1973! (The Beatles also used to do a rockabilly tune called “Lend Me Your Comb” as part of their stage act in their old Hamburg days … TOTALLY different song … but quite prophetic, actually, in light of their trend-setting hair-dos shortly thereafter!) kk
Edd Byrnes’ single went all the way to #1 here in Chicago. (kk)
>>>The recorder and the kazoo! (kk(
HA! I never thought of putting those two “Instruments” together!
But wait! In acknowledgment of last week’s “Australian Open,” we could create an “Official Forgotten Hits Marching Band'' with Recorders, Kazoos and Didgeridoos!
Why, just saying those three instruments together sounds Fun!
Imagine how Great “Louie, Louie” would sound with this group!
[I shudder to think! (kk)]
“Step us off, Kent!”
Our Forgotten Hits Marching Band Leader
CB ( which stands for “Composing Boy!” )
Look for a new coffee table book from Elton John, celebrating his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour.
Scheduled for release on September 24th, the book commemorates his five year farewell tour … as well as his record-breaking touring career.
In addition to his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road: Memories Of My Life On Tour” (which grossed $939 million), John was recently honored with an Emmy for his concert at Dodger Stadium … and has already completed his next album, which he says “is going to surprise the shit out of you!”
Can’t Wait! (kk)
Meanwhile, Billy Joel’s wasting no time getting back into the limelight now that he’s creating new music again …
Joel will appear on The Grammys February 4th, performing on the program for the first time in over twenty years.
He has also added more tour dates (although HE’S not calling it a tour … but rather “scheduled appearances)
Coupled with either Stevie Nicks or Sting (and, for one show, Rod Stewart), Joel is also wrapping up his residency at Madison Square Garden.
Here is an updated list of Billy Joel’s “scheduled appearances” (with a couple of other highlights thrown in):
February 1st – BRAND NEW BILLY JOEL MUSIC!!!
“Turn The Lights Back On” is Billy’s first release of new music since 2007!
February 4th – BILLY JOEL PERFORMS AT THE GRAMMYS!
February 9th
– New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (with a surprise guest)
February 24th – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium (with Sting)
March 9th – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium (with Stevie Nicks)
March 28th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (with a surprise guest)
April 13th – San Diego, CA – Petco Park (with Sting)
April 26th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (with a surprise guest)
May 9th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (with a surprise guest)
May 24th – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park
June 8th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (with a surprise guest)
June 21st – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (with Stevie Nicks)
July 12th – Denver, CO – Coors Field
July 25th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (with surprise guests)
I’m sure this will be one for the books, folks … and I hope they either film it as a television special or beam it around the world … as I expect it will be a very emotional rock-and-roller coaster of a show.
(That’s not to say that Billy won’t ever be back at MSG … you know he will … this is just the end of a ten year residency that has sold out every show. Incredible!)
August 9th –
Cardiff, UK – Cardiff Principality Stadium
September 13th – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Browns Stadium (with Rod Stewart)
September 27th – St. Louis, MO – Busch Field (with Sting)
October 25th – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome (with Sting)
November 9th – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium (with Sting)
Meanwhile, the official announcement that I have been waiting for for months now finally came on Monday ...
Heart IS going back out on tour (and with Cheap Trick as their opening act no less!)
Here is the schedule as it currently stands ... with more dates expected to be added ... (they hit Chicago on May 17th with an appearance at The Allstate Arena ... I pass this theater every single day on my way to and from work ... I think I can probably squeeze this in!!! After all, I've only been waiting the past fifty years to see them!!!)
April 20th – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 22nd – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena
April 25th – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live (in Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood)*
April 26th – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
April 28 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (multi-act event)**
May 1st – San Antonio, TX – Frost Bank Center (special guest TBD)
May 3rd – Thackerville, OK – Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino and Resort*
May 4th – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
May 7th – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
May 10th – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
May 11th – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
May 13th – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
May 15th – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
May 17th – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
May 18th – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
May 21st – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
May 23rd – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
May 24th – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live*
July 30th – Cleveland, OH – Progressive Field**(with Def Leppard & Journey)
August 1st – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
August 2nd – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre** (with Def Leppard & Journey)
August 5th – Boston, MA – Fenway Park** (with Def Leppard & Journey)
August 7th – Quebec City, QC – Videotron Centre
August 8th – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
August 10th – Albany, NY – MVP Arena
August 11th – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center
August 13th – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center
August 15th – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
August 16th – Hinckley, MN – Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater*
August 18th – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
August 21st – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
August 23rd – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum
August 24th – Knoxville, TN – Thompson Boling Arena at Food City Center
August 27th – Norfolk, VA – Scope Arena
August 28th – Allentown, PA – The Great Allentown Fair*
September 17th – Portland, OR – Moda Center
September 20th – West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center
September 22nd – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre (special guest TBD)
*An Evening With / non-AEG event
**festival / stadium dates ON SALE NOW
There’s also a series of European dates (with special guests Squeeze) that break up the dates:
June 20th – Dessel, BE – Graspop Metal Meeting**
June 22nd – Berlin, DE – UberEats Music Hall
June 24th – Stockholm, SE – Grona Lund
June 25th – Helsinki, FI – Ice Hall
June 27th – Oslo, NO – Tons of Rock Festival**
June 30th – Clisson, FR – Hellfest**
July 1st – London, UK – The O2%
July 3rd – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena Birmingham%
July 5th – Nottingham, UK – Capital FM Arena%
July 6th – Manchester, UK – AO Arena%
July 8th – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena%
July 9th – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro%
July 11th – Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU – Rockhal – Club
July 12th – Weert, NL – Bospop Festival**
Here's a great remake of the Corey Hart hit “Sunglasses At Night” …
Done by, of all people, model Heidi Klum!!!
And Dion keeps crankin’ ‘em out … some great, catchy stuff!
Here’s his latest (from his album “Girl Friends”) … out March 8th
“I Aim To Please” (with Danielle Nicole)
From Bob Merlis:
Anticipation continues to build for the March 8 release of Girl Friends, the new album from rock and blues legend Dion that finds him collaborating with a stellar array of female musicians. This week sees the release of “I Aim To Please,” a duet with Danielle Nicole and an accompanying video. The song, like 11 of the album’s 12 tracks, was written by Dion with Mike Aquilina; one other song in the set was written by Dion and the late Scott Kepner (The Dictators, The Del-Lords). “I Aim To Please” is a mirthful look at relationships and the chorus includes reference to an issue making news these days: “ … no strings attached, no hidden fees, I aim to please.” The video features Dion and Danielle in performance as well as vintage silent film footage that underscores the good nature of the piece. Dion commented, “On this song, she lets the good times roll.”
Danielle Nicole first emerged from the Kansas City music scene as part of the group Trampled Under Foot that she formed with her brothers Nick and Kris Schnebelen, going solo to great acclaim thereafter. Apart from having been nominated for a Grammy, she’s won four of the Blue Foundation’s Blues Music Awards to date. Dion unabashedly calls her “one of the greatest singers on the planet.”
Girl Fiends is Dion’s third album in recent years to be released through Keeping The Blues Alive, the imprint founded by Joe Bonamassa and Roy Weisman to do just what the label’s name implies. Two tracks with accompanying videos have been released earlier and are now streaming; they are “Soul Force” with Susan Tedeschi and “An American Hero” with Carlene Carter. Dion’s other collaborators on the album are Rory Block, Shemekia Copeland, Debbie Davies, Randi Fishenfeld, Sue Foley, Christine Ohlman, Maggie Rose, Joanne Shaw Taylor and Valerie Tyson. The album includes liner notes by Darlene Love who writes, “I’ve been a huge fan since I was a young girl. In fact, when I sang ‘He’s a Rebel,’ I was singing about outsiders like Dion. I’m a bigger fan today. I’m still trying to emulate his unique bluesy overtones. Now I'm thrilled again with these new collaborations — not just friends, but all girl friends — great women vocalist and musicians. This is just what the world needs now. These duets are riveting.”
The new album is emblematic of Dion’s renewed creative output over the past few years continuing a storied career that now touches eight decades. He kicked off this decade with 2020’s Blues With Friends and followed with 2021’s Stomping Ground. Those two albums, with liner notes by Bob Dylan and Pete Townshend, respectively, include musical contributions from, among others, Joe Bonamassa, Brian Setzer, the late Jeff Beck, John Hammond, Van Morrison, Joe Louis Walker, Jimmy Vivino, Billy Gibbons, Sonny Landreth, Paul Simon, Samantha Fish, Rory Block, Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Boz Scaggs, Eric Clapton, G. E. Smith, Keb’ Mo’, Marcia Ball, Mark Knopfler, Peter Frampton and Rickie Lee Jones. All three of Dion’s album releases for KTBA were produced by the artist and Wayne Hood.
Girl Friends includes a commentary by Dion titled “The Feminine Genius” in which he notes, “I write about my preoccupations, and I know no better preoccupation than the female of the species. A friend of mine is a philosopher, and he talks often about ‘the feminine genius’ — the undeniable difference that’s in women and the difference that they make in the world. I’m grateful to my friend for giving it a name, because the fact has always been plain to me, but I could never put it into words.” He goes on to explain his mother was his family’s breadwinner, and that he had two sisters. He’s been married for 60 years to the former Susan Butterfield, who is name checked in the album’s “Hey Suzy,” and they are the parents of three daughters, who in turn produced four more girls. He writes, “I’ve always been surrounded by the feminine genius — always living off it. Even my music has kept a tight focus on the ladies: ‘Runaround Sue,’ ‘Donna the Prima Donna,’ ‘Little Diane,’ ‘Ruby Baby.’ All those women, real and imagined, have made all the difference in my life.” He chronicles his female musical collaborators including those who joined him on his previous two albums, as well as Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector, Cher and Patty Smyth.
Dion observes, “I’ve noticed that men play a different tune when there are women in the room — and it’s a different kind of jam when women are in the mix. I don’t know why this is so, but it is. Maybe we men, at some primitive level, are competing for their attention. As I said, I don’t know why or how. I do know it makes better music and we’re all better for it.” He concludes with an encapsulation of vision for Girl Friends, “I wanted the best music possible. So, I wrote up a batch of duets for me and my ‘girl friends,’ the women who inhabit my headphones — the women who make me turn up the volume when they drop into my radio. I invited them to join me, one by one, and here they are, wailing on the guitar and into the microphone. You’ll hear the feminine genius in every groove of this record, and you won’t forget any of it”.
There’s more from Dion on the horizon. Last year, The Wanderer, a musical based on his life debuted at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ and is expected to arrive on Broadway next year. Directed by Kenneth Ferrone and based on Charles Messina’s book, the initial run was the subject of critical acclaim with Broadway World calling it “a moving, no-holds-barred new musical about the glow of the spotlight, the shadow of addiction, and the triumph of the human spirit against all odds, set to the iconic sound of an incomparable era in American music.” The New York Times review noted the show “succeeds on sheer sonic strength,” with reviewer Juan A. Ramírez adding, “I was continuously charmed by this throwback-y musical and its angel-voiced ensemble.”
Girl Friends track listing:
1. Soul Force with Susan Tedeschi
2. I Aim To Please with Danielle Nicole
3. Stop Drop And Roll with Valerie Tyson
4. Do Ladies Get The Blues with Christine Ohlman and Debbie Davies
5. An American Hero with Carlene Carter
6. Don't You Want A Man Like Me with Rory Block
7. Sugar Daddy with Christine Ohlman
8. Endless Highway with Randi Fishenfeld
9. I Got Wise with Maggie Rose
10. Hey Suzy with Sue Foley
11. Mama Said with Shemekia Copeland
12. Just Like That with Joanne Shaw Taylor
All songs written by Dion DiMucci and Mike Aquilina except #10 written by Dion DiMucci and Scott Kempner
Dion’s “Girl Friends” collaborators:
Susan Tedeschi, the female focus of the Tedeschi-Trucks Band is a Grammy-winner, Americana Music Award winner and six-time Blues Music Award winner. She has released 14 albums both as a solo artist and with the Tedeschi-Trucks Band. Dion writes, “It's amazing that someone so unassuming can play with such grit.”
Rory Block has been recognized for her focus on the country blues idiom and is winner of the Blues Foundation’s prestigious Koko Taylor Award for Traditional Female Blues Artist.
Danielle Nicole gained prominence in her native Kansas City as part of the group Trampled Under Foot. She has gone on to pursue a solo career and is a Grammy-nominee and winner of five Blues Music Awards, three of which are for Best Instrumentalist/Bass. Dion calls her “one of the greatest singers on the planet.”
Valerie Tyson has long been a fixture on the South Florida music scene recognized in her home state as its Queen of Soul. She fronts the Valerie Tyson Band and has been lauded for her “flamethrower vocals” by the Miami Herald. Dion commented, “I call her up when I have a tune that’s 100% fun. This kind of groove requires that kind of company and it’s why I got into this business in the first place.”
Christine Ohlman, nicknamed The Beehive Queen in recognition of her distinctive platinum hairstyle, fronts NY-based Christine Ohlman and Rebel Montez. She is familiar to the national TV audience for her role as vocalist with the Saturday Night Live band for more than 30 years. Dion sees a kindred spirit in her, noting, “Christine Ohlman has Bronx soul. I have it too, so I know it when I see it . . . She's steeped in blues and American roots music, and I've always loved her vibe.”
Debbie Davies is widely recognized as one of the leading guitarists, irrespective of gender, in the blues field. She has released 14 albums to date and Dion is an unabashed admirer; he calls her the “reigning queen of Chicago blues.”
Carlene Carter is the Nashville based singer/songwriter who is responsible for numerous hit songs, both recorded by other artists including Emmylou Harris, Robert Ellis Orrall, and on her own, including the Grammy-nominated “I Fell In Love,” “Come on Back” and “Every Little Thing.” She is a third-generation member of The Carter Family, and daughter of June Carter Cash and County Music Hall of Fame inductee Carl Smith. “Carlene's voice can turn your head, and it can break your heart,” writes Dion.
Rory Block appeared with Dion on his Blues With Friends album. She is a seven-time Blues Music Award winner and has released albums through Stony Plain, Telarc, Chrysalis, Rounder and RCA. “She has a style that's all her own,” writes Dion who adds, “She always manages to surprise me,” citing her “Greenwich Village attitude.”
Randi Fishenfeld is a classically trained violinist who performs with the Wildfire Band and has worked with numerous name artists including Bruce Springsteen, Air Supply, Foreigner, Journey, B.B. King and Larry Harlow. Dion calls her a “violinist full of fire, passion, expression, and improvisation,” and admits to being “in awe of what she can do.”
Maggie Rose has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry more than 50 times, though she is not wedded to the country format, exploring soul music and beyond. Dion calls her “A grand master of country, soul, and R&B,” and admits, “I had to have her on this album.”
Sue Foley has released 16 albums over the course of her career is a two-time Blues Music Award winner. The Canadian-born, Austin-based guitarist/singer appears annually at Antone’s in Austin as part of The Jungle Show that includes Billy Gibbons, Jimmie Vaughan, Chris Layton and Mike Flanigin. “It's a dream come true to work with her,” writes Dion, adding, “I felt like I was one of the Everly Brothers.”
Shemekia Copeland is the most celebrated contemporary female blues artists, having won eight Blues Music Awards, releasing 10 albums and being named Blues Artist of the Year in the annual DownBeat Critics Poll. The daughter of Texas blues legend Johnny Clyde Copeland has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. Dion has long been smitten and notes, “One conversation with Shemekia Copeland you fall in love with her. And this girl can sing! Girl's got the blues in her blood.”
Joanne Shaw Taylor is the English singer and guitarist who was “discovered” at the age of 16 by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. She is a two-time Female Vocalist of the Year at the British Blues Awards. In recent years, Taylor recorded The Blues Album, produced by Joe Bonamassa for Keeping The Blues Alive Records which hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Dion calls her a “one-woman British Invasion” and wrote that he’s long been “a crazed fan” of hers.
And now from our Forgotten Hits' Professor of Economics, Chuck Buell, A Study Of Finances ...
There are many details Forgotten Hits Radio Station Music Survey Lovers like to pursue and digest on weekly printed Music Lists.
Here's a detail I found interesting with a couple of WLS Hit Parade Survey ads ~~~
An old Radio Associate asked me about my Time and the Music I played on The Big 89 in Chicago in 1969.
Using a couple of WLS Music Surveys as references, once that topic was covered, I turned the Music Lists over and found that the same ad was printed on the back at the first of the year on the January 6, 1969 Survey and on the back at the end of that year on the December 29, 1969 Survey!
In just that twelve month period,"The Sears Clock-Radio-TV Price moved up ten positions with a Bullet" when its cost rose $10!
January 6, 1969 December 29, 1969
I remember now that that was after I received a nice raise and the station passed my increased cost along to our advertisers who then passed that increase along to their customers!
Stimulating the Chicago Economy in 1969,
CB ( which stood then for "Cash-flush Boy!" )
The WLS Survey almost always had an ad of some sort on the back … occasionally, you’d get a special edition with a self-promotion of some sort. I don’t know how many WLS Surveys they printed each week … but I do know that if you picked up your copy of the weekly survey at a Sears store (every location had them), you were likely to get a special Sears ad on the back, thus missing out on some of the other cool stuff they would run from time to time. (Sears was especially convenient for me … we had one two blocks away from the high school so I would just walk home that way instead and pick up my copy of Fridays.)
But a 7% increase over the course of year??? In the ‘60's??? (kk)
Here we've been dedicating ourselves to remembering the events of 60 YEARS AGO TODAY ... and believe me, next week is a MAJOR week in Beatles-lore ...
Yet I forgot to mention that 55 YEARS AGO TODAY, The Beatles made their final "live" appearance when they took to the rooftop of their Apple Headquarters and serenaded (or, in some cases, annoyed) a streetful of passerbys during their lunch hour. (In hindsight, it seems almost impossible to believe that their reign was over in just six short years ... because it really wasn't ... the music of The Beatles has NEVER left us ... and still resonates today with new releases and special box sets.) Sixty years later, every move they make still sparks headlines. Incredible. (kk)
