♫Morsels of Music Memories♫

There are several morsels to 'chew on' today as a step back in time takes us on another stroll down music memory lane. Let's face it, music is in our blood from the womb to infancy through childhood into teenage years on to adulthood. It doesn't stop there. The senior citizens hold the storage vessels of vast music moments until all memory fades.

Today in Music History: May 10

 

1960 The Silver Beetles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Tommy Moore) auditioned for promoter Larry Parnes and singer Billy Fury for a job as Fury's backing group. Parnes was also looking for backing groups for his lesser-known acts, and The Silver Beetles were selected as backing group for singer Johnny Gentle's upcoming tour of Scotland. The group had changed its name from 'The Beatals' to 'The Silver Beetles' after Brian Casser (of Cass and the Cassanovas) remarked that the name 'Beatals' was "ridiculous". He suggested they use the name 'Long John and the Silver Beetles', but John Lennon refused to be referred to as 'Long John'.

1965 having worked out the opening riff on May 6, the Rolling Stones recorded a version of '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' at Chess Studios in Chicago, with Brian Jones on harmonica. The group re-recorded it two days later at RCA Studios in Hollywood with a different beat and the Gibson Maestro fuzzbox that Keith Richards had recently acquired, adding sustenance to the sound of the guitar riff.

 

1969 Frank Sinatra's version of 'My Way' made the British Top ten for the first time. Over the next three years, it re-entered the Top 50 singles chart on eight different occasions. Paul Anka re-wrote the original French song, 'Comme d'habitude', for Sinatra after he told Anka he was quitting the music business. Anka changed the melodic structure and lyrics to the song with Sinatra in mind.

1969 the Turtles played at a formal masked ball for Tricia Nixon, daughter of President Richard Nixon. This was her first major party. Joining them that night were the Temptations. Legend has it that Mark Volman, the big guy of the band with the even bigger hair, fell off the small stage five times during their set(s). Also, items have been published over the years saying the Turtles (a) snorted cocaine off Lincoln's desk or (b) smoked pat the the Lincoln Bedroom. There is no evidence that either really happened but there is no denial either. In the year 1969, a year for anarchy, anything was possible.

 

1999 American singer, songwriter poet, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children's books Shel Silverstein died of a heart attack aged 57. He wrote, 'A Boy Named Sue' for Johnny Cash (which Silverstein won a Grammy for in 1970) and many songs for Dr Hook including 'Sylvia's Mother' and 'The Cover of the Rolling Stone'.

Music has no age boundaries!

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...