With several choice "smokey" cuts!
Listener's key:
First up ... Smoky Places by The Corsairs, a #11 Hit from 1962 (that probably hasn't been played since!) Ironically, much like The Beach Boys (whose career was taking off at virtually the same time) The Corsairs consisted of three brothers (Jay, James and Moe Uzzell) and a cousin! (George Wooten)
Next ... Smokey Joe's Cafe by The Robins.
This one charted for all of one week in Billboard (at #79) ... a year later, a few members would spring off to form The Coasters. (Obviously they already had a history with the hit song-writing team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller at this point!)
When bassist Bill Black felt he wasn't being paid his due, he quit Elvis' back-up band and formed The Bill Black Combo. Between 1960 and 1962, they had nine straight Top 40 Hits. "Smokie, Part 2" was the first of them ... it peaked at #13 in early 1960.
Is there a more famous "Smokey" than Smokey Robinson??? One of their over-looked Top 20 Hits seems to be "I Don't Blame You At All", a #15 Hit in 1971 (and the follow-up to their #1 chart-topper "The Tears Of A Clown".)
And finally, how about a group CALLED Smokie? Their One Hit Wonder went to #18 in 1977. "Living Next Door To Alice" always reminded me of the Dr. Hook Hit "Sylvia's Mother" ... and even if you've never heard this song before, I'll bet you're singing along before the last chorus. Lead singer Chris Norman later reached The Top Ten with his duet with Suzi Quatro, "Stumblin' In".
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
This Ole House
re: TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT:
We've set The Way-Back Machine all the way back to 1954 this morning for this great, #1 Hit.
In that radio rarely plays ANYTHING from the '50's anymore, it's pretty unlikely that you'll hear this record anytime soon ... but my guess is that if you listen to it a couple of times this morning, you'll have it stuck in your head for the rest of the day. It's a tough one to categorize ... not quite rock and roll (which, at this point, hadn't "officially" been invented yet ... Bill Haley and the Comets wouldn't top the charts with "Rock Around The Clock" for nearly a year.) Ditto for rock-a-billy (although, to my ears, this record certainly exhibits many of the characteristics of this upcoming, brand new genre of music as well ... British Rocker Shakin' Stevens would resurrect this tune three decades later and cut a rock-a-billy version). Not exactly pop (although it DID top the pop charts) ... and maybe just a little bit country (although you don't hear it so much in this particular version, a competing version also went to #1 on Billboard's Country Chart.) And, that incredible bass vocal (handled by Thurl Ravenscroft, who would go on to provide the deep baritone sound of Tony The Tiger ... "They're Great!" ... for Frosted Flakes ... and handle the timeless bass-line vocals of "You're A Mean One, Mister Grinch") even helped to give it a bit of a doo-wop feel! What it WASN'T is what you would expect to hear from female crooner Rosemary Clooney (aka George Clooney's aunt!) And not only was it a chart-topper, but this was a Two-Sided #1 Hit to boot! After the A-Side completed its eight week run at the top of the charts, deejays flipped the record over and "This Ole House" took over the top spot for an additional week! ("Hey There", the A-Side, was much more inline with what we'd come to expect from Rosemary Clooney at this point. It was a show tune (from the Broadway Musical "The Pajama Game"), one of seven songs that Clooney covered that came from either Broadway shows or movies up to this point. I hadn't even turned a year old yet when this record came out (and my guess is, it predates a fair percentage of our reading audience as well) ... but my Mom had the 78 (as well as another Clooney favorite of mine, "Come On-A My House", a song written by Ross Bagdasarian who, a few years later, would reinvent himself as David Seville, score his OWN #1 Hit with "Witch Doctor" and then give life to The Chipmunks, a pop sensation that are still making music today, several generations later!) ... and I used to play the heck out of these tunes once I was old enough to learn how to use the ol' Victrola! I dug it out again yesterday and decided that I just HAD to share this one with our readers. Give a listen to "This Ole House" by Rosemary Clooney ... and see if you don't think that this tune would sound great coming out of your radio two or three times a year as one of those "Wow! Factor" songs! (kk) |
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The Sunday Comments ( 1 - 13 - 13 )
re: DUSTY SPRINGFIELD:
>>>Just curious: has anyone had anything to say about the Dusty Springfield show that is currently running Off-Broadway? I'm on the fence about seeing it. I missed the reviews for "Forever Dusty", so I don't know what the critics think. My gut tells me it stinks, yet I feel compelled to see it. (Ping)
>>>I recently had a visit at my second job from a friend who had seen the Dusty Springfield musical. Their reaction was the music was done surprisingly well, that they did not realize all the songs Dusty had done, and that it did not mince words about her drug / alchohol participation. (Shelley)
After we mentioned the Off Broadway Show "Forever Dusty" a few days ago, I heard from Jonathan Vankin, one of the co-writers of the show. (The OTHER co-writer is Kirsten Holly Smith, who also stars as Dusty Springfield in the program!) He sent me a link to their official website, which also features some RAVE reviews about this performance. (Looks like shows are already booked through March ... so if you get the chance to see this, by all means check it out and report back to us!!!) BIG Dusty fans here ... and wish we could get out to see it. If any of you do, we would love to hear back from you!
Check out the "Forever Dusty" website here:
Click here: Welcome to Forever Dusty
And our Forgotten Hits Salute to Dusty Springfield from a few years back right here:
Click here: Forgotten Hits - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
re: FORGOTTENHITS.com / TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT:
Hey Kent and the gang!
Happy 2013 and best wishes to one and all!
Happy 50th anniversary to Marcie Blane, Seville Records, and "Bobby's Girl" - always loved that song for obvious reasons!
We miss you, Paul Leka ... you had a hand in so much wonderful 6Ts Top 40 and would-be Top 40 recordings -- Steam, Lemon Pipers, Salt Water Taffy, Palace Guard, the list goes on and on ... and I remember playing "It's The Magic In You Girl" the 1st few times without a clue that it was slated for the A side, remarking that the riff sounded just like a Dennis Yost / Classics IV song, and then having the damn thing grow on me. I never liked it nearly as much as Na Na, Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye, but I kept spinning it for its soothing soft-pop sound and persistent catchy melodies.
Bobster
Hi!
>>>Just curious: has anyone had anything to say about the Dusty Springfield show that is currently running Off-Broadway? I'm on the fence about seeing it. I missed the reviews for "Forever Dusty", so I don't know what the critics think. My gut tells me it stinks, yet I feel compelled to see it. (Ping)
>>>I recently had a visit at my second job from a friend who had seen the Dusty Springfield musical. Their reaction was the music was done surprisingly well, that they did not realize all the songs Dusty had done, and that it did not mince words about her drug / alchohol participation. (Shelley)
After we mentioned the Off Broadway Show "Forever Dusty" a few days ago, I heard from Jonathan Vankin, one of the co-writers of the show. (The OTHER co-writer is Kirsten Holly Smith, who also stars as Dusty Springfield in the program!) He sent me a link to their official website, which also features some RAVE reviews about this performance. (Looks like shows are already booked through March ... so if you get the chance to see this, by all means check it out and report back to us!!!) BIG Dusty fans here ... and wish we could get out to see it. If any of you do, we would love to hear back from you!
Check out the "Forever Dusty" website here:
Click here: Welcome to Forever Dusty
And our Forgotten Hits Salute to Dusty Springfield from a few years back right here:
Click here: Forgotten Hits - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
re: FORGOTTENHITS.com / TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT:
Hey Kent and the gang!
Happy 2013 and best wishes to one and all!
Happy 50th anniversary to Marcie Blane, Seville Records, and "Bobby's Girl" - always loved that song for obvious reasons!
We miss you, Paul Leka ... you had a hand in so much wonderful 6Ts Top 40 and would-be Top 40 recordings -- Steam, Lemon Pipers, Salt Water Taffy, Palace Guard, the list goes on and on ... and I remember playing "It's The Magic In You Girl" the 1st few times without a clue that it was slated for the A side, remarking that the riff sounded just like a Dennis Yost / Classics IV song, and then having the damn thing grow on me. I never liked it nearly as much as Na Na, Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye, but I kept spinning it for its soothing soft-pop sound and persistent catchy melodies.
Bobster
Hi!
A friend just pointed me to your site, and I'm fascinated!
I happened upon this mention on your site:
>>>BOYCE AND HART's last entry into The American Top 40 was a GREAT little tune called ALICE LONG. This one went to #16 in Cash Box but stopped at #27 in Billboard. (It was a #6 smash here in Chicago and it just happens to be one of MY favorite BOYCE AND HART records, too!) kk
I had to check my WLS surveys, and you're right (I shouldn't have doubted), it got to #6.
It was also a favorite of mine, largely because I was in love with a girl named Alice that very same summer it was released. I gave her a copy of the 45, and I wonder if she ever comes across it and thinks back to those days!
I'll be exploring your site in much more detail!!!
Kevin Killion (another KK)
Glad you're enjoying Forgotten Hits ... and "Alice Long" is a GREAT suggestion for our "Today's Forgotten Hit" feature! Be sure to check out our current site, too! (kk)
And here's a BONUS Today's Forgotten Hit ... heard this one today and just HAD to share it! (kk)
Thanks for the story on The Tradewinds ... I'll let Pete and Vini know about it.
Best,
Rick
After FH Reader Tom Diehl sent us the EXCELLENT Dave Edmunds tribute version of "London's a Lonely Town", he ALSO sent us this EXCLUSIVE KRLA Version that The Tradewinds cut, circa 1965 ...
Hi kk,
Thanks for completing the list of the Top 50 All-Time Favorite Garage Bands.
I can't help but smile to see the Strangeloves in this list. It appears that after nearly fifty years, producers Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer are still pulling the wool over our eyes.
Dann
By the way, the other day we pointed out some of the highlights on our archive site ... and today we ran some stats ... here are The Top Ten Most-Viewed Articles on the site:
Hi kk,
Thanks for completing the list of the Top 50 All-Time Favorite Garage Bands.
I can't help but smile to see the Strangeloves in this list. It appears that after nearly fifty years, producers Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer are still pulling the wool over our eyes.
Dann
By the way, the other day we pointed out some of the highlights on our archive site ... and today we ran some stats ... here are The Top Ten Most-Viewed Articles on the site:
#1 - Top 20 All-Time Favorite Psychedelic Songs (just over 143,000 views)
#2 - First 45's (Part One) ... about 49,000 views
#3 - Top 200 Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides ... around 43,000 views
#4 - The Boyce and Hart article mentioned above ... 33,500 views
#5 - Top 200 Two-Sided Hits ... almost 33,000 views
#6 - Jimi Hendrix ... about 32,000 views
#7 - Top 50 All-Time Favorite Instrumentals ... 30,000 views
#8 - Who Played The First Beatles Record In America ... around 29,000 views
#9 - Creedence Clearwater Revival ... 23,500 views
#10 - Dusty Springfield ... 22,000 views
You can check them ALL out here:
Click here: Forgotten Hits - Home (and a WHOLE lot more, too!) kk
Kent,
You can check them ALL out here:
Click here: Forgotten Hits - Home (and a WHOLE lot more, too!) kk
Kent,
Happy New Year to you all.
Just thought I’d drop you a line to let you know that I’m carrying on a 16 year old tradition of presenting an end of the year “Rock’n Roll Heaven” special paying tribute to those artists who left us in 2012.
The show went out first over the New Year period on Radio Caroline and a lot of other stations, but there will be some repeats over the coming weekend.
It’s a two hour part of my “Stafford’s World” show that you can hear on the following stations this weekend.
Broadcast times are 5 pm EST (New York Time), 10 pm UK, 11 pm CET on Oldies Paradise on Saturday 12th January and 3 pm EST (New York Time), 10 pm UK, 11 pm CET on Easy Rock Paradise on Sunday 13th January.
Oldies Paradise continues the fight to preserve those “Forgotten Hits” from the 60’s and 70’s and keeps playing music from one of the biggest radio station music libraries in the world!
Easy Rock Paradise is a brand new sister station to Oldies Paradise, playing music from the early 60s through to today from the slightly softer side of rock. We call it “Rock Music Without The Headaches”!! Look out for lots of “Forgotten Hits” here as well.
Best wishes
Mark Stafford
Unfortunately we're posting this AFTER all of the Saturday broadcasts ... but hopefully interested listeners can still tune in on Sunday, the 13th, to catch this special program. Thanks, Mark! (kk)
re: THE SWINGING MEDALLIONS:
Hey Kent
On your Top Fifty Favorite Garage Bands list, this band is listed from the wrong state ... they are actually from my neck of the woods South Carolina.
Mickey
I let Mike Dugo know ... he's the one who wrote that bio. Looks like he had the city right ... but in the wrong state. (Probably because when one thinks of Greenwood, you think of Mississippi!) The correction has been made. (Cool bio page on The Swingin' Medallions!) kk
re: THIS AND THAT:
http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2013/01/10/bob-seger-to-kick-off-rock-and-roll-never-forgets-tour-in-february/
Kent ...
Kent ...
Give me some of that " Old Time Rock & Roll. "
Frank B.
Frank B.
The Rock And Roll Never Forgets Tour?!?!? Passing this along to FH Reader Jack Levin ... maybe he'll help to underwrite the tour! (kk)
Also touring in 2013 ... Crosby, Stills and Nash ...
Click here: Crosby, Stills & Nash Announce 2013 Tour « WCBS-FM 101.1
And (of course) The Rolling Stones!!! (Still waiting for official cities and dates to be posted ... but it sounds like all of the final details are being worked out as I type this. Stay tuned!) kk
Also touring in 2013 ... Crosby, Stills and Nash ...
Click here: Crosby, Stills & Nash Announce 2013 Tour « WCBS-FM 101.1
And (of course) The Rolling Stones!!! (Still waiting for official cities and dates to be posted ... but it sounds like all of the final details are being worked out as I type this. Stay tuned!) kk
B.J. Thomas Records New Versions of His Hits with Richard Marx, Keb' Mo', Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett
B.J. Thomas has gone the duets route with his upcoming album, The Living Room Sessions, due this spring from Wrinkled Records.
On the new album, Thomas is reimagining such songs as Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, Most of All, Rock and Roll Lullaby and I Just Can't Help Believing with the likes of Richard Marx, Steve Tyrell, Keb' Mo', Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett and Issac Slade of the group The Fray.
Thomas talked about the project, saying "In the studio, everything was real simple and organic, and we didn’t labor on anything too long to get things right. Mostly, it was a lot of fun. There were some great, surprising moments as well, particularly the performance from Isaac Slade and the dynamic vocals by Keb’ Mo’. He is so much more than a blues musician. He originally wanted to do Hooked On A Feeling, but I wanted to save that for Sara Niemietz, so we recorded Most of All. He came in not knowing the song at all, but he sat down, learned it, internalized it and put in the work it took to make it magical."
Thomas also spoke of his love for the music he's been performing for almost half of a decade. "The biggest blessing for me is that I never get tired of the songs I have had the privilege to share with the world. I still feel an emotional connection to them, and as they bring back great memories for me, they affect me the same way they might touch a longtime fan of my music. I never planned any of this out, so to be able to express myself in music and have that as a vehicle for my life for as long as I have is something I am always grateful for. There are so many thrills, satisfactions and great adventures I’ve had being involved in this for so many years, and I’m excited to have the opportunity with The Living Room Sessions to present some of my favorite songs in a different setting that feels just like home."
The album was produced by Nashville veteran Kyle Lehning at Sound Stage Studio with the help of some of the city's best studio musicians.
Sandy Knox, president and owner of Wrinkled Records, said "I don’t know if we can put into words how thrilled we are here at Wrinkled Records, to have the opportunity to work with such a musical icon like B.J. Thomas. All of the hit songs he has recorded are like grand pieces of musical history. It has been exciting for all of those who have been involved in this project, because B.J. has never done this type of album before in his legendary career."
The album's track list:
Don't Worry Baby
I Just Can't Help Believing (with Vince Gill)
Most Of All (with Keb’ Mo’)
Eyes of a New York Woman
(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song (with Richard Marx)
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (with Isaac Slade)
Rock and Roll Lullaby (with Steve Tyrell)
New Looks From an Old Lover (with Etta Britt)
Old Fashioned Love
Hooked On A Feeling (with Sara Niemietz)
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head (with Lyle Lovett) Everybody's Out Of Town
-- submitted by Tom Cuddy (from Vintage Vinyl News)
Wow, sounds like some interest collaborations here on this one ... will have to keep my eyes (and ears) open when this come out. (LOVE B.J. Thomas!!! He's going to be touring with Paul Revere and the Raiders in 2014 as part of next year's "Where The Action Is Tour"!) kk
B.J. Thomas has gone the duets route with his upcoming album, The Living Room Sessions, due this spring from Wrinkled Records.
On the new album, Thomas is reimagining such songs as Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, Most of All, Rock and Roll Lullaby and I Just Can't Help Believing with the likes of Richard Marx, Steve Tyrell, Keb' Mo', Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett and Issac Slade of the group The Fray.
Thomas talked about the project, saying "In the studio, everything was real simple and organic, and we didn’t labor on anything too long to get things right. Mostly, it was a lot of fun. There were some great, surprising moments as well, particularly the performance from Isaac Slade and the dynamic vocals by Keb’ Mo’. He is so much more than a blues musician. He originally wanted to do Hooked On A Feeling, but I wanted to save that for Sara Niemietz, so we recorded Most of All. He came in not knowing the song at all, but he sat down, learned it, internalized it and put in the work it took to make it magical."
Thomas also spoke of his love for the music he's been performing for almost half of a decade. "The biggest blessing for me is that I never get tired of the songs I have had the privilege to share with the world. I still feel an emotional connection to them, and as they bring back great memories for me, they affect me the same way they might touch a longtime fan of my music. I never planned any of this out, so to be able to express myself in music and have that as a vehicle for my life for as long as I have is something I am always grateful for. There are so many thrills, satisfactions and great adventures I’ve had being involved in this for so many years, and I’m excited to have the opportunity with The Living Room Sessions to present some of my favorite songs in a different setting that feels just like home."
The album was produced by Nashville veteran Kyle Lehning at Sound Stage Studio with the help of some of the city's best studio musicians.
Sandy Knox, president and owner of Wrinkled Records, said "I don’t know if we can put into words how thrilled we are here at Wrinkled Records, to have the opportunity to work with such a musical icon like B.J. Thomas. All of the hit songs he has recorded are like grand pieces of musical history. It has been exciting for all of those who have been involved in this project, because B.J. has never done this type of album before in his legendary career."
The album's track list:
Don't Worry Baby
I Just Can't Help Believing (with Vince Gill)
Most Of All (with Keb’ Mo’)
Eyes of a New York Woman
(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song (with Richard Marx)
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (with Isaac Slade)
Rock and Roll Lullaby (with Steve Tyrell)
New Looks From an Old Lover (with Etta Britt)
Old Fashioned Love
Hooked On A Feeling (with Sara Niemietz)
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head (with Lyle Lovett) Everybody's Out Of Town
-- submitted by Tom Cuddy (from Vintage Vinyl News)
Wow, sounds like some interest collaborations here on this one ... will have to keep my eyes (and ears) open when this come out. (LOVE B.J. Thomas!!! He's going to be touring with Paul Revere and the Raiders in 2014 as part of next year's "Where The Action Is Tour"!) kk
Endless Summer Quarterly's David Beard tells us about a cool new Beach Boys release ...
Click here: The Beach Boys On Tour 1966 Surfboards, Stratocasters, Striped Shirts - National Beach Boys | Examiner.com
Kent,
Below are some comments from my students about your 1967 Weekly Reader article.
Click here: Forgotten Hits: A Simplier America
Seaweed for breakfast? Not far-fetched because people do eat seaweed for breakfast.
Click here: Forgotten Hits: A Simplier America
Seaweed for breakfast? Not far-fetched because people do eat seaweed for breakfast.
Automatic Meal planning range: far-fetched. Probably won't happen for another 50 years.
Weather Control Vote: way far-fetched! Won't happen for another 1,000 years! or maybe even never!
The people who wrote this article went over the top, but I wouldn't blame them because we went from horses and carts to cars and airplanes in one century. It is now the year 2013. Some things in this article may come soon. We've already had people walk on the moon and the first color TV.
Shelley
re: SAD STUFF:
Shelley
re: SAD STUFF:
I'm so sorry. I had not heard about Wild Bill. This has been a devastating few months for me, but I wanted to send my sympathy. I so enjoyed him on your site. I will miss him, so I am sure you and others will miss him even more.
Shelley
Yes, it's been a tough year ... we lost quite a few Forgotten His readers over the past 12 or 13 months. Bill had such a passion for radio and all things musical. (One of the obituaries I read said that he loved The Byrds and Irish Setters ... and that was Bill Cody in a nutshell.) He will be missed. (kk)
Long time FH Reader Rich Grunke passed away this past month, too. Ironically, he contacted me a few months back and told me he didn't have long to live. Over the years he has posted numerous musical tie-ins to our Forgotten Hits articles including (at one point in time) all Top 200 Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides so fans could go to his site and listen. Shortly before he passed he sent me a flashdrive of some of his all-time favorite music ... said he wanted me to have it (as the music meant so much to him.) I had no idea his time remaining would be so short-lived.
I found out about his passing through FH Reader Clark Besch:
Sad to say that fellow fellow Lincolnite FH reader participant Rich Grunke passed away this past Dec 13. I did not read about it and just found out. Rich had a treasure trove of music that he was nice enough to share with me from over the years, as well as with FH readers. We had lunch just a month earlier and he was in bad health at the time and he and his son were doing the bucket list trips he always wanted to take, so it was good that he had some time. I am glad he got to go on a cruise and to Cleveland's baseball stadium before his death as he always hoped. Rich was a great guy.
His obituary:
http://www.aspenaftercare.com/obituaries/details.php?id=1161&range=current
Clark Besch
Yes, it's been a tough year ... we lost quite a few Forgotten His readers over the past 12 or 13 months. Bill had such a passion for radio and all things musical. (One of the obituaries I read said that he loved The Byrds and Irish Setters ... and that was Bill Cody in a nutshell.) He will be missed. (kk)
Long time FH Reader Rich Grunke passed away this past month, too. Ironically, he contacted me a few months back and told me he didn't have long to live. Over the years he has posted numerous musical tie-ins to our Forgotten Hits articles including (at one point in time) all Top 200 Favorite, Forgotten B-Sides so fans could go to his site and listen. Shortly before he passed he sent me a flashdrive of some of his all-time favorite music ... said he wanted me to have it (as the music meant so much to him.) I had no idea his time remaining would be so short-lived.
I found out about his passing through FH Reader Clark Besch:
Sad to say that fellow fellow Lincolnite FH reader participant Rich Grunke passed away this past Dec 13. I did not read about it and just found out. Rich had a treasure trove of music that he was nice enough to share with me from over the years, as well as with FH readers. We had lunch just a month earlier and he was in bad health at the time and he and his son were doing the bucket list trips he always wanted to take, so it was good that he had some time. I am glad he got to go on a cruise and to Cleveland's baseball stadium before his death as he always hoped. Rich was a great guy.
His obituary:
http://www.aspenaftercare.com/obituaries/details.php?id=1161&range=current
Clark Besch
Hey Kent,
I was sad to hear the news of Sammy Johns' passing. Every time hear his hit, "Chevy Van" (aka "another one of those damn hippy songs"), I think of former "Shindig" host, Jimmy O'Neil. In 1975, he was the mid-day personality at one of our top-40 stations. After playing the record, O'Neil said, "Nice story, but easier said than done, my friends." I'll never forget that. "Chevy Van" was truly a song of its time, and always invoked the imagination!
- John LaPuzza
I was sad to hear the news of Sammy Johns' passing. Every time hear his hit, "Chevy Van" (aka "another one of those damn hippy songs"), I think of former "Shindig" host, Jimmy O'Neil. In 1975, he was the mid-day personality at one of our top-40 stations. After playing the record, O'Neil said, "Nice story, but easier said than done, my friends." I'll never forget that. "Chevy Van" was truly a song of its time, and always invoked the imagination!
- John LaPuzza
Saw this on Ron Smith's oldiesmusic.com website ... boy, talk about write two rock and roll classics!!!
Tandyn Almer, who co-wrote the Association hit "Along Comes Mary", and the Beach Boys' "Sail On Sailor" with Brian Wilson, died Tuesday (January 8) from complications of respiratory and cardiac illnesses at his home in McLean, Virginia. He was 70.
-- Ron Smith
And here's another sad tale ...
Hey Kent,
I thought you might want to share this. It's a sad day for Joe Bennett and I know how you feel about musicians.
Thanks -
Mickey
Click here: Joe Bennett and his family need your help | Facebook
re: HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
Can you please tell me the flip side to Paul Young’s “Come Back”???? I have the 45 back home in Pittsburgh, and I now live in TN and it’s driving me crazy because I hear it on Sirius XM radio 1st Wave once in a while.
re: HELPING OUT OUR READERS:
Can you please tell me the flip side to Paul Young’s “Come Back”???? I have the 45 back home in Pittsburgh, and I now live in TN and it’s driving me crazy because I hear it on Sirius XM radio 1st Wave once in a while.
Thank You,
Lee Ann
If you're referring to "Come Back And Stay", his #22 Hit from 1984 (GREAT track, by the way!), the B-Side was a song called "Yours". Hope that helps! (kk)
You are a lifesaver!!! Thank you soo much!!!
If you're referring to "Come Back And Stay", his #22 Hit from 1984 (GREAT track, by the way!), the B-Side was a song called "Yours". Hope that helps! (kk)
You are a lifesaver!!! Thank you soo much!!!
Lee Ann
Lookie here! Yet ANOTHER great Forgotten Hit!
Friday, January 11, 2013
The Friday Flash
Just a morning quickie today ...
(and who wouldn't enjoy that?!?!?)
(and who wouldn't enjoy that?!?!?)
re: YOUR TOP 50 ALL-TIME FAVORITE GARAGE BANDS:
Hi Kent ... Happy New Year.
Hi Kent ... Happy New Year.
I've been working hard, so maybe I missed it ... but what was the Number One Garage Hit ... or hasn't it been posted as yet?
Regards ...
(I'm still digging the weekly news, too.)
Murray Walding,
Lorne, Victoria,
Australia
The number one Garage Band was The Shadows Of Knight ...
If you scroll back to November 26th (and then move forward each day) you'll find the entire countdown of 33 artists who finished with 100 votes or more.
And you can now check out The Top 50 All-Time Favorite Garage Bands on the other Forgotten Hits website, too ... read on! (kk)
Kent,
Did you ever print the top 50 garage bands? I have been out of town, but don't see them yet.
Clark Besch
Kent,
Did you ever print the top 50 garage bands? I have been out of town, but don't see them yet.
Clark Besch
Editing took a little bit longer than I had anticipated, but the list is FINALLY up on the other Forgotten Hits Website for all the world to see. You will find it here:
Click here: Forgotten Hits - Your Top 50 All-Time Favorite Garage Bands
Click here: Forgotten Hits - Your Top 50 All-Time Favorite Garage Bands
What else will you find there? All kinds of archived goodies like four pages worth of your "First 45" memories ... our "Who Played The First Beatles Record In America" series ... The Music of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (followed by an exclusive FH interview with Bobby Hart) ... a look back at The Ed Sullivan Show (followed by our interview with Andrew Solt) ... our interview with Peter Noone ... profiles of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix and Dusty Springfield ... "The Stories Behind The Songs" ... and all of our famous countdowns, like: The Top 200 Favorite Forgotten B-Sides, The Top 200 Biggest Two-Sided Hits Of All Time, Your Top 20 All-Time Favorite Psychedelic Songs, Your Top 50 All-Time Favorite Instrumentals, The Greatest Hits Of Summer, and much, much more.
If you haven't visited for awhile, you're in for HOURS (if not DAYS!) of enjoyment.
You can check it all out here:
re: PATTI PAGE:
Got this very nice tribute to Patti Page from FH Reader Tom Cuddy ...
Chart Watch Extra: Patti Page, R.I.P.
By Paul Grein (Billboard Magazine)
Got this very nice tribute to Patti Page from FH Reader Tom Cuddy ...
Chart Watch Extra: Patti Page, R.I.P.
By Paul Grein (Billboard Magazine)
Everybody knows that Elvis Presley was the top hit-maker of the 1950s, but who was the top female hit-maker of the decade? Move to the front of the class if you know that it was Patti Page, who died yesterday at age 85. Page had four #1 hits in that decade, including “The Tennessee Waltz,” which was one of the decade’s biggest hits. Page’s other chart-toppers were “All My Love (Bolero),” “I Went To Your Wedding” and the novelty tune “The Doggie In The Window,” which did little to enhance her artistic reputation, but remains one of her best-known songs.
Just last month, Page was announced as one of this year’s recipients of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Remarkably, she is the second recipient to have died since the announcements were made on Dec. 10. World music legend Ravi Shankar died the day after the announcements. (Both awards will be made posthumously next month.)
Neil Portnow, President and CEO of the Recording Academy, made note of Page’s death in a statement: “I recently had the privilege of speaking with Ms. Page and informing her that she would be recognized with The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award this upcoming February, and she was grateful and excited to be receiving the honor.”
Page, who was born Clara Ann Fowler in Muskogee, Okla., was one of 11 children.
Page landed her biggest hit in 1950, when she was just 23. "The Tennessee Waltz" spent 13 weeks at #1. It is tied with "Goodnight Irene" by Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra and the Weavers for the longest run at #1 by any hit in the 1950s. Page's recording of "The Tennessee Waltz" was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Page was nicknamed "The Singin' Rage" in the 1950s, and it's easy to see why. She and Presley are the only artists who topped the pop chart for eight or more weeks with three different songs in that decade. She scored with "The Tennessee Waltz," "I Went To Your Wedding" and "The Doggie In The Window." He scored with "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog," "All Shook Up" and "Heartbreak Hotel."
All but five of Page’s 24 top 10 hits occurred prior to 1955, but her rock-era hits include two of her biggest and most memorable, 1956’s “Allegheny Moon” and 1957’s “Old Cape Cod.” The latter song was referenced in the Beach Boys’ wistful 1971 ballad “Disney Girls” (which was written by Bruce Johnston): “Patti Page and summer days/On old Cape Cod.”
Page’s top 20 hits spanned three decades. She first reached the top 20 in the summer of 1948 with “Confess.” She made the top 10 for a final time in 1965 with the title song to the movie “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte” (which starred Bette Davis and Olivia De Havilland). Page sang the song on the Oscars in April 1965.
Page had success with two other movie title songs: 1958’s “Another Time, Another Place” (starring Lana Turner) and 1962’s “The Boys’ Night Out” (starring James Garner).
Page’s most successful albums were Christmas With Patti Page, first released in 1955, and Manhattan Tower, which reached the top 20 in 1956.
Page also found success with a few songs from Broadway shows, namely “So In Love” (from Kiss Me, Kate), “Steam Heat” (from The Pajama Game) and “The Sound Of Music” (from the musical of the same name which starred Mary Martin).
Page’s other notable hits included “Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart” (a collabo with Vic Damone), “With My Eyes Wide Open I’m Dreaming” (which was credited to Patti Page Quartet), “Mockin’ Bird Hill” and “Cross Over The Bridge.”
The warm tones in Page's voice made her a natural for country music. She reached the top 20 on the country chart with four songs: 1949’s “Money, Marbles And Chalk,” 1950’s “The Tennessee Waltz” (which reached #2 country), 1962’s “Go On Home” and “Hello We’re Lonely,” a 1972 collabo with Tom T. Hall.
Page also starred in a few TV shows: The Patti Page Show (1956, a summer replacement for The Perry Como Show), The Big Record (1957-1958) and The Patti Page Olds Show (1958-1959).
Most of Page’s biggest hits pre-date the 1958 inception of the Grammy Awards, but Page won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance for her 1998 album Live At Carnegie Hall—The 50th Anniversary Concert. She was the second female artist to win in that category, following Natalie Cole (whose father, Nat “King” Cole, was a contemporary of Page’s from 1948 until his death in 1965).
So who exactly were the top female hit-makers of the 1950s? According to Joel Whitburn Presents A Century Of Pop Music, the top female hit-makers for that decade were, in order, Page, Kay Starr, Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford, Teresa Brewer, Georgia Gibbs, Doris Day and Joni James.
Patti Page was not just another 50's singer, though I loved each and every one of them from that era. Patti was the one I spent most of my summers with along the Allegheny River. A milk shake, a hamburger, and listening to her records on Mrs. Carson's juke box on Route 62, is a perfect memory of mine. Years later, I would do The Mike Douglas Show with her. It all happened so fast that I didn't have a chance to tell her what she meant to me growing up and singing harmony along with her. Rushing into a studio, then off to another city was my new way of life. Having hit records was what it was all about for me at that time. Now, I wish I could have told her how pretty she was, how talented, and how kind she was to me when I was starting out. Allegheny Moon will remain my favorite ... she wove such a spell for me as she sang.
Thank you, Patti!
The problem is probably as simple as the people who put the show together being too young to remember Dick's iconic status, and his contribution to rock-and-roll ... So they 'honored' a game show host instead! (get him in, get him out)
This same problem has popped up before ... i.e. ... the COLUMBO re-boot and The NEW PERRY MASON,
re-boots of two long-running, wildly successful shows that are part of pop culture history.I swear, as a student of both original shows, that whoever wrote and made the 'new' shows, must not have done much research from the originals. THEY MISSED THE MARK BY A MILE!!! Perhaps too young to have seen them the first time around, the creators pissed-on both shows and totally missed the 'charm' of the originals.
RENFIELD
Not all of the Dick Clark press has been flattering of late ... "Wages Of Spin" (scan back to 2008 for several pieces on this documentary) has been showing on PBS Stations all over the country ... and is now part of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Online Archives, too. Producer Shawn Swords tells us:
The Charlie Gracie "Fabulous" Edition will be up on the online archives soon!!!!
Click here: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
And, speaking of Dick Clark (and the Golden Bandstand Days), here's an update on a Philly Guy who seems to be on the mend ...
Click here: Senior Connections: Bobby Rydell: Golden Boy Given Gift of Life
re: 50 YEARS AGO TODAY:
THIS song was in The Top Ten:
Page, who was born Clara Ann Fowler in Muskogee, Okla., was one of 11 children.
Page landed her biggest hit in 1950, when she was just 23. "The Tennessee Waltz" spent 13 weeks at #1. It is tied with "Goodnight Irene" by Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra and the Weavers for the longest run at #1 by any hit in the 1950s. Page's recording of "The Tennessee Waltz" was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Page was nicknamed "The Singin' Rage" in the 1950s, and it's easy to see why. She and Presley are the only artists who topped the pop chart for eight or more weeks with three different songs in that decade. She scored with "The Tennessee Waltz," "I Went To Your Wedding" and "The Doggie In The Window." He scored with "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog," "All Shook Up" and "Heartbreak Hotel."
All but five of Page’s 24 top 10 hits occurred prior to 1955, but her rock-era hits include two of her biggest and most memorable, 1956’s “Allegheny Moon” and 1957’s “Old Cape Cod.” The latter song was referenced in the Beach Boys’ wistful 1971 ballad “Disney Girls” (which was written by Bruce Johnston): “Patti Page and summer days/On old Cape Cod.”
Page’s top 20 hits spanned three decades. She first reached the top 20 in the summer of 1948 with “Confess.” She made the top 10 for a final time in 1965 with the title song to the movie “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte” (which starred Bette Davis and Olivia De Havilland). Page sang the song on the Oscars in April 1965.
Page had success with two other movie title songs: 1958’s “Another Time, Another Place” (starring Lana Turner) and 1962’s “The Boys’ Night Out” (starring James Garner).
Page’s most successful albums were Christmas With Patti Page, first released in 1955, and Manhattan Tower, which reached the top 20 in 1956.
Page also found success with a few songs from Broadway shows, namely “So In Love” (from Kiss Me, Kate), “Steam Heat” (from The Pajama Game) and “The Sound Of Music” (from the musical of the same name which starred Mary Martin).
Page’s other notable hits included “Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart” (a collabo with Vic Damone), “With My Eyes Wide Open I’m Dreaming” (which was credited to Patti Page Quartet), “Mockin’ Bird Hill” and “Cross Over The Bridge.”
The warm tones in Page's voice made her a natural for country music. She reached the top 20 on the country chart with four songs: 1949’s “Money, Marbles And Chalk,” 1950’s “The Tennessee Waltz” (which reached #2 country), 1962’s “Go On Home” and “Hello We’re Lonely,” a 1972 collabo with Tom T. Hall.
Page also starred in a few TV shows: The Patti Page Show (1956, a summer replacement for The Perry Como Show), The Big Record (1957-1958) and The Patti Page Olds Show (1958-1959).
Most of Page’s biggest hits pre-date the 1958 inception of the Grammy Awards, but Page won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance for her 1998 album Live At Carnegie Hall—The 50th Anniversary Concert. She was the second female artist to win in that category, following Natalie Cole (whose father, Nat “King” Cole, was a contemporary of Page’s from 1948 until his death in 1965).
So who exactly were the top female hit-makers of the 1950s? According to Joel Whitburn Presents A Century Of Pop Music, the top female hit-makers for that decade were, in order, Page, Kay Starr, Rosemary Clooney, Jo Stafford, Teresa Brewer, Georgia Gibbs, Doris Day and Joni James.
Patti Page was not just another 50's singer, though I loved each and every one of them from that era. Patti was the one I spent most of my summers with along the Allegheny River. A milk shake, a hamburger, and listening to her records on Mrs. Carson's juke box on Route 62, is a perfect memory of mine. Years later, I would do The Mike Douglas Show with her. It all happened so fast that I didn't have a chance to tell her what she meant to me growing up and singing harmony along with her. Rushing into a studio, then off to another city was my new way of life. Having hit records was what it was all about for me at that time. Now, I wish I could have told her how pretty she was, how talented, and how kind she was to me when I was starting out. Allegheny Moon will remain my favorite ... she wove such a spell for me as she sang.
Thank you, Patti!
Lou Christie
re: DICK CLARK:
The NON-tribute to recently deceased DICK CLARK on another of HIS creations, DICK CLARK'S ROCKIN' NEW YEARS EVE, was a poor attempt at honoring him! The network should have insisted on a better job as they squeezed a few more dollars from his corpse!re: DICK CLARK:
The problem is probably as simple as the people who put the show together being too young to remember Dick's iconic status, and his contribution to rock-and-roll ... So they 'honored' a game show host instead! (get him in, get him out)
This same problem has popped up before ... i.e. ... the COLUMBO re-boot and The NEW PERRY MASON,
re-boots of two long-running, wildly successful shows that are part of pop culture history.I swear, as a student of both original shows, that whoever wrote and made the 'new' shows, must not have done much research from the originals. THEY MISSED THE MARK BY A MILE!!! Perhaps too young to have seen them the first time around, the creators pissed-on both shows and totally missed the 'charm' of the originals.
RENFIELD
Not all of the Dick Clark press has been flattering of late ... "Wages Of Spin" (scan back to 2008 for several pieces on this documentary) has been showing on PBS Stations all over the country ... and is now part of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Online Archives, too. Producer Shawn Swords tells us:
The Charlie Gracie "Fabulous" Edition will be up on the online archives soon!!!!
Click here: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
And, speaking of Dick Clark (and the Golden Bandstand Days), here's an update on a Philly Guy who seems to be on the mend ...
Click here: Senior Connections: Bobby Rydell: Golden Boy Given Gift of Life
re: 50 YEARS AGO TODAY:
THIS song was in The Top Ten:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)