January 12, 1959 - DETROIT began to become better known for music than cars this year, and this was the very day that Berry Gordy borrowed US$800 to create the Motown record empire. From his first break after meeting with singer/song writer/producer Jackie Wilson, Gordy went on to create one of the biggest recording company business empires in history. The man went on to become a billionaire, and here's one part of a documentary about Gordy and Motown Records. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in Motown Records and the magic music it sold to the world.
1965 - THE ZOMBIES were one of the first acts to appear on one of the first TV rock'n'roll shows, Hullabaloo, which premiered on NBC TV in some American states tonight and not a few days earlier as the show was road-tested other states. The Zombies' song was written by the band's keyboard player, Rod Argent, who later went on to his own solo career.
1969 - LED ZEPPELIN'S debut album was released in the UK, today, after being recorded at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London. The album took only about 36 hours of studio time to complete at a cost of just GBP£1,782, most songs being recorded live in the studio with very few overdubs. The album eventually spent a total of 71 weeks on charts around the world. The album featured integral contributions from each of the group's four musicians and established Led Zeppelin's fusion of blues and rock. Led Zeppelin also created a large and devoted following for the band, with their take on the emerging heavy metal sound endearing them to a section of the counterculture on both sides of the Atlantic. Although the album initially received negative reviews, it was commercially very successful and has now come to be regarded in a much more positive light by critics. In 2003, the album is ranked number 29 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. From 43 years ago, this is Led Zeppelin's Communication Breakdown, followed by Dazed & Confused.
1974 - JIM CROCE started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart, then around the world with You Don't Mess Around With Jim. Although the American singer-songwriter released the album in 1972, it became a posthumous #1 today in '74. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles. His songs Bad, Bad Leroy Brown and Time in a Bottle were both number one hits around the world. On September 20, 1973, the day that his song, I Got a Name was released, Croce and five others were killed in a plane crash of a chartered Beechcraft E18S upon takeoff from the Natchitoches Regional Airport in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Here are two of he best from Jim Croce.
1985 - AFTER a record 24 weeks as the #1 album in the nation, Prince slipped to the #2 spot with Purple Rain, today. We'd love to play some Prince ids for you, but unfortunately he won't allow it. However, replacing Prince at the top spot today, was Bruce Springsteen's Born In the USA. People misinterpreted Springsteen’s title song from the album as one of patriotism, and many were so blinded as to the true message of the song that some played it during some American political campaigns. Anyone who actually read the lyrics could tell you that the song was highly critical of the United States, especially in their treatment of Vietnam veterans as they returned from war. So for a change let's take a look at an acoustic version of the song, get rid of the hoopla, and have a real listen to a different version of the song, performed here live and acoustic on Spanish television.
1991 - JOHNNY PAYCHECK was released today from an Ohio prison after serving two years of a seven year sentence for a barroom shooting. Before leaving office, Gov. Richard Celeste commuted Paycheck's sentence. A legend of country music, Paycheck was also a rebel rouser, and best known for this song. After performing it here, Paycheck was banned from The Grand Old Opry...bunch of fuddy duddies. This is Take this Job And Shove It.
1999 - BRITNEY SPEARS' debut album Baby One More Time was released 13 years ago, today. I reckon Britney was exploited by her family, the music business, and with her mammoth worldwide success, her personal life suffered. But she has survived, and I think but she changed music for girls and for the noughties. How she survived is beyond me. But she did. Here's a short live version of the title track of the album released today.
2002 - Adam Ant (Stuart Goddard) was arrested at the Prince of Wales club in London, tonight, and charged with possession of a firearm and with criminal damage and assault. He also allegedly attacked a man in his 40s. I was living in London at this time, and the tabloids were consumed by Ant's mental health decline. I think it was simply a case of a former pop star unable to come to grips with being a fallen star. It's a hard thing to do, maintain one's status and relevance after losing the key to the charts. Regardless, I loved he and his band and their originality, so any chance for an Adam Ant clip - how about some Ant Music.
2003 - MAURICE GIBB, singer-songwriter from the Bee Gee's died today aged 53 in Miami Hospital, Florida, following a heart attack during abdominal surgery. The Bee Gees released over 20 albums and had the 1979 world-wide #1 album Spirits Having Flown. How Deep Is Your Love, Stayin' Alive, and Night Fever from the soundtrack Saturday Night Fever were all world wide #1 singles. Gibb was married to the Scottish singer Lulu from 1969 to 1973. In 2002, Maurice Gibb was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), along with his brothers, Robin and Barry. In memory of Maurice, we go back to Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia in 1971. RIP Maurice.
1965 - THE ZOMBIES were one of the first acts to appear on one of the first TV rock'n'roll shows, Hullabaloo, which premiered on NBC TV in some American states tonight and not a few days earlier as the show was road-tested other states. The Zombies' song was written by the band's keyboard player, Rod Argent, who later went on to his own solo career.
1969 - LED ZEPPELIN'S debut album was released in the UK, today, after being recorded at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London. The album took only about 36 hours of studio time to complete at a cost of just GBP£1,782, most songs being recorded live in the studio with very few overdubs. The album eventually spent a total of 71 weeks on charts around the world. The album featured integral contributions from each of the group's four musicians and established Led Zeppelin's fusion of blues and rock. Led Zeppelin also created a large and devoted following for the band, with their take on the emerging heavy metal sound endearing them to a section of the counterculture on both sides of the Atlantic. Although the album initially received negative reviews, it was commercially very successful and has now come to be regarded in a much more positive light by critics. In 2003, the album is ranked number 29 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. From 43 years ago, this is Led Zeppelin's Communication Breakdown, followed by Dazed & Confused.
1974 - JIM CROCE started a five-week run at #1 on the US album chart, then around the world with You Don't Mess Around With Jim. Although the American singer-songwriter released the album in 1972, it became a posthumous #1 today in '74. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles. His songs Bad, Bad Leroy Brown and Time in a Bottle were both number one hits around the world. On September 20, 1973, the day that his song, I Got a Name was released, Croce and five others were killed in a plane crash of a chartered Beechcraft E18S upon takeoff from the Natchitoches Regional Airport in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Here are two of he best from Jim Croce.
1985 - AFTER a record 24 weeks as the #1 album in the nation, Prince slipped to the #2 spot with Purple Rain, today. We'd love to play some Prince ids for you, but unfortunately he won't allow it. However, replacing Prince at the top spot today, was Bruce Springsteen's Born In the USA. People misinterpreted Springsteen’s title song from the album as one of patriotism, and many were so blinded as to the true message of the song that some played it during some American political campaigns. Anyone who actually read the lyrics could tell you that the song was highly critical of the United States, especially in their treatment of Vietnam veterans as they returned from war. So for a change let's take a look at an acoustic version of the song, get rid of the hoopla, and have a real listen to a different version of the song, performed here live and acoustic on Spanish television.
1991 - JOHNNY PAYCHECK was released today from an Ohio prison after serving two years of a seven year sentence for a barroom shooting. Before leaving office, Gov. Richard Celeste commuted Paycheck's sentence. A legend of country music, Paycheck was also a rebel rouser, and best known for this song. After performing it here, Paycheck was banned from The Grand Old Opry...bunch of fuddy duddies. This is Take this Job And Shove It.
1999 - BRITNEY SPEARS' debut album Baby One More Time was released 13 years ago, today. I reckon Britney was exploited by her family, the music business, and with her mammoth worldwide success, her personal life suffered. But she has survived, and I think but she changed music for girls and for the noughties. How she survived is beyond me. But she did. Here's a short live version of the title track of the album released today.
2002 - Adam Ant (Stuart Goddard) was arrested at the Prince of Wales club in London, tonight, and charged with possession of a firearm and with criminal damage and assault. He also allegedly attacked a man in his 40s. I was living in London at this time, and the tabloids were consumed by Ant's mental health decline. I think it was simply a case of a former pop star unable to come to grips with being a fallen star. It's a hard thing to do, maintain one's status and relevance after losing the key to the charts. Regardless, I loved he and his band and their originality, so any chance for an Adam Ant clip - how about some Ant Music.
2003 - MAURICE GIBB, singer-songwriter from the Bee Gee's died today aged 53 in Miami Hospital, Florida, following a heart attack during abdominal surgery. The Bee Gees released over 20 albums and had the 1979 world-wide #1 album Spirits Having Flown. How Deep Is Your Love, Stayin' Alive, and Night Fever from the soundtrack Saturday Night Fever were all world wide #1 singles. Gibb was married to the Scottish singer Lulu from 1969 to 1973. In 2002, Maurice Gibb was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), along with his brothers, Robin and Barry. In memory of Maurice, we go back to Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia in 1971. RIP Maurice.
