October 22, 1964 - THEY called Sandie Shaw the barefoot pop princess, because she never wore shoes onstage, and this is the day she had her first British #1 hit record with the Burt Bacharach song (There's) Always Some Thing There To Remind Me. Ms. Shaw was just 17 when she was on top of the charts with this song, and three years later, in 1967, she became the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest, just as her records began hitting top of the charts around the world.
1811 - BORN today, Franz Liszt was one of the great 19th century composers, and becoming known throughout Europe for his great skill as a live performer. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age and perhaps the greatest pianist of all time. His musical compositions are now icons; he was a notable piano teacher, and conductor, who contributed significantly to the modern development of the art. Liszt was also a gracious benefactor to other composers and performers, notably Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, Alexander Borodin. As a composer, Liszt was one of the most prominent representatives of the so-called Neudeutsche Schule, or New German School. He left behind an extensive and diverse body of work, in which he influenced his forward-looking contemporaries and anticipated some 20th-century ideas and trends, developing the concept of thematic transformation as part of his experiments in musical form, and making radical departures in harmony. Lisztomania swept across Europe in the early 1840s and the reception Liszt enjoyed as a result can only be described as hysterical. Women fought over his silk handkerchiefs and velvet gloves, which they ripped to shreds as souvenirs. Helping fuel this atmosphere was the artist's mesmeric personality and stage presence. Many witnesses later testified that Liszt's playing raised the mood of audiences to a level of mystical ecstasy. In his day he was a rock star! Women especially were all over him, throwing pieces of undergarments and locks of hair on stage, fainting in the audience and, rumour has it, some women experiencing spontaneous orgasms. Adding to his reputation was the fact that Liszt gave away much of his proceeds to charity and humanitarian causes. In fact, Liszt had made so much money by his mid-forties that virtually all his performing fees after 1857 went to charity. Here are two videos, one serious from Arcadi Volodos - who some say is the greatest living classical pianist in the world; the other an irreverent Victor Borge has a shot at Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2.
1832 - RUSSIAN-BORN founder of the New York Philharmonic, Leopold Damrosch, was born today, and a year later on the same day, the city of New York held a grand opening, of its Metropolitan Opera House. We jump forward 100 years, and New York's Metropolitan Opera celebrated its 100th anniversary, making it now, in 2011, 170 years old. And aren't they justifiably proud of it, as this promo for last year's 2010 season demonstrates. The Metropolitan Opera's award-winning series of operas in HD continues for its fourth season and features nine transmissions of the following operas: Puccini's TOSCA, Verdi's AIDA, Puccini's TURANDOT, Offenbach's THE TALES OF HOFFMANN, Strauss' DER ROSEKAVALIER, Bizet's CARMEN, Verdi's SIMON BOCCANEGRA, Thomas' HAMLET and Rossini's ARMIDA.
1961 - ON October 22, half a century ago, pop singer Chubby Checker appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, performing his ultra-pop Hank Ballard hit, The Twist. for that original video go to our archive search engine, meanwhile, here's another version from the Fat Boys, featuring Mr. Checker.
1964 - THIS is the day, The Who - then known as the High Numbers - received a letter from EMI Records, asking them for original material after their recent audition for the company, and two years later the Supremes had their first #1 album, The Supremes Au Go Go, knocking The Beatles' Revolver' off the top of their #1 perch. On the same day and year as supremes hit #1, the Beach Boys' Good Vibrations made its debut on the US singles chart. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the tune was recorded over six months, in four different Los Angeles studios, at a cost of more than $50,000, an overload of money for one song in those days. The recording engineer would later say that the last take sounded exactly like the first, six months earlier. The record, dubbed as a pocket symphony, went to #1 around the world. It featured instruments unusual for a including prominent use of the cello and an electro-theremin. It is # six on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Song Of All Time, and is oart of the Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock'n'roll. here are two versions, 20 years apart.
1965 - ONE of the Rolling Stones' best rock swagger songs, with some of Jagger's most rebellious lyrics - for the day - was released today. Keef has horn-rimmed glasses and sings the chorus of Get Off My Cloud, with a happy looking Brian Jones playing up.
1976 - THERE are about 10 or 11 videos on youtube, all claiming to the final performance of drummer Keith Moon on this day 35 years ago. I've done research and looked at the vids, and I reckon this is the final video of the Who with Moon, live at Kilborn. Any Who/Moon experts out there? Could someone confirm? Whatever the case, Moon shows here that he was one amazing and unique drummer. Also here, is a video showing the madness of Keith Moon.
1978 - ONE of the big American disco/rhythm bands/insitutions, Earth, Wind & Fire began a sold-out tour in the U.S. today, the road marathon lasting 75 dates. American President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are big fans of Earth, Wind & Fire, and from the same year, here's the original video of the their big hit, September.
1989 - ENGLISH folk singer, songwriter, poet, and record producer Ewan MacColl died today, aged 74. He was the father of singer, songwriter Kirsty MacColl, and if you want info and videos on Kirsty, just go to our archive search engine. MacColl was the man who wrote Dirty Old Town, and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, which was a worldwide hit for Roberta Flack almost 40 years ago. Acts who have recorded his songs include U2, The Dubliners, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash recorded his songs. This is the very young Pogues, with their version of his song, Dirty Old Town.
1811 - BORN today, Franz Liszt was one of the great 19th century composers, and becoming known throughout Europe for his great skill as a live performer. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age and perhaps the greatest pianist of all time. His musical compositions are now icons; he was a notable piano teacher, and conductor, who contributed significantly to the modern development of the art. Liszt was also a gracious benefactor to other composers and performers, notably Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, Alexander Borodin. As a composer, Liszt was one of the most prominent representatives of the so-called Neudeutsche Schule, or New German School. He left behind an extensive and diverse body of work, in which he influenced his forward-looking contemporaries and anticipated some 20th-century ideas and trends, developing the concept of thematic transformation as part of his experiments in musical form, and making radical departures in harmony. Lisztomania swept across Europe in the early 1840s and the reception Liszt enjoyed as a result can only be described as hysterical. Women fought over his silk handkerchiefs and velvet gloves, which they ripped to shreds as souvenirs. Helping fuel this atmosphere was the artist's mesmeric personality and stage presence. Many witnesses later testified that Liszt's playing raised the mood of audiences to a level of mystical ecstasy. In his day he was a rock star! Women especially were all over him, throwing pieces of undergarments and locks of hair on stage, fainting in the audience and, rumour has it, some women experiencing spontaneous orgasms. Adding to his reputation was the fact that Liszt gave away much of his proceeds to charity and humanitarian causes. In fact, Liszt had made so much money by his mid-forties that virtually all his performing fees after 1857 went to charity. Here are two videos, one serious from Arcadi Volodos - who some say is the greatest living classical pianist in the world; the other an irreverent Victor Borge has a shot at Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2.
1832 - RUSSIAN-BORN founder of the New York Philharmonic, Leopold Damrosch, was born today, and a year later on the same day, the city of New York held a grand opening, of its Metropolitan Opera House. We jump forward 100 years, and New York's Metropolitan Opera celebrated its 100th anniversary, making it now, in 2011, 170 years old. And aren't they justifiably proud of it, as this promo for last year's 2010 season demonstrates. The Metropolitan Opera's award-winning series of operas in HD continues for its fourth season and features nine transmissions of the following operas: Puccini's TOSCA, Verdi's AIDA, Puccini's TURANDOT, Offenbach's THE TALES OF HOFFMANN, Strauss' DER ROSEKAVALIER, Bizet's CARMEN, Verdi's SIMON BOCCANEGRA, Thomas' HAMLET and Rossini's ARMIDA.
1961 - ON October 22, half a century ago, pop singer Chubby Checker appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, performing his ultra-pop Hank Ballard hit, The Twist. for that original video go to our archive search engine, meanwhile, here's another version from the Fat Boys, featuring Mr. Checker.
1964 - THIS is the day, The Who - then known as the High Numbers - received a letter from EMI Records, asking them for original material after their recent audition for the company, and two years later the Supremes had their first #1 album, The Supremes Au Go Go, knocking The Beatles' Revolver' off the top of their #1 perch. On the same day and year as supremes hit #1, the Beach Boys' Good Vibrations made its debut on the US singles chart. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the tune was recorded over six months, in four different Los Angeles studios, at a cost of more than $50,000, an overload of money for one song in those days. The recording engineer would later say that the last take sounded exactly like the first, six months earlier. The record, dubbed as a pocket symphony, went to #1 around the world. It featured instruments unusual for a including prominent use of the cello and an electro-theremin. It is # six on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Song Of All Time, and is oart of the Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock'n'roll. here are two versions, 20 years apart.
1965 - ONE of the Rolling Stones' best rock swagger songs, with some of Jagger's most rebellious lyrics - for the day - was released today. Keef has horn-rimmed glasses and sings the chorus of Get Off My Cloud, with a happy looking Brian Jones playing up.
1976 - THERE are about 10 or 11 videos on youtube, all claiming to the final performance of drummer Keith Moon on this day 35 years ago. I've done research and looked at the vids, and I reckon this is the final video of the Who with Moon, live at Kilborn. Any Who/Moon experts out there? Could someone confirm? Whatever the case, Moon shows here that he was one amazing and unique drummer. Also here, is a video showing the madness of Keith Moon.
1978 - ONE of the big American disco/rhythm bands/insitutions, Earth, Wind & Fire began a sold-out tour in the U.S. today, the road marathon lasting 75 dates. American President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are big fans of Earth, Wind & Fire, and from the same year, here's the original video of the their big hit, September.
1989 - ENGLISH folk singer, songwriter, poet, and record producer Ewan MacColl died today, aged 74. He was the father of singer, songwriter Kirsty MacColl, and if you want info and videos on Kirsty, just go to our archive search engine. MacColl was the man who wrote Dirty Old Town, and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, which was a worldwide hit for Roberta Flack almost 40 years ago. Acts who have recorded his songs include U2, The Dubliners, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash recorded his songs. This is the very young Pogues, with their version of his song, Dirty Old Town.
