Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast October 24th Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History October 20th
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
October 20th
- October 20th Birthday, Record producer and studio engineer Tom Dowd, born in Manhattan, New York City in 1925. As well as producing many famous Jazz artists, Dowd worked on classic rock records by The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart and others. Dowd died on October 27th, 2002 at the age of 77.
- October 20th Birthday, The Tokens singer Jay Siegel, born in Brighton Beach, New York in 1939.
- October 20th Birthday, Drummer Ric Lee from Ten Years After, born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England in 1945.
- October 20th Birthday, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts guitarist Ricky Byrd, born Richard Scott Bird in 1956 in The Bronx, New York City.
- October 20th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, guitarist Tom Petty, born in 1950 in Gainesville, Florida. Petty died on October 2nd, 2017 at the age of 66.
- October 20th Birthday, Original Foreigner keyboard player Al Greenwood, born in New York City in 1951.
Today In Rock and Roll History
October 20th
- October 20th, 1956 “Race With The Devil” by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps enters the singles charts following an August release on Capitol Records. The song was recorded on May 4that Owen Bradley’s Film and Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Ken Nelson during the same session that produced “Be Bop A Lula.” Co-written by Vincent and Sheriff Tex Davis, Capitol Records issued “Race With The Devil” as the band’s second single in August. The 45 peaked at No. 96 on October 20th.
- October 20th, 1962 Vee Jay Records release “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by the Four Seasons on 45. Produced by Bob Crewe and co-written by Crewe with Bob Gaudio, the single became the group’s second No. 1 single on November 17th. The follow-up to “Sherry,” the singles became the first of the rock and roll era to both hit No. 1 as an artist’s first two Pop chart entries.
- October 20th, 1965 The Beatles begin recording sessions for “We Can Work It Out” at EMI Studios in London with producer George Martin. The track was completed during sessions on October 29th.
- October 20th, 1966 The Yardbirds record a version of their hit “Over Under Sideways Down” as an advertising jingle for General Foods Great Shakes beverages.
- October 20th, 1968 Island Records release the self-titled second LP by Traffic. Dave Mason appears on half of the album, having returned after leaving following the release of the band’s debut “Mr. Fantasy.” The album went to No. 9 in Britain and No. 17 in the US on January 25th, 1969.
- October 20th, 1968 The Jimi Hendrix Experience record “Messenger” at TTG Studios in Hollywood, California following October 18th sessions for the song. Take fifteen of the song was chosen for the master with Jimi Hendrix producing.
- October 20th, 1969 The Who begin a six-night run at the Fillmore East in New York City, performing their new rock opera Tommy in its entirety.
- October 20th, 1969 David Bowie appears on BBC Radio. Interviewed about “Space Oddity,” he introduces himself playing “Let Me Sleep Beside You,” “Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed” and “Janine.” The session was aired on The Dave Lee Travis Show on October 26th.
- October 20th, 1972 Columbia Records release “Dead Skunk” by American singer, songwriter Loudon Wainwright III on 45. Written by Wainwright, the track was produced by Thomas Jefferson Kaye. The single peaked at No. 12 on April 14th, 1973, No. 8 in Canada.
- October 20th, 1972 David Bowie plays the Santa Monica Auditorium during the Ziggy Stardust Tour. Available as a bootleg recording and as semi-legal editions in the 1990’s, the first truly official release of the show was issued by EMI/Virgin Records in 2008.
- October 20th, 1973 Kama Sutra Records release “Mammy Blue” by Stories as a follow up to the band’s previous hit “Brother Louie.” Co-written by French composer Hubert Giraud and Phil Trim, the song had been covered a number of times in different languages. The Stories version entered the charts a week later and reached No. 21 on December 8th.
- October 20th, 1973 Island Records release “Burnin’,” the second album by The Wailers. The record was co-produced by Chris Blackwell and The Wailers at Harry J. Studios in Kingston, Jamaica and Island Studios in London, England. John “Rabbit” Bundrick overdubbed keyboards during the London sessions. “Get Up Stand Up” and “I Shot The Sheriff” are both included on the album. The LP peaked at No. 151 on the album charts.
- October 20th, 1973 Following a September release, “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band enters the Pop Singles charts. The song’s accompaniment is borrowed heavily from the song “Soul Sister” by Allen Toussaint. During the song, Steve Miller references The Clovers 1954 song “Lovey Dovey” and three of his own songs in the opening verse of the tune. The single would hit No. 1 on January 12th, 1974.
- October 20th, 1975 Atlantic Records release “Love-Itis” by The J. Geils Band on 45. The song was co-written by Harvey Scales and Albert Vance with Rudy Jacobs initially acknowledged as a co-writer and originally recorded by Harvey Scales and The Seven Sounds. The J. Geils Band version was co-produced by Bill Szymczyk and Allen Blazek.
- October 20th, 1976 The Led Zeppelin movie and concert documentary The Song Remains The Same, featuring concert footage from three 1973 shows at Madison Square Gardens, premieres in London.
- October 20th, 1976 DiscReet Records release the Frank Zappa album “Zoot Allures.” Zappa produced most of the studio tracks on the record from May through June at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, while others dated to sessions in 1973 and a live recording from Osaka, Japan from February 1976. Terry Bozio played drums on the LP, retained from Zappa’s touring band prior to the sessions. The record peaked at No. 61 on December 18th.
- October 20th, 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and his sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines, died in a plane crash when the band’s rented plane, a Convair 240 ran out of fuel. The band’s assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and the pilot and co-pilot, Walter McCreary and William Gray, died as well.
- October 20th, 1978 Radar Records in Britain release “Radio Radio” by Elvis Costello and The Attractions on 45. The song was written by Costello and produced by Nick Lowe from November 1977 through January 1978 at Eden Studios in London. The lyrics were a critique of the commercialism of British radio. Recorded during the session for the album “This Year’s Model, “Radio Radio” was issued as a stand-alone single, peaking at No. 29 on the charts in England.
- October 20th, 1979 “Cool Change” by Australia’s Little River Band enters the singles charts. Written by singer Glenn Shorrock, it was the band’s second American Top Ten hit, following “Lonesome Loser,” with both songs released from the LRB’s “Under The Wire” album. The record peaked at No. 10 on January 19th.
- October 20th, 1979 “Confusion” by ELO enters the singles charts. Released in England on October 8th as a double A-sided single with “Last Train To London” from the “Discovery” album, the single went to No. 8 in Britain. A more modest hit in the states, the 45 peaked at No. 37 on November 17th.
- October 20th, 1980 Island Records in the UK release “Boy,” the first album by U2. Produced by Steve Lillywhite from July through September at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland, the LP came out in the US in February 1981. In America, the record peaked at No. 63 on April 11th, 1981.
- October 20th, 1984 “The Unforgettable Fire” by U2 enters the album charts. The band recorded the LP at Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland and Windmill Lane in Dublin with co-producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Chrissie Hynde and Peter Gabriel both made vocal contributions on the sessions. The LP featured the hit single “Pride (In The Name Of Love).” The record peaked at No. 12 on November 24th.
- October 20th, 1984 “Valotte,” the debut American single by Julian Lennon enters the singles charts. “Valotte” was co-written by Lennon, Justin Clayton and Carlton Morales and was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with producer Phil Ramone. The record went to No. 9 on January 12th, 1985.
- October 20th, 1986 Capitol Records release “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House on 45. Written by group front man Neil Finn, it was the fourth single released from the band’s self-titled debut LP. The record peaked at No. 2 on April 25th, 1987.
- October 20th, 2009 “Live at the Isle of Wight 1970” by Leonard Cohen is released, an archival recording from August 31st, 1970.
- October 20th, 2010 Elton John and Leon Russell release the album “The Union,” produced by T Bone Burnett at The Village Studios in Los Angeles, California. Booker T. Jones, Neil Young, Jim Keltner and Brian Wilson made guest appearances on the sessions. It was both artists highest charting album since the 1970’s. The record peaked at No. 3 on November 6th.
- October 20th, 2023 Rolling Stones Records release “Hackney Diamonds” by The Rolling Stones. Sessions for the LP stretched from 2019 through January 2023 in New York City, Los Angeles, London and The Bahamas with Andrew Watt producing all but one song. Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Bill Wyman and Benmont Tench were among the many guest musicians on the LP. “Hackney Diamonds” peaked at No. 3 on November 4th.
Miscellaneous October
- Mid-October 1960, The Silver Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe) minus drummer Pete Best, play on a recording session arranged by manager Allan Williams for Lu Walters, bassist and vocalist from Rory Storm and The Hurricanes at Akustik Studios in Hamburg, Germany. Drumming on the session was Hurricane’s drummer Ringo Starr. Four copies of a 78rpm demo disc were pressed. Recorded that day were ‘Fever”co-written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, “Summertime” co-written by George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and “September Song” co-written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson.
- October 1961, Chess Records release “The Red Rooster” backed with “Shake With Me” by Howlin’ Wolf on 45, credited to blues writer and arranger Willie Dixon.
- October 1961, Canadian American Records release “I Wish I Weren’t In Love” backed with “I’m Lonely” by Jerry Landis on 45. Both songs were written by Landis, an early stage name used by Paul Simon.
- October 1961, Ray Charles releases “The Genius Sings The Blues,” his final album for Atlantic Records. The record peaked at No. 73.
- October 1964, Ringo Starr records “In America” with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes at EMI Studios, 3 Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, London with Brian Epstein, his only record production. Co-written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Soundheim, the track was released as a single on November 16thby Parlophone Records with “Since You Broke My Heart” as the single’s B-side. Ringo sang backing vocals with Rory Storm’s brother-in-law Shane Fenton, later known as Alvin Stardust and added miscellaneous percussion.
- October 1967, Scorpio Records release “Porterville” backed with “Call It Pretending,” the seventh and final single by pre-Creedence Clearwater Revival band The Golliwogs. Written by John Fogerty using the name T. Spicebush Swallowtail, “Porterville” would be rerecorded for CCR’s first LP.
- October 1967, Verve Records release “Chelsea Girl,” the debut solo album by Nico. After recording the first Velvet Underground LP and touring with Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia show, Nico recorded the LP at Mayfair Recording in Manhattan, New York City with Tom Wilson producing. Jackson Browne played guitar and wrote songs for the record and VU members Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison and John Cale were backing musicians on many of the tracks.
- October 1968, Reprise/Bizarre Records release “The Circle” backed with “Merry-Go-Round” by Wild Man Fischer on 45. Both songs were written by Larry Fischer, credited as L. Fischer. The tracks were produced and arranged by Frank Zappa. Zappa plays all the instruments on “The Circle.”
- October 1968, Parlophone Records in Britain release “Blues Helping” the debut LP by Welsh trio Love Sculpture featuring Dave Edmunds on guitar.
- October 1969, Island Records release the self-titled second album by Free. Traffic flutist Chris Wood played on the song “Mourning Sad Morning.” Produced by Island label founder Chris Blackwell, the LP peaked at No. 22 in Britain but didn’t chart in the US.
- October 1969, Island Records in Britain release “Rock And Roll Queen,” the first single by Mott The Hoople. Written by guitarist Mick Ralphs, the record was issued in America on Atlantic Records the following July.
- October 1970, Reprise Records release the self-titled debut album by guitarist Ry Cooder. The LP was co-produced by Van Dyke Parks and Lenny Waronker. Cooder was part of the Los Angeles folk music scene in the mid-1960’s, playing in a band called The Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and future Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy.
- October 1971, Charisma Records in Britain release “Pawn Hearts,” the fourth album by Van der Graaf Generator. Robert Fripp guested on the LP sessions at Trident Studios, recorded July through September with producer John Anthony. The album came out the following May in the US.
- October 1971, Capitol Records release “People Let’s Stop The War” backed with “Save The Land” by Grand Funk Railroad on 45. Both songs were Mark Farner compositions with Terry Knight producing.
- October 1973, RCA Records release Lou Reed’s tragic rock opera “Berlin.” Recorded at Morgan Studios in London with producer Bob Ezrin, session players on the record include Steve Wagner, Jack Bruce, Steve Winwood, Aynsley Dunbar and B.J. Wilson. The record peaked at No. 98 in America and No. 7 in Britain.
- October 1974, RCA Records release “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Nilsson on 45. A cover version of the Bob Dylan song, the track came from the John Lennon produced “Pussycats” LP. The singe’s B-side was a medley of Lennon’s “Mucho Mungo” and Nilsson’s “Mt. Elga.”
- October 1974, Harvest Records in Britain release “See My Baby Jive,” a compilation album by Roy Wood’s band Wizzard.
- October 1975, A&M Records release “Mama Coco” by Gino Vannelli on 45. Written by Vannelli and co-produced by he and his brother Joe Vannelli, the record peaked at No. 115 in America.
- October 1975, Discreet Records release the album “Bongo Fury” by Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention with Captain Beefheart. The LP was recorded mostly live on May 20thand the 21st at Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas with two studio tracks in January 1975.
- October 1976, 20th Century Records release the various artist movie soundtrack “All This And WWII.” The record featured songs by The Beatles recorded by various artists Peter Gabriel, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, Ambrosia, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Bryan Ferry and others. The album peaked at No. 48 on December 25th.
- October 1977, John Entwistle produces the self-titled debut LP by The Fabulous Poodles and played on the Lonnie Donegan LP “Puttin’ On The Style.”
- October 1977, Virgin Records in Britain release “Science Friction” backed with “She’s So Square” the first single by XTC. Both songs were written by singer and guitarist Andy Partridge and produced by John Leckie.
- October 1978, Brian Eno’s “Music For Films” is released. Originally issued as a limited edition of five hundred copies sent to filmmakers, the full release of the record added more tracks to the set. The ambient songs on the album were recorded from 1975 through 1978.
- October 1978, Chrysalis Records release “Hanging On The Telephone” by Blondie on 45. The song was a cover version of The Nerves’ song from 1976, written by Jack Lee. Produced by Mike Chapman, the single went to No. 5 in Britain.
- October 1980, Atco Records release “In The Midnight Hour,” a cover version of the Wilson Pickett hit, on 45. Ther record had a brief chart run, peaking at No. 106 on the US singles charts.
- October 1980, Atco Records release “People Who Died” by The Jim Carroll Band on 45. Written by Jim Carroll and produced by Earl McGrath, the record peaked at No. 103.
- October 1980, Virgin Records in Britain release “Towers Of London” by XTC on 45. The song was written by Andy Partridge, taken from the Steve Lillywhite produced LP “Black Sea.” The record peaked at No. 31 in England.
- October 1981, Capitol Records release “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider on 45. Written by singer and guitarist Tom Cochran, the record peaked at No. 11 in the US.
- October 1986, Legacy Records release “Raining In The City” by Roy Wood on 45. The song was 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 October 18th
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 10/18 The Trolls
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
Craig Maher / Exo-X-Xeno Wax Museum Interview
Craig Maher from Exo-X-Xeno talking about the 2025 album "Luminous Voyage"
- Click picture to listen to the interview with Craig talking about the Exo-X-Xeno project with Yes members Billy Sherwood, Jay Shellen and Patrick Moraz.
Nektar Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
Nektar interviewed on the second night of the 2025 "Mission To Mars" Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with Nektar discussiing the current tour, future plans and group history.
The Paul Bielatowicz Band Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
The Paul Bielatowicz Band interviewed on their 2025 Spring Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with The Paul Bielatowicz Band discussiing the current tour and future plans.
Music and conversation with Andy Tillison of The Tangent
Wax Museum interview May 2024
- Click image to hear The Wax Museum's Andy Tillison interview
Jonas Reingold Interview
Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear the Wax Museum Interview with Jonas Reingold
Carl Giammarese / The Buckinghams Interview
The Buckinghams Radio Show
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's interviews on WRGG with Carl Giammarese from The Buckinghams in 2022 and 2024
Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
- Click Fripp's image to hear the King Crimson guitarist, record producer, solo artist in this 1985 interview for the WARX Sunday night Radio Oz program. Fripp discusses his then current Guitar Craft courses, King Crimson stories, his start in the music business, and more.
Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
- Click picture to hear Annie Haslam "In Words and Music". The iconic Renaissance singer talks at length about music, her life, and artwork for an exclusive interview in The Wax Museum.
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.
From the Radio Oz interview archives
Firesign Theatre interview 1980
- Click picture to listen to this archival interview with The Firesign Theatre recorded during their 1980 Fighting Clowns tour of the US for Radio Oz now available for purchase in the Firesign Theatre's "Fighting Clowns" of Hollywood" collection! Also check out this Tiny Ossman interview from 1995 -
Woody Lissauer Wax Museum Interview 2/22/20
Baltimore based Woody Lissauer steps up to the Wax Museum microphones for this in depth interview!
- Click picture to listen to the Wax Museum interview with Woody Lissauer and his latest album "Trouble The Water" with Barbara Ireland and Steve Caplan.
