Wax Museum Radio

Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

July 27th

July 27th Birthday, The Moonglows singer, songwriter, record producer and record label executive Harvey Fuqua, born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1929. He passed away on July 6th, 2010 at the age of 80.

July 27th Birthday, Singer Bobbie Gentry, born in 1944 in Chickasaw County, Mississippi.

July 27th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and a member of Firefall and the Marshall Tucker Band, Dave Muse, born in Rome, Georgia in 1949. He died on August 8th, 2022 at the age of 73.

July 27th Birthday, Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli, born in 1955.

July 27th Birthday, Soul Asylum bass player Karl Mueller, born in 1963. He died on June 17th, 2005 from throat cancer at the age of 42.

July 27th Birthday, Blake Babies guitarist and solo artist Juliana Hatfield, born in 1967 in Wiscasset, Maine.

July 27th Birthday, Drummer turned singer, songwriter and solo artist Pete Yorn, born in 1974 in Pompton Plains, New Jersey.

Today In Rock and Roll History

July 27th

July 27th, 1968 Jethro Tull record “A Song For Jeffrey” at Sound Technics Studios in London with the band co-producing with their manager Terry Ellis. Written by Ian Anderson, the title references Anderson’s good friend and future Tull bassist Jeffrey Hammond. The track was issued as Jethro Tull’s second British single on September 27th on Island Records.

July 27th, 1968 JAD Records release “Hold Me Tight” by Houston, Texas singer-songwriter Johnny Nash. As a child, Nash sang in his church choir and released his first single at the age of seventeen in 1957. Nash was one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica. Nash also sang the theme song of the Saturday Morning television cartoon series The Mighty Hercules, which aired from 1963 through 1966. “Hold Me Tight” was arranged with a “Rocksteady” beat, written by Johnny Nash and co-produced by he and Arthur Jenkins. The pair owned the JAD Records label. The record peaked at No. 5 on the US Pop Singles charts on October 9th.

July 27th, 1969 The Beatles record the backing track for John Lennon’s “Sun King” and “Mean Mr. Mustard” together in 35 takes at EMI Studios, London with producer George Martin, who also played organ on the finished track. John Lennon sang lead, with backing vocals by Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. “Mean Mr. Mustard” dated back to songs John Lennon wrote in India. The song was demo’d for possible inclusion on The Beatles White Album and rehearsed several times during the January 1969 Get Back sessions.

July 27th, 1970 Capitol Records release “Closer To Home (I’m Your Captain)” by Grand Funk Railroad on 45. Produced by Terry Knight, the edited single entered the charts in August and reached No. 22 in both Canada and the US, on October 24th. The full-length album track became a staple on progressive rock and roll radio.

July 27th, 1972 Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks is married in Farnam, Surrey, England. All present and past members of Genesis are there for the wedding.

July 27th, 1973 ABC Records release “Show Biz Kids” by Steely Dan on 45. Co-written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, the track was the initial single released from Steely Dan’s second album “Countdown To Ecstasy.” Guitarist Rick Derringer plays the slide guitar part on the song. Produced by Gary Katz, “Show Biz Kids” peaked at No. 61 on September 1st.

July 27th, 1973 Harvest Records in Britain release “Dear Elaine” backed with “Songs Of Praise,” the second solo single by Roy Wood. Wood wrote and co-produced, played all the instruments and sang all the vocals on the tracks. The 45 peaked at No. 18 on the British singles charts. In America, United Artists Records reversed the single’s A&B sides and released the 45 in September.

July 27th, 1973 Mercury Records release the self-titled first album by the New York Dolls. Produced by Todd Rundgren at The Record Plant in New York City, the album peaked at No. 116 in the US.

July 27th, 1974 UK Records in the US release “Sheet Music,” the second album by 10cc, self-produced by the band at Eric Stewart’s Strawberry Studios in Stockport, England. The LP came out a month earlier in Britain and peaked at No. 9 there on the LP charts. “Sheet Music” went to No. 81 in America on October 5th.

July 27th, 1974 Reprise Records release “Rejuvenation” the fifth album by The Meters. As well as recording their own material in the 1960’s and 70’s, The Meters played an influential role as backing musicians for other artists, including Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint.

July 27th, 1977 Arista Records release “Terrapin Station,” the ninth studio LP by the Grateful Dead. It was the first Dead album released under their Arista contract after folding their own Grateful Dead Records label. Working with an outside producer, Keith Olson, for the first time since their second album in 1968, sessions for the record were recorded at five different studios in London, California and New York City. The album peaked at No. 28 on October 1st.

July 27th, 1981 Stevie Nicks released her first solo album “Bella Donna.” The record featured the hits “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” which Nicks recorded with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, “Edge Of Seventeen,” with a keyboard part by Prince and “Leather and Lace,” a duet with the Eagles’ Don Henley. The album charted for one hundred and forty-three weeks and peaked at No. 1 on September 5th.

July 27th, 1984 Prince’s film debut Purple Rain opens at theaters across the country. The movie premiered in Hollywood the day before. Directed by Albert Magnoli and co-written by Magnoli and William Blinn, the film grossed eighty million dollars at the box office.

July 27th, 1984 Megaforce Records release “Ride The Lightning,” the second album by Metallica. The album peaked at No. 48 on May 7th, 2016 when it was reissued as a deluxe box set.

July 27th, 1990 Charisma Records America release “Bellybutton” by Jellyfish in the US. Co-produced by Albhy Galuten and Jack Joseph Puig at Schnee Studios, Studio 55 and Ocean Way Recording in and around Los Angeles. The album peaked at No. 124 on April 13th, 1991 and featured the hit “Baby’s Coming Back.”

July 27th, 1992 London Records release “Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey Baby.” The record is a compilation of live recordings by Tin Machine made from November 1991 through February 1992. Five producers are listed; Reeves Gabrels, Max Bisgrove, Tom Dube, Dave Bianco and David Bowie.

July 27th, 1993 Virgin Records release “Siamese Dream” by Smashing Pumpkins.” The album was co-produced by Butch Vig and Billy Corgan at Triclops Studios in Marietta, Georgia. The LP peaked at No. 10 on August 14th.

July 27th, 1999 “Eric Clapton: Blues,” a compilation of blues material by Eric Clapton is released. Featuring songs from his 1970’s LP’s, previously unreleased tracks and a disc of live material, the album peaked at No. 52 on August 14th.

Miscellaneous July

July 1959, Chess Records release “Go Bo Diddley,” the second album by Bo Diddley.

July 1959, Chess Records release “Berry Is On Top” by Chuck Berry. Other than the song “Blues For Hawaiians,” the record was a collection of previously issued singles with nine hit 45’s.

July 1964 Nashville label RIC Records release “Beach Walkin’” backed with “Banzai Washout,” the first single by California band The Catalinas on 45. Both songs were written by Los Angeles session musician and record producer Steve Douglas. Future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston and Wrecking Crew alumni Hal Blaine, Bill Pitman, Billy Strange, Leon Russell and others were part of the studio band.

July 1965 Fantasy Records release “You Can’t Be True” backed with “You Got Nothin’ On Me,” the third single by The Golliwogs. 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.

July 1967, Elektra Records release “The 5,000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion” by The Incredible String Band in England. Recorded at Sound Techniques in Chelsea, London with producer Joe Boyd, it was the group’s second album, regrouped as a duo following their first album in 1966. “The 5,000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion” went to No. 25 in Britain. The LP came out in America in January 1968.

July 1969, Douglas Records release “Devotion,” the second album by John McLaughlin. There are conflicting dates attributed to the release. Some say May some July and others say September. The record was recorded while McLaughlin was a member of Tony Williams Lifetime, using a backing band of organist Larry Young, bassist Billy Rich and Buddy Miles. The album did not chart in the US.

July 1970 Capitol Records release the self-titled debut album by British jazz-rock band “If.” The album reached No. 187 in the US.

July 1974, Casablanca Records release “Strutter,” the third single by Kiss. The song was co-written by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. The track was co-produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise, taken from Kiss’ self-titled first album.

July 1975, RCA Records release “Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” the second single by Bruce Johnston, Gary Usher and Terry Melcher’s California Music. The song was credited to Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy. The song was originally a hit for Lymon and The Teenagers in 1956.

July 1976 Oyster Records release “Child In Time” by the Ian Gillan Band. It was the first solo album by former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. The group featured keyboardist Mike Moran, guitarist Ray Fenwick and bassist John Gustafson. The LP was produced by Purple’s Roger Glover at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany in December 1975 through January 1976. The album reached No. 55 in England.

July 1976 Atco Records release “Viva! Roxy Music,” a live album by Roxy Music, six months in advance of its British release date in February 1977. The recordings were taped at the Glasgow Apollo in November 1973, Newcastle City Hall in October 1974 and the Wembley Empire Pool in October 1975. “Viva! Roxy Music” was produced by Chris Thomas. The same month, Island Records in Britain release a new four-song EP by Bryan Ferry, “Price Of Love” and “Shame Shame Shame” backed with “Heart On My Sleeve” and “It’s Only Love.” Island issued “Price Of Love” as a single in August.

July 1981 A&M Records in America release “Iris” by Split Enz on 45. The track came from the band’s “Waiata” album, produced by David Tickle.

July 1983 Virgin Records release “Wonderland” by XTC on 45 in England. Written by Colin Moulding, the session was co-produced by XTC and Steve Nye. It was the only single from the group’s “Mummer” LP to be released in the US, in February 1984.

July 1984 A&M Records in the US release “Message To My Girl” by Split Enz on 45 from the LP “Conflicting Emotions.” The song was written by Neil Finn, co-produced by Hugh Padgham and Eddie Rayner.

July 1987 Jet Records release “1, 2, 3” backed with “O What A Shame” by Roy Wood on 45. The A-side was a cover version of the Len Barry hit from 1967, co-written by J Madaea, D White and L Bonsoff. The B-side was written by Roy Wood. Both tracks were produced by Roy Wood.

July 1987 Virgin Records release “You’re A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)” by The Dukes Of Stratosphere on 45. The band were XTC with guitarist Dave Gregory’s brother Ian on drums. The song was written by Andy Partridge and credited to Sir John Johns. The record was co-produced by the band and John Leckie.

July 1990 Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay release “Christmas ; MacKay and Manzanera featuring The Players” on Ryko Records. Album is a collection of Christmas songs by Andy MacKay and Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music.

July 1991 Demon Records in Britain release the soundtrack to the British TV series “G.B.H.” It was the first of two collaborations between Elvis Costello and English composer, musician and member of progressive rock band Gryphon, Richard Harvey.

July 1994 Warner Brothers Records in Britain release “You Tripped At Every Step” by Elvis Costello and The Attractions on 45, the third single released from the band’s “Brutal Youth” LP. The song was written by Costello, who co-produced the track with Mitchell Froom.