Saturday, August 18, 2012

This Date in Rock Music History: August 19

1957:  Pat Boone was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine.
 
1959:  Another of the famous days in the Rock Era, as on this date Bobby Darin released the classic single "Mack The Knife".











1959:  Monday fell on this date, the day for new releases in the music business.  Paul Anka released "Put Your Head On My Shoulder".












1964:  Roy Orbison released the single "Oh Pretty Woman".
1964:  The Beatles began their second American tour at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California.  The Righteous Brothers, Jackie DeShannon, the Exciters and Bill Black's Combo opened for the Beatles. 
1965:  The Beatles were in concert for two shows at the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas.
1967:  Ringo (Starr) and Maureen Starkey celebrated the birth of son Jason.








1967:  The Supremes shot up from #61 to #20 with the innovative "Reflections".












1967:  There's no other way to look at it--these were historic times in music.  "All You Need Is Love" by the Beatles replaced "Light My Fire" from the Doors as the #1 song.  The Monkees edged up with "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and Stevie Wonder had #4--"I Was Made To Love Her". The rest of the Top 10:  "Baby I Love You" from Aretha Franklin, the Buckinghams with "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", Bobbie Gentry moved from 21-7 (she had made the Top 10 in three weeks) with "Ode To Billie Joe", James Brown entered the Top 10 with "Cold Sweat", Procol Harum had song #9--"A Whiter Shade Of Pale" and the Young Rascals placed at 10 with "A Girl Like You".
1969:  Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills and David Crosby were guests on The Dick Cavett Show on ABC.







Carpenters Close to You Album Cover
1970:  The Carpenters released the album Close to You.
1971:  Led Zeppelin played before 17,000 fans at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
1972:  John Denver hosted The Midnight Special on NBC-TV.
1972:  That sweet talker Al Green sang "I'm Still In Love With You" and it was still the #1 R&B song.









                                                         The title cut from the Carpenters' incredible album...

1972:  Chicago V reached #1 on the Album chart in just its fourth week, moving Elton John's Honky Chateau out of the top spot.  School's Out from Alice Cooper fell to #3, followed by A Song for You by the Carpenters and Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits.











                                                                 Nilsson tells us of his strange concoction...

1972:  Gilbert O'Sullivan made it four weeks at #1 with "Alone Again (Naturally)".  Looking Glass continued to hang in there with "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)".  The Hollies were up three with "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress".  Argent ("Hold Your Head Up"), Nilsson ("Coconut") and the Carpenters ("Goodbye To Love") were the new entries in the Top 10.










1973:  Rita Coolidge married Kris Kristofferson in Malibu, California.
1973:  Lead singer and bassist Peter Cetera, lead guitarist Terry Kath, trumpeter Lee Loughnane and saxophonist Walter Parazaider of the group Chicago appeared in the movie Electra Glide in Blue, which debuted in theaters on this date.













1974:  Reunion released "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" on this date.











1974:  The Three Degrees were on top of the U.K. with their great song "When Will I See You Again".
1978:  The Commodores had a smash in the U.K. as "Three Times A Lady" hit #1.










1978:  The Commodores had the top R&B hit in the U.S. for a second week with "Three Times A Lady".
1978:  "Three Times A Lady" was also the #1 Adult Contemporary hit.










1978:   Bob Seger had a hot song in "Hollywood Nights".  It moved from 78 to 38 on this date.
1979:  Dorsey Burnette, brother of Johnny, died of a heart attack at the age of 46 in Canoga Park, California.
1980:  Alice Cooper cancelled a concert due to illness and 1,400 people rioted in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Thirty-one people were arrested and 12 people were hospitalized. 
1988:  "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley was announced as the most-played jukebox song of the first hundred years.








1995:  Count 'em--seven weeks in a row for TLC at #1 with "Waterfalls".  










1997:  Fleetwood Mac released the album The Dance.
2000:  Gregg Allman played a benefit concert for Jeff Fountain, his fiance's father.  Fountain was injured in a motorcycle accident in June.
2000:  Semisonic, Macy Gray, All Saints and Flaming Lips all played at the opening day of the V2000 Festival in Staffordshire, England.








2001:  Betty Everett ("The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)") was found dead at the age of 61 in South Beloit, Illinois, believed to have died from a heart attack.
2001:  Five owned the top U.K. song with "Let's Dance".
2006:  In today's edition of Inmates Run Rap Music, Busta Rhymes was arrested and charged with assault after attacking a man in Manhattan who accidentally spit on Rhymes' car on August 12.
2007:  Elvis Presley posthumously rose to #1 on the U.K. Album chart with The King.








2008:  Lady Gaga released the album The Fame on Interscope Records.
2008:  Saxophonist LeRoi Moore, one of the founding members of the Dave Matthews Band, died at age 46 in Los Angeles from injuries sustained in a car accident in June on his Virginia farm.
2008:  Wayne Wadhams, lead singer of the Fifth Estate ("Ding Dong!  The Witch Is Dead") died in Boston, Massachusetts.
2008:  Gary Glitter was released from prison in Vietnam after serving three years for molesting two young children.




Born This Day:





1939:  Ginger Baker of the groups Cream and Blind Faith was born in Lewisham, London.
1940:  Jonathan (Roger Cook) of David & Jonathan ("Michelle" from 1966) was born in Bristol, England.






1940:  Johnny Nash ("I Can See Clearly Now" from 1972) was born in Houston, Texas.










1943:  Billy J. Kramer (William Ashton) of Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas was born in Bootle, Lancashire, England.
1943:  Don Fardon, who recorded a version of "Indian Reservation", was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, England.  (Note:  some websites falsely say he was born in Coventry, West Midlands, England.  Coventry was not included in West Midlands County until 1974, years after Fardon was born, and you will never see West Midlands listed on his official birth certificate.)







1945:  Ian Gillan, lead singer of Deep Purple, was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England.
1947:  George Newsome, drummer of the Climax Blues Band, was born in Stafford, Staffordshire, England.  (Note:  some websites report he was born August 14.  Although no credible sources exist for either date, our best research indicates he was born August 19.)
1948:  Susan Jacks of the Poppy Family was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 
1948:  Elliot Lurie, singer and founder of Looking Glass ("Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" from 1972), was born in Brooklyn, New York.







1951:  John Deacon, bass guitarist with Queen, was born in Oadby, Leicester, England.
1963:  Joey Tempest, lead singer of Europe, was born in Upplands Väsby, Sweden.












1966:  Lee Ann Womack ("I Hope You Dance") was born in Jacksonville, Texas.
1968:  MC Eric of Technotronic ("Pump Up The Jam") was born in Cardiff, Wales.
1989:  Lil' Romeo was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Scott McKenzie Has Died


Give a shout out to the Summer of Love today.  Scott McKenzie, who came up with the anthem for a generation in "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" died today at the age of 73.  Few people can touch so many with a song but McKenzie definitely did that.  Rest in peace Scott and know that your contributions are not in vain.  In fact, a whole new generation is learning the lessons from 1967.

Friday, August 17, 2012

This Day in Rock Music History: August 18



1956:  One of the great early songs of the Rock Era, "My Prayer" from the Platters, was #1 on the R&B chart.
1958:  The Kalin Twins had the top U.K. song with "When".






1958:  Domenico Modugno posted the second #1 in the history of Billboard magazine with "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)".  The Elegants moved from 14 to 2 with "Little Star".







1962:  Ringo Starr debuted with the Beatles as their new drummer at a concert at the Horticultural Society Dance in Birkenhead, England. 
1962:  Bobby Vinton posted his fourth week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "Roses Are Red (My Love)".
1964:  The Beatles arrived in San Francisco to begin their first tour of America and were met by 9,000 frenzied fans.  The Beatles were driven into a protective enclosure so that photographers could take pictures.  The fans, however, pressed against the fencing, and the Beatles barely managed to get out before it came down on them.
1965:  The Beatles were in concert at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia before a sellout crowd of 35,000.  Fans paid $5.50 for the highly sought-after tickets.
1966:  Vocalist and harmonica player Paul Jones left the group Manfred Mann.
1969:  Mick Jagger was accidentally shot in the hand during the filming of the movie Ned Kelly in Australia.
1969:  Edward Bear ("Last Song") opened for Led Zeppelin at the Rock Pile in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.






1973:  The Pointer Sisters released their first single "Yes We Can Can" in February, but on this date, the news was that it finally became their first hit, debuting on the charts.








 

1973:  Marvin Gaye started a long run at #1 on the R&B chart with "Let's Get It On".














1973:  Grand Funk had a solid hit with "We're An American Band", which moved from 59 to 29.





1973:  Diana Ross hit #1 again with "Touch Me In The Morning", jumping over both "Live And Let Die" from Wings and "Brother Louie" by the Stories.  Maureen McGovern fell with "The Morning After" and Marvin Gaye had his 45th hit with "Let's Get It On" at #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Jim Croce's former #1 "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", Gilbert O'Sullivan followed up his #1 "Alone Again (Naturally)" with "Get Down" at #7, Helen Reddy moved from 15 to 8 with "Delta Dawn", Charlie Daniels had "Uneasy Rider" and Chicago moved into the Top 10 with their great song "Feelin' Stronger Every Day".








1975:  The seeds of one of the greatest comebacks of the Rock Era were planted on this day.  Monday, the day for new releases, fell on this date and the Four Seasons released the single "Who Loves You", which would become their first Top 10 song in eight years.
1976:  Marvin Gaye faced two consecutive five-day prison terms in the Los Angeles county jail for contempt of court after missing alimony and child support payments.
1977:  The Police performed as a trio for the first time after guitarist Henri Padovani left the group when they played at Rebecca's in Birmingham, England.  (Note:  several websites report the show was August 17.  'Billboard' magazine and the book 'Sting:  Back on the Beat' by Christopher Sandford both state that it was on August 18.)









1977:  Funeral services were held for Elvis Presley at Graceland near Memphis, Tennessee.  Only 150 people were invited but tens of thousands gathered outside the gates.
1979:  With a hit song behind him, Nick Lowe ("Cruel To Be Kind" from 1979) married Carlene Carter in Los Angeles.
1979:  The Who, AC/DC, Nils Lofgren and the Stranglers shared a bill at Wembley Stadium in London.








1979:  Moon Martin had the highest-debuting song with "Rolene".
1979:  Chic made it four weeks at #1 on the R&B survey with "Good Times".
1979:  The Commodores were flying up the chart with "Sail On"--up from 68 to 37 on this date.








           
                                                                  The Knack were rocking towards the top...


1979:  Chic somehow reached #1 with "Good Times" while the Knack moved into position with "My Sharona".  Barbra Streisand had song #3--"The Main Event/Fight".  Donna Summer slipped from the top with "Bad Girls" while Earth, Wind & Fire moved from 19 to 5 with their great song "After The Love Has Gone".  The rest of the Top 10:  Dr. Hook with one of the biggest of their 21 career hits--"When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman", Anita Ward with "Ring My Bell", the Charlie Daniels Band surged from 21 to 8 with "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", Raydio edged up with "You Can't Change That" and Elton John landed his 16th Top 10 hit with "Mama Can't Buy You Love".








                                                                          "Surrender" from 'Live at Budokan'...

1979:  The Knack continued to possess the #1 album with Get the Knack.  Bad Girls from Donna Summer was #2 followed by Supertramp's Breakfast In America, still in the Top 3 after 21 weeks.  Candy-O by the Cars was fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Teddy from Teddy Pendergrass, I Am by Earth, Wind & Fire, Discovery from ELO at 7, the Who couldn't get past #8 with "The Kids Are Alright" Soundtrack, Cheap Trick At Budokan was #9 and Charlie Daniels Band reached #10 with Million Mile Reflections.









1979:  Maxine Nightingale had one of the top Adult Contemporary songs of the 70's as "Lead Me On" prevailed at #1 for a seventh week.
1982:  The City of Liverpool, England named four streets after the Beatles--John Lennon Drive, Paul McCartney Way, Ringo Starr Drive and George Harrison Close.
1983:  The Police, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and R.E.M. were at Shea Stadium in New York City.
1984:  Prince enjoyed eight weeks at #1 on the R&B chart with his classic "When Doves Cry".










1984:  Lionel Richie had the top AC song with "Stuck On You" for the third straight week.












1986:  Bon Jovi released the album Slippery When Wet in the United States on Mercury Records.
1990:  Romeo Beresford (Jazzie B) from Soul II Soul was injured in a seven-car pileup while en route from Detroit, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois.
1990:  "Vision Of Love" gave Mariah Carey a #1 song on the R&B chart for a second week.
1990:  Mariah Carey's "Vision Of Love" was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the third week.









1990:  Ah, back in the days when she wore the Triple Crown (#1 on the Popular chart, #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #1 on the R&B chart), something Mariah Carey can't come close to these days.  "Vision Of Love" was #1 overall for the third straight week. 
1993:  U2 performed at the National Stadium at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff, Wales.
1999:  Johnny Byrne, guitarist with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, died from motor neurone disease in Liverpool, Merseyside, England at the age of 59. 
1999:  Two acts who love to wear makeup settled out of court.  Alice Cooper claimed that the KISS song "Dreamin'" was copied from his 1971 song "Eighteen".
2000:  Joey Molland of Badfinger fell off stage and fractured his leg during the Classic Rock Festival in Darrington, Washington. 
2001:  Coldplay, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nelly Furtado headlined the V2001 Festival at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, England.
2002:  The Sugababes sang their way to #1 in the U.K. with "Round Round".
2003:  Tony Jackson, bass guitarist and vocalist with the Searchers, died in Nottingham, England at the age of 63 from complications of diabetes, heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver due to a lifetime of heavy alcohol drinking.  (Note:  some websites report Jackson died at the age of 65.  According to the newspapers 'The Guardian' and 'The Telegraph', he died at age 63.)






2004:  Ashlee Simpson had the top album with Autobiography.
2005:  Kanye West called for an end to homophobia in the hip-hop world.
2008:  Pervis Jackson of the Spinners died of cancer at the age of 70 in Detroit, Michigan.










2012:  Scott McKenzie, who wrote an anthem for a generation ("San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)", co-wrote "Kokomo" for the Beach Boys, and also worked with the Mamas and the Papas, died in Los Angeles at age 73. 




Born This Day:
1939:  Johnny Preston ("Running Bear" from 1959) was born in Port Arthur, Texas; died of heart failure in Beaumont, Texas on March 4, 2011.
1943:  Carl Wayne of Carl Wayne & the Vikings and the lead singer with the Move and the Hollies in later years, was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England; died August 31, 2004 weeks after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in Pyrford, Surrey, England.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com' says he died in Moseley, England, but according to the newspaper 'The Independent', he died in Pyrford.) 
1945:  Sarah Dash of Labelle was born in Trenton, New Jersey.
1945:  Barbara Harris of the Toys ("A Lover's Concerto" from 1965) was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
1949:  Nigel Griggs, bass guitarist of Split Enz, was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
1950:  Dennis Elliott, drummer of Foreigner from 1976-1992, was born in Peckham, London.
1951:  John Rees, bassist of Men at Work

1952:  Patrick Swayze ("She's Like The Wind") was born in Houston, Texas; died of pancreatic cancer on September 14, 2009.
1957:  Ron Strykert, co-founder, songwriter and lead guitarist of Men At Work
1969:  Erik Schrody of House of Pain was born in Valley Stream, New York.
1983:  Mika was born in Beirut, Lebanon.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

This Date in Rock Music History: August 17

1959:  Elvis Presley made history when he had the #1 song for the second straight week with "A Big Hunk O' Love".  Elvis had long ago easily set the record for most weeks at #1 and no one knew it at the time, but this second week at #1 with "A Big Hunk O' Love" is that one that gave him 60 total weeks at the top in his career, one more than the Beatles would register in their amazing career.  Presley would end up with 80.
1959:  Brook Benton remained at #1 on the R&B chart with "Thank You Pretty Baby".

1960:  The Beatles performed outside of their native England for the first time (and performing under their new name for the first time), taking up a three-month residency at Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany.
1963:  "Blowin' In The Wind" remained at #1 for a third week on the Adult Contemporary chart for Peter, Paul & Mary.  









1963:  "Fingertips -Pt. 2" by Little Stevie Wonder took another week at #1 but the classic message song "Blowin' In The Wind" by Peter, Paul & Mary was #2.  Elvis Presley had #3--"(You're The) Devil In Disguise" and "Wipe Out" by the Surfaris was #4.  The rest of a solid Top 10:  "Judy's Turn To Cry" by Lesley Gore, the Four Seasons had #6 with "Candy Girl", Allan Sherman moved from 17 to 7 with "Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh!", the Tymes fell with "So Much In Love", Kai Winding's instrumental "More" was at 9 and the Angels shot up from 31 to 10 with "My Boyfriend's Back".
1965:  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles recorded "Going To A Go-Go" at the Hitsville Studios in Detroit, Michigan.
1966:  The Hollies wrapped up the recording of "Stop!  Stop!  Stop!" at Abbey Road Studios in London.









1966:  The Beatles gave two performances at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on their final concert tour.  The first show at 4 p.m. drew 15,000, while 17,000 saw the evening show at 8 p.m.  The McCoys, Bobby Hebb, the Cyrkle, and the Ronettes opened for the Fab Four.
 1967:  Twin Falls, Idaho's Gary Puckett & the Union Gap recorded their first single "Woman, Woman".









1968:  Wheels of Fire by Cream was the top album for a second week.  Time Peace/The Rascals' Greatest Hits moved to #2 followed by Aretha Now from Aretha Franklin.  The Soundtrack to "The Graduate" by Simon & Garfunkel fell to #4 while The Beat of the Brass from Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass was #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Disraeli Gears from Cream in its 37th week, Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel at #7, Realization by Johnny Rivers, Honey from Andy Williams at #9 and Are You Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix Experience.
1968:  "Classical Gas", one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*, moved to #1 on the Easy Listening chart.








                                                       Donovan with his 1968 smash "Hurdy Gurdy Man"
...
1968:  "People Got To Be Free", the powerful song from the Rascals, moved from 5 to 1 on this date.  That meant the Doors had to relinquish their spot with "Hello, I Love You" and Mason Williams dropped as well with "Classical Gas" after peaking at #2.  A rock classic made its move--Steppenwolf from 11 to 4 with "Born To Be Wild" and Jose Feliciano's remake of "Light My Fire" moved from 20 to 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Stoned Soul Picnic" by the 5th Dimension, the Vogues had song #7--"Turn Around, Look At Me", Cream edged up with "Sunshine Of Your Love", Hugh Masekela's instrumental "Grazing In The Grass" was #9 and Donovan slid down with "Hurdy Gurdy Man".
1969:  Steppenwolf performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.







1969:  The highly successful Woodstock Music and Art Fair came to a close with a third and final day of performances.  It defined a generation and there was a heck of a show on Day Three.  Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Band, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Joe Cocker, Ten Years After, Country Joe and the Fish, Sha-Na-Na, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and the Grease Band performed.
1973: Paul Williams, who left the Temptations in 1971, was found dead by police in Detroit, Michigan.  His death was ruled a suicide.
1974:  Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman in the group Yes.
1974:  Fleetwood Mac won an injunction against another band touring under the same name.
1974:  The Rolling Stones moved from 79 to 34 with "It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It)".








                                                                         ABBA was set to conquer the world...

1974:  Paper Lace rose to the final rung on the chart with "The Night Chicago Died".  Roberta Flack swapped places with her hit "Feel Like Makin' Love", Paul Anka was up 10 with "(You're) Having My Baby" and Rufus was up big (10-4) with "Tell Me Something Good".  The rest of the Top 10:  Dave Loggins with "Please Come To Boston", Chicago's "Call On Me" was #6, ABBA remained at 7 with "Waterloo", Jim Stafford's "Wildwood Weed" was at 8, Donny & Marie Osmond entered the Top 10 with "I'm Leaving It All Up To You" and Blue Magic was at #10 with "Sideshow".








1974:  461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton was the new #1 album, taking over from John Denver's Back Home Again.  Elton John's Caribou fell to 3, ahead of Before the Flood by Bob Dylan & the Band.  The rest of the Top 10:  On Stage from the short-lived duo Loggins & Messina, Stevie Wonder climbed from 79 to 6 with Fulfillingness' First Finale, Bachman-Turner Overdrive was still going strong in their 31st week with Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, Pretzel Logic, the great album from Steely Dan, was #8, Bridge of Sighs by Robin Trower entered the Top 10 and Paul McCartney & Winds had #10 after 35 weeks--the former #1 album Band On the Run.








1977:  The day after Elvis Presley's death, U.S. President Jimmy Carter said:


"Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself.  He was unique, irreplaceable.  More than twenty years ago, he burst upon the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled.  His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture.  His following was immense.  And he was  asymbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness and good humor of this country."


1977:  FTD Florists reported that the number of flowers to be delivered to Graceland in Memphis,Tennessee (the home and final resting place of Elvis Presley, who died August 16) exceeded the record for any event in the company's history.
1979:  John Lennon and Bob Dylan starred in the PBS documentary Eat the Document.  Footage of Dylan's 1966 tour in the U.K. was originally slated to air on ABC-TV, but the network rejected the cut.  The film was released in 1970, and shown at the Academy of Music in New York City on February 8 of 1971, but has rarely been seen since.
1979:  The New York Post reported that Anita Pallenberg (the wife of Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones) was linked to a witches coven in South Salem, New York where Richards owned a house.  A local youth claimed he had been invied by Pallenberg to take part in "pot-smoking sex orgies" and a policeman said he was attacked by a group of black-hooded people.  There were "ritualistic stakes" and residents claimed that small animals had been "sacrificed" near the house.
1984:  Motley Crue made its live debut in the U.K. at the Monsters of Rock festival in Castle Donington, England.










1985:  Godley & Creme moved into the Top 40 with "Cry".
1985:  Reckless by Bryan Adams continued to set the pace on the Album chart with Tears For Fears poised to strike from the #2 position with Songs From the Big Chair.  Phil Collins was still in the Top 3 after 24 weeks with No Jacket Required.  Sting had #4--The Dream of the Blue Turtles and Bruce Springsteen placed at 5 after 61 weeks with Born in the U.S.A.  The rest of the Top 10:  Motley Crue with Theatre of Pain, Dire Straits at 7 with Brothers In Arms, the Power Station's self-titled album, Around the World in a Day from Prince & the Revolution and Night Ranger experienced the Top 10 with 7 Wishes.








1985:  Tears for Fears remained at #1 for a third week with "Shout".  Huey Lewis & the News moved up strong with "The Power Of Love" while Corey Hart was at #3 with "Never Surrender".  Sting was on his way down with "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free".  The rest of the Top 10:  Aretha Franklin's "Freeway Of Love", Paul Young at #6 with "Everytime You Go Away", John Parr's "St. Elmo's Fire" was at #7, DeBarge dropped with "Who's Holding Donna Now", Bryan Adams had his fourth hit from Reckless--"Summer Of '69) and Tina Turner blasted into the Top 10 with "We Don't Need Another Hero".
1986:  42 people were beaten or stabbed at a Run D.M.C. concert in Long Beach, California.  What a nice family-friendly event.
1987:  Gary Chester, member of the Coasters and a session drummer, died of cancer at the age of 62.  Chester played on songs such as "It's My Party", "Under The Boardwalk", "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Walk On By".
1991:  Peabo Bryson enjoyed the #1 R&B hit with "Can You Stop The Rain".







1991:  It was one of the best times of the year for music.  Natalie Cole remained at #1 on the Album chartfor a fourth week with her tribute to Dad Nat King Cole--Unforgettable With Love.  Bonnie Raitt moved up to the runner-up position with Luck of the Draw while Van Halen's ninth album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, fell to 3.  C&C Music Factory was at 4 with Gonna' Make You Sweat and Boyz II Men moved up with Cooleyhighharmony.  The rest of the Top 10:  R.E.M. with Out of Time, Paula Abdul's Spellbound, the Soundtrack to "Robin Hood:  Prince of Thieves", Garth Brook's No Fences at #9 after 48 weeks and Time, Love & Tenderness from Michael Bolton.








1991:  Bryan Adams was right on target for three weeks in a row at #1 with his song from the great movie Robin Hood--"(Everything I Do) I Do It For You".
1993  Michael Jackson announced that he was negotiating to perform two concerts in Beijing, China.  But alas, the over-controlling government there refused to allow it, and MJ never performed in China.
1995:  Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode attempted suicide at a hotel on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.  He was hospitalized and recovered.








1996:  It was the talk of the land--Los Del Rio remained at #1 for a third week with "Macarena".
1996:  Alanis Morissette was still at #2 on the Album chart after 60 weeks with Jagged Little Pill.  Other albums of note:  Falling Into You from Celine Dion at #2, E. 1999 Eternal by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at #6, Secrets from Toni Braxton coming in at #7, Load by Metallica dropping to #8 and Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt at #9.







1998:  Carlos Santana received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2002:  Alanis Morissette, Nickelback, Elvis Costello, Rihanna and the Chemical Brothers headlined the 2002 V Festival at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in South Staffordshire, England.
2002:  Darius had the top U.K. song with "Colourblind".








Born This Day:

1919:  Frieda Lipschitz, who adopted the stage name Georgia Gibbs ("Dance With Me Henry") was born in Worcester, Massachusetts; died December 9, 2006 of pneumonia after battling leukemia in Manhattan, New York.

1933:  Mark Dinning ("Teen Angel" from 1959) was born in Manchester, Oklahoma; died of a heart attack March 22, 1986 in Jefferson City, Missouri.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com claims Dinning was born in Drury, but there are no reputable sites that say that.)
1944:  John Seiter, drummer of Spanky and Our Gang, was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
 1947:  Gary Talley, lead guitarist of the Box Tops, was born in Memphis, Tennessee.








1949:  Sib Hashian, drummer of Boston, was born in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Note:  some websites report he was born in Lynnfield, where he currently lives, but according to the newspaper 'The Star-Daze', he was born in Boston.)
1953:  Kevin Rowland, lead singer and songwriter of Dexy's Midnight Runners, was born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
1955:  Colin Moulding, bassist of XTC, was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England.
1962:  Gilby Clarke, guitarist for Guns N' Roses, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
1965:  Steven Gorman, drummer of the Black Crowes, was born in Muskegon, Michigan.
1969:  Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block was born in Boston, Massachusetts.  (Note:  some websites report Wahlberg was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts.  Dorchester is a neighborhood within the city of Boston, not a city.)

Hits List: Elton John

EJ of course has one of the most amazing Hits List of the Rock Era.  He could do no wrong in the mid-70's, and better yet, he has scores of album tracks that are ever bit as deserving of airplay as the singles:

1968:  I've Been Loving You"
1969:  "Lady Samantha"
          "It's Me That You Need"
1970:  "Border Song" (#92, #34 Canada, #29 Netherlands)
           "Rock n' Roll Madonna"
           "From Denver to L.A."
           "Your Song" (#8, #7 U.K., #3 Canada, #11 Australia, #10 Netherlands, #13 Ireland)

1971:  "Friends" (#34, #13 Canada, #96 Australia)
            "Levon" (#24, #6 Canada, #94 Australia)--underrated.
1972:  "Tiny Dancer" (#41, #19 Canada, #13 Australia)--highly underrated.
           "Rocket Man" (#6, #2 U.K., #18 Germany, #8 Canada, #13 Australia, #6 Ireland)
           "Honky Cat" (#8, #31 U.K., #41 Germany, #10 Canada, #78 Australia)

1973:  "Crocodile Rock" (#1, #5 U.K., #3 Germany, #1 Canada, #2 Australia, , #12 Netherlands, #10 Ireland)
           "Daniel" (#2, #4 U.K., #27 Germany, #1 Canada, #7 Australia, #14 Netherlands, #4 Ireland)
           "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (#12, #7 U.K., #44 Germany, #12 Canada, #31 Australia, #13 Ireland)
           "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (#2, #6 U.K., #49 Germany, #1 Canada, #20 Netherlands, #3 Australia, #4 Ireland)
           "Step into Christmas" (#24 U.K.)
1974:  "Candle in the Wind" (#11 U.K., #5 Australia, #8 Ireland)
           "Bennie and the Jets" (#1, #37 U.K., #1 Canada, #5 Australia, #8 Ireland)
           "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (#2, #16 U.K., #1 Canada, #24 Netherlands, #13 Australia, #17 Ireland)
           "The Bitch Is Back" (#4, #15 U.K., #1 Canada, #53 Australia, #26 Netherlands)
           "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (#1, #10 U.K., #31 Germany, #1 Canada, #3 Australia)

1975:  "Philadelphia Freedom" (#1, #12 U.K., #50 Germany, #1 Canada, #4 Australia)
           "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (#4, #36 Easy Listening, #22 U.K., #2 Canada, #54 Australia, #26 Netherlands)
           "Island Girl" (#1, #27 EL, #14 U.K.,#42 Germany,  #4 Canada, #12 Australia, #15 Netherlands)
1976:  "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (#14, #8 Canada)
           "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford" (#14, #21 EL, #8 Canada)
           "Pinball Wizard" (#7 U.K., #88 Australia, #6 Netherlands)
           "Love Song" (with Lesley Duncan) (#85 Australia)
           "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with Kiki Dee) #1, #1 EL, #1 U.K., #5 Germany, #1 Canada, #1 Australia, #2 Netherlands)
           "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (#6, #1 EL, #11 U.K., #3 Canada, #29 Germany, #19 Australia, #14 Netherlands)
1977:  "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (#28, #28 U.K., #51 Canada, #72 Australia)
           "Crazy Water" (#27 U.K.)
           "The Goaldigger's Song"

1978:  "Ego" (#34, #34 U.K., #21 Canada, #40 Australia, #16 Netherlands)
           "Part-Time Love" (#22, #40 Adult Contemporary, #15 U.K., #40 Germany, #13 Canada, #12 Australia, #18 Netherlands)
           "Song for Guy" (#37 AC, #4 U.K., #22 Germany, #14 Australia, #6 Netherlands)
1979:  "Return to Paradise" (#11 Netherlands)
           "Are You Ready for Love" (#42 U.K., #63 Australia)
           "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (#9, #1 AC, #10 Canada, #82 Australia)
           "Victim of Love" (#31, #46 Canada, #38 Australia)
           "Johnny B. Goode"

1980:  "Little Jeannie" (#3, #1 AC, #33 U.K., #23 Germany, #1 Canada, #9 Australia)
           "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna' Play This Game No More?)" (#39, #45 AC, #44 U.K., #57 Canada, #91 Australia)
           "Dear God" (#82 Australia)
1981:  "28 November 1974 EP" (#40 U.K., #81 Australia)
           "Nobody Wins" (#21, #23 AC, #42 U.K., #43 Germany, #23 Canada, #46 Australia)
           "Just Like Belgium"
           "Chloe" (#34, #16 AC, #34 Canada)
           "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (with Kiki Dee) (#76 U.K.)

1982:  "Blue Eyes" (#12, #1 AC, #8 U.K., #51 Germany, #5 Canada, #4 Australia)--underrated.
           "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (#13, #18 AC, #51 U.K., #8 Canada, #63 Australia)
           "Princess"
           "Ball and Chain"
           "All Quiet on the Western Front"
1983:  "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (#4, #2 AC, #5 U.K., #22 Germany, #9 Canada, #4 Australia)
          "I'm Still Standing" (#12, #28 AC, #4 U.K., #10 Germany, #1 Canada, #3 Australia)
          "Kiss the Bride" (#25, #20 U.K., #58 Germany, #37 Canada, #25 Australia)
          "Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)"/"Crystal" (#33 U.K., #12 Australia)
1984:  "Too Low for Zero" (#52 Australia)
           "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (#5, #2 AC, #7 U.K., #18 Germany, #4 Canada, #4 Australia)
           "Passengers" (#5 U.K., #9 Australia)
           "Who Wears These Shoes?" (#16, #11 AC, #50 U.K., #36 Canada, #76 Australia)
           "In Neon" (#38, #11 AC, #92 Canada)
           "Breaking Hearts (Ain't What it Used to Be)" (#59 U.K.)
1985:  "Act of War" (featuring Millie Jackson) (#32 U.K., #39 Germany, #94 Canada, #50 Australia)
           "Nikita" (#7, #3 AC, #3 U.K., #1 Germany, #2 Canada, #3 Australia)
           "Wrap Her Up" (#20, #12 U.K., #54 Germany, #26 Canada, #22 Australia)
1986:  "Cry to Heaven" (#47 U.K., #86 Australia)
           "Heartache All Over the World" (#55, #45 U.K., #58 Canada, #7 Australia)
           "Slow Rivers" (with Cliff Richard) (#44 U.K., #82 Australia)

1987:  "Flames of Paradise" (with Jennifer Rush" (#32, #32 AC, #59 U.K., #8 Germany, #17 Canada, #31 Australia)
           "Your Song" (live) (#85 U.K., #100 Australia)
           "Candle in the Wind" (live) (#6, #2 AC, #5 U.K., #55 Germany, #5 Canada, #92 Australia)
1988:  "Take Me to the Pilot" (live" (#37 AC)
           "I Don't Wanna' Go on with You Like That" (#2, #1 AC, #30 U.K., #22 Germany, #1 Canada, #16 Australia)
           "Town of Plenty" (#74 U.K., #95 Australia)
           "A Word in Spanish" (#19, #4 AC, #91 U.K., #43 Germany, #10 Canada)
           "Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters (Part Two)"
1989:  "Through the Storm" (with Aretha Franklin) (#16, #17 AC, #41 U.K., #56 Germany, #16 Canada, #63 Australia)
           "Healing Hands" (#13, #1 AC, #45 U.K., #39 Germany, #8 Canada, #14 Australia)
           "Sacrifice" (#18, #3 AC, #55 U.K., #36 Germany, #19 Canada, #7 Australia)--underrated.
1990:  "Club at the End of the Street" (#28, #2 AC, #47 U.K., #45 Germany, #12 Canada, #19 Australia)
           "Sacrifice" (re-release--#1 U.K.)
           "You Gotta' Love Someone" (#43, #1 AC, #33 U.K., #43 Germany, #1 Canada, #32 Australia)
           "Easier to Walk Away" (#63 U.K., #51 Germany, #59 Canada)
1991:  "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with George Michael) (#1, #1 AC, #1 U.K., #4 Germany, #1 Canada, #3 Australia)

1992:  "The One" (#9, #1 AC, #10 U.K., #20 Germany, #1 Canada, #15 Australia)
           "Runaway Train" (with Eric Clapton) (#31 U.K., #41 Germany)
           "The Last Song" (#23, #2 AC, #21 U.K., #72 Germany, #7 Canada, #32 Australia)
1993:  "Simple Life" (#30, #1 AC, #44 U.K., #63 Germany, #3 Canada)
           "True Love" (with Kiki Dee) (#56, #21 AC, #2 U.K., #38 Germany, #12 Canada, #34 Australia)
1994:  "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (with RuPaul) (#92, #7 U.K., #62 Germany, #45 Australia)
           "Shakey Ground" (with Don Henley) (#64 Canada)
           "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (with Marcella Detroit) (#24 U.K.)
          "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (#4, #1 AC, #14 U.K., #14 Germany, #1 Canada, #9 Australia)--underrated.
          "Circle of Life" (#18, #2 AC, #11 U.K., #10 Germany, #3 Canada)
1995:  "Believe" (#13, #1 AC, #15 U.K., #56 Germany, #1 Canada, #23 Australia)
           "Made in England" (#52, #12 AC, #18 U.K., #59 Germany, #5 Canada, #48 Australia)
           "Blessed" (#34, #2 AC, #83 Germany, #3 Canada)
 1996:  "Please" (#33 U.K., #27 Canada)
           "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (#70, #4 AC, #19 Canada)
           "Live Like Horses" (with Luciano Pavarotti) (#9 U.K.)
1997:  "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (#5 AC, #73 Germany, #14 Canada, #32 Australia)
           "Candle in the Wind" (#1, #1 AC, #1 U.K., #1 Germany, #1 Canada, #1 Australia)

1998:  "Recover Your Soul" (#55, #5 AC, #16 U.K., #73 Germany, #39 Canada)
           "If the River Can Bend" (#32 U.K., #95 Germany)
1999:  "Written in the Stars" (with LeAnn Rimes) (#29, #2 AC, #10 U.K., #79 Germany, #35 Canada)
           "A Step Too Far" (#15 AC)
2000:  "Someday Out of the Blue" (#49, #5 AC)
           "Friends Never Say Goodbye" (#21 AC)
2001:  "I Want Love" (#6 AC, #9 U.K.)
2002:  "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" #10 AC, #24 U.K.)--underrated.
           "Original Sin" (#18 AC, #39 U.K.)
           "Your Song" (with Alessandro Safina) (#4 U.K.)
2003:  "Are You Ready for Love" (remix) (#1 U.K.)
           "The Heart of Every Girl" (#24 AC)
2004:  "All That I'm Allowed (I'm Thankful) (#24 AC, #20 U.K.)
2005:  "Turn the LIghts Out When You Leave" (#32 U.K.)
           "Answer in the Sky" (#7 AC)
           "Electricity" (#4 U.K.)
           "Where We Both Say Goodbye" (with Catherine Britt)

2006:  "The Bridge" (#19 AC)
           "Tinderbox)
2007:  "Calling It Christmas" (with Joss Stone)
2010:  "If It Wasn't for Bad" (with Leon Russell)
2012:  "Sad" (with Pnau) (#48 U.K.)

That's 69 hits for the Pinball Wizard, with 24 of those going Top 10 and 8 #1 songs.  On the Adult Contemporary chart, which evolved from the Easy Listening chart, 53 hits, with an impressive 31 going Top 10 and 14 #1 songs.