1938 - You can smell the crisp newness of this Artie Shaw version of Cole Porter's song, recorded today - written by Porter, incidentally, a few years earlier at the piano played in the bar at Paris's Ritz Hotel Bar. This Artie Shaw recording of Begin the Beguine, according to a few music critics, was the start of modern orchestration. Could well be, as it it seems to signal a new sound. Technology? Orchestration? Don't know, but it sure sounds good to me. By the way, the song was introduced in the 1935 Broadway musical, Jubilee.
1965 - This was the day The Beach Boys released one of their signature tunes, California Girls, written by Mike Love and Brian Wilson. The song ended up starting a new genre of music and was a huge world wide hit.
1967 - Despite being set in London and Europe, this Elvis Presley film, Double Trouble, was filmed entirely in Hollywood, and had its debut 44 years ago today. The title song was written by well-known pop hit-makers Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, and Elvis recorded it June 1966 at Radio Recorders for the movie. The movie musical starred Elvis Presley and co-starred Norman Rossington, who holds a unique place in film history as being the only actor to have appeared with Elvis and The Beatles.
1976 - You never know what you got till it's gone, said Hall & Oates, virtually, when they released She's Gone today. The pains eats you up when she leaves, so pay attention while you can, friends. When it's gone, it's gone.
1978 - I was in New York filming a documentary, Australian Music To The World when this movie, Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band had its premiere, on this day, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The film crew, director Paul Drane, and myself attended the premiere, then the after-party at Roseland Ballroom - and that's a movie in itself for another time. It's a strange movie, this one, and although mauled by the critics, it has some redoing factors, but has to be seen to be believed. Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band starred Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees, narrated by George Burns, and also starred Steve Martin and Donald Pleasance. It was a financial disaster, with the music of the Beatles, the rights of which were 'gathered' by Australian entrepreneur, Adelaide-born Robert Stigwood, who, at one stage, actually managed the Beatles. It's a fun movie with the soundtrack ranging from awesome to odd.
1987 - La Bamba, the movie biography of Richie Valens, opened today, and three years later on the same day, Pantera released their first major label release, Cowboys From Hell. Same day and year, and a wrongful death trial involving Judas Priest opened in Reno. in an effort for a money-grab parents charged in a lawsuit that the band's Stained Class album contained subliminal messages that drove two teen-agers to attempt suicide. The judge cleared the group. Three years later, in 1995, there was a three-night celebration of Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday, held at Carnegie Hall. Here's a special triple treat for you. First up, spot the star inside Carnegie Hall as they all sing happy birthday to Frankie; then Patti La Belle sounding like a beautiful bird as she so sweetly sings to Frankie baby. Glorious. Finally, a brief glimpse of a young Johnny Depp in the audience.
TRIBUTE TO AMY WINEHOUSE, RIP.
Sadly, Amy Winehouse has joined the infamous 27 Club today - those music stars who died, aged 27, mostly under tragic circumstances. The 27 Club, also known as the Forever 27 Club is a name for a group of influential rock music artists who died at the age of 27.
The ominous club membership fee is death, its creation coming about through deaths of many rock stars, including legends Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994.
With the notable exception of Joplin, there is controversy surrounding most of their deaths. Other members of the notorious club include: Blues legend Robert Johnson, Hole bassist Kristen Pfaff, Echo & The Bunnymen drummer, Pete de Freitas, Uriah Heep's Gary Thain, Badfinger's Pete Ham, and dozens more. For videos and details of other 27 Club members go to *MUSICBACKTRACK*'s go to our archive search engine.
Whilst living in London, along with 1700 other fans, I saw her perform live at the Shepherd's Bush empire, her first ever concert, and her performance was stunning, sexy, charismatic - with a tinge of sadness, as there was hint of darkness immersed in her obvious charismatic aura. Without a shadow of a doubt she was one of the most outstanding soul vocalists of our time, but further proof that nobody is immune to the addictive excesses available in the music industry, infiltrated as they are, by the sharks who eat and feed from the spirit of those tortured souls at the centre of the fame.
This is our very, very sad tribute to one of the legends of rock'n'roll.
1965 - This was the day The Beach Boys released one of their signature tunes, California Girls, written by Mike Love and Brian Wilson. The song ended up starting a new genre of music and was a huge world wide hit.
1967 - Despite being set in London and Europe, this Elvis Presley film, Double Trouble, was filmed entirely in Hollywood, and had its debut 44 years ago today. The title song was written by well-known pop hit-makers Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, and Elvis recorded it June 1966 at Radio Recorders for the movie. The movie musical starred Elvis Presley and co-starred Norman Rossington, who holds a unique place in film history as being the only actor to have appeared with Elvis and The Beatles.
1976 - You never know what you got till it's gone, said Hall & Oates, virtually, when they released She's Gone today. The pains eats you up when she leaves, so pay attention while you can, friends. When it's gone, it's gone.
1978 - I was in New York filming a documentary, Australian Music To The World when this movie, Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band had its premiere, on this day, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The film crew, director Paul Drane, and myself attended the premiere, then the after-party at Roseland Ballroom - and that's a movie in itself for another time. It's a strange movie, this one, and although mauled by the critics, it has some redoing factors, but has to be seen to be believed. Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band starred Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees, narrated by George Burns, and also starred Steve Martin and Donald Pleasance. It was a financial disaster, with the music of the Beatles, the rights of which were 'gathered' by Australian entrepreneur, Adelaide-born Robert Stigwood, who, at one stage, actually managed the Beatles. It's a fun movie with the soundtrack ranging from awesome to odd.
1987 - La Bamba, the movie biography of Richie Valens, opened today, and three years later on the same day, Pantera released their first major label release, Cowboys From Hell. Same day and year, and a wrongful death trial involving Judas Priest opened in Reno. in an effort for a money-grab parents charged in a lawsuit that the band's Stained Class album contained subliminal messages that drove two teen-agers to attempt suicide. The judge cleared the group. Three years later, in 1995, there was a three-night celebration of Frank Sinatra's 80th birthday, held at Carnegie Hall. Here's a special triple treat for you. First up, spot the star inside Carnegie Hall as they all sing happy birthday to Frankie; then Patti La Belle sounding like a beautiful bird as she so sweetly sings to Frankie baby. Glorious. Finally, a brief glimpse of a young Johnny Depp in the audience.
TRIBUTE TO AMY WINEHOUSE, RIP.
Sadly, Amy Winehouse has joined the infamous 27 Club today - those music stars who died, aged 27, mostly under tragic circumstances. The 27 Club, also known as the Forever 27 Club is a name for a group of influential rock music artists who died at the age of 27.
The ominous club membership fee is death, its creation coming about through deaths of many rock stars, including legends Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994.
With the notable exception of Joplin, there is controversy surrounding most of their deaths. Other members of the notorious club include: Blues legend Robert Johnson, Hole bassist Kristen Pfaff, Echo & The Bunnymen drummer, Pete de Freitas, Uriah Heep's Gary Thain, Badfinger's Pete Ham, and dozens more. For videos and details of other 27 Club members go to *MUSICBACKTRACK*'s go to our archive search engine.
Whilst living in London, along with 1700 other fans, I saw her perform live at the Shepherd's Bush empire, her first ever concert, and her performance was stunning, sexy, charismatic - with a tinge of sadness, as there was hint of darkness immersed in her obvious charismatic aura. Without a shadow of a doubt she was one of the most outstanding soul vocalists of our time, but further proof that nobody is immune to the addictive excesses available in the music industry, infiltrated as they are, by the sharks who eat and feed from the spirit of those tortured souls at the centre of the fame.
This is our very, very sad tribute to one of the legends of rock'n'roll.
