The Cruisin’ series is a collection of records with music from various years. The series not only includes the original songs by the original artists from a particular year but also includes a Disk Jockey (D. J.) from a particular radio station all across North America. Included with the music is original radio advertisements (commercials), some public service announcements, radio station jingles, D. J. banter and numerous other goings on to make the record sound like it was recorded right from a live studio broadcast. This series was originally released on 33 1/3rd r.p.m. record albums in 1972 beginning with the year 1955. Some sources indicate they were released in 1993 and others mention several other different years. After further investigation I have determined that the 1972 release date is in fact correct but that the series was released again several different times and that accounts for the varying dates of release.
I have also determined that there were changes made from the original releases that shortened the total length of the re-releases by eliminating/removing a few songs off of each year’s records. The cassette’s besides having all the same information off the front cover of the album also have this below each year as well ”A History of Rock & Roll Radio”. Also every album, CD and cassette front cover had a colorful drawing of 2 kids wearing clothes from that period. The 2 young kids in this continuing story line were Peggy a pretty blonde girl who has a crush on Eddie who was a red head who mostly dreams about fast cars. One or both would have a balloon above them with what they were either saying or thinking. As the years continued you would see them get a little older, their clothes style would change and things around them would also move along with the times.
On the very first in the series Cruisin’& 1955 the two kids are checking out some books from the public library. Eddie is looking out the window as his hot red convertible sportscar as Peggy is looking at him. In this picture Peggy has the balloon above her head as she is thinking to herself, ”Gee, I wonder if he’ll ever look at me like that?”
The second album in the series Cruisin’ 1956 with the continuing story on the front cover is with Peggy leaning up against the rear of a 1956 car (hard to tell make or model) with rear tail fins. Eddie is leaning on the side of the car against the door with his right elbow on the roof holding a cigarette in his right hand with a Band-Aid on his left hand. You see a building in the background that has Central High on it, an American Flag flying proudly in the wind and an airplane flying overhead. Peggy says to Eddie ”There was a rumble at the drive-in last night wasn’t there?” Eddie replies ”Why ask me?”
The 3rd record in the series Cruisin’ 1957 continues on the front cover with Peggy standing in her house doorway looking at Eddie who is standing on her front porch with his car behind him you see it’s nighttime and see a full moon. Peggy says ”Eddie! I thought you were grounded! How’ja get off?”. Eddie is standing with his hands in his pockets and says ”No sweat, Hey! They think I’m working!”
The 4th record in this series Cruisin’ 1958 has Peggy sitting in a convertible looking at Eddie who is in a dark green uniform working at a Gas Station. He is washing her car windshield and in the background you see some gas pumps and a sign with the prices on it of $19.9 for Regular gas and $22.9 for Ethyl gas. (Comment: Those prices are really unbelievable, was gas really that cheap in 1958? Holy, Cowabunga Batman!) Peggy asks “Listen Eddie, are we going steady or aren’t we?” and Eddie responds “Jeez, Peg, lay off! I’m lucky to have a job this summer!”
The 5th record in the series Crusin’ 1959 shows Eddie driving down the street with Peggy next to him in the car. There is a huge pair of fuzzy dice hanging from his rear view mirror. Eddie says: ”It was my Draft Notice how’s that grab you?”. Peggy replies with: ”Oh, no, Eddie! Not at a time like this!”
The 6th record in the series Cruisin’ 1960 takes place at a Drive In theater. So we see a sign outside a fence surrounding the parking area that indicates: ”Psycho” and “The Time Machine”, & “Dollar-A-Car-Night”. (WOW those were the days when you piled 6 or more inside the car and snuck in a few more in the trunk to see 2 movies for a Buck! We have a Drive-In theater here in Jacksonville and it’s $4.00 a person for 2 movies on Friday or Saturday nights. My wife and I do go there from time to time on Saturday nights.) We see Peggy sitting in the front seat of a convertible and a strange boy has his arm around her neck. She is glancing back and spots Eddie in an Army uniform in the front seat of a car with his arm around the neck of a strange girl. Peggy looks like she is about to cry and says ”It’s Eddie!”
The 7th record in the series Crusin’ 1961 takes place in a soda/malt shop. Both Peggy and Eddie are at the counter. Eddie has a malt in his hand and Peggy has a cola in front of her with a straw in it. In the back is an old Wurletzer jukebox to the right of it is a stand with newspapers on it. The headlines on the newspaper can be partially seen as ”Bay of Pigs” and below the paper it reads “Herald Express 5 cents”. (Note: the Bay of Pigs was a failed invasion of Cuba 1961 during the time that “John F. Kennedy” was president. It was a US supported attack by Cuban exiles in an attempt to overthrow “Fidel Castro”.) Now back to our story in the soda shop, Eddie and Peggy. On the counter are 2 books that have “Olympic Junior College” on them and outside the shop window you see a parked 1961 Oldsmobile. Peggy is facing Eddie to his side and says: ”It’s not just us Eddie! It’s the entire world” Eddie replies with ”I dunno, Peg…”.
The 8th record in the series Crusin’ 1962 takes place outside. Eddie now has a very small mustache and is carrying 4 books in his hand that can only be partially seen so I cannot make out the titles of any of them. Next to him is what appears to be a beatnik, with a beard, mustache and a button on his shirt that reads “We Shall Over Come” and he is carrying a guitar strung over his right shoulder. They seem to be walking slowly down a busy street with cars in the background. You can see Peggy in the background walking in a different direction carrying a small transistor radio that is turned on as indicated by notes in the air. Eddie says: ”I’ve Got Things To Do!” Peggy’s response to him is: ”Eddie, you’re getting to be a drag!”
This 9th record in the series Crusin’ 1963 inside a dark and what looks like a coffee house? In the background we can see an open door to the outside where a card is parked near the curb and the bottom half of a sign hanging from the shop that reads “HOUSE”. Inside is a guy with a beard playing a guitar and singing with a spotlight shown on him and he looks a lot like Eddies’ friend from the cover of the 1962 record. On the wall behind him is a poster that has “HAWAII” written on it with someone surfing. We see a table with a blond hair guy with a beard sitting at it with a coffee cup in his hand. In the foreground is another table with Eddie sitting to our left about to drink from a coffee cup. Peggy is sitting to the right side of the table facing Eddie with a coffee cup on the table in front of her. Also on the table is a paperback book with unreadable wording and in the center of the table is a lit candle coming out of what appears to be a wine bottle. Eddie is looking right at Peg and does not say anything as Peggy says: ”All Right, Eddie If that’s more important to you than us…”. I assume we are suppose to guess what Eddie had said to Peggy before her response?
The host D. J. for this record is ”B. Mitchell Reed” from WMCA 570 AM radio in New York City, New York. He was born ” Burton Mitchel Goldberg” on 10 June 1926 in Brooklyn, New York City. He graduated from Boy’s High School in 1944 and entered the military where he became a navigator on a B-17 fighter in Europe during the last year of World War I. After he was discharged he went off to attend the University of Illinois majoring in political science. But he later decided he did not want to be a Teacher and became a radio broadcaster in 1956 then called a D. J. or Disk Jockey. His first station was WOR radio in New York City working the all-night “Birdland Jazz Show” shift. He moved to Los Angeles, California in 1957 where he hosted the "Boy On A Couch" show at KFWB radio. The following year in 1958 the station changed it’s format to Top 40 "Color Radio" and he became one of the "Seven Swingin' Gentlemen". He became known as “The fasted tongue in the West” and he made his 6 to 9 PM shift #1 in the state. He used a combination of bells, buzzers, horns, whistles and many other crazy and sometimes very strange sound effects. He also would go by “BMR” and sometimes by “Your Leader”.
On 20 February 1963 he was made an offer he could not turn down and moved back to New York City and became one of “The Good Guys” on WMCA radio. His favorite saying became "I'm not talking too fast, you're listening too slow”. His show once again was #1 in the state and he began making trips back and forth to London. He developed contacts with ”Brian Epstein”, “Derek Taylor” and ”The Beatles” which led to him getting exclusive interviews and advance record pressings that helped break ”The Beatles” hugely in New York. WMCA is credited with playing the very first “Beatles” record on New York radio, in late December 1963, when “Jack Spector” broke “I Want To Hold Your Hand” as well as the flip or B-side I Saw Her Standing There”. The A-side would debut on the U.S. music charts on 1 January 1964 later peaking at #1 where it stayed for 7 consecutive weeks. The B-side would chart separately and debuted on the charts 8 February later peaking at #14.
Through the 1960s, WMCA would beat their biggest competitor WABC on most of the Beatles’ records, causing WABC to try some gimmicks of their own, most of which backfired. On his final day at WMCA on 25 March 1965 he announced he was returning to Los Angeles and was met at the Airport to thousands of cheering fans to see him off. When he landed in Los Angeles to return to work again at KFWB he was once again greeted by thousands of adoring fans. He named his new show "The Wide Wide Weird World of BMR". In 1967 after meeting ”Tom Donahue” at the Monterey Pop Festival he changed his format to album-oriented rock programming. In early 1968 he went to KPPC radio in Los Angeles and then in June Reed and Donahue joined forces and went to KMET FM in Los Angeles which became one of the very first 24-Hour automated music stations in the world.
Reed became known as “The Beamer” as he began a live afternoon show in 1969 which became the beginning of “Underground Radio”. He next spent a year at KRLA radio in Los Angeles in 1971 and in then he went back to work at KMET radio again in 1972. He had successful bypass surgery in 1978 and in 1981 he moved on to KLOS FM radio in Los Angeles. Also this year he was the host of the Global Satellite Network Rockline. He passed away at his home on 16 March 1983 at the age of 53 in Malibu, California from heart failure. Reed played the part of a Thug in an episode of the weekly Crime, Drama TV series ”Bourbon Street Beat” on 22 February 1960. In 1973 he played a Disk Jockey in the Movie ”Mean Streets” directed by ”Martin Scorsese”.
Cruisin’ 1963 begins with Reed’s show theme music, the instrumental ”Hand Clapping” by ”Wilbert ‘Red’ Prysock”. Red was a tenor saxophonist and the brother of Blues, Jazz and R&B soloist ”Arthur Prysock”. Arthur had 3 hits on the U.S. pop charts from 1965 to 1976, none of which cracked the Top 50. The show’s theme song goes right into the song ” Easier Said Than Done” by ”The Essex”. This R&B quintet was made up of former U.S. Marines who had been stationed at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. This was their debut single of which they had 3 total on the charts all in 1963. The single debuted on 8 June and went all the way to #1 on the pop chart where it stayed for 2 weeks.
Next up we hear a WMCA "Good Guy" Sweatshirt Winner Announcement followed by Reed’s famous “B.M.R. Bell Ringer” intro. into the song ” Sally Go Round The Roses” by ”The Jaynettes”. This was an all-female R&B group formed in the Bronx, New York City in the early 1960’s. This was the only single by them to make the charts, it made its’ debut on 31 August 1963 and went to #4 on the R&B chart and to #2 on the Pop chart where it stayed for 2 weeks. This group in public was seen as only 3 women but in fact 5 women made this recording.
This song is followed by the “WMCA Good Guys” them song sung by all the D. J.’s from the station. The next song is ”He’s So Fine” sung by another all-girl group also from the Bronx, “The Chiffons”. This group formed in 1959 and from 1960 to 1966 they had 12 singles on the pop chart. This was the group’s second charting record that made its’ debut on 23 February 1963, it went to #1 on both the R&B and the Pop chart where it stayed for 4 weeks and was their only million seller. On a side note to this song, in 1976 a court ruling found ”George Harrison” formally of ”The Beatles” guilty of “subconscious plagiarism” when writing his hit single ”My Sweet Lord” that was a #1 hit for him in 1970. Me personally I thought the whole lawsuit thing was a very stupid waste of time and I never really heard any similarity in the 2 songs even a little bit.
After this song finishes we hear a commercial for the 1963 Dodge and the ”Isley Brothers” follows this with their big hit ”Twist & Shout”. This R&B brother trio of Ronald, Rudolph & O’Kelly formed in the early 1950’s in Cincinnati originally as a gospel group. This was the groups’ 3rd charting single and the first to break into the Top 20. The song was originally performed by the group known as the ”Top Notes” in 1961 but this version made its’ national chart debut on 2 June 1962 later peaking at #17 on the pop chart and at #2 on the R&B chart. The ”Rolling Stones” had a lot more charting songs over the years but for longevity this R&B trio has been together longer than any other music group of 2 or more without losing or changing any of its’ original members. From 1959 through 2006 they had 46 songs on the pop charts which includes their debut single in 1959 ”Shout” that re-charted a second time in 1962. ”The Isleys” have had 3 million selling singles but never had a #1 pop hit the closest being ”It’s Your Thing” that peaked at #2 in 1969 and was the first of 4 singles to go to #1 on the R&B chart.
Next up is a promo for Green Acres, not the television show as it did not debut as a series until 1965. We then hear the 3rd song on this record by an all-girl group, this time its’ ”The Shirelles” with ”Baby It’s You”. This is the 2nd song on the album that was not released in 1963 or was on the charts in 1963. The song debuted on 18 December 1961 later peaking at #8 on the pop chart and at #3 on the R&B chart. This R&B group was formed in Passaic, New Jersey in the 1950’s and they had 26 songs on the pop chart from 1958 to 1967. They had only 2 #1 pop hits in ”Will You Love Me Tomorrow” that stayed at #1 for 2 weeks in 1960. The other was their biggest ever single that sold over a million copies in ”Soldier Boy” that stayed at #1 for 3 weeks in 1962.
Reed next announces the most recent “Name It and Claim It” record winner followed by the final song on side 1 which is ”It’s My Party” by ”Lesley Gore”. Lesley was born in New York City on 2 May 1946 and was discovered by the legendary ”Quincy Jones”. This was her 1st single and it made its’ national chart debut on 11 May 1963 going straight to #1 on the pop chart where it stayed for 2 weeks. She had 19 songs on the chart from 1963 to 1967 but this was her only #1 hit. Her next 2 biggest hits were ”You Don’t Own Me” that went to #2 for 3 weeks in 1963 followed by ”Judy’s Turn To Cry” that peaked at #5 in 1963. This song is followed by a WMCA station I.D. jingle and then side 1 ends.
Side 2 begins with ”Walk Right In” by ”The Rooftop Singers”. This Folk trio formed in New York City in 1962 and this was their first single release that made its’ chart debut on 5 January 1963. It later peaked at #1 where it stayed for 2 weeks and became their only million seller. They had only 2 other singles on the pop charts in ”Tom Cat” that peaked at #20 and ”Mama Don’t Allow” that peaked at #55 both in 1963. This song is followed by a Public service announcement for Litter Basket and then this is followed by ”Hey, Girl” by ”Freddie Scott”. This was his first record to make the charts and it debuted on the pop chart on 27 July 1963 and later peaked at #10 on both the pop and R&B charts. This solo R&B singer was born on 24 April 1933 in Providence, Rhode Island. He began singing professional in his teens with his Grandmother’s gospel group ”Sally Jones & The Gospel Keyes”.
After a few years he decided to become a Doctor so he went off to Paine College in Augusta, Georgia to earn his PHD. While in school he joined the ”Swanee Quintet Juniors” as their lead singer and they recorded the song ”Far Away Places”. This traditional Gospel group originally formed in the early 1910’s and continued singing as a group with many member changes up through the 2000’s. After only 2 years of Medical school he dropped out to perform full time. He went solo in 1956 where he went from singing spiritual gospel to singing secular soul and released his debut single I’ll Be Spinning” but it failed to make any of the charts. However the R&B duo ”Johnnie & Joe” covered his song and scored with it on the local R&B charts in the New York area. This duo is most remembered for their big pop hit ”Over The Mountain: Across The Sea” that peaked at #8 on the pop charts in 1957. In late 1956 Freddie was drafted into the Army. While serving his country he released ”Tell Them For Me" in 1957 followed a year later by "Please Call" and "A Faded Memory” none of which made any of the national charts. After getting out of the Military in 1959 he released "Come On, Honey" which also failed to make the charts.
Freddie then decided to focus on producing and songwriting. In 1961, he returned to his singing career, recording "Baby, You're a Long Time Dead" which also failed to chart. In 1962 he was approached by the songwriting team of ”Gerry Goffin” and his wife ”Carole King”. They asked for his assistance in producing the song ”Hey, Girl” and they were going to have R&B singer ”Chuck Jackson” record it but he failed to make the recording session so Freddie recorded it instead. His new recording company ”Colpix” liked the song so much they released it the following year. From 1963 to 1967 he had 7 records on the charts and this was his biggest pop hit followed by ”Are You Lonely For Me” that peaked at #39 on the pop chart but went all the way to #1 on the R&B chart. Scott died 2 weeks ago on 4 June 2007 at the age of 74 from heart failure at his home in Jamaica, Queens, New York City.
Following this song we hear a B.M.R. Correspondent's Report then the song ”Denise” by ”Randy & The Rainbows”. This was the groups’ first single that debuted on the national charts on 15 June 1963 and later peaked at #10 on the pop chart. This one-hit wonder group only had 1 other single on the charts also in 1963 titled ”Why Do Kids Grow Up” but it stalled at #97 on the charts. This all-white doo-wop group formed in Queens, New York City in 1962. The group was made up of 5 members which included two sets of brothers and they originally took the name of ”Jr. and The Counts”. Following this song we hear a WMCA "That's The Way To Spend Your Day" Song.
Up next on this album is “Mama Didn't Lie” by “Jan Bradley”. This song made its’ national debut on the charts on 5 January 1963 and later peaked at #14. This R&B one-hit wonder was born ”Addie Bradley” on 6 July 1943 in Byhalia, Mississippi and was raised in Robbins, Illinois. The only other song that Jan had on the charts was ”I’m Over You” in 1965 that peaked at #93 on the pop chart. Next up we hear a commercial for the 1963 Rambler followed up by ”Hey Paula” by the vocal duo ”Paul & Paula”. This was their first release, it debuted on the national charts on 29 December 1962 and went to #1 in 1963 where it stayed for 3 weeks and was there only million seller. This duo’s real names are ”Ray Hilderbrand” who was born 21 December 1940 in Joshua, Texas and ”Jill Jackson” who was born 20 May 1942 in McCaney, Texas. They had 5 other singles on the pop chart all in 1963 with their second biggest hit being their 2nd release titled ”Young Lovers” that peaked at #6.
This song is followed by the "Musical Love Letters" Contest Winners and then the final song on the album ”Louie, Louie” by ”The Kingsmen”. START HERE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The only oddities, omissions, differences etc. is that the cassette and the album re-releases did not have ”Easier Said Then Done”, or ”Hey, Girl”, on them.
Full original album track listings and my rating of each song follows below
Side 1 (A) Opening Theme song “Hand Clapping”' - Red Prysock Easier Said Than Done - The Essex (2:08) - 5 WMCA "Good Guy" Sweatshirt Winner Announcement & B.M.R. "Bell Ringer" intro. into Sally Go Round The Roses - The Jaynettes (2:38) - 5 WMCA "Good Guys" Song He's So Fine - The Chiffons (1:53) - 5 1963 Dodge Commercial Twist & Shout - Isley Brothers (2:33) - 5 Green Acres Promo Baby It's You - Shirelles (2:40) - 5 "Name It And Claim It" Winner It's My Party - Leslie Gore (2:19) - 5 WMCA Station I.D.
Side 2 (B) Walk Right In - The Rooftop Singers (2:32) - 5 Litter Basket public Service Song Hey, Girl - Freddie Scott (3:04) - 4 B.M.R. Correspondent's Report Denise - Randy & The Rainbows (1:57) - 5 WMCA "That's The Way To Spend Your Day" Song Mama Didn't Lie - Jan Bradley (2:02) - 4 1963 Rambler Commercial Hey Paula - Paul & Paula (2:25) - 5 "Musical Love Letters" Contest Winners Louie, Louie - Kingsmen (2:24) - 5
TOTAL POINTS: 58 POINTS DIVIDED BY 12 SONGS = 4.8333 or 4 3/4 STARS Rating Key: 5 - Great 4 - Very Good 3 - Good 2 - Fair 1 - Poor 0 - This song does not belong on this record
JAGUARDOG'S FINAL THOUGHTS
With 4.3/4 stars this is one of the top 5 best albums in the entire series. With that being said there still are some more great albums coming up in this collection as I continue covering all the years which includes a few more perfect 5 Star rating albums yet to come. I hope you are enjoying this series and will continue to return and read many more to come? Cruisin’ 1964 is up next with another great song selection on is one of the top 3 or 4 albums in the entire series. Here is a little hint of some of the great songs upcoming on the 1964 record, all of which are 5 star hits:
Chapel Of Love - The Dixie Cups Harlem Shuffle - Bob & Earl Nitty Gritty - Shirley Ellis Remember (Walkin' In The Sand) - The Shangri-Las The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) - Betty Everett Suspicion - Terry Stafford and much, much, more
I am including a list of all the years in this series so everyone can see the radio stations that were included and the D. J. that was used for each year.
1964 - WHK - Cleveland, OH - Johnny Holiday (Also known as 'The Joy Boys') 1965 - KHJ - Los Angeles, CA - Robert W. Morgan (Also called Boss Angeles) - 1st city used twice 1966 - KJR - Seattle, WA - Pat O'Day 1967 - WQXI - Atlanta, GA - Dr. Don Rose (Also known is Quixie in Dixie) 1968 - WCAO - Baltimore, MD - Johnny Dark 1969 - WPGC - Washington, D.C. - Harv Moore, The Boy Next Door 1970 - WLS - Chicago, IL - Kris Erik Stevens Cruisin' with Porky Chedwick - WAMO - Pittsburgh, PA The Cruisin' Years (Best Of) - Compilation of songs, ads, jingles, etc. from 1955 to 1963
BONUS Section for 1963:
Billboard's Top 30 Pop Hits of 1963: 1. Sugar Shack - Jimmy Gilmer & Fireballs – Peaked at #1 for 5 weeks 2. He's So Fine – The Chiffons – Peaked at #1 for 4 weeks 3. Dominique – The Singing Nun – Peaked at #1 for 4 weeks 4. Blue Velvet - Bobby Vinton – Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks 5. Hey Paula - Paul & Paula – Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks 6. Fingertips Part 2 - Stevie Wonder – Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks 7. Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto – Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks 8. I Will Follow Him – ‘Little’ Peggy March – Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks 9. My Boyfriend's Back – The Angels – Peaked at #1 for 3 weeks 10. Walk Like A Man – The Four Seasons – Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks 11. Go Away Little Girl - Steve Lawrence – Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks 12. I'm Leaving It Up To You - Dale & Grace – Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks 13. If You Wanna Be Happy - Jimmy Soul – Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks 14. Surf City - Jan & Dean – Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks 15 It's My Party - Lesley Gore – Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks 16. Walk Right In – The Rooftop Singers – Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks 17. Easier Said Than Done - Essex – Peaked at #1 for 2 weeks 18. Deep Purple - Nino Temple & April Stevens – Peaked at #1 for 1 week 19. So Much In Love – The Tymes – Peaked at #1 for 1 week 20. Our Day Will Come - Ruby & The Romantics – Peaked at #1 for 1 week 21. Louie, Louie – The Kingsmen – Peaked at #2 for 6 weeks 22. Can't Get Used To Losing You/Days Of Wine & Roses - Andy Williams – Peaked at #2 for 4 weeks 23. Be My Baby – The Ronettes – Peaked at #2 for 3 weeks 24. Ruby Baby - Dion – Peaked at #2 for 3 weeks 25. Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp) - Allan Sherman – Peaked at #2 for 3 weeks 26. Sally, Go 'Round The Roses – The Jaynetts – Peaked at #2 for 2 weeks 27. The End Of The World - Skeeter Davis – Peaked at #2 for 1 week 28. Wipe Out/Surfer Joe – The Surfaris – Peaked at #2 for 1 week 29. Blowin' In The Wind - Peter, Paul & Mary – Peaked at #2 for 1 week 30. (Tie) Washington Square – The Village Stompers – Peaked at #2 for 1 week 30. (Tie) Puff The Magic Dragon – Peter, Paul & Mary – Peaked at #2 for 1 week
Top 20 TV shows of 1963: 1. The Beverly Hillbillies – CBS 2. Bonanza – NBC 3. The Dick Van Dyke Show – CBS 4. Petticoat Junction – CBS 5. The Andy Griffith Show – CBS 6. The Lucy Show – CBS 7. Candid Camera – CBS 8. The Ed Sullivan Show – CBS 9. The Danny Thomas Show – CBS 10. My Favorite Martian - CBS 11. The Red Skelton Show – CBS 12. I’ve Got A Secret - CBS 13. Lassie - CBS 14. The Jack Benny Show – CBS 15. The Jackie Gleason Show - CBS 16. The Donna Reed Show - ABC 17. The Virginian - NBC 18. The Patty Duke Show – ABC 19. Dr. Kildare - NBC 20. Gunsmoke - CBS
Top 10 Biggest Grossing Films of 1963: 1. Cleopatra 2. It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 3. From Russia With Love 4. 8 ½ 5. Contempt 6. The Birds 7. Blood Feast 8. It Happened At The World’s Fair 9. The Nutty Professor 10. Fun in Acapulco Academy Award Winners for 1963: Best Picture Tom Jones Best Actor Sidney Poitier, Lilies of the Field Best Actress Patricia Neal, Hud Best Director Tony Richardson, Tom Jones Best Supporting Actor Melvyn Douglas, Hud Best Supporting Actress Margaret Rutherford, The V.I.P.s
Other Facts & Figures from 1963: President – John Fitzgerald Kennedy Vice President – Lyndon Baines Johnson President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX on 22 November and Johnson became President
College Football National Champion – Texas Longhorns NBA Championship – Boston Celtics win 4 games to 2 over the Los Angeles Lakers Superbowl – Chicago Bears 14 – New York Giants 10 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers win 4 games to 0 over the New York Yankees Heisman Trophy Winner – Roger Staubach, QB, Navy then signs with the Dallas Cowboys
Life expectancy – 69.9 years old US Population – 190,000,000 Minimum Hourly wage – $1.25
Cost of a new home: $19,300.00 Cost of a new car: $3,233.00 Cost of a new Hoover vacuum cleaner: $59.95 Cost of a Transistor radio: $40.00 (There was no stereo or FM stations in 1963) Cost of a Doctor’s Office visit: $5.00 Cost of a new pair of Tennis shoes: $5.00 Cost of a vinyl record album (33 1/3 rpm): $3.00 Cost of 2 dozen of oranges: $0.89 Cost of 1 pound of Lamb chops: $0.89 Cost of 1 pound of Kielbasa: $0.59 Cost of a dozen extra large eggs: $0.55 Cost of a movie ticket: $0.50 Cost of 1 pound of ground beef: $0.49 Cost of a gallon of Milk: $0.49 Cost of 1 dozen of sugared donuts: $0.49 Cost of 3 pounds of apples: $0.49 Cost of 1 frozen TV dinner: $0.39 Cost of 10 pounds of potatoes: $0.39 Cost of 1 box of Macaroni & Cheese dinner: $0.39 Cost of 1 gallon of regular gasoline: $0.30 Cost of 1 pound of Ham: $0.39 Cost of 2 pounds of onions: $0.29 Cost of 1 pound of sliced bacon: $0.29 Cost of a loaf of bread: $0.22 Cost of a Hamburger: $0.20 Cost of popcorn at a movie: $0.20 Cost of 1 pound of Bananas: $0.10 Cost of a weekday newspaper: $0.10 Cost of a soda/soft drink: $0.10 Cost of a candy bar: $0.05 Cost of 1 green pepper: $0.05 Cost of a 5-piece pack of chewing gum: $0.05 Cost of a first-class postage stamp: $0.05 price increase by $0.01 on 01/07/63
Best selling books of 1963: Fiction: The Shoes of the Fisherman - Morris West The Group - Mary McCarthy Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, and Seymour - J.D. Salinger Caravans - James A. Michener Elizabeth Appleton - John O'Hara Gradmother and the Priests - Taylor Caldwell City of Night - John Rechy The Glass-Blowers - Daphne Du Maurier The Sand Pebbles - Richard McKenna
Non Fiction: Happiness Is a Warm Puppy - Charles M. Schulz Security Is a Thumb and a Blanket - Charles M. Schulz J.F.K.:The Man and the Myth - Victor Lasky Profiles in Courage: Inaugural Edition - John F. Kennedy O Ye Jigs & Juleps! - Virginia Cary Hudson Better Homes and Gardens Bread Cook Book The Pillsbury Family Cookbook I Owe Russia $1200 - Bob Hope Heloise's Housekeeping Hints
Pulitzer Prize winner in Fiction: The Reivers – William Faulkner Pulitzer Prize winner in Non-Fiction: The Guns of August – Barbara W. Tuchman
Best Broadway Play of 1963: Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? – Edward Albee
Best Musical of 1963: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.
Well that about wraps up this time travel back to 1963, now its’ time to return to the present! Thanks for dropping by to read and rate and please feel free to leave any comments or just a quick note on what radio station or DJ from yesteryear not on the above list you can vividly remember? As always I hope everyone has a Safe and Wonderful Weekend and God Bless, Ron.
UPDATE: 02/15/08
I'm back - sort of. Thanks to everyone for your well wishes I'm back at about 80% or so and thought I would try to make a very slow transistion back here and to all the other places I like to visit my Great Friends at.
Now let me see, where was I, oh yeah I remember now. My personal opinion/epinion of this record is I love this record very, very much. I have it on CD and on cassette both and list to either one or both 2 or more times almost every month. I listen to it on cassette in my car, no CD player. I can listen on my small portable boom box at work on CD or cassette where I have a great set of stereo headphones. I use the old fashioned kind that has the huge cups to cover the entire outside of your ears. I needed a new set and couldn't believe it when I found a great one at Wal-Mart a month ago for only $14.00. My old set only one side was working anymore and I have had them for over 20 years so it was time for a new set.
The sound on this new pair of headsets/headphones is outstanding, possibly 10 times better then my old set had been at anytime? The earmuffs as I call them, are very comfortable and I can wear them for hours. I’ve tried all the new fancy ear buds, ear plugs and the kind that go onto your ears and in your ears and they are all very uncomfortable and I can’t wear them for more than 2 or 3 hours.
Some of those kinds even make me perspire around and in my ears but not my new pair. Anyway this new set makes this CD sound so good, crisp, clear, static free. I sometimes think I’m listening to the original 45’s brand new out of the record shop. As you can see above I gave this CD just 2 points short of a perfect, excellent score. My favorites on here are many to include, "He’s So Fine", "Sally Go Round The Roses" (don’t hear this hardly at all anymore), "It’s My Party", "Baby’s It’s You" all of which are sung by "All girl groups" and 2 others "Hey Paula" and "Denise". All of which are all very awesome sounding songs in my personal opinion but what do I know I try to live in the 60’s most of the time.
Speaking of the 60's if anyone has XM Satellite radio or DirecTV that has XM Satellite radio on it they have a fantastic 60’s channel. On my DirecTV it is channel 803, which I have on right now and the song playing is “Darling Be Home Soon” by “The Lovin’ Spoonful” another great 60’s song from 1967 followed quickly by “We Ain’t Got Nothing Yet” by “The Blues Magoos” also from 1967 if I remember correctly?
Thanks to all that took time to read my update and thanks again for all the nice emails over the months. God Bless and take care old friends, Ron.
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