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Today in Rock History – May 17

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1967, Pete Townshend records an interview for the BBC overseas radio program Dateline London then The Who pre-tape a Top Of The Pops insert miming to “Pictures Of Lily.” From there they travel to Stevenage to play the Locarno Ballroom. Backstage, John lashed out at a “well-known pop singer” by punching his picture on the wall. He breaks his finger.

1969, Chicago release their double debut album, Chicago Transit Authority. The real C.T.A. sued.

1969, It was reported that for the first time ever album sales had overtaken single sales in the UK. 49,184,000 albums were produced during 1968 compared with 49,161,000 singles.

1969, Joni Mitchell was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents,

1971, Dawn was at No.1 on the singles chart with ‘Knock Three Times’, the group’s first of two No.1’s. Singer Tony Orlando had retired from singing when he was persuaded to front Dawn for studio recordings.

1974, ABC broadcasts the Elton John special Say Goodbye to Norma Jean and Other Things, during which the singer plays “Candle in the Wind” and “Rocket Man.”.

1974, The Grateful Dead performed at the P.N.E. Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada.

1975, Earth Wind and Fire started a three-week run at No.1 on the album chart with the soundtrack to ‘That’s The Way Of The World.’

1975, Mick Jagger needs 20 stitches in his hand after putting it through the window of a restaurant in Montauk, N.Y.

1975, Elton John was awarded a Platinum Record for sales of a million copies of the LP ‘Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy’, the first album ever to be certified Platinum on the day of its release.

1975, Led Zeppelin played the first of five sold-out nights at Earls Court Arena, London, England.

1978, Lou Reed begins a week-long stand at New York’s Bottom Line club. The concerts are taped for his live album Take No Prisoners.

1979, The Police appeared at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California.

Born on this day: Taj Mahal (1946); Bill Bruford, King Crimson, Yes (1948); George Johnson, the Brothers Johnson (1953); Paul Dianno,  Iron Maiden (1959); and Trent Reznor, Nine Inch Nails (1965)

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Today in Rock History – January 30

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beatles-strawberry-fields1964, The Searchers were at number one on the UK singles chart with the Sonny Bono song “Needles And Pins.” The group’s second UK chart topper had originally been recorded by Jackie DeShannon

1967, The Beatles shoot a promotional clip for “Strawberry Fields Forever” in Kent, England.

1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience are filmed at London’s Saville Theatre to promote their next single.

1969, The Beatles, with Billy Preston, played their lunchtime rooftop gig on top of the Apple building on Savile Row in London. It was the final time The Beatles would perform live. The played Get Back / Don’t Let Me Down / I’ve Got A Feeling / The One After 909 / Dig A Pony. Traffic was brought to a standstill as crowds of people gathered below and watched from windows in nearby buildings. The performance itself began at around 12 pm on a bitterly cold Thursday lunchtime and lasted for 42 minutes. John Lennon ended the performance by saying “I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition.”

1970, The Flock, Fleetwood Mac, and The Grateful Dead appeared at the opening of The Warehouse in New Orleans.

1970, Edison Lighthouse were at number one on the UK singles chart with “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes.”) The group’s only Top 40 hit spent five weeks at the top of the charts. In February 1970, Tony Burrows became the first, and still the only person to appear on BBC Television’s Top Of The Pops fronting three different acts in one show: Edison Lighthouse (who were number one that week), White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.

1970, The Who performed at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.

1971, Bob Seger played at the Uptown Palladium 12 Theatre‎ in Birmingham, Michigan.

george-harrison-all-things-must-pass1971, George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a number one when”‘My Sweet Lord” went to the top of the singles charts. The song from his All Things Must Pass album stayed at number one for five weeks. The track returned to the top of the UK charts in 2002, following his death.

1972, Paul McCartney wrote and recorded his protest song “Give Ireland Back To The Irish” within 24 hours of Bloody Sunday, when 13 Catholics were killed by British paratroopers.

1973, After recently changing their name from Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as KISS at the Popcorn Club in Queens, New York. They wore little or none of the makeup that became the band’s trademark and performed to an audience of three people.

1973, The Allman Brothers Band appeared at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin.

1974, Aerosmith played at The Brewery, East Lansing, Michigan.

1975, The Bee Gees begin recording “Jive Talkin,” which became their second chart topper.  Gibb’s inspiration for the song came when his wife commented on the sound their car made while crossing a bridge over Biscayne Bay into Miami. She noted, “It’s our drive talkin’.”

1977, Pink Floyd performed at Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany.

1978, The Grateful Dead played at Chicago’s Uptown Theatre.

1980, Rush appeared at the Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia.

1982, American blues guitarist, singer Sam Lightnin’ Hopkins died of cancer aged 70. He influenced Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. R.E.M. recorded a song named after him on their Document album.

1982, Hall and Oates went to number one on the US singles chart with “I Can Go For That, (No Can Do,)” the duo’s fourth US chart topper. It was a number eight hit in the UK.

1984, Blue Oyster Cult played at Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany.

1988, INXS had their first US number one hit single with “Need You Tonight.”

1990, Unhappy with the re-issue of the bands early single “Sally Cinnaman,” The Stone Roses trashed their former record company Revolver FM’s offices and threw paint over cars. The band were arrested and charged with criminal damage.

2005, The Chemical Brothers went to number one on the UK album chart with Push The Button, the duo’s fourth UK chart topping album. The Game had the US number one album with The Documentary.

Born on January 30: Joe Terranova, Danny and the Juniors (1941); Marty Balin, Jefferson Airplane (1942); Steve Marriott, Small Faces, Humble Pie (1947); and Phil Collins (1951)

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Song Of The Day – “Aire” by Chicago

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chicagoVIIBy the time of the sessions for their sixth studio album (and seventh overall), Chicago had dozens of hits behind them and had grown restless and unhappy with the concise nature of their previous two records. Sure the albums established the group as a hit making machine, but the band began to feel that their credibility was at stake. To that end, Chicago decided to use some of the leeway their many hits had bought them to stretch out and make the jazz album they always wanted to.

Not all of the members were on board with the idea, especially Peter Cetera and producer James William Guericio who thought a pure jazz album would be too much of a creative risk for the band. Much of their unease came as a result of the group performing some of the newer jazz oriented material while on tour behind Chicago VI to mixed reaction from the audiences.

After convening at Guericio’s Caribou Ranch to record, the band struck a compromise to incorporate more radio friendly material in with the jazz material. The result was their first double album since their third long player.

The album was sequenced with the most of the jazz tracks up front which puzzled many fans and made the suits at Columbia Records most unhappy. The effect was like cueing up a record by a totally different band than the one who just recently gave fans hit singles like “Feeling Stronger Every Day” and “Just You ‘N Me,” however the strength of the material did establish Chicago as a credible jazz act.

The group’s new material was fairly typical of the jazz-rock direction Chicago’s label-mates Santana and Weather Report set out on, and especially highlighted the instrumental chops of the band, especially on today’s Song Of The Day, “Aire” which features tasty fluid guitar soloing by Terry Kath. By now the band was also augmented by Laudir DeOliveira on percussion and David J. Wolinski on ARP synthesizer, whose contributions were particularly felt throughout the jazz material.

It wasn’t that Chicago’s jazz leanings were too far out, but the first half of Chicago VII confounded fans’ expectations, especially on tracks like the ten minute “Devil’s Suite” that was perhaps their most experimental recording since “Free Form Guitar” on their debut album.

Jazzier material aside, Chicago VII had plenty of commercial radio-ready tracks throughout its second half including James Pankow’ #9 chart hit “(I’ve Been) Searching So Long,” Lee Loughnane’s “Call On Me” (a #6 hit), and Peter Cetera’s “Wishing You Were Here,” (#11) which was notable for the inclusion of Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson and Al Jardine of The Beach Boys on background vocals. Guericio was also The Beach Boys manager, leading to the two bands co-headlining numerous future tours together.

Other highlights on this album include Terry Kath’s “Byblos,” which was named after a club in Osaka, Japan where the band had played, James Pankow’s “Mongonucleosis” which was Chicago’s tribute to Latin musician Mongo Santamaria, Robert Lamm’s distorted rocker “Life Saver,” and Kath’s ballad “Song of the Evergreens.”

On the poppier side, Peter Cetera contributed “Happy Man,” that pointed towards the middle of the road direction he would take Chicago in the future. (The song was later be covered by Tony Orlando & Dawn.) Robert Lamm contributed several strong songs including “Skinny Boy” which was originally slotted to be the title track to his first solo album that he was recording at the same time as Chicago VII.

Despite its jazz leanings, Chicago VII topped the album charts upon its release in 1974, giving fans the best of both sides of Chicago, but after this album, it was artistically downhill from here for the group.

Today in Rock History – January 23

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searchers-needles-and-pins1964, The Searchers were at number one on the singles chart with the Sonny Bono song “Needles And Pins.”

1965, The Who play the Corn Exchange at Chelmsford and then an all-night rave at the Club Noreik in Tottenham. Opening for The Who at the all-night rave is The Muleskinners featuring future Small Faces’ keyboardist, Ian McLagan.

1966, Big Brother & the Holding Company play their first gig on the second day of the Trips Festival at San Francisco’s Longshoreman’s Hall, this show did not include Janis Joplin, who would join the band in June of that year.

1966, The Who appeared at Coop Hall in Warrington, Cheshire, England.

1967, Pink Floyd spent the first of three days recording the Syd Barrett songs “Arnold Layne” and “Candy And A Current Bun” at Sound Techniques Studios, Chelsea, London with Joe Boyd as producer. According to Roger Waters, “Arnold Layne” was based on a real person, a transvestite whose primary pastime was stealing women’s clothes and undergarments from washing lines in Cambridge.

1968, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers performed at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan

1969, Working at Apple studios in London, The Beatles, with Billy Preston on keyboards, recorded ten takes of a new song called “Get Back.” Alan Parsons makes his debut as the Beatles’ engineer.

1969, Led Zeppelin played at Boston Tea Party in Boston, Massachusetts.

1969, Jimi Hendrix performed at the Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany.

1970, Yes appeared at King’s Hall, Stoke, England.

1971, Steel Mill played their final show when they appeared at the Upstage Club, Asbury Park, New Jersey. Singer Bruce Springsteen formed new bands during the rest of the year, known under such names as the Bruce Springsteen Jam, Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom, and finally the Bruce Springsteen Band.

1971, George Harrison became the first solo Beatle to have a number one when “My Sweet Lord”‘ went to the top of the singles charts. The song from his All Things Must Pass album stayed at number one for five weeks.

1971, Dawn started a three week run at number one on the singles chart with “Knock Three Times,” the group’s first chart topper.

1972, Pink Floyd performed Dark Side of The Moon at Guildhall, in Southampton, England. The entire show was filmed by the BBC in an effort to test some new equipment.  However, the film was not supposed to be broadcast, and the tapes were wiped clean.

1974, Bob Dylan and The Band played at the Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee.

1975, Hawkwind appeared at Kings Hall, Derby, England.

1976, The Sex Pistols played at Watford College, Watford, England. The first of 65 gigs for band in 1976.

1976, Roxy Music performed at Konserthaus in Stockholm., Sweden.

1977, Patti Smith broke her vertebrae when she fell off the stage at a gig in Tampa, Florida.

CHicago-Terry-Kath1978, Terry Kath, guitarist with Chicago accidentally shot himself dead while cleaning what he believed was an unloaded gun. Kath’s last words were “Don’t worry it’s not loaded” as he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The guitarist and singer was killed instantly.

1979, Rush played at the Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York.

1980, Marvin Gaye appeared at the Liverpool Philharmonic, England, with Edwin Starr as support.

1982, The Allman Brothers Band appeared on Saturday Night Live, playing “Midnight Rider,” “Southbound,” and “I’m Leaving.” It was to be their last performance until 1986.

1984, Blue Oyster Cult performed at Sporthalle, Augsburg, Germany.

1986, Ray Charles was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the first induction dinner, held in New York City.

1988, Nirvana recorded a 10-song demo with Seattle producer Jack Endino. Sub Pop records boss Jonathan Poneman hears the tape and offers to put out a Nirvana single.

1990, Allen Collins guitarist from Lynyrd Skynyrd died of pneumonia after being ill for several months. Collins who was one of the founding members also co-wrote most of the band’s songs, including “Free Bird,” with late front man Ronnie Van Zant. He survived a plane crash in 1977 that killed two other band members. Collins was behind the wheel in a car accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. He later pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.

1994, Rage Against The Machine headlined the Rock For Choice benefit at The Palladium, Hollywood, California. Also appearing were Screaming Trees, Eddie Vedder, Mary’s Danish, 7 Year Bitch, and Green Apple Quick Step.

2000, Santana started a three week run at number one on the US album chart with Supernatural, the album which went on to win eight Grammy awards spent a total of nine weeks atop the charts during this year.

Born on this day: Django Reinhardt, jazz guitarist (1910); Anita Pointer,  The Pointer Sisters (1948); Danny Federici, keyboard, E Street Band (1950); Pat Simmons, guitarist,  The Doobie Brothers (1950); Robin Zander, vocals, Cheap Trick (1953); Earl Falconer, bassist, UB40 (1959); and Nick Harmer, bass guitarist,  Death Cab for Cutie (1974)

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Today in Rock History – January 20

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Fairport Convention1967, Jimi Hendrix performed at Haverstock Hill Country Club in London.

1967, The Monkees TV show was shown for the first time in the UK.

1968, Fleetwood Mac, The Move, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown and Fairport Convention  all appeared at the Roundhouse Chalk Farm in London.

1968, The Who play at Festival Hall in Brisbane, Queensland. The performances go over well with the audience but gets belittled in the next day’s press. “The Who were guilty of playing down to the yokels.” The tone of the press coverage is only to get worse. On the same day, back in England, New Musical Express reports that “Glow Girl” will be The Who’s next single. Pete Townshend mentions “Little Billy,” written for the American Cancer Society and, probably referencing “Faith In Something Bigger,” says he wants The Who to “preach” on their next album.

1968, Having been in seclusion since his 1966 motorcycle accident, Bob Dylan tries to build bridges with the folk community he left behind by going “electric.” He and the Band perform at a Carnegie Hall tribute to Woody Guthrie, sharing a bill with Pete Seeger, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Odetta, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott.

1968, One hit wonders John Fred and the Playboy Band started a two week run at number one on the US singles chart with “Judy In Disguise, (With Glasses.”) The song reached the third spot in the UK. It was inspired by The Beatles “Lucy In The Sky.”

1968, Buffalo Springfield played at Whittier High School, Whittier, California.

1968, The Grateful Dead performed at the Municipal Auditorium in Eureka, California.

1969, Bruce Springsteen had two of his poems published in the Ocean County College Literary Yearbook Seascapes. Springsteen was in his second semester at the Toms River, New Jersey College.

1969, The rumor mill states that Led Zeppelin appeared at the Wheaton Youth Center, Wheaton, during their first North American tour, and played to a tiny audience. There is no evidence of this show ever occurring. Led Zeppelin’s road manager, Richard Cole, does not recall it either. The first Baltimore area show was at the Civic Center on February 16, 1969.

1970, The Allman Brothers Band played at the University of California Riverside in Riverside, California,

1970, Led Zeppelin appeared at Leeds Town Hall, England.

1970, John Lennon and Yoko Ono both cut their hair off in Denmark and declare it to be Year One.

1971, Chicago and The Chamber Brothers appeared at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana.

1972, on the first date of a UK tour, Pink Floyd premiered their new album Dark Side Of The Moon at The Dome, Brighton, England. Due to technical problems this was abandoned after the track “Money.”

1973, Rock ‘n’ roll wild man Jerry Lee Lewis performs at the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. The Opry officials ask him to play only country music and refrain from using any obscenities. However, “The Killer” plays “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On,” before exclaiming, “I am the rock ‘n’ rollin’, country and western, rhythm and blues singin’ motherfucker.”

1973, Bob Dylan begins recording in Mexico City the soundtrack to Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, a Western starring Kris Kristofferson, James Coburn, and himself.

1974, Genesis performed at the Drury Lane Theatre, London on the Selling England By The Pound tour.

1975, The US Top Five singles: number five, Stevie Wonder, “Boogie On Reggae Woman,”  number four, Ohio Players, “Fire,” number three, Barry Manilow, “Mandy,” second, Neil Sedaka, “Laughter In The Rain,” and at number one, The Carpenters with “Please Mr Postman.”

1977, Foghat appeared at the Omni Coliseum, Atlanta.

rumours1978,  The Fleetwood Mac album Rumours went to number one on the UK album chart, also a number one in the US for thirty weeks in 1977. The album went on to sell over 15 million copies world- wide, and spent over 440 weeks on the UK chart.

1980, Aerosmith played at the Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine.

1981, Bruce Springsteen performed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

1982, During an Ozzy Osbourne concert in Des Moines, Iowa, a member of the audience threw a bat onto the stage. Stunned by the light, the bat lay motionless, and thinking it was a rubber fake, the singer picked it up and attempted to bite its head off. As he did this, the bat started to flap its wings and Ozzy soon realized it wasn’t fake but in fact a living thing. After the show Ozzy was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for rabies shots.

1983, Def Leppard released their third studio album Pyromania which featured new guitarist Phil Collen and was produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The album has now sold over 10 million copies in the US.

1985, Foreigner had their only UK number one single with “I Want To Know What Love Is.” London-born Mick Jones wrote the song.

1986, Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan appeared at a concert to celebrate the first Martin Luther King day in the US.

1988, The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko, Sean, and Julian Lennon all attend. Paul McCartney does not attend, sending instead a letter stating that continuing business differences with the other ex-Beatles was the reason for his absence.

1997, Ben and Jerry’s introduced Phish Food, a new flavor of ice cream named after the Vermont based rock group Phish. The ingredients were chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, caramel and fish-shaped fudge.

1999, Bill Albaugh drummer from the 1960’s psychedelic group The Lemon Pipers died aged 53. The Lemon Pipers scored the 1967 US number one single “Green Tambourine.”

2001, A memorial service was held for Kirsty MacColl who was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico in December 2000. Bono from U2 and Billy Bragg were among friends and fans that packed St Martin-in-the-fields church in London.

2002, George Harrison had the posthumous UK number one single with the re-release of the 1971 former chart topper “My Sweet Lord.” Harrison’s single replaced Aaliyah’s “More Than A Woman,” the only time in chart history that one deceased artist had taken over from another at the top spot.

2012, Etta James, most often remembered for her signature song “At Last,” which reached the second spot on the Billboard R&B chart, died from complications of leukemia at the age of 73. She also placed nine other songs in the American Top 40, won three Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Born on January 20: Leadbelly (1889); Slim Whitman, country singer (1924); Ron Townson, The Fifth Dimension (1933); Billy Powell, vocals, The O’Jays, (1942); Rick Evans, Zager & Evans (1943); Eric Stewart, Mindenders, Hotlegs, 10cc (1946); Paul Stanley, guitar, vocals, KISS (1950); Ian Hill, bass, Judas Priest (1952); Greg Kreisel, aka Greg K, bass, The Offspring (1965); Nicholas Allen Jones, Manic Street Preachers (1969); Gary Barlow, vocals, piano, songwriter, Take That (1971); Questlove, drummer, DJ, and producer The Roots, Soulquarians (1971); Rob Bourdon, drums, Linkin Park (1979); Nathan Connolly, Snow Patrol (1981)

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Song Of The Day – “Poem 58” by Chicago Transit Authority

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chicagotransitauthorityThe fact that Chicago Transit Authority was the horn band of the late 1960s has obscured the fact that Chicago was also one hell of a guitar band. Proof positive is this somewhat obscure track from their eponymously titled debut album from 1969.

(Play the track and continue reading.)

This song has it all! The track kicks off with a funky rhythm guitar pattern that quickly moves into an extended guitar solo courtesy of one of the most underrated guitarists of all time Terry Kath. Heck, even Jimi Hendrix was a big fan of Kath, and his intuitive and imaginative playing is what sets this Chicago record apart from all of the rest.

Then there’s a breakdown of sorts right in the middle of the track leading into a monster riff that settles into a spooky boogie pattern that’s both sinister and funky. Then the golden toned vocals courtesy of Peter Cetera takes the song into another more conventional radio-friendly direction.

But being radio friendly wasn’t where the band was at in 1969. There was only one single released from the record while Chicago Transit Authority was the band’s current album, and that song, “Question 67 And 68” wouldn’t become a chart hit for two more years when it was released again as a single after Chicago II took off.

CTA’s debut album was a double record, unheard of at the time, especially for a debut album. Their manager and producer, James William Guercio, had just come off of working with Blood Sweat & Tears on their second album which was a smash hit, and he used his clout with Columbia Records to push the notion of a double album through.

This gave the band featuring Robert Lamm on keyboards, Terry Kath on guitar, Peter Cetera on vocals, James Pankow on trombone, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, Walter Parazaider on saxophone and Danny Seraphine on drums, room to stretch their musical muscle. In fact this would be the only Chicago album where the band really did stretch out. After this album, Chicago began to shorten their tunes and play up the horns, leading them to the dominance of the singles charts they’d have for the rest of the 1970s.

CTA spawned several hit singles including “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?,” “Beginnings,” “I’m A Man” and “Question 67 And 68,” but they were all released after their second album became a hit, so while the album sold well and charted at number 17, its popularity was not driven by single releases. And anyway, it’s the album cuts that weren’t released as singles where all the action is.

For the vinyl album-centric fans out there, the third side of this record is especially tasty.  “Free Form Guitar,” begins this side with seven minutes in pure improvised sonic heaven featuring Kath plugged directly into his amp without the use of any pedals. When I was younger, this particular track used to leave me cold, but now I could listen to this all day long. As the first take fury of “Free Form Guitar” comes to an close, “South Carolina Purples” kicks in with another memorable opening guitar riff before settling in for some great horn and organ jamming. The track gives a nod to the Beatles by quoting “I Am The Walrus” in the opening line. The side culminates with an Afro-Cuban cover of Spencer Davis Group’s “I’m A Man.” The track became a chart hit in 1971 when DJs found it on the B-side to the single “Question 67 And 68” and began playing it on the radio.

Politics were never far from the band’s mind, especially after the anti-war demonstrations that took place outside of the Democratic Presidential Convention in the summer of 1968 on the band’s home turf in Chicago. In an early use of sampling, the band took the demonstrator’s chant “The whole world is watching” and turned it into the track “Prologue August 29, 1968” which segues into “Someday (August 29, 1968)” where the chant reappears.

The album culminates with the nearly fifteen minutes of fury called “Liberation” which is another killer Terry Kath showpiece featuring even more free form guitar soloing.

Their debut album would be the only album where the group went by the name Chicago Transit Authority. Shortly after its release, the actual Transit Authority of Chicago threatened a law suit and the group was forced to shorten their name to Chicago. Terry Kath died of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1978 while participating in a game of Russian roulette. The band would never be the same again without him.

Today in Rock History – December 13

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1966, Jimi Hendrix made his British TV debut on ITV’s Ready Steady Go! Marc Bolan was also on the show. The Jimi Hendrix Experience also recorded “Foxy Lady” on this day. The United States version of Are You Experienced listed the song with a spelling mistake as “Foxey Lady” and this is how it is still known among many North American fans.

1967, Pink Floyd appeared at the Flamingo Club in Cornwall, England

1968, Led Zeppelin performed at the Bridge Place Country Club in Canterbury, England.

1969, Diana Ross took the Latino Casino in Philadelphia to court for $27,500 after her two pet dogs died after eating cyanide tablets left by an exterminator in her dressing room.

1969, Bob Dylan was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents.

Chicago

1970, Dave Edmunds was at No.1 on the singles chart with his version of the 1955 Smiley Lewis hit ‘I Hear You Knocking.’ The Welsh singer, songwriter and producers only No.1 hit.

1971, The Who performed at the Civic Center in San Francisco.

1972, Roxy Music appeared at the Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California.

1974, George Harrison performed at the Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland.

1975, Chicago started a five-week run at No.1 on the album chart with ‘Chicago IX-Chicago’s Greatest Hits’, the group’s fifth No.1 album.

1977, Rush played at the Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, Knoxville, Tennessee

1978, The Grateful Dead played at Curtis Hixon Convention Hall in Tampa, Florida.

1981, The Rolling Stones performed at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona.

1982, The perform the first of two nights at Richfield Coliseum in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. The shows are professionally recorded and, with the exception of “Substitute”, “Magic Bus” and “Summertime Blues”, are used to assemble the later LP Who’s Last. Future The Sopranos star Little Steven and his band The Disciples Of Soul are the opening act. Before leaving for Toronto, Roger Daltrey and Kenney Jones visit sick children at the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland.

1986, Bruce Hornsby & The Range went to number one on the US singles chart, with “The Way It Is,” a top 15 hit in the UK.  It was written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John Hornsby, it made explicit reference to the American Civil Rights Movement. The song was heavily sampled by Tupac Shakur in his song, ‘Changes’ from 1998.

Born on this day: Robert Martinez, ? & The Mysterians (1945);  Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Doobie Bros and Steely Dan; Ted Nugent (1948); Tom Verlaine, guitar, vocals, Television (1949);  Davy O’List, The Nice (1950); Jamie Foxx, born Eric Marlon Bishop (1967); and Taylor Swift (1989)

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Today in Rock History – November 24

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1966, The Beatles got together for the first time since their return from the summer tour of the United States, ready to record a new album. The first song selected for recording was John’s “Strawberry Fields Forever,” which would end up, not on the album, but on The Beatles’ next single. This day’s session was devoted entirely to “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

1966, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, Bryan Hyland, and Distant Cousins appeared at the Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia.

1967, The Who play The Swinging Gate in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After the show The Who go to local booking agent Linda Wren’s home for Thanksgiving dinner.

1968, Jefferson Airplane played at the Grande Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan.

1968, Diana Ross and The Supremes were at number one on the US singles chart with “Love Child,” their eleventh chart topper in the US. The song is also notable for knocking off and keeping The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” off the top spot in the US.

1969, The Rolling Stones played at the Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan.

1971, Led Zeppelin appeared at Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England.

1972, King Crimson performed at Essex University, Colchester, England.

1973, Ringo Starr went to number one on the US singles chart with “Photograph.” This was his first of two US chart toppers as a solo artist. Written by Starr and George Harrison, the promotional film shot for the single showed Starr walking around his new house at the time, Tittenhurst Park, which had been previously the home of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and where the Imagine promo film was shot.

1974, Genesis appeared at the Masonic Temple, Indianapolis, Indiana.

1974, Roxy Music played at the Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.

1975, The Who performed at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia.

1976, Chicago started a three-week run at number one on the UK singles chart with “If You Leave Me Now,” the American group’s only UK chart topper. It went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance.

1976, Rush played at Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California.

1977, Yes appeared at Ahoy-Hallen Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

1978, David Bowie played the first of two sold-out nights at the RAS Show Grounds, in Sydney, Australia, during his 8-date Low/Heroes tour of Australia and New Zealand.

1978, The Grateful Dead appeared at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey.

1979, Stevie Ray Vaughn performed at Lupo, in Providence, Rhode Island.

1980, Bruce Springsteen played at the Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland.

1980, The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia.

1981, Alice Cooper headlined at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto.

1984, Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee married his girlfriend, nude model Candice, aka Elaine Margaret Starchuk. The marriage lasted one month. Lee has also been married to actress Heather Locklear, and the former Playboy Playmate, and Baywatch star, Pamela Anderson.

1991, Eric Carr (Paul Charles Caravello,) drummer with Kiss died aged 41, of complications from cancer in a New York hospital. Carr replaced Peter Criss in 1980 and remained a band member until he became ill in 1991. For his Kiss stage persona, Carr was known as “The Fox.”

1991, Freddie Mercury died of complications from AIDS at his home in London’s Holland park aged 45, just one day after he publicly admitted he was HIV positive. Mercury was openly bisexual and enjoyed a colorful rock star lifestyle. During his career with Queen he scored over forty UK Top 40 singles, including the worldwide number one “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

1992, Bill Wyman’s divorce was finalized with the high court awarding his ex wife Mandy Smith £580,000 ($928,000.) The Rolling Stones bassist had started to date Smith when she was 13, the marriage lasted for two years.

1993, American blues guitarist and singer Albert Collins died of lung cancer aged 61. He was known as ‘The master of the telecaster.” He shared a Grammy for the 1985 album Showdown! which he recorded with Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland.

2002, Robbie Williams started a five week run at number one on the UK album chart with his fifth studio album Escapology. The album became the best selling album of 2002 in the United Kingdom, selling 1.2 million copies.

2002, Jay-Z was at the top of the US album charts with The Blueprint 2, the rapper’s first US number one album.

2006, Winners at the American Music Awards included, Kelly Clarkson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shakira, Jamie Foxx, Nickelback, Sean Paul, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Mary J. Blige. Nelly Furtado, John Mayer, and Fall Out Boy.

2008, English drummer Michael Lee died from a seizure at age 39. Lee had worked with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Little Angels, The Cult, Ian Gillan, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Quireboys, and Thin Lizzy.

Born on November 24: Donald “Duck” Dunn (1941); Pete Best (1941) Bev Bevan, ELO (1944); Lee Micheals (1945); Clem Burke, drummer, Blondie (1955); Chris Hayes, Huey Lewis and the News (1957); John Squire, guitar, The Stone Roses (1962); Chad Taylor, guitarist, Live (1970)

Link to Today in Rock History archives.

Song Of The Day – “Susan” by The Buckinghams

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buckinghamssusanTransistor radios…beaches…the warmth of the sun…crashing waves…Chicago? Yup!

The Bucking hams were the epitome of 1960s sunshine pop with their perfect blend of warm harmonies and sophisticated horn-drenched productions. Their sound was more akin to California than their native Chicago, and they were responsible for a string of perfect pop singles during the late sixties like the number one hit “Kind Of A Drag,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” the sublime “Don’t You Care,” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” “Hey Baby, They’re Playing Our Song” and today’s Song Of The Day.

Digging a little bit deeper than the singles also proved rewarding with some great would-have-been, should-have-been hits from their albums like “You Don’t Care,” “Back In Love Again,” “Where Did You Come From,” “It’s A Beautiful Day (For Lovin’)” and “Difference Of Opinion,” that all feature the group’s trademark baroque horn arrangements and layered harmonies.

The group formed in 1966 as The Pulsations with members Carl Giammarese on guitar, Nick Fortuna on bass, Dennis Miccolis on keyboards and John Poulos on drums. After winning a battle of the bands, they found themselves on WGN, a local Chicago TV station, as the house band for the show All Time Hits. It was then they adopted The Buckinghams name to fit in with the British Invasion groups who were all the rage on the charts at the time.

Shortly thereafter, they secured a contract with the local Chicago label, U.S.A. Records, where they recorded an album’s worth of material including covers of Lloyd Price’s “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” James Brown’s “I Go Crazy” and The Beatles’ “I Call Your Name.” But it was their recording of “Kind Of A Drag,” written by a local Chicago songwriter, Jim Holvay that proved to be their ticket to stardom by topping the charts and selling a million copies. (Holvay also co-wrote the hits “Don’t You Care,” “Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song),” and today’s Song Of the Day, “Susan.”)

A record contract with Columbia Records (the big time!) followed and a new producer, James William Guercio, who had been the bassist and road manager for Chad & Jeremy. (Fun fact: Guercio was also once a member of The Mothers Of Invention prior to the recording of their first album, Freak Out.)  Around this time Miccolis left the band and was replaced by Marty Grebb.

Guercio’s brass-heavy arrangements kept The Buckinghams on the charts, and prepared him for his future success producing similar brass-rock groups Chicago and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Guercio was at the production helm for their 1967 hit singles “Don’t You Care,” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” and “Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song),” but the group had a falling out with him over the single, “Susan.”

“Susan” is a pure pop radio gem that suddenly takes a left turn and goes all “A Day In The Life” wonky in the center section, complete with a psychedelic orchestral buildup placed there to remind the public that The Buckinghams were really hip. The group was dead set against it, but Guercio prevailed, causing an irreversible rift between group and producer.

With Guercio out of the picture, the group were unable to repeat any of the chart success they previously had, and they finally called it a day in 1970. Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna have since revived the Buckinghams in 1982 and continue touring full-time again.

Great mono mix in the video!

Today in Rock History – September 11

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1967, Filming began for The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. There was no script, nor a very clear idea of exactly what was to be accomplished, not even a clear direction about where the bus was supposed to go. The “Magical Mystery Tour” bus set off for the West Country in England stopping for the night in Teignmouth, Devon were hundreds of fans greeted The Beatles at their hotel.

1967, Pink Floyd performed the first of three nights at the Starclub in Copenhagen, Denmark. Also on the bill were The Beefeaters, Peter Belli & B. Brothers, Steppeulvene, The Clan, Hitmakers, and others.

1967, During a 10-date tour of Sweden, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played two shows at the Grona Lund in Stockholm.

1968, Bassist from Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham was busted for cannabis possession as the band arrived in London to start a UK tour.

1970, The Rolling Stones played at the Forum Copenhagen in Frederiksberg, Denmark.

1970, The Amboy Dukes appeared at Uptown Palladium 12 Theatre‎ in Birmingham, Michigan.

1971, Donny Osmond started a three week run at number one on the singles chart with “Go Away Little Girl.” The singer’s only solo chart topper. The song had also been a chart topper for Steve Lawrence in 1963.

1971, Who’s Next by The Who hits its peak on the Billboard charts at the number four position.

1971, The animated Jackson Five series premiered on ABC-TV.

1972, Hawkwind performed at Waldbühne, Berlin, Germany.

1973, The Rolling Stones appeared at Kings Hall (Belle Vue), Manchester, England.

1974, The Grateful Dead played at Alexandra Palace, London.

1975, The Allman Brothers Band performed at the Capital Centre, Landover.

1976, KC and the Sunshine Band went to the top of the singles charts with (“Shake Shake Shake), Shake Your Body,” the group’s third number one.

1977, David Bowie recorded a guest appearance on Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas TV show duetting with Crosby on “Peace On Earth – Little Drummer Boy.” The track became a UK No.3 hit five years later in 1982.

1978, Aerosmith played at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California.

1979, Van Halen appeared at Furitsu Taiiku Kan, Osaka, Japan.

1981, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band performed at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois.

1982, Chicago started a two week run at number one on the singles chart with “Hard To Say I’m Sorry,” the group’s second chart topper.

1982, John “Cougar” Mellencamp became the only male artist to have two singles in the Top Ten as well as the number one album. “Jack and Diane” was at number four, while “Hurts So Good” held the eighth spot. His album American Fool was at number one for the first of nine weeks.

1987, Founding member of The Wailers, Peter Tosh was shot dead at his home in Kingston Jamaica by armed robbers.

1987, Peter Gabriel cleaned up at the MTV Awards, winning best video, best male video, best concept video, best special effects, and five other awards for the track “Sledgehammer.”

1988, Michael Jackson appeared at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England on his Bad world tour. Over 3,000 fans were treated by the St. John Ambulance service for passing out, hysteria, and being crushed among the crowd of 125,000 fans, the largest concert of the 123-date world tour.

1988, Metallica kicked off their 222-date Damaged Justice world tour at the MTK Football Stadium in Budapest, Hungary.

1996, Noel Gallagher walked out on the rest of Oasis half way through an American tour after a fight with his brother Liam in a hotel in Charlotte North Carolina. Noel flew back to London the following day.

2001, Walking to work in New York, as an comic book illustrator, Gerard Way witnessed the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The day’s events inspired him to start a band, which became My Chemical Romance, with Way becoming their lead singer.

2003, Tommy Chong, one-half of the comedy team of Cheech and Chong, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison and fined $20,000 for selling drug paraphernalia over the Internet. The 65 year-old Chong pled guilty to the charges in May. He remained free until April, 2004, when he went to jail.

2004, American lyricist Fred Ebb died of a heart attack at his home in New York City. Co-wrote, “New York, New York” and “Chicago,” and worked with Liza Minnelli.

2014, American songwriter, singer, manager, and record producer Bob Crewe died aged 83. Crewe wrote a string of Top 10 singles for the Four Seasons, including “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “Rag Doll.” He also had hit recordings with Lesley Gore, Michael Jackson, Bobby Darin, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Patti LaBelle, Barry Manilow and others.

Born on September 11: Bernie Dwyer, Freddie and the Dreamers (1940); Mickey Hart, Grateful Dead (1943) Tommy Shaw, Styx (1953); Mick Talbot, keyboards, Style Council (1958); Moby, (Richard Hall), producer, vocalist (1965);  Harry Connick, Jr. (1967); Richard Ashcroft, guitar, vocals, The Verve (1971); and Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris (1977)

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