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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History October 28th
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
October 28th
- October 28th Birthday, Country music and Rock and Roll singer, songwriter and fiddler Charlie Daniels, born in 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina. He passed away on July 6th, 2020 at the age of 83.
- October 28th Birthday, Keyboardist, saxophonist, leader of the Graham Bond Organization, Graham Bond, born in 1937, in Romford, Essex, England. Bond died on May 8th, 1974.under the wheels of a train in Finsbury Park Station in London. The latter part of his career was marked by depression related to drug abuse and his obsession with the occult.
- October 28th Birthday, Hank Marvin, guitarist from The Shadows, born in Newcastle upon Tyne and Wear, England in 1941.
- October 28th Birthday, Singer Wayne Fontana from Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, born Glyn Ellis in Manchester, England in 1945. Fontana died on August 6th, 2020 at the age of 74.
- October 28th Birthday, Original Black Oak Arkansas guitarist Rickie Lee Reynolds, born in 1948 in Manila, Arkansas. He died on September 5th, 2021 at the age of 73.
- October 28th Birthday, Barnstorm and Elton John Band bassist Kenny Passarelli, born in Denver, Colorado on 1949.
- October 28thBirthday, Hit songwriter and record producer Desmond Child, born John Charles Barrett in 1953 in Gainesville, Florida.
- October 28thBirthday, New Order and Joy Division drummer Stephen Morris born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England in 1957.
- October 28thBirthday, Singer, guitarist, co-founder of The Jesus and Mary Chain, William Reid, born in 1958 in Glasgow, Scotland.
- October 28thBirthday, Soul, blues, folk and reggae artist Ben Harper, born in 1969 in Pomona, California.
Today In Rock and Roll History
October 28th
- October 28th, 1956 Elvis Presley makes his second appearance on CBS-TV’s Ed Sullivan Show. Sullivan presented Presley with a Gold Record award on air for a million copies sold of “Love Me Tender.”
- October 28th, 1957 Capitol Records release “Dance To The Bop” by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps on 45 and as a 78 rpm record. The song was written by Floyd Edge. The record peaked at No. 43 on December 23rd.
- October 28th, 1958 Buddy Holly makes what would be his last major television appearance, lip-syncing to “It’s So Easy” and “Heartbeat” on ABC-TV’s American Bandstand.
- October 28th, 1962 The Beatles and Little Richard appeared as a double bill for a two-week engagement at The Star Club in Hamburg, Germany.
- October 28th, 1963 The Beach Boys release the Brian Wilson penned “Be True To Your School” backed with “In My Room,” co-written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher. The Beach Boys recorded two studio versions of “Be True To Your School.” Released on the “Little Deuce Coupe” album, the original recording, was taped September 2nd, 1963 and was in a higher key and at a slower tempo than the second version which was released as a single. The 45 version features The Honey’s chanting various “cheerleader yells” before each chorus. Produced by Brian Wilson and co-written by he and Mike Love, the song would peak at No. 6 on December 21st. “In My Room” was co-written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher and peaked at No. 23 on December 21st. The Beach Boys also recorded a German version of the song, titled “Ganz Allein” (All Alone).
- October 28th, 1964 Considered one of rock and rolls greatest events – the Teenage Awards Music International show – The T.A.M.I. Show, is held at the Santa Monica, California Civic Auditorium, the first of two all-star live music shows that would conclude the next evening. Featuring the famed “Wrecking Crew” session musicians as backup, the event presents James Brown, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, Chuck Berry, Marvin Gaye, The Miracles, Lesley Gore and more.
- October 28th, 1967 “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” by Glen Cambell enters the singles charts on Capitol Records. The song was written by Jimmy Webb, produced and arranged by Al DeLory. The song was first recorded by Johnny Rivers two years earlier, inspired by Webb’s breakup with his girlfriend Susan Horton. The record peaked at No. 26 on December 16th.
- October 28th, 1967 Chess Records release “Tell Mama” backed with “I’d Rather Go Blind” by Etta James on 45. Recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in August with producer Rick Hall, the record peaked at No. 23 on January 20th, 1968.
- October 28th, 1967 Written by original group keyboardist Michael Brown, “Desiree” by The Left Banke enters the singles charts. Following the success of “Pretty Ballerina” and “Walk Away Renee” on the charts, the song was released from the band’s second album, issued after Brown had left the group. The record charted for two weeks and peaked at No. 98 on November 4th.
- October 28th, 1967 “Wake Up Wake Up” by The Grass Roots enters the singles charts. The song was co-written and produced by Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan. “Wake Up Wake Up” peaked at No. 68 on November 25th.
- October 28th, 1967 Verve Forecast Records release “Reach Out Of The Darkness” by American duo Friends and Lovers on 45. Written by James “Jim” Post, who together with his wife Catherine “Cathy” Post formed Friends and Lovers. Ray Stevens played keyboards on the track and arranged the strings, with Joe South and Bill Lowery producing. Nearly seven months later, the record entered the charts the following May and peaked at No. 10 on June 22nd, 1968.
- October 28th, 1967 “She Is Still A Mystery” by The Lovin’ Spoonful enters the singles charts. The song was written by John Sebastian. The studio session was produced by Joe Wissert. The song was one of three Top Forty US hits from The Spoonful’s “Everything Playing” album, the first to feature guitarist Jerry Yester, who wrote the orchestral arrangement for the song. “She Is Still A Mystery” peaked at No. 27 on November 18th.
- October 28th, 1968 United Artists Records release “This Magic Moment” by Jay and The Americans. A remake of The Drifters’ original from 1959, co-written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and recorded at O.D.O. Recorders in New York City on October 16th. The record entered the singles charts in December and reached No. 6 on March 8th, 1969.
- October 28th, 1971 Atlantic Records release the J. Geils Band’s “Looking For A Love” on 45. Originally a hit for The Valentinos, who featured the song’s writer Bobby Womack in the band, in 1962, the Geils Band version was produced by Bill Szymczyk. The record became the band’s first charting single, entering in December and hitting No. 37 on January 15th, 1972.
- October 28th, 1972 Polydor Records release “Glorified Magnified” by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. The album was co-produced by Manfred Mann and Dave Hadfield at Maximum Sound Studios in London. The record peaked at No. 138 in the US.
- October 28th, 1972 Van Morrison’s “Redwood Tree” enters the singles charts, the second 45 released from Morrisons “St. Dominic’s Preview” LP. Self-produced, the album was recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco. Written by Van Morrison, “Redwood Tree” charted for two weeks and peaked at No. 98 on November 4th.
- October 28th, 1972 Asylum Records release “You Turn Me On, I’m A Radio” by Joni Mitchell. Released from her fifth studio album “For The Roses,” Mitchell self-produced the album at A&M studios in Hollywood. Written by Joni Mitchell, the single became her first Top Twenty hit in her native Canada, reaching No. 10. In the US, the record entered the charts in November and peaked at No. 25 on February 3rd, 1973.
- October 28th, 1972 Columbia Records release the self-titled second album by Loggins and Messina. Co-produced by the duo at Columbia Studios in Los Angeles, California, the LP featured the hit “Your Mama Don’t Dance.” The record peaked at No. 16 on February 3rd, 1973.
- October 28th, 1973 Tamla Records release the “Talking Book” LP by Stevie Wonder. Wonder co-produced the LP with Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil at four different studios, Electric Lady in New York City, Crystal Sound in Hollywood, The Record Plant in LA and AIR in London, England from May through July 1972. Wonder won three awards for “Talking Book” at the 1974 Grammys; Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” and both Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for “Superstition.” The album went to No. 3 in the US on February 3rd, 1973.
- October 28th, 1977 Steve Perry makes his first concert appearance with Journey at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco. Perry would sing on the band’s seventeen Top Forty entries over the next ten years.
- October 28th, 1977 Warner Brothers Records in Britain release “I Never Believed In Love” backed with “Inside My Love”by Renaissance singer and Annie Haslam and Roy Wood. The single was produced by Wood, who wrote the single’s A-side. The B-side was written by Haslam’s bandmate Jon Camp.
- October 28th, 1977 EMI Records in Britain release the sixth studio album by Queen “News Of The World.” The record was recorded at Sarm Studios in East London and Wessex Sound in London, co-produced by the band and Mike Stone. The LP featured the hits “We Will Rock You,” “We Are The Champions” and “It’s Late.” The album reached No. 1 in Britain. Out November 3rd in the US, the record peaked at No. 3 on February 18th, 1978.
- October 28th, 1977 Reprise Records release the triple album “Decade” by Neil Young. The album was a mix of previously released material by Young, Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and unreleased archival material. The album reached No. 43 on December 24th.
- October 28th, 1978 Polydor Records release “Heat In The Street,” the fourth studio album by Pat Travers. The record was produced by Jeffrey Lasser at Quadradial Cinema Corp. Sound Studio in North Miami, Florida. The LP peaked at No. 99 on November 11th.
- October 28th, 1978 “Hot Child In The City” by Nick Gilder is the No. 1 single in the US.
- October 28th, 1978 Billy Preston’s “Get Back” enters the singles charts. Preston had played on The Beatles original single version of the song in 1969. This version came from the motion picture soundtrack from the movie St. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band starring The Bee Gees and Peter Frampton. The record peaked at No. 86 on October 28th.
- October 28th, 1978 Mushroom Records release former Fairport Convention singer Ian Matthews’ “Shake It” on 45. Written by Terance Boylan and co-produced by Matthews and Sandy Robertson, the record entered the charts in November and peaked at No. 13 on February 17th, 1979.
- October 28th, 1978 Columbia Records release Billy Joel’s “My Life” on 45. Written by Joel, Chicago members Peter Cetera and Donnie Dacus sing backing vocals on the track, produced by Phil Ramone from Joel’s album “52nd Street.” “My Life: entered the charts in November and peaked at No. 3 on January 6th, 1979.
- October 28th, 1982 Following a long string of No. 1 British hit singles, The Jam announced that they were splitting up.
- October 28th, 1983 Mushroom Records in Australia release “Strait Old Line” by Split Enz on 45, written by Neil Finn. The B-side “Parasite” was a Non-LP track written by Tim Finn. Both sides were recorded during sessions at EMI Studios in Sydney, Australia, co-produced by the band with Hugh Padgham for the forthcoming “Conflicting Emotions” album.
- October 28th, 1987 “Throwaway” by Mick Jagger enters the singles charts, released by Columbia Records as the second single from Jagger’s “Primitive Cool” album. Written by Mick Jagger, who co-produced the track with David Alan Stewart. “Throwaway” peaked at No. 67 on December 19th.
- October 28th, 1988 Atlantic Records release “Living Years,” the second album by Mike + The Mechanics. Genesis bassist and guitarist Mike Rutherford, keyboardist Paul Carrack and Sad Cafe singer Paul Young formed the nucleus of the band. The LP was co-produced by Rutherford and Christopher Neil at The Farm in Surrey, England from April through August. There were four hits on the album, the No. 1 title track “Living Years,” “Nobody’s Perfect,” “Seeing Is Believing” and “Nobody Knows.” The LP peaked at No. 13 on November 19th.
- October 28th, 1997 After suffering from a brain aneurysm that nearly took his life during an REM tour, drummer Bill Berry, announced that he was departing from the band after seventeen years.
- October 28th, 1997 Apple Records release The Beatles’ “Anthology 3” album. Third in a series of double albums of alternate takes and reworked session tracks and demo recordings, the record peaked at No. 1 on November 16th.
- October 28th, 2014 The Allman Brothers Band played what they said would be their final show ever, at New York’s Beacon Theatre, ending their forty-five-year career.
Miscellaneous October
- Mid-October 1960, The Silver Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe) minus drummer Pete Best, play on a recording session arranged by manager Allan Williams for Lu Walters, bassist and vocalist from Rory Storm and The Hurricanes at Akustik Studios in Hamburg, Germany. Drumming on the session was Hurricane’s drummer Ringo Starr. Four copies of a 78rpm demo disc were pressed. Recorded that day were ‘Fever”co-written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, “Summertime” co-written by George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and “September Song” co-written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson.
- October 1961, Chess Records release “The Red Rooster” backed with “Shake With Me” by Howlin’ Wolf on 45, credited to blues writer and arranger Willie Dixon.
- October 1961, Canadian American Records release “I Wish I Weren’t In Love” backed with “I’m Lonely” by Jerry Landis on 45. Both songs were written by Landis, an early stage name used by Paul Simon.
- October 1961, Ray Charles releases “The Genius Sings The Blues,” his final album for Atlantic Records. The record peaked at No. 73.
- October 1964, Ringo Starr records “In America” with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes at EMI Studios, 3 Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, London with Brian Epstein, his only record production. Co-written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Soundheim, the track was released as a single on November 16thby Parlophone Records with “Since You Broke My Heart” as the single’s B-side. Ringo sang backing vocals with Rory Storm’s brother-in-law Shane Fenton, later known as Alvin Stardust and added miscellaneous percussion.
- October 1967, Scorpio Records release “Porterville” backed with “Call It Pretending,” the seventh and final single by pre-Creedence Clearwater Revival band The Golliwogs. Written by John Fogerty using the name T. Spicebush Swallowtail, “Porterville” would be rerecorded for CCR’s first LP.
- October 1967, Verve Records release “Chelsea Girl,” the debut solo album by Nico. After recording the first Velvet Underground LP and touring with Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia show, Nico recorded the LP at Mayfair Recording in Manhattan, New York City with Tom Wilson producing. Jackson Browne played guitar and wrote songs for the record and VU members Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison and John Cale were backing musicians on many of the tracks.
- October 1968, Reprise/Bizarre Records release “The Circle” backed with “Merry-Go-Round” by Wild Man Fischer on 45. Both songs were written by Larry Fischer, credited as L. Fischer. The tracks were produced and arranged by Frank Zappa. Zappa plays all the instruments on “The Circle.”
- October 1968, Parlophone Records in Britain release “Blues Helping” the debut LP by Welsh trio Love Sculpture featuring Dave Edmunds on guitar.
- October 1969, Island Records release the self-titled second album by Free. Traffic flutist Chris Wood played on the song “Mourning Sad Morning.” Produced by Island label founder Chris Blackwell, the LP peaked at No. 22 in Britain but didn’t chart in the US.
- October 1969, Island Records in Britain release “Rock And Roll Queen,” the first single by Mott The Hoople. Written by guitarist Mick Ralphs, the record was issued in America on Atlantic Records the following July.
- October 1970, Reprise Records release the self-titled debut album by guitarist Ry Cooder. The LP was co-produced by Van Dyke Parks and Lenny Waronker. Cooder was part of the Los Angeles folk music scene in the mid-1960’s, playing in a band called The Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and future Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy.
- October 1971, Charisma Records in Britain release “Pawn Hearts,” the fourth album by Van der Graaf Generator. Robert Fripp guested on the LP sessions at Trident Studios, recorded July through September with producer John Anthony. The album came out the following May in the US.
- October 1971, Capitol Records release “People Let’s Stop The War” backed with “Save The Land” by Grand Funk Railroad on 45. Both songs were Mark Farner compositions with Terry Knight producing.
- October 1973, RCA Records release Lou Reed’s tragic rock opera “Berlin.” Recorded at Morgan Studios in London with producer Bob Ezrin, session players on the record include Steve Wagner, Jack Bruce, Steve Winwood, Aynsley Dunbar and B.J. Wilson. The record peaked at No. 98 in America and No. 7 in Britain.
- October 1974, RCA Records release “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Nilsson on 45. A cover version of the Bob Dylan song, the track came from the John Lennon produced “Pussycats” LP. The singe’s B-side was a medley of Lennon’s “Mucho Mungo” and Nilsson’s “Mt. Elga.”
- October 1974, Harvest Records in Britain release “See My Baby Jive,” a compilation album by Roy Wood’s band Wizzard.
- October 1975, A&M Records release “Mama Coco” by Gino Vannelli on 45. Written by Vannelli and co-produced by he and his brother Joe Vannelli, the record peaked at No. 115 in America.
- October 1975, Discreet Records release the album “Bongo Fury” by Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention with Captain Beefheart. The LP was recorded mostly live on May 20thand the 21st at Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas with two studio tracks in January 1975.
- October 1976, 20th Century Records release the various artist movie soundtrack “All This And WWII.” The record featured songs by The Beatles recorded by various artists Peter Gabriel, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, Ambrosia, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Bryan Ferry and others. The album peaked at No. 48 on December 25th.
- October 1977, John Entwistle produces the self-titled debut LP by The Fabulous Poodles and played on the Lonnie Donegan LP “Puttin’ On The Style.”
- October 1977, Virgin Records in Britain release “Science Friction” backed with “She’s So Square” the first single by XTC. Both songs were written by singer and guitarist Andy Partridge and produced by John Leckie.
- October 1978, Brian Eno’s “Music For Films” is released. Originally issued as a limited edition of five hundred copies sent to filmmakers, the full release of the record added more tracks to the set. The ambient songs on the album were recorded from 1975 through 1978.
- October 1978, Chrysalis Records release “Hanging On The Telephone” by Blondie on 45. The song was a cover version of The Nerves’ song from 1976, written by Jack Lee. Produced by Mike Chapman, the single went to No. 5 in Britain.
- October 1980, Atco Records release “In The Midnight Hour,” a cover version of the Wilson Pickett hit, on 45. Ther record had a brief chart run, peaking at No. 106 on the US singles charts.
- October 1980, Atco Records release “People Who Died” by The Jim Carroll Band on 45. Written by Jim Carroll and produced by Earl McGrath, the record peaked at No. 103.
- October 1980, Virgin Records in Britain release “Towers Of London” by XTC on 45. The song was written by Andy Partridge, taken from the Steve Lillywhite produced LP “Black Sea.” The record peaked at No. 31 in England.
- October 1981, Capitol Records release “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider on 45. Written by singer and guitarist Tom Cochran, the record peaked at No. 11 in the US.
- October 1986, Legacy Records release “Raining In The City” by Roy Wood on 45. The song was written and produced by Roy Wood from the LP “Starting Up.”
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of October 25th
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 of 10/25 Robert Wyatt
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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.
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.
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
Jonas Reingold Interview
Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear the 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
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 Radio Oz now available for purchase in the Firesign Theatre's "Fighting Clowns" of Hollywood" collection! Also check out this Tiny Ossman interview from 1995 -
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.
