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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History October 11th
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 11th
- October 11th Birthday, Marshall Tucker Band guitarist George McCorkle, born in Chester, South Carolina in 1946. He passed away on June 29th, 2007 at the age of 60.
- October 11th Birthday, Singer, songwriter Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates, born Daryl Hohl in 1946 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
- October 11th Birthday, Drummer Gary Mallaber from The Steve Miller Band, born in 1946 in Buffalo, New York.
- October 11th Birthday, Americana singer, songwriter Todd Snider, initially signed to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Records in 1994 and later to John Prine’s Oh Boy Records, born in 1966 in Memphis, Tennessee.
- October 11th Birthday, Earth, Wind and Fire saxophonist Andrew Woolfolk, born in 1950 in San Antonio, Texas. He passed away on April 24th, 2022 at the age of 71.
Today In Rock and Roll History
October 11th
- October 11th, 1957 Sun Records release the first Johnny Cash album, “Johnny Cash With His Hot And Blue Guitar”. The LP featured four hits, “I Walk The Line,” “Cry! Cry! Cry!,” “So Doggone Lonesome” and “Folsum Prison Blues.”
- October 11th, 1960 Aretha Franklin performs her first secular concert on this date at New York’s Village Vanguard.
- October 11th, 1968 Liberty Records in Britain release “I’m The Urban Spaceman” by The Bonzo Dog Band on 45. Written by The Bonzo’s Neil Innes, the record was produced by Paul McCartney under the pseudonym “Apollo C. Vermouth.” The record became The Bonzo’s most successful single, reaching No. 5 in Britain. The single came out in America two months later, on December 18th.
- October 11th, 1969 Parrot Records release “I’m Tired” by Savoy Brown on 45. Written by singer Chris Youlden, the record was produced by Mike Vernon. The record peaked at No. 74 on December 20th.
- October 11th, 1969 Dunhill Records release Three Dog Night’s cover version of Laura Nyro’s “Eli’s Coming” on 45, produced by Gabriel Mekler with Richard Podolor engineering the session at Podolor’s American Recording Co. studio in Hollywood, California. With Cory Wells on lead vocals, the single hit No. 1 in America on November 29th, No. 4 in Canada.
- October 11th, 1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival’s LP “Green River” hits No. 1.
- October 11th, 1969 Capitol Records release “Up On Cripple Creek” backed with “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” by The Band, entering the singles charts in November. Both songs were produced by John Simon, written by Band guitarist Robbie Robertson and sung by drummer Levon Helm. The Hohner clavinet sound on “Up On Cripple Creek” was played with a wah-wah pedal, soon to be a signature sound on R&B records in the 1970s. The 45 is nearly a minute and a half shorter than the version on the group’s self-titled second LP. “Up On Cripple Creek” reached No. 25 in America on January 3rd, 1970. The Band performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show on November 2nd, 1969, their first and only appearance on the Sullivan Show.
- October 11th, 1969 Atlantic Records re-release “Rock Steady” by Aretha Franklin. Co-produced by Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler, the session featured singer, keyboardist, writer and arranger Donny Hathaway on organ. Issued on 45 in February the track was remixed and re-released and hit No. 9 on November 27th.
- October 11th, 1971 Jim Croce records “Don’t Mess Around With Jim” at The Hit Factory Studios in New York City with producers Terry Cashman and Tommy West. Written by Jim Croce, Lifesong Records released the track as Croce’s debut single on July 1st, 1972. Croce promoted the 45 on American Bandstand on August 12th. “Don’t Mess Around With Jim” peaked at No. 8 on September 2nd.
- October 11th, 1971 Apple Records release John Lennon’s “Imagine” on 45. Co-produced by Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, the song was the title track of Lennon’s second solo album. Lennon composed “Imagine” one morning in early 1971 on a Steinway piano in a bedroom at his Tittenhurst Park estate in Ascot, Berkshire, England. The 45 went to No. 3 on November 13th but wasn’t issued as a single in Britain until 1975.
- October 11th, 1972 “You’re Mama Don’t Dance” by Loggins and Messina enters the singles charts on Columbia Records. Produced by Messina, who co-wrote the song with Kenny Loggins, the track was recorded at Columbia Studios in Los Angeles. Issued from the duo’s self-titled, self-produced first album, the record went to No. 4 in the US on April 15th.
- October 11th, 1972 Columbia Records release Simon and Garfunkel’s “America” on 45. Written by Paul Simon and included on their fourth studio album, “Bookends” in 1968, the track was co-produced by the duo and Roy Halle. The writing of the song was inspired by a 1964 road trip that Simon took with his then-girlfriend Kathy Chitty. Drummer Hal Blaine, keyboardist Larry Knechtel and bassist Joe Osborn played on the track. The single entered the charts in November and peaked at No. 97.
- October 12th, 1973 Vertigo Records in Britain release “Giddy Up Ding Dong” backed with “Buff’s Bar Blues” by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band on 45. The A-side was co-written by American trombonist Ferdinando Bello and trumpeter Pep Lattinzi, produced by Phil Wainman. The B-side was written and produced by Alex Harvey.
- October 11th, 1974 Columbia Records release “Streetlife Serenade,” the third album by Billy Joel. The album was produced by Michael Stewart, mostly recorded with session players, including Wilton Felder and Larry Knechtel on bass and drummer Ron Tutt. The LP featured the hit “The Entertainer.” The record peaked at No. 35 on December 28th.
- October 11th, 1974 Island Records in Britain release “Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth” by Sparks on 45. Written by Ron Mael and produced by Muff Winwood, the single peaked at No. 13 in Britain.
- October 11th, 1974 EMI Records release Queen’s “Killer Queen” on 45 in Britain. Written by pianist and singer Freddie Mercury, the song was recorded over three months of sessions from July through August 1974 at Trident Studios in London and at Rockfield Studios in Wales with producer Roy Thomas Baker. The single went to No. 2 in Britain. In America, “Killer Queen” came out in December entered the charts in February 1975 and peaked at No. 12 on May 17th.
- October 11th, 1975 Warner Bothers Records releases “Mexico” by James Taylor on 45. The song was written by Taylor, co-produced by Larry Waronker and Russ Titelman. Graham Nash and David Crosby sang backing vocals on the song, issued as the second single from the album “Gorilla.” The record peaked at No. 49 on November 8th.
- October 11th, 1975 Neil Sedaka’s “Bad Blood” hits the top of the US singles charts, his second No. 1 hit of the year.
- October 11th, 1975 The very first episode of Saturday Night Live airs. The first musical guests that night were Billy Preston and Janis Ian.
- October 11th, 1975 MCA Records release “Island Girl” by Elton John on 45. It was the first single from Elton’s “Rock Of The Westies” album, co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The tracks synthesizer solo was played by James Newton Howard with the distinctive slide guitar part by Davey Johnstone. Kiki Dee sang backing vocals with Ray Cooper on various percussion instruments. Former Joe Walsh band bassist Kenny Passarelli joined Elton’s band for the sessions, which marked the return of Roger Pope on drums and Caleb Quaye on guitar for the first time on an Elton record since the early 1970’s. “Island Girl” peaked at No. 1 on November 1st.
- October 11th, 1975 “Saturday Night” by the Bay City Rollers enters the singles charts on Arista Records. The song was co-written and produced by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. The band had been releasing records in the US as far back as January 1972, but this was the first to chart in America. The band first released the song in 1973 with singer Nobby Clark on lead vocals. The hit version was a remake the band recorded in 1974 with their new singer Les McKeown. “Saturday Night” peaked at No. 1 on January 3rd, 1976.
- October 11th, 1977 The “Point of Know Return” album by Kansas is released by Kirshner Records. Certified platinum by the end of November, sessions for the LP were recorded at Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana in June and at Woodland Studios, Nashville, Tennessee in July with producer Jeff Glixman. “Point Of Know Return” peaked at No. 4 on May 6th, 1978.
- October 11th, 1982 Capitol Records release “20 Greatest Hits” by The Beatles. Issued to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the Beatles’ first single release “Love Me Do” in 1962, the record peaked at No. 50 on January 15th, 1983.
- October 11th, 1985 Elektra Records release “Picture Book,” the debut album by Simply Red. The record was produced by Stewart Levine at Soundpush Studios in Blaricum, Netherlands and RAK Studios in London, England. The LP featured the hits “Holding Back The Years” and “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention).” The record charted for over a year and peaked at No. 16 on July 12th, 1986.
- October 11th, 1989 Island Records release the double album “Rattle And Hum” LP by U2. The record was produced by Jimmy Iovine. The promotional campaign for the release was tied into the band’s Rattle And Hum film that opened at 1,200 theaters in America, with a February 1990 home video release to follow. The “Rattle And Hum” album peaked at No. 1 on November 12th.
- October 11th, 1997 Elton John peaks at No. 1 on the US singles chart with the Princess Diana version of “Candle In The Wind,” his eighth stateside chart topping single.
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"
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Nektar Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
Nektar interviewed on the second night of the 2025 "Mission To Mars" Tour
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The Paul Bielatowicz Band Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
The Paul Bielatowicz Band interviewed on their 2025 Spring Tour
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Music and conversation with Andy Tillison of The Tangent
Wax Museum interview May 2024
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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
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Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
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Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
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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.
