He was no longer little…but he was not yet big either… By 1970, Stevie Wonder had grown restless with the constraints that Motown Records put upon his creativity. Rather than continue to create commercial fodder that was sure to climb the charts, Wonder wanted to dig deeper by addressing social concerns with his music, and […]
Today in Rock History – September 5
1964, The Animals started a three week run at number one on the singles chart with “House Of The Rising Sun.” When first released the record company printed the time of the song on the record as three minutes feeling that the real time of four minutes was too long for radio airplay. 1965, Sonny […]
Today in Rock History – August 30
1966, The Who begin two days of recording at IBC Studios and Pye No. 2 Studio in London. During the sessions the group records The Regent’s “Barbara Ann,” The Everly Brothers’ “Man with Money,” Martha and the Vandellas’ “Heatwave,” and the theme to the then smash hit TV show Batman. The tracks are intended for […]
Today in Rock History – August 13
1965, Jefferson Airplane made their live debut at San Francisco’s Matrix Club. 1965, Mike Smith, lead singer of The Dave Clark Five, suffered two broken ribs when he was pulled off the stage by fans. The group were in Chicago at the beginning of a US tour. 1965, The performed at The Marine Ballroom at […]
Today in Rock History – August 12
1966, The Beatles performed two shows at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois. This was the first stop on what would turn out to be The Beatles’ final US tour. Support acts were the Remains, Bobby Hebb, Cyrkle, and the Ronettes. 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at The Ambassador Theatre, Washington D.C. 1967, The […]
Today in Rock History – August 4
1967, Pink Floyd released their debut album The Piper At the Gates of Dawn in the UK, on which most songs were penned by Syd Barrett. When reviewed by the two main UK music papers, Record Mirror and NME both gave the album four stars out of five. The album was recorded at Abbey Road studios, […]
Today in Rock History – July 17
1967, American jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane died from liver cancer at Huntington Hospital in Long Island, New York, aged 40. Worked with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie. Released the 1964 album ‘A Love Supreme’. 1967, The Who performed at the Agrodome, Vancouver, Canada. 1967, The Beatles single “All You Need Is Love” / “Baby […]
Today in Rock History – July 3
1967, A private party was held at the Speakeasy Club in London, England for The Monkees. Guests included: John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield, Eric Clapton, Lulu, and all the members from Manfred Mann, The Who and Procol Harum. 1967, Jimi Hendrix performed at The Scene in New York City. 1967, Pink Floyd […]
Today in Rock History – July 1
1966, Janis Joplin Moves to a house in Lagunitas in the San Geronimo Valley, Marin County, California with members of Big Brother, their wives and girlfriends. 1967, The Association scored their second and last number one single with “Windy.” 1967, The Mama’s & The Papa’s performed at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario 1967, Pink […]
Today in Rock History – June 27
1966, Pete Townshend and The Who’s co-manager Chris Stamp fly to New York City, the first trip by any member of The Who to America. Shortly after his arrival, Pete attends a luncheon for Herman’s Hermits who are beginning their 1966 U.S. tour. A reporter from Datebook magazine gets an interview from an irritable Pete, […]
