Wednesday, October 1, 2014

This Date in Rock Music History: October 2

1954:  Elvis Presley made his first and only appearance on the "Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville, Tennessee.  Jim Denny, the Opry manager, infamously told Elvis to stick to his truck driving.  (Note:  Numerous sources report the date of Elvis' Opry performance as September 2.  This is incorrect, according to the book 'Elvis Presley, Reluctant Rebel:  His Life and Our Times', by Glen Jeansonne, David Luhrssen, and Dan Sokolovic and Elvis Presley fan sites.)
1957:  Connie Francis recorded "Who's Sorry Now".
1959:  Fifteen Elvis Presley fans were arrested in East Germany after they marched through the streets of Leipzig chanting "Long live Elvis Presley", who was stationed in the U.S. military at the time.  The fans were given prison sentences of six months to four-and-a-half years. 
1961:  "Michael" by the Highwaymen logged a fifth straight week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart.
1961:  Joan Baez released her album Volume Two.
1961:  Ray Charles took over at #1 on the R&B chart with "Hit The Road, Jack".
    
              Elvis had another smash

1961:  Bobby Vee had the biggest hit of his career as "Take Good Care of My Baby" was #1 for the third week.  Dick & DeeDee were still at #2 while Roy Orbison edged up with "Crying", Ray Charles moved from 13 to 4 with "Hit the Road, Jack" and Elvis Presley moved up with "Little Sister".  








1962:  Elvis Presley released the single "Return to Sender".  (Note:  one website claims the song was released September 5.  According to the book 'Untold Gold:  The Stories Behind Elvis's #1 Hits' by Ace Collins, it was released October 2.)
1965:  The Who made their American television debut on Shindig!  The Four Tops, Billie Joe Royal, Ray Peterson, and Gerry and the Pacemakers (in a repeat performance of an earlier episode) also appeared on the show.
1965:  James Brown held on to the top spot on the R&B chart with "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag".
1965:  We Five dominated the Easy Listening chart for the fifth week with their great song "You Were On My Mind".
1965:  Gary Lewis & the Playboys were on fire with "Everybody Loves A Clown", which moved from 85 to 42 on this date.  




       


















                                







                      The great DC 5...

1965:  It was up against tough competition but the McCoy's reached #1 with "Hang On Sloopy".  Barry McGuire slid to 2 with "Eve of Destruction" and the Beatles made an incredible move from 45 to 3 with "Yesterday".  Any doubt what would be the #1 song the following week?  The Dave Clark Five were stuck at 4 with "Catch Us If You Can" and the former #1 "You Were On My Mind" from We Five was still at #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  The great instrumental "The 'In' Crowd" from the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Roy Head was up from 12-7 with "Treat Her Right", the Fortunes cracked the Top 10 with "You've Got Your Troubles", followed by two songs from Sonny & Cher--"Baby Don't Go" and "Laugh At Me" finished the list.
1967:  Gene Clark, a founding member of the Byrds, replaced David Crosby in the group after a brief solo career.  He would then again leave after only three weeks due to an anxiety attack.
1967:  All six members of the Grateful Dead were arrested when police raided their house on 710 Ashbury Street in San Francisco, California for possession of marijuana.  Surprise, surprise.





1970:  The Shocking Blue released the amazing single "Venus".
1970:  Pink Floyd released the album Atom Heart Mother.









1971:  Rod Stewart was making an impact as a solo star as Every Picture Tells A Story reached #1 on the Album chart.  Carole King of Stanley, Idaho was three weeks short of setting the record for weeks at #1 (18) with her masterpiece Tapestry.  The Moody Blues were a solid #3 with Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Isaac Hayes was up to 4 with Shaft and Paul & Linda McCartney were at position #5 with Ram.  The rest of the Top 10:  Who's Next from the Who, the Carpenters' self-titled release, Master of Reality by Black Sabbath, The Partridge Family Sound Magazine and John Lennon moved from 134 to 10 with his first solo album Imagine.
1971:  Joan Baez achieved a fifth week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart with one of the top songs of the year in that format--"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".
1971:  Cat Stevens cruised up from 88 to 50 with one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era*--"Peace Train".

1971:  Rod Stewart climbed to #1 and it would not be a short stay with "Maggie May".  Donny Osmond slipped to #2 although in most markets he didn't do that well with "Go Away Little Girl".  Joan Baez edged up with "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and the Carpenters still had the golden touch with "Superstar". The rest of the Top 10:  "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers, the song that had been #1 in most cities--"Uncle Albert"/Admiral Halsey" by Paul & Linda McCartney, Aretha Franklin's "Spanish Harlem", the Undisputed Truth with "Smiling Faces Sometimes", the Osmonds bounced up from 19-9 with "Yo-Yo" and Lee Michaels made the Top 10 with "Do You Know What I Mean".
1976:  Joe Cocker appeared on Saturday Night Live.
1976:  Helen Reddy scored her 15th hit on the Easy Listening chart with "I Can't Hear You No More".  Amazingly, 14 of those were Top 10, including 11 in a row, and those 11 were either #1 (8) or #2 (3).  

1976:  A new band from Boston had people witnessing history as "More Than A Feeling" moved from 76 to 55.










           
       One of Boz Scaggs' biggest career hits...

1976:  Newcomer Wild Cherry remained at #1 with "Play That Funky Music", leader of a great Top 10.  A new duo on the scene, England Dan & John Ford Coley, would have to settle for having one of The Top #2's of the Rock Era* with "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight".  Walter Murphy had one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* with "A Fifth of Beethoven".  For laughs, we had Rick Dees with "Disco Duck" and Boz Scaggs' great song "Lowdown" remained #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Cliff Richard's biggest hit "Devil Woman", War with "Summer", Chicago had their 22nd career hit and 11th Top 10 with "If You Leave Me Now", K.C. and the Sunshine Band's former #1 "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" and Orleans moved up to #10 with "Still the One".

  Steve Miller reached the Top 10


1976:  Former Humble Pie member Peter Frampton was enjoying great success with the double-live album Frampton Comes Alive!--it was #1 for a ninth week.  It had to be a special album to hold off Silk Degrees from Boz Scaggs.  Hasten Down the Wind was right behind by Linda Ronstadt.  The rest of the Top 10:  Wild Cherry with their debut, the Greatest Hits album from War, Spirit by John Denver at #7, Jefferson Starship's Spitfire, Steve Miller moved into the Top 10 with Fly Like An Eagle and Chicago's ninth consecutive Top 5 album (Chicago X) was now at #10.
1977:  The bodies of Elvis Presley and his grandmother were moved to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
1978:  Gene Simmons' (of KISS) solo album reached platinum status.  (Note:  several websites incorrectly report the certification as being in 1977.  For one thing, the official RIAA website reports the date as 1978.  For another, the album was not released until September 18, 1978.)











  1978:  There was an amazing new group introduced to us on this date.  Formerly, they had been the backing musicians for Boz Scaggs.  Now, Toto had a hit song with their first single release--"Hold The Line".
1980:  Leaveil Degree of the Whispers began serving two years in prison in Boron, California for his part in the theft of precious gems.
1982:  Peter Gabriel performed with Genesis for the first time since leaving the group in 1975.  Steve Hackett also was part of the group at the Milton Keynes Bowl in Buckinghamshire, England to raise money for Gabriel's WOMAD project (World of Music, Arts and Dance).  

1982:  Dire Straits scored the #1 U.K. album with Love Over Gold.




1982:  John Cougar (Mellencamp) moved into the #1 slot vacated by Steve Miller's "Abracadabra" with "Jack & Diane".  Chicago was still a solid #3 with their former chart topper "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", while another former #1--"Eye Of The Tiger" by Survivor was fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  "You Should Hear How She Talks About You" from Melissa Manchester, "Eye In the Sky" by Alan Parsons Project, newcomer Men At Work with "Who Can It Be Now?", Jackson Browne's "Somebody's Baby", Michael McDonald's solo hit "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near") moved from 15 to 9 and John Cougar (Mellencamp) also had #10 with "Hurts So Good".
1985:  Bruce Springsteen concluded his highly successful Born in the U.S.A. tour with the last of four dates at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.
1986:  The Everly Brothers were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.
1993:  For the sixth week, the #1 R&B song was "Right Here/Human Nature" by SWV.








                                              Toni Braxton's first big hit...

1993:  Mariah Carey paced an excellent Top 10 as "Dreamlover" reigned for a fourth week.  SWV moved up to challenge with "Right Here/Human Nature"/"Downtown".  The Tag Team dropped with "Whoomp!  (There It Is)", Billy Joel's career hit total was up to 39 with his 13th Top 10 song "The River Of Dreams".  The rest of the Top 10:  Janet Jackson's "If", UB40 and "Can't Help Falling In Love", Michael Jackson remained at #7 with "Will You Be There", newcomer Toni Braxton reached the Top 10 for the first time with the great track "Another Sad Love Song", Soul Asylum had one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era* with "Runaway Train" and Shai had #10--"Baby I'm Yours".
1994:  Drummer Stan Lynch played his final show with Tom Petty's Heartbreakers at Neil Young's Bridge School Concert.
1994:  John Mellencamp confirmed that he had suffered a mild heart attack while on tour.

1995:  The classic lineup of Journey announced plans to reunite for an album and possibly a tour.  The album, Trial By Fire (released on October 22), did well, reaching #3 on the Album chart.  However, the tour was canceled after only a few dates as lead singer Steve Perry was suffering from bronchitis.
1995:  Oasis debuted at #1 on the U.K. Album chart with (What's the Story) Morning Glory.
1998:  Paul McCartney went incognito for a live Internet question and answer session in the guise of the Fireman at http://www.fire-man.com/.

1998:  "The Singing Cowboy", Gene Autrey, died of lymphoma at the age of 91 in Studio City, California.
1999:  John Paul Jones, bassist for Led Zeppelin, performed solo for the first time at the Roisin Dubh in Galway, Ireland.
1999:  Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 married Marisol Maldonado.
2000:  Paul Anka filed for divorce from his wife of 37 years, Anne de Zogheb.





2000:  Radiohead released the album Kid A.
2000:  The High Court of Justice in England ruled that Robbie Williams (in his song "Jesus In A Camper Van") had copied the lyrics from the 1961 Woody Guthrie song "I Am The Way" , adapted by Loudon Wainwright III in his parody of the song.  A judge later ruled (on February 14, 2001) that Williams did not have to pay punitive damages, and instead of 100% of royalties, the later judge ruled that Williams owed 25% of royalties earned on the song, and would also have to pay 25% of court costs of the plaintiff.  (Note:  many websites incorrectly report the date of the first ruling as October 19--it was October 2, according to 'The Independent' newspaper in Great Britain.  Further, many websites state that the song was called "Jesus Was A Camper Van"--it was called "Jesus In A Camper Van".) 
2000:  Coldplay began a U.K. tour at The Junction in Cambridge.
2001:  Celebrated actor Kevin Spacey hosted Come Together:  A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.  The Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morissette, the Stone Temple Pilots and Moby performed.
2003:  Nikki Sixx, bass guitarist for Motley Crue, filed a lawsuit against Vans, alleging the tennis shoe maker used his image in ad ad without permission.

2003:  John Mellencamp was awarded with the Woody Guthrie Award, given to those who honor the legacy of the late singer.
2004:  Billy Joel married Katie Lee at Joel's mansion in Long Island, New York.
2005:  The Sugababes led the way on the U.K. chart with "Push the Button".
2005:  Katie Melua had the #1 album in the U.K. with Piece by Piece.
2007:  The state of Connecticut celebrated "Bruce Springsteen Day", a declaration made by Governor Jodi Rell.
2008:  Pink had the top U.K. album with Funhouse.

2009:  Crystal Gayle earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.


Born This Day:
1933:  David Somerville, co-founder and original lead singer of the Diamonds ("Little Darlin'"), was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada; died July 14, 2015 of prostate cancer in Santa Barbara, California.  (Note:  some websites report his birthplace as Rockwood, but his talent agency lists his birthplace as Guelph.  Some websites claim he died on July 15, and others say he died July 18.  According to the official website for Somerville, he died July 14.)
1934:  Dave Somerville of the Diamonds ("Little Darlin'") was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
1939:  Lolly Vegas, singer and guitarist of Redbone ("Come And Get Your Love" from 1973); died March 4, 2010 of lung cancer in Reseda, California.

1945:  Don McLean was born in New Rochelle, New York.
1946:  Ron Meagher, bassist of the Beau Brummels



1950:  Mike Rutherford, guitarist of Genesis and Mike + the Mechanics, was born in Guildford, Surrey, England.







1951:  Sting (Gordon Sumner) was born in Wallsend, England.
1955:  Phil Oakey, lead singer of the Human League, was born in Hinkley, Leicestershire, England.





1956:  Freddie Jackson ("You Are My Lady") was born in Harlem, New York.






1960:  Robbie Nevil ("Wot's It To Ya") was born in Los Angeles, California.
1962:  Sigtryggur Baldursson, singer and drummer of the Sugarcubes
1967:  Bud Gaugh, drummer of Sublime
1970:  Dion Allen of Az Yet




1971:  Tiffany ("Could've Been") was born in Norwalk, California.  (Note:  some websites state her birthplace as Oklahoma, but she confirmed to a fan website that she was born in California, not Oklahoma (although she has some relatives there).
1973:  Lene Grawford Nystrom of Aqua was born in Tonsberg, Norway.
1973:  LaTocha Scott of Xscape was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

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