True Confessions from a Supreme......

Today In Oldies 2/2/2012

Golden Hits Radio's Everything Oldies.......Because the Oldies action never stops!

• One legendary group reunites to pay tribute to another legend
• The leader of the group mentioned above thinks Steve Jobs would have eventually brought music around to its roots
• As tributes pour in to the late Don Cornelius, the composer of the Soul Train theme song shares his remembrances 
• The newest music biopic will focus on a Beach Boys/Fleetwood Mac love affair

 

Don Cornelius (1936-2012)

Golden Hits Radio pays tribute to the late Don Cornelius, who died yesterday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 75.  For many of us in America, Saturday afternoons not only played a big role in shaping our musical tastes but also taught us to dance, and Soul Train, along with American Bandstand, was the reason. 

Cornelius was a journalist and part-time disc jockey by trade who had been successful promoting package shows around Chicago featuring soul and R&B artists.  Chicago TV station WCIU took notice and gave Cornelius the chance to park the road show on television.  Soul Train entered national syndication in 1971 after beginning as a local, Chicago-based program, but initially it only aired in 8 markets.  It was an immediate hit, however, and within a few years it had spread to more than 100 stations across the country. 

Soul Train became a necessary stop for the R&B A-list, and while most of the dancers and performers were African-American, several A-list white pop and rock artists were booked over the years, including David Bowie and Elton John. 

Cornelius left the program as host in 1993 but continued on as Executive Producer until its cancellation in 2006.  While he was rarely seen doing anything on camera other than introducing the songs played and the acts performing, in a rare moment in 1974 he took over the "Soul Train Dance Line" with former Supreme Mary Wilson.  Here is the moment where Don Cornelius let loose and took the Soul Train dancers to school.........

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Speaking of Soul Train, who was the first white artist to appear on the show (January 8, 1972) and which song did he perform? 

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 February 1, 1975, Lisa Marie Presley's famous father arranged a meeting between her and her favorite singer for her 7th birthday.  Who did she meet that day?

Answer:     Elton John

 

On The Road - America

America Live In Concert

DATE	VENUE (WEBSITE)	CITY
2/17/2012	American Music Theatre	Lancaster, PA
2/18/2012	Rams Head	Annapolis, MD
2/19/2012	Rams Head	Annapolis, MD
2/20/2012	Mohegan Sun Arena	Uncasville, CT
2/24/2012	The Coach House	San Juan Capistrano, CA
2/25/2012	Spotlight 29 Casino	Coachella, CA
2/26/2012	Belly Up Tavern	Solana Beach, CA
3/1/2012	Meyer Theatre	Green Bay, WI
3/2/2012	Carson Center	Paducah, KY
3/17/2012	Le Bataclan	Paris, France
3/18/2012	Teatro Verdi	Salerno, Italy	NEW!
3/21/2012	Teatro Metropolitan	Catania, Italy	NEW!
3/23/2012	Teatro Novelli	Rimini, Italy	NEW!
3/24/2012	Palazzetto	Bassano, Italy	NEW!
3/28/2012	Teatro Rossetti	Trieste, Italy	NEW!
6/6/2012	The Birchmere	Alexandria, VA
6/7/2012	Bergen Performing Arts Center	Englewood, NJ
6/8/2012	Penn's Peak	Jim Thorpe, PA
6/9/2012	Mohegan Sun - Wolf's Den	Uncasville, CT
6/22/2012	Whitney Park	St. Cloud, MN
6/30/2012	The Cannery Casino & Hotel	North Las Vegas, NV
7/19/2012	Evans Amphitheater	Cleveland Heights, OH
7/20/2012	Hoover Auditorium	Lakeside, OH
8/10/2012	Peppermill Concert Hall	West Wendover, NV
8/11/2012	Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino	Chandler, AZ
9/21/2012	Hard Rock Hotel & Casino	Biloxi, MS
9/22/2012	Castine Center	Mandeville, LA

Subject to change. See VenturaHighway Home Page for updates.

Today In Oldies 1/ /2012

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

• Could Creedence Clearwater Revival be the next group to catch reunion fever?  Don't hold your breath, says a former member
• Speaking of reunions not happening, another group denies rumors they'll do a one shot gig to open the London Olympics
• A prized posession of Peter Frampton's, lost for over 30 years, has been recovered!
• An original member of a 60's duo with a string of chart hits has died

 

Out of the Mouths of Songwriters

For a songwriter, titles and lyrics can come from the strangest of places, and in the case of one of Motown's biggest hits, the corniest of lines in the heat of an argument. 

By 1965, Motown Records had become the most bankable hitmaking machine in the music business.  The songwriting team responsibe for many of those hits was the threesome of brothers Brian and Edward Holland (Jr.) and Lamont Dozier.  Among their hits up that point were Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", The Four Tops' "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", and The Miracles' "Mickey's Monkey". 

The origin of their smash that made the list of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" goes back to an argument between Lamont Dozier and his girlfriend at the time.  In the heat of the moment, he uttered a line that made them both laugh, and they agreed that something that corny had to become a song title. 

The song with that corny title was recorded today in 1965  It would hit #1 in April and become one of Holland/Dozier/Holland's signature songs.  From The Supremes' appearance on "The Hollywood Palace" later that year...............

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

Paul McCartney's upcoming album of standards will be titled Kisses On The Bottom, which is a line from what classic 30's era song that was a Top 5 hit again in 1957? 

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 legend was billed as "The Folk Music Fireball" when he performed in Booneville, Mississippi on January 3, 1956?

Answer: Elvis Presley

Today In Oldies 12/20/2011

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

• The Beach Boys are back!  And at least one member is ready to hit the road
• Sir Paul jumps under the covers
• A music legend is living out her final days
• An eccentric music genius wants his murder conviction overturned......by none other than the highest Court in the land! 
• The singer of a classic 60's song is hospitalized 

 

A Supreme Finale

Several artists made more famous and infamous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show during its 23 year run, but one of Sullivan's personal favorites appeared more often than any other pop or rock act of the era.  This week in 1969, the most successful incarnation of this group appeared for the 16th and final time. 

Their first appearance came around this same of the year in December 1964.  They would average 5 appearances a year through 1967.  By December 21, 1969, however, internal tensions within the group, a major shakeup at their label, Motown Records, and a shift in musical tastes had marked the end of the road for the most successful female group in music history.  Motown founder Berry Gordy also had a plan in place for the leader of the group to launch a solo career, and he felt the timing was right to send her out alone. 

The country was stunned following this performance at Ed Sullivan's announcement that the leader of The Supremes, Diana Ross, was leaving the group.  Their story, however, ended well, with the song they performed becoming their final #1 song in that incarnation and providing a fitting springboard for Diana Ross to enter the 70's as one of the A-list superstars of the decade. 

For one last time, here are The Supremes performing the hit that would be their swan song on The Ed Sullivan Show..............

 

Golden Hits Radio's Burning Question of the Day

The #1 song this week in 1969 was Peter, Paul, and Mary's classic "Leaving On A Jet Plane".  You know who sang it, but do you remember who wrote it? 

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

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

Which rock and roll TV special was filmed today in 1968........but never seen until 1996?

Answer:   The Rolling Stones' "Rock and Roll Circus"......a performance special featuring members of The Beatles and The Who (among others) but unseen until a VHS home video release 28 years later

 

 

Today In Oldies 1/26/2011

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.....Your 24 hour 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's music news source!

• First, it was Steven Tyler.  Now, who's the latest rocker to fall off a stage?
• A music icon celebrates 50 years since his arrival in the Big Apple
• He may be a Knight, but he probably won't be on the guest list for Prince William's wedding
• As expected, Michael Jackson's doctor pleads not guilty
• A new documentary reveals the "agony and ecstasy" of one of the all-time great music producers
• Hollywood's A-list is lining up to guest star on Glee, but who isn't so keen on the idea?

 

A View From The Top

For the next few weeks, Everything Oldies will spotlight #1 songs from 30, 40, and 50 years ago!  We'll give you the stories behind the songs and other things you might not have known about some of your favorite 60's, 70's, and 80's music.

Until 1981, Diana Ross had a lackluster history with duets, including an ill-fated album with Marvin Gaye in 1973 that was a commercial and critical disappointment and a "dream collaboration" with Michael Jackson that failed to make the top 40 ("Ease On Down The Road" from the soundtrack to 1978's film version of The Wiz).  She was able to remove the duets albatross with the 2nd biggest selling single of 1981, a song that spent 9 weeks at #1.  The experience of recording the song, however, was not without its obstacles according to the song's writer and Ross's duet partner. 

According to Lionel Richie, recording this song was "a disaster".  The song wasn't originally written as a duet, but when it became part of a movie soundtrack, Motown Records decided on another "dream team" collaboration between Richie and Diana Ross.  Ross told Richie she wanted the part he planned to sing.  He could not sing in the key written for her, forcing him to make it up as he went along.  It was recorded in one day due to a deadline to submit it for the movie.  It proved to be a smash nonetheless, providing Diana Ross with her last #1 song in the U.S. and establishing Lionel Richie as a bona fide superstar away from The Commodores. 

One of a long line of great 80's songs from a bad 80's movie..............

 

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

Believe it or not, Gilligan's Island and Raiders of the Lost Ark have something in common!  What is it?  (Think "theme 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

Which Motown classic got its title based on something the songwriter uttered in the midst of an argument with his girlfriend?

Answer: In the heat of the argument, songwriter Lamont Dozier uttered "Stop! In The Name Of Love"......which became a classic for The Supremes

Today In Oldies 11/1/2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today In Oldies 10/12/2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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