Today in Rock n' Roll History

[MikeA]

Finally, one that I don't actually remember! 1958, Elvis and "Jailhouse Rock"! Goodness, I was only 9 or 10! But I remember the song! And the look. Heck, all the guys (the ones that didn't have "flat tops") were loading their hair with grease and combing it back and wearing black leather motorcycle jackets (aka James Dean). The dances in the High School gym (sock hops) were sure to feature multiple plays of "Jail House Rock!" And, I never learned to DANCE!

[TimothyBFan]

1983 The new 24-hour music video network MTV started broadcasting to the West Coast of America after being picked up by Group W Cable, Los Angeles.

Or as I like to call that day, "the day I died and went to heaven"!

Of course I don't watch it anymore but what would life be like now for all of us music lovers had MTV never existed? "Nuf said!

[sodascouts]

I wasn't allowed to watch MTV until I turned 13 (although I did it illicitly at friend's houses, lol). It was a day I eagerly awaited! I remember at the time they had a really cool game show called Remote Control that I thought was more interesting than the videos, lol. Adam Sandler got his start there, as did the less successful-but-still-doing-the-comedy-circuit Colin Quinn.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OLcvfVmws[/ame]

[Koala]

Oh yes, MTV was great, I have watched it a lot, today I don't watch it anymore.It is nothing more reasonable!

I especially liked whenever an entire weekend for an artist or band was dedicated.Then sometimes I have spent the whole weekend before the television!

[Koala]

1960 The original cast recording of 'The Sound Of Music 'started a 16-week run at No.1 on the US album chart.

1967 The Beatles made a last-minute remix of ‘Penny Lane’ before the pressing of their next double A sided single ‘Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane’. Both songs were originally intended for forthcoming Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.


1969 'Proud Mary', the Creedence Clearwater Revival LP, is released. "Proud Mary" eventually reaches #2 on the charts.

1975 The Carpenters went to No.1 on the US singles chart with their version of The Marveletts 1961 hit 'Please Mr. Postman'.

1983 The Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams died of lung cancer age 34. He joined the band in 1972 after the death of original bassist Berry Oakley.

1986 Norwegian group A-Ha were at No.1 in the UK with 'The Sun Always Shines On TV.' Becoming the first ever-Norwegian act to score a UK No.1.


1999 Paul McCartney launches a crusade against British radio and TV stations over the banning of “The Light Comes From Within,” the final song by his late wife Linda, because it contains language deemed offensive.

[MikeA]

CCR....loved them...and still do for that matter.

Paul and his crusade/protest....I would think that by 1999, moors would have relaxed over what they were back in the '60s. I can never forget the Ed Sullivan "shew" and them only showing Elvis from the waist up because of his sexual undulating while singing <LOL>

Songwriting is deeply emotional. The writer is often barring their souls, their innermost thoughts in their music. They are not going to mince words in their effort to convey what they are feeling. And to have that banning of Linda's song and in effect slurring her character...that's just over the top. Especially in 1999.

[Koala]

1961 Elvis Presley was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Are You Lonesome Tonight'. The singers sixth UK No.1. The single included a spoken passage loosely based on Shakespeare.

1963 The Beatles played two gigs, the first was at the El Rio Club/Dance Hall in Macclesfield, Cheshire, supported by Wayne Fontana and the Jets. Then The Beatles drove 20 miles to their next gig at King's Hall, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.

1971 Elvis Presley played the first night of a 31 date run at The Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nirvana. Elvis played a 8.30pm and midnight shows on most days.

1973 Sweet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blockbuster'. The glam rockers only UK No.1 of 15 Top 40 hits.

1974 Ringo Starr went to No.1 on the US singles chart with his version of the Johnny Burnette 1960 hit 'Your Sixteen', a No.3 hit in the UK.

1977 former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green was committed to a mental hospital following an incident when he threatened his accountant Clifford Adams with an air rifle when he was trying to deliver a £30,000 ($51,000) royalty cheque to him.

1991 Queen had their second UK No.1 with 'Innuendo'. It was the third longest No.1 song of all time behind The Beatles 'Hey Jude' and Simple Minds 'Belfast Child'. The flamenco guitar solo on the track was performed by Yes guitarist Steve Howe.

[TimothyBFan]

1973 Sweet were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Blockbuster'. The glam rockers only UK No.1 of 15 Top 40 hits.
.

Hard to believe this was the only #1 hit in the UK for Sweet. Love this TOTP version. Check out Steve's Nazi uniform. There is another version somewhere where he even had a Hitler mustache. They were all about controversy.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgiDINcZ-q4[/ame]

[Koala]

1945 Nick Mason of Pink Floyd is born.

1961 Frank Sinatra played a benefit show at Carnegie Hall in New York City for Martin Luther King.

1968 "Daydream Believer" by the Monkees (written by Neil Diamond) peaks the UK charts at #5.

1968 The Bee Gees made their live debut in the US when they played at the Anaheim Centre, California.

1972 American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson died in Chicago of heart failure and diabetes complications aged 60. Known as the "Queen of Gospel Music" she recorded over 30 Albums.

1973 'Superstition' gave Stevie Wonder had his second No.1 single in the US, 10 years after his first No.1.

1985 I Want To Know What Love Is (Foreigner) was a hit.

[Koala]

1965 The Who made their first appearance on UK TV show Ready Steady Go! To project the desired image, the hand-picked audience consisted only of teens dressed in the current Mod fashion.

1978 The Fleetwood Mac album 'Rumours' went to No.1 on the UK album chart, also a No.1 in the US. The album went on to sell over 15 million copies world- wide and spent over 440 weeks on the UK chart.

1994 Paul and Linda McCartney attended the premiere of Wayne’s World II in London. The couple then went on to Hard Rock Café, where the film star Mike Myers presented them with a cheque for LIPA (the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) for £25,000 ($42,500) from the sale of Linda’s vegetarian burgers.