Rock History December 19
1964, The Beatles fourth album Beatles For Sale started a seven-week run at number one on the UK album charts. Recorded when Beatlemania was just at its peak Beatles for Sale‘ was The Beatles’ fourth album in just 21 months.
1964, The Supremes scored their third number one single of the year when “Come See About Me,’ went to the top of the charts.
1967, The Buffalo Springfield appeared at the Community Concourse, San Diego, California. The group became a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina.
1968, The struggling Led Zeppelin performs at the Exeter City Hall in England for a fee of 125 pounds. On many dates in the current tour, the band is billed as the New Yardbirds simply to draw an audience.
1969, The Beatles’ latest Christmas record, “The Beatles’ Seventh Christmas Record” was released to members of their fan club in the UK and the US.
1970, Elton John’s first US hit, “Your Song” entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it went on to reach number eight. The Hollies had been offered the song and Three Dog Night had already recorded a version which was included on their It Ain’t Easy album.
1972, Roxy Music played at the Whisky A-Go-Go in Hollywood, California.
1973, The Grateful Dead played their last show of the year at Curtis Hixon Convention Hall in Tampa, Florida.
1973, Alice Cooper performed at the Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland.
1974, On his first ever solo world tour, George Harrison performs the first of two nights at Madison Square Garden.
1975, Rush played at the Broome County Arena, Binghamton, New York.
1976, AC/DC appeared at Showgrounds, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
1976, Aerosmith performed at the Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, South Carolina
1979, Elvis Presley’s personal physician, George Nichopoulos, was charged with ‘illegally and indiscriminately’ prescribing over 12,000 tablets of uppers, downers, and painkillers for the star during the 20 months preceding his untimely death. Although he was acquitted this time, he was charged again in 1980 and again in 1992 and was stripped of his medical license in July 1995.
1981, Abba scored their seventh UK number one album with The Visitors, the Swedish pop group’s eighth and final studio album. It was one of the first records to be recorded and mixed digitally, and was the first in history to be manufactured on the new CD format in 1982 on Atlantic
1987, The Pet Shop Boys had their third UK number one single with their version of “Always On My Mind”. The duo had performed a version of the song on Love Me Tender, an TV special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, their performance was so well-received that the group decided to record the song and release it as a single.
1993, Michael Clarke drummer with The Byrds died of liver failure aged 47. Also worked with the Flying Burrito Brothers and Jerry Jeff Walker. Before his death Clarke had expressed a wish of alerting children to the dangers of alcoholism. Following his wishes, Clarke’s girlfriend Susan Paul started a foundation in Clarke’s name, called the Campaign for Alcohol-free Kids.
2000, 10,000 Maniacs guitarist Robert Buck died of liver failure aged 42. Best know for “Hey Jack Kerouac,” “What’s The Matter Here,” and “Candy Everybody Wants”.
2012, Nick Mason stepped in to help save Foote’s, the historic London music shop where he bought his first ever drum kit. The Pink Floyd drummer, along with the store’s sales director, Rob Wilson, were buying the business, which re-opened in a new location at 41 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London, from the family who has owned it since the 1930s.
Born on this day: Professor Longhair (1918); Phil Ochs (1940) and Alvin Lee, Ten Years After (1944)
Link to Today in Rock History archive.
AC/DC, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Buffalo Springfield, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Pet Shop Boys, Roxy Music, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, The Supremes, The Who.
