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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History October 18th
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
October 18th
- October 18th Birthday, Singer, songwriter and guitarist Chuck Berry, born Charles Edward Anderson Berry in St. Louis, Missouri in 1926. Berry passed away on March 18th, 2017 at the age of 90.
- October 18th Birthday, Songwriter Cynthia Weil born in New York City in 1940. Weil wrote dozens of hit songs with her husband Barry Mann. She passed away at the age of 82 on June 1st, 2023.
- October 18th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, pianist Laura Nyro, born in 1947 in the Bronx, New York City. Nyro recorded for Columbia Records and wrote hits for Blood, Sweat and Tears, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Fifth Dimension, Three Dog Night and Barbra Streisand. Nyro died on April 8th, 1997 of ovarian cancer in Danbury, Connecticut at the age of 49.
- October 18th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, solo artist and a member of Steelers Wheel, Joe Egan, born in 1946 in Paisley, Scotland.
- October 18th Birthday, REO Speedwagon guitarist and songwriter Gary Richrath, born in 1949 in Peoria, Illinois. He died on September 13th, 2015 at the age of 65.
- October 18th Birthday, Doobie Brothers drummer and vocalist Keith Knudson, born in 1948 in Le Mars, Iowa.
Today In Rock and Roll History
October 18th
- October 18th, 1962 United Artists Records release “Tell Him” by all-girl vocal group The Exciters. Written as “Tell Her” by Bert Berns, the song was first recorded by R&B singer Gil Hamilton, known as Johnny Thunder, before Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller co-produced the session by The Exciters, a four-piece vocal group from Queens, New York City; Brenda Reid, Carolyn Johnson, Lillian Walker and Sylvia Wilbur. The record peaked at No. 4 on January 19th, 1963.
- October 18th, 1964 The Animals first UK tour as headliners opens in Manchester, England, with Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent, Tommy Tucker and The Nashville Teens as supporting acts.
- October 18th, 1968 Deram Records in Britain release “Here Comes My Wife” by Cat Stevens on 45, produced by Mike Vickers.
- October 18th, 1969 The Temptations “I Can’t Get Next To You” reaches No. 1 in the US.
- October 18th, 1969 Britain’s New Musical Express newspaper reports that Rod Stewart had joined the Small Faces after Steve Marriot left to form Humble Pie.
- October 18th, 1969 “Take A Letter Maria” by R.B. Greaves enters the singles charts following a September release on Atco Records. Greaves was the nephew of singer Sam Cooke. The song was tracked at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield, Alabama with Atlantic Records owner Ahmet Ertegun producing. The single would reach No. 2 on November 22nd. The record went Gold for a million copies sold and was the first big hit for the Muscle Shoals Studio.
- October 18th, 1969 “Make Your Own Kind Of Music” by Mama Cass Elliot enters the singles charts following a September release. Co-written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the song was first recorded in 1968 by the New York City based trio the Will-O-Bees. Elliot’s version, produced by Steve Barri, went to No. 36 in America on November 29th.
- October 18th, 1969 “Backfield In Motion” by Mel and Tim enters the singles charts. Melvin McArthur Hardin and Hubert Timothy McPherson were cousins from Holly Springs, Mississippi who were discovered in Chicago by Gene Chandler. They signed a recording contract with the independent Bamboo Records label. Co-written by the duo, the song hit No. 10 on the Pop Singles charts on December 13thand earned a Gold Record.
- October 18th, 1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival release “Down On The Corner” backed with “Fortunate Son” as a single on Fantasy Records. Both songs were written by band guitarist John Fogerty. “Down On The Corner” chronicles the tale of the fictional band Willy and the Poor Boys. The band’s 1969 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, staged the group as Willy and the Poor Boys, mimicking the photo of the band as they appear on the “Willy and the Poor Boys” album cover. The song peaked at No. 3 on December 20th. Fogerty, who received his draft notice in 1966, was quoted saying “Fortunate Son” was “about the old saying rich men make war and poor men have to fight them. “Fortunate Son” entered the charts on November 1st as a separate entry and peaked at No. 14 on November 22nd.
- October 18th, 1969 “Na Na Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye” by Steam enters the singles charts following an August release on Buddah Records. Produced by Paul Leka at Mercury Sound Studios in New York City and co-written by Leka with Gary DeCarlo and Dale Frashuer, the single was attributed to a then-fictitious band they named “Steam.” The song was originally written and performed by the trio as a blues shuffle in several bands they were in together. With DeCarlo as lead vocalist, they recorded the song in one recording session and the single has now sold over six and a half million copies. “Na Na Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye” peaked at No. 1 on December 5th.
- October 18th, 1969 Scepter Records release B.J. Thomas’ “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” on 45. The song was recorded at A&R studios in New York City. The single entered the charts in November and went to No. 1 on January 3rd, 1970. Co-written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the movie Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, the record won an Oscar for Best Original Song. David and Bacharach also won Best Original Score.
- October 18th, 1969 “Undun” by The Guess Who enters the singles charts. Written by guitarist Randy Bachman, the song was recorded at RCA Studio A in New York City with producer Jack Richardson. Originally issued in June as the B-side of “Laughing,” “Undun” had its own release in September and peaked at No. 22 on November 29th, No. 21 in Canada.
- October 18th, 1970 Bearsville Records release the “Runt” LP by Todd Rundgren. Initial sessions took place at I.D. Sound in Los Angeles and then the Record Plant in New York City with Rundgren producing. Bassist Tony Sales and drummer Hunt Sales, who performed live with Rundgren as Runt, play on the album along with Rick Danko and Levon Helm from The Band. The album peaked at No. 185 on February 27th, 1971.
- October 18th, 1971 Columbia Records release “Hallelujah” by Sweathog on 45. The song was written by Gary Zeckley, Mitchell Bottner and Roberta Twain. Sweathog were Lenny Lee Goldsmith on keyboards and vocals, bassist David L. Johnson, Barry “Frosty” Smith on drums and guitarist Robert Morris, known as B.J. Jones. The band were frequently the opening act for tours by Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Edgar Winter’s White Trash, the J. Geils Band and Grand Funk Railroad. Frosty also drummed in Lee Michaels’ two-man group. Co-produced by Joel Sill and Bill Schnee, “Hallelujah” peaked at No. 33 on December 18th.
- October 18th, 1971 Warner Brothers Records release “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath on 45. Co-written by the four members of Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, the session was produced by Rodger Bain. “Iron Man” peaked at No. 52 on March 11th, 1972.
- October 18th, 1974 Warner Brothers Records release the “Veedon Fleece” album by Van Morrison. Produced by Morrison at Caledonia Studios in California and Mercury Studios in New York from November 1973 through the Spring of 1974. The record reached No. 53 in the album charts on November 23rd.
- October 18th, 1975 Jet Records release “Face The Music,” the fifth album by the Electric Light Orchestra. The album was produced by Jeff Lynne with strings arranged by Lynne, Richard Tandy and Louis Clark. The album featured the hits “Strange Magic” and “Evil Woman.” The record peaked at No. 8 on February 21st, 1976.
- October 18th, 1975 Paul Simon hosts and Art Garfunkel joins him onstage for two songs on the second episode of Saturday Night Live. The same day, Columbia Records release the Paul Simon/Art Garfunkel reunion single “My Little Town” on 45. The record peaked at No. 9 on December 13th.
- October 18th, 1975 DiscReet Records release “Bongo Fury” by Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and The Mothers Of Invention. The LP combined both live recordings and studio material. The live tracks were taped on May 20th and 21stin Austin, Texas. The studio he album took place in January recorded simultaneously with songs Zappa released on The Mothers LP “One Size Fits All” and the solo LP “Studio Tan.” The album peaked at No. 66 on December 6th.
- October 18th, 1977 Mercury Records release “Closer To The Heart” by Rush on 45. The song’s lyrics were co-written by Neil Peart and Peter Talbot with music co-written by Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee. Issued from the band’s “A Farewell To Kings” LP, the single entered the charts on November 26th. A live version of the song peaked at No. 69 on January 9th, 1982.
- October 18th, 1980 Sire Records release “Remain In Light,” the fourth studio album by Talking Heads. The band recorded the LP at both Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas and Sigma Sound in New York City, once again working with producer Brian Eno. The record featured the hit “Once In A Lifetime.” The LP peaked at No. 19 on December 6th.
- October 18th, 1980 “Private Idaho” by The B-52’s enters the singles charts following a September release on Warner Brothers Records. It was the first single issued from the band’s second album “Wild Planet.” The record was co-produced by the group and Rhett Davies at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. The 45 peaked at No. 74 on November 8th.
- October 18th, 1984 Barking Pumpkin Records release the double album “Them Or Us” by Frank Zappa. Produced and arranged by Frank Zappa, basic tracks were live recordings with studio overdubs. Dweezil Zappa plays on the record, as well as Frank’s touring band, including Steve Vai.
- October 18th, 1985 Beggars Banquet Records in Britain release “Love,” the second album by The Cult. Produced by Steve Brown, the record came out on Sire Records in America in November. The record peaked at No. 87 on April 26th, 1986.
- October 18th, 1988 Warner Brothers Records release “Negotiations And Love Songs” by Paul Simon. The double album greatest hits collection of songs released from 1971 through 1986 peaked at No. 110 on January 7th, 1989.
- October 18th, 1988 Wilbury Records release “Volume 1,” the debut album by George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne, collectively known as the Traveling Wilburys. The formation of the band began when George Harrison gathered the members together to help record “Handle With Care” for a single B-side. The session went well and all five decided to record the album together. The LP won a Grammy Award for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group” and was nominated for “Album of the Year.” The record peaked at No. 3 on January 28th, 1989.
- October 18th, 1993 Capitol Records release “Together Alone,” the fourth studio album by Crowded House. Co-produced by the band and Youth (Martin Glover), the LP was recorded at Karekare Beach, New Zealand and Periscope and Platinum Studios in Melbourne. It was their first album with multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart as a full member of the group. Former Split Enz members Eddie Rayner, Noel Crombie and Tim Finn play on the record. “Together Alone” peaked at No. 73 on January 29th.
- October 18th, 1999 Mercury Records release the Ringo Starr Christmas album “I Wanna Be Santa Clause.” The record was recorded at sessions in 1988 and 1989 with Starr and Mark Hudson co-producing. Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry is among the guest musicians that played on the record.
- October 18th, 1999 EMI Records release the third full-length classical piece by Paul McCartney, “Working Classical,” featuring orchestral arrangement of songs from the Paul McCartney pop music catalog. The record was issued less than a month after his rock album “Run Devil Run.”
- October 18th, 2011 Rolling Stones Records release “The Brussels Affair ‘73.” The record is a compilation of tracks from two shows at Belgium’s Forest Hills Arena during their European Tour in September 1973. Billy Preston played keyboards throughout the shows.
Miscellaneous October
- Mid-October 1960, The Silver Beatles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe) minus drummer Pete Best, play on a recording session arranged by manager Allan Williams for Lu Walters, bassist and vocalist from Rory Storm and The Hurricanes at Akustik Studios in Hamburg, Germany. Drumming on the session was Hurricane’s drummer Ringo Starr. Four copies of a 78rpm demo disc were pressed. Recorded that day were ‘Fever”co-written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, “Summertime” co-written by George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and “September Song” co-written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson.
- October 1961, Chess Records release “The Red Rooster” backed with “Shake With Me” by Howlin’ Wolf on 45, credited to blues writer and arranger Willie Dixon.
- October 1961, Canadian American Records release “I Wish I Weren’t In Love” backed with “I’m Lonely” by Jerry Landis on 45. Both songs were written by Landis, an early stage name used by Paul Simon.
- October 1961, Ray Charles releases “The Genius Sings The Blues,” his final album for Atlantic Records. The record peaked at No. 73.
- October 1964, Ringo Starr records “In America” with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes at EMI Studios, 3 Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, London with Brian Epstein, his only record production. Co-written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Soundheim, the track was released as a single on November 16thby Parlophone Records with “Since You Broke My Heart” as the single’s B-side. Ringo sang backing vocals with Rory Storm’s brother-in-law Shane Fenton, later known as Alvin Stardust and added miscellaneous percussion.
- October 1967, Scorpio Records release “Porterville” backed with “Call It Pretending,” the seventh and final single by pre-Creedence Clearwater Revival band The Golliwogs. Written by John Fogerty using the name T. Spicebush Swallowtail, “Porterville” would be rerecorded for CCR’s first LP.
- October 1967, Verve Records release “Chelsea Girl,” the debut solo album by Nico. After recording the first Velvet Underground LP and touring with Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia show, Nico recorded the LP at Mayfair Recording in Manhattan, New York City with Tom Wilson producing. Jackson Browne played guitar and wrote songs for the record and VU members Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison and John Cale were backing musicians on many of the tracks.
- October 1968, Reprise/Bizarre Records release “The Circle” backed with “Merry-Go-Round” by Wild Man Fischer on 45. Both songs were written by Larry Fischer, credited as L. Fischer. The tracks were produced and arranged by Frank Zappa. Zappa plays all the instruments on “The Circle.”
- October 1968, Parlophone Records in Britain release “Blues Helping” the debut LP by Welsh trio Love Sculpture featuring Dave Edmunds on guitar.
- October 1969, Island Records release the self-titled second album by Free. Traffic flutist Chris Wood played on the song “Mourning Sad Morning.” Produced by Island label founder Chris Blackwell, the LP peaked at No. 22 in Britain but didn’t chart in the US.
- October 1969, Island Records in Britain release “Rock And Roll Queen,” the first single by Mott The Hoople. Written by guitarist Mick Ralphs, the record was issued in America on Atlantic Records the following July.
- October 1970, Reprise Records release the self-titled debut album by guitarist Ry Cooder. The LP was co-produced by Van Dyke Parks and Lenny Waronker. Cooder was part of the Los Angeles folk music scene in the mid-1960’s, playing in a band called The Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and future Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy.
- October 1971, Charisma Records in Britain release “Pawn Hearts,” the fourth album by Van der Graaf Generator. Robert Fripp guested on the LP sessions at Trident Studios, recorded July through September with producer John Anthony. The album came out the following May in the US.
- October 1971, Capitol Records release “People Let’s Stop The War” backed with “Save The Land” by Grand Funk Railroad on 45. Both songs were Mark Farner compositions with Terry Knight producing.
- October 1973, RCA Records release Lou Reed’s tragic rock opera “Berlin.” Recorded at Morgan Studios in London with producer Bob Ezrin, session players on the record include Steve Wagner, Jack Bruce, Steve Winwood, Aynsley Dunbar and B.J. Wilson. The record peaked at No. 98 in America and No. 7 in Britain.
- October 1974, RCA Records release “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Nilsson on 45. A cover version of the Bob Dylan song, the track came from the John Lennon produced “Pussycats” LP. The singe’s B-side was a medley of Lennon’s “Mucho Mungo” and Nilsson’s “Mt. Elga.”
- October 1974, Harvest Records in Britain release “See My Baby Jive,” a compilation album by Roy Wood’s band Wizzard.
- October 1975, A&M Records release “Mama Coco” by Gino Vannelli on 45. Written by Vannelli and co-produced by he and his brother Joe Vannelli, the record peaked at No. 115 in America.
- October 1975, Discreet Records release the album “Bongo Fury” by Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention with Captain Beefheart. The LP was recorded mostly live on May 20thand the 21st at Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas with two studio tracks in January 1975.
- October 1976, 20th Century Records release the various artist movie soundtrack “All This And WWII.” The record featured songs by The Beatles recorded by various artists Peter Gabriel, Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne, Ambrosia, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Bryan Ferry and others. The album peaked at No. 48 on December 25th.
- October 1977, John Entwistle produces the self-titled debut LP by The Fabulous Poodles and played on the Lonnie Donegan LP “Puttin’ On The Style.”
- October 1977, Virgin Records in Britain release “Science Friction” backed with “She’s So Square” the first single by XTC. Both songs were written by singer and guitarist Andy Partridge and produced by John Leckie.
- October 1978, Brian Eno’s “Music For Films” is released. Originally issued as a limited edition of five hundred copies sent to filmmakers, the full release of the record added more tracks to the set. The ambient songs on the album were recorded from 1975 through 1978.
- October 1978, Chrysalis Records release “Hanging On The Telephone” by Blondie on 45. The song was a cover version of The Nerves’ song from 1976, written by Jack Lee. Produced by Mike Chapman, the single went to No. 5 in Britain.
- October 1980, Atco Records release “In The Midnight Hour,” a cover version of the Wilson Pickett hit, on 45. Ther record had a brief chart run, peaking at No. 106 on the US singles charts.
- October 1980, Atco Records release “People Who Died” by The Jim Carroll Band on 45. Written by Jim Carroll and produced by Earl McGrath, the record peaked at No. 103.
- October 1980, Virgin Records in Britain release “Towers Of London” by XTC on 45. The song was written by Andy Partridge, taken from the Steve Lillywhite produced LP “Black Sea.” The record peaked at No. 31 in England.
- October 1981, Capitol Records release “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider on 45. Written by singer and guitarist Tom Cochran, the record peaked at No. 11 in the US.
- October 1986, Legacy Records release “Raining In The City” by Roy Wood on 45. The song was 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 October 18th
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 of 10/18 The Trolls
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
Craig Maher / Exo-X-Xeno Wax Museum Interview
Craig Maher from Exo-X-Xeno talking about the 2025 album "Luminous Voyage"
- Click picture to listen to the interview with Craig talking about the Exo-X-Xeno project with Yes members Billy Sherwood, Jay Shellen and Patrick Moraz.
Nektar Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
Nektar interviewed on the second night of the 2025 "Mission To Mars" Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with Nektar discussiing the current tour, future plans and group history.
The Paul Bielatowicz Band Wax Museum interview 4/11/25
The Paul Bielatowicz Band interviewed on their 2025 Spring Tour
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with The Paul Bielatowicz Band discussiing the current tour and future plans.
Music and conversation with Andy Tillison of The Tangent
Wax Museum interview May 2024
- Click image to hear The Wax Museum's Andy Tillison interview
Jonas Reingold Interview
Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
Click image to hear the Wax Museum Interview with Jonas Reingold
Carl Giammarese / The Buckinghams Interview
The Buckinghams Radio Show
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's interviews on WRGG with Carl Giammarese from The Buckinghams in 2022 and 2024
Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
- Click Fripp's image to hear the King Crimson guitarist, record producer, solo artist in this 1985 interview for the WARX Sunday night Radio Oz program. Fripp discusses his then current Guitar Craft courses, King Crimson stories, his start in the music business, and more.
Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
- Click picture to hear Annie Haslam "In Words and Music". The iconic Renaissance singer talks at length about music, her life, and artwork for an exclusive interview in The Wax Museum.
Tommy James Wax Museum Interview January 2019
Tommy James
- Click picture to hear Tommy promoting all his planned 2019 activities; new album, Sirius XM radio show, touring, new movie, etc.
From the Radio Oz interview archives
Firesign Theatre interview 1980
- Click picture to listen to this archival interview with The Firesign Theatre recorded during their 1980 Fighting Clowns tour of the US for Radio Oz now available for purchase in the Firesign Theatre's "Fighting Clowns" of Hollywood" collection! Also check out this Tiny Ossman interview from 1995 -
Woody Lissauer Wax Museum Interview 2/22/20
Baltimore based Woody Lissauer steps up to the Wax Museum microphones for this in depth interview!
- Click picture to listen to the Wax Museum interview with Woody Lissauer and his latest album "Trouble The Water" with Barbara Ireland and Steve Caplan.
