Saturday, August 25, 2018

The Saturday Survey - August 25th

 

8-23-68 - WAVZ - New Haven, Connecticut 

New Haven was the first "planned" city in America, founded a mere 380 YEARS AGO in 1638!  It's actually just across the Long Island Sound from New York City.  

WAVZ was always a very cool station and played a big playlist for many years, in the 60's.  Detroit's Fantastic Four bring the highest oddity this week at #4 with "I've Got to Have You," a very cool mix of Temps / 4 Tops  / Marvin Gaye all in one great tune! 


The famous Brothers Gibb gave the Marbles their #37 hit, "Only One Woman," which is very soulfully sung by future Rainbow member Graham Bonnet. 


Sitting at #49 is the incredible Laura Nyro with her great anthem, "Save the Country," which was recorded by several artists in the 60's and 70's.  Despite a terrific voice, she never really made it with her own recordings, but managed to write a few we love from then, including this one, "And When I Die," Stoney End," "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Eli's Comin'," "Sweet Blindness."  If you like her version of THIS song, you'll like the others as sung originally too!



-- Clark Besch 

I've always loved the song "Only One Woman," written by (but apparently never recorded by) The Bee Gees.

I'd not heard this version before, but I like it.  (I became familiar with the tune when Nigel Olsson, Elton John's drummer, cut a version in 1975.  Man, what a vocal!!)  But I've got to give props to The Marbels, too, as this is NOT an easy song to sing.  (Olsson finally scored his own Top 20 Hit in 1978 with "Dancin' Shoes," another great track.)

I love "The Snake" by Al Wilson, which premiers this week at #40, a former "Pick Hit" ... speaking of which ... 

A VERY impressive list of "Sure Shots" this week ... "Hey Jude" by The Beatles, "My Special Angel" by The Vogues and "Street Fighting Man" by The Rolling Stones ... so how the heck do The Barry Goldwater Reunion make this list?!?!?  And what the heck IS this song??? 


THIS WEEK IN '68:  

8/20/68 - The Jeff Beck Group album “Truth” is released


8/22/68 – Cynthia Lennon files for divorce from John Lennon … one day before their sixth wedding anniversary.

8/24/68 – Keith Moon of The Who drives his Lincoln Continental into the swimming pool at The Holiday Inn in Flint, Michigan.  (I believe The Who were banned from The Holiday Inn Hotel Chain for life after this incident.)