Fifty years ago today:
Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh appeared on “Truth or Consequences“. The program was taped at Ford Auditorium and was seen tonight in 1969 on WJBK. That’s Bob Barker applying the makeup. “Remember kid,” he said, “This could make your career. Now go out there and Wow ’em!”
Via the Detroit Free Press archives.
Quick Takes:
Conspiracy theories abound in show business. We all know about the “Paul Is Dead” rumors. Keener’s Russ Gibb helped amplify them to the international stage. But I bet you didn’t know some of these, including a couple that turned out to be true. Via Ultimate Classic Rock.
Jacobs Media asks: Do you ever get tired of discovering new music? “Interestingly, the top excuse for gravitating away from the new music scene is a lack of time, demanding jobs, and a sense of music overload.”
One in six American adults now wear a computer on their wrist. And our biggest challenge is figuring out when to recharge it!
The Best There Is:
Researching today’s content reminded me that great work is almost always a collaboration. It’s rare that artists like Lennon and McCartney or Brian Wilson come along and can carry the bulk of the creative and performance load. Even in the case of the Beatles, the behind the scenes artistry of George Martin and Geoff Emerick made the hits possible. Mary Hopkin, Chad & Jeremy, Harry Nillson and even the Rolling Stones benefitted from Beatle writing and production assistance. And it’s well recorded that much of the 1960s musical canon would not exist without the Wrecking Crew. Finding and utilizing “the best in the business” is a shrewd move, no matter what you do for a living. When the Monkees decided to take over creative control on this day in 1967, they eventually lost out on the brilliance of the Brill Building and the superlative Wrecking Crew musicianship. They had only one more Top 10 thereafter.. written by Boyce & Hart.
Today In History:
1961, Frank Sinatra truly becomes “Chairman of the Board” when he launches Reprise Records. The label gave each artist full creative freedom, and at ultimately complete ownership of their work. Reprise later became the home of many influential US acts, including Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and The Beach Boys.
1967, The Monkees announce that from now on they will be playing on their own recordings instead of using the legendary Wrecking Crew. After 1967, they would have only one more Top 10 hit, “Valleri“, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Mike Nesmith was adamant against it being released as a single, declaring it the “worst record ever”. He was overruled by Colgems Records.
1969, A launch party was held for the release of Mary Hopkin‘s album “Postcard” at the Post Office Tower in London. Guests included Jimi Hendrix, Donovan and Paul McCartney with his new girlfriend Linda Eastman. McCartney produced Hopkin’s one significant hit, the single “Those Were The Days“, released the previous year.
1969, Bob Dylan records “Lay, Lady, Lay“, at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally written for the soundtrack of the movie Midnight Cowboy, the tune wasn’t submitted in time to be included in the finished film.
Happy birthday to: Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1919 (d. 1991); Kim Novak, 1933; Oliver Reed, 1938 (d. 1999); Peter Tork, 1942; King Floyd, 1945 (d. 2006); Peter Gabriel, 1950; David Naughton, 1951
Countdown Wednesday:
From the WKNR Music Guide for this week in 1970
#5 House of the Rising Sun – Frijid Pink formed when a local Detroit-area cover band called the Detroit Vibrations recorded a psychedelic version of the classic folk song, “House of the Rising Sun”. That’s Gary Ray Thompson’s distorted guitar on top of the pounding rhythms of Richard Stevers’ drum kit. It was a record that WKNR was first to play. Keener was still an entry point for local bands who wanted to break out nationally. Programmers across the nation heard the tune and were smitten. It surpassed the Animal’s rendition, becoming the most popular worldwide iteration. (Video)
#4 Arizona – Mark Lindsay was truly the creative force behind Paul Revere & the Raiders. There was chemistry from the moment Paul met Mark in the bakery where he was working. Lindsay had a knack for creating hit records with hooks that appealed to advertisers. Yamaha co-opted “Silver Bird” (Video). He wrote “Sing Your Own Song” for Bush Beer’s bicentennial commercials. But it was composer / producer Kenny Young who wrote “Arizona”. Mark was smart enough to engage the Wrecking Crew as his backup band throughout his solo career. (Video)
#3 Rainy Night in Georgia – Brook Benton‘s comeback hit followed his modest success as a singer / songwriter in the 50s and 60s. He would chart 49 singles during his career, dying young at the age of 56. (Video)
#2 Thank You/Everybody is a Star – Sly & The Family Stone‘s two sided top 10 featured funk on side A and a slow-dance tune on side B. It marked the final Family Stone recordings issued in the 1960s and the first sign that the band was falling apart. They wouldn’t chart again until the release of “Family Affair” in 1971. (Video)
#1 Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel’s biggest smash won just about every honor the year it was released, recognized by Billboard as the record of the year. The album’s eclectic mix of styles yielded other faves including “Cecilia”, “The Boxer” and “Only Living Boy In New York”, a swipe at Art, who was away filming Catch 22 during much of the record’s production. (Video)
Today’s Quote Worth Re-Quoting: “You don’t need to be gifted. You just need to have enough commitment to accept being bad at something for as long as it takes to get good at it.” ~ Neil Strauss
We leave you with this inspirational video that fits with our #QOTD. Every day is a clean slate. Do the things you regret not doing. (Video)
