Hi Kent,
Thank you so much for posting the photo of the handsome Ray Graffia Jr. and his lovely wife Bonnie. Happy 50 years together!
What a thrill for Ray to write "I Love You So Much" for his wife!
Long Live My Favorite Chicago Group: The New Colony Six!!!
Carolyn
Thank you so much for posting the photo of the handsome Ray Graffia Jr. and his lovely wife Bonnie. Happy 50 years together!
What a thrill for Ray to write "I Love You So Much" for his wife!
Long Live My Favorite Chicago Group: The New Colony Six!!!
Carolyn
Hi Kent:
The passing of Shindig producer Jack Good caught my attention in your Wednesday newsletter. Good was born in the suburb of Greenford in West London. That happens to be where I lived while I was serving with the US Navy in the late Sixties. The area's other claim to rock and roll history occurred in April of 1964 at the Oldfield Hotel and Tavern in Greenford.
The Who had been paying their dues while regularly performing there as an R&B cover band in 1963 and 1964. That was where they first encountered Keith Moon. Seventeen year old Moon brazenly approached the group while boasting that he was a better drummer than the one they had. Despite being half drunk and nearly demolishing the drum kit, he was invited to join the band. I've also learned that they regularly played at Douglas House. That was where the US Armed Forces enlisted men's club was located in the Lancaster Gate area near Hyde Park.
The first time I heard of The Who was when "My Generation" was being played on either WLS or WKYC (Cleveland) back in late 1965 / early 1966.
Mike G
Yes, they took a little while to catch on here in The States, originally touring here as the opening act for Herman's Hermits! (Imagine THAT combination live in concert!!!) Their popularity grew, however, as they got more experimental with things like their "Tommy" Rock Opera ... which then made folks go back and discover some of the great, flat out rock and roll material they had done earlier. Some of those earlier cuts like "I Can't Explain," "My Generation," "The Kids Are Alright" and "Substitute" barely made a dent on the charts here ... but little by little ("Happy Jack," #24, 1967; "I Can See For Miles," #9, 1967; and "Magic Bus," #25, 1968) paved the way for monster Top Twenty Hits like "Pinball Wizard" (#19, 1969); "See Me, Feel Me" (#12, 1970); "Won't Get Fooled Again" (#15, 1971) and many more. (kk)
"You see, brother, Hugh did things without any agenda whatsoever. Our country should understand that.”
The passing of Shindig producer Jack Good caught my attention in your Wednesday newsletter. Good was born in the suburb of Greenford in West London. That happens to be where I lived while I was serving with the US Navy in the late Sixties. The area's other claim to rock and roll history occurred in April of 1964 at the Oldfield Hotel and Tavern in Greenford.
The Who had been paying their dues while regularly performing there as an R&B cover band in 1963 and 1964. That was where they first encountered Keith Moon. Seventeen year old Moon brazenly approached the group while boasting that he was a better drummer than the one they had. Despite being half drunk and nearly demolishing the drum kit, he was invited to join the band. I've also learned that they regularly played at Douglas House. That was where the US Armed Forces enlisted men's club was located in the Lancaster Gate area near Hyde Park.
The first time I heard of The Who was when "My Generation" was being played on either WLS or WKYC (Cleveland) back in late 1965 / early 1966.
Mike G
Yes, they took a little while to catch on here in The States, originally touring here as the opening act for Herman's Hermits! (Imagine THAT combination live in concert!!!) Their popularity grew, however, as they got more experimental with things like their "Tommy" Rock Opera ... which then made folks go back and discover some of the great, flat out rock and roll material they had done earlier. Some of those earlier cuts like "I Can't Explain," "My Generation," "The Kids Are Alright" and "Substitute" barely made a dent on the charts here ... but little by little ("Happy Jack," #24, 1967; "I Can See For Miles," #9, 1967; and "Magic Bus," #25, 1968) paved the way for monster Top Twenty Hits like "Pinball Wizard" (#19, 1969); "See Me, Feel Me" (#12, 1970); "Won't Get Fooled Again" (#15, 1971) and many more. (kk)
"You see, brother, Hugh did things without any agenda whatsoever. Our country should understand that.”
-- Dick Gregory to Harvey Kubernik, 2014
Read All About It (from 1967 A
Complete Rock Music History of the Summer of Love).
Playboy magazine’s
reporting on the contemporary music scene of 1967 helped
broadcast the counterculture revolution to a wide audience. Their Jazz & Pop
Poll ballot of October, 1967, reflected the impact of current audio
culture.
In the Male Vocalist category, Marty Balin,
Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, John Mayall, Scott McKenzie, and Johnny Rivers were
now listed with Frank Sinatra, Gene Pitney, Sammy Davis, Jr., Al Martino, and
Mose Allison. The Female Vocalist listing now found Janis Joplin, Cass Elliot,
and Grace Slick right alongside Dionne Warwick, Julie London, Anita O’Day,
Jackie DeShannon, and Eartha Kitt.
Besides showcasing and advertising state-of-the
art ’67 home audio equipment, Playboy gave ink to well-established and
emerging FM-radio-playlist recording artists. Summer of Love turntable favorites
Charles Lloyd and Ravi Shankar were both profiled in a fall ’67 issue. Moby
Grape, Brenton Wood, and Chris Darrow of the Kaleidoscope, now shared the glossy
pages with Bill Evans, Oliver Nelson, Andre Previn, and Chico Hamilton — further
proof that Playboy’s reputation as “only a skin magazine” was now
completely over. A psychedelic-themed front cover graced its ’67 Gala Christmas
issue.
-- Harvey
Kubernik
And, speaking of Harvey Kubernik, you can catch his recent
appearance on Tom Barnard's Radio Program via the link below
...
On October 11th, Harvey
Kubernik was a 30 minute interview guest discussing his 1967 A Complete Rock
Music History of the Summer of Love book on the Tom Barnard's Show radio
program, the KQ92 Morning Show from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Barnard is a 2017
National Radio Hall of Fame inductee. Here ya go ... this is the
link to the interview: http://bit.ly/2y9LChM
http://www.tombarnardpodcast.com/harvey-kubernik-1242-3/
http://www.tombarnardpodcast.com/harvey-kubernik-1242-3/
>>> I recognize a few of these titles
... The Hardly Worth-It Players (who had the hit with their novelty
version of "Wild Thing" earlier this year) are still hanging on with something
called "The Congressional Record" ... would love to hear that one! (Although
another title grabbed my curiosity first ... anybody got a copy of "Two Bananas
In Love"??? (lol) kk
I had not heard this before, but here is a link to "The Congressional Record"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkOrERVgKCw
Doug
From Gary Theroux ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehhGGaeOAYU
Kent,
You mentioned on the
posting of the records from MS Distributors if anyone had a a copy of the song
TWO BANANAS IN LOVE. I don't have a copy but years ago I did have the
opportunity to buy a copy. I didn't, however, because the record didn't apPEEL
to me. THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD by the Hardly Worth It Players is to the tune
of OLD MACDONALD. I found it on you tube and quit playing it after about 30
seconds. You probably have already done that by the time you get this
email
Larry
OK, these are awful!!! The scary part is that some highly paid record executive thought these recordings were potential hits! Even in the "Anything Goes '60's" this crap couldn't make it. Makes you wonder what a complete list of EVERY released single would look like from 1964 - 1970! A Hardly Worth-It Players rip off of their own Bobby Kennedy parody / novelty hit, followed by a "Winchester Cathedral" rip-off. I'm not sure even Dave The Rave would play these tracks on his "Relics And Rarities" program!!! (kk)
Hi Kent:
Here are a couple more Milwaukee Surveys you can use the next few weeks.
Ken Freck
OK, these are awful!!! The scary part is that some highly paid record executive thought these recordings were potential hits! Even in the "Anything Goes '60's" this crap couldn't make it. Makes you wonder what a complete list of EVERY released single would look like from 1964 - 1970! A Hardly Worth-It Players rip off of their own Bobby Kennedy parody / novelty hit, followed by a "Winchester Cathedral" rip-off. I'm not sure even Dave The Rave would play these tracks on his "Relics And Rarities" program!!! (kk)
Hi Kent:
Here are a couple more Milwaukee Surveys you can use the next few weeks.
Ken Freck
I can't believe the year is almost over. I worked so long and so hard on putting the 1967 Calendar Series together and we're now down to less than 90 days before the series wraps up. Kinda sad as I hate to see it go. (Then again I HAVE considered permanently posting it on the other website as a source of future reference ... only time will tell if I ever have enough free time to do so!) kk
And here's one from Oklahoma ...
Kent,
Thought you might like to know what was happening here in OKC 50
years ago. I would imagine there are a record or two or three that you've never
heard of.
Larry Neal
Yep, I'm thinking quite a few of
these may raise an eyebrow or two. Always cool to see what was happening in
other cities and then comparing those charts when the ones we grew up with here
in Chicago. Thanks, Larry!
(kk)
Great coverage of the 1967 World Series. Well done.
Ed
It was a very exciting series, wrapping up a very exciting season if you were an American League fan like I was. I love all the vintage Topps baseball cards ... I probably HAD most of these!!!
It's amazing to me that 50 years ago yesterday the 1967 World Series was over ... and now, 50 years later, we've still got a whole 'nother stretch of playoff series before the World Series even gets underway. Heck, 50 years ago they talked about shortening the baseball season because it went on too long and meant playing games in the cold of October ... now October's already half over and the big showdown hasn't even begun. (I swear at some point games will be postponed because of snow!) I feel for the health and safety of the players ... the weather for some of these late night games (last night's contest between The Cubs and The Nationals went on past midnight, local time) is just brutal! (kk)
I missed out on the 67 series because of age, but 68 was a different story, 7 years old and my team won the world series.
Somehow after losing two to Gibson and coming back from a 3 games to 1 deficit, Mickey Lolich managed to beat Gibson in game 7.
The whole city of Detroit was buzzing all Summer long. This song was a big local hit that year locally.
It's amazing to me that 50 years ago yesterday the 1967 World Series was over ... and now, 50 years later, we've still got a whole 'nother stretch of playoff series before the World Series even gets underway. Heck, 50 years ago they talked about shortening the baseball season because it went on too long and meant playing games in the cold of October ... now October's already half over and the big showdown hasn't even begun. (I swear at some point games will be postponed because of snow!) I feel for the health and safety of the players ... the weather for some of these late night games (last night's contest between The Cubs and The Nationals went on past midnight, local time) is just brutal! (kk)
I missed out on the 67 series because of age, but 68 was a different story, 7 years old and my team won the world series.
Somehow after losing two to Gibson and coming back from a 3 games to 1 deficit, Mickey Lolich managed to beat Gibson in game 7.
The whole city of Detroit was buzzing all Summer long. This song was a big local hit that year locally.
Frank
Sennish
Ah yes ... and Denny McLain making all his television appearances playing the organ ... those were the days! (lol) The Tigers where phenomenal in 1968 with many of their players having career years. Say what you will about Denny McLain ... nobody's won 30 games in a season since! He was unstoppable. (kk)
31 - 6 ... and in jail at least a few times since ... but you're right, he had an incredible year.
Frank
October 10th was the fifty
year anniversary of the ten year anniversary of the Milwaukee Braves winning the
World Series in 1957 over the Yankees. How’s that for a stretch? Here’s a trivia question:
After the Milwaukee Braves moved to Milwaukee from Boston, They led the league in attendance every year up until 1957 when they won the World Series. During that time period they drew over two million fans per year. After 1957 they did not achieve this attendance status again. What happened between 1957 and 1958 to create this situation?......
Answer: The Braves management would no longer allow the fans to bring their own beer into the ballpark anymore.
Only in Wisconsin.
December, 2017, will mark the 50th anniversary of the retail release of Leonard Cohen's debut LP "Songs of Leonard Cohen." Might be something for your viewers to know about. Leonard was signed to Columbia records by the legendary A&R man / record producer John Hammond, who inked Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan to the label.
The Leonard Cohen-endorsed website, he actively collaborated with the portal,
www.leonardcohenfiles.com, is now displaying my 14,000 word multi-voice narrative memoir piece on Leonard. There are a lot of rock 'n' roll voices in the print journey: Charlie Daniels, Chris Darrow from the Kaleidoscope, Andrew Loog Oldham, Clive Davis, Al Kooper, Bob Johnston, Peter Lewis of Moby Grape, and Jim Keltner added to my multiple interviews I conducted with Leonard.
My 2015 book on Leonard Cohen is now out in paperback edition in the UK from Omnibus Press.
Cohen's debut disc was issued the last week of December, 1967, an advance acetate test pressing were circulated in the previous November, and, alongside Bob Dylan's "John Wesley Harding," so both highly influential endeavors are in your pivotal ongoing salute to year 1967. Although their impact really became monumental during 1968 and continue to this day.
Harvey Kubernik
After the Milwaukee Braves moved to Milwaukee from Boston, They led the league in attendance every year up until 1957 when they won the World Series. During that time period they drew over two million fans per year. After 1957 they did not achieve this attendance status again. What happened between 1957 and 1958 to create this situation?......
Answer: The Braves management would no longer allow the fans to bring their own beer into the ballpark anymore.
Only in Wisconsin.
December, 2017, will mark the 50th anniversary of the retail release of Leonard Cohen's debut LP "Songs of Leonard Cohen." Might be something for your viewers to know about. Leonard was signed to Columbia records by the legendary A&R man / record producer John Hammond, who inked Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan to the label.
The Leonard Cohen-endorsed website, he actively collaborated with the portal,
www.leonardcohenfiles.com, is now displaying my 14,000 word multi-voice narrative memoir piece on Leonard. There are a lot of rock 'n' roll voices in the print journey: Charlie Daniels, Chris Darrow from the Kaleidoscope, Andrew Loog Oldham, Clive Davis, Al Kooper, Bob Johnston, Peter Lewis of Moby Grape, and Jim Keltner added to my multiple interviews I conducted with Leonard.
My 2015 book on Leonard Cohen is now out in paperback edition in the UK from Omnibus Press.
Cohen's debut disc was issued the last week of December, 1967, an advance acetate test pressing were circulated in the previous November, and, alongside Bob Dylan's "John Wesley Harding," so both highly influential endeavors are in your pivotal ongoing salute to year 1967. Although their impact really became monumental during 1968 and continue to this day.
Harvey Kubernik
