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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History July 31st
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
July 31st
- July 31st Birthday, Record executive Ahmet Ertegun, who was instrumental in popularizing jazz, R&B, soul and rock on his pioneering Atlantic Records label, born in 1923 in Istanbul, Turkey. He died on December 14th, 2006 at the age of 83.
- July 31st Birthday, Singer Gary Lewis from Gary Lewis and The Playboys, born in 1946 in Newark, New Jersey.
- July 31st Birthday, Sha Na Na guitarist Vinnie Taylor, born in San Salvador, Bahamas in 1948. Taylor died on April 17th, 1974, from a heroin overdose in a Charlottesville, Virginia hotel.
- July 31st Birthday, ELO cellist Hugh McDowell, born in Hampstead, London, England in 1953. He died on November 6th, 2018 at the age of 65.
- July 31st Birthday, Guitarist, vocalist Daniel Ash from Bauhaus and Love and Rockets, born in 1957 in Northampton, England.
- July 31st Birthday, R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry, born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1958.
- July 31st Birthday, Jim Coor of The Coors, born James Steven Ignatius Corr in Dundalk, Ireland in 1964.
- July 31st Birthday, Coldplay drummer Will Champion, born in 1978 in Southampton, Hampshire, England.
Today In Rock and Roll History
July 31st
- July 31st, 1959 Cliff Richard And The Drifters had their first British No. 1 when “Living Doll” started a six-week run at the top of the UK singles charts. The song was written by Lionel Bart. The record would eventually sell over a half million copies. After the song peaked at No. 30 in the US on November 28th, The Drifters would change their name to The Shadows to avoid a conflict with the American group with the same name.
- July 31st, 1961 Fury Records release “Ya Ya” by singer Lee Dorsey on 45. Dorsey co-wrote the song with Clarence Lewis (whose stage name was C.L. Blast), Bobby Robinson and Morris Levy, although Levy’s involvement was most likely in name only. Session guitarist Jimmy Spruill played on the track, co-produced by Marshall Sehorn and Bobby Robinson. The single peaked at No. 7 on November 4th.
- July 31st, 1963 Chad and Jeremy record “Yesterday’s Gone” at EMI Studio in London with producer John Barry. Credited to Chad Stuart and the band’s manager Wendy Kidd, Stuart claimed he agreed to the co-credit for allowing him to compose the song on her piano. In the US, World Artist Records release “Yesterday’s Gone” on April 4th, 1964. The record entered the singles charts in May and peaked at No. 21 on July 4th.
- July 31st, 1964 A Rolling Stones concert in Belfast, Ireland came to a crashing halt after just twelve minutes on stage when rowdy fans began to riot.
- July 31st, 1964 The Animals record “I’m Crying” with producer Mickie Most for Columbia Records in Britain. The song was co-written by Eric Burdon and Alan Price. Following the success of “The House Of The Rising Sun,” “I’m Crying” was released in September and became a Top Twenty hit in Britain and Canada. In the US, “I’m Crying” entered the charts in September and peaked at No. 19 on November 7th.
- July 31st, 1965 Len Barry releases “1-2-3,” co-written by John Medora and David White with chorus and accompaniment by Jimmy Wisner. The songwriters were sued by Motown for copyright infringement on The Supremes’ song “Ask Any Girl,” the B-side of The Supremes’ 1964 single “Baby Love.” The suit was settled out of court. The week of November 20th, the record hit No. 2. The song that kept it out of the top spot was “I Hear A Symphony” by The Supremes.
- July 31st, 1965 Bang Records release “Hang On Sloopy” by The McCoys. The song was co- written by Bert Berns and Wes Farrell, the track has a complicated history. Record producers Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer formed The Strangeloves and had a big hit with “I Want Candy.” They wanted to release “Hang On Sloopy” as their next single but felt rushed when they’d heard the Dave Clark Five would record it too. They recruited sixteen-year-old Rick Derringer, who led his own band Ricky and The Raiders, to sing on their track and they released it as The McCoys. Ricky and The Raiders then became The McCoys. The single entered the charts in August and was the No. 1 record on October 2nd, 1965.
- July 31st, 1967 Atlantic Records release “Groovin’,” the third studio album by The Young Rascals. The record featured the hits “Groovin’” “You Better Run,” “A Girl Like You” and “How Can I Be Sure,” and peaked at No. 5 on September 23rd.
- July 31st, 1968 The Beatles begin two days of recording sessions for their next single “Hey Jude” at Trident Studios in London with producer George Martin. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, “Hey Jude” was the first Beatles recording made on an eight-track recording deck. Four takes were recorded with Take 1 chosen for further work on August 1st, also at Trident. That included bass, vocals, tambourine and thirty-six classical musicians for the ending of the song, scored by George Martin. Engineer Ken Scott, Martin and The Beatles mixed the finished recording at EMI Studios. “Hey Jude” was issued as a 45 on August 26th in the US and the 28thin Britain. On September 28th, the record topped the US singles charts and remained at No. 1 for nine consecutive weeks.
- July 31st, 1968 Atco Records release an edited version of “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly on 45. Ten months later, the record entered the singles charts, in May 1969. Written several years earlier by guitarist Doug Ingle, the track was recorded at Ultrasonic Studios in Hempstead, Long Island, New York with producer Jim Hilton. “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” peaked at No. 30 on October 26th.
- July 31st, 1969 Columbia Records release “This Girl Is A Woman Now” by Gary Puckett and The Union Gap on 45. Co-written by Alan Bernstein and Victor Milrose, the studio track was arranged by Ernie Freeman, who won Grammy awards for arrangements he did on Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers In The Night” and Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” “This Girl Is A Woman Now” peaked at No. 9 on October 11th.
- July 31st, 1971 Kapp Records release the self-titled album by Welsh rock trio Budgie. The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, with producer Roger Bain.
- July 31st, 1971 Fantasy Records release “Goodbye Media Man,” the debut solo single by former Creedence Clearwater Revival guitarist Tom Fogerty. The song was written by Fogerty, which he co-produced with Brian Gardner. The six minute plus full-length song was split into parts one and two over both sides of the 45.
- July 31st, 1971 RCA Records release The Guess Who’s “Rain Dance” on 45. Co-written by Guess Who singer Burton Cummings and guitarist Kurt Winter, sessions for the track were recorded at RCA’s Mid-America Recording Center in Chicago, Illinois with producer Jack Richardson. “Rain Dance” peaked at No. 19 on October 2nd.
- July 31st, 1971 Bell Records release “I Woke Up In Love This Morning” by The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones Featuring David Cassidy on 45. Co-written by Irwin Levine, L. Russell Brown and produced by Wes Farrell, the record peaked at No. 13 on September 25th.
- July 31st, 1972 Elton John’s “Honky Cat” is released on 45. Recorded in January 1972 in France with producer Gus Dudgeon, the song was co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The single entered the charts in August and peaked at No. 8 stateside just as John launched an American tour, on September 23rd.
- July 31st, 1972 Chicago are awarded a Gold Record Award for their LP “Chicago V,” their first No. 1 album in the US.
- July 31st, 1973 Tamla Records release “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder on 45. Written, produced and arranged by Wonder in May for the “Innervisions” LP, the album version has an extra verse not on the 45 edit and runs thirty seconds longer. Wonder played all of the instruments on the track. The record peaked at No. 4 on October 13th.
- July 31st, 1975 White Cloud Records in England release “Mental Notes,” the first album by New Zealand’s Split Enz. The record was recorded in May through June at Festival Studios in Australia, co-produced by Split Enz and David Russell. The LP peaked at No. 7 in the album charts in New Zealand.
- July 31st, 1976 Columbia Records release “If You Leave Me Now” by Chicago on 45. Written by Peter Cetera and produced by Jim Guercio, the record hit No. 1 on October 23rdand became the band’s biggest selling record. At the 1977 Grammy Awards, the song would win for Best Pop Vocal Performance By a Duo, Group or Chorus and was also named Record of the Year.
- July 31st, 1976 “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult enters the singles charts on Columbia Records. The song was written and sung by guitarist Donald Roeser (Buck Dharma). The studio track was produced by Murray Klugman, Sandy Pearlman and David Lucas. The released single was an edited version of the full-length album track. The record peaked at No. 12 on November 6th.
- July 31st, 1982 Jackson Browne’s “Somebody’s Baby” enters the charts, released earlier in the month. Browne produced the track and co-wrote the song with Danny Kortchmar. The record peaked at No. 7 on October 16th.
Miscellaneous July
- July 1959, Chess Records release “Go Bo Diddley,” the second album by Bo Diddley.
- July 1959, Chess Records release “Berry Is On Top” by Chuck Berry. Other than the song “Blues For Hawaiians,” the record was a collection of previously issued singles with nine hit 45’s.
- July 1964 Nashville label RIC Records release “Beach Walkin’” backed with “Banzai Washout,” the first single by California band The Catalinas on 45. Both songs were written by Los Angeles session musician and record producer Steve Douglas. Future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston and Wrecking Crew alumni Hal Blaine, Bill Pitman, Billy Strange, Leon Russell and others were part of the studio band.
- July 1965 Fantasy Records release “You Can’t Be True” backed with “You Got Nothin’ On Me,” the third single by The Golliwogs. Both sides were co-written by Tom and John Fogerty, using the names Rann Wild and Toby Green. The Golliwogs renamed themselves Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1967.
- July 1967, Elektra Records release “The 5,000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion” by The Incredible String Band in England. Recorded at Sound Techniques in Chelsea, London with producer Joe Boyd, it was the group’s second album, regrouped as a duo following their first album in 1966. “The 5,000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion” went to No. 25 in Britain. The LP came out in America in January 1968.
- July 1969, Douglas Records release “Devotion,” the second album by John McLaughlin. There are conflicting dates attributed to the release. Some say May some July and others say September. The record was recorded while McLaughlin was a member of Tony Williams Lifetime, using a backing band of organist Larry Young, bassist Billy Rich and Buddy Miles. The album did not chart in the US.
- July 1970 Capitol Records release the self-titled debut album by British jazz-rock band “If.” The album reached No. 187 in the US.
- July 1974, Casablanca Records release “Strutter,” the third single by Kiss. The song was co-written by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. The track was co-produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise, taken from Kiss’ self-titled first album.
- July 1975, RCA Records release “Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” the second single by Bruce Johnston, Gary Usher and Terry Melcher’s California Music. The song was credited to Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy. The song was originally a hit for Lymon and The Teenagers in 1956.
- July 1976 Oyster Records release “Child In Time” by the Ian Gillan Band. It was the first solo album by former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. The group featured keyboardist Mike Moran, guitarist Ray Fenwick and bassist John Gustafson. The LP was produced by Purple’s Roger Glover at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany in December 1975 through January 1976. The album reached No. 55 in England.
- July 1976 Atco Records release “Viva! Roxy Music,” a live album by Roxy Music, six months in advance of its British release date in February 1977. The recordings were taped at the Glasgow Apollo in November 1973, Newcastle City Hall in October 1974 and the Wembley Empire Pool in October 1975. “Viva! Roxy Music” was produced by Chris Thomas. The same month, Island Records in Britain release a new four-song EP by Bryan Ferry, “Price Of Love” and “Shame Shame Shame” backed with “Heart On My Sleeve” and “It’s Only Love.” Island issued “Price Of Love” as a single in August.
- July 1981 A&M Records in America release “Iris” by Split Enz on 45. The track came from the band’s “Waiata” album, produced by David Tickle.
- July 1983 Virgin Records release “Wonderland” by XTC on 45 in England. Written by Colin Moulding, the session was co-produced by XTC and Steve Nye. It was the only single from the group’s “Mummer” LP to be released in the US, in February 1984.
- July 1984 A&M Records in the US release “Message To My Girl” by Split Enz on 45 from the LP “Conflicting Emotions.” The song was written by Neil Finn, co-produced by Hugh Padgham and Eddie Rayner.
- July 1987 Jet Records release “1, 2, 3” backed with “O What A Shame” by Roy Wood on 45. The A-side was a cover version of the Len Barry hit from 1967, co-written by J Madaea, D White and L Bonsoff. The B-side was written by Roy Wood. Both tracks were produced by Roy Wood.
- July 1987 Virgin Records release “You’re A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)” by The Dukes Of Stratosphere on 45. The band were XTC with guitarist Dave Gregory’s brother Ian on drums. The song was written by Andy Partridge and credited to Sir John Johns. The record was co-produced by the band and John Leckie.
- July 1990 Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay release “Christmas ; MacKay and Manzanera featuring The Players” on Ryko Records. Album is a collection of Christmas songs by Andy MacKay and Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music.
- July 1991 Demon Records in Britain release the soundtrack to the British TV series “G.B.H.” It was the first of two collaborations between Elvis Costello and English composer, musician and member of progressive rock band Gryphon, Richard Harvey.
- July 1994 Warner Brothers Records in Britain release “You Tripped At Every Step” by Elvis Costello and The Attractions on 45, the third single released from the band’s “Brutal Youth” LP. The song was written by Costello, who co-produced the track with Mitchell Froom.
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.
Craig Maher / Exo-X-Xeno Wax Museum Interview
Craig Maher from Exo-X-Xeno talking about the 2025 album "Luminous Voyage"
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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
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Music and conversation with Andy Tillison of The Tangent
Wax Museum interview May 2024
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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
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Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
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Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
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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.
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.
