By Robert Benson
The hard-rocking group “Freedom and Whiskey” has added a new voice to their arsenal, the husky growl and presence of vocalist Mark Hoeskstra. Add to that, the guitar prowess of ex- Days of the New guitarist Chuck Mingus, blend in the exceptional bass lines of Bill Goins, the stalwart skin work of drummer Mike Huettig and you have a recipe for an iconic rock and roll band that any hard-rocking American would be proud of.
Their third CD, “Super Real,” is a full and complete recipe of pure, masterful rock, blues and acoustic gems. Adeptly mixing their influences such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Skynyrd, Collective Soul and ZZ Top, among many others, has this Louisville, Kentucky foursome catching listener’s ears nationwide.The cuts on the CD are tightly structured, classic rock jams with elements of a unique freshness that has MySpace and other online venues clamoring for more. The cut, “The Road,” is a hard-rocking lament to life on the road complete with a love torn chorus. The title cut, “Super Real” can remind some of the rapid-fire guitar prowess of Ted Nugent mixed with ZZ top riffolgy and details just how hard the band can rock. “Whiskey State Of Mind” is a unique southern rock anthem, ala the Allman Brothers Band, but with Zeppelin-like riffs and ZZ Top energy augmented by a supreme harmonica solo.
If your musical palette includes the blues, Freedom and Whiskey takes you down the blues road with the cut “Sellavision Blues.” A socially conscious number about the perils of the tube, the cut has Tragically Hip-like vocals and a lead guitar solo that will have ‘air guitarists’ breaking their fingers trying to keep up with Mingus’s passionate fingers and style. The cut “Freedom” is one that would belong on any Zeppelin play list, with classic acoustics and a guitar solo blended in with a modern rock punch. Another song, “Running Blind” is a precise acoustic ballad with Floyd-like guitar work meshing with the vocals as if in harmony. “For No Good Reason,” is an AC/DC type cut but with Freedom and Whiskey’s distinctive stamp on it, complete with a blues harmonica solo and raucous backing vocals.
Other cuts only exemplify just how much the band can rock and even the slower cuts are full of passion and poignant lyrics. The band can play slow, melodic numbers such as “August,” that has references to the perils we have all faced or the acoustic Floyd-like instrumental “Green.”
These veteran rockers have proved to be innovative, articulate and this cohesive, sophisticated CD will be heard years from now, as it is a masterful voice for this unique and hard-rocking quartet.
Freedom and Whiskey are:
Mark Hoekstra - Lead Vocals / Harmonica
Bill Goins - Bass Guitar / Lead Vocals / Backing Vocals
Mike Huettig- Drums / Backing Vocals
Chuck Mingis - Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals
Visit the band:
www.ilike2rock.net/members/11/
www.myspace.com/freedomandwhiskey
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Lisa Dames
By Robert Benson
Can a forty-year old housewife from Greensboro, NC make a name for herself and compete with the country icons that dominate country music these days? You can if your name is Lisa Dames. With the determination of a twenty-year old, this rising country music star has and is working hard to establish herself in the country music world.
Her first single, “Just Another Day,” is full of real-life lyrics and is a slow tempo ditty that explodes into a full-bore country rocker that would be at home on any country radio play list. In fact, the single reached #56 on the Music Row chart with over 7,000 spins on over 43 radio stations nationwide. Additionally, the video for “Just Another Day,” made its debut on national television on GAC’s “Positively Country” and has been added to CMT.com’s website.
Another cut called “Your Love,” is full of playful acoustics, rapid-fire lyrics and blended in perfectly with a rhythmic country flavor, sort of a Shiana Twain-like romp. Her second single, the banjo/violin laced “I’d Leave Me” is a perfect compliment to her country mystique, with tongue-in-cheek lyrical content and impeccable backing vocals. The cut, “No One Like Me,” is an introspective lament about what comes first in Lisa’s life-family and is passionately sang and expertly played. The ‘no regrets’ lyrical content emulates an exhilarating sweetness and is what I consider her signature ballad.
So from her constant touring that says to the world of country music, I am here!; Lisa Dames is slowly but surely making the world of country music her own musical haven. Working with Grammy nominated producer David Grow, and blending in her consistently inventive musicianship, Lisa Dames IS here, right alongside the top female country music superstars!
Visit Lisa Dames and Hear Her Music:
www.ilike2rock.net/members/29/audio.php
www.lisadames.com
www.myspace.com/lisadames
Can a forty-year old housewife from Greensboro, NC make a name for herself and compete with the country icons that dominate country music these days? You can if your name is Lisa Dames. With the determination of a twenty-year old, this rising country music star has and is working hard to establish herself in the country music world.
Her first single, “Just Another Day,” is full of real-life lyrics and is a slow tempo ditty that explodes into a full-bore country rocker that would be at home on any country radio play list. In fact, the single reached #56 on the Music Row chart with over 7,000 spins on over 43 radio stations nationwide. Additionally, the video for “Just Another Day,” made its debut on national television on GAC’s “Positively Country” and has been added to CMT.com’s website.
Another cut called “Your Love,” is full of playful acoustics, rapid-fire lyrics and blended in perfectly with a rhythmic country flavor, sort of a Shiana Twain-like romp. Her second single, the banjo/violin laced “I’d Leave Me” is a perfect compliment to her country mystique, with tongue-in-cheek lyrical content and impeccable backing vocals. The cut, “No One Like Me,” is an introspective lament about what comes first in Lisa’s life-family and is passionately sang and expertly played. The ‘no regrets’ lyrical content emulates an exhilarating sweetness and is what I consider her signature ballad.
So from her constant touring that says to the world of country music, I am here!; Lisa Dames is slowly but surely making the world of country music her own musical haven. Working with Grammy nominated producer David Grow, and blending in her consistently inventive musicianship, Lisa Dames IS here, right alongside the top female country music superstars!
Visit Lisa Dames and Hear Her Music:
www.ilike2rock.net/members/29/audio.php
www.lisadames.com
www.myspace.com/lisadames
20 Biggest Record Company Screw-Ups of All Time
This is from the pages of www.blender.com:
From turning down the Beatles to stomping Napster— the most ill-advised, foolhardy and downright idiotic decisions ever made by The Man.
written by Jon Dolan, Josh Eells, Fred Goodman
Blender March 11 2008
They Never Even Recouped Their Aqua Net Expenses
#20 As grunge dawns, one label bets on hair metal
In 1989, with hair metal reaching its zenith, the A&R department at MCA Records finally decided to get in on the act—by tossing a rumored $1 million at L.A. band Pretty Boy Floyd, who at the time had played only eight shows. The band’s debut, Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz, peaked at No. 130 on the Billboard charts, and the Floyd blew another mil or so of MCA’s money before the label finally dropped them in 1991 … right around the time the suits blew a chance to sign a fledgling Seattle outfit called Nirvana.
Unintended consequence Around 1992, the Sunset Strip pizza-delivery scene gets a fresh infusion of talent.
The Vinyl Solution
#19 The industry kills the single—and begins its own slow demise
In the early ’80s, the music industry began to phase out vinyl singles in favor of cassettes and later, CDs. Then, since it costs the same to manufacture a CD single as a full album, they ditched the format almost altogether. But they forgot that singles were how fans got into the music-buying habit before they had enough money to spend on albums. The end result? Kids who expect music for free. “Greed to force consumers to buy an album [resulted] in the loss of an entire generation of record consumers,” says Billboard charts expert Joel Whitburn. “People who could only afford to buy their favorite hit of the week were told it wasn’t available as a single. Instead, they stopped going to record shops and turned their attention to illegally downloading songs.”
Unintended consequence The Eagles still top the album charts.
Come Back, Kid
#18 BMG dumps Clive Davis, begs him to return
In 2000, when company retirement policy deemed Clive Davis too old to run Arista, the label he’d founded 25 years earlier, he was pushed out the door in favor of Antonio “L.A.” Reid. After loud public complaints from artists including Whitney Houston and Carlos Santana, parent company BMG was shamed into giving Davis a nice going-away present—his own label, J Records, along with a $150 million bankroll. Ironically, while J spawned hits from Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross and Rod Stewart, Arista reportedly chalked up hundreds of millions in losses. In 2002, BMG forked over another $50 million to buy J, then two years later ousted Reid and hired a new CEO of BMG North America: an ambitious young turk named Clive Davis
Unintended consequence Rod Stewart’s The Great American Songbook, Volumes I-IV
Dim Bulb
#17 Thomas Edison disses jazz, industry standards
America’s most famous inventor, and the creator of the phonograph, also had his own record label: National Phonograph Company, later Edison Records. Naturally, it was the biggest one around at first but made two fatal errors. One was that Edison Records worked only on Edison’s players, while other manufacturers’ conformed to the industry standard and worked interchangeably. The other was that Edison let his personal taste govern Edison releases—and he hated jazz: “I always play jazz records backwards,” he sniffed. “They sound better that way.” So after releasing the world’s first jazz recording—Collins and Harlan’s “That Funny Jas Band From Dixieland”—the company spurned the craze in favor of waltzes and foxtrots. Edison Records folded in October 1929.
Unintended consequence Edison adds “tin-eared A&R” to his list of inventions.
Double Jeopardy
#16 Warner pays for Wilco record twice
When Wilco handed over their album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot to Reprise in June 2001, acting label boss David Kahne—best known for producing Sugar Ray albums—reportedly thought it was “so bad it would kill Wilco’s career.” The band refused to make changes, so Reprise handed them their walking papers—and the masters to the album. A few months later, Wilco signed with Nonesuch, which, like Reprise, was a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, meaning that after shelling out roughly $300,000 to make YHF in the first place, the corporation was now paying for it again. The record remains Wilco’s best seller to date.
Unintended consequence Jeff Tweedy’s poetry collection is published in 2004.
Money For Nothing
#15 MCA’s teen-pop calamity
How sure was MCA that slinky Irish teen Carly Hennessy was going to be a gargantuan pop star? So sure that in 1999 they staked the former Denny’s sausage spokesmodel with a $100,000 advance, $5,000 a month in living expenses and an apartment in Marina Del Rey, California, spending roughly $2.2 million in all on her 2001 debut, Ultimate High. How wrong were they? In its first three months in stores, Ultimate High sold a whopping 378 copies, putting the label’s investment somewhere in the order of $5,820 per copy sold. Last seen, Hennessy had resurfaced—still looking for her big break—on season seven of American Idol.
Unintended consequence “Sausage spokesmodel” proves a less embarrassing resumé entry than expected.
Always Read The Fine … Oh, Never Mind
#14 Stax Records unintentionally gives away the store
Soul fans can credit Memphis’s Stax Records for classic hits by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Booker T & the M.G.’s—but the real winner was Atlantic. In 1960, Atlantic partner Jerry Wexler liked one of Stax’s first releases enough to pay label president Jim Stewart $1,000 to lease it, and Atlantic soon contracted to market and distribute all Stax releases. Seven years later, with Stax reeling from Redding’s death, Stewart finally took a close look at the Atlantic contract and discovered he’d been bamboozled: Contrary to industry practice, Atlantic became the owner of any Stax release it handled. Stax had signed away its catalogue and future.
Unintended consequence Bob Dole flips “Soul Man” into “Dole Man” during his ’96 presidential campaign.
The Last Of The Mega-Deals
#13 One label’s big spending single-handedly ends “alt-rock” boom
In 1996, Warner Bros. signed R.E.M. to a five-album contract for a reported $80 million. It was the most costly record deal in history and elicited one of the lowest returns. Warner needed R.E.M. to sell at least 3 million copies of all five records to come out in the black, but sleepy folk-rock albums like 1998’s Up moved a fifth of that. The execs went further into the hole by allowing R.E.M. to keep the masters of all their Warner releases, forfeiting future revenues generated by the band’s popular ’80s and early-’90s discs. No one knows how much the label lost—but the debacle brought to a close an era in which acts known for their “integrity” could score huge paydays.
Unintended consequence Warner executives still hoping “Daysleeper” makes it on to The Hills soundtrack.
Axl Grease
#12 Geffen pumps millions into (the nonexistent) Chinese Democracy
Ten years ago, Guns N’ Roses still looked like a good investment—they’d gone platinum 32 times. So in 1998, Geffen Records could be forgiven for paying Axl Rose a million bucks to complete GNR’s fifth album, promising a million more if he delivered it soon. (Rose had already spent four years working on the LP, losing every original bandmate in the process.) Beset by perfectionism, lack of focus and plain-old nuttiness, Rose never got that bonus million. But his label kept spending: In 2001, monthly expenses totaled $244,000. Four producers and a gazillion guitar overdubs later, the album is no closer to release. And Geffen’s in the red for $13 million.
Unintended consequence A frustrated Rose gets into a well-publicized fistfight with … Tommy Hilfiger!
Just Be Yourself—Or Else
#11 Geffen sues Neil Young for making “unrepresentative” music
At the dawn of the ’80s, David Geffen signed Neil Young to his new record label, promising that “commercial” considerations would never get in the way of art. Young took this to heart, wandering so far off the reservation with albums like 1983’s synth-driven Trans that Geffen filed a $3 million breach-of-contract suit: effectively charging the folk-rock icon with not making “Neil Young” records. Young filed a $21 million countersuit before settling out of court, but remained somewhat bemused by Geffen’s judgment: “He didn’t seem to comprehend how … uh, diverse my musical career had become,” Young said.
Unintended consequence Young’s Happy House and Tejano albums remain on the shelf.
Look for 1-10 in tomorrow's post!!
From turning down the Beatles to stomping Napster— the most ill-advised, foolhardy and downright idiotic decisions ever made by The Man.
written by Jon Dolan, Josh Eells, Fred Goodman
Blender March 11 2008
They Never Even Recouped Their Aqua Net Expenses
#20 As grunge dawns, one label bets on hair metal
In 1989, with hair metal reaching its zenith, the A&R department at MCA Records finally decided to get in on the act—by tossing a rumored $1 million at L.A. band Pretty Boy Floyd, who at the time had played only eight shows. The band’s debut, Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz, peaked at No. 130 on the Billboard charts, and the Floyd blew another mil or so of MCA’s money before the label finally dropped them in 1991 … right around the time the suits blew a chance to sign a fledgling Seattle outfit called Nirvana.
Unintended consequence Around 1992, the Sunset Strip pizza-delivery scene gets a fresh infusion of talent.
The Vinyl Solution
#19 The industry kills the single—and begins its own slow demise
In the early ’80s, the music industry began to phase out vinyl singles in favor of cassettes and later, CDs. Then, since it costs the same to manufacture a CD single as a full album, they ditched the format almost altogether. But they forgot that singles were how fans got into the music-buying habit before they had enough money to spend on albums. The end result? Kids who expect music for free. “Greed to force consumers to buy an album [resulted] in the loss of an entire generation of record consumers,” says Billboard charts expert Joel Whitburn. “People who could only afford to buy their favorite hit of the week were told it wasn’t available as a single. Instead, they stopped going to record shops and turned their attention to illegally downloading songs.”
Unintended consequence The Eagles still top the album charts.
Come Back, Kid
#18 BMG dumps Clive Davis, begs him to return
In 2000, when company retirement policy deemed Clive Davis too old to run Arista, the label he’d founded 25 years earlier, he was pushed out the door in favor of Antonio “L.A.” Reid. After loud public complaints from artists including Whitney Houston and Carlos Santana, parent company BMG was shamed into giving Davis a nice going-away present—his own label, J Records, along with a $150 million bankroll. Ironically, while J spawned hits from Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross and Rod Stewart, Arista reportedly chalked up hundreds of millions in losses. In 2002, BMG forked over another $50 million to buy J, then two years later ousted Reid and hired a new CEO of BMG North America: an ambitious young turk named Clive Davis
Unintended consequence Rod Stewart’s The Great American Songbook, Volumes I-IV
Dim Bulb
#17 Thomas Edison disses jazz, industry standards
America’s most famous inventor, and the creator of the phonograph, also had his own record label: National Phonograph Company, later Edison Records. Naturally, it was the biggest one around at first but made two fatal errors. One was that Edison Records worked only on Edison’s players, while other manufacturers’ conformed to the industry standard and worked interchangeably. The other was that Edison let his personal taste govern Edison releases—and he hated jazz: “I always play jazz records backwards,” he sniffed. “They sound better that way.” So after releasing the world’s first jazz recording—Collins and Harlan’s “That Funny Jas Band From Dixieland”—the company spurned the craze in favor of waltzes and foxtrots. Edison Records folded in October 1929.
Unintended consequence Edison adds “tin-eared A&R” to his list of inventions.
Double Jeopardy
#16 Warner pays for Wilco record twice
When Wilco handed over their album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot to Reprise in June 2001, acting label boss David Kahne—best known for producing Sugar Ray albums—reportedly thought it was “so bad it would kill Wilco’s career.” The band refused to make changes, so Reprise handed them their walking papers—and the masters to the album. A few months later, Wilco signed with Nonesuch, which, like Reprise, was a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, meaning that after shelling out roughly $300,000 to make YHF in the first place, the corporation was now paying for it again. The record remains Wilco’s best seller to date.
Unintended consequence Jeff Tweedy’s poetry collection is published in 2004.
Money For Nothing
#15 MCA’s teen-pop calamity
How sure was MCA that slinky Irish teen Carly Hennessy was going to be a gargantuan pop star? So sure that in 1999 they staked the former Denny’s sausage spokesmodel with a $100,000 advance, $5,000 a month in living expenses and an apartment in Marina Del Rey, California, spending roughly $2.2 million in all on her 2001 debut, Ultimate High. How wrong were they? In its first three months in stores, Ultimate High sold a whopping 378 copies, putting the label’s investment somewhere in the order of $5,820 per copy sold. Last seen, Hennessy had resurfaced—still looking for her big break—on season seven of American Idol.
Unintended consequence “Sausage spokesmodel” proves a less embarrassing resumé entry than expected.
Always Read The Fine … Oh, Never Mind
#14 Stax Records unintentionally gives away the store
Soul fans can credit Memphis’s Stax Records for classic hits by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Booker T & the M.G.’s—but the real winner was Atlantic. In 1960, Atlantic partner Jerry Wexler liked one of Stax’s first releases enough to pay label president Jim Stewart $1,000 to lease it, and Atlantic soon contracted to market and distribute all Stax releases. Seven years later, with Stax reeling from Redding’s death, Stewart finally took a close look at the Atlantic contract and discovered he’d been bamboozled: Contrary to industry practice, Atlantic became the owner of any Stax release it handled. Stax had signed away its catalogue and future.
Unintended consequence Bob Dole flips “Soul Man” into “Dole Man” during his ’96 presidential campaign.
The Last Of The Mega-Deals
#13 One label’s big spending single-handedly ends “alt-rock” boom
In 1996, Warner Bros. signed R.E.M. to a five-album contract for a reported $80 million. It was the most costly record deal in history and elicited one of the lowest returns. Warner needed R.E.M. to sell at least 3 million copies of all five records to come out in the black, but sleepy folk-rock albums like 1998’s Up moved a fifth of that. The execs went further into the hole by allowing R.E.M. to keep the masters of all their Warner releases, forfeiting future revenues generated by the band’s popular ’80s and early-’90s discs. No one knows how much the label lost—but the debacle brought to a close an era in which acts known for their “integrity” could score huge paydays.
Unintended consequence Warner executives still hoping “Daysleeper” makes it on to The Hills soundtrack.
Axl Grease
#12 Geffen pumps millions into (the nonexistent) Chinese Democracy
Ten years ago, Guns N’ Roses still looked like a good investment—they’d gone platinum 32 times. So in 1998, Geffen Records could be forgiven for paying Axl Rose a million bucks to complete GNR’s fifth album, promising a million more if he delivered it soon. (Rose had already spent four years working on the LP, losing every original bandmate in the process.) Beset by perfectionism, lack of focus and plain-old nuttiness, Rose never got that bonus million. But his label kept spending: In 2001, monthly expenses totaled $244,000. Four producers and a gazillion guitar overdubs later, the album is no closer to release. And Geffen’s in the red for $13 million.
Unintended consequence A frustrated Rose gets into a well-publicized fistfight with … Tommy Hilfiger!
Just Be Yourself—Or Else
#11 Geffen sues Neil Young for making “unrepresentative” music
At the dawn of the ’80s, David Geffen signed Neil Young to his new record label, promising that “commercial” considerations would never get in the way of art. Young took this to heart, wandering so far off the reservation with albums like 1983’s synth-driven Trans that Geffen filed a $3 million breach-of-contract suit: effectively charging the folk-rock icon with not making “Neil Young” records. Young filed a $21 million countersuit before settling out of court, but remained somewhat bemused by Geffen’s judgment: “He didn’t seem to comprehend how … uh, diverse my musical career had become,” Young said.
Unintended consequence Young’s Happy House and Tejano albums remain on the shelf.
Look for 1-10 in tomorrow's post!!
Monday, March 24, 2008
This Day In Music History- March 24
The O'Jays hit #1 with "Love Train" in 1973 and the song has been reborn in a beer commercial.
The late Billy Stewart ("Summertime") was born in 1937.
Nick Lowe ("Cruel To Be Kind") and a member of Rockpile turns 59.
Dave Appell of the Applejacks ("Mexican Hat Rock") is 86.
The late Nervous Norvus ("Transfusion"-- real name is Jimmy Drake) was born in 1912.
Private Elvis Presley (serial number US53310761) was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1958.
Future Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards made their professional stage debut with the group called Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys at a club in Ealing, England in 1962.
In 2001, "Duane Allman Boulevard" was dedicated in Macon, Georgia, near where he died in a motorcycle crash.
Freddie & the Dreamers' "Do The Freddie" was released in 1965 and set off yet another silly dance craze.
Today the song "Tragedy" by Bee Gees topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks in 1979.
50s and early ‘60s guitar great Duane Eddy rumbled on to the earth in 1938.
In 1966, the New York Assembly makes the sale of unauthorized recordings, known as bootlegs, a misdemeanor.
In 1945, Billboard Magazine published their first album chart with
"A Collection of Favorites" named as #1.
In 1963, the Beatles were the opening act for American Pop stars Chris Montez and Tommy Roe in the quartet's hometown of Liverpool, England.
In 1966, the Beatles posed with mutilated and butchered dolls for the cover of the album, "Yesterday and Today". After a public outcry, the L.P. was pulled from stores and re-issued with a new cover.
In 1992, a Chicago judge settled the Milli-Vanilli class-action suit by approving cash rebates of up to $3 to anyone proving they bought the group's music before November 27, 1990, the date the lip synching scandal broke. Arista Records and its parent, BMG, paid out more than $400,000. About 80,000 claims were filed, most of them by people who bought compact discs.
57 year old Harold Melvin, leader of the Philadelphia Soul group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, died of heart related problems on March 24th 1997. The group is remembered for their 1972, #3 hit, "If You Don't Know Me By Now.”
Rod Price, a founding member of Foghat, died in 2005 after falling down a stairway at his home. The 57 year old guitarist was with the band for three platinum and eight gold records, including their highest charting US single "Slow Ride" in 1976.
During a show in Buffalo, NY, in 1973, a fan bites Lou Reed on the butt. The assailant shouts "Leather" before security hauls him away. (he must like ‘butt’ roast’)
Billy Stewart, the dynamic soul belter who scored a hit with "Summertime," was born in Washington, D.C. in 1937.
The late Billy Stewart ("Summertime") was born in 1937.
Nick Lowe ("Cruel To Be Kind") and a member of Rockpile turns 59.
Dave Appell of the Applejacks ("Mexican Hat Rock") is 86.
The late Nervous Norvus ("Transfusion"-- real name is Jimmy Drake) was born in 1912.
Private Elvis Presley (serial number US53310761) was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1958.
Future Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards made their professional stage debut with the group called Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys at a club in Ealing, England in 1962.
In 2001, "Duane Allman Boulevard" was dedicated in Macon, Georgia, near where he died in a motorcycle crash.
Freddie & the Dreamers' "Do The Freddie" was released in 1965 and set off yet another silly dance craze.
Today the song "Tragedy" by Bee Gees topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks in 1979.
50s and early ‘60s guitar great Duane Eddy rumbled on to the earth in 1938.
In 1966, the New York Assembly makes the sale of unauthorized recordings, known as bootlegs, a misdemeanor.
In 1945, Billboard Magazine published their first album chart with
"A Collection of Favorites" named as #1.
In 1963, the Beatles were the opening act for American Pop stars Chris Montez and Tommy Roe in the quartet's hometown of Liverpool, England.
In 1966, the Beatles posed with mutilated and butchered dolls for the cover of the album, "Yesterday and Today". After a public outcry, the L.P. was pulled from stores and re-issued with a new cover.
In 1992, a Chicago judge settled the Milli-Vanilli class-action suit by approving cash rebates of up to $3 to anyone proving they bought the group's music before November 27, 1990, the date the lip synching scandal broke. Arista Records and its parent, BMG, paid out more than $400,000. About 80,000 claims were filed, most of them by people who bought compact discs.
57 year old Harold Melvin, leader of the Philadelphia Soul group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, died of heart related problems on March 24th 1997. The group is remembered for their 1972, #3 hit, "If You Don't Know Me By Now.”
Rod Price, a founding member of Foghat, died in 2005 after falling down a stairway at his home. The 57 year old guitarist was with the band for three platinum and eight gold records, including their highest charting US single "Slow Ride" in 1976.
During a show in Buffalo, NY, in 1973, a fan bites Lou Reed on the butt. The assailant shouts "Leather" before security hauls him away. (he must like ‘butt’ roast’)
Billy Stewart, the dynamic soul belter who scored a hit with "Summertime," was born in Washington, D.C. in 1937.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
This Day In Music History- March 22
Tom Petty forms Mudcrutch in Gainesville, Florida in 1970. Guitarist Mike Campbell joins the same year and keyboardist Benmont Tench signs on in 1973.
'Apostrophe,' Frank Zappa's highest-charting album, was released in 1974. It reached #10 and became Zappa's second consecutive gold album.
In 1975, 'Physical Graffiti,' a double album by Led Zeppelin, reached #1 in its second week of release. It stayed there for six weeks.
"Another Brick in the Wall," by Pink Floyd, topped the singles charts for the first of four weeks in 1980. It is their second and final Top Forty single in the US.
Jeremy Clyde of Chad & Jeremy ("Summer Song") is 64.
Mark Dinning, who scored a US number one hit in 1960 with "Teen Angel", died of a heart attack on March 22nd at the age of 52. The song had been written by his sister, Jeannie. Although he never had another hit, Mark continued performing throughout the 1960s, but felt his lack of success was because, "groups were in and singles were out", once the British Invasion started.
Dave Guard of the Kingston Trio ("Tom Dooly") died of lymphoma, in 1991. The Kingston Trio had 17 chart singles and nine gold albums between 1958 and 1963.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their "bed-in for peace" in Amsterdam in 1969.
Elvis Presley's "Easy Come, Easy Go" movie opened in 1967.
Bob Dylan's first electric album, "Bring It All Back Home" was released in 1965.
Today in 1986, the song "These Dreams" by Heart topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
In 1997, Paul McCartney's birth certificate was sold to a bidder for Beatles memorabilia for $84,146.
The Police were signed to A&M Records in 1978.
The Who played their first American live gig at New York's Paramount Theater in 1967.
Jazz guitarist George Benson was born in Pittsburgh in 1943. He shares a birthday with Yardbird singer and harmonica player Keith Relf, who is also born today in Richmond, England.
Coral Records hired original rock DJ Alan Freed as their A&R man in 1955.
1958 - Hank Williams Jr. made his stage debut in Swainsboro, GA, at the age of eight.( and it wasn't on MNF, which wasn't on the air back then)
The Beatles' first album, "Please Please Me," was released in the U.K. in 1963.
In 1978, the BBC airs “The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash.” It’s the ultimate (and very funny) Beatles parody. (and actually contains some great music as well!)
Franki Valli returned to the US Top 40 for the first time in nearly seven years in 1975 when "My Eyes Adored You" went to number one. The song was originally titled "Blue Eyes In Georgia" by its writers, Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, but Valli altered the lyrics to suit himself.
Diana Ross' first solo album for RCA, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" goes platinum less than three months after its release in 1982.
In 2001, Earl Beal of the Philadelphia vocal group The Silhouettes died at the age of 76. The group topped the Billboard chart in 1958 with "Get A Job".
'Apostrophe,' Frank Zappa's highest-charting album, was released in 1974. It reached #10 and became Zappa's second consecutive gold album.
In 1975, 'Physical Graffiti,' a double album by Led Zeppelin, reached #1 in its second week of release. It stayed there for six weeks.
"Another Brick in the Wall," by Pink Floyd, topped the singles charts for the first of four weeks in 1980. It is their second and final Top Forty single in the US.
Jeremy Clyde of Chad & Jeremy ("Summer Song") is 64.
Mark Dinning, who scored a US number one hit in 1960 with "Teen Angel", died of a heart attack on March 22nd at the age of 52. The song had been written by his sister, Jeannie. Although he never had another hit, Mark continued performing throughout the 1960s, but felt his lack of success was because, "groups were in and singles were out", once the British Invasion started.
Dave Guard of the Kingston Trio ("Tom Dooly") died of lymphoma, in 1991. The Kingston Trio had 17 chart singles and nine gold albums between 1958 and 1963.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono began their "bed-in for peace" in Amsterdam in 1969.
Elvis Presley's "Easy Come, Easy Go" movie opened in 1967.
Bob Dylan's first electric album, "Bring It All Back Home" was released in 1965.
Today in 1986, the song "These Dreams" by Heart topped the charts and stayed there for a week.
In 1997, Paul McCartney's birth certificate was sold to a bidder for Beatles memorabilia for $84,146.
The Police were signed to A&M Records in 1978.
The Who played their first American live gig at New York's Paramount Theater in 1967.
Jazz guitarist George Benson was born in Pittsburgh in 1943. He shares a birthday with Yardbird singer and harmonica player Keith Relf, who is also born today in Richmond, England.
Coral Records hired original rock DJ Alan Freed as their A&R man in 1955.
1958 - Hank Williams Jr. made his stage debut in Swainsboro, GA, at the age of eight.( and it wasn't on MNF, which wasn't on the air back then)
The Beatles' first album, "Please Please Me," was released in the U.K. in 1963.
In 1978, the BBC airs “The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash.” It’s the ultimate (and very funny) Beatles parody. (and actually contains some great music as well!)
Franki Valli returned to the US Top 40 for the first time in nearly seven years in 1975 when "My Eyes Adored You" went to number one. The song was originally titled "Blue Eyes In Georgia" by its writers, Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan, but Valli altered the lyrics to suit himself.
Diana Ross' first solo album for RCA, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" goes platinum less than three months after its release in 1982.
In 2001, Earl Beal of the Philadelphia vocal group The Silhouettes died at the age of 76. The group topped the Billboard chart in 1958 with "Get A Job".
Friday, March 21, 2008
New "SMELLY' Album Cover?
Haven't really heard of this, but it is a fresh new gimmick to add to the already fascinating allure of vinyl records- check this out from a post on Pitchfork.com
"We wouldn't ordinarily advocate scratching your vinyl, but in this case, we'll make an exception. Black Moth Super Rainbow, the convention-thwarting Pennsylvanian bunch responsible for last year's Recommended Dandelion Gum album, have gone and pressed said release into a turntable-ready LP.
Okay nothing so unconventional there, but wait! This isn't just any vinyl we're talking about here. This is, as you may have noticed in the headline, scratch'n'sniff vinyl!! Yes, the friction created by running something coarse (a fingernail, say) across the cover of this record will unleash odors as yet un-smelt by the noses of men! Women, too!
As if this olfactory offering weren't enough, the vinyl version of Dandelion Gum also includes a bonus track not found on the CD, "The Dark Forest Joggers". Both formats are available now via Graveface Records."
"We wouldn't ordinarily advocate scratching your vinyl, but in this case, we'll make an exception. Black Moth Super Rainbow, the convention-thwarting Pennsylvanian bunch responsible for last year's Recommended Dandelion Gum album, have gone and pressed said release into a turntable-ready LP.
Okay nothing so unconventional there, but wait! This isn't just any vinyl we're talking about here. This is, as you may have noticed in the headline, scratch'n'sniff vinyl!! Yes, the friction created by running something coarse (a fingernail, say) across the cover of this record will unleash odors as yet un-smelt by the noses of men! Women, too!
As if this olfactory offering weren't enough, the vinyl version of Dandelion Gum also includes a bonus track not found on the CD, "The Dark Forest Joggers". Both formats are available now via Graveface Records."
Thursday, March 20, 2008
This Day In Music History- March 20
John Lennon marries Yoko in Gibraltar, Spain in 1969. The subsequent single, "The Ballad of John and Yoko," explains the couples trials and tribulations.
Jerry Reed ("Amos Moses") turns 71.
Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer ("Lucky Man") is 58.
Joe Rivers of Johnnie & Joe ("Over The Mountain, Across The Sea") is 71.
David Bowie marries his wife, Angela (subject of the Rolling Stones' song, "Angie" four years later) in 1970.
In 1968, Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Poco members Richie Furay and Jim Messina are all arrested in Los Angeles on drug charges (Eric is freed, the others fined).
Today in 1971, the song "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.
The song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks in 1982.
In 2003, the South Carolina House of Representatives pass a resolution urging the Dixie Chicks to make a public apology for derogatory statements about President Bush, and back it up with a concert for the families of troops serving in the Iraq conflict. (For stating what is obviously right?)
The No.1 album in America in 2002 is the soundtrack to "O Brother Where Art Thou?," with performances by bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley and vocalist-fiddler Alison Krauss.
Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland in 1964. The singer-songwriter's first single is the smash hit, "Fast Car."
In 1960, Elvis Presley begins his first recording session since exiting the U.S. Army on March 5. With longtime guitarist Scotty Moore, he records "Stuck on You" and "Fame and Fortune" at the RCA Studios in Nashville.
Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan of the Fabulous Thunderbirds was born in Austin in 1951.
In 1971, the Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” slipped off the Billboard album chart after a 138 week run.
Bobby Helms, who is best remembered for his Christmas classic, "Jingle Bell Rock", had his biggest single reach the US Country chart in 1957. The song was called "Fraulein" and it would eventually hit number 1, spending 52 weeks on the chart, longer than any other Country song of the 1950s. Later in the year, he had another number one record with "My Special Angel". Jingle Bell Rock was first released in November 1957, and would return to the US Top 40 on two other occasions.
In 1989, Dick Clark announced his retirement from American Bandstand.
In 1991, Eric Clapton's four year old son, Conor, fell to his death from the 53rd story of a New York City apartment window. The boy was in the custody of his mother, Italian actress, Lori Del Santo and the pair were visiting a friend's apartment. The housekeeper had just cleaned a room and opened the window to air it out. Eric was staying in a nearby hotel after taking his son to the circus the previous evening. The tragedy inspired his song "Tears in Heaven".
Jerry Reed ("Amos Moses") turns 71.
Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer ("Lucky Man") is 58.
Joe Rivers of Johnnie & Joe ("Over The Mountain, Across The Sea") is 71.
David Bowie marries his wife, Angela (subject of the Rolling Stones' song, "Angie" four years later) in 1970.
In 1968, Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Poco members Richie Furay and Jim Messina are all arrested in Los Angeles on drug charges (Eric is freed, the others fined).
Today in 1971, the song "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin topped the charts and stayed there for 2 weeks.
The song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts topped the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks in 1982.
In 2003, the South Carolina House of Representatives pass a resolution urging the Dixie Chicks to make a public apology for derogatory statements about President Bush, and back it up with a concert for the families of troops serving in the Iraq conflict. (For stating what is obviously right?)
The No.1 album in America in 2002 is the soundtrack to "O Brother Where Art Thou?," with performances by bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley and vocalist-fiddler Alison Krauss.
Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland in 1964. The singer-songwriter's first single is the smash hit, "Fast Car."
In 1960, Elvis Presley begins his first recording session since exiting the U.S. Army on March 5. With longtime guitarist Scotty Moore, he records "Stuck on You" and "Fame and Fortune" at the RCA Studios in Nashville.
Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan of the Fabulous Thunderbirds was born in Austin in 1951.
In 1971, the Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” slipped off the Billboard album chart after a 138 week run.
Bobby Helms, who is best remembered for his Christmas classic, "Jingle Bell Rock", had his biggest single reach the US Country chart in 1957. The song was called "Fraulein" and it would eventually hit number 1, spending 52 weeks on the chart, longer than any other Country song of the 1950s. Later in the year, he had another number one record with "My Special Angel". Jingle Bell Rock was first released in November 1957, and would return to the US Top 40 on two other occasions.
In 1989, Dick Clark announced his retirement from American Bandstand.
In 1991, Eric Clapton's four year old son, Conor, fell to his death from the 53rd story of a New York City apartment window. The boy was in the custody of his mother, Italian actress, Lori Del Santo and the pair were visiting a friend's apartment. The housekeeper had just cleaned a room and opened the window to air it out. Eric was staying in a nearby hotel after taking his son to the circus the previous evening. The tragedy inspired his song "Tears in Heaven".
Costello To Release New Album on Vinyl
To help celebrate the mass reissuing of Elvis Costello’s back catalog on remastered CDs, the “Allison” singer will release his first album in four years on vinyl–only vinyl. The disc, dubbed "Momofuku," will be available on April 22nd, complete with a special download code which will allow buyers to download the album onto their computers.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Vintage Posters To Brighten Up Any Room
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New CD Distribution Channel For Independent Artists Announced
By Robert Benson
The music industry is changing again, specifically the way that consumers get their music. With CD sales slumping, vinyl record sales on the rise and MP3 music downloads now dominating the music landscape, a small Internet radio station is also changing the way that its artist’s music is being distributed.
I spoke with DJ Tom of www.ilike2rock.net about the new distribution service that the radio station is offering.
“With digital sales being the main online sales source for music, most independent artists turn to CDbaby or iTunes to sell their music,” explained DJ Tom. “What we are doing is making a move to ‘cut out the middleman’ so to speak, which will allow the independent artists to put more money in their own pockets, where it belongs.”
DJ Tom detailed some of the specific ways that iTunes and CDbaby operate:
“These companies rely on their own affiliates to promote the artists that they have and really don’t do anything to promote the artists. As an ex-affiliate for iTunes, I used to sell digital downloads for a five percent commission, so for a ninety-nine cent song that equates to a nickel. The artist in turn gets sixty-nine cents, leaving a twenty-five cent profit for iTunes, who are just an online warehouse cataloging music in hopes that their affiliates are successful in promoting them.
“CDbaby is a bit similar in that they are also a music warehouse that relies on other distributors, affiliates and the artists themselves to generate the sale while taking $4 for each CD sold to drop it in the mail. I can see artists with a CDBaby Logo on their website or MySpace page to buy their CD. If an artist wants to make $7 per CD sold, then the cost to the consumer is $11 through CDbaby. Why not just sell the CD directly using PayPal, add in their processing costs and sell it for $7.50? An independent artist will probably generate more sales at the lower cost.”
So, CDbaby and iTunes do nothing to promote the independent artists who sign on with them?
DJ Tom explained, “When you go to iTunes you see what is what may be ‘hot’, like American Idol or movie sales or highlights. Sure, that may be what is popular and selling at the time, but what are they really doing to promote the music for the independent artists they are supposed to represent? CDbaby does nothing more than create an online catalog of music, charging the artist a $35 set up fee and taking four dollars per sale on top of that.”
How does www.ilike2rock.net promote their independent artists?
“We feature artists on our homepage, add their music to our station play list, include their music in free podcasts, artist interviews, CD and music reviews and live radio shows along with other promotions, all to get the artist’s music out there in front of the public, which helps generate interest in their music and the band,” explained DJ Tom.
But here is the most exciting element to the music distribution channel that ilike2rock.net is instituting.
“What we are offering our artists is a CD distribution method where we would receive one dollar per sale plus credit card processing fees. This will allow the artists to lower the price on their CD for the consumer to benefit and also put more money in their own pockets, where it belongs. We are also offering MP3 sales at competitive industry rates directly from our site instead of an affiliate link that sends the consumer elsewhere to buy the music, then possibly having the sale fall through as an advertisement for a "Commercial" artist appears causing the buyer to become distracted and forget why they went there in the first place.”
So the bottom line is very simple. iLike2rock.net is making a move to undercut most independent music distributer’s prices and pass the savings along to the consumers, all the while putting more money into the pockets of the artists who actually created the music. The music landscape is changing again, this time for the benefit of the music consumer and the bands and artists who create the music. What a novel concept!
The music industry is changing again, specifically the way that consumers get their music. With CD sales slumping, vinyl record sales on the rise and MP3 music downloads now dominating the music landscape, a small Internet radio station is also changing the way that its artist’s music is being distributed.
I spoke with DJ Tom of www.ilike2rock.net about the new distribution service that the radio station is offering.
“With digital sales being the main online sales source for music, most independent artists turn to CDbaby or iTunes to sell their music,” explained DJ Tom. “What we are doing is making a move to ‘cut out the middleman’ so to speak, which will allow the independent artists to put more money in their own pockets, where it belongs.”
DJ Tom detailed some of the specific ways that iTunes and CDbaby operate:
“These companies rely on their own affiliates to promote the artists that they have and really don’t do anything to promote the artists. As an ex-affiliate for iTunes, I used to sell digital downloads for a five percent commission, so for a ninety-nine cent song that equates to a nickel. The artist in turn gets sixty-nine cents, leaving a twenty-five cent profit for iTunes, who are just an online warehouse cataloging music in hopes that their affiliates are successful in promoting them.
“CDbaby is a bit similar in that they are also a music warehouse that relies on other distributors, affiliates and the artists themselves to generate the sale while taking $4 for each CD sold to drop it in the mail. I can see artists with a CDBaby Logo on their website or MySpace page to buy their CD. If an artist wants to make $7 per CD sold, then the cost to the consumer is $11 through CDbaby. Why not just sell the CD directly using PayPal, add in their processing costs and sell it for $7.50? An independent artist will probably generate more sales at the lower cost.”
So, CDbaby and iTunes do nothing to promote the independent artists who sign on with them?
DJ Tom explained, “When you go to iTunes you see what is what may be ‘hot’, like American Idol or movie sales or highlights. Sure, that may be what is popular and selling at the time, but what are they really doing to promote the music for the independent artists they are supposed to represent? CDbaby does nothing more than create an online catalog of music, charging the artist a $35 set up fee and taking four dollars per sale on top of that.”
How does www.ilike2rock.net promote their independent artists?
“We feature artists on our homepage, add their music to our station play list, include their music in free podcasts, artist interviews, CD and music reviews and live radio shows along with other promotions, all to get the artist’s music out there in front of the public, which helps generate interest in their music and the band,” explained DJ Tom.
But here is the most exciting element to the music distribution channel that ilike2rock.net is instituting.
“What we are offering our artists is a CD distribution method where we would receive one dollar per sale plus credit card processing fees. This will allow the artists to lower the price on their CD for the consumer to benefit and also put more money in their own pockets, where it belongs. We are also offering MP3 sales at competitive industry rates directly from our site instead of an affiliate link that sends the consumer elsewhere to buy the music, then possibly having the sale fall through as an advertisement for a "Commercial" artist appears causing the buyer to become distracted and forget why they went there in the first place.”
So the bottom line is very simple. iLike2rock.net is making a move to undercut most independent music distributer’s prices and pass the savings along to the consumers, all the while putting more money into the pockets of the artists who actually created the music. The music landscape is changing again, this time for the benefit of the music consumer and the bands and artists who create the music. What a novel concept!
It's Official- Vinyl Is Back
In the United Kingdom, where the CD single is basically dead, there is such a resurgence in vinyl that retailers can’t keep up with capacity. In the U.S., figures as high as 22 per cent are being floated about the growth in vinyl record sales.
At a time when digital downloading is the thing, does this return to the “good old days” merely represent a small portion of audio geeks who pine for the tactile and genuine listening experience of playing a record on a turntable? Or is it, as Eric Levin, owner and president of Criminal Records/AIMS, thinks, the beginning of something big that will create a massive collectors’ market a few decades from now?
At a time when digital downloading is the thing, does this return to the “good old days” merely represent a small portion of audio geeks who pine for the tactile and genuine listening experience of playing a record on a turntable? Or is it, as Eric Levin, owner and president of Criminal Records/AIMS, thinks, the beginning of something big that will create a massive collectors’ market a few decades from now?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
U2 Re-Releases
U2tour.de has pried some information from the German branch of Universal, concerning release dates for various remastered albums.
The upcoming release dates are:
6th June: Boy, October
20th June: War, Under a blood red sky
Keep in mind that these are release dates for Germany, where CDs in general are released on Friday. U2tour.de speculate this could mean 9th/23rd june for the UK, and 10th/24th for the US.
All albums will be released in the following formats:
Single-cd-version, double-cd-deluxe-version, vinyl.
There will also be another DVD, ‘Live at Red Rocks” which is slated some time in July.
The upcoming release dates are:
6th June: Boy, October
20th June: War, Under a blood red sky
Keep in mind that these are release dates for Germany, where CDs in general are released on Friday. U2tour.de speculate this could mean 9th/23rd june for the UK, and 10th/24th for the US.
All albums will be released in the following formats:
Single-cd-version, double-cd-deluxe-version, vinyl.
There will also be another DVD, ‘Live at Red Rocks” which is slated some time in July.
Raconteurs- New Vinyl Release
The Raconteurs announced via their Myspace page that their new album "Consolers of the Lonely" will be released in just over a week on March 25th. From the band's myspace page:
"The album was mastered and completed in the first week of March. It was then taken immediately to a vinyl pressing plant. Then to a CD pressing plant. Then preparations to sell it digitally began. March 25th became the soonest date to have it available in EVERY FORMAT AT ONCE. The band have done no interviews or advertisements for this record before this announcement.
The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised. We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it’s availability, reception or perception.
With this release, The Raconteurs are forgoing the usual months of lead time for press and radio set up, as well as forgoing the all important "first week sales." We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter. The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by it’s first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it."
"The album was mastered and completed in the first week of March. It was then taken immediately to a vinyl pressing plant. Then to a CD pressing plant. Then preparations to sell it digitally began. March 25th became the soonest date to have it available in EVERY FORMAT AT ONCE. The band have done no interviews or advertisements for this record before this announcement.
The purpose: to get the album to the fans as soon as possible and as we promised. We wanted to get this record to fans, the press, radio, etc., all at the EXACT SAME TIME so that no one has an upper hand on anyone else regarding it’s availability, reception or perception.
With this release, The Raconteurs are forgoing the usual months of lead time for press and radio set up, as well as forgoing the all important "first week sales." We wanted to explore the idea of releasing an album everywhere at once and THEN marketing and promoting it thereafter. The Raconteurs would rather this release not be defined by it’s first weeks sales, pre-release promotion, or by someone defining it FOR YOU before you get to hear it."
This Day In Music History- March 18
The late Wilson Pickett ("Funky Broadway") was born in 1941.
John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas ("Monday Monday") died of heart failure in 2001.
The Doobie Brothers, Dionne Warwick and Petula Clark were among the entertainers at Liza Minelli's wedding reception in 2002.
Teddy Pendergrass of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes was paralyzed in a car accident in 1982.
Jerry Lee Lewis became the first artist to sing three songs on an episode of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" (and he sings, not lip-synchs them) in 1958.
The Everly Brothers recorded "Cathy's Clown" in 1960.
Happy birthday to Charley Pride, who was born in Sledge, Mississippi in 1938. The "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" hit-maker is arguably the most successful African-American in country music.
Vanessa Williams was born in Tarrytown, NY in 1963. She's famous for a bit of everything, including being the last significant Miss America.
Alice in Chains' guitarist Jerry Cantrell was born in 1966.
All hail the Queen! Hip-hop MC turned actress Queen Latifah was born in Newark, NJ in 1970.
In 1972, Neil Young topped the charts with "Heart of Gold." It's his only solo single to go top 30. Backing vocals were provided by James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt.
The Clash released their first single, "White Riot" in 1977.
In 1994 four guns and 25 boxes of ammo were confiscated from Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) after his wife, Courtney Love, called police fearing he was going to commit suicide. He did commit suicide about 3 weeks later.
After three minor chart makers, an Oklahoma group called Five Americans released their biggest hit, "Western Union,” which would eventually crack Billboard's Top 10 in 1967.
Also in 1967, the Beatles enjoyed their thirteenth US number one single with "Penny Lane.”
In 1978, the Bee Gees continued an amazing hot streak of three consecutive number one hits with "Night Fever,” which topped the charts and stayed there for 8 weeks. (Who really liked Disco?)
In 2000, a film company paid over a million dollars for nine hours of film shot by Yoko Ono during the 70s that showed John Lennon smoking hash and talking about his political beliefs.
The Best of the Lovin' Spoonful, drawn from three albums and numerous singles, entered the album charts in 1967. It charted for a full year, peaking at #3.
In 1976, 'The Man Who Fell to Earth,' a science-fiction movie starring David Bowie in an award-winning performance, debuts takes place in London.
Doobie Brothers co-founder and drummer, John Hartman, was born in Falls Church, VA in1950.
Cinderella guitarist Jeff LeBar has a birthday. He was born in 1953.
In 1995, Madonna hosted the world's largest pajama part, "Madonna's Bedtime Story Pajama Party," live from New York City's Webster Hall. (I slept through it)
John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas ("Monday Monday") died of heart failure in 2001.
The Doobie Brothers, Dionne Warwick and Petula Clark were among the entertainers at Liza Minelli's wedding reception in 2002.
Teddy Pendergrass of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes was paralyzed in a car accident in 1982.
Jerry Lee Lewis became the first artist to sing three songs on an episode of ABC-TV's "American Bandstand" (and he sings, not lip-synchs them) in 1958.
The Everly Brothers recorded "Cathy's Clown" in 1960.
Happy birthday to Charley Pride, who was born in Sledge, Mississippi in 1938. The "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" hit-maker is arguably the most successful African-American in country music.
Vanessa Williams was born in Tarrytown, NY in 1963. She's famous for a bit of everything, including being the last significant Miss America.
Alice in Chains' guitarist Jerry Cantrell was born in 1966.
All hail the Queen! Hip-hop MC turned actress Queen Latifah was born in Newark, NJ in 1970.
In 1972, Neil Young topped the charts with "Heart of Gold." It's his only solo single to go top 30. Backing vocals were provided by James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt.
The Clash released their first single, "White Riot" in 1977.
In 1994 four guns and 25 boxes of ammo were confiscated from Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) after his wife, Courtney Love, called police fearing he was going to commit suicide. He did commit suicide about 3 weeks later.
After three minor chart makers, an Oklahoma group called Five Americans released their biggest hit, "Western Union,” which would eventually crack Billboard's Top 10 in 1967.
Also in 1967, the Beatles enjoyed their thirteenth US number one single with "Penny Lane.”
In 1978, the Bee Gees continued an amazing hot streak of three consecutive number one hits with "Night Fever,” which topped the charts and stayed there for 8 weeks. (Who really liked Disco?)
In 2000, a film company paid over a million dollars for nine hours of film shot by Yoko Ono during the 70s that showed John Lennon smoking hash and talking about his political beliefs.
The Best of the Lovin' Spoonful, drawn from three albums and numerous singles, entered the album charts in 1967. It charted for a full year, peaking at #3.
In 1976, 'The Man Who Fell to Earth,' a science-fiction movie starring David Bowie in an award-winning performance, debuts takes place in London.
Doobie Brothers co-founder and drummer, John Hartman, was born in Falls Church, VA in1950.
Cinderella guitarist Jeff LeBar has a birthday. He was born in 1953.
In 1995, Madonna hosted the world's largest pajama part, "Madonna's Bedtime Story Pajama Party," live from New York City's Webster Hall. (I slept through it)
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