Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/31/2010

Golden Hits Radio has just been handed these urgent news bulletins.......

Where In The World Is.......Every Mother's Son?

Formed in New York City in 1967, Every Mother's Son was marketed by their record label, MGM Records, as a clean cut alternative to the hippie bands that were beginning to rule the music charts and radio airwaves at the time (which will become ironic when we get to the "Where Are They Now" part shortly).  The band was composed of two brothers, Dennis and Larry Larden, pianist/organist Bruce Milner, drummer Chris Augustine, and bassist Schuyler Larsen. 

Their one brief fling in the limelight came with a song originally recorded by the Rare Breed.  "Come On Down To My Boat" hit #6 during the "Summer of Love" in July 1967 and led to the band being featured in an episode of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (produced by their record label's sister company, MGM Television) performing the song.  Interestingly, the song is billed under a different title on Every Mother's Son's self-titled debut album.  On the album cover, you'll find the song titled ""Come And Take A Ride In My Boat".  No matter what you call it, the song was a bona fide hit!

Unfortunately, fame would prove fleeting, as subsequent singles and a second album flopped.  By the end of 1968, Every Mother's Son was finished.  Founder Dennis Larden later became a member of Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon Band in the 70's. 

Determining where the entire band is and what they're doing these days has proven difficult, but there are a few clues.  We found no info on Dennis Larden, Schuyer Larsen, and Christopher Augustine.  Remember we said the marketing of Every Mother's Son as a clean cut alternative to the psychedelic-fueled bands of the late 60's would prove to be ironic?  Well, we did track down co-founder Larry Larden via a quote from a blog done by one Stanley Krippner.  Krippner was revisiting a 1969 academic research paper he had done on the effects of hallucenogenic drugs on musical artists who had claimed to have a "psychedelic experience".  Larden was one of his subjects :-)  You can find that blog by clicking here.  As for Bruce Milner, he has taken the path one would expect all former one hit wonders to travel.  He is a member of a vocal group called Baird Hersey and PRANA, specializing in Tibetan Buddhist multiphonic chants and Tuvan throat singing.  They're banking on that genre becoming all the rage among the kids at any moment, and here's their website.

And now we return to an era where Tibetan Buddhist chants and Tuvan throat singing were the farthest thing from Bruce Milner's mind.....well, unless he and Larry Larden headed to the desert with a handful of those "magic mushrooms"......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR2's Burning Question of the Day

Which movie star, former Saturday Night Live cast member, and current TV sitcom star played drums in a band that eventually became Steely Dan?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Bruce Springsteen has written several songs that became hits for other artists in the 70's, including a #1 smash.  Name two.

Answer: Among songs that made the Billboard Top 40, you had three to choose from.  There was Patti Smith's rendition of Bruce's "Because The Night" (#13, 1978), The Pointer Sisters doing "Fire" (#2, 1979), and Bruce's only taste of Number One as either a singer or songwriter, "Blinded By The Light", a song that Bruce performed himself on his debut album ("Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.") that Manfred Mann's Earth Band took to the top in 1977.  ***SIDE NOTE*** Bruce also wrote a Top 40 hit for someone else in the 80's.  The title song from the soundtrack to the movie Light Of Day was a hit for a group billed as The Barbusters (including the movie's stars, Joan Jett & Michael J. Fox) in 1987. 

Monday, August 30, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/30/2010

Golden Hits Radio.....where today's news goes straight to the toilet.......

Where In The World Is.........Robert Knight?

Robert Knight is one of the few artists who always had a fall back plan in case stardom was fleeting.  Born in 1945, his first taste of chart success came as a member of The Paramounts, who had a 1961 R&B hit, "Free Me".  The breakup of the group several years later prompted Knight to return to college at Tennessee State University to study Chemistry.  He continued to dabble in music during his days as an undergrad, forming a group called The Fairlanes.  As a result, he was offered a contract as a solo artist with Nashville-based Rising Sun Records.  Success was almost immediate with a song that has been covered dozens of times by a diverse roster of artists including Carl Carlton, Gloria Estefan, Rex Smith (w/ Rachel Sweet), and U2.  "Everlasting Love" was a Top 20 hit for Robert Knight in 1967, with Carlton taking it to the Top 10 in 1974 and Estefan doing it again in 1995.  

As with many American artists, Knight's star shone brighter in the UK than it did in his homeland.  He only charted 2 more songs after "Everlasting Love" in America, but success in Britain continued throughout the 70's as several other covers of that song became a hit for other artists. 

Today, Robert Knight is primarily involved with the fall back plan.  He returned to a career in chemistry.  While he occasionally records and plays live, he is employed as a chemist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Here's the concoction of elements that made him a star in 1967.........

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Bruce Springsteen has written several songs that became hits for other artists in the 70's, including a #1 smash.  Name two. 

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!

Friday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

In Bobbie Gentry's classic song "Ode To Billie Joe", what was it that the song's "narrator" and Billie Joe McAllister threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge?

Answer: This is the first "trick question" we've given you, although there is at least one answer that could be accepted as being correct.  To this day, Bobbie Gentry has never publicly stated what was thrown off the bridge in any interview or public forum of any sort.  Dozens of theories have been proposed by musicologists over the years, but none that has ever been confirmed by the writer and performer of the song.  Gentry optioned the rights to the song to be made into a 1976 feature film that starred Robby Benson and Glynnis O' Connor and directed by Max Baer, Jr. (Jethro Bodine of The Beverly Hillbillies).  In the film version, a rag doll was the object thrown off the bridge, but once again, Bobbie Gentry distanced herself from that scene indicating it was a liberty taken by the film's writers.  While the "official" answer is that there is no answer, the film based on the song showed a rag doll being thrown off the bridge.  We'll try not to trick you too often from this point on :-)

Friday, August 27, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/27/2010

Here's what's happening in the Golden Hits Radio world........

Where In The World Is.........Peggy March? 

The name on her birth certificate reads "Margaret Annemarie Battavio", but as Peggy March, she remains the youngest female singer ever to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Born March 8, 1948 in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, she was only 14 when "I Will Follow Him" became a smash, also hitting #1 in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Scandinavia.  After two more minor Top 40 hits, she all but disappeared from radio airwaves and record stores in America, but as with other American artists, her career continued to thrive overseas. 

Throughout the 70's and even today, Peggy March is still a major star in Germany......sort of the female David Hasselhoff, if you will.  She has represented Germany in the famous Eurovision Song Contest twice, placing second in both competitions.  A look at her 70's discography shows that most of her music from that era was sung in German. 

Currently, Peggy March is active on the touring circuit, primarily in Las Vegas and at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri.  Her most recent recording activity includes a 2005 standards album, Get Happy, and Meine Liebe ist stark genug in 2008.  In March, she began work on her first album of all original material in English in over 30 years.  Look for Always and Forever in record stores in October 2010.  And catch up with her on her official website here

In the meantime, enjoy the hit that made Peggy March a teen idol, if only for a minute.......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

In Bobbie Gentry's classic song "Ode To Bille Joe", what was it that the song's "narrator" and Billie Joe McAllister threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge? 

Check back Monday (8/30/2010) for the answer (such as it is), and leave a Comment with your best guess!

What was the only song to ever hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 TWICE(Hint.....it happened 2 years apart)

Answer: Chubby Checker's "The Twist"......one week in 1960 and two weeks in 1962.  ***SIDE NOTE***  9 other songs have hit number one twice with versions by 2 different artists.  See the list of those by clicking here

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/26/2010

Golden Hits Radio.....when Oldies news breaks out, we try & determine what caused the rash......

Where In The World Is.......George McCrae?

George McCrae is best known for recording what is arguably the very first Disco song to break through to the mainstream, and certainly the first to hit #1 in Billboard, with "Rock Your Baby" in 1974.  Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, McCrae had been involved in music for several years before ushering in the Disco era and was managing his wife, Gwen McCrae, while picking up some occasional sessions as a background singer.  He was about to return to college to study law enforcement when his world soon changed forever. 

"Rock Your Baby" COULD have been the song that catapulted KC & The Sunshine Band to superstardom about a year before they eventually became a household name.  The song had been written and recorded by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch for their group, but they couldn't hit the high notes the song required.  They originally envisioned the song as a duet w/ George McCrae and his wife, Gwen, but Gwen was late for the recording session, so George flew solo.  To say that the end result was a smash is an understatement.  It hit #1 in the U.S., UK, and EIGHTY other countries.  It was voted Rolling Stone's #1 song of 1974, and it sold 11 million copies worldwide. 

While George McCrae had later success in the UK and throughout Europe, he was never able to duplicate the success of "Rock Your Baby" either domestically or abroad.  He continued recording and touring throughout the 80's as his popularity continued in Europe, and he is still at it in 2010.  He is regularly seen on some of the disco "package" tours in America and throughout Europe, and in 2009 he released a new album, Time For A Change, and single, "It's Been So Long". 

Before there was Tony Manero, the Bee Gees, or Donna Summer, there was George McCrae........... 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

What was the only song to ever hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 TWICE?  (Hint....it happened 2 years apart)

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment here w/ your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

What R&B legend served 3 months in jail for stealing tires in 1960?

Answer: The "Love Maestro", Barry White


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/25/2010

NEWS FLASH FROM GOLDEN HITS RADIO........

Where In The World Is..........Andrew Gold?

Born August 2, 1951 in Burbank, California, Andrew Gold has been one of the most prolific artists in the music business since he began to make a name for himself in the 70's.  Music was "the family business", with his mother being Marni Nixon (who provided singing voices for several actresses in film versions of Broadway musicals, including Natalie Wood in West Side Story) and his father, Ernest Gold, an Academy Award-winning composer. 

Andrew emerged on the music scene in the early 70's as a multi-purpose force behind the success of Linda Ronstadt.  He provided most of the arrangements and played most of the instruments on her Heart Like A Wheel album in 1974 and stayed with her through most of her 70's pop heyday.  He rejoined her for several more stints throughout the 80's and 90's. 

In 1975, Gold spread his wings and flew solo.  His first Top 10 hit in America was "Lonely Boy" in 1977.  His other best known single was only a minor chart hit when it was released in 1978, but it became a classic when it became the theme to the 80's TV sitcom classic, The Golden Girls.  "Thank You For Being A Friend" is now one of the most recognizable songs in the world. 

After the run as a solo artist, Gold has remained one of the busiest figures in the music business, having played with, written songs for, or sang backup for the likes of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Brian Wilson, The Eagles, and Don Henley.  In the 80's, he formed the group Wax with Graham Gouldman (formerly of 10cc).  They had worldwide success but no major radio hits in the U.S.  The 90's saw him perform another TV theme song for what became a long-running hit with "Final Frontier", the theme from Mad About You

Today, Andrew Gold is still making music, with an album due in 2011 that will be his first solo disc in 10 years.  He has also begun directing short films.  He tours occasionally and hits the road to back up other acts, but he has planned a major solo tour in 2011. Find out more about Andrew Gold on his official website by clicking here

He has rarely ever been lonely on a concert stage or in a recording studio, but he knows a thing or two about lonely boys.  Let's hear about them below, shall we?

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

What R&B legend served 3 months in jail for stealing tires in 1960?

Check back w/ Everything Oldies tomorrow for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Who introduced Elton John when he made his American debut at the Troubador nightclub in Los Angeles on August 25, 1970?

Answer: Neil Diamond......they were both recording for Uni Records at the time

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/24/2010

WHAT DO WE WANT?!?!  OLDIES NEWS FROM GOLDEN HITS RADIO!!!  WHEN DO WE WANT IT?!?!? NOW!!!!!!

Where In The World Is.........Gilbert O' Sullivan?

Born Raymond Edward O' Sullivan in 1946, Gilbert O' Sullivan spent several years trying unsuccessfully to break through in Europe as a singer-songwriter.  When that breakthrough occurred, however, he did it right.  A string of worldwide hits began in 1970 with "Nothing Rhymed" and continued for a 3 year span.  Success in the U.S. came with "Alone Again (Naturally)", which hit #1 and stayed there for 6 weeks in 1972.  The song also scored 1973 Grammy nominations for both Song of the Year and Record of the Year.  It also reached the top in Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.  "Clair" and "Get Down" continued O'Sullivan's American hot streak. 

A downturn in his record sales and a prolonged legal battle with his record label over royalties essentially ended Gilbert O' Sullivan's commercial success, but he never stopped recording and writing.  He hit the British charts again as recently as 2004 with a greatest hits compilation, and his most recent single, "Never Say Di", was released in 2008.  If you're a movie and TV buff as well as a music lover, you've certainly heard "Alone Again (Naturally)" at least once over the past few years.  It has been used in blockbuster movies like Ice Age 3, Stuart Little 2, and also in an episode of The Simpsons.

Find out more about what Gilbert O' Sullivan is up to these days on his official website, and enjoy his triumphant U.S. moment in the sun here......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Who introduced Elton John when he made his American debut at the Troubador nightclub in Los Angeles on August 25, 1970?

Come on back to Everything Oldies tomorrow for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess! 

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

As Oldies fans, we know that music STILL sounds best on vinyl, but what album was the very first to be released on CD? (on Oct. 1, 1982 in Japan)

Answer: Billy Joel's "52nd Street"

Monday, August 23, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/23/2010

Golden Hits Radio is back w/ all the Oldies news you can shake a stick at for August 23, 2010......

EVERYBODY Did Disco

Apologies for the brief absence on Friday.  I hate it when a day job gets in the way :-)  Last week, we gave you proof that in its heyday, practically every artist who was currently a fixture on the charts or was looking for a way to get back on the charts gave Disco a shot.  Disco songs by KISS, The Grateful Dead, The Clash, and Frank Sinatra were featured.  Today we turn to one half of a duo whose star had faded by 1979 and whose face still had all its original parts. 

Cher was a household name throughout the 60s and 70s.  Whether it was her stint as one half of the duo w/ her ex-husband, Sonny Bono, or solo with a string of hits and TV specials, Cher had left of trail of chart hits and ratings success on TV.  The late 70s hadn't been so kind, however.  The second go round at a weekly TV series with Sonny (after their divorce) had been cancelled.  A second marriage to rocker Greg Allman was an unmitigated disaster.  On top of that, several albums released between 1975 and 1978 had tanked.  As a result, Disco and Cher was nothing less than a marriage of convenience.  Cher needed a hit, and EVERYONE was making their comeback via Disco.  She signed w/ Casablanca Records, the "go to" Disco label in the 70s with a roster that included Donna Summer and The Village People.  The result was a climb back into the limelight with a Top 10 hit, "Take Me Home"

Further proof that EVERYBODY did Disco at its peak, and a pre-MTV era music video, we present Cher's turn underneath the mirror ball......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

As Oldies fans, we know that music STILL sounds best on vinyl, but what album was the very first to be released on CD? (on Oct. 1, 1982 in Japan)

Check back here @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!

Thursday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

The name on his birth certificate reads "Gil Hamilton".  We know him better as a one hit wonder named........what?

Answer: Johnny Thunder, onetime lead singer of The Drifters who had his one brief fling with chart success with "Loop De Loop" in 1963

 

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/19/2010

When Oldies news breaks, Golden Hits Radio is here to fix it........

EVERYBODY Did Disco!!

Welcome to another installment of EVERYBODY Did Disco, where we salute Disco songs by artists known for everything but Disco.  For all the awful things said about Disco both at its peak and immediately afterward, it's easy to forget that plenty of artists jumped on the bandwagon while it was hot.  So far, we've spotlighted Disco songs by KISS, The Grateful Dead, and The Clash.  Today we head to the opposite end of the spectrum. 

Throughout the 40's and straight through to the birth of rock n' roll, there was no bigger superstar than Frank Sinatra.  The aura that surrounded him in those days followed him throughout the remainder of his life, even as the hits became fewer and further between.  His first career musical valley came as rock & roll began to take over in the early 50's, making him a very outspoken critic of the artists who became a threat to his kingdom for the remainder of his career.  After a creative and commercial rebirth in the 60s, the hits had again stopped coming for the Chairman of the Board.  At this point, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" became his mantra, and he took a ride on the Disco Express reworking one of his old standards. 

Proving yet again that in the late 70's EVERBODY Did Disco, we present Ol' Blue Eyes putting a groovy spin on a classic.......

Come see us again tomorrow @ Everything Oldies, and prepare to be shocked by who gave Disco a shot! 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

The name on his birth certificate reads "Gil Hamilton".  We know him better as a one hit wonder named........what?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

On March 12, 1974, John Lennon & Harry Nilsson were thrown out of the Troubador in L.A. for heckling which legendary standup comic?

Answer: Tommy Smothers (of The Smothers Brothers)

 

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/18/2010

This just in @ Golden Hits Radio...........

EVERYBODY Did Disco!!

This week, Everything Oldies reminds you that EVERYBODY did Disco in its heyday.....including the very last people you'd ever expect.  So far, we've spotlighted Disco songs by KISS and The Grateful Dead.  Today, we move even further away from the "typical" Disco act. 

The Clash were at the forefront of punk rock in the late 70's, and at their peak, they were referred to by fans as "The Only Band That Matters".   Their songs evoked a much angrier, louder Bob Dylan.  Disco might have been the last place you'd think they'd be hanging around, but the lure of the polyester suit was just too great, prompting The Clash to record "The Magnificent Seven" in 1980.  The song was a Top 20 U.S. Disco chart hit in Billboard in early 1982. 

Proving once again that, at its height, EVERYBODY did at least one Disco song, we offer more proof from "The Only Band That Matters".......

Which unsuspecting superstar will be the victim of tomorrow's edition of EVERYBODY Did Disco?  Come back to find out, and in the meantime (***GIANT HINT COMING***) start spreadin' the news about Everything Oldies @ Golden Hits Radio!

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

On March 12, 1974, John Lennon & Harry Nilsson were thrown out of the Troubador in L.A. for heckling which legendary standup comic?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question of the Day

Which classic "summer song" was originally titled "Switchblade"?

Answer: "Wipeout"

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/17/2010

If it's happening in Oldies, you'll hear it FIRST @ Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......

EVERYBODY Did Disco!!

This week, to demonstrate the power of disco at its peak in the late 70's, Everything Oldies is shining the spotlight on Disco songs done by artists who you'd never have expected to succumb to the influence of the mirror ball.  In spite of the critical beating and eventual fan backlash that Disco inspired, there was no denying that it was making cash registers ring at record stores across the country.  Artists who were known for everything BUT Disco eventually took note, and eventually Disco songs came from the unlikeliest of sources.  Yesterday, we featured KISS's 1979 hit, "I Was Made For Lovin' You".  Today, we look to the Haight-Ashbury District.....

The Grateful Dead were already well-established rock superstars by 1978.  They emerged from the Woodstock generation, and by the late 70's they had gained a reputation as one of the best live acts of all-time with a fanatical cult following.  In spite of raking in the bucks with concert tours, however, the band never really had a studio album hailed by critics in the same way many of their colleagues did.  They also had never had a Top 40 pop hit up to that time.  The Dead constantly experimented with new styles and sounds in the studio, so perhaps it was inevitable that at Disco's apex, they would give it a shot and see if it stuck. 

Written by the group's leader and lead singer, Jerry Garcia, and Robert Hunter, here's The Dead's shot at becoming kings of the discotheque.......the title song from their 1978 album Shakedown Street..........

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Which classic "summer song" was originally titled "Switchblade"?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

What was the advance price for a ticket to Woodstock in 1969?

Answer: $6.00, or if you had a wild hair and just made the road trip at the spur of the moment, $8.00 at the door

 

 

Monday, August 16, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/16/2010

Stand by for news from Golden Hits Radio!

EVERYBODY Did Disco!! 

We begin a weeklong tribute to disco by spotlighting some of the artists who weren't exactly considered "disco", either during or after the height of the era in the late 70's and early 80's.  For all the critical beating disco took in its heyday, at its peak just about any and every artist even loosely associated with pop music did at least one song that could was thoroughly and completely disco.  Mick Jagger was an unabashed disco fan and regular at the one hotspot most closely associated with the era, New York's "Studio 54", so it's no surprise that The Rolling Stones had 2 #1 smashes that were unashamedly disco....."Miss You" in 1978 and "Emotional Rescue" in 1980.......in spite of their moniker as The World's Greatest Rock N' Roll Band.  Disco provided a train for some artists to ride back onto the charts after many years absent, i.e. Ethel Merman and Frank Sinatra.  This week the spotlight shines on the artists who temporarily sold their soul to the disco ball.........

KISS might have wanted to "Rock and Roll All Night" in "Detroit Rock City", but in 1979 when the band released their album "Dynasty", they were clearly under the "Saturday Night Fever" spell.........

Who will be exposed as the next unlikely act who did disco tomorrow w/ "EVERYBODY Did Disco"?  Check back tomorrow, and prepare to be shocked! :-) 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question Of The Day

What was the advance ticket price for a ticket to Woodstock in 1969?

Check back @ Everything Oldies tomorrow for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!

Thursday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

What double album, released in 1976, was marketed and sold for only one dollar (U.S.) more than the list price of a single album at that time?

Answer: "Frampton Comes Alive" by Peter Frampton.  It was released with a list price of just $7.98.  Most standard single albums in 1976 had a suggested retail price of $6.98. 

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/12/2010

Golden Hits Radio has just been handed these urgent news bulletins........

Where In The World Is......Peter McCann?

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Peter McCann had a hand in two huge hits in the 70's.  He has been, and continues to be, a prolific songwriter, which brought him success in early 1977 with Jennifer Warnes' hit "Right Time Of The Night".  Three months later, he took a turn behind the mic and scored a Top 5 hit of his own, "Do You Wanna Make Love?".  While there seems to be no doubt about the innuendo of this song, a closer look at the lyrics reveals it isn't quite as much about "one night stands" as you might think......"You can take it seriously/Or take it somewhere else".  As the story goes, the idea for the song came as McCann and a friend were in a bar and noted the promiscuous nature of the place.

McCann lives in Nashville, Tennessee these days, and remains an active songwriter.  He also appears frequently around Nashville at songwriters' seminars.  

And now, for the musical question that captivated record buyers and radio listeners in 1977......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

What double album, released in 1976, was marketed and sold for only one dollar (U.S.) more than the list price of a single album at that time?

Check back @ Everything Oldies on Monday (8/16/2010) for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess! 

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) Of The Day

A character actress named Kathryn Minner instantly became one of the most famous "characters" in rock and roll history when she posed for what album cover (and later a series of Dodge TV commercials)?

Answer: Jan & Dean's "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena"

Everything Oldies is taking a brief vacation, but we'll be back on Monday (8/12/2010).  Look for a new feature that we like to call "EVERYBODY Did Disco!", where we spotlight very unlikely rock, pop, and other artists who did at least one disco song during its 70's halcyon days.  Prepare to be shocked!! :-)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/11/2010

Golden Hits Radio's News of the Day

Where In The World Is............Lou Christie? 

Born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, Lou Christie had a string of hits in the 60's, peaking with the #1 "Lightnin' Strikes" in 1966.  The song almost ended up in a wastebasket @ Christie's label, MGM Records, but became a worldwide smash, also hitting #1 in Canada & going Top 20 in Britain.  After "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" hit the Top 10 in 1969, Christie hit the skids both personally and professionally.  

Christie spent most of the 70's in England, recording only sporadically and battling drug addiction.  After finally getting clean, he spent most of the 80's doing various odd jobs, including ranch hand, offshore oil driller, and carnival barker.  Music was in his blood, however, and he resumed active concert touring in the late 80's.  He occasionally records, and is a mainstay on the concert circuit throughout the U.S. and England. 

From a gig in Staten Island, New York in 2009..........

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

A character actress named Kathryn Minner instantly became one of the most famous "characters" in rock and roll history when she posed for what album cover (and later a series of Dodge TV commercials)? 

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Which group has the longest name that does NOT contain a vowel?

Answer: Lynyrd Skynyrd 

 

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/10/2010

Here's what's making news @ Golden Hits Radio.........

Oldies on TV

  • Steve Winwood - The Late Show with David Letterman - CBS
  • It's "pledge drive" time on your local PBS station, and many are showing some fantastic Oldies programming, including Magic Moments: The Best of 50's Pop and Ed Sullivan's Rock and Roll Classics -- check your local listings for times and stations
  • VH1 Classic One Hit Wonders - VH1 Classic - 10 p.m. Eastern, 9 p.m. Central

Where In The World Is.........Vanity Fare?

Vanity Fare is a UK pop group formed in 1966.  They had a few minor British pop hits in their early years, but by 1970 they had successfully crossed the pond and charting hits in America.  Ironically, their biggest UK hit, "Early In The Morning", peaked at #12 in the U.S., but their biggest American hit, "Hitchin' A Ride", went as high as #5 but stalled at #16 in Britain. 

Following a series of failed singles both here and abroad, the band decided to concentrate on live performing in the mid-70's.  The lineup of the band changed constantly, and recording was sporadic.  In 1986 they entered the famed Eurovision Song Contest, placing 3rd with a song called "Dreamer". 

Vanity Fare remains active on the touring circuit today.  You can find out more on the band's official website here

From a vintage episode of Top of the Pops in 1970.......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Which group has the longest name that does NOT contain a vowel?

Check back @ Everything Oldies tomorrow for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

What was the first CD to sell a million copies?

Answer: "Brothers In Arms" by Dire Straits

 

Monday, August 9, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/9/2010

Golden Hits Radio........Dateline: Oldies

Where In The World Is.......The Murmaids? 

The Murmaids were a trio consisting of 2 sisters, Carol and Terry Fischer, and Sally Gordon.  Hailing from Los Angeles, their one brief shining moment in the spotlight came with "Popsicles and Icicles" in 1964.  It hit #3 in Billboard, and their lack of a follow up hit might best be described as a case of bad timing.  The #1 song when "Popsicles" peaked was a little tune called "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by a group you might have heard a thing or two about, ushering in the British Invasion.   

They recorded an album following the success of "Popsicles" that was never released.  The group's label, Chattahoochee Records, carried on the Murmaids name without any of the three original group members participating.  Terry Fischer and Sally Gordon went to college, and Carol Fischer continued high school.  Terry later became a successful background vocalist, making numerous television appearances and recording as a member of the Carnival featuring former vocalists for Sergio Mendes.  In 1998, the Fischer sisters reformed The Murmaids with a new third wheel, Cynthia Perry.  They recorded and released a CD, and they still actively tour.  Find out more about The Murmaids on their website here

Enjoy a sample of The Murmaids' wares..........

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

What was the first CD to sell a million copies?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment to take your best guess!! 

Friday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Who were the biggest female solo artist, male solo artist, and group of the 70s?

Answer: Olivia Newton-John, Elton John, and The Bee Gees

 

Friday, August 6, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/6/2010

Golden Hits Radio's Top Stories At This Hour.......

Where In The World Is.........Jimmy Clanton? 

Jimmy Clanton holds a unique distinction in rock n' roll history.  He is the first, and probably only, "swamp pop R&B teen idol".  Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Clanton was one of the biggest teen hitmakers of the late 50's and early 60's.  Signed to Ace Records in 1957, his first hit for the label, "Just A Dream", hit #4 in 1958.  Subsequent Top 10 hits included "Go, Jimmy, Go" and "Venus In Blue Jeans", which became a hit while Clanton was serving a stint in the U.S. Army. He also made the transition to actor in Go Johnny Go (produced by Alan Freed) and Teenage Millionaire. 

Since the early 60's, Jimmy Clanton has continued making music and moved into several side projects, including a 4-year run as a DJ in Columbia, Pennsylvania in the 70's.  The past few years have brought enshrinement into The Museum of the Gulf Coast Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Tex Ritter, B.J. Thomas, Janis Joplin, and ZZ Top.  April 2007 brought induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, and December 2007 saw Clanton put into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.  He and his wife, Roxanne, have authored a wellness program called HardCore Health, and you can read an e-column he writes regularly at MyBestYears.com.  He also continues to perform regularly.  Find out more at Jimmy Clanton's official website.  And hear one of his classics right here.........

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Who were the biggest female solo artist, male solo artist, and group of the 70s?

Come back and join us @ Everything Oldies for the answer on Monday (8/9/2010)

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

We mentioned Gary Lewis & The Playboys being one of only two acts in the 60's to have their first seven singles make the Billboard Top 10.  Who was the other?

Answer: The Lovin' Spoonful

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/5/2010

And this is the way it is @ Golden Hits Radio........

Where In The World Is..........Gary Lewis & The Playboys? 

Gary Lewis didn't start in the music business seeking to be the beneficiary of nepotism, but it eventually found him.  While successfully keeping his pedigree as the son of Jerry Lewis while auditioning with his band, The Playboys, to perform regularly at Disneyland, eventually his dad's celebrity connections got him a recording session (financed by his mother, Patti) and a slot on "The Ed Sullivan Show".  That was enough to propel their first single, "This Diamond Ring", to #1 in 1965.  A long string of hits followed, as Gary Lewis & The Playboys became one of only two acts in the 60's to have their first seven singles make the Billboard Top 10.  Their last Top 40 hit was a cover of Brian Hyland's "Sealed With A Kiss" in 1968. 

After the chart run ended, Gary Lewis & The Playboys remained active in the music business, with Gary routinely appearing on his father's annual Labor Day telethons for muscular dystrophy and constant touring.  They are fixtures on the concert circuit today.  You can discover more about what Gary Lewis & The Playboys are up to these days on their official website by clicking here

From a "Shindig!" appearance in 1965...........

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question Of The Day

We mentioned Gary Lewis & The Playboys being one of only two acts in the 60's to have their first seven singles make the Billboard Top 10.  Who was the other?

Check back with Everything Oldies tomorrow for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your guess!!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) Of The Day

What #1 cover song from 1974 emerged as the result of one of the band's jam sessions?

Answer: Grand Funk Railroad's smash version of "The Loco Motion" 

 

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Today In Oldies 8/4/2010

All the news that's fit to link @ Golden Hits Radio............

Where In The World Is..........The Human Beinz? 

The Human Beinz were a band formed in Youngstown, Ohio.  They began as The Premiers in 1964, and in 1966 became The Human Beingz.  They were primarily a cover band until 1968, when they found a hit and a rather inadvertent name change. 

Upon signing with Capitol Records, the pressing of their first single, "Nobody But You" (originally recorded by The Isley Brothers), had their name misspelled as "The Human Beinz".  The label agreed to change the name if the song didn't prove to be a hit.  The blessing proved to be mixed for the group, as the song hit #8 in January 1968, meaning the label kept the name much to the band's chagrin.  Without a follow up hit, the band disintegrated the following year. 

Several creative uses of "Nobody But You" including a TV commercial (Philadelphia Cream Cheese) and a movie (Kill Bill, Vol. 1 and The Departed) put the band's name back into public awareness.  The band has reunited and is currently touring actively and recording an album of 60's covers.  Last week, they appeared at one of the biggest annual Oldies events, the "Night of 100 Rock Stars" in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 

For lack of any archival footage, here's a very primitive YouTube clip featuring the Beinz and their moment in the sun......

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question Of The Day

What #1 cover song from 1974 emerged as the result of one of the band's jam sessions?

Come back tomorrow for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!! 

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) Of The Day

Which 60's pop classic has been covered by a diverse group of artists including Ike & Tina Turner, Bob Marley, Tom Jones, and Wilson Pickett?

Answer: "Sugar, Sugar"

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Golden Hits Radio......Growing Like A Weed!!!

In just 3 short months, Golden Hits Radio has EXPLODED!!!  We now have listeners in 80 countries, and the buzz continues!!  First and foremost, THANK YOU for listening!  YOU are the reason we're here and the reason we do what we do.  And now the word is spreading.  Below is an interview with our fearless leader, Richard Weirich ("Burt") that appears on Tun3r, a fantastic website featuring radio stations from around the world, both AM/FM and internet only stations.   Thanks to Neil Hepburn for the shout out!! 
*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************
The "Oldies" radio format has been steadily growing in popularity over the past few years (boomers anyone?).  Here in Toronto, there are nearly as many Oldies stations as there are Top 40 stations, and you can now find them on the FM dial (they used to be the mainstay of the AM band).  The format itself has expanded mainly due to the passage of time; seventies weren't oldies in the eighties - but they are now!

 

Which brings me to the recently launched Golden Hits Radio (GHR).  While you won't hear GHR on any AM/FM tuner (it's a pure Internet radio station), it is in its own way more authentic than your typical Oldies station.  What makes GHR such a joy to listen to - apart from excellent audio quality, song selection, DJing, and no commercials - is that it is brought to you by legendary radio personalities "Burt and Kurt".  While I didn't grow up listening to "Burt and Kurt", those of you from Florida, Texas, Alabama, or Mississippi will like know who I'm talking about.  The duo are famous for such characters as: Uncle Mack; Red Wood; Lonnie "The Beautiful Dude" Bumpus Jones; the Maha Richci Yogo Fogi Nanana Fanna Go Fogi; and many more.

 

I caught up with Richard Weirich (the "Burt" half of "Burt and Kurt") - an accomplished voice actor for this exclusive TUN3R interview.

 

Neil: Richard, thanks very much for taking the time to participate in this interview.  On the Golden Hits Radio web site you mention that GHR is very much a "labor of love" and an outlet for your passion of music programming.  Can you elaborate on that and describe how GHR got started?

 

Richard:  For nearly 40 years radio was my livelihood as well as being something that I loved dearly.  More than a vocation radio is my passion which is why I launched Golden Hits Radio.  I love music and the art of radio programming.  It is something that I just have to do.

 

A while back I had a business called the Radio Format Factory in which I developed automation formats for radio stations.  The radio company that I worked for took exception to my side business and ordered me to shut it down.  Consequently, when I parted ways with terrestrial radio I still had the equipment and the music library which provided the foundation for Golden Hits Radio.

 

Neil: I've been listening to your station for the past week, and it's a remarkably well programmed.  The song selection, transitions, and overall mix are superb.  To my ear GHR is a prime example of how a great DJ can elevate the listening experience.  What's your secret?  Is there any advice you can pass on to younger DJs?

 

Richard:  You're very kind.  Obviously years of experience in radio programming dictates much of my programming philosophy.  But I also have a basic belief that radio killed radio.  I don't think the demon was satellite radio but the poor choices made by corporate radio.  Short playlists and cramming the same music down listeners throats was a recipe for disaster....especially when programming to adults.  The basic formula for oldies stations was to play a handful of oldies (usually 200 - 300).  The emphasis was not on "what to play" but... "what not to play."  There is no wonder that IPods and MP3 players were so successful.  Radio drove them away. 

 

Golden HIts Radio (http://goldenhitsradio.com) is programmed with the expectation that oldies listeners want more variety and less repetion.    The art is in assembling so many different kinds of sounds from a massive music library and making it all fit together in an entertaining and enjoyable music mix.

 

Internet radio is much like radio in the 60s and 70s.  Back then you started at a small town radio station, made your mistakes, developed your craft, and moved onto bigger and better radio markets.  Your best teacher was the school of hard knocks.  The best advice that I know for anyone trying to make it as a DJ is to be your own best self and don't be afraid to take some chances.  Learn your craft and always strive to stay relevant.

 

Neil: Apart from being a program director, you're also a seasoned voice actor.  How did you discover this talent of yours?  Was there someone from your youth that inspired you?

 

Richard:  Actually voice talent (http://richardvoicetalent.com) goes back to my childhood.  As long as I can remember I liked to read out loud.  Oddly, I have always been uncomfortable with my voice and I suppose it comes from being a perfectionist.  I still haven't had my best recording session.  I suppose that when that day comes it will be time to retire.

 

Neil: You have helped create such characters as Uncle Mack and Red Wood?  How do you come up with new voices and characters?

 

Richard:  All the voices, except mine, were created by my longtime radio partner, Kurt Kilpatrick.  He and I first teamed up in Jackson, Mississippi.  He is the most talented individual I have ever encountered in radio.  We first teamed up in 1974 and even to this day he still cracks me up.  Most of the characters were based on real people.  Before Kurt and I teamed up he was a tv news reporter.  Uncle Mack was based on an old gentleman that Kurt interviewed.  Red Wood was derived from a boss he had in one of his first jobs.

 

Neil: Can you tell me about the "Kurt" half of "Kurt and Burt".  How did you form your partnership?

 

Richard:  Kurt is a very successful motivational/humorist speaker.(http://kurtkilpatrick.com).   We first met in 1974 when Kurt had a record produced featuring his impressions and comedy and brought it by the radio station to see if I would play it.  I liked what I heard and invited Kurt to join me on my show as a guest.  That morning the phones rang off the wall from listeners who loved what they were hearing.  Shortly after I offered him a job....and fortunately for me he accepted. 

 

Neil: When is the best time to listen to GHR?  Are there any shows or sketches where we can hear your voice characters?

 

Richard:  Every hour is consistently the same.  There is no dayparting due to an international audience.  It's always prime time somewhere.  We still have yet to add live talent.  That's coming in about a month when we will be joined by Shane Wison, Scott Evans, and Dave Mack.  All of them are seasoned radio veterans and share a common love for good radio.  As far as the return of Burt and Kurt I am still uncertain how I want to handle that.  I don't know how heavy doses of personality will work with the flow of Golden Hits Radio.  I am leaning toward offering Burt and Kurt personality breaks in a podcast format.  That way listeners can hear us when they want and we won't get in the way of the music.  We recently recorded some new material that I will soon make available at our website (http://goldenhitsradio.com)

 

Neil: You've been on air since 1974.  I'm sure you've met some interesting characters and have had some interesting moments.  Are there any characters or stories that stand out for you?

 

Richard:  Actually....I first broke into radio in Norfolk, Virginia at WCPK in 1970.  '74 was the year that I teamed up with Kurt.  Indeed there have been many interesting people and situations encountered along the way.  I am reminded of an incident involving a DJ who worked at WSGN in Birmingham about 1973.  He did the all night show and would occasionally bring his german shepherd to work.  The station was located in the 21st story penthouse of the City Federal Building.  There was a fenced walkway around the penthouse and he would let his dog get some excercise in the late night air.  Most often he would clean up the dog's residue and carry it out in a plastic bag.  One night....for whatever reason....he decided to heave the mess over the wall.  Upon leaving the building he was greeted by a startled paper delivery man who was cursing like a sailor about being hit by droppings from a huge bird.

 

At WJDX in Jackson, MS....I was listening one night when our station went off the air.  I began to call the air talent on the hotline trying to find out what had happened but there was no answer.  Frustrated at not knowing what was going on I drove to the station to get the answer.  Prior to arriving we came back on the air but I completed the drive to make certain that everything was OK.  The DJ was quick to apologize and told the stoary of how he had to leave the controls because a naked girl was climbing our station tower and he took it upon himself to rescue her.  As it turned out she was the daughter of one of Jackson's most prominant attorneys.  I feared reperucussions but fortunately there weren't any.

 

Another story that comes to mind....the program director that hired me at WIST in Charlotte, NC preceded me on the air...which was not a problem....except for the pet boa constrictor that he brought to work with him.  The boa rested securely around his neck while he played the hits.  I refused to go into the studio until he and his friend left the room.

 

There are many cherished friendships and memories from my radio past.  It all went by so fast. 

 

Neil: Do you have a favourite song?  Or is there a song which you feel exemplifies Golden Hits Radio?

 

Richard:  I have so many favorite songs it would be impossible to single out just one but a song that kind of catches the essence of Golden Hits Radio is Rock and Roll Heaven by the Righteous Brothers.

 

Neil:  Where do you see Golden Hits Radio going?  Is your vision complete, or do you see evolving?

 

Richard:  Golden Hits Radio still has a long way to go.  We've been on the air less than three months so there's a lot of growing to do.  My vision involves getting GHR played wherever there is a potential audience.  That means staying on top of the technology.  I also forsee branching into other niche formats.  The biggest challenge is generating enough income to keep the project moving forward.  I remain committed to commercial and subscription free radio.   Radio has given me so much and now I want to give back to the great listeners who have made it all possible.

Today in Oldies 8/3/2010

****BREAKING NEWS****

Moving now across the Golden Hits Radio ticker tape.........

Oldies on TV tonight

  • 'The David Cassidy Story' - VH1 Classic - 8 p.m. (Eastern)

Where In The World Is.........Mouth & MacNeal?

Mouth (real name: Willem Duyn) and MacNeal (real name: Sjoukje van't Spijker) were a pop duo from the Netherlands whose 15 minutes of U.S. fame came with their million selling and Top 10 hit, "How Do You Do", in 1972.  They represented the Netherlands several times in the famed Eurovision Song Contest that produced ABBA. 

By 1974, their time as a duo was done.  Mouth continued recording with his wife under the name Big Mouth & Little Eve, and MacNeal began a solo career, entering the Eurovision Song Contest representing the Netherlands again in 1980.  Both members continued recording as participants in various solo and group projects over the years.  

Mouth died of a heart attack December 4, 2004.  MacNeal recently reformed Mouth and MacNeal with Arie Ribbens replacing Duyn.

They may sound like a couple of personal injury lawyers and not a musical duo, but here is their one brief shining moment of American chart glory.......

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question Of The Day

Which 60's pop classic has been covered by a diverse group of artists including Ike & Tina Turner, Bob Marley, Tom Jones, and Wilson Pickett?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a Comment with your best guess!! 

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) Of The Day

What was the original title of Gladys Knight & The Pips' "Midnight Train To Georgia"?

Answer: "Midnight Plane To Houston" -- The song's writer, Jim Weatherly, recorded the song with the original title prior to changing it for Cissy Houston, who had an R&B hit prior to Gladys Knight & The Pips turning it into a pop classic.  It was based on a phone conversation he had with none other than Farrah Fawcett, who had just begun dating Lee Majors ("The Six Million Dollar Man", "The Fall Guy").  The couple was used as the " title characters" in the song.