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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History October 27th
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 27th
- October 27th Birthday, Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Famer, pianist Floyd Cramer, born in 1933 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
- October 27th Birthday, Monty Python member and actor John Cleese, born in 1939 in Weston-super Mare, England.
- October 27th Birthday, Byron Allred from The Steve Miller Band, born in Logan, Utah in 1948. He died on October 21st, 2021 at the age of 71.
- October 27th Birthday, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band bassist Garry W. Tallent, born in 1949 in Detroit, Michigan.
- October 27th Birthday, Judas Priest guitarist K. K. Downing Jr, born in West Bromwich, West Midlands England. in 1951.
- October 27th Birthday, Duran Duran singer Simon LeBon, born in 1958 in Bushey, Hertfordshire, England.
- October 27th Birthday, Lead singer and songwriter from San Diego’s Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland, born in 1967 in Santa Jose, California. He died of a drug overdose on December 3rd, 2015 at the age of 48.
Today In Rock and Roll History
October 27th
- October 27th, 1957 Police in Oakland, California inform Elvis Presley that he is not allowed to swivel his hips onstage during that evening’s performance at the Oakland Auditorium; Elvis responds by sarcastically wiggling only his little finger while singing.
- October 27th, 1958 Cadence Records release “Problems” backed with “Love Of My Life” by The Everly Brothers on 45. Both songs were co-written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant and both were produced by Archie Bleyer. “Problems” went to No. 2 on December 13th. “Love Of My Life” peaked at No. 40 on the same day.
- October 27th, 1960 Ben E. King records two of his biggest hits on the same day, “Spanish Harlem,” and “Stand By Me” at Bell Sound Studios with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller producing. “Spanish Harlem” was co-written by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller and Phil Spector. The guitar riff was developed by Spector and his girlfriend Beverly Ross. The Stan Applebaum arrangement featured Spanish guitar, marimba, saxophone, strings and a male chorus. The song was first issued as the B-side on the song “First Taste Of Love” in November but became the side of choice at radio stations and peaked on the Pop Singles charts at No. 10.
- October 27th, 1962 Dimension Records release “Chains” backed with “Stranger In My Arms” by The Cookies on 45. Both songs were written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The song was originally recorded by The Everly Brothers, but their version wasn’t released. Produced by Gerry Goffin, The Cookie’s single peaked at No. 17 on December 29th. The Beatles recorded the song for their debut LP in 1963.
- October 27th, 1962 Don Kirshner’s Dimension Records release “Keep Your Hands Off My Baby” by Little Eva on 45. It was the follow-up to her No. 1 single “The Locomotion”. Once again co-written by Gerry Goffin, who produced the track, with Carole King. The record peaked at No. 12 on December 22nd.
- October 27th, 1962 The Rolling Stones record three early demos at Curly Clayton Sound Studios in London. The band taped their versions of Jimmy Reed’s “Close Together,” Muddy Waters’ “Soon Forgotten” and Bo Diddley’s “You Cant Judge A Book By The Cover.” Band members included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Tony Chapman and Ian Stewart.
- October 27th, 1964 Thirty-one-year-old Salvatore Philip Bono, an assistant to Phil Spector, marries his protege, Eighteen-year-old Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre, in a Tijuana motel bathroom. For a time they performed together as Caesar and Cleo before changing the name of their act to Sonny and Cher.
- October 27th, 1965 Reprise Records release The Kinks’ “A Well Respected Man” on 45. Written by the group’s lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ray Davies, the track was produced in August by Shel Talmy. The record entered the singles charts in December and reached No. 13 on December 4th.
- October 27th, 1967 CBS Records in Britain release “Bedsitter Images” backed with "Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres," the second single by Al Stewart. Written by Al Stewart, the track was produced by Roy Guest. “Bedsitter Images” became the title track of Stewart’s first album, also out in October 1967.
- October 27th, 1967 Parlophone Records in Britain release “Kites” by Simon Dupree and The Big Sound on 45. A change of direction from the band’s earlier R&B sound, management encouraged the group to do more pop-oriented, psychedelic records. First released earlier in 1967 by American folk group The Rooftop Singers, Chinese Trinidadian actress Jacqui Chan performed the track’s spoken word interlude. The song was co-written by Lee Pockriss and Hal Hackaday and produced by David Paramor at EMI Studios in London. The single to No. 8 in England.
- October 27th, 1967 The self-titled debut album by Ten Years After is released in Britain. The LP was produced by Mike Vernon and engineered by Gus Dudgeon at Decca Studios in London in September.
- October 27th, 1969 Atlantic Records release Aretha Franklin’s cover version of the Elton John song “Border Song (Holy Moses)” on 45. The track was co-produced by Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler. The record reached No. 23 in America after entering the charts on November 21st.
- October 27th, 1971 A&M Records release the “Teaser And The Firecat” LP by Cat Stevens. The record featured the hits “Morning Has Broken,” Peace Train” and “Moonshadow.” Produced by Paul Samwell-Smith at Paramount Studios, Los Angeles and Morgan Studios, Willesden, London, England, the record reached No. 2 on December 4th.
- October 27th, 1972 Vertigo Records release the debut single by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, “There’s No Lights On The Christmas Tree Mother, They’re Burning Big Louie Tonight” co-written by Alex Harvey, Jim Condron and Les Harvey, backed with “Harp” written by Alex Harvey.
- October 27th, 1972 Harvest Records in Britain release “Bank Of The Dead (Valerie's Song)” backed with “Little Lady” on 45. Jimmy Page plays guitar on the A-side with both songs from Harpers’ “Lifemask” LP.
- October 27th, 1973 “Painted Ladies” by Canadian songwriter Ian Thomas enters the singles charts. Written by Thomas and produced by John Lombardo, the song reached No. 3 in Canada, No. 34 in the US, on January 12th, 1974. Thomas is the younger brother of Second City TV’s Dave Thomas.
- October 27th, 1973 Gladys Knight and The Pips’ “Midnight Train To Georgia” is the No. 1 record in the US.
- October 27th, 1973 Track Records release The Who’s “Love, Reign O’er Me” on 45. The song was written by Pete Townshend. With the band self-producing the sessions, the track was recorded in May 1972 at Olympic, London with additional sessions on the 8th of June 1973. Edited to three minutes and seven seconds, the single is a significant edit from the version on the “Quadrophenia” LP. The record peaked at No. 76 on December 29th.
- October 27th, 1973 “Let Me Serenade You” by Three Dog Night enters the singles charts. Written by John Finley, the song was originally titled “I Will Serenade You” and was released by Rhinoceros on their 1968 self-titled album. The Three Dog Night version was produced by Richard Podolor and peaked at No. 17 on December 1st, No. 11 in Canada.
- October 27th, 1975 Casablanca Records release the self-titled album by Angel. The LP was recorded at Wally Heider Studios in Hollywood, California with co-producers Derek Lawrence and Big Jim Sullivan. The record peaked at No. 156 on January 10th.
- October 27th, 1975 Capitol Records release “Venus and Mars”/“Rock Show” by Paul McCartney and Wings on 45 in the US, out November 21st in Britain. Recorded during album sessions at Sea-Saint Studios in New Orleans, Allen Toussaint played piano on the “Rock Show” portion of the medley. The song entered the US singles charts in November and peaked at No. 12 on December 13th.
- October 27th, 1977 Virgin Records in Britain release “Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols,” the first album by the band. Co-produced by Chris Thomas and Bill Price at Wessex Sound Studio in London, England, the LP debuted at No. 1 in the British charts. Issued in America by Warner Brothers Records on November 11th, the album peaked at No. 106 on December 10th.
- October 27th, 1978 A&M Records in Britain release “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” the debut single by Joe Jackson, where the record reached No 13. The song was written by Joe Jackson. The track was produced by David Kershenbaum at Eden Studios in London. Issued the following April in America, the 45 went to No. 21 on August 18th.
- October 27th, 1979 Columbia Records release “Shades Of Ian Hunter,” a double album compilation of Hunter solo tracks, Mott The Hoople songs and highlights from the unreleased in America “Ian Hunter’s Overnight Angels” LP.
- October 27th, 1979 “Wait For Me” by Hall and Oates enters the singles charts, the third single released from the pair’s LP “X-Static.” Written by Daryl Hall and produced by David Foster, the record went to No. 18 on January 26th, 1980.
- October 27th, 1981 Written by George Harrison, Boardwalk Records release “Wrack My Brain” by Ringo Starr on 45, out two weeks later, November 13th, in Britain. Harrison produced the track, played guitar on it and sang backup, with Al Kooper playing keyboards. Boardwalk released Ringo’s “Stop And Smell The Roses” album on the same day. “Wrack My Brain” spent eleven weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 38 on December 12th.
- October 27th, 1982 Warner Brothers Records release the double album set “1999” by Prince. The record included four hit singles, “1999,” “Little Red Corvette,” “Delirious” and “Let’s Pretend Were Married.” It was his fifth studio album, self-produced and reached No. 7 on May 14th.
- October 27th, 1982 Dark Horse Records release the new George Harrison single “Wake Up My Love” on 45 in America, out eight days later in Britain. On the same day, Harrison’s “Gone Troppo” LP was issued in America. “Wake Up My Love” peaked at No. 53 on December 4th. “Gone Troppo” reached No. 108 on December 11th.
- October 27th, 1983 Columbia Records release “Infidels,” the twenty-second solo album by Bob Dylan. Co-produced by Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan at The Power Station Studios in New York City from April through May former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor played on the sessions, as well as Robbie Shakespeare and Sly Dunbar. The album spent twenty-four weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 20 on December 3rd.
- March 3rd, 1986 EMI America Records release “Absolute Beginners” by David Bowie on 45. Written by David Bowie, who co-produced the track with Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley at Westside Studios in Shepherd’s Bush, London. Rick Wakeman played keyboards on the song. The song reached No. 2 in the English singles charts, No. 53 in the US on May 3rd.
- June 9th, 1986 EMI Records release “Underground” by David Bowie on 45. The song was one of five songs Bowie contributed to the movie soundtrack of Labyrinth, a film that Bowie starred in. Bowie wrote the song and co-produced the track with Arif Mardin at Atlantic Studios in New York City. Blues guitarist Albert Collins played lead guitar on the recording.
- October 27th, 1986 Virgin Records release the Todd Rundgren produced “Skylarking” by XTC, the band’s eighth studio album. The LP’s hit single “Dear God” was initially issued as a single B-side. When the song received significant radio airplay, the album was reissued with “Dear God” substituting for the song “Mermaid Smile.” The record peaked at No. 70 on June 6th, 1987.
- October 27th, 1986 Capitol Records release an album of previously unissued archival material by John Lennon called “Menlove Avenue.” The record peaked at No. 127 on November 29th.
- October 27th, 1986 Virgin Records release “When The Wind Blows” by David Bowie on 45. The song was co-written by Erdasl Kizilcay and David Bowie. Bowie co-produced the record with David Richards. Kizilcay played all the instruments on the track, serving as the title track of the movie of the same name.
- October 27th, 1987 “Need You Tonight” by INXS enters the singles charts following a September release on Atlantic Records. Co-written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence, the record peaked at No. 1 on January 30th, 1988.
- October 27th, 1997 Parlophone Records release “Lennon Legend: The Very Best Of John Lennon.” The record peaked at No. 4 in Britain and No. 65 in the US, on March 21st, 1998.
- October 27th, 1998 Produced by Paul McCartney, the posthumous “Wide Prairie” album by Linda McCartney is released.
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.
