105.7 KOKZ is your home for classic American Top 40 every weekend! Saturday morning at 9, Casey Kasem counts down the top songs from May 1st, 1976, it’s where I found today’s Forgotten 45 at 3:45 from Henry Gross with “Shannon”.
The song was a #6 hit in 1976 and “Shannon” was written about the death of Beach Boys member Carl Wilson’s Irish Setter. While touring with the Beach Boys in 1975, Gross visited Wilson’s home in Los Angeles and in conversation said he had an dog named Shannon. Wilson replied that he had also had a dog named Shannon that had recently been killed when hit by a car.
The song is also known for “Shannon” is remembered for being the subject of a profanity-laced tirade by Casey Kasem, while recording the September 14, 1985 show. A listener had requested “Shannon” as a “Long-Distance Dedication” to his own recently deceased dog, named Snuggles. Kasem was upset that the show’s producers had placed the dedication immediately following an up-tempo song that he considered a poor lead-in to a sad song such as “Shannon”. Google it, you won’t be disappointed!
Here’s Henry Gross earlier this year telling the story and performing “Shannon” today’s Forgotten 45.
