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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History April 8th
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.
Rock and Roll Birthdays
April 8th
- April 8th Birthday, Songwriter, record producer and record label executive Leon Huff, born in Camden, New Jersey in 1942. Huff was a session player for Phil Spector and Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Together with Kenny Gamble, the pair ran the Philadelphia International Records label, the foundation of what became known as The Sound Of Philadelphia.
- April 8th Birthday, Family vocalist and solo artist Roger Chapman, born in Leicester, England in 1942.
- April 8th Birthday, John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers drummer and solo artist Keef Hartley, born in Plungington, north-west Preston, Lancashire in 1944. His career began as the replacement for Ringo Starr as the drummer for Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
- April 8th Birthday, People songwriter, singer, guitarist and solo artist Larry Norman, born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1947. He passed away on February 24th, 2008 at the age of 60.
- April 8th Birthday, Yes and Asia guitarist and solo artist Steve Howe, born in Holloway, London, England in 1947.
- April 8th Birthday, Grand Funk bassist Mel Schacher, born in Flint, Michigan in 1951.
- April 8th Birthday, Guns and Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist Izzy Stradlin, born Jeffrey Dean Isbell in 1962 in Lafayette, Indiana in 1962.
- April 8th Birthday, Songwriter, solo artist, photographer Julian Lennon, son of John Lennon and his first wife, Cynthia, born in 1963 in Liverpool, England.
Today In Rock and Roll History
April 8th
- April 8th, 1957 The earliest sessions for Buddy Holly’s debut solo album begin with The Crickets as his backing band with producer Norman Petty. Holly recorded “Words Of Love,” singing all the vocal parts himself on the multi-track recording. The original Crickets lineup of drummer Jerry Allison and bass guitarist Joe B. Mauldin played on the session. Coral Records released the song as a single on June 20th.
- April 8th, 1960 RCA Victor Records release the LP “Elvis Is Back!” by Elvis Presley. Recorded at RCA’s Studio B in Nashville with guitarist Scotty Moore, drummer D.J. Fontana, Floyd Cramer on piano, guitarist and bassist Hank Garland, bassist Bob Moore and drummer Buddy Harman, with The Jordanaires on harmony vocals. The album went to No. 2 in America and No. 1 in England.
- April 8th, 1963 Donna Records release “How’s Your Bird” backed with “The World’s Greatest Sinner” by Baby Ray And The Ferns on 45. Baby Ray was future Mothers Of Invention member Ray Collins. Both sides of the single were written by Frank Zappa, who plays on the record as well. Recorded at PAL Studios in Cucamonga, California and produced by Paul Buff. “The World’s Greatest Sinner” was heard in the 1962 Timothy Carey film of the same name to which Zappa composed the movie soundtrack music.
- April 8th, 1964 The Supremes record “Where Did Our Love Go” at Motown’s Hitsville USA Studios in Detroit. The song was co-written and produced by Motown’s main production team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Earl Van Dyke played keyboards. After releasing a half dozen singles, The Supremes scored their first hit record when “Where Did Our Love Go” went to No. 1 on August 22ndfor the first of two weeks, No. 3 in the UK. The record became the first of The Supremes’ five straight US No. 1 hits.
- April 8th, 1966 Imperial Records release “Come And Get Me” by Jackie DeShannon on 45. Co-written and produced by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, the record entered the singles charts in May and peaked at No. 83 on June 4th.
- April 8th, 1966 Motown Records release “Come On And See Me” by Tammi Terrell on 45. Co-written and produced by Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol, the record entered the singles charts in May and peaked at No. 80 on June 18th.
- April 8th, 1968 Capitol Records release “Friends” by The Beach Boys on 45. Co-written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine, the record entered the charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 47 on May 18th.
- April 8th, 1970 Reprise Records release “Stepping Stone” backed with “Izzabella” by Jimi Hendrix on 45. Capitol Records, who had issued the Band Of Gypsys three weeks earlier, objected. Complaining that the new Hendrix single would interfere with sales of the LP. Reprise pulled the 45 from circulation and never reissued the record.
- April 8th, 1971 Deram Records in Britain release “In The Land Of Grey And Pink,” the third album by Canterbury, England band Caravan. The record was recorded at Decca and AIR Studios from September 1970 through January 1971 with producer David Hitchcock. The record featured the British hit “Golf Girl.” Original band keyboardist Dave Sinclair left the band following the album’s release to join Robert Wyatt to form Matching Mole.
- April 8th, 1971 Motown Records release “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” by Diana Ross on 45. A Holland-Dozier-Holland song co-produced by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, the record entered the charts on May 1st and peaked at No. 29 on May 29th.
- April 8th, 1972 Capitol Records release “Questions” by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania band Bang. Co-written by Bang’s Frankie Glicken, Tony Diorio and Frank Ferra, the record peaked at No. 90 on May 27th.
- April 8th, 1972 Sussex Records release “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers on 45. Written and produced by Withers for his second album “Still Bill,” several members of the Watts 103rdStreet Rhythm Band were used for the recording session. Living in LA, missing the strong community ethic of Withers’ hometown of Slab Fork, West Virginia was the inspiration for writing the song. The record peaked at No. 1 on July 8th.
- April 8th, 1972 “I’ll Take You There” by The Staple Singers enters the singles charts following a February release on Stax Records. The song was written and produced by Al Bell. “I’ll Take You There” peaked at No. 1 on June 3rd.
- April 8th, 1974 Apple Records release “Band On The Run” by Paul McCartney and Wings on 45. The song was recorded in three parts, in different sessions. The first two were taped at EMI Studios in Lagos, Nigeria, while the third section was recorded in October 1973 at AIR Studios in London. Orchestration for the song and others on the “Band On The Run” LP were done by Tony Visconti. Entering the charts three weeks later, the record hit No. 1 on June 8th. The single was released in England on June 28th and reached No. 3.
- April 8th, 1975 Columbia Records release “Toys In The Attic,” the third album by Aerosmith. Produced by Jack Douglas at The Record Plant in New York City from January through March the LP reached No. 11 on September 13th and featured the hits “Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion.” Most of the songs on the record were written during the three months they were recorded.
- April 8th, 1976 Atlantic Records release the self-titled debut album by Firefall. The album was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami Florida with producer Jim Mason. The LP reached No. 28 on October 2nd and featured the hit singles “You Are the Woman,” “Livin’ Ain’t Livin’” and “Cinderella.”
- April 8th, 1976 Rolling Stones Records release “Fool To Cry” by The Rolling Stones on 45 and one week later in Britain. The track was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany with guitarist Wayne Perkins, Mick Jagger on electric piano and Nicky Hopkins on piano and the string synthesizer. Co-written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, “Fool To Cry” peaked at No. 10 on June 5th.
- April 8th, 1977 CBS Records in Britain release the eponymous debut LP by The Clash. Recorded February 10th through the 27th at CBS Studios in London and the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, England with producer Mickey Foote at a total cost of four thousand British pounds. The record reached No. 12 on the UK album charts.
- April 8th, 1978 “Wheel In The Sky” by Journey enters the singles charts following a March release on Columbia Records. The song was co-written by Robert Fleischman, Neal Schon and Diane Valory, bassist Ross Valory’s wife. Fleishman was hired as the band’s lead singer but was soon replaced by Steve Perry. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, the record peaked at No. 57 on May 13th.
- April 8th, 1978 Columbia Records release “Pure Pop For Now People,” the first solo album by Nick Lowe. The LP was called “Jesus Of Cool” in England. Columbia reconfigured the track listing for the US release. Produced by Lowe at four different studios throughout 1976 and 1977, members of Rockpile, The Attractions and The Rumour all played sessions for the record. “Pure Pop For Now People” peaked at No. 127 on June 3rd.
- April 8th, 1978 “Heartless” by Heart enters the singles charts following a March release on Mushroom Records. The song was co-written by Ann and Nancy Wilson and produced by Mike Flicker. Issued as a single from what would have been the second Heart album, “Magazine”” the finished record was delayed due to a contract dispute with the band and the record label. Original copies of the LP were completed without the band’s involvement. A court settlement sent the band back into the studio to complete “Magazine,” and its official release came after Mushroom pulled the original album from record store shelves. By then, Heart had issued their official second LP “Little Queen,” signing a new deal with Portrait Records. “Heatless” peaked at No. 24 on June 17th.
- April 8th, 1978 Sire Records release “Ca Plane Pour Moi” (“That’s Life For Me”) by Plastic Bertrand on 45. Written by Deprijck Lacomblez, the record peaked at No. 47 on June 17th.
- Plastic Bertrand “Ca Plane Pour Moi”
- April 8th, 1988 Elektra Records release the self-titled debut album by Tracy Chapman. Produced by David Kershenbaum at Powertrax Studios in Hollywood, California, the album went to No. 1 on August 27th and featured the hit single “Fast Car.”
Miscellaneous April
- April 1953 Specialty Records release “Don’t Take It Out On Me” backed with “Lucy Mae Blues,” the third single by Texas electric blues guitarist Frankie Lee Sims. Both songs were written by Frankie Lee Sims, a cousin to musician Lightnin’ Hopkins. “Lucy Mae Blues” became a regional hit in Texas.
- April 1954 Specialty Records release “The Story Of My Life” backed with “A Letter To My Girl Friend,” the third single by electric blues pioneer Guitar Slim and His Band. Both songs were written by Slim, credited to his given name Eddie Jones.
- April 1963 Ron Romans record “Tell Me” and “Love Of My Life.” Daani Records released them as the A and B-side of a single. The A-side was written by Frank Zappa associate Kenny Williams, while “Love Of My Life” was a Zappa/Dave Aerni co-write. The song was recorded at PAL Recording Studio in Cucamonga, California with Zappa playing guitar and drums. Zappa rerecorded “Love Of My Life” with The Mothers Of Invention on the 1968 LP “Cruising With Ruben and The Jets.
- April 1964 Chess records release the “Folk Singer” album, the fourth by Muddy Waters. The album features Waters on acoustic guitar, Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar.
- April 1965 Fantasy Records release “Where You Been” backed with “You Came Walking,” the second single 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.
- April 1966 Are You Kidding Me? Records issue “The Ballad Of The Yellow Beret” backed with “Florida Time” by The Beach Bums, actually Bob Seger’s first released record. Done as an answer record to Sgt. Barry Sandler’s “The Ballad Of The Green Beret,” “The Ballad Of The Yellow Beret” is executed in a humorous manner but the lyrics are a sharp criticism of men who dodged the draft in the US. The song is credited to D. Dodger. “Florida Time” is closer to the style of The Beach Boys, written by long-time Seger producer “Punch,” with both sides produced and arranged by The Omens.
- April 1966 Paradise Records out of Texas release “Splash Day” backed with “Life’s A Misery” by The Warlocks on 45. The band featured brothers Rocky and Dusty Hill. The band would change their name to American Blues when drummer Frank Beard joined. Beard and Dusty Hill would later join Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top.
- April 1969 Liberty Records in Britain release “Folkjoke Opus,” the third album by Roy Harper. Produced by Shel Talmy, the LP sessions included Nicky Hopkins on piano and Clem Cattini on drums. Ron Geesin scored the arrangements on the record.
- April 1970 CBS Records in Britain release “Zero She Flies,” the third album by Al Stewart. The LP was produced by Roy Guest at Sound Technics Studios in London. Gerry Conway and Trevor Lucas from Fairport Convention played sessions on the record.
- April 1971 Harvest Records release “Stormcock,” the fifth studio album by Roy Harper. Produced by Peter Jenner at EMI Studios in London, David Bedford played keyboards and did the arrangements and Jimmy Page played guitar on “The Same Old Rock,” credited as S. Favius Mercurius.
- April 1973 Chrysalis Record in England release “Parcel Of Rogues,” the fifth studio album by Steeleye Span. The LP was co-produced by Steeleye Span and Jerry Boys at Sound Techniques Studios in Chelsea, London. The band toured the album in the US opening for Jethro Tull.
- April 1975 Asylum Records release “Fountain Of Sorrow” by Jackson Browne on 45. Written by Browne, it was the second single issued from his “Late For The Sky” LP. The 45 version was two minutes shorter than the nearly seven-minute-long album version.
- April 1975 Bob Seger releases “Beautiful Loser,” his first single for Capitol Records. The 45 peaked at No. 103 on the Pop Singles charts.
- April 1978 DB Records in Georgia release “Rock Lobster” backed with “52 Girls,” the debut single by The B-52’s. The A-side was co-written by Fred Schneider and Ricky Wilson. “52 Girls” was co-written by Jeremy Ayers and Ricky Wilson.
- April 1978 Virgin Records release “This Is Pop” backed with “Heatwave,” the third single by XTC. “This Is Pop” was written by Andy Partridge and “Heatwave” was written by Colin Moulding. Both songs were produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The A-side was an album track, re-recorded for its’ single release.
- April 1979 Asylum Records release “Alison,” Linda Ronstadt’s cover version of the Elvis Costello song on 45, produced by Peter Asher.
- April 1980 Harvest Records release “The Unknown Soldier,” the tenth studio album by Roy Harper. Co-produced by Harper and Peter Jenner at Abbey Road Studios in London, David Gilmour Andy Roberts, Andy Newmark, Kate Bush, B.J. Cole, Pete Wingfield and others play on the record. David Bedford did the orchestral arrangements.
- April 1981 RCA Records release the soundtrack to the movie Christiane F., Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo. The record was a collection of previously released songs by David Bowie that spanned the years 1976-1978. Bowie appears in an in-concert sequence of the movie during the Isolar Tour of 1976.
- April 1982 Warner Brothers Records release “Deep Sleep” by The B-52’s on 45. The track came from the David Byne produced “Mesopotamia” EP, recorded at Blank Tape Studios in New York City. The song was co-written by Keith Strickland, Kate Pierson and Robert Waldrop.
- April 1982 Woody Records in Britain release “O.T.T.” backed with “Mystery Song” by Roy Wood on 45. Both songs were written and produced by Roy Wood.
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of April 5th
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.
The Cool Song Of The Week
Cool Song Of The Week 4/5 Baby Ray and The Ferns
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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