It Was 56 Years Ago Today...

Some sweet finds from the March 11, 1967 issue of Billboard

While the above photo has nothing to do with the rest of this post, I wanted to start by wishing all you Jagged Time Lapse readers a happy Dock Ellis Day. I don’t write much about baseball here, but Dock was/is one of my all-time favorite MLB players and a major source of inspiration, and he would have turned 78 today if cirrhosis of the liver hadn’t gotten him back in 2008. He was also a big music fan, and I’ve always loved this 1977 photo of him with Chuck Mangione. (It must be said that Dock’s fluegelhorn form looks way more “pro” than Chuck’s wearing of Dock’s mitt on the wrong hand…)

Also, the results of the first-ever Jagged Time Lapse paid subscribers poll are in, and 32% of you sick fucks would apparently rather read about a bar fight than any of the four more wholesome options that were offered. I can’t blame you — I probably would have voted that way, myself — and I should have that story ready for your reading enjoyment by tomorrow or Monday. My thanks to all of you who voted, and of course to all of you who subscribe to this Substack, paid or otherwise. I really appreciate you and your support!

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And now, on to our main attraction. The researching of a piece I’ve been writing on Nino Tempo & April Stevens’ oddly drug-tinged All Strung Out LP for a forthcoming project led me to the March 11, 1967 issue of Billboard, which is absolutely loaded with good stuff — not least of which is this eye-catching ad for the new (and ultimately short-lived) labels started by former Sunny & Cher and Buffalo Springfield managers Charlie Green and Brian Stone. (That single by The Poor is a real banger, btw.)

“At the Zoo” is one of my all-time favorite Simon & Garfunkel singles, but I’ve always had a hard time imagining Paul Simon actually signing off on this illustration, which was also used for the single’s picture sleeve. Because everything I know about Paul Simon makes me think he would have been really bummed out by it.

Sure didn’t expect to see a full-page ad for psychedelic weirdos The Id, but I guess RCA was willing to sink that some of that never-ending supply of Elvis money into touting their new “switched-on” signing.

Double soul gold from Stax above… and triple soul gold from Motown below.

Serious heat on the Jazz Albums chart. Check out the great Gabor Szabo at #2!

Cute ad with Frank and Nancy… and I really love the phrase “single chart imperative”.

I also didn’t expect to see a full-page ad for a Question Mark single that wasn’t “96 Tears” — and especially not one that really captures the excitement of the Mysterians experience!

On the other hand, this Dusty Springfield ad — a riff on the old Avis Rent-a-Car campaigns — is a pretty lousy way to push one of the most smoothly soulful voices of the era. “Dusty always tries harder”?!? That hand may as well be extending its middle finger.

I never need to hear Spyder Turner’s gimmicky version of “Stand By Me” again, but otherwise this Top 25 R&B singles list is pretty bulletproof. And “Bring It Up” may well be my favorite James Brown single of all time.

A short news item on what would turn out to be a fairly significant turning point in Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys’ relationship with Capitol, and their career in general. No idea whatever became of Nancy’s lawsuit, however.

This photo of Lou Christie ran with an article in which Lugee complains that it’s hard to find other artists who will cover his songs, because he and Twyla Herbert compose them specifically to fit his four-octave vocal range. (Okay, show-off!) Note the presence here of scam artist and human shitbag Stan Polley, whose flagrant financial malfeasance would later cause two members of his clients Badfinger to kill themselves.

Back to happier subjects: Whole lotta Herb in the Top 25 albums charts this week, and you know that’s all right with me!

For all my fairly extensive knowledge of vintage guitars and gear, I was never aware until now that Decca Records had attempted to get into the guitar market. These models look destined to head straight for the pawn shop.

There are numerous ads for pinball machines and arcade games in this issue, this one being the absolute coolest. Action! Action! MORE ACTION!

The Top 25 pop singles of the week are mostly pretty impressive as well, give or take the rapid ascension of notorious thrift store bin-clogger Ed Ames.

And finally, here’s a very classy ad for a very sweet-looking Rock-Ola jukebox. Wonder how that “tube-type” amplifier actually sounded…

That’s all for now, folks. Have yourselves a very funky weekend!

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