Tag: The Supremes

All the Pertinent Details From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 1/5/2021

It is another day in the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge, and we’re getting a jump on all things musical today. It’s a fairly active day on the trivia front.

Jesse Winchester left the U.S. for Canada to avoid the draft. But when he left the planet, the world lost one of its best songwriters ever.

Here’s today’s lesson:

January 5, 1954: Elvis Presley recorded a 10-minute demo tape at Memphis Recording Studios.

January 5, 1959: Buddy Holly released It Doesn’t Matter Anymore, his final release before his death.

January 5, 1961: The Beatles played at Literton Town Hall in Liverpool. Two members of Rory Storm & The Hurricanes were on hand to watch — Johnny Guitar, and drummer Ringo Starr. Paul McCartney played bass for the first time with the band as Stu Sutcliffe remained at home.

January 5, 1965: The Supremes recorded Stop! In The Name of Love at Motown Studios in Detroit. Soon after, they depart on the first Motown revue tour in Europe.

January 5, 1967: Jesse Winchester, one of the finest singer-songwriters ever to grace this planet, moves from the U.S. to Canada to avoid the draft and serving in Viet Nam.

Also on this day, Paul McCartney recorded his vocal for Penny Lane which was planned (but actually never included) on the upcoming Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band album.

Tommy James & The Shondells released their single, I Think We’re Alone Now.

Pink Floyed played in concert at The Marquee Club.

January 5, 1968: Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits album is certified Gold.

January 5, 1969: Creedence Clearwater Revival releases the album Bayou Country.

January 5, 1973: Bruce Springsteen released his debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.

January 5, 1974: Jim Croce remained at #1 with the song Time In A Bottle, rated one of the Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era.

Bruce Springsteen plays the song Rosalita for the first time in concert at Joe’s Place in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It becomes a fan favorite and is often played as his encore.

January 5, 2004: John Guerin, one of the most respected and prolific session drummers who worked with Joni Mitchell, Elvis Presley, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Willie Nelson, and many more, died from pneumonia on this date in West Hills, California. He was 64.

Born On This Day

January 5, 1923: Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records, who discovered Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash, was born near Florence, Alabama.

January 5, 1929: Wilbert Harrison, who wrote and recorded the great classic Kansas City in 1959, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina.

January 5, 1934: Phil Ramone, songwriter, violinist, recording engineer, and legendary producer who made albums with Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, and many others, was born in South Africa.

And that just about sums it up from The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge!

It’s Sunday Here in The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/27/2020

Good Morning, Musicologists! Here we are with today’s lesson from the college, where nobody ever really sleeps much these days.

Bob Dylan. ‘Nuff said.

Here’s today’s lesson from The Lounge:

December 27, 1958: Buddy Holly makes his first appearance in his home town of Lubbock, Texas, since becoming a major star.

December 27, 1960: The Beatles played to a welcome home crowd at the Litherland Town Hall in Liverpool, after completing a residency in Hamburg, Germany. They played with a sit-in drummer, as Pete Best remained in Germany and would, actually, never return to the group. As a result of the crowd’s reaction to their performance at this event, the Beatles finally believed in themselves. The rest, as they say, is fucking history, people.

December 27, 1963: The Animals performed for the first time on a BBC radio broadcast called Saturday Club. This would lead to a contract with Columbia.

December 27, 1964: The Supremes make their first of 16 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

December 27, 1967: Bob Dylay released the album John Wesley Harding.

December 27, 1969: The Supremes’ final release with Diana Ross, Someday We’ll Be Together, becomes the final #1 hit of the sixties.

Also on this day, Led Zeppelin II, goes to #1 on the Album charts, replacing Abbey Road after eight weeks.

December 27, 1974: Bob Dylan recorded Idiot Wind and You’re a Big Girl Now on this day.

December 27, 1975: Faces announced their break-up (unfortunately). Rod Stewart focuses on his solo career (I have a love-hate with this guy) and Ron Wood joins the Stones.

December 27, 1980: Weeks after his murder, John Lennon’s Just Like Starting Over goes to #1 in both the US and the UK. It was chosen as the release not because Lennon considered it the best song on the album, but because he thought it was appropriate after a five-year hiatus from recording. It was his only #1 solo release.

Born On This Day

December 27, 1944: Mick Jones, great guitarist and songwriter with Spooky Tooth and co-founder of Foreigner, was born in Somerton, Somerset, England.

December 27, 1948: Larry Byrom, guitarist for Steppenwolf, was born in Huntsville, Alabama.

December 27, 1951: Karla Bonoff, singer-songwriter, solo artist, and back-up vocalist for Linda Ronstadt was born in Santa Monica, California. She wrote several songs for Ronstadt’s Hasten Down The Wind album, and also wrote All My Life, the Linda Ronstadt-Aaron Neville duet which won a 1991 Grammy.

And that is it for today, my friends. We will be back with the line-up shortly.

Good Saturday Morning From the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/19/2020

Good Morning, Students! Here’s today’s lesson from the college:

The Rolling Stones.

December 19, 1955: Carl Perkins recorded Blue Suede Shoes two days after writing it. Although it is generally the Elvis Presley version we hear, that version peaked at #20 on Billboard’s Top 100, while Perkins’ original version went to #2 and spent 17 weeks on the charts.

December 19, 1964: The Beatles’ fourth album, Beatles For Sale, begins a seven-week run at the top of the UK album charts by knocking off The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night. It stayed in the Top 20 for an amazing 46 weeks.

Also on this day, Come See About Me by the Supremes became their third straight #1 single.

New singer Petula Clark makes her debut on the chart with her single, Downtown.

December 19, 1968: Led Zeppelin performed at the Exeter City Hall in England for 125 pounds. They had to bill themselves as The New Yardbirds to attract an audience.

December 19, 1969: The Rolling Stones moved to #1 in the UK with their album, Let It Bleed.

December 19, 1970: Elton John’s first US hit, Your Song, enters the Billboard Hot 100, where it will peak at #8.

December 19, 1974: Guitarist Ron Woods joined the Rolling Stones.

December 19, 1993: Michael Clarke, original drummer for The Byrds, died of liver failure at the age of 47 after decades of alcohol abuse. After The Byrds, he played for the Flying Burrito Brothers (1969-1973) and Firefall (1974-1981).

Born On This Day

December 19, 1918: Blues singer Henry Roeland “Roy” Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair, was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana.

December 19, 1944: Zalman (Zal) Yanovsky, lead guitarist and found of The Lovin’ Spoonful, was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Also on December 19 1944: Alvin Lee, great guitarist of Ten Years After and who worked with George Harrison, John Mayall, Steve Winwood, and Bo Diddley (among others), was born in Nottingham, England.

December 19, 1945: John McEuen, founding member of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, was born in Garden Grove, California.

That is it from the college. We’ll be back with the line-up soon!

It’s Another Monday at The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/14/2020

Good Morning, Students! We have your Monday morning lesson right here from The Mermaid Lounge, then we’re coming back with today’s line up!

Gladys Knight & The Pips, who made the original version (and a fucking great version, by the way) of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine, but it is Marvin Gaye’s later version that is considered the definitive version. How did that happen?

Here’s today’s lesson:

December 14, 1963: The Beatles’ I Want To Hold Your Hand begins five weeks at #1 on the UK charts. It replaced She Loves You, which was #1 for two weeks. This is the first time ever a band has replaced itself on the charts with a new song.

December 14, 1964: Although banned by some radio stations, The Kingsmen’s Louie Louie goes to #2 on the Hot 100. Only the Singing Nun could keep the from #1.

December 14, 1968: Tommy James & The Shondells released Crimson & Clover. (Over and over.)

Marvin Gaye’s I Heard It Through The Grapevine hits #1 in the US, where it stays for seven weeks. Gladys Knight & The Pips released a version in 1967 (my favorite version of the song, actually) and it went to #2 then. In spite of that, Marvin Gaye’s is considered the definitive version. I love Marvin Gaye, but I disagree.

Motown Acts own the top three spots on the Hot 100 on this day: (1) I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye; (2) Love Child by The Supremes; and (3) For Once In My Life by Stevie Wonder.

Big Brother & The Holding Company’s album, Cheap Thrills, remained at #1 on the Album charts.

December 14, 1995: Released classified documents revealed that John Lennon wasn’t paranoid. The FBI had been spying on Lennon and his antiwar activities during Tricky Dick’s regime with the goal of having him deported.

Born On This Day

December 14, 1943: Frank Allen, bassist for The Searchers, was born in Hayes, West London, England.

December 14, 1946: Jackie McAuley, keyboardist/vocalist with Them, was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

And that is it for today’s musical lesson. Enjoy your day. We’ll be back with our line up in a bit!

Our New ‘Money, Honey’ Playlist, The Final Airing of The Shadow, and The Soul Sisters on Friday, December 11, 2020

Good Morning, Fellow Music Lovers! Here we are from The Mermaid Lounge with today’s programming line-up. Remember, children, that the majority of our 24-hour streaming day is dedicated to wide open stream.

Little Eva.

Here’s today’s line-up from The Mermaid Lounge!

11:00 a.m. Money, Honey Playlist: Various Artists NEW!

Money. It’s the root of all evil. Today we have a brand new playlist all about money. You’ll hear from Elvis Presley, Randy Newman, The Beatles, Rosanne Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, The Steve Miller Band, the J. Geils Band, and many more!

3:00 p.m. The Shadow: Caverns of Death FINAL AIRING!

Shadow fans, this is the final airing of this particular episode. We’ll introduce a new episode on Monday.

7:00 p.m. The Soul Sisters, Volume 1: Various Artists

We get our sisters on the air this afternoon to bring us some great rhythm & blues: Carla Thomas, Little Eva, Irma Thomas, The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, Ann Peebles, Aretha Franklin, The Ronettes, and more!

Come on, tune us in, people. We’re sitting here with our friends from around the world waiting for you.

www.tinyurl.com/Ungovernable-Radio

Good Morning From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/9/2020

Well, here we are again live from The Mermaid Lounge imparting our trivial musical knowledge to enrich your lives. Sounds impressive, doesn’t it?

Tom Petty & George Harrison, friends to the end.

Here’s today’s lesson from The College:

December 9, 1963: Meet The Supremes, their first album, was released by Motown Records. The LP contains the hit When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes.

December 9, 1967: Before a gig in New Haven, Connecticut, Jim Morrison got into an argument with a policeman. The policeman responded by macing Morrison. Later on stage, Morrison told the story of the incident, which prompted the police to turn on the house lights and arrest Morrison for ‘breach of peace’ and ‘resisting arrest.’

December 9, 1972: Three Dog Night’s Pieces of April enters the Billboard chart. The song, written by Dave Loggins, with reach the Top 20.

December 9, 1974: George Harrison released his first album on his Dark Horse record label. The name of the album was Dark Horse.

December 9, 1980: One day after John Lennon was shot and killed, Yoko Ono released this statement: “There is no funeral for John. John loved and prayed for the human race. Please do the same for him. Love, Yoko and Sean.”

December 9, 1992: George Harrison received the first Century Award, presented by friend Tom Petty at the third Billboard Music Awards in Universal City, California.

December 9, 1995: Even though they disbanded 25 years earlier, The Beatles have the #1 album when Anthology hits the top (it remains there for three weeks). It includes Beatles rarities in the form of demos, alternate versions, live versions and previously unreleased material. It will eventually sell 4 million copies.

Born On This Day

December 9, 1969: Singer-songwriter Jakob Dylan (solo; The Wallflowers) was born in New York City.

And that it for today’s lesson from The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge!

Goooood Morning From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 12/8/2020

We’re back at the salt mines today with the general buying public, so we’re off to an early start this morning. I don’t have to tell true Beatles fans what happened on this day all those years ago.

Everything that has to be said about this day of infamy has been said.

Here’s today’s lesson from The Mermaid Lounge:

December 8, 1961: The Supremes begin recording their third single, Your Heart Belongs To Me, written by Smokey Robinson.

December 8, 1967: The Beatles release the Magical Mystery Tour double EP in the UK.

Also on this day, Traffic released their debut album, Mr. Fantasy.

And, The Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request album was released in the UK, which carried the hit She’s a Rainbow.

December 8, 1968: Graham Nash leaves The Hollies and begins working with David Crosby (ex-Byrds) and Stephen Stills (ex-Buffalo Springfield). Crosby, Stills, and Nash would release their self-titled debut album during the summer of 1969.

December 8, 1969: The Beatles record the Ringo Starr composition, Octopus’s Garden.

Meanwhile, at his trial in the Toronto Supreme Court for possession of hash and heroin, Jimi Hendrix testified that he had “outgrown” drugs. He was found not guilty after eight hours of deliberation.

December 8, 1972: Carly Simon’s album No Secrets is certified gold.

December 8, 1980: A day that will live in infamy. Mark David Chapman pumps five bullets into John Lennon outside The Dakota Apartments in New York City, killing him. It is reported in some outlets that he tries to get into his apartment to see his son before he collapses and dies. Later, Chapman would say the lure of the fame this event would bring was something he couldn’t resist. Fucker. RIP, John Lennon. The world misses you.

We put John Lennon In The Spotlight this evening.

Born On This Day

December 8, 1939: Jerry Butler (lead singer of The Impressions) was born in Sunflower, Mississippi. He moved to Chicago where he sings in a choir with his future Impressions bandmate, the great Curtis Mayfield.

December 8, 1941: Bobby Elliot, drummer for The Hollies, was burn in Burnley, Lancashire, England.

December 8, 1943: Jim Morrison, leader of The Doors, was born James Douglas Morrison in Melbourne, Florida.

December 8, 1947: Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Much is made of Duane Allman, and he was the initial leader of the band before his death, and played that guitar like no other. But Gregg Allman was the guy who wrote the songs and had that great singing voice.

And that is today’s lesson from The College. We’ll be back with today’s line-up soon!

Happy Monday From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 11/30/2020

It’s another Monday morning in the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge, and it’s going to be pretty nasty here. Why not tune us in while you’re at it?

Paul McCartney & Wings in their heyday.

Here’s today’s lesson!

November 30, 1960: The Shirelles re-released Dedicated To The One I Love, originally released in 1959. It was re-released after Will You Love Me Tomorrow became a hit.

Also on this day, The Beatles finished up their 56-night run at the Kaiserkeller Club in Hamburg, Germany.

November 30, 1963: The Beach Boys song In My Room cracks Billboard’s Top 40. Although it peaks at #23, it becomes one of the band’s most popular songs.

Meanwhile, back in Beatle Land, She Loves You returns to #1 on the UK charts, while the album With The Beatles sits at #1 on the Album charts.

November 30, 1965: Petula Clark, one of the most influential singers of the British Invasion, releases her hit Downtown.

November 30, 1966: Legendary but quirky guitarist Jeff Beck quits The Yardbirds after a year and a half. He later forms The Jeff Beck Group.

November 30, 1968: Sly & The Family Stone released the single Everyday People.

Also on this day, The Supremes topped the Billboard Top 100 with their eleventh hit, Love Child. The song was introduced on The Ed Sullivan Show.

And Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & The Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin) takes over the #1 slot on the Album charts.

November 30, 1969: The Rolling Stones wrap up a tour with an appearance at the International Raceway Festival in West Palm Beach, Florida. Also appearing at the event are King Crimson, Iron Butterfly, Ten Years After, The Band, Janis Joplin, Steppenwolf, and The Moody Blues.

November 30, 1970: All Things Must Pass is already released in the US. On this day, George Harrison released it in the UK.

November 30. 1971: Al Green, one of the most pleasantly soulful singers on the damned planet, released Let’s Stay Together.

November 30, 1972: Paul McCartney & Wings released the song Hi, Hi, Hi, which is promptly banned by the BBC because of its “unsuitable lyrics.” In site of that it goes to #5 in the UK. It will peak at #10 in the US.

November 30, 1974: The Eagles Best of My Love is released. It will become one of The Eagles’ five US #1 singles.

November 30, 1977: The Atlanta Rhythm Section released the single, So Into You.

November 30, 1980: Pink Floyd releases their double-album masterpiece, The Wall.

November 30, 2001: In Liverpool, flags are flown at half staff in memory of George Harrison. In London, the Coldstream Guards play a Beatles medley during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in his honor.

Born On This Day

November 30, 1944: Rob Grill, singer, songwriter and bassist for the seventies hit machine known as The Grass Roots, was born in Los Angeles.

November 30, 1945: Roger Glover, songwriter, producer and bassist for Deep Purple, was born in Brecon, Wales.

That’s today’s lesson. We’ll be back with the line up as soon as I make some coffee and become human again.

Happy Thanksgiving From the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 11/26/2020

Good Morning, Music Lovers, and Happy Thanksgiving from your friends in The Mermaid Lounge! We have our Thanksgiving tradition coming up at 10:00 a.m., so be watching for the back story to Alice’s Restaurant in this blog entry.

Arlo Guthrie and his wife Jackie, on their wedding day. Arlo followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a great storyteller, as you will see later this morning!

Here’s today’s entry from the College:

November 26, 1955: Bill Haley’s Rock Around The Clock reaches #1 in the UK, and is considered to be the first rock n’ roll song to accomplish that feat.

November 26, 1962: The Beatles record their second single, Please Please Me, in 18 takes at London’s EMI Studios. They also record the B-side, Ask Me Why.

November 26, 1964: The Zombies record Tell Her No.

November 26, 1965: After having Thanksgiving dinner in a church in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, a young Arlo Guthrie and a friend returned to clean up. When they can’t find an open dump, the two dump their trash down a hill. They are arrested, fined $25 each, and are forced to clean up the trash again. When they return to the church, Arlo writes the Alice’s Restaurant Massacree, in which he embellishes some of the events. Nevertheless, it is a moment in musical history that we musicologists will not forget.

November 26, 1966: You Keep Me Hangin’ On by the Supremes took over the #1 slot on the R & B charts.

Also on November 26 of 1966, I’m Losing You by The Temptations enters the R & B charts and will become the band’s fourth straight #1 hit.

November 26, 1967: The promo clip of The Beatles’ Hello Goodbye was aired on The Ed Sullivan Show.

November 26, 1969: John Lennon works on a Beatles song for the final time when he mixes You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) at Abbey Road Studios. It is the B-side of their Let It Be single.

Also on November 26, 1969, The Band receives a Gold Record for their second album, The Band, one of the greatest albums ever recorded from one of the greatest bands on the planet.

November 26, 1977: Linda Ronstadt becomes one of only a handful of singers who manages to have two singles in the Top Ten simultaneously with Blue Bayou and It’s So Easy.

Also on this day in 1977, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors album held the #1 slot for a then-record 29 weeks.

November 26, 2010: Willie Nelson was arrested for possession of six ounces of weed found on his tour bus travelling from LA to Texas. The prosecutor recommended no jail time because of the small amount, and instead suggested a $100 fine and that Willie sing Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain for the court.

Born On This Day

November 26, 1944: Alan Henderson, bassist with the Northern Irish band, Them, was born in Belfast. For those who do not know the band, Them had the 1965 UK hits Baby, Please Don’t Go and Here Comes The Night with Van Morrison on lead vocals.

November 26, 1945: Another bassist, John McVie, with Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, is born in London.

And that is it for today’s lesson! We will be back in just a bit with today’s Thanksgiving Day line-up!

Another Day in The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 11/21/2020

It’s yet another day at The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge. Yesterday’s entry was prolific. Today’s, not so much.

The Zombies, 1964 – Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Hugh Grundy, Paul Atkinson and Chris White (seated) ? Chris Walter (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage)

Today’s action in rock history:

November 21, 1960: George Harrison, merely 17 years old, is deported back home from Germany because he is too young to play with the band. They are forced to play without him at The Kaiserkeller Club in Hamburg.

November 21, 1964: The Supremes made it four weeks with their #1 R & B song, Baby Love.

The Zombies, one damned fine band, had one of the biggest hits of their career with She’s Not There at #5.

November 21, 1969: T-Rex played at The Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England.

November 21, 1970: Two months after his death, Jimi Hendrix had the #1 song in the UK with Voodoo Chile.

November 21, 1975: Queen releases the album A Night At The Opera in the UK.

November 21, 1980: Steely Dan releases the album Gaucho, which includes appearances by guitarists Rick Derringer and Mark Knopfler.

November 21, 2013: Forty-three years after their break-up, The Beatles had their 31st Top Ten album with On Air–Live at The BBC, debuting at #7 on the Billboard 200.

That’s today’s light lesson. Hey, it’s Saturday, so that’s a good thing. We’ll be back with today’s line-up in just a bit.