The Very Best Of Mitchell Trio Now Out On Cd

The Carpenters have one. The Monkees have several. Then surely the Chad Mitchell Trio deserves one after all these years.

We’re talking about a retrospective “best-of” CD.

Now, finally, Vanguard has released “The Very Best of the Chad Mitchell Trio,” a 15-song compilation. This is the first Chad Mitchell CD compilation ever, and the March issue of Pulse! magazine, the Tower Records music magazine, gives it a four-star rating.

This CD is of particular interest here in Spokane, since this sharp and satiric folk trio burst onto the national scene from Gonzaga University.

The trio consisted of Gonzaga students Mitchell, Mike Kobluk and Joe Frazier . They had three Top 40 albums from 1962-1964.

The compilation includes all of their most familiar songs, plus four previously unreleased songs recorded at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964.

“Those were even a surprise to us,” said Kobluk, now the manager of the Spokane Opera House. “We had never heard those tracks before.”

Those songs deal with subjects such as Barry Goldwater’s presidential candidacy and integration at Ole Miss.

“It’s kind of difficult to release social and political commentary songs from the 1960s,” said Kobluk. “Yet someone who lived through those times and knew the trio will appreciate it.”

Mitchell, by the way, is now a real estate agent in Spokane, and Frazier is an Episcopal priest in California.

Stormin’ Norman update

By now you may have already heard about the gala show featuring Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Johnny Cash slated for the Spokane Arena on May 21.

It’s called “Stars: A Celebration of Heroes,” and it is intended as a star-studded tribute to local heroes, who will be chosen by a panel.

Here are a few more details:

Both the Spokane Symphony and Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will perform.

Cash will be joined, as usual, by June Carter Cash and John Carter Cash .

The public can nominate local “heroes” to be honored. Details will be forthcoming.

Schwarzkopf happens to be a member of the board of directors of Washington Water Power, which is the show’s major sponsor. He was already scheduled to be in town for the Spokane utility’s annual meeting.

Tickets go on sale April 4 through G&B Select-a-Seat outlets.

More celebrities on the way

It looks as if Coeur d’Alene’s celebrity couple, Ellen Travolta and Jack Bannon , have talked some of their show-biz buddies into joining them for a benefit in May.

The couple will host an all-star revue, “Broadway Showstoppers,” as a benefit for the Carrousel Players of the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre on May 17.

Travolta, well-known for her numerous roles in soaps and sit-coms (and sister of that Hollywood angel named John), said the show will include many of the top performers from past CdA Summer Theatre productions.

But she also hinted that the show will include some special guests - “nationally known television performers.”

The special guests will be announced in April.

Meanwhile, tickets for this black-tie-optional event are already on sale for $30 each, available by calling 769-7780 or (800) 4-CDA-TIX. The show will be at Schuller Auditorium at North Idaho College.

Lyman memorial

Lewiston’s annual Dogwood Festival has come up with a touching way of recognizing Sandpoint wilderness artist Stephen Lyman, who died last year in a hiking accident in Yosemite.

The festival’s annual children’s art exhibit has been renamed the Stephen Lyman Memorial Festival of Children’s Art. It will be held April 9-27 at the Lewis-Clark Center for Arts and History. His widow, Andrea Lyman, is sponsoring the exhibit.

Stephen Lyman grew up in Lewiston, and later gained fame as one of the nation’s top-selling artists in the limited-edition print market.

Soap shakeup

An ABC soap opera called “The City” ends its run on Friday.

Since KXLY-4 doesn’t carry this show (formerly known as “Loving”), it won’t be mourned much around these parts.

However, here’s news that might interest soap fans: The replacement, “Port Charles,” will be carried on KXLY-4. This is a spin-off from “General Hospital.”

“Port Charles” will kick off with a two-hour prime time episode on June 1 and will begin its regular run June 2 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

KXLY’s midday news hour presently starts at 11 a.m., but it will drop back to a half-hour starting at 11:30 a.m.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Spotlight is a column of news and commentary on the arts and media. To leave a message on Jim Kershner’s voice-mail, call 459-5493. Or send e-mail to jimk@spokesman.com, or regular mail to Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.