The Official First Day Of Summer

As summer officially begins, we direct you to your most recent list of all time summer favorites!

YOUR TOP 200 ALL-TIME SUMMER FAVORITES

After 45,000 votes, THIS is the way that you have ranked your All-Time Summer Favorites.

We have done this poll in 2001, 2006, 2010 and most recently again in 2020.

ALL four times, you have voted SUMMER IN THE CITY by THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL to be YOUR ALL-TIME SUMMER FAVORITE.

This time, we placed no "year restrictions" on the songs that could be nominated ...

And the criteria was simple:

What songs best evoke the feeling of summer in your mind?

That means they can be songs about summer ...

Songs with Summer in the title ...

Songs about Hot Fun in the Summertime ...

or Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer ...

Happy Summer Days ... or Summertime Blues ...

Summer activities like Surfin' and Cruisin' ...

or Dancin' in the Street ...

California Girls, Surfer Girls, Girl Watchin' ...

Summer places ... whether they be Under the Boardwalk or Up on the Roof ...

Drinkin' Summer Wine ...

Summer Lovin' ...

Saying Goodbye for the Summer ...

but then Seeing you again in September ...

The sun and sunshine ...

A walk along the beach ...

Twistin' the night away ...

Singin' in the Sunshine ...

or Walkin' in the Summer Rain ...

Or simply the Biggest Songs of Summers Past ...

Songs that take you back to a particular place in time with indelible memories.

Capturing the spirit of ALL of the above,

THESE are the Summer Songs that mean the most to YOU ...

LET THE SUMMER COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!

Rank  Title   -   Artist          (Year)          2010 Rank

  1 - SUMMER IN THE CITY - The Lovin' Spoonful (1966)   1

  2 - CALIFORNIA GIRLS - The Beach Boys (1965)   9

  3 - IN THE SUMMERTIME - Mungo Jerry (1970)   5

  4 - HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME - Sly and the Family Stone (1969)   3

  5 - SATISFACTION - The Rolling Stones (1965)   19

  6 - A SUMMER SONG - Chad and Jeremy (1964)   2

  7 - I GET AROUND - The Beach Boys (1964)   11

  8 - DANCING IN THE STREET - Martha and the Vandellas (1964)   15

  9 - SUMMERTIME - Billy Stewart (1966)   7

 10 - SUMMERTIME BLUES - Eddie Cochran (1958)   8

 11 - SCHOOL'S OUT - Alice Cooper (1972)   18

 12 - LIGHT MY FIRE - The Doors (1967)   37

 13 - THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" - Percy Faith (1960)   6

 14 - SUMMER OF '69 - Bryan Adams (1985)   22

 15 - ALL SUMMER LONG - The Beach Boys (1964)   4

 16 - FUN FUN FUN - The Beach Boys (1964)   17

 17 - BORN TO BE WILD - Steppenwolf (1968)   29

 18 - THE BOYS OF SUMMER - Don Henley (1985)   35

 19 - CALIFORNIA SUN - The Rivieras (1964)   13

 20 - BEACH BABY - First Class (1974)   27

 21 - SEALED WITH A KISS - Brian Hyland (1962)   16

 22 - HERE COMES THE SUN - The Beatles (1969)   HM

 23 - UNDER THE BOARDWALK - The Drifters (1964)   45

 24 - SURFIN' USA - The Beach Boys (1963)   14

 25 - SATURDAY IN THE PARK - Chicago (1972)   38

 26 - SAN FRANCISCO (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) - Scott McKenzie (1967)   31

 27 - HERE COMES SUMMER - Jerry Keller (1959)   12

 28 - SURF CITY - Jan and Dean (1963)   21

 29 - SUMMER BREEZE - Seals and Crofts (1972)   23

 30 - WIPE OUT - The Surfaris (1963, 1966)   26

 31 - WALKIN' ON SUNSHINE - Katrina and the Waves (1985)   41

 32 - WONDERFUL SUMMER - Robin Ward (1963)   20

 33 - SUMMER WIND - Frank Sinatra (1966)   39

 34 - SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER - The Happenings (1966)   25

 35 - WINDY - The Association (1967)   28

 36 - WOULDN'T IT BE NICE - The Beach Boys (1966)   30

 37 - CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' - The Mamas and the Papas (1966)   98

 38 - SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME - The Jamies (1958)   10

 39 - PALISADES PARK - Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon (1962)   43

 40 - SURFER GIRL - The Beach Boys (1963)   47

 41 - KOKOMO - The Beach Boys (1988)   62

 42 - SUMMER NIGHTS - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (1978)   24

 43 - SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (1965)   49

 44 - DO IT AGAIN - The Beach Boys (1968)   66

 45 - SUNNY - Bobby Hebb (1966)   80

 46 - GROOVIN' - The Young Rascals (1967)   33

 47 - HEAT WAVE - Martha and the Vandellas (1963)   34

 48 - SUMMER - War (1976)   46

 49 - SUNNY AFTERNOON - The Kinks (1966)   87

 50 - MARGARITAVILLE - Jimmy Buffett (1977)   99

 51 - ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKA-DOT BIKINI -  Brian Hyland (1960)   50

 52 - GRAZING IN THE GRASS - Hugh Masekela (1968)   74

 53 - WILD THING - The Troggs (1966)   95

 54 - ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE - The Beatles (1967)   97

 55 - HAWAII FIVE-O - The Ventures (1969)   61

 56 - ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - Bill Haley and the Comets (1955)   59

 57 - HONKY TONK WOMEN - The Rolling Stones (1969)   96

 58 - CALIFORNIA NIGHTS - Lesley Gore (1967)   32

 59 - CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OF YOU - Frankie Valli (1967)  HM

 60 - SUNSHINE SUPERMAN - Donovan (1966)   88

 61 - THE WARMTH OF THE SUN - The Beach Boys (1964)   57

 62 - BROWN EYED GIRL - Van Morrison (1967)   HM

 63 - I CAN'T HELP MYSELF - The Four Tops (1965)   55

 64 - LITTLE BIT O'SOUL - The Music Explosion (1967)   42

 65 - SO MUCH IN LOVE - The Tymes (1963)   48

 66 - LET'S TWIST AGAIN - Chubby Checker (1961)   xx

 67 - ONE SUMMER NIGHT - The Danleers (1958)   51

 68 - WALK DON'T RUN - The Ventures (1960)   HM

 69 - JACK AND DIANE - John Cougar Mellencamp (1982)   94

 70 - DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT - King Harvest (1973)   90

 71 - SUMMER RAIN - Johnny Rivers (1967)   36

 72 - VACATION - The Go Gos (1982)   83

 73 - SMOOTH - Santana featuring Rob Thomas (1999)   xx

 74 - BARBARA ANN - The Beach Boys (1966)   HM

 75 - NIGHT MOVES - Bob Seger (1978)   68

 76 - LIKE A ROLLING STONE - Bob Dylan (1965)   xx

 77 - WOOLY BULLY - Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs (1965)   xx

 78 - CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION - Tommy James and the Shondells (1969)   xx

 79 - SUMMER SUN - Jamestown Massacre (1972)   79

 80 - THOSE LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER - Nat "King" Cole (1963)   40

 81 - HANKY PANKY - Tommy James and the Shondells (1966)   60

 82 - SUNDAY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME - Spanky and Our Gang (1967)   HM

 83 - SPILL THE WINE - Eric Burdon and War (1970)   HM

 84 - I LIVE FOR THE SUN - The Sunrays (1965)   44

 85 - STONED SOUL PICNIC - The Fifth Dimension (1968)   xx

 86 - CRUEL SUMMER - Bananarama (1984)   100

 87 - MY SHARONA - The Knack (1979)   xx

 88 - COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT - Every Mother's Son (1967)   72

 89 - NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO - Chuck Berry (1964)   70

 90 - BRANDY - Looking Glass (1972)   HM

 91 - SUMMERTIME BLUES - The Who (1970)   65

 92 - GOOD VIBRATIONS - The Beach Boys (1966)   91

 93 - A WHITER SHADE OF PALE - Procol Harum (1967)   xx

 94 - LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA - Jan and Dean (1964)   xx

 95 - A HARD DAY'S NIGHT - The Beatles (1964)   HM

 96 - AFTERNOON DELIGHT - The Starland Vocal Band (1976)   HM

 97 - HELLO, I LOVE YOU - The Doors (1968)  xx

 98 - RAG DOLL - The Four Seasons (1964)   xx

 99 - SURFIN' SAFARI - The Beach Boys (1962)   52

100 - DON'T WORRY BABY - The Beach Boys (1964)   73

101 - MISERLOU - Dick Dale (1963)   xx

102 - ROCK THE BOAT - The Hues Corporation (1974)  58

103 - LAKE SHORE DRIVE - Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah (1973)   HM

104 - I GOT YOU BABE - Sonny and Cher (1965)   xx

105 - UP, UP AND AWAY - The Fifth Dimension (1967)   xx

106 - TOSSIN' AND TURNIN' - Bobby Lewis (1961)   xx

107 - SUMMER WINE - Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood (1967)   76

108 - MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK - The Angels (1963)   xx

109 - EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE - The Police (1983)   xx

110 - DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYIN' - Gerry and the Pacemakers (1964)   xx

111 - WE'LL SING IN THE SUNSHINE - Gale Garnett (1964)   HM

112 - INDIAN LAKE - The Cowsills (1968)   HM

113 - SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE - Cream (1967)   xx

114 - SUMMER MEANS FUN - Bruce and Terry (1964)   67

115 - LOVE SHACK - The B-52's (1989)   xx

116 - IT'S TOO LATE - Carole King (1971)   xx

117 - LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER - The Captain and Tennille (1975)   xx

118 - FINGERTIPS, PART 2 - Stevie Wonder (1963)   xx

119 - THE TWIST - Chubby Checker (1960, 1962)   xx

120 - MUSIC TO WATCH GIRLS BY - The Bob Crewe Generation (1967)   HM

121 - SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS - Lesley Gore (1965)   xx

122 - GOOD DAY SUNSHINE - The Beatles (1966)   HM

123 - MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT - Starbuck (1976)   xx

124 - I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN - The Beatles (1965)   HM

125 - GIRL WATCHER - The O'Kaysions (1968)   HM

126 - SAUSALITO SUMMER NIGHT - Diesel (1981)   xx

127 - REMEMBER (WALKIN' IN THE SAND) - The Shangri-Las (1964)   xx

128 - LITTLE DEUCE COUPE - The Beach Boys (1963)   63

129 - WHITE RABBITT - Jefferson Airplane (1967)   xx

130 - WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO - The Supremes (1964)   xx

131 - VACATION - Connie Francis (1962)   56

132 - UP ON THE ROOF - The Drifters (1963)   75

133 - HITCHIN' A RIDE - Vanity Fare (1970)   xx

134 - PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY - The Monkees (1967)   HM

135 - CLOSE TO YOU - The Carpenters (1970)   HM

136 - JUMPIN' JACK FLASH - The Rolling Stones (1968)   xx

137 - ACTION - Freddy Cannon (1965)   71

138 - YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (1978)   xx

139 - WILDWOOD DAYS - Bobby Rydell (1963)   xx

140 - HELP ME RHONDA - The Beach Boys (1965)   92

141 - THE LOCO-MOTION - Little Eva (1962)   xx

142 - DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - Elton John and Kiki Dee (1976)   xx

143 - SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND - The Beatles (1967)   xx

144 - CALIFORNIA GURLS - Katy Perry (2010)   xx

145 - THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA - Stan Getz and Astrid Gilberto (1964)   HM

146 - IT COULD BE WE'RE IN LOVE - The Cryan' Shames (1967)   xx

147 - HAPPY SUMMER DAYS - Ronnie Dove (1966)   xx

148 - CHAPEL OF LOVE - The Dixiecups (1964)   xx

149 - PURPLE HAZE - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)   xx

150 - WHERE THE BOYS ARE - Connie Francis (1961)   89

151 - CENTERFIELD - John Fogerty (1985)   81

152 - LIVIN' LA VIDA LOCA - Ricky Martin (1999)   xx

153 - HAPPY TOGETHER - The Turtles (1967)   xx

154 - THE RAIN, THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS - The Cowsills (1967)   HM

155 - DIRTY WATER - The Standells (1966)   HM

156 - SHORT SHORTS - The Royal Teens (1958)   HM

157 - HEY YA - OutKast (2003)   xx

158 - SHERRY - The Four Seasons (1962)   HM

159 - SUMMERTIME BLUES - Blue Cheer (1968)   69

160 - WHAT DOES IT TAKE - Jr. Walker and the All-Stars (1969)   xx

161 - GRAZING IN THE GRASS - Friends of Distinction (1969)   xx

162 - STAND BY ME - Ben E. King (1961)   HM

163 - GREEN GRASS - Gary Lewis and the Playboys (1966)   xx

164 - SUMMERTIME - Janis Joplin (1969)   54

165 - BUS STOP - The Hollies (1966)   84

166 - GTO - Ronny and the Daytonas (1964)   53

167 - DAYDREAM - The Lovin' Spoonful (1966)   xx

168 - SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER - The Motels (1983)   HM

169 - GO ALL THE WAY - The Raspberries (1972)   78

170 - EYE OF THE TIGER - Survivor (1982)   xx

171 - HELLO MUDDUH, HELLO FADDAH - Allan Sherman (1963)   xx

172 - WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND - Grand Funk Railroad (1973)   xx

173 - MY CHERIE AMOUR - Stevie Wonder (1969)   xx

174 - THE LETTER - The Box Tops (1967)   xx

175 - SUMMER (THE FIRST TIME) - Bobby Goldsboro (1973)   64

176 - HUNGRY - Paul Revere and the Raiders (1966)   xx

177 - ALONG COMES MARY - The Association (1966)   xx

178 - MAKE IT WITH YOU - Bread (1970)   xx

179 - MAGIC - The Cars (1984)   xx

180 - SMOKE ON THE WATER - Deep Purple (1973)   xx

181 - ALL SUMMER LONG - Kid Rock (2008)  xx

182 - MAKE ME SMILE - Chicago (1970)   xx

183 - VENTURA HIGHWAY - America (1972)  xx

184 - SOAK UP THE SUN - Sheryl Crow (2002)   HM

185 - LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND - Pat Boone (1957)   HM

186 - OLD DAYS - Chicago (1975)   xx

187 - SOMEBODY TO LOVE - Jefferson Airplane (1967)   86

188 - TWISTING THE NIGHT AWAY - Sam Cooke (1962)   xx

189 - SUNDOWN - Gordon Lightfoot (1974)   xx

190 - MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME - Three Dog Night (1970)   xx

191 - THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" - The Lettermen (1965)   HM

192 - SUNNY DAYS - Lighthouse (1972)   xx

193 - DEAD MAN'S CURVE - Jan and Dean (1964)   xx

194 - ALL RIGHT NOW - Free (1970)   xx

195 - TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS - Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1974)   xx

196 - TIGHTER, TIGHTER - Alive 'n' Kickin' (1970)   xx

197 - GET READY - Rare Earth (1970)   xx

198 - 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago (1970)   xx

199 - HOUND DOG - Elvis Presley (1956)   93

200 - GOD ONLY KNOWS - The Beach Boys (1966)   xx



HONORABLE MENTION:

When you already have 200 Songs IN The Countdown, how many more "extras" can you run?

Well, in this case, 80 more ...

As this list of "Honorable Mentions" covers EVERY record that earned fifty or more votes in our Summer Favorites Poll.

These tracks would make for a welcome addition ANYTIME ... all year round.

59th STREET BRIDGE SONG - Harpers Bizarre  (1967)

ALL DAY MUSIC - War  (1971)          

ALL I WANNA DO - Sheryl Crow  (1994)  HM in 2010

ALLEY OOP - The Hollywood Argyles (1960)

BALL OF CONFUSION - The Temptations  (1970)

BORN TO RUN - Bruce Springsteen  (1975)

BROWN SUGAR - The Rolling Stones  (1971)

CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - The Beatles  (1964)

CATCH A WAVE - The Beach Boys  (1963)  #85 in 2010

CLASSICAL GAS - Mason Williams  (1968)

C'MON MARIANNE - The Four Seasons  (1967)

DANCING IN THE DARK - Bruce Springsteen  (1984)

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC - The Lovin' Spoonful  (1965)  HM in 2010

DON'T BE CRUEL - Elvis Presley  (1956)  #77 in 2010

DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY - Petula Clark  (1967)

ESCAPE - Rupert Holmes  (1979)

FUNKYTOWN - Lipps, Inc.  (1980)

GET CLOSER - Seals and Crofts  (1976)

GIMME SHELTER - The Rolling Stones  (1969)

A GIRL LIKE YOU - The Young Rascals  (1967)

GOOD LOVIN' - The Young Rascals (1966)

GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE - The Beatles  (1966, 1976)

GREEN ONIONS - Booker T and the MG's  (1962)

THE HEAT IS ON - Glenn Frey  (1985)

HELP! - The Beatles  (1965)

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN - The Animals  (1964)

I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER - Stevie Wonder  (1967)

IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT - The Five Satins  (1956)  HM in 2010

ISLAND IN THE SUN - Weezer  (2001)

IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER - Carole King  (1962)

LA GRANGE - ZZ Top  (1974)

LAY LADY LAY - Bob Dylan  (1969)

LAZY DAY - Spanky and Our Gang (1967)

LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY - The Grass Roots  (1967)

LITTLE GIRL - Syndicate Of Sound (1966)

LOVELY DAY - Bill Withers   (1978)

MAGIC - Pilot  (1975)

MISS YOU - The Rolling Stones  (1978)

MISSISSIPPI QUEEN - Mountain  (1970)

MONY MONY - Tommy James and the Shondells  (1968)

MR. BLUE SKY - Electric Light Orchestra  (1978)

MY BOY LOLLIPOP - Millie Small  (1964)

ODE TO BILLIE JOE - Bobbie Gentry  (1967)

ONE OF THESE NIGHTS - The Eagles  (1975)

PEOPLE GOT TO BE FREE - The Rascals  (1968)

RAMBLIN' MAN - The Allman Brothers Band  (1973)

RASPBERRY BERET - Prince  (1985)

RED RUBBER BALL - The Cyrkle  (1966)

RIDE THE WILD SURF - Jan and Dean  (1964)

SAIL ON SAILOR - The Beach Boys  (1973, 1975)

SAN FRANCISCAN NIGHTS - Eric Burdon and the Animals  (1967)

SIDEWALK SURFIN' - Jan and Dean  (1964)  HM in 2010

SILLY LOVE SONGS Paul McCartney and Wings  (1976)

SISTER GOLDEN HAIR - America  (1975)

SKY PILOT - Eric Burdon and the Animals  (1968)

SLEDGEHAMMER - Peter Gabriel (1986)

SLOOP JOHN B - The Beach Boys  1966)

START ME UP - The Rolling Stones  (1981)

STEAL MY SUNSHINE - Len  (1999)

STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT - Frank Sinatra  (1966)

SUGAR SUGAR - The Archies   (1969)

SUMMER HOLIDAY - Cliff Richard  (1963)

SUMMER SAND - Tony Orlando and Dawn  (1971)

SUNSHINE GIRL - Parade  (1967)

TAKE IT EASY - The Eagles  (1972)

THAT SUNDAY, THAT SUMMER - Nat "King" Cole  (1963)

THERE'S NO SURF IN CLEVELAND, USA - The Euclid Beach Band  (1978)  HM in 2010

TURN DOWN DAY - The Cyrkle  (1966)

TWIST AND SHOUT - The Beatles  (1964)

VEHICLE - The Ides Of March  (1970)

WAKE UP SUNSHINE - Chicago  (1970)

WALKIN' ON THE SUN - Smash Mouth  (1998)

WAR - Edwin Starr  (1970)  HM in 2010

WATERFALLS - TLC  (1995)

WE ARE FAMILY - Sister Sledge  (1979)

WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston  (1973)

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS - Joe Cocker  (1968)

YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder  (1973)

YOU BABY - The Turtles  (1966)  HM in 2010

YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH (HOT SUMMER NIGHTS) - Meatloaf  (1979)

Tuesday This And That

If you missed it, here is CBS Sunday Morning’s tribute to the 75^th Anniversary of The Ed Sullivan Show … 

>>>I'm not going to give you a review of the concert, because I know FH correspondent Shelly Sweet-Tufano will be doing one soon and she does a tremendous job.  (Tom Cuddy)

>>>Tom sent us some GREAT photos to share ... and we're looking forward to receiving Shelley's review of the show.  (kk)

Oh boy! No pressure here!

I will just shrug off the expectations for now and thank you both for the support.

While you are waiting for Happy Together (which is coming later on), I better get to work on the reviews from this weekend. The fun has never ended for me.

Shelley

Look for a new review from Shelley on The Fab Four later in the week!  (kk)

A cool shot from FH Reader Timmy of Big Al’s, circa 1970 …

Happy Birthday, Sir Paul!

Bill Hayes

I was surprised to see Paul McCartney’s new photograph book plugged on the same episode of CBS Sunday Morning as the Ed Sullivan 75^th anniversary!  (kk)

Hi there Kent,

You’ve covered some great topics lately!

I am so glad that the topic of Reunion's 1974 hit Life Is A Rock, (But The Radio Rolled Me) has come up.  First of all, it was truly fascinating to hear Oo-ga-cha-ga Buell's fascinating version of the song when he was at the big 610 KFRC in San Francisco.  That naturally led to the presenting of the two Chicago versions of the song, which were truly fascinating to listen to and enjoy.  Now I'm wondering how many other radio stations played custom versions of the song.  I wonder if WABC

played an alternate version of the song, or perhaps 99X, WXLO was the station that may have had a custom version created in the big apple.  I want to try and find as many versions of the song that have been altered for radio stations as possible.

In my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, at the time, neither WCOL or WNCI FM did

anything to alter the song.  They just played it.

In Hartford, Connecticut, on the other hand, WDRC's legendary Production Director Charlie Parker put together a production where he recited the lyrics of each verse of the song with some rather haunting background music.  When I visited the station in 1979, one of the production people at the station told me that the music itself was called Reunion. 

Charlie Parker added an extra verse, mentioning as many names of the current and former WDRC disc jockeys as possible, and since he wasn't singing it, it didn't have to fit the tune.  Incidentally, each time the chorus came up, that was dubbed into the production.

Now, Larry brought up a topic that has fascinated me ever since I learned about this being done back in 1976.  In issue #11 of American Airchecks Magazine dated October 8, 1976, and ironically narrated by Shadoe Stevens, there was a special profile done on CKLW.  Amidst the early aircheck fragments from prior to the Drake format that was

presented, was a small portion of the song I Dreamed I Was In Hillbilly Heaven by Tex Ritter.  The very beginning of the song is presented, and then it is telescoped to where the names of the then current CKLW disc jockeys are heard. They included John Gordon, Bud Davies, Joel Van, Dave Shafer, Tom Shannon and Ron Noles.

Then, my girlfriend at the time told me that both WCOL and WTVN in Columbus, Ohio, had special versions of the song which they both played on the air.  Like you, I am not at all clear if these versions of the song were pressed on record for the public to buy, or if they were just played on the air from tape.  But I would love to get as many versions of this song as possible, but after all this time, I probably won't find too many of them.

I remember trying to find all 28 Atlantic singles of High School U.S.A. by Tommy Facenda and I was off to a good start.  I had the Virginia, New York City, Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Minneapolis St. Paul, Cleveland, Ohio, the San Francisco and Los Angeles versions.  But I still had a long way to go when I learned that all 30 versions, including the rare original LaGrande label version which sounds very different from the versions on Atlantic, were released on CD.  Anyway, what fascinating topics coming up here of late.

I just want to add my shock and concern about Jack's stroke. It's always very sad to hear about something like this and I just hope everyone's prayers will be powerful enough along with his will to live, that will pull him through this.  I know he will be a long time in recovery, but I just wish him the best, and I pray for strength for his wife Laura to get through this ordeal as well.

Sam Ward

Thanks for the kind words … I know we are all pulling for a speedy recovery for Jack … and I hope he’ll soon be submitting the latest rock and roll death notices again (although the very thought that ANYONE would be looking forward to these is pretty scary unto itself!!!)  Still, it’s all part of the circle of life … and a lot of these aren’t widely reported in the media otherwise, short of the really big names … so we will continue to do our part to let you know as some of our favorites continue to leave us.

These “unique” versions were often created by the radio stations themselves so likely were never pressed to vinyl … you’d almost have to find airchecks from this era from these particular stations in order to build a collection.  (Tex Ritter, however went in and recorded special versions to be aired on some of the bigger stations around the country … and the Tommy Facenda idea was VERY unique for its time.  I guess it was only the “national” version that was allowed to chart … which kinda makes sense.)  kk

Hey Kent,

I hope all is well. Thought I'd ask if you wouldn't mind doing a shameless plug for my new book. It's about American rock group cameos on scripted U.S. TV. It combines '60s music with classic TV, two topics I'm sure are dear to readers of Forgotten Hits. It's available online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the publisher, BearManor Media.  It’s a rather slim book … but it's as complete as far as including every appearance I'm aware of.

Maybe some Forgotten Hits readers can clue me in on appearances I haven't documented yet. Can we make it interesting and state that anybody that shares info on a cameo I'm not aware of will receive a free copy of the book from me? The caveat is that the appearance had to feature an American ROCK GROUP on a U.S. scripted show, not solo artists or duos. In other words, acts like Sonny & Cher, Lesley Gore, Neil Diamond and the Righteous Brothers -- all who made cameos -- aren't included. Some of the groups included in the book are obscure even by Forgotten Hits' standards!

Let me know, please. And Happy Father's Day!

Mike Dugo

Love the title … “Rock And Role”!!! 

VERY happy to pass the information … the challenge and the offer along!

Here is a quick order link if you’d like to check out a copy!  (kk)

https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Role-Appearances-Television-1964-1970/dp/B0C79MW95H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HB7NIE891O5B&keywords=rock+and+role&qid=1687121896&s=books&sprefix=rock+and+role%2Cstripbooks%2C97&sr=1-1

And Tom Cuddy sent us this review of Mark Volman's new book (I haven't had the chance to read this one yet!)  kk

Book Review: "Happy Forever" -- A Tremendously Entertaining Oral History of the Turtles and the World of Pop Music - The Arts Fuse 

https://artsfuse.org/275277/book-review-happy-forever-a-tremendously-entertaining-oral-history-of-the-turtles-and-the-world-of-pop-music/

Hello kk!

Although I have remained quiet here on "Forgotten Hits," I’m still vertical and enjoy your gifted presentations to us pioneer connoisseurs of the greatest music ever made. Just a reminder that "Davie Allan & The Arrows" has a website:  http://www.davieallan.com … and he will sign every CD at great prices for any fans who wish to fill up their spot with additional music from the "King of Fuzz" in the place where they have his other stuff or why not start one now if one hasn't got his works. 

"Melodicgrunge" is a form of musical art that only Davie Allan has rightful ownership of and he absolutely delivers it with finesse and execution. It is tonic for the troops and is a musical vacation from this current time of chaos. Turn off the news and put on headphones and ride each note to melodic adventures. Escape to the "Fuzzitorium!" Works for me.   

Thanks for your caring and dedicated service ...

Vibramutant 

Word is Bruce Springsteen has a second album of soul covers ready to come out … eighteen more track to follow his “Only The Strong Survive” release.  No official release date has been announced.  (kk)

READER REVIEW: Lighthouse

Hi Kent,

We had a great time in the Great White North. Stops at the Motown Museum, crossing the border and to Windsor the first day. The second in Toronto seeing the city on the hop on / hop off tour bus. The third day Lighthouse and the fourth and final day Niagara Falls Ontario!!

 

And now for the concert! 

 

It was everything I could have wanted and more. Lighthouse has not skipped a beat since I fell in love  with “One Fine Morning.”  The lead singing has been handled by Dan Clancy.  He is one hell of a singer and more then capable of filling the shoes of the late great Bob McBride.  And the moves ... wow! Mick Jagger does not have anything on Dan! 

 

The band is a force of nature!  Marc Ganetakos has taken over the guitar slinging duties. Ralph Cole retired at the end of 2022, but during his tenure with Lighthouse did not EVER miss a performance. The great Paul Hoffert is one of the co-founders of the band, playing organ and vibes. You could tell how much he loves the music and uses his hands to help express the meaning of the lyrics. Paul is backed up by Don Paulton and on bass we have  Doug Moore.  And on the horn section, we have youngster and original member Russ Little, who is only 81 (Trombone.)  Russ was recalling me with his tales in Chicago with the Woody Herman Band! Rounding out the horn section is Simon Wallis (Baritone Sax), Chris Howells (Trumpet) and Michael Stuart (Sax). All are superb musicians!

 

During the intermission I mentioned to the photographer that we came all the way from Chicago for the concert and asked if the band would be signing autographs after the concert? She took my CD and said I will have all of them sign it.  She asked my name and who are you with? I mentioned I was with my girlfriend, Laura. Much to my surprise, after intermission Dan mentioned we have visitors from all the way from Chicago,  Mike and Laura. How cool is that?!!!? After the show we stayed and chatted and took pics with the band members. We had a wonderful time!!

 

I know Lighthouse only had one major hit One Fine Morning and two minor hits here ... Sunny Days and Pretty Lady. But if you would delved into their albums, you would find excellent compositions. Of course, all three were played at the concert .  Also featured were 1849 (a song about the gold rush), Remember The Times (nostalgic tale of being a youngster), Rockin' Chair (an old lady grooving to her wireless) and many more.

 

If you like Chicago, The Ides of March in concert, Chase and Blood, Sweat and Tears, I strongly urge you to check them out. Their videos are on You Tube and we witnessed a splendid 50 years of Sunny Days and Lighthouse reunion at Ontario Place,Toronto. 

 

Check them out!!! Pics and videos are attached.

Mike and Laura

 

As you mentioned, Lighthouse had THREE hits that made the US National Top 40 (plus another that just missed) ... but you've got to look beyond the Billboard Charts to find them.

"One Fine Morning" peaked at #13 in Record World in 1971 (#16 in Cash Box but only #24 in Billboard.)

"Take It Slow (Out In The Country)" had an even bigger spread, hitting #41 in Record World but only peaking at #64 in Billboard.

"Sunny Days" was a #29 Record World hit (and reached #34 in Billboard)

And "Pretty Lady" (which gets more airplay NOW than it did when it was first released in 1973) went to #31 in Cash Box but only climbed to #53 in Billboard.  (I totally don't get that one, since it also reached #33 in Record World.  And, it's a GREAT song!!!)

 

On the Canadian Charts, CHUM credited them with five Top 40 Hits: 

"If Ever There Was A Time" (#24, 1969); "Hats Off (To The Stranger)," #27, 1971; "One Fine Morning" (#13, 1971); "Sunny Days" (#10, 1972) and their biggest hit, "Pretty Lady" (6, 1973)

Mike sent us pictures of himself with Dan Clancy, Paul Hoffert and Russ Little ... and a few really cool videos as well.

Missing in action was "Pretty Lady" ...

And we just couldn't let THAT happen!!!

  

Thanks, Mike and Laura for the great review, photos and videos!  (kk)

Check this out ...

They even got a letter back from Dan Clancy after they sent him copies of the photos and video!

Hello Mike and Laura!

We are so humbled and honoured by your kind words ...

Thank you for these pictures and the video clips as well!

And thank you so much for taking the time to make the long trip to Peterborough, ON., to hear the band.

We are hopeful that we will meet again soon; and possibly closer to you and your friends, and spend more time with you both afterwards.

Until then, we wish you good health and a fun summer ahead!

Thanks again and our best wishes,

Dan, the guys in the band, and Brenda (our manager)

 

Tell you what ... 

If Lighthouse made their way to Chicago, that just might be a show we'd have to see  ...

Especially after seeing these clips!  (kk)

The Sunday Comments ( 06 - 18 - 23 )

Kent:

I was at the same Happy Together Tour concert at Westbury (NY) Music Fair last weekend as reader Charles Rosenay, so I enjoyed seeing the terrific pictures he shared with you and FH readers.

I've included some additional pics for you taken at different angles, to give readers a taste of what they have to look forward to as the tour travels the USA all summer.

The tour this summer features:

The Turtles

Little Anthony (for the first time)

Gary Puckett

The Cowsills

The Classics IV

The Vogues

I'm not going to give you a review of the concert, because I know FH correspondent Shelly Sweet-Tufano will be doing one soon and she does a tremendous job.

But here are an assortment of TOM'S TIDBITS that came to mind as I enjoyed the annual 60s concert party!

-- In previous incarnations of the Happy Together tour, Gary Puckett would refer to it as "the Seniors Tour," and kid he was the oldest member of the tour.  He's now 80.

Now, the crown for the oldest performer of the night goes to Little Anthony at 82.

At a time when it's getting harder and harder for the tour organizers to track down original lead singers from the 60s who can still sing and are able to tour for 50-60 one nighters, I was thinking they should go after Tommy Roe.  He still sounds incredible and has returned to performing recently. (I've seen him on TV)

Tommy is a youthful, spry 81!

-- It's been noticeable in recent years that original Turtles member Mark Volman has been struggling a bit on stage.  He and the band make jokes about it, but at Westbury he was not able to remember every member of his band to introduce them (even though he had a piece of paper in his hand.)

Now that Mark has disclosed this past week to the public that he's fighting Lewy Body Dementia, we know why.  Some concert-goers thought it was just old age.  

Mark's a fighter and wants to stay active.  He has the support of all his buddies on stage and behind the scenes.  I wish him all the best with his health challenges. 

-- They were selling Mark's new paperback biography, "Happy Forever," at the venue.  Mark mentioned "You can buy them before the official release date. They're in the lobby." Then, one of the band members kicked in "Yes, please buy them, because we have boxes of them on the bus, and we'd like to get the space back!"

-- Legendary radio/TV personality Shadoe Stevens is again the voice of the Happy Together Tour, with his pre-recorded introductions for each artist. He's been a friend of the Turtles since the Flo and Eddie days.  

Great news for Shadoe this past week.  The National Radio Hall of Fame nominated him as one of 24 talents being considered for induction this November.  Eight hundred members of the radio industry will receive ballots this week and six broadcasters will be voted in for induction.

Good luck to former American Top 40 host Shadoe Stevens!

-- The version of the Classics IV that appears is headed by lead singer Tom Garrett.  Before original lead singer Dennis Yost died in 2008, he passed the baton on to Tom, who made a deal with Dennis and his wife Linda to use the name going forward.

-- Original Barry Manilow Producer, lead singer of the Archies & the Cuff Links and a FH reader, Ron Dante, was again handling the Turtles lead vocals, for retired from touring original Howard Kaylan.  No one would guess Ron is 77 years old.  He is youthful, energetic and amazing on stage. Plus,

vocally he delivers the hits just like you remember them on the radio!

-- Tom Cuddy

New York, NY

Tom sent us some GREAT photos to share ... and we're looking forward to receiving Shelley's review of the show.

We're hearing great things about this year's tour ... so keep sending us your comments as you see the show once it hits your area.  (kk)

THE COWSILLS:

 

TOM GARRETT of THE CLASSICS IV

 

THE VOGUES

GARY PUCKETT

LITTLE ANTHONY

MARK VOLMAN of THE TURTLES

RON DANTE

I would LOVE to see Tommy Roe take part in The Happy Together Tour ... he'd make a GREAT addition to the line-up, mixing things up quite a bit.  I have also suggested Lou Christie several times in the past ... Lou is ALSO still in fine voice and would bring a nice new dimension to the sound.

The issue may be that Tommy and Lou are not Paradise Artists ... but I really think something should be worked out to give fans to see a few "new" faces each year ... especially now that Chuck Negron and Mark Lindsay have kind of put a halt to their touring days.  (Make no mistake ... it is a grueling pace ... and nobody's getting any younger ... audience members included!!!)

Just some thoughts on shaking up the line-up that we have shared several times over the years.  (kk)

The “Life Is A Rock” discussion seemed to click with a few folks on the list.

Those rapid fire lyrics were extremely clever … it rocked thru the history of rock and roll in a fun way that “American Pie” only touched on by way of disguise.  (Actually, shouldn’t Joey Levine get credit as one of the earliest examples of rap???)

The full lyrics are printed below … but the isolated vocal sent in by Clark Besch is certainly a helpful tool as well.

LYRICS

B.B. Bumble and the Stingers, Mott the Hoople, Ray Charles Singers
Lonnie Mack and twangin' Eddie, here's my ring, we're goin' steady
Take it easy, take me higher, liar liar, house on fire
Loco-motion, Poco, Passion, Deeper Purple, Satisfaction
Baby baby, gotta gotta, gimme gimme, gettin' hotter
Sammy's cookin', Lesley Gore, Ritchie Valens, end of story
Mahavishnu, Fujiyama, Kama Sutra, Rama Lama
Richard Perry, Spector, Barry, Righteous, Archies, Nilsson Harry
Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop it, Fats is back and Finger Poppin'

Life is a rock
But the radio rolled me
Gotta turn it up louder
So my DJ told me
(Woo-woo)

Life is a rock
But the radio rolled me (Life is a rock)
At the end of my rainbow (Woo-woo, life is a rock)
Lies a golden oldie

FM, AM, hits are clickin' while the clock is tock-a-tickin'
Friends and Romans, salutations, Brenda and the Tabulations
Carly Simon, Noddy Holder, Rolling Stones, centerfolder
Johnny Cash and Johnny Rivers, can't stop now, I got the shivers
Mungo Jerry, Peter Peter, Paul and Paula, Mary Mary
Dr. John the Nightly Tripper, Doris Day and Jack the Ripper
Gotta go so, gotta swelter, Leon Russell, Gimme Shelter
Miracles in Smokey places, slide guitars and Fender basses
Mushroom omelet, Bonnie Bramlett, Wilson Pickett, stomp and kick it

Life is a rock
But the radio
Life is a rock
But the radio, woo
(Woo-woo-woo)
(Woo-woo-woo)

Arthur Janov primal screamin', Hawkins Jay and Dale and Ronnie
Kukla, Fran and Norman Okla, Denver John and Osmond Donny
J.J. Cale and ZZ Top and L.L. Bean and De De Dinah
David Bowie, Steely Dan, sing it prouder, C.C. Rider
Edgar Winter, Joanie Sommers, Ides of March, Johnny Thunders
Eric Clapton, pedal wah-wah, Stephen Foster, doo-dah, doo-dah
Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Surfer Girl and Little Honda
Tighter tighter, honey honey, sugar sugar, yummy yummy
CBS and Warner Brothers, RCA and all the others

Life is a rock
But the radio rolled me (Life is a rock)
Gotta turn it up louder (Woo-woo, life is a rock)
So my DJ told me (Life is a rock)
(Whoa-whoa, whoa-whoa)

Life is a rock
But the radio rolled me (Life is a rock) yeah
At the end of my rainbow (Woo-woo)
Lies a golden oldie
(Woo-woo, woo-woo, woo-woo-woo)
Listen, remember, they're playin' our song
(Woo-woo, woo-woo, woo-woo-woo)

Rock it, sock it, Alan Freed me, Murray Kaufman tried to lead me
Fish and swim and Boston Monkey, make it bad and play it funky
(I wanna take you higher)

Freddie King and Albert King and B.B. King and frolicking
Get it on and not to worry, Pappalardi, Hale and Hearty, yes
(Baby, baby, baby, Light My Fire)
(Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music)

There's a perfect more than you would carry, words of Randy Newman
1-2-3, so long, Sophie, Anita, Freda
Aretha
(I wanna take you higher)
(Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music)

Tito Puente, Buffalongo, Cuba, War and even Mongo
Lay it down, while it's hurtin', Herbie's Brass
(Baby, baby, baby, Light My Fire)
(Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music)
(Baby, Everything is Alright, Uptight, Outta Sight)
Whoa

California, Beatlemania, New York City, Transylvania
S&G, V&C, Bobby Vee and SRO, yeah
(Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music)
(Baby, Everything is Alright, Uptight, Outta Sight)

Conway Twitty, do-wah-diddy, Conway Twitty, do-wah-diddy

Funny to see The Ides Of March mentioned in this song … many years later, Jim Peterik would write a similar tune spotlighting all of the great One Hit Wonders using a similar rapid-fire set of very clever lyrics.

Scott Childers sent us the official WLS version that competed with the WCFL track we featured on Friday.

Kent,

In discussing Reunion's record and DJ's names being inserted in it, the only time I remember that happening here in OKC was in 1961 when country artist Tex Ritter came out with I DREAMED I WAS IN HILLBILLY HEAVEN (Capitol). The 6 or 7 DJ's working for WKY-AM had their names somehow inserted towards the end when Tex Ritter started off naming country artists he soon would be in Hillbilly Heaven. Now whether or not that was released on 45rpm, I don't know or remember. I know I don't have a copy if it was.

Larry

I seem to remember a discussion of this several years ago where several radio stations recorded their own versions of this song for local airplay, naming “locals” in their revamped lyrics … and it was their own unique versions that were making their local charts, rather than the national hit by Tex Ritter, which still managed a Top 20 Pop charting on its own.  (kk)

UPDATE:  In fact, I found this posting from 2013 … TEN YEARS AGO ALREADY! … initiated by YOU, Larry!!!  With Clark Weber, a WLS Jock at the time, chiming in about their own unique version of “Hillbilly Heaven” …

>>>I don't know if it made your charts in your area back in 1961, but Tex Ritter's recording of I DREAMED I WAS IN HILLBILLY HEAVEN made it into our top 10 locally here in OKC.  Incidentally, Tex Ritter remade his HILLBILLY HEAVEN when he was in OKC but used the names of local DJ's who were working here in the city instead of the western actors and singers that were in the original. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of that record. Don't really know how many copies were pressed.  Keep up the good work.  (Larry)

>>>I seem to remember Tex recording "customized" versions of "Hillbilly Heaven" for a number of different radio stations at the time ... a long, lost art in record promotion.  (In fact, I'm know there's a Chicago version floating around out there somewhere, too ... we featured it ages ago in Forgotten Hits.)  Ritter's Top 5 Country Hit peaked at #20 on Billboard's Pop Chart in 1961 ... and went all the way to #7 here in Chi-Town. (kk)  

>>>Hi Kent; Thanks for the memory jolt. At the time, that was a brilliant move on the part of Capitol records. While it was a huge hit on the country charts, there was just no way we would have played the song on 'LS. However, by adding our names to the lyric, we did just exactly that! Now Gene Taylor, Art Roberts, Sam Holman and Mort Crowley are indeed gone. Sorta spooky!  (Clark Weber)

Yep, a brilliant marketing move ... and WLS played it all the way to #7!!!  Who would have guessed!  (kk)

 

 

Yep, that’s what an old warped record sounds like, recorded off the radio!  (lol)  kk

I saw this posted about 10 hours ago. 

No comment from me ... kind of numb.

Shelley

THE GRIM REAPER TRIED TO COME FOR JACK; JACK APPEARS TO HAVE WON THIS ROUND

This is Laura, Jack’s wife (yes, someone married Jack) and he gave permission for this to be posted for those family member, friends, random celebrities and porn bots who I haven’t had a chance to contact.

Early Tuesday morning Jack had a hemorrhagic stroke.  Apparently, this is some really bad shit.  As in medical people looking a me carefully while they use terms like “really bad.”  As in life flight to the nearest neuro ICU bad.

Through it all, Jack was awake, he was talking he was … making as much sense as he ever makes, he was singing Bohemian Rhapsody (we caught “Mama, just had a stroke / (unintelligible) / That’s no joke”)

Today he was moved to an ICU step-down room.  He went from a doubtful “may survive” on Tuesday to a more positive “probably will survive” on Thursday to “not in immediate danger” on Friday.

He is not emerging from this unscathed.  He will have to spend time in a rehab facility.  He can’t move his left arm – not great for a guitar player – and can barely  move his left leg.  Hi speech is sometimes hard to understand.  He has moments where he insists it is the year 2525.  He has head and neck pain that is currently only controlled by basically knocking him out.  How much any of this will improve is unknown.

BUT Jack is still in there … and he’s still able to communicate that … and that is what I am holding on to.

And, by the way, that whimpering you hear off in the corner?  That’s The Grim Reaper bent over double, clutching his balls.

--Laura

Yes, Jack no sooner took over the Forgotten Hits Dr. Death Duties than had an incident of his very own.  Laura contacted me earlier in the week privately and said that Jack had had a stroke and just asked that I keep it personal for the time being as they were only letting close friends and family know what was going on. 

I’ve known Jack for about 45 years and as many of us have come to feel over the course of the past 25 years of doing Forgotten Hits, we have truly become part of a “family” of readers and contributors.  They say it takes a village … and I know that the millions of you who have read Forgotten Hits over the past 25 years have brought great joy and vindication into MY life … which, hopefully has spread into the lives of all the others who have taken part over those past 25 years.  And the coolest part of all is the fact that I never had to ask any of you to drink to cool aid!  You came along and participated of your own free will, which makes this all especially heartfelt for me. 

We certainly wish Jack a healthy and speedy recovery … he’s had some major health issues over the past several years and this is one major set-back he really didn’t need.  But I am SO pleased to see that he has kept his sense of humor about it and his wits are still intact.  (I won’t really start to worry until he tells me that The Beatles were the greatest rock band to ever come along … then I’ll know he’s truly lost it!)

From Laura’s original note:

Kent,

Jack had a stroke two days ago.  Although he is not out of the woods, the doctors seem to feel he will pull through, although he will be in the hospital and then rehab for quite some time. But, to put it in Jack terms:  The Grim Reaper came for Jack; Jack kicked the Grim Reaper in the balls. 

--Laura, Jack's Aging Trophy Wife

Hang on in there, buddy!  (kk)

We heard from several readers who reminded us that Casey Kasem has also famously been diagnosed with Lew Body Dementia, which is currently affecting Mark Volman of The Turtles.

In fact, FH Reader Joe Cantello told us …

Kent,

Just to let you know, Casey Kasem was also diagnosed with Lew Body, which is what contributed to his death in 2014.

Casey passed on Father's Day (June 15, 2014.) 

Regards,

Joe Cantello

Marietta, Ga

Wow … almost exactly nine years ago from this year’s Father’s Day (today)

A great loss … and an even greater embarrassment the way his family turned his body into a real-life Elf On The Shelf game there for awhile!  (kk)

 

How many copies of The Beatles’ White Album do you own?

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/beatles-white-album-collector/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ugh&utm_term=UCR

 

Here’s another sneak-peek at Dolly Parton’s new rock album …

 

This time around she covers the Heart classic tune “Magic Man” … with a little help from Ann Wilson along the way …

 

Hi, Kent ...
While reading some miscellaneous stuff on the Net about the Beatles, it struck me that over all the years that I've had that Peter Knight & His Orchestra version of the "Sgt. Pepper" album, I STILL haven't read or heard one word regarding the use of those "modified" photos of radio (and TV) personalities which are strewn all over the cover.  I'm assuming it's because the LP wasn't very good, and obviously didn't sell.
Clark Weber told me, personally, that Mercury Records did NOT receive permission to use those pictures.
I'd love to make contact with someone who was working for Mercury Records here in Chicago during that time period, and possibly get some insider info.
It'd be interesting to make contact with 1960s-era radio listeners from the east and west coasts to see who else we might identify in that picture.  I know there are DJs from the NYC area, but I'm not familiar with them - except I believe one of them is "Cousin Brucie" Morrow.
As I mentioned earlier, it appears that Vicki Lawrence was not amused by her being pictured.
Wondered if you'd received any other comments regarding that LP since we last discussed it.
Mike
Nobody seems to know anything for sure about the origins of this release … an unusual find for sure … but we’ll run it again because new people are discovering Forgotten Hits all the time.

If anybody out there can shed any insight as to how this cover photograph came to be, we’d love to hear from you!  (kk)

 

Billboard Magazine recaps the best moments from last week’s Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards, where Gloria Estefan, Jeff Lynne and Glenn Ballard were inducted, among others.

Jeff Lynne was inducted by Joe Walsh, who opened the show by performing ELO’s big hit “Don’t Bring Me Down,” explaining that he HAD to come to New York when he overheard his wife say that Jeff Lynne was being indited!!!  (Funny stuff!)  Lynne produced Walsh’s latest album (which I guess I’m now going to have to give a listen to!)  Afterward, Jeff himself performed the ELO classic “Mr. Blue Sky.”

Gloria Estefan’s performance was equally moving and exciting … the Billboard story below gives you all the highlights.  (I'm hoping there's video of this on YouTube!)  kk

 

https://www.billboard.com/lists/songwriters-hall-of-fame-best-moments/#recipient_hashed=fa7e92da6f6e66bffcf0bcbf863670c6eb37d7159eb4d0ea1e44fecd5ec87eeb&recipient_salt=3a1d6b09af3b92ad7e38f8327cf18febeb049fd1c9a251b66957a07d9375735c

 

Paul McCartney’s been out making the rounds, promoting his new book of photographs, taken during The Beatles’ first trip to America in 1964 (as well as several stops in Europe.)

He did a brief interview with Conan O’Brien … and soon will do a one-on-one with Stanley Tucci, which is available as a pay per view televised event.

The photos were long believed to have been lost to the sands of time … but once he found them Paul realized that he was capturing Beatlemania at its absolute peak … a time when he came to realize that his band and finally made it … and were going to be more than just a flash in the pan success. (Jack Levin … if you’re agreeing with me, thank you for finally coming to your senses … but I’m worried about you!!!  Lol)

 

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/paul-mccartney-talks-early-beatles-041314769.html

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/beatlemania-hits-tribeca-paul-mccartney-182050602.html

 

From Mark Lapidos, curator of The Fest For Beatles Fans …

 

My copy arrived last Friday and the book was even better than I anticipated. Ringo wasn't the only budding photographer in the band!! The book of photos starts in late 1963 and finishes up in Miami, February, 1964. Apparently Paul had some extra money (!) and bought some rolls of COLOR film for Miami!! The photos are terrific and almost all of them have captions from Paul's recollections.  Lots of photos of the FABS, plus a whole lot more (Billy J, Cilla, Brian, Neil, Mal, Freda, fans, etc.)  It puts that insane short time span that changed the world, into a better perspective. And that was not an easy task considering how much has been written and documented from that time period! I highly recommend it.

Mark

 

Dorothy Ann, a long-time Fest Attendee, took this photo of Paul as he headed into Tribeca to do the Conan interview … man, he looks good!  (kk)

 

From Tom Cuddy … now this sounds like it would have been a great show to see!

 

Billy Joel pays tribute to Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks enchants at co-headlining concert
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/06/17/billy-joel-stevie-nicks-co-headlining-tour-highlights/70332523007/

 

And Harvey Kubernik reminds us that this weekend marks the 56^th Anniversary of the very first Monterey International Pop Festival … and what a line-up it was!

Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, The Who, The Mamas and the Papas, Janis Joplin, The Association, Johnny Rivers, Booker T. and the MG’s, The Steve Miller Band, Simon and Garfunkel, The Grateful Dead, Eric Burdon and the Animals (who commemorated the event in song), Scott McKenzie (who forever immortalized John Phillips’ lyrics about wearing flowers in your air, if you’re going to San Francisco!), Moby Grape, Ravi Shankar and many more.

 

Harvey sent in these photos as reminders …

 

You can read his recap here:  https://www.musicconnection.com/kubernik-monterey-pop-festival-56th-anniversary/

 

This week’s Forgotten Hits Award …

 

Goes To Sirius XM’s ‘50’s Gold, who played Edd “Kookie” Byrnes 1959 Top Five Smash “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb” … a TRUE novelty hit capitalizing on the popularity of Byrnes and his “77 Sunset Strip” costar Connie Stevens (who did more singing on the record that Byrnes did!)  Stevens would have her own Top Five Hit a year later when she recorded “Sixteen Reasons.”  (kk)