Talkin Music with Jack – Let’s Talk about the Music of the 60’s
May 30, 2018
SOAP BOX DERBY INTERNATIONAL RACE IN AKRON OHIO WINNERS AND CHEATERS
July 3, 2018Talkin Music… We just keep on Talkin By Jack Coll
TALKIN MUSIC
WE JUST KEEP-ON TALKIN
CAUSE IT’S FUN
By Jack Coll
6-11-18
Hey, thanks for the nice comments on my TALKIN MUSIC column a week or so ago, many of you out there seemed to enjoy it so I figured why not run a second version of 1960’s pop tunes with a little trivia and a few neat-nuggets.
From the time I was ten years old I had a six-volt transistor radio attached to my ear listening to any station that would play the pop tunes of the era. I remember it started with Petula Clark, Dean Martin, Jerry Butler, Chad and Jeremy, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans, (Darlene Love) Jan and Dean, Peter and Gordon, Buddy Holly and Johnny Horton. One of the vivid memories I have from the transistor radio attached to my ear was when Patsy Cline died in the spring of 1963 in a plane crash I remember the station (I think it might have been WIP 610 AM) just kept playing the song “Sweet Dreams” over and over again, maybe like four or five times an hour for what seemed like days. I love the song but it plays very sad to my ears, I remember it like it was yesterday.
I remember the very first album I bought with my paper-route money. It was a Bob Dylan album and the following week I bought the Supremes “I Hear A Symphony” album. Both records were purchased at the Grant’s store once located in the Valley Forge Shopping Center in King of Prussia .
So just like the last column how about we play a little trivia.
Let’s stay with the 1960’s for one more week and then we’ll move on to the 1970’s.
How about it! Can you give me the next line in the song, the artist and title of the song, as you might have noticed the trivia part wasn’t meant to be easy.
NUMBER ONE:
Yea my blood’s so mad feels like coagulating
I’m sitting here just contemplatin’
I can’t twist the truth it knows no regulation
Handful of senators don’t pass legislation
And marches alone can’t bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin’
?????????????????????????
NUMBER TWO:
Seems like the other day
My baby went away
He went away ‘cross the sea
It’s been two years or so
Since I saw my baby go
And then this letter came to me
It said that we were through
He found somebody new
Oh, let me think, let me think, What can I do
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no no
???????????????????????????
A few long forgotten hits of the 1960’s
1960 Running Bear—Johnny Preston
1968 Honey—Bobby Goldsboro
1963 Walk Right IN—The Rooftop Singers
1963 So Much In Love—The Tymes
1965 This Diamond Ring—Gary Lewis & The Playboys
1965 Over and Over—Dave Clark Five
1962 Soldier Boy—The Shirelles
1966 When A Man Loves A woman—Percy Sledge
1961 Runaway—Del Shannon
1960 Mr. Custer—Larry Verne
1964 Hello Dolly—Louis Armstrong
1964 Ringo—Lorne Greene
1966 Winchester Cathedral—The New Vaudeville Band
1967 Ode To Billie Joe—Bobbie Gentry
Answer for Number One:
Yea my blood’s so mad feels like coagulating
I’m sitting here just contemplatin’
I can’t twist the truth it knows no regulation
Handful of senators don’t pass legislation
And marches alone can’t bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin’
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’
AND YOU TELL ME
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN MY FRIEND
AH, YOU DON’T BELIEVE
WE’RE ON THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION
Barry McGuire
Eve Of Destruction
Barry McGuire was a member of the New Christy Minstrels of the early 1960’s. Along with other Christy members that included Kim Carnes, Gene Clark, later played with the Byrds, Kenny Rodgers who later formed The First Edition and Jerry Yester who later played in The Lovin’ Spoonful among others.
While Barry McGuire was with The New Christy Minstrels he wrote and sang their biggest hit called “Green Green.” The song “Eve of Destruction” was written in 1964 by P. F. Sloan and offered to the Byrds who rejected the song. Barry recorded it in July 1965 and it became an instant hit. The song was also recorded by The Turtles, Jan & Dean and The Grass Roots.
The song caused a half dozen or more “Response Songs” including “The Dawn of Correction,” “Day for Decision,” and a few months later the song “Ballad Of The Green Berets,” recorded by SSGT. Barry Sadler who was a Geeen Beret medic.
Today Barry McGuire is 83 years old and still performs.
ANSWER FOR NUMBER TWO:
Seems like the other day
My baby went away
He went away ‘cross the sea
It’s been two years or so
Since I saw my baby go
And then this letter came to me
It said that we were through
He found somebody new
Oh, let me think, let me think, What can I do
Oh no, oh no, oh no no no no no
REMEMBER, WALKIN’ IN THE SAND
REMEMBER, WALKIN’ IN THE SAND
REMEMBER, WALKIN’ IN THE SAND
The Shangri-las
The Shangri-las group consisted of two sets of sisters from Queens, New York City. Mary and Betty Weiss and identical twin sisters Marge and Maryann Ganser, Mary was the lead singer on most of their hits. Maryann died of encephalitis in 1971 and Marge died of an overdose of drugs.
The group name “The Shangri-las was named after a Queens New York Restaurant.
The Shangri-las performed with the Beatles and performed in the fall of 1964 on the Rolling Stones Tour along with the Drifters and James Brown. The Shangri-las also toured the UK with Wayne Fontana, The Mindbenders, Del Shannon and The Herman Hermits.
Other hits of the Shangri-las included “Leader Of The Pack,” “I Can Never Go Home Anymore,” “Maybe,” and “He Cried” among others.
A young Billy Joel was a session player on “Remember, Walkin’ in The Sand.”
“Leader Of The Pack” inspired a response song called “Leader Of The Laundromat” recorded by The Detergents.
A Few More Trivia Questions
It’s All About The 60’s
Once again we’re looking for the next line or two in the song, the title and artist.
NUMBER THREE
Now the time has come
There’s no place to run
I might get burned up by the sun
But I had my fun
I’ve been loved and put aside
I’ve been crushed by the tumbling tide
And my soul has been psychedelicized
??????????????????????
NUMBER FOUR
So hard to find my way
Now that I’m all on my own
I saw you just the other day
My, how you have grown
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometime I’m overcome thinking about
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you,
?????????????????????
NUMBER FIVE
The next song was a really cool song that charted twice, 1967 and again in 1975.
I’ll tell you what I’ll do (What will you do?)
I’d like to go there now with you
You can miss out school (Won’t that be cool)
Why go to learn the words of fools
(What will we do there?) We’ll get high
(What will we touch there?) We’ll touch the sky
(But why the tears there?) I’ll tell you why
It’s all to Beautiful
It’s all to Beautiful
It’s all to Beautiful
It’s all to Beautiful
I feel inclined to Blow my mind
Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun
They all come out to grove about
Be nice and have fun in the sun
It’s all to Beautiful
Ok, so this next set of lyrics is a pretty tough one unless you’re a student of music from the 1960’s
If you name the song title and artist that makes you an expert!
NUMBER SIX
(First Verse)
Call out the instigators
Because there’s something in the air
We’ve got to get together sooner or later
Because the revolution’s here, And you know it’s right
And you know it’s right
(Last verse)
Hand out the arms and ammo
We’re going to blast our way through here
We’ve got to get together sooner or later
Because the Revolution’s here, and you know it’s right
And you know it’s right
NUMBER SEVEN
This one should be fairly easy to the music inclined, Title, artist and next line in the song!
Never been a sinner, I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He’s gonna set me up with
?????????????????/
If you’re a child of the 1960’s, you should remember all of these songs
1969 Crimson and Clover—Tommy James & The Shondells
1961 Quarter To Three—Gary U.S. Bonds
1961 Hit The Road Jack—Ray Charles
1966 The Sounds of Silence—Simon & Garfunkel
1963 If You Want To Be Happy—Jimmy Soul
1963 Dominique—The Singing Nun
1965 Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter—Herman’s Hermit’s
1965 Downtown—Petula Clark
1964 A World Without Love—Peter & Gordon
1968 Green Tambourine—he Lemon Pipers
1966 Poor Side Of Town—Johnny Rivers
1966 Reach Out I’ll Be There—The Four Tops
1966 Wild Thing—The Troggs
1962 Telestar—The Tornadoes
1962 Sherry—The 4 Seasons
1967 Windy—The Association
1969 In The Year 2525—Zager & Evans
ANSWER TO NUMBER THREE
Now the time has come
There’s no place to run
I might get burned up by the sun
But I had my fun
I’ve been loved and put aside
I’ve been crushed by the tumbling tide
And my soul has been psychedelicized
TIME HAS COME TODAY
The song “Time Has Come Today” was released by The Chambers Brothers, an American Soul Band in 1968. The Chambers Brothers were made up of four brothers from Mississippi, George, Lester, Willie and Joe. The eleven minute hit “Time Has Come Today” was written by Joe and Willie.
ANSWER TO NUMBER FOUR
So hard to find my way
Now that I’m all on my own
I saw you just the other day
My, how you have grown
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometime I’m overcome thinking about
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you,
MY BROWN EYED GIRL
YOU ARE MY, BROWN EYED GIRL
Van Morrison is a northern Irishman, singer-songwriter who penned “Brown Eyed Girl” in 1967. The song went to Number 10 on the pop charts and stayed there for ten weeks. Van was also the lead singer for a group called “Them.” Van wrote and sang the song “Gloria,” It was their biggest hit. Van was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
Originally, the lyrics “making love in the green grass” was considered too racy for radio. An edited version that played on a lot of radio stations replaced the lyrics with “laughin and a-runnin’ hey hey” from a previous verse.
ANSWER TO NUMBER FIVE
I’ll tell you what I’ll do (What will you do?)
I’d like to go there now with you
You can miss out school ((Won’t that be cool)
Why go to learn the words of fools
(What will we do there?) We’ll get high
(What will we touch there?) We’ll touch the sky
(But why the tears there?) I’ll tell you why
It’s all to Beautiful
It’s all to Beautiful
It’s all to Beautiful
It’s all to Beautiful
I feel inclined to Blow my mind
Get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun
They all come out to grove about
Be nice and have fun in the sun
It’s all to Beautiful
ITCHYCOO PARK BY SMALL FACES
The band Small Faces was an English band from East London. Later members included Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart, former members of the Jeff Beck Group. The band later became known as just “Faces” and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
Itchycoo Park is a psychedelic song written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane. Itchycoo Park hit number 16 in 1967 and charted for a second time in 1975.
ANSWER TO NUMBER SIX
(First Verse)
Call out the instigators
Because there’s something in the air
We’ve got to get together sooner or later
Because the revolution’s here, And You know it’s right
And you know it’s right
(Last verse)
Hand out the arms and ammo
We’re going to blast our way through here
We’ve got to get together sooner or later
Because the Revolution’s here, and you know it’s right
And you know it’s right
SOMETHING IN THE AIR BY THUNDER CLAP NEWMAN
The song “Something In The Air” was written and sung by Speedy Keen and produced by Pete Townshend of The Who. Andy “Thunder Clap” Newman played the piano. The song known for its heavy guitar, hand clapping and spiritual lyrics sold more than two million copies.
The song “Something In The Air” was covered by more than two dozen groups including The Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Eurythmics, Fish and Wilco.
ANSWER TO NUMBER SEVEN
Never been a sinner, I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He’s gonna set me up with
THE SPIRIT IN THE SKY
Norman Greenbaum wrote the heavy guitar, hand clapping spiritual lyrics in 1969 and by the spring of 1970 had sold more than two million copies of the record. Greenbaum noted that he wrote the lyrics in about fifteen minutes, that fifteen minutes has served him well over the years as the song still makes him about $75,000 a year. Greenbaum is 75 years old today living in L.A.
OK, last three songs of the sixties, Good Luck!
NUMBER EIGHT
Name the title of the song, artist and the next line in the song
(Hint, this guy wrote many hit songs, but was considered a “One Hit Wonder” for this song)
Oh we make one another cry
Break a heart then we say goodbye
Cross our hearts and we hope to die
That the other was to blame
Neither one will give in
So we gaze at our eight by ten
Thinking ‘bout the things that might have been
It’s a dirty rotten shame
NUMBER NINE
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressed so fine and looking so pretty
Cool Cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Til I’m wheezing like a bus stop
Running up the stairs,
Gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night it’s a different world
Go out and find a girl
Com’on cm’on and dance all night
Despite the heat it’ll be alright
NUMBER TEN
Every time I see her she don’t even look my way
Maybe she will notice me but then what would I say
I would say what’s on my mind
But the words are hard to find
But I’m gonna try to tell her anyway
How about one more look at some One-Hit wonders
1955 The Penguins—Earth Angel
1958 The Silhouettes—Get A Job
1958 Lourie London—He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands
1962 Ronnie and the Hi-Lites—I Wish That We Were Married
1967 The Fifth Estate—Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead
1968 The Crazy World of Arthur Brown—Fire
1964 The Murmaids—Popsicles and Icicles
1969 Desmond Dekker and The Aces—Israelites
1969 The Joe Jeffrey Group—My Pledge Of Love
ANSWER TO NUMBER EIGHT
Oh we make one another cry
Break a heart then we say goodbye
Cross our hearts and we hope to die
That the other was to blame
Neither one will give in
So we gaze at our eight by ten
Thinking ‘bout the things that might have been
It’s a dirty rotten shame
Games People Play
By Joe South
Joe South was a Grammy Award winning writer in 1970 for writing “Rose Garden,” a Number One hit for Lynn Anderson. Joe played guitar for Tommy Roe on “Sheila,” he also played on Bob Dylan’s “Blond on Blond,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence” and “Chain of Fools” by Aretha Franklin.
So it was no surprise to anyone in the music industry when Joe recorded his top-Ten hit in 1969, “Games People Play. He had a second hit that he wrote and was covered by Elvis Presley “Walk A Mile In My Shoes,” Joe recorded it in 1970 under Joe South and the Believers.
Other hit songs written by Joe South included:
“I knew You When”
“Yo-Yo” A song later recorded by The Osmonds
“Hush” Later a hit song for “Deep Purple”
“Don’t It Make You Want To Go Home” A hit for Brook Benton
The list goes on, he also wrote hit songs for Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Loretta Lynn, Carol Burnett, Andy Williams, Kitty Wells, Dottie West, Jim Nabors, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Ike & Tina Turner, Hank Williams Jr. and James Taylor just to name a few.
Joe South passed away on September 5, 2012, he was 72 years old.
ANSWER TO NUMBER NINE
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressed so fine and looking so pretty
Cool Cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Til I’m wheezing like a bus stop
Running up the stairs,
Gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night it’s a different world
Go out and find a girl
Com’on cm’on and dance all night
Despite the heat it’ll be alright
SUMMER IN THE CITY
The Lovin’ Spoonful
“Summer in the City” was one of more than a dozen hits written and performed by John Sebastian and the Lovin’ Spoonful during the mid 1960’s. The Lovin’ Spoonful was known as a Jug-Band rock group formed in New York City in 1965 and had an immediate hit with “Do You Believe In Magic.” The band was short-lived disbanding in 1968.
Other hits by the Spoonful included:
“You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice”
“Daydream”
“Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind”
“Rain On The Roof”
“Nashville Cats”
“Darling Be Home Soon”
(A song used in Francis Ford Coppola’s movie, “You’re a Big Boy Now” starring Peter Kastner)
“Six O’Clock
“She Is Still A Mystery”
John Sebastian had a hit on his own in 1976, “Welcome Back,” a song he wrote for the television show, “Welcome Back Kotter,” starring Gabe Kaplan.
ANSWER TO NUMBER TEN
Every time I see her she don’t even look my way
Maybe she will notice me but then what would I say
I would say what’s on my mind
But the words are hard to find
But I’m gonna try to tell her anyway
(Don’t you know that she’s)
Just my Style
(Everything about her)
Drives me wild
Just My Style
Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Gary Lewis and the Playboys was a pop group formed in Los Angeles in 1964. Gary Lewis was born in 1945, name changed at the age of two and is the son of comedian Jerry Lewis. Gary Lewis was inducted into the Army on New Year’s Day in 1967 and resumed his career in 1968 after he was discharged.
The Playboys had a string of hits from 1965 until the time Lewis went into the service, by the time he was discharged in late 1968 the music scene had changed, Pop Bands were on their way out, Janis, Jimi, The Doors, The Stones, Who, and many other psychedelic bands were in.
The band split-up but not before releasing a string of hits that dominating the charts with hits like:
“This Diamond Ring”
“Count Me IN”
“Save Your Heart For Me”
“Everybody Loves A Clown”
“She’s Just My Style”
“Sure Gonna Miss Her”
“Green Grass”
“Sealed With A Kiss”
And about a half dozen other hits.
I hope you enjoyed your mini-trip back to the 1960’s as much as I enjoyed writing about it. I also hope to bring you more Talkin Music in the future, it really is a nice five minute get-a-way from the demanding world we live in today.
Thanks for the Memories.
