WCFL – Capsule Countdown -12-07-69.mp3
Big Thanks to Henry
Day: December 7, 2012
TEMPTATIONS’ MOTOWN ACT ENTHRALLS COPA CROWD. . . APRIL 19, 1969
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1969
Temptations a Polished Music-Making Machine
NEW YORK — The pleasure, pride and drama of steamrolling into the Copacabana last Thursday, April 10, with their million-sellers yielding to their million-sellers and hit albums crowding the current chart tops now belongs to Detroit’s own Motown Temptations, that relentless soul-to-gold hit machine, whose polish can be witnessed in person or can be researched in sneakers anytime on their fine album, “The Temptations Live At The Copa.”
Flashing their synchronized soul bursts, the quintet collaged their greatest hits into a picture of perpetual motions, striking the heights of excitement with “I Could Never Love Another,” “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” and “I’m Losing You.” The crunching soul snarl of Dennis Edwards, melting into the sensitive notes and high cries of Eddie Kendricks, fluently eased into the chords given off by Paul Williams with his rendition of “For Once In My Life.”
The electrifying acts’ finality became even more crowd enthralled when Mel Franklin took the microphone by complimenting the staged event with his moving bass reading of “Old Man River.” The song had been previously entwined in the group’s indelible trademark ever since Motown released the Tempts Detroit Roostertail “live” performance LP in 1967.
The versatility and timeless popularity of the Temps has made them music makers as big as the music they have shaped themselves, a brand of music which is without question, still on top pulsating the rhythmic heartbeat of a nation dancing to Detroit’s Motown soul today. END
___
(Information and news source: Billboard; April 19, 1969)
FLASHBACK POP MUSIC HISTORY: DECEMBER 7
From the MCRFB music calendar:
Events on this date: DECEMBER 7
1956: Britain’s Tommy Steele makes his concert debut at Finsbury Park, Astoria, London. Reviews proclaim him “Britain’s answer to Elvis.”
1963: The Beatles appear as panelists on the BBC show Juke Box Jury to rate records. Elvis’ new single, “Kiss Me Quick,” is declared a “hit.”
1964: The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson suffers a nervous breakdown while on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston. He would stop touring with the group soon after.
1966: Nancy Sinatra guest-stars on the CBS TV special Frank Sinatra: A Man & His Music, Part II.
1967: In Britain’s New Musical Express magazine, the Hollies’ recently-departed Graham Nash announces the formation of Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
1967: The Beatles’ Apple Boutique officially opens its doors at 94 Baker Street in London.
1968: The Animals’ lead singer, Eric Burdon, announces that the group will officially disband after a December 22 concert at Newcastle City Hall. Eric would pursue an ill-fated acting career in California.
1973: Fleetwood Mac’s then-manager, Clifford Davis, claims ownership of the band’s name and assembles a fake version of the group for a national tour.
1984: In a $5 million plagiarism suit brought against him in Chicago, IL, Michael Jackson testifies that he did not steal his hit “The Girl Is Mine” from an Illinois man. He eventually wins the case.
1987: Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, and Judy Collins (among others) appear onstage at Carnegie Hall to pay tribute to Harry Chapin, who would have been celebrating his 45th birthday. That same day, Chapin received a posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor (#111) for his work in fighting hunger.
Birthdays: 1911: Louis Prima. 1924: Boyd Bennett, Bent Fabric. 1931: Bobby Osborne (The Osborne Brothers). 1940: Carole Simpson. 1942: Harry Chapin. 1947: Gregg Allman (The Allman Brothers). 1949: Tom Waits.
Releases: None
Recording: 1974: Linda Ronstadt, “You’re No Good.”
Certifications: None
Charts: 1957: Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me” hits No. 1 on the charts. 1963: The Singing Nun’s “Dominique” hits No. 1 on the charts. 1974: Carl Douglas’ “Kung Fu Fighting” hits No. 1 on the charts.
Deaths: 1990: Dee Clark.
And that’s just a few of the events which took place in pop music history, on this day . . . . D E C E M B E R 7