Author: Jim Feliciano

STATIONS SAY NO TO BEATLES’ DISKS… AUGUST 13, 1966

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

LENNON COMMENTS REGARDING ‘JESUS AND CHRISTIANITY’ SPARKS OUTRAGE, GROUP’S MUSIC AIRPLAY BAN ACROSS U. S.

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK — The radio ban against playing Beatles’ records, which was begun last week by Tommy Charles and Doug Layton, WAQY, Birmingham, Alabama, has spread across the country, with dozens of stations refusing to program or play recordings by the British group.

British magazine Datebook July 29, 1966 issue with the controversial “Jesus” Lennon comment which fueled universal outrage around the world.

Cause of the controversy is a statement published in a British magazine, Datebook, dated July 29, 1966 and attributed to John Lennon. The statement follows:

“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that: I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary.”

At a press conference held here late Friday, August 5, Brian Epstein, Beatles’ manager, said the statement was taken out of context. Epstein explained that Lennon meant “in the last 50 years the Church of England and, therefore Christ, had suffered a decline in interest.”

While the statement, confirmed by a Beatles spokesman, went virtually unnoticed in England, the reaction in this country was immediate.

In the aftermath of Lennon’s comments, Beatles records were banned from radio airplay by dozens of stations, sparked by B. J. Williams, seen here, a deejay from KSWO, Lawton, Oklahoma. (Click on image for larger view).

Greater impact has been in the so-called “Bible Belt” which is mainly in the southeast portion of the United States. But the ban has extended to other sections of the country. New York’s WABC has reportedly put Beatles records on the verboten list, but, at press time, the switchboard operator at the station said that not one of the station’s staff members could be reached.

B. J. Williams, deejay at KSWO, Lawton, Oklahoma, called for a Beatles “bonfire” and broke the Beatles’ latest record while on the air.

In Milwaukee, WOKY music director King Kbornik said he would not ban the record until he had seen Lennon’s remarks in print.

The extent of the ban is not known, but a majority of the nation’s radio stations will continue to program Beatles records. The group is scheduled to perform a concert at New York’s Shea Stadium August 23.

A spokesperson for Capitol Records, which issues Beatles recordings under it’s logo in the United States, said Lennon’s remarks were “quoted out of context and misconstrued.” END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; August 13, 1966)

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VEE-JAY RECORDS OFFICIALLY BANKRUPT . . . AUGUST 13, 1966

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

CURTAIN DOWN ON VEE-JAY AS LIQUIDATION IS ORDERED

 

 

 

 

Vee-Jay Records logo 1963 – 1965

CHICAGO — Vee-Jay Records, which scaled the sales heights before losing the Beatles in 1964, plunged into formal bankruptcy here last week.

In a hearing in U. S. District Court August 1, an offer by a West Coast combine to acquire the debt-ridden Chicago recording company was withdrawn and the court ordered receiver Gerald W. Grace to liquidate the company.

The acquisition offer was withdrawn because Vee-Jay’s obligation to the U. S. Government were considered excessive, Billboard has learned.

Vee-Jay has been in Chapter 11 status since early this year when President James Bracken announced that the firm had filed a petition for financial arrangement.

“The proceedings were instituted with the expectation that the corporation could be reorganized on a sound financial basis,” Bracken said.

In a hearing in May, a group represented by attorney William Bluestein of Los Angeles announced interest in acquiring Vee-Jay, which then owed the government about $1.5 million and had nearly $2 million in outstanding debts.

Bluestein’s group was interested in acquiring 69 4 Seasons masters, which were bid for at the same hearing by counsel for the 4 Seasons group. Bluestein’s interests would have made a financial arrangement with the government and would have paid creditors a dime on the dollar or 1/10th of 100 percent owed to each creditor.

‘The 4 Seasons Sing‘ on Vee-Jay Records; 1963. (Click on image for larger view)

The 4 Seasons contract with Vee-Jay Records reportedly called for the masters to revert to their agents, Genious, Inc., in the event of company bankruptcy. The masters will undoubtedly find their way into the catalog of Philips Records, a Mercury Records affiliate, also based in Chicago. The masters in question were awarded to Vee-Jay in a settlement following the signing of the group by Philips.

Vee-Jay suspended all operations here in May. The company was founded in Chicago in 1953, moved to Los Angeles in 1964 and returned last year. When the label returned to Chicago, the company had such artists as Jerry Butler, Betty Everett, Jimmy Reed, Little Richard, John Lee Hooker, the Dells, Joe Paige, Russ Morgan, Harry (Sweets) Edison, Fred Hughes, Joe Simon, Orville Couch and several gospel acts. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; August 13, 1966)

Who owns the Beatles? Capitol Records vs. Vee-Jay Records, “cease and desist,” legal wranglings and continuous copyright ownership infringements claims against the Vee-Jay label, as this 1963 telegram would suggest, brought an ultimate end to Vee-Jay Records. The company was sued out of the business by mid-1966.
Beatles LP on Vee-Jay Records, released early-1965.

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WXYZ DETROIT PROMOTES SUMMER ‘SOUNDTACULAR’ CONTEST . . . JULY 14, 1962

A MCRFB news brief:

Deliberate Errors Sparks Contest Promotion

 

 

 

 

 

Bush 1962 transistor portable radio ad.

DETROIT — Station WXYZ pulled out a collection of over 500 hit records from 1957 through 1961 for a summer “Soundtacular” held here last week.

The big five-day salute to the recorded hits of the past five years was supported by newspaper advertising and a heavy schedule of radio and television announcements.

Working from a special list prepared by the WXYZ program department, the station’s six popular music personalities incorporated “Soundtacular” tunes into all programs.

The tunes and their year of popularity were deliberately identified incorrectly. Listeners were asked to listen for the errors and send corrections in.

Winner’s choice of a current popular hit LP, either by Connie Francis, Elvis Presley, Annette, Chubby Checker, Joanie Summers, Freddy Cannon or Shelly Fabare, along with a portable transistor radio, were awarded daily to contestants listing the most errors. END.

‘Palisades Park,’ by Freddie Cannon (Swan Records 507) 1962 LP

 (Information and news source: Billboard; July 14, 1962).

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FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: OCTOBER 13

From the MCRFB music calendar:

Events on this date: OCTOBER 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank and Bing on CBS-TV Sunday, October 13, 1957 promoting the brand-new 1957 Edsel by the Ford Motor Company. (Click on image for larger view).

1957: CBS television (see YouTube “The Edsel Show”, below) presents a star-studded new musical variety special sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, featuring Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and the Four Preps all singing praises of… the Ford Edsel, a new model which would soon be considered the standard by which all automobiles flops are measured.

1962: At London’s Prince of Wales Theater, the Everly Brothers’ Don Everly collapses from exhaustion during rehearsal for the duo’s upcoming tour of the U. K. Brother Phil continues the tour alone.

1963: Beatlemania begins in earnest as the Beatles appears on the popular BBC television show Sunday Night At The Palladium, performing “She Loves You,” “From Me To You,” “I’ll Get You,” and “Twist And Shout.” 15 million people in the U. K. alone watch the live performance on television, while thousands of fans pack Argyll street to catch a glimpse of the group.

1968: Ex-Supreme Florence Ballard gives birth to premature twin daughters, Michelle and Nicole.

1970: The ashes of Janis Joplin are scattered into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Stinson Beach in California.

Neil Young in 1975. (Click on image for larger view).

1975: Neil Young undergoes throat surgery in Los Angeles to remove a growth from his vocal cords.

1990: In a move that stuns his longtime fans, Bob Dylan is invited to perform at the West Point Military Academy. Oddly, he take the opportunity to perform his scathing anti-war attack “Masters Of War”; even more strangely, a cadre of cadets turn his protest song “Blowin’ In The Wind” into a choral unified singalong.

2000: The Eagles’ Don Henley is sued by a fan who claims the singer bashed her on the head with a pair of maracas after she tried to take his picture at a concert in Arkansas.

Country great Merle Haggard.

2001: Country legend Merle Haggard, who has a history of heart disease, cancels the remainder of his U. S. tour after complaining of tightness in his chest.

2004: The US Internal Revenue Service charges Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers with five counts of tax evasion for failing to report income from 1997 through 2002. Exactly one year later to the day, he goes on trial in Los Angeles for the charges and is sentenced to three years in prison.

 

Deaths: Ed Sullivan; 1974. Shirley Brickley (Orlons); 1977. Wade Flemons (Earth, Wind and Fire); 1993. Craig Atkinson (Count Five); 1998. Peter Doyle (New Seekers); 2001.

Releases: “American Pie,” Don McLean; 1971.

Recording: “Problems,” Everly Brothers; 1958. “Drive My Car,” Beatles; 1965. “My Generation,” The Who; 1965. “Julia,” Beatles; 1968.

Charts: 1958: ‘Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely,’ (LP) Frank Sinatra; hits No. 1 on the LP charts. 1973: ‘Goat’s Head,’ Rolling Stones; hits No. 1 on the LP charts. 1979: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You get Enough,” Michael Jackson; hits No. 1 on the charts.

Certification: 1971: “Go Away Little Girl,” Donny Osmond; certified gold by the RIAA.

The 1957 Ford Edsel Corsair.

 

And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day….

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DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND CAPTURES WINDY CITY . . . MAY 4, 1963

From the MCRFB news archives:

Chicago Motown Stay Proves Huge Success For Berry Gordy’s Detroit Hit Makers

 

 

 

 

CHICAGO — These days mention personal appearance tours in the Windy City and the name of the Tamla-Motortown Review is sure to crop up. The 10-act bill opened in Chicago’s Regal Theater last week for the first of a series of appearances that will last into June. It’s been strictly SRO (standing room only) all week, so much so, if fact, that the Regal changed from a three to four-show-per-day policy. Tamla-Motown has so much success during the past year with its tour that in September the review will be broken into three separate shows, each featuring several of the tour’s top stars plus some new Tamla-Motown talent.

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas with a few “memories” from 1963. (Click on image for larger view).

Meanwhile in other current Motown news, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas will break with their first album this week. It includes their big single hit, “Come And Get These Memories,” while the Miracles celebrate their fifth year together with an anniversary album that includes some of their early hits, many of which are nigh impossible to get: “Bad Girl,” “Get A Job” and “I Need Some Money,” they are three of the best.

May is birthday month at Tamla-Motown. Sandra Brown is first up on the third, Billie Jean Brown follows on the 12th. Mary Wells and Barney Ales, Tamla-Motown vice-president, both share the 13th., and Gladys Horton, lead singer of the Marvelettes, will wind up the month with one on the 30th.

Most of the Tamla-Motown group were in Chicago to catch the Regal opening. Berry Gordy, Jr., made it back just in time from his European tour which ended last month. . . . Billie Jean Brown and Sandra Edwards, together with Billie Jean’s mother, Mrs. Angie M. Brown, tours the city’s sights, stopping in for a fast hello and luncheon with a Billboard magazine reporter. Incidentally, Billie Jean and Sandra are the two girls who did “Camelwalk” by the Beljeans on Gordy last September. END.

 

(Information and news source: Billboard; May 4, 1963).

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in the 1960s.

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ROLLING STONES FIRST U.S. TOUR UP DISK SALES… JUNE 27, 1964

From the MCRFB news archives:

BRITISH BAND GENERATES INCREASED RECORD SALES POTENTIAL FOR LONDON RECORDS

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK — The record sales pickup of the Rolling Stones in the United States is attributed by London Records executives Herb Goldfarb and Walt Maguire to the British group’s recent tour here. Both Goldfarb and Maguire, in their capacity as national sales-distribution managers, pop artist and repertoire sales head, respectively, collaborated on an all-out promotion effort tied in with the Rolling Stones’ visit here — and it paid off.

The Rolling Stones in ’64. (Click on image for larger view).

The Rolling Stone album, according to Goldfarb, is pushing the 100,000 sales mark. Their first single release, “Tell Me,” hit the best selling charts and spark the release last week of a follow-up single, “Not Fade Away,” which according to them, “is already on its way.”

In conjunction with the Rolling Stone U.S. tour, London applied a variety of merchandising techniques to help spark sales of their disks. The company had distributed around the country Rolling Stones streamers, easels, special deejay kits with photos introduction and history of the band, buttons and stickers, posters to help build interest and promote further exposure in the Rolling Stones. Both Goldfarb and Maguire admit that the promotion had added up to a hefty coin outlay but with the disk orders coming in at a steady rate, the sudden push for the label’s English band and their sound has turned out to be a profitable investment.

The Rolling Stones have been touring the U. S. since June 1, and wound up their appearances with two shows at New York’s Carnegie Hall last Saturday, June 20. They were due to leave the United States returning to England on June 21. END.

 

Addendum: According to Wikipedia and the All Music websites, The Rolling Stones, subtitled England’s Newest Hit Makers, is the American debut album by the Rolling Stones, having been released by London Records on May 30th, 1964.

The track “Mona (I Need Your Loving)” was in the U. K. (Decca Records) early-1964 album version, but that title been removed and was replaced with “Not Fade Away” (the A-side of the band’s third U. K. release) in the U. S. (London Records) LP release. Upon its release, ‘England’s newest Hit Makers’ reached No. 11 in the U. S., and hit the RIAA gold standard for sales in albums, according to Billboard’s 1964 album charts.

According to Wikipedia, the Rolling Stones American debut album was the only Stones LP which had failed to place in the ‘top five’ on the Billboard Album charts to date.

 

(Information and news source: Billboard; June 27, 1964).

A snapshot of the Rolling Stones on stage — performing in their first U. S. tour in June, 1964.

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FLASHBACK MOTOR CITY HAPPENINGS ’68 . . . JUNE 15, 1968

From the MCRFB news archive: 1968

Music Happenings In and Around Detroit Town, 1968

 

 

 

 

 

Detroit’s own Parliaments in 1967. George Clinton is facing west on the extreme right. (Click on image for larger view).

DETROIT — The Delfonics have just ended a 10-day engagement at the 20 Grand Club, with the Vibrations and Barbara Mason the current attraction at that night spot. This is Miss Mason’s first appearance in Detroit. . . . The Phelps Lounge presented a somewhat Motor-town revue of sorts May 24 – June 2 including Jimmy Ruffin, the Parliaments, the Bandwagon, Betty Lavette, Jimmy Delphs, Little Carl Carlton, and Louis Curry. The recording of “Baby Make Your Sweet Music” by the Bandwagon was one of the first to break as a result of a promotional film. The record was listed as a national breakout here after an initial four weeks of TV film exposure. . . . Diana Ross and the Supremes have just completed a six-day engagement at the Fisher Theater, located in the Fisher Building on W. Grand Blvd., just several blocks away from the Motown studios. . . . From Detroit has come two productions on the popular phrase “here comes the judge.” One is by the Buena Vistas on the local Marquee Records and the other hit is by Shorty Long on Motown’s own Soul records subsidiary. . . . Florence Ballard, formerly of the Supremes and now recording for ABC Records, appeared last Thursday, June 6, on the Swingin’ Time TV show for host Robin Seymour on CKLW TV 9.

Ex-Supreme Florence Ballard signed with ABC Records in 1968.

WCHB Radio will present its annual “WCHB Talent Contest” on Saturday, June 22 at the Fox Theater. Each year the station holds auditions for new local talents and presents the best acts in one show along with various artists of the Motown stable. The Motown acts chosen to perform this year have not been announced as of yet.

. . . . The June Jazz Festival is booked into the Masonic Temple Auditorium for Saturday, June 22. Jazz artists scheduled to appear include Donald Byrd and his Quintet, Quartet Tres Bien. Jean DuShon, Stanley Turrentine, and the Shirley Scott Trio. . . . Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass will appear in concert on Monday, June 17, at the Cobo Hall Arena. . . . WKNR-FM has initiated a progressive rock format, slated officially commencing Monday, June 10, and reports excellent reaction after only a few days of operation, according to WKNR-AM and FM music director Paul Cannon. END

ADDENDUM (Update): Donald Byrd, legendary jazz man from Detroit, died February 7, 2013 at age of 80. For more on this obit/story, go here, courtesy the freep.com online.

Jazz great Donald Byrd entertaining NYC subway transits in 1959. Years later Byrd would entertain Detroiters at the Masonic Auditorium in June, 1968

(Information and news source: Billboard; June 15, 1968).

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