Saturday, May 19, 2012

This Date in Rock Music History: May 20

1954:  The landmark single "Rock Around The Clock" was released by Bill Haley & the Comets.  The song wouldn't officially begin the Rock Era until it reached #1 a year later after being featured in the movie The Blackboard Jungle and re-released.

1957:  16-year-old Paul Anka, who had won a trip to New York City, stayed with some Canadian friends known as the Rover Boys.  The Rover Boys were already signed to ABC Records, and suggested Paul go see Don Costa at ABC.  He audtioned for Costa with "Diana", a song he had written about a girl in Canada.  Costa signed Anka to a recording contract and had him record the song at the ABC-Paramount Studios in Manhattan.  (Note:  some websites report that Anka recorded the song on May 21.  Although there are no credible sources for either date, our best research indicates that Anka recorded the song May 20.  Some websites report that Anka recorded the song at Capitol Recording Studios in New York City, and some say he recorded it at Don Costa Studio.  While Costa was the man who signed him to a contract and produced him, there is no record of him owning a recording studio in Manhattan, and, since Anka signed the contract with ABC-Paramount and released "Diana" on ABC-Paramount Records, it seems unlikely that he would record the song at a recording studio for Capitol Records.)
1957:  Frank Sinatra recorded "Witchcraft".
1957:  Andy Williams had the #1 U.K. song with "Butterfly".








1957:  A new duo began that would influence vocals for decades to come.  The Everly Brothers debuted with the first hit of their careers and they picked a good song to start out with.  "Bye Bye Love" was that song with gave the Brothers their start on this date, and it eventually reached #2 for four weeks.
1960:  The Silver Beetles started a seven-day tour of Scotland at the Town Hall in Alloa, Clackmannanshire.  (Note:  some websites claim the group was known as the Silver Beatles.  According to 'The Beatles Bible', the group did not change the spelling to the Silver Beatles until July.) 
1961:  Cliff Richard made his first appearance on television on the U.K. ITV show Thank Your Lucky Stars.





1964:  Elvis Presley's movie Viva Las Vegas premiered at the Paramount Theatre in New York City.  (Note:  website owners are thoroughly confused as to the opening dates of the movie.  Some report the movie premiered in New York City on April 20, while others say it premiered May 20.  Some say the movie opened in theaters on April 20, while others say it was May 17, May 20, June 7, or June 17.  The book 'Elvis Presley:  Silver Screen Icon' by Steve Templeton shows that the movie premiered in New York City on April 20, and opened nationally on June 17.  'Billboard' magazine reports the premiere was April 20, but that doesn't jive with a couple of other reports.  'Turner Classic Movies' reports that 'Viva Las Vegas' premiered on May 20.  And the newspaper 'The New York Times' printed a review on May 21, 1964.  It is extremely unlikely that 'The Times' would do a review in May on a movie which either premiered or opened in April.  So, while there is conflicting information among credible sources, we believe, based on the review in 'The New York Times", that the movie premiered in New York City on May 20.  It is then logical that the movie opened nationwide on June 17.)
1964:  Rudy Lewis of the Drifters died of a brain seizure brought on by drugs at age 27 in Manhattan, New York.  (Note:  some websites say Lewis died in Harlem, New York.  Harlem is a neighborhood within Manhattan, not a city, and will never be listed on an official death certificate.)
1966:  John Entwistle and Keith Moon were late arriving for a Who concert at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, Berkshire, England, so bandmates Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey began performing without them along with the bassist and drummer of the local group who opened the show.  When Moon and Entwistle finally got there, a fight broke out and Townshend actually hit Moon over the head with his guitar.  Moon and Entwistle quit the band but rejoined a week later.  (Note:  some websites say the Ricky Tick Club was in Newbury, England, but according to the BBC, it was in Windsor.)
1966:  On a more peaceful front, George Harrison visited Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1967:  Jimi Hendrix signed a recording contract with Reprise Records.

1967:  The Turtles moved nothing like their name--88 to 58 with "She'd Rather Be With Me".










1967:  "Groovin'" from the Young Rascals took over #1 in only its fifth week on the chart.  The Supremes fell with "The Happening" followed by Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music" and "Somethin' Stupid" from Frank & Nancy Sinatra.  The rest of the Top 10:  Aretha Franklin shot up from 14 to 5 with her future #1 "Respect", the Happenings had #6 with "I Got Rhythm", Engelbert Humperdinck had #7 with "Release Me", Peaches & Herb were stuck at #8 with "Close Your Eyes", the Buckinghams were on their way down with "Don't You Care" and the Dave Clark Five had song #10--"You Got What It Takes".
1967:  The album More of the Monkees set a record at the time with its 15th week at #1 on the Album chart.
1968:  Pete Townshend married Karen Astley.




1968:  Following their return from India, the Beatles met at George Harrison's home in Esher, Surrey and taped 23 new songs.  Many of those would find their way to the White Album and Abbey Road, including "Cry Baby Cry", "Revolution", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Blackbird".
1970:  The Beatles' last movie Let It Be opened in theaters in the U.K.  It had premiered in New York City on May 13.
1970:  We were introduced to a Texas trio on this date, and it wasn't the usual twang and swing to which we had become accustomed to.  ZZ Top debuted on the charts with their first hit "Francene", which eventually hit #69.
1972:  "The Candy Man" became the new #1 song for Sammy Davis, Jr.





                        "Compared to What", one of the top tracks on Roberta's #1 album...

1972:  First Take was the #1 album from Roberta Flack, holding off Neil Young's Harvest.  America was #3 with the Graham Nash/David Crosby collaboration at #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  Manassas from Stephen Stills at #5, Eat a Peach by the Allman Brothers Band edging up to #6, Fragile from Yes falling to #7, Tapestry, still in the Top 10 for Carole King, Smokin' by Humble Pie at #9 and Let's Stay Together by Al Green entering the list.
1972:  Roberta Flack dominated the Singles chart for the sixth straight week with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  At that time, only 20 songs in the Rock Era had been #1 for more weeks than her smash.
1978:  "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" from Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams was the #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart.  The hit came 15 years after Mathis last had a Top 10 hit and 21 years after his only other #1 song "Chances Are".
1978:  Saturday Night Fever spent an 18th week at #1 on the Album chart.  
1979:  Elton John performed at the Great October Hall in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg) for the first of four nights.






1985:  The famous Apollo Theater in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York reopened with a concert from Hall & Oates.
1988:  Priscilla Presley held a news conference to deny that Elvis was still alive.  It won't work, Priscilla--those same people still think Obama was not born in the United States and they also still think the earth is flat.  And there's no such thing as global warming.  It's no use.  The best thing to do is just laugh at them.
1989:  "Second Chance" by .38 Special was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.








1989:  Paula Abdul moved into the #1 spot with "Forever Your Girl".  "Real Love" from Jody Watley was #1 and the former #1 "I'll Be There For You" by Bon Jovi was #3.










1991:  Bonnie Raitt released the single "Something To Talk About".
1995:  Don Henley married Sharon Summerall in Malibu, California.  Tony Bennett, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Sting performed at the wedding reception.
1997:  It was chaos in Kansas City, Missouri.  U2 had paid for traffic control to close down five lanes of traffic on Interstate 670 so they could shoot the video "Last Night On Earth".  Traffic jams galore occurred and a Cadillac crashed into a plate glass window while swerving to miss a cameraman.
1998:  Bill Ward, drummer from Black Sabbath, was rushed to a hospital in London after suffering a heart attack during rehearsal.





1998:  Bob Dylan, who was always so good with words, had some nice things to say about Frank Sinatra at a funeral mass for the legendary singer at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California.  Dylan said "Right from the beginning, he was there with the truth of things in his voice.  His music had an influence on me, whether I knew it or not.  He was one of the very few singers who sang without a mask.  It's a sad day."  Mourners included Tony Bennett, Gregory Peck, Don Rickles, Diahann Carroll, Ed McMahon, Joey Bishop, and Tony Danza. 






2000:  Superstar group the Guess Who reunited for a concert in Manitoba, Canada.
2000:  In the Words Have Meaning Department:  Ted Nugent was dropped from the Muskegon Summer Celebration in Michigan after he reportedly used racial slurs in a radio interview.  There are many animals that have more of a right to be a human than the nutjob Nugent is.
2004:  Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails sued his former manager, alleging that he was cheated out of millions since first signing with J. Artist Management in 1989.








2005:  The Beach Boys Historic Landmark was dedicated at the site of the childhood home of Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson (3701 W. 119th St. in Hawthorne, California).  The home was demolished in the mid-1980's (things aren't preserved in the United States like they are everywhere else in the world; they're torn down.)  
2006:  Tool had the #1 album 10,000 Days.
2007:  Rhianna began 10 weeks at the top of the U.K. Chart with her song "Umbrella".
2008:  The United States Congress on this date passed a resolution designating May 13 as "Frank Sinatra Day" to honor the legendary singer's contribution to our culture.



2008:  Jimmy Dean ("Big Bad John") donated $1 million to Wayland Baptist University in Texas.
2008:  Curtis Mayfield was inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk.  (Note:  some websites claim Mayfield was inducted May 23.  The correct date of induction is May 20, according to the official website for the Rock Walk.)


Born This Day:
1940:  Shorty Long ("Here Comes The Judge") was born in Birmingham, Alabama; died June 29, 1969 when he drowned in the Detroit River in Michigan.
1942:  Jill Jackson ("Paula" of Paul and Paula, who had the big hit "Hey Paula") was born in McCamey, Texas.
1944:  Joe Cocker was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England; died December 22, 2014 from lung cancer in Crawford, Colorado.










1946:  Cher (Cherilyn Sarkasian), part of the duo Sonny & Cher and later a solo superstar, was born in El Centro, California.
1954:  Jimmy Henderson, guitarist of Black Oak Arkansas, was born in Jackson, Mississippi.  (Note:  some websites claim there was a Jimmie Henderson of Black Oak Arkansas that was born on this day.  No such person was ever in the Black Oak lineup--the correct spelling is Jimmy.)
1955:  Steve George, keyboardist of Mr. Mister, was born in Phoenix, Arizona.







1958:  Jane Wiedlin, guitarist for the Go Go's, was born in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
1960:  Susan Cowsill of the Cowsills was born in canton, Ohio.  (Note:  some websites, including 'Allmusic.com, claim Susan was born in Newport, Rhode Island.  When 'Allmusic' says something, odds are it's wrong--according to the more respected 'Billboard' and other reputable sources, Susan was born in Canton.)
1961:  Nick Heyward of Haircut 100 ("Love Plus One" in 1982) was born in Beckenham, Kent, England.
1961:  Dan Wilson, singer, songwriter and guitarist with Semisonic, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1963:  Brian Nash, guitarist with Frankie Goes To Hollywood, was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
1964:  Patti Russo, the female lead vocalist with Meat Loaf
1972:  Busta Rhymes was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Last summer, Inside the Rock Era ran the special The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*.  All of the instrumentals below are ranked in The Top 100* except one.  Which one is Not one of The Top 100 Instrumentals?  (Click on the link below for the answer.)


"Last Night" by the Mar-Kays
"Teen Beat" from Sandy Nelson
"Pipeline" by the Chantays
"XYZ" from Rush
"Overture from 'Tommy'" by the Assembled Multitude.





Which song is Not from 1971?


1971...the Vietnam War was still raging, we were about to find out about Watergate, and all of the songs below were from 1971 except one.  Which one did not come out in 1971?

"Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night
"It's Too Late" from Carole King"
"Indian Reservation" by Paul Revere & the Raiders
"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the Bee Gees
"Maggie May" by Rod Stewart
"Sweet City Woman" by the Stampeders
"Put Your Hand in the Hand" by Ocean
"Babe" by Styx
"Rainy Days and Mondays" by the Carpenters
"I Hear You Knocking" by Dave Edmunds
"Your Song" by Elton John
"Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson
"Mr. Bojangles" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band


Do you know your 70's and your time periods?  Find out by clicking on the link below, which has the correct answer of the song that does not belong in 1971.



Hits List: Diana Ross

As the leader of the Supremes, Diana Ross enjoyed 12 #1's with that legendary trio.  She continued to score success as a solo artist beginning in 1970.  Here is the complete Hits List of the incomparable Diana Ross:

1970:  "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) (#20, #7 R&B, #18 Adult, #33 U.K., #23 Canada)
           "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (#1, #1 R&B, #6 AC, #6 U.K., #7 Canada)
1971:  "Remember Me" (#16, #10 R&B, #20 Adult, #7 U.K., #9 Canada)
           "Reach Out I'll Be There" (#29, #17 R&B, #16 Adult, #35 Canada)
           "Surrender" (#38, #16 R&B, #10 U.K., #45 Canada)
           "I'm Still Waiting" (#63, #40 R&B, #1 U.K., #81 Canada)
1972:  "Doobedood'ndoobe, Doobedood'ndoobe, Doobedood'ndoo" (#12 U.K.)
1973:  "Good Morning Heartache" (#34, #20 R&B, #8 Adult, #44 Canada)
           "Touch Me in the Morning" (#1, #5 R&B, #1 Adult, #9 U.K., #6 Canada)
           "You're a Special Part of Me" (with Marvin Gaye) (#12, #4 R&B, #43 Adult, #25 Canada)
           "All of My Life" (#9 U.K.)

1974:  "Last Time I Saw Him" (#14, #15 R&B, #1 Adult, #35 U.K., #8 Canada)
           "My Mistake (Was to Love You)" (with Marvin Gaye) (#19, #15 R&B, #16 Canada)
           "You Are Everything" (with Marvin Gaye) (#5 U.K.)
           "Sleepin'" (#70, #50 R&B, #47 Canada))
           "Don't Knock My Love" (with Marvin Gaye) (#46, #25 R&B, #53 Canada)
           "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" (with Marvin Gaye) (#25 U.K.)
           "Love Me" (#38 U.K.)
1975:  "Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right" (#23 U.K., #75 Canada)

1976:  "Theme From 'Mahogany' (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" (#1, #14 R&B, #1 Adult, #5 U.K., #4 Canada)
           "I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)" (#47, #61 R&B, #4 Adult, #32 U.K., #53 Canada)
           "Love Hangover" #1, #1 R&B, #19 Adult, #10 U.K., #9 Canada)
           "One Love In My Lifetime (#25, #10 R&B, #31 Adult, #24 Canada)
           "I'm Still Waiting" (re-release--#41 U.K.)
1978:  "Gettin' Ready for Love" (#27, #16 R&B, #8 Adult, #23 U.K., #29 Canada)
           "Your Love Is So Good for Me" (#49, #16 R&B, #66 Canada)
           "Top of the World"
           "You Got It" (#49, #39 R&B, #9 Adult, #67 Canada)
           "Lovin', Livin', Givin'" (#54 U.K.)
           "Ease On Down the Road" (with Michael Jackson) (#41, #17 R&B, #40 Adult, #45 U.K., #33 Canada)
           "A Brand New Day" (with the Wiz Stars also featuring Michael Jackson)

1979:  "Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)" (with Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & Stevie Wonder) (#59, #26 R&B, #66 U.K., #60 Canada)
           "What You Gave Me" (#86 R&B)
           "The Boss" (#19, #12 R&B, #41 Adult Contemporary, #40 U.K., #48 Canada)
           "No One Gets the Prize" (#59 U.K.)
           "It's My House" (#27 R&B, #32 U.K.)
1980:  "Upside Down" (#1, #1 R&B, #18 AC, #2 U.K., #5 Canada)
           "I'm Coming Out" (#5, #6 R&B, #13 U.K., #68 Canada)
           "My Old Piano"  (#5 U.K.)
1981:  "It's My Turn" (#9, #14 R&B, #9 Adult Contemporary, #16 U.K.)
           "One More Chance" (#79, #54 R&B, #49 U.K.)
           "Endless Love" (with Lionel Richie) (#1, #1 R&B, #1 AC, #7 U.K., #1 Canada)
           "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7, #6 R&B, #2 Adult, #4 U.K., #17 Canada)
1982:  "Mirror, Mirror" (#8, #2 R&B, #36 U.K., #29 Canada)
           "Work That Body" (#44, #34 R&B, #7 U.K.)
           "It's Never Too Late" (#41 U.K.)
           "Muscles" (#10, #4 R&B, #36 AC, #15 U.K., #18 Canada)
           "Tenderness" (#73 U.K.)

1983:  "So Close" (#40, #76 R&B, #13 AC, #43 U.K.)
           "Who"
           "Pieces of Ice" (#31, #15 R&B, #46 U.K.)
           "Up Front" (#60 R&B, #79 U.K.)
1984:  "Let's Go Up" (#77, #52 R&B)
           "All of You" (with Julio Iglesias) (#19, #38 R&B, #2 AC, #43 U.K., #8 Canada)
           "Swept Away" (#19, #3 R&B, #17 Canada)
           "Touch by Touch" (#47 U.K.)
1985:  "Missing You" (#10, #1 R&B, #4 AC, #76 U.K., #29 Canada)
1985:  "Telephone" (#13 R&B)
           "Eaten Alive" (#77, #10 R&B, #71 U.K., #79 Canada)
           "Chain Reaction" (#95, #85 R&B, #25 AC, #1 U.K.)
1986:  "Chain Reaction" (new mix--#66, #40 Canada)
           "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (re-release--#85 U.K.)
           "Experience" (#47 U.K.)
1987:  "Dirty Looks" (#12 R&B, #49 U.K., #88 Canada)
           "Tell Me Again"
           "Shockwaves (#76 R&B)
1988:  "Mr. Lee" (#58 U.K.)
           "If We Hold on Together" (#23 AC, #11 U.K.)
           "Love Hangover" (remix--#75 U.K.)

1989:  "Love Hangover '89"
           "Workin' Overtime" (#3 R&B, #32 U.K.)
           "Paradise" (#61 U.K.)
           "This House" (#64 R&B)
           "Bottom Line"
1990:  "I'm Still Waiting" (remix--#21 U.K.)
1991:  "No Matter What You Do" (with Al B. Sure) (#4 R&B)
           "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (#37 R&B, #26 AC, #2 U.K.)
           "You're Gonna' Love It"
1992:  "The Force Behind the Power" (#27 U.K.)
           "Waiting in the Wings"
           "One Shining Moment" (#10 U.K.)
1993:  "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)" (#31 U.K.)
           "Chain Reaction" (re-release--#20 U.K.)
           "Your Love" (#14 U.K.)
1994:  "The Best Years of My Life" (#28 U.K.)
           "Someday We'll Be Together" (remix)
           "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"/"I'm Coming Out" (remix" (#36 U.K.)
1995:  "Take Me Higher" (#77 R&B, #32 U.K.)
           "I'm Gone" (#36 U.K.)

1996:  "I Will Survive" (#14 U.K.)
           "If You're Not Gonna' Love Me Right" (#67 R&B)
           "Voice of the Heart" (#28 AC)
           "In the Ones You Love" (#34 U.K.)
1997:  "Promise Me You'll Try"
1999:  "Until We Meet Again"

           "Sugarfree"
           "Not Over You Yet" (#9 U.K.)
2001:  "Goin' Back"
2005:  "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (with Westlife) (#2 U.K.)
2006:  "I've Got a Crush on You" (with Rod Stewart" (#19 AC)
That's 42 hits for Ms. Ross, with 11 of those going Top 10 and an impressive 6 #1's.  On the R&B chart, Ross has 52 hits, with 18 Top 10's and five chart-toppers, and on the Adult chart, she has 29 hits with 13 of those reaching the Top 10 and four #1's.


And that doesn't even count her success with the Supremes!

Friday, May 18, 2012

This Date in Rock Music History: May 19

1958:  Peggy Lee recorded the great song "Fever" at the famous Capitol Tower Studios in Hollywood, California.




1958:  This group debuted on the chart with their first single.  Lead singer Dion would score 33 hits into the 1980's.  The first release from Dion & the Belmonts was "I Wonder Why".











1958:  An influential surf-rock duo that formed in high school as the Barons recorded their first song in a garage.  They scored 26 hits until a tragic accident to Jan Berry cut their recording career short.  On this date, the first single from Jan & Dean, credited as Jan & Arnie, debuted on the chart--"Jennie Lee".
1960:  The Drifters recorded "Save The Last Dance For Me".
1961:  The Everly Brothers began their own record label, Calliope Records.
1962:  Dee Dee Sharp remained at the top of the R&B chart for a fourth week with "Mashed Potato Time".






1962:  "Soldier Boy" by the Shirelles was #1 for a third week, holding off the great instrumental "Stranger On The Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk.  Dee Dee Sharp was all about "Mashed Potato Time" at #3 while Shelley Fabares loomed close to the top with "Johnny Angel" at #4.
1967:  The Beatles held a launch party at manager Brian Epstein's house in London for the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
1968:  The 5th Dimension were guests on The Ed Sullivan Show.
1968:  The Doors, the Animals, the Youngbloods, and Country Joe and the Fish were among the performers on the second and final day of the Northern California Rock Festival at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in Santa Clara.)
1972:  Elton John released the album Honky Chateau in the U.K.
1973:  "Daniel" by Elton John spent a second week at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.




1973:  "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* by Stevie Wonder, was the new #1, trading places with Dawn's "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree".  "Little Willy" from Sweet was #3 followed by Edgar Winter Group's classic instrumental Frankenstein".  The rest of the Top 10:  "Daniel" from Elton John, Paul McCartney & Wings climbed from 13 to 6 with "My Love", Dobie Gray's great song "Drift Away" was song #7, Stealers Wheel had #8 with "Stuck In The Middle With You, Sylvia moved from 14-9 with "Pillow Talk" and Skylark's one and only hit "Wildflower" entered the Top 10.







1975:  Elton John released the album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy in the United States on MCA Records.  (Note:  several websites claim the album was released in the United States on May 17, 1975 and was certified Platinum on the date of release.  Several websites, including MTV, Allmusic.com' and unfortunately Elton's official website, claim that the album was released May 23.  The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which certifies official album sales, reports that the album was released May 19, and the RIAA certified the album Gold on May 21.  As great an album as 'Captain Fantastic' is, it is physically impossible for an album to be certified Gold if it hasn't been released yet.  As for the LP's Platinum status, the RIAA did not certify the album as Platinum until 1993, as shown on their official website.) 










1975:  The song that launched the greatest comeback of the Rock Era, and essentially gave the Bee Gees a second career...The trio released "Jive Talkin'" on this date.  (Note:  many naïve websites report the single was released May 31.  "Jive Talkin'" debuted on the Singles chart on May 31, 1975.  It is physically impossible for a song to be released by a record company, mailed to radio stations, listened to and added to playlists by the radio station, reported to the trade papers, and printed and published by the trade papers, all on the same day.)





1975:  Paul McCartney & Wings released the single "Listen To What The Man Said".
1976:  Trouble is his middle name.  Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones crashed his car near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England.  Police found cocaine and marijuana in the car--small wonder.








1978:  Dire Straits released the single "Sultans Of Swing".  It flopped, but after a re-release, became a hit the following year.














1979:  "Just When I Needed You Most" by Randy Vanwarmer became the new #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1979:  Rex Smith moved from 59 to 30 with "You Take My Breath Away".
1979:  ABBA once again had the #1 album in the U.K., moving into the top position with their latest Voulez Vous.
1979:  Peaches & Herb was #1 for a fourth week on the R&B chart with "Reunited".









1979:  "Reunited" remained #1 for the third week out of four it would spend at the top for Peaches & Herb.  Donna Summer was making a bid with the Disco Rock song "Hot Stuff".











                              Supertramp reached #1...

1979:  The classic album Breakfast in America took over at #1 for the first time on this date, replacing Minute by Minute from the Doobie Brothers, which fell to #4.  Peaches & Herb had #2--2 Hot! while Bad Company came in third with Desolation Angels.  The rest of the Top 10:  Spirits Having Flown, the great album from the Bee Gees, Van Halen's second album at #6, We Are Family from Sister Sledge at #7, Go West by the Village People at 8, Blondie's Parallel Lines at #9 and Bad Girls by Donna Summer, moving from 39 to 10.






1980:  Olivia Newton-John released the single "Magic".  (Note:  some websites report the single was released on May 23.  "Magic" debuted on the Singles chart on May 24.  It is physically impossible for a song to be released by a record company, received and listened to by radio stations, reported by radio stations to the trade papers, and the trade papers printed and published, all in one day.)












1984:  ZZ Top released "Legs" on Dusty Hill's birthday.
1984:  "The Longest Time" from Billy Joel took over at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1984:  "Hello" by Lionel Richie spent a third week at #1 on the R&B chart.










1984:  Richard Carpenter married his wife Mary in Downey, California.
1984:  The Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon made it 10 consecutive years (520 weeks in a row) on the Album chart as one of the Top 200 top-selling albums of the week.
1985:  The television special Motown Returns to the Apollo aired on NBC.







1986:  Genesis released the single "Invisible Touch".
1988:  Not a good way to go out, but an undeniable way to leave your legacy.  James Brown was arrested for the fifth time in 12 months, charged with possession of PCP, unlawful possession of a pistol, resisting arrest, simple assault and battery against his wife and failure to stop for police at his home in Beech Island, South Carolina.
1990:  "Vogue" became Madonna's eighth #1 song on this date, taking over from "Nothing Compares 2 (sic) U (sic) by Sinead O'Connor.  Heart moved up with "All I Wanna' Do Is Make Love To You" at #3 and Wilson Phillips were at 4 with "Hold On".  
1990"  This Old Heart Of Mine" by Rod Stewart and Ronald Isley, was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for the fifth week in a row, making it one of the top AC hits of the 90's.
1991:  Odia Coates, who sang "Having My Baby" and others with Paul Anka, died of breast cancer in Oakland, California at the age of 49.
2003:  Aretha Franklin organized a candlelight vigil and prayer service at the Little Rock Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan for the great Luther Vandross, who suffered a stroke in April.
2004:  Gretchen Wilson debuted on the Album chart at #2 with Here for the Party.

2006:  Freddie Garrity of Freddie & the Dreamers ("I'm Telling You Now") died in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales at the age of 69 after suffering from emphysema for many years.
2007:  Frank Guida, who produced "Quarter To Three" for Gary U.S. Bonds and "If You Wanna' Be Happy" for Jimmy Soul, among others, and was also the owner of a record company, died in Virginia Beach, Virginia shortly before his 85th birthday.  (Note:  the notoriously wrong 'Allmusic.com' and other websites falsely report that Guida died in Norfolk, Virginia.  Frank's obituary appeared in a Norfolk newspaper, 'The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot', but if they had bothered to read further, they would see that Guida died at his home in Virginia Beach.) 
2009:  Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff received a lifetime songwriting achievement award from BMI.




Born This Day:


1945:  Elite guitarist and leader of the Who, Pete Townshend was born in Chiswick, London.
1947:  Greg Herbert, saxophonist and flautist of Blood, Sweat and Tears; died of a drug overdose in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on January 31, 1977.
1947:  Steve Currie, bassist of T. Rex, was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England; died in a car crash near Vale de Parra, Algarve, Portugal April 28, 1981.  (Note:  some websites report his birth as May 20, but according to the BBC, Currie was born May 19.  Some websites say Currie was born in the county of North Lincolnshire; the county was simply called Lincolnshire.)
1947:  Jerry Hyman, trombone player of Blood, Sweat and Tears was born in Brooklyn, New York.





1948:  Great saxophone player and three-time Grammy Award winner (nominated 13 times) Tom Scott was born in Los Angeles, California.  Scott recorded the theme songs to Starsky & Hutch and The Streets of San Francisco, and is one of the top session musicians of the Rock Era.  Scott, who also has played flute, horn, percussion, synthesizers, and many other instruments, has played on "Listen To What The Man Said" by Paul McCartney & Wings, "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" by Rod Stewart, "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell, "Rosanna" by Toto, "Rapture" by Blondie, "Sing" by the Carpenters, "Lido Shuffle" by Boz Scaggs, "Saving All My Love For You" by Whitney Houston, and "It Never Rains In Southern California" by Albert Hammond.  Scott has also collaborated with Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, the Beach Boys, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, Olivia Newton-John, Barry Manilow, Pat Benatar, Diana Ross, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, Hall & Oates, Bread, Dan Fogelberg (including the album Phoenix), Steely Dan (album Aja), Helen Reddy, Johnny Rivers, Johnny Mathis, The Captain & Tennille, Donovan, Josh Groban, Steppenwolf, Joan Baez, Michael Buble, the Grateful Dead, Earl Klugh, and many others.




1949:  Dusty Hill, bass guitarist and vocalist of ZZ Top, was born in Dallas, Texas.
1952:  Joey Ramone, songwriter and lead singer of the Ramones, was born in Queens, New York; died of lymphoma April 15, 2001 in New York City.  (Note:  some websites report that Ramone was born in Forest Hills, New York.  Forest Hills is a neighborhood, not a city, and will never appear on an official birth certificate.  Ramone was born in Queens.)
1952:  Barbara Joyce Lomas, singer with B.T. Express ("Express"), was born in Bessemer, Alabama.
1956:  Martyn Ware of the Human League and later Heaven 17, who also produced "Let's Stay Together" for Tina Turner, was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.  (Note:  the infamous 'Allmusic.com' and other websites report that Ware was born on May 16.  This is false, according to the official websites for Heaven 17 and the city of Sheffield, as well as 'ABC News' and 'BBC'.  Numerous websites list Ware's county of birth as Yorkshire or South Yorkshire.  Sheffield did not become part of the county of South Yorkshire until 1974 with the Local Government Act, long after Ware's birth--the correct name of the county Martyn was born in is West Riding of Yorkshire) 
1960:  Phil Rudd, drummer for AC/DC, was born in Melbourne, Australia.
1962:  Iain Harvie, guitarist with Del Amitri, was born in Glasgow, Scotland.
1972:  Jenny Berggren of Ace of Base was born in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Five Best: Eric Carmen

He started out as the lead singer of the Raspberries in Cleveland, Ohio from 1970-1974.  He had 13 hits in his career.  Here are the Five Best from Eric Carmen (with a few bonuses!):
 
1.  All By Myself



2.  Make Me Lose Control



3.  Hungry Eyes


4.  Nowhere to Hide


5.  Never Gonna' Fall in Love Again


 

6.  Boats Against the Current


7.  Sunrise

New Entry in The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era: "Caught Up in the Rapture" from Anita Baker

It's a good time for another entry into The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era* category.  Unbelievably, the song only hit #37.  Definitely one you want to be familiar with.  There are a lot of hidden "gems" on the Rapture album--here's one of them:
 
Caught Up in the Rapture
Anita Baker


Words and Music by Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson & Gary Bias



When we met, I always knew
I would feed the magic for you
On my mind constantly
In my arms is where you should be

I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time

[Chorus 1:]
Caught up in the repture of love
Nothing else can compare
When I feel the magic of you

We stand side by side
Till the storms of life pass us by
Light my life, warm my heart
Say tonight will be just the start

I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time

[Chorus 2:]
Caught up in the rapture of love
Nothing else can compare
When I feel the magic of you
The feeling's always new
Caught up in the rapture of you

I love you here by me, baby
You let my love fly free
I want you in my life for all time

[Chorus 2]

Caught up in the rapture of love
Caught up in the rapture of love