ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

September 24th

He wrote it . . . . (along with Leslie Briccuse)

1966 - Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix arrived in London with manager Chas Chandler on a flight from New York City. With only the clothes he was wearing, Hendrix had sold his other belongings to pay a hotel bill in New York. One of the first things he did after arriving in England was to legally change his name from James to Jimi. 

Jimi in his new flat

Chas Chandler

1967 - The Beatles

Filming continued for The Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour' at West Malling Air Station, Maidstone, Kent with the shooting of the 'Your Mother Should Know' ballroom finale. With The Beatles all dressed in white suits and shoes, gliding down a glittery staircase as 160 members of Peggy Spencer's dance team swirled round about.

1975 - Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Sailing'. The song became a hit after it was used in a TV documentary series.

Blimey this is AWFUL! The descent begins . . . . . . . . 

1980 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono

The mixing of the forthcoming John Lennon and Yoko Ono album Double Fantasy moved from the Hit Factory in New York City to Record Plant East. During this session, John Lennon gave one of last ever interviews to Lisa Robinson from 97-FM in Buffalo.

1983 - Billy Joel

Billy Joel went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Tell Her About It', the former boxers second US No.1, a No.4 hit in the UK.

1984 - Boy George

Culture Club had their second UK No.1 single with 'Karma Chameleon', which stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks and became the best-selling single of 1983. The harmonica part was played by Judd Lander, who had been a member of Merseybeat group The Hideaways in the 1960s.
Boy can sing . . . . . . always thought so and I was right, strong voice and extraordinary life. I like him . . . . 

1988 - Bobby McFerrin

Bobby McFerrin started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Don't Worry Be Happy', the first a-cappella record to be a No.1. It made No.2 in the UK. ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy, was also included in the movie, Cocktail. The song would go on to win Grammy Awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year.


1988 - Hollies

The Hollies were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother' after the song was used on a UK TV beer commercial, the song was originally a hit in 1969 and featured a young Elton John on piano.

1991 - Nirvana

Nirvana's album Nevermind was released in America, entering the chart at No. 144 on its first week. The album which peaked at No. 1 in January 1992 has now sold over 30m copies world wide. The idea for the now iconic front cover shot of the baby swimming came after Kurt Cobainand drummer Dave Grohl saw a TV documentary on water babies.

1995 - Charlatans

The Charlatans were arrested by 24-armed police after a flight to New York. The band were accused of trying to disrupt the planes flight path, passengers complained of the group being drunk, spitting and interfering with in flight TV sets.

The Charlatans' Tim Burgess

2003 - Matthew Jay

Singer-songwriter Matthew Jay died aged 24 after falling from a seventh-storey window in London. Released the 2001 album 'Draw' and toured with The Doves, Stereophonics, Dido and Starsailor.

2003 - The Dave Matthews Band

The Dave Matthews Band played at Central Park in New York City, in front of almost 100,000, the band's largest audience to date. The Central Park Concert was later released as an album.

2004 - The Strat Pack: Live in Concert

The Strat Pack: Live in Concert was held at Wembley Arena in London marking the 50th Anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar. The concert featured Ronnie Wood, Joe Walsh, Gary Moore, Brian May, David Gilmour, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather-Low, Hank Marvin and many more.




2006 - Scissor Sisters

Scissor Sisters topped the UK album and singles charts. The New Yorkers' second album, 'Ta-Dah', entered in the top spot, while the single 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin' spent a third week at number one.


2012 - Mumford & Sons

Mumford & Sons released their second studio album 'Babel' which debuted at number one on both the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200. It became the fastest selling album of 2012 in the UK and was nominated in the category of "Album of the Year" for both a Brit Award and Grammy Award, winning the latter. I include these guys because they summarise  phenomena of new resurgence of interest in British based folk music! From such sources and a fan base that included people who had probably heard of the Watersons or Richard Thompson but who found solace in a newer sound, via bands like Bellowhead, the Unthanks and singers like Laura Marling and Johnny Flynn, Katherine Williams and Emily Barker and further, bands like Wilful Missing too. For some reason Mumford & Sons never really grasped me like these others but there is always room for more hey?

BIRTHDAYS

1946 - Jerry Donahue

American guitarist and producer Jerry Donahue from UK folk group, Fairport Convention, (1969 UK No.21 single 'Si Tu Dois Partir'). And has also been a member of Fotheringay. Who do you get to replace Richard Thompson when he leaves your band? Jerry Donahue is the answer . . . . . . 

Jerry suffered a massive stroke in 2016 and there are some sites and pages to help sup[ort his recovery and health costs

Jerry Donahue tragedy and triumph - Guitar Player magazine

Jerry Donahue fund - Sweet Relief

1942 - Linda McCartney

Linda McCartney, (Linda Eastman). Wife of Paul McCartney. Photographer, animal rights campaigner, launched her own brand of vegetarian food. Played keyboards and sang with Wings and solo McCartney records. 1971 Paul and Linda McCartney UK No.1 album 'Ram'. She died of breast cancer on 17th April 1998.

Those of us in the fan club really loved Linda and I had already appreciated what a great photographer she was having noticed she had shot some truly iconic pictures of people like Jim Morrison and The Stones etc. But when she married Paul and we enjoyed the vibe of Wings we loved her all the more . . . . . 

Eric Clapton by Linda McCartney

Jim by Linda McCartney

Brian and Mick by Linda

Classic shot of Tim Buckley by Linda

Jimi Hendrix Experience in Central Park - Linda McCartney 

Linda and Paul & Mary

1942 - Gerry Marsden

Gerry Marsden, who with Gerry And The Pacemakers had the 1963 UK No.1 single 'How Do You Do It' and the 1965 US No.6 single, 'Ferry Cross The Mersey'. In common with The Beatles they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein, and were recorded by George Martin. WE got excited by Gerry and The Pacemakers too! They delivered but only for short while. Being from my home town was enough we loved them and of course 'You'll Never Walk Alone"

1931 - Anthony Newley

Anthony Newley, UK singer, actor, songwriter (1960 UK No.1 single 'Why'). Newley died on 14th April 1999. Newley achieved success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting. As a recording artist he enjoyed a dozen Top 40 entries on the UK Singles Chart between 1959 and 1962, including two number one hits. With songwriting partner Leslie Bricusse, Newley penned "Feeling Good", which was popularised by Nina Simone and covered by many other popular artists, as well as the title song of 1964 film Goldfinger (along with John Barry)and "The Candy Man" from the musical of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory also written by the team knowingly referred to as  "Brickman and Newburg". Suffice to say not only was he quite unique he was a very strange man indeed although humorous enough and charming enough to marry Joan Crawford amongst others. He also wrote and performed in the autobiographical, Fellini-esque and X-rated "Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness"! Theatrical for sure but also his unique pronunciation and mannered style wasn't to everyone's taste and yet . . . . . .check him out yourself!  He continued to inspire from both David Bowie and as recently as Muse covering 'Feelin' Good'

Bricusse & Newley

He wrote this . . . for example and don't tell me you haven't heard it!

and this . . . . .