This Date in Rock Music History: May 10

1960:  The Liverpool group the Beatals changed their name to the Silver Beetles.  The group, which included Stu Sutcliffe on bass and drummer Tommy Moore, along with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, auditioned to be the backing group for Billy Fury, Johnny Gentle or Duffy Power at the Blue Angel (formerly known as the Wyvern Social Club), a club owned by manager Allan Williams.   Fury, Gentle, and Power were all looking for bands, and four other groups, including Gerry and the Pacemakers, auditioned the same day.  Moore was late, so the group used Johnny Hutchinson, the drummer from the group the Cassanovas, another auditioning group.  Despite the fact that the drummer had never practiced with them, the Silver Beetles were still the class of the five.  Fury indicated that this was the band for him.  Moore then came staggering through the door and took over on drums.  Not too long afterwards, Fury abruptly decided that he didn't need a band, and the Silver Beetles were subsequently assigned to back Gentle on an upcoming tour of Scotland.  (Note:  some websites claim that the group changed their name to the Silver Beetles on May 20, but according to the book 'The Beatles As Musicians:  The Quarry Men Through Rubber Soul' by Walter Everett, the name change occurred on May 10.  Some websites say that the group changed their name from Johnny & the Moondogs to the Silver Beetles on this date.  According to 'The Beatles Bible', the group stopped using the name Johnny & the Moondogs in January, and briefly called themselves the Beatals before switching to the Silver Beetles.)
1963:  The Rolling Stones recorded their first songs, including their version of Chuck Berry's "Come On", at Olympic Studios in London.

1964:  Dusty Springfield made her television debut singing "I Only Want To Be With You" on the CBS program The Ed Sullivan Show.
1965:  The Beatles recorded "Dizzie Miss Lizzy" and "Bad Boy".
1965:  The Rolling Stones recorded part of "Satisfaction" at Chess Studios in Chicago.
1966:  Janis Joplin was invited to San Francisco by her friend Chet Helms.  Helms wanted her to  audition for a group he was managing--Big Brother and the Holding Company.
1967:  British police arrested Mick Jagger, Keith Richard and Brian Jones for various drug offenses.
1968:  Jim Morrison, seeing what he thought was abuse of audience members by policemen, incited a riot at a Doors concert at the Chicago Coliseum.
1969:  Tricia Nixon, daughter of United States President Richard Nixon, invited the Temptations and the Turtles to perform at a White House Ball.
1969:  She sang backup for Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Leon Russell and Delaney & Bonnie but on this date, Rita Coolidge debuted on the chart with her own first single--"Turn Around And Love You".

1969:  On the Threshold of a Dream by the Moody Blues reached #1 on the U.K. Album chart.










                          Iron Butterfly had their first and only Top Ten album...

1969:  The Soundtrack to "Hair" by the Original Cast was #1 on the Album chart for a third week, holding off the great debut from Blood, Sweat & Tears.  Glen Campbell's Galveston was #3, Donovan's Greatest Hits came in fourth and Cloud Nine from the Temptations was #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Nashville Skyline from Bob Dylan, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly remained at 7, Help Yourself from Tom Jones was #8, CCR came in at #9 with Bayou Country and another Glen Campbell entry, Wichita Lineman closed the Top 10.
1969:  The Beatles scored one of the top debuts in rock history with "Get Back", which debuted at #10 on this date.
1972:  Status Quo opened for Slade at Gt. George's Hall in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England.
1974:  Eric Clapton recorded "I Shot the Sheriff".
1974:  Led Zeppelin celebrated their new record label, Swan Song, with a dinner at the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles.
1974:  The Who sold out four shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City (80,000 tickets).





1975:  She studied songwriting under Paul Simon at the University School of the Arts in the early 1970's and sang backup for Bette Midler.  She would go on to have 15 hits but she made a big impression with her first single, "Midnight Blue", which debuted on the chart on this date...for Melissa Manchester.








   
                           The great track "Shooting Star" from Bad Company...


1975:  Chicago VIII remained atop the Album chart for a second week, with That's the Way of the World from Earth, Wind & Fire at #2.  Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti fell to #3 in its ninth week on the chart, Have You Never Been Mellow from Olivia Newton-John was #4 and the posthumous release Crash Landing from Jimi Hendrix came in fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Soundtrack to "Funny Lady", the Soundtrack to "Tommy" at #7, Straight Shooter from Bad Company was eighth, An Evening With John Denver came in at #9 and Alice Cooper's Welcome To My Nightmare was #10.
1975:  Apple Records, the record company owned by the Beatles, dissolved.
1975:  Stevie Wonder performed a free concert at the Washington Monument for 125,000 people in Washington, D.C. as part of "Human Kindness Day" in the nation's capital.
1979:  Bob Dylan recorded the great track "Precious Angel" along with "When You Gonna' Wake Up" and "Slow Train" for his upcoming album Slow Train Coming at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama.

1980:  "Call Me" by Blondie beat back the competition for #1, but "Ride Like The Wind" was #2 for the third week in a row.  Air Supply remained at 3 with their first hit "Lost In Love", Billy Preston & Syreeta hung in at 4 "With You I'm Born Again" and Pink Floyd was stuck at 5 with "Another Brick In The Wall".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Fire Lake" from Bob Seger, Billy Joel's "You May Be Right" at #7, "Sexy Eyes" from Dr. Hook at #8, "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer", the collaboration from Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes, and Jimmy Ruffin's "Hold On To My Love" coming in at #10.
1982:  In the "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" department:  drummer Topper Headon of the Clash decided to go.  (Note:  some websites claim that Topper left the group on May 24, but the correct date is May 10, according to 'The Drum Channel'.)
1985:  The Go-Go's, the most popular self-contained all-girl group in music history to that time (writing songs and playing their own instruments) announced they were breaking up.
1986:  Paul Simon was the guest on Saturday Night Live.  He  performed "You Can Call Me Al", "Graceland" and "Homeless" from his landmark Graceland album.



1986:  The Pet Shop Boys moved up to #1 with "West End Girls", taking over the spot occupied by Robert Palmer's "Addicted To Love".  Whitney Houston was #3 with "Greatest Love Of All" and Van Halen came in fourth with "Why Can't This Be Love".  The rest of the Top 10:  Janet Jackson's "What Have You Done For Me Lately" at #5, the Outfield with "Your Love", Phil Collins' hit "Take Me Home" at #7, the Miami Sound Machine moving into the Top 10 with "Bad Boy", "Harlem Shuffle" from the Rolling Stones tumbling to #9 and "If You Leave" at #10, giving Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark their first Top 10.






1999:  Shel Silverstein died of a heart attack at the age of 68 in Key West, Florida.  Silverstein, who designed cartoons, wrote plays, poems and stories, also wrote songs such as "The Cover Of The Rolling Stone" and "Sylvia's Mother" for Dr. Hook, "A Boy Named Sue" for Johnny Cash and "The Unicorn" for the Irish Rovers.
2000:  Bobby Brown was arrested at Newark International Airport in New Jersey for violating his probation.
2000:  Michael Bolton lost an appeal against a court ruling that he stole part of his 1991 song "Love Is a Wonderful Thing" from an Isley Brothers song.
2003:  American Life by Madonna was the new #1 album.

2003:  Paul McCartney performed a benefit concert in Rome, Italy.  Proceeds went to Adopt-a-Minefield and to a restoration project for the Colosseum.
2004: Glen Campbell pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a car wreck the previous November in Phoenix.  He was sentenced in June to 10 days in jail.
2005:  Seal married German supermodel Heidi Klum on a beach in Mexico near Seal's home on the Costa Careyes.
2007:  A concert was held at the Barbican Centre in London in tribute to ex-frontman Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd, who had recently passed away.






2008:  The Bee Gees were honored with a Blue Plaque that was placed at the former London home of Robert Stigwood, the band's long-time manager and producer.
2010:  The Eagles played the second night at the General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia as part of the highly-successful Long Road Out Of Eden Tour.

Born This Day:

1938: Henry Fambrough, an original vocalist with the Spinners, was born in Detroit, Michigan.  (Note:  some websites report Henry was born in 1935, but 'Billboard' magazine indicates he was born in 1938.)

1946: Dave Mason, elite guitarist with Traffic and a solo artist, was born in Worcester, England.  ('Billboard' magazine reports Mason was born in 1944, but the book 'Legends of Rock Guitar:  The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists' by Pete Prown and Harvey P. Newquist says that Mason was born in 1946, and his talent agency, Richard De La Font Agency, confirms the 1946 date.) 






 

1946: Donovan was born in Glasgow, Scotland.

1946: Graham Gouldman, songwriter and guitarist of 10cc, was born in Broughton, Northamptonshire, England.  (Note:  the Songwriters Hall of Fame and 'Allmusic.com' report he was born in Manchester, but according to 'The Manchester Evening News' and 'The Manchester Beat', Gouldman was born in Broughton.) 

1947: Jay Ferguson, songwriter and lead singer of Spirit and later a solo artist, was born in Burbank, California.

1951: Ron Banks, founder and lead singer of the Dramatics, was born in Detroit, Michigan; died March 4, 2010 of a heart attack in Detroit, Michigan.

1952: Lee Brilleaux (Dr. Feelgood), was born in Durban, South Africa; died April 7, 1994 of lymphoma in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England.
1952:  Sly Dunbar, session drummer for Joe Cocker, Jimmy Cliff and Robert Palmer, was born in Kingston, Jamaica.

1957:  Sid Vicious (real name:  John Simon Ritchie), bassist of the Sex Pistols; died February 2, 1979 from drugs while awaiting a trial for murder.

1960:  Bono (Paul Hewson), lead singer of U2, was born in Dublin, Ireland.
1961:  Danny Carey, drummer for Tool, was born in Lawrence, Kansas.
1967:  Young MC (real name:  Marvin Young) was born in Neasden, London, England.  (Note:  some websites claim he was born in London.  According to the official website for Young MC, he was born in Neasden, a small town near London.)
1968:  Richard Patrick, guitarist and vocalist of Filter and once a member of Nine Inch Nails, was born in Needham, Massachusetts.
1971:  Craig Mack was born in Trenton, New Jersey.

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: "Straight Up" from Paula Abdul

We are well within two weeks of the beginning of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  In the meantime, we salute this #1 smash from Paula Abdul, which lands just outside The Top 500*...
 

Calendar* Correction: Brian May's Hepatitis

Some websites report that Brian May, elite guitarist of Queen, collapsed after a performance at the Uris Theatre in New York City on May 11.  Numerous websites say this occurred on May 16, 1980.   The latter couldn't be more wrong; the correct date is May 12, 1975, according to the book The Queen Chronology:  The Recording & Release History of the Band by Patrick Lemieux and Adam Unger. 

Calendar* Correction: Beach Boys on 'Ed Sullivan Show'

Numerous websites falsely claim that the Beach Boys appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on May 16, 1965.  The group was scheduled to appear, but canceled, according to TV.com.

Calendar* Correction: Forming of Motown Records

Some websites claim that Motown Records was founded on April 14, 1959.  Berry Gordy founded Tamla Records on January 12, 1959 with an $800 loan from his family, according to the official website for the Motown Museum.  He started Motown records in September of 1959, according to many sources, including the book African-American Business Leaders:  A Biographical Dictionary by John N. Ingham and Lynne B. Feldman, then merged the two together on April 14, 1960, according to many sources, including the book Michael Jackson King of Pop by Jean-Pierre Hombach.

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon

We are within two weeks from launch time of the musical spectacular of your life, The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.

Here's another song that just missed making the list.  It represents John Lennon's comeback in 1980 after many years in a self-imposed hiatus away from the music business...

This Date in Rock Music History: May 9

1958:  Disc Jockey Alan Freed quit radio station WINS in New York City after they refused to stand behind him in the wake of recent charges of inciting a riot at a Boston concert.

Bill Black's Combo pictured with the Beatles during a tour...


1960:  The great instrumental "White Silver Sands" by Bill Black's Combo was #1 for the third out of four weeks on the R&B chart.
1960:  Elvis Presley held on to #1 for a third week with "Stuck On You".  Incredibly, it was Elvis's 74th week at #1 in his career.  All this in just five years.
1963:  The Rolling Stones signed a contract with manager Andrew Loog Oldham's company Impact, agreeing to license their records in the U.K. to Decca Records.







1964:  Few people can match this performance with their first single.  On this date, we were first introduced to this duo.  They debuted on the chart with "A World Without Love",
which would go on to reach #1 for...Peter & Gordon.
1964:  The Animals, Chuck Berry and the Nashville Teens played at the Astoria Theatre in London.









1964:  "Hello, Dolly!" by Louis Armstrong ended the Beatles' 14-week monopoly at #1.  The Beatles were still second with "Do You Want to Know A Secret".  Mary Wells moved up with "My Guy", leapfrogging "Bits And Pieces" from the Dave Clark Five, while the Beatles' former #1--"Can't Buy Me Love", was fifth.
1964:  The Beatles' Second Album continued to top the chart with Meet the Beatles! coming in second.  Hello, Dolly! remained at #3, the Dave Clark Five moved up to #4 with Glad All Over and Al Hirt had the fifth-biggest album with Honey in the Horn.
1966:  The Doors auditioned to be the house band at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.
1966:  Karen Carpenter signed her first recording contract with Magic Lamp Records at the age of 16.
1967:  Sandy Shaw had the #1 record in the U.K. with "Puppet On A String".





1970:  Tyrone Davis owned the #1 song on the R&B chart for the second consecutive week with "Turn Back The Hands Of Time".









        
                                         Remember this one from Marmalade?

1970:  The Guess Who scored their only #1 song with "American Woman"/"No Sugar Tonight".  "ABC" by the Jackson 5 slipped while the Beatles were at 3 with "Let It Be".  The Ides of March moved from 9 to 4 with "Vehicle".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Spirit In The Sky", #1 in most places for Norman Greenbaum, the Friends of Distinction with "Love or Let Me Be Lonely", Ray Stevens surprised everyone with a 16-7 move for "Everything Is Beautiful", John Lennon with "Instant Karma", Tyrone Davis wanted to "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" and the Marmalade moved in with "Reflections Of My Life".
1973:  Mick Jagger, lead singer of the Rolling Stones, contributed $150,000 for victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake, adding to the $350,000 raised in a benefit concert by the group.
1974:  Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie performed "Blowin In The Wind" and "Spanish Is The Loving Tongue" for a benefit concert for Chile at New York City's Felt Forum. 
1974:  Bruce Springsteen gave a two-hour performance at the Harvard Square Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts in opening for Bonnie Raitt.  Jon Landau, who would later become the manager and producer for Springsteen, famously said in Boston's The Real Paper, "I saw the future of rock and roll and its name is Bruce Springsteen."  (Note:  some websites report that the concert was at the Boston Arena.  According to the newspaper 'The Boston Globe', the concert was at Harvard Square Theatre in Cambridge.)
1974:  The Eagles performed at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for their On the Border tour.
1978:  Fee Waybill of the Tubes fell off a stage in England, breaking his leg.
1981:  "Morning Train" by Sheena Easton remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

1981:  It wasn't a huge hit, but still a tasty song by Lee Ritenour.  On this date, it was the hottest new song, rising from 80 to 65--"Is It You".
1981:  Styx had a #1 album with Paradise Theater, knocking off Hi Infidelity from REO Speedwagon.  Arc of a Diver by Steve Winwood was #3 followed by the Who's Face Dances and the great Grover Washington, Jr. album Winelight.  The rest of the Top 10:  Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC, Moving Pictures from Rush, Another Ticket by Eric Clapton at #8, Double Fantasy from John Lennon and Dad Loves His Work by James Taylor at #10.
1987:  Starship began a four-week stay at #1 in the U.K. with "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now".  It made lead singer Grace Slick the oldest woman (48) to ever hit #1 in the U.K.





1987:  The Cutting Crew remained at #1 with "(I Just) Died In Your Arms".  Jody Watley was #2 with "Looking For A New Love" while U2 held down #3 "With Or Without You".  The rest of the Top 10:  "La Isla Bonita" from Madonna, "Don't Dream It's Over", the former #1 for Crowded House now at #5, "Sign 'O' The Times" from Prince at 6, Chris DeBurgh scored his first Top 10 with an 16-8 jump for "The Lady In Red", Fleetwood Mac was at 9 with "Big Love" and Aretha Franklin & George Michael slid to #10 with "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".
1987:  Atlantic Starr moved into the #1 slot on the R&B chart with "Always".
1987:  The Joshua Tree continued to set the pace on the Album chart for U2.  Licensed To Ill by the Beastie Boys was at 2 with Slippery When Wet from Bon Jovi still hanging around the top.  The rest of the Top 10:  Look What the Cat Dragged In from Poison, Paul Simon's landmark Graceland album, Sign 'O' the Times by Prince at #6, Trio from Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris at #7, Europe's The Final Countdown at #8, Bryan Adams at #9 with Into the Fire and Whitesnake moved from 19-10 with their self-titled album.

1987:  "The Finer Things" by Steve Winwood spent a third week atop the Adult Contemporary chart.
1992:  Will Smith married songwriter Sheree Zampino.
1992:  Bruce Springsteen appeared on Saturday Night Live on NBC-TV.








1992:  "Under The Bridge" gave the Red Hot Chili Peppers their first Top 10 song.










1992:  "Hazard" by Richard Marx was the new #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1995:  Elton John won the Polar Music Prize in Sweden.
1998:  Brian Wilson, genius of the Beach Boys, began to make a remarkable comeback from mental illness when he performed his first-ever solo concert at the Norris Cultural Center in St. Charles, Illinois.  His heart-wrenching story is captured in the great movie Love and Mercy.










1998:  The Soundtrack to "Titanic" was #1 on the Album chart for the 16th week in a row with One Step at a Time from George Strait and another soundtrack, City of Angels close behind.  Let's Talk About Love by Celine Dion was #4 followed by the great debut from Savage Garden that held down #5.
2003:  Wyclef Jean of the Fugees signed with J Records.
2009:  Anne Murray received an honorary degree from University of Prince Edward Island in Canada.


Born This Day:
1937: Dave Prater (Sam and Dave) was born in Ocilla, Georgia; died in a one-car automobile accident in Sycamore, Georgia on April 9, 1988.
1937: Sonny Curtis of the Crickets (also wrote songs for the Everly Brothers) was born in Meadow, Texas
1939: Nokie Edwards, guitarist of the Ventures, was born in Lahoma, Oklahoma.
1941: Pete Birrell, bassist of Freddy & the Dreamers, was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England.
1941: Danny Rapp, lead singer of Danny & the Juniors, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died April 5, 1983 of an apparent suicide in Parker, Arizona.

1942: Tommy Roe was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
1943: Bruce Milner, keyboardist of Every Mother's Son, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1944: Don Dannemann, lead singer of The Cyrkle, was born in Brooklyn, New York.









1944: Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco, was born in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
1945: Steve Katz, guitarist of Blood, Sweat and Tears and also a producer, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1946: Clint Holmes ("Playground In My Mind") was born in Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.  (Note:  some websites naively say Holmes was born in Bournemouth, Dorset, England.  Bournemouth was part of the county of Hampshire until 1974, when the Local Government Act made it part of Dorset.  But that was long after Holmes was born, and a check of his birth certificate will show that he was born in the county of Hampshire, not Dorset.) 








1949: Billy Joel was born in the Bronx, New York.  (Note:  some websites say he was born in New York City, others say Billy was born in Long Island, New York.  First off, Long Island is not a city but just an island.  Joel confirms on his website that he was born in the Bronx.)
1950: Tom Petersson, bassist with Cheap Trick, was born in Rockford, Illinois.
1953: John Edwards, bass guitar player for Status Quo, was born in Chiswick, London. 
1962:  Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode was born in Chigwell, Essex, England.  (Note:  some websites report Gahan was born in Epping, England, or Epping, Essex, England.  According to the official website for Depeche Mode, Gahan says he was born in Chigwell,)
1971:  Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan, bassist and a founding member of Oasis, was born in Manchester, England.  (Note:  several websites report Paul was born in Barton-upon-Irwell, Lancashire, England.  Oasis websites report that McGuigan was born in Manchester.  Although no credible sources exist for his birthplace, our best information indicates he was born in Manchester.)
1975:  Ryan "Nik" Vikedal, drummer for Nickelback, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
1975:  Tamia (Tamla Marilyn Washington) was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Calendar* Correction: Duran Duran

Once again, Inside The Rock Era cleans up the Internet and makes it safe to find correct information. 

Some websites claim that Duran Duran performed at Tower Records in Los Angeles on May 15, 1993.  Incorrect--according to the newspaper The Los Angeles Times and an article in Billboard magazine dated May 22, the show was May 14.

Calendar* Correction: Recording of "Ohio" by CSNY

We just passed the 45-year anniversary of the United States version of China's Tiananmen Square, the shootings at Kent State University in Ohio that resulted in the murder of four youths, on May 4, 1970.  Then-California Governor Ronald Reagan had said three weeks before the incident that student protests should not be tolerated, or in his words "If it takes a bloodbath to end them, then so be it."  Reagan got his bloodbath.

Neil Young wrote the best response to the incident with the song "Ohio", a tale dripping in satiric criticism.  Unfortunately, most of the Internet gets the events leading up to the release of the single wrong.

Some websites claim the band released the single on May 14, 1970.  You already know about the ridiculous song and artist rankings of Rolling Stone, but the magazine claims the song was recorded May 15.  This is physically impossible.  The book Encyclopedia of Great Popular Recordings by Steve Sullivan reports that Neil Young wrote "Ohio" on May 19, while saying the group recorded it on May 15 in the same article--very difficult to record a song if it hasn't been written yet, so that's out. 

Neil Young wrote the lyrics to the song after seeing the story in Life magazine, according to numerous sources, including Time magazine.  That copy of Life magazine was published on May 15 (as you can see from the photo of the Life cover above), making it impossible to read it, write and arrange the song, book a recording studio, and then record it, either on May 14 or May 15.  According to the book Neil Young:  Long May You Run:  The Illustrated History, Updated Edition by Daniel Dudrcholz and Gary Graff, Crosby handed Young a copy of Life.  Neil took out his guitar, and had the song 20 minutes later.  According to album liner notes written by Crosby, the group booked the Record Plant for May 21, and released the song within a week after recording.  The book American Reckoning:  The Vietnam War and Our National Identity by Christian G. Appy confirms that "Ohio" was recorded on May 21. 

Dudrcholz and Graff's book also says that "Ohio" was released on June 4.

Calendar* Correction: Recording of "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" by Jan & Dean

Several websites claim that Jan & Dean recorded "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" on May 14, 1964.  Beware.  The duo recorded the song with The Wrecking Crew (including drummer Hal Blaine, pianist Leon Russell as backing musicians) on March 21, according to the book The Wrecking Crew:  The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret by Kent Hartman.

This Date in Rock Music History: May 8

1961:  Ricky Nelson had a hot new song.  "Hello Mary Lou" moved from 73 to 27.


1961:  Del Shannon's "Runaway" continued to set the pace at #1 for a third week.
1962:  Engineer Ted Huntley recommended to Beatles' manager Brian Epstein that he send a demo of the band to EMI producer George Martin.
1965:  Bob Dylan shot a promotional film for "Subterranean Homesick Blues" outside of the Savoy Hotel in London, becoming one of the first artists to film a music video.








1965:  They were known then as Chad Allan & the Expressions but they would go on to become one of the top acts in the history of Canada as the Guess Who.  They first appeared on the chart with on this date with their first single, "Shakin' All Over"--5/8/65.
1965:  You could tell where this song was heading.  "Ticket To Ride" by the Beatles vaulted from 18 to 3 on this date.

    Gary Lewis & the Playboys were a solid #2...

1965:  Herman's Hermits made it two weeks in a row ruling the roost with "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter".  "Count Me In" by Gary Lewis & the Playboys was at #2 while the Beatles were third with "Ticket To Ride".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Game Of Love", the former #1 by Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, was now at #4, "I'll Never Find Another You" from the Seekers was at 5, Petula Clark fell to #6 with "I Know A Place", Herman's Hermits were going up with their new release "Silhouettes", Freddie & the Dreamers dropped to #8 with "I'm Telling You Now", the Rolling Stones were at #9 with "The Last Time" and Sounds Orchestral found the Top 10 with the instrumental "Cast Your Fate To The Wind".
1967:  Gerry and the Pacemakers announced they were splitting up.
1970:  The Beatles released the album Let It Be on Apple Records.
1971:  "If" by Bread was #1 for the third week in a row on the Easy Listening chart.  






1971:  Three Dog Night held on to #1 for a fourth week with "Joy To The World".  The Jackson 5 moved up to challenge with "Never Can Say Goodbye" while Ocean traded places with "Put Your Hand In The Hand".  Neil Diamond and Bread were both up a long ways in just seven weeks as "I Am...I Said" was #4 and "If" ranked fifth.  The rest of the Top 10:  The great Marvin Gaye song "What's Going On", the Bells decided to "Stay Awhile" at #7, Aretha Franklin hit #8 with her version of the Simon & Garfunkel classic "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Daddy Dewdrop provided comic relief with "Chick-A-Boom" and Lobo burst into the Top 10 with "Me And You And A Dog Named Boo".
1972:  Billy Preston became the first rock artist to headline a show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.






1975:  The Eagles appeared in concert at the Edgewater Raceway Park in Cincinnati, Ohio during the One of These Nights tour.
1976:  Spurred by sales that would eventually top 10 million, "Fernando" by ABBA was the new #1 song in the U.K.










1976:  Former Lovin' Spoonful member John Sebastian enjoyed a brief stay at #1 with "Welcome Back".  Maxine Nighingale came in second with "Right Back Where We Started From" and the Sylvers remained in their #3 position with "Boogie Fever".  Elvin Bishop made a move to #4 with "Fooled Around And Fell In Love".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Silly Love Songs" by Wings moved impressively from 12 to 5, Peter Frampton's "Show Me The Way", Diana Ross took #7 with "Love Hangover", Silver Convention was up 13-8 with "Get Up And Boogie (That's Right)", the Bellamy Brothers suffered one of the biggest tumbles from #1 in the Rock Era (1-9) with "Let Your Love Flow" and Johnnie Taylor was down with "Disco Lady".
1977:  Olivia Newton-John gave a concert at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
1978:  Donny Osmond was married at the age of 21 to his wife Debra.






1982:  Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart died of cancer at the age of 39 in Los Angeles.
1982:  "Shanghai Breezes" by John Denver led the way on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1982:  "Chariots Of Fire" from Vangelis reached #1 in its 22nd week on the chart.  Only seven #1 songs in rock history took longer to get to #1.
1993:  Mark Knopfler received an honorary degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.  







1993:  Whitney Houston remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "I Have Nothing".
1995:  Rick Nelson was inducted posthumously into the Hollywood Rock Walk.










1998:  Johnny Winter received a star on Hollywood's Rock Walk.
1998:  The Smashing Pumpkins filed a lawsuit against Westwood One, claiming the radio syndication company had breached an oral and implied agreement when they licensed an interview in 1991 with the band.
2002:  Mariah Carey signed a multiyear recording contract that gave Carey joint ownership of her own recording label.







2002:  "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen was voted as the
favorite song of all-time in the U.K.  "Imagine" by John Lennon was second, "Hey Jude" third, and "Dancing Queen" by ABBA came in fourth in a poll organized by the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles book.  (Note:  some websites claim the results of the poll were released May 6.  The announcement came on May 8, according to Reuters News Service and the newspaper 'The Guardian'.) 
2003:  Elton John announced that he and lyricist Bernie Taupin would compose the score for the Broadway musical The Vampire Lestat.
2003:  Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Ashanti assisted the Global Medical Relief Fund's campaign to bring a badly-burned orphan in Operation Iraqi Freedom to the United States for treatment.
2005:  Akon debuted at #1 in the U.K. with "Lonely" while his album Trouble moved to #1 as well.
2008:  Maurice White and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire and Steve Winwood were given honorary Doctorate degrees from Berklee College of Music in Boston.
2008:  Eddy Arnold, who had 22 hits early in the Rock Era, including "Make The World Go Away" in 1965, died one week shy of his 90th birthday of natural causes at a nursing home in Nashville, Tennessee.

2010:  Quincy Jones received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Indiana University.










Born This Day:

1940:  Ricky Nelson (real name Eric Nelson) was born in Teaneck, New Jersey; died in a plane crash near De Kalb, Texas December 31, 1985.

1940:  Toni Tennille was born in Montgomery, Alabama.
1941:  John Fred, who along with his Playboy Band gave us "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)", was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; died of kidney disease in New Orleans, Louisiana April 15, 2005.  (Note:  some websites insist Fred died April 14, but according to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, Fred died on April 15.)
1943:  Danny Whitten, guitarist, singer and songwriter with Neil Young's Crazy Horse, was born in Columbus, Georgia; died of a heroin overdose in Los Angeles November 18, 1972.
1943:  Paul Samwell-Smith, bass guitarist with the Yardbirds, was born in England.  (Note:  there is much confusion as to Paul's place of birth, and he has given no interviews to clear up that confusion.  Some websites say he was born in Richmond, Surrey, England, others say simply "London", while others say he was born in Twickenham, London, and still others in Twickenham, Surrey.  Twickenham (now part of the London Borough Richmond upon Thames), was previously located in the county of Middlesex until 1965, and Samwell-Smith was born long before the county change to London.  Part of Twickenham is in the county of Surrey, but again Samwell-Smith was born long before the change of counties, so each of those last two listed places of birth are false.  Unfortunately, there are no credible sources for either London or Richmond for Mr. Samwell-Smith.)

1944:  Bill Legend, drummer of T. Rex, was born in Barking, Essex, England.  (Note:  Legend says on his official website that he was born in London.  He must not know what his official birth certificate says, for in the book 'Bolan:  The Rise And Fall Of A 20th Century Superstar' by Mark Paytress, it says that Legend was born in Barking and lived in London.) 1944:  Gary Glitter ("Rock And Roll, Part 2"), whose real name is Paul Gadd, was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England.  Glitter pleaded guilty in 1997 to 54 counts of making indecent photographs of children under 16 available on the Internet.  After being released in jail, he fled to Vietnam, where he was then convicted of molesting girls aged 11 and 12.  The wierdo earns royalties every time the sports team that you support plays his song.
1951:  Chris Frantz, founding member and drummer of the Talking Heads, and also a producer, was born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

1951:  Phillip Bailey with Earth, Wind & Fire was born in Denver, Colorado.
1953:  Billy Burnette, son of Dorsey and a singer and guitarist with Fleetwood Mac, was born in Memphis, Tennessee.

1953:  Alex Van Halen, drummer for the group Van Halen, was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

 

 

 

 

 

1972:  Darren Hayes, singer-songwriter with Savage Garden, was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.










1975:  Enrique Iglesias was born in Madrid, Spain.
1978:  Ana Maria Lombo of Eden's Crush was born in Medellin, Columbia.

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: "Bad" from Michael Jackson

Another of the featured songs in our Prelude* is this smash from Michael Jackson...

Prelude to The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era: Herb Alpert's "Rise"

The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* is exactly two weeks away, and there's only one place in the world where you can catch it--on Inside The Rock Era!

In the meantime, we have been featuring some great songs just outside the list.  When this song went to #1 in 1979, Herb Alpert became the only artist in history (he still is) to achieve both a #1 vocal ("This Guy's In Love With You") and a #1 instrumental...

Errol Brown Has Died

Errol Brown, lead singer of one of the top interracial groups of all-time, Hot Chocolate, died this morning of liver cancer at his home in the Bahamas at age 71.




Brown's silky smooth voice can be heard on such great songs as "You Sexy Thing", "Emma", and "Every 1's A Winner".  Errol was born in Jamaica, but moved to Great Britain at age 11. 




Hot Chocolate was one of just three artists which enjoyed a hit in every year of the 70's in the U.K.  The group performed at the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in Buckingham Palace.  Queen Elizabeth named Brown a Member of the Most Excellent British Order in 2003.




Manager Phil Dale said, “Everybody uses the word gentleman but he really was a gentleman. He was a very personal friend of mine and he will be missed. I haven’t been anywhere in the world where I haven’t heard his music.”

Craig Gruber Has Died

Craig Gruber, bassist for Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, who also worked with elite guitarist Gary Moore among others, died yesterday of prostate cancer.  Gruber was 63.

 

The Seeds Of The Rock Era Are Planted

Inside The Rock Era is getting set to celebrate the 60th birthday of the Rock Era.  Truth be told, we have been celebrating it all year, and this website is the place to be for all of the festivities!

But on July 9, 1955, something occurred that had never happened before.  To the consternation of many adults, a rock and roll song hit #1 on the music chart that day.  Sure, there had been many rock songs prior to that, but until "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & the Comets, rock & roll had always been in the background, and not in the national consciousness, and certainly not in the world consciousness. 

"Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & the Comets changed all that, and thus changed culture and the course of history.  Teenage ears from all over the United States perked up at the new sound.  They couldn't get enough of it--they listened to it, they requested it in droves on the radio, they bought the 45, and God forbid, they started dancing to it. 

Ironically enough, the song had been a flop the year before when released.  But "Rock Around The Clock" got a new lease on life when it was included in the movie Blackboard Jungle, which was released March 19, 1955.

At Inside The Rock Era, we try to convey an historical sense to the music and the artists that we have come to love and that have indeed served as the soundtrack to our lives.  Today, May 7, is a big deal.  For on this date, and based on the hullabaloo the song was creating in theatres, "Rock Around The Clock" was re-released as a single.


And the rest, as they say, is history...  

This Date in Rock Music History: May 7

1955:  Elvis Presley performed at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach, Florida.


1955:  Although "Rock Around The Clock" was not a hit when released the year before, it had picked up renewed interest by virtue of its inclusion in the movie The Blackboard Jungle, and was consequently re-released by Bill Haley & His Comets.  And a new era was born.  If you like rock music in any of its forms, you have this song to thank.  It convinced DJ's, radio station management, and most importantly executives at record companies that rock & roll was a viable form of music.
1958:  The Champs performed their #1 smash "Tequila" on American Bandstand.
1964:  The Searchers scored their third #1 song in the U.K. with "Don't Throw Your Love Away".










1966:  The Rolling Stones released the single "Paint It Black" in the United States.
1966:  The #1 album continued to be Going Places by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, followed closely by the group's Whipped Cream & Other Delights.  Color Me Barbra by Barbra Streisand was #3.  The rest of the Top 10:  Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) by the Rolling Stones, the Soundtrack to "The Sound of Music" was #5, Ballads of the Green Berets by SSgt. Barry Sadler fell to #6, Nancy Sinatra had #7 with Boots, the Supremes' I Hear a Symphony was #8, The Dave Clark Five's Greatest Hits was #9 and If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears by the Mamas and the Papas was #10.
1966:  The Percy Sledge classic "When A Man Loves A Woman" was on top for the first of four weeks on the R&B chart.





                                            Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders...


1966:  The Mamas and the Papas rose to #1 with "Monday, Monday", displacing "Good Lovin'" by the Young Rascals.  "Sloop John B" by the Beach Boys was #3, followed by "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" from the Righteous Brothers and "Kicks", the great anti-drug song by Paul Revere & the Raiders.
1967:  Jimi Hendrix played two concerts at Brian Epstein's Saville Theatre in London.
1968:  Aretha Franklin recorded a live album at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, France.







1968:  Reginald Dwight changed his name to Elton John.  (Note:  some websites insist this happened in 1972.  The naïve website owners just might be tipped off by the 1969 album 'Empty Sky', which just happens to be the debut solo release by Elton John.  'Gold Mine' magazine and the newspaper 'The Examiner' are among the credible sources which confirm the correct year as 1968.)

1970: The fabulous Temptations released the single "Ball Of Confusion". 
1970:  Pink Floyd performed at the home of UCLA, Pauley Pavilion, in Los Angeles.
1971:  Three Dog Night chalked up a fourth week at #1 with "Joy To The World".  Lobo moved from 16 to 10 with "Me And You And A Dog Named Boo".










1973:  Three Dog Night released the single "Shambala".













1973:  George Harrison released the single "Give Me Love--Give Me Peace On Earth" on Apple Records.
1977:  Deniece Williams had the #1 U.K. song with "Free".
1977:  Marvin Gaye had the #1 R&B song with "Got To Give It Up".
1977:  Yvonne Elliman was #1 for a second week on the Adult Contemporary chart with her cover of "Hello Stranger".








          
                                          "Carry On Wayward Son" from Kansas...


1977:  The Eagles charted a sixth week at #1 on the Album chart with Hotel California, all with The #2 Album of the Rock Era*--Rumors by Fleetwood Mac, which just happened to be #2 on this date, bearing down on it.  The Soundtrack to A Star Is Born was third with Marvin Gaye Live at the London Palladium in fourth.  Stevie Wonder's epic Songs in the Key of Life edged out the debut from Boston--three of the all-time Top 10 albums were out at the same glorious time.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Soundtrack to "Rocky", the Isley Brothers with Go For Your Guns, Jethro Tull edged up with Songs from the Wood and Kansas grabbed #10 with Leftoverture.







1977:  The Eagles moved to #1 with "Hotel California".  Leo Sayer was right behind "When I Need You" while previous #1 "Southern Nights" from Glen Campbell slipped.  Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" was hot (moving 9-4), former #1 "Don't Leave Me This Way" from Thelma Houston came in fifth and newcomer Jennifer Warnes had "Right Time Of The Night".  The rest of the Top 10:  "So In To You" by the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Natalie Cole's "I've Got Love On My Mind", the Climax Blues Band moved up to #9 with "Couldn't Get It Right" and Rose Royce hit the Top 10 with their follow-up to "Car Wash", "I Wanna' Get Next to You".
1978:  Bob Dylan sold 90,000 tickets in less than eight hours for upcoming shows at the Wembley Empire Pool in London.
1983:  Style Council debuted at an anti-nuclear benefit in London.






                                             Pink Floyd's "Your Possible Pasts"...


1983:  Thriller by Michael Jackson was the top album for the 11th week.  Journey's Frontiers remained a distant runner-up while Kilroy Was Here from Styx was third.  Def Leppard's Pyromania advanced to #4 while former #1 Business As Usual by Men At Work was still strong after 45 weeks.  The rest of the Top 10;  The Final Cut from Pink Floyd, the self-titled Lionel Richie, H2O from Hall & Oates was number 8, Rio by Duran Duran and Bob Seger's new album, The Distance, moved to #10.
1983:  "I Won't Hold You Back" by Toto was #1 for a second week on the Adult Contemporary chart.










1984:  The Cars released the single "Magic" on Elektra Records.











1986:  John Mellencamp joined with farmers outside the Farmers Home Administration office in Chillicothe, Missouri to protest farm conditions.
1988:  "Nite And Day" by Al B. Sure! was #1 on the R&B chart.
1988:  Terence Trent D'Arby reached #1 in his 17th week with "Wishing Well".  Gloria Estefan moved to challenge with "Anything For You".








1988:  Gloria Estefan remained at #1 for a third week with "Anything For You" on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1988:  The "Dirty Dancing" Soundtrack was #1 on the Album chart for the 18th week, followed by Faith from George Michael.
1991:  Wilson Pickett was arrested for driving drunk and threatening a neighbor, who happened to be the mayor, in Englewood, New Jersey.
1994:  Aerosmith played the first of seven nights at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.
1994:  Pink Floyd remained at #1 on the Album chart for a third week with The Division Bell.






1994:  "The Sign" by Ace of Base, which had already spent four weeks at #1 and another four at #2, returned to the top position.  
1995:  James Taylor and Natalie Cole received honorary degrees from Berklee College of Music in Boston.  (Note:  several websites claim that Taylor and Cole received their degrees on May 6.  This is impossible, since the official website for Berklee reports that the commencement ceremony in 1995 was held May 7.  Taylor and Cole received their honorary degrees on that date.)
1998:  Steve Perry left Journey to embark on a solo career.







1998:  Eddie Rabbitt died of lung cancer in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 56.
1999:  Lisa Stansfield made her acting debut in the U.K. comedy Swing at Leicester Square in London.
2002:  Stanley, Idaho's Carole King was a guest star for a third time on the WB Networks show Gilmore Girls.
2003:  TNT and TBS announced they had signed Justin Timberlake to cover sports for the two cable channels.  Timberlake reported from the PGA championship, NBA playoffs, and NASCAR races for the TNT network, and covered college football and Major League Baseball contests for TBS.
2003:  Fleetwood Mac began their Say You Will tour at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
2003:  Pete Townshend of the Who was cleared of possessing pornographic images of children, but was found guilty of accessing a child pornography website in 1999.  He was placed on a national register of sex offenders for five years.
2005:  Giacomo, a 50-1 longshot owned by Jerry Moss, founder of A&M Records, won the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.
2006:  Snow Patrol had the #1 album in the U.K. with Eyes Open.

2006:  Gnarls Barkley continued to rule the Singles chart with their great song "Crazy".
2009:  Dolly Parton received an honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
2011:  Michael McDonald and Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers received honorary degrees to the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

2011:  John Maus of the Walker Brothers ("The Sun Ain't Gonna' Shine Anymore") died of liver cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 67.

Born This Day:
1927:  Jim Lowe ("The Green Door") was born in Springfield, Missouri.




1931:  Teresa Brewer was born in Toledo, Ohio; died of neuromuscular disease at her home in New Rochelle, New York on October 17, 2007.

1939:  Johnny Maestro (real name John Mastrangelo) of the Crests ("Sixteen Candles") and Brooklyn Bridge ("The Worst That Could Happen") was born in Manhattan, New York; died March 24, 2010 of cancer in Cape Coral, Florida.  (Note:  some websites claim Maestro was born in Brooklyn, and others say he was born in New York City.  The truth is that Johnny was born on the east side of Manhattan, according to the newspaper 'The New York Times'.)

1939:  Jimmy Ruffin ("What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted") was born in Collinsville, Mississippi; died November 17, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
1943:  Rick Westwood, guitarist of the Tremeloes ("Silence Is Golden"), was born in Dagenham, Essex, England.
1943:  Thelma Houston was born in Leland, Mississippi.  (Note:  several websites report Houston was born in 1946.  While no credible sources exist for her birth year, our best research indicates Thelma was born in 1943.)
1946:  Bill Danoff of Starland Vocal Band ("Afternoon Delight") was born in Springfield, Massachusetts.
1946:  Bill Kreutzmann, drummer of the Grateful Dead, was born in Palo Alto, California.
1948:  Pete Wingfield ("Eighteen With A Bullet") was born in Liphook, Hampshire, England.
1960:  Ann Dudley of Art of Noise was born in Chatham, Kent, England.
1961:  Phil Campbell, lead guitarist with Motorhead, was born in Pontypridd, Wales.

1969:  Eagle-Eye Cherry ("Save Tonight"), son of Don Cherry and brother to Nenah, was born in Stockholm, Sweden.