ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

November 1st

1955 - The Famous Flames

R&B group The Famous Flames, lead by singer James Brown, cut their first demo of ‘Please, Please, Please’ at a radio station in Macon Georgia. It would lead to their signing with King Records. 

1956 - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley bought a new Harley Davidson motorbike and spent the day riding round Memphis on his new bike with actress Natalie Wood. The only snag with that date was that they weren't alone but accompanied by Elvis' 'friend' Nick Adams. Natalie hinted things were less than she expected throughout her career and whilst no more than a hint, going to a motel with three men was not the sort of thing she might have done if all were unequivocally heterosexual. Going to Graceland was worse and Elvis' mother ensured things didn't quite go according to plan

“God, it was awful,” Wood said. “He can sing, but he can’t do much else.”

1966 - The Doors

The Doors played the first night of a month long residency at the Ondine Discotheque, Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

The Doors at Ondine Discotheque 1966

1968 - George Harrison - "Wonderwall Music" 

George Harrison released his first solo album, 'Wonderwall Music' on the Apple label. The songs which were mostly Harrison instrumentals, featured Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and an unaccredited banjo contribution by Peter Tork of The Monkees. I bought this when it came out and still have my treasured vinyl copy.

1969 - The Beatles

The Beatles scored their 13th US No.1 album with Abbey Road. The final studio recordings from the group featured two George Harrison songs; 'Something' & 'Here Comes The Sun'. 

1970 - Matthews Southern Comfort

Matthews Southern Comfort were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the Joni Mitchell song 'Woodstock'. The group's only UK No.1 hit. I loved this when it came out and didn't realise immediately it was written by Mitchell who did not attend the festival but stayed home and watched it on the TV.

1975 - Elton John

Elton John started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Island Girl', his 5th US No.1, a No.14 hit in the UK.

1980 - Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen scored his first No.1 US album with 'The River', featuring the US No.5 & UK No.44 single 'Hungry Heart.'

1997 - Aqua

Scandinavian dance-pop act Aqua started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Barbie Girl.' A massive world-wide hit, the single sold more than 8 million copies. I knew at this moment pop would take over the planet and my kids enjoyed this . . . .well my daughter! I was frightened!

2000 - All Saints

All Saints came top of a poll to find the sexiest female act. 12,000 UK television viewers voted for the group, The Spice Girls came second and Atomic Kitten third. The 50s group The Beverley Sisters were voted into 11th place beating TLC.

2000 - Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams offered to donate his bone marrow to save a fan's life after meeting leukaemia suffer Johanna MacVicar. Williams asked his fans to sign up as potential donors after being told of the desperate shortage of male donors. Johanna passed away in 2005 but had through Robbie encouraged loads of people including stars to join the bone marrow donor register and support the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow trust. Dougray Scott, the Scots actor, is another who expressed his admiration for Miss MacVicar. She advised Dougray on playing the role of someone with leukaemia. She even stunned guests at the Scottish Film Awards in Glasgow by turning up on his arm as his guest.

"She was one of the bravest people I have ever met" said Scott

2004 - Natalie Imbruglia

A man who allegedly stalked Australian pop star Natalie Imbruglia, was deemed too mentally ill to be interviewed by police. The 44-year-old fan was arrested after turning up on the doorstep of the singer's £2m home in Berkshire after flying to London from Australia.

2004 - Terry Knight

61-year old Terry Knight, the former manager of Grand Funk Railroad, was murdered at his home in Killeen, Texas. Knight was defending his daughter during a domestic disturbance, when he was stabbed over 17 times by her boyfriend, 26 year old Donald Alan Fair over his drug use. Knight began his music career by leading a Michigan band called Terry Knight and the Pack, who scored a Billboard top 50 hit with ‘I, Who Have Nothing’. Though estranged from their former manager they all went on record to express their sadness at his manner of death

 

Terry Knight and The Pack

2007 - MTV Europe Music Awards

Winners at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards held in Munich, Germany included Avril Lavigne who was named best solo artist, Amy Winehouse won the Artist Choice prize, an award chosen by her fellow musicians and The ultimate urban prize went to R&B star Rihanna.

2008 - Jimmy Carl Black

US drummer and singer Jimmy Carl Black [James Carl Inkanish, Jnr] died. Was a member of The Keys, The Soul Giants, perhaps most notably with The Mothers Of Invention and Jimmy Carl Black And The Mannish Boys. 

"Hi boys and girls, I'm Jimmy Carl Black, and I'm the Indian of the group"

2015 - Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift was being sued for $42m (£27m) for allegedly stealing the lyrics to her hit 2014 song 'Shake It Off', which topped music charts around the world. R&B singer Jesse Braham claimed in legal papers Swift stole the words from a song he wrote in 2013 called 'Haters Gone Hate'.

2016 - Bap Kennedy

Bap Kennedy, singer, songwriter from Belfast, Northern Ireland, died in Belfast in hospice care from pancreatic and bowel cancer. He is noted for his collaborations with Steve Earle, Van Morrison, Shane MacGowan and Mark Knopfler, as well as for writing the song 'Moonlight Kiss' which was on the soundtrack for the film Serendipity. Kennedy was also in the rock band Energy Orchard. Those are some credits for yet another person we may not have heard of!

BIRTHDAYS

1957 - Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett, Country singer, married actress Julia Roberts, supported Dire Straits on their 1990 world tour. I perennial favourite singer/songworter of mine first discovered through John Prine when he gave him the interval in his bands concert at the inaugural opening gig at The Point in Dublin when back in the early eighties, when Lyle and cellist John Hagen did several songs that captivated me totally and I have tried to get everything since

1951 - Ronald Bell

Ronald Bell, Kool & The Gang, (1981 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Celebration', 1984 UK No.2 single 'Joanna', and over 15 other Top 40 hits). Gotta love some Kool and The Gang!!

1947 - Bob Weston

British musician Bob Weston who had a brief role as guitarist and songwriter with Fleetwood Mac in the early 1970s. He also recorded and performed with a number of other musicians, including Graham Bond, Long John Baldry, Murray Head, Sandy Denny and Danny Kirwan. He died on 3 January 2012 age 64.

1946 - Rick Grech

Born on this day British multi-instrumentalist Rick Grech who worked with Family, Blind Faith, Traffic, and Ginger Baker's Air Force. As a session musician Grech also worked with Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane, Vivian Stanshall, Muddy Waters, The Crickets, Bee Gees and Gram Parsons. Grech died of renal failure on 17 March 1990 at the age of 43, as a result of alcoholism.

with thanks to On This Day in Music