Forgotten Hits Reader Rich Turner sent in this review of a show he saw last weekend for us to share with our readers ... (So excited that things are starting to open up again!)
Rich saw KANSAS in Clearwater, Florida ... and it sounds like it was a really good show. (We're trying to get him to do a follow-up review of Creedence CLEARWATER Revisited in Kansas ... but as of right now anyway, no such show currently exists.)
Down here in Clearwater, Florida, we are slowly getting back into
the swing of things from the over a year long pandemic. Most of our
performing arts centers have been open for a few months now, albeit at
50% capacity. Very slowly, a few major artists are scheduling some shows, especially in areas where they can get a few tour stops.
On May 8th, here
at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall, Kansas returned to the stage for their
first performance since March of 2020. Ruth Eckerd announced this
performance in March of this year and tickets went on sale a week later.
I noticed that prices were somewhat higher than before, but being a huge
Kansas fan, that did not stop me from purchasing two seats six rows from
the stage at $137.00 apiece.
I have seen Kansas several times in the
past and have always loved and appreciated their progressive rock music
and I got to meet the band in February, 2019, on a Classic Rock Legends
cruise. If you ever get a chance to take one of these rock and roll
cruises, do not hesitate. They are outstanding.
Like I said, the capacity was at about 50% for this show. In a
typical row, there would be two seats taken and then two empty seats and
then maybe four seats used and two more empty and so on. In the rows
in front and back of you, they would zig-zag the taken and empty seats so that nobody would be sitting in front of you or behind you. I really enjoyed
this side effect of social distancing. Everybody was required to wear
masks ... however, once the lights went out and the band came on stage, I
noticed most people took their masks off. My girl friend and I received
both of our covid vaccines in March so we had no problem with this.
Concessions were outside the theater in a special roped off area so
there would be less contact between patrons ... another idea I liked! Once
you entered the theater (after going through a socially distanced temp
check), a security guard ran a wand over you (pretty much like the old
days) and then your ticket was scanned. Then you could head outside for
refreshments or head to your seat. I thought the whole process was
handled quite nicely.
And now on to the show.
Kansas has been together for almost 50
years now (boy, am I getting old!) and they still have two original
members, drummer Phil Ehart and guitarist Richard Williams. Bassist
Billy Greer has been in the band since 1985 and violinist and rhythm
guitarist David Ragsdale since 1991, although he was gone from 1998-2005
when original violinist Robby Steinhardt returned. Keyboardist Tom
Brislin joined the band in 2018.
Original lead singer Steve Walsh
retired from Kansas in 2014, and I'm guessing one of the hardest things a
long established band has to do then is to try to find a singer of
comparable stature and voice to replace your so-called front man. Ask
Journey. In my opinion Kansas got the perfect singer to fit the bill.
Ronnie Platt easily fills Mr. Walsh's shoes and then some. Gosh, what a
voice and what a showman!!!
Guitarist
Zak Rivzi had been in the band since 2016 to help Rich Williams with
guitar duties and he also helped produce and write their 2016 LP, "The
Prelude Implicit" and their 2020 LP, "The Absence Of Presence." Just a month
before this show, Kansas announced that he quit the band to
"pursue other endeavors." They did not replace him so I am sure that
some of their songs had to be re-arranged (and quickly) for the stage to
make up for his loss.
At
precisely 8:00 the lights went down and Kansas took the stage to
thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the approximately
1000 - 1200 patrons. They started off with one of their biggest hits,
"Point Of Know Return," and never looked back. This was billed as a
"Classics" show and Kansas classics was exactly what you got. Even
though they had released a new album just last year, the aforementioned
"The Absence Of Presence," they played no songs off of it. What you got
was 16 of their best-loved songs including, of course, "Dust In The Wind,"
"What's On My Mind," "Song For America" and "Miracles Out Of Nowhere."
During the middle of the show they played a three song acoustic set
consisting of "People Of The South Wind," "Hold On" and "Dust." The show
ended as it should have with their biggest hit and most well-known song
"Carry On Wayward Son!!"
The
current version of Kansas sound to these ears ... as good as, if not better ,
than any previous incarnation. Their progressive rock sound mixed in
with the violin playing of Ragsdale creates a unique sound unlike almost
any other band. I'm sure their records are not easy to duplicate live
on stage, but this band was more than up to the task. Their playing was
impeccable and the sound they produced was extremely impressive. Ruth
Eckerd Hall has always been known to have one of the best sound systems
of any amphitheater around (in our area anyway) and the combination of
its acoustics and Kansas' music was simply an incredible experience.
The six members of the band are virtuosos on their respective
instruments. Tom Brislin's playing of two different keyboards (sometimes
at the same time) and David Ragsdale's violin playing really stood out
to me. However, in my opinion, the singing and front-man work of Ronnie
Platt was just magnificent. His voice is just as good, if not better, than
latter-day Steve Walsh's vocal cords and along with his enthusiastic
energy as he bounded around the stage (when not playing yet another set
of keyboards), was very contagious. Billy Greer held down the bottom on
the bass and served as the show MC as he told a few stories and
introduced most of the songs. Founding member Richard Williams does not
move around much, but he plays a mean electric guitar and finger picks an
incredible acoustic (sometimes both during the same song.) And I don't
want to forget the other founding member, Phil Ehart, for keeping the
driving beat on the drums.
If I
am to nitpick (and I guess I am), the only complaint I could mention is
that the show at an hour and a half was too short, especially for a band
that is known for their two to three hour long shows from just the
recent past. However, a couple of people after the show pointed out to me
that since their guitarist Rivzi quit just a month before the show that
it may have been hard to rearrange a whole lot of songs to fit the
roles he played in them. Even so, that is just a very minor complaint ,
because I certainly enjoyed this show even more than I had originally
thought I would.
It's great to be out and hearing live music again, especially by
some of our bigger names in the music world. Ruth Eckerd Hall has a lot
of performances scheduled for the summer months ahead including the
Mike Love version of the Beach Boys playing two shows next weekend. John
Stamos is joining the band for these shows, so this is certainly a
must-see event (just slight sarcasm.)
If Kansas visits any of your
readers areas this year I highly recommend to everybody to check them
out.
Rich Turner
Palm Harbor, Florida
Here's the complete concert set list:
Point Of Know Return
What's On My Mind
Two Cents Worth
Icarus - Borne On The Wings Of Steel
Song For America
The Wall
(acoustic set)
People Of The South Wind
Hold On
Dust In The Wind
(back to rock)
Cold Grey Wind
Sparks Of The Tempest
Fight Fire With Fire
Portrait (He Knew)
Paradox
Miracles Out Of Nowhere
(encore)
Carry On Wayward Son
Rich also sent us a boatload of pictures from the show, and we're running every one of them below ...
And, coincidentally, this show got some coverage in Ultimate Classic Rock this week ... including another RAVE review ... as well as some of the back story as to how difficult it was to rehearse for a major upcoming tour during Covid ...
Meanwhile, both of the two
hot tours that we've been telling you about coming up this fall have just added more tour dates to their itineraries
…
The Monkees now
DO have a stop in Chicago (at The Rosemont Theater on November 5th)
as well as added dates for Spokane, WA (where the tour is now scheduled to kick
off on September 10th at The First Interstate Center For The Arts),
TWO dates at The Dosey Doe / Big Barn in The Woodlands, TX (September 28th
and 29th), a show at MGM Northfield Park in Northfield, OH on November 3rd
and a new show added for The Star Theatre in Minneapolis, MN on November 7th.I fully expect more dates will be added,
including a second show at The Greek in L.A. … stay tuned for more details.
Meanwhile,
Genesis has also added a couple more dates to their US stop.Second shows have been added for Philadelphia
on December 3rd and Boston, December 16th, which they say
will now be the final stop.They’re
claiming this is it … and that no more dates will be added … but despite the
RIDICULOUSLY high ticket prices, this is apparently a VERY hot ticket ... and a BIG money maker for the band ... so, as we've learned SO many times before, never say never!!!
We also enjoyed
The Rascals YouTube reunion concert video, and then watched the guys on the Ed Sullivan show
Tuesday night. And still loving FH, the source of the most accurate truth - and
opinion - on the planet.
David Lewis
Kent,
Thanks for posting this weekend
of singer Lloyd Price aka Mr. Personality's passing.. Had not heard of
it until I saw it in FH. One of my all time favorites by him was his
1959 hit WHERE WERE YOU ON OUR WEDDING DAY?
Also this weekend I saw for the
first time a commercial for Amazon Prime where Nat King Cole was
singing one of his songs in the background. I actually got to hear it
twice and maybe the third or fourth time I hear it, I'll know what the
title is.
Also, going back to the variations of songs that Lloyd Price
came out with, remember that novelty record from 1959 on Gone Records by
artists Spencer & Spencer called STAGGER LAWRENCE? Larry
I've never heard THAT one!!! The only record I've heard by them was "Russian Bandstand," an AWFUL Dickie Goodman-type break-in record. Was "Stagger Lawrence" done in the same vein? (kk)
The new Aretha Franklin
biopic starring Jennifer Hudson is now scheduled to premier in theaters on
August 13th.(This is the one
that WE’VE been looking forward to.)
A new trailer dropped earlier
this week …
(That Jennifer’s pretty
amazing, eh?An American Idol
“loser” who has done JUST fine, thank you very much!Another kid by the name of Adam Lambert
probably feels the same way!)kk
Our guilty pleasure this past weekend was binging the new Peacock Series "Girls 5eva." Put together by Creator Meredith Scardino (The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), with more than a little help from Tina Fey and her husband Jeff Richmond (who handled most of the music) ... and starring Sara Barelilles, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps and Paula Pell, the series depicts a one-hit wonder girl group from the '90's (their fifth member drowned in an infinity pool accident.) who are suddenly thrust back into the spotlight when a rapper samples one of their songs. Of course this sparks talk of an immediate reunion ... and a second chance at stardom.
I will say this ... the first four episodes are considerably superior to the last four ... and even then, it's not really non-stop funny ... but when it IS funny, it's double-over with laughter funny. Some of the dialog is simply to die for.
And the music is exceptional ... well produced, nicely sung and with some of the most imaginative "every day" lyrics you've ever heard.
The girls blend well together (kinda surprising when you consider their real life backgrounds ... and the way their on-screen characters have moved on after their brief brush with stardom.)
Overall, we rated it a 5.5 out of 10 ... but it's still worth watching because of the energy of the show and the TREMENDOUS amount of work that went into developing it. (This wasn't simply "write a script" ... all of these songs had to be created and produced, too ... and an excellent job of capturing the feel of the 90's exists.)
So do some of the characters from this era. Carson Daly reprises his role on TRL with new dialog ... the girls appear on Real World ... and references to other artists from the '90's pepper every episode.
It's a fun half hour that will make you smile, laugh out loud ... and cause you to hear earworm tunes for the next several days! (kk)
Hi there
FH readers,
Any of
you that are regular NPR listeners will know that right now, National Public
Radio is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and contemplating on
just how much they changed news reporting in America before there was a CNN or
Fox TV 24 hour News channel.
But also,
to help place the year 1971 in people's minds and remind people of what they might
have been hearing on the radio, NPR has come up with a top 50 most important
and influential songs of the year.
Apparently,
they allowed people from their affiliate stations to choose their favorite
songs. I'm warning you, Kent, this would be a very different top fifty
than you would post here, because it seems to have a very strong leaning toward
classic rock. Some of the songs on this top fifty list are rather obscure
to say the least, like the song Mushroom by the German band Can, for
example. Nevertheless, I just thought that FH readers that are also big
fans of NPR might want to check out this list from NPR of the top fifty songs
of 1971, in their opinion, of course.
It is an eclectic list, to be sure.(I’ve never even HEARD of some of these songs
and artists!!!)
Our list of The Top 71 of 1971 will run at year’s end and
it’ll be based solely on actual chart performance of these hits in the three
major trades and our own Super Charts.(This will also be our last Fifty Year Flashback, having done it now for
every year dating back to 1967.Five
years is enough!!!)
Meanwhile, readers can catch a brand new (as in Fifty Year
Old) Super Chart EVERY Sunday through the end of the year … and you can always
scroll back to catch any that you may have missed along the way.(kk)
Speaking of strange and surprising lists, Billboard Magazine
ran a list of The Top 20 Karaoke Songs as determined by Singing Machine, one of
the leading karaoke machine companies.
Based on selections performed live, these are the 20 most
performed songs:
1.Let
It Go - Cast of Frozen
2.Dance
Money - Tones and I
3.Old
Town Road - Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
4.Bohemian
Rhapsody - Queen
5.Shallow
- Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
6.Shake
It Off - Taylor Swift
7.Roar
- Katy Perry
8.Party
in the USA - Miley Cyrus
9.How
Far I'll Go - Cast of Moana
10.Sweet
Caroline - Neil Diamond
11.Watermelon
Sugar - Harry Styles
12.Thunder
- Imagine Dragons
13.Hakuna
Matata - Cast of The Lion King
14.A
Million Dreams - Cast of The Greatest Showman
15. Do
You Want to Build a Snowman? - Cast of Frozen
16.You're
Welcome - Cast of Moana
17.A
Whole New World - Brad Kane and Lea Salonga (Aladdin)
18.This
Is Me - Keala Settle and the cast of The Greatest Showman
19.Under
the Sea - Cast of The Little Mermaid
20.Friends
in Low Places - Garth Brooks
Wow,
not too many oldies on this list are there?!?(What happened to “Islands In The Stream,” “My Way,” “You’re The One
That I Want” and “Unchained Melody”???)
Heavy
on the Disney tunes (seven of the top twenty!), this is a much more
youth-oriented list … but still interesting to see what people are using in an
attempt to capture their shining moment on stage.(kk)
Styx is set to
release a new album Crash of the Crown (Alpha Dog 2T/Ume) on June 18. It’s been
four years since their last studio album. The release will be available on
clear vinyl, black vinyl, CD and digital platforms.
One of the biggest
free concerts in history, The Rolling Stones’ legendary performance at
the famed Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on February 8, 2006 was a
historic event… a critical moment in Rock ‘n’ Roll history.
Now, The Rolling
Stones and Mercury Studios will proudly release for the first time
this complete concert film remixed, re-edited, and remastered.
The Rolling Stones -- A Bigger Bang: Live On Copacabana Beach
will be available on July 9, 2021 on multiple formats, including
DVD+2CD, SD BD+2CD, 2DVD+2CD Deluxe, 3LP (pressed on blue, yellow, and green
vinyl), 3LP pressed on clear vinyl (exclusive to Sound Of Vinyl) &
digital.
Additionally, Mercury
Studios will release an early taste of this set with a 5-song digital EP
- out May 28. This will include “Sympathy For The Devil”, “Wild
Horses”, “You Got Me Rocking”, “Happy”, and “Rough Justice”. All the songs
are from the Copacabana Beach show, with the exception of “Rough Justice”,
which is from the 2005 Salt Lake City concert video available in the Deluxe
Edition.
Finally, Mercury
Studios will present The Rolling Stones: Rain Fall Down (Live on
Copacabana Beach) / Rough Justice (Live In Salt Lake City) -- a
limited edition 10” picture disc to be released as part of the first Record
Store Day Drops on June 12. For a list of participating stores,
visit https://recordstoreday.com/Stores.
Right from the
film’s opening moments, when The Rolling Stones emerge on their own
purpose built bridge leading from the Copacabana Palace Hotel, there’s an
electric energy that courses through the air, ricocheting between the band
and the 1.5 million people in attendance. Aerial shots convey the sprawling
enormity of the crowd, watching not only from the beach, but from boats
moored at the water’s edge. As Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie
Wood, and Charlie Watts fire on all pistons from one track to the
next, the crowd continues to meet their energy in furious fervor, waving
Brazilian and British flags while rocking out in the tropical evening sunset.
It was truly a highlight of this tour, which supported the band’s 2005 album Bigger
Bang.
Four songs that were
not in the original 2007 DVD release The Biggest Bang are featured for
the first time on A Bigger Bang: “Tumbling Dice”, “Oh No, Not
You Again”, “This Place Is Empty”, and “Sympathy For The Devil”. This concert
brilliantly showcases this impactful two-hour set, which runs the gamut of The
Rolling Stones’ career: “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”, “Brown
Sugar”, “Start Me Up”, and “Satisfaction” and “Wild Horses” swerve between
then-new tracks “Rain Fall Down”, “This Place Is Empty”, and “Rough Justice”
from Bigger Bang. The setlist also boasts a cover of Ray Charles’
“Night Time Is The Right Time”.
“Not that we're
unused to playing some of the biggest shows in the world, but I must say Rio
did take the cake,” said Keith Richards.
“‘It was amazing,”
states Mick Jagger. “It was a really good audience. They know how to
enjoy themselves on those occasions.”
The Deluxe 2DVD+2CD
edition is packaged in a 12 X 12 40-page book, with the Copacabana concert on
DVD and 2CD, along with an exclusive bonus DVD including a November 2005
concert in Salt Lake City, UT, also from the Bigger Bang tour.
If you’re going to
do it, do it up big, and no one does it bigger and better than The Stones!
Tracklisting
RIO
1. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
2. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)
3. You Got Me Rocking
4. Tumbling Dice
5. Oh No, Not You Again
6. Wild Horses
7. Rain Fall Down
8. Midnight Rambler
9. Night Time Is the Right Time
10. This Place Is Empty
11. Happy
12. Miss You
13. Rough Justice
14. Get Off My Cloud
15. Honky Tonk Women
16. Sympathy For The Devil
17. Start Me Up
18. Brown Sugar
19. You Can't Always Get What You Want
20. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
SALT LAKE CITY
(Bonus show – deluxe versions only)
1. Start Me Up
2. You Got Me Rocking
3. She's So Cold
4. Tumbling Dice
5. Rain Fall Down
6. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (but I Like It)
7. Wild Horses
8. All Down the Line
9. Night Time Is the Right Time
10. Slipping Away
11. Infamy
12. Miss You
13. Rough Justice
14. Get Off of My Cloud
15. Honky Tonk Women
16. Sympathy for the Devil
17. Brown Sugar
18. Jumpin’ Jack Flash
19. You Can't Always Get What You Want
20. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Here’s news of
another new release …
SOFT CELL
Celebrate 40 Years Of TAINTED LOVE With Special Collector’s Single Release!
The year was 1981 and British synth
pop duo Soft Cell had just watched their debut single “Memorabilia” fail to
chart. Feeling the pressure from their label, the band went for broke with a
risky maneuver, releasing their downtempo cover version of a 1964 Northern Soul
tune by Gloria Jones called “Tainted Love.” The gamble paid off as the single
rocketed to the top of the charts, becoming the best-selling single in the UK
for that year as well as helping make their debut album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
one of the most iconic synthpop albums of all-time!
Now, in celebration of the single’s
40th anniversary, a special collector’s limited edition vinyl EP is being
released. Featuring a recently recorded version of the song produced by
versatile German producer/artist Jürgen Engler of Die Krupps, this deluxe single
release also includes a stunning, never-before-released a capella mix that
showcases Marc Almond’s brilliant voice and several remixes including a brand
new one from producer DJ Hell. And as a special bonus treat, the release also
features a fantastic bonus track, a rare duet between Almond and Andi Sex Gang
from 1983!
Tainted Love will be available for a
limited time only on 12” colored vinyl in a gatefold jacket, 7” colored vinyl,
digipak CD, and on digital platforms everywhere!
12” Track List:
SIDE A
1. Tainted Love (2021 Mix by Jürgen Engler)
2. Tainted Love (Instrumental Mix)
3. Tainted Love (Acapella Mix)
SIDE B
1. Tainted Love (DJ Hell Remix)
2. Tainted Love (2019 Remix)
3. Tainted Love (Club Crasher Remix)
4. The Hungry Years - Marc Almond & Andi Sex Gang
7” Track List:
SIDE A
Tainted Love (2021 Mix by Jürgen Engler)
SIDE B
The Hungry Years - Marc Almond & Andi Sex Gang
Kent –
A few months ago, your blog had a conversation
going about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and who got in and who did not ...
also how some 60's acts didn't get the
attention they deserved. aka: Johnny Maestro and
Chubby Checker
Last month, a tremendous musician passed away. He was
an outstanding bassist and harmony singer. His name was Joe Long.
He was the musician chosen by the 4 Seasons after
Nick Massi retired.
When the 4 Seasons were inducted into the Rock
& Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, there were many complaints that Joe
Long was not going to be allowed a deserved membership.
Yet, a few years later, seven members of The Eagles
were allowed on the Hall of Fame Stage for their induction, including
Timothy B. Schmidt who, in 1998, was less of an Eagle than Joe Long was a 4
Season.
It's another example of the early 60's music Hall
of Fame issue.
Bobby
I have found over the past 35
years or so of covering The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame that logic, common
sense, equal criteria on a level playing field, specific qualifying factors all
have NO place here, leaving hundreds of thousands of us real music fans scratching
our heads year after year after year.So
little of it makes sense that MOST people don’t even bother paying attention
anymore … and that’s a shame … because the very foundation The Rock Hall was
built on DEMANDS these policies be in place.At this point I think it is safe to say that we will never catch up to
where we ought to be in credibility.(kk)
Speaking of The Rock And Roll
Hall Of Fame, the final votes are in and have been tabulated …
The Top Five Artists making
the Fan Ballot for this year’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees were Tina
Turner, Fela Kuti, The Go-Go’s, Iron Maiden and Foo Fighters.This year’s inductees will be announced
shortly.(kk)
Kent –
Just wanted to let you know I've spent ten months
writing a book that was picked up by a publisher. The release date should be
October or November of 2021.
It's an autobiographical narrative titled "No
Strings Attached, My Life Growing Up With The Birth Of Rock And Roll."The publisher just completed their editing
process of the manuscript and have sent it back to me for my approval. I'll
keep you up to date on its progress.
Prior to Co-Vid, I accumulated 129 signatures on
The Guitar. Hope to hook up with you when Ron opens the Arcada in July.
Keep up the good work. You provide a great service
and wonderful distraction during these trying times.
"Guitar Jim" Nowoc
Wow, that’s awesome news, Jim
… congratulations!
Yes, looking forward to
getting back out there once it’s officially safe to do so.(My mindset right now is that by July I’ll be
paying closer attention to the statistics than the calendar dates … but man, I
can’t wait to start seeing some live music again!!!And I know Ron can’t wait either!!!)kk
If the new season of American
Crime Story spotlighting Monica Lewinsky isn’t enough to fill your appetite,
you can now watch for a new 8-part Hulu Mini-Series on Pamela and Tommy,
covering “the true story behind Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s leaked sex
tape.”Actress Lily James will portray
Anderson while the role of Tommy Lee will be filled by Actor Sebastian Stan.Set your DVRs now.(kk)
Ritchie Valens would have
turned 80 years old this Thursday (May 13th)
So sad that he left us at the
VERY young age of only 17 …
But his music has lived on
for 62 years … and will likely still be around another 62 years from now.
The hit list is short:
1958 – Come On, Let’s Go
(#42)
1959 – Donna (#2)
1959 – La Bamba (#22)
But the music was
extraordinary
We’ll never know what new
directions he may have taken.
FH Reader Mike Wolstein send
in this Surf Ballroom reminder
