From the Baby Boomers to the Common Era

Today in Music History: August 22

Music through the centuries is ever changing...even within each decade styles and rhythms take on the beats of the times with no two decades being the same! For those growing up in the 50s and 60s Baby Boomer Era, the music of the past is still at the top of music lists. Once in your blood it is hard to shed the tunes of such greats as Elvis, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Chubby Checker, James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Pat Boone, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra and so many more. 

What is so incredibly sad is many youth of the Common Era have never heard of the truly classic recording artists. Going a thought further means they have possibly never heard any of the truly great music. Let's get a move on starting with the 'oldies but goodies' enjoying the memories and laughing at the unknown tidbits of trivia...unknown until now that is.

 

1956 Elvis Presley began working on his first movie, Love Me Tender, a 1956 American black-and-white CinemaScope motion picture. In the drama that was set during and just after the Civil War, Elvis played Clint Reno, the youngest of four brothers. The original title for the movie was The Reno Brothers, but was changed to take advantage of the 'Love Me Tender' song recorded for the film. When advanced sales of Presley's "Love Me Tender" single passed one million—a first for a single—the film title was changed to match.

 

 

1963 Billy J Kramer And The Dakotas were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Bad To Me'. A song John Lennon wrote for them while on holiday in Spain with Brian Epstein. The track later became the first Lennon–McCartney composition to reach the US Top 40 for an artist other than the Beatles. Released with 'I Call Your Name' as the B-side, it was a huge hit, which Kramer followed up with a #1 UK cover of "Do You Want To Know A Secret."

 

  

1964 The Supremes started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Where Did Our Love Go', the girl group's first No.1 hit. This occurred while the Supremes were on tour as part of Dick Clark's "American Bandstand Caravan of Stars". The song also reached number one on the Cash Box R&B singles chart. Holland–Dozier–Holland had originally composed the song for The Marvelettes to record it who rejected the song, thinking it childish.
 

A Bit of Beatles Trivia...

1968 Ringo Starr quit The Beatles during the White Album sessions when the constant bickering and tension became too much for him. The news of Ringo's departure was kept secret, and he rejoined the sessions on September 3rd. After Ringo walked out, the remaining Beatles recorded 'Back In the USSR', with Paul on drums and John playing bass.

 

 

1970 Bread went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Make It With You', the group's only No.1 hit, which was a No.5 in the UK. It was also certified gold by the RIAA for sales of over one million copies.When the song was released, Gates' mother was asked by a local interviewer how her son's music career was going. Misunderstanding the song's title, Mrs. Gates replied her son, David, and his group had just recorded a song called "Naked With You."

   

1970 Creedence Clearwater Revival started a nine-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with their fifth studio album 'Cosmo's Factory'. The name of the album comes from the warehouse in Berkeley where the band rehearsed. Bandleader John Fogerty was so insistent on practicing (nearly every day) that drummer Doug "Cosmo" Clifford began referring to the place as "the factory".

 

 

1979 In Through the Out Door was released in the US, Led Zeppelin's eigth and final studio release before the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980. The album went to No. 1 on Billboard's chart in its second week of charting. 'Fool in the Rain' was released as a single in the US. In Through The Out Door has now been certified 6 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales in excess of 6 million copies.

1987 Madonna went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Who's That Girl', her sixth US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK. The track was from the soundtrack album of the motion picture of same name in which Madonna starred. The film was a flop, but the soundtrack did well, with this song and "Causing A Commotion" both reaching the US top 10. 'Who's That Girl' was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Song From A Motion Picture" and a Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song." The Grammy went to "Somewhere Out There", the Golden Globe to "(I've Had) The Time of My Life.

 

1999 Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell scored her first UK No.1 solo single with 'Mi Chico Latino' ('My Latin Boy') the second single from her debut solo album Schizophonic. The single identifies her maternal Spanish background, as the song has a number of Spanish lyrics. It went on to sell almost 375,967 copies in Britain and was certified Gold. 

Fascination with Elvis... 

2003 Kjell Henning Bjoernestad a Norwegian Elvis Presley impersonator set a world record by singing the rock 'n' roll legend's hits non-stop for over 26 hours. The previous record was set by British Elvis fan Gary Jay who sang for 25 hours 33 minutes and 30 seconds.

A Bit of Music Trivia...

2004 Al Dvorin the announcer who popularized the phrase "Elvis has left the building" died in a car crash, on his way home from an Elvis convention in California. Dvorin aged 81, was in a car driven by Elvis photographer Ed Bonja. Dvorin was never paid for recordings of his words, and was bitter towards the multimillion pound Elvis Presley Enterprises. In the early 1970s, Colonel Parker asked Dvorin to inform fans at a gig that Presley would not be appearing for an encore. He took the stage and announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building. Thank you and goodnight."

2004 Natasha Bedingfield started a two week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'These Words'. The sister of singer and producer Daniel Bedingfield.When this song hit #1 in the UK, Natasha and Daniel Bedingfield became the first brother and sister ever to have separate solo UK #1 hits. Daniel had already hit the top spot three times, first with "Gotta Get Thru This" in 1999. 

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