INDIANA GOV. PUTS DOWN ‘PORNOGRAPHIC’ WAND TUNE . . . FEBRUARY 1, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS Archive: 1964

The Kingsmen Hit Deemed Lyrically ‘Obscene and Suggestive’

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS — “Louie Louie” has been fingered by Indiana’s first citizen, Gov. Matthew Welsh, as being “pornographic.” The Governor, who after hearing the hit Wand recording by the Kingsmen, told people his “ears tingled.” Welsh then promptly fired off a request to Reid Chapman, president of the Indiana Broadcasters Association, requesting that the record be banned from all radio stations in the State, and Chapman, vice-president of WANE AM-AV, Fort Wayne, dutifully passed Welsh’s request on to his membership.

LOUIE LOUIE (click title for audio-play link)

Reports from the capital city reveal that a high school student from Frankfort, Ind., was first to send the Governor a copy of the allegedly pornographic recording. College students from Miami University in Athens, Ohio, followed suit by providing Welsh with copies of printed “obscene lyrics.”

A spokesman at Indianapolis’ WIBC, the city’s top-rater, said that the record (this week No. 6 in the nation) was No. 4 at the station for the past two weeks, but is not currently being played.

Group W’s 50,000-watt outlet in Fort Wayne reports that the station has never played the record, but is carefully investigating all the allegations. It was learned that attempts by WOWO and other stations to capture the lyrics from the Wand waxing was nearly impossible because of the allegedly unintelligible rendition as performed by the Kingsmen.

Sources at Sceptor-Wand Records in New York flatly stated that “not in anyone’s wildest imagination are the lyrics as presented on the Wand recording in any way suggestive, let alone obscene.”

The feeling at the diskery is that a bootleg version may be the culprit.

It also seems likely that some shrewd press agentry may also he playing an important role in this teapot tempest. Exactly whose press agent is hard to pin down at this point. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 1, 1964)


THE KINGSMEN circa 1964

DETROIT FREE PRESS (editorial cartoon) December 10, 1985

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THIS WEEK IN AMERICA: ‘HOT 100′ BILLBOARD! 02/1961


BILLBOARD HOT 100 TABULATED BY RECORDS RETAIL SALES AND RADIO AIRPLAY

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 01 U.S.A. * The Shirelles * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 02 U.S.A. * Lawrence Welk * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 03 U.S.A. * Ferrante & Teicher * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 04 U.S.A. * Miracles * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 05 U.S.A. * Neil Sedaka * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 06 U.S.A. * Bert Kaempfert * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 07 U.S.A. * Rosie & The Originals * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 08 U.S.A. * Brenda Lee * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 09 U.S.A. * Jackie Wilson * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 10 U.S.A. * Bobby Vee * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 11 U.S.A. * Elvis Presley * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 12 U.S.A. * The Chimes * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 13 U.S.A. * Ferlin Husky * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 14 U.S.A. * Ray Peterson * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 15 U.S.A. * Chubby Checker * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 16 U.S.A. * Capris * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 17 U.S.A. * Drifters * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 18 U.S.A. * Duane Eddy * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 19 U.S.A. * Johnny Horton * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 20 U.S.A. * Connie Francis * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 21 U.S.A. * Paul Anka * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 22 U.S.A. * Conway Twitty * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 23 U.S.A. * Floyd Kramer * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 24 U.S.A. * Buzz Clifford * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD SONG NUMBER 25 U.S.A. * Lolita * 02/06/61

BILLBOARD HOT 100 TABULATED BY RECORDS RETAIL SALES AND RADIO AIRPLAY

BILLBOARD HOT 100  FEBRUARY 6, 1961


A MCRFB VIEWING TIP

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These were the record singles you bought in 1961. Many went on to become the most popular radio airplays heard on AM radio in Detroit, February 1961, on Top 40 WJBK and WXYZ and WKMH, and conservative album-oriented, easy-listening WJR  radio.


Top 25 tracks listed for this 02/06/61 chart were selected by the author exclusively for this feature.


THE NATION’S TOP-SELLING 100 SINGLES 1961




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THE FOUR TOPS! MOTOWN SNAPSHOT FLASHBACKS ’65

THE FOUR TOPS ‘SECOND ALBUM produced three Motown singles on the R&B and pop charts by the time the LP was released, November 1965. Two of the singles, I Can’t Help Myself (No. 1 pop) and “It’s The Same ‘Ole Song” (No. 5 pop) made top 10 prior the album’s release. The third single from the album,“Something About You” peaked No. 19 on the pop chart (No. 9; R&B) by year’s end. The Tops’ ‘Second Album’ peaked No. 20 on the pop LP chart (early-1966) while hitting No. 3 on the R&B LP chart, according to Billboard.

THE FOUR TOPS circa 1965

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HOLLY DEATH TO BE MARKED BY STATIONS . . . FEBRUARY 1, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

Radio Nationwide To Observe Holly’s Passing 5 Years Ago

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK — Radio stations across the country are preparing to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly, Monday, February 3.

During Holly’s short recording career of two years, he amassed under the aegis of Coral Records, a continuous string of best sellers, such as “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll Be The Day.” Currently, there are six Holly albums available. ‘The Buddy Holly Story” holds the distinction of being represented for 160 consecutive weeks on the national best- selling album chart.

Coral Records has been continually releasing newly discovered performances by Holly which were made prior to his emergence as a star in 1957.

In conjunction with the February 3 date, Decca branches and distributors will be contacting local radio stations to assist in setting special tributes to the former recording artist. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 1, 1964)


BUDDY HOLLY circa 1958

Tuesday, February 3, 1959

For more on Buddy Holly archived on Motor City Radio Flashbacks — click the link below:

WHEN THE MUSIC DIED

February 3, 1959


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