1967 began with a bang. The Monkees controlled the top spot for six straight weeks before relinquishing the number one spot to the Buckinghams. Even with holding the spot for six weeks, the Monkees do not hold the number one … Continue reading →
We end 1966 with the Monkees. To prepare for their second album, Don Kirshner, the Monkees publisher, wanted to bring in other talent besides Boyce and Hart, who had written their first hit, “Last Train to Clarksville,” so they decided … Continue reading →
Hoping to follow up Pet Sounds with something equally good, Brian Wilson began work on a project which he called “Dumb Angel”, but then changed the name to Smile. The album was never really released. Anticipating that Smile would be … Continue reading →
How many songs can you name that have the title of an actual place in England? Well, there’s “Penny Lane” by the Beatles (we’ll cover that in 1967) and you might remember “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty which went to … Continue reading →
This is the eighth time the Supremes have been to the top of the charts. It’s the second of a four song run of number ones for the group. “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” was written by the Motown team … Continue reading →
By 1966, Johnny Rivers had been recording and hitting the charts for two years, starting in 1964 with a song called “Memphis.” The problem was, Johnny was only recording cover songs, songs that had been done previously by other people. … Continue reading →
The Monkees were a manufactured band. The television show, The Monkees, had been pitched and accepted. The producers of The Monkees wanted an American alternative to the Beatles and so, auditions went out to find four young men who could … Continue reading →
I have always wondered if the appeal of this song was because it was a good song (it was) or because the lead singer choose to be anonymous. In 1966, no one knew who ? (Question Mark) was. It was … Continue reading →
The two ruling musical houses in the Sixties were the British invasion and Motown. From Motown, we get the great quartet, the Four Tops. The four guys were Levi Stubbs who sang lead and he was backed by Abdul “Duke” … Continue reading →
Ah, the mellow sounds of the Association. They really knew how to sing a love song. This six man group started in 1962 when founding member Jules Alexander, who was serving in the Navy in Hawaii met Terry Kirkman, another … Continue reading →