The Classic/Retro Pop Culture Thread

[The Old Mixer]

Wells should go rogue and become their regular antagonist.

He already is.

And does Wells learn anything from this? I think not.

He was more approving after that, but in a way that was all about him.

I was about to say, every day is weird for these guys. Also, it's kind of a weird coincidence that we have two shows that involved predictions.

And perhaps deliberate that both Mark VII shows had titles using Wednesday, though I wouldn't know why.

Or... "Quick, hide me! There's Gage!"

Could be!

 

[RJDiogenes]

Richard Perry and Harry Nilsson liked what they heard on the playback and decided to include it on the album. Herbie was surprised to hear that his detuned bass made the album cut.

That's fantastic. Let creative people do their stuff and good things happen.

He already is.

True, but I was thinking more like Doctor Doom.

And perhaps deliberate that both Mark VII shows had titles using Wednesday, though I wouldn't know why.

I didn't even notice that. Some in joke maybe.

 

[The Old Mixer]

_______

Solid Catch-Up Viewing--Can You Dig It?

_______

Thought that in the time remaining, I'd at least try to knock off the Season 2 episodes that I hadn't previously covered...

The Mod Squad
"Survival House"
Originally aired February 10, 1970

The Squad tries to help an ex-dope addict accused of attempted rape, a crime he claims he didn't commit.

Billy Lee Watson (Sammy Davis Jr.), who credits his being an ex-dope fiend to the titular rehab locale, is celebrating a promotion from gas pumper at the house's station to a director's job at another branch when Greer shows up with Dr. Martin Lefevre (Billy Daniels) and his daughter Angel (Mira Waters), both of whom Watson is previously acquainted with. Angel indicates that Billy was the one, and Greer charges him with statutory rape. Greer reports this to the guy who runs Titular Rehab Locale, Hank Frederick (William Smithers), who wants Greer to let Billy off, but Watson refuses to defend himself for unknown reasons. Frederick thinks he can get to the truth if Greer will release Billy to Survival House, so Greer assigns Pete and Linc to work undercover there to keep an eye on him. (I thought this was going to be another Julie sideliner, but she actually gets involved later.)

At a small group session attended by the Male Mod Duo, Billy is pressed to divulge that Angel was a user who'd been knocked up by a dealer and came to him for help in getting rid of her baby and scoring a fix. When Hank can tell that Billy is still holding something back, Billy reveals that he's secretly Angel's father by his old flame, Marion Lefevre (Isabelle Cooley). Julie goes undercover at Angel's girls school to learn pretty much the same stuff. Billy later expresses to his roommate Pete an interest in finding the guy who turned Angel on, and still later, working the house's switchboard, he eavesdrops on a call from Greer to Hank and learns that the Pete and Linc are cops. Feeling betrayed, Billy confronts Hank about this, then angrily drives off.

Greer assigns the Mods to be waiting at the Lefevre home with the intent of actually sussing out who Angel's supplier is, though Julie has concerns about being there to witness the girl's withdrawal.

Greer: I'm sorry, Julie, but like the lady wrote, "I never promised you a rose garden."​

Actually, Joe South wrote that. Linc and Julie try to stage an intervention when a desperate Angel sneaks to her father's medical bag in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, Pete is knocked out by Billy while standing guard outside. Billy sneaks into Angel's room and offers to get her a fix if she'll tell him who her supplier is. She does, and Billy whacks a checking-in Linc with a chair(!) before heading out to find Frank Carver.

Dr. Lefavre is in Angel's room tending to Linc to witness Angel's withdrawal symptoms. The Mods realize what Billy's up to and get the name of the supplier from Angel. Billy shows up at Carver's (Jay Powell) pad and tries roughing him up, but is taken down by a couple of goons who look like they might be Pete and Linc's stunt doubles. Carver shoots Billy up to keep him from talking, but Pete and Linc arrive, and Billy witnesses their tussle with their doubles through a haze of slo-mo and psychedelic color effects. Greer arrives with backup to place the appropriate parties under arrest, and Linc threatens physical force to make Billy go back home for treatment.

In the coda, a recovered Billy reconciles with the Mods and Martin, who comes to Survival House looking for help for Angel (whom we learn lost her baby). Billy sees the Mods to the door so they can do their walk-off outside Titular Rehab Locale.

_______

True, but I was thinking more like Doctor Doom.

He's like their JJJ or Flash Thompson.

I didn't even notice that. Some in joke maybe.

The only thing that comes to me is that the Friday character was named Wednesday in the Stan Freberg Christmas parody record.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Solid Catch-Up Viewing--Can You Dig It?

Lay it on me, baby.

Thought that in the time remaining, I'd at least try to knock off the Season 2 episodes that I hadn't previously covered...

That sounded so sad.

Billy Lee Watson (Sammy Davis Jr.)

Friend of Arch.

Hank Frederick (William Smithers)

Yet another bonkers starship captain.

Frederick thinks he can get to the truth if Greer will release Billy to Survival House

Can he even do that after he's been charged, or did he go to a judge?

At a small group session attended by the Male Mod Duo

The Mod Pod?

Angel was a user who'd been knocked up by a dealer and came to him for help in getting rid of her baby and scoring a fix.

"Getting rid of" as in back-alley abortion or black market babies?

Billy later expresses to his roommate Pete an interest in finding the guy who turned Angel on

So does she know he's the dad and that's why she came to him for help?

Feeling betrayed, Billy confronts Hank about this, then angrily drives off.

Why do these characters always feel betrayed when someone tries to help them? It's never, "Aw, thanks, guys."

Greer: I'm sorry, Julie, but like the lady wrote, "I never promised you a rose garden."

"If you hadn't taken so many LOAs, you'd be toughened up by now."

Actually, Joe South wrote that.

Greer is obviously getting bad intelligence, which is worrisome.

Meanwhile, Pete is knocked out by Billy while standing guard outside. Billy sneaks into Angel's room and offers to get her a fix if she'll tell him who her supplier is. She does, and Billy whacks a checking-in Linc with a chair(!) before heading out to find Frank Carver.

He's a little whirlwind. If he knocks out Julie, it'll be a clean sweep.

but is taken down by a couple of goons who look like they might be Pete and Linc's stunt doubles.

Ah, that explains his earlier success.

Carver shoots Billy up to keep him from talking

At least coherently.

Billy witnesses their tussle with their doubles through a haze of slo-mo and psychedelic color effects.

While singing "Candy Man."

Greer arrives with backup to place the appropriate parties under arrest, and Linc threatens physical force to make Billy go back home for treatment.

Okay, so let me see if I get this. Lefevre and wife are Angel's parents, though Billy is the real daddy. Angel gets knocked up by dealer Carver, and then goes to real daddy for baby resolution-- as well as more drugs, even though he's clean and she already has a dealer. Then she accuses real daddy of rape, because... uh... okay, I'm lost.

help for Angel (whom we learn lost her baby).

That was unexpectedly dark.

Billy sees the Mods to the door so they can do their walk-off outside Titular Rehab Locale.

Do they all get a kiss on the cheek?

He's like their JJJ or Flash Thompson.

Yeah, but I was proposing an upgrade. He tears off his badge, throws it on the ground, and shakes his fist at them. "Fools! When next we meet, it will be on my terms!"

The only thing that comes to me is that the Friday character was named Wednesday in the Stan Freberg Christmas parody record.

Ah, that makes sense. I was thinking along the lines of someone had a baby on a Wednesday or something.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Can he even do that after he's been charged, or did he go to a judge?

Don't know the actual legalities, but the premise here was that he could be sent back to the house in police custody...hence the Mods.

"Getting rid of" as in back-alley abortion or black market babies?

Not specified, but I assumed the former.

So does she know he's the dad and that's why she came to him for help?

I don't think she or her legal father knew. But everyone knew Billy had been a dope fiend.

While singing "Candy Man."

This episode had me not as incredulous that people thought there might be a hidden meaning.

Okay, so let me see if I get this. Lefevre and wife are Angel's parents, though Billy is the real daddy. Angel gets knocked up by dealer Carver, and then goes to real daddy for baby resolution-- as well as more drugs, even though he's clean and she already has a dealer. Then she accuses real daddy of rape, because... uh... okay, I'm lost.

She couldn't go to Carver because he wouldn't see her, probably because of the baby. I think the baby was also why she pointed the finger at Billy--she didn't want her father to know who the real father was, revealing her addiction. It was related in flashback how Angel had tried to score a fix from Billy previously.

That was unexpectedly dark.

Done completely offhand and matter-of-fact.

Yeah, but I was proposing an upgrade. He tears off his badge, throws it on the ground, and shakes his fist at them. "Fools! When next we meet, it will be on my terms!"

I could maybe see him as JJJ remote-piloting a Spider-Slayer.

Ah, that makes sense. I was thinking along the lines of someone had a baby on a Wednesday or something.

I doubt that's what it was about, though. Why the nod at this particular time?

 

[RJDiogenes]

Don't know the actual legalities, but the premise here was that he could be sent back to the house in police custody...hence the Mods.

Ah, okay.

This episode had me not as incredulous that people thought there might be a hidden meaning.

She couldn't go to Carver because he wouldn't see her, probably because of the baby. I think the baby was also why she pointed the finger at Billy--she didn't want her father to know who the real father was, revealing her addiction. It was related in flashback how Angel had tried to score a fix from Billy previously.

Okay, that follows.

I could maybe see him as JJJ remote-piloting a Spider-Slayer.

In Adam-12 terms, he could steal an armored SWAT van. "I can be SWAT, too! I can be SWAT, too!"

I doubt that's what it was about, though. Why the nod at this particular time?

Yeah, I suppose it would be difficult to coordinate.

 

[The Old Mixer]

55 Years Ago This Week

March 26

• Jim Thompson, an American who had been successful in founding the Thai Silk Company in Bangkok after World War II, disappeared while on a vacation with friends in Malaysia near Tanah Rata. On the afternoon of Easter Sunday, Thompson set off from his room at the Moonlight Cottage for a walk in the jungles of the Cameron Highlands, and was never seen again.
• The first national convention of underground newspaper publishers and writers was held, taking place at Stinson Beach, California.
• In New York City, 10,000 gathered for the Central Park be-in.

March 28

• Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical Populorum progressio, giving support to the principle of educating the public about birth control, without relaxing the long-standing ban of the Roman Catholic Church on artificial contraception.
• Eight jet bombers and 20 jet fighters from the Fleet Air Arm (of the Royal Navy) and the Royal Air Force dropped firebombs and tanks of aviation fuel on the wreckage of the supertanker Torrey Canyon and the mile wide carpet of oil that had been leaking into the sea for the past ten days, in an effort to prevent further befouling of the beaches of Cornwall. "The greatest of all fires at sea" burned the floating oil and sent an up a thick black column of smoke that reached altitudes of ten miles and more.

March 29

• The first French nuclear submarine, Le Redoutable, was launched from Cherbourg, and would soon be armed with 16 MSBS nuclear missiles.
• At 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time, the employees of all three television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) and their radio networks went on strike. Announcers, newscasters, actors, and other performers who were members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) walked off the job for the first time in AFTRA's history, after being unable to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the contract that had expired on November 15. The strike would be settled after 13 days and would end on April 10 in time for CBS to host the Academy Awards telecast.
• The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit voted, 8 to 4, to affirm a decision ordering the integration of any remaining racially segregated public schools in the six southern states in its jurisdiction, and to do so in time for the opening of the 1967–1968 school year. The ruling directly affected Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and served as precedent for segregated schools elsewhere in the United States.
• The title of the Beatles' next album, the subject of such uncommonly long recording sessions, is announced: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, a name invented by Paul McCartney and Mal Evans.

March 30

• SEACOM, the South-East Asia Commonwealth telephone cable, inaugurated service at 3:00 p.m. local time in a ceremony at the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney, making it possible for direct calls between Australia and its neighbors in the Pacific, which in turn allowed calls to the rest of the world. Speaking from Buckingham Palace at 5:00 in the morning London time, Queen Elizabeth II opened for two minutes to the crowd.
• The Beatles posed with a photographic collage and wax figures from Madame Tussaud's famous museum for the cover artwork of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album at Chelsea Manor Studios in London.

March 31

• Kicking off a tour with The Walker Brothers, Cat Stevens and Engelbert Humperdinck at The Astoria London, Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar on stage for the first time. He was taken to hospital suffering burns to his hands. The guitar-burning act would later become a trademark of Hendrix's performances.
• U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signs the Consular Treaty.

April 1

• The United States Department of Transportation, created as a cabinet-level department separate from the U.S. Department of Commerce, began operations at 400 Seventh Street S.W. in Washington.
• Radio Zurich, a radio network in Switzerland, played an April Fool's Day joke on thousands of its listeners, by frequently interrupting regular programming with bulletins about an American manned landing on the Moon. Telephone lines were jammed, hundreds of people traveled out to the countryside to watch for the re-entry of the mission, and even the American consulate in Zürich called the UPI news bureau in an attempt to confirm the story. "Belief in the story was increased," a UPI dispatch noted, "because there are no week-end newspapers in Switzerland and television does not start broadcasting until 6 p.m."
• The Battle of Ap Gu ended after two days in South Vietnam's Tay Ninh Province, as the 1st Battalion of the 26th Infantry of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division overcame an attack by the much larger 9th Viet Cong Division. The battalion commander, Lt. Colonel Alexander M. Haig, would win the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism in flying into gunfire and defending against multiple assaults against the American encampment; Haig would rise through the ranks quickly, becoming a general two years later, and retiring as a four-star general in 1979. The U.S. Army lost 17 men, compared to 609 Viet Cong soldiers.
• A new South Vietnamese constitution is adopted.

Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for the week:

1. "Happy Together," The Turtles
2. "Dedicated to the One I Love," The Mamas & The Papas
3. "Penny Lane," The Beatles
4. "There's a Kind of Hush," Herman's Hermits
5. "Bernadette," Four Tops
6. "This Is My Song," Petula Clark
7. "For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's That Sound)," Buffalo Springfield
8. "Strawberry Fields Forever," The Beatles
9. "Somethin' Stupid," Frank & Nancy Sinatra
10. "Western Union," The Five Americans

12. "I Think We're Alone Now," Tommy James & The Shondells
13. "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)," Harpers Bizarre
14. "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," Aretha Franklin
15. "Baby I Need Your Lovin'," Johnny Rivers
16. "I've Been Lonely Too Long," The Young Rascals
17. "Sock It to Me, Baby!," Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
18. "Jimmy Mack," Martha & The Vandellas
19. "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You," The Monkees
20. "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone," The Supremes
21. "The Return of the Red Baron," The Royal Guardsmen
22. "California Nights," Lesley Gore
23. "Ruby Tuesday," The Rolling Stones
24. "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage," Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
25. "Beggin'," The Four Seasons
26. "Dry Your Eyes," Brenda & The Tabulations
27. "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye," The Casinos
28. "With This Ring," The Platters
29. "Ups and Downs," Paul Revere & The Raiders
30. "Sweet Soul Music," Arthur Conley
31. "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game," The Marvelettes
33. "Let's Fall in Love," Peaches & Herb
34. "At the Zoo," Simon & Garfunkel

40. "Sit Down, I Think I Love You," The Mojo Men

46. "Darling Be Home Soon," The Lovin' Spoonful
47. "Niki Hoeky," P.J. Proby
48. "Don't You Care," The Buckinghams
49. "I'm a Man," The Spencer Davis Group

51. "The Girl I Knew Somewhere," The Monkees
52. "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got," Jimmy Ruffin

55. "On a Carousel," The Hollies

63. "I'll Try Anything," Dusty Springfield
64. "Close Your Eyes," Peaches & Herb
65. "Get Me to the World on Time," The Electric Prunes

72. "Friday on My Mind," The Easybeats

81. ""Dead End Street Monologue/Dead End Street," Lou Rawls

83. "You Got What It Takes," The Dave Clark Five

86. "My Back Pages," The Byrds

88. "Somebody to Love," Jefferson Airplane
89. "Yellow Balloon," The Yellow Balloon

100. "No Time Like the Right Time," The Blues Project

Leaving the chart:

• "The Beat Goes On," Sonny & Cher (11 weeks)
• "Epistle to Dippy," Donovan (7 weeks)
• "Gimme Some Lovin'," The Spencer Davis Group (13 weeks)
• "It Takes Two," Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston (12 weeks)
• "Kind of a Drag," The Buckinghams (13 weeks)

Recent and new on the chart:

"Dead End Street Monologue/Dead End Street," Lou Rawls

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(Mar. 25; #29 US; #3 R&B)

"Get Me to the World on Time," The Electric Prunes

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(#27 US)

"Yellow Balloon," The Yellow Balloon

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(#25 US)

"You Got What It Takes," The Dave Clark Five

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(#7 US; #28 UK)

"Somebody to Love," Jefferson Airplane

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(#5 US; #274 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time [2004])


And new on the boob tube:

• The Ed Sullivan Show, Season 19, episode 29
• Gilligan's Island, "It's a Bird, It's a Plane"
• The Monkees, "Monkees on the Line"
• The Rat Patrol, "The Double or Nothing Raid"
• The Invaders, "The Betrayed"
• Batman, "Ice Spy"
• Batman, "The Duo Defy" (season finale)
• Star Trek, "The Alternative Factor"
• That Girl, "Author, Author"
• Dragnet 1967, "The Shooting"
• The Wild Wild West, "The Night of the Wolf"
• Tarzan, "The Ultimatum"
• The Time Tunnel, "Raiders from Outer Space"
• Hogan's Heroes, "The Top Secret Top Coat"
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E., "The Five Daughters Affair" – Part 1
• The Avengers, "Never, Never Say Die"
• Mission: Impossible, "A Cube of Sugar"
• Get Smart, "Pussycats Galore"

_______

Timeline entries are quoted from the Wiki pages for the month or year and Mark Lewisohn's The Beatles Day by Day, with minor editing as needed.

_______

Missed this one previously...

Yet another bonkers starship captain.

It was a story point that his vessel was not a starship, in the more exclusive TOS use of the term.

 

[RJDiogenes]

The first national convention of underground newspaper publishers and writers was held, taking place at Stinson Beach, California.

They really should have gone to Carlsbad Caverns or something.

Jimi Hendrix set fire to his guitar on stage for the first time. He was taken to hospital suffering burns to his hands.

This is why they have rehearsals, Jim.

Radio Zurich, a radio network in Switzerland, played an April Fool's Day joke on thousands of its listeners, by frequently interrupting regular programming with bulletins about an American manned landing on the Moon.

This is fantastic. I wonder if anybody got in trouble for it. It seems like every year or so somebody gets fired for a news prank on April Fool's Day. I recall a great one back in the 80s where a local station did a story about a volcano appearing in the Blue Hills, using stock footage. Sadly, the humorless were not amused.

Haig would rise through the ranks quickly, becoming a general two years later, and retiring as a four-star general in 1979.

His career didn't end there, though. He also served in the Reagan Administration.

"Dead End Street Monologue/Dead End Street," Lou Rawls

Interesting cross between spoken word and song. Or just a song with a damn long intro.

"Get Me to the World on Time," The Electric Prunes

Nice psychedelia, but not very memorable.

"Yellow Balloon," The Yellow Balloon

Nice happy 60s song, but not very memorable.

"You Got What It Takes," The Dave Clark Five

Song, not very memorable.

"Somebody to Love," Jefferson Airplane

Ah, but here we go. Stone-cold Classic.

It was a story point that his vessel was not a starship, in the more exclusive TOS use of the term.

Interesting. I must have known that at some point, but I don't remember. But, yeah, I kind of miss how exclusive that term used to be. Now there's a million of them, and they love to congregate in one spot.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

"Somebody to Love," Jefferson Airplane

Ah, but here we go. Stone-cold Classic.

Somebody To Love - YouTube

Betcha didn't know that it's a cover/remake from Grace Slick's original band "The Great! Society" before she joined Jefferson Airplane. Written by her brother-in-law Darby Slick. Definitely more of a "garage band" feel to it than the somewhat overly-slick version that we're all familiar with.

 

[The Old Mixer]

50 Years Ago This Week

March 26

• An avalanche on Mount Fuji kills 19 climbers.
• The last trolleybus system in the United Kingdom closes in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire after over 60 years of operation.
• After 14 years, the last of Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts is telecast by CBS. This last concert is devoted to Gustav Holst's The Planets.

March 27

• Venera 8 was launched from the Soviet Union to explore the planet Venus, where it would land on July 22.
• The comic strip Funky Winkerbean made its debut, introduced by King Features Syndicate. The author was Tom Batiuk, a 24-year-old art teacher at Eastern Heights Junior High School in Elyria, Ohio. Funky ("just and average kid trying to figure out a confusing world ... not to mention plane geometry") introduced himself and his friends, Roland, Les and Lavinia in the first day's strip.
• The First Sudanese Civil War ends.

March 29

• For the first time since 1966, authorities in East Germany opened the Berlin Wall for an eight-day period in order to allow visitors from West Germany during the Easter holidays, and tens of thousands of Westerners received permission to travel to East Berlin. For the first time since 1952, the Communist government permitted visitors to go beyond the capital and into the countryside as well. The visits were permitted until April 5.
• After the first seven states had ratified the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, the ERA was rejected by Oklahoma. The vote in the state's House of Representatives was 52–36, seven short of the necessary 2/3 majority. The "anti-ERA movement", led by Phyllis Schlafly, began receiving support in other states.

March 30

• North Vietnam launched the Nguyen Hue Offensive (referred to in the United States as the Easter Offensive), with 30,000 troops and 200 armored vehicles invading South Vietnam, with the objective of capturing the Quang Tri province. With American air support, the South Vietnamese army drove out the invaders. By the time the offensive ended in October, more than 40,000 soldiers from the North, and 10,000 from the South, had been killed.
• The Parliament of Northern Ireland is suspended.

March 31

• A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, AF Serial No. 56-0625, departed McCoy Air Force Base, Florida on a routine training mission. Assigned to the 306th Bombardment Wing, the unarmed aircraft sustained multiple engine failures and engine fires on engines #7 and #8 shortly after takeoff. The aircraft immediately attempted to return to the base, but crashed just short of Runway 18R in a residential area of Orlando, Florida, approximately 1 mile north of McCoy AFB, destroying or damaging eight homes. The flight crew of 7 airmen and 1 civilian on the ground were killed.
• The Official Beatles' Fan Club officially closes down.

April 1

• For the first time in history, all scheduled National League and American League games were called off by a strike. The MLBPA's representatives voted 47–0 to call a walkout in a dispute over player pensions. The remaining four days of exhibitions were cancelled, and the April 5 season openers were postponed. The strike was resolved by April 15.
• Melody Maker reproduces an open letter from John Lennon to Marc Bolan.

Selections from Billboard's Hot 100 for the week:

1. "A Horse with No Name," America
2. "Heart of Gold," Neil Young
3. "Puppy Love," Donny Osmond
4. "Mother and Child Reunion," Paul Simon
5. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," Robert John
6. "I Gotcha," Joe Tex
7. "Without You," Nilsson
8. "Jungle Fever," The Chakachas
9. "Rockin' Robin," Michael Jackson
10. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," Roberta Flack
11. "In the Rain," The Dramatics
12. "Everything I Own," Bread
13. "The Way of Love," Cher
14. "Betcha By Golly, Wow," The Stylistics
15. "Rock and Roll Lullaby," B. J. Thomas
16. "A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done," Sonny & Cher
17. "Roundabout," Yes
18. "Down by the Lazy River," The Osmonds
19. "Day Dreaming," Aretha Franklin
20. "Precious and Few," Climax
21. "Bang a Gong (Get It On)," T. Rex
22. "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," Wings
23. "Ain't Understanding Mellow," Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager

26. "Taurus," Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band

28. "Runnin' Away," Sly & The Family Stone

30. "Take a Look Around," The Temptations
31. "Do Your Thing," Isaac Hayes

33. "Hurting Each Other," Carpenters

35. "Vincent" / "Castles in the Air", Don McLean
36. "The Family of Man," Three Dog Night

39. "Slippin' into Darkness," War

41. "Doctor My Eyes," Jackson Browne
42. "Baby Blue," Badfinger
43. "Tiny Dancer," Elton John
44. "Look What You Done For Me," Al Green
45. "Sweet Seasons," Carole King

51. "Jump into the Fire," Nilsson
52. "Joy," Apollo feat. Tom Parker
53. "Rock and Roll," Led Zeppelin

55. "Taxi," Harry Chapin
56. "American Pie," Don McLean
57. "The Candy Man," Sammy Davis, Jr. w/ The Mike Curb Congregation
58. "Don't Say You Don't Remember," Beverly Bremers

65. "Hot Rod Lincoln," Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen

69. "Iron Man," Black Sabbath

73. "Nice to Be with You," Gallery

77. "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All," The 5th Dimension
78. "Morning Has Broken," Cat Stevens

82. "Legend in Your Own Time," Carly Simon

88. "Back Off Boogaloo," Ringo Starr

97. "Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love," Love Unlimited

100. "Sylvia's Mother," Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show

Leaving the chart:

• "Diamonds Are Forever," Shirley Bassey (9 weeks)
• "Floy Joy," The Supremes (12 weeks)
• "Talking Loud and Saying Nothing, Part 1," James Brown (7 weeks)

New on the chart:

"Back Off Boogaloo," Ringo Starr

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(#9 US; #2 UK)

"(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All," The 5th Dimension

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(#8 US; #2 AC; #28 R&B)

"Morning Has Broken," Cat Stevens

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(#6 US; #1 AC; #9 UK)

"Sylvia's Mother," Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show

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(#5 US; #2 UK)

"Look What You Done For Me," Al Green

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(#4 US; #2 R&B; #44 UK)

_______

This is why they have rehearsals, Jim.

This is why '60s music is amazing...just a few years ago we were pre-British Invasion; now Jimi Hendrix is burning guitars.

His career didn't end there, though. He also served in the Reagan Administration.

Yeah, funny that they stopped before mentioning that. As I recall, there was an incident when Reagan was shot where he implied to the press that he was the one in charge.

Interesting cross between spoken word and song. Or just a song with a damn long intro.

The single label had the intro and song listed separately but on the same side. And note yet another use of the phrase "sock it to [me/you]" that precedes Aretha's "Respect". I'm getting the impression that the expression was already out and about by this point.

Nice psychedelia, but not very memorable.

A little psychedelic garage rock is always welcome.

Nice happy 60s song, but not very memorable.

This sunshine pop obscuro has a couple of noteworthy names associated with it--the song was originally written for Dean Torrence, who recorded his own version using the Jan & Dean name, though Jan had already had his accident at this point; the band Yellow Balloon was originally a group of studio musicians, but to record an album and perform at shows, they put together a band that included Don Grady of My Three Sons.

Song, not very memorable.

This is a cover of a song originally recorded by Marv Johnson in 1959. And the Dave Clark Five is still around? Time to take a bow, guys, we're up to Jimi burning guitars.

Ah, but here we go. Stone-cold Classic.

Full-on psychedelic rock goodness.

Interesting. I must have known that at some point, but I don't remember. But, yeah, I kind of miss how exclusive that term used to be. Now there's a million of them, and they love to congregate in one spot.

The relevant beats as I recall off the top of my head were that they established that Merrick was an Academy washout who'd gone on to command a civilian/merchant scout ship; and when the Proconsul asked him the difference between his crew/command and Kirk's, Merrick said that Kirk's vessel wasn't just any ship, but a starship--a very special vessel with a very special crew.

Somebody To Love - YouTube

Betcha didn't know that it's a cover/remake from Grace Slick's original band "The Great! Society" before she joined Jefferson Airplane. Written by her brother-in-law Darby Slick. Definitely more of a "garage band" feel to it than the somewhat overly-slick version that we're all familiar with.

Actually, I recall reading that this and "White Rabbit" came with Grace from the Great Society. I'd never heard the original versions before, though.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Betcha didn't know that it's a cover/remake from Grace Slick's original band "The Great! Society" before she joined Jefferson Airplane. Written by her brother-in-law Darby Slick. Definitely more of a "garage band" feel to it than the somewhat overly-slick version that we're all familiar with.

"Overly Slick." I get it. But you bet correctly, I had no idea this existed. Very different in many ways, but then you can hear parts that survived to the definitive version.

The comic strip Funky Winkerbean made its debut, introduced by King Features Syndicate.

This is one of the oldies in my daily comics feed.

"Back Off Boogaloo," Ringo Starr

I forgot about this. Fun and catchy. And that's a cute video, too.

"(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All," The 5th Dimension

Nice one.

"Morning Has Broken," Cat Stevens

Very beautiful.

"Sylvia's Mother," Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show

Also very nice, kind of surprisingly so from these guys. Well written and earnestly performed, it's really a heartbreaker.

"Look What You Done For Me," Al Green

And there's Al Green doing what Al Green does best. Don't argue, just go with it.

This is why '60s music is amazing...just a few years ago we were pre-British Invasion; now Jimi Hendrix is burning guitars.

It was a happenin' time, all right.

Yeah, funny that they stopped before mentioning that. As I recall, there was an incident when Reagan was shot where he implied to the press that he was the one in charge.

That's right, I forgot about that.

The single label had the intro and song listed separately but on the same side. And note yet another use of the phrase "sock it to [me/you]" that precedes Aretha's "Respect". I'm getting the impression that the expression was already out and about by this point.

Yeah, that definitely seems to be the case.

but to record an album and perform at shows, they put together a band that included Don Grady of My Three Sons.

That's an interesting little tidbit.

This is a cover of a song originally recorded by Marv Johnson in 1959. And the Dave Clark Five is still around? Time to take a bow, guys, we're up to Jimi burning guitars.

Proconsul asked him the difference between his crew/command and Kirk's, Merrick said that Kirk's vessel wasn't just any ship, but a starship--a very special vessel with a very special crew.

Okay, yes, I do remember that moment.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

Dr Hook & The Medicine Show - "Sylvia's Mother" From Shel´s Houseboat! - YouTube

Written, as all songs were on the first two Dr. Hook albums by Shel Silverstein, possibly better known for the children's books, "Where The Sidewalk Ends", and "Where The Sidewalk Ends" and my personal favorite
Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out - YouTube

"Back Off Boogaloo," Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr was good friend with Marc Bolan (T. Rex) at the time, filming his concert movie "Born To Boogie" - Bolan was known for using the phrase "Boogaloo" when talking.

The way Ringo describes it, Ringo had Marc over for dinner and Marc kept saying everything was "Boogaloo".

Ringo went to bed and woke up early in the morning with the medley in his head. He jumped out of bed and scrambled to find a tape recorder, eventually taking the batteries out of one his children's toys in order to get a working tape recorder.

Some have interpreted the lyrics as a slap at Paul McCartney who was going through a bit of a career slump at the time with the poorly received "Ram".

Get yourself together now
And give me something tasty
Everything you try to do
You know it sure sounds wasted.

I find it interesting that 1971-1972 are the height of The Beatles "feud" with one another - John's "How Do You Sleep?", Paul's "Too Many People", Ringo's "Back Off Boogaloo" and George had "Wah-Wah" and later "Sue Me, Sue You Blues".

In Paul's "The Lyric's" book, he talks about John's "How Do You Sleep?" and wanting to write an answer song titled, "Quite Well, Thank You Very Much", but thought the better of it.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Written, as all songs were on the first two Dr. Hook albums by Shel Silverstein

Wow, there's something I didn't know. I may have to get those albums now.

In Paul's "The Lyric's" book, he talks about John's "How Do You Sleep?" and wanting to write an answer song titled, "Quite Well, Thank You Very Much", but thought the better of it.

I'm glad that he didn't, but that would have been pretty funny.

 

[The Old Mixer]

_______

50th Anniversary Viewing

_______

Emergency!
"Dilemma"
Originally aired March 25, 1972

An elevator gets stuck between floors, and then the brake drum fails; inside, a woman has a heart attack. Despite Sharon Walters' (Patricia Mickey) admiration for Dr. Brackett, he sets her off whenever he is around to see her please him; Dixie thus diagnoses her nursing student with "Bracketitis." Later, a fireman buff develops a crush on John, who tries to get rid of her. A man is injured in his junkyard. An industrial accident takes place at a railroad yard. With the help of Dixie, and before Nurse Sharon Walters smiles in front of both Dixie and Dr. Brackett, they all take care of a man with pulmonary embolism.

The station and squad get a call for cardiac victim in a hotel elevator that's stuck between floors. The brake drum slips and it falls a few floors to the basement. De Soto climbs on top from the lobby to access the hatch. The other passengers are evacuated via a ladder, while the cardiac victim, Annie, and a caring neighbor with a broken leg, Sam Cranks (Benny Rubin), remain for the paramedics to tend to them. The occupants protect themselves with a blanket while the firefighters use the K-12 to cut an opening wide enough to get the Stokes up through, bearing Annie. Once she's out, the paramedics call Brackett for treatment, while Sam is taken out. Defrib proves successful, but back at Rampart, student nurse Walters annoys Brackett by hovering admiringly over his shoulder; he chews her out for not taking notes like she was supposed to. Dix asks him to ease up afterward, noting that she's very efficient when not around him.

Back at the station, Johnny receives a gift of cookies from his own admirer, Cynthia, whose tire he'd recently changed. He wants to redirect her to somebody else, figuring that her excessive attention means there's something wrong with her. Back at the Rampart, Sharon takes advice from Early and Dixie about just focusing on her job and treating Brackett like any other doctor, and Kel tries to be more polite to her, but she remains nervously mishap-prone around him.

After a few days off, Johnny shares with Roy that he's arranged for Cynthia to come to the station to try to hand him off to Fireman Kirk, whom Johnny had been subbing for in tending to the station's flag when he met Cynthia. Meanwhile, they're sent to tend to Bluebell Hunter (Seymour Cassel), an anti-establishment type whose backyard is a compost heap--effectively a junkyard. It turns out he set off a small explosion while trying to cut a water pipe; methane gas is detected, and DeSoto explains to him how his garbage holes are causing pockets of the gas to form, demonstrating by setting it off with a tossed match. They put in a pipe as a flue and light the top, Roy describing it as an eternal flame for Hunter's Garden of Eden.

Kirk's turning Johnny down via phone when the station and squad get a call for an industrial accident at a railroad yard. One workman is in a semi-comatose state from exposure to trichloroethylene fumes from a tank car, and they have to search the cars to find the man he was working with, Jesse (Robert E. Kline), in a car with a hose protruding from it. The paramedics climb in and have him hauled out via rope and he's taken to Rampart.

At Rampart, Sharon is tending to Cranks when he starts experiencing the embolism. Walters stays focused on her job, and Brackett compliments her for her help in successfully treating him.

Johnny and Kirk (Scott Allen) are both at the station to learn that Chet is seeing Cynthia (Marilyn Hassett), who proves to be a hit with the other firemen.

Chris Forbes appears yet again as Ellen, apparently having benefited from Johnny's attention being diverted.

_______

I forgot about this. Fun and catchy. And that's a cute video, too.

A good little Ringo-written rocker. Note that the video was shot at Tittenhurst Park, which had been John's place, where he'd filmed promos for "Imagine" and other songs on its album prior to his move to America.

Nice one.

Pretty and atmospheric. They're on the wane, but still have the touch on occasion.

Very beautiful.

Pretty, but makes me want to pull the covers up over my head and catch a few more winks.

Also very nice, kind of surprisingly so from these guys. Well written and earnestly performed, it's really a heartbreaker.

A tad overwrought, but still effective. I recall this one catching my attention on that oldies program on the Top 40 station that I listened to in my early teens.

And there's Al Green doing what Al Green does best. Don't argue, just go with it.

A little derivative of himself, though.

In Paul's "The Lyric's" book, he talks about John's "How Do You Sleep?" and wanting to write an answer song titled, "Quite Well, Thank You Very Much", but thought the better of it.

I'm glad that he didn't, but that would have been pretty funny.

Paul's actual answer songs were the more apologetic "Some People Never Know" and "Dear Friend" on Wild Life...which I might get around to reviewing one of these years...

 

[RJDiogenes]

"Dilemma"

To which do they refer?

The occupants protect themselves with a blanket while the firefighters use the K-12 to cut an opening wide enough to get the Stokes up through

That sounds time consuming. I wonder if elevators have been improved to provide easier access in the case of an Emergency! since then.

Dix asks him to ease up afterward, noting that she's very efficient when not around him.

"Kel, for the sake of her career-- you must resign!"

Back at the station, Johnny receives a gift of cookies from his own admirer, Cynthia

What kind?

He wants to redirect her to somebody else, figuring that her excessive attention means there's something wrong with her.

Man, there's just no pleasing this guy.

Kel tries to be more polite to her, but she remains nervously mishap-prone around him.

"Stop being nervous! Right now! Please."

DeSoto explains to him how his garbage holes are causing pockets of the gas to form, demonstrating by setting it off with a tossed match.

Resulting in an explosion that levels three city blocks. Slightly reckless there, Roy.

They put in a pipe as a flue and light the top, Roy describing it as an eternal flame for Hunter's Garden of Eden.

That's kind of sweet. How did Bluebell respond to that?

One workman is in a semi-comatose state from exposure to trichloroethylene fumes from a tank car

Treatment was delayed by everybody's inability to pronounce the problem.

At Rampart, Sharon is tending to Cranks when he starts experiencing the embolism. Walters stays focused on her job, and Brackett compliments her for her help in successfully treating him.

Imminent death does help with the focus.

Chris Forbes appears yet again as Ellen, apparently having benefited from Johnny's attention being diverted.

I think at this point we can assume that she lied about the cruise ship to get rid of Johnny. She figures that his excessive attention means there's something wrong with him.

A good little Ringo-written rocker. Note that the video was shot at Tittenhurst Park, which had been John's place, where he'd filmed promos for "Imagine" and other songs on its album prior to his move to America.

I can see that now that you mention it. That's pretty cool.

Pretty, but makes me want to pull the covers up over my head and catch a few more winks.

Because it's relaxing or because it's boring?

A tad overwrought, but still effective. I recall this one catching my attention on that oldies program on the Top 40 station that I listened to in my early teens.

I like overwrought. Nothing against realism or minimalism, but I generally prefer art to be extravagant or theatrical.

A little derivative of himself, though.

I was thinking that the beginning was very reminiscent of "Let's Stay Together."

 

[The Old Mixer]

To which do they refer?

Johnny's, I guess.

What kind?

Now you're just fucking with me. (I wanna say oatmeal.)

Man, there's just no pleasing this guy.

He's defined by his neurosis.

That's kind of sweet. How did Bluebell respond to that?

He really dug it, man!

Because it's relaxing or because it's boring?

Both, and because I'm tired.

I like overwrought. Nothing against realism or minimalism, but I generally prefer art to be extravagant or theatrical.

And the operator says
forty cents more
for the NEXT...THREE...MINUTES...!

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[DarrenTR1970]

Wow, there's something I didn't know. I may have to get those albums now.

@RJDiogenes

You're in luck. I just checked Amazon's website and it looks like the first two albums 'Dr. Hook' and 'Sloppy Seconds' have just recently been reissued as a two-for-one CD; so you get both albums for one price.
(It makes sense. Most albums back then were thirty minutes or less, so you could put two albums onto one 80 minute CD without loss of fidelity.)

 

[RJDiogenes]

Now you're just fucking with me. (I wanna say oatmeal.)

"Now?"

He really dug it, man!

Groovy.

Both, and because I'm tired.

I can dig that.

And the operator says
forty cents more
for the NEXT...THREE...MINUTES...!

There we go. That's what I'm talking about.

You're in luck. I just checked Amazon's website and it looks like the first two albums 'Dr. Hook' and 'Sloppy Seconds' have just recently been reissued as a two-for-one CD; so you get both albums for one price.
(It makes sense. Most albums back then were thirty minutes or less, so you could put two albums onto one 80 minute CD without loss of fidelity.)

Ah, thank you very much for that. I had found a set of their first three albums and put it in my Shopping Cart, but I hadn't ordered it yet (I usually order a bunch of stuff at once). I'll go find that two-for-one CD now.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

@RJDiogenes
I want to apologize. I was looking at the Dr. Hook description from my phone and the text and image were incomplete. It looks like it's three albums on 2 CDs. They must split up one of the albums across the two. Hope that's not a problem.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I want to apologize. I was looking at the Dr. Hook description from my phone and the text and image were incomplete. It looks like it's three albums on 2 CDs. They must split up one of the albums across the two. Hope that's not a problem.

No wonder I couldn't find it. That's cool, because it sounds like the one you found is the one I have in my Shopping Cart, so we were already on the same page.