On September 16th, 1972, the Spinners followed Aretha Franklin’s advice and switched from Motown to Atlantic Records. The label promoted “How Could I Let You Get Away,” but we DJs discovered the flip side and “I’ll Be Around,” (YouTube) with Bobby Smith on lead became a massive hit, selling seven million copies. They enjoyed eight chart hits while on the Atlantic label. The late great Ric Allen contributed to this remembrance.
Keener birthday wishes to Betty Kelly of Martha & the Vandellas and the Velvelettes, Born on September 16th, 1944 in Alabama. She moved to Kalamazoo as a child, joining the Velvelettes in the early ’60s and later replaced Annette Beard in the Vandellas. Betty contributed to some of the groups best remembered hits like “Dancing In the Streets,” “Nowhere to Run,” and “My Baby Loves Me.” Betty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Vandella alongside Martha and Lois Reeves, Annette Beard, and Rosalind Ashford. Via Wikipedia and the late great Ric Allen. Here’s “Nowhere To Run” 1965 (YouTube)
Today in 1970, Melody Maker Magazine proclaims Led Zeppelin as the UK’s most popular band, displacing the Beatles. The Fab Four had lead the reader poll since 1963. Here they are in that year, promoting their world tour.
Quick Takes:
In 1973, Steve Miller thought his career was over. The Joker changed everything. Duran Duran invades Little Caesar’s Arena tonight at 7pm. A few tickets remain. Not many of us remember the name Meg Pang. She was John Lennon’s muse during his productive 18 month “Lost Weekend,” when he split from Yoko for a time. Beatles Unlimited on Facebook has the story. Tonight in 1984 The TV series Miami Vice made its debut with a two-hour episode that includes a scene featuring the Phil Collins hit “In The Air Tonight.” And in 2006, 65-year-old Bob Dylan becomes the oldest person to top Billboard’s Albums chart when Modern Times goes to #1.
On September 16, 1964, the iconic TV show Shindig! made its debut on WXYZ and ABC.
The premiere episode featured stellar performances by The Righteous Brothers, Sam Cooke, The Everly Brothers, and Bobby Sherman. The show, hosted by L.A. disc jockey Jimmy O’Neill, continued to entertain audiences until January 1966.
Here’s the first episode. (YouTube)
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the release of The Beach Boys’ third album, “Surfer Girl.” (September 16, 1963)
The LP soared to #7 on the Billboard album chart and featured hit singles “Surfer Girl” (#7), “Little Deuce Coupe” (#15), and “In My Room” (#23). When it was released in the UK in 1967, the album peaked at #13. The long forgotten and recently reunited David Marks played rhythm guitar. Al Jardine quit the band with intentions to go to dental school.
Considered an early concept album today, here’s the full backstory. Thanks to Bob Berry for alerting us to the article.
Here’s the title track, “Surfer Girl.” (YouTube)
The Keener Almanac for September 16:
1953 1st movie in Cinemascope “The Robe” based on the book by Lloyd C. Douglas, directed by Henry Koster and starring Richard Burton and Jean Simmons premieres
1954 CKLW TV channel 9 in Windsor, ON (CBC) begins broadcasting
1963 “The Outer Limits” premieres on ABC-TV.
1965 British singer Davie Jones changes his stage name to “David Bowie” to avoid confusion with the Monkee of the same.
1968 Richard Nixon appears on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in.
1972 “The Bob Newhart Show” sitcom (the Chicago one) debuts on CBS-TV, the first episode “Fly Unfriendly Skies” stars Penny Marshall as The Stewardess.
1974 Bay Area Rapid transit (BART) begins regular rail service crossing the San Francisco Bay, through in the Transbay Tube.
1978 Filming begins for “Monty Python’s Life of Brian”, on location in Monastir, Tunisia.
1984 1st broadcast of “Miami Vice” on NBC-TV.
1993 “Frasier” starring Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce premieres on NBC.
1996 Courtroom reality show “Judge Judy” with Judge Judith Sheindlin premieres in the US.
2014 Barbra Streisand releases album “Partners” features duets with other artists, when reaches No 1, makes Streisand only recording-artist with top album in six decades.
Today’s Birthdays:
1914 Allen Funt, American TV host and creator (Candid Camera), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1999).
1925 B.B. King – American blues guitarist and singer (“The Thrill is Gone”), born in Itta Bena, Mississippi. (d. 2015)
1927 Peter Falk, American actor (Colombo, Scared Straight), born in Ossining, New York (d. 2011).
1930 Anne Francis, American actress (Honey West, Forbidden Planet, Pancho Villa), born in Ossining, New York (d. 2011).
1941 Joe Butler, American rock vocalist and drummer (Lovin’ Spoonful), born in Glen Cove, New York.
1948 Kenney Jones, English rock drummer and vocalist (Small Faces/The Faces, 1965-78; The Who, 1978-83), born in London, England.
1949 Ed Begley Jr, American actor (Eating Raoul, St Elsewhere, Parenthood), born in Los Angeles, California.
1950 David Bellamy, American singer (The Bellamy Brothers – “Let Your Love Flow”), born in Darby, Florida.
1952 Mickey Rourke, American actor (Wild Orchid, Barfly), born in Schenectady, New York.
1956 David Copperfield, American magician, born in Metuchen, New Jersey.
1963 Richard Marx, American rock musician (“Hold on to the Night”), born in Chicago, Illinois.
1971 Amy Poehler, American comedian and actress (Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation), born in Newton, Massachusetts.
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