1958 - He wanted to get a job in a rock'n'roll band and wear short-shorts, and this was the day the Purple People Eater song sat at #1 around the world in this era of the birth of rock'n'roll. The song was a gimmick song, written to cash in on the new rock'n'roll music genre. Most people didn't like it, but the youth of the day loved it, it was theirs. This novelty song kind of embraced rock'n'roll, the singer an actor named Sheb Wooley, who shared the acting credits with Clint Eastwood in an early TV show, Rawhide. Wooley played Peter Nolan in the series. He also recorded other comic recordings for a living, under the name Ben Colder - and he wrote the theme song for another TV series, Hee Haw. There are some great lyrical nods to the times in this very, very grainy, vintage 53-year-old video.
1963 - The Searchers were an English beat group, who emerged as part of the 1960s Merseybeat scene along with The Beatles, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. The Searchers were essentially a damn good covers band, their hits including a remake of the Drifters' 1961 hit, Sweets for My Sweet; remakes of Jackie DeShannon's Needles and Pins and When You Walk In The Room; The Orlons' Don't Throw Your Love Away, and a cover of The Clovers' Love Potion No. 9. All these cover songs were huge international hits for the Searchers, #1 in some cases and places. One original song written for them, Sugar and Spice, also a big hit. They were the second group from Liverpool, after the Beatles, to have a hit in the United States when Needles and Pins charted during the first week of March 1964 - But this was the day, a year earlier, they released their hit Sweets For My Sweet.
1969 - It's 1969 the new era of rock'n'roll slowly morphing into another, but mainstream pop music survived, and just to prove it, American pop star, Tommy Roe, whose first hit was in 1962, sat on top of the world charts with this little tune...if you can see through the sparkled balloons.
1969 - This was the day when hundreds of people in Glenrowan, Australia, signed a petition protesting against the casting of Mick Jagger in the starring movie role of their hero, Ned Kelly. Of course they would have. For video and details of this movie go to our archive search engine. A year later on the same date, and we found Elvis the busy little bee, as he began a five-day recording session RCA’s studio B in Nashville. Elvis began each session 6pm and worked until dawn. Just four years later, on June 4, and back in Jagger's home town of London, a young and brilliant Randy Newman appeared for the first time on prestigious TV show, The Old Grey Whistle Test. Cannot find this particular show, but howzabout this absolute cracker of a lyrical gem from the same year. Newman is just simply a genius musical satirist - end of story. The best!
1974 - One June 4, '74 David Bowie kicked off his 73 date Diamond Dogs Tour at the Montreal, Forum in Canada, and on the same day a year later, The Rolling Stones became the first rock band to receive royalties for sales of their records in Russia, and on June 4 in 1977, Supertramp's Roger Hodgson-penned song, Give A Little Bit was released. The song was taken from their album, Even In The Quietest Moments, and here's the band's Roger Hodgson, now solo, performing the song.
1984 - Bruce Springsteen was perched on iconic status when he released his Born in the U.S.A. album on June 4 of this year, and took him straight into mainstream. It was Springsteen's seventh studio album, and a departure in sound and spirit from its predecessor, the dark, moody and acoustic Nebraska. From songs of pessimism and isolation, Born in the USA lyrically showed hope in the daily fight of the average American. There were synthesized arrangements and a little more pop than anything he'd done before, thus enhancing it to radio airplay. Born in the U.S.A. was the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States (and also Springsteen's most successful album, producing a record-tying string of seven Top 10 singles; Michael Jackson's Thriller and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814) were the other two at that time. The album was lauded by most critics and is often considered Springsteen's magnum opus along with his 1975 breakthrough, Born to Run. The title track is often misinterpreted as a patriotic anthem, but a closer listen to the lyrics find this just is not the case. The cover photo on the album features a close-up of Springsteen's backside in front of an American flag. Photographed, by the way, by Annie Leibovitz. This live version of the title track by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, almost a year later, at Parc De La Courneuve, Paris, France.
1984 - She made her recording debut with jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson on Yesterday's Dream in 1976 and by her early 20s Sheila E had already played with George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross. She also plays tuba and guitar. Prince met Sheila E at a concert in 1978, when she was performing with her father. After the show, he met her and told her that he and his bassist "were just fighting about which one of us would be the first to be your husband". He also prophetically vowed that one day she would join his band. The two would eventually join forces during the Purple Rain recording sessions. She provided vocals on the B-side to Let's Go Crazy, and Erotic City in 1983/84. She proved to be a successful artist in her own right and in 1984 she scored hits with The Glamorous Life and The Belle of St. Mark. The Sheila E. album The Glamorous Life, released today back then, was originally intended to be recorded by the short-lived replacement act for Vanity 6, the girl group Apollonia 6. Prince allegedly had several tracks lined up for the trio to record for their 1984 debut album but abandoned the idea. Prince decided to give the song to Sheila E. who was fresh off her duet on Prince's Erotic City. The Glamorous Life was recorded by Sheila and effectively launched her solo career. This is a live version of her big hit, in Tokyo, a bootleg video, from just two years ago, and she's got staying power, here for the long hall.
1997 - The body of Jeff Buckley was found today, 14 years ago, floating in a harbor leading to the Mississippi River. Buckley had disappeared the previous Thursday while swimming in a Memphis harbor. For more information and videos for Buckley, go to our archive search engine. Buckley videos are not hard to find on youtube, but it's hard to find ones that you can embed. Was this part of the soundtrack to *your* life? RIP
1998 - June 4, 14 years ago, at the 15th annual Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park, an all-star reunion band was formed to help Ray Charles celebrate his 50th year in the music industry. He is joined by David “Fathead” Newman, Hank Crawford, and Leroy “Hog” Cooper on saxes and Philip Guilbeau on trumpet. Mabel John, a former Raelett performs guest vocals. Ladies & Gentlemen, the legendary Mr. Ray Charles. RIP.
1997 – Ronnie Lane, bassist and co-founder of the Small Faces and, later, the Faces, died at his home in Colorado, today, aged just 51. Lane had suffered from multiple sclerosis for almost 21 years. For music, videos and information on Ronnie Lane, go to our archive search engine. June 4, too, was a double date for rap's Elvis, Eminem when he and three others were arrested outside the Hot Rocks Caf in Warren, Mich., a Detroit suburb. A fight broke out in the parking lot of the nightclub after several people in the crowd recognized the 27-year-old Grammy-winning rapper. Police were to the scene. Whoa, and it was also the day when Eminem started a eight-week run at #1 on charts around the world with his debut release The Marshall Mathers LP, and rap went multi-coloured mainstream, just like rock'n'roll 50 years earlier. For videos and more info on Eminem, go to our archive search engine. A year to the very day after Eminem's stellar debut, beloved hard rock veterans Spinal Tap came back from the dead at New York’s Carnegie Hall with a 20-song, 90-minute performance as part of the annual Toyota Comedy Festival. Still outrageous, still perfect heavy metal rock satire; can you handle it?
2003 - This was the night when two all-grown-up teen idols Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera kick off their Justified & Stripped tour in Pheonix, Arizona, USA. And from that very tour, here's a bootleg of Christina doing Fighter, then Justin doing Rock Your Body, also a bootleg.
1963 - The Searchers were an English beat group, who emerged as part of the 1960s Merseybeat scene along with The Beatles, The Fourmost, The Merseybeats, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. The Searchers were essentially a damn good covers band, their hits including a remake of the Drifters' 1961 hit, Sweets for My Sweet; remakes of Jackie DeShannon's Needles and Pins and When You Walk In The Room; The Orlons' Don't Throw Your Love Away, and a cover of The Clovers' Love Potion No. 9. All these cover songs were huge international hits for the Searchers, #1 in some cases and places. One original song written for them, Sugar and Spice, also a big hit. They were the second group from Liverpool, after the Beatles, to have a hit in the United States when Needles and Pins charted during the first week of March 1964 - But this was the day, a year earlier, they released their hit Sweets For My Sweet.
1969 - It's 1969 the new era of rock'n'roll slowly morphing into another, but mainstream pop music survived, and just to prove it, American pop star, Tommy Roe, whose first hit was in 1962, sat on top of the world charts with this little tune...if you can see through the sparkled balloons.
1969 - This was the day when hundreds of people in Glenrowan, Australia, signed a petition protesting against the casting of Mick Jagger in the starring movie role of their hero, Ned Kelly. Of course they would have. For video and details of this movie go to our archive search engine. A year later on the same date, and we found Elvis the busy little bee, as he began a five-day recording session RCA’s studio B in Nashville. Elvis began each session 6pm and worked until dawn. Just four years later, on June 4, and back in Jagger's home town of London, a young and brilliant Randy Newman appeared for the first time on prestigious TV show, The Old Grey Whistle Test. Cannot find this particular show, but howzabout this absolute cracker of a lyrical gem from the same year. Newman is just simply a genius musical satirist - end of story. The best!
1974 - One June 4, '74 David Bowie kicked off his 73 date Diamond Dogs Tour at the Montreal, Forum in Canada, and on the same day a year later, The Rolling Stones became the first rock band to receive royalties for sales of their records in Russia, and on June 4 in 1977, Supertramp's Roger Hodgson-penned song, Give A Little Bit was released. The song was taken from their album, Even In The Quietest Moments, and here's the band's Roger Hodgson, now solo, performing the song.
1984 - Bruce Springsteen was perched on iconic status when he released his Born in the U.S.A. album on June 4 of this year, and took him straight into mainstream. It was Springsteen's seventh studio album, and a departure in sound and spirit from its predecessor, the dark, moody and acoustic Nebraska. From songs of pessimism and isolation, Born in the USA lyrically showed hope in the daily fight of the average American. There were synthesized arrangements and a little more pop than anything he'd done before, thus enhancing it to radio airplay. Born in the U.S.A. was the best-selling album of 1985 in the United States (and also Springsteen's most successful album, producing a record-tying string of seven Top 10 singles; Michael Jackson's Thriller and Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814) were the other two at that time. The album was lauded by most critics and is often considered Springsteen's magnum opus along with his 1975 breakthrough, Born to Run. The title track is often misinterpreted as a patriotic anthem, but a closer listen to the lyrics find this just is not the case. The cover photo on the album features a close-up of Springsteen's backside in front of an American flag. Photographed, by the way, by Annie Leibovitz. This live version of the title track by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, almost a year later, at Parc De La Courneuve, Paris, France.
1984 - She made her recording debut with jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson on Yesterday's Dream in 1976 and by her early 20s Sheila E had already played with George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross. She also plays tuba and guitar. Prince met Sheila E at a concert in 1978, when she was performing with her father. After the show, he met her and told her that he and his bassist "were just fighting about which one of us would be the first to be your husband". He also prophetically vowed that one day she would join his band. The two would eventually join forces during the Purple Rain recording sessions. She provided vocals on the B-side to Let's Go Crazy, and Erotic City in 1983/84. She proved to be a successful artist in her own right and in 1984 she scored hits with The Glamorous Life and The Belle of St. Mark. The Sheila E. album The Glamorous Life, released today back then, was originally intended to be recorded by the short-lived replacement act for Vanity 6, the girl group Apollonia 6. Prince allegedly had several tracks lined up for the trio to record for their 1984 debut album but abandoned the idea. Prince decided to give the song to Sheila E. who was fresh off her duet on Prince's Erotic City. The Glamorous Life was recorded by Sheila and effectively launched her solo career. This is a live version of her big hit, in Tokyo, a bootleg video, from just two years ago, and she's got staying power, here for the long hall.
1997 - The body of Jeff Buckley was found today, 14 years ago, floating in a harbor leading to the Mississippi River. Buckley had disappeared the previous Thursday while swimming in a Memphis harbor. For more information and videos for Buckley, go to our archive search engine. Buckley videos are not hard to find on youtube, but it's hard to find ones that you can embed. Was this part of the soundtrack to *your* life? RIP
1998 - June 4, 14 years ago, at the 15th annual Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park, an all-star reunion band was formed to help Ray Charles celebrate his 50th year in the music industry. He is joined by David “Fathead” Newman, Hank Crawford, and Leroy “Hog” Cooper on saxes and Philip Guilbeau on trumpet. Mabel John, a former Raelett performs guest vocals. Ladies & Gentlemen, the legendary Mr. Ray Charles. RIP.
1997 – Ronnie Lane, bassist and co-founder of the Small Faces and, later, the Faces, died at his home in Colorado, today, aged just 51. Lane had suffered from multiple sclerosis for almost 21 years. For music, videos and information on Ronnie Lane, go to our archive search engine. June 4, too, was a double date for rap's Elvis, Eminem when he and three others were arrested outside the Hot Rocks Caf in Warren, Mich., a Detroit suburb. A fight broke out in the parking lot of the nightclub after several people in the crowd recognized the 27-year-old Grammy-winning rapper. Police were to the scene. Whoa, and it was also the day when Eminem started a eight-week run at #1 on charts around the world with his debut release The Marshall Mathers LP, and rap went multi-coloured mainstream, just like rock'n'roll 50 years earlier. For videos and more info on Eminem, go to our archive search engine. A year to the very day after Eminem's stellar debut, beloved hard rock veterans Spinal Tap came back from the dead at New York’s Carnegie Hall with a 20-song, 90-minute performance as part of the annual Toyota Comedy Festival. Still outrageous, still perfect heavy metal rock satire; can you handle it?
2003 - This was the night when two all-grown-up teen idols Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera kick off their Justified & Stripped tour in Pheonix, Arizona, USA. And from that very tour, here's a bootleg of Christina doing Fighter, then Justin doing Rock Your Body, also a bootleg.
