This issue from the Billboard archive dated August 7, 1965 features a bright orange logo and bright color photos on the cover — a massive change from our previous From the Archive column from Nov. 14, 1908. No longer are circuses, theater and skating rinks covered; rather, “The International Music-Record Newsweekly” covers “Radio-TV Programming,” “Phono Tape Merchandising” and, of course, “Coin Machine Operating.”
In the top right corner of the cover is an advertisement for Sam the Sham
and the Pharaohs who were “going into their second million seller on
MGM Records with the blazing ‘Ju Ju Hand’ following ‘Wooly Bully’ their
first million seller, currently the top record in England. “
Clockwise from top left corner Mark Spolestra; Odetta; Joan Baez; Pete Seeger and Willie Dixon; Maybelle Carter and Mike Seeger; Josh White; and Donovan (center).
Forty-eight years ago today on July 25, 1965 Bob Dylan blew the minds of folk purists when he did the unthinkable: he played electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival. As is the case with most seminal events in the music history (since 1894!), Billboard was there. Our reporter Lee Zhito, filing from Newport, Rhode Island, described the scene thusly:
“Bobby Dylan appeared, after long and loud shouting from the crowd demanding his presence. (The audience for this performance as during the previous concerts, was a free-swinging outspoken crowd which was ever quick to let its likes and dislikes be known).”
The article continues under the heading “Stormy Reception” with the following: “Then, when Dylan arrived, for a brief moment it seemed that he had lost the support of his followers. Shouts from non-Dylan attendees that he go back to the ‘Ed Sullivan Show,’ or that he shun the electric guitar, brought cheers. The indication was that many in the audience felt that he wasn’t the same Bobby of a year ago–that perhaps he’s turned too commercial for the folk purists.
Dylan with the air of one who relishes controversy, soon had the crowd in his palm. A particularly moving rendition of his ‘Tambourine Man” brought it to its feet with cheers for more.”
Intesting in this issue, Elektra Records announced it would begin branching out
into new genres. Good thing that, otherwise who knows where bands like
Love, The Doors, The Stooges and MC5 would have ended up.
A review of the Supremes show at NYC’s Copacabana (with Sammy Davis Jr and
Ed Sullivan amongst the crowd) written by Billboard publisher Hal B. Cook.
THE CHARTS: August 7, 1965:
COOL ADVERTS:
The hubris of Brad Berwick had us running to check his claim that he’s “Better Than the Beatles.” You be the judge: