Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Music»Music by Decade»1960s Music
    1960s Music Music B 4 Mins Read

    Box Tops, The

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Born in Memphis in 1950, Alex Chilton quit school at the age of 16 to join Ronnie and the De Villes, a local group who had recently lost the services of their singer. Chilton’s musical tastes leaned more toward rock’n’roll and R&B than the white soul of the De Villes, but the group had built up a large local following.

    The De Villes became the Box Tops and were soon spotted by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, who, though more impressed by Chilton’s enigmatic presence and forceful voice than the talents of his colleagues – Bill Cunningham (bass), Gary Talley (guitar), Danny Smythe (drums), and John Evans (organ) – secured the group a contract with Mala Records.

    Clocking in at just under two minutes, The Letter – the work of a hitherto unknown writer, Wayne Carson Thompson – is one of the shortest #1 hits in rock history.

    And the gruff, raspy vocals heard on the song belong not to some grizzled veteran of the chitlin circuit but to a young kid on his first visit to a recording studio – Alex Chilton was only 17 when he sang on The Letter.

    The single was recorded at American Recording Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, in March 1967. Though it was launched against the prevailing winds of psychedelia in the summer of 1967, the single would not be denied its place on the charts, holding down the #1 position for four weeks.

    The follow-up single, Neon Rainbow (also a Thompson composition), lacked the verve and immediacy of its predecessor, and it became obvious to the other band members that Penn and Oldham were only really interested in the voice and face of Alex Chilton.

    John Evans and Danny Smythe left to be replaced by Rick Allen of The Gentrys – Memphis’ other successful white soul outfit – and Tom Boggs.

    For the third single, Penn and Oldham came up with Cry Like A Baby, a brilliantly conceived blend of pop, soul and country – with a hint of psychedelia – featuring an immaculate, rasping vocal delivery from Chilton. The record went to #2 in February 1968 and became the group’s second million-seller.

    Following this success, however, Penn and Oldham seemed hard-pressed to find material of equal strength; though Choo Choo Train and I Met Her In Church both made the Top 40, both were sluggish and half-hearted efforts. On album too, the producers could not channel Chilton’s vocal talents into a definable style.

    The Letter, Neon Rainbow and Super Hits were padded out with fillers, including lame covers such as A Whiter Shade Of Pale, Burt Bacharach’s Trains And Boats and Planes and a bizarre re-working of You Keep Me Hangin’ On. The subsequent Nonstop revealed a similar lack of direction, veering between soul, the blues of Rock Me Baby and Chilton’s I Can Dig It, and the country and western of I’m Movin’ On.

    The novelty tune Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March  (a US #28 in January 1969) was followed by a feeble version of Bob Dylan’s I Shall Be Released, which crawled to #67 in May, but a third Wayne Carson Thompson composition, Soul Deep, restored some of the magic, deservedly reaching #18.

    But the album Dimensions, released soon after, showed that ideas were still thin on the ground.

    Early in 1970, Alex Chilton – tired of playing the (now somewhat fading) teen idol and fronting a hostile band – stormed off stage during a Box Tops performance, never to return.

    The Box Top were together just three years, long enough to give us two classics and long enough for frontman Alex Chilton to begin one of the most remarkable journeys in American music, beginning when he formed the critically acclaimed Big Star with old school friend Chris Bell.

    Alex Chilton died of a heart attack in New Orleans on 17 March 2010.

    Alex Chilton
    Vocals, guitar
    John Evans
    Organ
    Gary Talley
    Guitar
    Bill Cunningham
    Bass, piano
    Danny Smythe
    Drums
    Rick Allen
    Organ
    Tom Boggs
    Drums
    Jerry Riley 
    Guitar
    Swain Schaefer
    Piano
    Harold Cloud
    Bass

    Related Posts

    • billhaley24
      Bill Haley & His Comets
      Bill Haley, who had been singing and playing guitar with a country & western combo since 1940 - when he…
    • metros
      Metros, The
      Big on the Northern Soul scene but little-known outside of it, The Metros from Detroit honed their exquisite harmonies in…
    • noeleenbatley002
      Noeleen Batley
      Australian Noeleen Batley was born on Christmas Day 1944 and made her show business debut singing on a Sydney radio station…
    • johnnyburnette000
      Johnny Burnette
      Memphis-born Johnny, plus elder brother Dorsey and their guitarist friend Paul Burlison, formed the legendary Rock 'n' Roll Trio which…
    • maggiebell1972
      Maggie Bell
      Margaret "Maggie" Bell was born on 12 January 1945, at Maryhill, Glasgow, in Scotland. She began singing in her teenage years and…
    • fats18
      Fats Domino
      He was born Antoine Domino in New Orleans in February 1928, and since his first professional appearance at the age…
    • cliffbennettrebelrousers_004
      Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
      Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers started out in 1959 playing Rock & Roll but added saxes in the early sixties…
    • thespectrum2
      Spectrum, The
      The Melody Maker had this to say about the band in 1967; "This fast-rising group with their chart-chasing success Samantha is…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleBob Marley (& The Wailers)
    Next Article Boys, The

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site
    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small.
    Thank you so much. Enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    You may also like

    • bigstar1973
      Big Star
      Named after a Memphis supermarket, Big Star were so far ahead of the game that even though co-founder Chris Bell…
    • johnnyrivers
      Johnny Rivers
      Born John Henry Ramistella in New York in November 1942, his family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where - influenced…
    • Plastic Penny
      Plastic Penny
      Plastic Penny formed in November 1967. Much of their material was psychedelic pop (with hints of encroaching prog rock), often reminiscent…
    • boxthejesuit2
      Box The Jesuit
      Sydney-based Box The Jesuit formed in October 1986 from the ashes of underground angst merchants Madroom. Box The Jesuit was…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.