On this day in 1985 Big Joe Turner died.  Sadly, he is little remembered today but he had a huge influence on the growth of Rock and Roll.

Born in 1911 Turner performed from 1920 until 1980.  A Blues shouter he played with or on the same bill as many wonderful musicians such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Wynonie Harris.  He recorded throughout his career but found real fame in the ’50s.  Moving away from Jazz and Blues he was a pioneer of rock and roll.  He is best remembered for writing and recording “Shake Rattle and Roll”.  His, original version was a hit but eclipsed by Bill Haley’s version.  BH’s version removed all the innuendoes of the original (Elvis used the original lyrics) and was not as raw and powerful as Turner’s.

More hits followed notably; “Well All Right,” “Flip Flop and Fly,” “Hide and Seek,” “Morning, Noon and Night,” and “The Chicken and the Hawk”.  His influence has been hailed by many people including the NME when reporting his death in 1985 they referred to him as “the grandfather of rock and roll.

Later in his life he returned to Jazz and Blues performing until 1980.  He died of a heart attack.

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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.

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I should point out before I begin that I am not EC’s biggest fan – I have never forgiven him for 461 Ocean Bvd.

Having got that off my chest I must say that I enjoyed this book. It is well written with lots of insights and honesty (as far as anyone can tell). He acknowledges his arrogance and failings though he becomes a bit self serving towards the end of his book. All in all, however, it comes across as an honest account of his life.

The account of his upbringing seems so removed from the experience of today’s youth, it is even removed from those of us born just 10 years later than him. The privations of the post war years, the birth of skiffle, the part played by the old jazzers in introducing the Blues to these shores are covered. That EC became fixated with the blues resonated with me. I remember the effect of listening to Muddy, Howlin’ Wolf etc. for the first time and understand what that would mean to a socially inadequate, but talented youngster.

The lost years, fogged by various addictions, are covered openly. EC makes no excuses. The one question that I have is how much of the past can he really remember, but then I asked myself that when ready Life by Keith Richard.

Worth buying? I would say yes. You will not get a track by track explanation of the albums as you sometimes find in other biographies. What you do get is a worthy attempt to put his life into context. Motives and feelings are the name of the game here. It is an exceptional book because it is so personal. The flaws and mistakes are addressed (though I would have liked a bit more about the Birmingham racist comments). This is a man who was known to be a bastard to his family and friends, a man who dodged his responsibilities for years, a man who took the easy way out and relied on others.

EC started as an exceptional talent who could not live up to other peoples’ expectations. He became a jobbing guitarist, going through the motions. He both believed his own hype and hated the attention that it brought to him. That he survived is a testament to his resilience, that he survived and reclaimed happiness and the ability to play sublime music is a testament to his strength.

I still have not forgiven for 461 but I understand better, I just wish that I had not bought it. This book should be on your Christmas list, you will not be disappointed.

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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………..

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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.

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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……

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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.

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As you may have gathered White Denim are The Best Band in the World, at least I think so. One of the things I like about them is that they wear their influences on their sleeves. Especially their love of the mighty Captain.

Listen to this;

About 2.43 there is that great break, heard it before?

I have no problem with this as they freely admit the Captain’s influence on them. Also it gave me the excuse to post the Captain, again – not that I need much of an excuse.

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So all rumours and pre-announcement leaks were true. The Stone Roses are back together, or will be in 2012 for 2 gigs in Manchester (where else?) and then a world tour. There will even be some new songs and, perhaps, a new album.

The gigs will take place at Heaton Park in Manchester on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th June next year 2012.

Right the important stuff;

Tickets go on sale on Friday 21st October at 9.30. They will be available from;

Gigsandtours.com/ 0844 811 0051

Ticketmaster.co.uk/ 0844 826 2826

ticketline.co.uk/ 0161 832 1111

Good Luck!

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No other reason for posting this than I played the album version (Murder Stories 1996) and I remembered this live versio. Anyway, who needs an excuse to play NC?

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