Because of pre-scheduled and pre-posted material, we've fallen a bit behind on any "current" oldies news ...
So even though some of these stories have been circulating for over a week now,
Consider this our way of catching up a bit!
The first Happy Together 2025 tour dates have been announced … many more to follow …
June 6th – Hiawassee, GA – Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
June 7th – Myrtle Beach, SC – Carolina Opry Theater
June 8th and 10th – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
June 12th – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
June 13th – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort
June 14th – Westbury, NY – Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair
June 18th – Stamford, CT – The Palace Theatre
June 21st – Morristown, NJ – Mayo PAC
August 30th – Wisconsin Dells, WI – Crystal Grand Music Theatre
As previously announced, the line-up for this year’s shows include The Turtles (featuring Ron Dante and Mark Volman), The Cowsills, the return of Mark Lindsay, former lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Vogues, Jay and the Americans and Little Anthony.
Here's a short review of:
It Was 50 Years Ago Today: A Tribute to The Beatles with Christopher Cross, Maxi Priest, and Jason Scheff
As tribute concerts go, this one was on my list. The headliners were Christopher Cross, Maxi Priest, and Jason Scheff (former lead singer of the band Chicago), …
Source: NUVO: https://search.app/h3KNUZusMWUtFjZGA
Sounds like David Pack and Joey Molland were too ill to perform in Nashville, Indiana, last week, too. But at least the show went on without them! (kk)
UPDATE: Tom Cuddy sent us this from David Pack's Facebook page ...
(I still find the song quite basic and simplistic …
But man, I just LOVE this video!!!) kk
Meanwhile, a new trailer for the upcoming Beatles Disney+ documentary was released last week …
And, since we seem to be stuck in Beatle-land again ...
THIS photo cracked me up …
And, as it turns out, in addition to the Disney+ Beatles 1964 documentary, we’ve got ANOTHER new music
documentary to watch on the 29th …
HBO will be airing “Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary” at 9 pm (eastern) that night!
(Gee, I wonder if they’ll play any Michael McDonald music during this program???) kk
Oh good … just didn’t want him to be left out!
Gonna be a rockin’ good Thanksgiving Weekend for sure! (kk)
“Yacht Rock” (a term I absolutely HATE, by the way) Film Director Garret Price later disclosed that he didn’t exactly get the answer he was hoping for when he called Donald Fagen to see if he would participate in the film.
Price asked Fagen if he’d be willing to discuss the “genre” that has allowed songs like "Rikki Don't Lose My Number" and "Peg" to become soft-rock classics, to which Fagen replied, "And what genre is that?" Price responded: "Um, yacht rock" … at which point Fagen replied, "Oh, yacht rock. Well, I tell you what: Why don’t you go fuck yourself?” before abruptly hanging up on him!
No hard feelings apparently … a total of six Steely Dan songs appear in “Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary.” Other prominently featured music acts include Michael McDonald (as a solo artist, a “guest” and as a member of The Doobie Brothers), Christopher Cross, the recently ill David Pack from Ambrosia (we were fortunate enough to see him a month ago as part of Jim Peterik’s World Stage), Kenny Loggins, Toto and several others.
Kent,
Thanks for posting the video of Freddy Cannon’s song HEY SVENGOOLIE. I have watched it several times now. Reminds me of the early days when I stayed up late on Saturday nights and watched SHOCK THEATER on television. To me "monster" movies and rock and roll go together.
On another matter, concerning
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, I was curious if they did their 1967 record BUY FOR
ME THE RAIN?
Larry
Doesn’t look like it. (Ed sent us their set list) Another personal favorite of mine is “Shot Full Of Love,” a Top 20 Country Hit from 1983. (This one SHOULD have crossed over to the Pop Charts, too)
I have had “Hey Svengoolie” playing in my head non-stop for the past two days!!! (Which is EXACTLY what you want a good pop song to do, right???) I spoke with Freddy a little bit on Wednesday … didn’t realize that this was the day he was laying his beloved wife to rest … told him that OF COURSE his heart was going to be filled with sadness for a long, long time … but to also let the joy in, knowing how many people he made happy by making this brand new record. We love ya, man! (kk)
And then …
Kent,
You said that Saturday, November 16th, is "check your windshield wiper" day. I was trying to come up with a record that used the term "windshield wipers" in the song. The only song I came up with originally is Lou Christie's 1966 hit RHAPSODY IN THE RAIN. At the beginning I believe the lyrics say,"the windshield wipers say, together, together, together". I remember that record was played for no more than two weeks before the station pulled it from the play list.
Larry
Ha! Yep, that would have been a good one! (The prevailing idea amongst radio programmers seemed to be that the “rhythm” of those wipers expressed in the song … and the words “together, together” simulated the sound of the couple having sex in the car.)
Despite getting banned on a number of stations at the time, Lou still managed to “score” a Top 20 Hit, making it a solid follow-up to his chart-topper “Lightnin’ Strikes,” which kicked off the year.
(A quickly released "clean" version probably helped ... but here's the original) ...
Another windshield wiper song? Hmm …
No, I guess technically “The Streak” doesn’t really qualify, does it??? (kk)
On November 13th Micky Dolenz will release his first solo live album in seven years: MICKY DOLENZ – LIVE AT THE TROUBADOR.
The sold-out concert was in aid of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and features a plethora of Monkee-hits punctuated with stories from Micky’s life, as well as songs from artists who got their start at the Troubadour: Neil Diamond (who wrote two of the Monkees’ biggest hits), Steven Stills (who auditioned for The Monkees), Linda Ronstadt (whose first big hit was penned by Michael Nesmith), and Elton John (whose US debut was at the iconic venue in the presence of Micky and a gaggle of Hollywood regulars.)
“The Troub was the go-to place for me and my crew in the day. We were there all the time. In fact, I remember spending two years there one night,” quips Dolenz. The show (subtitled AN EVENING OF SONGS AND STORIES) also includes delightful ruminations from his Monkee days, such as hanging with Jimi Hendrix (the first opening act for the Monkees) and being at Abbey Road Studios with The Beatles during some of their Sgt. Pepper sessions.
The album will be available at www.mickydolenz.com and on all streaming services on December 2nd.
December 2nd is also the first date of the MICKY DOLENZ: SONGS AND STORIES Winter Tour – opening at The Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT.
David Salidor
And, of course, it’s almost impossible to mention The Monkees without mentioning Jimi Hendrix in the same sentence …
2025 EXPERIENCE HENDRIX TOUR TO INCLUDE NEWCOMER MARCUS KING AND RETURNING MUSICIANS ZAKK WYLDE, KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, CHRISTONE ‘KINGFISH’ INGRAM, ERIC JOHNSON, SAMANTHA FISH, DEVON ALLMAN, MANY MORE
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CELEBRATION OF JIMI HENDRIX’S LEGACY TO REACH MORE THAN TWO DOZEN CITIES IN MIDWEST, EAST COAST & SOUTH IN MARCH/APRIL The Experience Hendrix Tour, the only official multi-artist celebration of Jimi Hendrix’s musical genius that made a triumphant return this year after a half-decade hiatus, has just announced its 2025 edition. Starting at Taft Theatre in Cincinnati and winding its way through the Midwest (with a stop at Toronto’s famed Massey Hall), the tour continues down the East Coast and through the South, concluding in Atlanta at The Fox Theatre. The tour once again presents a diverse, star studded lineup for next year and features select dates from Experience Hendrix Tour mainstays such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Zakk Wylde (Pantera, Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne) and Eric Johnson, as well as Devon Allman (Allman Betts Family Revival), Samantha Fish and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram. Marcus King is a first-timer for 2025 and is sure to bring a fresh, new energy to Hendrix’s timeless repertoire. |
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“Jimi has long been a big influence in my musical journey,” said Mississippi-born blues guitar phenomenon Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, who is both a Grammy Award winner and was named Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year at last year’s Blues Music Awards. “The opportunity to join the Experience Hendrix Tour in fall 2024 was fantastic, so I look forward to hitting the stage with the Hendrix crew this spring as we bring this exciting show to more North American cities.” In addition to having released multiple solo albums since the age of 20, Grammy-nominated singer/guitarist Samantha Fish collaborated with Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde for the Girls with Guitars album in 2011 and joined forces with Jesse Dayton last year for the album Death Wish Blues. She is the recipient of the Living Blues Award, Blues Music Award, Blues Blast Music Award and 22 Independent Blues Awards, and has also achieved the #1 slot on the Billboard Top Heatseekers and Top Blues Albums charts numerous times. Her live performances, in which she effortlessly blends blues, rock and soul, are a testament to her status as a true musical powerhouse. Fish stated, “2024 was my first year with the event. It’s really cool to see so many stellar musicians celebrating Jimi Hendrix’s legacy and catalog of music. It’s amazing that one musician can have such an impact on artists for generations, and it’s really awesome to hear how everyone interprets his music. I’m really looking forward to what’s coming next year.” South Carolina native singer-songwriter/guitarist Marcus King got his start as a child playing with his father’s band. His unique brand of “soul-influenced psychedelic Southern Rock” caught the ear of the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who produced and released King’s 2020 debut solo album El Dorado. His career immediately skyrocketed; he racked up streaming numbers in the tens of millions and a Grammy nomination. He has since released two more albums, including this year’s Mood Swings, which received rave reviews in Rolling Stone and No Depression. “The ferocity and aggression Hendrix played with was what I was immediately drawn to,” said King. “A soft-spoken man allowing his instrument to truly be his VOICE – channeling all his frustrations and pain through this vessel. I’m so honored to pay homage and respect to such a Giant and key contributor to my Musical biological makeup.” Guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Devon Allman has been making music since the 1990s in various bands (Honeytribe, Royal Southern Brotherhood) and as a solo artist, before founding The Allman Betts Band in 2018 with Duane Betts. There is a familial connection, as their fathers Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts were in The Allman Brothers Band, who played the 1970 Atlanta International Pop Festival with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Devon Allman’s musical style ranges from Southern Rock to soul to blues, making him a perfect candidate for taking on the immense challenge of doing Hendrix’s music justice in a live setting. “Really looking forward to celebrating the eternal, cosmic music of Jimi Hendrix,” stated Devon Allman. “His singing voice has inspired me just as much as his ethereal, Martian, liquid-esque guitar. It’s gonna be a stone cold groove…be with us!” Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s soulful and pitch-perfect guitar playing has been a key component of the Experience Hendrix Tour for many years. The five-time Grammy nominee and recipient of two Billboard Music Awards commented, “I’m excited to be a part of the Experience Hendrix Tour again. This tour always offers fans a unique opportunity to see artists from multiple genres of music all honoring the great Jimi Hendrix. The diversity of the artists that take part every year only goes to show the vast reach of Jimi Hendrix’s influence.” Among the other artists featured on the 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour are Texas blues sensation Ally Venable, Chuck Campbell and Calvin Cooke (Slide Brothers), vocalist Noah Hunt and bassist Kevin McCormick (both of Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band), Mato Nanji (Indigenous), blues guitar prodigy Mathias Lattin, Brazilian guitarist Artur Menezes, vocalists Dylan Triplett and Henri Brown, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chris Layton (Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble). Traveling to each and every city with the array of artists, Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix and Co-Founder of the Tour explains the magnitude of each event, “It’s a beautiful and powerful phenomenon to witness! We have all of these incredibly talented musicians, each with their own special vibe, coming together in celebration of Jimi and his music. You can feel the energy and the love being poured out on stage and every audience adds to the electricity! It’s amazing!” She continued, “I think this is the kind of experience Jimi was talking about in his songs. The power of soul! This is why we do the Tour. We want to share that experience!” The 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour is sponsored by Marshall, Fender Musical Instruments and Dunlop. Marshall amps have long been associated with Jimi Hendrix and were his amplifiers of choice during his career. Fender is now celebrating the 70thanniversary of the Fender Stratocaster, the guitar most often associated with Jimi Hendrix. Dunlop makers of gear and accessories, recently launched line of Authentic Hendrix ’68 Shrine Series of stomp boxes/effects pedals. Visit www.experiencehendrixtour.com for artist lineups by date. 2025 Experience Hendrix Tour dates: March 11th – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre March 12th – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre March 13th – Greensburg, PA – Palace Theatre March 14th – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park March 15th – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall March 18th – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall March 19th – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater March 20th – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre March 21st – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre March 22nd – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre March 23rd – Buffalo, NY – Kleinhans Music Hall March 25th – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre March 27th – Lynn, MA – Lynn Memorial Auditorium March 28th – Westbury, NY – Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair March 29th – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre March 30th – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts April 1st – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Center for the Arts April 2nd – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center April 3rd – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom April 4th – Atlantic City, NJ – Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort April 5th – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre April 6th – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center April 8th – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center April 9th – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium April 10th – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre April 11th – Greenville, SC – Peace Center Concert Hall April 12th – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
If you were a fan of The Bonzo Dog Band back in the day (heck, even The Beatles loved them … and included them in their “Magical Mystery Tour” television special), you’ll be thrilled to hear about this new collected works that will be released next month.  Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band “Still Barking” CD/DVD Box Set Available For Pre-order! 17 CDs and three DVDs plus a hardback coffee table book! Madfish Music is delighted to announce the forthcoming release of “Still Barking,” a highly anticipated CD/DVD box set of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. This deluxe compilation will be released on December 13, 2024. This major retrospective box set has been in the making for seven years. Band members Roger Ruskin Spear, “Legs” Larry Smith, Rodney Slater, Vernon Dudley Bowhay Nowell, Sam Spoons and Neil Innes were involved in defining the original concept. Titling the set “Still Barking” was very much Neil’s idea. Sadly, Neil, Sam and Vernon passed away before the set’s completion, but their involvement has been immeasurable. Initial work on the box set was halted by a court case which the Bonzos eventually won. Madfish Music overcame numerous hurdles to clearing material, finding masters and sourcing unreleased material. Surviving and former band members contributed reminiscences and pithy tales and fans were invited to put forward their own memories and memorabilia. The result of everyone’s hard work and dedication has culminated in two editions of the box set (see special notes below for a list of contents). The Standard Edition will feature 17 CDs and three DVDs plus a hardback coffee table book featuring a new essay by esteemed music journalist Chris Welch, archive writings, memorabilia and photographs, and a detailed chronology (cornology) of the band. The Special Edition release will also include a shellac 78 rpm record, an etched, one sided 7” single featuring a previously unreleased version of “Boo!,” reproductions of early promotional posters and booklets, plus an exclusive signed print of the box set artwork by artist Dan Abbott. Formed in the early 1960s by art students Vivian Stanshall and Rodney Slater, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band began as a jazz ensemble parodying the music of the 1920s and 30s. Already proving they were a creative force, their art school training further encouraged them to think outside the box – twist the norm and mix genres. Elements of slapstick comedy, music hall, Mariachi flavors, psychedelia and bawdy seaside humor all conspired and inspired the growing band to evolve into a pioneering force in rock and comedy. Their satirical songs, surreal humor, eccentric and eclectic performances quickly made them a favorite on the London underground scene and secured them a permanent residence in the counterculture prevalent at the time. Their appearances on the TV show “Do Not Adjust Your Set” gained them national fame and featured many of the songs that have become lifelong favorites of fans and critics alike. “I'm The Urban Spaceman,” became the band’s most successful UK hit produced by Paul McCartney under the pseudonym Apollo C. Vermouth. “We know Bonzo’s fans will be excited about this release,” a spokesperson for Madfish Music explains. “In addition to remasters of the band’s original albums, we have sourced rare and previously unreleased outtakes, BBC Sessions, short films, vintage footage, live recordings and films of concerts in Europe and USA. This was a band that would leave an indelible mark not just on their fans but the music and comedy world. “‘Still Barking’ is the definitive 20-disc limited edition boxset, the ultimate tribute to a band that defined a genre. Dive into the eccentric world of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and experience their enduring legacy.”  BOXSET CONTENTS 17 CDs documenting a spectacularly entertaining career featuring: • Stereo versions of all the band’s original albums, carefully remastered to capture their idiosyncratic charm • Additional versions of “Gorilla” and “The Doughnut in Granny’s Greenhouse” in their original mono mixes • A newly compiled CD of all the band’s singles • Two discs of demos, rehearsals, and outtakes • A single disc of backing tracks • Three discs of BBC Sessions that capture the band’s eccentric live energy • Two live discs: Studio Bellevue, Amsterdam. Recorded: November 1968. Transmission date: 3 January 1969 Fillmore East, NYC, 17 October 1969 • A CD featuring a live rehearsal for a show from London’s Marquee Club and additional material of band rehearsals from the Manor Studios in Oxfordshire. Plus: Note: the following content is only available in the
Special Deluxe Edition: Release Date: 13 December 2024 To pre-order: https://bonzodog.lnk.to/Still_BarkingTW Sean Ross has brought back his LOST FACTOR series, re-examining the biggest Lost Hits of 1982, as determined by their rank in stature at the time vs. the amount of airplay they receive today. Here are The Top 15: #1 - Vangelis, “Chariots of Fire” #2 - Air Supply, “Sweet Dreams” #3 - Charlene, “I’ve Never Been to Me” #4 - Buckner & Garcia, “Pac-Man Fever” #5 – Roberta Flack - “Making Love” #6 - Diana Ross, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” #7 – The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, “Hooked on Classics” #8 - Karla Bonoff, “Personally” #9 - Juice Newton, “The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)” #10 - Sheena Easton, “You Could Have Been With Me” #11 - Dan Fogelberg, “Leader of the Band” #12 - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder, “Ebony and Ivory” #13 - Barbra Streisand, “Comin’ In and Out of Your Life” #14 - Elton John, “Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)” #15 - Paul McCartney, “Take It Away” I still hear “Personally” quite a bit … and it’s always a joy to hear “Take It Away,” which does pop up from time to time … but honestly, do you miss hearing ANY of these others??? “I’ve Never Been To Me” and “Ebony And Ivory” may be two of the lamest songs of all time … and “Pac Man Fever,” “Hooked On Classics” and “Chariots Of Fire” (which for quite a while seemed to be airing as part of EVERY television network or commercial ad possible) were so “of the time” as not to be missed in 2024. Did Barbra Streisand, Dan Fogelberg, Elton John and Air Supply ever record wimpier songs than those listed above? Is anybody out there REALLY craving hearing these again? I don’t know about you … but I’m just not missing many of these … and am perfectly content hearing “Personally” and “Take It Away” as often as I do. Throw in Diana Ross’ take on “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” every once in a blue moon, and I’m good! (kk) |
From Jim Roup …
Happy Birthday to Petula Clark 🎂 at a Beverly Hilton event in L.A.
Boy, we LOVE Petula!
(Saw her a few years back at The Arcada Theatre
I asked Jim how he got his start photographing all of these celebrities and he told me:
These images of mine go back in time. I finally picked up a camera back in late August of '88 and went up to the trendy hot spot, Spago. Was thrilled to take a picture of Dinah Shore and others that night. Met the paparazzi, who were friendly back then. Got a book called "Shoot The Stars." It had a section where to send your pix. Submitted my first batch of pix to the National Enquirer. Got a message back from them that said they are using my photo of Jim Backus with a bandage on his head in the next issue! Wow! $190 for my color slide. Took pix for the next ten years.
Good to to hear from. You do a great job with your website. Thanks for running my forgotten pix!
Thanks! Keep up the great work!
Regards,
Jim
Tom Cuddy tells us that
Burt Bacharach, composer of classic songs, will have papers donated to Library of Congress | AP News
The December 7th Peter Yarrow concert I was to attend here in Milford, CT has been postponed due to illness.
Shelley
(His, not mine ...
you are being fresh, Shelley)
Must be a rather serious illness if they’re cancelling the three weeks in advance …
Implies he’s not expected to get better by then. Hmm. (kk)
Also from Shelley ...
