The first ever, full color edition of Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles Book (Volume One, covering the
years 1955 – 1989) is now in stock and shipping! (Man, I can’t wait to get my copy!!!)
The black and white edition
will follow in a couple of weeks.
If you haven’t ordered
your copy yet, hop on over to Joel’s Record Research Website and get your order
in STAT!!! (kk)
We’re going to hit the ground running with a multitude of
musical features during this first week of the new month.
This Friday, the 5th, we’ll be marking the birthdays of Peter Noone (of Herman’s Hermits) and Art Garfunkel with a day of their songs. Then, on Sunday, we’ll celebrate
the birthdays of Johnny Rivers and Joni Mitchell. And, in between, we’ll mark the longest
weekend of the year with our annual feature, “It’s About Time: Songs About Clocks and Time on the Return
of Standard Time.” Remember to set your clocks back one hour before you
retire Saturday night. Care to make any suggestions for our upcoming
features? Feel free to drop us a line using contact@metv.fm anytime. Your requests are always welcome. Enjoy your week!
Rick O’Dell and the entire crew at 87.7 Me-TV-FM
(And let's not forget The History Of Rock And Roll, airing every Saturday Morning from 7 - 9 am with an encore presentation of last week's show Sunday Nights at 10 pm, Central Time.) kk
From
the “I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before” file …
As I
look at Randy's compilation for this week, I noticed a minor trend.
Four
songs this week … Imagine, Peace Train, One Tin Soldier and I'd Love To Change
The World … all deal with an optimism for the future.
In
Chicago, the Ten Years After song, I'd Love To Change The World, got no airplay
on AM radio, although it was a fave during the early days of FM radio. Also,
this particular release of One Tin Soldier failed to dent the charts here as
well, although it would a few years later, as did the first release by the
Original Caste. Fast forward 50 years and it's sad to say that much of that
optimism has disappeared.
Jack
And just a few years
before the charts were filled with protest songs speaking out against the war
and forecasting The Eve Of Destruction.
(Of course in another year or two, George Harrison would be chanting
“Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” and a few years after that Paul
McCartney would top the charts with yet another silly love song.
I guess it’s just going
with the flow. (After all, the year
before Edwin Starr practically SCREAMED at us “War … what is it good for? Absolutely Nothin’!”) kk
We can’t wait to read Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik’s new Jimi
Hendrix book!
(The official release date
is November 23rd.)
Here’s a sneak peek preview / review by Sheila Weller. (This oughta whet your appetite!)
After cancelling several shows a few weeks ago when a couple
of band members (and crew members) contracted the Covid-19 virus, Kiss has now officially
cancelled their upcoming Las Vegas residency due to the Covid-related death of
their long-time guitar tech, Frances Stueber.
Scheduled dates running from December thru February of next year. (The cancelled dates include shows originally
scheduled for December 29th and 31st, January 1st,
19th, 21st, 22nd, 26th, 28th
and 29th and February 2nd, 4th and 5th. All shows were due to take place at The
Zappos Theater. (kk)
Meanwhile, ADDING shows in Las Vegas are Sting (running now
thru June 22nd) at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace (he’s calling
the show “My Songs”) and the set list includes music from throughout his
career, including long-time favorites like “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” “If You Love
Somebody, Set Them Free,” “An Englishman in New York,” “Every
Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” “Fields of Gold,” “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” “King of Pain”
and “Every Breath You Take” (among several others) and Michael Buble
(dates to be announced, all in 2022.) kk
Alice Cooper
has also announced some dates for 2022, including:
January 28th
at the ICON Music Center in Cincinnati, OH; January 29th in Toledo,
OH; January 31st in Wabash, IN; February 3rd
in Louisville, KY; February 4th in Cherokee, NC; February 5th
in Savannah, GA; February 7th in Clearwater, FL; February 8th
in Orlando, FL and February 9th thru February 14th on The
Monsters of Rock Cruise.
(Cooper is
expected to follow this tour with a tour of The UK … dates still to be announced.) kk
Freda Payne’s getting some coverage for the new Mark Bego
book in Roger Friedman’s column (which gives away a couple of scandalous
secrets!)
Well, if anybody can
pull this off, this is the guy who can do it!
It’ll be interesting to
see the youth of America TODAY inspired by the sounds of yesteryear.(kk)
Hello
Kent,
I have
been reading your Phil Spector Spectacular and wanted to let you know that I am
in possession of a copy of PHLP-100 if are you interested … or, if you happen
to know of any other interested buyers, please get back to me.
Sincerely,
Steve Murphy
It’s a rare one for sure. If
anybody out there is interested, drop me a note and I’ll connect you with Steve
Murphy. (kk)
We’ve told you about these Boston
Dynamics robots before … and even featured a couple of music clips showing
these things off. (“Do You Love Me”
immediately comes to mind.)
Well, now The Rolling Stones have teamed
with The Boston Dynamics Robots to create a new recreation of their “Start Me
Up” video … just in time for the rerelease of their “Tattoo You” album, now
available in a deluxe edition.
And it really IS something to see!!!
(kk)
Jon Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams both
had to cancel shows this weekend when each tested positive for Covid-19.
Adams was due to participate in this
year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Ceremony as part of the tribute to Tina
Turner, one of this year’s inductees …
But Bon Jovi’s cancellation REALLY
hit home with fans … who were already seated in the venue when the announcement
came over the PA System that the show would NOT go on as scheduled!
It was all part of Bon Jovi’s three-day Halloween Weekend
Getaway in Miami Beach, FL, at the city’s Loews Hotels, with sold-out tickets
having cost up to $2,150 per person. (Planned events included a costume party,
a photo opportunity with the singer, limited-edition souvenirs and access to
his "intimate acoustic storyteller performance and Q&A.")
Both artists tested positive just prior to taking the
stage. Keith Urban filled in for Adams
but Bon Jovi’s show was flat out cancelled.
(Reports that Jon had been mingling fans not two hours prior make one
really wonder about the last minute pre-stage protocol!)
Both are reportedly feeling fine and showing none of the
typical symptoms. Both artists are also
fully vaccinated, which likely helped in this regard.
Meanwhile, after their big reunion announcement last month,
The Fugees have postponed THEIR entire tour into 2022.
In an official statement, the band said “Dates for our
upcoming Fugees 25th Anniversary Tour are moving to early 2022 to
ensure the best chance that all cities on the tour are fully open so we can
perform for as many fans as possible.
With so much excitement around
the reunion tour, we are also happy to announce that we will be adding more
cities and dates. Full details coming
soon, along with some special announcements.”
Might not be time to take the masks off just yet. (kk)
Last
week we told you about Randy Bachman being reunited with his missing guitar
after 45 years …
And now Doors Guitars Robby Krieger would love to do
the same …
Krieger’s guitar, a red Gibson SG Special, “went missing”
many, many years ago. To say that it has
great sentimental value just may be the understatement of the century.
It was the guitar he used to audition for The Doors, to write
“Light My Fire,” and to record the first two Doors albums. Krieger asks that if you happen to have a ’63 or
’64 Gibson SG Special, to please check the back of the neck for the serial
number and see if it matches 952727. If
so, you just might have Robby’s guitar! If you find it, and it can be authenticated, Robby
says that he will buy the guitar from you and will also give you an exclusive personally
hand-signed and hand-painted Gibson SG, along with an autographed copy of his
new book, SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE. If you think you’ve got the guitar … or happen
to locate it somewhere at a guitar or pawn shop, please email us at: FindRobbysGuitar@gmail.com.
(kk)
Well, The Eagles aren’t quite ready to hang things up yet (despite
rumors to the contrary just a few months ago) …
They have just announced their first concert dates of 2022,
one of which will be staged in a very big way with a show at London’s Hyde
Park, sharing the stage with Robert Plant and Alison Kraus. Other artists are expected to be announced as
taking part in what is being billed as a large, all-day outdoor concert event
in this massive venue. (This show is
scheduled to take place on June 26th, 2022, and tickets will go on
sale this Monday, November 1st.)
Other announced European dates thus far include
Jun 17 – Arnhem, Netherlands –
Gelredome Jun 20 – Liverpool, UK – Anfield Stadium Jun 22 – Edinburgh, UK – Murrayfield Stadium Jun 24 – Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium Jun 26 – London, UK – Hyde Park
And it’s a pretty sure thing several
more dates will be added.
Will there be another leg that
brings them back thru The States? This
still remains to be seen … but this is a huge bonus for all their European
fans. (Hmm … wonder if they’ll outdraw
the ABBA Avator Tour that should be in full swing by then?!?!
Lol … I’m thinkin’ yeah!) kk
And here’s another pleasing
announcement of an upcoming tour …
Artie’s back … and the old guy still sounds pretty
good! ;-)
Mike
After
being unable to do concerts for over a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic,
Art has staged a planned comeback tour this fall. Tin Mirror Productions has released
this promotional video of Artie with pal Tab on Vimeo a week ago, doing a bit
of Scarborough Fair and announcing the much awaited news. However, please
understand that there is still uncertainty around the corner as coronavirus
cases in the US are still rising due to the dreaded Delta variant.
Then again, anyone out there still needing further proof that
Paul McCartney probably needs to stop performing live only needs to listen to
his live performance this past weekend at The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
Induction Ceremony when he performed The Beatles’ classic “Get Back” along with
The Foo Fighters, who he had inducted earlier in the evening. (Is there even so much as a HINT of his
former abilities in this performance?)
Yes, he’s Paul McCartney … and that has always been enough. His achievements are unparalleled in popular
music. But at some point, it’s just
plain embarrassing.
The HBO Television Special commemorating this year’s
class begins airing on Saturday, November 20th. (kk)
Meanwhile, Paul McCartney’s new
Lyrics books are out tomorrow.
Here’s another
brief clip of Paul talking about the new books …
On the subject of Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, I'm a bit
surprised that they don't come to Chicago as often as one would expect, in
light of the fact that Lani grew up on the northwest side, about 1000 feet from
where I was living.
I used to walk past her apartment building on the way to school each day (we
were students at the same school, at the same time, but she's four years my
senior, so I never met her).
In her book, based on her growing up where we did, she wrote about some
personal experiences, one of which gave me goosebumps. It involved a
sickly, paralyzed old man who used to stand on the corner near our school with
his daughter, who looked after him. I would love to discuss those
episodes with her. I tried writing to her via one of her Facebook pages,
but never heard back.
A friend of mine, who sells at the record shows at Hillside, was in her
elementary school graduating class.
Geoffrey Baer (WTTW) did an interview with Lani and Herb some years back, and I
think I still have the videotape of the program. She talked about coming back
to our old nabe and about how different it looked - she said she didn't recognize
it.
If there's a way to contact her, I'd love to know about it.
Mike Wolstein
I know that both Herb and Lani have
other interests that they enjoy focusing on these days … and I get it … why
just keep rehashing the same 60+ year old memories … I mean they’ve both led
incredible lives outside the music industry.
But we as fans always want to know more.
Truthfully, good as it was, I wish the Herb Alpert documentary revealed
more, especially since the world premier night Q&A that followed it only
focused on topics already covered in the film.
(Never quite understood the point of that at all!!!)
Will have to look for a copy of
Lani’s book. I know you’ve mentioned it
before, but I’ve never actually sought it out.
(kk)
Speaking of books, I’ve found myself
suddenly inundated with TONS of new reading material. SO many new releases of late (several of
which we’ve committed to doing FH reviews on) … so much so that it’s forcing me
to expand my reading time to outside the bathroom! (lol)
And some of these are MONSTEROUS
volumes, too … VERY large and heavy hard cover editions that are difficult to
carry around. (Stacked up six inches
high already are the new Monkees Day-By-Day book, The Beatles Get Back book and
the new book on The Carpenters, featuring heavy input from Richard Carpenter
himself.) I’m already rereading “Hollywood
Eden” by Joel Selvin (an EXCELLENT book and highly recommended), while copies
of Paul Evan’s autobiography and a new book on Nilsson are due to arrive at my
doorstep next week, along with Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik’s new Jimi Hendrix
book (it looks amazing!) and the new two-volume Paul McCartney’s lyrics books!
My hope is the reviews will trickle
out as I complete each volume and I’ve got to tell you, I’m extremely excited
about reading each and every one of them.
(Now I’ve just gotta find the time to do so!) kk
Kent,
You stated today about your thoughts of
originally doing an oldies magazine starting out as a quarterly, eventually
becoming a monthly publication. That reminded me of the oldies magazines I used
to get years ago. Don't know if you remember any of them, Kent …publications
like BIM BAM BOOM, THE RECORD EXCHANGER, IN DREAMS (dedicated
to Roy Orbison), etc. I have them all and always thought that the Record
Exchanger was the best. Don't know offhand if today any such magazines
are being published.
Larry
That was kind of the
way it was done back then in the late ‘90’s … and I guess I always just figured
that if I could find the right audience, into the same music I was, it just
might catch on. Who knew the Internet
would explode the way it did! Forgotten
Hits went from being a near-daily emailed newsletter in 1999 to officially
launching a website in 2008 … and we’ve been here (and growing) ever
since. Thanks to so many great Internet
oldies radio stations these days, our dreams of bringing back “forgotten hits
radio” has been realized a thousand times again. (I don’t know much many of remember about
terrestrial radio in the late ‘90’s but they all had essentially the exact same
play list of 200-300 songs that they just played over and over and over again,
day in and day out, to the point of actually making us HATE the music we
loved. Thankfully, there is now enough
variety out there to service even the most discriminating oldies music
fan! (kk)
Frank B tells us about
a new PBS documentary on Elvis …
NEW Elvis And The USS Arizona, a PBS documentary airing on
the PBS network November 11, 2021.
>>>I can’t remember when Chuck did his 100
hours on the air at WLS or whatever amount it was, but I imagine he
hated EVERY SONG he played that night!!!!
Clark Besch
Hate? EVERY One? In one Special
Presentation?
No.
CB
We stayed away from the
story while it was breaking each night on our local news, but top-rated
Chicagoland Disc Jockey Eric Ferguson is now OUT as the morning host on The
Mix.
His ratings made him
the top paid jock in Chicago for years … but after a series of women came
forward complaining about his inappropriate conduct toward women, Ferguson took
a break from the airwaves, hoping the media frenzy would slow down. It didn’t.
Former cohost Melissa McGurren went so far as to refer to him as “a
serial abuser of women.” In all, four
former female colleagues came forward with allegations of improper
conduct. Ferguson leaves behind a 25
year career of excellent ratings and a very loyal following.
More from Robert Feder
(who’s been covering on-going this story for month now.)
Freda Payne, the subject of Mark Bego’s new celebrity
biography, takes over the reigns of Sirius XM’s ‘70’s on 7 Channel on Tuesday
(that's tomorrow, November 2nd) to spin some of her favorite tunes and talk about her
new book, her life story and her friends.
It all kicks off at Noon Eastern, this Tuesday, and should make for the
perfect tie-in for Bego’s new book.
Some of her favorites that she’ll be playing include
“September” by Earth, Wind and Fire, “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma
Houston, “Love To Love You Baby” by Donna Summer, Nancy Wilson’s version of
“I’ve Never Been To Me,” the Bill Withers hit “Ain’t No Sunshine,” the Diana
Ross-less Supremes’ hit “Stoned Love,” “Take Me In Your Arms” by The Doobie
Brothers and George Benson’s take on “This Masquerade.”
Hope you can stop by and give it a listen. (Rebroadcasts for this are a shoe-in!) kk
>>>What happens if you get scared
half to death twice? (Chuck Buell)
Well, then you’d only be 1/4 dead … and then, if
it happened again, you’d be 1/8 dead … and again, only 1/16 dead … and so on …
but you’d never ever be really dead.
If you got scared half to death, you’d then be
half dead … but if you divide that half by another half, you’re still only a
quarter dead … no matter how many times it happened, you’ll never actually be
100% dead.
Tom
OK … nobody told me
there was going to be math!!! (kk)
[Kinda reminds me of
the old grade school joke:“If today’s
high is going to be zero … and tomorrow’s going to be twice as cold, what’s the
temperature high for tomorrow?”]Really
takes all the fun out of an otherwise pretty funny joke, doesn’t it?!?!And besides ... as we ALL know ... five out of three people
have problems with math.(kk)
"Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves" holds on to the #1 spot for another week, holding "Theme from 'Shaft'" and John Lennon's "Imagine" at bay for now. ("Imagine is already at #4 in only its third week on the chart! "Shaft," in its fourth week, has already climbed to #2, thanks to a 53 point jump a couple of weeks ago. Amazing!)
Other big movers within The Top 40 this week include "Have You Seen Her" by The Chi-Lites, up another 11 points from #24 to #13, "Baby I'm-A Want You" by Bread (#38 to #19), "Desiderata" by Les Crane (#47 to #32), "Rock Steady" by Aretha Franklin (#58 to #33) and "One Tin Solider" by Coven (#44 to #34).
One of our pick hits last week, "Got To Be There" by Michael Jackson, skyrockets 29 places from #72 to #43. Sonny and Cher are right behind him at #44 with their comeback hit, "All I Ever Need Is You," up ten spots from the week before.
This week's top debut belongs to Sly and the Family Stone, who premier at #59 with "Family Affair."
David Cassidy's remake of The Association's #1 Hit "Cherish" debuts at #72.
Playing Favorites:
This week I've got to go with "White Lies, Blue Eyes" by Bullet (new at #83) and "Stones" by Neil Diamond, which premiers at #90.
This Week in 1971:
November 5th – After a concert in Minneapolis, announcer Al Dvorin utters for the very first time “Elvis has left the building” in an effort to quiet down the fans who were sticking around, demanding an encore. That phrase would follow Elvis for the rest of his live performances.
