In this series for 2024, William will be sharing some of the iconic duets from the 1960s onwards. Collaborations between artists that were hits around the world and are still enjoyed today.
Thanks for joining me today and I hope you will enjoy this trip down memory lane with me in coming months. William
1969 – Zager & Evans – In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)
“In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” was composed by Rick Evans in 1964. It gave warnings of the dangers of technology, portraying a future in which the human race would be destroyed by its own technological and medical innovations. The last verses of the song suggest mankind would undergo a continuing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
“In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 and remained for six consecutive weeks. It peaked at #1 in the UK and #2 in Australia, selling over four million copies worldwide.
Zager and Evans are considered to be the archetypal one-hit artists. In spite of they had with “2525,” the follow-up single, “Mr. Turnkey”, failed to chart in the US and UK, as did subsequent releases. As of 2019, the duo remains the only act to have had a chart-topping hit on both sides of the Atlantic but never having another chart single in Billboard nor the UK.
1969 – Diana Ross and The Supremes & The Temptations – I’m Gonna Make You Love Me
“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” was penned by Gamble and Huff and Jerry Ross and originally recorded by Dee Dee Warwick (Dionne Warwick’s sister and Whitney Houston’s first cousin) in 1966, peaking at #13 on the Billboard R&B chart and #88 on its Pop Chart.
In December of 1968 Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations performed “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” together on their joint TV Special “TCB.” Radio stations across the country began playing the track compelling Motown to release the song as a single.
The song reached #2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and its R&B charts in January 1969: the Record World 100 Top Pops ranked it at #1 for three weeks while Cash Box ranked the single #1. In the UK, the single peaked at #3, and spent six weeks in the Top 10.
Thanks for joining me today and look forward to hearing from you… William.
William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.
His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.
While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.
Website: William Price King – Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial – Regular Venue – Cave Wilson
2525! Weird…. Glad Diana Ross sang on to take the weirdness away.
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She saved the day .. ♥
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Another great selection. Thanks, William, and Sally!
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Thanks Olga ♥
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Yes, great to see all these again. 2525 is coming….
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Thanks Jane… hopefully not accelerated into my lifetime…♥
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LOL I don’t think so, but heading our way I fear. Have a fab week. Keep warm and dry! xx
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Thank you very much, Jane. 2525 is quite prophetic, but I’m not in any hurry to see it. The longer it takes to get here, the better. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs
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LOL rest assured, you and I shan’t get there and it won’t come to meet who is still here for a while yet, I am sure. Feels like it sometimes however. Have a great week. x
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Great songs. I never had thought that 2525 was only a one-hit wonder. Thanks for another great update of my knowledge. 🙂 Best wishes for the weekend! hugsx Michael
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Thank you very much, Michael. It’s a real pleasure. Glad you enjoyed. Do have a wonderful weekend. All the best.
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Thanks very much Michael.. so pleased you enjoyed.. ♥
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It’s always surprising how many songs i had heard in the past, but have had forgotten too fast, Sally! xx Michael
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I know Michael, I change out my playlist quite often and I always find a gem or two from the past that I loved then but forgot.. Enjoy your weekend.. hugsx
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Love the history of the songs. Who knew 2525 was another one hit wonder. And Diana Ross makes every song great. Thanks for the memories. ❤ xx
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Thanks very much Debby ♥♥
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❤
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Many thanks, Debby. It’s always a pleasure. Have a great weekend. Hugs
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Thanks William. Happy weekend to you too. xx
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Diana Ross and the Supremes are supreme in my book! I have to admit the video for In the Year 2525 is weird and a little disturbing, but clever.
Thanks for this intro to my weekend!
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Thanks Darlene and definitely an imaginative if disturbing video… and 50 years on… a little prophetic!! ♥
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Thank you very much, Noelle. The video is quite imaginative and even prophetic, leaving one to hope for the best. Diana Ross and the Supremes were supreme indeed. Do have a wonderful weekend. Hugs
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Great duets. Love the video on 2525. Those silent film dramatics are classic.
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Thank you very much, John. It’s a pleasure. Weekend cheers!
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To you as well, William.
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Thanks John…hugs
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😊
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I had forgotten that the Supremes and Temptations recorded a song together. Thank you!
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Delighted you enjoyed Jennie and have a lovely weekend. ♥
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Best to you, Sally! 😍
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Thank you very much, Jennie. Always a pleasure. Do have a wonderful weekend. Hugs
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You are welcome, William. Best to you!
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Two terrific tunes!! Thanks.
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Thanks Darlene… have a lovely weekend. ♥
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You are most welcome, Darlene. Thank you very much and have a great weekend. Hugs
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Fantastic, William and Sally. It’s hard to go past Diana Ross.
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It certainly is, Toni. Thank you very much. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs
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Combining “In the Year 2025” with the “Metropolis” clips was a stroke of genius. The video is terrifying.
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Thank you very much, Liz. Glad you enjoyed. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs
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You’re welcome, William. I hope you have a good weekend, too.
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Great songs… and I find 2525 a little terrifying, but hope I will be long gone…lol Have a good weekend Liz x
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Thanks, Sally, you, too!
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Hi, Sally & William:
I really enjoyed this blog. I have been listening to 2525 for the past year contemplating how visionary this song might be. I was interested to see this video. I’d never seen it before.
Loved the Supremes video. Always a fan of “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” with the Temptations.
Thanks for putting this together! Fantastic.
xx Lisette
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Many thanks, Lisette. It’s been a pleasure. Do have a great weekend. Hugs
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Thanks so much. To you as well, my friend. 🙂
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Thanks Lisette and have a lovely weekend x
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Two terrific tunes that I could not imagine anyone else performing. Cool!!
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Thank you very much, Annette. Delighted that you enjoyed. Do enjoy your weekend. Hugs
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Fantastic Annette and have a lovely weekend. ♥
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