1967

1967

Woodbine Avenue

Overbrook

Philadelphia, PA

My Age- 11-12

School: Merion Mercy Academy- 7^th grade- I started a new school.  My parents thought this change would help me academically as I was struggling with all my work.  The new school was a private school with a competitive academic edge.  The change overwhelmed me and it was a difficulty transition.

Music- I had an interest in music at a young age.  I ask my nephews in high school to list the music they like and they don’t come up with anything.  I think I loved just about every song that was released from the time I was 10 until I was about 35.

• o   To Sir With Love  by Lulu- I loved this movie and I loved this song.
• o   The Letter    by The Box Tops- Still one of my favorites songs.
• o   "Ode to Billie Joe by  Bobbie Gentry- This is one of my all-time favorite songs.
• o   Windy by   The Association- a simple, pleasant song.
• o   "I'm a Believer by The Monkees- this group thrilled us weekly with their TV show and new song each week.
• o   "Light My Fire by The Doors.  This group was too wild for me.
• o   "Somethin' Stupid"    Frank & Nancy Sinatra. This was sort of a stupid song, sung in monotones that seemed to interest people because of the father/daughter connection.
• o   Happy Together  The Turtles- I loved, loved, loved this song.  I thought it was the happiest song I had ever heard.
• o   Groovin’ by the Young Rascals- just a light, easy song
• o   Can’t’ Take my Eyes off of You by Frankie Valli
• o   I think We’re Alone Now by Tommy James & the Shondells
• o   Respect by Arthea Franklin- for years I didn’t know what she meant when she sang “give me my propers when you get home.”
• o   I Was Made To Love Her by Stevie Wonder
• o   Kind of a Drag by The Buckinghams
• o   Expressway to Your Heart by The Soul Survivors
• o   Soul Man by Sam & Dave
• o   Never My Love by The Association- I liked most of the songs this group released but this song may be my favorite of theirs.
• Come on Down to My Boat by Every Mother’s Son
• Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock
• Ruby Tuesday by The Rolling Stones- I wasn’t ready for the Stones at this time.  A few years later and I was a fan.
•  It Must Be Him by Vicki Carr- This woman was a comedian first and a one-time singer second.
• For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield
• The Happening by The Supremes
• All You Need Is Love by The Beatles
• Someone to Love by Jefferson Airplane- This group was part of the psychedelic movement and a little too druggy for me.
• Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison- This guy is one of my favorite artists but It was not this song that won me over.  Into the Mystic is his best song.
• Jimmy Mack by Martha and the Vandellas
• A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum. This song became a high school prom song classic.
• Reflections by The Supremes
• o   Alfie by Dionne Warwick
• o   Silence is Golden by The Tremeloes- I used to skip church, take my collection money and go to the dinner with two friends.  We would pool our money and buy a coke and fries and play this song on the jukebox.
• o   My Cup Runneth Over by Ed Ames- I thought this song was old fart but people seemed to like it.  I think it was so popular because people liked Ed Ames as an actor and he released this song and showed us another side.
• o   Up, UP and Away by The 5^th Dimension
• o   San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie- This was hippie music.
• o   The Rain, The Park and Other Things by The Cowsills
• o   There’s A Kind of Hush by The Herman Hermits
• o   (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson- I still like to listen tothis song.  It’s so upbeat.
• o   Penny Lane by The Beatles
• o   Georgy Girl by The Seekers- This was an easy, Brit-beat song.
• o   Western Union by Five Americans
• o   A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You by The Monkees
• o   Dedicated to the One I Love by The Mamas and the Papas. The first album that I purchased was The Papas and The Mamas.  I still have it.
• o   How Can I Be Sure by The Young Rascals
• o   Friday On My Mind by The Easybeats
• o   Let’s Live For Today by The Grass Roots
• o   Pleasant Valley Sunday by The Monkees- not one of their best.
• o   White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane- drugs, the song is all about drugs.
• o   Bernadette by Four Tops- this is one of my all-time favorite songs.  I had a tortoise transistor radio and I carried that thing with me everywhere and when this song came on the radio, I stopped in my tracks and listened to the whole song.  I didn't want to be distracted.  I wanted to listen.
• o   The Beat Goes On by Sonny & Cher- This duet had their own TV show.
• o   Snoopy Vs The Red Baron by The Royal Guardsmen- a very stupid song.
• o   Society’s Child by Janis Ian- This powerful song was written by a 16 year old girl and the subject matter of racism was so controversial that this song was banned on many radio stations.
• o   Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon by Neil Diamond
• o   Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell- this song was released a few years later by Dianna Ross & The Supremes and it was a much bigger hit.
• o   Everlasting Love by Robert Knight- an oldies’ classic.
• o   I’m a Believer by The Monkees
• o   Baby I Need Your Lovin’ by Johnny Rivers- I liked this song but not as much as I love his song Summer Rain which was released maybe a year or two later.
• o   Don’t Sleep in The Subway by Petula Clark- I thought this was a bizarre song.  Who dates someone who sleeps in the subway?

Movies-

• o   To Sir, With Love- I wanted to have a strong relationship with my teachers but that wasn’t happening for me.
• o   How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
• o   The Happiest Millionaire- I loved Fred McMurry
• o   Up The Down Staircase- I went to private school so much of this school culture was foreign to me.
• o   Wait Until Dark- This movie was so damn scary.
• o   Doctor Dolittle- for a very short period in my life, I wanted to be a vet after I watched this movie.

Television

• o   The Beverly Hillbillies- Granny was a force to be respected.  No one should tangle with her.
• o   Bewitched- I liked Bewitched more than I Dream of Jeannie.  I thought both shows were similar in ridiculous plot.
• o   Hogan’s Heroes- I thought Hogan was so clever and an American hero.
• o   I Dream of Jeannie
• o   The Monkees- Mike Nesbitt was my favorite Monkee.

Travels- EXPO 67 in Canada. The whole family went.  We drove up to Lake George, NY as the first leg of our road trip.  My grand aunt had a cottage there.  It wasn’t big enough to accommodate all of us but that didn’t matter.  We slept everywhere.

News Events

• The Viet Nam War dominated the war.  It was horrible to see the effects of the war right on the TV. College campuses organize one demonstration after another.  The country is in turmoil over this war. All this violence frightens me.
•  Israel had a 6-day war. I am not sure what was the issue but I remember news commentators talking about the decisiveness of the Israelis.
• Elvis Presley gets married and thousands of women are forced to surrender their fantasy to marry him.
• The world’s first heart transplant is performed in South Africa.  The whole world applauded Dr. Christiaan Barnard.
• The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It is different and edgy. It gets rave reviews.  It is followed up by Magical Mystery Tour.  The Beatles are leaving their top 40 status and taking greater musical risks.
• Muhammad Ali refused to join the draft so he lost heavyweight title.
• Race riots plagued too many of our cities. All the violence frightens me.

Family and Friends

• My parents decided to send me to private school in hopes that it would improve my poor academic skills.  My friend, Kathy, talked her parents in to letting her go to this school with me. They agreed and we were thrilled.
• My dad was appointed to the PA Public Utility Commission. We went to the Capital Building in Harrisburg for a swearing-in ceremony by Governor Shaffer. It was a thrilling day.
• In 9 months time, I grew 6 inches and gained 30 pounds. And I think I was still below 100 pounds.