While most people have never heard of Kelly Hogan, you can’t be interested in music and live in Chicago without having come into contact with Hogan’s smooth vocals and down to earth demeanor. Hogan is a stalwart of the Chicago roots music scene who has backed the likes of Neko Case, The Waco Brothers, Mavis […]
Today in Rock History – March 25
1966, At a photo session with Bob Whitaker’s studio in London, The Beatles posed in white coats using sides of meat with mutilated and butchered dolls for the cover of their next American album, Yesterday and Today. After a public outcry, the album was pulled from stores and re-issued with a new cover. At the […]
Song Of the Day by Eric Berman – “One Draw” by Rita Marley
This rock steady celebration of jah spliff really got mucho airplay at parties I attended back in the day. And why not, it’s got a beat that just can’t quit and lyrics we all could relate to! Rita Marley, of course, was the wife of Bob Marley and a member of the vocal group the […]
Today in Rock History – March 24
1965, The Beatles continued filming Help! at Twickenham Studios, England. They shot the interior temple scenes, including the one where they “dive through a hollow sacrificial altar and into water”. That scene was then cut to the swimming pool scene filmed in the Bahamas on February 23. 1966, Simon and Garfunkel made their UK singles […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Betrayal Takes Two” by Richard Hell & The Voidoids
Richard Hell was the original punk! He was a fashion inspiration to Malcolm McLaren who borrowed his spiked hair look, torn clothes and ample use of safety pins as the basis for his own fashion shop, Sex, in London that launched The Sex Pistols and the initial punk scene. But it wasn’t just the look […]
Today in Rock History – March 23
1966, The Who perform at the Tower Ballroom in Great Yarmouth, England. The band’s road manager, Neville Chesters, joins The Who onstage to sing “You Were On My Mind.” 1967, Pink Floyd performed at Clifton Hall at the Rotherham College of Technical Dance, South Yorkshire, England. 1967, At a ceremony held at the Playhouse Theatre […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Seven Come Eleven” by Charlie Christian w/ The Benny Goodman Sextet
The world of music is scattered with “what ifs,” such as “What if Waylon Jennings didn’t give his seat up to Buddy Holly on the ill-fated flight that took his life?,” or “What if John Lennon hadn’t been murdered…would there have been a Beatles reunion?” One of the more intriguing what-ifs in my book is […]
Today in Rock History – March 22
1965, Bringing It All Back Home, Bob Dylan’s fifth studio album was released. The album reached number six on Billboard’s Pop Albums chart, the first of Dylan’s albums to break into the US top 10, and it also topped the UK charts later that Spring. The lead-off track, “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” became Dylan’s first single to […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Hands Off She’s Mine” by The English Beat
Records don’t get any more downright joyous, infectious and danceable than this classic ska track by The English Beat. Not to be confused with a now-unknown American band that also called themselves The Beat that had this Beat changing their name to The English Beat in America, The Beat were a 2-Tone ska collective that […]
Today in Rock History – March 21
1965, The Who appeared at the Trade Union Hall, Watford, England. 1965, After “I Want To Hold Your Hand” had held the number one position on the US singles chart for seven weeks, The Beatles started a two-week run at the top of the charts with “She Loves You.” 1967, Jimi Hendrix performed at Speakeasy […]
