ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

October 2nd

1965 - The McCoys

The McCoys were at No. 1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hang On Sloopy’ (No.5 in the UK when released on Andrew Oldham’s new Immediate label). The song was first released by The Vibrations and called ‘My Girl Sloopy’. 


1967 - The Grateful Dead

All six members of The Grateful Dead were busted by California narcotics agents for possession of marijuana at the groups' 710 Ashbury Street House in San Francisco, California.

1970 - Pink Floyd

Lulubelle III

Pink Floyd released their fifth, and first UK No.1 album Atom Heart Mother in the UK. The original album cover shows a cow standing in a pasture with no text, nor any other clue as to what might be on the record. Storm Thorgerson, inspired by Andy Warhol's famous ‘cow wallpaper,’ has said that he simply drove out into a rural area near Potters Bar, England and photographed the first cow he saw. The cow's owner identified her name as ‘Lulubelle III’.

1971 - Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Maggie May / Reason To Believe', his first solo No.1. Stewarts album 'Every Picture Tells A Story' also started a four-week run on this day at No.1 on the UK and US chart.

1977 - Elvis Presley

The body of Elvis Presley and his mother Gladys were moved from the cemetery where they were buried to Graceland's after an unsuccessful attempt was made to body snatch the coffin.

Elvis' mother's grave

Graceland

1982 - Genesis

Peter Gabriel and Steve Hacket joined their former band mates in Genesis for a one-time benefit performance at The Milton Keynes Bowl in Buckinghamshire, England to help raise money for Gabriel's WOMAD project (World of Music, Arts and Dance).

1982 - Musical Youth

Musical Youth were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Pass The Dutchie'. The group were made up of Birmingham school boys, aged 11-16. The song was a cover of The Mighty Diamonds song called 'Pass The Kutchie', a slang term for a cannabis smoking pipe, but the word was changed to avoid the song being banned for it's drug reference.

1983 - Bonnie Tyler

Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler was at No.1 on the US singles chart with the Jim Steinman written and produced track 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart'. It made her the only Welsh artist to score a US No.1.

1995 - Oasis

Oasis released their second album '(What's The Story), Morning Glory', which entered the UK chart at No.1. The album has gone on to sell over 18 million copies worldwide, and it won the award for the best British Album of the last 30 Years at the 2010 Brit Awards.

1995 - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Kylie Minogue released the duet 'Where the Wild Roses Grow'. The song later won 1996 ARIA Awards: 'Single of the Year', 'Song of the Year' and 'Best Pop Release'.

2001 - John Lennon

Actor Kevin Spacey hosted Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Performers include, Alanis Morissette, Moby, Stone Temple Pilots and the Dave Mathews Band. The evening was closed with those present singing 'Give Peace A Chance'.

2002 - Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams signed the most lucrative British record deal in history when he signed with EMI records for £80m. Asked what he was going to do with money Robbie said, "I'm going to count it all."

2003 - Courtney Love

Police were called to a suspected burglary at the Los Angeles house of Courtney Love's former boyfriend and ex-manager Jim Barber in the early hours. Ms Love was picked up in the street outside and detained - with officers noting "Miss Love's behaviour was consistent with being under the influence of a controlled substance". Shortly after her arrest, Ms Love was taken to hospital with a suspected drug overdose.

2003 - Queen

A pair of trousers worn in 1984 by the late Queen star Freddie Mercury were sold to the Hard Rock Cafe for £4,230 at a Christie's auction of pop memorabilia held in London, England. A wooden sculpture of a cupboard, designed by John Lennon, claimed the highest price of the day, £28,200. Hundreds of items related to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix also went under the hammer at the sale.

2006 - Katie Melua

British singer, songwriter Katie Melua entered the Guinness Book of Records for playing the deepest underwater concert. This took palce 303 metres below sea level on the Norwegian Statoil's Troll A platform in the North Sea. Melua and her band underwent extensive medical tests and survival training in Norway before the concert. Melua later described achieving the record as "the most surreal gig I have ever done".

2007 - Britney Spears

Britney Spears was ordered to hand over her two young children to her former husband Kevin Federline by a judge in Los Angeles. The court ruled that Federline would be given custody of Sean Preston, two, and one-year-old Jayden James, until further notice. Last month Judge Scott Gordon had said Ms Spears showed "a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol." The singer was ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol tests twice a week as part of her child custody dispute with Mr Federline.

2012 - Big Jim Sullivan

British session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan (born James George Tomkins) died at the age of 71. Sullivan started his career in 1959 as a member of Marty Wilde’s band and when Wilde bought Sullivan a Gibson Les Paul guitar, it was allegedly the first in Britain. Sullivan taught future Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to play guitar, as well as helping Yes and Asia guitarist Steve Howe on his road to success. He featured on 55 No.1 hits, and worked with George Harrison, Frank Zappa, Thunderclap Newman, Love Affair, Long John Baldry, Marmalade and The Tremeloes. During Jimmy Page's session career, he was known as ‘Little Jim’, to differentiate him from Big Jim.

BIRTHDAYS

1969 - Badly Drawn Boy

Badly Drawn Boy, (Damon Gough), singer, songwriter, 2002 UK No.9 single 'You Were Right', 2002 UK No. 10 album, 'Have You Fed The Fish'. I would like to hear more and more recent work  . . .I used to really like him and he cropped up on all sorts of TV places and programmes but where is he now? 

1955 - Phil Oakey

Phil Oakey singer, songwriter with The Human League. Formed in Sheffield, England in 1977 the group attained widespread commercial success with their third album Dare in 1981. The album contained four hit singles, including the UK/US No.1 hit 'Don't You Want Me'. The Human League has sold more than 20 million records worldwide.

1952 - John Otway

John Otway, UK singer, songwriter, guitarist, (1977 UK No.27 single 'Really Free', with Wild Willy Barrett). 2002 UK No.7 single 'Bunsen Burner'. I miss John Otway too and have told my story about bumping into him in an Oxford pub . . . . . 

1951 - Gordon Sumner - 'Sting'

Sting, (Gordon Sumner), singer, songwriter, The Police, (1983 UK & US No.1 single 'Every Breath You Take', plus 4 other UK No.1 singles). Solo, (1990 UK No.15 single 'Englishman In New York' plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). As a solo musician and a member of The Police, he received 16 Grammy Awards and has sold over 100 million records.

1950 - Mike Rutherford

Mike Rutherford, guitar, Genesis, (1986 US No.1 single 'Invisible Touch', 1992 UK No.7 single 'I Can't Dance' & 6 UK No.1 albums). & Mike And The Mechanics, (1989 US No.1 & UK No.2 single 'The Living Years'). The 'Living Years' I bought on 12" and of course it reminds me of my dad who did his very best to understand his wayward and difficult youngest son . . . . . . it is a great song sung by Paul Carrack who is a favourite singer

1945 - Don McLean

Don McLean, US singer, songwriter, 1971 US & 1972 UK No.1 single 'American Pie', a song inspired by the death of Buddy Holly. Underrated IMHO and although he had good hits with American Pie and this tribute too Van Gogh he should somehow have been more famous or more successful . . . . . 

1939 - Lolly Vegas

Lolly Vegas, guitarist and singer with Redbone, who had the 1971 UK No.2 & US No.21 single 'The Witch Queen Of New Orleans' and the 1974 US No. 4 hit single, 'Come and Get Your Love.' Redbone are accredited in the NY Smithsonian as the first Native American rock/Cajun group to have a No.1 single in the United States and internationally. Jimi Hendrix stated that Lolly Vegas was his favourite guitar player and biggest influence in music. He died of cancer on 4 March 2010.

Thanks to On This Day In Music

ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC

October 1st

1965 - Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He introduced his new touring band on this tour, made up of guitarist Robbie Robertson, organist Garth Hudson, bassist Rick Danko, pianist Richard Manual and drummer Levon Helm. They will become known simply as The Band.

Acoustic set: Bob Dylan (vocal, harmonica & acoustic guitar) She Belongs To MeTo RamonaGates Of EdenMr. Tambourine ManLove Minus Zero/No LimitDesolation RowIt's All Over Now, Baby Blue Electric set: Bob Dylan (vocal, harmonica & electric guitar), Robbie Robertson (electric guitar), Garth Hudson (organ), Richard Manuel (piano), Rick Danko (bass), Levon Helm (drums).Maggie's FarmI Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?Just Like Tom Thumb's BluesTombstone BluesIt Ain't Me, BabePositively 4th StreetBallad Of A Thin ManLike A Rolling Stone

1966 - Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix appeared live for the first time in the UK when he jammed with Cream at their gig at London Polytechnic. Hendrix made his official UK live debut a month later on Friday 25 Nov 1966, when the Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Bag O'Nails Club, London.

Hendrix jams with Cream
1 October 1966
In 1966 Eric Clapton was the undisputed king of rock guitar in Britain. That was until Hendrix turned up on the scene. Jimi had only been in England for a week, yet there was already talk of this amazing American guitarist who had been creating a storm in London's blues clubs.
In a particularly over confident gesture Hendrix asked if he could jam with Cream at their gig at Central London Polytechnic. Hendrix took the stage and tore through a version of 'Killing Floor' in double time. Cream soon regretted allowing him to join them. Hendrix's outrageous stage antics and dazzling guitar playing caused Clapton to leave the stage in a state of shock. He asked Chas Chandler afterwards "Is he always that f***ing good?"

1967 - The Rolling Stones

Thieves broke into Mick Jagger's London flat and stole jewellery and furs belonging to his then girlfriend Marianne Faithfull.

1967 - John Peel

The first edition of UK BBC Radio 1's 'Top Gear' was aired. Presented by John Peel and Pete Drummond they featured The Move, Traffic, Pink Floyd, Tim Rose and Tomorrow featuring Keith West.

1967 Part Two - Top Gear!

Radio 1 DJs outside All Souls Church, LondonJohn's first show for BBC Radio 1 was called Top Gear, which he co-presented with former Radio London DJ Pete Drummond. It went to air at 2pm on Sunday October 1st, 1967, and it promised sessions with some of the hottest names in the music business. John Peel got the job by the skin of his teeth as BBC bigwigs thought he was too much of a loose cannon. But Top Gear producer, and BBC veteran of 10 years, Bernie Andrews, had his eye on Peel and demanded that he present the show. Andrews became John's advocate, convincing BBC bosses to give John the opportunity to stay at the station - albeit on a six-week contract - even though his style was at odds with the "stuffy establishmentarianism" of the BBC.
Immediately, John and Bernie started to book sessions from artists John thought worthy of recognition. The Peel Sessions on Top Gear attracted the likes of Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Captain Beefheart and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
The Peel sessions, now as famous as the man himself, were born.

John adopted Top Gear as his own programme, complete with solo billing which came with new-found freedom to play whatever he liked, whenever he liked

1970 - Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was buried at The Greenwood Cemetery at the Dunlop Baptist Church, Seattle. Among the mourners; Miles Davis, Eric Burdon, Johnny Winter and members of Derek and the Dominoes.

1973 - Simon Park Orchestra

The Simon Park Orchestra were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Eye Level,' taken from the ITV series 'Van Der Valk.' It was the first TV theme to become a No.1 in the UK.


1975 - Al Jackson

39 year old Al Jackson, drummer for Booker T. And The MGs, was shot and killed by a burglar at his home. His wife was questioned about the killing because she was arrested in July for shooting her husband in the chest during a domestic dispute. He wasn't badly hurt and the charges were dismissed when his wife claimed self-defense. Jackson had returned home to what police described as a botched robbery attempt. According to Jackson's wife, an intruder made her answer the door and then threw her husband to the floor demanding money. Jackson was forced to lie face down and then was shot in the back five times. The identity of the culprit remains a mystery. Booker T had backed such artists as Otis Redding, Al Green and Sam and Dave.

1977 - Elton John

Elton John became the first musician to be honoured in New York City's Madison Square Hall Of Fame.

1981 - Martin Chambers

The Pretenders were forced to cancel the last leg of a US tour after drummer Martin Chambers put his hand through a windowpane, cutting tendons and arteries.

1994 - Michael Jackson

The Daily Mirror in the UK printed a photo of Michael Jackson in a scoutmaster's uniform along with several young Boy Scouts. A Boy Scouts leader later made a statement saying that Jackson had no association with the organisation.

1999 - Lena Zavaroni

Singer Lena Zavaroni died aged 35 after a long battle against anorexia. Zavoroni was discovered on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks, in 1974 she became the youngest British singer to earn a silver disc with 'Ma He's Making Eyes At Me' and the youngest person to appear on TV's Top Of The Pops.A terrible tragedy for any youngster but especially harrowing to die like this in the pubic view. Anorexia is an affiliation I had trouble with as a therapist and believe it requires specialist treatment fo the most protracted and difficult kind. 

2005 - Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty was arrested during a police drugs operation in Shrewsbury where his band Babyshambles had been playing and held overnight. Police said a man and a woman were arrested for possession of class A drugs and 17 others searched during an operation in Telford. A gig in Norwich planned for the following night was cancelled.

2007 - Radiohead

Radiohead's official website crashed after the band announced that their new album 'In Rainbows' would only be available to order via www.radiohead.com. Fans could pre-order the download at any price they choose or pay £40 for a "discbox", which included two CDs, two records, plus artwork and booklets.

2007 - Spice Girls

The Spice Girls London reunion concert sold out in 38 seconds after fans were notified tickets had gone on sale. More than one million people in the UK registered for the concert, on 15 December 2007 at the O2 arena, tickets cost £55-75. Three more London dates were added to the world tour which was kicking off in Vancouver on 2nd Dec.

2015 - The Beatles

An original tape of The Beatles performing at The Cavern Club in Liverpool in 1962 was found after 50 years languishing in a desk drawer. It featured the Fab Four playing 'Some Other Guy' in September 1962, four weeks before their debut single came out. It was recorded after the group were filmed for Granada TV's Know The North, but was never broadcast.

2018 - Charles Aznavour

French singer, actor, public activist and diplomat Charles Aznavour was found dead in a bathtub at his home at Mouriès at the age of 94. He was famous for his 1974 UK No.1 single 'She' and was one of France's most popular and enduring singers (dubbed France's Frank Sinatra). He sold more than 180 million records, recorded more than 1,200 songs (interpreted in nine languages) and he wrote or co-wrote more than 1,000 songs for himself and others.

BIRTHDAYS

1959 - Youssou N'dour

Youssou N'dour, Senegalese singer, percussionist, (1994 UK No.3 single '7 Seconds'), worked with Peter Gabriel, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Sting.

1947 - Rob Davis

Rob Davis, guitarist songwriter from English glam rock band Mud who had the 1974 UK No.1 single 'Tiger Feet' which was the UK's best-selling single of 1974 plus 14 other UK Top 40 singles. In 2000, he achieved commercial songwriting success, most notably with the songs 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' for Spiller and co- wrote the 2001 UK No.1 hit 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' for Kylie Minogue.

1945 - Donny Hathaway

Donny Hathaway, US soul singer (1972 UK No.29 single with Roberta Flack 'Where Is The Love', 1978 US No.2 single 'The Closer I Get'). Committed suicide falling from a 15th floor hotel window on 13th January 1979.

1930 - Richard Harris

Actor, singer, Richard Harris, (1968 US & UK No.4 single 'MacArthur Park'). Died of cancer on 25th Oct 2002. A lifelong favourite actor from Lyndsay Anderson's 'This Sporting Life' opposite Rachel Roberts who I adored, to 'Camelot', 'A Man Called Horse' and 'The Field', and even 'Unforgiven',  Harris turned in a superb performance as Professor Dumbledore in the first Harry Potter films until passing away when the only person who could possibly match his performance took over the incomparable Sir Michael Gambon. 
A member of the gang of hard drinking British actors numbering Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, Oliver Reed Michael Caine, the artist Francis Bacon, Robert Shaw and Trevor Howard and even when filming Harry Potter he drank with Kenneth Branagh and Alan Rickman keeping them up regularly til four in the morning. An alcoholic who in the seventies consumed two bottles of vodka a day and tapering off in the evening with brandy and port (a bottle of each) whilst filming in Hawaii he developed a penchant for a local cocktail of Rum, Cointreau and grenadine! On being told he had only 18 months to live he mourned his fate by going straight out and drinking two bottles of Chateau Margeaux 1947. He maintained his sobriety under some duress but as the end of his life approached he became partial to a night cap of a pint of Guinness! 

Thanks to On This Day In Music