ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

August 6th

1960 - Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker appeared on US TV show American Bandstand and performed 'The Twist.' The song went to No.1 on the US chart and again 18 months later in 1962. It is the only song to go to the top of the charts on two separate occasions.
I LOVED doing the twist (didn't we all?!) such fun!

1963 - Bob Dylan

In the evening at Studio A of the Columbia Recording Studio, New York City, Bob Dylan recorded the first session produced by Tom Wilson for the album The Times They Are A-Changin'. Dylan's third studio album was the first collection to feature only original compositions, the title track being one of Dylan's most famous. The album consists mostly of stark, sparsely-arranged story songs concerning issues such as racism, poverty, and social change.

Tom Wilson with Bob in the studio 

Tom Wilson second from left, Bob and Albert Grossman his manager

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles arrived in Jersey in the Channel Islands, where they spent the day go-carting and relaxing by the pool at The Revere Hotel before playing the first of four nights at the Springfield Ballroom. Some fans had found out where they were staying, but they were happy to chat and be photographed with them.

1964 - Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart made his TV debut on 'The Beat Room' as a member of The Hoochie Coochie Men.

Rod and The Hoochie Coochie Men play Derbyshire!

1965 - The Beatles

The Beatles released their fifth album and soundtrack to their second film ‘Help!’ which included the title track, ‘The Night Before’, ‘You've Got to Hide Your Love Away’, ‘You're Going to Lose That Girl’, ‘Ticket to Ride’ and 'Yesterday'.

1965 - Small Faces

Decca records released the Small Faces debut single 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It.' It peaked at No.14 on the UK chart.


1970 - The Concert For Peace

Steppenwolf, Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Poco, John Sebastian, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steppenwolf, The James Gang, The Rascals and Johnny Winter all appeared at the Concert For Peace at New York's Shea Stadium. The concert date coincided with the 25th anniversary of dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.

1970 - The National Jazz, Blues and Pop Festival

The 10th National Jazz, Blues and Pop four day Festival was held at Plumpton Racecourse in Sussex, England. Featuring, Family, Groundhogs, Cat Stevens, Deep Purple, Fat Mattress, Yes, Caravan, The Strawbs, Black Sabbath, Wild Angles, Wishbone Ash and Daddy Longlegs.

1973 - Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder was seriously injured when the car he was riding in crashed into a truck on I-85 near Winston-Salem, North Carolina leaving him in a coma for four days. The accident also left him without any sense of smell.

1974 - ABBA

ABBA scored their first US top 10 hit when 'Waterloo' went to No.6. 'Waterloo' was written specifically to be entered into the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, after the group finished third with 'Ring Ring' the previous year in the Swedish pre-selection contest. The original title of the song was 'Honey Pie'.

1977 - The Police

The Police appeared at The Red Cow, Hammersmith Road in London, admission was 60p.

1977 - Donna Summer

This week's UK Top 5 singles: No.5 'Fanfare For The Common Man', ELP. No.4, 'Pretty Vacant', the Sex Pistols. No.3, 'Angelo' Brotherhood Of Man'. No.2, 'Ma Baker', Boney M and No.1, 'I Feel Love' Donna Summer. Just an excuse to play my favourite Donna Summer . . . . . .

1981 - Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks released her first solo album Bella Donna which contained four top 40 US hits. ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’, (with Tom Petty), ‘Leather and Lace’, (with Don Henley), ‘Edge of Seventeen’ and ‘After the Glitter Fades.’ Never really seen the attraction but then haven't been taken along by the self indulgent self obsessed crew post Peter Green's blues based band. I certainly never saw what seemingly so many others saw in Nicks  as an artist she is overrated and has an okay voice best reserved for backing work and the obsessive male addition is beyond me for someone who seems a little plain and uninteresting.

1982 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd's The Wall starring Bob Geldof opened in movie theatres in New York. The film was conceived alongside the double album by Pink Floyd's, Roger Waters.

"Conceived" blimey it took conceiving? Truly awful idea so cloying and cliched in it's origination it is laughable really but people really like it . . . still. Berlin Wall? Trumps still not built a single yard of his wall that wasn't already in place . . . . . . . 'Fear builds walls' . . . . sheesh really?, cod psychology at its very worst

1983 - Klaus Nomi

Avant-garde musician and former backing singer with David Bowie Klaus Nomi died at the age of 39 of Aids in New York City aged 38. Nomi was one of the first celebrities to contract AIDS.

1988 - Yazz

Yazz and the Plastic Population started a five week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Only Way Is Up'. The song was originally released as the title track to the 1982 album by soul singer Otis Clay.

1989 - Adam Clayton

Adam Clayton of U2 was arrested in The Blue Light Inn car park in Dublin for marijuana possession and intent to supply the drug to another person. His conviction was waived in exchange for paying £25,000 to the Dublin Woman's Aid Centre. Achtung Baby!

1994 - Lisa Loeb

Lisa Loeb started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Stay (I Missed You), a No.6 hit in the UK. Actor and friend Ethan Hawke had asked her to provide a song for the upcoming movie Reality Bites and 'Stay' was featured in the film.

1994 - Richey Edwards

Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards booked into a private clinic to be treated for nervous exhaustion. Edwards continues to be missing presumed dead since 1995

1999 - Dick Latvala

Dick Latvala died aged 56 after being in a coma caused by a heart attack. Latvala worked with The Grateful Dead since the early 80s looking after their archives of live performances which became a series of 'Dick's Picks' albums.

2004 - Rick James

Rick James was found dead at his Los Angeles home. Known as 'The King of Punk-Funk' James scored the 1981 US No.3 album ‘Street Songs’ and 1981 US No.16 single ‘Super Freak part 1’. In the late 60s James worked as a songwriter and producer for Motown, working with Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Addicted to cocaine, he once admitted to spending $7,000 a week on drugs for five years.

2007 - Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson was being sued by a former band member who said he was owed $20m (£9.8m) in shared profits. Stephen Bier, who played keyboards under the stage name Madonna Wayne Gacy, claimed he was not paid properly over a period of almost two decades. In legal papers filed in Los Angeles, Bier claimed Manson falsely told him the band was not making much money and used band money to buy a $2m (£980,000) home and collect Nazi memorabilia, including coat hangers used by Adolf Hitler.

Marilyn with Madonna Wayne Gacey

2009 - Willy DeVille

Willy DeVille died at the age of 58 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. The band he formed, Mink Deville, appeared at the legendary CBGB club in New York in the 1970s and scored the 1977 hit 'Spanish Stroll.' Doctors discovered he had cancer earlier this year as he was preparing to undergo treatment for hepatitis C.

2012 - Beyoncé

Forbes declared Beyoncé and Jay-Z the highest-paid celebrity couple, with earnings of $78 million ($40 million for her, $38 for him).

2016 - The Girl From Ipanema

Swedish music streaming service Spotify reported that 'The Girl From Ipanema' was streamed more than 40,000 times after it was played while supermodel Gisele Bundchen walked onstage during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The song first became a hit for Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz in 1964 when it peaked at No.5 on the US chart.

1972 - Geri Halliwell

Geri Halliwell, (Ginger Spice), vocals, the Spice Girls who scored the 1996 UK No.1 & 1997 US No.1 single 'Wannabe', plus seven other No.1 singles. She left the group on 7th June 1998 and her first UK solo No.1 single was 1999 'Mi Chico Latino'. Halliwell has scored more UK No.1's than any other female artist. Who knew?! Not me. Are you SURE? Check out Youtube it is REALLY hard to find any videos of her singing! NBangin on about the Spice girls and having sex with Mel B (allegedly) but precious little singing

1969 - Elliot Smith

Elliot Smith, US singer songwriter, 1997 album 'Either/Or'. His song 'Miss Misery' saw him nominated for an Academy Award in 1997. Smith committed suicide on 22nd October 2003 aged 34. I really liked Elliot Smith and had his first album but was so shocked by his death I have rarely been able to play anything since . . . . . a troubled (clearly) and gifted singer songwriter who we are all the poorer for his passing

1928 - Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, pop artist and producer, the founder of the Pop Art movement. Produced and managed The Velvet Underground, designed the 1967 Velvet Underground and Nico, 'peeled banana' album cover and The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers album cover. Warhol died on 22nd February 1987 after a gall bladder operation.

Andy says . . . . . . . oh wait!
Love that man and whilst I am not uncritical of aspects of his life (he did next to nothing to save Edie from herself or Jean Michel Basquiat come to that) the role of bystander has a responsibility too! [IMHO] But great artist? Truly!
Interestingly Frank Zappa hated Warhol and the Factory crew (Frank was notoriously anti hard drugs but ironically pro-tobacco) when they met Andy and Lou pulled this routine on Frank and didn't speak to him at all! They left Gerard Melanga, I think, to say everything and the boys just sat there looking bored. Zappa was incensed but Andy would have thought it hilarious. 'Oh darling it was FABULOUS!"
Poor Frank just didn't 'get it'!