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Rock and Roll Birthdays

Today's Rock and Roll Birthdays

July 18th

July 18th Birthday, Early Rock and Roll singer Screaming Jay Hawkins, born in 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio. Hawkins died on February 12th, 2000 at the age of 70.

July 18th Birthday, Original Rolling Stones pianist Ian Stewart, born in 1938 in Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland. He passed away from a heart attack on December 12th, 1985 at the age of 47.

July 18th Birthday, Keyboardist and vocalist Brian Auger, born Brian Albert Gordon Auger in 1939 in Hammersmith, London, England.

July 18th Birthday, Singer Dion DiMucci, professionally known as Dion, born in The Bronx, New York City in 1939.
July 18th Birthday, Motown singer Martha Reeves, born in 1941 in Eufala, Alabama.

July 18th Birthday, Blues and rock guitarist Lonnie Mack, born in West Harrison, Indiana in 1941. Mack died on April 21st, 2016 at the age of 74.

July 18th Birthday, Animals bassist and solo artist Danny McCulloch, born in Shepherd’s Bush, West London, England in 1945. He passed away of heart failure on January 29th, 2015 at the age of 69.

July 18th Birthday, American singer Evie Sands, born in Brooklyn, New York City in 1946.

July 18th Birthday, Golden Earring drummer Cesar Zuiderwyk, born Cornelius Johannes Zuiderwyk in The Hague, Netherlands in 1948.
July 18th Birthday, Raspberries and Fotomaker guitarist, singer and songwriter Wally Bryson, born Wallace Carter Bryson in Gastonia, North Carolina in 1949.

July 18th Birthday, A founding member of The Clash and Public Image Limited, guitarist Keith Levine, born in 1957 in London, England. He passed away on November 11th, 2022 at the age of 65.

July 18th Birthday, Nigel Twist, the drummer from British band The Alarm, born Nigel Buckle in 1958 in Manchester, England.

July 18th Birthday, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam drummer Jack Irons, born in Los Angeles, California in 1962.

Today In Rock and Roll History

July 18th

July 18th, 1959 “Dedicated To The One I Love” by The Shirelles enters the singles charts following a May release on Scepter Records. The song was co-written by Lowman Pauling and Lance Bass. Pauling was the guitarist in The 5 Teens, who first recorded the song in in 1957. The record peaked at No. 3 on April 1st, 1961, nearly two years after it’s May 1959 release.

July 18th, 1963 The Beatles record a session in Studio Two at EMI Studios, 3 Abbey Road, St. John’s Wood, London with producer George Martin, engineer Norman Smith and second engineer Richard Langham, 7:00-10:45pm. Recorded that night were “You Really Got A Hold On Me” written by Smokey Robinson Jr. The band recorded eleven takes with George Martin on piano, three false starts, four complete, four edit pieces (including a false start). Takes seven, ten and eleven were edited and mixed for mono by George Martin in Studio Three at EMI Studios on August 21st with engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick for release on the mono edition of “With The Beatles” on November 22nd. The stereo mix of takes seven, ten and eleven was completed by George Martin in Studio Three at EMI Studios on October 29th with engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick and the unknown engineer “B.T.” for release on the stereo edition of “With The Beatles” also on November 22nd. “Money (That’s What I Want)” co-written by Janie Bradford and Berry Gordy Jr. Seven takes recorded including a piano edit piece. With no member of The Beatles present, takes six and seven were edited together and mixed for mono by George Martin in Studio Three at EMI Studios on August 21st with engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick. Two more piano takes were recorded (and mixed?) at EMI Studio Two on September 30thwith no member of The Beatles present, by George Martin with engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick. The stereo mix of an edit of takes six and seven was completed by George Martin in Studio Three at EMI Studios on October 30thwith engineers Norman Smith and A.B. Lincoln for release on the stereo edition of “With The Beatles” (Parlophone PCS 3045) on November 22nd. “Devil In Her Heart” written by Richard Brian Drapkin. Six takes, three takes and three overdubs, including Ringo on maracas. Take six was mixed for mono by George Martin in Studio Three at EMI Studios on August 21st with engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick for release on the mono edition of “With The Beatles” on November 22nd. The stereo mix of take six was completed by George Martin in Studio Three at EMI Studios on November 29th with engineers Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick and the unknown engineer “B.T.” for release on the stereo edition of “With The Beatles” on November 22nd. “’Til There Was You” written by Merideth Wilson. Three takes, two complete, but the finished master did not include these takes.

July 18th, 1964 United Artists Records release the soundtrack to The Beatles A Hard Days Night movie.

July 18th, 1964 The 4 Seasons scored their fourth US No. 1 hit with “Rag Doll,” later a No. 2 in Britain. Co-written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, the song was inspired by a homeless person cleaning windshields in New York City’s Hells Kitchen neighborhood. Released June 2nd by Philips Records, the record entered the charts on June 20th.

July 18th, 1964 Returning to the Specialty Records label, “Bama Lama Bama Loo” by Little Richard enters the US Pop Singles charts. Credited to Little Richard under his real name, Richard Penniman, the song was modeled on his classic rock and roll style from the 1950’s following his return to secular music in 1962. The record peaked at No. 82 on August 8th.

July 18th, 1966 Atlantic Records release “Land Of 1,000 Dances” by Wilson Pickett on 45. The song was written by R&B singer Chris Kenner. Some releases of the song give co-credit to Fats Domino, but Domino only agreed to record the song if he received half the credit. The “na na na na na” hook was added when Cannibal and The Headhunters covered the song in January 1965. The Pickett version was recorded at Fame Studios in Alabama with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the Memphis Horns. The record peaked at No. 6 on September 10th.

July 18th, 1966 Columbia Records release “Fifth Dimension” by The Byrds. The album was recorded during a period of breakup between the band and original guitarist and singer Gene Clark. Clark appears on only two tracks on the Lp. Featuring the previously issued hit single “Eight Miles High,” the record peaked at No. 24 on October 8th.

July 18th, 1966 Stax Records release “B-A-B-Y” by Carla Thomas on 45. Co-written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, the song was also issued as the lead track from Thomas’ album “Carla.” The single spent sixteen weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 14 on the Pop Charts, No. 3 R&B. Thomas is the daughter of R&B great Rufus Thomas.

July 18th, 1966 Simon and Garfunkel’s “Dangling Conversation” is released on 45 by Columbia Records. Written by Paul Simon, the song was issued as the second single from the duo’s third studio album “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,” produced by Bob Johnston. The single peaked at No. 25 on September 3rd.

July 18th, 1968 Warner Brothers Records release “Anthem Of The Sun,” the second studio album by the Grateful Dead. It was the first Dead album to feature second drummer Mickey Hart. Recorded at various studios from September 1967 through March 1968 with the band co-producing initial sessions with David Hassinger. The LP was reissued with a new mix in 1972. The record peaked at No. 87 on October 26th.

July 18th, 1969 Apple Records in Britain issue a four-song sampler seven-inch record featuring songs acts on their label roster The Iveys, Mary Hopkin, James Taylor and Jackie Lomax. Known as the “Walls Ice Cream” Ep, the record was distributed by mail order in a cross promotion with Walls Ice Cream in Britain.

July 18th, 1969 Elektra Records release “The Soft Parade” by The Doors. The LP was recorded at Elektra Sound Recorders in Hollywood with producer Paul A. Rothchild. String and brass arrangements were introduced into the sessions, with Robbie Kreiger increasing his writing output on the record. The album featured the hits “Touch Me,” “Runnin’ Blue,” “Tell All The People” and “Wishful Sinful.” “The Soft Parade” peaked at No. 6 on August 23rd.

July 18th, 1970 A&M Records release the self-titled third album by Humble Pie. The band’s first for A&M signaled a change in direction to a hard rock approach with Glyn Johns producing at Olympic Sound Studios in London.

July 18th, 1970 “Hand Me Down World” by The Guess Who enters the singles charts. Produced by Jack Richardson and written by new Guess Who guitarist Kurt Winter, the song went to No. 17 in the US on September 5th, No. 10 in their native Canada.

July 18th, 1970 “Get Up (I Feel Like Being) A Sex Machine” by James Brown enters the singles charts following a June release on King Records. Singing on the song with Brown is Bobby Byrd, who is credited as a co-writer with James Brown and Ronald Lenhoff. The record peaked at No. 15 on August 8th.

July 18th, 1973 Chicago are awarded a Gold Record for their LP “Chicago VI.”

July 18th, 1976 Passport Records release “Unorthodox Behavior,” the first album by British instrumental group Brand X. The band were Phil Collins on drums, John Goodsall on guitar, Percy Jones on bass and keyboard player Robin Lumley. The record peaked at No. 191 in the album charts on November 20th.

July 18th, 1978 “Break It To Them Gently” by former Guess Who singer Burton Cummings enters the singles charts on Portrait Records. Written and produced by Cummings, the record reached No. 85 on July 29th.

July 18th, 1979 Warner Brothers Records release “Secret Agent Man” by DEVO on 45. The song had been a hit for Johnny Rivers, co-written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. The DEVO version came from the band’s second LP “Duty Now For The Future,” produced by Ken Scott.

July 18th, 1980 Epic Records release “Full Moon,” the eleventh album by The Charlie Daniels Band. The album reached No. 11 on September 6th.

July 18th, 1982 Warner Brothers Records release “Beat,” the ninth studio album by King Crimson. Recorded in March and April at Odyssey Studios in London with producer Rhett Davies, the album peaked at No. 52 on July 31st.

July 18th, 1994 In Britain, Rolling Stones Records release the twentieth studio LP by The Rolling Stones, “Voodoo Lounge.” The album was co-produced by Don Was and The Glimmer Twins, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Recorded from September through December 1993, in America, the LP peaked at No. 2 on July 30th.

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 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 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 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 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 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.