CFW Holiday Week Special – What Year Was It?
Jack be Limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go under the Limbo stick
The year was a good one for countries gaining their independence. But it was a sad year for the Boeing 707. A famous rock ‘n’ roll band formed, a world’s fair opened, and a queen died.
The year was plagued with a number of storms. A former Beatle died, while another Beatle was fired. Two well-known stores, still in operation today, opened for the first time, and a famous prison escape took place.
It was the year of Bob Dylan, Telstar, Rod Laver and “Silent Spring.”
What year was it?
The year began on a Monday, as Samoa became independent from New Zealand.
Perhaps the most interesting thing on the first day of the year occurred in London. Two bands – the Tremeloes and the Beatles – both auditioned for a contract with DECCA Records. The Tremeloes got a contract. The Beatles were rejected.
Two days later, Pope John Paul XXIII excommunicated Fidel Castro from the Catholic Church for preaching communism.
In mid-January, Albania allied itself with the Peoples Republic of China. A few days later, Brian Epstein became the manager of the Beatles.
As the month came to an end, two of the high-wire “Flying Wallendas” were killed when their famous seven-person pyramid collapsed during a performance in Detroit.
“Every Limbo boy and girl
All around the Limbo world
Gonna do the Limbo Rock
All around the Limbo clock”
February began and the United States announced an import/export ban against Cuba. On February 11, the first 24 Hours of Daytona sports car endurance race was run as a three-hour event in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Six days later, heavy storms and high tides in the North Sea flooded Germany’s north coast, mainly around Hamburg. More than 300 people were killed and thousands lost their homes.
In the final days of February, John Glenn, aboard Friendship 7, became the first American to orbit the earth three times in NASA’s Project Mercury program.
On the first day of March, American Airlines Flight 1, a Boeing 707, crashed on takeoff at New York International (Idlewild) Airport. A rudder malfunction caused an uncontrolled roll, resulting in the death of all 95 on board.
A week later, a snowstorm battered the mid-Atlantic.
In mid-March, Flying Tiger Flight 739, a Lockheed Super Constellation, carrying U.S, Army personnel to South Vietnam, vanished over the western Pacific Ocean, with the loss of all 107 on board. No wreckage or bodies were ever found.
On March 18, at the 7th annual Eurovision Song Contest in Luxemburg, France won with the song “Un Premier Amor,” (“A First Love”) sung by Isabel Aubret. The following day, Bob Dylan released his debut album – “Bob Dylan.”
The following week, in Louisville, Kentucky, Cincinnati beat Ohio State, 71-59, to win the NCAA basketball championship. The Bearcats were coached by Ed Jucker. The Buckeyes were coached by Fred Taylor. The other two teams in the Final Four that year were UCLA and Wake Forest. Cincinnati’s Paul Hogue was named the most valuable player.
Before March came to an end, France shortened the term for required military service from 26 months to 18 months.
“Jack be Limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go under the Limbo stick
All around the Limbo clock
Hey, let’s do the Limbo rock”
In early April, Jawaharial Nehru was elected Prime Minister of India for the fourth time. In England, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met Brian Jones at the Ealing Club in London.
On April 9, Arnold Palmer won the Masters Golf Tournament for the third time. Palmer beat out Gary Player and Dow Finsterwald in a playoff.
That evening, the 34th Academy Awards ceremony took place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in California. “Fanny,” “The Guns of Navarone,” “The Hustler,” “The Judgement at Nuremberg” and “West Side Story” were the nominees for Best Picture. “West Side Story” won. The film won 10 of 11 nominations. The Best Actor award went to Maximilian Schell for “Judgement at Nuremberg.” Sophia Loren won the Best Actress award for “Two Women.” The ceremony was hosted by Bob Hope.
The next day, former Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe died in Hamburg, Germany.
A week later, in April, the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA championship. In a 4-games-to-3 championship series, the Celtics won the 7th game, 110-107 in overtime. The Celtics were coached by Red Auerbach. The Lakers were coached by Fred Schaus. The Celtics’ Bill Russell was named the MVP.
The World’s Fair opened in Seattle on April 21. The next day, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Chicago Black Hawks to win the Stanley Cup. In the best of seven series, the Maple Leafs won 4-games-to 2. In the sixth and deciding match, Toronto won 2-1.
On the first of May, the Dayton Hudson Corporation opened the first of its Target stores in Roseville, Minnesota.
The following day, S.L. Benfica beat FC Barcelona, 5-3, at Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, to win the European Cup.
May 5 was a busy day. Tottenham Hotspur beat Burnley, 3-1, to win the FA Cup in England. Twelve East Germans escaped via a tunnel under the Berlin Wall. And finally, the 88th running of the Kentucky Derby was won by Decidedly, ridden by jockey Bill Hartack.
On the next day, Antonio Segni was elected the President of Italy.
The following week, Juan Carlos of Spain married the Greek princess Sophia in Athens.
On May 22, Continental Airlines Flight 11 crashed near Unionville, Missouri, after an in-flight bomb explosion near the rear lavatory. All 45 on board were killed.
Two days later, in the Project Mercury program, Scott Carpenter orbited the earth three times in the Aurora 7 space capsule. The following day, the new Coventry Cathedral was consecrated in England.
At the 4th annual Grammy Awards on May 29, Henry Mancini won five awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Moon River.” The next day, World Cup play began in Chile.
“Limbo lower now
Limbo lower now
How low can you go?”
As June began, Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” began serialization in the New Yorker. On the same day, Margaret Smith defeated Lesley Turner to win the French Open Women’s Singles Tennis Title. Both Smith and Turner were from Australia. The next day, Rod Laver defeated Roy Emerson to win the Men’s Singles Title in the French Open. Both Laver and Emerson were from Australia.
On June 3, Air France Flight 7, a Boeing 707, crashed on takeoff at Orly Airport in Paris, killing 130 of 132 people on board. Two flight attendants survived the crash.
A week later, Frank Lee Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin escaped from Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay.
Summer was underway, and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening and singing along to “Mashed Potato Tine” by Dee Dee Sharp; “Stranger On The Shore” by Acker Bilk; “She Cried” by Jay and The Americans; “The One Who Really Loves You” by Mary Wells; “Uptown” by The Crystals; “P.T. 109” by Jimmy Dean; “Old Rivers” by Walter Brennan; “Funny Way Of Laughin’” by Burl Ives; “Everybody Loves Me But You” by Brenda Lee; “Lovers Who Wander” by Dion; “Don’t Play That Song” by Ben E. King; “(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valence” by Gene Pitney, and “I Can’t Stop Loving You” by Ray Charles.
In mid-June, Brazil beat Czechoslovakia, 3-1, to win the World Cup. On the same day, at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, Jack Nicklaus won the U.S. Open Golf Championship. Nicklaus beat Arnold Palmer in a playoff.
A few days later, Air France Flight 117, a Boeing 707, crashed during bad weather in Guadalupe, West Indies, killing all 113 on board. It was Air France’s third crash in three weeks and the third Boeing 707 crash of the year.
Meantime, the college football magazines were on the shelves, while the radio stations were playing “Playboy” by The Marvelettes; “The Stripper” by David Rose and His Orchestra; “Palisades Park” by Freddy Cannon; “Cindy’s Birthday” by Johnny Crawford; “That’s Old Fashioned” by The Everly Brothers; “Second Hand Love” by Connie Francis; “It Keeps Right On Hurtin’” by Johnny Tillotson; “Having A Party” by Sam Cooke; “Al Di La” by Emilio Pericoli; “Snap Your Fingers” by Joe Henderson; “Limbo Rock” by The Champs; “Wolverton Mountain” by Claude King, and “Johnny Get Angry” by Joanie Sommers.
The U.S. Supreme Court released two decisions on June 25. In Engel vs. Vitale, the Court ruled that mandatory prayers in public schools are unconstitutional. In MANUAL Enterprises vs. Day, the Court ruled that photographs of nude men are not obscene.
On the final day of June, the last soldiers of the French Foreign Legion left Algeria.
“First, you spread your Limbo feet
Then you move to Limbo beat
Limbo ankle, Limbo knee
Bend back like a Limbo tree”
On July 2, the first Wal-Mart store opened for business in Rogers, Arkansas. Three days later, Algeria became independent from France.
Still in the first week of July, Karen Susman of the United States beat Vera Sukova of Czechoslovakia to win the Women’s Singles Title at Wimbledon. The next day, Rod Laver defeated Martin Mulligan to win the Men’s Singles Title. Both Laver and Mulligan were from Australia.
As the summer air grew warmer and thicker, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “Twist And Shout” by The Isley Brothers; “I’ll Never Dance Again” by Bobby Rydell; “I Need Your Loving” by Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford; “Theme From Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight)” by Richard Chamberlain; “Roses Are Red (My Love) by Bobby Vinton; “Johnny Loves Me” by Shelley Fabares; “Sealed With A Kiss” by Brian Hyland; “The Wah Watusi” by The Orlons, and “Speedy Gonzalez” by Pat Boone.
During the second week in July, American artist Andy Warhol premiered his “Campbell’s Soup Cans” exhibit in Los Angeles. The next day, AT&T’s Telstar, the world’s first communication satellite, was launched into orbit and activated.
On July 12, the Rolling Stones made their debut at London’s Marquee Club, opening for Long John Baldry.
In mid-July at the Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland, Arnold Palmer won the British Open Golf Championship. Palmer beat out Kel Nagle by six strokes. Miss Argentina, Norma Nolan, was crowned Miss Universe.
The summer airwaves continued to be filled with good music, including “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” by Barbara Lynn; “Little Bitty Pretty One” by Clyde McPhatter; “Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)” by Dee Dee Sharp; “Seven Day Weekend” by Gary “U.S.” Bonds; “Dancin’ Party” by Chubby Checker; “Bring It On Home To Me” by Sam Cooke; “Little Red Rented Rowboat” by Joe Dowell; “(Girls, Girls, Girls) Made To Love” by Eddie Hodges, and “Welcome Home Baby” by The Shirelles.
In late July, at the Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Gary Player won the PGA championship. Player beat Bob Goalby by one stroke. Telstar relayed the first live trans-Atlantic television signal.
“Jack be Limbo, Jack be quick
Jack Go under the Limbo stick
All around the Limbo clock
Hey, let’s do the Limbo rock”
Five days into August, Marilyn Monroe was found dead from an overdose of sleeping pills at her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles. Her death was officially ruled as a probable suicide. On the same day, Nelson Mandela was arrested by the South African government.
On August 6, Jamaica became an independent nation.
As summer was coming to an end, college football fans could not wait for the season to begin. In the preseason polls, Ohio State was the No. 1 team in the country. The top songs on the radio were “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” by Neil Sedaka; “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva; “Ahab, The Arab” by Ray Stevens; “Make It Easy On Yourself” by Jerry Butler; “Things” by Bobby Darin; “The Ballad Of Paladin” by Duane Eddy, and “Heart In Hand” by Brenda Lee.
As we moved into August, the Beatles fired drummer Peter Best and replaced him with Ringo Starr.
In mid-August, East German border guards killed 18-year-old Peter Fechter, as he attempted to cross the Berlin Wall. On the same day, the instrumental song “Telstar,” by the English band the Tornadoes, was released. “Telstar” became the first song by a British group to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
A week later, a group of Cuban exile terrorists fired gunshots at Havana hotel from a speedboat.
Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “Rinky Dink” by Dave “Baby” Cortez; “What’s A Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You)” by Timi Yuro; “Shame On Me” by Bobby Bare; “Come On Little Angel” by The Belmonts; “Till Death Do Us Part” by Bob Braun; “Call Me Mr. In-Between” by Burl Ives, and “A Swingin’ Safari” by Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra.
On the last day of August, Trinidad and Tobago became independent.
“Get yourself a Limbo girl
Give that chick a Limbo whirl
There’s a Limbo moon above
You will fall in Limbo love”
As September began, Typhoon Wanda struck Hong Kong, killing 130 and injuring more than 600.
On September 9, Margaret Smith of Australia beat Darlene Hard of the United States to win the Women’s Singles Title at the U.S. Open Tennis tournament. The following day, Rod Laver defeated Roy Emerson to win the Men’s Singles Championship.
Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “Sheila” by Tommy Roe; “You Don’t Know Me” by Ray Charles; “Alley Cat” by Bent Fabric and His Piano; “Vacation” by Connie Francis; “Devil Woman” by Marty Robbins; “Ramblin’ Rose” by Nat “King” Cole; “You Belong To Me” by The Duprees; “Point Of No Return” by Gene McDaniels; “Let’s Dance” by Chris Montez; “She’s Not You” by Elvis Presley, and “Silver Threads And Golden Needles” by Dusty Springfield.
Later in September, Bob Dylan premiered his song “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Three days later, just two minutes into the first round of their fight in Chicago, Sonny Liston knocked out Floyd Patterson for the world boxing title.
Following Alabama’s impressive 35-0 win over Georgia on September 22, the Crimson Tide replaced Ohio State as the No. 1 team on September 24.
College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “Surfin Safari”/“409” by The Beach Boys; “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” by Tony Bennett; “Do You Love Me” by The Contours; “Your Nose Is Gonna Grow” by Johnny Crawford; “Beechwood 4-5789” by The Marvelettes; “Teenage Idol” by Ricky Nelson; “Send Me The Pillow You Dream On” by Johnny Tillotson; “(I’m The Girl On) Wolverton Mountain” by Jo Ann Campbell; “Venus In Blue Jeans” by Jimmy Clanton; “You Beat Me To The Punch” by Mary Wells, and “If I Had A Hammer” by Peter, Paul and Mary.
On September 27, Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring” was released. The book gave rise to the modern environmental movement. On the same day, a flash flood in Barcelona, Spain, killed more than 440 people.
With Ohio State’s impressive 41-7 win over North Carolina and Alabama’s lackluster win over a weak Tulane team on September 29, Ohio State retook the No. 1 spot on October 1, replacing Alabama.
“Don’t move that Limbo bar
You’ll be a Limbo star
How low can you go?”
In early October, in the Project Mercury Atlas 8 program, Walter Schirra orbited the earth six times in the Sigma 7 space capsule.
Two days later, the Beatles first single “Love Me Do”/“P.S. I Love You” was released in the United Kingdom. Also, on October 5, “Dr. No.” the first James Bond film, premiered in London.
Unranked UCLA upset No. 1 Ohio State, 9-7 on October 6. Alabama, at 3-0-0, retook the No 1 spot on October 8, replacing Ohio State.
On October 9, Uganda became independent.
In mid-October, Italian singer Sergio Franchi made his American television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Also, the New York Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants 4-games-to-3 to win the World Series. The Yankees won the 7th and final game of the series, 1-0. The Yankees were managed by Ralph Houk and the Giants were managed by Alvin Dark. Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry was named the MVP of the series.
Alabama looked weak, slipping by Houston, 14-3, while Texas was impressive, beating Oklahoma 9-6 on October 13. Texas, at 4-0-0, became the No. 1 team on October 15, replacing Alabama at the top spot.
With Halloween approaching, college football fans were carving their pumpkins, while listening to “Sherry” by The 4 Seasons; “Lie To Me” by Brook Benton; “What Kind Of Love Is This” by Joey Dee and The Starliters; “It Might As Well Rain Until September” by Carole King; “Patches” by Dickey Lee; “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers; “”He’s A Rebel” by The Crystals; “Limbo Rock” by Chubby Checker; “I Remember You” by Frank Ifield; “Rain Rain Go Away” by Bobby Vinton; “Popeye, The Hitchhiker” by Chubby Checker, and “Close To Cathy” by Mike Clifford, and “Only Love Can Break A Heart” by Gene Pitney.
Unranked Rice tied No. 1 Texas, 14-14, on October 27, while Northwestern (5-0-0) beat Notre Dame, 35-6. Northwestern became the No. 1 team in the country on October 29, replacing Texas.
Before October came to an end, Peter, Paul and Mary’s self-titled album reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 200 album chart.
The price of a first-class stamp was 4 cents. A gallon of gas was 29 cents, and a gallon of milk cost 50 cents. The price of a loaf of bread was 21 cents, and a dozen eggs were 45 cents. The yearly inflation rate was 0.4%.
“Every Limbo boy and girl
All around the Limbo world
Gonna do the Limbo Rock
All around the Limbo clock”
Three days into November, the first recorded use of the term “personal computer” appeared in the New York Times. The term was used in a story that reported on a speech given by John Mauchly, a computing pioneer.
Eighth-ranked Wisconsin beat No. 1 Northwestern, 37-6, on November 10, while Alabama (8-0-0) beat Miami (Florida), 36-3.
On November 11, two classic Pete Seeger songs debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The two songs were “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” recorded by the Kingston Trio, and “If I Had a Hammer” recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. On the same day, Paul and Paula made their first appearance together, while attending Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Texas.
Alabama became the No. 1 team in the country again on November 12, replacing Northwestern.
In mid-November, Dulles International Airport, outside of Washington, D.C., opened.
A few days later, United Airlines Flight 297 crashed in Columbia, Maryland, killing all 17 on board.
On November 17, unranked Georgia Tech upset No. 1 Alabama, 7-6. Undefeated USC became the No. 1 team in the country on November 19, replacing Alabama at the top spot.
At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love) by Brian Hyland; “Gina” by Johnny Mathis; “Desafinado” by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd Sextet; “Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke; “All Alone Am I” by Brenda Lee; “James (Hold The Ladder Steady)” by Sue Thompson; “Love Me Tender” by Richard Chamberlain; “Wiggle Wobble” Les Cooper and The Soul Rockers; “(Dance With The) Guitar Man” by Duane Eddy; “I Was Just A Fool” by Connie Francis; “Next Door To An Angel” by Neil Sedaka; “Don’t Hang Up” by The Orlons, and “The Cha-Cha-Cha” by Bobby Rydell.
On the final three days of November, Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands died, and an agreement was signed between Britain and France to develop a supersonic jet – the Concorde. And lastly, on the final day of November, the United Nations General Assembly elected U Thant as the new Secretary General of the United Nations.
By the last day of November, USC (10-0-0), Ole Miss (9-0-0) and Dartmouth (9-0-0) were the only teams to finish the season undefeated and untied.
During the season, five different teams – Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Northwestern and USC – were ranked No. 1. The No. 1 position changed hands no less than seven times during the season.
The consensus All-American first team consisted of Hal Bedsole – USC (6-5, 225) Northridge, CA; end Pat Richter – Wisconsin (6-5, 229) Madison, WI; tackle Bobby Bell – Minnesota (6-4, 214) Shelby, NC; tackle Jim Dunaway – Ole Miss (6-4, 220) Columbia, MS; guard Johnny Treadwell – Texas (6-1, 194) Austin, TX; guard Jack Cvercko – Northwestern (6-0, 2320) Campbell, OH; center Lee Roy Jordan – Alabama (6-2, 207) Monroeville, AL; quarterback Terry Baker – Oregon State (6-3, 191) Portland, OR; running back Jerry Stovall – LSU (6-2, 195) West Monroe, LA; running back Mel Renfro – Oregon (5-11, 190) Portland, OR, and running back George Saimes – Michigan State (5-10, 186) Canton, OH.
“Jack be Limbo, Jack be quick
Jack go under the Limbo stick
All around the Limbo clock
Hey, let’s do the Limbo rock”
The final month of the year was upon us when a newspaper strike began in New York City. The strike affected all the city’s newspapers. It lasted for 114 days.
Oregon State quarterback Terry Baker won the Heisman Trophy tallying 707 points in the voting (3 points for first place, 2 for second place and 1 for third place). In the balloting, Baker beat out LSU halfback Jerry Stovall (618 points), Minnesota tackle Bobby Bell (429 points) and Alabama center Lee Roy Jordan (321 points).
Terry Baker also won the Maxwell Award for the nation’s most outstanding college football player. The Outland Trophy for the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman went to Bobby Bell.
On December 10, David Lean’s epic film “Lawrence of Arabia,” featuring Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins and Anthony Quinn, premiered in London. It opened six days later in the United States.
The following day, the last execution by hanging was carried out in Canada.
On December 15, Oregon State won the Liberty Bowl, beating Villanova, 6-0.
With Christmas and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their holiday shopping to “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by The 4 Seasons; “Bobby’s Girl” by Marcie Plane; “Return To Sender” by Elvis Presley; “Ride!” by Dee Dee Sharp; “My Own True Love” by The Duprees; “Release Me” by Esther Phillips; “Telstar” by The Tornadoes; “Up On The Roof” by The Drifters; “Keep Your Hands Off My Baby by Little Eva; “Go Away Little Girl” by Steve Lawrence; “Dear Lonely Hearts” by Nat “King” Cole; “Rumors” by Johnny Crawford, and “Love Come To Me” by Dion.
In mid-December, U.S. spacecraft Mariner 2 passed by Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to transmit data from another planet. Also, a storm over the North Sea knocked the Belgian pirate radio station – Radio Uylenspiegel – off the airwaves, never to operate again.
On December 29, Florida won the Gator Bowl, beating Penn State, 17-7.
The day before New Year’s Eve, an unexpected storm buried Maine under five feet of snow, forcing the Bangor Daily News to miss a publication date for the first and only time. Also, The Netherlands was covered by several feet of snow.
On the same day, the Green Bay Packers beat the New York Giants, 16-7, to win the NFL championship. The game was played in Yankee Stadium before 64,892 fans. The Packers were coached by Vince Lombardi. The Giants were coached by Allie Sherman. Green Bay linebacker Ray Nitschke was named the game’s MVP.
Four well-known rock bands were formed during the year – Booker T. and the MGs, Herman’s Hermits, the Rolling Stones and Question Mark and the Mysterians.
During the last few days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking, celebrating, dancing and singing to “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” by Bobby Sox and The Blue Jeans; “You Are My Sunshine” by Ray Charles; “Ruby Ann” by Marty Robbins; “Hotel Happiness” by Brook Benton; “Tell Him” by The Exciters; “Everybody Loves A Lover” by The Shirelles; “Two Lovers” by Mary Wells; “I Saw Linda Yesterday” by Dickey Lee; “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” by The Miracles; “The Night Has A Thousand Eyes” by Bobby Vee, and “Your Cheating Heart” by Ray Charles.
The Dow Jones Industrial average closed at 652.10 on the last day of the year.
On New Year’s Eve, West Texas beat Ohio, 15-14, in the Sun Bowl.
“Get yourself a Limbo girl
Give that chick a Limbo whirl
There’s a Limbo moon above
You will fall in Limbo love”
Four season-ending bowl games were played on New Year’s Day. LSU won the Cotton Bowl, downing Texas, 13-0.
In the Sugar Bowl, Ole Miss beat Arkansas, 17-13, and Alabama skunked Oklahoma, 17-0, in the Orange Bowl.
Finally, in the “Granddaddy of Them All,” No. 1 USC beat No. 2 Wisconsin, 42-37, in the Rose Bowl. It marked the first time a No. 1 team played a No. 2 team in a bowl game. Ron Vander Kellen quarterbacked Wisconsin and Pete Beathard quarterbacked USC. Entering the fourth quarter, USC led Wisconsin 42-14. The Badgers rallied, scoring 23 unanswered points. Wisconsin was positioned to win the game but came up short. Many consider this game to be the greatest Rose Bowl of all time.
USC (11-0-0), coached by John McKay, won the national championship, finishing first in both the AP and UPI Polls. Ole Miss finished its season undefeated and untied at 10-0-0. But the Rebels finished No. 3 in the AP and UPI polls.
“Limbo Rock,” a song about limbo dancing, was recorded by Chubby Checker. The song was written by Kal Mann (under the pseudonym Jan Sheldon) and Billy Strange. “Limbo Rock” entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 8 at the start of the college football season. Following a long, slow, but persistent climb up the chart, it peaked at No. 2 on December 22 – the same day Houston beat Miami (Ohio), 49-21 in Orlando’s Tangerine Bowl. The song was on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 23 weeks, throughout the football season and beyond, until February 16.
Earlier in the year, an instrumental version of “Limbo Rock” was a hit by The Champs. Chubby Checker’s recording was the first vocal version of the song. Two years before The Champs and Chubby Checker had a hit with “Limbo Rock,” Billy Strange boasted to a friend that he could write a song in five minutes. The friend produced a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and bet him he could not. Strange pulled out a notepad and composed the music, coming up with a tune in under five minutes. He called the tune “What A Monotonous Melody.” His only lyrics for the song were the words “what a monotonous melody” repeated over and over.
A few months later, Chubby Checker’s manager, Kal Mann, asked Strange if he could write new lyrics for the tune. The new lyrics were the words to the song “Limbo Rock.” Some months later, Strange was amazed to receive a royalty check from BMI for $63,000. He earned the money from The Champs’ and Chubby Checker’s renditions of “Monotonous Melody” recorded under the title “Limbo Rock.” In 1991, Joanie Bartels covered the song, releasing it as single on her album “Dancin’ Magic.” “Limbo Rock” appeared on the compilation album “The Stars of Discovery Music.” The song also appeared in the 1993 video “The Rainy Day Adventure.”
The football season and year was 1962.
Happy 123123!
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
December 31, 2023
