1959 - This was the day that Bobby Darin was at #1 on the UK singles chart with his self-penned tune, Dream Lover. It was the American singer's first #1, and song writer extraordinaire, Neil Sedaka, on piano. It was produced by music heavyweights Ahmet Ertegun & Jerry Wexler, and engineered by Tom Dowd. Darin performed in a range of music genres, including pop, rock, jazz, folk and country. Although unknown to the public, his health was dangerously fragile and strongly motivated him to succeed within the limited lifetime he feared he would, and ultimately did, have. He was also an actor, singer/songwriter and music business entrepreneur.
1966 - One of the truly great rock'n'roll bands from the past five decades was The Small Faces, an English band from East London, heavily influenced by American rhythm and blues. The group was founded in 1965 by members Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston, although by 1966 Winston was replaced by Ian McLagan as the band's keyboardist. The band is remembered as one of the most acclaimed and influential mod groups of the 1960s, with memorable hit songs such as Itchycoo Park, Lazy Sunday, All or Nothing, Tin Soldier, and their concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, they later evolved into one of the UK's most successful psychedelic acts before disbanding in 1969. After the Small Faces disbanded, three of the members were joined by Ronnie Wood as guitarist, and Rod Stewart as their lead vocalist, both from The Jeff Beck Group, and the new line-up was renamed the Faces. Without question, the Small Faces were the biggest original influences on the Britpop movement of the 1990s, despite the fact they were together just four years in their original incarnation, the Small Faces' music output from the mid to late sixties remains among the most acclaimed British mod and psychedelic music of that era. Today marks 45 years since The Small Faces first appeared live at the Marquee Club in Wardour Street, London, and on that night the admission price was just (GBP)7 shillings and 6d...around (US)$1.05, (AUS)$1.00.
1968 - While working at Abbey Road studios tonight, in'68, The Beatles recorded Good Night, John Lennon’s lullaby for his 5-year-old son Julian, with Ringo singing the lead vocal. The track later appeared on the White Album. A year later, and Henry Mancini started a two week run at #1 on singles charts around the world, with Love Theme from Romeo And Juliet. Same year, same day, June 28, and a trio with a new sound, Crosby, Stills & Nash, released their first album this very day. This is a beautiful, beautiful song.
1975 - Fame is the song recorded by David Bowie, and released today, the song reaching top of the charts a few months later, in September. When Bowie's recording sessions for his album, Young Americans mostly finished in late 1974, the release was delayed while he legally separated from his manager, Tony DeFries. During this period, Bowie was staying in New York, and met John Lennon. The pair socialised and jammed together, which led to a one-day session at Electric Lady Studios in January 1975. Bowie contacted members of his band to record a cover of The Beatles’ Across the Universe. Then they recorded a new song called Fame, inspired by a guitar riff written by Carlos Alomar, but the song's title came from Lennon. Both tracks were then added to the Young Americans album. Despite having only a minor contribution, Lennon was given a co-writing credit due to the lyrics (criticising the nature of celebrity) being inspired by conversations he had with Bowie on the subject, and because Lennon kept singing Fame over Alomar’s guitar riff, and that, claims Bowie, was the catalyst for the song. Lennon's voice can be heard singing the repeated words FAME, FAME, FAME. The song became Bowie's biggest hit to that point in the USA. It was also his first #1. hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and his first song to break into the top 10. This is a version of the song, taken at the start of the thin White Duke tour in 1976, during rehearsals. This is not a youtube video, and it may take a little while to kick in, but worth it. Thanx to kobortigant for the vid.
1978 - The British music scene was pumping during the late seventies as punk inspired many genres of music to slide into mainstream. It was one big mish-mash of music genres. This was the night when The Clash supported by The Specials, appeared at Friars, Aylesbury, England. The Clash were part of the original wave of British punk, and their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, the Clash consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass guitar, vocals) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums, percussion). The Clash achieved commercial success in the United Kingdom with the release of their debut album, The Clash, in 1977. Their third album, London Calling, brought them popularity in the United States. Critically acclaimed, it was declared the best album of the 1980s a decade later by Rolling Stone magazine, who also ranked the Clash #28 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. This is classic Clash, followed by two songs from The Specials. The Specials , who, for the unititiated, were are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combined a danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude. The group was formed by songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers, with Terry Hall (vocals), Lynval Golding (guitar, vocals) and a rhythm section. The band wore mod-style 1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits, and loafers). We have two songs from The Specials, Too Much Too Young and A Message To Rudy.
1986 - It's June 28, a quarter century ago, and Wham! made their farewell concert appearance at London's Wembley Stadium. Elton John made an appearance in a clown suit to sing a song and then came back later to sing Candle In The Wind with George Michael. Just five years later and Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio debuted at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool. Five years after that, and with a hit-single track record spanning four decades, Burt Bacharach became one of the most important composers of popular music in the 20th century, right up there with George Gershwin or Irving Berlin. His sophisticated yet breezy productions borrowed from cool jazz, soul, Brazilian bossa nova, and traditional pop to virtually define and undoubtedly transcend the staid forms of Brill Building adult pop during the 1960s. This was the night he performed to a full house at London's Royal Albert Hall, and the night Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher joined him on-stage for a version of This Guy’s In Love With You. So...no vieo of this, but we do have a special compilation video of Noel singing Burt. So why not, eh?
1966 - One of the truly great rock'n'roll bands from the past five decades was The Small Faces, an English band from East London, heavily influenced by American rhythm and blues. The group was founded in 1965 by members Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston, although by 1966 Winston was replaced by Ian McLagan as the band's keyboardist. The band is remembered as one of the most acclaimed and influential mod groups of the 1960s, with memorable hit songs such as Itchycoo Park, Lazy Sunday, All or Nothing, Tin Soldier, and their concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, they later evolved into one of the UK's most successful psychedelic acts before disbanding in 1969. After the Small Faces disbanded, three of the members were joined by Ronnie Wood as guitarist, and Rod Stewart as their lead vocalist, both from The Jeff Beck Group, and the new line-up was renamed the Faces. Without question, the Small Faces were the biggest original influences on the Britpop movement of the 1990s, despite the fact they were together just four years in their original incarnation, the Small Faces' music output from the mid to late sixties remains among the most acclaimed British mod and psychedelic music of that era. Today marks 45 years since The Small Faces first appeared live at the Marquee Club in Wardour Street, London, and on that night the admission price was just (GBP)7 shillings and 6d...around (US)$1.05, (AUS)$1.00.
1968 - While working at Abbey Road studios tonight, in'68, The Beatles recorded Good Night, John Lennon’s lullaby for his 5-year-old son Julian, with Ringo singing the lead vocal. The track later appeared on the White Album. A year later, and Henry Mancini started a two week run at #1 on singles charts around the world, with Love Theme from Romeo And Juliet. Same year, same day, June 28, and a trio with a new sound, Crosby, Stills & Nash, released their first album this very day. This is a beautiful, beautiful song.
1975 - Fame is the song recorded by David Bowie, and released today, the song reaching top of the charts a few months later, in September. When Bowie's recording sessions for his album, Young Americans mostly finished in late 1974, the release was delayed while he legally separated from his manager, Tony DeFries. During this period, Bowie was staying in New York, and met John Lennon. The pair socialised and jammed together, which led to a one-day session at Electric Lady Studios in January 1975. Bowie contacted members of his band to record a cover of The Beatles’ Across the Universe. Then they recorded a new song called Fame, inspired by a guitar riff written by Carlos Alomar, but the song's title came from Lennon. Both tracks were then added to the Young Americans album. Despite having only a minor contribution, Lennon was given a co-writing credit due to the lyrics (criticising the nature of celebrity) being inspired by conversations he had with Bowie on the subject, and because Lennon kept singing Fame over Alomar’s guitar riff, and that, claims Bowie, was the catalyst for the song. Lennon's voice can be heard singing the repeated words FAME, FAME, FAME. The song became Bowie's biggest hit to that point in the USA. It was also his first #1. hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and his first song to break into the top 10. This is a version of the song, taken at the start of the thin White Duke tour in 1976, during rehearsals. This is not a youtube video, and it may take a little while to kick in, but worth it. Thanx to kobortigant for the vid.
1978 - The British music scene was pumping during the late seventies as punk inspired many genres of music to slide into mainstream. It was one big mish-mash of music genres. This was the night when The Clash supported by The Specials, appeared at Friars, Aylesbury, England. The Clash were part of the original wave of British punk, and their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, the Clash consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass guitar, vocals) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums, percussion). The Clash achieved commercial success in the United Kingdom with the release of their debut album, The Clash, in 1977. Their third album, London Calling, brought them popularity in the United States. Critically acclaimed, it was declared the best album of the 1980s a decade later by Rolling Stone magazine, who also ranked the Clash #28 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. This is classic Clash, followed by two songs from The Specials. The Specials , who, for the unititiated, were are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combined a danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude. The group was formed by songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers, with Terry Hall (vocals), Lynval Golding (guitar, vocals) and a rhythm section. The band wore mod-style 1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits, and loafers). We have two songs from The Specials, Too Much Too Young and A Message To Rudy.
1986 - It's June 28, a quarter century ago, and Wham! made their farewell concert appearance at London's Wembley Stadium. Elton John made an appearance in a clown suit to sing a song and then came back later to sing Candle In The Wind with George Michael. Just five years later and Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio debuted at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool. Five years after that, and with a hit-single track record spanning four decades, Burt Bacharach became one of the most important composers of popular music in the 20th century, right up there with George Gershwin or Irving Berlin. His sophisticated yet breezy productions borrowed from cool jazz, soul, Brazilian bossa nova, and traditional pop to virtually define and undoubtedly transcend the staid forms of Brill Building adult pop during the 1960s. This was the night he performed to a full house at London's Royal Albert Hall, and the night Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher joined him on-stage for a version of This Guy’s In Love With You. So...no vieo of this, but we do have a special compilation video of Noel singing Burt. So why not, eh?
