We've run this once before ...
But it's SO damn impressive that we're going to run it again!!!
Check out this INCREDIBLE List of Top 40 Hits put together by this year's HAPPY TOGETHER AGAIN Tour Line-Up. (Scroll back to Monday's Posting, June 27th, for the complete tour schedule)
1 Windy - The Association (1967)
2 Happy Together - The Turtles (1967)
3 Cherish - The Association (1966)
4 Kind of a Drag - The Buckinghams (1967)
5 Indian Reservation - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1971)
6 Never My Love - The Association (1967)
7 She'd Rather Be With Me - The Turtles (1967)
8 Kicks - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1966)
9 Good Thing - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1967)
10 Mercy Mercy Mercy - The Buckinghams (1967)
11 Midnight Confessions - The Grass Roots (1968)
12 Him Or Me, What's It Gonna Be - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1967)
13 You Showed Me - The Turtles (1969)
14 Along Comes Mary - The Association (1966)
15 Don't You Care - The Buckinghams (1967)
16 Elenore - The Turtles (1968)
17 Hungry - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1966)
18 Let's Live For Today - The Grass Roots (1967)
19 It Ain't Me, Babe - The Turtles (1965)
20 Sooner Or Later - The Grass Roots (1971)
21 Arizona - Mark Lindsay (1970)
22 Everything That Touches You - The Association (1968)
23 Just Like Me - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1966)
24 Susan - The Buckinghams (1967)
25 Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song - The Buckinghams (1967)
26 You Know What I Mean - The Turtles (1967)
27 She's My Girl - The Turtles (1967)
28 I'd Wait A Million Years - The Grass Roots (1969)
29 Temptation Eyes - The Grass Roots (1971)
30 Two Divided By Love - The Grass Roots (1971)
31 I Had A Dream - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1967)
32 Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1969)
33 Too Much Talk - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1968)
34 You Baby - The Turtles (1966)
35 Let Me - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1969)
36 The Great Airplane Strike - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1966)
37 Ups And Downs - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1967)
38 Things I Should Have Said - The Grass Roots (1967)
39 Birds of a Feather - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1971)
40 Heaven Knows - The Grass Roots (1969)
41 Silver Bird - Mark Lindsay (1970)
42 Don't Take It So Hard - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1968)
43 Where Were You When I Needed You - The Grass Roots (1966)
44 Bella Linda - The Grass Roots (1969)
45 The River Is Wide - The Grass Roots (1969)
46 Glory Bound - The Grass Roots (1972)
47 Baby Hold On - The Grass Roots (1970)
48 Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies - The Association (1966)
49 Like Long Hair - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1961)
50 Time For Livin' - The Association (1968)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Local Beat
re: LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME GREAT MUSIC COMING UP THIS SUMMER
ON THE LOCAL SCENE:
Can you believe it's July 1st already?!?!? As we prepare for a long, holiday weekend, we also take a look ahead to see what kind of musical treats we've got coming up here locally this month.
While more and more villages are going the Tribute / Cover Band / Copy Band route, we still found a few interesting concerts that you just might want to bring a lawn chair along to enjoy. Check 'em out!
Have you seen some of the shows coming up at Elk Grove Village?
JULY 12 - Chicago Gold with Dennis Tufano (original lead singer of the Bucks), Toad and Hook of the Shames, Ronnie Rice of the NC Six and Jimmy Sohns of the Shadows of Knight, WOW!
JULY 26 - The one and Only Micky Dolenz of the Monkees
Mike De Martino
The Lovejoy Music Club
JULY 12 - Chicago Gold with Dennis Tufano (original lead singer of the Bucks), Toad and Hook of the Shames, Ronnie Rice of the NC Six and Jimmy Sohns of the Shadows of Knight, WOW!
JULY 26 - The one and Only Micky Dolenz of the Monkees
Mike De Martino
The Lovejoy Music Club
Yep, we'll be heading out to BOTH of those shows ...
And here are a few other local gigs you may be interested in ...
Just got this from Michele Abrams ... some pretty good line-ups here! (kk)
No excuse to be bored this summer! Here are some upcoming events!
-- Michele Sweeney-Abrams (RockumentaryMedia)
The Arcada Theatre ...
3 Faces of the King (Elvis)
Starring internationally renowned superstars Shawn Klush, Rick Alviti and the young sensation Cody Slaughter. They are backed by the Fabulous Ambassadors live band!
Fri, 7/15/2011 8:00 PM
The Arcada Theatre
http://www.oshows.com
Starring internationally renowned superstars Shawn Klush, Rick Alviti and the young sensation Cody Slaughter. They are backed by the Fabulous Ambassadors live band!
Fri, 7/15/2011 8:00 PM
The Arcada Theatre
http://www.oshows.com
Grand Victoria Casino Presents A Quiet Evening with Don Rickles
Sat, 8/20/2011 8:00 PM
The Arcada Theatre
http://www.oshows.com
----------------------------
July 13 - 7:00 Flyte; 8:30 American English: The Complete Beatles Experience
July 20 - 7:00 In Session Local band playing 80’s 90’s rock; 8:30 Caliente Latin Grooves, R&B Band
July 27 - 7:00 Squirt Fenton Alums play Classic Rock; 8:30 The Neverly Brothers 50’s rock to British Invasion
August 3 - 7:30 Kashmir Led Zeppelin Tribute Band
August 10 - 7:00 Hickey Bava Blues Retro jazz and blues; 8:30 Rico Santana Tribute Band
August 17 - 7:00 Bag Shot Row; 8:30 Your Villain My Hero
August 24 - 7:00 Exit 147; 8:30 Arra
Brock and Abrams @ Two Chefs Bensenville
(basically across street from the Park Immediately after the concerts ... on July 13th and August 17th)
http://www.BrockAndAbrams.com/
http://www.BrockAndAbrams.com/
--------------------------------
Elk Grove Village
Free Concert Series at the Village Green
901 Wellington Ave ELK GROVE, IL
7:30p.m. Every Tues in July
http://www.elkgrove.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=991
July 5 - THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL
July 12 - THE CHICAGO GOLD REVUE (featuring The Cryan' Shames with special guests Dennis Tufano, former lead singer of The Buckinghams, Jimy Sohns, former lead singer of The Shadows of Knight, and a few more surprises)
July 19 - HOTEL CALIFORNIA "A SALUTE TO THE EAGLES"
July 26 THE MONKEES LEAD SINGER MICKY DOLENZ
Brock and Abrams @ Coach's Corner Elk Grove
(basically across street from the Village Green Immediately after the concerts.)
http://www.BrockAndAbrams.com/
---------------------------------
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - Railroad Days Festival
"An Evening of Chicago" 8:00 - 9:30 P.M.
**Fireworks to follow the performance**
Reed Keppler Park - Arbor & National Streets - West Chicago, IL
West Chicago's Railroad Days Website
Saturday, July 16, 2011 - Summer Celebration Festival
"An Evening of Chicago" 7:00 - 8:45 P.M.
**Opening for Blue Oyster Cult**
Century Park - 1001 Lakeview Parkway - Vernon Hills, IL
Vernon Hill's Summer Celebration Website
Saturday, July 30, 2011 - Algonquin Founders Days Festival
"An Evening of Chicago" 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Town Park - Corner of Route 62 (Algonquin) & Route 31 - Algonquin, IL
Algonquin Founders Days Website
(I've heard really good things about this band recently but have yet to see them.)
By the way, the REAL Chicago is also coming home this summer ... they'll be performing ON MY BIRTHDAY at Ravinia this summer ... August 27th ... so that should be a real treat, too! (kk)
---------------------------------------
GENERATION "The Sixties Experience"
http://generationsixties.com
Saturday July 2nd
BALLYDOYLE
www.ballydoylepub.com
Stratford Square Mall
Bloomingdale
--------------------------------------
And how's this for some Classic Rock Entertainment? Naperville's Rib Fest brings us Bruce Hornsby, Grand Funk Railroad, REO Speedwagon and Styx over The 4th of July Weekend ... not to mention some INCREDIBLE food selections to go along with these incredible MUSIC selections. Funny thing is while a number of OTHER villages are featuring TRIBUTE Bands performing the music of REO and STYX, Naperville's got The Real Deal!!! (Or, at the very least, the current version of the real deal!!!) kk
YOU ARE INVITED: Sunday JULY 3, 8:00 - 11 pm - BLUE ROAD at Morton Grove Days, 6250 W. Dempster in Harrer Park (1 mile W. of 94) - Bring the family for FREE music, carnival rides and games, delicious food, beer garden, and more. Special guest the "Tequila Kid" on sax.
Wed. JULY 6, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. BLUE ROAD at Deerfield Starbucks Plaza, 100 S Waukegan Rd, Deerfield, IL, 60062, FREE summer concert series sponsored by the Village Music Store.
Sunday, JULY 10 2:00 pm - 5 pm BLUE ROAD "Jimy Rogers Tribute" at Taste of Westmont. FREE annual "Muddy Waters Blues Jam" hosted by Blue Road, featuring a special tribute to the late great Jimy Rogers at 2:00 - 2:30, followed by the blues jam til 5 pm.
Then from 6 - 9 pm Gary Gand joins "Guitar Slingers Blues Tribute" including Toronzo Canon, Pistol Pete, Mike Wheeler, Joe Barr, T-Man Latz. Downtown Westmont on Cass Ave.
A full day of great music!
These are all FREE family friendly events, so take this opportunity to come out, bring your kids and enjoy our fun mix of Jammin' Rock, Chicago Blues and Memphis Soul.
More Info At:
www.blueroadchicago.com
www.facebook.com/blueroadchicago
These are all FREE family friendly events, so take this opportunity to come out, bring your kids and enjoy our fun mix of Jammin' Rock, Chicago Blues and Memphis Soul.
More Info At:
www.blueroadchicago.com
www.facebook.com/blueroadchicago
Lots of new videos just posted from the Jimy Rogers Tribute Concert at Reggies!
From Bob Abrams:
Saturday, July 2nd - GENERATION at Ballydoyle in Bloomingdale
Sunday, July 3rd - The Bensenville Parade in Bensenville
Tuesday, July 5th, July 12th, July 19th - Coach's Corner / Elk Grove Village
Friday, July 8th, July 15th - Charlie's Charhouse / Elk Grove Village
Wednesday, July 13th - Two Chefs / Bensenville
Thursday, July 14th - JD Muggs / Addison, IL
Sunday, July 24th - HOLLYWOOD CHALET in Silver Lake, WI
Of course when it comes to these copy and tribute bands, they don't come much better than The New Invaders and their Salute to the '60's. These guys are playing ALL over town this month ... and for good reason ... they're one of the best local bands out there right now!:
Friday, July 1, 2011 - Lisle's Eyes To The Skies Festival (6 pm - 8 pm)
Lisle, IL
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - Ballydoyle's (9 pm - 1:30 am) Stratford Square Mall, Bloomingdale, IL
Sunday, July 10, 2011 - Sunday Night Concerts (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
Village Green, Oak Lawn, IL
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - Music At The Gazebo (7 pm - 8:30 pm)
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 - Music At The Gazebo (7 pm - 8:30 pm)
Itasca, IL
Thursday, July 14, 2011 - Summer Concert Series (7 pm - 8:30 pm)
Thursday, July 14, 2011 - Summer Concert Series (7 pm - 8:30 pm)
Village of Elmwood Park, Elmwood Park, IL
Sunday, July 17, 2011 - Summer Sampler Concerts (5 pm - 6:30 pm)
Sunday, July 17, 2011 - Summer Sampler Concerts (5 pm - 6:30 pm)
Deerfield, IL
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - Tunes On Tuesday (7 pm - 8:30 pm)
Morton Grove, IL
Thursday, July 21, 2011 - Summer Concerts (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - Tunes On Tuesday (7 pm - 8:30 pm)
Morton Grove, IL
Thursday, July 21, 2011 - Summer Concerts (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Wilmette, IL
Thursday, July 28, 2011 - Summer in the Center Concert Series
Thursday, July 28, 2011 - Summer in the Center Concert Series
(7 pm - 9 pm) Carol Stream, IL
Saturday, July 30, 2011 - Proud American Days Festival
(7:30 pm - 11:30 pm) New Lenox, IL
Sunday, July 31, 2011 - Concerts of the Beach (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
Saturday, July 30, 2011 - Proud American Days Festival
(7:30 pm - 11:30 pm) New Lenox, IL
Sunday, July 31, 2011 - Concerts of the Beach (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
Glencoe, IL
And be sure to check out "Generation" this summer, too, if you get a chance ... another great tribute to the Music of the '60's!
Some of our Local Heroes are finding pretty slim pickings this summer ...
It seems that entertainment buyers would rather book the youngest Beatles’ band, or the one that changes outfits to match the tunes being played or ones pushed by relatives of deceased members of the real Fab Four or the one featuring guys who are part of network TV bands, etc.
-- Ray Graffia, Jr.
Sad but true, unfortunately.
Meanwhile, here's a look at what our Hometown Favorites have got lined up this summer:
THE BUCKINGHAMS - Of course, these guys will be busy with The Happy Together Again Tour this summer. (A complete schedule can be found by scrolling back to June 27th). In between, they've also scheduled some "solo" appearances ...
Monday, July 25th - Ocean City, NJ -- Ocean City Music Pier
Friday, August 12th - Chicago, IL -- Private Corporate Date
Saturday, August 13th - Mount Vernon, OH -- Downtown Square
Saturday, Aug. 21st - Bolingbrook, IL -- Bolingbrook Jubilee
THE CRYAN' SHAMES - Between Cryan' Shames dates and "Chicago Gold" dates, I expected to see these guys pretty busy this summer ... but as of right now, the ONLY date posted on their website is Tuesday, July 12th, in Elk Grove Village ... with special guests Dennis Tufano, former lead singer of The Buckinghams, Ronnie Rice, former lead singer of The New Colony Six and Jimy Sohns, lead singer and front man of The Shadows Of Knight. (That's one hell of a line-up if you're a fan of Chicagoland '60's music!)
And, speaking of Dennis Tufano, he's got a few interesting gigs lined up this summer, too!
DENNIS TUFANO -
July 8, 2011 - Dennis Tufano, Sonny Geraci - Outdoor Festival, Follansbee, W.Va.
July 12, 2011 - Dennis Tufano and The Cryan Shames - The Village Green, Elk Grove Village, Ill., 7:30 p.m. Free.
July 20 - 25; July 28 - 31, 2011 - Dennis Tufano, Gary Lewis and The Playboys - Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev.
August 17, 2011 - Dennis Tufano - River Raisin Center, Monroe, Mich., 7 p.m.
August 18, 2011 - Dennis Tufano - Berkley High School, Berkley, Mich.
THE NEW COLONY SIX -
SATURDAY - JULY 9th 2011 - Lombard, Il. "CRUISE NIGHT" - 8 PM open to EVERYONE!
Call Village of Lombard Village for details /directions
The NC6 are hoping to announce a few more summer dates in the near future.
THE IDES OF MARCH -
Nothing posted on their website yet ... but we'll keep you posted as new dates are added. (Jim Peterik says it looks like a quiet summer for The Ides ... but is hoping to announce a few dates soon)
RONNIE RICE -
Thursday, July 7th - Deerfield Square, 7 PM
Tuesday, July 12th - Chicago Gold, Elk Grove Village (with The Cryan' Shames, Dennis Tufano and Jimy Sohns)
And how about Milwaukee's Summerfest?!?!? Check out THIS line up of stars!!! Unreal!!!
Hall And Oates, Meatloaf, REO Speedwagon, George Clinton, Wanda Jackson, Los Lonely Boys, Los Lobos, Styx, Third Eye Blind, Taj Mahal, Loretta Lynn, Maroon Five, Blue Oyster Cult, Def Leppard, Don Felder, Paul Rodgers, The Spinners, Kansas, The Goo Goo Dolls, Leon Russell, America, The Bo Deans, Todd Rundgren, Buddy Guy, Peter Gabriel, Kanye West, Toby Keith, Kid Rock (with Sheryl Crow), Heart, Katy Perry, Britney Spears (with Nicki Minej), Sugarland and Peter Frampton ... and those are just the headliners!!! HUNDREDS of other acts are ALSO performing on eleven different stages!
Right on the heels of The Monkees' 45th Anniversary Reunion Tour, you can catch Micky Dolenz "solo" right here in Elk Grove Village on Tuesday, July 26th! Hope to see you there!
>>>Here's an updated, revised schedule for this summer's Happy Together Again Tour ... are the guys coming near YOUR town??? (kk)
Yes, they are!
I purchased three tickets to the August 3rd concert here in Springfield, Mo. It is at our fairgrounds and I was lucky enough to get three seats on the track in the second row. My dates are two of my sisters ages 59 an 51. We are all very excited. Will let you know how it goes and maybe we will be lucky enough to get some pictures.
Stacee
Please do ... we're hoping to fill these pages with reports from BOTH sides of the stage again this summer! For the COMPLETE Happy Together Again Tour Schedule, scroll back to Monday, June 27th ... and check back in with us again tomorrow when we rerun The Happy Together Again Hit List ... it'll blow your mind to see the sheer volume of hits these artists put together back in the day! (kk)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Movie Music
re: HERE ARE MORE OF YOUR FAVORITE OLDIES USED IN MOVIES:
>>>Maybe you could invite your readers to identify their favorite Oldie used in a movie.
I would nominate Ivory Joe Hunter singing Since I Met You Baby (in Spanish) in the John Sayles movie 'Lone Star', a very good flick and a moving scene. (Charlie Fraser)
>>>Easy enough for me to remember the most powerful oldies music I ever heard in a movie ... it TOTALLY blew me away and I had to go out and get the soundtrack album the very next day. The song in question is "Since I Don't Have You" by The Skyliners and I heard it for the very first time in "American Graffiti" ... and to this day it's STILL one of my all-time favorites. (Believe it or not, I heard "All Summer Long" by The Beach Boys for the very first time in that very same flick!) kk
Whoa! Kent, that soundtrack may be the single most, best ever soundtrack ... 42 songs,
I believe ... it's not fair to cite that one! ha ha
And the Twist Scene from Pulp Fiction is one of my very favorites also. Now that they have caught Whitey Bulger, the notorious criminal portrayed loosely by Jack Nicholson in the movie 'The Departed', the end of the movie shows a rat on a bannister as 'Sweet Dreams' plays to end the movie.
Keep it going,
Charlie
Being 19 at the time (when "American Graffiti" first came out), I wasn't familiar with a lot of the music used in the film ... my first exposure to music came during The British Invasion ... and oldies radio hadn't really taken off yet ... so it was like a whole new world of music opened up to me. That is why I continue to insist today that oldies music can have the same effect on TODAY'S teenagers if they're exposed to it properly. There is SO much more to offer in the way of catchy, hook melodies than most of today's music ... it's feel-good music at its very finest. I defy ANY kid (from 8 - 80) not to be affected by the sounds of "Rock Around The Clock", "Sixteen Candles", "Runaway", "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", "That'll Be The Day", "At The Hop", "The Stroll", "Surfin' Safari'", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "Little Darlin'", "Peppermint Twist", "Barbara Ann", "Book Of Love", "Ya Ya", "The Great Pretender", "Ain't That A Shame", "Johnny B. Goode", "I Only Have Eyes For You", "Get A Job", "Do You Wanna Dance", "Come Go With Me", "You're Sixteen", "Love Potion Number Nine", "Since I Don't Have You", "Chantilly Lace", "Green Onions", "Only You", "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight" and "All Summer Long" ... and every one of those songs (along with at least a dozen others) are featured in this movie. It's Rock And Roll History, 101.
This week's DeeJay Assignment: "A Salute to 'American Graffiti'" ... pick 20 songs from this INCREDIBLE soundtrack and feature them on your show as some sort of an "American Graffiti" tribute ... plug it the day before and tell your listeners to "Tune in tomorrow ... and have your kids listen in, too!" 'cause this is music that they should NOT be denied the chance to hear ... yet look at your normal, regular oldies playlist ... and tell me how many of these GREAT tracks you still play today. (kk)
My favorite oldies in movies are more like ancienties (new word) in movies, starting with both Nat King Cole's Star Dust and Les Paul & Mary Ford's How High The Moon both used within the first ten minutes or so of "My Favorite Year", the Peter O'Toole movie. Must be some more but since these sprung to mind, I consider them my favorites. Hmmm maybe because the movie is set in the 1950s, some of my favorite years.
Hil
Regarding Songs Used in Movies, one of my very favorite soundtracks is from the movie "I Am Sam" with Sean Penn. They are all Beatles songs by some famous and some not so famous artists. I listen to this CD all the time.
Eileen
Yep, that's a good one. (Another favorite is "Bye Bye Love" ... which the movie was as good as the soundtrack! lol) And how about "Across The Universe"? But we're looking for an unexpected oldie that came on in a film that just COMPLETELY blew you away ... the PERFECT marriage of song and film. (Earlier I thought of "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Runaround Sue" from "Sleeping With The Enemy", both unexpected surprises in an otherwise pretty dark film. Heck, you're even treated to a little snippet of "When You're A Jet" from "West Side Story" when the guy is watering his lawn!!! lol) kk
A friend found this on Flickr ...
It's a photo of a real ad that someone found in a late '50s comic book.
DJ Stu Weiss
Yes, we've run these before ... and I used to see them every month when I'd pick up my brand new Superman or Batman comic!!! (lol) "Palisades Park" (and its use in the brand new X-Men flick) is the song that kicked off this whole conversation. Then, after THAT film opened big at the box office, we saw back-to-back #1 Movies "Super 8" and "The Green Lantern", each of which ALSO featured classic oldies like "Undercover Angel" (by our FH Buddy Alan O'Day) and "Come Softly To Me" by The Fleetwoods, respectively. (You'll find a comment from original Fleetwood Gretchen Christopher below!) kk
Kent,
I enjoyed seeing your comments about Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, and how their song Since I Don't Have You is still one of your favorites, and how it made such an impression on you when you heard it that you went out and bought the album the day after seeing American Graffiti.
I had the exact same feeling the first time I heard that song. It was like it 'haunted' me for hours and days. I was COMPELLED to buy it and play it over and over. There is something about it that can't be described. It's a production to live with and never get tired of and one I know I'll take to the grave in my head.
I was a little unhappy when a recent Oldies PBS Special I was watching featured The Skyliners but featured the girl singer doing the solo work on a song I thought was good but just not the same as Jimmy singing what, in my opinion, The Skyliners do best, Since I Don't Have You.
The PBS Producers of those shows might have great promotional sense, but in my opinion it was a BIG mistake to substitute the song The Skyliners performed on that show for Since I Don't Have You.
That PBS Special is a recent release so you might have not seen it yet, but I want to tell you, Jimmy Beaumont, God Bless him, did his best to be nonchalant and professional as he did his bit to be 'backup singer' for her. Her song was well done but WAY below the caliber of Since I Don't Have You. Maybe he had lost his voice before the concert or something and so they had no choice about it.
Anyway, it was great to see them all on stage together, but THAT song, Since I Don't Have You, with Jimmy Beaumont singing it in his inimitable way, THAT in my opinion is one of the high points of True American Music, and he is the ONLY singer who could EVER carry that song and make it the unforgettable hit that it was and IS. What a talent, and what a cool guy. I hope he knows what an amazing 'Performer and Interpreter of Music' that he is.
Veeder Van Dorn
I enjoyed seeing your comments about Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, and how their song Since I Don't Have You is still one of your favorites, and how it made such an impression on you when you heard it that you went out and bought the album the day after seeing American Graffiti.
I had the exact same feeling the first time I heard that song. It was like it 'haunted' me for hours and days. I was COMPELLED to buy it and play it over and over. There is something about it that can't be described. It's a production to live with and never get tired of and one I know I'll take to the grave in my head.
I was a little unhappy when a recent Oldies PBS Special I was watching featured The Skyliners but featured the girl singer doing the solo work on a song I thought was good but just not the same as Jimmy singing what, in my opinion, The Skyliners do best, Since I Don't Have You.
The PBS Producers of those shows might have great promotional sense, but in my opinion it was a BIG mistake to substitute the song The Skyliners performed on that show for Since I Don't Have You.
That PBS Special is a recent release so you might have not seen it yet, but I want to tell you, Jimmy Beaumont, God Bless him, did his best to be nonchalant and professional as he did his bit to be 'backup singer' for her. Her song was well done but WAY below the caliber of Since I Don't Have You. Maybe he had lost his voice before the concert or something and so they had no choice about it.
Anyway, it was great to see them all on stage together, but THAT song, Since I Don't Have You, with Jimmy Beaumont singing it in his inimitable way, THAT in my opinion is one of the high points of True American Music, and he is the ONLY singer who could EVER carry that song and make it the unforgettable hit that it was and IS. What a talent, and what a cool guy. I hope he knows what an amazing 'Performer and Interpreter of Music' that he is.
Veeder Van Dorn
I haven't seen the show you're referring to ... and I'm sure at SOME point during the show they performed their best known hit (although maybe it wasn't broadcast on the PBS Television version ... sometimes they do that on purpose, too ... edit these things out to get you to pay the higher subscription fee and get the "bonus material" on the DVD!!!) From what I understand, Beaumont (now 70!!!), still sounds great! But you're absolutely right about this being a haunting recording ... without question, one of the best performances ever waxed. (kk)
Hi Kent -
Just wondering if you got my link to my version of "Since I Dont Have You" ? It will be coming out on Gonzo Records' Merrell Fankhauser "The Best Of" 2 CD set with songs from 1964 to now, some unreleased and a two volume DVD set of 12 episodes of my TV show Tiki Lounge. It includes a great oldies show with Vessie Simmions of "The Ribbons" ( I Aint Gonna Kiss You), Val Paliuto of 'The Jaguars", Ronnie Height, Marvin Spencer and others... All slated for release July 10 and August 2nd.
Click on the link below.
All My Best,
Merrell Fankhauser
MERRELL FANKHAUSER - 'SINCE I DON'T HAVE YOU' from 'TIKI'
Just wondering if you got my link to my version of "Since I Dont Have You" ? It will be coming out on Gonzo Records' Merrell Fankhauser "The Best Of" 2 CD set with songs from 1964 to now, some unreleased and a two volume DVD set of 12 episodes of my TV show Tiki Lounge. It includes a great oldies show with Vessie Simmions of "The Ribbons" ( I Aint Gonna Kiss You), Val Paliuto of 'The Jaguars", Ronnie Height, Marvin Spencer and others... All slated for release July 10 and August 2nd.
Click on the link below.
All My Best,
Merrell Fankhauser
MERRELL FANKHAUSER - 'SINCE I DON'T HAVE YOU' from 'TIKI'
Sure did ... in fact, we sent it out a couple of weeks ago ... but here it is again ... 'cause a great song is a great song! (Don McLean and Art Garfunkel also charted with outstanding versions of this tune.) kk
Kent,
Thanks for the heads up about our "Come Softly To Me" being in THE GREEN LANDERN!
My daughter Kimari teaches pre-school and asked if I'd sing "Graduation's Here" for her students' graduation. I sang "Graduation" and, on request, "Come Softly To Me" for an encore, with Kimari and the parents backing me by singing the 'dom doms'.
Next morning, one of the parents excitedly called Kimari and said, "My husband and I saw the movie THE GREEN LANTERN last night and there was your Mom's song! It was in a bar scene - and it was "their song!" I was so excited, because I'd just heard your Mom sing it live, yesterday!"
What fun!
Of course, both "Graduation's Here" and "Come Softly" are among the 16 self-penned songs on my CD, GRETCHEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN (SUITE 16). My goal for July is to make them available for digital download at the usual places.
But the actual CD and 16 page booklet of liner notes and photos can still be obtained - Signed (to whomever is the lucky recipient :o), gold Sealed (A Billboard Critics' Pick for 10 Best Albums of the Year), and Delivered (in a foil gift box, if desired) from www.GoldCupMusic.com (where all may hear sound clips, and learn a bit more about this romantic album - like the sound track of a musical - which tells the story of my first love at age 16, reunited four decades later and celebrating my 16th Leap Year Birthday!
Of course, now I've turned 17, and next year (Vos, my first love, says) I'll be legal! (:o)
Please feel free to share this message and welcome all the fans of Forgotten Hits who say, "They just don't write music like that anymore." I hope they'll be pleasantly surprised when they 'come softly to me' and sample the six decades of songs at www.GoldCupMusic.com or www.GretchenChristopher.com or www.TheFleetwoods.com (see SUITE 16 CD link).
Thanks for keeping in touch, and Happy Independence Day!!!!
Gretchen
Kent,
Do you know anyone who has ever seen the original movie "Unchained" from 1955?
It's not on DVD on VHS, and although I've heard / read people discussing it for years, has anyone ever actually viewed it and told where in the movie the theme is used?
David
I went right to our resident film buff with this one ... (aka THEONEBUFF!!!) ... a TRUE connoisseur of film ... and, he was actually AROUND when this movie came out and knows it well. (In fact, he even sent us a little soundtrack clip to share!!!) Check it out! (kk)
Unchained, a 1955 low budget movie, is about a man imprisoned. I have seen the movie and I have it on DVD and VHS but neither is a copy to make a fuss over. It is blurred and shaky. I bought it from one of those online "hard to find" movie places, mainly to get the song. The movie stars Chester Morris, a tough guy type from early 30s films and into the 70s. He plays a warden trying to create a model prison where the inmates are treated decently with the hopes of rehabilitation. The focus is on an inmate played by Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, a football player with Hollywood ambitions that never materialized. The theme is by Alex North, on of Hollywood's finest composers, whose work can be heard in such movies as Viva Zapata and The Long Hot Summer. While the theme is played throughout, the song is in the hands of one of the most cliched characters in movie history, the black prisoner with a guitar. Here he is played by one time Porgy actor Todd Duncan. In the movie itself it is sung without the famous bridge beginning with "Lonely river flows ... ". It was nominated for Best Song Oscar and lost to the highly popular but not long-standing "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing". Time and countless artists recordings have demonstrated over time which is the better song. Here's an mp3 I made. You now have the original version of Unchained Melody. Take my word for it. It is a classic song. It is NOT a classic movie. I feel its low budget, lack of star power and absence of any studio push kept the song from winning an Oscar.
Link to the movie for more information is below.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sam Cooke Way ... And Other Thoughts Of The Day
re: SAM COOKE:
I've been hoping our FH Buddy Erik Greene would file a report with us regarding the recent street-naming ceremony that took place a couple of weekends ago here in Chicago, dedicating Sam Cooke Way at 36th and Ellis, boyhood home of this soul and rock and roll legend. (Unfortunately, we were unable to attend due to some other commitments ... but here's the whole scoop, courtesy of Sam Cooke's nephew, Erik Greene!) kk
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