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Tell It Like It Was
“excitations and good vibrations about the music of the sixties”
50s Rock
60s Rock
70s Rock
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Introduction to “Tell It Like It Was”
Introduction to “Tell It Like It Was”
Excitations and good vibrations about the music of the ’60s
Neal Umphred
Jan 1, 2019
Introduction to “The Toppermost of the Poppermost”
Introduction to “The Toppermost of the Poppermost”
All about all of the articles about all of the #1 records of the ‘60s
Neal Umphred
Jan 1, 2019
LATEST STORIES
How Many Gold Records Do the Grateful Dead Have?
How Many Gold Records Do the Grateful Dead Have?
The Dead have had 21 of their albums certified for Gold Record Awards from the RIAA
Neal Umphred
Jul 16
Allow California Music to Add Some Music to You Day
Allow California Music to Add Some Music to You Day
ROLLING STONE REJECTED MY COMMENT! Two years ago, the Rolling Stone Daily newsletter ran an article titled “Hear the Beach Boys Reunite on…
Neal Umphred
Mar 14, 2023
Was Bruce Springsteen Really on the “Nurse Jackie” Televison Series?
Was Bruce Springsteen Really on the “Nurse Jackie” Televison Series?
No — but one of his rarest and most collectible records was mentioned on the show!
Neal Umphred
Nov 5, 2022
The Most Embarrassing Record in the History of Rock?
The Most Embarrassing Record in the History of Rock?
In which I tempt my readers here on Medium — and both of you know who you are — to read another writer’s article
Neal Umphred
Sep 8, 2022
About Those Banned “Louie Louie” Lyrics
About Those Banned “Louie Louie” Lyrics
A look at the difference betwen Richard Berry’s original recoring from 1956 with that of the “banned” record by the Kingsmen from 1963
Neal Umphred
Sep 8, 2022
A Few Albums with Covers That Are More Collectible than the Records
A Few Albums with Covers That Are More Collectible than the Records
Are there many albums where the covers are worth more than the records? Hell, yes!
Neal Umphred
Apr 19, 2022
What’s the Craziest Way You Ever Saw Anyone Price a Used Record Album?
What’s the Craziest Way You Ever Saw Anyone Price a Used Record Album?
The meaning of “normal” for record collectors changed in the ’70s with the publication of the hobby’s first price guides.
Neal Umphred
Jan 4, 2022
What About That Yahoo Article About Those Five LPs Being Rare and Valuable?
What About That Yahoo Article About Those Five LPs Being Rare and Valuable?
The hobby of collecting records has certainly seen its share of misinformation (fake facts?) on the internet.
Neal Umphred
Dec 18, 2021
Looking at the Covers of All Those Beach Boys Albums
Looking at the Covers of All Those Beach Boys Albums
A Complement to Malcolm Searles’ “Back Through the Opera Glass: The Stories Behind the Album Covers”
Neal Umphred
Dec 15, 2021
“Hi. My name is John Walker Ross!”
“Hi. My name is John Walker Ross!”
I blog from Havana, Florida, with the intention of saying things you don’t hear every day.
Neal Umphred
Mar 4, 2021
A Bit More on Fake Autographs on the Internet
A Bit More on Fake Autographs on the Internet
It is not uncommon for the rejection rate of autographs as fake to exceed 50 percent!
Neal Umphred
Aug 21, 2020
Punk Rock + Blue Note = Punk Note
Punk Rock + Blue Note = Punk Note
An introduction to artist/designer John Yates’ Punk Note ideations (in which he pays tribute to Francis Wolff and Miles Reid)
Neal Umphred
Jun 4, 2020
Ain’t That a Shame What Wikipedia Did to Fats Domino’s First Album!
Ain’t That a Shame What Wikipedia Did to Fats Domino’s First Album!
If you have looked up the ROCK AND ROLLIN’ WITH FATS DOMINO album (Imperial LP-9004) on Wikipedia, you might want to read this next.
Neal Umphred
Dec 13, 2019
Bob Dylan’s BLONDE ON BLONDE as a Collectable Album
Bob Dylan’s BLONDE ON BLONDE as a Collectable Album
Distinguishing original copies of the ’60s from later pressings
Neal Umphred
Nov 24, 2019
The Mothers of Invention’s FREAK OUT! as a Collectable Album
The Mothers of Invention’s FREAK OUT! as a Collectable Album
Distinguishing original copies of the ’60s from later pressings
Neal Umphred
Nov 23, 2019
How I Made $2.61 in Only Four Days on Medium!
How I Made $2.61 in Only Four Days on Medium!
An Introduction to “Elvis: That’s The Way It Was,” a new Medium publication
Neal Umphred
Nov 18, 2019
“Someday We’ll Be Honky Tonk Women Together”
“Someday We’ll Be Honky Tonk Women Together”
Looking at the Toppermost of the Poppermost #1 records of 1969 with John Ross and Lew Shiner
Neal Umphred
Oct 1, 2019
“Grazing in the Grass with Mrs. Robinson”
“Grazing in the Grass with Mrs. Robinson”
Looking at the Toppermost of the Poppermost #1 records of 1968 with John Ross and Lew Shiner
Neal Umphred
Sep 19, 2019
What Is a “Record Album” and When Did the Term Originate?
What Is a “Record Album” and When Did the Term Originate?
A few words about 78 rpm albums, 33⅓ rpm albums, the White Album, and so-called double-albums
Neal Umphred
Aug 29, 2019
So, Like, What Is the Best Beach Boys Album Ever?
So, Like, What Is the Best Beach Boys Album Ever?
That depends on what you mean by “Beach Boys album”
Neal Umphred
Aug 25, 2019
Hey, there Georgy Girl, Penny Lane, and Ruby Tuesday!
Hey, there Georgy Girl, Penny Lane, and Ruby Tuesday!
Looking at the Toppermost of the Poppermost #1 records of 1967 with John Ross and Lew Shiner
Neal Umphred
Jul 27, 2019
“You Keep Me Hanging On on the Poor Side of Town”
“You Keep Me Hanging On on the Poor Side of Town”
Looking at the Toppermost of the Poppermost #1 records of 1966 with John Ross and Lew Shiner
Neal Umphred
Jul 5, 2019
Gene Clark’s First Record Echoed Bob Dylan
Gene Clark’s First Record Echoed Bob Dylan
For his single “Echoes,” Gene Clark donned a Bob Dylan mask
Neal Umphred
Jul 4, 2019
Just When Was “Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers” Released?
Just When Was “Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers” Released?
Apparently not on the same day as the Byrds’ “Younger than Yesterday”
Neal Umphred
Jun 26, 2019
Why Isn’t Gene Clark in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Why Isn’t Gene Clark in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Byrds founder a pivotal influence on folk-rock, psychedelia, country-rock, singer-songwriter, and Americana
Neal Umphred
Jun 22, 2019
One Ghost Too Many: Buddy Holly Lives On
One Ghost Too Many: Buddy Holly Lives On
The author goes where many have gone before and can’t tell if his story is different or the same.
John Ross
Jun 9, 2019
Is “Pet Sounds” the Best Bloody Album Ever Made?
Is “Pet Sounds” the Best Bloody Album Ever Made?
Answering the objectively unanswerable can be fun!
Neal Umphred
Jun 9, 2019
Let’s Hang On to Our Ticket to Ride
Let’s Hang On to Our Ticket to Ride
Looking at the Toppermost of the Poppermost #1 records of 1965 with John Ross and Lew Shiner
Neal Umphred
Jun 2, 2019
Why Aren’t the Crew-Cuts in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Why Aren’t the Crew-Cuts in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
The Canadian quartet played a pivotal role in getting black records on white radio stations in the US in the ’50s
Neal Umphred
May 23, 2019
Why Isn’t Pat Boone in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Why Isn’t Pat Boone in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
If we remove Elvis, Pat Boone would have been the King of Top 40 radio in the ’50s
Neal Umphred
May 19, 2019
Why Isn’t Connie Francis in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Why Isn’t Connie Francis in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Connie held her own on the pop charts with such Hall of Famers as Fats Domino and Ricky Nelson
Neal Umphred
May 18, 2019
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