Cruisin' 1962 with "The Weird Beard" - Russ Knight!

 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.

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.

 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)

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)

 Don't miss the next thrill packed 

 episode of Cruisin' coming soon! 

Have a Shady day!