ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

December 17th

1960 - The Beatles

Returning from Hamburg, The Beatles appeared at the Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool. Chas Newby joined The Beatles on bass guitar (to replace Stuart Sutcliffe, who had remained in Hamburg), a position he would hold for only two weeks and four performances. When Newby bowed out to return to college, Paul McCartney became The Beatles' bass player.

1962 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan arrived in England for the first time; he played his first UK date the following night at the Troubadour Club in London.

1963 - The Beatles

James Carroll at WWDC in Washington, DC, became the first disc jockey to broadcast a Beatles record on American radio. Carroll played 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', which he had obtained from his stewardess girlfriend, who brought the single back from the UK. Due to listener demand, the song was played daily, every hour. Since it hadn't been released yet in the States, Capitol Records initially considered court action, but instead released the single earlier than planned.

1968 - The Who

The Who played their Xmas party at the The Marquee Club London. Also on the bill was a new group called Yes. Members 15 shillings, ($1.80) or £1 ($2.40) on the night. Other acts appearing at the club this month included Joe Cocker, Free and Led Zeppelin.

1971 - David Bowie

David Bowie released his fourth album Hunky Dory, which was the first to feature all the members of the band that would become known the following year as Ziggy Stardust's Spiders From Mars. Two singles were released from the album: 'Changes' / 'Andy Warhol' in January 1972 and 'Life on Mars' which was released late June 1973. Bowie himself considered the album to be one of the most important in his career.

1973 - Slade

Slade were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Merry Xmas Everybody' their sixth chart topper. It has been released during every decade since 1973, and has been covered by numerous artists. In a 2007 poll, 'Merry Xmas Everybody' was voted the UK's most popular Christmas song.

1977 - George Harrison

George Harrison played an unannounced live set for the regulars at his local pub in Henley-On-Thames near his home in the UK.

1982 - Big Joe Williams

American Delta blues musician and songwriter Big Joe Williams died in Macon, Mississippi aged 79. Wrote 'Baby Please Don't Go', a 1965 UK Top 10 for Them, (featuring Van Morrison). I ended up collecting versions of this song and it MAY be that I first heard it by Josh White but it means a great deal . . . . . . the universal

or it may be that it was my all time hero Big Bill

1995 - Frank Zappa

A statue (it's a bust!) of the late Frank Zappa was unveiled in Vilnius, the capital of the Republic Of Lithuania. It had been organised by Zappa fan club President Saulius Pauksty. It is also TERRIBLE!

2010 - Captain Beefheart

Captain Beefheart died aged 69 from complications from multiple sclerosis. The American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet born Don Glen Vliet in Glendale, California recorded 13 studio albums. I have everything published and several art catalogues He is simply my main man for the 22nd Century blues. I miss him . . . . . . poet, painter, singer, songwriter and all round enigmatic force of nature. 
It all started here . . . . .the Marble Arch version of this album 'Safe As Milk' blew me away


This is it . . . . . . . 

Captain Beefheart by A. Swapp charcoal and pastel on handmade paper 20"x30" c1980

2010 - Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney performed an intimate lunchtime gig at the 100 Club on London's Oxford Street, the historic music venue threatened with closure. Around 300 fans were treated to a set lasting almost two hours, in what was McCartney’s smallest gig in the UK for nearly 10 years. A campaign to keep the 100 Club open had attracted support from Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie and Sir Mick Jagger.

2012 - Adele

Adele was named Billboard's top artist of 2012, while her hit record 21 was named top album of the year in the music magazine's annual review. The 24-year-old became the first to receive both accolades two years in a row. 

BIRTHDAYS

1962 - Sarah Dallin

Sarah Dallin, singer with British female pop group Bananarama who had the 1984 UK No.3 single 'Robert De Niro's Waiting', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles, and the 1986 US No.1 single 'Venus' a cover of the Dutch rock band Shocking Blue 1970 hit.

1958 - Mike Mills

Mike Mills, bass, R.E.M. (1991 UK No.6 & US No.10 single 'Shiny Happy People', plus over 20 Top 40 UK singles, 1992 UK No.1 & US No.2 album 'Automatic For The People').

1950 - Carlton Barrett

Carlton Barrett, The Wailers, (1983 UK No.4 single with Bob Marley, Buffalo Soldier', plus 10 other UK Top 40 singles). Barrett was shot dead outside his home on 17th April 1987.

check the drumming on this! the signature snare rim shot is ubiquitous in Jamaicon reggae but no-one mastered it more that Carlton 'Carly ' Barrett brother of fellow Wailer Aston 'Family Man' Barrett

1949 - Paul Rodgers

Paul Rodgers, singer, guitarist, Free, (1970 UK No.2 & US No.4 single 'All Right Now'). Bad Company, (1974 UK No.15 single 'Can't Get Enough'). Also a member of The Firm, with Jimmy Page.

love this voice and the Free sound, Rogers the only singer to match Otis in should singing and a white guy to boot . . . . . . . (contentious?!)

1943 - David Dee

David Dee of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, (1968 UK No.1 single 'Legend Of Xanadu'). Dee died on 9th Jan 2009 at the age of 65, following a three-year battle with cancer. The singer, whose real name was David Harman, was originally a police officer and as a police cadet was called to the scene of the car crash that killed Eddie Cochrane during a UK tour in 1960. I loved Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and actually left them around the time of 'Xanadu' but it amused my parents no end to hear me sing their praises . . . . . . . short of sending my mother into my local record shop when I was ill to get the Yardbirds single 'Over, Under, Sideways, Down' Mum never let me forget it!

1942 - Paul Butterfield

Paul Butterfield, blues singer, harmonica player, (1965 album 'Paul Butterfield Blues Band'). Appeared at The Bands, 'Last Waltz'. Died on 4th May 1987. As a thirteen year old precocious little get I was a fan of Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, Josh White and all but then I heard this album . . . . .the electrification of the blues and the moment I stopped trying to play the blues harp . . . . . . . 

1937 - Art Neville

Art Neville, vocals, piano, The Neville Brothers, who had the 1989 UK hit 'With God On Our Side'. Art was a founding member of The Meters, whose musical style represents New Orleans funk. He also played on recordings by many notable artists including Labelle (on "Lady Marmalade"), Paul McCartney, Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John and Professor Longhair. He died on 22 July 2019 aged 81.

1936 - Tommy Steele

Tommy Steele, singer, actor, (1957 UK No.1 single 'Singing The Blues', plus over 20 other UK Top 40 singles).  I loved Tommy Steele from an early age and admired his musical talents so muc I knew the words and songs of the musical 'Half a Sixpence' by rote! Deep down he was one of the earliest rockers and coffee house guitarist and singers . . . . . I WAS VERY young!







with thanks for the resource to On This Day In Music