More Of Your Thoughts On Rob Grill

re:  ROB GRILL:

LOTS of Rob Grill comments coming in regarding the passing of Rob Grill ... 

and pretty much the topic of discussion everywhere you turn this week. (We've covered The Grass Roots dozens and dozens of times in Forgotten Hits over the years ... and ALWAYS to VERY positive response from our readers.  They truly are, in every sense of the word, Fan Favorites ... and they released a collection of songs over their career that MOST artists would die for.  So why is it that for me personally, when I think of The Grass Roots, I just can't get past the image of legendary Sportscaster Chet Coppock losing his virginity to "Let's Live For Today" ... but hey, that's just my OWN personal hang-up!!! lol)

Anyway, here is what some of you have been saying ...

We've received some sad news today ... our good friend Rob Grill of The Grass Roots has passed away. It's so hard to believe that a life force as powerful as Rob is gone from us.

It's no secret that Rob was a great entertainer, a very funny guy and a fan favorite ... but he was also a good friend to those of us in the "business". We always looked forward to performing with Rob and the band, and enjoyed spending time with him backstage, at dinner and after the shows. Rob was always good for a laugh, a wink and a smile and a great story or two, and he really knew how to whip a crowd into a frenzy onstage.

He took his music seriously - he loved the Grass Roots music and what it meant to his generation as much as anyone - but not so seriously that he didn't take time to really enjoy life. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Nancy Grill and family. You have so many wonderful memories of Rob and his fabulous career to hold onto, as do we all.  

To paraphrase Rob, "Rob - you always did know how to throw a party!", and it was always a party when Rob Grill and The Grass Roots were on the bill.

We love you, buddy ... you'll be missed greatly by your friends and fans alike.

Paul, Doug, Danny, Ron, Darren and Tommy
Paul Revere and The Raiders

I met Rob for the first time in Hawaii in 1969. Three Dog Night and The Grass Roots were performing there. Rob was a friend of mine when we were in our twenties and early thirties and we had some fun times at The Troubadour singing harmony.
RIP, my old friend! You are already missed!
Chuck Negron

Saw your tribute to Rob, it's very nice, you did a great job. So sad. Appreciate you printing the sentiments of other artists as well. Looking on the Internet I see that there's no mention yet at RobGrill.com or on http://the-grassroots.com  but there is a very nice letter on the Paul Revere and the Raiders web site's home page  with one of the best pictures I've ever seen of Rob.

Thanks for the great work you do.

Oldies1

I saw postings on both of the websites you mentioned ... maybe they just wanted to give the family a little "breathing room" first before putting the word out.  I know I've read Nancy Grill's official statement in at least a dozen different sources.  Very sad indeed.  So much great music.  (kk)

Hi Kent:

I was really saddened by the loss of Rob, who I had gotten to know through work with the Cryan' Shames.  He really has had his health challenges throughout the years, but still kept his sense of humor throughout it all. I last saw him a few years ago on one of our band cruises not to soon after one of his hip surgeries.  Joking as ever, he kept asking Paul Revere (who had just had rotator cuff surgery) if he could borrow a pain pill.  His music will be loved forever - I remember a DJ when I was in college who decided to dedicate "Temptation Eyes" over and over again to me on the radio because he wanted to get my attention.  He didn't and was promptly fired.  However it still is one of my favorite songs along with "Sooner or Later" from my college days.  Another cute story is when in Oak Lawn a band had cancelled at a bar and the Grassroots filled in at the very last minute.  Only 12 of us were present, so it was like a private party.

Sue Patterson

I seem to remember The Grass Roots being one of those bands you could "win" for a performance at your high school if you collected enough gum wrappers (or some such nonsense!!!)  What a different time it was.  Love 'em 'tho ... and I always have!  (kk)

Yep!  There it is!!!

(OK ... tell the truth ... how many of you girls out there made those crazy gum-wrapper chains back in high school ... raise your hands!!!)  kk 

One of my favorite bands of the '60's and '70's was The Grass Roots.  While we all know that Rob has had his share of problems these last few years, it is still sad to think that such a great talent has left us.  Most people probably think of The Grass Roots as a band that had two or three hits -- and radio has kind of helped to diminish them to that -- but a look at your recent "Hit List" shows just how many really great hits they had.  Radio should play more of these songs, as we all know them and love them.  And not just now in the wake of Rob's passing -- but all the time -- because they deserve to be heard.

Rick

Thinking about this great band this morning, I was reminded just how important they've been to us for all these years. In the mid 1980s they made an appearance here on an evening when I had to be out of town on business. No worries - my wife took our kids, then 4 and 6, and they thoroughly enjoyed it. You can't start kids too early on appreciating this music. We're working on the grandkids now.
Frannie may remember this spot I'm attaching. I clipped it from a KLIF aircheck from '69.

David Lewis

Great clip ... and the one you sent me from WMAK (with the custom "Sooner Or Later" intro) is one of my all-time favorites.  I swear, I ONLY hear the song that way now ... VERY clever marketing idea!  (kk)

One of the things I was most impressed with regarding The Grass Roots was how they actually had TWO lead singers back in the early hit year, a very unusual line-up because of the way they traded their vocals back and forth on many of those early hits.  While Rob Grill kept the band name alive for the next several decades, Warren Entner certainly held his own in the vocals department.

Ed

It's true ... look at some of those early TV clips and these guys play off each other regularly ... and PERFECTLY compliment each other's vocal style.  (kk)

I tried to find an official online statement from Creed Bratton, original Grass Roots lead guitarist (and now, for the past seven years, a regular, hysterical fixture on TV's "The Office") ... but was surprised not to see one.  Reading through some of his web pages, Creed seems to be a bit partial toward Warren Entner more so than Rob Grill.  Anybody know anything about that?  Did they have a falling out at some point?  I know Creed left the band around 1970 / 1971.  Hardly just a '60's band, the hits kept right on comin' ... and the group never really changed their style or sound.  Post-1970 Top 20 Hits include "Temptation Eyes" (#15, 1971), "Sooner Or Later" (#9, 1971) and "Two Divided By Love" (#16, 1971).  Rob Grill used to talk about "the one that got away" in concert ... seems that The Grass Roots were given first crack at "Don't Pull Your Love" but Rob didn't hear any hit potential in the song.  It went on to become a #1 Hit in the hands of Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds!  He would then perform it live in concert and it sounded EXCELLENT!  In fact, it sounds JUST like a Grass Roots song!  (And let's not forget The Grass Roots' recording of "It's A Cryin' Shame", a song we recently featured by Gayle McCormick!  BOTH of these versions sound like hit records to me!  (kk)

Singer for 60s band The Grass Roots dies in US

Posted on July 12, 2011 at 12:57 pm

EUSTIS, Florida (AP) — An official in Florida says the lead singer of 1960s rock band The Grass Roots has died near Orlando.

Rob Grill sang on such hits as "Midnight Confessions," ''Temptation Eyes," and "Let's Live for Today." He was 67.

Medical examiner director Michael Hensley said Tuesday that Grill died Monday at a hospice facility in Lake County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando.

A woman who answered the phone at Cornerstone Hospice confirmed Grill was a patient but declined to offer further information, citing privacy concerns.

--------

Rob Grill was one of the most underestimated and least heralded of all the great rock lead singers.  As you know, the first couple Grass Roots singles ("Mr. Jones" and "Where Were You When I Needed You" were studio concoctions.  After that, though, a real Grass Roots band was formed featuring Rob's distinctive lead vocals.  (For the group's greatest hits albums, Rob's voice was mixed in to replace the original lead vocals on "Where Were You When I Needed You" and it's that Rob Grill remix which turns up on most oldies stations today.) 

Starting with 1967's "Let's Live For Today," the Grill-led Grass Roots quickly established itself as a steady source of catchy, evocative, rockin' hit singles.   More than 20 poured through 1975 and nearly every one of them was a hit.  ""Things I Should Have Said," "Midnight Confessions," "Bella Linda," "The River Is Wide," "Lovin' Things," "I'd Wait A Million Years," "Heaven Knows," "Walkin' Through The Country," "Baby Hold On,"  "Sooner or Later," "Two Divided By Love" -- those were all GREAT, unforgettable records -- among the best and most memorable released in the late '60s and early '70s.  Thirteen Grass Roots singles went gold while two of their albums went platinum,  Radio today primarily overplays their biggest hit, "Midnight Confessions," but for my money the very best track they ever cut was 1970's "Temptation Eyes" (featuring Rob, of course).   It prepared me for meeting a girl WITH temptation eyes only one year later.  Thanks for the heads up, guys. 

Rob Grill wrote 13 of the songs the Grass Roots recorded, returned to lead the revival version of the band and in 2008 released what became his final album, "Live Gold."  Rob suffered a stroke earlier this year which caused him to fall and hit his head.  His last several weeks were spent in a coma.   

R.I.P., Rob.  I know you had a very rough time over the past few years as your health declined, but you left behind a highly impressive and unforgettable musical legacy. 

Of note: Grass Roots guitarist Creed Bratton later turned to acting, portraying a version of himself on TV's "The Office." 

Gary Theroux 

One of my favorite groups of the 60's besides the Byrds and Beatles were the Grass Roots. I'll never forget in the summer of 2003 they were playing at a show outside in Estes Park and I introduced them. My last words were ... "Ladies and Gentlemen ... the Grassroots" and then I promptly took a header off the stage to the delight of the band and the audience!

Wild Bill

Click here: Lead singer of '60s rock group the Grass Roots dies at 67 - National Vintage Rock 'n' Roll | Examiner.com

Steve Marinucci did a nice remembrance piece on Rob Grill in his National Examiner column ... several people on the list sent us this link!  (kk)

I'm sure you're aware now of the passing of Rob Grill.  I just thought it might be of interest to note that, even in death, one cannot escape insult, intentional or otherwise.  On the New York Times website this morning, a photo of the Grass Roots accompanying Grill's obituary incorrectly identified Grill.  They had Grill and Warren Entner "switched" and they were running a "cut head shot" of Entner on their obituary page, identified as Grill.  I dropped a line to the writer of the obit, Margalit Fox, to let her know of the error.  I imagine it wasn't her error but I didn't know how to contact anyone else.   The whole thing might seem trivial to some but I consider it a damned shame.   Bon Voyage, Mr. Grill.

... Ed44 

And then ...

... and shame on me ... the person incorrectly identified as Rob Grill in the NY Times obit photo is Rick Coonce, NOT Warren Entner.  Mea culpa.

... Ed44

And Rick Coonce left us earlier this year, too.  We all know where to find Creed Bratton ... anybody have any idea what Warren Entner is doing these days?  (kk)

Kent,

I heard on the TOC of Rob Grill's passing and of course have just now read what was posted on your website. You listed their 18 top 40 hits. The following four records by the Grassroots made our local survey here in OKC but I really didn't go check to see if they charted nationally. 

They are:

1.Mr. Jones (A ballad of a thin man) 1965

2. Only When You're Lonely 1966

3.Wake Up Wake Up 1967

4.Melody For You 1968

I just listed the "A" of the record or the side played here in OKC.

Larry

Joel Whitburn's latest edition shows "Mr. Jones" bubbling under at #121, "Only When You're Lonely" peaking at #96, "Wake Up, Wake Up" reaching #68 and "A Melody For You" bubbling under at #123.  (kk)

Rob Grill was an important singer with the Grass Roots in the 60's, but the whole band sang lead parts often.  Rob was the one that soldiered onward all these years and should be remembered for all of that time when, like me, MANY MANY of us saw him and his Grass Roots in bars or concerts across the country and enjoyed all the classic hits they had. 
Still, the 60's were the (arguably) best years for the band and here's a couple of Chicago memories.  First, late 68 with WLS' Chuck Buell playing "Midnight Confessions" as it was top 5 and then, from the early summer of 68, Dick Biondi at WCFL playing a concert ad for Howlin' Wolf AND the Grass Roots!  Just a couple of months from starting a continuous string of hits, at this point, the Roots were pretty much a two or three hit wonder.  Things would change quickly after this summer 68 concert.  Note that the promo features their latest Chicago (WCFL) chart rider, "Wake Up, Wake Up" which was pretty old even then!  Topping it off, Dick plays our local faves we cannot seem to stop talking about! 

Clark Besch

Here's one you probably won't find on YouTube.  The Grass Roots' GREAT fall of 75 semi-hit, semi-banned "Mamacita" LIVE on American Bandstand 75.  Here's Rob Grill belting out a great song that (most likely due to not being a 1972 release) failed to hit big despite its' greatness.  This is NOT a lip-sych to the record, but a  slightly pared down live (or synched to a music track?) version -- unusual for Bandstand fer sure, complete with Dick Clark intro and outro. 

Clark

And here's another Grass Roots blast from the past.  Their Hollywood Palace performance was little more than a lipsynch done in their 60's west coast outfits.  That, along with Jimmy Durante's introduction.  It's nice to hear "the schnozz" again.  Again, what most people who have seen Rob Grill and the Grass Roots don't realize is that the group was MORE than just Rob, for talent. 
Rob WAS usually listed as lead vocalist and often was, but they did a lot of trading off vocals on their songs.  On "Let's Live for Today" Rob played off of Warren Entner on their trade off vocals ("I need all your lovin'" Gimme some-a lovin'" etc.) and this occurred often over their hits. 
To their credit also, if you pull out the "Let's Live for Today" album, they will show you writing credits (often PF Sloan / Steve Barri), which will include Rob, Warren and Creed Bratton (of "The Office" fame today).  The album ALSO lists the lead singers for EACH song title!  How often do you see that?  Not only that, but the album ALSO lists the MUSICIANS which meant listing the Wrecking Crew guys!  The cool back cover photos?  Some were by Warren too!  This group had it all!!
How many groups wish their 60's greatest hits album could be called "Golden Grass'"???  Well, theirs WAS!  It lived up to the name.  So many of us loved that yellow covered album and yet, how many MORE of us have their "16 Greatest Hits" album from the 70's? 
Rob will be missed, but his Grass Roots songs will thrive forever! 

Clark Besch

The video clip that goes along with this is a great one, too.  In fact, Frannie posted it on her Facebook Page the other day when she first heard that Rob had passed on!  (kk)

Click here: ?Grass Roots - Let's Live For Today (color)?? - YouTube

Whoa!!!... back-to-back "Let's Live For Today"'s!!! Damn it, Chet, put your clothes back on!!!  (kk)

I had several people this week call, text or email saying something to the effect of: "Hey, did you hear Rob Grill of The Grass Roots" died to which I naturally replied, "That's why you've got to check Forgotten Hits EVERY single day!!!"  I also met several people at the Chicago Gold Show earlier this week who said they LOVE The Sunday Comments Page ... but had absolutely NO idea that we post all week long!!!  They thought that when I send out the "friendly reminders" on Sundays that was the ONLY posting of the week ... and, because quite often the Sunday post starts a new page (week) on the website, they've never scrolled back to see all the OTHER really cool stuff they've missed!!!  Frustrating in a way, because we spend a LOT of time pulling all of this together ... but even more so because you "Sunday Readers" are missing SO much more of what Forgotten Hits has to offer.

So just a quick reminder to ALL of you out there ... check the website EVERY day!!!  Now we may not POST every single day ... but it'll get you in the habit of coming back regularly ... and, at the very least, you'll get a chance to enjoy our new "Today's Forgotten Hit" feature!  (kk) 

AMERICA: Back Pages

I mentioned to you last week that we were fortunate enough to see America at The Drive's Birthday Party Concert a couple of weeks ago ...and, as such, we were also treated to a "sneak peek" of three tracks from their brand new "Back Pages" CD.

Well, last week they sent me a copy of the new CD ... and I've got to tell you that I've been listening to it virtually non-stop ever since.  (The OFFICIAL release date is Tuesday, July 26th, and it will be available through all of the usual sources thanks to Entertainment One Music.  Amazon.com is currently accepting pre-orders.)

Gerry Beckley describes the album as "songs we wished we'd written" and both he and partner Dewey Bunnell say they whittled the song list down from over a hundred favorites that they each would have liked to do to the twelve that ultimately made the LP.

DEWEY:  The list was so much longer, but it was a matter of simply wading in and grabbing a dozen or so.

GERRY:  Our list was much longer, of course ... these are just the ones that seemed to work for all involved.

And it's a wide array of material, to be sure ... the guys dipped back to the mid-'60's for the title track (Bob Dylan's "My Back Pages", a hit, of course, for The Byrds back in 1967.)  Other significant songwriters from this era are also well represented on the LP as the band covers songs written by the likes of James Taylor ("Something In The Way She Moves"), Joni Mitchell ("Woodstock"), Brian Wilson ("Caroline, No"), Neil Young ("On The Way Home"), Jimmy Webb ("Crying In My Sleep") and Paul Simon (imagine America covering "America" ... a new theme song, perhaps???)  They also do a version of The Zombies' hit "Time Of The Season".

But it's not just "golden oldies" that America is tackling this time around ... they ALSO have cut new versions of "Till I Hear It From You" by The Gin Blossoms, "Someday We'll Know" by The New Radicals, "Sailing To Philadelphia" by Mark Knopfler along with my personal favorite, "A Road Song" by Fountains Of Wayne ... which just also happens to be the lead-off single from the new LP.

"A Road Song" is a GREAT track that has all of the characteristics of an America Hit ... in fact, they TRULY make it their own with a little musical twist at the end.  If radio will simply play it ... and they SHOULD ... the boys may be in for another "comeback" ala "You Can Do Magic" back in 1982!  (Seriously, this song deserves to be heard ... so we've featured a little snippet of it here today as well!)  Who'da thunk-it?  America doing a Fountains Of Wayne song!!!

GERRY:  We love all of the Fountains of Wayne songs ... this is a new song from them but we probably could have done an entire album of their stuff.

DEWEY:  I love the song-writing craftsmanship of Fountains Of Wayne Songs ... between lyric and melody, this is a well-balanced song with quirky twists and turns.  Plus I like the opening line because I love Wisconsin!

And The Gin Blossoms' tune ("Till I Hear It From You") has always been one of my favorites ... it just has a real "classic feel" to it.  Co-written by FH Fan Favorite Marshall Crenshaw, The Gin Blossoms scored a #11 Hit with the original version back in 1996 ... and it still gets Classic Rock airplay today.  (The song was also featured in the film "Empire Records".)  We were fortunate enough to hear the boys perform this one in concert the other night ... along with "Woodstock" and "A Road Song".

I wondered if it seemed a bit odd to feature contemporary songs by artists like Fountains Of Wayne, The Gin Blossoms and The New Radicals alongside well-known rock classics by the likes of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.  The Fountains Of Wayne song is brand new and was given to America to record for this special project.  (In fact, FOW's Adam Schlesinger co-produced America's 2007 album "Here And Now"!)  Schlesinger at the helm of an entire America project just might propel the boys right back on to the charts!

But what about The Gin Blossoms and New Radicals tracks?  How did THOSE track make the "favorites" list?

GERRY:  Those two songs were favorites of mine from the more current collection of material ... just good strong songs, I think.

DEWEY:  I was honestly unfamiliar with both these songs before Gerry brought them to the table for the project.  They are both excellent songs and came out nice.  I think they represent another musical era of songwriting to contrast the vintage songs that we chose from our youth.

When I heard that America was recording a version of "Caroline, No", I couldn't wait to hear the end result. It's always been a personal favorite and, knowing what a huge fan and admirer of Brian Wilson Gerry Beckley is, I was already starting to imagine what the recording of this tune might sound like in my head.  So imagine my COMPLETE surprise to put on the CD and hear Dewey Bunnell singing this track!!!  And, I might add, offering up what I believe just may be the finest vocal of his entire career!!!  (Without question, it's my SECOND favorite track on the album!)  

I'm told that upon hearing America's new recording of his song, Brian Wilson said "An absolutely stunning version ... I almost got tears."

DEWEY:  A Brian Wilson song was a must ... and I have always had a particular soft spot for "Caroline, No".  I think it lyrically speaks to the feeling of loss in a far broader sense than simply losing a girl.

The new LP is available July 26th on Entertainment One Music.  It is produced by Fred Mollin (who also worked with the boys on their 1980 "Alibi" album.)  Mollin was nominated for a Grammy last year for his work on the Johnny Mathis album ... and, over the years, he has worked with legendary artists like Jimmy Webb and Kris Kristofferson.

It was Fred who first suggested this "remake" project a couple of years ago.

DEWEY:  Fred encouraged us to put together some lists of songs.  He has a good historic perspective and had a general direction for the album that we all agreed was worth trying.  After 40 years of singing mostly self-penned songs, I liked the idea of singing some of those that got me interested in the first place.

GERRY:  We'd always thought about the idea and finally the stars aligned.  Fred came to us with the concept so he was involved right from the start.  We always enjoyed working with Fred and he's building quite a legacy with his latest work.  I think you just need to see the list of writers that we chose to get a pretty good picture of who has inspired us over the years.  When you collect songs of this caliber, it's just humbling to sing them.  It's a true reminder of how rich our generation has been in talent.

In addition to the new LP, America has been quite busy lately, out on the road promoting their 40th Anniversary Tour ... and it was just announced last month that the band will receive a Star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2012!

For more on all of America's latest and upcoming activities, visit their official website:  www.venturahighway.com . 

(Gerry Beckley's "Internet Tip Of The Day": 

Do NOT 'Google' "AMERICA" ... you won't find us that way!!!) 

Thanks for the tip, Gerry!!!  (kk)

THIS JUST IN:  America will be returning to The Arcada Theatre on December 3rd where they'll perform a Christmas Show (along with all of your favorite hits!)  For a complete list of all scheduled appearances, simply click the website link above.

Forgotten Hits Remembers Rob Grill

Today Forgotten Hits remembers Rob Grill, lead singer of The Grass Roots, who passed away yesterday after injuries he sustained in a fall a few weeks ago.

It is no secret that Rob has had a rough couple of years of late ... on-going health issues, repeated hip replacement surgeries (which led to a dependency on pain medication) and the loss of his son last year have slowly whittled away at the health and spirit of this well-loved man.  After a recent fall that caused a blow to the head which damaged his brain, Grill reportedly suffered a couple of strokes before lapsing into a coma, where he remained in critical condition for the last couple of weeks.  Erroneous reports of his death came through our email almost daily and I suppose for most it was a foregone conclusion that Rob most likely wasn't going to make it this time ... but it's still sad to think that Rob Grill is now longer with us.  He brought joy to so many millions of fans over the years ... and now he's gone.

But the music of The Grass Roots will live on forever.  Between 1966 and 1972, The Grass Roots scored 18 National Top 40 Hits ... and these records did EXTREMELY well here in Chicago where they typically out-performed their national chart showing.  (Check out The Grass Roots Hit List at the end of today's piece.)

I want to thank everyone so very, very much for all your prayers for Rob and Nancy Grill.

Unfortunately, I have very sad news to pass along at this time.  I'm going to send you what was posted on thegrassroots yahoo group today:
Nancy Grill called this morning, July 11th, to inform me that Rob had passed away. Details will come later. She said she was sending a message for the group and asked me to post it for her.
~Shirley




Here's the sad news ... What follows is Nancy Grill's official statement

(as posted on her Facebook Page):

My dear husband Robert Frank Grill, 67, of Mt Dora, Fl, passed away peacefully in my arms at 11:37 a.m. (EST), while listening to one of his favorite songs ... "Let's Live For Today."  He loved his fans and he loved The Grass Roots!
Thank you for all of your prayers, love and support during this time.
Nancy Grill

Rob will be missed very much ... but I know he is home with God and will no longer experience the extreme pain he lived with for the last several years.
Thanks again for all your prayers.  Please continue to keep Nancy in your prayers over the difficult time ahead.
Love,
Karen

Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams sent me HIS official statement (which was also posted on The Buckinghams' website.)  Carl and Nick have toured with The Grass Roots on countless occasions, most recently as part of last year's Happy Together Again Tour.  (The Grass Roots are appearing with The Buckinghams, The Association, Mark Lindsay and The Turtles again this year but Rob Grill was not scheduled to be part of this tour.)

*Remembering Rob Grill, with Respect and Love* 
Ever since hearing of Rob’s recent injury and entry into a coma state, he’s been in our thoughts and prayers, uppermost in our hearts and minds. Many of us on this year’s Happy Together Tour have noticed his absence this time out on the road. Today, as I just learned that Rob has passed away, I find it hard to accept that fact. My heart is full. Our thoughts are prayers are with his family at this time, and we send them our love and respect. And there is a void in the family of the Happy Together Tour, as we stop and remember that Rob, of all people, belongs right here with us on stage, right now, the center of attention and often the life of the party.
You can’t really say the words “Rob Grill” without smiling. When Rob was healthy, he was such fun to be around, a true wit onstage and off. He loved being on stage more than anything because he related so well to people who loved the music of The Grass Roots. And, if memory serves, it was 29 years ago this month, July 4, 1982, on the Mall in Washington, DC, that The Grass Roots set an all-time attendance record. That record still stands.

He made you feel good to hear their shows, because clearly he loved what he did.  Rob’s wit and banter with audiences always made you laugh, no matter how long we’d been on the road with him, or no matter how tired we were.
Already in the first three shows of the Happy Together tour this week, Nick and I have missed Rob. We remember several good times last year when he was with us, and during the past 20 years of doing all the shows together that we did. That’s how we plan to remember Rob — on the road with us, right in the center of the action.
We respect and admire our friends, singer / bassist, Mark Dawson and guitarist / vocals, Dusty Hanvey, Joe Dougherty, drums, and Larry Nelson, keyboards / vocals — Rob’s closest music friends. These professionals have had to perform the music of the Grass Roots for everyone who loves them for several months now, without being able to take time to personally grieve Rob’s illness and, now, his passing.
Now, when we hear “Sooner or Later”, “Two Divided by Love”, “Midnight Confessions” and all the other hits, it will stand as an affirmation of the legacy Rob leaves all of us, entertainers and audience alike: his love for some of the greatest music we’ve ever enjoyed. Tonight, the show, as always, must go on.  And I know Rob would have wanted it that way, more than anyone.
When we think of Rob Grill, we remember his smile, his dedication to performing, and his devotion to keeping the music alive for all of us. On behalf of The Buckinghams, our prayers are for comfort for Rob’s family, and for all of us who knew and loved this man of music, one of the driving forces behind a generation of the music we still love today.
Carl Giammarese
July 11, 2011

Rob Grill, the lead singer of The Grass Roots, died today of after-effects from a fall a couple of weeks ago. He was 67. Grill leaves behind his wife Nancy. His only son died last year. 

Grill suffered a serious head injury when he fell in Lake Country, north of San Francisco, according to a message his wife Nancy posted on The TopShelf Times, last week. 

Prior to his passing, Nancy Grill wrote, " A CT scan showed a rupture in the layers of the brain." She adds that the night he fell he suffered two strokes, each located in different areas of the brain, which required his being put on a ventilator."

-- Tom Cuddy

We got this sentiment from SEVERAL people on the list:

Grass Roots lead singer passed away this afternoon.  He will be missed.

Shelley -- Larry -- Ed -- Bob R. -- Diane -- Rick S.

But also this:

Kent
I am sure you heard about Rob Grill. We will miss his fantastic voice. I hope they disband the Grassroots. Not to have any original members and not having Rob there to sing will be impossible to try and duplicate. In memory I will be wearing my Grassroots t-shirt at Elk Grove tomorrow. The least I can do in his memory.

Mike

Actually, it sounds like The Grass Roots currently performing on The Happy Together Again Tour are doing so with Rob's blessing ... and, from some of the reports we've heard after the first three shows, doing a bang-up job with the material.  (I believe most of these guys had been with Rob for a while anyway.)  This is a tough call ... without a single original member onboard, it kinda goes against the whole Truth In Music campaign ... but there are fans out there who love and still want to hear this music.  Perhaps they can turn this into more of a Rob Grill Tribute or something, honoring the great music of The Grass Roots.  (I half expect Dennis Tufano to sing something from The Grass Roots Catalog tonight ... he's done extensive shows with Sonny Geraci of The Outsiders ... and a few years back when Rob Grill was having health problems, Sonny filled a number of his spots, singing all of The Grass Roots' hits ... and, by ALL reports, did a FANTASTIC job.  If he happens to be in town tonight, I fully expect him to delight the crowd with one or two of these.)  kk

Rob Grill, lead singer with the Grass Roots, died Monday (July 11) after falling a month ago and suffering a brain injury. Rob's wife had reported July 1 that he was stricken with pneumonia and was in a coma. Rob was 67.

Born in Hollywood, he graduated from Hollywood High, then went to work at American Recording Studios there. Encouraged to record on his own, he joined the 13th Floor when their lead singer was drafted. The group came to the attention of producer / writers P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri, who were looking for a band who could portray their studio creation, the Grass Roots, in 1967. Starting with "Let's Live For Today" (#8), the group -- with Rob providing lead vocals -- notched 13 top hits, including "Midnight Confessions" (#5 - 1968), "Sooner Or Later" (#9 - 1971), "I'd Wait A Million Years" (#15 - 1969), "Temptation Eyes" (#15 - 1971) and "Two Divided By Love" (#16 - 1971). By 1975 the hits dried up and Rob started a solo career four years later, though he retained the rights to the group name and reformed them in 1982. It came to light when Rob was arrested for illegally obtaining prescription painkillers in 2007 that he had a bone-degenerating disease and had undergone six hip replacement surgeries. Rob underwent an intervention program to avoid jail time. His failing health forced him to withdraw from fronting the group last year.

-- Ron Smith  www.oldiesmusic.com

THE GRASS ROOTS HIT LIST

1966 - Where Were You When I Needed You   (National Peak = #28; Chicago Peak = #27)

1967 - Let's Live For Today  (National = #5; Chicago = #4)

1967 - Things I Should Have Said  (National = #23; Chicago = #30)

1968 - Midnight Confessions  (National = #5; Chicago = #2)

1969 - Bella Linda  (National = #20; Chicago = #12)

1969 - Lovin' Things  (National = #35; Chicago = #25)

1969 - The River Is Wide  (National = #16; Chicago = xx)

1969 - I'd Wait A Million Years  (National = #12; Chicago = #5)

1969 - Heaven Knows  (National = #13; Chicago = #22)

1970 - Walking Through The Country (National = #30; Chicago = #35)

1970 - Baby Hold On  (National = #25; Chicago = xx)

1970 - Come On And Say It  (National = #39; Chicago = xx)

1971 - Temptation Eyes  (National = #15; Chicago = #23)

1971 - Sooner Or Later  (National = #9; Chicago = #5)

1971 - Two Divided By Love  (National = #8; Chicago = #5)

1972 - Glory Bound  (National = #22; Chicago = #7)

1972 - The Runaway  (National = #29; Chicago = #10)

1973 - Love Is What You Make It  (National = #32; Chicago = xx)

Here's another one of my "forgotten favorites":

SHOUT! (2011)

One of the most pleasant surprises we discovered these past few years was the musical "SHOUT!" ... so when I heard that it was coming back for a return engagement at the Lincolnshire Marriott Theatre, I couldn't wait to get tickets.  In fact, I was excited to show the musical off ... so we bought tickets for my daughter and her fiance and made a family affair out of the experience.

What we found was nothing that even REMOTELY resembled the original production that we had seen at The Drury Lane Theatre in Downtown Chicago a couple of years ago.  The very heart and soul of the play had been excised from the production, turning it into nothing more than a '60's Girl Group Jukebox Revue ... no story, no dialogue, no acting, no purpose.  In fact, it was nothing short of a '60's Extravaganza that you might see for free at Great America ... except THIS one set me back a few hundred dollars for tickets!!!)

WHY they felt that they needed to "reconceive" this production for The Marriott Theatre (which is how the playbill describes this travesty) is beyond me ... and how Victoria Lang (the woman behind "SHOUT!") could agree to such a revamping is something I never would have expected in my wildest dreams.  (Have you actually SEEN this reworking, Victoria???  It's embarrassing!!!)

The original production we saw a couple of years ago traced the lives of five young girls (simply known as Red Girl, Blue Girl, Green Girl, Yellow Girl and Orange Girl) as they made their way through the '60's.  As such, they evolved as society evolved.  The events of the decade ... The Kennedy Assassination, the arrival of The Beatles, The Viet Nam War, the whole hippie movement ... moving from school girl to college student to wife and mother ... ALL of this moved the story along in very touching and emotional ways by way of humorous vinettes.  Every bit of that emotion has been lost in this new "re-envisioned" production ... and it's a shame.

At least half a dozen songs have been removed ... and about a dozen new ones have been added, some of which I'd never even heard before (and I'm pretty much a "Music Guy"!!!)  The girls in the lead roles (now simply referred to as "The Singers") can't hold a candle to the previous cast when it comes to doing these songs justice ... and the presentation is now every bit as much about dance as it is music ... sadly, in the process, ALL semblance of story and continuity has been removed.  We are treated to absolutely NO storyline in favor of a non-stop musical assault.  The very charm and charisma of this whole affair have been sacrificed ... and I found myself embarrassed and apologizing to our guests at the show's conclusion, explaining to them that the show we had all just witnessed was nothing even remotely close to the show we so enjoyed a couple of years ago.

Whereas I found the original production to be fun, engaging and entertaining ... and I didn't want it to end ... I felt the exact opposite reaction to this new reworking ... it was boring ... and I couldn't wait for it to end!  (Now that's a HUGE swing ... and not in a good way ... nor in the way "a pendulum do" as in the old version ... ALL references to The Swinging '60's are gone in this "new vision".)

Bottom line ... highly NOT recommended ... and the whole purpose of today's review is to forewarn any new comers who may be discovering The Forgotten Hits Website for the very first time, stumbling across my earlier review, and then taking THAT recommendation as the motivation to see this new production.  Suffice to say, they are NOT one and the same.

Now if you've NEVER seen "Shout!" ... and you love '60's music by the likes of Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, Cilla Black, Nancy Sinatra, etc., you will find SOME redeeming value in the music being presented.  And I can't dismiss this cast without first singling out Raena White who absolutely blew the doors off the theater with her vocals.  Sadly, this girl doesn't even belong in the same play with these other girls ... and that's a shame because what we end up witnessing is simply a case of a GREAT talent being wasted in a mediocre production.

Do yourself a favor and check to see ... PRIOR to buying tickets ... if you're paying to see the revamped Terry James / Andy Hite / Aaron Thielen / Rachel Rockwell version ... or the ORIGINAL version as originally intended.

And seriously, Victoria ... you were SO supportive of our efforts a couple of years ago ... and I of YOURS, helping to promote this piece of work ... you REALLY need to rethink what they've done with "Shout!" ... as the COMPLETE original concept has been lost and erased forever!  (kk)

Here is our review of the original production of SHOUT! that we saw at The Drury Lane Theatre in 2008:

Click here: Forgotten Hits: Shout!

By the way:

I forwarded a copy of my less-than-flattering review of "SHOUT!" to Victoria Lang (this is really HER baby!) and was surprised to hear that she had NOT seen this new reworked production yet. 

Here's a copy of her note back to me:

Dear Kent:

Thank you so much for writing. I must say that I am shocked to hear of your review. Of course I believe every word of it, but this is not at all what I imagined would be the case. I was planning to see the show Opening Night, but as luck would have it, a new musical I am producing opened on the same night in NYC (SILENCE! THE MUSICAL) so I am seeing it August 5th.

About a year ago, MTI came to me with the offer from Marriott to do a re-conceived production which would include new arrangements, re-staging with back-up dancers, perhaps some updated jokes, etc.Then I read all the reviews -- which basically blasted the Drury Lane production and praised the Marriott production -- and, what am I to think?

But, rest assured, the Marriott production is a one-off. SHOUT! continues to be produced around the world in exactly the same manner as you saw it at the Drury Lane.

I very much appreciate your affection and passion for the show. I am so upset at the disappointment you felt at the Marriott's production. I am surprised as you are. Thank you for cushioning the shock for me.

All my best,

Victoria Lang

The Sunday Comments ( 07 - 10 - 11 )

re:  BUDDY HOLLY:

Hi Kent!

Tommy Allsup was at the beginning of Rock and Roll and is an awesome guitar player. Everything I have found on him shows that he is truly a gentleman and a real nice guy. The licks he invented to this day have stood the test of time and are today still a thrill to hear. Tommy was on a tour recently with Kevin Montgomery  (son of Bob Montgomery) and they performed Wishing That is Beautiful. He was working with Buddy Holly when he helped on the song. 

Regarding his passionate letter to Dion, at his age, standing up for truth is a very refreshing thing to do and see. A Total Class Act. He lived Rock and Roll with Buddy Holly and continues to perform all over the world. With Forgotten Hits you also are constantly bringing the truth and facts out for many artists and fans. Your work and dedication also is a totally Class Act!!!  Thank You!!!!

Sincerely,

Tom Crowe

From our FH Buddy Mickey Cooksey, here's a copy of the original Winter Dance Party poster from that fateful night in February, 1959:

Mickey, of course, is the guy who wrote our recent Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones article!  (kk)

Click here: Forgotten Hits: Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones

Kent ...
Dion talks about his book & the early years of R-n-R.
Frank B.

Dion DiMucci on Rapido (London)

Dion's appearance on the UK late eighties pop TV show Rapido. Promoting the Yo Frankie album. Features a backstage interview and concert footage.

A short interview touching on the concert at The Surf Ballroom where he performed on the bill with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper ... and where, interestingly enough, the story is told AGAIN about how Dion didn't have the $35 bucks to pay for the plane ... NOTHING about losing a coin toss ... or even being involved in one!  (kk)

re:  GLEN CAMPBELL:

Kent,

I would like to add one more comment or cheer if I may concerning Glen Campbell. I don't know if this has been mentioned before in your FH. First, I would like for you to give me a K. Then an E. Followed by a N.  Now a T. Then a U, and a C,K,Y. Now as you probably know, that spells Kentucky but it really means Paradise. Dale Fitzsimmons and Carl Tanberg along with Glen Campbell in 1963 better known as the Green River Boys. Don't know if it made your survey in Chicago but it made ours. I guarantee you I will get this record out tonight and play it.

Larry

Oh wow ... at first I thought you were giving ME a cheer for the OUTSTANDING job I'm doing here at Forgotten Hits!!!  Turns out you were just spelling Kentucky!!!

Damn right that record charted here ... we knew who Glen Campbell was WAY before the rest of the world caught up to him with his country hits and network television show.

Here in Chicago "Kentucky Means Paradise" reached #16 yet only managed to "bubble under" on the Billboard Chart.  And even that one came a full year after Glen first hit our local charts with his version of "Turn Around, Look At Me" (which we featured here the other day ... in Chi-Town that was a #13 hit!)  kk

I watched the clip on You Tube of Glen Campbell singing the Green Day song during the same YT filled night and thought it was amazing!!!!!! I loved it!
Nancy / Atlanta

re:  BOBBY VEE:

Sounds like Bobby Vee is pretty serious about retiring ... this is the third or fourth report we've received now!  (kk)

http://www.sctimes.com/article/20110703/NEWS01/107030041/Local-music-legend-Bobby-Vee-steps-back-ready-sample-retirement-Kent ...

Bobby Vee talks about retiring.
Frank B.

re:  THE MONO / STEREO DEBATE CONTINUES:

It's a tough call sometimes.  I prefer hearing stereo often, but I prefer mono if the stereo version is not the same recording as the hit single I heard on the Big 89.  BTW, my buddies at Sundazed have now reissued both Left Banke albums in stereo (exact without bonus tracks) and they sound great as Sundazed products usually do.  I had a small hand in the releases, but it's the music that is great!

Clark Besch

Hi Kent,

Is there any chance that you might ask your readers if they'd be willing to post a mono version of Petula Clark's 'Downtown'?  I just listened to a 60-second sample and I much prefer it over the stereo.

Thanks in advance.

Marie

I'll ask around ... meanwhile, I asked Tony Hatch (who wrote and produced Petula's International #1 Hit) how he approached mono and stereo back in the day. Let's face it ... in 1964 / 1965, most of us didn't even own stereos to PLAY a stereo record.  45's were mixed to sound good coming out of a 2" car radio speaker ... and several major artists have maintained for decades that they always preferred the mono mixes of their records.  (The Beatles didn't even attend stereo mixing sessions!)  kk 

Here's what Tony had to say:

Hi Kent,

Thanks for your note.  I don't have a mono mix of Petula Clark's DOWNTOWN. In fact, I don't even recall doing separate mixes.

Pye Records was a complete record company operation with it's own in-house producers, mixing engineers, cutting room staff and factory and I'm fairly certain that by 1964 we had all agreed as company policy to save time and money on production of singles and just go for what we called 'Stereo Compatible' - vinyl that could be played on a stereo or mono system. Such a mix could also slot in to any album. I remember that producers had to be careful with reverb and possible problems with phase shift so the stereo 'picture' of a 7-inch 'compatible' single wasn't terribly exciting. One could be more adventurous with tracks purely designed for albums, of course. I am also fairly certain that Warner Bros Records would have released just one version of DOWNTOWN.

It seems the biggest challenge in the 60s was getting the hole dead centre of the record. Even American 45s with the bigger hole could 'swing like mad'. Tell that to a teenager today!

So................ sorry, apart from these thoughts I can't help.

Best wishes,

TONY

Thanks to FH Reader Tom Diehl, we've got the mono version of "Downtown" to share today.  Honestly, I don't see much of a difference in the sound (other than the quality itself).  Give a listen and see what you think.  (kk)

Interesting that the mono mix of Downtown has come up since it was recently discussed on Pat Downey's Top 40 Music On CD board.

While others say the stereo lp mix has one word in the song sung differently than the 45, my personal finding is that the stereo lp contains the exact same vocal take all the way through, just mixed louder ... the vocal gets buried in the mono mix at points.

Perhaps Tony Hatch has a comment on this?

Tom

Actually, I went to Tony Hatch FIRST on this one ... was curious what the approach was back in the day when MOST folks didn't have a decent stereo at home to play a stereo record on.  I was curious just how much consideration was given to developing both a stereo and a mono mix ... and who typically took charge of these undertakings.  (kk)

Folding the stereo mix to mono reveals that the lead vocals are much more louder than the true mono mix, so there isn't a compatibility there, two different mixes were made from the 4-track master tape (at least I assume it was recorded onto 4-track), but it's my belief that there is actually nothing different between the mono and stereo versions except for how they are mixed. Aside from that, I must say, Petula's recordings have some of the best stereo mixes I have ever heard. They really hold up well and have always sounded spectacular to my ears.

Tom

No doubt about it ... these are some FINE sounding records, excellently produced in every fashion.  (And, with fifteen Billboard Top 40 Hits to her credit, I'd have to say that a WHOLE lot of us agreed!  (kk)

Another nice new feature of Joel Whitburn's 13th Edition of "Top Pop Singles" is that it recaps each artist's number of #1, Top 10, Top 20 and Top 40 Hits.  This is a HUGE help to me (as I typically had to go back and count them each and every time!)  For the record, Petula Clark had 15 Top 40 Hits ... 9 of those made The Top 20, six more made the Top 10 and TWO of them went all the way to #1.  ("Downtown" in 1965 and "My Love" in 1966.)  kk

And here's the latest on one of the KINGS of Mono ... Phil Spector!

re:  PHIL SPECTOR:

Kent ...

Just read this in my newspaper:  Al Pacino is playing the part of Phil Spector, currently filming in midtown Manhattan. 

Phil Spector is serving a minimum 19 year term after being convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Lana Clarkson.
Frank B.

re:  THE AKINATOR:

Kent,

I agree with one of your readers, or maybe it was you, in that you had better have a couple of hours to spare to play that game because you get hooked on it. I won at least twice if I remember right.

He didn't know or had heard of actor Mantan Moreland, who played the

chauffeur Birmingham Brown in the Charlie Chan movies.

Larry

Of course, if you stopped a million people on the street and TOLD them Mantan Moreland's name, THEY wouldn't know who he is either!!!  So I've gotta give this one to him!!!  (lol)  kk

re:  MORE MOVIE MUSIC:

Kent ...

My favorite song from a movie is "Rock Around The Clock" from "Blackboard Jungle".

Here's the sad story of Bill Haley.

http://www.texasmonthly.com/cms/printthis.php?file=feature3.php&issue=2011-06-01Frank B.

A sad ending to the story to be sure.  Well worth reading 'tho, folks!

(I'm not quite sure I get this ... for 20 years his family kept quiet about Bill's final days ... I would think to help preserve the memory of his accomplishments.  What benefit is served by coming forward now and telling such a tragic tale?  Wouldn't the memory be better kept alive when focusing on all the GOOD feelings this man brought to so many people?)  kk
 

re:  UNCHAINED MELODY:

>>>Without question, the scene in "Ghost" where this song comes up is one of the most powerful, romantic scenes ever filmed.  Unfortunately, radio has RUINED this song for me ever since with its complete oversaturation of airplay.  Whereas before you could appreciate and marvel and Bobby Hatfield's incredible vocal and the power that it conveyed, I find myself turning this song off now nine times out of ten 'cause I've truly grown sick of it.  ALL of the impact has been lost (or, at the very least, diminished) because we've heard it SO many times now since "Ghost" came out that we don't need to hear it again for a long, long time.  Too bad ... 'cause it's a GREAT recording.  (kk)

Regarding your comment on Unchained Melody, unfortunately, Kent, the same has happened for other songs.  Many a song has plummeted to the depths of the abyss of our affection because we had to listen to it ad nauseum.
Shelley

>>>Upon further investigation, I find that the lyrics were written YEARS before the movie as an expression of unrequited love by a boy who was too shy to pursue the object of his dreams.  Now, I feel justified in my appreciation.  This boy spoke from his heart, and although the subject of the movie was less than what the song deserved, it nevertheless shot it into our lives forever.  (Shelley J. Sweet-Tufano)

Kent,

This is the "urban legend" version of the way this song came to be. The guy who concocted this story and also claimed to be the real writer was found to be manufacturing the whole thing. North and Jaret actually wrote it for the movie.

David Lewis

David is correct ... the song was written for the movie by Alex North and Hy Zaret and, after its rather uneventful performance in the pretty much uneventful film, a gallery of recording artists rushed to record it, including among them Al Hibbler, Roy Hamilton, June Valli and Les Baxter, all of whom quickly scored Top 40 Hits with their renditions.  Joel Whitburn's latest "Top Pop Singles" book (13th Edition) shows "Unchained Melody" as the most charted song, with an incredible thirteen versions hitting the charts since 1955!  Perhaps strangest of all ... after all those artists competed for chart position back in 1955, The Righteous Brothers (who, without question, seem to have recorded the most popular, best-known version of this tune), compete against THEMSELVES in 1990 when their original 1965 version and a newly recorded remake fought each other after the song's inclusion in the hit film "Ghost".  (When all was said and done, the original version bested the remake, peaking at #13 in Billboard over the #19 new version showing.  Still pretty amazing to think that BOTH version managed to hit Billboard's Top 20!!!

re:  SPEAKING OF SONGWRITERS:

Kent ... 

I consider you to be a music expert. I want you to explain to me how you go from writing "Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues" to writing "Meet The Mets"?  I can't explain it.
Frank B.

RIP Ruth Roberts

http://ruthrobertsmusic.com/

That's easy!  It's kinda like Steve Goodman going from writing the classic "City Of New Orleans" to writing "Go Cubs Go", a song that has NEVER gone out of fashion here in Chi-Town ... but to do you one better, he even threw in a Top Ten Country Classic along the way, too, when he wrote "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" for David Allan Coe!  (kk) 

re:  SPIN AWAY:

>>>I have a piece of super trivia for you ... since we're once again talking about Alan O'Day, we recorded another song of his besides "Easy Evil", which you showcased in "Forgotten Hits" a while back.  This one is  called "Spin Away".  The super trivia here is that when we booked studio time to record it, we only had the demo by Alan and no lead sheet.  It was a holiday weekend and we had word out to the publisher to get us a lead sheet, but they wouldn't be in for a few days, so we had go in and record it just by picking up the lyrics off the demo.  Anyway, in the second verse, we transcribed a few words to say "Your cup was broken".  Later, after we were back on the road, we found out the correct lyrics were, "Your compass broken" ... but it was too late ...  by then, it was mastered and ready for Capitol to do their thing.  Like I said, a real piece of super trivia.  But it's a nice song and we have had people tell us they really liked it.   

(Gary Pike, Ex-Letterman / now Reunion)

Kent,
Thanks for copying me on Gary Pike's post about their wonderful recording of "Spin Away", the title song of their 1972 album.  I still play that 45 on my Seeburg Model C jukebox.
It may be "super trivia", but it clears up a mystery that's intrigued me for almost 40 years.  Assuming that (the) Lettermen had full access to the lead sheet, I always wondered why they had missed that lyric.  Now I know!  Thanks and best wishes to Gary and the guys!
By the way, the distinctive piano sound on that record followed my home demo very closely, including the concept of overdubbing it with the tape running at a slightly different speed.  I know because I was at the tracking session, showing the part to a young (and wonderfully talented) Michael Omartian on keyboards.  Earlier when I was finishing the song, as a staff writer with Warner Bros. Music, I also remember Artie Wayne loving it and suggesting a lyric change on the second line of the chorus.  I took his advice, changing "Move on, turn on, you're the Potter's clay" to "Move on, turn on to another way."  More trivia!

Alan O'Day

KENT ...

THAT WAS COOL TO HEAR! I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS PLUGGING SONGS FOR WARNER BROTHERS MUSIC, I TOOK 5 0R 6 NEW SONGS TO PLAY FOR THE LETTERMEN AND THEY RECORDED 3 OR FOUR OF THEM INCLUDING, "SPIN AWAY".

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!

REGARDS,

ARTIE WAYNE  

HTTP://ARTIEWAYNE.WORDPRESS.COM 

re:  NUMBER ONE ON THIS DATE:

And, speaking of Alan O'Day, we have just been reminded that his hit "Undercover Angel" topped our Chicagoland Charts on this date back in 1977!  (kk)

Kent ...

7/9/1977 = Ron Smith says this song was # 1 in Chicago on this date. Maybe you can figure out what the rest of the message says.
Frank B.

ALAN O'DAY - Undercover Angel(1977)

私はこの曲を私のブログで紹介(宣伝)するためにアップロードしました。
どうか消さないでください。
I have uploaded to introduce and promote this song on my blog.
Please do not delete the song.

ALAN O'DAY - Undercover Angel(1977)
Drums: Jeff Porcaro
Bass: Scott Edwards & Lee Sklar
Keyboards: Michael Omartian & Alan O'Day
Guitars: Dean Parks & Jay Graydon
Percussion: Victor Feldman & Steve Barri
Background Vocals: Carol Parks, Jim Haas, Michael Omartian & Alan O'Day
Horns: Tony Terran, Steve Madaio, Fred Seldon, Jim Horn
French Horns: David Duke, Barbara Korn
String Section/Concdert Master: Sid Sharp
Produced by Steve Barri & Michael Omartian

re:  COOL VIDEOS:

Kent,

I assume someone has passed this along to you, but just in case ...

Here, find great video of "All Strung Out" by Nino & April (from Lloyd Thaxton!), our fave Electric Prunes and one of my fave songs, "She's my Girl" done by the Villagers!!  http://bedazzled.tv/ 

Clark Besch

Last week we sent you a link to the clip featuring Axis of Awesome's "Four Chords" ... a fun ditty showing how most of today's pop hits revolve around the same four chords.  Now comes word that they're turning it into a bit of a CONTEST!!!  (And there's a new album on the way, too!) kk

We've been getting the word out about The Axis of Awesome's Animal Vehicle album including "4 Chords." The song, illustrating the Australian comedy band's thesis that most hits songs have the same four chords in common, has gotten over 20 million video "hits." The album is out next Tuesday, July 12th. 

The band is on the road now, doing their best to conquer America ... upcoming dates are posted below.

-- submitted by Bob Merlis / M.F.H.

Axis of Awesome tour dates

July 12 - Largo at The Coronet, Los Angeles

(Album release celebration and performance / tickets: http://bit.ly/iD4TfU)

July 15,16,17 - Laugh Out Loud, San Antonio, TX

August 1 - 30 - Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland

September 16 - Drew University, Madison, NJ

September 27 - George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville, AR

October 14, 15 - Cap City Comedy Club, Austin, TX

October 21 - Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

October 22 - Cinema Grill, New Hope, MN

October 27 - Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 

re:  ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE ... THE VERY BEST PHOTOS!:

THE ROLLING STONE YEARS   By Baron Wolman

ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE’S FIRST CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER COLLECTS HIS CLASSIC PHOTOS AND THE INSIDE STORIES BEHIND THEM IN DRAMATIC NEW COFFEE TABLE BOOK 

‘Cosmic World’ Book Tour Kicks Off July 8 - 10 in Cleveland

“'The Rolling Stone Years' shows the brightest stars of the day looking at ease, without a hint of the heavily styled studio photography that was to follow.” – MOJO

Click here to see a teaser of THE ROLLING STONE YEARS

LONDON >>

Omnibus Press has joined forces with Baron Wolman – Rolling Stone magazine’s chief photographer during its first three years

(1967-70) -- for the new coffee table book,

THE ROLLING STONE YEARS.

This lovingly assembled tome -- featuring both classic photographs and the inside stories behind them -- arrives on August 1^st, 2011. The 176-page volume is filled with photos and text, illustrated throughout with “some of the most memorable unguarded images of the era” (Rolling Stone), ranging from iconic to rare to never-before-seen. This magnificent collection covers some of the most significant artists and events from rock’s most fertile period, visualizing the music through images of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Santana, and dozens more! Baron Wolman not only witnessed what is without a doubt the most important period of change in popular music and popular culture, but his photographs helped shape it. Rolling Stone magazine encapsulated and distilled the most noteworthy events and changes as they were taking place. Each issue would speak to this evolving youth culture in a language that was all its own. 

For years Wolman has been asked to talk about the photos, how they came to be, and what happened on assignment at the various shoots. This book answers those questions and more. Grateful that he and his camera were around at a seminal time in the history of the music business and popular culture, THE ROLLING STONE YEARS is his “thank you” for the privilege. 

“This is more than a photo book,” says Wolman, who will kick off his “Cosmic World” Book Tour in Cleveland July 8-10. “I hope people spend some time reading the text.  We look at pictures and wonder how they came to be.  Or we speculate a bit about the life of a photographer, especially one who has been on the front lines, the front lines of any subject, be it music, war, politics, etc.  In my book I tried to provide a small window into that photographer’s life and offer a few words about the origin of the photos.”

From the beginning to the end of THE ROLLING STONE YEARS, readers will be engrossed in images from an era in rock just before the star machine got cranking and the corporations took over, when less controlled barriers between the artist and the photographer allowed Wolman extraordinary access, the likes of which would be impossible to capture today. And he captured them vividly – not only through the camera’s lens, but with a photographic memory that readily recounts the colorful stories surrounding his unforgettable encounters. Among the more than 200 images are a rail-thin, T-shirted Pete Townshend recording parts of Tommy at the piano; Frank Zappa posing on a tractor at an abandoned construction site near his home; and Pink Floyd (with Syd Barrett, who pretended to drop an acid sugar cube) posing on a Sausalito hotel fire escape on their first American visit.

THE ROLLING STONE YEARS makes it easy to see why Wolman’s photographs became Rolling Stone’s graphic centerpiece during the three years they were published regularly in the magazine. Over 40 years later, those same photographs, picture memories of the ‘60s, are now widely exhibited and collected. And Baron’s long-time mantra, “Mixing Business With Pleasure Since 1965,” continues to be his guiding light.

“You can’t plan for a career like mine,” he says. “Yes, I chose to be a professional photographer but my tour of duty with Rolling Stone was a fortunate accident, a gift from the photo gods.”

ABOUT BARON WOLMAN: Baron Wolman was the first-ever photographer for Rolling Stone magazine. During his three year tenure at the magazine he captured some of the biggest names in music. Since leaving Rolling Stone in 1970 he has focused on such diverse subjects as authors, fashionistas, professional sports, airplanes and bridges. A qualified pilot, he has also published several widely-praised collections of aerial photography and continues to exhibit his work around the world today.

For more information on these and other Omnibus titles, go to www.omnibuspress.com.

THE ROLLING STONE YEARS

By Baron Wolman

10 ¼ x 12 ¼ Hardbound

176 pages, 58 color photos & 158 b/w photos

ISBN-9781847727404

Pub Date: August 1, 2011

-- Randy Alexander / Randex Communications

re:  U2:

Not oldies news but interesting music news: 

U2 was playing at Vandy Stadium in Nashville for a crowd of 45,000. Just before the final song, Bono spots a guy in the audience holding a sign up that says "I am a blind guitar player."  He has the guy brought to the stage, puts his guitar on him, and the guy flawlessly plays guitar for the finale. After it's over, Bono says "just keep the guitar".  It's a custom guitar worth a big chunk of cash.

David Lewishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNZjfz8rgT8

U2 was just here in Chicago a week ago, playing to a sell-out crowd at Soldiers Field.  As such, they seem to be on the radio non-stop lately (especially the two weeks before the concert.)  Heard good things about the show ... a pretty expensive ticket, I believe ... especially since parking alone cost $45!!!  (lol)

Last show I saw at Soldiers Field was Paul McCartney.  The Village of Rosemont wouldn't let him do his fireworks display during "Live And Let Die" (despite the fact that he had performed it here several times in the past.)  Macca was so ticked off he added a date after the tour was over just so he could come back to Chicago and perform outdoors ... where he put on a fireworks display that would rival any 4th of July!  It was outstanding!  (kk)

re:  SOUL TRAIN:

Kent ...

Did you ever watch "Soul Train"?

Frank B.

‘Soul Train’ donates artifacts to Smithsonian museum

by The Washington Post

re:  CRUISIN':

In regards to the recent post about the Cruisin series,  the vinyl version went through 1969.  I bought Cruisin 1970 on cd several years ago that features WLS with Kris Eric Stevens. 

Phil - WRCO

The complete CD Series is still available ... and for pretty cheap, too!  Some of Amazon's dealers are selling these for about $5.50 each!!!  (kk)

Click here: Amazon.com: cruisin: Music

 

re:  BOY, TALK ABOUT YOUR PRE-ROCK ERA!!!:

The Library Of Congress becomes Jukebox Heroes!

While recordings from 1901-1925 predated the jukebox, the Library of Congress has unveiled the National Jukebox (www.loc.gov/jukebox) website, making historical sound recordings available to the public free of charge. The Jukebox includes recordings from the extraordinary collections of the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation and other contributing libraries and archives. Recordings in the Jukebox were issued on record labels now owned by Sony Music Entertainment, which has granted the Library of Congress a gratis license to stream acoustical recordings. At launch, the Jukebox includes more than 10,000 recordings made by the Victor Talking Machine Company between 1901 and 1925. Jukebox content will be increased regularly, with additional Victor recordings and acoustically recorded titles made by other Sony-owned U.S. labels, including Columbia, OKeh, and others.

-- submitted by Ken Voss

re:  ON THE RADIO:

Kent ...

We have to go back to 1949 for this song.  Now that's what i call an Oldie!
Frank B.

http://wcbsfm.radio.com/2011/06/29/behind-the-hits-a-to-z-in-one-song/

Yep, I remember my Mom playing the Perry Como version around the house (on 78!!!) when I was growing up.

This same link also takes you to the true story behind the #1 Hit Song "Stagger Lee" ... something we covered in Forgotten Hits many, many years ago! (kk)

Click here: Behind the Hits: Stagger Lee by Lloyd Price

Click here: Forgotten Hits - THE STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS

From Clark Weber by way of Bob Dearborn ... who found this posted by somebody else ...

As Clark said in his email to me,
 
"Not my words, but pertty much my sentiments": 

I saw this during my online browsing this morning.  See what you think.

Radio stopped being the place to find good music over a decade ago.

Once a pillar of popular culture it's now a side show.

Yeah, people still listen but there is no attachment; it's simply not a cultural force in any capacity.
There was a day when saying "I work in radio" carried a badge of honor. Now it's like saying I work at The Gap. If you were to ask 100 kids if they'd sooner work at the Apple Store or in radio, most would say the Apple Store.   

Many times in the last decade or two, betcha most of us have said some version of "We were lucky to be part of it when we were, when radio really mattered."  That's partly bemoaning the medium's current state, but mostly an appreciation of our good fortune and timing.  We were there when it meant something!

Enjoy your day.

Bob

re:  WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE KIDS TODAY?:

Hey Kent,

Wanted to weigh on with my take on this piece you did. 

I'm 17 and I've got three LP copies of "Whipped Cream And Other Delights" -- I agree it's totally a work of art, not really all that "funny".  My LP collection outnumbers my CD's.  I can honestly say I only own one song that was made in my lifetime, so the oldies will always be a part of my life!!! 

I just wanted to show you that there are some of "us kids" out there who aren't like the ones in the article ... ones who still do have an appreciation of the past. 

I had to have someone explain to me who "Lady Gaga" was, but ask me to name the members of the 5th Dimension, The Supremes' 12 #1 hits, or some movies Elvis has been in, and you'll get some "well-constructed" answers. 

Thanks for doing what you do!!!

AJK,

The Youngest Oldies Freak Around

Thanks, AJ ... we keep hearing from more and more of the "under 25" crowd who LOVE the oldies and appreciate all that they have to offer.

 

This one's for you!