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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

September 29th

September 29th Birthday, Singer, songwriter, pianist Jerry Lee Lewis, born in 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana. Lewis passed away on October 28th, 2022 at the age of 87.

September 29th Birthday, Singer, songwriter Tommy Boyce of the hitmaking duo Boyce and Hart, born in 1939 in Charlottesville, Virginia. He died on November 23rd, 1994 at the age of 55.

September 29th Birthday, French violinist and solo artist Jean-Luc Ponty, born in 1942.

September 29th Birthday, King Crimson drummer and session artist Ian Wallace, born in Bury, Lancashire, England in 1946. He played in The Warriors with a pre-Yes Jon Anderson. Wallace passed away from cancer on February 22nd, 2007.

September 29th Birthday, Grand Funk Railroad singer, guitarist and solo artist Mark Farner, born in 1948 in Flint, Michigan.

September 29th Birthday, Blues Image and Iron Butterfly guitarist, singer and songwriter Mike Pinera, born Carlos Michael Pinera in 1948 in Tampa, Florida.

September 29th Birthday, Asia singer and guitarist John Payne, born in 1958 in Luton, England.

Today In Rock and Roll History

September 29th

September 29th, 1956 Bill Haley has five songs in the British Top Thirty, “See You Later, Alligator” (No. 19), “Razzle Dazzle” (No. 17), “Rock Around The Clock” (No. 13), “The Saints Rock n Roll” (No. 11) and “Rockin’ Through The Rye” (No. 4).

September 29th, 1957 The Crickets record “Maybe Baby” at Tinker Air Force base in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Co-written by Buddy Holly and his producer Norman Petty, the song was credited to The Crickets when it was released as both a 45 and 78 rpm record on Brunswick Records on January 23rd, 1958. “Maybe Baby” went to No. 18 on March 31st and No. 4 in Britain.

September 29th, 1958 Imperial Records release “I Got A Feeling” backed with “Lonesome Town” by Ricky Nelson on 45. Backed on vocals by The Jordanaires, the songs were written by American songwriter Baker Knight. “I Got A Feeling” peaked at No. 10 on November 8th while “Lonesome Town” went to No. 7 on November 29th.

September 29th, 1964 The Beatles record “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” at EMI Studios in London, England with producer George Martin. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the song was placed on two British releases, the “Beatles For Sale” LP and the “Beatles For Sale (No. 2)” EP. In America, the song became the B-side of the single “Eight Days A Week.” The A-side went to No. 1 while “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” charted at No. 39 on March 20th, 1965.

September 29th, 1965 The movie Beach Ball starring Edd “Kookie” Byrnes is released by Paramount Pictures. The Supremes, The Walker Brothers, The Hondells and The Righteous Brothers made singing appearances in the film.

September 29th, 1966 Jimi Hendrix meets bassist Noel Redding when Redding unsuccessfully auditions for Eric Burdon’s new Animals lineup at the Birdland club in London. Redding became the bassist for Hendrix’ next project, the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

September 29th, 1967 Drummer Mickey Hart joins the Grateful Dead onstage for their second set at the Straight Theater in San Francisco and becomes the band’s sixth member at the invitation of Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann.

September 29th, 1970 Elton John records “Friends” and “Michelle’s Song” at Trident Studios in London. Co-written by Elton and Bernie Taupin for the Friends movie soundtrack and produced by Gus Dudgeon, “Friends” was released as a single by UNI Records on March 13th, 1971. The record entered the charts a week later and peaked at No. 34 on April 24th.

September 29th, 1970 A solo Gary Puckett releases the Burt Bacharach, Hal David song “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” on Columbia Records. Produced by Richard Perry and arranged by Artie Butler, the song entered the singles charts in October and peaked at No. 61 on November 21st.

September 29th, 1973 Big Tree Records release “Smokin’ In The Boys Room” by Brownsville Station on 45. Co-written by band members Mike Lutz and Cub Coda and produced by Doug Morris, the single peaked at No. 3 on January 19th, earning a Gold Record for a million copies sold.

September 29th, 1973 Bronze Records release “Sweet Freedom” by Uriah Heep. The LP was produced by Garry Bron at Chateau d’Herouville, France in June and July. The record peaked at No. 33 on November 10th.

September 29th, 1976 Mercury Records release the double live album “All The World’s A Stage” by Rush. The album was recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto on June 11ththrough the 13th during their 2112 tour. The record peaked at No. 40 on November 20th.

September 29th, 1977 Billy Joel’s “The Stranger” LP is released. Recorded at A&R Recording, Inc., New York City with producer Phil Ramone, the album would feature four US Top Thirty singles, “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song),” “Just The Way You Are,” “Only The Good Die Young” and “She’s Always A Woman” and has sold over ten million copies worldwide.

September 29th, 1978 Virgin Records in Britain release “Are You Receiving Me?” backed with “Instant Tunes” by XTC on 45. “Are You Receiving Me” was written by Andy Partridge and “Instant Tunes” by group bassist and singer Colin Moulding. Both songs were produced by John Leckie.

September 29th, 1979 “Starry Eyes” by British band The Records enters the singles charts. The band signed to Virgin Records in Britain in 1978 and released “Starry Eyes” there in December. Influenced by American power pop, the song was a bigger hit in the US than in the UK, peaking at No. 56 on October 20th.

September 29th, 1979 Warner Brothers Records release “The Glow,” the seventh album by Bonnie Raitt. Produced by Peter Asher, it was one of the first albums to be recorded and mixed digitally. Among the session players on the record were Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtell, Bill Payne, Freebo, David Sanborn, Paul Butterfield and J,D. Souther. The LP featured the hit single “You’re Gonna Get What’s Coming,” written by Robert Palmer and peaked at No. 30 on December 8th.

September 29th, 1979 The Alan Parsons Project “Damned If I Do” enters the singles charts. Released as a 45 from the group’s “Eve” album, the record featured singer Lenny Zakatec. Produced by 45Parsons, who co-wrote the song with Eric Woolfson, “Damned If I Do” peaked at No. 16 in Canada and No. 27 in the US on December 22nd.

September 29th, 1980 Tamla Records release “Hotter Than July” the nineteenth album by Stevie Wonder. The record was produced by Wonder at his own Wonderland Studios in Los Angeles, California. The LP peaked at No. 3 on December 6th.

September 29th, 1981 “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by The Police enters the singles charts on A&M Records. It was the first single issued in America from the band’s “Ghost In The Machine” LP. Written by Sting and co-produced by the band and Hugh Padgham, the studio track was built upon Sting’s demo of the song, with keyboardist Jean Roussell overdubbing parts, then adding Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers parts separately. The record reached No. 3 on December 5th. “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” was issued as the second single from the LP in Britain on October 16th, where it went to No. 1.

September 29th, 1982 Columbia Records release “Tug Of War” by Paul McCartney on 45. The song served as the title track of McCartney’s third solo album. Written by Paul McCartney and produced by George Martin, the studio session featured guitar parts by both Eric Stewart and Denny Laine, one of Laine’s final recordings with McCartney. The record peaked at No. 53 on October 23rd.

September 29th, 1983 Sire Records release the live album “Stop Making Sense” by Talking Heads. Self-produced by Talking Heads, the LP was a companion to the film of the same name, recorded live at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood in December 1983. The record peaked at No. 41 on October 13th.

September 29th, 1984 “Out Of Touch” by Hall and Oates enters the singles charts. Co-written by Daryl Hall and John Oates, who co-produced the track with Bob Clearmountain, the song was released as the lead single from the duo’s “Big Bam Boom” LP. The record peaked at No. 1 on December 8th.

September 29th, 1992 Columbia Records release “Dirt,” the second album by Alice In Chains and the last recorded with all four original members. The LP peaked at No. 6 on October 17th and was certified five times platinum with over five million copies sold.

September 29th, 1997 EMI Records release Paul McCartney’s second full length classical piece, “Standing Stone.” The recorded piece was recorded by the eighty-piece London Symphony Orchestral and a one hundred and twenty voice choir, produced by John Fraser and conducted by Lawrence Foster at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios from April 30th through May 2nd. The piece received its world premiere performance at The Royal Albert Hall on October 14th.

September 29th, 1997 Reprise Records release “Taming The Tiger,” the sixteenth studio album by Joni Mitchell. Mitchell produced the LP. Mitchell made heavy use of a synthesized guitar system that allowed her to mimic the alternative tuning she once popularized while playing in standard tuning. The LP peaked at No. 75 on October 17th.

September 29th, 2009 Al Stewart’s Wallaby Trails record label releases “Uncorked,” a live album by Al Stewart that features guitarist Dave Nachmanoff.

Miscellaneous September

September 1965 Muriel Records release “Lookie There” backed with “Wail Baby Wail” by Tommy Louis with Marshall and The Versatiles on 45. Ike Turner plays guitar on the tracks.

September 1967 CBS Records in Britain release “Love Chronicles,” the second album by Al Stewart. “Love Chronicles” was issued in the US in September. The album was issued in America in January 1969 on Epic Records. The LP was co-produced by Roy Guest, John Wood and Al Stewart. Session musicians included Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and four members of Fairport Convention, Simon Nicol, Richard Thompson, Martin Lamble and Ashley Hutchings. Songs on the record were orchestrated by Alexander Faris.

September 1970 Liberty Records release “Love Is A Game” backed with “Takin’ Back My Name” by a solo Ike Turner on 45. “Love Is A Game” was written by Tina Turner’s sister Ailllene Bullock. “Takin’ Back My Name” was credited to Leah Graham, an alias for Ike Turner, who produced and arranged the tracks as well.

September 1973, RCA Records in Britain release “The Tra La La Days Are Over” by Neil Sedaka. Recorded at Strawberry Studios in the Spring with Eric Stewart producing and 10cc as the backing band, the LP produced “Love Will Keep Us Together.” The song, co-written by Sedaka with Howard Greenfield, would become a huge hit for The Captain And Tennille in 1976.

September 1975 A&M Records release “White Punks On Dope” by the Tubes on 45. The song was co-written by Bill Spooner, Roger Steen and Michael Evans and produced by Al Kooper from the band’s eponymous first album. The single was edited to omit the curse word in the lyrics.

September 1977 DEVO release their second single on their own Booji Boy label. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was a cover version of The Rolling Stones song. “(I Saw My Baby Getting) Sloppy” was co-written by DEVO. The 45 was produced by the group. “Satisfaction” was rerecorded by DEVO and released as their major label debut for Warner Brothers Records a year later.

September 1979 Reprise Records release “Rust Never Sleeps (Hey Hey, My My [Out Of The Blue])” by Neil Young on 45. The A-side was the acoustic version of the song. The flip side was the full band version, recorded with the band Crazy Horse and both from the “Rust Never Sleeps” LP.

September 1979 CBS Records in Ireland issue the seven-inch EP “Out Of Control” backed with “Stories For Boys” & “Boy/Girl,” the first release by U2. All three songs were written collectively by the band and co-produced by U2 and Chas De Whalley.

September 1981 David Bowie records the five songs written for Bertolt Brecht’s Baal. Bowie appeared in the BBC television production of Baal. The play was transmitted in Britain on March 2nd, 1982. The tracks were co-produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti, who also played bass on the recordings. The EP was released in September 1982, reaching No. 29 in Britain.

September 1981 Island Records in Britain release “Gloria” by U2 on 45. The second single released from the group’s second album “October,” the song was written collectively by U2. “Gloria” was recorded during July and August sessions with producer Steve Lillywhite at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland. The record peaked at No. 55 in Britain.

September 1986 Warner Brothers Records release “Summer Of Love” by The B-52’s on 45. The song was co-written Keith Strickland, Rocky Wilson, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, produced by Tony Mansfield from the LP “Bouncing Off The Satellites.” The single had a unique remix with additional production by Shep Pettibone.