Saturday, May 25, 2024

The Saturday Survey (May 25th, 1964)

THE CHART:

This week The Beatles manage to accomplish something that they were never able to accomplish at home ...

When "Love Me Do" was released as their first British single, it peaked at #17 ... with most of the record  sales coming from the Liverpool area.

But here in The States, "Love Me Do" is now officially the #1 Record in the Country, reaching the summit in its eighth week on the chart.

Other British hits doing well this week include:

"A World Without Love" by Peter and Gordon, now #6

"Little Children" by Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, #7

"Bits and Pieces" (#10), "Do You Love Me" (#12), "Glad All Over" (#65) and "I Knew It All The Time" (#87) for The Dave Clark Five

"Diane" by The Bachelors, #16

"Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" by Gerry and the Pacemakers, making a HUGE leap this week from #96 to #54, a move of 42 places!

"Good Golly Miss Molly" by The Swinging Blue Jeans, #60

"Sugar And Spice" (#61) and "Don't Throw Your Love Away" (brand new at #69 ... and MY favorite Searchers song)

"Yesterday's Gone" by Chad and Jeremy at #66

"Not Fade Away" by The Rolling Stones, finally making a move up the chart at #81

And three more Beatles tunes:  "P.S. I Love You" (#14), "Do You Want To Know A Secret" (#15) and "Twist And Shout" (#62)


60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

5/25/64 – The 16th Emmy Awards are held and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” wins the triple crown for best comedy series, best actor in a comedy (Dick Van Dyke) and best actress in a comedy (Mary Tyler Moore)

One of my all-time favorite shows, "The Dick Van Dyke Show" still holds up incredibly well, some sixty years later.

Friday, May 24, 2024

May 24th, 1964

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

5/24/64 – The Beatles make their fourth appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (on film), which features an interview and a pre-recorded performance of "You Can't Do That."  (The Fab Four are filming "A Hard Day's Night" and the clip originates from the movie's soundstage.  Another track planned for the film, "I'll Cry Instead," is dropped from the soundtrack.  It will be released here in America as a single with an "elongated" mix to bring the track just over two minutes.)  The film will officially open on July 6th in London ... and on August 11th here in The States.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1310280699010584

Thursday, May 23, 2024

May 23rd, 1970

♪♫    "Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign!"  ♫♪♫


Chuck Buell here, posing this Musical Question . . . . .


Which came first?  The Sign . . . or the Song?!

 

It was on this date, May 23rd, 1970, that a new song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart by the biggest group in history.

 

One cannot help but wonder if perhaps this cautionary sign, installed on a remote road somewhere outside Liverpool, may have sparked the unconfirmed rumor that it inspired the Beatles to create what would turn out to be a two-week Number One Song for them in Summer of 1970 ... and their last official #1 Record on the charts.




That's a much better sign than this one!
 


Oh, BTW, on the subject of "which came first?” ...

 

I just ordered a Chicken and an Egg from two different online sites.  

 

I’ll let you know!

 

CB ( which stands for "Cautionary Boy!" )
 

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Some Of Your Mid-Week Comments

British / Australian Country/ Rocker Frank Ifield has passed away at the age of 86.

Ifield made quite an impression on the US Charts in 1962 when his single “I Remember You” made The Top Five here.

Two years later his recordings were being coupled with The Beatles’ as Vee Jay Records struggled to get as much Fab Four product out into the market place as possible before Capitol pulled the plug on their rights to these recordings.  (Ironically, The Beatles covered Ifield’s biggest hit in the stage act at the time … and it even appears on their “Star Club” LP.)


Frank only hit The US Top 40 twice more, first in 1963 with his follow-up recording, “Lovesick Blues (#32) and then again later that year with “I’m Confessin’ (#37).

Frank’s father Richard Ifield invented the Ifield Fuel Pump, which is still being used in aircrafts today.

Although born in the UK, Ifield was raised in Australia … still, he is often cited amongst the elite number of British artists able to score a hit here in America before The Beatles paved the way with The British Invasion.

All three of Frank’s US Top 40 Hits went to #1 in England, as did his version of “The Wayward Wind” in 1963.  In all, he would have fifteen Top 40 British Hits, including one as recently as 1991 when “She Taught Me How To Yodel” peaked at #40.  (kk)

Kent,

I just found out that Frank Ifield passed away over the weekend. Always did like his I REMEMBER YOU and his follow up LOVESICK BLUES.

Larry

Another one bites the dust …

I see we lost Frank Ifield two days ago.  Great singer ...  plus, he shared an LP with the Beatles before they made their mark here.
Mike

Actually, the album was a cash-in after The Beatles hit it big here … Vee Jay Records trying to compile works from some of their white artists.  They did the same thing with The Four Seasons.  Just one more way to repackage and resell the same material (which was the only Beatles material they had the rights to at the time … knowing full well that those rights were going to disappear any minute now!)  And people bought ‘em … never underestimate the spending power of a rampant Beatlemaniac!!!   (kk)

kk …

Just a Quickie …

Paul McCartney Just Became First British Musician Billionaire

(I Thought He Already Was One!)

Billy Joel Just Bought A New House In East Hampton For $10.7 Million.

(I Hope He Can Afford It With MSG Gig Ending.)

That's All I Got.

FB

I would have thought McCartney had passed billionaire status many, many years ago.  (kk)

Here’s a great piece on Cher from a few years ago.  The new Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee turned 78 this past Monday …

https://bestclassicbands.com/cher-las-vegas-review-8-25-19/

Randy Bachman talks a little more about shutting down the faux Guess Who band in a bold legal move that also compromises his and Burton Cummings’ income …

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/randy-bachman-guess-who-song-rights/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ugh&utm_term=UCR%20New%20Smart%20List

In Forgotten Hits this morning you mentioned a young girl’s 1964 music experiment around how music affected the growth of her beds of Radishes that led you to ponder how music might similarly influence Strawberries that led you to Strawberry Fields lasting Forever which led me to thinking about my iconic late 1960s Forgotten Hits Psychedelic Strawberries Rock Band Chronometer Concept!

 

CB ( which stands for “Chronological Boy!” )

Spotted this review in THE GLORIOUS CORNER …

THE GLORIOUS CORNER by G. H. Harding

RASCALS AT SONY HALL --- The Rascals long-awaited return to NYC proved to be a sensational evening of music. Their 16-song set, backed up by a terrific band - including bassist John Billings from Micky Dolenz's band - was rocking from the start with their "Do You Feel It" and "Beautiful Morning" opening numbers.

Felix Cavaliere's vibrant vocals were just a joy. Face it, for people of a certain age, we grew up with this voice ... just magical.

Their cover of the Jackie Wilson-chestnut "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher" set the SRO crowd afire.

Felix then brought his daughter Aria out for two selections. Clearly, she's inherited by father's dynamic vocal prowess. She was just terrific and a nice surprise.

Cavaliere then brought out guitarist Gene Cornish, who was just wonderful. Gene has had some health issues, but his presence brought the show to a magnificent high-point.

Oddly, there was no mention of the rumored "My Hawaii" from Cavaliere with vocals from Dolly Parton. He mentioned it in a recent interview with Medium, but was mum about it on last Monday's WOR-interview with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. I hear that the release has been held up several times. Sad ... can't wait to hear it.

The show ended with their signature classics "I've Been Lonely Too Long," "How Can I Be Sure," "People Got To Be Free" and Good Lovin'." The Rascals' music is ingrained in our hearts and it was a joy to hear it once again. Truth be told, it sounded better than ever!

Seated in a corner booth by the stage was none other than Bill Murray - a huge fan. Great night sensational set. Also, there were Rascals-PR man David Salidor; Dan Zelinski; Billy Amendola; Magda Katz from Times Square Chronicles; and Susan Nuzzi Russo. Thanks to SONY Hall's Peter Abraham for his assistance. 

Hi Kent,

While moving, I came across an invitation for the party celebrating WCFL's return to music as an Oldies based station from a talk format in 1981.

As a WCFL fan, I thought you might appreciate seeing it. The new WCFL logo was designed by Mike Waterkotte.

My association with WCFL only lasted a few more months. In September of 1981 I left Mutual Broadcasting / WHN / WCFL to found the United Stations Radio Network with Dick Clark, Nick Verbitsky and Frank Murphy, also from Mutual.

Ed Salamon

 


ALWAYS cool to see this kind of stuff!  And Fred Winston, Master of Ceremonies … with entertainment by Paul Anka?!?!  That must have been quite a bash.  (Too bad the station’s return to music never caught on … but you CAN listen to wcflchicago.com and get a flavor of what the station might sound like today under the guidance of JR Russ … it makes for a GREAT mix of music … with some vintage WCFL airchecks and commercials thrown in, too.  (kk)

 

Speaking of a great mix of music, Me-TV-FM launches their annual Summer of Me over Memorial Day Weekend … a GREAT selection of songs about summer, inspired by summer, hits from summers past and just general feel-good music.

 

The list of featured music was based on our previous Favorite Songs of Summer Countdowns … both Fan Favorites and The Biggest Hits of Summer.

 

You’ll find ALL those lists posted here on The Forgotten Hits Archive Website:  http://forgottenhits.com/

 

Just scroll down the left hand column to find the list(s) that tickle your fancy.  (And let’s face it … who couldn’t use a good, fancy tickle right about now!!!)  kk