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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History July 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
July 15th
- July 15th Birthday, The Stone Poneys singer and solo artist Linda Ronstadt born in 1946 in Tucson, Arizona.
- July 15th Birthday, Moby Grape guitarist Peter Lewis born in 1945 in Los Angeles, California.
- July 15th Birthday, Original Yes guitarist Peter Banks, born Peter William Brockbanks in 1947 in Chipping Barnet, London, England. He died on March 7th, 2013 at the age of 65.
- July 15th Birthday, Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1948.
- July 15th Birthday, Record producer Trevor Horn, a member of both The Buggles and Yes, born in 1949 in County Durham, England.
- July 15th Birthday, Reggae singer Gregory Isaacs, born in 1951 in Kingston, Jamaica. He passed away on October 25th, 2010.
- July 15th Birthday, The Ramones drummer Marky Ramone, born Marc Steven Bell in New York City in 1952.
- July 15th Birthday, 38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi, born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1952.
- July 15th Birthday, New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. in Leesburg, Florida in 1952. Thunders passed away on April 23rd, 1991 at the age of 38. The cause of death appeared to be drug-related, but it has also been speculated that foul play may have been involved.
- July 15th Birthday, Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, born in 1956 in Stretford, England. He committed suicide on May 18th, 1980 at the age of 23.
- July 15th Birthday, Guitarist Joe Satriani, born in 1956 in Westbury, New York.
- July 15th Birthday, Drummer and son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, Jason Bonham, born in Dudley, England in 1966.
- July 15th Birthday, Jethro Tull bassist Jonathan Noyce, born in Sutton, Warwickshire, England in 1971.
Today In Rock and Roll History
July 15th
- July 15th, 1957 Elvis Presley’s tenth UK hit, “All Shook Up” begins a seven-week run at No. 1 in Britain.
- July 15th, 1963 Capitol Records release “Beach Ball” by City Surfers on 45. The song was co-written by band members Frank Gari and Roger McGuinn. Unconfirmed sources claim Terry Melcher played piano and Bobby Darin played drums.
- July 15th, 1966 Columbia Records in Britain release the self-titled album by The Yardbirds, also known as “Roger The Engineer,” in Britain. The record features the Jeff Beck lineup of the group and peaked at No. 24 in England. Out three days later in America under the name “Over Under Sideways Down,” the US release featured a different cover with a reconfigured track lineup and peaked at No. 52 on October 22nd.
- July 15th, 1967 The first single by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart for A&M Records “Out And About” enters the singles charts following a May release. Co-written by the duo, “Out And About” peaked at No. 39 on August 5th.
- July 15th, 1967 “A Thousand Shadows,” the first single by The Seeds enters the singles charts on GNP Crescendo Records. Co-written by vocalist Sky Saxon, keyboardist Daryl Hooper, guitarist Jan Savage and produced by Marcus Tybalt, the single peaked at No. 72 on July 29th.
- July 15th, 1967 Double Shot Records release “Gimme Little Sign” by Brenton Wood on 45. Co-written by Wood under his real name, Alfred Smith, with the track’s producers Jerry (Hal) Wynn and Double Shot Records label owner Larry Hooven. “Gimme Little Sign” peaked at No. 9 on October 14th.
- July 15th, 1967 “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” by Jay And The Technics enters the singles charts following a March release on Smash Records. Philadelphia record producer Jerry Ross had discovered Dee Dee Warwick, Keith, Spanky and Our Gang and Bobby Hebb. He took singer Jay Proctor, who fronted Allentown, Pennsylvania band The Techniques, into the studio with the song that he, Ross, had written. Using backing musicians on the record, including singers Melba Moore, Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” sold a million copies and earned a Gold Record for a band that never actually played on their own records. The single peaked at No. 6 on September 23rd.
- July 15th, 1967 “Thank The Lord For The Night Time” by Neil Diamond enters the singles charts on Bang Records. Co-produced by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, the song was written by Diamond and reached No. 13 on the charts on August 26th.
- July 15th, 1970 Creedence Clearwater Revival release the band’s fifth LP, “Cosmos Factory” on Fantasy Records. The album featured the hits “Travelin’ Band,” “Lookin’ Out My Door,” “Run Through The Jungle,” “Up Around The Bend” and “Who’ll Stop The Rain,” and peaked at No. 1 on August 22nd.
- July 15th, 1970 Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell record the master take of “Coming Down Hard On Me.” The version issued on the posthumous 1973 LP “Loose Ends” was edited together from separate takes.
- July 15th, 1970 Epic Records release “You Better Think Twice” by Poco on 45. Written and produced by Jim Messina, the record peaked at No. 72 on November 21st.
- July 15th, 1970 Columbia Records release “Hi De Ho” by Blood Sweat and Tears on 45. The song was a cover of the Carole King and Gerry Goffin original, first released by King’s band The City in 1968. Co-produced by Roy Halle and the band’s Bobby Colomby, the Blood, Sweat and Tears version peaked at No. 14 on August 29th.
- July 15th, 1972 Elektra Records release “The Guitar Man” by Bread on 45. The song was written and the track produced by David Gates. Larry Knechtel played the wah wah electric guitar lead on the session. The record peaked at No. 10 on September 2nd, No. 6 in Canada.
- July 15th, 1972 Elton John began a five-week run at No. 1 on the US album charts with “Honky Chateau,” his first No. 1 LP in the US.
- July 15th, 1972 The Rolling Stones release “Happy” on 45. The basic tracks were recorded in France, using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, with Keith Richards on bass, guitar and vocals, producer Jimmy Miller on drums and saxophonist Bobby Keys on maracas. Piano by Nicky Hopkins was added later, as were Jim Price’s trumpet, Keys’ saxophone and the final vocal tracks, including Mick Jagger’s backing vocals. “Happy” was the only single by the band to chart on which Richards sang lead. The single peaked at No. 22 on August 19th.
- July 15th, 1972 Bell Records release “Rock And Roll” pts. 1 and 2, the debut single by Gary Glitter on 45. Pt. 2 was the hit, produced by Mike Leander and co-written by Leander and Glitter. The 45 was released March 3rd in Britain where both sides of the record became popular. The lyrics of Pt. 1 trace the history of the rock and roll genre. Pt. 2 is mostly instrumental. The record peaked at No. 7 on September 9th.
- July 15th, 1972 “Circles” by The New Seekers enters the singles charts following a June release on Elektra Records. The song was written by Harry Chapin. The record, produced by David Mackay, peaked at No. 87 on July 29th.
- July 15th, 1972 Bearsville Records release Foghat’s first single “I Just Want To Make Love To You,” written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in May 1954. The Foghat version was from their Dave Edmunds produced self-titled first LP. “I Just Want To Make Love To You” became the band’s first hit, entering the charts in November reaching No. 33 on October 22nd, earning significant airplay on FM album-oriented radio stations in the US.
- July 15th, 1973 Capitol Records release “We’re An American Band” by Grand Funk Railroad. Produced by Todd Rundgren at Criteria Studios in Miami, the album featured the hits “Walk Like A Man” and the LP’s title track. Housed in a gold foil cover, initial pressings of the album were pressed on yellow vinyl. The record peaked at No. 2 on September 22nd.
- July 15th, 1977 DJM Records in Britain release “The Power And The Glory” by Irish band Horslips. The song was co-written by the band and their producer Alan O’Duffy. The single came from the band’s 1976 LP “The Book Of Invasions (A Celtic Symphony).”
- July 15th, 1977 Atlantic Records release the eighth studio album by Yes. “Going For The One” was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland from October 1976 through April 1977. Initial sessions began with Patrick Moraz on keyboards but were completed after Rick Wakeman rejoined the band. Self-produced by the band, the LP peaked at No. 8 on October 1st.
- July 15th, 1981 Dark Horse Records release George Harrison’s “Teardrops” on 45 in the US, out July 31stin Britain. The song was written by Harrison. The track was co-produced by George Harrison and Ray Cooper from the LP “Somewhere In England.”
- July 15th, 1981 Warner Brothers Records release “Pirates,” the second album by Rickie Lee Jones. Initial sessions at Warner Brothers Recording Studios in North Hollywood began in early 1980. An extended break followed while Jones wrote more songs. Recording resumed in November and finished in April three months before its’ release. The record peaked at No. 5 on September 26th.
- July 15th, 1985 MCA Records in Britain release “Phantasmagoria,” the sixth studio album by The Damned. It was the group’s first album to not include founding bassist Captain Sensible, who had left for a solo career. Recorded at Eel Pie Studios in London, the record became the band’s highest charting LP to date, reaching No. 11 in England.
- July 15th, 1989 An estimated two hundred thousand people turned out for a free Pink Floyd concert in Venice, Italy. The band performed on a floating stage for what was called “Pink Floyd In Venice: A Concert For Europe” during their “Momentary Lapse Of Reason” tour.
- July 15th, 1997 Arista Records release “Surfacing,” the fourth studio album by Sarah McLachlan. The album featured the hits “Building a Mystery,” “Sweet Surrender,” “Adia” and “Angel.” The record peaked at No. 2 on August 2nd and charted for one hundred and eight weeks.
- July 15th, 2009 Paul McCartney played a free concert on an elevated stage above the marquee of The Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City.
- July 15th, 2013 Michael Nesmith appeared on stage with The Monkees for the first time since 1997 when he quit after just a handful of European dates.
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.
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of July 12th
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 7/12 Billy Preston
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
Craig Maher / Exo-X-Xeno Wax Museum Interview
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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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Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
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Tommy James
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Firesign Theatre interview 1980
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Baltimore based Woody Lissauer steps up to the Wax Museum microphones for this in depth interview!
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