December 12, 2007 - Ike Turner, former husband of Tina Turner, died at the age of 76 at his home near San Diego, California, today. Despite his personal demons and controversial marriage to Tina, Ike Turner was a prolific session guitarist and piano player and credited by many music historians with having recorded the first rock 'n' roll record in 1951, Rocket 88. I would personally dispute that premise, but most historians see it that way. After marrying Tina Turner in 1959, the pair released a string of hits including the Spector-produced River Deep, Mountain High. The song was written by Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, and considered by Spector to be his best work. The song was successful in Europe, but flopped on its original release in the United States. Spector claimed to be pleased with the response from the critics and his peers, but soon withdrew from the music industry for two years, coinciding with his personal decline. The song soon became one of Tina Turner's signature songs. Indeed, the song - and this version - has become part of rock'n'roll iconography. And, dear reader, is their anything more sensual than the mini-skirted Ikettes?
1955 - JOHNNY Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley all appeared at the National Guard Armory, Armory, Mississippi, tonight. The trio, along with Buddy Holly performed several concerts together during this period. Accordingly, following is backstage at High School dance in Lubock, in the same year, 1955.
1957 - AL Priddy was a DJ on American radio station KEX in Portland and was fired today, after playing Elvis Presley's version of the Irving Berlin song, White Christmas. The station management reportedly told him: "It's not in the spirit we associate with Christmas." Here is Presley's version, coupled with some home-grown footage.
1962 - BEATLES played two shows at the Cavern Club, Liverpool, at lunchtime, today, and then again tonight. To watch that footage go to *MUSICBACKTRACK* archive & search engine. A year later and the rock'n'roll revolutionaries sat atop world charts with one of their most recognisable songs.
1970 - SMOKEY Robinson and the Miracles started a two week run around the world with the catchy and unusual Tears Of A Clown, the group's 26th Top 40 hit and their first number one hit.
1970 - DOORS played what would be their last ever live show with Jim Morrison, tonight, when they played at the Warehouse venue in New Orleans. We take a giant leap forward to 1981, same day, and Britain's Human League had their global hit, Don't You Want Me. The song was the Christmas hit of 30 years ago, now, and became the biggest seller of 1981. It was also Virgin Records first #1 song. The group's singer Phil Oakey disliked the song so much that it was relegated to the last track on their album, Dare.
1985 - SCOTTISH keyboard player Ian Stewart died of a heart attack in his doctor's Harley Street waiting room in London, 26 years ago today. Co-founder of The Rolling Stones (Stewart was the first to respond to Brian Jones's advertisement in Jazz News of May 2, 1962 seeking musicians to form a rhythm & blues group). Stewart was dismissed from the line-up by the band's manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, in May 1963 but remained as road manager and piano player. He played on all The Rolling Stones albums between 1964 and 1983, except for Beggars Banquet. Stewart also played piano on Led Zeppelin's Rock and Roll and Boogie With Stu, from Physical Graffiti. Following is a video of Ian Stewart performing with Junior Wells, and Ronnie Wood.
1987 - GEORGE Michael was never seen by me outside his pop restraints, which of course was narrow of me, but this is the year I changed my view and became quite a fan of Michael. It was the year he released one of his biggest hits, and it stuck around for weeks at top of most world charts. This is the rock'n'roll-tinged Faith.
2001 - ARTHUR Lee, guitarist and singer from Love, was released from prison today, after serving almost six years of an eleven-year sentence. Lee had been convicted of possession of a firearm and for allegedly shooting a gun in the air during a dispute with a neighbour.
1955 - JOHNNY Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley all appeared at the National Guard Armory, Armory, Mississippi, tonight. The trio, along with Buddy Holly performed several concerts together during this period. Accordingly, following is backstage at High School dance in Lubock, in the same year, 1955.
1957 - AL Priddy was a DJ on American radio station KEX in Portland and was fired today, after playing Elvis Presley's version of the Irving Berlin song, White Christmas. The station management reportedly told him: "It's not in the spirit we associate with Christmas." Here is Presley's version, coupled with some home-grown footage.
1962 - BEATLES played two shows at the Cavern Club, Liverpool, at lunchtime, today, and then again tonight. To watch that footage go to *MUSICBACKTRACK* archive & search engine. A year later and the rock'n'roll revolutionaries sat atop world charts with one of their most recognisable songs.
1970 - SMOKEY Robinson and the Miracles started a two week run around the world with the catchy and unusual Tears Of A Clown, the group's 26th Top 40 hit and their first number one hit.
1970 - DOORS played what would be their last ever live show with Jim Morrison, tonight, when they played at the Warehouse venue in New Orleans. We take a giant leap forward to 1981, same day, and Britain's Human League had their global hit, Don't You Want Me. The song was the Christmas hit of 30 years ago, now, and became the biggest seller of 1981. It was also Virgin Records first #1 song. The group's singer Phil Oakey disliked the song so much that it was relegated to the last track on their album, Dare.
1985 - SCOTTISH keyboard player Ian Stewart died of a heart attack in his doctor's Harley Street waiting room in London, 26 years ago today. Co-founder of The Rolling Stones (Stewart was the first to respond to Brian Jones's advertisement in Jazz News of May 2, 1962 seeking musicians to form a rhythm & blues group). Stewart was dismissed from the line-up by the band's manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, in May 1963 but remained as road manager and piano player. He played on all The Rolling Stones albums between 1964 and 1983, except for Beggars Banquet. Stewart also played piano on Led Zeppelin's Rock and Roll and Boogie With Stu, from Physical Graffiti. Following is a video of Ian Stewart performing with Junior Wells, and Ronnie Wood.
1987 - GEORGE Michael was never seen by me outside his pop restraints, which of course was narrow of me, but this is the year I changed my view and became quite a fan of Michael. It was the year he released one of his biggest hits, and it stuck around for weeks at top of most world charts. This is the rock'n'roll-tinged Faith.
2001 - ARTHUR Lee, guitarist and singer from Love, was released from prison today, after serving almost six years of an eleven-year sentence. Lee had been convicted of possession of a firearm and for allegedly shooting a gun in the air during a dispute with a neighbour.
