Today In Oldies 3/12/2012

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.....All the Oldies news that's fit to print!

• America's musical poet laureate has a new album in the works
• A 70's R&B legend recalls her biggest hit
• Who's the latest Oldies star to tell his life story in print?
• Halls of Fame across the United States are honoring some of the greats heard each day on Golden Hits Radio
  

 

ODD JOBS

Before your favorite Oldies superstars became million-selling musicians and singers, they often had to hold down "real" jobs to make ends meet.  Now's your chance to show what a big fan you are by playing our new game, "Odd Jobs".  We'll give you an occupation, and you tell us (via multiple choice) which star once held that job before they hit it big.............

 

Wire solderer @ General Electric - B.J. Thomas, Tommy Roe, or Bobby Goldsboro

Dishwasher - Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, or Eddie Kendricks (of The Temptations)

Glove factory worker - Engelbert Humperdinck, George Harrison, or Tom Jones

 

ANSWERS TO FRIDAY'S ODD JOBS:

Recording studio janitor - Harry Wayne Casey (of K.C. and The Sunshine Band)

Hospital orderly - Percy Sledge

Truck driver - Elvis Presley

 

***COMMENT BELOW WITH YOUR GUESSES......WE'LL HAVE THE ANSWERS TOMORROW!***

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Which two music legends were thrown out of L.A.'s legendary Troubador today in 1974 for heckling The Smothers Brothers during a performance?

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 Beatles weren't the only British Invasion act to make waves on The Ed Sullivan Show.  Which British supergroup made their first of EIGHTEEN appearances on the show March 9, 1964? 

Answer:     The Dave Clark Five

 

ON THE ROAD - TOMMY ROE

• 04/07 – Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino
• 04/08 – Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino
• 04/14 – Niagara Falls, NY - Seneca Niagara Casino
• 05/25 – Edmonton, AB, Canada - Century Casino
• 06/16 – Gray, TN - Fountain of Life Fair
• 06/17 - Ponte Vedra, FL (tentative)
• 06/18 – The Villages, FL
• 08/31 – Dubuque, IA - DiamondJo Casino
• 09/01 – Sloan, IA - Winnavegas Casino
• 09/02 – Arnolds Park, IA - Hall of Fame Induction

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 11/15/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies........New week, new Oldies news! 

• Take a look at Woody's Roadside Tavern's most famous patron.....who found his way to the stage!
• How big could Michael Jackson's (first) posthumous album be?  
• Watch Marie Osmond from last week's appearance on Oprah
• An attorney isn't happy with the way his client was portrayed in a movie (no word on why he waited NINETEEN YEARS to talk about it!)
• Just in time for your holiday shopping.....a legendary 70's group reissues a Christmas album (*HINT*...it does have a name, unlike their horse)

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. 

• In 1982, Paul Davis was working on a song whose references were very 50's, including car hops, doo wops, and drive-ins.  Appropriately, the working title was "'55 Love Affair".  His record label, Arista Records, didn't like the idea of a song that would appeal to an older crowd, so they had him change the title in order to "young it down".  The result was a Top 10 hit.  You wonder if the American Bandstand crowd in this clip would have gone quite as crazy with the original title...........

• As urban legend has it, a smash from 1972 was written about Don McLean, but the writers of the song tell a slightly different story.  Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox wrote a song for a young artist named Lori Lieberman.  They decided their original working title was a little old fashioned for 1972, so they changed the last word.  After hearing it, Lieberman said it reminded her of being at a Don McLean concert, and the song's legend grew from there.  It wasn't a hit for Lori Lieberman, but it became a #1 hit for Roberta Flack.  Interesting how "Killing Me Softly With His Blues" became............

• Song #54 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time had a rather unusual birth.  The man who wrote it and sang it was working as a hospital orderly by day and club singer by night.  Distraught over a broken relationship, he couldn't even bring himself to concentrate on the music he was to perform at the club.  He asked his bassist and organ player to give him a slow blues backing, and he began to improvise a 6 minute song about the breakup.  Realizing he might have something, he condensed it, took it to a producer, and recorded it in one of the early meccas of rock and pop music.  The producer, realizing he had a hit, pitched the song to Atlantic Records, whose co-founder, Jerry Wexler, loved the song but didn't like the off-key performance of the singer.  He ordered the singer and musicians back into the studio to re-cut it.........and accidentally released the off-key version anyway.  The original title was "Why Did You Leave Me", but it became one of the most played songs of all-time as.............

 

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

While it sometimes doesn't hurt to "go with your gut" when recording a song, it always helps to get a second opinion on its hit potential.  Which superstar let the Ohio Players know they had a winner in "Fire"? 

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 its last 6 months on TV, American Bandstand moved from its longtime home at ABC to cable's USA Network, and Dick Clark stepped down as host.  Who was his replacement as host?

Answer: David Hirsch