January 19, 2006 - WILSON PICKETT died of a heart attack today, in a hospital, near his Ashburn, Virginia home, aged 64. Pickett recorded the soul classics Mustang Sally, Everybody Needs Somebody to Love and In The Midnight Hour, in addition to having 15 more top 40 singles. Sit yourself down and soak up some rock'n'soul from the magic of Wilson Picket, one of the greats! And if you want more Pickett, go to the blog's search engine & scan our archives.
1959 - THE PLATTERS' Smoke Gets In Your Eyes started a three week run at #1 on the US singles charts today. The song was the 25th single released by the vocal group, four years since their debut release of Only You, also a #1. The Platters have recorded nearly 400 songs in their marathon career, have sold over 80 million copies of those songs, and have performed throughout the world, winning many awards and an induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. The Platters have appeared in 27 movies such as Rock Around The Clock, Girl's Town, Europe By Night, and many more. The group has also changed membership at various points in its existence.
1967 - THE MONKEES were at #1 around the world with I'm A Believer, today, with a song written by Neil Diamond. Neil Diamond wrote the song after having his own first big hit earlier in 1966, with Cherry, Cherry, which attracted the attention of record executive, Don Kirshner, who was looking for material for The Monkees. Kirshner was sold on I'm A Believer, and as part of the deal, allowed Diamond to record the song as well. Diamond's version was released on his 1967 album Just For You. The Monkees version benefited from exposure on their television series. This was The Monkees second single, after Last Train To Clarksville and released during the first season of their TV show. The Monkees sang but did not play any instruments on this recording, the producers using session musicians because they were not convinced The Monkees could play like a real band. This became a huge point of contention with the group, and as they became more popular, they fought to play their own songs, which eventually they did. Drummer Micky Dolenz sang lead on the hit single. Following the Monkees is Diamond's version, live at Glastonbury 2008.
1967 - THE BEATLES began recording A Day in the Life at Abbey Road studio’s London, recording four takes of the new song. It ended up being the final track on their much-praised album, Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. There is so much to say about this song, but we only have space for a little bit of info, such as, a 41-piece orchestra played on the song. The musicians were told to attend the session dressed formally, and when they got there, they were presented with party novelties such as false noses, party hats, gorilla-paw glove to wear, making it clear this was not going to be a typical recording session. The orchestra was conducted by Paul McCartney, who told them to start with the lowest note of their instruments and gradually play to the highest. The beginning of this song was based on two stories John Lennon had read in the Daily Mail newspaper: Guinness heir Tara Browne dying when he smashed his lotus into a parked van, and an article in the UK Daily Express in early 1967 which told of how the Blackburn Roads Surveyor had counted 4000 holes in the roads of Blackburn and commented that the volume of material needed to fill them in was enough to fill the Albert Hall. Lennon took some liberties with the Tara Browne story - he changed it so he "Blew his mind out in the car." And by the way, bet you aint seen this video before, nor the recording footage.
1980 - BRASS IN POCKET gave The Pretenders their first worldwide hit, and at the same time their self-titled debut album started a four-week run at #1 on charts around the world. Great breakthrough song and album, and one of the real deal groups still doing the global circuit. Remember this video? Brilliant for its time…cheeky.
1985 - ALISON MOYET went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut solo album Alf, 27 years ago. Everyone adores Alison Moyet; the Basildon punk, the high priestess of electronic pop, and the peerless soul singer who has warmed our big British hearts since the early 1980s. But how often do we appreciate the full depth and breadth of her extraordinary career? For the very first time, Alison Moyet – one of pop’s greatest survivors – has helped put together the definitive anthology of her 25 years as a solo performer, became famous at 21 as singer in Yazoo, Between 1984 and 1987, Moyet was Britain’s biggest female solo star. Alf lingered in the UK album chart for nearly two years and went quadruple platinum.
1991 - JANET JACKSON went to #1 on the US singles chart with Love Will Never Do, today, her 5th worldwide chart topper. janet signed her first record deal at 14, launching a career that would have an immense influence on pop music. Her first two albums, Janet Jackson and Dream Street were just the beginning. It wasn’t until her third album, Control, in 1986, that she began to break records and set standards. Control brought Janet into the collaborative mix of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, which then became a relationship that created a musical fusion of pop, r&b, soul, dance, jazz, rock and rap that continues today. Ms. Jackson has won five Grammys in her career.
1998 - AMERICAN ROCKABILLY singer, songwriter Carl Perkins died today, aged 65, from throat cancer. He wrote the classic rock & roll song Blue Suede Shoes, the first record by a Sun label to sell a million copies. If you'd like to see his original version of Blue Suede Shoes, go use our search engine and browse our archives. Meanwhile. Howzabout a super jam session instead, with Carl and friends, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Star, Roseanne Cash and others.
2003 - MS. NORAH JONES took the world by storm just a year shy of a decade ago with her soulful take on pop music and a sound of her own, revealed on her album, Come Away With Me, which topped charts all over the world, starting today with a #1 in USA. And this is the title song from the LP.
1959 - THE PLATTERS' Smoke Gets In Your Eyes started a three week run at #1 on the US singles charts today. The song was the 25th single released by the vocal group, four years since their debut release of Only You, also a #1. The Platters have recorded nearly 400 songs in their marathon career, have sold over 80 million copies of those songs, and have performed throughout the world, winning many awards and an induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. The Platters have appeared in 27 movies such as Rock Around The Clock, Girl's Town, Europe By Night, and many more. The group has also changed membership at various points in its existence.
1967 - THE MONKEES were at #1 around the world with I'm A Believer, today, with a song written by Neil Diamond. Neil Diamond wrote the song after having his own first big hit earlier in 1966, with Cherry, Cherry, which attracted the attention of record executive, Don Kirshner, who was looking for material for The Monkees. Kirshner was sold on I'm A Believer, and as part of the deal, allowed Diamond to record the song as well. Diamond's version was released on his 1967 album Just For You. The Monkees version benefited from exposure on their television series. This was The Monkees second single, after Last Train To Clarksville and released during the first season of their TV show. The Monkees sang but did not play any instruments on this recording, the producers using session musicians because they were not convinced The Monkees could play like a real band. This became a huge point of contention with the group, and as they became more popular, they fought to play their own songs, which eventually they did. Drummer Micky Dolenz sang lead on the hit single. Following the Monkees is Diamond's version, live at Glastonbury 2008.
1967 - THE BEATLES began recording A Day in the Life at Abbey Road studio’s London, recording four takes of the new song. It ended up being the final track on their much-praised album, Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. There is so much to say about this song, but we only have space for a little bit of info, such as, a 41-piece orchestra played on the song. The musicians were told to attend the session dressed formally, and when they got there, they were presented with party novelties such as false noses, party hats, gorilla-paw glove to wear, making it clear this was not going to be a typical recording session. The orchestra was conducted by Paul McCartney, who told them to start with the lowest note of their instruments and gradually play to the highest. The beginning of this song was based on two stories John Lennon had read in the Daily Mail newspaper: Guinness heir Tara Browne dying when he smashed his lotus into a parked van, and an article in the UK Daily Express in early 1967 which told of how the Blackburn Roads Surveyor had counted 4000 holes in the roads of Blackburn and commented that the volume of material needed to fill them in was enough to fill the Albert Hall. Lennon took some liberties with the Tara Browne story - he changed it so he "Blew his mind out in the car." And by the way, bet you aint seen this video before, nor the recording footage.
1980 - BRASS IN POCKET gave The Pretenders their first worldwide hit, and at the same time their self-titled debut album started a four-week run at #1 on charts around the world. Great breakthrough song and album, and one of the real deal groups still doing the global circuit. Remember this video? Brilliant for its time…cheeky.
1985 - ALISON MOYET went to No.1 on the UK album chart with her debut solo album Alf, 27 years ago. Everyone adores Alison Moyet; the Basildon punk, the high priestess of electronic pop, and the peerless soul singer who has warmed our big British hearts since the early 1980s. But how often do we appreciate the full depth and breadth of her extraordinary career? For the very first time, Alison Moyet – one of pop’s greatest survivors – has helped put together the definitive anthology of her 25 years as a solo performer, became famous at 21 as singer in Yazoo, Between 1984 and 1987, Moyet was Britain’s biggest female solo star. Alf lingered in the UK album chart for nearly two years and went quadruple platinum.
1991 - JANET JACKSON went to #1 on the US singles chart with Love Will Never Do, today, her 5th worldwide chart topper. janet signed her first record deal at 14, launching a career that would have an immense influence on pop music. Her first two albums, Janet Jackson and Dream Street were just the beginning. It wasn’t until her third album, Control, in 1986, that she began to break records and set standards. Control brought Janet into the collaborative mix of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, which then became a relationship that created a musical fusion of pop, r&b, soul, dance, jazz, rock and rap that continues today. Ms. Jackson has won five Grammys in her career.
1998 - AMERICAN ROCKABILLY singer, songwriter Carl Perkins died today, aged 65, from throat cancer. He wrote the classic rock & roll song Blue Suede Shoes, the first record by a Sun label to sell a million copies. If you'd like to see his original version of Blue Suede Shoes, go use our search engine and browse our archives. Meanwhile. Howzabout a super jam session instead, with Carl and friends, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Star, Roseanne Cash and others.
2003 - MS. NORAH JONES took the world by storm just a year shy of a decade ago with her soulful take on pop music and a sound of her own, revealed on her album, Come Away With Me, which topped charts all over the world, starting today with a #1 in USA. And this is the title song from the LP.
