We are about to embark on another weeklong musical journey back in time but before we do, these were the headline stories in the magical year of 1964…
President Lyndon Johnson won reelection in a landslide over Sen. Barry Goldwater; the Warren Commission Report was published; Johnson announced a “War on Poverty”; Congress authorized war against North Vietnam; Three civil rights field workers were murdered in Mississippi; Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize; the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed.
And there were more…
The first Ford Mustang was produced; the World’s Fair opened in New York City; the Boston Strangler was captured; Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa was convicted of jury tampering; Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa; Cassius Clay knocked out Sonny Liston; Jack Ruby was convicted of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Sam Cooke, Alan Ladd, Peter Lorre, Jim Reeves and Gracie Allen died.
Mary Poppins, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, Seven Days In May, A Fistful of Dollars, Goldfinger, Fail-Safe, Hush…Hush Sweet Charlotte, A Hard Day’s Night and My Fair Lady all premiered in U.S. theaters.
The average income in the U.S. was $6,000 per year; the average cost of a home was $13,000; the average cost of a new car was $3,500; gasoline cost 30 cents per gallon; movie tickets averaged $1.25; bread cost 21 cents; the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the year at 874.
And in music?
The Whisky a Go Go opened its doors on Sunset Strip in Hollywood; Bob Dylan’s epic The Times They Are a-Changin’ album was released; and of course, it was the year of The British Invasion as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, Kinks, Animals, Searchers and Manfred Mann took over the Billboard music charts while many American artists tumbled out of sight.
There were twenty-three #1 hits and we’ll get to them throughout the coming week … but first it’s Mellow Sunday so we’re starting off with some of the “quiet” songs from 1964.
As always, each song’s peak chart position is indicated in the parentheses next to the artist. Some of those chart positions may surprise you.
Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right
Vintage 1964 Medley / Part 1
Chad & Jeremy (#7) – Gerry & The Pacemakers (#6)
Dave Clark Five (#3) – Beach Boys (#17)
Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (#97) – Andy Williams (#24)
Beatles (Did Not Chart)
OK Ray, you got me. It took a while but you finally stumped me. I never heard the Tremeloes song. I see it only made it to #97 but…
Chad & Jeremy, much like Peter & Gordon, just never moved me. To me they just sounded old fashioned. They were a dial twister for me.
Gerry & The Pacemakers, I thought would have more staying power. Gerry was personable and touted as a friend of the Beatles but he faded sooner than I expected.
The energy that The Dave Clark Five had always comes through even on the slow numbers you can still feel it.
Andy Williams was the new Perry Como so relaxed and calm, his performance was effortless.
The other BIG surprise for me this morning was The Beatles not charting! How can that be? This particular song in my opinion showed the talent of Lennon & McCartney. Not a simple song. Great wordplay.
Well Ray I can almost see the smirk on you face that you got me. Fair and square. I think it will be a while before it happens again.
Thanks for taking the time to entertain this old guy on an early Sunday morning.
Thanks, Don (he said with a smirk) 😉
Believe me, you won’t be the only person who never heard of Someone, Someone even though it was a cover of a song by The Crickets (released in 1959 after Buddy’s death) with Earl Sinks on lead vocal.
The one thing I respected about Chad & Jeremy was the fact Chad Stuart was a songwriter while Peter & Gordon relied heavily on Paul McCartney (understatement) and others. Other than that, I agree they were not a duo you “had” to listen to.
Gerry Marsden is, by all accounts, one of the most normal, down to earth people you could ever hope to meet but his band was made up of musical lightweights and he couldn’t keep up the pace the Beatles and other British groups set.
I had a ton of respect for Mike Smith of the DC5 but the shabby (another understatement) way he and his mates were treated by Dave Clark was absolutely shameful. Clark made a fortune and the rest were stiffed.
I always like Andy Williams’ voice. He was the epitome of mellow.
In fairness to the Fab Four, This Boy was the B-Side to All My Loving and the group released a single, or so it seemed, every other day so certain records never had a chance to register on the charts.
Now then, I have to go find another “surprise” or two. 😉
Have a great day!
Love Mellow Sundays Ray … the history intro is always interesting …I was lucky enough to go to the World’s Fair that year with Chris Cole and her parents .. saw the Unisphere again this year on our way to the pier … the entire area looks unkempt … the financial stats are always interesting – the Dow at 874???? And the music is always good. When I chime in after others I learn even more .. Dave Clark was not a nice person — didn’t know that. Andy Williams was great and just watching him sing could relax you. And I agree it had to be extremely tough for groups to establish themselves when competing with The Beatles … great way to start a very cool Sunday … Thanks Ray – Rock the Day (and stay warm — It’s Only Just Begun)!
Thank you, Barbara. 🙂
I love putting the Mellow Sunday intro together!
No, Dave Clark was not a nice person. Let me give you a few examples.
When the band was in their heyday, the other 4 guys in the group received a weekly wage instead of splitting the band’s enormous profits equally.
When it came to recording songs band members had written, Clark shared songwriting credits and publishing rights, even if he had no role in writing the song, as was usually the case.
When the band folded in 1970, the weekly wages obviously stopped but you would think the publishing royalties from all their songs would continue to roll in, right? Wrong. Because he was the sole owner of each song’s copyright and the master tapes, Clark restricted the music of the DC5 from being available throughout much of the 70s and 80s. That meant those publishing royalties Smith and others should have received never amounted to anything.
Yeah, don’t get me started on that megalomaniac because I could go on all day!
Note To Self: Breathe. Exhale.
Enjoy this sunny but cool Sunday and …
ROCK THE DAY!
Just enjoying this am Ray!! And Dylan was right times sure were a changin’!! This got me thinking how life seemed just a little easier!! All 5 of us went to the Worlds Fair!! I believe the underground home still exits!! I remember seeing Pieta and was in awe!! Just a good day to reflect and think how my life has had it’s ups and downs!! And you know Ray, Brian Poole was right your life really does begin when someone trully loves you!!
Thank you, Fred 🙂
I sincerely hope that anyone who listens to the Mellow Sunday medleys walks away feeling a little more calm and relaxed.
Thanks for sharing some very special memories.
And Fred … I love you
mellow way to start the day even though a song or two didn’t sound familiar .. thanks Ray!
Thanks, Penny ♥️
Ah, the Brian Poole song wasn’t familiar to you, was it? As I said to Don, I suppose a lot of people don’t remember it, either, but it was there (I swear 🙂 )
Love the mellow Sunday songs, even though I don’t listen until Monday!. I, too, never heard of Brian Poole, or the song, but I liked it. Always loved Andy Williams. Look forward to the #1 songs later.
Thanks for tuning in, Pat. It’s okay to feel “mellow on a Monday” 🙂