FEBRUARY MUSICS

Music from the month of my birth . . . . . sourced mostly from the wonderful blog BEHIND THE GROOVES: a music blog by Jeff Harris

On this day in music history: February 21, 1966 - “Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful is released. Written by John Sebastian, it is the third single release for the pop/folk-rock band from New York City. Right on the heels of their first two singles “Do You Believe In Magic” (#9 Pop), “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” (#10 Pop) and their debut album, The Lovin’ Spoonful quickly follow up those hits with the first taste of their sophomore effort. Guitarist and primary lead vocalist John Sebastian draws inspiration from an unlikely place when writing the bands third single. Sebastian gets the initial idea for “Daydream” from The Supremes’ number one hit “Baby Love”, trying to figure a way to re-write that song. Born and raised in New York’s Greenwich Village, ground zero of the city’s vibrant folk music scene and blues music revival, John also draws on those influences, combining them with his innate sensibility for writing great pop melodies and hooks. After finishing the song, The Lovin’ Spoonful record “Daydream” at Bell Sound Studios in New York in late 1965. The title track of the Spoonful’s second album, it takes off immediately, becoming their biggest hit to date. Entering the Hot 100 at #76 on February 26, 1966, “Daydream” peaks at #2 on April 9, 1966. The song proves to have long lasting popularity and influence long after its run on the charts. “Daydream” provides Paul McCartney with the inspiration for writing “Good Day Sunshine”, featured on The Beatles’ masterwork “Revolver”. The Lovin’ Spoonful’s hit is widely covered by numerous artists over the years, including versions by Bobby Darin, David Cassidy, Ricky Nelson, Art Garfunkel, The Guess Who, Dino, Desi, & Billy, The Sweet, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Maria Muldaur and Chet Atkins. The Spoonful’s original recording has been featured in movies, television shows and commercials, including a popular advertisement for Jeep Cherokee.

The Lovin' Spoonful were really important to me as an early teenager and I adored them. I bought pretty much everything but the album 'Hums . . . ' was the most important. John B Sebastian was my hero as was guitarist Zal Yanovsky (Eric Clapton rated him!) 'Nashville Cats', 'Voodoo in My Basement' and 'Rain on The Roof' were American songwriting at it's best and most varied. 'Daydream' is right up there too although curiously 'Summer In The City' wasn't in my top twenty tracks. Too obvious somehow but even the sentiment of earlier tracks bowled me over. I loved them. By the Spoonful!

On this day in music history: February 23, 1985 - “Diamond Life”, the debut album by Sade is released (UK release date is on July 16, 1984). Produced by Robin Millar, it is recorded at Power Plant Studios in Willesden, North West London from Late 1983 - Mid 1984. Formed out of the remanants of the Latin soul band Pride, Sade centers around its Nigerian born (and British raised) lead singer and lyricist Helen Folasade Adu along with guitarist and saxophonist Stuart Matthewman, bassist Paul Spencer Denman and keyboardist Andrew Hale. The band sign with the UK division of Epic Records and US subsidiary Portrait Records in the Fall of 1983. The album is issued in the US following its success in the UK, it spins off three singles including “Smooth Operator” (#5 Pop and R&B), “Hang On To Your Love” (#5 Club Play, #14 R&B), and “Your Love Is King” (#35 R&B, #54 Pop, #8 AC). US and UK versions of the album differ slightly, with the original UK release containing an earlier version of “Smooth Operator”. The US version contains the second recording of the track, first issued as a UK single, which becomes the common version around the world. First editions of the US vinyl LP come packaged in a gatefold jacket, which are discontinued briefly after its release, being replaced with a single pocket sleeve with the inner gatefold contents regulated to the inner sleeve. “Diamond Life” peaks at number three on the Billboard R&B album chart, number five on the Top 200, and is certified 4x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

On this day in music history: February 28, 1970 - “Moondance”, the third album by Van Morrison is released. Produced by Van Morrison and Lewis Merenstein, it is recorded at A&R Studios in New York City from August - November 1969. Following the highly acclaimed (but only modestly selling) “Astral Weeks”, the Northern Irish singer and songwriter returns with what becomes one of his best and most beloved works. Moving to upstate New York, he’ll spend nearly ten months writing the material that make his next full length release. The albums blend of R&B, Jazz, Folk, Country and Rock firmly establishes Morrison as one of the premier singer/songwriters of his generation. Several songs including “Crazy Love”, “Into The Mystic”, “Caravan”, and the title track become album rock radio staples over the years. The album is remastered and reissued as a 180 gram vinyl LP in 2008 by Rhino Records. In 2013, the label remasters and reissues this classic title on CD in an expanded five disc edition (4 CD’s + Blu-Ray disc). The first CD features the original ten song album, with the second, third and fourth CD’s featuring outtakes and alternate mixes from the sessions. The Blu-ray disc features newly remixed high resolution stereo and 5.1 surround mixes of the original album, from the original multi-track masters. “Moondance” peaks at number twenty nine on the Billboard Top 200, is certified 3x Platinum in the US by the RIAA, and is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1999.

On this day in music history: February 19, 1972 - “Without You” by Nilsson hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks. Written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans, it is the biggest hit for the Brooklyn, NY born singer, songwriter, and musician. Badfinger guitarist Pete Ham and bassist Tom Evans compose the song in 1970, including it on their album “No Dice”. Harry Nilsson hears the song at a party, initially mistaking it for a Beatles song. He decides to record the song for his album “Nilsson Schmilsson” with producer Richard Perry. Recorded at Trident Studios in London, the track features instrumental support from musicians including Gary Wright, Jim Keltner and Klaus Voorman. On the day of the session, Harry abruptly changes his mind, telling Perry he doesn’t want to record the song after all. Nilsson argues with Perry, who in turn suggests that they discuss the matter over tea at the Dorchester Hotel in near by Mayfair. When Perry finally persuades Nilsson to go through with the session, they hop into a taxi and go straight to the studio, where the singer records his lead vocal in a single take. Entering the Hot 100 at #99 on December 18, 1971, it climbs to the top of the chart nine weeks later. The single wins Nilsson his second Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male in 1973. “Without You” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

On this day in music history: February 19, 1971 - “Another Day” by Paul McCartney is released. Written and produced by Paul McCartney, it is the first post-Beatles solo single for McCartney. It is written as a “thematic sequel” to “Eleanor Rigby”, describing a woman as she struggles to make it through the “drudgery and sadness” of her daily life. Recorded at A&R Studios in New York City in December 1970, it is cut during the sessions for his forthcoming second solo album “RAM”. Backed with the mid tempo rocker “Oh Woman, Oh Why”, the two tracks are released as a stand alone single. Picked for release by engineer Dixon Van Winkle, it is quickly mixed with acetates sent to one hundred radio stations who begin airing it immediately. The mono mix sent to AM radio stations features heavy compression with an elevated amount of bass, that is not present on commercially issued copies which are issued in stereo only in the US. “Another Day” peaks at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 17, 1971. Later in the year, John Lennon makes reference to “Another Day” in his song “How Do You Sleep?” (from the “Imagine” album), with him taking a swipe at his former Beatle band mate, with the lyric “The only thing you done was Yesterday, and since you’ve gone you’re just Another Day”. The song is his response to McCartney after he believes that the songs “Too Many People”, “3 Legs” and “Dear Boy” (on “RAM”) are critical of him. “Another Day” is not issued on an album until 1977 when it is included on the compilation “Wings Greatest”. “Another Day/Oh Woman Oh Why” is reissued in as a limited edition 7" single (packaged with a replica of the original Norwegian picture sleeve) for Record Store Day in April of 2012, and as bonus tracks on the CD reissues of “RAM”.

On this day in music history: February 26, 1966 - “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week. Written and produced by Lee Hazlewood, it is the first chart topping single for the daughter of pop vocal legend Frank Sinatra. Signed to her fathers’ label Reprise Records in 1961, Sinatra records and releases fifteen singles over the next four years with little to no success. In 1965, she is paired with producer Lee Hazlewood (Duane Eddy, Dean Martin), who sets about writing and producing a hit for her. Recently divorced from singer and actor Tommy Sands, Hazlewood talks to Nancy about that relationship and its aftermath, and uses it as the inspiration to write what becomes her signature song. The track is recorded at Western Recorders in Hollywood, CA on November 19, 1965 with members of The Wrecking Crew which include Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, Chuck Berghofer, Billy Strange and Tommy Tedesco. Hitting the airwaves shortly before Christmas in 1965, and released in early January of 1966, “Boots” quickly takes hold on radio. Entering the Hot 100 at #74 on January 22, 1966, it leaps to the top of the chart five weeks later. The song has an enduring impact on popular music and culture. Nancy Sinatra’s original version is featured in numerous films and TV programs over the years (“Full Metal Jacket”, “Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery”, “China Beach”, “CSI”), and is covered many times by various artists. “The Boots Are Made For Walkin’” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Born on this day: February 26, 1932 - Country music icon Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash in Kingsland, AR). Happy Birthday to “The Man In Black” on what would have been his 85th Birthday. Here singing the wonderful drug and alcohol comedown song by Kris Kristofferson

On this day in music history: February 25, 1977 - “Peter Gabriel 1 (Car)”, the debut solo album by Peter Gabriel is released. Produced by Bob Ezrin, it is recorded at The Soundstage in Toronto, Canada from July 1976 - January 1977. Following his departure from Genesis in 1975, Gabriel takes an extended hiatus to spend with his family and write material for what becomes his first solo effort. The album features Gabriel backed by a group musicians that include King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and bassist Tony Levin. The first single “Solsbury Hill” (#13 UK, #68 US Pop) is an autobiographical account of his feelings about leaving his former band Genesis. The album’s closing track “Here Comes The Flood” is later re-recorded by Gabriel in 1990 for the hits compilation “Shaking The Tree”. The album is released without a title (the first of four that are untitled), it becomes known by fans as “Car” due to the LP’s cover art that features a photograph of the back end of a car (taken by Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson of Hipgnosis) with a photo of Gabriel superimposed in the back window. First released on CD in 1987, the album is remastered and reissued in 2002. It is also reissued as a limited edition vinyl LP by audiophile label Classic Records the same year. Another limited issue released as a double vinyl set mastered at 45 RPM is issued in 2009 by Classic Records. Most recently, another double vinyl 45 RPM set is released on Gabriel’s Real World Records in 2015. “PG 1 (Car)” peaks at number seven on the UK album chart, number thirty eight on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

On this day in music history: February 27, 1989 - “Oranges And Lemons”, the tenth album by XTC is released. Produced by Paul Fox , it is recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles, CA in Late 1988. Under pressure from their record label to produce a hit and paired with a first time producer (who later goes on to produce The Sugarcubes, 10,000 Maniacs, Phish), sessions for the album will not always go smoothly. In spite of all this, the end result is the bands most successful album in the US, spinning off two singles including “Mayor Of Simpleton” (#1 Modern Rock) and “King For A Day” (#11 Modern Rock). The albums title is inspired by song lyric from their previous album, which in itself refers to an old English nursery rhyme. Remastered and expanded reissues of the album featuring new 5.1 surround remixes by Steven Wilson, and the original stereo on CD and blu-ray, and an audiophile LP pressing on 180g vinyl are released on Partridge’s label Ape House Records on October 30, 2015. “Oranges And Lemons” peaks at number twenty eight on the UK album chart, and number forty four on the Billboard Top 200.

On this day in music history: February 17, 1966 - The Beach Boys begin recording “Good Vibrations” at United/Western Recorders in Hollywood, CA. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, it is the twentieth single for the legendary pop band from Hawthorne, CA. The inspiration for “Good Vibrations” has its origins in a conversation that Wilson has with his mother Audree as a child, who tells him that dogs bark at some people and not at others because of the “vibrations” they sense coming from them. the initial recording session has Wilson working with members of The Wrecking Crew cutting twenty six takes of the instrumental track. Seventeen more sessions at three other recording studios take place over the next six months as the song is refined. The end product generates over 90 hours of tape and cost an unprecedented $50,000. At the time of its October 1966 release, “Good Vibrations” is the most expensive single ever recorded. First issued as a stand alone single, it is intended to be the cornerstone of the album “Smile” which is originally scheduled for release in early 1967. However, Brian Wilson’s fragile emotional state, exacerbated by drug use and inner band conflict over the direction of the project, lead to the album being shelved until 2011. “The Smile Sessions” deluxe box set edition devotes an entire disc to “Good Vibrations” as a work in progress, as well as an including an alternate stereo mix of the song on the first disc. Part of the recording sessions for the landmark single are also recreated in the film “Love And Mercy” in 2014.