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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

August 2nd

August 2nd Birthday, The Band keyboardist Garth Hudson, born Eric Hudson in 1937 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

August 2nd Birthday, Traffic drummer, vocalist and solo artist Jim Capaldi, born in Evesham, Worcestershire, England in 1944. Capaldi died on January 29th, 2005 at the age of 60.

August 2nd Birthday, Amen Corner singer, songwriter, guitarist and solo artist Andy Fairweather-Low, born in Ystrad Mynach, Wales in 1948.

August 2nd Birthday, Wishbone Ash guitarist and singer Ted Turner, born David Alan Turner in Birmingham, England in 1950.

August 2nd Birthday, Session man turned solo artist Andrew Gold, born in 1951 in Burbank, California. Gold appeared in Linda Ronstadt’s backing band and after a few solo hits, partnered up with Graham Gouldman and became a member of Wax. He passed away on June 3rd, 2011 at the age of 59.

August 2nd Birthday, British singer, guitarist and producer Steve Hillage. Born in Chingford, Essex, England in 1951, Hillage was an early member of the progressive rock band Gong.

August 2nd Birthday, Rainbow and Deep Purple singer Joe Lynn Turner, born in 1951 in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Today In Rock and Roll History

August 2nd

August 2nd, 1958 The Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace” enters the US Pop Singles charts. Written by The Bopper under his real name, J.P. Richardson, the song was originally cut for the Pappy Daily’s D Records label with producer Jerry Kennedy. Mercury Records picked it up for national distribution and released it in July. The song reached No. 6 on November 1st.

August 2nd, 1961 The Beatles play The Cavern Club in Liverpool for the first time. In the next two years, the band would appear there two hundred and ninety-seven times.

August 2nd, 1968 The Who and The Doors play at the Singer Bowl in Queens, New York City. Built in 1954 and holding as many as eighteen-thousand people, it was previously used for the 1964 World’s Fair. The show ended in chaos when a riot broke out in the crowd.

August 2nd, 1969 Ode Records release “Clear,” the third album by Spirit. Produced by Lou Adler from February through August directly after Spirit recorded songs for the movie Model Shop. Some group members have commented that the sessions were rushed as a result. Second edition copies of the LP included the “1984” single and two other songs not found on original copies. The record peaked at No. 55 on October 4th.

August 2nd, 1969 “Keem-O-Sabe” by The Electric Indian enters the singles charts. The 45 peaked at No. 16 on September 27th. The singles’ B-side, “Land Of 1,000 Dances” charted for one week at No. 95. The “Chopsticks” piano intro on the record was played by a pre-fame Daryl Hall,

August 2nd, 1969 Three Dog Night release “Easy To Be Hard” on 45. The song was part of the musical “Hair,” co-written by Galt MacDermot, James Rado and Gerome Ragni. Three Dog Night’s version hit No. 4 on September 27th. Produced by Gabriel Mekler, the lead vocal is sung by Chuck Negron.

August 2nd, 1971 A Gold Record is awarded to Rod Stewart for his LP “Every Picture Tells A Story.”

August 2nd, 1971 Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose single “Treat Her Like A Lady,” receives a Gold Record award for one million copies sold.

August 2nd, 1971 Bizarre Records release the live album “Fillmore East June 1971” by The Mothers. The album was recorded at Frank Zappa and The Mothers’ June 6thconcert in New York City. Not included on the original LP, John Lennon and Yoko Ono appeared with the band for the encore. The appearance was later issued as a bonus disc on the Lennon’s “Sometime In New York City” album. The record peaked at No. 38 on September 18th.

August 2nd, 1974 Vertigo Records in Britain release “Sgt. Fury” backed with “Gang Bang” by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band on 45, produced by Derek Wadsworth. “Sgt. Fury” was co-written by Alex Harvey, Hugh McKenna and David Batchelor.” “Gang Bang” was a Harvey, Hugh McKenna co-write, produced by Phil Wainman.

August 2nd, 1975 “Mamacita” by The Grass Roots enters the singles charts on Capitol Records following a July release on 45. The song was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, produced by Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter and Rob Grill. The record peaked at No. 71 on September 20th, the last Grass Roots single to chart.

August 2nd, 1978 Epic Records release “Don’t Look Back,” the second studio album by Boston. The LP was recorded at Tom Scholtz’s Hideaway Studio in Maynard, Massachusetts. Scholtz claimed the record label rushed he and the band to submit the album before it was finished, leading to a protracted legal battle that resulted in the band being released from their contract. Their third album would appear eight years later on MCA Records. The record featured the hits “A Man I’ll Never Be,” and the album’s title track. The LP peaked at No. 1 on September 16th. “Feelin’ Satisfied” was issued as the third single from the LP and became a minor chart hit, peaking at No. 47 on April 21st, 1979. The 45 version was edited forty-one seconds shorter than the LP track.

August 2nd, 1986 “Ruthless People” by Mick Jagger enters the singles charts following a July release on Columbia Records. The song was co-written by Daryl Hall, Mick Jagger and David Alan Stewart as the theme song from the Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold comedy. The single peaked at No. 51 on August 30th.

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.