ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

November 29th

1969 - The Beatles

The Beatles went to No.1 on the US singles chart with their twenty-sixth release in the United States.'Come Together / Something', which became the group's 18th US No.1. Lennon was inspired by Timothy Leary's campaign for governor of California titled "Come together, join the party" against Ronald Reagan giving him the idea for the track. 'Something' was the first Beatles song written by George Harrison to appear as an A-side.

1976 - Sex Pistols

Lancaster local council cancelled the Sex Pistols gig at Lancaster Poly, England. The reason was given in a statement by the council saying: 'We don't want that sort of filth (The Sex Pistols) in the town limits.'

1980 - Abba

ABBA scored their ninth and last UK No.1 single with 'Super Trouper', the group's 25th Top 40 hit in the UK. The name "Super Trouper" referred to the gigantic spotlights used in stadium concerts.

1980 - John Lennon

John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album was released. Though initially poorly received, the album is notable for its association with Lennon's murder three weeks after its release, whereupon it became a worldwide commercial success, and went on to win the 1981 Album of the Year at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards.

1997 - Lou Reed

'Perfect Day' performed by various artists including Elton John, Dr John, Bono, Ian Broudie, Tom Jones & David Bowie went to No.1 on the UK singles chart. Originally written and recorded in 1973 by Lou Reed, this new collaboration of 29 major artists was a fund raiser for the BBC Children In Need charity.

2001 - George Harrison

Beatles guitarist George Harrison died in Los Angeles of lung cancer aged 58. Following the breakup of The Beatles Harrison had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys. The youngest member of The Beatles, (aged 16 when he joined), his compositions include ‘Taxman’, ‘Here Comes the Sun’, ‘Something’, and ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’. Harrison released the acclaimed triple album, All Things Must Pass, in 1970, from which came the worldwide No.1 single 'My Sweet Lord.' 

2002 - Paul McCartney

Three paintings by Sir Paul McCartney were bought for just £35 each at the Secrets Postcard Sale at London's Royal College of Art. Members of the public gambled on whether they were buying works by celebrity artists at a fraction of their value, as a picture's creator was only made known after it has sold.

2007 - Morrissey

Morrissey was set to sue UK music weekly the NME after it failed to apologise for an article focusing on his views on immigration. The magazine had criticised the 48 year old singer and former Smiths star for allegedly telling a reporter Britain had lost its identity due to high levels of immigration.

2007 - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, a convicted sex offender, was arrested for failing to properly register a new permanent address. The 59-year-old had pleaded guilty in 1993 to charges of attempted capital sexual battery by an adult on a victim younger than 12 and being principal to lewd and lascivious behavior on a child younger than 16. He was sentenced to eight years of probation.

In January 1994, Pyle pleaded no contest rather than risk a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment if found guilty in a jury trial. He was sentenced to probation and required to register as a sex offender. In 2007, Pyle was charged with failure to register as a sex offender in St. Johns County, Florida, after officials lost the change-of-address form he had sent them when he and his family moved to North Carolina. He rejected a plea bargain offer, and was acquitted by a jury in 2009.

2007 - Joy Division

Control, the biopic about late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis scooped five prizes at the British Independent Film Awards. The black-and-white film, which featured The Killers, David Bowie and New Order on the soundtrack, was shot for just £3m. Shot by Anton Corbijn legendary pop photographer and starring Sam Riley and the brilliant Samantha Morton

BIRTHDAYS

1941 - Denny Doherty

Denny Doherty, from American folk rock vocal group The Mamas & the Papas who had the 1965 hit 'California Dreamin'', the 1966 US No.1 single 'Monday Monday' and the 1967 hit 'Dedicated to the One I Love'. Doherty died on 19th Jan 2007 at the age of 66 after a short illness. Doherty started his musical career in 1956 with a band called the Hepsters and in 1963, established a friendship  with Cass Elliot when she was with a band called The Big 3 later to become The Mugwumps with Zal Yanovsky of The Lovin' Spoonful. I bought there album as soon as I found it and while I was still an avid Lotion' Spoonful fan

1933 - John Mayall

John Mayall O.B.E., 'father of the UK blues movement', Born in Macclesfield, Cheshire his Bluesbreakers Band has featured Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Jack Bruce, Peter Green, Harvey Mandel and Jimmy McCulloch.

and of course purchased when it came out . . . when an engineer said it was mixed too loud Mayall said "Give God what he wants!"

1917 - Merle Travis

country singer, songwriter Merle Travis, who invented the first solid body electric guitar made by Bigsby predating Fender by several years. He wrote 'Sixteen Tons' a 1955 US No.1 for Ernie Ford. Travis died 20th October 1983.