ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

May 16th

1962 - B Bumble and the Stingers

B Bumble and the Stingers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Nut Rocker.' The instrumental was based on Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite.' I bought a scratchy bargain bin single of this that I still have somewhere in the vaults and it brought me great pleasure much to my parent's bemusement! Not annoyance it is worth saying as Mu and Dad may have been inextricably 'classical' (sort of) but didn't influence or seek too what I or my brother would listen to. Dad was merely mystified . . . . . . . . 

and again ten years later!


1966 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan's iconic Blonde On Blonde album was released, reaching No.9 in the US charts and No.3 in the UK. Rock's first double album, and Dylan's seventh studio effort, it was recorded with Al Kooper, Robbie Robertson and Nashville country music session players, and had what Dylan later called ‘that wild mercury sound’.

A total masterpiece and contender for many people's favourite Dylan album it contains some of the greatest songs ever written. including this one of the greatest love songs ever committed to vinyl IMHO. Often considered by some to be the greatest album of all time.

Here from 'I'm Not There' . . . . . 

Visions of Johanna! Official bootleg version . . . . 

Yes I see You've Got Your Brand New Leopardskin Pill-Box Hat

Bob Dylan & The Band - Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) from Not Dark Yet on Vimeo.

A favourite performance of the classic 'Blonde on Blonde' title and the angriest love song you will ever hear!

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contd

1976 - Patti Smith

Patti Smith made her UK debut at The Roundhouse, London. The American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses. I wish I had been able to attend this but was turned on to the album when it came out by a fellow student and we adored this album (still do!)

Patti by Robert Mapplethorpe from the Horses shoot 

Patti at The Roundhouse 1976

Patti at The Roundhouse 2015 photo Burak Cingi.

2009 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Together Through Life’, his 33rd studio album. The album received two Grammy Award nominations in Best Americana Album category and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance category for 'Beyond Here Lies Nothin'. The album also is significant as the only album by Dylan to top the US and UK charts consecutively.

BIRTHDAYS

1955 - Hazel O'Conner

British singer-songwriter and actress Hazel O'Conner, who had the 1980 UK No.5 single 'Eighth Day' as well as starring in the film Breaking Glass.

1951 - Jonathan Richman

Jonathan Richman, guitar, vocals, from American rock band The Modern Lovers who scored the 1977 UK No.5 single 'Egyptian Reggae' and the 1977 UK No.11 'Roadrunner'. Richman appeared in the films Dumb & Dumber and There's Something About Mary.

1946 - Robert Fripp

English guitarist, composer and record producer Robert Fripp, who with King Crimson had the 1969 UK No.5 album, In The Court Of The Crimson King. He has also worked extensively as a studio musician, notably with David Bowie on the albums Heroes and Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps), Brian Eno, Porcupine Tree, Andy Summers, Slow Music, Theo Travis, The Humans, Jakko Jakszyk and many others.