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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

July 29th

July 29th Birthday, Spiders From Mars keyboardist Mike Garson, born in New York City in 1945. Garson played with Nine Inch Nails, Duran Duran and others.

July 29th Birthday, REO Speedwagon keyboardist Neil Doughty, born in Evansville, Indiana in 1946.

July 29th Birthday, Alan Parsons Project singer Lenny Zakatek, born Lenny du Platel in Karachi, British India in 1947.

July 29th Birthday, Singer and guitarist in the E Street Band, Patty Scialfa (Skal-fa), born in 1953 in Deal, New Jersey.

July 29th Birthday, Rush singer, songwriter and bassist Geddy Lee, born Gary Lee Weinrib in North York, Ontario, Canada in 1953.

July 29th Birthday, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and session guitarist John Sykes, born in Reading, Berkshire, England in 1959.

Today In Rock and Roll History

July 29th

July 29th, 1959 The Isley Brothers record “Shout” at RCA Victor Studio A in New York City with producers Hugo and Luigi choosing the studio musicians. The Isley Brothers invited organist Herman Stephens and friends to create a party atmosphere in the studio. The arrangement was based on the Isley’s live version of Jackie Wilson’s “Lonely Teardrops.” The vocal intro is a nod to Ray Charles “I Got A Woman.” Credited to O’Kelly, Ronald and Rudolph Isley, RCA released the song as a single on August 29th. Divided into Part 1 and Part 2 on both sides of the record, “Shout” peaked at No. 47 on October 31st.

July 29th, 1963 Following a four-year layoff, the Newport Folk Festival was reactivated. The shows featured performances by Bob Dylan, Pete Seger, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary.

July 29th, 1965 Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance at the British premiere of The Beatles’ second movie, Help!

July 29th, 1965 Bob Dylan records “Positively 4th Street” in New York City with producer Bob Johnston. The song was released as a 45 on July 29th, between the albums “Highway 61 Revisited” and “Blonde on Blonde” as the follow-up to “Like a Rolling Stone,” but was not included on either LP. Reaching the top of the Canadian singles chart, the record peaked at No. 2 in America on September 4th.

July 29th, 1968 Epic Records release “Truth,” the first album by The Jeff Beck Group. Recording sessions took place on May 14th and 15th and May 25th and 26thwith producer Mickie Most at EMI, Olympic and De Lane Lea Studios in London. With singer Rod Stewart, Ron Wood on bass and Micky Waller on drums, guests on the sessions included Madeline Bell, Clem Cattini, Aynsley Dunbar, Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, Nicky Hopkins and John Paul Jones. The record peaked at No. 15 on November 16th.

July 29th, 1969 Together Records release “Preflyte” by The Byrds. The record was a collection of demos David Crosby, Jim McGuinn, Chris Hillman and Gene Clarke had done as The Jet Set before The Byrds were formed, at World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles with producer Jim Dickson. The record includes early versions of several songs that appear on The Byrds’ debut album and a version of the McGuinn/Clarke song “You Showed Me,” later a hit for The Turtles. The LP peaked at No. 84 on October 18th.

July 29th, 1970 Epic Records release “Animal Zoo” by Spirit on 45. Written by Jay Ferguson, the lyrics beg for simpler times, a critique of modern life. Produced by David Briggs, “Animal Zoo” peaked at No. 97 on September 12th.

July 29th, 1971 Atlantic Records release “Your Move” by Yes on 45. The backing vocals echo song lyrics written by John Lennon, “Give Peace A Chance” and “Instant Karma” and imply that relationships were analogous to moving pieces on a chess board. Co-written by group vocalist Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire, the record entered the singles charts in September and peaked at No. 40 on December 4th.

July 29th, 1971 The Who begin a new US tour with two shows at New York’s Forest Hills Tennis Stadium. LaBelle, with Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, opened the show.

July 29th, 1971 The Osmonds record “Down By The Lazy River” with Alan Osmond and Michel Lloyd producing. Co-written by Alan and Merrill Osmond, the record came out on MGM Records on January 15th, 1972 and peaked at No. 4 on March 4th.

July 29th, 1972 Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose “Too Late To Turn Back Now” hits No. 1 in the US.

July 29th, 1977 Stiff Records in Britain release “Red Shoes” backed with “Mystery Dance,” the third single by Elvis Costello. The Byrds-inspired guitar motif intro of the song was played by John McFee, then a member of Costello’s backing band, Clover. “Red Shoes” was produced by produced by Nick Lowe in late 1976, early 1977 at Pathway Studios, London.

July 29th, 1977 Vertigo Records in England release “Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In It’s Spotlight)” by Thin Lizzy on 45. Written by singer and bassist Phil Lynott, co-produced by Lynott and Tony Visconti, the song features a sax solo by John Helliwell of Supertramp. The record went to No. 14 in Britain.

July 29th, 1978 “Steppin’ In A Slide Zone” by The Moody Blues enters the singles charts following a release earlier in the month on London Records. The song was written by bassist John Lodge from the Tony Clarke produced “Octave” LP, the group’s last with original band keyboardist Mike Pinder. “Steppin’ In A Slide Zone” peaked at No. 39 on September 2nd.

July 29th, 1980 RCA Records release “Voices,” the ninth studio album by Daryl Hall and John Oates. The album spun off four hit singles, “You Make My Dreams Come True,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Kiss On My List,” and “How Does It Feel To Be Back.” The album also contains the original version of the Daryl Hall written “Everytime You Go,” a No. 1 hit for Paul Young in 1985. Working at Electric Lady and The Hit Factory Studios in New York City, the record was self-produced by Hall and Oates during sessions that spanned November 1979 through April 1980, “Voices” peaked at No. 17 in the US.

July 29th, 1991 Vertigo Records in Britain release “Enter Sandman” by Metallica on 45. Co-written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett, the record was co-produced by Hetfield, Ulrich and Bob Rock. “Enter Sandman” peaked at No. 5 in the UK.

Miscellaneous July

July 1959, Chess Records release “Go Bo Diddley,” the second album by Bo Diddley.

July 1959, Chess Records release “Berry Is On Top” by Chuck Berry. Other than the song “Blues For Hawaiians,” the record was a collection of previously issued singles with nine hit 45’s.

July 1964 Nashville label RIC Records release “Beach Walkin’” backed with “Banzai Washout,” the first single by California band The Catalinas on 45. Both songs were written by Los Angeles session musician and record producer Steve Douglas. Future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston and Wrecking Crew alumni Hal Blaine, Bill Pitman, Billy Strange, Leon Russell and others were part of the studio band.

July 1965 Fantasy Records release “You Can’t Be True” backed with “You Got Nothin’ On Me,” the third single by The Golliwogs. 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.

July 1967, Elektra Records release “The 5,000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion” by The Incredible String Band in England. Recorded at Sound Techniques in Chelsea, London with producer Joe Boyd, it was the group’s second album, regrouped as a duo following their first album in 1966. “The 5,000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion” went to No. 25 in Britain. The LP came out in America in January 1968.

July 1969, Douglas Records release “Devotion,” the second album by John McLaughlin. There are conflicting dates attributed to the release. Some say May some July and others say September. The record was recorded while McLaughlin was a member of Tony Williams Lifetime, using a backing band of organist Larry Young, bassist Billy Rich and Buddy Miles. The album did not chart in the US.

July 1970 Capitol Records release the self-titled debut album by British jazz-rock band “If.” The album reached No. 187 in the US.

July 1974, Casablanca Records release “Strutter,” the third single by Kiss. The song was co-written by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. The track was co-produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise, taken from Kiss’ self-titled first album.

July 1975, RCA Records release “Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” the second single by Bruce Johnston, Gary Usher and Terry Melcher’s California Music. The song was credited to Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy. The song was originally a hit for Lymon and The Teenagers in 1956.

July 1976 Oyster Records release “Child In Time” by the Ian Gillan Band. It was the first solo album by former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. The group featured keyboardist Mike Moran, guitarist Ray Fenwick and bassist John Gustafson. The LP was produced by Purple’s Roger Glover at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany in December 1975 through January 1976. The album reached No. 55 in England.

July 1976 Atco Records release “Viva! Roxy Music,” a live album by Roxy Music, six months in advance of its British release date in February 1977. The recordings were taped at the Glasgow Apollo in November 1973, Newcastle City Hall in October 1974 and the Wembley Empire Pool in October 1975. “Viva! Roxy Music” was produced by Chris Thomas. The same month, Island Records in Britain release a new four-song EP by Bryan Ferry, “Price Of Love” and “Shame Shame Shame” backed with “Heart On My Sleeve” and “It’s Only Love.” Island issued “Price Of Love” as a single in August.

July 1981 A&M Records in America release “Iris” by Split Enz on 45. The track came from the band’s “Waiata” album, produced by David Tickle.

July 1983 Virgin Records release “Wonderland” by XTC on 45 in England. Written by Colin Moulding, the session was co-produced by XTC and Steve Nye. It was the only single from the group’s “Mummer” LP to be released in the US, in February 1984.

July 1984 A&M Records in the US release “Message To My Girl” by Split Enz on 45 from the LP “Conflicting Emotions.” The song was written by Neil Finn, co-produced by Hugh Padgham and Eddie Rayner.

July 1987 Jet Records release “1, 2, 3” backed with “O What A Shame” by Roy Wood on 45. The A-side was a cover version of the Len Barry hit from 1967, co-written by J Madaea, D White and L Bonsoff. The B-side was written by Roy Wood. Both tracks were produced by Roy Wood.

July 1987 Virgin Records release “You’re A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)” by The Dukes Of Stratosphere on 45. The band were XTC with guitarist Dave Gregory’s brother Ian on drums. The song was written by Andy Partridge and credited to Sir John Johns. The record was co-produced by the band and John Leckie.

July 1990 Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay release “Christmas ; MacKay and Manzanera featuring The Players” on Ryko Records. Album is a collection of Christmas songs by Andy MacKay and Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music.

July 1991 Demon Records in Britain release the soundtrack to the British TV series “G.B.H.” It was the first of two collaborations between Elvis Costello and English composer, musician and member of progressive rock band Gryphon, Richard Harvey.

July 1994 Warner Brothers Records in Britain release “You Tripped At Every Step” by Elvis Costello and The Attractions on 45, the third single released from the band’s “Brutal Youth” LP. The song was written by Costello, who co-produced the track with Mitchell Froom.