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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

December 18th

December 18th Birthday, Controversial music business manager and record label owner Allen Klein, born in Neward, New Jersey in 1931. Klein managed The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Sam Cooke and Buddy Knox and owned the ABKCO and Cameo-Parkway Records labels. He died on July 4th, 2009 at the age of 77.

December 18th Birthday, Chas Chandler, the bass guitarist for The Animals who became a rock and roll business manager, the man responsible for bringing Jimi Hendrix to England, born Bryan James Chandler in Heaton, Newcastle-On-Tyne, England in 1938. Chandler died on July 17th, 1996, aged 57.

December 18th Birthday, Big Brother and The Holding Company, guitarist Sam Andrew, born in 1941 in Taft, California. He died on February 12th, 2015, aged 73.

December 18th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, born in Dartford, Kent, England in 1943.

December 18th Birthday, Long time Rolling Stones sax player Bobby Keys, who sessioned with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Warren Zevon, John Lennon, Leon Russell, Harry Nilsson and others, born in Slaton, Texas in 1943. Keys died on December 2nd, 2014, aged 70, in Franklin, Tennessee.

December 18th Birthday, Be Bop Deluxe guitarist and solo artist Bill Nelson, born in 1948 in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

December 18th Birthday, Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue drummer Randy Castillo, born in 1950 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

December 18th Birthday, Elliot Easton guitarist for The Cars, born in Brooklyn, New York City in 1953.

Today In Rock and Roll History

December 18th

December 18th, 1960 Gardena Records release “Like, Long Hair,” the third single by Paul Revere and The Raiders. The song was written by the band and arranged by Gary Paxton, who wrote the novelty hit “Alley Oop,” the 45 peaked at No. 38 on April 22nd, 1961.

December 18th, 1962 The Beatles return to Hamburg, Germany for the fifth and final time, where they will play a twelve-night run at The Star Club.

December 18th, 1963 The Beatles record a BBC Radio session from 4-5pm at the Paris Theatre, London, England for The Light Programme’s The Beatles Say From Us To Youwith host Rolf Harris. The show broadcast on December 26th, Boxing Day, 1963, from 10am-noon. Recorded that day were “From Us To You” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “She Loves You” 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, “’Til There Was You”written by Meredith Wilson, “Boys” co-written by Luther Dixon and Wes Ferrell, “Money (That’s What I Want)” co-written by Berry Gordy Jr. and Janie Bradford, “I Saw Her Standing There” ci-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Tie Me Kangeroo Down, Sport” with Rolf Harris, credited to Rolf Harris, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “From Us To You”co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

December 18th, 1965 The Temptations’ “Don’t Look Back” enters the singles charts. Released by Gordy Records on September 30th as the B-side of “My Baby,” “Don’t Look Back” was co-written by The Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White. The Temptations recorded the track at Motown’s Hitsville USA (Studio A) over three sessions on the 5th, 10th and 12thof May with Smokey Robinson producing.

December 18th, 1967 Capitol Records release “Darlin’” by The Beach Boys on 45. With a lead vocal sung by Carl Wilson, the song is credited to Brian Wilson and Mike Love, originally intended for singer Danny Hutton to sing in an early version of Three Dog Night. The record went to No. 19 on February 3rd, 1968, No. 10 in Britain.

December 18th, 1967 B. B. King begins two days session, completed on the 20th, with jazz producer Bob Thiel, for the album “Lucille.” Issued in October on Bluesway Records, it became King’s first charting album, peaking at No. 192 on October 19th.

December 18th, 1969 Jimi Hendrix’ Band Of Gypsys record the basic track for “Message To Love” at The Record Plant in New York City with Hendrix producing. Hendrix released a live version with the Band Of Gypsys and the studio version was not issued until the posthumous “Crash Landing” LP came out in 1974.

December 18th, 1969 Motown Records release “Diana Ross Presents The Jackson Five” album by The Jackson 5. Recorded from May through August initial sessions for the record were recorded in Detroit at Hitsville USA Studios with producer Bobby Taylor. Later sessions in Los Angeles were co-produced by The Corporation. The album featured the No. 1 single “I Want You Back.” The record peaked at No. 5 on April 25th.

December 18th, 1970 Apple Records in Britain release “From Then To You/The Beatles Christmas Record.” A compilation of all the group’s Christmas messages to members of their fan club, originally issued as direct mail flexi-discs. In America, the LP was repackaged as “The Beatles Christmas Album.”

December 18th, 1971 “Nilsson’s cover version of Badfinger’s “Without You” enters the singles charts. The record was co-produced by Richard Perry, Gary Wright played the piano and the string and horn arrangements were done by Paul Buckmaster. In 1973, Nilsson won the “Best Male Pop Vocal” Grammy award for the song. “Without You” peaked at No. 1 on February 19th, 1972.

December 18th, 1971 Dunhill Records release “Never Been To Spain” by Three Dog Night on 45. The track featured singer Cory Wells on lead vocal. The song was written by Hoyt Axton, who first released the song on his 1971 LP “Joy To The World.” The Three Dog Night version was produced by Richard Podolor. The record went to No. 5 in the US on February 12th, 1972, No. 3 in Canada.

December 18th, 1971 Sly & The Family Stone had the No. 1 album in the US with “There’s A Riot Going On.”
December 18th, 1971 Chase’s “So Many People” enters the singles charts. The song was co-written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols. “So Many People” was co-produced by Bill Chase and Roger Nichols. The record peaked at No. 81 on January 8th, 1972

December 18th, 1971 Edgar Winter and White Trash’s “Keep Playin’ That Rock ‘N’ Roll” enters the singles charts. The song was written by Edgar Winter. The studio session for the song was produced by Rick Derringer. The record peaked at No. 70 on February 19th, 1972.

December 18th, 1975 Rod Stewart officially leaves the Faces to begin a solo career on Atlantic Records.

December 18th, 1976 Heart’s “Dreamboat Annie” enters the singles charts. The song was co-written by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, released as the third single from Hearts self-titled debut album. “Dreamboat Annie” appears in three forms on the LP. The single version was yet another variation and remains unreleased on any Heart album. The record reached No. 42 on February 5th, 1977.

December 18th, 1976 Kiss’ “Hard Luck Woman” enters the singles charts. Written by group guitarist and singer Paul Stanley for Rod Stewart, Kiss decided to keep it for themselves with a lead vocal sung by Kiss drummer Peter Criss. Produced by Eddie Kramer, the record peaked at No. 15 on February 26th, 1977.

December 18th, 1978 Led Zeppelin complete two months of sessions on what would be their last album, “In Through The Out Door,” at Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. Produced by guitarist Jimmy Page, the album was released on August 15th, 1979 and peaked at No. 1 on September 15th, 1979.

December 18th, 1980 Mercury Records release “Ace Of Spades,” the first release of a Motorhead album in America and their sixth album overall. The LP was recorded from August through September at Jackson’s Studio in Rickmansworth, England with producer Vic Maile.

December 18th, 1981 RCA Records release “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” by Hall and Oates on 45. The song was co-produced by Hall and Oates, who co-wrote the song with Sara Allen. The record became the duo’s fourth US No. 1 on January 30th, 1982 and a No. 8 hit in the UK.

December 18th, 1982 Hall And Oates overtook The Everly Brothers as the top recording duo of all time when their biggest hit “Maneater” reached No. 1 on the US singles chart.

December 18th, 2020 Paul McCartney releases the LP “Paul McCartney III.” McCartney recorded the album at his Hogg Hill Mill in Sussex, England from early 2020 through February 2018, playing all the instruments himself.

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”.