FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 21, 2017

DEAR JERRY: Living in San Bernardino, California, in 1963, I listened to KMEN and KFXM, the top Top 40 stations. Both played "Cold Cold Winter," by the Pixies Three, which I then bought.

I quickly found the flip to be as good as the A-side. Titled "442 Glenwood Avenue," it was not heard on the radio in California.

In early 1964 I moved to Washington D.C., and was surprised to hear only the "442 Glenwood Avenue" side. I think it was No. 1 in this area.

There have been many two-sided hits, but is it common to have one side played in the east, and the other in the west?
— Doris Carney, Annandale, Va.

DEAR DORIS: No, split programming such as you describe would be incredibly rare, but it only appeared that way because of timing and the locations involved in your move.

You remember correctly. In the Inland Empire (San Bernardino-Riverside), "Cold Cold Winter" was the only side played in 1963.

Also, I find no indication "442 Glenwood Avenue" charted, or was even played, by any California radio station in '63, but many in the Golden State jumped on it in early 1964. Probably right after you moved.

Though you didn't hear "Cold Cold Winter" in the District, it charted in several eastern states, including: Massachusetts; Michigan; New York; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and even Ontario.

Meanwhile, "442 Glenwood Avenue" reached No. 1 in January 1964 on at least two Top 40 stations in Maryland; WCAO (Baltimore) and WJDY (Salisbury) -- all in your neck of the woods.

It could easily have topped the chart at WITH (Baltimore), as I have their Fabulous 50 for December 29, 1963, and "442 Glenwood Avenue" is No. 3 that week. I don't know what happened over the next few weeks because my next WITH survey is eight weeks later (Feb. 23, 1964).

Now for the flip side (literally), "442 Glenwood Avenue" was the A-side in these states west of the Mississippi: Alaska; Arizona; California; Colorado; Iowa; Minnesota; Montana; Texas; Washington; plus British Columbia.

After reviewing hundreds of regional record charts, the only station listing both sides at the same time is WMRT, Lansing, Michigan. Their December 1, 1963 Silver Dollar Survey has "Cold Cold Winter"/"442 Glenwood Avenue" debuting at No. 23.

On the national front, "442 Glenwood Avenue" peaked at No. 42, and "Cold Cold Winter" at No. 79.

We have been asked if "442 Glenwood Avenue" is a real address, and if it is somehow significant.

I asked Kaye (McCool) Krebs, one of the three founding Pixies, about the address, and this is her reply:

"Well, it was not intended to be a real address. When we were given the tune in rehearsal, we asked the writers/producers, John Madara and Dave White, that same question. They said they picked Glenwood Avenue because nearly every city has one.

"Cold Cold Winter" was the original A-side, and is still one of my favorites, but when the dee jays started flipping it over we fell victim to the deadly split play.

"I have a January 1964 issue of 'Music Vendor' showing both "Cold Cold Winter" and "442 Glenwood Avenue" in the Top 50, separately, as if two unrelated releases.

"The record actually sold very well, but neither side made it really high on the charts due to the play being split between the two songs."

There is no doubt about Glenwood being a very common street name, but according to my research on Google Earth, there are only two sites matching 442 Glenwood Avenue. They are East Orange, N.J. and Raleigh, N.C.

The East Orange location looks like a residential neighborhood, but the Raleigh address seems to be a business and industrial area.

It is possible neither resident knows there is a pop song title matching their address.

Just a few days ago, I called John Madara to get his take on this title. John said he does not remember what he told Kaye nearly 35 years ago, but he now recalls no special meaning or connection to 442 Glenwood Avenue, adding: "It was just a title."

IZ ZAT SO? At the end of 1963, WQAM (Miami) issued their Top 56 of 1963, and check out No. 31.

To better appreciate that accomplishment, examine the 25 tunes rated below "442 Glenwood Avenue" (Nos. 32-56). Amazingly, all but two made the nationwide Top 10, and one of those was "The Cow," a local dance by Miami's own Bill Robinson.

The Pixies really outranked some heavyweights:

31. The Pixies Three - "442 Glenwood Avenue" (No. 42 nationwide)
32. Tommy Roe - "Everybody" (No. 3)
33. Bobby Vee - "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (No. 3)
34. Dion - "Ruby Baby" (No. 2)
35. The Kingsmen - "Louie, Louie" (No. 1)
36. Lesley Gore - "She's a Fool" (No. 3)
37. Elvis Presley - "(You're The) Devil in Disguise" (No. 3)
38. Bill Robinson & the Quails - "The Cow" (No. 103)
39. Allan Sherman - "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp)" (No. 1)
40. Jay & the Americans - "Only in America" (No. 21)
41. Ruby & the Romantics - "Our Day Will Come" (No. 1)
42. The Shirelles - "Foolish Little Girl" (No. 4)
43. The Chantays - "Pipeline" (No. 4)
44. Bobby Darin - "You're the Reason I'm Living" (No. 3)
45. Andy Williams - "Can't Get Used to Losing You" (No. 1)
46. Rolf Harris - "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" (No. 3)
47. Sam Cooke - "Another Saturday Night" (No. 10)
48. Lonnie Mack - "Memphis" (No. 5)
49. Martha & the Vandellas - "Heat Wave" (No. 3)
50. Peter, Paul & Mary - "Blowin' in the Wind" (No. 2)
51. The 4 Seasons - "Candy Girl" (No. 3)
52. The Tymes - "So Much in Love" (No. 1)
53. Randy & the Rainbows - "Denise" (No. 10)
54. The 4 Seasons - "Walk Like a Man" (No. 1)
55. The Village Stompers - "Washington Square" (No. 2)
56. Little Stevie Wonder - "Fingertips - Pt. 2" (No. 1)

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