Monday, November 27, 2017

November 27th


The Monkees leap into the #1 position on this week's Pop Singles Chart as "Daydream Believer" climbs from #5 to #1 in its fourth week on the chart.  (A pretty impressive chart run:  #68 to #31 to #5 to #1).  



Eight of last week's Top Ten Hits remain in The Top Ten this week … the only new entries are "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Gladys Knight and the Pips, which jumps from #20 to #9 and "An Open Letter To My Teenage Son" by Victor Lundberg, which climbs 16 places from #26 to #10, also in its fourth week on the chart. 



Earning Top 40 Bullets this week are "Keep The Ball Rollin'" by Jay and the Techniques (#15 to #11), "In And Out Of Love" by Diana Ross and the Supremes (#18 to #13), "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (also up 16 places from #31 to #15), "You Better Sit Down Kids" by Cher (#27 to #16), "Boogaloo Down Broadway" by The Fantastic Johnny C (#25 to #17), "Stag-O-Lee" by Wilson Pickett (#22 to #18), "She's My Girl" by The Turtles (#35 to #24), "Skinny Legs And All" by Joe Tex (#33 to #25), "Massachusetts" by The Bee Gees (#36 to #26), "Beg, Borrow And Steal" by The Ohio Express (#34 to #28), "Yesterday" by Ray Charles (#40 to #29), "Neon Rainbow" by The Box Tops (#39 to #32), "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Glen Campbell (which moves from #47 to #34), "Summer Rain" by Johnny Rivers (another 16 place mover, from #52 to #36), "Honey Chile" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (#51 to #37) and "Paper Cup" by The Fifth Dimension (#48 to #39). 





The Monkees also take over the #1 spot on The National Album Chart with their latest, "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd."  (The title is a direct reference to their astrological signs … Pisces is Micky Dolenz (born March 8th), Aquarius is Peter Tork (born February 13th), Capricorn refers to Michael Nesmith (born December 30th) and Jones, of course, is Davy Jones … who was ALSO born on December 30th but three years after Michael Nesmith made his first appearance here on earth.  Ironically, their brand new #1 Single does not appear on their new LP. 

It is by far the most sophisticated album The Monkees have ever made … and still holds up today as a production gem.  Yes, they were still exerting their control in the studio but, after the long rigors of "Headquarters" and going thru take after take after painful retake of nearly every track, finally came to realize that they could still achieve what they were shooting for in the studio with a little bit of talented, professional help there to guide them.  "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones, Ltd." is not only a '60's gem, but a timeless one … which has never reaped the true recognition and appreciation it deserves.  Once again, many of the tracks became familiar mainstays thanks to usage on their television series and repeated airplay on the radio.  Even AFTER "Sgt. Pepper", The Monkees seem to be the band of choice for the young and preteens out there buying music. 









Also on this date, Capitol Records released the new Beatles album "Magical Mystery Tour".  It would eventually top the charts, sell over a million copies and be nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year.  (It lost to Glen Campbell's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" LP!) 

 
This album was never officially released in Great Britain, where the soundtrack songs used in the television film were issued on a special EP with a colorful booklet.  It did become one of the most popular imports of its time, however.  Twenty years later, the album officially became a part of The Beatles' catalog on both sides of the pond. 

The Association received a gold record for their recent hit record "Never My Love". 



The Beatles' promotional video for their latest single, "Hello Goodbye" is shown on "The Hollywood Palace" on ABC-Television. 

Jimi Hendrix turns 25.  Incredibly, he will be dead in less than three years.



 
August 18, 1967 Afternoon rehearsals, Hollywood Bowl
Credit: Brian T. Colvil /  © Authentic Hendrix, LLC