ROY ORBISON BIRTHDAY – Celebrate No. 2 All Time Oldies Artist

Until his famous comeback along with the Traveling Wilburys ini the late 1980s, Roy Obison was relegated to ‘second tier’ oldies artist status,with even the supposedly top music journals like Rolling Stone writing him off as a dark-suited flash-in-the-pan. Only after new-generation admires like Elvis Costello, kd lang, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, etc. showed their appreciate in the famous 1987 ‘Black and White Night’ video tribute did Roy get the respect he deserved. People began discovering or rediscovering a wealth of underplayed and undervalued music he had recorded all the way through the late 60s and 70s, long after his initial heyday of the early 60s.

ROY ORBISON STORE –  CDs, DVDs, records, albums, rarities

Though Orbison never got to witness the full effect of his comeback, as he passed  before his ‘Mystery Girl’ hit  No. 5 LP, he did see it ocming with the Wilburys. Since then Orbison has been the number two Oldies artist  (those having begun prior to 1963 )in sales – only Ellvis tops him.

Celebrate   Roy Orbison’s 76th birthday (April 23) with a some classic ‘beat ballad’ music from the Big O(below)

ROY ORBISON STORE –  CDs, DVDs, records, albums, rarities


Roy Orbison Birthday Salute

ROY ORBISON BIRTHDAY – Celebrate No. 2 All Time Oldies Artist

Ozzie & Harriet Show Helped Pave

 Way for  Dick Clark, ‘American

Bandstand’ Going National

Isaak Band’s Pilgrimage to Sun Records Results in  New Sun Tribute LP

 Lib at Large: Isaak drummer Kenney Dale Johnson’s day in the Sun

By Paul Liberatore
Marin Independent Journal
Posted: 10/14/2011 08:20:00 AM PDT

Kenney Dale Johnson, the drummer for Chris Isaak’s band, with his drum set in his San Rafael home on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. Isaak’s band will be headlining at Sonoma Jazz Plus on May 24th. (IJ photo/Jeff Vendsel) Jeff Vendsel

KENNEY DALE JOHNSON, longtime drummer for Chris Isaak, called the other day all excited about the new album the band recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn., one of the birthplaces of rock ‘n’ roll.

“That was the most fun I’ve ever had making a record,” said the San Rafael resident. “I looked around as we were playing and thought, Oh, my God, I can’t believe I’m here. We had a ball.”

That’s what impresses me about Kenney. He’s been with Isaak for more than 25 years, and in other rock bands before that, but he hasn’t become jaded. Far from it.

He and his buddy Isaak are self-described “music geeks.” They grew up (Kenney in Texas, Isaak in Stockton) listening to early
Chris Isaak Sheryl Louis
rock records by Elvis and Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis and the other future classics that were recorded by Sam Phillips at Sun.

“We were both influenced by those records,” Kenney said in his personable Lone Star drawl. “All those great songs were made right there in that little room.”

Aptly titled “Beyond the Sun,” the album was released this week on Vanguard, the band’s new label. The concept arose while they were on tour a year ago. Passing through the South, they made a pilgrimage to Sun, one of rock’s holy shrines, and were invited to jam using the studio’s instruments.

“We had no intention of recording there when we went, but after we jammed all night, Chris goes, ‘Why don’t we make a record of Sun cover songs?’”
Advertisement
Kenney recalled. When no one could think of any reason whey they shouldn’t, they forged ahead.

“Half the battle was figuring out which ones we were going to do.”
They ended up recording 36 tunes in 11 days, selecting a dozen for the album, a mixture of the familiar and the obscure, including Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Jerry Lee’s “Great Balls of Fire,” Carl Perkins’ little-known rave-up “Dixie Fried” and a delightful rarity called “Miss Pearl” by a cat named Johnny Wages, whom Isaak discovered one night on YouTube.

“You can really hear the room in some

Dick and Dee Dee circa 2011

MODESTO, CA 6-11-11

I’ve seen just about everybody who’s anybody still performing on the ‘oldies circuit,’ if you will. However, I had not seen Dick and Dee Dee.  When I read that they wouldl be  performing in the area  I became real curious, especially since Dick passed away  in 2003.

NEW MEMOIR CHRONICLES LIFE OF   EARLY 60s POP STARS

Sat night June 11 was was American Grafitti Day in Modesto, CA, home of the George Lucas 1973 movie classic depicting an early time, 1962. (Hard to believe it’s another40 years since then, as noted by John Milner-  the hot rodder in the yellow car, from the moie- madefor an interesting MC of this show. ‘I was in my 20s then and now I’m in my 60s.It was like being with family, people we grew up with andwith which we could relate.

The show was relective of what we’re seeing in oldies shows today. As there are feweroriginal acts, we had two tribute groups and two originals. A Supremes group opened the show, trying their best to copy the originals . ‘I’m Diana,’ purred  thelead, resplendent in curls much like Ross’ look in later years. The act was forgettable.to say the least for this listener.

Tillotson today with admirer

After what seemed like too long a segment, Milner finally came out and announced the nextact, Johnny Tillotson. I’ve seen Tillotson several times and he performs welland is good with the crowd. He only had one big rock and roll hit in the day, ‘Poetryin Motion,’ but what a hit. The audience chimed in from the opening preface ‘ When ISee My Baby. What Do I See?…Poetry in Motion’ and then takes off with its infectiousbeat and sound. The song is a early 609s pop rock classic the audience ate up.The earlier songs were all pretty good too but didnt have the same audience appeal. Tillotson was one of many artists who had a number of ‘cross-over’ counntry-pophits in the 60s, including ‘Send Me The Pillow.’ recorded by Dean Martin and othersand ‘It Keeps Right On a Hurtin,’ recorded by 112 other artsits including Elvis, according to Johnny. Tillotson could have been big on the country circuit if hewasn’t. (Will have to check out the old country charts; bet these scored high.

JOHNNY TILLOTSON HAD MANY CROSS-OVERS, POP HITS IN 60S

After intermission, Dick and Dee Dee ran out on stage, breaking into ‘Thou ShaltNot Steal. There was waif-like Dee Dee and a gray-haired Dick,   looking a l ittle too young too be originals, but they sounded just like the record. ‘Dick’ even had the falsetto part down to a tee. Maybe this WAS the ghost of Dick St. John, who passed in a roofing accident in 2003 when he fell off a ladder. Dee Dee let us believe it was the real Mccoy until she told about   Roy Orbison stopping by their dressing room  in 1961 on tour,  and how  Orbison gave  St. John his Beatle boots after Orbison had been admiring them (and before the Beatles wore them).Then, in tribute to ‘one of my favorites,’  the duo did a cover of the great orbison ballad, ‘Crying,’ which was wel suited too their voices, ala the Orbison- kd lang version from 1987.

Dick and Dee Dee in the day, circa mid-60s

Later research showed the current ‘Dick’ to be Mark Dunn, an actor/artist and NOT current ‘partner’ of Dee Dee. (OUR ERROR, having previously said that they were life partners. Our apologies to Dee Dee, her real husband and Dick . They live in Pacific Palasades near Los Angeleswith three children. Dee Dee has recently  written her memoir, Vinyl Highway,about a shy 18-year-old being thrown into the spotlight after her first songwent to #2 in 1961, meeting Orbison and the big names, trouble touring and such.Looks like an interesting read , available at DickandDeeDee.com.From their website, it looks as though there’s very little touring, so it was good to finally catch this one, spirited act.

Unfortunately, the sound at the newish Gallo Center for the Arts was not what it should be for a state-of-the -art facility, but I’ve heard worse, too.All in all the two original acts, Tillotson and Dick and Dee Dee were worth the price of admission and, because of the few acts on the bill, we got to see them perform some songs they don’t normally do such as ‘Crying.’ The final act, another tribute group, which  covered  the Temptations, was weak, only slightly better the the faux Supremes who opened the show, althoughthe audience, much less picky than this reviewer, seemed to like them (someprobably didn’t realize therre were no originals in the group.
The backing band was the same for all performers with lead guitar, bass, drumsand keyboard. They are the same ones who’ve backed most of the oldies shows at Gallo in recent years and do a very adequate job, in my opinion.
It was good to get out and hear some oldies, the first such show I’ve seen this year. Now, with summer here, there should be a few more coming through townand we’ll certainly keep you up to date – and would also love to hear your reviews of such shows in your area.
-BK

Vinyl Highway: Singing as Dick and Dee Dee

It was  a fun ‘throw-back evening, as it usually is in Modesto, concert or not.  Modesto is where Lucas grew up and  the sleepy town int he middle of nowhere was AND IS STILL very much lilke it was in the fifties, WITH  still-active drive-ins, old movie houses, cruisin’ McHenry Ave and lots of friendly people…even a tiki bar or two thrown in…Minnies

More Oldies Concerts and tiki bars

MODESTO HOME OF  AMERICAN GRIFFITI –  STILL HAS THAT 50S  VIBE

Songkick — Concerts, tour dates, and festivals for your favorite artists.

JERRY LEE LEWIS on Record

Store Day – New Live Album Due

- Lewis Then and Now

JERRY LEE LEWIS MUSIC – 2 Unique Styles, Then and Now
A Couple of classics from The Killer, showcasing his immense talent. Lewis was strictly rockabilly rock and roll in this late 50s classic when Lewis was in his  unadorned splendor-  natural wild-eyed best, rocking ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’  with his great Sun trio and Jerry Lee during his later country stardom in the late 60s-70s with ‘Who’s Gonna Play This Old Piano,’accompanied by cousin Mickey Gilley and Charlie Rich. Truly, nobody will be able to play the old piano like Jerry Lee when he’s gone. We’re lucky he’s still (amazingly) here, after all he’s been through. We’ve seen him a few dozen times in concert, some better than others, but never disappointing just being able to see this personality-packed legend.

_ JERRY LEE MUSIC HERE

*******************************

SEE 50s/60s Rock and Roll Icon NEIL SEDAKA hosting the latest TIME-LIFE TV Infomercial ‘The Teen Years’ (below) … Great Job Neil and friend. Available  here… All your favorite songs from the Fabulous 50s and Early 60s

*********************************

Lewis reinvented himself, as the cliche goes, after a short and tumultuous early rock and roll career. He had only two big hits, Great Balls of Fire with Whole Lotta but among the biggest classics (John Lennon called ‘Great Balls’ the greatest R and R song)… but that was enough to establish Lewis as one of the Top 5 original rock and rollers along with Chuck Berry, Elvis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, not to mention a few other close 2nd teer guys like Fats Domino and Ray Charles, who weren’t quite pure rock and roll but close and great… Bo Diddly is somewhat over-rated in our opinion..
So, Lewis was blackballed from marrying is 13-year old second cousin Myrna in 1958-59 and rock and roll wasn’t the same, but he cam back in the mid-60s as a country crooner with ‘Who Made Milwaukee Famous’ and others and he had himself a double career. Today if you catch him in concert you get the two sides of Jerry Lee.

JERRY LEE LEWIS on Record

Store Day – New Live Album

- Lewis Music Videos Then and Now

Time goes by and we don’t want to forget this great talent, still ‘hangin’ in like Gunga Din,’ as he would say, amongg his other colorful quotes. He’s put out a couple classic albums in recent years and .
On last Satirday’s Record Store Day, Jerry Lee Lewis played Jack White’s Third Man Records where The show is being recorded for a live album, and the backing band includes Steve Cropper and Jim Keltner, along with Jack Lawrence from the Dead Weather and Raconteurs on the bass guitar. ‘ I can’t tell you how excited I am, as Jerry Lee is one of my all-time musical heroes. Here’s a song from my favorite live record, recorded at the Star Club in Hamburg in 1964, and featuring the Nashville Teens laying it down behind him.’ – Jared Shade Reynolds

FIND JERRY LEE MUSIC HERE

And, how about Record  Store Day … what a great thing we’ll have to start following for coming years…  great way to help support the still existing record stores, like Amoeba Music (Berkeley, San Francisco and Los Angeles),  recently named Best Record Store in the U>S>

More Jerry Lee Lewis

JERRY LEE LEWIS on RecordStore Day – New Live Album- Lewis Music Videos Then and Now

SILENT FILM with Live organ accompaniment – who would have known this could be so enjoyable seeing a movie without dialogue. Sorry if I may sounda bit naive but…New experience for me… what a great program. Hand it to Ohlone College in Fremont, CA , no doubt assisted by the Niles film program

‘ 7 Chances’ starring Buster Keaton was the last of their yearly performing arts series. I missed the opening organ performance by Jerry Nagano and lecture by Keaton historian keynote speaker David Keihu but found Ohlone, after a long drive, just in time for the second have move, sans payment ( no longer were they collecting money at the time)

7 Chances is a cute little movie, most of which takes place in one day, showcasing Keaton’s awkward ways and difficulties in coping, but ends happily..

Movie begins with the shy, awkward Keaton trying to propose to his girlfriend in front of her mother’s home, where she lives. It’s spring and Keaton is pictured with her and her little puppy in front garden and white picket fence, perhaps too shy to even enter the house or front gate. Apparently, Keaton can’t get out the words ‘ I love you,’ and nothing comes of the proposal.

Cut to Fall, 3 months later, where we see Keaton and girlfriend once again in similar pose, in front of white fence, only her dog has grown significantly. Same setting , same outcome. No go.

Cut to Winter, now there’s snow on the ground with the dog almost full grown now. Still, Keaton is having difficulty getting his message out. Perhaps it’s time to give up.

Then one day , years later, Keaton’s father passes and he receives a beneficiary note telling him he will receive 7 million dollars if he marries by age 27 – only after Keaton spends much time with his friend, trying to avoid what they thought was a summons server. When the server finally avoids the law and pastes the ltetter on the window in front of them where they are dining, Keaton is thrilled – and barely catches up with the server who has just been captured by the police. Keaton and friend tell the cops to let him go so they can deal with the letter.

Problem is Keaton’s 27^th birthday is this same day ! He has literally hours, until midnite to get married. We see Keaton and friend struggle mightily to come up with a name of a woman to marry. There’s really only the long-time girlfriend, so Keaton hires a horseman to deliver the message to the girlfriend. She successfully gets the note and meets Keaton late that night. Keaton bumbles his latest proposal, telling her that he must marry ‘someone’ this day so he can inherit a lot of money. Obviously the girlfriend gets offended by the ‘someone’ comment and starts to leave/

But, finally, only minutes before the midnite deadline, things come together and the two hastily hire a judge and marry! Lucky Seven – seven chances with the same woman and finally -success! All this with majestic live organ accompaniment by Jerry Nagaon in the campus cozy Jackson Theater.

PHILLY EXPRESS – Stopped by my advertiser in Alameda prior to the movie and had a great Philly Dog dinner ! Great dogs and cheesteaks made on genuine Amoroso rolls from Philadelphia! Click above coupon to enclarge and print!

FOBIDDEN ISLAND TIKI BAR, Alameda, CA – While in Alameda had to stop by what many consider the No. 1 tiki bar in the world. Had a ‘sidewinder itch’ replete with backscratcher ($11) before moving on to great Keaton film, as above, making it three nites in a row of Top Tiki Bars.. only San Joses Bamboo Hut must be visited an, perhaps a revisit to the great, not-to-be-forgotten Tonga Room, SF and Trader Vic’s, Emeryville, CA.

Last King of the Piano Bars?

Rod Dibble Still Tickling Them 50 Years Later

When one passes by the Alley on Grand Ave in Oakland, CA you hardly notice the place. It’s always looked kind of dingy from the outside. Come to think of of it, it’s pretty dingy-looking on the inside, too,but the good kind of dingy.

As a kid growing up in Oakland , the Alley was all but ignored as a place for older folks, with a bohemian bent- weirdos back then . Over the years the neighbor hood changed -especially the parallel-running Lakeshore Ave, where perhaps only 1 or two original businesses remain out of the 50 or so… Grand isn’t much differrent. But, somehow, The Alley has survived. Lots of down years and population changes as Oakland has gone from all white to a largely minority city. Original owners have passed on and most of the original followers. However, the daughter of the original owners still runs the place, we are told, which probably explains, in part, how the Alley has stood the test of time. Kudos to her.

But through it all , there’s one constant – Rod Dibble at the Piano, now going on 50 years.

PIANO BARS – DIBBBLE STILL TICKLIN’ THEM 50 YEARS LATER

Dibble began his stint in 1963 . And, it’s as if time has stood still since then. While the crowd may have changed, the place hasn’t and , of course, Dibble’s still there, and he says he doesn’t play any music after 1963. If that’s not time warp , what is? But, we love it. In today’s fast-paced world of quickening technology , media hype and disfunctional or non-existent families its kind of nice to see a that a place like the Alley – and it’s current family of regulars – can still exist in 2910.

If there’s another place like this in America that hasn’t changed a lick, with a veteran piano player of 50 years, I’d like to see it. And there well may be one or two somewhere .However, piano bars, themselves , are pretty rare these days, having been replaced by automated Kareoke .

We say there’s nothing like the real thing, and , apparently, so do a lot of others, as seen by a resurgence at the Alley in recent years, with the current crowd of mostly 20-somethings. However, this recent night we were there we witnessed a number of spirited seniors , like Frank, as animated in his singing as any of other younger folk , who gather at the 9 or 10 seats around the grand piano and take turns singing into the nicraphones. Frank ended ever classic song with a high-pitched last note; so what if it was off-key. That’s what makes this place so special. It’s all off key by today’s standards. And that’s good.

There’s a book of hundreds of songs, with lyrics to choose from. It was refreshing to hear song after song from the great American song book, when melody and lyrics seemed to have more to do with music. Each song told a story – take Route 66 for example – and the unique singer behind the mike. No generics as you get at a Karaoke bar. Only real personality here. And Dibble, now   in his  late 70s  but still with a youthful spark, is able to tackle most every song but, again, it’s gotta behind pre-1963. He still sings, too, and in a whiskey-inspired voice one might expect for a guy who has spent thousands of nights singing, playing and, yes -drinking the night away at the Alley.

FIND ALMOST ANY GREAT , OLD, VINTAGE MUSIC – LPS, CDS, DVDS:

I try to get to the Alley now as often as possible as I’m afraid this fun can’t last forever. Dibble’s doing great but he won’t be there forever. And , one must wonder, how the alley has escaped the fire inspectors , with all the old business cards, flyers and paper lining the walls and ceiling, much of which has probably been there the whole time .

So, if you live anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s worth a trip to see this place. Even if you live in another state, its work a trip to spend a weekend with Rod and the gang… Pick a weekend night or two when you’re sure to see Dibble at the ivories — there’s a new young upstart singing weeknights – and a full host of singers at the piano bar; this place makes Cheers pale. I will go in and sit in the back corner and just take in the whole atmosphere. Talk about time standing still. I love this place – and to think we would have nothing to do with the place as kids in the 60s and 70s…

If you know of any special vintage piano bars that might possibly rival the Alley please comment…

VIDEOS : Top Video from 2009 features Dibble going solo, Bottom Video gives a more real ‘vibe’ of the Alley experience…

More Oldies

The Best Fake Book Ever: For Keyboard, Vocal, Guitar, and All “C” Instruments (4th Edition)

Stardust Piano Bar by Ralph Burch – Fine Art Print / Poster – 18.00 x 22.00

Lounge Music: Exotica, Easy listening, Space age pop, Mood music, Beautiful music, Electronica, Chill- out music, Nu jazz, Downtempo, Space Age, Light … Piano bar, Camp (style), Tiki culture

Piano Bars – Nothing Like the Alley, Oakland, CA

ITUNES

WELCOMES

THE BEATLES -

14 ALBUM

BOX, FULL

CATALOG

Click Image With a 14 album box set, 16 albums total, and the entire stream of Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964, iTunes brings you The Beatles. Funny how this finally happens just in time for Holiday Gift Shopping. Each album comes with iTunes LP, which features lyrics, photos, and more. The Beatles Box Set includes the band’s entire catalog, plus mini-documentary features on each album, and the bands’ first performance in the US.

COMPLETE BEATLES NOW ON ITUNES

The Beatles have finally landed in iTunes, following years of dispute between Apple and the iconic band’s rights holders and about 24 hours of rampant speculation about what the technology giant would be announcing following cryptic messages posted to the company’s website on Monday. Apple, EMI and Apple Corps (the outfit founded by The Beatles) issued a joint statement this morning confirming the news. “It has been a long and winding road to get here. Thanks to the Beatles and EMI, we are now realizing a dream we’ve had since we launched iTunes ten years ago,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison are also quoted in today’s official announcement. Within iTunes, Apple has dedicated the full above the fold real estate to the band. Beyond links to many of the The Beatles popular albums (all 13 studio albums are now available in iTunes), the display features video highlights, The Beatles Box Set and a link to the band’s artist page. The Beatles even appear to now be one of the 2,000 or so artists on Ping, the new social network for music within

Beatles and Itunes just in time for Christmas

Itunes for I-Christmas.info Itunes at I-store.me Itunes and more music at OldiesCountry.com

ITUNES BEATLES