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Friday, December 20, 2019

ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

December 20th

1958 - The Quarry Men
John LennonPaul McCartney and George Harrison appeared as The Quarry Men at the wedding reception of George's older brother, Harry. The event was held at the Harrison family home at 25 Upton Green, Speke, Liverpool.
1959 - Emile Ford
Emile Ford and the Checkmates were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For.'
1967 - Joan Baez
Folk singer Joan Baez was sentenced to 45 days in prison after being arrested during an anti-war demonstration. Arrested twice that year objecting to the Vietnam war Joan said "I went to jail for 11 days for disturbing the peace; I was trying to disturb the war."
—Joan Baez, 1967 Pop Chronicles interview.

1968 - The Beatles
The Beatles sixth Christmas record 'The Beatles' 1968 Christmas Record', was sent to fan club members in the UK and the US. It included the song ‘Nowhere Man’ sung by Tiny Tim.

1969 - The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their 10th release Let It Bleed featuring 'Midnight Rambler', and 'You Can't Always Get What You Want.' It was the last studio album by the band to feature Brian Jones (who had died on July 3rd of 1969 after drowning in his swimming pool), as well as the first to feature guitarist Mick Taylor.
1973 - Bobby Darin
American singer Bobby Darin died aged 37. One of the first teen idols, he had the 1959 No.1 with 'Dream Lover' plus 20 other US Top 40 hits during the 60s including ‘Mack the Knife’, (Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1960). Darin travelled with Robert Kennedy and worked on the latter's 1968 presidential campaign. He was with Kennedy the day he travelled to Los Angeles on June 4, 1968 for the California Primary. Darin was at the Ambassador Hotel later that night when Kennedy was assassinated.


1974 - Joe Walsh
Former James Gang and Barnstorm guitarist Joe Walsh officially replaced Bernie Leadon in the Eagles after producer Bill Szymczyk had recommended Walsh to The Eagles. I liked the James Gang . . . . The Eagles? Not so much . . . . . . 
1980 - John Lennon
Twelve days after John Lennon was shot dead in New York City, '(Just Like) Starting Over', which was taken from his Double Fantasy album gave the former Beatle his first ever UK solo No.1 single.
1986 - Bangles
The Bangles started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Walk Like An Egyptian'. Still going like an Egyptian in 2000
1986 - Housemartins
The Housemartins were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Isley Brothers 'Caravan Of Love.' It was only the second a cappella song to be a No.1 hit after 'Only You' by the Flying Pickets.
1999 - Jimi Hendrix
Readers of UK Guitar magazine voted Noel Gallagher the most overrated guitarist of the millennium. Jimi Hendrix was voted guitarist of the millennium with Nirvana's 'Nevermind' winning best album.
2006 - Michael Jackson
Ian Halperin claimed that Michael Jackson was close to death. The Rolling Stone magazine writer said Jackson was suffering from a rare lung condition and needed a lung transplant. He also claimed that the singer had lost 95% vision in one eye and was so ill he could barely speak. 
Halperin believed Jackson suffered lung disease
Clearly frail towards the end

2006 - Eminem
Eminem and his high school sweetheart divorced for a second time, less than a year after they remarried. The couple agreed to share custody of their 10-year-old daughter, Hailie. The pair told a judge in Michigan they understood this time the divorce was final. The couple remarried in January. But the rapper filed for divorce less than three months later, saying there had been "a breakdown in the marriage relationship".
2006 - Procol Harum
Matthew Fisher, a founding member of Procol Harum won a High Court battle over who wrote their song 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale. Fisher who played organ on the 1967 hit had argued he wrote the distinctive organ melody, but Mr Justice Blackburne ruled he was entitled to just 40% of the copyright, (rather than the 50% he was seeking). The court decided lead singer Gary Brooker's input was more substantial and Fisher's claim for back royalties - of up to £1m - was also rejected. For almost 40 years, the song had been credited to lead singer Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid. In 2008 the course awarded the matter back to Brooker and Reid saying Fisher had left it too late (40 years!)
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 was the first to receive both accolades two years in a row and the honours for Adele came in a year which saw her win six Grammy awards and dominate the US charts. Her second album 21 went straight to No.1 when it was released in March 2011 and did not leave the top 10 until the beginning of September 2012, during that time, it spent 24 weeks at the top spot.

2014 - Darrell Banks
A single dubbed the rarest record in the world sold for £14,543 at auction. The London Records' pressing of Darrell Banks’ 'Open the Door to Your Heart', was thought to be the only copy in circulation. Banks, who toured with soul singer Jackie Wilson, only released two albums before he was killed in Detroit in February 1970. He was shot in the neck by an off-duty policeman, who had been having an affair with Banks's girlfriend. 'Open the Door to Your Heart' was his only hit, reaching No.2 on the R&B chart in the US.

BIRTHDAYS

1980 - Chris Edwards (Kasabian)
Chris Edwards, Kasabian, (2005 UK No.8 single 'Cutt Off', 2006 UK No.1 album 'Empire'). Kasabian won a Brit Award in 2010 for Best British Group.

1957 - Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg, Stephen William Bragg is an English singer-songwriter and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, with lyrics that mostly span political or romantic themes, he wrote 'New England' 1985 hit for Kirsty MacColl, (He enjoyed his only Number 1 hit single in May 1988, a cover of the Beatles' "She's Leaving Home", a shared A-side with Wet Wet Wet's "With a Little Help from My Friends". Both were taken from a multi-artist re-recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band titled Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father coordinated by the NME in aid of the charity Childline.').
 Bought this one when it came out . . . . .


1948 - Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons, British studio audio engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of The BeatlesAbbey Road and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of The Moon for which Pink Floyd credit him as an important contributor. Parsons' own group, The Alan Parsons Project released several albums.
1946 - Douglas Lubahn
Douglas Lubahn bass player with psychedelic rock and jazz rock band Clear Light. His bass work is featured on several albums recorded by The Doors including Strange Days (1967), Waiting For The Sun (1968) and The Soft Parade (1969). Live Ray Manzarek would play left handed on a bass keyboard  but in the studio it was often a boon to have an actual bass player.


Wild Child rehearsals with Doug and The Doors

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