A Monday Morning Quickie

I had the rare opportunity to visit with Kim Bloxdorf (Joel Whitburn's Daughter), Paul Haney and Brent Olynick of Record Research this past week … which included a tour of the amazing Joel Whitburn Vault built under his residence in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.  (And what an incredible experience it was … to see the results of all that work and research assembling a collection of EVERY charted item to ever make Billboard’s charts!)

These books have played such a HUGE role in my life for the past 50+ years ... as I've said many times before, not a single day has passed during that time where I haven't opened at least one of Joel's book for one reason or another to check or double check a fact or statistic ... they haven proven to be an invaluable resource for me over the years. 

We’ll have more about this visit when we celebrate our Third Annual Joel Whitburn Day in November (on 11/29) and encourage our readers to once again share their thoughts and memories regarding how much these books have meant to them over the years.

Meanwhile, here’s a photo of me, Paul and Brent ... and another of me, Paul and Kim … to tide you over till then!  (kk)

By the way, that INCREDIBLE sale on their Top Pop Singles Book, 1955 - 1989, ends TODAY ... 

So do yourself a favor and pick up a copy (or two) before they revert back to normal pricing.  (Remember ... at just $33, they also make for great gift-giving ideas!)  kk

Kent: 

I’ve included some pictures I took of Sergio Mendes during his last Connecticut appearance in June of last year.

Since a kid, I have marveled on how he mastered his version of the Brazilian sound. 

I saw him in concert several times in NYC & CT and thoroughly enjoyed every performance!

Most times I saw him he was accompanied by his longtime wife as one of his singers.

Long live the music of Maestro Mendes!

- Tom Cuddy

Your comments about Lassie reminded me of when I was a kid.  My Godparents lived a block from Jon Provost's aunt in Santa Barbara.  When I visited California, their kids and I would ride bikes all around the neighborhood.  A couple of times we ran into Jon Provost, who was visiting, while production was on hiatus.  What a treat for a kid from Illinois.  Thanks for the story.  

Jon M

Boy, talk about your television divas!!!  Lassie was so determined to keep the spotlight focused solely on herself that she had her entire human cast fired!!!

(Yeah, I've heard that she could be a REAL bitch to work with sometimes!!!)  kk

kk ...

Don"t Know If You Had A Chance To Listen To "WILD WAYNE's MEMORY MACHINE" / WWUH.org (6 - 8 PM) Sunday Night

He Did A Tribute To James Darren And Played Part Of An Interview He Did With Him.

Wayne's Show Is Now In Its 48th Year ... Longest Running Oldies Show In U. S.

I Still Learn Something New Every Week I Listen.

For Example ...

1956 = James Darren's First Movie / "RUMBLE ON THE DOCKS"

1959 = James Darren Was Moondogie In "GIDGET."  He Also Sang The Movie's Theme Song.

1960 = He Recorded The "BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG" Movie Theme ... And Also Acted In Movie.

The Song Was An Instrumental Hit For Duane Eddy ... And Marked Dick Clark's Movie Debut.

1961 = " GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD " Was A #3 Billboard  Hit.

The Song Was Nominated For A Grammy Award But Lost To "THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT" By The Tokens.

TRIVIA = That Calliope Sound That You Hear Throughout The Song Was Not Made By Musical Instrument ...

Songwriter Gloria Baker Taped Her Voice & Played It Back At A Faster Speed.

1962 = "HER ROYAL MAJESTY" Was A # 6 Billboard Hit.

James Darren Was A Regular On The TV Series "TIME TUNNEL" & "T.J. HOOKER."

FB

Richard Carpenter has put together a new Carpenters Christmas Compilation that will be released later this year in time for the holidays.

Tom Cuddy sent us this, explaining things a little bit more …

Carpenters To Release All-New Christmas Collection
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/carpenters-christmas-album-christmas-once-more/

Also newly available for pre-order is a new, updated ABBA collection called “The Singles:  The First Fifty Years.”

(A previous release, “The Singles:  The First Ten Years,” was released in 1982 …

And even though the group didn’t really issue any new material in the forty year interim, they DID release new music last year, which has now been incorporated into the set.)

You’ll find 38 tracks in all … and you can pre-order it now here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DD6C18RS/

Also from Tom, here's more from Lee Loughnane regarding another historical point for Chicago …

Lee Loughnane: Chicago Had to Shorten Their Name After Lawsuit (Exclusive)

https://people.com/lee-loughnane-says-chicago-had-to-shorten-their-name-after-lawsuit-exclusive-8704017

Micky Dolenz spend some time with Dave Plier of WGN Radio, talking about his upcoming shows at The Arcada Theatre …

https://wgnradio.com/dave-plier/micky-dolenz-of-the-monkees-appearing-in-chicagoland-this-october/  

More Micky news from David Salidor …

A ZOM-COM DEBUT AT THE CUTTING ROOM –

THE NYC PREMIERE OF THE ZOMBIE WEDDING –

WRITTEN BY GREG D’ALESSANDRO AND DIRECTED BY MICAH KAHN –

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 @ 9:00 PM New York –

Greg D’Alessandro’s THE ZOMBIE WEDDDING will have its NYC premiere on Friday, September 13th at The Cutting Room (44 East 32nd Street) at 9:30 PM ET.

The movie stars Heather Matarazzo; Cheri Oteri; Seth Gilliam; Vincent Pastore; Kevin Chamberlin; and Micky Dolenz, opens in selected cities as well as on select streaming channels on Friday, September 13^th.

Alessandro, Editor and CEO of Weekly World News, will be present at the premiere as will selected cast members.

Attendees who come dressed as zombies for The Cutting Room event will be admitted at no charge.

>>>On September 5, 2001, a song began playing at St. Burchardi Church in Halberstadt, Germany and it won’t be over until . . . the year 2640!  Composed by avant-garde artist John Cage in 1987, his song is titled “Organ2/ASLSP “As Slow As Possible” [correct]. And although the piece began in 2001, it opened with a 17-month-long pause before the first tone began to sound! And its notes can last much longer. This makes it the longest running non-computerized music piece currently being performed. The most recent note was played last February 5, 2024. The next note will be played on August 5, 2026. Cage’s drawn-out composition sounds its final note six centuries from now!  (CB)

Chuck has done it again!  I even found a condensed 8 minute version on youtube!  Maybe it is the DJ copy edit?

I think Chuck played this on his show on KIMN in ‘68 right before he left (or was transported out?) to WLS!

John Cage's Organ2/ASLSP “As Slow As Possible”

Toe tapper!  Shoulda been played when WABC went all talk in 1981.

Macca says he gave them the idea with "Day In The Life" ending.  Truth or consequences?

Clark Besch

>>>I think MOST deejays took advantage of these longer tunes and used them as bathroom breaks, didn't they???  (kk) 

Yep!  You're right about that!

At one radio station I worked, we were on the third floor with keyed access to get in the building's front door and another key to get in the station's front door on our floor.  ( Not 'LS )  One of the jocks at the station was a smoker and, of course, the building was a no-smoking allowed building, so he actually took one or two or three of those songs and doubled their length so he could choose one from his personal long-songs library to play and go down and outside to have a 15-minute or so smoke break!  With doors locking behind him.

As you probably know, there are two major "Occupational Hazard" Dreams of on-air people.  In mine, the record ran out and I can't find another record or cart or commercial or anything to play next and I'm ad-libbing like crazy while I'm looking for something until all that wakes me up!  ( STILL have that one once in a while! )  And the other, where an on-air person is locked out of the studio and there's nothing but dead air on the air!  I don't know if that ever happened to him, but I do wonder if his dream was the second!

CB

>>>The new version of “It Was Fifty Years Ago Today” is on the road (and coming to The Genesee Theatre in November.)  We saw it a few years back with Christopher Cross, Micky Dolenz, Todd Rundgren, Jason Scheff and Joey Molland … Scheff, Molland and Cross are back again this time around … (man, I swear Joey is EVERYWHERE these days!!!), joined by Maxi Priest and (depending on which ad you choose to believe) either David Pack of Ambrosia or Glenn Shorrock of The Little River Band.  (kk)

Kent:

It appears David Pack, original lead singer of Ambrosia, will be handling all US dates.

Since Little River Band’s lead singer Glenn Shorrock was originally announced for this tour, perhaps he ran into Visa problems flying in from Australia?

- Tom Cuddy

And a bit of fun from Chuck Buell ...

Except this one seems to be on the up and up! 

(Some CRAZY stuff going on Down Under!)

Please welcome my new morning emails Commercial Sponsor Spokesperson, "Buell's Bush Barbie!"

We've both agreed you may have to watch this commercial twice, but as we all know "twice" is not a bad thing!

It's attached!

And just to help you get started, it's a Cockatoo!

CB!

So, for those of you who have had a bit of difficulty understanding my new spokesperson, here is the script to what she’s saying in the commercial.

And also for those of you who have asked, yes, this is actually a viral commercial for “MOMENT Condoms” that’s had over 100 million views worldwide.  Including yours!

Again, her video is posted above so you can follow along with hopefully a clearer interpretation … and also refine your Aussie accent!!!

“Oh, sorry!  You probably thought I was a Drop Bear!

Nah!  It’s me, Bush Barbie!  And today, I’m here to talk to you about Dingers! Because like you, this Bush has seen a Cockatoo!

Regardless, if you like it deep in the Bush or prefer it in the Outback, make sure you look after your Wombat Hole!  So many critters can get down there, and believe me, it’s enough to make your dango go drier than a dead dingo’s donger in the desert so don’t do it! Even if he is a Fun Guy!  Yeah, yeah!  Duh! Yeah!

So, by all means, go wild!  Just make sure you take a moment in the moment to use a MOMENT so you can keep the Devil out of your Tassie and the jelly out of your box!  

That’s it! 

CB  ( which stands for . . . well . . . Condom Boy!" )

The Sunday Comments ( 09 - 08 - 24 )

Tough Week!

This past week’s rock and roll health report includes the passing of ‘60’s teen idol James Darren, session bassist Herbie Flowers and innovative icon Sergio Mendes, a stroke for Brian May of Queen, near blindness for Elton John, as well as the cancellation of Paula Abdul’s upcoming tour.

Sergio Mendes passed away on Thursday, September 5^th.  He was 83 years old and it is believed this may be the result of a severe case of Covid.

Mendes brought a whole new sound to the music scene when he burst on the charts in 1966 … but it was the “Anything Goes” ‘60’s and we were quick to embrace his Brazilian jazz.  An early favorite, “Mas Que Nada,” only got as high as #47 (and that was in Billboard … Cash Box ranked it at #75!) but my guess is despite this fact, you’d recognize it the moment you heard it.  (Still, that’s not bad for a song sung entirely in Portuguese!)

Signed to the A&M record label,  Sergio’s interpretations of hits like “The Look Of Love,” “The Fool On The Hill” and “Scarborough Fair” kept him in The Top 20 for most of the decade.  (We were fortunate enough to see him a few years ago … and it was a very enjoyable show: https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/search?q=sergio+mendes)

Mendes made a bit of a comeback in the early ‘80’s with hits like “Never Let You Go” (#4, 1983) and one of my favorites, “Alibis” (#29, 1984)

When labelmate (and his boss!) Herb Alpert married one of Mendes’ lead female singers (Lani Hall), it siderailed the group for a little bit … but Sergio bounced back when he married one of his new lead singers, Gracinha Leporace, a union that had already lasted over fifty years at the time of his passing.

Mendes was a three-time Grammy winner.  Alpert posted:

“Sergio Mendes was my brother from another country. He was a true friend and extremely gifted musician who brought Brazilian music in all its iterations to the entire world with elegance [and] joy.”  (kk)

From Jim Roup (by way of Harvey Kubernik):

RIP

Here is Sergio and his wife Gracinha after dinner at Le'Dome restaurant.

More from Harvey …

I interviewed Bones Howe in 2014 and we talked about hit record Brazilian Pop Innovator, Sergio Mendes

"None of us really knew how much influence the transistor radio was gonna have," engineer and producer Bones Howe told me in a 2014 interview. Portions were published in my 2014 book, "Turn Up The Radio! Rock, Pop and Roll in Los Angeles 1956-1972." 

"The transistor radio was for the ball games. Studio guys had the thing in their pocket and an earphone; while they were recording, [they] were really listening to the Dodger game. What you had to do was listen to the radio and know what your records were gonna sound like when they got played. That’s how people went and bought them." 

In 1964, Herb Alpert formed a live Tijuana Brass unit for touring that formally debuted in 1965. The group recorded the most popular instrumental version of “A Taste of Honey,” included on their 1965 album, Whipped Cream and Other Delights. Their rendition ruled the easy listening charts for weeks, and Whipped Cream won Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 1966.

(EDITOR’S NOTE:  Did you mean this one??? <--kk)

The critical and retail success of Alpert and his band encouraged A&M to sign additional acts, including South Bay’s Chris Montez, the Sandpipers, Burt Bacharach, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66, and the Baja Marimba Band with Julius Wechter, the marimba player with the Tijuana Brass.

"This is how loose AM radio was back then," continued Howe.

"Herb Alpert and I had known each other. He was sort of on the fringe of the jazz world. I got a call from him in 1966, and he wanted to do a session at Western Studio 3. 'I’ve signed this Brazilian band, and I’ve got to do a single record with them. I’m going through the Brazil ’66 songs now, and I’ve got to get through this in three hours.'

"So we go into the studio, and we do this song called “The Joker” from a Broadway show. Now, we’ve got half an hour and have to do a B-side. Sergio Mendes says, 'I’ve got this song that we do that everybody likes. Let’s put it on the B-side.' [It was] 'Mas Que Nada.'

"I loved that session. The percussion elements — those were real players, not studio players. The difference between them playing 'The Joker' and then, when they got cut loose, 'Mas Que Nada' . . . it was completely different, and just wonderful. It had so much energy. It carried the other side.

"Jerry [Moss] was a terrific promotion man. He took the 'The Joker' record out and played it to a DJ, who said to him, 'What’s on the other side?' He spun it. 'We’ll put that on the radio.' Can you imagine?

"The wonderful thing, later, about FM was that it was much truer to the studio mix than it was on radio station KHJ, coming out of little car radios and all the rest of that. Because it was very squelched, very limited on AM." 

James Darren died last week, too … he was 88 years old.

Known as both an actor and a singer, Darren hit The National Top 40 six times between 1959 and 1967, scoring back-to-back Top Ten Hits with “Goodbye Cruel World” (#2, 1961) and “Her Royal Majesty” (#6, 1962.)

His first chart hit was the title song from the hit teen film “Gidget” (#24, 1959), in which he also starred, opposite Sandra Dee (who married ANOTHER Darin a year later!)  Darren also starred in the television cult hit “Time Tunnel” in 1967, returning to the charts that year with the #33 Hit “All.”

Haven't seen this pop up in this week's blogs, but then again the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet.

Movie star (Moondoggie in the Gidget films), TV Star (The Time Tunnel and The Flintstones as James Darrock), and singer James Darren passed on Labor Day, September 2, at the age of 88.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/movies/james-darren-dies.html

-- Tim Kubat

No, that’s just me falling behind again … but as you can see, the info is posted right above your inquiry!  Thanks, Tim!  (kk)

And we just read this morning about the passing of innovative bassist Herbie Flowers, who also died on the 5th of September.

Flowers' bass lines helped to define British hits like "Bang A Gong" by T.Rex and "Rock On" by David Essex.  He also played the memorable riff on Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side," David Bowie's "Space Oddity," Nilsson's "Jump Into The Fire" and recorded with legends Elton John, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Herbie (real name Brian Keith Flowers) was 86.  (kk)

Brian May of Queen suffered a minor stroke last week.  The news was kept very quiet until Brian could determine as to what extent this might affect his ability to play the guitar.

He was therefore very happy to report:

“The good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days.  I say this because it was in some doubt, because [a] little health hiccup … happened about a week ago – what they called it was a minor stroke.

“All of a sudden, out of the blue, I didn’t have any control over this arm. So it was a little scary, I have to say.” He went on to thank the staff at the hospital he’d attended, recalling the experience of “blue lights flashing, the lot” as “very exciting.”

May had kept quiet because, he explained, “I didn’t want anything surrounding it. I really don’t want sympathy – please don’t do that, because it’ll clutter up my inbox, and I hate that.”

“I’m okay and doing what I’m told, which is basically nothing. I’m grounded; I’m not allowed to go out, drive, get on a plane; I’m not allowed to raise the heart rate too high. But I am good.”

Meanwhile, Elton John is recovering from a severe eye infection that caused him some blindness in one eye.

From Sir Elton:

"Over the summer, I've been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye.  I am healing, but it's an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.

"I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks.  I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far."

Paula Abdul was scheduled to begin a 21-city tour on September 25^th, taking her to Canada, Alaska and North Dakota.

However, due to the proper amount of recovery time needed for a recent injury (which will also require a minor medical procedure), she had to announce the cancellation of her upcoming dates, which included Taylor Dayne and Tiffany as opening acts.

“It’s with an incredibly heavy heart that I need to share with you an update regarding some injuries I’ve recently sustained. In an effort to keep going, I’ve received targeted injections that will allow me temporary relief, but the demands of an entire tour is a different story.

“After multiple consultations with my doctors and exploring all available options, I’ve been advised that one of my injuries requires a minor procedure followed by a 6-8 week recovery time.  Therefore, it will prohibit me from proceeding with the Straight Up! To Canada Tour as well as the dates in Alaska and North Dakota.”

No mention was made as to whether this was a postponement (meaning these dates would eventually be rescheduled once Paula was strong enough to tour again) or a flat out cancellation altogether.  (kk)

Stephen Stills will join Neil Young on October 5^th for a special benefit performance to raise money for The Painted Turtle Camp and The Bridge School in Lake Hughes, California.

Although they are scheduled to perform separate sets, you just KNOW they’re going to get together at some point during the night to rock the crowd.

All proceeds will support The Painted Turtle, which provides children with serious medical conditions a free and transformative camp experience year round, and The Bridge School, which offers essential educational services to children with severe speech and physical disabilities.

Tickets are on sale now:  https://www.harvestmoongathering.com/

Here’s a review of a recent Beach Boys concert (September 1^st) …

Sounds like Mike and Bruce are still having fun, fun, fun performing all of their classic hits!  (kk)

https://bestclassicbands.com/beach-boys-2024-review-9-5-24/

This week's Satellite Survey on Sirius / XM's '60's Gold Channel is counting down the 40 biggest hits for this week in 1964 ...

Just like WE did yesterday with this week's SUPER CHART from exactly 60 YEARS AGO TODAY!  (scroll back to see it!)

As mentioned, we've fallen a bit behind again ...

So look for more Comments Pages Monday and Tuesday!  (kk)