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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History April 27th
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
April 27th
- April 27th Birthday, Disc Jockey and voice actor Casey Kasem, born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, Michigan in 1932. Among his many credits, Kasem hosted radio show American Top 40 and voiced the Shaggy character in the original Scooby Doo cartoon series. He died on June 15th, 2014, aged 82.
- April 27th Birthday, April Wine and Mashmakhan drummer Jerry Mercer, born in Newfoundland in 1939.
- April 27th Birthday, Tom Baird, keyboard and piano player, songwriter, arranger and producer for the Rare Earth, Tamla and Motown Records labels, born in 1943 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Baird died in a drowning accident off the California coast in November 1975.
- April 27th Birthday, King Crimson singer and solo artist Gordon Haskell, born in Verwood, Dorset, England in 1946. He died on October 15th, 2020, aged 74.
- April 27th Birthday, Badfinger singer, songwriter, guitarist Pete Ham, born in Swansea, Wales in 1947. Ham died on April 24th, 1979 by suicide.
- April 27th Birthday, Session drummer Jim Keltner, born in 1947 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Keltner played on hundreds of hit records, including tracks by ex-member of The Beatles, Mick Jagger, Joe Cocker, Brian Wilson, Roy Orbison and many others.
- April 27th Birthday, The B52’s vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Kate Pierson, born in Weehawken, New Jersey in 1948.
- April 27th Birthday, Kiss guitarist Paul “Ace” Frehley, born in The Bronx, New York in 1951.
- April 27th Birthday, Romantics bassist Wally Palmar, born Volodymyr Palamarchuk in Hamtramck, Michigan in 1954.
- April 27thBirthday, Scottish singer Sheena Easton, born Sheena Shirley Orr in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1959.
Today In Rock and Roll History
April 27th
- April 27th, 1957 Larry Williams records “Short Fat Fanny” with producer Bumps Blackwell. Specialty Records released the single on May 27th on both 45 and 78 rpm discs. The record peaked at No. 5 on the Pop Singles charts, No. 1 R&B.
- April 27th, 1963 The Crystals’ “Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)” enters the singles charts on Philles Records. The song was co-written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. The track was produced by Phil Spector, who used a multi-track recording system to build the song layer upon layer to achieve a result that will become known as a “wall of sound.” Backing musicians include Glen Campbell on guitar, Hal Blaine on drums and Leon Russell on piano. “Da Doo Ron Ron” peaked at No. 3 on June 6th.
- April 27th, 1964 “In His Own Write,” John Lennon’s first book of prose, poetry and drawings is published.
- April 27th, 1964 “Love Me Do” backed with “PS I Love You” by The Beatles is released in America on Tollie Records. “PS I Love You” entered the charts in May and peaked at No. 10 on June 6th.
- April 27th, 1965 Manfred Mann record “My Little Red Book (All I Do Is Ask About You)” at EMI Studios in London with songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the movieWhat’s New Pussycat? The sessions were difficult. Two versions of the song were recorded with producer John Burgess. The first was used in the movie itself. The second was issued as a single by Ascot Records with Bacharach himself playing piano. Ascot Records released the song as a single, but it didn’t chart. The Los Angeles band Love had the bigger hit with the song a year later.
- April 27th, 1966 A Gold Record award is given to The Rolling Stones for the collection “Big Hits – High Tides And Green Grass.”
- April 27th, 1967 Volt Records release the live recording of “Shake” by Otis Redding on 45. “Shake” was written and originally recorded by Sam Cooke. Cooke’s version reached No. 7 in the US. Cooke was a huge influence on Otis Redding. Along with “Shake,” Redding also recorded covers of Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” “Chain Gang,” “Cupid,” “Nothing Can Change This Love,” “Wonderful World,” and “You Send Me.” Redding’s version of “Shake” was elected to the “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The record entered the charts in May and peaked at No. 47 on June 17th.
- April 27th, 1967 Traffic’s debut LP “Mr. Fantasy” enters the album charts. The recording included group members Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. Mason left the band shortly after the album was released. The LP was recorded at Olympic Studios with American record producer Jimmy Miller and recording engineer Phill Brown from April through November 1967.
- April 27th, 1968 Epic Records release “Dance To The Music,” the second album by Sly & The Family Stone. Asked by Columbia label president Clive Davis to deliver a more pop oriented album, the LP became the blueprint of much of the R&B music that followed that year that fit the description “Psychedelic Soul,” although the band themselves were never fond of the record. The album peaked at No. 142 on June 1st.
- April 27th, 1968 Parrot Records release “Bring A Little Lovin’ by Los Bravos on 45. The song was co-written for the band by The Easybeats’ Harry Vanda and George Young. The Easybeats released their own version of the song on an LP later in the year. The Los Bravos record entered the singles charts in May peaked at No. 51 on June 22nd and was the group’s last chart single in the US.
- April 27th, 1968 Atco Records release “Anyone For Tennis” by Cream on 45. The song served as the theme song for the 1968 film The Savage Seven. Co-written by Eric Clapton with lyricist Martin Sharp, the track was produced by Felix Pappalardi. Cream mimed the song during their promotional appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in May 1968. “Anyone For Tennis” was recorded during the sessions for Cream’s third album “Wheels Of Fire.” The record entered the charts in May and went to No. 64 on June 1st.
- April 27th, 1968 Acta Records release “Ready, Willing And Able” by The American Breed. Written by Bob Stone and produced by Bill Traut, the record entered the record charts on May 25th, peaking at No. 84 on June 8th.
- April 27th, 1968 “May I Take A Giant Step (Into Your Heart)” by 1910 Fruitgum Co. enters the singles charts. Written by Elliot Chiprut, who co-produced the record with Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz, “May I Take A Giant Step (Into Your Heart)” peaked at No. 63 on June 1st.
- April 27th, 1968 Warner Brothers Records release “Classical Gas” by Mason Williams on 45. Originally named “Classical Gasoline,” the title was inadvertently shortened by a music copyist. Williams was the head writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the time of the single’s release and was premiered on the show, performing it several times over several episodes. The record entered the US charts in June and peaked at No. 2 on August 3rd.
- April 27th, 1969 As his recording career begins to take off, Joe Cocker makes his American TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show before embarking on a US tour which would take him to Woodstock that summer.
- April 27th, 1971 Columbia Records release “Been Too Long On The Road” by Mark Lindsay on 45. Written by David Gates and produced by John D’Andrea, the record entered the singles charts for one week and peaked at No. 98 on June 12th.
- April 27th, 1971 Warner Brothers Records release “Caught In A Dream” by Alice Cooper on 45. Written by Cooper guitarist Michael Bruce, the track was co-produced by Bob Ezrin and Jack Richardson. The record peaked at No. 94 on June 26th.
- April 27th, 1974 Rick Derringer’s “Teenage Love Affair” enters the singles charts. Written by Derringer and co-produced by he and Bill Szymczyk, the record peaked at No. 80 on May 18th
- April 27th, 1974 ABC Records release “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Steely Dan on 45. Co-written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker and produced by Gary Katz, it was the most successful single of the group’s career. The guitar solo was played by Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, who would later join The Doobie Brothers. “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” peaked at No. 4 on August 3rd.
- April 27th, 1979 RCA Records in Britain release “Boys Keep Swinging” backed with “Fantastic Voyage” by David Bowie on 45. Both songs were co-written by Bowie and Brian Eno from the LP “Lodger.” The tracks were co-produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti.
- April 27th, 1979 Virgin Records in Britain release “Life Begins At The Hop” by XTC on 45. The song was written by bassist Colin Moulding. The track was produced by Steve Lillywhite, the group’s first to be released with new guitarist Dave Gregory. The single peaked at No. 54 in England.
- April 27th, 1979 Jet Records release “Shine A Little Love” by The Electric Light Orchestra on 45. Written and produced by Jeff Lynne, the record entered the singles charts in May and peaked at No. 8 on July 21st.
- April 27th, 1981 Ringo Starr marries Barbara Bach in London. Paul and Linda McCartney, George and Olivia Harrison and Harry Nilsson are all in attendance.
- April 27th, 1983 Warner Brothers Records release “Whammy!” the third full-length album by The B-52’s. All the instruments on the LP were performed by Ricky Wilson and Keith Strickland. The record was recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas in December 1982, produced and engineered by Steven Stanley. “Whammy!” peaked at No. 29 on June 18th.
- April 27th, 1985 “Lucky In Love,” the second solo single by Mick Jagger, enters the singles charts. The 45 version is a radical remix of the “She’s The Boss” album track. Jagger co-wrote the song with Carlos Alomar and co-produced the track with Bill Laswell. The record peaked at No. 38 on June 1st.
- April 27th, 1987 The self-titled Phil Manzanera and John Wetton LP was released by Geffen Records with Alan White on drums, Kevin Godley backing vocals. The album was recorded March through April 1986 at Gallery Studios in Surrey, England. “Wetton Manzanera” was co-produced by the two with Keith Bessey.
- April 27th, 1990 David Bowie begins the US leg of his “Sound And Vision” tour with guitarist Adrian Belew in the band.
- April 27th, 1992 Virgin Records release “Nonesuch,” the twelfth studio album by XTC. Produced by Gus Dudgeon, recorded at recorded at Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire, between July and October 1991, the LP peaked at No. 97 on May 16th.
Miscellaneous April
- April 1953 Specialty Records release “Don’t Take It Out On Me” backed with “Lucy Mae Blues,” the third single by Texas electric blues guitarist Frankie Lee Sims. Both songs were written by Frankie Lee Sims, a cousin to musician Lightnin’ Hopkins. “Lucy Mae Blues” became a regional hit in Texas.
- April 1954 Specialty Records release “The Story Of My Life” backed with “A Letter To My Girl Friend,” the third single by electric blues pioneer Guitar Slim and His Band. Both songs were written by Slim, credited to his given name Eddie Jones.
- April 1963 Ron Romans record “Tell Me” and “Love Of My Life.” Daani Records released them as the A and B-side of a single. The A-side was written by Frank Zappa associate Kenny Williams, while “Love Of My Life” was a Zappa/Dave Aerni co-write. The song was recorded at PAL Recording Studio in Cucamonga, California with Zappa playing guitar and drums. Zappa rerecorded “Love Of My Life” with The Mothers Of Invention on the 1968 LP “Cruising With Ruben and The Jets.
- April 1964 Chess records release the “Folk Singer” album, the fourth by Muddy Waters. The album features Waters on acoustic guitar, Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar.
- April 1965 Fantasy Records release “Where You Been” backed with “You Came Walking,” the second single by The Golliwogs on 45. 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.
- April 1966 Are You Kidding Me? Records issue “The Ballad Of The Yellow Beret” backed with “Florida Time” by The Beach Bums, actually Bob Seger’s first released record. Done as an answer record to Sgt. Barry Sandler’s “The Ballad Of The Green Beret,” “The Ballad Of The Yellow Beret” is executed in a humorous manner but the lyrics are a sharp criticism of men who dodged the draft in the US. The song is credited to D. Dodger. “Florida Time” is closer to the style of The Beach Boys, written by long-time Seger producer “Punch,” with both sides produced and arranged by The Omens.
- April 1966 Paradise Records out of Texas release “Splash Day” backed with “Life’s A Misery” by The Warlocks on 45. The band featured brothers Rocky and Dusty Hill. The band would change their name to American Blues when drummer Frank Beard joined. Beard and Dusty Hill would later join Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top.
- April 1969 Liberty Records in Britain release “Folkjoke Opus,” the third album by Roy Harper. Produced by Shel Talmy, the LP sessions included Nicky Hopkins on piano and Clem Cattini on drums. Ron Geesin scored the arrangements on the record.
- April 1970 CBS Records in Britain release “Zero She Flies,” the third album by Al Stewart. The LP was produced by Roy Guest at Sound Technics Studios in London. Gerry Conway and Trevor Lucas from Fairport Convention played sessions on the record.
- April 1971 Harvest Records release “Stormcock,” the fifth studio album by Roy Harper. Produced by Peter Jenner at EMI Studios in London, David Bedford played keyboards and did the arrangements and Jimmy Page played guitar on “The Same Old Rock,” credited as S. Favius Mercurius.
- April 1973 Chrysalis Record in England release “Parcel Of Rogues,” the fifth studio album by Steeleye Span. The LP was co-produced by Steeleye Span and Jerry Boys at Sound Techniques Studios in Chelsea, London. The band toured the album in the US opening for Jethro Tull.
- April 1975 Asylum Records release “Fountain Of Sorrow” by Jackson Browne on 45. Written by Browne, it was the second single issued from his “Late For The Sky” LP. The 45 version was two minutes shorter than the nearly seven-minute-long album version.
- April 1975 Bob Seger releases “Beautiful Loser,” his first single for Capitol Records. The 45 peaked at No. 103 on the Pop Singles charts.
- April 1978 DB Records in Georgia release “Rock Lobster” backed with “52 Girls,” the debut single by The B-52’s. The A-side was co-written by Fred Schneider and Ricky Wilson. “52 Girls” was co-written by Jeremy Ayers and Ricky Wilson.
- April 1978 Virgin Records release “This Is Pop” backed with “Heatwave,” the third single by XTC. “This Is Pop” was written by Andy Partridge and “Heatwave” was written by Colin Moulding. Both songs were produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The A-side was an album track, re-recorded for its’ single release.
- April 1979 Asylum Records release “Alison,” Linda Ronstadt’s cover version of the Elvis Costello song on 45, produced by Peter Asher.
- April 1980 Harvest Records release “The Unknown Soldier,” the tenth studio album by Roy Harper. Co-produced by Harper and Peter Jenner at Abbey Road Studios in London, David Gilmour Andy Roberts, Andy Newmark, Kate Bush, B.J. Cole, Pete Wingfield and others play on the record. David Bedford did the orchestral arrangements.
- April 1981 RCA Records release the soundtrack to the movie Christiane F., Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo. The record was a collection of previously released songs by David Bowie that spanned the years 1976-1978. Bowie appears in an in-concert sequence of the movie during the Isolar Tour of 1976.
- April 1982 Warner Brothers Records release “Deep Sleep” by The B-52’s on 45. The track came from the David Byrne produced “Mesopotamia” EP, recorded at Blank Tape Studios in New York City. The song was co-written by Keith Strickland, Kate Pierson and Robert Waldrop.
- April 1982 Woody Records in Britain release “O.T.T.” backed with “Mystery Song” by Roy Wood on 45. Both songs were written and produced by Roy Wood.
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of April 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 4/26 The Troggs
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