1934 - When I interviewed U2's Bono for the controversially banned biography I wrote about Michael Hutchence, Bono gave the opinion that he thought Michael's recording studio technique was not dissimilar to that of Bing Crosby; that is, a crooning, soft-style, close into the microphone. If you listen closely to both styles, I'd have to agree - for clarity, not their music styles or the way they perform or sound, but their recording techniques. Which is a roundabout way of telling you that 77 years ago today, Bing Crosby recorded the song Love In bloomLove in Bloom, with Irving Aaronsonís and his Commanders orchestra. No video for this song, but how about this is vintage clip from an early Crosby movie, the song being Moonlight Becomes You, clearly demonstrating crosby's early crooning style.
1954 - This was the day in 1954 when Elvis Presley recorded his first ever commercial record, in Memphis Tennessee at Sun Records. He recorded Blue Moon Of Kentucky and the following song, That's Alright Mama. Rock legend goes that Elvis recorded these songs for his mother's birthday present, but so many stories have been distorted about this historic recording that it may not be true, who knows.
1964 - Ten years later to the day, and an Irish group named Them recorded a song that became the staple for every budding new band, recorded by thousands of groups, and played in the set of almost every band in the sixties. Them, featuring Van Morrison, remain one of the most underrated groups of the the sixties. This is a bona fide *MUSICBACKTRACK* vintage classic and shows very clearly that Van Morrison didn't grow grumpy with age. He was grumpy even back then.
1966 - Former Animals bassist Chas Chandler saw Little Richard's former guitar player, Jimi Hendrix, performing at a tiny little club called Cafe Wha?, in New York’s Greenwich Village and was so blown away that he told Hendrix he should move to London in order to launch his career. The rest, as they say, is history. Two years later, on July 5, and legendary entrepreneur, Bill Graham, opened The Fillmore West in San Francisco, California. This became the launch pad for many of the psychedelic and hard rock bands of the sixties, including janis Joplin, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and so, so many more. Just a year later, same day, and The Rolling Stones gave a free concert for 250,000 fans in London's Hyde Park to pay homage and respect to the recently departed Stones founder and guitar player, Brian Jones, who died on July 3. For funeral footage and video details of Jones' death, go to our *MUSICBACKTRACK* archive search engine. Whilst the concert was a tribute to Jones, it also was an introduction to his replacement, Mick Taylor. Jagger read the poet Shelley’s poem, Adonais, and the band released thousands of butterflies over the crowd. Sadly, most of the insects had expired. This is a slow, funky version of their hit Honjky Tonk Women, live in Hyde Park.
1975 - It's 1975, July 5, and the Paul Rogers-led Bad Company released their song, Feel Like Making Love. This was one of the great British groups, led by one of the greatest rock singers. His influence spread worldwide, and can be seen and heard in many of today's singers. But for today *MUSICBACKTRACK* goes back five years earlier, to Rogers' first band, Free. This was a their first hit, and this is a classic performance, live at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival in 1975. At the end and beginning there are some extremely revealing interviews about the festival.
1980 - This is the day the cult band named Bauhaus' did their final performance in London. farewell concert took place in London. Bauhaus were an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy (vocals), Daniel Ash (guitar), Kevin Haskins (drums) and David J (bass). The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation. With their dark and gloomy sound and image, Bauhaus are generally considered the first gothic rock group. This song is probably their bvest known songs, Bela Lugosi's Dead - a tribute to the great horror movie actor.
1954 - This was the day in 1954 when Elvis Presley recorded his first ever commercial record, in Memphis Tennessee at Sun Records. He recorded Blue Moon Of Kentucky and the following song, That's Alright Mama. Rock legend goes that Elvis recorded these songs for his mother's birthday present, but so many stories have been distorted about this historic recording that it may not be true, who knows.
1964 - Ten years later to the day, and an Irish group named Them recorded a song that became the staple for every budding new band, recorded by thousands of groups, and played in the set of almost every band in the sixties. Them, featuring Van Morrison, remain one of the most underrated groups of the the sixties. This is a bona fide *MUSICBACKTRACK* vintage classic and shows very clearly that Van Morrison didn't grow grumpy with age. He was grumpy even back then.
1966 - Former Animals bassist Chas Chandler saw Little Richard's former guitar player, Jimi Hendrix, performing at a tiny little club called Cafe Wha?, in New York’s Greenwich Village and was so blown away that he told Hendrix he should move to London in order to launch his career. The rest, as they say, is history. Two years later, on July 5, and legendary entrepreneur, Bill Graham, opened The Fillmore West in San Francisco, California. This became the launch pad for many of the psychedelic and hard rock bands of the sixties, including janis Joplin, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and so, so many more. Just a year later, same day, and The Rolling Stones gave a free concert for 250,000 fans in London's Hyde Park to pay homage and respect to the recently departed Stones founder and guitar player, Brian Jones, who died on July 3. For funeral footage and video details of Jones' death, go to our *MUSICBACKTRACK* archive search engine. Whilst the concert was a tribute to Jones, it also was an introduction to his replacement, Mick Taylor. Jagger read the poet Shelley’s poem, Adonais, and the band released thousands of butterflies over the crowd. Sadly, most of the insects had expired. This is a slow, funky version of their hit Honjky Tonk Women, live in Hyde Park.
1975 - It's 1975, July 5, and the Paul Rogers-led Bad Company released their song, Feel Like Making Love. This was one of the great British groups, led by one of the greatest rock singers. His influence spread worldwide, and can be seen and heard in many of today's singers. But for today *MUSICBACKTRACK* goes back five years earlier, to Rogers' first band, Free. This was a their first hit, and this is a classic performance, live at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival in 1975. At the end and beginning there are some extremely revealing interviews about the festival.
1980 - This is the day the cult band named Bauhaus' did their final performance in London. farewell concert took place in London. Bauhaus were an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy (vocals), Daniel Ash (guitar), Kevin Haskins (drums) and David J (bass). The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation. With their dark and gloomy sound and image, Bauhaus are generally considered the first gothic rock group. This song is probably their bvest known songs, Bela Lugosi's Dead - a tribute to the great horror movie actor.
