As the world knows, we lost Dick Clark this week. It has been a disctinct honor and privilege for me to do "Rewind" with Dick for the last three years, and to be a small part of keeping Dick's legacy alive.
By now, you've seen the retrospectives of Dick's career. It's really impossible to summarize the life of a man who had so much impact on so many people. Dick was the guy who had the skills, drive and intelligence to bring rock and roll to the mass audience in America. In doing so, he became an indispensible part of the explosion of this musical art form all over the world. Because of Dick, many black artists like Sam Cooke got their first shot at mass-market stardom. I've come to realize that in his heart, Dick believed in the equality of all people, and he acted on that belief. He truly loved the guys in the Spinners, the O'Jays, the Four Tops and many others.
HIs skills as a host are legendary, and I believe they are under-rated. Dick's style was so affable and low-key he made us all feel that WE could do the same thing! What most of us didn't realize is how very, very good he was. He had the ability to relate to the audience, and no matter how successful he got, he never lost that common touch. I believe that comes from the heart. In his heart of hearts, Dick was that All-American guy, humble enough to remember that we all come from the same place.
The other thing that most of us in the audience didn't realize is what a powerhouse he was in the business. He built an empire with Dick Clark Productions, sold the company, bought it back, and sold it again! He was smart, tough and very focused. As a young radio guy, both as an air talent and programmer, I was inspired by the way Dick kept his finger on the pulse of the audience. All through his life, he never lost the ability to create entertainment that Americans wanted to watch.
I've spoken with many famous friends of Dick, and in the coming weeks. we'll present a Rewind show with memories of Dick Clark from fans and friends. We hope you'll listen for that. Meanwhile, I hope you'll join me in celebrating the life of Dick Clark. I'm very grateful that I grew up with Dick, and even more grateful that I could be associated with him, even if for a time that was far too short.
Mega Millions?
It's only been a week since the world was caught up in Mega Millions Lottery hysteria, and now it seems as if it never happened! $640 million is a lot of money (unless you're a federal employee. Then it's a "rounding error!), and it motivated a lot of folks to get out there and buy a ticket for the very first time. In fact, one of the three winners had apparently bought ONE TICKET, and it was their first ever.
If history teaches us anything, it's that sudden great wealth can be as much a curse as a blessing. If you've ever been fortunate enough to make a fair amount of money, you know that wealth attracts a lot of folks who will do anythng to part you from your cash. That's why they tell lottery winners to get a good attorney and a money manager they can trust.
It's probably easier to manage wealth if you achieve it over time. The process of acquiring money and wealth also gives you time to learn how to handle it. You also appreciate how hard it is to earn big money. The great thing about America up 'till now is that the opportunity to achieve is available to everyone. We know that's true, because we've seen many people go from deep poverty to fabulous wealth. We must make sure that we keep that pathway open for future generations. To be able to make the most of yourself is a uniquely American blessing. With focus, hard work and faith, it's a lot easier to make yourself rich than it is to hit the lottery!
Rock and Roll Treasure Hunt!
Rock and Roll Collectibles are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the collectibles market, and that's a good thing for all of us who have held onto our music memorabilia. Do you have your original vinyl records? Some of them may be worth hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars!
According to our friend Mighty John Marshall of www.moneymusic.com, Elvis and the Beatles are the most collectible artists, with Springsteen, the Stones and some others coming up in value. For example, did you know the original run of the Beatles' "White Album" was numbered? Yes, every white cover had a serial number on it. The first 4 went to the Beatles themselves, but #000000005 sold at auction a few years ago for.. $30,000!!! That's right.. we're talkin' about real money here.
If you think you have rock memorabilia that may be worth something, hit the email button on this page and let me know what you've got. We have several experts who may be able to give you a value.
Too Many Singing Competitions?
This week we heard that Simon Cowell is very close to signing Britney Spears as a judge on the upcoming second season of the "X Factor." Rumor had it that his initial offer was $10 million for one season, but Brit decided to hold out for $20 MILLION! She might just get it. Why? The "X Factor" has struggled right from the start, never achieving the audience levels Simon had envisioned for the show. That led him to fire Paula Abdul, Nicole Sherzinger and host Steve Jones and retool. Meanwhile, the upstart singing competition called "The Voice" on NBC has blown right past "X Factor" in the ratings and in recent weeks has even out-rated the venerable "American Idol." Simon obviously needs some star power to refocus the audience on his show.
Now comes word that two more network singing competitions are on the horizon. One is called "Duets," featuring stars like Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke and Lionel Richie singing in tandem with their chosen contestants, and "The Star Next Door," with Queen Latifah and her fellow "mentors," John Rich and Gloria Estefan going on a nationwide talent search for average folks who have above-average talent. It seems like everyone who ever had a hit record has their own TV singing competition!
Here's the question: Are there too many singing competitions on television? Don't forget, "America's Got Talent" also features singers! With "American Idol's" ratings falling this year, you have to wonder whether it's because of the glut of similar shows. We've seen this happen time after time on network TV. One genre gets hot, and suddenly there are a million shows trying to mine the same audience vein. How many "Law and Order" and "CSI" shows are there? do you remember back in the day when the half-hour sitcom was king?
Reality competition shows will be around for a long time, but it's hard to imagine that this many singing shows will all make it. How many people can we root for every week?
Thoughts on the Business of Life!
Random thoughts from the past week:
Girl Scout cookies are the best! I'm just sayin'! I wound up going around the neighborhood with 6-year-old Eva Bryan, and she is a natural-born salesperson! The Girl Scouts are 100 years old this year, and they have a new cookie called Savannah Smiles, created just for the occasion. Eva sold her little heart out, then gave me a couple dozen boxes of cookies to sell at work! I know I'm not the only one who winds up trolling through the cubicles with a carton of Girl Scout cookies. The favorite is still Thin Mints. Freeze them before you eat them... you'll thank me later!
I spent some time this week with a remarkable guy named Steve Resnik. He has one of the most incredible collections of vintage vinyl and music memorabilia in the world. Go to YouTube and search "Steve Resnik" for a video tour of his collection. Steve worked for record labels for years, and wound up saving a lot of things that the rest of us threw away! One of the most incredible parts of his museum-level collection is a room containing every single that ever appeared in the Billboard Hot 100! That means over 25,000 vinyl singles! We'll talk to Steve on a future edition of "Rewind."
We took our daughter Kate to Disneyland last weekend for her birthday and wound up in the middle of a bomb scare! It turned out to be a false alarm, but they evacuated the parks just to be safe. I've got to tell you, there is no sight in life like the sight of 50,000 people standing around waiting to be allowed back in! Of course, since it was Disneyland, everyone was on their best behavior. I have to say, it was one of our most memorable days at the Happiest Place on Earth! By the way, we got a look at the new "Cars Land" in California Adventure, and it's amazing! It opens in June of this year. Can't wait!
Every week on our L.A. show, we do stories of dumb criminals who get caught. Many of these stories involve people who make videos of themselves breaking the law, then post them on Facebook! If you've ever wondered just how stupid criminals are, I think that gives you the answer!
And... as the years go by, we're adding more and newer music to the "oldies" category. Playing "1999" by Prince or "Dancing in the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen seems a little weird at times, but they're great songs and to my ear, they mix well with the music of the 60s and 70s. Just wondering: what do YOU think? Send me an email by way of this website. I'd love to hear from you. Or call 1-800-939-4806 and leave a message.
R.I.P. Davy Jones
What a shock it was last week to hear that Davy Jones had passed away from a heart attack at the age of 66. He leaves a young wife and kids behind.
I immediately thought of the many times I had been around this wonderful guy. He was warm and funny, a great entertainer, and a guy with a terrific sense of humor. The last time I spoke to him, he did a wicked Jackie Mason impression! I reached out to Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, who toured with Davy, and Peter said that if Davy hadn't been in the Monkees, he might have been even bigger as a solo performer. I had to admit that he was probably right!
If you want a good retrospective on Davy Jones, grab this week's People Magazine. They have great coverage. We'll miss Davy.. he was (and always will be) a legend.
R.I.P. Whitney Houston
Last weekend I was on an L.A. freeway when I got a frantic call from CBS TV: Whitney Houston had died, and they needed people who had met her and played her music to go on the air and discuss her impact on pop culture. After I got over my initial shock, I raced home, grabbed the pictures of myself and Whitney and my platinum record for her first album, and headed for the CBS Broadcast Center in Studio City. I got there at 8:00 PM and stayed until 10:30, spending most of that time on camera discussing her career and her shocking downward spiral.
Whitney came on the scene in 1985 at the age of 22, after working as a model and back-up singer for artists like Lou Rawls and Chaka Khan. She was young, beautiful and had an amazing voice. What an instrument! In her career she had 11 #1 hits and sold almost 200 million albums worldwide. To put that in perspective, the Stones have been together for 50 years, and their estimated worldwide albums sales are 250 million. She was indeed a supernova. In fact, her 1991 version of the National Anthem, recorded at the Super Bowl, became a top 20 single! As you may remember, she dedicated the proceeds of that single to various charities.
I met Whitney in 1991, when I spent a couple of hours with her in her hotel room at the Waldorf in New York. She was charming, gracious and so beautiful it was almost intimidating to be in the same room. Thankfully, her down-to-earth personality made it easy to be with her. We talked about many things, including her desire for more acting roles, and even her faith walk. She was in great spirits and seemingly in total control of her life and career.
Then came her marriage to Bobby Brown and her shocking downward spiral. Many people blame Bobby for Whitney's drug problems, but I don't think you can lay the whole thing at his feet. We're all responsible for our own actions. However, with that being said, they certainly had a toxic relationship, and in the end Whitney got the worst of it.
The night before her death, Whitney was onstage at a party and started singing "Jesus Loves Me." Then she said she was ready to be with Jesus. My hope is that she's with Him now, and that her troubles are over.
This week, I've heard from some folks who want me to rip Whitney apart for being a drug addict. I won't do that. She was an imperfect human being just like the rest of us. I've seen what drugs can do to friends and family, and I think our energy should be spent preaching about the dangers. But in the end, I'll remember Whitney as an artist who gave a lot of joy to a lot of people. I hope you'll do the same.
A Tribute to Jerry!
This week we were privileged to be invited to the Paley Center in Beverly Hills for a Tribute to Jerry Lewis and his 60 years in the entertainment industry. Before the event, we were in the Green Room with Jerry and his son Chris and granddaughter Tia, along with a galaxy of today's biggest comedy stars. On one side of the room was Adam Sandler with Richard Lewis. Martin Short, Tom Arnold and Dane Cook were lined up to say hi to Jerry and pay their respects. The great comic actor Richard Kind (currently in "Luck" on HBO) was there, along with the wonderful Shirley Jones and her husband Marty Ingels! Kevin Pollack also stopped in to greet the great comic master.
When we went into the auditorium, Jerry got on stage with Leonard Maltin for a short conversation and then took questions. At age 85, Jerry is full of energy and great stories. He spent a lot of time talking about his love for his partner Dean Martin. If you were around at any time during the 50s or 60s, you may remember that Martin & Lewis were as big as the Beatles! That's no exaggeration.. at one point, 100,000 people crammed into Times Square just to get a glimpse of them waving out of a 4th-story window. After they went their separate ways, Jerry signed a $10 million-a-year contract with Paramount (in 1960!) and was the #1 box office star in the world for many years. Along the way, his dedication to MDA resulted in literally BILLIONS of dollars being raised to fight disease.
These days Jerry lives in Vegas and is actively developing a Broadway version of the "The Nutty Professor." The great ones never retire.
Friends!
This week, we count down the top five songs about friends and friendship. It's a unique category, because most pop and rock music us about romantic love. When it comes to friendship, the list of songs is smaller but just as powerful. Our list included "You've Got a Friend," a song written by Carole King and sung by James Taylor, "In My Life" by the Beatles, "You're My Best Friend" by Queen, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel and "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers.
It was tough to decide which songs to include and which to leave out. For example, "That's What Friends are For" featured some of our favorite artists (and people!) like Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Dionne Warwick. And speaking of Elton, his title song to the movie "Friends" inb 1970 is a lost classic that is rarely played today.
And how about Garth Brooks and his friends in low places? We all need friends, and it's good to know that some of our favorite artists have been able to express that in song. If you can think of any more songs about friends and friendship, shoot us an email by clicking on the "email Gary Bryan" icon on this page. And remember, you've always got friends.. at Rewind!
OSCAR TIME!
This week the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released the list of Oscar nominees for this year, and we immediately started handicapping the various categories.
In the race for "Best Picture," we feel "The Help" is the candidate with the best shot, although "The Descendants," "Hugo" and "Moneyball" all seem to have a shot.
We like Meryl Streep as Best Actress for "The Iron Lady." Believe it or not, although she's won many awards over the years, Meryl hasn't won an Oscar since 1982, when she won for "Sophie's Choice!" She gets nominated frequently, but doesn't win. This will be her year.
For Best Actor, we like Jean DuJardin from "The Artist," a silent (!!) movie that is picking up a lot of awards. We've seen it, and it's very entertaining, and not really silent! Of course, George Clooney is also nominated for "The Descendants," so he may win.. or possibly Brad Pitt for "Moneyball."
On Friday morning we called our friend Jack McGee, a great character actor who seems to be the Lucky Charm when it comes to Oscar nominated movies! Jack has appeared in over 150 films, including the Oscar-winning Best Picture "Crash," with Sandra Bullock. Last year, he appeared in "The Fighter" with Mark Wahlberg, and that film was nominated for Best Picture. This year he plays one of the baseball scouts in "Moneyball," and THAT film has a Best Picture nod! Jack is obviously the common thread through all these pictures, and we were kidding hyim about being the guy who gets cast just to make sure the picture is in the Oscar race.
He's currently in New Orleans filming with Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling.. so get ready.. that film will undoubtedly be Oscar-bait come 2013!
HALL OF FAME!
This week we started celebrating the 40th anniversary of our home station and L.A. afiliate, KEARTH 101, Los Angeles! KEARTH started the oldies format in 1972, about a year after our sister station WCBS FM in New York City. We're so proud to be a part of this heritage, and we decided to put together a 40th anniversary Hall of Fame roster of artists! We opened up the phone lines and the website at www.kearth101.com and asked for suggestions. We aim to list 101 artists.
We quickly realized that our top ten would go something like this:
1. Elvis Presley
2. The Beatles
3. Aretha Franklin
4. The Beach Boys
5. Stevie Wonder
6. The Rolling Stones
7. Marvin Gaye
8. The Supremes
9. Chuck Berry
10. The Temptations
All of these artists are absolute giants who have helped shape pop music as we know it today. Their music is still fresh and stands the test of time! Then we realized that the TOP of the list is easy... the hard part is where to put everyone else. Who should we include and who should be left out? That's when it gets very difficult to judge in some cases.
For example, the Kingsmen had only one big hit, "Louie Louie," but don't they belong in the Hall of Fame? The same could be said of Norman Greenbaum, whose song "Spirit in the Sky" is a classic. And how about artists who have big impact with their groups and also go on to solo careers? I'm thinking of Frankie Valli, who sold millions of records with the Four Seasons, then went on to score huge hits as a single act? John, Paul, George and Ringo all had #1 hits as solo artists. Should we list them as the Beatles and as individuals?
We're looking for input, so if you want to weigh in, send an email by clicking the link on this page. And listen to a future "Rewind" show for our Hall of Fame countdown!
Birthday Happenings!
My birthday falls on January 15th (every YEAR! Is that fair?) so over the holidays, I was treated to a couple of special experiences. First, my family took me to Vegas to see the Cirque du Soleil "Love" show at the Mirage. It's based on the Beatles' music, of course, and it's great! Highly recommended... I think it's the best Cirque show. By the way, we stayed in a rented house in Lake Las Vegas for $175 a night! If you're a family-type person and you want to do Vegas on a budget, Google "Lake Las Vegas Rentals" and you'll find a bunch of vacation-home rentals that sleep 7 or 8 for around that price. It's about 15 minutes away from the Strip, quiet, new and beautiful. And it's a heck of a lot cheaper than renting 3 rooms on the Strip!
Friday, while I was doing my radio in Los Angeles, several friends called in. First, it was Gladys Knight, a woman I really love. She's a sweetheart. A couple of things you may not know about Gladys Knight: 1) She joined the Mormon Church in the 90s. Her son turned her on to the Church of Latter Day Saints, even though she was raised a Baptist in Atlanta. I did get her to admit that Baptists have the best food! 2) She owns, along with her son, a chain of Chicken and Waffle restaurants! They may be coming to Vegas soon.
Then Nischelle Turner, of CNN and Fox Sports, called to say Happy Birthday. You can see her on the CNN Showbiz Tonight coverage of all the awards shows. Next was Steve Edwards, the host of Good Day LA. Steve's a great guy who does a ton of charity work in the L.A. area.
My good friend, actor Robert Davi called in from Shreveport, Louisiana, where he's filming a movie called "The Iceman" with James Franco, among others. Robert does a killer Schwarzenegger impression.. for a few seconds, he had me thinking that Arnold was calling!
The next thing I knew, I looked up and saw Lea Thompson ("Back to the Future') walking into the control room with a birthday cake! Lea had spent the previous day filming her Disney Channel show "Switched at Birth," got home at 11:30pm, then BAKED A CAKE! Wow. She is also in the movie "J. Edgar" with Leonardo DiCaprio. Lea's one of the really sweet people in Hollywood.. no wonder everyone loves her!
And if that's not enough, while we were chatting with Lea on the air, Gary Sinise called in! Gary's a good friend and a real patriot. Check out his website at www.garysinisefoundation.org. Then Matthew Nelson called from Chicago, where he and his brother Gunnar were performing their tribute to their dad, Ricky Nelson.
Altogether, a very groovy birthday! I think after this year, I'll stop counting!
New Years' Predictions!
Everyone loves to look ahead... and so do we! So here are a few New Years' predictions for 2012... we'll check back in 12 months to see how many will come true:
1. "The Help" will win the Oscar for Best Picture. With this story and this stellar cast, this movie is the one to beat for Best Picture.
2. USC will be the #1 team in college football once again!
3. In spite of the Mayan prediction, the world won't end on December 21st... so don't charge up your credit cards!
4. Packers/Patriots in the Super Bowl? (Not too confident on that one!)
5. "American Idol" will come back with a vengeance, scoring even higher ratings.
6. We hear the big food fad in 2012 is going to be... meatballs! (Don't ask)
7. "Rubber Soul" will still be my favorite album! (100% positive on that one)
2012 will bring the usual good and bad things.. and since it's an election year, just the stress of listening to all of the debate may be enough to get you down. But let not your heart be troubled. Worrying never made anything better. We'll put on our rose-colored glasses and believe that the best is yet to come! Happy New Year!
Thoughts at the End of the Year!
Recently we had the good fortune to spend time with two of our favorite people: Stevie Wonder and Wolfgang Puck. Now on the surface, there couldn't be two more different guys. Stevie needs no introduction.. he's been a superstar since he was 12, and at this point, he and Paul McCartney are without doubt the two most legendary musicians in the world.
Wolfgang came to this country as an immigrant and worked his way into a restaurant and food empire. He has seven restaurants just in Los Angeles, and outposts in Las Vegas, New York and others, including a new location opening in London at the legendary Dorchester Hotel. There are many great chefs, but most folks would agree that Wolfgang is the most famous of all.
So what do these two high-achieving men have in common? They are two of the most down-to-earth, genuine people I've ever met. When Stevie comes into the studio, he's ready to talk about the early years at Motown, his days on the tour bus with the Supremes, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson... or he'll kid around about going on "Dancing With the Stars." After fifteen minutes with Stevie, you feel as if you've known him all your life.
Wolfgang is the same.. a gracious, loving guy who makes you feel as if you're one of his best friends.. which is probably why he has so many friends! He has a story for everyone, and he's interested in what everyone is up to. He asks questions, and he never rushes to leave.
I would sum it up this way: Both Stevie and Wolfgang have a positive, hopeful attitude and a real love for other people. Is that the secret to fabulous success? Let's put it this way: It doesn't hurt! Here's hoping that your New Year brings much success and many pleasant surprises! And if you're suffering from a setback, we hope that turns into a major comeback!
A Rock and Roll Christmas!
This week we started planning our Rewind Rockin' Christmas Celebration, and once again we were blown away by the great variety of rockin' Christmas classics! It seems that every era of rock music has its unique Holiday classics, from Brenda Lee and Bobby Helm to Mariah Carey.
The holidays have a powerful emotional pull on all of us.. in fact, many artists have their biggest hits at Christmastime. For example, Bruce Springsteen's one and only #1 hit single is his version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" in 1985! His biggest non-holiday single was "Dancing in the Dark," which peaked at #2 on the Billboard chart. Of course, the Jackson Five also went to #1 with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" in 1970, which shows the enduring popularity of that song.
The Beach Boys came up with some terrific Christmas originals, including "The Man With All the Toys" and "Little St. Nick." The Beatles got in the act as well, and their Christmas messages to their fans have become classics. They were originally released as vinyl singles, with the Fab Four laughing, singing and kidding their way through some very jolly Christmas messages, and singing some pretty cool Holiday originals along the way, like "Christmastime is Here Again."
We can't forget Elton John's #1 Holiday Hit, "Step Into Christmas," or Wham's "Last Christmas" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You." All big hits, and played every year at this time.
Of course, for most of us, this is a religious holiday, so we want our songs of faith mixed in with the holiday love songs and party songs. There are so many great versions of "Silent Night," "Little Drummer Boy" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful" by artists from Elvis to David Bowie.
We hope you enjoy our Rockin' Rewind Christmas Celebration shows. From Chuck Berry to the Carpenters, we've tried to cover all the bases! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and here's to a wonderful New Year!
The Art of Nonsense and Rock and Roll!
This week, we were talking about nonsense lyrics in rock and roll.. and we wound up with some great examples! Of course, the Doo-Wop era was full of those little goodies like "rama-lama-ding-dong!" I suppose these nonsense phrases came out of the era of jazz "scat" singing. These phrases were born out of necessity, since the groups were accapella. They had to have a phrase to sing while creating the background for the lead singer. Some of these phrases are unforgettable, like the "Dip diddy dip" on the beginning of "Blue Moon," but the nonsense phrases got even stronger when Little Richard got his two cents in! "Wop Bob a Lu Bop a Lop Bam Boom!" That was from "Tutti Frutti!"
But the did the nonsense phrases end in the 50s? Not on your life! How about "Obladi Oblada?" Or the "Coo-Coo Ca-Choo" from "I Am the Walrus?" Or whatever Oliver is singing in "Good Morning Starshine?" And from the 70s, "Boogie Oogie Oogie" by Taste of Honey? Or "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy" by Manfred Mann from 1964?
Think about it.. we're sure you can come up with quite a few yourself. Nonsense lyrics are just part of the art of rock and roll!
RANDOM THOUGHTS!!
Here are some of the things we've been thinking and talking about this week:
1. X FACTOR! This show has picked up steam and found its groove. FOX has picked it up for a second season. But even though the show is developing a strong fan base, its audience numbers, averaging 13 million viewers, are still far below "American Idol" levels. We think it's because of the first couple of episodes, where the show stumbled while trying to be "edgy." The redeeming factors seem to be the terrific talent and the production values.
2. KIM KARDASHIAN! When your wedding is staged for a two-part, four-hour cable TV special, you spend all of your time apart and file for divorce after 72 days, it doesn't look very good! However, in the annals of "celebrity marriage," the Kim and Kris debacle isn't the most egregious example. Consider Britney Spears and Jason Alelxander, annulled after 55 hours! And how about Cher and Greg Allman? Their marriage lasted NINE DAYS! J-Lo married back-up dancer Chris Judd.. and that lasted for nine months. And don't forget actor Nicholas Cage and Elvis's little girl, Lisa Marie.. that union was finished after 3 months. Our only question: Exactly WHY is Kim Kardashian a "celebrity?"
3. A NEW JAMES BOND FLICK! MGM announced the cast and title of the next James Bond movie this week. Daniel Craig will return as Bond, with Javier Bardem as his nemesis. The movie will be called "Skyfall," and it's set to be released next year. One of the most interesting aspects of this is that 2012 will be the 50th ANNIVERSARY of the Bond series! That's right.. the first Bond flick, "Dr. No," was released in 1962! If you were around in those days, you may remember that the Bond phenomenon really took off after that, and by the time "From Russia with Love" was released in 1963, the studio combined both flicks into a double bill titled "Bond: Back to Back!"
4. IN LIVING COLOR RETURNS! The 90s are back! This week the Wayans brothers announced they're bringing back "In Living Color" for a series of specials, and possibly a new series. The original show introduced us to Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Jennifer Lopez (she was a "Fly Girl"), Carrie Anne Anaba (also a Fly Girl) and Rosie Perez. We think it's cool that the 90s are now "Retro!"
Steve Cropper and the Legacy of Stax Records!
This week I had the great privilege of sitting down with Steve Cropper, the legendary guitarist-songwriter-producer who is at the center of the Stax Records legend. Steve was at Stax in Memphis at the beginning, when a brother and sister team, Jim Stewart and Etelle Axton, combined the first two letters of their last names and named the new company "Stax" Records.
After Jim and Estelle converted a movie theater into a recording studio, Steve, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Booker T. got together a house band known as the "Mar-Keys," because there was a marquee on the front of the theater! They later became the nucleus of Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and their hit "Green Onions" became a rock and roll classic. I asked Steve about the relations between blacks and whites in the early 60s in Memphis, since he and Donald are white, as are the founders of the company, but Stax was known for the many black superstars who emerged from their roster, such as Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Booker T., etc. Steve told me: "There were no colors at Stax. Just a bunch of people who loved each other makin' music."
Steve co-wrote "In the Midnight Hour" with Wilson Pickett, "Knock on Wood" with Eddie Floyd, and "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" with Otis Redding. Not bad! He and Donald also starred with "The Blues Brothers Band" at the invitation of John Belushi and Dan Akroyd.
Steve is a lot of fun to be around.. it's no wonder he's lasted in a business where people come and go. These days he lives in Nashville with his family, and still tours from time to time with friends. His new album is called "Tribute," and it's excellent. You'll hear portions of our conversation on future "Rewind" shows.
A Song for EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK!
We had some fun on the phones here in L.A. this week when we asked this question: "Can you think of a song that mentions a day of the week?"
At first, we got the obvious answers: "Monday, Monday" by the Mamas and Papas, "Tuesday Afternoon" by the Moody Blues, "Wednesday Morning 3 A.M." by Simon and Garfunkel, "Friday on My Mind" by the Easy Beats, and "Saturday in the Park" by Chicago. Then the audience started digging deep, and coming up with songs like "She's Leaving Home" by the Beatles (Wednesday morning at 5 O'Clock as the day begins..."), and "Lady Madonna" (which mentions every day except for Saturday), and many more. We'll put this topic out there on a future episode of "Rewind" and see what you can come up with!
This week, we got to spend some time with two of our favorite people, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. from the Fifth Dimension. These two started as friends in the band, then wound up married. They've been together for 42 years now, and I asked the secret to their longevity as a married couple. The answer? "We're friends," said Marilyn. "Every time I think 'I've had enough of this,' I think 'But what would I do without my best friend?" Great answer! They're some of the best people I know!
This Sunday is the last broadcast of the legendary Andy Rooney on "60 Minutes." Andy is 92 years old, and he started with CBS in 1948! Over the years, Andy became part of the fabric of American life, as our favorite curmudgeon. Alll you have to say is "Didja ever notice??" and people know exactly who you're talking about! Cheers to Andy.. and thanks for the memories!
The New TV Season
This past week was a big one for the Television Industry... the beginning of the new Fall Season, and the debut of new shows. These are the series on which the networks are pinning their hopes for the coming year. Also, returning shows started showing new episodes this past week.
The biggest hype this year has undoubtedly been around the debut of Ashton Kutcher as Charlie Sheen's replacement on "Two and a Half Men." The premiere episode drew an incredible audience of almost 29 million! While we like all the players, including Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones and Ashton, we found the chemistry almost non-existent. The sex and bathroom humor fell flat without Charlie there to give it a little charm. The jokes about private parts and Ashton's nudity seem pathetically desperate. Are these the writers' attempt to "make impact?" How about some clever writing? We predict the new version of "Men" will wind up with a lower average than the original.
The other anticipated debut was "The X-Factor," with Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul reprising their "American Idol" roles as judges, joined by Nicole Scherzinger and record mogul L.A. Reid. As we watched the premiere episode, we thought: "this has potential," until we got to the part where the "contestant" exposed himself on stage! What? It happened in Seattle's Key Arena, and it was allowed to go on for several minutes. There were several disturbing aspects to this scene. One, the man was obviously mentally ill and had gotten on stage intending to expose himself to the thousands of families in the Arena. Two, instead of having security gang-tackle the guy and sending him off to jail for indecent exposure, they allowed the sorry spectacle to continue. And perhaps most disturbing is the fact that they INCLUDED IT in the show! They could have (and should have), buried this footage and never allowed it to be seen. Instead, someone made the decision to dwell on it, obviously thinking it would generate talk and controversy. We think they broke their trust with the audience at that point. Families can no longer watch "The X-Factor" with the confidence that the show will be consistent with their tastes and values. This is a major mistake. Can they overcome it? Only time will tell.
In other debuts, we understand "The Playboy Club" was very low-rated and may already be in trouble. "Charlie's Angels" rated very well, as did "Hawaii 5-0." We're looking forward to another retro series, "Pan Am," which debuts this Sunday on ABC.
E-Ticket Rides!
We spent some time broadcasting from Disneyland this week, and as we talked about our Disney memories, we got onto the topic of "E-Ticket Rides." When Disneyland opened in 1955, there was an admission charge, and a charge for a book of individual ride tickets. The original ticket books started at "A" and went up to "D" tickets. In 1959, the additional "E" tickets were added.
And what were the original "E-Ticket" rides? The list is long: The Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Submarine Voyage, the Monorail, the Jungle Cruise, the Disneyland Railroad, Journey to the Moon (which no longer exists), the Rainbow Ridge Pack Mules (These were live pack mules guests rode around the same "mountain" where Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster was eventually built), the Mark Twin Riverboat and the Columbia Sailing Ship. No wonder the kids used up all the "E-Tickets" first, leaving millions of American families with drawers full of "A's" and "B's!"
Disneyland went to a "one-price for all rides" ticket in 1982. Why? A new park called "Magic Mountain" in Southern California started introduced the concept, and Disneyland felt they had to follow! It's interesting to note that even though the "E-Ticket" went away almost 30 years ago, the phrase "E-Ticker Ride" has remained a part of our popular culture!
Buddy Holly Day!
On Wednesday of this week, it was "Buddy Holly Day" in Los Angeles, as Buddy finally got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on what would have been his 75th birthday! His widow, Maria Elena, was there, along with Gary Busey (who played Buddy in the movie of his life), Phil Everly and our friend, producer Peter Asher (of Peter and Gordon).
Peter spoke to us about the star ceremony, and also about the tribute album he produced called "Listen to Me: Buddy Holly." It's available on iTunes and Amazon.com, and I recommend it highly. Peter recruited an all-star lineup to sing Buddy's greatest hits, including Stevie Nicks, Brian Wilson, Cobra Starship, Ringo, Jackson Brown, Chris Isaac, Linda Ronstadt, Zooey Deschanel, and more.
Tribute albums usually have a thrown-together feel about them, and tend to be disappointing, but not this one. Peter proves his mettle as a producer by creating a consistent sound throughout the tracks, and the album jumps with all the fun and musicality of Buddy Holly's songs. It's just incredible to consider the diversity of sounds and rhythms he incorporated into this music, especially given the fact that it was all composed over such a short period of time by such a young artist. He died at the age of 22.
By the way, if you decide to buy the CD or download the tracks, be sure to get the album titled "Listen to me: Buddy Holly." There is another tribute album out there, and it's not nearly as good.
Altogether, this week was a fitting tribute to the genius of a man who inspired every great songwriter who came after him. Buddy Holly is gone, but his music lives on!
We Had It Good!
This week, an interesting topic came up on our L.A. radio show: Does anyone still have a "good living room?" Back in the day, a lot of moms designated one room "the nice/good room," where they put the best furniture and decor, and NO ONE WAS ALLOWED IN! The kids were told to stay out.. "we're keeping this room nice, for company." Mom always knew when you went in that room, because she could see your footprints in the carpet!
Shockingly, hundreds of people called in and said, "Yes! We have a designated room that's 'just for company!'" The funny part? When we asked how often the room was used, the most common answer was "never!" That's how it was in our house.. the "good living room" was never used. Of course, our mom didn't go as far as putting plastic on the furniture, but she DID check for footprints in the shag carpet!
The whole topic got me thinking about what constitutes "middle class?" In the 60s, most families had ONE TV (black and white), ONE CAR and ONE TELEPHONE (getting extension phones for different rooms was a BIG deal). Eating out at McDonald's was the "big splurge." At the beginning of the school year, kids got a couple of pairs of jeans and a few shirts, and one new pair of shoes. Going to a theme park was something you saved all year for... and you probably brought your own snacks! Mom did her own hair and had one nice outfit. Today, this would be considered "below the poverty level." Then, it was middle class, and no one felt deprived. Compared to the way our parents grew up, we had it soft!
Life has a way of "re-setting" our expectations. Something to think about.
Colorful Music... and a Beatles Story!
We came up with a new category of songs this week, and started making a list... of songs that mention a color in the title. Wow! Did we come up with a list! The question then became: Which color is mentioned more than any other in song titles? What do you think? We'll do an instant phone poll and reveal the answer in a future episode of "Rewind!"
There was a Beatles anniversary this week, and we reached out to a friend of ours who had a big hand in making it happen. It's the legendary Bob Eubanks, host of "The Newlywed Game." Back in 1966, Bob was a radio personality in Los Angeles, and he promoted the Beatles at Dodger Stadium on August 28th! It was the next-to-the-last Beatles concert, because after their next gig at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, they called it quits and never toured again, concentrating only on studio work.
Bob tells a great story about sneaking the Beatles out of Dodger Stadium. It involves an armored car with flat tires, an ambulance that loses its radiator after running over a speed bump and the Hell's Angels!!! You'll hear Bob tell the story in his own words on a future edition of "Rewind."
By the way... Bob paid the Beatles $120,000 to play Dodger Stadium in 1966, which was pretty big money for those days. However, the Fabs had to pay their own expenses, including the road crew, transportation, their managers and the opening acts! Bob figured that John, Paul, George and Ringo probably pocketed about $4,000 apiece! No wonder they stopped touring.
Have a great week, and we'll meet up again on "Rewind!"
The Hits You Don't Hear at First!
During the last week or so, I had the chance to re-connect with two of my favorite guys: Paul Revere and Danny Hutton. Paul, of course, had many hits with Paul Revere and the Raiders, and was a mainstay on several of Dick's television shows, including "Where the Action Is." Danny, of course, was one-third of Three Dog Night. As we spoke, an interesting topic emerged. We started to realize that their biggest hits were songs that weren't "obvious hits."
In the Raiders' case, the song "Indian Reservation" was their biggest smash ever (and only #1), but it started out as the "B" side of the single! That changed when radio deejays flipped the record, and the audience reacted strongly to "Indian Reservation." But the record label still wasn't convinced, so Paul jumped on his Harley and rode across the country promoting the song! You'll hear him tell the story on a future edition of "Rewind."
The same theme emerged when I asked Danny about "Joy to the World," Three Dog's Night's biggest hit ever. The record folks weren't sure about that one, either... and again, the radio audience loved it, demanded it, and made it a hit!
Throughout my career as a disc jockey and radio programmer, I've often found it's the songs you don't "hear" at first that become the most enduring hits. One prime example is Dire Straits' "Sultans of Swing" from 1979. It's certainly not a catchy Top Forty tune, but when it started to catch on, it became huge! And how about "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins? When it was first released, it only made it up to #19 on the chart. But the audience heard something they liked, and that song kept being requested (and the album kept selling), and today, it's played so much you'd think it had been a #1 hit!
By the way, the reverse is also true. Many songs that are "obvious hits" move up the chart to #1, burn out quickly and are never heard again. That happened quite often in the 70s.
The point of all this? Keep an open mind and open ears.. some new sounds just need time, and they'll "grow" on you!
Random Notes!
Last week, the move "Crazy, Stupid, Love" debuted in theaters starring Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. It's a love story with an interesting twist, but the part that really caught my attention was the scene in which Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone wind up at his "bachelor pad," and he drops the needle on a vinyl LP. For a few seconds you're wondering, "which music will he choose for this love scene?" Will it be Kenny G? Usher? A contemporary jazz track? No! It's "Just One Look" by Doris Troy! More testimony to the power of OLDIES!
Speaking of music, we were laughing this week about a contemporary song called "Grenade" by Bruno Mars. One of the lyrical lines, "I would catch a grenade for you" is so out of place in a love song, it just seems ridiculous. That is, unless Bruno and his girl are both Marines, serving in a forward fire base in Afghanistan! We were trying to remember another tender love song that contains the word "grenade." So far, we can't come up with one.
Instrumental hits are fun. One of our favorites is "Green Onions" by Booker T and the M.G.s. They don't get much better than that one, although we came up with quite a few goodies. We'll feature instrumentals on a future edition of "Rewind."
Another fun topic came up last week with the release of the "The Smurfs" movie. We were recalling some of the great cartoon characters of all time, including Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, the Fintstones ("Yabba Dabba Doo!"), Mighty Mouse ("Here I come to save the day!"), Rocky & Bullwinkle and many more! I'm sure you've got your own list... we'll talk about it on a future "Rewind" show!
A firend of ours, Vanessa Marano, stopped by yesterday. She's nominated for a Teen Choice award for her role in the ABC Family show, "Switched at Birth." The show is on Mondays at 9m, and it also features another friend of ours, Lea Thompson (Back to the Future). Vanessa is 18, and a budding star. We hope she wins this weekend, and we hope you'll check the show out on Monday night.
BIGGEST NEWS OF THE WEEK last week was Jerry Lewis being fired from the MDA Labor Day Telethon. Can the telethon go on without him? We doubt it.. and we happen to know Jerry's departure was handled very poorly. There will be a lot of fallout from this unfortunate episode, and the sadly the ones who will be hurt the most are the kids and families who depend on the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Stay tuned.
The Soundtrack of Our Lives!
As we were putting this week's show together, we realized that the music we're playing spans four decades, from the 50's through the 80's! From time to time, we hear people asking, "is music from the 80's really OLDIES?" Well, this may seem weird, but 1981 (the year Journey released "Don't Stop Believin'"), was 30 YEARS AGO! Ouch?
The real question? Are the songs good? Do they sound good together? We think so.. but you can judge for yourself! "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty is a great song... and of course, "You Send Me" by the late Sam Cooke is a classic. We hope that all the music on "Rewind" puts a smile on your face and brings back a few memories. That's what it's all about!
If you want to give us your feedback, click on the email button on this page.
All-American Pie!
This week is the 40th anniversary of Don McLean's landmark hit, "American Pie." We got Don on the phone and asked him about the origins of the song. According to him, American Pie was NOT the name of the plane that crashed with Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly.. it was just a phrase he made up.. and the rest of the song is just a dream sequence!
Don also had a funny story about the promotion department at United Artists Records, and the phrase they came up with to promote American Pie: "Love It or Eat It!" Wild! You can get the full interview on our Los Angeles website, www.kearth101.com. Click on the morning show page and scroll down. We also asked Don about the legend that surrounded "Killing Me Softly." He supposedly inspired songwriter Lori Leiberman to write that one after she saw him in performance. That legend turns out to be true!
Don could have had many hits if he had taken the formula of American Pie and just reworked it again and again, but he refused to do it. Although he got airplay with "Vincent" and several other tunes, he never had another #1 hit.
Beatles Tour!
We recently got together with a woman named Gillian Lomax, a native of Liverpool who now lives in Southern California. Gillian is known to Beatles fans around the world as an expert on the band, and she also does a "Beatles Tour" of Los Angeles! Did you know that there are more Beatles "points of interest" in L.A. than there are in London?
We took the tour, and we were amazed at the amount of time the lads spent in L.A. Of course, John was here during his infamous "lost weekend" in the early 70s, and Gillian points out the house he rented in Santa Monica. Paul and Ringo actually spend most of their time in L.A. now, and both have homes in the Hollywood Hills. Paul's home is very discreet, but RIngo's pretty obvious, with "starrs" all around a wrought-iron gate!
Gillian's tour includes the house where the Beatles met Elvis, the house they rented in 1965, the Hollywood Bowl and all the stars along the walk of fame, ending at the famous Capitol Records building.
We're hooking up with Gillian to help promote her tour, and we're helping her with audio clips from various celebrities who have great Beatles stories to tell, like Donovan, Eric Burdon, producer Lou Adler, Peter Noone and more. Very soon, we'll give you the contact information so you can book your own Beatles tour when you come to L.A. If you're a Beatles fan, you'll love it!
The Royalty of Rock!
This weekend, with Prince William and Princess Kate making their visit to Southern California, we started thinking about American royalty. Of course, we don't have a royal family (notwithstanding the Kennedys, Bushes and Clintons), but we DO have rock and roll royalty!
Of course, the King of Rock and Roll is Elvis Presley, and he lives on in the hearts of rock fans everywhere. Did you know that Graceland is the #1 rock and roll tourist attraction in the USA?
Of course, there's Prince, a musical genius. And how about the Queen of Soul.. Aretha? She is arguably the greatest vocalist in our country's history. She's that good.
We can't forget the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Throughout his troubled life, he made music that moved people. And the Emperors of Soul? The Temptations!
So America really does have its own Royal Family... the Royals of Rock! The "Duke of Earl" was just the beginning!
Coast to Coast!
I've just returned from a coast-to-coast car trip that took us (my wife and I) through Tucson, San Antonio, New Orleans, Atlanta, and back through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Santa Fe, New Mexico and Arizona. A long drive, to be sure, but well worth it. We came back along the old Route 66. A couple of months ago, I heard that Paul McCartney had taken the same trip with his fiancee, Nancy Shevell. Paul did his driving in a Corvette. I drove a Ford Flex!
Now, with the 4th of July holiday upon us, our military personnel serving around the world are in our thoughts. We hope for the success of their misson and their safe return. And as great as our military is, the USA has become the dominant culture on the planet not through bullets and bombs, but with music, TV shows and movies... the very things we celebrate each week on Rewind. From John Wayne to Elvis and right up to the present day, our pop culture has represented comething very special about America, and it made people around the world want to be a part of it. Have a great 4th of July weekend, and God Bless America!
News From Disneyland
We had the chance to sneak a peek at the new "Star Tours" attraction in Tomorrowland last week. I've got to tell you, if you have the chance you should travel to Disneyland and check it out this summer. The ride has been completely redone, incorporating all the different planets and eras of the Star Wars saga. Each time you ride, it's different. In all, there are 54 different variations of the ride now, and they're all amazing!
It's always fun to go behind the scenes and watch the magic happening at Disneyland and Disney World. I've broadcast from both resorts many times. This time it was especially fun because my son is a big Star Wars fan, so to I knew that if he liked the new Star Tours attraction, that would be the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval! He loved it. We rode three times, and he was ready to go back for more.
It took me back to 1983, when we filmed a commercial for "Captain Eo" in the old "Mission to Mars" attraction. They were tearing it down, but before they did, they brought us in to make a TV commercial for Michael Jackson's "Captain Eo" film. They had several Star Wars extras, meaning little people in alien suits! They had also secured a special doorway for us to walk through. It was the same doorway from the original Star Wars movie.. the one you see Darth Vader walk through on the rebel ship. It even had the steam jets, still in working order, so we got to walk through, the same as Darth! Quite a thrill.
By the way, we saw the new "Little Mermaid" attraction at Disney California Adventure as well, and it's very cool. Next year, we'll be premiering the new "Cars Land." Can't wait for that one!
Those Cheatin' Songs!!
If you've been following the headlines this week, you'll know why the subject of CHEATIN' SONGS came up! We don't need to go through the painful details, but the stories of love gone wrong prompted us to ask: "How many cheatin' songs are there?" We could only come up with a couple, but when we went to our phone lines, the floodgates opened!
Here are a few of the great songs our listeners came up with:
ME AND MRS. JONES-BILLY PAUL 1972
PART TIME LOVER-STEVIE WONDER 1985
DELILAH-TOM JONES 1968
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE-MARVIN GAYE 1968
LYIN' EYES-THE EAGLES 1975
SECRET LOVERS-ATLANTIC STARR 1985
ESCAPE (THE PINA COLADA SONG)-RUPERT HOLMES 1979
POOR LITTLE FOOL-RICKY NELSON 1958
NO REPLY-THE BEATLES 1965
And that's just the tip of the iceberg! Can you add to the list? Call 1-800-939-4806 and leave your song.. then listen for your voice on "Rewind!"
HOUR ONE
LIsten to the Music-The Doobie Brothers 1972 DICK'S PICK!
Chain of Fools-Aretha Franklin 1968 TOP FIVE SONGS WITH LAUGHS IN THEM!
#5 I Am the Walrus-The Beatles 1967
#4 Laughing-The Guess Who 1969
#3 Thriller-Michael Jackson 1983
#2 Wipeout-The Surfaris 1963
#1 What's Going On-Marvin Gaye 1971 DICK CLARK'S ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!
Turn! Turn! Turn!-The Byrads 1965 #1
Mr. Big Stuff-Jean Knight 1971
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag-James Brown 1965 REWIND POP CULTURE QUIZ: What is the most successful movie franchise taken from a TV show?
Stuck in the Middle With You-Stealer's Wheel 1972
Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie-Jay & the Techniques 1967
Tell Her No-The Zombies 1965
Lookin' Out My Back Door-Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971
This Week's First Hour!
HOUR ONE
Don't Do Me Like That-Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 1979 DICK'S PICK!
Good Lovin'-The Young Rascals 1966 #1 TOP FIVE SONGS THAT MENTION OTHER SONGS!
#5 Take Me Home Tonight-Eddie Money 1986
#4 Sweet Soul Music-Arthur Conley 1967
#3 Rock On-David Essex 1974 #1
#2 All You Need Is Love-The Beatles 1967 #1
#1 American Pie-Don McLean 1972 #1 DICK CLARK'S ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!
The Way You Do the Things You Do-The Temptations 1964
Wishin' and Hopin'-Dusty Springfield 1964
The Sounds of Silence-Simon and Garfunkel 1966 #1 REWIND POP CULTURE QUIZ: Which brand of pantyhose dod Joe Namath model in his famous commercial?
That's the Way I Like It-KC & the Sunshine Band 1975 #1
My Girl-Mary Wells 1964 #1
Have You Ever Seen the Rain-Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971
THIS WEEK'S FIRST HOUR!
HOUR ONE
Don't Stop Believin'-Journey 1981 DICK'S PICK!
Burnin' Love-Elvis Presley 1972
TOP FIVE: JUNE 24TH, 1978!
#5 Take a Chance on Me-Abba
#4 You're the One That I Want-John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
#3 It's a Heartache-Bonnie Tyler
#2 Baker Street-Gerry Rafferty
#1 Shadow Dancing-Andy Gibb DICK CLARK'S ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!
Soul Man-Sam & Dave 1967
Hold On I'm Coming-Sam & Dave 1966
Land of 1000 Dances-Wilson Pickett 1966 REWIND POP CULTURE QUIZ: On December 31st, 1972, this show debuted on ABC TV. Can you guess what it is?
A Horse With No Name-America 1972 #1
Let's Stay Together-Al Green 1972 #1
Midnight Confessions-Grass Roots 1968
Long Train Runnin'-The Doobie Brothers 1973
HERE WE GO! This week's first hour!
HOUR ONE
Don't Stop-Fleetwood Mac 1977 DICK'S PICK!
96 Tears-? (Question Mark) & the Mysterians 1966 #1 THE TOP FIVE SONGS ABOUT SHOES!
#5 Boogie Shoes-KC & the Sunshine Band 1978
#4 Blue Suede Shoes-Elvis Presley 1955
#3 Let's Dance-David Bowie 1983 #1
#2 Footloose-Kenny Loggins 1984 #1
#1 These Boots Are Made For Walkin'-Nancy Sinatra 1966 #1 DICK CLARK'S BANDSTAND SPOTLIGHT!
I Can't Help Myself-The Four Tops 1964 #1
Pipeline-The Chantays 1963
Black is Black-Los Bravos 1966 REWIND POP CULTURE QUIZ: Was Maxwell Smart's shoe phone the left shoe.. or the right shoe?
Corcodile Rock-Elton John 1973 #1
My Girl-The Temptations 1965 #1
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)-The Looking Glass 1972 #1
Honky Tonk Women-The Rolling Stones 1969 #1
THIS WEEK'S EXCITING SHOW!!
HOUR ONE
Let's Get It On-Marvin Gaye 1973 #1 TOP FIVE: FEBRUARY 28TH, 1970!!
#5 No Time-The Guess Who
#4 Hey There Lonely Girl-Eddie Holman
#3 Who'll Stop the Rain-Creedence Clearwater Revival
#2 Thank You-Sly & the Family Stone
#1 Bridge Over Troubled Water-Simon & Garfunkel DICK CLARK'S ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!!
Glad All Over-The Dave Clark Five 1964
Catch Us If You Can-The Dave Clark Five 1965
Because-The Dave Clark Five 1964 REWIND POP CULTURE QUIZ: Why did the character "Jill Munroe" leave the show "Charlie's Angels?"
You Sexy Thing-Hot Chocolate 1976
Cracklin' Rosie-Neil Diamond 1970 #1
Tonight's the Night-Rod Stewart 1976 #1
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)-The Looking Glass 1972 #1
Do You Feel Lucky?
Try these trivia toughies!
1. WHAT IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MOVIE FRANCHISE TAKEN FROM A TV SHOW?
2. ON THE TV VERSION OF MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, HOW DID PHELPS GET HIS INSTRUCTIONS?
3. ACCORDING TO STAX RECORDS, WHAT DID THE INITIALS "MG" STAND FOR IN BOOKER T AND THE MG'S?
4. ON JUNE 28TH, 1966, GENERAL MOTORS HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE PROJECT XP-836! WHAT WAS THE CAR FINALLY CALLED?
5. WHICH BAND WAS FEATURED ON THE COVER OF ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE ON MARCH 29, 1973?
SPOILER! Here come the answers:
1. Star Trek
2. On a reel-to-reel tape machine!
3. "Memphis Group"
4. The Camaro!
5. Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show
ALSO ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Smokey Robinson tells us how he got his nickname! Otis Williams tells us how the Temptations got their first #1 hit! Dick Clark Rewinds to the Bandstand years... and so much more! Join us!
Time For Some Brain-Squeezers!
Try this trivia on for size:
1. WHAT BRAND OF PANTYHOSE DID JOE NAMATH MODEL IN HIS FAMOUS COMMERCIAL?
2. WHICH BRITISH INVASION BAND HAD THEIR FIRST TOP TEN SINGLE WITH A "TIMELY" HIT?
3. WHICH BEATLES HIT WAS INSPIRED BY JAMES TAYLOR?
4. IN THE MOVIE "GREASE," WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL? THE PRINCIPAL? AND THE COACH?
5. IN WHICH YEAR DID VW START USING THE WORD BEETLE AS AN OFFICIAL BRAND NAME?
SPOILER! Here come the answers:
1. Beauty Mist
2. The Rolling Stones with "Time Is On My Side"
3. Something
4. Rydell High, Principal McGee and Coach Calhoun
5. 1998.. with the "New Beetle!"
Also on this week's show: Jimmy Buffet talks about playing with a broken leg! Bruce Johnston talks about joining the Beach Boys! A classic Eagles interview from 1977! And Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire! Plus, Dick Clark Rewinds to the Bandstand years.. and we'll play back the top five requests of the week on the Telephone Top Five! Join us!
THIS WEEK'S POP CULTURE QUIZ!
How many can YOU answer?
1. ON DECEMBER 31ST, 1972, THIS SHOW DEBUTED ON ABC TV. CAN YOU GUESS WHAT IT IS?
2. WHICH DUO BROKE UP, BUT HAD TO REUNITE WHEN THEIR RECORD WENT TO #1?
3. NAME THE BIGGEST HIT EVER WITH A BODY PART IN THE TITLE!
4. A SONG RELEASED IN 1967 WAS OFFICIALLY THE 4TH MOST-REQUESTED SONG OF 2007! CAN YOU NAME IT?
5. IN SURVEYS YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHICH "BOND GIRL" IS ALWAYS NAMED "THE HOTTEST?"
SPOILER! Here are your answers:
1. Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (The first featured Three Dog Night and Al Green)
2. Simon and Garfunkel (Sounds of Silence)
3. Betty Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes (written by Jackie DeShannon)
4. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
5. Ursula Andress from "Dr. No!"
ALSO ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW.. David Bowie talks about his Live Aid duet with Mick Jagger, The Ohio Players talk about hookin' up with Stevie Wonder, Peter Asher tells the story of James Taylor and Apple Records, and Lonnie Jordan of War gives the scoop on "Low Riders!" Also, Dick Clark rewinds to the Bandstand years with music and memories you don't wanna miss! Join us!
TRIVIA TIME!
Pop Culture Quiz!
1. ON "GET SMART," WAS MAXWELL SMART'S SHOE PHONE IN THE LEFT SHOE.. OR THE RIGHT SHOE?
2. WHICH MTV VEEJAY STARTED IN THE ORIGINAL TV COMMERCIAL FOR MCDONALD'S CHICKEN MCNUGGETS?
3. WHO PICKS UP FERRIS BUELLER'S SISTER AT THE COP SHOP?
4. IN "MAGNUM P.I.," WHAT IS MAGNUM'S RANK IN THE NAVY?
5. WHICH TV SHOW WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED "THE RISE AND SHINE REVUE?"
SPOILER! Here are the answers:
1. The right shoe! (And he had 50 other secret phones, including the steering wheel of his car!)
2. Martha Quinn
3. Charlie Sheen
4. Lieutenant
5. The Today Show!
Also on this week's show... Marvin Gaye talks about love, marriage and sex, and Dick Clark talks to the Mamas and Papas! Join us!
