Sunday, June 21, 2009

Classic Rock Videos

ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin'

Motown Opens the Voting in the U.S.A. for the Motown 50


Celebrate Motown's 50th anniversary by choosing YOUR top 5 favorites from a selection of the greatest Motown tracks!

Motown has been asking fans to vote for their five favorite songs from the label's first 50 years so that it could be compiled onto a new compilation album. The voting was completed in a number of other countries and releases have been made (Canada's album is riding high on the charts), but the U.S. release's track list has not been determined.

Between now and July 15, you can vote for your favorites over at the Motown 50 site. There are currently 115 tracks specifically listed, but you have the opportunity to write in an unlisted favorite while voting. The U.S. version of the album is due in September.

Based on the fact that Motown has had literally hundreds of songs on the charts over the years, it would seem that it would be necessary to allow write-ins or expand the available list. For example, Stevie Wonder has had almost 50 top forty hits in his career, but the only ones for which you can select on the site are For Once in My Life, I Just Called to Say I Love You, I Wish, Master Blaster, My Cherie Amour, Sir Duke, Superstition, Uptight and You Are the Sunshine of My Life.

The first 50 voters will get a credit on the album and the first 500 will receive a "I Voted! Motown 50" bumper sticker. All voters will be entered into a drawing for a trip to Detroit to visit the Hitsville U.S.A. Motown Museum.

Vote Here!

This Date In Music History-June 21

Birthdays:

Nick Noble ("The Bible Tells Me So") is 73

Brandon Flowers - The Killers (1981)

Michael Einziger – Incubus (1976)

Lee Gaze – Lostprophets (1975)

Ray Davies - The Kinks (1944)

Mark Brzezicki - Big Country (1957)

Born today in 1953, Nils Lofgren, guitar, piano, vocals. He joined Neil Young's band at age 17, playing piano on the album After the Gold Rush. From 1971 to 1974 recorded four albums with his band, Grin. Joined Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band in 1984. And member of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band.

Joey Kramer – Aerosmith (1950)

Greg Munford - Strawberry Alarm Clock (1949)

Joey Molland – Badfinger (1948)

Chris Britton - The Troggs (1945)

Miguel Vicens - Los Bravos (1944)

Porter Howell - Little Texas (1964)


They Are Missed:

In 1980, German orchestra leader and songwriter Bert Kaempfert died (born October 16, 1923). Both Frank Sinatra (“Strangers In The Night”) and Elvis Presley (“Wooden Heart”) covered his songs. Kaempfert released over 50 albums. In 1961, he hired The Beatles to back Tony Sheridan on recording sessions for Polydor, (these were the Beatles' first commercial recordings).

Born today in 1936, O.C. Smith, who had 1968 #1 single “Little Green Apples.” He died on November 23, 2001.

John Lee Hooker, legendary blues singer and guitarist died in his sleep in 2001 at the age of 83. His songs have been covered by many artists including Cream, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison, The Yardbirds, The Doors and The White Stripes. He appeared and sang in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.


History:

Columbia Records began the first mass production of the 33 1/3 RPM LP in 1948.

Jimmy Page made his live debut with The Yardbirds at the Marquee Club, London in 1966.

In 1966, the Beatles recorded from start to finish, a new John Lennon song “She Said She Said.” The song was reportedly based on a bizarre conversation that Lennon had with Peter Fonda while John and George Harrison were tripping on LSD.

In 1955, Johnny Cash released his first single, "Hey Porter/Cry Cry Cry" which went on to sell 100,000 copies.

Bobby Darin recorded "Splish Splash" in 1958. Darin claimed he wrote the ditty in 10minutes.

In 1970, Pete Townshend bad timing of the use of the British slang term, "bomb" drew police and FBI action at the Memphis International Airport. He was overheard saying "'Tommy" seems to be "going down a bomb." That meant it was a hit. Officials, however, only heard the term "bomb" and reacted.

Better late than never - Four and a half years after leaving The Rolling Stones, guitarist Mick Taylor released his first solo LP in 1979.

Soft-rockers Bread played their last show in Salt Lake City in 1973. The band decided to quit after their equipment truck flipped over earlier in the day, destroying over $30,000 worth of gear.

The Beatles opened for Bruce Channel in concert near Liverpool in 1962 (and Bruce's harmonica player, Delbert McLinton, gave John Lennon tips that serve John well later on "Love Me Do").

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker announced the dissolution of Steely Dan in 1981. Of course, Fagen and Becker later re-form the group and even win a Grammy.

Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore quit Deep Purple in 1975 to form his own group Rainbow.

In 1952, "Goin' Home" became the first of nine #1 hits for Fats Domino. It was released on Imperial records. Those nine singles will top the R&B charts for a combined 51 weeks between 1952-59.

Bobby Vee recorded his #1 hit "Take Good Care of My Baby."