This Date in Rock Music History: May 20

1954:  The landmark single "Rock Around the Clock" was released by Bill Haley & the Comets.  The song wouldn't officially begin the Rock Era until it first charted a year later after being featured in the movie The Blackboard Jungle.
1957:  Frank Sinatra recorded "Witchcraft".
1957:  Andy Williams had the #1 U.K. song with "Butterfly".

1957:  A new duo began that would influence vocals for decades to come.  The Everly Brothers debuted with the first hit of their careers and they picked a good song to start out with.  "Bye Bye Love" was that song with gave the Brothers their start on this date, and it eventually reached #2 for four weeks.
1960:  Johnny & the Moondogs changed their name to the Silver Beetles.  The group toured Scotland.  The lineup at that time was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Stuart Sutcliffe.  The latter three used the pseudonyms Paul Ramon, Carl Harrison and Stuart de Stael.
1961:  Cliff Richard made his first appearance on television on the U.K. ITV show Thank Your Lucky Stars.
1964:  Rudy Lewis of the Drifters died of a brain seizure brought on by drugs.
1966:  John Entwistle and Keith Moon were late arriving for a Who concert at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, England, so bandmates Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey began performing without them along with the bassist and drummer of the local group who opened the show.  When Moon and Entwistle finally got there, a fight broke out and Townshend actually hit Moon over the head with his guitar.  Moon and Entwistle quit the band but rejoined a week later.
1966:  On a more peaceful front, George Harrison visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1967:  Jimi Hendrix signed a recording contract with Reprise Records.

1967:  The Turtles moved nothing like their name--88 to 58 with "She'd Rather Be With Me".


1967:  "Groovin'" from the Young Rascals took over #1 in only its fifth week on the chart.  The Supremes fell with "The Happening" followed by Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music" and "Somethin' Stupid" from Frank & Nancy Sinatra.  The rest of the Top Ten:  Aretha Franklin shot up from 14 to 5 with her future #1 "Respect", the Happenings had #6 with "I Got Rhythm", Engelbert Humperdinck had #7 with "Release Me", Peaches & Herb were stuck at #8 with "Close Your Eyes", the Buckinghams were on their way down with "Don't You Care" and the Dave Clark Five had song #10--"You Got What It Takes".
1967:  The album More of the Monkees set a record at the time with its 15th week at #1 on the album chart.

1968:  Cliff Nobles & Company released the single "The Horse".
1968:  Pete Townshend married Karen Astley.
1968:  Following their return from India, the Beatles met at George Harrison's home in Esher, Surrey and taped 23 new songs.  Many of those would find their way to the White Album and Abbey Road, including "Cry Baby Cry", "Revolution", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Blackbird".
1970:  The Beatles' last movie Let It Be premiered worldwide.
1970:  We were introduced to a Texas trio on this date, and it wasn't the usual twang and swing to which we had become accustomed to.  ZZ Top debuted on the charts with their first hit "Francene", which eventually hit #69.
1972:  Jethro Tull released the album Thick as a Brick.
1972:  "The Candy Man" became the new #1 song for Sammy Davis, Jr.

"Compared to What", one of the top tracks on Roberta's #1 album...

1972:  First Take was the #1 album from Roberta Flack, holding off Neil Young's Harvest.  America was #3 with the Graham Nash/David Crosby collaboration at #4.  The rest of the Top Ten:  Manassas from Stephen Stills at #5, Eat a Peach by the Allman Brothers Band edging up to #6, Fragile from Yes falling to #7, Tapestry, still in the Top Ten for Carole King, Smokin' by Humble Pie at #9 and Let's Stay Together by Al Green entering the Top Ten.
1972:  Roberta Flack dominated the chart for the sixth straight week with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", one of the Top Songs of the Rock Era*.  At that time, only 20 songs in the Rock Era had been #1 for more weeks than her smash.

1974:  The Righteous Brothers released the single "Rock and Roll Heaven".


1974:  The Hues Corporation released the single "Rock the Boat".
1978:  "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" from Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams was the #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart.  The hit came 15 years after Mathis last had a Top Ten hit and 21 years after his only other #1 song "Chances Are".
1978:  Saturday Night Fever spent an 18th week at #1 on the album chart.  
1979:  Elton John performed in Leningrad, Soviet Union.

1985:  The famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York reopened with a concert from Hall & Oates.
1988:  Priscilla Presley held a news conference to deny that Elvis was still alive.  It won't work, Priscilla--those same people still think Obama was not born in the United States and they also still think the earth is flat.  And there's no such thing as global warming.  It's no use.
1989:  "Second Chance" by .38 Special was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

1989:  Paula Abdul moved into the #1 spot with "Forever Your Girl".  "Real Love" from Jody Watley was #1 and the former #1 "I'll Be There For You" by Bon Jovi was #3.
1995:  Don Henley married Sharon Summerall in Malibu, California.  Tony Bennett, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Sting performed at the wedding reception.
1997:  It was chaos in Kansas City, Missouri.  U2 had paid for traffic control to close down five lanes of traffic so they could shoot the video "Last Night On Earth".  Traffic jams galore occurred and a Cadillac crashed into a plate glass window while swerving to miss a cameraman.
1998:  Bill Ward, drummer from Black Sabbath, was rushed to a hospital in London after suffering a heart attack during rehearsal.

1998:  Bob Dylan, who was always so good with words, had some nice things to say about Frank Sinatra at a funeral mass for the legendary singer in Beverly Hills, California.  Dylan said "Right from the beginning, he was there with the truth of things in his voice.  His music had an influence on me, whether I knew it or not.  He was one of the very few singers who sang without a mask.  It's a sad day."

2000:  Superstar group the Guess Who reunited for a concert in Manitoba, Canada.
2000:  In the Words Have Meaning Department:  Ted Nugent was dropped from the Muskegon Summer Celebration in Michigan after he reportedly used racial slurs in a radio interview.
2004:  Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails sued his former manager, alleging that he was cheated out of millions since first signing with J. Artist Management in 1989.

2006:  Tool had the #1 album 10,000 Days.
2005:  The Beach Boys Historic Landmark was dedicated at the childhood home of Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson.  The home was demolished in the mid-1980's (things aren't preserved in the United States like they are everywhere else in the world; they're torn down.)  
2007:  Rhianna began 10 weeks at the top of the U.K. Chart with her song "Umbrella".
2008:  The United States Congress on this date passed a resolution designating May 13 as Frank Sinatra day to honor the legendary singer's contribution to our culture.

2008:  Jimmy Dean ("Big Bad John") donated $1 million to Wayland Baptist University in Texas.

2013:  Ray Manzarek, great keyboardist with the Doors, died in Germany of bile duct cancer at the age of 74.


Born This Day:
1930:  Teddy Randazzo, who wrote many of Little Anthony's hits; died November 21, 2003 at his home in Orlando, Florida.
1940:  Shorty Long ("Here Comes the Judge") was born in Birmingham, Alabama; died June 29, 1969 when he drowned in the Detroit River in Michigan.
1942:  Jill Jackson ("Paula" of Paul and Paula, who had the big hit "Hey Paula") was born in McCamey, Texas.

1944:  Joe Cocker was born in Sheffield, England.

1946:  Cher (Cherilyn Sarkasian) was born in El Centro, California.
1947:  Steve Currie of T. Rex was born in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England.
1954:  Jimmie Henderson of Black Oak Arkansas
1955:  Steve George of Mr. Mister

1958:  Jane Wieldin, guitarist for the Go Go's, was born in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
1960:  Susan Cowsill of the Cowsills was born in Newport, Rhode Island.
1961:  Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 ("Love Plus One" in 1982) was born in Beckenham, Kent, England.
1961:  Dan Wilson, singer, songwriter and guitarist with Semisonic, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1963:  Brian Nash, guitarist with Frankie Goes To Hollywood
1964:  Patti Russo, the female lead vocalist with Meat Loaf
1972:  Busta Rhymes was born in Brooklyn, New York.

Last summer, Inside the Rock Era ran the special The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*.  All of the instrumentals below are ranked in The Top 100* except one.  Which one is Not one of The Top 100 Instrumentals?  (Click on the link below for the answer.)


"Last Night" by the Mar-Kays
"Teen Beat" from Sandy Nelson
"Pipeline" by the Chantays
"XYZ" from Rush
"Overture from 'Tommy'" by the Assembled Multitude.

Read more »

Which song is Not from 1971?


1971...the Vietnam War was still raging, we were about to find out about Watergate, and all of the songs below were from 1971 except one.  Which one did not come out in 1971?

"Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night
"It's Too Late" from Carole King"
"Indian Reservation" by Paul Revere & the Raiders
"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the Bee Gees
"Maggie May" by Rod Stewart
"Sweet City Woman" by the Stampeders
"Put Your Hand in the Hand" by Ocean
"Babe" by Styx
"Rainy Days and Mondays" by the Carpenters
"I Hear You Knocking" by Dave Edmunds
"Your Song" by Elton John
"Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson
"Mr. Bojangles" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band


Do you know your 70's and your time periods?  Find out by clicking on the link below, which has the correct answer of the song that does not belong in 1971.

Read more »

Hits List: Diana Ross

As the leader of the Supremes, Diana Ross enjoyed 12 #1's with that legendary trio.  She continued to score success as a solo artist beginning in 1970.  Here is the complete Hits List of the incomparable Diana Ross:

1970:  "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) (#20, #7 R&B, #18 Adult, #33 U.K., #23 Canada)
           "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (#1, #1 R&B, #6 AC, #6 U.K., #7 Canada)
1971:  "Remember Me" (#16, #10 R&B, #20 Adult, #7 U.K., #9 Canada)
           "Reach Out I'll Be There" (#29, #17 R&B, #16 Adult, #35 Canada)
           "Surrender" (#38, #16 R&B, #10 U.K., #45 Canada)
           "I'm Still Waiting" (#63, #40 R&B, #1 U.K., #81 Canada)
1972:  "Doobedood'ndoobe, Doobedood'ndoobe, Doobedood'ndoo" (#12 U.K.)
1973:  "Good Morning Heartache" (#34, #20 R&B, #8 Adult, #44 Canada)
           "Touch Me in the Morning" (#1, #5 R&B, #1 Adult, #9 U.K., #6 Canada)
           "You're a Special Part of Me" (with Marvin Gaye) (#12, #4 R&B, #43 Adult, #25 Canada)
           "All of My Life" (#9 U.K.)

1974:  "Last Time I Saw Him" (#14, #15 R&B, #1 Adult, #35 U.K., #8 Canada)
           "My Mistake (Was to Love You)" (with Marvin Gaye) (#19, #15 R&B, #16 Canada)
           "You Are Everything" (with Marvin Gaye) (#5 U.K.)
           "Sleepin'" (#70, #50 R&B, #47 Canada))
           "Don't Knock My Love" (with Marvin Gaye) (#46, #25 R&B, #53 Canada)
           "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" (with Marvin Gaye) (#25 U.K.)
           "Love Me" (#38 U.K.)
1975:  "Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right" (#23 U.K., #75 Canada)

1976:  "Theme From 'Mahogany' (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" (#1, #14 R&B, #1 Adult, #5 U.K., #4 Canada)
           "I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)" (#47, #61 R&B, #4 Adult, #32 U.K., #53 Canada)
           "Love Hangover" #1, #1 R&B, #19 Adult, #10 U.K., #9 Canada)
           "One Love In My Lifetime (#25, #10 R&B, #31 Adult, #24 Canada)
           "I'm Still Waiting" (re-release--#41 U.K.)
1978:  "Gettin' Ready for Love" (#27, #16 R&B, #8 Adult, #23 U.K., #29 Canada)
           "Your Love Is So Good for Me" (#49, #16 R&B, #66 Canada)
           "Top of the World"
           "You Got It" (#49, #39 R&B, #9 Adult, #67 Canada)
           "Lovin', Livin', Givin'" (#54 U.K.)
           "Ease On Down the Road" (with Michael Jackson) (#41, #17 R&B, #40 Adult, #45 U.K., #33 Canada)
           "A Brand New Day" (with the Wiz Stars also featuring Michael Jackson)

1979:  "Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)" (with Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & Stevie Wonder) (#59, #26 R&B, #66 U.K., #60 Canada)
           "What You Gave Me" (#86 R&B)
           "The Boss" (#19, #12 R&B, #41 Adult Contemporary, #40 U.K., #48 Canada)
           "No One Gets the Prize" (#59 U.K.)
           "It's My House" (#27 R&B, #32 U.K.)
1980:  "Upside Down" (#1, #1 R&B, #18 AC, #2 U.K., #5 Canada)
           "I'm Coming Out" (#5, #6 R&B, #13 U.K., #68 Canada)
           "My Old Piano"  (#5 U.K.)
1981:  "It's My Turn" (#9, #14 R&B, #9 Adult Contemporary, #16 U.K.)
           "One More Chance" (#79, #54 R&B, #49 U.K.)
           "Endless Love" (with Lionel Richie) (#1, #1 R&B, #1 AC, #7 U.K., #1 Canada)
           "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7, #6 R&B, #2 Adult, #4 U.K., #17 Canada)
1982:  "Mirror, Mirror" (#8, #2 R&B, #36 U.K., #29 Canada)
           "Work That Body" (#44, #34 R&B, #7 U.K.)
           "It's Never Too Late" (#41 U.K.)
           "Muscles" (#10, #4 R&B, #36 AC, #15 U.K., #18 Canada)
           "Tenderness" (#73 U.K.)

1983:  "So Close" (#40, #76 R&B, #13 AC, #43 U.K.)
           "Who"
           "Pieces of Ice" (#31, #15 R&B, #46 U.K.)
           "Up Front" (#60 R&B, #79 U.K.)
1984:  "Let's Go Up" (#77, #52 R&B)
           "All of You" (with Julio Iglesias) (#19, #38 R&B, #2 AC, #43 U.K., #8 Canada)
           "Swept Away" (#19, #3 R&B, #17 Canada)
           "Touch by Touch" (#47 U.K.)
1985:  "Missing You" (#10, #1 R&B, #4 AC, #76 U.K., #29 Canada)
1985:  "Telephone" (#13 R&B)
           "Eaten Alive" (#77, #10 R&B, #71 U.K., #79 Canada)
           "Chain Reaction" (#95, #85 R&B, #25 AC, #1 U.K.)
1986:  "Chain Reaction" (new mix--#66, #40 Canada)
           "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (re-release--#85 U.K.)
           "Experience" (#47 U.K.)
1987:  "Dirty Looks" (#12 R&B, #49 U.K., #88 Canada)
           "Tell Me Again"
           "Shockwaves (#76 R&B)
1988:  "Mr. Lee" (#58 U.K.)
           "If We Hold on Together" (#23 AC, #11 U.K.)
           "Love Hangover" (remix--#75 U.K.)

1989:  "Love Hangover '89"
           "Workin' Overtime" (#3 R&B, #32 U.K.)
           "Paradise" (#61 U.K.)
           "This House" (#64 R&B)
           "Bottom Line"
1990:  "I'm Still Waiting" (remix--#21 U.K.)
1991:  "No Matter What You Do" (with Al B. Sure) (#4 R&B)
           "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (#37 R&B, #26 AC, #2 U.K.)
           "You're Gonna' Love It"
1992:  "The Force Behind the Power" (#27 U.K.)
           "Waiting in the Wings"
           "One Shining Moment" (#10 U.K.)
1993:  "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)" (#31 U.K.)
           "Chain Reaction" (re-release--#20 U.K.)
           "Your Love" (#14 U.K.)
1994:  "The Best Years of My Life" (#28 U.K.)
           "Someday We'll Be Together" (remix)
           "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"/"I'm Coming Out" (remix" (#36 U.K.)
1995:  "Take Me Higher" (#77 R&B, #32 U.K.)
           "I'm Gone" (#36 U.K.)

1996:  "I Will Survive" (#14 U.K.)
           "If You're Not Gonna' Love Me Right" (#67 R&B)
           "Voice of the Heart" (#28 AC)
           "In the Ones You Love" (#34 U.K.)
1997:  "Promise Me You'll Try"
1999:  "Until We Meet Again"
           "Sugarfree"
           "Not Over You Yet" (#9 U.K.)
2001:  "Goin' Back"
2005:  "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (with Westlife) (#2 U.K.)
2006:  "I've Got a Crush on You" (with Rod Stewart" (#19 AC)

That's 42 hits for Ms. Ross, with 11 of those going Top 10 and an impressive 6 #1's.  On the R&B chart, Ross has 52 hits, with 18 Top 10's and five chart-toppers, and on the Adult chart, she has 29 hits with 13 of those reaching the Top 10 and four #1's.


And that doesn't even count her success with the Supremes!

This Date in Rock Music History: May 19

1958:  Brenda Lee recorded the great song "Fever".

1958:  This group debuted on the chart with their first single.  Lead singer Dion would score 33 hits into the 1980's.  The first release from Dion & the Belmonts was "I Wonder Why".

1958:  An influential surf-rock duo that formed in high school as the Barons recorded their first song in a garage.  They scored 26 hits until a tragic accident to Jan Berry cut their recording career short.  On this date, the first single from Jan & Dean, credited as Jan & Arnie, debuted on the chart--"Jennie Lee".
1960:  The Drifters recorded "Save the Last Dance For Me".
1961:  The Everly Brothers began their own record label, Caliope Records.
1962:  Dee Dee Sharp remained at the top of the R&B chart for a fourth week with "Mashed Potato Time".

1962:  "Soldier Boy" by the Shirelles was #1 for a third week, holding off the great instrumental "Stranger On the Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk.  Dee Dee Sharp was all about "Mashed Potato Time" at #3 while Shelley Fabares loomed close to the top with "Johnny Angel" at #4.
1967:  The Beatles held a launch party in London for the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
1968:  The 5th Dimension were guests on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1972:  Elton John released the album Honky Chateau.
1973:  "Daniel" by Elton John spent a second week at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.


1973:  "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", one of the Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* by Stevie Wonder, was the new #1, trading places with Dawn's "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree".  "Little Willy" from Sweet was #3 followed by Edgar Winter Group's classic instrumental Frankenstein".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Daniel" from Elton John, Paul McCartney & Wings climbed from 13 to 6 with "My Love", Dobie Gray's great song "Drift Away" was song #7, Stealers Wheel had #8 with "Stuck in the Middle With You, Sylvia moved from 14-9 with "Pillow Talk" and Skylark's one and only hit "Wildflower" entered the Top Ten.
1976:  Trouble is his middle name.  Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones crashed his car in Buckinghamshire, England.  Police found cocaine and marijuana in the car--small wonder.

1978:  Dire Straits released the single "Sultans of Swing".


1979:  "Just When I Needed You Most" by Randy Vanwarmer became the new #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1979:  Rex Smith moved from 59 to 30 with "You Take My Breath Away".
1979:  ABBA once again had the #1 album in the U.K., moving into the top position with their latest Voulez Vous.
1979:  Peaches & Herb was #1 for a fourth week on the R&B chart with "Reunited".

1979:  "Reunited" remained #1 for the third week out of four it would spend at the top for Peaches & Herb.  Donna Summer was making a bid with the disco rock song "Hot Stuff".

             Supertramp reached #1

1979:  The classic album Breakfast in America took over at #1 for the first time on this date, replacing Minute by Minute from the Doobie Brothers, which fell to #4.  Peaches & Herb had #2--2 Hot! while Bad Company came in third with Desolation Angels.  The rest of the Top Ten:  Spirits Having Flown, the great album from the Bee Gees, Van Halen's second album at #6, We Are Family from Sister Sledge at #7, Go West by the Village People at 8, Blondie's Parallel Lines at #9 and Bad Girls by Donna Summer, moving from 39 to 10.
1980:  Olivia Newton-John released the single "Magic".
1981:  Sting was honored as Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards.

1984:  The Cars released the single "Magic".
1984:  ZZ Top released "Legs" on Dusty Hill's birthday.
1984:  "The Longest Time" from Billy Joel took over at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1984:  "Hello" by Lionel Richie spent a third week at #1 on the R&B chart.

1984:  Richard Carpenter married his wife Mary in Downey, California.
1984:  The Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon made it 10 consecutive years on the album chart.
1985:  The television special Motown Returns to the Apollo aired on NBC.
1988:  James Brown was arrested for the fifth time in 12 months, charged with assault, resisting arrest and carrying illegal weapons.
1990:  "Vogue" became Madonna's eighth #1 song on this date, taking over from "Nothing Compares 2 (sic) U (sic) by Sinead O'Connor.  Heart moved up with "All I Wanna' Do Is Make Love To You" at #3 and Wilson Phillips were at 4 with "Hold On".  
1990"  This Old Heart Of Mine" by Rod Stewart and Ronald Isley, was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the fifth week in a row, making it one of the top AC hits of the 90's.
1991:  Odia Coates, who sang "Having My Baby" and others with Paul Anka, died of cancer at the age of 49.
2003:  Aretha Franklin organized a candlelight vigil and prayer service for the great Luther Vandross, who suffered a stroke in April.
2004:  Gretchen Wilson debuted on the album chart at #2 with Here for the Party.

2006:  Freddie Garrity of Freddie & the Dreamers ("I'm Telling You Now") died in Bangor in North Wales at the age of 69.
2007:  Frank Guida, who produced "Quarter To Three" for Gary U.S. Bonds and "If You Wanna' Be Happy" for Jimmy Soul, among others, died in Norfolk, Virginia shortly before his 85th birthday.
2009:  Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff received a lifetime songwriting achievement award from BMI.

Born This Day:

1945:  Elite guitarist and leader of the Who, Pete Townshend was born in Chiswick, England.
1947:  Greg Herbert of Blood, Sweat and Tears; died of a drug overdose on January 31, 1977.
1947:  Jerry Hyman, trombone player of Blood, Sweat and Tears was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1948:  Great saxophone player Tom Scott was born in Los Angeles, California.

1949:  Dusty Hill, bass guitarist and vocalist of ZZ Top, was born in Dallas, Texas.
1952:  Joey Ramone, songwriter and lead singer of the Ramones, was born in Forest Hills, New York.
1952:  Barbara Joyce Lomas of B.T. Express ("Express") was born in Bessemer, Alabama.
1960:  Phil Rudd, drummer for AC/DC, was born in Melbourne, Australia.
1962:  Iain Harvie, guitarist with Del Amitri, was born in Glasgow, Scotland.
1970:  Prince Be (Attrell Cordes) of P.M. Dawn was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.
1972:  Jenny Berggren of Ace of Base was born in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Five Best: Eric Carmen

He started out as the lead singer of the Raspberries in Cleveland, Ohio from 1970-1974.  He had 13 hits in his career.  Here are the Five Best from Eric Carmen (with a few bonuses!):

 

1.  All By Myself



2.  Make Me Lose Control

3.  Hungry Eyes

4.  Nowhere to Hide

5.  Never Gonna' Fall in Love Again

New Entry in The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era: "Caught Up in the Rapture" from Anita Baker

It's a good time for another entry into The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era* category.  Unbelievably, the song only hit #37.  Definitely one you want to be familiar with.  There are a lot of hidden "gems" on the Rapture album--here's one of them:

 

Caught Up in the Rapture

Anita Baker

Words and Music by Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson & Gary Bias



When we met, I always knew
I would feed the magic for you
On my mind constantly
In my arms is where you should be

I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time

[Chorus 1:]
Caught up in the repture of love
Nothing else can compare
When I feel the magic of you

We stand side by side
Till the storms of life pass us by
Light my life, warm my heart
Say tonight will be just the start

I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time

[Chorus 2:]
Caught up in the rapture of love
Nothing else can compare
When I feel the magic of you
The feeling's always new
Caught up in the rapture of you

I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time

[Chorus 2]

Caught up in the rapture of love
Caught up in the rapture of love

Hits List: Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night were one of the top acts in the world in the 60's and early 70's.  They piled up hit after hit with their unique harmonies and important lyrics.  Here is the complete Hits List of Three Dog Night:

1968:  "Nobody"
1969:  "Try a Little Tenderness" (#29, #19 Canada)
          "One" (#5, #4 Canada)--underrated
          "Easy to Be Hard" (#4, #2 Canada)
          "Eli's Coming" (#10, #4 Canada)
1970:  "Celebrate" (#15, #8 Canada)
          "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" (#1, #3 U.K., #2 Canada, #12 Germany, #14 Netherlands)
          "Out in the Country" (#15, #11 Adult, #9 Canada)
          "One Man Band" (#19, #6 Canada)

1971:  "Joy to the World" (#1, #1 Canada, #24 U.K., #1 Canada)
          "Liar" (#7, #4 Canada)
          "An Old Fashioned Love Song" (#4, #1 Adult, #2 Canada)
1972:  "Never Been to Spain" (#5, #18 Adult, #3 U.K.)
            "The Family of Man" (#12, #27 Adult, #5 Canada)
            "Black & White" (#1, #1 Adult, #1 Canada, #8 Austria)
            "Pieces of April" (#19, #6 Adult, #13 Canada)--underrated

1973:  "Shambala" (#3, #3 Adult, #4 Canada, #3 Austria)
            "Let me Serenade You" (#17, #11 Canada)
1974:  "The Show Must Go On" (#4, #2 Canada, #12 Germany, #6 Netherlands)
            "Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" (#16, #18 Canada)
            "Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)" (#33, #25 Canada
1975:  "'Til the World Ends" (#32, #11 Adult, #26 Canada)
1976:  "Everybody Is a Masterpiece" (#44 Adult)
1983:  "It's a Jungle out There"


That's 21 career hits, with six going Top 10 and three #1's for Three Dog Night.  They had seven Adult Contemporary hits, three Top 10's and two #1's.

Five Best Songs: Donna Summer (republished from 6/16/11)

Summer was one of he premiere artists of the late 70's and early 80's.  She had one of the best voices of the Rock Era and set a rock record for the longest-held note on "Dim All the Lights".  Donna is featured in today's edition of Five Best Songs.

 

1.  "Hot Stuff"

 

2.  "Last Dance"

 

3.  "MacArthur Park"

 

4.  "Dim All the Lights"

 

5.  "Bad Girls"


Three specific songs that you should be aware of from Summer that weren't huge hits.  The first was one of her early minor hits before she became a superstar:

I Love You 


The second is "(Theme) Once Upon a Time" from her album of the same name.  There are two versions--one is an uptempo disco number but the one of note is a ballad, which some say is her own story.  It is dynamite.  Unfortunately, there are no YouTube videos with the song, but definitely one to check out on her album.


The third is another ballad, this one from the Bad Girls album:

On My Honour

Hits List: Donna Summer (republished from 11/4/11)

This woman with the amazing voice is one of the great entertainers of the Rock Era.  She obviously is also one of The Top Artists of the Rock Era*, as evidenced by the tremendous Hits List:


1972:  "If You Walkin' Alone"
1974:  "Denver Dream"
           "The Hostage" (#2 Germany, #2 Netherlands)
           "Lady of the Night" (#40 Germany, #4 Netherlands)



1975:  "Virgin Mary"
           "Love to Love You Baby" (#2, #2 R&B, #4 U.K., #2 Canada, #4 Australia, #5 Germany, #13 Netherlands)
1976:  "Could It Be Magic" (#52, #21 R&B, #40 U.K., #45 Canada, #23 Germany, #5 Netherlands)
           "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It" (#80, #35 R&B, #42 Germany)
           "Wasted"
           "Spring Affair" (#58, #24 R&B, #38 Canada, #25 Netherlands)
1977:  "Winter Melody" (#43, #21 R&B, #27 U.K., #41 Canada)
           "Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)" (#20 R&B)
           "I Feel Love" (#6, #9 R&B, #1 U.K., #2 Canada, #1 Australia, #2 Germany, #1 Netherlands)
           "Shut Out" (with Paul Jabara)
           "Down Deep Inside (Theme From "The Deep)" (#5 U.K., #70 Australia, #25 Germany, #5 Netherlands)
           "I Remember Yesterday" (#14 U.K., #20 Netherlands)
           "Love's Unkind" (#3 U.K.,  #18 Germany, #28 Netherlands)
           "I Love You" (#37, #28 R&B, #10 U.K., #32 Canada, #47 Australia, #6 Netherlands)--underrated
           "Fairy Tale High"
1978:  "Rumour Has It" (#53, #21 R&B, #19 U.K., #37 Canada, #21 Germany, #20 Netherlands)
           "Back in Love Again" (#29 U.K.)
           "Last Dance" (#3, #5 R&B, #51 U.K., #3 Canada, #69 Australia, #10 Netherlands)
           "Je t'aime...moi non plus"
           "MacArthur Park" (#1, #8 R&B, #5 U.K., #1 Canada, #8 Australia, #39 Germany, #8 Netherlands)



1979:  "Heaven Knows" (with Brooklyn Dreams) (#4, #10 R&B, #34 U.K., #2 Canada, #15 Australia)
           "Hot Stuff" (#1, #3 R&B, #11 U.K., #1 Canada, #1 Australia, #5 Germany, #21 Netherlands)
           "Bad Girls" (#1, #1 R&B, #14 U.K., #1 Canada, #14 Australia, #9 Germany, #10 Netherlands)
           "Dim All the Lights" (#2, #13 R&B, #29 U.K., #3 Canada, #25 Germany, #28 Netherlands)
           "No More Tears (Enough is Enough) (with Barbra Streisand--#1, #20 R&B, #3 U.K., #1 Canada, #8 Australia, #31 Germany, #27 Netherlands)
           "Never Lose Your Sense of Humor" (with Paul Jabara)
1980:  "On the Radio" (#5, #9 R&B, #32 U.K., #4 Canada, #36 Australia, #34 Germany, #27 Netherlands)
           "Sunset People" (#46 U.K., #42 Netherlands)
           "Our Love"
           "Walk Away" (#36, #35 R&B, #36 Canada)
           "The Wanderer" (#3, #13 R&B, #48 U.K., #3 Canada, #6 Australia, #30 Netherlands)
           "Cold Love" (#33, #44 U.K., #29 Canada)
1981:  "Who Do You Think You're Foolin'" (#40, #39 Canada, #100 Australia)
1982:  "Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)" (#10, #4 R&B, #18 U.K., #10 Canada, #17 Australia, #12 Netherlands)
           "State of Independence" (#41, #31 R&B, #14 .K., #35 Canada, #30 Australia, #3 Netherlands)
           "I Feel Love" (remix) (#21 U.K.)
           "The Woman in Me" (#33, #30 R&B, #62 U.K., #18 Canada, #12 Netherlands)--underrated



1983:  "Protection"
           "She Works Hard for the Money" (#3, #1 R&B, #25 U.K., #2 Canada, #4 Australia, #11 Germany, #18 Netherlands)
            "Unconditional Love" (with Musical Youth) (#43, #9 R&B, #14 U.K., #28 Canada, #57 Australia)
             "People, People"
             "He's a Rebel"
             "Love Has a Mind of Its Own" (with Matthew Ward) (#70, #35 R&B, #44 Canada)
1984:  "Stop, Look and Listen" (#57 U.K.)
            "There Goes My Baby" (#21, #20 R&B, #99 U.K., #22 Canada, #52 Australia, #31 Netherlands)
             "Supernatural Love" #75, #51 R&B)
1985:  "Eyes" (#97 U.K.)
1987:  "Dinner with Gershwin" (#48, #10 R&B, #13 U.K., #39 Canada, #43 Netherlands)
            "Only the Fool Survives" (with Mickey Thomas) (#40 Canada)
1988:  "All Systems Go" (#54 U.K.)



1989:  "This Time I Know It's for Real" (#7, #3 U.K., #3 Canada, #4 Australia, #15 Germany, #6 Netherlands)
             "I Don't Wanna' Get Hurt" (#7 U.K., #25 Germany, #29 Netherlands)
             "Love's About to Change My Heart" (#85, #20 U.K., #83 Australia, #59 Netherlands)
             "When Love Takes Over You" (#72 U.K.)
             "In Another Place and Time" (#24 Australia)
1990:  "State of Independence" (new mix) (#45 U.K., #69 Netherlands
1991:  "Breakaway" (remix) (#49 U.K.)
            "When Love Cries" (#77, #18 R&B)
1992:  "Carry On" (with Giorgio Moroder) (#65 U.K.)
1993:  "La Vie en Rose"
1994:  "Melody of Love (Wanna' Be Loved)" (#21 U.K.)
            "Any Way at All"
1995:  "I Feel Love" (remix) (#8 U.K., #26 Netherlands)
1996:  "Whenever There Is Love" (with Bruce Roberts)
            "State of Independence" (new mix) (#13 U.K.)
            "Does He Love You" (with Liza Minnelli)
1999:  "I Will Go with You (Con te Partiro)" (#79, #44 U.K., #35 Canada, #59 Netherlands)
            "Love Is the Healer"
            "Last Dance" (re-release)
2000:  "The Power of One"
2004:  "You're So Beautiful"
            "Dream-A-Lot's Theme (I Will Live for Love)"
2005:  "I Got Your Love"
2006:  "Power of Love"
2008:  "I'm a Fire"
            "Stamp Your Feet" (#88 Germany)
            "It's Only Love"
            "Sand on My Feet" (#30 Canada)
2009:  "Fame (The Game)"



2010:  "To Paris with Love"

That's 33 hits with 14 going Top 10 and 5 solid #1's for Donna.  She has had 31 R&B hits with 12 Top 10 songs and three #1's.

Van Halen Reportedly Postponing Concert Dates

Van Halen fans that have long been anticipating this summer's concert may have to wait to see the famous band.


According to several reports, Van Halen is postponing some dates on the tour.  The band's website only lists shows through June 26.  Dozens of additional shows to the tour had been planned and there has been no immediate reason given for the postponements.  Representatives of the band did not respond to messages from the Associated Press yesterday.


Inside the Rock Era will have further details as the become available.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 18

1959: This artist changed the name at the suggestion of Dick Clark's wife Bobbie because he resembled a teenage Fats Domino.  He scored 35 hits over three decades, but on this date, Chubby Checker debuted on the chart for the first time with "The Class", in which he did imitations of Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, the Coasters, Cozy Cole and the Chipmunks.

1959:  Wilbert Harrison rose from 6 to 1 with "Kansas City".  The Impalas were lodged at #2 with "Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)" while Dave 'Baby' Cortez slipped to 3 with "The Happy Organ".  The three top newcomers to the Top Ten were "A Teenager In Love" by Dion & the Belmonts, which moved from 12 to 5, "Dream Lover" by Bobby Darin, up from 16-6, and "The Battle of New Orleans", which climbed from 23-7 for Johnny Horton.
1963:  The Beatles were the featured act for the first time at the Grenada Theatre in Slough, England.
1963:  Jackie DeShannon appeared on The Jackie Gleason Show on CBS-TV.
1963:  Jackie Wilson ruled the R&B chart for a third week with "Baby Workout".

1963:  Jimmy Soul had the #1 song with "If You Wanna' Be Happy", replacing Little Peggy March's "I Will Follow Him".  "Puff the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul & Mary slipped to 3, followed by the Beach Boys with "Surfin' U.S.A."
1964:  A very special day in rock history for this is the day that the Animals went into the recording studio to record "The House of the Rising Sun".

1964:  The Beach Boys released the single "I Get Around".
1966:  The Castilles, featuring Bruce Springsteen on lead vocals, recorded a couple of tracks at Mr. Music in Brick Town, New Jersey.
1966:  The Hollies recorded "Bus Stop".
1967:  Paul McCartney and John Lennon sang backing vocals on the Rolling Stones song "We Love You" during a recording session in London.

1967:  Stevie Wonder released the single "I Was Made To Love Her".
1968:  Jefferson Airplane, the Steve Miller Band, the Doors and Grateful Dead performed at the Northern California Rock Festival in Santa Clara.
1968:  "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell & the Drells took over at &1 on the R&B chart.


1968:  Hugo Montenegro's classic instrumental "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" from the movie of the same name, was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Dionne Warwick seemed to know her way up the charts...


1968:  Archie Bell & the Drells climbed up to #1 with "Tighten Up".  Simon & Garfunkel's latest, "Mrs. Robinson" was up impressively from 9-2 while Bobby Goldsboro finally dropped after five weeks at #1 with "Honey".  Hugo Montenego held steady with "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly" and the Rascals grabbed position #5 with "A Beautiful Morning".  The rest of the Top 10:  The Intruders with "Cowboys to Girls", the Troggs had the #7 song with "Love Is All Around", the Irish Rovers and "The Unicorn", Gary Puckett from Twin Falls, Idaho & the Union Gap with "Young Girl" and Dionne Warwick moved from 19-10 with "Do You Know the Way to San Jose".

1970:  Three excellent singles awaited radio station Music Directors on Monday morning.  It was the end of an era, one of the most amazing times not just in rock but in music history, as the Beatles released the final single of their time together--"The Long and Winding Road".

1970: The fabulous Temptations released the single "Ball of Confusion". 


1970: And the third single to consider on this date was the new release from Three Dog Night--"Mama Told Me (Not to Come)". Do people who didn't live during the time understand the greatness of having three songs of this caliber all released on the same day? 
1974:  Another instrumental, "The Entertainer" from the classic movie The Sting, was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

1978:  The Buddy Holly Story premiered in Dallas, Texas.
1981:  Marty Balin, former lead singer of Jefferson Starship, released the solo single "Hearts".
1981:  Diana Ross left Motown Records, signing with RCA Records for $20 million, the largest recording contract at that time.

1985:  This artist debuted on the chart with her first single on this date.  She went on to have 12 hits and was very popular in the 1990's.  Her first single was "Find a Way"--Amy Grant.
1985:  Kool & the Gang collected their eighth #1 on the R&B chart with "Fresh".

1985:  "Smooth Operator" by Sade spent another week atop the Adult Contemporary chart.
1985:  Simple Minds celebrated a #1 song with "Don't You (Forget About Me)".  


1985:  Phil Collins moved into the #1 spot on the album chart with No Jacket Required.  We Are the World from USA for Africa fell to 2 with the Soundtrack to "Beverly Hills Cop" coming in third.  Bruce Springsteen had #4--Born in the U.S.A. and Prince & the Revolution were 5 with Around the World in a Day.  The rest of the Top Ten:  Sade with Diamond Life, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers remained at #7 with Southern Accents, Madonna slipped to #8 with Like a Virgin, Wham! had the #9 album Make It Big and John Fogerty was at 10 with Centerfield.

1988:  Fleetwood Mac played the first of six sold-out shows at Wembley Arena in London.
1991:  Hi-Five moved to #1 with "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)".

    "Shiny Happy People" loved R.E.M.'s new album


1991:  R.E.M. had the top album with Out of Time but Mariah Carey only slipped to #2 in her 47th week on the chart with her debut album.

1991:  Amy Grant remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for a third week with "Baby Baby".

1999:  The Backstreet Boys released the album Millennium.
2002:  CBS-TV showed the Barry Manilow special Ultimate Manilow.
2003:  Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Piots was arrested for drug possession.
2004:  Clint Warwick, bassist with the Moody Blues, died of liver disease at the age of 63.

2008:  Neil Diamond had the #1 album in the U.K.--Home Before Dark.

2010:  Los Angeles celebrated John Fogerty Day as the former CCR member was honored by BMI with their Icon Award.


Born This Day:

1912:  Perry Como was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania; died  in his sleep May 12, 2001 in Jupiter Inlet Colony, Florida.
1922:  Kai Winding, the great trombonist who gave us the instrumental "More", was born in Aarhus, Denmark; died of a brain tumor in New York City May 6, 1983.
1942:  Albert Hammond ("It Never Rains in Southern California" from 1972) was born in London, England.
1949:  William Wallace, guitarist of the Guess Who, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada


1949:  Rick Wakeman, great keyboardist of Yes, was born in Perivale, London, England
1950:  Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo was born in Akron, Ohio
1953:  Butch Tavares of the group Tavares ("It Only Takes a Minute" and "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel"
1957:  Michael Cretu of Enigma
1966:  Michael Tait of dc Talk
1967:  Rob Base ("It Takes Two") was born in Harlem, New York
1969:  Martika ("Toy Soldiers") was born in Whittier, California
1970:  Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle was born in New Jersey 

1975:  Jack Johnson was born in North Shore, Oahu, Hawai'i