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Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History October 8th
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 8th
- December 8th Birthday, Pianist, arranger, songwriter and record producer Jimmy Wisner, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1931. Under the name Kokomo, he released a hit single called “Asia Minor” and wrote and produced hits by Tommy James and The Shondells, The Searchers, Freddy Cannon, Len Barry and many others. Wisner died March 13th, 2018 at the age of 86.
- December 8th Birthday, Solo artist and a member of The Impressions, Jerry Butler, born in Sunflower, Mississippi in 1939.
- December 8th Birthday, The Hollies drummer Bobby Elliot, born in 1941 in Burnley, Lancashire, England.
- December 8th Birthday, The Doors singer Jim Morrison, born James Douglas Morrison in Melbourne, Florida in 1943. Morrison died on July 3rd, 1971, aged 27.
- December 8th Birthday The Allman Brothers Band keyboardist and vocalist and solo artist Gregg Allman, born in 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee. He died on May 27th, 2017, aged 69.
- December 8th Birthday, Gentle Giant bassist, songwriter and record producer Ray Shulman, born in Portsmouth, England in 1949. He died on March 30th, 2023 at the age of 73.
- December 8th Birthday, Edgar Winter group singer and solo artist Dan Hartman, born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in 1950. Hartman died on March 22nd, 1994, aged 43.
- December 8th Birthday, Utopia bassist, singer and solo artist Kasim Sulton, born in 1955 in Staten Island, New York.
- December 8th Birthday, Warren Cuccurullo from Frank Zappa’s band, Missing Persons and Duran Duran, born in Brooklyn, New York in 1956.
- December 8th Birthday, Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, born in 1957 in Hackney, London, England.
- December 8th Birthday, Singer Sinead OConnor, born in Glenageary, Republic of Northern Ireland in 1966. She passed away on July 26th, 2023 at the age of 56.
Today In Rock and Roll History
October 8th
- December 8th, 1961 The Supremes begin recording their third single, the Smokey Robinson penned “Your Heart Belongs To Me.” Released May 8th, 1962, this was the last single that The Supremes made as a quartet. Fourth member Barbara Martin would leave the group to start a family. The track became the group’s first charting record, peaking at No. 95 on August 18th, 1962.
- December 8th, 1962 Formal Records release “Mama Didn’t Lie” by Robbins, Illinois R&B singer Jan Bradley on 45. The song was written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Formal Records’ owner Don Talty. When the song became a regional hit, Chess Records picked it up for national distribution. The single peaked at No. 14 on March 9th, 1963, No. 8 R&B.
- December 8th, 1962 ABC-Paramount Records release the novelty song “Teenage Has-Been” by Barry Mann on 45. The song parodied the success of Mann’s 1961 hit “Who Put The Bomp”. Produced by Barry Mann, who co-wrote the song with Cynthia Weil and Gerry Goffin.
- December 8th, 1962 Amy Records release “The Lone Teen Ranger” backed with “Lisa” by Jerry Landis on 45. Written and produced by Jerry Landis; Landis was an early career stage name for Paul Simon.
- December 8th, 1962 Dynamic Sound Records release “Always” backed with “I’ve Got My Mind Set On You” by James Ray on 45. Written by Rudy Clark, the track was produced and conducted by Hutch Davie. George Harrison bought the self-titled James Ray album on Caprice Records, that featured “I’ve Got My Mind Set On You” when he visited his sister Louis in America in 1963. Harrison’s version of the song went to No. 1 in 1987.
- December 8th, 1965 Columbia Records release Bob Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window” on 45. Written by Bob Dylan, the track was recorded at sessions in October and November with producer Bob Johnston. Dylan was backed in the studio by The Hawks, later known as The Band. The record reached No. 58 on January 29th, 1966, No. 17 in Britain.
- December 8th, 1967 CBS Records in Britain release “Everlasting Love” by London, England band Love Affair. A US hit for Robert Knight co-written by Buzz Carson and Mac Gayden in 1967. The Love Affair version was produced by Mike Smith, arranged by Keith Mansfield. The 45 went to No. 1 in England in January 1968
- December 8th, 1967 Parlophone Records release the “Magical Mystery Tour” EP on two 7” discs in Britain. The record preceded the showing of The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour film on British television on December 26th. In America, where the EP format was not common by 1967, Capitol Records would pair the songs with the recent single A and B sides of “All You Need Is Love,” “Hello Goodbye” and “Penny Lane” to form the “Magical Mystery Tour” album.
- December 8th, 1967 The Rolling Stones release their sixth studio album, “Their Satanic Majesties Request.” The album was recorded during sessions from February through October at Olympic Studios in London with the band acting as their own producer. The album reached No. 2 in Britain and in the US, on January 6th, 1968.
- December 8th, 1967 Traffic’s debut LP “Mr. Fantasy” is released in Britain. The record was recorded at Olympic Studios in London from April through November with producer Jimmy Miller. The first US version came out in early 1968 with the title “Heaven Is in Your Mind,” featuring a different track listing and a different cover with only three members of the group pictured. Guitarist Dave Mason had left for a solo career shortly after its release. The album reached No. 8 in Britain.
- December 8th, 1969 The GTO’s LP “Permanent Damage” LP is release by Straight Records. The album was produced by Frank Zappa. Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, Ry Cooder, Lowell George and members of The Mothers Of Invention, Ian Underwood, Don Preston, Roy Estrada and Jimmy Carl Black make guest appearances on the record.
- December 8th, 1972 Island Record in Britain release “Wishing Well” by Free on 45. The song was co-written and produced by the band, Paul Rogers, Simon Kirke, Tetsu Yamauchi, Rabbit Bundrick and Paul Kossoff. The record peaked at No. 7 in Britain.
- December 8th, 1972, Rare Earth Records release “We’re Gonna Have A Good Time” by Rare Earth on 45. The song was co-written and produced by Michael Olson, Ray Monette, Pete Rivera, Gil Bridges, Ed Guzman and Tom Baird. It was the band’s final single released on the Motown Records Rare Earth imprint. The record peaked at No. 93 on February 10th.
- December 8th, 1973 Capricorn Records release Gregg Allmans solo version of “Midnight Rider.” The song was co-written by Gregg Allman with roadie Robert Kim Payne adding a few lines in the third verse. Originally released on the second Allman Brothers album “Idlewild South” in 1971, Allman rearranged the song for his first solo album “Laid Back.” Produced by Tom Dowd, the record peaked at No. 19 on February 23rd, 1974.
- December 8th, 1973 Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is the No. 1 single in the US.
- December 8th, 1973 Blue Thumb Records release The Pointer Sisters’ “Wang Dang Doodle” on 45. Written by blues artist Willie Dixon and first recorded by Howlin Wolf in 1960, The Pointer Sister’s version was co-produced by David Rubenson and Friends, Inc. and reached No. 61 on February 2nd, 1974.
- December 8th, 1973 Al Green’s “Livin’ For You” enters the singles charts. Co-written by Green and the record’s producer Willie Mitchell, the record peaked at No. 19 on January 19th, 1974, No. 1 R&B.
- December 8th, 1973 The Raspberries’ “I’m A Rocker” enters the singles charts. Written by Eric Carmen, the track was produced by Jimmy Ienner at The Record Plant Studios in New York City. “I’m A Rocker” peaked at No. 94 on December 22nd.
- December 8th, 1973 Harvest Records repackage the first two Pink Floyd albums “Piper At The Gates Of Dawn” and “A Saucerful Of Secrets” and release them as a double album set, “A Nice Pair.” The record peaked at No. 36 on February 9th.
- December 8th, 1975 The benefit concert “A Night of The Hurricane” is held at Madison Square Garden, the last date on Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue tour. The show features many non-musical celebrities and raises over one hundred thousand dollars for the release of imprisoned boxer “Hurricane” Carter.
- December 8th, 1975 The Apple Records label releases “This Guitar Can’t Keep From Crying” by George Harrison on 45, out February 6th, 1976 in Britain. Sessions for the song at A&M Studios in Los Angeles in April and May 1975 with Harrison and Jesse Ed Davis trading slide guitar parts. George Harrison, David Foster and Gary Wright all did keyboard parts for the song. It was the last single to be released on The Beatles Apple Records label until the imprint was revived in the 1990s.
- December 8th, 1976 The Eagles sixth album “Hotel California” is released by Asylum Records. The LP was recorded at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida and at The Record Plant Studios, Los Angeles, California. By the end of December the record would go Platinum and begin the first of eight non-consecutive weeks at the top of the album charts on January 15th. It was the Eagles’ first LP with Joe Walsh and last with bassist Randy Meisner and to date, has sold over twenty-one million copies.
- December 8th, 1977 Arista Records release “Father Christmas” by The Kinks on 45. The song was written and the record produced by the band’s Ray Davies. Sessions for the song began in 1976 and completed in October 1977 at The Kinks’ Konk Studios in Hornsey, London. The record came out on November 25th in Britain.
- December 8th, 1979 Full Moon Records release “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg on 45. Recorded in November the song was written by Fogelberg who co-produced the track with Robert Putnam and Morty Lewis. “Longer” peaked at No. 2 on March 15th, 1980.
- December 8th, 1979 “Babe” by Styx became the band’s third of eight US Top Ten hits and their only No. 1 single.
- December 8th, 1979 “Voices” by Cheap Trick enters the singles charts. The song was written by band guitarist Rick Nielson, produced by Tom Werman. An early version was recorded with the band’s bassist Tom Petersson on lead vocals but was rerecorded with Petersson and Neilson on backing vocals and Robin Zander on lead. Steve Lukather of the band Toto plays uncredited lead and acoustic guitar on the song. Released on the band’s fourth LP “Dream Police,” the record peaked at No. 32 on February 2nd, 1980.
- December 8th, 1979 Electric Light Orchestra’s “Last Train To London” enters the singles charts on Jet Records. Issued from the band’s “Discovery” album, the song was written and the track produced by Jeff Lynne at Musicland Studios in Munich, West Germany. The record peaked at No. 39 on February 2nd, 1980. One the same day, Jet Records’ “ELO’s Greatest Hits” collection enters the charts. The album peaked at No. 30 on January 5th.
- December 8th, 1979 Bonnie Raitt’s “You’re Gonna Get What’s Coming” enters the singles charts. Written by Robert Palmer, the track was recorded by Val Garay and produced by Peter Asher at Sound Factory Studios in Hollywood for Raitt’s album “The Glow.” The record peaked at No. 73 on January 12th, 1980.
- December 8th, 1979 The Inmates’ “Dirty Water” enters the singles charts on Polydor Records. Written by Ed Cobb, the song was a cover version of The Standells hit from 1965. The Inmates version was produced by Vic Maile and peaked at No. 51 on January 19th, 1980.
- December 8th, 1979 “ELO’s Greatest Hits” enters the album charts following a November release on Jet Records. The record peaked at No. 30 on January 5th, 1980.
- December 8th, 1980 Warner Brothers Records release “Fleetwood Mac Live.” The double album set was mostly recorded during the 1979-1980 Tusk Tour but also included select tracks from earlier years and sound checks. Co-produced by the band, Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat, the record peaked at No. 14 in the US.
- December 8th, 1980 EMI Records release the soundtrack album from the movie Flash Gordonby Queen. The record was mostly instrumental music that featured in the movie, recorded at Townhouse, Music Center and Advision Studios in London with Brian May and Reinhold Mack co-producing. The LP peaked at No. 23 on February 7th, 1981.
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 4th
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 10/4 Slade
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
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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
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Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
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Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
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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.
