DONALD SCHUSTER * Friday, December 25, 1970 * WWWW-FM
SANDY SELSIE? REMEMBERING HER “JIMMY” HIT IN ’63
Canadian Girl Singer Hails from Richmond Hill, Ontario
S A N D Y S E L S I E .
IF YOU WERE TO DO A SEARCH on the world-wide web, not much information can be found on the Internet today regarding, Sandy Selsie.
All that has been primarily known about Sandy Selsie was that she had several country/pop singles in the early-1960s on the Columbia record label. And that she originally was from Canada. And that’s just about it.
But there was a detailed mention about this female Canadian artist on a Yahoo message board, which I recently found on the Spectropop blog site message forum.
A poster there, who goes by the name of “Boris” laid claims he resides in Ottawa, Ontario in Canada. An avid record collector on “girl/girl groups” since the early-nineties, and in researching Canadian recording artists, he stated he once had gone to the Canadian National Archives library and came across a newspaper article on Sandy Selsie, which appeared in the local Richmond Hill, Ottawa newspaper called The Liberal.
Accordingly, the article first appeared in 1963. The article had stated Sandy Selsie hailed from Richmond Hill, Ontario, now a large suburb outside of Toronto.
Back in 1963, according to The Liberal article, Sandy Selsie was a grade 10 student who attended Bayview High School in Richmond Hill, at the age of 15. Her father, Fred Selsie was her talent-manager during that time. Mr. Selsie was instrumental in signing a 5-year contract for Sandy with Columbia Records earlier in 1961. Her first recording for the label was, “A Date With Loneliness” which was released in November of that year.
The article quoted Sandy Selsie as stating how her career came into prominence early-on. “I started out singing in the area shows. And gradually branched over to radio and television. I’ve had guest spots on the Country Hoedown television show as well as appearances on the Tommy Hunter radio show.”
The article also stated her big break happened when the family took a vacation down to Nashville, Tennessee, early in 1961.
“We were down there on our vacation. And we decided I should drop in to Columbia Studios for an audition.” She was signed immediately. “I was really surprised, because it’s unusual for a big recording studio to sign you just like that.”
In closing the article, Sandy Selsie expressed her desires in pursuing a Major in Performing Arts.
On a small note, as it were, Columbia Records initially released Sandy Selsie’s “When Jimmy Comes Home” in November, 1963. The song debuted on the CHUM playlist early-on in November in Sandy Selsie’s own home-town. Just the same, the song would find it’s way over to CKEY 580 AM in Toronto about the same time-frame.
Locally, the Selsie song made it’s way over here on Detroit radio, “When Jimmy Comes Home” debuted first on WJBK Radio 1500 on Friday, November 15, 1963.
Six days later, it debuted at the #30 spot on the WKNR Keener 13 playlist for Thursday, November 21, 1963. On a local level, the song didn’t stay long on the charts here in Detroit. But after having first heard it played on WKNR late in 1963, personally, this Sandy Selsie classic will always be a great Keener song memory from that year.
While certainly there weren’t too many, this long forgotten, obscure song as was recorded by Sandy Selsie, arguably, may well have been the greatest “Jimmy” song that was ever recorded in the Top 40 era.
— M O T O R C I T Y R A D I O F L A S H B A C K S
SANDY SELSIE * When Jimmy Comes Home * COLUMBIA Records (1963)
AIRCHECK OF THE WEEK WITH JOEY REYNOLDS (AGAIN!)
From the MCRFB AIRCHECKS Library —
Joey Reynolds on 96.3 FM WHYT
…We’re gonna get funky… get those Q-Tips outta your ears and pay attention to what we’re doin’….
Last week, MCRFB Aircheck Of The Week had featured Joey Reynolds on WXYZ 1270 AM in Detroit during 1966.
This week, MCRFB features the talented Joey Reynolds once again. Having left New York City’s WHTZ, Reynolds was back in Detroit on “Hot Hits” 96.3 WHYT on the FM dial, this time in the ’80s.
In this featured WHYT aircheck, you’ll note Joey Reynolds showcases his own brand-of-characters during his entire show, while highlighting more of his quick-and-spontaneous humor with his wit in rapid-delivery fashion this time around.
Before the end of the year, Reynolds would leave WHYT in Detroit for the west-coast once again, this time on KMGG in L.A. Reynolds was previously in Los Angeles on KRTH during 1980 and 1981.
For this week’s MCRFB Airchex feature, here is Joey Reynolds on WHYT in Detroit on April 10, 1984. This was Joey Reynolds at his Detroit best.
From the MCRFB Aircheck Library
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WHYT-FM * JOEY REYNOLDS * APRIL 10, 1984
Bonus! | JOEY REYNOLDS CHEESCAKE | Jingle
BEATLES ON VEE-JAY OR SWAN? . . . JANUARY 25, 1964
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964
Beatles Heat Flare In Court
NEW YORK — Vee Jay Records filed a motion in New York’s Supreme Court against both Capitol Records and Swan Records here Friday seeking an injunction restraining the companies from manufacturing, distributing, advertising or otherwise disposing of recordings by the Beatles.
The motion was brought before Judge Mullen in Supreme Court, who reserved decision on the case.
The case is but one of many suits and counter-suits being bandied about the courts over the sensational young singing group from Liverpool. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 25, 1964)
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964
Beatles Heat Flare In Court
CHICAGO — The Beatles, the nation’s hottest recording property today, are becoming the object of the nation’s hottest lawsuits, at least as far as the recording industry is concerned.
The rock-and-rolling English group has a series of singles and LP’s out on three labels–Capitol, Vee Jay and Swan. Each of the offering is bounding up the national charts like Topsy.
And each is becoming involved in a series of suits and counter-suits between the various companies involved.
Most confused are the nation’s dealers and one-stops, many of whom have received telegrams from one or more of the parties, noting that appropriate legal action will be taken if they persisted in selling the others’ products.
The matter is far from settled, but as of Billboard press time, Capitol was granted an injunction in Cook County Circuit Court restraining Vee Jay from manufacturing, distributing, advertising or otherwise disposing of the Beatles’ recordings.
The Capitol injunction is good for thirty days and Vee Jay is slated to file an answer next Wednesday.
Vee Jay, meanwhile, has filed a suit seeking a similar injunction against Capitol and Swan, with a hearing slated for New York’s Supreme Court before Judge Saul Streit, last Friday.
Under the Capitol injunction, “Vee Jay, it’s agents, attorneys and servants” are prevented from selling or advertising Beatles’ products.
Presumably, and according to Vee Jay sources, the injunction does not apply against dealers, one-stops, rack jobbers and even distributors who might already have the records in stock.
According to Jay Lasker, Vee Jay executive vice-president, “we shipped an awful lot of records, more than Capitol.”
Capitol attorney, Sidney Zatz, however, has indicated that “steps could be taken” against dealers who persisted in selling the Vee Jay product, though he did not specify what this would entail.
The product causing all the fuss is:
Capitol, “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” a single, is at No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 this week, and “Meet The Beatles,” an L.P.
Vee Jay, “Please Please Me,” a single, and two LP’s, “Introducing The Beatles,” already distributed, and “The Beatles and Frank Ifield,” were not yet shipped but ready to go.
Swan, “She Loves You,” a single, is breaking into Billboard’s Hot 100 in position 69.
Neither Vee Jay nor Capitol is seeking damages as of this date, though a Capitol spokesman did not rule out the possibility of this taking place at a later date.
In its motion for injunction, Capitol claimed exclusive U.S. distribution rights to all recording by the Beatles. The label accused Vee Jay of manufacturing and selling albums introducing the Beatles in violation of Capitol’s exclusive right.
Capitol contended in its suit that Vee Jay’s rights were canceled last August.
The suit notes that initially Vee Jay was licensed by Trans Global, a New York firm licensed to distribute EMI products. EMI has the original Beatles’ contract.
Capitol claims that Trans Global canceled its contract with Vee Jay August 8 because of non-payment of royalties. Trans Global allegedly relinquished its rights to EMI with the latter than returning them over to Capitol.
Vee Jay, meanwhile, contends that it has a five-year contract with the Beatles and that it is definitely not in default for failure to pay royalties.
Capitol’s suit notes that the label has spent $50,000 in extensive nationwide promotions of the Beatles recordings. END
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(Information and new source: Billboard; January 25, 1964)
WXYZ 1270 HOSTS MOTOWN SUPREMES . . . JANUARY 22, 1966
A MCRFB news brief:
WXYZ Remote On Supremes
DETROIT — WXYZ will follow the Supremes to Detroit’s Roostertail nightclub Monday evening (January 17) for their performance. Lee Alan and Danny Taylor will broadcast remote from the club’s lobby at their regularly scheduled time – 7:15-10 p.m. and 10 p.m.-1 a.m. respectively.
Marc Avery, Steve Lundy, Dave Prince and Pat Murphy will be on hand at a WXYZ table with microphones to interview the Supremes themselves and thereafter speak with members of the crowd live concluding the Supremes Roostertail performance. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 22, 1966)
WJBK 1500 FORMAT CHANGE . . . MAY 14, 1966
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966
WJBK ‘Amends’ Its Format To Soft Rock
DETROIT — WJBK, 50,000-watt outlet here, has lauched a soft-rock format, giving the market four Hot 100 stations. Program Director John M. Grubbs said the format is more “amended,” than changed. The new programming operation is being changed slowly, but should be complete by May 9.
Dick Boyer has been added to the air-personality roster to handle all-night chores. Jerry Blocker, a negro, formerly of WCAR will handle the 7-midnight slot, accenting light commercial jazz.
WJBK has tried a Hot 100 format before, but in August 1964, switched back to good music. The station is now injecting current Hot 100 Chart singles of non raucous nature. “What we’re looking for is the uptempo, but not specific, teen tunes,” Grubbs said.
As an example, the station was playing last week “Monday, Monday” by the Mamas and the Papas, also “Sloop John B.” by the Beach Boys, “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers, “Daydream” by the Lovin’ Spoonful, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by B. J. Thomas and the Triumphs, “Rainy Day Woman” by Bob Dylan, and “How Does That Grab You Darlin” by Nancy Sinatra. Album cuts with bright appeal are also being played.
“We’re going to create a hip sound for the 18 and-up age bracket,” Grubbs said, “and we’re getting a good reaction. Last July the station placed fourth in Billboard’s Radio Response Rating survey for influencing sales of albums in the market.”
There are presently three Hot 100 stations in the market besides WJBK–WKNR, CKLW, and WXYZ. WJBK just recently upped its daytime power to 50,000 watts from 10,000; the station hopes to, as it is being planned, to increase its nighttime power sometime in the near future. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; May 14, 1966)
MEET THE BEATLES . . . JANUARY 18, 1964
From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964
British Beatles Hottest Capitol Singles Ever
HOLLYWOOD — The Beatles’ Capitol single, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” this week jumps aboard Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for the first time, landing at the No. 45 spot 10 days after the record hit the market, thus becoming the fastest-breaking disk in the labels history.
According to Capitol, dealer orders passed the million mark at press time with the new York City market alone responsible for 294,000. Billboard learned that Capitol called for a Record Industry Association of America audit for sales.
The label hopes to get RIAA certification in time so that Capitol President Alan Livingston will be able to present Britain’s Beatles with a gold record award when they arrive here February 7.
Capitol’s artist and repertoire Vice-President Voyle Gilmore told Billboard his company has shipped 640,000 copies during the first week of the disk’s release.
This surpasses the label’s all-time fast-breaking singles, Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “Sixteen Tons,” and the Kingston Trio’s “Tom Dooley.” To Keep pace with the demand, Capitol has had it’s plants in Scranton, Pa., and Los Angeles on 24-hour production schedules, and found it necessary to farm out 200,000 Beatle pressings to RCA Victor.
At week’s end, Capitol’s Livingston ordered the immediate release of its “Meet The Beatles” album, which had been scheduled for issue January 20. This stepped up pace, Livingston said, resulted from “pressure too great for us to hold back any longer.”
England’s hit act is scheduled for three appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show immediately after the band’s arrival here, the first to be telecast February 9, the second on February 16, and the final one to be pre-taped in Miami for a March show. The group appeared on the Jack Parr show on a film clip several weeks ago. END
BILLBOARD LATE SINGLE SPOTLIGHTS 
MEET THE BEATLES — Capitol T 2047 (M); ST 2047 (S) — The Beatles, Britain’s prize group with the Liverpool sound, have created a great stir here. Their initial single “I Want To Hold Your Hand” is already well up the charts and this album, rushed out to cash in on the publicity splurge, should move out rapidly. For full review and cover reproduction see next week’s Billboard. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; January 18, 1964)
XM RADIO: PHLASH PHELPS TALKS TO MARTHA REEVES!
PHLASH PHELPS * Sirius XM * Martha Reeves
SIRIUS XM RADIO: TERRY YOUNG WKNR TRIBUTE SHOW!
TERRY YOUNG * WKNR KEENER 13 * XM RADIO
WPON: JUKEBOX JOHN / KEVIN O’NEILL! ’65 RECALLED
JUKEBOX JOHN * WPON (2003) * FLASHBACK ’65