Today In Oldies 11/1/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.....starting a brand new week with brand new Oldies news!

• A soul legend passed last week
• Who's the latest to get his face on a coin in the UK?
• Which music legend (and die hard San Francisco Giants fan) led the crowd in one of his signature songs during Game 5 of the National League Championship Series?

Where In The World Is........Starland Vocal Band? 

Do you remember who the nominees for Best New Artist were at the 1977 Grammy Awards?  There was a group who went on to have the biggest selling debut album of all-time at one point (Boston), an R&B act who had a highly successful five year run on the U.S. pop charts (The Brothers Johnson), a British one hit wonder (Wild Cherry), and a funk band whose output consisted of a dance chart hit (Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band).  The winner, however, began a phenomenon known as the "Best New Artist Curse", which states that the Best New Artist winner fades into obscurity and never heard from again.  Such was the fate of the Starland Vocal Band. 

The group formed in the 70's, and at one time consisted of two married couples.  Their original name was "Fat City", a duo consisting of husband and wife Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert.  Their claim to fame prior to forming Starland Vocal Band was co-writing a classic for John Denver, "Take Me Home, Country Roads".  Denver returned the favor by signing them to his record label, Windsong Records.  They eventually teamed up with another couple who would eventually marry, Jon Carroll and Margot Chapman. 

In 1976, a seemingly innocent sounding song that hid a rather suggestive message became their signature.  The first single from their self-titled debut album, "Afternoon Delight" hit #1 in the U.S. and became one of the biggest selling singles of the year.  Along with the dreaded Best New Artist Grammy, they were nominated for four more, winning also for Best Pop Vocal Arrangement.  In those days, an unwritten rule stated that once you had a hit song, you were given your own prime time TV variety show.  The Starland Vocal Band got theirs in the summer of 1977 on CBS that ran six weeks and featured a then-unknown comedian who would become a superstar on that same network sixteen years later, David Letterman.

Follow up efforts went nowhere for Starland Vocal Band.  By 1981, the two married couples decided to split up both as husband and wife AND as a group.  For years afterward, they were the butt of many a pop culture joke, but the 90's made all things 70's cool again.  As a result, "Afternoon Delight" has had a major rebirth on radio and in pop culture, most notably in a hilarious scene in the movie Anchorman.  Group members embarked on individual solo careers and have remained active in the music business, and you can read more about Bill Danoff and Jon Carroll on their official websites by clicking on their names. 

From VH1's "8 Track Flashback"..........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

What was the last instrumental hit to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100?

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

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

If you had bought a record from one of Motown's signature acts under their original name, the label would have read "The Primettes".  By what name do we know them better?

Answer: The Primettes eventually became............The Supremes! 

Today In Oldies 10/29/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......where Oldies news comes first!

• The Beach Boys......most famous lip syncers since Milli Vanilli?
• One of TV's greatest sidekicks has left us (and he actually once had a record deal)
• Wanna fly over Wayne Newton's palatial Las Vegas estate?  You'll have to wait a while. 
• Who's the latest group to have their lives recounted on the Broadway stage?
• Two music legends receive a very unique honor

Where In The World Is........Mr. Mister?

It takes guts for anyone to turn down TWO different offers to join one of two of music's biggest bands as lead singer, especially when it involves remaining in a band who hadn't yet had a hit.  Richard Page took the gamble and said no to replace Bobby Kimball as lead singer of Toto in 1984, and later, he said "no thanks" to replace Peter Cetera as frontman for Chicago.  He chose to stick with the band he formed in 1980, Mr. Mister.  It was a big risk, but a year later, there would be a big payoff. 

Mr. Mister was formed in Phoenix, Arizona in the late 70's.  The founding members were Page and Steve George.  The two had already carved out successful careers as songwriters and background vocalists, working for a wide range of artists including Michael Jackson, Kenny Loggins, Laura Branigan, and The Village People.  By 1984, they picked up additional members Steve Farris and Pat Mastelotto and released their first album, "I Wear The Face".  The album sold poorly and failed to produce a hit single, but Richard Page's vocal work didn't go unnoticed.  He received the offers to join both Toto and Chicago and turned them down.  Just as everyone began to think Richard Page had made a huge mistake, success came in a big way. 

The band's second album, "Welcome To The Real World", proved to be their breakthrough.  The first two singles, "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie", were chart topping smashes in the U.S. and Canada and Top 10 hits around the globe.  The third single, "Is It Love", also hit the U.S. Top 10, peaking at #8.  The music videos for those songs aired in heavy rotation on MTV, and along with platinum sales for the album came 2 Grammy nominations. 

Success would prove to be short-lived for Mr. Mister, however.  The follow up album, "Go On", produced only one minor Top 40 hit ("Something Real").  Before recording was finished on their fourth album, "Pull", they were dropped by RCA Records, leaving the album unreleased to this day.  By 1989, Mr. Mister was finished. 

The end of the band did not mean the end of careers for the members of Mr. Mister.  Richard Page has released several solo albums and one album with a new band, Third Matinee, in 1994.  He has also written several hit songs for other artists.  Steve George has served as musical director for both Kenny Loggins and Jewel.  Steve Farris has worked with a diverse roster of artists as session player, writer, and background vocalist.  Pat Mastelotto has also worked with an extensive group of artists and, since 1994, has been a member of progressive rock pioneers King Crimson.  Mr. Mister has also been brought back to the top of the public's mind by being mentioned in the 2009 pop smash "Hey Soul Sister" by Train. 

Translated from Greek as "Oh Lord, Have Mercy", here was the moment where lightning struck twice for Mr. Mister........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

If you had bought a record from one of Motown's signature acts under their original name, the label would have read "The Primettes".  By what name do we know them better? 

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

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

Which group took their name from an unemployment form in their native country?

Answer: In the UK, the initial form you file to receive unemployment benefits is "Unemployment Benefits Form 40", or...................UB40! 

 

 

 

Today In Oldies 10/28/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies......Oldies news you need to know!

• Can't believe it took this long......a full length feature film based on one of the greatest music videos of all time!
• Yoko Ono might break up supergroups, but she DOES NOT sweat (according to her late husband)!
• A rather amusing list of 10 lessons to be learned from Keith Richards' autobiography
• Apparently rock stars have the same problems flying that civilians do
• The son of a legend who passed on The Day The Music Died discusses carrying on his father's legacy in an extraordinary interview

Where In The World Is......Gino Vannelli?
 
Music was in Gino Vannelli's blood from birth.  Born to a big band musician father, he developed a passion for multiple genres of music, and by the end of his high school years, he had scored a major label record deal with RCA!  While that deal unfortunately exposed him to everything bad about the music business, leaving him broke and desperate, his perseverance provided a rare second chance most artists never get.   

After an unsuccessful stint in New York, Gino and his brother, Joe, set out for Los Angeles to try and reverse their musical misfortune.  Down to their last five dollars and having been rejected by every major label in town, they were down to one last hope.  The Vannelli brothers camped out outside the offices of A&M Records one morning checking for any sign they could find of label head Herb Alpert.  Seeing him walk through the parking lot, Gino Vannelli made it past a security guard and begged a slightly apprehensive Alpert to give him an audition.  Alpert told him to return later that afternoon.  After playing a few of his songs acoustically for Alpert, including the one that would become his first American hit, he was signed instantly to A&M!

That was 1973, and Gino Vannelli's first album hit later that year, and his first hit single came a year later and brought a rather interesting distinction with it.  "People Gotta Move" hit #22 in the U.S. in 1974, and it got him an invitation to appear on Soul Train.  He became only the second white artist to perform on the show up to that point (the first had been Dennis Coffey in 1971).  Several more albums for A&M failed to produce a hit single, but the big one finally came in 1978.

Vannelli's album "Brother To Brother" spawned "I Just Wanna Stop", which elevated his career to a new level.  It was a Top 5 smash, hitting #4 in the U.S. and topping the charts in his native Canada.  It also brought him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Performance and a truckload of Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys.

He signed with Arista Records in 1980, and after some time off, his first album for the label produced another Top 10 hit.  "Living Inside Myself" earned Gino Vannelli another Grammy nomination and hit #6 in 1981.  He hit the American charts one last time with "Hurts To Be In Love" in 1985, peaking at #6 on the Adult Contemporary charts.

The end of Gino Vannelli's run on the charts certainly didn't signify the end of his career.  He has successfully ventured into several other musical genres, including jazz and opera.  His foray into classical music produced a song called "Parole per Mio Padre" ("A Word To My Father"), a song that got him an invitation from the Vatican to perform for Pope John Paul II.  He has also dabbled in poetry, publishing a book of poems to accompany his 2009 CD, "A Good Thing".  When asked to provide liner notes for a CD of his re-recorded hits earlier this year, they ultimately became a separate book entitled Stardust In The Sand.  The final chapter, Godlings and Feet of Clay, describes Vannelli's encounters with some of music's biggest superstars, including Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, and Sting.

In 1978, aspiring musicians were probably describing their encounter with Gino Vannelli after he arrived as a star........



Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which group took their name from an unemployment form in their native country?

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

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

"Hungry Heart" was Bruce Springsteen's first Top 5 hit in 1981, but he originally wrote it for someone else.  To which band did he intend to give "Hungry Heart" before being advised by his manager to keep it?

Answer: The Ramones

Today In Oldies 10/27/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.....spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of Oldies news!

• Madonna expands her business empire
• We don't yet know who will be in charge of Michael Jackson's estate, but we now know who won't be
• Keeping it in the Jackson family, Janet says she's not about to walk the aisle soon
• For the second time, health forces Aretha Franklin offstage
• They seem like odd bedfellows, but just exactly how did Elton John and Rush Limbaugh get along when Elton played Rush's wedding recently?
• Just in time to capitalize on his 70th birthday, new never before seen photos of John Lennon are released

Where In The World Is.......Norman Greenbaum?

If you're gonna be a one hit wonder, make sure that one hit is big enough that you'll never have to work again if you don't care to.  That's the route Norman Greenbaum took, and his one hit is one of the most played songs of all time from radio to commercials to movies to TV! 

Born in Malden, Massachusetts, Norman Greenbaum studied music at Boston University.  His first taste of national success came in 1968 with a novelty record done under the name Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band.  "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago" peaked at #51 on the Billboard Hot 100.  A year later, success came while Greenbaum was watching TV. 

You probably don't know this about "Spirit In The Sky" until now, but the inspiration for the song came from two music legends.  The song has an overtly Christian message, which is interesting considering that Norman Greenbaum is Jewish.  He wrote it after watching country music icons Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton performing a religious song on Wagoner's 60's TV show.  After experimenting with a "jug band" sound for the song as well as a folk rendition, he finally hit upon the sound that created a smash thanks to producer Erik Jacobsen.  "Spirit In The Sky" had an exceptionally long shelf life that spanned almost a year on the American and British charts, peaking at #3 in the U.S. and topping the UK survey.  It sold more than 2 million copies in the U.S. along and became Reprise Records' biggest single ever, eclipsing the success of the label's two marquee acts, The Kinks and label founder Frank Sinatra!  It also didn't hurt that the song had friends in high places, as none other than John Lennon sang its praises in an otherwise angry and defiant post-Beatles breakup interview in Rolling Stone. 

As big as "Spirit In The Sky" became, however, success couldn't be sustained for Norman Greenbaum.  Follow up singles failed to register, and he was eventually dropped by Reprise Records.  By 1980, he was out of the music business entirely and reinventing himself as a cook around several northern California restaurants.  He was broke and as far removed from music stardom as one could possibly be. 

Things finally began to turn around for Norman Greenbaum thanks to the producers of a long-forgotten 80's movie.  The folks who were making a movie starring Ally Sheedy called Maid To Order included "Spirit In The Sky" on the soundtrack.  For the past 20 plus years, the song has shown up in a steady stream of TV commercials and movie soundtracks in addition to being a staple on oldies-based radio stations.  It has returned Norman Greenbaum to the point where he was able to escape the restaurant business and live solely off the royalty checks from "Spirit In The Sky".  He has built a website that is an homage to his one hit, and you can visit it by clicking here.

Here's the song that Norman Greenbaum is living off of these days.........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

"Hungry Heart" was Bruce Springsteen's first Top 5 hit in 1981, but he originally wrote it for someone else.  To which band did he intend to give "Hungry Heart" before being advised by his manager to keep it?

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

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

From which 80's classic did Michael Jackson later admit to "borrowing" the beats for "Billie Jean"?

Answer: According to Daryl Hall and John Oates, he confessed to lifting the beats for "Billie Jean" from their #1 smash.........."I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"

 

Today In Oldies 10/26/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies......Oldies news, hardware, and other picture postcards

• Reunion rumors are officially reality for one band!
• Might be best for J-Lo and Randy to mentor the kids and let Steven have the week off during "National Anthem Week" on American Idol (click on the bottom YouTube clip on the page to witness the carnage)
• Who's the richest celebrity from six feet under?  (Hint.....it's no longer who you think!)
• Speaking of which, how does the ex-wife of this new richest dead celebrity feel about their relationship following his passing?
• An unexpected admirer of a 2012 presidential hopeful?  You betcha!
• Are you a Johnny Cash fan with money burning a hole in your pocket?  Well, look who's in luck!

Where In The World Is...........Albert Hammond?


Of all the countries that have produced singers, songwriters, and musicians over the years, Gibraltar isn't exactly considered a hotbed of musical talent.  It has, however, had a hand in giving us London-born Albert Hammond, and Albert Hammond has given us one huge hit of his own and many more for other artists.  Once again, a one hit wonder's legacy reaches far beyond his brief stint on the charts.

Hammond was born to Gibraltarian parents who fled the country during World War II and returned shortly after he was born.  It was there he became interested in music and joined a band called The Diamond Boys, one of the first modern bands to be booked in Madrid alongside some of Spain's rock and roll pioneers.  He then joined London-based group The Family Dogg a few years later, scoring a Top 10 British hit with "A Way Of Life" in 1969.

By 1970, he had broke out on his own and formed a bond with a songwriting partner with whom he would enjoy huge success.  Mike Hazlewood and Albert Hammond began a machine-like succession of hits for other artists, most notably "The Air That I Breathe" for The Hollies in 1974.  At the same time, Hammond was singing backup for other artists as well.  As a solo singer, Hammond's one hit was a smash.  In 1972, his song about the shattered dreams and deterioration caused by the pursuit of a career in Hollywood, "It Never Rains In Southern California", struck a chord with radio listeners and record buyers globally in spite of its uniquely American locale.  It was a Top 10 hit in the U.S., Norway, Switzerland, and Germany.  It also went all the way to the top in Japan!  It would be Albert Hammond's only flirtation with chart success as a solo artist in America, but it was far from being the end of his time in the music business.

Let's run down a partial list of U.S. smash hits written or co-written by Albert Hammond since "It Never Rains In Southern California" was a hit:

"When I Need You" - Leo Sayer (#1, 1977)

"To All The Girls I've Loved Before" - Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson (co-written with Hal David) (#5, 1984)

"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" - Starship (co-written with Diane Warren) (#1, 1987)

"I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" - Chicago (#3, 1988)

"One Moment In Time" (theme song for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea) - Whitney Houston (#1, 1988)

"Don't Turn Around" - Ace of Base (co-written with Diane Warren) (#4, 1993)

He has also become a major superstar in Spain with his Spanish recordings and continues to be one of Spain's biggest concert draws.  In 2009, he teamed with British superstar Duffy to co-write and produce her new album, "Endlessly", which will be available in stores and online on November 21st, 2010.  He also plans to take another turn out front with a duets album featuring a diverse roster of artists including Al Stewart ("Year of the Cat", "Time Passages"), Cliff Richard, and Bonnie Tyler teaming up with him to record new versions of some of his most successful songs.  His son, Albert Hammond, Jr., is best known to the generation behind us as a member of the rock band The Strokes.

Every time it actually does rain in southern California, someone still curses the day Albert Hammond committed this song to vinyl......



Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

From which 80's classic did Michael Jackson later admit to "borrowing" the beats for "Billie Jean"?

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

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

Although they were listed on the original Woodstock poster as performers, which group backed out after being booked for a show in Paris the same weekend?

Answer: The Moody Blues

Today In Oldies 10/21/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies......Oldies news hot & fresh, or it's free!........um, wait

• Another day, another classic album being reissued
• Who's singing the National Anthem before Game 6 of the American League Championship Series Friday night? 
• Billy Joel is finally allowing his music to be used on the Rock Band video game series thanks to........The Office?!?!?!

Where In The World Is........Henry Gross?

Henry Gross was performing in clubs long before he could legally drink in them.  At age 14, he was a regular all over the New York City area and in the Catskill Mountains each summer.  By 18, he had a hand in forming a band that made "retro" cool. 

While he was a student at Brooklyn College, Henry helped form a rock n' roll revival act who would go on to play Woodstock and have their own highly successful TV show in the 70's.  Sha Na Na gained a huge following playing legendary venues like both of Bill Graham's Fillmore theaters in New York and San Francisco.  By the time Sha Na Na were becoming a household name, however, Henry Gross had bigger plans. 

He broke from Sha Na Na in 1970 and signed a solo deal with ABC/Dunhill Records a year later.  His debut album flopped, and 1973 found him making the jump to A&M Records.  He began to develop a following, and his two albums for the label sold relatively well without producing a major radio hit.  He wouldn't have to wait too long for that, however.

In 1976, Henry Gross jumped labels yet again.  This time, it was Lifesong Records, and the hit he was looking for came with a rather somber subject.  The death of Beach Boy Carl Wilson's dog, an Irish setter named Shannon, provided the inspiration for and title of Gross's first single for Lifesong.  "Shannon" was a worldwide smash, hitting #6 in the U.S. and going all the way to #1 in Canada.  An album, "Release", followed, and produced a Top 40 follow up hit with "Springtime Mama".  Further albums and singles didn't connect anywhere in the neighborhood of "Shannon", and Henry Gross eventually returned to something a little closer to his Sha Na Na days. 

In the early 80's, he began acting in traveling Broadway companies.  By 1986, he moved to Nashville and shifted to Country songwriting.  He has written several million selling Country hits, the biggest being "Big Guitar" by Blackhawk.  He continues to record and tour extensively, and has developed a successful one-man theatrical production cleverly entitled "One Hit Wanderer".  He is working on turning "One Hit Wanderer" into a documentary feature film, and he plans to release a CD of brand new material later this fall. 

Here's a homemade YouTube homage to Henry Gross and his uno momento as a solo artist......

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day........Woodstock Week

***This week, each question will pertain to artists who did not appear at Woodstock and the reasons they weren't there***

Although they were listed on the original Woodstock poster as performers, which group backed out after being booked for a show in Paris the same weekend?

Check back @ Everything Oldies Monday (10/25/2010) for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!

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

Which female solo artist (and rumored love interest of one of the members of a new supergroup who DID appear at Woodstock) turned down the invitation due to a scheduling conflict with an appearance on The Dick Cavett Show?

Answer: Joni Mitchell -- once linked to both Stephen Stills and David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young

 

Today In Oldies 10/20/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies........Oldies news when you need it!!

• One flash drive can give you access to thousands of songs thanks to VH1 Classic!
• What does Elton John think about the songwriters of today?
• Just in time for your holiday shopping......yet another "super neat-o limited special edition" album reissue!  Take a look at a video chronicling the making of the album......
• Keith Richards expands on the stories of his life from his new book in a Rolling Stone (appropriately enough) interview
• What does Tom Jones dread most these days?
• Which artists would Rod Stewart want covering his songs on a tribute album?
• From Sin City to the Great White Way......it's Donny & Marie Osmond!

Where In The World Is........Bertie Higgins?

For a brief period in the early 80's, it appeared that Jimmy Buffett might have something of a rival when Elbert Joseph "Bertie" Higgins arrived on the scene.  Born in Tarpon Springs, Florida, Higgins certainly knew a thing or two about life on the beach, and he parlayed that knowledge into a major hit in 1982. 

Higgins' musical career began as a member of a teenage band called The Romans.  Signed to ABC-Paramount Records in 1964, they released three singles over a three year period, but none that made any waves with radio stations or record buyers.  For a short time, they were the backing band for Tommy Roe, changing their name at that point to "The Roemens".  Higgins served as drummer for the group. 

After the demise of The Romans, Higgins returned to Florida and began honing his skills as a songwriter and performer.  He was a big regional draw at concert venues across the state of Florida.  He also attracted the attention of several of the top record producers of the era, including Bob Crewe, Phil Gernhard, and Felton Jarvis, who had produced some of Elvis's later recordings.   In spite of the big names, Bertie Higgins still lacked a big hit or a big album.  That would soon change forever. 

A meeting arranged between Higgins, record producer Sonny Limbo (instrumental in launching the country group Alabama into superstardom), and music publisher Bill Lowery proved to be the catalyst for that hit.  Higgins showed them the rough cut of a song he'd written about a failed romance and asked them to help him work out the kinks.  Once the rough edges had been worked out, the three thought they had a diamond, but the label to which they pitched the song, a newly formed spinoff of CBS records called Kat Family, didn't think so.  After some cajoling, they finally agreed to release it, and they made the right call.  "Key Largo" hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went all the way to the top of the Adult Contemporary charts.  It was also a modest hit on the Country chart.  Bertie Higgins was suddenly an overnight success 17 years in the making! 

Further hits in America never materialized, but Higgins became a huge international star, particularly in the Pacific Rim countries of Asia, with his unique brand of "trop rock".  He continues to record and tour internationally with his band, The Band of Pirates.  Like many other one hit wonders, he has also branched out into other non-musical ventures as well.  Over the past few years, he has moved into film production with his son, Julian.  Two of their movies, The Wrath and Poker Run, have been released nationally, with Bertie serving as screenwriter, music supervisor, and even acting!  He is also actively involved in the preservation of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Florida as well as the Anclote Key Lighthouse. 

From a 1982 appearance on Solid Gold, here's Bertie Higgins' ode to old movies and failed romance.......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day........Woodstock Week

***This week, each question will pertain to artists who did not appear at Woodstock and the reasons they weren't there***

Which female solo artist (and rumored love interest of one of the members of a new supergroup who DID appear at Woodstock) turned down the invitation due to a scheduling conflict with an appearance on The Dick Cavett Show?

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

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

Which relatively new (and soon to become legendary) band did not play Woodstock because, according to their manager, ".....we'd have just been another band on the bill"?

Answer: Led Zeppelin -- who were in the midst of a wildly successful U.S. tour during the summer of Woodstock.  Their only time off was a swing through Las Vegas to catch the act wowing audiences at the International Hotel.  His name?  Elvis Presley! 

 

Today In Oldies 10/19/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......the Web's #1 Oldies news resource from the Web's #1 Oldies station!

• A rock superstar's website is hacked
• Keith Richards returns to the silver screen
• A new album brings a new sound to classic Elvis songs
• A new box set featuring an ex-Beatle is a labor of love
• Could another superstar group reunite for charity?
• A member of ABBA is trying to make sure a "healer" doesn't swindle anyone else

Where In The World Is.........Dan Hill?

Born in Toronto, Canada in 1954, success came early in Dan Hill's pursuit of a musical career.  At 17, he left high school to become a songwriter for the publishing arm of RCA Records.  By the relatively tender age of 21, he had his major label debut album under his belt.  He was already a success in his native country, but he had yet to conquer the charts south of the Canadian border.  That would change quickly. 

In 1977, Dan Hill got his first taste of American success with a song he co-wrote with Brill Building songwriting legend Barry Mann.  "Sometimes When We Touch", from his album "Longer Fuse", became a Stateside smash, hitting #3.  While the string of hits continued to get longer in Canada, including "Let The Song Last Forever" and "I Still Reach For You", he was in grave danger of being a one hit wonder in America.  Ten years later, he was able to put that notion to rest once and for all.  "Can't We Try", a duet he recorded with relative unkown Vonda Shepard, gave Dan Hill another taste of the U.S. Top 10, hitting #6 in 1987.  This time, success in the U.S. was more prolonged, as he scored four more Top 10 Adult Contemporary hit singles over the next four years, including "Never Thought That I Could Love", "Carmelia", "Unborn Heart", and "I Fall All Over Again". 

Dan Hill remains a respected artist and star in Canada even after the hits stopped coming both in the Great White North and America.  He has continued to actively record and tour.  A devoted family man, his wife, attorney Beverly Chapin-Hill, has given him a hand in his craft, co-writing "Can't We Try" and several other songs.  He has also branched out into other areas, including writing several magazine articles detailing his son's life as a member of a Toronto-area gang.  In 2009, he published his first book, an account of his childhood entitled I Am My Father's Son: A Memoir of Love and Forgiveness.  

From his appearance on the landmark British TV series Top of the Pops, here's the song that broke Dan Hill worldwide.......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day.......Woodstock Week

***This week, each question will pertain to artists who did not appear at Woodstock and the reasons they weren't there***

Which relatively new (and soon to become legendary) band did not play Woodstock because, according to their manager, ".....we'd have just been another band on the bill"?  

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

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

Which band turned down Woodstock, because, according to one member, "......we were stupid. We thought it would be a second class repeat of (the) Monterey Pop Festival"?

Answer: Those words came from a 1996 internet chat session with guitarist Robby Krieger of.........The Doors.  Other unconfirmed explanations from over the years have ranged from the band's aversion to playing outdoor concerts to Jim Morrison having a premonition that he would be killed there. 

Today In Oldies 10/18/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2......with a brand new week of Oldies news!

• Problems continue for 70's teen idol Leif Garrett
• The creator of The Sopranos and one of its stars (who moonlights in the band of some guy they call "The Boss") team up for a rock n' roll movie set in one of our favorite decades!
• A TV legend left us over the weekend
• What are YOUR 10 favorite U2 songs?  Compare it with this list!
• The smash Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet will have a little extra star power in a few days
  

Where In The World Is........Gerry Rafferty?

If you can say one thing about Gerry Rafferty, it is that he certainly has one of the more interesting "Where Are They Now?" stories in recent memory.  In fact, for a period of several weeks in 2008, no one (including Everything Oldies) could have answered the question "Where In The World Is......Gerry Rafferty?"  Fortunately, the ending appears to be happy. 

Gerry Rafferty was born in Paisley, Scotland, and began his music career in London performing around the London Underground.  After some time in a band called The Humblebums (which also featured Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly), he released his first solo album, "Can I Have My Money Back", in 1972.  His first taste of chart success came when he formed Stealer's Wheel with pal Joe Egan.  Despite various legal issues during their time as a group, they scored a major hit both in the U.S. and across the pond in Britain with "Stuck In The Middle With You".  It was a Top 10 hit both countries in 1973, and became a classic all over again in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 cult classic film Reservoir Dogs.  

Following the 1975 breakup of Stealer's Wheel, Gerry Rafferty resumed his solo career, and he did it in a big way.  His 1978 album "City To City" kept the hits coming.  "Baker Street" was the first, and it was a bona fide smash, hitting #2 in the U.S., #3 in the UK, and fueling sales of the album to the tune of 5.5 million copies!  The song remains a staple of Oldies radio stations today.  How big was "City To City" in its heyday?  How about big enough to knock one of the biggest selling albums of all time, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, out of the #1 slot?  "City To City" also generated several more Top 40 hits, including "Home and Dry" and "Right Down The Line" (which hit #1 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary singles chart in 1978).  His next album, 1979's "Night Owl", also sold well and produced several hits, including "Days Gone Down" and "Get It Right Next Time". 

While Gerry Rafferty was omnipresent on radio and in record stores, one place you rarely found him in those days was the concert stage.  He was reluctant to perform live, and as a result, subsequent albums in the 80's made little impact in record stores and on the radio.  He did remain successful in the UK, however, and continued to make music throughout the new millenium.  

Sadly, Rafferty's personal life began to bottom out over the past few years.  Alcoholism had him living alone at London's Westbury Hotel.  While we may never know the facts, various newspaper reports gave varying accounts of what happened next.  Scotland On Sunday's account indicated Rafferty was asked to leave the Westbury at some point in July 2008 following reports that his unit had become unihabitable and complaints from other residents that he frequently urinated in the hallways.  The same report claimed he had disappeared August 1, 2008 following a short hospital stay for a liver condition.  Subsequent police reports refute that, claiming no missing persons report was ever issued.  Yet another early 2009 newspaper report had him living in seclusion in the south of England.  Eventually, however, he was accounted for, with a statement from someone associated with Rafferty saying he was alive and well and living in Tuscany with plans for an album.  That album, "Life Goes On", emerged in November 2009.  Here's hoping Gerry Rafferty has overcome his demons and plans to keep making great music for years to come!

Before he bottomed out at the Westbury, the street Gerry Rafferty called home took him to the top of the charts........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day.......Woodstock Week

***This week, each question will pertain to artists who did not appear at Woodstock and the reasons they weren't there***

Which band turned down Woodstock, because, according to one member, "......we were stupid. We thought it would be a second class repeat of (the) Monterey Pop Festival"?

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

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

Which music superstar provided a guest voice on The Simpsons under the pseudonym John Jay Smith?

Answer: Michael Jackson

Today In Oldies 10/15/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2.......Oldies' answer to Huntley/Brinkley

• An honorary member of The Beach Boys will produce the upcoming feature film featuring their music
• Michael Jackson made some of the greatest music videos EVER......and now you can get 'em all in one place on DVD!
• Speaking of the late King of Pop, we don't know who Oprah interviewed @ Casa de Jackson yet, but we now know who she didn't talk to! 
• Hmmm.....turns out Madonna "hate(s) actresses".  Could it be because she's never been much of one herself? 
• Which music superstar can now count President Obama among his admirers?
• Which Rolling Stone says they'll have to carry 'em all offstage in a pine box before they'll call it quits?

Where In The World Is........The Cyrkle?

How many bands can claim to have had John Lennon provide them with their name?  We don't know that answer ourselves, but The Cyrkle is among the few if not the only!  Founded by Lafayette College students Don Dannemann and Tom Dawes, they were rounded out by keyboardist Earl Pickens and drummer Marty Fried.  They began in the "frat rock" mode a la The Kingsmen, playing the campus scene around Lafayette College under the name The Rhonells.  They were discovered, and at one point managed, by none other than Brian Epstein, who wound up managing some group of British guys with really "long" hair.  Anyone remember their name? 

While Brian Epstein moved on to handle The Beatles, his New York-based partner, Nathan Weiss, took on management of The Rhondells and suggested a name change.  He then called upon his friend in high places, John Lennon, to provide the unique spelling of The Cyrkle, which is a reference to a circular roundabout and landmark in the town of Easton, Pennsylvania where Lafayette College is located. 

You could say The Cyrkle peaked before they ever had a chance to hit the charts.  Upon signing with Columbia Records and releasing their first single, they opened 16 shows for The Beatles in the summer of 1966 on their final American tour, including the legendary Dodger Stadium show with Bobby Hebb and The Ronettes.  That same year, their first single became a smash, and it had another rather famous name attached to it.  "Red Rubber Ball" was co-written by Bruce Woodley of The Seekers and a man who, years later, would discuss being so broke and distraught over the failure of his first American album that he moved to London and contributed to the song in order to get a one hundred pound advance from The Seekers.  His name was.......Paul Simon.  On the coattails of that summer with The Beatles, "Red Rubber Ball" hit #2 in 1966.  As with many other acts, The Cyrkle is remembered as a one hit wonder, but they did enjoy a Top 20 follow up hit, "Turn Down Day".  A second album and film soundtrack ("The Minx") flopped, and by the end of 1967, The Cyrkle was broken. 

It can be hard for a musician to get music out of their blood, so following the breakup of The Cyrkle, Don Dannemann and Tom Dawes channeled their musical talent into a different avenue.  They both formed their own ad agencies in New York and primarily wrote and performed commercial jingles.  Dannemann's jingle credits include Continental Airlines and Swanson frozen foods.  His best known jingle composition is the 70's campaign for 7-Up when they were referred to as "the UN-cola".  Tom Dawes wrote one of the most recognizable jingles in advertising history!  Sales of Alka-Seltzer exploded when the catchy "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz/Oh, what a relief it is" jingle was introduced.  Aside from their agencies, they have only reunited for a one shot concert in 1986 at the place where it all started, Lafayette College, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Red Rubber Ball". 

Here's The Cyrkle's moment of glory.....and wouldn't you agree that the video would be much cooler if they actually used a bouncing red rubber ball with the onscreen lyrics?

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which music superstar provided a guest voice on The Simpsons under the pseudonym John Jay Smith? 

Check back @ Everything Oldies Monday (10/18/2010) for the answer, and leave a Comment here with your best guess!

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

"Jessie's Girl" was a #1 smash for Rick Springfield in 1981, but the central character's boyfriend in the song was NOT named "Jessie" in real life.  According to Rick, what WAS the boyfriend's real life name?

Answer: According to Rick, in an interview with Songfacts.com, ".......his name was Gary, so I changed the name, because 'Gary' didn't sing very well."

 

 

Today In Oldies 10/14/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies......scouring the globe so you don't have to for Oldies news!

• American Idol auditions are underway!  How is Steven Tyler enjoying the new gig?
• The onslaught of music autobiographies continues......... 
• Several artists will celebrate the legacy of John F. Kennedy at (where else?) the Kennedy Center
• A (musical) dream comes true for one of the rescued Chilean miners
• How's this for irony.....Paul McCartney keeping together the marriage involving the woman who broke up the band?!?!?!
• One of Phil Spector's finest has released a new album

Where In The World Is.........Lobo? 

Roland Kent Lavoie was born in Tallahassee, Florida on July 31, 1943.  He was a veteran of numerous bands in and around central and south Florida beginning in 1961, one of which (The Rumours) included both Jim Stafford and country/rock legend Gram Parsons.  Working with producer Phil Gernhard, he went solo in 1969 and changed his name.  That's when success came calling. 

Lavoie changed his stage name to Lobo in 1971.  Working with Gernhard, who had become an executive at Big Tree Records, his first single sent him into the stratosphere.  "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" was a Top 5 hit on both sides of the Atlantic, becoming Big Tree's first major national hit.  His debut album, "Introducing Lobo", soon followed.  After a brief flirtation with concept albums that produced no hits, Lobo went back to the well that made him a star.  He made a triumphant return to the charts in 1972 with "I'd Love You To Want Me", which narrowly missed reaching the top in the U.S., hitting #2 and becoming his second domestic million seller.  It fared even better in Europe, hitting #1 in both Germany and the UK.  The winter of 1973 brought another Top 10 hit with "Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend".  Later that year, he scored three more Top 40 hits from his album "Calumet", most notably "It Sure Took A Long, Long Time" and "How Can I Tell Her".  For a two year span, Lobo had become a tried and true hitmaker with the help of Phil Gernhard. 

Lobo parted ways with Big Tree Records in 1976.  He put out several albums in Europe only, then signed with MCA Records in 1979.  His first U.S. album release in four years, "Lobo", produced his last U.S. Top 40 hit, "Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love".  So what did Lobo do when the pop chart was no longer his friend? 

What he did was the same thing many pop stars who fall out of favor do.  He took a shot at country stardom.  Unhappy with the production values on his albums for MCA, he formed his own label, Lobo Records, and moved to Nashville.  The move didn't prove as successful for Lobo as it had for many others over the years.  By the late 80's, he had abandoned country music and Nashville.

While his success in the U.S. was finished, his popularity abroad began to explode in the 90's.  He spent the decade recording for various Asian record labels and toured Europe extensively.  In 2000, he signed with a German label, recording several new tracks for greatest hits compilations and two Christmas songs.  He still tours occasionally in Europe, and his latest album, "Propinquity", was released online September 7th on Stoney Records. 

And now, a man whose name translates as "wolf" singing about a dog.....with karaoke lyrics if you feel inclined to sing along......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

"Jessie's Girl" was a #1 smash for Rick Springfield in 1981, but the central character's boyfriend in the song was NOT named "Jessie" in real life.  According to Rick, what WAS the boyfriend's real life name? 

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

Which R&B legend did the sax solo on Foreigner's 1981 hit "Urgent"?

Answer: Jr. Walker

 

Today In Oldies 10/13/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies presents Oldies news hot & fresh!

• Another music legend's autobiography is coming......and you can get a sneak peek here
• Would you read a book written by a Killer? 
• Will Phil Collins soon be as omnipresent as he was in the 80's?
• Cracker Barrel's got soul......literally

Where In The World Is.......Nena?

The number of hit songs in the U.S. sung in foreign languages could be counted on one hand.  Nena is on that very short but distinguished list, but her only hit in the States was a massive one, and globally, she remains a big hitmaker. 

Born Gabriele Susanne Kerner in Hagen, Germany, Nena was in training as a goldsmith following high school when she began her magnetic attraction to music.  She joined a band called The Stripes in 1979.  They had one modest European hit but no lasting success and were gone by 1981.  In 1982, she moved with her boyfriend to West Berlin, where they formed a band they decided to name after Nena.  Their first single was a smash in Germany.  Next stop......global domination! 

Nena's first album hit stores in 1983.  Its first single translated into English as "99 Air Balloons".  The group's record label deemed that not "catchy".  So the title became "99 Red Balloons".  The original German version, "99 Luftballoons", was played prominently in America at the same time.  Regardless of language, the song was an unmistakable international smash, hitting #1 in the UK, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and #2 in the U.S.  The music video accompanying the song was also a staple on MTV.  Could lightning strike twice for Nena in America?

The answer turned out to be no, with "99 Luftballoons" being Nena's one and only hit in the U.S.  Internationally, however, the group continued to make plenty of hits until their breakup in 1987.  Nena then took a break from the music business and re-emerged in the 1990's as an artist and European TV personality.  Her recordings were primarily aimed at children, and she hosted two successful German television shows.  She returned to adult-based pop in 2002, with a 20th anniversary album of newly recorded versions of her own songs.  She has released a consistent stream of hit albums and singles in Europe while also branching out into other areas.  Her voice can be heard in the German-translated version of the hit feature film Eragon.  In 2007, she became a co-founder of the Neue Schule Hamburg, a school founded on the Sudbury model where students make their own schedule.  She has also written her autobiography, Willst du mit mir gehn (Do You Want To Go With Me?), giving her account of various life events.  

And now, relive the AMERICAN highlight of Nena's life..............in her native tongue AND ours.  Apparently, German women weren't fond of shaving their armpits in those days :-)

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which R&B legend did the sax solo on Foreigner's 1981 hit "Urgent"?

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

The 60's classic "Wild Thing" by The Troggs was written by Chip Taylor.  His niece is currently one of the world's biggest female movie stars (and married to one of the world's biggest MALE movie stars).  Who is she?

Answer: Angelina Jolie......Chip Taylor's brother is actor Jon Voight, Angelina Jolie's father! 

 

Today In Oldies 10/12/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies......Oldies news guaranteed fresh or it's free! 

• Wanna hear how well Huey Lewis & The News pull off covering an Otis Redding classic?  Click here to find out!
• A Billboard chart record set more than 4 decades ago by The Beatles has been broken!  Who's the new standard bearer?
• Speaking of the Fab Four, if you're in the market for the ultimate piece of Beatles memorabilia, how about Paul McCartney's house?
• An Oscar winner will play Phil Spector in an upcoming HBO movie.  Good luck doing those courtroom scenes with the whole "looks like he just stuck his finger in a light socket" hairdo and all.......
• If you're George Michael, do you really WANT to get out of prison? 
• Stories from Keith Richards' autobiography are beginning to emerge.  Read one here. 
• The tragic life of ex-Supreme Florence Ballard is discussed here

Where In The World Is..........Walter Egan?

If you were looking to break into the music business circa 1978, you could have done a lot worse than hanging around the members of Fleetwood Mac.  Walter Egan did just that, and as a result, several members of that group had a big hand in his brief success.  In fact, his crush on one of them provided the inspiration for his one and only hit! 

Born in Jamaica, New York, Walter Egan signed with Columbia Records in the 70's.  1977 saw the release of his debut album, Fundamental Roll.  That year, there was no bigger act in music than Fleetwood Mac, with Rumors putting them on the A-list.  Imagine being a new artist and finding out Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks will be producing your first album!  While that album didn't produce any substantial hits, his collaboration with Mac members would continue. 

Buckingham and Rumors co-producer Richard Dashut were behind the mixing board for Egan's second album, Not Shy.  By that time, Stevie Nicks, fresh from her breakup with Lindsey Buckingham, had become the apple of Walter Egan's eye.  His schoolboy crush inspired him to write a song, and it became the stuff from which one hit wonders are created!  "Magnet and Steel" was a Top 10 hit, hitting #8 in 1978.  Whether she knew the song was about her or not, Stevie Nicks sang background vocals on "Magnet and Steel", giving it an ironic twist.  Lindsey Buckingham also backed Egan up on that song.  Quite a few 70's songs have found new life in subsequent decades after being included on movie soundtracks, and "Magnet and Steel" is no exception.  It has been featured in several films including Boogie Nights and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo.  With his Fleetwood Mac connections, certainly Walter Egan was bound to have a few more hits left in him. 

Unfortunately, further hits eluded Walter Egan, but he didn't slip into total oblivion.  He joined a later incarnation of the group Spirit, and he wrote songs that became hits for other artists, most notably "Hot Summer Nights" for the group Night in 1979.  He has become a well-rounded individual in recent years, and you might have seen him in a somewhat unusual place several years after "Magnet and Steel".  As the royalty checks became less frequent, Egan tried his luck as a TV game show contestant, appearing on Scrabble.  When he mentioned that he was a singer and songwriter, host Chuck Woolery asked if the audience might recognize any of his songs.  He replied by breaking out into the chorus of "Magnet and Steel" to wild applause from the studio audience. 

Today, Walter Egan continues to write, record, and perform, and once again, you'll probably find him in places you wouldn't expect.  He serves as a substitute teacher at Centennial High School in Franklin, Tennessee.  He was also recently given a songwriter credit on a pop hit called "We Made You" by, of all people, hip hop superstar Eminem!  The song used samples from Egan's version of "Hot Summer Nights". 

See what else Walter Egan is up to these days by visiting his official website and his MySpace page, and now enjoy his ode to Stevie Nicks......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

The 60's classic "Wild Thing" by The Troggs was written by Chip Taylor.  His niece is currently one of the world's biggest female movie stars (and married to one of the world's biggest MALE movie stars).  Who is she?

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

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

In a recent interview, which British music superstar claims to have been offered the role of James Bond following Sean Connery's departure from the role?

Answer: Tom Jones -- he tells the story in this article

Today In Oldies 10/11/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......Oldies news you can use! 

• A soul legend dies over the weekend
• Macau is cuckoo for Michael Jackson stuff!
• "Seriously, Judge, how ELSE am I gonna meet Madonna"? 
• A few of our favorites are ruling the British album charts

Where In The World Is.......Jay Ferguson?

While you may have long since written off Jay Ferguson as a one hit wonder, you might not realize there's a chance you see his name and hear his music at least once a week (or even more) on TV!  He is another prime example of a guy who never really went away.  He just shifted musical gears. 

Born in Burbank, California, in 1947, Jay Ferguson's interest in music began about as far removed from rock and roll as one can get.  Beginning with classical piano lessons, he moved onto the banjo as a teen and began playing in a bluegrass band with his brother.  By the time he began college at UCLA, he had finally moved on to rock, playing in several garage bands around the Los Angeles area. 

In the mid 60's, Ferguson and one of his musician friends, Randy California, formed the group that would give them both their first taste of nationwide stardom.  Already a veteran of bluegrass and rock bands, Spirit drew heavy influences from both jazz and The Beatles.  They found chart success with "I Got A Line On You", a single from their first album.  This led to a soundtrack for the film Model Shop and an acting role for Ferguson. 

After several albums and nonstop touring, Jay Ferguson left Spirit in 1971 to form a new band, Jo Jo Gunne.  They were the second act signed to the newly formed Asylum Records, a label created specifically for their flagship artist, Jackson Browne.  While he didn't achieve the same success he'd enjoyed with Spirit, Ferguson did three albums and several tours with Jo Jo Gunne, leaving in 1975. 

After a year and a half away from the music scene, Jay Ferguson signed a solo deal with Asylum.  His first album failed to sell or produce a hit, but his second album produced his moment in the spotlight with its title song.  "Thunder Island" was a Top 10 hit, reaching #9 in 1978.  Technically, he's a two hit wonder, scoring another Top 40 hit with "Shakedown Cruise" in 1979. 

After one more album for Asylum and a few for Capitol in the early 80's, Ferguson decided to change musical directions.  He turned his creative energy to composing film scores and songs.  His feature credits include The Terminator and Nightmare On Elm Street 5.  His most recognizable contribution to pop culture, however, is one that you'd know immediately if you're a fan of current TV sitcoms.  Every Thursday night on NBC, and perpetually in syndicated reruns, Jay Ferguson's name can be seen in the credits and his music can be heard with his theme to the hit show The Office.  Who needs "Thunder Island" when you have those kind of royalty checks coming in each month? 

First we'll visit Jay Ferguson's favorite 70's vacation spot, and then let's head for the cubicles for his most recent smash......

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

In a recent interview, which British music superstar claims to have been offered the role of James Bond following Sean Connery's departure from the role?

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

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

Which Beatles song was originally written for Tom Jones following a chance meeting with Paul McCartney in a club in the late 60's?

Answer: "The Long And Winding Road" -- McCartney sent the song to Jones with the requirement that he must release it as his next single.  Tom was all for it, but his record label nixed the idea, having already planned his next single release.  The rest....as they say....is music history. 

 

 

Today In Oldies 10/8/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2.....where Oldies are alive and well and making news!

• Where can you get a sneak peek at Keith Richards' autobiography? 
• Frankie Valli's life comes full circle....from the recording studio, to the concert stage, to the Broadway stage, to the big screen!
• Apparently you're not allowed to sell a superstar's fingerprints........
• Glee is bringing out the big names this season.......so who's next? 
• Donny and Marie Osmond have been called a lot of things in their lives, but are they REALLY "devious and greedy"?

Where In The World Is.......Terence Trent D'arby?

Born in Manhattan in 1962, with the name on his birth certificate reading Terence Trent Howard, Terence Trent D'arby appeared poised to rob Michael Jackson and Prince as the King of Pop in the late 80's.  The son of a Pentecostal minister and school teacher, D'arby's family was pretty itinerant as he grew up, moving from New York to New Jersey to Chicago and finally settling in Orlando, Florida.  He spent his teen years as a champion Golden Gloves boxer.  He planned to enlist in the U.S. Army after high school and enroll in boxing school, but his father insisted he attend college.  After a year at the University of Central Florida, he dropped out and ended up in the Army.  While serving in Germany, he became interested in music, playing in a band called The Touch.  Upon his discharge for going AWOL in 1983, he moved from Germany to London, joining a band called The Bojangels.  In 1987, he was signed as a solo artist to Columbia Records.

With Motown on the decline in the late 80's, the R&B world was a two man show, with Michael Jackson and Prince cleaning up on the charts, in the record stores, and on the concert stage.  Enter the next contender........Terence Trent D'arby.  As his career began, it was very clear he was a big believer in himself in interviews.  Once his debut album, Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'arby, hit record store shelves, critics and record buyers agreed wholeheartedly!  The album has sold 12 million copies worldwide as of 2010 and produced 3 Top 40 hits, including "Sign Your Name" and "Wishing Well", with the latter hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1988.  Comparisons to James Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson were being thrown around.  Terence Trent D'arby had massive talent, a huge album, and an ego to match.  The next stop was becoming the biggest star in the world. 

Unfortunately, his huge ego proved to be his downfall.  A prolonged creative battle with Columbia Records began with the recording of his second album, Neither Fish Nor Flesh, and as a result, D'arby refused to release any songs from the album as singles.  He parted ways with the label following his 1995 album Vibrator. By then, he had long since fallen off the charts and out of favor with critics and fans.

In spite of his lack of commercial success following Introducing The Hardline......., Terence Trent D'arby has remained a prolific songwriter and performer.  He now lives in Italy, and following a series of dreams in 2001, he has changed his name to Sandana Maitreya.  In 1999, he temporarily joined INXS as a replacement for their late lead singer, Michael Hutchence, so they could perform at the 2000 Summer Olympics in their hometown of Sydney, Australia.  He has also been an early champion of using the internet to exclusively distribute his music. 

Let's look at a clip from the glory days and imagine what might have been for (the now former) Terence Trent D'arby.........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

Which Beatles song was originally written for Tom Jones following a chance meeting with Paul McCartney in a club in the late 60's?

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

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

This one's a simple "yes" or "no" question......Are Kenny Loggins and singer/songwriter Dave Loggins, who had a hit as a solo artist with "Please Come To Boston" in 1974, related?

Answer: Yes, they are 2nd cousins

 

 

Today In Oldies 10/7/2010

Extra!  Extra!  Read all about the Oldies at Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2!

• A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee wants to be inducted by a guy who can't get in his own Hall of Fame
  
• Our generation's artists still pack 'em in on the road!  
• How about some handwritten Paul McCartney lyrics for the Beatles fan on your Christmas list?  
• With the direction Tom Jones is currently taking with his music, he could make a tent out of all the undergarments thrown at him and hold a revival!  
• Henry Mancini writes the songs that make Rod Stewart's wife cry
• The Who gig that was SUPPOSED to be a live album finally sees the light of day
• A 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee gets a one woman off-Broadway show

Where In The World Is...........Alan O' Day?

Being born in Hollywood, Alan O' Day seemed predestined for stardom of some kind.  Like many other artists, he may be remembered as a one hit wonder, but in reality, he has enjoyed a prolific career in music both before and after his run on the charts. 

O'Day's first memory of doing anything musical was creating melodies on the xylophone at the age of 6.  By the age of 25, he was a veteran of a half dozen bands and had also spend time as a sound mixer and recorder for a few low budget feature film projects.  In 1965, he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show as part of a group called Alan & Bob & Denny. 

Although he had experienced some level of success, O' Day wasn't satisfied with where his career had taken him to that point.  He decided to concentrate on songwriting.  It proved to be a good move, as he penned several huge 70's hits including The Righteous Brothers' "Rock And Roll Heaven" and Helen Reddy's somewhat controversial "Angie Baby".  His publishing company, Warner Brothers Music, would coax him back in front of the mic......and this time lightning was caught in a bottle!!

Warner Brothers set up a boutique label for their stable of songwriters who also performed, and Alan O' Day was the first artist signed.  The label didn't put much of a promotional push behind his first single, "Undercover Angel", but it became a smash hit nonetheless.  A few months and 2 million copies later, it hit #1 in 1977 and did well internationally. 

Alan O' Day never really came close to having another hit as a singer, but he continued to write successful international hits for other artists.  In 1982, he left Warner Brothers Music to self-publish his songs.  In 1983, he had a fortuitous encounter with Janis Liebhart.  The two formed a partnership to write songs for the Saturday morning children's animated TV series Jim Henson's Muppet Babies.  Their efforts won them an Emmy Award.  They continued their kid-focused songwriting for National Geographic's Really Wild Animals as well as some children's projects for Alaska Video.  O' Day has also collaborated with songwriter Dave Kinnoin for several children's songs for an organization called Songs of Love. 

Today, Alan O' Day is still quite active in the music business.  He has begun to dabble in writing country songs with Nashville-based partner Denny Martin.  He still records occasionally as a solo artist, with his most recent album release entitled "I Hear Voices".  He also serves as a mentor to aspiring songwriters and a musical and creative consultant on various projects. You can find out plenty more on his official website.

Here's a rather clever fan created audio/visual "mashup" combining Alan O' Day's smash hit with classic 70's TV.........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

This one's a simple "yes" or "no" question......Are Kenny Loggins and singer/songwriter Dave Loggins, who had a hit as a solo artist with "Please Come To Boston" in 1974, related?

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

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

Which 80's artist was asked to screen test for the role of Marty McFly in Back To The Future that eventually went to Michael J. Fox?

Answer: Corey Hart