Sausalito – Al Martino
“Sausalito” was written by Terry Cashman and Tommy West, if you don’t recognize those two names, I’m sorry, they, along with Gene Pistilli, wrote some of the most beautiful songs of the late 60s and early 70’s as well as “discovering” and producing all of Jim Croce’s music. More on them another time. The singer here is Al Martino, one of the crooners of the 50’s and 60’s. Born Jasper Cini in Philadelphia, he placed 1st in Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts TV show in 1952. His first single was “Here In My Heart”, it would top the charts for 3 weeks in June of 1952. Al’s career would span 26 years on the charts and produce 26 Adult Contemporary (Easy Listening) Top 10 singles, including 4 #1s, plus the aforementioned #1 on the Hot 100. “Sausilito” spent 3 weeks on the Hot 100 at #99 and reached #13 on the Adult Contemporary charts. Looking at the radio stations that played the song, they are mostly concentrated in the northeast. I heard it on Portland, Maine’s WLOB and Boston’s WRKO and loved it, later I discovered the authors and their version, which also was released in 1969 but failed to chart. As much as I loved Al’s version, I would have to choose Cashman & West’s original version:
The Legend Of Xanadu – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
Time to crack the whip this morning! “The Legend Of Xanadu” from Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich is one of those songs that we here in the States never appreciated but the UK surely did. The group’s biggest hit, it reached #1 in the UK. I’m not sure how I found this music or when, because it doesn’t show up on any of my personal lists for 1968 but it was released here in the States in March of that year. I have become a huge DDDBM&T fan over the years and this is my favorite of the bunch.
For more on this group, check out my podcast here:DDDBM&T
A Girl Like You – The Young Rascals
I am unabashedly a (Young) Rascals fan and this song is one of the major reasons why. I have often said that Felix, Eddie, Dino and Gene should roll off the tongue just like John, Paul, George and Ringo.
The Young Rascals had their most recognized hit in the Spring of 1967 in “Groovin'”, their follow-up single still remains my favorite song of the rock era. The intro still gets to me and the lyrics were a 14 year old romantic’s dream. Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati co-wrote this masterpiece. The song “only” reached #10 and spent the middle two weeks of August 1967 there. “A Girl Like You” came along at the right time for me and it will always have a special place in my musical journey.
Jennifer Juniper/Atlantis – Donovan
Wear Your Love Like Heaven, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Atlantis, Sunshine Superman, There Is A Mountain, Mellow Yellow, Catch The Wind, Lalena, To Susan On The West Coast Waiting, Season of the Witch,and this one from the spring of 1968. Different music than anyone else was doing, unique songwriting skills and like many of his contemporaries, a voice that could not be described as “pure” but one that was somehow pleasing to the ear anyway. I have a different favorite Donovan song every time I listen to his work. The introduction to “Atlantis”is an amazingly detailed picture of the antediluvian concept of the lost continent and it’s legacy. Wikipedia says this about the Scottish songwriter, “Emerging from the British folk scene, he (Donovan) developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music” As good an example of the hippie and drug culture of that era as I can think of.
Ain’t Gonna Lie/98.6 – Keith
Ain’t Gonna Lie
98.6
It’s time for this afternoon’s “twin spin” 😉 From Keith (James Keefer) from Philadelphia. The first song was Keith’s initial foray onto the charts in 1966, it reached #39 and set up the next one – released in December of 1966 but considered a 1967 hit, “98.6” spent 14 weeks in the top 100, peaking at #7. I have always loved the song, even if it does fit well into the bubblegum mold that would take over a lot of rock & roll commercial music in the late 60’s. Arrested for draft evasion in the middle of a concert tour, Keith managed just two more charting singles before joining Frank Zappa’s touring band in 1973.
“
Good morning sun I say it’s good to see you shining!
I know my baby brought you to me.
She kissed me yesterday,
I know the silver lining
That’s been with summer running through me
Hey, ninety eight point six,
it’s good to have you back again.
oh, hey, ninety eight point six,
her lovin’ is the medicine that saved me,
Oh, I love my baby.
Hey, everybody on the street:
I see you smilin’,
Must be because I found my baby.
You know she’s got me on some other kind of highway,
I want to go to where it takes me!”
Heroes And Villians – The Beach Boys
It would be 1968 when I first kept a weekly survey of my own and “tabulated” a top 101 list at the end of each year from 1968 to 1972. If I had done one in 1967, this one would have been in the top 5, maybe even second only to The Young Rascals’ “A Girl Like You”. I’ve posted this a few times over the past 8 years so it’s no stranger to those who read and maybe listen to these posts. the week of August 5th, 1967, “Heroes And Villians” made it’s initial appearance on the Hot 100 and changed my opinion of Brian Wilson’s talent forever. Not really sure why thus song resonates with me so much, I’ve definitely played both parts in my life (hero and villain), at times I’ve “been in this town too long”, been healthy most of my life, wealthy and wise, probably not so much ?.
Below is a live version done by Brian Wilson in the early 2000s, a great example of Brian’s ability to put together a live show and capture the awesomeness of his talent and this song.
I’m A Train – Albert Hammond
You just never know what will be on YouTube and what won’t – there are several versions of this! Albert Hammond was a better songwriter (He wrote “The Air That I Breathe” by the Hollies) than singer – his only bonafide hit was “It Never Rains in Southern California”, it reached #5 in 1972 – this one was his 2nd biggest charting song and it didn’t break the top 30. “I’m A Train” is totally mindless but it’s just a fun song to sing along with – it has great energy and always puts me in a better mood! Mary is not a big fan of this at all so it’s one of those songs I play really loud – but not when she’s around 😉
The version below is by The King’s Singers, a British a ceppella group formed in 1968. A fun group that tackles all genres of music.
Summer Rain – Johnny Rivers
Another of my favorite artists from the 60’s and 70’s. I wish I’d been in Calais when he came for a concert in circa 2000! 29 charted songs, only “Poor Side of Town” reached #1. Johnny re-invented his sound several times over his career. This was released in November 1967 and spent 10 weeks on the Billboard Top 100, peaking at #14. His follow-up song to this in April of 1968 was “Look To Your Soul”. I always wanted to be a writer and when I wrote down songs that I would like to include in a story about the late sixties, this was one I included that definitely takes me back to that era.
“She stepped out of a rainbow,
Golden hair shining like moonglow.
Warm lips, soft as her soul,
Sitting here by me, now.
She’s here by me.
All summer long we were dancing in the sand,
Everybody just kept on playing,
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
We sailed into the sunset,
Drifting home, caught by a gulf stream.
Never gave a thought for tomorrow,
Let tomorrow be”.
This one of those records that I liked at first but the older I get, the more I love it. The guitar intro gives me goosebumps, just like Bruce Hornsby’s piano intro to “Every Little Kiss”.
Winchester Cathedral – The New Vaudeville Band
As a recent oldie by the time I heard it in the summer of 1967, I loved it, it was unique and very catchy, but I never really appreciated it’s place in music history until I started reviewing the charts. “Winchester Cathedral” debuted on the charts on October 29th, 1966, spent 10 weeks in the top 10, 3 of those at #1, interrupted by The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations, which spent 3 weeks at #2, and Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow” which also spent 3 weeks at #2. That’s pretty heavy competition to have to be up against. The New Vaudeville Band only reached the charts 1 more time, the follow-up, “Peek-A-Boo” charted 3 months later, reaching #72. The group was actually studio musicians put together to do “Winchester Cathedral” and it’s success spawned a cobbled together group for touring. Not the last time that would happen in the rock era.
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