This Date in Rock Music History: November 15

1956:  Elvis Presley appeared in a movie for the first time as Love Me Tender opened at the Paramount Theatre in New York City.  (Note:  there are conflicting reports of the date of the premiere.  The books 'Icons of Rock:  An Encyclopedia of the Legends Who Changed Music Forever' by Scott Schinder and Andy Schwartz and 'Elvis:  Day by Day' by Peter Guralnick and Ernst Jorgensen state that the movie premiered on November 15.  The newspaper 'The Examiner' and The Graceland.com website also show the premiere as the 15th.  The books 'The Elvis Movies' by James L. Neibaur and 'Elvis Presley:  A Biography' by Kathleen Tracy state that the premiere was on November 16.  This would be a tossup to determine the accurate date, unless those sources all saw the picture of the marquee above, which clearly shows that the premiere was on the 15th...)   

1964:  Peter & Gordon appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.  (Note:  some websites report the date as November 9, but according to 'TV.com' and other online sites where you can watch video of the performance, it was November 15.)
1965:  The Beatles finished recording the album Rubber Soul.






1965:  The Rolling Stones performed "Get Off Of My Cloud", which aired on Hullabaloo on NBC-TV on this date.







1969:  The Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, where the Beatles performed in their early years, announced it was closing its doors at the end of the month.








1969:  Glen Campbell enjoyed the top Easy Listening song with "Try A Little Kindness".










1969:  We first heard of a new group called the Jackson 5 as their first single "I Want You Back" debuted on the chart.











     
               R.B. Greaves had a huge hit

1969:  The 5th Dimension remained at #1 with "Wedding Bell Blues" while the Beatles crowded around with "Come Together" at #2 and "Something" at #3.  Blood, Sweat & Tears rose from 8-4 with "And When I Die" and Smith was still at #5 with "Baby It's You".  The rest of the Top 10:  Two former #1's--"I Can't Get Next To You" by the Temptations and "Suspicious Minds" from Elvis Presley, the Flying Machine were at #8 with "Smile A Little Smile For Me", the Archies' former #1 "Sugar, Sugar" and R.B. Greaves took a leap from 18-10 with "Take A Letter Maria".

1969:  Abbey Road by the Beatles spent a third week at #1 on the Album chart with CCR's Green River second.
1972:  America released their fine album Homecoming.
1972:  Harry Chapin and his wife celebrated the birth of son Joshua Burke.









1974:  The Doobie Brothers released the single "Black Water".
1975:  ABBA were in the United States for the only time in their career, performing "S.O.S." and "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" on American Bandstand on ABC-TV.








1975:  Silver Convention achieved a #1 song on the R&B chart with "Fly, Robin, Fly".
1975:  Diana Ross had another big solo hit as the "Theme Rrom 'Mahogany' (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" moved from 79 to 53.








1975:  "Island Girl" by Elton John was the #1 song for a third week as "Lyin' Eyes" officially would have to settle for being one of the top #2 songs of the Rock Era--many stations had it #1, however.  The Four Seasons were up to #3 with "Who Loves You", their biggest hit since "Let's Hang On" in 1965.  Jefferson Starship edged up with "Miracles" while Linda Ronstadt's double-sided hit "Heat Wave"/"Love Is A Rose" was at #5.  The rest of the Top 10:  K.C. and the Sunshine Band moved from 19 to 6 with "That's The Way (I Like It)", Natalie Cole's "This Will Be", Morris Albert had song #8 with "Feelings", the Captain & Tennille with "The Way I Want to Touch You" and War rode into the Top 10 with "Low Rider".
1977:  Debby Boone had the #1 Easy Listening song with "You Light Up My Life".
1978:  Barbra Streisand released her Greatest Hits Volume 2 package.
1978:  Echo & the Bunnymen made their live debut at Eric's Club in Liverpool, England.

1980:  Kenny Rogers' 12th solo hit became his first career #1 as "Lady" moved into the coveted position.  That moved "Woman In Love" by Barbra Streisand out as adult songs dominated the chart.  Donna Summer was at #3 with "The Wanderer" and Queen remained at #4 with "Another One Bites The Dust".  The rest of the Top 10:  Diana Ross and "I'm Coming Out", Stephanie Mills was up to #6 with "Never Knew Love Like This Before", Steve Wonder's "Master Blaster" took position #7, the Pointer Sisters dropped with their huge hit "He's So Shy", Leo Sayer bumped into the Top 10 with "More Than I Can Say" and John Lennon jumped from 32-10 in only his third week with his first big hit in six year--"(Just Like) Starting Over".










1983:  Culture Club released the single "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" in the United States.










1984:  Glenn Frey released his solo single "The Heat Is On".












1984:  Billy Ocean released the follow-up to "Caribbean Queen"--"Loverboy".  (Note:  one website shows the release as December 1, an impossibility since it is physically and logistically impossible for a song to debut on the chart (December 1) on the date it is released.)










                 Eddie Money with his biggest career hit...

1986:  For the second week, Boston held on to #1 with "Amanda".  The Human League were at #2 with "Human", Madonna's "True Blue" took home the #3 prize and Eddie Money was fourth with "Take Me Home Tonight".  Newcomers Bon Jovi had their first Top 10 with "You Give Love A Bad Name".  The rest of the Top 10:  "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" by Robert Palmer, Cameo's "Word Up", Sun Valley, Idaho's Peter Cetera teamed with Amy Grant to enter the Top 10 with "The Next Time I Fall", Oran "Juice" Jones moved "The Rain" to #9 and Cyndi Lauper dropped with "True Colors".

                Winwood's classic had become a fixture in the Top 10...and for All-Time...


1986:  Boston's Third Stage was #1 on the Album chart for the third week while former #1 Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi was still hanging around and Fore!  by Huey Lewis & the News remained third.  Cyndi Lauper's True Colors came in #4 and Tina Turner dropped to #5 with Break Every Rule.  The rest of the Top 10:  Dancing on the Ceiling from Lionel Richie, Steve Winwood's great album Back in the High Life, the Soundtrack to "Top Gun", The Bridge by Billy Joel at #9 and Madonna snuck into the Top 10 with True Blue.
1988:  Queensryche opened for Metallica as their tour of North America kicked off at the Toledo Sports Arena in Toledo, Ohio.
1990:  Frank Farian, producer of Milli Vanilli, admitted that Fabrice Morvan and Rob Pilatus of the group didn't actually sing any notes on their album and lip-synched in live performances.



1997:  Robyn had the highest-debuting song with "Show Me Love".
1997:  Elton John spent a sixth week at #1 with "Candle In The Wind 1997", his tribute to the late Princess Diana.  It was Elton's 66th career hit, his 27th Top 10 and ninth #1.  Usher was a distant #2 with "You Make Me Wanna'" while LeAnn Rimes had #3--"How Do I Live".
2003:  The city of Augusta, Georgia announced plans to construct a statue of James Brown and rename a music festival in the singer's honor.
2005:  Madonna released the album Confession on a Dance Floor.  (Note:  some websites show the date of release as November 11, but it was the 15th, according to the official Madonna website.)

Born This Day:

1932:  Petula Clark was born in Epsom, England.

 

 

 

 

 

1932:  Clyde McPhatter, vocalist with the Drifters and Billy Ward & the Dominoes and a solo artist ("A Lover's Question" from 1958), was born in Durham, North Carolina; died June 13, 1972 in New York City of a heart attack from complications from heart, liver and kidney disease brought on by years of drinking alcohol.  (Note:  some websites report Clyde's birth year as either 1931 or 1933, but according to the book 'Rock Obituaries:  Knocking on Heaven's Door' by Nick Talevski, as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website and other credible sources, he was born in 1932.)  
1937:  Little Willie John ("Fever") was born in Cullendale, Arkansas.






1945:  Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA was born in Ballangen, Norway.  (Note:  some websites show her birthplace as Narvik, Norway, but she was born in Ballangen, which is just outside of Narvik, according to the newspaper 'The Daily Mail'.)
1949:  Steve Fossen, founding member and bassist of Heart 
1953:  Alexander O'Neal, solo artist who also co-produced the album Control for Janet Jackson, was born in Natchez, Mississippi.
1954:  Tony Thompson, drummer of Chic and the Power Station and session musician for Diana Ross, Rod Stewart and Duran Duran, was born in Queens, New York; died November 12, 2003 in Encino, California, less than a month after being diagnosed with kidney cancer.
1957:  Joe Leeway of the Thompson Twins was born in Islington, London.

We Are One Week Away...

We think the music special The Top 100 Female Artists of the Rock Era* will live up to the hype.  You may agree or disagree with the rankings, but what's important is that the special honors The Top 100 Female Artists* like no one has before.  You will be astounded by the achievements and reminded by the life's work of these great women.

Remember that the special considers only an artist's achievement under each name that they record under.  To be eligible, the artist must either be a solo performer, or a member of an all-female group (No males allowed!).  Thus, Cher's work with Sonny and Stevie Nicks' work with Fleetwood Mac, for example, do not count in the copyrighted* formula that determines the rankings.  As we will point out often during the special, additional work outside of their solo career is best awarded in the special The Top 100 Women in Rock*, which Inside The Rock Era will also produce in the future.

As hard as it is to believe in 2013, there was a time in the Rock Era when women were not given a great deal of respect, certainly as artists in control of their own career.  That has changed radically, with women writing their own songs, playing their own instruments, producing their own albums, etc.  As women have taken charge of their own careers, they have been a dominant force in the industry, and many of The Top 100 Female Artists* are from the last 10-20 years.

They have amazing stories, and even more amazing music.  You won't want to miss it--The Top 100 Female Artists of the Rock Era* kicks off next Thursday, November 21 on Inside The Rock Era!  

This Date in Rock Music History: November 14

1960:  "It's Now Or Never" by Elvis Presley became the fastest-selling single ever in the U.K. at the time, moving 780,000 copies in a week.

1960:  Cozy Cole began a 20-week goodwill tour of Africa that was sponsored by the United States State Department.
1960:  Jerry Butler moved back to the #1 spot on the R&B chart with "He Will Break Your Heart".





1960:  Ray Charles moved to #1 for the first time with his ninth hit--"Georgia On My Mind".  
1961:  The Everly Brothers recorded "Crying In The Rain".
1962:  The Beatles played the final performance of a 14-night run at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany.  It was the second of three stints for the group at the Star.
1964:  The Supremes reigned on the R&B chart for a third week with their first big hit "Baby Love".

1964:  Johnny Rivers moved up from 61 to 33 with "Mountain Of Love".









            "Last Kiss" sounds as good now as ever...

1964:  "Baby Love" was #1 for a third week for the Supremes, temporarily holding off "Leader Of The Pack" from the Shangri-Las.  J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers dropped with "Last Kiss".  Jay & the Americans marched to #4 with "Come A Little Bit Closer" and the Honeycombs were there at #5 with "Have I The Right?".  The rest of the Top 10:  Dean Martin and "The Door Is Still Open to My Heart", Manfred Mann's former #1 "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", Betty Everett & Jerry Butler were on their way down with "Let It Be Me", the Zombies had a big hit with "She's Not There", which jumped from 22-9 and Bonanza's Lorne Greene had a surprising hit at #10 with "Ringo".

1967:  Pink Floyd opened for the Jimi Hendrix Experience on a tour of the U.K., with the first show on this day at the famous Royal Albert Hall in London.
1969:  Led Zeppelin began work on their third album, recording "Since I've Been Loving You" at Olympic Studios in London.
1969:  "Sugar, Sugar" by the Archies topped the U.K. chart.







1970:  The Osmonds released their first single--"One Bad Apple".











1970:  Gladys Knight & the Pips released "If I Were Your Woman".
1970:  Led Zeppelin III continued to set the bar on the Album chart with Abraxas by Santana #2 and James Taylor remaining in the third position with Sweet Baby James.  The only new entry into the Top 10 surged to get there--Sly & the Family Stone jumped from 48 to 10 in the second week of release for their Greatest Hits package.
1970:  The Jackson 5 remained at #1 on the R&B chart for the sixth consecutive week with their first release--"I'll Be There".
1970:  "We've Only Just Begun" by the Carpenters was the #1 Easy Listening song for the sixth straight week.

          Brian Hyland had grown up since "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini"...

1970:  The Jackson 5 continued to have the #1 song for a fifth week with "I'll Be There".  The Carpenters were runners-up for a third week with "We've Only Just Begun" and James Taylor's first hit "Fire And Rain" was third.  The Partridge Family moved from 7 to 4 with "I Think I Love You", leaping over R. Dean Taylor's "Indiana Wants Me".  The rest of the Top 10:  Sugarloaf with "Green-Eyed Lady", Smokey Robinson & the Miracles grabbed their fifth Top 10 in 37 releases with "The Tears Of A Clown", 100 Proof Aged in Soul had #8 officially with "Somebody's Been Sleeping" although few radio stations played it, Brian Hyland had his first Top 10 in eight years with "Gypsy Woman", moving from 18-9 and Bread inched up with "It Don't Matter To Me".


1971:  The Faces with lead singer Rod Stewart released the single "Stay with Me".
1981:  The Police arrived at #1 on the U.K. chart with "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic".










1983:  Lionel Richie released the single "Running With the Night".

 

 

 

 

1983:  Culture Club released the single "Karma Chameleon".

1984:  Yes released their comeback album 90125.
1987:  Sonny and Cher reunited and sang "I Got You Babe" on Late Night with David Letterman.
1987:  George Michael's Faith topped the U.K. Album chart.








She was no longer a Go-Go but she still was a woman on the move...

1987:  There were two new entries in the Top 10--former Go-Go Belinda Carlisle jumped from 11-5 with "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and Richard Marx was up to #10 with "Should've Known Better".





1987:  The Soundtrack to "Dirty Dancing" took over as the #1 album.








1988:  Bon Jovi released the single "Born To Be My Baby".
1990:  Pete Townshend of the Who announced that he was bisexual in an interview with Newsweek magazine.
1992:  John Cascella, keyboardist with John Mellencamp, was found dead in his car in Indianapolis, Indiana after apparently suffering a heart attack at age 36.
1992:  Bon Jovi owned the #1 album in the U.K. with Keep the Faith.
1992:  The Heights jumped into the #1 position with "How Do You Talk To An Angel".  Boyz II Men had set an existing Rock Era record the week before with a 13th week at #1 for "End Of The Road".  PM Dawn was at #3 with "I'd Die Without You" and Shai moved from 12 to 4 with "If I Ever Fall in Love".


1992:  Michael Bolton took the great Bee Gees song "To Love Somebody" to the top of the Adult Contemporary chart.
1995:  R. Kelly released his self-titled album.
1996:  Michael Jackson married Debbie Rowe in Sydney, Australia.
2000:  Limahl, formerly with Kajagoogoo ("Too Shy") and also a solo artist, escaped death when the tour bus he was traveling on crashed after catching on fire. 
2004:  Paul McCartney, Bono of U2, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Snow Patrol, the Darkness and Keane recorded a new version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?".
2004:  U2 reached the top of the U.K. chart with "Vertigo".

2004:  Usher won American Music Awards for Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Album (Confessions).  Rapper Kanye West acted like a baby when he didn't win Best New Artist and stormed out of the building.  (Note:  numerous websites erroneously report that the awards were given out on November 15.  November 15 was the date of newspaper reports, which as everyone knows are printed the day after news happens.  The American Music Awards are presented on Sunday, which in 2004 occurred on November 14.)
2004:  Michel Columbier, who co-wrote the score for the movie Purple Rain, died of cancer in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65.

Born This Day:

1938:  Cornell Gunter, originally with the Platters and an original member of the Coasters, was born in Coffeyville, Kansas ; died February 26, 1990 when he was shot while in his car in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (Note:  some websites insist on reporting his birth year as 1938, contrary to what his gravestone shows.
1940: Freddie Garrity, the lead singer of Freddie & the Dreamers ("I'm Telling You Now") was born in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester, England.
1944:  Scherrie Payne, younger sister of Freda ("Band of Gold") and a member of the Supremes from 1973-1977, was born in Detroit, Michigan.  (Note:  some websites show her birthday as November 4--the book 'Motown Encyclopedia' by Graham Betts says November 14.)



1949:  James "J.Y." Young, guitarist of Styx, was born in Chicago, Illinois.

1951:  Stephen Bishop ("On and On") was born in San Diego, California.
1951:  Frankie Banali, drummer of Quiet Riot, was born in Queens, New York.
1951:  Barry Brandt, drummer of Angel, was born in Washington, D.C.
1952:  Alec John Such, bassist of Bon Jovi, was born in Yonkers, New York.




1954:  Yanni, New Age superstar, was born in Kalamata, Greece.

 

 

 

 

 

1964:  Joseph ("DJ Run") Simmons of Run-DMC was born in Queens, New York.
1964:  Nic Dalton, bass guitarist of the Lemonheads, was born in Canberra, Australia.  (Note:  some websites show Nic was born in Sydney--he was born in Canberra, and later moved to Sydney, according to his official website.)
1968:  Brian Yale, bass guitarist of Matchbox 20

1974:  Adina Howard ("Freak Like Me" from 1995) was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
1975:  Travis Barker, drummer of Blink-182, was born in Fontana, California.