Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast December 13th, Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History December 11th
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 11th
- December 11th Birthday, Blues singer Big Mama Thornton, born in Ariton, Alabama in 1926. Thornton died July 25th, 1984 at the age of 57 in Los Angeles, California.
- December 11th Birthday, Bass baritone singer Curtis Williams from vocal group The Penguins is born in Los Angeles, California in 1934.
- December 11th Birthday, Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and record producer from the band Bread, David Gates, born in 1940 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- December 11th Birthday, Pop and Country singer Brenda Lee, born Brenda Mae Tarpley in Atlanta, Georgia in 1944.
- December 11th Birthday, Frank Zappa, Weather Report and Genesis drummer Chester Thompson, born in 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland.
- December 11th Birthday, Jermaine Jackson, vocalist for The Jackson Five, born in 1954 in Gary, Indiana.
- December 11th Birthday, Bassist and vocalist for Del Amitri, Justin Currie, born in 1964 in Glasgow, Scotland.
- December 11th Birthday, Motley Crue guitarist Nikki Sixx, born Frank Carlton Serafino in 1958 in San Jose, California.
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 11th
- December 11th, 1956 Billy Lee Riley and His Little Green Men record “Flying Saucer Rock And Roll” at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, produced by Sam Phillips. The song was written by rockabilly artist Ray Scott. The Little Green Men were members of the Sun Records house band. On the Riley session, this included pianist Jerry Lee Lewis, who would soon leave for a solo career. Sun Records released “Flying Saucer Rock And Roll” on 45 and 78 rpm record on January 23rd, 1957.
- December 11th, 1958 The Coasters record their signature tune “Charlie Brown” backed with “Three Cool Cats,” recorded March 17th. Both songs were co-written and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. King Curtis plays the sax solo on “Charlie Brown.” Released January 14th, 1959, the record would reach No. 2 on March 14th, 1959, the first of three Top Ten hits for The Coasters that year.
- December 11th, 1960 Aretha Franklin makes her New York stage debut, singing Blues and Pop standards at the Village Vanguard.
- December 11th, 1963 Mercury Records release “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore on 45. Co-written by David White and John Madara, the record was produced by Quincy Jones. “You Don’t Own Me” peaked at No. 2 on February 1st.
- December 11th, 1965 Blue Cat Records release Evie Sands’ “I Can’t Let Go” on 45. The song was co-written by Al Gorgoni and Chip Taylor. While Sands was the first to release the song, it would be The Hollies version that was a hit a year later and again for Linda Ronstadt in 1980.
- December 11th, 1965 Tom Jones’ “Thunderball” enters the singles charts. The song was a last-minute addition as the theme to the James Bond film. Written for Shirley Bassey, it was subsequently passed to Dionne Warwick to record, then Tom Jones, whose version was used in the film. With music by John Barry and lyrics by Don Black, Jones was alleged to have passed out singing the song’s climactic final note. The record peaked at No. 25 on January 22nd, 1966.
- December 11th, 1965 The T Bones “No Matter What Shape Your Stomach’s In” enters the singles charts. American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and record producer Dave Pell went into the studio with members of The Wrecking Crew and recorded “No Matter What Shape (Your Stomachs In),” a song based on music used in an Alka-Seltzer TV commercial. Credited on the single to The T-Bones, Liberty records wanted to promote the record with a tour, so Judd Hamilton, Dan Hamilton, Joe Frank Carollo, Tommy Reynolds and Gene Pello were recruited into the band, though none had played on the record. The record reached No. 3 in the US on February 5th, 1966, No. 1 in Canada.
- December 11th, 1965 Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels “Jenny Take A Ride” enters the singles charts following a November release on New Voice Records. Co-written by Bob Crewe, Little Richard Penniman and Enotris Johnson, the song’s arrangement is a medley of Chuck Willis’ “C. C. Rider” and Little Richard’s “Jenny Jenny” and was the first of seven chart hits by The Detroit Wheels.
- December 11th, 1966 Elton John’s band Bluesology opens for Little Richard at a show in London. Elton would later say, “When I saw Little Richard standing on top of the piano, all lights, sequins and energy, I decided there and then that I was going to be a rock and roll piano player.”
- December 11th, 1966 Parrot Records release Jonathan King’s “Where The Sun Has Never Shone” on 45. Written by King, the record peaked at No. 97 on January 22nd, 1967.
- December 11th, 1966 Tribe Records release “The Rains Came” by The Sir Douglas Quintet. Written by Huey P. Meaux and originally recorded by Big Sambo and the House Wreckers in 1962, when it reached No. 74. Meaux produced the Sir Douglas recording, which hit No. 31 on March 19th, 1967.
- December 11th, 1967 ABC Records release The Impressions’ “We’re A Winner” on 45. Written and produced by Impressions lead singer Curtis Mayfield, “We’re a Winner” was recorded with a live audience in the RCA Victor and Universal studios in the Impressions home base of Chicago, Illinois. The record peaked at No. 14 on February 24th, 1968.
- December 11th, 1968 Columbia Records released the self-titled second album by Blood, Sweat and Tears. Produced by Jim Guercio, the record was recorded on sixteen track equipment at CBS Studios in New York City from October 7th through the 22nd. The record topped the American album charts for seven weeks beginning March 29th and featured three hit singles, “And When I Die,” “Spinning Wheel” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.” It won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1970.
- December 11th, 1968 In America, Tetragrammaton Records release the second studio album by Deep Purple, “The Book of Taliesyn.” After the success of “Hush” on the singles charts, the band toured the US, then went into the studio to complete a follow-up record. “The Book of Taliesyn” peaked at No. 54 on February 22nd, 1969. In England, the record came out the following July.
- December 11th, 1969 The filming of The Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus begins. The film also featured performances from John Lennon, The Who, Taj Mahal and Jethro Tull, along with clowns and jugglers.
- December 11th, 1970 The film The Magic Christian starring Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers, premieres in London.
- December 11th, 1970 Fly Records in Britain release “Looking On,” the third album by The Move. It was the first LP by the band to feature Jeff Lynne. The record was recorded simultaneously with their first LP as The Electric Light Orchestra, co-produced by Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne.
- December 11th, 1970 Fly Records in Britain release the self-titled “T. Rex” album. The album contains electric reworkings of old Tyrannosaurus Rex material but is mostly new compositions and viewed as the bridge between the original two-man group and the electric band Marc Bolan put together for the next album “Electric Warrior.” The LP was produced by Tony Visconti at Trident Studios from May through August.
- December 11th, 1970 John Lennon’s first solo album “Plastic Ono Band” is released on Apple Records. The LP was recorded at Lennon’s home studio, Ascot Sound and EMI Studios from September through October. Co-produced by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, Lennon, Ringo Starr, Klauss Voorman and Billy Preston appear on the record. The LP reached No. 6 on January 30th, 1971.
- December 11th, 1971 “Music,” the third solo album by Carole King, enters the album charts. Among the many session players on the LP were Danny Kortchmar, James Taylor, Russ Kunkle and Merry Clayton. Produced by Lou Adler, the record was issued in both stereo and quadrophonic editions and peaked at No. 1 on January 1st, 1972.
- December 11th, 1971 RCA Records release “Changes” by David Bowie on 45. The track features Rick Wakeman on piano, Bowie on sax and guitarist Mick Ronson, who wrote the string arrangement. The record entered the charts in April. Three years later, the single was reissued and peaked at No. 41 on February 1st, 1975. In Britain, “Changes” was released on February 7th, 1972
- December 11th, 1971 Robert John’s cover of The Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” enters the singles charts. John first reached the record charts in 1958 at the age of twelve under his real name, Bobby Pedrick, Jr., with “White Bucks and Saddle Shoes.” The Robert John version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was co-produced by Hank Medress and Dave Appell, peaked at No. 3 on March 11th, 1972 and earned a Gold Record for selling over a million copies.
- December 11th, 1971 The Jackson 5’s “Sugar Daddy” enters the singles charts. Co-written, produced and arranged by the Motown collective “The Corporation, led by Berry Gordy Jr., the record peaked at No. 10 on January 22nd, 1972.
- December 11th, 1971 Mary Hopkin’s “Knock Knock, Who’s There” enters the singles charts. Co-written by John Carter and Geoff Stephens the song became was the United Kingdom’s entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1970, where it came second. Produced by Mickie Most, it was Hopkin’s last record to chart in the US, peaking at No. 92 on December 23rd.
- December 11th, 1971 Bobby Womack and Peace’ “Harry Hippie” enters the singles charts. The song was co-written by Bobby Womack and Jim Ford and was co-produced by Womack, Jim Hall and Muscle Shoals Sound. Originally issued as the B-side of Womack’s cover version of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” the record peaked at No. 31 on February 10th, 1973.
- December 11th, 1972 London Records release “More Hot Rocks (Big Hits and Fazed Cookies)” by the Rolling Stones. The double album follow-up to the “Hot Rocks” compilation, the record featured many tracks previously unreleased in America, primarily from the group’s early British albums. The record peaked at No. 9 on February 17th, 1973.
- December 11th, 1972 The Who’s “Relay” enters the singles charts. The song was recorded at the same Olympic Studios session as The Who track “Join Together,” in London, on May 26th. Written by The Who’s guitarist Pete Townshend for the band’s unfinished “Lifehouse” concept album, the song was instead issued as a stand-alone single. In America, the record peaked at No. 39 on January 13th, 1973.
- December 11th, 1973 Kama Sutra Records release “Traveling Underground” by Ian Lloyd & Stories. This following the success of “Brother Louie” as a 45 earlier in the year. Despite the record featuring two hit singles, “Mammy Blue” and “If It Feels Good, Do It,” the album didn’t chart.
- December 11th, 1976 “Hejira,” the eighth studio album by Joni Mitchell enters the charts following a November release on Asylum Records. Co-produced by Mitchell and Henry Lewy at A&M Studios in Hollywood, the songs on the LP were influenced by jazz and featured session work by musicians Jaco Pastorius, Larry Carlton and John Guerin. The record peaked at No. 13 on January 15th, 1977.
- December 11th, 1976 Capitol Records release “Fly Like An Eagle” by The Steve Miller Band on 45. The guitar hook was first used in a slightly different form on Miller’s 1969 “Brave New World album track “My Dark Hour.” Early versions from 1973 were recorded without the synthesized keyboard parts. Released as the title track from the band’s ninth studio album, the record entered the charts a week later and reached No. 2 on March 12th, 1977.
- December 11th, 1976 Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” enters the singles charts. Written by Seger as an autobiographical recounting of a teenage love affair, the track was recorded at Nimbus Nine Studios in Toronto, Canada with producer Jack Richardson. The 45 mix is edited two minutes shorter than the album version and peaked at No. 4 on March 12th, 1977.
- December 11th, 1976 David LaFlamme’s solo version of “White Bird” enters the singles charts. The song was written by LaFlamme and became an underground FM radio hit for his band It’s A Beautiful Day in 1969. The re-recorded version was taped at Record Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, co-produced by David LaFlamme and Mitchell Froom. The record peaked at No. 89 on January 8th, 1977.
- December 11th, 1976 “Save It For A Rainy Day” by Stephen Bishop enters the singles charts on ABC Records, Bishop’s first chart record. Eric Clapton plays guitar on the song with Chaka Khan on backing vocals. The 45 peaked at No. 22 on February 19th, 1977.
- December 11th, 1976 Bryan Ferry’s “Heart On My Sleeve” enters the singles charts. Co-written by songwriters Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle, the record peaked at No. 86 on December 23rd.
- December 11th, 1979 Elektra Records release “Double Life” by The Cars on 45. The song was written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Roy Thomas Baker.
- December 11th, 1982 RCA Records in Britain release “Slade On Stage” in England. Recorded at Newcastle City Hall on the RAK mobile unit studio in 1981, the record went to No. 58 in Britain.
- December 11th, 2012 Hear Music release “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” by Paul McCartney on 45. The single was issued in both red and green vinyl versions, backed with “Wonderful Christmastime.” “The Christmas song was co-written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells and produced by Tommy LiPuma.
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 7th
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 interview with Chris Palladino
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 7th Evie Sands
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 with Chris Palladino
- 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.
