1962 - It's now almost half a century to the day when American vocal group, The Isley Brothers released the much-covered song, Twist and Shout, written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. Actually, the song was originally recorded by the Top Notes in 1961, a year later the Isley Brothers did their version, then the Beatles did theirs in '65; around 14 years after that Bruce Springsteen did a version, and then in 1982, The Who did their version. Just for fun, and only when you have a spare 10 minutes, here are the four versions, which one do you prefer?
1965 - The Kinks's Dave Davies was knocked unconscious when he careened into drummer Mick Avory's cymbal during a London concert, today. The following video could well have been the concert, but who really knows, eh? Fact is they were a bloody great band, and along with the Small Faces, to this rock'n'roll fan, way, way underrated. The Kinks were certainly the first riff-rock band, and perhaps even the first authentic punk band. Who knows, eh? What do you think?
1968 - This is the day The Rolling Stones released Jumpin' Jack Flash, an interesting song by any standards. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, recording on Jumpin' Jack Flash actually began during the Beggars Banquet sessions of 1968, although it was not released on that album. With regard to the song's distinctive sound, guitarist Richards has said; "I used a Gibson Hummingbird acoustic tuned to open D, six string. Open D or open E, which is the same thing, same intervals, but it would be slackened down some for D. Then there was a capo on it, to get that really tight sound. And there was another guitar over the top of that, but tuned to Nashville tuning. I learned that from somebody in George Jones' band in San Antonio in 1964. The high-strung guitar was an acoustic, too. Both acoustics were put through a Philips cassette recorder. Just jam the mic right in the guitar and play it back through an extension speaker." Bassist Bill Wyman, in his autobiography, Stone Alone, puts in his two bob's worth for contributing the riff to the song - without being credited for it! Richards has stated that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards' country house, where they were woken one morning by the sound of gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded: "Oh, that's Jack – that's jumpin' Jack." Rolling Stone magazine rated the song 124th on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
1969 - The Hollies recorded He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother with Elton John on piano, 42 years ago today. Here's a live version from this time, on television in Finland. Elton's not playing on this live version but the piano player has pinched his licks. John played under his original name, Reginald Dwight.
1969 - Also 42 years ago today, Led Zeppelin and the Who appeared together in concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. This is a bona fide VERY RARE promo video of Zeppelin's first ever hit single. Are you old enough for this song?
1973 - One of the most successful, one of the most prolific, certainly one of the best, Carole King performed in New York's Central Park almost four decades ago today. The show attracted an audience of 100,000. Sorry, dear reader, not many videos of the brilliant Ms.King, including this one sad to say, but...here she is, two years earlier, 1971, just her and a piano, live. About as good as it gets. Are you one of our New York readers? Were you there? Were you parents there?
1974 - Pam Morrison, Jim Morrison's widow, died of a drug overdose, today. The troubled singer met his long-term companion, Pamela Courson, well before he gained any fame or fortune, and she encouraged him to develop his poetry, which if course he did during his entire career. At times, Courson used the surname Morrison with his apparent consent or at least lack of concern, and after Courson's death in 1974 the probate court in California decided that she and Morrison had what qualified as a common-law marriage. Jump ahead to four years later, to the day, the sad, sad day, and Keith Moon performed with the Who for the final time. This here's a video tribute to some brilliant Keith Moon loon moments...one of the great characters of rock'n'roll! For more information and videos on Moon and The Who, just go to our archive search engine.
1988 - Before Mylie, Britney, Christina, et al, there was Debbie Gibson, and this was the day she hit #1 with her song, Foolish Beat. This made her the youngest artist to write, sing and produce a #1 hit. She was 17 years old at the time. To my knowledge no act has done the same thing at that age. Can anyone reading this let me know if I am wrong there? Thanks!
1965 - The Kinks's Dave Davies was knocked unconscious when he careened into drummer Mick Avory's cymbal during a London concert, today. The following video could well have been the concert, but who really knows, eh? Fact is they were a bloody great band, and along with the Small Faces, to this rock'n'roll fan, way, way underrated. The Kinks were certainly the first riff-rock band, and perhaps even the first authentic punk band. Who knows, eh? What do you think?
1968 - This is the day The Rolling Stones released Jumpin' Jack Flash, an interesting song by any standards. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, recording on Jumpin' Jack Flash actually began during the Beggars Banquet sessions of 1968, although it was not released on that album. With regard to the song's distinctive sound, guitarist Richards has said; "I used a Gibson Hummingbird acoustic tuned to open D, six string. Open D or open E, which is the same thing, same intervals, but it would be slackened down some for D. Then there was a capo on it, to get that really tight sound. And there was another guitar over the top of that, but tuned to Nashville tuning. I learned that from somebody in George Jones' band in San Antonio in 1964. The high-strung guitar was an acoustic, too. Both acoustics were put through a Philips cassette recorder. Just jam the mic right in the guitar and play it back through an extension speaker." Bassist Bill Wyman, in his autobiography, Stone Alone, puts in his two bob's worth for contributing the riff to the song - without being credited for it! Richards has stated that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards' country house, where they were woken one morning by the sound of gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded: "Oh, that's Jack – that's jumpin' Jack." Rolling Stone magazine rated the song 124th on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
1969 - The Hollies recorded He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother with Elton John on piano, 42 years ago today. Here's a live version from this time, on television in Finland. Elton's not playing on this live version but the piano player has pinched his licks. John played under his original name, Reginald Dwight.
1969 - Also 42 years ago today, Led Zeppelin and the Who appeared together in concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. This is a bona fide VERY RARE promo video of Zeppelin's first ever hit single. Are you old enough for this song?
1973 - One of the most successful, one of the most prolific, certainly one of the best, Carole King performed in New York's Central Park almost four decades ago today. The show attracted an audience of 100,000. Sorry, dear reader, not many videos of the brilliant Ms.King, including this one sad to say, but...here she is, two years earlier, 1971, just her and a piano, live. About as good as it gets. Are you one of our New York readers? Were you there? Were you parents there?
1974 - Pam Morrison, Jim Morrison's widow, died of a drug overdose, today. The troubled singer met his long-term companion, Pamela Courson, well before he gained any fame or fortune, and she encouraged him to develop his poetry, which if course he did during his entire career. At times, Courson used the surname Morrison with his apparent consent or at least lack of concern, and after Courson's death in 1974 the probate court in California decided that she and Morrison had what qualified as a common-law marriage. Jump ahead to four years later, to the day, the sad, sad day, and Keith Moon performed with the Who for the final time. This here's a video tribute to some brilliant Keith Moon loon moments...one of the great characters of rock'n'roll! For more information and videos on Moon and The Who, just go to our archive search engine.
1988 - Before Mylie, Britney, Christina, et al, there was Debbie Gibson, and this was the day she hit #1 with her song, Foolish Beat. This made her the youngest artist to write, sing and produce a #1 hit. She was 17 years old at the time. To my knowledge no act has done the same thing at that age. Can anyone reading this let me know if I am wrong there? Thanks!
