Gonzaga University’s radio station came to life while I was a student there. Broadcasting from a corner of the COG (Center of Gonzaga) student union building’s basement, the shoestring operation operated with used equipment and neophyte enthusiasm. The station’s disc jockeys – I was one – played the popular music of the day, mixed in with whatever else we felt other students needed to hear.
“Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)” by John Fred and His Playboy Band was Billboard’s number one record for two weeks in early 1968. “Judy in Disguise” was either homage to or parody of the Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Both had lyrics that probably made sense when you were stoned. John Fred’s follow-up “Hey Hey Bunny,” made it to number 57. Subsequent releases sank without a ripple and “Judy in Disguise” is remembered as a novelty curiosity and John Fred as a prototypical One-Hit Wonder.
