Sunday, June 22, 2025

The Sunday Comments ( 06 - 22 - 25 )

Kent:

As I walked into the Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT, Wednesday night for the Happy Together Tour, I ran into Ron Dante in the lobby, who, as usual, was being his upbeat friendly and happy self.

Then, I’m happy to report, that late in the show, as Ron is singing the Turtles hits, he pauses, and tells the audience  . . . “Mark Volman is not here tonight, but we all hope he feels better soon so he can join us on the road later this summer.”

Kent, you were definitely instrumental in having this message shared in a prominent portion of the show, rather than said on the PA system long before the show starts.

Also, in Stamford, one of the original members of the Jay and the Americans appeared (Sandy Deanne.)  He had been missing on many of the early dates of this year’s tour.

Tom Cuddy

So glad to hear they’re paying tribute to and acknowledging these other great performers.

Tom also sent a recent interview with Sandy Deanne of Jay and the Americans to share … https://youtu.be/x5aW6YUtxIo  (kk)

So at last night's tour stop in Red Bank, New Jersey, Ron Dante did a one sentence mention re: Mark Volman:  “We wish him a speedy recovery” (presumably from his current health episode.) 

I was ambivalent about seeing Jay and the Americans maybe trying to pass themselves off as originals, but with original member Sandy narrating, he acknowledged the other two Jays and truly made it feel like a tribute performance.  And yes, the new Jay lived up to the name.

Ron

Speaking of Ron Dante, he has a new video out of a song he recorded with The Cherry Drops.  It’s an animated clip to a song called "Happynessville."  According to Shelley (who sent me a copy of the clip), Ron Dante recorded this with them in 2018 for an LP, but they just added the animation. (kk)

In her words: 

With all the recent deaths, this just seemed needed. Light and fun.

I need fewer deaths. Can you make that the priority?

Shelley

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16r5fcWjUX/

Watching the 50th Anniversary broadcast of “Jaws” Friday night brought back all kinds of memories.  (I’ve probably seen the film twenty times … and, as such, sure didn’t enjoy seeing it stretched to three hours to slip in an extra 56 minutes of commercials … nothing like breaking up the action in a movie that’s all about the action!!!)

Still, it holds up pretty well, even if many of the early beach scenes do look a little dated.

It looks like this movie cost about $9 million to make … and has since grossed nearly $500 million … so not a bad return at all!

The John Williams score adds SO much to this movie … and his “Theme from ‘Jaws’” hit #25 on the pop charts that year.  (It’s an eerie sound that has been used in SO many other skits since … not unlike the screaming violins and violas used in the film “Psycho” that has haunted us for decades now.)

Naturally, this inspired me to feature “Mr. Jaws” by Dickie Goodman, a record that topped the chart here in Chicago in 1975.  It also hit #1 on both the Cash Box and Record World charts, stopping at #4 in Billboard.  (kk)

I heard from about a dozen readers on Saturday (6/21) about the retirement of Dr. Demento ... no big surprise to me since I had run the story back on June 13th!  (lol)  See, that's why you've got to read Forgotten Hits every day!  (I heard it from Ross On Radio the day before and ran the story immediately since I was such a huge fan of the show at one time ... even went to see him in concert once at The Arcada Theatre!)

Anyway, Tom Cuddy sent me this article from The New York Times ... but it looks like the rest of the world caught up to this story in several different places on Saturday.  (kk)

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/21/arts/music/dr-demento-radio-dj-retires.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Q08.iTqy.Mc4B3Z08G58u&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare 

Wow!  Looks like we even scooped Rolling Stone and The New York Times on this one!  lol  (kk) 

Here is Harvey Kubernik’s recent Brian Wilson article, published in full on what would have been Brian’s 83rd birthday, June 20th.

https://ugly-things.com/brian-wilson-1942-2025-2/

Everybody's posting their summer favorites ...

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/summer-forrock-songs/?lh_aid=1132776&lh_cid=op5eguhsgz&di=d034616cf6640344184842ff13029f70 

https://bestclassicbands.com/great-summer-rock-songs-9-20-1555/ 

kk ...

I Found A Great Lou Christie Interview On FACEBOOK = 

"FANS OF COUSIN BRUCE MORROW" ...

Scroll Down -- It's Right After Alan Freed Picture ... Vimeo Video Clip.

Towards The End, Joey Reynolds & Big Jay Interview Lou Christie.

I Think It Was His Last Interview.

FB 

It looks like these interviews come from several different years, some apparently several years ago - but a good mix of interviews nonetheless.  

Here's another link in case you have trouble with the Facebook scenario (like I did!)

https://vimeo.com/1094579732/bd26e3f7d9?share=copy&fbclid=IwY2xjawLEPopleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFXbllVeFdHa0pZWEdoalU5AR5kSrTGVB_agn82EpwXcq9IyYe3rgL6m8EUYSDtAu6e57wDv7DMtnH3PsSDuA_aem_rVRI3N6tGjumUmh4LCVpDA 

(By the way, Lou's recording of "Beyond The Blue Horizon" is MY personal favorite by him, too ... but I don't know that he got the chance to perform it live very often.) - kk

 
'The All Star Band'

1. Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco
"Lou Christie'

2. Dickey Lee

Kent,
As so many others, my brothers and I grew up during 'Lou Christie's' time on the radio.
It was 30 years ago this past May when I had the chance to actually see 'Lou Christie' perform.
It was at a Nashville, TN arena, at an Oldies Show.
A dear friend was playing drums for The Show Band, 'The All Stars' and he invited us to the show.
What my friend 'The Drummer' for The Show Band didn't know and soon learned was that 'Lou Christie' would ONLY perform with his own drummer and had brought him to this show {and he had to set up his own drums.}
A bit frustrating and disappointing, as my friend was really looking forward to playing the entire show, especially with 'Lou Christie' ... but it didn't work out. 
However, he did get to play drums for the other performers that evening, and close out The Show with 'The All Star Band.'
L J
L J Coon
As I recall, Lou Christie used a "pick-up" band when he toured, who were given the charts for all of the songs that Lou was going to perform that night, but he always traveled with his own drummer and long-time friend and arranger, Ron Wilson, as well as his regular three female back-up singers.
(Would have been nice if the venue/promoter would have told your friend ahead of time as to the circumstances ... but it sounds like he would have been needed there the rest of the night to play with the other performers and close the show.)  kk 
 
THREE THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT LOU CHRISTIE UNTIL AFTER HIS PASSING: 
 
1) During the hit medley phase of the early '80's (Stars on 45 and Beach Boys, Beatles, CCR and Elvis medleys to name but a few), a studio band was assembled and named  "The Cantina Band," hoping to cash in on the Star Wars craze that was also going on at the time.  The Cantina Band recorded a Beach Boys medley of their own that featured Surfer Girl / Fun Fun Fun / 409 / I Get Around / Dance Dance Dance / California Girls, Wouldn't It Be Nice / Help Me Rhonda / Good Vibrations.  In fact, I believe the story at the time was that Capitol Records quickly put out their OWN Beach Boys Medley to override these "covers" on the charts, which it did.  The Cantina Band's "Summer '81 Medley" peaked at #81 while "The Beach Boys Medley" went all the way to #5.)
Anyway, the point in all this rambling is that it was LOU CHRISTIE who did the vocals for The Cantina Band's track.


 
2) In 1972, Lou Christie recorded a remake of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in the hopes of a comeback hit.  However, after a dispute between his manager Stan Polley and record company executive Neil Bogart, Christie's vocals were wiped off the recording and replaced by NEW vocals done by Robert John ... who went on to score a major #2 Hit with his version of the tune.  (As a sidenote, Polley was the manager who caused the rift ... and rip-off ... of Badfinger ... after which band members Pete Ham and Tom Evans both hung themselves!  Sounds like Stan Polley was a real nice guy!)   

3) After Bobby Rydell's passing in 2022, Lou Christie stepped in as one of new manager Dick Fox's "Golden Boys" and toured and performed alongside Frankie Avalon and Fabian.  (kk)


And, speaking of Bobby Rydell ... 

kk … 

September 8, 2025 = First Annual Bobby Rydell Foundation Golf Outing In New Jersey.

$170. You Can Play Golf Or Just Donate & Watch.

Check Out Details >>>  https://www.thebobbyrydellfoundation.org/event-details-registration/swingin-with-bobby-golf-outing

FB

Ultimate Classic Rock did one of their usual countdowns this week, ranking the Best Opening Songs From a Beatles Album (from worst to best)

Confined to British pressings (and eliminating the Yellow Submarine soundtrack LP for some reason), here is how they came up with their Top 12 Ranking  (my opinions, shown in black, offer quite a different picture, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight!)

12. It Won’t Be Long  (12 - a week opening track for its British counterpart – I Want To Hold Your Hand kicked off Meet The Beatles here in The States)

11. Magical Mystery Tour (10)

10. I Saw Her Standing There (4 – this song has only grown in stature over the years; odds are today you’re more likely to hear THIS track than its life-changing A-Side here in The States, I Want To Hold Your Hand)

 9. Two Of Us  (11)

 8. Help! (9)

 7. Back In The USSR (6 – a great way to kick off their first album on their own record label)

 6. No Reply (5 – always one of my favorites)

 5. Drive My Car (3)

 4. Taxman  (2)

 3. A Hard Day’s Night  (1 – NOTHING beats that opening guitar chord to kick off this album!)

 2. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / With A Little Help From My Friends (7 – revolutionary at its time – but its worn a bit thin for me over the years and repeated listens)

 1. Come Together (8 – we’re worlds apart on this one!)

And, speaking of The Beatles ...

ONE WEEK AWAY! Sunday, JUNE 29 enjoy a special program of rare, Beatles films & footage never been publicly shown... until now!

Just One Week Away June 29 in N.J. "60 Years of the Beatles in America" Film Event

 

Hosted by renowned Beatles aficionado/author Charles F. Rosenay!!! & Beatles expert/ archivist Erik Taros, this afternoon program will feature:

  • Rare, privately-owned Beatles concert footage shown on the big screen
  • Captivating stories that offer a closer look at John, Paul, George, and Ringo
  • Behind-the-scenes insights revealing how their early years set the stage for their enduring legacy
  • Q&A Session: A chance to ask your burning questions and dive deeper into the Beatles’ history.
  • After-show Meet & Greet and Book Signing

Sunday, June 29 at 3PM experience Rare Beatles Films & Footage at the Concert Hall at Drew University in Madison, NJ. Attendees will have the extraordinary opportunity to experience 90 minutes of rare, privately-owned concert footage that has never been shown to the public, along with captivating stories & insights that even the most dedicated fans have yet to discover. Meet the hosts and connect with fellow fans for an unforgettable afternoon.

Save $ get your advance “TICKET TO RIDE” tickets now at GDPresents.simpletix.com or call (917) 567-5842. Don’t miss this rare event that will have every Beatles fan singing, smiling, and reminiscing, and saying “I NEVER SAW THAT!”

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/668743198992472 
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