England is 1-28 (Woolmer was dismissed for 12), at lunch, on the fourth day of the Centenary Test, after Australia had declared its second innings closed at 9-419 (Rick McCosker 25, Marsh 110 not out and Walker 8 not out). At stumps, England is 2-191 (Mike Brearley 43, with Randall 87 and Amiss 34 unbeaten at the crease) requiring a further 273 runs, tomorrow, to record a historic victory. In Sydney, it was ten degrees cooler than yesterday.
Centenary Test’s Identical Result: Thursday, 17th March, 1977
Having consumed the contents of a tin of Berri orange juice, at a cost of forty-five cents, I listened to ABC radio for several minutes from 1.40 p.m. Lindsay Hassett, a former Australian captain, was of the opinion that England was doing well enough to win. As we stopped, on the way home from work, to make a delivery, England passed 404, hitherto the largest score achieved in the fourth innings of a Test. It was achieved by Sir Donald Bradman’s team, which was dubbed ‘The Invincibles’, on the tour of England, in 1948.
As I was about to alight to open the front gates, Dennis Lillee bowled right-hand batsman, Derek Underwood. England was then nine wickets down and this meant that the diminutive wicket-keeper, Alan Knott, and fast bowler, Bob Willis, were left to score the fifty-odd runs still required for victory.
Just after 5.oo p.m., Lillee trapped the right-handed Knott in front and England was all out for 417: the highest total in a fourth innings, ever!
Australia had won the Centenary Test by forty-five runs, exactly the same margin by which it had won the first Test in 1877. Derek Randall, who had taken his overnight score to 174, in this his first Test, was named ‘Man Of The Match’. During the Test Australian wicket-keeper, Rodney Marsh, took his tally of victims to 187, passing the record previously held by Wally Grout; and his 110 not out in Australia’s second innings meant that he became the first Australian wicket-keeper to score a century in a Test. Dennis Lillee, who had created a bit of a stir when he asked Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II for her autograph when he was presented to her during the tea interval today, cannot tour England this winter because of his troublesome back.
Brook Benton
Benjamin Franklin Peay was born in Camden, South Carolina, in September of 1931. Vocally, he was coached by his father, who also engendered in him the patience he would need to display if he were to succeed as a singer in a professional capacity.
Brook Benton moved to New York, in 1948, at the age of seventeen, where he sang as a member of one gospel group before, three years later, joining another. He briefly sang on recordings, in 1955, that were directed by, the now legendary, Quincy Jones, who was twenty-two at the time.
Nonetheless, fame proved to be elusive, forcing Brook to try his hand at songwriting. He also sang on demonstrations of other writers’ tunes, which was really helpful because it provided him with instant cash. However, it was to be his songwriting that was to grab the attention of those in the industry.
Firstly, there was “The Stroll”, recorded by the Canadian group, The Diamonds, then, the catchy “A Lover’s Question” by Clyde McPhatter. Buoyed by their success, Brook decided that he, himself, should record another of his own compositions, “It’s Just A Matter Of Time”. It was destined to spend nine weeks at No.1 on the rhythm and blues charts in the first half of 1959 and proved to be the launching pad to Brook’s substantial career as a solo artist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuceTOjSubU
Brook’s last hit of substance was “Rainy Night In Georgia”, written by Tony Joe White, in 1970. It sold more than a million copies for the soulful baritone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW3IWMJineo
Brook Benton died in April of 1988, at the relatively young age of fifty-six, from the complications which arose from the contraction of spinal meningitis.
The names of tracks by Brook Benton can be located in the suggested playlist.
The Drifters
Clyde McPhatter had been the leading singer in The Dominoes. When he was no longer wanted by that group, a new male group was formed around his voice: that of tenor. The Drifters, as this new quartet was called, created a driving vocal style as depicted in its first hit, “Money Honey”, in 1953.
Other classic rhythm and blues numbers followed as the musical revolution that was to become known as rock and roll unfolded. “Such A Night”, which was covered by Johnnie Ray, “Honey Love” and “What’Cha Gonna Do” were all prime examples of this new style.
Clyde McPhatter left The Drifters, to pursue a solo career, in 1955, and, over the years, there followed a succession of leading singers that included Johnny Moore, Johnny Lee Williams, Ben E. King — famed for his solo recordings of “Spanish Harlem” and “Stand By Me” — and Rudy Lewis.
The Drifters struggled to make an impression on the charts in 1957 and 1958 before experiencing a golden period that began with “There Goes My Baby”, in 1959, and virtually ended with “Under The Boardwalk” and “Saturday Night At The Movies”, in 1964. These five years also included such hits as “Save The Last Dance For Me”, “On Broadway” — revived by George Benson in 1978 — and “Up On The Roof”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv4v_z0UepM
Although The Drifters’ run of hits ended in its native America in 1966, for whatever reason, the group’s popularity was unexpectedly reborn in Britain between 1972 and 1976. A series of eight entries to the Top 10 on the British singles’ charts during these five years included “Come On Over To My Place”, “Like Sister And Brother”, “Down On The Beach Tonight”, “Kissin’ In The Back Row Of The Movies”, “Can I Take You Home Little Girl”, “There Goes My First Love” and “You’re More Than A Number In My Book”; with “Hello Happiness” just falling short of joining these aforementioned seven hits. The eighth entry was a double-sided single that reissued the mid-Sixties’ recordings, “At The Club” and “Saturday Night At The Movies”.
The names of additional tracks by The Drifters can be found in the suggested playlists.
Little Peggy March
Margaret Annemarie Battavio was born in Pennsylvania, in March of 1948. She was to be heard singing at a cousin’s wedding, at the age of just thirteen and promptly signed to a contract to record on the label of RCA.
As Margaret was only short and because she had been born in the month of March, it was decided that she would adopt the name of Little Peggy March. Peggy’s success was almost instantaneous, for by the time she was fourteen, in April of 1963, her recording, “I Will Follow Him”, had soared to No. 1, not only on the American pop charts but those of other countries, as well. It was a translation of a French song, “Chariot”, recorded in the year prior to this , by the British vocalist, Petula Clark. Her singles, “I Wish I Were A Princess” and “Hello Heartache, Goodbye Love” also entered the American charts.
Because Peggy was so young, the job of caring for her finances was placed in the hands of her manager. However, by the time she had finished high school, she discovered that her fortune had been squandered.
Although she continued to record, it was to be in Europe and Asia where she would find success. Perhaps this was why, in 1969, Peggy moved to live in Germany where she resided until 1981.
“When The Rain Begins To Fall”, which Peggy co-wrote, became a major hit in Europe for Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora, in 1984. The song, “I Will Follow Him”, reappeared, in the film, ‘Sister Act’, in 1992.
Shirley and Lee
Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee were both born in 1936. In 1952, they recorded their first record, “I’m Gone”, in New Orleans.
Shirley had a unique voice, that possessed a high pitch. This makes recordings by Shirley and Lee, unmistakeable to the ear. Personally, I find it somewhat grating, which says much for, “Feel So Good”, as I place this classic rhythm and blues number in my top three on my list of favourite recordings. It was written by Leonard Lee and released in 1955.
The duo’s most successful recording was also written by Leonard. “Let The Good Times Roll”, was released in 1956 and performed well on both the rhythm and blues and pop charts.
Shirley and Lee moved to New York, in 1960, but the recordings they made there proved to be relatively unsuccessful and by 1962 the pair had returned to New Orleans. When this, too, proved to be a struggle the two went their separate ways.
For Shirley, this meant moving to California, where she worked mainly as a session singer. However, more or less by chance, she was once again to achieve success when she, backed by a group of studio musicians, recorded “Shame, Shame, Shame”, in 1974, under the name of Shirley and Company.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBdgW87Ia_8
The talented Leonard Lee died in 1976. Shirley retired from recording and returned to New Orleans.
For the names of more tracks by Shirley and Lee, please, refer to the suggested playlists.
The Oak Ridge Boys
Richard Sterban, Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Joe Bonsall won five Grammy Awards. The four were collectively known as The Oak Ridge Boys and their first such award came in 1970, when the group won for the Best Gospel Performance.
The quartet was to win this same award thrice more: in 1974, 1976 and 1977. The Oak Ridge Boys possessed distinctive vocal harmonies and as the aforementioned awards show, became legendary performers of country music via a background steeped in gospel singing.
In 1978, the C.M.A. joined in declaring the singers to be Vocal Group Of The Year, and in 1981, this same organisation named “Elvira”, Single Of The Year. Nineteen eighty-one also marked their receipt of the fifth Grammy, this time for the Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. “Elvira”, while providing the group with a recording atop the country charts, also entered the pop charts, where it peaked at No.5.
William Lee Golden departed from the group, in 1987, when he was replaced by Steve Sanders. “No Matter How High” became The Oak Ridge Boys’ most successful hit, on the country charts, in 1989.
The names of more recordings by The Oak Ridge can be located in the suggested playlists.
The Rascals
I once heard it said that the years from 1964 to 1969 mark the most varied and innovative period in the history of popular music. For those of us who remember that period with clarity, it is difficult not to concur. These years were so musically unique and the quality of the songs being written, and subsequently recorded, so high, that the six were littered with what were termed ‘One Hit Wonders’: artists who failed to write or find another song of a sufficient standard as to enter or impact upon charts that were so brimful of talent.
The soul group, known as The Rascals, was no such ‘one hit wonder’. Formed by singer and organist, Felix Cavaliere, the band’s remaining members were singer, Eddie Brigati, Canadian guitarist, Gene Cornish, and drummer, Dino Danelli; it became the first all-white group to be signed to Atlantic Records.
The quartet jammed and wrote songs in 1964 and 1965, and by 1966 those who attended some of the more notable clubs in and around New York City were marvelling at the group’s showmanship and sensational sound. The band had been forced to change its name to The Young Rascals, in order to avoid the prospect of litigation being launched by a similarly named preexisting group. Nevertheless, eventually, the four were permitted to drop the word ‘Young’ from their title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrCEEDyXYjE
The Rascals’ first hit of significance was “Good Lovin'”, in 1966, which had originally been released, one year earlier, by The Olympics. Five other such hits followed, the most prominent of which were “Groovin'”, “A Beautiful Morning” and “People Got To Be Free”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sastKEBZhXY
Please, refer to the suggested playlists for the names of other tracks by The Young Rascals/The Rascals.
Elvis Presley’s Death: Wednesday, 17th August, 1977
I awoke at 6.30 to a nice sunny day and, once again, a temperature of seven degrees Celsius. Just before 7.30, 2KY’s breakfast announcer, John Burles, broadcast the news that Elvis is dead. On 2UW, Wayne (or “Wayney Pooh”, as he calls himself) Roberts really sounded upset and played “Heartbreak Hotel”, Elvis’s first truly successful recording that became a hit in January, 1956. I hummed and sang along, upsetting Tiki, who doesn’t feel well and isn’t a fan of Elvis, anyway. I heard “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” and “Love Me Tender”, on 2KY, en route to work. I sang along as it only just began to dawn on me that Elvis is no more.
Elvis’s body was rushed to the Baptist Hospital in Memphis from his mansion, Graceland. He had been dead for about five and a half hours, the result of an irregularity in his heart.
I had his songs — “(Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame”, “Follow That Dream”, “Love Me Tender” et cetera — on the brain as I walked up the Princes Highway, to work. As I passed St. Peters Railway Station an elderly gentleman, walking in the opposite direction, enquired of me, “How do you feel about Elvis?” ‘It’s pretty sad, isn’t it?’ I replied. He agreed.
On my way home, I bought a copy of “The Sun”. It states that Elvis was a tragic drug addict in his later years, spending one thousand dollars per week to support his habit. His former wife, Priscilla, is quoted as saying that it’s better that he died now as he’d only end up a vegetable at the pace he was going — mainlining every hard drug, except heroin.
At 5.30 p.m., I watched “Flashez”: a ‘Special’ on Elvis; 6.oo, “Wild, Wild World Of Animals”. Sandy went to bed at half past six.
Elvis’s totally unexpected death has taken the news headlines away from the Federal Budget, released this morning by the Treasurer, Phillip Lynch.
A post-mortem has shown signs of disease, to the heart, as well as blood vessels.
At 7.00, “Willesee”, understandably, mostly focuses on Elvis’s death. “The Miracle Months”, a programme about childbirth, screens from 7.30. At 8.30, Channel 9 is showing the movie, “Hit Lady”, which was produced in 1974. It stars Yvette Mimieux as a professional assassin. Western Suburbs led Eastern Suburbs by four points to two at half-time in this evening’s $60,000 final of the Amco Cup, and 5-2 at three-quarter time. However, an outstanding try by Russell Fairfax provided Eastern Suburbs with the scent of victory, only to have its hopes dashed when he missed the relatively simple opportunity to convert his own try. Western Suburbs clung on to win by six points to five.
Elvis Presley’s Funeral: Friday, 19th August, 1977
Another glorious day with the temperature ranging from a minimum of nine degrees Celsius to a maximum of twenty. Tiki apologised for her recent behaviour and we agreed that we are in need of a holiday to somewhere overseas. We plan to take one, as soon as our finances allow. “Willesee” screened from 7.00 p.m.; 8.00, “Mother Makes Five”, a British comedy series, starring Wendy Craig; 8.30, the 1971 movie, “Terror In The Sky”, with Doug McClure, Roddy McDowell, Kenneth “The Whirlybirds” Tobey, Keenan Wynn and Leif Erickson. Following a bout of food poisoning an ex-helicopter pilot is called upon to land a four-engined aeroplane with many passengers aboard. It’s a remake of a motion picture from 1957, which stars Steve Forrest’s older brother, Dana Andrews.
Fifty thousand people attended Elvis’s funeral in Memphis, at 5.00 a.m. A.E.S.T.
The hearse was followed by ten white Cadillacs.