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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

July 5th

July 5th Birthday, New Orleans R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist Smiley Lewis, born Overton Lemons in 1913 in DeQuincy, Louisiana.

July 5th Birthday, Songwriter and record producer Snuff Garrett, born Thomas Lesslie Garrett in 1938 in Dallas, Texas. Garrett became a staff producer for Liberty Records in 1959, was responsible for hiring Phil Spector as an assistant, and worked with many Brill Building songwriters to bring hits to Sonny and Cher, Gary Lewis, Del Shannon and many others. He passed way on December 16th, 2015 at the age of 77.

July 5th Birthday, Singer, songwriter and guitarist for The Band, Robbie Robertson, born Jamie Robbie Robertson in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1943. He passed away on August 9th, 2023 at the age of 80.

July 5th Birthday, Singer Huey Lewis, born Hugh Anthony Cregg III in New York City in 1950.

July 5th Birthday, Steppenwolf guitarist Michael Monarch, born in 1950 in Los Angeles, California.

July 5th Birthday, Original Clash drummer Terry Chimes, born in Stepney, London, England in 1956.

Today In Rock and Roll History

July 5th

July 5th, 1954 Elvis Presley’s first commercial recording session occurs at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Scotty Moore and Bill Black play on the session. Late in the night, an impromptu jam of Arthur Cruddup’s “That’s All Right” leads to the recording of Elvis, Scotty and Bill’s first single for the Sun Records label with producer Sam Phillips.

July 5th, 1954 Bill Haley and His Comets hit the Top Twenty for the first time with “Shake Rattle and Roll.” It was the success of the record that prompted the producers of the movie “Blackboard Jungle” to use Haley’s earlier recording of “Rock Around The Clock” in the movie, which made them big stars.

July 5th, 1960 RCA Victor Records release “It’s Now Or Never” backed with “A Mess Of The Blues” by Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires on 45. The melody of “It’s Now Or Never” is based on the song “O Sole Mio”, from 1949, credited to Aaron Schoeder, Eduardo Di Capua and Wally Gold. The record is one of the best selling singles of all time, selling over twenty million copies. The record peaked at No. 1 on August 20th.

July 5th, 1965 Capitol Records release “Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)” by The Beach Boys. The album was viewed by the group as a compromise in their of their artistic direction. Capitol pressured them to produced more hit singles at a time when they were trying to establish themselves as serious album artists. Featuring the hit “California Girls” and the original version of “Help Me Rhonda”, “Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)” peaked at No. 2 on September 4th.

July 5th, 1966 Capitol Records release the “Best Of The Beach Boys Volume 1” LP. The album peaked at No. 8 on September 24th.

July 5th, 1967 The Move record “Flowers In The Rain” at Advision Sound Studios in London with producer Denny Cordell. Written by Roy Wood, the single came out August 25th in England and went to No. 2. It was the last Move record with original singer Carl Wayne. The distinctive instrumental arrangement, including oboe, clarinet, cor anglais and French horn, was suggested by assistant producer Tony Visconti.

July 5th, 1968 Blue Horizon Records in Britain release “Need Your Love So Bad”, the third single by Fleetwood Mac. A cover of the Little Willy John song, the record came out on Epic Records in America on August 30th.

July 5th, 1968 Regal Zonophone Records in Britain release “My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair... But Now Theyre Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows” by Tyrannosaurus Rex. Produced by Tony Visconti at Advision Studios in London in April, all the songs on the record were Marc Bolan compositions. The LP reached No. 15 in Britain.

July 5th, 1969 The Rolling Stones release “Honky Tonk Women” backed with “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” on 45. Co-written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards while on holiday in Brazil, “Honky Tonk Women” was cut with a country and western arrangement in early March with Brian Jones, his last session work with the band. The song was rerecorded with a rock and roll arrangement in the Spring with Mick Taylor on guitar. Producer Jimmy Miller plays the opening cowbell riff. The record went to No. 1 on August 23rd. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, also a Jagger/Richards composition, had its own run at the singles charts four years later, entering in April, 1973 and peaking at No. 42 on June 9th.

July 5th, 1969 “I’m Free” by The Who is released on 45. Who drummer Keith Moon had trouble accomplishing the rhythm in the verses songwriter Pete Townshend was asking for, so Townshend and bassist John Entwistle recorded it themselves and Moon did the choruses. During live performances, Townshend and Entwistle were forced to signal Moon to play the song by making exaggerated giant steps to cue the drummers timing. “I’m Free” reached No. 37 on August 23rd.

July 5th, 1971 Decca Records release “Mare, Take Me Home” by Matthews Southern Comfort on 45. The song was written by Alan Gordon Anderson. The record peaked at No. 96.

July 5th, 1972 Frank Zappa releases the LP “Waka/Jawaka-Hot Rats” on Bizarre Records. Recorded at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles with Zappa producing, the jazz influenced album was issued as a solo record after the Mothers Of Invention movie and soundtrack for “200 Motels” was completed. The record peaked at No. 152 on October 7th.

July 5th, 1974 Atlantic Records release “Another Time, Another Place”, the second solo album by Roxy Music front man Bryan Ferry. All songs on the record were cover versions except for the title track, written by Ferry. Co-produced by Ferry and John Punter at Island, Ramport and AIR Studios in London in the Spring, the album peaked at No. 4 in Britain but didn’t chart in the US.

July 5th, 1974 Linda Ronstadt records the final take of the hit version of “You’re No Good” at Sound Factory Studios, Los Angeles with producer Peter Asher after Ronstadt vetoed earlier arrangements of the song. “You’re No Good” became the only No. 1 single of her career on February 15th, 1975.

July 5th, 1975 “Oh Me Oh My (Dreams In My Arms)” by Al Green enters the singles charts on Hi Records. The track features the Hi Rhythm Section and was produced by Willie Mitchell. “Oh Me, Oh My (Dreams In My Arms)” was co-written by Mitchell, Al Green and guitarist Macom “Teenie” Hodges. The record peaked at No. 48 on July 26th.

July 5th, 1975 “Why Can’t We Be Friends”, the seventh studio album by War, enters the album charts following a May release on United Artists Records. Co-producers Jerry Goldstein, Lonnie Jordan and Howard Scott recorded the group at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California. The LP’s title track and “Low Rider” were both big hits from the record. “Why Can’t We Be Friends” peaked at No. 8 on August 30th.

July 5th, 1975 “Top Of The World (Make My Reservation)” by Canyon enters the singles charts on Magna Glide Records. Co-produced by early 1970’s bubblegum rock hit makers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz, it was the Magna Glide labels first release. The song was co-written by Joseph Lapallo and William Haberman. “Top Of The World (Make My Reservation)” peaked at No. 98 on July 5th.

July 5th, 1975 “Sooner Or Later” by The Impressions enters the singles charts on Curtom Records. Written and produced by Ed Townsend and arranged by Rene Hall, the record peaked at No. 68 on August 16th.

July 5th, 1975 “Til The World Ends” by Three Dog Night enters the singles charts following a June release on ABC Records. The song was written by Dave Loggins, who wrote the hit “Pieces Of April” for Three Dog Night in 1972. Co-produced by Bob Monaco and Jimmy Ienner and arranged by Jimmie Haskell, the record peaked at No. 32 on August 16th.

July 5th, 1980 “Boulevard” by Jackson Browne enters the charts following a June release on Asylum Records. Written by Jackson Browne, who co-produced the track with Greg Ladanyi, David Lindley plays the prominent steel guitar lines on the track, with Rick Marotta on drums, and Danny Kortchmar on maracas. The record reached No. 19 on September 6th, the highest charting single of Jackson Browne’s career.

July 5th, 1988 Capitol Records release “Temple Of Low Men”, the second album by Crowded House. The LP was recorded at Platinum Studios in Melbourne, Australia and at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles with Mitchell Froom producing. Richard Thompson played the guitar solo on the song “Sister Madly.” The record peaked at No. 40 on August 13th, 1988.

July 5th, 1995 Roswell Records release the self-titled debut album by Foo Fighters. The LP was recorded at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle with Dave Grohl and Barrett Jones co-producing. The record peaked at No. 23 on July 22nd.

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 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 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 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 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 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.