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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

September 3rd

September 3rd Birthday, Blues guitarist Freddie King, born in 1934 in Gilmer, Texas. He died on December 28th, 1976 at the age of 42.

September 3rd Birthday, The Beach Boys guitarist and singer Al Jardine, born in Lima, Ohio in 1942.

September 3rd Birthday, Steppenwolf bassist George Biondo, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1945.

September 3rd Birthday, Spooky Tooth singer and solo artist Mike Harrison, born in 1945 in Carlisle, Cumbria, England.

September 3rd Birthday, Thin Lizzy’s original guitarist Eric Bell, born in East Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1947.

September 3rd Birthday, Grand Funk Railroad drummer Don Brewer, born in Flint, Michigan in 1948.

September 3rd Birthday, King’s X bassist, singer and songwriter Doug Pinnick, born in Braidwood, Illinois in 1950.

September 3rd Birthday, The Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, born in 1955 in Shepherds Bush, London, England.

Today In Rock and Roll History

September 3rd

September 3rd, 1956 Elvis Presley records three tracks at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, “Ready Teddy,” “First In Line” and “Rip It Up.” The sessions with producer Steve Shoals finished the three days of recordings needed for Presley’s second album “Elvis,” released October 19th.

September 3rd, 1963 Mercury Records release “She’s A Fool,” the third single by Lesley Gore. Co-written by Ben Raleigh and Mark Barkin, the single was produced by Quincy Jones. “She’s A Fool” peaked at No. 5 on December 7th.

September 3rd, 1963 The Beatles record three BBC Radio sessions at Aeolian Hall, New Bond Street in London, England for the Light Programme series Pop Goes The Beatles, their first with producer Terry Henebery. The final two recorded that day were produced by Ian Grant. All were hosted Rodney Burke. The first segment, the thirteenth in the Pop Goes The Beatles series, was recorded 2–4:30pm and broadcast on September 10th. Guests Johnny Kidd and The Pirates were recorded separately. The second segment, the fourteenth in the Pop Goes The Beatles series, was recorded from 5-7:30pm with guests The Marauders and broadcast on September 17th. Recording for the third segment, the fifteenth and last in the Pop Goes The Beatles series, began at 8pm with guests Tony Rivers and The Castaways and broadcast on September 24th.
Recorded for the Pop Goes The Beatles show No. 13 session were “Too Much Monkey Business” written by Chuck Berry, “Til There Was You” written by Merideth Wilson, “Love Me Do” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “She Loves You” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “I’ll Get You” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and “The Hippy Hippy Shake” written by Robert Lee Romero.

Recorded for the Pop Goes The Beatles show No. 14 session were “Chains” written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, “You Really Got A Hold On Me” written by Smokey Robinson Jr., “Misery”co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “A Taste Of Honey” co-written by Bobby Scott and Ric Marlowe, “Lucille” co-written by Albert Collins and Richard Penniman, “From Me To You”co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and “Boys” co-written by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell.

Recorded for the Pop Goes The Beatles show No. 15 session were “She Loves You” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Ask Me Why”co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Devil In Her Heart” written by Richard Brian Drapkin, “I Saw Her Standing There” co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Sure To Fall” (In Love With You”) co-written by Carl Perkins, William Cantrell and Quinton Claunch and “Twist And Shout” co-written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. “A Taste Of Honey” was edited from the broadcast of Show No. 14 and inserted into Show No. 13 after “I’ll Get You.”

September 3rd, 1965 Fontana Records in Britain release “Agent 00 Soul” backed with “Go Away, Baby,” the first solo single by Scottish singer/songwriter Alex Harvey. The A-side had no songwriter credits but the B-side was written by Alex Harvey. Production credited to Island Record Production, sources claim “Agent 00 Soul” represents Steve Winwood’s first session work, playing piano on the song.

September 3rd, 1965 Immediate Records in Britain release “She Belongs To Me” backed with “Taken My Love” by The Masterminds. Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham, the A-side was a Bob Dylan cover. “Taken My Love” was written by band members singer Douglas Meakin and bassist George Cassidy. It’s rumored that Jimmy Page plays on the single. The band’s guitarist was future Badfinger member Joey Molland.

September 3rd, 1965 Lou Christie records “Lightnin’ Strikes” at Olmstead Studios, New York City, New York. Arranged, conducted and produced by Charles Calello, the song featured backing vocals from Bernadette Carroll, Peggy Santiglia and Denise Ferri of The Delicates. “Lightnin’ Stikes was co-written by Christie and Twiler Herbert. Released on MGM Records in October the single entered the charts in December and hit No. 1 in the US and Canada on February 19th, 1966.

September 3rd, 1966 Double Shot Records release “Psychotic Reaction” by San Jose, California band Count Five as a single. Co-written by Craig Atkinson, John Byrne, John Michalski, Kenn Ellner and Roy Chaney, the song was recorded at Nashville West Studios, Los Angeles with producers Hal Winn and Joseph Hooven. “Psychotic Reaction” peaked at No. 5 on October 15th, No. 3 in Canada.

September 3rd, 1966 Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman” is the No. 1 single in the US.

September 3rd, 1968 RCA Victor Records release “Alabama Wild Man” by Jerry Reed on 45. Written by Jerry Reed and credited to his surname Hubbard, the record was produced by Chet Atkins. “Alabama Wild Man” served as the title track of Reed’s third album and peaked at No. 62 on August 19th, 1972, four years after it was released.

September 3rd, 1968 Sly & The Family Stones’ career gets another boost when the band wins the final round on NBC-TV’s summer talent competition Showcase 68.

September 3rd, 1970 England’s Dave Clark Five, who scored a dozen hits during the British Invasion of the mid-1960’s, announce they are disbanding.

September 3rd, 1971 Reprise Records in Britain release “Future Games,” the fifth studio album by Fleetwood Mac. Recorded from June through August at Advision Studios in London, self-produced by the band, it was the first Fleetwood Mac album with guitarist Bob Welch, the first to feature Christine McVie as a full-time member and signaled a shift from blues-oriented songs to more melodic pop. Released in America in October the album peaked at No. 91 on December 18th.

September 3rd, 1974 Elton John’s “The Bitch Is Back” is released by MCA Records. Recorded at Caribou Studios in Colorado in January 1974 with producer Gus Dudgeon, the song was co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The lyrics were a parody of John’s celebrity lifestyle and his temperamental personality. The single hit No. 1 in Canada, No. 15 in Britain and No. 4 in the US on November 2nd.

September 3rd, 1976 Phil Manzanera’s “801 Live” LP is recorded at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, England. The album came out in England that November and in March 1978 in North America. Onstage were members of Manzanera’s side project Quiet Sun, Brian Eno, Francis Monkman and Simon Phillips.

September 3rd, 1976 The British only release of Elton John’s “Pinball Wizard” on 45. Produced by Gus Dudgeon and taken from the movie soundtrack of Tommy, the track was a popular radio hit in the US but was never issued commercially as a single in America.

September 3rd, 1977 “We Just Disagree” by Dave Mason enters the singles charts on Columbia Records. Written by Mason, who co-produced the track with Ron Nevison, the record peaked at No. 12 on November 26th.

September 3rd, 1981 The Techno-Pop duo of Marc Almond and David Ball, Soft Cell, perform their current UK No. 1 hit “Tainted Love” on the British television music program Top Of The Pops.

September 3rd, 1983 “Sitting At The Wheel” by The Moody Blues enters the singles charts following an August release on Threshold Records. The song was written by John Lodge from the Pip Williams produced LP “The Gift.” “Sitting At The Wheel” peaked at No. 27 on October 15th.

September 3rd, 1984 Virgin Records release “All You Pretty Girls” by XTC on 45 in Britain. It was the first single released from the band’s “The Big Express” LP. Written by Andy Partridge and co-produced by the band and David Lord, the record peaked at No. 55 in the English singles charts.

September 3rd, 1991 Anthem Records release “Roll The Bones,” the fourteenth studio album by Rush. The band recorded the LP from February through May at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec and McClear Place in Toronto, Ontario. Produced by Rupert Hine, the album peaked at No. 3 on September 21st.

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.