Mr. Pop History -
Back in April of 1976, four members of the Jackson 5 sued Motown records, seeking a Superior Court judgment granting termination of any contractual responsibilities to the label and an accounting on alleged royalties due them.
The four were Tariano, Sigmund, Esco, Marlon and Michael Jackson. The suit asked the court to order Motown to allow their accountants to audit Motown books covering royalty statements from 1972 to the present (1976).
I’m not the biggest fan of the way TV and movies are primarily shot these days. There’s way too much jiggling of the camera – up, down and sideways. That’s because, thanks to MTV – it seems our attention span is much less. So, when we see a simple shot like standing in one place,talking – we see the camera jerking – left – right, right-left, up-down, sideways – you name it. YIKESSS!!!
And, it’s everywhere now. TV, movies, commercials. Separately – another trend – I especially “love” the sideshot of somebody talking into another camera.
That’s another great effect – to keep our attention. You know what it really is? Fill. Just fill. A boring commercial or interview – but it needs this.
My-my what has it all come to.
Back to the subject – the first TV show to use this type of jiggling shoulder-camera effect (thank goodness it quickly went away) was the 1970′s ABC-TV series “Kolchak The Night Stalker” starring Darren McGavin. Yes, the 1970′s – way before MTV. But, on Kolchak, it was used for effect – not because its audience needed a constant moving camera to keep their attention.
Gary West – www.mrpopculture.com Thank you Robert Neill.
Mr. Pop History -
With all the recent attention on James Taylor and his recent tour – he was one of a handful of singing artists who starred in a movie – early on.
Even though James Taylor had been recording since the late 1960′s, he broke through the major top-40 charts with “Fire and Rain” in September of 1970. Just about the time his, “You’ve Got A Friend” came out in 1971, Taylor was shooting a movie called “Two Lane Black Top” also starring Beach Boy Dennis Wilson. That movie debuted in July of 1971, just as “You’ve Got A Friend” was peaking on the charts.
A movie ad gave us this description, “You can never go fast enough…”
Gary West @ www.mrpopculture.com
Mr. Pop History – After the Monkees split-up in 1969 – Davy, Michael and – yes – even Micky – released records.
Nesmith’s biggest hit was with The First National Band – and “Joanne.” On RCA Records.
Davy Jones’ biggest solo records was “Rainy Jane” on Bell Records.
Micky Dolenz – He didn’t chart with this one, but his best-known post-Monkees solo effort was “A Lover’s Prayer” – on MGM Records.
Gary West – www.mrpopculture.com
Mr. Pop History – When you study the history of AM, FM, and various music formats over the years, the traditional top-40 format of playing the hits, sticks out. Some stations played more than 40, others less, but KFRC-FM (K-106) in San Francisco, played with a continuous top-20 countdown format. That’s right – more than several times a day, the station, mostly automated, counted down the top-20 hits, throwing in some new releases. Interesting, to say the least. This was during the mid-1970′s, when some FM stations would try anything.
Mr. Pop History -
At the height of the CB radio craze…
From April of 1976:
“Inspired by the phenomenal popularity of Citizens Band equipment which it pioneered 15 year ago, Radio Shack has launched a nationwide search for the most original CB song and is offering recording contracts and more than $100,000 in prizes.”
CBers where everywhere in 1976. Several “CB” type songs were making the charts including, “Convoy” by C.W. McCall.
The two-way radios provided easy access to non-techies, who would have otherwise had to take a ham radio license. exam.
Mr. Pop History -
Around 1970, when NET (National Educational Television) was making the transition to PBS – there was an excellent music series called “Soul.” A February 22, 1970 TV Guide tells us – on the show that week:
Jerry Butler host with the Unifics, Patti Labelle & The Bluenotes, Roberta Flack and an extra – Gale Sayers and the Chicago Bears.
This show – although short-lived – was one of the best of its kind. It lasted into 1971 – and that was about it for “Soul.”
Mr. Pop History – Out of Billboard – April 1976:
Barry Manilow gets a fall ABC-TV special… America’s “Hideaway!” LP, its fifth due next week… Julie Andrews makes her Las Vegas debut at Caesars Palace Aug 12 for a weekend’s stand… Minnie Riperton and Richard Pryor guest on a Flip Wilson TV special…Tony Orlando & Dawn will donate the income from their concert at Nassau Coliseum to the National Assn of Retarded Citizens. They are currently on their largest concert tour ever… John Denver’s eight-show debut stand at the 2,300-seat London Palladium sold out in an unprecedented 10 hours.
Mr. Pop History – After the Beatles proved to the world that stadium’s could be filled – a la Shea Stadium in 1965, the game was on.
But, could it happen again? With the Beatles, no. Their second Shea Stadium concert in 1966 did not sell out.
Later, Grand Funk Railroad became a supergroup – and sold out outdoor venues most everywhere. They set the 1970′s pace for groups such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stones and others. Album sales and concerts went well together. FM rock stations helped drive the demand. The money got bigger and bigger.
The Who’s biggest U.S. draw came in March 1976 – this time at Anaheim Stadium when 55,000 attended.
Remember, “The Who” started out in the U.S. pretty weak, resorting in breaking guitars onstage to get attention. Their U.S. record company, Decca, had no idea had to promote them. Potential hits such as “Happy Jack” and “The Kids Are Alright” didn’t do well on top-40 radio stations.
The Who began hitting their stride after their appearance at Woodstock and the rock opera “Tommy,”" – and through the 1970′s, just got bigger and bigger. Like all the super rock groups, they became top album best-sellers including “Quadrophenia.”
Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon – one of the best rock drummers ever. Moon died of a drug overdose in 1978.
A year later, a Cincinnati a “Who” concert turned to tragedy, when 11 died after fans tried to surge-in after believing a sound check was the actual beginning of a concert. It was the largest U.S. rock tragedy in pop music history.
Debuting on the U.S. charts back in 1971, Olivia Newton John was everywhere – or it seemed. During the 1970′s she was rarely off pop and country radio. Her hits included the Grammy-winning “I Honestly Love You” in 1974 and of course, she was a big part of the “Grease” movie and soundtrack in 1978. She held her own with (Sir Dance-a-Lot) John Travolta.
Olivia Newton John began to pull back during the mid-1980′s, after “Physical.” She wanted to spend more time with her newborn – Chloe.
In 1992, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, fought the good fight, then formally returned to music in 1998 with “Back With a Heart” – but never regained her former chart status.
If you keep your eye out, you can catch her touring today, still sounding as good as she did.
Mr. Pop Culture Report
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