ROCK AND ROLL REVISITED * Scott Westerman * October 17, 2015
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A MCRFB THANK YOU
Scott Westerman hosts the weekly ‘Rock & Roll Revisited,’ broadcast from the campuses of Michigan State University. In this October, 2015, ‘Revisited’ edition, Scott W. dwells deeper into the 1969 ‘Is Paul Dead?’ question and the ensuing controversies the rumor brought upon thereafter worldwide.
Program Producer: Scott Westerman. Executive Producer: Steve Schram
SPECIAL THANKS to Scott Westerman for donating this ‘Rock & Roll Revisited’ program (10/19/2016) to Motor City Radio Flashbacks!
Station’s Music Format Centers Spotlight on Local Dance Hall Scenes, Jazz Clubs, Ballroom Entertainment Venues in ‘Flashback’ Show
DETROIT — Uniquely different emphasis to the “Detroit Sound” is given by a month-old program on WHFI-FM, which concentrates upon full-size dance bands with music originating in the area, or in some cases by Detroit musicians.
Both taped live performances and records are used in the show, for which Frank Sidney, society band leader for many years and now president of the Detroit Orchestra Leaders Association (DOLA) is host. Format includes also interviews with leaders and sidemen.
The content of the show, which is produced by Len Ford of WHFI, covers all varieties of dance band music-ballroom, swing and jazz alike.
One segment of the show is subtitled “Flashback” and includes recordings from the “golden era” of big bands of the territory, as recorded in various media at theaters, radio stations, ballrooms, Great Lakes cruise ships and other locations. Typically featured are such famed bands of an earlier decade as Jean Goldkette,Seymour Simons and Del Delbridge.
This new show, exploited as typical “Detroit Sound,” is right in line with the general style of WHFI, which leans strongly on large dance bands in particular and dance music in general in its programming though the total musical offering is quite diversified. Typical if unusual is “Jazz From Britain,” using a local British announcer.
Sidney has enlisted the close co-operation of DOLA as well as of the parent Detroit Federation of Musicians (AFM Local 5), of which it is a segment. Other radio stations are co-operating by making their old recording files of old-time broadcasts and music available. In some instances the private collections of engineers and other station personnel are being tapped to present musical rarities of the big band period.
Thus Sam Benavie, formerly director of major theater and radio bands and now musical director of Jam Handy, movie producers, has loaned rarities from his own files. The revival of the dance band is being furthered also by DOLA through clinics held for younger musicians, plus the institution of their own musicians’ ball to be held this winter at the Latin Quarter. END
(Information and news source: Billboard; September 10, 1966)
BILLBOARD HOT 100 TOP FIVE: WEEK-ENDING OCTOBER 22, 1966
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NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA ’66* The 4 Tops *WEEK OF 10/09/66 – 10/22/1966
NUMBER ONEFOR 1966!
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FIFTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “Reach Out” by the 4 Tops peaked this week at No. 01 (2 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100, week-ending October 09 through October 22, 1966. (source: Billboard)
MCRFB Link: For the previous No. 1 record in the U.S.A. 1966 GO HERE.
DETROIT FREE PRESS (Ad) October 11, 1968DETROIT TIGER FANS revel through downtown Detroit streets over the Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series victory(link) against the St. Louis Cardinals, October 10, 1968. (Click on image for largest view).DETROIT FREE PRESSOctober 11, 1968(click on image 2x for largest detailed view)DETROIT FREE PRESS (Dick Meyer) October 11, 1968 (click on image 2x for largest detailed view)DETROIT FREE PRESS October 11, 1968 (back page; click on image 2x for largest detailed view)
Friday, October 11, 1968
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Ford First in Marketing 8-Track Players for All Ford Vehicles, ’66
CHICAGO —There wasn’t a cartridge system that engineers had confidence in until 8-track was developed, stated Harold Sperlich, advance program and component planning manager for Ford, at the Billboard Cartridge Conference here last week. Sperlich offered some insight into the manufacturers’ historic decision to break with the 8-track instead of utilizing the already existing Fidelipac concept.
Harold K. Sperlich, Ford Motor Company, who spearheaded Ford first into the automotive tape-player market for 1966 (press photo, 1972).
Sperlich spoke at a Tuesday (August 30) session in which he painted a glistening picture for auto -installed playback units.
Ford’s decision to become one fourth of the Lear-Motorola -RCA Victor party heralding the creating of a new, untested playback system, was based on the approval of Ford’s engineers and the engineering opinions of these other companies.
Ford decided to act on the “sum knowledge” which theorized that 8-track would have the most success in the auto and because collective minds felt that system would survive. “We couldn’t know for sure that 8 would survive,” Sperlich said, “but the collective judgment said 8-track was superior.”
Sperlich said “It was the collective information” which spurred Ford’s decision to run with 8-track.
There was a period for four to six months, Sperlich said, about one year before the unit went into production, in which the “conference table was full of pros and cons,” with representatives from Lear, Muntz, Motorola and the music companies all offering their thoughts on the new industry.
Ford had been eyeing tape playback as an accessory item for “many years,” Sperlich said. The 4-track system had validity, the executive admitted, and Earl Muntz“had done a great job,” but Ford didn’t feel 4 was as good as 8.
Product planner John Nevin (recently promoted to another division) was as close to being the company’s decider to go with 8-track as any one individual could be in the huge organization. Ford’s initial interest was in the cartridge and player; the music business involvement through RCA came later.
A Ford Motor Company marketing ad of the company’s available (optional) 8-Track tape player kits for all-new model Ford vehicles for 1966.
There had been problems the first year with the system, Sperlich admitted, but the company expected that. Technological improvements in 1967 models would eliminate deficiencies, he said.
Asked if Ford was aware of comment arising from the West Coast – principally from Muntz – that 8-track system was troublesome, Sperlich replied Dearborn was cognizant of Muntz’s remarks. The California duplicator had attempted on several occasions to interest Detroit in his 4-track system. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; September 10, 1966)
DETROIT —The Chevrolet division of General Motors has thrown its hat into the tape CARtridge ring as it announced Monday (September 12) that it will offer cartridge playback units as optional equipment on most of its 1967 models.
The entry of General Motors into the field marks the second car manufacturer to embrace the cartridge concept on a factory-installed basis. Ford Motor Co. has offered 8-track continuous loop equipment since the beginning of the 1966 car year. Chrysler has jumped aboard the cartridge caravan following Ford, and American Motors disclosed it will offer players this year. Thus all four major car makers are in the field.
The unit on the Chevrolet will be 8-track continuous loop. This dispels all rumors that the division was eying the Philips 4-track reel-to-reel cassette. “We decided on the 8-track solid-state stereo player after nearly two years of study to find the best possible type,” a spokesman for the company said.
E. M. ESTES, General Manager Chevrolet Division, press photo circa 1970(click image for larger view).
Offered as a factory or dealer-installed option, the unit will be manufactured by General Motors’ Delco division. Cost of the accessory has not been determined. “We expect the tape cartridge player to become an important seller among the 400 options and accessories offered by Chevrolet,” said E. M. Estes, GM vice -president and Chevy general manager. The 8-track player will be available in all Chevrolet models except the Corvette and Chevy II.
The deck, mounted on the lip of the instrument panel, may be installed with an AM-FM push-button radio and FM stereo Multiplex to provide a “complete music center on wheels.” Four speakers, one in each corner, are mounted in the car.
Chevrolet has also disclosed a deal with RCA Victor in which the record company will furnish one tape cartridge to be given away by Chevy dealers when the customer orders a playback unit for his new car. The cartridge features Lorne Greene narrating a musical tour of the U. S. The cartridge will not be available elsewhere.
The tape cartridge unit will receive prominent play in all new model advertising run by the company. Also a special promotion package will be sent to dealer salesmen. The package contains window posters and literature on the product. Salesmen will be given special information on the playback equipment features. The unit will also be displayed on Chevrolet television commercials. END
DETROIT — At press time, both the Pontiac and Oldsmobile divisions of General Motors revealed that they would offer 8-track tape CARtridge playback units as factory-installed, optional equipment on their 1967 lines. Buick and Cadillac will not offer the equipment this year. A full report will follow next week. END
(Information and news source: Billboard; September 17, 1966)
ROCK AND ROLL REVISITED * Scott Westerman * October 17, 2015
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