Saturday, September 5, 2015

50 Years Ago this Month – Just Yesterday



August’s “Help!” slip-slides down the charts as summer melts into school. By the end of September 1965 it was clawing the charts at #13 on KGB/San Diego’s “Boss 30” Records.*

Does that mean we’d lost interest in The Beatles already? Not just no, but hell no. Their nostalgic tune lamenting they weren’t half the men they used to be “Yesterday,” struck a chord with the KGBeachBoys (station’s cutesy name for their DJs) grabbing the #1 spot.

KGB has always reveled in its slightly rebel reputation … as some of their surveys have recorded for posterity. And this month, someone there liked Ringo best …
 
Tongue-in-cheek? The KGB survey lists “Yesterday” and “Act Naturally” as a #1 duo. By the looks of things, though, they’re about the only station that even put “Act Naturally” on the chart. Ringo took the lead on this song, but according to Wiki, it peaked at #47. Ah, but Ringo, KGB loves ya, babe!

While KGB tried to favor an oft-neglected Ringo – the John Lennon or The Beatles credits frequently listed with “Yesterday” have dropped by the wayside. Numerous historians report it’s a McCartney-only tune.

Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Beatles Songs, lists the “Main Writer: McCartney,” and quotes Sir Paul, "‘It fell out of bed,’" Paul McCartney once said about the origins of ‘Yesterday.’ "‘I had a piano by my bedside, and I must have dreamed it, because I tumbled out of bed and put my hands on the piano keys and I had a tune in my head. It was just all there, a complete thing. I couldn't believe it. It came too easy.’"

Regardless of its origin, “Yesterday” holds the record for the most recorded song in history. Nice legacy.
* Featured Radio Survey(s): Fall 2-fer! The first is WTRY/New York’s Great 98 Big Sound Survey for September 10, 1965, with nostalgic pics of fans lined up to see movie, Help! Where you there? DJ Lee Gray was!
The 2ndsurvey boasts KGB/San Diego’s Boss 30 Records September 25, 1965Yesterday/Act Naturally” listing for Ringo. Oh, and the chart’s #13Help!” credits “KGBeatles” as the artist. Obviously, KGB liked to have fun with the credits.

Celebrate this month 50 years ago and … Enjoy the moment … again!







Share on Twitter: @BlastFromPastBk



No comments:

Post a Comment