January 24, 1978 - Joy Division made their live debut when they played at a tiny little club called Pips, in Manchester, England. Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester, and were originally named Warsaw. The band primarily consisted of the late Ian Curtis (vocals and occasional guitar), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion). Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences to develop a sound and style that pioneered the post-punk movement of the late 1970s. According to music critic Jon Savage, the band "were not punk but were directly inspired by its energy". Here are three songs from Joy Division: She's Lost Control from 1979; Something Else, and a brilliant video of Love Will Tear Us Apart, posted on youtube by a fan - fanvid. For the full tragic story of Ian Curtis and Joy Division, go to the *MUSICBACKTRACK* archives, and scan with the search engine.
1936 - Benny Goodman at his nice'n'easy best, with one of the coolest tunes of the swing era, Stompin' At The Savoy. The swing king and his orchestra recorded the classic song 76 years ago today. Here it is, performed by Goodman and his orchestra 32 years ago, at the Aurex Jazz Festival at Budokanin Tokyo, Japan.
1957 - Elvis Presley sings one of his biggest hits, Teddy Bear, released today from the movie, Loving You . Watching this video reinforces why Elvis was such a huge star, huge chick magnet and all in an era that was on the tip of the wave of the so-called social sexual revolution.
1960 - The Sound Of Music original cast started a 16-week run on top of American album charts today, 52 years ago. The star of the musical was popular actress Mary Martin, and this was her inspirational and dignified acceptance speech for her best Actress Tony Award.
1962 - BRIAN EPSTEIN signed with the Beatles, today, taking over as their manager, and beginning to direct their image away from leather jackets and jeans. He led them toward a smarter stage presentation, with matching suits and bows to the audience at the end of their performances. He denies it in the video interview that follows, two years after he took control, but versions from the Beatles show that he did, in fact, stage manage their dress and presentation. The clip is followed by a movie theatre newsreel item a year after he signed them, The Beatles playing at Manchester in the UK.
1975 - THE CARPENTERS went to the top of world charts, today, with their version of The Marvelettes' 1961 hit Please Mr. Postman. The Beatles also did a version of this song on their album, With The Beatles.
1982 - DIANA ROSS sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XVI, today, but believe it or not there was no recording of the event. So, dear reader, in the interest of blog publishing, we went to 1996, when Ms. Ross sang at that Super Bowl, and this is the result.
1992 - GREG MCPHERSON, a music professor at the University of Massachusetts, filed a $21 million lawsuit against New Kids on the Block manager Maurice Starr, today. It was alleged that he was not paid for his work as a producer on the group's Hangin' Tough Live album. McPherson also claimed that the group only sang 20 percent of the album and lipsynched in concert. Against my better judgement, here's a video of the lads in concert...what do you think? After the video, an interview with them in Australia.
1992 - THE INAUGURAL BIG DAY OUT festival took place at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, today. Famously, it featured Nirvana, supported by Beasts of Bourbon, Box The Jesuits, Celibate Rifles, Cosmic Psychos, The Clouds, Club Hoy, Died Pretty, Falling Joys, The Hard Ons with Henry Rollins Hellmen, Massappeal, The Meanies, Smudge, Sound Unlimited Posse, Ratcat, The Village Idiots, Violent Femmes and Yothu Yindi. This is an overviews of the that first Big Day Out, now celebrating 20 years this year.
1936 - Benny Goodman at his nice'n'easy best, with one of the coolest tunes of the swing era, Stompin' At The Savoy. The swing king and his orchestra recorded the classic song 76 years ago today. Here it is, performed by Goodman and his orchestra 32 years ago, at the Aurex Jazz Festival at Budokanin Tokyo, Japan.
1957 - Elvis Presley sings one of his biggest hits, Teddy Bear, released today from the movie, Loving You . Watching this video reinforces why Elvis was such a huge star, huge chick magnet and all in an era that was on the tip of the wave of the so-called social sexual revolution.
1960 - The Sound Of Music original cast started a 16-week run on top of American album charts today, 52 years ago. The star of the musical was popular actress Mary Martin, and this was her inspirational and dignified acceptance speech for her best Actress Tony Award.
1962 - BRIAN EPSTEIN signed with the Beatles, today, taking over as their manager, and beginning to direct their image away from leather jackets and jeans. He led them toward a smarter stage presentation, with matching suits and bows to the audience at the end of their performances. He denies it in the video interview that follows, two years after he took control, but versions from the Beatles show that he did, in fact, stage manage their dress and presentation. The clip is followed by a movie theatre newsreel item a year after he signed them, The Beatles playing at Manchester in the UK.
1975 - THE CARPENTERS went to the top of world charts, today, with their version of The Marvelettes' 1961 hit Please Mr. Postman. The Beatles also did a version of this song on their album, With The Beatles.
1982 - DIANA ROSS sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XVI, today, but believe it or not there was no recording of the event. So, dear reader, in the interest of blog publishing, we went to 1996, when Ms. Ross sang at that Super Bowl, and this is the result.
1992 - GREG MCPHERSON, a music professor at the University of Massachusetts, filed a $21 million lawsuit against New Kids on the Block manager Maurice Starr, today. It was alleged that he was not paid for his work as a producer on the group's Hangin' Tough Live album. McPherson also claimed that the group only sang 20 percent of the album and lipsynched in concert. Against my better judgement, here's a video of the lads in concert...what do you think? After the video, an interview with them in Australia.
1992 - THE INAUGURAL BIG DAY OUT festival took place at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, today. Famously, it featured Nirvana, supported by Beasts of Bourbon, Box The Jesuits, Celibate Rifles, Cosmic Psychos, The Clouds, Club Hoy, Died Pretty, Falling Joys, The Hard Ons with Henry Rollins Hellmen, Massappeal, The Meanies, Smudge, Sound Unlimited Posse, Ratcat, The Village Idiots, Violent Femmes and Yothu Yindi. This is an overviews of the that first Big Day Out, now celebrating 20 years this year.
