This Date in Rock Music History: July 10

1958:  The Everly Brothers recorded "Devoted To You".



1961:  "Tossin' And Turnin'" moved to #1 for Bobby Lewis.  "The Boll Weevil Song" from Brook Benton was #2, followed by the former #1 "Quarter To Three" by Gary U.S. Bonds and Dee Clark's "Raindrops" at #4.
1963:  "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" by Rolf Harris had a hold on #1 on the Easy Listening chart.

This Date in Rock Music History: July 9

1955:  History unfolded as "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & the Comets became the first Rock & Roll #1 on This Day in Rock Music History*.  Thus beginneth the Rock Era!

This Date in Rock Music History: July 8

1954:  Sam Phillips, Elvis Presley's manager, gave Memphis D.J. Dewey Phillips of WHBQ Radio a copy of Presley's "That's All Right (Mama)" for his radio show and Presley appeared on Phillips' show.  Phillips that night became the first DJ to play an Elvis Presley song.  (Note:  several websites claim Phillips played the song on July 6 or 7.  According to the newspaper 'The Knoxville Journal', the official Graceland website and the book 'Turn It Up!  American Radio Tales 1946-1996' by Bob Shannon, the correct date is July 8.)
1958:  The soundtrack to Oklahoma! became the first album to be certified Gold by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA).

This Date in Rock Music History: July 7

1954:  Elvis Presley recorded "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee.  It would be the B-side for his first single "That's All Right".  (Note:  several websites have for years assumed that Elvis recorded the song on July 9.  But according to the book 'Sam Phillips:  The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll' by Peter Guralnick, Presley recorded the song the night after he appeared on Dewey Phillips' radio show and it appeared that "That's All Right" would be a hit and needed a flip side recorded for the single.  Websites claim the single was entitled "That's Alright"; Elvis never recorded a song with that title--the correct title is That's All Right".)
1955:  Elvis Presley used part of his proceeds from an $5,000 advance to buy his mother a pink Cadillac.  Elvis and his parents had lived in low-income housing their entire lives.

This Date in Rock Music History: July 6

1956:  John Lennon met Paul McCartney at a dinner at St. Peter's Church in Liverpool, England and invited him to join his group the Quarrymen.  (Note:  several websites incorrectly state that the meeting took place on June 15.  It was July 6, as the poster advertising the event clearly shows.)

Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: Paul Young's "Come Back And Stay"

When one goes back and looks at the chart numbers for previous songs in the Rock Era, some of them defy explanation.  This song by Englishman Paul Young peaked at #22 in 1984.  Now 1984 was a great year in music, to be sure, but that doesn't explain a #22 peak for this song.  I was the research director at a radio station back then, and I can tell you unequivocally that it was one of the most popular songs we played.  Should have been Top 10:

Come Back And Stay

Paul Young

Lyrics and Music by Jack Lee

Since you've been gone
I shut my eyes
And I fantasize
That you're here with me

Will you ever return?
I won't be you satisfied
Till you're by my side
Don't wait any longer...

Why don't you come back?
Please hurry, why don't you come back?
Please hurry...
Come back and stay for good this time
Come back and stay for good this time

You said goodbye
I was trying to hide
What I felt inside
Until you passed me by

You said you'd return
You said that you'd be mine
Till the end of time
Don't wait any longer

Why don't you come back?

Please hurry, why don't you come back?
Please hurry...
Come back and stay for good this time
Come back and stay for good this time

Since you've been gone
Opened my eyes
And I realize
What we had together

Will you ever return?
I'll have you change your mind
If you won't stay mine
Just love me forever
Love me forever

Why don't you come back?
Please hurry, why don't you come back?
Please hurry, why don't you come back?
Please hurry, why don't you come back?
Please hurry, why don't you come back?
Please hurry
Just come back and stay for good this time
Come back and stay for good this time
Come back and stay for good this time
Come back and stay for good this time

Don't ever leave me

This Date in Rock Music History: July 5

1954:  Elvis Presley went into the recording studio for the first time, recording "That's All Right (Mama)" and "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
1958:  Ray Charles' appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival was recorded for the live album Ray Charles at Newport.


1960:  Elvis Presley released the single "It's Now Or Never" on RCA Records.
1961:  Ray Charles recorded "Hit The Road, Jack" and "Unchain My Heart" at Bell Sound in New York City.
1963:  The Beatles played at the Plaza Ballroom in Handsworth, Staffordshire and a second show at the Plaza Ballroom in Old Hill.  (Note:  some websites naively say the Beatles played in Handsworth, West Midlands.  The West Midlands did not become a county until 1974, so it is physically impossible for the Beatles to have played in that county.)

This Date in Rock Music History: July 4

1955:  Gene Vincent was in a serious accident when a car in Norfolk, Virginia hit his motorcycle, crushing his leg.
1956:  Elvis Presley performed a charity concert for the Memphis Press-Scimitar's Milk Fund in Memphis, Tennessee.
1958:  Buddy Holly and Frankie Avalon performed three concerts at the Buck Lake Ranch in Angola, India.
1958:  The Everly Brothers rolled into the #1 position in the U.K. with "All I Have To Do Is Dream".
1959:  The Brothers Four recorded the song "Greenfields".
1960:  Brian Hyland had the highest-debuting song with "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini".

1960:  Connie Francis held down the #1 song for a second week with "Everybody's Somebody's Fool", with "Alley-Oop" from the Hollywood Argyles #2.  Brenda Lee moved up from 6 to 3 with "I'm Sorry" while Duane Eddy's great instrumental "Because They're Young" was #4 and the former #1 "Cathy's Clown" by the Everly Brothers was at #5.
1962:  Chris Blackwell started Island Records, which would eventually promote U2, Robert Palmer, Bob Marley and many others. 
1964:  The Beatles announced that their first tour of North America was a complete sellout.