March 4th

On the local scene ...

Tommy James and the Shondells hold on to the top spot on both of our local charts this week ... but I remember a heated battle between "I Think We're Alone Now" and The Turtles' "Happy Together" ... seems like they kept bumping each other out of the #1 spot ... we may see more evidence of this in the weeks to come.



WCFL's "Think Green" campaign is still fresh in my mind 50 years later!  (You had to answer your phone this way to win the prize money.) 

Meanwhile, WLS is pushing their brand new "Personality Magazine", which has become a real collectors' item.  (I've gone thru several copies over the years.)  

Britain's New Musical Express reports that The Monkees will perform three concerts there in July.  In the same issue, Davy Jones tells this story to reporter Keith Altham: 

"A reporter came up to me in the U.S. and asked what I thought about John Lennon's 'Jesus' quote, when he said he thought The Beatles were more popular.  I said that there was some talk about us being more popular than The Beatles at the moment, so where does that put US!?!?  I can imagine this guy going away now and writing, 'Davy Jones says he's God.'"

March 3rd

New on the charts this week are "Beggin'" by The Four Seasons (this week's top debut at #69), "This Is My Song" by Petula Clark (premiering at #77), the novelty hit "Mairzy Doats" by The Innocence, brand new at #85, the stick-in-your-head "Western Union" by The Five Americans, premiering at #89 and "Bernadette" by The Four Tops, bringing up the rear at #99.  

Aretha Franklin debuts with her first soul hit for her new label, Atlantic Records, as "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You") premiers at #81.  

And, speaking of Petula Clark, she performs before England's Princess Margaret at The London Palladium tonight.  

The Jeff Beck Group, featuring bass player Ron Wood, drummer Aynsley Dunbar and former Long John Baldry vocalist Rod Stewart, make their performance debut in London.  Virtuoso Guitarist Jeff Beck, a former Yardbird, would go on to have a stellar career as both a solo artist as well as performing with a who's who of rock superstars over the years.  Rod Stewart and Ron Wood would (Wood-would … now that's kinda cool!) go on to join Faces a couple of years later.   

While still working with Faces, Rod Stewart would launch a HUGE solo career in 1971 with his #1 hit (the first of four) "Maggie May.  In 1976 Ron Wood would join The Rolling Stones.  Aynsley Dunbar (who reported lost his spot with The Jimi Hendrix Experience to Mitch Mitchell on a coin toss) would also go on to great success with Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention, in addition to playing and / or recording with John Mayall, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Nils Lofgren, Journey, Jefferson Starship, Whitesnake, UFO, Sammy Hagar, Ronnie Montrose, Herbie Mann and several others.  

The Young Rascals are back on "Where The Action Is" performing "I've Been Lonely Too Long" and "Mickey's Monkey".  Mrs. Miller is also on hand.  (Weren't her 15 minutes of fame up a couple of years ago?!?!?)  

The Monkees are in the studio today working on tracks for their upcoming "Headquarters" LP.  Mike Nesmith's "You Told Me" and the group effort "Zilch" are the focus of their attention this evening.  Meanwhile, a pre-Monkees Micky Dolenz solo single, "Don't Do It", is released in the UK.  It will premier on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles chart the following day, eventually peaking at #75.

March 2nd

The Supremes are in the studio today putting the finishing touches on what will be their next two singles … "The Happening" (started back on February 24th) and "Reflections", which incorporates a little bit of the current "psychedelic sound" into the intro, a nice departure from the standard Motown formula.  (They will also see their name change to "Diana Ross and the Supremes" when that track is released later this year.)  

At the ninth annual Grammy Awards Ceremony, Frank Sinatra wins The Record Of The Year Award for "Strangers In The Night" as well as The Album Of The Year Award for "Sinatra: A Man And His Music".  John Lennon and Paul McCartney win The Grammy for Song Of The Year ("Michelle") and The New Vaudeville Band win the award for Best Contemporary Rock And Roll Recording for "Winchester Cathedral".  At the last minute, Davy Jones stands in for the absent Bob Newhart and ends up presenting two of the evening's biggest awards, "Song Of The Year" and "Record Of The Year".   

Although The Monkees have two nominations of their own (Best Contemporary Group Performance and Best Contemporary Group Recording, both for their "Last Train To Clarksville" single), Davy goes home empty-handed.  

Earlier that day The Monkees are in the studio recording tracks for their upcoming "Headquarters" LP.  Today, "Randy Scouse Git", a Micky Dolenz composition and the group instrumental effort "Band 6" are worked on.  

Engelbert Humperdinck moves into the #1 Spot on the UK Singles Chart with "Release Me", his first hit record.  It will stay there for the next six weeks, thus denying The Beatles a number one record for "Penny Lane", their first British single NOT to hit the #1 spot since "Please Please Me" in 1963.  (The Fab Four racked up eleven #1 Hits in between … and would score six more British #1's before calling it quits in 1970.)  "Release Me" will go on to sell nearly 1.4 million copies in Great Britain alone … and remain on the chart for the next 56 weeks!  (Here in The States, it peaked at #3.)

Tommy Roe is back on "Where The Action Is" this afternoon, performing "Kick Me Charlie" and "Everybody".  Also on hand … The Young Holt Trio who do their hit "Wack Wack".

March 1st, 1967

Other big movers on the chart this week include "The Return Of The Red Baron", up from #82 to #55, a jump of 27 places.  (Looks like another big hit for The Royal Guardsmen who peaked at #2 with their debut record "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" at the beginning of the year.)  Meanwhile, "Jimmy Mack" by Martha and the Vandellas climbs 26 places (from #86 to #60).  

The Beatles begin recording "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" this evening for their new LP.  (In one of the fastest recordings for "Sgt. Pepper", they will finish this track the following night.)  

John Lennon maintained his whole life that the song title was based on a drawing his son Julian did in school and had absolutely NOTHING to do with any sort of reference to LSD, the very popular mind-expanding drug at the time.  Lucy was one of Julian's classmates and he drew a rather abstract picture of her.

When John saw it, he basically said, "That's lovely son … what is it?" to which Julian replied "It's Lucy in the sky with diamonds".  Regarded as one of Lennon's better lyrics (often compared to Lewis Carroll at the time), Paul McCartney later said that several of those psychedelically colorful couplings were his.  

Johnny Rivers sings "The Poor Side Of Town" on "Where The Action Is" this afternoon.  

Since they hadn't been paid, Eric Burdon and the New Animals were a no-show at Ottawa, Ontario's Coliseum … causing fans to riot after waiting for an hour for the band to take the stage.

February 28th

A couple of tracks from this week's Super Chart ...

February 27th

Looks like we called this one right last week … as we head into March, The Supremes take over the top spot on this week's Super Chart as "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone" displaces "Ruby Tuesday" by The Rolling Stones after just one week.  

We've only got two new entries into this week's Top Ten … "Baby, I Need Your Lovin'" by Johnny Rivers jumps from #15 to #8 and "Sock It To Me, Baby" by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels climbs from #13 to #10.    

Other bullets within The Top 40 include "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" by Cannonball Adderley (up from #16 to #12), "My Cup Runneth Over" by Ed Ames (up from #20 to #14), "There's A Kind Of Hush" by Herman's Hermits (up from #33 to #17), "Darling Be Home Soon" by The Lovin' Spoonful (up to #18 from #32), "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game" by The Marvelettes (up to #20 from #25), "For What It's Worth" by The Buffalo Springfield (up from #28 to #22), "Happy Together" by The Turtles (first week in The Top 40, leaping from #44 to #27), "Penny Lane" by The Beatles, now passing "Strawberry Fields Forever" with a 34 point jump from #62 to #28 ... meanwhile "Strawberry Fields Forever" climbs from #49 to #30 ... "Dedicated To The One I Love" by The Mamas and the Papas" climbs 24 places from #55 to #31, "Niki Hoeky" by P.J. Proby enters the Top 40 for the first time, climbing from #41 to #34, "California Nights" by Lesley Gore is up ten places (from #45 to #35) while Tommy James and the Shondells are up eleven spots (from #48 to #37) with "I Think We're Alone Now".  (This record has already hit #1 here in Chicago!)  Paul Revere and the Raiders climb 16 spots (from #56 to #40), a great showing after their Top Ten Hit "Good Thing".  

The Monkees continue their run at the top of the album chart as "More Of The Monkees" notches its fourth week in the #1 position.  Meanwhile, Don Kirshner is officially dismissed today as music coordinator for The Monkees and head of Colgems Records.  This move has been building for some time as The Monkees wanted to assume creative control of their music.  

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles perform three songs on "Where The Action Is" this afternoon:  "The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage", "The Hard Times" and "A Well Respected Man".

February 26th

Nancy Sinatra is on The Ed Sullivan Show tonight but instead of performing any of her own hits, she sings "My Buddy" and "Sweet Georgia Brown".  (I don't quite get that one!!!)

Buffalo Springfield appear on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour 

Elvis Presley postpones (for the second time) his trip to Hollywood to begin filming his 25th motion picture, "Clambake".  Although he was paid a guaranteed one million dollars for this role, Elvis has been very unhappy with the churn-'em-out movies he's been making and, depressed and distressed at the thought of making yet another carbon copy, has been over-eating regularly. (While on hiatus, his weight ballooned from 170 lbs to over 200 lbs). 

It also seems that The King has been doing an extensive amount of horseback riding of late, causing him an extensive amount of pain, so on this date, Barbara Little, the girlfriend of Elvis' Memphis Disc Jockey Buddy George Klein, suggests that Elvis call her doctor to help with his saddle sores.  It was that appointment that began a doctor - patient relationship that would last until Presley's dying day.  The doctor?  George Nichopoulos … Dr. Nick … who overfed Elvis a MASSIVE amounts of "prescription drugs" for the next ten years to keep his mood up, down, and occasionally, on an even keel. 

It gets worse … once filming finally began on March 22nd (after yet another nearly two week delay when Elvis fell in his bathroom causing a minor concussion), Elvis didn't look good in the dailies due to his excessive weight gain … so producers ordered him to lose some weight quickly in order to protect their investment.  Enter Dr. Nick to prescribe some "diet pills" to help bring his weight down. 

To complicate matters further, the film (which opened on October 18th) tanked at the box office … and thus became Elvis' last guaranteed million dollar salary.  Although he would make a few more films, it was clear that Elvis' heart just wasn't in it anymore.  (Elvis tried a more dramatic role, starring opposite Mary Tyler Moore in "Change Of Habit" a couple of years later but by then music had changed so much that only his most die-hard fans were still buying movie tickets to see him on the big screen.) Thankfully his NBC Comeback Television Special next year would put Elvis back on the Show-Biz Map … it would generate the support of countless new fans, make The King relevant again and launch a series of tours and Las Vegas appearances right up until the time of his death. 

Number One at the Box Office This Week:  Hurry Sundown

February 25th

On a program that features Van Johnson, Liza Minnelli (performing "Cabaret") and Mickey Rooney, it's kind of a shocker to find The Hollywood Palace running the two new Beatles promotional clips for "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever"!!!

Speaking of The Beatles, George Harrison celebrates his 24th birthday today. 

Here in Chicago, Tommy James and the Shondells take over the top spot on both the WLS and the WCFL weekly surveys.

*****

Tommy James tells this story of hearing "I Think We're Alone Now" for the very first time. 

He and the Shondells had just gotten back from a show in Bemuda and was at a meeting in Henry Glover's office at Roulette Records.  Also there were songwriters Ritchie Cordell and Bo Gentry.

Bo sat down at the piano - Ritchie grabbed my arm and said "Listen to this.  We've been working all night."  Bo played single notes on the bass keys, an octave apart, while Ritchie sang:  "Children behave ... that's what they say when we're together". And then he played me a hook that blew me away ... "I think we're alone now ... there doesn't seem to be anyone around."

No matter how badly Bo played the piano, no matter how off-key Ritchie sang, this was a smash.  They played it again and again and I liked it more every time.

"You guys wait here," I said and I ran into Morris Levy's office.  He was on the phone but he hung up and waved me right in.  "So what's up, kid? You got the next single?"  I said "Ritchie and his new partner just played me a fucking number-one record."  

Ritchie booked time at Allegro Studios in the basement of 1650 Broadway.  First we raised the key from G to A and then started toying with the arrangement. Ritchie and Bo originally wrote the song as a mid-tempo ballad.  I said no way and started speeding it up.

I began playing the staccato eighth notes on the bass strings, Bo began pounding out quarter-notes on the piano, Ritchie grabbed some drumsticks and did the best he could.  I then put on a nasally, almost juvenile-sounding lead vocal and, without realizing it, we invented "bubblegum" music.

"I Think We're Alone Now" was released the first week of January, 1967.  Radio loved it and it exploded.  Within two weeks, we had virtually every major station in the country playing the record.  It climbed the charts steadily through February, March and April in jumps of eight to ten points a week.  It ensured we would keep our bullet in the trade papers which, in turn, kept radio playing the record which, in turn, kept the record selling.
-- Tommy James

February 24th

This week's hot shot debuts include "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles, premiering at #49 and, for the time being anyway, ahead of "Penny Lane", which sits at #62.

Also new on the chart this week is "Dedicated To The One I Love" by The Mamas and the Papas, which premiers at #55 and still to this day remains one of my favorite recordings of all time.  

"The 59th Street Bridge Song" by Harpers Bizarre (another timeless classic), is new at #75, "The Return Of The Red Baron" by The Royal Guardsmen, the obvious follow-up to their previous #2 Snoopy Hit, debuts at #82 and "Jimmy Mack" by Martha and the Vandellas", one of those great Motown hits that you will NEVER get out of your head, comes in at #86.  

Paul McCartney records his lead vocal for "Lovely Rita" at today's EMI Session for the upcoming "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.  

The Bee Gees sign a five year manger's contract with Robert Stigwood  

In an ABC Television Special titled "The Songmakers", profiles of popular artists of the day are featured via interviews, rehearsals, recording sessions and live performances on stage.  The All-Star Line-Up includes The Mamas and the Papas ("Boys And Girls"), Simon and Garfunkel ("The 59th Street Bridge Song"), Dionne Warwick ("I Say A Little Prayer"), Smokey Robinson and the Miracles ("Mickey's Monkey"), Judy Collins, The Byrds (who, with Judy, perform "Turn Turn Turn"), Burt Bacharach, Hal David, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Henry Mancini and others.  (Be cool to see THAT one again!)  

The Supremes begin recording "The Happening" at Motown Records in Detroit.  The Motown "house band", The Funk Brothers, are joined by Wrecking Crew Drummer Hal Blaine for this session.

February 23rd

The Monkees' television series is renewed for a second season.  

That afternoon they re-record "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" ... this time with Micky handling the lead vocal.  (It will wind up as the B-Side of their next single.) 

Elvis Presley records the title track to his 25th motion picture, "Clambake".  (Wow ... Elvis thought the music for this movie was weak?!?!  Wonder what ever gave him THAT idea?!?!)

Across the pond, The Beatles record the basic tracks to "Lovely Rita" for their new Sgt. Pepper album.  (They will finish this up on March 21st.)

The 25th Amendment to The Constitution is enacted.   

It states:  

Section 1:  In the case of the removal of the President from office or his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President  

Section 2:  Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall  nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.  

Section 3:  Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the power and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.  

Section 4:  Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.  

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.  Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session.  If the Congress within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.  

The Fifth Dimension perform three songs on "Where The Action Is" this afternoon:  "Go Where You Wanna Go", "The Hard Times" and "Fortune Teller".  Dick and DeeDee are also on hand to sing "All Strung Out".

February 22nd

The Beatles overdub the famous last chord to "A Day In The Life", perhaps the most famous final chord in music history.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and assistant Mal Evans, sitting at three different pianos, simultaneously struck an E-Major chord.  (In all, it took nine takes before all four struck the chord in perfect unison.)  Producer George Martin then overdubbed the same chord on a harmonium to extend the effect.   

The entire chord recording (lasting 53 seconds) was then overdubbed three times (thus tripling it to NINE pianos!) and attached to the end of the song.  The length of the fadeout was extended even further by gradually bringing up the volume control in the studio.  (Listen closely at high volume and you'll hear rustling papers and a creaking piano stool)  

Can you imagine what the playback of this must have felt like that night?  (One who would know would be David Crosby of The Byrds … he just happened to be visiting in the studio that evening!)  

Buffalo Springfield perform "For What It's Worth" on "Where The Action Is".

February 21st

Big movers outside The Top 40 include "Happy Together" by The Turtles (#44, up from #65), "Ups And Downs" by Paul Revere and the Raiders (#56, up from #74), "No Milk Today" by Herman's Hermits, up twenty spots from #80 to #60, "The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage", also taking a twenty point leap from #87 to #67 for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" by Sam and Dave, which climbs 22 places from #100 to #78.  

Ford recalls 217,000 vehicles to check for faulty brakes and steering.  

The Beatles finish "Fixing A Hole",  a track they started on the 9th of February.  (Monkee Micky Dolenz is present for the session.)  

? and the Mysterians are back on "Where The Action Is" performing "96 Tears" as is Jimmy Castor, doing his latest hit "Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Calling You".  

Elvis was scheduled to begin filming his new motion picture "Clambake" today but has been so preoccupied with his ranch and horse collection of late, The Colonel arranges for Elvis to begin recording the soundtrack music in Nashville instead.  (He arrives by Lear Jet for these sessions!)  Elvis found the movie music to be typically weak but will continue to work on these recordings over the next three days.  

Of greater interest to him is waxing a version of "You Don't Know Me", for which he records 21 takes at a session that runs from 5:30 PM until 6:00 am the following morning.

February 20th

Kurt Cobain of Nirvana fame is born.  This won't mean ANYTHING to anybody for another 24 years.  

Elvis Presley's "How Great Thou Art" album is released.  It will go on to become Elvis' very first Grammy-winning record when it wins the 1967 Award for Best Sacred Performance.  

In the "Captain Crocodile" episode of The Monkees, the boys perform "Valleri".  The song would not officially be released by the group for a year … but deejays around the country tape this performance from the television broadcast and it quickly becomes the most requested song on the radio, outpacing the tracks on their brand new LP.  Monkemania is in full swing!  

Read the "Behind The Scenes" story of the song "Valleri" here …  (Chapter 6) …   

http://forgottenhits.com/the_music_of_tommy_boyce_and_bobby_hart

February 19th

The Rolling Stones knock The Buckinghams out of the #1 spot after only one week as "Ruby Tuesday" climbs to the top of this week's Super Chart.  "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone" seems poised to overtake it as it continues its climb in The Top Ten, this week moving from #5 to #3.  "Gimme Some Lovin'" by The Spencer Davis Group and "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by The Casinos finally reach The Top Ten this week as well, climbing from #12 to #7 and #13 to #9 respectively.  

Johnny Rivers continues his climb up the chart, moving from #30 to #15 with his version of "Baby, I Need Your Lovin'", as does Ed Ames with his new hit "My Cup Runneth Over", up from #28 to #20.  

The Buffalo Springfield crack The Top 40 for the first time with their '60's anthem "For What It's Worth", climbing from #45 to #28 this week.  "Darling Be Home Soon" by The Lovin' Spoonful make an impressive move from #56 to #32, as does Herman's Hermits, leaping from #51 to #33 with "There's A Kind of Hush".  

"More Of The Monkees" tops the album chart for the third week in a row.  

The Four Tops perform a hits medley on The Ed Sullivan Show including "Reach Out, I'll Be There", "I Can't Help Myself", "Bernadette" and "Climb Every Mountain".  Pat Boone is also in the line-up tonight, performing a soliloquy from "Carousel".  

Number One at the Box Office:  Hurry Sundown