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Next broadcast July 18th Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History July 13th
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 13th
- July 13th Birthday, Santana percussionist Pete Escovedo born in Pittsburgh, California in 1935.
- July 13th Birthday, J. Geils Band drummer Stephen Joe Bladd, born in 1942 in Dorchester, Matapan, Massachusettes.
- July 13th Birthday, Singer, guitarist, leader and co-founder of The Byrds, Roger McGuinn, born James Joseph McGuinn III in 1942 in Chicago, Illinois.
- July 13th Birthday, Cheech Marin of Cheech and Chong, born in 1946 in South Los Angeles, California.
Today In Rock and Roll History
July 13th
- July 13th, 1956 Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” backed with “Don't Be Cruel” is released on RCA Records. “Don't Be Cruel” was written by American songwriter Otis Blackwell. The recording featured Scotty Moore on lead guitar with Presley on rhythm, Bill Black on bass, D.J. Fontana on drums and backing vocals from the Jordanaires. Both “Hound Dog” and “Don't Be Cruel,” along with “Any Way That You Want Me” were recorded on July 2nd in RCA Studios in New York City with producer Stephen H. Shoals with significant contributions from Presley on the arrangement of the recordings. “Don’t Be Cruel” peaked at No. 1 on September 15th.
- July 13th, 1964 Capitol Records release “All Summer Long” by The Beach Boys. The album featured the hits “I Get Around,” “Little Honda” and “Wendy.” The record peaked at No. 4 on August 22nd.
- July 13th, 1964 The Supremes record “Come See About Me” at Hitsville USA Studios in Detroit with producers Brain Holland and Lamont Dozier. Co-written by Holland and Dozier with Eddie Holland, Motown Records released the song as a 45 on October 27th. The single became The Supremes third of five consecutive No. 1 hits in the US, on December 19th.
- July 13th, 1966 “Knock On Wood” backed with “Got To Make A Comeback” by Eddie Floyd is recorded at Stax Studio in Memphis, Tennessee with producer Jim Stewart and Booker T & The MG’s as the backing band. Stax Records released the songs on 45 two weeks later. “Knock On Wood” was co-written by Floyd and Steve Cropper at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, based on the chords used in “In The Midnight Hour,” a song the pair had written for Wilson Pickett. Released as a single A-side, the record peaked at No. 28 on December 10th, No. 1 R&B.
- July 13th, 1968 “Snoopy For President” by The Royal Guardsmen enters the singles charts following a June release on Laurie Records. The song was co-written by Dick Holler, Arnold Shapiro and producer Phil Gernhard. The record peaked a week later at No. 85.
- July 13th, 1968 Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bookends” was the No. 1 album for the third consecutive week.
- July 13th, 1968 Black Sabbath played their first gig at a small Blues club in Birmingham, England. The group would develop into one of the biggest hard rock bands of the 1970s and beyond.
- July 13th, 1972 Columbia Records release “Saturday In The Park” by Chicago on 45. Written by group keyboardist Robert Lamm and produced by Jim Guercio, the song reached No. 3 on September 23rd, to that point, their highest charting single.
- July 13th, 1973 The eponymous first album by Queen is released in Britain. The album was recorded at Trident and De Lane Lea Studios in London with producers John Anthony and Roy Thomas Baker. Issued September 4th in the US, the record peaked at No. 83 on February 2nd, 1974.
- July 13th, 1973 Columbia Records release “Hot Rails To Hell” backed with “7 Screaming Diz Busters” by the Blue Oyster Cult on 45. The song was written by BOC’s Jerry Bouchard and co-produced by Murray Krugman and Sandy Pearlman. The single did not chart in the US.
- July 13th, 1974 “Nothing From Nothing” by Billy Preston enters the singles charts following a June release on A&M Records. Produced by Billy Preston and co-written by Preston and Bruce Fisher, the song became his second No. 1 on October 19th. Preston performed the song on Saturday Night Live, becoming the show’s first musical guest.
- July 13th, 1974 Asylum Records release “Free Man In Paris” by Joni Mitchell on 45. Recorded in 1973 with Joni acting as the producer on the session, the track features Tom Scott on woodwinds, Jose Feliciano and Larry Carlton on guitars and David Crosby and Graham Nash on backing vocals. The record peaked at No. 22 on September 28th.
- July 13th, 1974 The self-titled debut album by The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band in released by Asylum Records. J.D. Souther, Chris Hillman and Richie Furay. The LP featured the hit single “Fallin’ In Love,” peaked at No. 11 on September 7thand earned a Gold Record.
- July 13th, 1974 “Walk On” by Neil Young enters the singles charts following a June release on Reprise Records. Young wrote “Walk On” and recorded it several times. It was one of two tracks produced by David Briggs on Young’s “On The Beach” LP, with Crazy Horse’s Billy Talbot and Ralph Molina on bass and drums on the session. “Walk On” peaked at No. 69 on August 17th.
- July 13th, 1985 “Last In Line,” the second album by Dio is released on Warner Brothers Records. Fronted by former Elf, Rainbow and Black Sabbath singer Ronnie James Dio, the LP peaked at No. 23 on August 25th.
- July 13th, 1985 The Live Aid concerts, produced by Bob Geldof, were held simultaneously in Philadelphia and London. The performances were shown live via satellite for eighteen consecutive hours and helped raise millions of dollars for starving people in Ethiopia.
- July 13th, 1992 Dark Horse Records release “Live In Japan” by George Harrison. Recorded in Japan with Eric Clapton and his band, the record peaked at No. 126 on August 1st.
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
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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Jonas Reingold in The Wax Museum
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Tommy James
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Woody Lissauer Wax Museum Interview 2/22/20
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