This single was packaged in a conservative gold sleeve with no photos,
and proceeds were donated to the family of
JD Tippet, a policeman who’d also been slain that day in Dallas.
“In The Summer Of His Years” * Connie Francis * 1963
‘THE REGULAR RECORD REVIEW WAS NOT PUBLISHED THIS WEEK OUT OF RESPECT FOR OUR LATE PRESIDENT’ (No. 167 – November 29, 1963)
A MCRFB VIEWING TIP: To fully appreciate this WJBK Radio 1500 November 29, 1963 feature — to enlarge this image FULL SCREEN — click on the image and open to second window. See ‘Original size: ‘2433 × 2937‘ at the top/left and click on that link for EXPANDED LARGEST VIEW (twice). Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size. (Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB main home page).
NEW YORK — The record and radio industries were caught up in a hot controversy last week over the propriety recording and broadcasting the song “In The Summer Of His Years,” the John F. Kennedy tribute which was first sung on the BBC program, “That Was The Week That Was. NBC rebroadcast the BBC program.
The BBC’s Tribute to John Fitzgerald Kennedy – THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS– Saturday, November 23, 1963.
At press time, some seven single recordings of the song had been issued, and more were scheduled. In addition, Decca Records acquired the rights to release the soundtrack of the BBC show — originally broadcast on November 23 — and rushed out the album (see separate story).
Millicent Martin, the EMI artist who sang the song on the BBC show and whose performance is included in the Decca album, was also represented on a single released here by ABC-Paramount. Other singles as of press time were Kate Smith on RCA Records, Connie Francis on M-G-M, Mahalia Jackson on Columbia, Tony Arden on Decca, Hettie London on Palance Records.
Despite the fact that some of the royalties accruing from the song are to be given to charities or various causes, some stations refused to expose the disks. However, the diskeries involved felt in the main that their records were in good taste and indications were that they would not be withdrawn. Several of the labels involved said that they had already seen considerable action on the disk as a result of airplay on out-town-stations.
‘BLATANT’ SAYS PAULSEN
In New York, Varner Paulsen, Program Director of WNEW, said: “The records are a blatant attempt to try to commercialize on a national tragedy. The song as sung in the BBC-TV show of ‘This Was The Week That Was’ was a heart-rendering and sincere performance. Taken out of the context of the show it becomes something different.”
Mark Olds, general manager of WINS, stated: “The song was part of an almost extemporaneous serious program tribute to the late President of the United States with no thought of commercialization of material. Station policy forbids capitalizing commercially on such a tragic event.”
Ruth Myer, WMCA program director, said: “WMCA does not believe in banning records. We played the original version from the BBC program the day it was released. We felt it was of some interest to our audience. It isn’t anymore . . . so we stopped playing it.”
BRITISH PRODUCT
Meanwhile, an astute observer noted the curious fact that the controversy was not an outgrowth of Tin Pan Alley activity. Two Brits wrote the song as part of the BBC tribute. Herbert Kretzmer wrote the words and David Lee the music. Lou Levy, president of Leeds Music, happened to be in a London apartment when the program was performed over the BBC.
He felt the song was a great piece of material and he acquired the copyright. Several artists, according to Levy — among them Connie Francis, queried the BBC to ascertain the publisher — and in this way the initial disks were cut. Levy notes he made no effort to promote the song — he merely urged that artists bear in mind the dignity of the material and exercise care care in their choice of material for the flip side. Even if the publisher wished to stop the flood of records, this was impossible owing to the compulsory or automatic license provision of the Copyright Act.
Levy stated in part: “No one has ever been able to explain the creative process. Whatever magic is involved . . . touched two young songwriters in London . . . when the news about President Kennedy came to them over the air it was part of the BBC’s tribute . . . “
“But songs are not made just to be sung and heard; they are created to be sung over again and again. And so many fine artists have recorded this song: Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson, Tony Arden, Kate Smith, Millicent Martin. Translations are being made in many languages; it is a song to be heard ’round the world . . . it will be part of every remembrance . . . royalties are being donated by many of those involved. Our part in making this song is small, but we feel well rewarded.”
As the week closed, discussions reached a high point, centered around the theme of what was the proper role of the music-record industry — and the radio industry — with regards to “event songs,” in this specific instance a song dealing with one of the most tragic events in the nation’s history. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; December 14, 1963)
THE BBC JFK TRIBUTE SONG — A CHICAGO VIEW
CHICAGO — “In The Summer Of His Years,” taken from the BBC-televised tribute to the late President Kennedy on the program “That Was The Week That Was,” will have a tough time getting airplay here, a check by Billboard indicated here last week.
Though many local stations still haven’t had time to review the numerous versions of the tune, those that did turned thumbs down.
At WIND, a Westinghouse Group W station, Guy Harris termed the disk “lousy and mauldin.” He said it was “hard to get specific . . . we reject a lot of records each week, this is one of them.”
Gene Taylor, at WLS, the ABC powerhouse, said he had heard only the Connie Francis version and that he just “wouldn’t touch it.”
At WGN, Bob Bradford said he hadn’t heard the record and would have to listen before making up his mind. He said the original was “beautifully done,” but felt the record might be “out of context” on a commercial radio station.
Floyd Brown at WYNR, the big McLendon corporation rocker, said he though it in “poor taste to capitalize on such a tragic situation.”
At WBBM, the CBS outlet, Len Schlosser said the records haven’t been screened as yet. At WVON, the city’s biggest R&B outlet, Lloyd Webb said the station had not made up its mind yet, though he did feel it was a good tune. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; December 14, 1963)
WXYZ 1270 Detroit Sound Survey; Week no. 33 issued November 28, 1966 under Lee Alan, Program Director; WXYZ
(WXYZ 1270 Detroit Sound Survey for November 28, this date 1966; survey courtesy the Jim Heddle Collection. For the previous weekly WXYZ November 21, 1966 survey click here).
Who Shall Speak For Us Now?Who shall speak for us now?For the moment has taken himJust as the momentBrought him forth.Curtain calls were many,On our feet, hearts in our hands,Applause loud and clear.But now he lives, no longer here.I think he knew all at the last moment,Looking back at us, missing usIn his eyes. Then his final bow,His last goodbye.Oh, that faraway yesterday,Had he not doneAll his time would allow?Who shall speak for us now?And might he ask of us each,And with qualification,What of your own voice?“Who Shall Speak For Us Now?” A personal favorite poem on JFK submitted by Scottie Regen. ’60s WKNR Detroit radio personality. November 15, 2013 Dawn. Arlington National Cemetery. November 22, 2013Dusk. Arlington National Cemetery. November 22, 2013
JFK Albums in Demand for pre-Christmas Holidays 1963
By RENT GREVANTT
NEW YORK — Albums memorializing the late President John F. Kennedy are having a heavy impact on the pre-Christmas record album market place. At week’s end, manufacturers were claiming virtually around-the-clock pressing activity “trying to keep up with orders.” This condition was in marked contrast to that obtaining in connection with various single records containing material related to the recent death of the President.
Three of the fastest-moving of the Kennedy albums are out on budget (99-cent) lines and these appear to be getting the heaviest retail action at the moment. These are available through Premier Albums. Pickwick International and Ambassador (Diplomat label). Twentieth Century-Fox has an album out at $3.98 and a new firm Documentaries Unlimited also released a full price set, though it’s understood the latter is now selling at $1.98 at some locations. Decca Records is also in the race with the sound track to the BBC-TV memorial show, “That Was The Week That Was,” and claims strong action.
Premier got out first and was actually shipping five days after the event, according to the firm’s president, Phil Landwehr. He said that currently, 16 pressing plants are turning out the LP’s, which he indicated had now been shipped in quantities approaching 1,000,000.
Benefit LP
Premier and WMCA have agreed to turn over their royalties to the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation for Mental Retardation. He added that arrangements are being made to bring out a full-price ($3.98) companion to the current 99-cent item, which will contain the news coverage of the Dallas tragedy by a different New York station.
A spokesman for Ambassador records , what has a 99-cent Diplomat label LP containing a number of Kennedy speeches and comments, declined to reveal actual sales figures. “It’s just fantastic and that’s all they’ll let me say right now,” he commented.
Close to 1,000,000 copies of the Pickwick-produced LP have been shipped in the first six days of its release, according to the firm’s president, Cy Leslie. He said that shipments are going out from four depots now and nine pressing plants are in currently in mass-production action.
“We didn’t get into this thing until last week, because we didn’t want to see anybody get into it.” But when others did, we felt we had to go,” said Leslie. “We’re replenishing supplies at the rate about 150,000 a day. There is one difficulty, however. Many dealers are now going into a sort of panic or shock that they won’t be able to get a supply. So some of them are duplicating or even tripling orders — the same orders. In other words, when one order is filled, they cancel the others, so you can have a certain inflation factor.”
Solid Action
John F. Kennedy THE PRESIDENTIAL YEARS 1960-1963 album. 20th Century-Fox(click image for larger view)
At 20th Century-Fox, which has issued a $3.98 list LP with numerous of the Kennedy speeches, label head Norman Weiser, said: “We’ve shipped 315,000 with no guarantees and no allocations. We’ve received a great response from Schirmer’s in New York and the whole Sears chain has come through nicely.”
Weiser said he understood the Handleman racking operation alone has accounted for 75,000 orders through its wholly owned ARC distributorship in Detroit.
Decca, which grabbed the the original TV sound track to the BBC-TV, “That Was The Week That Was,” memorializing Kennedy, also reports strong demand for its $4.98 list album. Decca, like most other labels with a Kennedy package, is turning a good portion of its proceeds over to charity, got a big column break from Dorothy Kilgallen, Monday, December 9.
Since that time, the company’s New York branch in Woodside, Queens, has been running orders all over the city by station wagon, while other major orders are being flown around the country. A spokesman estimated a possible sale of up to 250,000 albums by the first of the year.
Meanwhile, the activities on singles of the song “In The Summer Of His Years,” appear to be uncertain due to lack of any full-scale radio support for any of the disks. Versions now available are by Connie Stevens, MGM; Milicent Martin, ABC-Paramount; Toni Arden, Decca; Kate Smith, RCA Victor; Mahalia Jackson, Columbia, and Hettie London, Palace Records.
Late in the week, two other memorial singles appeared. One of these was by the Briarwood Singers, a folk-based vocal group on the United Artists label, who offered “He Was A Friend Of Mine.” At the same time, British actor-singer Tony Newley wrote and recorded his own tribute to the late-President Kennedy on his A Capella label. END.
From the MCRFB news archives: 1963
JFK RECORD URGE ON RISE
NEW YORK — The consumer demand for documentary material featuring the voice of the late-President John F. Kennedy indicated in last week’s Billboard seems to be intensifying.
The 20th Century-Fox label, which has an album culled from its Movietone News affiliate, “John F. Kennedy — The Presidential Years,” has received strong reactions to its package. The album contains actual news reel sound tracks of the inaugural address by the late President and other prominent speeches.
The label has done little to promote the album, but produced it for educational and historical purposes. Outside of initial calls to distributors (to let them know the Kennedy album was available) no follow-through or hype calls have been made., but the label has been inundated with high demand for the disk. END.
(Above two articles appeared in Billboard; December 21, 1963).
The Actual Voices And Events of FOUR DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD – The Complete Story – November 22-25, 1963
Produced in association with United Press International; 1963
Colpix Records No. CP 2500 XTV 89953; 1963
The Complete Story ‘FOUR DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD’ November 22-25, 1963
HAVING MADE the turn from Main Street, the Presidential limousine is on Houston headed towards Elm Street and the Texas School Book Depository Building. Friday, November 22, 1963. (Click on image 2x for a much larger detailed view).
P R O D U C E D B Y H E R B E R T S U S S A N | Colpix Records
P R O D U C E R ‘ S N O T E S
The FOUR DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLDis toldin three basic segments: first, Friday, November 22, the day of the assassination of President Kennedy . . . the day of shock . . . from early morning through the assassination until President Johnson’s first remarks at Andrews AFB as the new President.
The second section is the Lee Harvey Oswald story . . . from his capture in the Texas theater through his murder by Jack Ruby in the basement of the Dallas jail, to the announcement of his death.
The third major element covers the ceremonies and events in Washington from Friday, when the President’s body lay in repose in the White House, through the ceremonies at the Rotunda of the Capitol . . . through Monday . . . with the highlights of Mass . . . the procession to Arlington . . . and the events at the grave until the moments of the final taps.
The telling of this story in the limited time of a recording has been a great challenge. Compiled from more than 85 hours of audio tapes, this unprecedented example of audio journalism takes you directly into the scenes as as they happened and places you in the action . . . to create this memorable document in sound of the most dramatic four days in our times.
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
T H E W O R L D M O U R N S
The voices and events of ‘Four Days That Shocked The World‘ was produced within weeks after the assassination. The LP was finalized and was released in late-December 1963.
“President Kennedy died as a soldier, under fire, for his duty and in the service of his country. In the name of the French people, a friend at all times of the American people, I salute this great example and this great memory.” – Charles De Gaulle, President of France
“The loss to the United States and to the world is incalculable. Those who come after Mr. Kennedy must strive the more to achieve the ideals of world peace and human happiness and dignity to which his Presidency was dedicated.” — Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of Great Britain
“A heart-breaking tragedy has occurred. The world can ill afford at this time in our history to lose a man of his courage, which he displayed in war and which he displayed in peace.
“It is difficult for me to say anything more at this time. Our hearts are filled with sadness.” — Lester Pearson, Prime Minister of Canada
“The President’s shocking death deprives mankind of a compassionate champion of peace and brotherhood, his country of a courageous executive, his family of a loyal husband and father, his parents of a dutiful and devoted son.” — Pope Paul VI
“I shall remember my personal meetings with President John F. Kennedy as a person of broad outlook who realistically assessed the situation and tried to find ways for negotiated settlements which now divide the world.
“The Soviet government and the Soviet people share the grief of the American people over the great loss and express the hope that the search for settling disputed questions, a search to which President John F. Kennedy made a tangible contribution, would be continued in the interests of peace, for the benefit of mankind.
“Accept, Mr. President, my personal condolences.” — Nikita Khrushchev, Premier of the Soviet Union, in a telegram to President Johnson
F O U R D A Y S T H A T S H O C K E D T H E W O R L D
N A R R A T E D B Y R E I D C O L L I N S | WNEW Radio News
SIDE I
President Kennedy — Fort Worth Breakfast Speech
Arrival At Love Field, Dallas — Coverage By Joseph Long, KLIF, Dallas
At The Scene — At The Moment Motorcade Is Fired Upon — Coverage From The Texas School Book Depository
With A Mobile Radio Unit At-The-Scene With The Motorcade Speeding To Parkland Hospital Nearby The Presidential Limousine
Eyewitness Report Of The Actual Assassination
Announcement Of Last Rites By Father Oscar Huber And Of Death Of President Kennedy
Eyewitness Account –Ambulance Driver — Mrs. Kennedy Prior To Trip Back To Dallas
Eyewitness Report — Merriman Smith — Scene Aboard ‘Air Force One’ As Mrs. Kennedy Returns With The President’s Body, The Swearing-In Of President Johnson, And Flight To Washington
Actual Swearing-In Of Lyndon B. Johnson By Judge Sarah T. Hughes
Arrival At Andrews Air Force Base First Public Statement — President Lyndon B. Johnson
SIDE II
Dallas Policeman — Eyewitness Report Of Capture
Lee Harvey Oswald — Actual Voice Denial Of Guilt
Actual Court Charge Of Oswald
Reports of Investigations
Sunday Morning — Tensions Mount In Dallas
On-The-Spot Report From Basement Of Dallas Jail At The Moment Oswald is Shot By Jack Ruby — Exclusive Coverage — Ike Pappas, WNEW News
Oswald Rushed By Ambulance To Parkland Hospital
Police Identify Killer As Jack Ruby
On The Scene Report — Parkland Hospital
Oswald’s Death Announced
President Kennedy’s Body Lies In Repose In White House — November 23
President Kennedy’s Body Taken From White House To Capitol Rotunda
Final Playing Of “Hail To The Chief”
Chief Justice Warren — Eulogy (Excerpt)
Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield — Eulogy (Excerpt)
President Kennedy’s Body Lies In State in Rotunda
Mrs. Kennedy — Midnight Visit To Rotunda
Funeral Procession From Rotunda To St. Matthews Cathedral
Dignitaries From The Entire World Join Procession
Mass At St. Matthews Cathedral By Richard Cardinal Cushing (Excerpts)
Funeral Procession From St. Matthews Cathedral To Arlington Cemetery
Jet Fly-By — Arlington
Richard Cardinal Cushing — Prayer At Graveside
21 Gun Salute
Taps At Arlington
Flanked by the Armed Forces Military Honor Guard, President Kennedy’s flag-draped casket is carried to his final place of rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Monday, November 25, 1963.
REID COLLINS is the award-winning correspondent of America’s most honored independent radio news organization — WNEW, New York’s METROMEDIA Station. Winner of every major news award, WNEW covered the story of the President’s assassination from Dallas, Washington, New York and the foreign capitals of the world. Collins reported the four days from Friday, November 22nd through Monday, November 25th, from the nation’s capitol. Narration (Washington sequence) written by Reid Collins, WNEW.
HERBERT SUSSAN, producer of FOUR DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD, is an Executive Producer supervising International Production for Screen Gems, Inc. He is former National Director of Special Programs for NBC-TV, was the senior Producer of the highly-acclaimed WIDE WIDE WORLD television series, and is a veteran TV Producer-Director.
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL now has recorded the tragic events of November, 1963, in words, still pictures, motion picture film and sound. For the UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL this record represents reporting in a new dimension. UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL is happy to be associated with COLPIX RECORDS in the production of a permanent recording of these “Four Days That Shocked The World.”
EARL J. JOHNSON Vice President & Editor UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Don Kirschner
WE AT COLPIX RECORDS have been determined to create an historical document of lasting significance out of the four heartbreaking days that began with President Kennedy’s speech at Fort Worth and ended with taps at Arlington. It was a task that required intense care and attention from everyone concerned with its preparation. Hours of audio tapes and hundreds of exclusive photos and filmstrips were utilized in production of this unique and special album. To the UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL for its permission to use this material and to all the reporters on radio, and in the press, whose on-the-spot coverage made this album possible — our sincere gratitude.
DON KIRSCHNER Executive Vice President Music and Record Division Columbia Pictures-Screen Gems TV
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COLPIX RECORDS IS A DIVISION OF COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION (c. 1963)
‘PRESIDENT SHOT DEAD‘: New York City subway transients and commuters reading the tragic news on their way home. The New York Journal-American and New York World-Telegram. Late-Friday evening, November 22, 1963.(click on image 2x for largest view).
ABOUT THIS ALBUM
‘FOUR DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD‘ contained the information as was transcribed verbatim, above. These were the actual words found in print inside the album’s gate-fold spread. The album cover also contained “15 color and black and white photographs which were part of the extensive photographic coverage of these events by the United Press International.” A portion of royalties accrued to Colpix Records was donated to the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation for Research on Mental Retardation.
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All photos above were selected randomly by the author for this feature.
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In the January 18, 1964 issue of Billboard, ‘FOUR DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD’ was described as, “The most important record of our time. Not an album of speeches — you are there as the most dramatic flow of events become history.”
A MCRFB VIEWING TIP: To fully appreciate this WJBK Radio 15 November 22, 1963 chart feature — to enlarge chart image FULL SCREEN — click on the image and open to second window. See ‘Original size: ‘2550 × 3300‘ at the top/left and click on that link for EXPANDED LARGEST VIEW (twice). Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size. (Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB main home page).
