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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History July 8th
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 8th
- July 8th Birthday, Chuck Berry’s longtime pianist and songwriting collaborator Johnny Johnson, born in 1924 in Fairmont, West Virginia. Johnson died April 13th, 2005 of natural causes at the age of 80.
- July 8th, 1930 Motown/Funk Brothers keyboardist Earl Van Dyke, born in Detroit, Michigan. He passed away on September 18th, 1992at the age of 62.
- July 8th Birthday, Longtime Allman Brothers drummer and percussionist Jai Johanny Johanson, born John Lee Johnson in Ocean Springs, Mississippi in 1944.
- July 8th Birthday, The Grass Roots singer, guitarist and keyboardist Warren Etner, born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1944.
- July 8th Birthday, Record producer and audio engineer Bill Halverson, born in 1942. He’s worked with many artists, including Crosby, Stills and Nash, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry and others.
- July 8thBirthday, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackfoot bassist Greg T. Walker, born in 1951.
- July 8th Birthday, Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher, born in 1961 in Nottingham, England. He passed away at home after an aortic dissection on May 26th, 2022 at the age of 60.
- July 8th Birthday, Singer, songwriter Joan Osborne, born in 1963 in Anchorage, Kentucky.
- July 8th Birthday, Solo artist, multi-instrumentalist songwriter Beck, born Beck Hansen in 1970 in Los Angeles, California.
Today In Rock and Roll History
July 8th
- July 8th, 1957 “Teddy Bear” became Elvis Presley’s eighth US No. 1 hit in fifteen months. It was a seven-week run at the top for Presley and led the R&B and Country chart for a week as well.
- July 8th, 1957 Capitol Records release “Lotta Lovin’” by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps on 45. Written by Bernice Bedwell, “Lotta Lovin’” was recorded at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles and released with “Wear My Ring” on the B-side, co-written by Bobby Darin and Don Kirshner. The record went to No. 7 on the R&B charts and No. 14 on the Pop Singles charts on October 14th.
- July 8th, 1964 The Four Tops record “Baby I Need Your Lovin’” at Hitsville USA Studio A in Detroit with producers Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, who co-wrote the song with Eddie Holland. With lead vocals by Levi Stubbs, Motown’s house band The Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra appearing on the recording, the song was released on 45 two days later. The single became Motown Records’ first Top Twenty hit, reaching No. 11 on October 3rd.
- July 8th, 1965 The Dave Clark Five movie Catch Us If You Can premiers in England. The film was renamed Having a Wild Weekend for its US release. The film’s title track, produced by Dave Clark, was co-written by Clark and Lenny Davidson. Released in the UK one week earlier, “Catch Us If You Can” reached No. 5 in Britain and No. 4 in the US, on September 25th.
- July 8th, 1965 The Zombies record “I Love You” at Decca Studios in London with producer Ken Jones. Written by bassist Chris White, Decca Records released the song as a single in Britain on September 3rd. American band People released their own cover version in 1968 that hit No. 14 in the US.
- July 8th, 1965 The Four Tops record “Something About You” at Hitsville USA Studios in Detroit with producers Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, co-written by the pair with Eddie Holland. Released October 21st, the single reached No. 19 on December 4th.
- July 8th, 1966 Parlophone Records in Britain release The Beatles’ “Nowhere Man” EP, which included four songs from the “Rubber Soul” album.
- July 8th, 1967 “Don’t Let The Rain Fall Down On Me” by The Critters enters the singles charts following a June release on Kapp Records. The song was co-produced by Pete Anders and Vini Poncia, who had worked together in the bands The Trade Winds and The Innocence. Written by James Ryan, “Don’t Let The Rain Fall Down On Me” peaked at No. 39 on August 19th.
- July 8th, 1967 The Vanilla Fudge cover version of The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” enters the singles charts following a June release on Atco Records. Co-written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, the record was produced by Shadow Morton. The 45 was a shortened version of the original album track and peaked at No. 6 on August 31st.
- July 8th, 1967 King Records release “Cold Sweat” (pts 1 & 2) by James Brown And The Famous Flames on 45. “Cold Sweat” was co-written by Brown and Famous Flame bandleader Alfred “Pee Wee” Ellis. The complete seven-minute version was split over two sides of the single. The band set up around a single microphone in King Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio and recorded the track live in one take with James Brown producing. “Cold Sweat” entered the singles charts a week later and went to No. 7 on August 26th, No. 1 R&B.
- July 8th, 1967 Atco Records release “To Love Somebody” by the Bee Gees on 45. The song was co-written by Barry and Robin Gibb and recorded during April sessions at IBC Studios in London with co-producers Robert Stigwood and Ossie Byrne. The record reached No. 17 on August 26th.
- July 8th, 1967 The Jimi Hendrix Experience opens for The Monkees on the first date of The Monkees’ first tour in Jacksonville, Florida. The Monkees were genuine fans of Hendrix and his band, but the young crowds attending didn’t make the same connection with Jimi’s heavy mix of psychedelic blues. The double bill would play seven dates together before Hendrix asked to be released from the tour contract.
- July 8th, 1968 Capitol Records release “Do It Again” by The Beach Boys on 45. Engineer Stephen Desper came up with the drum effect heard at the beginning of the track. For the mixdown, Desper moved four of the Philips tape deck playback heads close together so that one drum strike was repeated four times, about ten milliseconds apart and blended it with the original to give the effect. To reproduce the song on stage, the band used two tape delay units to double live vocals. Co-written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the single entered the charts a week later and peaked at No. 7 on September 14th, No. 1 in Britain on, August 28th.
- July 8th, 1969 Liberty Records release “Hallelujah,” the fourth album by Canned Heat. Co-produced by Skip Taylor and Canned Heat at ID Sound Recorders in Hollywood, California, it was the last album by the original group members. Guitarist Henry Vestine left the group before the group recorded their next LP, “Future Blues.” The album peaked at No. 37 on August 30th.
- July 8th, 1970 The Everly Brothers began a short-lived stint hosting a variety show on ABC-TV.
- July 8th, 1971 Rock concerts were temporarily banned at London’s Royal Albert Hall following a riot that erupted during a Mott The Hoople appearance.
- July 8th, 1972 Bill Withers had the No. 1 single on the US singles charts with “Lean On Me.”
- July 8th, 1972 Following the success of his previous single “I Saw The Light,” Todd Rundgren releases “Couldn’t I Just Tell You” on 45. Written and produced by Rundgren, the single was the second released from his “Something / Anything?” album and peaked at No. 93 on August 3rd.
- July 8th, 1972 Mums Records release “Down By The River” by Albert Hammond on 45. The song was co-written by Hammond and Mike Hazelwood. The studio session was co-produced by Hammond and Don Altfield and arranged by Michael Omartian. The record peaked at No. 91 on September 2nd.
- July 8th, 1974 Columbia Records release “Mysterious Traveler” the third studio album by Weather Report. Co-produced by Wayne Shorter and Joe Zawinul, the record peaked at No. 46 on July 20th.
- July 8th, 1974 RCA Records release “Many Rivers To Cross” by Nilsson as the first single from the John Lennon produced “Pussycats,” issued four months before the LP came out. The song was a cover version of the Jimmy Cliff original with a string arrangement by John Lennon and Ken Ascher.
- July 8th, 1975 Warner Brothers Records release “Sweet Maxine” by The Doobie Brothers on 45. Co-written by The Doobie’s Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, now a full member of the band, played slide guitar and Little Feat’s Billy Payne played piano on the track. The record, produced by Ted Templeman, peaked at No. 40 on August 30th.
- July 8th, 1978 British guitarist Chris Rea’s single “Fool If You Think It’s Over” enters the singles charts. Produced by Gus Dudgeon and released as the lead single from Rea’s debut LP, “Whatever Happened To Benny Santini?” the 45 peaked at No. 12 on the 16th of September.
- July 8th, 1978 “Makin Love” by Climax Blues Band enters the singles charts following a June release on Sire Records. The band wrote the song collectively and co-produced it with Peter Henderson. “Makin Love” peaked at No. 91 on July 22nd.
- July 8th, 1979 After signing with Island Records, the B-52s make their live debut at London’s Lyceum Ballroom.
- July 8th, 1981 IRS Records release “Beauty And The Beat,” the debut album by The Go-Go’s. The LP was co-produced by Richard Gottehrer and Rob Freeman at Penny Lane Studios, The Record Plant and Sound Mixers in New York City. The record featured the hits “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got The Beat.” “Beauty And The Beat” charted for seventy-two weeks and peaked at No. 1 on March 6th, 1982.
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 5th
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 7/5 Jimmy Cliff
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
The Paul Bielatowicz Band interviewed on their 2025 Spring Tour
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Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
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Carl Giammarese / The Buckinghams Interview
The Buckinghams Radio Show
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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
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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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