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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 15th
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 15th
- October 15th Birthday, New Christy Minstrels singer and solo artist Barry McGuire, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1935.
- October 15th 1938 Nigerian musician, bandleader and social activist Fela Kuti, born in Abeokuta, British Nigeria. He passed away on August 2nd, 1997 at the age of 58.
- October 15th Birthday, Singer, songwriter Chris DeBurgh, born Christopher John Davison in 1948 in Venado Tuerto, Santa Fe Province, Argentina.
- October 15th Birthday, Moby Grape drummer Don Stevenson, born in 1941 in Seattle, Washington.
- October 15th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, record producer and arranger Richard Carpenter from the Carpenters, born in 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut.
- October 15th Birthday, Singer Tito Jackson of The Jackson Five, born Toriano Adaryll Jacksonin Gary, Indiana in 1953.
Today In Rock and Roll History
October 15th
- October 15th, 1955 Chess Records release “Thirty Days” by Chuck Berry And His Combo on 45. Co-produced by Leonard and Phil Chess at Universal Recording in Chicago, the session featured Berry, pianist Johnnie Johnson, Willie Dixon on bass guitar, drummer Jasper Thomas and Jerome Green on maracas.
- October 15th, 1956 Little Richard records “Good Golly Miss Molly” at J&M Studio, New Orleans, Louisiana with producer Robert “Bumps” Blackwell. The song was from his last recording sessions for Specialty Records before embarking on a career in Gospel music. Co-written by Blackwell with John Marascalco, the track sat on the shelf for nearly a year and a half until it was issued. Released January 20th, 1958 on Specialty Records, the single reached No. 4 on March 30th.
- October 15th, 1957 RCA Victor Records release “Elvis’ Christmas Album” by Elvis Presley. A perennial holiday release, the album peaked at No. 175 on December 20th, 2003.
- October 15th, 1960 After a regional release on September 27th, The Miracles “Shop Around” is launched nationally on Motown Records’ Tamla subsidiary label. Co-written by The Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, who played piano onto the track, the group sang the song during their first ever TV appearance on ABC’s American Bandstand on December 27th. When the song was reissued, it was rerecorded and it was this version of “Shop Around” that became Motown’s first million selling release, peaking at No. 2 on December 17th.
- October 15th, 1960 “Peter Gunn” by Duane Eddy, His Twangy Guitar and The Rebels enters the singles charts following a September release on Jamie Records. That followed a September 1959 release date in England on London Records. The song was written by Henry Mancini, who composed it as the theme song of the television show of the same name. The Duane Eddy version peaked at No. 27 on November 19th.
- October 15th, 1961 Elvis Presley and The Jordanaires record “Good Luck Charm” at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee with Steve Sholes producing. Co-written by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold, RCA Victor Records released “Good Luck Charm” backed with “Anything That’s Part Of You” as a single on March 17th, 1962. “Good Luck Charm” went to No. 1 on April 21st.
- October 15th, 1965 Parlophone Records in Britain release the final single by The Paramounts. “You Never Had It So Good” was written by P.F. Sloan.
- October 15th, 1966 The Hollies release “Stop Stop Stop” on 45 on United Artists Records. Recorded June 20th and August 17th at EMI Studios, London with producer Ron Richards, the song was co-written by Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Graham Nash. Guitarist Tony Hicks played banjo on the song. The record entered the singles charts in America on October 29th and peaked at No. 7 on December 10th.
- October 15th, 1966 Volt Records release “Complete And Unbelievable - - -The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul,” the fifth album by Otis Redding. The LP peaked at No. 73 on February 11th, 1967.
- October 15th, 1966 The Monkees were in the studio recording Neil Diamond’s “I’m A Believer.” Session guitarist Al Gorgoni played on the recording as well as Diamond himself on acoustic guitar. With studio sessions completed on the 22nd, the single, produced by Jeff Barry, was released November 23rd. The record hit No. 1 for the first of seven weeks on December 31st. It was the last No. 1 hit of 1966 and the biggest-selling record for all of 1967.
- October 15th, 1966 “Rain On The Roof” by The Lovin Spoonful enters the singles charts. Written by John Sebastian and produced and arranged by Erik Jacobsen, “Rain On The Roof” was the 45 follow-up to the No. 1 hit “Summer In The City.” The record peaked at No. 10 on November 19th.
- October 15th, 1966 White Whale Records release “Can I Get To Know You Better” by The Turtles. The song was co-written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. The studio session was produced by Bones Howe. The record entered the singles charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 89 on November 26th.
- October 15th, 1968 Tamla Records release Stevie Wonder’s “For Once In My Life,” recorded in the summer of 1967 at Hitsville USA Studios in Detroit with producer Henry Cosby. Funk Brother Earl Van Dyke played keyboards. Co-written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden, the song reached No. 2 on December 28th.
- October 15th, 1969 “Salt Lick” backed with “Miller’s Farm,” the first single by ZZ Top enters the chart of radio station KILT in Houston, Texas. Both songs were written by group guitarist Billy Gibbons. Issued that month on the independent Scat Records label, the single was picked up for national distribution by London Records in December. The original trio of Gibbons, bassist and keyboard player Lanier Greig and drummer Dan Mitchell split after the record came out and were replaced by bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard.
- October 15th, 1969 Reprise Records release “Victoria” by The Kinks, two months before its British release. The song was written and produced by Ray Davies. The record entered the US charts on January 31st, 1970, reaching No. 62. In Britain, “Victoria” came out on December 12th and went to No. 33.
- October 15th, 1970 Motown Records release The Supremes’ “Stoned Love” on 45. The track features Jean Terrell on lead vocals, replacing Diana Ross, who left for a solo career in January. The track was produced by Frank Wilson and co-written by Wilson with Kenny Thomas. The instrumental track was recorded with Motown house band The Funk Brothers at Hitsville USA Studios in Detroit while the Supremes’ vocals were tracked in New York. It was the last Top Ten hit for the group, peaking at No. 7 on December 19th, No. 3 in Britain.
- October 15th, 1971 Warner Brothers Records release “Tupelo Honey,” the fifth album by Van Morrison. Recording began with Morrison and Ted Templeman producing at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco before moving to Columbia Studios in May. Ronnie Montrose and John McFee were among the session musicians on the record. The LP features the hits “Wild Night” and the “Tupelo Honey” title track. The record peaked at No. 27 on November 27th.
- October 15th, 1971 Epic Records release Sly & The Family Stone’s “Family Affair” on 45. Billy Preston plays keyboards while Sly Stone plays most of the other instruments himself, recorded in his Bel Air home studio and in New York at CBS. Stone mixed the track in Los Angeles at The Record Plant. The single entered the charts on November 6th and became the band’s third and final No. 1 on December 4th.
- October 15th, 1971 Rick Nelson appeared with his group The Stone Canyon Band at Richard Nader’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival concert at Madison Square Garden. Nelson’s hit single “Garden Party” chronicled the events of that night. Released in July 1972, the single would peak at No. 6 on November 4th and was Rick Nelson’s last Top Forty hit.
- October 15th, 1973 Reprise Records release the live album “Time Fades Away” by Neil Young. The LP contained all-new material from Young, recorded during a somewhat chaotic sixty-two date tour earlier in the year. Accompanied by The Stray Gators as the backing band in the electric second half of the shows following Young’s acoustic opening set, “Time Fades Away” peaked at No. 22 on November 24th.
- October 15th, 1973 Grateful Dead Records release “Wake Of The Flood” the sixth studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was the first Dead album released without original keyboardist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, who passed prior to sessions for the album. The LP peaked at No. 18 on December 8th.
- October 15th, 1973 Reprise Records release “Mystery To Me” the eighth studio album by Fleetwood Mac. Sessions for the LP were co-produced by Martin Birch and Fleetwood Mac on The Rolling Stones’ Mobile Studio in Hampshire, England, then mixed at Advision Studios in London. The album is mostly a collection of Bob Welch and Christine McVie originals. “Mystery To Me” peaked at No. 67 on December 22nd.
- October 15th, 1973 Capitol Records release “Moondog Matinee” by The Band. The album was self-produced by The Band during sessions at Bearsville Sound Studio in Bearsville, New York and at Capitol Studios in Hollywood. The record peaked at No. 28 on January 5th, 1974.
- October 15th, 1976 House Of The Hits Records release the self-titled second album by “The Modern Lovers.” All of the songs on the LP were written by singer, songwriter Jonathan Richman.
- October 15th, 1977 Columbia Records release the self-titled debut album by Eddie Money. Produced by Bruce Botnick at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, Tom Scott played saxophone on the sessions. the LP featured the hits “Two Tickets To Paradise” and “Baby Hold On.” The record peaked at No. 37 on April 22nd, 1978.
- October 15th, 1977 Columbia Records release “Slip Slidin’ Away” by Paul Simon on 45. Backing vocals on the song were sung by The Oak Ridge Boys, co-produced by Simon and Phil Ramone. The song was recorded during sessions for the “Still Crazy After All These Years” album but was not included in final track listing for the LP. Instead, it was issued as one of two new songs on the hits compilation “Greatest Hits, Etc.” The 45 peaked at No. 5 on January 28th, 1978.
- October 15th, 1977 “Swingtown” by The Steve Miller Band enters the singles charts, the third 45 released from the band’s “Book Of Dreams” LP. The song was co-written by Steve Miller and Chris McCarty. The record would peak at No. 17 on December 24th, No. 13 in Canada.
- October 15th, 1983 Genesis self-titled LP became their third consecutive No. 1 album in Britain.
- October 15th, 1985 Atlantic Records release “Valotte,” the debut album by Julian Lennon. Out four days earlier in England, the LP featured the hits “Too Late For Goodbyes,” “Say You’re Wrong” and the album’s title track. The record peaked at No. 17 on February 23rd, 1985.
- October 15th, 1983 Island Records release “Swordfishtrombone,” the eighth album by Tom Waits. Self-produced, the LP represented a stylistic shift in Waits’ songwriting away from piano based compositions to a more unconventional rock and roll approach. The record peaked at No. 167 on December 3rd.
- October 15th, 1986 Rocket Records in England release “Leather Jackets,” the twentieth studio album by Elton John. Recorded at Sol Studios in England and Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands, the majority of the tracks from the album were recorded during the “Ice on Fire” sessions in 1985. Several guests make an appearance on the LP. Roger Taylor and John Deacon of Queen play drums and bass guitar on the song “Angeline.” Elton and Cher collaborated on “Don’t Trust That Woman” and Cliff Richards sang the duet on “Slow Rivers” with Elton. “Leather Jackets” was produced by Gus Dudgeon and peaked at No. 91 on December 20th.
- October 15th, 1991 Elektra Records release “Vinyl,” the fourth album by New Jersey band Dramarama. Session musicians playing on the record were Mick Taylor, Jim Keltner and Benmont Tench. The record featured the hits “What Are We Gonna Do” and “Haven’t Got A Clue.”
- October 15th, 1991 Atlantic Records release “CSN,” a four CD box set of group and solo tracks by David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills. The set was co-produced by Graham Nash and Gerry Tolman. Twenty-five songs in the collection were previously unreleased, including live versions and alternate takes.
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.
