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Debuted #27 for the week of March 30, 1966, “Better Man Than I” peaks at #10 (2 weeks) on the WKNR Music Guide, April 20, 1966. Having charted 5 weeks overall — on its final week on the Keener charts the Lucky Eleven single drops out at #13 for the week of April 27, 1966.
Source: The WKNR Music Guides [1966]
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
Young C-P Executives Springs Label into Album Oriented Format for First Time Since 1964
NEW YORK — After a virtual absence of two years from the album field, Cameo-Parkway Records has re-entered the LP race with a six-record release. The move is a major step in the rejuvenation of the label which was among the hottest independents in the industry in the early 1960’s.
Cameo-Parkway’s resurgence reflects the aggressive policies of its young
management, with three of its top executives in their twenties.
Three of the album releases are LP debuts for artists who have hit the singles charts. They are the Five Stairsteps, ? (Question Mark) and the Mysterians and Terry Knight and the Pack.
The other three include a Sounds Orchestral package, a “Psychedelic Mood,” by the Deep, and “The Flying Saucer Story” narrated by Long John Nebel.
Cameo is basing its album push on the recent single performances of its artists – with seven singles on the charts in the last six months. These include two by Terry Knight and the Pack, two by the Five Stairsteps, one by Chubby Checker and the latest and hottest one by ? (Question Mark) and the Mysterians, currently on Billboard’s Top 10.
‘Youth’ Pays Off
Al Rosenthal, who heads the publicly-held company, feels that the youth of sales manager Neil Bogart (age 23), national promotion manager Cecil Holmes (age 29), and regional promotion manager Marty Thau (age 27), has had a lot to do with the label’s comeback.
The manner in which Cameo-Parkway acquired ? (Question Mark) and the Mysterians is a case in point. The group’s record, “96 Tears,” had been making noise in Texas, and several companies had called Paulino Bernet and Joe Gonzales of Bago Records, for whom the group recorded. Gonzales told Bogart, by telephone, that he had a contract from another label, and that he intended to sign the contract and return it.
Despite this discouraging news, and despite the airlines strike, Bogart flew that night to McAllen, Tex., met the Bago people, and wrapped up the deal. The same aggressive tactics brought into the C-P fold the Five Stairsteps and Terry Knight and the Pack.
Bogart said “96 Tears” has already sold more than 500.000 copies.
In addition to the label’s chart entries, Bogart said the firm has been getting regional hits accounting for sales of from 25,000 to 50,000 each.
[MCRFB Note: Cameo Records released single, “Respect”, was localized in SE Michigan, mainly Detroit, and in NE Ohio, in the Toledo area.]
Cites Artists
He cites recent efforts by the Rationals, Bobby Marchann, the Dantes, Dandy Dan Daniels and Eddie Holman, all of whom have had regional hits.
According to Rosenthal, C-P is embarked on a program of developing recording acts with the ability to sustain and sell albums rather than going for the hit-and-run, one-shot single. He said the label will work on a tight release schedule, so that every single can get a maximum promotional effort, and, at the same time. build the artist as a future album property.
Bogart added that the album schedule calls for four annual releases by the Sounds Orchestral in addition to the product by the newer artists. END
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Information, credit and news source: Billboard, October 1, 1966
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Introduced to radio in 1961 during his college days at Alma College, Terry Knight was an aspiring 19-year old disc jockey at WTAC when he left the Flint station for WJBK in 1963. Hired for the vacated slot left open when Dave Shafer left the station (in June) for CKLW in Windsor, Knight was immediately awarded the station’s moniker “Jack the Bellboy” during the short span he was there.
Today we are presenting Terry Knight’s show-opening theme. This one is from 1962 – WILD TWIST – by the Roller Coasters. The instrumental, which he personally selected, was heard nightly at 7:00 p.m. sharp on Radio 1500.
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Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
Terry Knight WJBK (First Day) aircheck date: Monday, July 01, 1963
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NEW! A special THANK YOU to Dan Murphy, of Boston, MA, for recently donating this WJBK radio aircheck to Motor City Radio Flashbacks!
* THE DAN MURPHY COLLECTION *
A MCRFB LINK: You can find Terry Knight & The Pack, “Mister You’re A Better Man Than I,” by linking HERE.
A ’60s Detroit Music Moment Revisited: Terry Knight, 1966
DETROIT FREE PRESS (AD) Saturday, November 12, 1966
DETROIT — Sunday, November 13, 1966 — Presenting Terry Knight — long haired worn Prince Valiant style, mod-clothes, no tie, much less a tie-tack. Immediately, 99 per cent of the population pokes fun or decides the decline of Western civilization is at hand. (CONTINUES please read the complete article below) . . . .
— DETROIT FREE PRESS
A MCRFB VIEWING TIP
To read the entire Detroit Free Press featured article (November 13, 1966) click over each article page images below (2x) for largest PC view. Click images again to return to normal image size. Hit your server’s back-button to return to the Motor City Radio Flashbacks home page.
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A MCRFB VIEWING TIP
On your PC? For a larger detailed view click above image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.
Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB.COM home page.
On your mobile device? Take your index finger and thumb and “stretch” across the featured WJBK survey to magnify for larger print view.
Above WJBK Record Review courtesy of Mrs. Patty Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.
