Tuesday, July 18, 2017

1967 BONUS #34

Hello, Kent!  
Chuck Buell here.
I was in a Bookstore over the weekend ...    
A Bookstore?!    
Yes, there still are a few of them around ...  
And I was just browsing their media section for fun ... when I  saw a prominent center display there which reminded me of you!    


For those who don't have their glasses handy  ~~  
The Dirty Dozen
The Graduate 
In The Heat of the Night 
Thoroughly Modern Millie 
Cool Hand Luke 
Bonnie and Clyde! 
I saw them all!   
When they were First Run in Movie Theaters!  
Whew!  
CB  ( which stands for “Charlie Bibliotheque!” )
1967 was an INCREDIBLE year for movies ... movies that have stood the test of time and still hold up very well today.  Some of my all-time favorites were released this year ... in addition to the ones you've listed above you can add "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" and "Jungle Book" to this list ... and those are just the ones that went to #1 on The Box Office List.  Also released that year were "To Sir, With Love", "Born Losers" (the first Billy Jack film), "In Like Flint", "Doctor Dolittle", the campy "Valley Of The Dolls", The X-Rated "I Am Curious ... Yellow", "Hombre", "In Cold Blood", "Hotel", "Warning Shot" (one of my favorites, starring David Janssen), "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly", "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying", "A Guide For The Married Man" (my first boob shot!), "Barefoot In The Park", "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre", "Wait Until Dark", "Up The Down Staircase" and "The Flim Flam Man".
We also had "The Ambushers" (Dean Martin's first Matt Helm film), the James Bond spoof "Casino Royale" (as well as the REAL James Bond film "You Only Live Twice") , "Camelot", The Bob Dylan Documentary "Don't Look Back", John Lennon's solo film, "How I Won The War" and at least three or four forgettable Elvis movies.  (kk)

It's almost time for Tommy James' "Real Girl" commercials to start splattering the airwaves.  Expected to likely be a two sided winner, the commercial won for more played one minute side (as a commercial) and "Getting Together" won as the hit single soon now to follow the great "I Like The Way." I usually played the heck out of Tommy James' B sides anyway. 

Here's what we heard over and over on AM top 40 starting about now
 

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Talk about some groovy looks ahead below in August 19, 1967, Billboard!





Just some amazing music on the WLS chart this week in '67!  I can't look at this chart enough and see how cool that was.  A note also on "Blues' Theme" as aired on WLS.  
When they played the record on air, they completely cut out the motorcycle opening.  Mr. Weber, do you know why?  WLS did do a few edits occasionally, such as "Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin.  One that WLS played the whole version and WCFL edited was "Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde."  For some reason, 'CFL edited the gunfire part.  Of course, 'CFL was all about more music via mini spins and twin spins and short edits that kept the songs changing faster. 
"Excerpt from a Teenage Opera" was an absolute fave of mine when it was out.  WLS played it on the Brit Billboard show and WKYC Cleveland also played it in regular rotation then.  The DJ 45 here in the states featured a full and 2+ minute edit.  It took quite a while to find it in stereo and I was so happy to finally get it.
Also mentioned this week in Forgotten Hits ...
I got to see Eddie Matthews play for the Astros in the Astrodome just a month from now, in August, 1967!  
Cool, since he hit most of his HRs with Braves and I am a lifelong Braves fan.
Clark Besch 

Hi Kent: 
Found another Summer of ’67 survey from North of The Border!!! 
Ken

Looks pretty reflective of what was going on here in Chicago at the time ... a few of our locals are represented (The Buckinghams, The American Breed, The Mauds, Michael and the Messengers) ... and it looks like they didn't spend a lot of time proof reading their charts either ... "Pleasant Valley SUNSHINE" by The Monkees ?????  (kk)

>>>Wednesday, August 2nd will be the 50th anniversary of the first “Mod Night” at Ravinia.  Mod is a term used in the sixties for young people subculture and liking of soul music.  On August 2, 1967, Ravinia featured The MOB the first hour and The Association the second hour.  The MOB is the first group from Chicago to incorporate a full horn section and are now known as Chicago’s original horn rock band.  At the time, The Association had the number one song “Windy” to add to their hits “Along Comes Mary” and “Cherish.”  This event set an all-time attendance record of 17,320. The previous record was 14,142 on July 24, 1959, with the Kingston Trio and Gerry Mulligan.  The attendance record was mentioned in the Chicago Tribune and suburban newspapers.  For the 50th anniversary, Lyons Township High School’s radio station WLTL will present a radio special -  RAVINIA’S MOD NIGHT 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL WILL AIR ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2ND AT 8PM ON WLTL-FM 88.1 ... AND STREAMING AT WLTL.NET.  http://www.wltl.net/   (Mike Baker)  
>>>Thanks, Mike!  We actually commemorate The Association breaking the attendance record that night on our August 2nd calendar page as well.  (I didn't know, however, that The Mob were the opening act for this event so I have quickly added this information to our posting.) kk Have you heard of the TV show “The Mod Squad”?  The term “mod” was used in the sixties.  This concert was Ravinia’s first attempt to attract the youth to their venue.  And attract, Ravinia did.  The all-time attendance record was published in the Chicago Tribune on August 3, 1967, and a review August 4, 1967.  Analysts thought because of The MOB being a show band and The Association a pop band, was the formula for the attendance record.  Many suburban newspapers also published the attendance record the day after (Daily Herald, Roselle, Kenosha, etc) 
Included is the Chicago Tribune clipping along with the WLTL splash. 
Mike






Still being 13 on August 2nd, 1967, I wasn't even aware of who, what or where Ravinia was ... but other folks sure knew as the venue packed them in to see this special line-up.  (Considering that in 1967 The Mob hadn't even charted yet and there were several other far more successful local bands to choose from at the time who had hit records on the charts during this era, it's a bit surprising that The Mob were selected above all the others ... and this very well can be another perfect example of them not being able to capitalize on a golden, high-profile opportunity to leap ahead of all the others ... especially since member Jim Holvay was already writing Top Five Hit Songs for The Buckinghams at the time.  It sounds like those involved with the Chicago Club Scene certainly knew who they were ... including many of the members of these bands who would go on to be influenced by them like The Ides Of March and Chicago.  The Mob deserved a better fate ... check out Carolyn's letter below, too.  (kk)

Dear Kent,  
Great to see the photo of "The Mob" when they opened for The Association!.  
When they first came out, I saw them play at the old" GiGi A Go Go" in Lyons, IL, and did they ever put on one FANTASTIC show ... I was sure they would become more popular than they did!  
I am fortunate to have their album with their only hit "I Dig Everything About You".  Every song on that album was "Groovy", as we used to say!!!    
A true bunch of talented guys. 
Thank you for the memories of them!!!  
Carolyn  
The Mob's record only reached #83 on The Billboard Chart but was a Top 20 Hit here in Chicago on WCFL.  (Surprisingly, WLS, who ALWAYS supported our local talent, didn't play the record.)  As popular as they were and as big a draw as they were, I've never understood why they didn't score bigger on the national scene.  (Maybe folks just couldn't accept the idea of Mob Hits on the musical level.)  kk
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Here are a couple of Mob stories to add to your Ravinia special!  Wish I could have been there with Mr. Holvay!  
Of course, I would ask (see attached) how Uncle Lar treated the Mob AND how the Vogues could ever follow the action packed Mob set?

How cool ... we were just down in Bloomington / Normal this past weekend to see The Cornerstones Of Rock show. 
It sounds like all these guys (The Shadows Of Knight, The New Colony Six, The Cryan' Shames, The Buckinghams and The Ides Of March) all have fond memories of playing in and around Illinois State University back in the day ... and this was a nice nostalgic trip for them again after all these years.  (And they had a BEAUTIFUL night for an outdoor concert ... couldn't ask for better weather ... and a packed, enthusiastic crowd.)  kk   

The Romantics Guitarist / Vocalist / Songwriter 
Michael Skill To Release New Solo Single “67 Riot” 
New song evokes time when Detroit burned during“Summer of Love”

Detroit - From the man who crafted such hit singles as “What I Like About You,” “Talking in Your Sleep,” and “One In A Million,” comes a new gritty blues-rock single about the riots that forever changed his hometown of Detroit in 1967. Michael Skill, who has played both bass and guitar for the power-pop rock 'n' roll band The Romantics, was a budding teenager in 1967 when five days of racially charged riots tore apart Detroit in July. When it was over, 43 people lay dead, 1,189 had been injured, more than 7,200 had been arrested and more than 2,000 buildings had been destroyed. 
Skill lived on Detroit's East Side and says that although the violence took place several miles from his home, he nonetheless saw its effects up close. “I remember the National Guard right down the street from my house,” he says. “People watching the riots on TV were afraid that rioters would come into our neighborhood. People were freaked out.” The riots changed his beloved Motor City forever. “A lot of my friends' families took off for the suburbs after that,” he says, noting his family chose to stay in the city.
The riot's effects – and the fact that many of the issues they raised, from police brutality to economic decay – stayed with Skill, culminating in his desire to write “67 Riot.” Loud, powerful and evocative of tough tunes by such rockers as Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix and Skill's fellow Detroit rockers, The MC 5, “67 Riot” is both a haunting look at the past as well as a timely allusion to the present, in a world where racial and social tension still threaten to rend our nation in two. 
“I wrote the song from a sense of frustration that people never came together after the riots to really address what happened, to look each other in the eye and say, 'How can we repair this? How can we move forward?'” The song's lyrics are written from this point of view. “4 AM / Down the street / Cops roll in / With all the heat / Blind pig roaring / Kickin' their heels / Soldiers home / Just gettin' real,” the song opens. “Rooftop sniper / Set the sight / Burning cocktails / Flash in flight / Broken city / Broken dreams  / Things aren't always what they seem/67 Riot!” 
Recorded in Skill's own studio, the song features him on guitar, bass and vocals, and also features drummer Russell Ayers, who engineered the tune. The co-producers sought to create an aural equivalent of what it was like to live through this violent time, Skill says, but he adds that he wanted the song to end on a note of hope because Detroit has rebounded in recent years. 
“Try to warm your heart / Dream your dreams / Break the chain / Let's start clean,” he adds in his song, noting it’s time to break the chain of racism that has shackled generations before, during and after “67 Riot.” 
“'67 Riot” first single solo release from upcoming Debut LP.
The Romantics are still touring, still recording and currently feature three original band members on the front line up, Rich Cole, Wally Palmar and co-founder Michael Skill. Drummer Brad Elvis joined The Romantics in 2004 and has been the longest seated drummer with the band. Rich Cole rejoined the band in 2010, reviving the band's 3-part harmony allowing The Romantics to perform songs from their first two albums live for the first time since his departure. 
To purchase Michael Skill's “'67 Riot” single:
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Interviews:



Much has been done over the past fifty years to romanticize The Summer Of Love (no Romantics pun intended) ... we tend to only want to remember the good that happened ... the happy sounds ... the flowers in your hair ... but it was also a very turbulent time in America.  There was a war raging halfway around the world that more and more Americans were beginning to describe as "senseless" and "unwinable".  And there were problems right here at home, too, with race riots breaking out in cities across the country ... perhaps none worse than Detroit.  The devastation there was tremendous.
Skill's song has an angry feel to it ... but imagine being a young boy at the time, watching your streets being torn up right before your eyes ... a truly helpless and confusing feeling.
Our 1967 calendar celebrates the joy of 1967 ... but also touches on some of the hate that was going on during The Summer Of Love.  It's embarrassing in hindsight to think that so many Americans acted this way.  Over the last couple of decades, we seen Americans rally together to show the world "the heart of America" with a renewed patriotism thanks to others around us trying to have their way with our great country.  As such it's almost impossible to believe that at one point we were willing to tear it apart from the inside out with some of the senseless acts going on right here at home.  Some of the footage shown in this video should help to bring some of this home to you, some fifty years later.  America needs to stand together.  Hopefully we're smarter than this now.
The big catch phrase of the '60's was "We're Gonna Change The World" ... and we did ... just not always for the better.  (kk) 
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