British / Australian Country/ Rocker Frank Ifield has passed away at the age of 86.
Ifield made quite an impression on the US Charts in 1962 when his single “I Remember You” made The Top Five here.
Two years later his
recordings were being coupled with The Beatles’ as Vee Jay Records struggled to
get as much Fab Four product out into the market place as possible before
Capitol pulled the plug on their rights to these recordings. (Ironically, The Beatles covered Ifield’s
biggest hit in the stage act at the time … and it even appears on their “Star
Club” LP.)
Frank only hit The US Top 40 twice more, first in 1963 with his follow-up recording, “Lovesick Blues (#32) and then again later that year with “I’m Confessin’ (#37).
Frank’s father Richard Ifield invented the Ifield Fuel Pump, which is still being used in aircrafts today.
Although born in the UK, Ifield was raised in Australia … still, he is often cited amongst the elite number of British artists able to score a hit here in America before The Beatles paved the way with The British Invasion.
All three of Frank’s US Top 40 Hits went to #1 in England, as did his version of “The Wayward Wind” in 1963. In all, he would have fifteen Top 40 British Hits, including one as recently as 1991 when “She Taught Me How To Yodel” peaked at #40. (kk)
Kent,
I just found out that Frank Ifield passed away over the weekend. Always did like his I REMEMBER YOU and his follow up LOVESICK BLUES.
Larry
Another one bites the dust …
I see we lost Frank Ifield two days ago. Great singer ...
plus, he shared an LP with the Beatles before they made their mark here.
Mike
Actually, the album was a cash-in after The Beatles hit it big here … Vee Jay Records trying to compile works from some of their white artists. They did the same thing with The Four Seasons. Just one more way to repackage and resell the same material (which was the only Beatles material they had the rights to at the time … knowing full well that those rights were going to disappear any minute now!) And people bought ‘em … never underestimate the spending power of a rampant Beatlemaniac!!! (kk)
kk …
Just a Quickie …
Paul McCartney Just Became First British Musician Billionaire
(I Thought He Already Was One!)
Billy Joel Just Bought A New House In East Hampton For $10.7 Million.
(I Hope He Can Afford It With MSG Gig Ending.)
That's All I Got.
FB
I would have thought
McCartney had passed billionaire status many, many years ago. (kk)
Here’s a great piece on Cher from a few years ago. The new Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee turned 78 this past Monday …
https://bestclassicbands.com/cher-las-vegas-review-8-25-19/
Randy Bachman talks a little more about shutting down the faux Guess Who band in a bold legal move that also compromises his and Burton Cummings’ income …
In Forgotten Hits this morning you mentioned a young girl’s 1964 music experiment around how music affected the growth of her beds of Radishes that led you to ponder how music might similarly influence Strawberries that led you to Strawberry Fields lasting Forever which led me to thinking about my iconic late 1960s Forgotten Hits Psychedelic Strawberries Rock Band Chronometer Concept!
CB ( which stands for “Chronological Boy!” )
Spotted this review in THE GLORIOUS CORNER …
THE GLORIOUS CORNER by G. H. Harding
RASCALS AT SONY HALL --- The Rascals long-awaited return to NYC proved to be a sensational evening of music. Their 16-song set, backed up by a terrific band - including bassist John Billings from Micky Dolenz's band - was rocking from the start with their "Do You Feel It" and "Beautiful Morning" opening numbers.
Felix Cavaliere's vibrant vocals were just a joy. Face it, for people of a certain age, we grew up with this voice ... just magical.
Their cover of the Jackie Wilson-chestnut "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher" set the SRO crowd afire.
Felix then brought his daughter Aria out for two selections. Clearly, she's inherited by father's dynamic vocal prowess. She was just terrific and a nice surprise.
Cavaliere then brought out guitarist Gene Cornish, who was just wonderful. Gene has had some health issues, but his presence brought the show to a magnificent high-point.
Oddly, there was no mention of the rumored "My Hawaii" from Cavaliere with vocals from Dolly Parton. He mentioned it in a recent interview with Medium, but was mum about it on last Monday's WOR-interview with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. I hear that the release has been held up several times. Sad ... can't wait to hear it.
The show ended with their signature classics "I've Been Lonely Too Long," "How Can I Be Sure," "People Got To Be Free" and Good Lovin'." The Rascals' music is ingrained in our hearts and it was a joy to hear it once again. Truth be told, it sounded better than ever!
Seated in a corner booth by the stage was none other than Bill Murray - a huge fan. Great night sensational set. Also, there were Rascals-PR man David Salidor; Dan Zelinski; Billy Amendola; Magda Katz from Times Square Chronicles; and Susan Nuzzi Russo. Thanks to SONY Hall's Peter Abraham for his assistance.
Hi Kent,
While moving, I came across an invitation for the party celebrating WCFL's return to music as an Oldies based station from a talk format in 1981.
As a WCFL fan, I thought you might appreciate seeing it. The new WCFL logo was designed by Mike Waterkotte.
My association with WCFL only lasted a few more months. In September of 1981 I left Mutual Broadcasting / WHN / WCFL to found the United Stations Radio Network with Dick Clark, Nick Verbitsky and Frank Murphy, also from Mutual.
Ed Salamon
ALWAYS cool to see this kind of stuff! And Fred Winston, Master of Ceremonies … with entertainment by Paul Anka?!?! That must have been quite a bash. (Too bad the station’s return to music never caught on … but you CAN listen to wcflchicago.com and get a flavor of what the station might sound like today under the guidance of JR Russ … it makes for a GREAT mix of music … with some vintage WCFL airchecks and commercials thrown in, too. (kk)
Speaking of a great mix of music, Me-TV-FM launches their annual Summer of Me over Memorial Day Weekend … a GREAT selection of songs about summer, inspired by summer, hits from summers past and just general feel-good music.
The list of featured music was based on our previous Favorite Songs of Summer Countdowns … both Fan Favorites and The Biggest Hits of Summer.
You’ll find ALL those lists posted here on The Forgotten Hits Archive Website: http://forgottenhits.com/
Just scroll down the left hand
column to find the list(s) that tickle your fancy. (And let’s face it … who couldn’t use a good,
fancy tickle right about now!!!) kk
