Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Hold On" by Ian Gomm

Ian Gomm was a member of the London group Brinsley Schwartz prior to going solo in 1979.  This single reached #18 for Gomm that year; he also co-wrote "Cruel to be Kind" with Nick Lowe that same year.

"Hold On"

Ian Gomm

Written by Ian Gomm

I've been drifting on the sea of heartbreak
Tryin' to get myself ashore 
For so long, for so long

Listenin' to the strangest stories
Wondering where it all went wrong
For so long, for so long

But hold on hold on hold on 
To what you've got
So hold on hold on hold on 
To what you've got

I've been dreaming of a new tomorrow
And wakin' in the morning sun
For so long, for so long

There's no time for revolution
I've got to be travellin' on
Here so long, for so long

But hold on hold on hold on 
To what you've got
So hold on hold on hold on 
To what you've got

Hold on to what you've got

(Instrumental)

Hold on hold on hold on to what you got
Hold on hold on hold on to what you got

Hold on to what you've got, to what you've got

Hold on hold on hold on to what you got

Hold on to what you've got, to what you've got

(Repeat and fade)

This Date in Rock Music History: October 24

1960:  Neil Sedaka recorded eight takes of "Calendar Girl".

1960:  For the ninth week, "Kiddio" by Brook Benton held off challengers for the #1 spot on the R&B chart.
1962:  James Brown recorded the album Live at the Apollo, Volume I at the Apollo Theatre in New York City.
1963:  The Beatles recorded "I Saw Her Standing There", "From Me to You", "Money", "She Loves You", "You Really Got A Hold On Me", "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Twist and Shout" for a radio program in Stockholm, Sweden as they got ready for a five-night tour of Sweden, their first tour outside the U.K. 
1964:  The Rolling Stones played two shows at the Academy of Music in New York City.
1964:  "We'll Sing In The Sunshine" by Gale Garnett once again topped the Easy Listening chart for the fifth week.

1964:  Fourteen weeks had come and gone and no one could top one of the top albums of the early Rock Era--A Hard Day's Night by the Beatles.  
1964:  The Rock Era had been around for nine years, but it was beginning to roll as the Shangri-Las were steaming up the charts with "Leader Of The Pack", a move from 59 to 20.






                                The memorable song "Last Kiss"...

1964:  Manfred Mann continued to have the #1 song with "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", leaving "Dancing In The Street" by Martha & the Vandellas as just a great #2 song.  Many thought "Last Kiss" by J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers would go to #1 and Gale Garnett's "We'll Sing In The Sunshine" was song #4.  Roy Orbison's former #1 "Oh Pretty Woman" was still hanging around.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Supremes were bidding for the second #1 of their career (on the heels of "Where Did Our Love Go") with "Baby Love", Chad & Jeremy were at #7 with "A Summer Song", "Let It Be Me" from Betty Everett & Jerry Butler", the Beach Boys couldn't advance with "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" and the Honeycombs had a hot song with "Have I The Right?", which moved from 20-10.
1965:  The Lovin' Spoonful performed at the Longshoremen's Hall in San Francisco, California.




1966:  Donovan released the single "Mellow Yellow".  (Note:  some websites erroneously report the date of release as November 24.  The song debuted on the chart on November 12.  Obviously, the people that produce those sites don't know that it is physically impossible for a song to debut on the Singles chart when it has not been released yet as a single.)







1966:  The Four Tops began a tour of England at the Saville Theatre in London.
1969:  David Bowie opened for Humble Pie at the Empire in Sunderland, England.
1970:  Pink Floyd achieved their first U.K. #1 album with Atom Heart Mother.
1970:  Newcomers the Carpenters remained at #1 on the Easy Listening chart with "We've Only Just Begun".  That was week #3 for the duo.
1970:  Newcomers the Jackson 5 owned the #1 R&B song for the third week with their classic "I'll Be There".

                 Neil Young had a Top 10 album...


1970:  The great Santana album Abraxas was the new #1, finally toppling Cosmo's Factory by CCR.  Led Zeppelin was already making noise and debuted at #3 with Led Zeppelin III.  The Jackson 5 moved up with Third Album while newcomer James Taylor enjoyed the success of Sweet Baby James.  The rest of the Top 10:  Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! by the Rolling Stones, the Soundtrack to "Woodstock" at #7, After the Gold Rush from Neil Young, Mad Dogs & Englishmen by Joe Cocker and the Carpenters entered the Top 10 with their first album Close To You.
1970:  Stevie Wonder had another winner as "Heaven Help Us All" moved from #78 to #49 on this date.




 
                    R. Dean Taylor was being chased up the charts...

1970:  Another of The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era* was #1 on this date--"I'll Be There" from the Jackson 5.  Neil Diamond's former #1 "Cracklin' Rosie" sparkled at #2 and Sugarloaf's biggest career hit "Green-Eyed Lady" was third.  The Carpenters were prophetic with "We've Only Just Begun" and Free headed downward with "All Right Now".  The rest of an excellent Top 10:  "Fire And Rain" from James Taylor, Dawn's "Candida" at #7, R. Dean Taylor had everyone talking with "Indiana Wants Me", I guess you could safely say that the Kinks were doing the same with their song "Lola" and Diana Ross was at #10 with her first solo hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".
1971:  Don McLean released the album American Pie.





1972:  Steely Dan released their first career single--"Do It Again".
1973:  John Lennon sued the United States government, accusing it of tapping his phone.
1974:  David Essex starred in the movie Stardust, which premiered in London theatres.






1978:  Rod Stewart released the single "You're in My Heart".
1978:  Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones plead guilty to heroin possession.
1979:  The spectacular final Led Zeppelin album In Through the Out Door sparked a surge in past Zeppelin albums.  On this date, all Led Zeppelin albums were ranked in the Billboard Top 200.

1980:  Paul McCartney earned a rhodium-plated disc from Guinness Book of World Records as the all-time best-selling songwriter and recording artist.
1981:  Don Henley first debuted away from the supergroup the Eagles as his duet with Stevie Nicks, "Leather And Lace" entered the chart.
1981:  The talented and all-around great guy Luther Vandross took over #1 on the R&B chart with "Never Too Much".
1981:  Tattoo You was now ingrained for a sixth week at #1 for the Rolling Stones on the Album chart.  Journey's best album Escape was runner-up with Nine Tonight from Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band #3.  Foreigner's 4 was at #4 and Bella Donna from Stevie Nicks remained the same.  The rest of a solid Top 10:  Dan Fogelberg's double album The Innocent Age, Precious Time from Pat Benatar at #7, Billy Joel had #8--Songs in the Attic, Al Jarreau's breakthrough Breakin' Away and the Moody Blues entered the list with their comeback album Long Distance Voyager.

1981:  Kenny Rogers had the #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart with one of his career best--"Share Your Love With Me".










1983:  Elton John released the single "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" in the United States.










1983:  Hall & Oates released the single "Say It Isn't So" on RCA Records.  (Note:  one naive website claims the single was released October 29.  Besides the obvious fact that new additions to radio station playlists need to be reported to the trade papers by a Wednesday of each week so they can be printed by Saturday (which in 1983 fell on October 26, it is physically impossible for a record company to mail a 45 to radio stations, be listened to and added to playlists, reported the trade papers, and printed and published by the trade papers, all in one day.)
1987:  Sting led the way on the U.K. Album chart with Nothing Like the Sun.








1987:  Michael Jackson scored his eighth #1 solo hit and his 17th Top 10 out of 25 releases with "Bad".  Counting his work as lead singer of the Jackson 5, that already gave him 54 hits, 27 Top 10 hits and 12 #1's.
1989:  Simon & Garfunkel, the Who, The 4 Seasons, the Four Tops, Stanley, Idaho's Carole King and Gerry Goffin, the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, the Platters, the Kinks, Bobby Darin and Hank Ballard were voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.  Induction ceremonies took place on April 4, 1990.









1989:  Janet Jackson released the single "Rhythm Nation".
1992:  Simple Minds registered their fifth #1 album in the U.K. with Glittering Prize 81-92.

1992:  Swing Out Sister scored the new #1 Adult Contemporary song--"Am I The Same Girl".
1992:  Boyz II Men remained at #1 for the ninth week with "End Of The Road".  "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" by Don Henley and Patti Smyth, would have to settle for being one of the top #2 songs of the Rock Era.  









1992:  R.E.M. debuted at #2 on the Album chart with Automatic for the People.
1993:  Duran Duran had to postpone their tour for six weeks after singer Simon LeBon tore a vocal chord.

1995:  The Smashing Pumpkins released the album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
1995:  Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders sang the U.S. national anthem of the United States prior to Game 3 of the World Series in Cleveland, Ohio.
1995:  New York City declared it Tony Bennett Day.




1996:  Berry Gordy, Jr., the founder of Motown Records, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (on the South side of the 7000 block of Hollywood Boulevard).
2000:  Linkin Park released their debut album Hybrid Theory.
2000:  Shelley Fabares had a liver transplant after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.
2003:  Ben Moody, a founding member and guitarist with Evanescence, walked out on the band prior to a concert in Berlin in the middle of a tour in Europe.

2003:  Bruce Springsteen pledged money to the Bottom Line, a New York club faced with eviction.  Springsteen had played at the club, which also hosted Stevie Wonder, Neil Young and Bonnie Raitt, among many others.







2003:  Shakira was appointed a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.
2004:  George Strait had the top album with 50 Years of Hits.
2005:  C.C. DeVille, guitarist of Poison, pleaded no contest to DUI and causing injury charges after he ran into a parked car in August.
2009:  Michael Buble owned the top album with Crazy Love.






2011:  Kelly Clarkson released the album Stronger.







Born This Day:

1930:  J.P. Richardson, Texas disc jockey who became famous under the name the Big Bopper ("Chantilly Lace") was born in Sabine Pass, Texas; died in the light plane crash February 3, 1959 that also claimed the life of Buddy Holly and Richie Valens shortly after takeoff.
1930:  Lewis Hamlin Jr., who played trumpet in James Brown's band, was born in Macon, Georgia. (Note:  some websites show his birthplace as Baltimore, Maryland, but according to The Bronzetone Center for Music & History, Hamlin was born in Macon, then moved with his family to Baltimore.)



1936:  Bill Wyman, bass guitarist of the Rolling Stones, was born in Lewisham, London England.
1937:  Santo Farina of Santo & Johnny ("Sleep Walk") was born in Brooklyn, New York.








1944:  Ted Templeman of Harper's Bizarre ("The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" from 1967) and later producer of the Doobie Brothers, Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Captain Beefheart, was born in Santa Cruz, California.
1944:  Bettye Swann ("Make Me Yours") was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1946:  Jerry Edmonton, drummer of Steppenwolf, was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada; killed in a car accident in Santa Ynez, California November 28, 1993.
1948:  Buffin Griffin, drummer and founder of Mott the Hoople ("All the Young Dudes" from 1972), was born in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England.
1954:  Perry Lee Tavares of the group Tavares was born in  Providence, Rhode Island.  (Note:  some sources show his birthplace as New Bedford, Massachusetts.  According to the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, Perry and his brothers were born in Providence, then later moved to Massachusetts.)
1979:  Ben Gillies, drummer of Silverchair, was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

1980:  Monica was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
1986:  Drake was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

This Date in Rock Music History: October 23

1961:  It was only October, but Jimmy Dean would have the final #1 for the year on the Easy Listening chart as "Big Bad John" ruled for its first of 10 weeks on this date.

1961:  Dion grabbed the reins from Ray Charles' song "Hit The Road Jack" with "Runaround Sue", the new #1 song.  
1962:  Steveland Morris Judkins recorded the song "Thank You For Loving Me All The Way" at the age of 12.  He would later be known as Little Stevie Wonder and then as the great Stevie Wonder.
1963:  The Beatles recorded "I Wanna' Be Your Man", a song originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney to provide friends the Rolling Stones with a hit song.







1963:  The Beatles flew to Sweden to begin a tour.
1963:  Bob Dylan began to record "The Times They Are A-Changin'" at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City.
1964:  J. Frank Wilson, who sang of a fatal car crash in his hit "Last Kiss" released in August, was injured and the producer of that song was killed in a head-on car crash in Lima, Ohio.
1965:  It was evident that Len Barry had a hit as his song "1-2-3" moved from 48 to 19.




  
      
                             The Gentrys from a fun time to be alive...

1965:  "Yesterday" by the Beatles spent a third week at #1.  "Treat Her Right" by Roy Head remained at #2 and, despite a 19-4 move the week before, the Toys were slowed down with "A Lover's Concerto".  The Rolling Stones bounced into the Top 10 with "Get Off Of My Cloud".  The rest of the Top 10:  The Gentrys and "Keep On Dancing", the former #1 "Hang On Sloopy" by the McCoys, Herman's Hermits were stuck at #7 with "Just A Little Bit Better", Gary Lewis & the Playboys told us that "Everybody Loves A Clown", Bob Dylan moved from 18-9 with one of four Top 10 songs that he would have in his career and the Vogues had a winner with "You're The One".
1966:  The Jimi Hendrix Experience went into De Lane Lea studios in London and recorded their first single--"Hey Joe".

1966:  The New Yardbirds, with elite guitarist Jimmy Page now on board, performed at the Fillmore in San Francisco, California.
1968:  The movie Live a Little, Love a Little by Elvis Presley was released.
1970:  John Lennon completed work on his first solo studio album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.





1971:  Rod Stewart ruled for a fourth week on the Album chart with Every Picture Tells a Story.  He held off Imagine from John Lennon while Shaft by Isaac Hayes was third.  Santana made a nice move from 13 to 4 with Santana III while Carole King from Stanley, Idaho was still in the group with her masterpiece Tapestry.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Moody Blues and Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, the Carpenters and their self-titled release, Cat Stevens with Teaser and the Firecat, Ram from Paul & Linda McCartney at #9 and Who's Next by the Who.
1971:  "Imagine" by John Lennon debuted all the way up at #20.




           The Stampeders had this great-sounding song...

1971:  One of The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era*--"Maggie May" remained king on this day for Rod Stewart.  It had to be a pretty good song to keep "Superstar" by the Carpenters away from #1.  The Osmonds were singing about a "Yo-Yo" while Cher made her move (10-4) with "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves".  Joan Baez, meanwhile, took a more serious tone with "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" at #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  Lee Michaels with his only hit "Do You Know What I Mean", Donny Osmond ventured off for a solo hit with his remake of the Steve Lawrence song "Go Away, Little Girl", the Stampeders' great song "Sweet City Woman" was at #8, Isaac Hayes moved from 50 to 9 (how's that for a hot song?) with "Theme From 'Shaft'" and Stevie Wonder's 27th career hit "If You Really Love Me" was at #10.
1972:  Ringo Starr, Keith Moon and David Essex began filming for the musical That'll Be the Day.
1976:  Led Zeppelin performed "Black Dog" and "Dazed and Confused" for their television debut in the United States on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.
1976:  "Fernando" by ABBA once again set the standard on the Easy Listening chart.
1976:  The Spinners' fun song "Rubberband Man" was on top of the R&B chart.










                           If you like light jazz, the 'Breezin' album is for you...

1976:  "Breezin" by George Benson was one of the fastest-rising songs, moving from 90 to 77.









1976:  Although it was their 22nd hit and 11th Top 10, supergroup Chicago scored their first #1 on this date with "If You Leave Me Now".  Rick Dees had to surrender with "Disco Duck".  What a shame.  Otherwise, a pretty dynamite Top 10 with Walter Murphy's "A Fifth Of Beethoven" still in the list after 22 weeks, the great Boz Scaggs song "Lowdown", Orleans with "Still The One" and Wild Cherry's former #1 "Play That Funky Music".  The rest of the Top 10:  "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Hall & Oates were up with "She's Gone" and two great new entries--"Love So Right" from the Bee Gees, which moved from 16-9 and "Rock 'N Me" by Steve Miller.

      The incomparable Stevie Wonder...

1976:  It was one of the better times for albums in the Rock Era.  Stevie Wonder picked up where he left off the week before at #1 with the amazing Songs in the Key of Life.  Frampton Comes Alive! by Peter Frampton moved back up to #2 in his 39th week, Steve Miller Band was at #3 with Fly Like An Eagle and Earth, Wind & Fire moved from 15 to 4 with their best album Spirit.  The rest of the Top 10:  The great Silk Degrees from Boz Scaggs, Linda Ronstadt's fine Hasten Down the Wind album, Fleetwood Mac in its 65th week of release, the self-titled Wild Cherry, Chicago X from Chicago and newcomer Heart appeared with Dreamboat Annie at #10.




1978:  Two great songs were released on this Monday in Rock Era history--Neil Diamond & Barbra participated in one of the greatest collaborations of the Era--"You Don't Bring Me Flowers".
















1978:  Gloria Gaynor released the single "I Will Survive".
1982:  Culture Club rose to #1 in the U.K. with "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me".
1982:  Neil Diamond's 40th hit on the Adult Contemporary chart became his eighth #1 on this date--a song inspired by the movie E.T.--"Heartlight".

1982:  American Fool by John Cougar (Mellencamp) remained #1 for the seventh week on the Album chart.  Fleetwood Mac's Mirage had to stay at #2 for a sixth week and the Steve Miller Band held on to #3 with Abracadabra.  Bruce Springsteen moved from 29-4 with Nebraska, although it wouldn't go much higher.  Billy Squier's Emotions in Motion remained at #5.  






            Movie Magic:  Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes...

1982:  John Cougar (Mellencamp) enjoyed his stay at #1 for a fourth week with "Jack & Diane".  The only new entry in the Top 10 was the song from the epic movie An Officer & a Gentleman starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger--"Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes.
1984:  Sade performed at the City Hall in Newcastle, England.
1987:  The movie Who's That Girl starring Madonna opened in London.
1989:  Nirvana played in Europe for the first time at the Riverside Club in Newcastle, England.









1991:  Mariah Carey released the single "Can't Let Go".
1993:  As it turned out, the U.K. likes Meat Loaf.  Meat had the top song with "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)".
1993:  Take That topped the U.K. Album chart with Everything Changes.
1993:  Janet Jackson debuted at #15 with her great song "Again".



1993:  Another of The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era* was the toast of the nation on this date.  Mariah Carey remained at #1 for a seventh week with "Dreamlover".
1995:  A jury in Houston, Texas convicted the murderer of Selena.  The low-life got life in prison.
1995:  Def Leppard set a world record by playing three concerts in three continents in 24 hours.  The tireless band performed in Tangier, London and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.







2005:  Lou Rawls gave his final performance when he sang the United States national anthem prior to the beginning of Game Two of the 2005 World Series.
2005:  The Arctic Monkeys had the top song in the U.K. with "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor".
2005:  The Prodigy had the #1 album in the U.K. with their greatest hits package Their Law.
2007:  We have to have an episode of Dangerous Inmates Run Rap Music or someone might have the impression that it was worthwhile.  On this date, rapper Foxy Brown, who was serving a year in jail for a fight she started at a nail salon of all places, was given 11 weeks in solitary confinement for starting a fight with another inmate.  I think we have our solution for taking care of one of the world's problems--put all rappers in solitary confinement for the rest of their lives.
2009:  Connie Francis Court at the corner of Greylock Parkway and Forest Street was dedicated to the popular 1950's singer in her home town of Belleville, New Jersey.


Born This Day:
1939:  Charles Foxx , who had the hit "Mockingbird" with his sister Inez, was born in Greensboro, North Carolina; died September 18, 1998 of leukemia in New York City.

1940:  Ellie Greenwich, songwriter with Jeff Barry on "Leader Of The Pack" by the Shangri-Las, "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes, "River Deep, Mountain High" for the Supremes & Four Tops and many others, was born in Brooklyn, New York; died of a heart attack in New York City August 26, 2009.
1940:  Fred Marsden, drummer of Gerry and the Pacemakers, was born in Liverpool, England; died of cancer December 9, 2006 in Southport, England.
1943:  Barbara Ann Hawkins of the Dixie Cups was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1947:  Greg Ridley, bass guitarist of Spooky Tooth and Humble Pie, was born in Aspatria, Cumberland, England; died November 19, 2003 in Jávea, Spain of pneumonia and resulting complications.  (Note:  some sources claim he was born in Carlisle, but according to "The News and Star' newspaper, the family moved to Carlisle when Greg was 13.)
1949:  Michael Burston ("Wurzel"), guitarist of Motorhead, was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England; died July 9, 2011 of ventricular fibrillation caused by heart muscle disease .

1959:  "Weird Al" Yankovic, a novelty artist who is one of a kind, was born in Downey, California.  (Note:  some websites claim Yankovic was born in Lynwood--according to most sources, he was born in Downey and then moved to Lynwood.)
1964:  Roberto Trujillo, bassist for Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica (since 2003), was born in Santa Monica, California.