Friday, October 9, 2015

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame


As promised, The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame announced their nominees for The Class of 2016 this week ... and I'll tell you what ... compared to the lists of recent years past (and as "all over the board" and "out of left field" as they've been in this area) ... it's really not a bad selection.    

FINALLY nominated is Chicago ... of course we've been campaigning for these guys for sixteen years now here in Forgotten Hits ... can you believe, despite being eligible for The Hall since 1994, this is their very first time on the ballot?!?!  And folks STILL don't get it ... I'll bet half the news releases I read yesterday referred to them as a "soft rock band".  How ridiculous is that?!?!  Chicago was on the cutting, lead edge of horn-rock in the late '60's ... and have continued to make new music and perform to sold out arenas ever since. Despite numerous personnel changes over the years, the original horn section is still intact, along with keyboardist / vocalist Robert Lamm.  They've charted FIFTY times on Billboard's Pop Singles Chart and found the perfect blend of rock and jazz to separate them from the rest of the pack of other "horny" artists like Blood, Sweat and Tears (who also have never been nominated but rank high on our list of "Deserving and Denied" artists.)  In my opinion, they're a shoe-in to get elected on their first ballot, especially since that "first ballot" is coming in so late.  (How could The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame possibly NOT induct them after 21 years of blatant snubbery?!?!  They'd look even more ridiculous than they already do!)

On the opposite side of the coin, Chic (also innovative in their own way ... the influential beat of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards can still be heard in much of the music today ... which is what The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is SUPPOSED to be all about) is now up for their TENTH nomination ... a new world record when it comes to second ... third ... and tenth chances!  Will this FINALLY be their year?  I think so.  (Critics are already referring to them as "the Susan Lucci of rock".)   

Another Midwest act often attributed to Chicago (but actually hailing from about 90 miles north of The Windy City) made the ballot this year for the very first time ... with a little bit of luck, Rockford's Cheap Trick may finally get the nod in 2016.  (It just may be the closest The Rock Hall has ever come to recognizing the '80's sound of "New Wave" Rock and Roll.)   

And while we're on the subject of some LONG overdue recognition for the music of Chi-Town, congratulations to Chaka Khan on HER first Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination.  (Interesting that they singled her out as a solo artist and ignored her group Rufus, through which she launched her career.)   

Speaking of back-up groups, The JB's (James Brown's backing band) were nominated this year.  I don't quite get this one ... Brown has been an inductee since Year One (1986) and a few years ago, The Rock Hall finally inducted some of the other famous back-up bands previously ignored when only the front man was inducted ... at which time The Famous Flames were recognized (along with Gene Vincent's Blue Caps, Bill Haley's Comets, Buddy Holly's Crickets, Hank Ballard's Midnighters and Smokey Robinson's Miracles.)  It would seem to me that this honor has already been bestowed on the musicians most closely associated with James Brown ... which makes me think that the JB's probably won't make the cut.   

Another definite shoe-in this year ... Janet Jackson (how is it possible that SHE'S never been nominated?)  Janet is one of those "obvious" overlooked choices whose name hasn't really come up much in this context ... but she is definitely deserving of the honor (and she's been eligible since 2007!)  Certainly they've got to induct Ms. Jackson before Britney Spears becomes eligible, don't they?!?!?   

NWA should finally make the cut this year ... if only because their film "Straight Outta Compton" was such a HUGE success this past summer.  (They've been on the ballot for the past four years and while I couldn't hum you a single note of a single song they've ever recorded, their "street cred" went up considerably this year thanks to the success of that film.)  If they're EVER going to get in, this will be the year.  It would be too embarrassing to ignore them now.   

The Steve Miller Band have been eligible for 21 years without ever earning a nomination.  Yes, I still turn them off nearly every time they come on the radio ... but that's RADIO's fault, not the band's ... Classic Rock Burn-Out makes it almost impossible for me to listen to them today ... but they, too, have long-standing roots in the Rock Community.  

Forgotten Hits has long campaigned for Yes and The Cars, both of whom finally made the ballot this year.  (Yes has been eligible since 1995 ... perhaps with The Hall finally recognizing progressive album rock, other long-ignored artists like Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Jethro Tull will finally get a nod somewhere down the road.)   

I've been a fan of The Cars since their very first release.  In my opinion they helped define The '80's sound ... again very innovative and unlike anything we'd heard prior to that time.  Their nomination is well-deserved.   

That leaves The Spinners (nominated for the third time) and fan favorites Deep Purple (eligible since 1994.)  Deep Purple has come up as worthy candidates several times in our Forgotten Hits polls ... and this is also their third nomination.  

In that The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame feels a need to focus on newer, more contemporary artists, don't be surprised to see either Nine Inch Nails, the Smiths or Los Lobos get a nod ... although I can't in my wildest imagination believe that ANY of these artists are worthy of such an honor or deserve the right to be enshrined alongside the likes of Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry or Little Richard.   

Still missing in action ... The Guess Who, The Moody Blues, Connie Francis, Pat Boone, Chubby Checker, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, Electric Light Orchestra, The Doobie Brothers, Jan and Dean, Nilsson (rumored to be one of this year's likeliest candidates), Todd Rundgren, Billy Preston, Procol Harum (also rumored as being considered for The Class of 2016), T. Rex, Tommy James and the Shondells and The Zombies.  Can The Smiths or Los Lobos hold a candle to ANY of these artists???  (Most would say they wouldn't be qualified to carry the guitar cases of any of these acts!)   

Still, I have to say that I feel pretty good about what I see on the ballot this year.  Fifteen nominees and only a couple of groaners.     

Typically seven or eight acts get inducted each year ... and once again the public is invited to vote.  From now until December 9th, fans can visit RollingStone.com and cast their votes for the deserving nominees they'd most like to see inducted.  Once all the votes have been tabulated, the top five acts will comprise a "fan's ballot" that will count as one of the ballots that determine the class of 2016.  (Wow!  How generous!!!)   

If I had to pick the artists I feel most likely to make the cut, I would have to go with (in alphabetical order):  Chic, Chicago, Janet Jackson, Nine Inch Nails and NWA.   

Any of the following selections (to round out the maximum of eight who might be elected this year) would be fine with me:  The Cars, Cheap Trick, Chaka Khan, The Steve Miller Band, The Spinners and Yes.   

And one final plea ... please bring back the "Non-Performer" Category this year and FINALLY recognize Ed Sullivan for all he did to bring Rock And Roll Music into the living rooms of Middle America. I can assure you that FAR more people watched Ed's "Really Big Shew" on Sunday Nights to get their weekly fix of rock and roll than EVER heard Alan Freed on the radio.  Don't get me wrong ... BOTH are certainly deserving ... but ignoring Ed Sullivan one minute longer would be a HUGE disgrace to The Rock Hall once again. 
kk 
Kent Kotal 
Forgotten Hits  


Got this from FH Reader Uncle T. Jay on the early handicaps ...

Keep in mind, these votes are most likely skewed by the age group participating ... but seven artists already have over 20,000 votes ... with Janet Jackson and Chicago pulling in nearly TWICE that!!!   

Keep in mind, too, that for all intents and purposes the public has absolutely NO say as to who ultimately gets in ... but it's still kinda interesting to see which way the fans are currently leaning.   

The nominees were announced for the Rock Hall this morning.  Thank God Mariah Carey is nowhere to be found!!! 

Here is the "fan vote" standings as of the first few hours of revealing the nominees.  Let's see how many of the early Top 10 make the final cut:   

Janet Jackson 13.92% (39572 votes)
Chicago 12.73% (36181 votes) 
Cheap Trick 10.18% (28952 votes) 
The Cars 9.34% (26545 votes)
Deep Purple 9.27% (26349 votes) 
Yes 9.19% (26121 votes) 
Steve Miller 9.02% (25638 votes) 
The Spinners 4.56% (12963 votes) 
Nine Inch Nails 4.50% (12792 votes) 
Chaka Khan 3.93% (11166 votes) 
N.W.A 3.75% (10663 votes) 
The Smiths 3.65% (10363 votes) 
Chic 2.84% (8083 votes) 
Los Lobos 2.06% (5853 votes)
The J.B.'s 1.07% (3049 votes)
Uncle T. Jay

Our generation seems most focused on the induction of Chicago ... and rightfully so ... the fact that 21 years of eligibility have passed without a single nod just reinforces the gross misuse of power executed by the nominating committee.  What today makes them more worthy of consideration than at any other time during the past 21 years?  Ridiculous really ... but if The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is looking to save a little face this year by finally recognizing them, we're certainly not going to stand in the way.  In my mind this is simply a case of justice finally being done.

Forgotten Hits Reader (and lifetime fan and friend of the band) Tom Cuddy sent us this article from Syracuse.com who agree that after 48 years and 36 albums, it may finally be time to acknowledge their contribution to the rock and roll landscape.   

AMERICA'S POP MUSIC HALL OF FAME - OCTOBER 8, 2015
Note: Chicago, nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today, was inducted into the Pop Music Hall of Fame in 2014.
Voting for 2016 nominees for America's Pop Music Hall of Fame is nearing the halfway mark.  
Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand and Sam Cooke are among the 2016 nominees. They join 11 other first-time candidates, as well as 11 returning acts to comprise the 25 artists on the ballot. Voting, at americaspopmusichalloffame.org, ends October 31. Nominees are selected by a national panel of musicians, disc jockeys and journalists based on the artists’ breadth and depth of pop hits, as well as influence.
Through on-line voting, the public is choosing10 inductees; the national selection committee will add up to five other “Legacy” inductees.
New nominees, in addition to Manilow, Streisand and Cooke, are the Association, Lou Christie, Petula Clark, Fats Domino, Tommy James & the Shondells, the Lettermen, the Rascals, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Neil Sedaka, Rod Stewart and the Temptations,
The eleven returning nominees are Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, the Dave Clark Five, Dion & the Belmonts, Bob Dylan, the Four Tops, Connie Francis, the Grass Roots, the Jackson Five, Smokey & the Miracles, Three Dog Night and Dionne Warwick,
Artists must have placed a hit on the Billboard charts between 1945 and 1975 to qualify
Inductees will be announced in December.
America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame was formed in 2011 to honor artists and other contributors to pop music. It is based in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, home of Perry Como, Bobby Vinton and the Four Coins, who together placed nearly 200 songs on America’s pop charts.
Plans are continuing for construction of a four-story, hall of fame structure that includes a large performance center, as well as wings for both permanent and rotating collections and memorabilia.
In a ceremony March 15, 2013 with Johnny Tillotson as master of ceremonies, the original inductees into America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame were announced. They were the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond, Brenda Lee, Johnny Mathis, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Vinton and Stevie Wonder.
The 2014 inductees were the Bee Gees, Tony Bennett, Carpenters, Chicago, Buddy Holly, Elton John, Carole King, Dean Martin, the Monkees, Roy Orbison, Patti Page, the Platters, Simon & Garfunkel and the Supremes. The Monkees were formally inducted during a standing-room only presentation at the Monkees Convention in East Rutherford, N.J. on March 17, 2014.
This year’s inductees were Paul Anka, Glen Campbell, Chubby Checker, the Eagles, the Everly Brothers, the Four Seasons, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Rick Nelson, Les Paul & Mary Ford. the Righteous Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Tillotson, and Andy Williams.  
In Brief: 2016 Nominees:
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, The Association, Lou Christie, the Dave Clark Five, Petula Clark, Sam Cooke, Dion and the Belmonts, Fats Domino, Bob Dylan, the Four Tops, Connie Francis, the Grass Roots, the Jackson Five, Tommy James and the Shondells, the Lettermen, Barry Manilow, the Rascals, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Neil Sedaka, Smokey and the Miracles, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, the Temptations, Three Dog Night and Dionne Warwick,
Public Voting:
americaspopmusichalloffame.org through October 31.
Inductees Announced:  December 28, 2015

Chicago has also been a member of The Hit Parade Hall Of Fame since 2008, the organization's second year.  With gazillions of records sold and sold out shows around the world, it would seem that ONLY the all-knowing powers that be at The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have been oblivious to this band's accomplishments.  Pretty sad since they're the ones who are SUPPOSED to know ... and recognize ... these things.  (kk)

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Billy Joe Royal

I never had the pleasure of meeting or the opportunity to see Billy Joe Royal perform live in concert ... but based on all the mail I've ever received over the years of doing Forgotten Hits, by ALL accounts, there's never been a nicer or more appreciative artist to take the stage.  

Billy Joe passed away on Tuesday (October 6th) at the age of 73.  He died in his sleep.  

Royal hit The National Top 40 with his first three hits ... "Down In The Boondocks" (#6, 1965); "I Knew You When" (#12, 1965) and "I've Got To Be Somebody" (#33, 1965).  Along the way he made songwriter Joe South quite a bit of money, too, as South penned all of these hits.  Royal also recorded Joe's "Yo Yo" (#111, 1966 ... and later a #1 Hit of The Osmonds) and "Hush" (#48, 1967 ... and later a hit for Deep Purple, #4, 1968) ... along with several other tracks over the years.  (In all, nine of Royal's 16 charted Billboard hits were written by Joe South.  South would go on to have some hit under his own name in the late '60's and early '70's as well ... "Games People Play" reached #8 in 1969, "Don't It Make You Want To Go Home" went to #41 in 1969 and "Walk A Mile In My Shoes" just missed The Top Ten, peaking at #11 in 1970.  South passed away a few years ago in 2012).  

In 1969, Billy Joe Royal had a sizeable hit with a "comeback" record of sorts when "Cherry Hill Park" climbed all the way to #15 in all three national trades.  

Ironically we had just run a letter from Forgotten Hits Reader Jim Foster, who was very excited and looking forward to seeing Royal (along with Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals, Joe Puerta of Ambrosia, John Cafferty, John Elefante of Kansas, Kyle Vincent of The Bay City Rollers and Ron Dante) perform at The Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tennessee, this Saturday Night as part of the Kool 103 Caravan Of Stars concert .  The very next day he was gone.  

We received quite a bit of mail yesterday as news of Royal's passing spread.  We can't run them all but here are some of the first ones that came in ...  

Kent ...   
Scott Shannon just announced that Billy Joe Royal died.  Here's my favorite Billy Joe Royal song.     
Frank B.



Hello Kent -  
I am sure you have heard of the passing of Billy Joe Royal yesterday.  I will send you some concert photos I shot of him to use them on your blog.  
Take care -   
Tom Apathy  
Thanks, Tom ... as always, great work.  (kk)




I'm sure by now you've heard that Billy Joe Royal passed away in his sleep on the morning of October 6th. I met Billy Joe Royal last year at another of the KOOL 103 Caravan Of Stars events. Without a doubt, he was one of the nicest performers I have ever met. He took the time to answer all of the questions I had, had great recall of memory regarding events long in the past, and didn't act like I was bothering him at all with so many questions. He loved every minute of it, and so did I. From everything I've read online, I've never seen anyone who ever had a bad word to say about him, and he never had a bad word to say about anyone else, either. That alone says what kind of man he was, and he will be definitely missed. 
Tom Diehl 
I'm sure all of the artists appearing at this year's KOOL 103 Caravan Of Stars concert will pay tribute in some way to Billy Joe Saturday night.  (kk)  

I subscribe to Bertie Higgins email and he sent out an email this morning that Billy Joe Royal passed away last night. Met him once.  A very nice man.  RIP 
gmcaulif 
That seems to be the general consensus from everyone we've ever heard from regarding Billy Joe ... just one of the nicest guys you could ever meet ... very appreciative of his fans and his success ... and the fact that even fifty years later, they'd still come out to see him sing his songs.  Wish I would have had the pleasure to do so as well.  (kk) 

CBS radio news just reported on the death of Billy Joe Royal at the age of 73.  This is sad news.  I had the chance to have him on the phone with me a few times, most recently in 2010.  Attached is a cut from that talk about his biggest hit Down In the Boondocks.  
Phil Nee - WRCO





Funny story ... and one I had not heard before.  Now that he's mentioned it, he really DOES sound a little bit like Gene Pitney on this record!!! (Even the intro is a bit reminiscent of Pitney's "24 Hours From Tulsa".) Of course the one that fooled me was the Los Bravos hit "Black Is Black" ... I swear even fifty years later this STILL sounds like Gene Pitney to me!  Ah, the marvels of possessing such a unique voice!  (kk)   

Here's a New York Times story about Billy Joe, courtesy of FH Reader Tom Cuddy ... sounds like after the Jackson, Tennessee, concert, Royal was scheduled to be heading out with Ronnie McDowell on a national tour! http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/08/arts/music/billy-joe-royal-pop-and-country-singer-dies-at-73.html?_r=0  

Tom also sent us this photo of a PAIR of Billy Joes ... B.J. Thomas with his pal, Billy Joe Royal, from a few years ago.



My best friend Billy Joe Royal, died this morning. He was a sweet and talented man. Never a bad word. One of a kind.
-- BJ Thomas   

Hi Kent,  
The Grim Reaper strikes the veteran music world again.  I was terribly saddened to learn of Billy Joe Royal's death today.  
I can't profess to have known him well, but I was fortunate to have had the chance to meet and speak with him a couple of times when he enjoyed a career renaissance on the country charts in the 1980s.  I'd been a fan of his '60s pop hits, so I was pleased to find that he was a truly nice guy --  quick to credit others with the successes he had had, and not one to play the blame game for the fallow years his career had experienced.  
Billy Joe came up through the Bill Lowery-managed, Atlanta-based stable of artists that included the Classics IV, the Atlanta Rhythm Section and Joe South, whom he cited as one of the most talented musicians and songwriters of all-time.  In his words -- "I owe my career to him for 'Down In The Boondocks.'"  
He was a real music fan, and he clearly enjoyed talking about the artists with whom he crossed paths over the years, far more than about himself.  Billy Joe said that he "still pinched himself" for having shared a concert bill with Sam Cooke on a few occasions, and he urged me to go home and play "You Send Me" back-to-back with Journey's "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'," citing his opinion that lead singer Steve Perry copped his style from Cooke.  He was right.  
He was never a superstar, but he was a great and unique singer.  And best of all, he was a really good guy.  I was so pleased to see in a Forgotten Hits post earlier this week that he was on an upcoming, multiple-star touring bill.  And now I'm so sorry that I'll never have a chance to have another one of those terrific conversations with him again.  My condolences to his family, friends and fellow fans.  Regards,  
Scott Paton   

Of course Forgotten Hits has its very OWN Grim Reaper of Rock and Roll ...   

Billy Joe Royal died in his sleep Tuesday (October 6) in his North Carolina home at the age of 73. Born in Valdosta, Georgia, and raised in Marionetta, he made a name for himself first on his uncle's radio program and later on the Georgia Jubilee -- both while in his early teens. While performing in Savannah, he roomed for a while with Joe South, who asked him to record a demo of one of his tunes called "Down In The Boondocks." The demo was successful enough to land Billy Joe a contract with Columbia Records, who released the song as a single, reaching #9 in 1965. Other tunes by Joe followed, including "I Knew You When" (#14 - 1965) and "Hush" (#52 - 1967). He also is remembered for "Cherry Hill Park" (#15 - 1969) and a dozen other charted pop hits, before his star began to fade. Then Billy Joe went on to a successful country career, including "Tell It Like It Is" and "Till I Can't Take It Anymore" -- both of which were #2 on the Country charts.  
-- Ron Smith    

Kent, 
You probably know by now of the passing of Billy Joe Royal yesterday. 
You mentioned that your dad used to buy the Sunday paper on Saturday night to get a jump on the ads. I thought my parents were the only ones that did that. After going out for dinner on Saturday nights, my parents would get a Sunday paper being sold on one of the street corners. They would toss the paper to me in the backseat of the car. I would immediately take out the television guide and go to the tv listings for one week later. I always wanted to know what movie was going to be shown on SHOCK THEATER in one week. 
Larry Neal   

A couple more Billy Joe Royal tracks ... including his cover of a Paul McCartney song from 1970.







Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Some Of Your Mid-Week Comments

re:  Neil Sedaka:   
Neil Sedaka is an amazing talent. My favorite song by his is "The Immigrant", too. There was a bio released several years back which is fantastic; Elton did the forward. Here's the link ... http://www.amazon.com/Neil-Sedaka-Rock-roll-Survivor/dp/1908279427/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444129544&sr=1-5&keywords=neil+sedaka     
A true talent ... no question!   
David Salidor   
Thanks, David, I just ordered a copy!  (kk)  

>>>Again I have to ask ... how is THIS guy not in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?!?!?  (kk)   
Sadly, that's an EASY answer....even if a very wrong one. 
Two words ... Jann Wenner.   
Sedaka is "too pop" for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in the mind of Wenner.   
Brad    

Hey, Kent,  
You don't have to publish this (and I do appreciate very much your posting many of my comments over the last couple of years), but watch that Calendar Girl video very carefully at the 2:23 mark, specifically where Neil's eyes go not just once, but twice!     
I did a quadruple take (a double take each time he gawked), wondering how that got by the censors in 1960. Even without that eye travel, it was already one of the most amazingly ahead-of-it's-time, pre-music-video era's music-videos, complete with pre-Hooters era Hooters girls. But with Neil doing that look up, that's an award-winner! 
Bill Fortune    
Are you kidding me?!?!  I've GOT to run THIS one!!!  (lol)  Scroll back down to yesterday's review and rewatch the clip ... and pay close attention to what Bill's referring to at 2:23.   
During the concert, after showing the clip, Neil mentioned how he and his wife (of 53 years) were sitting at an outdoor cafe having lunch one day when a woman came up to him and said "Neil Sedaka!!!  I was January in your music video!" ... to which Neil said, "And she was a VERY, very old woman."     
This has got to be one of the very first conceptual music videos ever made.  (Rick Nelson's "Travelin' Man" is often cited but this track predates it by about six months ... so I may have to modify my opinion from this point forward!) 
A VERY young Neil Sedaka, all decked out in his tux and lookin' sharp!  (kk)  

re:  This And That:   
And, speaking of rock star biographies, we've had THIS one on preorder for MONTHS now ... finally coming out this week ...  

FH Reader Tom Cuddy shares this "first impression" ...
John Fogerty is the latest rock star to publish a memoir. Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music hits stores and digital retailers Oct. 5th.  
He tells Rolling Stone that he was motivated by frustration at how he has been portrayed in the press. "I'd talk to a newspaper or magazine, and what I said never really came out right. In fact, it really looked bad in print when I saw myself complaining or anything about something. Finally I just said to myself, 'I'm gonna write a book.'"  
Work on the book began eight years ago with author Jimmy McDonough, who wrote the 2002 Neil Young biography Shakey, but Fogerty stresses that McDonough did not write the book. "Jimmy mainly acted as the interviewer. He said to me, 'John, this book is in your voice.'"  
The book reveals Fogerty's drinking problem, although he never terms himself an alcoholic. He tells Rolling Stone, "I certainly was acting like one. Everything I was doing was alcoholic. The only difference, I suppose, is that an alcoholic can't help himself. He's physically addicted, and if he has one drink, he'll go on a five-day bender. That's not the case with me anymore. I can go out to dinner with Julie and have a glass of wine and that's it. But I do want to say that I was psychologically addicted."  

As a lifetime John Fogerty / Creedence Clearwater Revival fan, it has often time been difficult for me to deal with the callous way Fogerty has continued to treat his former bandmates over the years.  As such, I'm anxious to hear his side of the story ... because the tale as currently documented isn't always a very pretty one.  

We took our own crack at the story behind CCR here ...
http://forgottenhits.com/creedence_clearwater_revival

We're going to be hearing and reading a LOT about CCR in the days to come.  Here (in "Rolling Stone Magazine") Fogerty explains one of their most infamous and embarrassing moments ... The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony where John refused to take the stage alongside his former bandmates ... and took part in the All-Star Jam at the end instead.  (This is going to be a REAL interesting book to read!!!)  kk


We're really excited about seeing Brian Wilson perform at The Genesee Theatre next month in Waukegan ... and, based on this article from Beach Boys Examiner columnist David Beard, it sounds like Brian's having a pretty good time himself of late.     
Sounds like in addition to Al Jardine, former Beach Boys Blondie Chaplin will also be onstage this time around ... and we will have JUST missed the chance to connect with long-time FH Buddy Billy Hinsche.  
Great seats still available at The Genesee Theatre box office ... and we'll have a couple to give away next week as well.  
http://www.examiner.com/article/brian-wilson-s-enthusiasm-is-growing?CID=examiner_alerts_article http://www.geneseetheatre.com/events/detail/brian-wilson-with-special-guest-al-jardine      

Here's a review of another great Chicago-area show ... from FH Reader Ron Kolman ...      

Hey Kent,
Long time no write. Hope everyone had great summer.
Just a quick note about "HippieFest" at the Genesee Theater (Waukegan, IL.) this past Sunday night.  Friends had extra tickets and it was last minute chance to go without knowing who was performing.  Rick Derringer opened and did a fantastic set ... his voice was strong and clear. Derringer and  his fabulous band backed the next guest, Mitch Ryder. He was a riot ... really strong / clear voice and did all his hits ending with the "dirty" version of Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly", and he absolutely shook the whole damn place ... high screams like he was twenty. Following Ryder was Badfinger's Joe Molland.  He faithfully did most of Badfinger's biggest hits, and tore it up closing with "Come And Get It". Derringer came back with stunning capture of Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" (Derringer is an AMAZING guitarist still). 
That had everyone (who can stand) on their feet. 
Closing things out was a true 60s gift ... The Family Stone featuring, one of Sly's daughters (I believe Phunne Stone), with an absolutely unbelievable voice, original drummer Greg Errico (I believe he's in the R&RHoF), and "as Sly", Alex Davis (wearing a floppy white hat and shades through the entire set, sounding scarily like Sly, sufficiently so, twas like watching / hearing the original S&FS.)  They cranked out, Dance To The Music, Everyday People, Family Affair, Stand (I love that tune), and closed with an EXQUISITE Want To Take You Higher. The whole experience was unreal, and I screamed along until I had no voice left, and had no choice but to pull my wife in the aisle (along with many others), and dance!  If you get a chance to see them, do!They have own site at: http://www.thefamilystonemusic.com/.  Wonder if anyone else happened to catch this show and would like to share their thoughts.
Ron Kolman
It's funny 'cause we had thought about going to this (they also played at The Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet) but I just couldn't miss the chance to see Neil Sedaka.  Sounds like we BOTH had pretty incredible concert experiences. (If anybody else out there attended either of these shows, we'd love to hear from you!)  kk  

Hi Kent, 
Thanks for the recent plugs for Record Research. 
I had a blast being on Ron Gerber’s radio show.  After the show we gabbed for another 90 minutes off-air about our mutual love of the charts.  BTW, that show is now a part of Ron’s permanent online archive and I highly recommend your readers check out some of his past shows.  His tribute show to Casey Kasem in the summer of 2014 was a thing of beauty.    
One small correction though ... Ron’s first two 45s were “Le Freak” and “Y.M.C.A.”, and though I did mention buying those two records on the same day back in 1978, MY first 45 purchase was “Earache My Eye” by Cheech & Chong back in 1974!  I’m not real proud of that fact, but I was only 8 years-old at the time and that record was the height of hilarity for me and my little friends.  
On another note, I visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame back in 2001 and had a great time.  I agree with you that the actual museum is a must-see for any true music fan and that the nominating committee is a whole separate entity.  Although Joel votes on the final ballot, I wish he was on the nominating committee as I’m sure he would lobby for many of the artists you mention every year.  Heck, I think Joel himself should be inducted in the non-performer category! 
I’m a huge fan of Forgotten Hits ... keep up the great work!    
Paul Haney / Record Research  
Hey, MY first two 45's were "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini" by Brian Hyland and "Speedy Gonzales" by Pat Boone so I can relate!  (I, too, was all of 7 or 8 when those records first came out!)
Check out some of those First 45's links I ran on the website ... they'll bring back a TON of memories as the times and tastes changed.  (And there's a GREAT radio show hidden in there, too ... Scott Shannon played one a day for about two years on his True Oldies Channel ... read the letter and then play that person's first 45.  With the volume of mail we've received on this over the past few years, it could literally go on forever ... what I call tune-in, appointment radio ... with the perfect blend of audience participation.
Glad you're diggin' Forgotten Hits ... as a Record Research Fan from Day One, I've got nearly 50 years of MY life invested in this, too!!!  I still have a copy (albiet a well-worn, much-written in copy) of every single edition of Top Pop Singles that he's ever published!  (And I'm already looking forward to the next one.)
Best to all ---
kk

And, speaking of other good radio stations ...   

Hello again Mr. Kent:  
Here is another gem I came across.  It’s the Mischke Road Show  http://mischkeroadshow.com/.
This is a podcast done by former KSTP AM 1500 radio show host TD Mischke.  Episode 67 is about the Nashville Cats, Nashville’s counterpart to the Wrecking Crew.  He interviews one of the players about his time with them.  Many stories about backing Bob Dylan, Elvis and others.  Quite interesting.  Episode 67 part 2 deals with William Campbell, the man that came up with the bogus Paul McCartney is dead saga.  And he also interviews the man, who as an 19 year old kid becomes the Beach Boys manager.  Two hours will go by fast listening to this.  Mischke is probably one of the best interviewers out there.  On his radio show he once interviewed a man that wrote a book on the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and sung all of his questions the man to the tune of the song.  I think you and your followers will enjoy these.  
Pete Heger
Sounds like fun!  Will have to check this out.  (See, there's still creativity in radio ... you've just got to go out and find it!!!)  kk  

Hi Kent,
I wanted to let your readers know about this fantastic concert in Jackson, Tennessee, on Saturday night.  This is my fourth trip and I wouldn't miss it!!  The Hunts and KOOL103 in Jackson, TN always put on an amazing show.
I hope to see everyone there!  I am also looking forward to meeting and seeing you at the Chicago Cornerstones Of Rock PBS Special!
Take care,
Jim Foster
Kool 103 Caravan Of Stars 30
Saturday October 10, 2015
Billy Joe Royal:  Down In Boondocks; I Knew You When: Cherry Hill Park: Hush: Burn Like A Rocket
Felix Cavaliere: Original Lead Singer of The Rascals - Good Lovin’; I’ve Been Lonely Too Long; Groovin’; A Girl Like You; How Can I Be Sure; A Beautiful Morning; People Got To Be Free
Joe Puerta: Lead Singer of Ambrosia:  Holdin' On To Yesterday; How Much I Feel; Biggest Part Of Me; You’re The Only Woman (You & I)
John Cafferty: Original Lead Singer of The Beaver Brown Band - The Singing Voice of the songs in the Movie Eddie & The Cruisers:  On The Dark Side; Tender Years; Tough All Over; C.I.T.Y.
John Elefante: Formerly of Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son; Point Of Know Return; Dust In The Wind; Play The Game Tonight
Kyle Vincent: Former Lead Singer of The Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night; Money Honey; I Only Want To Be With You; You Made Me Believe In Magic
Ron Dante: Original Lead Singer of The Archies & Cuff Links - Bang-Shang-A-Lang; Sugar Sugar; Jingle Jangle; Tracy
Caravan of Stars 30
Held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center Jackson, TN
Saturday October 10, 2015 - 6:30 PM
Front Row VIP Seating $75 **SOLD OUT**
2nd - 4th Row VIP $60 ** LIMITED **
Premium VIP Center Section Row 5 and up $55
VIP $50
All VIP Seating Tickets include Meet & Greet Starting at 5pm!
Reserved Seating $40
**All Prices are Numbered Seats**
Mail Check Or Money Order To:
Kool 103
1 WDXI Drive
Jackson, TN 38305-4124
**If driving to our studios, GPS: 58 twin oaks place**
Website - 
www.kool103.com/ 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Kool-1031-FM-128237437243383/timeline/
While this sounds like a VERY entertaining line-up performing many of the songs we all know in love, I still caution "Buyer Beware" as several of these acts are NOT the original lead singers who had these hits way back when on the radio.  Kyle Vincent, for example, recently told us he was the 17th Bay City Roller ... The REAL lead singer of Ambrosia on all those hits was a guy named David Pack ... and John Elefante joined Kansas in 1981, after all of the hit records shown above had already been recorded with Steve Walsh on lead vocals.  Like I said, I'm sure that this will be a VERY entertaining show and that all of these guys will sing their hearts out for you ... just don't go into this thinking you're getting the "real deal" ... because you're not.  (kk)

Speaking of The Bay City Rollers, (Grey City Rollers???) last week we told you about three of the original members (and a possible fourth) getting back together for a 40th Anniversary Tour.  Well the first three stops on that jaunt, all at The Glasgow Barrowlands, sold out in just THREE MINUTES!!!  London's Hammersmith has since been added to the itinerary.  Heck, if this keeps up, we may experience Rollermania all over again!!! (kk)   

I've told this story before but it's been awhile.  The Bay City Rollers made their very first appearance on US TV on the old Howard Cosell "Saturday Night" program ... all the more ironic in that their first US hit was "Saturday Night" [or, for the benefit of those of you out there who are in any way spelling challenged, S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night].  Back then my Dad used to always buy The Sunday Papers on Saturday Night in an effort to get a jump on the ads ... and there, in a full page spread, was a report about how The Bay City Rollers had broken ALL kinds of television ratings records thanks to their appearance on Cosell's Saturday Night show ... which hadn't even AIRED yet!!!  Rollermania was spreading from coast to coast, it claimed ... a quick insight into how the whole hype / hysteria / PR world works.  All I know is that as a 22 year old kid, it really pissed me off ... and I was determined to hate them no matter what.  But the truth is, they actually recorded some pretty good pop records.  "Saturday Night" may, in fact, be one of their weakest ... but it fit the bill as a great launch record here in The States.  [They had already racked up quite a few hits prior to this in The UK, where it seemed like every week offered a brand new teen sensation!]  I liked the follow-up, "Money Honey" a whole lot better ... and still enjoy their take on the Dusty Springfield hit "I Only Want To Be With You."  I like "Rock And Roll Love Letter", "You Made Me Believe In Magic" and "The Way I Feel Tonight" as well.  And, if I'm being totally honest ... despite all my teasing to date ... I have to admit that our new FH Buddy Kyle Vincent TOTALLY tore the place up when he performed "Saturday Night" as part of that '70's show at The Arcada a few weeks back.  (kk)

Kent, 
I know you (and I) are a stickler for “truth in advertising” concerning concerts. Concerning the Rock Pack concert, John Payne was not the lead singer for ASIA on any of their big hits. He was an addition after John Wetton left the band. Payne continues to tour in ASIA, while original members Wetton, Palmer, and Downes have toured as the “Original Members of ASIA”. Steve Howe recently left to devote more time to Yes and his own band, and was replaced by Sam Coulson.
Bob Verbos 
New Berlin, WI.
Wetton was with the band when we saw Asia last year at The Arcada Theatre ... and he is still in EXCELLENT voice.  We recently promoted his new solo album on which he covers many of his all-time favorite songs (in a style not at ALL like what we're used to hearing in Asia.)  Unfortunately SO many bands touring these days with different lead singers than the hit-making years ... and, in some cases, the "new" lead singer has been onboard for DECADES already!!!  Makes it hard to make the distinction sometimes.  (kk)


Hey Kent,   
Just a bit of side bar trivia about Tina Cole ... 
She is the cousin of Ric de Azevedo, who is the third voice in “The Reunion” of which Jim Pike and myself, formerly of the Lettermen belong.  Tina is also the daughter of one of the “King Sisters”, as well as Ric.  They both are (were) members of the famous “King Family”, who had a weekly ABC prime time variety show in the seventies for many years, along with Christmas specials after that for several years.
Ex Letterman and now The Reunion, 
Gary Pike 

Kent, 
The pre-RCA track you posted of Ronnie Milsap with the tune YOU NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD, I just now listened to online and I will say, it wasn't a bad tune at all. From what I could gather, the song was written by Ashford - Simpson and they did backup vocals on it. I was immediately reminded of something similar that happened to country artist Freddy Fender. He had a recording in 1960 called HOLY ONE on Imperial Records which made it into the top five here in OKC, more than ten years since he would become a household name on the country charts with a few crossover hits. 
Larry  
Wow, doesn't sound anything at all like the Ronnie Milsap we all know and love!  (More of a Chuck Jackson / '60's soul thing going on here ... which makes sense, I guess.)  Amazing to think that he continued to pay his dues for another ten years before making his mark on the country charts.  
Digging a little deeper, I see that "Never Had It So Good" did, in fact, "bubble under" on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart for seven weeks back in 1965, ultimately peaking at #106.  It cracked The Top 100 in Cash Box, where it reached #94.  (kk)  

Diane Diekman reports:   

Nominees for 2016 induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City have been announced. Country music nominees include Roger Miller (up against Marvin Gaye, George Harrison, and Jimi Hendrix) in the new category, Deceased Songwriters, while Tom T. Hall competes as a Performing Songwriter (against Madonna, Blondie, and Tom Petty). Nominees in the third category, Non-Performing Songwriters, include Dallas Frazier, John D. Loudermilk, Max Martin, Bob McDill, and Curly Putman.
Seriously???  They now have a category for "deceased songwriters"?!?!?  Hey, maybe that's how some of our "vintage acts" will finally gain induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ... seems like they always wait until an artist passes before recognizing them anyway!!!

And, speaking of The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame ...

re:  The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:
We would SERIOUSLY like to plan an outing for next spring to have a group of Forgotten Hits Readers meet up at the Cleveland Museum.
Right now I'm thinking a 4-day weekend in April ... let us know if you're interested and maybe we'll start a "sign-up" sheet now!  (Once we have a head count I'll contact the museum to see what, if anything, they can do for us in the way of housing and group rates.)  kk

kk -  
Count me in. It would be fun to meet with other musicologists and tour the museum. I was there about four years (took the megabus, cheaper then driving) ago. Maybe take in a sporting event, too, as all the stadiums are within distance.
Mike De Martino  

CLIP OF THE WEEK:
Here's one you're going to want to watch again and again ... damn, how do they do that?!?  Perfect synchronization!!!  (kk)