This Date in Rock Music History: June 2

1953: Elvis Presley graduated from L.C. Humes High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Wonder if they had the foresight to vote him "Most Likely to Succeed".
1957:  Johnnie Ray had the #1 song in the U.K. with "Yes Tonight Josephine".

1962:  "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ray Charles was the new #1 song, replacing "Stranger on the Shore".
1962:  "Stranger on the Shore" was #1 for the 7th week on the Adult Contemporary chart for Mr. Acker Bilk.
1963:  The Rolling Stones released their first single "Come On".  It did not make the Top 100.
1964:  The Rolling Stones made their American debut at a high school football stadium in Lynn, Massachusetts.
1965:  Bob Dylan and girlfriend Sara Lowdnes returned to the United States after living in Britain for a while.
1966:  The Who were in concert at the Grona Lund in Stockholm, Sweden.
1967:  David Bowie released his first album called David Bowie.


1967:  A historic day as the Beatles released the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Unfortunately, some people didn't want to be part of the solution...


1969:  Tommy James & the Shondells released the classic single "Crystal Blue Persuasion".
1969:  Kenny Rogers & the First Edition released the single "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town".
1971:  Pink Floyd were in concert at Edinburgh University in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1972:  Dion reunited with the Belmonts at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Mama may not have taken the Kodachrome, but technology did...


1973:  Paul Simon watched as his "Kodachrome" rapidly moved up the chart, moving from 57 to 28.
1973:  ELO began their first tour of the United States in San Diego, California.
1973:  "My Love" from Paul McCartney & Wings moved to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1973:  Red Rose Speedway, the new album from Paul McCartney & Wings, pulled away from the competition in its fourth week of release, moving from 13 to 1.  The album it displaced at #1 was the Beatles/1967-1970 (the "Blue" album).


1973:  Paul McCartney & Wings made it a triple crown with the new #1 song "My Love".  Elton John found himself at #2 with his biggest hit to that point with "Daniel".  Edgar Winter Group tumbled to 3 with "Frankenstein" while Sylvia's solo hit "Pillow Talk" was at #4.
1978:  Bruce Springsteen released the album Darkness on the Edge Of Town.
1978:  Crystal Gayle hosted Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on The Midnight Special.

1979:  The debut album from previously unknown Rickie Lee Jones was generating talk and moved into the Top 10 on this date.

1979:  "Hot Stuff" gave Donna Summer her third #1 song after "Last Dance" and "MacArthur Park".  "Hot Stuff" was one of a select few songs I called "Disco Rock", for it really was a melding of two musical styles.  Had more songs been like this, disco would have lasted much longer.  Peaches & Herb relented from their hold on #1 with "Reunited" while the Bee Gees edged closer with "Love You Inside Out".  Supertramp had their first Top 10 with "The Logical Song".   
1984:  Aerosmith played at the Capitol Theater in Concord, New Hampshire.
1984:  Wham! reached #1 in the U.K. with "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go").
1984:  "Time After Time" from newcomer Cyndi Lauper distanced itself on the Adult Contemporary chart, reaching the #1 position.

1984:  Huey Lewis & the News had the fastest-rising song within the Top 10 with "The Heart of Rock & Roll", moving from 13 to 8.

1986:  Peter Cetera released the single "Glory of Love".
1989:  48 year-old Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones married 19 year-old Mandy Smith.  He couldn't find anyone close to his own age who would have him.
1990:  We were introduced to a new young singer with a powerful voice on this date as Mariah Carey first appeared on the scene with "Vision of Love", her first chart hit.  She would give us many more great songs until she changed.

1990:  "Do You Remember" by Phil Collins moved into the #1 slot on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1992:  Freedom Williams left C+C Music Factory, filing a $10 million suit against the group alleging fraud and breach of contract.
2002:  Hannah Spearitt announced that she was leaving S Club 7.
2008:  Bo Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Florida at the age of 79.
2010:  Randy Newman earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2010:  Paul McCartney received the Gershwin Prize for popular song from the Library of Congress by United States President Barack Obama at the White House.

Born This Day:
1932:  Sammy Turner ("Lavender-Blue" from 1959) was born in Paterson, New Jersey.
1936:  Otis Williams of the Charms (six hits in the early Rock Era, including "Ivory Tower" from 1976)
1937:  Jimmy Jones ("Good Timin'" from 1960) was born in Birmingham, Alabama.

1941:  Charlie Watts, drummer of the Rolling Stones, was born in London.

1944:  Marvin Hamlisch, pianist and composer, was born in New York City.
1949:  Anthony Jones of Humble Pie was born in Ada, Oklahoma.
1950:  Antone Tavares of the sibling group Tavares
1951:  Steve Brookins of .38 Special


1954:  Michael Steele of the Bangles was born in Pasadena, California.
1960:  Tony Hadley, vocalist of Spandau Ballet, was born in Islington, England.
1962:  Thor Eldon Jonsson, guitarist of the Sugarcubes, was born in Reykjavik, Iceland.
1970:  B-Real of Cypress Hill was born in South Gate, California.

Five Best: Joni Mitchell

Well, when you've put out a lifetime of songs that are some of the best in history, "Five Best", which for some artists indeed represents their best, is a joke for Joni Mitchell.  With Joni, she has "Five Best" on an album.  So of course, she's another artist in which I won't dare stop at five or even 10. I'm featuring 30 great Joni Mitchell songs and that doesn't even scratch the surface of this deep musical treasure chest.   In fact, I won't even attempt to rank them, because I believe it's almost impossible to do for a star of this magnitude.  


You see, Joni's songs touch your soul in different ways, and you're going to have your favorites based on your life experiences.  She doesn't allow herself to be trapped by verse-chorus slavery.  I like featuring more than five in this feature when I believe the artist has said much more than the public has heard.  It sounds wierd to say Joni Mitchell is somewhat "undiscovered", for she is loved and adored by millions, but I do believe that is true for her body of work and for the billions of people who have not heard her music.  Heck, I love her songs and have my favorites, but when putting this together, discovered more gems than I was familiar with.  


She's an artist for the ages--enjoy!

"Help Me"

"A Case of You"



"The Arrangement"



"Court and Spark"



"Free Man In Paris"



"Refuge of the Roads"



"Amelia"



"Woodstock"



"Last Time I Saw Richard"



"Chinese Cafe"



"Raised On Robbery"



"The Circle Game"



"Marcie"



"Chelsea Morning"



"You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio"



"Blue"



"River"



"Heijira"



"California"


 
"Both Sides Now"



"For Free"



"Big Yellow Taxi"



"Rainy Night House"



"Don Juan's Reckless Daughter"



"Conversation"



"All I Want"



"My Old Man"



"Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire"



"Trouble Child"



"Carey"

Hits List: Bon Jovi

This hard-rockin' band from New Jersey didn't catch fire right away, but when they did, they became one of the hottest bands in the world. In recent years, it seems it has been the United States that has missed the boat on this group or more accurately, the misguided way in which the U.S. interprets which songs are "popular", failing to see that it's the adults who control the airwaves, not the kids.  Here is the complete Hits List for Bon Jovi:

1984:  "Runaway" (#84)
            "She Don't Know Me" (#48)
            "Burning for Love"
1985:  "Only Lonely"
            "In and Out of Love"
            "The Hardest Part is the Night" (#68 U.K.)
            "Silent Night"


1986:  "You Give Love a Bad Name" (#1, #14 U.K., #2 Canada, #23 Australia, #21 Ireland)
1987:  "Livin' On A Prayer" (#1, #4 U.K., #1 Canada, #3 Australia, #12 Switzerland, #4 Ireland)
            "Wanted Dead or Alive" (#7, #13 U.K., #17 Australia, #13 Canada, #6 Ireland)
            "Never Say Goodbye" (#21 U.K., #26 Australia)
            "Edge of a Broken Heart"
1988:  "Bad Medicine" (#1, #17 U.K., #5 Canada, #4 Australia, #14 Switzerland, #10 Ireland)
1989:  "Born to Be My Baby" (#3, #22 U.K., #30 Australia, #25 Switzerland, #7 Ireland)
            "I'll Be There for You" (#1, #18 U.K., #2 Canada, #23 Australia, #15 Switzerland, #6 Ireland)
            "Lay Your Hands On Me" (#7, #18 U.K., #17 Canada, #23 Australia, #16 Switzerland, #8 Ireland)
            "Living In Sin" (#9, #35 U.K., #19 Canada, #64 Australia, #20 Switzerland, #17 Ireland)

1990:  "Blaze of Glory" (#1)
            "Miracle" (#12)
1992:  "Levon"
1993:  "Keep the Faith" (#29, #5 U.K., #5 Canada, #10 Australia, #3 Switzerland, #5 Ireland)--underrated.
            "Bed of Roses" (#10, #13 U.K., #2 Canada, #10 Australia, #9 Switzerland, #15 Ireland)
            "In These Arms" (#27, #9 U.K., #6 Canada, #10 Australia, #23 Switzerland, #10 Ireland)
            "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (#97, #17 U.K., #27 Canada, #24 Australia, #35 Switzerland, #14 Ireland)
            "I Believe" (#11 U.K., #40 Australia, #34 Switzerland, #25 Ireland)

1994:  "Dry County (#9 U.K., #31 Australia, #10 Switzerland, #18 Ireland)
            "Always" (#4, #2 U.K., #1 Canada, #2 Australia, #1 Switzerland, #1 Ireland)
            "Please Come Home for Christmas" (#7 U.K., #6 Ireland)
1995:  "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (#7 U.K., #18 Canada, #10 Australia, #11 Switzerland, #6 Ireland)
            "This Ain't a Love Song" (#14, #6 U.K., #2 Canada, #4 Australia, #4 Switzerland, #5 Ireland)
            "Something for the Pain" (#76,. #8 U.K., #19 Canada, #14 Australia, #10 Switzerland, #8 Ireland))
            "Lie To Me" (#88, #10 U.K., #20 Canada, #20 Australia, #20 Switzerland, #11 Ireland)
1996:  "These Days" (#7 U.K., #38 Australia, #31 Switzerland, #22 Ireland)
             "Hey God" (#13 U.K., #44 Canada, #21 Ireland)
1999:  "Real Life" (#21 U.K., #52 Canada, #52 Australia, #22 Switzerland)

2000:  "It's My Life (#33, #3 U.K., #17 Canada, #1 Australia, #1 Switzerland, #5 Ireland)
            "Say It Isn't So" (#10 U.K., #9 Australia, #58 Switzerland, #16 Ireland)
            "Thank You for Loving Me" (#57, #12 U.K., #34 Australia, #26 Switzerland, #19 Ireland)
2001:  "One Wild Night (2001)" (#10 U.K., #34 Canada, #35 Australia, #31 Switzerland, #21 Ireland)
             "Wanted Dead or Alive" (live)
2002:  "Everyday" (#5 U.K., #1 Canada, #5 Australia, #6 Switzerland, #11 Ireland)
            "Bounce"
            "Misunderstood" (#21 U.K., #19 Canada, #33 Australia, #57 Switzerland, #37 Ireland)
2003:  "All About Lovin' You" (#9 U.K., #29 Canada, #31 Australia, #33 Switzerland, #16 Ireland)
            "The Distance"
            "It's My Life (2003)" (#33, #3 Australia)

2005:  "Have a Nice Day" (#53, #6 U.K., #7 Canada, #8 Australia, #10 Switzerland, #18 Ireland)
            "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (#23, #5 U.K., #57 Switzerland, #30 Ireland)
2006:  "Welcome to Wherever You Are" (#19 U.K., #46 Switzerland, #23 Ireland)
2007:  "You Want To) Make a Memory" (#27, #33 U.K., #4 Canada, #5 Switzerland)
            "Summertime" (#39 Canada)
            "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore" (with LeAnn Rimes) 
            "Lost Highway" (#39 Canada)
2008:  "Whole Lotta' Leavin'" 
2009:  "We Weren't Born to Follow" (#68, #25 U.K., #29 Canada, #62 Australia, #14 Switzerland, #41 Ireland)
2010:  "Superman Tonight" 
            "When We Were Beautiful"
            "What Do You Got?" (#23 Canada)

2011:  "No Apologies"
            "This Is Our House"


That's 32 hits for the group with 10 going Top 10 and 5 of those going all the way to #1.

This Date in Rock Music History: June 1

1956:  Doris Day signed a five-year recording contract with Columbia Records for $1 million.
1957:  Elvis Presley released the single "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear".
1957:  Sam Cooke recorded "Summertime" in Hollywood.
1957:  Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Ricky Nelson and Patti Page starred in the television special Five Stars for Springtime on NBC.

1958:  Private Elvis Presley completed basic Army training at Ft. Hood, Texas.

1959:  "The Battle Of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton moved into the #1 position vacated by Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City".  Bobby Darin owned #3 with "Dream Lover".  
1961:  Elvis Presley posted his eighth #1 song in the U.K. with "Surrender".

1963:  "It's My Party" shot up from #9 to #1, giving Lesley Gore her only #1 song.  Jimmy Soul dropped to 2 with "If You Wanna' Be Happy" and Al Martino closed with "I Love You Because".  The Beach Boys were on their way down with "Surfin' U.S.A." and the Crystals had a monster hit moving from 13 to 5--"Da Doo Ron Ron".  The rest of the Top 10:  Lou Christie at 6 with "Two Faces Have I", the Dovells "You Can't Sit Down" entering the Top 10 at #7, Little Peggy March with her former #1 "I Will Follow Him", Brenda Lee had #9--"Losing You" and Kyu Sakamoto's "Sukiyaki" moved from 20 to 10.

1964:  Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto released the single "The Girl From Ipamena".
1964:  Dolly Parton knew where she wanted to be.  She moved to Nashville, Tennessee one day after she graduated from high school.
1964:  The Rolling Stones arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York City to begin their first tour of the United States.
1966:  The Beatles recorded overdubs on "Yellow Submarine".
1966:  The Stones released their album Aftermath.
1967:  Fairport Convention debuted live at St. Michael's Hall in Golders Green.
1967:  Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in Britain.  The album was certified gold on its first day.
1968:  Guitarist Dave Mason rejoined Traffic after quitting the group just six months prior.
1968:  Hugo Montenegro held down #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for a third week with "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".


1968:  A very famous day in the Rock Era has "Mrs. Robinson", one of the Top Songs of the Rock Era*, reached #1 for Simon & Garfunkel.  Hugo Montenegro had a winner with "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".  The Rascals remained at 3 with "A Beautiful Morning" and former #1 "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell & the Drells found itself at #4.  Another classic--"Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro was still in the top 10 and Ohio Express moved from 24-6 with their hit "Yummy Yummy Yummy".  Tommy James & the Shondells entered the Top 10 with "Mony Mony".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" from Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "Cowboys To Girls" by the Intruders at #9 and Dionne Warwick was stuck at 10 with "Do You Know the Way To San Jose".

1970:  Alive & Kicking released the single "Tighter, Tighter".
1971:  Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel remained #1 on the album chart and the Soundtrack to "The Graduate" was still #2.
1971:  Harry Nilsson began recording his great album Nilsson Schmilsson in London.
1971:  The birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi was opened to the public.
1971:  Joni Mitchell released the album Blue.
1971:  Chicago performed at the Royal Albert Hall on London.
1972:  Pink Floyd worked on their Dark Side of the Moon album at Abbey Road Studios in London.
1974:  Linda Ronstadt began recording her album Heart Like a Wheel in Los Angeles, California.

1974:  Steely Dan appeared at the Kursall Ballroom in Southend, England.

1974:  Gordon Lightfoot had his second Top 10 song with "Sundown".
1974:  Bachman-Turner Overdrive finally reached the Top 10 with Bachman-Turner Overdrive II in its 20th week on the album chart.  The album contained the hit "Takin' Care Of Business".

1974:  The Carpenters' great song "I Won't Last a Day Without You" was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1975:  The Rolling Stones introduced their new guitarist Ron Wood on his first tour with the Stones, playing their first show at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
1977:  James Taylor released the album JT.
1978:  U2 performed at the Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, Ireland.
1980:  Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin bought Michael Caine's mansion for 900,000 pounds.
1982:  Madness had the #1 U.K. song with "House of Fun".
1983:  The Police released the album Synchronicity.
1985:  Sting released his solo album The Dream of the Blue Turtles.
1985:  Bruce Springsteen was in concert at the Slane Castle in Dublin, Ireland.


          Sade had her first hit



1985:  It was a pretty solid Top 10 on this date.  Wham! had #1 with "Everything She Wants" but Tears For Fears were headed there with "Everybody Wants To Rule the World".  Harold Faltermeyer stood ready at #3 with "Axel F".  Simple Minds' song from The Breakfast Club was on its way down at #4 while the smooth voice of Billy Ocean was evident on "Suddenly".  Talking about smooth, Sade's "Smooth Operator" was at #6 and Bryan Adams burst into the Top 10 with "Heaven".  Howard Jones had song #8--"Things Can Only Get Better" while Mary Jane Girls were at 9 with "In My House" and Kool & the Gang" slipped inside the Top 10 with "Fresh".
1985:  "Suddenly" by Billy Ocean was #1 for a second week on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1987:  Suzanne Vega released the single "Luka".

1991:  Paul Abdul released the album Spellbound, and it debuted at #5.
1991:  R.E.M. had a #1 album in Out Of Time.  Time, Love & Tenderness, the great Michael Bolton album, fell to #2 and Mariah Carey was still there at #3 after 49 weeks on the chart.
1991:  Seal owned the #1 album in the U.K. with his self-titled album.
1991:  Sting was a guest on the debut of a new Soviet television show Rock Steady.

1991:  Mariah Carey held on to #1 for a second week with her great song "I Don't Wanna' Cry".  Extreme was making their move with "More Than Words" at #3.  
1991:  David Ruffin of the Temptations died from cocaine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1992:  TLC released the single "Baby-Baby-Baby".
1994:  Matt Sorum, drummer of the Cult and Guns N' Roses, filed for divorce from wife Kai.


1996:  Jewel released her classic debut song "Who Will Save Your Soul".
1997:  Kenny Rogers married Wanda Miller in Athens, Georgia.
1998:  Deja vu for Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots.  He was arrested again for drug possession in New York City.
1999:  Blink 182 released their great album Enema of the State.
2000:  The movie Honest, starring the members of All Saints, was pulled from theaters after disastrous box office results.
2000:  The Dixie Chicks performed at the Winnipeg Arena in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
2003:  Paul McCartney finished a world tour at the place where it all started for the Beatles--Liverpool, England.
2003:  Paul Gray, bass guitarist of Slipknot, was arrested in multiple drug and alcohol charges after running a red light and hitting another car in Des Moines, Iowa.  Gray failed two alcohol tests and was arrested for not only drunk driving but possession of marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia.  In other words, a little more than license, registration and proof of insurance was found in his car.

2004:  Sum 41, trying to help the Congo by making a documentary drawing attention to that country's problems, were forced to leave after an outbreak of rebel violence in the Congo's civil war.
2006:  Jack White of the White Stripes married Karen Elson, a model who appeared in the "Blue Orchid" video.  The couple was married in a canoe at the confluence of the Amazon, Rio Negro and Solimones rivers.
2006:  Snow Patrol had to cancel three dates after singer Gary Lightbody got laryngitis.
2006:  Chamillionaire had the #1 song with "Ridin'".
2007:  Artists including Bryan Adams, Oasis and the Fray worked with original engineer Geoff Emerick to record their own versions of the songs on the epic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its release.


Born This Day:
1921:  Nelson Riddle was born in Oradell, New Jersey; arranged for Frank Sinatra, worked with Linda Ronstadt and wrote the theme to the "Batman" television show; died October 6, 1985 of cardiac and kidney failure.


1934:  Pat Boone was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
1965:  Linda Scott, who had 11 hits early in the Rock Era, including "I've Told Every Little Star" from 1961 (#3), was born in Queens, New York.
1945:  James William McCarty, who played guitar for Bob Seger and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, was born in Detroit, Michigan.

1947:  Ron Wood, guitarist of the Jeff Beck Group, Faces and later the Rolling Stones, was born in Hillingdon, London, England.


1950:  Graham Russell of Air Supply was born in Nottingham, England.
1959:  Alan Wilder, vocalist of Depeche Mode, was born in Acton, West London, England.
1960:  Simon Gallup, bass guitarist of the Cure, was born in Duxhurst, Surrey, England.
1963:  Mike Joyce, drummer of the Smiths, was born in Fallowfield, Manchester, England.

1974:  Alanis Morissette was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canda.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 31

 1956:  After seeing the movie The Searchers starring John Wayne, Buddy Holly was inspired to write "That'll Be the Day".
1961:  Chuck Berry opened Berry Park, an amusement park in Wentzville, Missouri.
1964:  The Dave Clark Five appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1965:  Johnny Rivers released the single "Seventh Son".
1966:  Filming began for the Monkees on their television series.

1969:  John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded "Give Peace a Chance" during their bed-in in Montreal.
1969:  The Supremes hosted the television show Hollywood Palace on ABC-TV.
1969:  The 5th Dimension released the album The Age of Aquarius.
1969:  The Rolling Stones recorded "Honky Tonk Women".
1969:  Elvis Presley had the biggest mover within the Top 10 with his great song "In the Ghetto".  It climbed from 17 to 9 on this date, giving Elvis 34 Top 10 songs.  The Beatles finished with 34 in their fabulous career, but Elvis would go on to register four more for the Rock Era record.
1973:  Robert Plant led the audience at the Felt Forum in Los Angeles, California in singing "Happy Birthday" to Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who was 25.
1975:  America had the hottest song within the Top 10 with "Sister Golden Hair", which moved from 11-5.
1975:  Earth, Wind & Fire continued to have the #1 album with That's the Way of the World, while the Soundtrack to "Tommy" edged closer.  Straight Shooter from Bad Company was #3 with Chicago VIII on its way down to #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  Blow By Blow from Jeff Beck, Hearts by America, Alice Cooper's Welcome To My Nightmare at #7, Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin slipping to #8 in only its 12th week, Nuthin' Fancy from Lynyrd Skynyrd at #9 and Carly Simon moving to #10 with Playing Possum.

               We've got volume, yes we do.  We've got volume, how 'bout you?


1976:  The Who set a mark in the Guinness Book of World Records for the loudest rock band ever at a concert at the Charlton Athletic Grounds in England.  The concert was over 120 decibels.
1977:  The Police performed at the Railway Hotel in Putney, London.
1977:  Emerson, Lake & Palmer began a tour with a 70-piece orchestra.
1980:  We had officially arrived in "Funkytown" as Lipps, Inc. reached the summit.  Blondie had one of the Top Songs of the Rock Era* with "Call Me" but did not make it 7 weeks in a row.

1980:  Bette Midler's "The Rose" was #1 for the fourth week on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1980:  The great album Against the Wind from Bob Seger, which had moved The Wall aside earlier in the month, spent a fifth week at #1.  Glass Houses from Billy Joel was second while Pink Floyd had to settle for #3.  Just One Night by Eric Clapton came in fourth with Lipps, Inc. moving to #5 with Mouth To Mouth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Women and Children First from Van Halen at #6, Christopher Cross at 7, Go All the Way from the Isley Brothers, Mad Love by Linda Ronstadt on its way down at #9 and the ground-breaking Pretenders album at #10.
1982:  R.E.M. signed a five-year record company with I.R.S. Records.

1982:  Survivor released the single "Eye of the Tiger".
1982:  Chicago released their 32nd single, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry".
1986:  "On My Own" by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald was #1 on the R&B chart for a third week.  

                         Level 42 had a big hit...


1986:  "Greatest Love Of All" by Whitney Houston was #1 for a third week, holding off Madonna's "Live To Tell".  Michael McDonald & Patti LaBelle teamed for the third-rated song "On My Own" while Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark moved up with "If You Leave".  The rest of the Top 10:  "I Can't Wait" from Nu Shooz, Mike + the Mechanics moved from 10-6 with "All I Need is a Miracle", Level 42 moved impressively from 12 to 7 with "Something About You", Mr. Mister scored their third Top 10 with "Is It Love", Journey entered the list with "Be Good to Yourself" and Janet Jackson tumbled with "What Have You Done for Me Lately".

1989:  Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was given a Living Legend Award at the first International Rock Awards ceremony in New York City.
1993:  Jon Bon Jovi and wife Dorothea Hurley had their first daughter, Stephanie Rose, in Red Bank, New Jersey.
1994:  The Eagles performed at the Irvine Meadows Theater in Irvine, California.
1996:  Elsberry Hobbs, bassist for the Drifters, died in New York City.
1997:  Bob Dylan left an English hospital after being treated for histoplasmosis.

               Paula Cole with this provocative song...


1997:  As long as people chew bubblegum....Hanson could be #1 with "MMMBop".  "Hypnotize" by the Notorious B.I.G. was second followed by "Say You'll Be There" from the Spice Girls.  Mark Morrison dropped with "Return of the Mack" and Jewel's great song "You Were Meant For Me" remained in the Top 10 after 27 weeks.  The rest of the Top 10:  Monica's "For You I Will" at #6, Rome with "I Belong To You", "The Freshmen" by the Verve Pipe at #8, Savage Garden with "I Want You" and Paula Cole slid to #10 with "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?".

1997:  Spice continued to reign supreme as the #1 album for the Spice Girls.  Bob Carlisle had one of the most unexpected and meteoric rises of the Rock Era when he moved from 95 to 2 with Butterfly Kisses (Shades Of Grace).
1998:  Simply Red had the #1 U.K. album with Blue.
1998:  Geri Halliwell left the Spice Girls.
2000:  Johnnie Taylor ("Disco Lady") died in Dallas, Texas of a heart attack at the age of 62.
2005:  The Salvation Army closed Strawberry Field, the children's home in Liverpool that had inspired the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever".
2006:  The Dixie Chicks had the #1 album with Taking the Long Way.


Born This Day:

1938:  Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary was born in New York City.
1938:  Lenny Welch, who had a Top 5 song with "Since I Fell for You" in 1963, was born in New York City.
1944:  Mick Ralphs, guitarist and songwriter and founder of both Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, was born in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, England.
1947:  Junior Campbell, founding member, lead guitarist, pianist and singer with Marmalade ("Reflections of My Life"), was born in Glasgow, Scotland.

1948:  John Bonham, drummer for Led Zeppelin, was born in Birmingham, England.
1952:  Carl Bartos of Kraftwerk ("Autobahn" from 1975)

1954:  Vicki Sue Robinson ("Turn the Beat Around" from 1976) was born in Harlem, New York;died of cancer in Wilton, Connecticut April 27, 2000.

1962:  Corey Hart was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
1964:  Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. was born in Harlem, New York.

1965:  Steve White, drummer of the Style Council

1980:  Andrew John Hurley, drummer of Fall Out Boy, was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

New Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Mystery Achievement" by the Pretenders

The Pretenders rode the crest of the New Wave in the early 80's to the top, beginning with their debut album.  The first two LP's from the group contain some of the great undiscovered music of the Rock Era--here's one example from their debut, never released as a single:

 

"Mystery Achievement"

Pretenders

Words and Music By

Mystery achievement
Don't breathe down my neck no
I got no trophies on display
I sign them away
I mean what the heck
All of your promises
Don't fill me with pride no
I just wanna get out on the floor
And do the cuban slide, slide, slide, slide

[Chorus:]
But every day, every nighttime I find
Mystery achievement
You're on my mind
And every day, every nighttime I feel
Mystery achievement you're so unreal

Mystery achievement
Where's my sandy beach? yeah
I had my dreams like everybody else
But they're out of reach
I said right out of reach
I could ignore you
Your demands are unending
I got no tears on my ice cream but you know me
I love pretending

[Chorus]

This Date in Rock Music History: May 30

1955:  Elvis Presley was at the Fair Park Auditorium in Abilene, Texas.
1960:  One of the Top Instrumentals of the Rock Era*, "Because They're Young" from Duane Eddy was the biggest mover of the week, jumping up from 85 to 42.
1964:  "Love Me Do" gave the Beatles their fourth #1 song of the year.  "Chapel of Love" by the Dixie Cups was runner-up, followed by the former #1 "My Guy" from Mary Wells.
1966:  Dolly Parton married Carl Dean in Catoosa County, Georgia.
1966:  The Doors were at the Hullabaloo in West Hollywood, California.
1966:  The Who were in concert at the Sincil Bank Football Ground in Lincoln, England.
1966:  Jefferson Airplane performed in San Francisco, California at a benefit for the Haight-Ashbury Legal Organization.
1968:  The Beatles began to record the White Album, recording "Revolution" on this date.
1969:  Led Zeppelin appeared at the Fillmore East in New York City.
1970:  The Moments had the #1 R& song for the third week with "Love On a Two-Way Street".
1970:  The Temptations had a huge mover on the chart.  "Ball of Confusion" shot up from 80 to 41 on this date.

1970:  Ray Stevens had the surprise new #1--"Everything Is Beautiful", finally unseating one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*--"American Woman" by the Guess Who.
1972:  Roxy Music got their first big gig at the Great Western Express Festival in England.

1975:  Joan Baez was the guest host on The Midnight Special with Kool & the Gang performing.
1977:  The Commodores released the single "Easy".
1977:  Elvis Presley performed at the Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville in what would turn out to be his last Florida concert.
1978:  Led Zeppelin began recording the great album In Through the Out Door.
1980:  The Temptations hosted The Midnight Special with guests Firefall and Robbie Dupree.
1980:  Carl Radle, bassist of Derek & the Dominos, died of a kidney ailment at the age of 37.
1981:  Kim Carnes had her first and only Top 10 album with Mistaken Identity.

1981:  Marty Balin had the week's fastest-rising song, moving from 86 to 62 with the great "Hearts".

1981:  Kim Carnes had an absolute smash, and "Bette Davis Eyes" posted a third week at #1.  Smokey Robinson was right behind with "Being With You" while the "Stars On 45" medley was third.  

1981:  Champaign reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with the great song "How 'Bout Us".
1983:  The Police released the single "Every Breath You Take".
1987:  "Head To Toe" by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam was the new #1 on the R&B chart.

1987:  The classic "With Or Without You" by U2 was #1 for a third week, holding off Kim Wilde's cover of "You Keep Me Hangin' On".  Chris DeBurgh was drawing attention with "The Lady In Red" at #3 and Atlantic Starr was moving towards the top with their classic "Always".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Big Love" from Fleetwood Mac, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam were up from 15 to 6 with "Head To Toe", the Breakfast Club had their only Top 10 with "Right On Track" moving in, Bryan Adams had #8 with "Heat of the Night", Huey Lewis & the News scored another Top 10 with "I Know What I Like" from their great album Fore! and Bon Jovi moved into the Top 10 with "Wanted Dead Or Alive".


1987:  "Always" reached the top spot on the Adult Contemporary chart for Atlantic Starr.
1987:  Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys gave a good example of how not to act.  He was arrested in Liverpool, England for assaulting a female fan during a riot at a Beastie Boys concert.

1988:  We were about to be introduced to a woman whose biting lyrics would be acclaimed the world over.  On this date, Tracy Chapman released her first single--"Fast Car".

                 Midnight Oil had it right--the sooner we go to electric cars, the better


1990:  Midnight Oil played a protest concert in front of Exxon offices on 6th Avenue in New York City to protest the Exxon Valdez oil disaster.
1992:  Genesis remained #1 on the AC chart with "Hold On My Heart".
1992:  Mariah Carey's remake of the Jackson 5 classic "I'll Be There" debuted at #13.

1992:  Paul Simon married Edie Brickell.
1997:  West Arkeen, guitarist on the two Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion albums, died of a drug overdose at the age of 36.
1998:  After debuting at #1 the previous week, The Limited Series by Garth Brooks held on to #1 on the album chart.  The Soundtrack to the great movie "City of Angels" was #2.

                Micky Most had what it took


2003:  Famed producer Mickie Most, who produced songs for Herman's Hermits, the Animals and Hot Chocolate, among others, died at the age of 64.
2004:  Avril Lavigne took her album Under My Skin to #1 in the U.K.
2008:  Green Day reached #1 on the album chart with 21st Century Breakdown.
2009:  Little Richard was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
2010:  Anita Humes, lead singer of Essex ("Easier Said Than Done) passed away at the age of 69.


Born This Day:
1944:  Lenny Davidson, guitarist of the Dave Clark Five, was born in Enfield, Middlesex, England.
1945:  Kathy Post, who with husband Jim formed the duo Friend and Lover ("Reach Out of the Darkness" in 1968), was born in Chicago, Illinois.
1955:  Nicky "Topper" Headon of the Clash was born in Bromley, England.
1958:  Marie Fredriksson of Roxette was born in Ossjo, Sweden.
1960:  Stephen Duffy, singer, songwriter and guitarist of Duran Duran, was born in Birmingham, England.

1964:  Tom Morello, elite guitarist of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, was born in Harlem, New York.
1967:  Sven Pipien, bass guitarist of the Black Crowes, was born in Hanover, Germany.
1971:  Patrick Dalheimer, bass guitarist for Live, was born in York, Pennsylvania.