This Date in Rock Music History: April 13

1959:  The Fleetwoods had the #1 song with "Come Softly To Me".
1962:  The Beatles began performing at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, the city's newest rock & roll venue.  The band would play 3-4 hours a night for 48 days with one day off. 
1963:  Andy Williams grabbed the #1 spot on the Easy Listening chart with "Can't Get Used To Losing You".

1963:  The Chiffons spent their third of four weeks at #1 with "He's So Fine".  Ruby & the Romantics were at #2 with "Our Day Will Come".  The rest of the Top Five--"The End Of The World" by Skeeter Davis remained at #3, the Orlons had #4 with "South Street" and Andy Williams shot up from 18 to 5 with "Can't Get Used To Losing You".

 

 

 

 

1964:  Dionne Warwick released the single "Walk On By".

1964:  Bobby Darin was nominated for but did not win Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards for Captain Newman, M.D.
1965:  The Beatles recorded "Help!" at EMI Studios in London.








                     Getz & Gilberto were awarded Record of the Year...

1965:  Roger Miller won five awards at the Grammy Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.  Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto captured Record of the Year ("The Girl From Ipanema") and Album of the Year (Getz/Gilberto).  The Beatles took home the awards for Best New Artist and Best Performance by a Group for "A Hard Day's Night".  (Note:  some websites mistakenly put the date as February 13.  The correct date, according to the official Grammy website, is April 13.)  






1966:  Without any prior rehearsal, the Beatles began recording "Paperback Writer", developing the song over 6 1/2 hours at EMI Studios in London.  Overdubs were completed the following day.)
1967:  The Rolling Stones appeared in concert behind the old Iron Curtain with two shows at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland.







1968:  This was one of the best years in music and Bobby Goldsboro's classic "Honey" was one of the reasons why.  It moved from 10 to 1 to sit atop the charts on this date.  That represents the seventh-biggest jump to #1 in Billboard chart history.  "Young Girl" by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap was #2 and the former #1 (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding slipped to 3.  The remainder of the Top Ten:  The Box Tops had #4 with "Cry Like A Baby", Aretha Franklin held down #5 with "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone", the Beatles were at 6 with "Lady Madonna", Georgie Fame had #7 with "The Ballad Of Bonnie And Clyde", the Delfonics were at #8 with "La-La-Means I Love You", the Monkees slipped to 9 with "Valleri" and Manfred Mann moved into the top Ten with "The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)".
1968:  "Love Is Blue" topped the Adult Contemporary chart for a ninth week in a row.
1969:  Diana Ross appeared without the Supremes on the Dinah Shore show Like Hep.

1970:  Genesis appeared at Friars in Aylesbury, England.
1970:  Led Zeppelin became the first act to sell out the Montreal Forum.
1973:  Roger Daltrey, lead singer of the Who, released the solo album Daltrey.  (Note:  some websites report that the album was released April 20, but according to 'Gold Mine' magazine, it was released April 13.)










1974:  Paul McCartney & Wings had the #1 album with Band on the Run.  John Denver's Greatest Hits slipped to second with Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells lining up to take #3.  Joni Mitchell was fourth with Court and Spark.  The rest of the Top 10:  Love Is the Message from MFSB, Elton John was still in the Top 10 with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were, the Soundtrack to "The Sting" from Marvin Hamlisch moved to #8, the Doobie Brothers cracked the Top 10 with What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits and Burn by Deep Purple was #10.







                                                    Redbone was in the Top 10...

1974:  Elton John scored another #1 with "Bennie And The Jets" on this date.  Blue Swede fell to #2 with "Hooked On A Feeling" after a week at the top.  MFSB was at #8 with "TSOP", Sister Janet Mead moved "The Lord's Prayer" to #4, Redbone had #5 with "Come And Get Your Love", John Denver was at 6 with his former #1 "Sunshine On My Shoulders", Gladys Knight & the Pips were at #7 with "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me", Terry Jacks fell to #8 with his former #1 "Seasons In The Sun", Ringo Starr moved into the top ten with "Oh My My" and Carly Simon & James Taylor had song #10 with "Mockingbird".







1975:  The Captain & Tennille released the single "Love Will Keep Us Together".












1979:  Donna Summer released the single "Hot Stuff".
1978:  The Supremes (without Diana Ross) played the first of three nights at the Palladium in London.
1979:  Just five nights into Van Halen's tour, lead singer David Lee Roth collapsed on stage from exhaustion at the Spokane Coliseum.  








1980.  The play Grease closed on Broadway after 3,388 performances and $8 million in ticket revenue.  (Note:  several websites report that there were 3,883 performances.  Not on Broadway.  According to the official website for 'Playbill', 'Grease' played 3,388 times.)
1985:  Phil Collins had the top album for a third week with No Jacket Required.









1985:  USA for Africa rose to #1 with "We Are The World"--it would stay there for four weeks.  The rest of the Top Ten--#2 was "One More Night" by Phil Collins, Madonna at 3 with "Crazy For You", the Commodores without Lionel Richie were at #4 with "Nightshift", Madonna slipped to #5 with "Material Girl", Bruce Springsteen was climbing up with "I'm On Fire", DeBarge had #7 with "Rhythm Of The Night", "Lovergirl" by Teena Marie was #8, Animotion had a fast-rising "Obsession" at #9 and Diana Ross moved into the top ten with "Missing You".
1985:  "One More Night" spent one more week at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for Phil Collins.











1991:  Londonbeat moved into the #1 slot with their great song "I've Been Thinking About You".  Wilson Phillips used their harmonies to hold down #2 with "You're In Love".  Tara Kemp had song #3 with "Hold You Tight", Amy Grant was moving towards the top with "Baby Baby" and Enigma had "Sadeness Part 1" at #5.








1991:  Wilson Phillips spent their third of four weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "You're In Love".
1993:  Governor William Weld of Massachusetts declared it "Aerosmith Day".
1994:  Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley announced their separation.








1996:  Celine Dion remained at #1 for the fourth week with "Because You Loved Me".  Mariah Carey had #2 with "Always Be My Baby", Tony Rich Project remained third with "Nobody Knows" and Alanis Morissette moved up with "Ironic".
1996:  The album Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette wasn't done in its amazing run on the Album chart.  It moved back to #1 for the fourth time and a seventh week. 
2000:  Gavin Rossdale of Bush collapsed at the end of a show in Los Angeles.
2000:  Metallica filed a law suit against Napster, Yale, USC and Indiana University for copyright infringement.  (Note:  some websites claim the suit was filed April 12, but the correct date is April 13, according to 'Forbes' magazine and the book 'Shawn Fanning:  The Founder of Napster' by Renee Ambrosek.)
2001:  Midnight Oil backed out of a proposed tour with INXS and Men At Work.  (Note:  several websites report this occurred on April 18, but the news broke when INXS reported the cancellation on its official website on April 13.)
2003:  The Beatles' Apple Corporation was listed as the fastest-growing firm in Britain with a growth rate of 194%.





2005:  Switchfoot won four awards, including Artist of the Year, at the Gospel Music Association Awards.
2005:  Johnnie Johnson, keyboardist with Chuck Berry died at age 80 in St. Louis, Missouri; he was the inspiration for the standard "Johnny B. Goode".



Born This Day:
1936:  Tim Field of the Springfields ("Silver Threads And Golden Needles")
1940:  Lester Chambers, lead singer of the Chambers Brothers ("Time Has Come Today" from 1968), was born in Lee County, Mississippi
1942:  Bill Conti (the "other" theme from Rocky) was born in Providence, Rhode Island.
1944:  Jack Casady, elite bass guitarist of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, was born in Washington, D.C.
1945:  Lowell George, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer of Little Feat, was born in Hollywood, California; died from drugs in Arlington, Virginia June 29, 1979. 

1946:  Soul great Al
Green was born in Dansby, Arkansas.  ('Rolling Stone' magazine says Green was born in Forrest Hills, Arkansas, but according to the book 'Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music' by W.K. McNeil, Al was born in Dansby, a small town near Forrest Hills.)1951:  Max Weinberg, drummer of the E Street Band, was born in Newark, New Jersey.  (Note:  'Billboard' magazine reports that Weinberg was born in South Orange, New Jersey, but 'MTV' and Bruce Springsteen say that Weinberg was born in Newark.) 
1954:  Jimmy Destri, the keyboardist with Blondie, was born in Brooklyn, New York.








1955:  Louis Johnson, bass guitarist of the Brothers Johnson, was born in Los Angeles.
1957:  Wayne Lewis, keyboardist of Atlantic Starr ("Always"), was born in White Plains, New York.
1961:  Butch Taylor, keyboardist for the Dave Matthews Band, was born in Shawsville, Virginia.
1962:  Hillel Slovak, original guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was born in Haifa, Israel; died from heroin in Los Angeles on June 25th, 1988.
1966:  Marc Ford, lead guitarist of the Black Crowes, was born in Los Angeles.
1972:  Aaron Lewis, lead vocalist, founding member and rhythm guitarist with Staind, was born in Rutland, Vermont.  (Note:  some websites report Lewis was born in Springfield, Vermont.  While there are no credible sources for either city, our best research indicates that Lewis was born in Rutland, and later moved to Springfield.)
1975:  Lou Bega ("Mambo No. 5" from 1999) was born in Munich, West Germany.

Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" by Glen Campbell

In most cases, we can point to a specific reason why a deserving song never made the Top 10--lack of promotion, stiff competition out at the time, etc.  In other situations, it remains a mystery.  The featured song this week in the popular Unknown/Underrated* category is pretty much considered a classic these days.  Yet in 1967, it only reached a peak position of #26.  Glen Campbell had not had a hit yet, and perhaps music directors at radio stations simply did not recognize his talent yet.  In any case, obviously it is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*:

 

 

"By The Time I Get To Phoenix"

Glen Campbell

 

 

Lyrics and Music by Jimmy Webb

 

 

By the time I get to Phoenix
She'll be rising
She'll find the note I left hanging on her door
She'll laugh, when she reads the part that says I'm leaving
Cause I've left that girl, so many times before

By the time I make Albuquerque
She'll be working
She'll probably stop at lunch,
And give me a call
But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringing
Off the wall, that's all

By the time I make Oklahoma
She'll be sleeping
She'll turn softly and call my name out low
And she'll cry, just to think, I'd really leave her
Though time and time I've tried to tell her so
She just didn't know,
I would really go 

 

 

 

This Date in Rock Music History: April 12

1954:  Bill Haley & the Comets recorded (We're Gonna') Rock Around The Clock", the song that started the Rock Era, at the Pythian Temple Studios in New York City.











1961:  Dee Clark released the single "Raindrops" on Vee-Jay Records.
1963:  Bob Dylan appeared in concert for the first time at the Town Hall in New York City.
1964:  Chubby Checker and the former Miss World Catherina Lodders were married at the Temple Lutheran Church in Pennsauken, New Jersey. 






 




1965:  The Byrds released the single "Mr. Tambourine Man".








 

1966:  Jan Berry of Jan & Dean was seriously injured when he crashed his car into a parked truck on Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles.  The crash site was eerily close to the section of Sunset Boulevard that Jan & Dean had made famous in the song "Dead Man's Curve".  Berry spent several weeks in a como, was paralyzed for a year and could only speak after four years of surgery.  He died from complications of the accident on March 27, 2004.









1969:  The 5th Dimension moved into the #1 position with "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In".  The song would go on to spend six weeks at the top and become one of the top songs of the rock era.  The rest of the Top Ten on April 12:  "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Blood, Sweat & Tears at #2, "Tommy Roe's former #1 "Dizzy" at #3, "Galveston" by Glen Campbell at #4, "Time Of The Season" from the Zombies at 5, "Only The Strong Survive" by Jerry Butler coming in at #6, the Isley Brothers moving into the top Ten at #7 with "It's Your Thing", the Cowsills taking an 18-8 jump with "Hair", "Run Away Child, Running Wild" by the Temptations at #9 and "Twenty-Five Miles" from Edwin Starr at #10.
1969:  "Galveston" by Glen Campbell was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the third straight week.





                                                "Smiling Phases" from B, S & T...

1969:  The incredible self-titled Blood, Sweat & Tears moved back to #1 on the Album chart.
1971:  The live album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Four Way Street) was certified Gold before it appeared on the Album chart.  (Note:  some websites mistakenly place the date of certification as April 11.  The correct date, according to the official website of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is April 12.)
1975:  David Bowie announced his retirement for the second time, saying "I've rocked my roll."
1975:  Pink Floyd played the first of two performances at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California.
1975:  Al Green moved to #1 on the R&B chart with "L-O-V-E (Love)".









1975:  "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John was the new #1 song.  The rest of the Top Ten:  Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You" at #2, Ringo Starr at #3 with "No No Song", "Express" by B.T. Express, "Poetry Man" by Phoebe Snow at #5, "B.J. Thomas held down #6 with "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song", "Lady Marmalade" by LaBelle at #8, Sammy Johns hit the top ten at #8 with "Chevy Van", "What Am I Gonna' Do With You" from Barry White was #9 and Rufus had #10 with "Once You Get Started".
1980:  The Spinners hit #1 in the U.K. with their cover of the Four Seasons song "Working My Way Back To You".








                    The pianist on "Get Back" had a big duet with Syreeta...

1980:  "Pink Floyd spent a fourth week at #1 with "Another Brick In The Wall".  The remainder of the Top Ten:  "Call Me" by Blondie at #2, "Working My Way Back To You" by the Spinners at #3, "Ride Like The Wind", Christopher Cross's big first song was #4, "Too Hot" by Kool and the Gang was #5, Ray, Goodman & Brown had #6 with "Special Lady", "With You I'm Born Again" by Billy Preston & Syreeta made a 15-7 jump, Queen tumbled to #8 with their former #1 "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", the Eagles were at #9 with "I Can't Tell You Why" and Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" was #10.
1980:  "Lost in Love" by Air Supply was the #1 Adult Contemporary song, taking over from "Three Times In Love" by Tommy James.







                                             Mellencamp had a hot song...

1986:  Falco spent his third and final week at #1 with "Rock Me Amadeus".  The rest of the Top Five:  "Kiss" by Prince was #2, the Bangles had the #3 song with "Manic Monday", "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." was #4 for John Mellencamp and "What You Need" by INXS was #5.
1986:  Stevie Wonder had the top AC song with "Overjoyed".
1986:  Belinda Carlisle married actor Morgan Mason.








1988:  Sonny Bono was elected mayor of Palm Springs, California.
1989:  The guy who fused Country and Rock & Roll, Garth Brooks released his self-titled album.  After that, Country music sounded more like Rock & Roll than Country.
1989:  Great White released the album Twice Shy.  (Note:  some websites report that the album was released April 18.  While there are unfortunately no credible sources for either date, our best research indicates that the April 18 date is more likely.)
1989:  Two DJ's on KLOS in Los Angeles asked whatever happened to David Cassidy.  Cassidy called the station and the DJ's invited him onto the show.  Cassidy played three songs live and shortly afterwards, was signed by a new record label.
1990:  Fleetwood Mac began a five-day performance at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia.




 
1992:  Don Henley led 6,000 people in a Walk for Walden Woods to preserve the Massachusetts wild area made famous by Henry Thoreau.
1996:  Jan & Dean, the Ventures, the Chantays and the Surfaris were inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk in California.
1997:  The Fugees performed two concerts in Haiti to raise money for refugees.

1997:  R. Kelly started a three-week run at #1 in the U.K. with "I Believe I Can Fly".

1997:  The Notorious B.I.G. moved from #176 to #1 on the Album chart with Life After Death, the biggest jump to the top of the Rock Era.  Falling Into You was moving back up the chart for Celine Dion after 55 weeks of release while Spice by the Spice Girls was third.
2002:  In today's episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, Nate Dogg was the latest rapper to go to jail; Dogg was charged with marijuana possession and possession of a stolen firearm, and thrown into an Arizona jail where he belongs.  Book 'em, Dano!
2005:  Britney Spears announced she was pregnant.
2005:  Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi entered the Album chart at #1.
2012:  Andrew Love, saxophonist with the Memphis Horns, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 70.  Love worked with Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, U2, James Taylor, the Doobie Brothers, Sting, Dusty Springfield, Al Green, Alicia Keys, Bonnie Raitt and Otis Redding, among others.


Born This Day:

1919:  Billy Vaughn, who charted 42 hits in the early years of the Rock Era ("Sail Along Silvery Moon" and his version of "Wheels") was born in Glasgow, Kentucky; died September 26, 1991 of peritoneal mesothelioma in Escondido, California. 
1925:  Ned Miller ("From A Jack To A King" from 1962) was born in Rains, Utah.  (Note:  some websites say that Miller was born in Raines, Utah.  There has never been a town by that name in Utah--the correct spelling is Rains.)

1944:  Joachim Krauledat (John Kay), vocalist and leader of Steppenwolf, was born in Tilsit, Germany.
1951:  Alexander Briley of the Village People was born in Harlem, New York.  (Note:  some websites report that Briley was born in Manhattan, New York, while others say he was born in New York City itself.  One is too specific--Harlem is not a town but a neighborhood, while the other is too broad--New York City is made up of several boroughs, and not everyone from the area was born in the city itself.  The official place of birth is Manhattan, New York.)








 
1950:  David Cassidy of the Partridge Family and a solo artist, was born in New York City.
1952:  Ronnie Smith, original trumpet player for KC and the Sunshine Band who also worked with Gloria Estefan; died January 21, 2012.  (Note:  some websites claim Smith died January 26, but the correct date is January 21, according to the newspapers 'The Miami Herald' and 'The Sun-Sentinel'.)
1954:  Pat Travers ("Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)") was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
1958:  Will Sergeant of Echo and the Bunnymen ("The Cutter") was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.  (Note:  some websites report that Sergeant was born in Melling, England.  While there are no credible sources for either city, our best research indicates that Will was born in Liverpool, and grew up in Melling.)
1962:  Art Alexakis, singer-songwriter and guitarist of Everclear, was born in Los Angeles.
1964:  Amy Ray, guitarist and singer with the Indigo Girls, was born in Decatur, Georgia.
1970:  Nicholas Lofton Hexum, rhythm guitarist and vocalist of 311, was born in Madison, Wisconsin.
1978:  Guy Berryman, bassist for Coldplay, was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
1980:  Brian McFadden, singer with Westlife, was born in Dublin, Ireland.
1987:  Brendon Urie, singer-songwriter, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist with Panic at the Disco, was born in Summerlin, Nevada.  (Note:  several websites report Urie was born in Las Vegas, and one says he was born in Summerline, Nevada.  There is no such town in Nevada; the correct spelling is Summerlin.  Although there are no credible sources for his birthplace, our best research indicates he was born in Summerlin.)

Five Best: Little Richard

I had the privilege of seeing one of Rock's early stars in Memphis, Tennessee.  Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.  Here's his Five Best*:

1.  Lucille

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Good Golly, Miss Molly





 

3.  Long Tall Sally

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Tutti-Frutti 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Jenny, Jenny

This Date in Rock Music History: April 11

1956:  James Brown made his debut on the R&B charts with "Please, Please, Please".
1960:  Dinah Washington & Brook Benton had the #1 R&B song for the 10th week--"Baby (You've Got What It Takes)".
1967:  The Elvis Presley song "Stuck On You" recorded the fourth biggest jump in rock history, moving from #84 to #17 on this date. 
1960:  Percy Faith & Orchestra remained at #1 for the eighth consecutive week with "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'".

1961:  Bob Dylan made his public debut opening for John Lee Hooker at Gerdes' Folk City in the Greenwich Village section of New York City.









1961:  Ray Charles won four Grammy awards, including Best Male Vocal Performance for "Georgia On My Mind".

1962:  The Elvis Presley movie Follow That Dream premiered in Ocala, Florida.








1963:  Nat King Cole recorded "Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer".

1963:  Gerry and the Pacemakers were #1 in the U.K. with "How Do You Do It".

1964:  Louis Armstrong remained at #1 for a third week on the Easy Listening chart with "Hello Dolly!".







1964:  The Beatles, who had set a Rock Era record the week before by owning all five of the Top Five songs on April 4, a record that still stands, moved "Do You Want To Know A Secret" from #46 to #14.










                  The Dave Clark Five joined the invasion led by the Beatles...

1964:  The Beatles spent their second week at #1 with "Can't Buy Me Love".  The rest of the Top 10 on April 11:  #2 "Twist And Shout" by the Beatles, #3--"Suspicion" from Terry Stafford, #5 "She Loves You" by the Beatles, #5 was "Hello, Dolly!" from Louis Armstrong, #6 "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" by Betty Everett, #7 "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles, #8 "Glad All Over" from the Dave Clark Five, #9 "Please Please Me" by the Beatles and #10 "Don't Let The Rain Come Down" by the Serendipity Singers.
1965:  The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Moody Blues, Donovan, the Seekers, the Kinks, Freddie and the Dreams, Tom Jones, Herman's Hermits, Them and Cilia Black played at London's Wembley Empire Pool following the New Musical Express Poll.
1966:  Frank Sinatra recorded "Strangers In The Night".
1967:  The movie Good Times, starring Sonny & Cher, premiered in Austin, Texas.  (Note:  some websites claim that the movie opened in theatres on April 7, and one website says it opened on May 12.  There is an original review of the movie which appeared in 'The Chicago Tribune' on April 24, 1967, so that discounts the May 12 date as being the national or world premiere.  The April 29, 1967 edition of 'Billboard' says that "Sonny and Cher returned to Hollywood last Sunday (April 16) after a week-long Texas tour at openings of their new film 'Good Times'."  This refutes the April 7 date, since a week-long tour that began on Monday April 10 and ended April 16 could not have included April 7.) 
1967:  The Rolling Stones played two shows at the Olympia Theatre in Paris.
1968:  Big Brother & the Holding Company made their television debut on the ABC-TV show Hollywood Palace.
1969:  Led Zeppelin debuted on the Album chart with their first album.

1969:  Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman at the Marylebone Register Office in London..
1970:  Peter Green announced he was leaving Fleetwood Mac in Munich, Germany while the group was on a European tour. 
1970:  The Beatles reached #1 on the Adult chart with "Let It Be".









1970:  The Beatles moved into the #1 spot with "Let It Be", taking the place of the long-running "Bridge Over Troubled Water".  The classic "Let It Be" was the Beatles' 19th #1, overtaking Elvis Presley's 18.  The Fab Four would also hit #1 a few weeks later with their 20th and final #1 "The Long And Winding Road".  The remainder of the Top Ten--#2 "ABC" by the Jackson Five, #3 Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" by John Lennon, Norman Greenbaum had #4 with "Spirit In The Sky", Simon and Garfunkel were at #5 with their former #1 "Bridge Over Troubled Water", #6 was "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes"" by Edison Lighthouse, #7 was Frijid Pink's version of "House Of The Rising Sun", Badfinger had #8 with "Come And Get It", #9 was Bobby Sherman's "Easy Come, Easy Go" and the Jaggerz had #10 with "The Rapper".



                  "The Boxer" helped give Simon & Garfunkel their masterpiece...

1970:  Simon & Garfunkel had a landmark album with Bridge Over Troubled Water, now in its seventh week at #1.  Hey Jude from the Beatles was second while Deja Vu from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was third.  The debut by Santana moved up to #4 after 32 weeks and Led Zeppelin II was right behind.  The rest of the Top 10:  Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, the Doors with Morrison Hotel/Hard Rock Cafe, the Beatles and Abbey Road, Chicago II and the Temptations at #10 with Psychedelic Shack.
1972:  Elvis Presley was given the keys to the city of Roanoke, Virginia.
1973:  The movie That'll Be the Day, starring Ringo Starr and David Essex, opened in London.




 
1976:  Queen performed at the Entertainment Centre in Perth, Australia.











1977:  The Steve Miller Band released the single "Jet Airliner".  Don't accept a radio station that does not play "Threshold" as an intro.1978:  Aretha Franklin married actor Glynn Turman.  The Four Tops sang the Stevie Wonder song "Isn't She Lovely" at the wedding.











Thomas climbed aboard the Starship...


1979:  Mickey Thomas replaced founding member Marty Balin in Jefferson Starship.
1981:  Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli were married.








1981:  Juice Newton hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with her fantastic remake of the Merilee Rush song "Angel Of The Morning".










1981:  Hall & Oates moved into the #1 slot with "Kiss On My List", replacing Blondie's "Rapture" which fell to #2.  The rest of the Top Ten on April 11:  "The Best Of Times" by Styx, "Woman" by John Lennon at #4, "Just The Two Of Us" by Bill Withers & Grover Washington, Jr., Sheena Easton, moving into the top Ten at #6 with her first hit "Morning Train", Don McLean held down #7 with "Crying", Steve Winwood had his first solo hit "While You See A Chance" at #8, REO Speedwagon was at #9 with the former #1 "Keep On Loving You" and the Police slid into the top ten with "Don't Stand So Close To Me".








                                                The title track from 'Winelight'...

1981:  The great album Winelight from Grover Washington, Jr. moved from 13 to 5 on the Album chart.
1983:  R.E.M. released their first album Murmur in the U.S.








 
                                 Lou Gramm gave us "Midnight Blue"...

1987:  Starship spent a second week at #1 with "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now".  The rest of the Top Ten--"Lean On Me" from Club Nouveau, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" by Aretha Franklin & George Michael, Genesis had #4 with "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight", Crowded House rose to #5 with "Don't Dream It's Over", Expose fell to #6 with "Come Go With Me", Prince's "Sign 'O' The Times" was #7, Lou Gramm moved into the Top Ten with "Midnight Blue", Wang Chung had position #9 with "Let's Go!" and Steve Winwood had another top ten with "The Finer Things".
1987:  Prince scored a #1 R&B hit with "Sign 'O' The Times".
1987:  Starship owned the top AC song with "Nothing's Gonna' Stop Us Now".




 
1988:  Cher won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for Moonstruck.
1990:  The Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona named four newly discovered asteroids after the four members of the Beatles.
1990:  Elton John sang at the funeral of AIDS victim Ryan White.
1992:  Def Leppard had a second #1 in the U.K. with the album Adrenalize.

                          Pearl Jam with one of four appearances on 'SNL'... 


1992:  Pearl Jam appeared on Saturday Night Live in New York City.
1992:  "Save The Best For Last" by Vanessa Williams held on to #1 on the R&B chart for a third week.
1992:  Vanessa Williams had the top AC song for a third week with "Save The Best For Last".








 
1994:  The Nirvana album In Utero was certified double platinum (2 million copies).
2002:  Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson were engaged.








 
2002:  Sir Elton John testified before Congress that the United States was obliged to help prevent the global spread of AIDS.
2002:  A housing project in Detroit, Michigan named streets after Aretha Franklin and several other Motown stars.









2006:  June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters died of cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 52.
2010:  "The Million Dollar Quartet", a stage musical based on the meeting of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash in the studios of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee in 1956, opened at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway.

Born This Day:
1934:  Cleotha Staples of the Staple Singers was born in Drew, Mississippi; died February 21, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.
1935:  Richard Berry, songwriter of "Louie Louie", was born in Extension, Louisiana; died of heart failure in Los Angeles January 23, 1997.
1958:  Stuart Adamson, vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of Big Country, was born in Manchester, England; commited suicide in Honolulu, Hawai'i December 16, 2001.
1965:  Nigel Pulsford of Bush was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, England.

1966:  Lisa Stansfield was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England.
1970:  Dylan Keefe, bassist and founding member of Marcy Playground, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1978:  Tom Thacker, vocalist and guitarist with Sum 41, was born in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.
1987:  Joss Stone was born in Dover, Kent, England.

Top Recording Studios of the Rock Era: The Record Plant

Its name is contained in countless liner notes that too often are ignored by owners of a record album or CD.  People that know music, however, recognize The Record Plant as one of the top recording studios in the last 40 years.  No less than five of The Top 100 Albums of the Rock Era* were recorded at Record Plant studios, along with many other noteworthy releases, as chronicled below.   The Record Plant opened up first in New York City, then opened a second studio in Los Angeles, then a third in Sausalito, California. These are just a sample of the great albums that have been recorded at The Record Plant:  

The #1 Guitarist of the Rock Era* reserved time to record his 1968 album Electric Ladyland at The Record Plant in New York.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Blues king B.B. recorded Indianola Mississippi Seeds at The Record Plant in Los Angeles in 1970.  It is not only one of B.B.'s best, but one of the great blues crossover albums of all-time.

 

 

 

 

 Sly & the Family Stone's #1 Platinum album There's a Riot Goin' On was recorded in Sausalito in 1970-71.




 

 

One of the most timeless classics ever written was recorded on the album of the same name by John Lennon at The Record Plant in New York City in 1971.





 

 

Another of the all-time classics written by Don McLean was the title of his 1971 album, recorded in New York City. 

America recorded their 1972 album Homecoming at The Record Plant in Los Angeles. 



 

 

 

After the deaths of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, the Allmans recorded the great album Brothers and Sisters, which included studio time at The Record Plant in New York.






 

America recorded Hat Trick in Los Angeles in 1973.





 

 

Billy Joel's breakthrough album Piano Man was recorded at The Record Plant in Los Angeles in 1973.




 

 

On The Border reflected several changes that would lead to the Eagles becoming one of The Top Artists of the Rock Era*.  They moved to more of a rock sound, they hired Bill Szymczyk as producer for the first time, and an invitation to Don Felder to play on the album resulted in Felder becoming a permanent member of the group.  The Eagles recorded the album at The Record Plant studios in L.A.

 

 

Aerosmith scored their first big hit with "Walk This Way", featured on the biggest studio album of their career--Toys in the Attic, recorded in Los Angeles in 1974-75.



 

 

The Outlaws recorded their debut album at The Record Plant in 1975.



 

 

 

 

Boston recorded one of The Top Debut Albums in History* at L.A.'s The Record Plant in 1975-76.




Springsteen's breakout album was recorded at The Record Plant in New York City in 1975.





 

 

The #1 Album of the Rock Era* was recorded at The Record Plant's studios in Los Angeles and Sausalito.



 

 

 

The #2 Album of the Rock Era*, Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder, was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito.






 

 Blondie recorded this album in 1978 at the original Record Plant.




 

 

The Patti Smith Group recorded their acclaimed Easter album in New York in 1978.






 

  Cheap Trick recorded Dream Police in Los Angeles in 1979. 





 

 

Jefferson Starship recorded their great rock album Freedom at Point Zero at The Record Plant in Los Angeles in 1979.





 

  After their four solo albums, Kiss chose The Record Plant in New York to record their comeback album, Dynasty. 






 

The last album John Lennon recorded was done so at The Record Plant in New York City.






 

Fleetwood Mac recorded their album Mirage in Los Angeles in 1982.






 

 

Cyndi Lauper introduced herself to us with the album she recorded at The Record Plant in NYC in 1983, She's So Unusual, one of The Top 10 Albums of 1984*.



 

 

Another of The Top 10 Albums of 1984*, Sports by Huey Lewis & the News, was recorded in Sausalito in 1983.





 

 

Another of The Top 100 Guitarists of the Rock Era* chose to record his debut album, Rising Force, at The Record Plant in Los Angeles.





 

 

Survivor finally made it big thanks to their Vital Signs album, recorded in Los Angeles in 1984.





 

 

1984. Heart's self-titled comeback album was recorded at Record Plant studios in both Los Angeles and Sausalito.






 

 

Mariah Carey's great album Emotions was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito. 

 

 

 

 

 

Guns N' Roses recorded their famous Use Your Illusion I and II at The Record Plant in 1991.







 

 

One of Mariah Carey's top career albums (Music Box) was recorded in Sausalito in 1993. 

 Nine Inch Nails worked their magic on the Quadruple Platinum release The Downward Spiral at The Record Plant studio in Los Angeles in 1994. 

 

Metallica recorded Load in 1996


 

 

  and Reload in 1997 






 

 

The album that knocked the "Titanic" Soundtrack from #1 was Before These Crowded Streets by the Dave Matthews Band, recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito in 1998.  




 

 

Santana's landmark album Supernatural was recorded at The Record Plant in Sausalito in 1999.

 

 

Kanye West's Grammy nominee for Album of the Year, Late Registration, was recorded in Los Angeles in 2005.  It has now gone over the three-million mark in sales.

 Christina Aguilera's album Back to Basics that reached #1 in 15 countries was recorded at the L.A. Record Plant. 

Lady Gaga recorded The Fame in L.A. in 2008.  

The Fray recorded their self-titled release at The Record Plant in Sausalito in 2009. 

Beyoncé recorded her #1 album 4 in Los Angeles in 2011.