Billboard Magazine recently published their Staff Writers’ Picks for The 100 Best Country Songs of All-Time.
As to be expected, there are some surprises … and some key omissions … but it’s certainly enough to start a conversation!
You can view the whole, complete list here:
After The Who announced their upcoming North American Farewell Tour, they also announced the release of a new live album featuring their 1971 fund-raising concert at The Oval. (From the sounds of things, it was kind of an “addition” to George Harrison’s Concert For Bangla Desh, also released that year.)
The Faces, Mott The Hoople and America also appeared on this gig … but this release centers on the performance of The Who.
Here’s the track list:
So Glad to See Ya; Summertime Blues; My Wife; Love Ain't for Keeping; I Can't Explain; Substitute; Bargain; Behind Blue Eyes; Won't Get Fooled Again; Baby Don't You Do It; Pinball Wizard; See Me, Feel Me/Listening to You; My Generation; Naked Eye; Magic Bus
LJ Coon, who’s been looking into the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson back in 1959, shared this new piece of information …
Kent ...
Thomas {Tommy} Canale from Streator, IL {now living in Las Vegas, NV} is currently writing a book, 'Shadows Over Clear Lake,' about the aviation accident and deaths of Buddy Holly - Ritchie Valens - JP Richardson - Pilot Roger Peterson during the early morning hours of February 3, 1959. Tommy Canale contacted me after researching and finding the 2015 NTSB re-consideration news stories on opening an investigation. Canale has always wondered if the airplane that night had been properly fueled, who fueled the airplane, how much fuel, why wasn't there a fire, why didn't the C.A.B. complain about having to walk and work in the remaining fuel during their inspection / investigation in 1959?
Tommy Canale's book is due out in September, 2025
LJ
Happy 80th ππ!!!! to Bob Seger. Here he is, as he celebrated his 44th at Spago.
ππ Birthday greetings, too, to Chris Frantz of Talking Heads, seen here with wife and band member Tina Weymouth at a Grammy after party at Chasen's.
Also π π having a Birthday Toni Tennille who just turned 85! Seen at a Beverly Hilton event.
Jim Roup
Jim also sent us this (we’ve had several emails about The Real Don Steele after we ran our blurb last week) … Timmy sent in some new YouTube links featuring some of his shows. You’ll find those links below. (kk)
A few items regarding The Real Don Steele ... Nice work Timmy π
When Don worked at KHJ on Melrose, he was known to hang at Nickodell restaurant next door. It was demolished, including KHJ, to make parking lots for Paramount studios. Once while waiting for a table with my folks, there was another couple next to us ... Sonny and Cher. This was back in 1966!
Jim Roup
Kent,
Thank you for correcting the Real Don Steele info.
Recently, I posted a 3 LP set of RDS's "Live From the 60's," which I transferred to digital, on my youtube channel ...
Here are the links -
Part 1 link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teb87iu4NWg
Part 2 link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y755ZWNhURE
Timmy
From David Salidor …
8 SHOWS 6 CITIES - DOLENZ’S
SONG AND STORIES ROAD SHOW A SUCCESS
After eight sold-out shows in the last month (Nashville, Delaware, Orlando, Clearwater,
Tampa, Ocean City and Pittsburgh), Micky Dolenz’s Songs and Stories
presentation is prepping for another go-round after Memorial Day and heading
into the summer of 25.
When reflecting on his continuing success, Dolenz told the St. Pete Catalyst that the music of The Monkees was an important factor: “I think the longevity, first of all, comes from the quality of the original material. And in my case, I had some of the greatest songwriters. I put an awful lot of the success of the Monkee music to the songwriters, because we had some of the best. Well, that material stands up because the original material stands up. And when you have a song written by Neil Diamond or Carole King or Boyce & Hart, those people don’t write many duff tunes. That’s the reason, essentially, why the music stands up. And of course, I’d like to think I had something to do with it, on vocals and playing and stuff. But there’s also producers, musicians, singers and record company promotion, all that kind of stuff goes along with it.”
Tampa’s Creative Loafing said of the show: The Songs and Stories tour is a healthy mix of the Monkee hits he wailed and drummed on in the ‘60s, stories about the many interactions he had with other music legends, and covers of said legends’ songs that link to whatever tale of his life he’s looking to “punctuate” with a relatable tune.
Adds Dolenz: “People just love to hear those stories when they’re connected to me, and they’re personal stories - my experience with some of these people.”
Harvey Kubernik tells us about the upcoming Henry Diltz tour … unfortunately confined to the West Coast only at this time …
And Clark Besch sends another reminder about James Holvay’s recent action on the UK Soul Charts …
IF you are a radio DJ, hope you check this out!
Great CHICAGO RNB to check out!
Hey guys and gals, I gotta tell ya about my buddy, James Holvay's new music 45!
If you still love, but miss Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler and all the great smooth Chicago 60s sounds, James still has "got it!" And NOW, it's gonna be available on vinyl 45 from a UK company, LRK Records, who will be pressing and releasing his two songs "Love That Lady" b/w "Don't Take Your Love" from his CD, "Working Man." It's already hitting charts! Here’s last week's "Soul Breaker's Chart!"
Just listen to these two groovy tunes here:
Love That Lady and Don't Take Your Love
You likely know all the Buckinghams hits James wrote in 66/7 era as well as his decades with the Mob and now you will see that he has never lost his touch for what made Chicago 60s music great!
Many of you are longtime radio or Chicago 60s music friends and some are just fans of this type of 60s music! Some of you likely KNEW James in his Chicago days. IF you're a radio person, hope you will consider giving these tracks a spin on your shows and if you are a vinyl nut, here's your chance to own a great new vinyl 60s Chicago sound once again! If you have blogs or websites that you can promote James' new music, that would be awesome.
If you care to give James a shout about his music or an interview, you can drop him a line out in California here:
Orders can be placed NOW, but you can still PLAY these wonders NOW, too!
Here's the 45 label and the place to order the 45!
It's pricy vinyl at about $30 to US with paypal transfer and shipping amount, but downloads are very reasonable.
If nothing else, give it a listen, as you wont regret it!
SWEET CHICAGO SOUL… – Soul and Jazz and Funk
Thanks for reading this. I believe in James and his music. Long live Chicago 60's music!
WLSClark
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
5/11/65 – The Byrds appear on “Hullabaloo” to sing their hit “Mr. Tambourine Man.” This is their first appearance on television.
(And we've even got a bonus track for you ... from the same show!!!)