Remembering July 1965

The summer of 1965, July to be specific was a very memorable month not only for music but events that eventually shaped our country.  An event that took place back in July 1965 is now causing debate and concerns if it in fact can remain solvent.  President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed Medicare into law on July 30, 1965 and which took effect in 1966.

On July 2, 1965 the President ordered an increase in  troop level in Vietnam by 125,000 and he raised the montly draft call from 17,000 to 35,000.

On July 27 U.S., the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act was signed into law. The law required health warnings on all cigarette packages. The warning had little or no affect initially after the law was signed as cigarette sales continued to skyrocket.  At that time they sold for around 25 cents a pack.

I never smoked other than an occasional cigar later in life so my mind was more occupied with girls and the great music of the times.  The month of July brought us (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction by the Rollings Stones.  This song was number one four of the five chart weeks.  Great music, great times and one of the best decades to have grown up.

Other great music right off the Billboard charts for July 1965 was The Four Tops I Can't Help Myself, Back in My Arms Again, by the Supremes, and who can forget The Beach Boys singing Help Me Rhonda?  Also on the charts was a song initially recorded in 1960 and withheld from his LP and released in 1965 as a single.  It was none other than Elvis Presley's Crying in the Chapel. Some other great memories we tuned our transistor radios to were Wooly Bully, Cara Mia, Mr. Tambourine Man, and Yes, I'm Ready.

Yes summer of 1965 was a great summer with some of the best music ever recorded but then again wasn't the whole decade loaded with great music?

You can listen to all of these marvelous songs and plus many more at Soundtrack of the 60s where Neal Stevens spins the best music ever recorded. This month he features July 1965.

Stepping Back to April 1962

April 1962.  Do your remember the year or even better the month and year.  I was a freshman in the 8th grade in Circleville, Ohio.  I don't recall my homeroom teacher but I do recall some of the teachers that inpired me during the year.  My favorite subject was History, (no surprise for anybody who knows me) with Mr. Dole at the reins.  I recall he was an expert on The Civil War and I also remember him drawing the campaigns of the Union and Conferedate forces on the blackboard explaining the battle in detail.  It's funny of all the things in one's memory bank you recall something like that.

My math teacher was Mrs. Davis and she really made it easy although math came pretty easy for me anyways.  When Mrs. Davis passed away a few years ago,her estate consisted of all the high school yearbooks from the time she had been teaching.  Mrs. Davis was wonderful teacher who loved her students.

The 8th grade was a time for me to notice the girls more.  They began wearing makeup, nylons and perfume.  Well maybe I just began noticing it all at that time of my life.

In April 1962 we were gearing up for baseball.  Our hero was Mickey Mantle who hit his  375th career homerun.. The New York Mets was the expansion team that year and of course lost their first game.  When the season ended they had won only 40 games. Being from Ohio,  my personal teams of choice were the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians.
The music of April 1962 looked like this.  The number one songs of the month consisted of Bruce Channel's Hey Baby, Shelley Fabares Johnny Angel and of course Elvis singing Good Luck Charm. The month of April 1962 had several cross over country hits as well including PT 109 by Jimmy Dean, Patsy Cline's hit She's Got You and several more.  It not only was a memoral month for music but a wonderful beginning as I edged closer to beginning a new adventure in high school.

I recommend you take the time and listen to Soundtrack of the Sixties on The 60s Official Site. as DJ Neal Stevens spins the songs from April 1962.

Looking Back to March 1960

I have been delinquent posting to my blog.  I want to apologize.  It seems like there is so much on my plate lately.

In March 1960, I was 11 years old and all that mattered to me was playing sports and hanging out with my friends as the music on the radio, that sat on top of the fridge, played the great hits of March 1960 as I ate breakfast before treading off to school. 

On March 5, 1960 Elvis Presley was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and on March 6th the United States increased its role in Vietnam by sending 3,500 troops.

On March 21 Elvis Presley made his first post Army recording with  one of his best, "Stuck on You."

Great music captured the month of March 1960.  "A Theme from a Summer Place" by Percy Faith remained number one throughout the month of March.  It reached #1 on February 22 and remained in the top slot for nine weeks and 17 weeks on the Top 40.  Music with the country flavor manged to make the big time as well.  Jim Reeves nailed a great song that was kept out of #1 by Percy Faith's hit.  Reeves' "He'll Have to Go" peaked at #2 on March 7.  Another country great that hit the charts in March was Jack Scott's "What in the World Came Over You."

Overall March was a memorable month in music.  To listen to these great songs and others for the month of March go to Soundtrack of the 60s on The 60s Official Site as Neal Stevens plays the great music of the 60s plus your dedications and requests.