July, 1967, was my introduction to The Who - at the Lido Beach Club (with my father, who was Decca's PR-chief), playing around the pool. Keith Moon had day-glo drumsticks and they were simply sensational. But as I approached them, a weird vibe began to emerge.
Decades later, I met with Pete Townshend at a Rockers On Broadway event we were repping and again, that aura emerged.
Strange ways for sure
- DIS
Fastest Revolving Door in Rock History!
Can anyone recall more back and forth (in and out) with a member of any band?
David Lewis
I can’t see why they felt a need to air all of this publicly. I mean, let’s face it … the decision was always going to draw attention either way, especially when announced in conjunction with their latest farewell tour. But Zak Starkey has been with the band for 29 years! (And it’s not like he’s not just a little bit famous in his own right! Most of you have probably heard of his dad before!)
This still seems to be a case of Roger Daltrey stomping his feet until he got his way …
But then why would Pete Townshend come out and publicly deny the firing, posting pictures of himself and Zak in happier times?!?!
The whole thing reeks of bad publicity … or, at the very least, a MAJOR publicity gaffe. It’s a shame that after 60+ years the band chose to go out on such a low note. Kinda makes you miss the days when they just used to beat each other up on stage for entertainment! (kk)
Rod Stewart will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s American Music Awards. He will also perform.
This is the 51st AMA ceremony and will be broadcast live from the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, on Monday, May 26th, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S. (kk)
Billboard interviewed Connie Francis about her sudden “overnight success” in the TikTok arena with her 63 year old recording of “Pretty Little Baby” …
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/connie-francis-viral-hit-pretty-little-baby-1235976736/
Francis, 87, admits she didn’t even know what TikTok was when she first heard the news … and had to listen to the song again to even remember ever having recorded it. (Turns out she cut it in several different languages, which was sort of her thing back then.)
Holding no particular significance in Connie’s memory, “Pretty Little Baby” was just one of 40 songs she recorded during several sessions spread out over four days in August of 1961. It ended up on her “Connie Francis Sings Second Hand Love & Other Hits” album. (#111) How anybody even found it is really quite remarkable … but, incredibly, it has turned into a MAJOR hit.
Billboard is reporting that on April 10th, “Pretty Little Baby” was streaming 17,000 times per week in the U.S. A month later, it was streaming 2.4 million times (!!!), an increase of more than 7,000%. The track has over TEN BILLION TikTok views, “hitting No. 1 on the app’s Viral 50 and Top 50 charts, and recently crossed over to streaming success, with 14 million global streams, landing at No. 67 on Spotify’s Global Top 100. Francis’ label, Universal Music, recently reissued the versions Francis had sung in Swedish, Japanese and other languages in 1962, when her label, MGM, hoped to score hits in regions outside the U.S.”
CONNIE FRANCIS: I want to thank everybody. It gives me a new lease on life. It’s just a blessing to know that kindergarten kids know me and my music now. It’s really thrilling. (kk)
Tom Cuddy sent us this loving tribute to Johnny Mathis in honor of his last show …
And some personal reflections from Joe Marchese of The Second Disc …
Grace Jones had a birthday 🎊🎂🎈🎉🎊 on May 19!
Mystery ponytail contest!
Who is it?
He turned 80 on May 19th, too.
It's Pete Townshend being guarded from fans who showed up at The Four Seasons Hotel after The Who performed "Tommy" at Universal Amphitheater. Took pix of fans with Roger that night. The hotel security wanted the fans off the property. Roger continued to be cool and yelled at the security. Very cool of him.
Jim Roup
Sad to hear the actor/comedian George Wendt has passed away.
I had a very unique run-in with George MANY, many years ago when I was working for a small printer downtown.
This would have been in the late ‘70’s, a time when I regularly went to shows at The Second City and saw Wendt appear alongside his future “Cheers” costar Shelley Long.
I was very familiar with the various characters he portrayed on The Second City stage … and one day, out of the blue, he came into the print shop where I was working down on Rush Street in the city to have his resume printed on the back of some black and white glossy photos.
I recognized him immediately and said “Second City!!!” He was completely shocked at being recognized … “No Way!” he blurted out. He told me he was heading out to California to try and get some work out there. Imagine my shock and surprised a few years later when both he AND Long were cast in the new NBC comedy.
I was an immediate fan of the show (and remained so for about the first six seasons or so.) It was my first introduction to Woody Harrelson, too … who would have EVER guessed all of the amazing things he would go on to do after playing such a bumpkin on this series in the VERY unenviable role of replacing “Coach” behind the bar.
We’ll miss ya, George. (kk)
DJ’s + KENT …
DEATH REPORT
On My Platters Group, DJ Richard Phillips Is Reporting That Reverend James Reynolds Of The Edsels Has Died.
FRANK B.
Reynolds was a founding member of the group, who scored one classic rock and roll hit in 1961 with “Rama-Lama-Ding-Dong” (#21)
It was not planned. It just happened.
My daughter told me months ago we were going to Goodspeed Opera House on Mother's Day. Then two more opportunities came along for the Thursday and Friday night before. At the end of every school year, the push comes to use up all of our personal days. Seems like this is the perfect time to me.
Setting off Thursday afternoon, May 8th, for Peekskill, NY with plenty of time to get to the hotel. Good thing, because my GPS switched to a search I had done to Harwinton, CT, the night before. I was then slightly off-track as I was going north instead of northwest. Pull over, reset, get going again. The theatres on this road trip are all vintage, restored (or still in restoration mode) and with so much character and history in the architecture. This one in Peekskill is called The Paramount. The show is Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone with opener Larry Stevens.
Larry Stevens has a band, which he says is still circling on the roundabout of Black Bear Mountain Expressway. Funny, but I am confident that he is booked here as a solo act. There are times that openers surprise you. This is one of those times.
He really is a powerful entertainer. He plays his guitar and sings while not only delivering great music, but also quippy conversation. He repeats the fact that he will tell us a joke, "and it's a good one" at the end of his set. You know what ... I will tell you his joke ... at the end of my review.
The man sitting next to me has a photo of Peter Noone holding a microphone out to him on the Flower Power Cruise as he belts out "Henry." "I had been drinking." He has come from Ithaca to see this concert. The conversation is fun.
The concert is a much-needed ball of fun. The top ten songs we hear at every concert plus five or six that are more rarely performed. Jimmy Herter is filling in for Billy Sullivan, who is recovering from knee surgery. Jimmy has been active in HHSPN before to help complete the group. Peter is spending more time in the audience it seems, singing, interacting and just enjoying the moments.
The next day, I drive back toward home but detour in Bridgeport to the Bridgeport / Port Jefferson Ferry to ride over to Long Island. This cuts an hour out of my trip, but more importantly, it is restful as I am not driving but riding over the waves. OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY TODAY. This must be our rainy and windy season, as it just keeps popping its head out every few days. Then drive off the ferry and continue on to Riverhead, LI.
The Suffolk is another eye-catching venue. I spend time both nights looking at the ceilings, walls and decor while I wait for the shows to begin. Both hotels had been refurbished and modernized, both theatres were being restored, both shows were fun and re-energizing. I was in my glory.
The past month plus, the Saturday surveys have conveyed the success of the British Invasion 60 years ago including Herman's Hermits. How fitting that I could back up Kent's stories with a concert road trip!
Back on the ferry. A beautiful calm trip going home. A restful Saturday night before Mother's Day and a trip to East Haddam, CT, to the Civil War era theatre, Goodspeed Opera House to see 'Ragtime.' A musical about music? Sort of.
'Ragtime' is a historical novel of the beginning of the 20th Century when ragtime music was first seeping into society. It depicts three different social classes of the times (I will use the words from the show) immigrants, negroes, and white society. Goodspeed decided to open with this show this season to acknowledge the resurgence of similar current social separations. Their settings, props and performers are always the best; brought in from NYC and various theatre groups to give their audiences impact not found elsewhere.
I go back to school Monday. It is a Full Moon. Every school employee and hospital can tell you this will be a week of surprises. BUT I HAVE MEMORIES AND FEEL SO RELAXED AND HAPPY. I need to instill this as a tradition before every full moon.
Larry Stevens' joke?
An elephant walks down a beach passing a naked man sunbathing. The elephant asks the man, "How do you breathe through that?"
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
From Timmy ...
Funny of the Day
