Thursday, May 8, 2014

Thursday This And That

David Beard tells us about a great, free concert coming up this weekend, featuring The Surf City All-Stars, starring Dean Torrence ... along with a couple of VERY special guests ... Al Jardine, son Matt Jardine and David Marks!!!

Mayfest On Main 2014
Saturday May 10
Main Street
North Myrtles Beach, SC
 
FREE CONCERT!!  
In 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 the Legends of Surf Music, backed by the Surf City Allstars, performed for standing room only audiences @ MAYFEST ON MAIN. The group returns to North Myrtle Beach once again.  
The Surf City Allstars are a great band as well. Gary Griffin (keys / vocals) started recording and touring with the Beach Boys in the 1970’s. Philip Bardowell (guitar / vocals) was hand picked by Beach Boy Carl Wilson for the Beach Boys band in the 1990’s. David Logeman (drums) was hired by Beach Boy Mike Love in 1994. Chris Farmer (bass / vocals) toured for 12 years as the musical director for the Beach Boys. Aaron Broering (guitar / keys / vocals) is the newest member to join the Allstars.  
Additionally, Matt Jardine (Beach Boys band member, California Saga, California Surf Incorporated) will be joining the group on stage for this performance.  
Each song performed by the Legends of Surf Music at Mayfest will be immediately recognizable. All the great surf, drag and fun-in-the-sun imagery is perfectly captured by the iconic trio. The combination of Al Jardine, David Marks and Dean Torrence together on stage creates a fresh harmonic blend for all the well-known classic hits.  
It is guaranteed to be a great time for ages 6 - 80. Immediately following the show, Al, David, Dean and the Allstars will sit for an autograph session.  
Be there or be square!  
MAYFEST ON MAIN CONCERT INFORMATION
Aljardine.com
Jananddean.com
Surfcityallstars.com
 
©2014 David Beard / All rights reserved  
The Surf City All-Stars just performed here in Chicago a couple of weeks ago and, unfortunately, I had to miss this concert.  (Catch our official FH Review here:  )  The added bonus of actual Beach Boys Al Jardine and David Marks ... along with the legendary Dean Torrence ... makes THIS the concert to see this Mothers' Day Weekend.  
If any of our South Carolina readers are able to attend, we would love to run a full review of the show!  (kk)  

And speaking of great shows ...   

I just bought my tickets to see the Monkees on June 1st at Milwaukees' Riverside Theater.  Hopefully Micky saves his voice for that night.  
I have not seen them since their 20th Anniversary tour in 1986 and am looking forward to seeing Mike Nesmith for the first time.   
They were really hot at the time because of the MTV reruns and there were many young people at the show.  Gary Puckett, the Peter Nooneless Hermans Hermits, and Rob Grill's Grass Roots were also on the bill.   
You mentioned Air Supply is playing in the Chicago area this weekend.  My wife and I saw them a couple of years back and Chris Nesmith (Mike's eldest son) was touring with them.  I recognized him even before they introduced him because he looks like his dad.  I have heard that he is in the Monkees band now.  
Phil - WRCO  
I've never seen Mike Nesmith before either ... he's the ONLY one I've missed ... so I'm VERY excited to report that I just found out yesterday that I WILL be going to The Monkees Show at Star Plaza Theater on May 31st (thank you VERY much, David Salidor!!!) ... and think I may just go check out Air Supply this weekend at The Arcada, too.  (Just to show you the variety Ron Onesti brings there, he's got Air Supply on Friday Night, The Alan Parsons Live Project on Saturday Night and a special Mother's Day Sock Hop featuring The Bronx Wanderers on Sunday ... where they actually take out some of the seats and turn it into a dance floor!!!)  Now if that's not something for EVERYBODY I don't know what is!!!  (kk)


Sad news about the passing of Jessica Cleaves, a founding member of The Friends Of Distinction who also let her vocals shine with Earth, Wind and Fire as well as Parliament / Funkadelic ... Click here: VVN Music: Passings: Jessica Cleaves of the Friends of Distinction, Earth Wind & Fire, Parliament-Funkadelic (1948    

Hi Kent,  
Thought you might get a kick out of this ... it really does sound like a new Lennon / McCartney composition.  
Woody  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE49bsxGTFM#t=55  

Regarding "The Girl Can't Help It" ... I can't imagine a more appropriate place for Jayne Mansfield than in the titular role for anything.   
Dube  
Gotta agree with you there on that one!   (kk)   

Kent,
Talking about Pete Drake, I also remember a follow-up he had with this talking steel guitar with the  Brenda Lee tune I'M SORRY.
As for the WLS DJ's taping some of their shows on weekends, I remember as a kid listening to Art Roberts on Sunday nights with his HEY BABY! THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG. I was told at the time that was on tape.
Larry 
Drake's version of "I'm Sorry" bubbled under at #122 in Billboard.  Here in Chicago it reached #26.  (kk)


Kent,
After reading Monday's Comments and the Baby Boomer Legends  Concerts Review, here are some items that immediately came to my mind.
I always did like the song LOOK FOR A STAR.  Years ago it was classified, I believe, as the first song to hit the charts that was featured in a horror movie. There were three versions of the song out at the time which you know but I always liked Garry Miles' version best.
The group the Casuals was mentioned. Was this the same group that did SO TOUGH back in 1958? I know they had a followup on Backbeat records but can't think of the title now. I am told sometimes they were known as the ORIGINAL CASUALS.
Dallas Frazier's ELVIRA was very big here in OKC.
Finally, last week a friend of mine came over for a visit and when it was time for her to go, she got her purse and started looking for her (car) keys. She couldn't find them initially. She almost pulled everything out of her purse. Where is Paul Peterson when you need him?
Almost every other posted FH if not every posted FH, I read something that immediately reminds me of a record made years ago that I haven't heard in ages. I don't know if you or your other readers can say this. In Tuesday's FH, you mentioned the high school musical you went to with your daughter playing in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
Kent, I don't know if you remember it, but in 1957 singer Malcolm Dodds had a song called BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (DID THE ROCK AND ROLL). Haven't heard it in years, just got it out and played it as they used to say "one more time". This record definitely was the END of all records.
Larry
Haven't heard of that one ... nor did it chart in Billboard.  All I can say is that Paige did an OUTSTANDING job in the role of Belle ... and then missed a couple of days of school this week, sick as can be.  Thankfully she was in top voice for the performance!
As for a couple of your other mentions, Whitburn's book shows "So Tough" as being by The Original Casuals, stating that the first pressings of the record showed the band as simply The Casuals.  It doesn't list any other charted records by the band.
He also lists FIVE charted versions of "Look For A Star", the biggest hit going to Garry Miles.  (This was one of those where you have to wonder if they intentionally changed an artist's name to add confusion into the mix ... the version by Garry Mills charted at #26 at the same time.  Confused record buyers probably weren't sure WHICH record to buy!  Billy Vaughn, Deane Hawley and Nicky Como also had chart hits with this record. 
And hey, let's feature that Paul Petersen track, shall we???  'Cause you know damn well RADIO ain't gonna play it!!!  (kk)





Here' an interesting link sent in by FH Reader Tom Cuddy regarding a new album that features 31 different versions of the timeless classic "Unchained Melody" ...  http://theseconddisc.com/2014/05/01/i-hunger-for-your-touch-collects-31-recordings-of-unchained-melody-from-elvis-the-righteous-brothers-many-more/
Yep, it seems like this one's been covered by just about everybody over the years ... and there's a wide variety of styles represented here ... but one of MY all-time favorite versions is seems to be missing.  Check out a VERY young LeAnn Rimes (age 13 at the time) and her powerful version from 1995.  (kk)  



And he sent us this one, too, regarding the latest goings-on of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ... apparently still operating as a major profit center for a very select few ...

And one more ... this time a conversation with Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers ...
http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2014/05/06/soul-inspiration-a-conversation-with-bill-medley-of-the-righteous-brothers/?utm_source=May+2014+Issue+Email&utm_campaign=May+2014+Issue&utm_medium=email#sthash.vlRdcQ3I.dpbs  

Hola Kent,
Bueno Cinco De Mayo! 
Regarding the item on the '63 Increase Records album, there was a CD put out for '63 but it was issued by Dunhill as a dual year offering combined with '62. They also had a combo CD for 56-57. There is a third company, G&C Music, that issued a triple CD for '61-'62-'63, with copyright credit to Increase Records.  The kicker with the triple issue is that new Cover Art was added showing Eddie & Peg hugging in front of a Studebaker Avanti. Plus another triple CD was issued for '58-'59-'60, with Eddie & Peg getting ready to go see "The Blob" in a '58 Chevy Impala convertible with Peg begging off since Elvis is on the Ed Sullivan Show ! The triple sets are titled 'Cruisin' Years' and the discs themselves are in the same format as the single Increase issues. The two double year CD's use Dunhill Records on the CD, and preface the title with 'The History of Rock & Roll'.
The original issues were on LP vinyl records.  I am unaware if there were ever cassettes made, but obviously Increase Records, the originator of the series, sold the rights for four years to Dunhill and then six years to G&C Music, maybe due to money or distribution issues.  Nevertheless they offer a terrific glimpse into the Power of the Radio DJ's and the sounds of the times ... and the Jewel Case covers are treat by themselves, chronicling the times.
The CD circulated as 'Cruisin' '63' was of B. Mitchell Reed of WMCA, New York, so the WKBW / Joey Reynolds version noted by reader Clay Pasternack was replaced, obviously due to music rights. I have all the years plus two additional releases named 'Cruisin' Years' and "Cruisin' 1955 - 1960" and the last of the series titled "Cruisin' with Porky Chedwick" with no specific year.
It would be wonderful if Clay could somehow share the songs and promos and commercials from his unissued copy.
Here is a picture of the Cruisin' Series LP Covers.  There used to be a great free site documenting the story, but now it has been replaced by a subscription type site ... I can't blame the guy ... he put a lot of effort into this.  That is basically the entire run.  The covers are wonderful depictions of the current events of the year represented.
Go easy on the Margaritas!
Enjoy,
CharlieOFD



Timeline is a local four-piece band that plays the sixties and seventies like no other band. They know the music very, very well and play it just like the records. Among other big name groups they cover, these guys perform complete Beatles LPs and harmonize just the way the Fab Four did. We've been dancing to them for a few years at various venues around town, and just last night I was chatting with their lead guitarist Bob Wilson and discovered he was originally from Chicago. He's a recently-retired Nashville High School principal. Once I learned he was from Chicago, the ensuing discussion revealed he knew and had worked with nearly every Chicago band member I've ever seen mentioned on FH. He played in bands thru the 1960s and reeled off the names of all the guys from NC6, Shadows, Shames, Bucks, CTA, etc. (He even knew The Robbs from Wisconsin) Bob told me he'd talked with Skip Griparis as recently as last week. He and Skip were in the band Trilogy, which many from Chicago will remember.
They sound great ... Bob Wilson was a latter-day member of The New Colony Six ... one of those "missing links" if you will ... so it's kinda cool to find out where he ended up ... and even cooler that he's still making music (and sounding so good doing it.)  Thanks for sending.
kk  

I think the ideal "solid gold hits" format would be a full comprehensive-playlist type of program featuring top-100+ songs from 1950 through 1989. About 40 years worth of hits, every style and every song ever played on radio at some point during this period (even if only for a week or two).
And supplement the programming with assorted classic B-sides and select non-single album tracks as well.
This way songs like KEY LARGO by Bertie Higgins can be followed up with the likes of SINCE I DON'T HAVE YOU by The Skyliners (for example), and the term "oldies" can apply to all four decades: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Anything 1990 and beyond, make that the responsibility of all the OTHER radio station formats.
Tal Hartsfeld
We did a very lengthy series a couple of years ago on "What Is An Oldie?"  Unfortunately, you're asking for every bit of 15,000 songs to be on the playlist ... and today you won't find many radio stations willing to play 1500.  And, truthfully, a good chunk of this music doesn't hold up very well ... and has disappeared for a reason.  But I firmly believe there is a happy medium to be had ... if only somebody would be willing to hedge their bets long enough to give it a try.  (kk)    

From Frank B:   
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=563328057114002&set=gm.1498639167031545&type=1&theater    

We've run this link before ... but it looks like they've added to their playlist so here it is again for all to enjoy ...  

This is beyond incredible ... for the listener who can relive those wonderful music days of yesteryear... and for the artists and record companies.  
http://www.45rpmdb.com/Top10.html   

And here's another one we ran a short while back (courtesy of Clark Besch):
Oh my God!  Holy Batrope!  Here's 14 window climbing cameos including Dick Clark, Lurch, Colonial Klink and more!  Who the Hell is Susie Knickerbocker??  Apparently, a west coast gossip columnist.
The Dick Clark one would have been better if the Cryan Shames' JC Hooke would have stretched his arm out the window and pulled Dick back in "giving Dick the hook" as he did with the Shames on their never appearing on his shows due to Jim's Hooke!
Clark    

Finally, here's another fun clip sent in by FH Reader Frank B: