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Today In Rock and Roll History

September 1st

September 1st, 1961 Columbia Records release “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody” on 45 by Aretha Franklin. The song was written for the Broadway musical Sinbad by Jean Schwartz with lyrics by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young in 1918. Covered by many artists including Judy Garland, Al Jolson, Connie Francis and Jerry Lewis, the Aretha Franklin version was co-produced by John Hammond and arranged by Richard Wess at Columbia Studios on 7th Avenue in New York City. The single peaked at No. 24 in America.

September 1st, 1961 Laurie Records release “Runaround Sue” by Dion on 45. The song was co-written by Dion and Ernie Maresca and recorded at Bell Sound in New York City in the summer of 1961 after Dion split from The Belmonts. The songwriting duo would team up again for Dion’s next hit “The Wanderer.” “Runaround Sue” went to No. 1 on October 23rd, 1961.

September 1st, 1962 “Sheila” by Tommy Roe was the No. 1 song in America.

September 1st, 1965 The LA-based rock and roll TV show Shindig! was on its fiftieth episode of the first season of shows when they featured James Brown performing “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.”

September 1st, 1967 Boz Scaggs met up with old friend Steve Miller in San Francisco and soon became a member of The Steve Miller Band, staying for two years and two albums before embarking on a successful solo career.

September 1st, 1967 Decca Records in Britain release “Crusade,” the third studio album by John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers. Produced by Mike Vernon, the record featured a then eighteen-year-old Mick Taylor on guitar. The record came out in America the following February and peaked at No. 136 on April 27th.

September 1st, 1972 RCA Victor Records in Britain release the original version of “John, I’m Only Dancing” on 45. The issued take was recorded on June 26th at Trident Studios in London. The song was written and produced by Bowie, who revisited the song with remakes in both 1973 and 1975 and a remix for a twelve-inch single dance version of the song in 1979.

September 1st, 1973 “Sufficiently Breathless,” the second album by Captain Beyond enters the album charts on Capricorn Records. Although only credited to bassist Lee Dorman, the songs were written by Dorman, vocalist Rod Evans and guitarist Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt. Drummer Bobby Caldwell left the band and was replaced by Marty Rodriguez and Guille Garcia. Keyboardist Reese Wynans, later a member of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Double Trouble, played on the sessions. With Phil Walden producing, the LP peaked at No. 90 on September 29th.

September 1st, 1975 Grateful Dead Records release “Blues For Allah” by The Grateful Dead. Self-produced by the band during sessions from February through May at Bob Weir’s home studio, David Crosby and John Cipollina guested on the LP. The record peaked at No. 12 on October 25th.

September 1st, 1975 Mushroom Records in Australia release “Maybe,” the debut single by Split Enz. The song was co-written by band members Phil Judd and Tim Finn. The record was co-produced by the Split Enz and David Russell.

September 1st, 1977 Mercury Records release “A Farewell To Kings” by Rush. The album was co-produced by Rush and Terry Brown at Rockfield Studios in Wales, recorded in three weeks, then mixed in two at Advision Studios in London. The record peaked at No. 33 on October 29th.

September 1st, 1977 Generation X, with Billy Idol on vocals, released their debut single “Your Generation.” The song was co-written by Idol and bassist Tony James. The record was produced by Phil Wainman at Morgan Studios in Willesden, London.

September 1st, 1978 EG Records in Britain and Atlantic Records in the United States release “The Bride Stripped Bare,” the fifth solo album by Bryan Ferry. Tracks were recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York City and Mountain Studios in Switzerland, co-produced by Waddy Wachtell, Rick Marotta, Simon Puxley, Steve Nye and Bryan Ferry. “The Bride Stripped Bare” peaked at No. 13 in the British album charts.

September 1st, 1978 A&M Records release “Pieces Of Eight,” the eighth studio album by Styx. The album was recorded in Chicago at Paragon Studios and St. James Cathedral. The record was self-produced by the band and featured the hits “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” and “Renegade.” “Pieces Of Eight” peaked at No. 6 on December 2nd.

September 1st, 1979 “Girls Talk” by Dave Edmunds enters the singles charts. Released May 25thin Britain, the song was written by Elvis Costello and reworked by Edmunds for his “Repeat When Necessary” LP. Costello’s own version of the song would come out a year later as a single B-side. The Dave Edmunds version of “Girls Talk” peaked at No. 65 on September 29th.

September 1st, 1979 MCA Records release “Fins” by Jimmy Buffett on 45. The single entered the charts a week later. Co-written by Buffett, Coral Reefer Band members Deborah McColl and Barry Chance and author Tom Corcoran, the song reached No. 35 on November 3rd.

September 1st, 1980 Ken Hensley quits Uriah Heep, twelve years after co-founding the group.

September 1st, 1981 RCA Records release “Private Eyes,” the tenth studio album by Hall and Oates. The LP was recorded at Electric Lady Studio in New York City with Hall and Oates co-producing with Neil Kernon. Larry Fast, G.E. Smith, Jerry Marotta and others played on the record. The album featured the hits “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do),” the title track and “Did It In A Minute.” The record peaked at No. 5 on February 13th, 1982.

September 1st, 1984 “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” by Tina Turner was the No. 1 single in the US.

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.