1965, Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, Sonny Boy Williamson died in his sleep. Van Morrison, Aerosmith, The Who, The Animals, Yardbirds, and Moody Blues all covered his songs. According to the Led Zeppelin biography Hammer of the Gods, touring the UK in the 60’s, Sonny Boy set his hotel room on fire while trying […]
Today in Rock History – May 24
1966, Captain Beefheart appeared at the Whisky a Go Go. West Hollywood, California. Supported by Buffalo Springfield and The Doors. 1967, Jimi Hendrix played at Gröna Lund in Copenhagen, Denmark. 1968, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band appeared at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan. 1968, Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull are arrested on charges of […]
Today in Rock History – May 23
1964, Marvin Gaye appears on American Bandstand singing “You’re a Wonderful One.” 1967, Pink Floyd performed at Town Hall in High Wycombe, England. 1967, Jimi Hendrix appeared at Klub Bongo in Malmö, Sweden. 1968, Johnny Lee Hooker, supported by The Hallucinations performed at Boston Tea Party in Boston, Massachusetts. 1968, Pink Floyd played two late […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” by The Hollies
By the time this song had hit the charts in 1972, The Hollies were already on their second career having survived the setback of having two key members leaving the group. Throughout the sixties, they released indelible singles like “Bus Stop,” “Stop Stop Stop,” “Look Through Any Window,” “Carrie Anne” and “Jennifer Eccles” before original […]
Today in Rock History – May 22
1964, The Beatles arrived back from their first US trip at Heathrow Airport and were greeted by thousands of fans. Also on this day The Beatles scored their second chart topping album with The Beatles Second Album. It displaced Meet The Beatles! from the top of the charts. 1965, The Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride ” surpassed Herman’s […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Mr. Dieingly Sad” by The Critters
Although their name was inspired by another ’60s group, The Animals, the similarities end there. The Critters were far more easy listening than their rough and tumble contemporaries. They formed in New Jersey in 1964 around singer/songwriter and guitarist Don Ciccone. Their three top forty hits included a cover of a John Sebastian song, “Younger […]
Today in Rock History – May 21
1965, The Who’s second single, “Anyway Anyhow Anywhere” backed with “Daddy Rolling Stone” is released in the UK on Brunswick. Derek Johnson in New Musical Express calls is “a wild racer, with just about every conceivable gimmick…it commands attention and should do well.” 1967, Jimi Hendrix signed with Reprise Records on the US Warner Brothers […]
Today in Rock History – May 20
1965, The Who performed at Town Hall in Kidderminster, West Midlands, England. 1966, Bob Dylan and The Band played at the ABC Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. Some members of the audience were unhappy with Dylan “going electric,” and attempted to overpower the band by playing their own harmonicas. 1966, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of […]
Today in Rock History – May 19
1967, The Beatles held a press party at manager Brian Epstein’s house in London for the launch of the Sgt. Pepper’s album. Linda Eastman was hired as the press photographer. 1967, Pink Floyd played at Club A’ Go Go in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. 1969, The Who appeared at The Rock Pile […]
Song of the Day by Eric Berman – “Little Cloud” by The Incredible String Band
Albums didn’t come more psychedelic than the third offering from The Incredible String Band from 1967 called “The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion.” Robin Williamson and Mike Heron offered their special blend of acoustic guitars, madrigal inspired songs and sitar layered music to create a brew that was of another time and […]
