Looking Back at March 1967

March 1967, 46 years ago, can you imagine that much time has gone by but many events from that time seemed like the other day?  Circleville, Ohio, not a very large town but it was the entire world to me at the age of 18. I was still undecided what I wanted to do after graduating from high school the previous year. College, work or military service remained my choices as do today's young people. 

The evening news with Walter Cronkite was announcing that President Johnson was beginning the lottery draft as we were building up our involvement in Vietnam.  Additionally the Jimmy Hoffa story continues as he was sentenced to an eight year prison sentence as the Beatles song "Penny Lane" hit the #1 position.

I still remained convinced that I will find what I am suppose to do with my life. At that time I was working at Big Bear Supermarkets in Circleville.  I was the full time frozen food/produce guy, responsible for stocking, ordering, rotating stock and assisting customers.  I also doubled as a carry-out service as needed.  A great job with decent pay for 1967.  I was paid $2.25 an hour.  The minimum wage at that time was $1.25 which I was received at J.C. Penney's before I took this job.  I definitely was going to be a store manager one day as I started ruling out college as the war in Vietnam continued to escalate. For those of you who do not anything about Big Bear Stores,  Big Bear was a regional supermarket chain operating in Ohio and West Virginia. The company was founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1934, and was headquartered there until its acquisition by Syracuse, New York-based Penn Traffic in 1989. For nearly 75 years, the chain was a Central Ohio institution. A few years later it went under as a result of poor management and competition.

I worked hard and was paid well but as more and more of acquaintances from my hometown felt the twang of the draft, I was convinced by my manager to try to join the Reserve but it was difficult as everybody else had the same idea and none of the units close to home had any open positions.


On March 25 The Turtles hit #1 with "Happy Together" as  I was getting more and more apprehensive and in September 1967 I enlisted in the United States Army.  I guess I found my destiny.

You can listen to the hits of March 1967 this month only on Soundtrack of the 60s with Neal Stevens to relive those times that was to me just the other day.

The Year is 1969 and the Month is January

Looking back to January 1969 with Vietnam going at full force with over 550,000 troops serving in the southeast Asian country, my most vivid memory was the Rose Bowl game played on January 1st.  The grand daddy of all bowl games featured #1 Ohio State against #2 University of Southern Cal with running back O.J, Simpson.  The Ohio State Buckeyes had Rex Kern at quarterback, a graduate from Lancaster High School of Lancaster, Ohio.  When the dust had settled the Trojans had five turnovers, two by Simpson, as the Buckeyes rolled over the Trojans 27-16.  Kern was named player of the game. 

On January 12, Super Bowl III was played and quarterback Joe Namath, predicted his Jets would defeat the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.  Namath lived up to his prediction as the Jets stunned the odds makers and the Colts 16-7.

The Top Ten TV shows for the 68-69 season were;

1. Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In

2. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

3. Bonanza

4. Mayberry R.F.D.

5. Family Affair

6. Gunsmoke

7. Julia

8. The Dean Martin Show

9. Here's Lucy

10. The Beverly Hillbillies

 

The #1 song for the entire month of January 1969 was Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through the Grapevine. This great song with one of the best voices in Motown history actually spent 7 weeks at #1.  It peaked on December 14, 1968 and remained there throughout the remainder of December and  the month of January.

 

Other great songs from the month of January were:  Crimson and Clover/Tommy James & The Shondells, I'm Gonna Make you Love Me/Diana Ross & Supremes & The Temptations, B.J. Thomas' singing Hooked on a Feeling, Brooklyn Bridge's Worst that Could Happen and Elvis with If I Could Dream plus so many more outstanding sounds from the month of January 1969

 

On The 60s Official Site, on our monthly show  Soundtrack of the 60s, DJ Neal Stevens plays the popular songs from this month January 1969.  These are the songs you listened to on the radio back then.  You can listen to it now by clicking here.  This popular show and great music will remain on the website until February 1 when we will zoom back to another year with a featured month of February.

August 1963 Rocks as I Remember It

The summer of 1963 was the break between my freshman and sophomore year of high school and much of it remains etched in my memory.  The Vietnam issue was beginning to take focus.  Although our presence was only minimal as only advisers, the country started to make headlines.  At the time I did not know where or what Vietnam was.  The country was demonstrating anti-American sentiment and monk Buddhists were committing suicides by burning themselves in protest of Ngo Dinh Diem's government. We know the rest of the story as the years progressed.  All of this did not matter to me as I was more interested in my world of Circleville, Ohio.  We were a small town but it was the entire world to me and my friends.

I do recall the Kingsmen's song Louie Louie was released and was labeled obscene by many radio stations.  The song was not obscene and it leaped up on the charts to the top position because of those rumors. Kids our age just loved to give our parents fits as we made them think it was raunchy.  Even if it did contain the lyrics  suggested, it would be very tame compared to what the kids listens to today.

As far as televison goes, do you recall the TV show What's My Line on CBS? Hosted by John Charles Daly and with panelists Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis, and Bennett Cerf, On August 8, the Kingston Trio were the mystery guests.  I recall my mother would not miss an episode of that show so since we only had one TV I was forced to watch that show.

Another great event of the month, looking at it in a teenager' prospective, was the release of Alan Sherman's #2 hit Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah.  Of course there were other great hits for  the month which consisted of  Fingertips by Stevie Wonder, My Boyfriend's Back by the Angels, Martha & the Vandellas' hit Heatwave and of course the Tyme's classic So Much in Love.

The most significant historical event was Martin Luther King Jr's I Have a Dream Speech delivered in Washington DC on August 28, 1963 during the civil rights movement.  It has been labeled one of the best if not the best oratories of all time.

We remember August 1963 on Soundtrack of the 60s of the 60s Official Site as DJ Neal Stevens plays the hits from that month and delivers the key headlines of that period.  Join him to share some of the fun this month as he plays the same songs you listened to in August 1963.

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.

Looking Back to November 1965

The month is November 1965 as we look back to the events and music that shaped the decade.  I was in my senior year of high school.  Where has all the time gone?  The top TV shows were Bonanza, Gomer Pyle, USMC, The Lucy Show, The Red Skelton Hour and The Andy Griffith Show.  Great television during a great decade!

On November 6, 1965 the Freedom Flights program began which would allow 250,000 Cubans to come to the United States by 1971. On that day the Rolling Stones topped the charts with "Get Off My Cloud" where it remained for two weeks.  Behind it at #2 was the Toys big hit "A Lover's Concerto." 

A great icon of advertising appeared for the first time on TV on November 7 as the Pillsbury Dough Boy was first seen in TV commercials.   Do you remember that?

For you soap opera addicts, "Days of Our Lives" debuted on TV on NBC on November 8, 1965.

November 9, 1965 may be forever in the memory banks of those who lived in the Northeast as the great Northeast blackout occurred across several states and Canada.  Those parts of the country were hit with a series of power failures that lasted over 13 hours. 

The buildup and news coverage of the Vietnam War continues to grow as ABC radio begins weekly "Vietnam Update" report on November 19,  1965 as the Supremes hit "I Hear a Symphony charts at #1. Also on this date, Kellogg's Pop Tart Pastry is created.

On November 22 Muhammed Ali TKOs Floyd Patterson in 12 rounds to win the heavyweight boxing title.

The Vietnam War protests begin as 15,000 demonstrate against war in  Washington D.C. "I Hear a Symphony" was still #1 followed by the Byrds with "Turn, Turn, Turn" at #2.

Join me each month as I recap a month and year from the 60s decade.  Also be sure to visit The 60s Official Site  which has over 900 pages related to the 60s including jukebox music.

The music you were listening to on your favorite radio show played by your favorite DJ is now being played on Soundtrack of the 60s with Neal Stevens.  You can listen to the hits of November of 1965 by clicking here.  A great show with insight on the artist and music of that month and year.  Beginning this month in celebration of four years on the web, contests with prizes but you must listen to win.

October 1961, Do You Remember The Times, The Music?

The month and year is October 1961.  As a baby boomer can you recall the headlines, the times, and of course the music of that month?

I remember watching Roger Maris on a black and white TV hitting his 61st home run of the season against pitcher Tracy Stallard of the Boston Red Sox on October 1st.  If you recall Roger Maris was cussed, his life  and his family's life threatened as he approached the milestone of breaking Babe Ruth's record.  Mickey Mantle was the love the fans and Maris suffered the entire season  as he approached breaking the record.  The number one song on The Billboard Hot 100 on that day was Bobby Vee's "Take Good Care of My Baby." 

Also one of the funniest TV Shows of that era began its debut on CBS on October 3, "The Dick Van Dyke Show." 

On October 6, 1961 President John F. Kennedy recommended all families  purchase or build a bomb shelter in case of a nuclear exchange between the Soviet Union and the U.S.  It was a very scary time we lived in then.  I was 12 and probably more interested in playing baseball, football and hanging out with my friends then to understand what was really going on besides I couldn't do anything about it.  To my friends and me,  it was a great time to be alive and we were so unaware of what was going on in the world as most kids of that age is today. 

And the joke of the year (Who is buried in Lenin's Tomb?) ended as Joseph Stalin's body was removed from Lenin's tomb where it was on public display on October 31. 

Why do I bring up October 1961 and the headlines and news of the month and year?  Every month The 60s Official Site looks back at the current month and a year of the 60s decade on The Soundtrack of the 60s, featuring DJ Neal Stevens where he spins the songs from the Billboard Charts of that month and gives you the insight scoop on the songs, headlines and more.  Join in on the fun each month as he spins the great songs of the era and takes your requests and dedications.

Do You Need A Fix?

If you love the great music from the 50s and 60s decade, then there is nothing like starting your day off with a oldies fix or boost.  On my site The 60s Official Site, I have added a daily 5-song medley of songs from the 50s and 60s decade to start your day off right.  Each day a new 5-song medley is posted for your listening enjoyment.  This great music is posted NLT 7:00 AM Easter Time Zone USA.  Enjoy and get your feet a tappin' and put a smile on your face as we look back at a more simpler time.  Here is the link so you can check it our for yourself :   http://www.the60sofficialsite.com/dailyoldiesfix/Daily-Oldies-Fix.html

Also, be sure to check out Soundtrack of the 60s as DJ Neal Stevens plays the hits you were listening to the current month of a year from the 60s decade.  You can hear this only on The 60s Official Site.

The Top 40 Songs of the 60s Decade Has Been Tabulated

For the past two months I have requested visitors to both of my 60s nostalgia sites (The 60s Official Site and Soundtrack of the 60s)  to vote on their five favorite songs of the sixties decade.  A tall order because there were so many great hits from the 60s.  I received thousands on thousands of votes and to make it interesting, those who voted were automatically entered to win prizes to be given away during the broadcast as DJ Neal Stevens counts them down from number 40 to number 1.  The results were mixed to say the least.  Listening habits and love for different songs change as we get older, at least it has for me.  Some songs I truly loved while in my teens, I don't care to hear and those that were not so popular I love to listen to.  Don't get me wrong I love the 60s music sounds.  It is just the taste of certain songs change over time.

Listed below are the Top 40 Songs of the 60s decade according to Billboard Magazine.  Their results are based on amount of time staying on the charts which of course was based on record sales.  These songs do not come close to the list the visitors to the most popular 60s site on the web voted.  Some songs listed are on the final countdown but not many.  Of course this list is based on time on the charts but time on charts were also an indicator of popularity of a song.  Tastes do change as we get older.  You can listen to DJ Neal Stevens countdown the Top 40 hits of the sixties decade based on our visitors voting.  Go to The 60s Official Site/Top 40 Hits of the 60s decade or Soundtrack of the 60s/Top 40 Hits of the 60s decade.

Billboard's Top 40 songs of the Sixties Decade

1.  Hey Jude/The Beatles

2.  The Theme from A Summer Place/Percy Faith

3.  Tossin' and Turnin'/Bobby Lewis

4.  I Want to Hold Your Hand/The Beatles

5.  I'm A Believer/The Monkees

6.  I Heard It Through the Grapevine/Marvin Gaye

7.  Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In/The 5th Dimension

8.  Are You Lonesome Tonight/Elvis Presley

9.  In the Year 2525/Zaeger and Evans

10. It's Now or Never/Elvis Presley

11. I Can't Stop Loving You/Ray Charles

12. Love is Blue/Paul Mauriat

13. Big Girls Don't Cry/The 4 Seasons

14. Big Bad John/Jimmy Dean

15. Sugar Shack/Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs

16. Honey/Bobby Goldsboro

17. To Sir with Love/LuLu

18. Cathy's Clown/Everly Brothers

19. People Got To Be Free/The Rascals

20. Get Back/The Beatles

21. The Ballad of the Green Berets/Ssgt Barry Sadler

22. Sherry/The 4 Seasons

23. Can't Buy Me Love/The Beatles

24. Sugar, Sugar/The Archies

25. (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay/Ottis Redding

26. Honky Tonk Women/The Rolling Stones

27. Stuck on You/Elvis Presley

28. Roses Are Red (My Love)/Bobby Vinton

29. Daydream Believer/The Monkees

30. Everyday People/Sly & The Family Stone

31. Dizzy/Tommy Roe

32. Windy/The Association

33. Runaway/Del Shannon

34. He's So Fine/The Chiffons

35. Ode to Billy Joe/Bobbie Gentry

36. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction/The Rolling Stones

37. Dominique/The Singing Nun

38. There! I've Said it Again/Bobby Vinton

39. Somthin' Stupid/Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra

40. Groovin'/The Young Rascals

Go to The 60s Official Site/Top 40 Hits of the 60s decade or Soundtrack of the 60s/Top 40 Hits of the 60s decade

The Top 40 Songs of the 60s Decade

What are your favorite songs of the 60s decade?  You can help decide The Top Forty Countdown by voting on your favorite five songs of the 60s decade.  Thousands have voted already and will have the opportunity to listen to the countdown by DJ Neal Stevens on Soundtrack of the 60s and win prizes. 

The 60s Official Site and Soundtrack of the 60s are sponsoring this great event along with Naxos of America, Inc. Beginning Memorial Day Weekend (May 28, 2010), the countdown begins.  By participating you can be eligible to win prizes ranging from music CDs from this great era, books about the 60s decade and other prizes.  The big prize will be Naxos of America Inc. "British Invasion DVD series Volume 1 that was released on March 23, 2010.  The series was originally released solely in Britain in 2009, where it has achieved both rave reviews as well as high sales numbers. Some of the British music press dubbed the set a one of 2009’s best releases.  You can actually win this great volume of music but you need to vote and then listen to the countdown beginning May 28.  It will be on line beginning May 28 and remain there for a limited time so don't miss out.

You can take time to vote by clicking here.  Once you have voted you are eligible to win one or more prizes being drawn during the broadcast. 

Don't miss this great event only on The 60s Official Site and Soundtrack of the 60s.

Soundtrack of the 60s Is A Hit!

On December 1st Soundtrack of the 60s launched and was received very well.. The first day the site had over 9000 visitors which is not too bad for a retro site that is limited to probably to just we baby boomers.

Soundtrack of the 60s is an unique site since each month it will only feature the current month of a particular year during the 60s decade and then next month will offer a new year for the current month. As more ideas and all the tweaks are ironed out this site should be even bigger and better as each month moves on. You will find the popular music played by a DJ for that particular month and year, TV, headlines, the happenings, sights and events that shaped that month and that year.

Right now at Soundtrack of the 60s we are offering a special Valentine's Dedication requests for our visitors with an opportunity to win prizes. Just complete the form and dedicate a 50s or 60s song to somebody special and listen to the broadcast given by our guest DJ the week of Valentine's Day to hear your request and to see if you are a winner of one of our prizes. It doesn't get any easier than that. Here is the link for your Valentine's Dedication.

This site is expected to be hot.

Check out the Soundtrack of the 60s.

Soundtrack of the 60s Coming on December 1

The 60s Official Site proudly presents Soundtrack of the 60s. This special site will take you on a trip back to the sixties, remembering the times, the news, TV, old TV commercials, the sights and sounds of one of the greatest decades in modern history.

Each month we will look at the current month of a year of the 60s decade. Our guest DJ will play that month's most popular songs. On the first of each month we look at a different year of the current month. You don't want to miss being part of this adventure. This site will continue to grow over time as more and more sixties time capsules are added. Here is the link to bookmark us now. Click Here.


Revisit your youth at The 60s Official Site and Soundtrack of the 60s.