1968, The Beatles recorded promotional videos for “Hey Jude” and “Revolution” at Twickenham Film Studios. The vocals are recorded live over the pre-recorded instrumental tracks to get round the current British Musicians Union ban on lip-sync performances. For “Hey Jude,” The Beatles were accompanied by a 36-piece orchestra and 300 fans and other assorted extras […]
Today in Rock History – September 1
1966, The Byrds played the first of an eleven-night run at the Whisky A Go-GO in Hollywood, California. 1967, David Bowie released the single “Love You Till Tuesday” which failed to reach the charts. 1967, The four Beatles held a meeting at Paul McCartney’s house in London to decide upon their next course of action […]
Today in Rock History – August 26
1965, The Byrds appeared at the Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California. 1965, Sonny & Cher were at number one on the UK singles chart with “I Got You Babe,” the duo’s only British chart topper. Sonny Bono was inspired to write the song to capitalize on the popularity of the term “babe,” as heard in Bob […]
Today in Rock History – August 16
1938, American blues musician Robert Johnson died, likely poisoned by a jealous husband, at the age of 27 at a country crossroads near Greenwood, Mississippi. His recordings from 1936 -1937 have influenced generations of musicians including Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. 1962, […]
Today in Rock History – July 24
1965, The Byrds were at number one on the UK singles chart with their version of the Bob Dylan song “Mr Tambourine Man.” It was the first Bob Dylan song to reach the top of the charts. Across the Atlantic, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones began the third of it’s four […]
Today in Rock History – July 14
1964, The Rolling Stones were at number one on the UK singles chart with “It’s All Over Now,” the group’s first of eight UK chart toppers. The original Valentinos version of the song was played to the Rolling Stones during their first North American tour in June 1964 by New York radio DJ Murray the […]
Today in Rock History – June 26
1965, The Byrds went to number one on the US singles chart with their version of Bob Dylan’s “Mr Tambourine Man.” Only Roger McGuinn from the band played on the song, Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine played on the track. 1965, The Strangeloves, three Australian aborigines who were really three New Yorkers, enter Billboard’s Hot […]
Today in Rock History – June 25
1966, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Love, Captain Beefheart, The Lovin Spoonful and Percy Sledge all appeared at The Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California. 1966, Jackie Wilson was arrested for inciting a riot and refusing to obey a police order at a nightclub in Port Arthur, Texas. Wilson had a crowd of 400 whipped into a […]
Today in Rock History – June 16
1965, Bob Dylan recorded “Like A Rolling Stone” at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City, during sessions for the forthcoming Highway 61 Revisited album. Session musicians included Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, whose Hammond organ on “Like A Rolling Stone” became one of rock’s most recognizable sounds. 1965, The Who’s manager Chris Stamp goes […]
Today in Rock History – June 10
1966, Steve Marriott of The Small Faces collapsed while performing on UK TV show Ready Steady Go! The group were forced to cancel the following week’s gigs. 1966, Big Brother & the Holding Company perform with their new lead singer, Janis Joplin, for the first time. 1967, In Woodstock, N.Y., Bob Dylan and the Band […]
