ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

March 3rd

1966 - Buffalo Springfield

Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay formed Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles. Among the first wave of American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined rock, folk, and country music into a sound all its own. Its million-selling song 'For What It's Worth' became a political anthem for the turbulent late 1960s.

from their second album

1969 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin recorded their first BBC Radio 1 'Top Gear' session during the afternoon at the Playhouse Theatre in London, England. ["Top Gear" was a music show then and not the petrol head nonsense it is today] Songs recorded by Led Zep that day were 'Dazed And Confused', 'Communication Breakdown', 'You Shook Me' and 'I Can't Quit You Baby'. Free, The Moody Blues and Deep Purple were also in session on the show.

1972 - Elton John

Elton John released 'Rocket Man' as a single, (officially titled 'Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)'. The song was inspired by the short story "The Rocket Man" in The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury, and echoes the theme of David Bowie's 1969 song 'Space Oddity'. Kate Bush released a cover of 'Rocket Man' in 1991 as part of the Elton John, Bernie Taupin tribute album Two Rooms. My wife turned me on to Elton John and it clouded songs like this . . . . . . . 


1973 - Roberta Flack

Winners at this year's Grammy Awards included, Roberta Flack who won Song of the year and Record of the year with the Jimmy Miller (stage name Ewan MacColl) penned song to his mistress 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' and Harry Nilsson won Best pop vocal performance for 'Without You.'

1977 - John Otway

The first night of an UK tour with Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, Cherry Vanilla and The Police kicked off at the Roxy Club, London. John Otway and Wild Willie Barratt played at The Speakeasy, London and Iggy Pop supported by The Vibrators appeared at Huddersfield Poly.



1984 - Nena
Nena started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with '99 Red Balloons' Originally sung in German, '99 Luftballons' was re-recorded in English as '99 Red Balloons'. The song was a No.2 hit in the US and the only UK hit for Nena making her a One Hit Wonder.

1990 - Paul McCartney

During a world tour Paul McCartney played the first of 6 sold-out nights at the Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan. The final night was broadcast live to venues in 10 other Japanese cities; Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, Matsuyama, Nagoya, Niigata, Osaka, Sapporp, Sendai and Takamatsu.

1994 - Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins were banned from appearing on BBC TV's Top Of The Pops due to the content of the song's lyrics. The bands single 'Disarm' was this week's highest new entry.

2001 - Stereophonics

Stereophonics were forced to change the title of their new album after car manufacturer Daimler Chrysler objected to their use of the copyrighted word 'Jeep'. The UK title became 'Just Enough Education To Perform.'

2002 - Will Young

TV show 'Pop Idol' winner Will Young scored his first UK No.1 single with 'Anything Is Possible / Evergreen.' Young set a new sales record for a debut artist with over 1 million in the first week. It became the biggest selling single of 2002. Boy can sing!

2003 - Rod Stewart v Ray Jackson

Ray Jackson who found fame with Lindisfarne took out legal action against Rod Stewart over his 1970s hit song ‘Maggie May.’ Jackson claimed he came up with the worldwide hit's classic mandolin melody and claimed he may have lost at least £1m because he was not credited for the track's distinctive "hook." Jackson was paid just £15 for the recording session by Stewart in 1971.

2004 - Elton John

Elton John announced he was planning to marry his long-term partner David Furnish if new UK laws allowed it. A Civil Partnership bill was being passed through Parliament which would give gay couple's greater rights.

2008 - The Beatles

Beatles engineer Norman Smith died at the age of 85. Smith who worked on every studio recording the band made between 1962 and 1965 was nicknamed 

2015 - Keith Richards

Keith Richards objected to a planned £1.5million cafe being built on a beachfront near his country mansion. The guitarist lodged an objection against the new development which is near his Redlands estate where he was famously arrested with band mate Mick Jagger in 1967 in a drugs raid. Richards is opposed to the planned restaurant which was earmarked for West Wittering beach in West Sussex.

2017 - Jim Fuller

American guitarist Jim Fuller from The Surfaris died aged 69. The Surfaris had the 1963 US No.2 & UK No.3 single 'Wipe Out' and Fuller was known as the "Godfather" of surf music, a Californian instrumental music. With his Fender guitar he contributed to the popularity of Leo Fender's instruments.

BIRTHDAYS

1966 - Tone- Loc

Tone- Loc, (Antony Smith), US rapper, (1989 UK No. 13 single,'Funky Cold Medina').

1949 - Blue Weaver

Derek (Blue) Weaver, keyboards, from Welsh rock group Amen Corner who had the 1969 UK No.1 single 'If Paradise Is Half As Nice' plus five other UK Top 40 hits. As a member of the Strawbs, had the 1973 UK No.2 single with 'Part Of The Union'. Also worked with The Bee Gees, 1975 US No.1 'Jive Talking'.

1947 - Jennifer Warnes

Jennifer Warnes, singer, (1982 US No.1 & UK No.7 single 'Up Where We Belong' with Joe Cocker).

1941 - Mike Pender

Mike Pender, The Searchers, (1964 UK No.1 & US No.13 single 'Needles And Pins'). They were the second group from Liverpool, after The Beatles to have a hit in the United States when 'Needles and Pins' charted during the first week of March 1964.

1927 - Junior Parker

Junior Parker (aka Herman Parker), US blues singer/songwriter who wrote ‘Mystery Train’, which was covered by loads of people from Elvis Presley to Paul Butterfield, The Band and many many more as it has become a blues standard. He also worked with B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf. Parker died on November 18th 1971.