The week of June 28, 1966, found a couple of legends atop the Billboard Hot 100: Frank Sinatra with ‘Strangers in the Night‘ at #1 and The Beatles with ‘Paperback Writer‘ at #2. I wrote about the latter way back in 2009 when these were Beatles Weekends.
At #3 that week was the song ‘Red Rubber Ball’ by the bizarrely named pop band The Cyrkle. The American trio was managed by none other than Brian Epstein, who also managed the little band right above them on the chart, and they actually opened for The Beatles during the Fab Four’s U.S. tour. John Lennon even suggested the spelling of their band name.
If you think that makes The Cyrkle well-connected, consider that ‘Red Rubber Ball,’ their only top ten hit, was co-written by Paul Simon. He gave them the song while they were opening for Simon & Garfunkel. He later offerend them ’59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy)’ but they passed.
Last fun fact: Cyrkle frontmen Tom Dawes and Don Dannemann became jingle writers after the band broke up, and Dawes is responsible for the famous Alka Seltzer “plop plop fizz fizz” refrain.
Old songs. Great memories.
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I should have known
You’d bid me farewell
There’s a lesson to be learned from this
And I learned it very well
Now, I know you’re not
The only starfish in the sea
If I never hear your name again
It’s all the same to me
[Chorus]
And I think it’s gonna be alright
Yeah, the worst is over now
The mornin’ sun is shinin’
Like a red rubber ball
[Verse 2]
You never care
For secrets I confide
For you, I’m just an ornament
Something for your pride
Always runnin’, never carin’
That’s the life you live
Stolen minutes of your time
Were all you had to give
[Chorus]
And I think it’s gonna be alright
Yeah, the worst is over now
The mornin’ sun is shinin’
Like a red rubber ball
[Verse 3]
The story’s in the past
With nothing to recall
I’ve got my life to live
And I don’t need you at all
The rollercoaster ride we took
Is nearly at an end
I bought my ticket with my tears
That’s all I’m gonna spend
[Chorus]
And I think it’s gonna be alright
Yeah, the worst is over now
The mornin’ sun is shinin’
Like a red rubber ball, woah, oh, oh
Oh, I think it’s gonna be alright
Yeah, the worst is over now
The morning sun is shining
Like a red rubber ball
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’ve never heard of the band or this song. Interesting stuff though!
Never heard of them before but love all the connections!
Fairly irrelevant story: I worked at a summer camp back in the 70’s…we would come up with nicknames for everyone. There was a counselor (from Great Britain) whose last name was Ball. You can fill in the blanks…
I always liked this little pop song. Still have the original 45.