LONDON — Motown’s Four Tops took London by storm, Sunday, January 13 (Note: actual date was November 13, according to Adam White, U.K. Motown historian), with a memorable one-night-only performance at Brian Epstein’s Saville Theater.
The group gave two sold-out concerts before an audience that included John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Donovan, Jane Asher, Eric Burdon, Georgie Fame, and EMI chief Sir Joseph Lockwood.
The fantastic reception the Four Tops were accorded should assure Epstein of boom box-office takings when the group undertakes a nationwide tour of Britain for him in January.
As the group’s stage debut marked the launching of the Saville — previously a legit theater — as a London showcase for pop talent. Following unsuccessful stage venues including Ron Moody’s musical “Joey, Joey,” Epstein has announced that he will concentrate on staging the world’s top pop talents at his West End venue.
In the words of Decca’s promoter Tony Hall, who hosted Sunday’s show, Epstein plans to turn it into the Apollo of Shaftesbury Avenue. Little Richard is expected to give a one-nighter there later this year, and Epstein has scheduled a Christmas show starring Georgie Fame and Julie Felex.
The concert acclaim for the Tops sets the seal on their British chart success with “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” which has climax a magnificent 1966 for Tamla-Motown here during time it has had up to six and seven acts simultaneously in the top 50 — a fantastic achievement for a U.S. label.
The Four Tops, Brian Epstein, back-stage press conference at the Saville Theater, London, November 13, 1966.
The Four Tops included three good renditions of non-Motown songs in their act, the Beatles’ “Michelle,” Tom Jones’ hit, “It’s Not Unusual,” and a great workout set on stage with “If I Had A Hammer.” They ran a number associated with their sound, “Baby, I Need Your Lovin,” and had to give two performances of “Reach Out.” They left their audience clapping, singing, and very happy — shouting, demanding more.
The quartet was backed by Bob Miller’s big pop band. Also on the bill was one of Epstein’s most professional acts, Cliff Beznett and the Rebel Rousers, whose strong act included their Beatles-penned British hit, “Got To Get You Into My Life,” and an Australian group called the Easybeats, currently scoring here with “Friday On My Mind.” END
_____________________
Credit, information and news source: Billboard,November 26, 1966
USARM Note: This post was previously published and archived by Motor City Radio Flashbacks on January 27, 2012
The Four Tops greets Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, Tops UK promoter, with Del-Shannon at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
WILSON JUNIOR HIGH ‘The Spotlight’ January 27, 1967
“This month’s personality is Christine Schumacher. She is a five foot, blue-eyed blond from Room 213, the Braille class.
I’m not going to tell you what she’s like but I’m going to tell you what she did! About a month and a half ago, she entered the WKNR Scott Regen‘s ‘Record A Record With The Supremes’ contest. Well, she won, went to Motown Studios, she recorded, “Mother You, Smother You.” It is a hit now and is it ever great.
If you haven’t heard it yet, tune to WKNR, 1300 on your radio, between 7 and 9 at night. What do you know, we’ve got a star in our school!”
Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
In 2015, I was immediately captivated when I came across the second page of Wilson Junior High School’s student newsletter, *The Spotlight*, dated January 27, 1967. This brief article, penned by Debbie Tosoain, was shared by Marilyn V. Harris, a Wilson alumna, in a Facebook post on May 15 within the Wilson Jr. High School group, where I am also a member. The piece evoked a fond memory of a well-known student who was at our school during that time.
Wilson Junior High School’s Christine Schumacher, pictured here at 13 years of age in November 1966. (Photo credit: Keener13.com’s Scott Westerman, Steve Schram)
In September 1966, I was new to Woodrow Wilson Junior High, having transitioned from Bennett Elementary School. At just 13 years old, like many of us were then, I started my three-year journey at Wilson, located on Lane Street in Southwest Detroit. After reading the Spotlight article, I was instantly reminded of Christine Schumacher, a prominent student who was there during my time at the school, from 1966 to 1969.
Most of us who attended Wilson would probably agree that Christine’s kindness, intelligence, and infectious wit left a lasting impact on everyone at the school. She was always eager to engage in conversations and her smile had a special way of winning over both students and the entire faculty during her time there.
Seeing her at various school events during our school years at the time, this article rekindled a special memory about her from late-1966. Christine, who was also blind, made the long journey from her home in Northwest Detroit (Sussex St.) to attend Wilson’s specialized classes for students with special needs, as was highlighted in the January 27, 1967 Spotlight issue from that time.
[MCRFB Note: Mouse click over (PC) or tap and stretch (mobile screen) over all images for largest digitized read.]
Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, in Southwest Detroit, as photographed in 2012. (Credit: Susan Ellis Miles)
I vividly still recall the thrill that spread through the entire school when it was announced that it was Christine who had won the “Record A Record With The Supremes” contest, sponsored by WKNR and Motown Records. This contest was heavily promoted on Keener 13 for many weeks, late in the fall of 1966, most particularly during Scott Regen’s nightly show from 7 to 10 p.m. on WKNR.
During the course of our discussion about Christine and Motown (2015), a member of the Wilson group commened that she was 62 years old (then, she would be 71 today), and that she was alive and well, living in the east side of Dearborn, on Schaefer Rd., south of Michigan Ave. Post-Wilson, it was also mentioned she had pursued a career as a school teacher, focusing on working with impaired and special needs students throughout the years.
WKNR Scottie Regen.
After some time, and as the discussions about Christine Schumacher on the Wilson Junior High School Facebook page (from May 15, 2015) came to a close, I, as a fellow group member, posted my final thoughts on June 5:
“To my fellow Wilson Junior High friends . . . I’ll be sharing more–something very special about Christine, Scott Regen (WKNR), and her recording with Motown on my website, Motor City Radio Flashbacks, soon. It will relate the very moment she was told she was the winner of the WKNR ‘Record A Record With The Supremes’ contest back in November 1966.”
I hope you’ll enjoy this special memory. For this was her remarkable moment, 58-years ago. When, in November 1966, she received the call from WKNR’s Scott Regen, congratulating her as the winner who would record with Motown’s Supremes—the #1 female group in the world at that time.
Wow. Christine Schumacher! While that event may have been a brief but memorable highlight for her (and for us at Wilson) at the time, she is fondly remembered, yet still today . . . our school’s very own Motown star. 🙂
MCRFB Update: We recently reached out to Scottie Regen and he kindly provided some personal recollections about Christine and the ‘Record with the Supremes’ contest which he launched, in conjuction with Motown Records and Barney Ales, while at WKNR in October 1966 . . . from September 24, 2024, Scottie Regen, he writes:
As for Christine being the winner, what happened was the idea struck me one night, and so I reached out to my friend, Barney Ales, the head of promotions at Motown at the time, to see what he thought about it, about the possibilities a contest with Motown records could take place for a lucky WKNR listener to record with the Supremes. He listened to my idea, he thought about it . . .and, he loved it!
I had a great time being present in the studio for that promotion. All the contest finalists (including Christine) were recorded at Golden World on Davison (in early-1966 G.W. became Motown Studio B), and Brian Holland—who produced hits for the Four Tops, the Supremes, and Martha and the Vandellas—managed everything for the contest. I really enjoyed collaborating with him. In hindsight, I think Motown viewed it as a talent search, and I wish they had taken it a bit further. Christine brought a sweet, innocent vibe, and she was truly amazed to have won the contest! –Robert Bernstein (Scottie Regen, WKNR)
Detroit Free Press [DETROIT Magazine] Sunday, July 23, 1972
Above article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2024.Newspapers.com.
The above featured ‘Motown’ newspaper article (Detroit Free Press) was clipped, saved, and was digitally re-imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
_____________________
“If everybody will keep on remembering, keep the music alive, our children and grandchildren will know what this was.” — Claudette Robinson, November 21, 2009
Motown 50 Ball Golden Gala, Detroit Marriott, Det., MI.
Detroit Free Press [DETROIT Magazine] Sunday, July 23, 1972
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over above DFP newsprint image. Open to second window. “Stretch” print image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
ON YOUR PC? Click on all images 2x for largest print view.
_____________________
A special thank you to senior MCRFB consultant Greg Innis, of Livonia, MI., for contributing the Newspapers.com archives (Motown related) articles, ads, and images we have provided for this site since 2016.
Thank you, Greg Innis, for making these historic, Detroit Free Press features possible. ?
Above article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2024.Newspapers.com.
The above featured ‘Motown’ newspaper article (Detroit Free Press) was clipped, saved, and was digitally re-imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
_____________________
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over above DFP newsprint image. Open to second window. “Stretch” print image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
ON YOUR PC? Click on all images 2x for largest print view.
_____________________
A special thank you to senior MCRFB consultant Greg Innis, of Livonia, MI., for contributing the Newspapers.com archives (Motown related) articles, ads, and images we have provide for this site since 2016.
Thank you, Greg Innis, for making these historic, Detroit Free Press features possible. ?
Above article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2024.Newspapers.com.
The above featured ‘Motown’ newspaper article (Detroit Free Press) was clipped, saved, and was digitally re-imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
_____________________
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over above DFP newsprint image. Open to second window. “Stretch” print image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
ON YOUR PC? Click on all images 2x for largest print view.
Above article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2024.Newspapers.com.
The above featured ‘Motown’ newspaper article (Detroit Free Press) was clipped, saved, and was digitally re-imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
Above article is courtesy freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2024.Newspapers.com.
The above featured ‘Motown’ newspaper article (Detroit Free Press) was clipped, saved, and was digitally re-imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
_____________________
DETROIT FREE PRESS Sunday, January 30, 1966 [D]
ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE? Tap over above newsprint images. Open to second window. “Stretch” print image across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.
ON YOUR PC? Click on all images 2x for largest print view.