Getting a Jump on The Trivia of The Day In The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 1/7/2021

Good Morning, Students of Music Trivia! It’s always so much less stressful when I get a jump on thing, not always possible, I might add.

Aaron Neville had the first #1 song of 1967 with “Tell It Like It Is.”

Here’s today’s lesson, kids:

January 7, 1954: Muddy Waters recorded Hoochie Coochie Man.

January 7, 1955: Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & The Comets debuted on the UK charts.

January 7, 1964: Bluesman Long John Baldry forms The Hoochie Coochie Men.

Also on this day, The Beatles recorded for the BBC program Saturday Club, singing Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode, along with All My Loving, Money, I Want to Hold Your Hand and three other songs. It was their third appearance on the show.

January 7, 1967: The Doors and The Young Rascals played the second of two nights at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.

Also on this day, Aaron Neville had the first #1 song of the new year with Tell It Like It Is, undoubtedly one of my favorite songs ever.

January 7, 1970: Fleetwood Mac started a five-night stint at The Whiskey A Go Go on Sunset Strip.

January 7, 1978: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album, which was already #1 for 29 weeks, returns to #1 after 46 weeks of release.

January 7, 1980: Led Zeppelin’s In Through The Out Door is certified Platinum. It is the final album John Bonham appears on before his death.

January 7, 1981: The Eagles Live is certified Platinum. In spite of that, it will be 13 years before their next album is released.

Born On This Day

January 7, 1948: Kenny Loggins was born on this day in Everett, Washington.

And that is it. We are done here, and will return with today’s line-up shortly. (It really is tomorrow’s line-up today.)

Greetings and Salutations From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 1/4/2021

Good Morning, Students! It’s another happy Monday here in The College, and we’re delivering all the musical news that’s fit to print:

One year before her explosion on the music world, Linda Ronstadt opened for Neil Young on tour and stole the shows. Literally.

Here’s today’s lesson:

January 4, 1936: The first pop music chart based on national sales was introduced by Billboard.

January 4, 1950: RCA Victor announces that they will manufacture long playing (LP) records.

January 4, 1954: (Just about one month before I was born.) A young truck driver named Elvis Presley pays to record two songs at the Memphis Recording Service (MRS). It’s his second visit, and this time MRS head Sam Phillips gets his name and number. Later, he phones Elvis and asks him to record for his Sun label.

January 4, 1957: Solomon Burke makes his debut on The Steve Allen Show.

January 4, 1967: The Doors release their self-titled debut album.

Also on this day, the Jimi Hendrix Experience played the first of what would be over 240 gigs when they appeared at the Bromel Club in Bromley.

January 4, 1969: Marvin Gaye extended his stay at #1 to four weeks with I Heard It Through The Grapevine. Again, I reiterate, Marvin Gaye remade the song, not Gladys Knight & The Pips. She released it a year earlier than Marvin Gaye did, and it went to #1 then as well. They don’t mention that. They call hers the remake.

January 4, 1970: George Harrison recorded the second guitar solo and McCartney, Harrison and Starr re-recorded vocals for Let It Be. This is the final recording session for The Beatles. John Lennon isn’t even present for the session. The last time all four Beatles were together in a studio was August of 1969.

January 4, 1973: Lamar Williams joined The Allman Brothers Band, replacing the late Berry Oakley.

Also on this day, Neil Young kicked off his Time Fades Away tour in Madison, Wisconsin, with Linda Ronstadt as the opening act. Ronstadt is used to playing the club scene and has never performed in an arena setting. Nevertheless, she wows the audiences througout the tour with that fucking amazing voice, literally stealing the show along the way. The following year, she releases Heart Like A Wheel and begins her meteoric rock n’ roll rise.

January 4, 1974: Bruce Springsteen played the first of three nights at Joe’s Place in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Born On This Day

January 4, 1942: John McLaughlin (The Mahavishnu Orchestra) was born in Doncaster, England. In 2010, Jeff Beck called him ‘the best guitarist alive.’

January 4, 1946: R & B singer Arthur Conley, best known for his 1967 hit Sweet Soul Music, was born in Atlanta, Georgia.

And that is the end of today’s lesson! Back with the line-up soon.

It’s Another Merry Monday in The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/28/2020

It’s an odd day in the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge today. Aside from two entries, all of the events seem to have happened in 1968. It was, as Frank Sinatra said, a very good year musically. Devastating in others.

The year that changed the world.

Here’s today’s lesson:

December 28, 1968: The Doors released Touch Me. Believe it or not, the song’s opening guitar riff was inspired by the opening of C’mon Marianne by The Four Seasons. I shit you not. (And I think that’s probably the only song I like by The Four Seasons, come to think of it.) Touch Me would peak at #3 in America.

These other musical events also happened on this day:

The Beatles’ ninth studio album, The Beatles (aka, The White Album), hits #1 in the US.

The Rolling Stones‘ Beggars Banquet debuts at #3 on the Album chart.

Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Jeff Beck and The Pretty Things appeared at the Flight to Lowlands Paradise II festival at the Margriethal-Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Marvin Gaye remained at #1 on the R & B chart with I Heard It Through The Grapevine. I’ll say it again, he remade Gladys Knight’s version, which was released in 1967. Hers also went to #1. I love Marvin, but the record needs to be set straight.

In what could be viewed as a dry run for Woodstock, Joni Mitchell, Three Dog Night, The Turtles, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, The Grass Roots, Chuck Berry, Steppenwolf, The Box Tops, Canned Heat, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Procol Harum, The Grateful Dead, Jose Feliciano, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and others performed at the Miami Pop Festival at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida.

Whew.

December 28, 1970: John Lennon released the song Mother.

December 28, 1983: Depressed by mounting debt and his personal problems, Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys drowned while diving near his boat in Marina Del Rey, California. Brian Wilson, dealing with his own issues, did not attend the funeral.

Born On This Day

December 28, 1914: Roebuck “Pops” Staples, songwriter/guitarist/singer for The Staple Singers (I’ll Take You There, Respect Yourself) was born in Winona, Mississippi.

December 28, 1938: Charlie Neville (The Neville Brothers) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

December 28, 1946: Edgar Winter, multi-instrumentalist, leader of The Edgar Winter Group, and younger brother of Johnny, was born in Beaumont, Texas.

December 28, 1948: Joseph “Ziggy” Modeliste, drummer for The Meters, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

And that is today’s lesson from the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge!

Happy Boxing Day From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/26/2020

Hell, we’re a global radio station and it’s Boxing Day, the official Christmas, of many of our compadres. So, we wish you a very happy holiday indeed.

The Spencer Davis Group with a very young Steve Winwood on your left.

Here’s today’s rock n’ roll lesson:

December 26, 1960: Elvis Presley’s Are you Lonesome Tonight was at $1 for a fifth week.

December 26, 1963: The Beatles release their first hit single in the US, I Want To Hold Your Hand backed by I Saw Her Standing There. It’s their first single released by Capitol Records; within months Beatlemania will be full-blown in the States.

December 26, 1964: The Beatles score another #1 with I Feel Fine. They finish the year with six #1 songs and own the top spot on the chart for 18 weeks.

December 26, 1966: The Spencer Davis Group release the single Gimme’ Some Lovin‘ which was written by seventeen-year-old Steve Winwood.

Also on this day, Jimi Hendrix wrote the words to Purple Haze in his dressing room between shows at London’s Uppercrust Club.

December 26, 1967: The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour film debuts on BBC-TV.

Also on this day, The Doors and Chuck Berry open a weeklong series of concerts at The Fillmore West in San Francisco.

December 26, 1968: Led Zeppelin’s first US tour begins in Denver, Colorado, where they are the opening act for Vanilla Fudge.

Also on this day, D.A. Pennebaker’s documentary, Monterey Pop, which chronicles the 1967 Monterey International Pop Music Festival, opened in theaters. This was the concert where The Who smashed their instruments and Hendrix lit his guitar on fire.

December 26, 1970: George Harrison becomes the first ex-Beatle to top the Hot 100 as a solo act as My Sweel Lord hits #1.

Also on this day, a new singer from Canada named Gordon Lightfoot enters the charts for the first time with If You Could Read My Mind. He will make some great music in his time.

December 26, 1979: Paul McCartney held the first of three concerts at Hammersmith Odeon in London to benefit relief efforts in war-torn Kampuchea. He was joined by The Who, The Clash, Queen, Elvis Costello, and Rockpile.

Born On This Day

December 26, 1935: Duke Fakir of the Four Tops was born Abdul Fakir in Detroit, Michigan.

December 26, 1940: Famed record producer and despicable human being, Phil Spector, was born in The Bronx, New York.

December 26, 1946: Bob Carpenter, keyboardist and accordionist for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

And that is today’s less here at the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge!

Our Rock, Blues and Ballads Playlist, The Final Airing of The Shadow, and The Doors Live From Vancouver…With A Special Sit-in Guest on Friday, December 18, 2020

Today’s entry from The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge might have been sparse, but the music from The Mermaid Lounge certainly isn’t. You don’t want to miss The Doors tonight. They have a special guest sitting in.

Albert King will be sitting in with The Doors tonight at 7:00 here from The Mermaid Lounge.

Here’s today’s line-up:

11:00 a.m. Rock, Blues and Ballads: Various Artists

We haven’t heard this one in a while, and it’s a great smorgasbord of artists, including Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, James Taylor, Dusty Springfield, Johnny Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Paul Simon, Neil Young, J.J. Cale, Long John Baldry, Harry Nilsson, Emmylou Harris and more!

The Playlist for this can be found on the blog under the Playlist tab. Just scroll and you’ll find it!

3:00 p.m. The Shadow 03: Death From The Deep FINAL AIRING!

This is the third and final airing of this week’s episode of The Shadow. On Monday, we’ll have a new one!

7:00 p.m. The Doors Live at the Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 6, 1970 NEW!

The official Roadhouse Blues Tour, and the Doors have a special guest named Albert King sitting in with them on four songs tonight…all Blues classics. So tune us in.

The Playlist for this performance is under the Playlist tab of this blog. Just scroll to the bottom!

We’re free. Nobody has to “subscribe” to our radio station. Nobody has to provide us with a credit card or personal information. There is no advertising. And our DJ doesn’t have diarrhea of the mouth either.

www.tinyurl.com/Ungovernable-Radio

Greetings and Salutations From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/12/2020

Well, here we are again bringing you all the news that will do nothing for you but make you sound impressive to your friends.

The Doors. Only around for four years, but their impact on the sixties was immense.

Here’s today’s lesson:

December 12, 1962: The Beatles performed two shows at the Cavern Club at lunch time, and then a third in the evening. That’s how bands got ahead in those days.

December 12, 1963: The Beatles had the #1 song in the UK with I Want To Hold Your Hand. This was already their third #1 in the UK.

December 12, 1964: You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling by the Righteous Brothers was released.

Also on this day, The Zombies reached their highest point on the Billboard Pop chart when She’s Not There peaks at #2.

December 12, 1969: John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band releases Live Peace in Toronto 1969, recorded at the Toronto Rock & Revival Show on September 13.

December 12, 1970: The Doors made their last live appearance with Jim Morrison at The Warehouse in New Orleans. His band mates said their recognized his failing health at the end of the show. On July 3, 1971, Jim Morrison died of a heart attack brought about by heroin use at the age of 27.

December 12, 1995: The Beatles released Free As A Bird, their first new song in 25 years.

Born On This Day

December 12, 1943: Dickie Betts. one of the most amazing guitarists on the planet and a future member of The Allman Brothers Band, was born in West Palm Beach, Florida.

December 12, 1946: Clive Bunker, drummer and a founder of Jethro Tull, was born in Luton, Bedfordshire, England.

And that is it for today, students! Stick around for our line up because we’ll be back shortly!

Meanwhile…Back at The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/1/2020

Good Morning from the office of the chief researcher and writer (also the programmer, marketing director, music researcher, and various other tasks). We have a short one in comparison to other days, but still informative.

Jimi Hendrix. Guitar God.

Here’s today’s knowledge from the college:

December 1, 1964: The Who played the first of 22 consecutive nights at the Marquee Club in London.

December 1, 1965: The Rolling Stones played at the Vancouver Auditorium in Canada as part of their North American Tour on this night.

December 1, 1966: Jimi Hendrix signed a management deal with Yameta, a company founded by managers for the Who, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp.

December 1, 1967: The Who (again) finished their first tour as headliners in the US at the Long Island Arena in Commack, NY. Vanilla Fudge was the opening act.

December 1, 1968: The White Album by The Beatles starts a seven-week run at number one on the UK chart.

Also on this date, Janis Joplin plays her final gig with Big Brother & The Holding Company in San Francisco.

December 1, 1969: Delaney & Bonnie perform with Eric Clapton at Royal Albert Hall. Friends George Harrison and Ringo Starr are in attendance.

December 1, 1971: Yes plays the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Also on this day, John Lennon releases Happy Xmas (War Is Over) in the US.

December 1, 1975: The Allman Brothers Band played at the Civic Center in Springfield, MA (and I was there!).

December 1, 1979: The Grateful Dead played Stanley Hall in Pittsburgh, PA.

December 1, 2016: The Rolling Stones released Blue & Lonesome, a great 12-song collection of Blues classics. It is their first studio album since 2005’s A Bigger Bang, which peaked at #3 in the US.

Born On This Day

December 1, 1944: John Densmore, drummer for The Doors, was born in Los Angeles.

And that is today’s rather abbreviated lesson from The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge. We shall be back with the Tuesday Bluesday line-up shortly.

Welcome to Sunday and Our New Album of The Week & The Sixties Rotation!

Good Morning, Music Lovers! Today we have a brand new album of the week, and we have our monthly five-hour, uninterrupted Sixties Rotation. This is the music that is in our DNA here in The Mermaid Lounge.

The Sixties. It’s in our DNA here at #BecomeUngovernable Radio.

Here’s today’s line-up!

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: The Main Refrain by Wendy Waldman NEW!

The Main Refrain is one of the finest albums ever made from someone many may never have heard of. Those of us who were listening to Linda Ronstadt and Maria Muldaur, however, know Wendy Waldman because they introduced her to their followers. Fame may have eluded her over the years, but her contributions as a writer, singer and producer are immense. She remains one of the most well-respected singers of her generation among her peers. Linda Ronstadt appears on this album, and they combine their voices beautifully on The Eagle and The Owl. Pay attention, children.

3:00 p.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume 2: Various Artists

Our monthly homage to the inspiration for this radio station with more than five uninterrupted hours of streaming. The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Canned Heat, The Guess Who, The Doors, The Who, Janis Joplin, Them, The Zombies, Jimi Hendrix, The Searchers and many others take a trip through The Mermaid Lounge today.

Before and after all of this great programming we have Open Stream because we run 24/7 uninterrupted, with no charge, no meaningless chatter, and no advertising. This would be an excellent day to join us.

www.tinyurl.com/Ungovernable-Radio

Jerry Jeff Walker is in The Spotlight, Open Stream Afternoon, and Echoes From the Canyon Later, Friday, November 6, 2020

Good Morning, Escape Artists! Listen, this (s)election process is a fucking bust all the way around. You need to be here listening to great music with no (s)election updates. None. We’ve only got great music to offer you.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with Dallas Taylor and Greg Reeves.

Here’s today’s line-up:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Jerry Jeff Walker NEW!

Jerry Jeff Walker originated the idea of the ‘country music outlaw’ back in the day, and he lived it. He made some really great music, and he was just a blast to see in concert. I saw him a couple of times, the most memorable was when he opened for Little Feat at the old Harvard Square Theater in Cambridge. A splended time was had by all that evening.

Afternoon Open Stream with Three-in-a-Row Interludes

Enjoy your afternoon with a bunch of our new Three-in-a-Row interludes thrown in. We’re not like any other station out there. We’re circulating 26,000 songs at present. No favorites. No weighting the playlist. At work, we listen to an open 60s music station all day. It’s great. But it’s essentially the same playlist every day. That’s not us.

7:00 p.m. Echoes From The Canyon: Various Artists

The Laurel Canyon music scene is the stuff legends are born from. When you get that many talented people together in one place, it’s legendary status is almost guaranteed. Hear Neil Young, The Mamas & The Papas, The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne and many others.

Every day is a good day to tune us in. We have folks in Europe that keep us going for days on end. They know a good thing when they hear it.

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It’s Tuesday Bluesday! The Doors Live in Detroit, The Super Session is Our Bluesday Offering, UNCHAINED is back, and a Tribute to the Original Wildflowers Album, October 13, 2020

It’s another Tuesday Bluesday in The Mermaid Lounge, but that portion of the program comes a bit later. We’ve got some great music leading up to that.

The Doors live on stage, 1967

Here’s today’s line-up:

11:00 a.m. The Doors Live at The Cobo Arena, Detroit, May 8, 1970 NEW!

Brand new to The Mermaid Lounge, delivered by Elves late one evening after a mushroom party. (I made that up.) Enjoy this great concert in spite of my bad fiction.

4:00 p.m. Not The Album of The Week: Wildflowers by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

As we eagerly await the release of Wildflowers & All The Rest, it’s time to go back to the original and remember just how fucking great this album is.

7:00 p.m. Tuesday Bluesday! The Super Session (1968) NEW!

Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper (the original lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears), and Stephen Stills lay it down. This one is also new to us even though it’s been on my hard drive for years. (Hey, there’s still a ton of shit to go. Okay?)

10:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Unchained by Johnny Cash

It’s only fitting that Tom Petty and his bandmates play a role in this great album. Tom Petty had more credibility in traditional country music than any other rocker on the planet. This one won Cash a Grammy.

Well, children, this is probably a really good day to tune us in. You might like it so much that you come back tomorrow. Who knows? As my grandmother said, you won’t know until you try it. And it’s free.

www.tinyurl.com/Ungovernable-Radio