Thursday, March 2, 2017

March 2nd

The Supremes are in the studio today putting the finishing touches on what will be their next two singles … "The Happening" (started back on February 24th) and "Reflections", which incorporates a little bit of the current "psychedelic sound" into the intro, a nice departure from the standard Motown formula.  (They will also see their name change to "Diana Ross and the Supremes" when that track is released later this year.)  



At the ninth annual Grammy Awards Ceremony, Frank Sinatra wins The Record Of The Year Award for "Strangers In The Night" as well as The Album Of The Year Award for "Sinatra: A Man And His Music".  John Lennon and Paul McCartney win The Grammy for Song Of The Year ("Michelle") and The New Vaudeville Band win the award for Best Contemporary Rock And Roll Recording for "Winchester Cathedral".  At the last minute, Davy Jones stands in for the absent Bob Newhart and ends up presenting two of the evening's biggest awards, "Song Of The Year" and "Record Of The Year".   

Although The Monkees have two nominations of their own (Best Contemporary Group Performance and Best Contemporary Group Recording, both for their "Last Train To Clarksville" single), Davy goes home empty-handed.  

Earlier that day The Monkees are in the studio recording tracks for their upcoming "Headquarters" LP.  Today, "Randy Scouse Git", a Micky Dolenz composition and the group instrumental effort "Band 6" are worked on.  

Engelbert Humperdinck moves into the #1 Spot on the UK Singles Chart with "Release Me", his first hit record.  It will stay there for the next six weeks, thus denying The Beatles a number one record for "Penny Lane", their first British single NOT to hit the #1 spot since "Please Please Me" in 1963.  (The Fab Four racked up eleven #1 Hits in between … and would score six more British #1's before calling it quits in 1970.)  "Release Me" will go on to sell nearly 1.4 million copies in Great Britain alone … and remain on the chart for the next 56 weeks!  (Here in The States, it peaked at #3.)



Tommy Roe is back on "Where The Action Is" this afternoon, performing "Kick Me Charlie" and "Everybody".  Also on hand … The Young Holt Trio who do their hit "Wack Wack".