Happy 50th, Kent ...
Man, It has been awhile, huh Bro?
Many thanks for posting Dean's video ... what memories it brought back.
Seems like a long long time ago ... in a galaxy far far away. :O)
It was a great, great time.
Be blessed, my friend
Barry Winslow / The Royal Guardsmen
Around this time in 1967, WLS DJs were on strike (actually, this happened a couple weeks back or so that year). GM Gene Taylor and a host of secretaries and a fake robot carried the DJ chores, as well as Clark Weber if he was in management then. Our faves like Larry Lujack, Ron Riley and Art Roberts were out on picket lines (remember those?). When I interviewed Gene Taylor in the 1990's he spoke of those strikes. He said Art came to him begging to work because he had his family to take care of and Gene told him he should have thought of that before the strike.
Here's a taste of the silliness that went on during the strike as Gene (and Clark?) struggled to keep someone on the air vs. WCFL during the confusion.
Man, It has been awhile, huh Bro?
Many thanks for posting Dean's video ... what memories it brought back.
Seems like a long long time ago ... in a galaxy far far away. :O)
It was a great, great time.
Be blessed, my friend
Barry Winslow / The Royal Guardsmen
Around this time in 1967, WLS DJs were on strike (actually, this happened a couple weeks back or so that year). GM Gene Taylor and a host of secretaries and a fake robot carried the DJ chores, as well as Clark Weber if he was in management then. Our faves like Larry Lujack, Ron Riley and Art Roberts were out on picket lines (remember those?). When I interviewed Gene Taylor in the 1990's he spoke of those strikes. He said Art came to him begging to work because he had his family to take care of and Gene told him he should have thought of that before the strike.
Here's a taste of the silliness that went on during the strike as Gene (and Clark?) struggled to keep someone on the air vs. WCFL during the confusion.
I wish I had time to do a capsule of
aircheck top 40 in Chicago right now, as it was great, but alas, Christmas is a
comin' and I am a wreck.
WLSClark
WLSClark
>>>This week The Monkees' new single, "Daydream Believer", "bubbles under on The Billboard
Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart at #101. By the end of the month it will be #1.
(Once again, you'll see the record is already a Top Ten
Hit here in Chicago, back in the days when WLS and WCFL were on
the cutting edge of programming!)
kk
Kent,
It's not surprising that local radio station surveys appeared to be a step or two ahead of the national charts. The posted WLS survey, dated Nov. 10, showed "Daydream Believer" jumping from #40 to #15; the concurrent WMCA (New York) survey, dated Nov. 8, had that record jumping from #46 to #10, nearly the same outcome.
There are two reasons why the national charts appeared to lag behind:
1) these local surveys were factored into the national chart results, which were then published a week or more after the local charts; and
2) as we've discussed before, the national music trades used week-ending dates on their charts, which made them appear to lag behind the local charts by yet another week. So, taking these factors into account, the national charts were always about two weeks behind the major markets' local charts for out-of-the-box hits by popular groups like the Monkees.
– Randy Price
I get it that the local charts drove the results on the national scene ... and back then it was a VERY competitive time to see who could get their hands on the brand new releases first and play them on the air, often with some type of announcement playing over or thru the tune announcing that station's exclusivity in this regard.
As for the "week ending" thing, yes, it's come up numerous times before ... but check out out the date of the companion WCFL survey for the very same week ... which shows as the Week Ending November 16th ... and places "Daydream Believer" premiering at #9 after three weeks of airplay. (Honestly, that's a bit deceiving, too ... once a record ... especially a proven hit record like this one ... started airing on the station, it IMMEDIATELY made the local chart ... there was never a three week lag in this regard.) Records flew up the charts faster (and disappeared in 10-12 weeks back then) because there was so much NEW product being released each week they had to make room for it all. Think about it ... in 1967 alone The Monkees charted with FOUR different albums, had four Top Five Singles, did their first major tour and still had time to fly to England to meet the press and film the first season of their television series!!! Artists today taking six YEARS between albums have NO idea what a hectic pace it was back then to keep your name on the radio and the magazine covers ... or risk losing your spot on either! (kk)
Kent,
It's not surprising that local radio station surveys appeared to be a step or two ahead of the national charts. The posted WLS survey, dated Nov. 10, showed "Daydream Believer" jumping from #40 to #15; the concurrent WMCA (New York) survey, dated Nov. 8, had that record jumping from #46 to #10, nearly the same outcome.
There are two reasons why the national charts appeared to lag behind:
1) these local surveys were factored into the national chart results, which were then published a week or more after the local charts; and
2) as we've discussed before, the national music trades used week-ending dates on their charts, which made them appear to lag behind the local charts by yet another week. So, taking these factors into account, the national charts were always about two weeks behind the major markets' local charts for out-of-the-box hits by popular groups like the Monkees.
– Randy Price
I get it that the local charts drove the results on the national scene ... and back then it was a VERY competitive time to see who could get their hands on the brand new releases first and play them on the air, often with some type of announcement playing over or thru the tune announcing that station's exclusivity in this regard.
As for the "week ending" thing, yes, it's come up numerous times before ... but check out out the date of the companion WCFL survey for the very same week ... which shows as the Week Ending November 16th ... and places "Daydream Believer" premiering at #9 after three weeks of airplay. (Honestly, that's a bit deceiving, too ... once a record ... especially a proven hit record like this one ... started airing on the station, it IMMEDIATELY made the local chart ... there was never a three week lag in this regard.) Records flew up the charts faster (and disappeared in 10-12 weeks back then) because there was so much NEW product being released each week they had to make room for it all. Think about it ... in 1967 alone The Monkees charted with FOUR different albums, had four Top Five Singles, did their first major tour and still had time to fly to England to meet the press and film the first season of their television series!!! Artists today taking six YEARS between albums have NO idea what a hectic pace it was back then to keep your name on the radio and the magazine covers ... or risk losing your spot on either! (kk)
Sorry to hear about Robert Knight.
I think “Everlasting Love” was my Fave Soul 45 of 1967.
Ken
Hi Kent,
I am playing catch up on your blog this evening and ran across your mention of Long John Baldry. I remember I always loved this song by him. When he goes from his story open to the song intro it simply kicks ass. It definitely sounds like the Savoy Brown Blues Band backing him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj_lZ4hkJd8
Just ran across this Long John Baldry video from 1965----thought you'd recognize some of the other people in the video too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTmlBiIRk_I
Peace,
Tim Kiley
Bob Stroud used to play the Long John Baldry version of "Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie On The King Of Rock And Roll" on his Rock And Roll Roots program quite a bit ... he even featured it on one of the (now highly sought-after and collectible) CD collections that accompanied his long-running series. (The big hit here, of course, went to Crow, which went to #13 here in Chicago and #35 nationally ... again, a much lower showing in Billboard at #52.) Baldry's version peaked at #73 a year later. (Actually, I like both of them!) Incredibly, it didn't chart at all in England! And check out the line-up on this 1965 clip that Tim sent ... Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, Eric Burdon, Stevie Winwood and Julie Driscoll!!! All performing together at the Fifth National Jazz and Blues Festival! (kk)
>>>Kent: You posted are-recording of "You Can't Roller Skate," even tho you can be excused for that I suppose. (Clark Besch)
Really??? I'll have to listen to that. I know I have the original. (kk)
Don't worry ... you can be happy if you've a mind to.
Clark
LOL - I checked and my copy came from Roger Miller's Golden Hits LP, which should have been the original Doing a quick check on iTunes, nearly all of the copies offered seem to be the re-recording, although only certain ones are marked as such. I downloaded the version from the 20th Centry Masters CD, which is designated as "the single version" ... so I'm assuming it's the right one ... and it has since been replaced. Thanks, Clark. (kk)
Yep, that's the right version of "Buffalo Herd" ... now that everyone has quite reading FH because of my comment!
(Gee, I hope not!!! lol) - kk
Not his best, but can youy imagine telling someone that IT was a Top 40 Hit and the Cryan' Shames 45s were not??? Why, even the follow-up hit "My Uncle Used To Love Me But SHE Died", was better!
Anyway, I have listened to my radio tapes 100's of times and spotted the reissued song quickly because of my tapes. several of Roger's songs sound slightly different on the hits packages, but as with this one, they are VERY welldone and CLOSE to the orginal. But just imagine ... "Hey Roger, now let's re-record "Buffalo Herd", OK?"
Clark Besch
I am playing catch up on your blog this evening and ran across your mention of Long John Baldry. I remember I always loved this song by him. When he goes from his story open to the song intro it simply kicks ass. It definitely sounds like the Savoy Brown Blues Band backing him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj_lZ4hkJd8
Just ran across this Long John Baldry video from 1965----thought you'd recognize some of the other people in the video too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTmlBiIRk_I
Peace,
Tim Kiley
Bob Stroud used to play the Long John Baldry version of "Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie On The King Of Rock And Roll" on his Rock And Roll Roots program quite a bit ... he even featured it on one of the (now highly sought-after and collectible) CD collections that accompanied his long-running series. (The big hit here, of course, went to Crow, which went to #13 here in Chicago and #35 nationally ... again, a much lower showing in Billboard at #52.) Baldry's version peaked at #73 a year later. (Actually, I like both of them!) Incredibly, it didn't chart at all in England! And check out the line-up on this 1965 clip that Tim sent ... Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, Eric Burdon, Stevie Winwood and Julie Driscoll!!! All performing together at the Fifth National Jazz and Blues Festival! (kk)
>>>Kent: You posted are-recording of "You Can't Roller Skate," even tho you can be excused for that I suppose. (Clark Besch)
Really??? I'll have to listen to that. I know I have the original. (kk)
Don't worry ... you can be happy if you've a mind to.
Clark
LOL - I checked and my copy came from Roger Miller's Golden Hits LP, which should have been the original Doing a quick check on iTunes, nearly all of the copies offered seem to be the re-recording, although only certain ones are marked as such. I downloaded the version from the 20th Centry Masters CD, which is designated as "the single version" ... so I'm assuming it's the right one ... and it has since been replaced. Thanks, Clark. (kk)
Yep, that's the right version of "Buffalo Herd" ... now that everyone has quite reading FH because of my comment!
(Gee, I hope not!!! lol) - kk
Not his best, but can youy imagine telling someone that IT was a Top 40 Hit and the Cryan' Shames 45s were not??? Why, even the follow-up hit "My Uncle Used To Love Me But SHE Died", was better!
Anyway, I have listened to my radio tapes 100's of times and spotted the reissued song quickly because of my tapes. several of Roger's songs sound slightly different on the hits packages, but as with this one, they are VERY welldone and CLOSE to the orginal. But just imagine ... "Hey Roger, now let's re-record "Buffalo Herd", OK?"
Clark Besch
Regular 1967
contributor Mike G offers these three tidbits for our latest Bonus Feature
...
Hi Kent:
I found this video of Glen Campbell and the Smothers Brothers doing an "Americanized" version of The Scaffold's "Thank U Very Much": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2oLGs6ZQOI
Mike G
I actually remember this episode!!! (Now how scary is that?!?!?) Thanks, Mike, for sending. (kk)
I've mentioned it before that "Georgia Pines" by The Candymen is one of my favorite records from 1967. About how they became Roy Orbison's touring band and he renamed them after his 1961 hit "Candy Man". Their rock family tree includes Bobby Goldsboro and members who made up The Classics IV and The Atlanta Rhythm Section. The composers of the song were Buddy Buie and Candymen lead guitarist John Rainey Adkins. Buie was songwriter / producer / manager of all three groups. He wrote almost all of the latter two group's more familiar hits.
The story goes that he moved to New York City in 1964 with a songwriter contract. Recalling being homesick for his deep South roots and missing his future wife inspired the lyrics. Although he was from L.A. (aka Lower Alabama), I suppose Georgia sounded better phonetically. Rodney Justo was the vocalist on "Georgia Pines" and was also The Atlanta Rhythm Section's original lead singer.
Another Alabama band that Buie managed, Wilbur Walton and The James Gang, put it out first in 1965. I don't
know exactly when The Candymen recorded it but the Florida radio station where I worked got a copy several months before it charted nationally in November, 1967. Being more of a regional hit, it only reached #54 (Cashbox) and #81 (Billboard). The Candymen performed it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand on December 2. It's been playfully called "The Hymn Of The South". It's one of those records I never get tired of hearing. It always
reminds me of when I was a young man living in Georgia in the mid-Sixties. Good times.
Mike G
I found this video of Glen Campbell and the Smothers Brothers doing an "Americanized" version of The Scaffold's "Thank U Very Much": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2oLGs6ZQOI
Mike G
I actually remember this episode!!! (Now how scary is that?!?!?) Thanks, Mike, for sending. (kk)
I've mentioned it before that "Georgia Pines" by The Candymen is one of my favorite records from 1967. About how they became Roy Orbison's touring band and he renamed them after his 1961 hit "Candy Man". Their rock family tree includes Bobby Goldsboro and members who made up The Classics IV and The Atlanta Rhythm Section. The composers of the song were Buddy Buie and Candymen lead guitarist John Rainey Adkins. Buie was songwriter / producer / manager of all three groups. He wrote almost all of the latter two group's more familiar hits.
The story goes that he moved to New York City in 1964 with a songwriter contract. Recalling being homesick for his deep South roots and missing his future wife inspired the lyrics. Although he was from L.A. (aka Lower Alabama), I suppose Georgia sounded better phonetically. Rodney Justo was the vocalist on "Georgia Pines" and was also The Atlanta Rhythm Section's original lead singer.
Another Alabama band that Buie managed, Wilbur Walton and The James Gang, put it out first in 1965. I don't
know exactly when The Candymen recorded it but the Florida radio station where I worked got a copy several months before it charted nationally in November, 1967. Being more of a regional hit, it only reached #54 (Cashbox) and #81 (Billboard). The Candymen performed it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand on December 2. It's been playfully called "The Hymn Of The South". It's one of those records I never get tired of hearing. It always
reminds me of when I was a young man living in Georgia in the mid-Sixties. Good times.
Mike G
I actually heard this one on the radio the other day!!! (And that's gotta be a first for me!) But now that I have Sirius/XM 60's, it was one of the first tracks I heard them play! (kk)
It's not as if someone being released from prison hasn't been put to song before. Jimmy Ruffin's 1967 hit "Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got" is one example.
But what if the jailbird was a female?
On November 24, 1967, The Zombies released "Care Of Cell 44" in the UK and simultaneously in the US. It was a unique blend of pop harmony that at first listen sounded radio friendly. Disappointed when it wasn't the sure fire hit they imagined, the band called it quits in December. Nevertheless, the song would be the first track on their ODESSEY AND ORACLE album released four months later in the UK to little fanfare. Because "Care Of Cell 44" failed to chart, Columbia Records decided not to release the album in the US.
But after Al Kooper discovered the album while in England (as did I), he convinced Columbia's Clive Davis to release it a year later. Although "Time Of The Season" from the album became a Cashbox #1 single in 1969 (it didn't chart in the UK), the LP only reached #95 on the Billboard album charts.
After a very brief reunion, the group members moved on to other things. Rod Argent formed the band Argent and Colin Blunstone became a solo artist in the UK.
ODESSEY AND ORACLE is number 100 on Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums Of All Time list and compares favorably to PET SOUNDS and RUBBER SOUL for it's brilliant creativity. It was recorded on the same four track tape machine The Beatles had used at Abbey Road Studios to record SGT. PEPPER'S.
Mike G
Hi Kent:
Here is another Milwaukee Survey from 50 years ago!
Ken
And here’s a Boston Survey for you from 50 years ago!
I sent in that clip of Larry Lujack that you played from this time in 1967. It certainly brings back great times.
I never heard Donahue's shows back then, but have the CD pictured and have an aircheck from '67 of the Grateful Dead playing and commenting on their record collection they brought to the studio to play on Tom's show. Despite NOT being a Dead fan, the idea was innovative and I actually enjoyed the comments about the records and some were surprising choices, too. Tom would have had my ear to some extent, I'm sure, had I lived in LA. KHJ would have, too, for the upbeat DJs and music, in contrast.
Clark Besch
Hey Kent,
Thanks for your great blog of
1967 ... it will be sad to see it end soon.
Joe Cantello
Hi Kent -
I'm hoping to put together a 1967 year end countdown which could air a final tribute to your excellent series over the last two Saturdays of the year (December 23rd and 30th). I would still do my regular request show, but also countdown the 40 biggest ... maybe the first 20 on the 23rd and the Top 20 on the 30th.
Phil Nee -
WRCO
I know we've been talking about doing this and I think it would be a GREAT way to end the series. (I'm actually running a list of The Top 67 of '67 on January 2nd ... so you'd get the "scoop" if you aired the countdown early.
Let's see if we can time things out correctly so that this fits both of our schedules.
The 1967 Calendar has been a blast! Readership has been good as have the reviews along the way ... so let's send it off with a fitting finale! (kk)
We've got just 37 chapters left to go in our 1967 Calendar Series ... hoping you'll all stick with us till the end ... it's been one hell of a ride! (kk)
http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/
