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

Thursday, August 08, 2019

ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC


1957 - The Quarry Men
The Quarry Men played at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, (without Paul McCartney who was away at Boy Scout summer camp). The Cavern was still a jazz club, but skiffle was tolerated, but when John Lennon dared to play ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, the club owner sent a note to the stage saying, "Cut out the bloody rock!"


1970 - The Goose Lake International Music Festival



The Goose Lake International Music Festival was held in Leoni, Michigan. Over 200,000 fans attended the three day festival. Acts who appeared included, Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, Mountain, Chicago, Bob Seger, John Sebastian, James Gang, Stooges with Iggy Pop, Brownsville Station, MC5, Rod Stewart and The Flying Burrito Brothers.


1971 - Bee Gees
The Bee Gees started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'How Can You Mend A Broken Heart'. It was the group's tenth US hit and first No.1. The Bee Gees penned song was originally offered to Andy Williams, but ultimately the Bee Gees recorded it themselves, it was also later covered by soul singer Al Green. 

1976 - Elton John
Elton John and Kiki Dee were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', giving Elton his sixth US No.1. It was written by Elton John with Bernie Taupin under the pseudonym "Ann Orson" and "Carte Blanche."

1980 - John Lennon
John Lennon began recording his final album, 'Double Fantasy' at The Hit Factory, in New York City. It would be released on November 17th by the newly-formed Geffen Records and would win the 1982 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

1982 - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Dexy's Midnight Runners were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Come On Eileen' their second and last No.1. It was the Best-selling single of 1982 and the song won Best British Single at the 1983 Brit Awards. The "Eileen" as featured in the video is Máire Fahey, sister of Siobhan Fahey, former singer with Bananarama and Shakespears Sister. The American singer Johnnie Ray, mentioned in the opening lyrics, was also featured in the video using old film footage.

1984 - Esther Phillips



American soul singer Esther Phillips died from liver and kidney failure in Carson, California in 1984, at the age of 48. (1975 hit single 'What A Difference A Day Makes').

2001 - Larry Adler
Harmonica player Larry Adler died aged 87. Known for his original collaborations with George Gershwin, Kate Bush, Sting and Vaughan Williams and his own virtuoso performances. I loved harmonica players probably because of my Uncle Brian who played and early folk like John Sebastian I adored but couldn't play myself no matter how hard I tried. I always recall the most amazing and singular fact about |Adler not a tall man but who disclosed on Parkinson interview show that he had been 14lb at birth!!


2007 - Lily Allen
Lily Allen had her US work visa cancelled after arriving at Los Angeles airport. The 22-year-old, who was due to tour America in September, had flown in for the MTV Video Music Awards launch. She was held at the airport for five hours in connection with an arrest for an alleged assault in London in June.

2007 - Pete Doherty
Pete Doherty was warned by a judge that he could face jail or a community order over drugs offences. In July, the 28-year-old Babyshambles frontman pleaded guilty to driving illegally while in possession of crack cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis. The judge said: "What I have in mind is a community order or prison... if he does not show his motivation, it's prison - it's as simple as that." The singer volunteered to show the position of an implant in his stomach designed to help him give up drugs.


2014 - Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran was at No.1 on the UK album chart with his second studio album X. The album has been certified 10x platinum in the UK with sales of over 3 million copies, making it the third best-selling album of the 2010s and one of the best selling albums in the history of the UK

BIRTHDAYS

1964 - Ian Dench
Ian Dench, guitarist from British dance music/rock band EMF who had the 1990 UK No.3 & US No.1 single 'Unbelievable'. Their debut album, Schubert Dip, went to No.3 on the UK albums chart.


1965 - Raul Malo
American singer, songwriter, guitarist Raul Malo who with The Mavericks had the 1998 UK No.4 single 'Dance The Night Away'.

1952 - Alexei Sayle
English stand-up comedian, actor, author Alexei Sayle who had the 1984 UK No.15 single 'Ullo John Got A New Motor'.

1942 - B.J. Thomas
B.J. Thomas, American singer. His 1966, album with The Triumphs I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry sold over one million copies. He is best known for his version of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head', which was featured in the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. In 1975 he scored the US Country No.1 '(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.'


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