This Date in Rock Music History: September 3

1955:  Bill Haley & the Comets refused an offer to tour Australia because of a fear of flying.
1955:  Chuck Berry logged a third week at #1 on the R& B chart with "Maybellene".
1962:  Bobby "Boris" Pickett released the single "Monster Mash".
1962:  The Crystals came out with "He's a Rebel" on this date.
1963:  Frank Sinatra's Reprise Records was absorbed by Warner Brothers Records.
1966:  The Supremes stood on top of the R&B chart with "You Can't Hurry Love".
1966:  What Now My Love gave Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass their third #1 album out of six released.  
1966:  The great song "Born Free" was #1 on the Easy Listening chart for Roger Williams.
1966:  The Association were making their move as "Cherish" jumped from #66 to #27.

1966:  Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" took over #1 from the Lovin' Spoonful, which dropped to 2 with "Summer in the City".
1967:  The Anni-Frid Four, led by Anni-Frid Lynstad who would later join Abba, won a talent contest on the Swedish television show Hyland's Corner.
1970:  The Dave Clark Five broke up.

1970:  Alan Wilson, guitarist of Canned Heat, died in Topanga Canyon, California. 
1976:  The Grateful Dead, the Marshall Tucker Band and the New Riders of the Purple Sage performed before 110,000 in Old Bridge, New Jersey.
1977:  "Handy Man" by James Taylor ruled the Adult Contemporary chart.

          The Brothers Johnson brightened up the Top 10

1977:  "Best of My Love" by the Emotions was the #1 song again for the third week.  Andy Gibb's former #1 "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" refused to fall further and that meant Rita Coolidge couldn't advance with "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher".  The Commodores ("Easy) and James Taylor ("Handy Man") were stuck as well.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Floaters and "Float On", Crosby, Stills & Nash with "Just a Song Before I Go" at #7, Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop", the Brothers Johnson edged up with "Strawberry Letter 23" and ELO landed their 11th hit and second Top 10 with "Telephone Line".

      "I Don't Want to Know", one of the great tracks on Rumours...

1977:  Rumours by Fleetwood Mac spent its 17th week at #1 on the album chart, one shy of the all-time Rock Era record by More of the Monkees.  CSN, the solid release from Crosby, Stills & Nash, was #2 followed by the Soundtrack to "Star Wars".  JT from James Taylor was fourth and Moody Blue by Elvis Presley moved from 24 to 5 following his passing on August 16.  
1979:  Monday, the date for new releases, fell on this date and Foreigner provided "Dirty White Boy" while Kenny Rogers released "You Decorated My Life".

1982:  Fleetwood Mac, the Police, Pat Benatar and the Talking Heads performed at the three-day US Festival in San Bernadino, California.  The Festival attracted 400,000 people.
1983:  Metallica wrapped up their first tour.
1983:  Laura Branigan reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You".

1983:  The Eurythmics scored the only #1 of their career--"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".  Michael Sembello's "Maniac" from the movie Flashdance edged up and the Police finally fishtailed from #1 after eight weeks with "Every Breath You Take".  Taco was "Puttin' on the Ritz" while Donna Summer swapped places with "She Works Hard for the Money".  The rest of the Top 10:  newcomer Men Without Hats and "The Safety Dance" moved from 11 to 6, Billy Joel's 21st hit "Tell Her About It" was right behind, Men at Work were at position #8 with "It's a Mistake", Culture Club saw "I'll Tumble 4 (sic) Ya" stay at #9 and Michael Jackson made it six Top 10 songs in a row from the album Thriller with "Human Nature".

1983:  It was seven straight weeks for the great album Synchronicity by the Police at #1.  Thriller by Michael Jackson was still at #2 after 37 weeks and the Soundtrack to "Flashdance" was #3.  Def Leppard had a hot album as well with Pyromania.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Wild Heart from Stevie Nicks, Staying Alive by the Bee Gees, Billy Joel moved from 18 to 7 with An Innocent Man, Asia's follow-up Alpha was at #8, Jackson Browne slipped into the Top 10 with Lawyers in Love and Reach the Beach was the #10 album by the Fixx.

1988:  Peter Cetera of Sun Valley, Idaho enjoyed a huge Adult Contemporary hit as "One Good Woman" reached #1.
1988:  The album Hysteria had already spent three weeks at #1 and now, Def Leppard rose to #1 for the third time--55 weeks after its release!  Tracy Chapman had to relinquish the spot with her debut and Guns N' Roses edged up with Appetite for Destruction.

1990:  INXS released the single "Suicide Blonde".


1990:  New group Alias released the song "More Than Words Can Say" to radio stations.
1992:  David Bowie appeared on the cover of Architectural Digest.
1993:  Kenny G & Peabo Bryson combined for the #1 Adult Contemporary hit on this date--"By the Time This Night Is Over".
1994:  Brian Setzer (Stray Cats and solo performer) married Christine Schmidt.
1994:  Crosby, Stills and Nash released After the Storm.

1994:  Major Lance ("Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um") died of heart failure at the age of 55.
1994:  The Soundtrack to "The Lion King" held on to #1 for the eighth straight week while the Soundtrack to "Forrest Gump" sat at #2.  The Sign from Ace of Base was third with Stone Temple Pilots taking the #4 position with their album Purple.  The rest of the Top 10:  The great album Dookie from Green Day, August and Everything After by the Counting Crows, Regulate...G Funk Era by Warren G, the self-titled Candlebox, Sleeps With Angels from Neil Young & Crazy Horse debuting at #9 and Smash from Offspring at #10.

1994:  Boyz II Men could not be stopped as "I'll Make Love to You" remained #1 on the R&B chart for the third week.
2003:  The Rolling Stones performed at Glasgow, Scotland.
2003:  Kyle Norman of Jagged Edge turned himself in to authorities in Decatur, Georgia to face charges of drugs and weapons possession.
2003:  Mary J. Blige had the top album with Love and Life.

2010:  Mike Edwards of ELO was killed in Devon, England when a giant bale of hay fell down a hill and crashed into his van.

Born This Day:

1934:  Freddie King, one of the elite guitarists of the Rock Era, was born in Gilmer, Texas.
1940:  Shadow Morton (George Morton), who wrote "Remember (Walking In The Sand" and "Leader of the Pack" for the Shirlles and worked with the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Iron Butterfly, Janis Ian and Vanilla Fudge, was born in Richmond, Virginia; died February 14, 2013 in Laguna Beach, California after a long battle with cancer.

1942:  Al Jardine of the Beach Boys was born in Lima, Ohio.
1944:  Gary Leeds of the Walker Brothers ("The Sun Ain't Gonna' Shine Anymore") was born in Glendale, California.
1945:  George Biondi of Steppenwolf
1945:  Mike Harrison, keyboardist of Spooky Tooth, was born in Carlisle, England.
1947:  Eric Bell of Thin Lizzy


1948:  Don Brewer, drummer of Grand Funk Railroad, was born in Flint, Michigan.
1955:  Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols was born in London.

  1973:  Jennifer Paige ("Crush") was born in Marietta, Georgia.

Songs That Changed the World--The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: "Time for Livin'" by the Association

This was thought-provoking at the time; the world has only gotten more rushed and more tense since then.  It's even more important now.  The Association found the secret to live and it's not in a fountain but in the message of this great song.  How many people do you know that rush around from sun-up to sundown trying to fit as many things into their hectic life as they can?  Is that you?

"Time for Livin"

by the Association

Lyrics and Music by Richard P. Addrisi and Donald J. Addrisi


I kicked off my shoes and felt the good earth under my feet
I loosened my tie and felt what it feels like to breathe
I found the secret to life, I took some time for livin'

I took off my watch and found I had all the time in the world
I opened my arms, so I could hold life like a beautiful girl
I laid down, all of my hang-ups forever

I looked around and saw what sweet things can be found
Simply by taking some time for livin'
Groovin' on little things life is givin'
From now on I'm takin' time for life

Too busy to stop and notice the things that are real
Embarrassed to talk, about all the things that I feel
It's so strange, never noticed the world all around me

Hey, look I've changed, my attitude's been rearranged
From now on I'm takin' some time for livin'
Groovin' on everythin' life is givin'
I'm gonna be takin' time for life

(For livin')
Groovin' on everythin' life is givin'
I'm gonna be takin' time for life
(For livin')
Groovin' on everythin' life is givin'
I'm gonna be takin' time for life

(For livin')
Groovin' on everythin' life is givin'
I'm gonna be takin' time for life
(For livin')
Groovin' on everythin' life is givin'
I'm gonna be takin' time for life

(For livin')
Groovin' on everythin' life is givin'

This Date in Rock Music History: September 2

1957:  Elvis Presley had the #1 R&B song with "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear".
1965:  The Beatles earned a gold record for the single "Help!"
1965:  The Rolling Stones performed on the BBC-TV show ReadySteadyGo!

1967:  After five short weeks, "Ode to Billie Joe" by Bobbie Gentry was #1.  The Beatles' former #1 "All You Need Is Love" remained at #2 but the Supremes were up big (8-3) with "Reflections".  "Light My Fire" by the Doors completed as good a Top Four as you will ever find in music at the same time.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Baby I Love You" from Aretha Franklin, "Come Back When You Grow Up" moved from 14 to 6 for Bobby Vee, "Cold Sweat" remained at position #7 for James Brown, the Monkees slid down with "Pleasant Valley Sunday", the Temptations maintained at #9 with "You're My Everything" and Stevie Wonder was at 10 with "I Was Made to Love Her".

1967:  Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles was the #1 album for the 10th week in a row.  Headquarters by the Monkees was second followed by Flowers from the Rolling Stones.  The Doors was at #4 with Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow at #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Young Rascals with Groovin', which moved from 18 to 6, Release Me from Engelbert Humperdinck, Insight Out from the Association at #8, Aretha Franklin's I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You at #9 and the Temptations jumped in at #10--With a Lot O' Soul.

1968:  Music Directors at radio stations across the country received a new 45 from a new group called Creedence Clearwater Revival.  They didn't know much about them other than their first single was called "Suzie Q".  They played it, and the rest is history.

1970:  Genesis put out an ad in Melody Maker, looking for applications.  Drummer Phil Collins responded and eventually joined the group.
1971:  Lenny Hart, the ex-manager of the Grateful Dead, was arrested for embezzling $70,000 from the group.
1972:  The Eagles were on their first tour as a group; they played at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.
1972;  Gilbert O'Sullivan had already spent four weeks at #1 but after a week away, "Alone Again (Naturally)" moved back to the top spot, one of the few times in the Rock Era that this has happened.  The Hollies were up with "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)" and Al Green owned #3--"I'm Still in Love With You".  The former #1 from Looking Glass ("Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)") was now at 4.  The rest of the Top 10:  Argent with "Hold Your Head Up", Mac Davis was up to #6 with his big crossover "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me", the Carpenters held down #7--"Goodbye to Love", Jim Croce had song #8 with "You Don't Mess Around with Jim", Gary Glitter moved from 17 to 9 with "Rock and Roll Part 2" and the O'Jays were in the Top 10 with "Back Stabbers".
1974:  Elton John released the single "The Bitch is Back".

1974:  Reunion released "Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" on this date.
1979:  Gilbert O'Sullivan spent a sixth week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "Alone Again (Naturally)".

1978:  Teddy Pendergrass gave a "Ladies Only" concert at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.
1978:  Boston's second album Don't Look Back debuted at #10.
1978:  The Commodores held on to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Three Times a Lady".

1978:  Boston moved from 36 to 19 with the title track "Don't Look Back".


     Ms. King had an exciting song in the Top 10 on this date

1978:  Frankie Valli made it two weeks at #1 with "Grease" while the former #1 "Three Times a Lady" by the Commodores remained at #2.  A Taste of Honey crawled up with "Boogie Oogie Oogie" and Foreigner was at #4 with "Hot Blooded".  Another song from Grease, "Hopelessly Devoted to You" by Olivia Newton-John was #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Miss You" from the Rolling Stones, Exile's classic "Kiss You All Over" debuted in the Top 10, Andy Gibb was up to 8 with "An Everlasting Love", Walter Egan had song #9--"Magnet and Steel" and Evelyn "Champagne" King moved in with "Shame".

1978:  George Harrison married Olivia Trinidad Arias.
1985:  Starship released the single "We Built This City".
1986:  Debbie Gibson (16 years old) began recording the album Out of the Blue.
1987:  Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Tracy Chapman and Peter Gabriel performed at Wembley Stadium in London as part of the Amnesty International Tour.
1989:  Ric Ocasek of the Cars married Paulina Prizkova.
1989:  "It's No Crime" by Babyface was the #1 R&B song.
1989:  "Right Here Waiting" from Richard Marx was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for a fifth week.  It ranks as the sixth top AC song of the 1980's.

            Estefan was rapidly climbing the charts...

1989:  Paula Abdul registered her third consecutive #1 song with "Cold Hearted" as Richard Marx slipped to 2 after three weeks at the top with "Right Here Waiting".  New Kids on the Block were "Hangin' Tough" at #3 and Gloria Estefan's great song "Don't Wanna' Lose You" was #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Jeff Healey Band moved from 10-5 with "Angel Eyes", Warrant moved from 15-6 with "Heaven", Karyn White had a "Secret Rendezvous" at #7, Surface entered the Top 10--"Shower Me With Your Love", Don Henley's  "End of the Innocence" was at 9 and Jody Watley with Eric B. & Rakim came in tenth with "Friends".

1989:  The great album Repeat Offender moved into the #1 slot for Richard Marx.  
1993:  Neil Young and Pearl Jam performed Young's song "Rockin' in the Free World" at the MTV Video Music Awards.
1995:  Michael Jackson reigned on the R&B chart with "You Are Not Alone".

1995:  Michael Jackson debuted at #1 with "You Are Not Alone", holding off the hot song "Gangsta's Paradise" from Coolio and the great movie Dangerous Minds.  Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" was #3 with TLC's "Waterfalls" completing an excellent Top Four.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Boombastic/Summer Time" from Shaggy, All-4-One with "I Can Love You Like That", Vanessa Williams at 7 with "Colors of the Wind", Blues Traveler secured the 8th spot with "Run-Around", "He's Mine" from MoKenStef and "Only Wanna' Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish gave the group their third Top 10 song from the album Cracked Rear View.

     Toni Braxton takes top honor

2000:  Toni Braxton won the Aretha Franklin Award for Entertainer of the Year at the Soul Train Lady of Soul show.  Destiny's Child, Angie Stone and Mary J. Blige each captured two statuettes each.
2003:  The Clash received a lifetime achievement award at the GQ Men of the Year awards in London.
2004:  Ciara and Petey Pablo had the #1 song with "Goodies".
2005:  Kanye West blasted U.S. President George W. Bush in his appearance at A Concert for Hurricane Relief, saying he "doesn't care about black people" and did not respond quickly enough to flooding as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

2012:  Mark Abrahamian, guitarist who worked with Starship, Christopher Cross, John Cafferty, Pat Travers and Tommy Tutone, died of a heart attack at age 46.

Born This Day:
1939:  Bobby Purify of the brother duo James & Bobby Purify ("I'm Your Puppet") was born in Tallahassee, Florida.
1939:  Sam Gooden of the Impressions 1940:  Jimmy Canton ("Just a Dream") was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

1943: Joe Simon ("The Chokin' Kind") was born in Simmesport, Louisiana.
1943:  Rosalyn Ashford of Martha and the Vandellas was born in Detroit, Michigan.
1951:  Mik Kaminski, violin player of ELO, was born in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
1956:  Fritz McIntyre, keyboardist of Simply Red, was born in Birmingham, England.
1958:  Jerry Augustyniak, drummer of 10,000 Maniacs, was born in Sloan, New York.

1969:  K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci was born in Charlotte, North Carolina.
1975:  Tony Thompson, lead singer of Hi-Five, was born in Waco, Texas.

Songs That Changed the World--The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: "Think" by Aretha Franklin

Many people think this is just a relationship song but you have to understand it came out in the heat of the struggle for civil rights for African-Americans and that is the context in which the lyrics must be taken.  The message is that every human being deserves the freedom to live their life out in the way that they see fit, as long as it isn't to the detriment of others.  And we should never keep someone down but rather lift them up.


"You better think...think about what you're tryin' to do to me."

"Think"

by Aretha Franklin

Songwriters:  Lyrics:  Ronald Isley, Curtis Mayfield, Music by Curtis Mayfield



Think (think) think (think) think (think)
think (think) think (think) think (think)


You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free


Let's go back, let's go back, let's go way on back when
I didn't even know you, you came to me and too much you wouldn't take
I ain't no psychiatrist, I ain't no doctor with degree
It don't take too much high IQ's to see what you're doing to me


You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free


Oh freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, yeah freedom
Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, ooh freedom


There ain't nothing you could ask I could answer you but I won't (I won't)
I was gonna change, but I'm not, to keep doing things I don't


You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free


People walking around everyday, playing games that they can score
And I ain't gonna be the loser my way, ah, be careful you don't lose yours


You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free


You need me (need me) and I need you (don't you know)
Without eachother there ain't nothing people can do


Oh freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, yeah freedom
Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, ooh freedom


There ain't nothing you could ask I could answer you but I won't (I won't)
I was gonna change, but I'm not, if you're doing things I don't


You better think (think) think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free


You need me (need me) and I need you (don't you know)
Without eachother there ain't nothing people can do


(To the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, think about it)


(To the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, think about it)


(To the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, think about it)


(To the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, think about it)


You had better stop and think before you think, think!!

Five Best: Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper beat out Madonna for Best New Artist at the Grammys her rookie year.  Here are her Five Best:

1.  "Time After Time"

2.  "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"

3.  "All Through the Night"

4.  "True Colors"

5.  "She Bop"

Five Best: Van Morrison

Of course, Morrison had the hits "Gloria" and "Here Comes the Night" with the group Them.  His Five Best from his solo career are:

1.  "Moondance"

2.  "Brown-Eyed Girl"

3.  "Wild Night"

4.  "Domino"

5.  "Blue Money"

Songs That Changed the World--The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: "Turn! Turn! Turn!" by the Byrds

They don't get much better than this gem, a rare mix of amazing words and music. And it's an excellent way to kick off this feature on Inside the Rock Era. The lyrics are essentially from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. They are just as important now as they were back then. The song is saying that everthing has its place. The trick is knowing when the right time is! The broader meaning is that there is a plan, and while we don't understand all that goes on around us, you can be at peace knowing someone a lot smarter than us is in charge.

"Turn!   Turn!   Turn!"

by the Byrds

Words-adapted from The Bible, book of EcclesiastesMusic-Pete Seeger



To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to build up,a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

This Date in Rock Music History: September 1

1953:  Buddy Holly and Bob Montgomery auditioned for KDAV's Sunday Party.  The duo began a Sunday afternoon slot the became The Bob and Buddy Show.
1956:  Jerry Lee Lewis (19 years old at the time) pulled up to Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee hoping for an audition with owner Sam Phillips.  Phillips was on vacation so Lewis recorded some demos to pass on to Phillips when he got back.
1956:  Elvis Presley used part of his proceeds from an amazing year to buy his mother a pink Cadillac.  Elvis and his parents had lived in low-income housing their entire lives.
1957:  Buddy Holly & the Crickets, the Everly Brothers, the Drifters and Frankie Lymon performed as The Biggest Show of Stars tour began at the Paramount in Brooklyn, New York.  
1958:  "Little Star" from the Elegants was #1 on the R&B chart.  
1965:  James Brown and Booker T. & the MG's appeared on Shindig!.
1966:  The Byrds began an 11-day run at the famous Whisky-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles.

1967:  Boz Scaggs joined the Steve Miller Band.
1967:  The Beatles met at Paul McCartney's house in London to decide strategy following the death of manager Brian Epstein.  The group decided to postpone their trip to Indian and instead being the already-delayed production of the movie Magical Mystery Tour.
1967:  Roy Orbison and Sheb Wooley starred in the movie The Fastest Guitar Alive.
1973:  Elton John and Steely Dan shared a bill at Balboa Stadium in San Diego, California.
1973:  Rod Stewart rose to the top of the U.K. album chart with Sing It Again.

1973:  "Let's Get It On" from Marvin Gaye remained #1 for a fourth week on the R&B chart.

1973:  Some of The Top Albums of 1973* were out on this date.  Chicago VI remained at #1, Pink Floyd moved back up to #2 with The Dark Side of the Moon, Foreigner from Cat Stevens was fourth while the Allman Brothers Band moved from 13 to 4 with the biggest album they would ever have--Brothers and Sisters.  The rest of the Top 10:  Touch Me in the Morning from Diana Ross, A Passion Play from Jethro Tull dropped from 2, Machine Head by Deep Purple had been out a year and was moving up to #7, We're An American Band from Grand Funk moved from 15 to 8, Made in Japan by Deep Purple was #9 and Fresh by Sly & the Family Stone completed the list.
1974:  The Osmonds were on top in the U.K. with "Love Me for a Reason".
1977:  Blondie signed a recording contract with Chrysalis Records.
1977:  The Eagles played at the Alpine Music Theater in East Troy, Michigan.
1978:  Styx released the album Pieces of Eight.

1979:  INXS appeared live for the first time at the Oceanview Hotel in Sydney, Australia.
1979:  U2 released the EP U2-3 in Ireland. 
1979:  Van Morrison, Talking Heads, Squeeze and the Undertones performed at the Edinburgh Rock Festival in Scotland.
 
1979:  Chic registered week #6 at #1 on the R&B chart with "Good Times".

    The Cars' second album hit the Top 3


1979:  Get the Knack by the Knack occupied the top spot on the album chart for the fourth week.  The former #1 album Breakfast in America by Supertramp spent its ninth straight week at either #2 or #3 since it fell, highly impressive.  Candy-O by the Cars remained at 3 while I Am by Earth, Wind & Fire came in fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Million Mile Reflections from Charlie Daniels Band, the great album Discovery from ELO, Risque by Chic moved from 32 to 7, Rust Never Sleeps from Neil Young & Crazy Horse, meanwhile, was up just one, Donna Summer's former #1 album Bad Girls was now at 9 and Midnight Magic from the Commodores entered the Top 10.
1979:  Maxine Nightingale scored a seventh week at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Lead Me On".

1979:  The 42nd career hit for Dionne Warwick was her first Top 10 in five years, launching a big comeback for her.  On this date, "I'll Never Love This Way Again" moved from 14 to 10.
1980:  Stevie Wonder opened a six-night sold-out series of shows at Wembley Arena in London.
1980:  Fleetwood Mac finished a nine-month tour at the Hollywood Bowl in California.
1983:  Guitarist Mick Jones was fired from the Clash.
1984:  Lionel Richie's third #1 Adult Contemporary song from his album Can't Slow Down, "Stuck On You", landed its fifth week at the top.

 1984:  Tina Turner scored one of the biggest comebacks of the Rock Era, hitting #1 on this date with "What's Love Got to Do With It".  It had been 13 years since she and former husband Ike had hit the Top 10 with their remake of the CCR song "Proud Mary".  John Waite moved up to #2 with "Missing You", Lionel Richie was stuck on 3 with "Stuck On You" and Ray Parker, Jr. dropped with his former #1 "Ghostbusters".  Prince's former #1 "When Doves Cry" was at position #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Newcomer Cyndi Lauper with "She Bop", Corey Hart came in seventh with "Sunglasses at Night", Prince had another Top 10--"Let's Go Crazy", which moved from 16 all the way to 8, Huey Lewis & the News posted their fourth straight Top 10 from the album Sports ("If This Is It") and Peabo Bryson remained at 10 with "If Ever You're In My Arms Again".
1990:  Fleetwood Mac performed at Wembley Stadium in London.
1990:  Prince topped the U.K. album chart with Graffiti Bridge.
1990:  The fastest-rising song on this date was "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers, a song which had reached #4 25 years previously.
1992:  Gloria Estefan and husband Emilio organized a relief organization for victims of Hurricane Andrew in Miami, Florida.


1995:  The United States Postal Service honored Louis Armstrong with his own postage stamp.  
1995:  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cleveland, Ohio with a seven-hour concert featuring dozens of artists.
1998:  David Bowie opened Bowienet, which offers basic Internet services and keeps fans informed with Bowie news and releases.
1998:  Ian Gillian of Deep Purple was charged with assault and battery for hitting a security guard during a concert in August.

1999:  Van Morrison was the first inductee into the Irish Music Hall of Fame in Dublin.
2000:  A judge awarded Herb Reed of the Platters an injunction against another group posing as the Platters.
2002:  Atomic Kitten began four weeks at #1 in the U.K. with their remake of the Blondie smash "The Tide Is High".
2002:  Coldplay had control of the U.K. album chart with A Rush of Blood to the Head.
2003:  Elton John had the top U.K. song with "Are You Ready for Love".
2005:  Barry Cowsill, bassist for the Cowsills, died from injuries suffered during Hurricane Katrina at the age of 51.  His body was not recovered until December 28 from Chartres Street Wharf in New Orleans.
2008:  Likable musician ("Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot") and actor (Smokey and the Bandit) Jerry Reed died at the age of 71 from complications from emphysema.
2009:  Jake Brockman, keyboardist with Echo and the Bunnymen, died when his motorbike collided with an ambulance on the Isle of Man.

2012:  Hal David, who with Burt Bacharach was one of the most successful songwriters of the Rock Era, died of a stroke at the age of 91 in Los Angeles.  David and Bacharach's hits include "(They Long to Be) Close To You", "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", "This Guy's in Love with You", "One Less Bell to Answer", "What the World Needs Now Is Love", "The Look of Love", "Do You Know the Way to San Jose", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" and "Walk On By".  David was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1972.

Born This Day:

1927:  Tommy Evans of the Drifters
1941:  Roy Head ("Treat Her Right", a #2 song in 1965) was born in Three Rivers, Texas.
1944:  Archie Bell of the Drells ("Tighten Up") was born in Henderson, Texas.

1946:  Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees was born in Manchester, England.
1948:  Greg Errico of Sly & the Family Stone was born in San Francisco, California.

1957:  Gloria Estefan was born in Havana, Cuba.
1984:  Joseph Mark Trohman of Fall Out Boy was born in Hollywood, Florida.

Five Best: Cat Stevens

The Cat gave us many great songs in the 1970's--here are his Five Best:



1.  "Peace Train"
2.  "Morning Has Broken"
3.  "Oh Very Young"
4.  "Wild World"
5.  "Another Saturday Night"

Hits List: Boz Scaggs

Boz Scaggs was originally with the Steve Miller Band, appearing on their first two albums before going solo in 1968.  Here is his complete Hits List:





1971:  "We Were Always Sweethearts" (#61)
           "Near You" (#96)
1972:  Dinah Flo (#86)
1976:  "It's Over" (#38)
           "Lowdown" (#3, #28 U.K.)
           "What Can I Say" (#42, #10 U.K.)
1977:  "Lido Shuffle" (#11, #13 U.K.)--highly underrated song
           "Hard Times" (#58)
1978:  "Hollywood" (#49, #43 U.K.)
1980:  "Breakdown Dead Ahead" (#15)
           "Jojo" (#17)
           "Look What You've Done to Me" (#14)
           "Miss Sun" (#14)
1988:  "Heart of Mine" (#35