Before “The Boy In The Bubble” and “Graceland”…before “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” and “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard”…and before “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Sound Of Silence,” there was “Hey Schoolgirl” and a multitude of early recordings by the likes of Tom & Jerry, Jerry Landis, […]
Today in Rock History – August 15
1965, The Beatles set a new world record for the largest attendance at a pop concert when they played in front of 55,600 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City. Also on the bill were Brenda Holloway, The King Curtis Band, The Young Rascals and Sounds Incorporated. The Beatles were paid $160,000 for the […]
4th Of July Playlist
4th Of July Playlist Here’s my own personal 4th Of July Playlist. I’m sure there are songs you feel deserving of such an endeavor. If so, add them and let me know… Woody Guthrie: This Land Is Your Land http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaI5IRuS2aE Ray Charles: America The Beautiful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUjr8EVgBg The Beach Boys: Spirit Of America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc0cvsSwvs0 Grateful […]
Song Of the Day by Eric Berman – “Peace Like A River” by Paul Simon
Can you imagine signing up for a college course in songwriting, and showing up on the first day of class to find that your professor is none other than Paul Simon. Such was the reality for some lucky NYU students in 1971 including Maggie and Terre Roche of The Roches and Melissa Manchester. Teaching was […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Born To Sing” by Van Morrison
I’m always fascinated by how the record companies approach the marketing of their legacy artists. To the record company, legacy artists are loss leaders, they have name value but don’t sell the number of records they used to. Many of these artists are either kept on their label’s roster for their marquee value, or they […]
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 – “Cecilia” by Simon and Garfunkel
This song, from Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” album, was written in the same house on Blue Jay Way in Los Angeles that George Harrison rented, and named a Beatles’ song after. The percussive track was formed by recordings of Paul and Art slapping their thighs while others thumped on a piano bench, […]
Today in Rock History – May 6
1965, In their Clearwater, Florida hotel room, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards worked out the opening guitar riff of “Satisfaction,” following Richard’s purchase of a Gibson fuzz-box earlier that day. 1966, The Who appeared at the Top Hat Ballroom in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. 1966, Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded overdubs […]
Today in Rock History – May 3
1965, The Who play the Majestic Ballroom in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. 1967, Pink Floyd performed at Moulin Rouge in Ainsdale, Lancashire, England. 1967, The Who’s manager Kit Lambert sends a telegram to the Monterey Pop Festival organizers telling them The Who have agreed to perform there in exchange for six 1st-class plane tickets. […]
Today in Rock History – March 18
1965, Excerpts from six numbers performed by The Who at The Marquee Club in February appear on a French Television programme called Seize Millions de Jeunes on ORTF TV 2. It is part of documentary about Mods shot by two French acquaintances of the band’s co-manager Chris Stamp. A scheduled appearance that day at the […]
