Articles and News of Interest - SoundStageDirect.com: This Date In Music History-November 4

Birthdays:

Harry Elson - Friends Of Distinction (1938)
Chuck Mangione (1940)
Mike Smith - Amen Corner (1947)
Delbert McClinton (country star who taught John Lennon how to play harmonica) (1940)
Yanni (1954)
Chris Difford - Squeeze (1954)
Jordan Rudess - Dream Theater (1956)
Sean John Combs, (aka, Puff Daddy & P Diddy) (1970)


They Are Missed:

Born on this day in 1951, Dan Hartman, multi- instrumentalist, producer, worked with Edgar Winter (died on March 22, 1994). Collaborated with Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Young, James Brown, Holly Johnson and Steve Winwood, among others.

Born today in 1957, James Honeyman-Scott, Pretenders (died on June 16, 1982).

Founder member of The Ink Spots, Ivory Watson died in 1969 (age 60).

Nashville session guitarist Phil Baugh die in 1990. He had a unique sound courtesy of a series of six pedals he developed that allowed him to bend the strings of the guitar together or separately.

Fred "Sonic" Smith, guitarist with agit-rockers the MC5 and husband of Patti Smith, died of a heart attack in Detroit in 1994. He was 45.

Drummer Mana "China" Nishiura of Shonen Knife and DMBQ died in 2005 when the latter band's van flips over on Delaware's I-95.


History:

In 1957, the top six songs on the pop and R&B charts are identical: Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock," the Everly Brothers' "Wake Up Little Susie," Sam Cooke's "You Send Me," the Rays' "Silhouettes," Rickie Nelson's "Be-Bop Baby" and Jimmie Rodgers' "Honeycomb."

Bob Dylan made his concert-hall debut at the Carnegie Chapter Hall in New York City in 1961. Fifty people, most of the friends of the singer, pay two bucks to attend. Dylan earns twenty dollars for the night.

In 1963, The Beatles topped the bill at The Royal Variety Show at The Prince Of Wales Theatre, London. With the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret in the audience, this was the night when John Lennon made his famous remark ?In the cheaper seats you clap your hands. The rest of you, just rattle your jewellery." The show was broadcast on UK television on the Nov 10, 1963.



The Rolling Stones were at #1 on the US singles chart in 1965 with "Get Off Of My Cloud" (also a #1 in the UK).

A 1967 New York Times article described the new electric six-string sitar introduced by Danelectro Guitar Company, which was being used by many rock bands.

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "I Second That Emotion" was released in 1967.

Cream played their final US show in Long Island in 1968.

Also in 1968, at Abbey Road Studios, Pink Floyd recorded "Point Me at the Sky" and "Careful With That Axe, Eugene."

In 1970, Bob Dylan, long under pressure to return to his political stance of the Sixties recorded "George Jackson," a pagean to the black militant killed in a California prison shootout.

Johnny Nash started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1972 with "I Can See Clearly Now."

Paul McCartney & Wings released "Junior's Farm," in 1974, it became their fourth Top Ten hit of the past year. The song goes to number three.

The Band's Martin Scorcese-directed concert film-documentary, "The Last Waltz" premiered in New York in 1977.

In 1978, Boston, the rock band from the city of the same name, played their hometown for the first time since becoming major stars. They open a two night, sold out stand at the Boston Garden.

Canadian singer Anne Murray went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1978 with "You Needed Me," her only US #1 hit.

In 1978, Greg Reeves, former bass player for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, sued the group for $1 million in unpaid back royalties.

The Talking Heads' "Take Me To The River" was released in 1978.



Also in 1978, Linda Ronstadt went to #1 on the US album chart with "Living In The USA."

In 1981, Daryl Hall and John Oates' "Private Eyes" was certified both gold and platinum. The album, now peaking at #5 on the pop LP's chart, contained two #1 pop singles, "Private Eyes" [which will top the pop chart for two weeks starting in three days] and "I Can't Go For That" which hits #1 on both the pop and soul charts early next year.

In 1984, Prince played the first of seven nights at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan at the start of his 87-date North American Purple Rain tour. The outing marked the live debut of his new band The Revolution.

Roxette scored their second US #1 single with "Listen To Your Heart."

Bobby "Blue" Bland, Booker T. & The M.G.'s, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, The Isley Brothers, Sam & Dave and The Yardbirds are elected to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991.

Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin signed a $39 million publishing contract with Warner-Chappell music in 1992.

In 1993, Depeche Mode's Martin Gore was arrested at the Denver Westin Hotel after refusing to turn down the volume of his music in his room. Slow news day.

DMX went to #1 on the US album chart in 2000 with "The Great Depression."

In 2002, Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin received the Music Industry Trusts Award for one of the greatest songwriting partnerships of all time.

The book "Journals" was released in 2002. The book, about Kurt Cobain, contained letters and diary entries from the 1980s until 1994.

Diddy was at No.1 on the US album chart in 2006 with his fifth album ?Press Play.?

The Eagles went to #1 on the UK album chart in 2007 for the first time ever - 33 years after their debut album On the Border. This was the group's first full studio album since The Long Run in 1979.

The soundtrack to Twlight was released in 2008 containing ?Go All The Way? written by Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell. "The song conjures up that adolescent feeling when a young man, who has been pursuing a girl he really likes, finally gets her," says Farrell. The vampire flick based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer.

Author Robert Benson writes about rock/pop music and vinyl record collecting. He also serves as a contributor to SoundStageDirect, LLC at www.soundstagedirect.com. Mr. Benson also operates www.collectingvinylrecords.com, where you can download a FREE copy of his ebook entitled "The Fascinating Hobby Of Vinyl Record Collecting."