The Box Tops “The Letter” b/w “Happy Times.” #1 this week 50 years ago in 1967 on Mala Records (it hit #1 on September 23rd and remained there for four weeks). I’m fond of “The Letter” because while I would sing traditional nursery rhymes to Vault-boy Jake when he was a baby (“Old McDonald,” “Wheels on the Bus”) and the occasional Duran Duran song (usually “Hungry Like the Wolf”), “The Letter” was the only song that Joe sang, nailing Alex Chilton’s rough and soulful growl.

Originally named The DeVilles, The Box Tops renamed themselves just prior to “The Letter’s” release, which was written by Wayne Carson. The song was almost an instant hit and subsequently has been re-recorded multiple times (The Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, Alex Chilton solo in ‘76) and Rolling Stone listed it at #372 in its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The b-side “Happy Times” is a bright little ditty, steeped in 60′s sunshine, happy horns and a swinging bass line.