By john dixon (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:38 pm:

I'm reading Martha Reeves' book at the moment and she briefly mentions doing a 90 minute CBS television special in June '65 put together by Murray the K called "It's What's Happening, Baby." I remember seeing this program when it aired but many details have gone fuzzy with the passage of time. I can remember Martha and the Vandellas singing "Nowhere To Run" on a Detroit assembly line. The only other acts that I can actually recall are the Supremes singing "Stop! In The Name Of Love" and Tom Jones singing "It's Not Unusual".

Other performers included the Temptations, Four Tops, Dionne Warwick, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles,Righteous Bros., Dave Clark 5, Gary Lewis & the Playboys(hey doug!),Drifters, Little Anthony, and others.

Does anyone remember this program well enough to share any memories and is there a chance that it might be commercially available?

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 07:57 pm:

Did the show also have Cannibal & the Headhunters doing "Land of 1000 Dances" and The Miracles doing "Ooh Baby Baby" ? If so , I remember seeing it. I've seen that clip of Martha on some other show more recently. As far as availability , I couldnt find it on "Videobeat". I'll ask this guy I buy dvd's from at the next record show. He'll know where to find it.

SteveK

By fayette (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:00 pm:

i wish i could see on reruns of the midnight
special and rock concert.

By mhc (172.146.103.92) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 10:14 pm:

It was a long time ago, but I did catch part of the show, and my one memory of it was seeing Smokey and The Miracles do "More Love". It was my first time hearing the song and it just floored me.

By john dixon (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 11:25 pm:

one other thing I remember about the show, and there's a great picture of it in Martha's book, is everybody on stage during the finale, including Murray the K with his hat and mohair sweater, doing his hipster dance. It was cool watching the Motown artists laughin', singin', and dancin' with the guys in the British Invasion bands. It was salad days, for sure, for everybody involved.

By john dixon (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 09:50 am:

mhc, the program you mention could not have been "It's What's Happening, Baby". The chronology doesn't fit. This program aired in primetime on CBS in June '65. "More Love" was released in Spring of '67. Of all people I don't have to tell you how diferent a Motown or Beatles '65 cut sounded compared to '67. It's quite amazing to hear the difference that occurred in pop music in that two year span. Listen to Jamerson's basslines in '65, then in '67 and it sounds like he's grown another hand or something! But back to the program IWHB, in Martha Reeves book, she didn't mention Smokey/Miracles being in the lineup and I don't think she would have left them out. I wish I could remember more about this show, it's been so long ago; didn't anyone else see it?

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 10:00 am:

AND SPEAKING OF SPECIALS,THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE IN 65 CALLED ANATOMY OF POP,I DON'T REMEMBER ALL THE ARTIST BUT I REMEMBER SEEING A SHOT OF THE TEMPS RECORDING [MY GIRL}AND DAVID SINGING LEAD IN HIS DOORAG.DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THAT SHOW?

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 10:04 am:

There were two Murray specials - "IWHB" and 1967's "Murray the K in New York"? Cannibal was on the '65 one ; by the way , my memeory didnt improve - there's a Murray the K website. I don't remember the address; I just did a Google search and there it was

steve the k

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 10:13 am:

Hey , that site is murraythek.com and if you click on the little pictures on the tv page, you get little -like 10 second-video clips from the shows ; Smokey , Chuck Jackson throwing his jacket into the crowd etc. Pretty cool

Stevek

By john dixon (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 11:05 am:

hey hey Steve the K, thanks for the info, I'll definately check out the site. The '67 program, Murray The K In New York, is probably the one Marshall was referring to as it fits the timeline. Until you mentioned that little clips from these shows were available to view on his website, I was wondering if, like the early Tonight Shows w/ Johnny Carson, the videotape had been recorded over and was forever lost. It's a shame to think that these shows, unseen since their original broadcast date, are lying in a vault collecting dust somewhere. I'm sure there are alot of folks, especially here, who would pay to see them.

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 11:18 am:

John;
Yeah , they've even got a form to fill out if you want to use the footage , so the whole shows must be in tact somewhere.
R&B - I looked into "Anatomy of Pop" , but all I found was someone inquiring into who held the copyrights. I vaguely remember that show.
There's a ton of TV stuff out there I wish I could find. The dude that I buy dvd's from at Record shows comes up with some cool stuff but he's pretty closed mouth about where he gets it.
It's mostly old footage from shows were familiar with but also more obscure stuff (MC5 on Detroit public TV , 1966 ; The 'Free John Sinclair' rally)

Steve k

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 12:58 pm:

Now talk about a great show. John Dixon is
correct on the airing date, June, 1965 on CBS.
It was taped at the ledgendary Brooklyn Fox
theater and various part of the country. Some
of the footage shot at the Brooklyn Fox features
such ledgends as, Dionne Warwick singing, "Walk
On By" with great audience participation, Chuck
Jackson singing, " I Don't Wanna Cry", taking off
his jacket, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles singing
"Ooo Baby Baby", Little Anthony & The Imperials
doing, " I'm Alright", with a great dancing
routine, The Righteous Bros singing, " You've
Lost That Loving Feeling", Patti LaBelle & The
Bluebells singing, " You'll Never Walk Alone".
Murray The K then traveled to Detroit where
Martha & The Vandellas sang, " Nowhere To Run",
at the Ford factory plant where a 1965 Mustang
was being put together, while they were in the
car singing ! Johnny Mathis, Cannibal & The
Headhunters, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Jan &
Dean, Fred Gwynne of the Munsters tv show. There
is also a great shot of the Ronettes in the
downtown area doing their 1963 hit, " Be My Baby", and of course Herman's Hermits singing
"Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" in
the mid town area in New York. The show is
a masterpiece !!!!
There will never be another show like that one,
ever !!!!!!!

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By TonyRussi (68.18.48.42) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 01:11 pm:

"Its Whats Happening Baby"was a TV 2hr special in early '65.I do NOT recall Smokey Robinson & the Miracles on the show but they sure would not have done "More Love" as that song was 2 years newer.I have a lot of the program on video but very poor quality.It was the first Music/video concept I recall.Artist included Martha & Vandellas the famous running down the Ford Mustang assembley line singing "Nowhere to Run", Supremes doing "Stop In the Name of Love" I don't recall scenerio,The Ronettes(lookin hot!)walking down a New York St. singin'"Be My Baby" with a crowd following them and stop at a hot dog stand.Mary Wells walking around a lake(Central Park?) singin "My Guy".Pattie & the Blue-Bells on stage doing "You'll Never Walk Alone" those are the ones that stick out in my mind as I said the video I acquired is horrible but I remember the original broadcast. There were some of the British groups onn it also. The program was one of the Stay In School campaigns which were big in the 60's.

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 02:08 pm:

Hey don't forget the Temptin' Temptations
backstage doing, " The Way You Do The Things
You Do", at the Brooklyn Fox as well !!! And
Tony you were right, it was sponsored by the
folks in Washington D.C. for the Stay In School
campaigns. The only British group in the show
Tony was Herman's Hermits singing, " Mrs Brown
You've Got A Lovely Daughter". As a matter of
fact the Stay In School sponsor was called
New Chance, for teens who were unemployed and
needed jobs especially in the summer.

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 04:20 pm:

Chancellor & Company:
I remember seeing Martha Reeves/Vandellas clip of Nowhere to Run on a few rock documentaries. I wonder if CBS has the original footage still in their libraries.

Here's one for you - Cousin Bruce Morrow hosted a similar music special that either was aired on the ABC affiliate here in NYC (Channel 7) or it was syndicated. It featured Diana Ross & the Supremes and was taped at an amusement park. Does anybody remember the special? Cousin Brucie does mention it in his autobiography published in 1988.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 04:50 pm:

KevGo,
Yes I do remember that particular show Cousin
Brucie hosted and it was in Central Park during
the summer of 1967. It came on here in New York
around about 8pm on ABC (Channel 7 here in New
York). I remember seeing the group The Happinings
singing, " See You In September" and " I Got
Rhythm". If I'm not mistaken, it was aired on
a Sunday.

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 06:50 pm:

Chancellor/Mike:
Thanks for the info. I have a picture of Cousin Brucie with the Supremes. When I dig the book out of storage, I'll try to scan it for everyone.
Regards,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By mhc (172.202.89.79) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 11:07 pm:

You guys have jogged my memory about "It's What's Happening, Baby!" I remember seeing Chuck Jackson throw his coat into the audience, so I must've seen the show. As far as The Miracles' thing that I mentioned, if it wasn't on the '67 Murray The K special, then I'd love to know what show it was on, or maybe I dreamed the whole thing. What I remember seeing and hearing was a killer live on-stage performance on "More Love" that was very moving to me. Also, in that Brill Building special on the A&E channel from a couple years back (that I orderd a DVD of..), there's a great live performance clip of Dionne W. doing "Walk On By" that I think is from "IWHB" (correct me if I'm wrong..), and it looks and sounds excellent. I wish Murray's estate would release a DVD of the two specials in question..

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 11:12 pm:

MHC,

I remember seeing the Miracles doing an excellent live performance of More Love at the Michigan State Fair back around 67'. They were hot..!

By TonyRussi (68.18.48.42) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 08:24 am:

Thanks for jogging my memory as I do remember Dionne Warwick & Chuck Jackson being so soulful on IWHB.I wish we could get decent copies of all these great programs.

By john dixon (64.12.97.7) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 09:23 am:

the murraythek.com website that Steve the K mentioned is very cool, with clips from both shows. Just makes you want to see both shows in their entirety, though.

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 11:29 am:

You're welcome KevGo.

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 11:32 am:

Chancellor & Company:
Check out the clips and enjoy.
http://www.murraythek.com/tv.html

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Chancellor of Soul (63.78.189.114) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 12:25 pm:

Hey KevGo,
Thanks ! Nice site !

Peace,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 12:29 pm:

Smokey & Miracles WERE on the show-OOO Baby, Baby
and the Supremes were outside in, I think, a
mustang convertible, Patty Labelle & BlueBelles,
Dionne Warwick, Marvin Gaye,etc. It was GREAT!!!
Ronettes had submarine sandwiches (not hot dogs)
and were actually outside at a baseball park.

By Reese (204.152.13.249) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 12:34 pm:

For those in the NYC area, ITS WHAT HAPPENING BABY can be viewed at the Museum Of Television And Broadcasting. I went there last year, and watched the entire show. It would be great if it were released on DVD, but I'm sure some video collectors are selling some bootlegs.

Also: I've seen the Cousin Brucie special mentioned earlier. It was shot at an amusement park. The Supremes lip-synced STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE and YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE. For STOP!, Mary and Flo were positioned in race cars that took off during the second verse. Diana stood on the side.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 02:25 pm:

Reese:
Thanks for the 411...I guess it hasn't been released on DVD or home video because of the expense of getting music publishing and master clearance.
I'll check 'em out at the Museum, which is not far from my job!
Kevin Goins - KevGo