Wax Museum Radio

Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

September 8th

September 8th Birthday, Blues guitarist Guitar Shorty, born David William Kearney in 1934 in Houston, Texas. He passed away on April 20th, 2022 at the age of 87.

September 8th Birthday, Beau Brummels vocalist Sal Valentino, born Salvatore Spampinato in 1942 in San Francisco, California.

September 8th Birthday, Electric Light Orchestra bassist and co-lead vocalist Kelly Groucutt, born Michael William Groucutt in Coseley, Staffordshire, England in 1945. He died on February 19th, 2009 at the age of 63.

September 8th Birthday, Original Journey rhythm guitarist George Tickner, born in Syracuse, New York in 1946. He passed away in July 2023 at the age of 76.

September 8th Birthday, founding member of the Grateful Dead, keyboardist and vocalist Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, born in 1946 in San Bruno, California. On March 8th, 1973, he died from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at the age of 27.

September 8th Birthday, Keyboard player Dean Daughtry from The Classics IV and The Atlanta Rhythm Section, born in Kinston, Alabama in 1946. He died on January 26th, 2023 at the age of 76.

September 8th Birthday, The Cars bassist and singer Ben Orr, born Benjamin Orzechowski in Lakewood, Ohio in 1947. He died of pancreatic cancer on October 3rd, 2000 at the age of 53.

September 8th Birthday, Til Tuesday bassist, singer, songwriter and solo artist Aimee Mann born in 1960 in Richmond, Virginia.

Today In Rock and Roll History

September 8th

September 8th, 1956 Eddie Cochran signs his first and only recording contract, a one-year deal with Liberty Records.

September 8th, 1956 Cobra Records release the debut single by Mississippi guitarist Otis Rush. “I Can’t Quit You Baby” was written for Otis Rush by Willie Dixon. Big Walter Horton played harmonica on the song, Red Holloway was on tenor sax, Lafayette Leake played piano, Wayne Bennett played second guitar to Rush, Al Duncan played drums and Willie Dixon was on bass. The record was recorded at Boulevard Recording in Chicago with Dixon producing. The record peaked at No. 6 on the R&B charts.

September 8th, 1956 RCA Victor Records release Elvis Presley’s “Shake Rattle and Roll” EP on a seven-inch disc. The four-song record featured the Charles Calhoun song “Shake Rattle And Roll” that Big Joe Turner popularized.

September 8th, 1957 Jackie Wilson’s first solo single after leaving The Dominoes, “Reet Petite” enters the singles charts following an August release. The song was co-written by Berry Gordy and Wilson’s cousin Roquel “Billy” Davis, credited to his pseudonym Tyran Carlo on the record and produced by Dick Jacobs. The song’s title was inspired by the Louis Jordan song “Reet, Petite and Gone.” The record peaked at No. 62 in the US but went to No. 6 in Britain.

September 8th, 1958 Columbia Records release the novelty song “The Blob” by The Five Blobs. Co-written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the Steve McQueen film of the same name, the record was produced by Bernie Knee, who sang the song and provided the popping noises sound effects.

September 8th, 1962 Amy Records release “Get Up And Do The Wobble” backed with “Cry, Little Boy, Cry” by Tico and The Triumphs. Tico was a short-lived stage name for Paul Simon. Both songs were written by Paul Simon, credited to Jerry Landis.

September 8th, 1962 “He’s A Rebel” by The Crystals enters the singles charts, released in August on Philles Records. Written by Gene Pitney, the song was recorded by a trio known as The Blossoms, featuring co-lead singers Darlene Love and Edna Wright. Produced by Phil Spector, he recruited The Blossoms to record the track while The Crystals were out on tour, wanting to rush release the song. Backing musicians on the single were members of the LA session aces The Wrecking Crew. “He’s A Rebel” went to No. 1 on November 3rd.

September 8th, 1967 Decca Records in Britain release “Maybe Someday” backed with “Curtains For My Baby” by Alex Harvey on 45. The A-side was written by The Incredible String Band’s Mike Heron and was produced by Eric Woolfson. The B-side was an Alex Harvey original produced by Ron Buckle.

September 8th, 1972 CBS Records in Britain release the “All The Young Dudes” album by Mott The Hoople. Produced by David Bowie at Trident and Olympic Studios in London, a controversy over the ownership of the album masters has subsequently arose when it was suggested that at least part of the LP was recorded while the band was still under contract with Island Records. The album came out in the US in October and peaked at No. 89 on February 24th, 1973.

September 8th, 1973 The Allman Brothers started a five-week run at the top of the album chart with “Brothers And Sisters,” the group’s only US No. 1 LP.

September 8th, 1973 Atco Records release “Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part,” the first album by Irish band Horslips. The LP was first released in Ireland in December 1972 on the band’s own Oats Records label.

September 8th, 1975 Chrysalis Records release “Minstrel in The Gallery,” the eighth studio album by Jethro Tull. The LP was produced by Ian Anderson in the band’s own Maison Rough Mobile Studio in Monte Carlo, Monaco from May through June. Anderson worked on the album tracks string arrangements with David Palmer. It was the last Tull album featuring bassist Jeffrey Hammond, who left the group following the tour to support the album. The record peaked at No. 7 on October 25th.

September 8th, 1976 “Dreamboat Annie,” the debut album by Heart is certified Gold for a million copies sold.

September 8th, 1977 Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch leaves the group and joins a relaunched Small Faces.

September 8th, 1978 Atlantic Records release “Double Vision” by Foreigner on 45. Co-written by singer Lou Gramm and guitarist Mick Jones, the single was the second released from Foreigner’s “Double Vision” LP. The track was co-produced by Keith Olson, Mick Jones and Ian McDonald. The song entered the charts on September 23rd, hit No. 2 in the US on November 18th and earned a Gold Record for selling over a million copies.

September 8th, 1978 Atlantic Records in Britain release “Don’t Kill The Whale” by Yes on 45. Co-written by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire and self-produced and arranged by the band, the single mix was slightly shorter than the album version on the band’s “Tormato” LP. The record peaked at No. 36 in England.

September 8th, 1979 Epic Records release “Flirtin’ With Disaster,” the second album by Molly Hatchet. The LP was recorded at Bee Jay Recording Studio in Orlando, Florida and The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California. Co-produced by Tom Werman and Pat Armstrong, the record peaked at No. 19 on December 1st.

September 8th, 1979 “Into The Music,” the eleventh album by Van Morrison enters the charts on Warner Brothers Records following an August release. The album features the British hit single “Bright Side of the Road.” In America, the record peaked at No. 43 on October 13th.

September 8th, 1979 Elektra Records release “Gamma,” the self-titled first album by guitarist Ronnie Montrose’s new band. Following the release of his first solo album “Open Fire,” he formed the group with singer Davey Pattison. Produced by Ken Scott, the LP peaked at No. 131 on November 10th.

September 8th, 1979 Zappa Records release “Joe’s Garage Act 1” by Frank Zappa. The LP was recorded at Village Recorders Studio B and Ken-Dun Studios in Los Angeles. The record was the first installment of the “Joe’s Garage” trilogy. Acts II & III” came out in November. The album peaked at No. 27 on October 20th.

September 8th, 1979 “Dirty White Boy” by Foreigner enters the singles charts. The song was co-written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones and co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker, Jones and Ian McDonald. It was the first single taken from the band’s third studio album, “Head Games.” “Dirty White Boy” peaked at No. 12 on October 27th.

September 8th, 1986 Warner Brothers Records release “Bouncing Off The Satellites,” the fourth full-length studio album by The B-52’s. Produced by Tony Mansfield from the British band New Music, the group recorded the LP at Sigma Sound Studios in New York City in July 1985. Guitarist Ricky Wilson died from complications from the AIDS virus after most of the work on the record had been completed. The B-52’s went on hiatus, choosing not to replace Wilson for a promotional tour after the record had been released a year after it was recorded. “Bouncing Off The Satellites” peaked at No. 85 on October 11th.

Miscellaneous September

September 1965 Muriel Records release “Lookie There” backed with “Wail Baby Wail” by Tommy Louis with Marshall and The Versatiles on 45. Ike Turner plays guitar on the tracks.

September 1967 CBS Records in Britain release “Love Chronicles,” the second album by Al Stewart. “Love Chronicles” was issued in the US in September. The album was issued in America in January 1969 on Epic Records. 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. Songs on the record were orchestrated by Alexander Faris.

September 1970 Liberty Records release “Love Is A Game” backed with “Takin’ Back My Name” by a solo Ike Turner on 45. “Love Is A Game” was written by Tina Turner’s sister Ailllene Bullock. “Takin’ Back My Name” was credited to Leah Graham, an alias for Ike Turner, who produced and arranged the tracks as well.

September 1973, RCA Records in Britain release “The Tra La La Days Are Over” by Neil Sedaka. Recorded at Strawberry Studios in the Spring with Eric Stewart producing and 10cc as the backing band, the LP produced “Love Will Keep Us Together.” The song, co-written by Sedaka with Howard Greenfield, would become a huge hit for The Captain And Tennille in 1976.

September 1975 A&M Records release “White Punks On Dope” by the Tubes on 45. The song was co-written by Bill Spooner, Roger Steen and Michael Evans and produced by Al Kooper from the band’s eponymous first album. The single was edited to omit the curse word in the lyrics.

September 1977 DEVO release their second single on their own Booji Boy label. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was a cover version of The Rolling Stones song. “(I Saw My Baby Getting) Sloppy” was co-written by DEVO. The 45 was produced by the group. “Satisfaction” was rerecorded by DEVO and released as their major label debut for Warner Brothers Records a year later.

September 1979 Reprise Records release “Rust Never Sleeps (Hey Hey, My My [Out Of The Blue])” by Neil Young on 45. The A-side was the acoustic version of the song. The flip side was the full band version, recorded with the band Crazy Horse and both from the “Rust Never Sleeps” LP.

September 1979 CBS Records in Ireland issue the seven-inch EP “Out Of Control” backed with “Stories For Boys” & “Boy/Girl,” the first release by U2. All three songs were written collectively by the band and co-produced by U2 and Chas De Whalley.

September 1981 David Bowie records the five songs written for Bertolt Brecht’s Baal. Bowie appeared in the BBC television production of Baal. The play was transmitted in Britain on March 2nd, 1982. The tracks were co-produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti, who also played bass on the recordings. The EP was released in September 1982, reaching No. 29 in Britain.

September 1981 Island Records in Britain release “Gloria” by U2 on 45. The second single released from the group’s second album “October,” the song was written collectively by U2. “Gloria” was recorded during July and August sessions with producer Steve Lillywhite at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland. The record peaked at No. 55 in Britain.

September 1986 Warner Brothers Records release “Summer Of Love” by The B-52’s on 45. The song was co-written Keith Strickland, Rocky Wilson, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, produced by Tony Mansfield from the LP “Bouncing Off The Satellites.” The single had a unique remix with additional production by Shep Pettibone.