January 10, 1971 - CAROLE KING'S Tapestry was released today, and became one of modern music's most celebrated collection of songs. Tapestry is a pop album by singer-songwriter Ms. King, featuring minimal production by Lou Adler. It was ranked at #1 for 15 consecutive weeks, which is the longest time for an album by a female to occupy that position, and remained on the Billboard 200 for 305 weeks, the most recent re-emergence of the album featuring in Billboard magazine issue dated July 17, 2010. In terms of time on the charts, it ranks fifth overall and in terms of length on the charts for solo musical acts it ranks second. It remains the longest charting album by a female solo artist. Tapestry has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and on July 17, 1995 was certified diamond in the United States by the RIAA for 10 million copies sold in USA alone. In 1972 the album also garnered four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Record of the Year (It's Too Late), and Song of the Year (You've Got a Friend). Three songs from the album, I Feel The Earth Move, It's Too Late, and You've Got A Friend, all reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after Tapestry's release. Altogether, four songs on the album were at one point #1 hits, all of which were written or co-written by King. Celebrated music critic Robert Christgau wrote in Christgau's Record Guide (1981): "King has done for the female voice what countless singer-composers achieved years ago for the male: liberated it from technical decorum. She insists on being heard as she is—not raunchy and hot-to-trot or sweeet and be-yoo-ti-ful, just human, with all the cracks and imperfections that implies. Carol King wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album, several of which had already been hits for other artists such as Aretha Franklin's You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman (in 1967), and The Shirelles' Will You Love Me Tomorrow (in 1960). Three songs were co-written with King's ex-husband Gerry Goffin. James Taylor, who encouraged King to sing her own songs, and who also played on Tapestry, would have a #1 hit with You've Got a Friend. In 2003, the album was ranked number 36 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2003, it was one of 50 recordings chosen by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. A truly great album from one of pop music's greatest and most successful song writers. Here are three songs from the album: Tapestry, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, and You've Got A Friend.
1956 - LITTLE RICHARD was in the inner sanctum when rock'n'roll rolled off the assembly line, his raucous screams, his new words, his language, his thumping piano style, his flamboyant style, his outrageousness, his relentless back beat...make no mistake he was there at the creation of rock'n'roll, and it was on this day in 1956 that he recorded the first version of his song, Long Tall Sally. It's a rock and roll 12-bar blues song written by Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Enotris Johnson and Richard Penniman (known as Little Richard), and recorded by Little Richard. The flip side was Slippin' and Slidin. Both songs were subsequently released on the LP Here's Little Richard, the single reaching #1 on the rhythm and blues charts, and staying at the top for six of 19 weeks in the charts. It received the Cash Box Triple Crown Award in 1956. Little Richard's version is #56 on Rolling StoneMagazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Here's a video of Richard performing the song his band, in an excerpt from the Alan Freed rock'n'roll movie, Don't Knock The Rock.
1958 - BEFORE Hannah Montana, before Mylie Cyrus there was Annette Funicello from the Mickey Mouse Club. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of the original Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in a series of beach party films. So popular was Ms. Funicello that the people at Disney decided to launch a spin-off series, named Annette. First up some footage from the Mickey Mouse Club - from whence she came...then the very first show of her own series.
1958 - ALONG with Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis introduced thumping piano to rock'n'roll music instead of the guitar, which ad previously been the instrument of choice. On this day, 54 years ago, the real wild one, Jerry Lee Lewis was at #1 on UK singles chart with Great Balls Of Fire. And it wasn't long before the whole world followed.
1968 - THE BEATLES turned all of their business affairs over to the newly formed Apple record company - their own venture into big business. The first record on their new label was the historic Hey Jude, at that stage, the longest pop single (at 7 minutes plus) ever given airplay. Do you remember this video?
1976 - BLUES artist Howlin Wolf, (Chester Burnett), died in hospital of cancer aged 66, today, leaving a legacy of blues songs that would be covered by rock'n'roll bands up until this very day. Artists still cite Howlin' Wolf as their major influence, and bands such as Rolling Stones owe much to this blues legend. The guitarist, singer and harmonica player's well known songs included Little Red Rooster and Smoke Stack Lightning. For more information on Howlin Wolf go to our archive.
1978 - VAN HALEN'S debut album was released today, starting a rock career that is just as potent today as it was 34 years ago. From the same year, we feature a live version of the Kinks classic, You Really Got Me. Technically a fine version, but doesn't quite hit the soulful mark that the original did.
1984 - CYNDI LAUPER became the first female recording artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967 to be nominated for five Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), Record of the Year and Song of the Year. She first came to our attention with the classic pop hit Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, but here is her performance that night at the Grammy Awards. If you want more Cyndi Lauper, go to our search engine and scan our archives.
1993 - MICHAEL JACKSON granted his first interview in 15 years to Oprah Winfrey today. In the interview, Jackson claimed that he has a disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin and that he had had very little plastic surgery. I believe this story and I also believe that Michael Jackson was the most vilified entertainer in history, completely demonised by the media, then public, at large. In the Oprah interview Jackson is asked if he is a virgin, and then he teaches Oprah how to moon walk. Worth checking out.
1956 - LITTLE RICHARD was in the inner sanctum when rock'n'roll rolled off the assembly line, his raucous screams, his new words, his language, his thumping piano style, his flamboyant style, his outrageousness, his relentless back beat...make no mistake he was there at the creation of rock'n'roll, and it was on this day in 1956 that he recorded the first version of his song, Long Tall Sally. It's a rock and roll 12-bar blues song written by Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Enotris Johnson and Richard Penniman (known as Little Richard), and recorded by Little Richard. The flip side was Slippin' and Slidin. Both songs were subsequently released on the LP Here's Little Richard, the single reaching #1 on the rhythm and blues charts, and staying at the top for six of 19 weeks in the charts. It received the Cash Box Triple Crown Award in 1956. Little Richard's version is #56 on Rolling StoneMagazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Here's a video of Richard performing the song his band, in an excerpt from the Alan Freed rock'n'roll movie, Don't Knock The Rock.
1958 - BEFORE Hannah Montana, before Mylie Cyrus there was Annette Funicello from the Mickey Mouse Club. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of the original Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in a series of beach party films. So popular was Ms. Funicello that the people at Disney decided to launch a spin-off series, named Annette. First up some footage from the Mickey Mouse Club - from whence she came...then the very first show of her own series.
1958 - ALONG with Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis introduced thumping piano to rock'n'roll music instead of the guitar, which ad previously been the instrument of choice. On this day, 54 years ago, the real wild one, Jerry Lee Lewis was at #1 on UK singles chart with Great Balls Of Fire. And it wasn't long before the whole world followed.
1968 - THE BEATLES turned all of their business affairs over to the newly formed Apple record company - their own venture into big business. The first record on their new label was the historic Hey Jude, at that stage, the longest pop single (at 7 minutes plus) ever given airplay. Do you remember this video?
1976 - BLUES artist Howlin Wolf, (Chester Burnett), died in hospital of cancer aged 66, today, leaving a legacy of blues songs that would be covered by rock'n'roll bands up until this very day. Artists still cite Howlin' Wolf as their major influence, and bands such as Rolling Stones owe much to this blues legend. The guitarist, singer and harmonica player's well known songs included Little Red Rooster and Smoke Stack Lightning. For more information on Howlin Wolf go to our archive.
1978 - VAN HALEN'S debut album was released today, starting a rock career that is just as potent today as it was 34 years ago. From the same year, we feature a live version of the Kinks classic, You Really Got Me. Technically a fine version, but doesn't quite hit the soulful mark that the original did.
1984 - CYNDI LAUPER became the first female recording artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967 to be nominated for five Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), Record of the Year and Song of the Year. She first came to our attention with the classic pop hit Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, but here is her performance that night at the Grammy Awards. If you want more Cyndi Lauper, go to our search engine and scan our archives.
1993 - MICHAEL JACKSON granted his first interview in 15 years to Oprah Winfrey today. In the interview, Jackson claimed that he has a disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin and that he had had very little plastic surgery. I believe this story and I also believe that Michael Jackson was the most vilified entertainer in history, completely demonised by the media, then public, at large. In the Oprah interview Jackson is asked if he is a virgin, and then he teaches Oprah how to moon walk. Worth checking out.
