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Monday, December 15, 2014

Gritty, Downright Playful Rockers

Today in Music History: December 15, 1970

To have one single or one album reach gold certification on any given day is exceptional for sure. Then, to have multiple singles is the icing on the cake. But, to add multiple albums at the same time on the same day is absolutely phenomenal.

Welcome into the spotlight...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creedence_Clearwater_Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1968
L-R: Tom Fogerty, Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, John Fogerty

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/creedence-clearwater-revival/biography
Creedence Clearwater Revival: gritty, downright playful rockers with echoes of blues and country, wrapped around John Fogerty's down-home twang


When the band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) performs, a staple of American and worldwide airplay can be heard in multiple genres, including southern rock, grunge, roots rock, and blues. The band was primarily a group effort with leader John Fogerty's classic compositions evoking enduring images of Americana and Reflecting burning social issues of the day. The CCR's genius was their ability to accomplish this with the economic primal power of rockabilly ensemble. [Source: Billboard
John Fogerty and his brother Tommy were raised in Berkeley, where John studied piano and at the age of 12 got his first guitar. He met bandmates Cook and Clifford at El Cerrito junior high school, and by 1959 the group was performing at local dances as Tommy Fogerty and the Blue Velvets. In 1964 the quartet signed to San Francisco-based Fantasy Records, where Tom had been working as a packing and shipping clerk. The label renamed them the Golliwogs and began putting out singles. "Brown-Eyed Girl" sold 10,000 copies in 1965, but the followups were flops. Greater success came after they adopted the CCR moniker in 1967. [Source: Rolling Stone]




1970 Five singles and five albums by Creedence Clearwater Revival were certified gold in the US. The singles were: ‘Down on the Corner’, ‘Lookin out My Back Door’, ‘Travelin' Band’, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ and ‘Up around the Bend’. The LPs were ‘Cosmo's Factory’, ‘Willy and the Poor Boys’, ‘Green River’, ‘Bayou Country’ and ‘Credence Clearwater Revival’.
http://coolalbumreview.com/?p=5928 



No.1 Singles on This Day...

1965 Released as a double A side The Beatles 'Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out', became their ninth UK No.1 and their third Christmas chart topper in a row. The single was a US No.1 in January 1966.
1972 Billy Paul started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Me and Mrs Jones', a No.12 hit in the UK. The song which describes an extramarital affair between a man and his lover, was later recorded by Michael Buble.  
1989 Jive Bunny and The Mastermixes had their third and final UK No.1 single with 'Let's Party'. With their first three releases making No.1, they equaled the record set by Gerry & The Pacemakers in 1963 and Frankie Goes To Hollywood in 1984.
2001 Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of the Frank and Nancy Sinatra 1967 No.1 hit 'Somethin' Stupid'. The Christmas No.1 for this year. From William's album Swing When You're Winning.  
2007 Katie Melua & Eva Cassidy went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of 'What A Wonderful World' the version was released to raise money for the Red Cross.
2012 X Factor winner James Arthur topped the UK singles chart with his debut single, Impossible. The 24-year-old's cover of Shontelle's 2010 track sold 490,000 copies becoming the fastest-selling single of the year.

No.1 Album on This Day...

1989 Billy Joel went to No.1 on the US album chart with his 11th studio release 'Storm Front'. The album featured one of Joel's three No.1 hits, 'We Didn't Start the Fire', a fast-paced song, mentioning some of the major historical events that took place in his time, and 'Leningrad', Joel's take on the end of the Cold War.

1966 The first Jimi Hendrix Experience single 'Hey Joe', was released in the UK on Polydor records, the track had been rejected by the Decca label. It went on to be a No.6 hit in the UK, but failed to chart in America. Chas Chandler, who was now managing Hendrix had seen Folk singer Tim Rose perform the song at the Cafe Wha? in New York City.


 


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

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