Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast January 31st Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History January 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, weekday mornings on KSRQ in Three River Falls, Minnesota, KIYU in Galena, Alaska
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.
Rock and Roll Birthdays
January 28th
- January 28th Birthday, Saxophonist and night club owner Ronnie Scott, born Ronald Schatt in 1927 in Aldgate, London, England. In 1959, Scott co-founded Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London’s Soho district, where many Jazz, Blues and Rock artists got their start. He died on December 23rd, 1996 at the age of 69.
- January 28th Birthday, Folk singer Carolyn Hester, born in Waco, Texas in 1937. Hester was an integral part of the New York City Greenwich Village Folk Music scene of the early 1960’s.
- January 28th Birthday, Pretty Things and early Rolling Stones guitarist Dick Taylor, born in Dartford, Kent, England in 1943.
- January 28th Birthday, Soft Machine drummer, vocalist, songwriter and solo artist Robert Wyatt, born in 1945 in Bristol, England.
- January 28th Birthday, Bassist Rick Allen from The Box Tops, born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1946.
- January 28th Birthday, Funkadelic and Parliament bassist, Billy “Bass” Nelson, born in 1951 in Plainfield, New Jersey.
- January 28th Birthday, Dave Sharpe, guitarist and singer with The Alarm, born in Salford, England in 1959.
- January 28th Birthday, Folk, pop singer, song writer Sam Phillips, born Leslie Phillips in 1962 in Glendale, California.
- January 28th Birthday, Singer, songwriter Sarah McLachlan, born in 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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.
Today In Rock and Roll History
January 28th
- January 28th, 1956 Elvis Presley with Scotty Moore and Bill Black made his national TV debut on The Dorsey Brothers’ Stage Show program on CBS. He performed a medley of Big Joe Turner songs, “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and “Flip Flop” and the Ray Charles song “I Got A Woman.” Elvis was invited back and performed the next two weeks on the show.
- January 28th, 1956 Chess Records release “No Money Down” backed with “The Downbound Train” by Chuck Berry on 45. Both songs were written by Berry and recorded on December 20th, 1955 at Universal Studios in Chicago, Illinois with Leonard and Phil Chess co-producing. The single reached No. 8 on the R&B charts in America.
- January 28th, 1960 “Dedicated To The One I Love” by The “5” Royales enters the singles charts on the King Records label. The song was co-written by guitarist Lowman Pauling and producer Ralph Bass. The song was later a hit for The Shirelles and The Mamas And The Papas. The “5” Royales version peaked at No. 81 on February 18th.
- January 28th, 1965 Sessions begin for “Try It Baby” by Marvin Gaye at Hitsville USA Studios in Detroit. Written and produced by Berry Gordy Jr., The Temptations sing backing vocals and The Funk Brothers were the backing band. Released on Tamla Records on February 20th, the single peaked at No. 15 on July 25th.
- January 28th, 1965 In front of a packed studio audience, The Who made their first appearance on the British TV rock and roll show Ready Steady Go! Their performance helped launch their first single, “I Can’t Explain,” into the British Top Ten.
- January 28th, 1966 Decca Record in Britain release “Sha-La-La-La-Lee,” the third single by Small Faces on 45. The band’s manager Don Arden brought in songwriters Kenny Lynch and Mort Shuman to write the song specifically for the Small Faces to record. The record peaked at No. 3 in the UK charts..
- January 28th, 1966 British singer Brian Poole announces his departure from The Tremeloes for a solo career.
- January 28th, 1966 Tamla/Motown Records release The Isley Brothers’ “This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)” on 45. The track was co-produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier with members of Motown’s house band The Funk Brothers on the session and the saxophone of Mike Terry. “This Old Heart Of Mine” was co-written by Holland-Dozier-Holland with Sylvia Moy. The song was originally intended for The Supremes, who later did their own version after the Isley’s had a hit with the song. “This Old Heart Of Mine” entered the singles charts in February and peaked at No. 12 on April 23rd.
- January 28th, 1967 Liberty Records release Johnny Rivers’ “Baby I Need Your Lovin’’ on 45. Produced by Lou Adler with The Wrecking Crew as the backing band, The Blossoms, Darlene Love, Fanita James and Jean King, sang the backing vocals. Originally released by Four Tops in 1964, the single entered the charts in February and peaked at No. 3 on March 11th and No. 1 in Canada.
- January 28th, 1967 White Whale Records release The Turtles’ “Happy Together” on 45. The song was co-written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, produced by Joe Wissert and arranged by Chip Douglas, who played bass guitar and sang backing vocals on the track. The Turtles version of Warren Zevon’s “Like The Seasons” was the B-side to “Happy Together.” The record entered the singles charts in February and went to No. 1 on March 25th.
- January 28th, 1967 The Four Tops appeared at The Royal Albert Hall, London. Also on the bill, The Dakotas, Madeline Bell, The Remo Four and Johnny Watson.
- January 28th, 1967 New Voice Records release “Sock It To Me-Baby!” by Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels. Co-written by Bob Crewe and L. Russell Brown, the track was produced and arranged by Crewe. The record peaked at No. 6 on March 25th.
- January 28th, 1967 “The People In Me” by Los Angeles band The Music Machine enters the singles charts. It was the band’s follow-up to the No. 15 hit “Talk Talk.” Written by front man Sean Bonniwell, “The People In Me” spent eight weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 66 on March 11th.
- January 28th, 1968 Epic Records release “Suddenly You Love Me” by The Tremeloes on 45. Co-written by Daniel Pace, Pete Callander, Mario Panzeri and Lorenzo Pilat, the single was produced by Mike Smith. “Suddenly You Love Me” became The Tremeloes last charting record in the US, peaking at No. 44 on March 23rd.
- January 28th, 1969 During the filming of the Get Back sessions, John Lennon introduces his song “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” The group worked on an arrangement of the song for several days with Billy Preston on organ. The first proper studio session for the song took place at Trident Studios in London on February 22ndwith George Martin producing and Preston again on organ. Working on the song in April and August at EMI, the master was an edit of takes 9 and 32. John Lennon directed the abrupt ending, advising engineer Geoff Emerick to cut the tape at the 7:44 mark. On the same day, The Beatles begin recording “One After 909”. Rehearsed throughout their Get Back sessions, the song was an early Lennon and McCartney composition dating to 1960. The first recorded version of the track was taped on March 5th, 1963 at EMI Studios during sessions for their third single “From Me To You.” Unreleased at the time, the version of “One Safter 909” released on the “Let It Be” album came from the January 30th live performance on the Apple Studios rooftop. The Beatles also recorded the master take of “Don't Let Me Down” on this day with Billy Preston on electric piano. The track was released as the B side of the “Get Back” single. The Beatles played the song live during the Apple rooftop performance on January 30th.
- January 28th, 1969 Tamla Records release “I Don’t Know Why I Love You” backed with “My Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder on 45. Both sides of the record were sent to radio as promotional discs. “I Don’t Know Why I Love You” peaked at No. 39 on March 22nd. The record’s B-side “My Cherie Amour,” with Funk Brother Robert White on guitar, entered the singles charts in May and peaked at No. 4 on July 26th.
- January 28th, 1970 Badfinger appear on BBC television’s Top Of The Pops performing “Come And Get It.”
- January 28th, 1970 Frank Zappa and The Mothers begin filming 200 Motels at Twickenham Film Studios in London. The movie was shot in six days, through February 3rd.
- January 28th, 1971 The Bee Gees record “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” at IBC Studios, London. Co-written mainly by Barry and Robin Gibb, it was the first single released from the group’s 1971 album, “Trafalgar.” Issued on May 28th, “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” entered the charts on June 26thand became their first No. 1 single in the US on August 7th. The record earned a Gold Disc for a million copies sold on August 26th.
- January 28th, 1972 Harvest Records release “When Gran’ma Plays The Banjo” backed with “Wake Up,” the first solo single by Roy Wood. Both songs were written and produced by Roy Wood from the forthcoming LP “Boulders.”
- January 28th, 1972 “Da Doo Ron Ron” by Ian Matthews enters the singles charts. The record was a cover version of the Crystals hit from 1963, co-written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich. Released on Vertigo Records from Matthew’s “Tigers Will Survive” album, the record peaked at No. 96 on February 26th.
- January 28th, 1974 Capitol Records release “Ecstasy” by The Raspberries on 45. Written by Eric Carmen, the record was producer by Jimmy Ienner.
- January 28th, 1974 Apple Records release Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Jet” on 45. The track was recorded late in the album sessions for the “Band On The Run” LP at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London with engineer Geoff Emerick. The record peaked at No. 7 on March 30th.
- January 28th, 1975 Island Records release “Sunday’s Child” by British singer-songwriter John Martyn. The LP was self-produced by Martyn and featured bassist Danny Thompson and Steeleye Span drummer Liam Genockey.
- January 28th, 1977 Vertigo Records release “Pick It Up And Kick It” backed with “Smouldering” by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band without Alex. Produced by the band with John Punter, the A-side was co-written by Hugh McKenna and Zal Cleminson. The flip side of the record was co-written by McKenna and bassist Chris Glen.
- January 28th, 1978 “You Really Got Me,” the first single by Van Halen, enters the singles charts on Warner Brothers Records. A cover of the Ray Davies/Kinks’ hit from 1964, the record peaked at No. 36 on March 25th.
- January 28th, 1978 “Ebony Eyes” by Bob Welch enters the singles charts on Capitol Records. Taken from the former Fleetwood Mac guitarists’ “French Kiss” album, fellow Capitol recording artist Juice Newton sings backing vocals on the song. The 45 went to No. 14 on April 8th.
- January 28th, 1978 Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours was the No. 1 album in both the US and Britain.
- January 28th, 1980 EMI America Records release “Love Stinks,” the eleventh studio album by The J. Geils Band. Band keyboardist and songwriter Seth Justman produced the sessions for the LP at Long View Farm in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. The album reached No. 18 in America on April 19th.
- January 28th, 1983 RCA Records release “Never Surrender,” the sixth studio album by Triumph. The LP was recorded at Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario, co-produced by the band and David Thoener. The record peaked at No. 26 on April 9th.
- January 28th, 1984 Frankie Goes To Hollywood started a five-week run at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Relax!’ Produced by Trevor Horn, the song remained on the chart for 48 weeks. The single had a journey in, out and back to the singles charts in America, debuting April 7th, 1984 and peaking nearly a year later at No. 10 on March 16th, 1985.
- January 28th, 1985 Virgin Records in Britain release “Wake Up,” the third single released from the band’s “The Big Express” LP. Written by Colin Moulding, the track was co-produced by the band and David Lord.
Miscellaneous January
- January 1959 Del Fi Records release “Fast Freight” backed with Big Baby Blues” by Arvee Allens on 45. Both instrumentals, the name was a pseudonym for Ritchie Valens, who wrote the songs. Rereleased later under his real name, it was Valens’ last single issued in his lifetime.
- January 1967 Verve Folkways Records release “More Than A New Discovery,” the first album by Laura Nyro. The LP was produced by Milton Okun from July through November 1966 at Bell Sound Studios in New York City. Verve reissued the tracks as “The First Songs” in 1969 on their Verve Forecast imprint and Columbia did the same in 1973, reissued with a new cover, when it peaked at No. 97 on March 24th.
- January 1968 CBS Records in Britain release “Come Out Fighting Genghis Smith,” the second album by Roy Harper. The LP was produced by Shel Talmy.
- January 1969 CBS Records in Britain release “Love Chronicles,” the second album by Al Stewart. The LP was co-produced by Roy Guest, John Wood and Al Stewart. Session musicians included Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and four members of Fairport Convention, Simon Nicol, Richard Thompson, Martin Lamble and Ashley Hutchings.
- January 1971 Warner Brothers Records release the self-titled debut album by Little Feat. Produced by Russ Titelman, the LP didn’t chart. Little Feat were formed by guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in Los Angeles in 1969.
- January 1972 Reprise Records release “The Spotlight Kid,” the sixth studio album by Captain Beefheart. The album was recorded in the Autumn of 1971 with Beefheart and Phil Schier co-producing.
- January 1972 Buddah Records release “City Of New Orleans” by songwriter Steve Goodman. Although Goodman’s version didn’t chart, two subsequent cover versions did. Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson both had hits with the song. Goodman received a posthumous Grammy award for best Country Song at the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985 for Nelson’s cover of the song.
- January 1973 Palladium Records release “Back In ‘72” by Bob Seger. The album contains the original studio version of one of Seger’s signature songs, “Turn the Page.”
- January 1974 Warner Brothers Records release “Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath” by Black Sabbath on 45. The single version of the song was edited to three minutes and thirty-three seconds from the album version that was nearly six minutes long.
- January 1974 Ardent Records release “Radio City,” the second album by Big Star. Down to the three-piece unit of Alex Chilton, Jody Stephens and Andy Hummel, former guitarist Chris Bell did contribute to the writing of a few songs on the LP before departing in late 1972. A few of the songs were completed by Chilton with session players. Sales were hampered by poor distribution of the album when Ardent’s parent company had disagreements with Columbia Records, who otherwise would have placed the album in stores.
- January 1975 Wilco Johnson’s band, Dr. Feelgood, release their first LP “Down The Jetty” on United Artists Records in Britain.
- January 1976 Mercury Records release “Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed” by Thin Lizzy on 45. The song was co-written by Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham and Brian Downey. The track was produced by John Alcock from the band’s “Johnny The Fox” LP.
- January 1977 Private Stock Records release the eponymous first album by Blondie. Produced by Richard Gottehrer, the group bought back their contract with Private Stock and re-signed with Chrysalis Records, wrote re-released the album the following September.
- January 1981 Full Moon/Epic Records release “Outside” by Ambrosia as a single backed with the Eagles song “I Can’t Tell You Why” on the flip side. Both songs were featured in the 1980 Richard Donner film soundtrack Inside Moves. The record peaked at No. 102 in the US.
- January 1981 Sire Records release Talking Heads “Once In A Lifetime” on 45. Co-produced and written by the band and Brian Eno. It was the lead single from Talking Heads’ fourth studio album, “Remain In Light.” The LP went to No. 19 on December 6thbut the single never entered the Top One Hundred despite significant airplay on early MTV broadcasts. A live version released in 1986 peaked at No. 91.
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
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of January 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.
Jonas Reingold Interview
Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's 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
The Cool Song Of The Week
Cool Song Of The Week January 25th - Spirit
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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.
