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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History July 12th
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 12th
- July 12th Birthday, Derry and The Seniors saxophone player Howie Casey, a touring member of Wings and veteran session player, born in Huyton, Liverpool, England in 1937.
- July 12th Birthday, Fleetwood Mac singer and keyboard player Christine McVie, born Christine Anne Perfect in 1943 in Bouth, Lancashire, England. She died November 30th, 2022 at the age of 79.
- July 12th Birthday, Band leader and singer Jeff Christie, who formed the group Christie in 1970 and had a hit with “Yellow River,” born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1946.
- July 12th Birthday, Dr. Feelgood guitarist and songwriter Wilco Johnson, born John Peter Wilkinson in Canvey Island, Essex, England in 1947.
- July 12th Birthday, Singer, songwriter Walter Egan born in Queens, New York City in 1948.
- July 12th Birthday, Kiss drummer Eric Carr born Paul Charles Caravello in Brooklyn, New York City in 1950. He died on November 24th, 1991 at the age of 41.
Today In Rock and Roll History
July 12th
- July 12th, 1962 The original line up of The Rolling Stones played their first gig At London’s Marquee Club. Mick, Keith and Brian Jones were joined by Dick Taylor on bass, pianist Ian Stewart and Mick Avory, later of The Kinks, on drums.
- June 12th, 1962 Liberty Records in Britain release “Don’t Ever Change” by The Crickets on 45. Co-written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King for The Everly Brothers, the song was recorded by The Crickets with Jerry Naylor on lead vocals, produced by Snuff Garrett. The record went Top Five in England.
- July 12th, 1963 Parlophone Records release The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” EP in Britain. The record remained in the British charts for sixty-four weeks and sold over eight hundred thousand copies.
- July 12th, 1965 The Beach Boys begin recording “Sloop John B” during sessions for their next LP “Pet Sounds.” The song is a Bahamian folk song from Nassau. Arranged by Brian Wilson with help from band mate Al Jardine, the A cappella vocal section in the track was unique in Pop music. A transcription by Richard Le Gallienne was published in 1916 and a version was included in Carl Sandburg’s The American Songbag in 1927. The instrumental section of the song was recorded on July 12th at United Western Recorders in Hollywood. The vocal tracks were recorded over two sessions. The first was taped on December 22nd, at Western Recorders and the second, on December 29th and added a new lead vocal and Billy Strange’s twelve-string electric guitar part. Released as a single March 21st, 1966, the 45 would climb to No. 3 on May 7th, ten months after sessions for the track began.
- July 12th, 1968 The Bee Gees record “I’ve Got To Get A Message To You” with group members Vince Melouney on guitar and drummer Colin Petersen. Released September 7th, 1968, it became their second No. 1 single in Britain. In America, the record came out on Atco Records on August 3rd and peaked at No. 8 on September 28th.
- July 12th, 1969 Soul City Records release “Workin’ On A Groovy Thing” by The 5th Dimension on 45. Wrecking Crew session players Hal Blaine, Joe Osborn, Larry Knechtel and Tommy Tedesco all played on the track. Co-written by Neil Sedaka and Roger Atkins and originally recorded by Patti Drew on her 1968 album of the same name, The 5thDimension version entered the singles charts a week later and peaked at No. 20 on August 23rd.
- July 12th, 1969 Blind Faith, featuring Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech, launched their only tour with a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden.
- July 12th, 1969 “In The Year 2525” by Zager and Evans is the No. 1 record in the US.
- July 12th, 1969 Dusty Springfield’s “Willie And Laura Mae Jones” enters the singles charts following a January release on Atlantic Records. The song was written by Tony Joe White and co-produced by Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin. Released as a stand-alone single, “Willie And Laura Mae Jones” peaked at No. 78 on July 19th.
- July 12th, 1970 Janis Joplin debuted her new group, the Full Tilt Boogie Band, before a crowd of four thousand fans in Louisville, Kentucky.
- July 12th, 1971 Westbound Records release “Maggot Brain,” the third album by Funkadelic. Produced by George Clinton at United Sound Systems Studios in Detroit, the band had personnel issues that caused the group to split up after the record came out, with only Clinton, Hazel and keyboardist Bernie Worrell remaining for the next Funkadelic project. The record peaked at No. 108 on September 25th.
- July 12th, 1972 Motown Records release “Ben” by Michael Jackson on 45. The song was co-written by lyricist Don Black and American film composer Walter Scharf for the feature film “Ben,” the sequel to the killer rat horror film Willard in 1971. The record peaked at No. 1 on October 14th.
- July 12th, 1974 A&M Records release “Another Saturday Night” by Cat Stevens on 45. The Sam Cooke cover version came from Stevens’ “Greatest Hits” LP, issued a week later. The single peaked at No. 6 on October 12th.
- July 12th, 1974 Island Records in Britain release “Amateur Hour” by Sparks on 45. Written by Ron Mael and produced by Muff Winwood, the single went to No. 7 in Britain.
- July 12th, 1975 “Love Will Keep Us Together” by The Captain and Tennille is the No. 1 record in the US.
- July 12th, 1975 Johnny Rivers’ cover version of The Beach Boys’ “Help Me Rhonda” enters the singles charts on Epic/Soul City Records. Rivers co-produced the song with Mike Melvoin. The record featured the backing vocals of Beach Boy Brian Wilson. “Help Me Rhonda” reached No. 22 on August 23rd.
- July 12th, 1975 Joan Baez cover version of the Dickie Betts/Allman Brothers’ song “Blue Sky” enters the singles charts on A&M Records. Baez co-produced the track with David Kershenbaum. The record peaked at No. 57 on August 2nd.
- July 12th, 1976 Atlantic Records release the live version of “(Ain’t Nothing But A) House Party” by the J. Geils Band on 45. Co-written by Del Sharh and Joseph Thomas, the original version of the song was released by The Show Stoppers in 1968. The studio version by the J. Geils Band appeared on the 1973 “Bloodshot” LP. The live cut came from the “Blow Your Face Out” album.
- July 12th, 1978 Columbia Records release “Nightwatch,” the second solo album by Kenny Loggins. The album featured the hit “Whenever I Call You Friend,” a duet with Stevie Nicks that Loggins co-wrote with Melissa Manchester. Produced by Bob James, the record peaked at No. 7 on October 7th.
- July 12th, 1980 “Cheap Sunglasses” by ZZ Top enters the singles charts on Warner Brothers Records. Co-written by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, the track was produced by Bill Ham from ZZ Top’s “Deguello” album. The record peaked at No. 89 the same day.
- July 12th, 2004 The Rolling Stones “Singles 1965-1967” is released and eleven CD box set.
- July 12th, 2005 Jazz Alliance Records release “Piano Jazz” by Elvis Costello and Marian McPartland. On the album Costello played guitar and piano, with McPartland on piano and Gary Mazzaroppi on bass. The LP was recorded May 3rd, 2003at Manhattan Studio in New York City with Shan Hutchinson producing.
- July 12th, 2009 Paul McCartney releases the live “Amoeba Gig” Ep. Originally issued as a 12” EP, it was a full-length double album of recordings was from McCartney’s gig at AmoebaMusic, an independent record store in Hollywood, California on June 27th, 2007. The EP peaked at No. 119 on the album charts on February 14th, 2009.
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 12th
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 7/12 Billy Preston
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