Sunday, August 16, 2009

This Date In Music History-August 16

An unusally busy day in Music History, this is an expanded version of the feature, enjoy and listen to some of the music of the past.

Birthdays:

Robert Lester - The Chi-Lites (1942)
Kevin Ayers - Soft Machine (1945)
Gary Loizzo - American Breed (1945)
Gordon Fleet – Easybeats (1946)
Barry Hay - Golden Earring (1948)
Scott Asheton - Iggy Pop And The Stooges (1949)
Joey Spampinato – NRBQ (1950)
James Taylor - Kool & The Gang (1953)
Kevin Rowland - Dexy's Midnight Runners (1953)
Tim Farriss – INXS (1957)Belinda Carlisle – Go Go’s (1958)
Matt Lukin – Mudhoney (1964)
LL Cool J (1968)
Emily Robinson - Dixie Chicks (1972)
Venessa Carlton (1980)
Bob Hardy - Franz Ferdinand (1980)

Madonna, (Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone) (1958)




They Are Missed:

American blues musician Robert Johnson died at the age of 27 at a country crossroads near Greenwood, Mississippi in 1938. He caught pneumonia after allegedly being poisoned by the jealous husband of one of his many conquests. His recordings from 1936–1937 have influenced generations of musicians including Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton; just to name a few.


In 1977, Elvis Presley was found dead lying on the floor in his bathroom by his girlfriend Ginger Alden, he had been seated on the toilet reading “The Scientific Search For Jesus.” He died of heart failure at the age of 42. His first record for RCA, “Heartbreak Hotel,” was also his first US #1. He starred in 31 films. Elvis holds the record for the most entries on the US Hot 100 chart with 154. Elvis became the first rock 'n' roll artist to be honored by the US Postal Service with a stamp. He is still a legend and loved by millions - what a sad end.





Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan died in 1997 (age 48). He had recorded with Bruce Springsteen Eddie Vedder and Peter Gabriel.

Alan Caddy guitarist with The Tornadoes died in 2000. Caddy also played on sessions and worked on arrangements for Spencer Davis Group, Kiki Dee, Pretty Things and Dusty Springfield.

"Hillbilly jazz" fiddler Vasser Clements died in 2005. The 77-year-old instrumentalist worked with Emmylou Harris, The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt and Kris Kristofferson.


History:

Yodeling cowgirl Patsy Montana recorded "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" in 1935. The record later becomes the first million-selling country single by a female artist.

Booked on a race music tour package because the promoter thought they were black, Buddy Holly & the Crickets played the unlikely venue of the Apollo Theatre in 1957. Also on the bill were the G-Clef's, whose Ted Scott remembered, "People were saying, 'What is this?' and I think Buddy and his group were shaken by playing in a black theater in a black territory. But he was a different kind of white act - he did a lot of jumping around - and really put on a good show."

In 1962, Little Stevie Wonder, (age 12), released his first single, “I Call It Pretty Music, (But The Old People Call It The Blues),” the single featured Marvin Gaye on drums.

Also in 1962 - Ringo Starr was picked to replace Pete Best as the drummer for the Beatles. Best had been with the group for about 2 1/2 years.

The Monkees' first single, "Last Train to Clarksville," was released in 1966.

In Blackpool, England, in 1964, the Beatles played a concert supported by the High Numbers. The High Numbers later become the Who.

The Jackson Five made their formal debut with Diana Ross and The Supremes at the Great Western Forum, California in 1968.

Working at Abbey Road studios in 1968, The Beatles recorded 14 takes of the new George Harrison song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” taking the song from its early acoustic version into an electric version.

In 1968, Bruce Springsteen’s new band Earth made their live debut at the Off Broad Street Coffee House in Red Bank, New Jersey.

In 1969, during a North American tour Led Zeppelin appeared at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park with Joe Cocker as support. Zeppelin had been asked to perform at Woodstock but due to this gig commitment they were unable to attend. And down the road Bruce Springsteen’s band Child played the first of two shows over two days at the Student Prince, Ashbury Park. Springsteen was also unable to attend Woodstock due to these gigs.

The Who and Janis Joplin performed at the Woodstock Festival in Bethel, N.Y. in 1969. During the Who's set, Abbie Hoffman leaps onstage to protest something or other, but Pete Townshend is having none of it. He clobbers the activist with his electric guitar. Townshend later explains he had no idea who Abbie Hoffman was.




In 1974,the Ramones played their first show at CBGB's in New York's Bowery district.

Peter Gabriel announced he was leaving Genesis to go solo in 1975.

The biggest single of the summer of 1979 was The Knack's "My Sharona," which goes gold. The success of the group was the gimmick of Beatle-esque posturing which the group treats as tounge-in-cheek. The Knack disbanded less than two years later.

Madonna started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1986 with “Papa Don't Preach,” her fourth US #1, & # 1 in the UK. Also on this day Madonna went to #1on the US album chart with 'True Blue'.

In 1997, on the 20th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death over 30,000 fans descended on Memphis Tennessee for a 10-minute mourning circuit circling his grave. A poll found that almost a third of the fans were keeping an eye out for him in the crowd. See the story in the Enquirer for details…..

In 2005, the artist formerly known as Sean Combs, then Sean "Puffy" Combs, then Puff Daddy, and currently as P. Diddy announced he is changing his name to "Diddy." The name change to Diddy upset Richard "Diddy" Dearlove, a London based DJ who took out court proceedings against P Diddy over the use of the name. He won when an out of court settlement of £110,000 was agreed and as a result, Combs is no longer be able to use the name Diddy in the UK. I used to be Robert ‘Diddy’ Benson…. Just call me Robert....

In 2007, a fan of the 1980s pop band Wham! was silenced after becoming the first noise nuisance to be prosecuted by Newcastle city council's night watch team. Brian Turner had tormented neighbors by playing their hit song ‘Last Christmas’ all night at full volume from 1 am onwards. Magistrates fined Turner, of Sandyford, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, £200 and ordered him to pay £215 costs. Good thing he wasn’t playing Tiny Tim.

Music News & Notes

SCORPIONS Frontman To Guest On New AVANTASIA Album

SCORPIONS vocalist Klaus Meine has recorded a duet with EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet for the forthcoming album from Tobias' AVANTASIA project.

Commented Tobias: "We played a couple of shows with the SCORPIONS here and there and they are not only the biggest and greatest rock band ever to emerge from Germany, they are also cool rock 'n' roll people who are aware of what's going on in the world of heavy guitars. Lately, we played Bulgaria together, EDGUY and the SCORPIONS, and I watched their full show from onstage. They kicked serious ass! Rudolf (Schenker) did some cool guitar work on the previous [AVANTASIA] record, and now Klaus is on the forthcoming one. He has done a superb job, he opens his mouth and you immediately hear it's that cutting voice that has sung 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' and 'Blackout'! The track we did together is an anthemic mid-tempo tune, big choir chorus. And I am still speechless thinking of Klaus' performance. He is a real pro and he would still blow away 99% of all us rock singers with a quarter of his left lung. People, get ready for a monster song!"

Other musicians who are scheduled to appear on the forthcoming AVANTASIA album include powerhouse Norwegian vocalist Jorn Lande (MASTERPLAN, ARK, MILLENIUM, VAGABOND, THE SNAKES) and acclaimed drummers Eric Singer (KISS, ALICE COOPER, BLACK SABBATH) and Alex Holzwarth (RHAPSODY OF FIRE, ANGRA, SIEGES EVEN.

The most recent album from AVANTASIA, "The Scarecrow", was one of the 20 best-selling albums in whole Europe during the fourth week of January 2008, according to a press release.

"The Scarecrow" was released on January 25, 2008 as a standard CD as well as rare picture (double) vinyl. It features a long list of guest musicians, including Bob Catley, ex-MASTERPLAN frontman Jorn Lande, ex-HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske, Alice Cooper, KISS drummer Eric Singer, SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker and GAMMA RAY's Kai Hansen. The album produced a Top 10 German hit single, "Lost In Space", and entered the national charts in 15 countries, with the CD landing in the Top 10 in four countries.

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Video for NEIL NATHAN Re-styling of ELO's "DO YA" Released !

MUSIC NEWS - NJ born alt-folk singer, Neil Nathan has just released a new video for his folky cover of ELO's hit single 'DoYa.' His version will featured on the Califonication Season 2 Soundtrack (out August 19th via Lionsgate Records, order below thru MNN) alongside Sheryl Crow and Nick Cave. Neil was thrilled to get Jeff Lynne's approval for the show! Watch the video, directed by Brian Goodwin, below.

Neil's forthcoming debut LP, The Distance Calls, (on Pirate Vinyl) features musicians from The Dead Weather, Queens of The Stone Age, Kid Rock, Detroit Cobras and The Go.

Michael Fremer Review

I am very proud to continue our new feature (look for this every Friday), music reviews that are written by the senior contributing editor of Stereophile magazine- Michael Fremer. It has been a pleasure to speak with Michael and learn more about audio sound and equipment. In fact, his new DVD, "It's A Vinyl World, After All" has hit the shelves and is selling out very quickly. This is a must have for anybody who loves vinyl, it is a true masterpiece.

Additionally, make sure to stop by his site, www.musicangle.com and bookmark it for further exploration. I certainly want to thank Michael for the exclusive rights to reprint his fantastic material.



Billie Holiday (reissue)
Music for Torching
Clef/Speakers Corner MG C-669

Produced by: Norma Granz
Engineered by: N/A
Mixed by: N/A
Mastered by: Maarten de Boer at UMG Berliner











Review by: Michael Fremer
2009-08-01


This summer of 1955 set probably recorded at United in Los Angeles August 23rd and 25th 1955 just a few days after a successful Hollywood Bowl appearance finds Holiday covering standards in fine voice backed up a great small combo.

Holliday (born Eleanora Fagan) covers “I Don’t Want to Cry Anymore,” “It Had to Be You,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “A Fine Romance” and some others taken at a slow, summer’s eve pace, with both musical feet firmly set in the 1940s but with hi-fidelity sonics.

The backing musicians, including Harry “Sweets” Edison on trumpet, Benny Carter on alto and tenor sax, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Barney Kessel on guitar, John Simmons on bass and Larry Bunker on bass, provide exceptionally sympathetic support for Holiday’s sensual renderings of these introspective romantic musings.

From the photos on the jacket it’s obvious that the then 40 year old Holiday had lost her youthful sexual allure to both natural aging and substance abuse and was getting a bit jowly, but she still looked involved and invigorated and certainly what poured forth from her vocal cords was, with her upper registers still vibrant if just a bit scratchy.

The fine performances here, with her voice still relatively supple and expressive, make the vocal devastation that would render her second to final full album Lady in Satin (Columbia CS 8048), recorded just three years later, such a difficult listen.

Four years after this album Holiday would be gone. Between Holiday’s sophisticated interpretations, the compact, sympathetic arrangements and precise performances, and the “birth of hi-fi” sonics, this is an album that will bring repeated pleasure. A minor gem and highly recommended.

SOURCE: http://www.musicangle.com Reprinted By Permission

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