Jim Nelson (2024)

21/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 21

In 1961, The Tamla (Motown) label released The Marvelettes’ first single, “Please Mr. Postman.” The song went on to reach the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 and R&B charts, making it the first Motown song to reach the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 1965, On the strength of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Play With Fire,” and “The Last Time,” The Rolling Stones started a three-week run at #1 on the US album chart with Out Of Our Heads, the group’s first US #1 album.

In 1965, “Eve Of Destruction” by Barry McGuire and “Do You Believe In Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful were both released.

In 1967, Bob Dylan’s contract with Columbia Records expired, but he re-signed rather quickly after being courted by other labels.

In 1972, Paul Kantner and Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane were arrested after a fight broke out during a concert in Akron, Ohio.

In 1976, Todd Rundgren, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and 10cc were well-received in front of 200,000 at England’s massive Knebworth Festival. The headliners were The Rolling Stones.

In 1982, U2 singer Bono married Alison Stewart in Raheny, Ireland, with bassist Adam Clayton as best man.

In 1983, Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone had a four-hour brain surgery after being found unconscious in a New York Street where he had been involved in a fight.

In 1993, The Cameron Crowe-produced soundtrack to the hit movie Sleepless In Seattle zoomed to the top of the album charts.

In 1995, Hershey Foods had been using R.E.M.’s name improperly in a “Kit-Kat/R.E.M.” concert sweepstakes, causing Stipes and company to sue; the matter was eventually dropped.

In 1996, David Byrne, through court action, prevented the remainder of his former band from touring as The Heads.

In 1999, Santana’s Supernatural and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Californication were Top-15 albums.

In 2005, Robert A. Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizer, died at his home in Asheville, North Carolina, from brain cancer. He was 71. The Moog synthesizer was made popular by ‘70s progressive rock bands like Manfred Mann, Yes, Pink Floyd, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer; The Beatles used a Moog synthesizer on Abbey Road and a Moog was used to create an eerie sound on the soundtrack to the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange.

In 2013, Concert promoter Sid Bernstein, best known for booking The Beatles at Carnegie Hall and later Shea Stadium, died at the age of 95. Bernstein changed the American music scene in the 1960s by bringing The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, The Moody Blues, and The Kinks to America. He was the first impresario to organize rock concerts at sports stadiums.

In 2021, Don Everly, one-half of The Everly Brothers, died at age 84 at his home in Nashville, Tennessee. The Everly Brothers, which included Don’s late brother Phil, are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

21/08/2024

BORN ON // August 21

BUDGIE (born Peter Clarke) of Siouxsie & The Banshees
CARL GIAMMARESE of The Buckinghams
CARRIE-ANNE MOSS
CLARENCE WILLIAMS III
COUNT BASIE
GLENN HUGHES of Deep Purple/Black Sabbath
JACKIE DeSHANNON
JOE STRUMMER of The Clash
KACEY MUSGRAVES
KENNY ROGERS
KIM CATTRALL
LIAM HOWLETT of Prodigy
MELVIN VAN PEEBLES
NICK KANE of The Mavericks
STEVE SMITH of Journey
WILT CHAMBERLAIN

20/08/2024

Rock’s history is filled with success stories, both the gradual kind and the so-called “overnight” varieties. But that history also has stories of richly

20/08/2024

Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" was born out of a jam session that someone in the studio control room decided to record.

20/08/2024

The Leon Tour has support from Hermanos Gutiérrez and Texas country singer Charley Crockett

20/08/2024

The 20th anniversary tour includes three nights apiece in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Portland

20/08/2024

“The time, toil, and sweat he has devoted to making our band better, year in and year out, will always be an indispensable part of what ‘the Mountain Goats’ meant,” the band wrote in a statement

20/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 20

In 1965, Davy Jones & The Lower Third released “You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving,” the last song released before Jones changed his name to David Bowie to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees.

In 1967, A new noise reduction system for professional recording was unveiled by the famous techno-brothers R. and D.W. Dolby. Elektra would be the first to utilize the Dolby Noise Reduction process.

In 1968, Researchers at the University of Tennessee audio lab determined that a guinea pig subjected to nearly 90 hours of rock music at 120 decibels over a three-month period was inflicted with severe hearing damage. Steve Paul, the owner of a New York disco replied, “Should a major increase in guinea pig attendance occur at The Scene, we’ll certainly bear their comfort in mind.”

In 1969, After finishing “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” The Beatles worked on the running order for the Abbey Road album. A preliminary master tape was compiled with the medley on side one and the album ending with the slashed guitar chord that finishes “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” This was the last time all four Beatles were together in Abbey Road Studios.

In 1969, Saying he was “tired of playing for people who clap for all the wrong reasons,” Frank Zappa broke up The Mothers Of Invention.

In 1979, Bob Dylan released Slow Train Coming, an album of religious songs including the Grammy-winning “Gotta Serve Somebody.” The album alienated many of his longtime fans, though it did ultimately hit #3 on the Billboard album chart. An as-yet-unknown Mark Knopfler played lead guitar on it.

In 1988, Steve Winwood went to #1 on the US album chart with Roll With It. The title cut also topped the US singles charts.

In 1999, Bobby Sheehan, bass player for Blues Traveler, was discovered dead in his New Orleans home from what was eventually called an accidental overdose. He was 31.

In 2009, Keyboard player and bassist Larry Knechtel died at the age of 69 of an apparent heart attack. Knechtel, a member of the 1970s band Bread, is best known as a member of the Wrecking Crew who worked with Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, The Monkees, The Partridge Family, The Doors, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley.

In 2020, Singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle — the son of Steve Earle — died in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 38 from an accidental overdose of fentanyl-laced co***ne.

20/08/2024

BORN ON // August 20

AL ROKER
DEMI LOVATO
DOUG FIEGER of The Knack
ISAAC HAYES
JAMES PANKOW of Chicago
JAMIE CULLUM
JOAN ALLEN
JOHN HIATT
MICHAEL SHUMAN of Queens Of The Stone Age/Mini Mansions
MONIQUE POWELL of Save Ferris
PETER “SNEAKY PETE” KLEINOW of The Flying Burrito Brothers
PHIL LYNOTT of Thin Lizzy
ROBERT PLANT of Led Zeppelin/The Honeydrippers

19/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 19

In 1964, The Beatles’ first US tour kicked off at the Cow Palace in San Francisco to a crowd of 17,130. Supporting acts were The Righteous Brothers, The Bill Black Combo, The Exciters, and Jackie DeShannon.

In 1967, The Beatles scored their 14th US #1 single with “All You Need Is Love.” Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Graham Nash, Marianne Faithfull, and Gary Leeds of The Walker Brothers all sang backing vocals on the track.

In 1968, After 58 episodes, the final Monkees TV show aired on NBC.

In 1973, Kris Kristofferson married Rita Coolidge in Malibu, California.

In 1973, Jethro Tull held down the top album spot on the charts with A Passion Play.

In 1979, Rockabilly Hall of Fame member Dorsey Burnette (brother of star Johnny Burnette) died of a heart attack in the Los Angeles suburb of Canoga Park, California. He was 46. After Burnette’s death, singer and friend Delaney Bramlett organized a benefit concert for Dorsey’s widow at the Forum in Los Angeles, at which Kris Kristofferson, Hoyt Axton, Tanya Tucker, Glen Campbell, Duane Eddy, Delaney and Bonnie, Gary Busey, and Roger Miller appeared.

In 1988, “Crazy,” by Patsy Cline, and Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” were announced as the most played jukebox songs of the first 100 years. The earliest jukeboxes had been first seen in 1889.

In 1997, Fleetwood Mac’s live reunion album, The Dance, was released.

In 1998, The Suffragette Sessions Tour opened at the State Theater in Portland, Maine, with the Indigo Girls, Josephine Wiggs of Breeders, Lisa Germano, Jane Siberry, and Ann Wilson of Heart, among others.

In 2005, A life-sized bronze statue of Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, designed by Paul Daly, was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin, Ireland. The ceremony was attended by former Thin Lizzy band members Gary Moore, Brian Robertson, and Scott Gorham.

In 2008, Saxophonist/flutist/contrabass clarinetist LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, died at the age of 46 from injuries sustained in an ATV accident back in June on his farm outside of Charlottesville, Virginia.

In 2014, Kate Bush requested fans not to take any photographs or record footage using mobile devices at her upcoming 22-date run of performances in London, England. Bush said on her website, “I very much want to have contact with you as an audience, not with iPhones, iPads or cameras.” She acknowledged that it was “a lot to ask.”

In 2019, Larry “The Mole” Taylor, best known as a longtime guitarist and bassist for Canned Heat, and who also played with The Monkees and John Mayall, among others, died of cancer at his Lake Balboa, California, home. He was 77.

19/08/2024

BORN ON // August 19

GEORGE NEWSOME of Climax Blues Band
GINGER BAKER (born Peter Baker)
IAN GILLAN of Deep Purple
JOHN DEACON of Queen
JOHN STAMOS
JOHNNY NASH
KEVIN DILLON
KYRA SEDGWICK
LEE ANN WOMACK
MATTHEW PERRY
MISSY HIGGINS
RÉGINE CHASSAGNE of Arcade Fire

18/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 18

In 1956, “Hound Dog” by Elvis entered the R&B chart at #11.

In 1956, The original version of “Fever,” by Little Willie John, popped up on the charts at #24. In a cover version several years later, it would go on to be a huge hit for Peggy Lee.

In 1962, Ringo Starr first performed as a member of The Beatles at a horticultural society dance in Birkenhead, England, having had a two-hour rehearsal in preparation. This was the first appearance of The Beatles as the world would come to know them: John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

In 1962, “If I Had A Hammer” by Peter, Paul & Mary was released.

In 1964, Just two years since Ringo’s debut, more than 9,000 frenzied fans met The Beatles as they arrived in San Francisco to begin an American tour. The Beatles were driven into a protective fence enclosure so that photographers could take pictures, but with all those fans pressing against it the fencing gave way; The Beatles managed to get out just before it came crashing down.

In 1966, Singer Paul Jones left Manfred Mann just as “Pretty Flamingo” was climbing the US charts. He was replaced by Mike D’Abo, who would take over lead vocals on the band’s next hit, the Bob Dylan-written “The Mighty Quinn.”

In 1969, In an accident during the filming of Ned Kelly, Mick Jagger was shot in the hand in Australia.

In 1976, Variety magazine reported that Marvin Gaye faced two consecutive five-day prison terms in Los Angeles county jail for contempt of court after failing to pay alimony and child support.

In 1977, Elvis Presley was buried in Memphis, Tennessee. Two Missouri girls were killed and a third was critically injured when a car being driven by an 18-year-old Memphis teen swerved into a crowd of over 2,000 mourners standing in front of Graceland’s music gate at about 4am. The driver was charged with drunk driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and two counts of second degree murder.

In 1977, With the previous departure of guitarist Henry Padovani, The Police performed as a trio for the first time.

In 1978, Who Are You, the final album by The Who to feature Keith Moon, came out.

In 1979, Nick Lowe married Johnny Cash’s step-daughter, Carlene Carter.

In 1981, Right before embarking on an extensive tour, The Moody Blues released Long Distance Voyager. It would ultimately go Gold.

In 1982, The City of Liverpool named four streets after The Fab Four: John Lennon Drive, Paul McCartney Way, George Harrison Close, and Ringo Starr Drive.

In 1991, Billy Preston was arrested and charged with inappropriate behavior with a 16-year-old boy.

In 1997, With Mick Jagger at the wheel of a ‘55 red Cadillac, the Stones rolled up to the Brooklyn Bridge to trumpet their upcoming Bridges To Babylon tour.

In 2010, French beauty brand Etat Libre D’Orange announced that they had teamed up with S*x Pistols to bottle the scent of the “Punk era” by launching the band’s first fragrance. Company executives said, “To wear this scent, you must resist tradition, fight conformity, and disregard aromatic conventions.”

In 2012, Singer/songwriter Scott McKenzie died at age 73. McKenzie was best known for his 1967 hit single (and generational anthem) “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair).”

In 2020, Early Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist Jack Sherman passed away of a heart attack at the age of 64. He played on their debut album and on their first tour of the USA.

18/08/2024

CARL WAYNE of The Move
CHRISTIAN SLATER
DENIS LEARY
EDWARD NORTON
ERIK SCHRODY (aka Everlast)
MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER
MARTIN MULL
NIGEL GRIGGS of Split Enz
PATRICK SWAYZE
REG E. CATHEY
ROBERT REDFORD
RON STRYKERT of Men At Work

17/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 17

In 1955, Elvis Presley released what would become his first #1 hit, “I Forgot To Remember To Forget” b/w “Mystery Train.” It hit the top of the Country chart several months later and stayed there for five weeks.

In 1960, The Beatles began their first Hamburg engagement, playing the first of 48 nights at the Indra Club.

In 1964, Glasgow council in Scotland announced that all boys and men with Beatles-style haircuts would have to wear bathing caps after a committee was told that hair from “Beatle-cuts” was clogging pools’ filters.

In 1966, John Lennon again stoked the flames of controversy. This time, in Toronto, he expressed his support and admiration for young American males crossing the border to dodge the draft.

In 1968, The Doors started a four-week run at #1 on the US album chart with Waiting For The Sun.

In 1969, The legendary Woodstock music festival ended in upstate New York.

In 1970, Keyboardist and singer/songwriter Christine McVie of UK blues outfit Chicken Shack joined up with new husband John McVie in Fleetwood Mac.

In 1973, Paul Williams, original vocalist for The Temptations, took his own life; he was 34.

In 1974, Eric Clapton started a four-week run at #1 on the US album chart with 461 Ocean Boulevard.

In 1977, Tens of thousands of fans made the pilgrimage to Memphis to pay tribute to Elvis Presley.

In 1989, The debut album by The Indigo Girls, featuring “Closer To Fine,” was a Top-30 album.

In 1991, Nirvana shot the video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” at GMT Studios in Culver City, California; costing less than $50,000 to make, the video features real Nirvana fans as the audience. The video won Nirvana the Best New Artist and Best Alternative Group awards at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2000 the Guinness World Records named “Teen Spirit” the Most Played Video on MTV Europe.

In 1995, Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre after an apparent su***de attempt. Police had found him at his Los Angeles home with a two-inch laceration on his wrist.

In 1998, Carlos Santana was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2001, Guitarist and keyboard player Jay Bennett left Wilco, just five months after drummer Ken Coomer’s exit in March.

In 2008, Jackson Browne was suing US Republican presidential candidate John McCain for using his song “Running On Empty” without permission. Browne claimed the use of his song in an advert was an infringement of copyright and would lead people to conclude that he was endorsing McCain.

17/08/2024

BORN ON // August 17

BELINDA CARLISLE of The Go-Go’s
COLIN MOULDING of XTC
ED SANDERS of The Fugs
ERIC JOHNSON
FERNANDO PERDOMO of The Dirty Diamond/Echo In The Canyon
GARY TALLEY of The Box Tops
GILBY CLARKE of Guns N’ Roses
JILL CUNNIFF of Luscious Jackson
JIMMY WITHERSPOON
KEVIN ROWLAND of Dexy’s Midnight Runners
LUTHER ALLISON
MARIA McKEE of Lone Justice
PHOEBE BRIDGERS
ROBERT DE NIRO
SEAN PENN
SIB HASHIAN of Boston
STEVE GORMAN of The Black Crowes

16/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 16

In 1938, Blues legend Robert Johnson died near Greenwood, Mississippi, of unknown causes at the age of 27. Several different hypotheses have been given for the cause of Johnson’s death, with most revolving around being poisoned by a jealous husband of a woman with whom Johnson had flirted. Johnson is one of the many top-shelf musicians and singers who have died at 27; the list includes Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse.

In 1958, After being drafted into the US Army, Elvis Presley was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in Friedberg, West Germany.

In 1962, Little Stevie Wonder (age 12), released his first single, “I Call It Pretty Music, But The Old People Call It The Blues”; the single featured Marvin Gaye on drums.

In 1966, The Monkees released their first single, “Last Train To Clarksville.”

In 1968, Working at Abbey Road Studios on the White Album, The Beatles recorded 14 takes of the new George Harrison song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” taking the song from its early acoustic version into an electric version.

In 1968, Bruce Springsteen’s new band, Earth, made their live debut at the Off Broad Street Coffee House in Red Bank, New Jersey.

In 1969, During a North American tour, Led Zeppelin appeared at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park, New Jersey, with Joe Cocker supporting. Zeppelin had been asked to perform at Woodstock but due to this gig commitment, they had to decline the historic festival.

In 1969, Hippie leader Abbie Hoffman was knocked offstage by Pete Townshend while attempting to make a political statement during The Who’s set at Woodstock. Later, Townshend said he didn’t know it was Hoffman at the time.

In 1975, Peter Gabriel split from Genesis.

In 1977, Elvis Presley, “The King,” died of heart failure at the age of 42 at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1979, The biggest single of the summer in the US, The Knack’s “My Sharona,” was awarded a Gold record for selling one million copies.

In 1983, After dating for six years, Paul Simon married actress Carrie Fisher. They divorced in 1985.

In 1985, On her birthday, Madonna married actor Sean Penn. It lasted four years.

In 1997, On the 20th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death more than 30,000 fans descended on Memphis, Tennessee, for a 10-minute mourning circuit circling his grave. A poll found that almost a third of the fans were keeping an eye out for him in the crowd.

In 2002, The Rolling Stones played a surprise club gig in Toronto as a warm-up for their 40 Licks Tour.

In 2018, Aretha Franklin, the “Queen Of Soul,” passed away at her home in Detroit from pancreatic cancer; she was 76.

In 2019, Peter Fonda, the Oscar-nominated actor whose roles in Easy Rider and The Trip made him a counterculture hero in the late 1960s and who inadvertently inspired The Beatles’ song “She Said She Said,” died at 79 from respiratory failure due to lung cancer.

In 2023, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Moss — who co-founded A&M Records with Herb Alpert — died of natural causes at his home in Bel Air, California. He was 88.

16/08/2024

BORN ON // August 16

ANGELA BASSETT
BARRY HAY of Golden Earring
BILL “SPUTNICK” SPOONER of The Tubes
BOB HARDY of Franz Ferdinand
EMILY STRAYER of The Chicks/Dixie Chicks/ Court Yard Hounds
HANNAH JOY of Middle Kids
JAMES CAMERON
JOEY SPAMPINATO of NRBQ
KATHIE LEE GIFFORD
MADONNA
SCOTT ASHETON of Iggy Pop And The Stooges
STEVE CARELL
TAYLOR GOLDSMITH of Dawes
TIM FARRISS of INXS
TIMOTHY HUTTON
VANESSA CARLTON

15/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 15

In 1958, Buddy Holly was married in Lubbock, Texas, to Maria Elena Santiago.

In 1964, In the wake of The Beatles’ success on celluloid, MGM signed The Dave Clark Five to a contract, resulting in the first single, “Having A Wild Weekend.”

In 1965, 55,600 packed Shea Stadium in New York to see, and maybe, even hear, The Beatles. At the time it was the largest single audience on record to attend a rock concert. The Beatles were paid $160,000 for the show, during which they played “Twist And Shout,” “She’s A Woman,” “I Feel Fine,” “Dizzy Miss Lizzie,” “Ticket To Ride,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Baby’s In Black,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Help!,” and “I’m Down.” Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richard were in the audience, and later that evening Bob Dylan visited The Beatles at their hotel.

In 1966, The Beatles appeared at DC Stadium in Washington, DC, to over 32,000 fans. Tickets cost $3. Prior to the concert, five members of the local Ku Klux Klan, dressed in red, white and green robes and led by the Imperial Grand Wizard of the Maryland clan, held a parade outside the venue in protest against John Lennon’s comments that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus.

In 1969, Billed as “Three Days Of Peace & Music,” The Woodstock Music & Arts Festival began at Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York. As a result of most of the 400,000 concert-goers crashing the gates, the promoters took a bath. There were lots of drugs, not enough food, bad sanitation, mud, three deaths, two births, and four miscarriages. The music was, of course, provided by Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Sly & The Family Stone, Richie Havens, The Who, the Dead, Janis, Joe Cocker, CSN&Y, Jefferson Airplane, and numerous others.

In 1979, Led Zeppelin released In Through The Out Door. The record cover was one of the most expensive and elaborate covers ever produced (moisten the inside foldout album cover artwork and it turns colors).

In 1980, George Harrison published the semi-autobiographical book I, Me, Mine.

In 1991, Paul Simon drew a crowd of approximately 750,000 to a free concert in Central Park.

In 1996, A woman’s shelter in Long Island, New York, turned down a donation from a benefit concert starring James Brown because of prior spousal abuse allegations.

In 2000, David Bowie and his wife, Iman, celebrated the birth of their first child, a girl named Alexandria Zahra Jones.

In 2008, Record producer and Atlantic Records mogul Jerry Wexler, who influenced the careers of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, and more, died at his home in Sarasota, Florida, at 91. Wexler coined the term “rhythm & blues” while writing for Billboard magazine in the late 1940s.

15/08/2024

BORN ON // August 15

ANTHONY ANDERSON
BEN AFFLECK
DAVE WELSH of The Fray
DEBRA MESSING
JENNIFER LAWRENCE
JIMMY WEBB
MATT JOHNSON of The The
PETE YORK of The Spencer Davis Group
TED DWANE of Mumford & Sons
TIM FOREMAN of Switchfoot
TOM JOHNSTON of The Doobie Brothers

14/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 14

In 1956, Bob Rickman, a Washington, DC, DJ, formed The Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Elvis. Bob was tired of The King being referred to as a hillbilly.

In 1958, Elvis Presley’s mom, Gladys, died of a heart attack at age 42. Her death profoundly affected Elvis; he died at the same age.

In 1958, Blues pioneer Lee Conley Bradley (aka “Big Bill” Broonzy) died of throat cancer. Broonzy’s acoustic guitar playing inspired no less than Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Ray Davies of The Kinks, Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, Rory Gallagher, and Steve Howe of Yes.

In 1962, Unhappy with drummer Pete Best’s role in The Beatles the other three members decided to sack him, which opened the door for Ringo Starr. Best fans, upset by his firing, held vigils outside his house and at the club shouting, “Pete forever! Ringo never!” Harrison received a black eye from one of the upset fans, and the band’s manager, Brian Epstein, temporarily hired a bodyguard to ensure his safety.

In 1965, Sonny & Cher started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “I Got You Babe.” Sonny Bono is said to have written the song to capitalize on the popularity of the term “babe,” as heard in Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe.”

In 1970, Stephen Stills was busted for co***ne possession at a motel near San Diego.

In 1971, The Who released their fifth studio album, Who’s Next, which has been viewed by critics as one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Rolling Stone has twice ranked it 28th on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, while it appeared at #15 on Pitchfork Media’s list of the 100 best records from the 1970s and Time chose it as one of their 100 best records of all time.

In 1988, Blues/rock guitarist Roy Buchanan hanged himself while incarcerated in a Fairfax, Virginia, jail. He was once invited to join The Rolling Stones, which he turned down. He also taught Robbie Robertson and Billy Gibbons, and Jeff Beck dedicated the song “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” to Buchanan on his 1975 Blow by Blow album.

In 2001, A pizza-stained piece of paper signed by three of the four Beatles sold for $48,000 to an anonymous collector at an auction in Melbourne, Australia. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison all signed the paper during their 1964 tour; Ringo Starr had laryngitis and was not on the tour Down Under.

In 2015, Record producer Bob Johnston, 83, died. Johnston had produced a string of notable and highly influential albums, including Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde On Blonde, John Wesley Harding, Nashville Skyline, Self Portrait, and New Morning; Simon & Garfunkel’s Sounds Of Silence; Leonard Cohen’s Songs From A Room; Johnny Cash’s At Folsom Prison; and many others.

14/08/2024

BORN ON // August 14

BRUCE THOMAS of Elvis Costello And The Attractions
DASH CROFTS of Seals & Crofts
DAVID CROSBY of The Byrds/Crosby, Stills & Nash
EARVIN “MAGIC” JOHNSON
HALLE BERRY
KEVIN CADOGAN of Third Eye Blind
LARRY GRAHAM of Sly & The Family Stone
MARK COLLINS of The Charlatans UK
MILA KUNIS
SLIM DUNLAP (born Bob Dunlap) of The Replacements
STEVE MARTIN
SUSAN OLSEN of The Brady Bunch
TERRY ADAMS of NRBQ

13/08/2024

The song originally appeared on his 1999 studio album Mule Variations

13/08/2024

Light in the Attic partnered with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive for Why Don’t You Smile Now: Lou Reed at Pickwick Records 1964-65

13/08/2024

THIS DAY IN MUSIC // August 13

In 1952, The original version of “Hound Dog” was recorded by Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton. It would become the first hit for the songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and it went on to top the Billboard R&B chart for seven weeks, selling nearly two million copies.

In 1965, Jefferson Airplane appeared onstage for the first time at the Matrix Club in San Francisco. Before long, they became the first San Francisco band inked to a major label deal (with RCA Victor).

In 1965, Mike Smith, lead singer of The Dave Clark Five, suffered two broken ribs when he was pulled off the stage by fans. The English group was in Chicago at the beginning of a US tour.

In 1965, The Beatles arrived at Kennedy International Airport in New York City for a tour of North America. The tour turned out not to be a happy one for the band, with John Lennon reportedly screaming off-microphone obscenities at audiences.

In 1966, The Lovin’ Spoonful started a three-week run at #1 on the US singles chart with “Summer In The City.” In order to give the impression of the sounds of summer in the city, the song features a series of car horns during the instrumental bridge, starting with a Volkswagen Beetle horn and ending with a jackhammer sound.

In 1967, Because of her opposition to the war in Vietnam, Joan Baez was barred by the Daughters of The American Revolution from performing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.

In 1967, Fleetwood Mac made their live debut when they appeared at the National Jazz & Blues Festival in Windsor, England. Also on the bill were Jeff Beck, Cream, Small Faces, The Move, The Pink Floyd, Donovan, and Chicken Shack.

In 1971, King Curtis, 37, legendary R&B/Soul sax player, a veteran of countless sessions (including recordings with Eric Clapton) and leader of Aretha Franklin’s backup band, was knifed to death outside his New York home.

In 1971, When John Lennon flew from London to New York, it was the last time he set foot on British soil.

In 1975, Right before the release of the Born To Run album, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band began a five-night engagement at the Bottom Line in New York.

In 1976, The Clash made their first public appearance.

In 1979, Cheap Trick enjoyed their biggest hit with the live version of “I Want You To Want Me.”

In 1980, In a freaky celebrity nightmare for Todd Rundgren, one burglar hummed “I Saw The Light” as he and three cohorts robbed, bound, and gagged Rundgren, his girlfriend, and house guests at Todd’s Woodstock, New York, home.

In 1982, Soul singer Joe “I Gotcha” Tex died of a heart attack.

In 1990, Curtis Mayfield of The Impressions (“People Get Ready,” “It’s Alright,” “Gypsy Woman,” “Superfly”) was paralyzed from the neck down when a lighting rig fell on him and broke his neck prior to a concert in Brooklyn. He succumbed to complications from the injuries in December, 1999.

In 1995, Four days after the death of Grateful Dead icon Jerry Garcia, 20,000 attended a memorial at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

In 1998, Santana’s Supernatural album was #15 on the chart and headed for #1.

In 2009, Guitarist Les Paul died in a White Plains, New York, hospital at the age of 94 suffering from severe pneumonia. Paul is credited with developing one of the first solid-body electric guitars, in 1952, which contributed to the birth of rock & roll. He also developed other influential recording innovations, such as multi-track recording and overdubbing. In the early ‘50s, Les Paul and his wife Mary Ford had a string of hit songs.

In 2013, Jon Brookes, the drummer with The Charlatans UK, died at age 44; he had suffered a seizure on tour with the band in 2010 and had been receiving treatment for a brain tumor.

Jim Nelson

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