Some big Beatles news was announced this weekend ...
History tells us that the tapes of the band's first ever appearance on the British television series "Top Of The Pops" were erased shortly after they aired back in 1964 and believed to be lost to the ages forever. (It was the practice of the British program to erase and reuse these tapes for other shows.) But now, after all this time, complete footage of this performance has been found.
Recorded March 19th, 1964, at the BBC’s Television Theatre in London, the Beatles "pantomimed" their way through both “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “You Can’t Do That” the day before those two songs were released as their new single.
But last Thursday, British conservation non-profit "Film Is Fabulous!" announced that they had obtained a 35mm film of the Beatles’ entire performance, banter and all. This original 35mm film will now be restored and returned to the BBC archives.
The footage was presented to "Film Is Fabulous" by the family of a deceased former industry professional. It features the Beatles “performing” four takes of “Can’t Buy Me Love” as well as two attempts at “You Can’t Do That.” Additional passages within the recording show the studio, the technicians, and the make-up ladies on hand for the event. Two of the four takes of “Can’t Buy Me Love” were aborted due to technical errors. Since The Beatles were only lip-synching to their new single, they were simply going for the best take to air during the program. Also shown in the film are The Beatles, openly joking around and dancing to amuse themselves during the breaks.
There are two takes of “You Can’t Do That” … and during the second take, John did his usual distorted funny faces when the camera came in for a close-up.
This represents an amazing piece of Beatle history, originally thought to be lost forever. As of right now, it is still unclear as to when the public will be able to see the "Top of the Pops"’ footage, but plans are already being discussed to ensure that this footage will be made available to a world wide audience.
Incredibly, the news comes just days before Global Beatles Day (June 25th) at which time Apple Corps will share a colorized version of The Beatles performing “All You Need Is Love” from their 1967 “One World” satellite performance. (John Lennon composed the song to premier at this occasion.) kk
And some sad news, too ...
Rod Stewart, who has had to cancel several shows recently due to health issues, nearly collapsed on stage Friday night and was seen staggering around, grasping for oxygen during his performance in Utah.
I'm sorry, Rod, but it just may be time to call it a career ... your health just isn't worth this kind of abuse. (Stewart has plans well into next year to complete what's been billed as his farewell tour.) NONE of your fans want to see you do this kind of damage to yourself. (This is especially disturbing news after seeing his Grammy Television Special Salute a couple of weeks ago where he put on a stellar performance both vocally and physically.)
Although no official statement has been released at the time I'm typing this, several excuses are already being bandied about such as West Valley City, Utah, being about 4,300 feet above sea level, implying that the altitude could have hit him harder than he expected. (Stewart joked about almost fainting on stage ... yet felt healthy enough to make an appearance at a World Cup match earlier in the week. Stewart's passion for soccer runs deep ... at one time, he even thought he might professionally play the sport.)
Please ... take care of yourself ... or finish up your shows from a more "relaxed" position rather than all the crazy choreography that is typically part of your performance. (Stewart finished his show on Friday siting in a chair.) Your fans will understand. They love you ... and they love the music. You have nothing else to prove at this stage of your career. (kk)
And, based on this clip we saw this past weekend, it looks like Rod Stewart may not be the only aging rocker whose time has come to hang up the ol' microphone.
Truth be told, there are probably nearly as many members of The Mike Love Haters Club as there are in The Beach Boys' Fan Club ...
And his voice has been fading for a while now ...
But this new clip shows that the time has come to hang up those rock and roll shoes. (Imagine paying good money to see a Beach Boys concert and getting this!)
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZfXiDWjiQn/
I think Kenny Rogers said it best when he sang "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em."
Mike is the only remaining original member of The Beach Boys still performing under that name. (The three Wilson Brothers have all passed away, Al Jardine is now fronting Brian Wilson's old band, sometimes featuring David Marks, and even long-time stand-by Bruce Johnston finally decided to quit the road this past year.) No matter which side of the "I hate Mike Love" fence you sit on, watching this clip is truly heartbreaking. Mike sang lead on the majority of the band's hits and brought an energy that fueled the band and ignited Brian Wilson's visions.
Look, nobody ever said you had to stay on the road for 60 - 70 years ... nor did anyone ever expect it.
For many of these '50's and '60's stars still out there touring and performing, this is the only life they've ever known ... and I get it that they still get a rush from hearing the fans cheer ... but you are doing a true disservice to the legacy of the band (and the fans) when this is the best performance you can eek out these days.
For God's sake, please listen to yourselves ... and see what YOU think of your current state of performance. And then ask yourself, "Is this really the memory I want to leave my life-long fans with?" (kk)
This week's Super Chart offers so many great memories of that summer! It was not a great DXing summer for AM from Dodge City, so I mostly taped from Dodge's KEDD and local Kansas Top 40s like KLSI Salina, KLEO Wichita, KSCB Liberal, all Kansas, as well as KOMA and WKY in Oklahoma City and KNIN in Wichita Falls, Tx and KIMN Denver. These all supplanted the loss of signal of WLS, WCFL and others we heard most nights in winter.
The thing memorable today is that it's almost time for Sugar & Spice to appear. We already have the Ides charting and New Colony 6 and the Shadows of Knight earlier. Now, the Shames come along!
A great time in music for Chicago sounds.
WLS Clark
WLS and WCFL really opened up their playlists to allow for music to be heard by our "local heroes." (Don't forget that The Buckinghams would soon be busting out nationally, too!) Yes, it was a VERY good time for Chicagoland radio. (kk)
Timmy sent us this …
A photo-reminder of Blondie, circa 1977, posing in front of the Hollywood sign … with ALL kinds of photo outtakes …
https://www.vintag.es/2026/06/blodie-with-hollywood-sign.html
It’s easy to forget just how big Blondie really was …
Take a look at this list of hit records they scored around the world, showing the peaks achieved here in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia …
| BLONDIE | USA | CAN | UK | AUS | |
| 1976 | In The Flesh | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
| 1977 | Rip Her To Shreds | -- | -- | -- | 81 |
| 1978 | Denis (Denee) | -- | -- | 2 | 12 |
| 1978 | I'm Always Touched By Your Presence, Dear | -- | -- | 10 | -- |
| 1978 | Picture This | -- | -- | 12 | 88 |
| 1978 | Hanging On The Telephone | -- | -- | 5 | 39 |
| 1979 | Heart Of Glass | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1979 | Sunday Girl | -- | -- | 1 | 5 |
| 1979 | One Way Or Another | 22 | 7 | -- | -- |
| 1979 | Dreaming | 20 | 3 | 2 | 53 |
| 1979 | Union City Blue | -- | -- | 13 | -- |
| 1980 | The Hardest Part | 72 | 86 | -- | -- |
| 1980 | Call Me | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1980 | Atomic | 39 | 57 | 1 | 12 |
| 1981 | The Tide Is High | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1981 | Rapture | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| 1982 | Island Of Lost Souls | 37 | -- | 11 | 13 |
| 1982 | War Child | -- | -- | 39 | 96 |
| 1988 | Denis (remix) | -- | -- | 50 | 139 |
| 1989 | Call Me (remix) | -- | -- | 61 | -- |
| 1994 | Atomic (remix) | -- | -- | 19 | 98 |
| 1995 | Heart Of Glass (remix) | -- | -- | 15 | -- |
| 1995 | Union City Blue (remix) | -- | -- | 31 | -- |
| 1999 | Maria | 82 | -- | 1 | 59 |
| 2003 | Good Boys | -- | -- | -- | 37 |
| 2005 | Rapture Riders | -- | -- | -- | 23 |
Also from Timmy ...
Who wore it better?
I vote for Iggy.
T
And this ... under the Subject Line "Happy Solstice" ...
This is absolutely AWESOME!!! Thank, Timmy! (kk)
Oh wait ... he's not quite done yet ...
Speaking of holding your own, after I revealed Joey Heatherton as being one of my secret TV crushes in the early '70's, Chuck Buell suggested that I should ask other Forgotten Hits Readers (both male and female) to share THEIR fantasy "dream dates" of those teenage years. (Actually, we kind of did that 20-something years ago when we asked our female readers Who Were Your Teenage Crushes? And Whose Posters Did You Have Up On Your Bedroom Walls?) It all tied into the Teen Idols Series we were doing at the time ... and the response was really good.
