portrait of this blog's author - by Stephen Blackman 2008

Sunday, December 29, 2019

ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

December 29th

1962 - Bob Dylan
During his first visit to the UK Bob Dylan performed at The Troubadour in London.

The angelic Bob Dylan at The Troubador 1962 (BBC)
1964 - The Beatles
The Liverpool Youth Employment Service announced that some school leavers were finding it difficult to get jobs because their 'Beatle' style haircuts and clothing were unacceptable to employers. I was quizzed at school by the Headmistress over my long hair about getting a job and said 'Well you could just cut it and then grow it back when you got the job." She was apoplectic with rage. Accused me of being "immoral" and, the point lost on me, I said I really didn't care and anyone who didn't like my long hair could go whistle and I wouldn't want to work for them anyway. She went purple! Sent me out of class to the headmasters office. Curiously it turned out I was right!
1966 - Paul McCartney
Working at Abbey Road studios, London, Paul McCartney began work on his new song ‘Penny Lane’, recording six takes of keyboard tracks and various percussion effects. The song's title is derived from the name of a street near John Lennon's house, in the band's hometown, Liverpool. McCartney and Lennon would meet at Penny Lane junction in the Mossley Hill area to catch a bus into the centre of the city.
1966 - Jimi Hendrix
The Jimi Hendrix Experience made their debut on the UK TV show Top Of The Pops performing 'Hey Joe'. They were live then . . . . . . 
1967 - Dave Mason
British guitarist and singer Dave Mason quit Traffic after differences of musical opinion. Mason wrote 'Hole in My Shoe', a psychedelic pop song that became a hit in for Traffic in 1967.

1980 - Tim Hardin
American singer, songwriter Tim Hardin died of a heroin overdose. Hardin wrote the songs 'If I Were A Carpenter' (covered by Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash and June Carter, The Four Tops, Leon Russell, Small Faces, Robert Plant and Bob Seger,) and 'Reason To Believe', (covered by Rod Stewart). Hardin appeared at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

1999 - Spice Girls
Three ferrets (no really!) named Beckham, Posh Spice and Baby Spice were used to lay power cables for a rock concert being held in Greenwich, London, England, (workers were not allowed to dig up the turf at the Royal Park). Organizers found that rods could not push the cables through the tiny tunnels, which frequently bend and dog-leg. The ferrets were eased into tiny nylon harnesses with wires which where then attached to a rope, the animals ran into a series of ducts which were under the stage like rabbit runs, leading the cables with them. The ferrets instinctively make for any hole in the ground and are enticed to the end of the duct by a slab of smelly meat. The New Years Eve concert featured Simply Red, Eurythmics and Bryan Ferry.
2001 - Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin was suing a US newspaper which alleged that the star had alcohol problems. The singer's lawyers filed a federal lawsuit against the Florida-based Star claiming she was defamed by an article in the paper in December 2000 and were seeking $50m (£35m) in damages.
in 2017

2010 - Bon Jovi
Pollstar reported that Bon Jovi were the highest earning touring act of the year, taking in over $200 million (£130.7m). Australian rockers AC/DC landed at number two for the second year in a row, with tickets sales from their recent trek totaling $177m (£115m). U2 which was the top worldwide act in 2009, came in at third place, with ticket sales totaling $160.9m (£104.6m). Lady Gaga followed in fourth place, with Metallica at number five.

BIRTHDAYS

1951 - Yvonne Elliman
Yvonne Elliman, singer, 1978 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'If I Can't Have You', also worked with Eric Clapton.


1948 - Charlie Spinosa
Charlie Spinosa, from John Fred and His Playboy Band who had the 1968 US No.1 & UK No.3 single 'Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)' which was a parodic play on the title of The Beatles' song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'. WE assumed it was more reverential than maybe it actually was but being so young we did find it funny! . . . . . . this WAS the time of The Archies 'Sugar Sugar' remember coming from America so this knowing smart arse pop was at least clever (or so we thought)


1947 - Cozy Powell
English rock drummer Cozy Powell [Colin Flooks], who worked with The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Gary Moore, Robert Plant, Brian May, Whitesnake, Emerson, Lake & Powell and Black Sabbath. Powell scored the 1973 solo UK No. 3 hit single 'Dance With The Devil'. Powell was killed in a car crash in England on 5 April 1998. According to a report, at the time of the crash Powell's blood-alcohol reading was over the legal limit, and he was not wearing a seat belt, and was talking with his girlfriend on his mobile phone at the time of the crash.


1946 - Marianne Faithfull
English singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull and one time girlfriend of Mick Jagger. She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single 'As Tears Go By' (written by Mick JaggerKeith Richards, and Rolling Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham). Later she had strong chart interest and new following with 'Ballad Of Lucy Jordan' Faithfull also wrote three books about her life: Faithfull: An Autobiography (1994), Memories, Dreams & Reflections (2007), and Marianne Faithfull: A Life on Record (2014). She has just released her 21st album 'Negative Capability' after some 50 years in the music business . . . . . we like her!



1942 - Rick Danko
Canadian musician, bassist, songwriter and singer, Rick Danko, member of The Hawks ( Ronnie Hawkins's backing group), and The Band who went on to release ten studio albums. Bob Dylan hired them for his US tour in 1965 and world tour in 1966. Danko died on 10th December 1999 due to heart failure, arising from years of alcoholism, drug addiction and weight gain.

The All Starr Band (check the line up)


1941 - Ray Thomas
Ray Thomas, English musician, best known as a flautist, singer and composer with English rock band The Moody Blues who had the 1965 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Go Now' and the hits singles including 'Go Now', 'Nights in White Satin' and 'Question'. Thomas died on 4 January 2018 six days after his 76th birthday.


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