FORGOTTEN HITS: Monday Morning Memories

Monday, June 8, 2026

Monday Morning Memories

Kent,

One of the things I like about FH is that you post the news of the passing of any present and or past rock stars we have got to know and love through the years.

Unless it is a singer of huge proportion, the news doesn't make our local paper or our local news cast. For example, you mentioned the passing of Earl Jean.

Wouldn't have known that if not for your notice. Personally speaking, I always did like her version of I'M INTO SOMETHING GOOD better than the Hermits' version. She also had a follow-up with RANDY also on Colpix records.

Larry

By Billboard’s standards, Earl Jean was a true One Hit Wonder. “I’m Into Something Good” peaked at #38 on their Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart in 1964. It was her only Hot 100 Hit.

But “Randy” spent exactly one week at #147 on the Cash Box “Looking Ahead” chart later that year. It would be her only other chart record on a national level. (kk)

Sadly, Peabo Bryson did not recover from the stroke he had late last week. He died on Tuesday, June 2^nd at the age of 75. (Bryson also had a heart attack in 2019 but made a full recovery.)

He’ll be remembered for his four Top 20 chart hits: “Tonight I Celebrate My Love," a duet with Roberta Flack that reached #14 in 1983, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again," also with Robert Flack (#10, 1984), "Beauty And The Beast," a duet he cut with Celine Dion that went to #9 in 1992 and “A Whole New World,” from the film "Aladdin," a duet with Regina Belle that went to #1 in 1993 … as well as his eight Grammy nominations and two Grammy wins. (kk)

Tom Cuddy sent two pictures of Peabo from a concert he saw at the Kate Hepburn Theatre in CT on December 1^st, 2025 … including one of Peabo with Sheena Easton …

Celine Dion issued this statement when she learned of Peabo’s death …

I was heartbroken to hear that we lost Peabo Bryson today. His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance. He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago … he made me so comfortable, as I was just learning to sing in English. He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life. His voice and his talent will be missed. My heart is with your family, and may you rest in peace, Peabo.”

And here’s a tribute from The Second Disc …

https://theseconddisc.com/2026/06/03/in-memoriam-peabo-bryson-1951-2026/

Meanwhile, Barry Manilow’s recovery may not be going as well as originally reported.

In an interview with “Good Morning America” Manilow confessed:

“My voice, I don’t know whether it’s coming back. I did my first soundcheck about a month ago and I didn’t sound like me at all. I looked at my band and they were all looking at the floor. That was the first hint. Something was not right.”

Following a recently released new album, Manilow will turn 83 this month. He had shows scheduled to begin on June 25^th but right now things sound doubtful at best.

While trying to convey good spirits, he joked that “I haven’t had a Top 10 single since Washington crossed the Delaware” but then admitted that while he can’t wait to get back up on stage again, he has some reservations about being able to put on the type of shows his fans have come to expect from him.

“I can’t wait to get back. I’m in great shape. I’m ready to go. I just hope my voice is. If I sound good, that would be great. (But) I really don’t want to cry on stage … I just) don’t know whether I’ll be able to hold that back this time.”

You can watch the full “Good Morning America” interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eMFoYrB6hI&t=2s

New York City is renaming a street in Jimi Hendrix’s honor. (I don’t know about you, but every time I think about Barry Manilow, I instinctively also think about Jimi Hendrix!) The ceremony takes place next Wednesday (June 10^th)

Kent,

Thank you for posting Lobo’s new song. What a great job these guys did on this! Lobo's voice is still great. It's interesting that he always kept his career low-key, with very little touring. Similar to Paul Davis.

David Lewis

Alice Cooper is publishing his memoir. According to Alice, “The story of Alice Cooper has become a tangle of embellishments, elaborations and outright fabrications, that I think it’ time to sort reality from myth.”

Titled “Devil On My Shoulder,” the book is due out October 6^th.

Alice continues: “In the beginning, Alice Cooper was the name of a rock group. Then my stage name. And then a monster. Now I’ve written a book that tracks Alice’s evilution, how he and I became almost fatally intertwined, and how I’ve tamed him at last. After over thirty records and sixty-plus years, the story of Alice Cooper has become a tangle of embellishments, elaborations and outright fabrications, that I think it’s time to sort reality from myth: the slaughtered chickens, the bans and record burnings, the evangelical terrors, Ouija boards and poltergeists, resurrections and revenge from the grave, the cross-dressers, thieves, drug addicts and hopeless alcoholics, the house fires and car crashes — all will be revealed for what they really were. I’m also coming clean about the extent of my addictions, my blackout years, the creative process fueled by alcohol, drugs and round-the-clock TV, my scramble to the top of the pile and the terrible slide back down. I want to talk about the origin of Cold Ethyl, the guillotine and the dead babies, the best and worst of my reviews, my feelings of guilt and regret after people got hurt or died, what life was like on the road until the wheels came off the bus, what a romantic I am at heart and how I’ve stayed married for half a century even after my wife came at me with a frying pan. And I want to talk about God. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna bang you on the head with a Bible, I just want to describe how it is that I found Him dwelling in me. Alice, that inveterate liar, was a voice in my ear for so long, whispering lies and sweet nothings, pretending to be my better conscience and my inspiration, pretending to be me, that I think it’s only right to present both sides of the story: the angel on one shoulder, the devil on the other.”

Sounds pretty good to me!!! (I just preordered my copy!) kk

The enormously successful Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” will be available to own beginning July 14^th on BluRay and DVD. As early as next Tuesday (June 9^th), you’ll be able to rent it On Demand on various television platforms.

The movie has now grossed $850 Million and should surpass the Freddie Mercury / Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which topped out at $911 Million.

However, “Bohemian Rhapsody” only cost about $52 Million, while the budget for “Michael” exceed $200 Million … so the Queen film was FAR more profitable venture. That being said, there IS supposed to be a “Part Two” to the Michael Jackson story … so I guess we’ll have to wait and see how that one makes out once it’s released.

“Michael” wraps up on a high note and doesn’t touch on any of the accusations that hounded Jackson for the last several years of his career. Meanwhile, Netflix is airing a three-part documentary exposing these issues. “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” is available for streaming now. (kk)

Prince’s estate is releasing a new album of previously unreleased material on August 28^th. The new LP will be called “Timeless” and features ten tracks. (One thing that’s really nice is that these unreleased tracks span his entire career.):

I Am You (1977); Tick, Tick, Bang (Original Version, 1981); Heaven (1985); I Wonder (1898); With This Tear (1991); Stone (1995 … and the first single from the LP); Calabama (2003); The Guilty Ones (2007); Bestest Friend (2012); How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore? (Live) 2016

As you can see, the previously much-discussed version of “The Long And Winding Road” is NOT one of the tracks featured on this new album. My guess is that this will be something that Paul McCartney will release once he adds his treatment to it. (No word yet as to when this might become available … but it certainly is being talked about!) kk

Speaking of Paul McCartney, his new solo LP “The Boys Of Dungeon Lane” premiered at #1 on the British Chart and at #5 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart. Not a bad showing for a guy who’s turning 84 in ten days! (kk)

OMG has it really been 34 years since The U.S. Post Office issued the Elvis Presley stamp?!?!

Of the two choices given, “Early Elvis” was the hands-down favorite, capturing 75% of the public vote.

Priscilla Presley announced the results on June 4^th, 1992. (I’ve still got all of my copies!) kk

In Beatles News, Apple Music will release a new, fully restored colorized version of The Beatles’ performing “All You Need Is Love” from the 1967 “Our World” television special that was beamed via satellite all over the world.

It’s all being tied into Global Beatles Day (June 25^th) You’ll be able to find it on YouTube beginning on this date. (kk)

Another great Guess Who / Don Felder concert review, this time from their show at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Canada, sent in by Tom Cuddy …

https://v13.net/2026/06/the-guess-who-place-bell-laval-photos/

Which features some great pics, too, by Eric Mahannah! (kk)

And now, a timely observation with Chuck Buell ...

As read in Forgotten Hits ~~~

>>>I really wanted the new Lesley Gore record, “Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows." But when I saw that the song clocked in at under two minutes ... 1:37 in fact!!! ... I used my hard-earned cash to buy something else instead, inadvertently creating the phrase “more bang for your buck” in the process without even realizing it!!! (kk)

That was one of my personal favorite records then too, but perhaps becoming more so, while I was hosting my daily Top 40 Formatted Radio Shows.

It was during those glorious days of radio when those of us on the air were challenged with presenting each hour ~~~

16 Commercial minutes,

5 Minute Newscasts,

1 30-second Station Promo,

4 15-second Local Weather Forecasts,

4 to 5 One minute Traffic Reports,

1 Sixty Second Contesting,

1 Sixty Second Total Public Service Announcements, Sports Reports and . . . whatever else might pop up,

3 Minutes Bits, Schtick and Listener Phone Calls!

Or over a half hour of non music minutes to include maybe 9 - 10 two and a half to three-minute records an hour!

While there were a lot of records at two-minutes to two and a half minutes, Leslie Gore was a great ringer for helping to stay on time clocking in at 1:34! Along with Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs with "Stay" at 1:37 and Elvis' "Teddy Bear" at 1:45!

Oh, even Haley Mills helped once in a while with her Top Ten Hit, "Let's Get Together," at . . . 1:28!

Then records started to creep up to and over the three-minute mark! OK! Then the "Time Vice" really started to put the squeeze on!

The Stones, for instance, didn't help with their 3 Minutes and 45 Seconds of "Satisfaction!"

I could go on more about record lengths but according to the Old Clock on the Wall, I've run out of time!

CB (which stood for "Clock Boy!")

And that’s not even mentioning all the times the disc jockey put on a seven minute album cut to create his own personal bathroom break!!!

I can’t imagine what it was like, focusing SO much on the clock and still trying to be bright, effervescent and entertaining. And this was the day of “Personality Radio,” something at which WLS excelled. More credit to ya!!! (kk)

Wait! I Have More "As Read Ins!"

As read in Forgotten Hits ~~~

>>>Today’s youth can just continue to lie in bed and from their phones download as many tracks as they like (or can afford) and BOOM! Instantly, Presto-Chango, that music will automatically show up on said phone and they can listen to it immediately. It couldn’t be any easier. (kk)

Easy Peasy, is Right! Not like WE had to do to get OUR Music!

From the Forgotten Hits Personal Kent Kotal Historical Archives ~~~