Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast August 29th Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History August 29th
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 29th
- August 29th Birthday, Velvet Underground guitarist and songwriter Sterling Morrison, born Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. in 1942 in East Meadow, New York. He passed away from non-Hodgkins lymphoma on August 30th, 1995 at the age of 53.
- August 29th Birthday, Blood Sweat and Tears organist, piano player, flutist and trombonist Dick Halligan, born in Troy, New York in 1943. Halligan died in Rome, Italy of natural causes on January 18th, 2022 at the age of 78.
- August 29th Birthday, Procol Harum bassist and keyboard player Chris Copping, born in Middleton, Lancashire, England in 1945.
- August 29th Birthday, Crawler and Procol Harum guitarist Geoff Whitehorn, born in London, England in 1951.
- August 29th Birthday, Jackson Five singer, songwriter, record producer and solo artist, Michael Jackson, born in Gary, Indiana in 1958. He died on June 25th, 2009 from an overdose of propofol and prescription painkillers at the age of 50.
- August 29th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, bassist Meshell N’degeocello, born Mary Johnson, who grew up in the Washington, DC area, born in 1968 in Berlin, Germany.
Today In Rock and Roll History
August 29th
- August 29th, 1958 Fifteen-year-old George Harrison joined John Lennon and Paul McCartney in a local Liverpool band called The Quarrymen.
- August 29th, 1958 Cliff Richard and The Drifters release “Schoolboy Crush” backed with “Move It,” their first single in England on the Columbia Records label. It was the Ian Samwell song “Move It” that became the hit, peaking at No. 2. With Ernie Shaw and Ian Samwell playing guitar with Frank Clarke on bass and Terry Smart on drums on the studio session, the track was produced by Norrie Paramour at EMI Studios in London.
- August 29th, 1959 The Quarrymen perform for about three hundred teenagers at the opening of The Casbah Coffee Club, located in the basement of a family home owned by Pete Best’s mother. The band would return for six more Saturday night engagements.
- August 29th, 1966 The Beatles played an eleven-song set in a forty-five-minute show at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. It was their final public concert appearance.
- August 29th, 1969 Polydor Records in Britain release “Songs For A Tailor,” the first solo album issued by Jack Bruce. The record came out in September in the US on Atco Records. The music on the LP was composed and arranged by Jack Bruce with lyrics by Pete Brown. Produced By Felix Pappalardi, among the musicians who played on the album were George Harrison, Jon Hiseman on drums, Dick Heckstall-Smith on Tenor Sax and Chris Spedding on guitar. The record peaked at No. 55 in the US on November 15th.
- August 29th, 1970 Liberty Records release “Thank Christ For The Bomb” by The Groundhogs, out the previous May in Britain. The songs were written and the album was produced by band guitarist T.S. McPhee.
- August 29th, 1970 Warner Brothers Records release James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.” Recorded in December 1969 at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles with producer Peter Asher, the song details Taylor’s reaction to the suicide of his childhood friend Suzanne Schnerr and his own experiences with drug addiction and fame. Carole King played piano on the song with drummer Russ Kunkel and Bobby West on double bass. On October 31st, Taylor’s album “Sweet Baby James” was certified Gold just as the “Fire and Rain” single, reached No. 3.
- August 29th, 1973 Epic Records release “Come And Get Your Love” by Redbone on 45. The song was originally released on a radio station promo disc under the name “Hail,” co-written and produced by band members Pat and Lolly Vegas. The single cut is significantly shorter, with the album version featuring an introductory slow part, plus a longer repeated coda. The record entered the charts in October then again in January 1974 and peaked at No. 5 on April 13th, earning Redbone a Gold Record for a million copies sold.
- August 29th, 1975 Island Records in Britain release “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley and The Wailers on 45. The studio version of the song came from Marley’s “Natty Dread” LP in 1974. The version issued as a single was recorded in concert at The Lyceum Theatre in London on July 17th and issued from the 1975 album “Live!” Written by Bob Marley and co-produced by Steve Smith and Chris Blackwell, the 45 peaked in England at No. 22. After Marley’s death in 1981, the single was reissued and went to No. 8 on the UK charts.
- August 29th, 1976 The original members of Spirit reunite for a concert in Santa Monica, California, their first since the group broke up five years earlier.
- August 29th, 1977 Mushroom Records in Australia release the “Dizrythmnia” LP by Split Enz, the groups first following the departure of founding members Phil Judd and Mike Chunn. Sessions were taped at AIR Studios in London with the band co-producing with Geoff Emerick. “Dizrythmnia” went to No. 1 in the band’s native New Zealand.
- August 29th, 1981 “Short Back N’ Sides” by Ian Hunter enters the British and American album charts on Chrysalis Records. Co-produced by Mick Ronson and The Clash guitarist Mick Jones, the album was recorded at four different studios on two continents. The Clash drummer Topper Headon, Todd Rundgren and Roger Powell were among the session players on the record. The record peaked at No. 62 in America on October 3rd, No. 79 in the UK.
- August 29th, 1981 “Private Eyes” by Daryl Hall and John Oates enters the singles charts on RCA Records. Co-written by Daryl Hall, Warren Pash, Sara Allen and Janna Allen and co-produced by Hall and Oates, the song served as the title track of their tenth studio album. The record peaked at No. 1 on November 7th.
- August 29th, 1981 “The Electric Spanking Of War Babies” by Funkadelic enters the album charts following an April release on Warner Brothers Records. The LP peaked at No. 105 on September 12th.
- August 29th, 1989 “Love Shack” by The B-52’s enters the singles charts on Reprise Records. It was the first 45 issued from the band’s Don Was produced “Cosmic Thing” LP. The song was written collectively by The B-52’s. The band were augmented in the studio with session musicians, including former Gang Of Four bassist Sara Lee. As the song’s popularity increased, the track was subject to several remixes, issued on both CD and twelve-inch singles. “Love Shack” peaked at No. 3 on November 18th.
- August 29th, 1989 Rocket Records in England release “Sleeping With The Past,” the twenty-third studio album by Elton John. The songs on the LP were all co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The record was recorded in Denmark from November 1988 through March 1989 with producer Chris Thomas. Released as a double A-sided single from the album, “Sacrifice” backed with “Healing Hands” became Elton’s first British No. 1 single. “Sleeping With The Past” peaked at No. 23 in America on October 7th.
- August 29th, 2005 Duck/Reprise Records release “Back Home,” the seventeenth solo album by Eric Clapton. Guest musicians on the LP include Steve Winwood, Doyle Bramhall II, Andy Fairweather-Low, Vince Gill, John Mayer, Billy Preston, Chris Stainton, Steve Gadd, Pino Palladino, Abe Laboriel, Nathan East and others. The record peaked at No. 13 on September 17th.
- August 29th, 2006 Columbia Records release “Modern Times,” the thirty-second studio album by Bob Dylan. Produced by Dylan using the pseudonym Jack Frost, the LP was recorded with his touring band at Clinton Recording in New York City that February. The record peaked at No. 1 on September 16th, Dylan’s first No, 1 album since the “Desire” LP in 1976.
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 August 23rd
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 of 8/23 Freddy Cannon
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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
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Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
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The Buckinghams Radio Show
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Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
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Tommy James Wax Museum Interview January 2019
Tommy James
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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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