January 8, 1960 - EDDIE Cochran's last recording session was held in Hollywood 52 years ago today. Somehow, time has not accorded Eddie Cochran quite the same respect as other early rockabilly pioneers like Buddy Holly, or even Ricky Nelson or Gene Vincent. This is partially attributable to his very brief lifespan as a star: he only had a couple of big hits before dying in a car crash during a British tour in 1960. He was in the same league as the best rockabilly stars, though, with a brash, fat guitar sound that helped lay the groundwork for the power chord. He was also a good songwriter and singer, celebrating the joys of teenage life -- the parties, the music, the adolescent rebellion -- with an economic wit that bore some similarities to Chuck Berry. Cochran was more lighthearted and less ironic than Berry, though, and if his work was less consistent and not as penetrating, it was almost always exuberant. Here are his three best-known songs; C'mon Everybody, Summertime Blues, 20 Flight Rock, the clip taken from one of the best, albeit unintentionally, rock movies, The Girl Can't Help It.
1947 - SHARING the same birth day as Elvis Presley, David Robert Jones was born today, but later changed his name to David Bowie so he wouldn't be confused with the Monkees' Davey Jones. Bowie's eclectic career as actor, record producer and arranger first came into the public domain of the public in July of 1969 when his song Space Oddity reached the UK top five selling records. He has now moved into his fifth decade of being a major music innovator and survivor. And this is his first video of that 1969 hit. Following that, the original video for Life On Mars - before post-production bleaching.
1957 - TODAY is also the birthday of Elvis Presley, who took the U.S. Army pre-induction exam on his 22nd birthday. Just a couple of months later he was getting his hair cut, army-style, as he prepared to join the US army and get shipped off to Germany. For more info and ids on Elvis, go to our archive and use our search engine. Meanwhile, check out this movie theatre news reel.
1965 - THE TV dance show Hullabaloo debuted on NBC, and here are just two of the hundreds of acts who were exposed to American audiences...The Ronettes with a little-known hit, You, Baby. From 47 years ago, also on the debut of Hullabaloo is and The Animals, performing It's My Life, with a rather sexist backdrop - wouldn't get away with it today.
1966 - AS HULLABALOO soared to great heights, its greatest competitor, Shindig, bit the dust, airing its final episode tonight on the ABC TV network in America. The show featured the Kinks, but before that, another Shindig rarity, Booker T And The MGs, featuring a very young Billy Preston.
1973 - AFTER just five years of marriage. on his birthday, Elvis Presley today sued Priscilla Presley for a divorce. And here is a television station's view of it all, nearly 40 years ago, with a compilation video following.
1976 - GRAHAM Parker of Graham Parker & the Rumour signed his first recording contract, and just two years later they had this huge world wide hit, bringing Brit-rock-styled pub rock to the masses. Remember this so-called new wave song?
1981 - JERRY Dammers and Terry Hall of the Specials were fined in London for inciting violence at a concert the previous Autumn. I used to love the Specials, so let's cast back to London's Old Grey Whistle Test tele show and watch The Specials with one of their best and biggest hits.
1947 - SHARING the same birth day as Elvis Presley, David Robert Jones was born today, but later changed his name to David Bowie so he wouldn't be confused with the Monkees' Davey Jones. Bowie's eclectic career as actor, record producer and arranger first came into the public domain of the public in July of 1969 when his song Space Oddity reached the UK top five selling records. He has now moved into his fifth decade of being a major music innovator and survivor. And this is his first video of that 1969 hit. Following that, the original video for Life On Mars - before post-production bleaching.
1957 - TODAY is also the birthday of Elvis Presley, who took the U.S. Army pre-induction exam on his 22nd birthday. Just a couple of months later he was getting his hair cut, army-style, as he prepared to join the US army and get shipped off to Germany. For more info and ids on Elvis, go to our archive and use our search engine. Meanwhile, check out this movie theatre news reel.
1965 - THE TV dance show Hullabaloo debuted on NBC, and here are just two of the hundreds of acts who were exposed to American audiences...The Ronettes with a little-known hit, You, Baby. From 47 years ago, also on the debut of Hullabaloo is and The Animals, performing It's My Life, with a rather sexist backdrop - wouldn't get away with it today.
1966 - AS HULLABALOO soared to great heights, its greatest competitor, Shindig, bit the dust, airing its final episode tonight on the ABC TV network in America. The show featured the Kinks, but before that, another Shindig rarity, Booker T And The MGs, featuring a very young Billy Preston.
1973 - AFTER just five years of marriage. on his birthday, Elvis Presley today sued Priscilla Presley for a divorce. And here is a television station's view of it all, nearly 40 years ago, with a compilation video following.
1976 - GRAHAM Parker of Graham Parker & the Rumour signed his first recording contract, and just two years later they had this huge world wide hit, bringing Brit-rock-styled pub rock to the masses. Remember this so-called new wave song?
1981 - JERRY Dammers and Terry Hall of the Specials were fined in London for inciting violence at a concert the previous Autumn. I used to love the Specials, so let's cast back to London's Old Grey Whistle Test tele show and watch The Specials with one of their best and biggest hits.
