Wanna feel old(er)???
Debbie Harry just turned 80 yesterday!
The sexy former Playboy Bunny lead singer of Blondie first hit the charts in a very big way in 1979 when their debut chart single “Heart Of Glass” went all the way to #1. (They would score three other #1 hits before they were thru … "Call Me" hit #1 in 1980 ... while “The Tide Is High” and “Rapture” both topped the charts in 1981.)
Happy Birthday, Debbie! We love ya! (kk)
Hey Kent,
Just a quick comment about the Turtles.
I always liked the band and I give them a ton of credit for turning about a dozen singles into a 60 year music career. Back in the day, songs were usually close to two minutes long (give or take a bit.) My thought has always been 30 minutes worth of music sustained the band over all these years. I believe they had eight singles in the Top 20 and a few more that didn't chart so high.
One thing I never understood was how my all time Turtles favorite, "LET ME BE" only made it to #29 on the Billboard chart. Oh well. "THANKS" for listening.
Gary Maurer
I’ve always loved The Turtles …they actually played at my high school back in 1967. (“She’s My Girl” had just been released as a single, one of the eight Top 20 Hits that you mentioned. See The Turtles Hit List below!)
“Let Me Be” was never one of my favorites … but if it’s any consolation, it actually rose to #25 on the Record World chart … and it hit #26 in Cash Box, both besting its #29 showing in Billboard!
It’s a shame that Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman can no longer participate in the “Happy Together” Tour that bears their name, thanks to their all-time biggest hit. They always put on a fun and entertaining show ... and always seemed to be having as much fun up there as we were in the audience! (kk)
THE TURTLES HIT LIST
1965- It Ain’t Me Babe (#7)
1965 – Let Me Be (#25)
1966 – You Baby (#15)
1967 – Happy Together (#1)
1967 – She’d Rather Be With Me (#1)
1967 – You Know What I Mean (#12)
1967 – She’s My Girl (#14)
1968 – Sound Asleep (#30)
1968 – The Story Of Rock And Roll (#36)
1968 – Elenore (#5)
1969 – You Showed Me (#1)
John Fogerty has been appearing on Sirius/XM’s Classic Vinyl Channel this week, telling stories and playing some of his favorites alongside some of the new music he has recorded with his family. His “Legacy” CD (where he recreates some of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s biggest hits) is out August 22nd.
And, The Billy Joel Channel is back in preparation for the two-part HBO special airing later this month. (Part 1 airs July 18th, and Part 2 premiers on July 25th)
In light of Billy's recent health issues, the timing could be better for pique interest! (kk)
Tomorrow (July 3rd) The Get Together Foundation will be presenting a concert paying tribute to the music of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.
It all takes place at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, California. The Tribe Band will be the headliners, but along the way they’ll be joined on stage by special guests like Blondie Chaplin and David Marks, both former members of The Beach Boys, as well as Brian’s daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson (from Wilson Phillips … who are playing here next month in Michigan … about a 90-100 minute drive that we’re considering making.)
Also appearing will be The Honeys, Leo Knutson and former Wrecking Crew member Don Randi, as well as actor/singer Rob Morrow, actress Rebecca Holden, Lawrence Juber (from Wings), Nelson Bragg from The Brian Wilson Band and many others (with more surprises promised.) A silent and live auction are also planned.
It's late, but there are still some tickets available:
https://wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/events/get-together-foundation-a-tribute-to-the-beach-boys/
https://www.axs.com/events/990231/a-tribute-to-the-beach-boys-tickets?skin=agoura
Meanwhile, The Beach Boys are scheduled to appear at the annual Capitol Fourth Concert in Washington, DC, along with The Temptations, Josh Turner, Yolanda Adams and others. The concert will air on PBS on the 4th of July at 7 pm Central Time. (kk)
Kenny Loggins has a new book out. It’s his autobiography, “Still Alright” … and you can order a copy here: https://store.rockcellarmagazine.com/product/kenny-loggins-still-alright-a-memoir/
It sounds like Glastonbury marked the final performance of The Searchers, one of the most talented (and under-rated bands of The British Invasion)
Clark Besch sent me a long “thank you and farewell” letter from Frank Allen …
But better still, there are some photos and videos to enjoy here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=searchers+glastonbury
Meanwhile, Ivan Doroschuk has reformed Men Without Hats and released a new song, “I Love The ‘80’s” as well as announced a new tour that will cover The UK, Europe and The United States.
Men Without Hats scored a Top Three Hit in 1983 with “The Safety Dance. The new single employs that same techno-sound that made their first hit so popular.
While Ivan is the only original member of the band (he wrote and sang all of the band’s chart hits, as well as this new one), there is still a connection between this new version and the original …
Sahara Sloan (keyboards and vocals) is the daughter of Ivan’s brother, founding member Colin Doroschuk. Sho Murray (guitar) and Adrian White (drums) fill out the line-up.
From the official press release …
Men Without Hats Travel Back to the Future With New Single “I ❤️ the ‘80s” and UK/EU/US/CAN Tour
Dust off your Walkman, dig out that denim jacket, and prepare for a neon-coloured nostalgia trip: Men Without Hats are back with a synth-pop banger that celebrates the decade that made them legends. Their new single, “I ❤️ the ‘80s,” out now, comes with a hair-sprayed wink and a shoulder-padded strut, and it's everything you’d expect from the band who gave us “The Safety Dance” — and more.
“I ❤️ the ‘80s” is a riotous, melodic time machine powered by boom boxes, moonwalks, tube tops, and enough pop-culture references to make Stranger Things blush. “Everybody felt alive / Back in 1985,” sings frontman Ivan Doroschuk, before commanding us to “Party like it’s ‘82” and “Dance safely across the floor / Like we did in ‘84.” If you were there, you’ll get goosebumps. If you weren’t, this is your crash course.
As Ivan puts it: “One of the biggest challenges in writing this song was narrowing down all the things I loved about the '80s … The song could have been half an hour long!” In place of a guitar solo, the band even cheekily dropped in a sing-along refrain of “Pop Goes The World,” their Top 20 Hit from 1988, a move that marries nostalgia with cheeky brilliance.
The single is available now, with the LP scheduled for an October release, by which time the band will be circling back for another series of US dates. (Their full tour schedule as it currently stands is posted below … more US dates are expected to be added)
MEN WITHOUT HATS – SUMMER, 2025 TOUR DATES – NORTH AMERICA
July 1, 2025 – Officer’s Square – Fredericton, NB
July 25, 2025 – Canyons Village – Park City, UT
July 28, 2025 – Soda Row Live Daybreak – South Jordan, UT
August 6, 2025 – Peach Fest – Penticton, BC
August 9, 2025 – Rock the Kooney’s – Cranbrook, BC
August 12, 2025 – The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
August 13, 2025 – Oriental Theatre – Denver, CO
August 14, 2025 – Beaver Creek – Beaver Creek, CO
August 16, 2025 – Rock the Harbour Festival – Dartmouth, NS
UK/EU TOUR – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER, 2025
August 21, 2025 – The Old Woollen – Leeds, UK
August 22, 2025 – Fringe Festival (La Belle Angele) – Edinburgh, UK
August 23, 2025 – Academy 3 – Liverpool, UK
August 24, 2025 – Craufurd Arms – Milton Keynes, UK
August 25, 2025 – The Garage – London, UK
August 27, 2025 – De Helling – Utrecht, NL
August 28, 2025 – Nieuwe Nor – Heerlen, NL
August 29, 2025 – Mergener Hof – Trier, GER
August 30, 2025 – Das Rind – Russelsheim, GER
August 31, 2025 – Exil – Gottingen, GER
September 2, 2025 – Feierwerk – Munich, GER
September 3, 2025 – Die Stadtmitte (80’s Party) – Karlsruhe, GER
September 4, 2025 – Sumpfblume – Hameln, GER
September 5, 2025 – Trompete – Bochum, GER
September 6, 2025 – NCN Festival – Leipzig-Deutzen, GER
September 8, 2025 – Shiva – Bremerhaven, GER
September 9, 2025 – Markthalle @ MarX – Hamburg, GER
September 10, 2025 – Lido – Berlin, GER
September 11, 2025 – Die Pumpe – Kiel, GER
September 12, 2025 – Hotel Cecil – Copenhagen, DEN
September 13, 2025 – Musikens – Gothenburg, SWE
September 14, 2025 – Slaktkyrkan @ Hus 7 – Stockholm, SWE
September 16, 2025 – John Dee – Oslo, NOR
September 17, 2025 – Babel – Malmö, SWE
FALL, 2025 – CANADA & U.S. – MORE DATES TO BE
ANNOUNCED
October 4, 2025 – Base31 – Picton, ON
October 16, 2025 – The Parker – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
October 17, 2025 – Moss Centre – Miami, FL
October 18, 2025 – Sunrise Theatre – Ft. Pierce, FL
October 19, 2025 – Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL
It's one of those times when you just have to ask yourself, “Is it really worth it???”
Joe Perry is hinting about one final Aerosmith concert to say goodbye … something that can be watched worldwide and allow the band to go out on top.
Perry says, "I've always played like every show's the last one” … but is this really worth the risk of shattering Steven Tyler’s vocal cords for the rest of his life? Because you know Steven’s going to want to go balls out for this show, too.
Time will tell where it goes from here … I’m sure they’d all LOVE to do it … but is that the wisest decision at this point? (kk)
Belated Birthday Wishes 🎁🎂💝🎉!!!! to Mel Brooks ... having some laughs with late wife Anne Bancroft at Spago.
Congratulations to our FH Buddy Jeff March on his announced retirement after 32 years of heading up EditPros with his partner, Marti Smiley Childs. (Marti will stay on to run their BookPrep website.)
Jeff and Marti put together that EXCELLENT series of “Where Have All The Pop Stars Gone” books that we have referenced here numerous times in the past.
Those books are still available to order here:
