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what happened on this day in music

February 23rd

1940 - Woody Guthrie

Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics to 'This Land Is Your Land' in his room at the Hanover House Hotel in New York City. The song was brought back to life in the 1960s, when several artists of the new folk movement, including Bob Dylan, The Kingston Trio, Trini Lopez, Jay and the Americans, and The New Christy Minstrels all recorded versions, inspired by its political message.


2003 - Michael Jackson

The News Of The World (so it must be true) reported that Michael Jackson had undergone scores of painful operations to strip his body of black skin until he appeared white. And that surgeons at a Santa Monica clinic eventually refused him any more treatment. An insider told the paper that Jackson had been anaesthetised on a weekly basis to have his skin peeled and bleached.

Evidence now tells us these were all litgitiamte treatments for vitiligo which can cloned skin treatments that combat posting and patches of white skin on black people, which was reported in his autposy. Can he have been both suffering from this notorious skin condition and wanting to appear 'white' I doubt it but hey, that was the New of The World for ya! What ever happened to them?

hhhmmmm?

2003 - Norah Jones

Norah Jones cleaned up at the 45th Grammy Awards, held at Madison Square Garden, New York. The singer, songwriter won, Album of the year and Record of the year, with 'Don't Know Why.' Song of the year, Best new artist and Best female pop vocal for 'Don't Know Why'. Other winners included Best male pop vocal, John Mayer, 'Your Body Is A Wonderland'. 





2010 - Abbey Road Studios

London's Abbey Road studios was made a listed building, protecting it from plans to radically alter it. Culture Minister Margaret Hodge listed the studios on the advice of English Heritage saying it had "produced some of the very best music in the world". The Beatles used Abbey Road for 90% of their recordings. The studio was origanally named EMI Studios, they changed the name to Abbey Road Studios in 1970 because of The Beatles album.

1955 - Zeke Manyika

Zeke Manyika, from Orange Juice, who had the 1983 UK No.8 single 'Rip It Up'.

1944 - Johnny Winter

Johnny Winter, blues guitarist and singer who has worked with Rick Derringer and brother Edger Winter. He scored the 1969 US top 30 album, 'Johnny Winter'. Winter died at the age of 70 on 16th July 2014 in Zurich, just days after playing at the Lovely Days Festival in Austria. I saw Wnmter a couple of times live at festivals in the UK and frankly was blown away with that breakneck speed of slide and guitar blues. Astonishing player

Well now Big O is on fire this week . . . . three in a row is it? But here is a thesis on . . . . . . 

BOB DYLAN

Infidels:Live First and Last

The thesis being it would be of interest to study when all the tracks of 'Infidels', a much overlooked, not to say maligned, Dylan masterpiece IMHO and when they were first played live and when they were last played live, so it covers the Eighties to the fairly recent present of 2017 or so when he seems to have stopped including them in the live concert set. 

I still recall the shock of hearing 'Blind Willie McTell' and the mercurial Dylan is the only one who can answer why exactly this was left on the thin album (at best)

Check it out below . . . . . 

Bob Dylan - Infidels: Live First & Last

JOHN PRINE

I promised the guys to post a link to this but have been tardy in doing just that. It is again another of my great heroes, John Prine. Now John has had his recent setbacks despite continuing to tour with his band and accompanied by his fantastic life partner, wife Fiona. (He has developed the most delightful dad dance at the concert end usually to 'Lake Marie' where he dances off stage with an endearing little finger pointing shuffle dance off stage, check it out . . .I will try and find some to post, it is so lovely. 
Despite this he has had to break his tour schedule to have another operation on his hip (he is still in remission from throat cancer and continues to post and tour at a level when many folks would be taking it easier. Not for John. Release a new album ('Tree of Forgiveness') and tour like heck, support the ACLU with a single 'Unwed Fathers' to fundraise after the brouhaha down South and the beat goes on . . . . . . .

So here from the wondrous Floppy Boot Stomp t'other day comes this fine set from Ireland (John's second home) and this is especially poignant for me as it was an Irish concert where I first heard a full set from him way back at The Point in Dublin where he did a full band electric set including the recently deceased Phil Donnelly on guitar and took a break mid concert to introduce us to a new singer songwriter one Lyle Lovett (sic !) . . . . I was gone, hook line and sinker! If you can find this on DVD anywhere, BUY IT!

Have bought pretty much everything by both artists ever since

John Prine

RTÉ Radio 1 "In Concert"

Glór Irish Music Centre

Ennis Co. Clare Ireland

2005-11-11

RTÉ Radio 1-FM Broadcast @320

John Prine - Guitar, Vocals

Jason Wilber - Guitar

Dave Jacques - Bass

with 

Philip Donnelly - Guitar (Track 18 & 19 Only)

Paul Mulligan - Guitar (Track 19 Only)

John Prine - Live in Ennis Co. Clare, Ireland 2005 - Floppy Boot Stomp

Buy John's latest album 'Tree of Forgiveness' here . . . .

https://www.johnprine.com

John Prine Shrine - Official Fan Site

RICHARD THOMPSON

and as if by osmosis (or psychic attunement or even synchronicity you know something Jungian!) as if adding an extra gift for us, comes this this morning from Big O again a fine, fine set from Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2018 of Richard Thompson live from a fine quality source. This tour or this gig at any rate to help promote the wonderful album 13 Rivers. The running gag here being they are introduced as the R.T. Electric Trio and there's four of them! (see below for lineup)

Big O says:

Steve Henderson, spiralearth.co.uk [September 19, 2018]: 

Most folk festivals would be happy with Richard Thompson or Show of Hands closing their main Saturday night concert but you got both at Shrewsbury. And Richard Thompson wasn’t about to let the rest of the evening’s acts upstage him either. Mixing songs from his new album, ’13 Rivers’ [released in September 2018], with classics from Fairport Convention days through to more recent albums. Sometimes picking up the acoustic, sometimes blasting the audience with his fine band. He didn’t put a foot wrong.

+ + + + +

Thanks to indykid for sharing the HDTV webcast at Dime. Thanks to Big O s ever for the heads up and the links (again if you can cope with the levels of abuse on the comments section, racism, sexism and deeply deeply offensive trolling it is alway worth dropping by)

Richard Thompson - Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2018

Taras Prodaniuk - bass

Bobby Eichorn  -  guitar 

Michael Jerome - drums, backing vocals

The whole set . . . . .

GEORGE HARRISON

On what would have been George Harrison's 77th birthday here's a nice ROIO from Big O (I know) if you can bear the tide of filth and trolls all over the comments they still post some brilliant links to fine music from Dime or The Trader's Den

The Forgotten Abbey Road Sessions here . . .

ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

February 22nd

1967 - Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd continued working on their debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn at Abbey Road Studios, London. The Beatles were also working at Abbey Road, recording the giant piano chord for the end of 'A Day In The Life' for their Sgt. Pepper's album.

1970 - David Bowie

Appearing at The Roundhouse Spring Festival in Camden, London, David Bowie and the Hype, (their first live performance of the new band), along with Bachdenkel, Groundhog and Caravan.

1975 - Steve Harley

Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel had their only UK No.1 single with 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me). Singer Steve Harley said the lyrics were vindictively directed at the former band members, whom he felt had abandoned him.

1981 - Joe Dolce

One Hit Wonder Joe Dolce was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Shaddap You Face,' famously keeping the legendary Ultravox song, Vienna, off the UK No.1 slot. 'Shaddap You Face' was Number 1 in 11 countries with over 35 different foreign language cover versions, selling over 4 million copies. And NO I didn't bloody buy it!


1986 - Monkees

MTV dedicated a full 22 hours broadcast to The Monkees, showing all 45 episodes of the original The Monkees TV series.

1987 - Andy Warhol

Richard Avedon's famous shot of Andy's Chest

Andy Warhol, pop artist and producer died after a gall bladder operation. He had been shot by misfit Valerie Solanas 19 years earlier and I consider it Solanas who killed him.  Warhol suffered complications from the shooting for the rest of his life. 

The founder of the Pop Art movement, one of the most successful and notorious artists of all time produced and managed the Velvet Underground, designed the 1967 Velvet Underground And Nico 'peeled banana' album cover and The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers album cover.

1992 - Patti Smith

UK music paper the NME printed their writers all time best debut albums; at No.1, Patti Smith, 'Horses', No.2, Joy Division, 'Unknown Pleasures', No.3, MC5, 'Kick Out The Jams, No.4, The Jesus and Mary Chain, 'Psychocandy' and No.5, Television, 'Marquee Moon'.


1992 - Shakespears Sister

Shakespears Sister started an eight-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Stay'. The duo was made up of ex Bananarama member Siobhan Fahey and singer Marcella Detroit (who co-wrote 'Lay Down Sally' with Eric Clapton). One of the longest running UK No.1's in chart history and the longest by an all-female act.

1997 - No Doubt

No Doubt went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Speak.' The third single from the band's second album Tragic Kingdom was written by Eric Stefani and his sister Gwen Stefani. We like Gwen . . . . . . 

2000 - Sid Vicious

The engagement ring Sex Pistol Sid Vicious gave to his girlfriend Nancy Spungen went on sale for auction at £1,500 ($2,550). Sid bought the ring from Camden market in 1977. Also on sale was a pair of John Lennon's jeans for £2,250 ($3,825).

2003 - Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney played a private show in San Diego for the 50th birthday of Wendy Whitworth, the executive producer of CNN's Larry King Show. Sir Paul donated his $1 million (£0.6 million) fee to the Adopt-a-Minefield charity.

2004 - Norah Jones

Norah Jones started a six week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Feels Like Home', the singers second US No.1. Usher feat Lil Jon and Ludacris were at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Yeah.' We really like Norah too!!

2004 - Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols 'Anarchy in the UK' was named the most influential record of the 1970s in poll compiled by Q magazine. Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was voted into second place and Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' was third, T Rex 'Get It On' was fourth and Special AKA's 'Gangsters' came fifth.

2010 - Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr was said to be "ecstatic" after getting back one of his guitars which had been stolen in 2000 after a gig at the Scala nightclub in Kings Cross, London. Smiths fan Stephen White told a London court he was "disgusted" with himself for taking the £30,000 cherry red 1964 Gibson SG when he went backstage after the gig at The Scala.

2016 - Adele

Adele won four prizes including best British female solo artist and best album at this years Brit Awards, Coldplay won Best British group, making them the most successful band in the ceremony's history. The show also featured an emotional tribute to David Bowie, led by Annie Lennox and his friend Gary Oldman.

2017 - David Bowie

David Bowie dominated the 2017 Brit awards. The star was awarded best British male and best British album, for his mournful swansong, Blackstar. Rag'n'Bone Man was the other big winner of the night taking home two awards - the critics choice award and best British breakthrough act. As well as honouring Bowie, the Brits paid tribute to George Michael, who died on Christmas day 2016.

BIRTHDAYS

1974 - James Blunt

James Blunt, (born James Hillier Blount), singer, songwriter and former Army captain. Blunt had the 2005 UK No.1 single 'You're Beautiful' and the 2005 UK No.1 album Back To Bedlam. He became the first British artist to top the American singles chart in nearly a decade when 'You're Beautiful' reached No.1 in 2006. The last British artist to do so was Elton John in 1997 with 'Candle in the Wind'. Now Blunt has had to put up with an awful lot of mockery since his success and has braved the onslaught with chutzpah and good nature and a self deprecating humour for which I give him credit . . . . . . 

1953 - Nigel Planer 'Neil'

actor Nigel Planer, 'Neil', who had the 1984 UK No.2 single with his version of the 1967 hit for Traffic, 'Hole In My Shoe'.

1936 - Ernie K Doe

Ernie K-Doe, R&B singer who had a 1961 US No.1 single with 'Mother-in-Law', which was written by Allen Toussaint. K-Doe died on 5th July 2001. Another local sound from New Orleans who with 'A Certain Girl' could have made it bigger but 'Mother In Law' proved a one hit wonder and he went back to the local music scene

a naturally handsome man you can listen to Little Richard too much you know