Legend was DESTITUTE for 13 Years...Then Waged Huge Comeback with 2 Big #1 Hits! | Professor Of Rock
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ม.ค. 2023
- It’s one of the greatest comeback stories in music history. Neil Sedaka had 6 top ten hits as a rookie including one of the biggest #1s of the time with Breaking Up is Hard to Do. Then literally overnight he became a has been. When the Beatles came out and wiped his style from the musical hemisphere. His label wouldn’t release his music. He even moved to the other side of the world and played gigs at dives just to keep his dream alive. He was shut out of the charts for 13 years. One day he ran into the biggest star in the world, Elton John at a party and Elton gave him a chance for a comeback. He wrote a great song, Laughter in the Rain that he knew was a smash… It returned him to the top of the charts almost a decade and half later…This Hall of Fame artist give us the story next on professor of rock.
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#1970s #vinylstory #comeback
Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you’ve ever listened to an album from front to back all the way through in one sitting You’ll dig this channel the one stop nostalgia shop make sure to subscribe below so you never miss an interview. . We also have a patreon with extra content for insiders: Your help there keeps this a daily channel and you can become an honorary producer with even more content.
So, it’s time for another edition of our series The New Standards. This show takes an in-depth look into songs that transcend genre, decade, and fads - songs that are monumental touchstones in our culture and society. On previous episodes we have covered Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, and Hotel California by The Eagles But today we are breaking down arguably the great comeback song of all time. A song that would return a legendary singer songwriter to the top of the charts 13 years after his first #1 hit. The greatest stories ever told in pop culture history whether in Sports, Movies, Tech, or Music always have that wonderful comeback tale.
In sports no one will soon forget George Foreman’s great rebound to become heavyweight champion at age 40. Or when Marlon Brando shook off some box office duds and hit back with his performance in “the Godfather”. And no one can forget, Steve Jobs, after being fired from his own company, returning decades later, rising from the ashes and creating the iPod and the IPhone. In music there have been 3 come back stories that stand taller than the rest. Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Neil Sedaka.
Neil may be the greatest story of them all, for the sheer fact that he labored for over a decade moving past the musical changes that started with the Beatles coming to America to psychedelia, folk rock, and beyond. Because of his remarkable perseverance, absolute commitment, undying passion, unparalleled tenacity, and immense faith he had in his music, he outlived all of those musical trends when after 13 years of being shut out of the charts he went to #1 in 1975 with Laughter in the Rain.
Having written and performed some of the greatest pop songs of the late 50s and early 60s that defined the Brill Building, and the innocence of early rock and roll. He first hit #1 in the early 60s with another standard Breaking Up is hard to do that was one of the 6 top 10 hits for Sedaka in his first few years on the scene... - บันเทิง
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Poll: What is your pick for the greatest comeback in rock history?
Roy Orbison. 👍
...T-INA! ...T-INA! ...T-INA!! ... *TINA!* ...ha-HAAA!!
Tina Turner 10.5 years between top 40 hits!
"Nutbush City Limits" Aug 1973(Ike & Tina Turner) to "Lets Stay Together" first solo single released Jan 1984 in the US.
Duran Duran with the song "Ordinary World ".
I stayed up until midnight just to see Duran Duran perform in NY Times Square on New Years Eve. They still sound great!
Can't forget about Aerosmith's comeback thanks to RUN DMC's cover of "Walk This Way"
Was so very proud to have been a part of Neil's comeback playing bass on his comeback albums. He is a treasure.......
What an honor! And thank you, sir, for your contribution to Neil’s music !
What I love about this channel is how it never feels forced. It’s genuine. It’s interesting, and aways has something I’ve never heard before.
I was just thinking how pretentious and pedantic I thought it was. LOL
Red glasses and the cheap hat look forced.
A reflection of when different schools of thought was celebrated and funded bottom up in society dictating music , style and trends.
Following the organic music brings that out.
I find this channel informative
@@tlmoscow They were giving away those hats @ New Years eve parties as well as those whistle type tongues etc Lol!
Prof. -you've landed some big fish before, but this interview is AWESOME. I can't think of any stars from his early era that are still around. Hits in multiple decades. What a treasure...
He was amazing.
I hope Neil and Elton will still be with us for many years to come.
BAM!!
Cher, Carole King, Willie Nelson...
@@JB-ti7bl Mr. Sedaka was a star in the 50's. That's what I'm talking about...
Neil also wrote "Love will keep us together" that was a huge hit for Captain and Tennille. She even sings the words" Sedaka is back" at the end, as the song is fading out.
thank you for that...whoa, that is a real songwriter's song too...all the trimmings!
Ah, I always wondered if I was hearing her say Sedaka. Now I know why she said it.
That’s right! Great homage.
@@strawpiglet that's why there is applause on the fade-out, too. Folks in the studio clapping because Sedaka is back.
Oh BANG POW! I remember hearing that back in the day, but I was a kid so I didn’t realize WHAT she was meaning by that. I had a lot of fun with their music back then, and I always loved the funky clavinet so there was plenty for a young little dude to connect to.
I’m gonna cue it up right now, and I bet it won’t disappoint, even though I probably haven’t heard this cut in tons of years. 😄👍👍
Don't forget about Roy Orbison as one of those great comeback stories. Though with a sad ending.
Good shout, billy.
Yeah, that was a great comeback. Thoroughly deserved too. "You got it" was a great song.
I loved him in the travelling wilburys also.
Legend.
True. He's amazing.
He went out on top.
@@TheRetroManRandySavage I saw him live at a free concert in Kansas City Mo crown center 1985 when I was a teenager. My stepmom was a huge Roy Orbison fan. So my dad loaded us up and off we went sitting on brick walls watching Roy Orbison be a legend.
@@Rareplymouth that's a great memory to have. I'd have loved to see him live in concert.
Grateful that an artist like Elton John acted like a true music fan, and a good person, and helped get Sedaka back on the map. Unfortunately that business has way too many people with egos who stand on the shoulders of others and never look down and help the people they're standing on.
Sad. Just greedy, power hungry people.
Elton also brought back Leon Russell and gave him his musical life and dignity back before he passed away.
The business had pretty much chewed him up and spat him out after he had helped so many others. He couldn't get a gig. People wouldn't return his calls. Elton collaborated with him on an album and put him back onstage, for which Leon publicly thanked him.
There are probably many such stories.
Neil is a musician. Musicians play music. They can't do anything else and be true to themselves. Fortunately, he had a great body of work that couldn't be ignored.
My mother was a big fan of his, she used to play his albums when I was younger and "Laughter In The Rain" was her favorite song by him. You are doing a great service by highlighting some of the early entertainers from the music industry and giving them the respect they deserve, and exposing them and their music to new audiences. These early artists were very integral in popularising modern music for the masses.
I was thinking the exact same thing watching this as a subscriber. I think it's going to pay off very well for The Professor. Just this feeling came over me that he's going to get his accolades as he is becoming one of the best pop/rock historians doing this. He's the right age too and it will get passed to the next generation. These interviews are priceless and will be watched for years at as long as they are accessible.
@@MsThebeMoon How? I mean I listen to his channel knowing a lot of this stuff.
I was 11 years old when this song came out. My friends knew nothing about Neil Sedaka, but I had a sister who was 18 years older than me and I listened to music by Neil Sedaka since I was really young. A lot of my friends wondered who this “old guy” was and I just laughed because I knew he had been around, and making hits, for a long time. I invited one friend over to listen to older Neil Sedaka records and he was really surprised at how good the music was.
He knows his craft. I remember it felt so good to hear him after so many years. When we were kids and would hear "Calendar Girl" Breaking Up is Hard to Do" it was like lightening, like what you'd feel when you'd hear the Beatles a few years later, same positive vibe. Music is magic. I also remember the last line in Captain and Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together" is "Sedaka is back!"
Such upbeat, vibrant songs there!
*"Still sing ,'Calender Girl', with my family @Kareoke time!♡¡"*
'craft' is well-put
I can actually remember the first time I heard Laughter in the Rain when I was an 11 year old kid in the car and how happy the song made me feel. Everything about it was joyful. I can listen to it again now, and I feel the same happiness. Thank you Mr. Sedaka. And Professor.
It makes you long for the great times.
I'm a songwriter and can tell you that all about this song is great. Strong vocals, fantastic lyrics and arrangement. Nothing like any other song. Uniqueness makes a great song
I was raised listening to Neil Sadaka in the early sixties. The best song of his "comeback" was the remake of his own, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. Slowing it down and making more of a "Torch Song" was pure genius. I could listen to it a hundred times in a row and never get tired of hearing it.
Here here ! The 2nd version is so amazing and just made more sense as a slow song.
The original is what I prefer, although I like what he did with the ballad version.
I think Lenny Welch was the first one to do "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" as a slow ballad in 1970. It was a minor hit. Neil's remake was superior.
It's my favorite too!
@@ezwriter5589 Neil gave a nod to Lenny when he performed the song in concert. I had Lenny's version first, and having loved it first, I must beg to differ with your last sentence. Can we still be friends? 🖖
Are you kidding me? Neil Sedaka is a legend before his own time. A songwriters song writer. What a voice in any year of music history. The real deal of musical skills.
I loved how the Capitan and Tennell added to they say Sadako is back at near the end of they hit. What a classy why to tell the world class act he was and is.
Couldn’t have been a more better finishing touch!
Neil's lyrics, Darryl Dragon's keyboard wizardry, and Toni Tennille's vocals punctuated that classic song, what an upbeat song!!!
Loved Neil back in the mid 70's. "Bad Blood" and "The Immigrant" are two of my favorites. Their were a few other notable comebacks in the mid 70's as well. Frankie Valli, Cliff Richard and Paul Anka.
Cliff Richard is hard to gauge. He has always been successful in the UK, he only had a few minor chart successes in the early 60s, and only broke into the US market in 1976 with devil woman. I don’t think it is as much of a comeback as it is the US market finally liking them
It’s astounding that Cliff Richard had countless hits in his native U.K. dating back to the mid 50s, while 1976 was the first year Americans had even heard of him.
Frankie Valli, Cliff Richard and Paul Anka...THREE guys Adam needs to interview!
@@suprememusicmaster Word! I'd love to hear an interview with Frankie Valli!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Hi Lilly and Michael; Cliff Richard had two U.S. Top 30 hits before "Devil Woman"...1959's "Living Doll" and 1963's "It's All In The Game."
Such a great story from one of the all-time hit makers. You are not human if you can’t feel the pure joy, along with Neil’s, during this wonderful interview. HUGE props Adam!!
Another grand slam, Professor. I grew up listening to Sedaka on the radio. One of my favorite songs of all time is “Bad Blood.” Neil’s a Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneer.
YES!
Bad blood is one freaking killer tune. With a little more attitude, and that would make an awesome remake for any modern artist.
This song brings back so many memories. The most vivid is Easter Sunday 1975. I was 7 years old and it was a glorious spring day outside. My sister had a portable record player and played it over and over again. When it hits the “‘Ooooh” in the chorus it made it feel like you were flying.
Those were the days for sure!
Absolutely LOVE Neil Sedaka. 10 yrs. old when this song came out. One of those BIG influencers. Thank you Neil for being part of the reason I've spent the last 40 years in music. God bless you. I swear I've been listening to this song again for the last three weeks! And then the professor! What a blessing.
Neil Sedaka is probably the most legendary figure in music alive today. I am 42, and even my grandfather, who died at 96, 17 years ago, knew him and had his early records.
I absolutely LOVE this story! I saw Neil in concert at a now defunct theater in the round, only about 30 rows of seats. I remember smiling all night long because he was clearly, sincerely, profoundly having a great time sharing his music with us. I remember thinking what an absolutely adorable man he was, such a famous talent, but he was absolutely loveable and precious. Of course this was decades ago now, but I still have a genuine and complete smile whenever I think of it. I'm so glad you did this piece. I should be so lucky to ever have the opportunity to meet him in person to have a chance to sense that bright, happy spirit once again!
What a versatile performer, too!
WITH OUT ONE DOUT! YOU JUST STRUCK GOLD. THIS IS THE BEST INTERVIEW YOU HAVE HAD TO DATE!!! GONGRADULATIONS! You could just really see the emotion from Neal during this interview, he still seems to want that love and recognition, that is fantastic! We all love your contribution Neal, be well and be happy. You will never be forgotten!
Laughter in the Rain enticed me to listen to all of Neil's other hit songs and really made me appreciate his skills... Your episode takes me back to raking the leaves and singing along to this song as a 12 year old (ya know, when kids used to do that sort of thing)...
Very cool. Great memories.
I used to rake the leaves with my dad!
I remember Neil Sedaka from the early 1960's, shows how old I am. I often wondered what happened to him. During your interview, he is sitting there and talking serious, complicated musical terminology, remembering other peoples music (technically) and gets excited about it. It shows just what kind of musician he really is. My Dad was that kind of serious about the music, he played, in his time
Great interview. ;-)
You sir are a national treasure. It's an absolute CRIME you don't have over million subscribers. You'll get there and then surpass it at some point, but honestly, the sheer vastness of your content already is staggering. And the fact that you capture the words directly from so many of these legends is so honorable and important. So thank you for all you do! This was a phenomenal interview - LOVED IT! And I had to look up Neil's age because I couldn't believe he was 83! The fact that he has so many great stories (just in this interview alone!) and can share them with us via your channel - again, it's such a wonderful thing! Thank you!!
I love the service the POR is providing through his archival footage. The POR channel is not just mere entertainment, he is capturing history. He is preserving the mindset and the essence of a period of time.
"Sedaka is back!"
--Toni Tennille ad libbing on The Captain & Tennille's version of "Love Will Keep Us Together"
I love that!
It’s a great part.
One of my favorite songs of all time is "Laughter in the Rain". I can't even explain why it touches me so deeply. My earliest memory of this song is watching Neil sing this with his daughter, Dara, on some evening variety show that was popular back in the day.
I was too young to love this when it came out. It didn't rock enough when I was that age. BUT, listening to this now in the interview, I love it! Neil is charming and deserves my utmost admiration! Thanks Professor! Love for this channel!
For me it will always be Neil Diamond's Jazz Singer soundtrack. He had hits before, many, but he had been out of the public consciousness for so long. And then suddenly, he felt like a major artist again. He was also older than your typical pop star, and that made it seem more miraculous. Add to all of that the fact that the album is a masterpiece. Love On The Rocks, Hello Again, America, Songs of Life, Amazed and confused. I must have played that record a thousand times. Never gets old.
That’s such a legendary soundtrack.
He never really went away. Jazz Singer came out late 1980. Two years before, he had hit #1 with his Barbara Streisand duet, You Don't Bring Me Flowers. And then after that and before JS, he had top 20 hits with Forever in Blue Jeans and September Morn. From the 60s to the 80s, he had a heckuva career.
it's the comeback stories that intrigue the most. After so much lost time, it's always inspiring to hear an artist more than make up for that time and recement their name.
Who DOESN'T like a comeback story. Like Kim Kardashian!
It builds character!
@Only from a distance lol I am a fan of Parks and Rec as well, so I caught this joke.
It gives us hope, optimism.
Between "Laughing", "Bad Blood" and "Love Will Keep Us Together" performed by The Captain & Tennille, Sedaka basically owned the 1975 Pop Music scene. That Sedaka played the Troubadour Club for his U.S. comeback was appropriate since Elton enjoyed his U.S. introduction there.
I think any artist that has hit records in multiple decades is kind of extraordinary. It's hard enough just to write a hit song,much less do it more than once, much less 10 or more years apart. The times change. Musical tastes change. Very impressive.
I LOVE these interviews of old stars like Neil, out of the public eye by now, you never see them turn up it seems, younger people have no idea they exist.. then BOOM a great interview like this one. Neil is so enthusiastic to tell his tales and answer questions. Well done (again) Adam!
This is the most joyous song I can think of about being in love. I really enjoyed this episode and learning its background story. Neil is a treasure.
I grew up listening to the 50's through the '70's music - all genres - and THIS is one of THE BEST songs ever written. Glad you got him on. What a super nice guy he always seemed to be. He earned it, but he really deserved it. Thank Elton for making it happen too. Elton, by the way, was one of the best concerts I ever saw, and am a retired stagehand so I have seen hundreds and hundreds of bands, singers and Elton was amazing back then, especially in the early 80's with all those hits - so he knew a great song when he heard one. Glad to see Neil is still doing well.
He puts on fantastic shows.
I LOVE Neil Sedaka ❤❤ I’m so happy you gave him the props he deserves. When I was a kid I had one of those K-Tell cassettes and I wore out Bad Blood by Neil on there ( with back up vocals by Elton John ) and my mom had to get me a new one because I wouldn’t stop crying 😂 I knew he and Elton were friends but I did not know this back story to his comeback hit “ Laughter in the Rain” thanks for a great memory ❤🙌🏼🥰
Kudos to Elton John for his good heart, faith and vision for Neil. Love Laughter in the Rain. It’s what I grew up with. He has a great catalogue worthy of the trip. Thanks Adam!
In 1962 while I finishing 7th grade I bought and still have Neal’s Greatest Hits album. Saw him live in Reno at a dinner show at Harrahs Club shortly after this song came out. Took my wife and my brother who was a Chef at Harrahs. Great show! After dinner we went to the small stage behind the bar and sat front row center to se Jan & Dean!!!
Just a lovely interview. You could see Neil reliving his experiences as you and him talked and then when he started to tear up, phew. Great work sir.
Neil Sedaka is one of the greatest songwriters of the rock era. The Brill Building produced so many exceptional songwriters that gave us classics.
It is an amazing comeback story. So many things we (or at least I) did not know before. At the time it was easy to get tired of the song with the constant airplay it got, but now a few decades later, it does stand the test of time. And can you imagine all those singers he named gathered at the Troub to see him sing? That must have been intimidating but what an experience.
I’d have stage fright. It’d be an exciting time for me.
I’m so privileged to have grown up with such great music.
This song never gets old. EVERY time that I've heard it, it's brought me joy and raised my energy. I have never not wanted to hear it, and I have never grown tired of it. That is how a true classic and a well written song should make one feel EVERY time!
This song was like magic to me, took my 50c a week allowance and bought the single I had no idea who he was I was in my early teens. His follow-up with Elton John, Bad Blood is also one of my favorites from that period.
That same year Tony Tennille gave what was then not yet known as a shout out at the end of Love Will Keep Us Together "Sadaka is back.."
Love to see these interviews. These people from the past have a lot of great stories.
I’ll never forget hearing laughter in the rain the first time. I can name Neil Sedaka songs from the preBeatle days. Breaking up is hard to do, calendar girl, run Samson run without Google. I recognized his voice instantly and was happy he was back. And such a great song! My fave professor of rock episode so far. Mahalo
A legend, I could sit and listen to Neil for hours. His knowledge is invaluable. Laughter in the rain still gets the body swaying whenever I hear it.
I just love Neil Sedaka. He's such a humble and kind man. And that song is drop-dead fabulous. I love revisiting this interview. Thanks, Adam. Have an excellent weekend.
What a great man, such a genuinely warm personality. The titles on these videos never fail to draw me in, I can’t resist clicking.
Thanks for this keeping these artists, songs and stories fresh in our memories. Neil's songs always have a way brightening the day.
Hueyati well said . We had so much talent in the days of RnR
The Lea Robert's version is so good. Very soulful. This song is like listening to "I Heard it Through The Grapevine" where Marvin Gaye and Gladys night sing the same song, and both are great versions. Neil's take on his own song is Pop breezy, the kind of music you play while driving or walking around looking at great scenery and it picks up your spirit.
I'm gonna have to find Lea's version, now!
Such a pure joyful voice I loved hearing on the radio as a kid. Voice as clear as a bell. The man knows music too, such incredible knowledge. A treasure, love the memories of listening to Neil Sedaka.
That was an emotional interview. I think I was tearing up when he was. Thank you for doing that interview
All this talk of comeback but in '75, I was a kid and when that song hit there was attention put on his catalog. My parents listened to "oldies" so Neil was ALWAYS around. What a guy. What a legend. Hope he knows how many millions of lives he touched.
One of my favorite songs in high school. I loved his old stuff and it made me happy that he made his comeback. Bad Blood with Elton showed he could ROCK as well. Loved watching him perform with his daughter. Really sweet.
My parents loved playing Neil Sedaka & so we heard it a lot. I remember kids at school laughing at me because I happened to like Neil Sedaka, as well as Engelbert Humperdinck, Gordon Lightfoot & many others that didn’t exactly fit in with the BonJovi, Def Leppard, Poison, Foreigner, Culture Club & the rest of the 80s artists. I have a very eclectic collection of music I like in multiple genres. What can I say, I like what I like… and Laughter In The Rain will always be one of my faves!
I know exactly what you mean!
I’m that type of girl too. People at school love listening to Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weeknd, etc. while I am listening to any music from the 60s through 90s, the real talent.
Oh WOW! What great stories surrounding this song!
It’s so great to see Neil’s eyes still BEAMING with such passion for the music. So much burning creative passion still kickin’ in this man. What an integral part of American popular music for DECADES!
YEAH PROFESSOR, you nailed it - “What a LIKABLE song”. Absolutely.
And dang… what a likable GUY Neil Sedaka is.
Thanks again Boss, for another great GREAT presentation. 😎👍👍
That's the music business. You get to the top and then bamm! Everything changes seemingly overnight. Very few make a comeback, but this one is certainly the mother of all comebacks in popular music. "Laughter in the Rain", what a great song, a classic; puts you in a feel-good mood from the intro. It oozes positive romantic energy and best of all it will never grow old or go out of style. (PS - I did a Google search of 'Neil Sedaka comeback hits' and this video ranked 4th. Good job Professor).
I was 19 years old in 1975. I was a small skinny kid, the proverbial 98 pound weakling. I was completely invisible to girls (unfortunately, not to the bullies) and never had been on a date let alone had a girlfriend.
I would listen to this song and day dream about what it would be like to have someone to hold hands with, standing under a tree in the rain.
Such a great song with lyrics that paint a picture in your head like a short movie. That era had so many songs like that and is something we don't have anymore. Songs like "Chevy Van", "Please Come To Boston", "Me And You And A Dog Named Boo", "Shannon", "Last Song", and even "Afternoon Delight". Professor, can you do an episode on these types of songs from the 70s?
I was a freshman in high school when this song came out. I loved it back then (as did everyone) and I still love it to this day. Great flow to the music, the words fit perfectly and it gives you a visual that pulls you right into where the writers want to take you. LOVE it. I would become a songwriter myself and songs like laughter in the rain would influence the way I would arrange both the lyrics and music. Thank you for bringing Neil Sedaka back into our lives. It touched me to see him again.
What a delight Neil Sedaka is! He is a one-of-a-kind.
Neil is my favorite male solo singer. What a talent and gift to the music world.
growing up in the 70 you could not get away from Neil Sedaka, and what would you want to. . Thank you for all the moments and memories Mr. Sedak. And, thank y Prof. Of Rock for bringing the moments and memories back to me. 3 Chords & Three Truth indeed.
My first memory of seeing Neil Sedaka play was on the variety program "The Donnie and Marie Osmond Show" in the 70s. He is a fantastic singer.
Loved this episode Prof. I wore out my 45's of "Laughter in the Rain" and my favorite of Sedaka "The Immigrant".
Great songs. Thanks for watching.
Awesome episode Professor! Great to hear Neil's story! Awesome when you get to interview the legend's! Thanks for keeping the music alive Professor!
"Laughter" is one of the greatest songs. Adam, as a song writer myself, I can give you a question for these artist that would be amazing to hear their responses. "after having written THAT song, were you able to exhale and say to yourself, "I've written THE ONE. The one that will be around long after I'm gone. The one that is as well-crafted as a writer can write. Now, I can sleep deep tonight." I'm telling you Adam, whether anyone ever hears it or not, we all want to write that one song. That perfect song. My "Laughter In The Rain", my "Alone Again, Naturally". I think you'd be pleased with the conversation after asking that. Great job brother! Love your work!
You get the best interviews, Adam, PoR!!!
Another one that seems so humble & friendly!!! Keep up the great work! I look forward to your videos every day!!! (& I watch older ones on Sundays that were put out before I started watching). ✌🏼🤘🏼
I appreciate that! Thanks CharleyAnne!
17:00 the expresion of Neil's face is pure emotion remembering the good old days by the professor's words. What a great artist.
Such a beautiful voice and melody. He’s a good man. Thanks for this one.
Yo Adam... Neil Sedaka is one of my all time favourites!
He is such a legend!
And easily one of the best rock pianists ever!
The most beautiful , sweetest song ever ! There is nothing like the feeling I get when I hear it ❤️
Love this song! Neil seems like a joy to be around. Thanks Professor.
Ahhhh I love this song sooo much!! I remember being moved by this even when I was a small kid! Such a thrill listening to this interview! ❤️🤩❤️
It is a great story. I've been to Neil's YT channel and his soul just glows out from him as he talks about whatever song in his video. The Beatles came out and made everything else that was current out of style over night. Even The Beach Boys (who were surfer cool) took a hit.
This is one of those songs that has just always been there for. No idea how many times of heard it, but it's always been there. Hearing the behind the scenes story has really given me a bigger appreciation for LITR...
He is a great talent, and seems like a really nice guy. If you read Andy Summer's book "One Train Later", he talks about how Neil was really cool about giving him a chance to play guitar for him (himself looking for a comeback of sorts after playing with "The New Animals" and waiting for that fateful meeting with Stewart and then Sting. Solitaire is also an amazing song, although I read somewhere that there was a little bit of "Bad Blood" with the Carpenters during their '76 tour where Neil opened and was getting huge applause, and supposedly that didn't sit too well with Richard and Karen (or their management, perhaps), and Neil ended up getting kicked off the tour. So many interesting stories in the music world :-) Have a great weekend! -Dave
That is a great story. Love Andy's book.
@@ProfessorofRock *Funny to learn that I was not the only one to think that Neil was not a female singer* ....
I heard it also just on the Radio here in Austria way back then...
I’m considering reading that book.
I was a Hostess in a restaurant about 16 years ago, and he came in a few times while I was working. The way he interacted with the staff was very genuine, and I had the opportunity to have several random conversations with him. The first time I met him, he simply introduced himself as Neil, and I had no idea who he was until the bartender told me, after chatting with him for about half an hour…
Neil Sedaka, my mums favourite and one of mine too, he is a legend, How could anyone shut an artist of this calibre out? I love turning people on to his music, you know more Sedaka hits than you think.
He's had many!
Cool Thumnail...I love that film, weird how its not available on any streaming services..probably some copyright thing...
@@edreid7872 Yes it is a work of art, Alan Parker my favourite director, this is one of his greatest works. He came from art/advertising along with ridley scott and puttnam, so he really got into the details. and i think he brought the concept to life.
@@offal Alan Parker is one of my favorites...I discovered him with Fame, moved to The Wall, and Evita..circled back to Bugsy Malone and Midnight Express..I remember his passing, and a tiny post on Facebook thinking he deserved a bigger send off..
A lot of great songs.
How lovely to see Neil Sedaka again, I miss seeing him on the occasional chat show. His songs remind me of my younger days when it was always summer. I Miss The Hungry Years is one of my favourites and so is Neil what a sweet sweet man thank you for this x
This guy oozes passion for his art - just The Prof. LOVE this channel. Zero time wasted, just hours and hours of learning juicy nuggets of music history. What a treasure.
It's a shame that Neil isn't in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame-He's certainly worthy of that honor.
Isn't he? Bloody hell that's unbelievable!
Neither is Foreigner. 🤦♀️
@@keith1222 Just what I was going to type. That is stunning!
I caught him in concert a few years ago. My wife and I were the only non blue hairs in the audience. There were a group of female senior citizens close to the stage. They were the wildest bunch Ive ever seen at a concert. They kept shouting things at him and his bemused response was hilarious. Thier are a lot of little known gems on those MCA albums.
Awww Neil - loved him then, love him now. A really good guy. His near-daily online mini-concerts during the pandemic helped me get through that time.
Another major favorite Neil Sedaka song was Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, slowing the tempo to turn it into a ballad.
I still get a little choked up when I hear it!
He is an absolute genius songwriter and musician. Incredible.
He’s really great.
What a fantastic musician and songwriter Neil Sedaka is! I remember I use to play my mom's 45s and there were many Neil hits, I wondered why he wasn't on the radio anymore then Walking in the Rain came out and it was a smash. I never knew the story behind his absence until now. Great interview! I hope this makes your listeners to look into Neil's previous music too because he is a great artist. He looks great still too! Did you get a chance to talk about his many hits from the 50s and 60s?
Thanks for sharing My Name. You always have great takes!
It’s such an amazing comeback! A lot of those pre-Beatles hits from him were exuberant and full of energy, but in the 70s he reinvented himself completely.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 yes, it's a great story
I love Neil Sedaka! We saw him not too long ago. Sang along and smiled all evening. Laughter in the Rain is my favorite because it takes me back to my youth. I still have the 45.
A friend of mine had an extra ticket to see Neil Sedaka. I wasn’t a fan but went anyway. He blew me away. He played a huge sport stadium and held it in the palm of his hand. What a showman! One of the best concerts ever. ❤️🇨🇦
The second release of Breaking Up is Hard to Do as a ballad was a game changer! I loved both versions. Could listen to him all day!
Neil is one of the most natural talents that has ever come out of the US. Of course we in the UK always appreciated him even when his home didn't. It's funny that a British invasions pushed him out of favour In America ,and yet his music never truly went out of style in rest of the world.
Beautiful interview as always. We love Neil Sedaka. His music has always been in my life. I had no idea there was such a gap in his career. Lovely man.
So glad you did this video. In the late fifties, early sixties, I was living in Cuba with my parents, and there were three icons of American Music to us. Paul, Anka, Neil Sedaka, and Elvis Presley. Neil was my favorite of the three. What made him even more enigmatic is that we didn't know if he was a man or a woman (He mentioned something like that in your presentation) All the US hits were played by a station called Radio Kramer and Castro decided to shut it down because it was a decadent Yankee station. No more of the three big ones. Thanks to a shortwave radio I was able to catch a Miami broadcaster, so my friends would come over, and anytime a Sedaka song was played, I called girls to let them hear Neil. The first song from long distance was "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen." The first time I actually saw what he looked like was the day I arrived in Miami escaping Communism. We went to a grocery store that had a record section. I looked for Neil and , voila, I saw him for the first time. Fast forward to nowadays and I still love his discography. There are two songs that are special to me. My dad was a classical music and opera aficionado. I would ask him if he liked this song or that song, and it wasn't until I played You Mean Everything To Me, that he acknowledged that it was a great song. The other one I discovered after my wife of 35 years met her demise to breast cancer. I was playing my combination of Sedaka albums and Rosemary Blue came on. What a great message, especially to me. So, to Neil, thanks so much for all the years you've touched my heart and all the memories that are vivid in my mind.
What a wonderful interview. Neil's an incredible songwriter and singer. I was surprised a few years ago to hear one of his songs on Sirius-XM's Radio Hanukkah! (Thanks to other commenters for reminding me of other Sedaka songs I loved but somehow forgot. Gotta go listen to them now.)
Had no idea this was a comeback. Always enjoyed hearing it on the radio.
Such a great artist and a beautiful song! I love the sudden chord change when he goes into the chorus "Oooh I hear laughter in the rain and walking hand in hand with the one I love". Pure song writing genius! 😊
One of the best "feel good" songs. You cannot be sad with this song. Remember your first love? This song embodies it.
Great video. I can tell this interview meant a lot to Neil.
Definitely one of the best interviews with an amazing and beautiful man.❤️🙏🏻
Prof - I don't know how I missed this interview with one of my heroes, but I'm SO glad you led me back to it. Neil Sedaka has been a favorite artist since I first heard his "The Diary", "I Go Ape" and then "Oh, Carol" back in 1958 and '59 (I was 11 y/o). "Little Devil", "Sweet Little You", "Stairway to Heaven" (Yes - HIS concept, but not the same song)...I've got a stack of 45s that rivals my 4 Seasons collection.
His "Solitaire" album was backed by:
Graham Gouldman - bass guitar, guitar, backing vocals
Lol Creme - guitar, backing vocals
Kevin Godley - drums, backing vocals
Eric Stewart - recording engineer, lead guitar, backing vocals
and the sessions inspired the formation of...(guess the band...?)
I LOVE to see him recognized - thank you ------> ∞
Since I moved to Las Vegas 20 years ago, I've had the unequaled pleasure to see him in concert 3 times, and was floored by his versatility. I'm so envious of you, Prof. It's a good thing, I guess, that he didn't do meet 'n greets, or I'd have made a complete ninny of myself, fawning over him.