Today In Oldies 11/30/2011

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......your favorite Oldies artists are still making news, and you get it all here! 

• Dr. Conrad Murray's sentence has been handed down.  How much time is he doing?
• As the anniversary of a Beatle's death is observed, Billboard recaps his biggest Hot 100 solo hits 
• A Chairman's son recalls the side of his father the public rarely saw
• What was on one of John Lennon's "to do" lists?  And what would you pay to own it?

 

The Thin White Duke Next Door

By late 1977, David Bowie was a superstar, albeit one who had taken a rather unconventional route to stardom.  By creating the androgynous stage persona of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie, along with Alice Cooper and KISS, had taken live performance to a new level in terms of theatrics.  He had become bored with the character, however, and was looking to reinvent himself.  So what do you do to let the world know you're looking to become more "normal" as a performer and singer? 

The first step in Bowie's career makeover provided what became one of the more bizarre moments in American TV history.  He chose to appear on the annual Christmas special of one of the most non-offensive entertainer in showbiz history, Bing Crosby's yearly holiday variety hour.  Their "moment" together has become a staple of holiday programming both in the U.S. and the UK.  They certainly made for strange bedfellows as duet partners, and the behind the scenes story of how it all came together is equally as interesting. 

The oddball pairing was the brainchild of Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion, the show's co-producers.  According to Nicholas Pegg's Bowie bio, Bowie only agreed to appear on the Bing Crosby special for two reasons.  First, he knew his mother was a fan, and as an added enticement, the producers agreed to include his music video for his current single, "Heroes", for airing during the show.  It is unclear whether or not Crosby even knew who Bowie was. 

Once the two of them arrived on the set, the duet that has since become a Christmas classic almost didn't happen!  When Bowie learned he and Bing would be singing "Little Drummer Boy", he told them he hated that song and asked if there was anything else he could sing.  The musical directors and writers for the special salvaged the situation by heading to a piano and penning an alternate song for Bowie to perform with Crosby simultaneously.  Written in just an hour and fifteen minutes, "Peace On Earth" became Bowie's companion piece to Crosby's rendition of "Little Drummer Boy". 

While neither the producers of the show nor Bowie's record label at the time, RCA, thought the song had commercial potential, it was released commercially on a compilation album in 1982.  Concurrently, the meteoric rise of MTV around that same time meant that the duet would get a new lease on life as a music video.  It became a staple of the channel's holiday lineup, and would eventually become a classic. 

On November 30, 1977, American TV viewers were adjusting their sets.  That couldn't be David Bowie on Bing Crosby's "Merrie Olde Christmas" special on CBS!  It was, and a perennial holiday favorite was performed for the first time.  Here is what they saw that night............

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Speaking of TV specials, which legendary duo had their first network prime time special on NBC today in 1969 despite losing their title sponsor over their objection to footage aired of both the Vietnam War and Robert Kennedy's funeral? 

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

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

Today in 1964, John Lennon and George Harrison met members of which legendary group at the Crazy Elephant restaurant in London?

Answer: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles

Today In Oldies 11/29/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....find out what your favorite Oldies artists are up to today! 

• Donny Osmond plans for life after Las Vegas
• Which current pop superstar has Tony Bennett seen in her birthday suit?
• What housing crisis?  A 60's star and daughter of a music icon makes a 100%+ profit on her Beverly Hills home  
• Think you know where "American Pie" was written?  Don McLean says think again!

When A King Calls

The two voices you hear each day on Golden Hits Radio, Shane Wilson and Bob Burton, have a combined 60+ years of experience on the air in cities across the country.  During that time, they have taken thousands of calls on their stations' request lines, talking to the ordinary, famous, and infamous.  While those calls have provided many stories they have passed along to friends, children, and grandchildren, neither has experienced a random call from rock and roll royalty one young disc jockey received today in 1966. 

Just outside Little Rock, Arkansas, a musician was passing through, but this was certainly no ordinary musician.  Hearing a song on the radio for the first time, he called the radio station who played it to find out the title and artist.  He asked to hear it again not once, but several times in succession.  Under normal circumstances, this is the sort of thing that would get a disc jockey harshly reprimanded, if not fired.  Once the caller identified himself, however, his superiors would have most likely told the aspiring announcer to do whatever the man asked.  And he did. 

It's not every day you hear the same song several times in a row on the radio, but then again, it's not every day the caller making that request is Elvis Presley.  Nine years after he made that call, Elvis would cover that song himself.  It has become a timeless classic, covered by dozens of other artists including Kenny Rogers, Joan Baez, and Johnny Cash on his landmark live album At Folsom Prison. 

What song did Elvis love so much he wanted to hear it on the radio multiple times?

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Today in 1964, John Lennon and George Harrison met members of which legendary group at the Crazy Elephant restaurant in London? 

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

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

What is the most visited music-related tourist attraction in the U.S.? 

Answer: Graceland

 

Today In Oldies 11/28/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......back from the holiday weekend with all you missed in Oldies news! 

• Will The Rolling Stones do a 50th Anniversary tour in 2012....or won't they?  A decision is imminent.
• A disco pioneer discusses his health, his friendship with Diana Ross, and the story behind his group's biggest hit.  (***WARNING: CERTAIN LANGUAGE NOT SAFE FOR WORK***)
  
• The music of ABBA, Queen, The Four Seasons, The Beatles, and Billy Joel has provided the basis for stage musicals, but one artist will not allow his music to receive that treatment.
• A former Bee Gee, who is battling cancer, makes a public statement and remains upbeat
• A member of one of Australia's most successful musical exports has a new album and biography out
• He's already paying her $30,000 a month, but Frankie Valli's ex-wife wants more

Are You Laughing Uncontrollably Tonight? 

Today in 1960, the 15th of Elvis Presley's 18  U.S. #1 singles topped the Billboard Hot 100.  It was a ballad whose origins date all the way back to 1927, co-written by Lou Handman and Roy Turk.  It has also been covered by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, and Donny Osmond among others.

This song was a staple during Elvis's live shows during his late 60's "comeback".  It became custom for him to change certain lines during the spoken word portion.  One night, his reaction to what urban legend says was a man in the audience adjusting what must have been a bad hairpiece at one of his shows at the International Hotel in Las Vegas brought about the version you hear below.  Passed around among bootleggers and Elvis collectors for years, this version was finally released commercially on the 1980 RCA box set collection Elvis Aaron Presley, becoming a Top 30 hit in the UK in 1982. 

Sticking to the old showbiz adage "The show must go on", here is Elvis's attempt to keep it together after several laughing fits..............

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

What is the most visited music-related tourist attraction in the U.S.? 

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

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

On whose rather unlikely recommendation did Atlantic Records sign Led Zeppelin in 1968?

Answer: Dusty Springfield 

 

 

Today In Oldies 11/23/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......thankful for the greatest radio listeners worldwide....like YOU!!! 

• Who's "gambling" on a new album being a hit in 2012?
• What happened the night Elvis met The Beatles?  There's no concrete photo or recorded proof, but a new exhibit pieces some of the evening together.
• Mick Jagger dishes about Some Girls, including a song on the album that could have raised questions about his sexual preference.
• One of the great pop entertainers hits the road again in 2012
• Two great songwriters who passed on earlier this year will be honored during next Wednesday (November 30)'s Grammy nominations concert  

Your Favorite Oldies......or Should We Call Them 'Hall of Famers'?
Yesterday, the Recording Academy (the governing body that awards the Grammys each year) announced their list of inductees to the Grammy Hall of Fame for 2012.  These can be albums or songs, and they can be in any genre.  Oldies were well represented on the list, and we thought we would salute them here!

From The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main St. album, a rare look inside the studio at the making of their hit "Tumbling Dice"........



From Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young's landmark 1970 album Deja Vu.......



From Santana's self-titled 1969 album, a performance from Woodstock......



Freddy Fender's 1975 classic, "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights........



Last but certainly not least, there's this disco smash.......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

On whose rather unlikely recommendation did Atlantic Records sign Led Zeppelin in 1968?

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

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

Today in 1957, a soon-to-be-legendary music duo made their national television debut on American Bandstand, but under a different name than the one they would soon adopt.  Who were they, and under what name did they appear that day?

Answer: Simon and Garfunkel, who were performing that day under the pseudonym "Tom and Jerry"

FROM ALL OF US AT GOLDEN HITS RADIO, HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

Today In Oldies 11/22/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....giving thanks for the greatest music ever recorded!

• 25 legendary recordings, many of which you hear on Golden Hits Radio, will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in February
• Many artists are using Twitter these days, but how many are using it during a concert? (Side note: You can follow John Fogerty on Twitter yourself at @john_fogerty)
• A one-hit wonder from the Disco era, who had a far more notorious profession prior to becoming a singer, has died
• They know their way around rock and roll, but how will they fare in the jewelry business?

Eyewitness to Tragedy

Today marks an anniversary that most Americans who experienced it would rather forget.  Everyone remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news, including a group of musicians who were just three blocks from where the tragedy occured, where they were rehearsing for a package show that night.  That show never happened, and the entire nation would grieve for several days.  

One of the multitude of various "Caravan of Stars" concerts in the 60's was set to feature a star-studded roster.  Dale and Grace, Brian Hyland, Bobby Vee, and Jimmy Clanton were on the bill, and they were fully aware that another event was taking place in the vicinity of where they would be performing later that night.  In fact, as they were preparing for the show in a rehearsal hall that afternoon, they were alerted to the fact that a motorcade was coming through.  They all walked outside the rehearsal hall and waved to the guest of honor as the motorcade passed through.  A mere three blocks later and several minutes later, one of the darkest moments in American history would occur. 

The "Caravan of Stars" were rehearsing three blocks from Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963.  President John F. Kennedy was set to give a speech at the Dallas Trade Mart that afternoon.  It would prove to be a speech he never made, as an assassin's bullet struck him dead passing through Dealey Plaza at approximately 1:30 p.m. Eastern time that afternoon.  It should go without saying that most of the nation's routine activities, including the "Caravan of Stars", fell by the wayside as they mourned the loss of their leader.

Five years later, Dion would record a poignant tribute to some of America's greatest agents of social change, including John Kennedy and his also recently assassinated brother, Robert.  It would be a million seller, and become a Top 5 hit.  From a 1968 performance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour..........

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Today in 1957, a soon-to-be-legendary music duo made their national television debut on American Bandstand, but under a different name than the one they would soon adopt.  Who were they, and under what name did they appear that day? 

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

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

Which music superstar received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday in 1975 in conjunction with the declaration of a week in his honor declared by the Mayor of Los Angeles?

Answer: Elton John

 

 

 

  

 

 

Today In Oldies 11/21/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......where Oldies news comes first!

• Another Bee Gee is fighting for his life
• A former Pointer Sister is arrested
• A legendary singer and songwriter is inducted (posthumously) into his home state's Hall of Fame
• The Boss heads out on the road and has a new album coming in 2012

You're The Tops!

Among the #1 songs for the week ending November 21 throughout the years.......

The shortest #1 song in history, clocking in at 1 minute, 39 second........

A song credited to a TV "family", but only 2 members of the show's cast actually participated in recording it.........

 

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Which music superstar received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today in 1975 in conjunction with the declaration of a week in his honor declared by the Mayor of Los Angeles?

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

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

The name on his birth certificate reads "Steven Georgiou", and now he goes by yet another adopted name, but his 70's era stint topping the music charts came under the name ______________?

Answer: Cat Stevens

Today In Oldies 11/18/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....Oldies news you can depend on! 

• While The Rolling Stones are waffling on 50th Anniversary tour plans, one band is a go for their 40th birthday! 
• Speaking of The Stones, Keith Richards is talking about his 1977 arrest, the Some Girls reissue, and their upcoming London jam session
• The writer of a number of 60's classics, including "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini", has died
• A snippet of a previously unreleased Doors track has come to light 
• Who has taken on Kansas's "Dust in the Wind"......with disastrous results?  Click here to see the clip! 

Who Moved My CDs? 

As an Oldies fan, your music library has most been fully replaced at least a few times over the course of your life.....from vinyl, to cassette, and currently CDs, with the possibility of a few 8-tracks as well during a misguided era of the 70's.  In the opinion of several music industry analysts, you may soon be forced to change it again. The question is, how soon?

As with many hot button issues, there are varied opinions on that.  An online publication speculates it could be as early as next year that the major labels plan to abandon the CD format and begin to offer music exclusively via digital download.  Billboard advises us not to throw out our CD collection with the bath water just yet, and foresees at least a few more years of viability for the format.  And while CD sales have declined sharply over the past few years, they still account for 74% of all music sales in the U.S. according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Today in 1978, the first album to ever be commercially released on CD spent its first week at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart.  Four years later, it would be the very first album to usher in a new format and cause us to spend a small fortune replacing our cassettes and vinyl. 

Here's a sample from that album, the biggest hit from Billy Joel's 52nd Street......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

One of rock and roll's most notorious marriages came to an end today in 1970.  Who were the no longer happily married divorcees? 

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

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

The name on his birth certificate reads "Steven Georgiou", and now he goes by yet another adopted name, but his 70's era stint topping the music charts came under the name ______________?

Answer: Cat Stevens

Today In Oldies 11/17/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......all the Oldies news, all in one place!

• Were you planning to put in a bid on Michael Jackson's death bed?  Now you can spend that money somewhere else.
• Speaking of the King of Pop, a remixed single featuring two of his 70's hits will hit stores and iTunes just in time for your holiday shopping  
• And finally, with a biopic in the works, who would you like to see play Michael Jackson on the silver screen? 
• Which music legend "occupied" Toronto to support his daughter?
• Sir Cliff Richard has something to say about being banned by a new British oldies radio station
• And so does Nile Rodgers of Chic
• A 60's legend, currently homeless in the Los Angeles area, will steer clear of jail on April drug charges
• A letter written by Paul McCartney, which just auctioned for $55,000, proves that Pete Best was never meant to be their permanent drummer

Mamma Mia........That's a Lot of Records Sold!

Today was a banner day in the life of one of music's biggest selling supergroups in more ways than one.  On November 17, 1974, they played their first concert outside their homeland of Sweden.  Earlier that year, they won the famed Eurovision Song Contest and were well on their way to becoming global superstars.  In fact, five years later, and on the very same day, they were certified in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest selling recording artists of all time!  That record would be eclipsed by several artists over the years, but you could safely argue that they are easily the most recognizable and well loved artists worldwide beyond American shores. 

Among their other career milestones......21 songs that hit number one in at least one country, record sales that stand at 370 million and counting worldwide, a smash Broadway musical based on their song catalog that also became a blockbuster feature film, and after unofficially calling it quits in 1982, they have turned down offers as big as one billion dollars (US) to reunite for a single show! 

November 17th is a monumental day in the life of ABBA, and a year after they broke through in Europe, they came to conquer America.  Here are clips of an early TV appearance on American Bandstand, featuring a performance of "S.O.S." followed by an interview with host Dick Clark......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

The name on his birth certificate reads "Steven Georgiou", and now he goes by yet another adopted name, but his 70's era stint topping the music charts came under the name ______________?

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

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

What is the shortest #1 song in rock and roll history?

Answer: Clocking in at a marathon time of 1 minute, 39 seconds (although the label on the 45 RPM record said 1 minute, 50 seconds), it is "Stay" by Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs

Today In Oldies 11/16/11

Welcome to Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.......covering the who, what, when, where and why of your favorite artists from three decades! 

• He's one of Britain's all-time biggest hitmakers, he still has a legion of dedicated fans, and he's been Knighted by the Queen.  So why won't a new British Oldies radio station be playing his music?  (And don't worry, we'll still play him on Golden Hits Radio!)
• Chicago......coming soon to a theater near you!
• Would Patti LaBelle really have cursed out an 18 month old baby?!?!?!
• The unearthing of some never-before-released Queen material could bring to light a duet featuring Freddie Mercury and a "King".     

Two Thumbs WAYYYYYYYYYY Down! 
It is nowhere near an exaggeration to call The Beatles the most decorated, celebrated, and revered musical act in rock and roll history.  That makes the task of doing anything involving their music far more daunting.  Recently, the Cirque de Soleil show Love playing at the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas and the 2007 movie musical Across The Universe have received rave reviews for their treatment of the Fab Four's music in their respective productions.  Early attempts to use Beatles tunes to tell a story on the big screen, however, including 2 films that premiered about 18 months apart in the 70's, proved to be nothing short of disastrous.

One of the first attempts to capitalize on the Beatles catalog on the big screen was a documentary using their music to "narrate" World War II newsreel footage and clips from 20th Century Fox films of the 40's.  Directed by Susan Winslow, All This and World War II featured a soundtrack of Beatles covers by the likes of The Bee Gees, Elton John, The Four Seasons, Tina Turner, Helen Reddy, and a host of others.  It proved to be a fiasco of epic proportions, with the New York Daily News saying its PG rating stood for "Positively Ghastly".  After a two week run in theaters with a disastrous box office take, All That and World War II was pulled from theaters.  It has never seen the light of day on home video, DVD, or Blu-ray, but it has been shown, albeit very rarely, on American cable television.

There was no bigger behind the scenes name in the media business in the late 70's than Robert Stigwood.  He had propelled Cream and The Bee Gees into superstardom in the 60's, and by the 70's he had turned his attention to the Broadway stage and the big screen.  Two of his theatrical productions, Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair, were worldwide smashes that spawned successful feature film versions.  He also turned The Who's rock opera Tommy into a box office hit.  His next two films would become two of the biggest blockbusters in movie history, one of which revived the musical fortunes of a group he had made stars in the 60's.  Saturday Night Fever made John Travolta a superstar and made The Bee Gees bigger than ever.  His next production, the film version of the hit Broadway musical Grease, continued his hot streak.  So what would his next big screen spectacle be?  After all, he could do no wrong in those days, right?

With the biggest names in music part of his roster, he decided to take on the biggest name in music history.  He received the blessing of Apple Corps and even brought in legendary music producer George Martin to serve as musical director, conductor, and arranger of the companion soundtrack album.  How could you go wrong with The Bee Gees starring in Stigwood's interpretation of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band surrounded by one of the biggest star-studded casts in history, including cameos by everyone from Steve Martin to George Burns to Connie Stevens and a giant roster of diverse musicians including Hank Williams, Jr., Wilson Pickett, Peter Frampton (as Billy Shears), Aerosmith, and Earth, Wind, and Fire?

Trouble seemed to follow Sgt. Pepper from the beginning of production.  The Bee Gees, discovering the movie's high potential to be a bomb, tried to quit but were rebuffed by Stigwood.  The film's original director, Chris Bearde, was sacked early in shooting.  The finished product was savaged by critics and is generally regarded as one of the worst film musicals ever made.

Here is a rare look at a 10 minute segment of All That and World War II.........



One of the rare moments of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band that some critics actually praised was Steve Martin's performance of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"........



Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

What is the shortest #1 song in rock and roll history?

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

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

Which TV sitcom brought together Oldies legends Spencer Davis, Richie Havens, Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere & The Raiders), Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits), John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful), and Robby Krieger (The Doors) on a 1992 episode?

Answer: A 1992 episode of Married: With Children saw the Bundy family pose as rock stars and  end up in first class on an airplane flight with the aforementioned artists

Today In Oldies 11/15/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......we've got a nose for Oldies news! 

• He's one of the great artists you've never heard of.....special education teacher by day, friend of The Boss by night
• You can't do a Christmas album without a handful of special guests, and Chicago is no exception
• Your favorite 50's, 60's, and 70's artists have new CDs and digital albums out today! 
• Pledge drive time on your local PBS station in December means some great music for Oldies lovers!
• Maybe The Rolling Stones will tour next year to mark their 50th anniversary, or maybe they won't 

Look Ma......We're On TV!

Before the 500 channel TV world we live in these days, there was never much of an opportunity to see your favorite music stars outside of shows dedicated to music, i.e. Shindig!, American Bandstand, The Midnight Special, etc.  But if you were really big, you made it to prime time with your own special!  Some of the more notable ones were Elvis Presley's 1968 "Comeback" special and Barbra Streisand's My Name Is Barbra.  In 1979, there was no bigger name in music than The Bee Gees, and on November 15th that year, it was their turn for their first prime time network special, seen on NBC. 

As you will see below, the special revolves around their 1979 "Spirits Having Flown" concert tour, with concert footage interspersed with footage from an interview with British personality David Frost.  While The Bee Gees were unmistakably a pop act, there are appearances from country music legends Glenn Campbell and Willie Nelson joining the group for a jam session. 

Rarely seen since its original airing, most of the special, in order, can be seen by clicking below (Parts 1-12 top to bottom).................

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Which TV sitcom brought together Oldies legends Spencer Davis, Richie Havens, Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere & The Raiders), Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits), John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful), and Robby Krieger (The Doors) on a 1992 episode? 

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

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

Elvis Presley's 1968 film Speedway wasn't originally intended for Elvis and his co-star, Nancy Sinatra.  It was originally a vehicle for which legendary male/female musical and comedy duo?

 

Answer: Sonny and Cher 

 

Today In Oldies 11/14/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....back from the weekend with all the Oldies news, all the time!

• A classic album is being reissued next year with "amazing" bonus material
• Pete Townshend claims it's been almost 40 years since The Who did a great album!
• One of the most iconic recording studios in music history turns 80
• The most famous resident of Berkshire, Massachusetts will star in the local theater production of A Christmas Carol
• Two members of a heavily influential 60's group are inducted into their home state's music Hall of Fame

Reunited......and it sounds so good!

Today in 1987, one of music's most successful multimedia duos got back together for the first time since a brief TV appearance in 1979.  They had only planned on a TV interview, but they were coaxed into doing what made them famous. 

The often tumultuous professional career and marriage of Sonny and Cher had, for all practical purposes, come to an end with the cancellation of The Sonny and Cher Show on CBS in 1977.  Aside from a brief 1979 reunion on The Mike Douglas Show, the two had not appeared in public in any forum for eight years.  In the meantime, both had turned primarily to acting, with Sonny doing bit parts in both TV shows and feature films and Cher becoming a bona fide movie star with lead roles in Silkwood, Mask,The Witches of Eastwick, and her Academy Award winning performance in Moonstruck.  She made a triumphant return to the studio and concert stage in 1987, and she chose late night TV to make her first appearance with Sonny in 8 years. 

Cher's history with talk show host David Letterman had been standoffish at best.  With her first appearance in 1986, a pre-interview remark she made to producers about why she'd never previously appeared on the show came back to haunt her on Dave's couch.  When Letterman asked why she'd never been on before, she used a derogatory term (which couldn't be used on American television) to describe him.  While the on-air incident made headlines, she was comfortable enough with the appearance to return a year later and bring Sonny with her for a televised reunion. 

Cher was there to promote her platinum self-titled album, her first in five years.  Sensing a promotional opportunity, Letterman's producers talked her into reuniting with Sonny for her November 14, 1987 appearance.  According to the on air banter between Cher and Letterman, there were no original plans for her do to a song with Sonny, but once it was discussed on the couch, the studio audience (and, no doubt, millions of TV viewers tuned in that night) got what they wanted.  Sonny and Cher did an impromptu version of their biggest hit, bringing an appropriate end to what would turn out to be their final public appearance together. 

Here is the interview, followed by a top notch performance of "I Got You Babe", from Late Night with David Letterman, November 24, 1987.........

 

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Elvis Presley's 1968 film Speedway wasn't originally intended for Elvis and his co-star, Nancy Sinatra.  It was originally a vehicle for which legendary male/female musical and comedy duo?

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

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

   Which Rolling Stones hit did the band originally refuse to record because they thought it sounded too "girly"?

Answer: "As Tears Go By", which, ironically, was a hit for a girl (Marianne Faithfull, Mick Jagger's girlfriend at the time) before The Stones had a Top 10 hit with it themselves in 1965. 

 

Today In Oldies 11/11/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....we love the music of the 50's, 60's and 70's just like you! 

• Why is Michael Jackson's estate trying to kill an upcoming MSNBC documentary?
• One of the biggest multimedia stars of the 50's and 60's will see her first album in 17 years released Stateside in a few weeks!  
• Another pop superstar has moved to Nashville to make music
• A 70's star does a Christmas song for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
• The singer of a 1962 hit (and answer to another hit by Barbara George) and original credited writer of the Rolling Stones' "Time Is On My Side" has died

Alive and Kicking

Have you ever heard Mark Twain's famous quote, "The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated"?  While it seems like celebrity death rumors are a dime a dozen these days, in the time when news traveled a little slower and TV was still in its infancy, an R&B legend was the subject of a death rumor that proved to also be a little off. 

Two legends touring with a gospel group called the Pilgrim Travelers would go on to superstardom on the R&B and pop charts in the 50's, 60's, and 70's.  This week in 1958, however, their careers almost ended rather abruptly.  

While being chauffeured through Marion, Arkansas, their car crashed.  The two stars were injured, but one was mistakenly pronounced dead at the scene by police working the accident.  The chauffeur did indeed die in the crash, but fortunately for music lovers, the artist mistakenly declared dead was spared and would go on to much greater success in both music and philanthropic efforts. 

One of the two would go on to become a charter member (posthumously) of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.  From a 1957 appearance on American Bandstand...........

And the guy who was supposed to be dead on the scene?  18 years after the crash, he had his first Billboard Top 10 hit!  Not bad for someone who was supposed to be 6 feet under.  From a 1976 performance on The Midnight Special.......

 

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Which Rolling Stones hit did the band originally refuse to record because they thought it sounded too "girly"?

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

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

 Everyone remembers February 9, 1964 as the night The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, but another future rock star was also on the show that night.  Who was he?

Answer: Davy Jones of The Monkees (as a member of the Broadway cast of Oliver)

 

 

 

Today In Oldies 11/10/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....all the 50s, 60s, and 70s music news that's fit to print! 

• They've been feuding quite a bit recently, but look who's gonna be jamming together again soon!
• Speaking of that band, one of their members has won a very distinguished honor for his best-selling autobiography
• Which legendary producer did Billy Joel tell "thanks, but no thanks" when he offered to produce one of his albums?
• Now you can own the house and death bed of the King of Pop!

Three Places at Once!

After having our cracked staff do some research, it appears chart history was made this week in 1957 that has not, and most likely will not, ever be repeated. 

The wide-ranging appeal of rock and roll in its early days was evident in the fact that many of its biggest early hits crossed over to the Country and R&B charts, but few ever spread across all three.  Two artists changed all that, and set a rare chart feat in the process. 

The #1 and #2 positions on the Billboard Hot 100, Country Singles, and R&B Singles chart were held by the same two songs, by the same two artists, and in the same order on all three.  These days, the idea of a pop hit crossing over to both the R&B and Country charts seems ludicrous, but these were unusual times.  A young man who had taken the world by storm and a young duo known for their amazing harmonies pulled it off, and would forever have a unique niche in music history. 

This week in 1957, the #2 Pop, Country, and R&B hit came from a a family act.  The footage comes from a performance on The Perry Como Show.........

The #1 song came from a movie that was 10 days away from nationwide release.........starring a King.......

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Everyone remembers February 9, 1964 as the night The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, but another future rock star was also on the show that night?  Who was he? 

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

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

Who was the first British artist to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100? 

Answer: The Tornadoes' "Telstar" in 1962

 

 

 

Today In Oldies 11/9/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....All the news about your favorite artists from the 50's, 60's, and 70's......all the time! 

• In the 60s they protested the Vietnam War.  Now they're Occupying Wall Street
• One of Canada's finest musicians has died
• A book covering the life of Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, will be out soon.  Here's a photo gallery with some pictures from it.
• It's gonna be a big 2012 for Bob Seger! 

 

Stumblin' In to Happy Days 

This week in 1977, more than 20 million TV viewers were hooked on Happy Days.  The look back at life in the 50's was eclipsed in the Nielsen ratings only by another show set 2 decades earlier, Laverne & Shirley.  The episode airing November 8, 1977 introduced viewers to a new recurring character.  Leather Tuscadero (sister of recurring character Pinky Tuscadero, one of Fonzie's girlfriends) is a rough-and-tumble 18 year old with a shady past who comes to Milwaukee looking for a regular gig for her band, Leather and the Suedes.  

Leather was portrayed by a singer and actress who was already well known in Europe and Australia but mostly obscure in America.  Producer Garry Marshall cast her without an audition after seeing a poster of her on his daughter's bedroom wall.  Suzi Quatro's American breakthrough came on TV, with Leather becoming a recurring role.  A year later, her time in the American music spotlight finally came.  In 1978, she teamed with Chris Norman to score a Top 5 U.S. hit, Stumblin' In.  Success would be fleeting, with only a handful of episodes as Leather to her credit and one American music hit, but for a brief moment, they were Happy Days indeed for Suzi Quatro.  

Here's a clip from Happy Days featuring Suzi Quatro as Leather Tuscadero (we're going to go out on a limb and guess that Ron Howard is not actually playing the guitar here), followed by her one hit American wonder, Stumblin' In. 

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Who was the first British artist to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100? 

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

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

Which album was the first to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart?

Answer: Elton John's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

Today In Oldies 11/8/11

Welcome to Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......where we've got a nose for news about your favorite artists and your favorite decades! 

• Dr. Conrad Murray........GUILTY of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson
• His time in prison, however, might be short
• How did Michael's family react?
• How difficult was it to finish The Beach Boys' aborted 1967 album Smile?  An excerpt from a decades-old magazine article gives us a look behind the scenes  
• A woman who gave us several hits in the 60's has been cutting a rug on reality TV the past few weeks.  How did she do?
• Who's the latest group to have their body of work turned into a musical?  
• Your favorite artists from the 50s, 60s, and 70s have new CDs in stores this week!

 

Use Your Head

This week in 1968, a group who had been cast in the teen idol mold on TV and on the music charts attempted to make a radical departure from that image.  The results were nothing short of disastrous. 

The Monkees had been a hit with both record buyers and TV audiences as sort of a made-for-TV Beatles, but the lack of respect that went along with it (like the moniker "Prefab Four" given to them by one critic) left them feeling they needed a vehicle to shed the squeaky clean image and be taken seriously by a changing musical audience.  With the help of one of the producers of their TV show, Bob Rafelson, and none other than co-writer and co-producer Jack Nicholson, they set out to change their image. 

The result of their effort was a feature film called Head.  It was part concert film and part collection of random images, most of which depicted the events of the era, i.e. the Vietnam War.  There was no plot to speak of and a series of random cameos from celebrities as diverse as Dennis Hopper, Annette Funicello, and boxer Sonny Liston.  It is definitely a product of its time, and critics and audiences didn't get it. 

Head marked the unofficial end of The Monkees, with an abysmal box office gross and its accompanying soundtrack album failing to reach the Top 50.  It has found a cult following through the years, however, with VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray video releases. 

Would you have gone to see Head in theaters this week in 1968 based on this trailer?

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Which album was the first to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart?

Find the answer by coming back to Everything Oldies tomorrow, and leave a Comment below with your best guess!

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

Who was the first Motown act to appear on American Bandstand?

Answer: Smokey Robinson and The Miracles

 

Today In Oldies 11/6/11

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies......back to bring you all that's news from the people who made the music of the 50's, 60's, and 70's

• A music legend delivers sad news to a concert audience over the weekend
• Want proof that hardcore Beatles fans will buy anything related to the Fab Four? 
• The Boss can still burn the midnight oil!
• One of the all time great songs from any genre turns 50

Before there was American Idol..........

The quickest ticket to music stardom these days seems to be the never-ending stream of TV reality shows, led by American Idol, The Voice, and The X Factor.  Oldies fans realize, however, that televised talent shows are certainly nothing new.  From Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts to Star Search, TV producers have been searching for the "next big thing" since the dawn of the medium.  Occasionally, they would hit the jackpot.  

In 1968, what became the most successful brother/sister duo of all time was a trio, with the third member being bassist Wes Jacobs.  After more than one failed record deal, they were entering talent competitions around the Los Angeles area, and their break came when they were booked to compete on a short-lived TV talent show called Your All-American College Show.  It would be their first national TV appearance, and within a year, Herb Alpert would sign them to A&M Records, where they would become household names. 

Who knew The Carpenters were the product of one of the early TV talent competitons?  And now, thanks to the magic of YouTube, here is their first TV appearance (still under the name The Dick Carpenter Trio) that paved the way to superstardom! 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Who was the first Motown act to appear on American Bandstand?

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