June 21 - Music History

[LiSaPaLooZza]

59 years ago Ray Davies of the Kinks is born. (1944)

55 years ago Columbia Records begins the first mass production of the 33 1/3 RPM LP. (1948)

53 years ago Joey Kramer, drummer for Aerosmith, is born. (1950)

52 years ago E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren is born. (1951)

45 years ago Bobby Darin records "Splish Splash." (1958)

45 years ago Entering the Top-30 today: Elvis' "Hard Headed Woman" (at #20) and Dion & The Belmonts "I Wonder Why" (at #28). (1958)

37 years ago The Rolling Stones preparing for a tour in the U.S., sue fourteen New York City hotels that won't let the group on the premises. The suit claims the ban hurts the groups reputation. (1966)

33 years ago Pete Townshend bad timing of the use of the British slang term, "bomb" draws police and FBI action at the Memphis International Airport. He was overheard saying "'Tommy" seems to be "going down a bomb." That meant it was a hit. Officials, however, only heard the term "bomb" and reacted. (1970)

31 years ago Billy Preston has his first gold single with "Outta Space". (1972)

30 years ago Soft rockers Break play their final show in Salt Lake City. Earlier in the day the groups' equipment truck blew a tire and overturned near Flagstaff, Arizona. $30,000 worth of equipment was destroyed and the band had to play their final gig on borrowed instuments and amps. (1973)

28 years ago Elton John headlines a bill at Wembly Stadium that also features the Eagles, The Beach Boys, Rufus and Joe Walsh. The crowd favorite was the Beach Boys, who played a 90 minute set. (1975)

28 years ago Ritchie Blackmore quits Deep Purple to form Rainbow. (1975)

28 years ago James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is" is released. (1975)

27 years ago Chicago earns another gold record for the LP, "Chicago X". Songs on the LP include "If You Leave Me Now" and Another Rainy Day In New York City." (1976)

24 years ago Four & a half years after leaving The Rolling Stones, guitarist Mick Taylor releases his first solo LP, entitled (suprise!) "Mick Taylor". (1979)

22 years ago Donald Fagan and Walter Becker announce the break-up of Steely Dan. (1981)

13 years ago Little Richard receives a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. (1990)

9 years ago George Michael lost his lawsuit against Sony Records. Michael claimed that his 15-year contract with Sony was unfair because the company could refuse to release albums it thought wouldn't be commercially successful. (1994)

[Dawn]

I remember reading somewhere about how the 33 1/3 RPM LP was vastly superior in technology compared to the old 78's of the time. CDs are great, but I'll always have a place in my heart for vinyl LPs.

'Outa Space' and 'How Sweet It Is' are both excellent songs!

Chicago X is a good album, although by this time they were starting to lose a bit of their edge. 'Another Rainy Day in New York City' is a wonderful song, but very overlooked on the radio these days.

[Ken]

Happy birthday to Ray , Joey and Niles

Splish Splash - Loved it - I have the 45


Outta Space - A great track from Billy!


Hard Headed Woman and I wonder Why - Two more 50's classics:)

[m c dornan]

So Ray Davies is older than the 33 1/3 record!

Nils Lofgren also had some solo LPs.

[H2IZCOOL]

Dion and The Belmonts "I Wonder Why" - IMO was their best. -- but it never cracked the Top 20.


Sure would have liked to have been at Wembly in '75 for that concert.