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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History April 15th
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 15th
- April 15th Birthday, Blues singer Bessie Smith, born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1894. She died on September 26th, 1937, aged 43.
- April 15th Birthday, Guitarist and singer Roy Clark, born in Meaherrin, Virginia in 1933. He died on November 15th, 2018, aged 85.
- April 15th Birthday, Guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer Dave Edmunds, born in Cardiff, Wales in 1944.
- April 15th Birthday, Van der Graaf Generator saxophonist, flutist and songwriter David Jackson, born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England in 1947.
- April 15th Birthday, Matching Mole, 801, Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt and Quiet Sun bassist Bill MacCormick, born in 1951 in London, England.
- April 15th Birthday, Radiohead guitarist and songwriter Ed O’Brien, born in 1968 in Oxford, England.
- April 15th Birthday, Blodwyn Pig saxophonist, solo artist and songwriter Jack Lancaster, born in Britain, year unknown.
Today In Rock and Roll History
April 15th
- April 15th, 1957 Sun Records release “So Long I’m Gone” backed with “Miss Froggie” by Warren Smith as a 45 and 78 rpm single. “So Long I’m Gone” was written by Roy Orbison.” The B-side, self-written by Warren Smith. The single peaked at No. 72 on June 17th, 1957.
- April 15th. 1961 “Running Scared” by Roy Orbison enters the singles charts. Roy and his songwriting partner Joe Melson would later say that they wrote the song in about five minutes. Sessions for “Running Scared” were produced by Fred Foster and engineered by Bill Porter. It was Foster who coaxed Orbison into the song’s unique vocal arrangement of a song without a chorus and a full throated vocal to end the song, demonstrating the singer’s powerful range. The record spent seventeen weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 1 on June 5th.
- April 15th, 1964 Odeon Records in Germany release “The Beatles Beat” LP.
- April 15th, 1965 Motown Records release “Back In My Arms Again” by The Supremes on 45. Co-produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier and co-written by the pair with Eddie Holland during two sessions from December 1st, 1964 and February 24th, 1965 at Hitsville USA Studio A in Detroit. On June 12th, six weeks after it entered the singles charts, “Back In My Arms Again” became The Supremes fifth consecutive No. 1 hit.
- April 15th, 1966 Columbia Records release Simon and Garfunkel’s “I Am A Rock” on 45. The song made its debut a year earlier on a solo LP Paul Simon recorded in Britain before the huge success he would enjoy on the charts with Art Garfunkel. Produced by Bob Johnston, the record entered the charts in May and peaked at No. 3 on June 11th during an eleven-week chart run.
- April 15th, 1966 HMV Records in Britain release “Pretty Flamingo” by Manfred Mann on 45. United Artist Records released the single stateside in July. The song was written by American songwriter and record producer Mark Barkan. The band recorded the song at EMI Studios in London with producer John Burgess and engineer Geoff Emerick. Future Cream bassist Jack Bruce plays on the song, then a member of Manfred Mann. “Pretty Flamingo” entered the US singles charts in July and peaked at No. 29 on August 6th, No. 1 in Britain and Ireland.
- April 15th, 1966 Decca Records in Britain release the fourth studio album by The Rolling Stones, “Aftermath.” Recorded over two sessions in December 1965 and March 1966 at RCA Studios in Hollywood, produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. The first to feature all group written compositions, the album is considered to be an artistic breakthrough for the Rolling Stones. Brian Jones emerged as a key contributor and experimented with instruments not usually associated with popular music, including the sitar, Appalachian dulcimer, Japanese koto and marimbas, as well as guitar and harmonica. The American release of the album, out on June 20th, featured a different track listing. The US version reached No. 2 on August 13th.
- April 15th, 1966 Buffalo Springfield perform for the first time, opening for The Byrds at a concert in San Bernardino, California.
- April 15th, 1967 Philips Records release “Holiday For Clowns” by Brian Hyland on 45. Produced by Snuff Garrett, the song was co-written by Glen Hardin and Sonny Curtis. The record entered the singles charts in May and peaked at No. 94 on June 10th.
- April 15th, 1967 United Artists Records release “I Want You To Be My Baby” by Ellie Greenwich. The song was written by Jon Hendricks for Louis Jordan, whose recording of the song was a hit in 1953. The Ellie Greenwich version was her only charting record as a solo artist. Produced by Bob Crewe, the record entered the charts on May 6th and peaked at No. 83 a week later.
- April 15th, 1968 Capitol Records release Steve Miller’s first single “Sittin’ In Circles,” featuring Boz Scaggs on guitar, Lonnie Turner on bass, Jim Peterman on organ and mellotron and Tim Davis on drums. All the band members sing on the song. “Sittin’ In Circles” was written by Barry Goldberg and produced by Glyn Johns.
- April 15th, 1971 Capitol Records release “Survival,” the fourth studio album by Grand Funk Railroad. Produced by Terry Knight at Cleveland Recording Company in Cleveland, Ohio, the record peaked at No. 6 on May 29th.
- April 15th, 1971 Motown Record release “Nathan Jones” by The Supremes on 45. Produced by Frank Wilson and co-written by Kathy Wakefield and Leonard Caston, the song was one of eight Top Forty entries The Supremes recorded after Diana Ross left the group for a solo career. All three members, Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, sing the song’s lead vocal in unison, with backing from Motown house band The Funk Brothers. “Nathan Jones” entered the charts in May and reached No. 16 on June 19th.
- April 15th, 1972 Reprise Records release “Bare Trees,” the sixth studio album by Fleetwood Mac. The group produced all but one song on the record at De Lane Lea Studios in London. It was the last Fleetwood Mac LP recorded with guitarist Danny Kirwin. The record peaked at No. 70 on June 3rd.
- April 15th, 1972 “Sugaree” by Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia enters the singles charts following a March release on Warner Brothers Records. The record peaked at No. 94 a week later.
- April 15th, 1974 Track Records release “Radar Love” by Dutch band Golden Earring on 45. Co-written by George Kooymans and Barry Hay and self-produced by Golden Earring, the single was an edit of the longer LP version. The record entered the singles charts in May and went to No. 13 on July 27th.
- April 15th, 1974 Sounds Of The South Records release “Second Helping,” the second album by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Produced by Al Kooper at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia and The Record Plant in Los Angeles, Bobby Keys, Merry Clayton and Clydie King were among the artists who played sessions for the LP. The album reached No. 12 on October 12th and featured the band’s biggest hit single “Sweet Home Alabama.”
- April 15th, 1974 Epic Records release “Please Come To Boston” by Dave Loggins on 45. The record entered the charts in June and peaked at No. 5 on August 10th. “Please Come To Boston” was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Male Pop Vocal performance.
- April 15th, 1976 Warner Brothers Records release “Time Loves A Hero,” the sixth studio album by Little Feat. Guests on the LP include Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons from The Doobie Brothers. The record was produced by Ted Templeman at Sunset Sound, Warner Brothers, Western Recorders, all in Hollywood and The Record Plant in Sausalito, California. The record peaked at No. 34 on June 18th.
- April 15th, 1976 Ronnie Wood makes his recording debut with The Rolling Stones when the band release their new LP “Black and Blue.” Sessions for the album at Musicland in Munich and in Rotterdam with the Rolling Stones Mobile Unit stretched from December 1974 through the February 1976 overdub sessions at Mountain Recording in Montreux, Switzerland. Guitarists Wayne Perkins and Harvey Mandel also played on the record, as do Nicky Hopkins and Billy Preston. Co-produced by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, credited as The Glimmer Twins, the record peaked at No. 1 on May 15th.
- April 15th, 1976 Island Records in Britain release “Don’t Let Me Be Wrong” backed with “Get To You,” the debut 45 by The Dodgers. The band were formed around keyboardist Bob Jackson and guitarist and bassist John Wilson. At the time, the group included former Badfinger member Tom Evans on bass. The single’s B-side “Get To You” was written by Jackson and Evans. “Don’t Let Me Be Wrong” was written by John Wilson. Both tracks were produced by Muff Winwood.
- April 15th, 1977 Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant from Lynyrd Skynyrd are presented with a Gold Record award for the album “One More From The Road” from Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson. The LP was recorded at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre. Released September 13th, 1976, it was certified Gold on October 26th, 1976, platinum on December 30th, 1976 and three times platinum on July 21st, 1987.
- April 15th, 1977 The Jam release their debut single “In The City.” The song was written by Jam guitarist and singer Paul Weller. The record was co-produced by Vic Smith and Chris Parry. It was the first of eighteen consecutive British Top Forty hits by the band.
- April 15th, 1978 Epic Records release “You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish,” the seventh studio album by REO Speedwagon. The LP was co-produced by Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Paul Grupp and John Boylan at Sound City and Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles and Paragon Recording Studios in Chicago, Illinois. The record reached No. 29 on June 17th and featured two hits, “Roll With The Changes” and “Time For Me To Fly.”
- April 15th, 1978 MCA Records release “Almost Summer” by Celebration, featuring Beach Boy singer Mike Love on 45. The song was co-written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine. The record entered the charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 28 on June 24th.
- April 15th, 1978 Warner Brothers Records release “Runnin’ With The Devil” by Van Halen on 45. The song was co-written by Eddie and Alex Van Halen and group bassist Michael Anthony. The record peaked at No. 84 on May 20th.
- April 15th, 1978 “Do You Wanna Dance” by The Ramones enters the singles charts. A cover of the Bobby Freeman original from 1958, the record was co-produced by Tommy Ramone and Ed Stasium, issued from The Ramones’ 1977 “Rocket To Russia” album and also part of the soundtrack to the movie Rock And Roll High School. The record spent five weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 86 on May 6th.
- April 15th, 1978 “You Belong To Me” by Carly Simon enters the singles charts on Elektra Records. The song was co-written by Carly Simon and Michael McDonald. The record peaked at No. 6 on June 24th.
- April 15th, 1987 Capitol Records release “Something So Strong,” the second single by Crowded House. Co-written by Neil Finn and the band’s producer, Mitchell Froom, the record logged twenty-one weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 7 on July 25th.
- April 15th, 1987 “I’ll Be You” by The Replacements enters the singles charts on Sire Records. The song was written by band guitarist and singer Paul Westerburg from the album “Don’t Tell A Soul.” Co-produced by The Replacements and Matt Wallace, it was the group’s only chart single, peaking at No. 51 on May 13th.
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 Byne 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 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 4/12 The Move
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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