LONDON — The Beach Boys, crowning the re-emergence of American artists in the British charts following the domination by British talent since 1963, by astonishingly beating the Beatles in the annual reader poll conducted by the 250,000 circulation U. K. consumer pop weekly, New Musical Express.
The Beach Boys toured the U.K.(minus Brian Wilson) November, 1966 (click on image for largest view)
In the world’s outstanding vocal group section of the poll, the Beach Boys out voted the Beatles and all other British groups. The results- based largely on a teenage consumer response — was probably influenced by the U. S. group’s chart top success with “Good Vibrations” at voting time, whereas the Beatles have not had a single release since early-August. In addition, the Beach Boys had just toured Britain, while the Beatles have not toured here once this year.
The sensational success of the Beach Boys, however, is being taken as a portent that the popularity of the top British groups of the last three years is past its peak.The Beatles’ failure to secure the top place in the world section was matched by the Rolling Stones conspicuous failure to capture a top placing, being beaten in the rhythm and blues group section by Spencer Davis.
But on the distaff side, the British girls for the first time took first, second and third places in the outstanding female singer section, with Dusty Springfield winning the title, followed by Cilla Black and Petula Clark. Elvis Presley beat Cliff Richards as both world’s outstanding musical personality and outstanding male singer.END
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Information and news source: Billboard; December 10, 1966
DETROIT — Diana Ross and the Supremesare scheduled for a one-week engagement at the Fisher Theater, May 20-26 . . . . A production called Jazz Greats Volume II is booked into Cobo Arena Sunday (May 19). It will showcase such jazz personalities as Lou Donaldson, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Kenny Burrell, and the Modern Jazz Quartet, with Flip Wilson furnishing the comedy. . . . James Brown was presented a trophy by Bill Williams of station WCHB at the end of singer’s successful concert performance here last month.
Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers just ended a week-long engagement at the 20 Grand Driftwood Lounge . . . . Terra Shirma Sound Studios has recently opened a new 8-track complex here at 15305 Livernois. Some of the first productions there has been on local artists Louis Curry, Danny Woods, the Utopias, Jimmy Delphs, Ortheia Barnes and Parish, for labels such as MGM, M&S,RCA and Columbia.
WCHB has filled its late-evening spot, formerly held by Robbie D, with a new disk jockey calling himself Butterball, Jr. . . . Donald S. Condon has joined Stereodyne, the tape cartridge duplicator and manufacturer, introducing the spill-proof Dynapak tape cartridge. Condon will conduct the marketing for duplicating music, the Dynapak cartridge, and other Stereodyne products in the U. S., Canada, Mexico and Europe. . . . The Parliaments, Jimmy Delphs, Jimmy Ruffin, Bettye LaVette, Louis Curry and the Bandwagon will appear in one show at the Phelps Lounge, Friday, May 24. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; May 18, 1968)
Kenny Burrell circa 1968.
KENNY BURRELL * “Wonder Why” * Verve * ‘Blues – The Common Ground’ (LP) * ’68
8-Track Sales at Royal Radio Rises Through Detroit Radio Ads
DETROIT — “The Stereo 8 is still just a baby,” said Mrs. Lowell Bennett of Royal Radio in Royal Oak, a Detroit suburb. Mrs. Bennett, who with her husband and another partner, Harry Showers, has been selling 4- and 8-track stereo cartridges for the past year-and-a-half.
Sale of the stereo 8 cartridge has completely overwhelmed the sale of 4-track tapes at the store. But the total cartridge business at Royal Radio is still a small percentage of the total business. They also sell stereo tape players for car and home, radios, televisions, intercoms, car radios and record players, and other electronic equipment.
AN EARLY 1966 Ford Motor Company dealership notice promoting their new automobile 8-track cartridge player. (Click on image 2x for largest view).
The store sells an average of 400 8-track cartridges a week and at present has over 1,000 tapes in stock. Mrs. Bennett says they are constantly building up their inventory. Their bookkeeping indicates their inventory that they haven’t been hurt at all by carrying a large inventory.
The biggest selling tapes are Herb Alpert,Frank Sinatra and semi-classical music, Mrs. Bennett said. This reflects the buyers. “It’s not the real young people who buys tapes,” said Mrs. Bennett. The people who buy the most of our tapes are past 21.”
In her opinion, teenagers are still buying 45 rpm records since they can get the one song they want for less money than a tape cartridge costs.
The store has found radio advertising to be quite effective. They buy about 25 to 30 one-minute spots per week although all are not for the tapes exclusively. Currently they are advertising on WOMC, an FM station; WXYZ, easy listening; WEXL, the only country station covering the Detroit market. They have also used CKLW, a top 40 station.
Mrs. Bennett has discovered that WEXL is one of the best stations for the store’s advertising. The station has a “country club” and members entitles them to a 10% discount at Royal Radio. These listeners buys a lot of tapes, mostly country music, at the store.
Royal also advertises in the Royal Oak Daily Tribune with lists of tapes available and special 10% off sales.
In their ads Royal does not list their 4-track stereo tape cartridges since they are not interested in building up that business. Mrs. Bennett feels that eventually that 8-track will completely replace 4-track.
To promote the sales of stereo-8 cartridges the store works closely with automobile dealers in the area. They contact the dealers to let them know what the store carries. In some cases, local dealers did not know about the cartridges. The store also sells stereo-8 cartridges wholesale to the automobile dealers who stock them in their showrooms.
Mrs. Bennett believes that the tape cartridge market language is something that needs developing. At present the store can special order them, but she thinks more work needs to go into building up a market for them.
As far as the total stereo-8 cartridge scene goes, Mrs. Bennett said, “We’re working very hard to develop this part of our business because there is good potential there.” END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; July 1, 1967)
A MCRFB NOTE: Check out our WXYZ-AM BACK ON THE RADIO WITH: JIM HAMPTON (July 27, 1966) featured today — as an audio attachment added with this ‘Royal Radio’ post on Motor City Radio Flashbacks. You’ll note the show was sponsored by none other than ROYAL RADIO “The House of Modern Sound” on WXYZ 1270 — it’s summertime with Jimmy Hampton on the radio with “The Detroit Sound,” 1966!
THE VACANT BUILDING as it stands that was formerly Royal Radio. Property situated at 612 N. Main Street (between 11 and 12 Mile Rd.), Royal Oak, Michigan.(Click on image for larger detailed view).
LONDON — Britain has been invaded by Tamla-Motown. The label has been launched here in March (distributed by EMI) with the arrival of the Supremes,Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Miracles, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and the Earl Van Dyke Sextet for a town to town tour and a rash of television appearances. At the moment it is almost impossible to switch on a TV set in the evening without seeing one of the distinguishable Motown acts.
Berry Gordy, Jr., flew in with his “family,” as he refers to his stable of hitmakers. Gordy admits modestly to being a millionaire (the sterling type), but talks about his stars with far more affection than business enthusiasm.
“But I like to think as myself as a businessman. After all Tamla-Motown represents a lot of money now and we try to pull the best deals whenever we can.” That’s an understatement. He is negotiating release of Tamla-Motown records on their own mark throughout the world and continually adding to the roster of talent.
“But I never had the fear of the sound going out. It is not actually true that we have built a business on one actual sound — we have built it around a basic feeling, but at the same time we try to have a variety of sounds and styles. I think there is a big difference, for example, between Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and the Supremes.
“We are also diversifying. Just recently we signed Billy Eckstein and Tony Martin. The Supremes just recently had a country and western album out in America and I have just finished another LP with them, ‘There’s A Place For Us,’ which features all the big Broadway tunes, ‘Somewhere’ and ‘People,’ among them. But I would never get too far from the style (of music) we have become famous for because — well, we like it.”
Thirty-five-year-old Gordy believes a lot in goodwill and in London he seemed to spend a lot of more time looking after the welfare of his artists and their various relations than he devoted to business matters.
On the comparison British journalists have made between him and Brian Epstein, Gordy said, “Epstein is considered with tremendous regard throughout the world and though I feel our role is somewhat different, I think that it is both a favorable and flattering comparison.”
Gordy also stated he is not particularly keen on making a film deal for his Tamla-Motown artists but revealed he had the world sale rights of the TV spectacular they made for the Rediffusion at the start of their British trip. Gordy said he has had many offers to buy Tamla-Motown. “But the label means a lot more to us than just money — it’s hard to say what I might do some day. At present, I don’t intend to sell it.” END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; April 3, 1965)
From the Desk of Bill Gavin Billboard Contributing Editor
D U R I N G T H E P A S T S E V E R A L weeks I have talked with a number of radio people about their approaches to programming problems. While no two people see their problems precisely the same way, there is enough general agreements among radio program planners to indicate the development of a new trend. There appears to be a growing objective in applying the objective approach of the pop format operators to the field of so-called middle-of-the-road music.
Strictly speaking, there is nothing new about such an idea. It has been applied successfully for a number of years by some of the leading stations in the U.S. and Canada. Among the better known pioneer in the field have been WIP, Philadelphia; WIND, Chicago; WEW, St. Louis; KSFO, San Francisco; CFRB, Toronto and CKNW, Vancouver. While not all of these stations rate No. 1 in their markets, they deliver a sufficiently large number to their advertisers so that their net revenues are highly gratifying to their owners.
There are many other stations, some with big power and preferential dial position, and most with a fine tradition of public service and community leadership, that have watched their audiences slipping away through the years without doing much of anything about it. They have noted with envy the strides that have been made by their competitors, yet until recently have taken a few steps toward modernizing their program content and personnel.
S T A T I O N S I N M A J O R M A R K E T S in their attempts to streamline their operations, have encountered union related problems. The technical and performer unions had established jurisdiction over various operational tasks, and they were unwilling to relinquish contract provisions that gave employment to their members. Some New York stations at one time were required to have four or five men in the control room for a deejay show or a newscast. In Chicago, the musician union has jurisdiction over the record spinning assignment. In San Francisco, some stations must have staff announcers in the booth to handle station breaks for the deejay shows. However, most of these problems have been worked out so that stations are not placed at a competitive disadvantage by virtue of the old union distinctions between network stations and independents.
One manager, who doesn’t have the problem of union contracts, sees it this way: “The big money in radio doesn’t necessarily go with big ratings. We’re doing just about as well as the leading top 40 station, and we show only about a third of their audience. But we should be doing better. So we’re hiring some new people — a program director, a music director, and DJ’s — and try to sound as modern as we can without programming that greasy-kid stuff.”
BillboardFebruary 20, 1965
NBC radio’s appointment of Mike Josephto head up its owned radio stations illustrates the growing acceptance of conservative ownership of the fact that modern radio demand certain progressive changes in conventional patterns of of operation. Mike has had extensive experience as a program consultant in setting up top 40 operations. It was under his guidance that WABC-New York broke away from its traditional pattern and entered the pop format field, where it thrived under the program direction of Sam Holman.Mike later set up the new format for WKNR-Dearborn (Detroit market), which proved an immediate success. He has also worked with middle-road stations such as WINZ, Miami and WEW, St. Louis, although this fact is no so generally known. With NBC he has brought Mark Olds, Glen Bell and Bob Hale into WMAQ, Chicago. It was rumored, because of Mike’s former successes with top 40 stations, that he would direct his NBC stations along the same course, but such not proved to be the case in Chicago.
N O R I S I T L I K E L Y T O be the case with KNBR, San Francisco, where Joseph is currently at work setting up changes in policy and personnel. He recently told me, “We’re expecting to be an overnight sensation. We’re building carefully for the future. It takes a lot of time and hard work to make changes in a big station.” He also emphasized, “Just because we may hire people with a top 40 background doesn’t mean that we’re going to be a top 40 station. Practically everybody today who is qualified as a modern radio man has gotten a least a part of his experience with top 40 radio.”END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 20, 1965)
MARCH 5 AIR CRASH CLAIM LIVES OF FOUR PROMINENT C&W STARS
NASHVILLE — The air crash deaths of four country music personalities, including three nationally known “Grand ‘Ole Opry” stars, stunned the industry and thousands of country music fans throughout the nation last week.
Patsy Cline(click on image for larger view).
Killed Tuesday evening, March 5, near Camden, Tennessee, in the single-engine plane were Decca Records’ Patsy Cline; Starday’s mainstay, Cowboy Copas; King Records’ artist Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Randy Hughes, talent manager and personal manager to Miss Cline.
Telegrams, cables, phone calls and flowers poured into the city from all parts of the country and overseas as the fatal news broke on the wire services Wednesday morning, March 6.
Irony played its role in the tragedy, as the victims were returning from Kansas City, Missouri, where they had played a benefit performance for the widow of Cactus Jack Call, a country deejay who was killed recently in an automobile accident.
The plane had stopped in Dyersburg, Tennessee, to refuel. It departed Dyersburg about 6 p.m. on the last hop to Nashville. The Dyersburg airport manager, Bill Braese, said Hughes had given his name as pilot of the craft but no flight plan was filed.
The weather in the area at the time of the accident was termed “extremely turbulent.” Cab investigators were at the scene of the crash Wednesday and Thursday to make a detailed probe of the wreckage in an effort to learn the smashup. It is expected to take several days, if not weeks, to complete the studies, one of the investigators reported.
Many persons in the mid-Tennessee area went to the Camden area Tuesday night to join the search after learning of its late status over WSM radio. Of those joining the search, many were “Opry” and music industry personalities.
The plane apparently struck a large tree before hitting the ground. Parts of the aircraft was located hanging in the tree and a three foot hole marked the spot where the main part of the fuselage struck the ground. After the wreckage was located, more than two hundred cars lined the highway near the scene of the accident.
On Wednesday (March 6) the Tennessee House of Representatives, now in session, stood in silent tribute to the victims. Governor Clement voiced a comment typical of the many which poured into the city:
“With the deaths of Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas,Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes, the entertainment world suffers a great professional loss.
“They were typical of the serious-minded, hard working professional people dedicated to country music artistry.
“I counted them among close friends and extend my deep and sincere sympathy to their families.”
Ott Devine, “Grand ‘Ole Opry” manager, said: “WSM and the ‘Grand ‘Ole Opray’ are stunned and deeply saddened. We have lost great talent as well as the closet personal relationship. This tragic happening has brought sorrow throughout the entire music industry, as well as to many of thousand faithful friends and admirers.
Said also John H. DeWitt in a statement: “They were great entertainers in the finest tradition of the ‘Opray,’ and (they were) great personages in their own right. The loss is one which will be felt throughout the music industry , and particularly by their many friends at WSM.”
Patsy Cline has several million-seller records, including, “I Fall To Pieces” and “Walking After Midnight.” Her current hit is “Leaving On Your Mind.” Cline got her start on the Arthur Godfrey “Talent Scouts” in the mid-1950s and joined the “Opry” in 1960.
THE NASHVILLE BANNER Wednesday, March 6, 1963(click on image for larger size)
Decca’s local promotions chief, Owen Bradley, said: “There was no better female vocalist than Patsy Cline.” She just recently cut an album, “Faded Love,’Bradley said. “I don’t know when, if ever, if it will be released.”
Off stage, Patsy Cline is Mrs. Charles Dick. She is survived by her husband and their two small children.
Several years ago, Patsy was in an automobile accident in Madison, near Nashville. In that accident one person was killed, while Patsy sustain facial and head injuries which left her in critical condition for several weeks.
Copas was a 17-year veteran with the “Opry.” The soft-spoken native of Oklahoma has had numerous hit platters. Some of the big ones include “Filipino Baby” and “Signed, Sealed And Delivered.” Most recently his biggest record has been a revised version of “Alabam.” Copas is survived by his widow, Lucy, and their three children.
Hawkins interests centered on his wife, “Opry” star Jean Shepard, and their son, Donnie Robbin; country music and Tennessee walking horses. His big records include “Slow Poke,” “Soldier’s Joy” and “Bad News Travels Fast.” Hawkins maintained a stable of horses and was in the process of getting them ready for the spring and summer shows.
Hughes, although not an “Opry” star, was widely known and respected in the profession. He was the son-in-law of Copas, and his wife, the former Cathy Copas, also was an entertainer. Cathy and a seven-year-old survive. Randy was considered an accomplished musician. He played back-up music for recording made locally and for all of Patsy Cline’s sessions.
Funeral services for Patsy were held Saturday, March 9, in her home town of Winchester, Virginia. Services for the other three victims were held Friday, March 8, in Nashville. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; March 16, 1963)
Beatles ’65 (click on image 2x for large detailed view)
NEW YORK — The recently released ‘Beatles ’65’ on Capitol which was No. 98 on Billboard’s LP chart two weeks ago, soared to the top position in the album chart last week. No album in the history of Billboard’s LP chart has ever scored such an advance in a single week. The LP has just been certified by RIAA as a million-selling LP. “The Beatles Story,” on Capitol, also was certified. The Beatles current single is a winner, too.
To solidify their position in the pop record field, the Beatles are also holding down the top spot in the singles chart for the second consecutive week with “I Feel Fine.”
This isn’t the first time an album hit the top spot within a week after getting on the chart. “The Beatles Second Album” hit at No. 16 and jumped to the top the following week. Another Beatles’ album, the United Artists’ “A Hard Day’s Night” soundtrack, hit at No. 12 and topped the list a week later.
And in 1962, “The First Family” made its debut at No. 11 and was No. 1 seven days later.
The Beatles Second Album (click on image 2x for large detailed view)
The Beatles now have six albums on the chart, three in the top 10. Five of the six disks are on Capitol; one is on United Artists.
During 1964, the Beatles held the top album position for 30 of 52 weeks. “A Hard Day’s Night” held the top position for 14 of these weeks, and “Meet The Beatles” led for 11 weeks. “The Beatles Second Album” was No. 1 for five weeks.
The album charts during 1964 showed relatively few changes in the top position. Only eight LP’s during the course of the year held the No. 1 position.
In addition to Beatles’ albums, other top LP’s were the “Hello Dolly” original cast version on RCA Victor, Louis Armstrong”s “Hello Dolly” on Kapp, Barbra Streisand’s “People” on Columbia, “The Beach Boys Concert” on Capitol, and “The Singing Nun” on Philips Records.
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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 16, 1965)
NEW YORK — In the New York City and Jersey areas record dealers and one-stops are reporting sales in large numbers on the Beatles.
The Beatles arrive in New York City, JFK Airport, Friday, February 7, 1964 (Click on image for larger size).
New York’s Colony Records store reports that the Beatles sales are “real big” on the Capitol, Swan and Vee-Jay versions. The store also noted increasing sales on these records throughout the weeks.
Stedman 1-Stop, Mount Vernon, New Jersey, said that sales on the Beatles’ started out as an explosion, then settled down to consistent and steady sales.” The outlet is expecting “another big blast” this week as a result of the group’s New York visit and appearance on CBS-TV “The Ed Sullivan Show” Sunday night (February 9).
The Capitol and Swan diskings have been selling “almost in equal volume” at the Mount Vernon outlet, with little or no sales on the Vee-Jay or M-G-M disks.
E. J. Korvette in downtown Manhattan completely sold out all of its Beatles’ product by the end of last week. The large discount store is gearing for a rush on Monday as a result of activities over the weekend (in New York City).
A Beatles records store-front display, Mount Vernon, New Jersey, 1964. (Click on image for larger size).
The Al Levin Record store in New York City reports the Beatles’ offering on Swan as the leading seller with the Capitol version trailing not far behind. The store reports no sales for the group on Vee-Jay or MGM.
A somewhat different picture is painted by the Record Shack here, which describes the sales of Beatles’ records steady here throughout the weeks with the Capitol Record “far in the lead” and followed by the Swan release. The outlet also reported no sales response to the Vee-Jay and MGM waxings. The store is also preparing for an onslaught of Beatles record buyers this week as a direct result of the Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
WWDC radio has proclaimed February 11 as “Beatles Day” in the nation’s capitol, and in honor of the special occasion deejay Carroll James will do his afternoon show from the site of the Beatles first “live” appearance in the United States — The Washington Coliseum.
Beatles Washington Coliseum newspaper ad, The Washington Star, February 9, 1964. (Click on image for larger view).
When the now-famous Beatles arrive in Washington, an unusual “art” exhibit demonstrating a facet of U.S. culture will greet the British vocal group. The station, believing the Beatles have had a profound influence on our culture, has asked its listeners to send any pictures from magazines, newspapers or whatever, with a Beatle haircut drawn on the subject.
The grand winner, the entrant judged to be the most “original,” will receive $100.00, with all others judged unusual enough to display, will be awarded $12.60 each. WWDC will display the “winners” art at the Coliseum tomorrow night, (February 11), the night of the concert.
New York’s WNIS is pulsating with Beatlemania. The station reports that for the first time Beatles’ recording occupy first, second, and third place on their musical playlist. In first place is their Capitol recording of “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” followed closely by “She Loves You” on Swan, and finally, the Vee-Jay waxing, “Please, Please Me.”
The Group W station has upstaged CBS-TV by taping exclusive Beatles which were aired once an hour Thursday (February 6) and Friday (February 7). On Sunday, at 7 p.m., one hour before their scheduled debut on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” the Beatles were heard on WINS in a 30-minute special.
The in-person interviews were obtained for WINS through the actions of their European correspondents Rod MacLeish and Jim Anderson in London and Bernard Redmont in Paris. The bureau also provided its it’s New York outlet with Beatles wigs which have been awarded to listeners via an on-air contest. Also awarded were tickets to the Beatles February 12 Carnegie Hall concert.
Brad Philips revived his old 1956 “Battle Of The Baritones,” Sunday (February 9) from 8 a.m. to p.m. on WINS. This time, however, Philips is labeling the action “Battle Of The Groups.” The winners, to be determined by votes sent in by listeners, will battle it out again next Sunday and in ensuing weeks.
WMCA, New York, has been running a Beatles wig contest. The “Good Guys” are seeking listeners to take photos of their friends or from newspapers and paint Beatles wigs on them. The station is awarding $57 to the first two most original entries, with another 998 winners receiving a 45 r.p.m. disk featuring photos of the group and the “Good Guys” on specially made record jackets. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 15, 1964)
Beatle fans converge near Plaza Hotel, awaiting the arrival of the Beatles. New York City, February 7, 1964. (Click on image for largest view).
“A TASTE OF BEATLEMANIA ’64” * WCBS Radio NYC * February, 1964
Beatlemania in full effect. The Beatles Indianapolis concert, later in 1964. The Indianapolis State Fair, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 3, 1964.(Click on image for larger size).
CHICAGO — The usually staid and conservative Midwest has virtually flipped its wig over the mop-headed Beatles from Liverpool.
Dealers describe Beatlemania as the most virulent form of record fever since the heyday of such artists as Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers.
Even then, neither Presley nor the Everlys had more than one record going for them at one time. Currently, the Beatles have no less than four singles and three albums.
Record store are filled with different forms of Beatles promotion material than often defy the imagination. Even the discount houses, traditionally slow to use point of sale material from any ony one diskery, even they have gotten on the bandwagon.
Radio Promotion
WLS 890 AM, Chicago, dated February 21, 1964 (click on image for larger PC view).
Radio likewise are running radio promotions, and in all cases, playing the records like mad.
WLS, the big singles-selling powerhouse, has had a pair of promos by its two evening deejays, Art Roberts and Ron Reilly, and is in the throes in starting a Beatles’ fan club.
WYNR, the big McLendon Corporation rocker, has been pushing Beatles’ records despite a recent station policy switch to an otherwise R&B format.
Even WIND, the MOR Westinghouse outlet, last Friday (February 7) decided to add a Beatles’ record to its playlist (“She Love You” on Swan).
The university radio station at nearby Notre Dame played “I Want To Hold Your Hand” for one hour straight last week and students responded by storming the studio en masse (though whether in approval or protest, no one was able to confirm otherwise).
Jim Lounsberry, king of the teenage hop-specialists here, planned a Beatles Dance for his Sunday hop in Elgin, Illinois, and was placing television sets around the hall so the kids could see the Beatles during their history-making appearance on CBS’ Ed Sullivan show.
Only the so-called “good music” stations were turning a deaf ear to the Four Charmers from England but with the way Beatles’ records were selling, nobody really seemed to care.
Capitol branch manager Tom Beckwith said he had moved over 100,000 Beatles’ LP’s and over 150,000 Beatles singles. He said in the ten years he’s been in the record business, the Beatles are the hottest recording artist he’s ever seen. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 15, 1964)
WLS 890 AM CHICAGOWLS Beatles Jocks, February, 1964. (Click image 2x for largest view).
LOS ANGELES — The Southern California market has gone on a Beatle binge, according to a Billboard survey here. Retailers and broadcasters alike report that Beatle fare is getting top attention from listeners and buyers. Music City Vice-President Ethan Caston said the Beatles’ Capitol single and LP are No. 1 sellers. “The Beatles as an act are the biggest attraction since Presley. Their Capitol LP is the biggest album we had since “The First Family.”
THE BEATLES on Swan Records 1964 (click on image for largest view).
The May Company Department stores are seeking to become the area’s “Beatles Centers,” selling disks as well as various Beatles-licensed merchandise.
California’s Music’s Buddy Robinson reported the Beatle tide rising, but that it won’t hit the full crest until after the group’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. Top sales, he says, were being enjoyed by the Capitol single and LP, and the Swan single and the MGM releases were also enjoying a brisk business.
Wally Peters, sales manager at Sight and Sound, Van Nuys, said the biggest effect of the Beatles have been to move “Beatles-type product. In addition to their own releases, he said 90 Capitol LP’s, 700 Capitol singles and 300 Swan singles were sold. Generally he classified business as “hot.”
At Westchester Music, Al Spaulding said the Beatles were moving well. he said he had sold over 100 of the Capitol single and LP. At headquarters for the 12-store White Front change, disk buyer Charlie Sims said their Capitol items have been moving well but the only other merchandise which has held up strongly is allied product; namely, surfing and hot rod LP’s. END
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(Information and news source, Billboard, February 15, 1964)
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966
