This Date in Rock Music History: April 20

1957:  "I'm Walkin'" from Fats Domino was #1 for a sixth week on the R&B chart.
1959:  Goldband Records released "Puppy Love" by 13-year-old Dolly Parton, a song she had recorded when she was 11.

1959:  The Fleetwoods topped the singles chart with "Come Softly To Me".
1960:  Elvis Presley flew to Hollywood to film G.I. Blues.
1963:  Rick Nelson married Kris Harmon in Los Angeles.
1963:  Andy Williams remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Can't Get Used To Losing You".

Only a loser would think this song was about anything but a little boy's imaginary dragon........

1963:  The Chiffons spent a fourth week at #1 with "He's So Fine".  Andy Williams was in the runner-up position with "Can't Get Used To Losing You".  Little Peggy March had song #3 with "I Will Follow Him", Peter, Paul & Mary came in at #4 with "Puff the Magic Dragon" and Jackie Wilson had #5 with "Baby Workout".

1964:  Elvis Presley's movie Viva Las Vegas opened.


1964:  Dionne Warwick released the single "Walk On By".
1966:  The Beatles worked on "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Taxman" at Abbey Road Studios in London for their upcoming album (which would be known as the "White" album.
1968:  Deep Purple made their concert debut in Tastrup, Denmark.
1968:  Apple Music (the Beatles' company) took out advertisements asking for tapes from unknown artists to release records on the Apple label.  
1968:  Aretha Franklin enjoyed a third straight week at #1 on the R&B chart with "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone".

1968:  Paul Mauriat's "Love Is Blue" was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the 10th week in a row.
1968:  Bobby Goldsboro remained at #1 for the second of five weeks with "Honey", with Gary Puckett & the Union Gap at #2 with "Young Girl" and the Box Tops rising to #3 with "Cry Like a Baby".  The rest of the Top Ten:  "Lady Madonna" from the Beatles, "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" by Aretha Franklin at #5, Otis Redding fell to #6 with his former #1 "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of the Bay", Georgie Fame had #7 with "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde", Sly & the Family Stone moved from 14-8 with "Dance To the Music", James Brown entered the top ten with "I Got the Feelin'" and Manfred Mann had #10 with "Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)".
1969:  Session drummer Benny Benjamin died.  Benjamin performed on many hits including singles by the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Temptations and Marvin Gaye.

1970:  Creedence Clearwater Revival released one of many classic double-sided hits:  "Up Around the Bend".


and "Run Through the Jungle".
1974:  John Denver's Greatest Hits moved into the #1 slot on the album chart, replacing Band On the Run by Paul McCartney & Wings.  Chicago VII was a huge gainer, rising from 12-3.  Shinin' On from Grand Funk moved into the top ten.

1974:  One of the great instrumentals of the Rock Era was "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia" and it reached #1 on this date for MFSB featuring the Three Degrees.  "Bennie and the Jets" fell to #2 for Elton John, Blue Swede's former #1 "Hooked On a Feeling" was #3 and Gladys Knight & the Pips rose to #4 with "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me".  The remainder of the Top Ten:  "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone, Ringo Starr at #6 with "Oh My My", John Denver's former #1 "Sunshine On My Shoulders" was down to #7, Grand Funk moved from 17-8 with their cover of "The Loco-Motion", Sister Janet Mead slipped from 4-9 with "The Lord's Prayer" and Jim Croce had # posthumous top ten with "I'll Have To Say I Love You In a Song".

1976:  The Rolling Stones released Black and Blue.
1981:  John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas was given a sentence of five years in prison after pleading guilty to drug possession charges.  After he got out, Phillips toured the United States telling people about the dangers of taking drugs.

1981:  On the same day that the Space Shuttle Columbia landed, Neil Diamond released the single "America".


                   "Hang On to Your Love" from Sade...

1985:  Phil Collins enjoyed another week at #1 on the album chart with No Jacket Required.  Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen reached #2 in its 44th week on the chart, with the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop owning #3.  The rest of the Top Ten Albums:  Centerfield from John Fogerty, Tina Turner's comeback Private Dancer remaining at #5, Madonna with Like a Virgin at 6, Wham's #7 album Make It Big, Wheels Are Turnin' from REO Speedwagon was #8, the album We Are the World debuted at #9 and Sade had a winner at #10 with Diamond Life.
1985:  "We Are the World" reached #1 on the UK singles chart.
1985:  "We Are the World" was also #1 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart.

                         Simple Minds had a big hit

1985:  And USA for Africa made it a sweep with remaining #1 on the singles chart.  Madonna closed with "Crazy For You" and the Commodores' "Nightshift" edged up to #3.  The rest of the Top Ten:  Phil Collins at #4 with "One More Night", DeBarge had #5 with "Rhythm of the Night", Bruce Springsteen remained at #6 with "I'm On Fire", Animotion had a big hit on their hands with "Obsession", Simple Minds had their first top ten with "Don't You (Forget About Me)" at #8, Murray Head reached the top ten with "One Night in Bangkok" and Diana Ross held at #10 with "Missing You", a song about the late Marvin Gaye.
1991:  Steve Marriott of Small Faces and Humble Pie died in a fire at his Essex, England home.
1991:  Mariah Carey's debut album was unshakable as the #1 album, spending an eighth week at the top.
1991:  Wilson Phillips remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the fourth week in a row with "You're In Love".

                 Roxette was back with another big hit...

1991:  "You're In Love" also topped the singles chart, but Amy Grant was gaining ground with "Baby Baby".  Londonbeat fell to #3 with "I've Been Thinking About You", while Tara Kemp was at #4 with "Hold You Tight" and Sweden's Roxette held on to #5 with "Joyride".
1992"  Elton John, Roger Daltrey, George Michael, Seal, Robert Plant, Annie Lennox, Axl Rose and Slash of Guns 'N Roses, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Paul Young, Joe Elliott and Phil Collen performed at "A Concert For Life" in Wembley Stadium in London as a tribute to Freddie Mercury of Queen and for AIDS awareness.

1992:  Celline Dion released the single "If You Asked Me To".
1993:  Aerosmith released Get a Grip, which debuted at #1 on the album chart.

1994:  Barbra Streisand resumed touring for the first time in 28 years with her first stop in London.
1995:  Oasis and the Verve performed at the Batacian Club in Paris, France.
1996:  Mark Morrison reached #1 in the UK with "Return of the Mack".
1996:  Tickets went on sale for the Kiss reunion tour.

 Alanis had another top ten from Jagged Little Pill


1996:  Celine Dion was #1 for the fifth week out of six eventually with "Because You Loved Me".  Mariah Carey could not top her with the #2 "Always Be My Baby".  Tony Rich Project remained at #3 with their great song "Nobody Knows", Alanis Morissette had #4 with "Ironic" and R. Kelly remained at 5 with "Down Low (Nobody Has To Know)".
1996:  Alanis Morissette's landmark album Jagged Little Pill was #1 for the ninth week.  Falling Into You, the new Celine Dion release, was second followed by The Score from the Fugees.
1997:  The Chemical Brothers topped the UK album chart with Dig Your Own Hole.
 
1997:  Michael Jackson was on hand for the unveiling of a wax statue of himself at the Grevin Museum of Wax in Paris, France.
1999:  The Rolling Stones finished off their No Security tour in San Jose, California.
2000:  Robert Plant was at Disney's Theater of the Stars in Orlando, Florida to leave his hand prints in the sidewalk outside the theater.
2001:  A memorial concert for Steve Marriott was held at the London Astoria with Peter Frampton, Midge Ure, Chris Farlowe and Humble Pie.
2003:  Godsmack reached #1 on the album chart with Faceless.
2004:  Billy Corgan, formerly with Smashing Pumpkins, made his solo debut at the Metro Club in Chicago.
2005:  Mariah Carey moved to #1 on the album chart with The Emancipation of Mimi.


Born This Day:
1939:  Johnny Tillotson (nine Top 10 hits including "Poetry In Motion") was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
1945:  Jimmy Winston, organist for Small Faces, was born in London.
1947:  Bjorn Skifs of Blue Swede ("Hooked On a Feeling") was born in Vansbro, Sweden.
1948:  Craig Frost, keyboardist of Grand Funk Railroad and Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band, was born in Flint, Michigan.

         We miss you, Luther


1951:  Luther Vandross was born in New York City; died July 1, 2005 at the age of 54 two years after a major stroke.
1967:  Mike Portnoy, co-founder, backing vocalist, drummer and co-producer of Dream Theater, was born in Long Beach, New York. 
1971:  Mikey Welsh, bass guitarist of Weezer, was born in Syracuse, New York; died from drugs on October 8, 2011.
1972:  Stephen Marley of Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers and son of Bob Marley, was born in Wilmington, Delaware.

This Date in Rock Music History: April 19

1956: Elvis Presley performed at the Municipal Auditorium in Oklahoma City, Texas.
1956: Clyde McPhatter of the Drifters was released from the U.S. Armed Forces.

1961:  Bobby Lewis released the single "Tossin' and Turnin'".



1961:  Ricky Nelson released the single "Travelin' Man".
1965: The movie Teenage Command Performance, featuring the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, the Supremes, the Four Tops, James Brown and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles opened in London. 

1965: The Beatles released "Ticket to Ride" on Capitol records.


1965:  Elvis Presley released the single "Crying in the Chapel".
1969: Smile, the group that would later become Queen, appeared at the Revolution Club in London.
1969:  The Isley Brothers took over the top spot on the R&B chart with "It's Your Thing".

 1969: "Galveston" by Glen Campbell spent a fourth out of six weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1969:  Blood, Sweat & Tears remained at #1 on the album chart with their self-titled album.
 
               Steppenwolf's third and final Top 10 song... 

 1969:  "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", one of The Top 20 Songs of the Rock Era* by the 5th Dimension, was #1 for the second out of six consecutive weeks. Blood, Sweat & Tears would have to settle for #2 because of the competition with "You've Made Me So Very Happy". The rest of the Top 10: The Isley Brothers at #3 with "It's Your Thing", Jerry Butler had #4 with "Only the Strong Survive", Tommy Roe was at 5 with his former #1 "Dizzy", Glen Campbell dropped to 6 with "Galveston", the Cowsills moved "Hair" up to #7, Edwin Starr had song #8 with "Twenty-Five Miles", the Zombies were at position #9 with "Time of the Season" and Steppenwolf hopped into the top ten with "Rock Me".
1974: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed at the State Theater in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Only 250 people attended.
1975: Elton John fired bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson.
1975: The Stylistics had the #1 album in the UK with The Best Of the Stylistics. 
1975: The Captain & Tennille had their first single debut on the chart on this date with "Love Will Keep Us Together".
 1975: Tony Orlando & Dawn had the #1 Adult Contemporary song with "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You).
1975: Led Zeppelin remained at #1 on the album chart for the fifth week with Physical Graffiti.

                    Ben E. King with his great new song...

1975: Elton John ruled the charts with "Philadelphia Freedom", followed by B.J. Thomas at #2 with (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song", Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You" and Ringo Starr at #4 with "No No Song". The rest of the Top Ten: "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) by Tony Orlando & Dawn moving from 23-5, Ben E King getting a top ten song with "Supernatural Thing", Sammy Johns' "Chevy Van" at #7, Barry White coming in at 8 with "What Am I Gonna' Do With You", Hot Chocolate with their first top ten "Emma" and Freddy Fender's "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" at #10.1980: 32-year-old Geordie Brian Johnson became the lead singer of AC/DC, replacing Bon Scott who had died after a drinking binge.

1980: R.E.M. performed for the first time as a group at the 11:11 Koffee Club in Athens, Georgia before 150 people.
1980: Air Supply was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the fourth out of six weeks with "Lost In Love".

1980: Blondie began a six week run at #1 with "Call Me" from An American Gigolo. Pink Floyd was displaced and dropped to #2 with "Another Brick in the Wall", Christopher Cross's debut "Ride Like the Wind" had reached #3 and Billy Preston & Syreeta's "With You I'm Born Again" moved up to #4. The rest of the Top Ten: "Special Lady" from Ray, Goodman & Brown, Air Supply's first hit "Lost in Love" moved from 12-6, Bob Seger entered the top ten with "Fire Lake", the Eagles rose to #8 with "I Can't Tell You Why", the Spinners were at #9 with "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" and Michael Jackson remained at #10 with "Off the Wall".

1982:  James Ingram & Patti Austin released the single "Baby, Come to Me".


1982:  John Cougar released the single "Hurts So Good".



1986: George Michael reached #1 in the UK with "A Different Corner". He became only the second person (Stevie Wonder was the first) to reach #1 with a song that was written, sung, played, arranged and produced by the same person.
1986:  "Kiss" by Prince was the #1 R&B song for a third week.
1986: Whitney Houston dominated the album chart, spending a ninth week (out of 14) at #1 with her self-titled debut.
 1986: "Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder spent a second week atop the Adult Contemporary chart.

 1988: Sonny Bono was inaugurated as Mayor of Palm Springs.
1993: Saxophonist Steve Douglas, who played on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Be My Baby", died at the age of 55.
1997:  "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton tied the 35-year-old Rock Era record held by Chubby Checker's "The Twist", as it remained in the Top 10 for a 25th week.
 
1997:  Puff Daddy & Mase had the top song for a fifth week with "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down".  Jewel moved to challenge with the superior song, "You Were Meant for Me" while the Spice Girls were at 3 with "Wannabe".  Other notable songs in the Top 10:  Monica with "For You I Will" at #4, Celine Dion's remake of the Eric Carmen song "All By Myself", Savage Garden with their first Top 10 "I Want You" at #6, Toni Braxton's former #1 "Un-Break My Heart" was still in the Top 10 after 26 weeks of release and Babyface had a hit with one he kept for himself, "Every Time I Close My Eyes".
2002: Layne Staley of Alice and Chains was found dead in his apartment.
2012:  Greg Ham, flutist, keyboardist, percussionist and saxophone player of Men At Work, was found dead in his home in Melbourne April 19, 2012. 

Born This Day:


1928: Alexis Korner, who, if you followed this blog's story about the British Rock Family Tree, you know was a major force behind the birth of rock and roll in Britain as a member of Blues Incorporated, was born in Paris, France; he died of lung cancer January 1, 1984.
 
1942: Alan Price, keyboardist with the Animals, was born in County Durham, England.
1943: Eve Graham, singer with the New Seekers ("I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing"), was born in Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, Scotland.
1944: Bernie Worrell, founding member and keyboardist for Parliament and Funkadelic, was born in Long Branch, New Jersey.
1947: Mark Volman, founding member of the Turtles and a member of Mothers of Invention, who also worked with Bruce Springsteen and T. Rex, was born in Los Angeles.
1953: Rod Morgenstein, drummer of Winger, was born in New York City.

The #23 Guitarist of the Rock Era: Angus Young

There are many elements to be considered in evaluating guitarists.  One of them is akin to the old tree in the forest question:  If a guitarist plays and there is no one around, do they really make a sound?  Well, #23 makes a sound alright!

#23:  Angus Young, AC/DC

43 years as an active guitarist

Angus McKinnon Young was born March 31, 1955 in Glasgow, Scotland.  He is the co-founder, songwriter and lead guitarist for AC/DC.  Young is famous for his energetic performances and schoolboy uniform on stage.  

Angus and his family moved to Sydney, Australia in 1963.  Young first became interested in music after hearing Little Richard.  He credits his brother Malcolm as being an influence, as well as Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, the Kinks and Freddie King.His first instrument was the banjo, which he re-strung with six strings.  


His mother soon bought him an acoustic guitar, which he began playing.  Angus took to the guitar, and bought his first Gibson SG circa 1970 from a second-hand shop.  He went to Ashfield Boys High School in Sydney.  Young played in a local group called Kantuckee.  That band soon split and reformed under the name Tantrum. 


Young was just 18 when he and older brother Malcolm formed AC/DC in 1973 with Angus on lead, Malcolm on rhythm, Colin Burgess on drums, Larry Van Kriedt on bass and Dave Evans on vocals.  Angus tried several stage costumes, such as Spider-Man, Zorro, a gorilla, and a parody of Superman he called Super-Ang, before deciding on his schoolboy look. 


Burgess was fired and the band went through several bassists and drummers.  The group looked for the right lead singer, also, until Bon Scott, then with the group Fraternity, joined.  AC/DC performed at a massive school holiday concert that helped launch their career and led to the group being signed to the EMI-distributed Albert Productions in Australia and New Zealand.

Scott replaced Dave Evans as lead singer in 1974 and the band quickly went into the studio to record the album High Voltage.  The lineup was Scott, the Youngs, bassist Mark Evans and Phil Rudd on drums.  High Voltage was only released in Australia and their second album, T.N.T. was released only in Australia and New Zealand.  AC/DC appeared regularly on Molly Meldrum's Countdown on ABC-TV and soon the group was one of the most popular in Australia.


The success on Molly Meldrum's Countdown was nothing compared to what the group would soon experience.  AC/DC signed an international recording contract with Atlantic Records in 1976 and toured throughout Europe.  They received considerable exposure, opening for Styx, Aerosmith, Kiss, Cheap Trick, Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath.

The group's third album, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was the first to be released internationally, although it did not catch on until later.  In 1977, Mark Evans was fired after the recording of Let There Be Rock because of personal differences with Angus.  Cliff Williams replaced Evans in the lineup and the group released Powerage in 1978. 


For their next album, famed producer Robert "Mutt" Lange was brought in.  Highway to Hell in 1979 was AC/DC's breakthrough; it was their first album to reach the Top 100, and in fact peaked at #17.  The album thrust AC/DC into the upper tier of heavy metal acts.  It featured loud, simple riffs and powerful backbeats.  The album featured the non-apologetic title track and "Touch Too Much", "Get It Hot", "Girls Got Rhythm" and "Walk All Over You".


Now that they were known, AC/DC set out to record a follow-up, but on February 19, 1980, Bon Scott passed out after a night of heavy drinking in London.  He died the next morning of acute alcohol poisoning and the lead singer who had finally given the group the sound they wanted was gone.


Replacing a guy like Scott, who fit in perfectly with the AC/DC sound, was not an enviable task.  But the group hit a home run with their hire of Brian Johnson.  In fact, AC/DC did not miss a beat.  Johnson, it turns out, was a guy that Bon Scott had thought was a great rock and roll singer and the group sought him out after Scott's death.

The group resumed songwriting for their new album, then began recording at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas.  Once again, Lange produced the album and Back in Black was released in 1980.  The LP became not only AC/DC's biggest album of their career but one of The Top 10 Albums of the Rock Era*, according to Inside the Rock Era.  To achieve an album of that quality in light of Scott's death is all the more amazing.


Back in Black contained the title track and "You Shook Me All Night Long" as singles.  Neither made the Top 10, but those two, as well as others on the album, are among The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.  Back in Black reached platinum status three months after release, and by 2007, it was the second highest-selling album in the world with 45 million copies sold worldwide.   


In 1981, AC/DC released the album For Those About to Rock We Salute You.  The explosive title track and "Let's Get It Up" both reached the Top 15 in the U.K.  The group was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band.  In 1983, AC/DC made the mistake of dropping Lange as their producer and it showed, as they never reached their top performances again.


Alcoholism and drug use led to further deterioration.  Phil Rudd and Malcolm Young got into a fight and Rudd was fired within hours afterward.  Simon Wright was brought in to replace him on drums in the summer of 1983.  Flick of the Switch was released in 1983  and Fly on the Wall in 1985.  Both were unsuccessful and ripped by critics.

In 1986, AC/DC released the soundtrack to the movie Maximum Overdrive, called Who Made Who, which included older songs as well as newer ones such as the title track "Who Made Who".  The album Blow Up Your Video was recorded in France and released in 1988.  It was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance at the Grammys.


After a tour, Wright left the group and was replaced by Chris Slade.  AC/DC's next release, Razors Edge, did better than any album since For Those About To Rock...  Razors Edge included "Thunderstruck", one of their best songs, which peaked at #5 on the much-smaller segment of the population, the Mainstream Rock chart.  "Thunderstruck" was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.  "Moneytalks" peaked at #23 overall, becoming one of the group's biggest hits. 


AC/DC was nominated at the Grammys for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for the album in 1991 and for "Moneytalks" in 1992.  Several concerts on the subsequent tour were recorded for the release of the album Live.  AC/DC headlined the Monsters of Rock show.  The following year, the group recorded "Big Gun" for the movie Last Action Hero, and it reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

In 1994, Angus and Malcolm invited Rudd to several jam sessions and he was eventually rehired to replace Rudd. The group released Ballbreaker in 1995 and Stiff Upper Lip in 2000.  Stiff Upper Lip reached #1 in five countries but hit just #7 in the United States.  The title track was a #1 song on the small segment known as "Mainstream Rock".  


AC/DC signed a long-term deal with Sony Music in 2002, then appeared with the Rolling Stones and Rush at the Canadian Rocks for Toronto concert before 500,000 people.


In 2007, AC/DC released the triple DVD Plug Me In, which featured seven hours of footage.  AC/DC released their first studio album in eight years in 2008, called Black Ice.  The album debuted at #1 in 29 countries and has been certified Multi-Platinum in eight.  The group supported the album with an 18-month world tour that encompassed 108 cities in 28 countries and included an audience of over five million people.  AC/DC was nominated for "Rock N Roll Train" for Best Rock Performance by a Group at the Grammy Awards and Black Ice also earned a nomination for Best Rock Album.

In 2010, AC/DC released the soundtrack for the movie Iron Man 2 and headlined the Download Festival at Donington Park and after six previous nominations, the group won their first Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance for the song "War Machine".


Young has used Gibson SG's throughout his long career.  He has also used a modified version of the SG that Jaydee guitars made called the Jaydee SG.  This guitar featured signature lightning bolt inlays on the fretboard.  Seeing this, Gibson then proceeded to make a custom SG for Angus featuring the same lightning bolt inlays.  It features a pickup designed by Young (the Angus Young Signature Humbucker) in the bridge and a '57 Classic Humbucker in the neck.


Young has been faithful to Marshall amplifiers throughout has career, from the JTM45 to JTM50s and JMP50s to the multiple stacks of custom JMP100's that are used live.  Young uses the reissued version of the 1959 Marshall amplifiers and BX 4x12 cabinets loaded with Celestion G12M "Greenbacks".


Young has never used a lot of effects, preferring to hone his sound with his natural ability.  He began using the Schaffer-Vega Diversity System in 1977 as a compressor and a booster in his signal. 

Angus plays a blues style in both the minor and major pentatonic twelve-bar blues.  The twelve-bar blues is the root of all blues music.  A pentatonic scale is a musical scale based on five notes per octave, in contrast to the normal seven-note scale (a heptatonic scale).  Young also blends in elements of Scottish folk in his guitar playing and he ultilizes one-handed pull-off arpeggios (where several notes in a chord are played in sequence rather than together).  And he plays with great emotion and energy.  


There are many styles of guitarists represented among The Top 100*; you have those that can sit on a chair onstage and play with a stone cold expression on their face, and then you have an entertainer like Angus Young.  He not only plays wild solos but he is a show himself.  He jumps all over the stage, he runs back and forth in front of the crowd.  He has climbed on the back of another group member and played an extended improvised solo while smoke came out of a satchel on his back.  He often does the "duck walk" made famous by Chuck Berry, and occasionally he throws himself into a spasm, kicking, shaking, and spinning in circles, all the while playing the guitar.  Yes, Angus Young is a great entertainer!


The Recording Industry Association of America now shows AC/DC as the fifth-best-selling band in the Rock Era and the ninth-best-selling artist, having sold over 200 million records.  In 1988, the group was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Assocation's Hall of Fame.  In 2000, the municipality of Leganes in Spain named a street Calle de AC/DC in honor of the group.  The following year, Melbourne, Australia renamed a street as ACDC Lane.  AC/DC were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2003.  In 2006, Kerrang! magazine gave their Legend Award to AC/DC, calling them "one of the most important and influential rock bands in history." 

The wild Angus Young has proven with a career that has spanned 43 years that he is at the forefront of guitarists.  He plays incredible riffs and solos, is just as good live if not better, and is one of the best showmen the music business has ever seen.  Angus ranks #23 for the Rock Era*...

This Date in Rock Music History: April 18

1953:  Frankie Laine hit #1 in the UK with "I Believe", where he would stay for nine weeks.
1956:  Elvis Presley performed in two concerts at the Fairgrounds Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1960:  Percy Faith spent a ninth week at #1 with the classic instrumental "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'".  The Brothers Four had #2 with "Greenfields", Paul Anka was at #3 with "Puppy Love", Brenda Lee moved to #4 with "Sweet Nothin's" and Johnny Horton was moving up with "Sink the Bismark".

1964:  The Beatles appeared on the television show The Morecambe and Wise Show in the UK, performing "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "All My Loving" and "This Boy".  They also took part in comedy sketches with the hosts of the show.
1964:  Meet the Beatles!  was #1 on the album chart for the 10th week.  Introducing...The Beatles was #2 with Al Hirt's Honey in the Horn third.

1964:  The Beatles had #1 and #2 on the chart with "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Twist and Shout", respectively.  Terry Stafford remained at #3 with Suspicion while Louis Armstrong had a surprise hit with "Hello, Dolly!".  The rest of the Top Ten:  "Do You Want To Know a Secret" by the Beatles, which moved from 14-5, "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" by Betty Everett at #6, "Glad All Over" from the Dave Clark Five at #7, "She Loves You" by the Beatles dropping to #8, "Don't Let the Rain Come Down" by the Serendipity Singers and Jan & Dean found the top ten with "Dead Man's Curve".

1964:  Louis Armstrong spent a fourth out of nine consecutive weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Hello, Dolly!"
1968:  Pink Floyd played two shows at the Piper Club in Rome, Italy.

1969:  Lulu married Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees.
1970:  Santana headlined a show at the Royal Albert Hall in London that also included Taj Mahal and It's A Beautiful Day.
1970:  Steel Mill, with leader Bruce Springsteen, appeared at the Main Gym at Ocean County College in New Jersey.  Tickets were $2.
1970:  "ABC" by the Jackson 5 was the #1 R&B song for a third week. 

                                  Edison Lighthouse... 

  1970:  "Let It Be" spent a second week at #1 for the Beatles, followed closely by "ABC" from the Jackson 5 and "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum.  The remainder of the Top Ten--"Instant Karma" by John Ono Lennon at #4, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" by Edison Lighthouse, the classic former #1 "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel at #6, "Come and Get It" from Badfinger, the Friends of Distinction at #8 with "Love Or Let Me Be Lonely", the Guess Who moving from 15-9 with "American Woman" and the Supremes at #10 with "Up the Ladder to the Roof".
1970:  "Let It Be" also was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

                       "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright"...

  1970:  The number one album for the seventh week in a row (out of an eventual 10) was Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel.
1971:  The Jackson 5, Bill Cosby and Danny Thomas were guests on Diana Ross's television special Diana.
1972:  The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards were at #1 in the UK with "Amazing Grace".
1973:  The Neil Young movie Journey Through the Past debuted at the Dallas Film Festival.
1981:  Yes announced they were splitting up after 13 years. 7
1981:  Smokey Robinson remained at #1 on the R&B chart for a third week with "Being with You".
1981:  "Kiss On My List" by Hall & Oates topped the charts once again with the former #1 "Rapture" from Blondie at #2 and Sheena Easton's first hit "Morning Train coming in at #3.  The rest of the Top Ten had Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers on vocals on the song "Just the Two Of Us" at #4, John Lennon falling to #5 with "Woman", Juice Newton's first hit "Angel of the Morning" moving from 12-6, Steve Winwood's big comeback song "While You See a Chance" at #7, Smokey Robinson's "Being With You" moving from 14-8, Styx at 9 with "The Best of Times" and the Police remaining at #10 with "Don't Stand So Close To Me".

   Juice reached the top of the AC chart


1981:  "Angel of the Morning" by Juice Newton was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for a second week.

"Red Barchetta", one of the top tracks on Rush's new album...

  1981:  REO Speedwagon scored the first #1 album of their career with Hi Infidelity.  Styx slipped with Paradise Theater, creating the opening.  Steve Winwood was third with Arc of a Diver, swapping spots with Rush's Moving Pictures, while the great Winelight album from Grover Washington, Jr. was #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Face Dances, the new Who album, the Police remained in the #7 position with Zenyatta Mondatta, Eric Clapton edged up with Another Ticket, Double Fantasy from the late John Lennon and "The Jazz Singer" Soundtrack from Neil Diamond remained at #10.
1984:  Michael Jackson went in for surgery after his hair caught on fire during the filming of his Pepsi commercial on January 27.
1985:  Wham! became the first Western group to release an album (Make It Big) in China.
1987:  U2 played the second of five concerts at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on their Joshua Tree tour.

           Crowded House had a hot song with this one...


1987:  Aretha Franklin and George Michael teamed for a #1 song "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".  Starship's former #1 "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now" was at 2 with the great Crowded House song "Don't Dream It's Over" moving into the #3 slot.  Prince had #4 with "Sign 'O' the Times" and Lou Gramm's "Midnight Blue" was at #5.
 
1987:  Starship owned #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now".




1988:  Holland/Dozier/Holland, responsible for dozens of Motown hits, were inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.
1989:  Great White released the album Twice Shy.
1992:  "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1992:  Def Leppard debuted at #1 on the album chart with Adrenalize.
1992:  Annie Lennox had the #1 album in the UK with Diva.
1995:  Tony McCarrol received a phone call telling him he was being fired as drummer of Oasis.  

1996:  Bernard Edwards, bassist and producer of Chic, died of pneumonia in a Tokyo hotel room during a tour of Japan.  Edwards also produced for Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Air Supply, ABC, Sister Sledge, Power Station, Johnny Mathis and Debbie Harry.
1998:  The "Titanic" Soundtrack was a gigantic hit, remaining at #1 on the album chart for the 13th week.
2001:  Midnight Oil backed out of a proposed tour with INXS and Men At Work.
2003:  Kiss and Aerosmith announced a concert tour together.

2003:  A star was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Etta James.
2004:  Guns N' Roses had the #1 UK album with their Greatest Hits package.
2004:  Jessica Simpson, Gladys Knight, Cyndi Lauper, Patti Labelle, Ashanti, Kylie Minogue and Joss Stone star in VH1's Divas Live in Las Vegas.
2005:  Reebok pulled a television ad featuring 50 Cent after a mother whose son was shot dead complained it glamorized gun crime.  What is truly sad is that Reebok had no clue that they shouldn't be featuring the rapper in an ad.
2006:  Sir Elton John donated clothes to a specially created shop, Elton's Closet, at the Rockefeller Center in New York City for a five-day sale that brought in $700,000 for Elton's AIDS charity.

2009:  The Black Eyed Peas began a run of 12 weeks at the top with "Boom Boom Pow".  Hmmm...wonder how it would have done against "Light My Fire", "Ode to Billie Joe", or "Hey Jude".  Would it have even made the Top 10?

2011:  The current top five songs--Katy Perry's "E.T.", Rihanna at #2 with "S&M", the Black Eyed Peas had #3 with "Just Can't Get Enough", Cee-Lo Green was at #4 with "Forget You" and Lady Gaga had song #5 "Born This Way".

2012:  Dick Clark, legendary host of American Bandstand, died in Santa Monica, California after suffering a heart attack following surgery to fix an enlarged prostate.


Born This Day:
1901:  Al Lewis, songwriter of "Blueberry Hill", was born in New York City; died April 4, 1967.
1935:  Paul Rothchild, producer of albums such as L.A. Woman for the Doors and Pearl for Janis Joplin, was born in Brooklyn, New York. 
1939:  Glen D. Hardin, pianist, songwriter and arranger of Elvis Presley, John Denver and Ricky Nelson among others and a member of the Crickets after Buddy Holly died, was born in Wellington, Texas.
1942:  Mike Vickers, guitarist, flautist and saxophonist of Manfred Mann, was born in Southamton, England.

1946:  Skip Spence, guitarist of Quicksilver Messenger Service, a founding member of Moby Grape and a drummer for Jefferson Starship on one album, was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada; died of lung cancer April 16, 1999.
1946:  Lenny Baker, vocalist and saxophone player of Sha Na Na, was born in Whitman, Massachusetts.
1958:  Les Pattinson, bassist and co-songwriter of Echo and the Bunnymen ("The Cutter"), Ormskirk, Lancashire, England.
1962:  Shirley Holliman, backing vocalist of Wham!, was born in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire, England.
1970:  Greg Eklund, drummer for Everclear, was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
1974:  Mark Tremonti, lead guitarist of Creed, was born in Detroit, Michigan.

The #24 Guitarist of the Rock Era: Adrian Smith

We have revealed the identities of 76 of The Top Guitarists of the Rock Era.  Up next, #24 is in the same group as another of The Top 100 Guitarists*:

#24:  Adrian Smith, Iron Maiden

38 years as an active guitarist

Adrian Frederick "H" Smith was born February 27, 1957 in London.  He is a key songwriter and one of three guitarists in the heavy metal group Iron Maiden.

Smith grew up in Camden and became interested in rock music at age 15.  He became friends with Dave Murray, whom we have already heard from in The Top 100 Guitarists*, and who would be a future bandmate of Smith's in Iron Maiden.   Smith purchased his first record, the album Machine Head by Deep Purple, and began practicing.  Soon, he joined Murray in a band called Stone Free as their lead singer.  Murray inspired Adrian to begin learning how to play guitar. Smith was influenced by Johnny Winter and Pat Travers, which he says made him a melodic player rather than a mere shredder.

 After he was through with school, Smith formed his own group, Evil Ways, later renamed Urchin, which included Murray on guitar.  Murray left to join Iron Maiden and Urchin signed with a minor label, DJM Records.  Iron Maiden offered Smith a position in the band which he turned down, but Urchin split in 1980.  Without a band, Smith ran into Steve Harris and Murray of Iron Maiden one day and asked Adrian if he might reconsider joining.  Smith accepted the second offer  and, after a successful audition, joined the group in November 1980.

Smith debuted with Iron Maiden on a television show in Germany, then toured the U.K. and helped record the album Killers in 1981.  Adrian's songwriting prowess began paying off with The Number of the Beast, contributing "Gangland", "The Prisoner" and "22 Acacia Avenue", a song he had written several years before.


Smith and Murray formed what arguably is the best 1-2 punch at lead guitar in heavy metal.  Both are ranked among The Top 100 Guitarists*.  Iron Maiden next released Piece of Mind, which also contained several songs Smith co-wrote with lead singer Bruce Dickinson.  

After a solo project called A.S.A.P. (Adrian Smith and Project) which produced the album Silver and Gold, Smith did not like the direction the group was going and left Iron Maiden in 1990.   Smith formed the group Psycho Motel, which record the albums State of Mind in 1996 and Welcome to the World in 1997.  then became a member of Bruce Dickinson's band in 1997.  Dickinson and Smith reunited with Iron Maiden in 1999.


Iron Maiden went on a short tour and then the group's new lineup released Brave New World in 2000.  After that, the group released Dance of Death in 2003, A Matter of Life and Death in 2006 and The Final Frontier in 2010.


Smith also played on the album Awoken Broken with Mikee Goodman of SikTh in the group called Primal Rock Rebellion.  

Smith prefers his Jackson Adrian Smith Signature guitar, but he has used several others, including Dean, Jackson, Fender Stratocasters, Gibson Les Pauls, Ibanez Destroyer and Lado Guitars.  He tours with a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, a Jackson 1986 Superstrat, a Jackson Signature with black scratchplate and maple neck and a 70's Gibson SG.  In 2007, Smith endorsed Jackson Guitars, his first endorsement in over 15 years.  


Smith uses two 300-Watt Marshall 1960A 4 x 12 Cabinets loaded with 75-Watt Celestion G12-T75 Speakers, two Marshall 6100LM 100-Watt All-Tube Heads, two Marshall DSL100 JCM2000 amps and a Marshall 9200 Rack Power Amp.


Adrian uses a Dunlop Uni-vibe Wah Controller, a Yamaha MFC10 Midi Foot Conroller, a DigiTech Whammy Pedal, two Ibanez TS-808 Tube Screamers, a Mike Hill B.I.S. Isolation hole and a Lexicon MX200 multi-effects unit.

Smith is a veteran guitarist with all the skills; he can play fast, he has the technique, the showmanship and the music knowledge.  Adrian Smith comes in next at #24...

This Date in Rock Music History: April 17

1960: While touring in the UK, 21-year-old Eddie Cochran was killed when the taxi he was taking crashed into a lamp post in Chippenham, Wiltshire. Singer Gene Vincent was also seriously injured but survived the crash.
1961:  Ray Charles landed the #1 R&B song with "One Mint Julep".
1961: "Blue Moon" was #1 for the second week in a row for the Marcels. Del Shannon's classic "Runaway" was making its move at #2. The rest of the Top Five: "Mother-In-Law" by Ernie K-Doe was #3, Floyd Cramer had #4 with "On the Rebound" and Clarence Henry was at 5 with "But I Do".
1962: Tony Bennett recorded his first song, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams".
1964: Van Morrison and Them made their first public appearance at the Maritime Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
1965: Bob Dylan's first album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan topped the UK album charts.
1965:  Roger Miller dominated the Easy Listening chart for a 10th week with "King of the Road".



                  Freddie & the Dreamers topped the charts


1965: Freddie & the Dreamers owned #1 with "I'm Telling You Now", followed by the Supremes' former #1 "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Game of Love" by Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders. The rest of the Top Ten: "I Know a Place" from Petula Clark at #4, Jr. Walker & the All Stars at 5 with "Shotgun", Herman's Hermits coming in at #6 with "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat", the Kinks had #7 with "Tired of Waiting for You", "Nowhere To Run" by Martha & the Vandellas, "The Clapping Song" from Shirley Ellis at #9 and the Moody Blues' first top ten hit "Go Now" at #10.

1967:  The Young Rascals released the single "Groovin'".
1969: The Band played for the first time by themselves apart from Bob Dylan at the Winterland Auditorium in San Francisco.
1970: Paul McCartney played every instrument on his first solo album McCartney.
1971:  Marvin Gaye remained at #1 on the R&B chart for a fourth week amidst stiff competition with "What's Going On".

1971:  We had the good fortune to be introduced to great talents on this date.  With her first career single, Carly Simon debuted on the chart with "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be".
1971:  Although most would not come to know him until several years later, Boz Scaggs debuted with his first career single, "We Were Always Sweethearts".
1971: All four ex-Beatles had solo singles on the chart simultaneously--Paul McCartney with "Another Day", John Lennon had "Power to the People", George Harrison with the classic "My Sweet Lord" and Ringo Starr had "It Don't Come Easy".

1971: "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night first hit #1 on this date; they would monopolize the top spot for six weeks in a row. Marvin Gaye had #2 with his socially-conscious "What's Going On" and the former #1 "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me" by the Temptations fell to #3. The rest of the Top Ten: "She's a Lady" from Tom Jones, Paul McCartney's double sided hit "Another Day"/"Oh Woman Oh Why" was at #5, the rapid mover (16-6) "Put Your Hand in the Hand" by Ocean, Janis Joplin was at 7 with her former #1 written by Bob Dylan "Me and Bobby McGee", #8 was "Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted" by the Partridge Family, the Carpenters had #9 with "For All We Know" and Brewer & Shipley was at 10 with "One Toke Over the Line".
1973: Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon was certified gold in the U.S.
1974: Guitarist Vinnie Taylor of Sha Na Na was found dead in his hotel room in Charlottesville, Virginia from drugs.
1975: Elvis Presley bought a jet from Delta Airlines for $250,000, when he named Lisa Marie.
1976: John Denver had another #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Looking for Space".
1976:  "Disco Lady" by Johnnie Taylor spent a sixth week at the top of the R&B chart.

1976:  A new group first appeared on the chart and the groundbreaking fact about them was that they were led by women--unheard of in the Rock Era to that point.  Music Directors at radio stations didn't quite have the ears to be able to recognize talent right away, making Heart's first single one of Inside the Rock Era's Top Unknown/Underrated Songs*.

       The Commodores moved to #5 with "Sweet Love"


1976: Johnnie Taylor was at #1 with "Disco Lady', followed by the Bellamy Brothers ("Let Your Love Flow") and Maxine Nightingale ("Right Back Where We Started From"). The remainder of the Top Ten: "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers was song #4, the Commodores had their first big hit with "Sweet Love", "Only Sixteen" from Dr. Hook remained at #6, former Lovin' Spoonful leader John Sebastian moved into the top ten with "Welcome Back", Peter Frampton was at #8 with "Show Me the Way", Queen had song #9 with the classic "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Elvin Bishop climbed into the top ten with "Fooled Around and Fell In Love".
1977: The Police appeared at the Roundhouse in London, England.

1978:  Gerry Rafferty released the single "Baker Street".

1978:  ABBA released the single "Take a Chance on Me".
1982: Bucks Fizz topped the UK charts with "My Camera Never Lies".
1982:  Stevie Wonder had the top R&B song for the ninth straight week with "That Girl".
1982:  Vangelis had the #1 Adult Contemporary song with "Chariots of Fire".
1982: "I Love Rock 'N Roll", Joan Jett's musical declaration, spent a fifth out of seven weeks at #1. The Go-Go's remained at #2 with "We Got the Beat", Vangelis was at 3 with "Chariots of Fire" and the J. Geils Band had another top ten with "Freeze Frame". The rest of the Top Ten: Olivia Newton John had #5 with "Make a Move On Me", Rick Springfield remained at 6 with "Don't Talk to Strangers", Huey Lewis & the News climbed to #7 with their debut hit "Do You Believe In Love", Bertie Higgins moved "Key Largo" to #8, Journey's "Open Arms", one of the top #2 songs in history (6 weeks there) was on its way down at #9 and Stevie Wonder had the 10th spot with "That Girl".
1982: Paul McCartney became the first songwriter to have simultaneous hits on the black and country music charts.

1982: Vangelis topped the album charts with Chariots of Fire; he also took home an Oscar for Best Original Score from the movie of the same name and had the #1 Adult Contemporary song for the third week in a row with the title song from his album and the movie.
1983: Felix Pappalardi bass player and producer of Mountain was shot dead by his wife during a fight. He had also produced the Cream albums Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire and albums by Hot Tuna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Pappalardi was 43.
1987: Carlton Barrett, drummer and percussionist for Bob Marley and the Wailers, was shot dead outside his house in Kingston, Jamaica. Barrett invented the one-drop rhythm, a style of percussive drumming.
1992: The "Bodyguard Soundtrack" was the #1 album on this date, one of 20 weeks it ruled the album charts.
1993: Former Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs married M. Jay Roach in Los Angeles.
1993: David Bowie hit #1 in the UK with his album Black Tie White Noise.
1993:  Silk had the #1 R&B song for a sixth week with "Freak Me".
1993: Informer spent a sixth week at #1 with "Informer", followed by Silk's "Freak Me". Dr. Dre had the third most popular song with "Nuthin' But a "G" Thang", Whitney Houston was at #4 with "I Have Nothing" and Jade came in at 5 with "Don't Walk Away".
1994: Pink Floyd began four weeks at the top of the UK album chart with The Division Bell.
1995: Following the successful operation of Bill Berry for a brain aneurysm, R.E.M. announced they would resume their worldwide tour.

1998: Linda McCartney died from cancer at the age of 57. She had married Paul in 1969 and was a member of Wings.
2001: The late Joey Ramone was buried in New Jersey following a private service in Forest Hills, Queens.
2004: Usher spent the second of nine weeks at #1 on the album chart with Confessions.

2008: Danny Federici, keyboardist for Bruce Springsteen in the E Street Band, died from cancer at age 58.


Born This Day:

1934: Rock Promoter Don Kirshner, who helped break Carole King, Neil Diamond, the Monkees, Neil Sedaka and Bobby Darin; Kirshner died in Boca Raton, Florida on January 17, 2011
1943: Roy Estrada, bassist for the Frank Zappa band.
1948: Jan Hammer, keyboardist for Jeff Beck and Santana and solo performer on the "Miami Vice Theme"
1954: Michael Sembello, singer and guitarist ("Maniac")
1964: James Keenan of Tool and A Perfect Circle
1967: Liz Phair, songwriter
1967: Matt Chamberlain, one of the most prolific session drummers; Chamberlain has played for Elton John, Pearl Jam, Christina Aguilera, David Bowie, John Mayer, Kanye West, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Williams and many others
1970: Redman

1974: Victoria Adams, formerly of the Spice Girls and a solo performer