This Day In Music History: Elvis Presley and Too Much

For nine weeks Guy Mitchell had the #1 hit on the Billboard Charts with "Singing the Blues." On this day in music history, February 9, 1957 Elvis Presley thought that nine weeks was too much and he reclaimed his position at the top of the charts with..."Too Much." :) It was the first #1 hit for 1957.

Now Elvis had appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show three times and Elvis went from being a regional to national celebrity. The first time Elvis was on the show Ed Sullivan was sick and not on his own live broadcast. Actor Charles Laughton filled in for him on that broadcast. Ed was on the others and on his third and last appearance on January 6, 1957 Elvis was only shot from the waist up and he sang seven songs. One of those songs was the premiere of "Too Much."

The song was part of a three day recording session that began on September 1, 1956. Musicians Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D. J. Fontana were flown to Hollywood to back up Elvis on the songs that would be his second album for RCA Records. The album, simply titled Elvis, was released in October of 1956 but they held "Too Much" for release in January of 1957.

One moth before Elvis released "Too Much" he took part in a recording session at Sun records that became legendary. In December Sam Phillips of Sun was producing a record for Carl Perkins. Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis were there to record and Johnny Cash stopped by. A picture of the four famous musicians was taken and released to the newspapers.

For years this was known as the Million Dollar Quartet but no recordings were known to have survived. Then in 1981 the recordings surfaced and an album was released in England. It then became known that Cash was there visiting when the picture was taken but left later to do some shopping.

After "Too Much" was released Elvis bought a home in Tennessee from Mrs. Ruth Brown Moore for $100,000. It was built by her husband Dr. Thomas Moore and named after her Aunt Grace. Elvis liked the name and kept it. The name of course was Graceland.

Here is a video of Elvis singing it live on television.

My Second 45

Not long ago I recalled when I got my first 45. It was a second hand one of the Monkees Daydream Believer. Today I recall my second 45. It was the duet between Elton John and Kiki Dee singing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." I bought it at Elsmere Drugs in Elsmere, Ky. Now the owner of the place was named Sid and he and my Grandad where friends. So everyone in my family called it Sid's. For the first 20 years of my life I never heard anyone call it Elsmere Drugs. It was when I was in college and I was talking to my friend Chuck and I told him I was going to Sid's and he didn't know what I was talking about. I told him where it was at. I remember saying "It was the place on Dixie Highway in Elsmere next to the bakery." His eyes lit up with recognition and he said "You mean Elsmere Drugs?" That was when I realized not everyone called it Sid's.

Anyway I bought this with my own money and I believe it was the first one I bought with my own money. I remember listening to it with my friends Dave, Chuck (another Chuck) and Doug. We all enjoyed it. I remember Dave wondering if Elton and Kiki were dating as they positioned him on the picture sleeve looking at her. Oh if we only knew then.

I have loved many of Elton John's songs. Two of my favorites of his early songs where "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." I will never for get how could it felt to hear them for the first time.

80 Page Giant Memories

The late 1960's were a fun time in comic books. One part of the fun for me was the DC comics 80 page Giant comic books. Mostly they were reprints of stories that came out years before I was born but they were new to me. Most of the stories I don't recall that well to this day but I remember enjoying them. On Batman #182 my favorite story was the one with the Rainbow Batman. I don't remember the story but after seeing Batman in drab gray and dark blue it was fun to see Batman in bright colors. I usually saw them at my cousin Steve's house. He was, actually he still is, 3 years older and we would play together and he would let me sit on his bed and read his comics. I could tell he was wanting to play more games as he could read these anytime he wanted. For me reading these books opened up other worlds to me that I didn't have access to any other way. I lived too far from stores that carried them and had to depend on Mom and Dad to bring them home to me or wait till we were in town to get them. So to see these books at my cousins house was always exciting.
One time after leaving there I was in the car reading a book that had the origin of Robin. I don't remember if Steve let me borrow it or if I got it from Mom and Dad. I had never read the origin of Robin till then. I had also never saw the word origin before. I asked Mom and Dad how to pronounce it. They told me to try to say it phonetically. I did but I said orange. My Dad pronounced it correctly but it still sounded like orange to me.

A Glass of Milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way
through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He
decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his
nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked
hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then
asked, How much do I owe you?"

You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taug ht us never to
accept pay for a kindness."

He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but
his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Many year's later that same young ! woman be came critically ill. The local
doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they
called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name
of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.

He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her
life. From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for
approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was
sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the
rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught
her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ... "Paid in full with one glass of milk"
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You,
God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."

There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters
comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you
love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least
you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that
what life is all about?

Superman From The 30's To The 70's

The year is 1974. My Mom and Dad would on occasion drive to Cincinnati, Ohio to go shopping at the McAlpin's department store that is now called Dillards. I was 13 years old and allowed to roam the store on my own and sometimes the downtown area since my parents knew my regular stops. This was in the days before it started being reported that children were being kidnapped in broad daylight.

Anyway on one trip I saw the Bonanza Books Superman from the 30's to the 70's and Batman from the 30's to the 70's. I believe there was one for Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel too but my memory isn't what it should be anymore. I do know those books existed but I am not sure if they were for sale at that store at that time. For some reason I didn't buy it when I was with my Mom and Dad.

Now my Mom and Dad would let me take the bus to Cincinnati. One day not long after seeing the books at McAlpin's I ask my cousin Randy to go with me on one trip. As my cousin Randy liked to read as much as I did I asked him if he wanted to go to Cincinnati with me. His Mom wasn't so sure we should but when my Mom said she would let me wander the downtown area, as back then it was safe to do so, she said it was ok.

We took the bus and arrived at the Dixie Terminal. We walked to McAlpin's and bought the books. I remember Randy buying the Batman book while I bought the Superman one. They were now on sale for $3. Sometimes it pays to wait.

We went to some of the other places I normally went to. The guy who sold newspapers and magazines on the street corner. I bought Nova #1 from him but not on this trip. There was some records shops and the Ohio Bookstore. There must be a story or two I have in me from visits to that store. We got some lunch and then caught the bus home. It was a fun day to share with Randy. We talked on the bus and even read some of the stories on the way home.

Eventually I did buy the Batman book too and even the Wonder Woman one. I don't have the Wonder Woman book anymore. I still have Superman and Batman. I hope to keep them forever as they bring back some wonderful memories.

A few years later I was in the newly built Florence Mall in Florence, Ky with a friend from High School. My friend was deeply into music. He didn't care much for comic books and thought they were childish.He was always asking me when I was going to stop reading them. We were in a bookstore there and I saw the Superman book there selling for $6. I held it up and told him when a regular comic book sells for this price I will stop. Well now that they are selling for $3 or $4 each I have pretty much stopped buying new comic books. I do buy old comics for that price as they may go up in value. But a new one is not worth it to me anymore. So it looks like I kept my promise to my friend.

The Bangles and Spock Go Down to Liverpool

Here is a great 80's video that has Leonard Nimoy playing the driver of the rock group the Bangles. From what I have read on the net it seems that Nimoy was their co-star and director of the video because his son was friends with Susanna Hoffs.

Look at the Bangles member on the far left. She seems to be making eyes at Nimoy.

Happy Groundhog Day

Just wanted to tell everyone Happy Groundhog day. Didn't think anyone would want to look at the picture of a groundhog so I put up a picture of Andie MacDowell who was one of the stars of the movie Groundhog Day.

The Golden Age is Gone Forever

I can't say I am happy with the turn in the life of Captain America in issue #34. Yes Marvel comics has "decided" to make Bucky Barnes Captain America. I do have to say that if we can't have Steve Rogers any more I am happy that it is Bucky or even Rick Jones would have been a good choice. I was expecting them to say they decided to have the government create a new one with a character that readers had never heard of before. As much as I love the art of Alex Ross I have to say I am not happy with the new costume either. I believe I saw the art on the internet for the new costume around the time they killed him off. I could be wrong. Yes I still hope that one day Steve Rogers will be Cap. I also hope the same for Barry Allen to come back as the Flash. So don't anyone hold your breath while waiting.
With all of the revisions in comics, Steve Rogers was the last link to the golden age of comics. When life was more innocent and simple. Even World War II that spawned him was a pretty black and white conflict. With the news media today showing every angle of a story it takes a lot of thinking to push away the gray shadows see the issues that are really there. With the passing of the original Captain America life will never be the same. Even if they do bring him back it may never be the same.

Paypal On My Mind

Just a reminder of the Paypal link on the right side of this page. It doesn't cost hardly anything to run the site. However every once in a while I do need some extra money to help pay some bills. Should you ever want to donate to the site every little bit helps. No matter what everyone is welcome to stop by and read this site. Thank you for your readership.

Sean Dietrich.Com Free Music Download

Just a quick note before I have to get ready for work. If you like Contemporary Christian Music then you should go to Sean Dietrich.com. He has some pretty good music there and it is free to download. Sean was on this site once and told me about his site so now I am passing it on to you.

Enough of the Hannah Montana News

Ok I think the media has to back off of Miley Cyrus aka Hannah Montana. The media and mostly her cable show have built her up to be the new good girl on the block. I am sure that she is. However, she is being reported doing some things that most people wouldn't want their 15 year old daughter to do. The thing is she is a teenager who is living her life in public view. We are not her parents. Let Billy Ray and her Mom handle it. Her Dad has been there before. He said in an interview that he gave that he told her when it stops being fun to stop doing it. Well once her contract is up I wouldn't blame her if she quit. Thankfully she is more known as Hannah Montana. In a few years this may all blow over and Miley can get a new career on her own name. At least she won't be as typecast as the Monkees who only went by their own names on their show. Maybe she should talk to them or David Cassidy. Those 5 men would understand what she is going through.

Ognir Rrats On the web

Thanks to Pop Culture Safari, formerly This is Pop Culture, I was directed to these videos of the Ringo Starr special that I never saw but have only heard about. It stars Ringo as himself and his look a like Ognir Rrats. Ognir is poor and Ringo is famous. Tired of fame he trades places with Ognir. Hilarity ensues. You can click here for part 1 or click here for part two.

Changes

Lately I have been thinking about making some changes in what this site is about. The template of the look of the site may stay the same but I feel the need to change what it covers. Originally it was to be about the stories and poems that I sometimes write but it morphed into more of a pop culture blog. Lately it seems to be all over the place. So I am ask you what do you think this blog does best that it should cover on a more regular basis? Let me know and if I can I will do my best to make those changes.

In Memory of John Stewart

It is sad to note the passing of another show business icon. This time from the world of music. Singer/songwriter John Stewart passed away this past past Saturday from either a massive stroke or brain aneurysm. It has not been released which one at this time. He was a member of the Kingston Trio then went solo. He wrote the song Daydream Believer which was a #1 hit for the Monkees and later a top 20 hit for Anne Murray. In the 1980's he had a top 40 hit on his own with the song titled Gold. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

In Memory of Allan Melvin

I just heard that character actor Allan Melvin died of cancer at his home. Some reports have said it was Jan. 17th other say it was Jan. 18th. The fact remains that a fine character actor has died. For most of his television career Mr. Melvin was cast in the military roles. He was first cast on the Phil Silvers show as Cpl. Henshaw. Later he started his voice acting career by being cast as the star voice on the Magilla Gorilla Show. He also did episodic tv by appearing in shows such as Perry Mason, Lost In Space, Love American Style, the Andy Griffith Show, the Dick VanDyke Show (usually in military garb again when Rob would remember his military days with his army buddy Sam), etc. Near the end of the 1960's he was back in the military and promoted when he played Sgt. Hacker on Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. While Sgt. Carter may have treated Gomer badly Sgt. Hacker was even tougher on America's favorite Marine Private. Having treated lovable Gomer so bad could have ended a lessor actors career. Allan was still lovable and proved it when he was cast in his most memorable role. Alice's love interest on the Brady Bunch as Sam the Butcher. When that show ended he found occasional work on All In the Family as Archie Bunkers friend Barney Heffner. Later he had a 15 year run in commercials as the plumber who got out of hard to do jobs by using Liquid Plumber. After the Brady Bunch ended his cartoon voice over career continued into the 1980's. While Magilla Gorilla is his best remembered role he was also a military figure again when he voiced Sgt. Snorkel and Private Zero on Beetle Bailey. He was the voice of Drooper on the Banana Splits, Tyrone on the Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty, Wacky Packy on Uncle Croc's Block. He was the voice of the villain Electro on Spider-man and his amazing Friends and he topped off his cartoon career by playing Joey on the Kwicky Koala Show in the early 1980's and it was Tex Avery's last animated project.

This man had a long enough career for two actors and he did it well. He was one of the busiest characters in Hollywood for over 3 decades and this posting only showed the tip of the iceberg. He should have been given his own show to star in but seemed to always play second fiddle to the lead. No matter if you remember him as Sam, Magilla, Sgt. Hacker or any other role you know that he was always a welcome presence in every home in America and thanks to reruns and TV shows on DVD he will always be seen for years to come.

Hostess and Spider-Man in Break The Bank

It's Saturday Morning and time for Hostess' Team-Ups. Today Hostess and Spider-Man stop a robbery in Break the Bank.

Another clip from Facing the Giants

Here is another clip from Facing the Giants. It tells us that if we give our best all the time God will reward us. We sometimes quit even before we start because we don't think we are strong enough or we think the task ahead of us is impossible. If we endure it worth it in the end. We need to give our best all the time, in everything we do. God is there beside us telling us we can finish this race!
This is now one of my favorite movies. Definitely in my top 10. Right up there with It's A Wonderful Life and Casablanca.

Facing the Giants

Here is a good clip from a film called Facing the Giants. For those of you who haven't seen the movie it tells how a losing team turns around when the head coach gives God the glory for every thing. Here the assistant coach tells about salvation through Christ by using a football goal as his example.

Fun to Watch site

Thanks to Mark at News From ME here is a fun site to watch. You can click here to see what I mean. It may take awhile for it to download and it is in another language so I am not sure what it is called. It seems to be called Online Winkelen.

Forgotten Hits e-mail list

Earlier on this site I told you my story of my first 45 single. I did this as my memory was prodded by the Forgotten Hits mailing list where Kent was showcasing stories from people about their first 45's. Kent is still compiling these stories and wanted me to tell any readers of this site that they can still join the Forgotten Hits list if you just e-mail him at The60sShop@aol.com and ask him to put you on the list. It is that simple. He also sends wav files out of some of the songs that are being discussed to add to the enjoyment. So join in on the fun by remembering many of our pop cultures Forgotten Hits and e-mail Kent today at The60sShop@aol.com and tell him On My Mind sent you.

PS.
If you want you can also tell me and I will post the story here.