This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - March 26th to April 1st

Week of March 26^th, 2017 to April 1^st, 2017

Thanks for all the great comments on last week's show and the musical tribute to Chuck Berry. Incidentally, the next day I received an email that a brand new Chuck Berry single was being released. Prior to his passing, he was working on his first new album in 38 years! I learned it will be released in June on Dualtone Records and will be titled "Chuck". In the meantime, here's the link to Big Boys, NEW music from Chuck Berry. 

My webmaster Eddy Fisher and myself would like to thank Rick Canode in Madison, Wisconsin and his friend Tom in the Chicago area for all their help with the Chat Room server. As one of the show's longest listeners, Rick not only has the Rick's Rare Rock and Roll Relic feature, he's also been a key part of the chat room for almost as long as we've had a chat room. Tom built the chat server we tested this week and will continue again next week. He and his tech team are doing fine tuning and hope that for those of you who prefer connecting with a chat room via mIRC, as opposed to a webchat page, will be able to do so soon. They will advise Eddy and myself when they are all ready. Eddy will be sure to provide all the info you'll need to connect via mIRC. Thanks again Rick and Tom. 

Hey Jim, Sally, Barb, Bill, Sandy, Johnny, or whatever your name is, you don't want to miss next week's show! It the annual Name Game Special, where every song, with the exception of certain regular weekly features, will be songs with people's names in the title. Of course, we'll start off the show with Shirley Ellis and her smash hit, The Name Game. It all starts next Sunday, April 2nd at 6 pm Pacific.

Happy Birthday to my good friend, Tom Locke in Vancouver, BC. Tom and I have been friends for over 30 years; 18 of those years has been with the Tom Locke Moment In Time feature. Also celebrating a birthday this week is my good friend Red Robinson, who is turning 80 this week. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame broadcaster is a real pioneering DJ and one of the very few DJs with a massive collection of interviews Red did with most of the stars of the day, including Elvis Presley and The Beatles. He's only one of two living DJs to have MC'd both the Elvis and Beatles concerts. The City of Vancouver has declared Thursday, March 30th as Red Robinson Day. Well done Red, Happy Birthday. Also having a birthday is my lifelong friend Frank Vandeven in Mission, British Columbia. All the best, Frank. Do you have a birthday coming up soon? It's a tradition on Treasure Island Oldies to help celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com and I'll wish you Happy Birthday and play Birthday by The Beatles for you. 

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1965 and the Number One song is Stop! In The Name Of Love by The Supremes. It's playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. Enjoy!

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Until You Come Back To Me or Spanish Harlem. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Here's this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Have a great week and be sure to join me for The Name Game Special next week.

Bye for now.

Michael

Aretha Franklin Voice Your Choice

There is only one Aretha Franklin! "Lady Soul" was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25, 1942 and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She was heavily influenced musically by her famous gospel preacher father, Reverend Cecil L. Franklin. Despite recording for two labels JVB/Battle in 1956 and Columbia Records in 1960, she had little success until she was wooed to sign with Atlantic Records where she worked with producer Jerry Wexler.

Between 1961 and 1998 Aretha appeared on the charts a total of 76 times, achieving 17 Top Ten Hits and 15 Gold Records. Isn't that astounding!!!

Treasure Island Oldies presents Aretha Franklin in the Voice Your Choice spotlight. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Until You Come Back To Me or Spanish Harlem. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

Here are the two songs to help you decide:

The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love Number One Song of the Week 1965

The Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown this week features the year 1965.

At the top of the chart was the red hot Motown Girl Group The Supremes. The Number One Song this week in 1965 is Stop! In The Name Of Love.

Enjoy!

Michael

Family of Chuck Berry releases new single - Big Boys

The family of the late Chuck Berry has just released a brand new single, Big Boys, in advance of the release of Chuck Berry's first new album in 38 years. The album to be titled "Chuck" will be released in June on Dualtone Records.

Here's Chuck Berry with the brand new single Big Boys!

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of March 19th, 2017

Week of March 19^th, 2017 to March 26^th, 2017

Thanks for listening to this week's show. I must say I was surprised and shocked to learn of the passing of Chuck Berry. It's not that he wasn't old at this point in his life; he was 90 after all. It's just that there was no word of him being in poor health. In fact, he wasn't in poor health. He died of natural causes according to his personal doctor and there will be no autopsy. Nice way to end a long life. No matter who he was, how he acted at times, I still can't have anything but admiration and respect for an artist that created the Rock and Roll canvas his own way. Yes, there were others like Bill Haley and His Comets who scored big a year after Rock Around The Clock was released, because of the impact of the movie that had the song in it, Blackboard Jungle. However, Chuck Berry ended up having such an amazing influence on others who themselves would go on to great achievements and massive success, like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, Johnny Rivers, and so many others. I was always taken with his sense of lyrics and how easy they were to relate to. For example, You Never Can Tell had amazing imagery in the lyrics about a recently married couple, the young monsieur and madame who rang the chapel bell: "They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck  sale, The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale". Very simple yet very poetic. Love the word he used for the refrigerator - the coolerator! What a vivid image! Such a great talent and such a legacy of music. I scrambled to adjust and change the playlist for the show to be sure I could do a great musical tribute to Chuck Berry and his music. I am so glad I did and so pleased you enjoyed it too.

Please mark your calendar for our next special coming up in a few weeks, the Name Game Special. Every song will have the name of a person in the song title. And if there's a song you'd like me to play for you, send an email to me michael@treasureislandoldies.com or click on the Request button on the left side of any page of the website. I'll do my best to play it for you. The date for The Name Game Special is Sunday, April 2nd.

Happy Birthday to our good friend, Rick Canode in Madison, Wisconsin. His weekly feature in the 3rd hour Rick's Rare Rock & Roll Relic is always a treat to hear what he uncovers for you every week. I'd also like to wish Happy Birthday to Joel Drucker in Randolph, New Jersey. Do you have a birthday coming up soon? It's a tradition on Treasure Island Oldies to help celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com and I'll wish you Happy Birthday and play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1958 and the Number One song is Tequila by The Champs. It's playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. Enjoy!

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents Bobby Darin, with two of his many hit records. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Artificial Flowers or Clementine. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Here's this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

That's all for this week.

Bye for now.

Michael

Bobby Darin - Voice Your Choice

He was born Walden Robert Cassotto on May 14, 1936 in The Bronx, New York. Bobby Darin catapulted to fame with his very first record, Splish Splash, shooting to #3 and attaining Gold status. Not a bad start!!

Throughout his career, Bobby had 41 singles on the Billboard chart, including 4 Gold Records and 9 Top Ten songs. In 1963 he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the movie Captain Newman, MD.

This multi-talented vocalist/pianist/songwriter/entertainer could have continued on for many many years with much success; sadly he died of heart failure at age 37 on December 20, 1973. I vividly recall that nigh,t as I was working at CFCF Radio in Montreal at the time and read the bulletin on the air from the newswire. Later that night I did a one hour tribute to Bobby Darin on my show.

Treasure Island Oldies is pleased to present Bobby Darin in the Voice Your Choice spotlight. Cast your vote for either Artificial Flowers or Clementine. I'll play the winner on next week's show.

The Champs - Tequila - Number One Song of the Week in 1958

This week on Treasure Island Oldies, the Top Five included Sweet Little Sixteen by Chuck Berry, that came in at Number 2.

However, the Number One song is by The Champs; and what a classic. Here's Tequila by The Champs in a live performance clip from the Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show from May 3, 1958.

Enjoy!

Michael

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of March 12th, 2017

Week of March 12^th, 2017 to March 18^th, 2017

It's always a treat for me to prepare a show with a special theme and this week was no exception. The One Hit Wonders Special generated a lot of response from listeners via email, the chat room and my facebook page. Thanks very much. It is always eye-opening to hear just so many hit records by artists who were never able to repeat their success on the charts. Please mark your calendar for our next special coming up in a few weeks, the Name Game Special. Every song will have the name of a person in the song title. And if there's a song you'd like me to play for you, either your name or someone else's name, send an email to me and I'll do my best to play it for you. The date for The Name Game Special is Sunday, April 2nd.

Do you have a birthday coming up soon. As you know, it's a tradition on Treasure Island Oldies to help celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com and I'll wish you Happy Birthday and play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1962 and the Number One song is Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel. It's playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. Enjoy!

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents Connie Francis, the number one female singer from the late '50s to the early '60s. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Don't Break The Heart That Loves You or Everybody's Somebody's Fool. I'll play the winning song on next week's show.

Here's this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

Take care and all the best.

Have a good week and I look forward to your company during next week's show.

Bye for now.

Michael

Connie Francis - Voice Your Choice

Connie Francis was born Concetta Rosa Franconero on December 12, 1938 in Newark, New Jersey. Apart from having a staggeringly successful recording career, she also appeared in several motion pictures including Where The Boys Are, Follow The Boys, Looking For Love, and When The Boys Meet The Girls.

Between 1957 and 1969, she appeared a stunning 56 times on the Billboard charts! Plus, she achieved 16 Top Ten hits, plus 8 Gold Records, quite a feat for anyone! In fact, Connie is the #1 pop female singer from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.

Voice Your Choice presents Connie Francis on Treasure Island Oldies. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Don't Break The Heart That Loves You or Everybody's Somebody's Fool. I'll play the winner on next week's show during the 3rd hour.

Bruce Channel - Number One Song of the Week from 1962

Treasure Island Oldies featured the year 1962 on this week's Top 5 Countdown.

The number One song is Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel and here is a rare clip of his TV performance of the song.

Enjoy!

This Week on Treasure Island Oldies - Week of March 5th, 2017

Week of March 5^th, 2017 to March 11^th, 2017

I'd like to start off this week's Island Update by send out get well wishes to long time listener and friend, Connie Canode, in Madison, Wisconsin. Connie had a heart attack last week and was immediately taken great care of at the hospital and is now back home and feeling much better already. Her husband Rick told me that an immediate sign he knew she was feeling improved was when she started complaining about the food in the hospital! So good to know you're on the mend, Connie. All the Chat Room regulars asked me to send their very best wishes to you. Take it easy Connie, please.

Be sure to join me next week for the annual One Hit Wonders Special. It's amazing how many artists have appeared on the charts over the years who made a big impact; but one time only. Over the four hours, you'll hear a ton of records by artists you'll swear had to have had more than one hit. But no they became part of the One Hit Wonders Club.

I'd like to send our Happy Birthday wishes to singer and songwriter Paul Evans in Brooklyn, New York. What a nice guy who wrote many hit records, not only for himself, but also for The Kalin Twins (When), Bobby Vinton (Roses Are Red (My Love), Elvis Presley (I Gotta Know), and many others. Also Happy Birthday to Roy Geldart in Campbell River, British Columbia. If your birthday coming up soon, please let me know the date so that I can help you celebrate your special day. Send the details to birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com birthdays@treasureislandoldies.com and I'll wish you Happy Birthday and play Birthday by The Beatles for you.

The Top Five Countdown this week is from 1965 and the Number One song is the all-time Motown classic My Girl by The Temptations. It's playing at the Treasure Island Oldies Blog. Enjoy!

Next week on Treasure Island Oldies, Voice Your Choice presents Elton John, with just two of his many hit records. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Bennie And The Jets or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Here's this week's Rock and Roll News Podcast.

See you next Sunday on the Island for the One Hit Wonders Special.

Take care and all the best.

Have a good week.

Bye for now.

Michael

Elton John - Voice Your Choice

Elton John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, England and has become one of the most popular singers, songwriters, musicians, performers and entertainers of the 20th Century. Before having a solo career, he was a member of the British group Bluesology, which included Elton Dean and Long John Baldry. It was from those two fellows that he took the name Elton John. In 1967, he teamed up with lyricist Bernie Taupin and then embarked on the career of a lifetime as Elton John.

Between 1970 and 2000 he racked up an impressive 70 appearances on the Billboard charts. Now that is quite a feat! Sir Elton John has also had twenty-eight Number One records, thirteen Gold Records and six Platinum Records; and these are just the singles!

Treasure Island Oldies is pleased to present Sir Elton John  in the Voice Your Choice spotlight. Cast your vote at the Voice Your Choice page for either Bennie And The Jets or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I'll play the winner on next week's how.

The Temptations - My Girl - Number One Song This Week 1965

Motown's Temptations had a huge list of hit records during their heyday. Perhaps no other song of theirs is as immediately recognized and loved as this week's Number One song.

Here are The Temptations with My Girl, the Number One song on the Treasure Island Oldies Top Five Countdown from 1965.

Enjoy!

Michael