On This Day (Nearly) – Billy Fury Dies
Jan 28, 2010 On This Day
This is one that got away from me….On this day (yesterday) in 1983 Billy Fury died from heart and kidney problems. He was 42.
Billy Fury was almost unknown in the States but in the UK he was huge in the early 60s. In fact he had 24 hits in the UK charts in the 60s, equalling the Beatles’ record in the 60s. He also spent 332 weeks in the UK charts during that period. He was part of the early Mersey Boom of the 60s. His early performances were controversial and he had to tone down his on stage gyrations…….
His later life was dogged with ill health (he suffered from rheumatic fever as a child which laid the foundations for his later illness). He had major heart surgery in 1976.
Such was his contribution to music in the UK that there is a statue of Billy at the Albert Dock in Liverpool showing him in a typical on stage pose.
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On This Day – Peggy, er, Pegs Out
Jan 21, 2010 On This Day
On this day in 2002 the wonderful Peggy Lee died at home after having a heart attack.
Born Norma Deloris Egstrom in North Dakota Peggy Lee came from scandinavian stock and was a revered vocalist given her first big break by Benny Goodman, the band leader and jazz clarinetist.
Most of us will know her from her version of ‘Fever’ recorded in 1958 but she left a large body of work. Her recording carrer that started in 1942 lasted for some 50 years and she won 3 Grammy awards. She also appeared in a number of films (her performance as an alcoholic blues singer in Pete kelly’s Blues was nominated for an Oscar) and was a songwriter.
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On This Day – Rock ‘n’ Roll Has To Go!
Jan 20, 2010 On This Day
On this day in 1958 radio station KWK in St Loius announced that Rock ‘n’ roll was to be banned from their air waves. According to the station manager, Robert T Convey (along with most Brits I find the American habit of using their middle initial faintly comical. I would never refer to myself as Phil A Stutt, Phil Stutt is much more natural, as would Robert Convey – but I digress, again) said that their action was “a simple weeding out of undesirable music”. It was certainly simple, and short sighted, and so wrong.
The station was playing rock ‘n’ roll a couple of years later.
Coincidentally on this day in 1958 the Silhouettes released a rock ‘n’ roll classic “Get a Job”. I have no data on Mr Convey’s job status after he decided to ban R ‘n’ R.
In ‘78 KWK hired an interesting character to work for them. Bobby Hattrik was employed to programme the music and wanted to make KWK one of the foremost rock stations. Apart from his talent for programing and understanding what the listeners wanted he was also quite creative. He pioneered calling listeners to undertake polls (called outcall research). There are also stories stories of him phoning listeners in the middle of the night and posing as a caller from rival radio stations. He also ran battle of the bands spots. He would play tracks from 2 bands and ask the audience who they preferred. If he felt that the audience was wrong he would over ride their votes and go for the band he liked most – sounds like my type of guy.
He was murdered in 1986.
Tags: bobby hattrik, commercial radio, kwk, On This Day, rock and blues, rock radio, silhouettes
On This Day – A Squid Eats Down Into a Polyethelene Bag
Jan 15, 2010 On This Day, arrivals
Yes, that’s right the Maskara Snake, on this day in 1941 the world of music saw the birth of a stone cold genius.
The ZigZag Wanderer himself, Don Van Vliet, made his appearance in Glendale California. The old fart was playing and the mothership was flying when, 28, years later the best album ever made hit our shelves (and has rarely been off my turntable or out of my CD player ever since).
Trout Mask Replica is unconditionaly guaranteed to amaze and delight you in your blue jeans under the moonbeams while the doc at the radar station watches a black bird eating ice cream and a man in a hat picks up his easel says goodbye and then walks down his yellow brick road. Its the same ol’ blues, again. Ella Guru sheds a tin teardrop and says that he was the one red rose that she meant.
Just Throwing This One In a Captain Tribute Band – And they ain’t Bad!
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On This Day – The Great Slim Harpo
Jan 11, 2010 On This Day, arrivals
On this day in 1924 one of the best blues performers ever was born.
Slim Harpo was born James Moore in Lobdel, Louisiana and was the eldest in an orphaned family. He worked as a longshoreman and builder during the 30s. He began performing in Baton Rouge as Harmonica Slim. Later he backed his brother in Law Lightnin’ Hopkins (another blues great).
he was given the name Slim Harpo by his producer Jay Miller, a reference to his mastery of the harmonica. His solo debut was amazing coupling “I’m a King Bee” with “I Got Love if You Want It”. A string of hits followed. His songs were covered by many in the British Blues boom of the 60s including The Stones, Yardbirds, Them, Pretty Things – infact, almost anyone playing in British clubs at the time.
His lazy delivery cooupled with understated but effective electric backing ensured his place in the pantheon of blues greats.
The Sons of The Delta with King Bee
Slim’s Original
The Immortal Muddy’s Version (turn this one up)
Stone’s version 1966
2 for the Price of One! The Wonderful Bonnie Raitt Singing ‘Coming Home’ and Steve Tyler with King Bee!
Tags: bonnie raitt, born on this day, lightnin' hopkins, muddy waters, On This Day, rock and blues, rolling stones, slim harpo, steve tyler
La Toya was Right Michael Jackson Murdered
Jan 11, 2010 Rants
Back in June, just after his death Lat Toya Michael Jackson’s sister claimed that he had been murdered. It wuld seem that she was right.
The death certificate was amended on August 31st by the medical examiner, Christopher Rogers, the cause of death now reads ‘homicide’. It talks of “acute Propofol intoxication” and “intravenous injection by another”. There was no evidence of illegal drugs in Michael’s body at the time of death and he was in relatively good heath for a man of his age.
This is, potentially, very bad news for his doctor Conrad Murray. It is thought that he is to be indicted on a charge of ‘involuntary manslaughter’. The police are talking about a charge involving gross negligence saying that the care given to Michael was way below the standard of care normally given by physicians.
The coroner found that propofol was given to Michael without any medical need or the recommended resuscitation equipment being in place. Propofol depresses the breathing, heart rate and lowers blood pressure.
Murray was in Michael’s rented LA mansion when he died and tried to try to revive him when he was found unconcious. Through his spokemen Murray has issued a cautious ‘no comment’ to the speculation that he about to be charged. The spokesmen went on to repeat that Murray neither prescribed or administered anything that should have caused Michael’s death.
For a successfull prosecution the prosecuter woiuld have to prove that there was a reckless action that created a risk of injury or death. Where the accused is a doctor there are also other issues such as was the patient made fully aware of the risks and did he accept them?
When (if) Murray is charged depends on a few things such as how soon can a grand jury be convened and how long will the DA’s review of the evidence presented by the police take. The police investigation was largely completed in December and it included interviews with medical proffessionals much attention being given to expected standards of care.
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Tags: conrad murray, derek acorah, michael Jackson, michael jackson murdered, michael jacksons death, rock and blues
On This Day – Elvis Lives !
Jan 8, 2010 On This Day
Jan 8th was a significant day for Elvis, he was born on this day in 1935, Jan 8th 1945 he was given his first guitar, Jan 8th 1955 he released his 3rd single. Not too shabby.
So January 8th was not a bad day for Elvis, or for us music lovers as it also saw the birth of Bowie (1947), Shirley Bassey (1937), (the Dame is 10 years younger than the Dame?) and Bill Graham in 1931.
ON the other hjand January 8th has provide some lows as well. Yoko Ono released “Approximately Infinite University” in 1973.
‘Nuff Said (One for the older readers)
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On This Day – Max Sued
Jan 7, 2010 Uncategorized
On this day in 1970 Max Yasgur who owned the farm where Woodstock was sued by neighbours for damages caused by the rampaging hippies. The suits either totaled $25,000 0r $35,000. Eventually, they were settled. The finances of ‘Woodstock Ventures’ are a bit murky but it seems that although it was planned as a profit making venture (it only became a free concert after so many people turned up) but the some 80 lawsuits filed against them were paid from the profits of the film. The film also helped to settle their $1.4m debts.
The people who didn’t play Woodstock?
The Beatles, some say because the organisers would not also book
the Yoko Ono Band, some because Lennon could not get into the states because of visa difficulties.
The Doors because they thought it would not be worthy of them ‘a second class Monteray’.
Led Zepp ‘cos they did not want to be just another band on the bill.
Dylan was negotiating but his son became ill.
The Moody Blues decided to play a gig in Paris instead. That was either a really bad decision or an inspired one. Bad because of the loss of exposure good because more than most they relied on a good sound system when playing live and the sound at Woodstock was bad, very bad.
Missed opportunity?
Keef Hartley played Woodstock but did not make the film because their manager refused to give the rights away. Shame ‘cos KH was ‘my’ band in the 60’s and they deserved much better recognition.
Best way to experience Woodstock? Watch the film turn up the volume, sit in a tub of mud, and smoke your little smoke, drink your little drink, while I dance the night away…….(No FZ wasn’t there either)
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Tags: beatles, bob dylan, classic rock music, doors, john lennon, Keef Hartley, live music, moody blues, On This Day, rock and blues
On This Day – Stones In Harrow & The Beatles On US TV
Jan 6, 2010 On This Day
The Fab Four at their most Fab.......
Gawd knows what he would have made of the Stones.
They were embarking on their first tour in the UK on which they were the headliners having previously backed people like Bo Diddley, Little Richard and The Everly Brothers. This tie round they were supported by the Ronnettes (as was usual at the time a strange pairing it seems to me). Jack Paar may not have liked the Beatles’ hair Phil Spector did not like the Stones’ morals. He sent a telegram to the Stones warning to stay away from ‘his girls’. Mind you Ronnie of the Ronnettes was his wife at the time.
Apparently, the Stones ignored the telegram.
The tour started in the Harrow Granada, not the best venue they would ever play, but certainly not the worst. One notable thing from the tour was that the Stones stopped wearing their band uniform. One of the first bands to do so. These days it seems hard imagine that any band would wear a uniform, but it was the norm in those days. That they stopped wearing them enhanced their loutish, bad boy image. parents (mine included) hated them because of it. The kids (me included) loved them because of it (and the music, of course).
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Tags: beatles, On This Day, phil spector, real rock and blues, rolling stones, ronnettes
Ronnie and Mick to Meet
Jan 5, 2010 Rants, Uncategorized
It would seem that the proposed Stones tour is still in danger of not going ahead because of fears for Ronnie Wood’s health.
As has been widely reported Ronnie has an alcohol problem and it is this that has cast a shadow over the proposed tour. Mick is, as we all know, heavily involved in the organisation and running of the tours. Micro managing them to a rediculous extent according to some reports from previous tours. In any event, he will want to be sure that Ronnie is up to it.
It should not be forgotten that they are also old friends and Mick must be concerned on a personal level. As for Ronnie 2009 has been a year that he must want to forget. He divorced his wife Jo towards the end of the year and moved in with his young girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova. Since then he has moved out after a disagreement outside a restaurant in Surrey, allegedly, resulted in him choking her (maybe it was an inept attempt at the Heimlich maneuver squeezing the throat rather than the abdomen).
The daily Express was told “Mick and Ronnie will talk things through in the New Year. They are old friends and Mick will obviously do everything he can to help him. But when it comes to the Stones, Mick has a real eye for detail and always ensures things run like clockwork. He’ll need to be convinced that Ronnie is still up to the job. Hopefully everything will work out, as it would break Ronnie’s heart if the Stones had to perform without him.”
Although there would be all the old jokes about locking up your grannies if the Stones do tour I would love to see them on the road, again. My caveat would be that they should strip down the shows. Forget the pyrotechnics, let the music light up the stage. Their best album for some time was ‘Stripped’ and that was a very simple affair. Were they to do that and go back to their blues roots I would be first in the queue for tickets.
From Stripped, this is classic.
The highlight from the album was this, Told yer that they were still good playing blues…..
Tags: Ekaterina Ivanova, mick jagger, rock and blues, rolling stones, ronnie wood
