Today In Oldies 12/8/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......remembering and celebrating John Lennon on his birthday

• Some snippets from a CNN documentary from last week on Lennon's death and legacy are here
• Three days before his death, he spent 9 hours with Rolling Stone.  Audio clips from that final interview are here
• Billboard has put together a video timeline of Lennon's life
• A collection of the way our nation's TV news anchors broke the news of his death is here
• In other news, a pardon for another deceased legend is officially under consideration

Oldies on TV

John Lennon

• Behind The Music Remastered: The Last Years & The Legacy - VH1 Classic - 7:00 p.m. Eastern
• American Masters: LennoNYC - PBS - Check local listings
• A Hard Day's Night - VH1 Classic - 8:00 p.m. Eastern
• The Beatles: From Liverpool To San Francisco - BBC America - 8:00 p.m. Eastern
• Imagine: John Lennon - BBC America - 9:00 p.m. Eastern
• John Lennon Live In New York City - VH1 Classic - Midnight Eastern

Where In The World Is.......Sugarloaf?

Formed in Denver, Colorado, Sugarloaf was primarily a group to showcase lead singer Jerry Corbetta.  Originally called Chocolate Hair, they changed their name upon sigining their first major label record deal.  Having faced a mountain of rejection from other labels, the group had some fun with it once they landed their contract, scoring a hit with a song about their struggles that contained a subtle prank within the song. 

Sugarloaf's debut album on Liberty Records produced one of those hits that caught on in one part of the country and slowly spread nationwide until it was a chart smash.  "Green Eyed Lady" would eventually hit #3 in 1970.  A few more minor hits followed, with the band also being big on "album rock" radio stations, but their moderate level of success still didn't keep Sugarloaf from being dropped by Liberty Records.  In 1973, they recorded a song that was a nod to their long and torturous days of facing rejection from multiple record labels.  They saved their piece de resistance within the song for one particular label.  "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" featured 2 telephone numbers being dialed at the beginning and end of the song.  The number at the end was a public number for the White House.  The number at the beginning was an unlisted number for CBS Records, who had just turned them down for a record deal after they left Liberty.  The song also features samples of both The Beatles' "I Feel Fine" and Stevie Wonder's "Superstition".  There's also a line from Wolfman Jack with the call letters of a radio station.  During the song's run up the charts, they cut multiple versions of the line to match the call letters of radio stations in local cities.  "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" hit #9 in 1975. 

Sugarloaf would run out of steam by 1976.  Jerry Corbetta went on to a disco group called Disco Tex and the Sex-o-lettes, who had a hit with "Get Dancin'" in 1975.  He joined the Four Seasons in 1980 following their commercial rebirth in the 70's.  Today, he tours with a collection of musicians called the Classic Rock All-Stars.  Another former member, Bob Yeazel, maintains a website commemorating his time as a member of the group.  Visit it by clicking here.

There were many songs about blue and brown eyes, but green eyes got their moment in the sun thanks to Sugarloaf in 1970........

 

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

What was the biggest hit among cover songs by The Beatles (in other words....what was the biggest hit for The Beatles not written by any of The Beatles)?

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 classic 80's dance movie almost starred Rob Lowe and Madonna in the lead roles?

Answer: Footloose - Madonna auditioned for the role played in the film by Lori Singer; Rob Lowe originally landed the part of Ren McCormick (played in the movie by Kevin Bacon), but dropped out before filming began due to an injury that left him unable to perform any of the dance sequences

We leave you today with John Lennon's greatest contribution to our lives......his music.  Rest in peace, John.