ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC
December 18th
1961 - Tokens
The Tokens started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'; it reached No.11 in the UK. REM included a live version of the song on the 1993 'Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight' single. I had never heard the Tokens version as we had the Karl Denver version storming our charts. A Scot he caught the zeitgeist for 'foreign' sounding folk songs like Jambalaya or Shenandoah even
a single here in the uk that caught on like crazy, man!
I think my brother bought it and the house rang out to that extraordinary sound for many a month. It is of course a beautiful South African song written we know now by on Solomon Linda whose descendants began to at least get some royalties from his masterwork and best version (some might say) expressed by Miriam Makeba here in her version 'Mbube'
1962 - The Beatles
On their fifth visit to West Germany The Beatles played the first night of a two-week engagement at the Star-Club, Hamburg. A 13 night run, playing 3 hours each night. The final night's performance was recorded and became known as ‘The Star-Club Tapes’, released in 1977 against the wishes of the ex-Beatles themselves.
Tara Browne was killed when driving at high speed in his Lotus Elan after it collided with a parked lorry in South Kensington, London. A close friend of The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Brian Jones his death was immortalized in The Beatles song ‘A Day In The Life’ after John Lennon read a report on the coroner's verdict into Browne's death.
1971 - T Rex
T. Rex scored their first No.1 album with their sixth release 'Electric Warrior'. The album which became the biggest seller of the year in the UK contained two of T. Rex's most popular songs, 'Get It On' and 'Jeepster.'
1972 - Bob Dylan
1972 - Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan starting filming his role as 'Alias' in the American western drama Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid along with James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson. Dylan composed the score and songs for the film, most prominently 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'.
1983 - Keith Richards
1999 - Spice Girls
The Spice Girls unveiled their waxwork look-alikes at Madame Tussaud's, London. Each model had cost £35,000 to make.
2000 - Kirsty MacColl
UK singer, songwriter Kirsty MacColl was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico when a speedboat hit her. MacColl was aged 41. McColl and her sons were diving at the Chankanaab reef, of Cozumel, Mexico in a designated diving area that watercraft were restricted from entering. MacColl saw the boat coming before her sons did; Louis (then 13) was not in the boat's path, but Jamie (then 15) was. She was able to push him out of the way (he sustained minor head and rib injuries) but in doing so, she was hit by the boat and killed instantly. Much mourned and missed still by all from Billy Bragg, Shane McGowan to her family & friends a true singer songwriter of great portent and who knows what she would have gone on to achieve, despite a crippling affliction of stage fright she had a peerles voice and keen bright mind
2003 - Michael Jackson
2003 - Michael Jackson
Out on bail, Michael Jackson was formally charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering intoxicating liquor to a minor with the intent of committing a crime. The abuse was claimed to have taken place between 7 February and 10 March 2003 and the alleged victim was identified only as 'John Doe'. Jackson's lawyer said the entertainer was 'unequivocally and absolutely innocent' and would fight the charges 'with every fibre of his soul.'
2003 - James Brown
James Brown and country music star Loretta Lynn were honoured for their contributions to US culture. The pair were invited to a gala attended by President George Bush at the Kennedy Arts Centre in Washington.
2005 - Kirsty MacColl
‘Fairytale of New York’ was voted the favourite Christmas song ever in a VH1 poll. The song by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl took the top spot, Mariah Carey's ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’, was voted into 2nd place and Wham's ‘Last Christmas’ came third. Other songs voted into the Top 10 were, ‘Mistletoe and Wine’, Sir Cliff Richard at No.4, ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ by Slade at No.5, ‘I Wish it could be Christmas Everyday’, Wizzard, No.6, ‘Christmas Time’, The Darkness, No.7, ‘Saviour's Day’, Sir Cliff Richard No.8, Do They Know It's Christmas? (1984), Band Aid at No.9 and ‘Lonely This Christmas’ by Mud at No.10.
2005 - Pete Doherty
Pete Doherty was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink or drugs after being stopped by police in east London. Police said the 26-year-old had been driving erratically. Officers sent suspicious substances found in the vehicle for analysis, Doherty was released on bail. Oh yeah he's a singer and guitarist for a and as well apparently . . . . . .
2013 - N-Dubz
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| Tulisa and Fazer at the MOBOs |
Fazer, best known for being part of the group N-Dubz, was declared bankrupt. The 26-year-old rose to fame alongside N-Dubz bandmates Costadinos Contostavlos (Dappy) and Tulisa Contostavlos. N-Dubz had eight songs in the Official Singles Chart. Their most successful track was the appropriately titled Number 1, which hit the top spot in 2009. |
| Fans shocked by Tulisa's change in appearance |
2015 - Stone Temple Pilots
A US medical examiner said Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland died from a toxic mix of drugs including cocaine, alcohol and ecstasy. Weiland, who was 48, rose to fame with the Stone Temple Pilots was found dead on his tour bus outside a hotel in Bloomington, Minneapolis, on 3 December of this year.
2001 - Billie Eilish
American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. With her 2019 debut studio album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? she became the youngest ever solo female act to top the UK album chart at 17 years of age. I quite like some of the new youngsters coming up, Billie is one of them, they CAN sing!
1980 - Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera, US singer, (1999 US & UK No.1 single 'Genie In A Bottle', 1999 US No.1 album 'Christina Aguilera', 2001 US & UK No.1 single with Mya, Lil' Kim and Pink, 'Lady Marmalade'). It's subtle stuff . . . .
1950 - Martha Johnson
Martha Johnson, Martha And The Muffins, (1980 UK No.10 single, 'Echo Beach').
Another favourite one hit wonder bought when it came out
1948 - Bill Nelson
Bill Nelson, English singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer. With Be Bop Deluxe, he scored the 1976 UK No.23 single, 'Ships In The Night' and has since released many solo albums. In 2015, he was recognised with the Visionary award at the Progressive Music Awards. A surprisingly good if not overlooked guitarist . . . .
1943 - Keith Richards
Keith Richards, 'The Human Riff', guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of The Rolling Stones who have had over 35 Top 40 singles and albums. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created 'rock's greatest single body of riffs'. Classic albums include: Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main Street.
1943 - Bobby Keys
1943 - Bobby Keys
Bobby Keys American saxophone player who worked with The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, Harry Nilsson, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker and others. Keys died on Dec 2nd 2014.
1941 - Sam Andrew
Sam Andrew, Janis Joplin Band, (1971 US No.1 single 'Me And Bobby McGee', 1971 US No.1 single 'Pearl'). Andrew was also Music Director of the musical Love, Janis, based on the life of Janis Joplin. He died on February 12, 2015, following complications from open-heart surgery due to a heart attack suffered ten weeks prior.
1938 - Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler, bassist with The Alan Price Trio in 1962 and with The Animals who had the 1964 UK & US No.1 single 'House Of The Rising Sun'. Chandler later became the manager of Jimi Hendrix and Slade, he died on 17th July 1996.
with thanks to On This Day In Music
with thanks to On This Day In Music
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