50 Years Ago Somber & Silly December 1967

Breaking News 12/04/17: Going to be in Hugo, Oklahoma, anytime soon? The Five Americans’ exhibit is a must-see! Get yourself down to the Frisco Depot Museum! And Rock On!

Always News: BFYP Rock and Roll Radio DJs: Book 1 (1950s) and Book 2 (1960s) ready at Amazon to give the Boomers on your gift list a romp down Memory Lane, to the Golden Age of Rock & Roll Radio! Enjoy the moment ... again.

And now, flip on the mic, let’s Rock On back to 1967 …

Somber & Silly December ‘67!

Normally a happy time on the radio, we begin December 50 Years Ago this Month with the worst music news since the 1959 airplane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. Think “That’ll Be the Day,” “La Bamba,” and “Chantilly Lace.” Iconic songs of early Rock & Roll.

On December 10^th, Otis Redding and four of his six backup artists (Bar-Kays) perished in yet another devastating R&R airplane accident. This time, in Lake Monona (Madison, Wisconsin), after a performance in Cleveland.

Redding just had had two Top Ten tunes in July, “Tramp” & “Shake” (XERB 07/16/67 chart). But they were dwarfed by one of his iconic songs that captured our hearts, as described by History.com. 

“‛Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay’ would be released in its ‛unfinished’ form several weeks later, with Redding’s whistled verse a seemingly indispensable part of the now-classic record. It would soon become history’s first posthumous #1 hit and the biggest pop hit of Redding’s career.”

Later in the month, as The Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye” begins its farewell tour down the chart in many cities, McCartney is upset about the showing of Magical Mystery Tour, by BBC1 on December 26^th.  

Here we are in the early stages of psychedelia, with a movie personifying its vivid, swirling colors, and BBC1 chooses to show it in black-and-white. Hello 1930s! Mr. McCartney was less than pleased. BBC2 picked it up and ran it in all its glorious color, to welcome the new year, January 5, 1968.

Featured Radio Survey: The Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye” is still at the top of KHJ/Los Angeles’s Boss 30 Records—50 Years Ago for December 13, 1967. Two weeks later, it had managed to hang in at #2, but Itchycoo Park (Small Faces) muscled in and claimed the top spot into the New Year, on KHJ’s December 27^th chart. Recall that awesome day when … 

Celebrate DECEMBER 1967: 50 Years Ago and … Rock On!

  

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50 Years Ago Say Hello to NOV 1967

Breaking News 11/04/17: November—the month of giving. Oh, you thought that was next month for Christmas? Charity starts at home, with Thanksgiving. Not just a meal for family and friends, but to help others who may not have your good fortune, and/or those who suffered great losses this year. Give—it’s better for your heart health than Grandma’s pumpkin pie.

Always News: BFYP Rock and Roll Radio DJs: Book 1 (1950s) and Book 2 (1960s) ready at Amazon to walk you down Memory Lane, to the Golden Age of Rock & Roll Radio! Enjoy the moment ... again.

And now, flip on the mic, let’s Rock On back to 1967 …

Don’t Say Goodbye! I Say Helloooo … to the Holidays!

Time to roam around those memory banks and spin your radio dial to Chicago, November 1967. Were you a WLS fan, listening to the friendly jokes and antics of Ron Riley? Or did Jim Stagg’s high energy music knowledge and celeb-artist friends hold your radio dial at WCFL?

Jim’s knack for selecting winning artists and songs to break out on WCFL, made its mark in Chicagoland; but The Beatles weren’t even in the top ten when WLS debuted their “Hello, Goodbye” at #22, November 24^th. By December 15^th it topped WLS’ Silver Dollar Survey.

Although WCFL awarded the “Mystery Tour” album a showing on their “Chicago Premier” list in mid-November, fans didn’t send it to the top of their Sound Ten Survey until Christmas week. “You say why, and I say, I don’t knowwww …” ♪

“Hello, Goodbye” joined other soon-to-be iconic songs like “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “All You Need is Love,” and “Penny Lane,” to round out the truly Magical Mystery Tour album (officially released November 27^th).

Featured Radio Survey(s): Want to see more from these two powerhouse ‘60s stations? This month we feature TWO 50 Years Ago surveys! Check out WLS and WCFL’s full charts for mid-month, November 1967, and recall that awesome day when … 

Celebrate NOVEMBER 1967: 50 Years Ago and … Rock On!

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50 Years Ago All Hallows Love Oct 1967

Breaking News - Wednesday, 10/25/17: Blueberry Hill has indeed, lost its thrill. Antoine Domino, Jr., affectionately known in Blues and Rock & Roll for more than 60 years as Fats Domino, passed through the gates of Rock & Roll Heaven last night, at age 89. Rock On big guy!  

Thursday, 10/19/17: Many BFYP friends are classic car lovers too. Sadly, more than a few muscle cars and pure classic cars felt the intensity of recent Sonoma County, California wildfires. Since they were likely garaged at or near homes, it stands to reason the owners who poured life savings into their cars, also lost their homes.

My eyes teared as I watched news footage of a resident towing the burnt carcass of his vintage 1956 Chevy through the devastated Coffey Park neighborhood. Survivors treasure their safety … still … life will never be the same. If you feel their pain, please donate to assist in the fire relief efforts. Goodguys Rod and Custom Assoc. put together more links to bona fide donation centers. Give hope for another day. Rock On! 

Always News: BFYP Rock and Roll Radio DJs: Book 1 (1950s) and Book 2 (1960s) ready at Amazon to walk you down Memory Lane, to the Golden Age of Rock & Roll Radio! Enjoy the moment ... again.

And now, flip on the mic for your October '67 trip down Memory Lane …

Bubbly Brew of Love Songs & Inner Demons

While this month’s Featured Survey design fits right in with the spooky Halloween month, its list of hit songs was less than ghostly or ghastly for October 1967.

KACY/Santa Barbara, California’s October 6, 1967 top ten gives us frothy love song, “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie,” by Jay & the Techniques at #6, and somehow The Box Tops bounced “The Letter” all the way up to #1. ♪ Well, she wrote me a letter | Said she couldn't live without me no more ♪ … Uh-huh.

So were sappy (but sweet) love songs the only hits 50 Years Ago this Month? Nah. Bad-boy band, The Doors urged us to look at the weirdos inside us, and our creepy neighbors, in “People Are Strange,” clawing its way up the chart at lucky #13. It hit #4 the following week where it stayed ‘til the love songs kicked it down again, nearing Halloween. ♪ People are strange when you're a stranger | Faces look ugly when you're alone ♪ … Just the right mood for Halloween.

With 1967 a pivotal year for innovative radio and the FM stations, on October 30^th-31^st WNEW/New York raised the dead by flipping to a progressive Rock format. Reportedly the first in the Metromedia chain to listen to their listeners, that format held them at the top of the ratings through the 1970s and beyond.

ROCK-tober is truly a unique month of the year, with Halloween as a most beloved “non” holiday. All the fun without the stress! And like it or not, it signals the beginning of the Holiday parties.

It’s also the time each year when my vintage Rock & Roll mind rambles down Memory Lane, to the Radio DJ who truly defines Halloween—the incomparable Wolfman Jack.

In October 1967, Wolfman Jack continued to nurture his werewolf within, growing an enthusiastic audience who loved his salacious, hairy image. He blasted his signature howl to “13 states and 2 Canadian provinces” at XERB/Hollywood (really coming from Rosarito Beach, Mexico).  

Though billed as the “Soul Monster,” XERB’s listeners jammed the pop-Top 40 hit “The Letter,” up to #1. But you can bet Wolfie put his own spin on it. (Image: XERB “Soul 30 in California” October 7, 1967. Thanks to Airheads Radio Survey Archive and their collection of surveys for our viewing pleasure.)

Come Halloween, think ghosts, goblins, witches’ brew, seances, and weird, hairy creatures … like Wolfman Jack! We got a good thing goin’ on now! Aoooowwwooooo!

Have fun … be safe. Yes, you can do both.

Featured Radio Survey: KACY/Santa Barbara, California “Psychic Seances” October 6, 1967, blended a Soul and Rock Pop witch’s brew of hit songs. Do you have a special memory from this month, 50 Years Ago? Check out the full chart and recall that awesome day when … 

Celebrate OCTOBER 1967: 50 Years Ago and … Rock On!  

 

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