On This Day – Blue Suede Shoes
Nov 19, 2011 On This Day, Uncategorized
On this day in 1955 one of the all time rock classics was recorded by Carl Perkins at Sun Records in Memphis. It later went on to reach number 2 in the US and number 10 in the UK. It has been covered by loads of artists including Elvis (also a Sun Recording artist) and John Lennon.
He had a very poor upbringing. The son of a sharecropper in Tiptonville Tennessee he started working in the cotton fields at the age of 6. He would often finish his school day and then work for several hours in the fields. This upbringing made him resilient and exposed him to Southern Gospel music, whether during regular worship on Sundays or while working in the fields as the black workers sang in the fields.
In what now seems to be almost trite his first guitar was home made cigar box and broom handle affair made by his dad. He learnt to play being taught by a 60 year old John Westbrook a fellow field worker who Carl referred to as “Uncle John”. The African American played Gospel and blues and instilled a love of music into a willing Carl.
Later the family moved to Madison County and so closer to Memphis and more musical influences. From the age of 14 Carl and his brother played in local bars (while still having day jobs in the fields). Gradually, his repertoire and confidence grew. In 1954 he auditioned for the great Sam Phillips of Sun Records. Later Phillips would say of Carl “I knew that Carl could rock and in fact he told me right from the start that he had been playing that music before Elvis came out on record… I wanted to see whether this was someone who could revolutionize the country end of the business.”
Records followed but the great success was “Blue Suede Shoes” recorded on this day in 1955 (or on 19th December depending on who you believe. Carl’s immortality was assured.
Perkins was the son of poor sharecroppers near Tiptonville, Tennessee.[3] He grew up hearing Southern gospel music sung by whites in church, and by black field workers when he started working in the cotton fields at age six. During spring and autumn, the school day would be followed by several hours of work in fields. During the summer, workdays were 12–14 hours,
1955, Carl Perkins recorded ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ at Sun Studios in Memphis. The rock ‘n’ roll classic became a US No.2 & UK No.10 hit for Perkins in 1956, and has been covered by many acts including Elvis Presley and John Lennon.
Tags: Blues, carl perkins, classic rock, classic rock music, elvis presley, john lennon, king of rockabilly, love rock music, On This Day, real rock, real rock and blues, rock, rock music, sam phillips, sun records
On This Day – Coz I Luv You
Nov 17, 2011 On This Day
On this day in 1971 “Coz I Luv You” hit the number 1 spot in the UK. It was Slade’s first number one and was followed by another 5.
Slade were a jobbing band in the West Midlands of the UK. After adopting a skinhead persona that was ill judged (skinheads had associations with football hooliganism and the far right) they dove head first into glam rock. There followed a series of UK hits directed by their manager Chas Chandler (Ex of the Animals and manager of Hendrix). Although they had a substantial following in the UK they never cracked the US despite moving to the USA in ‘75 and touring continuously.
They have been credited as being an influence on a number of bands including; Kiss, Queen, Poison, Def Leppard, Oasis (who covered “Cum On Feel the Noize”, Cheap Trick, Hot Leg, Twisted Sister, The Clash, The Undertones, Cock Sparrer, The Runaways and Girlschool.
Their influence was summed up in New Musical Express; “They embodied the glorious absurdity of the greatest pop, in the sideburns, the mirrored top hat and Dave Hill’s pudding bowl haircut. As such they were the simplest, most effective possible, riposte to prog rock’s bloated pretensions and pseudo-intellect.” (and I thought that Punk was the ultimate riposte).
So the positives (of which there are many) about Slade. Noddy Holder had a voice that was made for rock, it is certainly up there with Paul Rogers, Robert Plant, and any other rocker that you can think of. As a band they put on a great show, Dave Hill with the strangeness that always appeals in a lead guitarist. A solid rhythm section ensured that they were always straight on and never stumbled. Above all they revelled in good time rock and roll.
However, they were responsible for quite possibly the most annoying and down right gut wrenching single ever (followed closely by Kid Rock – but don’t get me started on him). I refer to, of course, that scourge of all who love rock -”Merry Xmas Everybody”. If ever a single should have been strangled at birth…………….
Tags: Blues, classic rock, classic rock music, Coz I Luv You, Dave Hill, Don Powell, Jim Lea, merry xmass everybody, Noddy Holder, On This Day, real rock, real rock and blues, rock, rock and blues, rock music, Slade
On This Day – Johnny and The Moondogs
Nov 15, 2011 On This Day
On this day in 1959 Johnny and The Moondogs played an audition for a talent show. Sadly they did not win.
Why should we be bothered about a failed band? Simply because they later became The Silver Beetles, then The Silver Beats and eventually The Beatles. It seems that Lennon took names seriously as The Beatles had some 8 names, including The Beatles (twice!).
Carroll Levis was Canadian born but moved to the UK to work for the BBC. In 1958 and 1959 he ran talent shows and the prize was to appear on either his radio or TV shows both called “Star Search” (some sources say it was called “Search for a Star”). The set up was that the acts performed and later reprised their act while the audience applauded. Using a clapometer it was decided which act was most popular and so the winner.
On 15 November 1959 (or possibly 26th November) The Quarrymen morphed into Johnny and the Moondogs for the talent show. Their line up was John, Paul, George, Colin Hanton (drums), and John Lowe (piano). The auditions took place in The Hippodrome Theatre, Manchester and the band turned up to play. However, they did not have enough money to stay overnight if they had progressed to the next heat and returned to Liverpool without knowing whether they has won or not (they didn’t).
There are several questions about this whole episode. The 15th November 1959 was a Sunday, would the theatre be open on a Sunday in those days? Possibly not. An alternative date given for their performance is the 26 November 1959. There is also some question as to what, if anything Lennon was playing at the time. There are reports that Lennon was singing but notplaying at this time. There are other reports that Lennon was indeed playing guitar, a Hofner Club 40. It is known that Lennon was playing this guitar a little later when the Quarrymen (they had changed the name back) played the Casbah club. This is the guitar that Lennon’s aunt Mimi bought for him. The photo above is from 1958 and shows Lennon without a guitar, but obviously that proves nothing. There are also reports that Lennon actually stole a guitar to play at the competition. (It has to be said that I was told that some time ago but I have not been able to corroborate this story).
So what do we know? The proto-Beatles took part in a talent show, did not win but did not give up. It is hard for us to look back now and appreciate the change that was happening to society. In post war Britain skiffle had roused something among the youngsters. They became enamoured of the energetic music that was coming from the States, then rock and roll took their desire to express themselves further. There were difficulties and deprivations but a generation was beginning to reject the old staid mores of their parents and the existing society. From such small beginnings………..
Tags: beatles, Blues, classic rock, classic rock music, Colin Hanton, george harrison, john lennon, John Lowe, johnny and the moondogs, love rock music, On This Day, paul Mcartney, real rock, real rock and blues, rock, rock and blues, rock music, the beatles
On This Day – Vince Martel Born
Nov 11, 2011 On This Day
On This Day in 1945 Vince Martel was born. He was the lead guitar player in a proto hard rock band Vanilla Fudge who recorded “You Keep Me Hangin’ On”.
The Fudge, formed in 1966 by Mark Stein and Tim Bogert were originally called The Pigeons. (There must be a series of posts about band’s original names that I can do). They then changed their name and were managed by a gangster related figure called Phillip Basile. (I should say that Basile was
-
allegedly
connected to the Luchese crime-familly).
Their biggest hit was “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” a reworking of the Supremes’ hit. Slowing it down and rocking it proved to be a success. While it only made number 67 in the USA it reached the 18th spot in the UK. It was also a forerunner in the growing hard rock movement. In fact during their 1969 US tour The Fudge had Led Zep supporting them!
The Fudge did many good covers, making the songs their own. There were covers of various Beatles’ songs and “Season of the Witch” a Donovan ditty.
Tags: Blues, classic rock, classic rock music, love rock music, Mark Stein, On This Day, real rock, real rock and blues, rock, rock and blues, rock music, Tim Bogert, vanilla fudge, vince martel, you just keep me hanin' on
On This Day – Tin Machine Play Cambridge
Nov 9, 2011 On This Day
OK, not really a red letter day for Rock but on this day in 1991 Tin Machine played the Corn Exchange in Cambridge, UK.
It was part of the It’s My Life tour and was the second version of Tin Machine (Eric Schermerhorn joined the band on guitar). Tin Machine was a strange animal. Fronted by Bowie it was a pretty decent rock outfit. Bowie had formed the band, actually he says that he did not form the band it sort of just coalesced. Bowie wanted time off from his solo career, which he felt had become too mainstream (some of us would say boring).
TM released 2 albums with some critical and commercial success. The highlight of the albums was glorious version of Working Class hero on the first album. OK, this whole post is my excuse for posting this clip……
Tags: bowie, classic rock, classic rock music, david bowie, love rock music, On This Day, real rock and blues, rock and blues, rock music, tin machine
On This Day – Eddie Cochran Has The Summertime Blues, in November!
Nov 7, 2011 On This Day
On this day in 1958 the Wonderful Eddie Cochran made the UK Charts with Summertime Blues, one of the classic rock songs that has been covered by many, many artists.
Sadly, EC died just some 2 years later. He was in a taxi with Gene Vincent and his girlfriend Sharon Sheeley when it left the road at Rowden Hill, Chippenham Wiltshire, UK. It seems that Eddie threw himself over his grlfriend to stop her being thrown out of the car when the door burst open. The next day he died of head injuries in hospital.
Dave Dee (of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, Tich & rubbish) was a police cadet at the time and taught himself to play guitar on EC’s impounded Gretsch guitar. You may well know that earlier in the tour a young Mark Field carried the same guitar to EC’s car for him. Mark Field later changed his name to Marc Bolan.
Tags: classic rock, classic rock music, eddie Cochran, gene vincent, love rock music, On This Day, real rock and blues, rock and blues, rock music, sharon sheeley, summertime blues
On This Day – Pipers Pipe
Aug 5, 2009 On This Day
On this day in 1967 “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” is released by Pink Floyd. This was the first album released by Pink Floyd and showcased Syd Barrett’s vision and songwriting talents.
Regarded by many as an even better realisation of the quintessential English psychedelia of the time that Sgt. Pepper this album strangely (for the time did) not include the singles already released by Floyd “Arnold Layne” and “See Emily Play”. There are some stand out tracks such as Astronomy Domine, Interstella Overdrive, and the transcendent Mathilda Mother. There is also one complete nonsense song Bike. To me the best track is the driving and sinister Lucifer Sam.
As I remember, although my memory is somewhat hazy of this time……….. one criticism of the album was that it did not reflect Floyd’s live performances. This is true but with this album Floyd were beginning a long journey.
At the time Floyd had no overseas presence and that would not come until some 5 years later after the departure of Syd Barrett. Syd’s mental health declined soon after this album was released and he finally left the band in 1968 being replaced by David Gilmour.
Tags: classic rock, classic rock music, On This Day, pink floyd, rock and blues, syd barrett
The Dead’s Last Gig
Jul 9, 2009 On This Day
On this day in 1995 The Grateful Dead gave their last concert before the death of Jerry Garcia at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Jerry was dead a month later of a heart attack. He was staying ata drug rehab clinic at the time.
Jerry Garcia was, for many, the heart of the band. He was a prodigious talent who started playing guitar when he was 15. He started hi own band (called Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions) and the basis of the Dead began to form. Along the way the band changed their name to The Warlocks and eventually to The Grateful Dead.
Although hugely popular as a live act on the West coast the Dead found themselves hugely in debt to Warners after 3 albums. Their saviour seems so obvious now but at the time was a revelation, a live album. ‘Live/Dead’ featured a 23 minute version of Dark Star and showed the whole world what the band was about.
To many, the epitome of the band was the release of American Beauty and Workingman’s Dead. To those who regard themselves as ‘true’ Dead fans there is nothing to compare to the gigs, and albums, whether live or studio were just pale imitations. The Dead tribe was formed.
While the very epitome of hippydom, the Dead were also consistantly one of the highest grossing live acts in the world. Even after JG’s death the music went on, this time in the exelent Dick’s Picks series of albums.
Tags: classic rock, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, On This Day, real rock and blues, rock music
Elvis’ Tooth Goes On Ebay
Jul 8, 2009 On This Day
On this day in 2003 one of Elvis’s teeth was listed on eBay, together with some hair and a gold record. The reserve price was $100,000.
Just how do you get a tooth without actually digging him up? Easy, you get the tooth from a man who got it from his dad, who happens to be the founder of the Elvis museum, and he in turn got it from from of Elvis’ old girlfriends….. I told you it was easy. Now why did she have tooth? Apparently, it was pulled after Elvis had an accident, but I have no idea what type of accident (or pulled by a dentist, depending on which story you want to believe).
The tooth, hair, and gold record failed to sell.
Tags: classic rock, ebay, elvis presley, love rock music
On This day – Brian Jones
Jul 3, 2009 Departures, On This Day
1969, is it really 40 years ago? Brian jones was found dead in his swimming pool.
He was the original guitatist with the Stolling Bones, arguably their best period – when they still played blues based rock. Jones’ influences were jazz and blues with him citing Elmore james, Robert Johnson (see my article Records that Changed the World, point proved),and Cannonball Adderley (yes Iknow he played sax), among others.
He left his native Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK in disgrace having got his 14 year old girlfriend pregnant. He spent sometime abroad before making his way to London.
It was Jones who placed the original advert in a local jazz newsletter for musicians that brought the Stones together. Ian ‘Stew’ Stewart (the Stone that who too old for their image but stayed and played with them for years, as an employee of the band I believe) was the first to respond. The others came over time, jagger introduced Richards (who brought his love of Chuckles Berry to the band) and finally Bill Wyman (who brought his Vox AC30).
Then there was Alexis Korner who helped the band and the rest is history.
By the time he died Jone was a shadow of his former self, a victim of LSD, uppers, downers, alcohol, and effectively ousted from his own band. He was found floating face down in the pool at his house in East Sussex. His then girlfriend claimed that he was alive when pulled from the pool but was dead by the time the ambulance arrived. There is a widely known story that he was murdered by a builder working on the house. There are stories of a death bed confession, witnesses that refuse to talk to the police, looting and thefts from the house after his death.
The truth will probably never be known for certain. One thing that we do know is that this man stated what was, for a considerable time, the best rock band in the world.
Tags: brian jones, classic rock, love rock music, On This Day, real rock
