Thursday This And That

Playing a bit of catch-up again today ... 

But still some pretty cool stuff to share!

Oh no …

 

Ringo Starr has cancelled the rest of his tour after testing positive for Covid for a second time.  (Hope he’s ok!!!)

 

I have heard that once you test positive, future readings are suspect because this positive trait is now in your dna … they say that as a result, you can test positive for the next six months and you have to trust how you FEEL more than anything else … but still better to be safe than sorry.  (Starr is now 82 years old, so definitely in the high risk category.)

I haven’t read anything about specific symptoms or concerns … so let’s just hope he can battle his way thru this thing.  (As a kid, Ringo spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital … and then famously had his tonsils removed while The Beatles were on tour, forcing the decision to hire Jimmy Nichol as a stand-in drummer until Ringo could join back up with the band again.  Today you can almost do a tonsillectomy on an out-patient basis!!!)

In any event, we wish him the best for a safe and speedy recovery.  (kk)

 

And speaking of Ringo Starr, FH Reader Timmy just sent us this …

 

"Let There Be Drums," an upcoming documentary by Justin Kreutzmann, the son of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann ...

The doc, due on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and in certain movie theatres, looks at where drummers come from and what keeps them going.

The film features, among others: 

Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead)

Ringo Starr (Some Liverpool band)

Stewart Copeland (The Police)

Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction)

Tre Cool (Green Day)

Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers among many others)

John Densmore (The Doors)

Taylor Hawkins  (His last-ever interview)

Timmy

I’m wondering if anyone could direct me to a list of the original Oldies But Goodies tracklists?

I seem to encounter different versions of some of the albums, or albums with songs that are on more than one of the albums in the series.

I’m trying to put together a playlist of my favorites.

If anyone would know where to find a definitive list, it would be the amazing Forgotten Hits folks.

Thanks for any tips.

Bill

These albums have been reissued so many times over the years (sometimes with fewer tracks than the original and then, in the era of cd’s, often with more “bonus” tracks.)  My guess is that another big part of the revised play lists would be that licensing agreements ran out along the way.  (I’ve also seen instances on vinyl where it was no longer the original hit version of the song being featured, which is a real shame because this goes against absolutely everything Laboe was striving for.

I don’t think I ever had a complete collection on vinyl … and those are long gone … but THOSE would be the ones to track for original listings.

Between everybody out there, perhaps we can put together a complete set of track listings as shown on the original pressings of these LP’s.

Forgotten Hits Folks (or, as Chuck Buell likes to say), Forgotten Hitters … whatcha got????  (kk)

 

This might help … these track listings appear to be from the original vinyl pressings …

(Looking these over, I can confirm that I personally owned volumes 2, 3, 8 and 9 …

And, although I don’t see it here, whichever one originally contained The Castaways’ hit “Liar Liar,” because I remember playing that track quite a bit at the time.

It’s funny, because as I look at the track list for each of these, I can remember the primary reason I bought each one!  Cool to see all of these again!)  kk

 

https://www.discogs.com/release/9471508-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-1

https://www.discogs.com/release/6696843-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-2

https://www.discogs.com/release/6316340-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-3

https://www.discogs.com/master/270498-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-4

https://www.discogs.com/master/409833-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-5

https://www.discogs.com/master/360142-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-6

https://www.discogs.com/master/523826-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-7

https://www.discogs.com/master/1225180-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-8

https://www.discogs.com/master/2479615-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-9-40th-Anniversary

https://www.discogs.com/master/514239-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-10

https://www.discogs.com/master/903177-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-11

https://www.discogs.com/master/1054341-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-12

https://www.discogs.com/master/1225179-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-13

https://www.discogs.com/master/514241-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-14

https://www.discogs.com/master/1614850-Various-Oldies-But-Goodies-Vol-15

 

>>>I had the chance to see Billy Joe Royal as the opening act for B.J. Thomas in Madison, Wisconsin in the early 2000's.  It was an outstanding show.  He made sure to sing one of my favorites, 1969's Cherry Hill Park.  He talked about that record with me back in 2010 and some of the other almost hits that he recorded.  (Phil Nee)

Billy Joe Royal had a lot of chart success in Texas in the 1960's, far more than he did nationally.  Songs like "Hush" and "Heart's Desire" were TOP 10 hits in Texas.

And a song of his that did not reach the Billboard HOT 100 was a true smash here.  "The Greatest Love" was one of the biggest hits of 1967 in San Antonio (and the flip side, "These Are Not My People" is outstanding to my ears as well.)

And as you mentioned, Joe South's song writing and producing talents were a big part of why the songs sounded so good to my teenage ears.

Brad  

Speaking of Billy Joe Royal, I saw him in concert in Jackson, Tennessee, at the Kool 103 Caravan Of Stars in May of 2014. The next day, I met him at the hotel and had a brief conversation with him over breakfast, where we spoke a bit about our mutual admiration for the late and very much missed Joe South. He gave me his phone number to do a full length interview when we both had more time, but my dumb butt never followed through. I've regretted it since, but I still have the business card he wrote his number on the back of. 

Here he is from that concert, sounding just as good as ever, singing with Ronnie Dove 

Ronnie Dove And Billy Joe Royal - Funny How Time Slips Away - YouTube

Tom Diehl

 

Fleetwood Mac’s 1988 Top 20 Hit “Everywhere” is charting again, thanks to its use (some might say OVERuse) in a new Chevy commercial.  (I have always loved this song … but right now there’s just no escaping it!  Frannie watches some show on one of those Home Networks, where they fix, rehab and flip houses, and I swear they play it at least three times an hour … but it doesn't really matter ... switch to another channel, and you’ll likely hear it there, too!)

Still, it’s just goes to show another way of keeping this great music alive … and is probably why you’ve seen so many complete music catalogs purchased lately … which just means this great music will outlive all of us.  (kk)

 

From Stephen Bishop on Friday, October 14^th …

 

On This Day in Stephen Bishop History …

On this day in 1975, Art Garfunkel’s Breakaway album was released. It was the album that changed my life and career 47 years ago. Art took a chance on a young and unknown songwriter at the time. Believed in his music, arrangements, and lyrics. Without this break, I always wonder where I would be and how many songs of mine would have never been written.

Art and I still talk regularly, a few times a month. We sing together, reminisce about the good/bad times, laugh, and remember the old days. I am forever grateful to Art, his friendship, guidance, and knowledge that helped make me the singer-songwriter I am today. Plus, having him record 10+ songs of mine is nice too …

Love ya, Art!

Love and Sunshine,

Your forever pal,

Steve

Listen to Breakaway on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1XrVWVKKfRlD0waskKj5uy#login

 

Here’s a great interview with Gene Cornish of The Rascals, back out on the road again with his old bandmate Felix Cavaliere, doing Rascals Hits again!

https://rockcellarmagazine.com/gene-cornish-interview-the-rascals-tour-dates-memoir/?utm_source=Rock+Cellar+Magazine+Subscribers&utm_campaign=8c6a122173-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_11_16_10_06_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_951cfef8de-8c6a122173-162343372&mc_cid=8c6a122173&mc_eid=f8f75f98ed#main

Hey Kent ...

I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much I appreciate your newsletter.  Your information just keeps getting better and better.  Please keep up the good work.

Toad

Thank you, Tom … much appreciated!  (And I think you’ll like the little YouTube piece we put together with Dann Isbell saluting Chicago Radio, circa August, 1967, when The Cryan’ Shames ruled the airwaves with their four-week #1 Record “It Could Be We’re In Love.”)   

 

SEE THE SPECIAL LINK BELOW!!!  (kk)

 

And here’s a tip of the hat to our Cornerstones Of Rock guys …

 

Got this picture from my buddy Pat Malott and I thought I'd share with all 60's Chicago music fans.  This was from a recent "Cornerstones of Rock" concert in Chicago area.  These great shows have been going on for years now and you may have seen an early one on PBS over the past few years when Gary Loizzo (American Breed) and Jimy Sohns (Shadows of Knight) were a part of it before their passing.  What a GREAT group of folks and a TON of great music!

 

Pat listed all the artists to his knowledge below the photo.

 

 

1st Row

Sharon Malott, Jane Malott, Donna Murphy, Julie Malott

 

2nd Row

Jim Pilster (Cryan’ Shames), Jim Peterik (Ides of March), Ronnie Rice (Formerly of New Colony Six), don't know name for fill in for Jimy Sohns - Shadows of Knight), Thomas Doody (The Cryan’ Shames), Ray Graffia, Jr. (New Colony Six)

 

3rd Row

Mike Malott, Larry Millias (Ides of March), Bruce Matty, Montrose Bam White (New Colony Six), Carl Giammarese (Buckinghams), Pat Molott, Bob Bergland (Ides of March), Pat, Jr. and Shaun Malott

Nick Fortuna and Dave Zane (of The Buckinghams) were not in the picture

 

Chronicle Chroma Announces November 8^th Publication of JIMI, Visual Celebration Tied to Rock Legend’s 80^th Birthday 

JIMI is the ultimate tribute to the greatest guitar player in rock and roll history.

Chronicle Chroma has announced the November 8 publication of JIMI, a visual celebration of Jimi Hendrix’s career and legacy, coinciding with the late guitarist’s 80th birthday (November 27, 2022) celebration. This visually stunning and specially curated deluxe hardcover book is a comprehensive, graphic salute to the iconic musician. 

Authors Janie Hendrix and John McDermott have compiled childhood stories, rarely seen photos and candid images, dedications, and inspirational anecdotes, giving fans an inside look at Jimi’s groundbreaking musical artistry. More than anything, JIMI presents a vivid display of why he is considered the most influential electric guitarist in the history of popular music.  JIMI has just been chosen as one of Barnes & Noble’s Best Gift Books of 2022. On November 18, just ten days after the book’s publication, Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. in partnership with Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, is releasing The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Los Angeles Forum: April 26,1969 on 2LP vinyl, CD and all digital platforms.

“It’s hard to imagine that Jimi would be 80 … Perhaps it’s because he will be forever young in our minds and alive in our hearts,” says Experience Hendrix president and CEO Janie Hendrix. “We celebrate his inspiring life with this beautifully designed tribute to Jimi that features a collection of images, art, and memories that tell his story as not only a legendary guitarist and musician, but as an incomparable human being who so briefly graced planet earth with his presence.”

JIMI is an official collaboration with the illustrious artist’s sister, Janie Hendrix, and John McDermott of Experience Hendrix L.L.C., and significantly expands on the authors' previously published titles, including An Illustrated Experience. The collective work also features a new introduction by Janie, extensive biographical texts, and a trove of photographs, personal memorabilia, handwritten lyrics, and more, giving full inside access in ways fans have never seen before. Additionally, JIMI includes quotations by legendary musicians, such as Paul McCartney, Ron Wood, Jeff Beck, Lenny Kravitz, Drake, Dave Grohl, and others expressing their sentiments on Jimi’s lasting influence. 

“We are thrilled to work with Janie Hendrix, John McDermott, and the Jimi Hendrix estate on this very special publication,” says Chronicle Chroma publisher, Steve Crist. “Jimi’s music has touched millions of people around the world, and we are honored to publish this distinctive, visual journey of his life and incredible musical career.” 

In the four years before his untimely death in 1970 at age 27, Jimi Hendrix created a groundbreaking musical legacy. It is an expansive and eclectic body of work that includes ballads and Blues, as well as revered classics such as “Purple Haze” and “Voodoo Child.” Widely regarded as one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century, his signature guitar playing, provocative songwriting, and charismatic performances have continued to inspire legions of musicians and fans alike. 

  

ABOUT THE BOOK 

JIMI By Janie Hendrix & John McDermott 

ISBN: 9781797220017

9 x 12 in 320 pp, 250 color & b+w photographs and memorabilia 

Hardcover 

$50.00 

On-sale date: November 8, 2022 

 

ABOUT JANIE HENDRIX Janie L. Hendrix is the president and CEO of Seattle-based Experience Hendrix L.L.C. and Authentic Hendrix L.L.C., the family companies of Jimi Hendrix, which were founded by James “Al” Hendrix in 1995, as a means of keeping Hendrix’s legacy alive. Janie has ushered the companies into the 21st century with the dream of her father and brother in mind.

 

ABOUT JOHN MCDERMOTT John McDermott is a director, writer, and producer who has long been associated with the legacy of Jimi Hendrix. He has served as the catalog director for Experience Hendrix L.L.C. for nearly three decades. Together with Janie Hendrix and Eddie Kramer, McDermott has coproduced every Jimi Hendrix CD and DVD release, including 1999’s Grammy Award–winning Band of Gypsys, 2014’s Emmy Award– winning Hear My Train A Comin’, and the recent Grammy-nominated Music, Money, Madness: Jimi Hendrix In Maui and the forthcoming Los Angeles Forum: April 26, 1969 

 

ABOUT EXPERIENCE HENDRIX, L.L.C. Founded by James “Al” Hendrix, Jimi’s father, in 1995, Experience Hendrix has been managed since its inception by the family members handpicked by Al During his tenure as Chairman.  It is the official family company charged with managing the music, name, image and likeness of Jimi Hendrix. As a part of their daily operations, Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix oversee Jimi's timeless legacy on a worldwide basis.

 ABOUT CHRONICLE BOOKS AND CHRONICLE CHROMA 

Founded in 1967 in San Francisco, CHRONICLE BOOKS is one of the world’s most admired publishers and distributors of illustrated books, gifts, and games for all ages. Its highly acclaimed list spans art, photography, food, lifestyle, pop culture, humor, self-help, wellness, thought leadership, children’s books, and stationery, among other categories. Chronicle is the home of numerous award-winning authors, bestselling series, and trend-setting titles. Chronicle Books is committed to partnering with artists and writers who represent the diversity of our world and to maintaining an inclusive and equitable working environment for its employees and business partners. For more information visit www.chroniclebooks.com. 

 

CHRONICLE CHROMA is the Los Angeles–based imprint of Chronicle Books. Chronicle Chroma publishes books that celebrate the visual arts, entertainment, and pop culture, including film, photography, art, fashion, illustration, architecture, design, and more.

Hi Kent,

I recently had the pleasure of being on the Ray Carr Show in Cleveland, Ohio.

You can listen to the interview here:  

https://raycarram.com/show_archives_2022

Paul Haney

Record Research

Country Music Superstar Shania Twain has been cast as Mrs. Potts in an upcoming ABC Television Special celebrating the 30^th Anniversary of “Beauty And The Beast” being nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.  (Ironically, Disney’s movie Mrs. Potts, Angela Lansbury, just passed away about a week ago.)

The program will air on December 15^th.  Also on board are H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as The Beast … Martin Short and David Alan Grier … and Rita Moreno will narrate.  (kk)

Congratulations to The Police … their 1983 #1 Smash “Every Breath You Take” just passed ONE BILLION YouTube views.  (Incredibly, it is the 225^th video to do so)  kk

Kent,

Today's FH post from Chuck Buell reminded me of one of my all time favorites by Kenny Rogers, COWard of the COUNTY.
Larry

 

Kent, 

I loved your corrected/added to version of my story.  Thanks so much for the additional stuff.  

Clark

I think it worked well together - 

This was a topic I might not have covered otherwise ...

But it provided a good chance to shine even more light on Capitol’s mismanagement of the biggest act they’ve ever had!!!  (kk)

SO TRUE!  Kids today have NO idea how exciting those years were.  

It'll never happen again with very few releases ever being heard and thus bought these days, with year long charters.

Clark

OK, so you've just GOT to check this out!

When our FH Buddy Dann Isbell (he of "Ranking the '60's" and "Ranking the '70's" book fame) approached me a couple of weeks ago about putting something together for his new Bits O'Hits YouTube series, I was immediately onboard.

(You can view Dann's posts to date here ...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyi8F--aJQ0YtVHrnZUKNrA )

Dann's videos are built to capture a specific moment in time and he then counts down The Top 30 Biggest Hits of that particular era.

So when he asked me what I'd like to do, this was a no brainer ...

Because anybody who knows me at all knows that my all-time favorite year in music is 1967 ... heck, we even dedicated an entire YEAR to reliving and remembering everything that happened during my favorite musical era ...

But better yet (and this is ESPECIALLY cool, having just come off the whole Rewound Radio Labor Day Weekend Tribute to WLS and WCFL, our two 50,000 Watt Powerhouse AM Top 40 Stations in '67), we had Dann put together a sequence counting down The Top 30 Hits on Chicagoland Radio, circa August, 1967, based on the rankings of the accumulated charts of each station's weekly survey!!!  

(Why August, you may ask???  Because that month capped off The Summer Of Love ... because our local groups were enjoying some of their greatest success on the AM dial ... and because The Cryan' Shames captivate our hearts for that entire month when they topped our local charts with their mega-hit "It Could Be We're In Love!")

So now ... join us as we OFFICIALLY Launch this VERY SPECIAL EVENT ... 

The Bits O' Hits / Forgotten Hits Salute to August, 1967 ... and the WLS / WCFL Charts!!!

https://youtu.be/frUbn3nxk8o 

(Thanks again, Dann, for your patience and dedication in putting this thing together.  I hope it's a huge hit for you!  And we are proud to be a member of your site.)  kk

BEATLES '65 ... courtesy of Clark Besch

More signs of how out of touch Capitol Records in the US was with the Beatles' wishes.*  

"Yesterday" was on the UK "Help!" LP in the Summer of '65, but was not on the US version, so Capitol released it as a 45 in September, '65 and it went to #1 for four weeks here.  

The Beatles were embarrassed to have it as a 45 because it was only Paul and his guitar and strings and no other Beatles appearing.  Just shows how out of touch Capitol still was in late 1965 with how the Beatles wanted their music to be released in the US.  

See the below letter from Dave Dexter to  then Capitol Records president, Alan Livingston.  Dexter was the man at Capitol responsible for passing on using Capitol's rights to release the first four UK Beatles 45s in the US.  He's the man responsible for making sure those 14 track UK LPs only ended up with 11 in the US.  He's the man who refused to use the Beatles UK LP photos on US LP covers.  He's the man who carved out mishmash LPs in the US, using left over UK LP cuts on followup LPs here as well as grabbing "Yesterday" to be a US 45 while it was only an LP cut in England three months prior and never intended to be a 45 by the Beatles (NOTE: It WAS released as a 45 in the UK in 1976 and reached #1 there, too).  He's the man responsible for my fave Beatles LP being carved into "Beatles VI" from six month old UK LP tracks and the still upcoming UK "Help!" album.  Between December, 1964 and December, 1965, Capitol turned three UK LPs into four US LPs, by adding an LP of year old tracks for one "hits" compilation, "The Early Beatles.".

Anyway, "Yesterday" was released as a US 45 on September 13, 1965, and was #1 within three weeks.  This apparently prompted the Capitol president to ask for an entire album of McCartney solo songs.  Dexter gave the reply below.  View below to see how Dexter created even more mystery with "Yesterday".

 

*The story behind Yesterday can be read here:

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/yesterday-beatles-song-story/

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Here in Chicago, WLS first listed "Yesterday" as a Paul McCartney single PRIOR to it actually being released on a 45.  (It showed up as their 20th Biggest Hit for the week of September 3rd, 1965 ... but you couldn't actually even BUY the single yet ... and even when you could, it wasn't released as by Paul McCartney but rather (and rightfully so) as The Beatles.  One could argue that WLS was trying to cash in on McCartney's solo performance of the tune on The Ed Sullivan Show ... except THAT wouldn't happen until September 12th!!!  Regardless, thanks to airplay from the British "Help!" album released in the UK, the tune had already gained enormous popularity with both the kids and the critics alike. (kk)

 

Back to you, Clark!  (kk)

 

IF you were LISTENING to American AM top 40 radio in October, 1965, it got filled up pretty good with surprises.

 

"Ticket to Ride" had been the normal great success story reaching #1 and dropping from the Billboard Hot 100 by July 4th that summer.  As anxious as Capitol was to make more money off the Beatles, they DID get that "Beatles VI" hodgepodge LP out quickly and the week AFTER July 4th, it zoomed to #1 on the LP chart.  Note that new #1 "Beatles VI" was first charting only nine weeks after "The Early Beatles" (#53) had first charted featuring 1964 hits like "She Loves You."

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Actually, "The Early Beatles" did NOT include "She Loves You" ... that song had already been released on Capitol's "The Beatles Second Album LP," issued right after "Meet The Beatles" in a effort to cash in on more Beatles British hits.  By this time, the song had already fallen off the charts, having made it all the way to #1 on Swan Records in March of '64, a full year earlier.  Swan was a Philadelphia-based label that Dick Clark had his hands in at one point and time. (Our FH Buddy Freddy Cannon had most of his hits released on the Swan label.)

"The Early Beatles" was essentially Capitol's way of "catching up" ... all of these tracks had already been released on Vee Jay's "Introducing The Beatles" when Beatlemania first hit in February of 1964.  But even there Capitol cut a corner ... "Misery" was left off their LP ... and never appeared on a commercially released album on the Capitol record label.  (kk)

 

By the time "Beatles VI" had reached #1 (above), the new movie and 45 "Help!" was out and headed for #1.  

Things went well with the new "Help!" LP also as both were topping the singles and LP charts in September.

 

"Beatles VI" was #1 until the new LP came out and the difference was again only nine weeks between first charting of each LP!

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Capitol's "Help" Soundtrack LP was also a truncated version of its British counterpart. On the UK version, all of the soundtrack songs appeared on Side One, while Side Two featured brand new music NOT featured in the film.

Here in The States, we got all kinds of instrumental filler instead ... what they call "incidental music" from the film soundtrack.  I remember making the decision NOT to buy this album since it included so much music of no interest to me.  

It was kind of like when United Artists released the "A Hard Day's Night" soundtrack album, filled with George Martin instrumental arrangements of some of these new tunes.  I opted instead to buy Capitol's "Something New," since all I was going to get either way was new the songs featured in the film.  Besides, I already had the singles "A Hard Day's Night" / "I Should Have Known Better" and "Can't Buy Me Love" anyway ... so I didn't really care that these tracks didn't appear on the new Capitol release.  

At least with "Something New" I got some brand new Beatles music to go along with the new songs from the movie ... including one of my all-time faves, "Things We Said Today," which just happened to be the B-Side of the British "A Hard Day's Night" single.   (Of course we ALSO got The Beatles singing "I Want To Hold Your Hand" in GERMAN on this album, too ... so now I had "Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand" on an LP ... and "Sie Liebt Dich" on a single!  Thank God that ended The Beatles' German Period!!!  lol)  kk

 

As "Help" the 45 was about to stay four weeks at #1, Dexter had the time to make his new decision to release "Yesterday" as a single after radio had been playing it to widespread favor due to playing the import LP of "Help" that HAD the song issued the song on UK releases, but not the US one.

Below you can see that "Help!" takes a sudden tumble when "Yesterday" debuts on the singles chart at #45 in late September.

 

Making even more chaotic moves right then, Dexter released six 45s of OLD Beatles LP cuts as 45s on the Capitol Starline label in late October when "Yesterday" was #1 for its third of four weeks!  Radio jumped on the old Ringo track "Boys" and Billboard gave it a top 20 prediction!

 

I have an aircheck from that period off WABC New York who was playing ALL three "current" Beatles 45s in the same hour!

 

Below you can see WABC has all three charting.  "Yesterday" at #1, "Help!" at #12 and "Boys" as a Pick hit.

 

In Chicago, "Boys" was #18 by the end of October, but Capitol had soon decided to pull the 45 from the market because it was "confusing" buyers.  The song would still rate on WLS a few more weeks!  

 

The song would just miss making the Hot 100 due to this reason, reaching #102 before being yanked from store shelves.  It COULD have given Ringo his chance to have TWO Ringo vocal NATIONAL hits in the same week as a Beatle!

 

WELL, it actually happened in the OTHER music trade magazine of the day when he ranked #37 and 73!!!

EDITOR'S NOTE:  The Beatles were none to happy about the release of "Boys," a two year old track, on Capitol's Green Starline Label.  They spoke out immediately, stating that it didn't properly represent the band at their current level of material ... which was true.  (I still maintain that had Vee Jay or Tollie released "Boys" as a single when they were flooding the market with everything else related to their British "Please Please Me" LP, it would have been a HUGE hit.  Ringo had an exceptionally large nose, I mean FOLLOWING here in The States ... and releasing "Boys" in March or April of 1964 would have been a sure-fire hit. (I mean MGM was releasing "My Bonnie," for God's Sake, with The Beatles' name shown on the picture sleeve three times bigger than that of vocalist Tony Sheridan, who they backed up on the single first recorded in Germany way back in 1961!)  kk

Next came the two-sided hit "We Can Work it Out" and "Day Tripper," released as a 45 ONLY, which went right to #1 the same week the NEW Beatles LP ("Rubber Soul") would reach #1, yet NOT have the single on it at all!

NOT releasing "Michelle" as a single was another HUGE bonehead move on Capitol's part ... it was about as close as you could come to a sure thing hit, especially in light of the success of "Yesterday" from just a few months before.  (In fact, after reading Clark's new revelation regarding Capitol inquiring about an all-McCartney album, you would think that label head Alan Livingston would have INSISTED upon it!  (Interestingly enough, a story has recently surfaced that when The Beatles first signed their record contract with Parlophone Records in the UK, McCartney had written into his paperwork a clause that stated that he was also interested in a solo contract, should the label not be interested in the whole group ... which means that even at the early age of 20, McCartney was already looking out for #1 ... perhaps realizing even way back then that the best thing the young band had going for it to have any chance at fame and fortune ... was him!)

The story at the time regarding "Michelle" not being released as a single was that it was deliberately held back as a means of forcing people to purchase the whole album in order to gain access to the song.  (It WAS released as a single in many other countries around the world.)  kk

 

That fall and winter of 1965 was like a treasure trove of Beatles greatness over and over, yet MUCH more chaotic than the UK, thanks to Dave Dexter, Jr.  Can you even imagine what OTHER kind of chaos there may have been if there would have been an all Macca LP?!?!

 

THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!  ALL of this in about six months time!  Imagine that happening today?!?!?  No wonder the 60's were SO great!

Clark Besch

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:  Actually today, EVERY track on EVERY Beatles album would have made the charts, even if only for a week or two ... because they all were getting airplay and phone requests every single day.  Based on today's criteria, The Beatles likely would have charted 150 times during their 1964 - 1970 American reign.  (And probably have had at least half a dozen more #1 singles as well!)

 

It was a different time ... a very exciting time ... with new trends in music appearing almost weekly.  The artists inspired each other to reach for new heights and explore new elements in creating the next big pop sound.  For much of the way, The Beatles led the charge.  

 

Consider this ... 

 

During the second year of Beatlemania, The Fabs were still able to chart an incredible FIFTEEN TIMES on the pop singles chart in 1965!!!  Their albums "Beatles '65," "The Early Beatles," "Beatles VI," "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" also dominated the US LP Charts this year.  So much for the sophomore jinx!!!  (kk)

A Little SOMETHING From Chuck Buell

Chuck Buell once again shines his Musical Spotlight on “This Day in Music History!”

 

 

It was on this date, October 18, 1969, from the Big City to the Smallest Farmland, the Beatles Forgotten Hit, “Something” was “herd” across the country while peaking at Number Three!

 

And with that, here's my Special "Chuck Buell Forgotten Hits Half-Minute Music Melody!" 

 

CB ( which stands for “Cow Boy!” )

More Beatles Milestones tomorrow in Forgotten Hits!  (kk)

Coast To Coast Charts, 1972 - This Week We're Stopping in Tenessee - October 14th

 

 

Now this is a different approach to listing your station's most popular tracks ...

WKDA only lists their Top Ten "Favorite Songs" (ALL of which are somewhat unique to the charts we've been sharing lately ... have we even seen "Nights In White Satin" on another chart yet?  And here it's already #1!!! Which, of course, it would be ... everywhere but Billboard where it peaked at #2.)

On last week's Hawaiian chart, "You Wear It Well" by Rod Stewart was just starting to make its climb up the list.  Here, it's already sitting at #6.  "City Of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie sits right above it at #5. while Seals and Crofts have the #4 hit with "Summer Breeze."  Cool to see Leon Russell's "Tight Rope" perched at #7,  too.

Beyond The Top Ten, they simply list other songs played on WKDA ... and you'll find a few surprises here:

"Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie, "Colorado" by Danny Holien (a song that Clark Besch raved about a few weeks ago), "Geronimo's Cadillac" by Michael Murphey, " "Rock And Roll Soul" by Grand Funk Railroad, "Let's See Action" / "When I Was A Boy" by Pete Townshend (!),  "Deteriorata" by National Lampoon, "And You And I" playing as an LP cut by Yes ... looking at the wide range of albums they're featuring ... looks like 40 in all ... and being an FM station, I'm guessing that this is more the genre of music they leaned toward back in 1972.

How about "Hard Life, Hard Times" by John Denver, "Redwood Tree" by Van Morrison, "Paradise" by Jackie DeShannon, "I Love You More" by Donny Hathaway, "Coming Down All Alone" by Joe South, "Yes, I'll Say It" by Swallow (???) and two of my personal favorites from this era, "No" by Bulldog and "American City Suite" by Cashman and West.

Of the new songs on the list, only Al Green's "You Ought To Be With Me" ever really made it ... but they've also listed then unknown band Steely Dan's first LP, "Can't Buy A Thrill" as one of their up-and-comers.  Seeing LPs on the list by George Carlin, Cheech and Chong, National Lampoon and some imports (by the likes of The Beach Boys and Jimi Hendrix no less!!!), I think they catered to the underground listener who just couldn't get into country music like the rest of his neighbors at the time.

SWEET 16 - October

We've got Winners and Losers on this month's SWEET 16 ... 

Starting with a song by that very name by Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds ...