STILL RUNNING LATE and behind, but next week I will combine weeks, as I am still very busy with getting our home ready for being put on the market. This may result in a brief hiatus down the road, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Last week I briefly mentioned the passing of late 60's/early 70's teen idol Bobby Sherman, who died at the age of 81. We also lost Mick Ralphs, most notably of Bad Company, who passed at the same age. But I will focus mainly on Sherman, as many female friends of my age considered him their first "heartthrob".
 |
| Bobby Sherman, a teen heartthrob to many of my female friends back in the late 1960's, passed away last week due to kidney cancer. He was 81. |
Teen idols have been a regular feature of the music scene going way back to Frank Sinatra in the early 1940's. Some of them become legitimate stars as they develop a seriousness to their music career, such as Sinatra, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and to an extent, Duran Duran. And some become hot for a couple of years, then fade away. Bobby Sherman was one of those, but it seemed like he was fine with that. In fact, he changed his career vastly to a more important field. More on that below.
1969 was a fascinating year for music. Of course there was Woodstock, and even Altamont, plus many other smaller festivals. Rock music became more progressive and album-oriented, as opposed to the three-minute pop song that was dominant just a few years before. The Beatles went from mop-topped idols to serious and innovative musicians beginning with Rubber Soul, and topped off their run with Abbey Road that year. But when the groups of the day started becoming more crafted musicians and taking their audience with them, it left a void for those "teenyboppers" who were just starting to listen to the top 40 radio. In 1968, for example, there was the emergence of acts like The Ohio Express, and 1910 Fruitgum Company with music labeled "bubblegum", aimed squarely at pre-teens. "Sunshine Pop" was also present. The Archies transformed a comic book into an animated group that had a Saturday morning cartoon show (and would have a monster hit, "Sugar Sugar" in 1969). And the most popular act to pre-teen girls? Bobby Sherman.
Sherman had been around since 1962, when actor Sal Mineo wrote a couple of songs for Sherman to perform. He mingled with the Hollywood set, performing gigs at various functions, and it eventually paid off when he became a regular on the mid-60's music show Shindig. He also made appearances on the Dick Clark shows American Bandstand and Where The Action Is. But his "big break" came as one of the stars on the show Here Come The Brides set in Seattle, which premiered in 1968. While that show would also include future star David Soul, it was Sherman, playing Jeremy Bolt who was the breakout star.
Acting combined with music enabled Sherman to become a recording star and the timing was perfect. The Monkees, which inherited teen-idol status when The Beatles took to more serious recording, in particular Davy Jones, had their television show canceled after two seasons, in 1968. Thus Sherman inherited the spotlight.
I remember going back to school, in eighth grade in September 1969. I belonged to a church youth group and the first time there, all the girls were there playing Bobby Sherman records, and talking about them. His breakthrough hit, "Little Woman", reached #3 around that time. Within the next twelve months, he would break the top 10 three more times: "La La La (If I Had You)", "Easy Come, Easy Go", and "Julie, Do Ya Love Me".
Sherman had a squeaky-clean image, and he never pretended to be a serious musician, definitely embracing his teen idol status. He never took things seriously, it seemed. His albums always included posters and he was a regular on the teen idol magazine such as Tiger Beat and Sixteen. But, as one of the titles of his hits suggests, it was easy come, easy go. By late 1970 and definitely 1971 there were other idols on the scene. Here Come the Brides was canceled in 1970 after two seasons, and a music-related sitcom, The Partridge Family debuted that fall, which featured David Cassidy. Also, the Jackson 5 were hot that year, and featured a very young Michael Jackson. The Osmonds went from being regulars on The Andy Williams Show to becoming a hot recording act as well, with the focus on its young member Donny Osmond. And it was those three that shared the early 1970's spotlight.
Sherman would have a few minor hits in 1971, and even tried a new sitcom, Getting Together, which had a back-door pilot on a Partridge Family episode, working with Cassidy. While it produced a minor hit called "Jennifer", the show was canceled after a few episodes, and for the most part, his recording career was over. Appropriately, his last charted song was "Our Last Song Together" which made the Adult Contemporary chart in 1975.
But while his recording career was over, Sherman definitely wasn't. He continued acting, with guest roles in established series. One of these was the paramedic-centered show Emergency! That became his new calling, volunteering with the Los Angeles Police Department and giving CPR classes. It was his way of "giving back" to those who had supported his music and acting career. He was also a reserve deputy sheriff as well. He was named LAPD's Reserve Officer of the Year, in 1999. He maintained his roles in the LAPD through the 2010's.
Sherman would still perform occasionally over the years, most notably on a teen idol tour in 1998 with other idols like Peter Noone, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz.
He was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer earlier this year, which would result in his eventual passing on June 24. A slew of Facebook posts from friends would emerged over the past few days.
While many teen idols are dismissed as just that, they are essential when it comes to getting young people involved in music; they are someone they can idolize and follow, and even inspire them to become musicians as well. And although many of them come and go, they are, at least a great marketing item for the industry. Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett and Andy Gibb in the late 1970's, thru New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync, all the way through to One Direction in the past decade, regardless of talent or longevity, these singers are good for the industry.
AS FOR Mick Ralphs, he was a prominent guitarist for two key bands, Mott the Hoople and Bad Company. He joined the latter for its debut in 1974 and stayed with the band through both the Paul Rodgers and Brian Howe eras, and performed with them until retiring in 2016 because of a stroke suffered during a tour. He did get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Bad Company earlier this year. Unfortunately, he had suffered another stroke, this one fatal, and he passed at the age of 81 on June 23, 2025.
HOT 100: Again, nothing new. Alex Warren's "Ordinary" is still #1 (4th week), and a debut at #10, Cardi B's "Outside" debuts at #10, moving "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan to #11, but everything else is the same. "Lose Control" (#9), logs its record-stretching 97th week on the Hot 100.
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| The Black Keys attain their tenth SNS 100 #1 with "No Rain, No Flowers" |
SNS 100: There once again is a familiar act at the top of this week's blog chart, as The Black Keys score their tenth blog topper with the title track from the duo's current No Rain, No Flowers Set. The song accomplishes the feat in only its fifth week on the chart.
The duo thus extends its record span of number one songs to 14 years, 10 months, which is the entire duration of the blog. The band's "Tighten Up" was the first number one when Scenes 'n' Soundwaves debuted on August 23, 2010. "No Rain, No Flowers" is the band's second number one from the album following "The Night Before", which hit the top back in April. The Black Keys become the third artist to have two number ones this year, following Deb Browning, who hit the top with "I Never Wanted To" (with Michael Fite), and "Does Your Baby Got Your Back"; and Fite, who, aside from the duet with Ms. Browning, also topped the chart with his The Mac Daddy's Band. Last year, only one act---Charlotte Sessions---was able to accomplish the feat. The duo played Asbury Park's Stone Pony Summer Stage on June 14. Another track from that album, "Babygirl" also enters the top 20 this week in a 25-16 move.
Last week's number one,"Dance With Me" by Jerry Powell, drops to number 2 after a week at the top which also saw the song top two beach charts. Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson's "All Because of You" moves 5-3; The Jay Vons' former #1, "Days Undone" is #4, and Pepper Creek's "Salty Southern Saturday Night" advances 9-5. Suki Waterhouse's "Dream Woman" moves into the top 10 (13-9), while The Cure's "A Fragile Thing" inches 11-10 in its 21st week.
Could we have yet another artist with two number ones this year? Thee Sacred Souls' "We Don't Have to Be Alone", the follow-up to the chart-topping "My Heart Is Drowning", grabs Impact honors in a 23-14 advance. Aside from "Babygirl", Rhonda McDaniel's "Sad Girl", and Wilder Woods & Nick Waterhouse's "Time On My Hands" also enter the top 20.
Some really good movers on the chart this week, spearheaded by legendary beach group The Tams, whose "My True Love" advances 72-46 to grab Mover honors. Other big movers include last week's Top Debut, Juliet Callahan, Anna Lavigne, Starbuck, Jalen Ngonda, and My Morning Jacket.
DEBUTS: Beach outfit The Tonez are very active these past few months. Aside from gigging around the Strand, they recently came off a top 5 song ("Flip Flops"), moving up the chart with "Ladies Man" (with Sylvia Johns Ritchie), with a 30-22 rise, and now grab Top Debut honors with "This Love is Real". Penned by the group's Eric Morris, this is a jammin', cookin' soulful uptempo song that never lets go. Morris takes the lead vocal on this as well, and should be one of their biggest. It debuts at #83.
Close behind at #87 is the new one from The Pozers, "Ease Off My Heart". I was grateful enough to receive an advance copy of this new one from Jim Richey and the gang. Those sixties Brit-style harmonies are back, perhaps sounding a bit more like The Hollies on this one. But it's more Pozers on this one than anything else, and a bit more melodic than prior efforts. Should add to the indie bands current chart streak. A big thanks to the band for a copy of this!
The rip-roaring Jersey punk band Polyanna is back, with "Gravedigger". Definitely a throwback to the early 1980's, which seems to be in vogue these days. No apologies here, this one is a work of art, so to speak. It comes in at #92.
Back to the alternative charts, where the #1 song there is "Back to Friends" by the act Sombr, the stage name of Shane Michael Boose. With a bit of alt-ambience, and a complete, dreamy production, there is a lot going on here. I can hear some eighties influence here, perhaps along the lines of Dream Academy or Talk Talk. But it's all Sombr. Well done, and should have a lengthy chart run here as it has been on alternative and Triple-A.
Ty Segall had a number one blog hit way back in 2012, but has been quiet lately. While I once dubbed him the "guitarist of the 2010's", his most recent output has been moving away from any guitar-oriented displays. He bubbled under recently with "Fantastic Tomb", but this one, while not touching his older work, this new one, "Possession" has already topped that at #97. It's more accessible than recent efforts, and should be a major chart presence.
Two song enter the Tremors bubbling-under list. Goose's "Give It Time", already an alternative hit, which starts slow, but starts jamming towards the end; and Michael Nau's follow-up to the #1 "No Quit" (still at #18), "Smokeflowers". Unfortunately it lacks that hook from the prior song. It's more a mellow song that doesn't quite get off the ground. Still, it deserves a chance given the staying power of "No Quit".
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
June 29, 2025
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
3 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: No Rain, No Flowers |
5 |
|
2 |
1 |
11 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
10 |
|
|
4 |
2 |
15 |
|
|
5 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
6 |
8 |
8 |
|
|
7 |
6 |
13 |
|
|
8 |
4 |
11 |
|
|
9 |
12 |
7 |
|
|
10 |
11 |
21 |
|
|
11 |
13 |
8 |
|
|
12 |
7 |
16 |
|
|
13 |
19 |
6 |
|
|
14 |
23 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
4 |
|
15 |
14 |
10 |
|
|
16 |
25 |
5 |
|
|
17 |
26 |
5 |
|
|
18 |
16 |
16 |
|
|
19 |
17 |
10 |
|
|
20 |
24 |
12 |
|
|
21 |
31 |
8 |
|
|
22 |
30 |
7 |
|
|
23 |
28 |
8 |
|
|
24 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
25 |
32 |
6 |
|
|
26 |
33 |
5 |
|
|
27 |
29 |
15 |
|
|
28 |
34 |
7 |
|
|
29 |
22 |
16 |
|
|
30 |
36 |
6 |
|
|
31 |
15 |
10 |
|
|
32 |
18 |
20 |
|
|
33 |
38 |
4 |
|
|
34 |
20 |
15 |
|
|
35 |
37 |
9 |
|
|
36 |
21 |
18 |
|
|
37 |
27 |
11 |
|
|
38 |
49 |
3 |
|
|
39 |
47 |
3 |
|
|
40 |
48 |
3 |
|
|
41 |
40 |
8 |
|
|
42 |
43 |
7 |
|
|
43 |
39 |
10 |
|
|
44 |
64 |
Juliet
Callahan - Running Lights |
2 |
|
45 |
46 |
7 |
|
|
46 |
60 |
3 |
|
|
47 |
72 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  THE TAMS "My True Love" (Single Release) |
2 |
|
48 |
35 |
12 |
|
|
49 |
58 |
4 |
|
|
50 |
63 |
3 |
|
|
51 |
52 |
7 |
|
|
52 |
62 |
3 |
|
|
53 |
54 |
8 |
|
|
54 |
56 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
45 |
18 |
|
|
56 |
57 |
5 |
|
|
57 |
44 |
19 |
|
|
58 |
61 |
6 |
|
|
59 |
41 |
14 |
|
|
60 |
42 |
16 |
|
|
61 |
74 |
3 |
|
|
62 |
77 |
4 |
|
|
63 |
79 |
2 |
|
|
64 |
68 |
5 |
|
|
65 |
71 |
4 |
|
|
66 |
66 |
6 |
|
|
67 |
51 |
15 |
|
|
68 |
67 |
5 |
|
|
69 |
78 |
4 |
|
|
70 |
59 |
12 |
|
|
71 |
76 |
5 |
|
|
72 |
81 |
4 |
|
|
73 |
50 |
10 |
|
|
74 |
87 |
Ruth
Morayniss - Easy Does It |
2 |
|
75 |
84 |
4 |
|
|
76 |
89 |
KALEO
-Bloodline |
2 |
|
77 |
65 |
17 |
|
|
78 |
88 |
2 |
|
|
79 |
69 |
7 |
|
|
80 |
94 |
MT
Jones - Punching |
2 |
|
81 |
96 |
Easha -
Stunning |
2 |
|
82 |
53 |
The Six Piece
Suits ft. Nina Starsong - Lovers Into
Strangers |
21 |
|
83 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
|
84 |
55 |
9 |
|
|
85 |
91 |
3 |
|
|
86 |
93 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
70 |
6 |
|
|
89 |
100 |
Psychic
Air - Phase Disintegrate |
2 |
|
90 |
75 |
23 |
|
|
91 |
99 |
Good
Neighbors - Ripple |
2 |
|
92 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
94 |
73 |
19 |
|
|
95 |
82 |
13 |
|
|
96 |
86 |
23 |
|
|
97 |
98 |
12 |
|
|
98 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
99 |
80 |
15 |
|
|
100 |
83 |
21 |
Tremors:
101. Michael Nau, Smokeflowers
102. The Swingin' Medallions, Hit Me With Those Horns
103. Goose, Give It Time
Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.
Murmurs:
Moon Soul - Call
Shaboozey and Jelly Roll - Amen
Balu Brigada - The Question
Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge - Going to California
Roger Smith, Just Give Me a Beach
Orbis Max and Tim izzard - Summerville
Kathleen Turner Overdrive - Love At the End of the Line
The Doobie Brothers - Angels and Mercy/Call Me/New Orleans
The Big Takeover - Where Did I Go Wrong
Gordi - Peripheral Lover
Murmurs: Songs which are in the queue for future adds onto the Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist.
|
|
Songs
with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week
●Songs garnering 25 plays
on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024) ▲ Songs garnering 50 plays.
Songs
on the SNS 100 are included on the following public Spotify playlists
Scenes
‘n’ Soundwaves Top 40: Contains songs in positions 1-40 on the SNS
100
Scenes
Up and Coming: Songs From 41-100 that are moving up the
chart that have not reached the top 40
Scenes
Down and Going: Song formerly in the top 40 that are
descending but still on the SNS 100.
Scenes
Recurrents: Songs which had been in
the top 20 and/or songs on the chart 25 weeks or more, that have dropped off
the SNS 100.
