All week long we've been counting down the biggest hits of the '70's as compiled in the brand new Dann Isbell / Bill Carroll book "Ranking The '70's" ... and we've finally hit The Top Ten.
(You can order YOUR copy of this new book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Ranking-70s-Complete-Compilaton-Eclectic/dp/0692517790/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442771566&sr=1-2&keywords=dann+isbell)
Scroll back to Tuesday's posting for our complete review ... this book (and its companion edition "Ranking the '60's") tell it like it WAS ... the statistics are based on each record's chart performance AT THE TIME ... no 50/50 hindsight ... no radio screwing with our memories by "selective" programming ... this is the REAL DEAL ... EXACTLY AS IT HAPPENED.
And, based on this chart information, THESE were
THE TOP TEN BIGGEST HITS OF THE '70's
#10 - ABC - The Jackson Five (1970)
Counting Michael's solo hit at #44, The Jackson Five are represented by FIVE records in this very special countdown. This was their second chart-topping hit from early 1970.
# 9 - NIGHT FEVER - The Bee Gees (1978)
The Bee Gees placed five of their own hits on the countdown ... plus Brother Gibb Barry penned four more for other recording artists including his brother Andy (two hits), Frankie Valli (the title track from the hit film "Grease") and Samantha Sang. That accounts for NINE of the Top 70 tunes ... and this one was the biggest.
# 8 - MAGGIE MAY - Rod Stewart (1971)
Rod Stewart owns THREE of The Top 70 tunes (honestly, I wouldn't have figured that ... especially with Elton John represented by only one tune!) Ain't no way to slice it ... "Maggie May" was a HUGE hit (whether you liked it or not.)
# 7 - RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD - B.J. Thomas (1970)
More movie music, this track was featured in the Paul Newman - Robert Redford film classic "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Written by the unstoppable hit music team of Hal David and Burt Bacharach, it was a shoe-in to reach the top of the charts in January of 1970.
# 6 - I'LL BE THERE - The Jackson Five (1970)
The Jackson Five is the only artist represented with TWO of The Top Ten Hits of the '70's. This was one of their prettiest ... since covered by any number of artists including Mariah Carey who took HER version to #1 as well.
# 5 - LE FREAK - Chic (1978)
One of those dance tracks that just wouldn't go away back in 1978 ... it topped the Cash Box Chart for seven weeks.
# 4 - SHADOW DANCING - Andy Gibb (1978)
When all the dust settled it was baby brother Andy who bested ALL of The Bee Gees' '70's hits with this one ... a six week Cash Box chart topper.
# 3 - AMERICAN PIE - Don McLean (1972)
Perhaps the most analyzed and dissected songs of all time, singer / songwriter Don McLean documented rock and roll history in about seven minutes with this smash hit from 1972. February 3, 1959, will be remembered for all time as "the day the music died" thanks to McLean's meaningful lyrics.
# 2 - JOY TO THE WORLD - Three Dog Night (1971)
It probably would have / SHOULD have been the biggest hit of the decade ... I can't remember ANY track causing as much excitement (and universal love) at the time ... but it was held to the #2 spot thanks to ...
# 1 - YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE - Debby Boone (1977)
... ironically a record that radio pretty much refused to play today ... this despite topping the chart for eight weeks on the Cash Box Chart. (It held that same spot for an incredible ... and somewhat ridiculous THIRTEEN WEEKS in Record World!!!) Like it or not, it's the biggest hit of the decade. (I remember at the time John "Records" Landecker at WLS having to do a countdown of the most-requested songs ... and this track continually came in at #1. Even at the time a good number of folks were sick of hearing it ... and most deejays were sick to death of playing it ... but, since he was required to do so, Landecker fulfilled his musical obligation ... by airing about 30 seconds of the song every half hour until it was played through to completion by the end of his four hour show. Classic ... you just don't hear radio like THAT anymore!!!)
This concludes our countdown of The Top 70 Hits of the '70's ... thanks again to Dann Isbell and Bill Carroll for their enlightening new book "Ranking the '70's", available through the link shown above.
And stay tuned to Forgotten Hits ... we have a copy to give away to a lucky FH Reader.
Want YOUR chance to pick up a copy? Email me NOW at forgottenhits@aol.com and write '70's ENTRY in the subject line ... and we'll throw your name in the hat for this special drawing.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Friday, September 25, 2015
The Top 70 Hits of the '70's ... #25 - #11
The countdown continues!
#25 - Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum (1970)
Another track that has never been off the radio - and used in countless movies, television shows and commercials. Great track!
#24 - Let's Stay Together - Al Green (1972)
Another one you still hear every day ... if not several times a day ... The Reverend had a BIG, timeless hit with this one!
#23 - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Robert Flack (1972)
From the Clint Eastwood movie "Play Misty For Me", this has to be one of the SLOWEST songs ever recorded. (Today's challenge is to see if you can make it all the way to the end without falling asleep!)
#22 - How Deep Is Your Love - The Bee Gees (1977)
More Gibb music, this time from "Saturday Night Fever". And we're not done yet ... you'll find three more tracks written by Barry Gibb before we hit the top of the heap. (For those of you keeping score, that makes NINE tracks out of 70 in all ... an incredible 13% of the countdown!)
#21 - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart (1979)
Rod The Mod again ... this time HE'S the one trying to cash in on the disco craze. I've never felt that this one fit him well.
#20 - Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn (1973)
One of those songs that helped define the '70's ... originally about a man coming home from prison, it soon became the theme song for all the war vets coming home from Viet Nam ... and you saw yellow ribbons tied around trees from coast to coast.
#19 - Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees (1978)
Although "Night Fever" ended up being the bigger hit, it was THIS track that defined the movie ... and the whole disco movement. (Is it even possible NOT to "walk the walk" when this track comes on?) Not only fun to dance and listen to, but it also helps save lives ... reportedly in you simply follow the beat of "Stayin' Alive" while performing CPR, it's the best rhythm possible to revive a patient!
#18 - Kiss You All Over - Exile (1978)
Exile had a big career on the country charts ... but it was this #1 POP Hit that launched their careers.
#17 - My Sharona - The Knack (1979)
Another one of those defining tracks (and still one of my favorites.) It's impossible not to feel good when this song comes on.
#16 - Afternoon Delight - The Starland Vocal Band (1976)
Yes, it's become the butt of many a joke over the years ... but there is NO denying that this track had STAR(land) POWER when it was first released back in '76. (Most of these folks were members of John Denver's old band.)
#15 - Venus - Shocking Blue (1970)
Part of what was dubbed at the time as "The Dutch Revolution", here's another track that has never left our public consciousness. (And doesn't it make you want to shave your legs every time you hear it???)
#14 - My Sweet Lord - George Harrison (1970)
The first #1 Beatles Solo Hit belongs to The Quiet Beatle ... George topped the charts with this one as 1970 turned into 1971 ... and it comes from one of the very best post-Beatles solo albums ever, "All Things Must Pass".
#13 - Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando and Dawn (1971)
"Candida" came first ... and radio would have you believe it was a huge, huge hit ... but on this chart compiling EVERY record to reach the Cash Box Charts in the 1970's, ranking the points each record actually earned at the time, "Candida" comes in at #242 in the total scheme of things. Still Tony O and Dawn enjoyed quite a successful run on the pop charts ... and in the television ratings ... for a good chunk of the decade.
#12 - I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family (1970)
Based on the real-life family group The Cowsills, lead singer (and teen idol heart-throb) David Cassidy ... and his real-life step-mom Shirley Jones ... also enjoyed MASSIVE chart success thanks to the cross-over appeal of their weekly television series.
#11 - Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan (1972)
This song was COMPLETELY out of left field when it first appeared in the Summer of '72 ... and it's still a pretty clever piece of work ... but Gilbert faded from view rather quickly after this one, despite writing some very catchy and memorable tunes post-"Alone Again".
Tomorrow we'll wrap things up with THE TOP 10 SONGS OF THE '70'S ... right here in Forgotten Hits!
#25 - Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum (1970)
Another track that has never been off the radio - and used in countless movies, television shows and commercials. Great track!
#24 - Let's Stay Together - Al Green (1972)
Another one you still hear every day ... if not several times a day ... The Reverend had a BIG, timeless hit with this one!
#23 - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Robert Flack (1972)
From the Clint Eastwood movie "Play Misty For Me", this has to be one of the SLOWEST songs ever recorded. (Today's challenge is to see if you can make it all the way to the end without falling asleep!)
#22 - How Deep Is Your Love - The Bee Gees (1977)
More Gibb music, this time from "Saturday Night Fever". And we're not done yet ... you'll find three more tracks written by Barry Gibb before we hit the top of the heap. (For those of you keeping score, that makes NINE tracks out of 70 in all ... an incredible 13% of the countdown!)
#21 - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart (1979)
Rod The Mod again ... this time HE'S the one trying to cash in on the disco craze. I've never felt that this one fit him well.
#20 - Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn (1973)
One of those songs that helped define the '70's ... originally about a man coming home from prison, it soon became the theme song for all the war vets coming home from Viet Nam ... and you saw yellow ribbons tied around trees from coast to coast.
#19 - Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees (1978)
Although "Night Fever" ended up being the bigger hit, it was THIS track that defined the movie ... and the whole disco movement. (Is it even possible NOT to "walk the walk" when this track comes on?) Not only fun to dance and listen to, but it also helps save lives ... reportedly in you simply follow the beat of "Stayin' Alive" while performing CPR, it's the best rhythm possible to revive a patient!
#18 - Kiss You All Over - Exile (1978)
Exile had a big career on the country charts ... but it was this #1 POP Hit that launched their careers.
#17 - My Sharona - The Knack (1979)
Another one of those defining tracks (and still one of my favorites.) It's impossible not to feel good when this song comes on.
#16 - Afternoon Delight - The Starland Vocal Band (1976)
Yes, it's become the butt of many a joke over the years ... but there is NO denying that this track had STAR(land) POWER when it was first released back in '76. (Most of these folks were members of John Denver's old band.)
#15 - Venus - Shocking Blue (1970)
Part of what was dubbed at the time as "The Dutch Revolution", here's another track that has never left our public consciousness. (And doesn't it make you want to shave your legs every time you hear it???)
#14 - My Sweet Lord - George Harrison (1970)
The first #1 Beatles Solo Hit belongs to The Quiet Beatle ... George topped the charts with this one as 1970 turned into 1971 ... and it comes from one of the very best post-Beatles solo albums ever, "All Things Must Pass".
#13 - Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando and Dawn (1971)
"Candida" came first ... and radio would have you believe it was a huge, huge hit ... but on this chart compiling EVERY record to reach the Cash Box Charts in the 1970's, ranking the points each record actually earned at the time, "Candida" comes in at #242 in the total scheme of things. Still Tony O and Dawn enjoyed quite a successful run on the pop charts ... and in the television ratings ... for a good chunk of the decade.
#12 - I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family (1970)
Based on the real-life family group The Cowsills, lead singer (and teen idol heart-throb) David Cassidy ... and his real-life step-mom Shirley Jones ... also enjoyed MASSIVE chart success thanks to the cross-over appeal of their weekly television series.
#11 - Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan (1972)
This song was COMPLETELY out of left field when it first appeared in the Summer of '72 ... and it's still a pretty clever piece of work ... but Gilbert faded from view rather quickly after this one, despite writing some very catchy and memorable tunes post-"Alone Again".
Tomorrow we'll wrap things up with THE TOP 10 SONGS OF THE '70'S ... right here in Forgotten Hits!
Thursday, September 24, 2015
The Countdown Continues ... #50 - #26
This week we're counting down The Top 70 Hits of the '70's, as determined by the new Dann Isbell / Bill Carroll book "Ranking The '70's", available here through Amazon.com ...
http://www.amazon.com/Ranking-70s-Complete-Compilaton-Eclectic/dp/0692517790/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442771566&sr=1-2&keywords=dann+isbell
50. War - Edwin Starr (1970)
The Sound of Motown became a bit more socially and politically relevant as we reached the late '60's and early '70's ... and nowhere was this more evident than in this #1 Hit by Edwin Starr.
49. Indian Reservation - The Raiders (1971)
Paul Revere had to convince Mark Lindsay to take this solo track and release it under The Raiders' name. In exchange for the favor, Paul jumped on his motorcycle and drove coast to coast promoting the record at every major radio station in the country. It worked ... it became the first ... and ONLY ... official #1 Record for Paul Revere and the Raiders. (Listen closely to the closing organ riff at the end of this track ... they pretty much copped it note for note from the Janis Ian hit "Society's Child"!)
48. Three Times A Lady - The Commodores (1978)
Lionel Richie and Company created a soft-rock classic when they recorded this one.
47. American Woman - The Guess Who (1970)
The biggest hit of their career ... incredibly its success helped spell the end of the Burton Cummings - Randy Bachman songwriting partnership. The Guess Who would go on to record many other great hits over the years ... Randy would form Bachman-Turner Overdrive and have quite a few hits of his own.
46. Tonight's The Night - Rod Stewart (1976)
While I've never been a huge Rod Stewart fan, this one's got an incredible hook that appealed to just about everybody.
45. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty (1978)
After some chart success with Stealers Wheel, Rafferty went off on his own and had his greatest success with this one ... a solo hit from '78.
44. Rockin' Robin - Michael Jackson (1972)
In the scheme of things, not one of Michael's better recordings ... and hard to believe it ranks this high on the countdown ... but back then he was still a kid learning the ropes. Who would have ever dreamed where he'd end up a decade later.
43. Bad Girls - Donna Summer (1979)
Beep Beep - Donna was recording some pretty "hot stuff" right from the beginning ("Love To Love You Baby") and became The Queen Of Disco almost overnight. This was one of her biggest and best.
42. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - The Bee Gees (1971)
There's Barry Gibb again ... with a lush ballad this time.
41. Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson Five (1971)
In addition to his solo hits, Michael was still enjoying chart success with his brothers back in the early '70's.
40. Hot Child In The City - Nick Gilder (1978)
A GREAT One Hit Wonder that still sounds good today.
39. The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1970)
One of the prime reasons for Motown's success was the songwriting talents of Smokey Robinson ... in addition to his own string of hits, he also wrote #1 Records for Mary Wells and The Temptations.
38. I Want You Back - The Jackson Five (1970)
Here they are again ... and this one would have ranked even higher if Isbell and Carroll had been able to include the points it racked up right at the end of 1969!
37. Torn Between Two Lovers - Mary MacGregor (1977)
In hindsight one of the harder songs to listen to today ... but it was loved enough to hit #1 back in 1977 for Mary MacGregor.
36. Crocodile Rock - Elton John (1973)
As big as he was in the '70's this is the ONLY Elton John song to make The Top 70 for the purposes of this countdown. Still a timeless track that gets played every day today.
35. One Bad Apple - The Osmonds (1971)
Bubblegum Pop - this song was reportedly rejected by The Jackson Five ... so The Osmonds snatched it up and took it right to #1.
34. Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney and Wings (1976)
Now here's one I figured would have charted higher on this list ... one of Macca's dabbles into the disco arena, this one stayed at #1 for only two weeks in Cash Box Magazine (on whose charts this ranking is based.) It would have charted higher, having spent FIVE weeks at #1 in Billboard and four weeks at #1 in Record World.
33. My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings (1973)
Back-to-back McCartney tracks ... both HUGE hits (but I still can't believe this one ranked higher than "Silly Love Songs".)
32. Theme from "Shaft" (1971)
Can you dig it?
31. It's Too Late - Carole King (1971)
One of my all-time favorite songs from the '70's ... or any other era for that matter. From the HUGELY successful "Tapestry" album - Carole King finally stepped out from behind the curtain and scored a series of hits of her very own.
30. Family Affair - Sly and the Family Stone (1971)
Five of the last twelve songs come from 1971 ... and you'll find four more before we hit the #1 spot on this very special countdown of The Top 70 Hits of the '70's.
29. I Write The Songs - Barry Manilow (1976)
Barry ruled the world in the mid-'70's and this was one of his biggest. I actually liked most of the other ones.
28. Let It Be - The Beatles (1970)
The end of an era. The Fab Four broke up in early 1970 ... but not before topping the charts two more times ... first with this one ... and then again with "The Long And Winding Road" (which ranks at #129 in the new Dann Isbell - Bill Carroll book "Ranking The '70's").
27. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel (1970)
Another one I would have expected to be right up there at the top of the list ... a truly timeless track that is just as powerful today as when I first heard it. A goosebumps-inducing track if there ever was one.
26. A Brand New Key - Melanie (1971)
A great way to wrap up the countdown today ... what a fun track this was when it first hit the airwaves!
More tomorrow ... as Forgotten Hits continues to countdown The Top 70 Hits of the '70's!
http://www.amazon.com/Ranking-70s-Complete-Compilaton-Eclectic/dp/0692517790/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442771566&sr=1-2&keywords=dann+isbell
50. War - Edwin Starr (1970)
The Sound of Motown became a bit more socially and politically relevant as we reached the late '60's and early '70's ... and nowhere was this more evident than in this #1 Hit by Edwin Starr.
49. Indian Reservation - The Raiders (1971)
Paul Revere had to convince Mark Lindsay to take this solo track and release it under The Raiders' name. In exchange for the favor, Paul jumped on his motorcycle and drove coast to coast promoting the record at every major radio station in the country. It worked ... it became the first ... and ONLY ... official #1 Record for Paul Revere and the Raiders. (Listen closely to the closing organ riff at the end of this track ... they pretty much copped it note for note from the Janis Ian hit "Society's Child"!)
48. Three Times A Lady - The Commodores (1978)
Lionel Richie and Company created a soft-rock classic when they recorded this one.
47. American Woman - The Guess Who (1970)
The biggest hit of their career ... incredibly its success helped spell the end of the Burton Cummings - Randy Bachman songwriting partnership. The Guess Who would go on to record many other great hits over the years ... Randy would form Bachman-Turner Overdrive and have quite a few hits of his own.
46. Tonight's The Night - Rod Stewart (1976)
While I've never been a huge Rod Stewart fan, this one's got an incredible hook that appealed to just about everybody.
45. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty (1978)
After some chart success with Stealers Wheel, Rafferty went off on his own and had his greatest success with this one ... a solo hit from '78.
44. Rockin' Robin - Michael Jackson (1972)
In the scheme of things, not one of Michael's better recordings ... and hard to believe it ranks this high on the countdown ... but back then he was still a kid learning the ropes. Who would have ever dreamed where he'd end up a decade later.
43. Bad Girls - Donna Summer (1979)
Beep Beep - Donna was recording some pretty "hot stuff" right from the beginning ("Love To Love You Baby") and became The Queen Of Disco almost overnight. This was one of her biggest and best.
42. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - The Bee Gees (1971)
There's Barry Gibb again ... with a lush ballad this time.
41. Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson Five (1971)
In addition to his solo hits, Michael was still enjoying chart success with his brothers back in the early '70's.
40. Hot Child In The City - Nick Gilder (1978)
A GREAT One Hit Wonder that still sounds good today.
39. The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1970)
One of the prime reasons for Motown's success was the songwriting talents of Smokey Robinson ... in addition to his own string of hits, he also wrote #1 Records for Mary Wells and The Temptations.
38. I Want You Back - The Jackson Five (1970)
Here they are again ... and this one would have ranked even higher if Isbell and Carroll had been able to include the points it racked up right at the end of 1969!
37. Torn Between Two Lovers - Mary MacGregor (1977)
In hindsight one of the harder songs to listen to today ... but it was loved enough to hit #1 back in 1977 for Mary MacGregor.
36. Crocodile Rock - Elton John (1973)
As big as he was in the '70's this is the ONLY Elton John song to make The Top 70 for the purposes of this countdown. Still a timeless track that gets played every day today.
35. One Bad Apple - The Osmonds (1971)
Bubblegum Pop - this song was reportedly rejected by The Jackson Five ... so The Osmonds snatched it up and took it right to #1.
34. Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney and Wings (1976)
Now here's one I figured would have charted higher on this list ... one of Macca's dabbles into the disco arena, this one stayed at #1 for only two weeks in Cash Box Magazine (on whose charts this ranking is based.) It would have charted higher, having spent FIVE weeks at #1 in Billboard and four weeks at #1 in Record World.
33. My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings (1973)
Back-to-back McCartney tracks ... both HUGE hits (but I still can't believe this one ranked higher than "Silly Love Songs".)
32. Theme from "Shaft" (1971)
Can you dig it?
31. It's Too Late - Carole King (1971)
One of my all-time favorite songs from the '70's ... or any other era for that matter. From the HUGELY successful "Tapestry" album - Carole King finally stepped out from behind the curtain and scored a series of hits of her very own.
30. Family Affair - Sly and the Family Stone (1971)
Five of the last twelve songs come from 1971 ... and you'll find four more before we hit the #1 spot on this very special countdown of The Top 70 Hits of the '70's.
29. I Write The Songs - Barry Manilow (1976)
Barry ruled the world in the mid-'70's and this was one of his biggest. I actually liked most of the other ones.
28. Let It Be - The Beatles (1970)
The end of an era. The Fab Four broke up in early 1970 ... but not before topping the charts two more times ... first with this one ... and then again with "The Long And Winding Road" (which ranks at #129 in the new Dann Isbell - Bill Carroll book "Ranking The '70's").
27. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel (1970)
Another one I would have expected to be right up there at the top of the list ... a truly timeless track that is just as powerful today as when I first heard it. A goosebumps-inducing track if there ever was one.
26. A Brand New Key - Melanie (1971)
A great way to wrap up the countdown today ... what a fun track this was when it first hit the airwaves!
More tomorrow ... as Forgotten Hits continues to countdown The Top 70 Hits of the '70's!
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
The Top 70 Hits of the '70's
Yesterday we told you about the new book "Ranking The '70's" by Dann Isbell and Bill Carroll. (Scroll back to read our review ... and find the ordering information)
We'll spend the rest of this week counting down (in reverse order, of course, just like Casey used to do!) The Top 70 Hits of the '70's.
And it all kicks off today ... exclusively in Forgotten Hits!
70. Baby Come Back - Player (1978)
A great pop-and-soul track in the vein of Hall and Oates, this song has held up EXTREMELY well ... and you still hear it played all the time on oldies radio.
69. Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day (1977)
A #1 Hit from our FH Buddy Alan O'Day, who we lost a few years back. Do a search of the Forgotten Hits website and you'll find ALL kinds of exclusive features and tracks. This one was his biggest.
68. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell (1975)
Glen's going through the most difficult stages of Alzheimer's right now ... but boy he sure left us with an incredible legacy of great music.
67. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye (1973)
Just one of the many "sexy-feeling" songs by this Motown great.
66. Grease - Frankie Valli (1978)
Sounding nothing at all like a '50's song (how could it? it was written at the height of the disco era by The Bee Gees for God's sake!) it some how still played well within the context of one of the decade's most popular films.
65. Convoy - C.W. McCall (1976)
Cashing in on the whole CB craze this one became a #1 novelty hit as the calendar flipped to 1976. 10-4 good buddy!
64. Jive Talkin' - The Bee Gees (1975)
Barry Gibb took his brothers to new heights with this one ... and I don't just mean his soaring falsetto. After a stretch of barely making the charts, The Brothers Gibb came back in a VERY big way with a string of dance hits that cashed in on the burgeoning disco movement.
63. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey (1978)
My guess is we're likely to see quite a few disco hits on this special countdown. This just happens to be one of those simple, feel-good songs that probably would have worked within the context of ANY musical era ... but plays especially well here.
62. Brandy - Looking Glass (1972)
We just covered a recent concert appearance by Looking Glass lead singer Elliot Lurie ... who still sounds great by the way! This song has NEVER been off the radio ... and it still sounds great today.
61. One Less Bell To Answer - The Fifth Dimension (1970)
My all-time favorite Fifth Dimension song ... and a Hal David - Burt Bacharach classic. Just as powerful today as it was when we first heard it, Marilyn McCoo waxes one of the most perfect vocals ever recorded.
60. Close To You - The Carpenters (1970)
Here's one I would have expected to come in higher in the countdown. This record was HUGE ... and launched the careers of the decade's most dynamic duo. Another great voice taken from us far too soon.
59. Emotion - Samantha Sang (1978)
More Bee Gees music (I wonder how many more of these we're going to find on our way to #1?!?!) I always loved this song ... but it's kinda funny ... when I hear it on the radio today, I barely notice Samantha Sang's involvement ... this track now sounds like Barry Gibb all the way! It's almost as if they've remixed it to bring HIS voice to the forefront!
58. You're So Vain - Carly Simon (1973)
Another one of those HUGE hanging-around-the-coffee-machine-discussion-group-topics songs ... just watch out for those clouds in your coffee!
57. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward (1979)
Here's one I wouldn't have expected to rank so highly. This one always struck me as more of a flash-in-the-pan novelty hit. Not much substance here ... yet #57 for the decade.
56. Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson (1971)
Ditto. Lynn left us a few months ago ... and this was a big cross-over hit on both the pop and country charts ... but I wouldn't have expected it to rank higher than some of the far more substantial hits we've covered thus far.
55. Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul (1972)
Another one you still hear all the time ... and it still gives me goosebumps nearly every single time I hear it ... which is especially surprising since I didn't really care for this track when it was first released in 1972. After visiting Philadelphia International Records a few years ago, I came away with a much greater appreciation for this great song.
54. I Just Want To Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb (1977)
The first hit for the Baby Bee Gee ... little brother Andy soared to the top of the charts and then became another tragic victim of the whole "too much / too soon" syndrome of stardom. And, for those of you keeping score, the FOURTH song written by Barry Gibb in our countdown thus far.)
53. Without You - Nilsson (1972)
Still an incredibly powerful track, exceptionally produced by Richard Perry. This song started as a Badfinger LP track ... but Harry Nilsson reworked it into a power-building masterpiece.
52. Reunited - Peaches and Herb (1979)
Peaches and Herb had a few medium-sized hits in the '60's ... but their own reuniting in 1979 (albeit with a different "Peaches") was the first ... and only ... time they went all the way to #1. Still used in any variety of ad campaigns today.
51. Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves - Cher (1971)
Not one of my favorites by her ... and another track I wouldn't have expected to rank so high ... but the charts don't lie ... so Cher lands just outside The Top 50.
The countdown continues tomorrow in Forgotten Hits!
We'll spend the rest of this week counting down (in reverse order, of course, just like Casey used to do!) The Top 70 Hits of the '70's.
And it all kicks off today ... exclusively in Forgotten Hits!
70. Baby Come Back - Player (1978)
A great pop-and-soul track in the vein of Hall and Oates, this song has held up EXTREMELY well ... and you still hear it played all the time on oldies radio.
69. Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day (1977)
A #1 Hit from our FH Buddy Alan O'Day, who we lost a few years back. Do a search of the Forgotten Hits website and you'll find ALL kinds of exclusive features and tracks. This one was his biggest.
68. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell (1975)
Glen's going through the most difficult stages of Alzheimer's right now ... but boy he sure left us with an incredible legacy of great music.
67. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye (1973)
Just one of the many "sexy-feeling" songs by this Motown great.
66. Grease - Frankie Valli (1978)
Sounding nothing at all like a '50's song (how could it? it was written at the height of the disco era by The Bee Gees for God's sake!) it some how still played well within the context of one of the decade's most popular films.
65. Convoy - C.W. McCall (1976)
Cashing in on the whole CB craze this one became a #1 novelty hit as the calendar flipped to 1976. 10-4 good buddy!
64. Jive Talkin' - The Bee Gees (1975)
Barry Gibb took his brothers to new heights with this one ... and I don't just mean his soaring falsetto. After a stretch of barely making the charts, The Brothers Gibb came back in a VERY big way with a string of dance hits that cashed in on the burgeoning disco movement.
63. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey (1978)
My guess is we're likely to see quite a few disco hits on this special countdown. This just happens to be one of those simple, feel-good songs that probably would have worked within the context of ANY musical era ... but plays especially well here.
62. Brandy - Looking Glass (1972)
We just covered a recent concert appearance by Looking Glass lead singer Elliot Lurie ... who still sounds great by the way! This song has NEVER been off the radio ... and it still sounds great today.
61. One Less Bell To Answer - The Fifth Dimension (1970)
My all-time favorite Fifth Dimension song ... and a Hal David - Burt Bacharach classic. Just as powerful today as it was when we first heard it, Marilyn McCoo waxes one of the most perfect vocals ever recorded.
60. Close To You - The Carpenters (1970)
Here's one I would have expected to come in higher in the countdown. This record was HUGE ... and launched the careers of the decade's most dynamic duo. Another great voice taken from us far too soon.
59. Emotion - Samantha Sang (1978)
More Bee Gees music (I wonder how many more of these we're going to find on our way to #1?!?!) I always loved this song ... but it's kinda funny ... when I hear it on the radio today, I barely notice Samantha Sang's involvement ... this track now sounds like Barry Gibb all the way! It's almost as if they've remixed it to bring HIS voice to the forefront!
58. You're So Vain - Carly Simon (1973)
Another one of those HUGE hanging-around-the-coffee-machine-discussion-group-topics songs ... just watch out for those clouds in your coffee!
57. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward (1979)
Here's one I wouldn't have expected to rank so highly. This one always struck me as more of a flash-in-the-pan novelty hit. Not much substance here ... yet #57 for the decade.
56. Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson (1971)
Ditto. Lynn left us a few months ago ... and this was a big cross-over hit on both the pop and country charts ... but I wouldn't have expected it to rank higher than some of the far more substantial hits we've covered thus far.
55. Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul (1972)
Another one you still hear all the time ... and it still gives me goosebumps nearly every single time I hear it ... which is especially surprising since I didn't really care for this track when it was first released in 1972. After visiting Philadelphia International Records a few years ago, I came away with a much greater appreciation for this great song.
54. I Just Want To Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb (1977)
The first hit for the Baby Bee Gee ... little brother Andy soared to the top of the charts and then became another tragic victim of the whole "too much / too soon" syndrome of stardom. And, for those of you keeping score, the FOURTH song written by Barry Gibb in our countdown thus far.)
53. Without You - Nilsson (1972)
Still an incredibly powerful track, exceptionally produced by Richard Perry. This song started as a Badfinger LP track ... but Harry Nilsson reworked it into a power-building masterpiece.
52. Reunited - Peaches and Herb (1979)
Peaches and Herb had a few medium-sized hits in the '60's ... but their own reuniting in 1979 (albeit with a different "Peaches") was the first ... and only ... time they went all the way to #1. Still used in any variety of ad campaigns today.
51. Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves - Cher (1971)
Not one of my favorites by her ... and another track I wouldn't have expected to rank so high ... but the charts don't lie ... so Cher lands just outside The Top 50.
The countdown continues tomorrow in Forgotten Hits!
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Ranking The '70's
Just as he did with his "Ranking the '60's" book, Dann Isbell (this time with the help of contributor Bill Carroll) has put together the ultimate time portrait of an entire decade's worth of music.
By researching every Cash Box Magazine Chart published between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1979 ... and by use of an inverted point system ... Dann has encapsulated the entire decade and then ranked each and every single to make the Cash Box Chart (5368 to be exact!) by its accumulated point total.
Based on these totals, he then ranks every artist based on their accumulated total ... then lists every charted hit for each individual artist ... and recaps it all with an alphabetical listing of every charted title as a cross-reference. All-in-all, extensive and exhaustive research that gives you an accurate and complete composite of the music of the decade.
What's especially intriguing by all of this is that the book acts as a "time stamp" of this era at it represents how each song performed AT THE TIME ... forget hindsight ... forget personal prejudice ... forget the fact that radio has chosen to only regularly feature a few hundred of these titles in regular rotation over the past 35-45 years ... this book tells it as it WAS ... which (if you follow that line of reasoning) also means it tells it like it IS ... and not what others would have you believe to be the case.
Highly recommended and available now (as is the '60's volume) through Amazon.com ...
http://www.amazon.com/Ranking-70s-Complete-Compilaton-Eclectic/dp/0692517790/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442573053&sr=1-2&keywords=dann+isbell
http://www.amazon.com/Ranking-60s-Comprehensive-Listing-Golden/dp/1492156280/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442573092&sr=1-1&keywords=dann+isbell
This week in Forgotten Hits ...
The Top 70 Hits of the '70's ...
As ranked by Dann Isbell's new book
Order YOUR copy now!
(The countdown kicks off tomorrow ... please join us!)
Monday, September 21, 2015
50 Year Flashback - September 21st, 1965
Here's a record you don't see in the #1 Spot very often ... "Treat Her Right" by Roy Head! But on Sand Diego's Boss 30 KGB Countdown, it's #1 this week!
Other Hot Hits this week include "The In Crowd" by The Ramsey Lewis Trio, "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys, "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by The Animals, "In The Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett (up 16 places from #26 to #10), "Do You Believe In Magic" by The Lovin' Spoonful, The Beatles' US follow-up to "Help!", "Yesterday", which is the highest premier on this week's survey at #12 and "A Lover's Concerto" by The Toys, which climbs from #28 to #17 this week.
Other Hot Hits this week include "The In Crowd" by The Ramsey Lewis Trio, "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys, "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by The Animals, "In The Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett (up 16 places from #26 to #10), "Do You Believe In Magic" by The Lovin' Spoonful, The Beatles' US follow-up to "Help!", "Yesterday", which is the highest premier on this week's survey at #12 and "A Lover's Concerto" by The Toys, which climbs from #28 to #17 this week.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
The Sunday Comments ( 09 - 20 - 15 )
Burton Cummings:
To say that Burton Cummings put on yet another great show at The Arcada Theatre Friday Night is a given ... we've seen him four times now in the past three years and he never disappoints ... and Friday was no exception ... a rockin' good show from start to finish.
To say that Burton Cummings put on yet another great show at The Arcada Theatre Friday Night is a given ... we've seen him four times now in the past three years and he never disappoints ... and Friday was no exception ... a rockin' good show from start to finish.
I've run out of superlatives to describe it ... it's something you simply have to experience for yourself. (Burton said he'd love to come back and play The Arcada every year ... and judging by the fact that each and every show has been a complete sell-out, I'd have to say The Arcada will be proud to have him!)
Rather than rehash yet another review (you can read my previous reviews here ... along with our exclusive Forgotten Hits Interview from a couple of years ago) ...
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2013/10/burton-cummings-concert-review.html
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2014/06/burton-cummings-at-city-winery.html
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2014/11/burton-cummings-live-at-arcada.html
http://forgottenhits.com/forgotten_hits_interviews_burton_cummings
... I'll just tell you that every single word is still true ... Cummings is still in fine voice and fine spirits and having a ball ... and is genuinely and sincerely touched by all of the positive feedback he gets from his audience ... he said it's shows like these that makes him want to continue to perform for another ten years ... (of course if he does that he may have to change the lyrics to "Break It To Them Gently" to "I'M damn near eighty" at some point in time ... as he also confided that he turns 68 in a few months!)
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2014/06/burton-cummings-at-city-winery.html
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2014/11/burton-cummings-live-at-arcada.html
http://forgottenhits.com/forgotten_hits_interviews_burton_cummings
... I'll just tell you that every single word is still true ... Cummings is still in fine voice and fine spirits and having a ball ... and is genuinely and sincerely touched by all of the positive feedback he gets from his audience ... he said it's shows like these that makes him want to continue to perform for another ten years ... (of course if he does that he may have to change the lyrics to "Break It To Them Gently" to "I'M damn near eighty" at some point in time ... as he also confided that he turns 68 in a few months!)
We had a blast and even had time for a short visit backstage after the show where Burton taped this EXCELLENT testimonial for me ...
Instead of dwelling only on his performance, here are a few other things I observed at The Arcada Friday Night ...
Arcada Theatre Host Ron Onesti was having every bit as much fun out there watching this show as every other audience member ... it was great to watch him boppin' to the music and singing along with every word ... it is clear that he loves this music every bit as much as we do ... and it's got to make him proud to be able to continue to present it to such a receptive crowd ...
Speaking of which, The Arcada crowds are the best ... Burton played to a packed house of lifetime fans of his music, who showed their appreciation after every single performance. (He mixed the set list up a little time this time around so there were some welcome additions and surprises.) He interacts well with the audience and is one of the most energetic performers you'll ever have the chance to see. (I swear he must lose twenty pounds during every show!) The crowd reacted in kind with standing ovations throughout the night and loud, vigorous applause. It made for the perfect marriage of audience and performer.
That being said why is it that at EVERY single Arcada show there is SOME idiot out in the audience who feels that it is his preordained duty to shout out the name of song suggestions at the artists performing up on stage throughout the show? And I swear this guy ends up in OUR section every single time!!! Does he REALLY believe that the band came unprepared and without a set list? Does he not know that EVERY artist saves their biggest hits for last ... and that Burton is NOT going to do "American Woman" three songs into the set? Does he really think even for a moment that Cummings and the band need to be reminded that they should do "Star Baby" or "Clap For The Wolfman" at some point during the night as if they might not otherwise perform these tracks without his friendly reminder and suggestion? Enthusiastic, yes ... but annoying as hell.
Speaking of which, I swear the guy sitting in front of me had the biggest head I've ever seen in my life!!! This is no joke ... when he sat up straight, the size of his head was the exact same size of Burton Cummings' body! ... and he blocked my COMPLETE view of watching Burton perform on stage for most of the night. Just for fun, we compared head sizes to all of the other people sitting in that same row and, no lie, his head was 4-5 times bigger than every single one of them!!! Don't get me wrong ... I realize that this is not his fault ... but it meant bobbing and weaving throughout the night to try and catch a glimpse of Cummings on stage rather than watch the entire concert on the large video screens posted throughout the venue.
Arcada Theatre Host Ron Onesti was having every bit as much fun out there watching this show as every other audience member ... it was great to watch him boppin' to the music and singing along with every word ... it is clear that he loves this music every bit as much as we do ... and it's got to make him proud to be able to continue to present it to such a receptive crowd ...
Speaking of which, The Arcada crowds are the best ... Burton played to a packed house of lifetime fans of his music, who showed their appreciation after every single performance. (He mixed the set list up a little time this time around so there were some welcome additions and surprises.) He interacts well with the audience and is one of the most energetic performers you'll ever have the chance to see. (I swear he must lose twenty pounds during every show!) The crowd reacted in kind with standing ovations throughout the night and loud, vigorous applause. It made for the perfect marriage of audience and performer.
That being said why is it that at EVERY single Arcada show there is SOME idiot out in the audience who feels that it is his preordained duty to shout out the name of song suggestions at the artists performing up on stage throughout the show? And I swear this guy ends up in OUR section every single time!!! Does he REALLY believe that the band came unprepared and without a set list? Does he not know that EVERY artist saves their biggest hits for last ... and that Burton is NOT going to do "American Woman" three songs into the set? Does he really think even for a moment that Cummings and the band need to be reminded that they should do "Star Baby" or "Clap For The Wolfman" at some point during the night as if they might not otherwise perform these tracks without his friendly reminder and suggestion? Enthusiastic, yes ... but annoying as hell.
Speaking of which, I swear the guy sitting in front of me had the biggest head I've ever seen in my life!!! This is no joke ... when he sat up straight, the size of his head was the exact same size of Burton Cummings' body! ... and he blocked my COMPLETE view of watching Burton perform on stage for most of the night. Just for fun, we compared head sizes to all of the other people sitting in that same row and, no lie, his head was 4-5 times bigger than every single one of them!!! Don't get me wrong ... I realize that this is not his fault ... but it meant bobbing and weaving throughout the night to try and catch a glimpse of Cummings on stage rather than watch the entire concert on the large video screens posted throughout the venue.
But all in all I really can't complain ... Burton put on yet another AMAZING show ... and if he's going to come back every year, then we're going to go see him each and every time ... ALWAYS a great show ... and you should grab the opportunity to check it out next time he comes to a venue near you.
Upcoming dates include:
Upcoming dates include:
October 3rd - Berklee Performance Center in Boston, MA
October 4th - Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem, PA
October 6th at B.B. King's Blues Club in New York, NY
October 8th - The Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT
October 10th - The State Theatre - Falls Church, VA
And finally, I'd like to compliment the opening act, Dennis O'Brien and John Paruolo. We've seen this duo before but they put on an especially entertaining and varied performance Friday night, covering songs by everyone from The Eagles to Cat Stevens to Paul McCartney to Van Morrison to Jethro Tull ... all with an acoustic guitar and electronic keyboard! Check these guys out if you get a chance ... (I believe they bill themselves as "The Dennis O'Brien Duo") ... a very entertaining set.
(Thanks, as always, to Luciano Bilotti for his great Arcada shots!) kk
Speaking of Great Up-Coming Shows ...
Forgotten Hits Readers on our "Locals List" got the heads up earlier this weekend that we've got tickets to give away to the upcoming Genesee Theatre performance by Jim Peterik's Lifeforce. We've still got a few tickets to give away ... but you'd better act quickly.
Here are all the details:
Here is your chance to see Jim Peterik as you've never seen him before ...
Wanna go?
Live in the Chicagoland area and not on our Locals List?
And you'll want to do that quickly as we've got some other VERY special surprises and ticket offers coming up, too.
Stay tuned for information regarding a Forgotten Hits / Arcada Theatre Holiday Get-Together at The Ides Of March Christmas Concert ... some tickets to see Tommy James at The Rialto Square Theatre ... and don't be surprised if we find a way to hand out some Brian Wilson tickets, too, when he returns to the area in November for a performance at The Genesee Theatre!
There is ALWAYS something cool happening in Forgotten Hits ... this is THE place to be ... so don't miss a single posting! (kk)
Other great shows:
Scroll back to Thursday to see the incredible line-up of artists coming to The Arcada Theatre over the next few months. It's frickin' AMAZING!!!
Meanwhile, Star Plaza has Zappa Plays Zappa next week on the 23rd, followed by The Zombies on October 16th (that's the same night that Leon Russell is at The Arcada Theatre ... and Stevie Wonder is appearing at The United Center!), Kenny Rogers' Christmas Show on November 28th and The Salute to the '60's on January 30th featuring Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, The Buckinghams and The Grass Roots.
And Lou Christie (who is really diggin' Forgotten Hits ... thanks, Lou ... we love ya!) sent us THIS list of upcoming performances so FH Readers and fans across the country can check out some of his shows when he hits a theater near you ...
10/3/15 - Roslyn, NY - Roslyn HS - Wounded Warriors Benefit (For Tix: 516 - 587 - 7187)
10/11/15 - Warrendale, PA (Pittsburgh Area) Jergels Rhythm Grill
10/17/15 - Wheeling, WV - Capitol Theatre
10/23/15 - Lincoln, RI - Twin River Casino
10/24/15 - Sarasota, FL - Van Wezel Hall
11/1 - 11/8/15 - Malt Shop Memories Cruise (Sold Out)
11/20/15 - Poinciana, FL - Private
12/5/15 - Staten Island, NY - St. George Theatre
2/27/16 - Lancaster, PA - American Music Theatre
3/12/16 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theatre
Lou also hosts "Make Summer Last Forever" on Sirius / XM Channel 6 - '60's on 6. You can catch encore presentations on Monday, September 21st at 1 pm Eastern, Thursday, September 24th at 5 pm Eastern, Friday, September 25th at 11 pm Eastern and Sunday, Septmber 27th at 9 am Eastern
And finally, I'd like to compliment the opening act, Dennis O'Brien and John Paruolo. We've seen this duo before but they put on an especially entertaining and varied performance Friday night, covering songs by everyone from The Eagles to Cat Stevens to Paul McCartney to Van Morrison to Jethro Tull ... all with an acoustic guitar and electronic keyboard! Check these guys out if you get a chance ... (I believe they bill themselves as "The Dennis O'Brien Duo") ... a very entertaining set.
(Thanks, as always, to Luciano Bilotti for his great Arcada shots!) kk
Speaking of Great Up-Coming Shows ...
Forgotten Hits Readers on our "Locals List" got the heads up earlier this weekend that we've got tickets to give away to the upcoming Genesee Theatre performance by Jim Peterik's Lifeforce. We've still got a few tickets to give away ... but you'd better act quickly.
Here are all the details:
Here is your chance to see Jim Peterik as you've never seen him before ...
Thanks to a special arrangement with The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL, Forgotten Hits has a select number of seats to give away to the upcoming Jim Peterik's Lifeforce Concert on October 1st. See below for more details!
JIM PETERIK’S LIFEFORCE - WITH SPECIAL GUEST MINDI ABAIR -
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, AT THE GENESEE THEATRE - 8:00 PM ~
Singer - songwriter / guitarist Jim Peterik – former member of Survivor and the Ides of March – is taking the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL, by storm on Thursday, October 1 with his band Lifeforce, featuring special guest Mindi Abair.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, AT THE GENESEE THEATRE - 8:00 PM ~
Singer - songwriter / guitarist Jim Peterik – former member of Survivor and the Ides of March – is taking the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL, by storm on Thursday, October 1 with his band Lifeforce, featuring special guest Mindi Abair.
Peterik has made an indelible mark on pop history, having garnered 18 Top 10 hits, including “The Search Is Over,” “Caught Up In You,” “Rocking Into The Night,” “Fantasy Girl,” “Hold On Loosely,” "Vehicle" and, of course, the triple-platinum Grammy-winning anthem from Rocky III “Eye Of The Tiger.” But Lifeforce is a different avenue for Peterik, allowing him to stretch his jazz muscles.
“My wife Karen and I have been huge fans since day one of Pat Metheny, David Grusin, Spyro Gyra, Keiku Matsui, Acoustic Alchemy, Basia, and so many more,” says Peterik. “Writing and performing this style myself is just a natural progression from fan to artist.”
Lifeforce specializes in jazz that rocks, presenting a powerful collection of rock, pop, soul, world beat, and contemporary jazz.
Joining Lifeforce is special guest Mindi Abair, who is a marvel in her own right. The two-time Grammy nominated saxophonist / vocalist / author has enjoyed ten #1 radio singles, two #1 Billboard Jazz CDs, and four albums that have landed #5 or above on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts in her solo career. Not only was she a featured saxophonist on American Idol in 2011 and 2012, but she joined Aerosmith for their 2012 summer tour.
The beautifully restored Genesee Theatre is the perfect intimate setting for this special night of jazz. The theater is located at 221 N. Genesee Street in Waukegan, IL.
For more information on Lifeforce, please visit: http://jimpeterikslifeforce.com/
For more information on Lifeforce, please visit: http://jimpeterikslifeforce.com/
Wanna go?
Drop me an email at forgottenhits@aol.com and we'll see what we can do about getting you a pair of tickets to this very special event. (Check out the video on the jimpeterikslifeforce.com webpage to get a taste of what this is all about ... it should be a blast ... and there isn't a more beautiful place to catch a concert like this than The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.)
Catch me quick if you're interested in attending as these tickets are being offered on a first come, first served basis and they won't last long. (And please don't request tickets if you're not really able to attend ... we want to reward as many Forgotten Hits Readers as possible and would hate for ANY tickets to go to waste!)
Very special thanks to Colleen Rogalski and The Genesee Theatre for this very generous offer.
kk
Kent Kotal
Forgotten Hits
kk
Kent Kotal
Forgotten Hits
Live in the Chicagoland area and not on our Locals List?
Drop me an email and we'll add you to the list.
And you'll want to do that quickly as we've got some other VERY special surprises and ticket offers coming up, too.
Stay tuned for information regarding a Forgotten Hits / Arcada Theatre Holiday Get-Together at The Ides Of March Christmas Concert ... some tickets to see Tommy James at The Rialto Square Theatre ... and don't be surprised if we find a way to hand out some Brian Wilson tickets, too, when he returns to the area in November for a performance at The Genesee Theatre!
There is ALWAYS something cool happening in Forgotten Hits ... this is THE place to be ... so don't miss a single posting! (kk)
Other great shows:
Scroll back to Thursday to see the incredible line-up of artists coming to The Arcada Theatre over the next few months. It's frickin' AMAZING!!!
Meanwhile, Star Plaza has Zappa Plays Zappa next week on the 23rd, followed by The Zombies on October 16th (that's the same night that Leon Russell is at The Arcada Theatre ... and Stevie Wonder is appearing at The United Center!), Kenny Rogers' Christmas Show on November 28th and The Salute to the '60's on January 30th featuring Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, The Buckinghams and The Grass Roots.
And Lou Christie (who is really diggin' Forgotten Hits ... thanks, Lou ... we love ya!) sent us THIS list of upcoming performances so FH Readers and fans across the country can check out some of his shows when he hits a theater near you ...
10/3/15 - Roslyn, NY - Roslyn HS - Wounded Warriors Benefit (For Tix: 516 - 587 - 7187)
10/11/15 - Warrendale, PA (Pittsburgh Area) Jergels Rhythm Grill
10/17/15 - Wheeling, WV - Capitol Theatre
10/23/15 - Lincoln, RI - Twin River Casino
10/24/15 - Sarasota, FL - Van Wezel Hall
11/1 - 11/8/15 - Malt Shop Memories Cruise (Sold Out)
11/20/15 - Poinciana, FL - Private
12/5/15 - Staten Island, NY - St. George Theatre
2/27/16 - Lancaster, PA - American Music Theatre
3/12/16 - Greensburg, PA - Palace Theatre
Lou also hosts "Make Summer Last Forever" on Sirius / XM Channel 6 - '60's on 6. You can catch encore presentations on Monday, September 21st at 1 pm Eastern, Thursday, September 24th at 5 pm Eastern, Friday, September 25th at 11 pm Eastern and Sunday, Septmber 27th at 9 am Eastern
Lou Christie performing at the Addison Italian Fest last month
Have you heard about the brand new, deluxe release of The Beatles "1"?
Already one of the best selling releases of the past 25 years, a new deluxe edition (featuring 27 tracks and 50 videos!!!) will be released on November 6th.
Vintage Vinyl News is reporting:
One of the biggest selling albums of the last 25 years is the Beatles compilation 1 and, on November 6, Apple Corps Ltd. and UMG will release a new version in a number of formats with fifty promotional films and videos.
The 27-track CD / DVD and CD / Blu-ray pairs beautifully restored videos for each song, with new stereo and 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS HD surround audio mixes. The brand new Beatles 1+ celebrates their career in over 200 minutes through 50 promotional films and videos. This includes the 27 No.1s, with the restored videos, along with a second disc of 23 videos, including alternate versions, as well as rarely seen and newly restored films and videos; all include new audio mixes in deluxe CD / 2DVD and CD / 2Blu-ray packages. The 27-track audio CD is also being made available with new stereo mixes. A 2LP, 180-gram vinyl package will follow.
The new editions of The Beatles 1 have been made possible following extensive research, and restoration of the original promo films, classic television appearances and other carefully selected videos spanning the band's history. Apple Corps dug deep into The Beatles' vaults to select a broad range of films and videos for their rarity, historical significance and quality of performance. An 18-person team of film and video technicians and restoration artists was assembled by Apple Corps to undertake painstaking frame-by-frame cleaning, color-grading, digital enhancement and new edits that took months of dedicated, 'round-the-clock work to accomplish.
The result is a visual rundown of The Beatles' number one records, as well as the additional tracks on the bonus disc of Beatles 1+ that show the band in previously unseen standards of clarity and quality; many of the films and videos have never before been commercially released, in whole or in part.
The Beatles 1 and 1+ offer the restored films, including 35mm negatives scanned in 4K and digitally restored with new stereo and 5.1 surround audio remixes, produced from the original analogue tapes by the GRAMMY® winning team of Giles Martin with Sam Okell at Abbey Road Studios. For four of the videos, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have provided exclusive audio commentary and filmed introductions, respectively. The 1+ Deluxe Edition is presented in an expanded 124-page illustrated hardcover book which includes 'an appreciation' of The Beatles' groundbreaking films and videos by music journalist and author Mark Ellen and extensive, detailed track/video annotation by music historian and author Richard Havers.
The formats for the release:
- Single CD
- Single DVD
- Single Blu-Ray
- CD/DVD
- CD/Blu-Ray
- CD/2-DVD (1+)
- CD/2-Blu-Ray (1+)
Beatles 1
Disc 1 Audio (CD) + Disc 1 Video (DVD or Blu-ray) (same track list)
- Love Me Do
- From Me To You
- She Loves You
- I Want To Hold Your Hand
- Can't Buy Me Love
- A Hard Day's Night
- I Feel Fine
- Eight Days a Week
- Ticket To Ride
- Help!
- Yesterday
- Day Tripper
- We Can Work It Out
- Paperback Writer
- Yellow Submarine
- Eleanor Rigby
- Penny Lane
- All You Need Is Love
- Hello, Goodbye
- Lady Madonna
- Hey Jude
- Get Back
- The Ballad of John and Yoko
- Something
- Come Together
- Let It Be
- The Long and Winding Road
- Paul McCartney audio commentary
- Penny Lane
- Hello, Goodbye
- Hey Jude
- Ringo Starr filmed introductions
- Penny Lane
- Hello, Goodbye
- Hey Jude
- Get Back
Disc 1 Audio (CD) + Disc 1 Video (DVD or Blu-ray)
- Same as above
- Twist & Shout
- Baby It's You
- Words Of Love
- Please Please Me
- I Feel Fine
- Day Tripper *
- Day Tripper *
- We Can Work It Out *
- Paperback Writer *
- Rain *
- Rain *
- Strawberry Fields Forever
- Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows
- A Day In The Life
- Hello, Goodbye *
- Hello, Goodbye *
- Hey Bulldog
- Hey Jude *
- Revolution
- Get Back *
- Don't Let Me Down
- Free As A Bird
- Real Love
- Paul McCartney audio commentary on Strawberry Fields Forever
Hey Kent,
I think it's great that Ringo is auctioning off some of his vintage stuff to charity, but that Ludwig black oyster drum set ... I don't know. I was hoping that someday The Beatles' suits and their instruments, that appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show would all be together in a museum (Maybe even at the Ed Sullivan Theater!).
- John LaPuzza
Here's another cool clip ... this one's from FH Reader Frank B featuring Stevie Wonder on The Late Late Show with James Corden ... funny stuff! (kk)
MICKY DOLENZ SITS IN WITH THE ROOTS ON THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 New York – Monkee-MICKY DOLENZ, whose new album A Little Bit Broadway; A Little Bit Rock & Roll comes out on September 25 (on Broadway Records), will sit in with The Roots on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on September 24.
Gonna have to stay up late for this one! (kk)
Tommy James is hard at work recording an all-new, all acoustic album featuring reworkings of many of his best-known hits. The new LP will feature a variety of "special guests" and will be called 'ACCOUSTITRONICS'.
While there's no official release date yet, we are hoping to be able to "sneak peek" a track for you in the not-too-distant future.Gonna have to stay up late for this one! (kk)
Tommy James is hard at work recording an all-new, all acoustic album featuring reworkings of many of his best-known hits. The new LP will feature a variety of "special guests" and will be called 'ACCOUSTITRONICS'.
And, speaking of new releases, Carl Giammarese is putting the finishing touches on his latest solo LP now that the Happy Together Tour is over. He, too, is promising an exclusive Forgotten Hits "First Look" at one of the tracks.
Long-time FH Reader Billy Hinsche tells us about a brand new release that he's involved with ...
I am involved in a very special project involving a never-before-heard song called "This Is Elvis" that Carl Wilson and Myrna Smith wrote for an Elvis project - it will launch on iTunes this month. I'm writing the liners for it now ... and will have more information for you shortly.
What I can tell you is that "This Is Elvis" will be available for download on iTunes in a few weeks and that all proceeds will benefit The Carl Wilson Foundation.
Meanwhile, here's something your readers may be interested in that was released last week ...
Billy
>>>I wanted to comment on the Johnny Cash Documentary, in particular "10 Things We Learned From 'American Rebel'" for which your blog provided a link. Check out #9, where it reads "One of the inmates in attendance (during the making of Cash's Grammy-winning 1969 At San Quentin LP) was 21-year-old Merle Haggard. Really!!?? The fact is if Haggard was there at all, he was more like 42, give or take. He was born in April of 1937. As interested as I was in 'American Rebel' at the outset, I now have to wonder what other glaring inaccuracies there may be within it. (Bill Fortune)
Hey Kent -
I love my 60's rock and roll, but I learned guitar by playing along with Johnny Cash records. Johnny's biggest pop hit in the 50's was probably "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen" which nobody plays any more. The line between rock and country was blurry back then, much like today. Keep up the good work!
- Larry Cave
50yearsagoonthehot100.blogspot.com
Kent,
I know that you've published several of my stories from my DJ days but I can't remember which ones. I'm going to throw a few up against your wall to see if any stick as 'new material'.
Thanks,
Jim Southern
In 1968, I was the "All Night" DJ at WOKO-AM in Albany, NY, a C&W station. We were a sister station of WSLR, Akron, OH, which, according to Billboard, was the #2 Country Music in the U.S., both in audience size and record sales influence (WJJD in Chicago was #1). So every month the same tour of Country stars that stopped in the Cleveland market had to be presented in the "Tri-City" area around Albany by WOKO. Late that year I was backstage while the roadies were setting things up for the night's concert. While I was standing around, Waylon Jennings walked up to me and said "Hey man, is there a coffee shop around here?" I mentioned that there was one about a half block down the street, to which he replied "C'mon, let's go get a cup". Waylon had appeared in a tour stop several months before and I guess I had made a decent impression on him.
As we were heading for the door, I heard a very distinctive voice holler "Hey, where you guys going?". Waylon replied "We're gonna go get a cup, c'mon." That's how I ended up in the coffee shop with Waylon sitting across from me and Tex Ritter next to me. The conversation consisted mostly of Waylon griping because Chet (Atkins) wouldn't let him record what he wanted and Tex answering that he was already doing well (Waylon had six C&W Top 10 hits so far) and he should relax and enjoy the good times and appreciate his success.
Waylon was still about seven years away from his "Outlaws" LP breakthrough but he was determined to do his music his way and he was going to get there. As you might guess, my contribution to the conversation was mostly nodding my head and throwing in a "yeah" or two.
Looking back, I realize I was sitting there with two future members of the "Country Music Hall Of Fame" as well as a TV (Waylon on the "Dukes Of Hazzard") and Movie star (Tex had done 80 or so in Hollywood). I especially appreciate that Waylon approached me to join him. While I didn't have much to say, I felt quite at ease with them and a part of the visiting.
One of the real highlights of that visit is that when I tell the younger folks these days that story, they know who Waylon is. So many of the artists that I met back in the 60's and 70's are completely forgotten today.
Thanks Kent for your ongoing work at FH.
Jim Southern
Since we seem to be talking country and western music, let me just say that I've become a big fan of new-comer Kacey Musgraves.
She shares a track on the new Brian Wilson album "No Pier Pressure" which I think is one of the album's strongest songs ("Guess You Had To Be There") ... and I recently featured a song from her second album "Pageant Material".
Upon first listen to her new LP I found a bonus hidden track that I fell in love with called "Are You Sure" ... it immediately struck me as sounding like a Willie Nelson song ... so imagine my surprise when Willie came in singing with her a few bars later.
Turns out he wrote and first recorded this song back in 1962, well before making it big in country music. Kacey has resurrected this vintage track and about a week ago the duo released a brand new video to go along with the song.
Yep, it's got Willie written all over it ... but still sounds GREAT today as a perfect blend of both vintage old-school country and contemporary country sounds. (kk)
On The Radio:
Seems to be SOP for radio today ... FH Reader Danny Guilfoyles chimes in on the current state of "generic" voice-tracked radio, circa 2015 ...
More of the same. If so many feel this way, why isn't there one radio group out there who will make the necessary changes?
Danny
Subject: Killing Radio in their own words
Blogpost by former major market programmer, Dom Theodore: http://www.domtheodore.com/?p=86
The biggest problem with voice-tracking is the loss of any immediacy to what's happening at this moment in time. For me, while it may work most of the time in all its generic glory, when something happens now that deserves immediate attention, it's lost.
The best case example I can give is a few years ago when Michael Jackson died. Far too many radio stations weren't able to break in and spread the sad, sad news ... or flip to a block of Michael Jackson tracks to help comfort his legion of fans ... take phone calls or offer any other type of immediate tribute. Even Scott Shannon wasn't able to talk to his widespread audience of True Oldies Fans until the day after.
Radio should be now ... an exchange between broadcaster and listener. As things are currently programmed, we hear the same "human interest" story spoken about six or seven times a day on half a dozen different stations ... because it was the only "sure bet" story to talk about when that program was recorded a day or two earlier! (kk)
As for radio here locally, I've noticed more and more repeats on Me-TV-FM of late ... it's like their playlist is shrinking ... and many of the tracks that they are playing repeatedly don't even constitute as good radio. (For example I've heard David Naughton's "Making It" about six or seven times in the past week ... and turned it off each and every time.) Also WAY too many obscure album tracks that most people don't know or care about. When you do that, you risk losing listeners who push the button and may not come back. I've heard the same thing from many readers who were bowled over by the station when it first signed on the air ... they find themselves changing the channel constantly now when they can't string together three or four good songs in a row, due to all the programming of tracks more listeners simply don't care about. As we've said before, it's a REAL shame ... because they're currently the closest thing around to programming variety radio ... but SOMEBODY'S got to be watching the store and take some initiative into fine-tuning this programming mess.
The biggest problem with voice-tracking is the loss of any immediacy to what's happening at this moment in time. For me, while it may work most of the time in all its generic glory, when something happens now that deserves immediate attention, it's lost.
The best case example I can give is a few years ago when Michael Jackson died. Far too many radio stations weren't able to break in and spread the sad, sad news ... or flip to a block of Michael Jackson tracks to help comfort his legion of fans ... take phone calls or offer any other type of immediate tribute. Even Scott Shannon wasn't able to talk to his widespread audience of True Oldies Fans until the day after.
Radio should be now ... an exchange between broadcaster and listener. As things are currently programmed, we hear the same "human interest" story spoken about six or seven times a day on half a dozen different stations ... because it was the only "sure bet" story to talk about when that program was recorded a day or two earlier! (kk)
As for radio here locally, I've noticed more and more repeats on Me-TV-FM of late ... it's like their playlist is shrinking ... and many of the tracks that they are playing repeatedly don't even constitute as good radio. (For example I've heard David Naughton's "Making It" about six or seven times in the past week ... and turned it off each and every time.) Also WAY too many obscure album tracks that most people don't know or care about. When you do that, you risk losing listeners who push the button and may not come back. I've heard the same thing from many readers who were bowled over by the station when it first signed on the air ... they find themselves changing the channel constantly now when they can't string together three or four good songs in a row, due to all the programming of tracks more listeners simply don't care about. As we've said before, it's a REAL shame ... because they're currently the closest thing around to programming variety radio ... but SOMEBODY'S got to be watching the store and take some initiative into fine-tuning this programming mess.
By the way, in their seemingly never-ending crusade to play the most James Taylor music in the world, I recently did my own study. (Me-TV-FM bigwig Neal Sabin told us that I'm mistaken and that they don't play as much JT music as I've suggested ... so just to make sure I wasn't exaggerating what I was reporting, I did a little experiment of my own and found some pretty amazing results ... read on!)
I swear that EVERY time I turn the station on ... no matter what time of day it is ... I hear a James Taylor song within the hour. So I started keeping track.
Now I should point out that, other than my drive to work which happens at the same time every day, I listen to the station on a totally random schedule otherwise ... I work a LOT of hours so I typically leave work at a different time every day, often within a 2-3 hour range. I go to lunch at different times every day ... and go to bed at different times every night ... but I tracked it for the past ten days ... and here's what I found out ...
17 out of the 18 times I tuned in ... no matter what day of the week it was or WHAT time of day it was ... I heard a James Taylor song within the first hour of listening. 17 out of 18 times!!! NOBODY should be getting that much airplay. So deny it all you want ... but my ears don't lie. If they don't get the programming part of this down soon, they'll never have the chance to build a loyal listeners list the station deserves. Too many repeats ... too many obscure, non-listener-friendly tracks ... and WAY too much JT!!! (kk)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)