Friday, June 16, 2017

1960's- "Silent Spring" and "Abraham, Martin and John"





The New Yorker Magazine on June 16, 1962 published the first of three articles by Rachel Carson.  (You may read the first one just here.)  "Silent Spring" was published in September of that same year.   Rachel Carson wrote of the effects on the environment from the use of chemicals and of the chemical companies who knew of the dangers but tried to hide them. (Can you say "Monsanto"?)  Her book led to a nationwide ban in America on DDT, a widely used pesticide at that time. Due to the interest generated from her writings, this led to the creation of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. (The EPA.)











In 1968, Dion had a big hit with a song..."Abraham, Martin and John".   It was written by Dick Holler.  (And he also wrote "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron"!  Do you remember that one too?)
Mr. Holler has a website and he has a place there that you can send him a message. You know I had to send him a note and tell him of my admiration for his songwriting! I invite you to do the same!
You may find his website just here.


The 1960's...it seems as if I am living that decade all over again but this time, I am an adult and current music is not as good.







28 comments:

  1. I certainly remember DDT and the furore that led to its banning. I don't recall the songs at all. It's sad that such things are still going on but big business- tobacco e.g.! - rarely cares. And neither sometimes do some world leaders.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I remember reading that it was determined that DDT caused the eggshells of the Bald Eagle to be so thin that their eggs were not able to hatch. The country came very close to losing this bird if not for the banning of DDT. You don't remember the song? It meant a lot to me as an American, but then, 1968 was a rough year here.
      And you are right, many do not care including some leaders that we won't mention.

      Delete
  2. I had almost forgotten that song - but it came right back to me...
    It seemed so very profound back in the day - I used to hang out at folk clubs and sing all the protest songs. Memories! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, folk music...that does bring back fond memories.

      Delete
  3. I was surprised to learn that it was Richard Nixon who started the EPA. Art knew, of course. He just forgot to tell me. We're having Monsanto problems here in Hawaii too. Have a Happy Father's Day celebration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Monsanto rears its ugly head in all 50 states and around the world.
      Of course, Art knew..he is brilliant, he married you, right? (This is what I tell my husband.)

      Delete
  4. Being the age that I am I remember the Sixties very well, indeed. So much happened, not only in my life, but in the world at large. I began working in my first ever job...a legal secretary in a small, local law firm in July of 1960...I was aged 15 years; and I turned 16 in November, 1960. The lyrics below seem to do it all justice, in the nicest of ways.... :)

    "It Was A Very Good Year Lyrics

    When I was seventeen, it was a very good year
    It was a very good year for small town girls
    And soft summer nights
    We'd hide from the lights
    On the village green
    When I was seventeen

    When I was twenty-one, it was a very good year
    It was a very good year for city girls
    Who lived up the stairs
    With all that perfumed hair
    That came undone
    When I was twenty-one

    When I was thirty-five, it was a very good year
    It was a very good year for blue-blooded girls
    Of independent means
    We'd ride in limousines
    Their chauffeurs would drive
    When I was thirty-five

    But now the days are short, I'm in the autumn of the years
    And now I think of my life as vintage wine
    From fine old kegs
    From the brim to the dregs
    It poured sweet and clear
    It was a very good year..."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funny, I didn't think much of that song back then, but I totally get it now!
      Thanks for your comment, Lee!

      Delete
  5. Monsanto purchased a plot of land on which to test another of its GMOs -- and cut down the 50+ year old pecan grove that was growing there. How i wish people would wake up to what these companies do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GMOs have been a subject of discussion in England for many years but it is something that is only now being talked about in this country.
      I mourn those pecan trees...

      Delete
  6. I remember learning that song in Glee Club at school when I was a kid. Still a great song! And of course I remember "Snoopy and the Red Baron" too -- a total earworm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come on now, don't you wish that YOU had written it? You know I do! (Love Snoopy, who does not?!!)

      Delete
  7. I do remember all, Good times back then...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"...I have always thought of that quote as a good description of the 1960's.

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. Funny, how sometimes a song will come to me and it brings back a flood of memories.

      Delete
  9. Bite your tongue!! The music has held up very well with time. I can not listen to Abraham, Martin, and John without tears. Dion was so hurt by the death of Robert Kennedy and you can hear it in his voice. Of course Snoopy and the Red Baron is a favorite of mine Silly songs you know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You misunderstand me. The music that is around TODAY is not as good. Any of the songs that I liked then, I still like today and I liked it all, the MoTown sound, the California sound, the British bands, loved them.

      Delete
    2. I did misunderstand. I must admit I was surprised at what I thought you said. Sorry.

      Delete
    3. Oh honey, it is just my poor writing skills, I am sure! Listen, if you ever think I am tired of 1960's music, you will know I have somehow lost my mind! :-)

      Delete
  10. I do remember Snoopy and the Red Baron. Thanks for the reminder, I sure did like it.
    Have a blessed weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Sylvia! We are getting a bit of rain, how about you?
      Sure is hot though, isn't it? Hope you don't have to water your garden as much as we do! God bless.

      Delete
  11. I remember those years and the wonderful music I grew up with! But when I mentioned to my oldest daughter that I thought the music of my era was some of the best ever, she said that she thought the music of her youth was pretty wonderful too. (She is 42 years old now...Hard to believe.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like music from any decade...except this one!
      You know, if you didn't live during the 1960's, it is hard to make people understand how important the music was to us. Do you remember racing to the record store to buy the newest single? I didn't have albums until I was older, we just bought the singles!

      Delete
  12. I actually didn't know the story of the creation of the EPA. That's why I keep coming back here, to learn new and interesting things. It's a shame it's been close to 60 years and people are still trying to ban certain pesticides and people are still finding new ways to kill the environment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. New and interesting things...that's nice, to think that I write that way!
      The older I get, the more amazed I am by the lack of common sense, not just in taking care of the environment either! (Does that make sense?)

      Delete
  13. I remember Silent Spring- the book. Although I like 1960s music I've heard most of the good stuff from that period already many times, and the 1950s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. There are great songs and bands still around from all over the world, the difference is now without a proper pop chart format on TV or any indie music shows just Glee type singalongs you have to search for them more to find the golden nuggets. That is what inspires me but I know many folk my own age (60) who prefer groups and music from a certain period in their past, usually their own youth. I agree most of the modern music you see on TV these days is poor but the best stuff flows by under the radar on places like You Tube.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It might sound as if I only listen to music from my past but I really don't. In fact, I hardly listen to any music these days. Melody is what I love and what is sorely missing today! I know that there must be good stuff that is "under the radar", and that is why I am grateful to those who point it out to us!
      (By the way, I can't stand GLEE and movies like LA LA LAND...I heard the songs from the movies at the OSCARS and thought they were dreadful!)

      Delete