Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast The Winter Holiday Party 2025 on December 20th, Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History December 15th
Daily Rock and Roll History, Birthday and short music clips.
A year long, day by day look back at this date in Rock History in 3-5 minute segments. Now airing WRGG in Greencastle, PA, weekday mornings on KSRQ in Three River Falls, Minnesota, KIYU in Galena, Alaska
Craig Maher / Exo-X-Xeno Wax Museum Interview
Craig Maher from Exo-X-Xeno talking about the 2025 album "Luminous Voyage"
- Click picture to listen to the interview with Craig talking about the Exo-X-Xeno project with Yes members Billy Sherwood, Jay Shellen and Patrick Moraz.
Rock and Roll Birthdays
December 15th
- December 15th Birthday, Max Yasgur, owner of the dairy farm property in Bethel, New York where the original Woodstock Festival was held, born in 1919 in New York City. Yasgur died at the age of 53 on February 8th, 1973.
- December 15th Birthday, Alan Freed, concert promoter and the disc jockey who popularized the phrase “rock and roll,” born in 1921 in Windber, Pennsylvania. Freed is a member of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He died of Uremia on January 20th, 1965, aged 43.
- December 15th Birthday, The original leader of The Drifters, singer Clyde McPhatter, born in 1932 in Durham, North Carolina. He died on June 12th, 1972 at the age of 39.
- December 15th Birthday, Singer Cindy Birdsong of The Supremes and LaBelle, born in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey in 1939.
- December 15th Birthday, Dave Clark, drummer and record producer from The Dave Clark Five, born in 1939 in Tottenham, Middlesex, England.
- December 15th Birthday, Carmine Appice, drummer for Vanilla Fudge, born in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York.
- December 15th Birthday, Paul Simonon, bassist from The Clash, born in Thornton Heath, Croydon, England in 1955.
Nektar Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
Nektar interviewed on the second night of the 2025 "Mission To Mars" Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with Nektar discussiing the current tour, future plans and group history.
Today In Rock and Roll History
December 15th
- December 15th, 1955 Imperial Records release “Blue Monday” by Fats Domino on 45. The song was co-written by Domino and Dave Bartholomew, first recorded in 1953 by Smiley Lewis credited just to Bartholomew. The Domino version was featured in the film The Girl Can’t Help It and included Herbert Hardesty on saxophone. “Blue Monday” peaked at No. 9 on February 9th, 1956.
- December 15th, 1955 Sun Records release Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” The song combines elements from two popular folk styles, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash continued to use for the rest of his career. “Folsom Prison Blues” became one of Cash’s signature songs. A live version of the song was issued on April 30th, 1968 and went to No. 32 on July 6th.
- December 15th, 1958 King Records release “The Real Thing” backed with “Your Only Love” by The “5” Royales on 45. The A-side was written by guitarist Lowman Pauling. “Your Only Love” was co-written by Pauling, Charles Jones and Ralph Bass.
- December 15th, 1959 The Everly Brothers record “Let It Be Me” in New York City. Originally released as a French language recording in 1955, the English language version used lyrics by Manny Curtis and was performed in 1957 by Jill Corey in the television series Climax! Released December 28th on Cadence Records backed with “Since You Broke My Heart,” the single hit No. 7 for The Everly’s on January 16th, 1960.
- December 15th, 1962 Kapp Records release “Our Day Will Come” by Ruby And The Romantics. Co-written by Mort Garson with lyrics by Bob Hilliard, personnel on the original recording were Leroy Glover on organ, three guitarists, Vinnie Bell, Al Gorgoni and Kenny Burrell, Russ Savakus on bass, Gary Chester on drums and George Devens on percussion. The single became a No. 1 hit on March 23rd, 1963.
- December 15th, 1964 Dusty Springfield is deported from South Africa after performing in front of a multiracial audience at a show near Cape Town.
- December 15th, 1964 Capitol Records release the “Beatles 65” album in the US. It went to No. 1 on January 9th and remained there for nine weeks and No. 3 for another five.
- December 15th, 1966 Capitol Records release Peter and Gordons “Knight In Rusty Armor.” The song was co-written by Charles Mills and Mike Leander, while Leander arranged and conducted the orchestra with John Burgess producing. “Knight In Rusty Armor” peaked at No. 15 on January 28th, 1967.
- December 15th, 1967 Just a few days after it was released, The Beatles “Magical Mystery Tour” LP goes Gold for a million copies sold. The album topped the US album charts for eight weeks.
- December 15th, 1967 The Who release their LP “The Who Sell Out” in Britain, with a January US release date to follow. The single release from the album, “I Can See For Miles” went to No. 9. The format of the album mirrors the pirate radio stations that had popped up outside the territorial waters of Great Britain at that time. The stereo mix was completed at De Lane Lea Studios, London, on October 30th. The mono master was completed at the same studio on November 2nd. There were several small differences between the two released versions. The mono version of “Our Love Was” has a different guitar part from the stereo and features a “flanging” effect throughout. The Who Sell Out” went to No. 48 in the US on March 2nd, 1968.
- December 15th, 1968 While performing with the Jefferson Airplane on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Grace Slick appears in blackface and raises a black-leather glove in a power salute at the conclusion of the band’s performance of the song “Crown of Creation.” The incident is one of several which leads to the show’s cancellation the following season.
- December 15th, 1969 Atlantic Records release “Hold On” by The Rascals on 45. Written by Felix Cavaliere, the sessions for the track were co-produced by the band and Arif Mardin. “Hold On” entered the charts in January and peaked at No. 51 on February 7th.
- December 15th, 1969 Eric Clapton joined John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band as part of Peace for Christmas, a benefit concert for UNICEF at the Lyceum Ballroom, in London. George Harrison, Delaney and Bonnie, Billy Preston and The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon also took part in the show.
- December 15th, 1972 Vertigo Records in England release the “Piledriver” the fifth studio LP by Status Quo. Self-produced and arranged by the band, the album went to No. 5 in Britain.
- December 15th, 1973 Virgin Records release the “Tubular Bells” on 45. Written in 1971, Oldfield shopped a demo of the song for two years until Richard Branson’s Virgin Records agreed to release the “Tubular Bells” album. Vivian Stanshall of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band appears as the “master of ceremonies” on the LP track, appearing near the end of the song when he introduces various instruments on the full-length album version. The single peaked at No. 7 on May 11th, 1974.
- December 15th, 1973 Aerosmith perform their first single “Dream On” on American Bandstand.
- December 15th, 1973 Capricorn Records release the follow-up to “Ramblin' Man, “Jessica” by The Allman Brothers, the second single released from their “Brothers And Sisters” album. The song is named for Jessica Betts, the daughter of Dickey Betts and Sandy Bluesky. Written by Dickey Betts, the track was recorded at Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Georgia. For the single, the track was edited from its seven minutes and twenty-nine-second-long length to four minutes. The record entered the charts in January and went to No. 65 on February 16th, 1974, No. 35 in Canada.
- December 15th, 1973 A&M Records release “Ferguslie Park,” the second album by Stealers Wheel. The LP was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller with string arrangements by Richard Hewson. Down to the duo of Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty, the record was completed with the help of studio musicians. “Ferguslie Park” peaked at No. 181 on April 20th, 1974. A third LP, “Right Or Wrong,” came out in 1975, but didn’t chart.
- December 15th, 1973 “Jim Dandy” by Black Oak Arkansas enters the singles charts following a November release. The song was written by Lincoln Chase and first recorded by American singer LaVern Baker in 1955. Tom Dowd produced the Black Oak version. Their cover of the song went to No. 25 on February 16th, 1974 and featured female vocalist Ruby Starr.
- December 15th, 1973 Bob Dylan “A Fool Such As I” enters the singles charts. Written by Bill Trader, the song was a hit in 1952 for country star Hank Snow and was also covered by Elvis Presley in 1959. Dylan’s version peaked at No. 55 on January 12th, 1974.
- December 15th, 1974 Capital Records release “All The Girls In The World Beware!!!” the ninth studio album by Grand Funk. The record featured two hit singles, “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “Bad Time.” Produced by Jimmy Ienner at The Swamp, located on two hundred acres guitarist Mark Farner bought in Parshallville, Michigan. “All The Girls In The World Beware!!!” peaked at No. 10 on February 22nd, 1975.
- December 15th, 1975 Casablanca Records release “Mothership Connection,” the fourth studio album by Parliament. The LP reached No. 13 on June 5th, 1976.
- December 15th, 1978 The Who perform a secret concert for fan club members at London’s Shepperton Studios. The show is filmed for Jeff Stein’s upcoming Who documentary The Kids Are Alright.
- December 15th, 1978 Motown Records release “Hear, My Dear,” a double album by Marvin Gaye. Sessions for the LP were recorded at his personal studio, Marvin’s Room in Hollywood, California. Lyrics for the album were steeped in the personal side of Marvin’s marriage to Anna Gordy. The record peaked at No. 26 on February 17th, 1979.
- December 15th, 1979 “Babe” by Styx is the No. 1 record in the US.
- December 15th, 1979 Robert Palmer’s “Can We Still Be Friends” enters the singles charts. Written by Todd Rundgren, whose original version hit No. 29, Palmer’s version came from his 1979 album “Secrets” and reached No. 52 on February 2nd, 1980.
- December 15th, 1979 Styx “Why Me” enters the singles charts. Written by the band’s Dennis DeYoung and co-produced collectively by Styx, the 45 was issued from the band’s “Cornerstone” LP. “Why Me” peaked at No. 26 on February 9th, 1980.
- December 15th, 1980 Asylum Records release “Seven Bridges Road” by the Eagles on 45 from their “Eagles Live” LP. The song was written by Steve Young, originally done for his album “Rock Salt and Nails.” The Eagles’ version was produced by Bill Szymczyk. The single went to No. 21 on February 7th, 1981.
- December 15th, 1997 Parlophone Records in Britain release “Beautiful Night” by Paul McCartney as a seven-inch picture disc in Britain. The song was written by McCartney, who co-produced the track with Jeff Lynne. George Martin scored the orchestral section of the song and Ringo Starr sings and plays drums on the track. The vinyl and CD single versions of the song featured, depending on which version you bought, four non-LP songs, “Love Comes Tumbling Down,” “Same Love,” Oobu Joobu” (Pt. 5) and “Oobu Joobu” (Pt.6). The “Oobu Joobu” tracks were excerpts from McCartney’s “Oobu Joobu” radio series.
Miscellaneous December
- December 1951 RPM Records release “3 O’clock Blues” backed with “That Ain’t The Way To Do It,” the first single by B. B. King. Both songs were written by B.B. King. Johnny Ace played piano on the track.
- December 1953 Specialty Records release “The Things I Used To Do” backed with “Well, I Done Got Over It” by Guitar Slim and His Band on 45. The tracks were recorded at Cosimo Matassa’s J&M Studio in New Orleans with John Vincent producing. The songs were arranged by Ray Charles, who plays piano on the sessions. Both tracks were written by Guitar Slim, credited to his real name, Eddie Jones. Slim was seriously injured in an automobile accident at the time “The Things I Used To Do” was the No. 1 R&B single in the country.
- December 1959 Checker Records release the Bo Diddley album “Have Guitar Will Travel.”
- December 1963 Daytone Records release “Hurricane” backed with “Sweet Love” by Conrad and The Hurricanes on 45. The tracks were taped at PAL Studios in Cucamonga, California. Both songs were written by Ed Sigarlaki and produced by Frank Zappa and Dave Aerni using the aliases Curry, Ivan. The single was reissued on Era Records in June 1964 with the A&B sides reversed.
- December 1964 Fantasy Records release “Don’t Tell Me No Lies” backed with “Little Girl (Does Your Mama Know?),” the first record by The Golliwogs on 45. Both sides were co-written by Tom and John Fogerty, using the names Rann Wild and Toby Green. The Golliwogs renamed themselves Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1967.
- December 1965 Sue Records release “The New Breed (pts. 1&2)” by Ike Turner and His Kings Of Rhythm on 45. The instrumental was written by Ike Turner and co-produced by he and Tinas Turner.
- December 1968 Verve Forecast Records release “Reason To Believe” by Tim Hardin on 45. The song was a No. 62 hit for Rod Stewart when it was released as the first single from Stewarts “Every Picture Tells A Story” LP in 1971.
- December 1968 Island Records in Britain release “What We Did On Our Holidays,” the second album by Fairport Convention, their first to feature singer and songwriter Sandy Denny. Produced by Joe Boyd, the record was released in America with a different cover and a self-titled name.
- December 1969 Mercury Records release “Earth” backed with “Step On Me” by Smile at 45. The A-side was written by singer and bassist Tim Staffell. “Step On Me” was co-written by Staffell and guitarist Brian May. Drummer Roger Taylor and May changed the name of the band to Queen when Staffell quit the group and they hired singer Freddie Mercury.
- December 1969 Island Records in Britain release the Joe Boyd produced “Liege And Lief” album by Fairport Convention. The record was issued in America on A&M Records the following July. A No. 17 hit in England, it was Fairport’s third album of 1969 and their first following the road accident that killed drummer Martin Lamble.
- December 1970 The Famous Charisma Label in Britain release “H To He Who Am The Only One,” the third album by Van der Graaf Generator. The LP was recorded at Trident Studios in London with John Anthony producing. Dunhill Records in the US issued the album in February 1971. Robert Fripp of King Crimson played guitar on the track “The Emperor And His War Room.”
- December 1972 Epic records release “R.E.O. T.W.O.,” the second studio LP by REO Speedwagon. Initial sessions for the LP were recorded in Nashville, then moved to The Record Plant in Los Angeles. The album was co-produced by Paul Leka and Billy Rose II.
- December 1972 United Artists Records release The Move compilation “Splits Ends.” The tracks drew mostly from the band’s previous album “Message From The Country” as well as earlier group singles.
- December 1974 Atlantic Records release “Can’t Stop The Music (He Played It Much Too Long)” by Hall and Oates on 45. Written by John Oates, the record was produced by Todd Rundgren at Secret Sound Studios in New York City.
- December 1987 Barking Pumpkin Records release Frank Zappa “Old Masters Box Three.” The set completed a trio of archival reissues of the original albums Zappa recorded with The Mothers Of Invention. The release featured the albums “Waka/Jawaka,” “The Grand Wazoo,” “Over-Nite Sensation,” “Apostrophe (‘),” “Roxy And Elsewhere,” “One Size Fits All,” “Bongo Fury” and “Zoot Allures”.
The Paul Bielatowicz Band Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
The Paul Bielatowicz Band interviewed on their 2025 Spring Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with The Paul Bielatowicz Band discussiing the current tour and future plans.
Music and conversation with Andy Tillison of The Tangent
Wax Museum interview May 2024
- Click image to hear The Wax Museum's Andy Tillison interview
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of December 14th
This Week In Rock and Roll History is a weekly one hour look back at the songs, the artists, and the stories behind the music of the rock and roll era.
Jonas Reingold Interview
Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's Wax Museum Interview with Jonas Reingold
Carl Giammarese / The Buckinghams Interview
The Buckinghams Radio Show
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's interviews on WRGG with Carl Giammarese from The Buckinghams in 2022 and 2024
The Cool Song Of The Week
Cool Song Of The Week December 14th Steppenwolf
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
- Click Fripp's image to hear the King Crimson guitarist, record producer, solo artist in this 1985 interview for the WARX Sunday night Radio Oz program. Fripp discusses his then current Guitar Craft courses, King Crimson stories, his start in the music business, and more.
Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
- Click picture to hear Annie Haslam "In Words and Music". The iconic Renaissance singer talks at length about music, her life, and artwork for an exclusive interview in The Wax Museum.
Tommy James Wax Museum Interview January 2019
Tommy James
- Click picture to hear Tommy promoting all his planned 2019 activities; new album, Sirius XM radio show, touring, new movie, etc.
From the Radio Oz interview archives
Firesign Theatre interview 1980
- Click picture to listen to this archival interview with The Firesign Theatre recorded during their 1980 Fighting Clowns tour of the US for Chris Palladino's Radio Oz program, now available for purchase in the Firesign Theatre's "Fighting Clowns" of Hollywood" collection!
Woody Lissauer Wax Museum Interview 2/22/20
Baltimore based Woody Lissauer steps up to the Wax Museum microphones for this in depth interview!
- Click picture to listen to the Wax Museum interview with Woody Lissauer and his latest album "Trouble The Water" with Barbara Ireland and Steve Caplan.
