Transcript for the Piece Audio version of Yesterday, Today

Yesterday, Today
Show #1

(Music in and fade for)

Hello, welcome to Yesterday, Today, on this summer Saturday, the Fourth Of July 1964. I'm your host, Scott Greggory inviting you to join me as we offer a musical tribute to the founding of our great nation, play today's chart toppers, report the latest news, check the latest sports scores and share some stories that probably won't change your life, but might provide food for thought or a little chuckle along the way.

Starting off, we'll get right into the spirit of the day with an energetic number by James Cagney from the 1942 film of the same name, Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1:36)

James Cagney with Yankee Doodle Dandy to get us going here on this fine Fourth of July, a mere one hundred eighty-eight years after the founding fathers made their declaration of independence and founded a new nation.

Returning to the present, we have a song for you that's currently doing very well on the pop charts. A blend of calypso, jazz and rhythm and blues from Jamaica called Ska give it a very distinctive sound and it's a big hit for 18 year-old Jamaican Millie Small. Let's listen as she tells us all about "My Boy Lollipop".

My Boy Lollipop (1:56)

"He makes her heart go giiddy up", "My Boy Llollipop" by Jamaican teen queen, Miss Millie Small.

The Beach Boys, three brothers, a cousin and a school buddy, have only been around for a couple of years, but with hits like "Surfin Safari" and "Surfer Girl", they've made surfing popular in places a thousand miles from the nearest ocean. And their musical "409" and "Little Deuce Coupe" have guys itching to pop their clutches and lay a little rubber at stoplights in cities and towns across the country.

With another car-related theme, The Beach Boys latest release, "I Get Around", is already moving up the charts.

I Get Around (2:13)

A trio of young ladies from Detroit who call themselves The Supremes are asking, "Where Did Our Love Go?" This fast rising hit on the Motown label, featuring lead singer Diana Ross, accompnied by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson has a strong, foot-stomping backbeat and the hypnotic "baby, baby" refrain make it almost irresistible. Here are The Supremes and "Where Did Our Love Go?"

Where Did Our Love Go? (2:40)

Chances are very good, I'd say about 100 percent, that unless you've been living in the Amazon jungle for the past six months, you've seen and heard a great deal about the English
singing group, The Beatles, since they first dazzled the country on the Ed Sullivan show on February ninth of this year.

The Beatles first film, "A Hard Day?s Night", the title supposedly
based on a comment by drummer Ringo Starr after the band finished an all night recording session, opened this week in London and is scheduled to come to the United States later this summer.

Here now, from a "Hard Day?s Night", The Beatles and "Can't Buy Me Love."

Can't Buy Me Love (2:46)

John, Paul, George and Ringo, The Beatles, with "Can't Buy Me Love", from their new film, "A Hard Day?s Night".

We'll hear more from them a little later in the show, so stay with us for the hits you want to hear, news of the big and not so big variety and more, here on Yesterday, Today. We'll be right back.

1964 commercial #1 (Ford): 60

Welcome back to Yesterday, Today, July fourth, 1964. I'm your host Scott Greggory and whether you're cruising in a convertible, soaking up the sun on the beach, or just relaxing in the back yard this holiday weekend, we have your favorite music to make it even more enjoyable.

Last year, Miss Barbra Joan Streisand's first album won two Grammy Awards and received album of the year for 1963, making her the youngest artist ever to win the award.

From her broadway musical "Funny Girl", a song that's sure to become an all-time classic, Barbra Streisand and, "People".

People (2:44)

22 year old Barbra Streisand, what a future she has in front of her.

John Phillip Sousa composed his most famous march, "Stars And Stripes Forever" on Christmas Day 1896. But the amazing thing is that he composed it entirely in his head while on vacation in Europe, using, as he later described it, his "brain band". he refused to put the music on paper until he reached America, but commented that not a note of the composition changed during the transcription process. Continuing our celebration of the country?s birthday, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops give us John Phillip Sousa's "Stars And Stripes Forever."

Stars And Stripes Forever (3:20)

I hope where ever you're listening to the show today, big city or small town, you'll have the chance to hear this greatest of all American marches again tonight with fireworks lighting up the sky above you.

"What A Week" music in and fade

Time now for "What A Week", a review of the events of the past week, news from the last 168 hours that in ways big and small, made the world what it is today, July fourth, 1964.

After a year long fight, congress passed long awaited civil rights legislation on Thursday and President Johnson signed the bill into law yesterday. Following the signing ceremony, the president said this about the meaning of the long awaited new law.

President Johnson sound bite (:55)

In addition to barring discrimination by employers, in hotels, motels, restaurants, movies and other places serving the public,
The new law also tightens provisions of the first civil rights law, passed in 1957 that protect the voting rights of Negro Americans.

Roy Wilkins, executive secretary of the National Association for The Advancement Of Colored People, hailed the new civil rights legislation as the "Magna Carta of human rights".

Mississippi governor Paul Johnson responded to the bill's passage by saying that he thought it would bring trouble and that he didn't think restaurant and hotel owners should comply with it.

In other news from the nation's capital, the president has dispatched General Maxwell Taylor, the ambassador to South Vietnam, to work with the South Vietnamese government on ways to succeed with out having to carry the fight to communist North Vietnam.

Underscoring these developments was the announcement this week that the number of us servicemen killed in Vietnam rose to 149 when a Vietcong sniper killed the pilot of a medical evacuation helicopter in the Mekong delta, 83 miles southwest of Saigon.

And that's "What A Week" here, on Yesterday, Today, July fourth, 1964.

Our next chart topper, a teenager's car crisis with a classical twist as The Reflections put the beat to the Bard Of Avon with "Just Like Romeo And Juliet".

Just Like Romeo And Juliet (2:20)

What would Shakespeare think about "Just Like Romeo And Juliet"? He?d just put on his dancing shoes and head out on the floor.

New Orleans has long been famous as the home of Dixieland jazz music, but these girls, once known as Little Miss And The Muffets have sound all their own. Recording on the Red Bird label, The Dixie Cups with their big hit, "Chapel Of Love".

Chapel Of Love (2:15)

The Beatles well-scrubbed appearance and mod suits now have a counterpoint in a group from London with a decidedly scruffier appearance. their music is different too, less polite, more raw and raucous, but definitely powerful.

The cover of their first album, just released in the United States, says it all, England's newest hitmakers. Here are The Rolling Stones with their version of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away"

Not Fade Away (1:48)

The Rolling Stones, I think you'll be hearing a lot more from them.

And we'll be back with Yesterday, Today after this.

1964 commercial #2 (Pepsi):60

Welcome back, we have lots more music coming up for you on Yesterday, Today, but right now, it's time to get caught up on sports with "Scores And More".

The big story in sports this week, of course, is the all-star game this coming Tuesday at Shea Stadium in New York. In a rarity, the starting pitchers for the all-star game represent teams from the same city, Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dean Chance of the Los Angeles Angels.

Former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson wants a crack at another former heavyweight champ, Sonny Liston, figuring, one supposes, that the third time will be a charm for him, Liston has already knocked Patterson out twice, in 1962 in the first round of their championship bout in Chicago and again last year, also in the first round, in the return match in Las Vegas.

Of course, even if Patterson should somehow defeat Liston, he would have to challenge current champion Cassius Clay, who took the title from Liston last February in Miami Beach.
And that's it for "Scores And More".

"Scores And More" music up and out

We're back to music on this edition of Yesterday, Today, July 4, 1964.

Continuing a musical salute to our Declaration Of Independence, we look back to Armistice Day, 1938, when famed songwriter Irving Berlin introduced "God Bless America". The song's unabashed patriotism, dramatically proclaimed by Kate Smith's powerful voice, made it an immediate hit, so popular in fact, many wanted it to replace the Star Spangled Banner as the national anthem. I'm not sure that it's possible to hear this song, no matter where you are or what your are doing and not say to yourself, I am proud to be an American. Here is Kate Smith and her magnificent version of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America".

God Bless America (2:16)

No matter how many times I hear it, I still get chills when Kate Smith hits that final note.

The popular folk group, The New Christy Minstrels enjoyed big success last year with their hit recording "Green, Green". Their latest release is from their score for the new comedy, "Advance To The Rear", starring Glenn Ford and Stella Stevens. With a melody that stays with you long after the song is over, here are The New Christy Minstrels with "Today".

Today (2:48)

Like the "fab four" from Liverpool, The Rolling Stones and the Dave Clark Five, The Bachelors, a very talented trio from Dublin, have made the journey across the Atlantic and found success. Their rendition of Diane, a song first made popular in the 1920s, is riding high on the charts across the country.

Diane (2:30)

They're in heaven when they see her smile, The Bachelors with "Diane".

I hope you're enjoying this beautiful summer day as much as I am. So whether you're listening on a transistor radio at the beach or sitting on the patio with a cool drink, stay with us for more music and news from around the nation right here on Yesterday, Today, July 4th, 1964.

Jerry Wallace began recording in 1951 and burst onto the pop charts in 1958 on the Challenge label with "How The Time Flies" and the even bigger "Primrose Lane" the next year in 1959. His current entry on the pop charts "In The Misty Moonlight" is a nice ballad and a good fit with his singing style.

Here for you now, Jerry Wallace and "In The Misty Moonlight".

In The Misty Moonlight (2:47)

Time now for, "The Price You'll Pay" a trip to the store to see how far your dollar goes today.

People whose job it is to know these things report that the average yearly income this year will be about $6000. So get a good grip on your purse or wallet, as the case may be and let's take a look at the price you'll pay, today, July fourth, 1964.

In the most and least catagories?

A roof over your head, along with the rest of the house to go with it, will cost you $13,050, while a postage stamp is still a nickel.

Have to get out on those highway and byways, right? A new Ford Mustang will cost you two thousand three hundred and fifty eight dollars or if you want to go the import route, a new Renault a little less at one thousand, four hundred and fifty five dollars.

The average cost of a gallon of gas to drive that new car is about 27 cents a gallon.

Hungry? A McDonald's hamburger will cost you 15 cents, or if you have big appetite, stop by a Howard Johnson's and enjoy a turkey dinner, with gravy, cranberry sauce, peas and carrots and whipped potatoes for just a $1.49.

The cost of a movie ticket is now a $1.25, doesn't seem very long ago it was just a quarter does it?

Finally, the price you'll pay for a 45 record of our next song, 49 cents.

And speaking about that next song?

"Rag Doll" by The Four Seasons is this group's most popular song to date, quite an accomplishment for these young guys from New Jersey, especially considering this appears to be the year of The Beatles and other British pop groups.

Topping the charts on this fine Saturday, July fourth, 1964, The Four Seasons and "Rag Doll".

Rag Doll (2:58)

Lead singer Franki Valli and The Four Seasons with "Rag Doll".

We have a lot more music for you, so stay with us, here on Yesterday, Today. We'll be right back.

1964 commercial #4 (Buick) :60

"This And That" music intro in and under

Let's take a look at "This And That", stories that didn't make the front page today, but caught our attention and we hope you'll find them interesting as well.

President Johnson is spending this fourth of July holiday at his Texas ranch where he and his family will celebrate the birthday of daughter, Luci who turned seventeen on the second. He is expected to be back in washington next week.

Actor Peter Lawford and wife Patricia, sister of President Kennedy, have purchased a $140,000. 14 room co-op apartment in New York City. This, after previously being black balled in an attempt to buy another apartment when the owner told the Lawfords that he did not want to share the building with show business people or Democrats.

Mrs. John F. Kennedy has decided to leave the capitol and its memories of great triumph and greater sadness and move to New York City. The widow of the assassinated president will take up residence in New York in time to enoll Caroline 6 and John 3, in school there this fall.

And in a sign of the times, this from San Francisco. A young lady named Carol Doda is dancing topless nightly at a North Beach club called The Condor. Evidently Miss Doda's act includes sitting atop a grand piano lowered from the ceiling by hydraulic motors. After her big entrance, Miss Doda dances sans top to The Frug, The Swim and The Watusi.

It's also reported that the lady's artificially enhanced endowments measure 44d.

At the movies this week, "A Shot In The Dark", with Peter Sellers reprising his role as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in the highly successful Pink Panther film. Joining Sellers in this laugh out loud comedy are the beautiful Swedish actress Elke Summer and veteran British actor George Sanders.

And there you have it, a little this and a little that for this fine July Fourth, 1964.

The Beatles first album, entitled "Please Please Me" on Parlophone Records in Great Britain and "Introducing The Beatles" on Vee Jay Records here in the states, includes their cover of the song, "A Taste Of Honey". A personal favorite of Paul McCartney, the group included it as part of their repertoire at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Once more, The Beatles, featuring the voice of Paul McCartney with "A Taste Of Honey".

A Taste Of Honey (2:01)

For our last selection on this July Fourth, 1964 edition of Yesterday, Today, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and their stirring rendition of America The Beautiful.

America The Beautiful (3:42)

From sea to shining sea, the United States of America. Thank you for spending part of this special day with us. This is Scott Greggory wishing you sunny days and starry nights. So long.

"Yesterday, Today" is a Radio 314 production.
Toby Oothoudt, Executive Producer.

Copyright 2008 Marvin Oothoudt

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