Motor City Radio Flashbacks

A LOOK BACK: BEATLES BEGIN NEW BRITISH ARTIST PUSH . . . FEBRUARY 15, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

‘U.S. ROCKS AND REELS FROM BEATLES’ INVASION’

**BEATLEMANIA! Billboard, February 15, 1964**

**The Beatles on Vee-Jay Records, 1964** *(click image for largest view).*

NEW YORK — Great Britain hasn’t been as influential in American affairs since 1775. The sensational impact of the Beatles on England’s former colonies has had the explosive effect of sending major and independent firms scrambling here for more and more British product. The bidding has been hard and heavy for hit English product, with the greatest emphasis going on the Liverpool sound trend, of course, but a good many other artists who have been in the upper end of the English charts have also come in for their share of attention.

The Beatles’ success has been significant on two levels, U.S. manufacturers note, with satisfaction, that not only is the current British Beatles hit, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” selling, but earlier material leased to other labels than Capitol, on Vee-Jay and Swan, is selling at a torrid pace as well. The single and album on MGM are a different case because that material was cut in Germany by DGG for its Polydor pop label.

The fact that the Swan and Vee-Jay records are selling now, after having been released with little or no impact on the market some months ago, indicates to many industry observers that Liverpool is ready to break as a full-fledged trend.

For this reason, labels that have been unsuccessful originally with Liverpool material are ready to go again with newer material, hoping that the public is ready to accept that sound. They are also hoping that the same retroactive Beatles effect sets in, and that records that originally bombed by these artists will become hits once the artists are established here.

"Hippy Hippy Shake," Swinging Blue Jeans, Imperial (1964). (Click on image for largest view). — **“Hippy Hippy Shake,” Swinging Blue Jeans (Imperial Records 1964).** *(Click on image for largest view).*

A quick check of the British charts show that a large percentage of hit British material has been picked up and issued here. Besides the Beatles on Capitol, Gerry and the Pacemakers have been issued on the Laurie label, the Dave Clark Five has appeared on Epic and the Searchers’ hit, “Needles And Pins” came out this past week on Kapp. The Fourmost’s new one, “I’m In Love,” also came out last week on the Atco label. The Shadows have appeared on the Atlantic label, and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas have popped up on the Liberty label. Liberty is also preparing to release another big British hit,“Hippy Hippy Shake,” by the Swinging Blue Jeans. Other hit British artists like Cliff Richard (Epic), Kathy Kirby (London), Dusty Springfield (Philips), The Caravelles (Philips), Frank Ifield (Capitol and Vee-Jay) and many more has been issued in this country. Freddie and the Dreamers have been issued in this country on Capitol.

But the accent is on Liverpool sound, and there are some new British climbers that have not yet been issued here. Some of these are the Hollies (who record for EMI’s Parlophone), the Rolling Stones (who record for British’s Decca), and the Merseybeats (who records for the Philips subsidiary Fontana label). END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 15, 1964)

“NEEDLES AND PINS” * The Searchers * KAPP Records (January 7, 1964)

50TH! FAB (FOUR) SONGS THAT DEFINED BEATLEMANIA

MEET THE BEATLES (No. 3) * The Beatles * DON’T BOTHER ME * (January 20, 1964)

BEATLEMANIA! ’64 (click image 2x for large detailed view). — **A LOOK BACK: IMAGES OF BEATLEMANIA! ’64** *(click image 2x for large detailed view).*

“Meet The Beatles” was released in the U.S. by Capitol Records, January 20, 1964 (Click on image 2x for largest detailed view).

ANOTHER LOOK BACK: THE BEATLES STAY IN DETROIT!

‘George Harrison Slept Here.’

The Whittier, Detroit 14, Michigan (2 of 4) September 6, 1964

A LOOK BACK: LBJ IGNORED AS NEW YORK CROWDS CHASES BEATLES . . . FEBRUARY 15, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

‘U. S. ROCKS AND REELS FROM BEATLES’ INVASION’

NEW YORK — President Lyndon B. Johnson visited here late last week but his arrival was overshadowed by the Beatles’ invasion. Few were aware of the President’s visit in their midst, but no one could miss the fact that Britain’s Beatles have descended upon the city. Radio, TV and all other communication media were filled with Beatle clamor. At Kennedy Airport here, Beatle greeters here began lining up at 4 a.m. Friday to await the group’s arrival that afternoon.

LBJ arrives in New York, February, 1964 — LBJ in a visit to New York, 1964

For the first time in disk history, a single attraction had five sides in the Hot 100 — all going up — plus three albums in the Top LP’s chart. RIAA already has certified the Capitol single already has a million seller, and the Capitol album as having sold more than 500,000 copies. The group, which was first introduced to U.S. television audiences on the Jack Parr Show via film a month ago, arrived here for its live TV debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, February 9. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 15, 1964)

**BEATLES FANS** awaits to get a glimpse of the Liverpool group following their arrival at *JFK Airport*, New York City, *February 7, 1964.*

THE BEATLES HITS BIG AGAIN ON CHARTS . . . DECEMBER 26, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

Two Albums, Single, Moves 1,000,000 Sales Mark

NEW YORK — The Beatles are hitting are hitting the gold disk route — again. Late last week Capitol Records asked the Record Industry Association of America for gold records award certifications on two albums, “Beatles ’65” and “The Beatles’ Story” and a single, “I Fell Fine.”

“The Beatles’ Story,” a two-disk LP, was released late-November and hit the 1,000,000 sales mark within the first week. “Beatles ’65” was released a week ago and has already scored over 1,000,000 copies in sales. The single, “I Feel Fine,” was released November 23 and Capitol reports 1,000,000 copies were sold immediately thereafter. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; December 26, 1964)

BEATLES ’65 * Great New Hits By John, Paul, George, Ringo * CAPITOL (12/15/1964)

50TH! FAB (FOUR) SONGS THAT DEFINED BEATLEMANIA

MEET THE BEATLES! (No. 4) * The Beatles * NOT A SECOND TIME * (January 20, 1964)

BEATLEMANIA! ’64 (click image for large detailed view). — **A LOOK BACK: IMAGES OF BEATLEMANIA! ’64** *(click image for large detailed view).*

“Meet The Beatles” was released in the U.S. by Capitol Records, January 20, 1964 (Click on image 2x for largest detailed view).

ANOTHER LOOK BACK: THE BEATLES STAY IN DETROIT!

‘John Lennon Slept Here.’

The Whittier, Detroit 14, Michigan (1 of 4) September 6, 1964

REDDING, SIX OTHERS DEAD IN PLANE CRASH . . . DECEMBER 23, 1967

From the MCRFB news archive: 1967

Redding, Band Members Killed; Bodies Pulled From Wisconsin Lake

Otis Redding (click on image for largest view). — **Otis Redding**

LAKE WINONA, WIS. — Otis Redding, star Stax/Volt Records’ soul artist,was killed here on Sunday, December 10, when his plane crashed into a lake. Redding was 26. Also killed were four members of the Bar-Kays, his accompanying group; pilot Richard Frazier; and Matthew Kelley, 17, the artist’s valet.

One member of the Bar-Kays, Ben Culley, survived the crash. He was reported in fair condition in a nearby hospital. Another member of the group, James Alexander, was on a different flight. Dead are Phalon Jones, 18; Ronnie Caldwell, 19; Jimmy King, 18; and Carl Cunningham, 18, all from Memphis.

The crash occurred when the private twin-engine plane was attempting to land at at the Madison Airport after a flight from Cleveland. Redding’s body was flown to Macon, Georgia, for a funeral on Friday, December 15.

The Bar-Kays: (first row) Phalon Jones, James Alexander (middle row) Jimmie King, Ronnie Caldwell, Ben Cauley (back row) Carl Cunningham. (Click image for larger size). — **The Bar-Kays** (bottom row) *Phalon Jones, James Alexander* (middle row) *Jimmie King, Ronnie Caldwell, Ben Culley* (back row) *Carl Cunningham* *(click image for larger size).*

Redding’s best-known Volt singles were “Try A Little Tenderness,” “Satisfaction,” “These Arms Of Mine,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” and “Respect.” “Respect,” which Redding wrote, recently was a top-seller for Aretha Franklin. He hit the Hot 100 chart twice this year with Carla Thomas in “Tramp” and “Knock On Wood,” both on Stax. He had five Volt albums, one on Atco, and one with Miss Thomas on Stax.

Three months ago, Britain’s Melody Maker, a fan magazine, selected Redding as the world’s top male vocalist dethroning Elvis Presley, who held the top spot since 1956. Redding had been seventh last year.

Earlier this month, Redding had accepted an invitation from Vice-President Hubert Humphrey to head a troupe of Stax/Volt artists to entertain U.S. troops in Viet Nam in the spring. Redding and the Bar-Kays were the only soul artists at the recent Monterey Pop Music Festival The Bar-Kays had one album on Volt.

In August, Redding and Miss Thomas were crowned king and queen of the “Memphis Sound” at the Chicago Daily Defender’s Billiken Day Parade. Redding was to have appeared in San Francisco on Tuesday, December 26, when Ralph J. Gleason, San Francisco Chronicle columnist, planned to produce a Redding TV special for the National Educational Television Foundation.

Redding owned the 300-acre Big O ranch outside of Macon, which recently was visited by a BBC-TV film crew. He had earned more than $600,000 from public appearances this year. He was survived by his widow, Zelma, and three children. END

(Information and news source: Billboard; December 23, 1967).