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THIRTEEN WEEKS overall on the singles chart, “A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles peaked at #1 this week (2 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Beginning July 26 through week ending, August 8, 1964. (Source: Billboard)
For our previous Billboard 1964 Number One U.S.A. Hits go HERE
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“Scott Regen was a phenomenon, um, that just happened, and I just went along for the ride.”
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Right after having signed on WSAI’s Dick (formerly Paul in Cincinnati) Purtan in May 1965, WKNR, the number one Detroit radio station, created much fanfare and media publicity in promoting the arrival of Scott Regen to Detroit from Kansas City’s WHB.
Days before Scott Regen’s arrival to the station, WKNR gave its listeners daily “travel updates” on Keener 13, as Scott Regen loomed closer and closer to his scheduled arrival to the Dearborn studios, scheduled for the evening of Thursday, May 20, 1965.
Today, in honoring Scottie on his 80th birthday, Motor City Radio Flashbacks presents a collage of promos and memories recorded for the famed ’60s WKNR Keener legend.
These WKNR Scott Regen promos were recorded in 1965, 1966 and 1967. You will hear nearly 40 minute of Keener moments Scottie Regen shared in studio (and out) with many of the greatest ’60s pop stars, artists and groups who appeared on the Scott Regen Show, heard nightly 7-10 p.m. on WKNR.
During these noted ‘Keener’ years, Scott Regen became the No. 1 night-time radio disk jockey in Detroit. Just the same, it was during those years Scottie accomplished a phenomenal 25-29 ratings share of the Detroit radio audience — tuning in to his nightly show on Keener 13.
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Happy Birthday, Scottie! And thank you for all the WKNR memories 🙂
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The featured audio file was enhanced by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
— A WORD ABOUT THIS BOOK —
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Dear Reader,
On my journey of understanding and spiritual love, my life and values have changed, as may have yours, and not without acute conflict. These poems reflect those times and changes.
This book is dedicated to our spiritual unfolding, to the “progressive realization” of our Original Mind by whatever name we choose to give it.
And so with that in mind, we can each ask ourselves, how in our everyday daily life, can we progressively realize — or remember — might be a more accurate way of saying it — our True Spiritual Nature?
One way of expressing the answer to that question is: we can try to practice — each in our own way — and there are thousands of ways — there is no one way — what we are taught via Eastern spiritual thinking, exemplified in A Course In Miracles:
“When you meet anyone, remember it is a holy encounter. As you see him you will see yourself. As you treat him you will treat yourself. As you think of him you will think of yourself. Never forget this, for in him you will find yourself or lose yourself.”
“You should look out from the perception of your own holiness to the holiness of others.”
Namaste to each of you in all you do.
Robert Bernstein, (aka Scott Regen, WKNR; CKLW; WCAR; WDRQ; WMJC) ‘Once Upon Time’
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The revised edition (June 17, 2021) is available on Amazon Books for 13.95: GO HERE
‘Once Upon Time’, by Scott Regen (Revised edition), is available on Amazon Books GO HERE
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“Your author is a man who was there in the 60s, helping to make Rock ’n’ Roll what it came to be. He knew the artists, he was even responsible many times for what should be released and what shouldn’t. He was spot-on every time. Whether you were listening to his radio program or not, he affected your life.
This book is Reflective and Genuine, Peaceful and Rewarding, Spiritual and Thought Provoking. Read this book and Scottie/Robert will touch your life yet again.”
Pat St.John, SiriusXM Satellite Radio
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“Scott Regen / Robert Bernstein has special powers of imagination and expressions. As a kid growing up in Detroit in the ’60s, he was by far my favorite DJ on WKNR and CKLW. Poetry is a special description of all he does.
Time, it never comes back, but fifty years ago seems like yesterday to me when the radio listening moments were so profound and wonderful.
Here is “Once Upon Time”. I love this book, my favorite book of poems, from my favorite poet. And all from the heart. Scottie tells it like it is.”
Michael Groen, WKNR, WRIF (Detroit)
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“In my years of knowing Robert, I have never seen him move forward in actions that deny the values and balance that create the incredible man he is. His poetry book is an extension of his character. Not only is it creative and spiritually welcoming, but it maintains his elevated level of integrity and belief.
It was gratifying for me to read it, and understand the logic behind his literal and spiritual wisdom. I highly recommend it. You will be pleased, I assure.”
Namaste, Helena Falcon
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“Robert has been my ‘Course in Miracles’ instructor and spiritual mentor for the past seven years. This book was written about times in his life, both before and after he discovered the course’s teachings.
Reading the book for me was a nostalgic trip going back to the 60’s rock and roll era, the dawning of the hippie generation.
It is written with humor, grace and spirituality. It is a heartwarming collection of poetry, commentaries and verse, written about the way we look at the world, and how we relate to both happy and troubled times.”
Chris Miller
Note: More thoughts and ‘reflections’ can be found in Scott Regen’s ‘Once Upon Time’
— A PERSONAL THOUGHT —
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For it is a wonderfully different type of book. Robert Bernstein (aka as Scott Regen) writes to us from the heart. He has penned a myriad of poems and lines deeply illuminating life’s journeys, chastened at times, by the human spirit. What is seen. What is not. What is past. What is present. The good. The bad. What is known. What is not.
‘Once Upon Time’ (new revised edition; June 2021) will take the reader into a journey which will stir the imagination of the soul. And if one permits, refresh, if only momentarily, the mind itself.
For what is written within these pages will make you reflect on your own life and mortality, your own time and place. Read. Pause. And thereby think. For you may see what may lie therein between the lines.
Scottie Regen is much more today than a legendary ’60s Detroit radio disk jockey. In that today, he is a man attuned to positive and personally profound spiritual thinking, graced with inner peace. Mind, body and soul.
Jim Feliciano
Curator, Motor City Radio Flashbacks
A revised edition (June 17, 2021) is available on Amazon Books for 13.95: GO HERE
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‘This black and white, less costly version of this book, picks up from when the Beatles, Dylan, flower power and the sixties left off.’
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A rare ABC/WXYZ Radio brochure from early-1963. The featured flyer was distributed freely for station visitors, clients, sales staff, and media personnel. The Broadcast House studios was located on Ten Mile Rd., near Northwestern Hwy., in Southfield, Michigan.
WXYZ 1270. Fifty-eight years ago.
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NOTE: For a formidable look-back of WXYZ and its legendary, Detroit broadcasting glory years (previously published on this site), please go HERE.
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NEW! A special THANK YOU to Ray Tessier, of Allen Park, MI., for contributing this rare WXYZ brochure with Motor City Radio Flashbacks 🙂
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The above WXYZ flyer was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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His Biggest Hurdle Now Behind Him, Sam Cooke Looks Toward the Adult Market
MUSIC BUSINESS — (7/11/1964) — The young and talented in our time face a depressing reality. The very mass media which serve to promote and parade them before the public (press, radio, television, recordings) play a double role: they are also the harbingers of obsolescence. The “too much, too soon” machinery has a will of its own, and few understand the mechanics of escaping it. Hopefully, Sam Cooke does.
At 29, Cooke can already look back on seven exceptionally successful years in show business. A graduate of one of the finest gospel singing groups, the Soul Stirrers, Cooke’s first single hit as a soloist was his self-penned “You Send Me,” which appeared on the Keene label. Shortly thereafter he was signed by RCA Victor Records and his career slowly took shape. And it is a solid shape. His last ten singles have all made Top 20 in the country.
Long term success is rarely an accident. For Cooke, it has been a case of meticulous planning, and a constant need on the part of the artist for reappraisal of his abilities – particularly as a live performer. “I remember my first stab at the Copa. I had just two hit singles and was booked as a second string act. I wasn’t prepared. I had no conception of an act, lacked stage presence and made little identity with lyrics. It was a painful lesson.”
Others who recall that particular date are easier on Cooke than he is on himself. But he vowed then he’d be a pro before he returned.
When he opened there, June 24, as head-liner, there was something of a vengeance in the first half of the opening set. He was tight and visibly nervous. But then, the real Sam came through and he had his audience with him from there on in – even to singing and clapping while he fed them the lyrics to “If I Had A Hammer.” A pretty risky trick for the staid Copa crowd — but it worked. Cooke has finally broken into the adult market, and he intends to stay there.
Yet there is something enigmatic about Cooke’s past five years as a performer. He has been virtually protected from the adult market, which is hard to reconcile in this day and age. All the while, he has had a tremendous teen following, and the Negro community know him as a “star.” At New York’s Town Hill, for instance, he earns $12,500 per week as a headliner.
When he plays the Apollo in Harlem he breaks attendance records (52,000 his last week there). Yet, his manager of nine months, Allen Klein, when asked why he’d waited so long for the Copa booking, he explained, “Frankly, they didn’t want him. ‘Who’s Cooke,’ they asked. His current booking there wasn’t even set until May.”
Klein has ambitious plans for Cooke’s future, with murmurs of a Carnegie Hall concert and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, as well as the European scene. Cooke recently left the William Morris Agency and signed with G.A.C., where Buddy Howe is in charge of him. “Howe’s one of the best talent builders in the business,” offers Klein.
Klein explained, “We’re ready to go all the way with Sam. This past year has been a brief hiatus for Sam — he’s not given any personal appearances, save one, so that he could orient himself to the change in his career. Now we’re set to run with it.”
If Cooke’s business acumen is any indication of his talent for carrying things out, there’s little doubt that he’ll make his presence felt. He owns his own publishing firm (Kags) and two record labels, Derby and Sar. As a composer, he’s been responsible for most of his hit record tunes, including “You Send Me,” “Every-body Likes to Cha Cha Cha,” “Only Sixteen,” “Chain Gang,” “Having A Party,”“Cupid,” “Twistin’ The Night Away,” “Another Saturday Night,” “Ain’t That Good News,” and “Good Times,” is just a partial list. And it is intimated that his recent new pact with RCA Victor has some pretty interesting clauses in it. One is that as he develops new talent on his own labels, Victor gets first refusal on signing the acts.
If Cooke has any idol it is talent. He is ecstatic about great performers, arrangers, writers. He spoke recently at length about Bob Dylan. “Now there’s a guy with a real soul. And such a talent for putting beautiful thoughts in a simple framework. If you’ve got something to say, I think that’s the way to say it. If you haven’t you’d better cool it.
“You know,” he confessed, “I was so impressed with one of his songs (‘The Times They Are a-Changin’), I wrote one around it, called ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ “. END
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Information, credit and news source: Music Business; July 11, 1964
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When the Beatles appeared for a three week session at the Paris ‘Olympia’ in January, 1964, John and Paul were concerned with the problem writing all the new songs for their first film — as yet untitled — and in addition they had to cook up a brand new single for release in February.
They had a piano moved into their suite at the Hotel Georges V, and they set to work. By the end of their stay they had laid the foundations for the film songs and written ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ — the single which we recorded in our EMI Paris studios. At this time Paul played me his first ideas for ‘And I Love Her.’
Later, when I was busy orchestrating the background score it was decided to use Beatles music in the background whenever possible. Hence, ‘This Boy’ became ‘Ringo’s Theme’ in the Towpath sequence, and ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ was burned into a Jazz waltz for Grandpa’s chase scene from the Police Station. ‘If I Fell’ was not used orchestrally in the film, but I liked the tune so much I did a score anyway, and the end result is here.
I get great pleasure out of arranging the Beatles’ materials, and when the orchestra musicians comments on the quality of the music they are playing, I get an even bigger thrill telling them who wrote it.
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— George Martin; EMI Records Limited (1964)
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George Martin Orchestra’s “And I Love Her,” made it’s initial debut on the Billboard singles chart in July, 1964, the same month the Beatles ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ film (and their film album) made its theatrical debut in cities across America. The Martin instrumental, a song composition penned by Lennon-McCartney for the film, stayed 4 weeks on the charts (“Bubbling Under” the top 100) having peaked at No. 105 on August 1, 1964.
But the flip side of Martin’s “And I Love Her,” titled, “Ringo’s Theme (This Boy),” another Martin instrumental score from the movie, rose much higher in popularity on the Billboard “Hot 100” several weeks later, in lieu after the film’s soundtrack score having been released by United Artists, on June 26, 1964.
“Ringo’s Theme (This Boy),” peaked higher than “And I Love Her,” having topped off at No. 53 during its eight week run on the Billboard “Hot 100,” on September 12, 1964.
In Detroit, “Ringo’s Theme” made the playlist on album-oriented radio stations WJR, WWJ, WCAR, WQTE and WJBK (as heard here), which incidentally by that time WJBK dropped it’s top 40 format for an easy-listening conservative radio sound by August, 1964.
This year, come July, will mark 50 years having passed since the release of the George Martin single and that of the Beatles’ film, ‘A Hard Day’s Night.’ In observance of the Fab Four’s 1964 theatrical film release, also comes the exciting news ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ will hit the silver big screen once again in major cities across the country on July 4, 2014.
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United Artists Release Beatles’ LP Score Ahead of Film’s August Debut
NEW YORK — United Artists Records’ soundtrack album of the Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night” has become one of the fastest selling LP’s in the history of the record business. Within four days after the album’s introduction at the UA distributor meet in Miami Beach last week, 1,000,000 copies were sold and delivered.
United Artists released the 1,000,000 figure July I and reported that orders were continuing to pour in at the same fantastic rate.
The film, “A Hard Day’s Night,” is slated for saturation bookings and multiple city openings in early August. United Artists toppers are predicting that at least 3 million copies will be sold prior the opening, after which, with the movie play-dates and coast-to-coast personal appearances of the Beatles building sales, it’s anticipated that five million copies will be sold by the end of the year.
The album contains eight vocal selections by the Beatles plus four instrumental themes from the film, all composed by Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The vocal selections are the title song, “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Tell Me Why,” “I Cry Instead,” “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You,” “I Should Have Known Better,” “If I Fell,” “And I Love Her” and “Can’t Buy Me Love.”
The instrumentals are played by George Martin, the Beatles’ musical director. UA has released a single of Martin’s instrumental treatment of “Ringo’s Theme (This Boy)” and “And I Love Her.”
The Beatles’ next album for Capitol is due sometime in August. Meantime, Capitol has released a Beatles single of the title song. END
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Information credit and news source: Billboard; July 11, 1964
NEW COUNTER! JUNE 24, 2021
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Numbers do count! We now have a brand-new counter. We wanted to grasp a more comprehensive, visitor numbers count for this site and I am delighted to say it has been found. The plugin is called — Awesome Visitor Counter — and according to the plugin’s WP page, it is “The Best Visitor Counter Plugin for WP.”
You will note as well the plugin also provides a count number below each featured post. It is a significant rolling count now tagged below every exhibit on every page. Now over 600 pages to date!
The latest counter launched, 6:00 pm, Thursday, June 24. And thanks to you, the numbers keep growing with every visit to this site. Take a look. You can see the latest count numbers located at the left-bottom of the site’s page.
Again, thank you so much. You made Motor City Radio Flashbacks what it is today. As you can see now, the latest site’s numbers certainly reflect well of that. 🙂
“I BELIEVE IN YOU” | MEL TILLIS | MCA
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“The listing of records herein is the opinion of FM94 based on its survey of record sales, listener requests and FM94’s judgement of the record’s appeal.”
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The above CKLW FM 94 chart was digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
— A MCRFB VIEWING TIP —
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over CKLW chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
ON YOUR PC? Click on all chart images 2x for largest print view.
NEW! THE CKLW FM 94 COUNTRY CHART SERIES COURTESY OF THE GEORGE GRIGGS COLLECTION
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
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A sincere, thank you, Mrs. Patti Griggs. This featured presentation would have not been possible without your generosity, dedication, and your continuous support.
Above CKLW music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.
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A Large Number Hold Key Positions
CHICAGO — “Detroit is supposed to be one of the worst places in the country for women to get ahead … except in radio and television,” says Maureen Hathaway, station manager of Motor City top 40 WHYT-FM.
Hathaway is one of a large number of women holding top executive positions in Detroit radio –– vice president /general managers, station managers, general sales managers, even owners. Radio is a business whose key jobs are generally held by men, and Detroit is widely perceived as a two-fisted, blue collar city. Yet women there have been able to make a more than significant mark in the upper echelons of radio.
“The radio market here is [one of the most] competitive in the country,” observes Elaine Baker, VP/ GM of adult contemporary WOMC-FM. “Because of that, talent is recognized for what it is. Women have been able to move up the ladder be- cause they’re good.”
Both Hathaway and Vicky Trondle, general sales manager of WNIC-AM-FM, surmise that Detroit radio is such fertile ground for women executives because extensive station turnovers in the recent past have cleared the way for capable, talented women.
“One of the biggest problems for women had been lack of opportunity,” says Hathaway. “Men were holding jobs they’d always held, but when turnovers occurred, women were there to take those jobs.”
Trondle adds, “It took a long time for women to get the type of experience it takes to run a large business.”
Trondle was promoted to GSM when her predecessor left to join former WNIC GM Lorraine Golden, who had formed her own company. Golden is now VP of Metropolis Broadcasting and VP /GM of its first property, the top 40 /AC for- matted WDTX.
The turnover theory doesn’t hold for Verna Green, VP /GM of urban outlet WJLB-FM, who brought the station from a No. 12 overall rating when she joined in 1982 to its current No. 2 status. She says, “Women had the least seniority, and so were the first to go.”
Green’s prior experience in the automotive industry left her with the perspective that the male concentration there and in Detroit’s other heavy industries “gave women other ways to achieve.”
“For women to excel in this market place,” agrees Suzanne Gougherty, national sales manager of WWJ-AM, “they had to look in other areas.”
The majority of the city’s female executives started out not in the typing pool but in the sales department. “It’s the business aspect of the radio station,” observes Dougherty. “Working in sales gives you an awareness of the bottom line . . . and GMs have to be very aware of the bottom line . . . it gives an idea of the structure of the station.”
Operating in a predominantly man’s world, Detroit’s female execs nevertheless all agree they have faced little or no gender discrimination in their positions. “There has probably been some, but I’ve been too busy to notice,” remarks Green.
However, says Betty Pazdernik, VP and GSM of top 40 WCZY-AM-FM, “I still think we have to do a bit more, be superior, excel. If I felt like I wanted to have a tantrum, I wouldn’t do it,” she continues, “yet I’ve seen males fly off the handle, and it’s perfectly acceptable.”
“If I feel like crying from frustration, I’ll leave the office. But, men are allowed to explode for the same reason with no loss of esteem. It’ll probably always be like that.” All agree that their stations hire for excellence, not gender.
“I’m looking for the best person for a job, when I hire,” says Baker. “I had a female program director in 1983 [Lorna Ozman], and we have a famale sales staff – not because they’re women, but for their skills.”
Women applicants can look forward to advice and information on support groups when they go to WJLB, says Green. “We tell them to contact American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT), the Women’s Advertising Club in Detroit, Women In Music, and Women in Communications,” she describes. “We advise everyone, not just wornen, to read the trades and market reports. Women graduate as mass communications majors with no practical skills; we try to spread the word that if they’re considering internships, they can get them.”
Detroit’s women executives all stress that hard work, knowledge, desire, goal setting, risk taking, and dedication got them where they are. “Don’t be overly conscious of your difference,” advises WHYT’s Hathaway. “You can’t be a lone wolf and succeed. You’ve got to be a part of the system, teamwork and company loyalty, that’s what has traditionally gotten men ahead. A lot of women feel they have to be Joan of Arc, but that just reinforces differences. Being a team player does not mean selling out.” END
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Information credit and news source: Billboard; April 25, 1986
