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Next broadcast July 25th Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
Today In R&R History July 24th
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 24th
- July 24th Birthday, The Tornadoes bassist Heinz Burt, born in 1942 in Detmold, Free State of Lippe, Germany. The group’s biggest hit was the 1962 instrumental “Telstar.” Burt died on April 7th, 2000 at the age of 57 after a long battle with motor neuron disease.
- July 24th Birthday, Gary Shider, singer and guitarist for Parliament and Funkadelic, born in 1953 in Plainfield, New Jersey. Shider died on June 16th, 2010, at the age of 56.
Today In Rock and Roll History
July 24th
- July 24th, 1961 Federal Records release “San-Ho-Zay,” the fifth single by Texas blues guitarist Freddy King, his fourth charting single within nine months. Later in his career, King would be billed as “Freddie” King. “San-Ho-Zay” was co-written by King and Sonny Thompson and peaked at No. 47 on September 2nd.
- July 24th, 1964 Marvin Gaye records “How Sweet It Is” at Hitsville, Studio A in Detroit. The song was released November 4th, co-produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier and co-written by the pair with Eddie Holland. The Funk Brothers were the backing band. Funk Brother Robert White played guitar. The Andantes sang backing vocals. Gaye released a German language version of the song as well. The record peaked at No. 6 on January 30th, 1965.
- July 24th, 1965 The Beau Brummels’ “You Tell Me Why” enters the singles charts. Written by guitarist Ron Elliott and produced by Sylvester Stewart, later known as Sly Stone, “You Tell Me Why” was released as the lead single from the band’s second album “Volume Two” on Autumn Records. It was The Beau Brummels’ third and final Top Forty record, hitting No. 38 on August 28th, No. 8 in Canada.
- July 24th, 1967 Motown Records release Diana Ross and The Supremes’ “Reflections” on 45. Recorded March 2nd and May 9th, 1967 at Hitsville USA in Detroit with producers Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. It was the first Supremes single released with the new “Diana Ross and The Supremes” billing and the last of the group’s hits co-written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. The song represented a shift in Motown’s production style, reflecting a psychedelic treatment of the song with oscillator effects. “Reflections” went to No. 2 on September 9th.
- July 24th, 1967 The second album by Jefferson Airplane “Surrealistic Pillow” was certified Gold for a million copies sold.
- July 24th, 1967 Small Faces record “Itchycoo Park” at Olympic Studios in London. Co-written and produced by guitarist Steve Marriott and bassist Ronnie Lane, Immediate Records released it as a single on August 4th in Britain. It was Small Faces fifth top five hit in England and their only US Top Forty hit. “Itchycoo Park,” entered the charts on November 11th and peaked at No. 16 on January 27th, 1968.
- July 24th, 1967 Reprise Records release Jimi Hendrix’ “Purple Haze” on 45. Basic tracks for “Purple Haze” were recorded on January 11th at De Lane Lea Studios in London with producer Chas Chandler. Hendrix added new vocals and guitar parts at Olympic Studios in London between February 3rd and the 8th. The record peaked at No. 65 on October 14th. Three years later, 1970 Jimi Hendrix made his last live appearance in the UK at the Isle of Wight festival.
- July 24th, 1967 Brother Records release “Heroes And Villains” on 45 by The Beach Boys, issued three weeks in advance of the group’s self-produced “Smiley Smile” album. The song was co-written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. The track had a lengthy history; recorded several times with different arrangements and edits at Western Recorders and The Beach Boys’ home studio in Los Angeles. “Heroes And Villains” peaked at No. 12 on August 26th. By almost anyone else’s standards, the chart run would have been viewed as a success, but Brian Wilson saw it differently. Failing to match the sales of the previous single “Good Vibrations,” it hastened a decline in Wilson’s self-confidence and his withdrawal from the public eye.
- July 24th, 1968 Reprise Records release “Days” by The Kinks on 45. The British release came four days later on Pye Records. Written and produced by group singer and guitarist Ray Davies at Pye Studios (No. 2) in London, the single reached No. 12 in Britain.
- July 24th, 1969 At EMI Studios in London, Paul McCartney records a demo for the song “Come And Get It,” singing, playing piano, maracas, drums and bass guitar. When McCartney brought Apple Records group The Iveys in studio to produce the track for the band’s next single, the demo he’d recorded served as a template for the arrangement he asked The Iveys to duplicate. When the single came out, The Iveys were rechristened Badfinger.
- July 24th, 1970 Atlantic Records in Britain release the second studio album by Yes, where it peaked at No. 45. “Time And A Word” was recorded at Advision Studios from December 17th, 1969 through February 5th with Tony Colton producing. The record was issued in America in November.
- July 24th, 1971 “Tired Of Being Alone” by Al Green enters the singles charts following a June release on Hi Records. Issued on the 1971 album “Al Green Gets Next to You,” the song was written by Green in late 1968 and intended to be released on the 1969 album, “Green Is Blues.” Problems occurred with the first recording, so it was postponed for production. “Tired of Being Alone” was produced and recorded by Willie Mitchell and mixed by Mitchell and Terry Manning. The record charted for nineteen weeks and peaked at No. 11 on November 6th.
- July 24th, 1972 A Gold Record is awarded for Elton John’s “Honky Chateau” LP.
- July 24th, 1976 “With Your Love” by Jefferson Starship enters the charts on Grunt Records. Co-written by Marty Balin, Joey Covington and Vic Smith, “With Your Love” was the lead single released from the Starship album “Spitfire” and peaked at No. 12 on September 18th, No. 10 in Canada.
- July 24th, 1976 Orleans’ “Still The One” is released on 45 by Asylum Records. Co-written by Johanna Hall and John Hall, the track was produced by Chuck Plotkin and released from the Orleans’ album “Waking And Dreaming,” hitting No. 5 on October 23rd.
- July 24th, 1976 “Struttin’ My Stuff” by Elvin Bishop enters the singles charts on Capricorn Records. The song was the title track of Bishop’s 1976 album, co-written by Elvin Bishop and Phil Aaberg and co-produced by Allan Blazek and Bill Szymczyk. “Struttin’ My Stuff” peaked at No. 68 on August 14th.
- July 24th, 1976 The first single by The Alan Parsons Project, “The System Of Dr. Tarr And Professor Feather” enters the singles charts. Based on a poem by Edgar Allen Poe, the 45 was issued from the group’s debut album “Tales Of Mystery And Imagination.” Co-written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, the record peaked at No. 37 on September 18th.
- July 24th, 1981 Island Records in Britain release “Fire” by U2 on 45. The record company issued a gatefold double record five-song EP and as a twelve-inch vinyl single. Produced by Steve Lilliwhite at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, “Fire” was co-written by the four members of the band and was the lead single issued from U2’s second album “October.” The single peaked at No. 35 in Britain.
- July 24th, 1982 Stiff Records in Britain release “Driving In My Car” by Madness. Written by Scottish musician Mike Barson, the record was co-produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. The single peaked at No. 4 in England.
- July 24th, 1982 “Jack and Diane” by John Cougar enters the singles charts. The song was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida and was co-produced by Mellencamp and Don Gehman. Backing Cougar was former David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson, who suggested several ideas for the song’s final arrangement. “Jack and Diane” spent twenty-two weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 1 on October 2nd.
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 19th
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 7/19 Albert Collins
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
- Click image to hear the exclusive the Wax Museum interview with The Paul Bielatowicz Band discussiing the current tour and future plans.
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
Click image to hear Chris Palladino's interviews on WRGG with Carl Giammarese from The Buckinghams in 2022 and 2024
Robert Fripp Radio Oz interview 7/25/85
King Crimson guitarist Radio Oz interview
- Click Fripp's image to hear the King Crimson guitarist, record producer, solo artist in this 1985 interview for the WARX Sunday night Radio Oz program. Fripp discusses his then current Guitar Craft courses, King Crimson stories, his start in the music business, and more.
Annie Haslam 2019 Wax Museum interview
Annie Haslam "In Words and Music"
- Click picture to hear Annie Haslam "In Words and Music". The iconic Renaissance singer talks at length about music, her life, and artwork for an exclusive interview in The Wax Museum.
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.
