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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History August 9th
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
August 9th
- August 9th Birthday, Pretty Things drummer Vic Prince born in Loughborough, England in 1941.
- August 9th Birthday, The Marvelettes singer Wanda Young, born in 1943 in Inkster, Michigan. In 1961, The Marvelletes “Please Mr. Postman” became Motown’s first No. 1 Pop Single. Young died on December 16th, 2021.
- August 9th Birthday, Dutch bassist Marinus Gerritsen from Golden Earring, born in The Hauge, Netherlands in 1946.
- August 9th Birthday, R&B singer Barbara Mason born in 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- August 9th Birthday, Elvis Costello and The Attractions drummer Pete Thomas, born in 1954 in Sheffield, England.
- August 9th Birthday, Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Billy Crain from The Outlaws. Crain has played with a who’s who of Southern Rock bands, born in 1954 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Today In Rock and Roll History
August 9th
- August 9th, 1953 Clyde McPhatter, the former lead singer for Billy Ward and The Dominoes, records “Money Honey,” his first single with The Drifters at Atlantic Studios in New York City. The song was written by Jessie Stone. Also singing on the session were first tenor Bill Pinkney, second tenor Andrew “Bubba” Thrasher, baritone Gerhart “Gay” Thrasher and bass vocalist Willie Ferbee. Walter Adams and Mickey Baker played guitar and Sam “The Man” Taylor played tenor sax. Atlantic Records released the song as a single on August 19th. The record peaked at No. 1 on the national R&B charts.
- August 9th, 1965 English folk group The Silkie record the John Lennon/Paul McCartney song “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” at IBC Studios in London. Lennon produced the record, McCartney played guitar and George Harrison tapped a tambourine. Fontana Records in Britain released ther song as a 45 on September 10th. The band were signed to a management contract by The Beatles manager Brian Epstein. “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” came out in America the same month and peaked at No. 10 on November 27th.
- August 9th, 1966 The Rolling Stones are awarded a Gold Record for their LP “Aftermath.”
- August 9th, 1967 Warner Brothers Records release “Never My Love” by The Association on 45. Co-written by Don and Dick Addrisi and produced by Bones Howe, the studio session was taped with members of The Wrecking Crew. Hal Blaine played drums, with Joe Osbourne on bass, Mike Deasy and Al Casey on guitar and Larry Knechtel played keyboard. The record peaked at No. 2 on October 7th.
- August 9th, 1967 Jerry Lee Lewis earned his “The Killer” nickname at The Sunberry Blues and Jazz Festival in Britain when he worked the crowd into such a frenzy that he was asked to leave the stage.
- August 9th, 1968 Scaffold record “Lily The Pink” at EMI Studios in London with producer Norrie Paramour. Parlophone Records in Britain released the track as a single on October 18th. The song was an updated version of the traditional folk song “The Ballad Of Lyndia Pinkham co-written by band members Roger McGough, John Gorman and Mike McCartney, using the stage name Mike McGear. Elton John and Graham Nash sang backup, Clem Cattini played drums and Jack Bruce of Cream played bass guitar on the session. Arranged by Manfred Mann’s Mike Vickers, Bell Records in the US issued the single on November 16th. The record peaked at No. 1 in England on January 7th, 1969.
- August 9th, 1968 “Wheels Of Fire” by Cream is released in Britain by Polydor Records. Released in the US in July the double album set included a studio disc and a live disc. The studio sessions were recorded at IBC Studios in London and Atlantic Studios in New York City. The live sides were taped at Winterland and The Fillmore West in San Francisco. The record went to No. 3 in the UK and No. 1 in the US on August 10th.
- August 9th, 1969 Polydor Records in Britain release the self-titled Blind Faith album, with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ric Grech and Ginger Baker. The group recorded the LP with producer Jimmy Miller at both Olympic and Morgan Studios in London from February through June. The record peaked at No. 1 in America on September 20th, selling more than half a million copies in the first month.
- August 9th, 1971 Elton John records “Tiny Dancer” at Trident Studios in London with producer Gus Dudgeon, with a string arrangement by Paul Buckmaster. UNI Records released “Tiny Dancer” on February 7th, 1972. The lyrics were written about Maxine Feibelman, then married to co-songwriter Bernie Taupin, inspired also by Taupin’s first visit to the US in 1970 and were intended to capture the spirit of California. The record entered the charts on March 4th and peaked at No. 41 on April 8th, 1972.
- August 9th, 1974 Warner Brothers Records release “Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits.” Issued as the last Alice Cooper album as a group, all of the songs on the LP were remixed from their original session tapes by producer Jack Richardson. The record peaked at No. 8 on November 16th.
- August 9th, 1974 Warner Brothers Records release “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now,” the fourth studio album by Little Feat. The LP was recorded at four different studios, Blue Seas in Hunt Valley, Maryland, The Sound Factory in Los Angeles, Warner Brothers in North Hollywood and Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. Van Dyke Parks produced one track. The rest of the album was produced by Feat guitarist Lowell George. Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt and the Tower Of Power Horns were among the guests that participated in the sessions. The record peaked at No. 36 on November 23rd.
- August 9th, 1975 “Force It,” the fourth album by UFO enters the album charts following a July release on Chrysalis Records. The band recorded the LP at Morgan and Wessex Studios in London with Ten Years After bassist Leo Lyons producing. Ten Years After keyboardist plays on the album and Robin Trower band vocalist James Dewar sings backing vocals. The record peaked at No. 71 on October 4th, their first to chart in the US.
- August 9th, 1976 Asylum Records release “Hasten Down The Wind” by Linda Ronstadt. The LP was recorded at the Sound Factory in Hollywood with Peter Asher producing. A number of session players appear on the record; Andrew Gold, Waddy Wachtell, Russ Kunkle, Karla Bonoff, Wendy Waldman, Don Henley and others. The album featured the hits “Lose Again,” “Someone To Lay Down Beside Me,” and “That’ll Be The Day.” The record peaked at No. 3 on September 25thand earned Ronstadt her second Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female in 1977.
- August 9th, 1976 MCA Records release “Good Singin’, Good Playin’” by Grand Funk. The album was produced by Frank Zappa, who talked the group out of splitting up before they committed to recording again. Zappa guests on lead guitar on the song “Out To Get You.” By the time they’d reached the overdub process, they’d decided to break up the band again. The record peaked at No. 52 on September 18th.
- August 9th, 1978 Muddy Waters played at a White House picnic at the request of President Carter.
- August 9th, 1980 “Late In The Evening” by Paul Simon enters the singles charts following a July release on Warner Brothers Records. Written by Simon, who co-produced the track with Phil Ramone, the song was issued as the lead single from Simon’s fifth studio album “One Trick Pony.” Session drummer Steve Gadd developed the records unique drum pattern using a pair of drum sticks in each hand. The single was an international hit, charting in Australia, Belgium, The Netherlands and New Zealand. In the US, “Late In The Evening” peaked at No. 6 on September 27th.
- August 9th, 1982 EMI America Records release “Bad To The Bone,” the fifth album by George Thorogood and The Destroyers. The LP peaked at No. 108 on May 25th.
- August 9th, 1983 Columbia Records release “An Innocent Man” by Billy Joel. The album is Joel’s tribute to the American pop music that influenced him. Produced by Phil Ramone at Chelsea Sound and A&R Studios in New York City, “An Innocent Man” featured the hits “Uptown Girl,” “Tell Her About It” and the title track. It was nominated for a Grammy for Album Of The Year. The record peaked at No. 4 on October 8th.
- August 9th, 1986 Queen gave what would be their last ever live performance with Freddie Mercury when they appeared at Britain’s Knebworth Festival.
- August 9th, 1986 Warner Brothers Records release “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon on 45. The names in the song came from an incident at a party that Simon went to with his wife, Peggy Harper. French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, who was attending the same party, mistakenly referred to Paul as “Al” and to Peggy as “Betty,” inspiring Simon to write a song. The track was recorded at The Hit Factory in New York City in April 1986 with Paul Simon producing. Some of the saxophone textures heard on “You Can Call Me Al” were created by Adrian Belew on a guitar synthesizer.
Miscellaneous August
- August 1957 Ace Records release “Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu” by Huey “Piano” Smith on 45. The song was co-written by Smith and Johnny Vincent. The session for the track included Sidney Rayfield and “Scarface” John Williams on vocals, Lee Allen on tenor sax, Earl King on guitar, Frank Fields on bass and Charles “Hungry” Williams on drums. The record peaked at No. 52 on the Pop singles charts.
- August 1958 Dot Records release “Scratchin’” backed with the novelty song “I Hates Rabbits” by Jerry Neal on 45. Neal was a stage name of Jerry Capehart. He co-wrote both songs with Eddie Cochran. Cochran is rumored to play all the instruments on “Scratchin’,” while Cochran plays lead guitar on “I Hates Rabbits.”
- August 1958 Tune Town Records release “Boxtop” by Ike Turner, Carson Oliver and Little Ann, the first record release to feature the future Tina Turner on vocals. The song was written by Ike Turner, who heard the seventeen-year-old sing during the intermission of a Kings Of Rhythm set at the Manhattan Club in East St. Louis. Carson Oliver was one of the vocalists in Turner’s group, the Kings Of Rhythm band. The track was recorded at Turner’s house on Virginia Place, in East St. Louis.
- August 1963 Original Sound Records release “Heavies” backed with “The Cruncher” by The Rotations on 45. The Rotations were an alias for Paul Buff and Dave Aerni. Both songs were co-written by Aerni and Buff, produced by Frank Zappa at PAL Studio in Cucamonga, California in June. A few seconds of “Heavies” is heard in the opening moments of “Nasal Retentive Caliope Music” on The Mothers Of Invention LP “We’re Only In It For The Money.”
- August 1963 Original Sound Records release “Tijuana” backed with “Grunion Run” by The Hollywood Persuaders on 45. Paul Buff wrote the A-side. “Grunion Run” was performed by Paul Buff and Frank Zappa, recording at PAL Studios in Cucamonga, California in June. Zappa played guitars, bass and drums with Paul Buff on saxophone.
- August 1965 Autumn Records release “Beau Brummels Volume II.” The record featured the hit “You Tell Me Why” and follow-up single “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” but didn’t chart. Sylvester Stewart, later known professionally as Sly Stone, is listed as the album’s producer, but members of the band didn’t recall him being there for the recording sessions.
- August 1969 Immediate Records in Britain release the self-titled album by “The Nice,” the group’s second album.
- August 1971 A&M Records release “White Light,” the second studio album by The Byrds’ singer, songwriter Gene Clark. The LP was recorded at A&M Studios and Village Recorders in Los Angeles with Jesse Ed Davis producing in the Spring, 1971. Playing on the record were Davis, bassist Chris Ethridge of the Flying Burrito Brothers, organist Michael Utley, pianist Ben Sidran and drummer Gary Mallaber, both of the Steve Miller Band.
- August 1972 Thunderclap Newman pianist Andy Newman releases the solo LP “Rainbows” on Track Records in England. Pete Townshend is the executive producer of the album.
- August 1974 Ardent Records release “September Gurls” by Big Star on 45. The song was written by Alex Chilton with autobiographical lyrics about several women in his life. The record was co-produced by Big Stay and John Fry on a six track recording console at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee during sessions for the band’s second album “Radio City.”
- August 1976 Mushroom Records in Australia release “Second Thoughts,” the second LP by Split Enz. The group’s first LP “Mental Notes” had not been released in America or in Europe, so Chrysalis Records issued “Second Thoughts” in September in Britain and January 1977 in the US – as “Mental Notes” with new cover art. “Second Thoughts” was produced by Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera at Basing Street Studios in London. The LP went to No. 18 in the New Zealand album charts.
- August 1978 Chrysalis Records release “I’m Gonna Love You Too” by Blondie on 45, a cover version of The Crickets’ song from 1957. The song was written by Crickets’ bassist Joe Maudlin, guitarist Niki Sullivan and record producer Norman Petty. Produced by Mike Chapman, it was the first single released from Blondie’s “Parallel Lines” LP.
- August 1980 Virgin Records in Britain release “Generals And Majors” by XTC on 45. Written by Colin Moulding and produced by Steve Lillywhite, it was the first single released from the band’s “Black Sea” album and peaked at No. 32 in England.
- August 1980, Virgin Records release “Doc At The Radar Station” by Captain Beefheart. The album was recorded in June at Sound Castle Recording Studios in Los Angeles with Beefheart producing.
- August 1983 Warner Brothers Records release “Song For A Future Generation” by The B-52’s as the second single from the “Whammy!” LP. The song was written collectively by The B-52’s, produced by Steven Stanley.
- August 1984 EG Records release “The Pearl,” the second album by Harold Budd and Brian Eno. Recorded in Toronto, Canada with Daniel Lanois also producing, the premise of the recordings were established on the pair’s first collaboration “The Plateaux Of Mirror,” with Eno treating Budd’s improvised piano parts with studio effects and later making compositional decisions together to create the released tracks.
- August 1986 IMP Records in Britain release “Tokyo Storm Warning” by Elvis Costello and The Attractions on 45, a song Costello wrote with his wife, The Pogues bassist Cait O’Riordan. The track was Costello’s first single release to give credit to his given name MacManus. “Tokyo Storm Warning” was co-produced by Nick Lowe and Colin Fairley.
- August 1987 Virgin Records in England release “Psonic Psunspot,” the first full-length album by The Dukes Of Stratosphere, actually XTC under a different name with guitarist Dave Gregory’s brother Ian on drums. The record was co-produced by John Leckie and the band at Sawmills Studio in Fowey, Cornwall, England in June.
- August 1987 Columbia Records release the movie soundtrack LP “Back To The Beach,” a various artists collection of songs from the film. Highlights include the Stevie Ray Vaughn/Dick Dale remake of “Pipeline,” songs by Dave Edmunds, Eddie Money, Aimee Mann, M<arti Jones and a Herbie Hancock version of “Wipe Out” featuring Dweezil Zappa on guitar and Terry Bozzio on drums.
- August 1989 Virgin Records release “The Loving” by XTC on 45 in Britain. The track came from the band’s Paul Fox produced “Oranges And Lemons” LP.
- August 1992 Warner Brothers Records in Britain release “Real Cool World” by David Bowie on 45. The song was the theme from Real Cool World movie, written by Bowie and produced by Nile Rodgers. The B-side was an instrumental version of the track.
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of August 9th
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 8/9 Johnny Nash
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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