Week of December 19, 1971
In a sweeping realignment of the world’s currencies by the top-10 trading nations,
the US agrees to a 7.89% devaluation of the dollar and lifting of the 10%
surcharge on imported goods. The devaluation was based on raising the official
price of gold from $35 to $38 and ounce. President Nixon says the actions will
lead to “a more stable world in which competition would be more fair and there
will be more true prosperity.”
Pakistani President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan ,
under fire because of Pakistan’s defeat by India, resigns
after turning the government over to civilian control.
Nine months of bloodshed has led to an estimated
million-plus deaths in the new Peoples Republic of
Bangla Desh. It all began last March when Pakistan
dispatched troops from the West to crush East
Pakistan’s independence movement. A cease-
fire/surrender is called and it looks like the bloodletting is
finished. The police chief says “the whole country is a
mass grave” and that “jackals, vultures and dogs are at
them.”
President Nixon frees James R. Hoffa from prison on
condition the ex-Teamsters Union president not become
involved in managing any labor organization before 1980 - his
full term for two sentences. The Justice Department explained
why his sentence was commuted almost four years before his
release date, cited his wife’s severe heart condition, his
excellent prison record and his 1971 resignation from all
Teamster offices.
Comedian Bob Hope says he visited Vientiane, Laos to discuss with North
Vietnamese Communist officials the possibility of going to Hanoi to try to
negotiate the release of American prisoners of war in a $10 million charity deal.
Hope is traveling with his Christmas show.
A gun-wielding man who hijacked a Northwest Airlines jetliner and demanded
$300,000 ransom and two parachutes is arrested after holding the airliner captive
for more than four hours at O’Hare International Airport. None of the 85 persons
aboard the Boeing 707 was reported injured.
Week of December 19, 1971
In Seoul, at least 50 are dead after a fire sweeps through the Taeyonkak Hotel.
Police say at least 30 others among the 250 guests were trapped in their rooms
and the toll may rise.
Passing - Roy O. Disney (78) - guided the business
side and left his late brother, Walt, free to pursue his
mighty ambitions. Together, they built a multimillion-
dollar entertainment empire beginning in a small
Hollywood studio in 1923.
Passing - Actress Diana Lynn , popular
actress of the 40’s and 50’s. She was 45…
of a brain hemorrhage.
Music news - passing - Glen Wallichs
(61), president and cofounder of Capitol
Records and chairman of the Board of Wallichs Music and
Entertainment. In July 1940 - he opened Wallichs Music City - a
very popular record store in Hollywood. In 1942, he joined with singer Johnny
Mercer and Buddy DeSylva, then a Paramount Pictures executive, to form
Capitol Records.
Look for a new John Lennon album to be released next month. Tentatively titled
“Live Jam,” it has at least two songs that are political statements - “In Luck of the
Irish,” about the current Northern Ireland situation and “Attica State” - about
prison reform. Lennon has a new Christmas single out - “So This Is Christmas”
produced by Phil Spector and backed with the Harlem Community Choir. Will it
could become a holiday standard?
Wow - Dig this. Barry Williams of the “Brady Bunch” has a
solo single out - ‘Sweet Sweetheart” and it’s available on
Paramount Records. Will it be a hit?
Harry Chapin is signed to Elektra Records. Harry’s
“Legendary Champions,” a documentary he wrote and
directed, was nominated for an Academy Award, while he
was writing material for his brothers’ group, the Chapins as
well as the music for a TV series and the film, “Blue Water, White Death.”
Stax in Memphis makes sheet music to Isaac Hayes’ “Theme From Shaft”
available to major college and university bands at no charge resulting in
performances at football games and national TV exposure. The Florida A&M
Week of December 19, 1971
band performed the tune during nationally televised football games in Houston
and Oakland. “Shaft” is expected to be highlighted.
Piano player Billy Joel, who records for a
small record label called “Family
Records” says that equipment for
amplifying pianos lags “far behind”
corresponding equipment for other
instruments in the rock field, despite the
fact that use of the piano is a growing
trend. “The piano player in rock is really a
second class citizen, abused from all
sides - club, owners, piano tuners,
manufacturers. Miking a piano is a
sensitive operation. Bad miking leads to
distortion, there’s leaking from other
instruments and other problems.”
Joel is currently on a series of U.S. club
dates and preparing for a concert tour, appearing on the bill with name artists.
The album pictured is Joel’s first album for the Los Angeles-based label, and
contains something called “She’s Got A Way.”
Radio news - CBS radio says it is adding 10 (info) features to the network. A few
will be aimed at specific audiences such as woman. Some of the features are
“The Buyer’s Scene” with Christopher Glenn (voice of CBS-TV’s “In The News),
“Dateline: America” with Charles Kuralt; “Today’s Woman” with Sylvia Chase and
“What’s New At The Movies” with Lee Jordan.
More radio - DJ Charlie Fox - on his way to WIXY, Cleveland - from KRIZ -
Phoenix - gets sideswiped and is hired away by Detroit’s CKLW. Speaking of
WIXY, they have a new general manager - non other than Gene Taylor, longtime
at WLS, Chicago.
Television news - Johnny Cash is currently making a 90-minute feature film at
Christian holy sites in Israel and Jordan. “I’ve never seen a movie about Jesus
that I really liked so I thought I’d make one myself.” Cash says he spent
$500,000 and five weeks in Israel to produce a portrayal of Christ “the man, as a
real man, very human and as a divinity - very divine.”
Week of December 19, 1971
More Johnny Cash - Ex-convict turned singer
Glen Sherley, marries Nicki Robbins at the
Nashville home of Cash. Sherley, who served 10
years for armed robbery, met Johnny Cash at
Folsom Prison, where Cash was entertaining.
Next week, don’t miss the premiere of the “Sonny
and Cher Comedy Hour” on CBS-TV.
Actress Loretta Young sues NBC for just over $1 million
on the complaint that introductory and closing remarks
she made in a series of 32 “Loretta Lynn” television
programs were used in foreign countries. The shows, all
made during the late 1950’s are not suppose to show her
opening and closings. She said she specified that in a
contract, knowing that any showing out of the US would
take place years later and fashion and hairstyles would
have changed.
Sammy Davis Jr . is signed to play himself in an
upcoming “All In The Family.” Davis, a big fan of
the show, asked producer Norman Lear to let him
guest in an episode. Lear says it isn’t the show’s
policy to book big-name guests and that Davis’
appearance will by no means be setting a
precedent for future shows.
Monday Night Television -
CBS - Gunsmoke, Here’s Lucy, Doris Day Show,
My Three Sons
NBC - Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, NBC
Monday Night At The Movies
ABC - Monday Night Football
PBS - An American Christmas: Words and Music, Christmas at Boys Town,
Book Beat.
Gunsmoke - Discovering his replacement is a female doctor - Doc Adams is
forced to work with her during an epidemic and falls in love. Guest star is Vera
Miles.
Week of December 19, 1971
An American Christmas - Burt Lancaster hosts with
guests Freda Payne , Linda Lavin and James Earl Jones.
Rowan and Martin - Joe Namath guests with cameos by
Petula Clark, Charo and Burt Mustin.
Doris Day Show - Bob Crane stars as the host of a
latenight TV talk show whom Doris is assigned to
interview.
Tonight Show - Joey Bishop is guest host to Corbett Monica, Paul Anka, Jose
Molina and Gwen Davis.
At the movies -
Dirty Harry - Clint Eastwood
Star Spangled Girl - Sandy Duncan,
Tony Roberts, Todd Susman,
Elizabeth Allen
Eagle In A Cage - Billie Whitelaw,
Ralph Richardson
Mary, Queen of Scots - Vanessa
Redgrave, Glenda Jackson, Patrick
McGoohan, Timothy Dalton, Nigel
Davenport
Sometimes A Great Notion - Paul
Newman, Henry Fonda, Lee Remick,
Michael Sarrazin, Richard Jaeckel,
Linda Lawson, Cliff Potts
Harold and Maude - Ruth Gordon,
Bud Cort
The Hospital - George C. Scott
The Boyfriend - Twiggy
See No Evil - Mia Farrow
The Anderson Tapes - Sean
Connery
Targets - Boris Karloff, Tim O’Kelly,
Nancy Hsueh, James Brown
Is There Sex After Death ? - Buck
Henry, Robert Downey, Earl Doud,
Marshall Efron
The Last Picture Show
Week of December 19, 1971
Such Good Friends - Dyan Cannon, James
Coco, Jennifer O’Neal, Ken Howard, Nina
Foch, Laurence Luckinbill, Louise Lasser,
Burgess Meredith
Top Soul Albums -
Shaft - Isaac Hayes/soundtrack
What’s Going On - Marvin Gaye
(For God’s Sake) Give More Power To The
People - Chi-Lites
There’s A Riot Goin’ On - Sly & The Family
Stone
Roots - Curtis Mayfield
Hot Pants - James Brown
Goin’ Back To Indiana - soundtrack
Aretha’s Greatest Hits - Aretha Franklin
Santana
Soul singles -
Family Affair - Sly & The Family Stone
Respect Yourself - Staple Singers
Rock Steady - Aretha Franklin
Clean Up Woman - Betty Wright
Have You Seen Her - Chi-Lites
Got To Be There - Michael Jackson
Drowning In The Sea Love - Joe Simon
I’m A Greedy Man - James Brown
Let’s Stay Together - Al Green
One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show - Honey Cone
Country Singles -
She’s All I Know - Johnny Paycheck
Kiss An Angel Good Morning - Charley Pride
Dis-satisfied - Bill Anderson & Jan Howard
Coat of Many Colors - Dolly Parton
Country Green - Don Gibson
Week of December 19, 1971
Would You Take Another Chance On Me/Me & Bobby McGee -
Jerry Lee Lewis
Country Green - Don Gibson
Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man) - Merle Haggard
(I’ve Got A) Happy Heart - Susan Raye
Top British singles -
Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) - Benny
Hill
Jeepster - T. Rex
Coz I Luv You - Slade
Tokoloshe Man - John Kongos
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves - Cher
Banks of the Ohio - Olivia Newton John
Till - Tom Jones
Theme From Shaft - Isaac Hayes
No Matter How I Try - Gilbert O’ Sullivan
Johnny Reggae - Piglets
Top Albums -
There’s A Riot Goin’ On - Sly & The Family
Stone
Led Zeppelin
Santana
Teaser and the Firecat - Cat Stevens
Chicago At Carnegie Hall
E Pluribus Funk - Grand Funk Railroad
Stones - Neil Diamond
Shaft - soundtrack
Tapestry - Carole King
Every Picture Tells A Story - Rod Stewart
Imagine - John Lennon
To You With Love - Donny Osmond
Madman Across The Water - Elton John
All In The Family - TV Cast
Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy - The Who
Week of December 19, 1971
Pop music this week in 1971…
FAMILY AFFAIR - Sly & Family Stone
BRAND NEW KEY - Melanie
GOT TO BE THERE - Michael Jackson
AN OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONG - Three Dog Night
THEME FROM SHAFT - Isaac
Hayes
CHERISH - David Cassidy
ROCK STEADY - Aretha Franklin
ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU - Sonny
& Cher
HAVE YOU SEEN HER - Chi-Lites
SCORPIO - Dennis Coffey &
Detroit Guitar Band
AMERICAN PIE - Don McLean
BABY I’M-A WANT YOU - Bread
STONES - Neil Diamond
RESPECT YOURSELF - Staple
Singers
HEY GIRL - Donny Osmond
SUPERSTAR (Remember How
You Got Where You Are) -
Temptations
SUNSHINE - Jonathan Edwards
DESIDERATA - Les Crane
YOU ARE EVERYTHING - Stylistics
SUGAR DADDY - Jackson 5
GYPSYS, TRAMPS AND THIEVES - Cher
LET’S STAY TOGETHER - Al Green
IMAGINE - John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band
DROWNING IN THE SEA OF LOVE -
Joe Simon
BEHIND BLUE EYES - The Who
CLEAN UP WOMAN - Betty Wright
(I Know) I’M LOSING YOU - Rod Stewart
with Faces
ONE MONKEY DON’T STOP NO SHOW
(pt. 1) - Honey Cone
I’M A GREEDY MAN (pt. 1) - James
Brown
FRIENDS WITH YOU - John Denver
Week of December 19, 1971
THEME FROM “SUMMER OF ’42” -
Peter Nero
NOTHING TO HIDE - Tommy James
I’D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD
TO SING - (In Perfect Harmony) -
Hillside Singers
HALLELUJAH - Sweathog
HEY BIG BROTHER - Rare Earth
I’D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD
TO SING - (In Perfect Harmony)-
New Seekers
A NATURAL MAN - Lou Rawls
CAN I GET A WITNESS - Lee
Michaels
WHITE LIES, BLUE EYES - Bullet
DAY AFTER DAY - Badfinger
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