Blog

It’s Sadie’s birthday week! So we’ve been doing this for 4 whole years… time really does fly – especially at 4x speed! Let’s celebrate our darling’s birthday with the songs from April, 1967…

Songs of the month

“59Th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” – Harpers Bizarre
[new] “A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You” – Monkees
[new] “At The Zoo” – Simon And Garfunkel
“Baby I Need Your Lovin’” – Johnny Rivers
[new] “Beggin’” – Four Seasons
“Bernadette” – Four Tops
“California Nights” – Lesley Gore
[new] “Close Your Eyes” – Peaches And Herb
“Dedicated To The One I Love” – Mamas And Papas
[new] “Detroit City” – Tom Jones
[new] “Don’t You Care” – Buckinghams
[new] “Dry Your Eyes” – Brenda And The Tabulations
“For What It’s Worth” – Buffalo Springfield
[new] “Friday On My Mind” – Easybeats
[new] “Get Me To The World On Time” – Electric Prunes
[new] “Gonna Give Her All The Love I’ve Got” – Jimmy Ruffin
“Happy Together” – Turtles
[new] “I Got Rhythm” – Happenings
“I Never Loved A Man” – Aretha Franklin
“I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tommy James And Shondells
[new] “I’m A Man” – Spencer Davis Group
“I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” – Young Rascals
[new] “Jimmy Mack” – Martha And The Vandellas
[new] “Love Eyes” – Nancy Sinatra
“Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” – Supremes
“My Cup Runneth Over” – Ed Ames
[new] “On A Carousel” – Hollies
“Penny Lane” – Beatles
“Return Of The Red Baron” – Royal Guardsmen
“Ruby Tuesday” – Rolling Stones
“Sock It To Me Baby” – Mitch Ryder And Detroit Wheels
“Somethin’ Stupid” – Frank & Nancy Sinatra
“Strawberry Fields Forever” – Beatles
[new] “Sweet Soul Music” – Arthur Conley
[new] “The Happening” – Supremes
“The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage” – Smokey Robinson And Miracles
“Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” – Casinos
“There’s A Kind Of Hush” – Herman’s Hermits
“This Is My Song” – Petula Clark
“Ups And Downs” – Paul Revere And Raiders
“Western Union” – Five Americans
[new] “When I Was Young” – Eric Burdon And The Animals
[new] “With This Love” – Platters
[new] “You Got What It Takes” – Dave Clark Five

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

On the 19th of the month Kathy Switzer became the first woman to run in the Boston Marathon as a registrant, after listing herself simply as “K. V. Switzer” and being assigned the number 261. Four miles into the 26-mile event, race official Jock Semple tried to pull Switzer out of the crowd of runners, and was shoved to the curb by Switzer’s boyfriend, Thomas Miller.

On the 22nd The Big Mac, signature sandwich for the McDonald’s hamburger restaurant chain, was introduced at a franchise owned by Jim Delligatti, and located in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, selling for US$0.45 (equivalent to $4.11 in 2023) at the Uniontown Shopping Center. The Big Mac would then be introduced to all other McDonald’s restaurants in 1968.

Then on the 30th the British cabinet voted, 13 to 8, to seek the admission of the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community, referred to at the time as the “Common Market”. Prime Minister Harold Wilson would announce his plans on May 2 and the House of Commons would approve the resolution, 488 to 62. Because, of course, the UK would then back out of (what would become known as) the European Union 50 years later, much paining myself and many others, let’s enjoy a clip from the brilliant Yes, Minister – rather than a news reel on this one.

What’d Sadie think?

Two weeks at the top for “Happy Together” by the Turtles before a trifecta for “Somethin’ Stupid” by Frank & Nancy Sinatra.

“Happy Together”, covered by Miley Cyrus, was the song Emily and I walked down the aisle to in 2015, so luckily Sadie particularly liked that one this week. As well as “I think we’re alone now” – which was covered by teen-sensation Tiffany when i was a teenager. It is the first song I remember being told was a cover “of a song from back when I was a kid” by some grumpy adult at the time.

And finally she loved “Sweet Soul Music”, which Conley wrote with Otis Redding. However, it is based on the Sam Cooke song “Yeah Man” from his posthumous album, “Shake”. J.W. Alexander, Cooke’s business partner, sued both Redding and Conley for appropriating the melody. A settlement was reached in which Cooke’s name was added to the writer credits.

The song is an homage to soul music in which the following songs are mentioned in the lyrics:

“Going to a Go-Go”, by the Miracles;
“Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing”, by Lou Rawls
“Hold On, I’m Comin’”, by Sam & Dave
“Mustang Sally”, by Wilson Pickett
“Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)”, by Otis Redding.

Loved ’em

• “At The Zoo” – Simon And Garfunkel
• “Beggin’” – Four Seasons
• “Friday On My Mind” – Easybeats
• “I Got Rhythm” – Happenings
• “Jimmy Mack” – Martha And The Vandellas
• “On A Carousel” – Hollies
• “Sweet Soul Music” – Arthur Conley
• “When I Was Young” – Eric Burdon And The Animals
• “With This Love” – Platters
  

Liked ’em

• “A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You” – Monkees
• “Close Your Eyes” – Peaches And Herb
• “Detroit City” – Tom Jones
• “Don’t You Care” – Buckinghams
• “Dry Your Eyes” – Brenda And Tabulations
• “Get Me To The World On Time” – Electric Prunes
• “Gonna Give Her All The Love I’ve Got” – Jimmy Ruffin
• “I’m A Man” – Spencer Davis Group
• “Love Eyes” – Nancy Sinatra
• “The Happening” – Supremes
• “The Love I Saw In Your Was Just A Mirage” – Smokey Robinson And Miracles
• “You Got What It Takes” – Dave Clark Five

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

The summer (or at least spring…) of love is upon us as we tune our ears back to March of 1967…

Songs of the month

[new] “59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” – Harpers Bizarre
“Baby I Need Your Lovin’” – Johnny Rivers
[new] “Bernadette” – Four Tops
[new] “California Nights” – Lesley Gore
“Darling Be Home Soon” – Lovin’ Spoonful
[new] “Dedicated To The One I Love” – Mamas And Papas
“Epistle To Dippy” – Donovan
[new] “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love” – Wilson Pickett
“For What It’s Worth” – Buffalo Springfield
“Georgy Girl” – Seekers
“Gimme Some Loving” – Spencer Davis Group
“Go Where You Wanna Go” – 5Th Dimension
[new] “Happy Together” – Turtles
“I Had Too Much To Dream” – Electric Prunes
[new] “I Never Loved A Man” – Aretha Franklin
[new] “I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tommy James And Shondells
“I’m A Believer” – Monkees
[new] “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” – Young Rascals
“It Takes Two” – Marvin Gaye And Kim Weston
[new] “Jimmy Mack” – Martha And Vandellas
“Kind Of A Drag” – Buckinghams
[new] “Let’s Fall In Love” – Peaches And Herb
“Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” – Supremes
“Mercy Mercy Mercy” – Cannonball Adderley
“My Cup Runneth Over” – Ed Ames
[new] “Niki Hoeky” – P.J. Proby
[new] “Penny Lane” – Beatles
“Pretty Ballerina” – Left Banke
[new] “Return Of The Red Baron” – Royal Guardsmen
“Ruby Tuesday” – Rolling Stones
[new] “So You Want To Be A Rock N Roll Star” – Byrds
“Sock It To Me Baby” – Mitch Ryder And Detroit Wheels
[new] “Somethin’ Stupid” – Frank & Nancy Sinatra
[new] “Strawberry Fields Forever” – Beatles
“The Beat Goes On” – Sonny And Cher
“The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game” – Marvelettes
[new] “The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage” – Smokey Robinson And Miracles
“Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” – Casinos
[new] “There’s A Kind Of Hush” – Herman’s Hermits
[new] “This Is My Song” – Petula Clark
[new] “Ups And Downs” – Paul Revere And Raiders
“We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet” – Blues Magoos
[new] “Western Union” – Five Americans
“You Got To Me” – Neil Diamond

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

On the 7th, USA channel CBS aired the first television news documentary in U.S. history to report on gay and lesbian issues. Hosted by Mike Wallace, and viewed by 40 million people, “The Homosexuals” “reflected the bias of the American Psychological Association… labeling homosexuality a mental illness” but also showed gays and lesbians as individuals whose civil rights were deprived. TV critics reacted differently, with Chicago Tribune columnist Clay Gowran, who called the show “garbage” and said that “it was permitted… not only to justify the aberration but, it seemed, to glorify it” (charming…), while Tribune columnist Herb Lyon wrote that it “was one of the most intelligent, mature, incisive shows ever produced.”

On the 17th of the month Time Magazine published, “San Francisco: Love on Haight” the first mainstream coverage of the descent of the countries hippies on the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood in San Francisco, that would become known as the ‘Summer of Love’.

Then on the 18th the first demonstration of “slow motion instant replay” on television was shown to viewers of ABC Wide World of Sports who had tuned in to see the finals of the “World Series of Skiing”. The repeating of a scene at its original speed had been shown as early as December 7, 1963, but the Ampex HS-100 made it possible to slow down, freeze, or reverse the action for analysis by television commentators

And to end the month with a, literal, bang on the 31st, when kicking off a tour with The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck at The Astoria London, Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar on stage for the first time. He was taken to hospital suffering burns to his hands. The guitar-burning act would later become a trademark of Hendrix’s performances.

What’d Sadie think?

A real fight for the chart top this month with “Ruby Tuesday” by the Rolling Stones , “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” by the Supremes , “Penny Lane” by the Beatles and “Happy Together” by the Turtles all getting a week at number 1.

Sadie particularly called out Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Darlin be home soon” as a song she liked this month. Fittingly its from the soundtrack to Francis Ford Coppola film “You’re a Big Boy Now” and Sadie is turning 4 next week! Yes, we’ve been at this four years.

Loved ’em

• “Dedicated To The One I Love” – Mamas And Papas
• “Happy Together” – Turtles
• “I Never Loved A Man” – Aretha Franklin
• “I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tommy James And Shondells
• “Penny Lane” – Beatles
• “Somethin’ Stupid” – Frank & Nancy Sinatra
• “Strawberry Fields Forever” – Beatles
• “Western Union” – Five Americans

Liked ’em

• “59Th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” – Harpers Bizarre
• “Bernadette” – Four Tops
• “California Nights” – Lesley Gore
• “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love” – Wilson Pickett
• “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” – Young Rascals
• “Jimmy Mack” – Martha And Vandellas
• “Let’s Fall In Love” – Peaches And Herb
• “Niki Hoeky” – P.J. Proby
• “So You Want To Be A Rock N Roll Star” – Byrds
• “The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage” – Smokey Robinson And Miracles
• “There’s A Kind Of Hush” – Herman’s Hermits
• “This Is My Song” – Petula Clark

Leave ’em

• “Return Of The Red Baron” – Royal Guardsmen
• “Ups And Downs” – Paul Revere And Raiders

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

Oh oh…this is starting to get real. It’s only 10 years before Thomas is born in our journey through musical history. Let’s turn our ears back to February, 1967…

Songs of the month

[new] “Baby I Need Your Lovin’” – Johnny Rivers
[new] “Bring It Up” – James Brown
“Colour My World” – Petula Clark
[new] “Darling Be Home Soon” – Lovin’ Spoonful
[new] “Epistle To Dippy” – Donovan
[new] “For What It’s Worth” – Buffalo Springfield
“Georgy Girl” – Seekers
[new] “Gimme Some Lovin’” – Spencer Davis Group
[new] “Go Where You Wanna Go” – 5Th Dimension
“Good Thing” – Paul Revere And The Raiders
“Green Green Grass Of Home” – Tom Jones
[new] “Hello Hello” – Sopwith Camel
“I Had Too Much To Dream” – Electric Prunes
“I’m A Believer” – Monkees
“I’ve Passed This Way Before” – Jimmy Ruffin
[new] “It Takes Two” – Marvin Gaye And Kim Weston
“It’s Now Winter’s Day” – Tommy Roe
“Kind Of A Drag” – Buckinghams
“Knight In Rusty Armour” – Peter And Gordon
[new] “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” – Supremes
[new] “Mercy Mercy Mercy” – Cannonball Adderley
“Music To Watch Girls By” – Bob Crewe Generation
[new] “My Cup Runneth Over” – Ed Ames
“Nashville Cats” – Lovin’ Spoonful
[new] “Pretty Ballerina” – Left Banke
[new] “Ruby Tuesday” – Rolling Stones
“Snoopy Vs The Red Baron” – Royal Guardsmen
[new] “Sock It To Me Baby” – Mitch Ryder And Detroit Wheels
“Stand By Me” – Spyder Turner
“Standing In The Shadows Of Love” – Four Tops
“Sugar Town” – Nancy Sinatra
“Tell It Like It Is” – Aaron Neville
“Tell It To The Rain” – Four Seasons
[new] “The Beat Goes On” – Sonny And Cher
[new] “The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game” – Marvelettes
[new] “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” – Casinos
“We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet” – Blues Magoos
“Where Will The Words Come From” – Gary Lewis And The Playboys
“Wild Thing” – Senator Bobby
“Words Of Love” – Mamas And Papas
[new] “You Got To Me” – Neil Diamond

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

On the 6th WBC world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali defeated the WBA’s heavyweight champ, Ernie Terrell, at the Houston Astrodome. In the publicity leading up to the unification bout, Terrell had repeatedly used Ali’s former name, Cassius Clay. Starting in the 8th round, Ali repeatedly shouted at Terrell, “What’s my name? What’s my name?” as he threw punches. The bout went the full 15 rounds, and Ali won in a unanimous decision. What’s his name Terrell?

On the 9th, cellist and performance artist Charlotte Moorman was arrested by New York police at the Filmmaker’s Cinematheque, where she was playing Brahms’ Lullaby as part of Nam June Paik’s production, the Opera Sextronique. Moorman would receive a suspended sentence for indecent exposure because she played the cello in public while topless. It’s…art?

Then on the 12th In Chichester, West Sussex, British police raided “Redlands”, the home of the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, in the early hours of the morning following a tip-off about a party from the News of the World. No arrests were made at the time, but Richards, Mick Jagger and art dealer Robert Fraser would subsequently be convicted of possession of drugs. On June 29, Richards would be sentenced by Judge Leslie Block to one year in prison, and Jagger to three months, but both would be released pending an appeal; on July 31, the London Appeal Court would overturn both convictions.

What’d Sadie think?

Two weeks at the top for “I’m A Believer” by the Monkees then two for “Kind Of A Drag” by the Buckinghams.

Sadie is particularly liking “I’m a Believer”, which we wholeheartedly agree with. Apparently it was written by Neil Diamond – but first recorded by The Monkees. Diamond subsequently recorded it for an album of his own. Sadie also liked the excellent new James Brown, “Bring It Up” and Aaron Neville’s “Tell it like it is”.

Loved ’em

• “Baby I Need Your Lovin’” – Johnny Rivers
• “Bring It Up” – James Brown
• “Darling Be Home Soon” – Lovin’ Spoonful
• “Epistle To Dippy” – Donovan
• “For What It’s Worth” – Buffalo Springfield
• “Gimme Some Loving” – Spencer Davis Group
• “It Takes Two” – Marvin Gaye And Kim Weston
• “Ruby Tuesday” – Rolling Stones
• “The Beat Goes On” – Sonny And Cher

Some division in the house over “It takes two” – it pains Thomas somewhat as it was used in adverts for “TV 2” for years – but Emily is a fan.

Liked ’em

• “Go Where You Wanna Go” – 5Th Dimension
• “Hello Hello” – Sopwith Camel
• “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” – Supremes
• “Mercy Mercy Mercy” – Cannonball Adderley
• “Pretty Ballerina” – Left Banke
• “Sock It To Me Baby” – Mitch Ryder And Detroit Wheels
• “The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game” – Marvelettes
• “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” – Casinos
• “You Got To Me” – Neil Diamond

Leave ’em

• “My Cup Runneth Over” – Ed Ames

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

As we finish off July in 2024, where it feels like things are warming up, we tune our ears back to the first month of 1967…

Songs of the month

“A Place In The Sun” – Stevie Wonder
“Born Free” – Roger Williams
[new] “Colour My World” – Petula Clark
“Coming Home Soldier” – Bobby Vinton
“Cry” – Ronnie Dove
“Devil With The Blue Dress / Good Golly Miss Molly” – Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels
“East West” – Herman’s Hermits
[new] “Gallant Men” – Senator Everett Mckinley Dirksen
[new] “Georgy Girl” – Seekers
“Good Thing” – Paul Revere And The Raiders
“Good Vibrations” – Beach Boys
[new] “Green Green Grass Of Home” – Tom Jones
“Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” – Yardbirds
“Help Me Girl” – Eric Burdon And The Animals
[new] “How Do You Catch A Girl” – Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs
[new] “I Had Too Much To Dream” – Electric Prunes
“I Know I’m Losing You” – Temptations
[new] “I Need Somebody” – Question Mark & The Mysterians
“I’m A Believer” – Monkees
“I’ve Passed This Way Before” – Jimmy Ruffin
[new] “It’s Now Winter’s Day” – Tommy Roe
[new] “Kind Of A Drag” – Buckinghams
[new] “Knight In Rusty Armour” – Peter And Gordon
“Mellow Yellow” – Donovan
[new] “Music To Watch Girls By” – Bob Crewe Generation
“Mustang Sally” – Wilson Pickett
[new] “Nashville Cats” – Lovin’ Spoonful
[new] “Nothin’ Yet” – Blues Magoos
“Single Girl” – Sandy Posey
“Snoopy Vs The Red Baron” – Royal Guardsmen
[new] “Stand By Me” – Spyder Turner
“Standing In The Shadows Of Love” – Four Tops
[new] “Steppin’ Stone” – Monkees
“Sugar Town” – Nancy Sinatra
“Talk Talk” – Music Machine
“Tell It Like It Is” – Aaron Neville
“Tell It To The Rain” – Four Seasons
“That’s Life” – Frank Sinatra
[new] “Try A Little Tenderness” – Otis Redding
[new] “We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet” – Blues Magoos
[new] “Where Will The Words Come From” – Gary Lewis And The Playboys
[new] “Wild Thing” – Senator Bobby
“Winchester Cathedral” – New Vaudeville Band
“Words Of Love” – Mamas And Papas
“You Keep Me Hangin’ On” – Supremes

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

In a sweet start to the new year, on the 1st the residents of the small town of Ellington, Connecticut, saved the life of a private pilot whose radio had failed while he was flying through fog and rain. After townspeople heard a low-flying, but not visible, plane, the Ellington Fire Department brought three fire engines and its 25 volunteer firemen to the town’s unlit airstrip at Hyde Field, and dozens of people followed in their cars. Lionel Labreche, a trooper with the Connecticut State Police, directed everyone to park on either side of the runway and to light it up with their headlights. The pilot, Frank Robinson, was able to spot the revolving lights of the fire trucks and then the lit runway; he commented later, “It was wonderful the way they did it. If they hadn’t… I’d have ended up in the woods.”

Then on the 15th The Rolling Stones appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the second time, but only after acceding to a demand by Sullivan to alter the words of their hit song, “Let’s Spend the Night Together”. After Sullivan reportedly said, “Either the song goes or the Stones go,” Mick Jagger sang the refrain as “Let’s spend some time together.” Times they were still a’changing!

And on the 27th, tragedy struck the space race when Apollo 1 was destroyed by fire at Launch Complex 34 at Cape Kennedy, killing all three of the American astronauts on board. At 6:31 in the evening, the three men were inside the capsule of the Saturn rocket, engaged in a full-scale simulation of the planned February 21 launch, and were wearing their pressurized space suits while in a pure oxygen atmosphere. A spark from a short-circuited wire ignited a flash fire that swept the cabin moments after it was noticed by Grissom. America’s manned space program would be grounded for 20 months for improvements, which would include an atmosphere of 60% oxygen and 40% nitrogen on future missions and a cockpit hatch that could be opened within seconds.

What’d Sadie think?

The faux-Beatles manage a number 1 run worthy of the real thing with “I’m A Believer” by the Monkees dominating for the whole month.

Loved ’em

Ear-worm of the week is the excellent “Georgy Girl” by the Seekers. Here’s a film of them performing it live:

Strangely their was no audio from the performance so the recorded version is played on top of the footage of them singing at the Myer Music Bowl in their home town of Melbourne.

I’ve not seen the film the tune is hte soundrack to, but it was good slice of swingin’ 60s london by all accounts.

• “Georgy Girl” – Seekers
• “Steppin’ Stone” – Monkees
• “Try A Little Tenderness” – Otis Redding
  

Liked ’em

• “Green Green Grass Of Home” – Tom Jones
• “I Had Too Much To Dream” – Electric Prunes
• “I Need Somebody” – Question Mark & The Mysterians
• “It’s Now Winter’s Day” – Tommy Roe
• “Kind Of A Drag” – Buckinghams
• “Knight In Rusty Armour” – Peter And Gordon
• “Music To Watch Girls By” – Bob Crewe Generation
• “Nothin’ Yet” – Blues Magoos
• “Stand By Me” – Spyder Turner
• “We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet” – Blues Magoos
• “Where Will The Words Come From” – Gary Lewis And The Playboys

Leave ’em

• “How Do You Catch A Girl” – Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs
• “Nashville Cats” – Lovin’ Spoonful
• “Wild Thing” – Senator Bobby

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

Woopsie-daisy we skipped publishing the blog for a week, so tune into It’s November, 1966 first if you want the complete historical ride, before listing to this week’s sounds from Christmas of that year…

Songs of the month

“96 Tears” – Question Mark And The Mysterians
“A Hazy Shade Of Winter” – Simon And Garfunkel
[new] “A Place In The Sun” – Stevie Wonder
“Born Free” – Roger Williams
“But It’s Alright” – J.J. Jackson
[new] “Coming Home Soldier” – Bobby Vinton
“Coming On Strong” – Brenda Lee
[new] “Cry” – Ronnie Dove
“Devil With The Blue Dress / Good Golly Miss Molly” – Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels
[new] “Devil With The Blue Dress” – Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels
[new] “East West” – Herman’s Hermits
[new] “Good Thing” – Paul Revere And The Raiders
“Good Vibrations” – Beach Boys
[new] “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” – Yardbirds
[new] “Help Me Girl” – Eric Burdon And The Animals
[new] “Holy Cow” – Lee Dorsey
“Hooray For Hazel” – Tommy Roe
[new] “I Got The Feelin’” – Neil Diamond
[new] “I Know I’m Losing You” – Temptations
[new] “I Need Somebody” – Question Mark And The Mysterians
[new] “I’m A Believer” – Monkees
“I’m Ready For Love” – Martha And The Vandellas
[new] “I’m The One You Need” – Miracles
“I’m Your Puppet” – James And Bobby Purify
[new] “I’ve Passed This Way Before” – Jimmy Ruffin
[new] “It Tears Me Up” – Percy Sledge
[new] “Knock On Wood” – Eddie Floyd
“Lady Godiva” – Peter And Gordon
“Last Train To Clarksville” – Monkees
“Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” – Lou Rawls
[new] “Mame” – Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass
“Mellow Yellow” – Donovan
[new] “Mustang Sally” – Wilson Pickett
“Poor Side Of Town” – Johnny Rivers
“Rain On The Roof” – Lovin’ Spoonful
[new] “Run Run Look And See” – Brian Hyland
[new] “Single Girl” – Sandy Posey
[new] “Snoopy Vs The Red Baron” – Royal Guardsmen
[new] “Standing In The Shadows Of Love” – Four Tops
“Stop Stop Stop” – Hollies
[new] “Sugar Town” – Nancy Sinatra
[new] “Talk Talk” – Music Machine
[new] “Tell It Like It Is” – Aaron Neville
[new] “Tell It To The Rain” – Four Seasons
[new] “That’s Life” – Frank Sinatra
[new] “The Wheel Of Hurt” – Margaret Whiting
“What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” – Jimmy Ruffin
[new] “Whispers” – Jackie Wilson
“Winchester Cathedral” – New Vaudeville Band
[new] “Words Of Love” – Mamas And Papas
[new] “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” – Supremes

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

On the 12th ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, a musical based on the bestselling book by Truman Capote (which had already been adapted to a successful film) opened on Broadway for a preview, and became one of the more memorable flops in theater history. After it was performed four times at the Majestic Theatre, which had planned to formally launch it on December 26, the Bob Merrill musical was closed down by its producer, David Merrick, who ran an advertisement in The New York Times to explain, “Rather than subject the drama critics and the theatre-going public— who invested one million dollars in advance ticket sales— to an excruciatingly boring evening, I have decided to close the show… the closing is entirely my fault.”

Then on the 18th, in more successful book-adaptation-entertainment-news, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, based on the book of the same name by Dr. Seuss , was shown for the first time on CBS, becoming an annual Christmas tradition in the United States. “As a result of the television version,” an author would note later, “adults and children renewed their love of Seussian tales and bought his books in record-breaking numbers.

And on the last day of the year, in the most expensive art theft in history up to that time, thieves stole eight paintings from London’s Dulwich Art Gallery, the oldest art museum in the United Kingdom, and demanded a ransom of 100,000 pounds sterling (worth, at the time, $280,000) for their safe return. The paintings themselves were considered worth more than $20,000,000. The ransom failed and three of the paintings would be recovered a couple of days later, and the next evening, the other five would be found “wrapped in old newspapers behind a bush” at Streatham Common, a few miles from the gallery.

What’d Sadie think?

A battle for the top, with “Winchester Cathedral” by the New Vaudeville Band taking it for a week before the absolute classic Beach Boys tune, “Good Vibrations”, gets only a week there before the former snatches it back for another couple! No accounting for taste, with faux-Beatles the Monkees taking the last week with “I’m A Believer”.

Loved ’em

Sadie was particularly explicit about liking some songs this week – I think she’s almost cottoned on to the idea we share the playlist and write about them. She’ll probably be dictating this blog by Xmas… Anyway, it wasn’t new this week but she loves Donovan’s “Mello Yellow”.

When you re-read this in many years time Sadie, you can discover that the song was named thusly, “I was reading a newspaper and on the back there was an ad for a yellow dildo called the mellow yellow,” Donocan said. “Really, you know the ‘electric banana’ was right in there and gave it away. And that’s what the song’s about.”.

She also loved, new to the charts, “Sugar Town” by Nancy Sinatra. Which again is somewhat of a coded song, an allusion to sugar cubes laced with Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Although apparently, like other songs Hazlewood wrote, “Sugar Town” was equivocal, speaking to a young audience able to recognize its allusion, yet outwardly tame enough to receive radio play.

• “A Place In The Sun” – Stevie Wonder
• “Devil With The Blue Dress” – Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels
• “Help Me Girl” – Eric Burdon And The Animals
• “I’m A Believer” – Monkees
• “Knock On Wood” – Eddie Floyd
• “Mustang Sally” – Wilson Pickett
• “Standing In The Shadows Of Love” – Four Tops
• “Sugar Town” – Nancy Sinatra
• “Tell It Like It Is” – Aaron Neville
• “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” – Supremes
  

Liked ’em

• “Coming Home Soldier” – Bobby Vinton
• “Cry” – Ronnie Dove
• “East West” – Herman’s Hermits
• “Good Thing” – Paul Revere And The Raiders
• “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” – Yardbirds
• “I Got The Feelin’” – Neil Diamond
• “I Know I’m Losing You” – Temptations
• “I Need Somebody” – Question Mark And The Mysterians
• “I’m The One You Need” – Miracles
• “I’ve Passed This Way Before” – Jimmy Ruffin
• “It Tears Me Up” – Percy Sledge
• “Single Girl” – Sandy Posey
• “Talk Talk” – Music Machine
• “Tell It To The Rain” – Four Seasons
• “That’s Life” – Frank Sinatra
• “Whispers” – Jackie Wilson
• “Words Of Love” – Mamas And Papas

Leave ’em

• “Holy Cow” – Lee Dorsey
• “Mame” – Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass
• “Run Run Look And See” – Brian Hyland
• “Snoopy Vs The Red Baron” – Royal Guardsmen
• “The Wheel Of Hurt” – Margaret Whiting

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

It’s 53 years and 9 months before Sadie is born and 10 years and 3 months before Thomas is… yes, it’s November, 1966 so let’s turn our ears to the tunes of the day.

Songs of the month

“96 Tears” – Question Mark And The Mysterians
[new] “A Hazy Shade Of Winter” – Simon And Garfunkel
“B-A-B-Y” – Carla Thomas
[new] “Born Free” – Roger Williams
[new] “But It’s Alright” – J.J. Jackson
[new] “Coming On Strong” – Brenda Lee
[new] “Dandy” – Herman’s Hermits
[new] “Devil With The Blue Dress / Good Golly Miss Molly” – Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels
[new] “Go Away Little Girl” – Happenings
[new] “Good Vibrations” – Beach Boys
[new] “Have You Seen Your Mother Baby
“Hooray For Hazel” – Tommy Roe
[new] “I’m Ready For Love” – Martha And The Vandellas
[new] “I’m Your Puppet” – James And Bobby Purify
“If I Were A Carpenter” – Bobby Darin
[new] “Lady Godiva” – Peter And Gordon
“Last Train To Clarksville” – Monkees
[new] “Look Through My Window” – Mamas And Papas
[new] “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” – Lou Rawls
[new] “Mellow Yellow” – Donovan
[new] “Paint Me A Picture” – Gary Lewis And The Playboys
“Poor Side Of Town” – Johnny Rivers
[new] “Rain On The Roof” – Lovin’ Spoonful
“Reach Out I’ll Be There” – Four Tops
[new] “Secret Love” – Billy Stewart
[new] “Stop Stop Stop” – Hollies
“Walk Away Renee” – Left Banke
“What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” – Jimmy Ruffin
[new] “Who Am I” – Petula Clark
[new] “Winchester Cathedral” – New Vaudeville Band
[new] “You Keep Me Hanging On” – Supremes

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

I was searching for a video on the invention of the Jacuzzi (“spa pool”) that happened in November, 1966 but I couldn’t find anything appropriate. However, this great 1966 news reel came up and whatever the month it is from, it needs to be seen.

On the 18th Roman Catholics in the United States would no longer be required to abstain from meat on Fridays, as a national conference of Roman Catholic cardinals, archbishops and bishops voted in Washington to revoke a requirement of abstinence that had been in effect for 11 centuries. As part of the recognition of Friday as a day of penance, Pope Nicholas I had decreed in the 9th century that adherents to Roman Catholic faith would be required to abstain from the eating of meat, although the consumption of fish on Fridays was permitted. Friday, December 2, 1966, would mark the first day that 45,000,000 American Roman Catholics could consume beef, chicken, pork, or other meats without violating Church doctrine.

Then on the 30th the existence of the drink “Gatorade” was revealed to readers of the Miami Herald by sports columnist Neil Amdur, after Amdur had noticed that the University of Florida Gators football team had been drinking from what appeared to be milk cartons. Surprised, Amdur asked coach Ray Graves, “Are you giving your players milk?” and Graves showed him the beverage and said, “No. We’ve been fooling around with this stuff for a while now,” then told him about the invention of Florida medical professor Robert Cade. Days after the game, Amdur’s story, headlined “Florida’s Pause That Refreshes: ‘Nip of Gatorade’”. The story was soon spread nationwide by UPI about the team’s “bitter beverage… designed to keep the players from wearing down as they lose body fluid on a hot day”, and would be marketed nationwide in 1967.

What’d Sadie think?

A mixed bag at the top this month with the Monkees first single, “Last Train To Clarksville” taking it for a week before “Poor Side Of Town” by Johnny Rivers does likewise, rounded out by the Supremes new single “You Keep Me Hanging On” taking it for 2 weeks.

Loved ’em

• “A Hazy Shade Of Winter” – Simon And Garfunkel
• “Good Vibrations” – Beach Boys
• “I’m Ready For Love” – Martha And The Vandellas
• “I’m Your Puppet” – James And Bobby Purify
• “Mellow Yellow” – Donovan
• “You Keep Me Hanging On” – Supremes

Liked ’em

• “Born Free” – Roger Williams
• “But It’s Alright” – J.J. Jackson
• “Coming On Strong” – Brenda Lee
• “Devil With The Blue Dress / Good Golly Miss Molly” – Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels
• “Go Away Little Girl” – Happenings
• “Lady Godiva” – Peter And Gordon
• “Look Through My Window” – Mamas And Papas
• “Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing” – Lou Rawls
• “Secret Love” – Billy Stewart
• “Stop Stop Stop” – Hollies
• “Who Am I” – Petula Clark
• “Winchester Cathedral” – New Vaudeville Band

Leave ’em

• “Dandy” – Herman’s Hermits
• “Rain On The Roof” – Lovin’ Spoonful

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.