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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History August 6th
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
August 6th
- August 6th Birthday, Velvet Underground manager and record producer, artist Andy Warhol, born Andrew Warhola, Jr. in 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Warhol died on February 22nd, 1987 at the age of 58.
- August 6th Birthday, UK guitarist and solo artist Allan Holdsworth, born in Bradford, England in 1946. Holdsworth passed away on April 15th, 2017 at the age of 70.
- August 6th Birthday, Timbuk 3 singer, songwriter Pat McDonald, born in 1952 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
- August 6th Birthday, Kiss guitarist and solo artist Vinnie Vincent, born Vincent Cusano in 1952 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
- August 6th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Elliot Smith, born Steven Paul Smith in Omaha, Nebraska in 1969. Smith died on October 21st, 2003 at the age of 34.
Today In Rock and Roll History
August 6th
- August 6th, 1960 Chubby Checker does “The Twist,” the dance and the song, for the first time on American TV on American Bandstand with Dick Clark, the day the single on Cameo Parkway Records enters the charts. The song was originally issued as the B-side of “Teardrops On Your Letter,” a No. 28 hit by Hank Ballard and The Midnighters. The Chubby Checker single reached No. 1 on the singles charts the first time on September 19th, 1960. On January 13th, 1962 Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” became the only single in the history of the charts to make it to No. 1 on two separate occasions.
- August 6th, 1964 The Hoochie Coochie Men made their British television debut on The Beat Room. Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart shared lead vocals.
- August 6th, 1965 In England, The Who play The Richmond Jazz Festival.
- August 6th, 1965 Decca Records in Britain release “What’cha Gonna Do About It,” the first single by Small Faces. The song was produced by Ian Samwell, who was co-credited with writing the song with Brian Potter. Samwell and Potter actually wrote only the lyrics. The melody was composed by Small Faces Ronnie Lane and Steve Marriot, but the pair weren’t credited. Press Records issued the single in the US in October. “What’cha Gonna Do About It” peaked at No. 14 in Britain.
- August 6th, 1965 Philips Records in Britain release “Make It Easy On Yourself” by The Walker Brothers on 45. The song was co-written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. “Make It Easy On Yourself” went to No. 1 in England. Issued as a single on Smash Records in the US on September 25th, the 45 became the group’s first hit in North America, peaking at No. 16 on December 4th.
- August 6th, 1965 Parlophone Records release “Help!” the fourth studio album by The Beatles. The LP was recorded from February 15th through June 17th at EMI Studios in London with producer George Martin. The first side of the album was devoted to songs in the film Help!, while side two featured the song “Yesterday,” recorded with only a string quartet and Paul McCartney’s acoustic guitar. Before the strings were recorded for “Yesterday,” the flute solo on “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” was played by English composer, conductor and jazz musician John Scott; becoming only the second outside musician to appear on a studio recording by The Beatles following drummer Andy White on “Love Me Do.”
- August 6th, 1966 Atco Records release “Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing,” the debut single by Buffalo Springfield. The song was written by Neil Young, who plays guitar, harmonica and sings background vocals on the track. Bruce Palmer played bass guitar, Dewey Martin played drums, Ritchie Furay sang lead and played guitar and Stephen Stillls played guitar and sang backing vocals. The record was co-produced by Roger Fluker, under the alias Brian Stone and Charles Greene.
- August 6th, 1971 Procol Harum with The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is recorded live in Alberta, Canada. “Conquistador,” from the set, would become a major hit, the band’s third top forty hit in America, when it reached No. 16 on July 29th, 1972.
- August 6th, 1973 Capricorn Records release “Brothers And Sisters,” the fifth album by The Allman Brothers. Recorded at Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Georgia with the band co-producing with Johnny Sandlin, the group added keyboardist Chuck Leavell and bassist Lamar Williams. Guitarist Les Dudek played on two songs. The LP featured the hit “Ramblin’ Man” and peaked at No. 1 on September 8th.
- August 6th, 1973 The Raspberries release “Tonight” on 45. Written by group singer Eric Carmen and produced by Jimmy Ienner, it was the biggest charting single of three released from The Raspberries “Side Three” LP, peaking at No. 69 on September 29th.
- August 6th, 1976 Vertigo Records in Britain release “Jailbreak” by Thin Lizzy on 45. The song was written by singer and bassist Phil Lynott and produced by John Alcock at Ramport Studios in London. In America the song was issued as the B-side of the hit “The Boys Are Back In Town” and served as the title track of the band’s sixth studio album.
- August 6th, 1976 Manfred Mann’s Earth Band release their second Bruce Springsteen written single “Blinded By The Light” in Britain, with a September release in the US. Significantly rearranged and changed lyrically from the Springsteen original, the Manfred Mann version is Springsteen’s only chart topping single as a songwriter. The record entered the charts on November 20th and hit No. 1 on February 19th, 1977.
- August 6th, 1977 “Jungle Love” by The Steve Miller Band enters the singles charts following a July release. The song was co-written by Steve Miller Band bassist Lonnie Turner and well-known San Francisco sideman Greg Douglass. Produced by Steve Miller, the single peaked at No. 23 in America on October 1st.
- August 6th, 1980 Warner Brothers Records release “Whip It” by DEVOon 45. Co-written by DEVO’s Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerry Casale, the song was recorded at The Record Plant in Los Angeles with DEVO and Robert Margouleff producing. The record company did not expect the song to be a hit, with its odd lyrics and shifting time signatures, but with DJ and record industry writer Kal Rudman championing the song, the record began to get regular airplay on Top Forty stations in the US. “Whip It” peaked at No. 14 on November 15th.
- August 6th, 1981 The Rolling Stones Records label release “Start Me Up” on 45, out one day later in the US. The song began as a reggae influenced riff during the “Black and Blue” album sessions in 1975. Attempted several times, the group finally found an arrangement that they liked and used it when compiling takes for the “Tattoo You” album. The record peaked at No. 2 on October 31st.
- August 6th, 1983 “All Of The Good Ones Are Taken” by Ian Hunter enters the album charts. Co-produced by Max Norman and Ian Hunter at Wizard Sound Studios in New York, Mick Ronson, Clarence Clemmons, Hilly Michaels, Mark Clark (from Mountain) and Dan Hartman all played sessions for the record. The LP peaked at No. 125 on September 10th.
- August 6th, 1983 “Burning Down The House” by Talking Heads enters the singles charts following a June release on Sire Records. Written and produced collectively by the band, it was the first 45 released from the group’s fifth studio LP “Speaking In Tongues.” The record became the band’s only US Top Ten single, peaking at No. 9 on October 22nd.
- August 6th, 1991 Atlantic Records release “Yesyears,” a four CD box set compilation by Yes. Included are a number of previously unreleased songs and alternate takes.
- August 6th, 1996 The Ramones played their final concert at The Palace in Hollywood.
Miscellaneous August
- August 1957 Ace Records release “Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu” by Huey “Piano” Smith on 45. The song was co-written by Smith and Johnny Vincent. The session for the track included Sidney Rayfield and “Scarface” John Williams on vocals, Lee Allen on tenor sax, Earl King on guitar, Frank Fields on bass and Charles “Hungry” Williams on drums. The record peaked at No. 52 on the Pop singles charts.
- August 1958 Dot Records release “Scratchin’” backed with the novelty song “I Hates Rabbits” by Jerry Neal on 45. Neal was a stage name of Jerry Capehart. He co-wrote both songs with Eddie Cochran. Cochran is rumored to play all the instruments on “Scratchin’,” while Cochran plays lead guitar on “I Hates Rabbits.”
- August 1958 Tune Town Records release “Boxtop” by Ike Turner, Carson Oliver and Little Ann, the first record release to feature the future Tina Turner on vocals. The song was written by Ike Turner, who heard the seventeen-year-old sing during the intermission of a Kings Of Rhythm set at the Manhattan Club in East St. Louis. Carson Oliver was one of the vocalists in Turner’s group, the Kings Of Rhythm band. The track was recorded at Turner’s house on Virginia Place, in East St. Louis.
- August 1963 Original Sound Records release “Heavies” backed with “The Cruncher” by The Rotations on 45. The Rotations were an alias for Paul Buff and Dave Aerni. Both songs were co-written by Aerni and Buff, produced by Frank Zappa at PAL Studio in Cucamonga, California in June. A few seconds of “Heavies” is heard in the opening moments of “Nasal Retentive Caliope Music” on The Mothers Of Invention LP “We’re Only In It For The Money.”
- August 1963 Original Sound Records release “Tijuana” backed with “Grunion Run” by The Hollywood Persuaders on 45. Paul Buff wrote the A-side. “Grunion Run” was performed by Paul Buff and Frank Zappa, recording at PAL Studios in Cucamonga, California in June. Zappa played guitars, bass and drums with Paul Buff on saxophone.
- August 1965 Autumn Records release “Beau Brummels Volume II.” The record featured the hit “You Tell Me Why” and follow-up single “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” but didn’t chart. Sylvester Stewart, later known professionally as Sly Stone, is listed as the album’s producer, but members of the band didn’t recall him being there for the recording sessions.
- August 1969 Immediate Records in Britain release the self-titled album by “The Nice,” the group’s second album.
- August 1971 A&M Records release “White Light,” the second studio album by The Byrds’ singer, songwriter Gene Clark. The LP was recorded at A&M Studios and Village Recorders in Los Angeles with Jesse Ed Davis producing in the Spring, 1971. Playing on the record were Davis, bassist Chris Ethridge of the Flying Burrito Brothers, organist Michael Utley, pianist Ben Sidran and drummer Gary Mallaber, both of the Steve Miller Band.
- August 1972 Thunderclap Newman pianist Andy Newman releases the solo LP “Rainbows” on Track Records in England. Pete Townshend is the executive producer of the album.
- August 1974 Ardent Records release “September Gurls” by Big Star on 45. The song was written by Alex Chilton with autobiographical lyrics about several women in his life. The record was co-produced by Big Stay and John Fry on a six track recording console at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee during sessions for the band’s second album “Radio City.”
- August 1976 Mushroom Records in Australia release “Second Thoughts,” the second LP by Split Enz. The group’s first LP “Mental Notes” had not been released in America or in Europe, so Chrysalis Records issued “Second Thoughts” in September in Britain and January 1977 in the US – as “Mental Notes” with new cover art. “Second Thoughts” was produced by Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera at Basing Street Studios in London. The LP went to No. 18 in the New Zealand album charts.
- August 1978 Chrysalis Records release “I’m Gonna Love You Too” by Blondie on 45, a cover version of The Crickets’ song from 1957. The song was written by Crickets’ bassist Joe Maudlin, guitarist Niki Sullivan and record producer Norman Petty. Produced by Mike Chapman, it was the first single released from Blondie’s “Parallel Lines” LP.
- August 1980 Virgin Records in Britain release “Generals And Majors” by XTC on 45. Written by Colin Moulding and produced by Steve Lillywhite, it was the first single released from the band’s “Black Sea” album and peaked at No. 32 in England.
- August 1980, Virgin Records release “Doc At The Radar Station” by Captain Beefheart. The album was recorded in June at Sound Castle Recording Studios in Los Angeles with Beefheart producing.
- August 1983 Warner Brothers Records release “Song For A Future Generation” by The B-52’s as the second single from the “Whammy!” LP. The song was written collectively by The B-52’s, produced by Steven Stanley.
- August 1984 EG Records release “The Pearl,” the second album by Harold Budd and Brian Eno. Recorded in Toronto, Canada with Daniel Lanois also producing, the premise of the recordings were established on the pair’s first collaboration “The Plateaux Of Mirror,” with Eno treating Budd’s improvised piano parts with studio effects and later making compositional decisions together to create the released tracks.
- August 1986 IMP Records in Britain release “Tokyo Storm Warning” by Elvis Costello and The Attractions on 45, a song Costello wrote with his wife, The Pogues bassist Cait O’Riordan. The track was Costello’s first single release to give credit to his given name MacManus. “Tokyo Storm Warning” was co-produced by Nick Lowe and Colin Fairley.
- August 1987 Virgin Records in England release “Psonic Psunspot,” the first full-length album by The Dukes Of Stratosphere, actually XTC under a different name with guitarist Dave Gregory’s brother Ian on drums. The record was co-produced by John Leckie and the band at Sawmills Studio in Fowey, Cornwall, England in June.
- August 1987 Columbia Records release the movie soundtrack LP “Back To The Beach,” a various artists collection of songs from the film. Highlights include the Stevie Ray Vaughn/Dick Dale remake of “Pipeline,” songs by Dave Edmunds, Eddie Money, Aimee Mann, M<arti Jones and a Herbie Hancock version of “Wipe Out” featuring Dweezil Zappa on guitar and Terry Bozzio on drums.
- August 1989 Virgin Records release “The Loving” by XTC on 45 in Britain. The track came from the band’s Paul Fox produced “Oranges And Lemons” LP.
- August 1992 Warner Brothers Records in Britain release “Real Cool World” by David Bowie on 45. The song was the theme from Real Cool World movie, written by Bowie and produced by Nile Rodgers. The B-side was an instrumental version of the track.
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of July 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
Cool Song Of The Week 7/26 Johnny Nash
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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