You can add my name to the list of critics and reviewers who have been singing the praises for Joel Selvin's new book "Hollywood Eden." (I just finished reading it for the SECOND time in the past three months ... yes, it really IS that good!)
The glamour and allure of Hollywood has been with us for over 80 years now ... the California Dream of a better life drove families from all over the country to "head west, young man," seeking their fortune (or, in many cases, their fame and fortune) there. Not since The California Gold Rush has there been such a migration as what we experienced in the '50's and '60's.
Many people have long felt that most of these privileged kids, born into wealth and, in many instances, stardom lived silver spoon lives in a time when other, often more talented artists, were left in the dust due to nepotism and worse. Hollywood High (and other schools like it in the area) regularly turned out star after star after star as a matter of course during this era. Nancy Sinatra, Dino, Desi and Billy, drummer Sandy Nelson, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Phil Spector, Herb Alpert, The Rip Chords, Johnny Rivers, The Byrds and transplants like The Mamas and the Papas and The Monkees all enjoyed MASSIVE success thanks to connections made along the way once they hit the California coastline.
Selvin accurately proclaims the High School Graduating Class of 1958 as the FIRST Rock And Roll High School Graduating Class. (There's a lot of merit to this statement ... Bill Haley and the Comets launched the Rock Era on a global scale with their recording of "Rock Around The Clock" in 1955 ... and other rock star celebrities followed ... everyone from Elvis Presley to Sam Cooke to Gene Vincent to Eddie Cochran to Buddy Holly to Jerry Lee Lewis and many, many more all capitalized on this new genre of music as, for the first time in recorded history, TEENAGERS dominated the record-buying public.)
What I like about Selvin's book is that while most profiles of The California Scene during this era deal with all the glitz and the glamour, Joel exposes the UNDERBELLY of that very same California Scene ... and often in graphic (and sometimes heartbreaking) detail.
A young, 16-year-old Bruce Johnston seeing a record company executive killed right before his eyes ... Drummer Sandy Nelson, losing a leg in an auto accident after scoring a couple of Top Ten drum-oriented hits ... the OTHER side of Jan Berry (of Jan and Dean), manipulating everybody he crossed paths with along the way to further his own needs and desires ... Nancy Sinatra, having an abortion while still in high school before marrying teen heartthrob Tommy Sands (and changing her image forever once she hooked up with Record Producer Lee Hazlewood), the dueling studio antics of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, as both invented new sounds with every new recording while continuously trying to outdo one another ... Jan's tragic Dead Man's Curve accident ... they're all here in living color, including all of the gory details.
Truth is, it's fascinating ... can't put the book down fascinating ... and if you love the music of the late '50's on thru the mid-'60's, this book is for you. You will walk away with SO much new insight into what really went on behind the scenes during this magical and fascinating era of music that you, too, will soon be singing its praises.
In regards to your Merry Christmas, too much
soon, today on the radio on our top adult contemporary radio station, Christmas
songs were being played. This is the earliest I think they have ever started
playing Christmas songs. This is obviously way too early to be playing them.
Halloween is barely over and Thanksgiving is in the distant future. Now, I am
talking about the Christmas songs being played continuously. Next year don't be
surprised if they are started playing before Halloween.
Larry
HA!! That's Great!! Thanx for sharing!
CB(Christmas shouldn’t come too early Boy)
And then …
Just following up on your Mariah Carey story ~~~
Did you notice HOW they spell “Christmas” in Texas?!
And
wouldn't it be interesting if the slot they chose on their jukebox to put her
song in was B-17?!
CB (
which stands for Carolin' Boy!" )
Great story, Kent
Johnny Holliday
There
is no reason at all to play Christmas music.
I
have the radio off between Black Friday and 12/26.
Jack
I think we need SOME
Christmas music … just not over-the-top, played to death repeats for the now
apparently Eight Weeks Of Christmas that we’re being force-fed these days.(Honestly, I’d be fine with going back to The
Twelve Days Of Christmas if they mixed up the variety enough!!!)kk
The fewer holiday songs I hear before December, the better.
Randy Price
I agree.I think there’s a time and a place for them …
kicking off on Black Friday, the Day After Thanksgiving when most of the world
is out shopping seems fair to me … and it certainly doesn’t have to be 24/7 … a
nice mix of songs blending in with your normal schedule until we get closer to
the holidays would be nice … that’s how we used to experience it back in the
good old days.But today there are
internet stations available now that play Christmas Music 365 Days A Year … and
for those who want that (or NEED that), this is where you should go.I just don’t see any reason to subject the
REST of us to this!!!(Then again, treat
it like a specialty channel … if there’s nothing else good playing on the usual
channels, I know I can always switch on The Beatles Channel and hear a Fab Four
song … doesn’t mean I have to listen to it all day long!)The same with Christmas music … if I get a
craving, I can switch it on myself and know that I’ll hit a holiday tune every
single time.(Problem is, it’s usually the
SAME holiday tune because they just keep playing the same tracks over and over
and over again!)kk
They should start to play Tommy James’ I LOVE XMAS
Carol Ross
(who just happens to be Tommy James’
Manager!Lol)- kk
You’re right, Kent, this publicity will only help Mariah.
It’s not even Thanksgiving and she’s back at # 1 collectively on the
stations already playing Christmas music!
Tom Cuddy
Honestly, a station could do well to be the one saying,
"We will play zero Christmas songs because EVERYONE else plays them: GO
THERE if you want them."
Clark Besch
You may be on to something
here!!!Kinda like those old Bee
Gees-Free Weekends during The Disco Era!!!(kk)
Interestingly enough as
this story caught fire and spread across the country, Billboard Magazine ran a
denial that the bar down in Texas posted such a sign.(Some has gone so far as to whisper that
perhaps this all was a publicity stunt of Mariah Carey’s own doing!)
If so, it really wasn’t
necessary … in all likelihood, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” will top
Billboard’s chart again this holiday season, too!(kk)
It's a joke,
c'mon y'all!
A bar in Texas has denied "banning" Mariah
Carey's jingle bell classic "All I Want For Christmas is
You" after a tweet claimed that patrons were not allowed to play the track
during the holiday season. The dust-up began when Texas theater critic Kyle Smith tweeted
out a picture last month of a sign hung at Dallas' Stoneleigh P that read
"Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' will be skipped if
played before Dec. 1. After Dec 1 the song is only allowed one time a
night."
Mariah
herself even seemed to get in on the action a few days later when she tweeted
out a pic of herself as an armored warrior from her 2015 Game of War commercial
in the midst of battle, with a link back to the original post from Smith and a
response from a user who wrote, "Is this the war on Christmas I've heard
about?"
As
it turns out, though, there is more than meets the (winking) eye to the story,
according to the bar's general manager, Lara Garrison. In a statement to Billboard, Garrison explained,
"The song is not 'banned.' We skip it on the jukebox if it is played
during the month of November. Come December, we'll allow to play it once a
month. This has been an ongoing joke in the bar for about three years now with
the staff and our regulars. I guess since Mariah herself responded, this has
just taken off. Who would've thought."
Even
if the Stoneleigh meters how often "All I Want" is played, it's not
likely to have much of an impact on the track that is a perennially popular
holiday hit. "All I Want" made its annual return to the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart
last November, launching at No. 29 on its way to No. 1. Nearly 27 years
since its 1994 release, Carey also expanded the jolly melody into a range of
Christmas content, from books to films.
The
Christmas Queen is also getting her own holiday special, Mariah's Christmas: The Magic Continues,
slated to drop on Apple+ next month.
Did you check out that AccuRadio
/One Song Radio link???
ALL kinds of Christmas songs being
offered in various versions, playing non-stop 24/7.
Billy Joel, Madison Square Garden, New York, Nov. 5, 2021 Setlist
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
My Life
New York State of Mind
Everybody Loves You Now
Zanzibar
Vienna
Allentown
Pressure
The Downeaster Alexa
The Entertainer
She’s Always a Woman
Don’t Ask Me Why
All For Leyna
Sometimes a Fantasy
The River of Dreams
Only the Good Die Young
Nessun dorma
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Piano Man
Encore
We Didn’t Start the Fire
Uptown Girl
It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me
Big Shot
You May Be Right
THIS
AND THAT:
Good
morning, Kent,
I just finished
reading your rant about moving 60’s on 6 to channel 73 and renaming it 60’s
Gold. I pretty much keep my Sirius subscription only for
the 50’s, 60’s and 40’s channels and only occasionally tune
in to other channels. My presets are only those three channels and even
when they moved the channels, they were still on my presets although 40’s is
currently a Christmas song channel along with about 20 other holiday channels.
I have been listening to 50’s and 60’s Gold since the move on Wednesday
and it seems the song selection is not as good as it was before the move.
I am Siriusly considering not renewing my subscription when it is due next
month.
Joe Malin
Yeah, I listen to VERY few of the
Sirius/XM channels in the car … a big plus are all the additional channels
available for listening online … much more variety.To me, it just kills the whole concept of the
decades channels by splitting them up this way.(I’d SURE be curious to know if more people listen to the ‘90’s Channel
than the ‘60’s Channel … somehow, I think not.)I’m just not convinced the move was clear and fair.(kk)
Kent,
I loved the photo of the Whipped Cream
display, plus Clock Boy’s pronouncement about the time change. However,
your blatant disregard for the 1900s, 1920s, and 1940s in your observations
about XMs channel changes shows you may have limited hindsight. Even the
title of your blog, "Forgotten Hits," infers a fondness for the past,
which was dismissed in your comments. I grew up listening to my parent's
music from the 30s and 40s and still love a lot of it ... certainly more
"forgotten" than the 60s. The first channel on my XM presets is
40s Junction on channel 71 (now Christmas until late December).
At first, I was going to agree with your
distaste for the 60s and 70s channel changes, as well. But then I
discovered that the 40s, 50s, and 60s are now all together on the channel line-up,
so I am mostly happy again. If only the 70s-90s had made the same
move. Oh well, I'm still hoping for a 1930s-50s C&W channel. Perhaps
WLS could bring back its Barn Dance program featuring Dolph Hewett. Now
there's a Forgotten Hit!(If Chuck Buell
had written this, he might have signed it T.I.C.B which stands for
tongue-in-cheek boy.)
JonM
I can appreciate the
humor … but it’d be MY guess that very few people are listening to a 1920’s or
1930’s channel (if there even IS such a thing) … and listenership for their
1940’s Channel is evidently small enough that they have no problem bumping it
to add yet another Christmas Music Channel instead.
My point was more to
the fact that a good number of us are very happily listening to music that is
50-60 years old every day and enjoying it just as much as we did then.If that were the trend BEFORE rock and roll, that
would mean that when the ‘70’s Disco Era finally hit, MOST people would have
been tuning out to listen to music from 1912 instead … and I just didn’t see
that happening.
NO other music has
capture an audience … and HELD an audience … the way rock and roll music has.Simple as that.(kk)
Hey Kent,
I agree with your comments about Sirius XM’s demotion of the 60’s channel. They’re trying to sideline it as if it’s too long ago now. But those songs are the best of the last 60 years. There are a ton of channels on XM that are devoted to a lot of niche music (and a lot of crap in my opinion), but so be it.
But as you say, there are a lot of other options out there these days. In fact, I am always looking for more obscure music from that era. The XM 60’s and 70’s channels are pretty similar to any classic oldies channel ... pretty much the same old group of oldies that everyone plays. You can hear “Happy Together” or “She’d Rather Be with Me” by the Turtles, but you never hear “She’ My Girl” or “You Know What I Mean,” also big hits.
What would be impressive is if they really did a deep cuts station that would play that second tier of hits instead of the same ones you hear everyday everywhere.
And what about those commercials? I thought we paid for subscription radio to be rid of commercials?
One of my go-to stations is Deep Tracks. As least there you can hear some “deeper” stuff. But even they frustrate me when they play “Imagine” by John Lennon, which they did recently. That is not a deep track but a former #1 song! Duh. Or they’ll play a Springsteen song or something by The Beatles, even though those artists have stations devoted to them exclusively!
If someone wants to go deep into the music of the 60’s and 70’s, may I suggest listening to Lost and Found everyday from 12 - 2 (eastern) on WMBR. Superb ... and it never gets old.
Well, us old music lovers will probably never be happy with what others think are good playlists, but we are lucky in that we can probably find most of what we want online these days.
Keep up the fight and the great site!
Jim Culveyhouse
George Harrison’s
childhood home is going up on the auction block later this month.
The three-bedroom home, located at
25 Upton Green in the suburb of Speke, was the site of many early Beatles rehearsals.The auctioneers state that while it's been
significantly refurbished over the years, some original features remain from
1950-1962, when the Harrison family lived there.
The auctioneers explain that this is
the house where George would have learned to play the guitar.Photos of the group gathering there in the
early ‘60’s are also quite amazing.Paul
Fairweather, spokesperson for the Omega auction house said that it is “truly an
honor” to be hosting the auction on November 30th. (The home is
expected to sell for up to £200,000
(or $270,000 US dollars.)
(One has to wonder if it will be purchased as a
residence or as a touring attraction … perhaps a museum of some sort.)kk
Kent:
I read your
correspondence earlier this week about what the artist line-up will be next
year for the Happy Together tour and that it will definitely NOT include Mark
Lindsay, for health reasons.
I suspect
some promoters are using outdated graphics for the tour that include Mark’s
name.
The official
agent for the Happy Together Tour (Paradise Artists) has not posted artists for
2022 yet.
However, I
can report that for two of the NY / NJ shows that are already on sale for next
spring, the line-up they are promoting is:
**Turtles
(with the return of Ron Dante as lead singer)
**Chuck
Negron
**Gary
Pucket
**The Vogues
**The
Cowsills
**The
Association
Hopefully
there will be no further changes, but in a Covid World, there are no
guarantees!
Any update
on how The Association’s Jim Yester is doing? As one of the original lead
singers (“Along Comes Mary’), he is a favorite of mine on each tour he is a
part of. Last I read on Facebook, Jim came down with Covid during this
year’s tour and he ended up in the Intensive Care Unit. Later, I heard he
was doing better and had been released. But that was the last I heard.
Thinking
good thoughts for him.
-Tom Cuddy
This line-up looks identical to last year’s run
(except last time The Buckinghams also made an appearance here an there as an
extra bonus feature … wonder if they’ll be doing that again next summer?)
I’m guessing after all these years now that Howard
Kaylan has no intention of returning to The Turtles for their part of the
show.Too bad … although Ron Dante does
a great job and would always make for an excellent “extra” in the line-up under
other circumstances as well.
As for Jim Yester, the last I heard was that he
pulled thru Covid ok and would be rejoining the band for their upcoming dates,
one of which is right here in Chicago at The Arcada Theatre in just a couple of
weeks (November 21st with The Classics IV).
If somebody out there knows otherwise, please pass
the info along so we can share it with our readers.
We missed The Happy Together Tour this year when it
came thru town.(Essentially, it was the
2020 show that never happened and finally hit Chicago last summer after a
number of postponements and rescheduled dates.)I didn’t hear much about it this year but it appeared to be a near
sell-out at The Genesee Theatre.I’ve
always said, when it comes to ‘60’s music, you’re never going to get more bang
for your buck than with The Happy Together Tour!!!(kk)
UPDATE #1: I just heard from Carl Giammarese that The Buckinghams WILL be doing some select appearances on the 2022 Happy Together Tour ...
Hi Kent,
Yes, we are playing some select Happy Together Tour dates next year ...
Five dates so far:
June 5th at The King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida
June 8th and 9th at The Chinook Wins Casino in Lincoln Nebraska
July 29th at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and
July 31st at The Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
We also have several Cornerstones dates set up for next year (and beyond!):
December 4th, 2021 - The Arcada Theatre - St. Charles, IL
June 23rd - Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI
September 30th - LaPorte Civic Center - LaPorte, IN
October 1st - The Genesee Theatre - Waukegan, IL
February 20th, 2023 - The Des Plaines Theatre - Des Plaines, IL
It looks like a nice 2022! Thank you for posting,
Carl
And let me throw out a quick plug for The Buckinghams' Christmas Show at The Arcada Theatre on December 4th of THIS year as well! ALWAYS a beautiful time. (kk)
UPDATE #2:I asked FH East Coast Correspondent Shelley Sweet-Tufano if she had
any current Jim Yester news as she was the one who first broke the story here
and seemed to be in touch with the other members of the band and personal
friends of Jim and this is what she told me …
The Association have continued with their
concert dates while loudly stating it is "weird" without Jim. Jim has
started posting on social media again, but I do not have word on whether he has
... or when he will ... be able to return to touring.
Thankfully, the word is he has recovered, and
it is just the matter of building up strength to return to "duty."
Shelley
Speaking of our East Coast
Forgotten Hits Readers, you guys are in for a real treat if you can catch Al Jardine’s
Friends And Family Tour.Al’s son Matt
will be onboard as will Carnie and Wendy Wilson (Brian’s daughters) of Wilson
Phillips.
This should be
one heck of a show … albeit a short tour.(Sure wish there was a Chicago stop on the agenda!)
That’s because in
June of 2022, The Brian Wilson Live Greatest Hits Tour (of which Al is a part)
makes its way overseas with stops in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England
and Scotland.(Damn, remember when Brian
couldn’t even fly to Houston without having an issue on the plane?!?!Things sure have changed!)
Here’s the short
list of Al Jardine Family And Friends stops …
Friday,
January 28th, 2022 - Miramar Cultural Center - Miramar, FL
Wednesday,
March 2nd, 2022 -Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper
Club - Bethesda, MD
Thursday,
March 3rd, 2022 - Keswick Theatre - Glenside, PA
Friday,
March 4th, 2022 -Patchogue Theatre - Patchogue, NY
Saturday,
March 5th, 2022 -Warner Theatre - Torrington, CT
Sunday,
March 6th, 2022 -Wall Street Theater - Norwalk, CT
Tuesday,
March 8th, 2022 - Sony Hall - New York, NY
Friday,
March 18th, 2022 -Al
Jardine’s Endless Summer w/ Matt Jardine
Higley Center for the Arts - Gilbert, AZ
Saturday,
March 19th, 2022 -Al
Jardine’s Endless Summer w/ Matt Jardine
The Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Al Jardine, original
co-founding member of The Beach Boys, is excited to be hitting the road in 2022
with a very special show:
AL JARDINE’S FAMILY & FRIENDS TOUR
The Beach
Boys’ legend will be joined on stage each night by Carnie & Wendy Wilson of
Wilson Phillips. The ladies are the daughters of Brian Wilson, who co-founded
The Beach Boys with Al Jardine and wrote many of the group’s iconic hits.
“Family & Friends” will also feature Al’s son, Matt Jardine, who has toured
for many years with both The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson. Matt has received
rave reviews from both fans and critics for his stunning lead vocals on songs
like “God Only Knows,” “Don't Worry Baby” and “Surf's Up.” The five-member band
for the tour will be led by Rob Bonfiglio, who is Wilson Phillips’ musical
director and performs regularly in Brian Wilson's band.
Audiences will enjoy legendary hits of The Beach Boys, including “Help Me,
Rhonda,” “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “God Only Knows” and “Good
Vibrations” plus many more classics. The show will also feature hits from the
Wilson Phillips catalogue, including “Hold On,” “The Dream is Still Alive,”
“You’re in Love,” “Impulsive” and “Release Me.”
Did you see that the
original female cast of the hit movie “9 to 5” is reuniting for the final
season of “Grace and Frankie” on Netflix?
The 7th and final season will
now star long-time co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin WITH Dolly Parton
joining the cast for the final season.(I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a single episode … but am
inclined to do a little investigating now that we’re this late into the
game!!)kk
THE
STYLISTICS HIT LIST
is quite an impressive one …
1971 - You're A Big Girl Now (#66 Pop / #7 R&B)
1971 – Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) #32 Pop / #6 R&B
1971 – You Are Everything (#9, Pop / #10 R&B)
1972 – Betcha By Golly Wow (#3, Pop / #2 R&B )
1972 – People Make The World Go Round (#16, Pop / #6 R&B)
1972 – I’m Stone In Love With You (#9, Pop / #4 R&B)
1973 – Break Up To Make Up (#5, Pop / #5 R&B)
1973 – You’ll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My
Heart) #15, Pop / #8 R&B
1973 – Rockin’ Roll Baby(#14, Pop / #3 R&B)
1974 – You Make Me Feel Brand New (#1, Pop / #5 R&B)
1974 – Let’s Put It All Together (#14, Pop / #8 R&B)
1974 – Heavy Fallin’ Out (#31, Pop / #4 R&B)
1975 – Star On A TV Show (#47, Pop / #13 R&B)
1975 - Thank You Baby (#67 Pop / #7 R&B)
1975 - Can't Give You Anything But My Love (#51 Pop / #18 R&B)
1975 - Funky Weekend (#76 Pop / #23 R&B)
1976 - You Are Beautiful (#79 Pop / #17 R&B)
1980 - Hurry Up This Way Again (xx Pop / #18 R&B)
Today, TWO versions of The Stylistics are out
performing on the road.
The group (without original lead singer Russell
Tompkins, Jr.), has completely blown us away on a couple of occasions now.(Hard to believe that this new singer
outshines Russell’s current-day vocals … but it’s true!You don’t see that very often.)They are currently performing in The United
Kingdom and their website hasn’t posted any 2022 dates as of yet.
Meanwhile, Russell Tompkins, Jr. and the New Stylistics
are also doing shows.(They are
frequently featured as one of the key acts on all the Star Vista Disco Cruises
we tell you about from time to time.)The next cruise is scheduled from February 26th thru March 3rd.You can get more information on this cruise
here:
Noise 11 is reporting that in 2022, Jethro
Tull will release their first album (not counting the 2003 Christmas album) in
23 years (19 years if you insist on the Christmas album being their last.)‘The Zealot Gene’ is coming in January. The
first song from the album ‘Shoshana Sleeping’ is out now.(see video below)
Jethro Tull, 2021, is Tull founder Ian Anderson (flute, vocals),
26 year old Joe Parrish on guitar, Scott Hammond, (drums, and part of Tull
since 2010), John O’Hara, (keyboards, with Ian since 2003) and David Goodier
(bass, with Ian since 2002).
‘The Zealot Gene’s started in 2017. It was intended for release
in 2020 but … hey … Covid happened. Ian Anderson says The Bible is the
inspiration for the album. Well, at least “biblical storytelling”.
“While I have a spot of genuine fondness for the pomp and
fairytale story-telling of the Holy Book, I still feel the need to question and
draw sometimes unholy parallels from the text. The good, the bad, and the
downright ugly rear their heads throughout, but are punctuated with elements of
love, respect, and tenderness.”
Covid also took out Tull’s touring plans. “It was so sudden.
Amidst the concerns and warnings of the scientific community and a few more
enlightened politicians, we all retreated in disbelief to our homes to wait out
the storm,” Anderson says.
We told you about
this one a couple of months ago … and, with its imminent release, they’re
turning up the heat in the promotion area.Boy, what a great addition THIS would make to your music collection!
Steppenwolf
“Magic Carpet Ride: The Dunhill / ABC Years (1967-1971)”
8-CD
Set To Be Released November 19, 2021
•
NEWLY REMASTERED EIGHT DISC BOXED SET FEATURING EACH ALBUM RECORDED BY THE
LEGENDARY STEPPENWOLF FOR THE DUNHILL/ABC LABEL BETWEEN 1967 AND 1971
• WITH 26 BONUS TRACKS DRAWN FROM RARE SINGLES AND MONO MIXES
• INCLUDING THE ALBUMS “STEPPENWOLF”, “THE SECOND”, “AT YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY”,
“EARLY STEPPENWOLF”, “MONSTER”, “STEPPENWOLF LIVE”, “STEPPENWOLF 7” and “FOR
LADIES ONLY”
• REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL DUNHILL/ABC MASTER TAPES
Steppenwolf
was formed in 1967 in LA by John Kay (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Goldy McJohn
(organ, piano) and Jerry Edmonton (drums) who were previously members of the
Canadian band The Sparrows. They were joined by Michael Monarch (lead guitar)
and Rushton Moreve (bass). The band signed to Dunhill/ABC the same year and
with producer Gabriel Mekler they recorded their self-titled debut album. The
band were propelled to success with their classic single “Born To Be Wild” (a
#2 hit in the USA) and became even wider known when the track was featured,
along with their version of “The Pusher” in the classic 1969 counterculture
film “Easy Rider”.
“The
Second” was released in October ‘68 and featured the hit single “Magic Carpet
Ride” (another US #2 hit). In March ‘69 “At Your Birthday Party” was released
to further success and was their first record to feature Nick St Nicholas on
bass and their last to feature Michael Monarch. The July 1969 release “Early
Steppenwolf” featured live recordings made at The Matrix in San Francisco in
May 1967 and featured a 20-minute version of “The Pusher”.
The
band’s next studio album, “Monster”, was issued in November 1969 and dealt with
America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. 1970 saw the band release two albums,
the double LP “Steppenwolf Live” and “Steppenwolf 7”. By the release of the
latter the band’s popularity began to wane slightly, although they would retain
a large and loyal fan base. Their November 1971 album “For Ladies Only” was
their last for Dunhill/ABC and Steppenwolf disbanded in February 1972 only to
reform in 1974.
Disc
One: Steppenwolf – Remastered
Released In January 1968
1. Sookie Sookie
2. Everybody’s Next One
3. Berry Rides Again
4. Hootchie Kootchie Man
5. Born To Be Wild
6. Your Wall’s Too High
7. Desperation
8. The Pusher
9. A Girl I Knew
10. Take What You Need
11. The Ostrich
Bonus Tracks (Mono Single Versions)
12. Sookie Sookie
13. Born To Be Wild
14. Everybody’s Next One
15. Take What You Need
16. A Girl I Knew
17. The Ostrich
18. The Pusher
19. Berry Rides Again
Disc
Two: The Second – Remastered
Released In October 1968
1. Faster Than The Speed Of Life
2. Tighten Up Your Wig
3. None Of Your Doing
4. Spiritual Fantasy
5. Don’t Step On The Grass Sam
6. 28
7. Magic Carpet Ride
8. Disappointment Number (Unknown)
9. Lost And Found By Trial And Error
10. Hodge, Podge, Strained Through A Leslie
11. Resurrection
12. Reflections
Bonus Tracks
13. Magic Carpet Ride (Mono Single Version)
14. Spiritual Fantasy (Mono Single Version)
Disc
Three: At Your Birthday Party – Remastered
Released In March 1969
1. Don’t Cry
2. Chicken Wolf
3. Lovely Meter
4. Round And Down
5. It’s Never Too Late
6. Sleeping Dreaming
7. Jupiter Child
8. She’ll Be Better
9. Cat Killer
10. Rock Me
11. God Fearing Man
12. Mango Juice
13. Happy Birthday
Bonus Tracks (Mono Single Versions)
14. Rock Me
15. Jupiter Child
16. It’s Never Too Late
17. Happy Birthday
Disc
Four: Early Steppenwolf – Remastered
Released In July 1969 (Live At The Matrix 1967)
1. Power Play
2. Howlin’ For My Baby
3. Goin’ Upstairs
4. Corina, Corina
5. Tighten Up Your Wig
6. The Pusher
Disc
Five: Monster – Remastered
Released In November 1969
1. Monster / Suicide / America
2. Draft Resister
3. Power Play
4. Move Over
5. Fag
6. What Would You Do (If I Did That To You)
7. From Here To There Eventually
Bonus Tracks
8. Monster (Single Version)
9. Move Over (Mono Single Version)
10. Power Play (Mono Single Version)
Disc
Six: Steppenwolf Live – Remastered
Released In April 1970
1. Sookie Sookie
2. Don’t Step On The Grass
3. Tighten Up Your Wig
4. Monster
5. Draft Resister
6. Power Play
7. Corina, Corina
8. Twisted
9. From Here To There Eventually
10. Hey Lawdy Mama
11. Magic Carpet Ride
12. The Pusher
13. Born To Be Wild
Bonus Tracks (Mono Single Versions)
14. Hey Lawdy Mama
15. Twisted
16. Corina, Corina
Disc
Seven: Steppenwolf 7 – Remastered
Released In November 1970
1. Ball Crusher
2. Forty Days And Forty Nights
3. Fat Jack
4. Renegade
5. Foggy Mental Breakdown
6. Snow Blind Friend
7. Who Needs Ya
8. Earschplittenloudenboomer
9. Hippo Stomp
Bonus Tracks
10. Screaming Night Hog
11. Snowblind Friend (Single Version)
12. Hippo Stomp (Single Version)
Disc
Eight: For Ladies Only – Remastered
Released In November 1971
1. For Ladies Only
2. I’m Asking
3. Shackles And Chains
4. Tenderness
5. The Night Time’s For You
6. Jaded Strumpet
7. Sparkle Eyes
8. Black Pit
9. Ride With Me
10. In Hopes Of A Garden
Bonus Tracks
11. For Madmen Only
12. For Ladies Only (Single Version)
Can you believe
that after all this time they’ve finally made “Sing 2”???
We have watched
the thoroughly delightful animated musical (I call it “the cartoon version of
‘The World’s Greatest Showman’ … as it’s essentially the exact same story!)
numerous times since it came out (and even own the DVD and soundtrack.)
While essentially
just a bunch of current and contemporary artists singing classics songs that
were hits for others, we just found it totally captivating.(The original included Taron Egerton singing
“I’m Still Standing” … interesting because Taron would then go on to portray
Elton John in the hit biopic “Rocket Man” … plus guest vocals by the
incomparable Tori Kelly, Jennifer Hudson, Scarlett Johansson, Seth McFarlane
(!) and Reese Witherspoon, featured alongside a brand new track by Stevie
Wonder (“Faith,” featuring Ariana Grande), The Spencer Davis Group, The Gipsy
Kings and Queen with David Bowie.)
Already committed
to the sequel are U2 (!!!), whose music will be featured … quite a coup indeed!
… and Bono himself will play a lead character in the film.(Most of the previous cast is returning along
with newcomer Pharrell Williams.New
music featured include songs made popular by Eminem … in a KIDS’ MOVIE?!?! …
and Alicia Keys.)
It hits US
theaters just in time for the Christmas Holiday (the REAL one … NOT the Christmas
in October!) and we can’t wait!(kk)
Hi Kent -
My radio show airs worldwide Fridays at 2 pm
and Sundays at 12 pm PST California time at kyxz.org.
The show this past Friday and Sunday featured the
mother and daughter singing duo I produced and released on D Town Records back
in 1997 … "2 Smooth"!
I've been on worldwide for a year.I get emails from listeners all over the U.S.,
Mexico, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, South Africa and Hawaii.
I'm also having success with my songs in TV
shows & Movies:
My songs in TV Shows:
"Only A Woman" in 'Young
Sheldon'
The next two songs come from my 1967 album
'Fapardokly' …
"Tomorrows Girl" in 'Roswell, NM'
"Lila" in 'In the Dark'
"Is love An Illusion" in 'Brand New
Cherry Flavor,' episode #4, airing on Netflix now.
"Lila” in the movie "Trial Of The
Chicago 7,” airing on Netflix now.
"Lila" in the movie “Chappaquiddick,”
airing on Netflix now.
There are several more in TV shows and in
movies that have already played. More in production that will be coming soon.
Hope this finds you safe and well.
Best,
Merrell
Sounds like life is
good!!!Congratulations, Merrell!!(kk)
Hard to believe
that we’ve now marked the 50th anniversary of the release of the"Stairway to Heaven."
I've attached a
couple of fun pokes at it, the first being a parody by Little Roger and the
Goosebumps and the other by Rolf Harris. Aside: Harris scored well with
"Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" (in the States) in June, 1963; his tune
"Sun Arise" preceded it to the WLS chart by four months, and was #19
on the Silver Dollar Survey, 21 spots above some weird group called "The
Beattles". Mike Wolstein
Here’s an interesting clip, sent in
by Frank B.
Somebody took movie footage of
Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards and used it as the backdrop for Jay and the
Americans singing Bob Lind’s song, “Truly Julie Blues.”(He went over to Bob’s Facebook Page to see
Bob’s live concert and also found this posted there.)I’ve never seen it before … nor heard the Jay
and the Americans version of this song, recorded by quite a few different
artists over the years.I can only say
that theirs is a beautiful rendition.(kk)
Here’s another version that I really like of this tune …
Tommy James was twelve years old when he formed his first
band “Tom and the Tornadoes”(1959). The band members attended High School in
Niles, Michigan, and by 1962 released their first local record, “Long
Pony Tail.”The group worked hard
appearing at school and church events and developed a large regional following.
In 1964, Tommy decided to rename the band “The Shondells” because he “liked the
way it sounded.”
Tommy James and the Shondells became one of the most
successful pop rock / psychedelic bands in the business. Tommy’s rise to fame
reads like a movie and an exciting book.
Speaking of which …
The movie about Tommy’s life is about to go into production
and his book “Me, the Mob and the Music” has been a best seller.
When it comes to Music – Tommy James’ list of hits reads like
its own Rock & Roll chart: “Hanky Panky,” “Crimson and Clover,” “I Think
We’re Alone Now,” “Mony Mony,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” “Mirage” and “Sweet
Cherry Wine.” ...
An amazing collection of hits that is constantly heard all
over the Globe.
Tommy has become an International sensation. The Cuz welcomes Tommy James to WABC this
Saturday, 11/6.
kk …
During the program, Tommy James told Cousin
Brucie about this benefit concert.
Also that he recorded an album for release in
Canada some years ago ... and now that the Canadian licensing agreement is over,
it will be released here in The States tomorrow.(Tommy described it as a collection of his uptempo
hits.)
As far as the movie goes, nothing new to report.They are now past pre-production. The actors
are set and they’re just waiting on Hollywood.
FB
And how about a vintage
video to close the show???
Here are Sonny and Cher
singing their big 1967 Hit “The Beat Goes On” …
