Wax Museum Radio
Next broadcast June 7th, Friday Night at midnight and Saturday night at 10pm on WRGG.
Hear Today In Rock and Roll History
June 2nd - Today In Rock and Roll History
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, weekday mornings on KSRQ in Three River Falls, Minnesota, KIYU in Galena, Alaska, KPUP in Patagonia, Arizona, WIZU in Newark, Delaware, KSLU at St. Louis University.
Rock and Roll Birthdays
June 2nd
- June 2nd Birthday, The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, born Charles Robert Watts in Bloomsbury, London, England in 1941. He died on August 24th, 2021 at the age of 80 years old.
- June 2nd Birthday, The Bangles bassist Michael Steele, born Susan Thomas in 1955 in Pasadena, California.
- June 2nd Birthday, Singer, poet, actress Lydia Lunch, born Lydia Anne Koch in 1959 in Rochester, New York.
- June 2nd Birthday, Jellyfish and Three O’Clock guitarist and solo artist Jason Falkner, born in 1968 in Agoura Hills, California.
Today In Rock and Roll History
June 2nd
- June 2nd, 1962 Motown Records release the first single by Little Stevie Wonder, “I Call It Pretty Music But The Old People Call It The Blues” Pts 1&2. Marvin Gaye played drums on the session. Produced by Clarence Paul, the song was co-written by Paul and Berry Gordy Jr.
- June 2nd, 1964 The Rolling Stones make their American television debut on ABC’s The Hollywood Palace variety show.
- June 2nd, 1964 Philips Records release “Rag Doll” by The 4 Seasons featuring The Sound of Frankie Valli. Co-written by producer Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, the song was inspired by a homeless person cleaning windshields in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. The record reached No. 1 in the US on July 18th.
- June 2nd, 1967 Columbia Records release “Omaha” by Moby Grape on 45. Recorded during March and April at CBS Studios, Hollywood, California with producer David Robinson, there are significant differences between the stereo and mono mixes of the song. The record entered the singles charts a month later and peaked at No. 88 on July 15th.
- June 2nd, 1967 David Bowie released his self-titled first album, featuring the single, “Love You ‘Til Tuesday.” The LP got positive reviews, but the album and the 45 were not big sellers. Produced by Mike Vernon with Gus Dudgeon engineering at Decca Studios in London, Big Jim Sullivan and John Renbourn were among the session players on the record.
- June 2nd, 1967 Epic Records release “The Boat That I Row” backed with “To Sir With Love” by Lulu on 45. “To Sir With Love” was reissued as the A-side in August following the June release of the movie To Sir With Love starring Sidney Portier. Produced by Mickey Most and co-written by lyricist Don Black and Mark London, the session for the track was arranged by Mike Leander. The record became the bestselling single of the year with sales of one and a half million copies, reaching No. 1 on October 21st.
- June 2nd, 1967 Decca Records in Britain release “From The Beginning,” a compilation album by Small Faces. Released after the group left Decca and former manager Don Arden for Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate Records label, the record went to No. 17 on the British album charts.
- June 2nd, 1971 Rare Earth Records release “One World” by Rare Earth, the band’s fourth studio album, recorded April through May with the band co-producing with Tom Baird. Featuring the hit single “I Just Want To Celebrate,” the LP peaked at No. 28 on September 18th.
- June 2nd, 1972 Dion And The Belmonts reunited for a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The performance was recorded and released as a live album the following year.
- June 2nd, 1973 “Brother Louie” by Stories is released in the US. A No. 7 single in Britain earlier for Hot Chocolate, the song was co-written by Hot Chocolate’s Errol Brown and Anthony Wilson. Stories were fronted by future solo artist and Foreigner backing singer Ian Lloyd on vocals and bass guitar. In the US, The Stories version was co-produced and arranged by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise, went to No. 1 on August 24th and sold over one million copies.
- June 2nd, 1973 Sussex Records release “Friend Of Mine” by Bill Withers on 45. The song was written by Withers, who co-produced the track with Ray Jackson, James Gadson, Melvin Dunlap and Bernorce Blackman. The record peaked at No. 80 on July 14th.
- June 2nd, 1973 Epic Records release “My Merry-Go-Round” by Johnny Nash on 45. The song was co-written by Dann Rogers, Diane Brodsky and Johnny Nash. The record peaked at No. 77 on July 14th.
- June 2nd, 1973 Rainy Wednesday Records release Dickie Goodman’s cut-in novelty record “Watergate.” The record peaked at No. 42 on July 14th.
- June 2nd, 1975 Apple Records release Ringo Starr’s “It’s All Down To Goodnight Vienna” on 45. The title track of Ringo’s then current LP, it was written for him by John Lennon, who sang and played on the recording. Billy Preston played clavinet on the record. The single, a combination of the studio LP version and the album closing reprise entered the charts two weeks later and peaked at No. 31 on July 12th. A mono mix was prepared for AM radio stations to play.
- June 2nd, 1975 Wings LP “Venus and Mars” is awarded a Gold Record for a million copies sold in the United States.
- June 2nd, 1978 Charisma Records in England release the self-titled second album by Peter Gabriel. Sessions began in November 1977 after Gabriel completed his first solo tour. King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp produced, recording at Relight Studios in Hilvarenbeek, The Netherlands and at The Hit Factory in New York City. Tony Levin, Roy Bittan, Larry Fast, Jerry Marotta and others all played on the record. In America, the album spent ten weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 45 on August 26th.
- June 2nd, 1978 Columbia Records release “Darkness On The Edge Of Town,” the fourth studio album by Bruce Springsteen. Recorded at Atlantic and Record Plant Studios in New York City with Springsteen, Jon Landau and Steve Van Zant producing from June 1977 through March 1978. The album charted for ninety-seven weeks and peaked at No. 5 on July 29th.
- June 2nd, 1979 “Days Gone Down (Still Got The Light In Your Eyes)” by Gerry Rafferty enters the singles charts following a May release on United Artist Records. The song was written by Rafferty, who co-produced the track with Hugh Murphy. The record peaked at No. 17 on July 21st. On the same day United Artists released “Night Owl” by Gerry Rafferty. The LP was recorded at Chipping Norton and Landsdowne Studios with Hugh Murphy and Rafferty co-producing during various sessions in 1978 and 1979. Pete Wingfield, Tommy Eyre, Richard and Linda Thompson, Mo Foster, Raphael Ravenscroft and others played on the record. The LP peaked at No. 29 on July 7th.
- June 2nd, 1979 “One Way Or Another” by Blondie enters the singles charts following a May release on Chrysalis Records. Co-written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison for the band’s third studio album, “Parallel Lines,” “One Way or Another” was inspired by one of Harry’s ex-boyfriends who stalked her after their breakup. The track was produced by Mike Chapman at The Record Plant in New York City. The record peaked at No. 24 on August 4th.
- June 2nd, 1979 “People Of The South Wind” by Kansas enters the singles charts on Kirshner Records following a May release. The song was written by guitarist and keyboard player Kerry Livgren, referencing the native American Kaw tribe for whom the state of Kansas was named. Self-produced and arranged collectively by the band, the record peaked at No. 23 on August 4th.June 2nd, 1979 “Up On The Roof” by James Taylor enters the singles charts on Columbia Records following a May release. A Carole King and Gerry Goffin song, the track was produced by Peter Asher and arranged by Arif Mardin. Leland Sklar plays bass with Russ Kunkel on drums. The record peaked at No. 28 on July 21st.
- June 2nd, 1986 EMI Records in Britain release the eleventh studio album by Queen “A Kind Of Magic.” The album was recorded at four different studios, Musicland in Munich, Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland and Townhouse and Abbey Road Studios in London with Queen, Mack and David Richards producing. Six of the album’s nine songs were used in the film Highlander. The record peaked at No. 46 on August 9th.
- June 2nd, 1992 Atlantic Records release “It’s A Shame About Ray,” the fifth album by The Lemonheads. The record peaked at No. 68 on February 6th.
Miscellaneous June
- June 1963 Mercury Records release “Donna, I Understand,” credited to Johnny Niles, it was the first single by Harry Nilsson. The songwriting credit went to Harry Neilsen. The record was produced by Jack Tracy, arranged by Jerry Long. Spindle Top Records rereleased the single in 1965 credited to Harry Nilsson.
- June 1965 Hollywood, California’s Mustang Records release “Let Her Dance” by the Bobby Fuller Four as the group’s second single. The song was written by Bobby Fuller. Liberty Records picked up the 45 for national distribution and released the song nationally in July. Marshall Crenshaw recorded a version of the song, released on his 1986 album “Good Evening.”
- June 1965 Elektra Records release “Bleeker and McDougal,” the first album by folk-rock pioneer Fred Neil. Produced by Gordon Anderson and engineered by Paul Rothchild, Felix Pappalardi and John Sebastian both played sessions for the LP.
- June 1966 Tower Records release “She’s Yours” backed with “Growin’ Up” by Harry Nilsson on 45. The song was written by Nilsson and producer J.R. Shanklin, the son of performer, composer, arranger and producer Wayne Shanklin. Harry Nilsson wrote the B-side. Both sides were co-produced by Gil Garfield and Perry Botkin.
- June 1967 Buddah Records release “Safe As Milk,” the debut album by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band. The LP was co-produced by Richard Perry and Bob Krasnow at RCA Studios in Los Angeles in the Spring of 1967.
- June 1971 Atlantic Records release “Album II” by Loudon Wainwright III. The record was recorded at at Intermedia Sounds in Boston, Massachusetts with Wainwright and Milton Kramer co-producing. Kate McGarrigle sings on the song “Old Paint.”
- June 1972 Reprise Records release “Henry The Human Fly,” the first solo album by Fairport Convention guitarist Richard Thompson. Co-produced by Thompson and John Wood at Sound Techniques Studio in London, Fairport band mates Sandy Denny and Ashley Hutchins both make guest appearances on the LP.
- June 1979 Virgin Records release “Force Majeure,” the ninth LP by Tangerine Dream. Produced by Edgar Froese and Chris Frank at Hansa Studios in Berlin in August and September 1978, the album reached No. 26 on the British charts.
- June 1979 “Capricorn Records release “Can’t Take It With You” by The Allman Brothers Band on 45. The song was co-written by Dickie Betts and Don Johnson. Produced by Tom Dowd, the record peaked at No. 105 in July.
- June 1984 Atlantic Records release “Parting Would Be Painless” by Roger Daltrey on 45. The song was written by Kit Hain. The song came from the Mike Thorne produced “Parting Should Be Painless album.
- June 1985 A&M Records in Britain release “Last Time Forever” by Squeeze on 45. Co-written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, the record was produced by Laurie Latham from the band’s “Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti” LP.
- June 1989 Atlantic Records release “A Friend Is A Friend” by Pete Townshend on 45. Written and produced by Townshend, the song came from the album “The Iron Man: The Musical.” The single’s B-side “Man Machines,” also from the LP, is credited to Pete and his brother Simon Townshend.
This Week In Rock and Roll History
This Week In Rock and Roll History week of June 1st
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 June 1st Moby Grape
Cool songs from the Rock and Roll Era, Closet Classics and more.
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