We’re less than two weeks away from this year’s WLS / WCFL Rewound Labor Day Weekend!!!
It’s the FOURTH Annual Event … and Ted Gorden Smucker promises even MORE surprises this time around.
Here he is to tell you all about it …
It’s coming around again, but it is a little bit earlier this year. So, with Labor Day falling on Monday, September 1st, the holiday weekend begins as early as it will ever be. What does that mean to fans of Musicradio WLS and The Voice of Labor, WCFL? It means we will be throwing you more Chicago Top 40 radio before this month closes out.
Anyone who has listened to WLS/WCFL Rewound knows what we are talking about. Over the past three years we have featured nearly 200 hours of non-repeat airchecks of our favorite music and DJs from the 60s, 70s and early 80s. You would think we would have run out of “new” old airchecks, but this year, we plan on running another 66 hours of previously unplayed radio recordings from these two great radio stations. Thanks to our many “collectable” friends, especially through ForgottenHits60sblogspot.com, we have dusted off and cleaned up even more entertainment to share with everyone who tunes into RewoundRadio.com.
The fun starts Saturday, August 30th at 5 am (CT) and runs past midnight on Labor Day. In addition to the DJs and the music, you’ll hear memorable features such as Chickenman, Animal Stories, Pop Goes the Music from 1967 with Dick Biondi, WLS Music People featuring Gordon Lightfoot, and a fan favorite, the WLS Musicradio Montage. Don’t miss it, because some of these old airchecks won’t be repeated for years … and best of all, it’s FREE … a radio person’s favorite word.
Ted Gorden Smucker
From Chuck Buell In the Still of the Night ...
Regarding listening to the radio beneath the covers into the late hours of the night, you wrote ~~~
>>>ALL of us who grew up during the Top 40 Rock and Roll Era likely did the same ... and I don't think our parents ever knew. Because let's face it ... before rock and roll, what would THEY have listened to till damn near midnight?!?! (kk)
Well, who wouldn't want to have listened late at night under the covers in our parents youth to those Great, albeit, Eyebrow Raising, Hits of their day like "Just a Gigolo,” "Love for Sale," and "I Can't Get Started" (?!") ( What?!) Plus, that Great Early Forgotten Hits Golden Oldie Favorite of the Week, "Masculine Women, Feminine Men!" ( Hey! I didn't make those titles up! )
OK, but since I seemed to have gotten off track from radio to records, did you ever sit around with friends and laff yourselves silly by trying to come up with the Best or Funniest Song Titles to which you simply added the phrase "Between the Sheets" after its title? Hilarity prevailed for there are hundreds! Like ~~~
"HELP! Between the Sheets!"
"To Sir with Love Between the Sheets!"
"Light My Fire Between the Sheets!"
"Happy Together Between the Sheets!"
"Let's Spend the Night Together Between the Sheets!"
And SO many more!
OK!! I'll close this musical nonsense with "Come Back When You Grow Up Between the Sheets!"
CB!
Hall and Oates have reportedly “resolved their differences thru arbitration” … but no further details have been released as to exactly what that means. (Apparently part of the agreement is that the settlement remains sealed.) I suppose we’ll know the outcome eventually if John Oates is now able to sell his share of Whole Oats Enterprises. Then again, maybe he already has. (The ONLY solution to this situation that has EVER made any sense to me was for John Oates to simply sell his shares to Daryl Hall, making Daryl the sole owner of Whole Oats. Or, at the very least, allow Hall first dibs on buying him out. Then, if it should turn out that Daryl wasn’t interested in purchasing those share … or was financially unable to do so … then Oates would be free to sell his shares to whomever he chooses.) But quite honestly, I don’t know that there’s been ANYTHING sensible about this whole escapade since Day One. Their public feuding was about as ridiculous as The Who firing and then reinstating and then refiring Zak Starkey!!! This is what boardrooms are built for. (kk)
Speaking of which …
To add more mystery to The Who’s last tour, I received a message written by Roger Daltrey commenting on his health and stating that while he is excited about this tour, he hopes he makes it to the end of it. This may be some explanation about his questionable actions recently.
Shelley
Legendary rock frontman Roger Daltrey of The Who has been opening up about his health struggles as the band gets ready to head out on tour, and he is making it clear that he is struggling.
The 81-year-old said that he is still suffering from side effects and damage done by a bout with viral meningitis nearly a decade ago, and that he is also battling “incurable” macular degeneration that is taking his vision away.
“It’s done a lot of damage,” Daltrey told The Times. “It’s buggered up my internal thermometer, so every time I start singing in any climate over 75 degrees I’m wringing with sweat, which drains my body salts.
“The potential to get really ill is there, and I have to be honest, I’m nervous about making it to the end of the tour.”
Daltrey said he is also having issues with his hearing.
“I’m not going to be here much longer,” he said at one point. “If I live another 10 years it will be way past anyone in my family.”
https://rockcelebrities.net/roger-daltrey-fears-he-might-not-make-it-to-the-end-of-the-who-tour//
Then WHY are you doing it?!?!? Shouldn’t your health come first??? And shouldn’t your fans understand???
Reading about this … and now about Gladys Knight (for whom we just bought tickets to see) … and all the Elder Abuse claims circulating about Frankie Valli, don’t you think it’s about time our generation of rock stars face up to the fact that we’re ALL getting older and just can’t do what we used to be able to do with ease. (I say this and then I think about the non-stop, 90-minute energetic show Chubby Checker, 83, just put on at The Arcada … or all the physically intense shows Peter Noone still does every night fronting Herman’s Hermits … some can do it and some can’t … I’m just saying it’s time to recognize the difference and NOT put yourself in jeopardy … unless your final goal is to die on stage in front of all your fans!!!) kk
Naturally, I was concerned about seeing Gladys Knight in November at The Arcada Theatre after receiving this clip from Tom Cuddy …
https://youtu.be/0QjbbHXZHU8?si=9_T_5PTt62P_I--H
Gladys Knight’s husband accused of elder abuse by her son-ABC News
Meanwhile, Herb Alpert is already booking dates into 2026 with his reformed Tijuana Brass, celebrating the 60th Anniversary of his 1965 #1 Album, “Whipped Cream … And Other Delights.” (No, I am NOT going to run the cover again … if it isn’t burned into your memory by now, then I’ve just been wasting my time!)
Already scheduled (with more dates to come):
January 12th – West Palm Beach, FL – venue TBA
January 13th – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
January 14th – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
January 16th – New Orleans, LA – Orpheum Theater
January 17th – Sugarland/Houston, TX – venue TBA
January 18th – Austin, TX – Long Center
March 27th – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric Baltimore
March 30th – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall
(By the way, on March 31st, Herb will turn 91 years old!) Gotta love him!
God bless him … but WHY do these artists want to go thru the grueling pace of going out on tour again? All the travel and hotel stays … then struggling to make it out on stage and present any kind of an entertaining show for the next 90 minutes … why do ANY of them want to put themselves thru this??? (kk)
It looks like Priscilla Presley may be heading to court shortly, trying to uphold ANY claim she might have (or think she has) to the Presley name and fortune. (I thought all of this was resolved YEARS ago … and Priscilla was now out with no claims whatsoever.)
This article even states that she sold her rights to the ownership of her last name and brand decades ago … yet has continued to stake claim to some ties to Graceland, even though that was left entirely to Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie, who then passed it down to her children, cutting Mama out of the picture completely. (Priscilla didn’t want to hold on Elvis after five years of marriage but has gone to any and all lengths to retain rights to his legacy ever since. Kinda disappointing.) kk
President Donald Trump will present (on December 7th) The Kennedy Center Honors to: KISS, George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford, and Gloria Gaynor. KISS is calling this “the greatest honor of our career.” (kk)
The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS and then stream on Paramount Plus shortly thereafter. (kk)
The #1 Movie at the Box Office this past weekend was the mystery / horror / science fiction thriller “Weapons.”
It tells the story of 17 children from the same classroom
who all run away on the same night, seemingly abducted by an unseen force.
In fact, the promotional posters read: "Last
night at 2:17 a.m. every child from Mrs. Gandy's class woke up, got out of bed,
went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark ... and they never
came back."
Sound interesting?
Cooler still is the fact that the opening theme music for the film is George Harrison’s “Beware Of Darkness” from his 1970 triple album solo debut after The Beatles split, “All Things Must Pass.” (He also performed the song as a duet with Leon Russell in the film “The Concert For Bangla Desh” … and it has been covered by any number of artists over the past 55 years.) With box office receipts of about $42.5 million opening weekend, it’ll be interesting to see if this spikes a wave of downloads and streams. Never released as a single, George Harrison just may have another hit on his hands! Too bad he’s not here to see it. (kk)
If you were a fan of Eric Carmen and The Raspberries, then you’ll just love the new tribute CD “Play On.” It features a wide array of artists covering the band’s tunes, including Rick Springfield (their breakthrough hit “Go All The Way”), Vicki and Debbi Peterson of The Bangles (“I Wanna Be With You”), The Lemon Twigs (“Let’s Pretend”), Darian Sahanaja of Brian Wilson’s Band and the Wondermints (“On The Beach”), Karla DeVito (“I Can Remember”), Lou Gramm of Foreigner (“Tonight”), John Waite (“I Don’t Know What I Want”), Shoes (“Overnight Sensation (Hit Record),” The Hudson Brothers (!!!) “All Through The Night,” Marshall Crenshaw (“Should I Wait”) and about 25 others.
The album becomes available on September 12th … and you can read more about it here: https://theseconddisc.com/2025/08/11/raspberries-play-on/
Be sure to check out the video preview of some of the tracks! (kk)
Remembering big band singer and TV host Mike Douglas 1920 - 2006 on his Birthday, August 11th. 🎈 🎵!
And Happy 80th birthday 🎉🎂! to Steve Martin! Back in '78, it was tough to score a ticket to his show at The Universal Amphitheater. He had a great opening act with The Blues Brothers band on stage! 😎
Remembering actor Huntz Hall of "The Dead End Kids" and " Bowery Boys" movie fame on his Birthday 🎉🎂! August 15. He was born in 1920. Here is Huntz at a big celeb event at The Beverly Hilton.
Jim Roup
Here's my mini-tribute to Danielle Spencer, who played younger sister Dee Thomas on “What’s Happening.” It's a clip from my all-time favorite episode … with a special appearance by The Doobie Brothers, premiering one of their new songs, the HIGHLY underrated “Echoes Of Love!” (kk)
Hi Kent –
First off, thanks for all you do. FH is my morning newspaper!
Don't know if you saw this, but Chuck Girard passed away on August 11th in California at the age of 81. Back in the 60's, he was friends with Gary Usher and played and sang on several of the one-off hotrod albums that Usher put out. The biggest success came with the Hondells' album. Chuck sang lead on Little Honda and the other far more minor hits off the album, My Buddy Seat, You're Gonna Ride With Me and their cover of Younger Girl. Later, Chuck became one of the first big stars in Christian music, but he cut his teeth singing on BeachBoy-like car and surf songs with the Wrecking Crew.
Mark Pheanis
Thanks for letting us know. Chuck participated with Forgotten Hits from time to time over the years … good guy. (kk)
Got this from FH Reader Phil Miglioratti, who also publishes the PRAY FOR SURF Blog …
CHUCK GIRARD
Remembering a Friend & Fellow Beach Boys Fan
by Phil Miglioratti
I didn't know it at the time, but the first time I heard Chuck Girard sing was right around September 18, 1964 when I first heard "Little Honda" by The Hondells on WLS Top 40 radio. He sang the lead, as he did on so many Gary Usher surf & stocks releases.
I first heard Chuck live when he did a Sunday morning concert at WIllow Creek Community Church, near Chicago, Illinois, where I was serving on the ministry staff.
Dave Holmbo, a co-founder and worship leader of the church, was our connection to Chuck. Dave and I were Beach Boys fanADDICTs [we wrote songs for an album and single as "HMS"] and Chuck’s mid-70's's recordings with Love Song made him a perfect choice for the “dechurched” congregations we served.
Chuck’s music was contemporary (no "old time religion" sounds) and his message was a compellingly simple Gospel: Jesus.
Chuck and I became friends. I brought him to The Woodfield Church when I became their pastor and booked him at another church. Then, when I began the Pray For Surf podcast, Chuck guested several times.
The past few years, after a lengthy conversation with Chuck about his future, I have prayed for the vision he shared with me, a mission to:
- ...tell his story a book - "Rock &' Roll Preacher"
- ...record another album - "Moonrise Serenade"
- ...film a docuseries - "A Band Called Love Song"
Each has been completed and form a triumphant-tribute to his service to God utilizing his gifts and talents to proclaim a message of love in song.
His colleagues and contemporaries remind us that Chuck Girard was a pioneer of "Jesus Music," a new sound that radically changed the way the Church thought about the style of music used to engage believers in worship, singing, and joyful praise: "Legend." "Pioneer." "Trailblazer" "Changed my life." "Revolutionary."
"His influences were eclectic and formative — The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Band — and before mixing an album he would revisit their records “because there’s an attitude about how they approach recording that I like.”
Chuck Hauser
“Chuck Girard, what a trailblazer you were. You changed my life. I told you that a bunch, and I feel like I needed to say it every time I saw you. That Everlasting Livin Jesus Music Concert is where I first found out about Love Song, and then all the LPs — Love Song and your solo record — they became part of my foundation. I still have them in my compilation of LPs here in my studio."
Michael W. Smith
This rock & roll preacher was an authentic Jesus follower who pioneered a new age of music for praise and worship in thousands of churches around the world and across denominations.
Brian Wilson, a man Chuck greatly admired and cared about, hoped people would pray, talk to God, while listening to his music.
Chuck, and Brian, "Mission accomplished."
- My Chuck Girard Playlist - Castells, Gary Usher, Beach Boys, Love Song. Solo
- Phil@PrayForSurf.net
We also got an inquiry from a reader about another podcast that Phil recently aired …
I had been led to believe that the second part of the Brian Wilson podcast you mentioned on Sunday would be posted a week after the first, and when I checked the Soundcloud page for it just in the last few minutes, it said that the first part had been available for at least 8 days. Have Phil Miglioratti or anyone else said if or when a second episode will be released?
Bob Frable
Here is the update I received from Phil on August 15th …
Thanks for posting our podcast, Kent!
My co-host does our editing and he is on vacation with family … it may be a couple of weeks before we get it uploaded.
Please pass this information along to the reader who first raised the question.
Thanks again!
Phil (and Mark)
So there you have it! Best to keep checking. (kk)
Another affect of Billy Joel’s diagnosis of a brain disorder has been his decision to close his bike shop on Long Island.
For fifteen years, Joel has invited fans to come in and browse his unique collection of dozens of motorcycles acquired over the years. Joel will be shuttering 20th Century Cycles in Oyster Bay, New York, in late September and auctioning off his collection later this year.
Joel opened 20th Century Cycles in late 2010 as a place to maintain and repair his motorcycles, restore and customize ones he bought and showcase his collection for the public at no charge. I’m sure some enthusiastic fans will be clamoring to order a piece of this impressive collection.
The shop became a popular stop for motorcycle enthusiasts and tourists. It was home to Joel’s collection of more than 75 bikes, dating back all the way to the 1940’s and includes Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, Indians and BMWs. One of the most valuable, he said, was a 1952 Vincent Rapide, which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars and sometimes more, according to auction sites.
His home in nearby Centre Island is also up for grabs, listed for $29.9 million. (Dammit!!! Must be in my other pair of pants!) kk
Look for another release from the vaults from The Cowsills. The “Cocaine Drain” album dates back to tracks recorded in 1978 but never released. Last year’s “Global” was a real treat … GREAT stuff from The Cowsills, show stealers on the Happy Together Tour … and soon on a new harmony tour with The Association and The Vogues. (We’ve got tickets for their December show here at The Arcada Theatre.) kk
https://rockcellarmagazine.com/the-cowsills-cocaine-drain-album-preview-listen-2025/
From David Salidor …
Jaybeau Jones / Music Drives Us Podcast / MICKY DOLENZ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fK349_JDWY&t=486s
A little different take from the usual! (kk)
And More From The Monkees here …
GOLDMINE MAGAZINE LAUNCHES SPECIAL COLLECTORS' EDITION ON THE MONKEES AUGUST 15, 2025 - WITH MULTIPLE COVERS FEATURING BOTH THE GROUP AS WELL AS INVIVIDUAL COVERS
GOLDMINE MAGAZINE launches a special edition on The Monkees – with a group cover and four individual covers featuring each member - Friday, August 15th.
As Micky Dolenz’s SONGS AND STORIES tour launches the second half of its 2025 jaunt this week, Goldmine, the much-respected music magazine, has consistently covered the group and in this issue features a newly minted interview with Dolenz as well as information relating to his much-heralded book I’M TOLD I HAD A GOOD TIME.
Also in the magazine is a full discography of the group; and interviews with Bobby Hart; Chip Douglas; Henry Diltz; XTC’s Andy Patridge (who wrote the group’s “You Bring The Summer” from their 12th album Good Times); the “Top 10 underrated Monkee songs”; and, “The Monkees Top Ten Flip Sides.”
7a Records, who have released Dolenz’s critically acclaimed DOLENZ SINGS NESMITH and his EP of R.E.M. (DOLENZ SINGS R.E.M.) music are also interviewed as well.
Available in the Goldmine Shop — Shop.GoldmineMag.com — on Friday, August 15.
https://shop.goldminemag.com/collections/monkees
Stephen Bishop’s final album “THIMK” is now out and available for shipping. He’s got some pretty high-profile guest stars on this one …
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Forgotten Hits West Coast Readers can meet Kenneth Kubernik, brother of frequent FH contributor Harvey Kubernik, who is also a well-known author in his own right, at a special event commemorating The Rolling Stones’ 1972 North American Tour as well as the recording of their “Exile On Main Street” album.
Details below …
Author Kenneth Kubernik and Photographer Neil Zlozower offer insights on The Rolling Stones' 1972 North American Tour
Date and time: Saturday, August 23 · 2 - 4pm PDT
Location: Musichead Gallery / 7420 West Sunset Boulevard / Los Angeles, CA 90046
Join us for an afternoon full of rock 'n' roll history as rock photographer Neil Zlozower teams up with renowned music historian and author Kenneth Kubernik to revisit one of the most infamous tours in music history, The Rolling Stones' 1972 North American Tour, known as the “Cocaine and Tequila Sunrise Tour.” They’ll be sharing stories, memorabilia and photography from the Southern California leg of The Rolling Stones' 1972 tour, offering us a first-hand account into the infamous gigs.
Neil Zlozower, who photographed the Southern California leg of the tour, will offer a visual journey through his lens, capturing candid, raw, and now-iconic images of the Stones at their peak. Kubernik will share personal stories from all five Southern California shows, along with a look at the Stones' long-running relationship with Los Angeles, from their first visit in 1964 to the final Exile on Main St. sessions. Together the two will bring this pivotal moment in rock history back to life.
The event will include:
- Artist talk and Q&A
- Immersive photography display
- Signed, limited edition fine art photography prints available for purchase
- Refreshments will be served
Currently on display is Stones in Exile: The Making and Tour of ‘Exile on Main St.,’ a photography exhibition examining the creativity, chaos, and peak era of The Rolling Stones in 1971–1972. Highlighting the importance of Mick Taylor and the Exile mythology, this exhibition features 20 photographs by 10 acclaimed photographers, reminding us that great art often emerges from turbulence and that creative freedom is always worth fighting for.
Looks like they’re really having a good time promoting the new Spinal Tap movie.
Check out this clip sent in by Timmy …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByLLWw4mdMM
That's all for now ... have a great week! (kk)
OK, I lied! (kk)
