The Top 10 Songs of 2011

Good to close the year with a look back at the top songs of the year.  Although this web site focuses on the top years of the Rock Era, there is still some good music out there.  Here are The Top 10 Songs from 2011*:




10.  "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO







9.  "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars







8.  "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train





7.  "We Found Love" by Rihanna







6.  "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5





5.  "Firework" by Katy Perry





4.  "Grenade" by Bruno Mars




3.  "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga



2.  "Someone Like You" by Adele

1.  "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele

The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: Songs That Changed the World--"Flashdance (What A Feeling)" by Irene Cara

If you get nothing else out of this song,


"Take your passion and make it happen."  That line alone has sparked meaningful change in the world.

Flashdance (What a Feeling)"

by Irene Cara

Written by Giorgio Moroder, Keith Forsey and Irene Cara


First, when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind
All alone I have cried silent tears full of pride
In a world made of steel, made of stone

Well I hear the music, close my eyes, feel the rhythm
Wrap around, take a hold of my heart

[Chorus:]
What a feeling, bein's believin'
I can't have it all, now I'm dancin' for my life
Take your passion, and make it happen
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life

[Solo]

Now I hear the music, close my eyes, I am rhythm
In a flash it takes hold of my heart

[chorus (with ... "now I'm dancing through my life")]

What a feeling

What a feeling (I am music now), bein's believin' (I am rhythm now)
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life
What a feeling (I can really have it all)
What a feeling (Pictures come alive when I call)
I can have it all (I can really have it all)
Have it all (Pictures come alive when I call)
(call, call, call, call, what a feeling) I can have it all
(Bein's believin') bein's believin'
(Take your passion, make it happen) make it happen
(What a feeling) what a feeling... [to fade]

This Date in Rock Music History: December 31

1955:  It's unusual for an artist's debut single to be a Christmas song, but on this date, a new group appeared on the chart for the first time with their version of "White Christmas", the first single for the Drifters.

1956:  Elvis Presley promoted Wink Martindale's upcoming charity concert on Wink's local television special in Memphis, Tennessee.
1961:  The Pendletons played under their their now more familiar name of the Beach Boys for the first time at a memorial concert for Ritchie Valens in Long Beach, California.

1961:  Janis Joplin performed for the first time at the Halfway House in Beaumont, Texas.
1962:  John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas married.
1966:  "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra was the new #1 song on the Easy Listening chart.
1966:  Petula Clark had one of the hottest songs out as "Color My World" jumped from 69 to 38.







1966:  The Monkees took the Neil Diamond song "I'm A Believer" to #1 in just their fourth week on the chart.  "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" moved from 7-2 in its third week.  That meant an end to the #1 reign of "Winchester Cathedral" by the New Vaudeville Band while Frank Sinatra placed "That's Life" one spot ahead of daughter Nancy's "Sugar Town".  The rest of the Top 10:  The #2 smash "Mellow Yellow" from Donovan, Aaron Neville jumped from 14 to 7 with "Tell It Like It Is", the Temptations were at #8 with "(I Know) I'm Losing You", Stevie Wonder and "A Place In The Sun" while Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders moved from 27 to 10 with "Good Thing".
1967:  Bert Berns, songwriter ("Twist And Shout" for the Beatles, "Hang On Sloopy" for the McCoys, "Piece Of My Heart" for Big Brother & the Holding Company), producer (Drifters ("Under The Boardwalk"), owner of Bang Records (which included Neil Diamond early in his career) and Shout Records, who helped convince Van Morrison to go solo, died of a heart attack in New York City at age 38.
1968:  Vanilla Fudge and the new group Led Zeppelin combined for a New Year's Eve show in Portland, Oregon.



1969:  The BBC in the U.K. named John Lennon the Man of the Decade.









1971:  David Clayton-Thomas, lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears, performed with the group for the last time until their brief reunion four years later.  (Note:  some websites claim that this concert was on December 27--according to the newspaper 'Independent Press-Telegram', the show was on New Year's Eve, December 31.)
1972:  The first Rockin' New Year's Eve was televised on ABC with Dick Clark.  The guests were Three Dog Night, Al Green and Blood, Sweat & Tears.
1973:  Having only recorded three songs for an album using only household objects, the creativity ended and Pink Floyd decided to record Wish You Were Here with traditional instruments.

1975:  Elvis Presley set a world record by earning $800,000 for his concert at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, that drew over 60,000 fans.
1976:  The Cars performed for the first time at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
1977:  Earth, Wind & Fire controlled the R&B chart for a seventh week with "Serpentine Fire".
1977:  The Bee Gees held on to #1 on the Adult chart with "How Deep Is Your Love" for the sixth straight week.

1978:  In Europe, they hold on to tradition and preserve their heritage.  In the U.S., the tradition is gone forever.  On this date the famous Winterland Theater in San Francisco closed following a farewell show by the Grateful Dead and the Blues Brothers.
1979:  Jefferson Starship did a show at the X nightclub in San Francisco, California that was broadcast worldwide on radio.
1982:  Steve Van Zandt of the E Street Band married Maureen Santora in New York City.  Bruce Springsteen was the best man.  But wait, there's more...Little Richard, who presided over the ceremony, sang a duet with Percy Slege on "When A Man Loves a Woman" at the reception. 

1982:  Max's Kansas City club in New York City, whose performers included Bruce Springsteen and Devo, shut its doors.

1984:  Rick Allen, drummer of Def Leppard, lost his left arm in a tragic car accident near Sheffield, England.  His seat belt became undone, and his arm was severed as he was sent through the sunroof.  Doctors were able to reattach the arm at first, but it had to be amputated.  Rick bravely soldiered on, and through a specially constructed drum set, was able to play drums within three months of the accident.  Allen continues as drummer of the group to this day. 

1985:  Rick Nelson and six others died in an airplane crash near DeKalb, Texas on their way to a New Year's Eve concert in Dallas.
1991:  Guns N' Roses performed at a New Year's Eve show at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida.
1993:  Barbra Streisand performed her first paid concert in 22 years at the MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1994:  TLC owned the #1 R&B song for a fourth week with "Creep".






1994:  Boyz II Men returned to #1 for a third week with "On Bended Knee".  With their smash "I'll Make Love To You" earlier in the year, that gave the group 17 weeks at #1 for the year.

1996:  Paul McCartney was named on the New Year's Eve Honours List of Queen Elizabeth II to be knighted.   McCartney became Sir Paul on March 11 of 1997.  (Note:  many websites make the mistake of reporting that McCartney was knighted on this date--as mentioned above, it was announced on this date that McCartney would be knighted; the ceremony took place March 11.)

1997:  Floyd Cramer ("Last Date") died of lung cancer in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 64.

2002:  In today's episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, 50 Cent was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
2002:  Kevin MacMichael, guitarist with Cutting Crew "(I Just) Died In Your Arms"), died at age 51 of lung cancer in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
2003:  The Strokes and Kings of Leon played a New Year's Eve show at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2003:  Elton John, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and Kiss performed on Dick Clark's 32nd annual New Year's Rockin' Eve.  Newlyweds Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey helped Clark count down to the New Year in New York City's Time Square.
2003:  Natalie Imbruglia ("Torn") married Daniel Johns of Silverchair at Thala Beach Lodge in Queensland, Australia.
2003:  Ray Davies of the Kinks and Eric Clapton were made Commanders of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II of England.
2003:  OutKast had the #1 album with Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

2007:  Roger Daltrey, lead singer of the Who, received the honor of Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music and charity work.
2009:  Famed composer Burt Bacharach underwent back surgery in Los Angeles.

2016:  Natalie Cole, daughter of legendary Nat "King" Cole and a star in her own right, died in Los Angeles of congestive heart failure at age 65.

Born This Day:
1920:  Rex Allen ("Don't Go Near The Indians" from 1962) was born in Wilcox, Arizona; died December 17, 1999 in Tucson, Arizona, when he suffered a massive coronary and collapsed in his driveway.  Allen sustained additional injuries when his caretaker accidentally ran over him.

1942:  Andy Summers, guitarist of the Police and solo artist, was born in Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashire, England.

1943:  John Denver (real name Henry John Deutschendorf) was born in Roswell, New Mexico; died October 12, 1997 when his light plane he was flying crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Monterey, California.
1943:  Pete Quaife, founding member and bassist of the Kinks, was born in Tavistock, Devon, England; died June 10, 2010 from kidney failure in Copenhagen, Denmark.








1947:  Burton Cummings, lead singer, keyboardist and songwriter of the Guess Who and a solo artist ("Stand Tall" from 1976) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

1948:  Donna Summer (real name LaDonna Adriene Gaines) was born in Boston, Massachusetts; died of lung cancer May 17, 2012 in Naples, Florida.
1951:  Tom Hamilton, bassist of Aerosmith, was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
1951:  Fermin Goytisolo, percussionist with K.C. and the Sunshine Band, was born in Havana, Cuba.
1959:  Paul Westerberg, songwriter, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Replacements, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1963:  Scott Ian Rosenfeld, rhythm guitarist and the only remaining founding member of Anthrax, was born in Queens, New York.
1972:  Joe McIntyre of New Kids on the Block was born in Needham, Massachusetts.

Hits List: John Denver

One of the most popular performers of the Rock Era was immensely successful in the 1970's, first as a songwriter and then as a great artist and live performer.  He then continued well into the 80's on the Adult chart, the more popular chart, and continued to record until his death.  He truly enjoyed what he was doing and that was evident to the audience.  Denver's ability to capture and describe the moment in his songs led to him being invited time and time again to write songs about the Olympics experience.  Here is the historical Hits List of what John Denver accomplished in his lifetime:

1969:  "Daydream"
1970:  "Anthem-Revelation"
           "Follow Me"
           "Sail Away Home"
           "Mr. Bojangles"

1971:  "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (#2, #3 adult, #3 Canada)
           "Friends with You" (#47, #4 adult, #34 Canada)
1972:  "Everyday" (#81, #21 adult, #77 Canada)
           "Goodbye Again" (#88, #23 adult)--underrated
           "Hard Life, Hard Times (Prisoners)"
           "Rocky Mountain High" (#9, #3 adult, #8 Canada)--underrated

1973:  "I'd Rather Be a Cowboy (#62, #25 adult, #75 Canada)
           "Farewell Andromeda (Welcome to My Morning)" (#89, #20 adult)
           "Please, Daddy" (#69, #82 Canada)

1974:  "Sunshine on My Shoulders" (#1, #1 adult, #1 Canada)
           "Annie's Song" (#1, #1 adult, #1 Canada)
           "Back Home Again" (#5, #1 adult, #10 Canada)
1975:  "Sweet Surrender" (#13, #1 adult, #1 Canada)
           "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" (#1, #5 adult, #38 Canada)
           "I'm Sorry" (#1, #1 adult, #1 Canada)
           "Calypso" (#1, #1 adult, #29 Canada)
1976:  "Fly Away" (with Olivia Newton-John) (#13, #1 adult, #13 Canada)
           "Looking for Space" (#29, #1 adult, #63 Canada)
           "It Makes Me Giggle" (#60, #9 adult, #83 Canada)
           "Like a Sad Song" (#36, #1 adult, #63 Canada)

1977:  "Baby, You Look Good to Me Tonight" (#65, #13 adult, #89 Canada)
           "My Sweet Lady" (#32, #13 adult, #52 Canada)
           "How Can I Leave You Again" (#44, #2 adult, #40 Canada)
1978:  "It Amazes Me" (#59, #9 adult, #72 Canada)
           "I Want to Live" (#55, #10 adult, #81 Canada)
1979:  "Downhill Stuff"
           "What's On Your Mind" (#10 Adult Contemporary)
           "Garden Song" (#31 AC)
           "A Baby Just Like You" (with the Muppets)
1980:  "Autograph" (#52, #20 AC)
           "Dancing with the Mountains" (#97, #43 AC)
1981:  "Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)" (#36, #12 AC)
           "The Cowboy and the Lady" (#66)

1982:  "Shanghai Breezes" (#31, #1 AC)
           "Seasons of the Heart" (#78, #23 AC)
           "Opposite Tables"
           "Perhaps Love" (with Placido Domingo) (#59 #22 AC)---highly underrated.
1983:  "Wild Montana Skies" (with Emmylou Harris) (#26 AC)
           "Hold On Tightly"
1984:  "It's About Time"
           "The Gold and Beyond"
           "Love Again" (with Sylvie Vartan) (#85, #30 AC)
1985:  "Don't Close Your Eyes, Tonight" (#37 AC)
           "Dreamland Express" (#34 AC)
1986:  "Along for the Ride ('56T-Bird)"
1987:  "Let Us Begin (What Are We Making Weapons For?)"
1988:  "For You"
           "Country Girl in Paris"
1995:  "For You" (live)

That's 34 hits for John with 7 going Top 10 and four #1's.  And on the more relevant Adult chart (because obviously there's more adult music fans than kids), he had 34 hits with 18 Top 10';s and nine #1's.

The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: Songs That Changed the World--"Aquarius" by the 5th Dimension

The 5th Dimension sings of trust, understanding, peace and liberation, an age of "Aquarius".  The 60's were indeed the closest we have ever come to that feeling although I get the distinct impression that the younger generation of today is very much like that also.

"Aquarius/"Let the Sunshine In"

by the 5th Dimension

Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David


When the moon is in the seventh house
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!


Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius!
Aquarius!


When the moon is in the seventh house
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
Aquarius!
Aquarius!
Aquarius!
Aquarius!


[Instrumental and tempo shift]


Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in
Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in


[Continue to end with concurrent scat]


Oh, let it shine, c'mon
Now everybody just sing along
Let the sun shine in
Open up your heart and let it shine on in
When you are lonely, let it shine on
Got to open up your heart and let it shine on in
And when you feel like you've been mistreated
And your friends turn away
Just open your heart, and shine it on in


[Fade]

This Date in Rock Music History: December 30

1957:  Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" finished the year as the #1 R&B song, where it had been for six weeks.  

1957:  The top album was Elvis' Christmas Album, which many radio stations banned from airplay because they didn't think a rock and roll artist should play Christmas music.

1961:  The Marvelettes registered a seventh week at #1 on the R&B chart with "Please Mr. Postman".
1961:  "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean continued to dominate the Easy Listening chart for a 10th consecutive week.











1962:  The Chiffons released the single "He's So Fine".  (Note:  some websites report the date of release as February 18, 1963.  According to the book 'The Beatles Encyclopedia:  Everything Fab Four' by Kenneth Womack, the song was released in December, 1962.
1962:  Bob Dylan filmed "Blowin' In The Wind" and "Ballad Of The Gilding Swan" for the BBC television play Madhouse on Castle Street.
1962:  Brenda Lee's home in Brentwood, Tennessee was completely destroyed by fire.
1965:  The Who, the Hollies, the Kinks, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Manfred Mann, and Georgie Fame performed on the popular television show Shindig!

                "A Day in the Life" from 'Sgt. Pepper's'...

1967:  The Monkees album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. had been #1 but it was the Beatles' new album Magical Mystery Tour that was making all the noise, rising from #157 to #4 (no typo).  In between, Diana Ross and the Supremes Greatest Hits was still #2 while Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles remained third.  The Rolling Stones bounced from 29 to 5 in their second week with Their Satanic Majesties Request.  The rest of the Top 10:  Two more soundtracks, "Doctor Zhivago" at #6 and "The Sound of Music" at #7 after 146 weeks, Farewell to the First Golden Era by the Mamas & Papas, the Doors slipped to #9 with Strange Days and Dionne Warwick's Golden Hits, Part One was in the #10 position.




1967:  Eric Burdon & the Animals had one of the hottest songs as "Monterey" moved from 64 to 32.














1967:  The #1 Instrumental of the Rock Era*--"Love Is Blue" was released as a single by Paul Mauriat.

1967:  The Beatles had their 51st hit, 25th Top 10 song in four years and 15th #1 with "Hello Goodbye".  Gladys Knight & the Pips couldn't advance with "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" while the Monkees were finally topped with "Daydream Believer".  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles remained fourth with "I Second That Emotion" and Gary Puckett from Twin Falls, Idaho & The Union Gap were at #5 with "Woman, Woman".  The rest of the Top 10:  John Fred & His Playboy Band moved from 11-6 with "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)", Aretha Franklin raced up to #7 with "Chain Of Fools", newcomers the American Breed entered the Top 10 with "Bend Me, Shape Me", the Fantastic Johnny dropped with "Boogaloo Down Broadway" and Joe Tex moved from 15 to 10 with "Skinny Legs And All".
1968:  Led Zeppelin performed at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, opening for Vanilla Fudge.

1968:  The Turtles released the single "You Showed Me".
1968:  During the filming of the Monkees television special 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee, Peter Tork made it clear that he was leaving the group.  Tork officially left the group after the project was complete, buying out his contract which left him broke.  (Note:  some websites say this date was "early 1969" or even December 30, 1969.  According to the newspapers 'The Tucson Citizen' and 'The Mirror", Tork left in December, 1968.  The Monkees performed as a trio on tour throughout 1969.)






1969:  Santana released the single "Evil Ways".
1970:  A very sad day in the Rock Era.  The members of this group began as great friends and fun-loving people, but on this day, Paul McCartney sued the other three Beatles to dissolve the partnership and gain control of his interest in the group.
1972:  Bruce Springsteen opened for Sha Na Na and Brownsville Station at the Ohio Theatre in Columbus, Ohio.

1972:  Bread moved to #1 on the Adult chart with "Sweet Surrender".
1972:  Seventh Sojourn by the Moody Blues was #1 on the Album chart for a fourth week.









1972:  Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina cracked the Top 10 with "Your Mama Don't Dance".
1978:  Al Stewart continued to top the Adult chart for the eighth week with "Time Passages".
1978:  The #1 R&B song had been there five weeks--Chic and "Le Freak".
1979:  Emerson, Lake & Palmer broke up.
1989:  Krist Novoselic of Nirvana married Shelli Dilley.








1989:  "Another Day In Paradise" by Phil Collins was the #1 Adult Contemporary song for a fifth week.
1991:  Bruce Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa celebrated the birth of daughter Jessica Rae.
1995:  Clarence Satchell of the Ohio Players ("Love Rollercoaster" from 1975) died after suffering a brain aneurysm at age 55.

1995:  "Waiting To Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" by Whitney Houston blew past the competition for a fifth straight week at #1 on the R&B chart.

 
            "Forever" from Carey's album 'Daydream'...

1995:  Daydream moved into the #1 spot on the Album chart for Mariah Carey, bumping Anthology 1 by the Beatles.  Mannheim Steamroller was in the spirit of the season with Christmas in the Aire while the Soundtrack to "Waiting to Exhale" was fourth and Garth Brooks slipped with Fresh Horses.  The rest of the Top 10:  Cracked Rear View moved back up after 75 weeks for Hootie & the Blowfish, Alanis Morissette was at #7 with Jagged Little Pill, Alan Jackson stayed at 8 with The Greatest Hits Collection, the Smashing Pumpkins remained at #9 with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and TLC was still at #10 after 57 weeks with CrazySexyCool.






1998:  Johnny Moore, tenor with the Drifters, died of respiratory failure in Los Angeles at the age of 64.
1999:  George Harrison and his wife were attacked in their home during a robbery.  Although Harrison was stabbed four times in the chest, he and his wife were able to subdue the assailant until the police arrived.








2001:  Nickelback reached #1 with "How You Remind Me".
2003:  In today's episode of Inmates Run Rap Music, police in Georgia served a warrant for the arrest of Juvenile, who reneged on child support payments for his six-month-old daughter.  What a loser.







Born This Day:

1928:  Bo Diddley (real name Elias Bates McDaniel), R&B vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, was born in McComb, Mississippi; died June 2, 2008 of heart failure in Archer, Florida.









1931:  Skeeter Davis ("The End Of The World") was born in Dry Ridge, Kentucky; died of breast cancer on September 19, 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee.
1934:  Del Shannon (real name Charles Westover) was born in Coopersville, Michigan; shot himself while taking the anti-depression drug Prozac in Santa Clarita, California on February 8, 1990.  (Note:  several websites claim Shannon was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but according to the prominent newspapers 'The New York Times' and 'The Chicago Tribune', as well as the Rock Hall of Fame, Shannon was born in Coopersville.)

1937  Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary and also a solo artist ("The Wedding Song"), was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1937:  John Hartford, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter ("Gentle On My Mind" for Glen Campbell), was born in New York City; died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma after struggling with the disease for years on June 4, 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee. 
1939:  Kim Weston, singer who teamed with Marvin Gaye for songs like "It Takes Two", was born in Detroit, Michigan.
1939:  Felix Pappalardi, songwriter, vocalist and bassist of Mountain, and a producer for Cream, was born in The Bronx, New York; was shot and killed by his wife (who was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide) on  April 17, 1983.
1940:  Kenny Pentifallo, drummer of Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes (Note:  the notoriously wrong 'Allmusic' claims Pentifallo was born December 3.  They're missing a digit--he was born December 30, according to 'Billboard'.)





1942:  Michael Nesmith, guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist with the Monkees and also a songwriter and producer, was born in Houston, Texas.  His 1977 video show Popclips was purchased by Warner Brothers and developed into what we used to know as MTV.
1942:  Robert Quine, elite guitarist for Lou Reed, Marianne Faithfull and Tom Waits among others, was born in Akron, Ohio; died when he committed suicide in New York City on May 31, 2004.






1945:  Davy Jones, lead singer of the Monkees, was born in Openshaw, Manchester, England.









1946:  Patti Smith ("Because The Night" from 1978) was born in Chicago, Illinois.

1947:  Jeff Lynne, lead singer, guitarist, songwriter, arranger and producer of the Move, Electric Light Orchestra and later the Traveling Wilburys, was born in Shard End, Birmingham, England.
1951:  Chris Jasper, keyboardist with the Isley Brothers, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.







1959:  Tracey Ullman, comedian and singer ("They Don't Know" from 1984), was born in Slough, Buckinghamshire (now in Berkshire), England.
1978:  Tyrese was born in Los Angeles.

The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: Songs That Changed the World--"He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother" by the Hollies

On the long road of life, there is room to carry our brothers and sisters.  For rest assured there will be a time when we need looking after. 

"He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother"

by the Hollies

Written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother...

This Date in Rock Music History: December 29

1955:  Barbra Streisand recorded her first song, at the age of 13.

1956:  Buddy Holly and four others chased and detained a shoplifter from a store in Lubbock, Texas.
1956:  Fats Domino sat atop the R&B chart  for the 11th week with "Blueberry Hill".  

1957:  Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme married in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1958:  "Lonely Teardrops" by Jackie Wilson was the #1 R&B song.
1958:  The new single "The Little Drummer Boy" by the Harry Simeone Chorale moved from #88 to #29.
1962:  Bob Dylan played at the Troubadour folk club in London.
1962:  Steve Lawrence remained at #1 for a third week on the Easy Listening chart with "Go Away Little Girl".  






1962:  "Telstar" by the Tornadoes was the #1 song, outdistancing Chubby Checker's "Limbo Rock" and "Bobby's Girl" by Marcie Blane.  "Go Away Little Girl" by Steve Lawrence was fourth with former #1 "Big Girls Don't Cry" by the 4 Seasons behind.  The rest of the Top 10:  Elvis Presley dropped with "Return To Sender", Ray Charles moved up to #7 with "You Are My Sunshine",Brook Benton and "Hotel Happiness", "Little Esther" Phillips remained the same with "Release Me", Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans were thrilled as "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah" jumped from 16-9 and Brook Benton was at #10 with "Hotel Happiness".
1963:  The Weavers performed for the final time at Orchestra Hall in Chicago.
1966:  The Beatles began recording "Penny Lane".
1967:  Dave Mason quit the group Traffic and began a solo career.



1969:  Sly & the Family Stone released the single "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).













1970:  Norman Greenbaum released the single "Spirit In The Sky".
1971:  America released their self-titled debut album.

1973:  Stevie Wonder rose to #1 on the R&B chart with his classic "Living For The City".
1973:  Jim Croce took over at #1 on the Adult chart with "Time In A Bottle".
1973:  Ringo Starr shot up from 50 to 27 with "You're Sixteen".







                Brownsville Station's big hit...

1973:  The recently departed Jim Croce reached #1 with "Time In A Bottle".  Charlie Rich dropped from the top with "The Most Beautiful Girl" while Helen Reddy had another big hit with "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" and the Steve Miller Band was at 4 with "The Joker".  The rest of the Top 10:  Elton John and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" after peaking at #2 for three weeks, Todd Rundgren with "Hello It's Me", the Carpenters were still at 7 after 13 weeks with their smash "Top Of The World", Al Wilson's great new song "Show and Tell", Brownsville Station moved up with "Smokin' In The Boy's Room" and Barry White held on to the #10 spot with "Never, Never Gonna' Give Ya Up".





1973:  Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was on top for a third straight week on the Album chart.  
1975:  Paul Kantner and Grace Slick of Jefferson Starship divorced.
1980:  Tim Hardin, folksinger and songwriter, died at age 39 in Los Angeles from drugs.
1980:  Irving Spice, who played violin for the Monkees and Grover Washington, Jr., died in New York City.






1990:  Elton John led the way on the Adult Contemporary chart for a third week with "You Gotta' Love Someone".
1994:  Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes pleaded guilty to arson charges for setting fire to and destroying boyfriend Andre Rison's $1 million Atlanta mansion.
2000:  A federal appeals court ruled that Nicholas Kussbaum, bassist for Steppenwolf, could continue to bill himself as a former member of the group.  John Kay, lead singer of the group, tried to enforce a 1980 contract in which Kussbaum agreed not to emphasize his ties with the group.
2004:  The biographical movie about Bobby Darin, Beyond the Sea, opened in theaters.
2011:  Robert Lee Dickey, "Bobby" of the duo James & Bobby Purify, died at the age of 72 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Born This Day:
1941:  Ray Thomas, singer, composer and flautist of the Moody Blues, was born in Stourport-on-Severn, England.
1942:  Rick Danko, co-lead singer and bass guitarist of the group which called itself the Band, was born in Greens Corner, Ontario, Canada; died of a heart attack in Marbletown, New York on December 10, 1999.  (Note:  There is much confusion about Rick's birthday.  The book 'All Music Guide to Country: The Definitive Guide to Country Music' by Vladimir Bogdanov, ‎Chris Woodstra, and ‎Stephen Thomas Erlewine, as well as 'Billboard' magazine, and the newspapers 'The Independent' and 'The Guardian" all say Rick was born on December 9, 1943, and the Rock Hall of Fame says he was born on December 29, 1943.   The book 'Sounds of Rebellion:  Music in the 1960s' by Brittanica Educational Publishing and the 'BBC' all show Danko's birthday as December 29, 1942, which matches his tombstone.  Ordinarily, the tombstone would be proof, but it is not correct in this instance.  Rick's brothers, as well as Rick himself when he was alive, all said that Rick was born in 1942.  According to the Dankos, Rick was born at home on December 29, 1943.  His birth was not reported right away, and when his birth certificate was printed, it contained the wrong year.  Rick never had it changed, because it meant he "got to do everything a year earlier."  'Allmusic', 'Billboard', the 'BBC', 'Brittanica Educational Publishing' and the two newspapers are wrong, and in this case, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is correct.  Some sites report his birthplace as Simcoe, Ontario, Canada--Rick was born in Greens Corner, which is near the town of Simcoe.)
1942:  Jerry Summers (real name Jerry Gross) of the Dovells ("You Can't Sit Down")
1946:  Marianne Faithfull was born in Hampstead, London.

1947:  Cozy Powell, drummer of Rainbow, Whitesnake and Black Sabbath, was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England; died April 5, 1998 following a car accident near Bristol, England.
1948:  Charlie Spinosa, trumpeter of John Fred & His Playboy Band ("Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)" from 1968)

1951:  Yvonne Elliman, a member for four years of the first cast of Jesus Christ Superstar and later a solo star, was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
1970:  Glen Phillips, singer/songwriter and guitarist of Toad the Wet Sprocket ("All I Want") was born in Santa Barbara, California.