Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast May 2nd Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History May 2nd
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 2nd
- May 2nd Birthday, Guitarist Link Wray, born Frederick Lincoln Wray in Dunn, North Carolina in 1929. He died on November 5th, 2005 of heart failure, aged 76.
- May 2nd Birthday, Mothers Of Invention saxophonist and woodwind player Bunk Gardner, born John Leon Guarnera in Cleveland, Ohio in 1933.
- May 2nd Birthday, Argent and The Kinks drummer Bob Henrit, born in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England in 1944.
- May 2nd Birthday, Steppenwolf keyboardist Goldy McJohn, born John Raymond Goadsby in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1945. He passed away on August 1st, 2017, at the age of 72.
- May 2nd Birthday, Singer Lesley Gore, born in New York City in 1946. She died on February 16th, 2015, aged 68.
- May 2nd Birthday, Foreigner singer Lou Gramm, born Louis Andrew Grammatico in Rochester, New York in 1950.
- May 2nd Birthday, Carmen and Jethro Tull bassist John Glascock, born in 1951 in Islington, England. He died on November 17th, 1979, aged 28.
Today In Rock and Roll History
May 2nd
- May 2nd, 1962 Terry Stafford records “Suspicion” at the Los Angeles studio of Bob Summers. Summers played all of the instruments on the demo and then shopped the tape to a number of record companies and landed a deal with Crusader Records. The song was co-written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and originally recorded by Elvis Presley in 1962. Released in February 1964, the Terry Stafford version peaked at No. 3 on April 11th, breaking The Beatles lock on the top five singles on the chart a week earlier.
- May 2nd, 1964 Musicor Records release “Yesterday’s Hero” by Gene Pitney on 45. The song was co-written by Aaron Schroeder, Alfred Cleveland, Carl Spencer and Wally Gold. The record entered the charts a week later and peaked at No. 64 on May 30th.
- May 2nd, 1964 “The Beatles’ Second Album” reaches No. 1 on the LP charts in just its second week of release. It was the first album ever to make it to the top that quickly. The record featured tracks heavily remixed for the American market and numerous differences song to song from their British releases.
- May 2nd, 1964 The Rolling Stones appear on The Ed Sullivan Show for the second time after Sullivan reconsiders his vow not to let them back on the show. The group is locked in the studio twelve hours before the broadcast to avoid a disturbance by fans outside the theater.
- May 2nd, 1964 Smash Records release “My Boy Lollipop” on 45 by Millie Small. The song was written by Robert Spencer of 1950’s vocal group The Cadillacs and usually credited to Spencer, Morris Levy and Johnny Roberts. It was first recorded in New York in 1956 by Barbie Gaye. Island Records owner Chris Blackwell brought Jamaican teenager Millie Small to London to record a version of the song. Credited simply to Millie, she was the Caribbean’s first international recording star. The record went to No. 2 on July 4th. “My Boy Lollipop” sold six million copies worldwide.
- May 2nd, 1966 Tamla Records release the “Up-Tight” LP by Stevie Wonder. The album reached No. 33 on October 1st. Most of the record was recorded at sessions in 1965 and 1966 although Motown included tracks from 1962, (“Contact On Love”) and 1964 (“Pretty Little Angel”). Backing Wonder at Hitsville USA Studios in Detroit were The Funk Brothers and vocal group The Andantes. The records’ title track reached No. 5 on the US Pop Singles charts. The album peaked at No. 33 on October 10th.
- May 2nd, 1966 Phillips Records release “Sunny” by Bobby Hebb on 45. Hebb wrote the ode to optimism in the forty-eight hours following a double tragedy on November 22nd, 1963, the day US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and Hebb’s older brother Harold was stabbed to death outside a Nashville nightclub. The record was produced by Jerry Ross. The 45 entered the singles charts in June peaked at No. 1 on August 27th and earned a Gold Record on October 4thfor sales over a million copies.
- May 2nd, 1966 Tamla Records release “Take This Heart Of Mine” by Marvin Gaye on 45. Co-written by The Miracles members Warren “Pete” Moore, William “Smokey” Robinson and Marv Tarplin and produced by Smokey Robinson over three sessions on January 4th, February 9th and March 24th at Hitsville USA Studios in Detroit. Playing on the session were members of The Miracles, The Funk Brothers and backing singers The Andantes. Marvin Gaye sang “Take This Heart Of Mine” on his only appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The record peaked at No. 44 on July 2nd and went Top Ten on the R&B charts.
- May 2nd, 1968 Atlantic Records release “Think” by Aretha Franklin on 45. “Think” was co-written by Aretha Franklin and her then-husband Teddy White and produced by Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Studios in New York City. The Sweet Inspirations vocal quartet sang the backing vocals on the track. The record entered the charts two weeks later and became Franklin’s seventh Top Ten hit in the US, reaching No. 7 on June 15th.
- May 2nd, 1969 The Byrds’ cover version of Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” is released as a stand-alone single by Columbia Records, three months before Dylan’s own version came out on 45.
- May 2nd, 1969 UNI Records release “Israelites” by Desmond Dekker and The Aces on 45. Originally issued in Jamaica as “Poor Me Israelites,” the song was co-written by Desmond Dekker and producer Leslie Kong. The title has been the source of speculation, but most settle on the Rastafarian Movement’s association with the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In the 1960s, Jamaican Rastafarians were largely marginalized as “cultish” and ostracized from the larger society, including by the more conservative Christian church in Kingston. The song is a lament of this condition and is among the earliest reggae songs to chart in the US, peaking at No. 9 on June 28th and was No. 1 in Britain.
- May 2nd, 1969 Atlantic Records release “See” by The Rascals on 45. The song was the title track of the sixth album by The Rascals and the first single release from the LP. The song was written by Felix Cavaliere and co-produced by The Rascals and Atlantic staff producer Arif Mardin. “See” peaked at No. 27 on July 5th.
- May 2nd, 1969 Dunhill Records release “It’s Never Too Late” by Steppenwolf on 45. The song was co-written by band members John Kay and Nick St. Nicholas. The record, produced by Gabriel Mekler, entered the charts a week later and peaked at No. 51 on May 31st.
- May 2nd, 1969 The Beatles record the master take of George Harrison’s “Something” with Chris Thomas producing at EMI Studios in London. Further work on the track was recorded the next day at Olympic Studios and again in July and August at EMI with producer George Martin. Billy Preston played a Hammond organ on the song. Written during the White Album sessions in 1968Harrison first demo’d the song on February 25th, 1969. The final mix of the track edited out a four-minute instrumental section from the original studio take. Apple Records released the song backed with “Come Together” in October. “Something” went to No. 1 on November 29th.
- May 2nd, 1970 “ABC” by The Jackson 5 is the No. 1 record in the US.
- May 2nd, 1970 “Love Like A Man” by Ten Years After enters the singles charts for a two week chart run, peaking at No. 98. Written by Alvin Lee, “Love Like A Man” was released from the band’s “Cricklewood Green” LP.
- May 2nd, 1970 “Them Changes” by Buddy Miles and The Freedom Express enters the singles charts following a March release on Mercury Records. Written by Buddy Miles and produced by Robin McBride, the single was re-serviced by Mercury and the song re-entered the charts a second time, peaking at No. 62 on September 25th.
- May 2nd, 1970 “Check Yourself” by I.A.P. Co., The Italian Asphalt and Paving Company enters the singles charts following a January release on Colossus Records. The Italian Asphalt and Paving Company were actually early 1960’s doo wop vocal group The Duprees incognito. The song was co-written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, two mid-70’s pioneers of The Sound Of Philadelphia. The record peaked at No. 97 on May 9th.
- May 2nd, 1970 “(You Got Me) Dangling On A String” by Chairman Of The Board enters the singles charts following an April release on Invictus Records. Co-written and produced by former Motown hitmakers Holland–Dozier–Holland under the pseudonym of Edythe Wayne and Ron Dunbar, the song was the follow-up to the hit “Give Me Just A Little More Time.” The group performed the song on American Bandstand on May 16th, 1970. “(You Got Me) Dangling On A String” peaked at No. 38 on June 13th.
- May 2nd, 1970 “Daughter Of Darkness” by Tom Jones enters the singles charts following an April release on Parrot Records. Arranged by Les Reed, who co-wrote the song with Geoff Stephens, the record was produced by Peter Sullivan. During a nine week run on the charts, “Daughter Of Darkness” peaked at No. 13 on June 6th.
- May 2nd, 1973 Columbia Records release “Kodachrome” by Paul Simon on 45. Written by Paul Simon, the track was the lead single from his third studio album “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.” The record entered the charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 2 on July 7th.
- May 2nd, 1974 Columbia Records release “Lamplight” by David Essex on 45. Written by David Essex and produced by Jeff Wayne, the record entered the singles charts a month later and peaked at No. 71 on June 22nd.
- May 2nd, 1975 Epic Records release “Another Night” by The Hollies on 45. Co-written by Terry Sylvester, Tony Hicks and Allan Clarke and produced by Ron Richards, the record entered the charts in June and peaked at No. 71 on July 5th.
- May 2nd, 1975 Harvest Records in Britain release “ When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease” by Roy Harper on 45. The song was written and arrange by Roy Harper and the track was produced by Peter Jenner.
- May 2nd, 1978 Backstreet Records release “You’re Gonna Get It,” the second studio album by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Co-produced by Denny Cordell, Noah Shark and Tom Petty at Shelter Studios in Hollywood, California, Phil Seymour sang backing vocals on the song “Magnolia.” The album peaked at No. 23 on August 12th.
- May 2nd, 1978 RCA Red Seal Records release “Peter And The Wolf” by David Bowie with The Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy. Bowie narrated the Sergei Prokofiev composition. The album was issued on green vinyl in America. The record peaked at No. 136 on June 10th.
- May 2nd, 1979 The Who return to the stage with new drummer Kenney Jones at London’s Rainbow Theatre. John “Rabbit” Bundrick plays keyboards.
- May 2nd, 1980 RCA Records in Britain release “(Big Tree) Small Axe” backed with “The Whalers (Thar She Blows)” by The Alex Harvey Band on 45. The A-side was a Bob Marley cover version, produced by Greg Walsh. The B-side was a co-write between Matthew Cang, Hugh McKenna and Alex Harvey, co-produced by Danny Beckerman and Matthew Cang.
- May 2nd, 1982 Mercury Records release “Jinx,” the ninth studio album by Rory Gallagher. Self-produced at Dierk’s Studio in Cologne, Germany May and June 1981, the LP reached No. 68 on the British charts and was Gallagher’s last studio release until 1987.
- May 2nd, 1983 Factory Records in Britain release “Power, Corruption & Lies,” the second album by New Order. Recorded at Britannia Row in Islington from October through November 1982 with the band producing, the LP peaked at No. 4 in England.
- May 2nd, 1988 Island Records release the self-titled debut album by Melissa Etheridge. Co-produced by Etheridge with Niko Bolas, Craig Krampf and Kevin McCormick at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, California, Waddy Wachtell, Scott Thurston and Wally Badarou guest on the record. The album’s lead single, “Bring Me Some Water,” garnered Etheridge her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female. The album peaked at No. 22 on May 13th, 1989, a year and a week after it came out. All together, the album stayed on the charts for one hundred and seventy-nine weeks.
- May 2nd, 1989 Elektra Records release “Disintegration” by The Cure, the band’s eighth studio album. The band recorded the album at Hookend Recording Studios in Checkendon, Oxfordshire, with co-producer David M. Allen from late 1988 to early 1989. Following the completion of mixing the record, founding member Lol Tolhurst was fired from the band. The record peaked at No. 12 on June 10th.
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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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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Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
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Tommy James Wax Museum Interview January 2019
Tommy James
- Click picture to hear Tommy promoting all his planned 2019 activities; new album, Sirius XM radio show, touring, new movie, etc.
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Firesign Theatre interview 1980
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Woody Lissauer Wax Museum Interview 2/22/20
Baltimore based Woody Lissauer steps up to the Wax Museum microphones for this in depth interview!
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