March 20, 1991 - TEARS IN HEAVEN is a ballad written by Eric Clapton and Will Jennings about the pain Clapton felt following the death of his four-year-old son, Conor, who fell from a window of the 53rd-floor New York apartment of his mother's friend, on March 20, 1991. Clapton, who arrived at the apartment shortly after the accident, was visibly distraught for months afterwards. This song is one of Clapton's most successful, reaching spot in many countries around the world.
1965 - MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS, Stevie Wonder, Miracles, Supremes and Temptations performed he first of a twice-nightly UK package tour, tonight, which kicked of at London's Finsbury Park Astoria. Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967. In contrast to other Motown groups such as The Supremes and The Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas were known for a harder, R&B sound, typified by songs like Love Is Like a Heat Wave, Nowhere to Run, Jimmy Mack, Dancing in The Street, and Wild One, shown here with images from the movie of the same name, starring Marlon Brando.
1968 - DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH were on top of world charts today, with The Legend Of Xanadu, the group's only world #1. Also known as DDDBMT, the British pop/rock group were five friends from Wiltshire formed the group in 1961, and was originally called Dave Dee and the Bostons, headed by vocalist Dee, the ex-policeman. He was at the scene of the automobile accident that took the life of the American rock and roller Eddie Cochran and injured Gene Vincent in April 1960. Dee had taken Cochran's guitar from the accident and held it until it could be returned to his family. In the summer of 1964, the British songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley became interested in recording them. The band was set up in the studio to make recordings with Joe Meek.
1969 - JOHN LENNON married Yoko Ono at the British Consulate Office in Gibraltar, today and the couple spent their honeymoon in Amsterdam campaigning for an international 'Bed-In' for peace. They planned another 'Bed-in' in the United States, but were denied entry. The couple then went to Montreal, and during a 'Bed-in' at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel recorded Give Peace a Chance. Lennon also detailed this period in The Beatles' The Ballad of John and Yoko.
1971 - JANIS JOPLIN started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart, today, with the Kris Kristofferson song, Me And Bobby McGee. Joplin died the year before on 4th October aged 27. For more on Janis Joplin, go to the daily *MUSICBACKTRACK* blog.
1976 - STATUS QUO was at #1 today, with their third #1 album, Blue For You. The album stayed on top for three weeks, and a single from the album, Rain, reached #7 in the charts. The band's record label set up a deal with Levi Jeans for this album, advertising in over 6,000 clothing stores around the world.
1977 - LOU REED was banned from appearing at The London Palladium in England, today, because of his punk image. This was at the beginning of London's punk movement, so it's weird that officialdom honed in on Reed, whose punk ethos at that stage was not one of violence. But he wasn't banned in Australia where he was filmed performing this song, and he did this interview. For more Lou Reed, go to the *MUSICBACKTRACK* daily blog.
1982 - JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart, TODAY, with I Love Rock 'n' Roll, a worldwide hit in Australia, Canada, and many European countries. The song had been the a B-side from 60's band, The Arrows.
1965 - MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS, Stevie Wonder, Miracles, Supremes and Temptations performed he first of a twice-nightly UK package tour, tonight, which kicked of at London's Finsbury Park Astoria. Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967. In contrast to other Motown groups such as The Supremes and The Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas were known for a harder, R&B sound, typified by songs like Love Is Like a Heat Wave, Nowhere to Run, Jimmy Mack, Dancing in The Street, and Wild One, shown here with images from the movie of the same name, starring Marlon Brando.
1968 - DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH were on top of world charts today, with The Legend Of Xanadu, the group's only world #1. Also known as DDDBMT, the British pop/rock group were five friends from Wiltshire formed the group in 1961, and was originally called Dave Dee and the Bostons, headed by vocalist Dee, the ex-policeman. He was at the scene of the automobile accident that took the life of the American rock and roller Eddie Cochran and injured Gene Vincent in April 1960. Dee had taken Cochran's guitar from the accident and held it until it could be returned to his family. In the summer of 1964, the British songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley became interested in recording them. The band was set up in the studio to make recordings with Joe Meek.
1969 - JOHN LENNON married Yoko Ono at the British Consulate Office in Gibraltar, today and the couple spent their honeymoon in Amsterdam campaigning for an international 'Bed-In' for peace. They planned another 'Bed-in' in the United States, but were denied entry. The couple then went to Montreal, and during a 'Bed-in' at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel recorded Give Peace a Chance. Lennon also detailed this period in The Beatles' The Ballad of John and Yoko.
1971 - JANIS JOPLIN started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart, today, with the Kris Kristofferson song, Me And Bobby McGee. Joplin died the year before on 4th October aged 27. For more on Janis Joplin, go to the daily *MUSICBACKTRACK* blog.
1976 - STATUS QUO was at #1 today, with their third #1 album, Blue For You. The album stayed on top for three weeks, and a single from the album, Rain, reached #7 in the charts. The band's record label set up a deal with Levi Jeans for this album, advertising in over 6,000 clothing stores around the world.
1977 - LOU REED was banned from appearing at The London Palladium in England, today, because of his punk image. This was at the beginning of London's punk movement, so it's weird that officialdom honed in on Reed, whose punk ethos at that stage was not one of violence. But he wasn't banned in Australia where he was filmed performing this song, and he did this interview. For more Lou Reed, go to the *MUSICBACKTRACK* daily blog.
1982 - JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS started a seven week run at #1 on the US singles chart, TODAY, with I Love Rock 'n' Roll, a worldwide hit in Australia, Canada, and many European countries. The song had been the a B-side from 60's band, The Arrows.
