Today In Oldies 12/21/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......where Santa comes for Oldies news

• A legendary record label impresario recalls not being impressed upon first hearing a band of Rock & Roll Hall of Famers
• Another 60s music legend and Hall of Famer recounts his journey to the top 
• Did a Rolling Stone just drop a hint that a tour may be in the works next year?
• Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet takes in a Stray Cat
• Who will be serenading this year's Miss America contestants in Las Vegas?
• Your favorite artists from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s have new CDs in stores

Oldies on TV

• Bette Midler - Regis and Kelly - syndicated (check local listings)
• Los Lobos - Conan - TBS (11:00 p.m. Eastern/10:00 p.m. Central)

Behind The (Christmas) Music

This week, Everything Oldies tells the stories behind the classic pop Christmas songs and albums you've come to know and love.  From the original titles of some of your favorite Yuletide standards to the story of how unforeseen bad timing kept a classic 60's Christmas album from being fully appreciated upon its release, we hope you enjoy the tales that go along with the songs that have made Christmas merrier for many years.....

• When is a Christmas Song NOT a "Christmas Song"? 

A 1984 song that has become a holiday classic is a Christmas song in title only.  In spite of being just a failed relationship song that happens to reference Christmas, it has become as big as many established Christmas songs that revolve around the season and its traditions.  In the 26 years since its first release, it has been covered by more than 70 artists across all musical genres!  It is the biggest selling single, holiday or otherwise, of all time in the UK to never reach #1.  While it was not a chart hit in the U.S., it has become a staple around the holidays on radio stations who play continuous Christmas music.  Ironically, what was conceived as a charity single to benefit an organization for Ethiopian famine relief was kept out of the #1 slot in Britain by another all-star Christmas charity single written by the organization's founder. 

Wham! was the most dominant pop group on the British charts in the 80's, and George Michael wrote a song about a failed relationship referencing the Christmas season as a charity single.  It was expected to be in a battle for the #1 spot on the British chart at the time with another hot pop act at the time, Frankie Goes To Hollywood.  The song Michael wrote, "Last Christmas", was indeed involved in a race to the top of the charts, but from an unexpected competitor and one with which Wham! had some involvement.  "Last Christmas" was a smash, hitting #2 on the British pop charts and ultimately selling over a million copies, but the song which kept it from reaching the pinnacle was also a charity single.  Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof formed an all-star choir known as Band Aid, featuring most of the superstars on the British music scene from the era, including members of Culture Club, Genesis, Duran Duran, Bananarama, U2, and Kool and the Gang.  Wham! had also participated, with George Michael doing a few solo lines in the song.  Geldof's song, "Do They Know It's Christmas", garnered much of the attention due to its starpower and became the holiday song that year.  With proceeds from "Last Christmas" also benefitting African famine relief, millions were raised from sales of the two singles alone to fight hunger.  In fact, Wham! had the last laugh, eventually raising more money via "Last Christmas" than Band Aid thanks to subsequent annual re-releases of the song until Wham!'s breakup in 1987. The song actually was a much bigger smash worldwide than "Do They Know It's Christmas?", hitting #1 in Ireland and Top 10 in several countries around the globe. 

Along with the charitable benefits of "Last Christmas", it clearly struck a chord with the Gen X crowd.  It has been covered dozens of times since Wham! had a hit with it, being done by current chart topping acts such as Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and the cast of Glee.  You certainly don't have to listen too long to hear the Christmas song that isn't really a Christmas song on the radio this time of the year........

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

Two Billy Joel songs have doubled as TV show theme songs over the years.  Name both of them.

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

"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" began as a promotional vehicle for what now defunct department store chain?

Answer: Montgomery Ward

 

Today In Oldies 12/21/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......where Santa comes for Oldies news

• A legendary record label impresario recalls not being impressed upon first hearing a band of Rock & Roll Hall of Famers
• Another 60s music legend and Hall of Famer recounts his journey to the top 
• Did a Rolling Stone just drop a hint that a tour may be in the works next year?
• Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet takes in a Stray Cat
• Who will be serenading this year's Miss America contestants in Las Vegas?
• Your favorite artists from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s have new CDs in stores

Oldies on TV

• Bette Midler - Regis and Kelly - syndicated (check local listings)
• Los Lobos - Conan - TBS (11:00 p.m. Eastern/10:00 p.m. Central)

Behind The (Christmas) Music

This week, Everything Oldies tells the stories behind the classic pop Christmas songs and albums you've come to know and love.  From the original titles of some of your favorite Yuletide standards to the story of how unforeseen bad timing kept a classic 60's Christmas album from being fully appreciated upon its release, we hope you enjoy the tales that go along with the songs that have made Christmas merrier for many years.....

• When is a Christmas Song NOT a "Christmas Song"? 

A 1984 song that has become a holiday classic is a Christmas song in title only.  In spite of being just a failed relationship song that happens to reference Christmas, it has become as big as many established Christmas songs that revolve around the season and its traditions.  In the 26 years since its first release, it has been covered by more than 70 artists across all musical genres!  It is the biggest selling single, holiday or otherwise, of all time in the UK to never reach #1.  While it was not a chart hit in the U.S., it has become a staple around the holidays on radio stations who play continuous Christmas music.  Ironically, what was conceived as a charity single to benefit an organization for Ethiopian famine relief was kept out of the #1 slot in Britain by another all-star Christmas charity single written by the organization's founder. 

Wham! was the most dominant pop group on the British charts in the 80's, and George Michael wrote a song about a failed relationship referencing the Christmas season as a charity single.  It was expected to be in a battle for the #1 spot on the British chart at the time with another hot pop act at the time, Frankie Goes To Hollywood.  The song Michael wrote, "Last Christmas", was indeed involved in a race to the top of the charts, but from an unexpected competitor and one with which Wham! had some involvement.  "Last Christmas" was a smash, hitting #2 on the British pop charts and ultimately selling over a million copies, but the song which kept it from reaching the pinnacle was also a charity single.  Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof formed an all-star choir known as Band Aid, featuring most of the superstars on the British music scene from the era, including members of Culture Club, Genesis, Duran Duran, Bananarama, U2, and Kool and the Gang.  Wham! had also participated, with George Michael doing a few solo lines in the song.  Geldof's song, "Do They Know It's Christmas", garnered much of the attention due to its starpower and became the holiday song that year.  With proceeds from "Last Christmas" also benefitting African famine relief, millions were raised from sales of the two singles alone to fight hunger.  In fact, Wham! had the last laugh, eventually raising more money via "Last Christmas" than Band Aid thanks to subsequent annual re-releases of the song until Wham!'s breakup in 1987. The song actually was a much bigger smash worldwide than "Do They Know It's Christmas?", hitting #1 in Ireland and Top 10 in several countries around the globe. 

Along with the charitable benefits of "Last Christmas", it clearly struck a chord with the Gen X crowd.  It has been covered dozens of times since Wham! had a hit with it, being done by current chart topping acts such as Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and the cast of Glee.  You certainly don't have to listen too long to hear the Christmas song that isn't really a Christmas song on the radio this time of the year........

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

Two Billy Joel songs have doubled as TV show theme songs over the years.  Name both of them.

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

"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" began as a promotional vehicle for what now defunct department store chain?

Answer: Montgomery Ward

 

Today In Oldies 12/20/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies......stuffing your stocking with Oldies news!

• Want a suit worn by John Lennon on the cover of a landmark album?  It's probably gonna cost you
• You'll never believe whose house might become a music school!
• Who's the latest group to have their music get the full Broadway musical treatment?
• What is it that's worrying Ronnie Spector these days?
• Blondie's Debbie Harry recalls a close encounter with a notorious serial killer

Behind The (Christmas) Music

This week, Everything Oldies tells the stories behind the classic pop Christmas songs and albums you've come to know and love.  From the original titles of some of your favorite Yuletide standards to the story of how unforeseen bad timing kept a classic 60's Christmas album from being fully appreciated upon its release, we hope you enjoy the tales that go along with the songs that have made Christmas merrier for many years.....

• An Unwanted 'Gift'

Brian Wilson calls it his favorite album of all time.  It has a spot on many critics' Top 10 list of the greatest albums ever recorded.  It ranks in the top half of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, holiday themed or otherwise.  So why was it a commercial flop upon its release, and to this day nowhere to be found among the best selling Christmas albums of all time?  The most likely culprit is a case of the most unfortunate timing in music history involving an event which forever changed a nation. 

In 1963, there was no name bigger among music producers and moguls in the pre-Beatles era than Phil Spector.  He had several #1 songs under his belt, and in addition to producing multiple artists and serving in executive capacities with other record labels, he also had his own label, Philles Records.  His perfection of the "Wall of Sound" production style featuring session musicians collectively known as the Wrecking Crew (including Glen Campbell, Hal Blaine, Sonny Bono, and Leon Russell) had produced a string of chart hits, including 2 songs that are staples on Oldies radio years later ("Be My Baby" by The Ronettes and "He's A Rebel" by Darlene Love and The Blossoms).  Spector had put an emphasis on singles, eschewing the album format, but that would change when he decided to employ the full resources of Philles Records including its entire artist roster along with the "Wall of Sound" and the Wrecking Crew for what he thought would make record store cash registers ring and radio station turntables spin that Christmas season. 

Featuring songs which had become traditional Christmas standards, Spector put a fresh spin on them for A Christmas Gift For You.  The first single, "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)", featured virtuoso vocals from Darlene Love.  Other highlights include the three songs contributed by The Ronettes ("Sleigh Ride", "Frosty The Snowman", and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus") and The Crystals' rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town".  With Spector's imprint and the Wrecking Crew's musical prowess, it appeared to be a combination that would be unstoppable on the radio and in record stores. 

So what went wrong that caused A Christmas Gift For You to be an epic failure at first?  It wasn't the marketing effort.  It certainly wasn't the lack of creativity.  It had everything to do with the release date of the album, set months before anyone would have any way of knowing the events that would unfold.  A Christmas Gift For You had only been on record store shelves for a few hours on its release date, Friday, November 22, 1963, when Walter Cronkite announced to the nation that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas, Texas.  The collective mood of the country was a very somber one for the holiday season in 1963, making celebrations muted.  Phil Spector's Christmas Gift wasn't what the country was ready for during this time of tragedy. 

Fortunately, the story of Spector's epic album has a happy ending.  It has been reissued in various formats almost a dozen times, and with each successive re-release its legend, and critical acclaim, has grown.  The combined sales of the reissues of A Christmas Gift For You total in the millions, and although none of them have sold enough to crack Billboard's list of the Top Christmas Albums of All Time, it has reached its potential comercially, and with the proliferation of wall-to-wall Christmas music formats on radio stations across the country, several of the singles from the album, including The Ronettes' "Sleigh Ride" and Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)", have become holiday standards in their own right.  Bruce Springsteen's classic rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" was inspired by The Crystals' rendition on the album, and U2's cover of "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" was modeled closely after Darlene Love's.  Love performs the song each year on the Christmas episode of David Letterman's Late Show (scheduled this year for Dec. 23). 

Before he began killing girlfriends, Phil Spector was just another creative genius who gave us a Christmas masterpiece..........

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

"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" began as a promotional vehicle for what now defunct department store chain?

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

Who was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums hit #1 on the Billboard album charts?

Answer: Donna Summer

 

Today In Oldies 12/17/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies stands for Oldies news!

• Aretha Franklin speaks for the first time about her health issues
• The band will be back together for one artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year
• A 70's star holds his annual fundraiser
• Which 80's star, in the news for all the wrong reasons recently, could be a judge on Simon Cowell's American version of The X Factor?
• Paul McCartney gets intimate to save a London club from extinction

A Shot At The Title

All this week, Everything Oldies will play "What if?", as we spotlight songs with their original working titles.  Imagine what a different world we'd live in if the most covered song of all time were The Beatles' classic, "Scrambled Eggs".....which was the original working title of......"Yesterday".  Enjoy the stories behind the titles.....and why they changed.

• This Doobie Brothers classic had several different names before it was officially recorded and released.  Lead singer and songwriter Tom Johnston explained that it began as a song with no real lyrics, merely providing filler on the group's set list in their early days playing live.  Names for the song included "Osborne" and "Parliament".  Upon signing with Warner Brothers Records, producer Ted Templeman heard the song and suggested they should cut it.  At that point, Johnston gave the song some lyrics built around a transportation theme, and the song with multiple names finally settled on a permanent one.......

• With this song, we can safely declare that not only would it have never been a #1 hit under its original title, it likely would have never received the first spin on a radio station turntable.  The song was born on New Year's Eve 1977, when two members of Chic, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, were denied entrance into New York's legendary Studio 54.  They were just beginning to break big, and at least two of their songs, "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "Everybody Dance", were staples of the club's playlist.  Dejected, they returned to Rodgers' apartment and began to write a song in protest of the club and what had happened.  In their furor, they began to chant "Ahhhh, f--- off!" as the basis for, and title of, the song.  Later that night, they wisely decided against naming the song "F-- Off" when Rodgers came up with "Ahhhhhh, freak out!"  Those were the first words of a song that became a smash that hit #1 three different times as.......

• Paul McCartney's song about a lonely old woman he encountered growing up in England was written with the working title "Miss Daisy Hawkins".  The title under which we know and love it is a combination of an actress's first name and the name of a wine and spirit shipping center.  According to Rolling Stone, when McCartney first played it for his neighbor, singer Donovan ("Sunshine Superman", "Mellow Yellow"), the lyrics were "Ola Na Tungee, blowing his mind in the dark with a pipe full of clay."  Bear in mind that many "mind expanding" substances were being used in those days.  The actress in question is Eleanor Bron.  The shipping center was named Rigby and Evens Ltd Wine and Spirit Shipper.  And the hit for The Beatles became............

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

Who was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums hit #1 on the Billboard album charts?

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

Over the course of its 8-year run on TV, Solid Gold had a total of 5 different hosts.  Name three.

Answer: Dionne Warwick, Marilyn McCoo, Andy Gibb (co-host w/ McCoo), Rex Smith (co-host w/ McCoo), and Rick Dees

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Today In Oldies 12/16/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......No chit chat.  More Oldies news!

• The Queen of Soul is home and "in great spirits"  
• How will Michael Jackson's "new CD" perform its first week in record stores?
• A legendary record producer and artist laments the boom of iTunes and the death of album liner notes 
• Rock's most famous groupie speaks out.....and says her kind gets a bad rap
• Who were the most notable snubs among this years Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class.....and why?

Oldies on TV

• Stevie Wonder - Tavis Smiley - PBS (check local listings)
• Paul Simon - The Colbert Report - Comedy Central (11:30 Eastern/10:30 Central)

A Shot At The Title

All this week, Everything Oldies will play "What if?", as we spotlight songs with their original working titles.  Imagine what a different world we'd live in if the most covered song of all time were The Beatles' classic, "Scrambled Eggs".....which was the original working title of......"Yesterday".  Enjoy the stories behind the titles.....and why they changed.

• The title of this one hit wonder, originally written as an ode to influential British singer/songwriter Nick Drake, was originally titled "Morning Lasted All Day".  Their record label was less than enthused with the song, feeling it needed more drums.  The band refused to change it, but did give it a different title.  The retitled song became a Top 10 hit for the Dream Academy.  The title became.....

• This early disco classic began with the name "Drive Talking".  Producer Arif Mardin suggested a name change to play to teenage sensibilities of the time, so a word used to indicate slang was substituted for "drive", and the song became a smash.  The Bee Gees took "Drive Talking" all the way to the top of the charts in 1975 as.......

• Originally a B-side, this song began its life as "That's What I Like".  While the A-side got some airplay, the B-side eventually became a smash and one of the most played songs of 1958.  Its legend would grow even bigger with the death of the artist on The Day The Music Died.  We know "That's What I Like" better as..........

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

Over the course of its 8-year run on TV, Solid Gold had a total of 5 different hosts.  Name three. 

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

What do Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones all have in common?

Answer: Each one died at the age of 27.  Hendrix, Joplin, and Morrison also have something else in common, having all passed in 1970. 

 

Today In Oldies 12/15/2010

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

• First up on the agenda for Sony's 10 album megadeal w/ the late Michael Jackson......a reissue of one his his classics
• How did the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees react to the news that they were in?  We get it straight from the source with Dr. John, Alice Cooper, Darlene Love, and Neil Diamond!
• Levon Helm is hospitalized
• Remember the rather bizarre pairing of Bing Crosby and David Bowie that produced "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" for a TV special in 1977?  It's parodied by two Hollywood heavyweights here. 
• Daryl Hall's internet series comes to real TV New Year's Eve! 
• Here's a look at this week's new (and reissued) CD releases from many of the folks heard each day @ Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2

Oldies On TV

• Natalie Cole - Christmas With The Tabernacle Choir - PBS (check local listings)
• Barbra Streisand - Larry King Live - CNN (9:00 Eastern/8:00 Pacific)
• Roger Waters - Conan - TBS (11:00 Eastern/10:00 Central)
• Ronnie Spector - Late Show With David Letterman - CBS (11:35 Eastern/10:35 Pacific)
• Annie Lennox - Late Night With Jimmy Fallon - NBC (12:35 Eastern/11:35 Pacific)

A Shot At The Title

All this week, Everything Oldies will play "What if?", as we spotlight songs with their original working titles.  Imagine what a different world we'd live in if the most covered song of all time were The Beatles' classic, "Scrambled Eggs".....which was the original working title of......"Yesterday".  Enjoy the stories behind the titles.....and why they changed.

• The title of this 1959 hit was changed due to the founder of the record label of which it was released (which was founded by a Seattle DJ for the sole purpose of distributing music made by a single act) thinking the original title would be too suggestive, thus turning off AM radio DJs.  So "Come Softly" became a smash for The Fleetwoods as..........

• Omnipresent 80's musical maven Phil Collins was in the process of producing and playing drums on the debut solo album of one of the lead vocalists for Earth, Wind, and Fire.  He approached bassist Nathan East and mentioned that the album lacked a hit single.  They set out to remedy that by playing around with a piano riff in the studio with the singer adding the words "Choosy Lover" over it.  Realizing they had a hit, Collins agreed to join the up and coming artist on the finished version, further enhancing the chances of the song being a hit.  It was a Top 5 smash for Philip Bailey once "Choosy Lover" morphed into...........

• Singer/songwriter Walter Egan had a rough outline of a song he planned to call "Don't Turn Away Now".  He had some of the biggest names in music at the time behind his debut album, including co-producer Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks providing background vocals.  He developed a crush on Nicks, and the song evolved to be about her.  He developed a metaphor about the attraction between two people, and "Don't Turn Away Now" became.........

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

What do Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones all have in common?

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

What was the first #1 song under Billboard's Hot 100 chart format?

The answer is below.......and it happened on August 4, 1958

 

Today In Oldies 12/13/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies stands for Oldies news! 

• Sir Paul puts a twist on one of his classics on Thursday night's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
• He was also all over this week's Saturday Night Live!
• The Queen of Soul comes home from the hospital
• American Idol does The Beatles!.....and other changes for the upcoming season
• In other Fab Four related news, a judge drops the hammer on a website not named iTunes for selling digital downloads of Beatles songs
• And finally on the Fab Four front, who broke up The Beatles?  "Not me", says one of their longtime partners
• And the actual auction price of a set of handwritten lyrics by Bob Dylan is...................
• What would you pay for one of Eric Clapton's guitars?
• Carly Simon isn't taking the law into her own hands........she's taking Starbucks to court!
• Roberta Flack talks to AOL Music about a number of topics

Oldies on TV

• Stephen Bishop - Late Night With Jimmy Fallon - NBC (12:35 Eastern/11:35 Pacific)
  

A Shot At The Title

All this week, Everything Oldies will play "What if?", as we spotlight songs with their original working titles.  Imagine what a different world we'd live in if the most covered song of all time were The Beatles' classic, "Scrambled Eggs".....which was the original working title of......"Yesterday".  Enjoy the stories behind the titles.....and why they changed.

• A Motown classic that Berry Gordy helped write came about because Gordy was reminded of Frankie Lymon whenever he heard Michael Jackson.  Being the most expensive single ever recorded for Motown at that time, Gordy had a lot riding on it both personally and financially.  It didn't begin as a love song, but Gordy eventually reshaped it so it would be believable being sung by an 11-year-old.  The Jackson 5 made it a smash, and what began its life as "I Want To Be Free" became...........

• A song being included on the soundtrack to what would become an iconic 70's movie with the Brooklyn disco scene as a backdrop was originally supposed to carry the same title as the movie.  The problem was that same title had been used many times in the past, most notably as the title of a #1 hit just one year earlier.  Wisely, The Bee Gees decided to avoid confusion, and what began as "Saturday Night" turned into.........

• One of the most talked about songs of all time was conceived with a different title.  To this day, no one knows who the subject of the song is, and had the original title been kept, who knows if it would have been the hit it ultimately became?  If you look at the vinyl acetate demo copy of the song written and performed by Carly Simon, it reads "Ballad of a Vain Man".  Whether she's talking about Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, or someone completely different, it became known, loved, and widely discussed as........

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

Which artist pre-taped a 1976 appearance on Saturday Night Live about an hour before the broadcast due to being overcome with stage fright?

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

Which late rock guitar legend played on David Bowie's #1 hit "Let's Dance", which led to a solo record deal?

Answer: Stevie Ray Vaughan

 

Today In Oldies 12/9/2010

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

• The diagnosis for the Queen of Soul is not good
• Who was Boss in his hometown Tuesday night?
• No, pardon US, Mr. Morrison........
• An impressive list of songs heard each day on Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2 will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame

Oldies on TV

• Peter Paul & Mary - Carry It On: A Musical Legacy (PBS - Check Local Listings)
• Robert Plant - Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC/11:00P Eastern/10:00P Pacific)

Where In The World Is......Matthew Wilder?

Musicians who have short-lived chart runs are often mocked mercilessly in spite of having quite prolific careers following the peak of their run as pop stars.  We've spotlighted plenty of those at Everything Oldies, and today we have another one.  He might be a punchline to some, but nothing has broken his career stride since he stopped making hits for himself in the 80's. 

Born Matthew Weiner on January 24, 1953 in Manhattan, New York.  He cut his teeth in the music business in Greenwich Village, becoming one half of the folk duo Matthew & Peter in the 70's. By 1978, he had uprooted to the West Coast, landing in Los Angeles.  He carved out a successful career singing in television commercials and backing up the likes of Rickie Lee Jones and Bette Midler. 

He eventually landed a solo record deal, and in 1983, his debut album, "I Don't Speak The Language", hit record stores.  The first single was a multi-format smash in America and across the globe.  "Break My Stride" hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Adult Contemporary charts.  It was also a hit in dance clubs and on the Dance charts.  Internationally, it was also an unqualified smash, topping the charts in Norway and hitting the Top 5 in Austria and the UK.  It has since become a staple on American radio and has been covered several times.  It has also found a lucrative second life being used in TV commercials both in the U.S. and abroad. 

Matthew Wilder scored one more Top 40 hit, "The Kid's American", in 1984, and it would be his last.  A follow up album fizzled, and his career as a solo artist was finished.  The end of a run on the charts was far from the end of a career for Matthew Wilder, however.  He turned to songwriting and producing other artists, with a roster including Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera.  His biggest success as a producer came with the alternative band No Doubt's 1996 album "Tragic Kingdom", which currently ranks #73 on the Recording Industry Association of America's Biggest Selling Albums of All Time, receiving Diamond status with domestic sales of 10 million copies (and a total of 18 million worldwide).  In 1995, he co-wrote the original score for Disney's hit film Mulan, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.  He also provided the singing voice for the character of Ling. 

This year, Matthew Wilder has added a brand new item to his long and impressive resume.  He can soon add "feature film director" to his repertoire.  He is currently in production on Inferno, starring Malin Akerman as 70's adult film star Linda Lovelace.  The film has attracted some controversy over the past few weeks following Wilder's decision to replace original star Lindsay Lohan with Akerman. 

So far, nothing has broken Matthew Wilder's career stride.  Not even this 1984 appearance on Solid Gold..............

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

Which late rock guitar legend played on David Bowie's #1 hit "Let's Dance", which led to a solo record deal? 

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

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)?

Answer: "Twist and Shout" -- the song dates back to 1961, and was originally recorded by The Top Notes.  The Isley Brothers were the first to have a hit with it, and The Fab Four's cover hit #2 in April 1964. 

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. 

 

 

Today In Oldies 12/7/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......have we got Oldies news for you!

• Remember Michael Jackson's one studded glove?  Someone just bought it!  How much did they pay?
• What did one of Johnny Cash's jumpsuits fetch at the same auction?
• A former member of K.C.'s Sunshine Band (and K.C.'s primary songwriting partner) will be trading one jumpsuit for another.....and that's not good
• Just in time for your holiday shopping.......a list of new CD releases from your favorite artists heard at Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2

Oldies On TV

• George Benson - Late Show with David Letterman - CBS (11:35 Eastern/10:35 Pacific)
  

 

Where In The World Is......The Paris Sisters?

You've heard of parents who live vicariously through their children?  Such is the case with The Paris Sisters, who were introduced to music following their mother giving up her career as an opera singer.  Fortunately, the sisters took to the recording studio and concert stage, and the result was several 60's hits.  One of them also has a tie to an American television institution following her music career. 

Albeth, Priscilla, and Sherrell Paris grew up in San Francisco, California.  When their mother quit her own career as a singer with the San Francisco Milano Opera Company, she made it her mission to make stars of her daughters in music.  Their first taste of the spotlight came when another female superstar group, The Andrews Sisters, invited them to join them onstage.  They wowed the crowd with their rendition of the Andrews Sisters' "Rum and Coca Cola". 

Oddly, at the ages of 15, 10, and 9, and clearly afoul of child labor laws, The Paris Sisters began a regular engagement in Las Vegas, appearing between midnight and 7:00 a.m.  Their father worked at the hospital where the sisters were born and had altered their birth certificates.  The sisters were "glammed up" to look older, and during this stint they performed alongside both Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. 

While performing the lounge act, The Paris Sisters bounced around with more than one record label, and more than one unsuccessful single.  In 1961, they were introduced through an intermediary to a hot young producer who was knocked out by their harmonies and vowed to make them stars.  His name?  Phil Spector. 

Spector produced all 3 of the group's Top 40 hits, but the biggest would prove to be "I Love How You Love Me".  It was a Top 5 smash in October 1961.  Two other hits followed, just denting the Top 40, "All Through The Night" and "He Knows I Love Him Too Much".  A completed album produced by Spector mysteriously disappeared from the offices of Gregmark Records, their record label, and the inability to continue their career momentum effectively ended the run of success.  Six years, one album, and several unsuccessful singles later, The Paris Sisters were done. 

Albeth became an independent TV producer.  Priscilla moved to Paris, where she became a motivational speaker in both French and English catering primarily to hotel employees.  She has recorded a few solo albums over the years as well.  Sherrell also took one more shot at musical stardom, forming a new group called Sherrell Paris and the New People, who toured until the late 70's.  She later became best known for being a part of one of the most successful TV shows of all time.  She became an executive assistant to legendary game show host Bob Barker on The Price Is Right, keeping that job until 2000 when she was let go amid a flurry of staff changes resulting from several harassment lawsuits against Barker. 

With no TV appearances of any kind, we'll have to settle for this clip to celebrate The Paris Sisters' defining moment......

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

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

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

Who initially rejected a song that later became a #1 hit for her because she said the guitar tracks "sounded too much like a Beatles song"?

Answer: Linda Ronstadt originally said no to........"You're No Good" 

 

Today In Oldies 12/1/2010

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Everything Oldies......when Oldies news matters, it matters where you get your Oldies news! 

• Hear a Rolling Stones classic in a whole new way!
• A Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is absolutely giddy about recording his next album!
• Whose lyrics could be worth six figures at an auction next month?
• Madonna's chain of fitness centers opens its first location
• Which former Beatle whose name isn't John, Paul, George, or Ringo might soon have a street named after him? 
• Which artist now claims responsibility for, in his words, "two of the worst songs in history"?

Oldies on TV

• Sting - The Daily Show - Comedy Central
• Bruce Springsteen - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (repeat) - NBC

Where In The World Is.......Rose Royce

Rose Royce is a group of studio musicians put together by Norman Whitfield, Motown's "psychedelic shaman" who moved the label in a more progressive, funk-based direction in the 70's.  What was meant to be a one-off group to provide the soundtrack for the 1976 film Car Wash proved to be a more enduring endeavor. 

The genesis of Rose Royce came in Los Angeles with a group made up of Henry Garner (drums), Terral "Terry" Santiel (congas), Lequeint "Duke" Jobe (bass), Michael Moore (saxophone), Gwen Dickey (lead vocals), Kenny Copeland (trumpet, lead vocals), Kenji Brown (guitar, lead vocals), Freddie Dunn (trumpet), and Michael Nash (keyboards).  They performed under the name Total Concept Unlimited and originally provided the concert backing for Edwin Starr.  Once Whitfield became involved, the group's name changed to Magic Wand.  Feeling that the band had a missing piece, Whitfield was introduced to a female singer named Gwen Dickey.  He sensed he had a star to front the group, and Dickey became lead singer. 

In 1976, Whitfield connected with film director Michael Schultz (Cooley High), who asked for his help for the soundtrack to his new film, Car Wash.  Whitfield saw this as a way to launch the group he now felt was complete with the addition of Gwen Dickey.  In keeping with the theme of the movie, he changed the name of the group once again, to Rose Royce, and success was immediate.  The title song from the movie, "Car Wash", is an enduring and timeless R&B classic.  It reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 at the end of January 1977.  It also topped the R&B charts and was a Top 10 hit in the UK.  It is one of the most sampled songs in the history of hip hop, and was covered successfully for another movie, 2004's Shark Tale, by Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott. 

The group scored another Top 10 American hit off the album, "I Wanna Get Next To You".  While they only enjoyed two more minor pop hits, they remained mainstays on the R&B charts and recorded two more successful albums.  Infighting within the group became a problem, and lead singer Gwen Dickey left in 1980.  The remaining members stayed together and continued touring.  They remain a top draw in Great Britain.  Earlier this year, Gwen Dickey left open the possibility of reuniting with the group in an interview for the TV One series Unsung.  Their latest CD release is a concert album, "Live In Hollywood".

Apparently Rose Royce and I don't get our cars washed at the same place, because I have seen neither a movie star NOR an Indian chief at mine, but regardless, from a 1977 episode of Soul Train..........

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

Which album generated the most #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100?

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

Answer: At 33 years and 7 months, Cher -- First #1: "I Got You Babe" (w/ Sonny Bono) - August 1965 -- Last: "Believe" - March 1999

 

Today In Oldies 11/30/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies........we report the Oldies, you decide

• Pink Floyd is the subject of an upcoming movie.......sorta
• A Beatle becomes a grandpa again
• While we're on the subject of the Fab Four, check out this list of the best covers of George Harrison songs 
• A singer who is experiencing a career rebirth thanks to a TV commercial loses her husband last week
• Just in time for your holiday shopping......for the person on your list so obsessed with John Lennon he'd like the original copy of the album that led to his death.......

Oldies on TV

• Natalie Cole -- Tavis Smiley - PBS (check local listings)
• Stevie Wonder -- Larry King Live - CNN
• Rod Stewart -- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - NBC

Where In The World Is.........Len Barry?

Most folks aspire to a show business career from a very young age, but not Len Barry.  He initally planned to gain fame playing professional baseball, and it was yet another vocation, the military, that provided the path to stardom. 

Born Leonard Borisoff in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Len Barry was more athlete than musician growing up.  Upon graduating high school, he joined the Army and had the opportunity to sing in the Army band.  Encouraged by the response of the audience, he embarked upon a music career following his discharge, and it was onward and upward from there. 

Returning to Philadelphia, Barry became the lead singer of The Dovells.  He sang lead on several of their hits, including the million-selling "Bristol Stomp".  He also got his first taste of acting during this stint, appearing in the feature film Don't Knock The Twist.

In 1965, he struck out on his own.  Signed to Decca Records in the U.S. and Brunswick Records in the U.K., his success as a singer continued independently of The Dovells.  Very few artists can claim to have had one of their records in John Lennon's personal jukebox, but Len Barry pulled that off with his first smash solo hit.  "1-2-3" hit #2 in the U.S. and was a Top 10 hit in England.  Barry scored another minor American hit with "Like A Baby". 

Two hits didn't produce others for Len Barry, and by 1969, he moved to the other side of the recording studio glass window as a producer.  Capitalizing on an idea he had with "1-2-3" co-writer John Madara and record mogul Neil Bogart, Barry co-produced The Original Version: Journey To The Moon, album featuring conversations with NASA astronauts, President Richard Nixon, and others involved in the U.S. space program's defining moment set to original music co-written by Barry and Madara.  The group put together to perform the original music included a young Philadelphia area keyboard player named Daryl Hall, later of Hall & Oates.  Barry also wrote and produced "Keem O Sabe", which foreshadowed the emergence of disco in the early 70's.  

Barry continued performing, and later ventured into songwriting and producing with WMOT Productions.  He has retired from the music business, but in 2008 he took on a brand new role......writer.  His first novel, the semi-biographical Black Like Me, involves a pair of white siblings growing up in a largely African-American neighborhood.  He still lives in Philadelphia.  

If you were having trouble counting in 1965, Len Barry was there to provide a helping hand.........

 

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

Which artist holds the record for the longest time between their first and last #1 songs?

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

For their third "appearance" on the Ed Sullivan Show on June 5, 1966, The Beatles made what are considered to be two of the first music videos ever created.  What 2 songs did they "perform" via videotape?

Answer: "Rain" and "Paperback Writer"

 

Today In Oldies 11/29/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......just because WE took a holiday break doesn't mean Oldies newsmakers didn't! 

• A Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has both hips replaced (no word on what they did with the old ones)
• A Motown legend encourages everyone to go "electric".......a different kind of "going electric" than Bob Dylan in the 60's
• A nice holiday-themed behind the scenes story from one of music's most legendary concerts (and concert films)
• Sometimes it's hard to tell whether it's a rock band or an episode of Family Feud.  Rolling Stone looks back on music's greatest internal squabbles

Where In The World Is........(Eumir) Deodato?

Eumir Deodato, whose greatest fame was achieved when he went simply by his last name, is one of the many artists featured here who have only had one major chart hit but have continued to have a long and storied career in music in various capacities. His taste of American success came with his funk take on a classical masterpiece best known for its use in a movie widely considered to be a cinematic masterpiece. 

Deodato was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  He became a self-taught musician, picking up the accordion at the age of 12.  He moved onto other instruments, and by 17 he participated in his first recording session.  His first taste of professional work as musician came as a pianist.  He soon moved to New York, and temporary stardom would soon follow. 

Deodato was an early master in the fusion of multiple musical styles, and his first American album reflected his diversity.  1973's "Prelude" featured elements of big band, jazz, funk, Latin, and classical music.  The first single had become a classical standard, and Deodato brought the funk as well.  His rendition of Richard Strauss's "Also sprach Zarathustra", best known as the theme from the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, was an unlikely but instant hit in the U.S., hitting #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the Top 10 in both Canada and the UK.  Five years later, it would be used again in another critically acclaimed movie, 1979's Being There starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine.  In between those stints, however, Deodato's career momentum would come to a screeching halt. 

Follow up albums and singles were duds in record stores and with radio stations, but fortunately, Eumir Deodato's career was far from over.  He continued to record for Warner Brothers Records through the 80's and did score 2 Top 20 hits on the Billboard Dance charts in 1985.  His greatest success post "Also sprach Zarathustra" has come as an arranger and producer.  The list of artists he has worked with has included Kevin Rowland (formerly of fellow one hit wonder Dexy's Midnight Runners), hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco, Kool and the Gang, and Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.  He has also written the score for numerous films.  His last solo release was the 2007 live album "Eumir Deodato Trio – ao vivo no Rio (Eumir Deodato Trio, Live in Rio)". 

For one brief shining moment in 1973, the world was Eumir Deodato's oyster.  Let's flash back to that moment now........

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

For their third "appearance" on the Ed Sullivan Show on June 5, 1966, The Beatles made what are considered to be two of the first music videos ever created.  What 2 songs did they "perform" via videotape? 

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

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

Which Elvis classic did songwriters Leiber and Stoller claim was the worst song they ever wrote?

Answer: "Love Me" -- they said it sounded like what musical comedy duo Homer and Jethro would sound like if they had recorded legitimate music

 

 

Today In Oldies 11/24/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......Giving thanks for the best listeners on Earth, including you! 

• Just how big was The Beatles' first week on iTunes?
• What does a former American Idol judge think about the newest one? 
• If you have a John Lennon fan on your holiday shopping list and your last name is Trump, Buffett, or Gates.....here's something you might want to pick them up for Christmas
• Add a legendary music producer to the list of those who think Michael Jackson is still walking among us

Where In The World Is........Katrina & The Waves?

All one hit wonders aren't created equal.  Some hits come and go and are quickly forgotten.  Others are infectious and timeless.  Such is the case with Katrina & The Waves, yet another in a long line of artists who had to go to England to become stars in the U.S.

Katrina & The Waves emerged from the remnants of two bands, The Waves and Mama's Cookin'.  They were eventually led by an American import, singer Katrina Leskanic.  They took on the moniker The Waves and released a single and an EP in England before renaming themselves Katrina & The Waves. 

Their initial taste of success across the Atlantic came in Canada, which landed them their initial record deal, with their first album released only in Canada.  Their debut album gained enough attention and radio airplay for a Canadian tour.  In 1984, the major American labels began to take notice.  Capitol Records eventually landed them, and they would soon have an international smash!

Their first worldwide release on Capitol consisted of ten songs previously found on other British and Canadian-only releases.  The second single, "Walking On Sunshine", propelled Katrina & The Waves into the stratosphere.  It was a Top 10 U.S. & UK hit, and has become a timeless classic used frequently in TV commercials, series, and feature films.  It is estimated that the song generates millions of dollars per year in licensing fees.  Another Top 40 American hit followed, "Do You Want Crying".

Success on both sides of the pond was limited after that for a number of years, with only a handful of minor British hits.  In 1997, the band made a roaring British comeback, charting a Top 5 UK hit that was their entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.  "Love Shine A Light" won the contest in a major way, and hit #3 on the UK singles chart.  The latest round of success would prove to be as short-lived as the first.  Following legal battles and the departure of Katrina Leskanic from the band, Katrina & The Waves were kaput in 1999.  The individual members continue to record, and 2010 brought a new "wave" of re-releases to commemorate the 25th anniversary of "Walking On Sunshine".

In spite of the fact that you may have heard it more than once already today, here's the hit that Katrina & The Waves rode to international stardom.........

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

Which Elvis classic did songwriters Leiber and Stoller claim was the worst song they ever wrote?

Check back Monday (11/29/2010) at Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

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

What was Motown Records' first #1 hit?

Answer: "Please Mr. Postman" - The Marvelettes (1961)

Today In Oldies 11/23/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.....the worldwide leader in Oldies news

• If you're holding tickets to see Ray Davies on his upcoming tour, go ahead and change your plans
• Condolences to former Jefferson Airplane singer Marty Balin on the loss of his wife
• The European Union tells Italy to pay up for an Elton John gig
• Speaking of Sir Elton, he'll soon add another gig to his distinguished resume

Where In The World Is.......Brewer & Shipley?

In the short time that Brewer & Shipley were a force on the charts and had their names uttered regularly by DJs and the record buying public, they somehow managed to go from famous to notorious thanks to landing on a rather famous "list" that actually brought them as much attention as their one brief moment in the music spotlight.  They wreaked quite a bit of havoc for a one hit wonder! 

Brewer & Shipley's beginnings were innocuous enough.  They crossed paths numerous times in the Midwest playing various coffeehouses before deciding to team up, move to Los Angeles, and focus on songwriting.  They released two albums with little success, and in spite of having hugely successful friends from groups including Buffalo Springfield and The Association, they moved away from L.A., and by the time success finally hit, they were in the rock & roll hotbed of Kansas City, Missouri. 

Their third album, Tarkio (named after a regular gig they were playing at the time in Tarkio, Missouri), provided their national breakthrough.  A song that was written as a joke and something of an afterthought became a Top 10 hit, and got the attention of the White House in the wrong way.  "One Toke Over The Line" has a very unique distinction as being possibly the only hit song ever officially condemned by the Vice President of the United States (Spiro Agnew) as being "subversive to American youth" while being performed the same week on one of the most family friendly TV shows of all time, The Lawrence Welk Show.  On top of that, Lawrence Welk himself referred to the song as a "spiritual" following its performance!  Who knew that one song could attract so much attention, both positive and negative? 

The controversy over "One Toke Over The Line" didn't generate any more hits for Brewer & Shipley.  Separately, they collaborated with many superstars after they decided to split apart, including Stephen Stills, Bruce Springsteen, and (interestingly) Black Sabbath.  They regrouped in 1989 for a one-off gig, and continue to write, record, and play live periodically.  Michael Brewer lives outside of Branson, Missouri.  Tom Shipley is the director of distance learning at Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, Missouri. 

Funny that in 1970, a duo that Richard Nixon's White House considered public enemies were choir boys according to Lawrence Welk.  Here's proof from a rare clip from The Lawrence Welk Show......

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

What was Motown Records' first #1 hit?

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

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, who is the best selling duo of all time in the U.S.?

Answer: Hall and Oates