today in music history

Today in Music History July 18

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1953, Elvis Presley, still a truck driver at the time, records his first songs for a vanity disc for his Mom.  The disc costs $3.98 and includes two songs, “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin.”

 

1964, The Rolling Stones make their first appearance on the US music charts with their cover of the Buddy Holly hit “Not Fade Away.”

 

1966, Bobby Fuller, whose band The Bobby Fuller Four achieved fame with the song “I Fought the Law”  was found dead in his car in Los Angeles of gasoline asphyxiation at the age of 23. His death was labeled a suicide, although numerous other theories have been put forward over the years. “I Fought the Law” regained fame in the 1970s when the Clash covered it.

 

1973 Bruce Springsteen began a four night stand at New York City’s Max’s Kansas City.  The opening band was a new reggae artist making their first tour of North America – Bob Marley and the Wailers! (Not that is a concert for the ages!)

Image result for bruce springsteen max's kansas city 1973

 

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Bruce news!

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“Springsteen on Broadway” coming to Netflix

“Springsteen on Broadway” will launch globally on Netflix on December 15, 2018, which is also the final night of Springsteen’s completely sold out 236-show run at Jujamcyn’s Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway. “Springsteen on Broadway” is a solo acoustic performance written and performed by Tony Award, Academy Award, and 20-time Grammy Award winner Bruce Springsteen. Based on his worldwide best-selling autobiography ‘Born to Run,’ “Springsteen on Broadway” is a unique evening with Bruce, his guitar, a piano, and his very personal stories. In addition, it features a special appearance by Patti Scialfa. The evening has received rave reviews in top media here and abroad.

“Springsteen on Broadway” is written by Bruce Springsteen, and directed and produced by Emmy Award-winner Thom Zimny (“Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live in New York City (2001)”). In addition to Zimny, the film is being produced by the same team that produced “Springsteen on Broadway,” including Springsteen manager Jon Landau, Springsteen tour director George Travis, and Landau Management partner Barbara Carr.

Said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix: “We are thrilled to bring Bruce Springsteen — a master storyteller, humanitarian and voice of the everyman — to Netflix in this historic one man show. This groundbreaking experience defies the boundaries of theater, concerts and film and will give our global audience an intimate look at one of the biggest cultural icons of our time.”

Said Springsteen manager, Jon Landau: “The purpose of the film is to bring this incredibly intimate show to Bruce’s entire audience intact and complete. In addition to its many other virtues, Netflix has provided for a simultaneous worldwide release which is particularly important for our massive international audience. Ted Sarandos and the entire company’s support has been a perfect match for Bruce’s personal commitment to the filmed version of ‘Springsteen on Broadway.’”

Bruce Springsteen’s historic sold-out series of performances of his one man show “Springsteen On Broadway” began previews on October 3, 2017 and officially opened October 12. The show was extended three times after its initial eight-week run, and will close on Broadway on December 15, 2018, bringing the total number of performances to 236.

Mike's Pick, Song of the Day

July 18,2018 Motörhead (seriously?)

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First let me say I’m not a Motörhead hater, just never listened much. Then I stumbled on this David Bowie cover and I was skeptical but wow,  this really works. This is from an entire album of covers and one of the last things they ever recorded.

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George Theiss 1949-2018. Bandmate of Bruce Springsteen in his first band The Castiles

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George Theiss passed away this past Friday, July 13.

From Backstreets.com:

GEORGE THEISS, 1949-2018

George Theiss died on Friday after a two-year battle with lung cancer. He was 68. Theiss was Bruce Springsteen’s bandmate in their teen-years band The Castiles; Springsteen is now the last surviving member of that band.

Theiss formed The Castiles — named after the shampoo that he used — in late 1964 and was the band’s lead singer. He had been dating Virginia Springsteen for a while before learning that her brother could play the guitar; George soon invited Bruce to join the band. In his Born to Run autobiography, Springsteen identified The Castiles as “my first real band”….  He also described George Theiss as “the best vocalist we had. He had a real voice and charisma and did the job well. I was considered toxic in front of a microphone…

The Castiles actually got as far as playing New York City’s famous Café Wha? and doing a bit of recording. Their two-track recording of “Baby I,” a song that Springsteen and Theiss wrote together, was featured on Chapter and Verse, the 2016 compilation released in conjunction with the Born to Run autobiography.  After The Castiles broke up, George Theiss remained a fixture on the Jersey Shore music scene through the 1970s and 1980s, later leading Cahoots and The George Theiss Band, and continuing to write and perform.

Tell us your Favorite Concert Memory

Harry Chapin

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A really nice remembrance of a great artist from my friend Kevin Fura

“I meant to post this yesterday on the 37th anniversary of his death. I had the opportunity to see Harry Chapin perform only once in my life. It was early 1980 at Allentown Symphony Hall in Allentown, PA. I went there expecting a fine performance and left with much more. Harry’s plane was late and the show started with a 30-45 minute emergency performance by Tom Chapin. He was so entertaining that nobody really noticed the time. Suddenly a roar came through the crowd as Harry ran through the center row, guitar in hand, and jumped up onto the stage. He was very apologetic and promised an extra long performance that evening. All of the standards were covered plus some obscure tunes. It was just Harry and Tom, the band was not with him that evening.
Toward the end of the concert, Harry announced that they would be available after the show to sign autographs, pitch his causes, and just bullshit. Needless to say I waited after the show to meet him. Tom and I had a long conversation about the status of the New York Knicks and he graciously provided me with an autograph. After waiting for a little while, I got a chance to meet Harry. Words cannot express the kindness he provided in making small talk and signing an autograph. The most remarkable thing was the lack of bodyguards or any entourage, it was just Harry, Tom, and their fans. I still have the autographs. Harry’s is matted with a photo from the “Heads & Tails” album. I will never forget that evening and will always “remember when the music”.

Paul's Pick, Song of the Day

Song of the Day July 17 George Ezra “Paradise”

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George Ezra is a 25 year old (!) English songwriter who had some fame a few years back with the song Budapest.  This past spring he put out his second album, Staying at Tamara’s, which raised his craft to an entirely new level.  So many great songs on this album, hard to choose one.  But Paradise is definitely a pleaser!

today in music history

July 17

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July 17

1965, ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’ by James Brown is released. It goes on to sell over 2 million copies, and is considered seminal to the emergence of funk music as a distinct style.

 

1975, Bob Marley and the Wailers start a two night stand at The Lyceum, London, performances of which appear on a live album released later that year. The single off the album was ‘No Woman No Cry.’

 

today in music history

July 16 This Day in Music History

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1969, The Beatles begin work on two new George Harrison songs, “Here Comes the Sun” and “Something” during recording of Abbey Road.  Harrison was apparently inspired to write “Here Comes the Sun” after spending the day in the garden at Eric Clapton’s house.

 

 

1977, One hit wonder Shaun Cassidy, half brother of Partridge Family heartthrob David Cassidy, went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’, a cover of the 1963 hit by the Crystals.  Is a one hit wonder less of a wonder if the hit is a cover??  He also was in the Hardy Boy Mysteries, a late 70’s TV series.

 

 

2007, The White Stripes played their ‘shortest live show ever’ in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, when Jack White played a single guitar C# note accompanied by a bass drum/crash cymbal hit from Meg White. At the end of the “show”, Jack announced, “We have now officially played in every province and territory in Canada.” They then left the stage and performed a full show later that night in St John’s.  Why?  Why not?  From This Day in Music.com

Image result for the white stripes

Sources: This Day in Music.com; Wikipedia