Yeah, we are. We’re back in the mines tomorrow, and we need to get a jump on our week here in The Mermaid Lounge. This is a pretty brutal day here in rock history. I got writer’s cramp just putting this thing together.

Here’s today’s lesson in useless information:

December 15, 1956: Fats Domino had one of the biggest R & B songs of all time with Blueberry Hill. On this day it remained at #1 for a ninth week. There is no denying that this guy was a rock n’ roll pioneer.

December 15, 1958: A new soul artist named James Brown made his debut on the R & B charts with a song called Try Me.

And in the meantime, Jackie Wilson’s Lonely Teardrops took over the #1 spot on the R & B charts this day.

December 15, 1962: The Beatles played two shows at the Majestic Ballroom in Brkenhead, Merseyside, England. At midnight, the first ever Mersey Beat poll awards show took place. As the winners of the poll, The Beatles then closed the festivities at 4:00 a.m.

December 15, 1964: The Beatles release the album Beatles ’65.

Also on this day, Dusty Springfield is deported from South Africa after performing in front of a multiracial audience at a show near Cape Town.

December 15, 1966: The trumpets and cellos are recorded for the song Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios in London.

December 15, 1967: The Beach Boys met the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Paris where they were taught Transcendental Meditation.

Also on this day, just a few days after its release, The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour album went Gold. It will hold the top spot on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart for eight weeks and will receive a Grammy Award nomination for Best Album.

The Who released the album, The Who Sell Out.

December 15, 1969: John Lennon gave his last live performance in England at a UNICEF Benefit in London. Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie, Billy Preston, and Who drummer Keith Moon also took part.

December 15, 1970: Creedence Clearwater Revival released another winning album in Pendulum.

December 15, 1975: Paul Simon released the single, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.

The Eagles remained on a roll, releasing the single Take It To The Limit on this day in 1975.

December 15, 1979: The Long Run by The Eagles held on to the #1 position on the Album charts for the seventh week.

Born On This Day

December 15, 1919: Max Yasgur, owner of the farm in New York where Woodstock was held in 1969, was born in New York City.

December 15, 1939: Cindy Birdsong, a member of the Supremes beginning in 1967, was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

December 15, 1942: Dave Clark, drummer for The Dave Clark Five, was born in Tottenham, England.

December 15, 1946: Carmine Appice, drummer with the Vanilla Fudge and Jeff Beck, was born in Staten Island, New York.

And thankfully, we are at the end of today’s lesson! Back with the line-up later.