1967, The Beatles record the piano chord used on “A Day in the Life.” David Crosby pops by Abbey Road studios for a visit. 1968, The Who appeared at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. 1968, Genesis releases its first single, “The Silent Sun.” Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks later say they wrote the song […]
Today in Rock History – February 21
1964, Three classic British singles were released, The Rolling Stones “Not Fade Away,” a UK number three, The Hollies “Just One Look,”a UK number two, and Billy J Kramer’s “Little Children,” a UK number one. 1964, New York band The Echoes recruited a new, young unknown piano player, named Billy Joel. 1967, Pink Floyd started […]
Today in Rock History – February 19
1965, Working at Abbey Road studios in London, The Beatles recorded the rhythm track “You’re Going To Lose That Girl” in two takes. On his new song, John Lennon sang, and accompanied himself on acoustic guitar, backed by Paul and George. The band lip-synched to the recording for the movie Help! The final album mix […]
Today in Rock History – February 15
1964, The Beatles scored their first number one album with Meet The Beatles! The album stayed at the top of the charts for eleven weeks. 1964, The Dave Clark Five appeared on the UK TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars. 1965, American singer and pianist Nat King Cole died of lung cancer. His first hit was the […]
Today in Rock History – February 14
1967, Aretha Franklin records a cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect”at Atlantic Studios in New York. It would become a number one US single in June. 1967, The Doors play the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles. 1967, Jimi Hendrix appeared at Gray’s Club in Tilbury, Essex, England. 1968, Manfred Mann were at number one on […]
Today in Rock History – February 12
1965, Pye Records announced signing of the “British Bob Dylan,” when they added Donovan to the label. The Scottish singer-songwriter produced a series of hit albums and singles between 1965 and 1970 and became a friend of leading pop musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones, and The Beatles. He influenced John Lennon when he taught […]
Today in Rock History – February 11
1963, In less than ten hours, The Beatles record ten new songs for their first album plus four other tracks which would be the next two singles. John Lennon’s vocal on The Isley Brothers “Twist & Shout” was recorded in one take to complete the album. 1964, The Beatles made their live concert debut in […]
Bob Dylan, Rock History – February 4
1966, Bob Dylan and The Band played at the Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky. This was the first date on a world tour which would become significant as the first outing in which Dylan used electric instruments, after he had gone “electric” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. 1966, The Who play the Astoria Theatre […]
Today in Rock History – February 3
1959, 22 year old Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, aged 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa, the pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed. Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tourbus. All three were traveling to Fargo, North Dakota, for […]
Today in Rock History – February 1
1964, The Beatles started a seven week run at number one on the US singles chart with “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” the first US chart topper by a UK act since The Tornadoes “Telstar” in 1962 and the first of three consecutive number ones from the group. 1964, Peter, Paul & Mary performed […]
