This Date in Rock Music History: December 7

1958: George Harrison joined the Quarrymen, named after John Lennon's school. The group also included Paul McCartney, Len Garry and John Lowe.  (Note:  most websites show this date as February 6, however, David Bedford, in his book 'The Fab one Hundred and Four', contradicts this date.  Bedford points out that guitarist Eric Griffiths left the group because he was being replaced by Harrison.  In new research conducted by Bedford, he shows the Merchant Navy records of Griffiths, who joined his first ship on February 11.  Obviously, one doesn't just hop aboard a ship right after deciding to join the Navy.  In fact, Eric qualified as an officer cadet in January, 1958, meaning that in order to complete his training, he would have had to sign up for the Merchant Navy no later than mid-December, 1957.  All sources agree that Harrison joined the Quarrymen following an audition at Wilson Hall in Liverpool.  Records showed that the Quarrymen played the venue on December 7, after which time Griffiths quit music and joined the Navy.)   
1959:  J.P. Richardson ("The Big Bopper"), who had the big hit "Chantilly Lace" and died in the tragic plane crash on February 3, was buried in Beaumont, Texas.

 

1959:  "Smokie - Part 2" by Bill Black's Combo raced up from 98 to 65.

1959:  "Mack The Knife" by Bobby Darin, which had spent six weeks at #1 before falling from its perch, had since returned and this week added a third additional week to that total.  

1960:  Neil Sedaka released the single "Calendar Girl".  (Note:  many websites erroneously report the date of release as December 19.  It is physically impossible for a record company to print 45's, mail them to radio stations, have the radio stations add the song to their playlist, then call the trade magazines, and have the trade magazines print that the song debuted on the chart, all in the same day--"Calendar Girl" debuted on the chart on December 19.)





 

1962:  The Rolling Stones held an audition for bass players at the World's End pub in Chelsea, London.  Bill Wyman got the job partially because he had lots of equipment the group could use.
1963:  The Beatles performed at the Empire Theatre in London in the afternoon, and filmed at the Odeon Theatre that night for the BBC television show Jukebox Jury.
1963:  The #1 album in the U.K. was With the Beatles.
1963:  "Dominique" was the new #1 on the Easy Listening chart by The Singing Nun.




1963:  One of the big hits on this day was "Popsicles And Icicles", which moved from 63 to 32 for the Murmaids.









               The Raiders' version of "Louie Louie"...

1963:  The Singing Nun took over at #1 with "Dominique".  Dale & Grace dropped with "I'm Leaving It Up To You" but Tommy Roe was a man on the move with "Everybody".  The Kingsmen moved from 23-4 with "Louie Louie" but it was Paul Revere & the Raiders that had the better version of the song. The rest of the Top 10:  Lesley Gore and "She's A Fool", Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs with their smash "Sugar Shack", the Caravelles jumped from 19-7 with "You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry", the Beach Boys had spirit at #8--"Be True To Your School", the Village Stompers tumbled with "Washington Square" and "Walking The Dog" from Rufus Thomas was 10th.









1965:  The Righteous Brothers released the single "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration".
1964:  Brian Wilson, the genius behind the Beach Boys, married Marilyn Rovell in Los Angeles.  

1966:  Nancy Sinatra appeared on the television special Frank Sinatra:  A Man & His Music Part II on CBS.











1967:  The Beatles opened their Apple Records Boutique on Baker Street in London.
1968:  Eric Burdon announced that the Animals would break up following their December 22 concert at Newcastle City Hall in England.
1968:  The White Album by the Beatles was #1 in the U.K.
1968:  Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & the Holding Company posted a sixth week at #1 on the Album chart.
1968:  Mary Hopkin had one of the great early adult songs with "Those Were The Days", which remained at #1 for a sixth week.

       The Classics IV take us back to 1968 with "Stormy"...

1968:  "Love Child", one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era* by the Supremes, was #1 again.  the Beatles were still at #2 after spending nine weeks at the top with "Hey Jude".  Stevie Wonder made a bid with "For Once In My Life" while Marvin Gaye climbed up from 16 to 4 with "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".  The rest of the Top 10:  Johnnie Taylor with "Who's Making Love", Steppenwolf's journey on the "Magic Carpet Ride" was ending, Dion was at 7 with "Abraham, Martin And John", Glen Campbell's great "Wichita Lineman" remained at #8, we got to hear the great voice of Dennis Yost and the Classics IV with "Stormy" and Mary Hopkin's #2 smash "Those Were The Days" was #10.
1971:  Genesis and Roxy Music were in concert at the Hobbits Garden in Wimbledon, England.

1973:  Paul McCartney & Wings released the album Band on the Run in the U.K.
1973:  Clifford Davis, the manager of Fleetwood Mac, announced that he owned the rights to the group's name and assembled a second Fleetwood Mac to tour the country, essentially ripping off unsuspecting fans.  After a lengthy court battle, the original members won the right to force the second group to rename themselves.
1974:  Barry White scored his first #1 in the U.K. with "You're The First, The Last, My Everything".
1974:  Helen Reddy reached #1 on the Adult chart with "Angie Baby".



1974:  Carl Douglas chopped a path to #1 with "Kung Fu Fighting", sending fellow newcomer Billy Swan in a dive with "I Can Help".  In retrospect, hard to believe the Three Degrees did not land a #1 with "When Will I See You Again". B.T. Express chugged along with "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)" and Harry Chapin had a smash with "Cat's In The Cradle".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Angie Baby", one of Helen Reddy's biggest, Bobby Vinton with his comeback "My Melody Of Love", BTO were at #8 although they were #1 in most markets with "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet", Al Green sauntered into the Top 10 with "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)" and Barry White moved from 17-10 with "You're The First, The Last, My Everything".





1976:  The Eagles released the single "New Kid In Town".
1984:  Vince Neil of Motley Crue crashed his car in Redondo Beach, California, killing his passenger Nick Dingley.  Neil was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter.
1985:  Lionel Richie was on a roll--four consecutive #1 Adult Contemporary songs and eight out of nine for his solo career as he slided into the #1 spot with "Say You, Say Me".

1985:  Mr. Mister impressed enough to land a #1 song with "Broken Wings".  
1986:  Huey Lewis and the News sang the United States national anthem, singing A Capella prior to the National Football League game between San Francisco and the New York Jets at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California.
1987:  Richard Taylor of the Manhattans ("Shining Star" from 1980) died at the age of 47 in Kansas City, Kansas.





1990:  Dee Clark ("Raindrops") died of a heart attack at age 52 in Smyrna, Georgia.
1991:  Elton John & George Michael had the top U.K. song with the live version of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me".
1991:  Two weeks after the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury, Queen's Greatest Hits II was the #1 album in the U.K.
1991:  Amy Grant made it two straight weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "That's What Love Is For".





    "I Can't Dance" helps propel Genesis into the Top 10...

1991:  U2 debuted at #1 on the Album chart with their solid follow up to The Joshua Tree--Achtung Baby.  That put a halt on Garth Brooks' album Ropin' the Wind after eight weeks at the top--though amazingly, he would be back for much more.  Too Legit to Quit by Hammer was the third best with Nirvana's Nevermind fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  Michael Bolton's outstanding Time, Love & Tenderness, Guns N' Roses with Use Your Illusion II was still around, Metallica by Metallica was #7, Genesis checked in with We Can't Dance while Mariah Carey wasn't going away as her second album Emotions re-entered the Top 10.




1991:  Michael Jackson's 32nd career hit "Black Or White" took over at #1 on this date.  Incredibly, 22 of those were Top 10 songs with 12 going all the way to #1.  Counting his work with his brothers, Michael was now up to 58 hits, 32 Top 10's and 16 #1 songs.  Michael Bolton had #2--"When A Man Loves A Woman", PM Dawn's previous #1 "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss" was third followed by "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" from Boyz II Men.  Color Me Badd had #5--"All 4 Love" while Paula Abdul rose up to 6 with "Blowing Kisses In The Wind".  The rest of the Top 10:  Prince and "Cream", an amazing new talent, Mariah Carey had another stunning song, "Can't Let Go", which rose from 17 to 8, Amy Grant made the Top 10 with "That's What Love Is For" and "O.P.P." by Naughty By Nature was #10.

1996:  Tragic Kingdom, the breakthrough album for No Doubt, was still #3 after 47 weeks of release.










1996:  Toni Braxton's amazing song "Un-Break My Heart" took over at #1.  Barbra Streisand's 42nd and final career hit was the only new Top 10 song--a duet with Bryan Adams called "I Finally Found Someone".








1999:  The Eagles were honored by the Recording Industry Association of America with the Best-Selling Album of the Century--Eagles' Greatest Hits 1971-1975.  (Note:  many websites state the date of the honor was November 9 or 10.  The correct date, according to 'CNN', was December 7.  Where those websites fell into the trap, we believe, was in following the RIAA certification on November 10.  That certification of the Eagles album was for 26 million, which put it in a tie with Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', which was certified at 26 million on October 30.  The RIAA did not present the Best-Selling Album of the Century until December 7.)
2003:  Mary J. Blige married producer Kendu Isaacs in a ceremony at her home in Bergen County, New Jersey.
2003:  Whitney Houston called police to her home in Alpharetta, Georgia, alleging then-husband Bobby Brown hit her in the face.  The loser was charged with battery three days later.





2003:  James Brown received a Lifetime Achievement award at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
2003:  Outkast rose to #1 with "Hey Ya".
2004:  The Stereophonics announced they brought in Javier Weyler to take the place of drummer Stuart Cable.
2004:  Three artists garnered the lion's share of Grammy Award nominations.  Kanye West got 10 while Alicia Keys and Usher received eight each.  Better give them all to West or he might get upset.  He is, after all, a college dropout.
2005:  It was by this time tough for one artist to put together a great album so on this date, the compilation Now 20, which included songs from the Pussycat Dolls, Missy Elliott and others, was #1.
2008:  Take That owned the top U.K. album with The Circus.

Born This Day:

1942:  Harry Chapin was born in Greenwich Village, New York; died on July 16, 1981 when a tractor trailer crashed into the car he was driving on the Long Island Expressway.  (Note:  some websites claim Harry was born in Brooklyn, but according to the official website for The Harry Chapin Foundation as well as the book 'The Greatest Rock Discography' by Martin Charles Strong, Chapin was born in Greenwich Village, New York.)
1948:  Michael Andre Lewis (Mandre), keyboardist who played for the Who, Diana Ross, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Sly & the Family Stone and Frank Zappa, was born in Omaha, Nebraska; died January 31, 2012 in Shreveport, Louisiana at the age of 63.





1949:  Tom Waits was born in Pomona, California.
1958:  Tim Butler, songwriter, bass guitarist and co-founder of the Psychedelic Furs, was born in Teddington, Middlesex, England.
1963:  Barbara Weathers, lead singer of Atlantic Starr ("Always"), was born in Greensboro, North Carolina.
1974:  Nicole Appleton of All Saints was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
1987:  Aaron Carter was born in Tampa, Florida.

Calendar Correction

Many websites claim that legendary talent scout John Hammond was born on December 10, 1910.  Hammond was born December 15, according to The New York Times, the book The Producer:  John Hammond and the Soul of American Music by Dunstan Prial, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Just ahead of Kenny in The Top 100 Artists of the Seventies*...

An extraordinary songwriter, with a voice to match.

Don't miss her incredible music tomorrow on Inside The Rock Era!

The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time: December 6

Here is today's installment of The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time*!

Kenny Rogers, The #34 Artist of the Seventies*

Kenny Rogers first performed professionally in the mid-1950's with a rockabilly group known as the Scholars.  After three singles, the group broke up.  Kenny released a solo single, "That Crazy Feeling" in 1958, and enjoyed a minor hit with it.

Rogers then joined the jazz group the Bobby Doyle Three, which recorded for Columbia Records.  That group failed, so Rogers began working as a producer, writer, and session musician for artists such as Eddy Arnold and Mickey Gilley.  In 1966, Kenny joined the New Christy Minstrels.

When Rogers and fellow Minstrels Thelma Camacho, Mike Settle, and Terry Williams wanted to expand beyond the group, they left and formed the First Edition.  The group scored some major hits, including "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town", "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In", "Something's Burning", and "But You Know I Love You".  Those First Edition songs do not count for the purposes of this special; they were their own act, and Kenny is a separate act.

In 1976, Rogers signed a solo recording contract with United Artists Records and released the album Love Lifted Me.  He enjoyed some minor success with the smaller Country audience.  The following year, Kenny released his self-titled album, which went Platinum.  The single "Lucille" went to #1 in twelve countries, including the U.K. and Canada, and reached #5 in the United States and #7 in Australia.  The song sold over one million copies in the U.S. and over five million worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1977, Kenny released the album Daytime Friends.  The title song hit #1 Country and #28 overall in the U.S. and #21 in Canada, and helped Kenny score a second consecutive Platinum album.

Rogers then released the album Love or Something Like It, which went Gold.  The single went to #1 on the Country chart, and also received a significant amount of airplay on the Adult format.

 

 

 

 

 

A song written for Kenny for Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb (the Bee Gees) became a fan favorite from the album.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenny broke into the mainstream with his next release, The Gambler.  The title song became a huge multi-format hit, #1 Country, #3 Adult Contemporary, and a highly underrated #16 in the United States, and #8 in Canada).  The album has now sold over five million copies.

The compilation album Ten Years of Gold in 1978 sold four million copies, however most of the album was filled with songs from the First Edition, with only two 70's hits, diminishing its importance for ranking The Top Artists of the 70's*.

 

 

 

Rogers captured the Grammy Award for Best Country Male Vocal Performance for "The Gambler".  Kenny's follow-up, "She Believes In Me", was even bigger.  It reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #1 on the Country chart, and #5 on the Popular chart in the United States, and #5 in Canada.

Meanwhile, Kenny combined with country singer Dottie West for a string of Country hits--"Every Time Two Fools Collide", "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight", "All I Ever Need Is You", and "Til I Can Make It On My Own".  The pair earned two Gold awards and two Grammy nominations, and sold out concert halls for several years.

 

 

The album Kenny soared to #5 on the Album chart, and has now gone over the three-million mark in sales.  The single "You Decorated My Life" went to #1 Country, #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and #7 overall in the United States, and #12 in Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Coward Of The County" became another across-the-board winner, racing to #1 on the Country chart, #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and #5 overall in the U.S..  It was a "triple #1" in Canada (#1 Adult, #1 Country, and #1 Popular), and also roared to #1 in the U.K. and #6  in Australia.  The single sold over one million copies.

The Kenny Rogers Singles Album, released in 1979, again consisted of half songs from the First Edition, and half of Kenny's solo career.  The album went Gold, so approximately half of those sales factored into these rankings.

Rogers' star shined bright in the 80's, as he became an international superstar.   He starred in several movies, and he continues to record and tour to this day.  Kenny released another compilation, Greatest Hits, in 1980, which has now sold over 12 million copies.  But once again, half of the material consisted of songs with the First Edition, so nearly half of those sales are credited to that group and not Rogers.  Kenny's 70's music accounted for approximately 40% of the 1983 compilation 20 Greatest Hits, which sold four million copies. 

In 1995, Rogers starred as himself in the biographical television movie Big Dreams and Broken Hearts:  The Dottie West Story.

Rogers had eight solo hits in the decade, with half of those going Top 10, and all four becoming huge hits.  Kenny sold over 22 million albums from his 70's material.

This Date in Rock Music History: December 6

1964:  The movie Ferry Cross the Mersey, starring Gerry & the Pacemakers, premiered a the New Victoria Cinema in London.









1965:  The Beatles released the double-sided single "We Can Work It Out"/"Day Tripper" in the United States.

















1965:  The Rolling Stones recorded "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "Mother's Little Helper" for the fourth of six days at RCA's studios in Hollywood, California.  (Note:  some websites would have you believe that both these songs were recorded in one day (December 6).  This is not true, according to the book 'Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings' by Steve Sullivan and numerous credible websites.)   

 

1966:  The Beatles recorded two takes of "When I'm Sixty-Four", their first work on the upcoming album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
1968:  The Rolling Stones released the album Beggars Banquet in the U.K. 
1968:  Apple Records released James Taylor's self-titled debut album in the U.K.
1968:  Elvis Presley received a letter that United States President Richard Nixon sent out to potential administrative office holders.  No word on which office the president had in mind for Elvis.
1969:  Ringo Starr was on The David Frost Show.





1969:  Four people died during a free concert at Altamont, California by the Rolling Stones.  One was a stabbing that occurred near the stage when a member of Hell's Angels, foolishly hired by the group to provide security, stabbed a fan in the back.









1969:  The Originals led the way on the R&B chart for the fifth straight week with "Baby, I'm For Real".
1969:  For the third week, Peter, Paul & Mary had the top Easy Listening song with "Leaving On A Jet Plane".









1969:  Newcomers Steam moved into the #1 slot with "(Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye".  Peter, Paul & Mary took a leap up with "Leaving On A Jet Plane" and the Beatles' former #1 "Come Together"/"Something" was third.  R.B. Greaves had a great song at 4--"Take A Letter, Maria" while CCR's double-sided winner "Down On The Corner"/"Fortunate Son" moved from 9 to 5.  The rest of an excellent Top 10:  Blood, Sweat & Tears with "And When I Die", the 5th Dimension's 11th hit "Wedding Bell Blues" was at #7, Stevie Wonder maintained with "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday", Diana Ross & the Supremes moved into the Top 10 with their 33rd hit, 18th Top 10 and final song with Ms. Ross--"Someday We'll Be Together" and Three Dog Night held on to #10 with their great song "Eli's Coming".

1969:  The Beatles' Abbey Road continued as the #1 album for a sixth week.
1970:  The documentary Gimme Shelter, which shows the Rolling Stones' horrific concert at Altamont, California, debuted.








      The song that probably describes why you're here

1975:  "I Love Music" by the O'Jays was the #1 R&B song.
1975:  Diana Ross took over on the #1 spot overall with "Theme From 'Mahogany' (Do You Know Where You're Going To)".

 

 

 

 

 

1975:  Paul Simon's outstanding album Still Crazy After All These Years was the new #1, meaning a brief one-week stay for Red Octopus by Jefferson Starship.  John Denver was still hanging around with Windsong at #3, followed by Rock of the Westies from Elton John and Chicago IX, the group's Greatest Hits package.  The rest of the Top 10:  Wind on the Water from David Crosby & Graham Nash, Art Garfunkel's Breakaway at #7, The Who by Numbers from the Who, K.C. and the Sunshine Band bulleted up the chart from 24 to 9 with their self-titled debut and Kiss had themselves a Top 10 album with Alive!  

 

 

1975:  The Bay City Rollers first entered the Top 10 with their debut single "Saturday Night".  Simon & Garfunkel had the only other new entry--"My Little Town".








1976:  Barbra Streisand released the single "Evergreen".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1977:  Bob Seger released his single "Night Moves".










1977:  Kansas released the single "Carry On Wayward Son".

1977:  Jackson Browne released the album Running On Empty.
1978:  Sid Vicious smashed glass in the face of Patti Smith's brother Todd during a fight at Hurrah's in New York City.  Vicious was out on bail on the charge of the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen.

 

 

1980:  John Lennon was interviewed by British disc jockey Andy Peebles.
1980:  Stevie Wonder remained at #1 on the R& chart for a sixth week with "Master Blaster (Jammin')".

        "Promises" helped make Guilty a #1 album...

1980:  Guilty by Barbra Streisand was the new #1 album, followed closely by Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits.  Stevie Wonder edged up with Hotter Than July while The River by Bruce Springsteen was done after just six weeks and AC/DC was beginning to attract attention with Back In Black.  The rest of the Top 10:  Queen with The Game, Pat Benatar's amazing Crimes of Passion, the Eagles Live album moved from 14-8, the Police moved into the list with Zenyatta Mondatta and Earth, Wind & Fire placed Faces at #10.
1980:  "Lady" by Kenny Rogers was the #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart.

 

 

1980:  Kenny Rogers registered a fourth week at #1 with "Lady".  Leo Sayer was second-best with "More Than I Can Say" while Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust", a #1 song in most markets by now, was third.  Barbra Streisand had hit #30 with "Woman In Love".  The rest of the Top 10:  Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster", John Lennon was up to 6 with "(Just Like) Starting Over, Neil Diamond was back in a big way with "Love On The Rocks", Bruce Springsteen moved into the Top 10 with "Hungry Heart", Diana Ross was down with "I'm Coming Out" and Cliff Richard remained 10th with "Dreaming".









1984:  John Fogerty released the single "The Old Man Down the Road".

1986:  Newcomers Bruce Hornsby & the Range had themselves a #1 Adult Contemporary song with "The Way It Is".

 

            Billy was up to #10 with "To Be a Lover"...

1986:  Sun Valley, Idaho's Peter Cetera had the new #1 song with Amy Grant--"The Next Time I Fall".  That knocked Bon Jovi out of the top spot with "You Give Love A Bad Name".  Huey Lewis & the News were "Hip To Be Square", Bruce Hornsby & the Range were up to #4 with "The Way It Is" and the Bangles had a monster smash with "Walk Like An Egyptian".  The rest of the Top 10:  Cameo's "Word Up", Wang Chung partied up to #7 with "Everybody Have Fun Tonight", "Human" by the Human League, Lionel Richie was at 9 with "Love Will Conquer All" and Billy Idol entered the list with "To Be A Lover".


 

 

1988:  Metallica recorded the video "One".

1988:  Roy Orbison, who had 32 hits including the #1 songs "Oh Pretty Woman" and "Running Scared", and later was a member of the Traveling Wilburys, died of a massive heart attack at his home in Henderson, Tennessee at the age of 52.
1993:  The Eagles filmed a video for Travis Tritt's version of "Take It Easy" that led to their famous reunion.
1994:  Pearl Jam released their third album Vitalogy.

1995:  Michael Jackson was hospitalized after collapsing in a theater in New York City while rehearsing for a television special.

1995:  Joni Mitchell was awarded the Century Award from Billboard magazine.

1997:  Metallica performed "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains" with Marianne Faithfull on Saturday Night Live on NBC-TV.
1997:  Reload by Metallica and Let's Talk About Love from Celine Dion were the top two albums.






1997:  Elton John remained at #1 for the ninth week with "Candle In The Wind 1997", tying "Mack The Knife" by Bobby Darin, Kim Carnes and "Bette Davis Eyes", "Hey Jude" from the Beatles, Diana Ross & Lionel Richie with "Endless Love" and Percy Faith's "The Theme From 'A Summer Place'" for 12th in the Rock Era for the longest-running #1.  
1999:  The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its new inductees:  James Taylor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Nat King Cole, Eric Clapton, the Lovin' Spoonful, Bonnie Raitt and the Moonglows, as well as executive Clive Davis and musicians Scotty Moore, Earl Palmer, and Hal Blaine.
2003:  George Clinton was arrested for possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia in Tallahassee, Florida.
2003:  Good to hear that in those terrible times the common person wasn't the only one having financial trouble.  Peabo Bryson sold his two Grammy awards ("Beauty And The Beast" and "A Whole New World") to pay a $1.2 million tax bill.

2003:  In happier news, Elvis Costello married jazz superstar Diana Krall in a ceremony at Elton John's castle outside London.  Paul McCartney was one of the attendees.
2004:  Motley Crue announced they were reuniting for their first tour in five years.
2005:  Valerie Bertinelli filed for divorce from Eddie Van Halen
2006:  Incubus had the #1 album with Light Grenades.
2009:  Bruce Springsteen and Dave Brubeck were given Kennedy Center Honors by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C.
2010:  Richard Finch, bass guitarist for K.C. & the Sunshine Band, was sentenced to seven years in prison in Ohio for sexually abusing teenaged boys.

2011:  Dobie Gray, who had 14 hits including the #1 "Drift Away" from 1973, died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 71 of cancer.







Born This Day:

1920:  Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, who gave us the memorable album Take Five, was born in Concord, California; died of heart failure on December 5, 2012, one day shy of his 92nd birthday, in Norwalk, Connecticut.
1940:  Steve Alaimo, host of the 60's music television show Where the Action Is, was born in Omaha, Nebraska.  (Note:  some websites claim Steve was born in 1939, but according to 'The New York Times' and 'Allmusic.com', Alaimo was born in 1940.  Several websites also state that he was born in Rochester, New York, but according to numerous reputable sites, he was born in Omaha, and moved to Rochester with his family when Steve was five.)






1943:  Mike Smith, songwriter, lead vocalist and keyboard player of the Dave Clark Five, was born in Edmonton, North London; died February 8, 2008 outside London of pneumonia resulting from a spinal cord injury sustained in 2003 that left Mike paralyzed below the ribs. 
1944:  Jonathan King ("Everyone's Gone To The Moon") and the person responsible for breaking the groups Genesis and 10cc, was born in London.
1946:  Frankie Beverly, who was in several bands including Maze, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1954:  Singer/songwriter Chris Stamey of Sneaker, who gave us two of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era* ("More Than Just The Two Of Us" and "Don't Let Me In") was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
1956:  Peter Buck, co-founder and guitarist of R.E.M., was born in Berkeley, California.

1956:  Randy Rhoads, elite guitarist with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot, was born in Santa Monica, California; died March 19, 1982 in Leesburg, Florida when goof-off pilot Andrew Aycock, who was trying to "buzz" the Osbourne tour bus, clipped the wings on the bus and crashed, killing all three aboard.
1962:  Ben Watt of Everything But the Girl was born in Marylebone, London.
1970:  Ulf Ekberg, singer, songwriter and keyboardist of Ace of Base, was born in Gothenburg, Sweden.

While appreciating all that Carole King has done...

We have lined up next one of the top Adult artists of the Rock Era.  He'll drop by Inside The Rock Era tomorrow as The #34 Artist of the Seventies*...

The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time: December 5

http://top5000-rocketman5000.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-christmas-songs-of-all-time.html

Carole King, The #35 Artist of the Seventies*

King wrote over two dozen hits in the 1960's, such as "The Loco-Motion" for Little Eva, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" for the Monkees, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" for the Shirelles, "One Fine Day" for the Chiffons, "Go Away Little Girl" for Steve Lawrence, "Take Good Care Of My Baby" by Bobby Vee, "Don't Bring Me Down" for the Animals, and "Up On The Roof" for the Drifters with then husband Gerry Goffin.  She recorded several of her own singles in the 50's and 60's, none of which caught on.

In 1970, King recorded her first solo album, Writer, on Ode Records.  It only peaked at #84 on the Album chart, so Carole set out to improve.  She did, and how.

In 1973, King released her masterpiece Tapestry.  Like another artist coming up in the next ten days, Carole's one album catapulted Carole from outside The Top 100* to #35*.  The double-sided smash "It's Too Late"/"I Feel The Earth Move" landed at #1 in the United States for five weeks, and hit #5 in Australia,  #6 in the U.K., and #8 in Ireland.

 

 

 

 

 

"It's Too Late" is still a solid member of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With "It's Too Late" and "I Feel The Earth Move" out of the gate, Tapestry was an instantaneous success.  It went to #1 on the Album chart, a position it held on to for 15 consecutive weeks.  The next single, "So Far Away", kept up the blistering sales pace of the album, reaching #3 on the Adult chart and #14 overall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

King won four Grammy Awards:  Album of the Year, and Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop (Popular) Vocal Performance, Female, for "It's Too Late".  The flip side of "So Far Away", "Smackwater Jack", also received considerable airplay.

 

Tapestry has now been certified Diamond, sales of over ten million copies in the U.S., and Tapestry has topped 25 million in worldwide album sales. .  It likely will continue to sell big as another generation discovers Carole's masterpiece.  King also included her versions of songs she had written for other artists.  "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", which was a huge hit for Aretha Franklin, is another outstanding track on the album.

 

 

 

 

 

Tapestry is one of just 50 recordings chosen to be added to the U.S. National Recording Registry for preservation in the Library of Congress, those recordings that are deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important."  When people go to this famous facility to discover Tapestry, one of the songs they'll love is "Beautiful".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark Side of the Moon eventually eclipsed King's record, but Tapestry was the album everyone talked about for years as being on the album chart longer than any other in history (302 weeks).  The last track we'll feature from Carole's amazing album should have been released as a single, but it became yet another song that pleasantly surprises people buying the album.  It is the title song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

King released the album Music in 1971, and it was certified Gold within a month.  Music debuted on the Album chart at #8, and for nine consecutive weeks, King had two of the Top 10 albums.  The single "Sweet Seasons" reached #2 on the Adult chart and #9 overall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music has now gone Platinum.  King released the album Rhymes and Reasons in 1972.  Carole landed another #1 on the Adult chart with "Been To Canaan", a #24 song on the Popular chart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rhymes and Reasons, as well as Carole's 1973 album Fantasy both went Gold.  In 1973, she performed a free concert in Central Park in New York City, which drew 100,000 fans.  King's 1974 album Wrap Around Joy attained Gold status within a month.  The album went to #1, thanks to the great single "Jazzman", a #2 smash in the United States and #5 in Canada. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Jazzman" earned Carole a Grammy nomination for Best Female Popular Vocal Performance.  King toured to promote the album, which also contained the #1 Adult song "Nightingale", #9 overall.

King scored songs for the soundtrack album to the animated television show Really Rosie.  The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Album for Children.

 

 

 

 

 

In 1976, King released the album Thoroughbred, which featured not only the songwriting reunion of Carole and Gerry Goffin, but the contributions of friends James Taylor, David Crosby, and Graham Nash.  Thoroughbred was King's sixth consecutive Gold album, and it yielded the #1 Adult song "Only Love Is Real". 

 

 

King switched labels, opting to sign with Capitol Records.  She released the album Simple Things in 1977, yet another Gold album.  It contained the #8 Adult hit "Hard Rock Cafe". 

In 1978, Carole released the compilation Her Greatest Hits:  Songs of Long Ago, which also was certified Gold. 

In 2000, King was named by Joel Whitburn as the most successful female songwriter from 1955-99, the writer or co-writer of 118 hits.  Music researcher Stuart Devoy found similar results in the U.K., naming King as the most successful female songwriter on the U.K. charts from 1952-2005.

In 1987, Carole and Goffin were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  The following year, the pai received the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award.   In 1990, Carole and Gerry were recognized for their songwriting brilliance when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

In 1998, her album Tapestry was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  Two years later, King received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  In 2004, King received the Grammy Trustees Award.

In 2012, King received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  In 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama presented Carole with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the fourth recipient of the honor in history, and the first woman to be so honored.  The same year, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.   In 2014, King received the MusiCares Person of the Year Award.

When all of the figures are totaled up for the Seventies, King sold 14.5 million albums.  Among her fourteen hits in the decade, four reached the Top 10, including the huge #1 "It's Too Late".