This Date in Rock Music History: January 4

1936:  Billboard magazine debuted the first music chart that based results on national sales.

1950  RCA Victor Records announced that they would begin manufacturing long-playing records.
1954:  Elvis Presley recorded "Casual Love" and "I'll Never Stand In Your Way" in his second recording session in Memphis, Tennessee.  Studio manager Sam Phillips heard the session and asked Elvis to leave his phone number.  
1957:  Elvis Presley went in for a pre-induction medical checkup at Kennedy Veterans Hospital, prior to being called up from the United States Army.

1957:  Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis introduced Solomon Burke on The Steve Allen Show.

1960:  Marty Robbins moved to #1 with "El Paso".  

1961:  Jörgen Ingmann released "Apache", one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*.












1963:  Eydie Gorme released the single "Blame It On The Bossa Nova".
1963:  Bob Dylan spent his second day shooting the television play Madhouse in Castle Street.
1964:  Bobby Vinton had the top Easy Listening song with "There!  I've Said It Again".
1964:  Bobby Vinton rolled to the #1 song with "There!  I've Said It Again".  The Kingsmen peaked at 2 with "Louie Louie" while the Singing Nun fell from her perch with "Dominique".







1965:  Gary Lewis & the Playboys released their first career single "This Diamond Ring".
1965:  Leo Fender sold the Fender Guitar Company to CBS for $13 million.









1967:  The Doors released their debut album.
1969:  Glen Campbell rode on top of the Adult chart for the fourth week with "Wichita Lineman".










It was indeed a "Soulful Strut"...

1969:  Marvin Gaye made it four weeks at #1 with "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", holding off Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life", which peaked at #2.  Diana Ross & the Supremes & the Temptations moved from 7-3 with "I'm Gonna' Make You Love Me" while Young-Holt Unlimited surged from 16 to 4 with "Soulful Strut", one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era* and Glen Campbell was at #5 with "Wichita Lineman".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Cloud Nine" from the Temptations, Diana Ross & the Supremes' former #1 "Love Child", the Classics IV were at position #8 with "Stormy", Johnnie Taylor and "Who's Making Love" while B.J. Thomas jumped into the Top 10 with "Hooked On A Feeling".
1970:  George Harrison recorded the second guitar solo and Paul McCartney, Harrison and Ringo Starr re-recorded vocals for "Let It Be", the final recording session for the Beatles.  John Lennon was not present at this session--the final time all four were in the studio together was August 20, 1969.   
1973:  Lamar Williams joined the Allman Brothers, replacing the late Berry Oakley.

              Joni Mitchell's double live album...

1975:  Elton John remained at #1 for the sixth week on the Album chart with his Greatest Hits album.  War Child by Jethro Tull was #2 again, followed by Neil Diamond's Serenade and Fire from the Ohio Players.  Joni Mitchell's new live release, Miles of Aisles, moved from 13-5.  The rest of the Top 10:  John Denver with Back Home Again, Verities & Balderdash by Harry Chapin, Free and Easy from Helen Reddy at #8, Ringo Starr had one of his biggest career albums with Goodnight Vienna and BTO moved back into the Top 10 with Not Fragile.

1975:  Elton John took his remake of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" to #1 while Barry White edged up with "You're The First, The Last, My Everything".  Carl Douglas was at #3 with "Kung Fu Fighting", Paul McCartney & Wings were at #4 with "Junior's Farm"/"Sally G" and Neil Sedaka reached #5 with "Laughter In The Rain".  The rest of the Top 10:  Helen Reddy's former #1 "Angie Baby", Ringo Starr with "Only You", Stevie Wonder moved up with "Boogie On Reggae Woman", the Carpenters registered their 12th Top 10 hit out of 16 releases with "Please Mr. Postman" and newcomer Barry Manilow reached the Top 10 for the first time with "Mandy".
1976:  Mal Evans, former roadie and bodyguard of the Beatles, was shot to death at this apartment in Los Angeles by the L.A.P.D. after he alledgedly pointed a loaded rifle at officers.



1979:  The Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, the famous spot where the Beatles performed often in the early years, reopened its doors.
1986:  Phil Lynott, bassist and singer of Thin Lizzy, died in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England at the age of 35 from kidney, liver and heart failure due to blood poisoning and multiple abscesses caused by drug abuse.  Hey, but it felt good at the time...Lame.
1986:  "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie was #1 again on the Adult Contemporary chart for a fifth week.




1986:  Lionel Richie remained in the #1 slot for the third week on the Popular chart with "Say You, Say Me".









1988:  Belinda Carlisle released the single "I Get Weak".
1992:  The album Stars by Simply Red returned to #1 in the U.K.
1992:  Shanice continued to set the pace on the R&B chart for a third week with "I Love Your Smile".
1992:  Richard Marx continued to have the #1 Adult Contemporary song for the third week with "Keep Coming Back".





Color Me Badd with their huge hit...

1992:  Michael Jackson continued to own the top song with "Black Or White", #1 for a fourth week.  Boyz II Men remained second with "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday".  Color Me Badd were still at 3 with "All 4 Love", Mariah Carey moved up with "Can't Let Go" and PM Dawn fell with "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss".







"Seduces Me" from Celine...

1997:  No Doubt had the top album for a third week with Tragic Kingdom.  Falling Into You by Celine Dion was second.
1991:  In today's edition of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, Vanilla Ice spent the night in jail after ripping out some of his wife's hair.  Loser.
2004:  Ray Davies, lead singer of the Kinks, wasn't as fortunate as McLean.  Davies was shot in the leg while running after two men who stole his girlfriend's purse in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Davies was taken to the Medical Center but his injuries were not serious.  (Note:  several websites report the shooting as being on January 5.  News reports appeared on the 5th, describing the event, which took place on January 4, according to 'CNN', 'Rolling Stone', and the newspaper 'The Guardian'.)
2005:  Ashlee Simpson was booed offstage during her performance at the Orange Bowl. 

2006:  The body of Barry Cowsill was identified with dental records by Dr. Louis Cataldie, head of the Louisiana state hurricane morgue in Carville.  Cowsill's body was discovered December 28 on the Cartres Street Wharf but was not identified until Cataldie made his announcement.  The 51-year-old former bassist of the Cowsills ("Hair") is believed to have died as a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 
2006:  Jamie Foxx had the #1 album with Unpredictable.
2008:  Britney Spears was carried out of her home on a stretcher and taken into police custody after officials were called in a dispute involving her three children.  Spears was ordered to hand her children to her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

2011:  Gerry Rafferty, leader of Stealer's Wheel ("Stuck In The Middle With You") and a solo star ("Baker Street" and others) died at the age of 63 after a long illness at his daughter's home in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England of liver failure.   

Born This Day:
1946:  Arthur Conley ("Sweet Soul Music") was born in McIntosh County, Georgia; died after a long battle with intestinal cancer on November 17, 2003 in Ruurlo, the Netherlands.  (Note:  prominent music sites like 'Rolling Stone' and 'Allmusic.com', as well as 'The Los Angeles Times' and 'The Independent' all claim that Conley was born in Atlanta, Georgia and some websites list his place of birth as Hinesfield, Georgia.  But according to the book 'Encyclopedia of Pop Music Aliases' by Bob Leszczak, the well-respected 'National Public Radio', and the newspapers 'The New York Times' and 'The Guardian, Conley was born in McIntosh County, near Atlanata.  Several places list his birthplace as McIntosh, Georgia--there is no such city; the correct name is McIntosh County)
1956:  Bernard Sumner (real name Bernard Dicken), founding member, singer and guitarist of New Order, and also a member of Joy Division, was born in Manchester, England.  (Note: some websites claim he was born in Salford, but the newspaper 'The Independent" and the magazines 'Billboard' and 'GQ' state that Bernard was born in Manchester.)
1958:  Marcel King, lead vocalist of Sweet Sensation ("Sad Sweet Dreamer" from 1974), was born in Manchester, England; died of a cerebral hemorrhage October 5, 1995.

1960:  Michael Stipe, songwriter and lead singer of R.E.M., was born in Decatur, Georgia.
1965:  David Glasper, lead singer of Breathe ("Hands To Heaven"), was born in Cardigan, Mid Wales, England.
1967:  Benjamin Darvill, multi-instrumentalist of the Crash Test Dummies ("Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" from 1993), now a solo artist going by the name of Son of Dave, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 

The Top 100 Artists of the Seventies*: #100-#11

#100:  ZZ Top

#99:  Journey

#98:  Cheap Trick

#97:  AC/DC

#96:  Van Halen

#95:  Jefferson Starship

#94:  Bachman-Turner Overdrive

#93:  England Dan & John Ford Coley

#92:  Neil Sedaka

#91:  Kansas

#90:  KISS

#89:  Ringo Starr

#88:  Seals & Crofts

#87:  John Lennon

#86:  Andy Gibb

#85:  Beatles

#84:  Gordon Lightfoot

#83:  K.C. and the Sunshine Band

#82:  Temptations

#81:  Jim Croce

#80:  Stylistics

#79:  Little River Band

#78:  Michael Jackson

#77:  Dr. Hook

#76:  Bob Dylan

#75:  Peter Frampton

#74:  Heart

#73:  Cars

#72:  O'Jays

#71:  Who

#70:  Guess Who

#69:  Jackson Browne

#68:  Lynyrd Skynyrd

#67:  Aretha Franklin

#66:  George Harrison

#65:  Eric Clapton

#64:  Grand Funk

#63:  Bad Company

#62:  Simon & Garfunkel

#61:  Spinners

#60:  Marvin Gaye

#59:  Roberta Flack

#58:  War

#57:  Steely Dan

#56:  Supertramp

#55:  Paul Simon

#54:  Cat Stevens

#53:  Barry White

#52:  Tony Orlando & Dawn

#51:  Captain & Tennille


#50:  Diana Ross

#49:  Al Green

#48:  Commodores

#47:  Santana

#46:  Anne Murray

#45:  Carly Simon

#44:  Elvis Presley

#43:  Gladys Knight and the Pips

#42:  Crosby, Stills, Nash (& Young)

#41:  America

#40:  Queen

#39:  Helen Reddy

#38:  Boston

#37:  Aerosmith

 #36:  Styx

#35:  Carole King

#34:  Kenny Rogers

#33:  Joni Mitchell

#32:  Rod Stewart

#31:  Bread

#30:  Steve Miller Band

#29:  Three Dog Night

#28:  Electric Light Orchestra

#27:  Pink Floyd

#26:  Rolling Stones

#25:  Bob Seger

#24:  Barbra Streisand

#23:  James Taylor

#22:  Donna Summer

#21:  ABBA

#20:  Foreigner

#19:  Jackson 5

#18:  Doobie Brothers

#17:  Linda Ronstadt

#16:  Neil Diamond

#15:  Olivia Newton-John

#14:  Earth, Wind & Fire

#13:  Barry Manilow

#12:  Paul McCartney & Wings

#11:  Billy Joel

While listening to the great music of the Brothers Gibb...

We move into the Top 5 next with an innovative American group the enjoyed success from start to finish in the 70's.

Join us tomorrow for their amazing record on Inside The Rock Era!

The Bee Gees, The #6 Artist of the Seventies*

This amazing trio of brothers lived in Chorlton, Manchester, England until the late 1950's, and formed the group the Rattlesnakes.  The family then moved to Queensland, Australia, and then to Cribb Island.  At Cribb, the brothers went to Northgate State School.  By then, the group had changed their name to the Bee Gees, and they became successful in Australia.  They were featured on television shows and performed at resorts in the area. 

In 1963, the group signed a deal with Leedon Records.  In 1965, the Bee Gees recorded their first album, The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs. 

The group returned to the U.K. in 1967 but before doing so, they sent demo tapes to Brian Epstein, famed manager of the Beatles.  Epstein passed the tapes to producer Robert Stigwood, and the Bee Gees and Stigwood would become famous together.  Stigwood helped the trio get a recording contract with Polydor Records in the U.K. and Atco in the U.S.  All the pieces were now in place.  Immediately afterwards, the Bee Gees scored their first hit with "New York Mining Disaster 1941". 

The Bee Gees posted ten more hits in the 60's to become one of the top artists of the decade, and several songs, most notably "Massachusetts", "Words", "I've Gotta' Get A Message To You", and "I Started A Joke" were #1 songs in multiple countries.  The trio suffered from several starts and stops in the early part of the decade--the only reason this legendary group is not ranked higher.

By 1970, Robin and Barry had both recorded solo albums, and the early success of the Bee Gees had not been matched by their last album.  On December 1, 1969, the Bee Gees parted ways with his brothers professionally.  While Robin concentrated on his solo album, Barry and Maurice worked on Cucumber Castle, a project that they had started in 1967.  The two brothers finished the album that was finally released in 1970.  It turned out to be one of the best and most consistent in the Bee Gees' career.  Lush arrangements and a country flavor characterize "Sweetheart".

The brothers brought in spiritual overtones on "Bury Me Down By The River".

 

 

 

 

Another outstanding track on the album is "Don't Forget To Remember". 

 

 

 

 

The following year, all three brothers reunited and released the album 2 Years On.  As the single "Lonely Days" proved, by going to #1 in Canada, #3 in the United States, #9 in Australia, and #10 in New Zealand, the Bee Gees were back.  More importantly, "Lonely Days" became the group's first million-seller in the U.S. 

 

 

 

Barry sounds a bit like John Lennon on this song he wrote, "Every Second Every Minute".

 

 

 

 

 

The group followed that with the release Trafalgar in 1971, which included the debut of guitarist Alan Kendall.  Kendall would go on to become a key ingredient in the group's sound for the next 20 years.   "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" was a monster hit, a #1 song for four weeks in the United States and also #1 in Canada, #3 in Australia, and #6 in New Zealand.  It too sold over one million copies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bee Gees contributed music to the "SWALK" Soundtrack, then released the album To Whom It May Concern in 1972, which represents one of the finest examples of the individual contributions of all three brothers.  The single "My World" soared to #3 in Australia, #9 in New Zealand and the Netherlands, #11 in Canada, and an underrated #16 in both the U.S. and U.K.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Run To Me" continued the momentum, hitting #3 in Australia, #5 in New Zealand, #6 in Canada, #9 in the U.K., and once again, a very underrated #16 in the United States.

 

 

 

 

Robin wrote of the best songs of his life--"Never Been Alone".

 

 

 

 

 

And Barry was beginning to show the talent (both songwriting and vocals) that would soon catapult the group into the stratosphere, on the song "Alive".

 

 

 

 

Maurice also wrote one of his best songs that is included on To Whom It May Concern--"You Know It's For You".

 

 

In 1973, the Bee Gees released the album Life in a Tin Can on Stigwood's newly-formed RSO Records.  The album did not do well, nor did the next one, Mr. Natural.  But the latter provided glimpses into the future, as the brothers honed their songwriting talent.  This is "Down The Road".

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once again, the group's career was at a crossroads.  They heeded the advice of Eric Clapton and relocated to Miami, Florida to record.  The Bee Gees also brought in Blue Weaver to play keyboards for them, and shifted gears to more up-tempo songs.  The trio also hired producers Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson.  These moves paid off in a big way on the 1975 album Main Course, which became their first Gold album.  The single "Jive Talkin'" was a huge hit, #1 in both the U.S. and Canada, #3 in Australia, and #4 in the U.K.  It became the trio's third million-seller.

 

 

 

 

 

The group released a solid follow-up, "Nights On Broadway", #2 in Canada, #7 in the U.S., and #8 in the Netherlands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first time in their career, the Bee Gees scored three hits off an album, as "Fanny Be Tender (With My Love)" reached #2 in Canada, #7 in Australia, and #12 in the United States.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the Bee Gees were much more than their single releases.  The album featured their great harmonies on the  group's version of the song they wrote for Olivia Newton-John, "Come On Over".  We will feature two outstanding album tracks from Main Course--the first is "Country Lanes".

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bee Gees also included this winner on the album--"All This Making Love".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The title song has become one of the all-time fan favorites from the group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It had been an amazing comeback for the popular 60's trio, but they had only started.  The following year, the Bee Gees released the album Children of the World, which peaked at #8 on the Album chart and went Platinum.  The lead single, "You Should Be Dancing", took the group to heights they had never experienced before.  The song hit #1 in both the U.S. and Canada, #2 in Australia, #4 in Ireland, #5 in the U.K., and #10 in New Zealand, and also sold over one million copies.

The Bee Gees released the ballad "Love So Right", #2 in Canada and #3 in the United States, which gave the Bee Gees their fifth Gold Record.

"Boogie Child" went to #9 in Canada and #12 in the U.S.

The trio released the compilation Bee Gees Gold in 1976, which, appropriately enough, went Gold,  Most of those sales come from their 60's material, but the album did include some 70's songs that have to be factored into these rankings.




 

In 1977, the group released Here at Last...Bee Gees...Live, a #8 album that showed the amazing sound of the group in concert and went Platinum.  The group released the live version of "Edge Of The Universe", which peaked at an underrated #16 in Canada and #16 in the United States.

Meanwhile, the Bee Gees were asked to come up with music for a new movie about disco music starring John Travolta.  If the group was hot before, they ruled the world after this project.  The movie was Saturday Night Fever, and the trio recorded four new songs for the soundtrack, and "You Should Be Dancing" was featured prominently in the movie as well. 

The first single from the soundtrack was "How Deep Is Your Love", #1 for three weeks in the United States, and #1 in Canada and Finland, #3 in the U.K. and Australia, and #8 in the Netherlands.  It too sold over one million copies, and earned the Bee Gees a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group.

 

The group released "Stayin' Alive" next, a monster #1 of four weeks in the U.S., and #1 in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico, #2 in Germany, #3 in the Netherlands, and #4 in the U.K.  Thus, "Stayin' Alive" was a Top 5 song in every major country in the world, and sold two million records.

Right on the heels of that smash, the Bee Gees released the single "Night Fever".  All it did was remain at #1 for eight weeks in the U.S., top charts in the U.K., Canada, and Spain and reach #2 in Germany and New Zealand, #3 in the Netherlands, and #7 in Australia, and sell over two million copies.

The Bee Gees earned Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Album of the Year for Saturday Night Fever, and Best Arrangement of Voices for "Stayin' Alive".  The trio also came home with Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Soul/R&B Album (for Saturday Night Fever) at the American Music Awards.

The Bee Gees were as successful during this period as nearly any act in recorded history.  No one has matched the Beatles' record of owning all five of the Top 5 songs in a given week, but the Bee Gees came the closest.  In the Billboard Top 10 on March 18, the Bee Gees owned #1 ("Night Fever" and #2 ("Stayin' Alive), and had written the #3 song ("Emotion" for Samantha Sang", and the #5 song for brother Andy, "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water".  The following week, another song the brothers had written for Yvonne Elliman for the movie ("If I Can't Have You") entered the Top 10 at #9.  In fact, six songs written by the Bee Gees held down the #1 spot for 25 of 32 weeks.

Although the Bee Gees themselves did not record five songs in the Top 5, they had written five in the Top 10.  At that point, they probably could have had as many hits as they released.  One song remained from Saturday Night Fever that had not been released as a single, but the Bee Gees refused to release "More Than A Woman", saying "they didn't want to get greedy", or "overdo it".  Many radio stations played the song anyway, and it became another smash #1 in those markets, and the song is one of The Top Album Tracks of the Rock Era*.   

Saturday Night Fever has now sold over 40 million albums, to make it not only one of the top soundtracks of all-time, but one of the top albums of all-time.  The group then starred in the movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and recorded for the soundtrack album.  The movie fell flat, however.

The following year, the Bee Gees released the album Spirits Having Flown, which went to #1 on the Album chart in every country in the world except Austria, where it peaked at #2.  The album quickly went Platinum.  The lead single, "Too Much Heaven" topped charts in the United States, Canada, Italy and New Zealand, #3 in the U.K., and #5 in Australia.

At the height of their popularity, the group organized the Music for UNICEF Concert with producer Robert Stigwood.  The Bee Gees donated all profits from "Too Much Heaven" to UNICEF.  So the group was not only one of the top acts of all time; they were good people also.  As of 2007, the song earned $11 million for UNICEF. 

The Bee Gees went on a highly successful tour, performing to sold-out crowds in 38 cities.  They released the single "Tragedy", which became their fifth #1 song in a row.  It reached that position in the United States, the U.K., Canada, Italy and New Zealand, and went to #2 in Australia.  "Tragedy" gave the group four consecutive Platinum singles.

The single "Love You Inside Out" set a Rock Era record when it peaked at #1--it was a record-setting sixth straight #1 song for the trio.  The record held until Whitney Houston posted seven consecutive #1's from 1985-1988. 

 

 

 

 

 

And "Reaching Out" presented soaring romantic vocals that we had become accustomed to from the group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bee Gees captured another Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group honor at the American Music Awards, and they won another AMA for Favorite Pop/Rock Album for Spirits Having Flown.  The title track was another hidden gem, another of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

Later in the year, the group released the compilation Bee Gees Greatest, a double album that went Double Platinum. 

The Gibbs worked with Barbra Streisand on her album Guilty and with Dionne Warwick on her album Heartbreaker.  The Bee Gees continued to record into the 80's though sadly, with the deaths of first Maurice and then Robin, the Bee Gees had their last hit in 2001.

In 2001, the Bee Gees released Their Greatest Hits:  The Record, which went to #1 on the Album chart and sold one million copies.  The albums Number Ones and The Ultimate Bee Gees, followed, which both went Gold.

The Bee Gees earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979, and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.  Very few artists are members of all four of the above. 

In 1997, the group received the Legend Award at the World Music Awards.  In 1999, the Isle of Man Post Office launched a set of six stamps which honored the Bee Gees.  In 2000, the Bee Gees received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards, and a Legend Award in 2003. 

In 2001, the Bee Gees were named Commanders in the Order of the British Empire.  In 2004, the "Saturday Night Fever" Soundtrack was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.  In 2007, the Bee Gees were named BMI Icons at the BMI Pop Awards.  Collectively, the three brothers have earned 109 BMI Awards in their career.

In 2013, a statue of the Bee Gees and "Bee Gees Way" was unveiled in Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia.

The Bee Gees exploded for 23 hits in the Seventies, plus numerous album tracks that were just as popular.   Thirteen of those went Top 10, with an incredible eight #1 songs.  They sold at least 20 million albums in the U.S. alone. 

This Date in Rock Music History: January 3

1955:  Elvis Presley performed in Booneville,Virginia.

1957:  Fats Domino recorded "I'm Walkin'".
1960:  Bobby Darin and Connie Francis performed together on The Ed Sullivan Show.










1963:  The Beatles began a four-date tour in Scotland at the Two Red Shoes Ballroom in Elgin to promote their debut single "Love Me Do".  The tour was to have begun the previous night, but the date was canceled due to a snowstorm.  (Note:  many websites incorrectly state that the tour began on January 1.  The first scheduled date was January 2, and it was canceled, so the tour actually began on January 3.)









1964:  The Beatles re-released the single "Please Please Me" in the United States on Vee Jay Records, a little over a week after Capitol finally released their first Beatles song, "I Want To Hold Your Hand".
1964:  The Beatles appeared on television in the United States for the first time as a performance of "She Loves You" in Bournemouth, England was shown on The Jack Paar Show. 









1966:  The Beatles appeared on Hullabaloo, performing "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out".  
1967:  Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys refused to be sworn in after receiving a draft notice from the United States Army, saying he was a conscientious objector.
1968:  For the fourth consecutive week, Marvin Gaye held on to #1 on the R&B chart with "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".
1970:  The Beatles recorded the song "I Me Mine", the final song they recorded together.
1970:  Davy Jones, lead singer of the Monkees, announced he was leaving the group, a year after Peter Tork quit.
1969:  B.J. Thomas owned the #1 Adult song for a fourth week with "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head".

1970:  Thomas moved to #1 overall with "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" as "Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross & the Supremes slipped to third.  Peter, Paul & Mary remained in between those two while CCR's double-sided smash--"Down On The Corner"/'Fortunate Son" was fourth again.  Steam's former #1 was still at 5--"(Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye" while Led Zeppelin reached #6 with "Whole Lotta' Love".  The rest of the Top 10:  "I Want You Back" from the Jackson 5, the Shocking Blue moved from 19 to 8 in their fourth week of release with "Venus", Neil Diamond was at #9 with "Holly Holy" and Bobby Sherman hopped in with "La La La (If I Had You)".
1974:  Bob Dylan and the Band began a tour at Chicago Stadium in Illinois, Dylan's first American tour in eight years.  Don't worry--he more than made up for it by doing a tour every year for the next 50.  Just funnin', Bob.
1976:  Paul Anka continued his comeback by landing the #1 song on the Adult chart with "Times Of Your Life".

1976:  Former Temptation David Ruffin scored a #1 R&B solo hit with "Walk Away From Love".










1976:  The Bay City Rollers hit #1 with their first single release--"Saturday Night".  

 

 

 

 

 

    "Questions 67 & 68" from Chicago's compilation album...

1976:  Chicago IX, the group's greatest hits package, was #1 for a fourth week on the Album chart.  The great live album Gratitude from Earth, Wind & Fire remained #2 while History, America's Greatest Hits was #3.  Joni Mitchell was a strong #4 with The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Paul Simon was Still Crazy After All These Years.  








1979:  Although the song didn't appear on the chart until six weeks later, a new wave group released their first single on this date.  Blondie released "Heart Of Glass".
1979:  The Hype appeared at McGonagils in Dublin, Ireland.  We know them better by the name they took on later--U2.







1981:  Kool & the Gang were flying high as "Celebration" remained #1 on the R&B chart for the third straight week.
1981:  John Lennon remained at #1 with the song released just weeks before his death--"(Just Like) Starting Over".
















1983:  The Greg Kihn Band released the single "Jeopardy".













1983:  The group After the Fire released the single "Der Kommissar".









1984:  Huey Lewis & the News released the single "I Want A New Drug".







 


1987:  Aretha Franklin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the first woman to be so honored.  Then when you have the induction of acts like the Beastie Boys and others, it really cheapens Aretha's selection.
1987:  Billy Ocean continued to have the #1 Adult Contemporary song with "Love Is Forever".







1987:  The Bangles were at their peak with "Walk Like An Egyptian", holding on to #1 for the third week.
1992:  Jim Kerr, lead singer of Simple Minds, married Patsy Kensit at the Kensington & Chelsea Registry Office in London.
1992:  Whitney Houston was at #1 for the fifth week with "I Will Always Love You".
1995:  Byron MacGregor ("The Americans") died from pneumonia in Detroit, Michigan at age 46.
2001:  In today's edition of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music, Vanilla Ice was arrested and thrown in jail in Broward County, Florida after a fight with his wife.  Better just to not be with him in the first place, sweetheart.

2003:  Joe Strummer, co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the Clash, was cremated.  The funeral procession took his remains by the Elgin pub in West London where the group played some of their early shows.
2012:  Bob Weston, guitarist for Fleetwood Mac, Graham Bond and Long John Baldry, died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage in Barnet, London at the age of 64.



2013:  Phil Everly, half of one of the greatest duos in music history as the Everly Brothers, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a combination of emphysema and bronchitis) in Burbank, California at age 74 after a lifetime of smoking.  Phil and brother Don churned out 38 hits, more than any other duo ever, and enjoyed 15 Top 10 hits and four #1 songs.


Born This Day:

1926:  George Martin (second from left, above), producer of the Beatles, was born in Holloway, London.  (Note:  some websites claim Martin was born in Highbury, but according to the newspaper 'The Guardian', the book 'Tune In:  The Beatles:  All These Years' by Mark Lewisohn, 'MTV', and the magazine 'Salon', George was born in Holloway, London.)
1941:  Van Dyke Parks, lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile, who also wrote, arranged and produced with the Byrds, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Ry Cooder and Keith Moon, was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

1945:  Stephen Stills, vocalist and elite guitarist of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash and a solo artist, was born in Dallas, Texas.








1946:  John Paul Jones, bassist of Led Zeppelin, who also played on and arranged songs for the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds and Jeff Beck, was born in Sidcup, Kent, England.
1955:  Helen O'Hara of Dexy's Midnight Runners ("Come On Eileen" from 1983) was born in Bristol, England.  (Note:  websites claim she was born on either November 5 or 8 of 1956, but the 'BBC' states she was born on January 3.)