FORGOTTEN HITS: Thursday This And That

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Thursday This And That

I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH ALL THESE DEATHS --

Just Heard That Johnny's Brother Tommy Cash Died.

1969 Hit "SIX WHITE HORSES"

And now Tito Jackson of The Jackson Five

Yeah, our Forgotten Hits Grim Reaper would have been pretty darn busy these first two weeks of September, that’s for sure. Ron Smith … and then Jack Levin … assumed those roles for us … until THEIR names also appeared on the list. (We seem to be losing more of our audience every day! The only solace is knowing that it wasn’t anything we said that drove them away!) Makes me wonder who’s going to write mine!!! (kk)

Tommy Cash’s lone pop hit, “Six White Horse” (ironically about the deaths of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy), only reached #70 on the pop charts in early 1970, but it was a #4 Country Hit. (Tommy had 19 records make Billboard’s Country Singles Chart, including twelve that made The Top 40 … and three of those made The Top Ten. “Six White Horses” was his biggest hit. He sounds a lot like his brother on this one.

Here in Chicago, it reached #37 on the WLS Chart … and I remember hearing it enough (and liking it enough) to buy the 45 … which my mother immediately put into her own record collection! (She was a HUGE Johnny Cash fan. I remember visiting Murphysboro, Tennessee, one year on our summer vacation and stopping by Johnny Cash’s home, where my mom picked up a rock from his driveway, brought it home and then proudly put it on display on the mantle of our fireplace!) kk

As for Tito, this announcement is a bit more suspicious.

Frank B first emailed me Saturday afternoon that Jackson had died ... but I couldn't find any confirmation to back it up. (Truth be told, Tito Jackson's death has been erroneously reported in the press several times before) Maybe he had been ill for some time and somebody just figured the end was near ... or, as so often has been the case, maybe The Jacksons' publicity machine just felt they needed to get one of their own's name back in the press again ... it wouldn't be the first time!

But then on Monday Morning it was reported that Jackson died Sunday Evening after suffering a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma. That's just a little too much of a coincidence in my mind. I'm guessing more details are still to come on this ... although Gallup, New Mexico police have confirmed that a report was filed at 6:17 pm Sunday Evening when an ambulance was called to the scene. (So how did Psychic Frank know about this thirty hours earlier?!?! Hmmm!)

Most news sources referred to Tito Jackson as a "founding member of The Jackson Five" ... I prefer to think that he was born into the job! Although he was the group's guitarist, can you believe he never played guitar on a single Jacksons record the entire time the group was signed to Motown?!?! He performed on stage ... but Motown had their own stable of musicians who provided "The Motown Sound" on their records ... and they weren't about to deviate from the hit-making formula. (Jackson DID play guitar on their records once the group moved to Epic Records.) kk

Do I get credit for breaking the story?

Yeah, I've got to give it to you on this one ...

Although I still haven't quite figured out how after Tito died Saturday Morning, The Jackson Machine devised a way to prop his body up behind the wheel of his car and drive it thru Gallup, New Mexico, to make it look like he had a heart attack while on the road on SUNDAY!!! (Although I CAN'T say that I wouldn't put it past them!!!) Somehow I feel like the bones of The Elephant Man may have also played a part in all of this! (kk)

And now we're down to the "Jackson Three."

Tito Jackson, an original member of the hit-making pop group the Jackson 5, has died. He was 70.

I remember being at WLS at the time the Jackson Five just "began."

One day before one of my shows in 1969, my Program Director told me about this "exciting new group" from Gary, Indiana, just 30 miles southeast of Chicago which, more or less in the eyes of WLS, made them a local Chicago-area act. Already they were receiving some minor notoriety in Gary and I was told to play their song, twice per show each night for at least the first week.

"I Want You Back" was released in October, 1969, and BOOM! hit Number One in January, 1970!

There sure were lottsa Exciting Forgotten Hits made in the Mid to Late 1960s and beyond!

CB!

I've told the story before about going to see The Jacksons in 1974 at the old Mill Run Playhouse at Golf Mill. A coworker and I each treated our kid sisters to see the show ... and the theater wasn't even half full! (The Mill Run Theatre was a real hot spot here in Chicago for awhile ... a "theater in the round" set up that drew some of the biggest names in show business over the years.) The Jacksons performed there in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

The Jacksons hadn't had a real hit in a while ... who could have ever predicted the comeback they would have or how Michael's career would skyrocket a few years later. I remember even young Janet was there (she had to be around eight years old at the time and was brought out as more of a "novelty" than anything else.)

I barely remember the show ... just the shock of how far they had fallen so fast.

Looking at The Jackson Five's Hit List, it really doesn't make sense ...

"Dancing Machine" would top the charts that year and one of my all-time favorites, "I Am Love," would hit #15 early the following year.

In 1976, they would jump ship to Epic Records and score a wave of hits there, including The Top Ten Singles "Enjoy Yourself" (#4, 1976), "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)," #3, 1979 and "Lovely One" (#9, 1980.) Michael's "Off The Wall" album was released in 1979 and the world was never the same again. (kk)

And now we can add J.D. Souther to the ever-growing list. Souther, who had the Top Ten Hits “You’re Only Lonely” (1979) and “Her Town, Too” (recorded with James Taylor, 1981) has died.

Souther also had a hand in writing THREE of The Eagles’ #1 Hits: “Best Of My Love” (1975), “New Kid In Town” (1977) and “Heartache Tonight” (1979)

He was a long-time early companion of singer Linda Ronstadt, who had her own connection to The Eagles early on in their career. (They were her backing band before they went off on their own!) kk

More here (from Tom Cuddy): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13862939/j-d-souther-dead-78-singer-songwriter-linda-ronstadt-eagles.html

Kent,

You mentioned Clovis, New Mexico, in today's FH.

Years ago, one of my brothers-in-law was the sheriff of Clovis. My wife and I were down there visiting him and I started to talk about Buddy Holly and Norman Petty. He mentioned that he had been in the studios of Petty's and said there was one particular room that had nothing but Buddy Holly albums in it. Boy, the money those must have been worth.

The song I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU by the Flamingos is one of the very few records made that when I hear it on the radio, it sends chills and goosebumps all over me. Can't explain it.

Larry

Three tracks in the Top Ten on this week's chart feature Nashville's A-Team. The Newbeats, Ronny and the Daytonas, and of course Roy Orbison were all recorded locally. Session player Wayne Moss invented and played the familiar riff on "Oh, Pretty Woman," which The Beatles liked so much that a very similar riff is heard in "Day Tripper." Wayne is alive and well and still producing new music at his studio Cinderella Sound, which is Nashville's oldest, continuously operating studio.

David Lewis

Burton Cummings’ new album, “A Few Good Moments,” his first in sixteen years, will be released digitally on September 27^th. “Hard copies” (CD and Vinyl) will be released later this year.

Cummings is touring The US not only to support the new release, but also to showcase the enormous number of hits he’s had over the course of the last sixty years.

Winning a HUGE victory a couple of weeks ago, and now retaining the rights to The Guess Who’s name, Burton should be in great spirits for these shows. (We’re still hoping that he and Randy Bachman may team up again next year after Bachman completes his BTO commitments.)

Meanwhile, watch for the new digital album …

And check Burton Cummings out if you can when he’s in your area …

Tour Dates and Ticket Information:

September 13 — Deadwood, SD Deadwood Jam

September 14 — Denver, CO Paramount Theatre

September 17 — St. Louis, MO The Factory

September 18 — Kansas City, MO Knuckleheads Saloon

September 20 — Tulsa, OK The Cove at River Spirit

September 21 — Arlington, TX Arlington Music Hall

September 23 — Marion, IL Marion Cultural and Civic Center

September 25 — Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre

September 26 — Huber Heights, OH Rose Music Center

September 28 — Northfield, OH MGM Northfield Park

September 29 — Nashville, IN Brown County Music Center

October 1 — Hopewell, VA Beacon Theatre

October 2 — Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall

October 4 — Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite Auditorium

October 5 — Lynn, MA Lynn Memorial Auditorium

October 19 — New Buffalo, MI Silver Creek Event Center

January 11 — Chandler, AZ Wild Horse Pass

January 12 — San Juan Capistrano, CA The Coach House

January 14 — Solana Beach, CA Belly Up

January 15 — Palm Desert, CA McCallum Theatre

January 17 — Los Angeles, CA The Novo

January 18 — Laughlin, NV Edge Pavilion

January 21 — Santa Rosa, CA Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

January 23 — Tacoma, WA Emerald Queen Casino Hotel

January 25 — Airway Heights, WA Spokane Live

February 2 — Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium*

February 4 — Sumterville, FL The Tracy Performing Arts Center

February 5 — Jacksonville, FL The Florida Theatre*

February 7 — Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall*

February 8 — Ft Lauderdale, FL Broward Center For The Arts*

February 11 — Sarasota, FL Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall*

March 9 — Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak

March 15 — Westbury, NY Westbury Music Fair

March 19 — Washington, DC Warner Theatre

March 22 — Joliet, IL Rialto Square Theatre

March 26 — Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater

March 28 — Shipshewana, IN Blue Gate Performing Arts Center

Micky Dolenz’s show last Friday Night at the legendary Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa was a massive success.

FYI: The Surf is closely associated with the event known colloquially as “The Day the Music Died” – early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson gave their last performances at the Surf on February 2, 1959, as part of the “Winter Dance Party Tour.”

DIS

On September 20th, 1969, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young took the stage at Fillmore East for a live gig — and on October 25th, Rhino Records will bring this previously unreleased archival live set to life as a double album from the CSNY vaults.

The context for this particular performance is key, as the gig came shortly after David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young performed to the masses at Woodstock, 1969, in their second-ever public live performance.

The quartet then dove into a rigorous touring schedule and writing material for what would become its 1970 debut album, Déjà Vu. This Fillmore East concert took place during that eventful period, capturing the group during that fruitful era.

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young were heavily involved in the creation of this never-before-heard live show. Stills and Young compiled and mixed the original eight-track concert recordings with John Hanlon at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles. The audio is AAA lacquer cut for the vinyl release to provide the highest audio fidelity.

Young recently said: “[We] have the tapes, and they sound so real. We mixed at Sunset Sound – the analog echo chamber, no digital echo. We’re staying all analog throughout the production…Pure. Analog. No digital – an Analog Original.”

Here’s the full track listing:

Acoustic Set

1. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”
2. “Blackbird”
3. “Helplessly Hoping”
4. “Guinnevere”
5. “Lady Of The Island”
6. “Go Back Home”
7. “On The Way Home”
8. “4 + 20”
9. “Our House”
10. “I’ve Loved Her So Long”
11. “You Don’t Have To Cry”

Electric Set

12. “Long Time Gone”
13. “Wooden Ships”
14. “Bluebird Revisited”
15. “Sea Of Madness”
16. “Down By The River”
17. “Find The Cost Of Freedom”

Ultimate Classic Rock ran a spotlight on the Big 4 Songwriting Hit Duos …

No surprises here (although a more in-depth list would certainly also have to include Hal David and Burt Bacharach … as well as the above-mentioned Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman.

Still, it’s kinda cool to see these profiles, one of which includes the story we recounted several months ago about Mick and Keith being locked in a room until they came up with their first original composition … “As Tears Go By” …

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/big-4-of-songwriting-duos/?lh_aid=1113205&lh_cid=yz77h4l2v4&utm_campaign=perry_farrell_punches_dave_navarro_ending_janes_addiction_show&utm_medium=email&utm_source=letterhead&utm_term=ultimateclassicrock&di=5495cf67b4311b0cf7c5a8b664198a57

Thanks for running my James Earl Jones photo. Just a few random pix of another Jones … Tom. In '97 I caught him at a fast food joint in Beverly Hills. Late night after gigging at House Of Blues in West Hollywood.

Keep up the good work 👍 Thanks for looking 👀👀👀!

Jim

And now for something COMPLETELY different ...

So let me get this straight …

You put the lime in the coconut …

No, sorry … I digress ...

Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris … and gets over one million “likes” within the first 13 minutes of making the announcement …

Then she gets over 400,000 Swifties to register to vote …

So Donald Trump sends a tweet that says (in all caps) I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT.

How VERY presidential of him … class act all the way …

Like THIS is how you would expect the man in whom you are trusting the future of our country to respond to something like this …

Much the way that an eight year old on the playground might react when one of his friends pisses him off ...

After HE was the one who “faked” an AI version of Swift reportedly endorsing him for President? (OK, so now I get it … THIS is where Fake News comes from!)

Hey, I’m not here to tell you what to do or how to vote …

We have proudly kept politics OUT of Forgotten Hits for the past 25 years …

But seriously … is this third grade mentality really what we really want leading us into the future?!?!? I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT?!?! For Real??? THAT’S the best response you could come up with???

Now I personally haven’t voted in a Presidential Election since I wrote Pat Paulson’s name in back in 1968 … and 1972 … but I may just have to register to vote in this one! (kk)

More on our Fearless "Leader" here … from Chuck Buell ...

So, Kent!

Clark Besch brought to our attention this WING Radio Music Survey featuring a "Forgotten Number One Hit" from 1966.