It's time once again to hop in the old jalop
and go Cruisin' thru top 40 radio history.
This is the blog series
that pays tribute to
the Cruisin' albums,
those simulated radio
broadcasts hosted by
some of the greatest
top 40 deejays of
the 50s and 60s.
that pays tribute to
the Cruisin' albums,
those simulated radio
broadcasts hosted by
some of the greatest
top 40 deejays of
the 50s and 60s.
As I have done in the past,
I will play five songs that
were included on the
original Cruisin' album,
plus another record
that was popular
the same year.
To transport us back in
time, set the mood and
create a party atmosphere,
I tacked up on the wall
these nostalgic vintage
soda pop print ads.
time, set the mood and
create a party atmosphere,
I tacked up on the wall
these nostalgic vintage
soda pop print ads.
The year is 1962 and we're we're going
Cruisin' deep in the heart of Texas -
Dallas to be exact.
That's where we meet...
RUSS "WEIRD BEARD" KNIGHT
"the Savior of Dallas radio"
on radio station KLIF.
Listen to this brief show intro to get Russ Knight's voice stuck in your head:
This first record actually peaked
around Christmas 1961, but Russ
Knight played it on Cruisin' 1962.
It's the biggest hit for Philly-born
singer and actor James Darren
whose film credits include the
1960 movie Because They're
Young starring Dick Clark
and the ongoing role of
"Moondoggie," Gidget's
boyfriend, in a string of
Gidget flicks. On the small
screen, Darren was one of
the stars of the police
drama T.J. Hooker.
Here's James Darren landing in the top 3 winner's circle
singing the biggest hit of his career- "Goodbye Cruel World."
"Goodbye Cruel World" - James Darren
(Dec. 1961, highest chart pos. #2 Cash Box/#3 Hot 100)
The duo of Don Gardner of Philly and
Dee Dee Ford of Newark, NJ, scored
their only hit in 1962 with the R&B
song "I Need Your Lovin'." At a time
when records played on top 40 radio
rarely ran as long as 3 minutes, the
Gardner-Ford single ran 5:45 and
was divided into two parts. Most
stations played only the second
segment. The record also has a
false ending. It fades to silence
only to have Don start shouting
and singing again.
This feature was inspired by gospel singers of the period
who pushed beyond the supposed end of songs, implying
that they were filled with Holy Spirit and couldn't stop.
Here now are Don & Dee Dee singing the full length
version of their top 5 R&B hit "I Need Your Lovin'."
"I Need Your Lovin'" - Don Gardner And Dee Dee Ford
(July/Aug. 1962, highest cht. pos. #4 R&B/#16 Cash Box/#20 Hot 100)
Here's another record by a Philadelphia
act that was included on Russ Knight's
playlist at KLIF Dallas. It's by a doo-
wop group called The Sensations.
The act enjoyed a few earlier hits
on the R&B chart before breaking
through to crossover success with
"Let Me In," a single that peaked
in the top 5 on the pop surveys.
"Let Me In" - The Sensations
(Mar. 1962, highest chart pos.
#2 R&B/#3 Cash Box/#4 Hot 100)
Texas native Barbara Lynn was not the typical female recording artist of 1962.
The African American R&B singer wrote most of her own songs and, as a
left-handed guitarist, played a lead instrument and fronted an all-girl band.
Barbara released one single, "Dina And Patrina," on a tiny local label
before hitting big with the bluesy ballad "You'll Lose A Good Thing"
which topped the R&B chart and went top 10 pop.
"You'll Lose A Good Thing" - Barbara Lynn
(Aug. 1962, highest chart pos. #1 R&B/#4 Cash Box/#8 Hot 100)
On Russ Knight's 1962 Cruisin' show,
the booth announcer introduces this
next record with the words: "Here is
this Knight's bulls-eye!" It's another
Texas artist, rock 'n' roll singer and
songwriter Bruce Channel, with his
breakthrough hit, the million selling
chart-topper "Hey! Baby."
"Hey! Baby" - Bruce Channel
(Mar. 1962, highest chart pos.
#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box/#2 R&B)
#1 Hot 100 & Cash Box/#2 R&B)
Last but not least, here's the only song
in this post that was not on the original
vinyl album Cruisin' 1962. It's a solo hit
by swaggering singer, songwriter and
pop idol Dion DiMucci, formerly of the
Dion & The Belmonts, a song he wrote
called "Little Diane." The single, which
features The Del-Satins on backing -
doo-wop harmonies, reached the
top 10 in the summer of '62.
"Little Diane" - Dion
(Aug. 1962, highest chart pos.
#8 Hot 100/#14 Cash Box)
#8 Hot 100/#14 Cash Box)
Don't miss the next thrill packed
episode of Cruisin' coming soon!
Have a Shady day!
Hello Tom,
ReplyDelete1962 was so long ago and yet seems like only yesterday. I was an infant the first six months but "Goodbye Cruel World" came out the month and year I was born, December 1961. Although I do not remember the song from my youth, I was introduced to it many years ago. "Hey Baby" I do recall from my youth but I'm not sure if it was the original or a cover. Your all in-between songs are newly introduced tunes. The years evaporate but thankfully good music never fades away. Thanks for the musical flashback in time, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for hopping over right away to take the Early Bird prize, dear friend!
Isn't it remarkable that James Darren's signature song was popular at the time you were born? I remember singing that song with my cousin Donny in 1962. He had a copy of the record at his house and we played it often when I visited. It was a favorite of ours.
Some oldies are heard more often in recent decades than others. "Hey! Baby" is one of them. It was also covered by several artists including Anne Murray, Paul & Paula, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, Juice Newton and Alabama. Perhaps you heard one of those versions in your younger years.
I'm happy to know you remember a couple of the songs and had a chance to learn several new ones today. Every song in this 1962 volume of the series was a major hit at the time and worth remembering.
Thanks again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Cathy. Enjoy your day and have a wonderful week!
Tom,
DeleteI think I remember Jerry Lee Lewis' cover of "Hey Baby". That's interesting that Alabama also did a cover. I meant to do a little digging on this one but have been up to my eye balls with my A2Z illustration recreations. There's no way I'll be done come April 1st but I'm not going to sweat it and just go with it. Thanks for being so supportive, dear friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for reporting back in, dear friend! Yessum, "Hey! Baby" has been covered by a variety of artists from easy listening Canadian singer Anne Murray and teen poppers Paul & Paula to rowdy rock & roller Jerry Lee.
You are a dear friend for wanting to do added research into artists I present or mention here, but I want you to feel free to use your time to generate A to Z content. That needs to be your top priority right now. I hate for you to be feeling pressure when the whole A to Z exercise is meant to be fun and educational and a way for friends to show love and support. You know how much I enjoy looking at your artwork, whether it's brand new or a piece from the past brought back with enhancement of some sort. Heck, if you need sketches to fill out the entire month, just show us some of your favorite (or reader favorite) color drawings from past challenges, such as Looney Tunes or Little Mermaid, or favorites from the Rain Date feature. That would be interesting to me.
Have a wonderful day, dear friend Cathy!
Only the last two sounded even vaguely familiar to me, though I know I was listening to plenty of my sister's records that year. Hard to believe that was 60 years ago!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteThanks for being the Early Bird runner-up, dear friend! Welcome to Russ "Weird Beard" Knight's 1962 platter party on Dallas radio station KLIF.
As I told friend Cathy (above), some oldies are played more often in modern times than others. Even though these were all major hits in 1961/1962, some are commonly found on millennial oldies CD compilations and payed on oldies stations, while a couple of the others on Russ K's play list are not heard nearly as often.
Yessum, 1962 is 60 years ago now, hard for any of us to believe. Thanks for reminding me that your big sister introduced many songs to you at a very early age via her record collection. My big brother did the same for me.
Thanks again for dropping by, dear friend Kelly. I wish you and my buddy Pat a safe and happy week ahead!
All before my time, but everything had a certain innocence to it back then. Liked the vintage ads as well.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteHappy to have you over, good buddy, and you grab the bronze this week! Thanks for being here to check out the tuneage served up by Dallas top 40 DJ Russ Knight (no relation to Shady).
Yes, good buddy, I have a growing fondness for these pre-Beatles years because they were indeed the Age of Innocence. Along with the songs, the soda ads remind us of the way we were, or at least the way Madison Avenue depicted us.
Thanks again for coming, good buddy Alex!
Love those ads for coke...to pop not the drug:)). These are some great songs which, some are new to me. I enjoyed the Darren hit and forgot he was in the PBS venture TJ Hooker..nyuck, nyuck. It is so far away from PBS but it was fun to watch. I also enjoyed the new one, to me, by the duo team of Don and Dee Dee. Let Me in is a song I enjoyed and have not heard of in a long time.
ReplyDeleteThe girl who could play guitar is new to me as well but she sounds so interesting. I have to look her up.
Hey, Baby is quite famous and love his clean cut image. I also enjoyed the last song which was a nice way to end. Oh and the announcer was pretty cool to listen to. They don't sound like that any more. Have a beautiful day and....you are the 4th (hubby, brother and Janet's Smiles) to know that it sounds like I have a job!!! I have not signed anything which should come tomorrow but I will be working as a counsellor for a bankruptcy trustee. I am so happy about this but I am not going to jump over the moon until I have signed the document.
Hi, Birgit!
DeleteI am thrilled to have you here as a First Day Fanny, dear friend! Thanks for coming to Russ Knight's 1962 platter party!
I'm glad you liked the soda pop ads that I tacked up on the walls on this special occasion. I'm pleased that you remember the early 1980s TV police drama T.J. Hooker starring Bill Shatner who was trying to shed his Captain Kirk stereotype. This was around 15 years before he became famous all over again as Denny Crane, and light years before he returned to space (for real this time). As I'm sure you recall, Heather Locklear co-starred on T.J. Hooker.
I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the churchified, soul shouting R&B hit "I Need Your Lovin'" by Don and Dee Dee. Don Gardner's solo single "My Baby Likes To Boogaloo" is #1 on my list of "The Most Exciting Records Ever Made" which I posted several years ago. "Let Me In" by the Philadelphia-based doo-wop group The Sensations was a biggie in my neck of the woods.
Yessum, by all means look up Barbara Lynn. There are videos of her back in the day performing her sig song "You'll Lose A Good Thing" while playing her guitar. She was quite talented, a unique female performer by early 60s standards. It seems like most readers who comment are going to tell me they know "Hey! Baby" better than any of the other songs in Russ Knight's lineup. I'm glad you liked Dion's ditty about "Little Diane."
Yessum, Russ "The Weird Beard" Knight and other DJs on the Cruisin' record album series remind us how quirky radio personalities were and how gimmicky the top 40 format often was in the 50s and 60s, but it was great fun and I'm thankful that I was coming of age and tuning in during those glory years.
Oh, BB - that's great news! I hope you will sign on the dotted line tamale and have fun getting started on the next phase of your career. It sounds like the ideal job for you. Congratulations, dear friend, and thank you for telling me about it. I am honored!
I also thank you again for making time for a visit on day one and for leaving such a detailed comment. I appreciate it so much. Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll be seeing you soon, dear friend BB!
Well my friend I have to say I only know one of these songs, Hey Baby, but it is one of my favorites and you can find me dancing to it in the studio when it shows up in my iTunes playlist. I think "Cruisin" might be a good one for my letter C, don't you? That used to be a thing when I was in high school, cruising the El Camino, although I didn't do it with my hubby. Once again, have a great week.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet!
DeleteI'm delighted to see you, dear friend! Thanks for hopping in the old jalop and going Cruisin' back to '62 with "the Savior of Dallas Radio" - DJ Russ Knight on KLIF.
Yessum, everybody's telling me the same thing, that "Hey! Baby" is the only song they remember or know. That's surprising because, to me, are of the songs Russ played were giant hits of the period and all part of the soundtrack of my Central PA youth.
Hey, that's right, Janet. You can use Cruisin' as your "C" prompt and you and your hubby can take us along on a scenic car trip that was particularly memorable for you. Good thinking! You were lucky to have an El Camino for cruisin'. When I first started driving I was low on the prestige ladder behind the wheel of my dad's VW Beetle. However, a couple of years later, I was driving his Plymouth Satellite which was a nice car, and after that I owned a Plymouth Duster with the bright neon "sassy grass" colored paint job, and then a yellow Fiat 850 sport Spider, a red Toyota Celica that was pretty nice, and a jet black Honda CRX-si which was the coolest of all.
Thanks again for making time for a visit and comment, dear friend Janet!
I may not remember a lot in my childhood but those Coke postcards surely took me down memory lane. Love it! Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteHi, Lux!
DeleteMy goodness, dear friend, I'm delighted to see you! Thanks for coming and welcome to Shady's Place Music & Memories. It seems like years since we last connected, perhaps not since I retired my old blog and launched this one. I'm so glad you found me and reached out.
Yessum, these vintage soft drink print ads give us a glimpse of how young people dressed and the things they did for fun and recreation decades before the internet came along. It's important to remember what life was like back then.
Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Lux. Please consider this an open invitation to return to Shady's Place soon. Take care and have a happy and prosperous 2022!
Of all the hit songs, the one my ears recognize is "Hey, Baby", though probably not Bruce Channel's version. In fact, if you had not indicated that the song originated with him, I'd think it was a purposely subdued cover version of a raucous original. Now I see it's the other way around.
ReplyDeleteMy EYES recognized the name of Dion's "Little Diane", but my ears didn't. Maybe I just read about the song somewhere.
DJ's of the day may not have liked it, but I bet John Gardener's and Dee Dee Ford's false ending worked great in a live setting. It's not quite the same thing, but I'm reminded of James Brown on The T.A.M.I Show pretending a song was over, walking away supposedly exhausted with a cape over his shoulder, and then coming back energized to finish the song. I believed James had been exposed to gospel growing up.
As for James Darren, "Goodbye, Cruel World" may be his greatest hit, but I prefer him as the holographic crooner Vic Fontaine on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
That's all I got.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for tuning in KLIF Dallas and catching Russ Knight's 1962 patter parade, good buddy!
Bingo! You and all the others single out "Hey! Baby" as the song you immediately recognize. Bruce Channel's original is the only version I've ever known, and therefore you have me stumped trying to guess which artist you are thinking of that covered it. Was it Anne Murray, Paul & Paula, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, Juice Newton, Alabama or someone else? I can't imagine who could top the original.
The soul shouting single by Don Gardner & Dee Ford goes on a surpsigingly long list of hit records that have false endings. I immediately thought of "Keep On Dancing" by The Gentrys as the classic example. Others I found just now include "Strawberry Fields Forever," the song written by John Lennon and recorded by The Beatles. Songfacts notes that << The fake ending drove DJs nuts because it created the dreaded "dead air." >> The Beatles' "Helter Skelter" song also belongs on the list. Other examples include "No Matter What" by Badfinger, "Let Me" by Paul Revere And The Raiders, "Help Me Rhonda" by The Beach Boys and "Question" by The Moody Blues.
I remember James Darren hosting a TV dating game type show. I think it was in the early to mid 80s time frame, but I can never find it when I try to look it up. Can you help me, good buddy?
Thanks again for your visit and great comments, good buddy Kirk, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Afraid I don't know that game show you're talking about. Any chance you have him confused with Chuck Woolery who hosted Love Connection?
DeleteHi, Kirk!
DeleteNo, I am not confusing James with Chuck. As I recall, the show didn't even take place in a studio. It was outdoors, perhaps filmed at a resort. I wish I could find it. I've been searching for years with no luck. Thanks for taking time to offer a suggestion, good buddy!
Hi Shady! This post had me thinking about heading to A&W Rootbeer stand that just opened for the season last week. Cars were in line out into the road. The Rootbeer stand opening means Spring is on it's way I guess! It's no "Dog 'n Suds" from my teen years but it will do! I was about 9 when these songs came out but they played years after and I remembered most. Just a few were new to me. "Hey Baby" became pretty popular again after "Dirty Dancing" came out. Russ Knight put me in mind of Wolfman Jack. Nice voice! James Darren was such a cutie and I loved, and still love, watching him in the Gidget movies. Posing with a cigarette these days would be a big Bozo No No! I hope all's well down south. We're getting snow again but I'm OK with it because I know those warm days are ahead! Have a good rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThanks for coming by and tuning in to top 40 DJ Russ Knight, "the Savior of Dallas Radio" in the year 1962. Yessum, now that you mention it, Russ did have a voice and personality that bring to mind another radio great, Wolfman Jack.
I'm happy to learn that the A & W Rootbeer stand in your town is open for beeswax, signaling the coming of spring. I hope you and Jack can swing by often during the warm weather seasons and pretend you are back at the Dog 'n Suds as teenagers.
Yessum, these 1962 oldies will test your memory a bit, but most have remained popular and have been played often through the years. If you lived in my neck of the woods, Central PA, the Philadelphia and New Jersey artists were very popular and remain so today. I think you hit the nail on the head and explained why everybody remembers "Hey! Baby." It's because the song is in the soundtrack of the hit movie Dirty Dancing. That movie is responsible for introducing younger generations to many boomer classics.
I'm glad you have fond memories of James Darren from the Gidget movies. I remember him from the movies Rumble On The Docks, The Gene Krupa Story, Because They're Young (the movie that has Dick Clark playing a high school teacher), For Those Who Think Young and The Lively Set. On TV, I watched James in Time Tunnel, Love American Style, Fantasy Island, T.J. Hooker, Melrose Place and a dating game type show that he hosted which I can never find but remember watching. Wanna feel old? Baby faced James Darren will soon turn age 86!
Yessum, snow won't last long in your neck of the woods now that we're approaching mid March. Be patient.
Thanks again for your visit and kind comment, dear friend YaYa, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Russ Knight had a great voice.
ReplyDeleteI knew James Darren could sing because of seeing him as Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. But I also remember him from T.J. Hooker.
I recognized Hey! Baby by Bruce Channel because my grandma used to play this song at times. I think I probably heard a lot of older music because of her.
I didn't recognize any of the other songs but they are good.
Hi, Mary!
DeleteI'm pleased to see you, dear friend! Thanks for checking out Russ Knight's 1962 radio broacast on KLIF (and simulcast on SPMM). I'm glad you agree that Russ had a great DJ voice. It's easy to understand why he was dubbed "the Savior of Dallas Radio."
You are the second friend to tell me they watched James Darren on Deep Space Nine. I didn't watch that series and didn't know that he sang on it. Yessum, "Hey! Baby" is the big hit that all the readers seem to know better than the other songs. Thanks for sharing that your grandma introduced you to it and other oldies at an early age. I'm delighted that you enjoyed the new to you tuneage as well as the familiar songs.
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Mary. Please take good care of yourself and my buddy Falcor and I'll see you soon!
Hey Shady!
ReplyDeleteI loved Cruisin' 1962! I'm not familiar with any of these songs, and I enjoyed listening to them. I think as I work on scrapbooking for the rest of this week, I may have to cruise '62 as I cut, draw, and create.
Have a great evening, dear friend.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteWelcome back in to Shady's place, dear friend! 1962 was light years before you were born, but I'm glad you enjoyed Cruisin' back to that year and sampling the sounds that were hot on top 40 radio stations.
Yessum, "whistle while you work," as they say, and while you're at it, whistle to these golden goodies from Russ Knight's 1962 play list. You might find an earworm or two that become new favorites.
Thanks again for dropping by, dear friend JM, and enjoy the rest of your week!