ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

December 19th

1964 - The Beatles

The Beatles fourth album 'Beatles For Sale' started a seven-week run at No.1 on the UK album charts. Recorded when Beatlemania was just past its peak 'Beatles for Sale' was The Beatles' fourth album in just 21 months.

1964 - The Supremes

The Supremes scored their third US No.1 single of the year when 'Come See About Me', went to the top of the charts. It made No.27 on the UK chart.

1967 - Buffalo Springfield

Buffalo Springfield appeared at the Community Concourse, San Diego, California. The group became a springboard for the careers of Neil Young Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina.
As true now as it was then . . . . . . . for what it's worth


1969 - Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger was fined £200 plus 50 guineas costs at Marlborough Magistrates Court for illegal possession of cannabis.

1970 - Elton John

Elton John's first US hit, ‘Your Song’ entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it went on to reach number eight. The Hollies had been offered the song and Three Dog Night had already recorded a version which was included on their ‘It Ain't Easy’ album.

1979 - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley's personal physician, George Nichopoulos, was charged with 'illegally and indiscriminately' prescribing over 12,000 tablets of uppers, downers, and painkillers for the star during the 20 months preceding his untimely death. Although he was acquitted this time, he was charged again in 1980 and again in 1992 and was stripped of his medical license in July 1995. It begins here, this is what privatisation of the health services brings you. Tell it to Winona Ryder, Anna Nicole Smith, Prince, or Michael Jackson. Notoriously anti-illegal drugs, marijuana etc he was prescribed to the hilt with a catalogue of prescription drugs most of which on their could kill you.

1981 - Abba

ABBA scored their seventh UK No.1 album with The Visitors, the Swedish pop group's eighth and final studio album. It was one of the first records to be recorded and mixed digitally, and was the first in history to be manufactured on the new CD format in 1982 on Atlantic.

1987 - Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys had their third UK No.1 single with their version of 'Always On My Mind. The duo had performed a version of 'Always on My Mind' on Love Me Tender, an TV special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, their performance was so well-received that the group decided to record the song and release it as a single.

1994 - Richie James

The Manic Street Preachers played the first of three nights at The Astoria, London, the last shows Richey Edwards made with the band before disappearing. Edwards vanished on February 1st 1995 leaving no clues to his whereabouts and has never been seen since. 


2000 - Robert Buck

10,000 Maniacs guitarist Robert Buck died of liver failure aged 42. Best know for ‘Hey Jack Kerouac’, ‘What's The Matter Here’ and 'Candy Everybody Wants'.




2000 - Roebuck Staples

Songwriter, guitarist and singer and founder member of The Staple Singers, Roebuck 'Pop' Staples died. Best known for their 1970s hits ‘I'll Take You There’, ‘Respect Yourself’, and ‘Let's Do It Again’.

2005 - Elton John

Sir Elton John turned down £5.7m for the exclusive rights to his civil union to his partner David Furnish. The couple had considered the offer from a US television channel, putting the money in the Elton John Aids Foundation, but they told Attitude magazine they had decided to keep the day private.

2006 - Pink Floyd

Two giant eyeballs donated by Pink Floyd raised £16,500 for the homeless charity Crisis. The 6ft-high props, made to promote the Pulse DVD, were on the auction site eBay for a week and attracted 46 bids. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, a vice-president of Crisis, said extra help was needed in the winter months. 

2012 - Madonna

Madonna's MDNA World Tour made more money than any other during 2012. The tour grossed $228m (£141m), after more than 1.6 million fans paid to see her perform in 65 cities worldwide since last June. She beat Bruce Springsteen into first place on the highest-grossing tour list, who earned $198 million (£123 million). Also in the top 25 were Coldplay, who took fifth place, and Lady Gaga at number six, who attracted audiences reaching 1.1 million people in comparison. Jay-Z and Kanye West came in at number nine, while Justin Bieber's tour was the 20th highest-earning at $30.6 million (£18.9m).

2012 - Pink Floyd

Nick Mason stepped in to help save Foote's, the historic London music shop where he bought his first ever drum kit. The Pink Floyd drummer, along with the store's sales director, Rob Wilson, were buying the business (which will now re-open in a new location at 41 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London) from the family who has owned it since the '30s.

2015 - Michael Jackson

Thirty-three years after it was released, Michael Jackson's classic album Thriller became the first to sell more than 30 million copies in the US. The Recording Industry Association of America reported latest sales figures showing the Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-75 had now sold 29m and Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II, 23m copies.

BIRTHDAYS

1944 - Zal Yanovsky

Zal Yanovsky, The Lovin Spoonful, (1966 US No.1 & UK No.8 single 'Summer In The City'). Died of a heart attack on 13th December 2002.



1944 - Alvin Lee

Alvin Lee, guitar vocals, Ten Years After, (1970 UK No.10 single 'Love Like A Man'). Lee died on 6 March 2013. According to his website, he died from "unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure", he was 68. I saw Ten Years After a few times in the early days of festivals and you know one thing for sure Wherever I found myself your sure didn't sleep when Alvin started to play!

1940 - Phil Ochs

Phil Ochs, US folk singer songwriter. Wrote 'There But A Fortune', hit for Joan Baez. Hung himself on 9th April 1976 suffering from chronic depression. His brother is one of the greatest archivists of pop photographer in the world. I bought 'There But For Fortune' by Joan as a single (possibly from the sale bins again, I don't think I would have plaid full price then)

1918 - Professor Longhair

Professor Longhair, New Orleans blues singer and pianist who influenced Fat's Domino, Allen Toussaint and Dr John. Longhair died of a heart attack on 30th Jan 1980. The first music programme on Channel 4 in the UK was a programme called 'Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together' featuring Tiuts Washington, Allen Toussaint and the 'Fess. Crawfish Fiesta produced by Doctor John and my copy was overprinted with the fact that he had passed away before it was released. (fine album and always features in my top ten - go out out - BUY IT)

1915 - Édith Piaf

Édith Piaf, one of France's greatest international stars. (born Édith Giovanna Gassion, 19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963), French vocalist, songwriter, cabaret performer and film actress, known as France's national chanteuse and one of the country's most widely known international stars. Her music was often autobiographical and she specialised in chanson and torch ballads about love, loss and sorrow. Her well known songs include, 'La Vie en rose' (1946), 'Non, je ne regrette rien' (1960), and 'Hymne à l'amour' (1949). After years of alcohol abuse Piaf died on 10 October 1963.



with thanks to On This Day In Music