re: The Wrecking Crew:
GREAT turn out for "The Wrecking Crew" screening held at The Arcada Theatre last week (considering the deck was severely stacked against them ... a Blackhawks Playoff Game ... and cold and rainy weather.) The film played to a very enthusiastic crowd ... and Denny Tedesco told us to expect the DVD (with ALL kinds of extras) to be available in time for Christmas gift-giving ... most likely late October or early November. (kk)
Here's a picture of me and Denny in the lobby at The Arcada ...
re: The Stories Behind The Songs:
FH Reader Frank B sent us this one, courtesy of Mark Rivera and WCBS-FM, regarding the origins of the stutter heard on Bachman-Turner Overdrive's #1 Hit "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" ...
With the number of musicians Rivera has played with, it’s fair to assume he’s heard his fair share of stories; some of which can be repeated and others that can be. One that is suitable for all ages is about one of Bachman–Turner Overdrive’s most popular songs: “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet.”
“Randy Bachman was in the first All Starr Band I worked with with Ringo,” recalls Rivera, who heard the song on CBS-FM that morning. Bachman’s brother, whom has a stutter, had recorded vocals on the demo for “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet,” which the record company had loved. They insisted BTO go back into the studio and record it again. The response Bachman and the band received was not what they expected. “The A&R person said, ‘Whoa whoa whoa, what happened to the B-B-B-baby and N-N-N…?’”
As it turns out, the record execs wanted the stutter. Randy Bachman had to return to the studio and mimic his brother’s stutter for the song, which it has become well-known for.
Now how cool is that?!?!? (kk)
After sending us his review of the Neil Sedaka concert in Nashville last week, FH Reader David Lewis also shared this fun tidbit with us:
Dick Clark interviewed Neil Sedaka several years ago and "Calendar Girl" came up in the discussion. Neil said that when that song was a pop hit, he was on a bill with Brenda Lee, who also had a hit at the time. He reported that when he met Brenda, she said "Oh, Neil - I love your new song 'A Cow and A Girl.'" She was dead serious. Neil and Dick had a good laugh about it on mic. I wonder if Brenda ever heard about it. She's still around and visible often: Two different friends have been photographed with her in the past few weeks.
David
Kinda like David Gates' mother telling the newspapers that while she was very proud of her son and his new band Bread, she was a little surprised to hear that their first hit single release was called "Naked With You". ("Make It With You" hit #1 for Bread in 1970 ... and launched their career as one of the premier soft-rock artists of the '70's!) kk
Speaking of Brenda Lee, I'm surprised "Johnny One Time" only made it to Number 41 nationally.
David
"Johnny One Time" was OK ... but the Brenda Lee comeback hit that did it for me was "Comin' On Strong", a record that became a Top Ten Hit in 1966 ... about three years after her last one. (kk)
re: The Concert Reviews / Endicott, NY / and The Cruisin' Records Series:
>>>Artist / writer / producer / studio owner and Nashville’s “go to” guy for benefits, Buzz Cason, put the Baby Boomer Legends show together as a fundraiser for 2nd Chance 4 Pets. He also sang the hit recorded as Garry Miles, “Look For A Star”. He was then joined by Richard Williams, who with Buzz was a member of Nashville’s first rock and roll group, The Casuals – which later backed Brenda Lee on her live shows. They performed the Casuals’ local hit “My Love Song For You” which Buzz and Richard wrote and recorded in 1957. (Ed Salamon)
Buzz Cason is a very good friend of mine and has been for a few years now. Up until his newest CD that came out this year, his last few CD's were distributed by a company I do work for. I just saw him at the Saxon Pub on the Saturday of SXSW in Austin (March 15) and spoke with him at length that night. Great guy with fabulous stories, and has written a book about it. He was a member of the touring Crickets (Buddy Holly's group) in England in 1964 during the British Invasion.
By the way, Endicott, NY, (the subject of one of our recent Saturday Surveys features - kk) is the home of legendary disk jockey Dick Biondi. If you listen to Cruisin' 1960 WKBW, he talks about Endicott at least twice on the record. And ... the opening line on that album is that the station manager is driving down Main Street in a red Chevy convertible and he tells the listening audience to throw rocks at him! And that WAS a true story - he really did it, and it may be the act that got him fired!
Also, Joey Reynolds was my neighbor when he was on KB. He actually lived at home with his mom and sister, and he lived on the street behind my house seven houses down. His sister and my sister went to college together, and I used to bring over frozen Appian Way pizzas to his house to give to him (via his mom) as he was still asleep usually at 3 PM, being out all night after work at the Checkerboard bar across from 1430 Main St. (home of KB). I'm still in touch with him occasionally - great guy!
Clay Pasternack
Biondi has told the "throwing rocks" story numerous times over the years ... so it's kinda cool that he resurrected it to do his Cruisin' radio show recreation. Joey Reynolds is still around and recently did a radio project with FH Reader / Dee Jay Big Jay Sorensen! (kk)
Hi, Kent,
Thanks for posting my Rob Carlson & Benefit Street track last week. Nice chart run today; I love the kind of regional differences (i.e., Rusty & Doug).that seem to be almost completely absent from most of today’s corporate pop radio.
I very much enjoyed the “caravan of stars” concert revue / review, too. A Billy Joe Royal note: he had a phenomenal cover of Paul McCartney’s “Every Night” that (in a rare instance of cover exceeding original) puts Sir Paul’s “out to pasture” to my ears. Credit Joe South with the hard-edged production. It only bubbled under at 113 nationally, but ought to have been much bigger in my opinion. I’ve attached it to see if anyone agrees with me.
Speaking of Sir Paul, I really enjoyed his “New” album, even if it isn’t quite so new anymore, and wonder why it didn’t get more attention – he really seemed to have returned to form in a huge way. The thoughtful “On My Way to Work” and “New” were the tracks that really did it for me, the former ranking with his best work with the Beatles in my opinion. I know that’s a comment some might challenge, so have at it.
Keep up the good work!
Best regards,
Country Paul Payton
McCartney's "New" album got all kinds of great press and critical accolades ... but then nobody played it! Even the Classic Rock Stations who regularly salute these great artists NEVER seem to feature their latest works. Fans might be interested to know just how many of these great artists are still out the touring and recording today ... but short of their own websites (and online services like Forgotten Hits), NOBODY gives them the time of day.
We ran an article last week that McCartney's tour will be one of the biggest grossing tours of the year ... and will sell out at virtually every single venue ... yet radio isn't smart enough to feature any of his new music. Once again, programming with blinders on. (By the way, thanks for the Billy Joe Royal version of "Every Night", one of my all-time favorite McCartney album tracks. I hadn't heard it before ... and while I don't agree that it surpasses the original, it ain't half bad!!!) kk
re: And, Speaking Of Concerts:
Barry Gibb hits Chicago on Tuesday, May 27th ... here's some recent press generated by his new solo tour, courtesy of FH Reader Tom Cuddy ...
http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2014/05/12/barry-gibb-brings-brotherly-love-tour/JihLdR0XiTGVTLCIjmCTUM/story.html
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/05/09/barry-gibb-talks-brothers-mythology-tour/8568453/
Thanks for the Alan Parsons concert write-up, Kent. I wish I had been there!
Clete
It was a GREAT show! I've been listening to them in the car ever since ... and today we ordered the "Live In Madrid" DVD that everyone's been talking about. I'd love to see them again ... tonight! (kk)
After reading Jim Foster's review of the concert he saw in Jackson, TN, I asked him if he knew what the line-up was for the next show ...
The next show in Jackson has not been formally announced yet and subject to change. However it was announced that Terry Sylvester (Hollies, Swinging Blue Jeans), Dickey Lee, Rex Smith, Henry Gross, Kyle Vincent (Bay City Rollers). Jimi Jamison (Survivor) so far ... I will keep you updated. As soon as I get the letter, I will let you know. I love your blog and appreciate what you do.
Take care,
Jim
I've seen SO many great reviews about The Cowsills lately that I had to check and see if they were performing anywhere else in the area anytime soon ... but apparently nothing booked anywhere right now. We'll keep you posted when more tour dates are posted. (kk)
Meanwhile, brother John Cowsill is still drumming with The Beach Boys Band. In fact, the Mike Love / Bruce Johnston version of The Beach Boys have just announced an extensive touring schedule that'll take them through the end of the year. (They've even squeezed in a "special guests" edition for the 4th of July Weekend.)
VNN reports:
The Beach Boys (a.k.a. the Mike Love and Bruce Johnston band) have set an extensive tour of North America and Europe for this summer.
Included is a special show on July 5 at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY, where they will be joined by Al Jardine and David Marks who are two of the three remaining Beach Boys, bringing together the band that toured behind the band's 50th anniversary minus Brian Wilson.
The rest of the current lineup of the Beach Boys is Tim Bonhomme (drums), Randall Kirsch (bass), John Cowsill (drums) and musical director Scott Totten.
The dates:
05/23 – Petoskey, MI – Odawa Casino Resort
05/25 – Louisville, KY – Belvedere Park (Abbey Road On The River)
06/06 – Loveland, CO – Budweiser Events Center
06/07 – Fort Yates, ND – Prairie Knights Casino & Resort
06/08 – Moorhead, MN – Bluestem Center For The Arts
06/13 – Richfield, UT – Sevier Valley Center
06/14 – West Wendover, NV – Peppermill Concert Hall
06/21 – Laughlin, NV – Edgewater Casino
06/22 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Co. Arboretum
06/24 – Surrey, UK – Hampton Court Palace
06/25 – Surrey, UK – Hampton Court Palace
06/26 – Londonderry, UK – Millennium Forum
06/27 – Zurich, Switzerland – Kongresshaus Zurich
07/01 – Rattvik, Sweden – Dalhalla
07/05 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon At Jones Beach Theater
07/10 – Huntsville, AL – Von Braun Center
07/12 – Peachtree City, GA – Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater
07/17 – Surrey, UK – Epsom Downs Race Course
07/18 – Newmarket, UK – Newmarket Racecourse
07/19 – Newbury, UK – Newbury Racecourse
07/21 – Madrid, Spain – TBA
07/23 – Marbella, Spain – Auditorio Marbella La Cantera (Starlite Festival)
07/25 – York, UK – York Racecourse
07/26 – Ocean Grove, NJ – The Great Auditorium
07/27 – Selbyville, DE – Freeman Stage At Bayside
07/28 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
07/29 – Columbus, OH – Celeste Center (Ohio State Fair)
07/31 – Ventura, CA – Ventura County Fairgrounds (Ventura County Fair)
08/01 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery
08/02 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Resort Casino
08/06 – Sioux Falls, SD – W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds (Sioux Empire Fair)
08/09 – Williams Bay, WI – Ferro Pavilion (Music By The Lake)
08/10 – Sterling Heights, MI – Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
08/12 – Pomona, NY – Provident Bank Park
08/13 – Aston, PA – Sun Center Studios
08/14 – Stamford, CT – Columbus Park
08/15 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
08/16 – Newport, RI – Newport Yachting Center (Newport Concert Series)
08/17 – Webster, MA – Indian Ranch
08/21 – Princeton, IL – Bureau County Fair
08/26 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival At Ravinia Park (with The Temptations)
08/27 – Livermore, CA – The Concerts At Wente Vineyards
08/28 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Pavilion (Britt Festivals)
08/30 – Snoqualmie, WA – Snoqualmie Casino
08/31 – Ferndale, WA – Silver Reef Casino
09/01 – Salem, OR – Oregon State Fairgrounds (Oregon State Fair)
09/04 – Grand Rapids, MI – Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
09/07 – Wooster, OH – Wooster Fairgrounds (Wayne County Fair)
09/18 – Paducah, KY – Carson Center
09/19 – Belleville, IL – Belleville Public Square (Bicentennial Octoberfest Celebration)
09/20 – Dubuque, IA – Mississippi Moon Bar
10/03 – Rancho Mirage, CA – The Show At Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
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