Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Tuesday This And That

re:  More Tommy: 
Hi Kent:   
Was just going to mention that Tommy Roe said Brinsley Schwartz covered His song Everybody. The Group featured a young Nick Lowe.   
Ken      

You did a great job with the Tommy Roe interview.  He has always been one of my favorites.  I have great memories of spending time back stage with him at a few different venues (a couple of which I was the m.c.)  Once here in Richland Center I got the chance to sit in a back stage dressing room with Tommy, Bobby Vee, and the Crickets.  They were all talking about different experiences while touring England and meeting people like Jeff Beck and the Beatles.  I was the the only non-musician in the room and a big mouse in the corner.  Looking back now I wish that I would have had a recorder with me.
We played Memphis Me in the Country format from his from his Devil's Soul Pie album and it got a great response.  It is a very good song.   Thanks again for the good reading about an under rated artist.  Did you ask him about appearing in an episode of 'Green Acres' ?
Phil - WRCO
 
"Memphis Me" is a GREAT track from Tommy's most recent CD.

No, "Green Acres" never came up ... but I did see several references to it while doing my research.  (Never was a big fan of that show but now I'll have to look for this episode!)  kk


 

OK, NOW I remember why I didn't watch "Green Acres"!!! (lol) God, that's awful!!!  (kk)
 

 
re:  This And That:  
Olivia Newton-John's boyfriend, missing for nearly eleven years, just showed up in Mexico.  (I have ALWAYS had a funny feeling that he was still alive ... and just staged an incredible deception!  Did the fact that his boat was named "Freedom" seriously not tip anybody off to this sooner???)  Details are still sketchy and I'm sure we'll all learn more as the week goes on.  (kk)  

Chicago fans of former Y103.9 Morning Man Jim Shea, who disappeared from the airwaves a few years ago ... but under perfectly legitimate circumstances to go back to school ... might be interested in this very powerful, short documentary put together by some fellow students of his down in Miami, Florida ...  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPc_fZQsA9I  
Wow ... powerful stuff ... here's hoping you find everything you're looking for (and can still keep a sense of humor about it all) 
Thanks, Jim ... you've given many of us here in Chicago some great memories.
As I once told Al Kooper, "Next time you're in Chicago, pizza's on me" ...
To which he replied, "Well, all right ... but don't send me the cleaning bill."
kk    

RIP, Gogi Grant.  
Of course Gogi Grant is from MY era. I was 21 when The Wayward Wind hit.  
This was the kind of music I listened to the most as rock and roll was still in its infancy.  
I just wanted to add that The Wayward Wind always gets mentioned and Suddenly There's a Valley hardly ever does, even though it was her first top ten single.  
Gogi was a pure singer and did some albums as well as most pop singers did back in the day. They were usually not intended for anything except album sales. Times have certainly changed in that regard.  
As a movie person, I also remember fondly that when Warner Brothers filmed The Helen Morgan Story, they decided Ann Blyth's lovely soprano wasn't quite right for the role and they tapped Gogi to sing all the songs Miss Morgan was famous for, most notably "Why Was I Born", a personal favorite. It's attached.  
Hil  
Gogi Grant's first chart hit, "Suddenly There's A Valley", topped out at #7 in late 1955.  "The Wayward Wind" went all the way to #1 and stayed their for eight weeks a few months later.  (It recharted at #50 in 1961.)  
"Why Was I Born" isn't really my cup of tea ... is it just me or does her voice remind you a little bit of Doris Day on this one?  (It's kind of the exact OPPOSITE of that whole "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it" credo that was right around the corner.)  kk




And you can add Lee Andrews to the list of artists we've lost in 2016 ... Lee Andrews and the Hearts hit The Pop Top 40 three times between 1957 and 1958 with "Long Lonely Nights" (#29, 1957, which they performed on the fifth national episode of "American Bandstand"); "Tear Drops" (their biggest hit, which peaked at #20 in 1958) and "Try The Impossible" (#32, 1958).  Lee was also the father of popular Roots Drummer Questlove.  (kk)



Did you enter to win your free copy of Joel Whitburn's latest chart book, "America's Greatest Hits"?  It shows the weekly Top Ten Pop Charts for EVERY single week, beginning in January of 1940 right on through the last week of December of 2015.  
It's a must have for every serious collection ... and you can win a copy by simply dropping us an email with the words "America's Greatest Hits" in the subject line.  We'll pick one lucky winner and award them a copy of Joel's latest book. But you'd better hurry ... 'cause we're picking that winner next week!   
By the way, Joel's got some great discount offers going on right now on his website ... check it out here: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/258004/e84d269e83/1243000293/698b321b8e/  
(kk)   

The new Hank Williams biopic starts this weekend. (I can't believe it's going up against the Superman / Batman movie!!!)  But I still wanna see it.  (Might have to make that part of our Easter Weekend!)  
When I was ten years old my dad took me to see "Your Cheatin' Heart", the Hank Williams Story starring actor George Hamilton in the starring role and Hank, Jr., providing all the music on the soundtrack.  (Incredibly young Bocephus was all of fifteen years old when he cut his daddy's catalog for the film!)  Man, I was hooked ... played the heck out of that LP.  And while the movie was never very highly regarded by critics, I LOVED it.  (Years later John Boy of The Waltons played Hank, Jr., in the movie about HIS life ... another great film in my book.)

FH Regular Frank B. tells us, however that the whole story still isn't being told.  (kk)  

Kent ...  
Add this story to the "Bobby Fuller Mysterious Death File."
Frank B.  
http://nypost.com/2016/03/20/how-did-country-music-star-hank-williams-really-die/  
The Bobby Fuller Mystery ... or the inspiration for "Weekend At Bernie's???"  (kk)


The other day we talked about the Pray For Surf interview with Mark Moore, author of the new book "The Jan And Dean Record".  Here's the "missing link" from that article ... http://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/prayforsurf-interview-mark-moore-author.html


Brian Wilson and his band will dust off "Pet Sounds" one last time in honor of the album's 50th Anniversary ... http://www.examiner.com/article/brian-wilson-s-pet-sounds-50th-anniversary-world-tour?CID=examiner_alerts_article   

Hi Kent -  
I saw Brian Wilson's schedule for his "Pet Sounds Tour" and the Chicagoland area was not included. Any possibility he may add a show in this area?  
When in doubt ask the master ...  
Carolyn  
As of right now, no ... no Chicago-area stop is planned.  (As of right now, Wilson has 74 dates booked worldwide.  In all fairness, Brian has been here several times over the past two years so this may be his way of allowing the show to be seen in other areas.)  But never say never ... this is a VERY big deal ... so if a Chicago date IS added, we'll be sure to let our readers know!  (kk)


The Latest News From Lightning Strikes Music...
"Spring Ahead With Lou Christie"
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nR-ic1D_j6mLH9L4UEDXvUhJpojB08exoHlgsjrg0qBscKuOyPFx6YdvvQ15VaV7cNRGEeK6z0xGFImE1azQPwpbM_dBOHLNtUHDSPZMSXZXixO5Il2PSc58XNInw6FAxxXmjlvv5VPFQULakuzl6s0Ik8KqYPX-ppp8F1ctIjg=&c=tRJwmlQ5Fay73tZL29a8c0E1evcD4UUuPGzEgDwinudKi8mmrom-VQ==&ch=Bb2Dn5vdLN49PZHmf7metmuGPGp0MokPMi6hq-hmri5Uz1MBC_kxLg==




"DRIVE-IN DREAMS'
LOU'S LATEST SPECIAL FOR SIRIUS-XM RADIO












Lou has another great special airing on Sirius Channel 6, 60's on 6.
Here are the scheduled times...
remember all times are "Eastern"
Monday - March 21 - 5 PM
Thursday - March 24 - 1 PM
Friday - March 25 - 11 PM
Sunday - March 27 - 9 AM

Lou Sketch


Lou's 2016 Tour Schedule is still being formulated but here is a sampling of some of the places where he will be appearing. Be sure to check with the local venues before making travel plans.








April 16, 2016 - Bear's Den - Seneca / Niagra Casino - Seneca, NY (Tickets Now On Sale)
May 1, 2016 - State Theater - New Brunswick, NJ (Tickets Now On Sale)
June 5, 2016 - New Jersey PAC - Newark, NJ (Tickets Now On Sale)
July 4 - July 14, 2016 - Tour of Italy
September 10, 2016 - NYCB Theatre @ Westbury, Westbury, NY (Tickets Now on Sale)
September 22, 2016 - Victory Theater - Evansville, IN
November 5, 2016 - Proctor's Theater - Schenectady, NY
December 3, 2016 - Villa Roma - Catskills, NY
December 14, 2016 - Heinz Hall - Pittsburgh, PA
New dates are always being added to the schedule and will be included in your next newsletter.
Old Pix
over the shoulder


TOM PETTY WITH MICKY DOLENZ ON ‘TOM TALKS TO COOL PEOPLE’  
Dolenz discusses his career; his solo work; his Monkee-days, as well as their upcoming 50th Anniversary tour and new album Good Times.  
The show will be broadcast on Tom Petty Radio / Channel 31  
Upcoming show times include:  
Tuesday – March 22  
10 am ET / 7 am Pacific  
8 pm ET / 5 pm Pacific  
Wednesday – March 23  
9 pm ET / 6 pm Pacific  
Thursday – March 24  
11 am ET / 8 am Pacific  
Friday – March 25  
6 pm ET / 3 pm Pacific



FH Reader Tom Cuddy sent us these stories ...


Carole King will perform her landmark 1971 album, Tapestry, in its entirety for the first time ever in London's Hyde Park on July 3rd.  
Although Beautiful, the hit musical based on her life, is playing on London's West End, this will be her first show in England's capital in more than 25 years. Don Henley will be the opening act.  
Tapestry has sold more than 25 million copies and won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1972. Among its hits are "You've Got a Friend," "I Feel the Earth Move" and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow."   
Now THAT'S a show I'd love to see!!!  (Maybe they'll film this one like they did the Jeff Lynne / ELO Concert a the same venue!)  kk


The Go-Go's have announced their farewell tour.
The group will perform 18 shows in August to bring down the curtain on a 38-year career.
In a statement shared by Rolling Stone, the "Our Lips Are Sealed" band says, "We are gearing up for one last blast of a summer tour. We feel so lucky and so grateful to have had the incredible support of our fans for so long. We can't wait to get out on the road and give the people what they want: some loud, fast music and a great party!"
Longtime bassist Kathy Valentine, who left the group several years ago and took legal action against it, will not be on hand for this trek.
The tour begins August 2nd in Clearwater, Florida; other dates include August 13th in New York's Central Park and the hometown finale at L.A.'s Greek Theater on August 30th.
A quick show of hands please ... seriously ... has ANYBODY out there really missed them?!?!?  (kk)