Today's Forgotten Oldie...

Gary Lewis & the Playboys were a 1960s rock group fronted by Gary Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis. They are best known for their 1965 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "This Diamond Ring." In 1965, Gary Lewis was Cash Box magazine's "Male Vocalist of the Year," winning against nominees Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. The group was one of only two acts during the 1960's whose first seven Hot 100 releases reached that chart's top 10 (The Lovin' Spoonful was the other): "This Diamond Ring" (#1), "Count Me In" (#2), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4), "She's Just My Style" (#3), "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9), and "Green Grass" (#8).
Of those seven songs, Save Your Heart For Me was a summer hit, evoking teen-age love song nostalgia reminiscent of the 50's. But the important thing is that it was a number two smash hit, it earned a gold record, and it's mostly forgotten today. Perhaps it's hard to take Jerry Lewis's son serious today, or maybe because it's a rock band with an accordion player... but whatever the reason it's a great song and deserves airplay!

Monday again... ugh!!

Did it seem like you got up"against your will" this morning? Did going to work seem really hard today? If you said yes, you are definitely not ready for a new week... me either!!

Here you go men... a 6-pack in seconds!!

Tired of keeping your shirt on when there's a camera around?  Ashamed of your belly?  Here's the answer... the Ab-Hancer!!

Today's Forgotten Oldie...

"Spill the Wine" is a 1970 song performed by Eric Burdon and War. Released as a single in May 1970 (backed by the non-album track "Magic Mountain"), it was War's first chart hit, peaking at number three on the hot 100. It was also a top three hit in Canada and Australia. In 1996, it was remixed by Junior Vasquez and released as a single again.
Lonnie Jordan said in an 2008 interview that Eric Burdon was the first Latin rapper in pop music.
In the introduction to the live version of the song on Greatest Hits Live, Lonnie Jordan reveals that the inspiration for the song was a time when he spilled a glass of wine on a mixing board in the recording studio. Eric Burdon found the event funny, so he and Jordan used it as the inspiration for the song.  However you view the song; latin, rap, California soul or just Eric Burdon making magic out of a fun idea... it's a great song and deserves air-play!

An amazing group...

Last night I again had a chance to watch Hal Atkinson perform. It was a small get-together of Stoney Creek Inn, mostly the folks that performed in the 20th Lindy Shannon Re-union Concert on Sunday were there. Again I was struck by how much musical talent is or was from this area.  Beth Timte, Jeff Cozy, Harold Jerue, Tari Tovsen, Dennis Roessler and several others were there and many performed in impromptu fashion. And at the center was Hal Atkinson, molding the offerings, keeping the flow. Here's to all you guys.  By the way the photo was taken last Wednesday when I was interviewing Hal on the Eagle.

Monday Escape!!

It's okay little buddy, there are Monday mornings that I feel the same way... just get in the car and escape!

Today's Forgotten Oldie...

With the 20th Lindy Shannon reunion concert this Sunday, it's appropriate to focus on a local record that made a big impact in La Crosse back in the 70's.  As I understand it, producer/writer Dale Menten asked UWL student and Shy Guys' band member Hal Atkinson to record a song he wrote. Hal went to Minneapolis and recorded "Kathy Believe Me".  The song was released on 45 in limited numbers in 1972. Surprisingly, radio stations played it and the kids bought it... in huge numbers.  Locally the song was in the top five in sales for weeks. Hal Atkinson will be performing this Sunday at the reunion concert, but he hasn't sang "Kathy Believe Me" in years... it's a shame, it's a great song and takes us back to a great time in La Crosse's music History.
The photo is Hal Atkinson live, singer, pianist and flute-player extraordinaire!

Pickin' on DJ's...

Today's Forgotten Oldie...

In 1969, Pete Townshend of The Who, was the catalyst behind the formation of the band Thunderclap Newman. The concept was to create a band to perform songs written by former Who roadie and drummer John 'Speedy' Keen, who had written "Armenia City in the Sky", the first track on The Who Sell Out.  Townshend recruited jazz pianist Andy 'Thunderclap' Newman (a friend from art college), and 15-year-old guitarist Jimmy McCulloch. Keen played the drums and sang the lead.
Townshend produced the single "Something In The Air", arranged the strings, and played bass under the pseudonym Bijou Drains. "Something in the Air" captured post-flower power rebellion, and reached No. 1 on the UK charts just three weeks after release, holding off Elvis Presley in the process. The scale of the song's success surprised everyone and there were no plans to promote Thunderclap Newman with live performances. Eventually a line-up - augmented by Jim Pitman-Avory on bass and McCulloch's elder brother Jack on drums - played a handful of gigs.
"Something in the Air" appeared on the soundtracks of several films The Magic Christian (1969) and The Strawberry Statement (1970) (which helped the single reach No. 25 in the United States) and later Kingpin (1996), Almost Famous (2000), The Dish (2000), and The Girl Next Door (2004). It also appeared on and was the title of the second disc in the Deluxe Edition of the Easy Rider soundtrack.  The song has been covered by many bands, and was a hit for Tom Petty in 1994. To me it's a great song, but also the epitome of the late 60's and the revolution attitude.

Exclusive Mars Photo!

With the Mars Rover successfully sending photos back to earth, I managed to intercept the coolest picture ever!  Just look at this view from Mars' surface... amazing!

I need this for my deck!

This might be the coolest deck furniture I've ever seen!

Today's Forgotten Oldie...

Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time all of the band's 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America were consecutive, three of which reached Number One. As of 2012, they are still recording and making live appearances.
In 1972, Three Dog Night released two songs with "social commentary", each seemingly pointing the way to a better world.  the unforgettable "Black and White" went all the way to number one in 1972, but a few months before that the band had a solid hit with "The Family of Man".  This song was the third single release taken from the "Harmony" LP.  Family went all the way to #12 on the hot 100, and to me is the better rock song.
Regardless, the song is overlooked on most oldie stations... it deserves air-play!