Thursday This And That

Well, it had to happen.  Only took over sixty years!

The song “Monster Mash,” is becoming an animated movie musical from Miramax!

Billboard has ranked the song as the “Biggest Halloween Song of All Time” as it rises up from the Crypt every Halloween Season since its Number One Charting in 1962. 

"Mash" was written in less than two hours, was recorded in one take and generates over a million dollars in Royalties annually!

Not  bad for a song about a mad scientist whose monster, late one evening, rises from his slab to perform a new dance that, as we are all well aware, becomes “the hit of the land” when the scientist throws a party for other monsters including Wolfman, Igor, Mummy, The Crypt-Kicker Five, Dracula and his son!

Maybe they should invite Linus' "Great Pumpkin" to the party!

Because you've probably had your fill of that song for another year, attached instead is the Two-week Number One Smash "Mash" Hit Song from earlier in 1962 that inspired, "The Monster Mash!"

CB!

KENT …

November, 2025, Wild Wayne Starts His 50th Year On WWUH Radio.

On His 11/2/25 "MEMORY MACHINE" For The First Time Ever He Announced His Favorite Oldie.

Drum Roll ...

Wild Wayne Said His Favorite Oldie Is "RUNAWAY" NY DEL SHANNON.

On April 21, 1961, It Became A #1 Billboard Hit For 4 Weeks.

I Thought For Sure He Was Going To Say "IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT" BY THE FIVE SATINS.

Wrong Again.

FRANK B.

Yes, my Grandmother used to listen to his show before I was born and then tell me all about it years later whenever she babysat me.

Congratulations, Wild Wayne … and Happy Anniversary!!!

(Think you’ve got another 50 in ya???)  kk

Paul Rodgers says he is to ill to attend Bad Company's induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this Saturday Night so he sends his regards.  Too bad ... this guy has had SUCH a great career and is one of the most recognizable voices in rock history.  We wish him a speedy recovery. 

Meanwhile, Simon Kirke has announced (thru a special band announcement) that HE will be there performing with an all-star cast of musicians ... so Bad Company (and their music) will be ceremoniously presented.  (kk) 

Hey Kent –

Here’s a couple more Beatles things for your scrapbook ...

A handbill for The Beatles’ August, '66, Dodger Stadium show …

And an ad for the first album. 

Jim Roup

  

And a reminder from Harvey Kubernik ...

Beatles Rubber Soul Turns 60 

Harvey Kubernik  

https://www.musicconnection.com/the-beatles-rubber-soul-60-years-on/ 

Actually, this is about a month early ... the album was released December 3rd in Great Britain ... and December 6th here in The States ... with a slightly different song line-up ... as you'll see on our calendar pages for these dates ... but this was a landmark release that changed the way albums were made.  "Rubber Soul" inspired "Pet Sounds" which inspired "Sgt. Pepper," a light-years leap over the span of about eighteen months.  (Please note:  Harvey's article DOES give the correct release date ... the article is just being published a month earlier.)  kk

Got this from a few FH Readers …

Donna Jean Godchaux, female singer for The Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 78.  She fought a long battle with cancer but died in hospice on Sunday, November 2^nd.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/donna-jean-godchaux-dies-grateful-dead-21135374.php

Timmy adds that Donna also sang backup on hits by Elvis Presley and Percy Sledge, among others.  (kk)

Political Statement:  Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died, making the woods safe again for hunters everywhere I guess.  Meanwhile, (The Artist Formerly Known As Prince) Andrew is still dealing with the fall-out of the whole Jeffrey Epstein debacle … shame he had to drag the rest of his family down with him.  (kk)

Three time Oscar nominee Diane Ladd has passed away at 89. Seen here with daughter Laura Dern. 

Jim Roup

The show is over ... in fact, you can read our review of the concert if you scroll back to yesterday ... but here is that Zoom Interview Video that I told you about a few days ago ... (I just found it!!!) ... Ron Onesti interviewing John Cafferty about his (then) up-coming appearance at The Arcada Theatre ... 

FANTASTIC REVIEW!

dis  

KENT: 

Having seen John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band perform earlier this year, I think you did a brilliant job capturing the essence of one of their performances!

Wonderful job!

Thanks!

Tom Cuddy

Hey Kent - 

Thank you for such an incredible write up.  It will surely help to spread the good word (and get a St. Charles return date in the books - Ha!)

This new album is us reconnecting with our friends and fans to let them know we're still here, still vital and have something both new and old to share that will bring a smile

Appreciate you!

John Cafferty 

From Bob Merlis ... 

ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons was delighted to discover that music legend Chubby Checker was in the house when the band played the Santa Barbara Bowl on Tuesday, November 4. After he spotted the singer who had the whole world not only twisting but twisting again, Billy stopped the show to salute him and make his august presence known to the audience who responded enthusiastically. After ZZ Top’s set concluded, Chubby spent time with Billy and the other members of ZZ and their crew. Billy revealed himself to be a long-time fan while Chubby, born in Spring Gully, South Carolina, referenced their shared southern roots during a lengthy backstage conversation. 

 

Photo credit: Pablo Gamboa 

ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (by Keith Richards) in 2004 while Chubby Checker is slated to be inducted this Saturday.  

As we all know, Chubby was inducted earlier this year at The Des Plaines Theatre ... and a filmclip of that event will be edited into Saturday Night's live show airing on Disney+.

But how cool is that ... two Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame legends together at the same show ...

And I was fortunate enough to have my picture taken with BOTH of them!!!  (kk) 

 

Firstly, what Wild Bill Cody has to say is largely nonsense: Shannon was Carl's dog, not Brian's. 

Secondly, Carl's Shannon was a samoyed, not a red setter. There are images online showing this, and in the mid-2000s I asked Carl's ex-wife Annie about it and she confirmed that Shannon was a samoyed.

Regards,

Andrew G. Doe

Not sure which Wild Bill Cody quote you’re referring to … but it has to be from a long time ago ‘tho as he has no longer been with us for at least fifteen years now.

That being said, our goal has ALWAYS been to present THE MOST ACCURATE TRUTH possible based on the number of sources we have at hand.

In this case, I have to defer to Henry Gross, who wrote and sang this 1976 Top Five Hit. 

Here is what he personally told me several years ago …

When I was twenty-one years old, a wonderful girl came into my life by the name of Kathy Reinmann. As if having her in my life as a friend, a wife and a friend again for the next twenty three years, until she died of lung cancer August 24, 1995, was not enough, she brought along with her into my heart her two year old Irish Setter, Shannon. While I was touring around the country in 1975 promoting my album called HENRY GROSS, I had the pleasure of doing long strings of dates with a group whose music always inspired me, The Beach Boys.

Carl Wilson, arguably the finest solo voice in the group, was warm and welcoming from the very first show I played with them on a freezing cold day at the University of New Hampshire. After getting to know each other, we realized we shared a love for much of the same music and a passion for fine vintage guitars. On a break from touring, while I was in Los Angeles, Carl invited me to his house to spend a day talking guitars, cars and rock & roll. While he was preparing lunch his two Alaskan husky dogs reached up on the counter and inhaled our food. I told Carl, while admiring the military perfection of the raid executed by his huskies, that I had an Irish Setter at home named Shannon. He was quite moved as he told me that he had an Irish Setter named Shannon that had been killed only recently when hit by a car. When I returned to New York City, I began work on my second A&M album, PLUG ME INTO SOMETHING. A few weeks later, just as we were about to master the finished album, I was sitting on my bed with Shannon strumming my guitar trying to write a song. In a matter of minutes,  my thoughts drifted to Carl, The Beach Boys and with a glance at my girl Shannon, the indescribable sadness that losing such a beloved partner in life must be. The song seemed to write itself, taking no more than ten minutes and with almost no cross outs on the paper. I made a tape of it on my giant Sony cassette recorder and sent it off to Carl. And that is the true story of the song SHANNON.

(You can read the full text here:  https://fhstoriesbehindthesongs.blogspot.com/2025/03/more-stories-behind-songs.html)

So, as you can see, Carl’s white huskies were his current dogs, after losing his Irish Setter (named Shannon) in a car accident shortly before. The fact that Henry’s dog named Shannon was ALSO an Irish Setter lends credence to his true inspiration for writing the song.

If you’ve ever lost a dog, you know what an emotional experience that can be.  Henry conveys a most beautiful and loving mood when performing what would be his biggest hit.  (kk)

One more from Chuck …

Deep Thoughts from Chuck Buell

 

New Concert Review: JOHN CAFFERTY AND THE BEAVER BROWN BAND

Man, what a ball we had Sunday Night at The Arcada Theatre.  The entire audience was under the spell of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band ... 

And they were lovin' it!  

(In fact most of them stood up throughout the entire 90 minute performance ... and several others were up dancing in the aisles and in front of the stage.  It was a real party!!!)

Cafferty and Company rocked the house, playing a wide assortment of their classic hits as well as songs from their recently released album “Sound Of Waves.”  (The stripped-down title cut from this LP got one of the biggest ovations of all … as did all of the obvious choices: “Tough All Over,” “On The Dark Side” … which they played SECOND … a REAL surprise as this is clearly his best known track and would typically lend itself to be the show closer or encore hit ... “Tender Years,” “Voice Of America’s Sons,” “C-I-T-Y” (which WAS the show closer … and has always been one of my favorites), “Wild Summer Nights” and “Runaround Sue,” which John said he played for me because I asked him before the show if he was going to do any covers tonight. (“I hadn’t planned on it,” he told me ... "but I slipped this one in for ya!")

 

John and Me 

The intensity of the show never stopped … The Beaver Brown Band are well-seasoned players that really drive these songs home.

Gary Gramolini, the lead guitarist, has been with him every step of the way … some 50+ years now … and Ronnie Dee, filling in on sax after the unexpected departure of Michael “Tunes” Antunes, never missed a step.  (Ronnie’s got his own band which is starting to make a name for themselves … we ran their brand new video “Happy Hour” the other day in FH ... scroll back to Sunday's post in case you missed it.)  We also told you that Ronnie’s dad is the legendary Joey Dee of "Peppermint Twist" fame, who I’m hoping will soon be a Forgotten Hits contributor, sharing some of his incredible rock and roll memories with our readers.

John and Ronnie

When I first interviewed John back in April of this year I told him that we would figure out a way to get him out to Chicago for a show this year and boy am I glad that we did.   

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2025/04/forgotten-hits-interviews-john-cafferty.html 

Special thanks to Ron Onesti who I’m sure will be bringing them back again based on the enthusiastic response they received from the crowd.  (Actually, I think they're already talking about it!)

Backstage at The Arcada Theatre:  (L-R): Guitarist Gary Gramolini, Keyboardist Rich McMahon, Arcada Theatre CEO (and Master of Ceremonies) Ron Onesti, John Cafferty and yours truly  

(Not pictured: Drummer Don Culp, Bass Player Dean Cassell and Sax Man Ronnie Dee)

John said they had to do an abbreviated set due to time constraints … they normally play for 2 1/2 - 3 hours! ... but we all got a great dose of Rhode Island Rock and Roll! (kk)

SET LIST:

Tough All Over

On The Dark Side 

Runaround Sue

Under The Boardwalk / Boardwalk Angel

Palisades

A Day In The Sun 

Blue California (Turn Your Radio Up)

Hearts On Fire

Voice Of America’s Sons

Sound of Waves 

Where The Action Is

Wild Summer Nights

Some Like It Hot

Blue Moonlight Drive

Tender Years

C – I – T - Y

Encore:

Garden Of Eden (Same Old Story Ever Since The World Began)

Send A Message To You

Pride And Passion

Just A Matter Of Time 

Tuesday This And That: FREDDY CANNON Edition

Rock 'n' Roll Icon Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon Unwraps New Holiday Hit: "Red Coat Santa"

Just in time for the holiday season, rock 'n' roll icon Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon is back with a brand-new Christmas single, “Red Coat Santa.”  Written and recorded by Cannon himself, the festive track blends his signature high-energy style with the warmth and nostalgia of the holidays.

Released on October 20, 2025, “Red Coat Santa” is already generating buzz among fans of classic rock and holiday music alike. The song is available now on all major streaming platforms.

Cannon, best known for his 1962 smash hit “Palisades Park” and his electrifying performances on American Bandstand, brings his unmistakable voice and timeless rock 'n' roll flair to this original holiday tune. With sleigh bells, saxophones, and a toe-tapping beat, “Red Coat Santa” is poised to become a seasonal favorite.

“I’ve always loved Christmas music, and I wanted to create something that felt both classic and new,” said Cannon. 'Red Coat Santa” is my way of bringing a little rock 'n' roll joy to the season. I hope it makes people smile, dance, and remember what the holidays are all about — fun, family, and music.”

“When I wrote this tune, I thought no one had really ever sung about Santa’s famous outfit. And I was inspired by my angel, my wife, Jeannette, who passed away earlier this year,” said Cannon.

This release marks Cannon’s return to the holiday music scene following his 2002 album Have a Boom Boom Christmas, which featured both classic covers and original songs. Now, over two decades later, “Red Coat Santa” proves that Freddy Cannon’s rock 'n' roll spirit is as vibrant as ever.

The California based singer-songwriter is slated to do a series of radio interviews to spread the word on his new release, including a reunion with DJ Cousin Brucie on 770 WABC Radio in New York on Saturday, Nov. 22^nd at 7pm.

Cannon holds the record for the artist with the most appearances on “American Bandstand” (110 times).

Freddy’s new release on You Tube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUdzf8hAtWY&list=RDFUdzf8hAtWY&start_radio=1

 

Freddy's "seasonal" hits have really kept things rockin' these past few years ... between his Halloween / Svengoolie clips and now this great new Christmas tune, Freddy has proven that his brand of rock and roll is timeless.  Maybe he should be the next long-overdue "surprise" inductee into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame!  (kk)

THANK YOU, KENT!

WITH YOUR HELP, WE JUST MIGHT HAVE A HIT WITH THIS ONE

FREDDY "BOOM BOOM" CANNON 

Lord knows the world could use a little NEW Christmas Holiday Cheer ... let's hope radio jumps on this one and it catches on!  (kk)

THIS JUST IN:

Tom Cuddy tells us that last week's episode of the new hit television series "9-1-1 Nashville" opened with Freddy's big 1962 Top Three smash "Palisades Park!!!" 

 

November 3rd, 1965

65 YEARS AGO TODAY:

11/3/65 – The Beatles record “Michelle.”  

Although not released as a single (even Capitol shockingly passed it by, respecting the band's wishes to allow it to help sell their "Rubber Soul" album instead, which didn't contain a single), it still became another instant Beatles / Paul McCartney classic, recorded by hundreds of other artists.  (AM Top 40 Radio played it in hit single rotation to meet listener requests, despite the fact that fans had to buy the whole LP in order to obtain a copy.)

British duo David and Jonathan will score a Top 20 Hit with it in January of 1966.  (They're actually Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook, two very successful British songwriters and producers who will have numerous other hits working with other artists in the years to come.  See just a partial list below.)

"Michelle" started as a bit McCartney used to perform at parties in the early days of The Beatles, goofing around with the French lyric, which is all he had at the time.  (Paul would put on a very thick French accent and sing "Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble, Tres bien ensemble" in a very flirty way to impress any female guests.)   One day, Lennon told him, "You know, you should finish that" ... and, with great success, he did!

Also on 11/3, Sandy Koufax is named the Cy Young Award winner by a unanimous vote.  (It’s the THIRD time he’s been so honored.)  Koufax posted a 26-8 record for the 1965 season, with a 1.73 ERA and record-shattering 382 strikeouts.  You had to see this man in action to believe what an incredible force he really was.

 

SOME OF THE HITS WRITTEN BY ROGER COOK AND ROGER GREENAWAY:

"You've Got Your Troubles" and "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again" by The Fortunes

"Green Grass" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys

"I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" by Whistling Jack Smith

"Softly Whispering I Love You" by The Congregation

"My Baby Loves Lovin'" by White Plains

"The Way It Used To Be" by Engelbert Humperdinck

 "Good Morning Freedom" by Blue Mink

"I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" by The Hillside Singers and The New Seekers

The Sunday Comments ( 11 - 2 - 25 )

From Mark Bego, Joe Cocker-biographer, on this week's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony inducting Cocker:

Finally, musical justice is being done, by inducting the great Joe Cocker into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He is a true legend, and it is about time! Rock on, Joe!

MB

Amen to that, Mark!  As you know, we have campaigned long and hard for Joe’s long-overdue and rightful induction … he truly was one of a kind.  (Now we can finally take him off our DESERVING AND DENIED list!) 

The ceremony airs live on Disney+ on Saturday (November 8^th)  Other inductees include Bad Company, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes in the Performer category; Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon (Musical Influence); Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye (Musical Excellence), and Lenny Waronker (Ahmet Ertegun Award)  kk

Chubby Checker, of course, was inducted earlier this year at The Des Plaines Theatre …   

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2025/07/its-impossible-not-to-have-fun-at.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLOkrG7egRU

This clip will be edited into the live broadcast.  (kk)

Tom Cuddy tells us about a chart record set by The Monkees that has never been broken ...

The Monkees Set a 1967 Music Record That Has Yet to be Broken
https://parade.com/news/the-monkees-set-1967-music-record-yet-to-be-broken?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic%2Fentertainment

Meanwhile, Harvey Kubernik sent us a couple of vintage Henry Diltz Monkees photos to share, courtesy of Gary Strobl …

From Jim Roup …

October 29th Birthdays 🥳🎉 include Richard Dreyfuss, Kate Jackson and Winona Ryder! All seen here around Hollywood,Calif. 😎

 

Speaking of photos …

Cutting Edge 1960s Hair Styles!

Which ONE is Sullivan now . . . ?

Ed Sullivan and Tommy James (as pictured in FH)

HA! Just being Goofy!  I love those dramatically contrasting 1960s looks like those!

Tommy James and Chuck Buell (1968 - as pictured in WLS)

My Dad used to ask how I could wear my "long" hair like that!

"Doesn't that tickle your neck?!" he'd ask!  ( Famous Generation Gap Comment!" )

Buell

Tom Cuddy also let us know about a new Harry Chapin documentary that'll be coming available later this week ...

Harry Chapin - Cats In The Cradle: The Song That Changed Our Lives
https://share.google/2JpgnMKByaDO6rgTf 

To Halloween Chuck ... 

You Lost your cash?

I mean the Halloween cash!

You spent your cash?

You had a candy crash!

So, no more cash?

I mean the Halloween cash!

Oh well ... that's a Transylvania Twist...

Shelley

At least you hung onto it until Halloween. Candy in large bags hit the stores in August. Most people jumped to purchase in fear of not having it on Halloween, then ate it and returned to the store multiple times to get more. (Having worked in retail makes me fully aware of this gimmick) 

We have lived in the same place for the past 27 years ... and in all that time have never once had a single trick-or-treater come by ... so we don't even buy Halloween candy anymore (unless it's to treat ourselves ... best to have what WE like on hand just in case some terribly lost trick-or-treater stumbles by our place.)

This year we didn't buy ANY ... Frannie was going to be out of town that whole week and I just didn't want it around the house ... and then lo and behold THIS year ... for the first time EVER ... three separate trick-or-treaters rang the bell!  I was completely unprepared and ended up not answering the door at all.  (How embarrassing!)

Meanwhile, Frannie was visiting the kids and grandkids down in Houston and they went thru three very large bowls of candy, giving out every single piece, eventually running out ... and they had a ball doing it.

I guess next year I'll have to be better prepared.

(Hey, isn't all that Halloween candy on sale today for half off?!?!)  kk 

We told you the other day that Ronnie Dee, son of the legendary Joey Dee (of The Starliters) will be playing sax for John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band at their show at The Arcada Theatre later today.

Well, Ronnie just released his own new single this past week … and it’s a killer!

With the sad, recent passing of their legendary sax player Michael “Tunes” Antunes, it’s reassuring to know they’ll still be in good hands.  (kk)

And last but not least, congratulations to us …

We’ve FINALLY trained Coco, our lovable Morkie, to do all of her #2’s on the paper …