Songs That Changed the World--The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: "What's Up" by 4 Non-Blondes

This is 4 Non-Blondes with their version of the scene in the movie Network where everyone pops out of their windows and screams "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"  Sometimes, it takes action by the people to get justice, equality and fairness.

"What's Up"

by 4 Non-Blondes

Words and Music by Linda Perry




Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination
And I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means


And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed
Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream at the top of my lungs
What's going on?


And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
ooh, ooh ooh
and I try, oh my god do I try
I try all the time, in this institution
And I pray, oh my god do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution


And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed
Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream at the top of my lungs
What's going on?


And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

This Date in Rock Music History: October 15

1955:  Fans were lucky to be at this show.  Buddy Holly opened for Elvis Presley in Lubbock, Texas.  Talent scout Eddie Crandall saw the show and afterwards, arranged for Holly to audition for Decca Records.

1955:  For the 11th week, "Maybelline" by Chuck Berry topped the R&B chart.  

1960:  Ringo Starr was the drummer for the Beatles, sitting in for Pete Best, as the group backed Lu Walters (real name Wally Eymond) at the Akustik studio in Hamburg, Germany.  The musicians recorded a version of George Gershwin's "Summertime" that featured the first time that John, Paul, George and Ringo recorded together.









1962:  The 4 Seasons released the single "Big Girls Don't Cry".
1965:  Jimi Hendrix signed his first recording contract that paid him $1 and 1% of the earnings on his recordings.
1965:  The San Francisco group Great Society, which included Grace Slick and her husband Darby, made their live debut at the Coffee Gallery in North Beach, California.  (Note:  most websites indicate the date as September 15, but the official Jefferson Airplane website says it was October 15.)
1966:  Signe Anderson, singer with Jefferson Airplane, made her final appearance with the group at the Fillmore in San Francisco, California.  Anderson left the group in order to devote attention to her new baby. 
1966:  The Temptations ruled the R&B chart for the fourth week with "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep".





1966:  The Four Tops took a turn at #1 with their great song "Reach Out I'll Be There".  "Cherish" by the Association finally relinquished after three great weeks at #1.  ? & the Mysterians were at 3 with "96 Tears" while the Monkees' first release "Last Train To Clarksville" was up to #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  "Psychotic Reaction" from Count Five, Neil Diamond's first Top 10 of a great career ("Cherry Cherry") was #6, the Left Banke flowed into the Top 10 with a 14-7 move for "Walk Away Renee", Jimmy Ruffin's solo hit "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" entered the Top 10, "I've Got You Under My Skin" from the 4 Seasons was #9 and the Supremes closed out the list with their former #1--"You Can't Hurry Love".
1966:  Revolver by the Beatles was #1 for a sixth week on the Album chart.  The "Doctor Zhivago" Soundtrack remained at #2 with Somewhere My Love from Ray Conniff & Singers third.  Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass was fourth with What Now My Love while The Supremes A' Go-Go moved from 12 to 5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Whipped Cream & Other Delights from Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass was #6 after 75 weeks, the amazing Soundtrack to "The Sound of Music" was finally on its way down after 83 weeks, the Mamas & the Papas moved from 21-8, Sinatra at the Sands came in at #9 and Aftermath by the Rolling Stones was down to 10 after 15 weeks.


1968:  Stevie Wonder released the single "For Once In My Life".
1971:  Pink Floyd began a tour at the Winterland Arena in San Francisco, California.
1971:  You have to wonder what was going through the fans' minds:  Rick Nelson was actually booed in Madison Square Garden in New York City when he performed a new song.  The experience was immortalized in Rick's single "Garden Party".



1973:  Elton John released the single "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".
1973:  Keith Richards, guitarist of the Rolling Stones, was convicted of drug trafficking in Nice, France.
1977:  "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me" from Barry White was #1 on the R&B chart for the third straight week.
1977:  Carly Simon held on to #1 on the Easy Listening chart for the sixth week with "Nobody Does It Better".




1977:  It had been a pretty swift climb up and all signs pointed to a monster hit for Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life", the new #1 song on this date.
1977:  Rumours by Fleetwood Mac was the #1 album for week #23.  Simple Dreams by Linda Ronstadt was #2, Shaun Cassidy held on to 3 with his debut and Moody Blue from the recently departed Elvis Presley was #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  Foreigner moved up with their self-titled release, Anytime...Anywhere by Rita Coolidge was #6, the Soundtrack to "Star Wars" was #7, JT by James Taylor, I Robot from the Alan Parsons Project was #9 and the Doobie Brothers slipped into the Top 10 with Livin' On the Fault Line.
1979:  Donna Summer released her double album greatest hits package On the Radio:  Volumes I & II.
1979:  John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono contributed $1,000 to a campaign to buy bulletproof vests for New York City policemen.

1979:  The Eagles played at the War Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.
1979:  ABBA played the first of their limited number of career concerts in North America at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
1980:  Bobby Lester, founding singer with the Moonglows, died in Louisville, Kentucky at the age of 50.  
1983:  Genesis had the top U.K. album with their self-titled release.




   
         The Police had another monster hit from Synchronicity...

1983:  Bonnie Tyler logged a third week at #1 with "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", topping a great Top 10.  Air Supply remained in the runner-up spot with "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All".  The Police were stuck at three with "King Of Pain", Spandau Ballet had the #4 song--"True" and Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton combined for song #5--"Islands In Rhe Stream".  The rest of the Top 10:  The Fixx with "One Thing Leads To Another", Lionel Richie was on the move with "All Night Long (All Night)", Men Without Hats were still in the Top 10 after 17 weeks with "The Safety Dance", Billy Joel's "Tell Her About It" and the Stray Cats were down with "(She's) Sexy + 17".
1987:  Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead began a series of solo performances on Broadway in New York City.

1988:  UB40 reached #1 with "Red Red Wine", taking over from Def Leppard's "Love Bites".

1988:  New Jersey by Bon Jovi moved to #1 on the Album chart, moving Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses out after just three weeks.  Hysteria by Def Leppard was still third after 61 weeks of release with the "Cocktail" Soundtrack coming in fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Tracy Chapman with her debut, ...And Justice for All from Metallica at #6, Bobby McFerrin's Simple Pleasures, Roll With It from Steve Winwood, the great album Kick by INXS re-entered the Top 10 after 49 weeks and George Michael was hanging on to #10 after 48 weeks with Faith.



1990:  Whitney Houston released the single "I'm Your Baby Tonight".
1991:  John Fogerty and wife Julie celebrated the birth of son Shane.
1994:  Take That topped the U.K. chart with "Sure".
1994:  Monster from R.E.M. became the latest album to debut at #1.  Ho-hum.  II by Boyz II Men was second, and From the Cradle by Eric Clapton, which had debuted at #1 two weeks before, was now #3.  Rhythm of Love by Anita Baker, which had debuted at #3 a couple weeks before, was fourth followed by Songs from Luther Vandross, which had debuted at #5 the week before.  The rest of the Top 10:  "The Lion King" Soundtrack, Smash from Offspring, Slayer's Divine Intervention debuted at #8, Dookie from Green Day was #9 and The Concert by Barbra Streisand debuted at #10.  If you didn't know it, you'd say the competition this week was no better than when rock began in 1955.  And you'd be right.
1994:  "I'll Make Love To You", one of the Top Songs of the 1990's, was #1 for the ninth week on the R&B chart.

1994:  Boyz II Men had the #1 song for the eighth straight week with "I'll Make Love To You".
1997:  Michael Jackson concluded a highly successful HIStory Tour at King's Park Rugby Stadium in Durban, South Africa.  Jackson did 82 shows and performed before 4.5 million fans on the tour.
1999:  Terry Gilkyson, lead singer of the Easy Riders ("Marianne" in 1957) died while visiting family in Austin, Texas at the age of 83.  
2000:  Dave Edmunds ("I Hear You Knockin'") had triple heart bypass surgery at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
2000:  U2 earned the #1 song in the U.K. with "Beautiful Day".
2006:  My Chemical Romance had the top U.K. hit with "Welcome to the Black Parade".
2008:  It seemed no artist would give permission for Republicans to use their songs.  Jon Bon Jovi was the latest to tell presidential hopeful John McCain that he was illegally using his song "Who Says You Can't Go Home".  Heart, Jackson Browne and the Foo Fighters had all previously told McCain to cease using their material.
2008:  Madonna and Guy Ritchie announced that their seven-year marriage was over.


Born This Day:
1925:  Mickey Baker, who had a hit with Sylvia ("Love Is Strange") and worked with artists such as the Drifters, Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner and Ivory Joe Hunter, was born in Louisville, Kentucky; died of heart and kidney failure on November 27, 2012 in Montastruc-la-Conseillère, France.

1935:  Barry McGuire ("Eve Of Destruction") was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1938:  Marv Johnson, who recorded the 45 "Come to Me", the first record released on Tamla Records, was born in Detroit, Michigan; died of a stroke at a concert in Columbia, South Carolina on May 16, 1993.
1942:  Don Stevenson, drummer of Moby Grape, was born in Seattle, Washington.

1946:  Richard Carpenter, the genius behind the best-selling duo the Carpenters, was born in New Haven, Connecticut.

1948:  Chris De Burgh was born in Venado Tuerto, Santa Fe Province, Argentina.
1953:  Tito Jackson of the Jackson 5 was born in Gary, Indiana.
1970:  Ginuwine was born in Washington, D.C.

The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era--The Next 10

October 3--"The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
October 4--"Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles
October 5--"Higher Love" by Steve Winwood
October 6--"Ball of Confusion" by the Temptations
October 7--"As" by Stevie Wonder
October 8--"Californication" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
October 9--"Waiting for the World to Change" by John Mayer
October 10--"Sweet Love" by the Commodores
October 11--"Sober" by Pink'
October 12--"Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder

Songs That Changed the World--The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: "Boy in the Bubble" by Paul Simon

This highly-provocative song is Paul Simon at his lyrical best.
"Staccato signals of constant information, a loose affiliation of millionaires and billionaires." Who else can write so brilliantly?

"Boy in the Bubble"

by Paul Simon

Words by Paul Simon, Music by Fovere Motloheloa


It was a slow day
And the sun was beating
On the soldiers by the side of the road
There was a bright light
A shattering of shop windows
The bomb in the baby carriage
Was wired to the radio, and

These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long-distance call
The way the camera follows us in slow-mo
The way we look to us all
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry, baby, don't cry, don't cry

It was a dry wind
And it swept across the desert
And it curled into the circle of birth
And the dead sand
Falling on the children
The mothers and the fathers
And the automatic earth

These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long-distance call
The way the camera follows us in slow-mo
The way we look to us all, oh, yeah
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry, baby, don't cry, don't cry

It's a turn-around jump shot
It's everybody jump start
It's every generation throws a hero up the pop charts
Medicine is magical and magical is art
Think of the boy in the bubble
And the baby with the baboon heart

And I believe
These are days of lasers in the jungle
Lasers in the jungle somewhere
Staccato signals of constant information
A loose affiliation of millionaires
And billionaires, and, baby

These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long-distance call
The way the camera follows us in slow-mo
The way we look to us all, oh, yeah
The way we look to a distant constellation
That's dying in a corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder
And don't cry, baby, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry

This Date in Rock Music History: October 14

1955:  Buddy Holly opened for Bill Haley & the Comets in Lubbock, Texas.  Eddie Crandell was in the audience and arranged for Holly to record his first demo.

1959:  Bobby Darin reached #1 in the U.K. with "Mack The Knife".
1964:  Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones and Shirley Ann Arnold were secretly married in Bradford, England.
1964:  The Beatles played two performances at the ABC Cinema in Ardwick, Manchester, England.

1966:  Grace Slick debuted as the lead singer of Jefferson Airplane.
1967:  The second series of The Monkees television show began in the U.K.







  
              Back when music artists had soul, man...(unlike today)...

1967:  "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave was the new #1 song on the R&B chart.
1967:  Ode to Billie Joe was the new #1 album, displacing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band after 15 weeks.  







              The Alarm woke up listeners in October with this great song...

1967:  Strawberry Alarm Clock made a strong move (59 to 34) with "Incense And Peppermints".








1967:  "The Letter" spent a fourth week at #1 for the Box Tops, but had strong competition from "Never My Love" by the Association and "To Sir With Love", which moved up from #11 to #3 for Lulu. 
1969:  Police in New Jersey issued a warrant for the arrest of Frank Sinatra based on alleged connections to the mafia.








1969:  B.J. Thomas released the single "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head".
1971:  John Lennon appeared on The Dick Cavett Show on ABC-TV.
1972:  Police in Adelaide, Australia arrested Joe Cocker and his band for possession of marijuana and heroin.







1972:  The Spinners had the new #1 R&B song--"I'll Be Around".
1972:  "Garden Party" by Rick Nelson took over as the top Easy Listening song.

 1972:  Fourteen year-old Michael Jackson reached #1 as a solo performer with "Ben".  Bill Withers was up with "Use Me" and the Main Ingredient had the right formula with "Everybody Plays The Fool".  Elvis Presley's last Top 10 song "Burning Love" was up to #4, jumping ahead of the Raspberries and "Go All The Way".  the Moody Blues had the only new Top 10 song with "Nights In White Satin".








1972:  Chicago V was the #1 album for the 10th week with Leon Russell's Carney #2 and Rod Stewart remaining at 3 with Never a Dull Moment.  Elton John was moving up with Honky Chateau.  The rest of the Top 10:  Big Bambu from Cheech & Chong, Superfly by Curtis Mayfield, the incredible album Days of Future Passed moved from 14 to 7 after 57 weeks on the chart, Seven Separate Fools by Three Dog Night, The London Chuck Berry Sessions sat at #9 and Moods from Neil Diamond was #10.






1974:  Chicago released the single "Wishing You Were Here".

1974:  Helen Reddy released the single "Angie Baby".
1975:  The Eagles were in concert at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
1976:  Aerosmith began their first U.K. tour at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, England.
1977:  Linda Ronstadt sang the National Anthem at the third game of the World Series.






1977:  Bing Crosby, who ventured to Madrid Spain, for a golfing trip, died of a heart attack at the age of 76.









1978:  Firefall had a hot new song featuring that great flute solo--"Strange Way".
1978:  Funkadelic was set at #1 on the R&B chart for the third week with "One Nation Under A Groove".

                    Ronstadt skated up the album chart for her 5th consecutive Top 10 LP...

1978:  The "Grease" Soundtrack returned to #1 on the Album chart for the third time and 10th week total.  Boston's Don't Look Back was #2 with Foreigner's Double Vision and Who Are You by the Who trailing.  The rest of the Top 10:  Some Girls from the Rolling Stones, A Taste of Honey with their self-titled release, Nightwatch by Kenny Loggins, Dan Fogelberg & Tim Weisberg moved from 10-8 with Twin Sons of Different Mothers, Donna Summer's Live and More entered the Top 10 and Linda Ronstadt moved from 30 to 10 in her second week with Living in the U.S.A.

1978:  Exile remained locked into the #1 position with their great song "Kiss You All Over".  Nick Gilder remained second with "Hot Child In The City" and A Taste of Honey's former #1 "Boogie Oogie Oogie" was still hanging around.  Little River Band was up with "Reminiscing" and Anne Murray edged up with "You Needed Me".  The rest an excellent Top 10:  "Whenever I Call You Friend" by Kenny Loggins, John Paul Young's "Love Is In The Air", Donna Summer had her 10th hit and fourth Top 10 with "MacArthur Park", Boston was on the way down with "Don't Look Back" and Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta had song #10--"Summer Nights".
1987:  Bryan Adams and T'Pau were at the Newcastle City Hall in England.
1988:  Def Leppard became the first artist of the Rock Era to sell seven million copies of consecutive albums as on this date, Hysteria joined Pyromania as a seven-million seller.
1989:  Tracy Chapman scored a #1 album in the U.K. with Crossroads.
1989:  Janet Jackson reached #1 on the R&B chart with "Miss You Much".  It was her fourth straight R&B #1 song, her seventh straight Top 3 R&B song, her ninth Top 10 of that genre, and her 12th R&B hit.

1989:  Don Henley had one of the fastest-rising songs (91 to 70) with "The Last Worthless Evening".
1990:  Dr. Feelgood by Motley Crue was #1 on the album chart with Paula Abdul falling to 2 after 65 weeks with her solid album Forever Your Girl.  Steel Wheels from the Rolling Stones was third.  Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli was fourth followed by Hangin' Tough from New Kids on the Block.  I know, very questionable competition here.  The rest of the Top 10:  Pump from Aerosmith, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 moved from 28 to 7, Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty, Skid Row fell and Cher entered the list with Heart of Stone.




1991:  Paula Abdul released the great song "Blowing Kisses In The Wind".
1995:  "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey was #1 on the R&B chart for the third week.

1995:  Mariah Carey had the #1 song for the third straight week with "Fantasy".  Coolio's former #1 "Gangsta's Paradise" was still at #2 with Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone" followed by his sister Janet's hit "Runaway".  "Kiss From A Rose" by Seal was #5 with TLC's former #1 "Waterfalls still hanging around.
1995:  Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette was the #1 album for the second week.  It was just getting started.
1997:  The symphonic poem of Paul McCartney "Standing Stone" debuted.
1998:  Janet Jackson and *N Sync kicked off a tour at the Baltimore Arena in Maryland.
2000:  The Beatles Anthology was the #1 book on the New York Times' bestseller list for non-fiction.
2003:  Scott Weiland, lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver filed for divorce from his wife.

2003:  ZZ Top released the boxed set  ZZChrome, Smoke & BBQ.
2004:  Eric Clapton thought he was on the Autobahn.  He was suspended from driving in France after caught driving 134 mph near Merceuil.  Clapton was fined 750 euro and his U.K. license was confiscated.
2006:  Freddy Fender ("Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" from 1975)  died of complications from lung cancer at his home in Corpus Christi, Texas at the age of 69.
2007:  In today's edition of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, rapper T.I .was arrested in a parking lot for collecting machine guns and silencers.
2007:  Tom Petty's documentary Runnin' Down a Dream debuted at the New York Film Festival.
2007:  The Sugababes had the top U.K. album--Change.
2009:  Sir Paul McCartney was named Songwriter of the Year at the ASCAP Awards in London.

Born This Day:
1926:  Bill Justis, who gave us one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* ("Raunchy"), was born in Birmingham, Alabama; died of cancer in Nashville, Tennessee on July 15, 1982 at the age of 55.
1930:  Robert Parker ("Barefootin'" in 1966) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

1940:  Cliff Richard (real name Harry Webb) was born in Lucknow, India.
1942:  Billy Harrison of Them
1943:  Dennis D'Ell of the Honeycombs ("Have I the Right") was born in London; died July 6, 2005 of cancer.  (Note:  some websites report his birthday as October 10, but the official Honeycombs site shows it as October 14, a date given to them by his daughter.)
1945: Colin Hodgkinson of Whitesnake was born in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England.

1946:  Justin Hayward, guitarist, songwriter and vocalist of the Moody Blues, and a solo artist, was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England.
1946:  Dan Cafferty, lead singer and a founding member of Nazareth, was born in Dunfermline, Scotland.
1947:  Norman Harris, songwriter, guitarist, arranger and producer who worked with the Delfonics, the Trammps and MFSB, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died of cardiovascular disease on March 20, 1987.  (Note:  some websites list his birth as October 2 and February 10, some list his birth year as 1938, 1939, or even 1958, and some show his death as March 21.  Unfortunately there are no credible sources on either his birthday or date of death, but our best research shows he was born on October 14, 1947 and died March 20, 1987.)
1948:  Marcia Barrett of Boney M ("Rivers Of Babylon" from 1978) was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica.
1958:  Thomas Dolby ("She Blinded Me With Science" from 1983) was born in London.
1959:  A.J. Pero, drummer of Twisted Sister, was born in Staten Island, New York.





1965:  Karyn White ("Romantic") was born in Los Angeles.

1974:  Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks was born in Lubbock, Texas.
1975:  Shaznay Lewis of All Saints was born in Islington, London.







1978:  Usher (Terry Raymond IV) was born in Dallas, Texas.

Songs That Changed the World--The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: October 3-12

October 3:  "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston

October 4:  "Lyin' Eyes by the Eagles


October 5:  "Higher Love" by Steve Winwood


October 6:  "Ball of Confusion" by the Temptaitons


October 7:  "As" by Stevie Wonder


October 8:  "Californication" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers


October 9:  "Waiting for the World to Change" by John Mayer


October 10:  "Sweet Love" by the Commodores


October 11:  "Sober" by Pink  


October 12:  "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder

The Top 100 Guitarists of the Rock Era

Many people have these lists, but I think you'll find this one more entertaining and more enjoyable. 

The Top 100 Guitarists of the Rock Era*...Coming Soon!

Songs That Changed the World--The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: "Fly Like An Eagle" by the Steve Miller Band

Steve Miller's contribution to our feature focuses our minds on the homeless, the malnourished and the poor among us in this great song--"Fly Like An Eagle".

"Fly Like An Eagle"

by the Steve Miller Band

Words and Music by Steve Miller


Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future

I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I'm free
Oh, Lord, through the revolution

Feed the babies
Who don't have enough to eat
Shoe the children
With no shoes on their feet
House the people
Livin' in the street
Oh, oh, there's a solution

I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I'm free
Fly through the revolution

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future

I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till I'm free
Fly through the revolution

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future

This Date in Rock Music History: October 13

1957:  Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra introduced the new product from Ford, the Ford Edsel, on an hour long television special.

1958:  Frank Sinatra had the top album with Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely.
1958:  "It's All In the Game" by Tommy Edwards was the #1 song.
1962:  Don Everly collapsed while rehearsing at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London prior to the first of 22 dates of an Everly Brothers concert tour of the U.K.  He flew back to the United States for treatment and brother Phil performed solo for the entire tour.

1962:  For the fifth week, "Ramblin' Rose" by Nat King Cole was #1 on the Easy Listening chart.
1963:  The Beatles were on ITV's Sunday Night at the Palladium, their first major appearance on television.  15 Million people saw the program and thousands more crowded the streets of London to get a glimpse of the band.  The group played "From Me To You", "She Loves You", "Twist and Shout" and "I'll Get You".  
1965:  The Who recorded "My Generation" at Pye Studios in London.
1965:  The Beatles finished recording "Drive My Car" in a marathon five-hour session that ended after midnight at EMI Studios in London.

1966:  The Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first concert a week after forming the group at the Olympia in Paris, France.  (Note:  many websites claim the group's first show was in Paris, but according to the book 'The Essential Jimi Hendrix' by Rotimi Ogunjobi, the tour began at the Novelty Club in Evreux, Normandy, France on October 13, and the Paris show wasn't until the 18th.)1967:  Pat Boone, who became the owner of the Oakland Oaks basketball team, sang the national anthem at the first game of the new American Basketball Association.

1968:  Florence Ballard gave birth to twins.
1968:  John Lennon recorded three takes of "Julia" as a solo contribution to The White Album.

1969:  Peter, Paul & Mary released the single "Leaving On A Jet Plane".

1969:  Neil Diamond released the single "Holly Holy".










1969:  Mary Hopkin performed at the Savoy Theatre in London.  Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr, who produced "Those Were The Days" for Hopkin on their Apple Records label, were in attendance.
1970:  The ashes of Janis Joplin were scattered at Stinson Beach in Marin County, California.







1971:  Bing Crosby, part owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, threw out the first ball for Game 4 of the World Series between the Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles.








          One of the greats in a long string for Stevie Wonder...


1973:  Goats Head Soup moved to #1 on the Album chart for the Rolling Stones.  Brothers and Sisters by the Allman Brothers Band was now #2 with Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On third and Los Cochinos from Cheech & Chong in the fourth position.  The rest of the Top 10:  the great Innervisions album by Stevie Wonder, We're An American Band from Grand Funk at #6, Deliver the Word by War, Killing Me Softly from Roberta Flack at #8, Long Hard Climb by Helen Reddy and Joe Walsh entered the Top 10 with The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get.





1973:  Jim Croce, who had died less than a month before, didn't get to see one of his biggest hits ("I Got A Name") race up from 76 to 40.








       
                        The Isley Brothers had a Top 10 hit...

1973:  "Half-Breed" from Cher remained #1 but the Allman Brothers Band made a strong bid with "Ramblin' Man", which moved from 7-2.  Marvin Gaye held on with "Let's Get It On" and Stevie Wonder edged up with "Higher Ground".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Angie" from the Rolling Stones, the Isley Brothers with "That Lady", Paul Simon's #2 song "Loves Me Like A Rock" was now at 7, Gladys Knight & the Pips scored their 25th hit and fifth Top 10 with "Midnight Train To Georgia", Eddie Kendricks said "Keep On Truckin'" and Grand Funk fell to the 10th spot with "We're An American Band".







1974:  Ed Sullivan, television host of the popular show which bore his name, died at the age of 73 in New York City.  The show ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, 1971 on CBS every Sunday night.  He introduced numerous acts to audiences and the show featuring the Beatles on February 9, 1964 is one of the milestones in popular culture, viewed by 73 million people.  







1975:  Simon & Garfunkel reunited for the single "My Little Town", which they released on this date.
1975:  Neil Young had surgery on his vocal chords in Los Angeles.
1977:  Shirley Brickley of Orlons ("The Wah Watusi") was shot and killed by an intruder in her home.  She was 32.
1978:  Led Zeppelin began rehearsing for a new album, which would turn out to be their last, the great In Through the Out Door.
1979:  The Police collected a #1 album in the U.K. with Regatta De Blanc.
1979:  Anne Murray notched her third consecutive #1 Adult Contemporary song as "Broken Hearted Me" took over.


1979:  John Cougar (Mellencamp) appeared on the charts for the first time with his debut single "I Need A Lover".
1979:  The Eagles moved from #52 to #15 in their second week with "Heartache Tonight".









                 M had everybody talking about "Pop Muzik"...

1979:  Michael Jackson had his first #1 in seven years and the second of his career with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".  Herb Alpert was a solid #2 with "Rise" while Robert John fell with "Sad Eyes" after just one week at the top.  The Commodores had a winner with "Sail On" and the former #1 smash "My Sharona" from the Knack was at #5.  The Rest of the Top 10:  Dionne Warwick's 42nd career hit was her first Top 10 in five years--"I'll Never Love This Way Again", M and "Pop Muzik" was #7, Donna Summer was up with "Dim All The Lights", Little River Band had song #9--"Lonesome Loser" and Earth, Wind & Fire closed out the list with "After The Love Has Gone".
1979:  Led Zeppelin's new album In Through the Out Door was #1 for the fifth week in a row.






1980:  Air Supply released their third single--"Every Woman In The World".











1980:  The AC/DC album Back In Black went Platinum. 
1984:  U2 reached #1 in the U.K. with The Unforgettable Fire. 
1984:  Stevie Wonder's song "I Just Called To Say I Love You" took over at the #1 position on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1984:  Wonder also ruled the R&B chart with "I Just Called To Say I Love You".







1984:  And Stevie Wonder made it a trifecta with "I Just Called To Say I Love You", #1 overall.  "Let's Go Crazy" from Prince was dethroned and the Cars were in neutral with "Drive".  Chicago reached #4 with "Hard Habit To Break" and Madonna had song #5--"Lucky Star".  The rest of the Top 10:  Billy Ocean and his first Top 10 song "Caribbean Queen", John Waite was on his way down with "Missing You", Bruce Springsteen's "Cover Me", Sheila E. and "The Glamorous Life" was #9 with Cyndi Lauper in the 10th position with "She Bop".






1984:  The Prince album Purple Rain spent a 15th week at #1.  Born in the U.S.A. from Bruce Springsteen was second, with Tina Turner's Private Dancer, Sports by Huey Lewis & the News and Heartbeat City by the Cars holding their ground.  The rest of the Top 10:  1100 Bel Air Place by Julio Iglesias, Can't Slow Down, still #7 after 49 weeks, Break Out by the Pointer Sisters, "Eddie and the Cruisers" Soundtrack by John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band and Madonna's debut at #10.






1990:  Because of the popularity of the movie Ghost which features the song, the Righteous Brothers went all the way to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Unchained Melody", 25 years after it first was a hit.








1990:  George Michael collected his ninth #1 song and sixth as a solo artist with "Praying For Time".  
1990:  The album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em by M.C. Hammer remained #1 for a 15th week.
1993:  Wade Flemons of Earth, Wind & Fire died of cancer in Battle Creek, Michigan at age 53.
1995:  In today's Inmates Run Rap Music segment, Tupac Shakur was released from jail after 8 months.







1998:  After years of planning, the Crossroads Centre of Antigua opened.  The project was the dream of Eric Clapton and promised that no one will be turned away that needs treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.
2001:  Peter Doyle of the New Seekers ("I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" and "What Have They Done To My Song Ma") and a solo artist, died of throat cancer in Castlemaine, Australia at the age of 52.
2002:  Las Ketchup reached #1 in the U.K. with "The Ketchup Song", also a #1 song in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, Romania, Argentina and Mexico.
2003:  Tickets for the Duran Duran reunion at Kentish Town Forum in London sold out in four minutes.
2004:  Ronald Isley was indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles and charged with five counts of tax evasion for failing to report income from royalties and one count of failing to file an income tax return.  The Internal Revenue Service  had discovered royalty checks deposited to Ronald's account that were issued to his dead brother O'Kelly.  (Note:  some websites report the date of the indictment as October 14, but that was the date the story appeared in newspapers; according to 'Billboard', the indictment was handed down on October 13.
2006:  Justin Hawkins, lead singer of the Darkness, announced he was leaving the group.

2009:  Al Martino, who had 35 hits from 1959 to 1977, including "I Love You Because" and "Spanish Eyes" and starred in The Godfather, died at age 82 in Springfield, Pennsylvania.  
2010:  The great Graham Nash of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire medal from Queen Elizabeth of England at Buckingham Palace.
2010:  General Norman Johnson, lead singer of Chairmen of the Board ("Give Me Just a Little More Time") died of lung cancer at age 69.
2011:  The city of Clear Lake, Iowa named Ritchie Valens Drive and J.P. Richardson Avenue to join the existing Buddy Holly Place after the three stars killed in a plane crash following a concert in Clear Lake on February 3, 1959.

2016:  Bob Dylan became the first musician to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.




Born This Day:

1941:  Paul Simon was born in Newark, New Jersey.










1944:  Robert Lamm, keyboardist with Chicago, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1946:  Dorothy Moore ("Misty Blue" from 1975) was born in Jackson, Mississippi.








1947:  Sammy Hagar, lead singer with Montrose and Van Halen and a solo artist, was born in Monterey, California.









1948:  John Ford Coley, half of the duo Dan & Coley ("I'd Really Love To See You Tonight"), was born in Dallas, Texas.
1948:  Peter David Spencer of Smokie ("If You Think You Know How To Love Me".
1950:  Simon Nicol, founder, singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist of Fairport Convention and also a record producer, was born in Muswell Hill, London.




1959:  Marie Osmond was born in Ogden, Utah.
1962:  Rob Marche, guitarist of the Jo Boxers ("Just Got Lucky")








1980:  Ashanti was born in Glen Cove, New York.