Have you heard about this incredible “Fools In Love” festival coming up this August in California?
I don’t think I’ve EVER seen a line-up with this many heavyweights in it!
Headliners Lionel Richie and Diana Ross welcome:
Nile
Rodgers & Chic, Al Green, Santana, Charlie Wilson, Gladys Knight, The Isley
Brothers, Chaka Khan, Eric Burdon & the Animals, The O’Jays, The Jacksons, War,
The Spinners, The Whispers, The Emotions, Dionne Warwick, Smokey Robinson, Durand
Jones & the Indications, Brenton Wood, Barbara Mason, The Sacred Souls, Mayer
Hawthorne, Durand Jones, Aaron Frazer, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The
Manhattans, The Chi-Lites, The Legendary Blue Notes, Trish Toledo, The
Intruders, Los Lobos, Johnny Farina, El Chicano, Tierra, Malo, Bloodstone, The
Sinseers, The Altons, La Lom, Bobby Oroza, Lady Wray, The Yesterdays, The
McCharmlys, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Zapp, Kool & the
Gang, Stevie B, Rose Royce, Morris Day & the Time, Heatwave, The Barkays
with ft. Larry Dodson, Cameo, Shalamar, S.O.S. Band, Dazz Band, Con Funk Shun, Trinere,
Mary Jane Girls, Evelyn Champagne King, The Pointer Sisters, El Debarge, Baby
Bash, Mc Magic, Lil Rob, Frankie J and more
(Seriously ... is there ANY Soul Superstar who’s NOT participating in his event?!?!)
This is just a one day event … and general admission passes start at $325, with varying ranges of VIP and ticket packages on offer — visit the festival’s website for full details!
This is unreal!!! (kk)
Have you seen the new Billy Joel video for his comeback single “Turn The Lights Back On?” It is absolutely mind-blowing how far technology has come that allows Joel to age, perfectly in-sync during the course of this clip. (I still rate the song as only “so-so” at best … but he’s certainly pulling out all the stops to promote it … and people will be talking about the wizardry of this clip for a good time to come.)
You can check it out below …
Isn't it amazing how an incredible, revolutionary video can make even a mediocre song sound better???
I am absolutely LOVIN' Billy Joel's new tune, "Turn The Lights Back On" ... as long as I listen to it while watching the video!
I had the exact same experience with The Beatles' "new" track "Now And Then" ... found it boring a completely subpar ... until I saw the remarkable video that Peter Jackson was able to put together to accompany the song ... and now I just LOVE watching and listening to it ... but again, ONLY if it's accompanying the video! (kk)
Earlier this week, Billy Joel revealed to Howard Stern his dream supergroup … Don Henley, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, John Mayer and Jimmy Page.
Stern, who sparked the discussion by suggesting that Billy should start a supergroup ala The Traveling Wilburys, said he was going to personally call McCartney and ask him if he would be interested! (kk)
One of the biggest music headlines of the past week was the announcement of Brian Wilson’s conservatorship. Wilson is said to be suffering from dementia … and the loss of his wife a couple of weeks ago probably helped to push him over the edge.
What a shame. A genuine genius, Brian has never really been well … he has suffered from some form of mental illness his entire adult life but has made numerous comebacks over the years, creating not only new music but resurrecting things like the long-ago aborted “SMiLE” album … and performing the “Pet Sounds” album in its entirety on stage. (The fact that he has been performing at all is no short miracle … who would have ever thought Brian Wilson would get on an airplane again based on his nervous breakdown in the mid-‘60’s that forced him off the road and into the studio to create brilliant masterpiece after masterpiece … in hindsight, perhaps the best thing that ever could have happened to him … and US the listeners.)
I just hope these folks truly have Brian’s best interests at heart and make sure that he is well taken care of. Although he has no more plans to tour, Brian says he WILL continue to record new music. An album of songs he worked on with former manager (and Forgotten Hits contributor) Fred Vail is apparently being resurrected from the early ‘70’s for release … and he has other new music already in the can and ready to finish up.
We love ya, Brian … and wish you only happiness. (kk)
Rod Stewart is the latest artist to sell his music catalog. Rod The Mod (who has a new “big band” album out with Jools Holland) reportedly earned $100 million for turning over his life’s work to Irving Azoff, who also recently purchased the music catalogs of The Beach Boys, Cher, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills and Linda Ronstadt. (Who knew, sixty years ago, that recording artists were building THIS type of “retirement fund” for themselves while crankin’ out the hits?!?!) kk
Paul McCartney’s original Hofner bass, purchased in Germany back in 1961, has finally been returned to him. (The bass was stolen in 1972 and had been missing ever since.)
But last year McCartney (quite the collector … and one can only imagine the sentimental value something like this must hold for him) started a “Lost Bass Project” … and the search was on.
Track the remarkable recovery here: https://thelostbass.com/the-lost-bass-found (kk)
And check this out ...
When The Beatles gave their first US concert in Washington, DC, back in 1964, in the audience that night was a young Al Gore, future Vice President of The United States!
Last week, Gore reminisced with Bruce Spizer about the impact and influence The Fab Four had on not only a generation of fans … but every generation since …
A VERY cool report … and some GREAT footage! (kk)
And, speaking of The Beatles (which we’ve been doing quite a bit of lately!) …
Hi Kent,
It’s so great to read all the articles on the Beatles!
I’m not sure whether you’re familiar with this Dutch Beatles cover band, the Analogues? They performed, for example, Sergeant Pepper and the White Album live on stage.
This is the link to their Sergeant Pepper performance : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfVaHYQvTTBqUzpBwtqSxKdbcymyp0ZZK
The White album : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfVaHYQvTTBrbgOda5X6HEJa7rbJ4HGcw
The Magical Mystery tour : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfVaHYQvTTBqZdvWsE_5OklWchOZ2yB5w
Kind regards,
Ben Meijering
Good Beatles post today ... Fun stuff. Thanks.
This Thursday at 8:40 our interview
from Liverpool is with the couple who run a Beatles museum there. It’s a
husband and wife team and she tells the story of hanging out at The
Cavern and dating George.
Bob Sirott
Check out Bob's weekly Beatles / Liverpool Memories every Thursday Morning at 8:40 Chicago time ...
And if for any reason you happen to miss it, just ust the drop down to find Bob's name, click on it, and you'll find these highlights archived so you can listen to them whenever you like. (All three of his first features can be found there now!) kk
https://wgnradio.com/bob-sirott/bob-sirott-celebrates-the-beatles/paul-mccartneys-journey-as-a-photographer-on-display/
And props from David Salidor to Shelley Sweet-Tufano for her review of this year's Fest For Beatles Fans ... 50th Anniversary Edition ... in New York City ...
Shelley's wrap-up was great -
And, geeze, her last line about everything being different was right on the money - it's like LaGuardia used to be - a mess!
Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet her!
>>>60 YEARS AGO TODAY: A British manufacturing company shipped 1000 lbs of Beatle wigs to the US.
>>>Mike Mertes (my old guitar player!) knew what HE wanted to be when he grew up!!! <kk>
Even our WLS jocks got in on the act!
Then just a couple years after those photos were taken ... this Kid came to WLS ...
And he was not WEARING a Beatles Wig!
CB
You know we love us some two-sided hits …
So when I saw that Best Classic Bands was saluting them this week, I anxiously clicked on the link below …
https://bestclassicbands.com/double-sided-hit-singles-10-12-199/
Quite honestly, all of these choices are subjective … but I’m not sure if HALF these singles listed would have even made our “Honorable Mentions” list!
For the DEFINITIVE list of charted two-sided hits … based SOLEY on the chart performance of BOTH sides of the record … you’ll want to check out THIS list …
http://forgottenhits.com/the_top_200_two-sided_hits_of_all-time
And for a list of another couple hundred tracks that SHOULD have been two-sided hits, be sure to check out THE TOP 200 FAVORITE, FORGOTTEN B-SIDES, as voted on by Forgotten Hits Readers …
http://forgottenhits.com/your_top_200_favorite_forgotten_b-sides
Sooner or later, we’ll get around to updating this feature, too …
But for right now, it stands as perhaps the most complete document ever assembled of worthy two-sided hits.
(You know, I’ve often wondered how, back in the day when all of the major trades charted each side of a single separately, they really had any idea as to which side of the record it was that brought buyers into the record stores. Certainly the clerk at the counter didn’t know when he rang up the sale. And extensive research concludes that, when all is said and done at the end of the day, BOTH sides of each 45 sold the EXACT same number of copies!!!)
Still, we’ve always been fascinated by these two-sided hits (how many potential additional hit singles were wasted by sticking a strong track on the flipside???) And radio has relished our research as well, running all kinds of “See You On The Flip Side” weekends and Two-Sided Hits countdowns …
Which is EXACTLY why we put this all together in the first place!!! (kk)
Happy 9th Birthday / Anniversary to Me-TV-FM!!!
This Friday (February 23rd) marks the station's ninth year on the air ... and they have become one of the most note-worthy, celebrated radio stations in decades. (Of course WE knew that from Day One!)
If you love oldies, you'll love Me-TV-FM. Listen Live here:
First, I enjoyed the "rose" melody that Paul Evans recorded. I have played it several times.
When I started reading today’s FH, I thought of the group, the Valentines, at first. It was said that the arrangement was by Jimmy Wisner. Wasn't he KOKOMO of ASIA MINOR fame?
At times I can't believe that it's been 60 years since the Beatles first made the scene.
Larry
While Kokomo / “Asia Minor” was, in fact, Jimmy Wisner, he went on to do SO much more, producing records for Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Judy Collins, The Cowsills, Tommy James and the Shondells, Neil Sedaka, Carly Simon, Spanky and Our Gang and many, many more. (Man, what a career this guy has had!) He passed away in 2018.
Yeah, as we build our calendar, we are constantly amazed that sixty years could have possibly passed. Having just turned seventy last year, I can’t help but wonder where all that time went … especially when some of these musical highlights are still so fresh and clear in my mind. But that’s a big part of what makes Forgotten Hits so much fun to do … and, hopefully, to read! (kk)
The place you were referring to was called The Cellar in Melrose Park.
It was almost right at the intersection of 25th and Lake Street. It was in the basement, and I don’t recall there even being a sign at the entrance. It was one of those places you went to after the DuPage County clubs closed because it stayed open until 4 or 5 in the morning. People just knew of it by word of mouth but it would get a good crowd.
That area has been redeveloped, but this building survived and wow, that may be the same building. You can see where the entrance probably was, just behind the car.
This view is on the SE corner of the intersection, which
is where the club was in the 70’s
John Fleckles
I was too young to go there during their hey day ... but I used to drive by it every day on my way to work a few years later ... and I think there WAS a sign that showed you where to get in. (Looks like you had to go down a flight of stairs in order to enter the club.)
Some REALLY big names played there in the late '60's and early '70's ... and you always heard them advertised on the radio commercials at the time. (Those Wild Goose ads ... the two hot Top 40 stations, WLS and WCFL, telling you where their jocks were going to be appearing ... along with all our local '60's talent ... Starbeat Presents What's Happening ... and all that ilk!) kk
More here (from a few years ago): forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2019/05/clubbin-in-chicago-in-late-60s-and.html
They've added some new dates to this year's Happy Together Tour ...
And even more are expected to be added as time goes on ...
But for right now anyway, here are the announced dates for this year’s
Happy Together Tour, 2024
June 1st – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort and Spa
June 2nd – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
June 4th – Pensacola, FL – Pensacola Saenger Theatre
June 5th – Daytona Beach, FL – Peabody Auditorium
June 6th – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
June 7th – Hiawassee, GA – Georgia Mountain Fairground
June 8th – Myrtle Beach, SC – Carolina Opry Theater
June 11th – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere
June 12th – Englewood, NJ – Bergen PAC
June 14th – Morristown, NJ – Mayo PAC
June 15th – Westbury, NY – NYCB Theatre at Westbury
June 16th – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
June 18th – Cohasset, MA – South Shore Music Circus
June 19th – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
June 20th – Red Bank, NJ – Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count
Basie Center for the Arts
June 21st – Atlantic City, NJ – Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort
June 22nd – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
June 23rd – Lowell, MA – Lowell Auditorium
July 12th – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
July 14th – Prescott Valley, AZ – Findlay Toyota Center
July 19th – Scottsdale, AZ – Talking Stick Resort
July 21st – Costa Mesa, CA – Pacific Amphitheatre
August 1st – Lynn, MA – Lynn Memorial Auditorium
August 4th – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
August 9th – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park Center Stage
August 11th – West Allis, WI – Wisconsin State Fair
August 16th – Saint Charles, MO – The Family Arena
August 17th – New Buffalo, MI – Hard Rock Cafe Four Winds
August 18th – Wabash, IN – Honeywell Center
August 21st – Effingham, IL – Effingham Performance Center
August 22nd – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
August 23rd – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate PAC
August 24th – Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
On the bill this year are The Turtles (of course) with Ron Dante once again filling in for Howard Kaylan, performing his own hits along with The Turtles’ biggest hits alongside founding member Mark Volman; The Cowsills; The Vogues; Jay and the Americans; The Association and Badfinger.
Sunday was Yoko Ono's 91st birthday ...
Timmy reminds us ...
We were all quickly overcome…
Another smiler from Chuck Buell …
If I were still in High School, this is the kind of girl I would want for my Best Girl Friend!
When a class asked her hard-nose teacher if they could get any Extra Credit for an assignment, their wise-ass teacher’s comment was, “You’ll get Extra Credit when you can walk on water!”
( Her response seemed like it needed a Good Old Forgotten Hit background so I added it! )
Buell
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
2/20/64 – The Beach Boys record “Don’t Worry Baby”
