Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Tuesday This And That

GREAT NEWS!!!  FH Reader and frequent contributor Tom Cuddy tells us that he spoke with Freddy Cannon over the weekend and he sounds significantly better than he did before.  (Freddy is recovering from by-pass surgery.)  Tom tells us:  

I spoke to Freddy Cannon over the weekend. I'm happy to report his voice sounded better and his energy level had improved a bit.     

He ALSO tells us that Darlene Love will be hanging up her annual Christmas chestnut once David Letterman signs off the air for good ...  

Darlene Love Will Retire 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' From TV After 'Letterman' Ends  (from an interview with Billboard Magazine) 
When David Letterman ends his 30-plus-year late night career in 2015, his smirking wit won't be the only thing missing from television -- it will also mark the end of an annual holiday TV tradition.  Every year since 1986, Darlene Love has performed her 1963 girl group classic "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on the last episode of Letterman before Christmas. In a recent interview with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Billboard asked Love if she would consider moving the annual performance to a different late night show.  
She laughed and shook her head. 
"This would be my 28th year in a row," Love says, speaking to Billboard backstage at a charity concert honoring Joan Jett. "They never told me not to, but it was an unspoken thing. They couldn't ask me not to sing 'Christmas (Baby)' on another show, but after 10 years, then 15 years, of doing this one song on this one show, I felt I had an obligation to be true to them." 
More here:   
Click here: Darlene Love Will Retire 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' From TV After 'Letterman' Ends | Billboard   

Speaking of Freddy Cannon, WE heard from him this week as well ...    

HI KENT,   
I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY NEW HEART FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS YOU AND YOUR READERS SAID ABOUT ME.  ALL THEIR PRAYERS DID WONDERS FOR ME. 
YOU ARE HE BEST!  ALSO THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME GET THE ACETATE OF "SHE'S MY ROCK AND ROLL BABY" ... YOU HELPED ME PROVE THAT MY MOM AND MYSELF WROTE THIS SONG. 
AGAIN, THANK YOU ... FORGOTTEN HITS IS THE BEST! 
FREDDY BOOM BOOM CANNON 
Thanks, Freddy ... SO good to hear from you ... and SO glad to hear you're feeling better.  I'm not giving up until you're healthy enough to bring your show out here to Chicago!!! 
I'm glad we could bring a little of cheer into your life at this difficult time ... just hang in there and get better ... there's a WHOLE lotta fans out there cheering for your return.  (kk)   

Kent,
That's great that you heard from Joe Tarsia, one of the most talented recording engineers in history.  No one was ever better at combining the sound of a tight rhythm section with a "big room" orchestral sound ... and that is what people are referring to when they cite the classic "Philly Sound."  I can't tell you how many legendary producers and engineers I've talked to who have referenced Tarsia or his work.
As Mr. Tarsia said, a majority of the Philly International stuff was cut at Sigma Sound, but there was a lot done at Sigma Sound South at 309 S. Broad Street in the '70s and '80s in the way of demos, overdubs, vocal tracking and full-blown sessions.  And hey, that studio should have gotten historical designation just by
virtue of "The Twist" having been recorded there!
So yeah, pin Joe down for a chat; a definitive interview with him would be fantastic.  Despite the incredible reputation he already has, he's truly one of pop and soul's unsung geniuses and a cornerstone of Philadelphia's musical legacy.
Regards,
Scott Paton
 

With all the connection issues I've been dealing with this past week, I never had a chance to contact Joe Tarsia ... but would LOVE to talk to him.  We have stayed in touch ... so I'm hoping to do so soon.  (kk)   

Is it me, or could Glen Campbell's new release, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" be a Jeff Lynne song?  ELO drums and even his style of singing, not Glen's.  Still, a nice song. 
Clark Besch    

>>>Meanwhile Scott Shannon's return to the Chicagoland airwaves via K-Hits seems to have gone virtually unnoticed ... and that's a REAL shame.  (Of course a little bit of actual promotion probably wouldn't have hurt ... Scott has a HUGE legion of fans here in Chicago who would LOVE to hear him back on the radio again.) Shannon is doing gang-busters business in New York City with CBS Sister Station WCBS-FM ... but his new syndicated program "America's Greatest Hits" hasn't seemed to catch on here yet in The Windy City.  (That's probably because MOST folks who still bother to tune in to K-Hits are probably expecting repeated airings of "Don't Stop Believin'" and Tommy Tutone instead ... there isn't room in their mental capacity to accept anything new!)  kk
I happened to hear Scott Shannon on K-Hits this weekend when I was driving into work Saturday Morning.  You're right -- I had absolutely NO idea that he was going to be back on the radio here in Chicago again.  I listen to K-Hits all the time but never heard one single advertisement about this new program coming on the air.
It's funny because I didn't realize how much I missed his voice until I heard him again.  Plus it's a chance to hear some of the songs that K-Hits doesn't typically play anymore.  (They say they're '60s, '70s and '80s but I'll bet a good 60-70% is '80s music ... with maybe another 10-15% spread out on '70's music and the remaining 5-10% on '60's.) 
Any chance Scott Shannon will return to the airwaves full time here anytime soon?
Ed
Unfortunately, not likely ... but bringing him on for more weekend broadcasting might be a viable option ... even if that just meant a "simulcast feed" of his True Oldies Channel program for four hours on a Sunday ... Chicago LOVED Scott Shannon ... he typically had higher ratings than ANY of the local on-air talent here in The Windy City ... we miss him, too!  You'd think K-Hits would promote the hell out of his return!  (kk)   

And in OTHER Scott Shannon news, I just HAD to share this one with you ... 

Proof again that you just NEVER know who's reading Forgotten Hits! 

After FH Reader Frank B mentioned the story Scott told on the air last week about The Charlie Daniels Band, we heard from their manager ... who helped correct a portion of the story.   

Read on ...   

>>>10/28/1936 = Today is Charlie Daniels' Birthday ... Contest question on Scott Shannon's "The Big Show" -- What was Charlie Daniels' biggest chart hit?  Gentleman calls in and answers "The Devil Went Down To Georgia".  Right.  He wins $100 gift certificate at some party store.  Now Scott tells us this story:  One of his early radio jobs was in Memphis, Tennessee.  He was one of those fast-talking DJ's.  Scott also owned a record store.  His store manager David (can't remember his last name) asked Scott if he could use the store's basement to rehearse a new group he found.  Scott Says yes.  He STILL is their manager today.  I like inside stories like this one.  I wish Scott would tell them more often.  (Frank B.) 
This is David Corlew from the Charlie Daniels Band ... have been with Charlie Daniels for 41 years. I did meet Charlie at Sgt. Peppers Record Store ... but didn't discover them as a new band.  My first job with them was as a roadie.  :)
David    

And check out THIS cool video clip of Neil Young visiting "Baby Shannon" in the studio a few years back!!!  

Kent,
Lots of FH fans will remember this film about Neil Young "Journey Through The Past."
Late one Friday night in the fall of '71, Neil and his film crew visited Scott Shannon at the WMAK / Nashville studio.  The entourage enters the control room at 4:29.  The people out in the elevator lobby, the station reception area, and in the narrow hallway, and the photos on the wall, all bring back memories for us Nashvillians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iBaHJDsndU  
 


Kent - 
Bobby Wood died five months after Jimi was kidnapped so it had nothing to do with finding out whether Jimi knew anything about the reason why Wood was killed. More likely Wood was killed because he knew too much about Jeffery's relationship to the mob and their interest in Hendrix.  
Jimi had almost no alcohol in his blood at his autopsy, which proves he did not mix drugs and wine. Jimi was definitely murdered as any serious investigation of the circumstances around his death would show. You simply can't have lungs and stomach full of wine and only have a 5mg blood alcohol content like Jimi had.    
There wasn't really a "variety of drugs" found in Jimi's system. There was just the Vesparax barbiturate Monika gave him and one Black Bomber speed capsule. Forensic experts said it wasn't enough to kill him, but that's not what killed him anyway. It was being drowned in a large volume of wine as Dr. Bannister witnessed. 
Jimi was definitely murdered. 
- Brian Doyle 
Thanks, Brian ... and when concrete evidence of this surfaces, we'll amend our story.  Meanwhile, we probably used closed to a dozen sources available at the time to put together the most complete, likely chain of events surrounding Jimi's death ... so I've got to go with what I had to work with.  I'm not saying there isn't a grassy knoll or two surrounding Jimi's circumstances ... there's just nothing we can prove.  (kk)    

This was posted on the Jack Bruce website by his family after the announcement of his passing was made: 
It is with great sadness that we, Jack’s family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father, granddad, and all round legend. The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts. 
-- submitted by Shelley Sweet-Tufano    

I cannot begin to tell you what a GREAT influence he had with his songs on my brothers and me.  The second and third psychedelic albums were phenomenal!  His singing was phenomenal.  If you listen to the Cryan Shames' "Greenburg" I think you can see "White Room" influences in it. 
Clark    

Here's a great rendition of a classic ... and well worth a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBW8dAYW2tA  
David Lewis   

Hey Kent ... 
I wanted to send you this great photo taken by Alice Mansueto (wife of 1910's Mick). It was taken after the show we played in Bensalem, Pa. This photo includes Dennis Tufano, Ron Dante, The 1910 Fruitgum Co., The Rip Chords, Vito Picone, John Kuse, and a few others. It was a great night. I'll be in touch again soon. 
Mitch Schecter / The Rip Chords   
Great "Group Shot", Mitch ... thanks for sharing with our readers!  (kk)




I LOVE Variety Magazine (newspaper).  They did have a chart that was cool to see in the magazine stores always.  I have many old Variety Magazines and they, like Radio & Records in the 80's, were very much into the entertainment areas including printing a top 60 chart in the mid-60's.
Clark Besch
Who knows, maybe Joel Whitburn will eventually get around to publishing THESE charts, too!  Meanwhile, be sure to check back here tomorrow to see who won a copy of Joel's brand new, soon-to-be-released book "The Comparison Charts".  (kk)    

A friend sent me this link. I didn’t know this show was filmed. 
This is a video from a concert we played at Royal Albert Hall London in 1970. I’ve attached the program cover and insert page about the group. 
If you only want to watch Flock – we start at about 18 minutes into the video right after Santana. 
If you only want to hear my solo, it starts around 25 minutes into the video, although I am playing throughout the song. 
The audio is very soft, so you will need to turn up your volume. 
-- Fred Glickstein / The Flock


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zH7hcksRWM      

Somebody stole the John Denver bust at the Colorado Music Hall Of Fame last week! (What kind of wacko would do this???) 


Thankfully, OUR John Denver monument here in Chicago is still intact!  (kk)





Character Driven Productions Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Archive DVD Collection Package Featuring Charlie Gracie in all films  (Wages of Spin I and II and Special Edition Charlie Gracie "Fabulous")  
www.characterdrivenfilms.com    

A couple of weeks ago we featured the track "Hawley" by Dino, Desi and Billy in our Saturday Surveys feature. 
Billy Hinsche just sent us this picture of this very rare pressing ... after the band left Reprise Records and moved to Columbia Records in the late '60's.



Thank you (and Clark Besch) for running the Cryan' Shames' version of "Tobacco Road" ... I remember it well.  When Jim Fairs launched into that 'I had a dream the other night' - that made it a Cryan' Shames song for me. No one else did it quite the same in my eyes!
Thanx for posting - good to hear it again.
Marlene

Among your Tobacco Road remarks, you didn't mention Lou Rawls' version -- to me, this will ALWAYS be the definitive rendition - to me.
-- Bobby Jones (of Aorta)
Well then let's feature it right here, right now!  (kk)



>>>I think the Svengoolie during Jim Peterik's era (the late '60's and early '70's) was the incredible Jerry G. Bishop, one of my favorite disc jockeys of all time.  (I was never one for the Svengoolie Fright Fest and all the corny jokes that went along with it ... but I found Jerry G. to ALWAYS be entertaining in nearly everything he did.) We lost him a short time ago (ironically, we had been talking about doing a Forgotten Hits interview shortly before he passed so I never go the chance to partake.)  
Yes, Jerry G was a friend of mine before his death as well.  WGN's Nick Digilio has ALWAYS done great remembrances of local radio / music talent and did so with Jerry G as well.  
If you want to hear that show, click here:  
http://wgnradio.com/2013/09/17/remember-jerry-g-bishop-aka-svengoolie/  
Clark Besch

And, speaking of Jim Peterik and The Ides of March ...
>>>Nice "outtake" by The Ides ... why wasn't THIS one released?  Hopefully now with the 50th Anniversary Box Set coming out, some of these long-forgotten gems will finally see the light of day.  (kk)    
This did come out as a Kapp 45 in 1969 between their Parrot and Warner releases, but went nowhere.  However, this demo is much clearer than the 45 release version. 
Clark   

The Ides will be doing their annual Christmas Show at The Arcada Theatre on Saturday, December 13th.  In fact, Ron Onesti has quite a few Christmas Shows coming up this season ... including LeAnn Rimes December 18th, Ronnie Spector December 7th, The Nelsons (with special guests The Cowsills and The Cadillac Casanovas) December 5th, and more. Be sure to check out the oshows website at www.oshows.com. 


And have you heard about the new limited edition Rolling Stones photo book that's coming out???  It's yours for a song ... just $5000 puts a copy in your hands!  (PLEASE consider buying this book ... as these guys REALLY need the money!!!)  
http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/2014/10/30/the-rolling-stones-releasing-new-photo-book-with-sticker-shock-inducing-price-tag/    

Hi all,
I am sending along an email a good writer friend of mine, Stuart Shea, who has written a brand new piece on a Chicago 60's garage band.  He goes very in depth with his research, making it hit home to me and many of you involved in music back then.  YES, even I performed in a band in 1964 at my Presbyterian Church.  OK, it was in Dodge City, Kansas, not in downtown Chicago ... but THIS band story goes through the teen member changes, making a record on legendary clique Chicago small label Orlyn Records (I personally like the Graf Leppelin best of these), band contests, band choreography steps, band name changes, and many of the types of gigs you all may remember going through.  They still have the master tape!  Great photos and band ads -- and you can HEAR the record for free.  It's great that he found ALL the members to get input from each and coordinated it so well into a great story you can all relate to.
I'm including this to people who had SO many of the same adventures.  Farfisa players, 60's girl rockers, Orlyn fans, collectors, 60's Chicago band members, Hop DJs, fans, managers, song writers, etc.  You can find something for each of you.  One even had his band evolve from "Good Lovin" to Vanilla Fudge just like this band did!  Moving on to horn bands reminds me of James Holvay's influence on that scene.  Sending to my friend who sent me this record way back in the early 80's.  Even sending to the guy who likely called and asked for copies from Macomb, Il!
For all of you, author Stuart Shea has written several books over the years and has long been a friend of mine.  Stu, I thoroughly enjoyed this essay and hope some of you also enjoy it and let Stu know it.
Clark Besch

Hey, music lovers. Just wanted to alert you to a new post on my blog.
I've done a long-form interview with the 60s band The Monteras, who hailed from the north side of Chicago.
Lots of amazing period photos, memorabilia, song clips, etc. as well.
If you're interested:
http://tenrecords.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-monteras-teenage-combo.html




Our buddy Rich Appel has a brand new series running in Billboard Magazine ... re-evaluating the charts based on today's criteria.  He brings up some really good points here (and proves once again how this CONSTANT saturation of the airwaves has made HUGE hits out of records that had mediocre chart runs at best back at that time.
I get the whole Journey / "Don't Stop Believin'" thing ... and "Sweet Home Alabama", too, a record I must turn off five or six times a day ... but seriously ... "All Along The Watchtower" over-taking "Hey Jude"???  "All Right Now" by Free bigger than Simon and Garfunkel's classic "Bridge Over Troubled Water"???
This new "narrow-casting" radio format is rewriting music history ... and not necessarily in a good way.  Chartaholics like me will find this to be entertaining reading ... and food for thought ... to be sure!  (kk)

Monday, November 3, 2014

We've Got A Winner!!!

Congratulations to Santiago Paradoa of Miami, Florida.    

He just won a copy of Joel Whitburn's Brand New Book, "The Comparison Charts", coming out in January of next year!  

Santiago tells us ...    

I am a collector of Record Research's books and thanks to those editions I was able to answer the questions you posted a few weeks back. I can't believe I was selected. Awesome news, Kent.    

Well, congratulations, my man ... it all paid off today! 

For those of you who were totally baffled by this round of trivia, here are those trivia questions again ... along with the correct answers ...   

1.  What Elvis Presley #1 song peaked  for 3 weeks / 2 weeks / 1 week on the three major charts?  
ANSWER:  Good Luck Charm
#1 for three weeks in Music Vendor, two weeks in Billboard and one week in Cash Box.     

2.  What late 1960s song missed the top 10 by one position, peaking at #11 on all 3 charts?  
ANSWER:  "Time Has Come Today" by The Chambers Brothers  (1968).  

3.  Not too "groovy" -- this song stalled at #3 for five consecutive weeks on all three charts!
ANSWER:  "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind and Fire  

4.  Name the female singer whose first four releases peaked at #1, #2, #3 & #4.
ANSWER:  Lesley Gore:  "It's My Party" (#1), "Judy's Turn To Cry" (#4), "She's A Fool" (#3) and "You Don't Own Me" (#2)  

5.  What New Jersey pop vocal group previously showed two #3 hits as their best in Billboard.  Now they show two #1 hits!  
ANSWER:  The Happenings  ("See You In September" and "I Got Rhythm") 

6.  Previously, this vocal group's top chart hit was a #2 hit for eight weeks.  Now they have two #1 hits!  
ANSWER:  The Diamonds  ("Little Darlin'" and "The Stroll")  

7.  What American group had two songs that peaked at #5 - 6 - 7 and #7 - 8 - 9 in the same year?  
ANSWER:  The Beach Boys - The year was 1964 and the two songs that did it were "Fun Fun Fun" and "When I Grow Up To Be A Man".  

8.  What do these words from song titles have in common: Subway / Room / Roof / House.  
ANSWER:  All four peaked at #5 - 6 - 7 on the three charts:
Don't Sleep In The Subway by Petula Clark
White Room by Cream
Up On The Roof by The Drifters
House Of The Rising Sun by Frijid Pink  

9.  Name the teen trio in the 1960s whose song peaked at #94 on all three charts.  
ANSWER:  Dino, Desi and Billy  ("Superman")   

10. This vocal group had ten #1 hits ... however, between their second and third #1's, they hit #102, 103 & 104 with this song.  
ANSWER:  "Charade" by The Bee Gees
 
There's no way to even BEGIN to measure the amount of fun and trivia you'll come up with once you start browsing through the latest from Record Research ... "The Comparison Chart Book" is the be-all / end-all to ALL chart discussion, 1954 - 1982.  

You can still pre-order your copy today ...  
Click here: Joel Whitburn's Record Research | Music & Billboard Charts Data 
Books start shipping in January, 2015!   

By the way ... 

Billboard Magazine is celebrating its 120th Anniversary right now ... and guess who they decided to interview for the big occasion?!?!  

Why none other than Joel Whitburn, of course, the guy who wrote the Bible on Billboard's Charts way back in 1970!!!  

Read all about how the whole process started right here:  
Click here: Joel Whitburn, Chart Historian: On Books, Music & the 'Weekly Thrill' of Billboard (Exclusive Q&A) | Billboard   

Billboard also ran a special report last week recapping The 20 Hits of Each Decade, the '60's, the '70's and the '80's.  (Jeez, even THEY'VE forgotten all about the '50's!!!) 

Anyway, you can check out ALL of the results right here:  
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6296373/billboard-hot-100-1960

Sunday, November 2, 2014

The Sunday Comments ( 11 - 02 - 14 )

re:  THE HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL:  
Greetings!  
While I was at university, a friend and I heard about the plans for WLS to broadcast a history of rock 'n' roll. Several Canadian radio stations were retransmitting the broadcasts and we found a DJ who agreed -- at considerable personal risk, I imagine -- to copy the broadcasts. For the intervening years, I have kept those reel-to-reel tapes and am in the process of making digital copies so that the material will be easier to enjoy. 
I have the KHJ HRR and several other assorted audio and video efforts to document the history. Needless to say, the history is so complicated with roots that extend back to many different musical genre that I doubt any two could agree that any of the HRR productions out there comes close to writing the definitive history of rock. (Likewise, I doubt many can agree exactly which songs are rock 'n' roll and which are popular or only tangentially considered rock. <smile>) 
I do appreciate your site and the discussions. It is important to document the history, as many acknowledge.  
Bocknobby  
Both versions of "The History Of Rock And Roll" have come up numerous times in Forgotten Hits ... it seems the one folks consider to be the "definitive" version is either the one they heard broadcast or the one they personally worked on!  (lol) I'm sure much of this must sound dated by now ... but SO many of these great artists have since left us ... so this may be the final testament to their achievements. 
I honestly don't know if a program like this (even a vastly improved and updated one) would play well with today's audience who seem to have absolutely NO attention span whatsoever ... and are typically only half-listening anyway, while their multi-tasking with all their other media toys.  That's why they don't seem to mind the fact that radio just keeps playing the same 2-300 songs over and over again ... because nobody's REALLY listening.  (And quite honestly, who's got the time to devote to a 100 hour radio special these days?!?!) 
You can still catch daily snippets of "The History Of Rock And Roll" on Rewound Radio, twice every weekday.  They're hosted by Gary Theroux, who wrote the original program that aired way back when.  
Click here: Rewound Radio: It's not how old it is... It's how GOOD it is!!   
Someday I'd love to pop BOTH versions of "rock history" in the car and just listen to them back to back for days on end ... I'll betcha between all the resources available today, somebody could put together one hell of a definitive series.  But would anybody listen???  Seems people are more interested in watching video of Justin Beiber urinating in his jail cell (streaming video???) and Honey Boo's Mom hangin' with her Child Molester boyfriend.  Bob Dylan was right ... the times they have a-changed. (kk)  

re:  ON THE RADIO:  
Starting on Monday, The Drive (97.1 FM here in Chicago) kicks off another week of A to Z programming ... a full week (plus) of NO REPEATS from their extensive library of Classic Rock.  (This is ALWAYS one of my favorite programming moves ... tune in and listen ... half the fun is trying to figure out what's coming next!)  A "Listen Live" link is provided below.  (kk)  
Click here: 97.1fm Chicago - The Drive - WDRV  

And once again, how'd you like to be Brant Miller over at WLS-FM?!?!  (He just may be the most shit-upon deejay in all of radioland right now!!!) 
They want to replace this poor guy SO badly that they're negotiating with Jack Diamond again, who turned the job down a few months back and then accepted a different job instead at XHPRS in the San Diego, California / Tijuana, Mexico area, only to quit a couple of weeks later stating that his family was "homesick" for the Washington, D.C. area.  By some small miracle, he was able to get his old job bag ... but apparently is already back "on the market" again.  Word is he'll be the new morning guy at WLS-FM beginning on Monday.  Poor Brant has been yo-yo'd around for MONTHS now as deal after deal after deal has fallen through trying to replace him.  (A much ballyhooed effort to bring back Eddie and JoBo ALSO fell through a few months back ... thank God!  These guys proved IN FLYING COLORS that they have absolutely NO feel or affection for this market of broadcasting.)  Then again, the simple fact of the matter is this ... the problem isn't Brant Miller, guys ... it's the HORRENDOUS format that mimics at least six other radio stations in town.  Get a clue and try something new ... 'cause all your old loyal listeners are gone.  Give some thought as to what might bring them back ... and, if you're STILL clueless after some real soul searching, give me a call ... and let's turn WLS back into what it really SHOULD be ... the legacy and history of this station is FAR too great to be thrown away playing copy-cat radio.  (kk) 

Meanwhile Scott Shannon's return to the Chicagoland airwaves via K-Hits seems to have gone virtually unnoticed ... and that's a REAL shame.  (Of course a little bit of actual promotion probably wouldn't have hurt ... Scott has a HUGE legion of fans here in Chicago who would LOVE to hear him back on the radio again.) Shannon is doing gang-busters business in New York City with CBS Sister Station WCBS-FM ... but his new syndicated program "America's Greatest Hits" hasn't seemed to catch on here yet in The Windy City.  (That's probably because MOST folks who still bother to tune in to K-Hits are probably expected repeated airings of "Don't Stop Believin'" and Tommy Tutone instead ... there isn't room in their mental capacity to accept anything new!)  kk      

Kent ...   
Scott Shannon's regular show is on Monday to Friday.  This new show (America's Greatest Hits) will be on Sunday.  All we have to do is get him a Saturday show so he can be on the radio seven days a week.  
http://wcbsfm.cbslocal.com/americas-greatest-hits/  
Frank B.  
I'm telling you, you're missing Shannon at his best on The True Oldies Channel, where he literally broadcasts 24/7, playing more of the music OUR readers are interested in.  (Yeah, there's still plenty of late '70's and early '80's being slipped in more and more all of the time ... but Scott ALSO treats us to a lot of great late '50's and '60's hits, too ... definitely enough to keep you tuned in all day long.)  kk  
Click here: Scott Shannon's TRUE OLDIES CHANNEL  

More on Shannon ...    

Kent ... 
10/28/1936 = Today is Charlie Daniels' Birthday. 
Contest question on Scott Shannon's "The Big Show" -- What was Charlie Daniels' biggest chart hit? 
Gentleman calls in and answers "The Devil Went Down To Georgia."  
Right. 
He wins $100 gift certificate at some party store.   
Now Scott tells us this story.   
One of his early radio jobs was in Memphis, Tennessee.  He was one of those fast-talking DJ's. 
Scott also owned a record store. 
His store manager David (can't remember last name) asked Scott if he could use the store's basement to rehearse new group he found. 
Scott says yes. 
Group became The Charlie Daniels Band and David became their manager. He STILL is their manager today.  
I like inside stories like this one. I wish Scott would tell them more often.  
Frank B.  
I've been telling him for years that his personal anecdotes are the best ... and they help to establish a real bond between him and his audience.  Every single one of us WISHES we could have been there for all this cool stuff that happened along the way of the history of rock and roll ... but Scott Shannon WAS there for a good chunk of it.  I couldn't agree more ... spice things up with more great stories like this one as you go into the record ... the listeners will love these fly-on-the-wall tidbits.  (kk) 

One more:  

Kent ... 
I'm listening to Scott Shannon's new Sunday show, "America's Greatest Hits".  He just told this story. Pat Upton was one of the last people to see Ricky Nelson alive. 
Pat Upton was lead singer of the one-hit wonder group, The Spiral Starecase."  In 1969, they had a hit with the song "More Today Than Yesterday." Pat went on to become a member of Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band. 
Ricky Nelson's last show was at a club in Guntersville, Alabama. Pat Upton owned the club. Pat drove Ricky to the airport after the show. 
I never heard this story before.   Did you know about it?  
Frank B.  
Being a MAJOR Rick Nelson fan, yes I did ... but I still love all those behind the scenes stories that most people are NOT familiar with.  Scott's a great story-teller.  Here's hoping he uses this new program to offer up these interesting little tidbits to his audience.  (I'm still suggesting that you listen to The True Oldies Channel for more of the same.  You really seem to be enjoying his show ... give The True Oldies Channel a shot ... you just may end up going Scott Shannon 24/7 after all!  (kk)  

re:  FREDDY CANNON:  
Hi Kent,  
You've got a great blog and website.Thanks for all you did for Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon ... his sound has the same 'innocent, from the heart' feeling as Buddy Holly. There is something 'pure' about each of their sounds.
I can't forget SBXX and the beatdown, but today some of the pain went away when the Pats clubbed the Bears. 
Love That Dirty Water! 
CharlieOFD  

Loved Furv's 5th Estate song and it DOES have the energy of a Freddy Cannon song! I pray Freddy keeps getting better and better and will "Jump Over" this small hurdle.  
Clark Besch  

And. speaking of The Fifth Estate ...  

Hi Kent - 
Thanks for running my comment about us still playing music which to some sounds a lot like what Freddy  Cannon was doing with his hit records.   We appreciate it immensely. 
Really glad to hear Freddy’s doing better.  Would more than love doing something with him and here’s hoping he gets well enough to do more shows. Ken "Furvus" Evans  
Furv said that he would LOVE to line up some shows here in the Chicago area.  With SO much new product out now from both The Fifth Estate and The D-Men, they're primed and ready to perform ... and he suggested a double bill with somebody like The Buckinghams, The Turtles, Peter Noone or Tommy James would be ideal ... or perhaps some of the '80's band who offer a similar sound like The Remains, The Smithereens or The Romantics.  Of course the above-mentioned package with a healthy Freddy Cannon would be welcomed by ALL parties concerned, I'm sure!  (kk) 

And here's a photo of our FH Buddy Burton Cummings holding up a copy of Freddy's book "Where The Action Is", written with Mark Bego a couple of years ago.  Freddy's getting stronger every day ... and Burton returns to The Arcada Theatre later this month (the 14th to be exact) for what's looking to be another sold out show.  (We can't wait!)  kk


re:  TOMMY JAMES:  
Still getting some good press regarding our Tommy James concert review at The Arcada ... in fact, if you visit Tommy's website (www.tommyjames.com) you'll find a dedicated link that takes you right to our review.  

Clark Besch mentioned that I had interviewed Tommy James for the Chicago Tribune some years back. Here's how he told the Crimson & Clover story back then. Not many details different ...     
I got in a big jam with CFL about that. This is one of my big Chicago stories … I almost blew the release of “Crimson and Clover.”  
“Mony Mony” had been an exclusive to WLS, and at the time WLS and WCFL were just banging heads, both gigantic stations with 50,000 watts. But they were in such competition, and going neck and neck. Any little thing you would do for one, the other would be insulted. I made the mistake of giving “Mony Mony” to WLS, or Roulette did. Jim Stagg didn’t take kindly to that, and I wasn’t going to let that happen again.  
I was doing a concert around the release of "Crimson & Clover". I took a rough 7 ½, not even a final mix, to WLS and played it for John Rook, the Program Director. He said, “That’s great,” and said play it again. He has Lujack record it (surreptitiously) and records the damn thing, not even finished, a rough mix, and the next thing I know I’m getting into the limousine downstairs and I hear, “WORLD EXCLUSIVE, TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS, CRIMSON AND CLOVER” on the radio. We had to release a rough mix off a 7 ½ acetate, release it just like that.  
So I go back to New York and I walk into Roulette, into Red Schwartz’ office (Roulette’s radio guy) and sitting there is a funeral wreath from Jim Stagg announcing the death of Tommy James & the Shondells at WCFL radio. Everyone at Roulette was really upset. That’s how close we came to blowing the release.  Of course WLS kept playing it and it went to #1 and WCFL had to go back on it. I always felt bad about that for Jim Stagg.   
Chicago radio was the center of the universe. Not only growing up on Chicago radio, but WLS was truly the biggest station in the country. That’s back when radio stations really were radio stations, where one station could hit 38 states at night. The power of it was awesome. If WLS went on a record, everyone went on it. All I can say is that I’ve loved Chicago all my life.  
-- Tommy James  
(submitted by Stuart Shea)  

And here's another "oldie but goodie" from 2010 ... wow, I had forgotten all about this posting ... a tie-in between Forgotten Hits, Spectrapop and the always entertaining Artie Wayne ... that evidently also wound up on the Pray For Surf website somewhere along the way!!!  (kk)  

Another exciting and extended conversation, Kent!  
This may be of interest:  Tommy James Reveals Secret to Crystal Blue Persuasion  
http://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/tommy-james-reveals-secret-to-crystal.html  
Phil 
PrayForSurf.net  

Meanwhile, have you seen the new "Mony Mony" commercial that's running for Bose Speakers?  It features the Billy Idol version of Tommy's song but it's really pretty clever.  Every vehicle that this guy approaches ends up singing along with the song thanks to the crystal-clear sound coming from his Bose Speakers ... this includes everybody from the kids on a school bus to the old biker dude who can't get the tune out of his head after he parks his bike for the night.  Pretty good spot!  (kk)  

Ron Onesti told me that Tommy James tore the place apart ... wish I coulda been there. 
Chet Coppock  
He did ... it was a GREAT show!  Check out my review for all the play-by-play action!  (kk)  
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2014/10/tommy-james.html  

And, speaking of Tommy James songs you can't get out of your head, I've been playing THIS one virtually non-stop for the past several days. 
Although it only managed a #24 national showing (and didn't even make The Top 40 in Billborad) Tommy's 1971 solo hit "Nothing To Hide" went all the way to #2 here in Chi-Town ... and it SURE felt good to hear it again!  (kk)



And be sure to stay tuned to these pages ... we just may have a Tommy James give-away coming up that'll hit your mail boxes just in time for Christmas!!! (kk)

re:  THE SATURDAY SURVEYS / 50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEKEND:  
Our very special 2014 series are dying down ... only a couple of months to go (and, thanks to all these Interne issues, I'm WAY behind in wrapping those up!!!) ... but that doesn't mean we don't get comments every time a new edition hits the site!   

>>>I hadn't heard Don't It Make You Feel Good until you called attention to it in Forgotten Hits. Cool tune. I also noticed that The Shadows had it out around the same time as well, but I liked The Overlanders version much better.   (Bill) >>>Another one that did much better here in Chi-Town than it did nationally ... #7 on The WLS Silver Dollar Survey ... but didn't even "bubble under" in Billboard, where their only chart hit was a cover version of the Chad and Jeremy hit "Yesterday's Gone".  (kk)  
True, "Don't It Make You Feel Good" never charted in Billboard, but it just missed the Cash Box Top 100, peaking at #101 during a 10-week run on CB's Looking Ahead chart. That was just one of the more than 3,000 records that were listed on the Looking Ahead chart, but never so much as bubbled under in Billboard. (I featured nearly 100 of those records from 1959 through 1969 on the July 23 four hour special edition of my Randy on the Radio Top Shelf Oldies show, archived at http://www.ramtownlive.com/randyontheradio.html.)  
-– Randy Price  

Love Me For A Reason -- What great harmonies and lyrics!  I bought this one on a 45 because I thought it so beautiful and related to it completely.  That reminds me, I have one of Merrill Osmond's show gloves ... signed.  Wasn't he lead on this? 
Shelley  

Kent, 
Just a quick FYI ... Clark was right about FOR YOUR LOVE making it to number one here in OKC. It was for the week of June 24, 1965. Again, FYI, the #2 song was MR. TAMBOURINE MAN and #3 was LAURIE with the Pick Hit of the Week being  THEME FROM A SUMMER PLACE by the Lettermen. 
Said song was number one for just one week being replaced by SATISFACTION the following week. 
Unlike you and some of your readers, I was familiar with Terry Black's tune out of 1964 UNLESS YOU CARE. It was on Tollie records as you know, with the flip being CAN'T WE GO SOMEWHERE. I just checked and it didn't make our local survey. However, I do have a copy of the record filed away here at home and really can't remember why I have a copy since it didn't chart locally here in OKC. Clark was right again about it being a Sloan / Barri song.  However, one needs a magnifying glass to make out their name on the label! 
Larry Neal   

And then ...   

Kent, 
I enjoyed the posting of THE OTHER RINGO. I have never heard it before.  It didn't make our survey here in OKC and I am going to assume that the singer(?), Larry Finnegan, is the same one who did DEAR ONE two years earlier. 
On WROK's survey, song position #3 by the Singing Cowboy ... this was a joke, correct? The Singing Dogs from years earlier on their Christmas tune did a better job than this. 
The Musicland Top 40 survey is one in which I have never really known a break-in type of record to make it to number one.  Probably the biggest break-in record here in OKC was Dickie Goodman's 1966 BATMAN'S GRANDMOTHER. It peaked at #15 in May of 1966 here in OKC. 
Going back to WROK's survey, both FIRE songs were also big here in OKC. The group Five by Five also had a big hit a year later in 1969 with the song APPLE CIDER here in OKC. 
Larry  
Yes, Larry Finnegan is one and the same.  Here in Chicago that record topped out at #28.  (He hit #1 with "Dear One" a few years earlier.) 
The Legendary Stardust Cowboy record is for real ... I just can't believe it reached #3 ANYWHERE (other than on The Dr. Demento Request line!!!) 
Dickie Goodman's 1975 Break-In Hit "Mr. Jaws" topped the charts here in Chicago ... and several other cities as well.  (In fact, it hit #1 in Cash Box Magazine, too!!!)  I remember seeing the Gold Record on display at Cash Records many years ago when we laid down a few tracks there many moons ago!  Other than the very first "Flying Saucer" record from 1956, this is probably the biggest break-in hit ever ... in fact, based on 1975 sales vs. 1956 sales, it may be even bigger than the original. 
Several years ago Dickie's son tried to do a couple of contemporary break-in records but they went nowhere ... too bad, because they were recorded very much in the same vein as the ones his father made back in the day.  (The two that I'm aware of were based on the popular television series "The X-Files" ... Goodman always had a knack for coming up with something totally contemporary based on whatever was "trending" at the time. Since the demise of "The X-Files", David Duchovny has spent most of his time Californicating ... but every year or two we catch wind of yet another "reunion movie" pairing him Agent Scully in the talking stages one more time.  Personally, I've never seen a single episode ... but it was one of Frannie's favorites back in the day.)  Sadly, Jon Goodman's records never took off ... so, as such, I'm wondering how many of you may have heard this one. 
Here goes ...

re:  DIGGIN' FORGOTTEN HITS:   
Hey Kent, 
No offense, but your “Complete Profile” is incredibly weak – especially when compared to your website. 
Any chance of sharing more of your background? I have been a subscriber of Forgotten Hits for many years and always wondered what your background was. Your website has always been incredibly spot on and detailed. I would suspect you work full time on it.    
JrLaMesa  
Believe it or not, no ... I'm lucky if I get 45 minutes to an hour each day to get the next piece ready.  (Sometimes I have a little more times on the weekend ... but it's gotten tougher and tougher as the work demands increase ... typically 55 - 65 hours per week for me ... and I ain't gettin' any younger!!!) ... plus still trying to maintain some quality of family time, too.  I am CONSTANTLY disappointed that I can't do more ... as there are SO many other places I'd like to take Forgotten Hits and I have SO many other ideas I wish I could devote time to.  As such, I'm often my own toughest critic because nearly everything falls short of my expectations in my own eyes.  Such is the true definition of "labor of love" I guess! 
My background is simply that I have ALWAYS been a fan ... and will always BE a fan first.  Forgotten Hits has afforded me the luxury of being able to hob-knob with some of my all-time heroes, which is great ... thanks to generous folks like Ron Onesti, owner of The Arcada Theatre, we're able to see more shows than we ever would be able to see if left to our own devices ... and thanks to the support and growing list of oldies music fans and radio deejays who still believe (and remember) how great radio was and can be, we've filled a void all too present out there in the real world. 
This music MATTERS to us ... it made a BIG difference in our lives ... and I believe it creates a common bond that unites us all.  We take a lot of flack for "living in the past" ... but what we're REALLY doing is CELEBRATING the past ... and allowing all of our followers to participate and share THEIR memories right alongside those of the guys who were there at the time making all of this great music ... and the deejays who are still allowed to program this great music to help keep the memories alive. 
That's what we do ... we joke that "We're Saving The Oldies ... One Song At A Time" ... but that's really been our goal and effort since Day One (which is now nearly fifteen years ago.)  I'm not an ex-radio guy (although I get asked quite often to appear on or consult or help program oldies radio shows, which I LOVE to do, especially "theme shows") ... I was a very avid record collector at one time and did all the record shows and advertised in Goldmine Magazine and Discoveries, running in effect a mail order oldies records business ... but that is now MANY years in the past (as are my days as a musician.)  Nearly everything that could be replaced by CD or digital downloads has been ... my record collection would pale in comparison to most of the folks on this list. 
Simply put ... I am a FAN ... have always been and will always be.  Forgotten Hits has become the "connector" for OTHER fans just like me to communicate and share their love and joy of this music with folks all over the world.  (Now how would I put all of THAT into my profile?!?!  lol) 
Thanks for your ongoing support ... I nearly wrapped this up about ten years ago ... man, look at all the cool stuff we would have all missed if I had!!!  (kk)