Friday, June 28, 2013

The Friday Flash

re:  OOPS!:  
Kent,
First let me say, am I missing something here? The Mary Wells' tune you posted, YOU BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH, following the news on Bobby Bland, I don't seem to get a connection if there is one. I thought there was going to be a Bobby Bland tune.
Second, most of Bobby Bland's songs were, I guess you might say, moderate "hits" here in the OKC area. I just checked and his 1962 recording of YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION peaked at number 11 in August of that year. One of his bigger records here in OKC.

Larry
What you got there was a combination of two things ... a track incorrectly identified in the digital ID stamped on the CD it came from ... and me not having the time to listen to it before I posted it.  The intention was to run Bobby's "Turn On Your Lovelight" track ... and that's what the computer said it was.  In fact, had you not said anything, I never would have known!  Hopefully we can make up for that by running Bobby's intended tribute track today.  (kk)


>>>I am from Bawston (home of the Future Stanley Cup Champions!) so I respect the fact that your emphasis is parochial to your home town Chicahgo.   Your overall love of all things music comes through loud and clear. I may not read your Newsletter top to bottom, but I do review every iteration you send. I would not go so far as to say I would pay to subscribe but if you can benefit by extra 'hits' I am all for it. You deserve something for all the work you do.  (CharlieOFD)
That's OK, Charlie, save your money ... our newsletter is still free.  Why don't you spend it on one of those Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup shirts that sold out immediately after the final game instead?!?!?  (kk)  

re:  PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS:
Well, I think we've finally nailed it down ...
Although no one officially got back to us about playing the B-Side of the Paul Revere and the Raiders hit "Ups And Downs" (titled simply as "Leslie" on the label), a quick glance at their "Revolution" album cover indicates that this is, in fact, the same song questioned by one of our readers a week or two back.  Check it out:
re:  CHICAGO: 
Hi Kent, 
OK it's always fun to hear from one of my hero bands, Chicago, but I think they should have taken a little longer on this one. ("More Today Than Yesterday")  Not much drive to it. It sounds so tentative. No energy in the track. Where the heck are the drums? Bass is way out in front of the bass drum.  
I think they should go back and listen to one of there 70's era albums and '"Get the Feelin' Again." 
Or maybe they should go back and listen to The Spiral Starecase version too, which is a whole lot better. Gees, I feel awful that I'm trashing one of my favorite bands recordings, but gees.
Bill
I'm with you on this one, Bill.  The original was just such a lively tune (and let's face it, you still hear it nearly every single day all these years later) that I can only describe Chicago's remake as "unnecessary".  Not that there's anything particularly wrong with it ... it just doesn't bring anything new to the table ... and this is one of those tracks that simply doesn't need redoing.  (I remember AGES ago watching Sonny and Cher perform this song on their television show ... and it had more pop than this new Chicago-ized "big band' version.)  I suppose it's neat that Chicago is going a new direction with the Les Deux Love Orchestra, still growing their sound after all these years ... but if this new venture is supposed to be a tribute to classic R&B, let's hope the rest of the new album has a little more "soul" than this track.  (kk)   

re:  SOME MORE AMAZING SHOWS:
Our FH Buddy Ron Onesti has added some more amazing artists to his up-coming concert line-up ... including a show that I know EVERYBODY will want to see on September 13th featuring THE ZOMBIES!!!  (We told you recently that another FH Buddy, Al Kooper, did a show with these guys at the Kewsick Theater in Glenside, PA, on June 21st. We're hoping to feature Al's personal review soon!)
Other up-coming Arcada shows of note:
Tonight:  Bachman and Turner
'80's Music Fans will want to check out THIS double bill ... The FIXX and Wang Chung, together for one show on July 26th
Rockfest (featuring Ten Years After, Edgar Winter, Pat Travers, Rick Derringer and Canned Heat) hits the Arcada Theatre stage on August 8th
John Ford Coley and Terry Sylvester (of the Hollies) team up for a double bill on October 11th
America comes back on November 15th
Michael Bolton hits the stage on December 1st
Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March will put on a rockin' Christmas spectacular on December 7th, followed by another Christmas concert special performed by The Letterman on December 8th.
As always, a GREAT place to see a concert.  More ticket information is available here:

Click here: Arcada Theatre | Oshows  

Just got this from FH Reader Clark Besch about an upcoming show this weekend in Cicero featuring "The Chicago Gold Revue" ... members of The Cryan' Shames, Jimy Sohns of The Shadows Of Knight and Ronnie Rice of The New Colony Six ...
Sounds like a groovy Shame show!!  The Gold Revue show should grab up Gary Loizzo from the Styx show following to sing "Bend Me Shape Me"!!!  I think he's still keyboard / sound man for them, right??
Clark
Really?  I didn't know that.  Unfortunately, we're traveling again this weekend ... and will be hit-or-miss until after the 4th of July Weekend (so limited postings through this busy time) ... but hopefully a few of our readers are able to check this out and get back to us.  Thanks, Clark!  (kk) 


Danbury Fields Forever Beatles Music Festival 
Full Entertainment Line-up Announced!


Danbury, CT: On Saturday, August 3, 2013, in celebration of The Beatles' 50th anniversary, thousands of fans will "Come Together" for "DANBURY FIELDS FOREVER," a day-long music, arts and food festival of at Ives Concert Park, 43 Lake Avenue Ext. in Danbury, Connecticut. The Noon - 8 pm event is a fund-raiser for Sandy Hook, with 100% of net ticket sales benefiting charity.  (The event is seeking sponsorships)
Open to all ages, this returning family-friendly festival will feature 10 bands, each representing different eras or presentations of Beatles music.
The complete line-up of entertainment has been announced, including special tributes to John Lennon and George Harrison. Festival-goers will enjoy acts including "Something;" an acoustic ensemble from New York City; the "BeatlesTracks Band" from Mass., who Cha Chi Loprete of Boston's WZLX Radio called "a really great Beatles Tribute Band;" "Guitar Charlie," a guitar virtuoso who performed at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in a special John Lennon Memorial concert; "Fools On The Hill," a Connecticut band who played the first "Danbury Fields Forever" last year; Jeff Slate, who leads the band "Bird of Paradox" featuring members of Paul McCartney & Wings and John Lennon's Elephant's Memory;" hard-rocking "Genetic Control," specialists in psychedelic version of Beatle classics, the "Lennon Legacy Show," a special and touching tribute to John, "The Mystery Tour" performing latter-day Beatles songs in full Sgt. Pepper costumes; and "The Hofners," featuring legendary Mike "Ringo" Streeto on drums, Mark Ehmann ("Hard Night's Day") on bass and Dave Pal ("Beatlemania Again") on rhythm, recreating the Ed Sullivan era with the earliest Beatles classics. Rounding out the event, the final band booked for the extravaganza is The Cryers, who have been performing throughout the U.S. and Canada since 1991. The Cryers have performed with Denny Laine (Moody Blues, Wings), Terry Sylvester (Hollies), Ian Mitchell (Bay City Rollers) and many great rock & roll groups. Sid Bernstein, the man responsible for bringing the Beatles to America, calls this band “Magical!” Cryers' leader Joe Orlando and Belle Liao also co-own the Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts in New Jersey (www.monmouthacademy.com). In keeping with the core philosophy of giving back to the global community by teaching and promoting the love of music, a portion of the band's proceeds goes straight back to the Academy in The Cryers' campaign of Love, Joy, Peace and Purpose Through Music©.  
An entire-day "ticket to ride" admission starts at only $20.00 from http://beatlesmusicfestival.eventbrite.com/#. There are also VIP packages. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Another feature of the festival will be music and memorabilia vendors and exhibits, plus family features such as face-painting and inflatables for kids. 
For further info call (203) 795-4737, email LiverpoolTours@aol.com or visit www.BeatlesMusicFestival.com
As The Beatles sang, "... it's guaranteed to raise a smile!" 
All Photos courtesy Liverpool Productions:
The Mystery Tour band, The Lennon Legacy, official Danbury Fields Forever logo, drummer Mike Streeto and also a crowd shot of three fans from last year's Festival

   



 
Speaking of The Beatles, iTunes just published a new list of their Top 12 Beatles Downloads ... and I am happy to report that once again George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun" tops the list!  (Man, I wish George could have seen this while he was still alive ... after spending his entire lifetime in the shadows of the powerhouse writing team of Lennon and McCartney he would have been thrilled beyond words to find out what the fans REALLY thought!!!)
Rounding out the Top 12 are:
# 2 - Let It Be
# 3 - Hey Jude
# 4 - Come Together
# 5 - Blackbird
# 6 - Twist And Shout
# 7 - In My Life
# 8 - Yesterday
# 9 - Revolution
#10 - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (another George song)
#11 - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
#12 - I Saw Her Standing There  

re:  TONIGHT:
DJ Stu Weiss continues his Summer Songs program tonight on Oldies Your Way ...
www.oldiesyourway.com  

re:  NEW STUFF: 
EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE THE FREDDIE MERCURY TRIBUTE CONCERT 
FEATURING QUEEN, DAVID BOWIE, ROGER DALTRY, DEF LEPPARD, ELTON JOHN, GEORGE MICHAEL, ROBERT PLANT AND MANY MORE ~ON 3DVD, BLU-RAY, AND DIGITAL VIDEO SEPTEMBER 3~
New York, NY (June 25, 2013)--On September 3, 2013, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert on a triple DVD set, as an SD Blu-ray – with upscaled standard definition original material with uncompressed stereo and DTS-HD surround sound for the best possible quality - and digital formats [Pre-book Order Date August 9, MSRP $29.99 DVD, $24,98 Blu-ray].  This release boasts newly remastered sound across both sections of the concert and represents the first time the opening acts' performances have been made available on DVD or Blu-Ray. 
On April 20th 1992, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon, the surviving members of Queen, took to the stage at Wembley Stadium for the start of one of the biggest events in rock history, which the band had organized to pay tribute to their former colleague – the incomparable Freddie Mercury. Queen were joined by some of the greatest musical talent in the world to celebrate Freddie’s life and work and to increase public awareness of AIDS, the disease that had prematurely ended his life the previous year.
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert features many Queen classics in unique performances including: “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Hammer To Fall”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Radio Ga Ga”, “I Want To Break Free”, “Under Pressure”, “Somebody To Love”, “We Will Rock You”, “We Are The Champions” and many more.  Special guests include David Bowie, Gary Cherone, Roger Daltrey, Def Leppard, Joe Elliott, Extreme, Bob Geldof, Guns ‘n’ Roses, James Hetfield, Ian Hunter, Tony Iommi, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Metallica, George Michael, Liza Minnelli, Robert Plant, Mick Ronson, Axl Rose, Seal, Slash, Lisa Stansfield, Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Young & Zucchero.
As well as being great entertainment, the concert raised a huge and still growing sum of money for the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity formed at the time by Roger Taylor, Brian May and Queen’s longtime manager Jim Beach whose charter is the relief of suffering from AIDS throughout the world.  Profits from this release will be donated by the Mercury Phoenix Trust to AIDS charities around the globe.
For more information on the Mercury Phoenix Trust, go to www.mercuryphoenixtrust.com
For more information on Queen: Phil Symes, PR Contact/philsymes@theprcontact.com
OPENING ACTS*
1) Intro   2) Brian May / Roger Taylor / John Deacon Introduction   3) Metallica – Enter Sandman   4) Metallica – Sad But True   5) Metallica – Nothing Else Matters   6) Freddie Montage (Insert)   7) Extreme – Queen Medley including: Mustapha / Bohemian Rhapsody / Keep Yourself Alive / I Want To Break Free / Fat Bottomed Girls / Bicycle Race / Another One Bites The Dust / Stone Cold Crazy / Radio Ga Ga
 8) Freddie Montage (Insert)   9) Def Leppard & Brian May – Now I’m Here   10) Queen – I’m Going Slightly Mad video (Insert)   11) Bob Geldof – Too Late God   12) Guns ‘n’ Roses – Paradise City   13) Guns ‘n’ Roses – Knocking On Heavens Door   14) Elizabeth Taylor Speech
MAIN QUEEN + SET
1) Joe Elliott, Slash & Queen – Tie Your Mother Down   2) Roger Daltrey, Tony Iommi & Queen – I Want It All   3) Zucchero & Queen – Las Palabras De Amor   4) Gary Cherone, Tony Iommi & Queen – Hammer To Fall   5) James Hetfield, Tony Iommi & Queen – Stone Cold Crazy   6) Robert Plant & Queen – Crazy Little Thing Called Love   7) Brian May – Too Much Love Will Kill You   8) Paul Young & Queen – Radio Ga Ga   9) Seal & Queen – Who Wants To Live Forever   10) Lisa Stansfield & Queen – I Want To Break Free   11) David Bowie, Annie Lennox & Queen – Under Pressure   12) Ian Hunter, David Bowie, Mick Ronson & Queen – All The Young Dudes   13) David Bowie, Mick Ronson & Queen – Heroes   14) George Michael & Queen –’39               15) George Michael, Lisa Stansfield & Queen – These Are The Days Of Our Lives      16) George Michael, London Gospel Choir & Queen – Somebody To Love   17) Elton John, Axl Rose & Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody   18) Elton John, Tony Iommi & Queen – The Show Must Go On   19) Axl Rose & Queen – We Will Rock You   20) Liza Minnelli & Ensemble – We Are The Champions
BONUS MATERIAL
1) Rehearsal performances of Queen +: 
David Bowie and Annie Lennox ‘Under Pressure’
George Michael and Lisa Stansfield ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives
George Michael ‘Somebody To Love’
2) 10th Anniversary Documentary
3) Photo Galleries  
4) Mercury Phoenix Trust Facts
* Each section features on one DVD disc, all sections feature on the single Blu-ray discs  

re:  CLARIFICATION:
I'm not sure exactly what BMG said or implied that sparked this, but I got this from FH Reader Bob Merlis on behalf of ABKCO Records ... 
New York, June 26, 2013 -  In light of today’s announcement by BMG concerning its involvement in music publishing interests in songs written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, ABKCO Music, Inc. wishes to reiterate that ABKCO, and ABKCO alone, owns and controls 100% of the worldwide copyright to the original 1963-1971 publishing catalog of Jagger/Richards Rolling Stones compositions.  
ABKCO CEO Jody Klein stated that the BMG announcement “has no relevance whatsoever to ABKCO’s ongoing role in its ownership or control of all existing copyrights, including such seminal titles as ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’, ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ and others from that period as has been the case for more than 40 years.”   
“We wish BMG all the best with their new endeavor but it must be noted that ABKCO, a wholly owned independent entertainment company, remains the sole source of rights and licensing for these compositions along with the corresponding master recordings by The Rolling Stones.  It is unfortunate that BMG’s statement may have led some to conclude otherwise.”  
About ABKCO:
ABKCO Music & Records is one of the world’s leading independent entertainment companies.  It is home to iconic catalog assets that include compositions and recordings by Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Bobby Womack, Eric Burdon, The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Marianne Faithfull, The Kinks as well as the Cameo Parkway masters by such artists as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Clint Eastwood, The Orlons, The Dovells, ? & The Mysterians, Charlie Gracie, The Tymes and Dee Dee Sharp. Soundtrack releases include Wes Anderson’s 2013 Academy Award® nominated Moonrise Kingdom, The Darjeeling Limited and the 20120 Academy Award® nominated Fantastic Mr. Fox, Independent Spirit Award® Winner Safety Not Guaranteed, Our Idiot Brother, the international blockbuster Fast Five, Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief, The Men Who Stare At Goats and the soundtrack to the first season of the hit Showtime® series, Californication.  ABKCO is active on many fronts including the release of critically lauded compilations and reissues from its catalog, film and commercial placement of its master recordings and music publishing properties in all media.   ABKCO Films most recent release is The Rolling Stones Charlie Is My Darling – Ireland 1965.  It has been involved with many successful movies including The Greek Tycoon starring Anthony Quinn and Jacqueline Bisset, La Grande Bouffe  winner of the International Critics prize at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival and The Concert for Bangladesh featuring Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr.  Renowned cult director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s classics El Topo and The Holy Mountain, fully restored and remastered to HD, were shown at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival (Classics section) and at the prestigious 44th New York Film Festival. In 2003 ABKCO won a Grammy for the DVD release of Sam Cooke – Legend and the following year released the DVD of The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus to universal acclaim. Upcoming releases include a restoration of the Spaghetti Western Blindman starring Ringo Starr.  ABKCO Films is in
pre-production on a biopic on the life of Sam Cooke.
Bob later told me ...
BMG put out a news release which would leave you to believe they now control or, at least, have a hand in publishing the original song catalog.  We had to counter that with this statement.  
Here's a piece that deals with that: 

re:  THINGS ARE TOUGH ALL OVER:  
Getting kinda crazy at the gas pumps again ... especially here in Chicago where we reportedly have the most expensive gas prices within the continental United States. 
So as a service to our faithful readers, we thought we'd share this valuable coupon information with you!  

I didn't realize it, but these coupons are good for one gallon of gas at most retailers.  I have seen them around, but until recently never took advantage of them ... I guess I never realized their actual worth. 

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