About Oldies Connection

Welcome to the official blog for Oldies Connection, which is celebrating its 10th year online in 2014. When I first started Oldies Connection in early 2004, the site consisted of fewer than twenty pages; since then, it has evolved to more than 1,000—all of which pay homage to the singers, groups, and great music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

In addition to original writeups and music reviews, Oldies Connection contains two birthday lists (one by date, one alphabetical); three memorial pages (one alphabetical, one by date, one by year); an Oldies Radio page, which lists oldies broadcast radio stations by U.S. state; an Internet Oldies page (online-only oldies stations); and the pièce de résistance, The Artists of Oldies Connection, which features an alphabetical list of links for nearly one thousand singers and groups who got their start in the '50s, '60s, or '70s; each link navigates to a page that has links to the artist's official web site, Facebook page, Twitter feed, and MySpace profile, if applicable, as well as to Wikipedia pages and YouTube search results and/or official channels. Each artist page also has graphic links to CD/MP3 product pages on Amazon.com; many of these are via widgets that update automatically with the latest releases.

There's also Laura's Little Shop of Oldies, powered by Amazon.com, where visitors can browse for music and books directly on Oldies Connection. I've done the work so you don't have to; everything is organized by category, and clicking on a category name (i.e, The Beatles) will bring up any subcategories (i.e., John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr). The store includes a Search box in case you don't see what you're looking for.

Oldies Connection is all over the Web. In addition to the main site and Facebook Page, there are also Twitter feeds, Pinterest boards, and several blogs on Blogger, Wordpress, and Tumblr. An "Arrivals and Departures" blog is posted every Sunday on the Oldies Connection blog, commemorating birthdays and anniversaries of passings coming up that week. Latest news is posted via Twitter, which is embedded on the home page. The newest page on Oldies Connection, Photos, has links to photo albums, Tumblr, Pinterest, and a few dedicated photo sites. The social media pages are continually active, and the main site is updated frequently and constantly expanding with new content. I refer to Oldies Connection as "your one-stop source for info on artists from the '50s, '60s and '70s," and that basically describes what the site is all about. Thank you for visiting Oldies Connection and for your continued support for these wonderful groups and singers from rock & roll's golden era.

Mark Wirtz On the Charts With New Single

Award-winning composer/producer Mark Wirtz has a hit in the making with his wonderful rendition of "I Need to Fall in Love." The romantic tune is the first single release from his most recent album, Lost Pets 2 (PoppyDisc Records), and was co-written by Wirtz with Bob Lind (of "Elusive Butterfly" fame) and Jim David (son of Brill Building songwriter Hal David). "I Need to Fall in Love" is being played on radio stations across the country and is currently in the Top Thirty according to the latest reports. For more on Mark Wirtz and Lost Pets 2, click here.

Below is the video for "I Need to Fall in Love." Give it a listen and see if you agree with Oldies Connection that this newest release by legendary EMI producer Mark Wirtz is a winner. (Not bad for a guy who, in addition to his many musical accomplishments, is also a stand-up comedian who regularly appears at comedy venues in the southeastern United States!)







Also available on iTunes
Mark Wirtz - Official site

UPDATE (31 May 2012): See Paul McCartney Cites Mark Wirtz' Teenage Opera As Influence

Davy Jones: Farewell, Daydream Believer

Still Believing: Davy Jones performs with The Monkees in Clearwater, Florida, in June of 2011. Photo by Laura Pinto.

On Wednesday, February 29, 2012, the music world suffered a tragic loss when '60s teen idol Davy Jones died suddenly from a massive heart attack. He was 66 years old. A dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom, Jones was residing in Indiantown, Florida at the time of his death.





Born David Thomas Jones in Manchester, England, on 30 December 1945, the diminutive member of the Pre-Fab Four won the hearts of girls all across the U.S. and around the globe with his matinee-idol looks, lilting British accent, charm, and wit. Yet the path to stardom was, if not circuitous, at least a sharp zigzag. Jones had shown an interest in acting as a child, after appearing in a production of Tom Sawyer. When Jones' mother passed away from emphysema, the five-foot-three-inch Jones, who was 14 years old, shifted from a career as an actor to that of jockey. He trained under jockey Basil Foster, who encouraged the youngster to continue to pursue acting. In 1961, Jones appeared in the British soap opera Coronation Street. He went on to play the Artful Dodger in the original London production of Oliver!, a musical based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. When the production landed in the United States, Jones picked up the role on Broadway in 1963, garnering a Tony Award nomination. On February 9, 1964, Jones was one of the cast members who appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show the same night as The Beatles' first appearance on the program, singing "I'd Do Anything" with actress Georgia Brown. Standing in the wings, listening to the screams from the girls in the audience for the lads from Liverpool, Jones had a glimpse into his own future.





The future came with startling rapidity. In 1965, Jones was among some 437 other young hopefuls who auditioned for a role in a forthcoming TV series about a rock and roll band. Already signed to the production company, Screen Gems, Davy Jones was cast along with Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith, and The Monkees premiered on U.S. television on September 12, 1966, on the NBC network.

From the moment The Monkees hit the airwaves, Jones was virtually never out of the spotlight. After the show was cancelled and the group disbanded, Jones began a solo career which endured until his death; indeed, his last live performance was just ten days prior to his passing. He also acted, on TV and stage, most notably appearing as the character Fagin in productions of the musical Oliver! In addition to all of this, Jones reprised his career as a jockey, winning his first race in 1996 at Lingfield Park Racecourse in the U.K.; and he participated in several Monkees reunion tours, most recently in 2011.

Jones' unexpected passing, ruled by the medical examiner to have been from a heart attack caused by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), touched off a storm surge of tweets, Facebook posts, and online writeups as fans, friends and celebrities recalled their memories of the man who was arguably the most popular of The Monkees.





Bandmate Micky Dolenz remembered Jones on his Facebook page; in part, he stated:
"The time [Davy and I] worked together and had together is something I'll never forget. He was the brother I never had and this leaves a gigantic hole in my heart. The memories have and will last a lifetime."

Fellow Monkee Peter Tork chimed in via a Facebook Note:
"It is with great sadness that I reflect on the sudden passing of my long-time friend and fellow-adventurer, David Jones. His talent will be much missed; his gifts will be with us always. My deepest sympathy to Jessica and the rest of his family. Adios, to the Manchester Cowboy."

The most spiritual response from one of the original Monkees came from Michael Nesmith. On his Facebook page, Michael wrote, in part:
"That David has stepped beyond my view causes me the sadness that it does many of you. I will miss him, but I won’t abandon him to mortality. I will think of him as existing within the animating life that insures existence. I will think of him and his family with that gentle regard in spite of all the contrary appearances on the mortal plane. David’s spirit and soul live well in my heart, among all the lovely people, who remember with me the good times, and the healing times, that were created for so many, including us."

Other celebs chimed in as well.

Howard Kaylan from The Turtles tweeted: "There's no cheering up Sleepy Jean. Sad. Davy Jones RIP. Miss you, buddy."

Neil Diamond, also from Twitter: "I'm sad to hear about Davy Jones. The Monkees were such a sensation that it was a thrill for me to have them record some of my early songs." (Diamond composed "I'm a Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You," among others.)

Ron Dante, who was the voice of The Archies ("Sugar, Sugar") and later produced Barry Manilow's early hits, was a good friend of Jones'. Dante told TMZ that he was "floored" by the passing of his dear friend, who'd appeared to be in "perfect health." On his own Facebook page, Ron posted: "Cannot believe that Davy Jones is gone. God bless his soul."

Andy Kim (who co-composed "Sugar, Sugar" and later wrote and recorded "Rock Me Gently") posted on Facebook: "Everybody loved Davy’s smile, the way he came across and his incredible presence. In 1970, I co-wrote 'Oh My My' for the Monkees in 1970 (when they were down to just Jones and Dolenz). He was a phenomenal ambassador for a band that didn’t really start off a band but quickly became a force. He will be sadly missed."

(Above) Davy Jones (5'3") with Jeff Barry (6'4") - clowning around in 1966

Jeff Barry, Kim's "Sugar, Sugar" and "Oh My My" co-writer, who produced "I'm a Believer" and several other tracks for The Monkees, commented for this blog: "Davy was obviously a huge talent, but a wonderful person to work with as well. He will be so missed by so many."

Robin McNamara, who was also produced by Barry, says: "I remember doing the Upbeat TV show with Davy in Cleveland; I remember him as one of the funniest [and most] down to earth people I ever met. The world will miss him."

Females played a huge part in the life of Davy Jones. He was loved by girls and women all over the world; and he was surrounded by girls and women in his family life as well. Jones was the youngest of four children and the only boy. He left school and began training as a jockey after his mother died at the young age of 51. Married three times, Jones had four daughters, two each from his first two marriages. He is survived by his third wife, Jessica, and daughters Talia, Sarah, Jessica, and Annabel.

(Above) Very poignant video from the Rrazz Room in San Francisco. Listen to all the things Davy Jones says before launching into "Daydream Believer."

Davy Jones - official web site

Love Still Abides - announcement of Davy's passing from DavyJones.net

Davy Jones Guestbook on Legacy.com

Wikipedia page for Davy Jones

The Monkees.com

My Davy Jones Pinterest board (features pix and videos; still a work in progress)

TMZ - Monkees Singer Davy Jones Dead at 66 From Heart Attack

USA Today - Davy Jones of The Monkees: A towering multimedia star

Entertainment on Today (MSNBC) - Monkees star Davy Jones dies at 66 (includes video interview from last year)

NY Daily News - Davy Jones dead at 66: The Monkees frontman dies from heart attack by David Hinckley

NY Times - Davy Jones, Monkees Singer, Dies at 66

ABC News - Monkees Singer Davy Jones Dies

Yahoo Music - Davy Jones' Good-Humored Last Days

(Above) Davy Jones (with Peter Tork, right) performing in Clearwater, Florida in June of 2011 as part of The Monkees' 45th Anniversary Tour. Photo by Laura Pinto.

Here's a video from that Clearwater show:

DAVID THOMAS JONES

30 DECEMBER 1945 - 29 FEBRUARY 2012

R.I.P.

Book Recommendation: Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone?

DAVIS, CALIF., U.S.A. -- A singer-songwriter who had been a member of America’s most successful and influential musical group of the late 1950s and early ’60s and wrote one of the biggest-selling songs of the 1960s revealed late in his life that he was bipolar. One ’60s era singer who initially established himself as a rock-and-roller before re-emerging as a smooth balladeer recently divulged a secret that not even his mother knew: as a youth, he had spent a night in jail. Another popular teenage heartthrob who amassed 38 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1960s hired a then-obscure backup piano player by the name of Elston Gunnn (with three n’s) -- who later became known to the world as Bob Dylan. The guitarist for a record-breaking American band who severed part of his thumb in later life while building a boat was able to resume performing by switching to bass guitar. After the breakup of one of the most revered “British invasion” groups, its financially struggling lead singer reluctantly took a job with an insurance brokerage, then re-emerged as a singer under a different name before finally reverting to the name by which his fans knew him.

That's the first paragraph of the official press release for Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? -- Volume 1, published in July of 2011. Written by Marti Smiley Childs and Jeff March, Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? -- Volume 1 is a treasure trove of information on twenty-six artists from the 1950s and 1960s, catching up on the lives and careers of Bobby Vee, Chris Montez, and members of The Kingston Trio, The Spiral Starecase, Herman's Hermits, The Association, and The Zombies. Loaded with information and filled with quotes from most of the principals (including several who are no longer with us), the book is an entertaining read as well as an educational one. As of this writing, seven out of the seven reviews on Amazon.com gave the book a five-star rating.

To read more about Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? -- Volume 1, including the rest of the press release, please visit Oldies Connection. Highly recommended for fans of the  music from rock and roll's golden era.

Mark Wirtz - Lost Pets 2

Today, 27 September 2011, is the official release date in America for the newest CD by singer/songwriter/producer Mark Wirtz, entitled Lost Pets 2.  All of the baker's dozen tracks were composed or co-composed by the artist, and LP2 is a collection that has "hit" written all over it, from the rocking, rollicking title cut "Lost Pets (Loose Ends)" to the wistful "I Need to Fall In Love" (co-written by Jim David, the son of legendary Brill Building composer Hal David, and "Elusive Butterfly" composer/singer Bob Lind); from the energetic, electric-guitar-laden "Sindee" to the excruciatingly romantic "For Just You."

Mark Wirtz first came to prominence during the 1960s, after he moved from his native Germany to London, became an Englishman, and began working at the fabled Abbey Road Studios (then called EMI Studios) alongside Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick.  By 1966 Wirtz had written, produced and arranged "A Touch of Velvet - A Sting of Brass" which was released under the name Mood Mosaic and subsequently became the signature tune of Radio Caroline's deejay Dave Lee Travis.  In 1967, Keith West recorded "Excerpt From a Teenage Opera (Grocer Jack)," which he co-wrote along with Wirtz and which Wirtz produced and arranged.  These two songs remain among Wirtz's most well known efforts; but they are far from his only efforts.  With the exception of some fifteen years away from the music business while raising his daughter as a single parent during the '80s and '90s, Mark Wirtz has been a working arranger, producer, songwriter and singer ever since he first set foot in EMI Studios (which, as it happens, was on the same day in 1962 when The Beatles were auditioning for George Martin).  During the last several years, Wirtz has realized a long-held dream by adding stand-up comedy work to his list of accomplishments.





In the late 1970s, Mark Wirtz began work on an album, Lost Pets, but the project was abandoned when two of his band-mates, Jeff Poccaro and David Hungate, departed to record and tour with their newly successful group, Toto.  Tracks from the "lost" Lost Pets album were subsequently released on two CDs: Kitschinsync: The Hollywood Years, Vol. 1 - 1971-82 and Dreamer of Glass Beach: The Hollywood Years, Vol. 2 - 1971-82.  A few years later, in 2005, Wirtz released the delightful collection Love Is Eggshaped.  The most recent Wirtz release up to now had been Wirtz and Music, which is a reissue of Maestro Wirtz's albums, Latin A Go-Go and Smooth and Easy.  Lost Pets 2 brings Wirtz full circle, in a sense; for, as Wirtz points out on the CD booklet: "Only by returning to where we lost ourselves can we hope to find ourselves again."

Brian Wilson's Clearwater show was Fun, Fun, Fun!

Good Vibrations: BRIAN WILSON AND COMPANY take Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall by storm!

On Saturday, August 6, 2011, former Beach Boy and indisputable musical genius Brian Wilson and his band put on an electric, energetic, and fantastic 2½ hour (+) concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida.  One of the best shows I have ever had the privilege of attending, it was pure magic from start to finish.

The legendary singer/songwriter/producer epitomizes the sentiment "A man who needs no introduction," and no introduction was given.  Wilson and company quietly took their places onstage in the darkness, and when the lights came up to reveal Brian Wilson, seated front-and-center at his keyboard, the ovation was roaring loud and went on for such a long time that I was surprised there was time left over for the show itself.  The audience response was an indicator of how beloved this man and his music are, and an accurate predictor of the success of the concert that followed.

If I hadn't already liked Brian Wilson enormously, his first words to the sold-out crowd at Ruth Eckerd Hall would have been enough to win me over: after saying hello and then realizing that he couldn't remember which city he was in, Wilson asked the room at large for this minor detail.  A band member swiftly provided the answer, since hearing the shouted replies from audience members over the din of the cheers and applause was impossible.  Considering that Wilson and his ensemble had spent the past eight days playing in such diverse locations as Grand Rapids, Saint Charles, Clear Lake, Lexington, Atlanta, and Hollywood (FL) - and a Canadian tour prior to this - before arriving in Clearwater, his momentary lapse was totally understandable.  (In fact, I'm surprised this sort of thing doesn't happen more often.)

Wilson's first number was "California Girls," a very fitting start considering that his group, The Beach Boys, became synonymous with The Golden State during the 1960s, enjoying hit after hit and helping to popularize the surf sounds of the era.  A former child prodigy, Brian formed the genesis for the band in 1961 (this year marks their 50th anniversary).  The group was signed to Capitol Records the following year.  Before the decade was over, The Beach Boys had racked up twenty-seven Top Forty hits, three of which went to #1 nationally.*  As its founder and main songwriter, Brian Wilson was the soul of the group, his influence still felt long after he ceased appearing with The Beach Boys and, later, started his solo career.

After singing a few more hits - "Dance Dance Dance," "Catch a Wave," and "Wendy" - Wilson playfully led the audience in a singalong to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."  After a couple of lighthearted rounds of the tune, the formal set list continued on with ace guitarist and musical director Jeffrey Foskett starting off a duet with Wilson on "Then I Kissed Her."  A few songs after this, Foskett took the lead on "Don't Worry Baby."**  A star in his own right, as is the case with many of the members of Brian Wilson's Band, the hugely talented Foskett has worked alongside Brian Wilson for many years; his wonderful tenor is a perfect complement to Wilson's.

Several songs later, it was time for another key band member, Darian Sahanaja, to take over the lead vocal on "Darlin'" - which he delivered brilliantly in a pleasing, crystalline tenor.  Two numbers ("Do It Again" and "I Get Around") later, there was a twenty-minute intermission, followed by set #2.



The second set began with several cuts from Wilson's CD, Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, which pays tribute to the legendary composer George Gershwin.  The selection kicked off with some fantastic vocal stylizations to "Rhapsody in Blue," followed by "Summertime," a cool instrumental version of "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," the sweet "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and the rocking "I Got Rhythm," concluding with the heretofore-unfinished Gershwin song "Nothing But Love."  (The "finishers" of "Nothing But Love" for the album project were Wilson and band member Scott Bennett.)

Bennett would demonstrate his own great vocal chops on "Sail On Sailor" a couple of songs later, after which the band performed the instrumental "Pet Sounds."  "Sloop John B" immediately followed, then Foskett took another lead vocal turn on "Wouldn't It Be Nice."  Unsurprisingly, Wilson finished the set with the song that is arguably his best known and that with which he is most identified - "Good Vibrations."  Wilson and the entire band acknowledged the thunderous applause and standing ovation from the audience before leaving the stage, only to come back a few minutes later, one at a time, as Foskett introduced the band members, Sahanaja introduced Foskett, and Wilson returned for a five-song encore that would include "Johnny B. Goode," "Barbara Ann," and "Surfin' USA."  The show concluded with a second encore, "All Summer Long."  Counting the encores (as they must be), Brian Wilson and his band performed more than thirty Beach Boys classics, and roughly forty songs all told.

During the entire concert, from start to finish, the energy in the 2,180-seat room was incredible.  Brian Wilson unquestionably demonstrated the reasons for his legendary status and critical acclaim to the Tampa Bay area that night.  It is my hope that the concert will be made available on DVD.  And the Brian Wilson organization may consider this my formal request - or, more accurately, my impassioned plea.

Notes:

 *Reference: The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (6th edition, 1996)

**The set lists for Brian Wilson's show are available for viewing on the Tour page of his official website; therefore, I did not bother to enumerate every song in my text.  I encourage readers of my blog and visitors to my site to visit the artists' websites.

Photo at top of piece: Me (Laura Pinto) with Brian Wilson, 06 August 2011, pre-show

Music:

Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
Smile
That Lucky Old Sun

The Beach Boys
Sounds of Summer: Very Best of The Beach Boys
Beach Boys - 20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits (Volume 1)
Beach Boys - The Greatest Hits Vol. 2: 20 More Good Vibrations
Pet Sounds

New Music by Robin McNamara!

Check out the cool new single by the ol' hippie himself, Robin McNamara!  Robin, who first came to prominence in 1969 as a cast member of the original Broadway production of Hair, and the following year as the writer/singer of the Top Twenty hit "Lay a Little Lovin' On Me," has just released a 10-track album called Stuck in The 60's.  This song, "The Prophet and The King," is an ode to John Lennon and Elvis Presley.  Please click on Robin's name above to visit his website for details, and a few words from Robin!

Rob Grill - R.I.P.

Very sad to report that Rob Grill of The Grass Roots has passed away in Florida at the age of 67.  Rob, who was born Robert Frank Grill on November 30, 1943, had been with the band since its inception in 1967 and, more recently, was making "special appearances" with the group as part of the Happy Together Tour.  Rob had been in a coma since suffering a fall a few weeks earlier.

More information can be found on Spinner.com and the Orlando Sentinel website.

Music:

The Grass Roots - All Time Greatest Hits

20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection

Clay Cole, 1938-2010

It is with sadness that I report the passing of another one of the greats of the rock and roll era.  Clay Cole, born Albert Rucker, Jr. on January 1, 1938, has passed away at the age of 72.  Clay apparently succumbed to a heart attack at his North Carolina home on December 18, 2010, just a couple of weeks prior to his 73rd birthday.

Clay was a television host, disc jockey, emcee, writer, producer, movie star, and author.  He was best known for his eponymous TV show, which aired in the New York City area from 1959 to 1968.  Clay's youthful enthusiasm helped to make the rock and roll dance show a success.  When the winds of musical change began blowing in the late 1960's, Clay resigned from the show and started focusing more on behind-the-scenes work such as writing and producing.  In 2009, his memoir Sh-Boom!: The Explosion of Rock 'n' Roll (1953-1968) was released, and Clay spent much of late 2009 and early 2010 promoting the book via TV, radio and personal appearances and book signings.  In October, Clay was a recipient of the Friends of Old Time Radio Award at the 2009 Friends of Old Time Radio Convention in Newark, NJ.  During the past year, Clay was the master of ceremonies at several oldies concerts, and he was one of some 100 stars who participated in the National Rock & Roll Fan Fest (Rock Con) at the Sheraton Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ from July 30 to August 1, 2010.  More information on Clay's stellar career can be found on his official website as well as on the Clay Cole Wikipedia page.

Watch for a special tribute on the Jersey Girls Sing website, run by Clay's dear friends Denise Ferri, Bernadette Carroll, and Ronnie Allen.  Also, please be sure to sign the petition to get Clay inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honor he truly deserves for all of his efforts over the years in promoting the great music of rock's golden era.

Rest in peace, Clay, and thanks for the years of music and memories and great times.  Yes, you really were something.

New CD release by Ron Dante of The Archies

The newest CD by Ron Dante, lead singer of The Archies ("Sugar, Sugar") and The Cuff Links ("Tracy") as well as producer extraordinaire (Barry Manilow, Cher, Pat Benatar), is actually an enhanced version of some old Favorites - but what an enhancement it's turning out to be!  Fans of the handsome, talented and eternally youthful singer are going to be delighted with this latest offering, scheduled for release on June 15, 2010.  Favorites will feature twenty (count 'em!) tracks, combining most of those originally released on the CD's previous incarnation with a hefty helping of bonus cuts including some never-before-released gems, like remakes of the Elvis hit "That's Alright, Mama" and Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods' "Billy, Don't Be a Hero."

Ron Dante is a gifted singer who manages to make every song he records his own while still remaining faithful to the original - a tricky feat that not every vocalist can pull off.  But, then, we must keep in mind that Ron's early days in the music biz were spent at the legendary Brill Building in New York City, working with such heavyweights as Don Kirshner and Jeff Barry, and rubbing elbows with the likes of Carole King, Jerry Lieber, Mike Stoller, Ellie Greenwich, and Neil Sedaka.  We must also keep in mind that Ron managed to have two Top-Ten hits at the same time ("Sugar, Sugar" and "Tracy," in 1969) while few people outside the hallowed hallways of the Broadway music palaces knew that it was Ron doing the singing on those records!  Ron's anonymity continued even as "Sugar" went on to sell six million units, becoming the RIAA Record of the Year and earning a gold disc; fortunately, once Ron stepped out from behind the scenes, releasing his first solo album, Let Me Bring You Up, in 1970, he was never to disappear into the shadows again.  (To read more about Ron's incredible career, check out his official website, rondante.com, as well as Laura's Ron Dante Fan Pages.)

Ron's had quite a few solo album releases over the years, including a fair number within the past decade.  His voice still sounds as strong and youthful as ever.  The original version of Favorites was released in early 2000 and is now out of print, and rare enough to sell for around the $75.00 mark when and if a copy can be found.  Happily, now we can all enjoy Ron Dante's Favorites for a fraction of that amount!  Click on the graphic above to reserve your copy on Amazon.com.

The official front and back covers appear below.

46 Years Ago Today

It was 46 years ago today - February 9, 1964 - when The Beatles made their historic first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Fab Four sang five songs on the Sullivan show - "All My Loving," "Til There Was You," "She Loves You," "I Saw Her Standing There," and "I Want to Hold Your Hand." There were fewer than 800 people in the studio audience - demand for tickets far exceeded the supply - and the show was watched by an estimated 73 million people. Were you one of them?