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Today In Rock and Roll History

December 7th

December 7th, 1963 The Beatles filmed and recorded a live show at the Empire Theatre in London for The Beatles’ Northern Area Fan Club from 3:45-4:30pm. Songs played that day were “From Me To You” a shortened version of the John Lennon and Paul McCartney song, “I Saw Her Standing There” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “All My Loving” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Roll Over Beethoven” written by Chuck Berry, “Boys”co-written by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell, “‘Til There Was You” written by Meredith Wilson, “She Loves You” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “This Boy” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Money (That’s What I Want)” co-written by Berry Gordy Jr. and Janie Bradford, “Twist And Shout” co-written by Phil Medley and Bert Burs, “From Me To You” an instrumental version of the Lennon and McCartney song incorporating “The Third Man Theme.” The show was broadcast on BBC Radio that night from 8:10-8:40pm.

December 7th, 1965 Ko Ko Taylor records “Wang Dang Doodle” for Chess Records. The song was written and produced by Willie Dixon, who sings background on the studio track, which featured guitarist Buddy Guy on the session as well. First recorded by Howlin’ Wolf in 1960, Koko Taylor’s version entered the charts in April and reached No. 4 on the R&B charts.

December 7th, 1968 In Britain’s New Musical Express magazine, the Hollies recently departed Graham Nash announces the formation of Crosby, Stills and Nash.

December 7th, 1968 Eric Burdon announces The Animals were splitting up. He moved to California and eventually cut two albums with the American group War, while bass guitarist Chas Chandler would manage Jimi Hendrix.

December 7th, 1968 Buddah Records release “Bubble Gum Music” by The Rock and Roll Double Bubble Trading Card Company of Philadelphia-19141. The band were Gary James, Billy Dalton, Bruce Doshier and lead vocalist Ray Sutton. Or was it? The song was co-written and produced by Jerry Goldstein and Bob Feldman, two of the three members of The Strangeloves, who themselves posed as an Australian trio for their debut single “I Want Candy.” The record peaked at No. 87 on January 25th.

December 7th, 1968 British band The Foundations release “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Written by Mike Dabo and producer and arranger Tony Macauley, the song went to No. 2 in Britain and earned a Gold Record for a million copies sold in the US, peaking at No. 3 on February 22nd.

December 7th, 1968 “Yesterday’s Rain” by Spanky and Our Gang enters the singles charts. Co-produced by Bob Dorough and Stuart Scharf, the song was written by Eustace (Lefty) Baker. Taken from the band’s most ambitious album, “Without Rhyme or Reason (Anything You Choose),” the group would disband soon after the records release, following the death of band singer, drummer and guitarist Malcolm Hale on October 8th.

December 7th, 1968 “Life,” the third album by Sly & The Family Stone, enters the album charts following a July release on Epic Records. The LP was produced by Sly Stone at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City. The record peaked at No. 195 on December 14th.

December 7th, 1968 The Rascals “Ray Of Hope” enters the singles charts, co-written by Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere. The single was the follow up to the No. 1 “People Got To Be Free,” and released from The Rascals “Freedom Suite” album. Co-produced by Felix Cavaliere and Arif Mardin, the record peaked at No. 24 on January 11th, 1969.

December 7th, 1970 Fantasy Records release “Pendulum,” the sixth studio album by Creedence Clearwater Revival. All the songs on the record were written and produced by John Fogerty. It was the last Creedence album with guitarist Tom Fogerty before he left for a solo career. Recorded in November at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco. “Pendulum” featured the No. 8 single “Have You Ever Seen The Rain.” The album reached No. 5 on January 30th, 1971.

December 7th, 1971 Paul McCartney’s new band, Wings, release their first album, “Wild Life,” on Apple Records in Britain. Paul and Linda McCartney had worked with drummer Denny Seiwell on the “Ram” album and added former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine, to form the new band. Recorded July 25th through August 2ndat EMI Studios in London, the album reached No. 10 in the US on January 22nd, 1972.

December 7th, 1973 Atlantic Records release “Tales From Topographic Oceans.” The double album studio set from Yes was recorded at Morgan Studios in Willesden, London from May through October 1973, co-produced by Yes and Eddie Offord. It was the first Yes album recorded with drummer Alan White. “Tales From Topographic Oceans” peaked at No. 6 on March 9th, 1974.

December 7th, 1973 Todd Rundgren performs his hit “Hello It’s Me” on the US television show The Midnight Special.

December 7th, 1973 Apple Records release the “Band On The Run” LP by Paul McCartney and Wings, out two days earlier in the US. Initial sessions for the record began in August at EMI Studios in Lagos, Nigeria, with the three core members of the band, Paul and Linda McCartney and Denny Laine. Final sessions were completed in Britain in October with string and brass arrangements written by Tony Visconti. The album featured the hits “Band On The Run,” “Jet” and, in the US, “Helen Wheels” was added to the track listing. The “Band On The Run” LP reached No. 1 in America on April 13th.

December 7th, 1974 A&M Records release “Crime Of The Century” the third album by Supertramp. The LP was co-produced by Ken Scott and Supertramp at The Who’s Ramport Studios and Trident Studios in London and featured the hit “Bloody Well Right.” “Crime Of The Century” peaked at No. 38 on May 24th.

December 7th, 1974 Cat Stevens’ “Ready” enters the singles charts. Written by Stevens, the single was issued from the “Buddha and The Chocolate Box” LP, co-produced by Paul Samwell-Smith and Cat Stevens. “Ready” peaked at No. 26 on January 25th, 1975.

December 7th, 1974 Linda Ronstadt “You’re No Good” enters the singles charts following a November release on Capitol Records. Tracked with producer Peter Asher at the Sound Factory, Los Angeles, Ronstadt recorded the final take of “You’re No Good” on July 5th, 1974. The record went to No. 1 on February 15th, 1975.

December 7th, 1976 Asylum Records release “New Kid In Town” by The Eagles on 45. Co-written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J. D. Souther, the record was produced by Bill Szymczyk during the “Hotel California” LP sessions. Issued as the first single from the album, “New Kid In Town” reached No. 1 in the US on February 26th, 1977 and No. 20 in the UK.

December 7th, 1979 Swan Song Records release Led Zeppelin’s “Fool In The Rain” on 45. Co-written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, the record reached No. 21 on February 16th, No. 12 in Canada.

December 7th, 1981 Parlophone Records release “The Beatles E.P. Collection,” a fifteen-disc box set of the twelve original mono E.P.’s and the stereo double E.P. “Magical Mystery Tour” that The Beatles issued in Britain in the 1960’s.

December 7th, 1984 Atco Records release “Rhythm Of Love” by Yes on 45. The song was written by Trevor Rabin. The track was co-produced by Yes with Paul De Villiers and Trevor Horn. A number of remix versions were issued on cassette tape and as a twelve-inch single. The record peaked at No. 40 on February 6th, 1988.

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”.