It's What's Happening, Baby!  That's the name of the 1965 television special hosted by influential New York disk jockey Murray Kaufman, a.k.a. Murray The K.  Over the course of 90 minutes, the jocular, hep-talking Murray (who christened himself The Fifth Beatle as an early friend and supporter of the Fab Four) shared musical performances by the day's biggest pop and soul acts including The Supremes, Dionne Warwick, Ray Charles, The Righteous Brothers, The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Rivers, Herman's Hermits, The Temptations, The Ronettes, Martha and The Vandellas, Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Four Tops, and more.  The electrifying special has been off television for more than half a century, but now, it's poised for a return.

Beginning this Saturday, March 6 at 7:00 Eastern/Central Pacific Time, It's What Happening, Baby! will debut on Public Television stations with encore telecasts to follow.  The return of the special is spearheaded by longtime PBS producer TJ Lubinsky (well-known for the My Music series of programs) and newly restored from original video and audio elements to look and sound better than before.

It's What Happening Baby! was commissioned by the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity to combat poverty and encourage youth across America to seek summer employment while out of school.  Kaufman, who departed WINS-AM in December 1964 in advance of the station's switch from music to news - he would move in 1966 to the FM dial as Program Director of New York's WOR-FM - was also well-known for his star-studded concerts at Brooklyn's Fox Theatre.

Murray devised the special to appeal to the broadest swath of viewers.  However, he emphasized the African-American performers whom he had championed in his concerts and radio shows.  The brightest stars of Motown illuminated the roster for the special, including The Supremes ("Stop! In the Name of Love"), Martha and The Vandellas ("Nowhere to Run"), Marvin Gaye ("Pride and Joy"), Mary Wells ("My Guy"), Four Tops ("I Can't Help Myself"), The Temptations ("The Way You Do the Things You Do"), and The Miracles ("Ooo Baby Baby").  They were joined by Dionne Warwick ("Walk on By"), The Ronettes ("Be My Baby"), Ray Charles "(What'd I Say") and Chuck Jackson ("I Don't Want to Cry") as well as The Righteous Brothers ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"), Gary Lewis and the Playboys ("Count Me In"), Herman's Hermits ("Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter"), and Johnny Rivers ("Seventh Son") among the performers.

Now, nearly 56 years later, many of the original musical artists will appear in new segments, sharing their memories of working with Murray The K, who died in 1982 at the age of 60.  Dionne Warwick reflects, "He was the man! To be part of a Murray The K show was the thing to be." Little Anthony adds, "He was a real showman. Everybody fell in love with him."  The broadcast will also feature The Supremes' Mary Wilson's final interview, recorded on January 26 - less than two weeks before her sudden passing on February 8.

In its original airing on CBS-TV, It's What's Happening, Baby! reached over 20 million viewers.  Now, audiences can revel in its soaring performances of some of the greatest pop and soul tunes of all time.  It debuts this Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. on Public Television stations across America.  (New York readers, take note that It's What's Happening, Baby! will air on WLIW-TV at 10:30 p.m. rather than at 7:00.)

A special DVD release of the restored program with over an hour of new interviews with the performers plus bonus songs by The Association, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Spanky & Our Gang and more is available exclusively in exchange for a pledge donation to participating Public Television Stations. Two additional DVDs included feature The Beach Boys' Mike Love hosting an hour of rare, vintage summer and surf song performances by Jan & Dean, The Beach Boys and many others plus Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits hosting a retrospective of the 1965-1966 NBC-TV music series Hullabaloo. A new 6-CD set of 1960s Motown, Soul & Rock 'n' Roll hits is also offered for a donation.  Keeping with the spirit of the era, Discs 1-5 of the new set are all original mono recordings.  Here are links to one of the Public Television outlets in which these products can be obtained for anyone in the United States:

Single DVD:  It's What's Happening, Baby DVD - Pledge (wttw.com)
6-CD Set:  It's What's Happening, Baby 6-CD Set - Pledge (wttw.com)
3-DVD Set + 6-CD Set: It's What's Happening, Baby: Big Combo 3-DVD + 6-CD - Pledge (wttw.com)

You'll find the full track listings for the pledge premiums below.  And don't miss this trailer here or just below!

Program DVD: It's What's Happening, Baby! - DVD #1

1. Nowhere To Run - Martha & The Vandellas
2. Walk On By - Dionne Warwick
3. Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter - Herman's Hermits
4. Pride & Joy - Marvin Gaye
5. Land Of 1,000 Dances - Cannibal & The Headhunters
6. You'll Never Walk Alone - Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles
7. I'm Alright - Little Anthony & The Imperials
8. Be My Baby - The Ronettes
9. I Don't Want To Cry - Chuck Jackson
10. My Guy - Mary Wells
11. The Seventh Son - Johnny Rivers
12. The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Temptations
13. Count Me In - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
14. Up On The Roof - The Drifters
15. Stop! In The Name Of Love - The Supremes
16. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - The Righteous Brothers
17. I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops
18. Ooo Baby Baby - The Miracles
19. What'd I Say - Ray Charles

Hullabaloo - Bonus DVD

1. Can't You Feel My Heartbeat - Herman's Hermits
2. I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
3. Only In America - Jay & The Americans
4. All Day & All Of The Night - The Kinks
5. The Game Of Love - Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
6. Working My Way Back To You/Dawn/Rag Doll/Bye Bye Baby - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

7. Silhouettes - Herman's Hermits
8. The Times, They Are A-Changin' - The Byrds
9. Tambourine Man - The Byrds
10. Eve Of Destruction - Barry McGuire
11. Red Rubber Doll - The Cyrkle
12. If I Had A Hammer - Trini Lopez
13. You Didn't Have To Be So Nice - The Lovin' Spoonful
14. California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas
15. I Fought The Law - The Bobby Fuller Four
16. Good Lovin' - The Rascals
17. Reach Out For Me - Dionne Warwick
18. Time Won't Let Me - The Outsiders
19. She's Not There - The Zombies
20. It's My Life - The Animals
21. Kicks - Paul Revere & The Raiders
22. These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra
23. (You're My) Soul & Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers

Summer, Surf & Beach Music - Bonus DVD

1. "Surfin' USA" - The Beach Boys
2. "I Get Around" - The Beach Boys
3. "Surf City" - Jan & Dean
4. "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" - Jan & Dean
5. "Summertime Blues" - Eddie Cochran
6. "Wipeout" - The Surfaris
7. "Walk Don't Run" - The Ventures
8. "Hawaii Five-O" - The Ventures
9. "California Dreamin'" - The Mamas & The Papas
10. "Summer In The City" - The Lovin' Spoonful
11. "In The Summertime" - Mungo Jerry
12. "A Summer Song" - Chad & Jeremy
13. "Beach Baby" - First Class
14. "Hot Fun In The Summertime" - Sly & The Family Stone
15. "Under The Boardwalk" - The Drifters
16. "Beach Party Tonight" - Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello
17. "Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows" - Lesley Gore
18. "Summer Lovin'" - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
19. "Sealed With A Kiss" - Brian Hyland
20. "Surfin' & A-Swingin'" - Dick Dale
21. "Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys
22. "Kokomo" - The Beach Boys
23. "The Monkey's Uncle" - Annette Funicello & The Beach Boys

6-CD Set Track List:

Motown, Soul & Rock 'n' Roll - CD #1

1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Righteous Brothers
2. The Tracks Of My Tears - The Miracles
3. Nowhere To Run - Martha & The Vandellas
4. How Sweet It Is - Marvin Gaye
5. You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore
6. Count Me In - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
7. I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops
8. Stop! In The Name Of Love - The Supremes
9. 1-2-3 - Len Berry
10. My Guy - Mary Wells
11. Hurt So Bad - Little Anthony & The Imperials
12. The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Temptations
13. Do You Love Me - The Contours
14. (You're My) Soul & Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers
15. Jimmy Mack - Martha & The Vandellas
16. Ooo Baby Baby - The Miracles
17. Maybe I Know - Lesley Gore
18. She's Just My Style - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
19. My World Is Empty Without You - The Supremes
20. Pride & Joy - Marvin Gaye
21. Something About You - Four Tops
22. Goin' Out Of My Head - Little Anthony & The Imperials
23. Two Lovers - Mary Wells
24. My Girl - The Temptations

Motown, Soul & Rock 'n' Roll - CD #2

1. One Fine Day - The Chiffons
2. Going To A Go-Go - The Miracles
3. Sunday Will Never Be The Same - Spanky & Our Gang
4. It's My Party - Lesley Gore
5. I Got A Feeling - Four Tops
6. Everything Is Good About You - The Supremes
7. Sooner Or Later - The Grass Roots
8. California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas
9. Shotgun - Junior Walker & The All Stars
10. High On A Hill - The Marcels
11. Money (That's What I Want) - Barret Strong
12. Wishin' & Hopin' - Dusty Springfield
13. This Old Heart Of Mine - The Isley Brothers
14. My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels
15. Mickey's Monkey - The Miracles
16. I Have A Boyfriend - The Chiffons
17. I'll Always Love You - The Spinners
18. I'd Like To Get To Know You - Spanky & Our Gang
19. The River Is Wide - The Grass Roots
20. I'll Turn To Stone - Four Tops
21. Tell Him - The Exciters
22. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin
23. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
24. I Don't Want To Cry - Chuck Jackson

Soul & Rock 'n' Roll - CD #3

1. I Think We're Alone Now - Tommy James & The Shondells
2. Respect - Aretha Franklin
3. Along Comes Mary - The Association
4. Baby Don't Go - Sonny & Cher
5. The Last Train To Clarksville - The Monkees
6. Groovin' - The Rascals
7. Walk On By - Dionne Warwick
8. Carrie-Anne - The Hollies
9. The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
10. Devil With A Blue Dress/Good Golly Miss Molly -Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

11. Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
12. Ferry Cross The Mersey - Gerry & The Pacemakers
13. I'm Alright - Little Anthony & The Imperials
14. Walk Like A Man - Frankie Valli & The Four Season
15. The 59^th Street Bridge Song - Harper's Bizarre
16. Land Of 1,000 Dances - Cannibal & The Headhunters
17. Angel Of The Morning - Merilee Rush
18. Up On The Roof - The Drifters
19. Hold On, I'm Coming - Sam & Dave
20. Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
21. Just One Look - Doris Troy
22. Mony Mony - Tommy James & The Shondells
23. Never My Love - The Association
24. Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley
25. What'd I Say - Ray Charles
26. You'll Never Walk Alone - Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles

Murray The K's Original Golden Gassers - CD #4

1. Little Girl Of Mine - The Cleftones
2. Honeycomb - Jimmie Rodgers
3. I'm Stickin' With You - Jimmie Bowen
4. Beep Beep - The Playmates
5. The Closer You Are - The Channels
6. Gee - The Crows
7. You Talk Too Much - Joe Jones
8. Dear Lord - The Continentals
9. A Thousand Miles Away - The Hearbeats
10. Party Doll - Buddy Knox
11. Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon
12. Crying In The Chapel - Sonny Till & The Orioles

The Ronettes & The Crystals - Original Hits - CD #5

1. Be My Baby - The Ronettes
2. Baby I Love You - The Ronettes
3. Walking In The Rain - The Ronettes
4. Do I Love You - The Ronettes
5. Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Hearts - Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans
6. (Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry - Darlene Love
7. He's A Rebel - The Crystals
8. He's Sure The Boy I Love - The Crystals
9. Then He Kissed Me - The Crystals
10. Da Doo Ron Ron - The Crystals

British Pop - CD #6

1. House Of The Rising Son - The Animals
2. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - The Animals
3. Can't You Hear My Heartbeat - Herman's Hermits
4. Silhouettes - Herman's Hermits
5. As Tears Go By - Marianne Faithfull
6. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter - Herman's Hermits
7. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place - The Animals
8. Listen People - Herman's Hermits
9. There's A Kind Of Hush - Herman's Hermits
10. It's My Life - The Animals