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.

The Month is June 1964

School is out and as far as I was concerned summer had already started.  I had just finished my sophmore year of high school and summer vacation was here.  Baseball, foil ball, wiffle ball, pool time and hanging out with friends were going to lead to a great summer.

How was I to know that the month of June 1964, my favorite radio stations of WCOL of Columbus and WHK of Cleveland would be playing some of the best music of the year?  The month  kicked off on June 1st when The Rolling Stones arrived in the U.S. for their first American tour.  I remember them appearing on Hollywood Palace on June 13 which for that show was hosted by Dean Martin, and my mother saying how unkempt and diry looking the Stones were.  They still sounded great to me.  Also during the month of June the Beatles released their LP "A Hard Day's Night."  A great summer indeed!

The Senate passed the Civil Rights Bill on June 20, 1964 and later that month Jan & Dean released one of my favorites "Little Old Lady from Pasadena".  

Watching American Bandstand continued throughout the summer and on June 6th, Brenda Holloway performed "Every Little Bit Hurts."    I didn't have my driver's license because I was only 15 and only one friend had his so all us cruised in his 1950 Chevy.  Memories galore duirng June 1964.

Neal Stevens of Soundtrack of the 60s for the month of June is playing those great songs of June 1964.