Thursday, October 27, 2011

The Friday Flash

Kent,
Seeing today's forgotten hit by Neil Sedaka reminds me that in 1959 Carole King's answer OH NEIL, which you mentioned, was voted the worst record to come out of that year according to a poll taken by OKC's local top 40 radio station.
Larry
It may have been 1973 or 1974, I was working as a board operator at WXRT. At the time they devoted one day a week to new releases, as opposed to highlighting one or two artists. On that night one of the releases highlighted was a repackaging of Neil Sedaka's RCA stuff, including Stairway To Heaven. That's what the jock played and I'm sure you can guess what the next song he played was.  As far as a road trip to Cleveland, count me in.
Jack
We've been talking about organizing a trip to The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame for YEARS now ... what do you guys think???  Can we FINALLY pull it off next summer?!?!? (kk)

re:  GERRY GRANAHAN:
Kent,
I just got through reading Sunday's Comments and was reminded of Gerry Granahan's 1958 recording of NO CHEMISE PLEASE ... which reminded me of that other form of
women's fashion that became popular about the same time; that being the SACK DRESS. Not sure if it charted nationally, but it did make our local survey by the group known as the Beavers (Capitol).
Larry Neal
I initially learned about Gerry through Jay & The Americans when he was was United Artists' house producer.  Here, you can hear him in action telling Jay Black to "hit it"!
re:  BOBBY FULLER:
Someone commented on the death of Bobby Fuller and wanted to know if anything is available on the exact cause of his death. About two weeks ago I thought very briefly of certain recording artists who passed away under mysterious circumstances, mostly being homicides. Now, I have not gone online to check on this but the first artist that came to my
mind was Sal Mineo. King Curtis was another. Anyway, keep up the good work. Have a great week. I am sure you are looking forward to another 60 hour week.
Larry
I don't know that "looking forward to" is exactly what I'm feeling ... actually, I could use a break ... putting together what I think is going to be an EXCELLENT Ed Sullivan Series, set to kick off on November 1st (but nowhere near ready yet!!!  So I could REALLY use the extra hours at HOME this week to work on that!!!)  Bobby Fuller's death certainly is suspicious ... be sure to read our Forgotten Hits article on this topic!  (kk)

re:  HOLLIES:
Several of your readers have checked in lately with memories of the Hollies.  I wonder how many remember a single from 1970 called Survival of the Fittest?  I heard it on the radio back than occasionally and have featured it on my show. 
Phil - WRCO


re:  BRIAN WILSON / THE BEACH BOYS:
For a great review of the new Brian Wilson "sings Disney" album, be sure to check out David Beard's latest column:

re:  PAUL SIMON:
Paul Simon Songwriter Available Now! http://t.fans.sonymusicemail.com/r/?id=h10b416e9,9c81520,9cb6e34
October 25th marked the release of Paul Simon's Songwriter, a collection of hits and hidden gems chosen by the composer:
  • 32 classic songs on 2CDs featuring songs spanning Paul Simon's career, from Simon & Garfunkel to present
  • Live solo versions of "The Sound Of Silence" (Unreleased from Webster Hall, 2011) and "The Boxer" (Live at Central Park, 1991)
  • Three songs from his acclaimed new album, "So Beautiful or So What"
And Paul's still got plenty of concert dates coming up, too!
Check out the Paul Simon Calendar here:
Friday, October 28th - Verizon Theatre / Grand Prairie, TX
Saturday, October 29th - Mud Island Amphitheatre / Memphis, TN
Friday, November 4th - UNO Lakefront Arena / New Orleans, LA
Saturday, November 5th - Cedar Park Center / Cedar Park, TX
Sunday, November 6th - Civic Center Music Hall / Oklahoma City, OK
Tuesday, November 8th - The Midland by AMC / Kansas City, MO
Wednesday, November 9th - Qwest Center / Omaha, NE
Friday, November 11th - Riverside Theatre / Milwaukee, WI
Sunday, November 13th - Rosemont Theatre / Rosemont, IL
(Hmmm ... wonder if we can still get in to see this one!!!)
Tuesday, November 15th - Fox Theatre / St. Louis, MO
Wednesday, November 16th - i Wireless Center / Moline, IL
Friday, November 18th - Fox Theatre / Detroit, MI
Saturday, November 19th - Veteran's Memorial Auditorium / Columbus, OH
Sunday, November 20th - Indiana University Auditorium / Bloomington, IN
Tuesday, November 22nd - Bank Of Kentucky Center / Highland Heights, KY
Wednesday, November 23rd - EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall / Akron, OH
Saturday, November 26th - Trump Taj Mahal / Atlantic City, NJ
Sunday, November 27th - New Jersey Performing Arts Center / Newark, NJ
Tuesday, November 29th - Landmark Theatre / Richmond, VA
Thursday, December 1st - Durham Performing Arts Center / Durham, NC
Friday, December 2nd - The Arena At Gwinnett Center / Duluth, GA
Sunday, December 4th - UCF Arena / Orlando, FL


re:  AND, SPEAKING OF GREAT SHOWS ... :
I just did a show Saturday night in Jackson, TN, with John Ford Coley, John Claude Gummo lead singer of The Cascades, Mike Rabon, Dennis Tufano and Billy Joe Royal.
My fellow Archie voice Toni Wine also joined us.
What a night of hits.
The music still rocks.
Ron Dante
Sounds like an awesome line-up, Ron!
And, speaking of Ron Dante, one of our readers just sent us in a copy of THIS vintage sleeve:

Kent --
I was going through my picture sleeves and came across this one of Ron Dante, a Columbia promo sleeve issued only to DJs.
A decade or so ago I gave Taj Mahal a Columbia promo sleeve that came out in 1967 with his first album and he had never seen it, so I gave it to him. If Ron doesn't have a copy of this he can have this one -- just let me know.
Danny Guilfoyle

I shared your generous offer with Ron Dante ... and this is what he said:

Thanks for letting me see this.
I haven't seen this cover in four decades!
This was my single release on Columbia.
Great days at the Columbia studio in NYC.
Thanks for the offer ...
My Mom kept one so I do have it in thefamily so to speak.
All the best and keep doing your terrific site.
Love to read it.
Ron D.

Hey Kent,
Sorry we missed you at the Beatles "Art & Music Celebration" this past weekend on (of all places) "Harrison Street!"  Jill and I had a great time meeting up with FH members, Stu Shea and Mike Hartman at the outside event and it was a nice sunny day for Beatles music (despite a strong breeze).  We had a great time reuniting and chatting for an hour with Mike and his wife Janis and Stu and meeting his co-singer (on this day), Joyce, and Stu's long time significant other, Cecelia.
The event took place in front of "Wonderwall Music" (Harrison's first solo was titled "Wonderwall"), which is a quaint little store featuring sitars and Beatles memorabilia like Stu's book "Fab Four Facts" and other cool items.  Their website is:
http://www.sitaremporium.com/WonderwallEmporium.html 
I picked up a Beatles album cover coffee mug.  Stu and Joyce Heiser put on a great one hour "Six Degrees of the Beatles" concert that featured songs sung and written by the Beatles as well as those they influenced and were influenced by.  I particularly liked the fact that they played "Forgotten Hits" type material in many cases.  They gave nice performances of "Baby's in Black," "Wait," "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" (a personal fave of mine) as well as Beatles' written songs like "Come & Get it" and "A World Without Love" while mixing in Beatles influences of the Everlies' "Jenny, Jenny" (mentioning the Rockpile EP version as well!), the Goffin-King BBC Beatles cover of "Please Don't Ever Change" (!!) and even some newer hit I was not familiar with that sounded MUCH like "Besame Mucho"!!!  Stu stuck in some nice original material and Joyce did her rendition of the Carpenters' version of "Ticket to Ride" (NOTE: WLS played a big part in that record's success) as well as gathering together HER "Mugwumps" friends to form a Mamas & Papas sound as they belted out "I Call Your Name" in the hit 45 styling.  Throw in Marshall Crenshaw's "Someday, Someway" and a few others and you got a GREAT blend of Beatles sounds you are unlikely to hear elsewhere!  Of course, the cause of helping others in need was important too!
At FH member Guy Arnston's recommendation, we then dropped over to Val's Halla Record Shop and had a surprising long conversation with store owner Val, who started in 1962 working for Capitol Records' Chicago branch!  She told us lots of great stories like how they dispatched of the Beatles Butcher Cover albums that were sent to the Chicago branch as well as meeting Brian Wilson and listening to teens tell her what was the best music in Chicago when they went to the WLS record hops!  Quite a person and place.  Visit her and get some of these great stories:
http://www.valshalla.com/
Oh yeah, besides a photo of Stu (looking very Beatlish himself) and Joyce performing.

Kent, you will be sad to know you missed one of your personal friends I invited just to meet you too!  You REALLY shoulda been there!!  That's me on the left and Stu on the right and ... ???  
Clark Besch

We had EVERY intention of going ... but missed out again. Thanks for the cool shots!!! (lol)  Maybe next month ... this event runs the third weekend of every month ... meaning November and December, too!  (You really DID have the perfect day for this!)  kk


re:  THE GREAT RAY CHARLES:  
50-YEAR-OLD LOST RAY CHARLES CONCERTS TO BE RELEASED ON DVD

 
105 MINUTES FROM LEGENDARY 1961 ANTIBES JAZZ FESTIVAL CONCERTS DISCOVERED!  
"Seeing and hearing Ray perform so brilliantly 50 years ago in France, is an inspiration and reminds us just how gifted this man was and what an amazing and special talent he had.  This film is a fantastic way for us to continue to celebrate Ray Charles and his beautiful legacy.”  Jamie Foxx, Academy Award Winner/Best Actor for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the film Ray.
New York, NY—Eagle Rock Entertainment and Reelin’ In The Years Productions are proud to announce the October 25th worldwide release of Ray Charles - Live In France 1961 on DVD. The newly discovered concerts, featuring an hour and 45 minutes of performances, were filmed at the 1961 Antibes Jazz Festival in France and show Ray Charles in his prime period with the original Raeletts and his most legendary band (including David “Fathead” Newman and Hank Crawford.) These concerts, Ray’s first-ever performances in Europe, helped him become one of America’s most beloved international stars. Issued with the full cooperation of the Ray Charles Estate, the concerts have been newly transferred from the original 16mm films and have been digitally restored and remastered.     
Ray Charles - Live In France 1961 features 25 songs including the timeless classics “What’d I Say," “Georgia On My Mind,” "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" and "I Believe To My Soul." Also included are “Doodlin’,” "One Mint Julep" & "Hornful Soul" showcasing Ray’s jazz era, as well as the country-tinged Nat King Cole composition, “With You On My Mind,” a song Ray never recorded. Also included is a 25-minute bonus section that features six additional performances from the festival.  
This historic discovery is the first project to develop from the new partnership between Reelin’ In The Years Productions, the world’s largest library of music footage and France’s Institut National de l’Audiovisuel (Ina), one of Europe’s most important footage archives. Reelin’ In The Years is confident that Ina’s vast, well-documented archive will provide music footage for many more projects of this caliber in the near future.  
Ray Charles - Live In France 1961 will premiered at a special screening presented by the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles on October 20th.  The screening was followed by a  panel discussion moderated by Ray Charles biographer David Ritz that that included director David Peck, Tom Gulotta, one of the film’s producers Ray Charles catalog authority James Austin, Ivan Hoffman of the Ray Charles Foundation and Rob Bowman, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology at Toronto’s York University, whose incisive liner notes are part of the Ray Charles - Live In France 1961 package. Reelin’ In the Years has produced some of the most highly-regarded anthology DVD series in music history including the four-volume, GRAMMY-nominated American Folk Blues Festival series, the multi-platinum selling Definitive Motown series (Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles), The British Invasion series and the award-winning Jazz Icons series. This fall will also see the release of The Hollies: Look Through Any Window 1963 – 1975 and six new titles in Volume 5 of the Jazz Icons series, bringing the total number of titles in the series to 36.
Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hamburg, & Paris. 
Producers David Peck, Tom Gulotta, Phil Galloway and Steve Scoville are available for interviews. For further information, please visit www.reelinintheyears.com or www.jazzicons.com.        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reelin-In-The-Years-Productions/180632701957726 
"What a discovery! Seeing Ray at his prime in 1961, live with his brilliant small band, is a gift from the gods. I can’t stop loving it.”  - David Ritz, co-author of Ray’s 1978 autobiography Brother Ray 
TRACK LISTING:  
July 18, 1961: 
1) The Story
2) Doodlin’
3) One Mint Julep
4) Let The Good Times Roll
5) Georgia On My Mind
6) Sticks And Stones
7) Hallelujah, I Love Her So
8) What’d I Say 
July 22, 1961: 
9) Hornful Soul
10) Let The Good Times Roll
11) Georgia On My Mind
12) My Bonnie

13) With You On My Mind
14) Ruby
15) Tell The Truth
16) I Wonder
17) Sticks And Stones
18) I Believe To My Soul
19) What’d I Say 
Bonus Tracks July 19,1961: 
20) The Story
21) Sticks And Stones
22) Yes Indeed
23) I Believe To My Soul
24) What ’d I Say 
July21, 1961 
25) I Wonder
re:  ON THE RADIO:
As expected, the Cumulus take-over of WLS-FM has prompted some changes.  Program Director Michael LaCrosse is out ... at a time when WLS-FM is playing the BEST music they have in YEARS!!!  Creative programming with more and more "Wow!" songs per hour than ever before has made tuning in a fun experience of late ... for the first time in ages you truly never DO know what might be coming up next.  We had been especially critical of WLS-FM after their latest change-over at the beginning, altering the schedule, forcing Scott Shannon to imply that he was doing a "local" show (much of which that I've heard simply means reciting the call letters two or three times during EVERY music break ... which is REALLY annoying, by the way, for the listener ... if, after being told for the 30th time this hour the listener STILL doesn't know what radio station he's listening to, he's got bigger problems in life than deciding what kind of music he likes!!!)  On the other hand, even Shannon's show seems more lively, thanks to the wide variety of music now being featured.  I'm curious to see where it'll all end ... if this was simply a "money move", perhaps there's no need to mess with the formula.  Unfortunately, MOST of the time we find that merger / take-overs tend to take the "well, we have to make SOME sort of a change ... just to make a change" route.  Too bad ... listening to WLS-FM has been fun again lately.

Not so much over at Y103.9 ... which used to be our second favorite oldies station in town. 

(I swear, the signal is getting weaker and weaker by the week!!!)  We're not finding the Tom Kent take-over entertaining at all ... and some of the station's strongest talent has been laid by the wayside.  Meanwhile, our FH Buddy Jeff James is back doing a weekend gig (and he still posts his daily "From The Vault" YouTube feature on the site) ...

(Here's one that's Halloween appropriate!!!)
Meanwhile, I still can't get into K-Hits ... they advertise '60's, '70's and '80's but it seems like all I ever hear is '80's.  (Actually, the station isn't THAT bad ... I just can't handle Eddie and Jo-Bo in the morning ... how these guys were EVER Chicago's top morning team is beyond me.  That being said, I DO love their "Senseless Survey" every morning at 7:30 ... never miss that one!)

re:  MORE "SPECIAL GUESTS":
Kent ...

More useless information for you.

-- "Mellow Yellow" - Donovan; Guest: Paul McCartney

-- "It Don't Come Easy" - Ringo Starr; Guest: George Harrison

-- "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - Beatles; Guest: Eric Clapton on lead Guitar

-- "Back In The High Life" - Steve Winward; Guest: James Taylor, background vocals

-- "Love The One You're With" - Steven Stills; Guests: David Crosby, Rita Coolidge, Graham Nash, John Sebastian.  This song was inspired by Billy Preston. He always use to say "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."
Frank B.

Hmmm ... did they do: 

Guest: Michael McDonald -- background vocals on nearly EVERY Top 40 Single released between 1978 and 1982?!?!?  (kk)

re:  HALLOWEEN:
A couple of suggestions for Halloween:
VOODOO VOODOO by LaVerne Baker followed by VOODOO WOMAN by Bobby Goldsboro
DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD by The Fifth Estate followed by OVER THE RAINBOW by The Demensions
... add to that THE MUMMY by Bob McFadden and Dor ... or THE LURCH by Ted Cassidy ...
Go beyond the typical WITCHY WOMAN and SEASON OF THE WITCH fare.
Tal Hartsfeld
Unfortunately, we're going to miss doing a Halloween special again this year in Forgotten Hits ... our brand new Ed Sullivan Series kicks off on Monday ... which, of course, is Halloween Day!!!  (That's OK ... we've got more treats than tricks planned for you this year ... I think you guys are REALLY going to dig this one!)  kk

re:  COOL INSTRUMENTALS:
I bought a Johnny & The Hurricanes CD. I clicked through the songs with some excitement, but when I hit the (1960) song, "Sheba", I must have played it three thousand times (after wishing it was the original version, since it was in stereo)! It wasn't a Top 40 hit; maybe Dick Bartley played it on one of his radio shows (not sure how I remember it (like the back of my palm)!). Anyway, I nominate this as best Instrumental of the century!
http://www.angelfire.com/empire/abpsp/images/sheba.mp3John
I don't know about "best instrumental of the century", but this short clip DOES make me want to hear the whole thing!  "Sheba" was the non-charting B-Side of their "Down Yonder" single from 1960 (#31) ... their fifth straight Top 40 single.  Other Top 40 hits for Johnny and the Hurricanes:  Crossfire (#23, 1959); Red River Rock (their biggest hit ... it reached #5 in 1959); Reveille Rock (#22, 1959) and Beatnik Fly (#10, 1960).  kk

re:  COOL VIDEO:
Kent ...
Two Blue Songs ... by two rock and roll legends.  Check out Wild Wayne's Clip of the Week.
Frank B.
Kent ...
10/21/11 = Happy Birthday to Kathy Young.  
She was born the same year I was.
That means that Kathy isn't young anymore.
Check out this video clip of Kathy singing "A Thousand Stars", an impromptu live version, accompanied by The Earth Angels and The Quotations ... an incredible a cappella version!
Frank B.
It sure is!!!  If Kathy Young turned 66 last week, I've got to say that she still looks and sounds GREAT!  (kk) 

re:  MORE SAD NEWS:
On October 21, 2011, Fred Ferrara passed away.  Freddy was an original member of Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge and The Del Satins.  A strong baritone, he sang backup vocals and played the trumpet.  After Johnny Maestro's death last year, The Brooklyn Bridge continued to perform in concerts, keeping the music alive as Johnny had wished.  Freddy had a long-time illness, amyloidosis, was hospitalized on October 20 and died the following day of cardiac arrest.  The original Del Satins reunited earlier this year and performed at several sold-out concerts in the New York City area.  The Brooklyn Bridge appeared at two concerts October 14 & 15, and Freddy was there, having fun singing and greeting fans after the shows.  Now Freddy has joined Johnny Maestro in the Heavenly Choir. 
Lois Dixon
Johnny Maestro Fan Club
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/JohnnyMaestroFans


re:  TODAY'S FORGOTTEN HIT:
Hey Kent,        
I heard Scott Shannon play a GREAT forgotten 45 today. I had not heard this song in quite awhile, “Dear One” – Larry Finnegan, so I started looking through my AM Gold and various other Time-Life compilations, but I do not have a copy of it. Can anybody out there send an MP3? It would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank You
Eddie Burke
Orange, CT
"Dear One" was a big #4 Hit here in Chicago. (It peaked at #11 nationally in the Spring of 1962.)  Jim Peterik of The Ides of March has said that he liked Troy's name so much, he named his band The Shondells in the early '60's.  Then some guy named Tommy James hit the charts with HIS band called The Shondells and Peterik had to change the name of his band to The Ides Of March.  (Sounds like everything worked out just fine in the long run!)  We'll run a copy of "Dear One" today ... Finnegan also had a minor novelty hit in 1964 with "The Other Ringo", a parody of the Lorne Greene chart-topper, telling the tale of a certain drummer from Liverpool.  (kk)


>>>Anyway, happy to feature MY first introduction to Emitt Rhodes today ... let us know what you think!  (kk)   
I'm not sure why or how I had a Emitt Rhodes LP, about the early '70's. It was okay from what I remember of it. But I do remember he was a one man band; talented, for sure. Not sure he toured well! :)  Jersey John
No question about it ... touring was a bitch!!! (lol)
Seriously though I think Emitt's first Dunhill album holds up INCREDIBLY well some 40 years later.  It is definitely one of my Top Ten all-time favorites.  (Anybody know ANYTHING about the film they made a year or two ago about Emitt?  It was a foreign deal ... and I would LOVE to see a copy of this!!!)  kk

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Helping Out Our Readers


re:  ANYTIME SUNSHINE:

I have a few other rarities for your massive group to find sometime.  Speaking of which,  the other day I was listening to an old air check from WCFL and the dj mentioned a big hit they were currently playing.  I believe the song title was Happy Baby and the group was something like Sometime Sunshine or Everyday Sunshine. Perhaps Happy Baby was the group name?   Does that sound familiar to you?  If not I can send it from the aircheck and see if you know of it.
Phil Nee

I think I know what this is ... would you recognize the song if you heard it?  (I then sent Phil a copy of "Happy" by The Sunshine Company, a #31 Hit from 1967 (that was also recorded by Blades Of Grass, who reached #64 with their version.  It was the Blades of Grass version that charted here in Chicago, peaking at #39.)
That is not the song.  I am familiar with the Sunshine Company song.  I will send the song this weekend.  I have never seen it listed in the Chicago Chart books or any other charts for that matter. The dj (i believe it was Jerry Kaye) refers to it as a big hit on WCFL.. 
Phil
And then ...
I found the sound check.  The tape says it was March of 1971.  It sounds like the style of a Partridge Family record.  See if you have ever heard this one.
Phil
This tune is "Anytime Sunshine" by Crazy Paving, a Scottish band, believe it or not!  It "bubbled under" in Billboard at #103 in March of 1971 ... and by the way, Ron Smith's book lists it as peaking at #30 on the WCFL Chart that year.  All that being said, I can honestly say that I've never heard this song before ... but for some reason I believe it HAS come up once before in Forgotten Hits.  This is a pretty good sounding radio clip ... but I'll betcha we can track down an better sounding MP3!  Have at it, readers!  (kk)
And we just did, thanks to Tom Diehl ... who tells me he may play the song on his Top Shelf Oldies Program this Wednesday night.  (Then again, Phil Nee may have beaten him to the punch on his Saturday Night "Those Were The Days" radio program!!!)  kk


Leave it to you to find it!  Crazy Paving may go number one in Richland Center tonight!!!!
Phil

re:  TONY CONIGILARO:
On your May 20th blog there was a list of Tony Conigliaro songs. Do you have his song "Please Play Our Song". Thanks.
J. Passeri
Somebody on the list may have a copy ... if you do, please drop a note to: jpasseri@yahoo.com

re:  ANYBODY GOT A COPY OF THIS ONE???:
I searched for a song I believe is called, "That's For Me to Know and For You to Find Out," from the Mid Sixties.  I read that it is by The Angels.  I could not find it on Youtube,as I was hoping to post it to my FB group.  Any idea where I can find it so it is postable, even if I need to webhost it on soundcloud?
Thank you for your help.
Joanie Baker
I can't find a song by that title that charted by ANYBODY (including The Angels) so I'm not going to be of much help here.  However, our incredible list of astute readers are probably batting around 90% this tracking tracking down obscure tracks ... so let's put this one out to them and see what they come back with!  (kk)

re:  LEFT BANKE:

Hi Kent,
Have you ever posted Walk Away Renee in mono?  I've searched everywhere for this version, but to no avail.  If any of your readers can help, I'd be eternally grateful.
Regarding your font problems, have you thought about trying a new template?  You can preview before making the change permanent - maybe this will get rid of the corrupted code.
Thanks once again,
Marie

re:  THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME:

Well, I am finally going the the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Any suggestions from your readers of what not to miss is appreciated.
My favorite groups are the British Invasion groups (not so much the Beatles or Stones) and stuff from the 60's.Ya, I like "classic rock" but just as comfortable with groups that will never have a chanch of being in the Hall (Tommy James, Turtles, Grassroots,etc). I am taking the "redeye" so I will be there two full days ... Friday, November 4th and Saturday, the 5th.
I am really excited!
Mike De Martino
President of the Lovejoy Music Club
While several of the exhibits change regularly, there are new exhibits being put on display all the time.  I'm sure some of our readers who have been to the museum recently can help advise you on to how to best budget your time to get the most bang for your buck.  (My guess is you'll have to go two days to have any chance of really seeing and experiencing everything.)
For years now we've talked about putting together a Forgotten Hits Road Trip, having readers from all over the country meet up in Cleveland so we can all enjoy this experience together. Sadly, this still hasn't happened ... but maybe NEXT Spring / Summer we can FINALLY pull something together.  Get your name on the list if you'd like to be part of this musical journey!  (kk) 

re:  OOPS!:
In our haste to get out The Sunday Comments, I missed a track I had planned to include.  This is a recent discovery of mine ... a Hollies track from 1993, proving the band STILL had it, despite the fact that radio wasn't really playing their stuff anymore ... or at least the NEW stuff anyway.  (Although this record never charted here in The States, it DID reach #42 on The British Charts.  I think it's a GREAT little pop record ... called "The Woman I Love".  Check it out!  (kk)

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Motown Monday

Hello Kent,
To all the other Motown fans out there, some pretty good sets our coming our way.
2011 is the 50th Anniversary for both The Supremes and The Temptations. 
In 1961 both groups signed onto the now legendary Detroit label. 
On October 24, Hipo-Select and Universal will release a box set for each group.
Every single A-side and B-side is included, along with foreign language singles, alternate takes, and more.  Complete with detailed essays with loads of info on each song.
The sets focus on both groups' Detroit years.
Diana Ross And The Supremes:
The Temptations:
ALSO --
On November 15, Hipo-Select will release an EXPANDED edition of The Supremes' 1965 Top 10 album, "More Hits By The Supremes".  Including "Stop In The Name Of Love", "Back In My Arms Again" & "Nothing But Heartaches"!!!!  Hear the album like you did back in the day - the set includes both MONO and STEREO versions.  Packed with outtakes, interviews, alternate tracks, and a duplicate of an original concert brochure!
An exciting year (and Christmas!) for fans of 2 of America's top groups of the '60's.
Also be on the lookout for Vol. 2 of The Marvelettes complete album collection, as well as a Mary Wells box set due out next year.
AJK, The Youngest Oldies Freak around
These are a couple of AMAZING compilations ... good enough to replace whatever you might have in the way of Supremes and / or Temptations "Greatest Hits" CDs in your collection.
But that's not ALL that's going on with these Motown artists.  Certainly, this covers the "audio" end of things ... but let's not forget the recent VIDEO releases spotlighting these two fine Motown artists!!!
SOFA Entertainment (and EdSullivan.com) have recently released special DVD Sets for both The Supremes and The Temptations ... along with a "Best Of Motown" release spotlighting ALL of the great Motown acts that appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show back in the mid-'60's and early '70's.
Complete details can be found here:

Check out this track listing:
DISC ONE / Volume 1:
1. THE JACKSON 5: I Want You Back, ABC
2. THE SUPREMES: You Can’t Hurry Love
3. THE TEMPTATIONS: Don’t Look Back
4. FOUR TOPS: Reach Out I’ll Be There
5. SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES: I Second That Emotion, If You Can Want, Going To A Go-Go
6. GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: If I Were Your Woman
7. STEVIE WONDER: Fingertips Pt. 2
8. DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: I’m Living in Shame
9. THE TEMPTATIONS: Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
10. MARVIN GAYE: Take This Heart of Mine
11. DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: Love Child
12. THE TEMPTATIONS Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, My Sweet Lord
13. DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: Someday We’ll Be Together
BONUS:
14. GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
DISC ONE / Volume 2:
1. THE JACKSON 5: Stand, Who’s Lovin’ You, I Want You Back
2. THE SUPREMES: Come See About Me
3. STEVIE WONDER: For Once In My Life
4. MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Dancing In The Street
5. THE TEMPTATION: Get Ready
6. THE SUPREMES: My World Is Empty Without You
7. FOUR TOPS: When You’re Smiling, It’s The Same Old Song, Something About You, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
8. SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES: Abraham, Martin & John
9. THE SUPREMES: Come See About Me, Stop! In The Name Of Love, You Can’t Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hangin’ On, I Hear A Symphony
10. THE TEMPTATIONS: Runaway Child, Running Wild
11. THE SUPREMES: Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart
BONUS:
14. FOUR TOPS: It's All In The Game, Nice & Easy
DISC TWO / Volume 3:
1. DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: Forever Came Today
2. SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES: Doggone Right
3. THE JACKSON 5: The Love You Save
4. THE TEMPTATIONS: I Can’t Get Next To You
5. THE SUPREMES: The Happening
6. FOUR TOPS: Reach Out I’ll Be There, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), Bernadette, Climb Ev’ry Mountain
7. GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: Nitty Gritty, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Stop and Get a Hold of Myself
8. THE TEMPTATIONS: You’ve Made Me So Very Happy
9. DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: In And Out Of Love
10. THE TEMPTATIONS: Psychedelic Shack
11. DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: Love Child
BONUS:
12. FOUR TOPS: Put A Little Love In Your Heart
So ... not only can you pick up the COMPLETE SINGLES COLLECTION by both The Supremes and The Temptations ... but you can ALSO pick up THE VERY BEST OF THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW APPEARANCES by these two artists.  (More details below)
ALL of these Motown DVD's are currently available through the usual sources (Amazon.com, Best Buy, etc, etc) as well as the OFFICIAL Ed Sullivan Website:  
(And they're VERY reasonably priced, too!!!)
SUPREMES TRACKS:
The Best Of The Supremes on The Ed Sullivan Show collects 22 of the Supremes’ greatest performances, including ones never before available on DVD. Included is the Supremes’ very first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in December 1964, showcasing their No. 1 hit “Come See About Me,” plus other timeless performances including “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Love Child” and “The Happening.” And, for the first time on DVD, this collection includes “Up the Ladder to the Roof” which is the only appearance by the “New Supremes” after Diana Ross went on to a solo career. This collection of performances truly showcases why The Supremes are one of Motown’s biggest and most beloved acts.
Tracks:
1. Come See About Me
2. You Can’t Hurry Love
3. Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart
4. My Favorite Things
5. The Happening
6. More
7. Love Child
8. Always
9.  You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You
10. No Matter What Sign You Are
11. Medley: Baby Love, Stop! In The Name of Love,  Come See About Me, My World Is Empty Without You, You Can’t Hurry Love, The Happening, You Keep Me Hanging On, Reflections, Love Child, I Hear A
Symphony
12. Forever Came Today 
13. BONUS Up The Ladder To The Roof
                                                                           

TEMPTATIONS TRACKS:
For the first time on DVD, this collection offers the Temptations’ very best Ed Sullivan Show performances. Included here is the group’s very first appearance in May 1967, in which they performed a medley of hits including “My Girl” and “(I Know) I’m Losing You.” Other songs featured are the group’s No. 1 hit “I Can’t Get Next to You,” a playful version of “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” the Top Ten hit “Psychedelic Shack,” and the 1969 hit single “Runaway Child, Running Wild” with Dennis Edwards replacing David Ruffin. The Temptations’ last performance on The Ed Sullivan Show (1971) is also included, broadcast just a few months before the show went off the air, in which they performed “Get Ready” and their No. 1 hit “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me).”
Tracks:
1. Medley: Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue), All I Need, My Girl, I’m Losing You
2. Don’t Look Back
3. Medley with The Supremes: Get Ready, Stop! In The Name of Love, My Guy, Baby Love, I’m Losing You
4. Runaway Child, Running Wild
5. I Can’t Get Next To You
6. You’ve Made Me So Very Happy
7. Psychedelic Shack
8. Get Ready
9. Medley: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, My Sweet Lord
10. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
BONUS
11.Hello Young Lovers
12. Autumn Leaves
And, if you're a fan of The Ed Sullivan Show (and who ISN'T?!?!?  This is the way MOST of us first discovered many of these FINE artists in the first place!), you're REALLY going to enjoy our upcoming series spotlighting this landmark television institution.
Got some Ed Sullivan memories you'd like to share?  Drop us a note!
Are you one of the many artists who appeared on Ed's program???  We'd love to hear from you, too.  Being invited to do The Sullivan Show was the coupe de grace back then ... you knew you had REALLY made it if you were asked to do The Ed Sullivan Show.  What was that experience like?  We wanna hear it from the OTHER side of the screen!!!
Stay tuned ... more details to come.  Meanwhile, be sure to pick up these hot new releases for your music  video collection.