It’s another Forgotten Hits viewing record!
I had to triple check to see if the numbers were real … but so far this month (thru April 20th) a little over 547,000 people have visited the website!!! This shatters any previous figure we’ve ever experienced … so thank you all again for coming … and coming back again and again! Wow! (kk)
From Freddy Cannon …
HI KENT!
“EVERYBODY’S ROCKIN’ TONIGHT JUMPED FROM #14 TO #10 THIS WEEK ON THE UK CHARTS.
THANKS FOR MENTIONING ME WHEN TALKING ABOUT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HALL OF SHAME …
YOU ARE RIGHT … IF I’M NOT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS!
FREDDY “BOOM BOOM” CANNON
It’s a GREAT track … love ya, Freddy! (kk)
Our long-time FH Buddy (and frequent contributor) Clark Besch (aka WLSClark) will be doing a special radio program this Saturday Night (4/25)
I’ll let him tell you all about it …
Kent,
I just wanted to mention that I’ll be doing my radio show this Saturday (4/25) beginning at 5 PM Chicago time.
That’s right, the newly christened 70 year old, ME, is going to do another 60s radio show this coming Saturday and hoping you will join me. The show will again be on WFMU and can be heard at the link below live Saturday at 5 PM Central (OR any time in the future at same link, but clicking "Pop Up PLAYER" instead):
Drop In Presents Strictly 60s with WLSClark!: Drop-In
This time, WLSClark returns with a 60s buddy to present a radio play direct from Broadway -- I mean Chicago's Cheetah Club, where you can (as they say) "Blow your mind!" 1966 makes a 60 year comeback including two previously unreleased songs from 1) one of the UK's biggest mid-60's beat groups and 2) one of Chicago's biggest bands of the mid-60s -- both recorded in 1965! PLUS: You will hear the voices of many 60s pop stars ranging from Nancy Sinatra to Levy Stubbs to Mark Lindsay to Tom Jones to Moulty to Reg Presley and dozens more. YES, they'll all be in the crowd, so come join the fun!
In the past, I have covered WLS' 60s reign of Top 40 in Chicago and this time, I will use A.I. to create a "radio play" that will bring me, in 2026, together, with the late Barney Pip's Cheetah Club live remote shows that he started in 1966 on Chicago's OTHER great Top 40 station, WCFL. I know the use of A.I. can be a turn off for many, but Barney was a friend in his last years and I think he would love this tribute. I hope you will try it out, even tho this show is focused towards '60s ‘CFL listeners (LOOSELY based on 1966) and WFMU current radio listeners.
Thanks for reading and hope I can see you in the chat room Saturday. Even if you’re just visiting, you can still make comments by typing them lower right and hitting "post" and adding two numbers to get your post up.
WLSClark
More from Clark ...
Did you see Ringo last night on Kimmel? He was great as usual. It was funny to hear that Kimmel was on the radio in the ‘80’s in Seattle playing the syndicated show "Breakfast With The Beatles" and was giving out fake stories about them. Not too sure about these four new movies on each of the Beatles, but we shall see.
That aside, Ringo had some cool answers to questions. You can see it all here:
Ringo Starr on Watching Paul McCartney Perform, New Beatles Movies & Abbey Road Album Cover
His new song, which is not really country like I expected. Backing vocals sound like Paul & John would have sang.
Ringo Starr - It’s Been Too Long (Visualizer)
Ringo was in top form on Kimmel’s show, joking about how he had slept with all three of the other Beatles … insight into not only seeing Paul McCartney’s show in LA (which Kimmel also attended), but also about recording his first full “duet” on McCartney’s new album “The Boys Of Dungeon Lane,” due out May 29th. Very entertaining. Check out Clark's link above. (kk)
>>I've got to give you props ... even this die-hard Beach Boys fan would have had a hard time sitting through the performance of the entire "Love You" album. It's not one of my favorites nor one of their best (kk)
Kent,
There is always a first time. I am not sure it would be as easy a second time. I enjoyed Carnie's song as one dedicated to a child and the words of 'I'll Bet He's Nice.' Also, the simple choreography which Mike Love would never do made it fun to watch.
Looking at your photo, sitting
down, Matt and Al look much closer in size. Al has never been large, but Matt
is a towering broad shouldered (muscle flexing) rug rat (lol
) standing next to him on
stage.
Shelley
That’s how he gets his voice way up there to hit the high notes!!!
Matt has been singing with some version of The Beach Boys or Brian’s band or Al’s Friends And Family for decades now … he has absolutely helped to keep the spirit of The Beach Boys’ music alive for all of the generations that followed. (kk)
I enjoyed reading Shelley’s concert review and about the "Pet Sounds" touring band. I know your readers will enjoy my deep-dive into the "Pet Sounds" album and excerpts from my 1974-2007 interviews with Brian Wilson.
Harvey Kubernik
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(photo courtesy of Gary Pig Gold)
Dave Mason, a co-founding member of Traffic has died. He was 79.
Mason wrote the rock and roll classic “Feelin’ Alright,” a hit for both Joe Cocker and Grand Funk Railroad, and had his own chart success with “We Just Disagree,” a #12 chart hit in 1977.
We’ve probably seen him in concert three or four times now … but one of the best shows was when he was paired with the legendary Steve Cropper …
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/07/concert-review-dave-mason-and-steve.html
Mason was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2004. His resume includes session work with Jimi Hendrix (“All Along The Watchtower”), The Rolling Stones (“Street Fighting Man”), Paul McCartney (“Listen To What The Man Said”) and also worked with Delaney and Bonnie, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton and George Harrison.
Dave fought health issues for the last several years and had to cancel a number of scheduled appearances along the way … but he always put on a good show whenever we saw him. He will be missed. (kk)
From Harvey Kubernik …
Dave Mason on Jimi Hendrix as told to Harvey Kubernik, 2020
I saw Jimi play in one of the semi-private clubs in London, maybe the Bag of Nails, Scotch of St. James, Chas Chandler paraded him around before he ever did anything. I saw him there and watched him play with a group on stage. ‘Wow!’ OK. Need to re-think things. (laughs). I later ran into him at one of the clubs people used to frequent. And he was just sitting there, alone at a table. So I just sat down and started talking with him. We had a mutual fan thing. Jimi was a big fan of Traffic. And I was a fan of his. Out of that, there were times when I would try to get him or at least get the other members of Traffic to invite Jimi down to the Cottage and invite Jimi to come play. They weren’t too enthusiastic about it, frankly.
So I kept a very loose sort of relationship with Jimi. We’d get together sometimes at a restaurant or a couple of times we went out to clubs and got up to jam, or tried too. (laughs) And then there was a point when I wasn’t with Traffic and there was at the time where he wasn’t working with Noel Redding and Jimi and I talked seriously about me taking Noel Redding’s place on bass. I believe Mike Jeffreys of his management put a stop to it. Basically, the recording of ‘All Along The Watchtower,’ and some other tracks I did with him, I have no idea where they are. ‘Cross Town Traffic’ …
A girlfriend of Jimi had an advance copy of the John Wesley Harding LP and we went over there. A couple of other people were there, too, including two of the guys in The Pretty Things. I played acoustic guitar with Jimi on the recording session of ‘All Along The Watchtower’ and then there were three or four tracks with him where I played bass and sitar. No idea of what happened to them. We worked at Olympic. At the time, there weren’t that many studios for one thing. And it was a great room. It was a huge studio that had a large room to record in. Traffic recorded there with Jimmy Miller producing.
It’s an easy song and cool lyrics. It lends itself to interpretation. Three chords. That’s all it is. I later did my version of it because it was a great vehicle to play guitar. As for Jimi’s work, it’s great stuff. Still is. Jimi was so unique. So innovative in the studio. There’s a lot of great guitar players but there aren’t any more Jimi Hendrixs.
--Dave Mason
Hi Kent,
Just wanted to pass along the news that prolific Country songwriter Don Schlitz passed away on April 16, 2026, at the age of 73. He's most famous for writing "The Gambler" which Kenny Rogers turned into a big hit. He also wrote #1 Country hits for Alabama, The Judds, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis and Tanya Tucker, and others. He ranks at #12 in the Top 40 Songwriters section in our upcoming Top Country Singles 1944-2025 book. Alas, his passing came just a few days after the book went to press.
Paul Haney
Record Research
I saw that … very sad news. Schlitz was one of those “storyteller” songwriters … and damn good at it, too. (Kenny Rogers always said he was looking for songs that told a good story … and he found quite a few of them during his career … another stand-out was “Lucille” from a few years before.)
Don was a big part of Randy Travis’ hot hit streak, penning “Forever And Ever, Amen” and “On The Other Hand,” among several others. My personal favorite just may be “I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love,” written along with Paul Overstreet and recorded by Tanya Tucker, Overstreet and Paul Davis that reached #1 in early 1988. VERY happy to feature this one today. (kk)
Got this from Frank B …
DEATH OF A GUITARIST WE DON'T KNOW --
Wayne Moss = 1938 - 2026.
Played Guitar On "OH PRETTY WOMAN"
During The 1970's, He Played For Linda Ronstadt
They Called Him “The Cornerstone Of ‘THE NASHVILLE SOUND.’
Check Him Out.
FRANK B.
Along with a little more clarity from David Lewis …
Wayne Moss - one of Nashville's greatest guitar players - has died at 88. Wayne played on just about everybody's sessions for many, many years. He invented the well-known riff heard on Roy Orbison's "Oh Pretty Woman," which strongly inspired The Beatles' "Day Tripper." He played with dozens of country artists, in addition to Dylan and a big batch of others that aren't country. His studio, Cinderella Sound, is still operating at its original location since 1961. You'd be surprised to see the list of rock groups and artists who recorded there.
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David Lewis
Also leaving us this week was Alan Osmond, the oldest Osmond Brother … he passed away on Monday, April 20th. Alan had stopped performing with the group forty years ago after being diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis.)
Alan’s brother Merrill released this statement on behalf of the family:
"It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of my beloved brother, Alan Osmond. I was grateful to be with him shortly before he passed and to share a final meaningful moment together. Alan was a gifted creator, a man of faith, and a deeply loving soul whose life blessed many.
“Our family is thankful for the outpouring of love and prayers. We will honor his memory and the message he cared so deeply about. He will be missed beyond words."
Merrill posted these additional comments on Facebook:
“My dear friends, two days before my brother Alan passed, I was blessed to sit quietly with him. We talked as brothers do, heart to heart.
“He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle … and then he smiled. In a tender moment I will never forget, he leaned close and whispered something into my ear. He said, ‘Merrill, you and I worked side by side. We created, we produced, we directed … we gave our hearts to The Plan with Wayne. (Osmond Brother Wayne passed away in January of last year. – kk) Please … do something with it. Let people know what we were trying to say.’
“I want you to know, his request will be honored.
“My brother has now stepped into the presence of our Father in Heaven with honor and peace. His life was not measured in years, but in love, sacrifice, and purpose.”
You can read more of Merrill’s statement here: https://people.com/alan-osmond-oldest-member-the-osmonds-dies-at-76-11954616?hid=2ff1dd8b0719d8bf2a66a0c8968d46a9f4ddb5ba&did=23154877-20260421&utm_source=ppl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ppl-news_newsletter&utm_content=042126&utm_term=AM&lctg=2ff1dd8b0719d8bf2a66a0c8968d46a9f4ddb5ba&lr_input=fa7e92da6f6e66bffcf0bcbf863670c6eb37d7159eb4d0ea1e44fecd5ec87eeb&campaign=17788426
Remembering the great Levon Helm of The Band, May 26, 1940 - April 19, 2012.
Seen here clowning around in his dressing room at The House of Blues in Hollywood. I was lucky to see him play at one of his early rambles at his home studio in Woodstock, New York.
Jim Roup
From Timmy (filed under “Fine Art Of The Day”)
Songwriter Jimmy Webb has had to bow out of his appearance at the Stephen Bishop concert scheduled for September 12th and 13th in Aspen, Colorado …
But not to worry …
Added in his place is The Nelson Band (Rick’s sons Matthew and Gunnar) and, as a SPECIAL Guest, Ray Parker, Jr.
They will join Bishop and David Pack, former lead singer of Ambrosia for two shows at The Wheeler Opera House. Tickets available here: https://www.stephenbishop.com/tour?utm_campaign=9f8f3d27-b51a-4d6e-8c52-5907386f3739&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=21d65cf3-f0e7-4b2d-9a42-9074b072179f
Another rave concert review for Micky Dolenz’s “60 Years Of The Monkees” tour …
https://t2conline.com/the-glorious-corner-837/
(photo by Jodi Ritzen)
ZZ Top has added more dates to their “The Big One!” tour …
You can now catch that Little Ol’ Band from Texas here in August and September:
August:
4 - Chula Vista, CA - North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre (with Cheap Trick)
7 - Fresno, CA - Saroyan Theater/Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center (with McKinley James)
9 - Modesto, CA - Fruit Yard Amphitheatre (with Cheap Trick)
11 - Redmond, WA - Marymoor Amphitheater (with Cheap Trick)
13 - Central Point, OR - Bi-Mart Amphitheater (with Cheap Trick)
14 - Ridgefield, WA - Harrah’s Stir Cove Ilani Casino
18 - Sandy, UT - Sandy City Amphitheater (with Cheap Trick)
19 - Colorado Springs, CO - Pikes Peak Center For The Performing Arts
21 - Lynchburg, VA - Lynchburg Amphitheater at Riverfront Park (with Dwight Yoakam as part of the Dos Amigos Tour)
22 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at The Moody Theater
23 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at the Moody Theater
29 -Terre Haute, IN - The Mill (with Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band)
30 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion
September:
1 - East Meadow, NY - Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre
5 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (with George Thorogood & The Destroyers)
6 - Bangor, ME - Maine Savings Amphitheater (with George Thorogood & The Destroyers)
9 - Lynne, MA - Lynne Memorial Auditorium
11 - Solomons, MD - PNC Waterside Pavilion (with George Thorogood & The Destroyers)
12 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena (with George Thorogood & The Destroyers)
13 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
15 - Lancaster, PA - American Music Theatre
18 - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
Other August and September dates previously announced include:
August:
5 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl (with Cheap Trick)
8 - Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery (with Cheap Trick)
26 - Grand Rapids, MI - Meijer Gardens
28 - Battle Creek, MI - Firekeeper’s Casino Hotel
September
3 - Syracuse, NY - New York State Fair
4 - Essex Junction, CT - Champlain Valley Expo
19 -Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
Bob Dylan continues to add dates to his tour as well, dropping new additions almost weekly of late.
The itinerary as it currently stands is as follows:
April 23rd (TONIGHT!) – Dothan, AL – Dothan Civic
Center
April 25th – Jackson, MS – Thalia Mara Hall
April 27th – Baton Rouge, LA – Raising Cane’s River Center
April 28th – Shreveport, LA – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
April 29th – Tyler, TX – Cowan Center
May 1st – Abilene, TX – Abilene Auditorium
June 4th – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield
June 6 and 7th – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle
June 9th – Eugene, OR – Cuthbert Amphitheater
June 12th – Lincoln, CA – The Venue at Thunder Valley
June 13th and 14th – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre
June 17th – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
June 18th – Highland, CA – Yaamava’ Theater
June 20th – Palm Desert, CA – Acrisure Arena
June 21st – San Diego, CA – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
June 23rd – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
June 24th – Tucson, AZ – Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater
June 26th – Albuquerque, NM – Sandia Amphitheater
June 29th – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater
June 30th – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater
July 2nd – Thackerville, OK – WinStar World Casino and Resort
July 3rd – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
July 4 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
July 6th – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater
July 8th – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion
July 10th – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
July 12th – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
July 14th – Philadelphia, PA – Highmark Mann Center for the Perf. Arts
Jul 16th – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion
July 18th – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
July 19th – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
July 21st – Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
July 23rd – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
July 24th and 25th – Vienna, VA – Filene Center at Wolf Trap
July 28th – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
July 29th – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront
Jult 31st – Atlanta, GA – Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
August 1st – Nashville, TN – Ascend Federal Credit Union Amphitheater
Or, if it’s ‘80’s music you’re into, you might want to check out the “Totally Tubular” Festival that’s hitting the road this summer …
July 17th – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre
July 19th – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
July 22nd – San Francisco, CA – The Castro
July 23rd – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues
July 24th – Hollywood, CA – Hollywood Palladium
July 25th – Las Vegas – SAHARA Las Vegas
July 26th – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
August 1st – New Town, ND – 4 Bears Casino (NOTE: Bow Wow Wow will replace The Motels for this
show only)
August 7th – Washington DC – Warner Theatre
August 8th – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live @ Etess Arena
August 9th – New York, NY – Pier 17
August 12th – St. Petersburg, FL – Ferg’s Pavilion
August 14th – Louisville, KY – Iroquios Amphitheatre
August 15th – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center @ The Heights
August 16th – Aurora, IL – RiverEdge Park
A newly expanded version of the Yes album “From A Page” is being released tomorrow (April 24th). There’s even a brand new video to go along with this release:
View The “To The Moment” Video HERE
Mercury Studios Presents: YES – From A Page
Expanded and remastered recordings from the 2010 sessions
Now available on 2LP and as a 2CD Deluxe Edition
~Out April 24, 2026~
Mercury Studios proudly announces the April 24, 2026 release of YES – From A Page, the expanded and remastered recordings from the 2010 sessions, beautifully presented in 2 LP and 2 CD Deluxe Edition formats.
YES revisits their 2019 four‑song mini‑album “From a Page” in a 15‑track double album and 2 CD Deluxe Edition, pairing the original tracks with alternate takes and demos recorded during the sessions, several of which would later surface on Fly From Here.
In 2010, after a last-minute show in Zacatecas, Mexico, the band (Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Benoit David & Oliver Wakeman) met up in Phoenix, Arizona to begin writing for the next YES album. This two-week session would bear fruit to the four released songs in addition to “Into the Storm,” “Hour of Need” and “The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be,” all of which would appear on the “Fly From Here” album featuring Geoff Downes after Wakeman departed during the recording sessions.
Overseen by Oliver Wakeman, and mixed and remastered by Karl Groom, this expanded and remastered edition of YES - From A Page incorporates the original four songs, along with alternate keyboard versions of three songs from Fly From Here, featuring Oliver Wakeman’s keyboard parts from the original writing sessions replacing the keyboard parts added by Geoff. Disc 1 also features the studio version of the Chris Squire-written song “Aliens”, which was played during the 2008 ‘In The Present’ tour, to create the album which was envisioned prior to Trevor Horns arrival.
Disc 2 includes demo versions of many of the songs, including “Updraft,” which became the basis for the ‘Army of Angels’ section of “Into The Storm,” “Don’t Take No For An Answer,” which was not on the original album but worked on during the sessions, along with an acoustic alternative version of “Words on a Page” and the single mix of “To The Moment,” which was previously only available on the original vinyl.
YES – From A Page will be available as a 2-CD box set and as 2-LP vinyl release. Featuring artwork from Roger Dean, the box set includes two CDs, a booklet with expanded liner notes by Oliver Wakeman, a fold out poster and five art cards, packaged in a clamshell box. The double LP features the audio pressed on two 180-gram, half speed mastered vinyl, packaged in a gatefold sleeve showcasing the majestic artwork Roger Dean designed for this album.
From A Page Track Listings
CD1
1. To the Moment
2. The Man You Always Wanted Me to Be (Alternate Version)
3. From the Turn of a Card
4. Into the Storm (Alternate Version)
5. Aliens (Alternate Version)
6. Hour of Need (Alternate Version)
7. Words on a Page
8. The Gift of Love
CD2
1. Words on a Page (Demo)
2. The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be (Demo)
3. To The Moment (Demo)
4. The Gift of Love (Demo)
5. Don’t Take No for an Answer (Demo)
6. Updraft (Demo)
7. To The Moment (Single Mix)
We're seeing some really mixed reviews regarding the new "Michael" movie, a biopic depicting the life of superstar Michael Jackson.
Nearly every review calls it a "whitewash" of the facts when it comes to the facts of Michael's later life and the allegations of sexual abuse of minors, which is apparently barely mentioned or focused on due to some NDA's executed along the way. The story pretty much ends with Michael's "Bad" World Tour. (A Part Two biopic is rumored to be in the works ... but if they're going to leave out all the controversial stuff, what would be the point? I mean, what would they even focus on?)
ALL reviewers seem to agree on the brilliant portrayal of Michael by Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew. They say he really nails the moves and look of Jackson in his prime. The film was fully sanctioned by the Jackson Estate and several scenes had to be cut, edited or refilmed altogether to meet their approval. Still, two hours of primo Michael Jackson music and performances sounds like a pretty good way to spend an afternoon ... which is what WE'LL be doing tomorrow at our local iMAX theatre. This way, we can judge for ourselves how well they presented the self-proclaimed King of Pop. (kk)
