for Sunday 16th July 1967
(plus Special Supplement of New UK releases Page 1, Page 2)

Scott McKenzie held this week's Fab Forty top spot, but it wasn't till July 29th that he found himself (alongside his quotable quote) on a full-colour Record Mirror front cover (left). He was obliged to share the cover space with the Bachelors, who definitely weren't into wearing flowers in their hair..

By that time, San Francisco was out of the FF, but standing at #3 in the Nationals.


Last
This
Presented by Chuck Blair
Week
Week
3
1
San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair) Scott McKenzie
1
2
All You Need Is Love/Baby You're a Rich Man (#) Beatles
8
3
Claire Paul & Barry Ryan
11
4
Annabella John Walker
6
5
Let's Pretend Lulu
9
6
I Was Made To Love Her Stevie Wonder
25
7
Tonight In Tokyo Sandie Shaw
37
8
Morning Dew Tim Rose
33
9
Death Of A Clown Dave Davies
26
10
She Shot A Hole In My Soul Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band
5
11
007 Desmond Dekker & the Aces
23
12
Up Up And Away Frank Ifield
28
13
Museum Herman's Hermits
30
14
Under My Thumb Who
36
15
Tallyman Jeff Beck
21
16
Cry Softly Lonely One Roy Orbison
40
17
Shake, Rattle And Roll Arthur Conley
7
18
To Love Somebody Bee Gees
29
19
Hi Hi Hazel Troggs
20
Gin House Amen Corner
27
21
I Can Make It With You Robb & Dean Douglas
2
22
Alternate Title Monkees
23
It's Got To Be A Great Song Tiffanies
34
24
Let Yourself Go James Brown & the Famous Flames
25
I'll Never Fall In Love Again Tom Jones
38
26
Bye Bye Baby Symbols
27
Creeque Alley Mamas & Papas
20
28
You Only Live Twice / Jackson Nancy Sinatra
29
Trying To Forget Jim Reeves
31
30
Mum And Dad Pinkerton's Colours
31
A Little Piece Of Leather Gene Latter
35
32
Polly Pan Roger Bloom's Hammer
33
Ciao Baby Lynne Randell
34
The Time Has Come P P Arnold
35
Times Were When Studio Six
36
My Lady Jet Harris
37
Let It Happen James Carr
39
38
Reflections Of Charles Brown Rupert's People
39
Stay With Me Sharon Tandy
40
I Take What I Want James & Bobby Purify

(#) #2 – Brian Long continues to list Baby You're a Rich Man alongside All You Need Is Love, although starting this week Hans Peters no longer does.

39
38
Reflections Of Charles Brown Rupert's People Columbia DB 8226

In mid-1967, a single that played for over three minutes was still considered noteworthy. A contemporary reviewer of Reflections of Charles Brown remarked, "A four minute-plus track with a reflective lyric and Procol-type organ. It's a disc that you really ought to hear because it's good." Nowadays, a prsitine copy is considered good enough to command a price tag of around £45, while the other Rupert's People singles can fetch even more.

The exceedingly complex history of the band that was named after a cartoon character, but forever-doomed to have its debut single compared to Procol Harum, is here. However, Paul Gurvitz, founder of the Knack, tells his own, slightly different version of the story. Paul and his brother Adrian performed as members of the group that promoted Reflections Of Charles Brown, after the band that had made the recording, Fleur de Lys, fell out with their manager. The Gurvitz brothers line-up of Rupert's People played only a handful of live shows before another falling-out took place and Sweet Feeling then took over the name and the promotion. (The final version of the Knack was still going at the time, shortly before Paul disbanded it to form Gun.)

There is a 16-track CD, The Magic World of Rupert's People, athough only three singles were released under that band name. It includes Rod Lynton's original composition Charles Brown – the song that was to become the basis for Reflections of Charles Brown. The collection is padded out with material recorded at a 1999 reunion concert.

Rupert Bear was already famous as he had appeared in a Daily Express cartoon strip since 1920. In the Eighties, the ageless Rupert appeared in Paul McCartney music videos and he continues to thrive in the 21st Century.

An edited version of Reflections of Charles Brown is here. (Presumably the song was deemed too long for plays on North American radio.) Perhaps surprisingly, it became a Top Ten local hit in Vancouver, reaching #7 on the CKLG Boss 30 dated November 11th 1967.


33
Ciao Baby Lynne Randell CBS 2847

Like Normie Rowe (see Fab Forty 230467) and Johnny Young, Lynne Randell was a huge Sixties star in Australia, but remained virtually unknown in the UK. A Liverpudlian whose family emigrated to Melbourne, Lynne's musical talents were spotted by DJ Stan 'the Man' Rolfe, who had also discovered Normie Rowe. Between 1965 and 1968 Lynne, nicknamed 'Little Miss Mod', became Australia's most popular female performer. Ciao Baby (penned by Larry Weiss and Scott English) was her biggest Down Under hit and from available information, seems to have enhanced local Top Tens in every city except Sydney. In the USA, the single found regional success, but didn't make the Hot Hundred.

Unfortunately for Lynne, she lost sales to the Montanas' version of the song, which also fared well in Oz. It had already spent time in the Big L Fab Forty, entering the top ten on 26/03/67. For one week only, 19/03/67, the Montanas had shared the number 31 slot with the Toys' very different take on Ciao Baby. Numerous versions of the song have since been recorded around the world.

Lynne married Abe Hoch, an executive for Atlantic and Motown Records. She lived for a while in America and spent some time in the UK, but eventually returned to Melbourne.

Tragically, Lynne became addicted to slimming pills which seriously impaired her health. She died on 8 June 2007. She must have felt proud to know that a mint-condition copy of the UK release of Ciao Baby commanded an amazing price tag of around £200.

(Click on the book cover for a link to information about the Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide)

Read full biographies of both Lynne, Johnny Young and Normie Rowe on milesago.com, 'The #1 website for Australasian music and popular culture 1964-1975'.

Chart info for Ciao Baby at poparchives.com.au ; GoSet Australian magazine cover, 13th April 1966, courtesy of Barry McKay at Poparchives

Aboard the Galaxy this week:

July 18th
Peelie
's Perfumed Garden contained the launch of a Poet Laureate Poll, where listeners were asked to nominate the poet to replace Laureate John Masefield, who had held the post for 37 years, until his death on May 12th. (Masefield's 'Sea Fever' with its line, "I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life," although written around 1900, could have been an anthem for offshore radio.) John also launched a somewhat Pythonesque 'non-contest' where anyone who entered received automatic disqualification. Very silly indeed!

19th
Mike Lennox, was unimpressed by the 'flower power' of the Perfumed Garden and during his early-evening show, criticised Peel's popular programme and its hippy philosophies.

Promoting their Radio London Album of the Week, Jigsaw, Hank Marvin and John Rostill of the Shadows guested on Cardboard Shoes' Coffee Break, while Chuck Blair attempted to confuse Skues by tampering with the studio clock.

20th
More Coffee Break guests for Cardboard Shoes. This time it was Sam and Bill, whose single I Feel Like Cryin' (Brunswick 05973) was on the Big L 'Soul Set' playlist for the third week running.

Sam was Sam Davis Jnr, from Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Bill was Bill Johnson, from Augusta, Georgia.

The track (penned by Jesse Wilson) appeared on Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures Volume 1, released in 2001.

Ashore

July 16th
Tony Blackburn had officially left the Galaxy, but like many other former Big L DJs, continued to make personal appearances on behalf of Radio London. On July 16th, with Marshall Mike Lennox, Cardboard Shoes and Stewpot, he took part in a 'Stars Race' at the Ipswich Stadium Spedeworth Stock Car meeting. 'Star' competition was provided by Jeff Beck, John Walker and other celebs of the day, but Tony Blackburn won! (See racing feature for photos.)

July 22nd
Headlining the Move and the Pretty Things, Free The Pirates was a concert sponsored by Radio Caroline to protest at the Government's attempts to silence and criminalise the offshore radio stations with the impending Marine Offences Act. Staged at at London's Alexandra Palace, a highlight of the show was Carl Wayne chopping-up a lifesize effigy of Prime Minister Harold Wilson with an axe.

DJ Climbers:    
Step Out Of Your Mind American Breed Chuck Blair
Stay In My World Mary Langley Tony Brandon
Suddenly Things/Tomorrow Is Another Day#* Ivy League Ian Damon
Mercy Mercy Mercy Buckinghams Pete Drummond
Things Get Better Eddie Floyd Paul Kaye
Go On Home Julie Rogers Mike Lennox
Tiny Goddess Nirvana John Peel
Sticks And Stones Warm Sounds Mark Roman
My Mammy Happenings Keith Skues
Green Street Green New Vaudeville Band Ed Stewart
Excerpt From A Teenage Opera Keith West Tommy Vance
The Greatest Love Billy Joe Royal Willy Walker

Ian Damon's climber: Tomorrow Is Another Day#
Brian Long's Curzon Street list credits both sides of the Ivy League's new release. However, Suddenly Things was the only side played during the Fab 40 show and Tomorrow Is Another Day was dropped the following week when the record entered the chart.

Stay In My World Mary Langley CBS 2862

Mary had previously appeared in the Fab for March 13th, '66, under the name of Perpetual Langley, with a climber, We Wanna Stay Home. Siblings Gerry and Mary Langley had already issued two singles in '64 and '65 as Belfast folk duo, The Langleys. Gerry also played with the Matadors showband and other Irish bands. Gerry and Mary both went on to pursue solo careers. Mary issued four singles, two in '66 as Perpetual and two in '67 as Mary. Very sadly, Mary died in 1988, aged only 38. Gerry, who released two solo singles became a successful songwriter and runs his own music publishing company. One of his songs, Anonymous Mr Brown, co-written with Jimmy Stewart appeared in the Fab Forty two weeks ago, 02/07/67.

Two By Two, the B-side of the second 'Perpetual' single, issued in May '66, is on a 22-track RPM compilation, Dream Babes Vol. 3 - Backcomb 'n' Beat (RPM233). Full track listing here.

Says the RPM website:
"Many of these tracks are highly collectable and 75% of the compilation has never been reissued. Plus bonus: Radio London ad spots by Perpetual Langley."

Unfortunately, in the clip the company has used as an example, Perpetual is giving her thanks to Dave Lee Travis and Radio Caroline, so exactly what 'Radio London ad spots' appear on the CD, is unknown.

Excerpt From A Teenage Opera Keith West Parlophone R5623

Steve 'Grocer Jack' Garlick's first taste of stardom – oh and of course, Keith West's too!

Steve became an even bigger star on Mark Wirtz's Teenage Opera follow-up, Sam, where he sang the solo. Had Big L still been around to play it, the single could have been another smash.

Keith West in 1997
Keith and his then-current choir performed the song about the cardiac-impaired small-scale foodstuff retailer during the Summer of Love Party at the end of the Big L '97 28-day broadcast. Here, he indicates where the good grocer is now residing.
Steve Garlick, one of the Teenage Opera's heavenly choirboys, appeared as a DJ thirty years later during the Radio London 97/98 28-day RSL broadcast from St Katharine's Dock.

Besides climbers that were played at the time of the broadcast of the Sunday Fab Forty, Alan kept a note of others he heard later in the week and incorporated them into his list. A new 'Exclusive' category is added this week, especially for the Monkees' new release.

Climbers:  
King Of The World Quik
Come And Play With Me In The Garden John's Children
The Same Thing's Happened To Me Brian Connell & Round Sound
Exclusive:  
Pleasant Valley Sunday/Words#* Monkees
Disc of the Week:  
A Bad Night Cat Stevens
Album of the Week:  
Jigsaw Shadows

Exclusive: Words#
Brian Long's Curzon Street list credits both sides of the Monkees' new release. However, Pleasant Valley Sunday was the only side played on the Fab 40 show and Words was dropped the following week when the record entered the chart.

A contemporary reviewer of the Radio London Club Disc of the Week - which was a far cry from previous Cat Stevens offerings, wrote:

"It's almost impossible to describe this disc. There's everything in it but the kitchen sink and I wouldn't be surprised if that's there, too! It opens quietly as an orthodox medium-pacer, with just guitar accompaniment but the backing builds rapidly until it's completely shattering. Just when you think you've heard it all, there's a tempo break and it shoots off at a totally different tangent in a sort of 'It's Not Unusual' rhythm. There's xylophone, bells, strings, brass... the lot, plus Cat mainly in dual-track. Not much tune I'm afraid, but who notices, when there's so much going on? And dig the crazy fade-out."

Ballad Box:
Spanish Harlem Sands Of Time
More And More Andy Williams
Now I Know Jack Jones
It Must Be Him Vikki Carr
Inch'Allah (God Willing) Adamo
Smile Rockin' Berries
Smother Me With Moondust And Elusive Strawberries Mike & Bernie Winters
When The World Is Ready Vince Hill

Sands Of Time's version of Ben E. King's 1961 smash Spanish Harlem has held its BB space since June 11th. Newbies are Adamo, Vince Hill, Jack Jones, Andy Williams, the Rockin' Berries and a strangely-titled track from comedians Mike and Bernie Winters. They were undoubtedly on the North Sea themselves in July '67, playing a summer season at the end of a pier.

His name may be unfamiliar in the UK, but Sicilian-born singer, songwriter and poet Salvatore Adamo has released recordings in nine languages and sold a staggering 85 million records world-wide. Adamo was born in Sicily and brought up in Belgium. He describes himself as 'Belgian at heart' but says he feels equally at home in France, where he has enjoyed a hugely-successful recording career since the early Sixties. Read Adamo's biography on his personal website, where you can also find the French-language lyrics to Inch'Allah.

Tramp remains in the The Soul Set for the fourth week running. Although Ballad Box and Soul Set listings are incomplete, we do know that Shake first appeared in the week of June 11th. This was an impressively long run on the Big L playlist for Otis, almost matched by Tramp, his duet with Carla Thomas. This week's newcomers are Donnie Elbert, Soloman Burke and Paul Kelly.

Soul Set:
Tramp Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
I Feel Like Cryin' Sam & Bill
Take Me (Just As I Am) Solomon Burke
Get Ready Donnie Elbert
Shake Otis Redding
Sweet Sweet Lovin' Paul Kelly

'Monty's Diary' (See Fab Forty for 010167) confirms two titles from Brian Long's Curzon Street list: Words (the B side of the "Exclusive", Pleasant Valley Sunday by the Monkees)
and Tomorrow Is Another Day (the B side of Ian Damon's Climber, Suddenly Things by the Ivy League).

Alan Field did not hear records sourced from Monty's Diary played or announced as climbers.

Tune in next week for another Field's Fab Forty
This week's Radio 270 'Top Forty' on the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame is here


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