Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast October 17th Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History October 17th
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 17th
- October 17th Birthday, Jazz guitarist and a member of the studio collective known as The Wrecking Crew, Barney Kessel, born in 1923 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He passed away on May 6th, 2004 at the age of 80.
- October 17th Birthday, Seals and Croft singer James Seals, born in 1941 in Sidney, Texas. Seals passed away on June 6th, 2022 at the age of 79.
- October 17th Birthday, Alan Howard from Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, born in 1941 in Dagenham, Essex, England.
- October 17th Birthday, Gary Puckett from Gary Puckett and The Union Gap, born 1942 in Hibbing, Minnesota.
- October 17th Birthday, The Doobie Brothers drummer Michael Hossack, born in 1946 in Paterson, New Jersey. He passed away on March 12th, 2012 at the age of 65.
- October 17th Birthday, Singer and actor Bill Hudson from The Hudson Brothers, born in 1949 in Portland, Oregon.
- October 17th Birthday, Reggae singer and eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy Marley, born David “Ziggy” Marley in 1968 in Kingston, Jamaica.
Today In Rock and Roll History
October 17th
- October 17th, 1956 Mickey Baker and Sylvia Vanderpool, as the duo Mickey and Sylvia, record “Love Is Strange” with producer Bob Rolontz. The track came out in November on the Groove Records label. The song is credited to Ethyl Smith, who was actually Bo Diddley using his wife’s name. Vanderpool claimed she and Baker wrote the lyrics but Diddley refuted the claim. “Love Is Strange” peaked at No. 11 on the Pop Singles charts on March 2nd and No. 1 R&B.
- October 17th, 1960 Federal Records release “You’ve Got To Love Her With A Feeling,” the second single by Texas blues guitarist Freddy King on 45. Written by King, later in his career he’d be billed as “Freddie” King. “You’ve Got To Love Her With A Feeling” peaked at No. 93 on January 21st, 1961.
- October 17th, 1960 Warner Brothers Records release “Like Strangers” backed with “Brand New Heartache” by The Everly Brothers on 45. Written by Boudeleux Bryant, “Like Strangers” went to No. 22 on December 3rd, No. 11 in Britain.
- October 17th, 1962 The Beatles make their very first television appearance on a Granada Television program called People And Places performing their first single “Love Me Do.”
- October 17th, 1963 The Beatles record two EMI sessions in Studio Two at EMI Studios, 3 Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, London with producer George Martin, engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick 2:30-5:30pm and 7-10pm. Songs recorded were “The Beatles Christmas Record”unnumbered takes of The Beatles first free Christmas message to be pressed as flexi discs and sent out to members of The Beatles Fan Club on December 6th. The scripted recording was taped in EMI’s Studio Two in London, written by their press agent Tony Barrow. Also taped were “You Really Got A Hold On Me” written by Smokey Robinson Jr. A complete remake, numbered take twelve, takes one through eleven were recorded first at the group’s July 18th EMI session, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Takes one through seventeen. Mixed to mono from take 17 and to stereo, labeled Remix 1, for future use by George Martin with engineer Norman Smith in the Studio One control room on October 21st. Released as the A-side of their next single on November 29th in Britain, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” had advance orders of over a million copies. The week of its English release, it went to No. 2 behind The Beatles previous single “She Loves You.” “I Want To Hold Your Hand” reached No. 1 for five weeks in the UK. Released in late December 1964 in North America, the record hit No. 1 in the US on February 1st, “This Boy” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Takes one through seventeen. Takes sixteen and seventeen were overdubs. Two mono mixes, labeled Remixes 1 and 2 from take fifteen, then editing of both remixes together to make one finished mono mix by George Martin with engineer Norman Smith in the Studio One control room on October 21st. “This Boy” was released as the B-side of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” on November 29th. This was the first session at EMI to utilize the studio’s new four track recorder, allowing for additional overdubs beyond the basic rhythm track, essentially changing the way in which the band recorded their music for release on record.
- October 17th, 1964 London Records release “12 X 5,” the second US album by The Rolling Stones. Material for the album came from the band’s sessions at Chess Studios in Chicago that their British label issued as the “5 x 5” EP and from other new recordings. The record reached No. 3 in America on December 12th.
- October 17th, 1969 Parlophone Records in Britain release “Gin Gan Goolie” by Scaffold on 45, the trio of Mike McGear, John Gorman and Roger McGough. Elton John plays piano on the track. The gibberish song was a traditional European melody adopted by Scandinavian scout organizations in the early 1900’s. The Scaffold single was produced by Norrie Paramour, co-arranged by McGough and McGear. The record peaked at No. 38 in the British singles charts.
- October 17th, 1969 Jimi Hendrix, working with Buddy Miles and Billy Cox, record the basic tracks for “Room Full Of Mirrors,” EZ Ryder” and “Stepping Stone” at The Record Plant in New York City with Alan Douglas producing.
- October 17th, 1969 Chrysalis Records in Britain release “Sweet Dream” by Jethro Tull on 45. The song was written by Ian Anderson. The studio track was co-produced by Anderson and band manager Terry Ellis at Morgan Studios in London, with strings arranged by David Palmer. The single reached No. 7 in England.
- October 17th, 1969 The Kinks were finally able to launch their first US tour in over four years. The band had trouble getting permits from the American Federation of Musicians because their management failed to file the proper paperwork before they appeared on the TV show Hullabaloo in 1966.
- October 17th, 1970 “Looking In,” the sixth album by Savoy Brown, enters the album charts on Parrot Records. Produced by guitarist Kim Simmons, it was the first of the group’s albums to feature Dave Peverett as lead vocalist following the departure of singer Chris Youlden. By the next album, Simmons would be the only original member to remain, with the rest of the group leaving to form Foghat. “Looking In” peaked at No. 39 on October 21st.
- October 17th, 1970 Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” is released on 45 by Reprise Records. Written by Young and co-produced by Neil Young and David Briggs with Kendall Pacios, the single entered the charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 33 on December 12th, Neil Young’s first American Top Forty single.
- October 17th, 1975 David Bowie is awarded a Gold Record for a million copies sold of his single “Fame.”
- October 17th, 1975 Warner Brothers Records release “The Last Record Album” by Little Feat. The group recorded the LP at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles with guitarist Lowell George producing. The LP peaked at No. 36 on December 13th.
- October 17th, 1975 Harvest Records in Britain release “Grown-Ups Are Just Silly Children” backed with “Referendum (Legend)” by Roy Harper on 45. Both songs were taken from Harper’s “HQ” Lp.
- October 17th, 1976 The Sex Pistols record “Anarchy In The U.K.,” their debut single, for EMI Records at Wessex Sound Studios in London with co-producers Chris Thomas, Bill Price and Dave Goodman. The 45 came out on November 26th. It was the group’s only record release on EMI. The label dropped them after a January 6th, 1977 profanity laced appearance on BBC live television interview segment. The record peaked at No. 38 on the UK singles charts.
- October 17th, 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd release the “Street Survivors” LP three days before their fateful plane crash in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The band worked on the record at Criteria Studios in Miami in April, then moved to Studio One in Doraville, Georgia and later Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with co-producers Tom Dowd, Jimmy Johnson and Tim Smith. The album featured the hits “What’s Your Name,” “I Know A Little,” “That Smell” and “You Got That Right.” “Street Survivors” peaked at No. 5 on December 10th.
- October 17th, 1980 Columbia Records release “The River,” the fifth album by Bruce Springsteen. Recorded with Springsteen, Jon Landau and Steve Van Zant co-producing most of the material at the Power Station Studios in New York City, sessions for the record were taped over an eighteen-month period from March 1979 through August 1980. The LP’s single “Hungry Heart” became a No. 5 hit in December. “The River” became Springsteen’s first No. 1 in the US on November 8th.
- October 17th, 1982 “Harden My Heart” by Quarterflash enters the singles charts. The released record was a rerecording of the band’s debut single when they were known as Seafood Mama. Out of the Pacific Northwest, the band signed with Geffen Records and cut the track again for the new label. “Harden My Heart features lead vocals and saxophone by Rindy Ross. The record peaked at No. 3 on February 13th, 1982.
- October 17th, 1988 Ensign Records release “Fisherman’s Blues” by The Waterboys. Co-produced by Mike Scott, Vinnie Kilduff, Bob Johnston and John Dunford at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin and Spiddal House in Galway, Ireland, the record peaked at No. 76 on February 11th.
- October 17th, 1994 EMI Records in Britain release “High Hopes” backed with “Keep Talking” by Pink Floyd on 45. “High Hopes” was written by David Gilmour, with lyrics referencing the band’s early years in Cambridge, England. The record was co-produced by Gilmour and Bob Ezrin at Astoria Studios in London, England.
- October 17th, 2000 American Records release “American III: Solitary Man” by Johnny Cash. Recorded at Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee and Akadémie Mathématique of Philosophical Sound Research Studio in Los Angeles, California, with Cash and Rick Rubin producing. The record peaked at No. 88 on November 4th.
- October 17th, 2000 EMI Records in Britain release “Down In The Cellar, the fourteenth studio album by Al Stewart. Recorded May through June with producer Laurence Juber in California at Capitol B Studio in Hollywood and Sign Of Ther Scorpion in Studio City, the lyrical theme of the L is that of wine; Stewart himself a connoisseur of fine wine. “Down In The Cellar” was issued in America on February 12th, 2001.
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 11th
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 10/11 The Johnny Burnette Trio
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.
