Page 13 - February2021

airplay on WLOF, Orlando and on WOLF in Syracuse, New York where it reached #14.
“How Could I Be Such A Fool” appears on The Mothers of Invention’s debut album, Freak Out.
Frank Zappa wouldn’t have a national charting single until 1974 with “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow Suite.” Zappa would have a #1 hit with “Bobby Brown,” as it topped the charts in Sweden and Norway in 1979. It failed to chart in America.
Zappa’s only top 40 hit in America was “Valley Girl,” reaching #32 on the pop charts in 1982. It also hit #12 on the American Rock chart, and #18 in Canada.
Otis Redding (and the Shooters): She’s Alright
Two years before the release of his first Stax single “These Arms of Mine,” Otis Redding released his debut single called “She’s Alright” under the title Otis Redding & The Shooters.
The song failed to chart.
During this time, Redding
toured with The Pinetoppers and also doubled as the band’s driver. It was during an unscheduled Stax recording session that he landed a record deal.
Redding would go on to have 31 singles (including posthumous releases) reach the top 40 on the R&B charts. Redding reached #2 twice with “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” and “Tramp” (with Carla Thomas). His only #1 (both Pop and R&B charts) came in 1968 with “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay,” released after his tragic death in December of 1967. While with Stax, Redding re-record “She’s Alright,” which appears on the Remember Me compilation.
Moby Grape
What is perhaps known as the most unusual debut single (or singles) of all-time, Columbia Records chose to introduce
the world to Moby Grape by releasing their first 5 singles on the same day, June 6, 1967.
The singles, both the A-sides and B-sides, appear on their self-titled debut album, which reached #24 on the album charts. The singles released were “Fall On You,” “Sitting By The Window,” “8:05,” “Omaha,” and “Hey Grandma.”
The promotional stunt backfired as the group was criticized by many as being “over hyped.” Furthermore, the simultaneous release of 5 debut singles caused confusion among music directors at radio stations across the country. Of the 5 singles, “Omaha” was the only single to hit the Billboard Hot 100 at #88. The song did hit #10 in San Francisco on KFRC. “Hey Grandma” bubbled under at #127.
While the stunt failed nationally, it greatly succeeded in Reno, Nevada as all 5 singles simultaneously hit #1 on KCBN
on July 21, 1967.
Each single was released
with a pic sleeve that was carefully cropped to remove the infamous “one finger salute.” The uncropped photo was used as the album cover and originally released undoctored, but the middle finger was later airbrushed or covered up on later releases.
Rolling Stone Magazine ranks “Omaha” at #95 on the “100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All-Time.” It is an excellent artifact from the San Francisco psychedelic scene, but be sure you hear the MONO POWER mix...not the watered down super-separated stereo mix. The same goes with “Hey Grandma” as the scorching guitar is buried in the stereo mix. Listen to the singles (heck, listen to the whole album) in glorious MONO!
Jumpin’ Joe
Host of Jumpin’ Joe’s Basement Show
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