This Day in Music History: Zager and Evans In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)

In 1961 Denny Zager was looking for a guitarist for his group the Eccentrics. He spotted Rick Evans playing at a talent show at Wesleyan University and asked him to join. By 1964 Zager quit the group and formed the Devilles. Meanwhile, Evans wrote the song “In the Year 2525(Exordium and Terminus).” He tried to convince the Eccentrics to record it but had no luck.
By 1968 Zager and Evans both left their groups and formed a duo. They were looking for songs to record when they pulled out the 4 year old song. Zager wasn’t sure of the songs potential. In an interview he said “I didn’t go nutty over the song, because it really wasn’t the style I wanted to do.” They decided to put it in their live show to see what the response would be.
Zager wrote a new arrangement for the song so it would more fit a duo then a group to sing. Eventually they decided to record it because they were getting so many requests for it. They invested $500 in studio time and pressed it on their own label called Truth Records and distributed it to local radio stations and record stores.
Talent agent Jerry Weintraub heard the song and flew to Lincoln, Nebraska to meet with them. He signed on as their manager and got them a contract with RCA. It entered the Billboard charts at #72 on June 21, 1969. The prophetic song quickly went up the charts to reach the #1 spot on this day in music history July 12, 1969 and held the position for 6 weeks. If you listen to the lyrics you can hear them hint to how you can get a baby at the end of a long glass tube. So a song written in 1964 foretold of test tube babies even though the first one didn’t happen till 14 years later in 1978. He got the year wrong but in 1964 Rick Evans saw it coming down the Pike.
Not long after the record hit the charts Danny Zager left the group. He said it wasn’t the type of song he wanted to be known for. Sadly since it was his only hit it now is the type of music he is known for. Postings like this and in other areas of pop culture where it is mentioned, like being the subject of a question in the game Trivial Pursuit, will keep the song alive. Also, the closer we get to that year the more you will hear of it.
Zager and Evans remained friends and talk on the phone from time to time. Evans stayed active in the local music community in Lake Tahoe, California. There he wrote songs and preformed in local clubs. Zager returned to private life and now makes guitars for a living. You can buy one if you go to Zagerguitar.com..
Below is youtube.com video of the duo preforming the song on a television show.

Every now and again a trend comes back. These days in movies it is the 3-D fad that this time seems to be staying. I am too young to remember the era it started in in the 50's but they tried it again when I was in college. Mostly it was recycled horror movies of the 50's but I loved it then. The only problem I had was that since I wear glasses I didn't know where to put those special glasses on that you needed to see it. Once past that I really enjoyed it. When someone handed another actor something I felt like I could reach out and take it. Eventually the fad faded again. Now it is back. I thought I would enjoy it but so far I have not. The reasons are that now it cost more to see them instead of the regular ones. One person told me it was becuase they had to put in sepcial cameras to show them. I don't believe that as they didn't need it before on the earlier films. Second is that for some reason when I put the glasses on I don't see the 3-D effects now. It still looks like a regular movie and I don't want to pay the special price but still see the regular effects. So if the trend contines and they only start showing 3-D, raise the prices and get rid of all the non 3-D movies they will loose me as an audience member. I only thought of this as I saw the above portion of an Archie strip in the papers today and it was on my mind.

1776

Over the recent years our founding fathers of the USA come under the handling of the writings of revisionist of American history. One who has received the worst of the revisionism has been Ben Franklin who went from a grandfatherly type of inventive genius to as a degenerate evil mastermind. The one who has withstood the test of time is John Adams. He was seen in the beginning as a patriot but not one that was well liked. Here is a clip from one of the best musicals ever produced, 1776, that shows off Mr. Adams personality and patriotism. The part is well played by William Daniels and better known as Mr. Feeney from the TV show "Boy Meets World."

You can get the DVD of the movie from Amazon.com

George Harrison Blow Away

This is the first time I have ever seen this video of Blow Away. Thought I would share it for others who haven't seen it.

Micky Dolenz on Break the Bank

Over at Classic Television Showbiz They have the episode of Break the Bank with Micky Dolenz as one of the celebrity guest. Below is the segment with the only 2 questions that were asked to Micky. This was done some time around the Dolenz, Jones, Boye and Hart era. Probably at the beginning of that one and at the end of Micky's personal era where he was always a celebrity guest. I never did see Micky during his celebrity guest era so I was pleased to see this episode. If you want to see more go to Classic Television Showbiz.

Video of the week: Dearborn Mich. Police Defend Islam against the Constitution

Can you believe this is happening in America?

The Popcornteer

This seemed so odd I had to post it. It seems that for years this was the only Rocketeer at Disneyland.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Superboy in Krypto's Calamitous Caper!

Superman on radio

For all you old time radio fans here is a 1941 ad for Superman on radio.

Len Mink

I remember when local programming was more then just the news. During the day and some evenings even local stations had their own stable of talent they could build shows around. They had talk shows, variety shows and those who would host movies. In Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky the Nick Clooney Show was a local variety show that was first on WCPO and later WKRC. Years after it was canceled the Mr. Clooney would be back on at WKRC as a news anchor. On his variety show he had talents like Len Mink. He was a local singer who was very popular. This youtube.com clip is from Mr. Mink's last appearance on the show when it was on WCPO. Later, when he becaome a Christian Mr. Mink went on to a Christian music ministry.

Nowhere Boy Trailer

Here is the trailer to the movie Nowhere Boy. It's the story of John Lennon's life.

This Day in Music History: The Beatles and the Long and Winding Road/For You Blue

Being at the top of the Billboard charts was nothing new to the Beatles. Still this one was bittersweet for them and their fans as it was the last time they would accomplish this as a group. Actually, there are only two of them on the Long and Winding Road. Paul McCartney is singing the solo vocal and playing the piano and John Lennon is playing the bass guitar. The final production of this song was a major point in the break up of the group. The songs were not produced by George Martin but by Phil Spector. Paul thought the song was fine with just him and John. Still Phil Spector added an orchestra and a choir to back him up. Spector sent copies of the finished music with a letter explaining what he did and that he could make changes if they wished. Paul heard his song and didn't like it. He tried to contact Spector but wasn't able to reach him. He told the Beatles new manager Allen Klein in a letter and demanded they restore the song but that was to no avail. George Harrison, who wrote and sang the B side, For You Blue, on the double sided hit must have been pleased as he had Phil Spector produce his All Things Must Pass solo album.
It was with the Harrison song that the four Beatles all made their final appearance together in the #1 spot. George sang and played acoustic guitar, John played steel guitar, Paul played piano and bass and Ringo played drums.
Since their break up there were rumors that they would get back together until the day that John Lennon died. Even then I heard they were close to a reunion since Lennon had finally come out of retirement. Talent wise they did when Paul, George and Ringo added their talents to the songs Free As a Bird and Real Love. Free as a Bird charted but didn't reach #1. In England it only got to #2 and in the USA it only went to #6. With The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue those songs are still the last #1 songs for the Beatles. They reached that spot on this day in music history June 13,1970 and held the spot for 2 weeks.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Shazam! and the Joyriders

This is really the live action version. So it isn't really a cartoon but it has always been labeled like that. I believe this is the first episode that aired.

Hawaii Five-0 1998

It seems that a new version of Hawaii Five-0 isn't a new idea. Here is the opening credits to a 1998 pilot that had Gary Busey as the star. Wouldn't it be great to have seen a crazy Steve McGarrett?

This Day in Music History: You're the One That I Want by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

We haven't done one of these in awhile so here is the latest installment of This Day in Music History. It seems hard to believe with the ease that Olivia Newton-John played the part of Sandy in the movie Grease that she was really very nervous. But it is understandable. It was, after all, her first big Hollywood film. However, it was not her first film. She had previously starred in a science fiction movie called Toomorrow that bombed. She talked with the scriptwriter and John Travolta and accepted the part. Still she was so nervous that she herself insisted on doing a screentest. Around that time Mr. Travolta also was recording some songs and had a top 40 hit with one titled Let Her In. In an interview Olivia said she thought it was odd that she was a singer who wanted to be an actress and now she was in a movie with an actor who wanted to be a singer. She also said she wasn't thrilled with her own preformance. She thought it was sickly. With how well the movie did it is safe to say that the audience didn't agree with her.
The movie also changed how music fans saw her. Up till then record buyers only thought of her as a country singer. She did have two number one songs before but they were still country songs. Now she was on the big screen singing pop broadway tunes. The movie and the soundtrack dominated the summer of 1978. It was even bigger in England. You're the One That I Want was #1 there for nine weeks and the follow up, Summer Nights, was #1 there for seven weeks. But in America on this day in music history the song You're the One That I Want stated its one week rule of the Billboard chart on June 10, 1978.
Also the above photo is from a picture sleeve of the 45 that was released in Japan.

Elementary My Dear Groucho is not so elementary

Whoever proof read the book "Elementary My Dear Groucho" must not have gotten past elementary school. I bought the book not long ago at a used book store. I knew I would like it as I always like books by Ron Goulart. But I noticed some spelling errors but I could live with that. Then in chapter 26 a page is missing. Not torn out. It wasn't published in my book. Still I pressed on. Only to find that chapters 27 through 30 were missing also. Instead chapters 4 through 7 were re-published to take their place. I still want to see how it ends but not with missing chapters. So for now I have stopped reading the book. I don't fault Mr. Goulart. I fault Thomas Dunne Books St. Martin's Press.

Clyde Beatty and Cole Brothers Circus ad

Here is an ad from 1959 for Clyde Beatty and Cole Brothers Circus featuring the great clown Emmett Kelly. Wish I had been alive then to see that circus.

New Header

Hope you like the new header. I like it but I can't seem to get it to line up properly inside the spot that blogger gives me.

First Aquaman now Sub-Mariner

Inspired by Rob at Aquaman Shrine I put together this cover of the Sub-Mariner. I am not the artist that he is but I hope that my readers here like it.

Ace Hardware Commercial

My wife just looks at me and smiles when this commercial comes to the part where the man says "...and then I will read comic books."