That doesn't even take into consideration previously mentioned tunes like "Groovin"" by The Young Rascals, "Don't You Care" by The Buckinghams, "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" by The Monkees, "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Mirage" by Tommy James and the Shondells, "Happy Together" by The Turtles, "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be" by Paul Revere and the Raiders and "Girls In Love" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys, all enjoying chart success this week.
Andy Williams' vocal version of "Music To Watch Girls By" falls from #39 to #70 while personal favorites like "My Girl Josephine" by Jerry Jaye, "Do It Again A Little Bit Slower" by Jon and Robin and "Here We Go Again" by Ray Charles continue to move upwards on the chart.
Archie Bell is drafted into the US Army. A year later, when his record "Tighten Up" goes to #1, a series of "fake" Archie Bell and the Drells groups crop up all over the country, trying to cash in as the hot band while the REAL Archie Bell is stuck in Viet Nam and unable to do anything about it!
The Beatles record "All Together Now" for the "Yellow Submarine" movie soundtrack.
*****
I asked Alex Valdez of The Yellow Balloon, a Forgotten Hits Reader for YEARS now, to fill us in on the history of The Yellow Balloon.
They were at least partially famous because actor Don Grady of the hit television series "My Three Sons" was their drummer (although he often wore large wigs and sunglasses to hide his identity which, of course, only drew more attention to themselves, which quite likely was the REAL intent anyway!)
I wondered if the group existed first and then Don Grady came on board or if he recruited them to be "his" band ... or if they all went thru some type of auditioning process for Grady ... or just how it all came together.
I was also curious about their hit song, also titled "Yellow Balloon". It had first been recorded as an album cut by Jan and Dean (although Jan was still recovering from his auto accident at the time so I believe Dean recorded ALL of the vocals tracks on this one himself) ... I wondered why they chose to record it and whose decision it was to name the band after the record. (And why the heck was the flip side simply "Yellow Balloon" played backwards?!?!)
And finally, what was it like at the time touring behind a hit record. (We recently ran a YouTube clip of The Yellow Balloon performing at Anaheim Stadium after an Angels game.) Did they tour with any other big names during this time?
"Yellow Balloon" peaked at #25 nationally on the Billboard chart ... and was a #12 hit here in Chicago on WCFL.
Here's what he sent me ...
Hi Kent;
Well, I'll give it a shot here.
As it was told to me,
the Yellow Balloon kind of existed before we came on board, but without Don
Grady. It consisted of players from around the Hollywood area that were already
known to some degree. I believe some were from "The Leaves", I'm not sure. I
know that Mark Andes (Heart, Firefall) was in the group and maybe Darryl Dragon
(the Captain), I think I heard mentioned once. As I further recall what was told
to me, this ensemble was making contractual demands that the label
didn't want to give in to, so they all parted company.
Don Grady was on the label with his "Windup Watch
Band", and was enjoying a moderate success with his "Children of St. Monica"
record. Months prior to our becoming balloons, Grady had us over for an audition
in Hollywood, for a new band he was forming. We came at the suggestion of a
local Tucson disc jockey named T Michael Jordan, who befriended Grady when his
group played Tucson. After the audition, we went back to Tucson somewhat dejected
and out of work since two of our players were taken by Viet Nam. When the first
concocted band of Balloons were discharged, the project was given to Grady to
take over.
The song was starting to take wings and a band was
needed for promotions sake.
Three members of my "Five of Us" band (Sundazed
Records), auditioned for Grady and apparently left an impression on him. It was two months later that we got the call with the offer to play in the group. Paul,
and myself were invited, but not our bass player George (the best showman in the
group). I guess Grady had already picked his keyboard and bass player from up
in the Oregon area.
The "Yellow Balloon" song had been meant for Jan and
Dean when it was written by Gary Zekely. I guess Gary was unhappy with the way
the Jan and Dean recording turned out and decided to knock on doors for another
deal. I personally was never crazy about the song, but hey, what did I know at
age 20. Gary landed at Canterbury records where the owner, Ken Handler, heard the
same potential that Gary heard, and they immediately hired professional voices
and players to make the record. They had to act fast so as to beat out the
release of the Jan and Dean version. If I had heard both versions back then,
back to back, I can't say for certain which one I would of have picked. Our
version seemed catchier, but not necessarily better. I really liked Jan and Dean
back then ... their music would allow escapism as a resident of the
desert.
That being said, I guess the reason for the
reverse of the song for a "B" side was due to frugality on behalf of Canterbury ... they simply didn't want to pay the session people to do another one of Gary's
many songs. Gary could go to the restroom and come out with a
song.
I imagine maybe a few hundred records were
pressed, I really have no idea, but I was told that it wasn't many, I don't know.
One
night, shortly after joining the band, Ken and I went to Sound Recorders Studio
where only Armin Steiner, Ken and myself were present. That is when I put down
the lead vocal for Yellow Balloon, and the original was removed. We were
compiling and training for the album and Ken wanted no claims by the original
singer on the album, especially the titular song.
With the exception of some background
vocals on the "Yellow Balloon"
song, all of the voices on the album are by the band, and Gary Zekely.
As for Don Grady in disguise with the name of Luke R Yoo,
that was a promo stunt devised by the management as a means to further promote Grady. His personal manager became the Balloon's personal manager. The disguise was
really goofy and I never liked it. I wanted people to know it was Don Grady, as it
would've been good promo for the group.
The manager, who I won't call by name (I really grew
to dislike the SOB) albeit, he was connected. The money situation got funny,
as is in most cases with managers, so eventually we lost momentum and the desire
to continue.
When we got to tour, Grady had to work on "My Three
Sons" and he couldn't make the tours, so the label said we should hire a drummer. I
piped in, "No need ... I can play drums and sing lead and we don't have to slice
the pie anymore."
So after we were heard by management as a four piece, it was
determined we could very well do it. I missed Grady's voice though because he
was strong vocally. Anyway, we persevered and got fairly tight in the
process.
Our time in Chicago was the result of having a midwest
tour with many dates. Never having been to the midwest, it was like a whole new
world. I liked it, big buildings and different music, with different
players.
My
first big deal for the Balloon was playing the Teenage Fair on Navy Pier. Our
date had Neil Diamond, Bobby Goldsboro, and this killer group called The
Exceptions. What an event. Our song was climbing fairly rapidly and we were
constantly on the move. I can't remember who all we played dates with, because
my memory is fading, but I do know the New Colony 6 and The Cryan' Shames for sure.
I know one
thing for sure ... I contracted acrophobia from the parachute ride at Riverview Park ... to this day I cannot get near the edge of anything. When in Chicago we
did an interview at a radio station in those round buildings on the river. I
would like to know the name of the Disc Jockey who had us on, if anyone
knows. (Gotta be WCFL in Marina Towers ... my guess would be Jim Stagg but does anybody know for sure? - kk)
Having Don Grady in the group opened doors that would have never opened
otherwise. We got special treatment on American Bandstand and Shebang with Casey
Kasem, this because they knew Grady all along. I could probably conjure up more
tidbits , but I'm sure people could dig up more from the other sites about our
group.
As for after the Balloon, I played with a couple of other groups as the
lone guitar / lead singer, once with some heavyweight horns with charts doing
Tower of Power type stuff. Then with a group of players where I was the only
white dude. We had four horns doing Earth, Wind and Fire, Commodores, other stuff
from the late 70's.
Then I
finally joined my father's export import business and became an honest
businessman. Somehow I ended up procuring all required licensing for
international arms sales. Traveling to Bogota during the heyday of Pablo Escobar
and working with their military was iffy, also Central America and aiding the
Contras etc etc. Sinaloa state police were big clients.
There's much more but
it becomes too much . I don't like to wax about it anymore. Oh, I have written
some songs finally and will look for publishing outlets soon. I'm not bulling
when I say they are good. I'm on the keyboard. I've thrown away a lot of songs
over the years, but these, no way. I think God is throwing me a bone.
Same
with a novel I am working on. It's funny now that I'm heading for the twilight,
there is a sense of urgency. I've been retired just chillin', not hitting a lick,
but now shit, who knows ... I may play the Arcada one day
LOL
Alex Valdez
A Yellow Balloon
