This Date in Rock Music History: May 29

1942:  Bing Crosby recorded "White Christmas".
1959:  There's nothing like a summer outdoor rock concert and on this date, one of the first outdoor rock concerts was at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.  Ray Charles, B.B. King and Jimmy Reed performed in front of nine thousand people attended.
1961:  "Travelin' Man" became Ricky Nelson's only #1 besides "Poor Little Fool".  Shep & the Limelights had #2--"Daddy's Home".  Roy Orbison slid into third with "Running Scared".
1962:  "Moon River" by Henry Mancini won Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards.  Chubby Checker won a Grammy for Best Rock & Roll Recording for "Let's Twist Again".
1963:  Del Shannon's cover of "From Me To You" became the first Lennon & McCartney song to chart.
1965:  Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home was the #1 album in the U.K.

1965:  The Beach Boys had the brand new #1 song with "Help Me Rhonda", taking over from the Beatles' "Ticket To Ride".  The Supremes were moving up with "Back In My Arms Again" while Herman's Hermits were on their way down with "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter".  The rest of the Top 10:  Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs moved up to #5 with "Wooly Bully", Elvis Presley had another hit with "Crying in the Chapel", Gary Lewis & the Playboys were falling with "Count Me In", the Seekers had song #8--"I'll Never Find Another You", the Beau Brummels moved from 19-9 with "Just a Little" and Tom Jones had a Top 10 with "It's Not Unusual".
1967:  Cream, the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Pink Floyd were among the performers at the Tulip Bulb Auction Hall in Spalding, Lincoln, England.
 1967:  A new band from Los Angeles released a single to radio stations called "Light My Fire".  They were of course the Doors.  It did what precious few debut singles did--reach #1 and become one of the Top 20 Songs of the Rock Era*.  The group went on to have 17 hits, including three Top 10 songs.

1967:  Johnny Rivers released his version of the Miracles' hit "Tracks of My Tears".



1967:  Can we please have music like this again?  The great 5th Dimension released the single "Up-Up and Away".
1969:  Crosby, Stills & Nash released their debut self-titled album.
1971:  "Want Ads" was the new R&B #1 song.
1971:  "Rainy Days and Mondays" by the Carpenters was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart where it would remain for four weeks.
1971:  The James Gang with Joe Walsh had the week's highest debuting song with "Walk Away".

                        " Chick-A-Boom" had the stuff to make the Top 10


1971:  One of the Top Songs of the Rock Era*--"Joy To the World" by Three Dog Night finally ended its reign at #1 after six weeks.  "Brown Sugar" was the new #1 song.  The Jackson 5 slipped to 3 with "Never Can Say Goodbye, the Honey Cone had their only hit "Want Ads" and Ringo Starr was looking good at #5 with "It Don't Come Easy".  The rest of the Top 10:  Ocean with their great song "Put Your Hand in the Hand", Aretha Franklin had #67 with her cover of "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Donny Osmond was all "Sweet and Innocent" at #8, Lobo had #9--"Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" and Daddy Dewdrop had #10 with "Chick-A-Boom".
1972:  Alice Cooper released the single "School's Out".
1972:  On this date Paul McCartney, who had his protest song "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" banned by the BBC, quickly recorded a version of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" as a joke for a follow-up .  Banned in 1973... he would later be knighted.
1972:  One year previously, they were Linda Ronstadt's backup band.  Now, they were their own group and on this date, the Eagles released their first single "Take It Easy".
1973:  Clive Davis was fired at Columbia Records for misappropriating $100,000.
1973:  The Byrds split as founder Roger McGuinn gave a solo concert at New York's Academy of Music.
1975:  The Osmonds' concert at Wembley Pool in London set off a riot.

1976:  Wings at the Speed of Sound gave Wings the #1 album, toppling Black and Blue by the Rolling Stones.  Presence from Led Zeppelin was #3 and the great Frampton Comes Alive! was now at #4.
1976:  "Afternoon Delight" appeared to be a huge first hit for Starland Vocal Band, moving from 66 to 44.
1976:  Diana Ross had her fourth #1 as a solo artist (she had 12 with the Supremes) with "Love Hangover", bumping "Silly Love Songs" by Wings out of the top spot.  Elvin Bishop had his one and only hit "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" and Silver Convention was looking good with "Get Up and Boogie".  The rest of the Top 10:  Dorothy Moore had #5 with "Misty Blue", Pratt & McClain was at 6 with the Theme From "Happy Days", John Sebastian slid to 7 with "Welcome Back", Henry Gross had "Shannon" at #8, Hall & Oates moved inside the Top 10 with "Sara Smile" and Barry Manilow remained at #10 with "Tryin' To Get the Feeling Again".
1977:  Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seger, Kenny Loggins, Stanley Clarke and Chick Corea played at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
1977:  Elvis left his concert in Baltimore Maryland for 30 minutes, angering his fans who had no idea he was being slowly drugged to death by his doctor.
1981:  Prince appeared in Europe for the first time.
1982:  The Clash released the album Combat Rock.

          A historic collaboration gave us a timeless classic


1982:  "Ebony and Ivory" from Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder was #1 for a third week on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1983:  The Police released the classic single "Every Breath You Take".
1984:  Tina Turner enjoyed one of the biggest comebacks in the Rock Era thanks to the album Private Dancer, which was released on this date.
1989:  John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service died from chronic emphysema at the age of 55.
1988:  Bob Dylan joined the Band for "The Weight" and the Chuck Berry song "Nadine" at a Band concert in New York City.

Madonna released her 18th single, "Express Yourself".

1993:  "That's the Way Love Goes" by Janet Jackson was #1 for a fourth week on the R&B chart.
1993:  "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart took over at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1997:  The Spice Girls won the award for Hit of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards.
1999:  Photographers taking pictures of wrecked cars at the bottom of Decker Canyon in Malibu discovered the body of Phillip Kramer, bass guitarist of Iron Butterfly, who had been missing since February 12, 1995.  His death was ruled a suicide.
2001:  The Eagles performed in Russia at the SC Olymisky in Moscow.
2002:  Natalie Imbruglia signed a deal worth $170,000 to represent L'Oreal.

2003:  Staind ruled the album chart with 14 Shades of Grey.
2004:  Josey Scott of Saliva married Kendra at Elvis Presley's Graceland estate.
2005:  The Cure dropped guitarist Perry Bamonte and keyboard player Roger O'Donnell.
2005:  Elton John and Bob Geldof teamed up to organize five concerts in July (Live 8) that will raise awareness of poverty.  Duran Duran, the Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay and Lauryn Hill all signed up to perform.
2005:  System of a Down had the #1 album with Mesmerize.


Born This Day:
1936:  Sylvia Vanderpool (of Mickey and Sylvia) was born in New York City.
1941:  Roy Crewsdon of Freddie and the Dreamers.
1942:  Sir Monti Rock III (Joseph Montanez) of Disco Tex and his Sex-O-Lettes and the DJ in the movie Saturday Night Fever was born in New York City.
1945:  Gary Brooker, singer, songwriter and founder of Procol Harum, was born in Hackney, East London.
1950:  Joey Levine of Ohio Express ("Yummy Yummy Yummy") and Reunion ("Life is a Rock") was born in New York City.
1950:  Rebbie Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana.

1955:  Mike Porcaro of Toto was born in South Windsor, Connecticut.
1956:  LaToya Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana.
1960:  Mel Gaynor of Simple Minds was born in Balham, London, England.
1960:  Jesse Johnson, guitarist of the Time who left the group in 1984 to become a solo artist, was born in Rock Island, Illinois.
1961:  David Palmer of ABC

1961:  Melissa Etheridge was born in Leavenworth, Kansas.
1967:  Noel Gallagher, songwriter, co-lead singer and lead guitarist of Oasis, was born in Manchester, England.
1969:  Chad Kinchla of Blues Traveler
1975:  Melanie Brown ("Scary Spice" of the Spice Girls) was born in Harehills, Leeds, England.

Watch Out For False Release Dates

Other "This Day in Music History" sites I have noticed show release dates of singles that are incorrect.  They mistakenly show them as being on the day that a singles chart came out (Saturday).  No one releases songs on weekends.  Anyone in the music business knows that songs are released on Monday's so that radio stations can add them to their playlists.  The trade magazines (R&R, Billboard & Gavin Report) took reports on Tuesday and then reported them the following week.  Any single that was released later than that would not make the trade papers until another week.


Bottom line:  If you see a single that was reported to be released on the day the chart came out is probably incorrect.

The #74 Album of All-Time in the Rock Era: "In Pieces" by Garth Brooks

We are counting down the top albums in the history of rock. We are presenting one each day so we can talk about it and give it the due it deserves. We are up to #74. The great album In Pieces became one of a select few when it debuted at #1--It remained there for five weeks.  It spent 76 weeks on the chart, just short of a year and a half, and has sold eight million copies so far.  In Pieces was also #1 in Canada and Australia.  The consistent album posted a Track Rating of 8.95.







Six singles made the country chart including two #1's, but don't confuse that with overall #1's.  Brooks did not make the Top 40 with any of his songs from this album.  That said, there are a few that should have been and radio blew it there.  Although his voice sounds country (and the lyrics definitely still are written about country life), make no mistake--Garth Brooks single-handedly changed his genre to sound more like rock and roll than traditional country and artists galore followed suit to this day.  That is why the album was so well received.  It struck a chord with everyone, even if perhaps they didn't ever relate to anything a "country" artist had ever done.  The singles were "Ain't Goin Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)", "American Honky-Tonk Bar Association", "Standing Outside the Fire", "One Night a Day", "Callin' Baton Rouge" and "The Red Strokes".  
 
The lyrics are amazing, the music is compelling and the production tight.  I absolutely love his style and I'm certainly not unique--he is one of a kind, a living legend in our time.  He not only is far and away the top "country" artist of all-time but one of the five or ten top artists of all-time period.  This is a must-have album for nearly everyone (I can certainly tell you I am not a country music fan but that said, this is one of my favorite albums ever.)  The singles mentioned above are all solid--I particularly like "The Night I Called the Old Man Out", "Callin' Baton Rouge" and "Ain't Goin' Down" (which features an incredible harmonica solo by Terry McMillan at the end.  However, "The Night Will Only Know" may be the best song on the album.  "The Red Strokes" sounds eerily like something Dan Fogelberg would have done.  "Kickin' and Screamin'" is another great track that only Brooks can give us and he does a fantastic job on "The Cowboy Song".  You may have different favorites but there's bound to be several cuts that appeal to you.  


Brooks won the Academy of Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year for his work on In Pieces.


In Pieces:
1.    "Standing Outside the Fire" (Jenny Yates, Garth Brooks) – 3:52
2.    "The Night I Called the Old Man Out" (Pat Alger, Kim Williams, Brooks) – 3:12
3.    "American Honky-Tonk Bar Association" (Bryan Kennedy, Jim Rushing) – 3:33
4.    "One Night a Day" (Gary Burr, Pete Wasner) – 4:15
5.    "Kickin' and Screamin'" (Tony Arata) – 4:02
6.    "Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" (Kent Blazy, Williams, Brooks) – 4:33
7.    "The Red Strokes" (James Garver, Lisa Sanderson, Yates, Brooks) – 3:44
8.    "Callin' Baton Rouge" (Dennis Linde) – 2:38
9.    "The Night Will Only Know" (Stephanie Davis, Yates, Brooks) – 3:55
10.  "The Cowboy Song" (Roy Robinson) – 3:59



Chris Leuzinger, Ty England, Pat Flynn and Mark Casstevens played acoustic guitar on the album; Chris also played electric guitar while England helped out with background vocals.  Steve McClure played electric and steel guitars and Bruce Bouton helped out Brooks on steel guitar.  Rob Hajacos played fiddle, Bela Fleck played banjo, Sam Bush played mandolin, fiddle, and helped with background vocals, Jerry Douglas was on the dobro and Terry McMillan played harmonica.  Jim Horn was on sax, Bobby Wood played piano and keyboards, Boby Emmons played the Hammond B-3 organ, Mike Chapman and Roy Huskey, Jr. were the bass guitarists for this album, Mike Palmer and Milton Sledge played drums and percussion while Sam Bacco and Ferrell Morris contributed percussion.  Trisha Yearwood, John Cowan, Helen Darling, Kathy Chiavola and the New Grass Revival sang backup vocals.







In Pieces was recorded at Jack's Track's Recording Studio.  The producer was Allen Reynolds and the album was remastered by Denny Purcell at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, Tennessee.  The album was released August 31, 1993 on Liberty Records.


At #74 for All-Time, In Pieces from Garth Brooks.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 28

1955:  Elvis Presley performed in Fort Worth, Texas.
1957:  On this date the organization that would oversee the recording industry, look out for their interests and eventually organize the Grammy Awards, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) was created.
1965:  Elvis Presley's movie Tickle Me opened.
1966:  The Rolling Stones reached the top of the U.K. chart with "Paint It Black".


1966:  Mel Carter had the #1 Adult Contemporary song for the second week with "Band of Gold".
1966:  Out of Our Heads by the Rolling Stones was #1 on the album chart followed by the former #1 album Beatles VI.  Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!) by the Beach Boys remained at 3, followed by Herman's Hermits On Tour and The Soundtrack to "The Sound of Music" at #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  My Name Is Barbra from Streisand, Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan at #7, the Soundtrack to "Mary Poppins" at #8, Just Once In My Life from the Righteous Brothers at #9 and Sinatra '65 at #10.
1966:  Percy Sledge continued to control the R&B chart for a fourth week with "When a Man Loves a Woman".

1966:  Percy Sledge had his one and only #1 with "When a Man Loves a Woman".  The Mindbenders moved up to #2 with "A Groovy Kind of Love" while the former #1 "Monday, Monday" by the Mamas & Papas slipped to #3.  The Rolling Stones had one of the hottest movers (19-4) with "Paint It Black".
1967:  The Association made their television debut on The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour on CBS.
1969:  Mick Jagger and his girlfriend Marianne Faithful were arrested in London for possession of marijuana.
1969:  Judy Collins was Johnny Carson's guest on The Tonight Show.

1973:  The Carpenters released the single "Yesterday Once More".  
1973:  Ronnie Lane quit the group Faces.
1976:  The Allman Brothers Band split after Gregg Allman testified against his road manager in a drug case.
1977:  Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers played together in Paris, France when the three were part of Strontium 90.
1977:  The Eagles, Foreigner, Heart and Steve Miller all appeared at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. 
1977:  Bruce Springsteen settled out of court in the case against his former manager Mike Appel.

1977:  Stevie Wonder had a brief one-week stay at #1 on the R&B chart with "Sir Duke".


              No slowing down for this super group


1977:  The Eagles were the biggest mover of the week, going from 53 to 28 with "Life in the Fast Lane".

1977:  Foreigner scored their first Top 10 song with their debut single, "Feels Like the First Time".
1977:  The album Barry Manilow Live debuted at #10.
1977:  The more this margarita wears off, the more I think it could be my fault--"Margaritaville" from Jimmy Buffett was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1978:  David Cassidy starred on the NBC-TV show Police Story.
1982:  Bill Graham organized a Vietnam Veterans benefit concert in San Francisco, which starred Jefferson Starship, the Grateful Dead and Country Joe.
1983:  US Festival '83 was underway on this date as Van Halen, the Pretenders, U2, the Clash, Men at Work, INXS, Stevie Nicks, the Stray Cats, Willie Nelson, David Bowie, Joe Walsh, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne and Judas Priest performed.

                             Take your passion....and make it happen!


1983:  Irene Cara, who I feel gave one of the top vocal performances of the Rock Era on this song, rose to #1 with "Flashdance...What a Feeling".  David Bowie was at #2 with "Let's Dance, Michael Jackson's "Beat It" featuring the great guitar work of Eddie Van Halen was third.  Men At Work remained at #4 with "Overkill" followed by Thomas Dolby's only hit "She Blinded Me With Science".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Little Red Corvette" from Prince, Laura Branigan's "Solitaire at #7, the Culture Club moving up with "Time (Clock of the Heart)", Lionel Richie stuck at 9 with "My Love" and Bryan Adams moving into the Top 10 with "Straight From the Heart".
1984:  Prince released the single "When Doves Cry".
1984:  Bob Dylan toured for the first time since 1981, performing in Verona, Italy.
1986:  Dick Clark hosted the television special America Picks the No. 1 Songs.
1987:  Whitney Houston released her follow-up album Whitney.

Guns N' Roses had you from the instant you heard the guitar hook...


1988:  Faith by George Michael was #1 for a ninth week on the album chart but the former #1 "Dirty Dancing" Soundtrack held strong at #2.  Michael Jackson was hanging in there after 36 weeks with Bad at #3 and yet More Dirty Dancing from the Soundtrack was fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Introducing the Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby, Let It Loose was #6 from Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, the Scorpions climbed up with Savage Amusement, Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses was #8, Now and Zen, the solo album by Robert Plant, fell to #9 and Def Leppard re-entered the Top 10 in week #41 for their incredible album Hysteria.

   

           Brenda Russell's great song "Piano in the Dark" entered the Top 10


1988:  Another song from the album Faith reached #1 as "One More Try" got the honor for George Michael.  Johnny Hates Jazz challenged at 2 but would never go higher.  Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine fell from the top to #3 with "Anything For You".  The two new entries into the Top 10 were "Together Forever" by Rick Astley and Brenda Russell's great song "Piano in the Dark".
1988:  "One More Try" was also #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, making it a sweep for George Michael.
1998:  Elton John and Bernie Taupin won an Ivor Novello Award for their tribute to Princess Diana--"Candle in the Wind '97".
2000:  Britney Spears had the #1 album with Oops!...I Did It Again.
2003:  Paramount Pictures announced plans to make Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi" into a motion picture.
2003:  Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown visited Israel, where they met premier Ariel Sharon.
2006:  The Red Hot Chili Peppers had the top album in the U.K. with Stadium Arcadium.
2006:  Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" was #1 for a ninth week in the U.K.
2007:  The Police began their reunion tour at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.


                  Rush--a great group of guys


2008:  Rush donated $100,000 to the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.



Born This Day:
1917:  Papa John Creach of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna was born in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
1943:  Tony Mansfield of Naked Eyes ("Always Something There to Remind Me") was born in Salford, England.
1944:  Billy Vera ("At This Moment") was born in Riverside, California.


1944:  Gladys Knight was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

1945:  John Fogerty was born in Berkeley, California.
1948:  Ray Laidlan of Lindisfarne was born in North Shields, England.
1955:  Eddie Jobsonkeyboardist of Roxy Music and Jethro Tull, was born in Billingham, England.
1955:  John McGeoch, guitarist of Siouxsie & the Banshees, was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
1962:  Roland Gift of the Fine Young Cannibals was born in Birmingham, England.

1968:  Kylie Minogue was born in Melbourne, Australia.
1981:  Mark Feehily of Westlife was born in Sligo, Irlenad.
1985:  Colby Caillat was born in Malibu, California.

Five Best Songs--the Association

The Association was recently inducted into the Vocal Hall of Fame, and deservedly so.  Known for their great harmonies, they were one of the best.  They didn't amass a ton of hits, but the ones that they did have were huge hits.  In other words, their percentage of classics to their hits was the distinction.  Honorable mention to "Enter the Young".

1.  "Cherish"



2.  "Windy"



3.  "Never My Love"



4.  "Along Comes Mary"



5.  "Everything That Touches You"

The #75 Album of All-Time in the Rock Era--"The Cars" by the Cars

Hard to believe we have already featured 25 albums.


The Cars was the self-titled debut album by the band from Boston. 

Nearly all the tracks on the album have received considerable airplay--it's a gem.  "Just What I Needed", "Good Times Roll" and "My Best Friend's Girl" were the singles.  None reached the top ten, which is more a reflection of poor chart methodology than anything, for album sales hit the roof as a result.  The album reached platinum status by 
the end of the year.



  

This album only peaked at #18 but did have 139 weeks on the chart (or nearly three years).  It's strength is its longevity.  The album's sales have actually gotten stronger over the years instead of weaker.  The Cars has now reached six million and it has an outstanding Track Record* of 9.11.  Huge airplay that has also gotten stronger over the years has helped the album.  Whereas at the time it got airplay from Top 40 and AOR stations, the album now also gets huge airplay from Classic Rock stations, and not just the singles but a number of tracks on the album.  "Just What I Needed", "Good Times Roll" and "My Best Friend's Girl" are staples on any station that calls itself a rock station.  But so are "Bye Bye Love", "Dont Cha Stop" and "You're All I've Got Tonight".  Those six tracks are largely responsible for the high Track Record; the other three are OK but not great.


The Cars were nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards for their work on the debut album.

The Cars:
Side One

1. "Good Times Roll" – 3:44
2. "My Best Friend's Girl" – 3:44
3. "Just What I Needed – 3:44
4. "I'm in Touch with Your World" – 3:31
5. "Don't Cha Stop" – 3:01

Side Two

1. "You're All I've Got Tonight" – 4:13
2. "Bye Bye Love" – 4:14
3. "Moving in Stereo" (Greg Hawkes, Ocasek) – 4:41
4. "All Mixed Up" – 4:14

The Cars are:  Ric Ocasek on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Benjamin Orr on bass and lead vocals, Elliot Easton on lead guitar and backing vocals and Greg Hawkes, playing keyboards, saxophone and percussion and singing backing vocals.  David Robinson plays drums and percussion on the album as well.

Geoff Workman recorded and engineered the project at AIR Studios in London in February of 1978.  Roy Thomas Baker was the producer, the album was arranged By the Cars and mastered by George Marino.  It was released June 6, 1978 on Elektra Records.

The Cars come in at #75--

This Date in Rock Music History: May 27

1957:  The world was about to discover one of the brightest talents ever known.  A new group called Buddy Holly and the Crickets released their first single "That'll Be the Day".
1957:  "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley was the #1 R&B song for the fourth week in a row.

1963:  The Chiffons released the single "One Fine Day".
1965:  Sandie Shaw posted her second U.K. #1 song--"Long Live Love".

1967:  Three brothers from England by way of Australia debuted on the chart for the first time.  You can count on one hand the number of artists who have been more successful.  Their first single, "New York Mining Disaster 1941", was released earlier in the week, and on this date, the Bee Gees had their first hit. 
1967:  Pink Floyd performed at the Civic Hall in Nantwich, England.

"White Rabbit", a surrealistic moment in the Rock Era, Jefferson Airplane's breakthrough...


1967:  More of the Monkees was the #1 album, followed by I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You from Aretha Franklin and Revenge by funnyman Bill Cosby.  The Mamas & The Papas Deliver slipped to #4 while the Soundtrack to "Doctor Zhivago" was in the fifth position.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Soundtrack to "The Sound of Music" was still in the Top 10 after 115 weeks, The Monkees sat at #7, The Best of the Lovin' Spoonful came in eighth, My Cup Runneth Over from Ed Ames was #9 and the psychedelic Surrealistic Pillow from Jefferson Airplane moved from 16-10.
1967:  "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" by Spanky & Our Gang shot up from 98 to 49 on this date.
1967:  "Him or Me --What's It Gonna' Be?" by Paul Revere & the Raiders from Boise, Idaho was the fastest-rising song within the Top 10, moving from 14 to 7.

1968:  The 5th Dimension released the single "Stoned Soul Picnic".
1972:  "I'll Take You There", the great soul song from the Staple Singers, was #1 for the fourth week in a row on the R&B chart.

1972:  "Oh Girl" by the Chi-Lites moved into #1 while the Staple Singers closed with "I'll Take You There".  Roberta Flack finally fell from the top after six great weeks at #1 with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face".  Al Green slid up one with "Look What You Done For Me" and Sammy Davis, Jr. motored up from 13 to 5 with "The Candy Man".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Morning Has Broken" from Cat Stevens got a nice move (10-6), the Rolling Stones were at 7 with "Tumbling Dice", Joe Tex had song #8--"I Gotcha'", Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show as they called themselves then had their first release "Sylvia's Mother" moving from 14-9 and "Hot Rod Lincoln", the great song from Commander Cody & His Los Planet Airmen was at #10.
1972:  Thick As a Brick from Jethro Tull was the biggest mover within the Top 10 albums (13-2) and seemed destined for a turn at #1.

1974:  On this date, a new group from Sweden first appeared on the U.S. charts--they'd already become superstars all over the rest of the world.  They would go on to become one of the top acts of the Rock Era.  ABBA debuted with their first single, "Waterloo".
1978:  Bob Seger released the classic album Stranger in Town.
1978:  "Even Now" by Barry Manilow was the new #1 Adult Contemporary song.
1978:  "Use Ta Be My Girl" by the O'Jay's took over as the #1 R&B song.
1978:  The Soundtrack to "Saturday Night Fever" was the #1 album for the 19th week in a row.
1988:  Def Leppard promoted their blockbuster album Hysteria with a concert at the George M. Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska.
1989:  Cliff RIchard released the 100th single of his career "The Best of Me".
1989:  The Beach Boys and Chicago began a tour together.
1989:  "My First Love" by Atlantic Starr gained the #1 spot on the R&B chart.

1989:  "So Alive" by Love and Rockets was the biggest mover on this date 94-68.

1989:  "Forever Your Girl" by Paula Abdul was the #1 song for a second week.
1989:  Lech Walesa, leader of the labor movement in Poland, awarded a Badge of Solidarity to Stevie Wonder.
1991:  Wilson Phillips released the single "The Dream Is Still Alive".
1994:  Another famous day in the Rock Era as the Eagles reunited for a concert in Burbank, California after 14 years apart.  If only other groups had the same maturity.

                          Dionne Farris's big hit...


1995:  "This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan remained at #1 for the seventh consecutive week while Bryan Adams awaited his turn with "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?".  Boyz II Men's "Water Runs Dry" moved to #3 while Method Man with Mary J. Blige sat still at #4 with "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Freak Like Me" from Adina Howard, Nicki French's version of the Bonnie Tyler classic "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was at #6, the great song "I Know" by Dionne Farris was on its way down, TLC's "Red Light Special" was song #8, "I Believe" from Blessid Union of Souls was #9 and Monica shocked everyone by moving from 22 to 10 with "Don't Take It Personal".

          "Hold My Hand" from Hootie & the Blowfish...


1995:  Cracked Rear View reached #1 on the album chart 45 weeks after its release on July 23, 1994, one of the longest times in the Rock Era that an album has taken to reach #1.
1997:  It used to be that rock artists had more confidence than to get in these kind of situations.  Oasis singler Liam Gallagher suffered cuts and bruises after getting into a scuffle with a youth at the Tower Thistle Hotel in east London.
1999:  Rod Stewart won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ivor Novella Awards show.
2001:  Tool had the #1 album with Lateralus.
2003:  Metallica premiered the video from "St. Anger", which was filmed at San Quentin Prison, on MTV2.
2004:  Marc Anthony filed for divorce from his wife, the former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres.  He would soon show up at the side of Jennifer Lopez.


2004:  Usher tied a Rock Era record by the Beatles and Bee Gees by placing all three songs in the Top 3 on this date--"Burn" at #1, "Yeah!" at #2 and "Confessions, Part II" at #3.
2005:  Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails was awarded $3 million in his fraud suit against his former manager.
2006:  The Red Hot Chili Peppers owned the top album with Stadium Arcadium.
2006:  Michael Jackson received the Legend Award at the MTV Japan's Video Music Awards.



Born This Day:
1935:  Ramsey Lewis ("The In Crowd") was born in Chicago, Illinois.
1935:  Rudy Lewis of the Drifters was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died May 10, 1964.
1943:  Cilla Black, (Priscilla Marie Veronica White) who sang "You're My World", was born in Liverpool, England.
1945:  Bruce Cockburn ("Wondering Where the Lions Are") was born in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.
Starship
1947:  Marty Kristian of the New Seekers ("I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing" from 1972) was born in Leipzig, Germany.
1948:  Pete Sears of Jefferson Starship was born in Bromley, Kent, England.
1957:  Eddie Harsch, keyboardist of the Black Crowes, was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1958:  Siouxsie (Susan Janet Ballion) of Siouxsie and the Banshees was born in Southwark, southeast London, England.


.
1958:  Neil Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand.
1966:  Sean Kinney of Alice in Chains was born in Renton, Washington.

1971:  Lisa Lopes (Left Eye) of TLC was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died in an automobile accident April 25, 2002 from severe neck injuries and head trauma which claimed her life.
1975:  Dre (Andre Benjamin) of Outkast was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

The #76 Album of All-Time in the Rock Era--"Bat Out of Hell" by Meat Loaf

We are featuring one album per day as The Top 100 Albums of All-Time in the Rock Era* are presented.  Bat Out of Hell was the second album from Meat Loaf.


The album only peaked at #14 at the time it was released.  What this tells is is that people listening to music at the time this album was out preferred 13 albums more than this one.  You might ask "How does it belong in the Top 100 Albums of All-Time* if it can't even reach the Top 10 at the time it was released?"  Good question.  It did spend 82 weeks on the chart but what gets it here is consistent album sales.  The album does not have one of the strongest Track Ratings* (8.72) either, meaning that the album isn't as consistent as most of the Top 100 albums, it doesn't have quite the quality.  But in the 34 years that have passed since it was released, Bat Out of Hell has continued to sell, and has now reached 14 million.  We don't know if 3 million people bought the LP, replaced it with a cassette, then bought a CD (which would count as three separate sales, as could be the case with any of these albums) or why the album continued to sell, so one the one hand we can't put too much emphasis on sales, but on the other hand it is an important statistic in the formula.







The album was the creation of Jim Steinman, who has become an accomplished songwriter.  Steinman wrote an performed the musical Neverland in 1977, which was a science fiction update of Peter Pan theme.  Steinman and Meat Loaf wanted to include three of the songs from that musical in a new album--"Bat Out of Hell", "Heaven Can Wait" and a track that was later titled "All Revved Up with No Place To Go".


With Meat Loaf singing, Steinman playing piano and occasionally Ellen Foley joining the pair for the song "Paradise By the Dashboard Light".  They spent 2 and a half years being rejected by record company after record company.  Clive Davis, one of the most respected record executives in the business told Steinman this:

Do you know how to write a song? Do you know anything about writing? If you're going to write for records, it goes like this: A, B, C, B, C, C. I don't know what you're doing. You're doing A, D, F, G, B, D, C. You don't know how to write a song... Have you ever listened to pop music? Have you ever heard any rock-and-roll music... You should go downstairs when you leave here... and buy some rock-and-roll records.

As good an exec as Davis is, he failed to realize one important point--rock and roll music was never about being a formula; from the beginning, it appealed to people because it was different.  So any attempt to fit new material to a formula would make the music bland.  Artists like Steinman are who have always been accepted into rock & roll music because they gave us a different sound and new things to listen to.  With a track record such as his, Davis knew what sounded good and what the public would like.  In this case, however, he did not give credit to the public for its time-proven ability to like something different. 


Todd Rundgren proved to be the turning point for the album.  He loved it and was most interested in producing it and that was a big feather in Meat Loaf's cap.  Two members of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg, played on the album and it was one of their fellow members in the band, Steve Van Zandt, who finally found a record company that would agree to accept the project.  It was Cleveland International Records, a division of Epic. 


Rundgren mixed the album but the sound of "Paradise" was such that Meat Loaf did not want to include it on the album.  Jimmy Iovine came in and remixed some of the tracks on the album.  Several people came in before John Jansen finally came in and came up with the mix that is on the album.  Phil Rizzuto's baseball play-by-play that was inserted into the middle of the song was recorded in 1976 at The Hit Factory in New York City.   







Bat Out of Hell:
(All songs written by Jim Steinman.)
Side one
1.  "Bat Out of Hell" --9:56
2.  "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" --5:04
3.  "Heaven Can Wait" --4:38
4.  "All Revved Up with No Place to Go" --4:19

Side two
5.  "Two out of Three Ain't Bad" --5:23
6.  "Paradise By the Dashboard Light" (duet with Ellen Foley) --8:28
7.  "For Crying out Loud" --8:45


Meat Loaf played percussion on "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth".  Rundgren played guitar, percussion, keyboards and sang backing vocals.  Kasim Sulton was on bass guitar and backing vocals, Roy Bittan played piano and keyboards, Cheryl Hardwick and Steve Margoshes were on piano, Steinman contributed percussion and the intro on "You Took the Words.."  in addition to keyboards and Roger Powell was on synthesizer.  Edgar Winter played saxophone, Max Weinberg and John Wilcox played drums, Marcia McClain also contributed to the dialogue on "You Took the Words...", Ellen Foley contributed backing vocals in addition to her part on "Paradise", Rory Dodd lent backing vocals and members of the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra played on the album.
The album was recorded as Bearstock Studios in Woodstock, New York in 1975 and 1976.  Todd Rundgren produced it, a real feather in the cap of Meat Loaf.  It was released October 21, 1977 on Cleveland International Records, a division of Epic.

It lands at #76 All-Time--Bat out of Hell.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 26

1953:  Man, egg on the faces of the judges who put Elvis Presley second in the talent competition at the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Show.  Whoever finished first came nowhere near having 18 #1 songs.
1958:  Jerry Lee Lewis played what would be his final concert in the U.K., booed off stage by angry British.  People found out that he had been married to his 14 year-old cousin and it was "Bye, Bye Jerry!"

Ray Charles was headed for the top   


1962:  "Stranger on the Shore" from Mr. Acker Bilk landed at #1, displacing "Soldier Boy" by the Shirelles after three weeks.  Dee Dee Sharp held steady at #3 while Ray Charles loomed next after a 21-4 move for "I Can't Stop Loving You".
1963:  Elvis Presley started the first of a two-day session to record "(You're the) Devil In Disguise".
1965:  The Rolling Stones, Sonny and Cher, Jackie DeShannon and Jimmy Rodgers appeared on the television show Shindig!
1966:  The Rolling Stones reached #1 in the U.K. with "Paint It Black".
1968:  Little Willie John ("Fever") died in a Washington state prison.

1969:  Several great songs released on This Day in Rock Music History.  Stevie Wonder released the single "My Cherie Amour".
1969:  John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono staged another Bed-In for Peace at Hotel LaReine in Montreal.
1971:  The song may have been about "The day the music died", but that song was born this day as Don McLean went into the recording studio to record the all-time classic "American Pie".
1973:  Paul Simon released the album There Goes Rhymin' Simon.
1973:  George Harrison had the Biggest Mover on the chart with "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)", which climbed from 59 to 34.

1973:  The #3 Instrumental of All-Time* reached #1 on this date--"Frankenstein" from Edgar Winter Group.  It remains the only hard rock instrumental ever to reach the top, although "Hocus Pocus" by Focus also entered the Top 10 on this date in 1973 at #10 as well.  Paul McCartney & Wings had their first big hit "My Love" which was #2 on this date.  Elton John's "Daniel" reached #3 while the former #1 "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Dawn was at 4.  The rest of the Top 10:  The former #1 "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", Sylvia's "Pillow Talk" moved up to #6, Sweet fell to 7 after peaking at #3, Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" was #8 and Skylark edged up to #9 with "Wildflower".

 

The Blue Album had the perfect mix of hits and album tracks, such as "Across the Universe"...


1973:  The great double greatest hits album The Beatles/1967-1970 was #1 this week and their double album The Beatles/1962-1966 was at #3 with Houses of the Holy from Led Zeppelin sandwiched in between.

1975:  You won't find three better songs released on the same date.  Little did we know it at the time, but this single launched the biggest comeback of the Rock Era; it essentially gave the Bee Gees a second career, as the trio released "Jive Talkin'" on this date.

1975:  Paul McCartney & Wings released the single "Listen to What the Man Said".



1975:  The Eagles released the single "One of These Nights".  Three great singles, all of which reached #1.  Smart radio station Music Directors added all three on This Day in Rock History.
1977:  The Broadway tribute Beatlemania opened.
1977:  Billy Powell of the O'Jay's died of cancer.
1978:  Donna Summer co-hosted The Midnight Special.
1978:  A new group appeared on the Irish television show Youngline.  They were then known as the Hype, today as U2.
1979: Bette Midler appeared on Saturday Night Live on NBC-TV.
1979: "Sunday Girl" became the second U.K. #1 for Blondie.
1979:  Kenny Rogers' great song "She Believes In Me" took over at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1979:  "Reunited" ruled supreme for the fourth week in a row for Peaches & Herb.  Donna Summer was a solid #2 with "Hot Stuff".  There were three new Top 10 songs--"We Are Family" from Sister Sledge, which elevated from 13 to 6, Randy Vanwarmer's "Just When I Needed You Most", up from 15 to 8, and "Love is the Answer", England Dan & John Ford Coley's latest, at #10.

1982:  Bobby Darin was given a star posthumously on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1984:  Bruce Springsteen had the highest debut of the week with "Dancing in the Dark", which had been released earlier in the week.
1984:  The Cars had the Biggest Mover with their great song "Magic" climbing from 59 to 39.

1984:  Deniece Williams reached the pinnacle as the former backup singer for Stevie Wonder hit #1 with "Let's Her It For the Boy".  Lionel Richie's "Hello" slipped to #2 with Cyndi Lauper moving up behind him with "Time After Time".  Phil Collins remained strong after 14 weeks with his former #1--"Against All Odds" while Steve Perry's first solo hit "Oh Sherrie" was up to #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" by Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson, Duran Duran moved from 12-6 with "The Reflex", Night Ranger had a big hit with "Sister Christian, up from 16 to 8, Irene Cara was back with "Breakdance" and the Thompson Twins' former #3 smash "Hold Me Now".

1986:  Genesis released the single "Invisible Touch".
1990:  David Bowie was sued by his ex-wife Angie for $56 million.
1990:  "Hold On" by En Vogue was the #1 R&B song.
1990:  Wilson Phillips topped the Adult Contemporary chart with "Hold On".  Note:  This song is completely different than "Hold On" by En Vogue mentioned above.

Heart closed in on the top spot


1990:  Not only did women dominate the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, but for the first time in music history, they had every one of the top five songs.  Madonna had the #1 song with "Vogue", Heart's "All I Wanna' Do Is Make Love to You", Sinead O'Connor's former #1 "Nothing Compares 2 (sic) U (sic)" was at #3, "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips was next and Janet Jackson's "Alright" came in at #5.
1993:  Singapore removed its ban on music by the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Chicago and Bob Dylan.

1996:  George Michael had the #1 album in the U.K. with Older.
1996:  A fire at Eric Clapton's home caused over a million and a half dollars of damage.  When firemen got to the scene, Eric was rushing to save his guitar collection.
2000:  Jailbird Tommy Lee of Motley Crue had to serve five more days there after violating his parole.
2000:  Richard Carpenter was given an honorary degree from California State University-Long Beach.
2004:  Celine Dion returned to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas after a neck injury forced her to postpone performances for two weeks.
2005:  Mariah Carey registered her 16th #1 song, "We Belong Together", leaving her two shy of Elvis Presley for #2 all-time to the Beatles.
2006:  Gwen Stefani and husband Gavin Rossdale were the proud parents of son Kingston Rossdale.

2006:  Desmond Dekker ("Israelites" in 1968) died in England at the age of 64.
2008:  Paul McCartney was given an honorary Doctorate of Music from Yale University.



Born This Day:

1920:  Peggy Lee (real name Norma Dolores Egstrom) was born in Jamestown, North Dakota.
1941:  Art Sharp of the Nashville Teens
1943:  Levon Helm,drummer and vocalist of the Band, was born in Marvelle, Arkansas.
1944:  Verdon Allen of Mott the Hoople

1946:  Mick Ronson, elite guitarist who worked with David Bowie and Bob Dylan, among others, was born in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England; died of liver cancer April 29, 1993.

1948:  Stevie Nicks, lead singer of Fleetwood Mac and a solo star, was born in Phoenix, Arizona.

1949:  Vicki Lawrence, who had one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* with "The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia" in 1973, was born in Inglewood, California

1964:  Lenny Kravitz was born in New York City.
1972:  Allen White, drummer for Oasis, was born in London.
1978:  Jaheim Hoagland (aka Jaheim) was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
1981:  Isaac Slade, pianist, songwriter, co-founder and lead singer for the Fray, was born in Boulder, Colorado.

>