Spitball Army

Tom Clay, a radio DJ and more populist version of jazzy word-man Ken Nordine, created a montage of audio clips from prominent news events of the ’60s and released it to the airwaves in 1971.  I must have heard it dozens of times on my little transistor radio when I was a kid.  I was reminded of it, and of its spirit, as I awoke to the news of the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy this morning.

[audio:Tom_Clay___What_the_World_Needs_Now.mp3]
“What the World Needs Now / Abraham, Martin & John” (1971) by Tom Clay

It is easy to hear how this single struck a strong emotional chord for Americans who had just passed through an extremely volatile decade in our nation’s history.  I especially recall the intense drama in hearing the excerpt from Kennedy’s eulogy at his brother Bobby’s funeral, toward the end of the song.  That memory popped into my head the moment that I heard CNN roll the corresponding newsreel footage this morning, and I had to seek out this recording.  I hadn’t thought about it in decades.

Rest in peace, Teddy.