On July 10, 1961 “Tossin’ and Turnin'” by Bobby Lewis became the #1 song. It remained there until August 27. Not a bad run.
Frustrated love. Can’t sleep. Kicking blankets off. Flipping pillows. Written by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene, both Americans, one wonders what the British listener thought about a guy tossin’ all night.
Rolling Stones Satisfaction
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Four years later, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” became #1. The first US #1 song for the Rolling Stones (their fourth #1 in the UK). More frustration. Its ambivalent lyrics had us giggling if we were still young, nodding if we were old enough.
It was a great air guitar song, especially with a tennis racket. That’s what I was doing a lot of that summer at Cedar Grove Beach Club in New Dorp, Staten Island.
Kevin Hagerty and I played tennis for hours with my sister’s transistor radio blasting. Every time “Satisfaction” came on we stopping playing (by the way, playing more than generously describes our jejune tennis prowess) and starting strumming. That’s if Kev could find his racket after tossing it into the weeds following another poor shot.
Rolling Stones Satisfaction
Keith’s dream
The story is that Keith Richards started to record some guitar doodling and the famous riff before falling asleep with the tape still running and recording snoring.
Keith intended the famous fuzzy guitar intro to suggest horns and horns were supposed to replace that fuzz. Others disagreed. Others wanted that sound.
That sound became part of rock and roll’s DNA.
Rolling Stones Satisfaction
Mono
Stereo recording was around in 1965, but mono still dominated. For some today, mono is the preferred listening choice. In any case, it was not until later releases that stereo versions appeared. Jack Nitzsche, who played the tambourine on the original recording, has some piano on the stereo offering.
Rolling Stones Satisfaction
Best ever?
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” makes every top ten list and always near the top. Rolling Stone magazine said it’s the second greatest rock song ever. [It said Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone was #1]
And as popular as the Rolling Stones were before its release and success, following it put the Rolling Stones on others’ list of greatest rock and roll band in the world.
Those of you who have visited the Museum at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts know that the Main Gallery is not a Woodstock museum–as in a museum that recalls the “greatest festival of all time.”
The Main Gallery sets up that momentous 1969 event by walking visitors through the turbulent 60s: the civil rights movement, the space race, technological innovations, the Vietnam War, Beatlemania, the counterculture, assassinations, fashion, politics, the change in family, nationalism, and the many other of that era’s crucial hallmarks.
As guests get about halfway through, album covers appear. Of course until then the little records with big holes dominated sales. By the end of the decade, the big records with the little holes began to outsell singles.
Aretha FranklinRespect
I Never Loved A Man the Way That I Love You
Among the first half-dozen albums that are displayed is Aretha Franklin’s breakthrough Atlantic Records debut album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You. It is the featured image atop this post. The single by the same name was a hit for Franklin and Atlantic Records selected “Respect” (can anyone write that title thinking of the song without mentally singing the letters like Aretha?) as her next single.
It was #1 song from June 7 to June 17, 1967.
Aretha Franklin’s career never looked back after that.
Aretha FranklinRespect
Otis Redding
Otis Redding had written the song and released it as a single in the summer of 1965. The song did well commercially and helped establish his presence on radio waves’ white side.
He continued to sing his version of the song and included it in his amazing performance at the Monterey International Jazz and Pop Festival on June 17, 1967. It was during his introduction (listen above) that he says, “that a girl took away from me, a friend of mine, this girl she just took this song.”
Aretha FranklinRespect
Muscle Shoals
Columbia Records had recognized Aretha Franklin’s potential, but had not been able to translate it. Ahmet Ertegun and his Atlantic Records found a way. He brought her to Muscle Shoals, Alabama and Rick Hall’s FAME Studios.
Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin produced the record and Tom Dowd engineered it. The musicians were the famed Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, aka, the Swampers: Cornell Dupree (guitar), Willie Bridges (sax), Charles Chalmers (sax), Roger Hawkins (drummer),Tommy Cogbill (bass), Dewey ‘Spooner’ Oldham (keyboards), and King Curtis (sax). Franklin’s sisters Carolyn and Erma were the backing vocals.
That group lighted the fuse that launched Franklin. The song went from Redding’s covert plea for sex when he got home to Franklin’s proclamation of freedom, demand for R E S P E C T.
Aretha FranklinRespect
Anthem
Not only did the song establish Franklin as a star, it became an anthem of the times for civil rights and women’s liberation. As an NPR story said, ” ‘Respect’ Wasn’t A Feminist Anthem Until Aretha Franklin Made It One.”
That is why that album cover display is so appropriate for the Main Gallery.
On January 18, 1960 Running Bear by Johnny Preston became Billboard’s #1 single. But before and after Running Bear…
El Paso
Running Bear was the second of three consecutive #1 songs in which someone died. Preceding Running Bear, Marty Robbins’s El Paso was #1. Grateful Dead fans are familiar with that story:
Out in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl Nighttime would find me in Rosa’s cantina Music would play and Felina would whirlBlacker than night were the eyes of Felina Wicked and evil while casting a spell My love was deep for this Mexican maiden I was in love but in vain, I could tellOne night a wild young cowboy came in Wild as the West Texas wind Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing With wicked Felina, the girl that I lovedSo in anger I Challenged his right for the love of this maiden Down went his hand for the gun that he wore My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floorJust for a moment I stood there in silence Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there I had but one chance and that was to runOut through the back door of Rosa’s I ran Out where the horses were tied I caught a good one, it looked like it could run Up on its back and away I did rideJust as fast as I Could from the West Texas town of El Paso Out to the badlands of New Mexico
Back in El Paso my life would be worthless Everything’s gone in life; nothing is left It’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden My love is stronger than my fear of death
I saddled up and away I did go Riding alone in the dark Maybe tomorrow, a bullet may find me Tonight nothing’s worse than this pain in my heart
And at last here I Am on the hill overlooking El Paso I can see Rosa’s cantina below My love is strong and it pushes me onward Down off the hill to Felina I go
Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys Off to my left ride a dozen or more Shouting and shooting, I can’t let them catch me I have to make it to Rosa’s back door
Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel A deep burning pain in my side Though I am trying to stay in the saddle I’m getting weary, unable to ride
But my love for Felina is strong and I rise where I’ve fallen Though I am weary I can’t stop to rest I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle I feel the bullet go deep in my chest
From out of nowhere Felina has found me Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for One little kiss and Felina, goodbye
Johnny Preston Running Bear
Running Bear
For Running Bear, the two young lovers, separated by a river that was too wide, but their love forced them to try to cross and meet.
On the bank of the river
Stood Running Bear, young Indian brave
On the other side of the river
Stood his lovely Indian maid
Little White Dove was her name
Such a lovely sight to see
But their tribes fought with each other
So, their love could never be,
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love big as the sky
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love that couldn’t die
He couldn’t swim the raging river
‘Cause the river was too wide
He couldn’t reach Little White Dove
Waiting on the other side
In the moonlight he could see her
Throwing kisses ‘cross the waves
Her little heart was beating faster
Waiting there for her brave
Running Bear dove in the water
Little White Dove did the same
And they swam out to each other
Through the swirling stream they came
As their hands touched and their lips met
The raging river pulled them down
Now, they’ll always be together
In that happy huntin’ ground
The song has some interesting trivia associated with it besides its part in a consecutive death motif. J. P. Richardson, better known as The Big Bopper, wrote it. Richardson had a hit of his own in 1958 with “Chantilly Lace.” He had died in the famous plane crash on February 3, 1959 in Clear Lake, Iowa, with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
Richardson thought the Romeo & Juliet theme of this song was too serious for him to record. He passed it on to his friend Johnny Preston, who originally was unsure about the song but others eventually persuaded him to cut it.
Richardson had done background vocals along with George Jones.
Follow Up
Preston’s follow-up single, “Cradle of Love,” reached No. 7 on the Billboard chart.
In 1971 Jonathan King took the “Ocka Chunka” backing and added it to the B.J. Thomas hit song “Hooked On A Feeling.”
Teen Angel
Finally, the next #1 will be Mark Dinning’s Teen Angel.
Teen angel, teen angel, teen angel, ooh
That fateful night the car was stalled upon the railroad track
I pulled you out and we were safe, but you went running back
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
What was it you were looking for that took your life that night?
They said they found my high school ring clutched in your fingers tight
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
Just sweet sixteen, and now you’re gone
They’ve taken you away
I’ll never kiss your lips again
They buried you today
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
And I am still your own true love?
Teen angel, teen angel, answer me, please
Johnny Preston Running Bear
Actual deaths
Marty Robbins died on December 8, 1982 [NYT obit], Mark Dinning died on March 22, 1986 [NYT obit], and Johnny Preston died on March 4, 2011 [NYT obit].
