"My Little Red Book" #52 6/25/1966

We give you a very different version of a Burt Bacharach/Hal David song from "What's New, Pussycat?" by the L.A. group Love. They were a rarity - a integrated hard-rockin' outfit fronted by Arthur Lee, a very charismatic lead singer and certainly not a token brother. They only had one Top 40 single (the followup to this) but were quite influential in the Southern California music scene. Arthur did several years in prison for firearms violations and passed away in 2006.

Love - My Little Red Book

"Crying" (Jay and the Americans) #25 6/25/1966

Originally a huge record for Roy Orbison in 1961, this was also a Top 5 for Don McLean in 1981. Great songs always rise to the top. It would be the last Top 40 entry until 1969 for Jay and the Americans until their remake of the Drifters' "This Magic Moment." In the late 60's these guys used Walter Becker and Donald Fagen as session musicians before they achieved fame as Steely Dan. You gotta start someplace.

Jay and the Americans - Crying

"Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)" #13 6/25/1966

The 17th single released under the Four Seasons name - hence the song title. This tied with "Mack The Knife" for the most key changes (five) within a hit record in the rock era. The video is from "Where The Action Is" and introduced by Dick Clark, and it appears to be filmed across the Hudson from Manhattan. Can't go wrong with any record from the original Jersey Boys.

Four Seasons - Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)

"Oh How Happy" #12 6/25/1966

The Shades of Blue took this partly finished song written by Motown's Edwin Starr, fleshed it out, and became a one-hit wonder. But as happened so many times, these kids from the Detroit suburbs didn't know the ways of the music business, and didn't know about songwriting credits and royalties. Thus, they were hosed, and the group soon broke up.  I was happy on this date in 1966 - "Dark Shadows" premiered on ABC. A low-budget soap opera that was cheesy, cheap, and full of stupid plot lines...and we loved it.

Shades of Blue - Oh How Happy

"Sweet Talkin' Guy" #10 6/25/1966

One of the last vestiges of the pre-Beatles girl group sound, and a final Top 10 hit for the Chiffons. These ladies from the Bronx helped define that genre from the early 60's. The Gerry Goffin-Carole King written "One Fine Day" from '63 was a great example, but the vocal arrangement here is simply outstanding. It's just an excellent pop record. Nothing wrong with that.

Chiffons - Sweet Talkin' Guy

"Paperback Writer" #1 6/25/1966

From the "Revolver" sessions came a stand-alone single, the 13th #1 in America for the Beatles in just over two years. Paul played lead guitar, which he did more frequently as they retreated farther into the studio. The previous day, they started what turned out to be their final world concert tour with three shows in Germany - Münich, Essen, and where it all began for them in Hamburg. We'll have a few posts about that tour coming up, since it was a watershed moment in 60's music. Yes, they're singing "Freré Jacques" in the background.

Beatles - Paperback Writer

"River Deep-Mountain High" #88 6/18/1966

Phil Spector thought not only was this the greatest record he'd ever produced, but the greatest record in the history of music. It did reach the Top 5 in Britain, but completely tanked in America, so much that he became a recluse for years. This was billed as an Ike and Tina Turner single, but Phil paid Ike $20,000 to stay away. The record cost an unheard-of sum of $22,000, eclipsed later in the year by "Good Vibrations." Spector made Tina sing it over and over in the studio, making her sweat until she finished the session in her bra! The combo of the Supremes and Four Tops had a much bigger hit in the 70's with it.

Ike and Tina Turner - River Deep-Mountain High

"Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" #36 6/18/1966

Another Kinks record that was a Top 5 hit in the UK but barely cracked the Top 40 here. These guys just loved to skewer the British upper crust. Ray Davies wrote it after getting into a fistfight with a fashion designer at a party, as the song lampoons trendiness and the fear of being uncool. Needless to say, this didn't do much to endear the band with that crowd. Ray's delivery of the lyrics is hilarious.

Kinks - Dedicated Follower Of Fashion

"Mama" #22 6/18/1966

The second hit for B.J. Thomas was about our mamas and all they do and have done for us. It's a great song, but having lost mine two years ago, it was tough to get through pulling up this one. B.J. went through his addictions when the hits became less frequent in the early 70's, but he came out the other side clean and sober. He found success in the country music field, and later in gospel music.

B.J. Thomas - Mama

"Hold On, I'm Comin' " #21 6/18/1966

Here's another record I thought did much better at the time, though it was a #1 R&B hit. These guys had one previous R&B Top 10, but this put them on the map nationally. Sam Moore and Dave Prater met while living in Miami, moved to Memphis and Stax Records, and made it big. The stress of success soon got to them - they wound up taking separate cars to their gigs, each had an entourage and they didn't speak to each other offstage for over a decade. Guess that can be the price of fame if you let it. A personal fave.

Sam and Dave - Hold On, I'm Comin'

The "Butcher" Cover

The current album by the Beatles, "Yesterday...And Today" came out on this date in 1966.. It was geared just for the US and Canada, containing both sides of two singles plus several songs each from the UK version of "Rubber Soul" from December '65 and the upcoming UK "Revolver" LP. Capitol juggled content to squeeze out as many albums for the US market as possible. This practice stopped when the Fab Four signed their next contract with parent company EMI. The album had almost a million advance orders, so imagine the shock when retailers saw the original cover with the Beatles in white smocks posing with dismembered baby dolls, cleavers and raw meat. The record was hastily recalled and new artwork (the "steamer trunk" cover) was pasted over the album jacket. Makes you wonder who gave the OK to that original cover.

"And Your Bird Can Sing" Album cut

On this date in 1966, Capitol released the Beatles LP "Yesterday...And Today" solely for North America, with the famous "butcher cover," worthy of a separate post. Capitol demanded some new product for the US, since six months had elapsed since "Rubber Soul" and their next album wasn't ready yet. It was a hodgepodge of various content sources. Our tune was one of three taken from the UK "Revolver" album not due out until August, and was a veiled reference either to the Rolling Stones or Frank Sinatra. Oh, well. There's a rather intricate twin guitar lead part played by George and Paul. Again, I had to use the "Rock Band" video game to get a suitable quality clip.

Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing

"Green Grass" #8 6/18/1966

The last of seven straight Top 10 singles to begin the chart career of Gary Lewis and the Playboys. In the early days, Gary's mom bought the band equipment on the condition that he keep quiet about it to his famous dad, Jerry Lewis. They landed a gig at Tomorrowland in Disneyland and got a record deal without disclosing that connection. When Gary finally told Jerry, he was proud of his son for making it on his own. Former group guitarist Tommy Tripplehorn is the dad of actress Jeanne Tripplehorn, who was on "Criminal Minds" for several years. Happy Father's Day!

Gary Lewis and the Playboys - Green Grass

"Barefootin' " #7 6/18/1966

Don't have no shoes on! We present a one-hit wonder from New Orleans, where the hits of the rock and roll era almost always had a decidedly heavy, rockin' horn section. Robert Parker was a session saxman, appearing on records by Fats Domino, Little Richard and many others. There's always been a distinctive style to music from the Crescent City, no matter the genre. Must be something in the water down there. That, or Mardi Gras got the better of them.

Robert Parker - Barefootin'

"Keep On Running" Bonus

Today we give you a former UK #1 from January of '66 by the Spencer Davis Group (their first chart topper) which only reached #76 here a couple of months later. Steve Winwood joined the band at the age of 14, becoming their keyboard player and lead vocalist. By 19 he left to hook up with Traffic and later with Blind Faith, one of rock's first supergroups.

Spencer Davis Group - Keep On Running

"Midnight Mary" Bonus #10 1/4/1964

We revisit January 1964 with Joey Powers, a one-hit wonder from Washington, PA, near Pittsburgh. On the way up, he played in a band with Bobby Vinton of nearby Canonsburg. Family friend Perry Como (also from Canonsburg) got Joey a job as a page at NBC in New York so he could pursue a music career. Paul Simon helped him land a record deal. Paul, along with Roger McGuinn (later of the Byrds) played on his first album. This song was first offered to the Everly Brothers, who turned it down. A lot of things broke the right way for sure. Joey eventually managed a Jersey bar band that included three future members of Bon Jovi.

Joey Powers - Midnight Mary

"(I'm A) Road Runner" #20 6/11/1966

A Holland-Dozier-Holland Motown song written for Junior Walker and the Allstars, which was a rarity. According to Wikipedia, in rehearsal Junior could only play his part in two keys, so the band recorded in one key for him to sing, then the tape was sped up when he played the sax track. There's a line that appears in the Temptations' "Cloud Nine" a couple of years later - see if you can spot it.

Junior Walker and the Allstars - (I'm A) Road Runner

"The More I See You" #16 6/11/1966

Today's song was originally a hit for Dick Haymes in 1945. It's been recorded dozens of times since with this version by Chris Montez the most well known. It was co-produced by Herb Alpert, who asked Chris, originally a pretty hard-rocking type, to mellow his musical approach a bit. It worked, as he had several mid-60's hits in an ultra-lounge style.

Chris Montez - The More I See You

"I Am A Rock" #3 6/11/1966

Paul Simon wrote this one in England after he and Art Garfunkel went their separate ways when their "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." album tanked. Paul moved over there and tried to make it on his own, releasing an album that contained a solo version of this tune. Then "The Sound Of Silence" took off and they got back together, re-recording a little more electrified version of today's song.

Simon and Garfunkel - I Am A Rock

"Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?" #2 6/11/1966

The fourth of the first seven singles from the Lovin' Spoonful, all of which made the Top 10. Gary Lewis and the Playboys were the only other act of the 60's that can make that claim.  The Spoonful started out in the Greenwich Village section of NYC along with the Mamas and the Papas, Blood, Sweat and Tears and many, many other performers. John Sebastian and Zal Yanofsky of the Spoonful were in a Village group called the Mugwumps along with Denny Doherty and Mama Cass Elliot.

Lovin' Spoonful - Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?

"Paint It Black" #1 6/11/1966

The Rolling Stones had the first hit single to feature a sitar, which ushered in a period of India's influence on pop music of the 60's. George Harrison played a sitar on the earlier "Norwegian Wood" but that was never released as a single. This Stones record was very popular with US troops during the Vietnam War, and was used in the "Full Metal Jacket" soundtrack. It was the third #1 in America for Mick and the boys.

Rolling Stones - Paint It Black

"Quicksand" Bonus #8 1/8/1964

From January of '64, we present the second Top 10 record from Martha and the Vandellas. Martha Reeves showed up at the wrong time for a Motown audition and wound up being hired as a secretary. When label star Mary Wells missed a recording session, Martha and her group were offered the studio time already booked and were signed to a deal. They scored a whole bunch of hits in the 60's. She eventually served as a Detroit city councilwoman.

Martha and the Vandellas - Quicksand

"Have You Heard?" Bonus #18 12/21/1963

From Christmas week of '63, here's one from Jersey City's own Duprees that sounded like it came straight from the 50's. It had a doo-wop vocal sound with a big band arrangement, and was originally recorded by Joni James in 1952. It was probably one of the last gasps for street corner-type singing groups. The day after Christmas, the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was released, and the world was never the same.

Duprees - Have You Heard?

"Be True To Your School" "In My Room" Bonus

We continue our look back at the charts of December '63 and January '64 over the next few days starting with a two-fer, both sides of the current Beach Boys single. "Be True To Your School" reached #6 and the B-side, the introspective "In My Room" was #23 the week of 12/21/63. Brian Wilson really didn't stray from his room too much, which was pretty much the basis for the Barenaked Ladies song about him.

Beach Boys - Be True To Your School

Beach Boys - In My Room

"The Carnival Is Over" Bonus

Here's one from late 1965 by the Seekers that topped the charts not only in the UK, but in Ireland and their native Australia. Yet this record didn't even crack the Hot 100 in America. It was based on the melody of an 1800's Russian folk song, with English lyrics by Tom Springfield (Dusty's brother). He wrote it after being in Rio and witnessing Carnival.

Seekers - The Carnival Is Over

"Batman And His Grandmother" #70 6/4/1966

Dickie Goodman made a career out of taking snippets from current hits and inserting some really corny topical dialogue around them. In a way, he could be considered the father of sampling. Rap music wouldn't be the same without this technique. The operatic singing you'll hear was from a novelty record we featured a few weeks ago called "Juanita Banana." Holy guano, Batman!

Dickie Goodman - Batman And His Grandmother

"Come On Let's Go" #22 6/4/1966

The third and final Top 40 hit for the McCoys was a remake of the first record in '58 by Ritchie Valens, who lost his life along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper on February 3rd, 1959, The Day The Music Died. The McCoys broke up soon afterward, with guitarist and front man Rick Derringer along with brother Randy joining up with Johnny Winter, then with Johnny's brother Edgar Winter. Rick had a solo hit in the 70's with "Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo."

McCoys - Come On Let's Go

"It's A Man's Man's Man's World" #8 6/4/1964

A #1 R&B record from the Godfather of Soul. The title was a play on a relatively current movie comedy called "Its A Mad, Mad, Mad World." There were people who said James Brown had such sexist lyrics in this song. I beg to differ. A man can do great things, but it means nothing without a woman standing with him. Truth.

James Brown - It's A Man's Man's Man's World

"Tears" Bonus

A UK #1 for five weeks in the fall of 1965, Ken Dodd had the #3 single of the 60's over there, outdone only by a couple of Beatles records, "She Loves You" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand." His version was never released in America, but Bobby Vinton covered it at the time and only reached #59. This was a throwback to what British pop music sounded like earlier in that decade. The Beatles just HAD to happen.

Ken Dodd - Tears

"Gloria" (Them) #71 5/28/1966

This was the third time Them released "Gloria" in the US. It wasn't a charm. The first was the B-side of "Here Comes The Night" in '65; the second, a few months later as an A-side that only reached #93. This time around it lost out to the cover version by the Shadows of Knight. A lot of radio stations wouldn't play the Them record, since it contained the line "she comes up to my room." Times sure have changed. Hard to believe Van Morrison went from this to "Into The Mystic" in a few short years.

Them - Gloria

"The Ballad Of Irving" #34 5/28/1966

Lorne Greene had a one-off hit in '64 with a spoken word record about an Old West gunslinger, "Ringo." This was the comedic response by Frank Gallop, a long-time announcer for early TV shows starring Milton Berle and Perry Como. Did I mention the hero this time was Jewish, and the 142nd fastest gun in the West? 141 could draw faster than he, but Irving was looking for 143. They changed a line about a ten gallon yarmulke, afraid the gentiles wouldn't get the joke. Oy vey...

Frank Gallop - The Ballad Of Irving