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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History May 1st
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
May 1st
- May 1st Birthday, Blues harmonica player Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs in 1930 in Marksville, Louisiana. He died on February 15th, 1968 at the age of 37.
- May 1st Birthday, Record label owner and songwriter Jerry Ross, who started the Colossus and Heritage Records labels, born in 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When Dick Clark began hosting the TV show American Bandstand, Ross became his booth announcer and also started hosting Clark’s WFIL radio show. He set up his own record production and promotion business, Ross Associates, in Philadelphia in the early 1960s and later worked for Mercury Records as an A&R rep. He died on October 4th, 2017.
- May 1st Birthday, Singer Judy Collins, born in Seattle, Washington in 1939.
- May 1st Birthday, Singer Rita Coolidge, born in Lafayette, Tennessee in 1945.
- May 1st Birthday, The Buckinghams bassist Nick Fortuna, born in 1946 in Chicago, Illinois.
- May 1st Birthday, April Wine and Bachman-Turner Overdrive bassist Jim Clench, born in 1949. He died on November 3rd, 2010 at the age of 61.
- May 1st Birthday, Songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist and record producer Glen Ballard, born in Natchez, Mississippi in 1953.
- May 1st Birthday, Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt, born Charles Brandt in Florence, Alabama in 1966.
- May 1st Birthday, Smashing Pumpkins bassist D’Arcy Wretzky, born in South Haven, Michigan in 1968.
Today In Rock and Roll History
May 1st
- May 1st, 1957 The first issue of 16 Magazine is published with Elvis Presley on the front cover.
- May 1st, 1957 Sun Records release “Dance Album Of Carl Perkins,” the debut LP by Carl Perkins. Mostly self-written Perkins songs, the album featured the hits “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Sure To Fall,” “Honey Don’t” and “Matchbox.”
- May 1st, 1964 Columbia Records in Britain release “I Wish You Would” backed with “A Certain Girl” by The Yardbirds on 45. The A-side was written by Chicago blues harmonica player Billy Boy Arnold, who first released the song as a single in 1955. The B-side was written by Allen Toussaint using the pseudonym Naomi Neville. The tracks were recorded in New Maiden’s R G Jones Studios, produced by Georgio Gomelsky. In America, Epic Records released the single on August 7th.
- May 1st, 1964 Decca Records in Britain release Brian Poole and The Tremeloes’ “Someone Someone” on 45, two months ahead of its July 18th release in America on Monument Records. Originally an obscure B-side by The Crickets, the record, produced by Decca staff producer Mike Smith, went to No. 2 in Britain. The single entered the US charts on September 12th and peaked at No. 97 a week later.
- May 1st, 1965 “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” by Herman’s Hermits is the No. 1 record in the US for the first of three weeks.
- May 1st, 1965 “Yes It Is” by The Beatles enters the singles charts. Co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the song was issued on April 9th as the B-side of “Ticket To Ride,” like most Beatles singles at the time, “Yes It Is” gained significant airplay on its own and charted separately than the 45’s A-side. “Yes It Is” peaked at No. 46 on May 15th.
- May 1st, 1966 Warner Brothers Records release “Windy” by The Association on 45. The lead vocals were sung by guitarist Larry Ramos along with percussionist Russ Giguere. Songwriter Ruthann Friedman wrote the song in 3/4 waltz time, but the record’s producer, Bones Howe, requested The Association record the song in 4/4. “Windy” entered the singles charts on May 27th. The record hit No. 1 on July 22nd.
- May 1st, 1967 The Hollies record “Carrie Anne” in two takes at EMI Studios in London with producer Ron Richards. Co-written by band mates Allan Clarke, Graham Nash and Tony Hicks, Epic Records released the song as a 45 on May 26th. The single entered the charts in America in June and went to No. 9 on August 12th, No. 3 in Britain and No. 9 in Canada.
- May 1st, 1967 Epic Records release “Why? (Am I Treated So Bad)” by The Staples Singers on 45. Written by “Pops” Staples, the song was a response to the Little Rock Nine, the first black students to attend the segregated Central High School in Arkansas in 1957. On the first day of school, the group were met with angry protests and the Arkansas National Guard, ordered there by the governor. President Eisenhower sent federal troops three weeks later to escort the students. The incident drew national attention and galvanized the civil rights movement. “Why? (Am I Treated So Bad)” was produced by R&B great Larry Williams. The record peaked at No. 95 on June 3rd.
- May 1st, 1968 Jimi Hendrix records the basic tracks of “House Burning Down” at The Record Plant in New York City with producer Chas Chandler.
- May 1st, 1969 Reprise Records release “Clouds,” the second studio album by Joni Mitchell. Mitchell recorded the LP at A&M Studios in Hollywood. She self-produced most of the album with help from Paul A. Rothchild on the song “Tin Angel.” Stephen Stills guests on guitar and bass on the record. Mitchell painted a self-portrait for its cover artwork. The record peaked at No. 31 on July 19th.
- May 1st, 1969 Gordy Records release “Don’t Let The Joneses Get You Down” by The Temptations on 45. The track was produced by Norman Whitfield, who wrote the song with Barrett Strong. The Funk Brothers were the Tempts backing band on the track. The record peaked at No. 20 on June 28th.
- May 1st, 1970 Beacon Records in England release “Have You Heard The Word,” the only single by The Fut. Although the songs are credited as being written, produced and arranged by The Fut, the project was a collaboration between Bee Gee Maurice Gibb, his brother-in-law Billy Lawrie (Lulu’s brother) and Steve Kipner and Steve Groves from the band Tin Tin. Gibbs produced Tin Tin’s self-titled 1970 LP that featured the hit single “Toast And Marmalade For Tea.” “Have You Heard The Word” was rumored to be The Beatles in disguise and showed up on various Beatles bootleg albums.
- May 1st, 1970 Elton John’s eponymous first American LP is released. The classic formula is in place with lyricist Bernie Taupin, producer Gus Dudgeon and arranger Paul Buckmaster. A number of session players appear on the LP including Hookfoot guitarist Caleb Quaye, Blue Mink drummer Barry Morgan, Manfred Mann bassist Dave Richmond and backing vocalists Madeline Bell, Tony Burrows, Roger Cook, Leslie Duncan, Tony Hazzard and Barbara Moore. The album was recorded at Trident Studios in London in January.
- May 1st, 1971 David Crosby’s first solo single “Music Is Love,” enters the singles charts on Atlantic Records. The song was co-written by Graham Nash, Neil Young and David Crosby, issued from Crosby’s album “If I Could Only Remember My Name.” Nash and Young both play and sing on the song. Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann played drums. “Music Is Love” peaked that week at No. 95.
- May 1st, 1971 Harvest Records in Britain release “Stormcock,” the fifth album by Roy Harper. The LP was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with producer Peter Jenner from July through December 1970. Jimmy Page guests on guitar on the song “Same Old Rock,” credited as S. Flavius Mercurius. Four Abbey Road engineers helped on the sessions – John Leckie, Phil McDonals, Alan Parsons and Nick Webb. David Bedford played Hammond organ and wrote the orchestral arrangements.
- May 1st, 1972 The Eagles release their first single “Take It Easy,” a song co-written by band member Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne. The track was recorded in London at Olympic Studios with producer Glyn Johns. Bernie Leadon provides the lead guitar, banjo and harmony vocals to Glenn Frey’s lead. The single entered the charts in June and peaked at No. 12 on July 22nd.
- May 1st, 1972 Epic Records release “Hold Your Head Up” by Argent on 45. Written by Chris White and credited to he and Rod Argent, the 45 version was edited from the longer LP track and entered the singles charts in June peaking at No. 5 on August 6th.
- May 1st, 1972 Epic Records release the self titled “Jeff Beck Group” album. The LP was produced by Steve Cropper at TMI Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The record peaked at No. 19 on July 1st.
- May 1st, 1974 Capitol Records re-release “Living In The USA” by The Steve Miller Band on 45. Written by Steve Miller, who co-produced the track with Glyn Johns, it was the third time the song was issued on 45 in the US. Released initially on September 21st, 1968 and again in May 1969, this third time around, the song would finally chart at No. 49 on June 22nd.
- May 1st, 1975 The Rolling Stones perform “Brown Sugar” on a flatbed truck on 5thAvenue in Greenwich Village, New York City as part of a promotional push for their upcoming “Tour Of The Americas"
- May 1st, 1976 Island Records release “Rastaman Vibration” by Bob Marley and The Wailers. Recorded in Kingston, Jamaica at Harry J. and Joe Gibbs Studios in late 1975 and early 1976, the record peaked at No. 8 on July 3rd.
- May 1st, 1976 “Let Your Love Flow” by The Bellamy Brothers is the No. 1 single in the US. It was the band’s first single, released in January.
- May 1st, 1976 Mercury Records release “The Boys Are Back In Town” by Thin Lizzy following an April 23rd release in the UK. Produced by John Alcock, the song was written by group bassist and singer Phil Lynott. The band credited two DJ’s in Louisville, Kentucky with having played the song over and over until other area stations began playing it too, which led to “The Boys Are Back In Town” becoming a hit single. The record peaked at No. 12 on July 24th.
- May 1st, 1976 “You Got The Magic” by John Fogerty enters the singles charts. Written, produced and arranged by Fogerty, the record peaked at No. 87 on May 22nd.
- May 1st, 1976 “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again” by Eric Carmen enters the singles charts. The melody of “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” is based on the third movement (Adagio) from Symphony No. 2 by Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. The record peaked at No. 11 on July 3rd.
- May 1st, 1976 Out one month later in Britain, 20th Century Records release “Tales Of Mystery and Imagination,” the debut album by the Alan Parsons Project. The title of the album is taken from the title of a collection of Edgar Allen Poe stories, which were the basis of the lyrical and musical themes of the album. The LP peaked at No. 38 on July 10th.
- May 1st, 1976 “Still Crazy After All These Years” by Paul Simon enters the singles charts. The studio track features the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section with Barry Beckett on Fender Rhodes piano, David Hood on bass guitar, Roger Hawkins on drums and saxophone by Michael Brecker. The brass was arranged by Bob James. The record peaked at No. 40 on May 29th.
- May 1st, 1979 Kenny Jones appears onstage at London’s Rainbow Theatre with The Who for the first time after replacing Keith Moon.
- May 1st, 1981 The Who release their latest single from the “Face Dances” LP, “Don’t Let Go The Coat,” in Britain. Written by Pete Townshend, the record peaked at No. 84 on July 11th.
- May 1st, 1984 Capitol Records release “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” by Tina Turner on 45. Co-written by the track’s producer Terry Britten with Graham Lyle, the song went to No. 1 on September 1st.
- May 1st, 1990 “Charmed Life” by Billy Idol is released on Chrysalis Records. The record was produced by Keith Forsey. “Charmed Life” peaked at No. 11 on June 23rd.
- May 1st, 2007 Rush release “Snakes & Arrows,” their eighteenth studio album. The LP was recorded at Grandmaster Studios in Los Angeles, California in November and December 2006, co-produced by Rush and Nick Raskulinecz. The record peaked at No. 3 on May 19th.
- May 1st, 2012 Dark Horse Records release “Early Takes Volume One,” a collection of previously unreleased demos and alternative takes of songs by George Harrison.
Miscellaneous May
- May 1949 “Back Home Blues” backed with “Rock Awhile” by Goree Carter and His Hep Cats is released as a 78 rpm record on the Freedom Records label. Influenced by the guitar work of T Bone Walker, “Rock Awhile” stakes a legitimate claim as the first rock and roll record released. Eighteen years old when he recorded the song, the overdriven guitar tone and pentatonic lead predated rock and a style similar to Chuck Berry.
- May 1966 White Whale Records release “If You Gotta Go, Go Now” backed with “I’ll Go On,” the second single by Lyme & Cybelle, the folk rock duo of Warren Zevon and Violet Santangelo. Bob Dylasn wrote “If You Gottsa Go, Go Now,” and the B-side was a Zevon/Santangelo co-write. The record was produced by Bones Howe.
- May 1968 Parlophone Records in Britain release “(The Autobiography Of) Mississippi Hobo,” the second single by Hans Christian. Hans Christian was future Yes singer Jon Anderson. The single was arranged and produced by Paul Korda.
- May 1970 Viking Records press promotional copies of “From Denver To L.A.” on 45. Credited with a vocal by “Elton Johns,” it was taken from the movie soundtrack from the 20thCentury Fox film The Games. Original copies of the record are considered one of the rarest Elton John singles.
- May 1972 Bearsville Records release “Wonder Girl,” the debut single by Sparks. Written by Ron Mael, the record was produced by Todd Rundgren. Rundgren signed the band to Bearsville and produced their first album when the band was known as Halfnelson. The band changed its’ name to Sparks after the LP came out in October 1971. The name change led to a new cover and re-release of the album in February 1972.
- May 1973 Chrysalis Records release “Grand Hotel” by Procol Harum on 45. Co-written by Keith Reid and Gary Brooker, the song served as the title track of Procol Harum’s sixth studio LP, produced by Chris Thomas.
- May 1975 Harvest Record release “HQ,” the eighth studio album by Roy Harper. Recorded in March at Abbey Road Studios in London with producer Peter Jenner, when the LP came out in America, the cover art and the title changed to “When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease.” David Gilmour, Chris Spedding, Bill Bruford and John Paul Jones played sessions on the LP.
- May 1976 MCA Records release “Gimme Back My Bullets” by Lynyrd Skynyrd on 45. The song was co-written by Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant. The studio track was produced by Tom Dowd.
- May 1977 CBS Records in Britain release “Ian Hunter’s Overnight Angels” album. Recorded at several different studios in the US, Canada and England with producer Roy Thomas Baker, Hunter’s US label, Columbia Records refused to release the LP with Hunter’s business management in disarray and no tour scheduled to support the album. Featured on the album sessions were guitarist Earl Slick.
- May 1984 Passport Records release “Russians & Americans,” the tenth studio album by Al Stewart. The LP was produced by Mike Flicker at four different studios, three in California and Abbey Road Studios in London. British and US issues on the record had different tracks. A 2007 reissue collected all the songs on one CD.
- May 1985 EMI Records in Britain release remixed versions of “Loving The Alien” backed with “Don’t Look Down” on 45, originally from from the David Bowie LP “Tonight.” Bowie wrote the AS-side. “Don’t Look Down” was a song co-written by David Bowie and The Stooges’ guitarist James Williamson.
- May 1985 Legacy Records in Britain release “Under Fire” backed with “On Top Of The World” by Roy Wood on 45. Both songs were 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 April 26th
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
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