1946 - It''s July 11, and Dean Martin, the man they dubbed 'the king of cool', recorded his first four songs. During his long career, Martin enjoyed great success in music, film, television, and the stage. More than an entertainer, Dean Martin became an icon in his lifetime, and was a regular on the big screen with his duo comedy partner, Jerry Lewis. A member of the legendary so-called Rat Pack, he lived and died the high life of booze, broads and bright lights, always projecting a sense of utter detachment and serenity - or so his image went; along with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and the other chosen few who breathed the same rarefied air-of-true-stardom, Martin, always had a martini and ciggie in hand, although many say it was purely an image to which he remained true in fantasy only. Martin remains the epitome of the excesses of a bygone era, a world without rules or consequences. Of course we see that as a truism of the entertainment industry today, too, but in those days it was also accompanied by a touch of class and dignity, and that certainly cannot be said of today's equivalents, such as Martin Sheen, who is not even in the same ball park as Martin. Dean Martin remained aloof, near the most distant star in the galaxy. With the continued success of his many TV specials, he effectively conquered movies, music, television and the stage, simultaneously, a claim not many other entertainers can make. He died of acute respiratory failure at his home on Christmas morning 1995, at the age of 78. The lights of the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed in his honour. These two songs were not amongst his first recorded, but they remain two of his best known: the first was released in 1953, the second in 1956.
1959 - Joan Baez made her first recording. It was a duet with Bob Gibson which was recorded live at the Newport Folk Festival, and five years later on the same day, The Supremes released Where Did Our Love Go? for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, Where Did Our Love Go was the first single by the Supremes to go to the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, a position it held for two weeks, from August 16 to August 29, 1964. It was also the first of five Supremes songs in a row to reach #1; the others are Baby Love, Come See About Me, Stop! In the Name of Love, and Back in My Arms Again. This version Where Did Our Love Go was ranked # 472 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. This is live, and now 47 years old, and i just know you aint seen this.
1967 - Kenny Rogers is one of the true veterans of modern music, and on this day in 1967 he formed The First Edition, having first left the New Christy Minstrels, which also featured in its ranks, Gene Clarke who later joined the Byrds; Kim Carnes, who later enjoyed a successful solo career; Barry Mcguire, who also would go on to a successful solo career sparked by his real-time hard core protest song, Eve Of Destruction. Kenny Rogers went on to become one of the most successful country artists, and remains a durable entertainer, one of the industry's most durable survivors. Are you old enough to remember Kenny Rogers and the First Edition? Do you remember Ruby?
1969 - This is the actual day David Bowie's Space Odyssey album was released, and as a special bonus for checking into *MUSICBACKTRACK* today, here is the original video for this song…very different video in every way to the one that eventually came to our attention way back then.
1970 - The Who's version of Summertime Blues was released today, so we take a journey back to one of the original music festivals, 41 years ago, at the Isle of Wight. This is the Who, 41 years ago, with Keith Moon drumming, doing the Eddie Cochran classic.
1979 - This was the day Neil Young totally stamped his musical style into the annals of music history with the release of his powerful, self-directed movie, Rust Never Sleeps, showcasing it as he did at the Bruin Theatre in Westwood, California. An album of the same name was simultaneously released. The movie was a documentation of his 1978 concert tour from the year before. Directed by Young under the pseudonym of Bernard Shakey, the concept of the show was out there, in true Young fashion; calling themselves 'road eyes', the roadies were dressed like the Tusken Raiders from Star Wars; there were stage announcements from the original Woodstock during set changes; giant amps, microphones, and much more made a visual oddity. With almost 20 songs in the set, including two versions of Hey Hey, My My, one of which is totally blistering as he gave his nod to the punk movement. Accompanied by his brilliant, long-term band, Crazy Horse Young's set dates back to his Buffalo Springfield days and continues through popular solo numbers like Cinnamon Girl, Powderfinger and the extended Like a Hurricane. Totally brilliant, totally Neil Young at his finest, certainly one of the most individual and creative rock musicians of our time.
