QUEEN OF SOUL CORONATED DAY IN DETROIT . . . MARCH 3, 1968

A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1968

Aretha Sets Concert Mark in the Motor City

DETROIT — Aretha Franklin’s “homecoming” concert at Cobo Hall here, Friday, February 16 set a record for a single concert event, a record set for the auditorium. The concert hit a $60,000 gross playing to an audience of 12,000.

February 16 was named “Aretha Franklin Day” by the mayor of Detroit, Jerome P. Cavanaugh, to mark the Atlantic record artist first concert in Detroit in over a year. Following the concert, Jay-Kay Distributors and Atlantic Records held a party for the singer at the Pontchartrain Hotel attended by local disk jockeys, dealers and friends, family members were seen in attendance as well of Miss Franklin. END

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Information and news source: Billboard; March 3, 1968

February 16, 1968: Detroit Declares “Aretha Franklin Day”

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Aretha (Click image for larger view) — **Aretha** *(Click image for larger view)*

By February 1968, Aretha Franklin had established herself as among the world’s premier recording artists, her genre-spanning recordings achieving commercial and critical acclaim, and appealing to mixed-race audiences around the world. The previous year had seen the release of “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You),” her triumphant Atlantic Records debut produced by Jerry Wexler and recorded with an ace backing band at Rick Hall’s Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The landmark soul recording included Franklin’s righteous re-working of Otis Redding‘s “Respect,” which rose to Number One on the Billboard Hot 100, and the inspired candor and groove of the album’s title track. That same year, Wexler and engineer Tom Dowd worked with Franklin on her sophomore effort for Atlantic, ‘Aretha Arrives,’ which included the hit single “Baby I Love You,” peaking at Number Four on the Billboard Hot 100. Less than a year later, in January 1968, ‘Lady Soul’ arrived, featuring “Chain of Fools” and “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like),” the latter written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Both singles charted in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. It was in 1968 that legendary deejay Pervis Spann, “The Blues Man,” ceremoniously placed a crown atop Franklin’s head during a performance at Chicago’s Regal Theater, announcing her as the “Queen of Soul” – a moniker that remains undisputed. Her success and the subsequent adoration of a growing legion of fans set the stage for a momentous homecoming performance.

On February 16, 1968, Franklin led a stellar performance at Detroit’s Cobo Hall. At the show, Detroit Mayor Jerome P. Cavanaugh declared the date as “Aretha Franklin Day,” while local disc jockey Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg – who helped host the event – proclaimed Franklin “everybody’s soul sister.” The evening also included the presentation of plaques and certificates from representatives of music-trade publications, to wit Billboard, Cash Box and Record World, who all recognized Franklin for her contributions and success in 1967. The packed crowd of more than 12,000 people loudly cheered for their Queen, and were treated to a lively 90-minute set from Franklin, who moved between her piano and charismatically owning the stage in a sleek, lime-green dress, her collar and hips wrapped in fanciful feather adornments, while sporting dangling globe earrings and a stylish hair up-do. The Sweet Inspirations, which included vocalist Cissy Houston, backed Franklin that evening, delighting the crowd with soaring versions of “Natural Woman,” “Respect” and many more from Franklin’s impressive catalog.

Among the evening’s many highlights was the appearance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had flown to Detroit to attend the concert and recognize Franklin with a special award from the Southern Christian Leadership Council. Franklin’s father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin, was active in the SCLC, as well as a fiery, in-demand preacher famous for his impassioned sermons and singing voice. King and Franklin’s father were friends and shared a mutual admiration fostered during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, making King’s presentation to Aretha both personal and declarative, recognizing the female performer’s role in defining African-American identity. Although he had laryngitis and could not speak, King’s presence caused a stir. Rita Griffin of the Michigan Chronicle recalled of the moment Franklin and King shared on stage: “[King] never said a word, because he couldn’t. But you could just feel the impact his presence had – just him being there… All 12,000 people in that room cared for him – you could feel it.” Almost seven week later, Dr. King was killed in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968.

In the immediate years that followed, Franklin would release a remarkable body of material. Between 1970 and 1972 alone, she released five albums – ‘Spirit In The Dark,’ ‘This Girl’s In Love With You,’ ‘Live At Filmore West,’ ‘Young, Gifted And Black,’ and ‘Amazing Grace’ –that provided illuminating, poignant commentary on American life and culture – past, present and future. (source: rockhall.com).

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(Information from web sources: Wikipedia, Bio, Rock Hall Fame, NPR, and All Music)

Addendum: Below: An actual video clip of Lady Soul from the “Aretha Franklin Day” event held at Cobo Hall, in Detroit, February 16, 1968.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L4Bonnw484

TASTE IT ALL, DIET COKE * 1993

Taste It All Diet Coke – 1993.mp3

NINE DAYS AFTER RELEASE ‘RUBBER SOUL’ MILLION SELLER . . . JANUARY 1, 1966

A MCRFB NEWS brief: 1966

‘RUBBER SOUL’ A WHOPPER FOR BEATLES

NEW YORK – The Beatles have topped themselves – again – their latest Capitol album sold 1,200,000 copies in its first nine days on the market. This, according to Capitol Records, breaks every sales record previously held by the Beatles.

Capitol reports that the album has been selling at a clip of about 140,000 copies a day ever since its release on December 6, 1965. The new Beatles LP picked up its heaviest sales in the New York area, selling over 200,000 copies in nine days. In at least four other areas, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, sales figures total well over 100,000 for the same period.

Capitol initial allocation on “Rubber Soul” of two million units is also its largest ever, on any album. As of mid-month (December figures), 60 per cent of that allocation sold.

The album was formally certified by the RIAA as a million seller last week. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 1, 1966)

MCRFB Addendum

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From the MCRFB aircheck library listen here when WKNR’s Bob Green debuted also, for the very first time on his show a track from the newly-released ‘Rubber Soul’ LP on Keener 13 in December, 1965 . . . “. . . And this one is showing up on the Top 3 plus 1 voting nightly on the Scott Regen Show.”

SEE YOU BACK ON MONDAY !

OR MAYBE THIS SHOULD READ,

THIS DAY: PHILIPS SIGN ‘FOUR SEASONS’ TO LABEL . . . JANUARY 18, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

GROUP EXITS VEE-JAY LABEL; CREWE TO CONTINUE PRODUCTION REIGN WITH GROUP AT PHILIPS

CHICAGO — The Four Seasons have been signed by Philips Records. The group has enjoyed a half-dozen singles smashes in the last 16 months, three were No. 1 entries previously held on the Billboard charts. All of their hits, as well as five of the group’s albums, were introduced on the Vee-Jay label.

Under the terms of the new deal, Philips will release recordings by the group throughout the world through its overseas affiliate. Their initial single, “Dawn,” is due out at once. Disks by the group will continue to be produced by Bob Crewe.

The original Vee-Jay deal involved an agreement between Crew’s production firm from the label, with the masters leased to Vee-Jay. A Crew spokesman stated that they terminated this arrangement last year because of what they called “breaches” and violations in the agreement found with Vee-Jay Records. Since that time, the group has been without a recording contract.

Among the Four Seasons principal hits were “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Ain’t That A Shame,” “Candy Girl” and “New Mexican Rose.” END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 18, 1964)