HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

D.B. COOPER

50 Years Ago Today … November 24^th, 1971 … a man known only as D.B. Cooper hijacked an airplane that he then parachuted out of, carrying a briefcase filled with $200,000.  (If you’re wondering … and you likely are … $200,000 in 1971 money would today be the equivalent of about $1.4 million dollars.)  In the process, he became sort of a folk hero for the ages … putting one over on “the man” … when in reality, something of this nature could have so easily gone wrong in SO many different ways, potentially crashing the plane or killing all the passengers if, in fact, he actually had a live bomb in that briefcase.  Just as easily, law enforcement officials could have forced his hand once the plan landed to refuel and pick up the money, thus endangering any number of passengers still onboard at the time.

By 1971, hijackings had become part of our lives recently … but THIS one is the only unsolved hijacking in commercial flight history … but instead of some gun-wielding maniac demanding that the plane be flown to Cuba, Cooper was, by all accounts, cool, calm and collected, speaking rationally but very matter-of-factly when explaining exactly what his demands were.

Cooper (real name unknown, which only adds to the mystery), bought a one way ticket to Seattle for $20 under the name of Dan Cooper and then boarded a Boeing 727 aircraft (Northwest Orient Flight 305), taking a seat in the rear of the plane.  (Somehow during the massive news coverage saturation and media frenzy that followed, his name became “D.B. Cooper” … and it has remained that way ever since.)

Cooper boarded Flight 305 (headed from Portland to Seattle) wearing a white shirt and black tie.  He ordered a bourbon and soda prior to take off.  The plane took off at its scheduled 2:50 pm (PST) departure time … and once the flight was air bound, he handed a note to fight attendant Florence Schaffner, who was seated in the jump seat at the door behind him.

Schaffner paid no attention to the note, thinking it was just some businessman’s way of attempting to pick-up a stewardess for some company once the plane landed in its destination.  In fact, she was so disinterested that she nonchalantly dropped the note into her purse, unopened!

When Cooper saw this, he leaned toward her and whispered, "Miss, you’d better look at that note.  I have a bomb.”

The note itself was printed neatly in all capital letters with a felt-tip pen.  Although the exact wording is lost to the annals of time (Cooper reclaimed it after Schaffner had read it), she recalls it also stating that Cooper had a bomb in his briefcase.

He asked her to sit beside him, which she did, at which time she quietly asked him to show her the bomb.  Cooper opened his briefcase, showing eight red cylinders of what appeared to be dynamite attached to wires and a large battery.  After closing the briefcase, he listed his demands:

$200,000 in “negotiable American currency,” four parachutes (two primary and two reserve) and a fuel truck standing by in Seattle to refuel the aircraft upon its arrival.

Schaffner relayed Cooper’s demands to the pilots in the cockpit and when she returned to again sit beside him, Cooper was now wearing dark sunglasses.

(Investigators were puzzled by his term “negotiable American currency,” which also stated that these could be bills of any denomination.  The fact that he referred to this as “American currency” led some to believe that perhaps he wasn’t from The United States … and that perhaps he was Canadian.)  They also reasoned that the reason he asked for four parachutes was because he intended to take a hostage with him, thus preventing them from booby-trapping any of the parachutes not to open if and when he jumped.  They also thought that perhaps the reserve chutes were to hold the money, which would have added a considerable amount of weight to his own parachute once he jumped from the plane.

Pilot William A. Scott radioed into Air Traffic Control at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport who, in turn, notified local and federal authorities.  In an attempt to keep all of this information low key and under control (without inciting fear into the equation), the other 35 passengers onboard were never informed that the plane was under siege ... only that their arrival in Seattle would be delayed because of a “minor technical difficulty.”

Donald Nyrop, President of Northwest Orient, authorized the payment of the ransom and ordered all of his employees to cooperate fully with the hijacker’s demands.  In order to accommodate these demands, the aircraft ended up circling Pugent Sound for nearly two hours in order to allow Seattle police and the FBI enough time to collect the parachutes and ransom money … and assemble the emergency personnel.

Flight Attendant Tina Mucklow described Cooper as “calm, polite and well-spoken” … not at all like the crazy, gun-wielding typical “Take Me To Cuba” hijackers we had all been reading about at the time.  “He wasn’t nervous,” Mucklow later told investigators.  “He seemed rather nice.  He was never cruel or nasty.  He was thoughtful and calm all the time.  He ordered a second bourbon and soda, paid his drink tab and even offered to request meals for the flight crew during the stop in Seattle.”

The money collected for the ransom was microfilmed for FBI records as a means of tracing it should it be used anywhere after Cooper made his getaway.  (Cooper seemed to know the terrain rather well, pointing out spots like McChord Air Force Base and the Seattle-Tacoma Airport as they flew over them.  He even rejected the military-issue parachutes offered by McChord Air Force Base in favor of civilian parachutes with manually operated ripcords, which were then obtained from a local skydiving school and swapped out prior to the plane landing.)

Once he was informed that all of his demands had been met, Cooper instructed the aircraft to land at Seattle-Tacoma Airport at 5:24 pm. (PST)  Cooper directed the plane to pull into a brightly lit section of the apron of the tarmac and ordered that all of the window shades be drawn in an effort to stave off any police snipers who might have other ideas about how all of this should go.

Northwest Orient’s Seattle operations manager, Al Lee, was then brought onboard to deliver the cash-filled knapsack and the parachutes.  Once the delivery was complete, Cooper ordered all 35 of the passengers (as well as Schaffner and senior flight attendant Alice Hancock) to leave the plane.

While the plane was being refueled, Cooper instructed the cockpit crew as to how they would proceed from here.  In very knowledgeable terms, he outlined that the plane was to take a southeast course toward Mexico City at a minimal airspeed of 115 mph and an maximum altitude of 10,000 feet.  He instructed that the landing gear was to remain deployed in the takeoff/landing position, the wing flaps lowered 15 degrees, and the cabin to remain unpressurized.  When Cooper was informed that the plane would likely be limited to a 1000 mile route under these conditions before it would need to be refueled again, Cooper and the crew agreed to making Reno, Nevada, the new refueling stop.  On his command, the plane took off at approximately 7:40 pm. (PST)

The plane was now down to five people onboard … Cooper, Pilot William Scott, Flight Attendant Tina Mucklow, Copilot William Rataczak and Flight Engineer Harold E. Anderson.  (Unbeknownst to Cooper, FIVE military aircrafts followed in pursuit of the Boeing 727 … two F-106 fighter aircrafts from McChord Air Force Base, one above and one below the hijacked plane, both out of Cooper’s view, a Lockheed T-33 trainer, diverted from an Air National Guard mission and two others.  Despite all of this additional coverage, NONE of the pilots from any of these other planes ever saw Cooper jump from the hijacked plane, nor could they pinpoint a location where he might have landed!

At one point, Cooper ordered the other four people onboard move into the cockpit, lock the door and remain there while he assembled his jumping apparatus.  At 8:00 pm (PST), a warning light flashed in the cockpit, indicating that the airstair apparatus had been activated … and at 8:13 pm (PST), the aircraft’s tail section sustained a sudden upward movement, large enough to require a flight adjustment to bring the plane back to a level flight.  (At the time of the jump, the aircraft was flying through a heavy rainstorm, thus making the jump that much more treacherous … and leading to speculation that Cooper couldn’t have landed safely.)  At 10:15 pm (PST), the plane landed at Reno Airport with its airstair still deployed.  After a thorough search, FBI agents, state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and Reno police quickly confirmed at D.B. Cooper was no longer onboard the aircraft.

Between the altitude of the plane, the torrential downpour, the freezing temperatures and the rough terrain in this heavily forested area, many if not most FBI agents are of the belief that Cooper couldn’t have made the jump successfully … and most likely died after his jump from the plane … but no remains … no parachute … and no money … was ever found at the scene.  Despite an exhaustive search over hundreds of miles in every direction, he literally vanished into thin air.  As such, the FBI maintained this as an “active investigation” for more than 45 years before finally closing the books on it … unresolved … a couple of years ago.

As part of the investigation, 66 unidentified latent fingerprints were lifted aboard the airliner.  They also found Cooper’s black clip-on tie, his tie clip and two of the four parachutes he had requested but left behind.  (Because DNA testing didn’t exist yet in 1971, they were not able to test the seven cigarette butts he left behind … yes, in 1971, you could still smoke on a plane!!!)  And when DNA testing DID become available, they were able to test the tie clip … but at this point, all of the cigarettes were gone, likely thrown out over the years.

Over 800 possible suspects and eye-witnesses were interviewed in Portland, Seattle and Reno, many of whom had direct contact with Cooper at some point during this chain of events.  Almost immediately after the jump, an Oregon man named D.B. Cooper (who had a minor police record) became one of the first persons of interest in this case.  Although he was quickly ruled out as a suspect, the news media picked up on the name and soon “Dan Cooper” became “D.B. Cooper” … and would remain so forever more.

Despite the serial numbers of the ransom money bills being widely circulated .. and numerous high-cash rewards being offered, nobody ever turned in any of the money obtained in the hijacking.  As such, it is believed that Cooper never spent a single dollar of his heist, lending more credence to the theory that he most probably did not survive the jump. 

Finally … nearly 45 years after the incident (with over 60 volumes of investigative literature on file), the FBI suspended the active investigation into the case of D.B. Cooper on July 8^th, 2016.  It is still accepting any legitimate new physical evidence related specifically to the parachutes or the ransom money that might warrant reopening the investigation … but for all intents and purposes, the case is now closed … unresolved.

However, the legend has been kept alive over the years thanks to new findings in the vicinity of the jump.

In 1978, a deer hunter found a placard with instructions for lowering the aircraft stairs of a 727 about 13 miles east of Castle Rock, WA, north of Lake Merwin but within Flight 305’s basic flight path.

And, on February 10^th, 1980, an eight year old boy named Brian Ingram was vacationing with his family on the Columbia River, when he uncovered a small cache of banknotes from the ransom that included three packets of cash, still rubber-banded together, with correctly corresponding serial numbers from the heist as he raked the sandy riverbank to build a campfire.  The fact that this money would have been left there after all these years only leads to more speculation … was it abandoned … or buried for future retrieval … and how did only three bands of money get separated from the rest of the take?  Did they fall out of the briefcase?  Did they wash-up on shore some nine years later?  Could there be more money out there?  Again, far more questions than answers.  (Still, it’d be a real shame to think that after all he went through to get it, D.B. Cooper never lived to spend a single dollar of the $200,000 he confiscated!!!)

The bills that Ingram found were disintegrated but still bundled in their original rubber bands.  FBI technicians confirmed that this money was, in fact, a portion of the ransom … two packets of 100 $20 bills each and a third packet of 90 … all still arranged in the exact same order as when given to Cooper nine years earlier.  After the FBI retained fourteen bills as evidence (and a large portion were given to Northwest Orient’s insurer, who had paid out $180,000 of the $200,000 ransom to Northwest Orient as insurance money), Ingram was able to retain a small portion of the bills as well … and sold fifteen of them at an auction in 2008 for about $37,000.  To date, NONE of the remaining 9710 bills have turned up anywhere in the world.  Their serial numbers are readily available online for anyone with the inclination to seek them out.  Odds are they’re lost to the annals of time and may never see the light of day … and even if they did somehow materialize, they’d be disintegrated and worthless as well.  The only thing we know for sure is that there is absolutely NO evidence that Cooper … or anybody else for that matter … ever spent any of this money.

The instruction placard and the three bands of cash are the ONLY evidence ever collected over the past fifty years … although in 2017, a group of volunteer investigators uncovered what they believe to be “potential evidence” by way of a decades old parachute strap and a piece of foam that could have been part of Cooper’s backpack.

Even updated DNA technology hasn’t helped pinpoint any more details to Cooper’s identity.  Over the past fifty years, literally HUNDREDS of potential “D.B. Coopers” have been interviewed and investigated … (some reports say “over a thousand) … and although the FBI acknowledges that at least four of these may very well have been legitimate, viable leads, no charges have ever been brought forward.  The FBI also made public Cooper’s 1971 plane ticket (which he purchased with cash for $20.)  Several books and publications have been written, containing thousands of pages on the topic … tv documentaries and movies have also speculated as to who Cooper was and what really happened … but even fifty years later, that’s all these all add up to … speculation and nothing more.

Even if Cooper had survived the jump, he would be well into his 90’s now, should he still be alive.  Some say due to his complete anonymity, he may simply have returned to his life as it existed before the heist … but then why go through all the trouble and not even reap the benefits of the stolen cash?  Others say he had a grudge (although we don't know for certain against who) and simply wanted to prove a point ... that he could do it ... and get away with it.  Logically, he could have died at any time during the past fifty years … and the odds are we will likely never know any more about his identity than we have for the past five decades.

That being said, theories abound as to who he was, what his background was and what motivated the heist.  It’s a good chance Cooper had a military or Air Force background.  He certainly had an extensive knowledge of the terrain over which he chose to jump.  Some say the whole event was staged just to prove that he could get away with it … almost as a “thrill-seeker” more than as a heist.  Some say it’s most likely that he did not survive the jump … and if he did, why would he leave any of the money behind?

The fact that the FBI and local authorities would allow the plane to land … and then take off again with the ransom money and parachutes he requested … seem unheard of today.  Watch any movie depicting this type of scenario and the perpetrator is always taken out, even at the risk of losing other passengers.

There have been other “copycat” hijackings in the wake of D.B. Cooper … but all of those culprits have been caught and imprisoned.  A couple even claimed to BE D.B. Cooper … but their stories (and their fingerprints) simply didn’t bear out.

Still, it’s quite a tail.  (A very in-depth, four hour History Channel expose aired a couple of years ago … if you have the chance to see it, it’s well worth your time.)

And it all happened Fifty Years Ago Today.  (kk)

Kent Kotal

Forgotten Hits

Turkey Prep

It’s a Forgotten Hits Thanxgiving Special from the Maniacal Mind of Chuck Buell!

First, a "Forgotten Hits Dinner" Then and Now!

What Well “Dressed” Forgotten Hitters will be wearing at dinner this year!

OK! OK! So, that's actually a nod to Joey and Monica in the Fifth Season “Friends” Episode, “The One with All the Thanksgivings!"

But, if that's more than YOU’D like to wear for the occasion, may I suggest these “Turkey Toppers” from the Forgotten Hits Fantasy Gift Shop’s Fine Holiday Haberdashery Collection!

And no “Friends’ Fan’s” Seasonal Home Decor should be without the Official Monica Turkey Head Holiday Ornament!

OR!  The Official “Friends’” Lego set!

Now then, to complete this Forgotten Hits Festive Occasion, my Special "Thanksgiving Dinner Holiday Food" Minute Melody Mashup is Attached!

Bon appétit!

CB ( which stands for “Cranberry Boy!” )

Monday Morning

Kent:

Thanks a million for posting this piece on American Pie.  In fact, the entire post was great, as were the links.

One of my proudest achievements is to have sung live with the artists on four of the most anthemic songs of the era: Hotel California with the Eagles, Taxi with Harry Chapin (me on stage, no less), MacArthur Park with Jimmy Webb and American Pie with Don McLean.

Which leads me to the question you didn't ask but could have:

What would American Pie sound like if Don McLean wrote it today and had 60 years of history to review instead of ten?

All the best –

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Bill

Can you imagine?!?!  What an interesting challenge … and story … that might be!  (kk)

 

UPDATE:  Giving this some more thought, I cannot help but think that it might be anticlimactic … kind of like Harry Chapin’s “Sequel” a decade later after he first unleashed “Taxi” on us.

The biggest factor is that I think the death of Buddy Holly on February 3, 1959, was a defining moment for Don McLean … the impact of hearing about rock and roll’s first great tragedy has stayed with him for nearly 63 years now.

The original takes us thru Woodstock and Janis Joplin, still relatively “current events” at the time “American Pie” was first released in late 1971.

Could he come up with an updated version?  I’ll betcha he could … and, within the context of some type of anniversary / celebratory television special or something, it might be quite poignant … but nothing will ever top the impact of the song’s first release.  It was SO different … and so significant … why mess with perfection?

Especially when he can put together such an AMAZING performance like the updated a cappella clip we featured on the site in tribute to the song’s 50^th Anniversary.  When I think of the hundreds and hundreds of times I’ve turned this song off over the past 50 years, it is really quite remarkable that I can’t get enough of this new version … I’ll betcha I’ve watched that clip 50 times this past week alone!  (Now that’s really saying something!!!)  kk

 

I’m not sure if it's coincidence, but the Apple TV movie Finch (the one with Tom Hanks and a robot) and the Apple TV series The Morning Show both feature American Pie.

Carl Wiser

Songfacts.com

 

From Tom Cuddy …

Bobby Hart on Tommy Boyce, The Monkees, DJBH and Faith-The Monkees Pad Show

Bobby Hart on Tommy Boyce, The Monkees, DJBH and Faith-The Monkees Pad Show, episode 05 - YouTube

We had the pleasure of talking to Bobby Hart several times when we did our Forgotten Hits interview a few years ago …

Forgotten Hits - FORGOTTEN HITS INTERVIEWS BOBBY HART

You’ll also find our piece on the music of Boyce and Hart (with heavy emphasis on The Monkees) here as well …

Forgotten Hits - THE MUSIC OF TOMMY BOYCE AND BOBBY HART

 

Tom also tells us about a new documentary coming …

 

New Documentary To Chronicle Canadian Music Legend Anne Murray
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/cbc-anne-murray-documentary/

 

After running our tribute to Billy Hinsche the other night, we got these emails from Forgotten Hits Readers …

 

Billy Hinsche, longtime member of the touring version of The Beach Boys, as well as Al Jardine’s Endless Summer Band, Brian Wilson’s band, California Surf Incorporated, California Saga and his own 60’s band Dino, Desi & Billy (and later Ricci, Desi & Billy), passed away yesterday at the age of 70.

A few more details about Billy’s untimely passing are in this Rolling Stone article:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billy-hinsche-beach-boys-dino-desi-billy-dead-obit-1260824

 

Carnie Wilson 

20h  · 

I can't believe you are gone. My memories of you growing up laughing, joking, playing the keyboards, Carl's bestie, Annie's brother , Celia's son, Dino Desi and You... my Uncle Billy. Sgt. Bilco. You're hair that was always great... I watched it turn gray over the years but your energy never got old. Thank you for making this world a better place with your relentless spirit and sense of humor. You're talent was so huge and you were always one step ahead of us all with your ideas and creativity. It's really fucked up & hard to think about that Cancer took you so quickly... but I swear to God the only thing that makes me feel a little relief is that you and Grandma passed on together and that Otto, Carl Dennis, Audree, all the grandparents and loved ones are greeting you. Fly peacefully and I know you will live on forever. We won't stay sad for long because you wouldn't want that. Eat some Lumpias for us all with Grandma Celia up there. I will miss you.

 

A sad but awe-inspiring salute to Billy Hinsche.

He really made some musical, recording and filmic contributions that are often overlooked. 

I first met Billy in the late sixties on the Sunset Strip. We had a comical greeting where we just said our local high schools to each other. I graduated from a public institution Fairfax in West Hollywood, and he graduated from a private one Rexford in Beverly Hills.

We were born the same year and he shared the same June 29th birthday as my brother Kenneth.

Billy was always accessible and blessed with not only a great memory but delightful writing skills. His website along with the archive documents exhibited and retail items displayed on occasion aided my journalistic endeavors. 

Earlier this century, we met up at Amoeba Records in Hollywood when he was in from Las Vegas. Somehow, we got to talking about Splevin's, a music and record shop in Los Angeles on Wilshire and La Brea. I first met him there during his chart-success with Dino, Desi & Billy. I was well aware that Billy was a Sunset Strip fixture in the mid-late sixties and would see him every year or so around Southern California.  He graduated from UCLA in 1974, having attended their legendary School of Film.  (In 1972, the multi-talented Hinsche took a synthesizer class at UCLA along with photographer, writer and editor Heather Harris, who has helped design album and book covers for me the last 40 years.) 

I saw him in the seventies with the Beach Boys and once in a while the guy would be on a keyboard and also shooting film during the performance. Now that was cool. 

(I seem to remember that Billy went to the 1965 Beach Boys Party live album sessions done at a local studio, too.)

In 2008, I asked Billy, "Did you get your 12-string Rickenbacker guitar at Splevin's that you played on the several television shows, including ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ I watched as a teenager?"  "Yes!" I then said, "I'm doing a book about Laurel Canyon and Hollywood. Would dig getting a Dino, Desi & Billy photo since the trio were booked at It's Boss, a Sunset Blvd. nightclub. He then happily offered, "Hey ... I have the sales receipt from 1965 for the Rickenbacker I bought at Splevin's. Would you like it for your book?" "Yes!!!"

He sent a scan over of the receipt he kept, not even crinkled, and it's proudly included in my book "Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon."

Harvey Kubernik     

photo by Jim Roup

So sad to lose two such prominent sidemen, Keith Allison and Billy Hinsche, the same week.  Both stayed true to their musical roots throughout their careers, just spending more time out of the limelight than in it as time moved on.  Keith would become the musical arranger and band leader for the Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart tour as well as the big Monkees’ comeback tour … and Billy would play in The Beach Boys band for decades and then with Brian Wilson solo in the years to come.  (His sister having married Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys meant he was part of the inner circle of family and friends and, as such, he also toured with Al Jardine, Carnie and Wendy Wilson, and more.)

His film background allowed him to make (and then market) “home movies” of his time with The Beach Boys.  In later years, he was giving guitar lessons online!

I had always hoped to meet up with Billy in Las Vegas but the timing never worked out … so it was nice to finally connect when he found himself in Chicago in 2016.  (He had invited me to a similar performance a few years before but it was for something called Aquafest where the band played to an audience of boats on Lake Michigan here in Chicago … and we simply didn’t have access to one!  Lol)

Great guy … as down to earth as they come … always sharing interesting stories.  I will miss him.  (kk)

DIDJAKNOW?:  Bill Hinsche sang background vocals with his brother-in-law Carl Wilson on Elton John's #1 Hit "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" in 1974.  (kk)

 

I just saw that Billy Hinsche passed away.  So sad.  He was outgoing and a talent beyond Dino, Desi & Billy and the Beach Boys.

https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-musician-billy-hinsche-dies-20211121-isbsudcip5ebtpwpjructauvka-story.html

Clark

 

Hi Kent,

In early 1968 I worked in a coffee shop right next to the Interstate 5 freeway in Valencia, California.  Within about a year, they broke ground in the vacant hillsides to the west of the diner to build Six Flags Magic Mountain.  But on this particular spring day it was just so much empty land. 

As we were going about our regular restaurant duties, a helicopter flew in and landed across the street and, after it had spun down, two people came walking over to the diner ... a young guy and an older man, who looked old to a 16 year old's eyes, but was probably no more than 40. 

As soon as they walked in, I recognized Dino Martin from a number of TV appearances he'd had with the band.  He woulda been about 16, also. 

Well, I was a little starstruck, but while getting them water and menus, asked about the helicopter.  It seems that Dino was taking lessons to get his helicopter license along with a regular pilots’ license. 

As a kid, I was duly impressed, as I had just gotten my drivers’ license,  and made some comment about how it must be nice to be able to afford flying lessons and all the other expenses.  He made a kind of condescending smile at that remark. 

We spoke a few more words while they were there, small talk, and, after eating,  they walked back over.  They sat there for a good 10-15 minutes before getting it going.  I'm sure the instructor was going over things like safety and such before lifting off.  But, I had my encounter and it made a good story at the high school for a few days.  

19 years later, Dino flew into the side of Mt. San Gorgonio down by Palm Springs in an F4 Phantom while on a training mission.  I remembered thinking to myself that pilots’ license was what killed him.   

Scott

It was a shame losing Dino Martin at such an early age.  Desi has gone out of his way NOT to talk about the “good ol’ days” with the band, and I know that Billy Hinsche nudged him several times, trying to get him to talk to us here in Forgotten Hits.  It would have been quite the coup, as reclusive as he has been for the past 56 years but it never happened, even after Billy told me that Desi had finally agreed to talk to us.  (On the old “I Love Lucy” television show, it was no coincidence that “Little Ricky” wanted to learn to play the drums … that storyline came right from Lucy’s and Desi’s real-life son, Desi Arnaz, Jr.!)

As the only surviving member of Dino, Desi and Billy, I’m hoping Desi will at least make SOME kind of comment mourning his old friend and former bandmate.  (kk)

 

We watched the new Brian Wilson documentary “Long Promised Road” the other night.  I’m not convinced it always portrays Brian in the best light … but I do believe it presents Brian the way he really is, still struggling with mental health issues that will never go away and yet other times very focused and conscious of the incredible career he has had … and the gift of music he has given us. 

Frannie mentioned during the film that Brian seems to have accepted the fact that he’s a genius with a gift for layering sounds in a way no other producer ever has … but the truth is, it’s been a long time since Wilson has shared any of that genius with us.  Thankfully, he has a stellar band committed to sharing that detail with us every time they get up on stage … and while Brian’s vocals can no longer even come close to mimicking The Beach Boys’ sound anymore, the band performs it with the highest regard and respect for all that went into creating it.

Available On Demand through most cable outlets, it’ll cost you about eight bucks to rent it or twice that to buy it.  We opted to buy it, knowing that we’ll want to watch it again.  The soundtrack is beautiful and extensive … and the film wraps up (over the closing credits) with Brian and Blondie Chaplain singing brother Carl’s and Jack Reilly’s title tune “Long Promised Road,” backed by Brian’s band in the studio.  (kk)

 

So sad to hear about Keith Allison’s passing.  His sound was Raider-like always and looked like Lindsay OR Macca, too.  Always fun to see on "Where The Action Is," where he did many cover songs that never got released.  "Louise" is just awesome. Of course, he would become a Raider eventually.

Clark Besch

 

A nice piece on Keith Allison, who we lost recently …

 

In Memoriam: Keith Allison (1942-2021) - The Second Disc

 

"I literally could not put this book down. The Kubernik brothers are definitely on fire with this one! For me, having seen Hendrix several times, it was like an awesome roller coaster ride of memories that doesn’t stop. Thrilling, exciting and at times heart wrenching; It’s the story of Jimi Hendrix that no one has ever told. The photos, many never before seen, set the tone for this unique story of a legend who passed way to soon. Perfect size, perfect font and fine layout. Kudos to the K Bros … someone finally got it right."

Ron Lando, Writer and Memorabilia Collector 

Since we’ve been talking about books quite a bit here lately, I thought you might enjoy THIS list put together by Best Classic Bands, denoting The Best Music Books of 2021.  (You’ll find several of the titles we’ve been talking about on this list, including FIVE that I’m in the midst of reading right now!!!)

2021 in Review: The Best Music Books of the Year | Best Classic Bands

You’ll find the new Jimi Hendrix book by Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik here, listed (and reviewed above by Ron Lando), as well as Paul McCartney’s “Lyrics” books, recently voted the Book Of The Year by Barnes and Noble.  Also of note, “Hollywood Eden” and “The Carpenters” book, both of which we’ve recently heaped tons of praise on.

 

One book that’s receiving quite a bit of praise but ISN’T mentioned on that list (and probably should be), is the new autobiography by Paul Evans, “Happy Go Lucky Me,” which is earning high marks from rock historian (and long-time Forgotten Hits Reader and Contributor) Gary Theroux …

 

As you can imagine, I have a ton of books on music in my vast research library. 

Paul Evans' Happy Go Lucky Me - a Lifetime of Music is the very best hitmaker autobiography I have ever read.

Gary Theroux

"The History of Rock 'n' Roll"

It’s still on my “to do” list … likely right after I finish The Beatles “Get Back” book this week.  That’s high praise … so I’m really looking forward to reading it.  (kk)

 

Speaking of Gary Theroux, here’s a nice interview with Sean Ross about his partnership with Wink Martindale and their syndicated projects “The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits Of All Time” and the revamped “History Of Rock And Roll” …

Wink Martindale On Christmas Music And A Lifetime In Radio – RadioInsight

 

That Richard Carpenter report you posted has been withdrawn by CBS News from all platforms. No reason given.

--BF

Very strange … as I had watched the entire piece literally minutes before I posted the link.  Wonder what happened?  (kk)

Man, I wish I could go back 60 years to relive all the music, but I would jump for 50 easy.  This week’s 1971 Super Chart has so many memories! 

My personal charts were up to 200 weekly and yet I was struggling with "new math" at school and track, but those radio hits and misses were just fab. 

#10 - Everybody's Everything was so great and NO ONE plays it now.  Lujack played that all the time.  Desiderata?  How funny to think I liked it so much then.  How many songs named "Superstar" did we need in 70/71?  Nothing to Hide was another Lujack daily track. 

Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself -- did anyone play it?  Good, but not top Bee Gees material … yet still top 40!

Long Ago Tomorrow, good BJ. 

Long Promised Road -- what a great song -- their best in years. 

WLS played the whole 9 minute American Pie which made me mad that the 45 was split in half, but by the end of the run, I was switching it off WLS when they played it.  NEVER wanna play it these days.

MOST of the songs I have memories of either buying or recording or something good.  Great times.

Clark Besch

 

Bob Dylan has started performing live shows again, kicking things off with a concert in New York City last week on November 19th.

It was an interesting set list … with eight of the seventeen songs performed coming from his most recent album, “Rough And Rowdy Ways.”

 1. “Watching the River Flow”
 2. “Most Likely You’ll Go Your Way (and I’ll Go Mine)”
 3. “I Contain Multitudes"
 4. "False Prophet"
 5. "When I Paint My Masterpiece"
 6. "Black Rider"
 7. "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
 8. "My Own Version of You"
 9. "Early Roman Kings"
10. "To Be Alone With You"
11. "Key West (Philosopher Pirate)"
12. "Gotta Serve Somebody"
13. "I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You"
14. "Melancholy Mood" (Frank Sinatra cover)
15. "Mother of Muses"
16. "Goodbye Jimmy Reed"
17. "Every Grain of Sand"

Speaking of live shows, this announcement surprised me …

 

The Hollies Set 60th Anniversary Tour Dates for 2022;

First U.S. Tour in More Than 20 Years

In early 2022, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band The Hollies will embark on a very special 60th anniversary tour — the group’s first U.S. tour in more than two decades.

Announced on Friday, the tour will feature original Hollies members Tony Hicks (guitarist / singer / songwriter) and drummer Bobby Elliott, accompanied by lead singer Peter Howarth, bassist Ray Stiles, keyboardist Ian Parker and rhythm guitarist Steve Lauri.

“‘We felt like this is something no other band gets to do, celebrate six decades together, 60 years of this band and these songs means so much to us and so many others,” said Hicks.

More, via the news announcement:

Celebrated as one of the most influential bands from the 1960s British Invasion era alongside the likes of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the Hollies have had over 20 worldwide hits, including number one singles in both the US and UK. They have spent an astonishing 263 weeks in the UK’s top 40 official singles chart, and have been performing continuously since their formation in 1962.

Their cultivated musicianship, coupled with the Hollies’ extensive back catalog of memorable rock ‘n’ roll tunes, has ensured the longevity of one of the greatest groups to emerge from the early 1960’s British Rock Revolution.

In 1995, they have bestowed the coveted Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution To British Music, and in 2010 were inducted into the American Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame for their ‘impact on the evolution, development, and perpetuation of Rock and Roll’.

Here are the dates, which visit a few major cities across the country:

APRIL 2 – Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown, NJ
APRIL 4 – The Kennedy Center, Washington DC
APRIL 5 – Town Hall, New York, NY
APRIL 7 – The Athenaeum, Chicago, IL
APRIL 9 – The Saban, Los Angeles, CA

 

Obviously, a VERY brief tour (but a stop in Chicago is certainly noteworthy.)  Still, I’ve got to wonder what The Hollies will sound like not only 60 years on, but without their two many lead singers, Allan Clarke or Graham Nash.  (Seriously, how busy can either one of them be these days?  Why not make it a full-blown reunion like they did in the ‘90’s?  And what, Terry Sylvester wasn’t available either?!?!)

Still, I’m curious … I’ve never seen The Hollies … and missing that 1999 show here was heartbreaking … gonna have to give this one some thought.  (kk)

 

I’m hoping everyone will try this Sweet Soul Song, a great tribute to Chicago Soul from a Chicago 60's legend, James Holvay.  Truly a great tribute to Major Lance, Curtis Mayfield and all the other Windy City Soulsters!

Clark Besch

 

Whoa … I’m totally LOVIN’ this song … talk about an authentic ‘60’s Soul Sound!!!  ((And what a great clip!!!)  WTG, Jimmy!  Happy to share this clip here!  (kk)

 

Here’s a story I hadn’t heard before …

John Lennon (and his son Julian) visiting the set of “Happy Days”!!!

When a Beatle visited Happy Days (metv.com)

For the locals …

Elk Grove Village has announced their summer music series and it sounds like a nice mix of popular ‘70’s and ‘80’s artists ...

All concerts are free and held outdoors, kicking off with KC and the Sunshine Band performing on Monday, July 4^th, at 164 Lions Drive … followed by The Little River Band (Tuesday, July 12^th, at 901 Wellington), Rick Springfield (Thursday, July 21^st, at 164 Lions Drive) and Sheena Easton (Tuesday, July 26^th, at 901 Wellington.)

These events typically draw huge crowds and these headliners should be no exception.

More information can be found here:

Mid-Summer Classics Concert Series | Elk Grove Village

From Mike Wolstein …

They ain't nothin' but some hound dogs ...

HAD to send this. Found it on a humor site.

Mike

I wish for you an "Amazing Monday!"

As for me ~~~

CB!