Rear-View Mirror 2.0

This podcast highlights the careers of Terry Cashman, Gene Pistilli, and Tommy West. They comprised various groups that made the charts in the 60's and 70's, wrote several other hit songs and helped Jim Croce get started with his all-too-short career. Come on in, the music's fine!

As we kick off a "new and improved" podcast, we pick on a British group that started as The Gaylords in Glasgow, Scotland in 1961. They only reached the Billboard Hot 100 twice in their career but had great success in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. If you know them, you know them as Marmalade, step inside and marvel at the musical interconnections with many of the great artists of the 60's

Sharing some favorite "B" sides of 45's in this podcast. Artists listed in Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles" under A and B. Often these were either alternate versions of the "A" side, or an album cut, and very seldom got airplay. There were a few artists who often had double sided hits, like Elvis (51), The Beatles (26) and Fats Domino (21) but, for the most part, this cast looks at songs that I found listening to other side of the 45's I bought in the late 60's and early 70's. With the advent of CDs and format changes, the phenomenon of the "B" side has disappeared.

After a year's hiatus, I'm returning with another baker's dozen songs from my Love Songs of the Rock Era Hall of Fame. Come in and unwrap the music, there will be a couple of nice surprises awaiting you along the way.

My second annual Valentine's cast featuring a baker's dozen of the finest roses from my Love Songs of The Rock and Roll Era Hall of Fame. You'll hear from Leslie Gore, Mercy, Gery and the Pacemakers, Savage Garden, New Colony Six, Mama Cass, B.J. Thomas, Take That, Cherry People, Jr. Walker & the All-Stars, Jackie Wilson, Bruce Hornsby and the Range, and the Beatles.

Just a collection of favorite songs and some history to go with each. Artists include Richard Harris, Ashton, Gardner & Dyke, Donovan Leech, Doobie Brothers, Edwyn Collins, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Blanket of Secrecy, Kenny Rogers, Mac Davis, Dr. Buzzard"s Original Savannah Band, Michael Martin Murphy, and Andrew Gold.

This cast takes a look at Acoustic Alchemy, a guitar duo that started in England in the early 80's and has become one of the top smooth jazz combos. We follow them through personnel changes as we listen to their evolving guitar and jazz music.

Time to take a quick look at my favorite band from the 60's. Check out the musical offerings of Felix Cavaliere, Edde Brigadi, Dino Danelli, and Gene Cornish - The (Young) Rascals. The premier blue eyed soul act of the late 60's, The Rascals not only were my favorite band but their summertime 1967 hit "A Girl Like You" is my favorite song from that era.

This podcast takes a look at the career of Gene Cotton, from his early days as an inspirational singer/songwriter to his pop and adult contemporary success.

My 2nd 4th of July special features 20 more songs of the 60's and 70's that truly represent the phrase music in the rear view mirror may appear closer than it is. These songs represent some of my bestest memories of that era. Artists include Don McLean, The Barracudas, Motherlode, The Clique, The Beatles, The Hollies, The Box Tops, the Beach Boys, Casey, Kelley, Michael Parks, Leo Sayer, The Blues Magoos, Every Mother's Son, The Magic Lanterns, The Cowsills, Neon Philharmonic, Bread, The Happenings, Jay & The Techniques, and Jamestown Massacre.

This Memorial Day special features just a few of the many artists that started with a group and then launched a solo career. Some very successful, and others not as successful as they had envisioned. Along the way we'll hear from Mark Lindsay, David Gates, Felix Cavaliere, Diana Ross, John Phillips, Mama Cass, Frankie Valli, Michael Nesmith, Steve Winwood, John Fogerty, Colin James Hay, John Stewart, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townsend, Roger Hodgson, and Mark Knopfler.

Former lead singer of the Canadian group The Guess Who - Burton Cummings - is the featured artist in this podcast. Largely ignored after the breakup of the group, Burton has quietly, in the U.S. anyway, put together a great musical career. Here I've shared not necessarily his biggest hits but 13 of my personal favorites, just to give you a favor of the man's abilities, both vocally and with a keyboard of any type.

Step right up, get your travel and entertainment news here! Marvel at the escape of old John Webb, hear the final demise of Bad Man Blunder, Did Charley ever get off in Boston? Be careful trying to go to Morrow to see the Tattooed Lady!. Check out a classic children's game, then feel sorry for the young man wandering through the everglades. It will only cost you a greenback dollar and 45 minutes of your time. Where have all the flowers gone? It's winter what do you expect. Meanwhile Jane got lost in the sun and not even gold could get her back! How's that for your money's worth!

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - rolls off the tongue nicely don't you think? This cast we take a look at a British band that was regarded by many as on a par with the super groups of the British Invasion, everywhere except in the US. Only one charting song here in the states but 14 top 40 songs in Britain. Here's a sampling of their music and tip of the cap to their contributions to the 60's music scene.

It's Valentine's Day and to celebrate you'll hear 12 of the members of my Rock Era Love Song Hall of Fame, no tabulations, no rankings, just a hand picked dozen of them just for you. Artists include Marvin Gaye, Little River Band, Herman's Hermits, The Chicago Transit Authority, Hamilton Camp, The Buckinghams, Don Henley, Bobby Goldsboro, Orpheus, the Troggs, Keith, and Roger Daltry.

"To sing or not to sing, that is the question" to paraphrase a well- known playwright. This 'cast takes a look at 6 pairs of hit songs from the 60's. One an instrumental, one a vocal. You can make up your mind which is the better listen. Music from Young-Holt Unlimited, Barbara Acklin, Swing Out Sister,Cannonball Adderly, The Buckinghams, The Assocation, the Baja Marimba Band, Lonnie Mack, Johnny Rivers, the Bob Crewe Generation, and Andy Williams.

1967 - I was 14, and that makes this cast the music that formed my musical identity, open up the podcast and hear why, meanwhile, take a walk through just a few of the songs from that year that have a personal meaning to me and maybe, to you, even if you weren't 14 then. We'll wander amongst music by Wynn Stewart, the Beatles, the Association, the Doors, the Music Explosion, the BeeGees, Neil Diamond, Johnny Rivers, the Rare Breed, the Monkees, the Strawberry Alarm Clock and the Young Rascals.

In a departure from the norm, the musical connection today centers around a city, San Francisco. Looking at musical tributes to "the city by the bay", we'll hear music from Tony Bennett, Craig Chiquico, Glen Campbell, Vickie Carr, Glenn Yarborough, Bob Lind, Journey, the Village People, Eric Burdon & theAnimals, Fever Tree, and Scott McKenzie. There is a wide variety of music here! Enjoy!

Back with a look at a rockabilly artist who took the historical saga song to new heights during his all too brief career. We'll take a look at the life of Johnny Horton, who won a talent contest hosted by a then unknown who would go on to country music fame, and die young as well. Johnny married the widow of another of country's greatest stars, and ruled the roost in 1959 with a cross-over hit that reached the top of both the country and pop charts.

The term "contemporary Christian Music" was coined in the 60's. Among the leading songwriters was Otis Skillings. Songs like "Listen" and "The Bond of Love" were favorites throughout the youth movement of the late 60's and into the 70's. Today's podcast is "Life (A Young World Musical)" in it's entirety. Released in 1970 by Tempo records, and written by Otis Skillings, it is considered the crown jewel of that era's contemporary musicals.

After a 3 month hiatus, I'm back with a look at Kenny Roberts, a New Hampshire native that took yodeling to heights it had never seen before. Join me as we visit the late 40's and early 50's with the man who's "jumpin' & yodelin'" style of music enthralled many.

A look at a life well lived. Actor, musician, humanitarian, pilot, owner of the Seattle Mariners, avid chef - all those describe one David Daniel Kaminsky, who the world knows as Danny Kaye.

Departing a little from the usual format, we will take a look at some of the late 60's songs that make the "music in the rear view mirror may appear closer than it is" a reality for me. We'll listen to music from Johnny Rivers, Max Frost & The Troopers, The Lovin' Spoonful, Scott McKenzie, Lulu, Tommy James & The Shondells, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Steam, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Spanky & Our Gang, Ten Years After, and Matthew's Southern Comfort. Check out the memories this music creates as you listen.

Jacksonville, Florida gave birth to the Classics, who soon became the Classics IV and featured the voice of Dennis Yost. A move to Atlanta and 12 hits later, several of the band members re-formed into The Atlanta Rhythm Section and had another string of hits through the 1970's. Music featured in this podcast highlights the careers of both groups.

The Chicago sound of the 60's gave us The American Breed, who's biggest hit was "Bend Me, Shape Me". The metamorphosis that began as Gary & The Nite Lites finally transformed into Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. Our music comes from the aforementioned groups, The Outsiders and Eric Burdon as we tie it all together.

Bubblegum music exploded onto the scene in the late 60's and one name you need to know when it comes to bubblegum is Joey Levine. Starting with The Third Rail and working through the Kasenetz-Katz bubblegum factory, Joey has left his mark, writing, singing, and producing the genre's music. Moving on to jingle writing and then being instrumental in completing and singing Reunion's 1974 hit, Joey has quite a discography to choose from. Music from Joey Edwards and the Masqueraders, The The Third Rail, Pattie Flabbie's Coughed Machine, Joey Levine & Artie Resnick, Bohanna, The Ohio Express, The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus, Crazy Elephant, Rock Candy Mountain, Onion, Up N' Adam, Professor Morrison's Lollipop, The Kingsmen, The Banana Splits, and Reunion.

As a high schooler, Dan Seals began a musical journey that would cover psychedelic music, mellow pop, and country. Along the way we hear from Southwest F.O.B., England Dan & John Ford Coley, Dan Seals, Marie Osmond, and Paul Davis.

This podcast takes a brief look at the careers of Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, authors of more than 300 songs and responsible for more than 42 million record sales. Included in the 'cast is music from a TV theme, Curtis Lee, Jay & The Americans, The Lettermen, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, The Monkees and Boyce & Hart.

This installment looks at the life and influences of Chet Atkins, "Mr. Guitar", RCA producer and VP of their Country division in the 60's and 70's. Included, along with Chet's guitar playing, are songs from Hank Snow, Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, The Everly Brothers, Suzy Boggess, and Mark Knopfler

The second installment of Rear View Mirror highlights two "forgotten" singer/songwriters of the late 60's, early 70's. We'll take a look at the all-too-brief careers of Bert Sommer and Emitt Rhodes with music from them as well as The Left Banke and Merry-Go-Round.

Opening podcast of Rear View Mirror - a 30 minute trial of the format that will trace a spiderweb of connections throughout the musical world over the past 50 years. Music from The Moody Blues, Justin Hayward, Vigrass & Osborne, Mannfred Mann's Earth Band, McGuiness Flint and Art Garfunkel.