ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

May 29th

1913 - Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky's ballet score "The Rite of Spring" premieres in Paris, provoking a riot

1942 - Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby recorded the Irving Berlin song 'White Christmas'. Crosby recorded the song with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers in just 18 minutes. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.

Richard Hamilton. I'm Dreaming of White Christmas. screen print Tate Gallery

Richard Hamilton. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. 1967 

Richard Hamilton. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Screen print and wash 1967

Richard Hamilton. I'm dreaming of white Christmas, 1967-68 screen print

all richard's images © The estate of Richard Hamilton

1965 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan's album 'Bringing It All Back Home' was at No.1 on the UK charts, his second UK No.1 album. The black and white pamphlet lying across the Time magazine with President Lyndon B. Johnson on the cover is a publication of the Earth Society, who saw its mission as protecting earth from collisions with comets and planets.

Daniel Kramer outtake from the session featuring Bob and his manager's wife Sally Grossman

1971 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Brown Sugar', from Sticky Fingers. The first single released on Rolling Stones Records, it was the bands sixth US No.1, and a No.2 hit in the UK. The songs lyrics, which are essentially a pastiche of a number of taboo subjects, include: interracial sex, cunnilingus, slave rape, and less distinctly, sadomasochism, lost virginity, and heroin.

1997 - Jeff Buckley

Singer songwriter Jeff Buckley disappeared after talking a swim in the Mississippi River, his body was found on 4th June 1997 after being spotted by a passenger on a tourist riverboat. One of the finest debut albums in the history of music and such a great sad sad loss to us all. I know of no-one who doesn't own this debut album, Grace.

Based loosely, but more closely than Leonard Cohen's original, Jeff clearly referred to John Cale's wonderful version re-arrangement of 'Hallelujah' and I thought it a work of wonder. While John's had long been my favourite as soon as Jeff stepped up to the mic Cale's came second!
2005 - Gorillaz

Gorillaz scored their first UK No.1 album when 'Demon Days' went to the top of the charts.

2009 - Phil Spector

Phil Spector was jailed for at least 19 years for murdering an actress in 2003. The producer, 69, famed for his Wall of Sound recording technique, was found guilty of shooting Lana Clarkson at his California home. Spector had pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder during the five-month retrial in Los Angeles. His lawyers said he would appeal. Spector was given a sentence of 15 years to life for second-degree murder and an additional four years for personal use of a gun.

Spector in court

Phil Spector mugshot 

BIRTHDAYS

1945 - Gary Brooker

Gary Brooker, English singer, songwriter, pianist, founder and lead singer of the rock band Procol Harum who had the 1967 UK No.1 and US No.5 single A Whiter Shade Of Pale. (one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies) and scored the hits 'Homburg', 'Conquistador'. Brooker founded The Paramounts in 1962 with his guitarist friend Robin Trower and has also worked with Eric Clapton, Alan Parsons and Ringo Starr.

1949 - Francis Rossi

Francis Rossi, guitarist, singer, songwriter with Status Quo. The group have had over 60 chart hits in the UK, more than any other rock band, including 'Pictures of Matchstick Men' in 1967, 'Whatever You Want' in 1979 and 'In the Army Now' in 2010. Twenty-two of these reached the Top 10 in the UK. In July 1985 the band opened Live Aid at Wembley Stadium with 'Rockin' All Over the World'. In their prime . . . . . . 








1967 - Noel Gallagher

English singer, songwriter and guitarist Noel Gallagher, Oasis. First single was the 1994 UK No.31 single 'Supersonic', followed by the 1994 UK No.1 album 'Definitely Maybe' which became the fastest selling UK debut album ever. Their third studio album, 'Be Here Now' (1997), became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history. Gallagher now fronts Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

The intelligent Gallagher has been getting more and more interesting later in life but his growing up and learning the guitar in public schtick tired me really early. The Oasis material left me totally cold and it really depended on how fast Noel learnt the guitar. It just took longer than I think anyone, expected! Featuring with Gorrilaz lately and other solo material finally seemed like an arrival of a pro but as he is in his forties it took him a while. The guttural howling and simian antics of his brother were laughably amateur and the fact he couldn't sing either didn't help. Violent, aggressive hooligan yobbishness notwithstanding suggest someone with 'issues' that need addressing still . The two brothers now seem unable to speak at all and the youngest of the two seems to lack any emotional intelligence whatsoever.