G’day guys, hope this week so far has been kind to you all, the weekend is close and so is the Easter bunny I’m told. Lets get started, quite a lot has happened on this throughout the years so without further ado….
Today we’re starting at 1945, when Billboard published the first US LP chart. Nat King Cole was at No.1 with ‘A Collection Of Favorites’.
On to 1956, and Les Baxter started a four-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Poor People Of Paris’ (a UK No.1 for Winifred Atwell). Baxter also had the UK No.10 hit in 1955 with ‘Unchained Melody’.
At 6.35 am in 1958, Elvis Presley reported to the Memphis draft board. From there Elvis and twelve other recruits were taken by bus to Kennedy Veterans Memorial Hospital, where the singer was assigned his army serial number 53310761.
In 1962, The Beatles appeared at The Barnston Women’s Institute, and admission was seven shillings and a six pence, which is $1.05. Now that’s a bargain! Now days your lucky if concert tickets are under $100.
We stay with The Beatles and in 1965, the continued filming ‘Help!’ at Twickenham Studios, England. The shot the interior temple scenes, including the one where they “drive through a hollow sacrificial altar and into water”. Then that scene was cut to the swimming pool scene filmed in the Bahamas on February 23.
Simon and Garfunkel made their UK singles chart debut with ‘Homeward Bound’ in 1966. Simon is said to have written the song at Farnworth railway station, Widnes, England, while stranded overnight waiting for a train. Did you know that an actual plaque is displayed in the station to commemorate this, however it has been stolen many time by memorabilia hunters. ‘Homeward Bound’ describes his longing to return home, both to his then girlfriend, Kathy Chitty in Brentwood, Essex, England, and to return to the Us. ‘Homewood Bound’ was a No.5 hit in the US.
The awesome geniuses that are Pink Floyd played the first of two nights at the Ricky Tick Club in Hounslow, England in 1967.
On this day in 1973 was quite busy, starting with Alice Cooper, who went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘Billion Dollar Babies’. Which was all so was No.1 in the US. Also in 1973 During a Lou Reed show in Buffalo, New York, a fan jumped on stage and bit Lou on his rear end, the man was thrown out of the theater and Reed continued the show. That’s just all sorts of wrong!
The O’Jays went to No.1 in 1973, on the US singles chart with ‘Love Train’. The song’s lyrics of unity mention a number of countries, including England, Russia, China, Egypt and Israel, as well as the continent of Africa.
In 1976, Transvestite singer Wayne County appeared in court charged with assault after an incident at New York club CBGB’S. County had attacked Dictators singer Handsome Dick Manitoba with a mike stand which fractured his collarbone.
The Bee Gees started a two-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Tragedy’ in 1979, the group’s eighth Us No.1 and also No.1 in the UK.
In 1984, the former lead singer of the Commodore’s Lionel Richie, started a six-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Hello”. Also a No.1 hit in the US.
‘Easy Lover’ by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins was at No.1 on the UK singles chart in 1985. Bailey a former vocalist with Earth Wind and Fire. Phil Collins produced, drummed and sang on the track. Don’t know about you guys, but I love me a bit of Phil Collins.
Canadian singer Alannah Myles started a two-week run at No.1 in 1990, on the US singles chart with ‘Black Velvet’, it was No.2 hit in the UK. Such a classic 90’s hit. Also in 1990, Sinead O’Connor went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘ I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got’ it featured the single ‘Nothing Compares To You’. Also No.1 in 13 other countries and six weeks at No.1 in the US.
In 1991, The Black Crowes were dropped as the support act on ZZ Top’s tour after repeatedly criticising the tour sponsor Miller Beer.
1992, A Chicago court settled the Milli Vanilli class action suit by approving cash rebates of up to $3 (£1.76) to anyone proving they brought the group’s music before November 27 1990, the date the lip synching scandal broke. Milli Vanilli won the 1989 best new artist Grammy after hits like ‘Blame it on the Rain’ and ‘Girl You Know It’s True’, selling 30 million singles and 14 million albums. But in late 1990, the performers were stripped of the award after it was revealed that neither actually sang on the Milli Vanilli album. It was such a big scandal back then.
UK singer Mark Morrison was Jailed for a year in 1998, after he trying to con his way out of community service. He sent his minder Gabriel Mafereka who wore sunglasses and hid his hair under a hat so he looked like the star.
A film company paid £635,000, ($1,079,500) in 2000, for over nine hours of film shot during the 70’s by Yoko Ono. The film contained shots of Lennon smoking hash and talking about his political beliefs. Also in 2000, Sir Elton John’s Aida opened on Broadway. It took Elton 21 days to write the music and five years to make the production.
In 2002, Gareth Gates became the youngest male solo artist to score a UK No.1 with his debut release ‘Unchained Melody’ Gates was 17 years and 255 days old and had won second place on TV’s ‘Pop Idol’ show. This was the fourth time that the song had been at No.1 in the UK.
During a North American tour in 2008, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Motown drummer Uriel Jones died age 74 in 2009, after suffering complications from a heart attack. Jones played on many Motown classics including ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’ by Marvin Gaye, ‘Cloud Nine’ by the Temptations, ‘I Second That Emotion’ by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and ‘For Once In My Life’ by Stevie Wonder.
Also in 2009, The prosecutor in the Phil Spector murder retrial told the jury he was a “demonic maniac” when he drinks and “a very dangerous man” around women. Deputy District Attorney Truc Do urged jurors to find the music producer guilty of murdering Hollywood actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. During her closing argument, she also accused Mr Spector of demonstrating a “conscious disregard for human life”.
In 2013, Pictures of The Beatles 1965 Shea Stadium concert, taken by an amateur photographer who bluffed his way backstage, sold for £30,000 at auction. Marc Weinstein used a fake press pass to get next to the stage for the historic New York show. His 61 black and white im,ages with copyright fetched £30,680, the successful bidder was a South American gentleman currently living in Washington who is a huge collector of Beatles memorabilia.
Well that brings us to the end, hope you have enjoyed this weeks ‘On This Day’ check back same time next week, untill then take care and Happy Easter!
Presh.
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