ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

November 30th

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles second album With The Beatles became the first million selling album by a group in the UK. The album stayed at the top of the charts for 21 weeks, displacing Please Please Me, so that The Beatles occupied the top spot for 51 consecutive weeks. Where it all started! My brother bought this when it came out and I was mesmerised. . . . . . .hooked! Music began . . . . . 

1968 - Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell started a five-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Wichita Lineman.' Jimmy Webb's inspiration for the lyrics came while driving through Washita County in northern Oklahoma. Webb was driving through an endless litany of telephone poles, each looking exactly the same as the last. Then, in the distance, he noticed the silouette of a solitary lineman atop a pole. Webb then "put himself atop that pole and put that phone in his hand" as he considered what the lineman was saying into the receiver.

1969 - The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones played the final night on a 17 date North American tour at the International Raceway Festival, West Palm Beach, Florida. Also appearing, The Moody Blues, Ten Years After, King Crimson, Janis Joplin, The Band, Steppenwolf and Iron Butterfly.

1971 - Sly and the Family Stone

Sly And The Family Stone were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Family Affair', their fourth and final No.1. Rolling Stone magazine later ranked the song No.138 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 

1982 - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's Thriller album was released. It spent 190 weeks on the UK album chart became the biggest selling pop album of all time, with sales over 66 million copies. Seven singles were released from the album, including 'Beat It', which featured guitarists Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather and 'Billie Jean'.


1989 - Happy Mondays

The Happy Mondays and fellow Mancunians The Stone Roses both made their debut appearance on UK TV music show Top Of The Pops. The Mondays performed 'Hallelujah' (note the appearance of Kirsty MacColl) and the Roses 'Fools Gold.'




1991 - Rob Pilatus

Milli Vanilli singer Rob Pilatus attempted suicide while staying at The Mondrain Hotel, Los Angeles by taking an overdose of sleeping pills and slashing his wrists.

1994 - Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur was shot five times during a robbery outside a New York City recording studio.

1996 - Ice Cube

Ice Cube obtained a restraining order to keep an obsessed fan away from him and his family. Cynthia Renee Collins was told to stop harassing the 26 year-old rapper, and stay at least 100 feet away from him. She claimed her actions were protected under the constitution (sic!)

1996 - Tiny Tim

American singer and ukulele player Tiny Tim (Herbert Khaury) died from a heart attack on stage while playing his hit ‘Tiptoe Through the Tulips’ at a club in Minneapolis. On 17 December 1969, he married Victoria Mae Budinger on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, a publicity stunt that attracted over 40 million viewers. (they had a daughter, Tulip Victoria). He performed at the 1970 Isle Of Wight Festival in front of a crowd of 600,000 people. You will recall I mentioned a number of singles I purchased about which I am now heartily embarrassed . . . . . . . . this is one such


1999 - Elton John

Elton John was blasted by the Boy Scout Association after he appeared on stage at London's Albert Hall performing 'It's A Sin' with six male dancers dressed as Boy Scouts. The dancers had peeled off their uniforms during the performance.

1999 - Don Harris

Don 'Sugarcane' Harris was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment at the age of 61. The American guitarist and violinist was part of the 50s duo Don & Dewey. He also worked with Little Richard, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart, John Lee Hooker and Johnny Otis.


2001 - Top of The Pops UK Awards

The first Top Of The Pops UK Awards were held in Manchester, with categories voted by viewers of the BBC show. Winners included: Best pop act: Westlife, Best R&B Act: Destiny's Child, Best Rock Act: U2, Best Dance Act: Fatboy Slim, Best Newcomer: Nelly Furtado, Best Single: Kylie Minogue, 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head', Best Album: Travis, 'The Invisible Band', Artist on top of the world: Jennifer Lopez, Hall of Fame Award went to Paul McCartney. 

Purely gratuitous shot of the 'artist on top of . . .' . . .sorry what were we saying?

2002 - George Harrison

High Court probate records showed that George Harrison left his fortune of £99m in a trust to his wife Olivia and his son Dhani, depriving the taxman of £40m. His English mansion near Henley-on-Thames was said to be worth £15m.

2003 - Ramones

A block of East 2nd Street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place. It is the block where Joey once lived with band mate Dee Dee Ramone and is near the music club CBGB, where the Ramones played their first gigs. In 2010, it was reported that "Joey Ramone Place," was New York City's most stolen sign. As of September 27, the sign has been moved to 20 feet above ground level.

2005 - Pete Doherty

Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty was arrested on suspicion of possessing class A drugs after he was stopped by police while driving his car in Ealing, west London. Police had stopped the vehicle because it was being driven "in an erratic manner" and recovered "substances" from the scene. Of the then 21st time of being arrested for drugs Doherty was arrested five times that year (2005) 3 of which were for driving under the inffluence.

2006 - Syd Barrett

The sale of Syd Barrett's final belongings were sold by Cheffins auctioneers in Cambridge, England. The sale of the 77 items raised £119,890 ($233,786). Ten paintings alone raised over £55,000 and two bicycles over £10,000. The sale included such things as the armchair he used to sit in, his home-made bread bin, tools, notebooks and binders and books. The sale catalogue described Barrett - who quit Pink Floyd in 1968 - as a man with a "total disinterest in materialism."

2012 - Rihanna

Rihanna was at No.1 on the UK album chart with her seventh studio album Unapologetic. The album produced seven singles including 'Diamonds', which became Rihanna's twelfth No.1 song, tying her with Madonna and The Supremes for fourth most No.1 songs in the history of the chart.

2015 - Sinead O'Connor

Sinead O’Connor was receiving medical treatment after a message about her taking an overdose was posted on her Facebook page. "I have taken an overdose. There is no other way to get respect," the post read. The Irish singer was found safely in Dublin by Police.

I worry about Sinead and entertained in my arrogance as a therapist sending her several supportive texts via Facebook as did many fans I'm sure. 

Wherever she is now we wish her well and safety and care

2015 - Peter Hook

Former New Order bassist Peter Hook was suing his ex-bandmates for £2.3m, ($3.5m). Hook accused Bernard Sumner and Stephen and Gillian Morris of "pillaging" the pop group's assets after the three other band members set up a company without him to handle the band's income in 2011.

BIRTHDAYS

1955 - Billy Idol

William Broad (Billy Idol), singer, Generation X, (1979 UK No.11 single 'King Rocker'). Solo (1987 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Mony Mony', plus nine other UK top 40 singles).

1953 - June Pointer

June Pointer, singer with American R&B singing group The Pointer Sisters who had the 1981 US No.2 single, 'Slow Hand' and the 1984 UK No.2 single 'Automatic'. The Pointer Sisters have won three Grammy Awards and had 13 US top 20 hits between 1973 and 1985. I bought several singles including this one of the sexiest songs ever written and 'Jump' and a couple of albums. Like the Pointer sisters and their wonderful vocals

1945 - Roger Glover

Roger Glover, bassist with Deep Purple who had the 1970 UK No.2 single 'Black Night' and the 1973 US No. 4 single 'Smoke On The Water'.

1915 - Brownie McGhee

African-American folk music and blues singer and guitarist, Brownie McGhee. He is best known for his collaboration with the harmonica player Sonny Terry. I was so sad to read in recent years that they didn't get on and to the point of staying in separate places when touring and barely speaking civilly when together.

 McGhee died of stomach cancer on 16 February 1996 in Oakland, California, aged 80. (Sonny had passed away back in March 1986)

one of the best album and one of the last my brother bought before he passed away . . . . . . .gosh I loved that album