Saturday, April 1, 2017

This Date in Rock Music History: April 2

1955:  Elvis Presley, Johnny Horton and Floyd Cramer were featured on the famous Louisiana Hayride broadcast from Shreveport Auditorium.
1955:  We first heard of Pat Boone on this date as his first single "Two Hearts" debuted on the chart and on the radio.

Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Partners In Crime" from Rupert Holmes

One of the underlooked songs of 1980 was this hidden gem from Rupert Holmes, the same guy who gave us "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" and "Him":

"Partners In Crime"
Rupert Holmes

Music and Lyrics by Rupert Holmes

She's under-age and she's underweight
And she's one month hooked and she's two months late
She comes from Wyoming
And he named her Desiree

She hit New York like a farm-fresh egg
Hits a frying pan, she's too proud to beg
So she works on the sidewalk
He administrates her pay

She calls him Swagger 'cause of his hat
He adopted her in three seconds flat
By the bus station doorway
Where he found her half-alive

He is her family and in return
He beats up on her and takes all she can earn
And she needs him so badly
Losing him she'd never survive

Him and her, me and you
We do it to each other whatever we do
Hand in hand, arm in arm
It's always been the two of us doing us harm
It's the same deal every time
We're all of us partners in crime

She is a buyer for Bloomingdale's
He's division head of commercial sales
They met at the office
Odds we one to one they'd meet

Work is the great aphrodisiac
It's that nine-to-five gets 'em in the sack
Afternoons at the office
Evenings at the health retreat

And all day long he just balls her out
'Bout some shipment due on the air freight route
But when they leave the office
Guess who gets the upper hand?

She's into power, he's into pain
And beneath her heel, he will long remain
And he needs her so badly
Loves it when she takes command

Him and her, me and you
We do it to each other whatever we do
Hand in hand, arm in arm
It's always been the two of us doing us harm
It's the same deal every time
We're all of us partners in crime

If there's a heaven, if there's a hell
It's made up of those who we love so well
And we make hell or heaven
As we do when we're alive

Two people meet and they fix their deal
And they get what they deserve
And they want the way they feel
And we need love so badly
Losing it we'd never survive

Him and her, me and you
We do it to each other whatever we do
Hand in hand, arm in arm
It's always been the two of us doing us harm
It's the same deal every time
We're all of us partners in crime

Friday, March 31, 2017

This Date in Rock Music History: April 1

1955:  George Martin became the head A&R man at Parlophone Records, a division of EMI.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

This Date in Rock Music History: March 31

 
1949:  The 45 rpm single record was first introduced by RCA Victor, one year after the LP record was introduced by Columbia.  Both provided better sound quality and longer playing time than the 78 rpm that had been the standard.
1956:  Brenda Lee made her television debut on Ozark Jambouree on ABC, singing "Jambalaya".
1957:  Elvis Presley played two concerts at Olympia Stadium in Detroit before 24,000 fans.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

This Date in Rock Music History: March 30

1957:  Buddy Knox became the first rock artist to write his own #1 song as "Party Doll" topped the charts.
1959:  "Venus" was her name, but it was also the name of the #1 song that Frankie Avalon had for the fourth week.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

This Date in Rock Music History: March 29

1961:  Governor Ernest Vandiver of Georgia declared it "Brenda Lee Day".
1963:  The Shadows had their fifth #1 in the U.K. with "Foot Tapper".
1964:  The Hollies, the Dave Clark Five, the Kinks and the Mojos began a U.K. tour at the Coventry Theatre.

Monday, March 27, 2017

This Date in Rock Music History: March 28

1942: Frank Sinatra appeared on the charts for the first time with "Night And Day".
1957: Elvis Presley appeared live at the Chicago International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

This Date in Rock Music History: March 27

1958: CBS announced the invention of stereophonic records.  The new discs could be played on existing record players, but when played on new stereo players, the listener could hear a much richer and fuller sound.