(Above: Mercury is really pretty small when compared to the Sun. We don't get this view again until 2032.) May 9, 1970 It's the date that Walter P. Reuther, president of the United Auto Workers, was killed in a plane crash just outside of Pellston, Michigan at the age of 62. His wife May was … Continue reading New this week in ’70: May 9
Author: Len
Rest in peace, Little Richard: “Long Tall Sally” (1956)
Richard Penniman passed away today at the age of 87. Like anything about Little Richard, that sentence doesn't tell the whole story. Little Richard began his recording career in 1951 with RCA Victor. His early sides for them, including "Taxi Blues," didn't go anywhere on the charts. But in 1956 the world changed. Richard, recording … Continue reading Rest in peace, Little Richard: “Long Tall Sally” (1956)
New this week in ’70: May 2
(Tin soldiers and Nixon coming. Photo credit: KSU photojournalism student and Valley Daily News staffer John Filo, who won a Pulitzer prize for this image.) May 2, 1970 It's a Saturday, and just after midnight hundreds of Kent State students went into downtown breaking windows and causing commotion in an anti-war protest. This led to … Continue reading New this week in ’70: May 2
Rest in peace, Millie Small: “My Boy Lollipop” (1964)
(Millie poses with her LP. Credit: Getty Images) Millie Small, known as the "Blue Beat Girl," passed away on May 5 at the age of 73 due to complications from a stroke. A native of Jamaica, Small had been living in England since 1973. Small was first discovered in a talent contest in Jamaica at … Continue reading Rest in peace, Millie Small: “My Boy Lollipop” (1964)
New this week in ’70: April 25
April 25, 1970 It's the day after the People's Republic of China became the sixth nation to put a satellite into orbit. That same day was the last airing of Death Valley Days, which had been airing since 1952. Stanley Andrews was the long-running host, giving up the show in 1964 to Ronald Reagan. On … Continue reading New this week in ’70: April 25
New this week in ’70: April 11
April 11, 1970 It's the day after the Daily Mirror runs the headline PAUL QUITS THE BEATLES. McCartney basically confirms this later that day in a press release at the same time he sends forth his first solo LP, McCartney. April 11 is the day that Apollo 13 heads to space. Astronauts Jim Lovell, … Continue reading New this week in ’70: April 11
New this week in ’70: April 4
(Above: a 5th Dimension LP that got an awful lot of play in my house growing up.) April 4, 1970 It's the date of the March for Victory - a pro-war demonstration in Washington that attracted about 50,000 people unhappy with President Nixon's decision to reduce the American forces in North Vietnam. That same day, … Continue reading New this week in ’70: April 4
Rest in peace, Bill Withers: “Lovely Day” (1977)
Bill Withers passed away on Friday (April 3) at the age of 81. Heart complications were indicated as the cause of death. In total Withers put six records in the pop Top 40 with many more on the R&B charts. He's perhaps best known for two of them: "Lean On Me," which spent three weeks … Continue reading Rest in peace, Bill Withers: “Lovely Day” (1977)
Rest in peace, Adam Schlesinger: The Wonders, “That Thing You Do!” (1996)
Word circulated late this afternoon that Adam Schlesinger, co-founder of the group Fountains of Wayne and composer of the music for TV's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, passed away at the age of 52. The cause of death was complications from the COVID-19 virus. Schlesinger was nominated for Oscars and Tonys, and won Emmys and Grammys. The Grammy … Continue reading Rest in peace, Adam Schlesinger: The Wonders, “That Thing You Do!” (1996)
Grand Rapids charts: WLAV-AM, April 1, 1974
Heading back in time today to take a look at what was popular in Grand Rapids, MI on WLAV-AM from the weekly playlist dated April 1, 1974. It's a top 30 list, and we'll count it up to the top. 30. "I Love" - Tom T. Hall (#23 last week). Let's just jump right in, … Continue reading Grand Rapids charts: WLAV-AM, April 1, 1974
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 