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Next broadcast May 9th Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History May 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
May 8th
- May 8th Birthday, Guitarist, singer, songwriter, Delta Blues pioneer Robert Johnson, born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in 1911. Johnson died August 16th, 1938 at the age of 27.
- May 8th Birthday, Mothers Of Invention saxophonist Jim “Motorhead” Sherwood, born in Arkansas City, Kansas in 1942. He died on December 25th, 2011 at the age of 69.
- May 8th Birthday, Singer Gary Glitter, born Paul Gadd, born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England in 1944.
- May 8th Birthday, Singer, songwriter and TV actor Ricky Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey in 1940. He died in an airplane crash on December 31st, 1985, aged 45.
- May 8th Birthday, John Fred, born John Fred Gourrier in 1941 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, best known for his 1967 hit “Judy In Disguise.” Fred passed away on April 15th, 2005 after a long bout with kidney disease. He was 63 years old.
- May 8th Birthday, Toni Tennille of The Captain and Tennille, born Cathryn Antoinette Tennille in Montgomery, Alabama in 1940.
- May 8th Birthday, The Yardbirds bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, born in 1943 in Twickenham, London, England. After his Yardbirds days, he became a successful record producer.
- May 8th Birthday, Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten, born in 1943 in Columbus, Georgia. He died on November 18th, 1972, aged 29.
- May 8th Birthday, T Rex drummer Bill Legend, born William Arthur Fifield in 1944 in Barking, Essex, England.
- May 8th Birthday, Earth Wind & Fire vocalist Philip Bailey, born in Denver, Colorado in 1951.
- May 8th Birthday, Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz, born at Fort Campbell, located on the Kentucky/Tennessee border, in 1951.
- May 8th Birthday, Fleetwood Mac guitarist and solo artist Billy Burnette, born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1953.
- May 8th Birthday, Van Halen drummer, Alex Van Halen born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 1953.
- May 8th Birthday, Blues guitarist and solo artist Joe Bonamassa, born in New Hartford, New York in 1977.
Today In Rock and Roll History
May 8th
- May 8th, 1965 Fontana Records in Britain release the first single by The Pretty Things. The group formed in 1963 in Kent, England around vocalist Phil May and original Rolling Stones guitarist Dick Taylor. Taking the long hair scruffy image a step farther than The Stones, The Pretty Things signed to Fontana Records and issued “Rosalyn.” The song was co-written by Jimmy Duncan and Bill Farley. Duncan was the band’s co-manager and Farley owned the studio where it was recorded. The 45 reached No. 41 in England.
- May 8th, 1965 “Introducing The Beau Brummels,” the first album by The Beau Brummels, enters the album charts, released on the Autumn Records label. The record peaked at No. 24 on July 24th and featured the hit singles “Laugh Laugh” and “Just A Little.”
- May 8th, 1965 “Shakin’ All Over,” the debut single by The Guess Who enters the singles charts. The track was recorded in Winnipeg, Canada in December 1964 when the group were known as Chad Allen and The Expressions. Attempting to disguise the identity of the band and create intrigue, the single was issued as “Guess Who?” The name stuck and the band was renamed. The record hit No. 1 in Canada, No. 22 in the US, on July 3rd.
- May 8th, 1965 Amy Records release “Break Up” by Del Shannon on 45. “Break Up” was Shannon’s follow-up to the hits “Keep Searchin’ (We’ll Follow the Sun)” and “Stranger in Town.” The record crept into the lower rungs of the charts, but it was a break in the formula set forth with “Runaway,” with heavy guitar power chords in the mix. “Break Up” peaked at No. 95 on May 29th.
- May 8th, 1970 Motown Records release “ABC,” the second studio LP by The Jackson 5. The record featured two No. 1 singles, “ABC” and “The Love You Save.” Co-produced by The Corporation, Hal Davis and Bobby Taylor, the album reached No. 4 on July 11th.
- May 8th, 1970 Apple Records release The Beatles’ “Let It Be” album in Britain. In America, “Let It Be” came out May 18th and was awarded a Gold Record for a million copies sold. Most of the tracks were recorded in January 1969, intended for a project tentatively called “Get Back.” The sessions were filmed for a television show. The scope of the project changed with the footage later assembled as the Let It Be movie and the planned back to basics songs recorded were embellished with choral and orchestral arrangements when producer Phil Spector was brought in to complete the LP. The album peaked at No. 1 on June 13th.
- May 8th, 1971 “Joy To The World” by Three Dog Night is the No. 1 record in the US.
- May 8th, 1971 UNI Records release “If Not For You” by Olivia Newton-John on 45. Written by Bob Dylan, the record was co-produced by Bruce Welch and John Farrar. “If Not For You” peaked at No. 25 on September 4th.
- May 8th, 1971 Johnny Rivers cover version of the Frankie Ford hit “Sea Cruise” enters the singles charts following an April release on United Artists Records. Co-written by Hughie Smith and John Vincent, the track was co-produced by Rivers and Larry Knechtel. The record peaked at No. 84 on May 29th.
- May 8th, 1971 ABC Records release “Walk Away” by The James Gang on 45. The song was written by Joe Walsh and co-produced by The James Gang and Bill Szymczyk. “Walk Away” peaked at No. 51 on July 24th and became a staple on rock radio.
- May 8th, 1971 “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” by Jerry Reed enters the singles charts following a March release on RCA Victor Records. RCA issued a separate mono mix to radio stations that was different from the released versions. All the commercial copies of the single were issued in stereo. The record was a crossover hit, hitting No. 1 on the Country Singles charts, No. 9 on the Pop Singles charts on June 26th and was certified Gold for a million copies sold.
- May 8th, 1971 “Funky Nassau” pt. 1 by Nassau, Bahamas band The Beginning Of The End enters the singles charts following a March release on Alston Records. The Beginning Of The End were three brothers, Frank, Ray and Roy Munnings, bassist Fred Henfield and guitarist Livingston Colebrook. Co-written by Ray Munnings and Tyrone Fitzgerald “Funky Nassau” reached No. 15 on July 17th.
- May 8th, 1971 “Hot Love” by T Rex enters the singles charts following a March release on Reprise Records. Front man Marc Bolan’s two performances of the song in March 1971 on British television’s Top of the Pops, in which Bolan dressed in shiny satin stage wear and glittery make-up were a crucial moment for the glam rock movement. The record peaked in the US at No. 72 on June 5th but was a British No. 1.
- May 8th, 1971 Mercury Records release “Wholesale Love” by Buddy Miles on 45. Produced by Miles, the song was a cover version written by Otis Redding. The record entered the singles charts a week later and peaked at No. 71 on June 19th.
- May 8th, 1971 Kama Sutra Records release “Tarkio Road” by Brewer and Shipley on 45. Co-written by the duo with Nick Gravenites producing, the record entered the singles charts a week later and peaked at No. 55 on June 26th.
- May 8th, 1971 Dunhill Records release Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds “Don’t Pull Your Love.” Co-written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, the backing band were the LA session group The Wrecking Crew. “Don’t Pull Your Love” went to No. 1 on July 17th and received a Gold Record award for one million copies sold.
- May 8th, 1972 Billy Preston becomes the first rock star to headline Radio City Music Hall in New York.
- May 8th, 1974 RCA Records release “Preservation Act 2” by The Kinks. Ray Davies produced the LP at the band’s Konk Studios in London from January through March. A double album, it was the follow-up to “Preservation Act 1,” issued the previous November. The record peaked at No. 114 on July 6th.
- May 8th, 1975 Bad Company is awarded a Gold Record for their LP “Straight Shooter.”
- May 8th, 1976 “Bigfoot” by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania DJ Bro Smith enters the singles charts on Big Tree Records. Written and produced by Jonas Cash, the record peaked at No. 57 on June 5th
- May 8th, 1976 Bearsville Records release “Faithful,” the seventh solo album by Todd Rundgren, although the players on the album, keyboardist Roger Powell, bassist John Siegler and drummer John Wilcox performed together with Rundgren as Utopia. Side one is a collection of cover versions of songs by The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Yardbirds, The Beach Boys and Bob Dylan. Songs on side two were all Todd Rundgren originals. Produced by Rundgren, the album peaked at No. 54 on June 26th.
- May 8th, 1976 The Steve Miller Band’s “Take The Money And Run” enters the singles charts. Released in April written and produced by Steve Miller, the single would peak at No. 11 on July 24th and become a featured track on Miller’s “Fly Like An Eagle” LP.
- May 8th, 1982 Columbia Records release “Extraterrestrial Live” by Blue Oyster Cult. The double live album was co-produced by Sandy Pearlman and George Geranios and featured The Doors’ Robbie Krieger on a cover version of “Roadhouse Blues.” Recorded during two group tours in 1980 and 1981, the album peaked at No. 29 on July 3rd.
- May 8th, 1989 Parlophone Records in Britain release “My Brave Face” backed with “Flying To My Home” by Paul McCartney on 45. “My Brave Face” was a co-write between McCartney and Elvis Costello, credited to his given name, Declan McManus. “Flying To My Home” was a non- LP B-side written by Paul McCartney. The single came out in the US two days later, peaking at No. 25 on July 8th.
- May 8th, 1992 Genesis begin their “We Can’t Dance” tour in Irving, Texas. The band played seventy-one shows spanning May through November. It was Phil Collins’ last tour with Genesis until the 2007 reunion tour.
- May 8th, 1995 Mesa Records release “Between The Wars,” the thirteenth studio album by Al Stewart. The record began a long-term partnership with Stewart and guitarist Laurence Juber, who produced the LP at Sign Of The Scorpion in Studio City, California. The over-arching theme of the lyrics on the album focused on history between the two world wars, 1918 through 1939. Jim Keltner played drums on the LP.
- May 8th, 1995 Sessions begin for “Long Way Hone,” the 1996 album by Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. Co-produced by John Snyder and Jim Bateman, guests on the record include Willie Weeks, Jim Keltner, Leon Russell, Ry Cooder and John D. Loudermilk. Eric Clapton plays on the song “Long Way Home.”
- May 8th, 2006 Interscope Records release “Province” by TV On The Radio as a single from their album “Return To Cookie Mountain.” David Bowie makes a guest appearance, sharing vocals with Kyp Malone and Babatunde Adebimpe. The song was co-written by Malone, Adebimpe, David Sitek, Jaleei Bunton and Gerard Smith.
Miscellaneous May
- May 1949 “Back Home Blues” backed with “Rock Awhile” by Goree Carter and His Hep Cats is released as a 78 rpm record on the Freedom Records label. Influenced by the guitar work of T Bone Walker, “Rock Awhile” stakes a legitimate claim as the first rock and roll record released. Eighteen years old when he recorded the song, the overdriven guitar tone and pentatonic lead predated rock and a style similar to Chuck Berry.
- May 1966 White Whale Records release “If You Gotta Go, Go Now” backed with “I’ll Go On,” the second single by Lyme & Cybelle, the folk rock duo of Warren Zevon and Violet Santangelo. Bob Dylasn wrote “If You Gottsa Go, Go Now,” and the B-side was a Zevon/Santangelo co-write. The record was produced by Bones Howe.
- May 1968 Parlophone Records in Britain release “(The Autobiography Of) Mississippi Hobo,” the second single by Hans Christian. Hans Christian was future Yes singer Jon Anderson. The single was arranged and produced by Paul Korda.
- May 1970 Viking Records press promotional copies of “From Denver To L.A.” on 45. Credited with a vocal by “Elton Johns,” it was taken from the movie soundtrack from the 20thCentury Fox film The Games. Original copies of the record are considered one of the rarest Elton John singles.
- May 1972 Bearsville Records release “Wonder Girl,” the debut single by Sparks. Written by Ron Mael, the record was produced by Todd Rundgren. Rundgren signed the band to Bearsville and produced their first album when the band was known as Halfnelson. The band changed its’ name to Sparks after the LP came out in October 1971. The name change led to a new cover and re-release of the album in February 1972.
- May 1973 Chrysalis Records release “Grand Hotel” by Procol Harum on 45. Co-written by Keith Reid and Gary Brooker, the song served as the title track of Procol Harum’s sixth studio LP, produced by Chris Thomas.
- May 1975 Harvest Record release “HQ,” the eighth studio album by Roy Harper. Recorded in March at Abbey Road Studios in London with producer Peter Jenner, when the LP came out in America, the cover art and the title changed to “When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease.” David Gilmour, Chris Spedding, Bill Bruford and John Paul Jones played sessions on the LP.
- May 1976 MCA Records release “Gimme Back My Bullets” by Lynyrd Skynyrd on 45. The song was co-written by Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant. The studio track was produced by Tom Dowd.
- May 1977 CBS Records in Britain release “Ian Hunter’s Overnight Angels” album. Recorded at several different studios in the US, Canada and England with producer Roy Thomas Baker, Hunter’s US label, Columbia Records refused to release the LP with Hunter’s business management in disarray and no tour scheduled to support the album. Featured on the album sessions were guitarist Earl Slick.
- May 1984 Passport Records release “Russians & Americans,” the tenth studio album by Al Stewart. The LP was produced by Mike Flicker at four different studios, three in California and Abbey Road Studios in London. British and US issues on the record had different tracks. A 2007 reissue collected all the songs on one CD.
- May 1985 EMI Records in Britain release remixed versions of “Loving The Alien” backed with “Don’t Look Down” on 45, originally from from the David Bowie LP “Tonight.” Bowie wrote the AS-side. “Don’t Look Down” was a song co-written by David Bowie and The Stooges’ guitarist James Williamson.
- May 1985 Legacy Records in Britain release “Under Fire” backed with “On Top Of The World” by Roy Wood on 45. Both songs were 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 May 3rd
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
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