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Splatt Gallery's History of Michigan Concert Posters
Volume Two - 1964-1966 - Page Five
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Volume Two - 1964-1966 - continues - HERE
A Tamla Motown Records ad with the single “Shotgun” by Jr. Walker & the All Stars which was released on February 13, 1965. Featuring Walker's debut as a vocalist, it became his first hit record, topping the R&B singles chart at #1 and reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In July 1965, Jimi Hendrix, who was then touring with Little Richard, made his first television appearance performing the song, backing vocalists Buddy & Stacy.
Jr. Walker & The All-Stars – Shotgun (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7CtxlisCk
Buddy & Stacy – Shotgun (Night Train Television show) (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvklBbYgnsk
A story in the February 20, 1965 issue of Billboard magazine, headlined “WKNR Finds Way to Beat Old Man Winter” described the Detroit, Michigan radio station’s “Think Summer” promotional campaign, which included distributing 77,000 “Think Summer” buttons, on-air contests to win barbeque grills, badminton sets, and other summer items, and warm weather forecasts from places such as Hawaii, Florida, and California.
The Columbia Records promotions director for Detroit even arranged for the recording of a single by singer Susan Wayne, called “Think Summer”.
Susan Wayne – Think Summer (1965) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V00YCrx-pwU
A photo that accompanied the February 20, 1965 Billboard magazine story on WKNR-Keener13 radio promotion in Detroit, Michigan showed a shivering DJ Jerry Goodwin next to a “Think Summer” billboard ad, along with a young woman who was, naturally, wearing a bikini.
Motown Records ad for the Supremes’ “Stop in the Name of Love” in the February 27, 1965 issue of Billboard magazine.
An ad with the Temptations and Gladys Knight & the Pips at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NYC, February 26, 1965 through March 4th.
A full-page Brunswick Records ad for the single “Danny Boy” by Jackie Wilson in the February 20, 1965 issue of Cash Box magazine.
A full-page Motown Records ad for the Supremes’ “Stop in the Name of Love” in the February 20, 1965 issue of Cash Box magazine.
An ad for Johnny Cash in Lansing, Michigan on February 20, 1965, completing a six-city swing through Michigan that included Flint on February 12, Saginaw on February 14, Battle Creek on February 16, Grand Rapids on February 17, and Muskegon on February 18.
A newspaper story carried the announcement of Marvin Gaye at Club 20 Grand for ten nights, February 19-28, 1965. He made a quick return for seven more nights, March 5-11, 1965, billed as a “Hitsville USA” show with the Spinners, Kim Weston, and Earl Van Dyke joining him.
An ad for the Dorothy Ashby Trio at Ford Auditorium in Detroit on February 14, 1965, historically significant as being the final speech by Malcolm X, exactly one week before being assassinated in New York City on February 21, 1965.
Malcolm X had deep roots in Michigan and Detroit, as described in this excellent article in the Detroit Free Press in May 2020:
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/05/19/malcolm-x-detroit-birthday/5218807002/
A full-page Verve Records ad in the February 13, 1965 issue of Billboard magazine for the two-sided single “Goldfinger” by Jimmy Smith which was included on his 1965 album “Monster” featuring Detroit jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell.
An ad in the February 13, 1965 issue of Billboard magazine for a compilation album on Roulette Records that includes tracks by Mary Wells, Martha & the Vandellas, the Reflections, Marvin Gaye, the Miracles, and Barbara Lewis.
The mutual admiration between the British band The Who and the city of Detroit, Michigan has many examples, from reviving the band’s flagging tour-weary spirits with a resounding reception at the Grande Ballroom on an early 1968 US tour stop, to the band choosing the Grande Ballroom in Detroit for the US premier of the rock opera Tommy, to having their tour manager and photographer Tom Wright trade his job with the band for the opportunity to manage the Grande Ballroom, to setting the record for the largest indoor concert attendance at the Pontiac Silverdome in 1975, all of these events are covered later.
But even earlier than all of that, as seen in this February 13, 1965 ad in Billboard magazine, Detroit “got it” years before The Who even set foot on US soil. Other Michigan cities; Flint, Lansing, and Pontiac, also get a shout-out, along with Toledo, Ohio.
The Who – I Can’t Explain (1964) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3h--K5928M
An ad for the Modern Jazz Quartet, featuring Detroit vibraphonist Milt Jackson, in Baltimore, Maryland on February 12, 1965.
The fifth annual ONCE Festival in Ann Arbor was less ambitious, with only four concerts, February 11-14, 1965, but it went well, prompting a second event, called “ONCE Again” in September.
An ad for an All-Fraternity Mixer at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with the Iguanas and drummer Jim Osterberg on February 19, 1965.
Poster for Dave Leone’s Hideout in Harper Woods, Michigan, with The Human Beings on March 5, 1965. Not to be confused with the Human Beinz from Ohio that had the 1968 hit "Nobody But Me", the Detroit Human Beings released at least three singles on Harry Balk’s Impact Records, with one of them picked up by Warner Bros. Here’s the ones we have been able to find:
The Human Beings – Because I Love Her (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-M0CszyGLQ
The Human Beings – Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvCyShVB3Tw
The Human Beings – I Can’t Tell (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB4c_YfTsLo
The Human Beings – An Inside Look (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjWBpvzPW5k
The Human Beings – You’re Bad News (1966)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZoPZnI5LYo
The Human Beings – Ling Ting Tong (1966)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCytqHx99uY
An ad for the Driftwood Lounge in the 20 Grand club in Detroit, Michigan, although the concert database has this “Hitsville USA Revue” starting on March 5, 1965 for seven nights and has Aretha Franklin appearing later in the year, in September.
The blues scene in Detroit may have peaked in the 1940’s but it was still being recorded in the back of Joe’s Record Shop. Hastings Street was gone (wiped out by the Chrysler Freeway) and Joe Von Battle had re-located to 12th Street. Washboard Willie & his Super Suds of Rhythm cut this little ditty there and was a popular live act, especially out in Ann Arbor, where he performed at the Schwaben Inn, March2-3, 1965.
Washboard Willie – Ham Bone (1964) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3pib2-vGkQ
Tour booklet cover with Del Shannon headlining another UK tour, supported by Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, the Shangri-Las, and Herman’s Hermits that kicked off at the Sheffield City Hall in Sheffield, England on February 27, 1965, the tour lasted three weeks and included 42 shows.
A Tilghman Press poster for Mary Wells at Esther’s Orbit Room in Oakland, California on March 13, 1965.
A Globe Poster for a “Show & Dance” in Waco, Texas, March 18, 1965, with Michigan artists Jackie Wilson and the Temptations.
The Grand Opening of the Elbow Room in Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 15, 1965.
An ad in the March 6, 1965 issue of Billboard magazine for the single “When I’m Gone” by Brenda Holloway. Here is a clip of her appearance on Detroit-born Casey Kasem’s “Shebang” TV show:
Brenda Holloway – When I’m Gone (1965) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aNEdx0z7z4
Tamla Motown was a label created by UK Tamla-Motown Appreciation Society head Dave Godin after a trip to Detroit at the end of 1964 where Berry Gordy agreed that the UK would have a label presence under that name, distributed by E.M.I. Records Limited. The first releases were in March 1965 in the UK.
A poster with Del Shannon co-headlining a show at the Gaumont Theatre in Hanley, England on March 21, 1965 with Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders and also Herman’s Hermits, and others.
An ad for the Smothers Brothers at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit on March 19, 1965.
Program cover for the Tamla-Motown tour of England and France, March 20, 1965 through April 13th.
Poster for the Tamla-Motown tour of England and France, March 20, 1965 through April 13. It became known as “the ghost tour” since most of the shows, especially in the smaller towns, were poorly attended and generally only half-full. Local rocker Georgie Fame was added to the bill in an attempt to boost the attendance. The tour encompassed 21 dates with two shows per night.
The tour did accomplish the establishment of Tamla records in the UK, and the beginning of the romance between Berry Gordy and Diana Ross.
The front page of the British music magazine New Musical Express with the Tamla-Motown UK tour dates, starting on March 20, 1965.
Now here’s something that could NEVER happen again. Berry Gordy got the idea to make a promotional video for “Nowhere To Run” by Martha & The Vandellas, released on February 10, 1965, that would put the group in a Ford Mustang as it went through and came off the assembly line. Apparently, Ford Motor Company thought that it would be good publicity as well, although no one told the workers on the line to expect three young ladies to come traipsing through their work area.
The girls skip through the paint line in skirts and heels, bob and weave through moving body panel parts, and climb into a Wimbledon White 1965 Mustang as the engine is dropped into it and it rolls off the line, a finished product in two minutes and 54 seconds.
A fascinating aspect of the video is that it gives us a look at the actual Ford production line at the time. There is not a robot in site. The girls are not wearing any safety protection gear, but then again, neither are the workers.
Martha & the Vandellas – Nowhere To Run (1965) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3EZ6oEP8xQ
The Soul News flyer from WCHB radio in Detroit, Michigan dated February 4, 1965 with Martha Jean “The Queen”, Ed Love, Jack Springer, and others.
Ad for The Fat Black Pussycat Coffee House in East Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 5, 1965.
A full-page Motown records ad in the January 30, 1965 issue of Cash Box magazine.
Sue Bolt, a respected painter and sculptor now living in Charlevoix, Michigan, came to Detroit after graduating from art school in Cleveland, Ohio and landed a job as an illustrator at The Detroit Free Press newspaper, creating the cover of their first “Sunday” magazine in 1965.
She also made this wonderful illustration of “Berry Gordy’s Golden Record Machine” for the March 21, 1965 issue after spending a week of research at the Hitsville studio. Conspicuously missing, although typical, are any mentions of The Funk Brothers among the list of Motown’s stars and staff.
Later in the year, in the November 7, 1965 issue of The Detroit Free Press Sunday magazine, Sue Bolt created another illustration, similar to her “Motown Machine” back in March, this time depicting the staff and sounds of the WKNR Keener-13 radio station.
Poster from Motown’s first European tour, in Bristol, England, March 23, 1965.
A really nice poster with the Tommy Flanagan Trio opening for Ella Fitzgerald in Berlin, Germany on March 27, 1965. The night before, in Hamburg, was released as the 1965 Ella Fitzgerald album “Ella in Hamburg” which also featured Flanagan.
A high-quality image of a poster from the 1965 Tamla-Motown UK tour, for the show in Leeds on March 31, 1965.
A high-quality image of a poster from the 1965 Tamla-Motown UK tour, for the show in Chester on April 7, 1965.
This appears to be the first Michigan appearance by Chicago guitarist Mike Bloomfield, with “his Rhythm and Blues Band” at the University of Michigan Folk Festival in Ann Arbor, April 9-11, 1965, apparently just prior to his joining The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
A Globe Poster for Hank Ballard & the Midnighters in Baltimore, Maryland on April 10, 1965.
Del Shannon made his second, and final, movie appearance, singing two songs in the film “Daytona Beach Weekend”, released on April 14, 1965.
An ad for the 1965 movie “Daytona Beach Weekend” featuring a head-shot of Del Shannon, “Second only to Mary Poppins” in New Smyrna Beach.
A nice poster for Gladys Knight & the Pips in Buffalo, New York on April 11, 1965.
An ad with John Lee Hooker at Gerde's Folk City in NYC once again, for eleven nights, April 13-25, 1965 ,(with a one-night break in the middle to appear at Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey on April 21.
An ad for Jesse Fuller at the Chess Mate in Detroit, Michigan, for twelve nights, April 13-25, 1965, following a twelve-night engagement by John Lee Hooker.
Shown above are some of the picture sleeves for the five consecutive #1 hits by the Supremes, starting with the release of “Where Did Our Love Go” in June 1964 through the release of “Back In My Arms Again” on April 15, 1965.
The five consecutive #1’s matched the record held at the time by Elvis Presley, but would soon be surpassed by the Beatles as they went head to head with the Supremes and ended up with six consecutive. (Whitney Houston currently holds the record with seven, and the Bee Gees have matched the Beatles with six. Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Katy Perry have joined Elvis and the Supremes with five.)
Beginning in February 1964, the Beatles gained total domination of the singles charts worldwide, although, for simplicity we will just look at the Billboard Hot 100 for the US, where the Beatles accomplishments were unprecedented and remain unmatched. Their first three US releases, "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You" and "Can't Buy Me Love" all went to #1 consecutively, with no other artists in between, for a combined total of 14 consecutive weeks at #1, and the only time an artist had three uninterrupted #1 singles in a row.
When "Can't Buy Me Love" reached #1, on April 4, 1964, the Beatles held the entire top five on the Hot 100, the next positions being filled by "Twist and Shout", "She Loves You", "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Please Please Me", respectively. No other act has held the top five spots simultaneously. And during its second week at number 1, the Beatles had fourteen songs on the Hot 100 at the same time, another unmatched record.
The Supremes entered the fray in August 1964 with their first #1 single "Where Did Our Love Go", “Baby Love” hit #1 on October 31, and "Come See About Me" hit #1 on December 19, starting the battle with the Beatles when “I Feel Fine” took the #1 spot the following week.
“I Feel Fine” remained at #1 for the first two weeks in 1965, only to be knocked off by the re-emergence of "Come See About Me" which took the top spot back for a week on January 16.
The Supremes’ fourth #1, "Stop! In the Name of Love", replaced the Beatles "Eight Days a Week" at the top spot on March 27. The Supremes’ fifth #1, "Back in My Arms Again", replaced the Beach Boys’ "Help Me, Rhonda" on June 12. Prior to the Beach Boys, the Beatles had again been at #1 with "Ticket to Ride". "Back in My Arms Again" was knocked off the top spot by fellow Motown group the Four Tops with "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)".
The second half of 1965 had a string of classics at #1, including "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones (their first US #1), "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher, "Help!" and “Yesterday” by the Beatles, "Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire, "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys, "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" by Herman's Hermits and the Rolling Stones again with "Get Off of My Cloud".
The Supremes were back at #1 again with "I Hear a Symphony" on November 20, but the consecutive streak had been broken when "Nothing but Heartaches" had peaked at #11 in August.
Poster for The Underdogs at Dave Leone’s Hideout in Harper Woods, Michigan, April 15, 1965. This is about a month before the opening of the Hideout #2. The poster features a band photo, two illustrated dogs, and the tag line, "Out of the Kennels and Heading into Dave' Hideout".
A photo of the Supremes, possibly the cover of a concert program book, circa 1965.
