Hi Kent,
Monday (March 23, 2026) marks my 34 year anniversary working for Record Research. I still vividly remember that first day and what a thrill it was to be working my "dream job" after being a customer for several years prior. The past few years have been hard, first with Joel's passing, then dear Fran just a few months after that. Then, struggling to stay in business with a greatly reduced staff, eventually down to just me and Kim. Just when things were looking grim, at the end of May 2025, Vinnie Freda stepped up and made an offer to purchase the company, the sale of which went through this past fall. Now in March of 2026 we are preparing our first new book release in nearly two years (details to be revealed very soon!). Even after all these years I never lost my enthusiasm for researching the charts and look forward to the next chapter.
Paul Haney
Record Research
Congratulations, Paul!!! That’s great news … can’t wait to hear all the details! Please keep us posted. (kk)
Tom Cuddy sent us this shot, posted by The Smithereens, of them and Tommy James, taken at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on Saturday, March 21st. (Ironically, I was there on Saturday as well, picking Frannie up from her “girls’ trip” to Arizona … but never went inside.)
Tom also sent us this recent interview with Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman about their reunion tour …
The Guess Who is back and living their ‘teenage dream’
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7108898
From The Beatles Store …
On March 22, 1963, The Beatles released their debut album, Please Please Me. Today, it turns 63.
It all took place on a Monday in February 1963. It was 10 am, and four lads walked through the doors of EMI Studios equipped with a Cavern setlist and something to prove. When they finally left, well past the time the studio was supposed to close, they had made history. "I don’t know how they do it. We’ve been recording all day, but the longer we go on, the better they get." George Martin remembered. |
 Then came Twist and Shout, the last song of the night. John's voice was almost gone. He sucked throat sweets, he stripped to the waist; he held nothing back. "Twist and Shout nearly killed me," he said. "My voice wasn’t the same for a long time after; every time I swallowed, it was like sandpaper. I was always bitterly ashamed of it, because I could sing it better than that, but now it doesn’t bother me. You can hear that I’m just a frantic guy doing my best."  After the success of their first UK Number One single From Me to You, Please Please Me reached the top of the UK Albums Chart in May 1963 and stayed there for 30 weeks. You can shop the Please Please Me collection here: |
From Timmy …
Learn FACTS behind 12 hits
Just great stories …
Author and Music Historian Harvey Kubernik Returns to Coast to Coast AM On Wednesday, April 8TH, 10:PM (PST) with Host George Noory
Author, music journalist, cultural historian, and documentarian Harvey Kubernik will make his 6th visit to the late-night radio talk show Coast to Coast AM with Host George Noory.
Harvey Kubernik’s two-hour appearance with George Noory is scheduled for Wednesday Night, April 8th, at 10:00,-,12: 00 PM (PST).
The program is syndicated to hundreds of radio stations in the U.S. and Canada by Premiere Networks reaching three million listeners. America’s #1 Audio Company. Reaching nine out of ten0 Americans every month.
Coast to Coast AM: https://www.coasttocoastam.com/stations
During Coast to Coast AM, Harvey will discuss the current popularity of music documentaries, several of them are in Screen Gems, classic rock, landmark music venues, the Beatles and rock biopics. Followed by Open Lines.
Kubernik is the author of 21 books over his 50-year music journalism career.
In February, 2026, Bear Manor Media published Harvey’s most recent book Screen Gems: Pop Music Documentaries & Rock and Roll TV Scenes.
“Although ostensibly about documentaries, television and film, other music-related tan gents are explored within each chapter. Screen Gems is loaded with large and small revelations that will keep you turning its pages and following along its wandering path.” Mike Stax, Publisher, Ugly Things Magazine, April, 2026
“Kubernik’s skill is in coaxing his subjects to share anecdotes that otherwise would be forgotten. Even his acknowledgements at the back of the book are an entertaining read.” Greg Brodsky, Publisher, www.bestclassicbands.com, March, 2026.
Listen Live Coast to Coast AM | Free Internet Radio | TuneIn
https://tunein.com/radio/Coast-to-Coast-AM-p35675
Listen Live at: https://www.coasttocoastam.com/stations
kk:
MARCH 20, 2026 = Vito Picone (The Elegants) Turns 85.
MARCH 21, 2026 = Vito & Cousin Brucie.
He Was Born & Grew Up In Staten Island, New York.
Most Guys Talk About Singing On The Corner ... Not Vito.
He Sang On The Beach, South Beach, Staten Island.
Bobby Darin & His Family + Johnny Maestro & His Family Spent Summers At South Beach. Vito + Bobby + Johnny Hung Out Together & Dreamed About Recording A Song That Would Be Played On The Radio.
1958 = "LITTLE STAR" #1 & "16 CANDLES" #2 & "SPLISH SPLASH” # 3. Dreams Do Come True.
"LITTLE STAR" Just Missed Being Awarded The First Official "GOLD RECORD" –
That Honor Went To Perry Como For "CATCH A FALLING STAR."
FB
Sounds like winning that award was in the stars, one way or another! (kk)
TODAY'S SHORT STACK:
BIG shake up on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Fan Vote Ballot since we last checked ...
New Edition has jumped ahead of everybody else to land in first place with about 737,000 votes. Phil Collins has dropped to second place with 654,000. Pink now ranks #3 with 596,000 votes, followed by Luther Vandross (530,00), INX (457,000) Sade (452,000) and Billy Idol (431,000) This represents some SERIOUS shuffling!
Barry Manilow is releasing his first album of all new material in fifteen years. Titled “What A Time,” the disc is due out June 5th.
As evidenced by the below clip, he doesn’t really sound like “old Barry” on what I’ve heard … but the new single “Sun Shine” does have the “feel” of vintage Barry. (This tune was cowritten by Barry and Gary Barlow, formerly of Take That.)
Peter Frampton also has a new release coming in May. Titled “Carry Light,” look for guest appearances by Sheryl Crow, Graham Nash and more.
They’re referring to the new Neil Diamond album we told you about the other day as “completing the trilogy” of his work with Rick Rubin. I just may have to pick up the complete set in order to better pay tribute to Neil Diamond’s work in the 21st Century.
After they complete their run of summer shows with Santana, The Doobie Brothers will carry on alone for a fall tour beginning on September 26th in Northfield, Ohio. They’re calling this leg the “Walk This Road” tour in hour of their latest album released last year. It’s a short six week jaunt hitting some spots they didn’t get to this summer.
Saturday, September 26th –
Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park
Friday, October 2nd – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Tuesday, October 6th – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront
Park
Friday, October 9th – Chattanooga, TN – Soldiers & Sailors Memorial
Auditorium
Sunday, October 11th – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
Tuesday, October 13th – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
Wedndesday, October 14th – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
Friday, October 16th – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Sunday, October 18th – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena
Wednesday, October 21st – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
The Eagles have squeezed in another appearance for Phase III of their Long Goodbye Tour … they’ll now be appearing at The Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, on May 13th. (We expect more dates to be added as Don Henley has pretty much already announced that 2026 will likely be the end for the legendary band.
And how’s this for a double bill???
Bryan Adams will hit the road with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo for a series of dates this summer across the USA …
Friday, July 24th – St. Louis, MO –
Enterprise Center
Saturday, July 25th – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
Sunday, July 26th – Thackerville, OK – WinStar World Casino & Resort
Tuesday, July 28th – Austin, TX – Moody Center
Wednesday, July 29th – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Friday, July 31st – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
Saturday, August 1st – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
Tuesday, August 4th – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Wednesday, August 5th – Orlando, FL – Kia Center
Saturday, August 8th – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
Sunday, August 9th – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
Tuesday, August 11th – Reading, PA – Santander Arena
Wednesday, August 12th – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Friday, August 14th – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center
Saturday, August 15th – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Sunday, August 16th – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
And finally ...
Did Clark B. really say Barry "McGuire"? Instead of Sadler?
And does Friday's FH still say "20" Years Ago Today?
David Lewis
Nope ... those are both on me ... but both errors have since been fixed.
Thank you for pointing these out!!!
(Clearly, our proof-reader has been sleeping on the job as BOTH of these errors should have been caught and corrected immediately before posting. I can’t really fire the guy ‘cause he’s working for free … but as punishment I DID take away his rather worn copy of the “Whipped Cream” album cover and locked it up in a storage space where he won’t have access to it again till the end of the month.)
Apologies to all for these oversights … we usually run a tighter ship around here! (kk)