Here is the second of Shelley Sweet-Tufano's Year-End Concert Reviews ...
NELSON: RICKY NELSON REMEMBERED
Headline
News!
Nelson will be back on tour next year! But that also means that
Gunnar and Matthew Nelson will be setting aside their ‘Ricky Nelson
Remembered’ show. Then again … maybe not.
I see it scheduled for some
gigs next year, so possibly the brothers will be presenting both shows
throughout the year, tho’ that is not what they announced. I hope ‘Ricky
Nelson Remembered’ DOES continue. It is a musical breath of fresh air
showcasing the life and songs of a mid-twentieth-century teen idol,
offered by his two best friends and obvious fans: his twin sons.
The
videos show Ricky starting at age 16 and continuing through to his
country rock Stone Canyon Band. They sing his hits. They are brash and
wisecracking with each other. They pose well for photography
opportunities, and they know their subject well. Stories about Uncle
George (George Harrison, their next door neighbor) and babysitter Cass
Elliott belie the fact that they are just down to earth natural
musicians. Their musical genetics is now in its third generation,
earning them a Guinness Record as the only three-generation musical
hit-maker family. They have videos of Paul McCartney praising Ricky
Nelson and John Fogerty inducting Ricky posthumously into the Hall of
Fame. When I first saw this show, it was at an outdoor fair and the
videos were not visible … so they just stopped them and went on with the
show. I still enjoyed it so much, I couldn’t wait to see them at
Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, the middle of October. It surpassed my
expectations.
Gunnar
ended the show teary-eyed relating his emotions during a medical
life-and-death struggle that Matthew endured this past year. It is
expected that it would have great impact on him. This is his partner,
sibling, twin. Matthew let him continue and only added a glib remark
about the weight he had lost in the hospital being a good thing. He may
have been uneasy standing there but he allowed Gunnar to speak freely
and seemed to accept that his brother had also suffered during this
time.
Go
see them! As Nelson, or as Ricky’s sons. Go see them! My favorite song
that night? Definitely ‘LOVE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN’T BUY’.
DICKFOX'S GOLDEN BOYS:
The
end of October, and my last concert for the month is back at Mohegan
Sun, but in the Arena to see an incarnation of Golden Boys or Teen Idols
from the 50’s/60’s. In order of appearance they are: Bobby Rydell,
Fabian and Frankie Avalon. Depending on when and where you see them, it
could be a different line-up ... Lou Christie joins Frankie and Bobby in
California next year ... BUT you can be assured you will be visited by
pin-up teen idols of walls past.
I
am seven years old and walking into my babysitter’s room two houses
away. Strangely, she does not seem overjoyed that I am invading her
space, although she is cordial. As I look around her walls, all I see
are the centerfold male singers of the 50’s, pulled out of teen
magazines. Trying to fit in I say, “Who do you think is the best
looking?” “I don’t know.” Is her passive response. YOU DON’T KNOW? YOU
HAVE THE WORLD OF MUSICAL MEN PLAYED OUT IN PRINT ON YOUR WALLS FOR EASY
COMPARISON AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHO IS THE BEST LOOKING? The fact that my
teenage friends and I would disagree on this same topic in future years
is lost on me here.
Bobby
Rydell is recovering from a bad cold and I will never forget his 2012 double
transplant and what he has gone through. He opens his mouth and I am
hearing the voice from 45 records and Bye Bye Birdie that flows out as
if there is no effort needed. My favorite, ‘Forget Him,’ brings chills
down my spine. For that voice …. I would forget him and go home to be sung
to forever.
Fabian does the middle of the show singing ‘I’m A Man,’ the
hit he sang on American Bandstand at age 15.
15???
Man???
The British
Invasion ran into the same thing. Boys playing as men as their
popularity increases. I am surprised at how many movies (all Westerns?)
that Fabian appeared in. Some with Ricky Nelson and John Wayne. Fabian’s
voice has never been what others were, but he topped the pin-up list
and torn clothes by fans list mightily.
Frankie Avalon closes with
Annette tributes. My impression of teenage love and commitment came from
their movies, and so yes, it was unrealistic and warped. GOOD TIMES.
The three of them sing together on songs, make jokes about growing up
streets apart (Did you know that Bobby and Fabian used to throw other
kids at Frankie? One of their height jokes) And I feel included, but
also feel like an eves-dropper on their lives. They have musicians who
have spent 40+ years with them and Frankie’s son, Frank is his drummer.
There are medleys, tributes and Ethan Everly. Yes, a son of an Everly
joins Frankie and his son onstage to toast his famous father and uncle.
Tributes: Ricky Nelson, Elvis, Bobby Darin, Bill Haley, The Everly Brothers ... some from Bobby, some from Fabian, some from Frankie
In
any occupation, when successful relationships are asked to reunite to
achieve a goal, magic can ensue. The difference in entertaining is that
we get to watch the magic at these reunions.
Forgotten Hits East Coast Correspondent Shelley Sweet-Tufano has submitted three final reviews from her late 2018 concert agenda. We're featuring the first of these today. (kk)
Tarrytown, NY, is the scene for
Washington Irving’s ‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ and today it is the home
of The Music Hall which housed a show called 'Stars of the 60s' at the
beginning of October. October is a perfect time to visit a place known
for its spooky heritage. I love this fall pilgrimage and as Tarrytown is
still a sleepy little hollow along the river, it is always a perfectly
fun experience.
There
are four acts on the bill: The Chiffons, The Brooklyn Bridge, The
Vogues and Jay and The Americans ... all American acts from the 60s who
have experienced issues and reformations, still managing to keep the
music alive and prosperous.
Judy
Craig Mann, original lead singer of The Chiffons and her daughter and
niece are the first examples of this reformation. Judy left show biz,
only to return and revive her career and the songs she introduced in the
early 90’s. Originally The Chiffons were a group whose purpose was to
introduce the songs of writer / composer Ronald Mack to the industry in an
effort to market his creations to other performers. Surprise, surprise!
The Chiffons became a hit and began shopping for matching dresses in
which to begin their performances. ‘One Fine Day’ immediately gets the
audience clapping and singing the praises of this wonderful day we all
have in our memories … real or imagined. ‘I Have A Boyfriend’ is next,
followed by Judy’s daughter, Dawn, taking the lead vocals for ‘That’s
The Way It Goes.’ NOW comes my fave moment as these girls “get real”
about all those ‘Sweet Talking Guy’(s). The pre-song repartee from each
girl giving her opinioned attitude on these men we wish to forget, after
having fallen victim to their words without meaning, brings all women
in the audience into a single sisterhood of “UH-HUH! Been there, and NOT
going back!” However, we absolutely MUST end acknowledging ‘He’s So
Fine.’ Of course, THAT would be each of you men reading this review.
Thank you, Chiffons, for bringing me back into the Spectacular 60s from a
girl’s point of view.
I
have not seen The Brooklyn Bridge since Johnny Maestro’s last
performance. It was at Bowzer’s Doo-Wop, Mohegan Sun in CT. I had no
idea it would be his last and, from what I have been told, others did
not either. So what can The Brooklyn Bridge offer me now? There are
still three original members and a new lead singer. His name is Roy
Michaels. And, as The Bridge tells us, “Johnny threw him down to our
microphone suited up and complete with hat.” Below is a piece taken
from The Brooklyn Bridge’s announcement on their decision to continue.
It explains it beautifully.
The
Brooklyn Bridge (Band) are excited and looking forward to continue
the music that all of you are familliar, with such songs as 'Lonely
Teardrops,' 'Give Me Some Lovin'' and many more. Since Johnny Maestro's
passing in March of 2010 and Fred Ferrara's passing in October of 2011,
the band and our families have felt their loss on many levels. We miss
them terribly, as do all our fans. However, at this time, the band feels
that the responsibility to carry on the music is something that can not
be ignored. And so, the band is looking forward to performing the hits that
are still popular on all of the Rock and Roll shows and all the oldies
shows on the radio and the internet. Such songs as 'Welcome Me Love,' 'Blessed Is The Rain,' 'Your Husband And My Wife,' and our most popular
million seller, 'The Worst That Could Happen,' along with many others of
the Brooklyn Bridge song list will be performed once again to our fans
and friends. Future
bookings and events will be posted on this website. Also, you can log
on Facebook to 'TheBrooklynbridgeband on Facebook' for more
information on the band. Hope to see you at future shows and we thank you for always being a very important part of our lives and the music. Peace /// Rn'R Forever ...
The Brooklyn Bridge Band
So,
what do I say now? I am SO glad they made this decision to go on with
their musical performances. Roy’s vocals are spot on, and to be able to
hear ‘Lonely Teardrops,’ ‘My Prayer,’ ‘Welcome Me, Love,’ ‘Blessed Is The
Rain,’ '16 Candles’ and ‘The Worst That Can Happen’ in live
performance with the feeling that Johnny is not only smiling, but
saying, “YEAH! I did that! And the world still loves it!” made me weepy
and joyful both. What happened to ‘Your Husband and My Wife’? I don’t
know. It was not performed tonight. I hope all is well with them.
(sarcasm ;-D).
The
last time The Vogues performed at The Music Hall, Bill Burkette was
still with them. They were such a hit, the audience plagued The Music
Hall to bring them back … and they listened. Today, The Vogues name is
headed by Troy Elich and includes Royce Taylor and another vocalist who
(according to their website) is not computer savvy enough for email.
They tour with The Five O’Clock Band whose names (but not emails … again ,
not computer savvy) are Art DeLeonardis, Dean Mastrangelo, Tom Lamb, and
Rich Gooch.
This
is sounding like a funeral dirge depicting loss, but I really see it as
a positive of the music being carried forward. As with other bands,
there are members here who performed with the originals and carry the
blessings of them to go forward and keep the magic going. And, as I have
said before, CDs are nice (actually my vinyls are better) but live
harmonies ROCK the world! The vocals are filling the room bringing the
songs to life.
The Land of Milk and Honey
Magic Town
My Special Angel
Turn Around (Look at Me)
Five O’Clock World
You’re The One
These
songs long for and are enhanced by some of the most beautiful harmonies
and lyrics we can find in concert. A patron says to me, “The Vogues put
on a great show. They know how to do it.” I am feeling warm, mushy,
strong and determined as their section ends. At each concert I realize
again the importance of music in my life and the lives of others.
The
show ends with Jay and The Americans backed by The USA Band! Several
“Jays” have had the honor of strength of voice to deliver the HIGHS,
with never a low, of the songs that went toe to toe with the British
Invasion. Although there are many “shoulda been a hit” examples in
music, there are also as many or more, examples of songs that lurched
through the stacks to emerge victorious against all odds. Music can win
when all else fails. And ‘Only In America’ is the place to start. It is
BECAUSE of our melting pot existence that we are able to bring forth
musical genres and styles that may separate or combine music from any
area of the world.
Sandy
Deanne, Marty Sanders and Jay Reincke appear tonight. The stage is
minus Howie Kane and at times, I feel a burden on the other three to make
up for “one man down”. You nailed it, guys.
Jay Reincke appeared at times
to be dissatisfied with his voice, but the audience didn’t feel it.
This was an audience who were all glad to be attending this concert and
they showed their appreciation.
Some Enchanted Evening
Let’s Lock the Door
She Cried
Young Blood
Over You
Oh, Pretty Woman
Let It Be Me
Cara Mia
Be My Baby (Sandy Deanne takes lead vocals)
Walking In The Rain
The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore
Come A Little Bit Closer
This Magic Moment
This
was my first concert in October. After this, my personal and
professional life took on curves that didn’t allow me the time to finish
this review, nor write the others for October and November. I can’t let
this year end without acknowledging all the concerts I attended (YES,
despite everything, I made it to every concert on my list, and thankfully
so. I would not have survived, still smiling, without them.) So, I will
be sending a whirlwind montage of the rest of my year in one fell
swoop. Marty Sanders of Jay and The Americans will emerge again along
with American Rock N Roll royalty, a trip involving a concert that
didn’t happen, and The British Invasion.
With Forgotten Hits now featuring the music and times of 50 years ago, namely 1969, I had this happen today and it took me back to January, 1969.
I was driving across town today and my MP3 player was set on shuffle and for the FIRST time ever, on came the LONG version of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida." I played it all the way for the first time in decades. MAN, me and my brothers ate that long version up so much in '68 and '69. It led the way, IMO, for a change in music. Did I miss ITS 50th anniversary box set somehow??? I played it five more times in the rest of the day. 7th Heaven!!!
One big reason this album was so cool was the great STEREO it used. Stereo may have been well known to FM followers in the bigger cities, but in Dodge City, Kansas, we Besch brothers were inducted into the stereo sound really for the first time in 1968. LOTS of cool stuff was coming out in stereo (altho most 45s were still mono releases) and mono was starting to be sold cheap by the year's end. Cutouts of recent Beatles and others would be as cheap as $1.87 when they were normally about $3.89 or so in DC. But I digress.
I had known of Iron Butterfly from earlier in 1968 when they appeared on American Bandstand on March 2nd. The San Diego band's first LP, "Heavy," had just hit Billboard's LP charts and the single, "Unconscious Power" would be passed over quickly. Personally, I recorded the LP cut "You Can't Win," which they performed in lip-synch on the show, with our reel-to-reel machine. As the year moved along, the new "heavy" sound was starting to infiltrate the LP charts more and more and even gained some prominence with AM singles hits as well. Atlantic/Atco was leading the way in this area at the time. Just as Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" (in its second incarnation on the charts in '68) and Vanilla Fudge's "You Keep Me Hangin' On" were reaching Top 6 status nationally that summer, the new Butterfly under three minute single edit of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" started its rise, but a month into its chart ventures, something blew us all over and the song got lost for a bit. A 7-minute single, "Hey Jude," hit the charts. Nothing else seemed to matter much in some ways when this single hit us all like a mallet when we all pulled that first ever Apple 45 out of its sleeve proclaiming "The Beatles on Apple" and plopped it on the turntable.
OK, so Cream had started the progressive Atco movement and the Beatles had a long song that everyone loved. So, what makes "In-A-Gada-Da-Vida" so special?
"In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida" was a game changer in many ways. It influenced music for decades to come. Even the Beatles never recorded an 18 minute song that filled an entire album side and I am not sure such would have the magnitude of this one song -- IN THE U.S. I don't think the Butterfly album or 45 ever had the appeal that it did here.
Anyway, the album rose steadily for three months on Billboard's Top LP charts before finally reaching Top 10 status in the first week of October, 1968. Within a month, it had fallen out of the Top 10, just as the 45 had peaked at a modest #30. I must say that the 45 deserved better. The edit of a 17 minute song to under 3 minutes was done beautifully. I heard the 45 first, like many, since it was riding the charts and airwaves a month before the LP was released. AM airplay was so-so, despite all the Atco/Atlantic recent success.
Despite dropping from the Top 10 LP chart, it quickly jumped back into the Top 10 and, despite the Beatles' "White Album" jumping to the top and gaining a gold record instantly, the Iron Butterfly's second album was a solid Top 10 and after five months, had also gained gold record status, finally. I count 44 Top 10 weeks for the LP in 1968-9 on the Cash Box LP charts from its first week in the Top 10 in '68. There must have been more hits on this LP, right?
Actually, NO. Did anyone ever HEAR the other LP cuts? Did anyone ever even PLAY the other side of the album? This was unheard of! That LONG version was suddenly STUCK on FM's and turntables for an entire year. I picture millions of incense sticks burning and bongs flaring to this LP side that year of 68/9.
Butterfly's NEW album, "Ball" (released in February, '69) would actually chart higher, reaching #1 on Cash Box and #3 in Billboard. I have to say that, personally, "Soul Experience" from that LP was just that and listening to it with headphones in 1969, it was a masterpiece in itself. However, the new LP was and still is totally overshadowed by the "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" LP, which ran thru the LP charts for 140 weeks in Billboard.
There was something else adding to the experience of this LP that had not previously been so big of a deal. Sure, you could put the LP on at home or in the car, choose to listen to Chuck Buell and WLS play the AM hits on your AM radio, OR you could hope to hear the 17 minute classic on FM as it became the underground radio anthem long before "Stairway to Heaven" took over years later. BUT, a new idea gave you that chance to have YOUR music in YOUR car ANYTIME you wanted it! The 8-track tape had given us all a new option for car listening. Yeah, tapes had been an experiment between 4-tracks, 8-tracks and cassettes, but the 8 track cartridge soon became the item of choice for the car. If you wanted to hear the lyrics clearly, buy the LP. If you wanted to groove in the car with friends and know every part of the song (even with the changing tracks CLICK) with few lyrics and memorable parts you could almost skip to, if needed, you chose to buy THIS 8-track. Before "Abraxas" was an 8-track everyone partied with in the car, Iron Butterfly had led the way.
At the end of 1969, AM/FM choices had become more clear cut and Billboard's year end charts ranked Iron Butterfly as the #6 album selling artists (#4 vocal group) despite not being among the entire top 100 singles artists! Not surprisingly, Iron Butterfly were the #1 8-track artists, with the Beatles only #20. They were #3 in cassettes and #5 in the failing 4-track tape category. Yet, Billboard's story on their year in review said very little about the band, only stating (BURIED IN THE 3RD PAGE OF TOPICS) that the LP had been near the top 10 all year. Sorry, Kent, but 1969 SPOILER ALERT: The same issue ranked the album as #1 for entire year! A little more respect, please? No Grammy nomination in any category for this LP? I guess it IS hard to find a category for such an LP, right?
In June of '69, the short 45 was reissued thanks to LP sales still being around the Top 10. The 45 reached #68 and two months after it had again left the charts after 17 weeks on the Hot 100, the LP, which had previously peaked at #5 in late '68, finally reached its Billboard Top LPs' peak at #4 IN ITS 58th WEEK on the chart! It peaked a whole YEAR after it first charted!!! This LP defied description. The LP's first week of July 20, 1967, saw it debut with a bullet at #117, only bettered by the post-death compilation, "The Immortal Otis Redding." Also in their first week then were Jose Feliciano's first LP, "Feliciano," and our own New Colony Six jumping on at #173 just ahead of Creedence Clearwater Revival's first album at #179.
At #4 on August 9th, 1969, so much had changed -- except the appeal of this LP! Woodstock was but a week away. CTA's first LP was struggling to keep sales moving, which would not be a problem soon. Instead of Hendrix, Tiny Tim and Cream in the Top 10 like week one, we saw Blood, Sweat and Tears, the Hair soundtrack and Crosby, Stills and Nash as new competitors. It just didn't matter. The #1 LP in the first week of 1968 was Simon & Garfunkle's "Bookends" -- it was not on the chart on August 9th a year later. Similar fates were happening. "The White Album" that had taken the sails out of #5 "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" at Christmas 1968 was now #70!
Yet, the song was what changed history most, IMO. IF you are still reading, put the long version on and follow along ... and remember!
Examining this song now after hearing it a million times 50 years ago brings new light. From that amazing keyboardist Doug Ingle's opening organ chord progression with Ron Bushy's drum beat and Lee Dorman's bass backing and the LOUD Erik Braunn fuzz guitar, it becomes an instant classic when Ingle's other worldly vocal comes in. If he began by singing "In the Garden of Life," who knows if we would have ever heard this amazing track. That is what the song's title is supposed to mean, but when he COMMANDS "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, honey, don't you know that I'm lovin' you," you feel the flower power explode in your ears. The stereo is just awesome. You just have to crank it full volume. Not a lot of lyrics to this one, but we all know every one easily and sing along proudly as if it's our anthem.
Just after the two minute mark, the 45 version disappears into this mesmerizing work beginning with the keyboard solo that just blows one away, likely influenced some by the Doors. Then, about 3:30 in, the guitar solo rocks us, sounding at times like the sounds that Tommy James would soon be making in HIS long version of "Crimson & Clover." If Tommy wasn't channeling this song when he did his classic long version, I'd be amazed. However, I have to believe that the middle of Crimson & Clover was edited IN to the 45, instead of the 45 edited OUT of the long version. The edit is too abrupt to be natural, IMO. I digress again. The sounds of Cream can be felt in this passage as well.
Now at about 6:30 in, it gets nice and quiet and you wonder if this is "Susie Q" by CCR being copied or vice-versa. The CCR song is another long one at 8+ minutes, but split in half on the 45. The two songs first charted only two weeks apart on the Hot 100, so who was first with this tapping symbol? Both were California bands, so maybe one heard the other live? No doubt that our own FH'er Harvey Kubernick knows the story and can tell us. Whatever the case, this jumps into the pounding drum solo that is spectacular in stereo and was the start of so many bands adding drum solos to their live acts. What is likely different, is that this one is so VERY entertaining throughout. YES, bands do nice drum solos, but are they always INTERESTING like this long classic? Later in '69, the Beatles' Abbey Road would do the best SHORT clone job of this drum solo that could be. It's great, but no doubt it was inspired by the Butterfly classic. Both certainly got pounded by us on our dashboards of our cars as if we could duplicate the originals. I would think that the Cryan' Shames' drum break in "Greenburg Glickstein" was influenced by this song, as well.
Back to the track, we eventually find the drums going back and forth with great ambience and phase shifting in our headphones as the keyboard rejoins in a church-like atmosphere that might have made my mom say, "I love this part." In reality, the drum solo that we think is the whole song is basically three minutes of pure glory. Then, as the peaceful church sounds descend, suddenly things get quite weird as the guitar screams out at 11 minutes in. But soon after this 20 second lunacy, a nice veiled version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" can be heard in the organ solo which ascends back into the main song again as it powers to new heights. Now a transition into the drum solo for a few seconds and then what I think is the music of "Streets of Cairo" if I am correct. How bizarre, but cool. It has this wavery effect that Tommy James again used in "Crimson & Clover" to fuller effect. Then another crazy guitar solo that is superb stereo leading into the FINAL finale' of this 17 minutes of chaos. The ending part of the 45 edit comes back as well as the closing lyrics, of which there had been NO lyrics for the past 13 minutes! The beginning keyboard part returns to appropriately close the song.
OK, so maybe my thoughts above were not coherent, but can you blame me? This song just begs you play it again and again, AND WE DID! Well, at least thru 1968 and 1969. 140 weeks! That's almost three years on the Top LPs charts! Did we wear all the copies out? On the first LP chart of January, 1970, the LP still stood proudly at #11. As that year ended, one can certainly hear the influence on Bloodrock's new single, "D.O.A." too, I think. The first week of January, 1971, the LP had finally slipped to #152, but was up from 156 the week before!
On March 20, 1971, the legend ended (for now) when the LP last charted (up two spaces from the previous week!) at #168. Janis and Jimi had died and Jim Morrison would soon join them. The Beatles had broken up in this chart run and "Jesus Christ, Superstar" had replaced "Hair" as a top LP. Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper were new forces in the psychedelic era of the '70's, and yet THIS album was still clinging. It's just too odd to be true, but it helped close the '60's era, even if it hung on much longer than the legends we love and remember more often. Take another listen! WLSClark Besch
Actually if you put the LP cut on at the start of today's piece, it probably could have played as the soundtrack to the time it has taken to read this far! (Not quite "Wizard Of Oz" / "Dark Side Of The Moon" worthy, perhaps, but there is no denying your passion!)
Clark is correct ... despite never reaching #1 ... and having been released some five months before 1969 even began ... Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" LP would go on to rank as Billboard's #1 Album of 1969. (We were gonna tell you that eleven months from now in our own year-end recap of '69! lol)
Sure, I listened to it ... but not to the extent others obviously did. For me, it was interesting the first couple of times ... but I have never been one for extended drum solos, which then seemed to dominate EVERY concert we went to back in the '70's. I soon found myself bored with the concept. (If I'm going to invest seventeen minutes into something today, it'll more likely be "Alice's Restaurant" than "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida"!!!)
But I get it ... and music certainly had taken a major turn by this point. It was a very different time. (Brother Mark listened to it intensely as well. And I cannot help but wonder if, when listening to it in the car on an 8-track player, if it switched channels three times during the course of this one single song?!?!)
Different strokes for different folks ... but I believe Clark's piece will strike a passion in many of our readers so I am happy to run it.
Rather than run another 17 minutes here, I will post the single edit which, I have always believed, never really did the song justice. It seems like there is so much more they could have done to capture a better flavor of what the song was all about. It's OK ... but the whole "pop hook" that could have made this a hit is missing. (Ultimately, it peaked at #30 when it was first released as a single in August of '68 ... then climbed to #68 in May of '69 when it was released again. In all, it spent a total of 17 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart between its two runs.)
So here it is again ... probably not enough time for an extended bathroom break ... but this is the way many of us first heard this tune. (kk)
By 1969, the only "street sheet" that you could pick up in a record store measuring The Top 40 Hits in Chicago was the WLS Hit Parade.
WCFL had stopped printing and distributing charts early the year before. For most of the year, they sent a poster to be displayed in stores only ... but nothing that us kids and record buyers could take home. (Fortunately, there were enough of us fanatics out there who wanted this information so we wrote down the weekly chart and then recreated it at home. Sadly, this was before the time of cell phones to take pictures!!!)
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of 1969 ... when SO many great, legendary events occurred ... we'll be running Fifty Year Flashbacks from time to time throughout the year ... musically, all keyed around that week's WLS Chart.
We will also devote full pages to certain events throughout the year (some of which were first published by Forgotten Hits back in 2009 on the 40th anniversary of these milestones.)
So, let's kick this sucker off with the WLS Chart for January 6, 1969. (By the way, ALL charts supplied for this year's survey features are courtesy of Jack Levin, a fellow survey collector as well as a guy I have known for a good forty years. Thanks, Jack, for livening up this year's tribute to '69!!! (kk)
Some big movers this week ... led by The Doors, who jump 19 places with their latest, "Touch Me," which is up from #33 to #14.
And how about that Top 10??? Pretty solid tracks throughout.
New on the list this week are our buddies The Royal Guardsmen ("Baby Let's Wait," which premiers at #34) and The Turtles with one of my favorites by them, "You Showed Me," which closes out the list at #40.
The 2nd Annual WLS Hit Parade Awards that this survey is referring to was a listener-based / fan-based poll of choosing Chicago's favorites in several categories. I asked Jack to send us a copy of that, too, so our readers could see what the trends in music looked like as we kicked off 1969.
Other news this week:
January 1st – Ohio State defeats USC in the Rose Bowl
Also on this date, actor Verne Troyer (Mini Me) is born (he died in 2018)
January 2nd – Rupert Murdoch adds the largest-selling British Sunday Newspaper, “The News Of The World” to his media collection
January 3rd – 30,000 copies of John and Yoko’s “Two Virgins” album were seized at a New Jersey airport because the front cover featured a nude, full-frontal photograph of the couple. A vice squad also shut down a record store in Chicago for displaying the album.
Eventually, Tetragrammaton Records would repackage the new LP in a plain brown wrapper. (Ironically, The Beatles’ late manager Brian Epstein once suggested “Brown Paper Bags for Pepper,” as he believed THAT album’s revolutionary front cover went WAY beyond the border of good taste.)
January 4th - Bobbie Gentry appears as a guest on The Hollywood Palace
January 5th – Rocker Marilyn Manson is born
Also on January 5th,
Diana Ross & the
Supremes perform "Love Child," "I'm Livin' In Shame" and
"I Get a Kick Out of You" on The Ed Sullivan Show
Spilling into our fourth straight day of reader comments, we're running a few more of them today. (Maybe in some ways The Sunday Comments HAVE moved to Saturday after all!!!) Or in this case, instead of the Weekly Comments, we seem to be at the tail end of the Week-Long Comments!
I'm sure we'll have many more to share next week as well ... along with a few more guest concert reviews from our East Coast Forgotten Hits Correspondent Shelley Sweet-Tufano and a very interesting piece submitted by Clark Besch celebrating his love for "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" ... and you're not gonna wanna miss my New Year's Resolution for 2019 ... so be sure to stop back to check all these things out as well!
Meanwhile, on with the show ...
HE'S YOUR CAPTAIN …YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ...
MORE ON THE SAD PASSING OF DARYL DRAGON OF THE CAPTAIN AND TENNILLE: So you thought these guys were just a wimpy soft-rock duo, eh?Well, look again.(OK, well they DID have the big pop hit with “Muskrat Love” … but you’ve got to go below the surface to find some of their other accomplishments!)
We mentioned their ties to The Beach Boys … but did you also know that you can find either / or / both involved with other rock artists like Pink Floyd (yes, Toni Tennille did vocals on “The Wall”!!!) and Elton John (“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”)
Here’s a cool piece telling you about some of their OTHER triumphs beyond “Love Will Keep Us Together” …
(C’mon, is there a catchier pop song out there than this one?!?!?)kk
I am so saddened by the passing of Daryl Dragon. This is coming on the heels of the death of another one of my famous book subjects, Aretha Franklin. In many ways, Daryl's death is doubly upsetting to me, as 'The Captain & Tennille' was my very first published book back in 1978. I fondly remember meeting Daryl and his wife Toni Tennille backstage after one of their performances at The Westchester Premier Theater in Tarrytown, New York, as I was preparing my book on the duo. They worked together with The Beach Boys, found initial fame with the hit song 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' and then became the stars of their own network television series. Few people remember that Daryl was the son of Carmen Dragon, who provided the musical score for countless Hollywood films. Daryl Dragon started my book career, and his trademark keyboard work will be deeply missed. Mark Bego
So glad I rediscovered your site just in time to review the charts from the year that really got my love for AM radio going --1969.
I started listening to CKLW in May, 1968, became obsessed with their "Big 30s" so that era will always have a special place in my heart (you always remember your first), but the Summer of '69 saw the release of My All Time Favorite Single -- of ANY year -- the one I vote for as Number One in those Rewound Radio surveys. Looking forward to seeing what you and others have in store for us from (gasp) 50 years ago. Thanks!
Sam
Our buddy Mark Dawson of The Grass Roots saluted 1969 on his program Thursday Night.
ON THE RADIO: Hi Kent! I read Forgotten Hits every day. Thanks for making it happen! The Air Force PSAs Phil Nee submitted caught my eye immediately today. I do the production for oldies 95.1 KISN in Portland, Oregon. We're a non-commercial low power FM so we sell underwriting announcements instead of commercials. But that doesn't mean we don't air commercials! We air LOTS of them but like the music we play, they're all classics. To me, the classic spots are as much memory triggers as the songs are, and even though there are over 1600 in our classic spot library, I'm on a never ending quest for more. Those eight Air Force spots are a very welcome addition. My thanks to Phil for preserving and sharing them. As he said, these were all disposable content after their run dates so the fact that they've survived seems extraordinary. I guess anything disposable that gets left alone long enough becomes someone's treasure! I'm attaching a scoped hour of Rich Patterson's show on KISN from the Saturday following this past Thanksgiving that I hope you'll enjoy. You'll hear some classic spots and jingles from the original KISN that dominated Portland radio throughout the 60s, as well as jingles from the first resurrected KISN as an oldies station on 97.1. That particular KISN-FM was getting great numbers right up until Entercom blew it up in 2005 and flipped it to "Charlie" because everyone knows you can't sell oldies anymore! The current incarnation of KISN is run by a small volunteer group of old radio guys who want to honor the radio station we grew up with and make it happen one more time. Believe it or not, this little radio station has quite an audience! Once we get a stream up and running I think it'll take off like a rocket.Thanks again for Forgotten Hits! Scott Young This is a fun clip … anybody interested in receiving a copy, drop me a line and I’ll forward it to you.Thanks, Scott!(kk)
But unfortunately it isn’t all good news …
2019 starts with a downer. No, I'm not talking about recently deceased recording stars, musicians or insiders.
I'm speaking of the desecration of one of the country's most iconic (perhaps iconoclastic?) radio stations.
WLNG 92.1 FM (Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York) had been an amazing station. Relatively unchanged sound-wise since 1963. I've been a fan since I discovered it in 1976. I still recall my call-in's to station owner Paul Sidney, during his "party line" afternoon DJ show. Told him on air my dream would be to go on WLNG and spin oldies - never happened, but I kept listening for decades.
If you have never heard of it, well, it sounded like no other station. Mainly because the broadcast concept stayed true to the strongest marketing element - locality, first and foremost ... the manner in which radio stations used to operate. But those days are now gone, one reason why terrestrial AM & FM radio suffers a continued decline.
Yeah, some, especially radio programmers, would say WLNG sounded goofy, antiquated, out of date, with original and re-cut PAMS era jingles played before AND after every song aired. Their oldies format, however, was hard to beat. Much more selections aired than the usual bland and boring same old, same old 500 oldies heard elsewhere, ad nauseam, 24-7. On WLNG, one could hear 1950s / early 60s doo-wop & rockabilly tunes, two styles that have been eliminated from nearly all oldies formats elsewhere. Ditto for obscurities; songs that did not make the national Billboard Top 40 charts were broadcast daily.
The on-air DJ's may not have been cookie cutter perfect, you know, the sparkly-smile guys with booming baritone modulations on mic that could move your living room furniture with every syllable spoken. But that non textbook operational on-air "mish-mash" is exactly what made WLNG so cool and FUN to listen to on a daily basis.
Now? As of this writing, due to the recent sale of the station to a woman with zero broadcasting experience, the format is still oldies, but operating under a Scott Shannon oldies programming concept (read: dull and boring) with the main ID tag "The Legend Continues". Maybe, but based on the complete withdrawal of the dozens of PAMS jingles, the free-form "never knew what you could hear next" DJ selected playlist choices (now - that same old bland overplayed oldies) the injection of numerous vapid 1980s era hits per clock hour (sounds that sound far too dated, dorky and annoying when placed alongside older songs) and the elimination of that familiar, decades strong WLNG on-air sound..well the legend MAY continue, but not for long. Guaranteed.
Count me out as a listener. I have no problem with change, but when changes made do not improve upon what was ... then it's time to move on.
I'm sure other long time listeners (and advertisers) feel the same as I.
Mike Markesich
Former WLNG listener (since 1976)
THIS AND THAT:
Kent, Have you any idea what has happened to the oldiesmusic.com website? I believe one of the guys is known to you and frequently sends you updates about pop artists as to when they have the misfortune to die. I wonder if that is why over the weekend I failed to find reference on your sheet about Ray Sawyer from Dr. Hook. (unless of course it was there and my eyes are playing up lol) Take care and have a healthy and prosperous new year, Rockin’ Lord Geoff (In England)
The site is administered by Ron Smith, a long-time friend and colleague of Forgotten Hits … and I’m having the same difficulty accessing his site right now, too. (I keep getting a redirect message.) I've heard from several other readers who are concerned as well. I have reached out to Ron for more details and will pass them along as soon as I hear back. As for the Ray Sawyer death notice, I did post it (on Thursday I believe) … it would have gone out sooner but we got absolutely swamped with responses this week and had to spread things out over a series of several days to have any chance of keeping up. Scroll back and you’ll find it (along with a link to a site offering more information.) kk
UPDATE: I just heard from Ron ... for those of you who were worried that perhaps this was a health-related issue, take a deep sigh of relief and know that Ron's all-right ... he just decided it was time to pull the plug ... so that's what he did on January 1st. (I'm talking to him now about perhaps incorporating some of his features into the Forgotten Hits web page ... I will keep you posted if we find that a doable venture.)
Meanwhile, here's the word from Ron Smith himself ...
I decided to pull the plug on January 1. This had been in the works for months. As I explained in a message on the now-defunct bulletin board, the news page mostly consisted of whoever just died. How depressing! And I was getting tired of (literally) posting the same top tunes and calendar items for the 25th time (the site goes all the way back to 1994). It chews up a lot of my time (when a news story broke I'd have to quickly write something during my lunch break at work, then come home to some know-it-all nitpicking the typos) and I have other things I'd like to work on -- like maybe updating my books. The site was originally a laboratory for my commercial Web designs, but that ended 20 years ago. Long ago I stopped making any money from Amazon sales and yet I was still paying hosting fees, board fees and domain name fees on it. All good things -- and some bad things, too -- must come to an end. It was time. - Ron I love the idea of you revising and expanding your books to include some of the other Top 40 Charts that graced our city over the years ... WJJD, Top Tunes of Greater Chicago, WIND, WGN, WBBM, and more ... put together the most complete Chicago Chart History book possible by showing how each record did on these respective charts. I, for one, would be first in line to buy a copy! Good luck to you, Ron ... and if there's anything we can do to keep some of your efforts alive on FH, please let me know. It'll give all your readers a new place to go. (And let's face it ... oldies withdrawal is a TERRIBLE thing!) kk
Sorry to hear about Ron shutting down his website ... but at least he's ok. Maybe you can make him your assistant! Frank B. Even if I offered to pay him three times the amount I'm making doing this, it would still come out to zero!!! (lol) I think there's a certain amount of burn-out that comes with this ... but then something really cool will happen and you feel rejuvenated again. (Even seeing the volume of mail that has come thru this week has been a real boost!) kk
92 years old ... amazing! (I can't even imagine being around here doing this for another thirty years!!! lol) Yeah, Ron was our official Grim Reaper when it came to these things ... and that’s kinda what he said - the only oldies news these days seems to be who died this week!
At least we talk about who’s still performing and where to see them! (You know, before they die!) kk
I've exchanged a couple of comments back and forth with Ron recently via email, but he has not indicated anything to me regarding the site. I haven't seen him at a record show for a couple years. I know he was helping a friend of his with a movie.
But I get it ... to be honest, I'm getting too old for this. I'm within four or five surveys of completing WLS except for the "legendary" 16 months and I have all the WCFL except for their "legendary" missing surveys and I have some of those, too. I doubt if I'll ever get them. Surprisingly, surveys are the only thing that sell for me on a regular basis on eBay. Sad to say much of the oldies hobby no longer interests me. (Maybe if I made more money at it it would).
The only time I listen to the radio is in the car, and then only to Little Steven's channel. If I knew how, maybe I'd do my own podcast. When you mention commercials using obscure songs, I have no idea what you're referring to, as I haven't watched a TV show since before Thanksgiving. Maybe Ron's decided to enter a new phase in his life. I know he's active in his church.
Frankly I don't know how you do it, working full time. My time is my own and I can't get it together. I had a website for three years and ended it, as I was paying $25/month, and not making 25 cents. In fact I don't recall ever making a penny off of it. I'm kinda in a last ditch push to see if I can get things jump started. Who knows, maybe I'll check my eBay listings and find I have 50 active bids.
Meanwhile, I'll send Ron a note. Thanks for the update.
Jack
Since Hal Blaine checked in recently, see how well Dick Clark tried to get him sales. Not sure I have ever seen Dick show a VIDEO just for Rate-a-Record!!! Bizarre from September, 1967.
Clark Besch
These are two extremely bizarre tracks, even for 1967! But cool to see Dick pushing Hal's record! (kk) And,speaking of Clark Besch ...
It's interesting, but I don't even know who Clark Besch is, but I like him already. Now if I can just get Rockin' John, WORT-FM Madison, WI, to play the Blackstones on his Saturday night show, "I Like it Like That", my mission will be complete. Robert Campbell
A bit of thanks from Davie Allan … but tempered with a bit of regret at the way sales our going for his latest CD release. (I think CD sales are down in general these days … and I, for one, really enjoyed the new mix to the CDs he’s referring to that featured guest vocalists … but apparently those caused a bit of discomfort as well.) Anyway, if you’re interested in picking up copies of any (or all) of Davie’s Retrophonic Series, just hop on over to his website and get your collection going. (If you mention Forgotten Hits, I’ll bet he’ll even autograph them for you!) kk
To all of you who purchased "Retrophonic 5," I send sincere thanks and wish you all a great 2019! I am reluctantly compelled to add a not so great rest of the story: Janine was amazed at my six months of recording in the summer of 2018 ... one new tune after another. A total of 17 … nine for the new album and eight for "Retrophonic 6," coming out in March to celebrate the 10th anniversary of my "Retrophonic" series. I guess I finally woke up and wanted to (hopefully) win back the fans who jumped ship because of the "download only" albums featuring female vocalists who basically "threw me under the bus." I spent thousands of $'s and the snubbing is shocking! I have only sold 32 copies (and one of those was bought by Janine for her childhood girlfriend!)
Still following through with "Retrophoic 6" anyway. (Working on the liner notes and pics now)! Thanks, DA
A few muchneeded good responses:
Damn! That is so hard to believe. So sorry give it time maybe it will pick up. I thought this release was fantastic I will keep passing the word. Looking forward to the next one. I wish I was able to get out and tell people. Mickey
Davie! I am shocked and dismayed that one of the best CDs you've made has sold so little and that fans disappeared simply because you made some download only releases. LOVING the new CD ... been playing it to death. Your talent rocks. Looking forward already to purchasing number 6! Rick D.
Davie, I am speechless. Retrophonic 5 is a 'killer' release, bringing you back to your own sound once again. I think if there is any flaw, it is in promotion, certainly not with your incredible work. Maybe another appearance on Cult Radio A Go-Go? Peace, Rod S.
The Ides Of March return to The City Winery on March 6th … the blew the doors off the place last time. (Jim Peterik nearly lost his voice after the show!!! But what a concert!) Tickets can be purchased here:https://citywinery.com/chicago/the-ides-of-march-3-6-19.html
Here are a couple of other shows that caught my eye … both a couple of “Nooners” for a nice Sunday Brunch …
Sunday, January 20th – Great Moments In Vinyl salute The Beatles (with strings)Great Moments in Vinyl takes the tribute experience to a new level. For every concert, they choose a pair of memorable albums and perform them in their entirety. Along with the music, they supply a series of stories about the songs and the artists and the times that brought them into being. The Great Moments in Vinyl band is a hand-picked collection of talented musicians from the Chicago area. The lineup for each ensemble is specifically chosen for the occasion. At City Winery, GMiV will perform with strings a collection of songs by the ever-popular English rock band, The Beatles.
Sunday, February 17th – The Chicago Philharmonic – “All You Need Is Love” For Valentine’s Day weekend, the Chicago Philharmonic’s own string fab four will present City Winery classical interpretations of famous and beloved Beatles songs, arranged for a string quartet by Chi Phil’s Benton Wedge. Selections include Come Together, All You Need is Love, Blackbird, I Will, Hey Jude and more. 48 years after their final performances, the Beatles continue to be the best-selling musical artists of all time. Chicago Philharmonic will share the love of this legendary band during this romantic weekend.
January also brings us Randy Bachman (24th and 25th) with Procol Harum stopping by on February 20th and 21st. In March, you can catch Christopher Cross (19th and 20th) More information, tickets, and the complete City Winery line-up can be found at the link posted above. (kk)
And here’s another reminder for the Easter Seals Fundraiser coming up in featuring Paul Revere’s Raiders, Ronnie Rice and Ray Graffia, Jr., one-time bandmates in The New Colony Six, one of Chicago’s most successful bands of the ‘60’s, and Denny Sarokin, formerly of Every Mother’s Son (“Come On Down To My Boat) and later a member of Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band. Ticket information and more details can be found here: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/10363562 C’mon, folks, this one is for a good cause … so let’s give them a full house. (kk)
Otherworld Cottage reports great reviews for Harvey Kubernik's "The Doors Summer's Gone" …
Otherworld Cottage Industries has a lot to celebrate as it moves into the new year, starting with the publication of last year's book by Harvey Kubernik, "The Doors Summer's Gone."
One of its earliest reviews, posted on April 24th by Kent Kotal in his Forgotten Hits Blogspot, "This and That" reported, "Once again Harvey has taken key elements from the interviews he's done over the past 40+ years and woven them into a very descriptive perspective of The Doors, both musically and personally … The book is brilliantly put together and even the most casual Doors fan will enjoy the fly-on-the-wall memories from those who were there from the beginning and caught these guys performing in the clubs before and after their first record was ever released. The way the band grew in fan appeal (and mythical proportions) is unbelievable. Highly recommended."
In Shindig! magazine's June, 2018, issue (U.K.), reviewer Grahame Bent gave it Four Stars and reported "To his eternal credit, Kubernik's thoughtfully assembled episodic text doesn't focus excessively on already well explored aspects of The Doors' mythology, but rather attempts to build a fuller, more rounded picture of the band and their turbo-charged rise to the top by incorporating material and viewpoints from a wide diversity of sources which lends a tangible sense of time and place to the material."
And this quote from Andy Pearson's Fear and Loathing Fanzine review of "The Doors Summer's Gone" claims, "Harvey Kubernik has opted to gather together rare or exclusive interviews and recollections with people who were there at the time, ranging from the band members themselves to original fans and acquaintances … which capture the real essence of the band, that I enjoyed so much and I'm sure anyone else, from rabid fan to appreciative listener will do the same."
On this side of the pond, "The Doors Summer's Gone" was a Lee Zimmerman Quick Pick in the August issue of Goldmine magazine in which he reports it's "A fascinating oral history told in remarkable detail, this is a Doors bio that ranks as among the more expansive." (If you really want to stay abreast of Harvey's many activities, visit Kubernik's Korner regularly. That's where all the latest news, reviews and interviews are regularly updated!)
Mark Nardone's musicconnection.com review of "The Doors Summer's Gone" reports "Here's another kick-ass compendium of interviews, courtesy of journalist/historian Harvey Kubernik, who seems to have a bottomless trove of chats with the band's members, intimates and authorities." And there are four Five Star reviews on Amazon.
In Harvey's interview with Goldmine magazine publisher Pat Prince on his Goldmine Magazine Podcast, they talked about Kubernik's 2009 "Canyon of Dreams, The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon" (Sterling) and "The Doors Summer's Gone." Harvey's next radio broadcast interview about Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik's latest book "The Story of the Band" (Sterling), and "The Doors Summer's Gone", is scheduled for Saturday,19 January, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. EST on the Michael Shelley Show on WFMU-FM in New Jersey. Incidentally, "The Story of The Band: From Big Pink to the Last Waltz," was listed #5 in Paste magazine's compilation of its "Best Music Books of 2018," and also selected in "2018 in Review: The Best Music Books of the Year," by the Best Classic Bands staff.
Harvey's fans know that he is widely quoted and published in print magazines, newspapers, and blogs, but we'd be remiss not to mention these next three.
The 50th issue of Ugly Things magazine scheduled for publication in February 2019, which will feature Harvey's story on the 50th anniversary of The Doors "Waiting for the Sun," and an article on the 60th anniversary of Howlin' Wolf's debut album "Moanin' in the Moonlight" on Chess Records, soon to be reissued by Geffen/Ume.
The current December-January issue of Record Collector News magazine, presenting Kubernik's 4,000 word examination of "The Beatles White Album" and includes an article introducing Travis Pike to Record Collector News readers.
And Cave Hollywood's current offerings including Kubernik's appreciation of Howlin' Wolf's "Moanin In The Moonlight" celebrating a 60th retail milestone in 2019, plus his stories on Neil Young, Norman Granz, The Moody Blues, Tina Turner, Don Webster (Host of Upbeat), an extensive interview with Travis Pike, and on January 4th Cave Hollywood will add Harvey's 10,000 word essay on Johnny Cash and related 2019 50th anniversary Cash-driven events. Travis Pike Otherworld Cottage Industries
And then this from Harvey himself ...
So happy you had the chance to see Burton Cummings recently. Until last year he was sort of my neighbor. I have known him since 1972. I am so happy Burton is alive and well and still singing.
Keep doing what you are doing.
Harvey Kubernik
And still sound great, I might add. I'd love to see him keep things going for a few more years ... he's an incredible entertainer. (kk)
****************************
Chuck Buell, who was one of the jocks at The Big 89 in 1969, has sent us some WLS memorabilia to share with our readers throughout the course of the year ... starting with this photo of the on-air staff as the year kicked off ...
Latter Part of 1969
(I don't know exactly when Bill Bailey
joined the station and Clark Weber left)
WLS Air Personalities Standing: Art Roberts, Larry Lujack, Jerry Kaye Seated: Kris Erik Stevens; Bill Bailey, Chuck Buell (Note: This is the Bill Bailey from Louisville)
Be sure to check back tomorrow when our very first 1969 WLS Hit Parade Chart runs in Forgotten Hits ...
And then be sure to check back every Sunday throughout the year to see the latest and greatest charts ...
