Day: June 15, 2012
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: THE GRASS ROOTS * 1967 * HD TRUE STEREO
ATLANTIC’S RECORD ‘HOT’ SINGLES WEEK… MAY 4, 1968
From the MCRFB news archive:
Atlantic Records Biggest Singles Week In U.S.
NEW YORK — Atlantic Records hit it’s biggest single sales week in a seven-day span last week, shipping more than 1,500,000 disk copies to Atlantic and Atco Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records.
The top selling singles on Atlantic include, “It’s A Beautiful Morning,” by the Young Rascals, “Tighten Up,” by Archie Bell and The Drells, “Sweet Inspiration,” by the Sweet Inspirations, “I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free),” by Solomon Burke, “Tribute To A King,” by William Bell, and “I Have A Dream,” (Amanda) by the Hudson Chorale.
On Atco the biggest sellers were, “Funky Street,” by Arthur Conley, “Jumbo,” by the Bee Gees, “Going Away,” by the Fireballs, “Anyone For Tennis?,” by the Cream, and the “Happy Song,” by the late Otis Redding, on Volt Records. END.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50xSq-knduk
(Information and news source: Billboard; May 4, 1968).
ATLANTIC DEALS ARETHA NEW CONTRACT . . . MAY 4, 1968
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1968
WEXLER, ATLANTIC RECORDS SIGN ARETHA TO NEW LONG-TERM RECORD DEAL
NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin and Atlantic Records have negotiated a new contract, despite her original contract with the label had several years left open before it would have expired contractually. At a luncheon at the Hotel St. Regis last Thursday, April 25, the Atlantic organization were on hand to celebrate her new deal and her imminent departure on her first European concert tour.
Jerry Wexler, Atlantic’s executive vice-president, said that Miss Franklin will receive one of the largest guarantee ever given to any recording star but to reveal the sum would be in “gross taste.”
Miss Franklin signed with Atlantic Records in October, 1966, and her first single was issued in February, 1967. Since then she has had five singles releases that have sold more than 1 million copies, including an album that has garnered sales of over $1 million. Over the past year she has swept virtually every award in the record industry.
Miss Franklin’s European tour begins in Rotterdam, Sunday, May 5 and winds up in Stockholm on Thursday, May 9. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; May 4, 1968)
