The History of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich Show #217

Today In Rock and Roll History

July 24th

July 24th, 1964 Marvin Gaye records “How Sweet It Is” at Hitsville, Studio A in Detroit. The song was released November 4th, co-written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. 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 Diana Ross and The Supremes’ “Reflections” is released. Recorded March 2ndand 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, 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 the UK but didn’t chart in the US.

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.

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 but didn’t chart.

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 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, 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.

July 24th, 1998 U2’s Zooropa was the No. 1 album in the country.

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.