11-30-68 - WLAM
- Lewiston, Maine
Despite being Maine's
second largest city today, it boasts a population of about 36,000. It is part
of Maine's "Twin Cities" as only the Androscoggin River separates
Lewiston from Auburn (23,000). Lewiston, like last week's Springfield,
dates to the 17th century (1669) for its founding date. Survey styles
have been talked of in FH throughout this year and here's another where the
weekly rundown is printed with a mimeograph machine, likely, at the
station. You'll note that many of these charting records were also on
WHYN's from last week. The two cities were only 200+ miles apart, so regional
hits could stretch a ways. I've selected two Pick Hits for my obscure
tracks.
The Equals' "Softly, Softly" was an INSTANT fave
when I first recorded it off WKYC 50 years ago. Despite being another
VERY powerful outing and followup to their smash, "Baby Come Back,"
Eddie Grant's hot UK band could not chart with this true winner.
Despite a decade long
run of hits for Atco, Capitol and Atlantic Records, Bobby Darin's life was in
turmoil (check previous FH story) in 1968 after witnessing Robert Kennedy's
assassination on June 4 of that year. Darin decided he needed to start
his own label, Direction Records, to promote artists who were, as he put it,
"statement-makers." Despite this nice opening label release, "Long
Line Rider," did not bring hits to the label and it folded within two
years with Darin signing to Motown.
-- Clark Besch
THIS WEEK IN 1968:
11/26/68 - Cream play their
final two farewell concerts at Royal Albert Hall in London. Over 10,000 fans attend, many of whom chant
“God Save The Cream” throughout the show.
Guitarist Eric Clapton and Drummer Ginger Baker will go on to form a new
band (with Steve Winwood on keyboards and Rich Grech on bass) called Blind
Faith, but it will only last thru one album.
11/27/68 – Steppenwolf’s
first album (containing the hits “Born To Be Wild” and “Magic Carpet Ride”) is
certified gold.
12/1/68 - Herb Alpert
and the Tijuana Brass (“My Favorite Things” and “The Christmas Song”),
Engelbert Humperdinck (“Les Bicyclettes de Belsize”) and Tiny Tim (“Great Balls
Of Fire”) are all musical guests on tonight’s edition of The Ed Sullivan Show.
