Sunday, December 10, 2017

This Date in Rock Music History: December 1

1956:  The rock & roll movie Shake, Rattle and Rock opened in theaters.  (Note:  there are several websites which call the movie 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' (presumably after the Bill Haley song of the same name).  There was no such movie in the 50's; there was a film series of the 90's called 'Shake, Rattle and Roll'.  The movie that opened on this date was a comedy called Shake, Rattle and Rock, according to 'Turner Classic Movies' and other authoritative sites.)
1956:  "Blueberry Hill" by Fats Domino was the #1 R&B song for the seventh week.
1957:  Buddy Holly & the Crickets, Sam Cooke and the Rays made their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.  Holly & the Crickets performed "That'll Be The Day" and "Peggy Sue" while Sam Cooke sang "You Send Me".



1958:  "Topsy II" by Cozy Cole spent a sixth week at #1 on the R&B chart.

1958:  The Teddy Bears had the #1 song with "To Know Him Is To Love Him".
1960:  Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee married.
1961:  Brian Epstein met with Decca Records to discuss a deal for a hot new band he was interested in called the Beatles.  This led to Decca A&R man Mike Smith going to the Cavern in Liverpool to hear the group, and an audition by a nervous young group of musicians with Decca on January 1, 1962.  In one of the classic music blunders of all-time, Decca turned the group down after their audition in favor of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, telling Epstein, "The Beatles have no future in show business."  (Note:  several websites report that Epstein was the Beatles' manager when he met with Decca for the first time.  This is not true--after being impressed by the group at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, Epstein worked feverishly behind the scenes to follow his instincts that the group could be a landmark act before beginning serious negotiations with the group.  The Beatles did not form a loose managerial agreement with Epstein to hire him as their manager until after a meeting on December 10, and signed a management contract to this effect on January 24, 1962, according to the book 'Read the Beatles:  Classic and New Writings on the Beatles' by June Skinner Sawyers and numerous credible sources.)
1961:  While Epstein was working on his vision, the Beatles did their usual lunchtime show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool and headlined a six-act Big Beat Session at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton in Wallasey, England.  The Ballroom was named after a tower that had since been torn down, but, at 567 feet, was Britain's tallest building when it was built in 1900.  This was the third time the Beatles had performed in the Ballroom.
1962:  Brenda Lee registered a fourth week at #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "All Alone Am I".





  
          I write "I'm Sorry" but my letter keeps coming back...

1962:  The 4 Seasons held on to #1 for a third week with "Big Girls Don't Cry".  Elvis Presley had one of the top #2 songs of the Rock Era with "Return To Sender".  Marcie Blane was up to 3 with "Bobby's Girl" while Chubby Checker edged up with "Limbo Rock".  The rest of the Top 10:  "All Alone Am I" from Brenda Lee, "Don't Hang Up" from Orlons at #6, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass moved from 11-7 with their great instrumental "The Lonely Bull", "Ride!" from Dee Dee Sharp, the Crystals slipped with their big hit "He's A Rebel" and Neil Sedaka was down to 10 with "Next Door To An Angel".







1965:  The Zombies released the single "Tell Her No".
1964:  The Who played the first of 22 straight nights at the Marquee Club in London.
1965:  The Rolling Stones were at the PNE Agrodome in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on their second American tour.
1966:  Jimi Hendrix signed a management deal with Yameta, a company owned by managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp of the Who.






1966:  Tom Jones found himself at #1 in the U.K. with his version of "Green, Green Grass Of Home".
1967:  Ringo Starr flew to Rome, Italy to begin filming the movie Candy.
1967:  Jimmie Rodgers ("Honeycomb" in 1957) was found with a fractured skull on the San Diego Freeway in California after he was stopped by an off-duty policeman.  The policeman's account was the he stopped Rodgers after his driving was erratic, and then Rodgers fell and hit his head when he got out of the car.  Rodgers survived, but had no memory of how he suffered the injuries.
1968:  Janis Joplin performed with Big Brother & the Holding Company for the final time at a Dog Family benefit show in San Francisco, California.






1972:  The Eagles released the single "Peaceful Easy Feeling".
1973:  Helen Reddy took over at #1 on the Adult chart with "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)".










1973:  The Carpenters had their 10th Top 10 song out of 12 releases and this one--"Top Of The World" became their second #1.  Ringo Starr slipped with "Photograph", Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" moved from 9-3 and Billy Preston was at 4 with "Space Race".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Keep On Truckin'" from Eddie Kendricks, Chicago's great song "Just You 'N' Me" was #6, switching spots with "Midnight Train To Georgia" from Gladys Knight & the Pips, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes were up with "The Love I Lost", the DeFranco Family came in ninth with "Heartbeat - It's A Lovebeat" and Charlie Rich had #10--"The Most Beautiful Girl".







        The incredible "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"...


1973:  Elton John continued to pace the album chart for the fourth week with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.







1978:  The Doobie Brothers released the album Minute by Minute.
1979:  For the third straight week, J.D. Souther was on top the Adult Contemporary chart with "You're Only Lonely".









1979:  "Video Killed The Radio Star" by the Buggles moved from 65 to 44 on this date.
1979:  "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes entered the Top 10.








       
       The Eagles tell it like it is, sad but true...

1979:  The Eagles were flying high, perched on top of the Album chart for the fifth week with their great album The Long RunOn the Radio-Greatest Hits-Volumes I & II by Donna Summer moved to #2 while former #1 In Through the Out Door by Led Zeppelin was still at #3.  Tusk from Fleetwood Mac remained fourth with Stevie Wonder taking position #5--Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants.  The rest of the Top 10:  Rise from Herb Alpert, Styx's Cornerstone after peaking at #2, Wet from Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow remained at #9 with One Voice and the double-album Bee Gees Greatest was #10.






1980:  Dan Fogelberg released the single "Same Old Lang Syne".











1980:  U2 opened for the Talking Heads at the Hammersmith Palais in London.
1982:  A very famous day in the Rock Era as Michael Jackson released the album Thriller.









1984:  Ashford & Simpson moved into the #1 slot on the R&B chart with "Solid".
1984:  Lionel Richie's "Penny Lover" was the new #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.








1984:  The "Purple Rain" Soundtrack by Prince tied More of the Monkees for the fourth-most weeks at #1 on the Album chart to that time with 18.  Born in the U.S.A. from Bruce Springsteen continued to challenge with Private Dancer from Tina Turner third and Volume One by the Honeydrippers peaking at #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  Big Bam Boom from Hall & Oates, "The Woman in Red" Soundtrack at #6, Can't Slow Down by Lionel Richie not doing so, in fact up 1 after 56 weeks, Sports from Huey Lewis & the News still hot after 61 weeks, Suddenly from Billy Ocean at #9 and Chicago moved into the Top 10 with Chicago 17.






1986:  Lee Dorsey ("Ya Ya") died of emphysema in New Orleans, Louisiana at the age of 61.
1988:  Steve Winwood and his wife celebrated the birth of daughter Elizabeth Dawn.
1989:  Sly Stone (of Sly & the Family Stone) was sentenced to 55 days in county jail for driving under the influence of cocaine.







                  "Something to Save", one of the great tracks on 'Listen without Prejudice'...

1990:  To the Extreme by Vanilla Ice was #1 on the Album chart for the fourth week with the previous #1 Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em from MC Hammer still second.  Mariah Carey's debut was third followed by The Rhythm of the Saints from Paul Simon and Whitney Houston was up from 22-5 with I'm Your Baby Tonight.  The rest of the Top 10:  Recycler from ZZ Top, The Razors Edge by AC/DC dropping to #7, Wilson Phillips still hanging around after 34 weeks, Bette Midler at #9 with Some People's Lives and the classic George Michael album Listen Without Prejudice at #10.
1990:  Whitney Houston owned the top R&B song--"I'm Your Baby Tonight".





1990:  Whitney Houston was on fire with her eighth #1 and 11th Top 10 song out of just 15 releases.  "I'm Your Baby Tonight" took over from Mariah Carey's "Love Takes Time".  Stevie B was coming up fast with "Because I Love You (The Postman Song)".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deee-Lite, Bette Midler had #5--"From A Distance", Poison was stuck on 6 with "Something To Believe In", Alias dropped after peaking at 2 with "More Than Words Can Say", UB40 moved into the Top 10 with their remake of "The Way You Do The Things You Do", Wilson Phillips had yet another smash from their debut album, moving from 15-8 with "Impulsive" and Tony!  Toni!  Tone!  fell with "Feels Good".
1990:  Bette Midler remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the fifth consecutive week with "From A Distance".
1994:  In today's episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, we go to a courtroom where Tupac Shakur was convicted of sexually abusing a woman in a hotel room.  He was later sentenced to 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years in prison.  Woo Hoo!
1995:  An auction of Frank Sinatra's possessions netted over $2 million.
1996:  Irving Gordon, songwriter who wrote "Unforgettable" for Nat King Cole, died of cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 81.

1997:  Kenny G set a new world record when he held a note on his saxophone for 45 minutes and 47 seconds and J&R Music World in New York City.
1999:  Krist Novoselic of Nivana and Kim Thayil, elite guitarist of Soundgarden had a concert in Seattle, Washington to protest the World Trade Organization summit there.
1999:  A bonus segment of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music:  Jay-Z stabbed a man at a party at the Kit Kat Klub in Manhattan, New York. Remind me not to invite him or anyone associated with him to any of my parties.  Jay-Z was sentenced to three years.
2003:  Not one, two, but three episodes of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music on this date (which pretty much proves the point).  Police in Fontana, California issued a warrant for rapper and producer DJ Quik, who was wanted in connection with an assault on his sister.
2004:  Marianne Faithfull collapsed from chronic exhaustion and suffered a seizure in Milan, Italy, forcing cancellation of the remaining dates of her European tour.
2004:  U2 debuted at #1 on the Album chart with How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.


Born This Day:
1930:  Matt Monro ("Walk Away" from 1964) was born in Shoreditch, London; died February 7, 1985 of liver cancer in London.
1933:  Lou Rawls was born in Chicago, Illinois; died January 6, 2006 in Los Angeles, California of lung and brain cancer.  (Note:  several websites claim Rawls was born in 1935.  When in doubt, check the tombstone, which clearly shows that Lou was born in 1933.)
1934:  Billy Paul ("Me And Mrs. Jones") was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died April 24, 2016 of pancreatic cancer in Gloucester Township, New Jersey.
1938:  Sandy Nelson, who gave us the great instrumental "Let There Be Drums", was born in Santa Monica, California.
1944:  Eric Bloom, lead singer of Blue Oyster Cult, was born in Brooklyn, New York.  (Note:  some websites claim that Bloom was born in New York City.  According to Dean Guitars, which Bloom endorses, and census records, Eric was born in Brooklyn.)
1944:  John Densmore, drummer of the Doors, was born in Los Angeles.

1945:  Bette Midler was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i.








1946:  Gilbert O'Sullivan was born in Waterford, Ireland.
1963:  Sam Reid, keyboardist and founding member of Glass Tiger ("Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone"), was born in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
1971:  Greg Upchurch, drummer for Puddle of Mudd who joined 3 Doors Down in 2005, was born in Bayou Cane, Louisiana.






1977:  Brad Delson, lead guitarist of Linkin Park, was born in Agoura Hills, California.

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