DJ “Frantic” Ernie Durham’s chart - printed in the Michigan Chronicle at the end of October 1964 – has Emanuel’s disc at number 7. The flip was Welfare Cheese.
 

Crazy, released in September, continued Emanuel’s roll. It entered WKNR’s pop chart at 25 in October and WJLB’s DJ Frantic Ernie placed it in his top ten. As you can see, Motown’s Supremes were at 10 with Baby Love and Marvin Gaye - one of Emanuel’s idols - had Baby Don’t You Do It at 12. Ain’t It The Truth by Mary Wells was at 15 while The Velvelette’s topped them all with their finger-snapping Needle In A Haystack at number 2. Other local recordings come from D-Town’s Lee Rogers, The Volumes and Johnnie Mae Matthews.

Billboard ceased with their R’n’B chart in 1963, so it’s hard to gauge national success, but the above standings have no direct connection to actual record sales. Ernie and other disk jockeys simply listed what was either popular or what they thought deserved to be given airplay. Right on, Ernie!

Another prominent radio DJ in Detroit, Martha Jean “The Queen”, began holding Monday Night Swing record-hops in the 20 Grand’s Goldroom and Thelma’s roster featured heavily. For just 50 cents, teenagers could see numerous acts lip-syncing to their current 45 and dance on the large floor – the jerk was one craze in ‘64 - while artists got a chance to plug their record. Emanuel was a regular.

With Thelma’s growing popularity, Berry Gordy’s Motown Corporation was beginning to sit up and take notice, especially as the founder was once married to Thelma; the couple had three children, Hazel Joy, Berry IV and Terry, before splitting up in 1957.
 

Notes thanks to Graham Finch

Page Lead-in Clip from Crazy  [Thelma Recording Co. T-100-A]

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