  We are always getting letters from our readers. Some good, some great. We'd like to hear from you too, so just drop us a line and let us know what you think of the NEW Cashbox Magazine. Thanks  Dear Cashbox Magazine: While listening to American Top 40 The 80s, I decided, for whatever reason, to do a search on what became of Cashbox and Record World. That's when I found your website. It's great that you made historical chart data available for anyone to access. I also admire your "mission" in the about us tab. I agree that Billboard and others have fragmented, dissected and created charts that were never meant to be, and dubious chart "feats". I have to admit that having grown up with Casey Kasem (and Shadoe Stevens) and AT40/CT40, I have had more exposure to Billboard and later Radio & Records/Mediabase 24-7. But, I was always aware that Billboard wasn't the only source for chart data and music industry news. The Premiere Radio Networks made a wonderful decision to remaster and rebroadcast those classic AT40 programs from the 1970s and 1980s. I have Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2006 at my side to research those forgotten songs from the weekly countdowns of yesteryear. Your mailing address also caught my eye. I lived in Charlotte for two and a half years. I visited Winnsboro, SC several times during my stay in the North Carolina piedmont. When AT&T closed its Charlotte bill processing center in December 2006, I took an incentive package and returned to Orlando. So, I've bookmarked your site and plan to visit cashboxmagazine.com many more times. I have no credentials that make me anything more than someone who loves CHR/Top 40 Radio, past and present (although as I write this I'm listening to American Top 20 with Casey Kasem (Hot AC)). Best Wishes, Doug Thomas Michael, We just want to take a moment to thank you for the wonderful interview and the unique opportunity to be associatied with such an influential magazine as Cashbox Magazine. It is a humbling honor to have been chosen as the only unsigned band to grace the oover of the trade magazine that started it all. As you can imagine, earning a 5-Star review (our first official review of "This Is") from such a credible source in the music industry is the single biggest honor ever bestowed upon this band. We thank you all for giving our band the encouragement it needed, and for giving our record the attention, we feel, it deserves. Thanks again. Early Pearl Hi Mike, ... And while I'm at it, I want to take this opportunity to tell you and Bruce what a tremendous asset and contribution CASHBOX Magazine is in many respects to not only the entire Indie community, but also to the whole world of music. You are all to be heartily congratulated and thanked for your efforts in resurrecting CASHBOX and for your continuing commitment to every artist - aspiring, established or legendary - on Planet Earth. Have a great week my friend. Neil Neil, Thanks for the kind words. Yes, we are committed to helping get this whole music business turned around. People like Bruce, Tommy James and myself want to get the music that disserves being heard back into the hands of those who want to hear it. The BIG record companies have controlled the market long enough trying to grab the big bucks for themselves and discard the artists who have built the industry. It's time for a change and Cashbox may very well be the start of the wave of things to come. Mike Hi Mike, Glad the new CD sleeve inserts arrived. BJ Thomas was so right when he said those early days in the late fifties and sixties were simply the best of times in many respects, the least of which is music ... and even though we were all so wonderfully open and naive, we were so very fortunate to be involved and a part of the finest revolution in music that the world has ever seen either before or after IMHO .. and it is such a treat to hear an artist like him still humbly delivering the message. Would that all those young "musicians" out there would pull up a chair, put their egos in a drawer and listen to how it's done .. and done to last!! It was being there in the middle of all that happening back then those many years ago that laid the foundation for me to finally decades later record my debut CD album of my original songs, all that rose up out of that foundation. And BJ is so very right when he said the most important thing a singer can do is to sound like themselves. I credit and thank my producer, Ray Lyell, for keeping me on that track when I first went to see him at the studio .. and I remember being so critical of my own voice at the time. Well, enough from me. Stay well Mike, keep happy, keep singing, and best of wishes to you and Bruce and any others involved in being the driving forces behind Cashbox Magazine. TTYL, Neil w Young Bruce, First I want to tell you what a pleasure it has been to work with Mike Peace.....he is amazing!! In a business where people are generally rude and deal with people in an un-professional manner, Mike is a breath of fresh-air and brings hope to those of us who work in this industry. Tommy James and all of us at aura entertainment are grateful for the return of Cashbox, but more so, having talented and good people to deal with. We are spreading "the word" around the globe.........CASHBOX IS BACK BIGTIME! Thank you, Carol Ross-Durborow Mr. Elrod, My name is Jayne Nesbitt Helms and I am Jim Nesbitt's youngest daughter. I just wanted to thank you for writing such a nice article about my Dad. It is a comfort in times like these to hear him spoken of so fondly. He was truly one of a kind and we will miss him terribly. Sincerely, Jayne Nesbitt Helms Dear Cashbox people: I'm glad your back as I miss this publication and the Albert's. I wish you all the best as the Tommy James feature is wonderful as is his new music. All the best. Ron Alexenburg Ronnie Records60
Cashbox and Mike Peace: That is a terrific interview...what I've heard so far. I'll have to go back and listen to the rest. It’s good you got a bit of yourself in there as well...and Tommy's comparison of CASHBOX to BILLBOARD is dead on. I never bought Billboard, to tell the honest truth, and I feel guilty as heck for just standing there and cursing through it at the magazine stand...but I always went home with CAHBOX tucked under my arm. What a disappointment when Billboard, and the others, were left without competition to 'keep them in line'. So, Tommy's remarks are very relevant I think. Neat bits of history too about Hanky Panky. Are there any of us who didn't have to do that one at one point or another. I too thought at first, what a dreadful stupid little song. We then began performing it, and, before you know it, having fun. Then there was Crimson and Clover. I remember doing that one through a Fender tube guitar amp to use the built in tremolo. What a horrible sounding vocal, but who cared. It went over well enough and that was all that mattered. As for your work as Attila and The Huns I'd love to hear that someday. Just how barbaric were you, though. I just can't envision you in the saddle leading a horde of mad musicians all brandishing spears and singing at the top of their lungs...then again, who knows. Stranger things have been known to happen. Anyway, it was a good interview so far. I had to pause to go create a link, which I have just added as an update to my site. I am also working on an article entitled Taking It Back that I hope to have up as soon as I have finished the proof reading. As I told that other musician, these are exciting times. No, it's not going to be any easier than it has been. Things have changed quite a bit since the early days. You and Tommy brought that point out very clearly...but that doesn’t mean there are no new opportunities. There are plenty of opportunities for those who don't mind shifting their thinking a bit to accommodate new strategies...... - Bryan Anthony , www.wickmanmusic.com
Subject: Re: Cashbox Review Date: Friday, June 29, 2007 6:58 PM David, THANKS for the HONEST review of ACE-O-SPADES! It burned some feathers, as a GOOD review should. It also woke a few people up to the fact THIS industry isn't a joke, but a hard as steel as bitter can be firepot, and IS NOT for the cream puffs, glory trippers, and other such asssorted wannabes. THAT is something this Industry sorely lacks, and could use a whole lot more of. Thank God that Cashbox is back and in HONEST hands. FINALLY, the Industry has a Trade Publication that will NOT sell out, won't phony-up the charts, or endorse any such nonsense. If I want accolades, I can write my own ads and news releases. Like every other HONEST company, I want HONESTY! One of my people, Richard Harding, said, "I'd rather have the most brutal truth than the most candy-coated lie." His reasoning is simple. You know where and what the ground is with the truth! And if anyone can't stand the TRUTH, they really have an insurmountable problem... FINALLY! The Industry has input that is hard to the road and sound as solid gold. Cashbox's information will eventually become the sounding board the rest of the Industry really relies on. We haven't had CREDIBLE information in a long time, and the uncounted financial and career disasters because of that lack are prima facie evidence. Be sure to pass my compliments to ALL the staff. I just wish I had the time and energy to be a part of Cashbox on a regular basis. My schedule just does not permit it, but I am here for anything I can do. Please keep me advised, and if my email or snail addresses are missing, add them to any appropriate list. THANKS AGAIN! TDA, Bobby.................... VANDOR MOTION PICTURES, VANDOR MUSIC GROUP.
Subject: Fw: Ernie Hasse # 1 on our inspirational albums chartRick, Ernie knocked Toby Mac out of that slot this week. Thought you would like to know. Bruce Elrod Cashbox Magazine Bruce THANKS man for letting me know- THATS awesome- :-) Yippeee! We are excited! Rick Mr. Elrod, As a disc jockey and program director in radio starting in the mid 50's, Cash Box was a valuable source in providing information on what music we progammed. We used information from the Cash Box of that era in researching the various recording artists to be nominated by the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. I'm delighted to know Cash Box is back in busness and will be looking foward to its success. Great hearing from you. John Rook, creator Hit Parade Hall of Fame www.JohnRook.com
| Hi there Cashbox, I echo the sentiments of John Rook (and I’m sure many others) in welcoming Cash Box magazine back. Back in 1960 or so it was Cash Box that kept me up to date on the music business. I recall seeing the first information about the Beatles in the international section about 1962. I loved the covers, with those great pictures. I still have a large collection of the original magazines. Some things you just want to hang on to! I look forward to your success. Best, Michael Lloyd
Hello Bruce, I just viewed your website and it's great! Thanks for giving the music industry something it has been needing for a very long time, and that is honesty and integrity in giving every artist, not just a select few, an opportunity to make their products available on a world wide scale based on their talent. For many years there have been artists who are as talented as many of the top rated artists and yet they had no outlet to get heard. Because of this the general public has been missing out on a lot of great talent and you and the folks at CASHBOX have closed that gap. Thanks again! Danny H.
Mike,
Thanks for your response. Of course, money is the bottom line in every business (almost). I am sure it is for CASHBOX, too. But what you are doing, I believe, will be good for the industry; and I hope you guys will make a good living doing it. Anyway, I think it is great. "Back in the day," established artists had an advantage, and generally deserved it. But if memory serves, there were a lot of "one hit wonders" which don't seem to exist today...it seems they can't exist in the industry today, as everything appears to be so contrived. And those one hit artists were a great part of the entire music scene. I miss them. I wish you folks the greatest of success, and I'm sure glad you're back...introducing previously unknown talent and wonderful music to the "light of day!" Sometimes all a person needs is a chance. Dale Smith
Hi, Bruce. I’ve known Stuart Hersh, Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s manager, for many years and supplied a lot of the facts which appeared in Pickett’s AP obit. Not unexpectedly, a few got a little twisted along the way. In fact, in the first draft of that story, AP listed Boris Karloff’s last name as “Karlough.” (!) Anyway, I wanted to point out that Leon Russell was not one of the Crypt-Kickers on “Monster Mash.” According to Bobby, Leon was booked for the session but showed up too late – after that track had been completed. He may have played on some of the other album cuts, but not the title song. Congratulations on reviving Cashbox. My closest colleague at Reader’s Digest, where I served as Music & Entertainment Editor for 20 years (until just recently), was Ira Howard, a longtime Cashbox editor. At present, Ira and I are working with a new team to create a new targeted music and video company and would like to know more about your “Your Hit Parade” holdings, particularly any video or kine footage of the show. We might like to license some of it for home video release. My reference library includes samples of material you’ve written and compiled. You may even have samples of some of my books, etc. I have yet to determine just where Cashbox is going to be based, what the magazine itself is going to look like or if you are currently looking for writers, columnists and editors – especially those who can bring historical perspective to the content. Just to see, though, I’m enclosing a version of my resume. I am glad to read you are supporting. The Hit Parade Hall of Fame, of which I am on the nominating committee. All the best, Gary Theroux
Dear Cashbox Magazine I just want to drop you a brief line and tell you how much I appreciate you publishing the Beach Music (Carolina Beach Music... ) charts. Carolina Beach Music is great music, and we almost have a whole life style (and we certainly have a dance) the evolves and revolves around that music. You are finally giving us a NATIONAL Venue and National exposure. Of course, I see that you are in Ridgeway, SC... so, you are familiar with our music. THANKS!!! Lee C. (Greensboro, and North Myrtle Beach)
Hello Cashbox Magazine, I wanted to write you a note and let you know that I really enjoy the website. I discovered it several months ago and enjoy perusing through the chart archives. I had no idea that Cashbox was still around. As a former d.j./music director and longtime record collector I find the old charts interesting and a valuable resource. Randy Price has really done an outstanding job in making all these old charts available. When I saw your name it rang a bell because back in the late eighties or early nineties, I purchased a book you had written based on all the old "your hit parade charts". The one copy I had got wet and soggy because I kept it in the trunk of a car that I had at the time. Anyway, the trunk developed a leak much to my sorrow and messed up the book. I later went back to the bookstore in Columbia where I had purchased it to try to get another copy, and by that time it was no longer available. I have been having some trouble gaining access to the year-end lp charts for 1975 and the year-end singles and lps for 1979. For some reason those pages won't open, no matter what I do. I'm still somewhat of a novice when it comes to computers so it may be something that I'm doing, or not doing. Any how, I just wanted to say hello and keep up the good work. Larry W.
Hey Larry, Thanks for for the nice note. Cashbox is in the process of rebuilding the magazine so we don't expect everything to just work everytime but thanks to you and all of the great new fans we have been meeting, we will get it all back together and it will be bigger and better than ever. (The chart links you mentioned are now working, so you should be able to open those pages without any problem.) Cashbox Magazine
Dear Mr. Elrod: I am so pleased to read that Cashbox is back in business! I started performing in a rock n roll band in high school in 1967. Your magazine was a link to the music business for me. I grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia, not exactly a music Mecca. When I would buy a copy of Cashbox it made me feel like I was a part of the music business. The info that I would read would stick with until the next issue. I was in the know! Later on in life, at the ripe old age of 15, our little band "The Prophets" was signed to an independent label in NYC. I can't express the excitement to by a Cashbox and see if we made the charts. Now, 43 years later, as I read the article about Cashbox coming back, I re-lived that excitement again. I just had to write you. I became a professional in the business. I moved to Nashville in 1978 and toured as a background singer for Donna Fargo. In 1981, I started with my own group "Steve Jarrell & the Sons of the Beach". I still perform, but mainly on a part-time basis. My real job is a radio announcer playing oldies. As a member of the Beach Music Hall of Fame, I am thankful that you all will be listing Carolina Beach Music charts. It could do wonders for our little part of the industry. I wish you much success with the magazine. I am sure all of us in the business are glad that you are back. If you should decide to open a Nashville office, I would like to be considered for employment. I would be proud to help carry on a musical tradition as Cashbox. Best wishes, Steve J.
Hey Cashbox I was looking for a review for Daughtry, but I couldn't find it. Did you review that album? I saw it in your charts, but I didn't understand how to look up his album. Please let me know, and that 80's music at the entrance page is a little weird. I like your site a lot though. Thanks Becky
Hello Becky, Click on reviews then on the top left of the page you'll see Review Archives. Look at the Jan to Mar Reviews It's in there. Cashbox Magazine,
Dear Cashbox MagazineAl Stravinsky says thanks for pointing me to where Shallow Water was No1 on your site. That was wonderful to see, a real surprise too. Thanks very much for supporting me and my music. All the very best from the UK Al Album available from: http://cdbaby.com/cd/alstravinsky
Bruce, I would like to thank you very much for that great review you gave me for ROCKABILLY MAN , AND LOOK OUT FOR HARLEY JOHNSON What more can I say , this is really over the top, all the best to you and yours BERNIE EARLY THANK YOU AGAIN BRUCE ELROD
Hey Michael,If I'm to assume you're MSP, I want to thank you personally for the Condors review. It's obvious you actually listened to the tracks and made some excellent comments. Oh, and the newer songs will show a bit more variation in style and production from "Wait for It." Once again, thanks for your time and ears. Sincerely, Patrick DiPuccio (aka "Pooch") PS. There's a song in the key of G? How the heck did that get in there???
David, Thanks so much for taking the time to look into archived reviews. I will contact Randy Price with details. In today's world, it is rare to get quick replies from people who will gain nothing by helping you out. I really appreciate your effort. Kind regards, Steve Sherman
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